| Chapter Three: |
| Spike climbed into the elevator still carefully carrying Dawn and pushed a random floor number. His Nibblet would be fine once she got a few good hours of rest. Her soft sniffles at his neck comforted him over what he had done and without a moment hesitation would do again to protect her. Cuddling her close his demon did something that hadn�t happened in years, it started purring. It was a pleasant shock for his senses that the little girl he held in his arms could tame the ferocious beast that lay within. It wasn�t until he looked up that he realized the elevator door was now starting to close again. Catching it with his foot he stepped out onto the third floor and began walking down the narrow hallway. Spike began opening doors until he found a room that might be clean enough. Pulling back the dust-covered duvet he stripped it off the bed and laid Dawn down. Immediately she closed her eyes and fell asleep, not having the strength to fight it any longer. Since there wasn�t any other blanket, he shrugged out of his coat and laid it over her so she wouldn�t catch any of the chill that seemed to hang in the air. Smoothing back her hair Spike gently kissed her forehead and exited the room. Now to face Peaches, and that wasn�t going to be a pleasure cruise. Downstairs Angel paced the lobby and waited for Spike. Last time his childe had tried to kill him, he wondered what was up his sleeve this time. He didn�t need the complication of Spike in his life right now, especially with Connor asleep in his bassinet behind the counter. It was better than Spike didn�t know anything about his son. Maybe it would be best just to give Spike whatever he wanted and let him leave. Hearing his childe�s boots on the steps, he turned around and looked up, surprised at the look of fatigue that shown in his eyes. �So what�s going on Spike, I would have thought after last time you would know better than to go back around me.� Angel stood toe to toe with Spike. He was glad for his extra inches in height next to the younger vamp. �I didn�t have a choice, I had to get Dawn out of Sunnydale. The sun came up before we could get to her father�s house, so here we are.� �What�s going on in Sunnydale? Is Buffy in trouble?� Angel was worried about something happening to Buffy again and he not being there to help. �Buffy is the problem, mate. Ever since she came back from the grave, she hasn�t been the same. She�s let the Slayer in her take over. It�s been rough on Dawn, she caught Buffy and I fighting. Buffy told me to get the hell out of Sunnydale.� Spike weary even with the Slayer blood coursing through his veins sat on the sofa. �So why didn�t you leave. Are you that much of a glutton for punishment, or do you just enjoy getting beat down for the hell of it?� Angel had started pacing again trying hard to listen to Spike instead of just beating him within an inch of his unlife. �I promised to protect Dawn. She doesn�t feel safe with Buffy anymore, not to mention being ignored and alone always. She wanted to come here and live with her father and the shit hit the fan. Buffy attacked her when she tried to leave, threw her into the wall and hurt her arm. I was outside and went in. I couldn�t leave her to be hurt so I told her to pack her bags and I would take care of Buffy.� Remembering that he had almost killed Buffy was making Spike shake with anger and fear that he could have done it. He had come within moments of killing the woman he loved. �What did you do to her?� Angel full of fury grabbed Spike by the shirt and hauled him to his feet, begging for an excuse to dust him. �We fought. I drank her and we left and didn�t kill her if that�s what you�re after. I took enough to knock her out, to give Dawn and me time to get out of town. I had to let her know that I would do what it took to protect Dawn.� �Why would Buffy hurt her own sister?� Angel was not releasing his grip on Spike until he got enough answers to satisfy his curiosity. �She came back wrong. Whatever is left of Buffy inside is being eaten away a piece at a time. She�s struggling so hard to hang on that when Dawn wanted out she snapped. She could have killed her own sister and not realized it. The other�s are there by choice, not Dawn. There�s a lot going on in Sunnydale that you have no clue of. I had to get her out of there, and I did what had to be done. Now let me go you stupid sod.� Spike�s hands went around Angel�s and loosened their grip on his shirt, then he flopped back down on the sofa. �So what else is going on that I need to be aware of.� Angel returned to his pacing his mind reeling at the claims his childe had made. He had sensed something off with Buffy when they had met in the desert when she came back, but he had no idea that it would ever come to this. �The witches are kaput. Willow has become addicted to the dark arts to say the least. It�s because of Willow that Dawn would up with a fractured arm and a concussion. She was visiting Rack and she brought back something with her, it attacked and Willow crashed a car still charged up on magic. That�s not to mention her little forgetting spell that about got us all killed because no of us could remember who we were. Not to mention it was Willow that brought Buffy back in the first place.� Spikes stretched his legs out in front on him and crossed his ankles figuring he might as well be comfortable until he was finished. �Let�s see, then there�s Anya, the former vengeance demon who was engaged to Xander, well he left her at the altar and she became a vengeance demon again. The whelp has been brooding more than you on a good day as of late and about got us all killed yet again by summoning some dancing demon from hell. Let�s not forget Rupert Giles so-called Watcher Extrodinaire. He leaves his charge when she needs him the most and flies back on off to England, leaving Buffy to carry on alone, because a lot of good her friends are.� Spike could think of more to add but not knowing how good a light it would paint himself in, he kept those comments to himself. The front door to the Hyperion opened and brought with it the smell of expensive perfume and fresh pastries, along with the sound of fury. The cheerleader had arrived. �Angel, a god awful big black car is parked in my parking spot. I really think we need to invest in some employees only spaces.� Cordelia walked in and set her bags down on the front desk. Walking around to the back, Spike her heard rustling with something and making soft cooing sounds. The last time Spike had seen her she hadn�t gone off the deep end, but time does change things. �Cordy, I really don�t think you should do that right now.� Angel stood stock still and waited hoping that Cordelia would not be playing with Connor as was her usual morning behavior suggested. �What, he�s awake, dry and happy. If I want to play with him, I will.� Cordy came from behind the big desk carrying a wrapped wiggling bundle. Just as she was in the lobby, she noticed Spike and shouted clutching the baby to her. �Hello, gorgeous. I haven�t gotten that kind of reaction from a woman in a while. It�s nice to know I�ve still got it.� Spike grinned at her his tongue caught playfully between his teeth. �What�s he doing here? What are you doing here? Why haven�t you staked his sorry ass yet?� Cordelia handed the baby to Angel knowing he was better protected in his father�s arms than anywhere, then turned and grabbed a crossbow. Turning back around she aimed the crossbow at Spike deadly level with his heart. �Easy now luv, I�m not here for any of that. Give me until dark and I�m gone.� Spike stood and walked carefully toward Angel not quite sure of just how itchy the cheerleader�s trigger finger was. �What is that you have there mate? If I didn�t know better, I would say you were holding a baby.� Spike looked at the bundle in his grand sire�s arms and sure enough a small infants face was visible. The child stared up at Spike and much to Spike�s delight smiled and cooed. Spike never had been one for eating children that had been more of Drusilla�s passion. She always said they were more flavorful when they were young, they just didn�t fill her like an adult. �This is my son, and if you so much as look at him crossed eyed I will stake you.� Angel had a feeling deep inside that for all of Spike�s faults he wouldn�t be hurt his child. �I was never one for little nippers you know that Peaches, and just how in the bloody hell do you have a baby.� Spike full of curiosity carefully touched the little ones� hand and giggled when the baby grabbed a hold of his finger. �He�s mine and Darla�s, she died giving birth to him. I don�t know how or why, but he is. Please refrain from touching him until you have washed your hands, it�s not like I know where you have been.� Angel slapped Spike�s hand away much to the chagrin of Connor who started to pout then cry. �Now see what you�ve done. Come here to Uncle Spike little one.� Spike took the baby from Angel�s arms before he could even protest. Cradling the infant to him was an experience like none he had ever felt. The baby stopped crying when he was in Spike�s arms. �Well look at that. I think someone likes his uncle Spike huh little guy.� Spike returned to his seat on the sofa, baby in his arms. �Angel, you�re not just going to stand there. Do something.� Cordelia turned toward Angel shock written all over her face. With her crossbow in hand Cordelia turned toward Spike. �Give me the baby Spike.� Cordelia stood her ground, there was no way she was going to let this fiend near Connor. �Back off cheerleader, the boy and I are just getting to know each other is all.� Spike vamped at her and growled much to the delight of Connor who started cooing and kicking his legs. Connor�s little hands playfully bat at Spike�s vampire bumps gleeful at someone who looked like his father. �Cordelia, if he wants to hold the baby for a while let him. We have some work to do in the office.� Angel took Cordelia by the elbow and ushered her into the office. By the time they got there she was fuming. �What are you doing, letting him hold Connor? What the hell has gotten into you. There�s no telling what he�s going to do. He could kill him while we�re in here and leave and . . . �Angel put his hand over her mouth to silence it. �Be quiet. Spike�s not going to hurt Connor. Just relax. I know my own grandchilde. Spike may be a lot of things, but he never hurt kids. I needed to find a way for him to believe that I trust him.� Angel carefully took his hand away while an angry Cordy glared daggers at him. �Why do you need for him to trust you? What is he doing here in the first place, I thought he was in Sunnydale hanging around Buffy�s group?� Cordelia was still reeling that Angel would let that monster hold their precious Connor. �Something�s going down in Sunnydale something bad. Spike showed up here this morning with Dawn and was telling me how their whole group has gone over the deep end. Spike brought her here for protection. Buffy tried to hurt her last night and if all of Sunnydale comes after them Spike knows he can�t handle it alone. I know Spike and he�s far from stupid no matter what he wants you to think. He came here for help and until I can check out his full story I needed someway for him to trust us. Spike won�t hurt Connor, just trust me.� Angel picked up a little black book. It was full of numbers to contacts not only here in LA but around the world, including Sunnydale. �I trust you, but I don�t have to like your motives.� Cordelia stomped out of the office and into the lobby where Spike was still sitting and talking to the baby. �If you hurt him, even look at him like a snack, and I�ll make sure you spend the rest of eternity in hell. You understand me.� Cordy let part of her new demon power flicker over her to prove her point. �Don�t get your knickers in a twist, the lad and I are fine. Now if you know where a bottle is, and a nappy I�ll fix this little bugger right up then he�ll sleep the rest of the morning away.� Spike stood up, the baby was laying against his shoulder gnawing on a tiny fist and letting drool run down the once bad assed vampire�s shirt. The sight twisted Cordelia�s heart and melted it just a little. Deciding to follow Angel�s advice and trust Spike for the time being she pointed to the door leading to the kitchen. �His bottle is in the fridge and I�ll get you a diaper. He likes it warm so you�ll have to warm it on the stove. Don�t put it in the microwave, it makes it too hot. Holler at me if you need anything, I�ll be in the office with Angel.� Cordelia sashayed regally back into the office not bothering looking back at Spike. |