Part Four

Unfortunately, it wasn’t as easy as Xander’s quick statement seemed to make it. For one, Spike noticed the phone was off the hook. He wondered if the Watcher had ever hung up.

"Wait, whelp, I don’t think this is a phone type conversation. Don’t want to give Rupert a heart attack, then be too far away to watch, " he ended with a Spike smirk. He may be cuddly for his Xander but he was still the Big Bad. Not to mention a little distracting wouldn’t hurt the whelp.

"Spike, the G-Man is like my father. That’s evil! Oh yeah, you ARE evil. Still, I don’t understand why I have to talk to Giles. I am so not talking to the girls."

"Luv, you have to talk to the Watcher because he is like a da to you. Much as I don’t like it, you’re gonna need him. And you don’t have to tell anyone else. At least, not right away." Spike leered. "Of course I am evil, pet, I’m a vampire! But I won’t hurt you none; you can take my word on that. Now come on, Rupert is waiting." Spike quickly ushers Xander out the door before he can process that last. Since Xander is arguing about telling Giles, he should have no idea what is going on. After all the fuss about Xander needling to talk, Spike is not gonna confess the Watcher might already know. Might?! If Spike was Giles and a known evil - albeit chipped - master vamp had found something so startling he dropped the phone he was holding he would have eavesdropped, too. Especially since the Big Bad vampire was with Xander. No, he didn’t blame the Watcher. It might make things easier in the long run. Less time explaining left more time to get Xander to a doctor before he had a chance to really wig out. With that in mind he exuded a sense of power, a sort of - Don’t mess with a Master Vampire’s pet - as they walked to Giles’. Xander was lost in his own thoughts and silent. But he was holding Spike’s hand and for that little gesture Spike could swear his heart gave one short beat. It was miracle night on the Hellmouth. The couple made it to the Watcher’s without meeting humans, much less demons. Spike was smug that the Big Bad still had it. Of course, it could have just been an unusually quiet night too. Xander was not in any condition to appreciate the quiet night. He had a few demons of his own.

Xander stops and Spike is unexpectedly tugged backward when he fails to notice the whelp planted his feet.

"I can’t do this, Spike. Let’s just go back home please? At least let me take a shower, change clothes..." Xander trails off.

"Luv, we already discussed this. Remember? You have to talk to the Watcher and you can’t clean up till you see the doc. Now, do you really wanna set me chip off when I drag you in, whether you like it or not? The show might be worth the headache."

Spike has a look on his face that Xander isn’t sure he should push. It seems to say the Big Bad is at the end of his rope himself and would love for Xander to make him enact a cave vampire routine. Complete with girlish shrieks as Xander is carried over the vampire’s shoulder. Perhaps a few manly vampire shrieks as well as the chip zaps Spike, but the look seems to say it will be worth it.

"You’ll stay right, Spike? I am so not doing this alone," Xander finally managed to get out.

"Oi, pet, told ya I was staying by you. Now knock on the door like a good whelp."

Giles is standing right by the door, listening to all this. He has long stopped being astonished at the sounds of support and concern in Spike’s voice. He almost opens the door before knocks. Luckily, he realizes that if he does this they will know he’s been listening the whole time. Now is not the time to start a trust issue.

"Spike, Xander, what brings you here at this late hour?" Giles rubs imaginary sleep out of his eyes. If Xander were more aware he would realize Giles opened the door too fast to have been asleep.

"Well, come in please, I haven’t got all night!" Giles winces at the forced irritation in his tone but he mustn’t be nice to Spike and make Xander suspicious. He sends a silent apology to the vampire. He really has been impressed with Spike’s handling of the situation.

"Uh, hi, G-Man... If you were asleep we can come back later, " Xander says hopefully.

"No, no, Xander. It must be important if you - Oh, rubbish!"

"Giles!?" Xander is so startled he actually says his name.

"I can’t keep pretending. Now, of all times, there must be truth and no secrets. I know what happened, Xander. Spike called and told me." Well actually he had overheard but most of the truth was better than none.

"Is that true, Spike?" he sees the truth in the vampire’s eyes.

"Why did you bother with the pep talk if you were just gonna break your promise!? What about you caring about me!? Are you gonna go call the girls now and complete my humiliation? Oh my God, Spike, you gave me your WORD!" Xander is furious and hurt.

"Actually luv, I crossed me fingers behind me back so technically I didn’t break me-, " he cuts off at the look in Xander’s eyes. Xander runs for Giles’ bedroom and locks himself in.