The cab driver continued to swear as he pulled over to the curb. He hated these American traffic jams and their stupid driving, but he did like the money they were willing to shell out for his services. Every now and then, he met someone worthy, like the young red-head in the back seat.

�Sorry miss, truly sorry. Traffic grid-lock next few blocks. No closer we can get.� He watched her eyes in the rearview mirror.

~Truly lovely~

Willow told him the name of the hotel she wanted, checking the meter which the driver had shut off six miles ago. She reached into her bag and counted out the money for the fare and then added a little extra. She knew how hard it was for everyone lately with the economy falling apart; despite the continued growth of automobiles on the roads. She studied the picture of his family, two beautiful children and a woman, taped to the visor next to his operator�s license � it touched her.

�Three blocks, miss. You be careful. You take card. Call Gyll anytime, no matter, I come. You call, Gyll come, anyplace.� He pronounced his name �Jill�.

�Thank you, Gyll,� Willow said as she put the card in her bag and climbed out of the taxi. She shouldered her bag and started in the direction the young driver had indicated.

~~~~~
POV: Angel
~~~~~

Angel growled with frustration as he gripped the steering wheel and cast another glance through the special tinted windshield of the new black Mustang convertible. He considered leaving the car and continuing on by foot, but there was simply no way he was going to leave the vehicle abandoned in the middle of the street. If it had been the old convertible, he�d do so in a flash, but this baby was only three months old; there was just no way.

He saw his chance to make progress within the slow moving traffic when a silver BMW jumped lanes, creating a spot just the right size for the Mustang. Angel gunned the engine and executed a close-call lane change, quickly filling the vacant spot before the woman in the Lexus could pull forward. He shook his head at her reflection in the rearview mirror, she was shaking her fist and looked as if she were about to have some kind of fit.

The traffic inched along slowly, making forward progress toward the next intersection where the vampire turned the wheel sharply to the right and left the congested street. He floored the pedal and the black car raced down the side street like a sleek black jungle cat on wheels. At the end of the long block he cut a sharp left and screeched out onto the main street one block over and parallel to the street he�d been on. He sped a half block before spotting a parking garage. Angel cut the wheel hard to the right and shot from the far left lane across traffic, almost causing an accident, and into the garage entrance. He jabbed impatiently at the button that would lower the dark tinted power window. His black gloved hand shot out and snagged the ticket from the automatic dispenser before he roared into the dimness searching for a place to park.

He finally found a spot on the 2nd level and cut the engine. He sat in the dim space and closed his eyes, turning his attention inward, searching. The surge of sensation came stronger and Angel quickly reached for the black motorcycle helmet resting on the seat next to him.

~This better work. No matter how lame Blade II was, they did come up with some interesting ideas~

The dark-haired vampire was wearing a skin-tight, black leather, motor-cross racing jumper, boots, and gloves. He wrapped a black silk scarf around his sun-block coated neck and whished he could see his reflection to make sure his face was completely covered as he slipped on a slim pair of ultra-dark shades before putting on the helmet. The visor was treated with the same special UV reflective coating as the car�s windows � so far he�d been lucky, the police hadn�t pulled him over for having the windows tinted beyond the allowed regulation, but it was in his favor that he rarely took the car out in the daytime thereby avoiding them.

He quickly climbed out of the car and checked himself one final time before flipping the visor closed and racing for the stairwell. Standing on the sunlit sidewalk Angel scanned the area, straining his awareness to the limits in search of the painful red pulses he knew were coming from his Childe. The feeling was coming from several blocks ahead and Angel took off running in that direction.

~~~~~

�Which way now?�

�Left, no, no go right. To the right, I think the name on the street sign read Cherry Grove.�

�Right,� Wesley breathed and cut the wheel. The black Range Rover shot down the deserted street, exceeding the posted 25mph speed limit by at least 40mph.

�Stop!� Cordelia shouted and Wesley slammed on the brakes. The tires made a loud screeching noise and a cloud of thick burning-rubber scented smoke as it came to a stop. They both jumped out of the vehicle and ran down the dirty alley.

Cordelia burst into tears when they reached the middle of the alley and found Xander lying face down in a pile of trash. His head was turned to the side and there was blood and vomit on his lips; the lower portion of his body was hidden under a large green dumpster on wheels.

�Oh God, please be alive, please,� Cordelia whispered weakly.

�Give me a hand with this,� Wesley shouted as he grabbed one end of the dumpster and tried to move it away. Cordelia tore her eyes away from Xander�s bruised and bloody face and ran around his head to the other side of the dumpster. She broke four fingernails in her efforts to help Wesley push the heavy trash bin back against the wall.

�We have to get him to a hospital.�

�I�ll call an ambulance.�

�No,� Xander�s voice was barely a whisper but they both heard it. They dropped to their knees in the filth beside him.

�Xander, you�re badly injured there may be internal damage, you need medical attention,� Wesley was finally able to get out around the dry lump in his throat.

�Spike,� the boy whispered through his swollen lips, �please.�

�Okay honey, after we get you to the hosp-�

With the last of his strength Xander forced his eyes open and tried to look up into Cordelia�s stricken face.

�No, no hospital. Spike,� and then he was drifting away on another wave of pain. He gladly welcomed the numbing darkness that wrapped around him and carried him down and away from the agonizing hurt.

�Okay Xander, alright, no hospital,� Cordelia breathed.

�For the moment,� Wesley agreed in a whisper then he ran back to the Range Rover and pulled it into the alley as close to Xander�s unconscious body as possible.

~~~~~

Angel rounded the corner and came to a stop. He focused, trying to pinpoint the feeling pulsing redly from within one of the buildings.

~That one~

Locating the source, Angel ran down the street and through the door. The woman he crashed into let out a small sound of surprise, which was quickly cut off as they crashed to the carpeted floor in the small foyer.

Willow smothered her momentary panic; she wasn�t used to being tackled in broad daylight, not to say she was all that comfortable with it just because it was a nightly occurrence. They struggled briefly trying to extricate themselves and bumped into the foyer wall. Angel stared down at Willow through the tinted visor shocked by the coincidence of her presence here. The desk clerk looked over in their direction and watched the hot guy dressed in form-fitting black leather flip his visor up while speaking to the girl under him.

~Lucky bitch~

~~~~~
POV: Angel
~~~~~

Angel quickly flipped the tinted covering up when he noticed the glittery flecks in the emerald green eyes flow together, ringing the green with fire,

�You really want to get off of me,� she said calmly into the strangely made-up face and dark shades.

�Willow, it�s me, Angel,� he told her quickly and rolled away.

Willow scrambled to her feet. �Angel? What are you doing here?�

�Spike, what are you doing here?�

�Xander, we spoke on the phone earlier. We need��

�Not now, fill me in later, I have to find Spike.�

�Why, Angel what�s going on?�

�Not sure, just know something is wrong, he�s badly hurt.�

�Oh. Oh NO.� And she turned and started taking the stairs two at a time; they were closer than the lobby elevator.

�Wait, Willow!� Angel called at her back and moved to follow.

~What is she doing here? Xander, that�s right she said they spoke. But, why is she *here*? Later, I�ll find out later~

There would be time for questions and answers after he found his Childe. Willow vanished around the corner at the far end of the landing just as Angel cleared the last step. He spared a moment to wonder how she was able to move so fast while knocking pictures from their hooks with the back-draft generated from the burst of demonic speed that had him cutting the corner two steps behind the witch.

Willow stood in the hallway banging on the solid door and calling Xander�s name.

�Xander open the door, it�s me, Willow!�

�Stay back,� Angel said abruptly, brushing her manicured hand from the door handle. He braced himself and hit the door with his full weight and strength behind his broad shoulder. The lock broke and the door banged open. Angel stumbled into the sun-drenched room with Willow hot on his heels.

~~~~~

The young woman on the hotel�s housekeeping staff cleaning the room directly across the hall shook her head.

�*Mmph*, those two, there they go again... sleep and screw, sleep and screw, that�s all the men these days want to do lately.�

She wasn�t looking forward to cleaning the room when those two checked out. She could imagine the mess they would leave behind.

~~~~~

�Arrgh,� Angel snarled at the hateful brightness as he fumbled to flip the helmet�s protective visor down. Even with the sun-block the diffused light of the sun burned.

Willow shut the door then moved to help the vampire gather the window coverings from the floor. Between them they managed to get them secured over the large picture window and then Willow ran over to the bed to snag the remaining sheet. She briefly wondered why the fitted sheet and one of the pillows lay shredded in the corner. She shook her head at the white jeans draped over the television while helping Angel secure the sheet over the largest rips in the re-hung coverings. The room looked as if a serious fight had taken place.

~If he�s hurt Xander I�ll kill him. I just hope Angel doesn�t get in the way, I�d hate to have to hurt him too~

Beer bottles were strewn across the room, clothing was either draped over pieces of furniture or scattered on the floor. There was a small Igloo cooler turned on its side with pinkish water leaking out and soaking into the carpet; chips, pretzels, and candy wrappers, as well as several broken pieces of thin red licorice were sprinkled about; adding that finishing touch to the creative destruction.

This didn�t look good, nope, not at all.

In the dimness of the room, now that it was no longer flooded with sunlight, Angel was able to remove his motorcycle helmet which he tossed on the bed. Ignoring the witch, Angel called out for his Childe. He pulled the closet door open and a brown paper shopping bag fell out at his feet. They both stared blankly as the contents rolled around the vampire�s feet � a jar of cherries, a bottle of chocolate syrup, and a few bags of un-opened chips and a small assortment of candy bars.

The soft whisper of a moan from behind the closed bathroom door pulled Angel�s attention. Willow quickly dodged out of the way as he charged past her and into the door.

Angel burst into the small dark room and froze. Willow put her hands on his shoulder and rose up on her toes to peek over his shoulder.

�Oh Goddess,� she whispered.

Spike lay curled in the bathtub, his pale skin as washed-out as the white porcelain. The livid patches of burned skin slowly trying to heal, looked infinitely more grisly in stark comparison.

Angel fell to his knees on the grey/white speckled, linoleum floor beside the tub. Spike�s eyes opened to mere slits, the baleful amber glow from within illuminating his blade-sharp cheekbones and casting the lower half of his face in shadow. Thin rivulets of blood ran down his chin from where his fangs pierced his bottom lip.

�Xander,� he moaned weakly.

The agony in that word tore into Angel, scorching along their shared bond and into the foundations of his being. His demon railed in response.

�Where, where is he? Where is Xander, what happened, who...�

Angel cut her flow of questions short, �Xander... is going to be fine.�

�No, you hesitated. What�s wrong? What happened to Xander, you know, I know you do.�

�Xan...� Spike rattled.

�Is going to be fine, Spike. Cordy and Wes will find him and make sure he�s alright,� Angel told him softly, reaching toward the frail body. Spike flinched away from the touch and Angel quickly smothered his feelings of hurt and rejection.

�Angel.�

�Not right now, Willow, please. I need to take care of Spike. I have to get him out of here,� the vampire said; he never took his dark gaze from Spike�s glowing one.

�I saw a cooler in the other room... do you think there might be blood?�

Angel looked over his shoulder at her. He could see how worried the mortal appeared. It struck him then, that her concern was as much for his Childe as it was for her best-friend.

~She knew they were here, together~

�Thanks, that�s a good idea,� Angel said out loud, looking back to Spike�s devastated form. Willow turned and left them alone, going for the cooler.

~~~~~

Angel pulled off the scarf and gloves then unzipped the leather jumper exposing the hard planes of his bare chest. He reached into the tub again.

�It�s okay William, I�m here. I�ll take care of you. Xander is going to be okay. Please, let me get you out of here,� his voice was soft and hopeful.

�An-Angel? Sire?�

�Yes, Spike, Childe� Angel breathed in relief, glad Spike seemed to recognize him now, �It�s me Angel. I�m here.�

�Sire,� Spike sighed and closed his eyes as Angel gently slid his arms under his knees and shoulders.

Moving as carefully as he could, Angel gently lifted Spike from the tub and gathered him to his cool chest. Spike whimpered in pain when his back came into contact with Angel�s clothing. The black leather was still warm from the sun and hurt the sensitive skin of his back where the most damage had been done. Blood tears leaked from his tightly clenched eyes as Spike clung to his Sire.

�Xander,� he moaned.

�I promise, Will, he�ll be alright, they�ll find him.�

Angel settled on the floor, his back against the wall and Spike bundled in his lap. Willow returned with the cooler and a large bowl she�d taken from the cart housekeeping had left in the hallway. She sat on the rim of the tub and turned on the tap.

Angel watched her rinse the bowl clean with hot water while he gently stroked Spike�s scorched hair. Spike pressed against Angel seeking the coolness of his body. Angel knew the blood wouldn�t be enough as Willow removed the lid and reached for two of the four packs inside, Spike would need a better quality of blood if he was going to make a full and quick recovery. He would need the blood of a Master Vampire � the blood of his Sire � Angel�s blood.

But Angel couldn�t do it now, not here. He knew what would happen the moment Spike�s fangs pierced his skin; when the blonde started to drink from him. He could already feel himself responding to Spike�s presence in his lap.

Willow murmured a few words over the bowl as she lowered herself to the floor near them. She held the bowl close to Spike.

�Spike, honey, you need to drink this, it�ll make you feel much better,� she crooned.

Angel helped Spike to shift around so he could get at the bowl. Spike was too weak to take actual sips from the bowl yet, so he lapped at the warm blood. Willow had a strange look on her face while keeping the blood nice and warm with a small tendril of a magic and studying the blonde vampire.

~He�s like a kitten with a bowl of milk, or a wolf. Yes, a white wolf~

Angel kept his expression neutral while this played out before him. He wondered at this difference in the witch, questioned again why she was here. Why Xander was with Spike and why his Childe kept calling out for the boy.

As if sensing the train of his thoughts Willow fixed him with a steady look.

�Spike and Xander are together. *Together*, together. They came here for the weekend...�

Angel�s eyebrows climbed toward his hairline.

~Okay... that explains a few things. How did she know what I was thinking~

�No, Angel, I�m not reading your mind. Not really anyway. Your emotions are really strong and I can�t help but pick up a bit of what you�re projecting � it�s like picture flashes.�

�You can do that?�

�Hmm, yes.�

�Do Buffy and the others know about this ability?�

Willow chuckled softly; it wasn�t a pretty reassuring sound.

�Did I miss something?� Angel questioned.

Willow shook her head again. �No, the others don�t know; well Xander does. Yeh, I guess you are missing something, but you haven�t been to Sunnydale in a while, so you wouldn�t really know about what�s been going on there anymore.�

At the sound of his lover�s name Spike looked up from the almost empty bowl, there was a questioning intensity within the look. Willow didn�t think anything of it when she reached out and dabbed at the spot of blood on the end of Spike�s nose before reaching into the cooler for the last two blood packs.

*****
Part 13:

Willow looked around the lobby-office while waiting for Angel to appear. She noticed the light on the answering machine blinking and moved closer to Cordelia�s desk. Angel appeared in the doorway leading from the cellar. They studied each other across the distance for several moments, the *beep-beep* of the answering machine intruding on their silence.

Angel walked over to the machine and pressed the playback button. The machine clicked on and Cordelia�s voice, sounding surprisingly professional, could be heard as the greeting played.

�Hello, you�ve reached Angel Investigations � we help the hopeless. If you�ve reached this recording please...� Angel pressed another button and skipped to the first message. They both listened as Wesley�s message replayed.

�Hello, god I hate these things. Angel its Wes, we found him, Xander. He�s been pretty badly beaten. We took him to the hospital, against his wishes I might add. The doctors say he�ll recover, but they have some concerns... there isn�t much we can do right now. We�ll speak this evening.�

Willow looked at Angel sharply, �Beaten? Xander? Hospital!?� She dropped the shopping bag and the carry-all.

�Willow calm down, you heard Wes. Xander...�

�Is in the hospital and I need to go there. I have to see him.�

�Willow if there�s something I need to know...� he let it hang.

�Well, um... see...�

~Goddess, I sound like Xander~

�You sound like Xander,� Angel couldn�t help smiling at the look on her face.

�Yeh, not because we spend so much time together or we used to.�

�What happened?� he sounded genuinely concerned.

Willow shrugged. �School, work, magic, Spike.�

�I don�t understand,� the look on his face was puzzled.

Willow sighed and perched on the edge of the desk. She told how busy the two of them had been with school and work; then went on to theorize about the four-day silence between Xander and the rest of the group, during of course, which time Spike moved in on Xander � figuratively and literally. So far, Willow was the only one who knew, well besides Angel now, and it would remain that way until Xander decided differently. They seemed happy for the most part, but had things they needed to work out; both knowing she meant Xander had issues because he was too damn hard on himself. They couldn�t do that in Sunnydale, she was sure Angel could understand that. Yes, he did. They had come to LA for the weekend, Xander had promised to phone. He had; there were things they needed to be face to face for, so she had come to LA.

�One of those huh?� Angel really wanted to know what he was missing.

�Yeah one of those, sorry Angel, but it�s not my place to tell.�

�Okay fair enough.�

�Thank you. Now can you tell me how to get to the hospital?�

~~~~~
POV: Angel
~~~~~

There was almost five hours left until sunset and Angel was starting feel the pull of sleep moving through his limbs. After providing Willow with directions to the hospital and a key to the hotel, he checked the locks one final time. He didn�t expect any of them to return before sunset.

Angel turned and looked around the large lobby. He could feel Spike in the apartment below, his sharp discomfort twitching along his nerves, and knew he couldn�t postpone this any longer. He moved across the room heading toward the cellar and wondering about his reaction. The bond had always existed between them, even when they had become estranged.

~No, be honest with yourself here, its important - after I abandoned them, my Childer � Dru and Will~

It had lain dormant until now, what had changed?

Dismissing these thoughts for later brooding over, Angel stepped from the spiral staircase and opened the door to his private apartments. He tossed the helmet, gloves, and scarf on the short couch while moving toward the bedroom. The sight of Spike sprawled across his bed made him pause as Angel entered. He stood staring at Spike�s naked and burned body. Even scorched, Spike was beautiful to the elder vampire � lying there with his head turned to the right, cheek pillowed on his folded arms and his right ankle crossed over the left.

Angel slowly pulled the jumper�s zipper down his torso until it stopped just above his groin. He peeled the leather from his broad shoulders and down his arms, letting the top half hang from his waist as he sat down on a nearby chair. His dark head dipped forward as he bent to undo the buckles along the sides of the light-weight boots. His dark gaze returned to the pale form on the bed as he stood and finished peeling the jumper down over his muscled buttocks and thighs, pushing at the leather until it stopped clinging and slid down his lightly haired legs.

Spike stirred, sensing Angel�s presence in the room and Angel shivered, the air feeling cool against his skin after being encased in the leather for so long. He could smell himself, not and wondered if this was what he smelled like to Spike, Buffy, anyone he allowed close enough to become aware of his personal scent under all of the hair products, fabric softener, and expensive cologne clinging to him. Angel inhaled deeply, arousing himself with his own smell � a strong whiff of power and age flavored with darkness; a whiff of Scottish wilderness; rich, loamy, earth.

Spike shifted on the bed, his weak moans and whimpers pulling at Angel, until the darker vampire found himself standing next to the edge. Angel lowered himself next to Spike and stretched out; drawn to his Childe�s beauty and pain; wanting to both consume and devour Spike completely, never letting him go.

Angel inhaled deeply, tasting Spike on his enhanced senses. The first scent � pain � strong, then underneath, blood; the loamy smell of earth saturated with foggy London nights. The bemusement on his face pulled into a frown as the vampire encountered a strong human scent mixed with Spike�s; seeming to emanate from his pores and cling to his skin. Angel growled, his demon not liking the smells of another clinging to what belonged to it, to him, Angel. He was Spike�s Sire, no matter what was said or thought, by anybody, Spike was his.

But there had been so much distance between them, others in their lives and beds. Others in their hearts. So why did it bother him now? Was it because he recognized the smell; that it belonged to Xander, and the thoughts and emotions attached to that scent didn�t so much anger as arouse him? Angel pushed these thoughts aside as well, turning his focus on the task at hand. He shifted closer to Spike inert form, worming his shoulder gently under the younger vampire. With parental tenderness, Angel maneuvered Spike until he was draped across the broad expanse of his hard muscled chest. He put his hand on the back of Spike�s neck, a light touch that crept up into the soft, blonde silk remaining; missing its texture and natural color.

Gently cupping Spike�s skull, Angel moved his head until he felt the cool press of lips against the flesh of his skin. Tingles raced through his body at the sensation of wet tongue tip tasting his neck. Angel�s dark gaze flared gold in response when the sharp fangs broke the skin and Spike pressed his open mouth to the cold column of exposed flesh. Angel closed his eyes and floated away in to the bliss of communion with his Childe.

Spike latched onto Angel then, his hands gripping the broad shoulders, his lips locked in a tight blood-kiss. Angel shifted unconsciously, his legs parting for Spike�s whipcord thigh and he groaned at the sensation of Spike�s erection pressing into his hip, Spike�s thigh pressed against his scrotum, trapping his thicker, longer erection between their hips and bellies as Spike covered half of Angel�s trembling body.

Spike continued to drink, and Angel could feel himself bleeding out into weightlessness. He looked down on their bodies from someplace outside and above himself; was struck by the contrast of his dark paleness against Spike�s paler winter. Angel watched his hands slide down Spike�s healing back; as if his hands were smoothing and reshaping the skin beneath them. He caressed the tight round globes of flexing buttock muscle as Spike humped against him.

Spike drew another mouthful of blood and Angel cried out softly. The blonde moved, slithering against the larger body. He pressed his rigid length into Angel and sucked again. A trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth and ran across Angel�s skin. Spike�s hips rolled his ass up into Angel�s large, familiar hands; against the finger stealing down between his tight globes, creeping toward his tight pucker. The trickle of blood dripped onto the red silk sheets � a small black-red stain.

Spike whimpered, Angel groaned as the wiry body slid against him; cool skin, smooth and unblemished, like silky frost. Silk over steel. He drifted as Spike drank as if he would drain him; Angel thought he might, he thought he might let it happen too, as he allowed himself to sink into the sensation of dying in Spike�s embrace.

Unable to hold himself back from the tantalizing smell he could taste, Angel moved his mouth to Spike�s shoulder, the curve where it flowed up into the pale column of divine neck, tasting him with the tip of his tongue, a nuzzle of his full lips before piercing the alabaster skin with his razor-sharp fangs. Lights exploded behind his closed eyes as the circuit was completed between them. Images flashed in his head, pictures, memories locked in the blood of its host. All of Spike�s kills were there; Angel could taste the darkness that was Druscilla; the taint of Harmony. Then he was overpowered by the richness of Xander; and he knew.

~Damn it Spike, *sigh*~

The blood flowed back and forth between them � strong and powerful � and Angel had to restrain his demon, himself from taking, re-claiming what was his � Spike. He tempered his demon as they embraced, flowing and twining together until there were no longer barriers and in that moment, they were one being. The bond between them was renewed, strengthened, and if possible, deepened.

Angel returned to himself the instant of their orgasm; his fingers buried in Spike�s icy furnace; the muscles of his guardian ring milking the two digits pressed against Spike�s prostate. Spike trembled violently, shattering the pictures in Angel�s mind; of him and Xander locked naked together. Their bodies moving together toward climax; Xander in Spike�s lap, his sweaty hot back scorching Spike�s chest; lips pressed tightly against the exposed column of heated flesh, sharing his kiss with Xander � the rich sweet taste of his blood bursting in his lover�s mouth, scorching down his throat. Spike whispered his boy�s name as he slumped against Angel, both of them no longer able to resist being pulled down into deep restorative sleep.

Angel sluggishly turned on his side, intending to clean them up; Spike moved with him, wrapping his arms around Angel�s waist and pressing his smoothed brow into Angel�s chest. There was a small smile on Spike�s face, making him look innocent and angelic as he wormed his corded thigh tighter between Angel�s and snuggled closer; their cocks still hard and trapped between them in their fluids. Angel wished Spike would smile like that when he was awake. He wondered at the flash of emotion when he wondered if Spike smiled at Xander like that. He drifted off with the return of the shattered image � Xander and Spike locked in orgasmic bliss � flowing together behind his closed eyes.

~~~~~
POV: Spike
~~~~~

Spike came awake in a rush of sensations; new and remembered. He lay unmoving as he reached out trying to discern his surroundings. He inhaled deeply, sampling the air and his eyes flashed open as he snapped himself up to a sitting position and quickly scanned the room for his Sire. He could smell Angel�s heavy scent permeating everything in the room. Confirming he was alone in the room, Spike moved to leave the bed and stopped. A soft moan escaped his lips as tingles sizzled outward from his anal muscle. His body thrummed with energy, making Spike feel that aliveness he experienced after sipping from his nummy-treat, only this was more intense. Spike sat back on the bed as memories crashed through him, the pain and confusion during the day. He remembered the burn of the sun on his skin and then everything going dark.

Spike became instantly alert as he sensed Angel entering the apartment and moving toward the bedroom. There was a soft knock before the door swung open and Angel stepped inside. He froze at the look on Spike�s face.

�Wot did ya do to me ya wanker?� Spike snarled as he rose from the bed.

�I didn�t do anything to you Spike,� Angel replied calmly as he stepped further into the room and shut the door. He held out the black bag containing Spike and Xander�s clothes. Spike continued to glare at Angel from across the room.

~~~~~
POV: Xander
~~~~~

Xander came slowly into awareness with a groggy sense of displacement. He had the intrinsic knowledge that something was very much not of the good. He fought to clear his mind of the medication dripping down into the intravenous tubing connected to his arm.

~Hello, what have we got here?~

Xander blinked several times to bring some moisture to his dry eye. He rolled his head to the side, sensing someone in the curtained area with him. His head swam with after images and pain from the sharp movement. He groaned and squeezed his eye shut.

~Ow, that hurt!~

�Xander, thank the goddess,� Willow breathed when she heard the soft groan and looked up from her lap. Rising from the chair and brushing away the small chips of nail polish she�d worked from her manicure, Willow moved to the bed and quickly took Xander�s hand. She gave a small squeeze to reassure them both. Xander opened his eye again and blinked several times, trying to clear away the cobwebs.

�Mffphere,� his mouth was pasty and tasted really nasty.

�Don�t move, I�ll get the nurse,� Willow said, she made no move to leave but wrapped her other hand around Xander�s. She hooked the chair with her foot and pulled it close enough to lower herself in. Willow closed here eyes and bowed her head, letting it rest on their clasped hands. The nurse found them like that five minutes later, each taking comfort in the firm but light grip of security their clasped hands gave them.

�Hello Mr. Harris, do you think you could tell me how you�re feeling?�

~~~~~
POV: Willow
~~~~~

The resident intern and nurse completed their examination. They conferred quietly while the nurse made a few more notes on the chart as they stepped out into the hall.

Willow was instantly rising to her feet. �He will be alright, won�t he?� she questioned immediately.

�Ms. Rosenberg, right?� the young intern asked as the nurse gave her a sympathetic look before moving away.

�Doctor,� Willow said, pulling the young man�s eyes away from the clipboard.

�Yes, sorry. Let�s see. Your brother doesn�t have any broken bones or fractures. No signs of internal bleeding, but we are concerned about the contusions and possible concussion. And, there�s the possibility of rabies to be considered.�

�Rabies,� Willow asked in astonishment. �Why would you be concerned about something like rabies?�

�Well, we�re still uncertain, but it looks as if your brother may also have been mauled by some kind of animal, there are fairly deep punctures on his posterior; the bite-marks are fresh.�

�Bite-marks?� Willow asked not sure if she wanted to laugh or cry.

~He bit Xander... on the ass of all places. Only those two. Spike - Xander~

�Our more immediate concern is the memory loss.�

�Memory loss, but... but he recognized me...�

�Yes, that�s good because there appear to be some gaps in his memory; most likely caused by the trauma. Your brother doesn�t remember the attack.�

�Okay.� Willow sat down and tried to wrap her mind around what she was being told. �That�s a good thing... right?�

�I�m sorry Ms. Rosenberg I�m not a psychologist, but I don�t take this as a very positive sign.� He looked around to see if anyone was taking note of their conversation. He touched Willow�s arm and gestured her farther down the hall, closer to the visitor waiting area. �I could loose my job for this,� he looked around again, �get your brother out of this hospital and someplace better. This is a poorly funded, community center; they don�t have the necessary staff to deal with delicate issues. I hope you take my meaning,� he finished with a direct stare. The young woman nodded, understanding completely.

Willow entered the room and smiled softly as Xander opened his eye. She moved to the bedside and took his hand.

�Hey.�

�Hey.� His voice was a bit stronger but still on the dreamy side.

�How are you feeling?�

�Mmm-fuzzy. Very cotton-candy soft and fuzzy-numb guy on good drugs here,� he said with a glimmer of his lopsided trademark grin.

Willow looked around at the plain white walls, noticing the chips in the plaster and the dried spills on various surfaces around the room. This was definitely not the best place for Xander to be cared for, by the look of things, and the resident intern didn�t seem to have confidence in their ability to properly diagnose and/or treat Xander for the memory loss.

�So sis, where are we?�

�Always cracking jokes, Xan, hospital, you know doctors, nurses, needles.�

Xander grimaced at that last, �Yeh, kind�a figured that one out. Wasn�t trying to be funny, Wills, but I really mean, where are we? Have this funny feeling we�re not in Kansas anymore...�

�We�re in LA,� she said, watching him closely. A frown wrinkled Xander�s brow.

�K... Why?�

�Why what?� she questioned, experiencing a sinking feeling in her stomach as Xander stared up at her beseechingly, his expression asking her to make him understand.

�Why are we in LA?� Xander squeezed Willow�s hand and moved his feet against the bedding in agitation. She could see anxiety and a small amount of fear rising in the brown eye locked on her.

�What�s the last thing you remember, Xan,� she asked carefully. Xander closed his eyes, trying to think around the thick fog and drugs. His mind shied away from the capsulated fogbank in the place where he kept his memories. Xander licked his swollen and bruised lips � the shapely bottom sporting a split. He was suddenly panting with his efforts to suppress the panic he felt when he got to close to the fogbank.

�Double checking my alarm before going to bed,� he managed to get out and the panic receded.

�Oh,� Willow breathed. �Do you remember before that?�

Xander thought about it for several long moments, then he focused on his friend. �Um, I think... you and I were at some kind of meeting, or something. There were a couple other people there but...� he trailed off as the image became too fuzzy, and trying to make it clear made his head ache.

~That was the night before they would have stuck him with Spike. He doesn�t remember anything after that night. Oh Xander. Poor Spike~

Xander drifted again, his eye fluttering closed, and Willow sat beside his bed holding his hand until he was snoring lightly. She stopped at the nurse�s station and spoke briefly with the nurse she found there before making her way down the hall and out into the night. Willow stared off into the distance for a few minutes, sadly admiring the beauty of the sunset while reaching into her purse and pulling out her cell phone. Without looking down, she flipped it open and pressed the memory-dial button where she had Angel�s number stored.

*****
Part 14:

POV: Spike

�Liar,� Spike snarled, �just like always; take what you want. Bet you couldn�t wait could ya?� The vampire was gathering himself to launch an attack.

�Spike, don�t make me waste all that good blood you just sucked out of me, no matter what you may think, I do prefer you walking dead over the pile of dust you�ll be if you try it,� Angel stated calmly into Spike�s glare.

�Friggin wanker,� Spike finally muttered as he tried to stalk past Angel.

�You want to tell me what�s going on, Spike? What happened?�

�No, frankly I don�t, want a shower and me pet...� Spike stopped and looked around again. �Where�s Xander, where is he?�

�Calm down, Xander is going to be fine...�

�Going? Going to be fine? What the hell is that supposed to mean?�

Angel reached out and grabbed his gesticulating Childe by the arms, forcing Spike to stop waving them as if he were trying to take flight. �I said calm down,� he huffed as Spike struggled against him. Angel growled low in his chest, �Childe.�

The commanding tone of his Sire broke through, activating automatic Sire/Childe obedience instincts. Spike took a deep, unnecessary, breath and stilled himself. When he was down to a simmering anger, Angel told Spike that Xander was in the hospital. His condition wasn�t critical, a few sore ribs and some bruising. �They want to keep him a couple of days for observation, concussion concerns.�

Spike absorbed this information, he stared at Angel intently while the older vampire spoke, straining his senses just as intently.

�What else, what aren�t you telling me?�

�Spike... William...�

�What! FUCKING TELL ME NOW ANGEL!� Spike roared shifting into game-face.

Angel continued to easily hold Spike as the younger vampire raged, twisting and turning in his grasp. Spike kicked savagely at Angel�s shins, he tried kneeing him in the balls, but nothing he did would make Angel loosen his vice-grip on the hellion he was trying to contain.

�He doesn�t remember the assault or what he�s doing in LA.�

A tremor tore through Spike as the implications spun through his head. �Doesn�t remember what he�s doing here.� Spike suddenly felt weak and boneless, his knees buckled under his weight and Angel quickly changed his grip, wrapping his arms around Spike and pulling him into a comforting embrace. Angel stroked Spike�s hair, making a rumbling sound in his chest as he held the gasping vampire. Spike clung to his Sire with overwhelming desperation as the thoughts, the images, pain of not being able to stop it, tore through him.

~I�ve lost him. Doesn�t remember, won�t remember me. No please, no, not my Xander, my baby, my pet my angel. My beautiful dark angel I can�t... you can�t~

~~~~~

In a daze, Spike moved away from Angel and made his way slowly to the bathroom. He closed the door behind him and stepped into the shower stall; standing under the hot spray for the longest time, trying not to scream or worse, break down in tears. The *Big Bad* didn�t do tears but right now Spike felt like crying.

How could Xander have forgotten him � them? It wasn�t possible, Angel must have misunderstood, yes that was it; Angel was so self-absorbed in brooding and his stupid cause, he�d somehow misunderstood when told that Xander didn�t remember. Okay, Xander didn�t remember the attack, typical reaction for a traumatized victim to block out events the mind wasn�t ready to deal with yet, but just because his pet didn�t remember the attack, didn�t mean he didn�t remember Spike.

With this mindset firmly in place Spike finished his shower and got dressed. Angel was waiting for him as he stepped from the bathroom, hounding and needling the younger vampire about stuff that just didn�t concern him.

�Talk to me, Spike, tell me what�s going on.�

�First you tell me how I got here and how the fuck,� Spike stopped, trying to keep his cool and not fly off the handle for once. Angel wasn�t responsible for Xander�s condition, but Spike needed someone to take his frustration and anger out on.

Angel realized that Xander wasn�t the only one suffering memory gaps as he told Spike about sensing his pain around the same time Cordelia was having the vision of Xander. It was Wesley and Cordelia who had gone out to find and help the young man while Angel had come after Spike, now he wanted to know what had happened in the hotel room.

Angel guided them into his kitchen area and Spike noticed the remodeling Angel had been working on. It looked as if the nancy-boy had been reading too many home making or architectural digest mags between cases. The kitchen had become somewhat of a showcase � more spacious with the removal of most of the counters that had once lined three of the walls. In the center of the room was a waist high island block of varnished cherry wood, the top looked like a chessboard with its alternating squares of light/dark wood and there were cabinets and storage space in the woodblock�s base along with a couple of barstools, which Angel indicated Spike should make use of.

Spike pulled up a stool and sat down to watch Angel walk across the space, approaching the far wall where one long counter ran its entire length. In the far left corner was the sink and there was a large, chromium, stove situated in the counter�s center, with a large chromium refrigeration unit placed in the far right corner.

Angel pulled open the unit�s right-side door and removed a couple bags of blood. While he did this, Spike looked around the other half of the spacious kitchen. An alcove/breakfast nook had been created in the farthest corner of the room. It was small enough for an intimate meal for two or to comfortably seat a party of five. Its boundaries were delineated by floor to ceiling Romanesque columns and the off-white walls were hung with tasteful abstract prints, but what drew the younger vampire was the set of black mini-blinds hung on the back wall.

There was a brilliant burst of color hand-painted with delicate detail on the black slats; depicting an oriental garden-scape. A large peacock with gold, green, and red breast feathers stood on crooked base of a white tree with gold trimmed, white leaves. At the tree�s base were two large pink roses surrounded by gold trimmed green foliage that faded into the right-side background where a double-tier temple sat under a red moon.

Angel hid a smile as he moved to the counter and placed the blood inside the high-tech microwave unit and set the timer. He turned just in time to catch the look of consternation and surprise on Spike�s mug when the younger vamp pulled the string to raise the blinds and exposed the blank wall beneath. Spike hadn�t expected to find an actual window in the cellar, but he did have a curious nature and hadn�t been able to resist taking a peek.

�Neat trick that,� Spike quipped, returning Angel�s smirk as he moved back to the island and settled on a barstool. He propped himself up with his elbows on the woodblock island and watched as Angel prepared their meal, moving to open an overhead cabinet revealing mugs and other crockery, and ending by setting a full mug of blood under his nose.

Angel raised an eyebrow when Spike ignored the mug of blood, Spike never turned down free food and his doing so was a sure sign that something was truly upsetting him.

�I don�t remember trying to meet the final death.�

It came out harsh as Spike struggled with a sudden flood of emotion.

�I don�t think you were. Tell me what happened.�

Spike grinned but it was sad. �I was thinking about Xander. Woke up and the whelp wasn�t there, the bed was cold. Sloppy git; leaves his clothes any place I pull them off him.�

Angel shook his head but didn�t say anything.

�I remember feeling funny when I woke up, then panic, fear and then pain. Blinding pain, then nothing... then you were there.�

�Eat, Spike, your foods getting cold.�

�I�m not a bleedin infant; can take care of me-self so quit treating like some damn kid eh?� Spike complained as he picked up the mug and took a healthy swallow. Angel hid another smile. �Import, nice,� Spike murmured and took another sip.

�Spike did you Embrace Xander?�

�NO!�

�Then why are the two of your together? Here in LA, I mean. Why did you freak the way you did when Xander was attacked? That�s what happened you know; that�s what happens between bonded pairings. You went irrational when Xander was attacked and got sunburned, why? And don�t tell me you didn�t because you did.�

�I don�t owe you any explanations, not for anything!�

�No? What about your life? I saved your life Spike, you owe me for that.�

�I didn�t ask you to and you didn�t save it! Ya fucking stole it!�

�That wasn�t... Okay, you�re right, but you�re wrong too. You did ask. You called me, in your pain, through our bond. Did you think I wouldn�t come?�

Spike was on his feet, the barstool clattered to the floor with the force of his sudden movement; his fist banging down on the hard woodblock rattled the items gathered there.

�Why!? Why now and not then!?� Spike roared, his eyes flashing amber and his face twisted in anguish.

�What...�

�You left us! And I needed you then. I needed you and you weren�t there, Sire!� Spike screamed, emphasizing each word with a fist pounding into the wooden island top.

�I�m here now, William, Spike.� Angel�s voice was low and full of compassion.

�Why,� Spike kept sobbing as he collapsed across the woodblock, rubbing his face against the smooth surface. Keys skittered across the room. Their mugs crashed to the floor, and the sound of shattering crockery drew a small gasp from Cordelia.

Angel continued to ignore the three humans standing just inside the doorway. He didn� know how long they had been standing there or how much they�d over heard and at the moment he didn�t� care.

�Because you are my grand-Childe, William, and I care. I�ve always cared.�

Angel reached out tentatively and placed his hand on Spike�s head. He stroked the soft hair soothingly until the younger vampire raised his head and locked his anguished eyes on Angel.

Their regard was long and impregnated with levels of unspoken emotion, communication; and at last they seemed to reach a medium; an understanding. Spike went limp, relaxing across the wood and Angel let out a shaky sigh as he bent to pick up the broken crockery. The others moved into the room then, helping with the quick clean up and then pulling up stools.

Angel took a long look at Willow and then asked her when she had last eaten. He marveled as she sat thinking it over, trying to remember. Without waiting for an answer, he opened the cabinets under the counter space and pulled out a fairly large pot which he filled with water and then set on the stove. Willow still hadn�t answered by the time Angel was opening the freezer and removing a bag of frozen, pre-stuffed pasta; because of Cordelia and Wesley, Angel kept a few items for human consumption, things that wouldn�t spoil or require replacing too often. He opened another of the cabinets situated over the counters and removed a jar of sauce which he set aside until the pasta was ready. Setting the timer after dropping the sealed bag into the water, Angel removed more blood from the fridge and prepared a replacement meal for Spike and himself. When it was ready he gestured Spike into the nook out of consideration for Willow. Cordy and Wes had pretty much grown accustomed to seeing him eat blood but Angel didn�t know how Willow felt about it and didn�t want to take any chances she might get grossed out.

�Spike, I�m not trying to pick a fight but I can smell Xander all over you, in your blood. I could taste him, and I saw the two of you. I�m asking you again, did you Embrace Xander?�

Spike gave Angel a level look. His voice was clear and firm when he replied, �No, I didn�t, not yet anyway.�

�Not yet, okay so then you were planning to?�

�No, not Embracement, forever, but I gave him my word. I promised him time to think it over, me and him � *Forever*...�

�Oh,� Angel was shocked. He didn�t know how to feel over hearing that Spike wanted to turn Xander. The young vampire had only ever showed this kind of dedicated interest in Dru and she wasn�t human; Drusilla was Spike�s sire. A glance in Willow�s direction, aware that the others could hear them and were listening intently, confirmed Angel�s suspicion. Willow knew about this, that must be the reason she�d come. She had told him that her friend and his grand-Childe were together but were having problems; that Xander had phoned and there were things they need to talk about.

Willow nodded at his summations, giving Angel wiggins because it still freaked him out to think that Willow was now able to read minds, or how-ever she�d explained it. Angel had another thought and turned to give Spike a look of deep contemplation. To Spike, the look was more like a serious broody storm session. Angel finally spoke, putting emphasis and inflection on various words, triggering things in Spike�s understanding of what he was implying.

�Has Xander ingested any of your blood?�

Spike thought for a moment. �Don�t think so, but I can�t say for certain, he gets wild and well...�

�Okay, fine.� The images were not helping Angel maintain his perspective or control his arousal. �I know you bit him, did you mark him?�

Willow perked up on her stool, thinking back to what the resident intern had told her about rabies and the marks on Xander�s bottom. Spike glared at Angel defiantly, that was all the answer the older vampire needed. Angel simply nodded.

Spike didn�t like the scent of arousal he�d caught from Angel when he was reminding Spike about him and Xander together. �He�s mine, paws off,� Spike snarled at a level pitched only for vampiric hearing.

~~~~~

Wesley and Cordelia hadn�t been updated on the recent events, both having only just arrived within minutes of each other. Willow had come in shortly after, while the two were still turning on lights and office equipment.

�No, you must be mistaken, I didn�t see any bite marks on him,� Wesley interjected, speaking for the first time

�S�not like they�d be someplace you�d be likely to either,� Spike snarked back.

Angel looked over at Spike, he had a feeling about this, and Spike was his progeny after all. �Spike, where exactly did you bite Xander?�

�That�s not your business,� Spike said letting gaze slide away. For some reason, he couldn�t make himself look Angel in the eye anymore.

�Yes, Spike, as a matter of fact it is. I�m your Sire. If there�s something I need to know then you�re going to tell me... won�t you William.�

Spike cursed and scuffed his doc martins on the tiled floor. �Ya always play that damn �I�m your Sire� card, ya soddin poof.�

�Hey! Watch the floor. It takes forever to get those kinda scuff marks out,� Cordelia whined.

�Like you know this because I pay a cleaning crew to do that,� Angel tossed in her direction, to Spike, �I�m waiting.�

The younger vampire still wouldn�t meet Angel�s eye. Willow snickered once then, burst into laughter. Everyone looked at her; she kept her gaze fixed on Angel and Spike, mostly the blonde. Spike actually managed to look like he might be blushing. Angel looked back and forth between witch and vampire.

~I was right?~

�Spike, you didn�t?� Angel said trying not to laugh at the younger vamp�s obvious discomfort. Spike looked back and forth between Willow and Angel again, the look on his face a dead give-away.

�Ibithimontheass,� Spike muttered. His shoulders hunched up near his ears as he dug his hands in his pants pockets and ducked his head.

Willow�s fresh peals of laughter bubbled out to be joined by Angel�s stomach-holding, tears down the side of the face, howling laugh. Spike glared at Wesley and Cordelia, daring them to start laughing before shaking his head in disgust and stomping from the room.

After making sure she�d eaten, Angel convinced Willow to get some rest in one of the hotel�s re-furbished rooms. He took her up to the first floor and got her settled, then he and his team went to work with investigating and demon hunting that paid the bills.

~~~~~

When Angel returned to the lobby offices he found Cordelia at her desk. Her fingers hovered over the black keyboard of the new computer systems they�d acquired during one of their recently solved cases. No body was asking questions and there were definitely no complaints about how. Angel stood back and watched the flat-panel monitor as small pop-up windows appeared and Cordelia navigated through them. He was impressed with the results of the workshop he�d sent her to, and his admiration grew as he continued to watch.

Cordelia pressed one of the buttons on the media-keyboard and adjusted the clear micro-headset she was wearing under her hair. The message light on the answering machine stopped flashing and turned solid while she listened to the playback and transcribed the messages into one of the various windows she had open.

�Gunn just checked in. His lead just pointed toward New York, he�ll check in from a hotel. Details printing now,� Cordelia finished as she cleared the messages and sent the transcriptions to the printer.

She eased back from her desk and turned her chair. Wesley looked up from the open case file for their last job, double-checking the expense figures against the electronic spreadsheet form on his panel monitor. They both watched Angel take the stack of messages from the printer output tray and move into his office. Cordelia shot a look at Wesley when Angel shut the door then moved across the office toward his desk.

There was a broody look of introspection on his dark features as he dropped into the leather executive chair behind the large desk and stared through the new acquisition, not seeing the already semi-transparent object � a thin but sturdy brass framework fitted with panels of thick glass slabs instead of wood. Angel sighed and put away his personal concerns in favor of the stack of messages.

�Are we going to talk about this now or after you finish that?� Cordelia nodded at the manila folder on Wesley�s desk. He considered then flashed a tight smile.

�After.� He knew Cordelia must be experiencing inner turmoil over what they�d witnessed earlier. She had feelings for Angel, used to be involved with Xander and was scared of Spike, no matter what she said; and to discover that her ex-boyfriend was dating her vampiric employer�s demented grand-childe was a bit more than she�d been prepared for. Not to mention that fact that said lunatic wanted to turn said ex-boyfriend. It was *way* more than Wes was prepared for himself. They were definitely going to discuss this later, at great length if he knew Cordelia Chase.

*****