Chapter 20

Spike felt the familiar sensation of his Grandsire’s teeth slide into his throat. He struggled against the intrusion, hating that his strength was depleted from the shark attack. He could feel Buffy trying to free him. He growled angrily, hating the sensation of Angel's fangs in his neck, again…

 

Decades ago, Angelus had done this often. Sometimes draining him almost to the point of dusting, as punishment for any small transgression. Sometimes he did it for the hell of it, because he liked to make Spike suffer. Often he would offer Spike the choice, either him or Drucilla. Angelus knew Spike would always offer himself up as a sacrificial lamb. He liked to play the two lovers against each other, knowing that Spike would volunteer to protect his demented lover- his dark princess.

 

It had taken years for Spike to realise that Dru actually enjoyed her Sire’s attentions, no matter how painful. But the protective instinct always kicked in and Spike would submit to his Grandsire, hating him more and more with each bite. The easy camaraderie that they initially had when Spike was first turned had evaporated the night he had found Angelus buried inside his Dark Princess. Spike’s heart had been broken at the smirk on both their faces; his abortive attempt to fight Angelus for Dru that night had led to his first experience of being drained by the elder vampire.

 

Spike struggled against the surprisingly strong grip Angel had on his neck. There was no way he was gonna be drained by the ponce. Not again…

 

In the distance, over the roaring in his ears, he could hear Buffy yelling and the others shouting as well.

 

“No! Get off him, Angel!” Buffy screamed as she tried to pry Angel’s fingers from the back of Spike’s neck. Tears of anger and frustration filled her eyes - turning them a bright green - which caused Fred and Gunn to gasp in surprise. With a grunt, she managed to pry two fingers back, breaking them in her haste. Her other hand pushed hard at Angel’s forehead, trying to force him back and away from her lover.

 

“Jesus! Let go man!” Gunn clamped his hand around Angel’s throat and squeezed hard. His large fingers dug in hard, bruising the pale cracked skin. Sweat dripped from Gunn’s face as he applied even more pressure, he could feel the cartilage tearing under his fingers.

 

Throughout all this, Angel’s eyes remained shut as he drank from his unwilling Grand-childe.

 

“Gunn, don’t hurt him!” Fred yelled. As she pressed hard on either side of Angel’s jaw, forcing his muscles to give and release Spike.

 

“Bloody Hell! What is it?  Bite Spike night!” Spike bellowed as he lurched backwards into Buffy’s arms. His eyes changed from azure to pale green for a spilt second, before changing back to their usual piercing blue. His hand was clamped over the deep bite in his throat. Blood seeped sluggishly through his pale fingers. Spike would’ve fallen if it hadn’t been for Buffy’s arms wrapped around him. A wave of dizziness washed over him and his knees sagged. “Don’t feel to bright here…” With that his eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out.

 

“Spike!” Fred ran around the metal coffin and dropped to her knees next to the blond couple. Buffy had Spike cradled in her arms, her lips pressed against his temple.

 

“Shh…I’ve got you honey…” Buffy whispered. She rocked the unconscious vampire in her arms.

 

“He needs blood,” Fred announced unnecessarily.

 

“I know, but we haven’t got enough for two vamps…” Gunn replied. Worry colouring his voice. He stood over Angel, with his hands pressed firmly down on Angel’s chest.

 

“We’ll have to share it out,” Paddie disappeared below decks and returned holding several bags. “Here,” he knelt down next to Buffy and Spike and handed one of the bags to Fred.

 

“He’s unconscious.  How do we get him to drink?” Fred asked tentatively. She had no idea how to feed an unconscious vampire. Angel usually drank from a mug or glass.

 

“Let me have it,” Buffy asked. She took the bag and shook it, it was cold but beggars couldn’t be choosers. She cradled Spike in her arms. “Umm, you guys might want to get Angel below deck, cos I have no idea how he’ll react if he scents this blood.

 

“We’re on it.” Gunn grabbed hold of Angel’s head while Paddie caught hold of Angel’s legs. They hefted him carefully out of the steel tomb and staggered across the deck.

 

“Let me help.” Fred leapt up and slid her hands under Angel’s back and took some of the weight. The three of them managed to manhandle the unconscious vampire below deck.

 

“I don’t want that bloodsucker anywhere near me!” Justine shrieked. When she saw them stagger down the ladder carrying their burden.

 

“Shut it!” Fred snapped. Her patience was worn thin.

 

Justine glared at them from where she had been chained to the wall. Her eyes never leaving Angel’s recumbent form on the metal table, she shifted slightly, trying to get as much distance as she could.

 

“How do we feed him?” Gunn asked. He carefully cradled Angel’s head.

 

Paddie disappeared into the galley.

 

Fred and Gunn could hear him rummaging around and muttering to himself.

 

“Here we go, this should work.” Paddie reappeared, holding a funnel and a length of tube.

 

“Oh mann…” Gunn swallowed loudly and rubbed his throat.

 

“You think you can get this down his throat?” Paddy asked Fred.

 

“I guess…” She took the tube and funnel.

 

*********

 

“Spike, honey.  I need you to try and drink,” Buffy whispered into his hair.

 

Spike lay lax in her arms, unresponsive. Buffy hated how limp he was, his blood seeping out of his neck and side.

 

“Spike, come on…” she shook him gently. Spike’s bleached head rolled on his neck. “Okay, guess we’re gonna do this the kinky way…”

 

She pulled him up and pressed a kiss on his exposed throat, on the unbitten side. “Sorry honey, I know how you like to be awake when I do this…”

 

With that she bit down firmly, not breaking the skin, but hard enough to cause Spike to vamp out at the erotic sensation of her blunt teeth on his neck.

 

Spike’s game face slid over his human features, but he still lay unconscious in her arms.

 

Buffy pressed a kiss on the reddened skin, her teeth leaving a faint half moon impression. “Sorry, baby…”

 

Moving quickly she impaled the bag on his gnarled fangs. Blood spurted all over her and Spike. But finally his demon’s survival instinct took over, and Spike began to drink. He drained one bag and with a growl his eyes opened.

 

“There you are, handsome.”  Buffy pressed a kiss to Spike’s ridged forehead. She blindly reached for another bag and waved it under his scrunched up nose. “Dinner time, gorgeous…”

 

Spike took the proffered bag and drained it quickly. “More!” he growled.

 

Buffy handed the last bag to him and he drank it down. The blood began to work it’s magic, the fang marks on his neck closed and his skin took on a better colour.

 

Buffy rubbed his stomach soothingly, as she peppered his face with tiny kisses.

 

With a grunt Spike threw the last bag away and then turned into Buffy’s chest. His face pressed against her soft breasts and purred softly.

 

“Feel better, honey?” Buffy cooed.

 

Spike nodded his head. He still felt light-headed, but mainly the memories of Angelus’s torture of him filled his mind. Draining him.  He was exhausted- all he wanted to do was crawl into bed and wrap himself around his girl and sleep the last few hours away.

 

Buffy pulled him closer, whispering nonsensical words of reassurance. She could feel his tension and fear in every muscle of his body.

 

Spike pressed himself closer, inhaling her sweet scent. It soothed him and comforted him. “Sorry pet, bad memories…” he whispered against her stomach. 

 

*********

 

“Oh god,” Gunn turned and threw up.

 

Fred swiped one blood stained hand over her forehead, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. “Why won’t he drink! He was happy enough chompin on Spike!” She complained as she poured another bag of blood into the funnel. Paddy rubbed Angel’s throat to help the vampire swallow.

 

“It’s working I think, how many more bags we got?” Paddie asked.

 

“Not enough…” Fred glanced at the last two bags lying next to her. “He’s starved and I don’t think we…” Her voice broke, the worry and strain etched over her narrow face, “we brought enough…I didn’t know how much we’d need!”

 

Gunn straightened. “Sorry, guys…” he wiped his chin with a shaking hand. “Hey, baby. None of us knew how bad it’d be.” He rubbed his hand on the small of her back trying to calm her down.

 

“I did,” Justine sing-songed maliciously.

 

“Shut up!” Fred yelled again.

 

Paddie handed over the next bag to Fred and she poured it into the funnel.

 

Justine cackled at the sight of their worry. “So much concern over a demon…”

 

“Shut up, missy…he’s more of a person than you are,” Paddie growled. He was tired of her running commentary. He turned to Gunn, “you think you can handle the wheel? Maybe if we head back to port we can get more blood?”

 

“Yeah, I can manage her…” Gunn leapt at the opportunity to leave the blood bath. He shot up the ladder and clattered onto the deck.

 

He nodded at Buffy when she looked up from Spike’s huddled form “We’re heading home…need more blood.”

 

“Okay,” she whispered and then turned her attention back to Spike.

 

************

 

“This is the last one, honey,” Paddie whispered as he handed the final bag of blood over to Fred.

 

“Okay,” she sighed and deftly poured the last precious bag into the funnel, squeezing in hard to get the last drops out. “Look, he’s drinking it!” Fred pointed to the strong throat muscles in Angel’s throat.

 

The boat rumbled to life and Paddie glanced up at the ceiling. “Good, we’ll get back to LA in the next few hours!”

 

Fred smiled as she carefully pulled out the tube and gently set it aside. She ran her fingers through Angel’s hair absently as she watched him carefully.

 

“So, not enough for the vampire? Good!” Justine spat angrily. Fred turned angrily and glared at the chained redhead.

 

Paddie glanced over at Justine and then Fred. He sighed.  “Sorry, Tex…” with that he knocked Fred out. She fell backwards across Angel’s body, the grizzled man gently pulled her off the unconscious form of the vampire and laid her on the deck.

 

“What are you doing!” Justine yelled, her voice drowned out by the boats engines. She shifted uneasily.

 

“You owe him a blood debt, bitch…” Paddie rumbled. He shook his head and blue spikes appeared all over his face. He reached down and pulled Angel into his arms.

 

“No! No…help me!” Justine pulled at her chains trying to loosen them. Her boot heels scrabbled on the deck.

 

“They can’t hear you, hon.” Paddie stalked over to the terrified woman.

 

“Please! No, not this…” Justine began to cry. Her mind filled with the memories of her sister’s lifeless form. “I won’t go out this way…”

 

Paddie shrugged. “Can’t see this ending any other way…”

 

“Please don’t, I’m sorry…so sorry…” Justine whimpered.

 

“So you should, Red…draining him dry and then sinking him to the bottom of the ocean.” Paddie knelt down and looked at the shivering woman with a little compassion colouring his eyes.

 

Justine saw this and tried to plead with him. “Please, let me be…we’ll get back to dry land and everything’ll be okay…”

 

“Sorry, honey…a blood debt is owed and it’s time to pay up.” Paddie reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife.

 

“They’ll see the cut on my neck and know!” Justine yelled.

 

“Doubt it,” the Bracken demon answered dismissively. 

 

“They’ll know it’s you,” Justine wheedled.

 

“Nawww…I’ll be unconscious and they’ll think Angel woke in a blood rage and well, I tried to stop him but he knocked me out.” Paddie smiled coldly.

 

“Why are you doing this?” Justine asked. Hoping that if she kept him talking then one of the others would come back.

 

“He’s Doyle’s friend,” Paddie confided.

 

Justine huddled backwards, pressing her back against the wall, trying to curl into herself. She knew there was no way out of this. Kicking out she caught Angel on the chin.

 

“Shouldn’t have done that…” Paddie growled.  He reached over and with the tip of his knife, punctured her neck once. Blood seeped out of the small wound. Angel twitched in his arms. “Looks like someone’s hungry…” With that, Paddie laid Angel over Justine’s squirming form, pressing his mouth against Justine’s neck.

 

“Oh god, no…” she whimpered. Her eyes glazing over and her mouth dropping open. Time stood still; all that could be heard was the boat’s engines and her harsh breathing. Paddie pushed Angel against her neck and waited.

 

“Come on, Angel, we haven’t got all night…” He reached around and pinched Angel hard on the neck.

 

“Oh please, no…” Justine squeaked as she felt Angel’s face shift against her neck. “Ahh…” she moaned as she felt Angel bite into her neck. “Holtz…”

 

Paddie sank back on his heels, shame spreading through him. He reached for Angel to pull him off. The drinking vampire sensed this and swung his arm backwards, knocking the half Bracken demon away. Paddie’s head hit the ladder with a sickening crunch, and the demon was unconscious before he hit the floor.

 

*********

 

“Buffy?” Spike pushed himself up. He could sense a change in his Grandsire.

 

Buffy cupped his face in her hands and kissed him tenderly. “Yeah, sweetie.”

 

“I think the ponce might be up,” Spike mumbled against her soft lips.

 

Buffy kissed him again, her tongue outlining his lips before dipping in for a taste. She was surprised that the faint aftertaste of blood didn’t gross her out, but it didn’t. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close, deepening their kiss.

 

Spike curled his fingers around her small waist and slipped his fingers under her shirt. Revelling in the soft skin his questing fingers had found, a purr rumbled in the depth of his chest. Their tongues battled against each other in a rhythm as old as time.

 

Pulling back, Buffy panted for breath.  Her pupils were dilated, covering her green shot hazel irises. “Yum! What was that about Angel?”

 

“Think the arse is awake, can sense him…” Spike replied.

 

“Guess we better go check on him?” Buffy sighed. She rose to her feet and reached down and pulled Spike up. “Also, you can rub it in how you rescued him.” Buffy grinned wickedly; mirroring Spike, she raised an eyebrow.

 

“Sounds like fun!” Spike rubbed his hands in anticipation.

 

Spike turned to leave, Buffy’s small strong hand wrapped around his rubber-clad arm. “Spike?”

 

Spike turned his head. “Yeah, love?”

 

“We need to talk about whatever upset you…the memories…” Buffy faltered slightly at the expression of complete misery on her vampire’s face.

 

He nodded curtly. “Yeah, later when we’re alone.”

 

“Spike?” Buffy was worried that he was brushing her off, being all manly.

 

Spike turned and cupped her face in his hands; he brushed a kiss over the tip of her nose. “I promise. We’ll talk at the hotel later. Lets go check on Peaches, okay?”

 

Buffy nodded.  “Okay, but I’m keeping you to that promise.” She linked hands with Spike and they climbed down the ladder.

 

*********

 

“Wesley?” Groo stepped tiredly into the house. He carefully propped his axe against the umbrella stand.

 

Stepping into the sitting room, he smiled at the sight of Anya curled up asleep around the kittens, with Miss Kitty perched on her hip fast asleep.

 

“In the kitchen.  You alone?” Wes whispered.

 

Groo headed into the welcoming kitchen.

 

“Hungry?” Wesley asked as he handed over a mug of hot chocolate.

 

“No, I’m good.” Groo settled on one of the stools and sipped happily at the sweet warmth.

 

“How was patrol?” Wesley propped himself on the counter.

 

“Enlightening,” Groo replied shortly.

 

“And?” Wesley prompted.

 

“I think that Xander is a determined fighter, he may not have any supernatural attributes but what he lacks in power he makes up for in tenacity… But he is an ass…” Groo checked over his shoulder to make sure Anya was still asleep. “Also, I think he may have second thoughts about their engagement.”

 

Wesley raised an eyebrow. “Really? He said as much?”

 

Groo shook his head. “Not in so many words, but he is a very angry and unhappy young man.”

 

“I think that they both have unvoiced concerns over their relationship.  Anya was very worried at the violence he displayed towards her.”

 

“I know.  Maybe something should be said?” Groo reached over and grabbed a cookie and ate it quickly.

 

“Indeed, but I am hesitant to interfere, we barely know them…” Wesley sighed.

 

“Sometimes it is better to hear something such as this from a less involved party?” Groo suggested. He was out of his depth here; the one and only relationship he had been in had been with Cordelia. Which had not been a two-sided relationship.  He had loved her…but Cordy… had been an enigma. However, the Pylean knew that he would have appreciated someone intervening before his heart had been broken. In a sense, the man facing him was the one who had helped out in the end.

 

“Possibly, however I have no idea how to approach such a matter.  I’m not very adept in the matters of the heart…” Wesley sighed. He had pined after Fred, too nervous to say anything, until it was too late. His aborted attempt at connecting with Cordelia had been…well…a disaster.

 

“Neither am I, but from what I’ve witnessed so far, someone needs to say something. Neither of them are happy.” Groo drained his mug and set it on the breakfast bar. “I think I may withdraw for the night.”

 

Wesley nodded. “I agree, we do need some rest.” He straightened and walked over to Groo and slapped him on the shoulder. “You didn’t say how many demons you killed tonight.”

 

“Several, this place seems to draw them.  I…we didn’t locate the elder vampire though…” Groo stood. He stretched his arms.

 

“I imagine that we’ll find him or her eventually. We need to make contact with that fellow, Clem, and possibly go to Willy’s Bar.” Wesley commented as they climbed the stairs.

 

Groo pulled a face. “I’m not drinking that vile potion again!”

 

“Potion? Oh beer!  Well, it’s an acquired taste,” Wesley grinned. “Oh, go on ahead.  I’ll just get a blanket for our guest.” 

 

Groo glanced down at Wesley as he vanished into the sitting room and smiled.

 

“What?” Wesley asked as he returned.

 

“Nothing…goodnight, Wesley.” Groo chuckled as he disappeared into his room.

 

Wesley stood and stared at the closed door, a bemused expression on his face.

 

*********

 

Buffy gingery picked her way down the steep stairs into the hold. She was followed closely by Spike, who clutched his hand to his injured side over the reddened bandage. The shark's bite was healing slowly and the infusion of blood helped some. He needed time to rest and heal, but for now Spike knew he had to keep going. There was too much at stake.

 

Buffy's heel skidded on the last step and she fell forward, onto Paddy’s unconscious form.

 

"Oof!" Buffy grunted as she pushed herself gingerly up, looking down she saw that Paddie was out cold. "Oh crap." Pushing her fair hair off her face, the small woman stood.

 

Spike had frozen on the stairs, his nostrils flared and he scented a fresh kill. His pale blue eyes scanned the dark hold. "Buffy luv, get back up here," he hissed. Acutely aware that he was weak and might not be able to defend them both.

 

"Hold up, Paddies’ down for the count." Buffy yelped as Spike's arm reached down and yanked her away from the injured half demon and against his chest. Spike grit his teeth against the pain as Buffy's soft form impacted against his wound.

 

"When I ask you to get away, it's not for shits and giggles pet, something's not right here." His cool lips brushed against Buffy's ear as he whispered.

 

Buffy tried to ignore the frisson of arousal at her love's touch; instead she focused on the darkened room. Trying to make out what had happened. "Where are Fred and Angel?"

 

Spike inhaled deeply.  "The Texan string-bean is laid out on the floor by the table.  I can smell her." He closed his eyes and focused on Fred, a faint smile fluttered across his lips. "I can hear her heartbeat; she's okay."

 

Buffy sighed with relief.  Despite the anguish Fred had put Wesley through, the brainy Texan had grown on her, 'kinda reminds me of High School Willow, before the Elvira makeover.'

 

Spike cocked his head.  He could sense his Grandsire- Angel was awake and curled up at the far end of the hold. Spike frowned at the rhythmic knocking he could hear from the same area as where Angel was hiding.

 

"Spike, what's that?" Buffy pointed at the pale hand that was sticking out from under the stairs. "Oh no." With that she pulled out of his comforting embrace and leapt over the side of the stairs.

 

"Wait! No! Bollocks!" Spike shot down after Buffy, determined to cover her back.

 

Buffy crouched over the still form of the chained red-head, her fingers searching for a pulse.  In the dark, Buffy didn't notice the blood now staining her searching fingers. Spike moved behind her and faced outwards, his hand reaching behind him to touch her shoulder, reassuring himself she was there.

 

"Spike, I think she's dead." Buffy stood slowly and turned to face Spike.  As she did, the faint light in the cabin illuminated her bloodstained fingers. She stared blankly down at the dark stains. "I think…eww!" She cleaned her fingers on Spike's back. “Blood, I can never get used to seeing it.” She paused for a second.  “Actually, I hope I never do, cos that would not be of the good.”

 

"Wot?" Spike looked over his rubber-clad shoulder; his enhanced vampire vision could make out the familiar looking bite marks. He was very familiar with the teeth marks. "Bugger...Buffy, looks like Peaches fell off the bagged wagon."

 

Buffy looked down at Justine's still form, then back up at Spike and nodded. A faint frown line appeared between her eyebrows and her face paled. "Fred!" She scrambled past Spike and slid to her knees next to Fred's unconscious form. Buffy ran her fingers over Fred's long neck, checking for bite marks. The moonlight illuminated her pale face in an unearthly blue for a brief second.

 

Spike stalked past Buffy and Fred, heading towards his Grandsire’s hunched up form. He was at a loss.  Even when his Grandsire had first been re-ensouled, Angel had been in possession of himself.  To see him undone like this was unsettling.  Spike wanted…no, needed to help him, and not just for Buffy.

 

Fred moaned and her eyes fluttered open.  Buffy cradled the back of Fred's head in one hand, and winced in sympathy at the massive bump she found. "Ow! That had to have hurt," Buffy smiled sympathetically.

 

Fred blinked several times, trying to focus on one of the three Buffy's looking down at her. "What hit me?"

 

"I think your boss," Spike tossed over his shoulder. He turned back to watching Angel. He reached over and flicked a light switch on; the cabin was flooded with light.

 

"Too bright!" Angel threw his forearm over his face, hiding his eyes. His other hand scrabbled up the wall searching for the light switch. "Off…needs to be off!" He sobbed, rocking back and forth on his heels, repeatedly smashing his head against the hull, his eyes screwed shut.

 

"Oi, stop doing that, you'll hurt yourself." Spike was horrified at the state his grandsire was in. He crouched down next to Angel and tried to stop him from hurting himself anymore.

 

“Starving...Sooo...hungry." Angel whimpered and continued to bang his head against the hull. "Too hungry...needed blood…couldn't stop…tried too."

 

Spike cocked his head, his eyes narrowed as he made sense of Angel's ramblings.

 

"Buffy, love.  Think we might have a problem here."

 

"Hang on, Spike!" Buffy helped Fred to her feet. "You going to be okay?" The small blonde held onto Fred's hands, trying to steady her.

 

"Yeah, I'll be fine." Fred paled at the sight of Paddy laid out and Justine's body under the stairs

 

"Good."  Buffy let go of her hands and rushed over to Spike, her heel skidding on some blood. "Check on Paddie and then get Gunn down here to help," she ordered. Kneeling down next to Spike, Buffy stared in shock at Angel's large form. "Geez."

 

Spike growled at Buffy when she reached over to touch Angel. "Don't," he snarled. “It’s not safe! He’s not in control…”

 

Buffy paused and looked over at Spike, her eyes tired and filled with confusion.

 

"He's already chomped on me and drained what's-her-name, no way is he getting his fangs anywhere near you, not after you went through the un-claiming ritual!" Spike growled. “He’s starved and blinded from being under water for too long- he’s disoriented.  At this moment, he’ll bite anything- we need to get him home. He needs blood and lots of it.” Spike rubbed his wrist, “I haven’t got enough to spare at the mo’.  We need Peaches contained for now.”  

 

"Fine...fine." Buffy held her hands up in surrender. "What do you suggest?"

 

Spike looked up and spotted something on the shelf above Angel’s crouched form.  He reached up and grabbed the baseball bat. Before anyone could intervene, Spike swung it down in an arc, "this."  With that he knocked out Angel and tossed the bat away before anyone could react.

 

"Spike!" Buffy and Fred yelled in unison.

 

"Wot? I had to, broody pants was bugging me with the Rainman act!" Spike yelled defensively.

 

Buffy stood and glared at the peroxide pest, her hands on her hips. For a brief second her eyes flared an unearthly green. "That was mean!"

 

Spike shrugged. "Yeah, and?" he asked defiantly.

 

"And you hit Angel on the head!" Fred interjected as she patted Paddie on the cheeks trying to wake him.

 

"I'm not risking any of you! He's already killed the annoying bint over there," he jerked his thumb over at Justine's cooling body. “This was the only way…though, not saying I didn’t enjoy it,” he smirked. Spike twirled the bat around for a few seconds, before putting it back on the shelf.

 

Fred pulled Paddie up onto his feet. "What happened?" he asked. The half Bracken demon was worried his ruse would be seen through.

 

Spike grunted, "Peaches woke up, knocked you two out and had himself a feast of the red-head.  She’s dead," he added. "Go and get Shaft, Tex," Spike grumped.

 

Buffy huffed as she pulled Angel's dead weight onto the table. "Man, has he gained weight?" She groaned and leant against table.

 

Spike glanced over at Angel, a smile tugging at the corner of his expressive lips. "Uh, luv, you seem more concerned about the Poof's not-so-girlish figure rather than the fact that he's chowed down on," he sniffed the air. "I think O pos."

 

Buffy turned green.  "Ick! You can tell what blood type?"

 

"Uh, vampire here, remember? Blood's sort of my thing? That, and my dashing good looks."  He waggled his eyebrows at his girl.

 

"Spike!" Buffy rolled her eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest. "I know this is bad, but there's nothing we can do; she's dead…but it's Angel."

 

"Of course, soul boy gets a ‘get out of jail free’ bite! But if I could..." Spike griped.

 

"Hey! If it were you at the bottom of the ocean and starved, I'd offer my throat to you! Also, if in a blood starved rage you chomped on her, I'd understand," Buffy said and pointed at Justine. "But," she poked Spike in the chest with her index finger, "if you even think of sinking your fangs into anyone but me I'll yank them out of your head with rusty pliers and cut off your dangly bits with a pair of blunt nail scissors!"  She grinned impishly at the look of pure male terror on her vampire. 

 

Spike's hand shot down to cover his meat and two veg, a shiver of fear racing down his spine. He froze for a second as he processed the rest of Buffy's words. He switched into seductive mode and curled his tongue against the back of his teeth. "Pet, do you mean I can have a nibble of your lusciousness?” he purred.

 

Paddie frowned. "Man, you are just too freaky kinky even for me!" He headed off up the stairs, pulling a silent Fred after him.

 

"Me threatening to Bobbitt you, turns you on?" Buffy's eye's widened as Spike stalked over to her. She backed up.

 

"Luv, think back on what you just said."

 

'De-fang the pain in my ass, check. Cut off not so little Spike, check...what is he all preeny about? Oh...crap!' Buffy panicked, she had offered her throat to Spike. During their entire relationship, she had never offered her blood to Spike and he had never asked. She had been amazed at how restrained he had been. Buffy looked up at Spike and gave him an enigmatic and totally feminine smile. ‘Maybe a claiming isn’t such a bad idea…Spike looks like he’s got no probs with me offering him a nibble…’

 

Spike batted his long lashes at Buffy and smiled sweetly. His demon was pushing at him to press the matter, but his inner William forced it into submission. ‘Only when she’s ready and the time is right, mate…’ He ordered his inner monster.

 

Buffy blushed at Spike and turned her attention back to the unconscious form of her former boyfriend. She knew that the issue of blood and bitey fun would have to be addressed, but now wasn’t the time.

 

***********

 

They all stood at the edge of the boat and watched the canvas wrapped bodies sink to the bottom of the ocean.

 

"I don't feel right about this." Buffy leant against Spike, drawing strength from him.

 

"Luv, it's not like he had a birth certificate, and she… well I think she wanted to be with him in the end." Spike leant his head against hers tiredly. His energy was rapidly diminishing.

 

"We should head home, get Angel settled and you two need to rest up." Gunn wrapped his arms around Fred. It had been a long night and he was tired.

 

Paddie clapped Gunn on the shoulder. "Lets get you guys home. " He was desperate to get them all off his boat- the blood debt had been paid, but the half-demon suspected that possibly only the blond vampire would understand why he had done what he did. With that he climbed into the main cabin and started the engines.

 

*********

 

Gunn and Spike carried Angel between them down the gangplank, followed shortly by Buffy and Fred, both holding onto each other for support. They waved goodbye to Paddie.

 

Paddie stood and watched the five figures as they bundled into their cars and disappeared into the night. His face emotionless, tilting his head back to the stars, he smiled briefly.

 

“For you, Doyle.  Rest in peace.”

 

***********

 

"Oh my Goddess!" Tara ran down the rest of the stairs, followed closely by Lorne. They had both been woken by the doors slamming and muted voices floating up from the reception.

 

Buffy helped Spike to the circular couch and flopped down next to him with a groan. "Hey, Tara."

 

Spike cracked open one eye.  "How's Junior?"

 

"Much better than you, Aqua man!" Lorne's eyebrows almost touched his horns at the sight of Spike in his wet suit. “Can I say that skin tight PC is such a good look for you, lemon puff.”

 

Gunn and Fred staggered in, with Angel's still unconscious form hanging between them.

 

"You found him!" Lorne rushed over and took Fred's place. "What did they do to him?" He stared aghast at the massive bruise across Angel's forehead.

 

"Spike did that." Buffy explained. "He knocked out Fred and Paddie, and ate Justine."

 

"Poor girl!" Tara paled at the thought of another's death. “Paddie?”

 

"More like poor poof, she was probably too acid!" Spike muttered “Prolly get heartburn from her!” He winced at the elbow in the ribs courtesy of Buffy. "Luv, I'm an injured man here!" He turned to Tara and pouted. “Save me from the mean Slayer.”  The euphoria from his heroic antics were making the vampire giddy, that and the blood loss. “Paddies’ the captain of the jolly ship we hired,” he explained to Tara as he wrapped an arm around his Slayer.

 

Buffy gave him the evil eye.  "Remember, snip…snip…snip." She raised a hand and made scissor motions with her fingers.

 

Spike waggled his tongue at her.  “Go on then, luv, give it me good!”

 

Tara ignored their banter and came over to check on Spike's injuries. "What did this?"

 

"Shark bit me…look!" Spike rattled the small tin containing the teeth Buffy had extracted from his side. His childish antics made Tara smile. He flipped open the tin and showed her the bloodstained teeth.

 

"Lovely! Come on, let's get you both to bed." Tara pulled her two friends up. She glanced up slyly through her lashes at Spike, “finally found something with bigger teeth than you, huh?” she teased.

 

Spike raised an eyebrow at her and smirked at her.

 

"Best chain the Poofter up...and make sure it's not too bright," Spike suggested as he helped Buffy up the stairs, followed closely by Tara.

 

"What happened?" Lorne asked Fred and Gunn.

 

They filled in the tall demon as they headed upstairs and into Angel's rooms.

 

Once injuries had been tended to and Angel had been chained to his bed with a blindfold over his light sensitive eyes, silence soon fell on the Hyperion as everyone settled into sleep.