Mbwa Mwitu

Chapter Summary: In which Spike and Tara head to L.A. and there is a small moment with Xander and Oz.


.Chapter Seven.


Tara didn't want to know where Spike had been hiding his Desoto all this time. At the moment, it was a better idea to shut up and hold onto the dashboard for dear life. Because Spike drove like a maniac, which didn't surprise Tara that much. Especially given the circumstances.

It became apparent to Tara that, after Spike's brief spell of emotional control, the vampire was on the edge of insanity. He was twitching, whether from fear or anger, Tara couldn't tell. He was also muttering under his breath, eyes flashing yellow periodically. At least it was apparent he actually knew what he was feeling. Tara, on the other hand, couldn't explain the emotions twisting through her heart.

With a sigh, Tara leaned back in her seat and peered out the window. The full moon hung from the sky like a giant lantern, giving the passing scenery a silver tint. Her thoughts immediately went to Oz. It was strange, the connection she felt toward him. It was so similar to the connection she saw between Spike and Xander. A unity of souls, if the term could be considered proper. In reality, she knew that their connection extended farther than their souls, on to the beasts within.

But with Oz, there was no beast. He had the wolf, sure, but she... Tara shook her head, a slight frown flickering across her face. She didn't host an animal, like the others. So, why did she feel what they felt? Why did she understand the meaning of pack and mate?

"Are you okay?" Spike suddenly asked, his voice slicing through the silence like a knife through butter.

"I don't know." Tara admitted. She could feel Spike look over at her, just as easily as she could feel his presence. It was something that had started once she became a member of Spike and Xander's pack. Tara couldn't honestly say when that had happened, but for a while now she had been able to feel a connection between her and the two. And then Oz had come along and awakened something inside her, something she couldn't identify.

The lights of Los Angeles appeared ahead of them. A sense of nervousness washed over Tara. She didn't know if this was really a good idea. Sure, it was her plan, but she didn't know Angel. He might not want to help them. Of course, she could recognize the look in Spike's eyes. He would make Angel help them, or destroy something trying.

The Desoto quickly drove off one of the highway's off ramp and entered a darkened area. The streets were deserted and the streetlights were mostly broken. They drove for a few minutes, before slowing to a stop in front of a crumbled building. The dark remains showed evidence of a fire.

"Bloody fucking hell." Spike muttered, climbing out of the car. He stormed over to the building's remains and stared at them a moment, looking rather lost. Then, as Tara watched from the car, he proceeded to curse and kick things. Hoping to give Spike a little bit of privacy, Tara turned away. After a few minutes, Spike slid back into the driver's seat. "The place burned down. Only Peaches would let his house burn down."

"Where do you think he is now?" Tara asked softly.

"Don't know... But sadly, I know where to find him." Spike said, rather mournfully. Tara watched him a moment, before returning to staring at the passing buildings. She briefly wondered what possible evil they were about to encounter. It had to be bad if it gave Spike that expression.

*****

Darkness. Pure and utter darkness. It was comforting, the black surrounding him. Of course, Xander knew that if he opened his eyes he would see white. Nothing but white.

He suddenly understood why Spike had insisted they paint the walls of the apartment a new color. White... Well, Xander officially hated it.

A shiver ran through him and Xander forced himself to curl further into a fetal position. He couldn't feel Oz anymore. They had taken him away a couple hours ago. Xander had no idea what was happening to his pack mate. All he knew was that he was alone, cold, and completely naked.

The sound of footsteps caught his attention. Unable to resist, Xander slowly opened his eyes and peered through the glass that acted as a wall. His eyes snapped fully open as he spotted the doctor that had taken Oz, as well as a couple of commandos. The two soldiers were dragging something between them. While the glass kept him from breathing in the unconscious figure's scent, the pack link was enough to tell him it was Oz.

The group paused in front of his cell and the doctor looked at him thoughtfully. Then, nodding to himself, he slid a card through an out of sight side panel. The glass wall slid away. Xander contemplated rushing at the soldiers, grabbing Oz, and making a run for it. But he wasn't stupid. Oz looked like, if he had been awake, he wouldn't be able to stand, let alone run.

Xander growled low in his throat, baring his teeth at the two soldiers. They ignored him and shoved Oz inside. The glass door slid shut before he could blink. Xander immediately ignored the soldiers and doctor, crawling across the floor in order to reach Oz's side.

The werewolf was back in human form, despite Xander's instincts telling him it was still night time. However, he had no idea how long he had been asleep, so days could have passed. Taking a deep breath, Xander pulling Oz into his lap and turned him onto his back. Bruises littered his body, with a particularly dark one in his arm, a sure sign that they had drawn blood. There was a large cut along one side, being held closed by poorly done stitches.

Forcing down another growl, Xander wrapped his arms around Oz's shivering form. A soft purr began to emit from his chest. Staring blankly at the floor, Xander could only pray that Spike would come and save them.

*****

Tara gulped and took a step closer to Spike. The club was crowded with demons. Everywhere she looked there were horns or tentacles. While Tara was not prejudice against demons, unless they were trying to kill her, she nonetheless felt a little uncomfortable around so many of them. "Umm... Spike?"

"Yeah, pet?" Spike asked, his eyes scanning the crowd.

"What exactly are we doing here?" Tara asked, timidly.

"We're going to talk to a guy named Lorne." Spike answered. "Though, I'll tell you now, I am not singing for him again."

Tara felt it best not to respond to that comment and instead followed Spike as he pushed his way through the crowd. They approached the end of the long bar, where a tall green demon stood. The demon glanced at them with red eyes, which matched the red horns protruding from his upper forehead. The demon's eyes widened and he straightened up, adjusting his lilac colored leisure suit in the process.

"Spike, you darling thing you!" He greeted, his face erupting into a bright grin. The expression immediately put Tara at ease. "I can honestly say I never expected to see you again."

"And I never wanted to see you again, either." Spike replied, snidely. "Lorne, perhaps we can take this conversation somewhere... Quiet?"

"Hmm, if you insist, cupcake." Lorne smiled sweetly and gestured for them to follow. They made their way toward the back of the club, where a small booth was tucked into the corner. They could still hear the crowd, and the sight of the current demon on stage singing, but it was much more private. "So, what brings you to my establishment?"

"I noticed Angel's place burned down. Care to tell me what happened?" Spike asked.

"Apparently some big law firm hired this nasty demon to take them out. Burned the place to the ground." Lorne shook his head sadly. "Caught that ex-Watcher of Angel's -- Wesley, I believe. -- inside. Poor guy. He was in the hospital for some time, along with Doyle."

"What happened to Doyle?" Spike asked. Tara could see him thinking, most likely imagining Angel's reaction to this Doyle person being hurt.

"Wolfram and Hart is what happened, sugar plum." Lorne replied. "His visions wouldn't stop, one right after the other. He was in the psyche ward until Angel was able to fix things right again."

"Bloody hell." Spike muttered. "So, you going to tell me where I can find him?"

"Tell you what, sweetie." Lorne leaned forward and looked over at Tara. "You get your cute blonde to sing for me and I'll tell you anything you want."

"Me?" Tara squeaked. Oh, she really wished she had insisted on staying in the car. But Spike would have none of it and demanded that she remain by his side. While she could understand his thinking behind it, for at a time like this the pack needed to remain together, but she had known something was going to happen within this club. "Sing? I-I... I c-can't."

"Well, he can't either, sweet pea." Lorne gestured toward the bulky demon on the stage, who was currently singing 'Singing in the Rain'. "Doesn't really matter. I'll see what I need to see, whether you can carry a tune or not."

"Sing?" Tara repeated. She stared over at Spike, who tried to avoid her gaze. With a defeated sigh, she stood up. It was, after all, for Oz and Xander. She could do this. She could stand in front of a group of strangers and sing for them.

Spike watched her shuffled through the crowd, growling slightly when one demon glanced at her twice. After a few minutes of looking through the music, Tara stepped onto the stage. Spike relaxed back in his chair, pushing the constant fear and anger that came with being separated from Xander to the back of his mind. At that moment in time, he didn't want to think.

Tara's choice in music suddenly drifted out of the speakers. The sound of a piano, along with a melody that held hints of rock music. Spike could see Tara gripping the microphone until her knuckles were white as her eyes met Spike's through the crowd, as though to ground her. Then, Tara's soft soprano voice met his ears.

\So I ran faster, but it caught me here. Yes, my loyalties turned. Like my ankle in the seventh grade; running after Billy, running after the rain.\

"Hmm." Lorne hummed thoughtfully. Spike turned to look at him. "Interesting."

"Bloody hell, what are you yammering on about?" Spike demanded.

"Angel is now at the Hyperion." Lorne informed him, his red eyes wide as he watched Tara on stage. Spike narrowed his own eyes at the reaction.

\These precious things. Let them bleed, let them wash away. These precious things, let them break their hold over me.\

"What do you see?" Spike asked. He didn't look at Lorne and instead watched as most of the demons in the club looked Tara with awed faces. Tara had definitely been wrong, she was an amazing singer.

"She's got a long road ahead of her, cupcake." Lorne informed him.

"Don't call me that." Spike growled.

\He said you're really an ugly girl, but I like the way you play. And I died, but I thanked him. Can you believe that? Sick, sick. Holding on to his picture, dressing up every day. I wanna smash the faces of those beautiful boys, those Christian boys. So you can make me cum? That doesn't make you Jesus.\

Spike's eyes darted quickly to stage when he heard the phrase 'cum'. It sounded weird coming out of Tara's mouth.

"Yes, a rocky road." Lorne commented, more to himself than to Spike.

\These precious things. Let them bleed, let them wash away. These precious things, let them break their hold over me.\

"Care to specify?" Spike asked in agitation.

"Not my place, honey." Lorne replied. "Got to wait until she comes back and then... Well, then I might say something."

"Git." Spike muttered.

\I remember, yes, in my peach party dress. No one dared, no one cared, to tell me where the pretty girls are. Those demigods with their nine-inch nails and little fascist panties tucked inside the heart of every nice girl.\

Lorne finally looked away from Tara and began writing on a napkin. "I can tell you this much, Spike. You will need help. Even you aren't enough to stop the Initiative."

"Why the bloody hell do you think I'm asking for Angel's address?" Spike glared.

\These precious things. Let them bleed, let them wash away. These precious things, let them break their hold over me. Precious, precious.\

"That's not all you need." Lorne leaned toward him, folding the napkin in half as he did so. Neither one noticed as the music changed into something else. "You will need this girl, Spike. Don't let Tara think she isn't enough."

"Are you kidding?" Spike snorted. "She's the best fighter I've got at the moment."

"And so she should be." Lorne nodded, satisfied.

"Umm, Spike?" Tara asked, nervously, as she walked up to their table.

"Hey, pet." Spike greeted with a slight smile. Lorne watched them a moment, before sliding the napkin over to Spike.

"There you go." Lorne said. "For the sake of the world, I hope you get your mates back. The Powers know we don't need you two turning against them."

"T-thank you." Tara stammered as Spike stood. They started to walk away, but were stopped by Lorne's voice.

"Oh, and dandelion?" Lorne smiled at Tara. "You've got to trust your own strength. Don't allow yourself to be pulled down by someone else's power. You're stronger than you realize. Use that to your advantage, okay?"

Tara didn't reply, and instead allowed herself to be pulled away by Spike, confusion written all over her face.