*****
"Spike, Buffy wants you to�" Xander began barging into Spike's crypt like it was the Watcher's apartment only to trail off into silence as he took in the scene before him.
Spike lay on his back in a pile of clothes and couch cushions, one arm curled behind his head, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Completely uncovered, unless one counted the equally naked brunette male using Spike's stomach for a pillow as a covering.
Spike looked up at Xander, his annoyance turning to amusement as he realized that the boy's mouth was still working despite the lack of noise. "What?" he asked.
Xander focused his gaze on the safety of the ceiling and managed to stutter, "You� You're busy. I'll come back later. Or better yet, have someone else come back later."
Spike grinned evilly, "I'd ask you to join us, but Angel would probably go all Victorian on me."
"Angel?" Xander asked, his voice jumping an octave. Hesitantly he glanced back at the un-self-consciously unclothed vampires, his eyes fastening with horror on the tattoo Buffy had once described adorning the sleeping vampire's shoulder.
Xander searched his pockets frantically, muttering, "I know I've got a stake somewhere."
"Don't get your knickers in a knot," Spike said rolling his eyes. "Peaches it still all soulful and guilt�stricken� A bit less tense though, I'd wager."
"But�" Xander exclaimed loudly, "Stake, I need a stake."
Spike felt Angel stirring sleepily and waited with anticipation for the impending fire works.
"Evening Will," Angel murmured, taking the cigarette from the blonde's mouth before kissing him firmly.
Xander's mouth dropped open as he watched Angel and Spike's open-mouthed kiss, he even forgot his search for a stake as his cheeks turned a bright fire engine red.
"We have company," Spike told Angel, retrieving his cigarette as the older vampire glanced at the door.
"Xander!" Angel exclaimed, all traces of sleep gone from his tone.
"You had sex!" Xander's comment was an angry accusation.
"Let me explain," Angel's voice was tinged with panic as he searched the floor for his clothing.
"With Spike," Xander continued sounding more disbelieving than anything else at that bit of information.
"Spike did you see my pants?" Angel asked.
"They're around somewhere," the blonde replied with amusement.
"Specifics would be nice," Angel said. "Xander, just let me get dressed, we should talk."
"Wait'll I tell Buffy," Xander exclaimed.
"Just give me a chance to explain," Angel begged. "Xander wait!" he yelled at the younger man's retreating back.
"I found your pants," Spike said tossing the desired article of clothing to the distraught vampire.
Angel caught them distractedly, then swiped Spike's cigarette and took a deep drag before announcing, "She's gonna kill me."
**************************************************************
Spike sat on the stairs leading to the Watcher's bedroom, fiddling with a cigarette he didn't dare light, trying to look bored and unconcerned with the going on's in the room before him.
Angel stood alone against one wall looking disheveled. Under his long dark trench coat his shirt was missing, it had been reduced to rags at some point during the previous day. There was no shower in Spike's crypt so both vampires smelled faintly of blood and sex. Spike wasn't sure if human senses would pick up on it, but they couldn't miss the glaringly fresh bite mark decorating the pale skin of Angel's throat.
The older vampire stood as if facing a firing squad. His shoulders were slumped, his eyes on the floor at his feet. Angel simply radiated self-recrimination and guilt.
The firing squad, in the form of the four original white hats, were clumped together around the couch. The Slayer and the Witch just stared at Angel with hurt accusing eyes. The whelp's glare was more venomous and from time to time he volunteered a blood- thirsty comment. If the boy had his way the dark haired vampire wouldn't leave the room except as ash.
Reluctantly Spike tuned in to the Watcher's diatribe. "I cannot believe you would be so irresponsible as to risk your soul in such a cavalier fashion," the man was saying in a reproachful tone. He'd been going on in that vein for over an hour now.
To Spike it looked like Angel was about to be crushed under their combined recriminations. The blonde knew he should be enjoying the misery in the good guy camp, but he hated the pain apparent in every line of Angel's body.
With an airless, inaudible sigh Spike used the blood link between himself and his Sire to send Angel the mental equivalent of an affectionate hug.
Surprised dark eyes met Spike's across the room.
"If Buffy had of just staked him when we first realized what he was it would have saved everyone a lot of misery," Xander said vindictively.
Spike saw the boy's word's hit home in Angel's expression, before the older vampire's gaze dropped back to his feet. Spike found himself reflecting on the expression "The eyes are the window to the soul," if that were true, Angel's soul looked like an open wound, raw and bleeding.
"Have you forgotten the carnage you caused last time?" The Watcher demanded.
"Bugger off already," Spike snapped, moving to stand beside Angel. "He's still got his soul so obviously the risk wasn't nearly as bloody huge as you all are making it out to be."
"His actions�" Giles began.
"We had sex, get over it. You're all old enough to know sex doesn't necessarily, bloody hell, rarely equals perfect happiness," Spike interrupted.
"But the precedent�" Giles tried again.
"Personally, I don't see many similarities between Peaches making love to the girl he still thinks walks on water and him doing it with a vampire he regrets ever siring," Spike said.
"I don't�" Angel started to say, then trailed off. "I do care about you Will," he finished awkwardly, looking at the mortals as if he expected them to attack him for the admission.
"Why does the evil, soulless, undead guy get a say?" Xander demanded.
"Cause you're debating staking my lover," Spike replied. "Someone should defend Angel since he won't do it for himself."
"Get out Spike," Buffy said angrily. "Before I decide to stake you."
"What's wrong Slayer? Can't handle that Angel wants someone else after he's had you?" Spike asked.
"Spike, Buffy, enough alright?" Angel said. "Buffy you should know I'd die before endangering you again. Can't you at least give me a little credit? I wouldn't have slept with him if I believed, even for a second, that I was risking loosing my soul."
"When I was with you I felt like I was just a normal guy with the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. I wanted that to be real more than anything in the world, but it's not, we both know that. With Spike I never forget what I am, and because of that I can't forget what I've done. The curse won't break."
"Spike and I aren't looking for perfect happiness, just a brief escape from shear misery."
"Don't forget about the blood," Spike said. "I like that part a lot."
"With you? Hell'll freeze over first," Angel replied. "That's why it's safe."
"I still vote we stake him," Xander said.
"You've got no right to judge me," Angel said softly. "None of you do."
With that he turned and walked out, not looking back. Spike followed him, but stopped at the doorway. Stopped and turned to look at the stunned, angry group Angel left in his wake.
Looked back and grinned.
~fin~