Splinter

"It's twins?" he read in a raspy voice.

"Spike, you're awake!" He heard several pairs of feet shuffle and in a few seconds found himself looking up at several grinning faces.

He tried to sit up but fell back down with a loud gasp clutching his chest. "Bloody hell, it feels like someone's torn my chest open with a blunt chainsaw!"

The vampire didn't try to get up again not only because of the sharp pain but because a well manicured hand held him down. "Yeah, well you shouldn't make any sudden moves coz that's basically what happened?"

Spike wildly looked up at Cordelia. "WHAT?"

"Perhaps it would be better to explain when you're comfortable," Wesley suggested looking over his hospital bed. "Ah, that should do it." The leaning man pressed a button causing the bed to slowly switch into sitting position without putting any weight on the patient.

"You got yourself a nasty case of the splinter, Slim," Lorne somewhat explained. Spike raised his eyebrow at the vague sentence and inclined to Wesley knowing that if anyone could explain with over excess details he might add was an ex-watcher.

Strangely, after ten minutes of going back and forth, Spike got the whole story, even guessed how, or why he retained the piece of wood. He had patted Fred's hand when he saw her eyes brimming with tears and cut her short when she tried to apologize, telling her she didn't need to. Nevertheless, he knew that they were keeping something from him. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously and before he could question their evading tactics he was intercepted.

Cordelia had chosen that moment to glare at him. "You should take better care of yourself, Blondie! I've had your tux custom-made for when you pick me up for the party. I so hope you haven't forgot!" The words might have seemed self-centered but at ease knowing that her friend was out of danger.

"No, Cordy, I haven't forgotten. I'll be your gentleman in waiting," he joked with a smile. "Okay with all the roundabout way of retailing me my condition … how do you explain that?" He pointed at the cherry balloon.

All eyes turned to Fred's direction who resembled the balloon in color. She toed the ground. "Well they were all out of 'Get Well Soon' and this was the only one that was hospital related."

"The thought is what matters dear." Wesley hugged her across the shoulder.

Spike shrugged. "It is lovely pet. And hey, if I take care that it doesn't pop, maybe I'll give it back to you one day," he said with a suggestive glance at the embracing couple. Wesley coughed to cover up his embarrassment.

Spike looked around. "A head count shows someone missing. Where's the big poof? To busy fixing his hair to make sure I'm well enough to pester him again?" His tone of voice might have conveyed nonchalant but his soulful eyes showed how upset he was.

Gunn took the call. "Yeah, man. You know the boss, all work and no play makes him a non-happy broody vamp! The poor guy is swamped with files courtesy of Harmony."

Spike nodded with a smile accepting that. Not even asking why they, his team, would have enough free time to pay him a visit, while the CEO couldn't take a minute to stop by and drop his grandchilde an insult on his way to the office. Even Harmony left him a lovely vase of pink flowers with a 'get well soon Blondie Bear' card in it. He smiled as Gunn made a joke at his expenses causing everyone to laugh. His eyes drifted to his bedside where a bag of blood was hung for his dripping pleasure. He knew from the smell of it who it was from. His eyes softened. Perhaps a little visit to his swamped grandsire was in order.