We Go Way Back
by Nelson
March 2005
"Bollocks!" Spike cursed, his body jerking left and right to avoid the missiles launching at him.
"MOVE!" Connor yelled. "Get out of the way!"
"I'm trying," Spike replied through gritted teeth. "I can't get… DAMN!"
Connor fell back on the sofa laughing and pointed at the television. "I'm SO going to kick your butt this time, Spike. All the way to the Hellmouth."
Spike shivered involuntarily and said, "Don't even joke about that. Damn it!"
"Told you," Connor teased as another dragon nailed Spike's digital man.
Spike tossed the game controller aside and glared at Connor who expertly killed the dragon coming at him while collecting the hanging fruit. "Braggart," Spike said sarcastically. "I'll get back on top when it's my turn again."
"Spike, Connor," Angel said from the door of his office. "We have a client on the way. Game over."
"No, Dad!" Connor exclaimed without moving his eyes from the screen. "I've got him this time."
"You two have been at it long enough. Don't you have homework or something, Connor?" Angel said.
Spike laughed and said, "Better luck next time, kid. Your old man has pulled the plug on your little victory dance."
"Just a little longer," Connor said. He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as he focused on collecting fruit without killing his man.
"Now, Connor. Take it somewhere else," Angel said unmoved.
"No, Dad," Connor repeated, firing for all he was worth. He only looked away from the screen when it went black. "Hey!" He bounded angrily to his feet, still clutching the controller tightly.
"I said it's time to stop," Angel said as he moved his forefinger from the power button.
"I was winning!" Connor exclaimed. "And, it's been a whole week!"
"Whose fault is that?"
With an accusatory glance to his right, Connor said, "Spike's."
"Spi- WHAT?! How the bloody hell is it MY fault you don't know how to listen?" Spike demanded.
"I listened to you. I just didn't want to do what you said."
"AS usual," Spike grumbled.
"All right," Angel interrupted. "Connor, you need to do what Spike says. You didn't. You got grounded. Now, before I think you didn't learn anything," Angel said, pushing Connor toward the door, "do like I said, and make yourself scarce."
"But, Dad!"
Angel didn't budge. "I have a business to run here, son, and it doesn't include Crash Bandicoot. Go find something else to do," Angel said. "Go on."
Connor cast his father a sour look on his way out, grumbling under his breath the whole way about the injustices of life. Spike turned from watching the unhappy teen exit then kissed Angel, working his way down his lover's neck, nipping playfully at his jugular. "Ta, love," he said. "You saved me my dignity. That boy of yours was about to beat the hell out of me. He'd never let me live it down."
"I don't know what you see in those games," Angel said. "You're way older than the intended target audience, you know."
"Keeps me young," Spike said. "Speaking of games," he added with a voice of silk, "you and I are overdue to play some."
Angel's serious demeanor cracked enough to allow a smile and he said, "You want to play now?"
"If you have to ask that," Spike said, layering lines of kisses along Angel's neck and moving a hand between Angel's legs, "then we have a serious problem, lover."
"Client," Angel said breathlessly. With enormous effort, he moved Spike's hand but kissed him hard. "Rain check?"
Spike's dark blue eyes bored into Angel's brown ones. "If you think you can wait."
"I don't have a choice," he said. "Duty calls."
"You don't always have to stick to your responsibilities, you know. Besides," Spike said, flicking his tongue over his top lip, "I'm your responsibility, too."
"First things first, Spike," Angel said. "But as soon as we're done with this client…" He tipped his dark-crowned head down to kiss Spike firmly.
"Ahem."
Spike irritably looked toward the door to see who was interrupting them. "Wesley," he growled.
"Sorry," Wesley said uncomfortably. "Our client is here."
"'Course he is," Spike said glaring at Angel. "Damn duty to hell."
"It won't take long," Angel said to him. "We have an appointment right afterward. Don't we?"
"We certainly do," Spike said.
**************
Finished with both his client and subsequent "appointment" with his lover, Angel followed Spike down the stairs, his gaze locked on the tight ass, filling out black Levi 501s as Spike sauntered deliberately for Angel's enjoyment. Angel couldn't keep his hands off when they stepped onto the downstairs landing of the hotel lobby, and he reached out to run his hand over Spike's behind and gave it a squeeze.
Spike turned his head toward his lover, giving him a mischievous grin. "Didn't get enough? I'm up for more, if you want."
Angel tucked his fingers into Spike's back pocket and drew him close. Connor slipped by at that moment and said, "Get a room. We've got lots of them."
"Sarcastic so-and-so," Spike spat in Connor's direction. "Where does he learn to talk like that?"
"I wonder," Angel said.
"There you are," Cordelia said coming from the hallway. "We need to talk about what we're going to do with this case."
"We wait," Angel said.
"Wait?" Spike chimed in. "I say we make a move. The sooner we get to it…"
"No, Spike. I said we'll wait. We need to do some research; that's priority. Wes?"
"I'm on it," Wesley said. "I've already started."
"Angel, why are we waiting? I can take this bloke myself," Spike argued. "Single-handedly."
"Spike."
"What?"
"No single-handed plans. We wait and see what Wesley comes up with, then we'll plan what we do next - all of us."
"This is an easy one, sounds like," Spike said.
"As far as you know," Wesley said. "We don't know everything we're dealing with here."
"Which," Angel said with a hard look at his partner, "is why we wait."
Angel was resolute, unmoving. Spike saw it and changed course with a resigned sigh. He turned his attention to Angel's son. "Rematch?" he asked Connor.
"I'm up for it," Connor said, and the two of them headed back to Angel's office, now clear of clients.
"Connor, bedtime in 30 minutes. Don't get too caught up," Angel called after them.
Connor's mouth dropped open and he turned on his heel to face Angel. "It's not that late!"
Angel expelled an irritated breath and wondered why every move had to be a fight with Connor. He quickly reflected on the hell Connor had been through as a child and considered himself lucky to not only have him back, but to have him acting more or less like a normal teen. "Don't argue with me, Connor," he said wearily.
"But, Dad…!"
Smelling the rising irritation in his partner as well as the end of his patience, Spike stepped in. "Come on," he said, taking Connor's wrist as he walked by. "You're wasting valuable game time."
Twenty-eight minutes later, Spike saw the clock and encouraged Connor to go to bed. "Your dad's going to be in here any minute anyway."
"I'm playing until he comes."
"Time's up," Angel said from the doorway.
"Five more minutes," Connor argued.
"Fine," Angel said sternly. "You go to bed thirty minutes earlier tomorrow night for every five minutes extra tonight."
"But, Dad!"
"Your choice, Connor."
"That's no choice!"
"Going once, going twice…" Angel said.
"FINE!" Connor said rebelliously, slamming down his controller.
Spike heard a healthy swat as Connor passed by Angel, and he laughed to himself in wonder at how much the boy pushed. Angel said, "Watch it, Connor, before you get in trouble. Go on to bed. I'll be up in a minute."
As Connor left the room, Spike said, "He likes to push your buttons."
"I swear, sometimes, I think my name is But Dad rather than Angel," he said.
Spike shut down the game and went to Angel. "He doesn't give you nearly the hard time he gives me, But Dad."
Lorne appeared in the doorway behind Angel and said, "You know what I want to do, Angel Cakes?"
"I have no idea," Angel said.
"I'm in the mood for a little night life. Who's with me?"
"Dancing and drinking," Spike said with a gleam in his eye. "I'm in."
Angel leaned back and stared up helplessly at the ceiling. "You know I hate to dance," he said with a pleading look at Spike.
"Come on, lover. You always say you don't know how I can sit in front of the television so long. This would be a distraction. I need to get my exercise, you know."
"There are better ways to get exercise," Angel reported. "And to distract you."
"Come with us," Lorne said. "I just want to feel some music."
Spike questioned Angel silently with his eyebrows raised. Angel kissed his vampire lover's forehead and said, "Go without me. I'm going to do some research."
"Fine, but I don't want to hear it when I've found some new dark brooder to dance with."
"You'd better not," Angel warned. "I'll hunt you down and…"
"Dance with me?" Spike said sarcastically.
"I shouldn't be punished because you danced with another man," Angel said.
"You should for sending your demon lover to go dancing without you."
"Keep an eye on him, Lorne," Angel teased. "I want a full report."
Spike pulled on his calf-length leather coat and looked over his shoulder at Angel. "I'll give you the report now: Spike and Lorne living while Angel stays home and broods. I love you, but that routine gets old."
"Spend a few hours then head back, okay?" Angel said.
Lorne was singing softly and snapping his fingers as they neared the door already hearing music in his head. Spike followed him and paused at the door. "Last chance?"
"Have a good time," Angel said, chunking his fingers into the pockets on his black dress pants."
"See you in a few," Spike said.
**********
"I think I'll have a couple more then head back. Don't wait on me," Spike said to Lorne a few hours later.
"I don't have your immortal stamina," Lorne explained. "See you back at the ranch, Pancho."
"Later. Tell Angel I'll be along," Spike said. Lorne waved as he walked away and Spike sat his empty beer glass on the table after a final pull. A refill was set on the table with a clinking thud in the empty glass's place.
Spike looked at the glass then slowly raised his eyes indifferently to the person who gave it to him. He surveyed the man standing at his table, and couldn't place him. "Uh, yeah. Thanks," Spike said to the mortal. "But, uh… you're not really my type, Mary. So, be a good lad. Push off." The man continued to stare as Spike pointedly sat the fresh beer away from him on the table. "What are you gawking at?" he said with a scowl.
"A guy like you? Whiling away his time in some cheesy downtown club," the man said assessing the vampire in front of him. "You look like someone who's feeling kind of lost."
"Is that right?" Spike asked, humored a bit at the nuisance. "Funny, I thought I knew exactly where I was. Place called the Peppermint Stick," he offered, pointing toward the name of the club on the wall.
"We really should talk," the man persisted.
With exasperation, Spike said, "You know? Really not." He was on his feet in a flash and stood within a foot of the man's face, looking him dead in the eye. The object of his irritation nervously tried to stand his ground, keeping eye contact with the vampire. Spike continued, "I don't know what you're selling, but best you peddle your wares… someplace else. If you know what's good for you." He whirled from the intruder and walked away.
The man called to Spike's back, "Hey. Spike."
Spike turned sharply back toward the stranger and said with venom, "Who the bloody hell are you?"
The man sat down in Spike's vacated seat and said, "Your new best friend."
"You're on your way to getting badly hurt. Why are you stalking me?" Spike asked.
"Come on, Spike. You must know there are a lot of folks out there who are interested in you. Powerfully interes…" The glass the man was holding shattered to the floor when Spike yanked his arm as he went to take a drink.
"Enough with the cryptic bullshit," Spike said menacingly. "I want to know who," he said, turning the man's arm to see a tattoo on his forearm, "or *what* you are, what you want, and how fast I could snap your forearm before you answer."
His grip on the man's forearm was tight enough to pull it from his torso should he make a poor decision and try to run. The man was either extremely brave or stupid, Spike wasn't sure which.
"You can call me, Doyle," he said, looking up at the vampire looming over him. "It's not what I want," Doyle said with a nod toward Spike. "It's what you want." Spike harshly flipped the forearm back at the man, and sat down to hear more.
Spike's minimal level of patience was gone in a matter of minutes as Doyle tried to explain his vision of Spike's destiny - to help the helpless with Doyle's assistance. "I've heard enough," Spike snapped and got up to walk away. "You talk an awful lot for somebody saying nothing."
Doyle followed, and made the mistake of grabbing Spike's arm. "You've got a destiny…Oof!" His breath was knocked out of him as Spike slammed him against the wall like a rag doll, suspending him with one hand to Doyle's neck.
"You know so much about me," Spike hissed, "you must know that I get *really* violent when I'm bein' played."
"I don't know anything," Doyle said, grimacing against the grip around his throat. Spike dropped him to the ground and his hands went immediately to his neck as he leaned over to get his breath. "I'm just doing like they tell me," he explained.
"They?" Spike asked.
"They! Them!" he said raising a hand toward the heavens. "I'm just a guy, a drifter, and one day I was just minding my own business when WHAM!" he exclaimed. "I start having these visions."
"Visions?" Spike asked curiously.
"Yeah, visions. Brain pictures. But they hurt. Like when you eat ice cream too fast. I started seeing people in trouble. They need a champion."
Spike's brows rose in surprise at that comment. "You are barking up the wrong vampire. That's Angel's beat."
"Who's to say there can't be more than one champion? These visions are for you, not Angel."
Spike considered the proposal and asked, "So, I'm supposed to jump every time you see someone in dire peril?"
"Why do you think we're having this conversation? I had one right before I came here," Doyle explained. "You don't have to believe me, but if a young girl is killed tonight? And you didn't do a thing to stop it? Ask yourself, can you live with that?"
**************
Spike entered the dark alley and heard the scuffle ages before he saw the two people - one a vampire, the other a woman in distress. The young girl meant to be killed, Spike thought. Just like Doyle had said.
"Evening," Spike said, interrupting the attacker.
The vampire wheeled around at the sound of Spike's voice and said, "Get lost."
"I already am…according to some," Spike replied, thumbs tucked in his waistband, hands resting around his belt buckle.
"I don't think you heard me!" He slung the woman against the wall and turned to face Spike. "Get out of here."
"Can't do it," Spike replied with measured calm.
"You just made…the biggest mistake… of your life." The vampire was cut off from saying anything further as Spike rammed his fist into the vampire's throat.
Spike threw the attacker into a nearby fence, breaking the railing, which then provided him with a perfectly positioned stake. He slammed the vampire into it, dissolving him into fine particles of dust, which Spike shook off in disgust as they fell like mist swirling around his hands and face.
The young woman began to blubber, "Thank you, thank you, thank you! That thing was going to kill me!"
Spike turned an expression of disapproval on her and said, "Well, what do you expect? Out alone in this neighborhood? I got half a mind to kill you myself, you half-wit."
"What?!" she said incredulously.
"I mean honestly," Spike continued rationally, "what kind of retard wears heels like that in a dark alley? Take two steps, break your bloody ankle."
"I was *trying* to get home," the girl said defensively.
"Well, get a cab, you moron," Spike retorted as she hurried away. "And on the way," he called after her, "if a stranger offers you candy, *don't* get in the van. Stupid cow."
"Believe me now?"
Spike turned around to find Doyle coming toward him.
"What? Your victim vision? Please," he said sardonically. "Can't throw a bloody stone in this city without hitting some bimbo in trouble."
"Tough guy, huh?" Doyle observed. "Nice work, by the way. Taking out that vamp."
"Oh, yeah," Spike said looking toward the pile of dust nearby. "Epic battle. My finest hour."
Doyle said seriously, "You just saved a girl's life. That's nothing to laugh off. Though you could try being a little nicer next time. You almost made her cry."
"Next time?" Spike asked, disbelieving.
"Well, that's up to you. A lot more people need saving."
"Newsflash, Sparky: don't need your help. Been saving people long before you showed up."
Doyle started shaking his head. "Not like this. You just helped a person when there wasn't anything in it for you. That's not like the Spike I know."
Spike's eyebrows rose high. "Oh, is that right?" he snarled. "And what Spike is that?"
"The Spike that's only out for himself."
"You'd best watch your-"
"I'm just saying," Doyle replied quickly. "You did good."
***********
"Is this your idea of a few hours?" Angel asked from his desk as he heard Spike come home and in seconds, Spike was in the office. He glared at Spike through hooded eyes, made to appear heavier from the frowning forehead.
Spike leaned against the doorframe with a seductive slant to his hips, one heavily booted foot crossed over his other ankle, and his arms crossed against a lean chest. He had shed the long coat and was there in solely his tight-fitting black t-shirt and dark Levis. "Sorry, Pet. I got caught up," Spike said.
Angel set aside the papers in his hand and pushed away from the desk and walked over to Spike. "I said a few hours."
"Perspective," Spike said, standing up straight to face his lover. "It *has* been a few hours."
"You knew what I meant," Angel said, crossing his arms over his dark pinstriped shirt. "It's almost sun-up."
"Sorry. I came home in time to go to bed with you, didn't I?" Spike inclined his body forward and kissed the pursed lips of his not-so-happy lover.
Angel kissed him back but then abruptly spun Spike around and smacked the seat of the Levi's. "Don't try to distract me."
"Ow, Angelus!" Spike over-dramatized, choosing Angel's evil alter-ego's name purposely, showing his distaste for the swat. "You didn't have to do that."
"You should have been home hours ago," Angel said.
"And *you* could have come with me, you know." Spike rubbed the stinging spot keeping his butt turned away from Angel.
"Spike."
"Angel?" Spike retorted acerbically.
Angel's arms looped back together over his chest and he asked sternly, "Do we need to find a room upstairs or should I just take a seat right here?"
Throwing his arms up in the air, Spike laughed, "Come ON, Angel. You really need to loosen up."
"How's this for loose?" Angel said, moving his hands to his hips. "No nightlife for you for the next week."
"What?! You can't be serious!" Angel's dark eyes were unflinching. "Angel? That's evil, plain and simple."
"Do you have a reason for being out so late? One that I might buy?"
Yes, but one he couldn't tell. Not yet. Not until he had figured out what was going on. "I was OUT. Get over it," Spike grumbled.
"I might be able to do that," Angel said, "after two weeks of you not going out."
"TWO?! You just said ONE!" Spike declared.
"That was before I realized I needed to get over it," Angel said evenly as he walked by.
"Two weeks?!" Spike blustered following Angel. "You could have *called* when your panties started to bunch."
Angel stopped in mid-stride and faced Spike with his fingers resting on his hips. "Wanna go for three?"
Spike gave Angel a heated look that would wither most men, but had no impact whatsoever on his lover. "No," Spike consented through clenched teeth.
"Good. Then we can go to bed." He turned abruptly and headed up the stairs without another word. Spike followed behind him, debating whether he should say anything or not about Doyle. It would save him from being grounded two weeks, most likely. But then again, he could handle it himself. He didn't see a need to involve Angel at this point. Not until he knew more.
**************
A few days of feeling trapped like an animal had Spike pacing, antsy with the knowledge he was inside for another week and a half. As night fell, Spike thought through several ways to get out of the hotel without Angel being any the wiser.
"Stand *still*, Spike," Cordelia said from behind the front desk. "You're making me nervous."
"What?" Spike asked, halting his walk.
"You're fidgety."
He stuck a hand in his pocket and walked toward the coat rack to get his jacket. "I think I'll just go get a six-pack," he said.
"Spike," Angel said from his office as Spike's hand fell on his jacket.
"Bloody hell," Spike said under his breath. He leaned back to see through to Angel's office and saw Angel looking at him. "Do you need something from the store?" Spike asked, smiling sweetly.
"I need for you to come here," Angel said. He crooked his finger in Spike's direction, beckoning him into the office.
"What?" Spike said shouldering into his jacket.
As soon as Spike was in Angel's office, Angel closed the door and faced him. "You're grounded. Remember?"
"From nightlife. That's what you said," Spike tried. "I'm just going out for some beer."
"No, you're not."
"Make up your mind, Angel."
"You're grounded. Find something else to do," Angel said, taking a seat behind the desk. "Gunn can get the beer for you."
Spike asked incredulously, "And what am I supposed to say? Angel won't al-LOW me to go to the corner market and get some beer?"
"I'll send him."
"Angel, it's two blocks…"
"Grounded is grounded. Two blocks is no different than 2 miles. Play a video game. See if that distracts you."
"I thought grounded was grounded?" Spike said with an edge.
Angel leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankle over his knee, clasping his fingers together in front of him. "I only meant to ground you from going out, but if you think I need to add the Nintendo…?"
"No. That's fine," Spike said. He flung himself down on the sofa in Angel's office, a heavy sigh emitting loudly from his chest. He leaned up and switched on the Nintendo, opting for Donkey Kong over Crash. The music started and then the sounds of splintering barrels and plucked bunches of bananas followed.
Angel grimaced and tried to focus on his paperwork over the sounds. "I wish you'd turn that down."
Without looking away from the television, Spike muttered, "If wishes were horses…"
"Spike," Angel said, moving from behind the desk to sit on the front edge. "I don't plan to put up with your lip for the next two weeks. You're going to find this a *painfully* difficult time period if you aren't careful."
The emphasis wasn't lost on Spike and he reached up immediately and turned the television down causing him to lose a life in the video game. "Great. You made me die."
Angel's words died in his opened mouth as he was interrupted before he could speak. "Angel," Fred said from the door. "Wes has something on the case."
"Coming," Angel said. "Time to go to work."
Spike switched off the game and went to the lobby with Angel. After a quick debrief, Angel disappeared back into his office. Spike went to the doorway and said, "I'm going into the garden."
Angel said, "No further."
"Right," Spike groaned. He sat down on one of the cast iron benches and gazed up into the clear night sky. He was on his feet in moments when he heard a noise beyond the garden gates. He effortlessly scaled the wall and stared down at the young man from the night before. With disgust etching his features, Spike said, "You. You've caused me enough problems. Make yourself scarce if you know what's good for you."
"It's too late for that, Spike," Doyle said. "This is important and I think you'll want to hear it." Glancing around where he stood, Doyle spread his arms to be welcomed. "Well? Aren't you going to invite me in?"
"That's my line," Spike groused. "Don't tell me. Another maiden in distress?"
"Maiden, yes. But she isn't the one who'll be distressed. It's about Angel."
Spike studied Doyle then went to the gated door and cracked it enough for him to enter. "Make it quick," he said.
******
Spike re-entered the lobby and saw Cordelia behind the counter where she could typically be found. She paged silently through a large, dated book, as she struggled to find information on the demon she had seen in her last vision. She glanced up when Spike approached and said, "I don't know, Spike. I just can't seem to find - HEY!" she exclaimed as Spike cleared the front desk, in full-out vamp mode, and pressed her to the wall.
Cordelia screamed in shocked horror as she felt Spike's fangs slice easily through the thin skin of her neck. In a blur, Spike felt himself connect with the opposite wall as his lover rounded on him. "Spike! What the HELL do you think you're doing?!" Angel demanded.
"She's possessed!" Spike accused, pointing toward Cordelia. She held a hand to her throat and pulled it away, observing two daubs of blood on her palm.
"Are you crazy?!" she screeched. "You BIT me!"
"Po- possessed?! Angel asked incredulously.
"Yeah," Spike said, looking uncertainly toward Cordelia. "At least… I thought she was."
Angel took several deep calming breaths and settled his hands on his hips closing in on Spike. He spoke shortly through clenched teeth, "You have exactly two seconds to start explaining."
"It was a taste test," Spike said. "To see if it was true."
"If *what* was true?" Angel asked.
"To see if she was possessed."
Angel shook his head and crossed his arms, his jaw flexing as he tried to control his temper. "Where… did you get… such a…*hair-brained* idea?!" he stammered angrily.
Spike opened his mouth to explain when Wesley and Fred came running into the lobby. "What's going on?" Fred asked.
"Cordelia!" Wesley said. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, but say goodbye to Spike. I'm getting ready to stake him," she snarled.
"Let me explain…" Spike began. "It was… I just," he spluttered.
Angel drew up to his full 6'2" height and waited. "Go on," he said. "I can't wait to hear it."
Spike said, "Well, you don't have to be all threatening about it."
"I haven't begun to threaten you," Angel replied casually.
"Right," Spike said unconvinced. "The other night when I went out with Lorne, this guy came up to me after Lorne left. Said he has visions. Meant for me." Spike saw the shadow fall on his lover's face and he added, "I was going to tell you… I was."
"And just when did you plan on sharing?" Angel asked.
"I wanted to get a little more information first."
"Brilliant," Cordelia said. "Next time? Mind getting a little more information *before* you go taking a bite out of my neck?"
"Besides," Wesley said, "that vision is outdated."
"Outdated?" Spike asked.
"Yes," Angel said. "We long ago took care of the demon that possessed Cordelia."
"It was before you came to L.A.," Cordelia said. "Not a pretty time."
"Bollocks," Spike muttered. Pushing for redemption, he said to Cordelia, "I wasn't going to kill you unless you were possessed. Really."
"Thanks," she said with a wry smile.
"So the question is…" Wesley mused, "who is this person and what is he up to?"
"Did he give you a name?" Angel asked.
"Doyle."
Angel and Cordy exchanged worried glances and Angel said, "It can't be Doyle."
"Yeah, it is," Spike said. "That's what he said his name is."
"Doyle died four years ago," Cordelia said sadly. "He worked with us. Gave me his visions."
"What does he look like?" Wesley pressed. "Human?"
"Very. Just looks like a normal bloke. Brown hair, earring. Wears a couple of bracelets and dresses like an urban cowboy minus the hat."
Angel and Wesley looked at each other as Spike added, "Oh, and he got his hand chopped off once but they put it back on at…"
"Lindsey!" Angel and Wes exclaimed at the same time.
Spike looked from one of them to the other, frowning in confusion. "You know this guy?"
*********
Spike had suffered through a tormenting hour while the team decided how best to approach Lindsey. After suggestions of entrapment and outright hunting the man down, Angel made the final call and went for baiting him at the Peppermint Stick again. Just Spike and Angel would go and they would do it the next night.
Spike wandered back out into the garden, a part of him hoping Lindsey would show up again so he could rip his head off. Although, Angel hadn't been 100% in favor of that particular plan; he was already in trouble and figured he might as well go for broke.
"Out here all alone, Buttercup?" Lorne said.
Spike turned to the colorful Anagogic demon, carrying two glasses. "Yeah," Spike said with a scowl. "I wanted to put as much space between me and Mr. Grumpy Pants as possible."
"He gets that way sometimes."
"Especially when his lover bites his long-time friend?"
Lorne laughed. "You might say that." Lorne handed Spike a glass and said, "I was in the mood for a Seabreeze. Thought you could use one, too." Spike took the offered drink and Lorne smoothed the pant legs of his neon orange suit as he took a seat beside Spike.
Spike stared into the glass and said, "I'm more of a beer man, but thanks." He took a swig, savoring the fruity taste. "I thought you'd be getting in your snoozies by now," Spike said regarding the late hour.
"I'm going to bed in a bit. I just wanted to unwind after all the excitement. Anything for an excuse for one of these," he said, swirling the glass at Spike.
"Too bad it won't get me wasted," Spike said. "I could use a little oblivion tonight." He tossed back another swallow and reflected on the current events.
"He'll get over it. He just gets, well," he said rocking his hand in the air, "you know… a little wound tight sometimes." Lorne shrugged.
"He's tight enough to pop a spring this time."
Lorne laughed, "His spring has sprung, Cupcake."
Spike slumped against the seat and drained the rest of his glass. "Appreciate the drink, Mate." He followed the sound of the backdoor opening and saw the form of his lover silhouetted in the light from the lobby.
The tension interrupted the calm of the night and Lorne shifted to his feet. "I would stay, but my bed calls. Seabreeze has done its job once again." He took Spike's glass back inside with him and said over his shoulder, "Goodnight, gents. See you tomorrow afternoon."
"Goodnight, Lorne," Angel said as he passed. He turned his attention on Spike and said, "Mr. Grumpy Pants wants to talk to you."
Spike's lips curled up into a half-grin and he shrugged off the comment. "Heard that, did you?"
"I heard it," Angel said.
Spike met his partner's eyes and said matter-of-factly, "You know, you're getting yourself all worked up over nothing…it wasn't like - "
"I think I have every right to be mad when my *partner* chooses to hide something like this from me. My office," Angel said sharply.
"Angel, you're…"
"Now," he said with finality as he turned back inside. Angel strode across the lobby to his office never looking back, but keeping his ears tuned to his lover's steps behind him.
Spike closed the office door behind him and kept his hands on the knob behind his back, not sure of what else to do with them, and using the prop to keep his distance from Angel. Angel took a seat on the sofa, looking expectantly at Spike.
Knowing what was coming, Spike said, "Where's Connor?"
"In bed. Come here."
Spike felt his hands slipping on the doorknob as they began to sweat. "What about Lorne? He hasn't had time to go to bed."
"He went straight up. Everyone is in bed except us. I'm not telling you again to come over here." Angel's entire body emitted waves of determination. Tidal waves.
Reluctantly, Spike let go of the door and went to Angel's side. "I was just trying to save you from worrying unnecessarily. I know how to handle myself," Spike explained.
"I noticed. You handled yourself quite well when you lunged at Cordelia."
"I had to know if she was possessed!" he argued. "Doy- LINDsey said she was going to kill you and I had to kill her first. I had to know for sure before I did it - WHICH I did NOT, if you wouldn't mind noticin'!"
Angel sat up on the edge of the sofa and said, "Do we really need to argue about why it's wrong to hide things from me and bite our friends' necks?" If not for the seriousness of the matter, Spike would have laughed. He didn't answer, but maintained eye contact with Angel. Taking the silence for the answer he sought, Angel said, "Then give me your belt and drop the jeans."
"Angel…"
"Hurry up, Spike!" Angel barked. "I'm not arguing with you about this. You hid something very important from me and it could have cost Cordelia her life or YOU your life."
He was angry. Obviously still upset over the whole thing, Spike noticed. Spike unbuckled his belt and pulled it through the loops of his jeans. It hung in the air swinging slightly as he pushed it toward Angel, who took it and laid it beside him on the sofa, doubled over. Great, Spike thought. He's not using it first, so it's going to be a long one.
Spike tried not to dwell on what was happening as his fingers loosened the buttons of his fly. He pushed the black jeans down his lean legs slowly, putting off the inevitable for as long as he could. Angel was staring at him patiently, waiting for Spike to get into the position he knew he was to be in. Spike sighed and used Angel's left thigh for support as he lowered himself over the bigger vampire's legs, shifting to try to find a comfortable position.
Angel didn't give Spike time to settle down before he focused his attention on thoroughly covering his butt, bringing his hand down once, twice, three, or four times in one spot before moving to another. Spike was already shedding reluctant tears when Angel picked up the doubled over belt and began using it instead of his hand. Every swat, whether by hand or belt, reiterated to Spike just how unhappy he had made his lover. It was that more than the physical pain that got to him. It did every time.
Spike yelled out loud enough for him to worry about prying ears upstairs when the belt smacked the backs of his tender thighs. He buried his head in his folded arms against the leather of the sofa, and tried to get control of his emotions once the blows stopped falling. After several minutes passed, Spike raised himself off Angel's lap and was immediately drawn down to sit on Angel's knees.
Angel pushed his fingers through the damp white-blond strands of short-cropped hair. "You need to quit trying to fly solo around here, William."
Spike slipped his arms around Angel's neck and tucked his head beside Angel's chin. "I know. I thought I could handle it. And I still say I could have."
Spike felt Angel's touch, now gentle, on his bare backside and he winced with the pat, though a soft one. "You could, could you?"
"Yeah, I still say I could."
"Still?"Angel commented with another pat, this one a little stronger and warning. "Want to re-think that?"
Spike curled away, trying to get his butt away from Angel's touch. "I get it. It's not that I could or couldn't handle it alone, it's that I shouldn't have tried."
Angel said, "Exactly."
Spike ran his hands over his face and sat up carefully to look at Angel. "So, what are we going to do?"
"Find out what he's up to."
~~~~~~
At the Peppermint Stick, Spike tossed back a third Jack and Coke after he scanned the club for "Doyle". Nothing. Maybe he wasn't going to show up. He said into his glass, "Not coming to play, looks like."
From the corner of the room, Angel heard his childe clearly. "It's too early to give up quite yet," he said.
Spike casually swept the room once again. "Don't know about that," he said.
"Spike," a voice close to him said.
Spike looked up and said, "Ah. You. 'Nother vision?"
"What happened with the woman?" Lindsey asked innocently. "You didn't believe me?"
"I have to bide my time. Make my move when it's right. I've got my eye on her, and I'll thank you not to tell me how to do my job," he snarled into his glass, eyeing Lindsey from over the rim.
Lindsey ran his fingers through his hair and slumped back into the chair across from Spike. "Fine, but I think you're making a big mistake."
Lindsey stiffened when he heard Angel's voice inches from his ear. "You should know a big mistake when you see one." Lindsey straightened up in his chair and slowly turned his head toward the voice. "Careful. Wouldn't want you to make another mistake. I'll snap you in half before you know what's happening so watch what you do."
Lindsey looked across the table at Spike whose lips were curled up in a menacing smile. "Please. Make another mistake. For me?"
Angel's hand clamped down on Lindsey's upper arm and he said, "Let's go. *Doyle*."
~~~~~~~~~
Lindsey sat in a chair in the middle of Angel's office while Angel circled him, arms folded. Cordelia paced in front of Lindsey while Spike kicked back in the leather chair behind Angel's desk.
As Angel made another loop, Lindsey's eyes followed him as far as he could. Angel demanded as he passed behind the chair, "Start talking, Lindsey. Now."
Lindsey leaned back and caught sight of Angel coming back around. "What do you want me to say?"
"You could start," Spike said, leaning back and tossing his feet up on the desk, "with why you lied to me, you stupid wanker."
"*And* tried to get him to kill me," Cordelia threw in.
"What are you up to, Lindsey?" Angel said, stopping in front of the chair.
Lindsey's face twitched working on what to say. "I… I needed…"
"What?" Angel said coldly.
"Needed to get to you."
"For what? To kill me, too?"
"I can't talk about it," Lindsey said quietly.
"Appears to me," Spike said, casually thumbing through a book from Angel's desk, "you don't have a lot of choice in the matter. Angel is quite persistent when he wants to be."
Looking directly at Angel, Lindsey said, "Can we talk? Alone?"
Spike was on his feet instantly and said as he came around the desk, "Nothing doing. That's not going to happen." With a look toward Angel, he added, "We don't fly solo here."
Lindsey sighed and glanced at Spike then back to Angel. "At least without her then," he said under his breath.
"Hey! Why do *I* have to leave?" Cordelia exclaimed. She took one look at Lindsey with his gaze fixed on Angel and she began to nod, finger accusingly outstretched at Lindsey. "Ooooh. You *needed* to get to Angel. And you thought…" She started laughing and left the room with a wave backward toward Lindsey.
"What the bloody hell is she laughing at?" Spike asked as he stood by Angel, the two of them curiously watching Cordelia leave the room.
He and Angel exchanged a long look, questioning eyes searching each other's for answers. Angel finally shrugged and turned back to Lindsey. "All right. She's gone. Talk."
Lindsey shifted against the unyielding wooden seat beneath him and said, "I…" he started as his eyes flicked to Spike. "I was trying to get close to you through him."
"For what?"
"Just… because." He grinned nervously. "We go way back, Angel."
Cordelia's laughter and Lindsey's words came together, closing the gap in understanding for Spike. He straightened up and moved closer to Lindsey. "Not as far back as I go with him, you stupid fuck."
Understanding dawned on Angel and he sat heavily on the sofa next to the chair Lindsey occupied. "You're kidding me. Right?"
"Don't tell me you don't feel anything," Lindsey said anxiously. "You can't tell me she does anything for you."
"She…?" Spike said then threw his head back laughing. He could barely get his breath to respond. "You thought… Angel…" Laughter snatched his words away before he could finish a complete sentence.
"Spike," Angel said, trying to cover a smile of his own.
"What?" Lindsey said, anger beginning to boil at being laughed at. "What?!"
"I'm not with Cordelia," Angel explained.
"You're… not?" Lindsey asked.
"He's with me, you bloody fool," Spike said around new bouts of laughter.
"You?!"
"Yes, I'm with him," Angel confirmed.
"But he wasn't even around… before… I don't understand."
"Oh, I've been around, mate. Just not when you started having wet dreams about Angel."
Angel said in tones of deadly seriousness, "Even if we weren't together, I don't care for partners who use Cupid as an excuse to get people out of his way to get to me."
"I didn't know," Lindsey said, flabbergasted.
"And if you knew it was me with Angel," Spike said, "I'm guessing you'd have offered me a stake rather than a vision."
"Doesn't matter," Angel said. "I'm taken. And *you*," he said, roughly yanking Lindsey to his feet, "are not my favorite person right now."
"Wait, Angel!" Lindsey exclaimed. "Don't turn me away!"
Angel stared at the man he held in his grasp and thought about where he'd like to turn Lindsey - over his knee. He rivaled Spike in his knack for finding trouble, and he had proven it time and time again, leaving Angel, on more than one occasion, wanting to strangle him. While he thought discipline was something Lindsey could definitely use, he wasn't the partner to give it to him. Angel had a partner and he was perfectly happy with him. He sighed and said, "You need to get out of my sight, Lindsey."
"Angel, please!" he begged.
"It's for your own good, mate," Spike said trailing Angel and his captive. "He needs to get you far enough away from me so I can't kill you."
"I'll share!" Lindsey yelled desperately as Angel's hand fell on the doorknob of the front door.
Spike yanked Lindsey's free arm hard enough to pull him out of Angel's grip, which was loosened in surprise at Lindsey's latest outburst. "Just what gives you the idea *I'm* willing to share?"
Lindsey's pleading eyes traveled from one vampire to the other. "Please?"
Angel and Spike looked at each other, as the proposition took shape in their minds. A threesome? Spike raised a brow. Angel shook his head.
"I think you'd better go," Angel said. He opened the door and pushed Lindsey out into the night.
~~~~~~~
Spike slid a leg in between Angel's and threw his arm across Angel's chest. A crisp sheet loosely draped over them, catching them about the waist. "I can't imagine sharing *that* with another man."
Angel chuckled and kissed the bleached blonde hair beneath his chin. "I have the sexual stamina for two partners," Angel said confidently, "but not the Top stamina."
"Well, aren't you sure of your talent in the bedroom?" Spike tilted his head up to look at Angel.
"I've had centuries of practice in the bedroom, thanks."
"You *are* good in that arena," Spike agreed, kissing the edge of Angel's jaw line. Pausing, he said, "You must be referring to Lindsey being too much to Top. I'm no work at all. Hardly know I'm 'round."
Angel sputtered and choked with exaggerated laughter until Spike poked him in the ribs. "Right, right," Angel said, running his hand over Spike's sheet-covered rump. "I was referring to Lindsey."
"Since Lindsey's not here and you're so good in the bedroom - as you so modestly pointed out - want to see if you're good enough to go another round tonight?"
Angel smiled seductively and said, "Oh, I think I'm up for it. Definitely."
~The end~
