TITLE: Associate Aston

AUTHOR: AmethystxX

CHAPTER: 5

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any characters in the fic, I am merely borrowing them while their owners glare at me (whimper)

SUMMARY: Angel gains a new associate to help them against the Senior Partners. What happens when he sets his sights on Spike and what will Angel do about it SLASH

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WOLFRAM AND HART MEDICAL WARD:

Before Angel could even get to Spike, the Medics had pushed their way to him checking him over. After another 15 minutes Angel had, had enough and gave a feral growl while locking the Medics outside, which they didn't really mind since the growl had spooked them.

Angel slowly came back over to Spike and gave him a look over while smiling. The wait had been worth finally getting to see his baby boy awake and well. Angel sat down and took Spike's hand, absently drawing patterns trying to figure out what to say. Spike looked amused at Angel's opening and closing mouth with no words escaping him.

Angel settled for giving a choked sob and laying his head on Spike's chest. After a few minutes he raised his head to try to speak again. He took a deep calming breath before some cheesy music sounded from outside the medical ward.

"I can't believe this moment's come
It's so incredible that we're alone
There's so much to be said and done
It's impossible not to be overcome"

Angel turned to see Wesley and Gunn holding up a pair of speakers, with Harmony putting on her best 'Forgive me' look, while the Medics was gesturing to Spike.

"Will you forgive me if I feel this way
Cause we've just met - tell me that's OK
So take this feeling's make it grow
Never let it - never let it go"

"Erm…Angel pet I think the Medics want to check me over and what not. Maybe you should let them in. Also I would like my hand back if you don't mind," Angel looked down at said hand and could see that he was indeed crushing it as it looked to be in discomfort.

"Sorry" Angel mumbled and he released his death grip on the hand but still kept hold of it.

"(Don't let go of the things you believe in)
You give me something that I can believe in
(Don't' let go of this moment in time)
Go of this moment in time"

Angel sighed, "You were asleep for a long time Spike. 4 months. Gods I didn't think that you would ever wake up. Ever since that Aston incidence everything changed. The gang changed, Wolfram and Hart changed, hell even Illyria changed!" he gave a choked chuckle.

"No way 4 months?! That's incredible. I mean…wow. But I heard the medics talking about me turning to dust, and something about poison, but that's not the point. Why am I alive now then?" Spike looked very confused.

"They found a cure before that could happen but then you went into a coma. We tried everything to wake you up Spike. Besides that happened 4 months ago! And what did you mean when you said you 'heard it'" Angel was also looking confused. Everything went silent for a few minutes until Spike broke it.

"Great! That's perfect! I've obviously been cured wrong! My brain is probably all frazzled! Hell I wouldn't be surprised if today I'm all 'Hey how you doing?' and tomorrow I'll be all 'Hello I don't know who I am, have we met!" Spike was getting very distressed and did not look very good after his angry outburst.

Angel immediately tried to calm him down, "Oh no! You're not wrong. It's just you've just woken up so it's probably, no it is, ok to feel a bit confused about things. Besides your too beautiful to be wrong"

Spike could have sworn his insides just melted. He gave Angel a shy smile.

"Now would you mind if I bared my soul
If I came right out and said you're beautiful
Cause there's something here I can't explain
I feel I'm diving into driving rain
You get my senses running wild
I can't resist your sweet, sweet smile
So take this feeling's make it grow
Never let it - never let it go"

Furious banging on the door broke the moment.

"Excuse me! I would like to check my patient! This is not the sort of thing that goes unnoticed. He could have gone back into a coma with all that strain he brought upon himself! Now open this door before I break this door down!" The woman, Claire, was a medic and did not look pleased at being locked outside from her own patient.

Angel growled before stomping over and letting her and the other medics in. Glaring at Claire all the while.

Claire smiled sweetly, "Thank you. Now Spike how are you feeling? Any nausea, headaches or pains anywhere?" Spike shook his head.

"Good, now eyes open" She frowned, "Pupils are abnormally dilated, which is normal for a patient who has just came out of a coma. I want him kept in until nightfall until they have returned to normal size. If not I want him in over night" Claire spoke to the supporting medic Jason.

"Ok Spike if everything checks out you will be free to leave tonight. Now I would like the rest of you to leave, except for Angel, so that I can answer any of their questions." Claire shooed out the rest of the crew with them protesting all the way.

Claire turned round and clapped her hands, "Right! Now where shall we begin? I think I should tell you that when a person is in a coma the mind is in a state where it cannot function properly so there is only darkness. Now the patient may hear words or voices and his mind will capture those words and when it can think for itself it somehow 'releases' the words. I'm not sure of the time pattern, it may be abstract and doesn't following a pattern. Well, now that is said any more questions? I find that, that little speech answers quite a few questions." Claire smiled.

"Erm…Yeah that actually answers all my questions. The time pattern part especially." Spike looked at Angel who nodded.

"I've been waiting all my life
To make this moment feel so right
The feel of you just fills the night
So c'mon - just hold on tight"

"WILL YOU TURN THAT DAMN THING OFF!" Angel bellowed. Squeaks could be heard as everyone outside the room shuffled away.

Claire huffed, "Great! I'm going to have to find Jason. Well Spike take it easy, I want you back to full health by tonight young man. I'm sure Angel would like to tell you some things, personal things, which you'd probably like to hear. Well must dash! Good luck Angel!" Claire ran out of the room before Angel could scream at her.

"Well…I need to rest peaches, what's on your mind?" Spike gave Angel his full attention.

Why did he suddenly feel 3 inches tall? Angel wondered.

Angel coughed, "I just wanted to s-say. Erm…the thing is, I never realised until a few months ago, how much you meant to me. So I'd thought that you'd better know." Cough, "That w-without you my life wouldn't be as it is now…so I would like to say-"

"Get on with it mate!" Spike cuts in

"That I love you!" Angel shouts then draws in at Spike's blank stare.

"Ok" Spike finally gets out.

"Ok?" Angel looks very upset at that,

"I mean, you loved me, then you got a soul which you hated me with. Now you love me. I'm not convinced" Spike gives Angel a sad smile.

"Then I'll convince you! I'll just convince you and then we can be together! I promise I'll show you! In every way I will find a way to convince you! I promise! You believe me right?" Angel rambled,

Spike laughed, "Of course I believe you. I don't doubt you for a minute."

Angel frowned, "Why did you make that sound strangely sarcastic but meaningful at the same time?"

Gunn then ran into the room followed closely by Lorne, Wesley and a angry Illyria.

"My, my little blonde creampuff! Aren't you looking mighty handsome this morning? Well, I'm sure you need some rest so I won't keep the Broody boy very long. I have come up with the best way to welcome back the Bleached Bunny!" Lorne was jumping up and down with delight.

Angel sighed, "It's a party isn't it?" He rubbed the bridge of his nose,

"A party!" Lorne got out his cell phone and started discussing arrangements.

"I do not like the sound of this. I mean Spike needs his rest and doesn't need a full blown party on his case right now" Spike looked at Illyria as she spoke, then turned to Angel while pointing at Illyria.

"Did Illyria just comment on my health?" Spike said incredibly.

"That's what I meant about the gang changing, Illyria became your personal bodyguard, and she didn't even let the medics in after they had stabilized you. Gunn and Wesley helped look after you when I needed a rest or the medics needed help. Harmony has been talking to you as well. We became close friends after what had happened to you." Angel explained happily.

"What about Aston?" Spike enquired,

Angel's face darkened, "He is in a safe place. He will be taken care of in due time"

Lorne broke the silence with a shrill scream of glee, "Ok boys! The party is tomorrow so all arrangements are taken place all day today and early morning tomorrow. This is going to be the greatest party ever!" Lorne ran out with the others following with Illyria shouting about the noise.

Angel frowned; this is going to be really bad.

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