A Viking in L A

Part 7

As soon as the car slowed down enough Xander jumped out and ran toward the front of the old building. He flung open the door and quickly searched the room for Spike. He wasn't in sight. Xander roared in frustration and moved further into the building. He heard the others come in behind him but didn't wait on them to catch up. He found a set of stairs on the far side of the room and flew up them at break-neck speed.

There were two humans in the doorway but Xander wasted no time on them, merely grabbing them both and throwing them down the stairs. He'd let Angel and his crew deal with them. He only wanted to get to Spike.

Spike was practically unconscious, he had been beaten, burned, cut open, and hung up to wait for sunrise. He knew that he would be dust in a few hours, the giant gaping hole in the wall beside him was on the east side of the building and he was shackled to a beam on the ceiling. He heard noise from downstairs and thought it was his abductors coming back to play some more. Then he heard the roar of his mate. His Xander had come for him. He was relieved but not strong enough to call out for him.

Angel found the two men lying crumpled at the foot of the stairs. They would live. He was almost disappointed. He dragged them out back of the building and tied them up. He'd send Gunn and Wesley back later to check if they were still here.

Xander could smell his mates blood as soon as he was at the top of the stairs. It was dry, and had been for hours. He followed the scent and it led him to his lover. When he saw the condition his lover was in he let out another howl of rage before swiftly crossing to his lovers side. He grabbed the chain that suspended his mate from the ceiling and tore it down. Spike had been stripped naked and he was covered in various burns and cuts all over his body. Xander took off his coat and wrapped it around his mate. He scooped Spike up into his arms and carried him down the stairs and out to Angels car. No one came near him.

Angel gave his keys to Cordelia and told her to drive. He slid into the back seat with a growling snarling Xander and an unconscious Spike. Wesley and Gunn squeezed into the front with Cordy. Angel tried to calm Xander but he knew he wasn't listening. Finally he managed to get his attention by stating that Spike needed to feed or he could be in serious danger. Xanders' yellow eyes flickered to Angel and then to Spike. He knew that Angel was right, he needed to get blood into Spike and fast.

Given his options, which were few, he cradled Spike closer to himself and cut a deep gouge into his own neck. He pressed his lovers face to the wound and sighed in relief when he felt Spike begin to pull at his blood. He wrapped his arms protectively around his mate and kept a weary eye on the other vampire in the backseat. He knew that Angel would have offered his blood to Spike as well, but Xander was feeling extremely possessive right now and didn't want the other man anywhere near his mate. Spike could drain him before he would allow Angel to get close.

Spike felt the protective embrace his mate was holding him in. He knew he was safe now and so he allowed himself to pass out. When he woke again it was to the feel of motion, and the taste of blood. Xanders blood. He quickly realized that they were in a car, Angels most likely and that Xander had cut himself to feed him. He tried to stop before draining his love too badly but when he went to pull away Xanders hand held him there firmly, pushing him further into his neck. Spike was far too weak still to put up much of a fight, so he dropped his fangs and bit into his mate over the rapidly healing cut. He drank deeply of the potent blood of his lover.

Xander felt Spike's teeth slice through his flesh and immediately began to calm. If Spike was able to bite him, to feed for himself then he would be alright. He glanced over at Angel and saw that the older vampire was watching him with an odd expression on his face. He thought over everything he'd said or done that night. He had threatened Angel, swore to kill the men who took Spike, and pretty much went all grr at everyone. Well what did they expect? He was a vampire! Okay, yeah so he was still Xander, he had his soul, but really, he was always this way. Protective of his 'pack' and Spike was his mate for God sake. Like Angel wouldn't have done that for Buffy once upon a time, or for Cordy now.

Xander's eyes closed as he began to feel light headed from blood loss. He knew that he should stop Spike from drinking but he was too concerned with his mate's health to do it. He held Spike tightly and began to drift into blackness. Angel watched Xander pass out and only then did he dare to touch Spike. He gently pulled on Spike's shoulder, trying to pry him from Xander's neck. When that didn't work he spoke to him in a low voice, hoping Xander wouldn't hear.

"Spike, William, you have to stop now."

Spike didn't respond, he kept drinking.

"Spike. Xander is unconscious. He's lost too much blood. You have to stop."

That got Spike's attention. He lifted his head from Xanders neck and looked between his mate and his Sire. He saw how pale Xander looked and he felt horrible. He turned his attention to Angel.

"Will he be alright? Did I hurt him?"

"No, he'll be fine. Just, he'll need to feed when we get back to the hotel. Are you okay?"

"M'fine peaches. Just worried about Xander. How'd you guys find me?"

"Cordelia had a vision."

"'Bout me? Since when do the powers give a rat's ass 'bout me?"

"Since now apparently. William, Xander really loves you."

"I know that Sire."

"Do you? He threatened to rip my throat out tonight. And he swore death to the people who took you. He went crazy when he found out you had been taken."

"What did you do to piss him off?"

"Nothing. Just told him to calm himself or I'd go with out him. Next thing I know I'm up against a wall with his fangs at my throat. He would have done it too."

"I told you, he loves me."

"That's not human love Spike. He loves you like a demon loves. Possessively."

"It's more than that, it's both. Xander loves me with his whole heart, soul and demon combined. I love him too, the only way I know how. Completely."

"But I have a soul and a demon, I never behaved that way about anyone. Not even Buffy."

"You weren't listening. He loves me completely. Demon and soul. You loved the slayer with everything in your soul but Angelus hated her. He would never have accepted her as a mate, she's a slayer. She never accepted your baser nature, always pretended you were a man and not a demon with a soul. I know what my mate is and I love and accept him completely, wouldn't change him if I could. That's what makes the difference."

"So you're saying that Buffy could never be my mate? Even if I found a way to make my soul permanent?"
"No, she could be your soul-mate, but she'd never be your true mate. Not the way I am to Xander. Your secretary on the other hand ..."

"Drop it William!"

"Sure peaches."

The rest of the trip back was made in silence. When they got to the hotel Spike slid out of Xanders arms and made sure the coat was securely fastened before lifting Xander out of the car and carrying him inside. Angel had offered to help, but Spike had pointed out that if Xander were to awaken to find himself being carried by Angel it probably wouldn't go over well considering the nights earlier activities.

Spike took Xander up to their room and laid him out on the bed. He moved the clothing that Xander had obviously put out earlier over to the dresser. Just as he was pulling on a pair of jeans Angel knocked on the door and gently opened it. He stepped inside the room with a tray loaded down with blood.

"I thought I could at least bring you guys some blood."

"Thanks Angel. What do you mean at least?"

"Well, I wasn't very instrumental to your rescue. Hell, I could have given Xander my car and directions, that's how much the rest of us were needed."

"Have you seen him drive when he's upset? I'd still be hangin' there waiting for sunrise while he was busy trying to unwrap yer car from a tree or a post somewhere."

Angel set the tray down and looked at his Childe seriously.

"I would be honored if you would allow me to accept Xander into our family as your Sire. I know that traditionally Dru would be the one to perform such a ceremony as she is your blood Sire, or even Angelus would have the right by claiming you. I'm not Angelus, but I still feel like your Sire, I still love you. I would like to acknowledge your claim on Xander and his on you."

Spike was stunned. He never imagined he would have the mating ceremony. Dru would never allow him to take someone other than her as mate, and their mating was not recognized by their order because Angelus would not give up his position as alpha over Dru. Angelus was not here to grant such permission, and if he were he would not approve of Xander because he was souled and a friend of the slayer. Angel was offering something that he thought was impossible to him a few minutes before.

"I'd like that Sire. I need to ask Xander first. He might not want to make it so ... formal."

"I think you're wrong, but ask him. I'll be downstairs when you decide."

Angel turned and left the room. Spike lied down on the bed with his mate and stroked Xanders face lightly with his fingertips. He needed to wake him but he didn't want to startle him either.

"Xander, luv, wake up. You need to eat something pet. You're pale as a ghost."

"Mmm. Spike?"

"I'm here luv, come on. Time to eat."

"You're okay? All better?"

"M'fine luv, thanks to you. You shouldn't have let me take so much, I nearly drained you."

"But you didn't. You stopped."

"Peaches stopped me. Told me you'd passed out, I didn't realize I had taken so much."

"I knew Angel was there, I was safe from you draining me."

Spike helped Xander to sit up and brought him the first mug full of blood. Xander drank it quickly so as not to taste it. He handed the mug back to Spike and took the next one drinking it quickly as well. He managed to drink all six of the mugs even though he hated the taste. He needed it so he drank it. Spike put the last mug back on the tray and then sat next to his lover on the bed. He told Xander what Angel had said about accepting him into the family as Spike's mate and that he wanted to do it but not if Xander didn't.

"What does it mean Spike?"

"It means that your mine. That I'm yours."

"We already are."
"To each other and to our friends, to a room full of demons at Willy's. But to the average demon walking down the street it means jack. If you're out on your own, and some demon takes a fancy to you they don't know that you're taken, same as me. We don't have a signature, a scent marker."

"A scent marker?"
"Yeah. I mean you smell like me and I smell like you because of sex, but after a shower, or being outside on a windy night, the scent fades. This is permanent. It sends off a sort of signal, basically that we're off the market, that we're exclusive."

"We are."

"I know. What we have right now is fine, if you don't want to do this it's okay ..."

"I didn't say that. I just want to understand why Angel saying it's okay changes anything."

"Oh. Uh, it's like the difference between a marriage and a commitment ceremony. When the witches tie the knot it will be all nice and lovey and it will mean something to them and the rest of us. But to the world at large it won't mean a damn thing because it isn't legal. What we have right now is like a commitment ceremony, it means something to us and our friends, but not to the world. If we go through with the ritual, it would be like a marriage. Every demon we ever meet would recognize us as a couple immediately."

"So, you're like ... proposing to me?"

"Yeah, ya git. I am."

"Then I accept. But as the wife you have to wear the dress ... Martha."