Part Twenty-Four

The vampire heads into the living room and stops abruptly in his tracks. Xander is lying on the floor with plastic flowers on his chest. He hears the teen’s heartbeat but the scene is still disturbing.

"Wot are you doing, you git?" Spike asks.

Xander opens one eye, looks at Spike, then closes it again.

"I’m dead."

"Yer not dead; can hear yer heartbeat, you nutter," Spike growls.

"Nope, I’m dead," Xander insists.

"Fine, Xanpet, yer dead. Why are you dead?" Spike asks sarcastically.

"My Mate took so long making me food I starved to death," Xander smirks with his eyes still closed.

"Dead, right. Good, ‘m hungry, too, and you won’t be needing all that lovely blood," Spike lisps in game face and lunges.

Xander hears the shift in Spike’s voice and thinks he is ready. He starts to roll off when he is pounced.

"Smell right delicious, whelp," Spike snarls as he starts exaggeratedly sniffing Xander.

"Stop that! Bad vampire!" Xander laughs, "Hey, that tickles!" He pushes Spike away.

Spike holds his boy’s hands down and starts licking his neck.

"Ew! Bad, bad vampire," Xander is laughing so hard he can’t get his breath.

"No, luv, evil vampire, good vampire," Spike smirks.

He nips Xander very carefully on the neck then puts him back on the couch.

"Bad Mate. No scaring the Master Vampire," he says mock sternly. He gets the plate out of the kitchen and brings it to Xander.

"It’s — It’s — It’s healthy!" Xander complains.

"Got yer Hostess right here, Pet," Spike says as he holds up a package. He lifts it when Xander reaches for it. "Ah, ah, luv," the vampire points to the sandwich.

"Sugar first? Please? Promise I’ll eat the sandwich," Xander pleads, batting his thick lashes.

Spike takes one look and has to look away.

"Eat, whelp, dessert after," he says without looking at his Mate.

"Not gonna say that to my face, Spike?" Xander smirks.

"Not bloody winnin’, luv, eat!" the vampire growls in frustration.

"Fine," Xander sighs. He starts munching on the sandwich and chips, waiting for the vampire to look again.

Spike hears the boy eating and hopes its safe to look. Just as he turns, Xander sticks out his bottom lip and pouts.

"Argh!" Spike stalks into the kitchen and yanks open the refrigerator. He warms a bag of blood in the microwave and stomps back out to Xander, ignoring the bag burning his hand. His Mate is chewing with a grin until he vamps out suddenly and sinks his fangs into the blood bag. His need for violence and hunger sated simultaneously he smirks at Xander’s dropped jaw.

"Close the mouth, Pet," Spike sneers. Then he unwraps the Twinkie and pops it in his mouth.

"Hey! My snack cake, Blondie," Xander sulks.

Spike raises a scarred eyebrow, "Ate my lunch, whelp."

Xander scowls but he finishes his sandwich with no further complaint. Spike is immensely proud of himself and looks rather smug.

"Now, vampire, my cake?"

"Manners, Pet," Spike chides.

"Fine, snack cake, please?"

"Ate the last one," Spike teases.

Xander just stares at the vampire, horror in his expression. His chin gives a little wobble and the anime eyes come out.

~Soddin’ Hell, he’s gonna cry!~ Spike fumbles the snack cake he was hiding in his pocket and throws it to Xander to forestall the tears.

"There, there, luv. Evil vampire here. Was just messin’ with you."

Xander happily munches, "Never mess with Hostess, Spike."

Spike hopes he never see what happens if they run out of his Mate’s favorite snack foods.

"Quite disconcerted; my equilibrium is decidedly off," Giles answers.

"I have a cot in the other room if you would like to gather your thoughts before you go home."

"I shan’t want to inconvenience you, Alex," Giles demurs.

"It won’t bother me, I have some paperwork to do before I can go home," Alex assures him.

"I do feel uncomfortable being around Xander in such a state… I shall partake of your hospitality with thanks," Giles says softly.

Alex notices Giles is being particularly Giles-ish and figures it is his friend’s way of reasserting himself. He shows the Watcher where the cot is and shuts the door to give him some privacy.

Alex goes back into his office and thumbs the intercom.

"Yes?"

"Rupert is resting in the on-call area. Ripper seems to be gone again for now. It’s like the last time; he’s being super stuff British. I think it’s his was of asserting his identity."

"Other than that he seems okay, Alex?"

"He’s worried Ripper will mess with Xander."

"Did you tell him to keep in contact with us?"

"Yes, Daniel. He has better control of his alter ego now. Maybe we all worry for nothing."

"I hope so, I really hope so," and both brothers break contact.

Alex sits down and does paperwork while keeping an ear tuned for trouble.

Giles lies down on the cot and closes his eyes. He walks down the hall and knocks on Ripper’s door. He is concerned when he doesn’t get a response and quickly opens the door. To his complete amazement the room is immaculate. He hears a noise and looks up just in time to see Ripper leering at him. A Ripper so fresh from the shower Giles watches water droplets travel in meandering paths down a broad chest until they hit the brown curls at the tops of the thighs. Ripper is dripping wet and utterly naked. Giles watches mesmerized as the droplet rides the wiry hairs until it meets smooth skin again. Abruptly he realizes he is staring at a naked man. Not only that, Ripper is his teen self. Teenager, minor, off limits. He brings his head up again with a jerk and yanks his glasses off to clean them furiously.

"I do beg your pardon. I shall leave immediately!"

"No’ necessary, Rupes," Ripper purrs.

"I do not with to disturb your ablutions," Giles says quickly and puts his glasses back on.

"Shower’s free, want to take one - with me?"

Ripper casually starts unbuttoning Giles’ shirt.

"Now see here, stop that!"

"Why?" Ripper asks with genuine confusion.

"You are too young, Ripper. You shall eternally be a teen with the hormonal chaos accompanying that state. I shall not take advantage of a child," Giles replies firmly.

Ripper grabs the Watcher’s hand and places it on his erect penis. "Does that feel childish to you?" he demands, "As I see it I was on my way to ‘takin’ advantage’ of you," he leers.

"Yes, well, you shall not now. Please get dressed."

"Oi, I don’t think so. You get me all hot an’ bothered then leave me to rot in this room again," Ripper snarls.

"I do apologize for disturbing you," Giles says as he looks down at his lap.

"Make it up to me, Rupes," Ripper smirks as he stalks over to Giles and finishes unbuttoning the shirt.

"I can’t," comes the weak protest.

"I’m you, pillock! Nothin’ more’n assisted wanking. Play with me. Play with US," Ripper pleads in a very un-childlike voice. Then he ups the stakes and starts sucking on the nipple he uncovers. Giles gasps as his shaft swells and Ripper wins. Or maybe they both win.

"But it is not proper," Giles tries one last time. His answer is a swift rub on his covered erection.

"Fuck proper," Ripper says around the small nub. He starts soft kisses down the older man’s chest until he reaches the waistband of the Watcher’s trousers. He unbuttons and unzips with trembling fingers. Both men groan when the plain white briefs appear. Ripper licks the cloth in desperation.

"Ruuuuuuuuupert!" he wails. Giles is upended on the bed as Ripper yanks the trousers and underwear off abruptly.

"Ripper!"

Ripper looks at the Watcher with raw need in his eyes and the final denial dies on his lips. He read the acquiescence in Rupert’s eyes and grins a shark grin. Giles gives a shuddery gasp as his penis is enveloped to the root in one swallow. He can feel the other man’s throat muscles massaging the foreskin. Giles eyes roll up in his head.

Ripper smirks around the obstacle in his mouth then slides back until just the head is in. He very gently chews on the tip and Giles gives a full-bodied groan.

"What - about - you?" the Watcher gets out between gasps.

Ripper leers and grabs the lube from the bedside table. He uncaps it and applies it to one finger before tossing the tube to the side. He suddenly envelops Giles again and he raises his legs in reaction. Ripper slowly inserts the finger and watches as Giles does an eye roll. It’s time. He finds the little nub inside and gently strokes across it once. He watches the other man spasm again and again as warm semen fills his mouth. His own release is triggered as he swallows his fill. He gives the limp penis a few soft licks to clean it then sits back on his heals and smirks up at the Watcher.

Giles is already starting the guilt trip. Ripper yanks the other man’s hand to his own member and watches Giles as he realizes Ripper is also wet and limp.

"But, I say, How?" the normally articulate ex-librarian is babbling.

"I - am - you!" Ripper snarls, punctuating each word by poking the Watcher in the stomach.

Giles still looks confused and Ripper groans and yanks his hand through his hair.

"Did it feel good?" he asks semi-calmly.

"Quite," Giles admits and looks guilty again.

"ARGH! Don’t do that! When I sucked you I sucked me too. Rub your prostate, I feel it. Get it yet you, wanker? I AM YOU," he screams. Ripper is looking a little wild with his hair sticking up in tufts.

The Watcher is still shocked but his brain cells are starting to leak back where they belong.

"You feel what I feel… Extraordinary!"

"Yah, it was good. ‘M talented that way. Bet you never though you’d give yourself a blowjob," Ripper sneers.

"Can’t say as I have ever thought I would experience this unique situation," Giles says in bemusement. He finally understands Ripper. With that thought the room fades and he finds himself back in the dark on-call room with damp pants. He feels exhausted and drops off to sleep.

Alex hears the strange noises coming from the room next door and nearly barges in. Then he realizes what he is hearing and flushes. He turns on the intercom.

"Are you still there, Daniel?"

"Just reviewing some charts before I go home. Need some help?"

"No, no. I just thought I would tell you I think Rupert will be fine."

"That’s great. That Xander certainly has enough problems for all of them. Did he tell you he was okay?"

"Uh… not exactly. It’s a hunch I have," Alex grins even though his brother can’t see him.

"You fix the heads, Alex, I’ll take your word for it. Good night."

"Good night, Daniel," and Alex turns off the intercom. The sounds from the other room have not ceased so he turns on his radio. Shaking his head in amusement he goes back to his papers. Who would have thought sex was a cure?