Vikings, Sires and Siblings

part 8

Once everyone was settled in, the extended group headed out on patrol. Angel and Cordelia went with Xander and Spike, and Buffy and the witches went together. As Xander and Spike's place wasn't exactly located in the heart of town, it took them awhile to get to the first of the many cemeteries on their route.

"So, tell me more about this pack of vampires that attacked you the other night."

Angel knew that whoever had sent them meant business. He just couldn't figure which of them was the target. Or whether it was both of them. He thought, perhaps, that it was a challenge; but if it was, the master behind this was a coward. Angelus agreed.

"Not much to tell, really."

Xander shrugged his shoulders.

"The three of us were on patrol - me, Spike and Buffy - and we were attacked. We fought, we won; those that were able to ran off."

"Nothing more?"

"Well... "

"Well what? Xander, it could be important."

"It felt... familiar? Like something I should recognise. I don't know, it was there and then it wasn't."

Spike scowled at his mate.

"And you didn't mention this to me because?"

"I forgot. Really!"

Spike looked sceptical but then shrugged it off.

"So, Peaches. Any clues?"

Angel stilled, sniffed the air and growled softly as his game face appeared.

"Yeah, one. And she's around here somewhere."

"Who?"

"Drusilla."

"Bloody hell."

~!~

Xander was silent as they walked home. They had searched for Dru, but hadn't found her. Angel was adamant that she had been there, that he had sensed her. Xander knew this day would come - that sooner or later Spike's loony ex-girlfriend would come back for him - but he was hoping for later. Much later. As in a century or so later.

Once inside, Xander waved off the others and headed up to his and Spike's room. He walked straight into the bathroom and turned on the hot tub. Once the tub was half full he stripped off, climbed in and closed his eyes. He needed time to be alone - to just think.

If Dru was behind this whole thing, did that mean she was the woman that Spike had fucked in the cemetery that night? If so, what did she think she was going to accomplish with that little stunt? Okay, so yeah, he had flipped out, and then when he thought he had seen Spike in their bed... He'd gone off to end it all. Leaving Spike alone and broken. Where she could just waltz in and pick up the pieces.

"Damn it!"

Xander turned off the taps and submerged himself completely in the water. Not breathing was a handy trait sometimes. He lay there in the watery silence and tried to convince himself that he and Spike were stronger than this. That a century or so together with Dru would make no difference - have no bearing on what Spike felt for him. That he wouldn't be tossed aside for her.

Deep down, he knew that Spike loved him. He knew that because they were mated they couldn't live without each other. But he wanted Spike to be his by choice - not necessity.

~!~

"Is he going to be okay?"

Cordelia was looking up the stairs to where Xander had walked away without a word.

"Maybe I should go talk to him?"

"No, he'll be fine. He just needs time to unwind. He'll take a hot bath and then I'll go see him."

Cordy nodded and headed for the kitchen.

"I'm going to make some hot chocolate. I assume you guys keep that in the house?"

Spike grinned.

"Yep. Little marshmallows, too. In the cupboard above the stove."

"Okay."

As soon as Cordelia left the room, Angel turned and dragged Spike away from the doorway.

"This is dangerous, Spike. Drusilla won't stop until she gets what she wants. She may be insane, but when she wants something, she goes out of her way to get it."

Spike snorted at Angel and pulled away from him.

"You think I don't know that? Christ, Angel, I spent more time with 'er than you ever did."

"She's dangerous."

"I know that too. So am I, though. She won't get a chance to hurt Xander again."

"Then we're agreed?"

"We are. She has to be made to understand - or she has to be dusted."

Spike looked grim but determined. Angel felt awful for him. He knew what it felt like to have to destroy your lover of over a century. At least he had a soul to tell him it was the right thing - to make it feel righteous. All Spike had was an overabundance of love for a man who hadn't even been turned a year yet.

"It'll be okay, Wil. I'll be here for you."

"Thanks, Angel. I'm going to go see how Xander’s doin'. If I don't see you beforehand, I'll see you in the evening."

Spike headed upstairs and Angel headed into the kitchen. He wondered if he could find something stronger than cocoa in there.

~!~

"Xan, love? You in here?"

Spike walked into the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bath. Xander looked up at him from beneath the water and Spike smiled. He waited for his lover to surface before kissing him softly.

"You feelin’ alright?"

"Yeah. Just..."

"Yeah. I get it. You do know that this doesn't change anything, don't you? Her bein' here doesn't mean anything. I want you, love. Only you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Silly git. Scoot forward."

Xander did as asked and Spike stripped off and climbed into the tub behind him.

"No jets tonight?"

"No, I wanted to stare at the ceiling and brood."

Spike chuckled.

"You finished brooding then?"

"Yeah."

"So, can I turn these on?"

Spike tapped the switch that would turn on the jets and leered at his mate. Xander licked his lips and leaned in to kiss him.

"Oh, yeah."

~!~

After walking Cordelia up to her room, Angel retired to his own for the day. He was pleasantly surprised to find a fully stocked bar in the room - something he had overlooked on his first inspection - complete with very expensive Irish Whiskey. He poured himself a glass and sat on the dark purple sofa and tried to come to terms with what was happening.

He knew that Dru would show up sooner or later; he had even warned Xander about that little fact. But this was not her style - it was too... complex for her childish mind to come up with. She was more of a want, take, have personality. This was not her style at all. Which meant she had help. But who? That was what they needed to figure out if they were going to get to the bottom of this.

~!~