Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name.

Author: Purpledodah
Fandom: Ats human AU.
Pairing: S/A W/X
Rating will be nc17
Disclaimer: Not mine, they got off at my bus stop.
Warnings: m/m slash. Angst, some violence and drug abuse.
Feedback? Yes please.
Summary: Angel is a homeless street kid, Spike is a New York cop.

This was written for a challenge set by katsa db lover over on strip off angel


Many thanks to rockstarpeach for the super fast beta, sablerose2 for the help with Dru, and w6c who did some research for me.

Chapter 7




Angel was obviously confused so Doyle had a go at explaining. The look on Angel’s face broke his heart, and when Angel whispered “You didn’t trust me enough to tell me ?” to Doyle, and Doyle stammered for an answer, Spike decided to step in.
Taking Angel into his living room, leaving the others to explain what was going on to Xander, as he said he at least had the right to know what Spike and Wes had decided he wasn’t going to be doing.

“Sit down kid” Spike said, sitting on the couch himself. Angel just stood there, so Spike patted the couch “I’ll get a crick in me neck lookin’ up at ya”. Angel smiled shyly and sat next to him.

“I know all this is a shock. But don’t be hard on Doyle, he did what he thought was right, what would keep you safe. God knows how he thought he could stop the Master from finally demanding to have you. Maybe he was waiting for help.” Spike looked at Angel. Angel shrugged, so Spike carried on.
“Sometimes, when you really love someone you make stupid mistakes. You keep things from them, not because you don’t trust them, but because you want to spare them the upset or the pain of knowing.”
Angle nodded sadly. “I can understand that sir.”
“Doyle does trust you. He said you are all he’s got. He doesn’t care what happens to himself, just you. That’s rare Angel, very rare.” Spike’s voice was quiet but Angel easily heard him, despite the raised voices in the kitchen.
“Now I have made Doyle a promise, one I intend to keep. I need your help though”.
“Oh of course, I’ll do anything to help sir”
“I promised to keep you safe, to do that you need to stay here, with me. Think ya can do that?”
Angel’s mind was in turmoil. Finding out he was in danger, and all the stuff about the master and the drugs had really thrown him. And now he was being asked to stay here, with Spike? Half of him wanted to scream ‘yes’ he would be close to this fascinating beautiful man. The other half wanted to hide away, he was a homeless bum, used to living on the streets. He wasn’t good enough to stay here.
“You wouldn’t want me here sir, I..” Angel began.
“Don’t go there Angel. It was my idea okay? If I had any doubts all I would have to have done was have the boss put you in a safe house.” He paused, wondering if Angel would think him daft. “Dru, well when she told me stuff like saying I was to help you, and look after ya, well I take things like that seriously. She had a reason for saying that, so I’m not going pass you off to someone else, unless that is what you want.”

Angel shook his head. “If I can’t go back to the squat, I don’t want to be sent away with strangers sir”.
“Good lad.” Spike leaned over and ruffled Angels hair, Angel blushed. “Not sure how long this is all gonna take, could be over in days, could be a few weeks. Thing is though, no matter how long it takes, you can’t go out, got me?”
“Yes sir, but what will I do?”
“Er watch dodgy TV, do your art, whatever, we can figure that out later. You got much stuff of your own at this squat?”
“No, not really. Few books, couple of photos and my art things.”
“I’ll tell em to make sure they grab it then”
“Why can’t I go? Why can’t you pretend to arrest me sir?”
Spike sighed. “Simple reason is so no one, cops included get a good look at ya. This Master, we have been after him for ages, he has spies everywhere, even on the force. We haven’t caught who it is yet, we will, but till then you’re not safe down the station.”
“Will whoever does it be safe sir?” Angel didn’t like the idea of someone being in danger because of him.
“Should be. The plan is the look-alike is bundled in the back of a car, taken to the station, makes a ‘confession’ to being involved then gets sent to a detention centre. Of course they will never get to the detention centre, but no one at the station will know that.” Unless they ended up using another cop in place of Angel, and that could be where the plan fucked up. Who could they trust?

Angel looked at Spike his brown eyes huge. “You and your friends are going to a lot of trouble for me. Maybe I should just let Doyle hand me over, be less trouble that way.”
“Hey now kid, don’t think like that. This is my job, protecting the innocent, including you. I’d do this even if you hadn’t helped my Dru, understand me?” Angel nodded. “Good, we need to catch this guy pet, so he doesn’t hurt more people. He’s bad news, dangerous. Doyle must have more lives than a cat to have survived so long. No way in hell are you going anywhere near him, even if that means I got ta tie you up so ya don’t try something heroic. You going over there could set off a whole chain of events that lead to others getting hurt, cos I bet Doyle would be right there trying to save ya, no matter the cost to himself”.
Angel’s eyes went even wider. “I wouldn’t want to be the reason Doyle got in any more trouble.”
Spike nodded, he was getting a big soft spot for this kid and his big brown eyes. “Then just stay with me, keep your head down, yeah?” He smiled as Angel smiled shyly at him.
“Right, it’s gone very quiet out there, lets go see who’s killed who” Spike jumped off the couch and as Angel stood to follow him he put an arm around Angel’s shoulder, squeezing lightly. “Play nice with Doyle” he whispered, Angel snickered. “Yes sir”


Spike looked around the faces at his table. “Ok who farted and won’t own up?”
Wes sighed. Xander rolled his eyes. Darla and Lindsey avoided looking at any one. Doyle had eyes only for Angel, the relief on his face when Angel sat by him.
“I’m waiting” Spike looked right at Wes, expecting his partner to let him in on what was going on.
“Xander wants to play cops and robbers. He will not listen to reason” Wes was upset.
Spike could understand, obviously Darla and Lindsey thought Xander should do it.
“That right Xan?”
“Yeah, I’ll be safe. I get to be ‘locked up’ wear hand cuffs. Wes will be there. A quick change of clothes and I’m on the way home.” Xander really wanted to help out.
“You thought this through Xan?” Spike asked him.
“I have. Look, all I have to do is wear Angel’s clothes, sneak out the back way with Doyle. We walk to their place, pack up Angel’s things while we wait. Then Wes and these two can come arrest me. What can happen Spike? No one is likely to stop Angel being arrested. Then once it’s done we know he’s safe. Which, may I add is the whole point of the exercise.” Xander looked at Wes, with lust filled eyes. “Go on baby, arrest me. I won’t resist, much.”
Wes blushed furiously, but chuckled. Then he sighed. “Spike do you think Xander would be safe?”
“Long as no one knows the truth. The three of you could leave here, if asked by any other officers you were acting on a tip off one of the guys at the shelter gave me. No need for uniform then.”

“You had best swap clothes with Angel then Xander.” Wes whispered.
Xander whooped, stood up and headed for Spike’s bedroom. “Come on big guy, let’s get stripped off.”
Angel blushed and stood up, following Xan.

Spike followed them not sure why he was doing it. He watched them take off their coats. “Your jeans are almost the same shade of tatty faded blue, no need to swap them. Xan take your pinky ring off. Angel give Xan ya hat and scarf.” Spike tilted his head as he looked Xan over with a critical eye. He pulled the hat lower down on Xan’s forehead, flicked the hood up to cover it, and tied the scarf the way Angel had been wearing it earlier.
“Angel, go in the hall and walk up and down for me”
Spike and Xan watched as he walked. Spike knew Xander’s walk. “Ya gonna have to walk a bit heavier Xan. Keep ya hands in the coat pockets.” Luckily Angel and Xan were the same height, Xander was just a bit more solid, but Spike thought if someone actually fed the kid he’d fill out and be more Xan’s build. The coat was padded, so hid Xan’s extra bulk.
Xan took his turn walking up and down the hall. Wes came to see what they were up to. He smiled his thanks at Spike, as Spike coached Xan until he had Angel’s walk almost perfect.

“Show time kiddies” Spike announced satisfied Xander was fit to go. Spike fitted Xan with a small two way radio, hiding the unit in the coat’s inside pocket, and disguising the wire with Xan’s long hair and hiding the ear piece which was also the microphone under the hat. Spike patiently showed Xan how it worked, explaining Wes, Darla, Lindsey and himself would all be able to hear Xander. Doyle was given a hand held to stick in his pocket for just in case. Hopefully the radios would not be needed, but they were erring on the side of caution.
Wes was still understandably concerned, so was Spike, but Xander’s enthusiasm made them both smile. To them this was standard stuff, to Xander it was an adventure.

Xander pulled Wes aside, hugging him tight. “I’ll be fine baby, got you for back up.” Wes was kissed thoroughly. “You can cuff me later too, take me prisoner in your bed.” Wes groaned as Xan teased him.

Darla and Lindsey had been going over details with Doyle, not just for the phoney arrest, but for what Doyle would do later. He had the radio for now, but they got Spike to get out his box of tricks, and Doyle was soon kitted out with a wire. Now they would be able to hear him wherever he went. It was too dangerous letting him walk around all over with the radio.

In a flurry of movement Wes, Xan and Doyle left, going out the back way. Wes would trail them in his car, in case any one decided to take Angel to the Master early.