But I Love You 3 – 6
26 December 2000.
4.32 am
The vampire gently stroked the exhausted boy´s hair as the brunette snored. Xander had finally succumbed to the lure of deep sleep. It had been a really good day for them both, Spike had actually enjoyed the lunch at Macs, as had the youth. They hadn´t been the last to arrive, Spit and Fitzy staying true to their nature and arriving almost 40 minutes late for the lunch. Mac hadn´t worried about delaying the meal and waiting for them to turn up, he had just set aside two heaped plates covered with foil and kept them in the oven until they had arrived. From the lack of apologies, the vampire had figured that they did it each year.
It had been a quick round of greetings and discussion about what everyone had received that morning first up. Xander had blushed furiously when the blond had wrote Stephanie about the lube and massage oil, quietly grunting along to the laughing and whoops of ´You go boy!´ that had erupted around the table. A quick look at the brunette before joining in the laughter and he had been reassured by the non appearance of anger, encouraging him to start grunting. The only uncomfortable moment had been when the vampire had noticed Lukas watching him intently during the little exchange.
Lukas had been distracted by Mac thumping a huge roast turkey onto the table in front of him, closely followed by large pots holding buttered potatoes, roast pumpkin, mixed peas and beans as well as cauliflower in cheese sauce. Everyone on the table began to dribble at the same time, the smell had been almost divine. Nothing else was said about the two mens bed habits as each person shovelled down what they could from the generous spread. Spit and Fitzy had turned up just as the last dishes were being cleared away to make room for dessert. The two men had plonked themselves down next to the chinese demons wives and in between eating and swigging on their beer, had regaled the table about the results from the latest dog sled race they had participated in.
Spit was a slender brunette, about five inches taller than Spike himself while his brother, Fitzy, was more like the usual Alaskan male. Tall, dark headed, built like a wall and with a grizzly Adams beard. Both men were professional racers, handling one of the largest dog pens outside of Fairbanks. While waiting for dessert, Helen and Ling Mai had the best way´s to guide a dog over thin ice explained to them. Xander had rolled his eyes at the vampire who had almost been in hysterics himself. Truly a Deliverance dinner he had thought. A few loud swears from the kitchen admist breaking glass, had everyone retire to the living room as Mac told them dessert just wasn´t an option for the moment.
The two brothers, restraunt owners, Josessi, Spike and Xander had sat and watched some sledding videos of various dog races while playing cards. The women had claimed the couch and along with Lukas, they had discussed how Stephanie´s pregnancy had been progressing. The vampire had been tempted to join in on the conversation, the videos had been that boring. It was when the tapes had been replaced with a few more ice hockey videos that he had pepped up and had sat with his eyes glued on the tv screen, almost whining at the thought of being able to inflict violence again. He had ignored everything until a large hand had tapped his shoulder, Xander indicating for him to return to the table.
Spike had taken a seat next to the youth, grinning madly as his upper thigh had been squeezed, crotch delicately brushed against. A glance at the male sitting next to him and he had seen that the beer had loosened some of the brunettes concerns about touching in public. Not really the whole "lets fuck to an audience" thing but a huge step for a tipsy youth. Xander usually only drank extra light beer, having a few of the full strength ones was catching up to him really quickly. A swig of his own beer and he had almost leapt out of his chair in an effort to get at the plum pudding. After pouring a huge amount of brandy custard on the dessert, he had been in 7th heaven as he had slowly eaten the pudding. The one human food he loved the most and it was plum pudding. Freshly made, half baked, tinned or old fashioned recipe, he didn´t care.
He had had two massive servings of the favoured dessert, waggling his eyebrows at a slightly swaying brunette. After dessert had been done, the women had started the dishes, shooing Mac out of the way in the process. Told to sit, the red head had brushed aside everyones thanks for a great dinner and had started to teach the vampire a new card game, Canasta. It hadn´t been really easy until the blond had just read the rules and instructions rather than listen to Mac´s ramblings. Once he had gotten the hang of it, he had really enjoyed the game. The vampire had made sure to thrust the box cover at the laughing brunette on the couch, Spike wanted a set of the cards.
Later in the afternoon, Spit and Fitzy had drunkenly acted out Mary and Joseph´s trip to the stable. Tears had run down the blond´s face as the bearded Fitzy had gone into labour all the while keeping a tight clutch of his beer. Helen and the rotund Ling Mai had gotten in the spirit, pretending to be the two Always Right Wives, and had gifted the newly born pillow with the ability to grow a decent beard, a life time supply of flannel and the wisdom of how to open a Spam can. He had glanced over at the brunette youth, only to see that Xander was also weak with laughter. More beer all round and the festivities had continued. Mac had invited the brothers, Xander and Spike to come with him when he next went to Chena Hot Springs resort.
Intrigued by the opportunity to see some sights outside of Pennington and Fairbanks, Xander had agreed for them both, Spike just nodding along. He wouldn´t mind the opportunity to get around as well. Stephanie had been the first to leave after a quick flurry of gift giving, everyone had exchanged small token gifts. Chutney, jams, jars of peanuts and other various items had been handed around. Josessi had also taken the opportunity to leave stating it was now time to call his family back in Nadi, Fiji. After seeing them off, Mac had broken out the heavier alcohol, pouring scotch for everyone. That had been the cue for the Chinese demons to be dragged out by their wives. More waving and that had left Mac, Fitzy, Spit, Lukas, Xander and Spike. The conversation had drifted onto ice fishing and where the best site was at the moment.
Spike had grown bored again quite quickly, he hated fish in all forms, the only ones he had any respect for were the great white shark and pihrana. He really hadn´t cared how to cut a decent hole into the thick ice along the banks of the Tanana River. The whelp had looked just as disinterested and had asked Mac more about the hot springs during a lapse in conversation. The talk had turned to how hot they were, the whole conversation had been clean until Spit had piped up with just how many girls he had done in the hot tubs. From there, the conversation had turned into a dirty comparison of who had done what and where.
The vampire had just sat back and watched as the brunettes face had gotten redder and redder as more crude language and descriptions had flowed on around him. Time had flown by as the topics had ranged from sex to hunting deer and to the upcoming wedding of Cyril to Amanda. A glance at the clock during that topic and Spike had been shocked to see that Christmas day was technically over. Lunch had been around 2pm, dessert had been later, almost 5.30.
With a gaze at the brunette almost asleep on the couch, he made the descion to go. He had gathered Xander up, shaking him to wake him up. It had been a case of too much beer and a hot house. Lukas had promised to call around the next day, Mac had also told them that he would make a booking for the hot springs. A quick goodbye to everyone and with Xander placed comfortably in the passenger seat, Spike had roared off down the road. He had been forced to go slow after almost skidding off the road due to the clumps of ice scattered across it. Once home, he had prodded the boy awake again and guided the half drunk, tired youth into the cold cabin.
After dumping him on the bed, he had raced around to the woodpile and started the wood heater going again. The vampire had been asked if anyone had called for him. A glance at the answering machine and he had shaken his head at the brunette. It had been then that Xander had started to sob, startling the blond. With his arms around the weeping boy, Spike had listened as his claimant spouted off at how he should have know his parents would never call. Apparantly the boy had eventually sent off a few letters with his address and phone number, a Christmas card as well.
Sighing, Spike looked down at the slumbering male. He was disappointed for the youth, he knew that even though Xander tried not to be upset about his parents, he still held out hope that maybe one day they would give him a phone call or even a letter. Unfortunately tonight he had just gotten his dreams crushed again. Xander had confessed his dislike of his parents and uncle numerous times but deep down inside, he was still a little boy seeking a kind word or even a hug from them. From what he had gathered from snippetts of conversation and from actually hearing the fights overhead when living in the basement, he knew that such things had been rarely given. Not all of his bruises had been caused by patrolling, something that the brunette had taken great lengths to hide from the others.
The vampire had held onto the drunk boy until he had cried himself to sleep. The display had frightened the blond, he was meant to be the weepy one, not the brunette. He only hoped that things would be better for the youths birthday but he doubted it. It was going to be up to the demon to make it special for Xander. How? He had no idea at the moment but he would think of something.
~ Oh my God! How humiliating. ~
Spike sat and stared at the brochures Lukas had left for him. The other demon had stayed true to his word and had come over for coffee that morning while Xander was out getting another load of firewood with Spit. Lukas hadn´t minded dragging out the couch from the front bedroom so they could sit down. The vampire and Kava demon had talked about the various going ons in the local demon world, the black man telling Spike that the Veronkif´s were due back any day now. Aparantly their yearly ritual of challenging each other to snog a polar bear was almost finished. The vampire had been in hysterics when the taller man had described that usually only half of the pack came back each trip, the bears maiming and eating the clumsier ones. With the weaker males culled out, it inevitably lead to major fucking and pregnancies all round for them.
Lukas had laughed when he told Spike that the Veronkif´s were hermaphrodites and that without fail, each one produced an offspring each year even though they referred to themselves as males. The blond had been flabbergasted at the thought, thanking god that he couldn´t get pregnant, although there was probably a spell or two out there that would be able to knock him up. He had told Lukas that he would give his testicles to see his Sire pregnant, prompting a fresh round of laughter. The other man had heard stories of Angelus from Rhonda and said that he wouldn´t mind seeing that as well, although losing a testicle would be a bit too much for him.
More coffee and tinned plum pudding later, Lukas had turned serious and had pulled a few bits of paper from out of his trouser pockets, thrusting them at a curious vampire. Spike had sat there, horrified by what was being suggested. For a few minutes, he had done nothing until he had finally fanged out and had written for the other demon to leave. Lukas had complied, telling him that he was there to help if Spike needed any. With a shake of his head, the blond had slammed the front door, leaving Lukas to walk to the car himself.
~ No fucking way am I a ´battered woman´! ~
~ Just who the fuck does he think he is? What gives him the right to stuff around and make assumptions about my life and the whelp´s? ~
Pacing up and down the main living room, he swooped down to pick up Twatcat, pressing her against his cool chest. The purring kitten soothed his emotions, allowing the tears that threatened to fall, to stop pricking at his eyes. He just couldn´t believe that someone he considered almost a friend would try to interfere in something he had no idea about. None of those brochures applied to him. He wasn´t a woman. He wasn´t even human. Only humans got into stupid relationships like that, not vampires, not him.
With the cat snuggled firmly against him, Spike strode into the kitchen and pulled a beer from the fridge. Cap firmly placed between his teeth, he gave the bottle a twist before spitting the cap into the sink. He smiled as he rembered the first time that the brunette had seen him do that. Xander had been worried that he was going to chip a tooth and had started harping on about how their weren´t any vampire dentists in Sunnydale. Actually there had been but she had been drained after a vampire had been unhappy with his new braces. Willy´s had been almost shaking with the amount of laughter that had gone on after the demon population had found out about a vampire trying to get his teeth straightened.
He leaned against the cold sink, Twatcat now draped across his shoulders, her warmth soothing the tension that had built up in his neck. Shaking his head Spike wondered if he could convince the whelp to start buying blood from somewhere else.
~ My own fault the brat hits me anyway, don´t think enough before I do something stupid. Bloody claimed me, he had every right to or least he will when it gets done proper. ~
Taking a swig of the cold beer the vampire smiled to himself as he thought of the day he would be free from the soldiers´ claim. That would be soon, only a few years away now. Nothing to an almost immortal being. The cat chirped at him as he gently tugged at the flapping tail that was tickling his neck. A glance around the small kitchen, Spike frowned as his gaze fell upon the brightly coloured brochures again. Better get rid of them before Harris got home.
Twat placed on the floor, the vampire immediatly missed the furry warmth of the small creature. He walked over to the couch, picking up the embarassing forms. In one swift movement, he opened the grate on the heater and threw the offending articles inside. Spike stood and watched as the paper smoked along its curling edges before bursting into flames, closing the grate when all evidence was gone.
~ Not going to hit me for much longer anyway. He´s going to love me soon, just have to make sure he will. ~
~ No one hits what he loves. ~
Sitting on the couch, Spike bent to haul up the climbing kitten only to gasp when a familiar flash went off behind his eyes. Not even a millisecond later, he was lying sprawled on the floor between the bed and the couch, out cold.
FLASH
The blond collapsed onto the floor again, not quite out of it this time. His head was groggy, stars were floating in front of his vision. Whining, Spike desperatly begged for Xander to come home. Twatcat was rubbing up against him, meowing at him to move or something. The vampire wasn´t sure what the hell was going on this time, he had only been unconcious for about ten minutes that last time, judging by the time on the clock. A good deal less than the hours he had been out of circulation last time. He had woken up on the floor beside the couch, feeling nauseous. Spike had waited for a few minutes before getting up but he was on the floor once again.
~ Pet, please. Please come home. I need you, want you. ~
Laying completly still on the hard floorboards, Spike had no idea just where he had been trying to stagger to. Was it the bathroom, kitchen or even one of the empty bedrooms? On his back, he stared at the ceiling, taking in the cracked paintwork and flaking chips that were yet to start falling. Idly he wondered if they were frozen like the icicles hanging of the guttering. A few minutes of panting, and he felt a little better, not as nauseous as before.
~ Ok, just slowly Billyboy, easy does it. ~
Spike slowly turned onto his side, resting for a moment, afraid of setting off the flashing again. When that didn´t do anything, he carefully got onto his hands and knees, again waiting for a minute before moving.
~Fuck Whelp, where are you when I need you? ~
Guilt rose quickly much to his distaste. Xander might beat him but he *had* saved his arse twice already. With a sigh, the vampire shook off the revolting feeling and prepared himself to stand. On his knees, he swayed a few times, the stars getting brighter. One swift movement and he was standing in the middle of the common room. If only he could just talk to Giles about what was currently happening. The ex–watcher may be a sodding git but he was the closest to a vamp doctor he had.
Taking a step, he headed towards the bathroom. A shower would get rid of the grogginess. Two steps into the open room and he felt a pressure around his head, hard as if it was being squeezed in a vice.
FLASH
The vampire rubbed at the sides of his head frantically in an effort to somehow relieve the agonising hold on his skull. Sliding down onto his knees, he started sobbing in fright over what was happening and the fact that his claimant was no where close. Squeals of agony reverberated through the small cabin, bouncing off the walls.
~ Aaaahhh! Gotta do something...ooohhhh, this hurts. Hurts so bad... ~
Hands clenched almost into fists, rubbed firmly into the blond hair as the squealing continued.
~ Neighbours, a million quid for nosy neighbours. For fucks sake, someone find me. ~
Spike let himself fall completly to the floor, not even noticing the thud of his chest onto the hard wood. Rolling onto his back, he circled his hands in opposite direction to each other as the stars danced before his eyes. A few minutes of trying to ignore the piercing pain, and the blond found that its edge was lifting, allowing him to quieten his squealing.
~ Xanny, I need you, please just hurry. ~
He knew that it was going to be hours before the other man was going to be home, but that didn´t stop him from begging. The vampire was ashamed to be so helpless and dependant on another, even if it was someone that he loved. Minute by minute, the pain was drifting away. Spike didn´t know if it was from his rubbing or from something else and he really didn´t care as long as it went. Fuck, the only person he could actually call for help was Lukas but he sure as hell didn´t want the other demon in the house again. Laying on his back, the bleached blond acknowledged that he was both exhausted and plain terrified.
~ Gotta call Crusty, he´ll know what to do. Gotta be somthing in those sodding books of his. ~
A bitter laugh/grunt went through the cabin as he thought of just how the hell he was going to do that. Have to do it bloody fast, was the thought. Heaving himself up on shaky legs, he looked around the room to see if there was anything around the room that would help him. The sobbing started again as he realised that there was nothing that was going to help him. Dizzy, he made his way back to the couch and sat heavily, ignoring the kitten patting at his thigh.
~ What the fuck do I do until the boy gets back? Watch tv or listen to the wanky cd and hope that next time I sodding well wake up? ~
Tears pouring down his face, Spike wondered if a few loud chorus´ of ´God save the Queen´ by The sex Pistols would cheer him up. One of his favourite songs on the cd the old ex–librarian had gotten him for Christmas, a british punk classic. He was still suprised that he had even been thought of by the other man.
~ More like God save the useless vampire. ~
~ Maybe I should just play that and grunt down the phone at him and hope to hell he hasn´t had all his brains shagged out by the demon bint just yet? ~
Actually, that wasn´t such a bad idea he thought. Watery smile breaking through the streaming tears, the bleached blond hesitantly made his way to the cd rack, fearing another flash at any second. With each step, he panted a little harder, it wasn´t easy navigating his way around the multitude of stars that were swimming infront of his eyes. Cd´s grabbed, held at odd angles and then tossed onto the bed, he hoped he had the right one in his hands. Looked like the right colours, black and red with newspaper print all over the cover. Once it was shoved into the cd player, he fumbled his way over to the kitchen bench. Portable phone in his hand, he tried to remember which speed dial the older human was listed on.
~ Shit! Just press anyone I suppose. If Cunty gets it, hanging up pretty much says it all. ~
Button pressed, he hoped it was the right one. Spike listened to the ringing at the other end of the line, praying that the big mouthed slag wasn´t going to answer the phone, for Anya to start in with her attitude was all he needed at the moment. As it rung, he realised that the song wasn´t even playing. Grunting in frustration, he made his way to the cd player, slipping over the slick cd covers strewn over the bed. He jabbed at the ´play´ button on the second hand stereo, thankfull for all the midnight fumblings that both he and the whelp had put into practice over the few weeks since they had gotten it.
~Why the hell can´t I see straight? This had better not keep up, bad enough being sodding well mute. ~
He groaned as the dial tone rung out on the other end, pushing the hang up button, he punched the next button for auto–dial numbers. Spike jumped as the Pistols launched into a deafening rendition of their best known song, hurridly turning it down so that he could concentrate on the ringing of the phone.
"Ah, hello. Rupert here"
~ Thank fuck for that! ~
"Ack, grrngt, cough"
Spike held the phone to the stereo for a moment before putting it back to his ear only to hear the ex–watcher demanding to know who was on the phone. The vampire grunted into the phone again before holding it to the stereo. He held it there for a few seconds. Once again he held it to his ear only to hear a dial tone instead of a pissy store keeper.
~ Sodding well damn it! ~
He stopped the song and pressed what he hoped was the redial. After two rings it picked up, the annoyed voice on the other end declaring that he wasn´t interested in crank calls. Spike felt his tears forming again as he grunted down the line, his sobs breaking free as the music started up. He couldn´t help himself, he really wanted his claimant to come home so that he could just cuddle into the strong warm arms. The vampire barely listened to what the other man was quietly hissing down the phone.
" Is that you Ethan, because if it is, you know I´ve told you not to bloody well call here or the frigging shop"
"Wheeze, sob, sob, acrk...snuffle"
"Ethan, I´m going to beat the living daylights out of you, you almost had me believing your crying. Look, I´ve got Anny around at the moment, it´s just sheer luck that she hasn´t picked up the phone yet. I´ll call you, ok?"
Spike could feel himself start to panick, between the dancing spots and the worry over what was causing the bright flashes, the nausea rising once more. He tried his yes and no grunts in a final attempt to get the man to recognise him. As the cd changed songs, he could hear the other man prattle on about meeting up later on that week.
~ I don´t care who your shagging Rupie, just use your sodding noodle for once and LISTEN! ~
There was silence on the other end as Spike repeated his trade mark grunts for all he was worth, throwing in a ´Xander´ grunt for good measure.
"Ah. Um. Oh dear, is that you Spike?"
"´Yes grunt´ sniffle, accrgk, sob, ´Xander grunt´"
"Good lord! Is Xander alright, whats wrong? Sod it, hang on, I´ll ring you back in about 15 minutes alright?"
"´Yes grunt´ snork, sniffle"
Almost swaying with relief, Spike pushed the hang up button and waited by the stereo for the other man to ring him back. He listened to the thumping music in the hopes of distracting himself from worrying too much. The vampire sat counting the minutes until he would get a phone call from the ex–watcher.
~ Fucking hurry up! Ring you cunt, come on, RING! ~
Trying to stop himself from starting to pace, Spike instead took out his worry on the completly innocent phone. He had no idea of just how he was going to explain to the watcher about the flashes. The vampire tried to tap his feet in time to the loud music but gave up after he started kicking at the wall, Xander would not be impressed by a hole in the wall.
~ Ring, ring, why don´t you give me a call? ~
~ Oh fuck, the day I start singing ABBA is the day I deserve to be shot. ~
He winced at the memory of a whole nights driving with Xander yelping along to ABBA Gold. The vampire had been ready to jump out of the moving car. Things had gone better when he had ´accidently´ crushed the tape under his Doc Martens while on a pitstop for more cheezels and Reeses Peanutbutter cups. He was jerked out of the memories by the phone actually ringing by his side. Snatched up, he had to relax his hold as the plastic creaked and groaned around his hand. With a viscious jab, he connected with the person on the other end of the line.
"Spike, it me. Oh, um. Silly really, it´s Giles."
"Yes grunt, eertgk, cough."
"I´m going to ask you questions and what I want you to do is either cough for no or grunt for yes. Do you understant that?"
~ Yes. Mr. Giles. I´m in third grade and understand how to wipe my own sodding arse as well. Fuckwit! ~
"Yes grunt"
"Right, right. Er..ok, here goes then. Is Xander hurt, incapacitated at the moment or in danger?"
"Cough"
"Oh thats so good. Relief actually. Did you call me by accident?"
~ I bloody well wish Mate! ~
"Cough"
"Is something wrong with you? Are you hurt, isn´t Xander around to help you?"
~ Nope, off getting more wood so we don´t sodding well freeze to death in the middle of the night. Should have taken the Vegas job. Would have made a killing at Blackjack ~
"Yes grunt. Cough"
"Yes and no. Well, which is it? Your´e either hurt or your´e not."
Spike banged the phone into his forehead a few times, only stopping when Giles started yelling down the phone line at him. He grunted ´yes´ down the phone until he was told to stop and hang up. The watcher was going to do the spell that would allow him to see the vampire. Until the older human rang again, Spike was to sit as still as possible. Relief flooded over the blond as he disconnected from the shop keeper once again.
~ Jesus Xander, just get home qui......Ahhhhh! ~
FLASH
Rolling around the bed in agony, the blond took no notice of the sharp cd cover edges digging in his back as the pain in his head struck again. Both hands were clenched into fists, rubbing at the sides of his aching scalp again. The stars dancing across his eyes bloomed into a fireworks show, there were colours of all hues bombarding his vision. Pink, purple, grey, electric blue, black, gold, the list was endless. Spike could feel himself fanging out, his sensitive canines making contact with a cd, sending him rolling back the other way. Great heaving sobs wracked the pale body as the waves of pain bombarded the vampire.
~ Oh god. Please, bloody fuck. Just strike me down now. ~
As quickly as it had started, the pain dissipated, leaving a sobbing blond curled up on the bed. Not quite daring to stop rubbing above his ears, Spike wondered what was going on. He realised that the stars and colours that had been plaguing him for the past forty minutes were starting to dull. The snuffling tapered off and finally stopped as the vampire took in what had happened. Spike slowly panned his vision around the room before settling on the meowing kitten. He smiled widely as he stared at the image of heat being thrown off the small creature. No humans and only a handful of demons knew that when vampires went into gameface, their whole perception of seeing, hearing and smelling prey changed as well. Before they changed, vampires could smell a single drop of blood from almost a 1 mile radius, hear a heart beating clear across a crowded room and had better taste and sight than the average human.
Once they changed however, then everything got a lot better. They could smell blood from further away, actually seperate and acknowledge different types of heartbeats and even keeps tabs on when someone was moving around. The elongated canines acted as a warning if something was wrong. A little nick before draining told a vampire what sort of blood type their prey was, if the prey had any diseases that would taint the blood if it wasn´t detectable by sight or smell. The eyes though, that was the best. The dilated pupils somehow allowed a vampire to see the heat being thrown off other creatures, including humans. Just made it so much easier to see where their latest meals were running off to.
His eyes were back. He could see the subtle flares of heat being thrown off the black kitten as she moved her head up and down, grooming herself. There was no blood to tempt his gameface out, but he could see again in his true vision. Bloody marvellous, thats what it was, bloody marvellous. The elation dropped like the preverbial lead balloon as he realised that he was still useless. His fangs slid back into human guise as his chin shook. With a shake of his head, he tried to put his pupils back into their human disguise only to grunt furiously as it proved that they were stuck in demon state.
~ Fuck! First my eyes come back and now I´m bloody well stuck with them. ~
With that, the phone rang again beside him. Picking it up, he grunted down the phone as Giles informed him that he could now see the vampire. He slowly turned his vision to look up at the front door, all the while listening to the shop keepers breathing. Spike smiled weakly at the door as Giles swore at being able to see the golden eyes looking through the scrying bowl. Having an idea, Spike held his hand up to the door in the universal sign for ´hold on/wait´. Phone put down for the moment, he carefully wrote what had happened in large letters in his notebook. Once finished, he picked up the phone again and with it held to his ear, he held the note pad up towards where he thought the ex–watcher would be able to see it.
At the other males indication, the vampire flipped the page over so that the older human could continue to read. He continued to turn the numerous pages as Giles read about the flashes and how Spikes eyes had returned, leaving out the nightvision talent of course. Just wouldn´t do for Buffy to find out about that little gem, might give her an unfair advantage. Spike couldn´t help but snort at the image of a Slayer wearing icepacks danced into his thoughts. Cow would be stupid enough to try it as well.
He shook his head when asked if he had had any sort of sexual contact to bring the flash on, leering slightly as Giles stuttered into the phone. Another head shake at the question of any emotional upset or injury. There was not a chance in hell, that Spike was going to tell the other male about Lukas and his fucking brochures. He suspected the embarrassment of what Lukas had suggested had brought on the first flash, his panic probably bringing on the others. Spike nodded as Giles told him that he really didn´t know what to think. As he was listening to the ex–watcher babble on about not saying anything regarding Ethan, he felt his pupils return to normal. A few grunts stopped talk, letting Giles see the now blue eyes of the vampire.
Spike tried to get his eyes to go demon again but much to his annoyance, they stayed human blue. A minute later and he was dropping his fangs just to check that he could still do that. A gasp from the phone and he realised that the whelp must not have updated the other man about his condition. He answered the following questions as best as he could, writing an answer when needed. After a few minutes of silence, the arkward goodbyes were said and grunted, both hanging up at the same time.
The vampire was happy, cautious, but happy at the latest turn of events. All that was needed now was his hearing, smell and face ridges to come back. The face ridges would probably come back at the same time as his accelerated sense of smell, Angelus had always had the theory of the ridges pushing down across the bridge of the nose being the cause of the ability. His Sire had waffled on about pressure to the glands and tissues resulting in the ability for vampires to smell better when in gameface. Spike had been in too much pain at the time to really take any notice, his little game of continually asking ´why?´ had taken a nasty turn with his Sire, resulting in Spike being whipped for being a pain in the arse.
Jerking himself out of the memories, the vampire cautiously got to his feet to make himself a cup of coffee while he waited for his claimant to come home.
~ Whelp, do I have some news for you! ~
With a large grin, Spike switched the automatic jug on only to find that the electricity had gone off again. During his time speaking to the ex–watcher, he hadn´t taken any notice of the music stopping, putting it down to the end of the cd. A shrug and he pulled out the candles, hurricane lamp and stovetop kettle from under the sink. With the cold weather, the two men had quickly discovered that although their cabin was hooked up to the power grid, it wasn´t a sure bet that they would alwasy be guaranteed electricity. Henceforth, the candles and hurricane lamp. The third time it had gone off, they had bought the stove top kettle, both unwilling to go through the withdrawl of coffee while waiting for the power to turn on again. The generator out the back was the biggest piece of shit that either of them had seen, Xander had once tried to get it started but after almost catching alight from the sparks coming from it, he had given it up as a bad job.
The company constantly assured them that someone would be out soon to fix it for them. As Xander´s workmates had said, don´t hold your breath. One of them wasn´t and the other couldn´t. While waiting for the kettle to boil, Spike tried to make his eyes yellow again.
