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Chapter 1 

It took a week for Xander’s ribs to heal sufficiently enough for him to get out of bed for any length of time. Since he’d yet to experience his first change, his body couldn’t completely access the preternatural healing abilities inherent in the wolf.  

During that time, Spike was a constant by his side, helping him see to his human needs. The last two few days he went so far as to hold Xander upright in the shower, though that only because he’d threatened to take one by himself. The daily sponge baths he’d been receiving just hadn’t been cutting it. 

That he cared not that both he and Spike were naked together spoke volumes as to how much he’d come to rely on the vampire since arriving on Angel’s doorstep. His quiet presence both in and out of bed – the one they’d confiscated from the vampire that first night and who’d never failed to complain about it since – helped him deal with the nightmares that continued to plague him. Ones in which neither he nor Spike had escaped and were endlessly tortured in the name of science.  

Stifling a sigh, Xander ran a shaking hand through his hair. Angel was leaning against the kitchen counter, surreptitiously watching him – or so Angel thought. Xander felt the vampire’s gaze distinctly. The only reason he didn’t take umbrage was because Angel seemed to have both his and Spike’s welfare at heart, for the time being anyway. Surprising, but he wasn’t going to question Angel’s sudden change in behavior.  

Still… 

“What?” he finally snapped, looking up from his plate. 

“This thing with you and Spike—” 

“There is no thing with me and Spike,” Xander interrupted. 

“He’s evil, Xander. Just because he’s agreed to bag it for now… It’s just… You can’t trust him. And, I don’t want to see you get hurt.” 

Xander stared at Angel, arms crossed over his chest. “Look. Angel.” He wanted to yell, to tell Angel to mind his own business. And he would have. Except…  

Angel really was trying to help. He’d gotten Cordelia and some half-breed demon named Doyle involved. His team, Angel had said. He’d even overridden both their objections at having Spike around. 

“Hello? Pokers, anybody?” Cordelia had said, and Angel had just brushed her concern aside, mumbling about “family differences and debts owed.” 

Xander sighed.  

“I hear ya. And, I’ll be careful. Alright? But Spike’s been there. Is there. He could have killed me and disappeared after we escaped, but he didn’t. He’s here. He’s helping. Researching even.” And who knew that Spike knew his way around a computer almost as well as Willow. 

This time it was Angel that sighed. “Alright, Xander. Just… be careful.” 

Angel really hoped that Xander would. He could see how Spike was fixating on the boy. More than he ever had on Drusilla.  

“Am I interrupting something?” Spike asked. There was no mistaking the sudden tension in the room. 

“No,” Xander said. He was still staring at Angel. “Angel was just offering some fatherly advice.” He chuckled when Angel winced. 

“Peaches tends to do that a lot.” 

“Spike,” Angel growled, objecting to the name. 

“Sorry.” Spike smirked. “Angelus.” 

Angel did a pretty good impression of rolling his eyes then pushed away from the counter and headed towards the elevator. “I’ll be upstairs. Xander, eat your breakfast.” 

“Yes, dad.” 

Spike’s laughter followed Angel up in the elevator. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

Wesley thought he was doing well as a self-professed rogue demon hunter. Though he’d not actually caught his first demon yet, his latest tip was very promising, and was what had led him to Los Angeles.  

He parked his motorcycle and gingerly dismounted. His backside was numb from the long drive and it took him a minute to get used to being on his feet again before he crossed the lot and let himself into the bar. 

The music was unbearably loud, but it masked the squeak of leather as he walked up to the bar where he ordered a shot of “something strong”. He downed it in one and slammed the glass on the table, demanded another for good measure. Appearances were everything, after all. Who cared if his throat was on fire? 

Little did he realize that he’d captured the notice of one of the patrons tucked away in the corner, someone who had taken one look at him and thought, “British wanker. Has to be one of the Council’s do-gooders.” 

“I’m looking for…” Wesley began when the bartender glanced his way. He realized he was almost shouting and lowered his voice. “I’m looking for Doyle.”

“Never heard of him,” the bartender growled and turned away to help another customer. 

Wesley wasn’t deterred, however, and when the bartender came back, he had a fifty dollar bill in his hand. “Doyle?” 

“Never. Heard. Of. Him,” the bartender said again. 

“I mean him no harm, I can assure you. He’s a… an informant of mine. He wanted me to meet him here. Only, we’ve never actually met. In person, that is.” Wesley shrugged helplessly. 

“Sorry. Can’t help you.” 

Wesley sighed and leaned against the bar. He didn’t feel anyone at his back until they’d leaned over and swiped the fifty dollar bill from his hand. 

“Hey!” he turned around to confront the person and just barely refrained from screaming. 

He would have recognized the vampire standing before him anywhere. When he’d been a watcher-in-training, he’d spent an entire month devoted to studying the exploits of William the Bloody as well as the rest of the Scourge of Europe.  

Staring at Spike, as he was calling himself nowadays, he could believe everything he’d ever read about the vampire.  

“What-what to do you want?” Wesley stammered out. He watched as Spike calmly pocketed his money. 

“Thought you were looking for a bloke named Doyle. It just so happens I know where he works.” 

“What makes you think I’d go anywhere with you?” 

Spike grinned, Cheshire-cat-like. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

Angel Investigations was a madhouse and Angel wanted nothing more than to slink off to his apartment until everyone had gone away. Unfortunately, he couldn’t.  

“Spike, let Wesley go. Oz, nice to see you again. Xander, sit down before you fall down. Cordelia, just… I hear you, alright? Doyle—” 

“Wait! You mean there really is a Doyle?” Wesley asked, shoving Spike off him. 

“’course there is,” Spike replied, not that anybody could hear him as they were all too busy talking at once… well, except for Xander, who was eyeing the red-headed newcomer – Oz – with some trepidation. Spike went to stand beside the boy. 

“Problem, pet?” he asked, hands settling lightly on Xander’s shoulders. 

“Uh, no. It’s just. That’s Oz.” 

“Yeah, got that much.” 

“He’s the guy that bit me. Or, I’m pretty sure he’s the one that did it. That night is still pretty hazy.” 

“Did he now?” 

There was an underlying menace in Spike’s tone, and Xander was quick to dissuade him from whatever he might be planning. 

“He’s my friend. You’re not allowed to eat him.” 

“Well, why not?” 

Spike was definitely pouting now, and Xander smothered a smile. “Friend. Mine. Plus, it wasn’t his fault.” 

“Yeah…. Well…” 

“I mean it, Spike.” 

“Fine. No eating the mutt.” 

“Hey!” Xander objected. 

“Wot?” 

“I’m a mutt, too, now, you know. Well, you know what I mean. No name calling either.” He crossed his arms over his chest and instantly regretted it. “Ow!” 

His whine of pain, more wolf-like than human, accomplishing what Angel had been trying to achieve. Blessed silence. 

“Xander?” Angel’s sharp gaze zeroed in on Xander’s face. 

“Boy’s had a little too much fun for one day, I’m thinking, Angelus. We’re going below,” Spike announced. He easily lifted a protesting Xander in his arms and headed for the elevator.  

“I say! Was that?” Wesley asked. “With—?” 

“Yes,” Doyle replied.

“And he? They?” 

“Uh huh,” Cordelia confirmed. 

“Oh.” 

“So, Wesley, what brings you here? Other than Spike, that is?” Angel asked, steering them all away from speculating on Xander and Spike. 

“Actually, I came to Los Angeles following up on a lead. I’m a rogue demon hunter now.” 

“Oh really? And how’s that working out for you?” Cordelia asked. She had to admit, Wesley looked much better in leather than a suit and tie. 

“Not so well, I’m afraid.” 

Doyle bit his lip to keep from laughing.  

Angel just sighed and shook his head. Knowing he was going to regret it, he invited everyone downstairs.  

~*~*~*~*~ 

Spike gave Angel a dirty look, but refrained from saying anything when Angel opened the lift and he, along with everyone else, stepped out. 

“Everyone take a seat.” 

“So?” Cordelia said after everyone had sat down. 

“Xander?” There was a quizzical look on Oz’s face. 

“It’s a long story,” Xander replied, sensing the question. 

“I don’t have anywhere to be,” Cordelia said, settling back into her chair. Her quirked brow said “spill already”. 

Xander frowned. Angel’s gang didn’t know the exact reason he and Spike were there, only that the two of them had been hurt and were staying with Angel while they recovered, well, while he recovered. Spilling his secrets to them, reliving his time spent in the Initiative… Xander didn’t think he was up to that just then.  

“Go on, pet,” Spike urged, and it was the quiet support he felt from the vampire that allowed Xander to tell his tale. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

“Angleman.” 

“Dr. Angleman? We’ve found the hostiles. They’re in Los Angeles.” 

“Hold your position. I’m sending a retrieval team.” 

“Yes, sir!”

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