Two vamps, a girl, and a prophecy

Summary: What happens to Spike (and Angel) after ‘Not Fade Away.’
Rating: NC-17 Explicit sexual descriptions (later on), some language.
Pairings: Dawn/Spike, with a small side of Buffy/Xander.
Feedback: Yes, please. This is my first time posting a fic, so be gentle!
Archive? : Ask me first.
Beta: I need one!
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em. I’m just borrowing them for a while since Joss isn’t using them anymore. If I was making any money off of this, I would own a much better laptop!!!

Chapter 9

Dawn ducked under his arm and slipped into the room. “Yeah, this is a lot better.” She confirmed, sitting on the bed beside the sleeping vampire. His burns were red, blistered and peeling heavily around the edges, but there were no longer any open sores, and the healthy areas (as healthy as dead flesh can be) were now much larger than they had been the night before. “Of course, you didn’t see how horrible he looked before; this is pretty bad, I guess.” She conceded when they all looked at her in disbelief.

“If you’re going to talk about me like I can’t hear you, at least try to be nice,” Angel snickered, opening his eyes and smiling at Dawn.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” She asked cheerfully. “You really do look much better.”

“I feel much better, thanks to you.” He replied, reaching out and patting her hand. “How is Spike?” He asked, looking around at the rest of the group.

Willow moved further into the room and sat down on the other side of the bed. “What do you know about dragon poison?”

“Not much,” He admitted, with obvious frustration. “I know it’s instantly fatal to humans, and to several species of demons. And I know it’s making Spike’s blood taste like…” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat embarrassedly. “It’s making him taste like dust.”

“No!” All three women gasped in dismay, and Xander ducked his head, looking apalled.

“Do you know of anything that can help him?” Giles asked shortly.

“Don’t you?!” Dawn demanded impatiently.

Blatantly ignoring her, Giles repeated, “Angel, do you know of anything?” At the vampire’s questioning look he explained, “I didn’t know about the dragon, but Althenea, the head of the coven, pulled me aside at the airport and told me that you would be able to cure him.” He smiled self deprecatingly. “She’s a gifted psychic, but I’ll be buggered if I know what she’s talking about half the time.”

“I’m sorry, Giles. I’ve never heard of any cure for dragon venom. Like I said, as far as I know, most species that are susceptible die instantly,” Angel’s muttered, looking defeated.

Giles nodded and patted the vampire gently on the arm. “Try not to get too upset. You won’t do yourself or Spike any good…you need to heal.”

“I want to help him!” Angel protested. “Let me help you search for a cure.”

“Angel,” Willow leaned over and gently caressed the vampire’s cheek. “There is one way you can help him.” She waited until she had his attention before continuing. “You can feed him.”

Angel stared at her blankly for a moment, then his face lit up with comprehension. “Sire’s blood.” He murmured, nodding eagerly. “I can do that.”

“Not yet you can’t,” Buffy said admonishingly. “You need human blood…Slayer blood. Your blood won’t do him any good until you’re healthy yourself.”

Angel scowled, but nodded his assent. “You should save your blood for Spike. I think he needs it more than I do, and it’s the best thing for him, next to my blood.”

Buffy looked at Giles, who nodded affirmatively. “Okay, I’ll go see if I can get him to feed again.” She agreed. “Meanwhile, you should eat too.” She added, giving him a meaningful look.

Angel looked ruefully at the rest of the group after Buffy and Xander left the room together. Dawn shifted deliberately toward him, and Angel shook his head. “Not you. You had your turn a few hours ago.”

“I’ll go next,” Giles offered, stepping forward. “When we’re done I’ll go call Althenea and ask her for a less arcane clue as to what this cure might be.” He smiled regretfully and rolled his eyes.

Dawn slid to the foot of the bed so Giles could sit next to Angel on the bed. She watched curiously as Angel carefully sank his fangs into the Englishman’s wrist, but there was no evidence that the vampire’s bite had the same effect on Giles that she had experienced. Dawn glanced at Angel, who was looking at her while he fed. Their eyes met, and she shivered slightly under his intense gaze, clearing her throat uncomfortably.

Angel chose just then to release the older (or younger) man’s arm, quickly licking the wound shut. He smiled gratefully up at him, murmuring, “Thank you, Giles.”

Giles nodded his head brusquely. “You’re welcome, Angel.” Turning to Willow he said, “I’ll be in the living room.”

“Okay,” Willow smiled warmly at him, then glanced quickly at Dawn. Turning back to Giles she said, “Tell Buffy I’ll be out in a bit.”

“Of course,” Giles smiled and turned to Dawn. “Coming with?”

“Giles,” She rolled her eyes. “Your California years are showing.”

When Willow, Dawn, and Angel were unable to stop laughing after several seconds had passed, Giles threw up his hands in defeat and quickly left the room, muttering something about picking up bad habits from ‘uncivilized children.’

“Are you still hungry, Angel?” Willow asked, when she was finally able to draw enough breath to speak.

“Uh, yeah,” He ducked his head embarrassedly. “I’m sorry.”

“No! No, don’t worry, it’s fine. I was just thinking maybe we could try something…” Willow smiled reassuringly at him. “With Dawn.” She added.