A Viking in L A

Part 6

Spike woke to the sound of running water, Xander was in the shower again. Though after last night he did need it. Spike reached for the battered pack of cigarettes on the night table and found it empty. He cursed softly, he really wanted a smoke. Grumbling about not being able to join his lover in the shower he got up and dressed.

Spike was just leaving the hotel when Cordelia came up the walk.

"Evening princess."

"Spike, where's your better half?"

"He's in the shower, I'm just nipping out for a pack of fags."

"A pack of..? Oh. Cigarettes. Hey, how long are you and Xan staying?"

"Eager to get rid of us luv?"

"Hardly! I've never had so much time off. You guys keep up the loud sex noises, I enjoy being sent home early."

"Glad to be of service pet."

"I'm sure you are. If what I heard last night was any indicator, I'd say you were very glad."

"You really should have shagged the boy when you had the chance, you know. He's quite talented."

"So I hear. If I'd have known then I would have kept him."

"My gain then, gotta go luv, don't want to keep my pet waiting."

Spike headed off toward the corner store and Cordelia went inside the hotel. She was still thinking about what Spike had said. She was glad that Xander was so happy, but she did sometimes think that she let the best one get away.

When Xander came downstairs Spike was still out at the store.

"Hey Cordy. Seen Spike anywhere?"

"He went to the store. He was out of cigarettes."

"Oh, okay. Angel in?"

"In his office, brooding."

"How come?"

"Don't know. He's been fine lately, but when I came in tonight I found him in there staring off into space, broody expression firmly in place. I have no idea what set him off."

"I'm gonna go speak to him, maybe I'll get some answers."

Xander knocked on Angels door and then walked in. Just as Cordy had said, Angel was brooding. Xander pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Penny for your thoughts."

"Huh? Oh, Xander. When did you come in?"

"Just now. So why the broody thoughts?"

"It's nothing."

"And somehow I don't believe that."

"Fine, (sigh) I'm worried about Spike."

"Why? What happened. Did you guys fight?"

"No. Nothing like that. Actually I was going to ask you if something had happened."

"Why?"

"Uh, well ... okay. Last night, you guys were ah ..."

"Shagging?"(smirk)

"Yeah. But I mean, oh hell! Do you guys always go at it for hours at a time? Not that I'm trying to pry or ... anything. It's just I know Spike, and when he's upset or feeling insecure he tends to use sex to reassure himself."

"Oh. Well that makes sense. I never imagined having this conversation with you, you know?"

"Me either."

"It was a little out of the ordinary, I just figured he wanted to put on a show. You know how he is."

"Yeah, I do. Did anything happen to set him off? Besides those guys last night."

"Yeah, we talked. I uh, I told him I wanted to fix him."

"Fix him?"

"The chip."

"Are you serious? Xander, he'll kill again."

"I know. I'm still going to help him. Angel, it isn't right. He should be able to defend himself, I'm hoping that he won't go back to being a ruthless killer. That maybe, for me, he'd give it up. I-I'm afraid I might really hurt someone trying to protect him."

"Xander, are you okay?"

"Yeah, no, I don't know. I'm not sure. I love him, and I want to protect him. Last night when those guys attacked us, I wanted to kill them. My demon, he was very insistent that we bite them, I didn't but it was hard. If Spike were able to defend himself I wouldn't get so worked up you know?"

"I understand that Xander. You want to protect what's yours. As the stronger of the two of you, it puts you in the alpha position. You will always feel protective of him, chip or not. But It would probably be easier to deal with your demon if you knew he wasn't helpless."

They sat together in silence for a few minutes before Angel spoke.

"Do you know how your going to do it?"

"No clue. We figured we'd ask around, see if anyone knows any doctors who are aware of vampires. See if they could help. Money's not a problem so it should be do-able."

Another lengthy pause.

"Angel? Why do you think Spike is feeling insecure?"

"He probably thinks of this as a double edged sword. On one side he's getting what he wanted, his chip out. But on the other side, by getting his bite back he runs the risk of losing you. He probably thinks that you'll leave him once he's whole."

"I wouldn't!"

"Xander, if he kills again ... how will that make you feel? Can you live with yourself if you just stand by while he murders people?"

"I-I, I don't know. I love him Angel. I won't give him up. We'll find a way to deal with this."

"Talk to him. Before the chip comes out. Maybe he doesn't want to go back to what he was either. But the two of you need to talk about this. You need to figure out how to deal with a chipless Spike. Plus you know, there's Buffy. She won't like this Xander. She may even stake him."

Xanders eyes flashed and he growled.

"She can try, but she won't touch him! I won't allow it!"

"This is exactly why you two should talk. You can't go around growling at Buffy, especially over Spike. You are her friend Xander and she has some feelings for Spike, but without his chip he becomes a threat and she'll do her duty at the first sign that he's feeding again."

Xander shook off his anger and stood.

"Thanks Angel. You've given me a lot to think about. I'll talk to Spike when he gets back from the store."

Xander left the office. Angel sighed and put his head down on the desk. He was just as torn as Spike and Xander. On one hand he wanted Spike to be whole again. He worried about him not being able to defend himself. Angel knew that humans could be just as dangerous, or even more dangerous than demons. The lawyers at Wolfram & Hart were proof of that. But on the other hand, he didn't want Spike to go back to the angry vicious killer he had been. They were starting to become friends and Angel didn't want to lose that. Spike had a good life now, Xander made him happy, he had friends, and he had a future. He hoped he didn't throw away his best chance to be happy over being able to hunt again.

Xander went back to his and Spike's room. He rifled through the bags of clothing they had purchased the night before. He was hoping to convince Spike to wear some of it and go out with him that night, maybe to a club or something. He pulled out a pair of charcoal grey wool slacks and a sweater as blue as Spike's eyes. They were nice, but definitely not club wear. Next he found the bag that held the leather pants he had insisted on. There were two pairs, one black of course, and one red. He personally liked the red but Spike was a predictable vampire if nothing else. He liked the black.

Next came the bag of silk shirts. One blue, one metallic silver - both Xander's choices, one black and one red - Spike's choices. Then there was the footwear. Xander had insisted that he get a new pair of boots. So one new pair of black DM's and one pair of Italian leather shoes - to go with the dress slacks. He did buy the matching leather thongs, but Spike didn't know about that purchase - it was a surprise for when they got home.

Xander bought a few things for himself as well. He purchased shiny black leather pants - tight enough that he couldn't breath, good thing he didn't need to. He also bought a pair of leather boots, and a chocolate-brown silk shirt. He laid these out on the bed along side Spikes red leather pants and silver silk shirt. When his lover came back he would get him into the shower and then out to a club. Xander was rubbing his hands together in anticipation when he heard the scream.

"ANGEL!! XANDER!!"

Xander flew down the stairs just as Angel ran out of his office, they almost crashed into each other in the lobby trying to get to Cordelia. Cordelia herself was just starting to come back down from the ceiling. She was crying and looking at Xander with such sorrow that he knew before she even spoke.

"Spike."

"Oh Xander, it was awful. We have to get him back."

Angel stepped forward and took his seer in his arms.

"Where is he Cordy? Where is Spike?"

"Just outside L A, in an old textile plant. Angel, they're torturing him."

Xander was livid, he was in full game face and snarling.

"Who's torturing him? Who has my mate?"

"Humans, Xander. A man with short black hair, green eyes and a tattoo on his left shoulder. There are others but he seems to be the one in charge."

Xander snarled and went into a mindless rage. It was the man from last night. He remembered now why he seemed familiar, the Initiative. Xander had seen him on campus with Forest, Graham and Riley. That man knew what Spike was and how to hurt him best.

Angel watched as Xander's demon took over. He was torn between joining him, letting Angelus out to play, or calming him and getting Xander back in control. Eventually common sense won out and he approached Xander cautiously.

"Xander, this isn't helping Spike. We need to go, and unless you calm yourself you won't be coming with us."

Before Angel knew what hit him Xander had him against the wall on the far side of the lobby and was right up in his face. His fangs were inches from Angels throat when he spoke.

"Spike is MINE you will not leave here with out me. No one takes what is mine, they will die by my hand! If you even so much as think of leaving me behind I will tear out your throat and go without you. Do we understand each other?"

Angel nodded mindlessly. He never thought that Xander Harris would scare him but at that moment he knew without a doubt that Xander would kill him without blinking an eye. He pitied the people who had Spike, hopefully Xander would get control of the demon before he killed them because Angel knew he wouldn't be able to stop him.

Xander dropped Angel just as Gunn, Fred and Wesley entered the hotel. Angel and Xander walked wordlessly to the weapons cabinet and armed themselves while Cordelia explained to the others. In the end, Fred had remained behind to watch the office while the others went after Spike. Angel drove with Xander beside him in the front seat the other three piled into the back, no one wanted to be any closer to Xander than necessary.

In the front seat Xander was trying to wrest control back from the demon. He was worried about Spike, his demon was worried about Spike. He needed to be in control when they got there, after what had happened in the hotel with Angel he knew he would kill those men without thought if he allowed the demon to have control. He wanted to kill them, deep in his soul he craved their death but he wouldn't do it. Not if he could help it. He needed to get Spike, then he needed to get that chip out of his head. He also needed to apologize to Angel but that would have to wait until later. Right now he needed to focus on Spike.