I Didn’t Want It!
Part Five
"
Bloody Watcher, why’d you have to tell him? This is all your fault! Humans and their bloody desire to tell the absolute truth. Now how’m I supposed to calm him down? He’s locked in your bleedin’ room!" Spike continued his tirade, not seeing the danger signs in Giles. Giles was already furious and it wasn’t going to take much before Ripper came out to play. How dare the vampire say Xander was upset because of the Watcher. Xander was one of his ‘children’. He was looking after the boy before Spike even came to Sunnydale. After all, didn’t Spike hit Xander over the head pre-chip? Giles had much more to lose than Spike!"How dare you blame this on me. I don’t actually need you here, Spike. I could take care of Xander on my own. I could have Willow do a de-invite spell and make sure you’re kept far away from him. If you’d like to help Xander - well first I’d wonder why - that’d be acceptable. But don’t take your frustrations out on me again. Is that understood?" Giles finished quietly and somehow that was even more menacing.
"Oi, Watcher, no need to get your knickers inna twist. Just was concerned for the boy. No need for all that." Spike backed down reluctantly from the hostility Giles was displaying. If he didn’t need the Watcher... If he didn’t have the chip... A chip zap later Spike was massaging his temples.
"Yes, quite, now that that rot’s over with I can use my key to unlock the door and we can tend to Xander." Giles turns around with a faint snicker. Point to the Watcher.
Spike stomps along behind him muttering about bloody gits who don’t tell a bloke they have a key first off. Giles is too concerned about Xander to get any more amusement out of baiting Spike. Giles gets the key out of his pocket and puts it in the lock.
"Xander, we’re coming in. It’s time to talk. I know you’re upset but I can explain." So saying he opens the door and they both spot an exhausted youth asleep on the bed. The two older men carefully sit on each side of the sleeping teen. He is so tired he doesn’t even stir. Spike starts petting his hair. Giles notes this and with a start realizes the vampire loves Xander.
"Spike, I know of a doctor that’ll come to the house. I’ll go call him while you stay with Xander in case he wakes up. I think this’ll be less traumatic in a familiar environment." The soft whisper startles Spike but the trust it reveals is even more surprising. He nods quietly and lies down beside Xander, still petting his head. He notes with encouragement that Xander once again has curled towards him rather than scooting away.
"It’s okay, luv, Spike’ll take care of you. Me and Rupes working together’ll be an unbeatable team. Course, that’s if I don’t kill him, " Spike muses softly. It’s been a long day for the vampire too and he starts purring as he falls asleep with his Xander.
Meanwhile Giles has just gotten off the phone with the doctor, who will be there in an hour. He quietly opens the door and sees a sight he is going to describe in his journal. William the Bloody, Master Vampire, the self-proclaimed Big Bad, One-Fourth of the Scourge of Europe is cuddling a very human Xander Harris like a teddy bear. And purring. Maybe he should buy a video camera...
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