Splinter

"Percy, there you are, I was looking for you everywhere... bloody think your poofy assistant was eyein' me!" The three visitors turned as one at the very familiar voice.



"Spike!?!?!?"



The enraged vampire froze in his tracks and sharply turned to see Willow, Xander and Faith gaping at him stunned.



~ Guess whelp kept his mouth shut then. ~



"The First?"



Willow shook her head and whispered back at Faith, her voice hitching, "No, h- he opened the door." Faith nodded with a determined look in her eyes.



Spike's mouth was still moving but doing no more than making a good impression of a fish out of water. Strangely, it was identical to the one Xander had on his face.



Willow had a hand partly over her mouth and her eyes looked surprisingly teary. Faith, on the other hand, quickly shook off her shock and advanced the vampire determinately.



Spike took a few involuntarily steps back. Things happened too fast, none of the Fang Gang were fast enough to stop the brunette slayer's purposeful approach.



She had Spike against the wall and her fist around his shirt's collar in no time. With a strong grip, she pulled.



Faith kissed Spike rather thoroughly mapping out his mouth with her skilled tongue then pulled back while everyone looked on shocked. . . the blond vampire more than anyone else, due to the fact that he was bit lightheaded now. She shrugged. "I hate regretting missed opportunities. And this way I can say I had a go at all the Slayerette men." She gave a significant look to Xander and Angel. She then turned her gaze towards Wesley but waved him off when Fred took a step closer to her boyfriend, possessive look in her eyes. Wesley blushed but inched closer to her as well.



"Oh god!" All eyes turned towards Cordelia. She had what could only be explained as a 'grossed out' look on her face. "You mean… Giles?!"



Faith only shrugged. "One shot of courage and I was all ready!" She smirked. "Should've seen the look on G's face." She shook her head and had a wistful look on her face. "I got a month off from lectures and research sessions coz of that… man, he couldn't look me in the eye for weeks!" She chuckled then twisted her lips in thought. "And Andy bats for the other team so no point there."



"But damn, boy, no wonder B couldn't keep her hands off you!" She turned her gaze back to the horrified vampire who was wiping at his mouth since he heard Faith's announcement about kissing Giles. "Not that I don't want more," she said as she looked Spike up and down biting her lip, dark eyes holding all kinds of promise. "Too bad we're both taken, eh Blondie?" She winked.



Spike blinked and hid the small flinch of hurt over that statement behind a leer. "Well, Pet. I'm not one to complain if you want to see what you're missin'." He raised an eyebrow when he saw her considering the offer. "But… since you happen to mention the Principal… I have something that you can give 'im for me."



Everyone gasped in surprise at Spike as he pulled his coat off.



He handed her the duster. "I won't be needing it no more," he said in explanation to the shocked looks of the people who knew how much that duster meant to him and how it was like a second skin for the vampire. "It should be with him since I took out his mum and all anyway. Just tell your man that he shouldn't try it on... bloody waste to stretch the leather."



Faith ran her hand over the leather with a sad look on her face. "I'll give it to him next time I see him. Word though Blondie, my man no more, we're kinda on a break 'thing'... you know, make sure we covered all our options."



Spike raised his eyebrow. "Don’t tell me you thought you'd try the other track with Red? And can I come?"



"Hey!" Willow exclaimed, finally out of her alarm at seeing Spike alive as well as the double blow of hearing about the man she thought of as a second father to them all in a lip lock with her friend. She walked towards him and punched his arm. "I'll have you know that Faith and Wood are not 'together together' ... because he wanted *her* to be sure … he's still waiting back in Cleveland."



Faith nodded verifying that at Spike's look. "True."



Spike pouted. "Well you have just shattered my best fantasies." He winked at them.



Willow turned red and swatted at him once more but more affectionately this time. Then with more strength than her look implied, she pulled him into a strong hug and held on tightly. Spike was stunned into rigidness for a moment. His arms hovered unsure before making an on the spot call and wrapping them around her somewhat hesitantly. He was astounded to hear her hiccup and sniff against him. He pulled back and raised her tear covered face with his fingers. He frowned at her confused.



"What’s wrong?"



Willow whacked him on the chest. "This is what’s wrong! You're back, alive, or what counts for it in vampy terms and you’re here! Being your non-dusty-world-saving-self and you didn't tell us! WHY?" Her lower lip wobbled and Spike felt his guilt intensify. "It's almost as bad as Angel not telling us that Cordy was in and out of coma. Oh. Wait. It is worse! He knew and he didn't tell us this either!" She turned her accusing eyes at Angel.



Angel was still in shock over Spike giving up his duster, the thing that he was renowned for, back to its rightful owner, an admirable thing to do, but nonetheless not a Spike thing. The blonde-haired vampire was truly moving on and away from him.



He pulled back from the angry look in the green eyes, snapping him back into the harsh reality where his --- no, no longer his, he had given up that right --- where Spike was surrounded by friends, *Angel's* friends – well except Xander who really should close his mouth by now -, and was slowly breaking his ties with Angel and his line. The dark haired vampire swallowed. Per his, Angel's, demand and refusal to reclaim him.



~ What more does he need to do? He gave up his duster… next thing he'd shave his head! ~



"Angel, stop looking at Spike's hair and tell me why you didn't tell us he was back!"



Before Angel could form a sentence, the unexpected response came to his rescue. "Red, you're not gonna get anythin' from Captain Forehead, his head is in the sky." Spike didn't mention that the last thing Angel obviously wanted to talk about was him. "Besides I didn't want anyone to know."



Willow narrowed her eyes in displeasure, yet, she still looked hurt by that statement at the same time. "Why Spike? I mean I know we didn't seem to be there for you last year. We barely were there for each other all lost in our own problems, but that doesn't mean you shut us out. We're all part of the same gang … the same fight." Her eyes welled with tears once more. "We thought we lost one of our family."



Spike's face was blank. This was a shock to him to say the least. No one had ever showed this much distress over his existence, or lack of it.



"Better not make Willow cry, Bleach Head!"



Spike's face snapped up and he readied himself for the verbal attack Xander was sure to give him.



Angel looked at Xander awaiting the same thing. At least now, the boy had his mouth closed. It had been much too temping while it was open. The dark-haired vampire eyed the stapler on his desk. Another time perhaps.



Xander stepped next to Willow and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her to him comfortingly. Then he poked his finger at Spike.



"Just because you came back from dust-bin size doesn't mean that you can decline Willow's offer of the Scooby adoption. Although that happened a long time ago… guess your certificate got lost in the mail."



~ First Ray now the Scoobies… maybe burning up to save the world could add up to something good after all ~



"Well?" Xander tilted his head. "You were gonna give us a good explanations to why you not only neglected to tell us the news that your undead ass is back but made Andrew do the impossible, right? I mean I really gotta hear this!"



"Yeah Slim, what about B?" Faith hedged. ~ From the way Andy-boy said it, those two were even more R&J than Buffy and Angel, why wouldn't he jump at the chance to be with her? ~



Spike lowered his head. He could feel everyone's attention on him. He knew that each one of them thought the same thing all the time he was back. It was an unspoken question. Why wasn't he back at Buffy's side? He knew it would make them even more confused at his actions, or lack of them, if they knew about Buffy's declaration of love before he died. However, he wouldn't lower himself to feel their pity, so he never mentioned it. That was due to the reason that they would realize the same thing he had; Buffy had only told him that she loved him to make him feel good, happy, since he was about to burn to his death. It had. It showed him how much Buffy cared for him, but he knew it wasn't love, or the kind he wanted from her.



Now all eyes were on him awaiting him to explain *why* he hadn't hopped on the next plane/boat and into her arms. Except he had to forgo mentioning the fact that he *couldn't* face her knowing that she had lied to him or even succumb to the urge to make Buffy hold her end of her declaration. He couldn't do that. He couldn't hold her again like that night and be happy with both of them lying to themselves. Also, he couldn't tell them the 'other reason' to why he had stayed, there was NO way that would come out of his mouth, especially now.



He looked sideways at Angel who didn't even acknowledge him like usual by at least getting up from his desk and looming over him all self-righteous intimidation. Spike had to hold on to what *little* self-esteem he had left. Half-truths would have to be enough.



~ Good thing Green-jeans isn't here or he'd sniff me out even without a bloody song in my heart. ~



He raised his eyes and looked into Willow's. "It's not like I didn't think of it, luv. I was half way over there more than once, wasted more than one boat ticket at that. But every time I got to thinkin'. A man can't go out in a bloody blaze of glory, savin' the world, and then show up months later, tumbling off a cruise ship in the south of France or whatever country she--- uh, you all were ambling along. I mean, I would've loved to, don't get me wrong, to see the looks on your faces realizin' that you can never rid of my fine arse, but, uh, it's hard to top an exit like that." He smiled sheepishly.



Willow rolled her eyes. "Come on, we wouldn't say that!"



Xander coughed.



She poked him in the side and he flinched away painfully. "Well, maybe Xander, but he's always like that. As for the topping the exit… girls don't care about stuff like that. Just one look at you, and Buffy'll forget herself, and she'll get all tingly, and it won't matter that you went out in a poof of glory and came back a walking hero."



Willow looked at Spike hard. She raised her eyebrows meaningfully, she didn't let it slip by her that he had tried to bypass mentioning Buffy.



"Actually, there wasn't much walking. There were flashy burning lights and sm…" Willow narrowed her eyes. He sighed in resignation that he wasn't going to escape at least this. "I expect Buffy would be happy enough to see me. It's just, I gave up my life for her, the world, and if I show up now, flesh and bone, my grand finale won't hold much weight. All of it... won't matter."



Willow's eyes softened. "It still matters, Spike. We're still here because of you." She slipped out of Xander's hold and hugged the vampire once more, she whispered, "You matter, Spike."



She pulled back with a small smile in her face. Spike returned the smile and quickly blinked away something that wasn't even there.



Faith lightly punched Spike.



"Well, look at you being all hero shy wrapped up in a yummy bod'… the slayer-chicklets would flip when they see you!"



Spike felt himself relax. That went better than he expected. However, from the looks in Xander, Willow and Faith's eyes, he wasn't going to get out of making a visit to the Watcher Headquarters. He knew that was something he had to do sooner or later when he was found out. Now especially since this thing with Raven happened. If his fellow vampire was serious about starting a new era between the Old Vampires and The Slayers with Spike as the intermediary, eventually he had to face the fact that he would have to meet Buffy and the others.



~ Speaking of that. ~



Spike looked anywhere but at Angel. He could feel the anger rolling off the older vampire and lately it seemed that he was always the reason. He needed to get what he came for and leave before Angel disowned him once more and this time flat out in front of the Scoobies. The blond was afraid that they would also see what Angel saw, that he wasn't worthy of anyone's affection much less that of people he had tried to kill countless times. He snapped his fingers in front of Wesley to break the dreamy look the watcher had over Fred's possessive hold on him, who was still standing strategically between her boyfriend and Faith.



"Eh, Percy. If you ain't got anything short of snogging the slayer…" Fred glared at Spike for that statement, he ignored her but felt his demon purr in satisfaction. He knew his fellow Englishman would thank him for this after what the little scientist would have in store for him tonight. "I'm in need of your fancy book."



Wesley instantly found himself in watcher mode as he unconsciously patted Fred's hand reassuringly.



"The Summoning Book? Of course. It's in my office… do you need it for anything specific?"



Spike seemed uncomfortable sparing a small glance towards a glowering Angel. "Uh, yeah. You might offer some assistance in that department…" He left the ex-watcher to finish the request.



Wesley, like everyone else, caught that look but only the L.A. residents understood where he was heading.



The stench of anger increased



"Certainly. Now?"



Spike shrugged seemingly unconcerned, yet secretly hoping for concurrence.



Wesley, after the time spent in Spike's presence, found the blond vampire to be an easy creature to read if one only looked in his eyes. He never seemed to be able to hide his true feelings when he didn't avoid his gaze. Wesley momentarily wondered if this was the case as well when he didn't possess as soul. He reserved the right to ask one of the recent visitors of that. Nevertheless, in the present moment he focused on helping his friend.



He nodded.



"Let’s go."



A genuine smile appeared on Spike's face and the English man was struck on how easy it was to make the vampire happy.



Spike looked towards the three Scoobies. "I'm guessing you'll be staying here for a while? We'll have to have a long chat, eh?"



Willow nodded, looking confused from Wesley to Spike and wondering when it became them that got shut out not the other way around. "Yeah, we were telling Angel that we were here to recruit a slayer, we'll be leaving to go back to England in a few days."



Spike nodded. "I trust that you can handle a puny new slayer." He smiled knowingly at Faith and Willow but didn’t press for more.



"And I found what I came for," Xander cut in.



Blue eyes bore into a brown one. "And what may that be?"



Xander faced him with a blank face. "You." Then he grinned when Spike's face showed shock. He allowed himself to soak the feeling of being in power for a few moments then explained, "Andrew was withholding on his storytelling duties… and I knew something short of the world ending would make him pull off zipping his mouth that tight."



Spike's confusion faded and instead he looked impressed. "Well you gotta hand it to the little guy." He chuckled and raised his eyebrow. "And I guess you took it upon yourself to see what he was hiding?"



Xander shrugged. "What can I say? Hunting down rouge slayers around the world to be trained by the New Watchers Council got dull after a while, a little investigative reporting sounded refreshing."



Spike snorted. "Yeah, you're a regular CK." He shared a grin with Xander. Well, this was not how he expected them finding out about him to turn out at all!



Angel was getting annoyed. First, Andrew physically melded himself to Spike, then Faith stuck her tongue down Spike's throat, then Willow practically adopted Spike into her family and now he was sharing secretive smiles with Xander Harris! Not to mention Spike all but spouting poetry about Buffy.



~ And why didn’t I ever ask him why he never left? The gang mentioned something about that a while back… ~ Angel frowned trying to remember. His train of thought was broken when Spike and Xander chuckled as if silently sharing something only they knew.



"What the Hell are you two talking about?" Angel all but growled. He wanted to get up and strangle Xander. He could do it. He was a Master vampire, swift and fast. He couldn't believe that only a moment ago he was thinking about changing his views towards the boy. He could outrun Faith and snap the annoying boy's neck before even Willow would be able to murmur a spell. He started to stand before his foot made its presence known, his stuck foot. He settled for digging his fingers in the wooden desk picturing a soft breakable neck in its place, the desk was going to be replaced either way.



Xander and Spike jumped at the yell and noticed everyone looking at them in confusion as well, everyone save for Gunn, Fred and Willow. The two blushed and looked away. Spike rubbed the back of his neck embarrassed to be caught in this situation and Xander repeated a mantra in his brain 'I saved the world… I have a cool eye patch…'



Angel felt his blood boil. What the Hell? They were blushing! There was defiantly something there. And what were Willow, Fred and Gunn grinning about? Were they in on it too? He would bet his fancy blood that if Lorne were here he would be sharing the same understanding looks with those three. His 'list' was growing; Angelus was truly closer to the surface than he ever was before.



Before Angel could say anything, Cordelia beat him to it, a flash of understanding in her eyes and not a little disgust, "God, Xander, don't you ever grow up? I'm ashamed to admit I caught Spike's totally geeky reference… but I hold the blame to you, it's like I have this terminal case of Dorkdom stench that can never be washed out... geek cooties!" Xander grinned sheepishly. "But c'mon, Superman? How old are you, five?!" She spread the exasperated look at both squirming men.



"Oi, I had nothing better to do while he tied me down in his basement than to read his poncy comics!" Spike pointed the finger of blame at Xander.



Angel felt his blood freeze and burn at the same time. What was the human boy doing tying up what was his?! He bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from saying just that. Spike wasn't his anymore. And why did he keep reminding himself that? It only served to remind him that he had chosen to push his grandchilde away. Spike didn’t choose to leave, Hrafen didn't steal him but Angel virtually disowned him. Why did he do that again?



The dark vampire was lost in his thoughts with only the sounds of the two most annoying beings of his existence arguing. What was worse, their voices were tainted with mirth, like it was an old game between them, something that came second nature when they were around each other.



"I sure didn't put a stake to your heart to read them! Besides you liked it because you rooted for Lex Luthor," Xander countered.



Spike grinned at that, a look of reminisce in his eyes. "Oh, yeah, damn evil he was." Then he sobered up. "Besides it was your darling Clark that helped him on his path to evil-hood not trusting him even though the bloke was 'is best friend!"



Xander sighed and shook his finger like this was something they went over more times than anyone could count. "You're confusing T.V. with comic again. Wait, when did you start watching the new one?"



The rest of the room was following the interaction like an amusing game of tennis.



Spike huffed hiding his blush at being caught. "They’re all the same, though if they follow this like it suppose' to they might not end up nemeses…"



Before Xander could retort with a clear long tirade, if the long breath he had taken indicating anything, Wesley cut in exasperated, "As riveting as this might seem, and how it proved to me that all times you defeated me in chess were meager flukes, Spike, you required something?" He crossed his arms and nodded discreetly at Angel's direction.



"Uh, right." Spike's grim mood returned. He reserved a small smile for the Scoobies. "Talk later? Don't broadcast my return just yet… there's something I need to talk to you about."



The three nodded.



Cordelia's eyes widened as she watched the two English men exit the office through the door which opened the view to Harmony talking with a couple of maintenance men waving her arms around passionately alternating from pointing at her hair and at the direction of the office.



~ Oh God I almost forgot! Better hurry before all hell breaks loose… ~



The actress jumped into action. She clapped her hands to bring everyone's attention. "Okay… people! I'm going to take you all to the best restaurant where you can schmooze with the stars!" Before anyone could reply, she started pushing them out the door giving a hastened, "Bye Angel!" and closing the door behind her.



She took a deep calming breath as everyone moved, conversing to each other, towards the elevator. Willow and Fred were chatting about some computer thing whilst Xander had his arm over Gunn's shoulder and was complementing him on his Cheerleader handling methods. Faith walked next to her.



Cordelia approached Harmony and the two men. She pointed to the office. "Don't go in there until the elevator doors close behind us and the blinky number shows that we reached the ground floor safely."



She noticed Faith's raised eyebrow waiting for an explanation. Cordelia led the way where the others were holding the automatic doors open for them. She grinned secretly watched the doors close after they entered.



"I'll tell you when we're a safe distance away from danger."



Faith shook her head chucking causing everyone to tune in. "This sounds good!"