Healing

Part 52

Angel was feeling hopeful for the first time since this whole mess had started. Wesley still loved and wanted him, he hadn't given up on him - on them, so neither would he. He would fight Angelus for control of his body. There was no way he was going to just stand back and let the demon ruin the lives of his friends and family.

Besides, he was pretty sure that if things didn't get turned around soon, they would get ugly. Angelus couldn't be contained in this bath tub forever and Angel was all too well aware of his plans for Spike and Wesley both. He knew that if Angelus succeeded in harming Spike, Xander would have no compunctions in dusting him. In a way he was grateful for that knowledge. He didn't want anyone to be hurt because of Angelus.

Wesley was trying to read through the text in his hands but he was getting no where with it. He knew that the answers he was looking for were in the head of a certain chaos wizard in Rupert’s bedroom. It would be so much simpler if the man would just tell them what they wanted to know. It wasn't as if he was going to go anywhere until he did.

With a growl of frustration Wesley slammed his book shut and headed for the stairs. It was time to end this foolishness once and for all. If Ethan wasn't going to talk, then he had no further use for him.

Willow and Tara exchanged an uneasy look as Wesley stormed away from the table. Willow stood to intervene but Tara put her hand up and shook her head.

"I think we should let him do this."

"Tara, he's so angry. He could kill him."

"He won't. But I think he's the only one that can get the information. He has the most to lose."

Willow sighed, but realized that Tara was right. Besides, if it were Tara that had been taken over by a demon, she would want to beat the hell out someone too. She smiled at her lover and silently thanked her Goddess once again for bringing them together.


Giles unlocked the door of the Magic Box and stepped inside before closing and relocking the door behind him. He had volunteered to go and pick up some spell ingredients just to get away from Wesley’s accusing stare. He wasn't sure what exactly he had done to piss the man off but he sensed that some space was definitely in order.

He would be glad when Angel was back to normal and they could go back to LA. He was never comfortable around the dark haired vampire as it was and having him imprisoned in his bathroom was not helping matters.

Giles took his time gathering the ingredients on the list that Willow had given him, he picked up a few books that he thought might be of use as well. They were getting no where with Ethan and it was extremely frustrating. His little outburst earlier had not helped either. He only hoped that when this was all over and done with, that Spike would not hold a grudge. Once again he had to wonder how he had survived his youth, he was surprised that all he had gotten from Spike was a good shot to the head after the way he had antagonized him. He all but called the vampire a pathetic shell of his former self. Whatever self preservation Ripper still had was all that kept that remark from passing his lips. Damn, but he would be happy when this was all over.

Willow was growing increasingly frustrated as the minutes ticked by. They had several potions in mind that might restore Angel but without knowing exactly what the original was intended for they couldn't pick the right one and they couldn't just test them all for fear of causing further damage. She was just about to throw the book she was looking at when the phone rang and startled her. She smiled at Tara who had jumped as well and then headed for the kitchen to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Willow? It's Cordelia. How's everything there?"

"Oh, lovely. Lets see, Giles went all Ripper on Ethan and Tara and I had to take him to a doctor. Spike knocked Giles out cold after being insulted, Xander took him home and I don't think they're in any hurry to come back here and help, and oh yeah, Wesley looks about ready to kill Ethan. I think that's everything. How are things in LA?"

There was a pause on the other end of the phone before Cordy started to laugh. Willow was livid at first but then she too began laughing. It was just what she needed to release some of the stress.

"See? Everything happens after I leave. So tell me, what did Giles do to Ethan? And why did Spike hit him? And don't leave anything out, I want details!"

Willow grinned and began filling Cordelia in on everything that had happened since she'd left.

Ethan watched as Wesley paced the room in front of him. There was something unnerving about the man. It was strange to him, to feel so bothered by this former watcher when he had withstood both a vampire and Ripper earlier that day. He knew without a doubt, that whatever Ripper did to him he wouldn't kill him, and neither would the vampire. He also knew that the lovely Lilah could, and would kill him - slowly and painfully - if he talked.

The problem was, he believed the man in front of him was even more dangerous than she was. A fact that proved true as the man pulled him from his chair and dragged him from the room. He wasn't sure where he was taking him until the door to the bathroom was opened and he was unceremoniously shoved inside.

Angelus looked up from the tub at the two men as they entered. He was somewhat impressed by the rage and anger that was pouring from his souled half’s lover. Frankly he never thought the human had the stones to pull off something like this. His grin turned feral as he watched the man wrench the wizards head back and drag him toward the tub.

Ethan finally knew fear. There was no doubt in his mind that Wesley planned to feed him to Angelus. He had hoped to get out of this unscathed and without giving up any information. That idea was quickly squashed as he saw the demon lick it's lips in anticipation. He had only one hope, he had to tell what he knew and hope like hell he could get far enough away from LA and Lilah Morgan before she found out.

"Wait!"

Wesley frowned at the man and continued to drag him toward Angelus.

"Why should I? You helped to bring this monster back into being. Now you can reap the benefits of your labour."

"I'll tell you everything. Just please, don't let him kill me."

Wesley stopped and considered it a moment. He nodded and pulled Ethan back a step before leaning in and whispering in his ear.

"You had better make sure that you do, Mr. Rayne. Because if you don't? Well, just look at him, does he seem the type to give you a quick death? Or do you think he would draw it out, make you suffer until the last shuddering breath escaped from your body? I'm willing to bet it would painful and I would enjoy watching you die."

Ethan swallowed hard and nodded. He was grateful when he felt the other man pull him from the room. If he never looked upon Angelus again it would be too soon. He was sure his nightmares would forever haunt him with images of those yellow eyes and sharp fangs, and the look of hunger in those golden orbs made him shudder. It wasn't just hunger for blood, but for violence, pain and death as well.

Spike was drifting off into a contented sleep wrapped in the warm embrace of his lover. He had almost forgotten the stresses of earlier that day as Xander held him. Nothing could bother him as long as he was here, at home with the only person that mattered to him. The person who was keeping him from sleeping by whispering his name in his ear.

"Xan, luv. Go to sleep, m'comfy."

Xander giggled at Spike's whiney voice but he knew he couldn't put this off any longer. He needed to tell Spike what he'd learned from Wes. He knew his mate would be pissed and hoped the fact that the sun was still out would keep him from rushing off to kill Giles before he had a chance to calm him down.

"Spike, we need to talk, I found out a few things today when I talked to Wesley. Things you won't like, things I didn't like when I heard."

Spike lifted his head from Xander’s chest and rested his chin on his clasped hands so he could look him in the eye.

"What kind of things, luv?"

Xander told Spike about his conversation with Wesley, about how Giles had told him about the rape, and about how Xander had found him, took him home and helped him to heal. He held his lover close as he shook with rage and growled out threats to kill him in creative, but painful ways. Eventually, Spike calmed enough to sit up without Xander fearing that he would run off and hurt someone.

"Can we trust this one not to go to the council with this?"

"Yeah, I believe we can."

"You sure? Because I will kill him if I have to, this never makes it into the bloody council records. I mean it Xander, I love you, but I can't have anyone know about this."

Xander was positive that Wesley would keep his mouth shut but all the same he made a decision to talk to him again. He would make sure Wes knew what would happen if he decided to speak of this, to anyone.

"I'm sure, but I'll talk to him again. Don't worry, Spike. He won't say anything."

Spike nodded and pulled Xander up off the couch.

"Come to bed, the couch is too small and I want to hold you."

"How can I refuse, when you put it that way?"

Xander kissed Spike and let him pull him into their bedroom. He'd wait until dark to talk to Wes.