Author: Nelson
Pairings: Angel/Spike
The orderly gently but efficiently took Cordelia out of Angel’s arms and placed her onto a gurney, laying her obviously-broken arm securely by her side. Her eyes never moved, never fluttered, the lids staying closed while the orderly worked. A doctor and several nurses appeared at her side immediately, dragging the gurney with them toward an examining room, her entourage gathered around.
“I’m sorry, you’ll have to wait,” the doctor said with an abrupt turn from the gurney toward the crew. He looked to be of Greek descent, dark curly hair crowning his head and complementing his olive skin. He pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose and stood directly in Angel’s path. He was only about 5’10” but had a look of determination that stopped the tall vampire in his tracks.
“But…” Angel started to say.
“I’m sorry, sir,” he said with a hand raised to halt him. “Please. Give us room to work. You can’t come back with us.” Reluctantly, the group did as they were asked and the hallway was overwhelmingly quiet as the flurry of activity and medical personnel disappeared behind doors brushing against each other in a soft swing.
A hospital volunteer walked up to them and said to the worried trio, “You can wait in here if you like.” She swung her arm in the direction of a small waiting area outside the swinging doors. The sullen three walked toward the empty waiting room and Spike went in first, falling into a chair in the farthest corner of the room and Angel sat beside him.
“Good choice,” Gunn said to Spike with an air of sarcasm. “Now, just turn the chair around and face the wall, and it will be perfect.”
Anger filled Spike and he was on his feet instantly. “BACK off,” he warned with fire flashing from his hard blue eyes. “You think I like seeing her that way?!”
With cat-like speed, Angel took a handful of Spike’s leather jacket, and used it to pull him back into his chair; Spike felt himself being whipped backward, the edge of the seat catching the backs of his knees. As he was unceremoniously re-seated, he heard Angel saying, “Sit down, Spike.” He inclined his head toward his vampire lover and said too low for human ears, but clear as crystal to Spike, “You’re already going to get a whipping when we get home. Don’t lose your temper and make it worse.”
The hurt in Spike’s eyes shone clearly and a worried frown creased his brow upon hearing Angel’s words. He said to Angel in low tones, “Angel…I…I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean for her to get hurt. You must know that.”
“I know you didn’t mean for it to happen, but it did, didn’t it?”
Sitting in the sterile hospital waiting room, Spike was reminded by more than Angel’s words that it was his fault they were there. After giving Angel a cheerless stare, he nodded his head and looked away.
Having dealt with his vampire-brat for the moment, Angel turned his attention to Gunn, who was standing with his arms crossed, glaring in Spike’s direction, looking quite pleased that Angel was expressing his disapproval. Pleased, that was, until that same disapproval was directed at him. Angel said, “I’LL handle Spike, Gunn. Clear?”
Upon seeing the determined expression on Angel’s face, Gunn nodded and relaxed his posture, realizing he had overstepped his bounds with the corner comment. He took a seat on the other side of Angel and said, “Yeah. Clear. Sorry, man. I’m just worried about her, you know?” Angel held his gaze then looked over at Spike.
His lover, cursed with a soul, had the misfortune of a conscience. Angel knew only too well how that felt. It was enough to remember past sins and deal with the guilt that came with those memories, but it also provided for feeling horrible for one’s present actions, whether the results of those actions were intended or not. He struggled to stay mad at Spike but felt pulled to protect both him and the broken Cordelia. The best he could do for Cordelia was to get her to medical help, and he had done that. He would have to let the doctors deal with her since Angel had done all he could do in that arena. He focused instead on his partner. Spike’s downcast eyes turned to Angel when Angel slipped his hand over Spike’s and interlaced his long fingers with the slender digits of his lover. Angel reassured him, “It’s going to be okay.”
Spike looked away and stared through the wall at his side. Angel put his other hand over the one he held and gave it a squeeze. He said, “Hey. Let me see you.” Spike’s focus shifted to the floor, then across the room before he was able to finally coax his eyes to look at his lover. They eventually made the trek to Angel’s face and blue eyes gazed into brown. With Spike’s attention, Angel said with more conviction than he felt, “She’s going to be fine.”
“Her head was bleeding,” Spike pointed out angrily, most likely mad at himself. “And, she was unconscious. And, her arm…”
“She’s in good hands, Spike. We’ve done all we can do except wait. I know you didn’t mean for this to happen,” Angel said to his partner.
Spike waited for the rest but apparently, Angel was finished with his commentary. Spike said, “But? You forgot the ‘but’.”
Angel nodded slowly and Spike’s head dropped to look at something only he saw on the thighs of his leather pants. Angel raised his free hand to cup the side of Spike’s face and turn it to him. “Okay, then. You want to talk about the ‘but’? ‘But’,” he enunciated, “you didn’t listen to me. That part you could help and you intended. Cordelia getting hurt was not intended. We’ll deal with your intentional behavior when we get home.”
Spike looked unwaveringly into Angel’s dark eyes and said, “You mentioned that earlier.” They all looked around when another family entered the waiting area, a lady with them crying uncontrollably, probably over whatever had sent them on an unplanned visit to the emergency room.
Gunn said, “I guess we need to call Wesley and Fred. I’ll do that.”
“Good idea. Thanks, Gunn,” Angel said. Gunn left the waiting area to go outside and use his phone after the signal indicator told him the reception would be better elsewhere. Angel and Spike sat in total silence with their fellow emergency room visitors, both wrapped up in their own thoughts. Gunn returned momentarily and announced that Wesley and Fred would be along shortly. He sat against the wall to the right of Angel and Spike, grabbed a magazine and tried to read over the distraction of his own worry and the woman still bawling across the room.
Spike said to Angel, “I really didn’t mean it. If anything happens to her…”
“It already did,” Gunn interrupted. “You can’t take it back.”
“Gunn!” Angel said with a dour look directed at him. “I told you, I’ll handle this.”
Gunn was unable to hold back his displeasure at how Cordelia ended up in the emergency room and he said, “Angel, he deliberately did exactly what you told him not to do. If he had listened to you…”
Spike’s eyes bored into Gunn and he said, “He doesn’t need an instant replay from YOU.”
The people across the room looked over at them when they were drawn from their own worries by the raised voices. Even the crying woman paused. Angel glanced over and saw them staring and staunched the argument before it spiraled out of control. “Quit it. Both of you,” Angel said firmly with a hard look at Gunn. “I don’t need a commentary from either of you.” Angel turned his eyes between the two men to see if they got the message, and was convinced they had when he looked into their faces. “Read something,” Angel said to Spike, and Spike angrily snatched a magazine from the little table beside him. “We don’t need to put on a show for people,” Angel said with a glance across the room. Spike yanked at the pages of the magazine, whipping them past too fast to be reading. Angel put an arm around him to get his attention. “Spike, calm down.”
“What?!” he hissed. “I’m looking at the damn magazine like you said.” Angel didn’t need to say a word since his expression said it all. Spike shook his head in exasperation, but stopped tearing at the magazine as if it bore nasty messages on its pages about his mother.
*****
Wesley was drawn from the magazine that had survived Spike’s hands, to the door of the waiting room when a man who was clearly a doctor stepped through.
“Cordelia Chase’s family?” he asked with a question mark on his face when he looked in Angel’s direction. The team from Angel Investigations was still glancing at each other, trying to figure out how to answer, when they realized Angel was already on his feet.
“That would be me,” he lied without hesitation. “How is she?” Everyone looked expectantly at the doctor and he said, “She’s awake. CAT scan was normal, so there’s no brain damage. She likely has a slight concussion, but she’ll be fine. We set her arm and casted it. The break was clean.” A collective sigh of relief could be heard after the doctor finished with his speech. “I’d like to keep her overnight.”
Spike leaned forward and put his head in his hands. “Thank God,” he said. Fred leaned over and put a hand to Spike’s back and rubbed gently.
Fred said to him with a smile lighting her face, “She’s going to be fine. She’s fine.”
“Wonderful news,” Wesley said and Gunn clapped a hand to his leg.
“Yeah,” Gunn said nod and a smile.
Angel asked the doctor, “Can I see her?”
The doctor surveyed the room and said, “She needs to rest, but I’ll let you go in one at a time for JUST a minute. Just long enough to see her. Okay?” He looked at each face after he spoke and saw nods all around.
“Thank you, doctor,” Angel said with a hand extended.
The doctor shook it firmly and said, “For just a minute. Remember, she needs her rest.” Angel shook his head in agreement and followed the doctor down the hall.
“She’s in here,” the doctor said, pointing to room 316.
“Thank you,” Angel said. He pushed through the door and saw Cordelia lying in the big hospital bed, dwarfed by its size and her vulnerable state with tubes and bandages visible, her head turned away from the door. Angel walked over to the bed and Cordelia didn’t realize he was there until he spoke. “Hey,” he said with a worried smile. He pulled a nearby chair over to the side of the bed and took her hand as he sat down.
“Hey…oh!” she said with a hand to her head. “I swear my head will split open the rest of the way if I have a vision any time soon.”
Angel laughed softly at her good nature, shining even in a hospital bed. “I like your hat,” he said, with his eyebrows raised to the bandages wrapping her head.
“Fashion statement,” she said. “I can’t repeat what the statement IS in mixed company, though.” She smiled at him then gave a little report. “The doctor said I didn’t need stitches. Don’t say it’s because I have a hard head.” Angel nodded and rubbed the back of her hand that was devoid of an IV.
“I won’t.”
She brought her weakened eyes up to his and said, “How is Spike?”
“Quiet. Can you believe it?” Angel said with a grin, trying to lessen the tense mood.
“Don’t be mad at him, Angel. He was just caught up in the moment.”
“He needs to listen to me.”
“I know, but if I can get over it, can’t you?” she asked.
“I can get over it, Cordy, but that doesn’t mean I won’t address what he did tonight.”
“Angel, he just…”
“Hey,” he said, cutting her off. “Don’t worry about Spike. You worry about Cordy and let me worry about him. I’d hate to have to deal with you tonight, too.” He smiled when he said it and waited for her to do the same in response. She finally did. Angel said, “Doc says I can’t stay long and neither can the others. I should go send in your next visitor so you can rest.”
“Send Spike next, okay?” she said. Angel nodded and stood up.
“Feel better, Cordy. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead over the bandage, then he left for the waiting room.
Everyone looked up when Angel came back into the room. “She wants to see you next, Spike,” he said and Spike looked up, blinking in surprise. “Hurry up. She’s waiting,” Angel prompted when he didn’t move right away. “316. Two doors down on the left.” Spike looked at Angel uncertainly, only getting to his feet after Angel gave him a supporting nod.
Spike walked slowly down the hall and stood unmoving in front of the closed hospital door. He looked over his shoulder with his palm against the door and saw Angel standing in the entryway of the waiting room, watching him. Angel whispered, “Go ahead,” and Spike heard it as clearly as if he were standing beside Angel. He gave his head a slight shake of acknowledgement and pushed open the door. The guilt washed over him afresh when he saw Cordelia in the hospital bed. Her eyes captured his and she held out her hand.
She beckoned, “Spike. Come here and sit with me.” He walked toward the welcoming hand and placed his in hers without looking at her. “Don’t do this to yourself,” she said. “You didn’t know what would happen.”
“I’m so sorry, Cordelia. If I had only listened to Angel…” he said, repeating Gunn’s accusation.
“Hey. Did you hear what I said? I’m not mad at you. And, you don’t know that something like this wouldn’t have happened had we done things Angel’s way. There are no guarantees with what we do.”
“I feel horrible,” he said. “I wish I could take it back. I do.”
“I know. I sort of do, too. I mean, I have one HELLACIOUS headache,” she paused and smiled at him. He tried to return her smile, but it just wasn’t happening. She said, “Don’t feel bad about this.”
“I can’t help it. Look at you. You’re the one laid up in casualty and you’re worried about me. I’m so, so sorry, Cordelia.”
“I heard you the first time. I forgive you, Spike. I could have gotten hurt whether you did your own thing or not. I understand that, and I put myself in a dangerous situation.” She rubbed her thumb over the back of Spike’s hand and smiled at him sincerely. She said with a playful grin, “But, if you ever do something like that again, I’ll get Angel to hold you while I beat you up.”
The look on her face was convincing and Spike realized she was kidding. Her jovial nature wasn’t enough to chase the guilt away, no matter how hard she tried. Spike looked away uncomfortably and pulled his hand back to him. “The doctor said we can’t stay long. I should go,” he said as he started toward the door.
“Spike!” Cordelia called out after him. Her voice caused him to pause before reaching the hallway, and Spike turned toward her. “You’d better come pick me up tomorrow. You leave me here bored out of mind, I’ll make you pay when I get out.”
Spike managed a weak smile for her and nodded before he left.
*****
After several long hours at the hospital, the group returned to the hotel, exhausted from the anxiety and waiting. With the late hour and stress from the evening, Angel didn’t waste any time getting down to business, wanting to get things over with.
“Gunn?” Angel asked as they stepped into the main area of the lobby. “Do you have your pocketknife?”
“Yeah,” Gunn replied, going into his pocket to fish out the knife. He looked quizzically at Angel as he handed it over into the outstretched hand, but he guessed its purpose once Angel spoke again.
He looked at the three of them and asked, “Could you guys give us a minute alone please?”
They looked at each other uncomfortably, not sure where to go, when Wesley spoke up. “It’s a nice night. We could go sit in the courtyard.” He was just about to take a step in that direction when Angel interrupted him.
“Not there. Could you maybe go in the kitchen?”
Gunn easily put two and two together with the request for his knife and them being banned from the courtyard. He took Fred’s hand trying to steer her out of the room before she figured it out. He said, “Sure. I could use a snack anyway.”
As soon as they disappeared down the hall, Angel turned to Spike and said, “Spike, we’re going out to the courtyard and you’re going to cut six sturdy switches for me.” He held out the knife for Spike who didn’t accept it immediately. “Spike? Take the knife and do what I told you.” He hesitated only a moment longer then took the knife and left through the backdoor with Angel right behind him.
They stopped in front of a bush that had the right type of limbs and Spike reached out for one of them, not quite sure how to judge what Angel might want. He looked back over his shoulder before cutting the first and Angel said, “Go ahead.” Spike trimmed off the branch, repeating the process six times, and handing each one over to Angel in turn. Angel peeled the leaves off each switch while he waited for Spike to cut the next one. All of them passed inspection except one, and it was handed back to Spike to discard and select another. Satisfied with the bunch of six, Angel stepped back for Spike to lead the way back into the hotel.
Once inside, Angel said, “All right. Take these upstairs with you. When I come up, I want to find your pants off and you standing in a corner.” Spike took the switches from Angel unenthusiastically, and turned silently toward the stairs. He paused on the first riser and looked back at Angel. Angel said, “Go on. I’ll be up shortly.” He turned back to the stairs, and climbed them with heavy feet.
Angel watched him go then went to find the others after he was sure Spike was in their room. He walked into the kitchen to find Gunn propped against a counter and Fred pacing. Wesley sat at the table with a cup of tea between his palms, and he looked up when Angel came in, unexpectedly earlier than he thought he would.
“Angel,” Wesley said, “Is…everything all right?”
Fred’s pacing stopped dead center of her path and she waited to hear what Angel’s answer would be. He said, “He will be. I need to go upstairs in a minute.”
Fred figured out by what he said that nothing had happened yet. She was nervously shifting between her feet and she said, “Angel? Do you have to…”
“Fred,” he said cutting her off. “Don’t concern yourself with this. I know what I’m doing.”
“But, switches? Isn’t that why you needed Gunn’s knife?”
“Don’t worry about it, Fred,” he repeated firmly.
Wesley cleared his throat decided it was a good time to go home. “I, um, think I’ll be going for the night. I’ll see you all tomorrow.” He paused at the door and turned to the others with his hand resting against the doorjamb. “Do let me know if you hear of any changes with Cordelia.”
Gunn had moved over beside Fred and she felt his strong arm around her, knowing she hated for Spike to be in trouble almost as much as Spike did. He said, “We will. Goodnight, Wes.” Wesley nodded his head and turned to go.
In the uncomfortable silence left by Wesley’s departure, Fred could only think of what was going to happen to Spike. She spoke up again, undeterred by Angel’s earlier request for her to stay out of it. “Angel, maybe you could just talk to him. He feels awful, I can tell.”
“He’s needs to learn to do as I tell him. He didn’t listen to me earlier; what makes you think he’ll listen now?”
“He will!” she exclaimed, fighting for Spike. Then she added hopelessly, “I know he will. Just give him a chance. You don’t know that he won’t listen unless you try! Please?” Her eyes pled with Angel from behind her glasses and her argument was answered by an unswaying Angel.
“It doesn’t matter if he’ll listen to me now or not. The fact is, he didn’t this evening. That’s what this is all about, not what he will or will not do later.”
Gunn said, “I told you, he’ll survive. Angel knows what he’s doing.”
“But, it just seems so…so…I don’t know. Barbaric? Can’t you just let it go, Angel? He didn’t mean for it to happen; I know he didn’t,” Fred said.
“No,” Angel answered. “I can’t let it go. And, Gunn is right. I’m not going to kill him. I mean,” he hesitated, knowing his disobedient lover was technically already dead. “Well, you know what I mean.” Fred was unamused, but Gunn had to cover his mouth to hide a smile. Angel continued patiently, trying to help Fred to understand. “He’s feeling guilty, Fred. Believe it or not, this will help him in more ways than just punishing him so he won’t do it again.”
Unconvinced, she looked uncertainly at Angel and then shoved passed him to bury herself in their work files, shaking her head as she walked away.
*****
The corner was serving its intended use, and Spike’s thoughts were intermittently on how he ended up there and what was going to happen shortly. He thought back over the events of the evening and saw a prime opportunity he passed up that would have kept him out of trouble, and better still, out of the horrid corner.
He, Angel, Gunn and Cordelia were outside of the old warehouse on 5th, working on their plan of attack. The demon they had tracked was lizard-like, with a string of humps on his back, and had selected the abandoned warehouse for his lair. Spike tried to remember what Wesley had called the demon, but for the life of him, he couldn’t remember. He did remember Wesley’s description of the beast; maybe because having seen it solidified the verbal picture Wesley had painted. Wesley warned them to expect whatever-you-call-it to use its hind legs like a man when it stood, bringing it to a towering height of about nine feet.
Standing in the street, they had listened as Angel outlined his intended plan for taking down the monster. Angel’s words from earlier in the evening echoed in Spike’s mind and he wished he had paid more attention when he spoke them…
“All right. He’s not going to be expecting us. We have the element of surprise here. No one moves until I say to. Gunn? You and I will take that door,” Angel said, indicating the farther of the two front doors, about 15 feet away, “and Spike, you and Cordy stay at this one. Do NOT go in until I give the signal.”
“Why are we going in at the same time?” Spike asked. “I think we should stagger: Cordelia and I can go first, draw its attention then you and Gunn enter from the back and attack.”
“I don’t think so, Spike. According to Wesley’s books, this thing is lightening fast. It can be on you before Gunn and I could get inside.”
“I gotta go with Angel on this, Spike. He’s right,” Gunn said. “We can’t chance it.”
“Rubbish! We go first, then you two go in and get it,” Spike said, disagreeing.
“No, Spike. We go together,” Angel said firmly. “We confuse it. It won’t know which direction to turn and we’ll all be in there surrounding him before he can react.”
“He’ll be just as disoriented if we do it my way!”
“Wait a minute!” Cordelia interjected, stepping between the two vampires, each insistent on having his own way. “Do you two MIND? We need to get this done!”
Spike pursed his lips together and gave his lover a disapproving look. “My way sounds better.”
Angel replied without hesitation, “You might think so, but I lead this group. More importantly, I lead you. I said we go together and that’s what we’ll do.” Angel’s dark eyes searched Spike’s and finally Spike relented.
“Fine. Whatever makes you happy,” he said sarcastically, taking his position by the door. “Keeping you happy is my number one priority.”
“Finally,” Cordelia said with a roll of her eyes.
Angel grabbed Spike’s arm as he turned away and said, “Watch your mouth to me.”
“You don’t want me to make you happy? Doesn’t getting your own way make you happy?”
Angel leaned down and placed his lips against Spike’s ear, “Are you asking to get swatted in the street in front of everyone? Will that make you happy?” Angel leaned back enough to read his lover’s stormy expression, and caught the briefest hint of a shake of his head. Aloud, he said, “Good. Everyone take your places.”
With everyone in their designated location, Angel said, “All right. Everyone, on my mark.” He looked over at Spike who was looking back at him with a half-smile and a mischievous look in his eye. His smile grew when Angel caught his eye and he lifted his eyebrows quickly at his lover. Angel knew immediately that he planned to carry out his own plan, but it dawned on him before he could stop the locomotive, otherwise known as his partner.
“Spike! Wait!” Angel said suddenly but not fast enough. Spike performed a pirouette and slammed his foot into the door at a 90 degree angle, crashing it inward. The lizard-like demon screamed at the intrusion, reared back on his legs and shot past Spike before he had time to register the thing was gone. It snatched Cordelia off the ground and swung her like a rag doll, tossing her against the wall of the building across the street. The shock kept Spike from reacting but Gunn and Angel were there in an instant. They simultaneously swung their homemade blades at the lizard, burying them deep in his head. The thing writhed in pain and fell to the ground with one last other-worldly scream before it died.
With the beast dead on the ground, Angel and Gunn ran to Cordelia, who was lying lifelessly on the blacktop. Blood was streaming down her face and her arm was in an unnatural position from the fracture that resulted from her being thrown against the wall. “Quick! Let’s get her to the car!” Angel demanded. “She needs to see a doctor.”
“Should we call for an ambulance?” Gunn said helping Angel get Cordelia off the ground.
“No time. We can be there quicker than they can come here and get her,” Angel said. He carried the limp body to the car and Gunn opened the backdoor for him. Angel looked up and saw Spike standing by the car with his eyes fixed on Cordelia. “Get your butt in the car, Spike. NOW!” Angel growled through clenched teeth as he seated himself in the back. Spike’s mind cleared at the sharp sound of his lover’s voice and he moved mechanically to the front passenger’s seat…
That had been hours ago, but with nothing to look at but the wall, Spike could still see Angel caressing Cordelia’s face, wiping the blood away with the tail of his shirt. The pain, evident in Angel’s features while he looked over Cordelia’s unconscious body, was burned into Spike’s memory. It seemed dreamlike, or rather more like a nightmare. He sighed with the burden of the guilt he carried, but was relieved that Cordelia would be fine. He shifted in the corner as his thoughts turned to the punishment that awaited him. He closed his eyes and envisioned the switches lying harmlessly, for the moment, on the bed behind him.
*****
After thirty minutes had passed, Angel went up to join Spike in their room. Fred looked up from what she was doing at the computer as Angel went up the stairs to do what she asked him not to. She hugged herself with her arms and said to Gunn, “I don’t want to hear anything.”
He looked toward the stairs, judging the distance between them and Angel’s room. “You shouldn’t hear it downstairs,” he pointed out. Then, when he saw the pained look on her face, he suggested, “Why don’t we sit in the courtyard? Would you feel better out there?”
“That’s good. Much better,” she said somewhat relieved, and she followed Gunn outside. Once they were settled on a garden bench, she said, “I just don’t like it, Charles. I mean, he’s like, 200 years old or so, you know? Angel should handle him another way. One less painful.”
“He doesn’t act like he’s been around 200 years all the time. He acts like a spoiled kid,” Gunn said. “And, Fred? I was there. He deserves something for what he did. Angel’s methods might not appeal to you, but they seem to work for Spike, so I don’t have a problem with it. They aren’t like us and aren’t from our time anyway.”
“That doesn’t mean I have to like it,” she said with a scowl. Her eyes kept turning to the door, wishing away what was likely happening behind them by then. She leaned against Gunn’s arm and ran her hand along his jeaned leg, dragging her eyes away from the door. “I wonder how long it will take? Do you think it’s over yet? I just want it to be over for him,” she rambled nervously.
Gunn laid his hand over hers and assured her, “It isn’t going to take long, I doubt. It will probably seem like an eternity to Spike, though.” He frowned at his poor choice of words when Fred’s bothered features took on an even more troubled look. “You know, it might be over by now. As a matter of fact, I’m sure it is.”
Fred leaned her head down onto Gunn’s shoulder, appreciative of his attempts to encourage her even if it wasn’t working. She shifted for him when he wrapped an arm around her to make them both more comfortable. She said, “I just want to hug him. I mean, I know he can be awful, but still…”
Gunn didn’t respond as his sentiments on the subject were far different. He decided quiet comforting was the best option and he supported his girlfriend while they waited for Angel to reappear.
*****
Angel walked into the bedroom to find Spike facing the corner of the room as he had been told to do. He thought briefly about how they wouldn’t be having to deal with anything unpleasant had he just been obedient earlier in the evening, but that hadn’t been the case. Spike’s black knit top framed his behind, draping softly over the uppermost crest of his unblemished buttocks.
“Spike,” Angel said, and waited for him to turn around. When Spike faced him, he pointed to the bed and said, “Bend over the bed.” He picked up the six switches from the mattress where Spike had deposited them and clutched them in his hand.
Spike walked over slowly in his sock feet and his eyes fell on the switches his lover held. He remarked, “I never thought I’d wish to see you holding your belt or that wretched paddle in your hands.”
“Hurry up,” Angel said, waiting for Spike to do as he had been asked. Spike didn’t offer any arguments, contrary to his usual style, moving to the side of the bed and leaning over it. He laid his head on his folded arms and tried to relax despite the cold fingers clutching his stomach. Angel said, “I want to be clear here, Spike. This whipping is not for Cordelia getting hurt, but for your disobedience that led to her getting hurt. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, I hear you. I’m not deaf.” Angel wasted no time in responding to the smart retort. Spike heard Angel step forward immediately, and then the whistle of the branches split the air before biting into his skin.
He flinched from the powerful sting the little fingers caused and jerked forward before they cut through the air a second time, making his mouth open in surprise. Angel said, “Do you hear and understand me?”
“YES!” he exclaimed then said to himself, “Bloody hell.”
Angel said, “You will do as I say.” Whistle, sting. “Every time, especially if we are in a dangerous situation.” The fistful of switches struck him again and Angel stopped them in mid-swing when Spike’s hand came back and covered his butt. He caressed the little lines of fire but it didn’t lessen their bite. “Move your hand, Spike.” After another rub or two, he moved out of the way and braced himself for more. He broke down as the switches continued to kiss his flesh, and he thought it was over when Angel stopped. He put his hand back to his rear end again and was sure he would find blood on the back of his hand when he pulled it away. He heard Angel move to the other side of him and saw him put three of the switches back onto the bed when he got to Spike’s right.
“Angel,” he pleaded through his tears. “Don’t…”
“Pull your legs together,” Angel instructed. “I don’t want to hit anything that I shouldn’t.”
“No, Angel,” Spike said. “No more.”
“Close your legs, William,” Angel said.
Spike cried harder at the use of his Christian name and moved his legs until his knees touched. As soon as he was in a position that protected his most private parts, Angel started bringing down the switches across his thighs, covering them until they matched the stripes on his butt. He worked first from one side and then moved to the other. When he finished painting both legs equally, he sat on the bed beside Spike’s prone body and ran his hand through Spike’s hair. “That’s all. We’re done with this,” he said. Spike turned his head away from Angel and covered his face with his hand. Angel gave him a minute to compose himself then helped him to his feet, embracing the smaller man. Spike grabbed at Angel and pulled himself to him, burying his face against Angel’s shoulder. He touched his backside with both hands until Angel pulled them away by his taking his wrists. He folded Spike’s arms against him and wrapped his entire upper body in his arms.
Spike asked through his hiccups, “Am I bleeding?”
Angel smiled and kissed his head while he swayed, holding him close. “No, you’re not bleeding.”
“Are you sure? It feels like I should be bleeding,” Spike said. Angel felt the jerking in his body from the after-effects of crying and he squeezed him tighter.
“No blood, Spike. I promise.”
Spike allowed himself to be held and enjoyed the comfort Angel provided. He said quietly, “You called me William.”
“I did,” Angel agreed.
“You’re really disappointed in me. You never call me that unless you’re really upset with me,” Spike pointed out.
“Do I?” Angel asked and Spike nodded against him. “Well, things could have turned out far differently, Spike. Far differently. You need to learn to obey me, no matter what. Do you understand me?”
Spike nodded again and said, “I’m sorry. I hate that she got hurt because of me.”
“I know you do. Did you apologize to her?”
“Yes.”
Angel said, “Then, that’s all you can do.”
Spike stood, supported by his lover, and let him rock him where they stood. He asked after a few minutes, “Are you going to tell her you whipped me for it?”
“No. And, remember why you got a whipping. It’s not because she got hurt.”
“Oh, yeah,” Spike said. “But, really, if I hadn’t disobeyed you, she likely wouldn’t have been hurt.”
“Yes, that’s true. So, let’s make sure you don’t do it again.”
“You already did that,” Spike said, reaching for his butt again. Angel stopped him and drew his hand back under him.
“Keep your hands off it.”
“But, why? It stings,” Spike complained.
“It’s supposed to.” Angel said.
“You’re heartless.”
“Just because it doesn’t pump blood anymore, doesn’t mean I don’t have one.” Angel continued to hold him awhile longer, then released his grip. “Get yourself together then you can come downstairs.”
“Are Gunn and Fred still up?” Spike asked.
“They were when I came up here.”
“I suppose Gunn will be pleased as punch,” Spike said and looked up at Angel. “How red are my eyes?”
“Red,” Angel said, running his thumb under Spike’s eyes, wiping away the moisture. “Don’t worry about what Gunn thinks. He was just upset and angry. I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let him talk to you like that either. You’re my responsibility, not his.”
Spike took Angel’s hand that was caressing his cheek and kissed his palm. “I appreciate you standing up for me, even when you were mad at me.”
“My boy,” Angel said, using the tender epithet that he always used when he was especially pleased with Spike or just feeling close to him. He repeated, “My boy.” He pulled him close and kissed his lips gently. “Wash your face and see if that helps. Put a cold rag on your eyes.”
“It won’t bloody help. They feel like they should be swollen shut,” he said and paused a moment to feel his backside again. “And, the flesh should be shredded ‘round back. What’s it look like?” He craned his neck to look over his shoulder, but couldn’t contort the way he needed to see his backside. A mirror would be useless.
“It looks like you just got a whipping.” Angel took his hand away and said, “Come here.”
“Are you sure it’s not bleeding?” Spike asked while letting Angel guide him through the room toward the bathroom.
“Positive,” Angel answered. He took Spike into the bathroom and wet a cloth under the tap, letting it run to get as cold as possible. Spike watched as Angel twisted the washcloth between his hands to wring out the excess water before he turned to him, shaking it loose. “Close your eyes,” he said, and laid the cloth across both his lover’s closed lids. After holding it in place for a minute or two, he took it away and wiped his face.
“Any better?” Spike asked. He raised his face to Angel for him to assess.
Angel studied his face and saw the pink flush to his cheeks and the red-rims remaining around his eyes. “Not really,” he said. He leaned a hip against the counter and crossed one foot over the other; he watched Spike take the cloth and re-wet it to try again. “You know, you don’t have to come down until they go to bed if you want. I’ll come back up and get you.” Spike nodded and held the rag to his eyes again. He took it away after a few minutes and looked at Angel again. Angel shook his head and said, “Still red.”
“I think I’ll wait until they go to bed like you said. Come straight up when they do?”
“Definitely. You just stretch out and wait for me, okay?”
“All right.” He pushed Spike through the bathroom door and moved the switches to the end of the bed out of the way. Angel waited for him to settle, facedown on their bed, before he draped a spare blanket over him.
“I’ll be up as soon as they go to bed.” He leaned down and kissed Spike’s cheek and noticed the cool dampness still on his skin from having his face washed.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Spike said. Angel ran his palm over Spike’s blonde waves and kissed his cheek again before he picked up the switches and went to leave.
Angel was about to pull the door closed when he heard Spike call him. “What?” he answered.
“You can spend your time burning those things until they go to bed.”
“I was thinking I might just hang onto them in case I need them again,” Angel said.
“Trust me. You won’t. Hurry up.”
“As soon as they go to bed. Just be still and rest awhile,” Angel said, and pulled the door closed behind him.
*****
Angel looked around the lobby when he came downstairs and didn’t see anyone around. Wesley was at home, but he wasn’t sure if Gunn and Fred had gone to bed. He went to the back door and stepped out into the courtyard to toss the switches and found the two talking quietly together. “Oh, there you are,” he said, flinging the sticks into the brush.
Fred turned a worried countenance to Angel and asked, “Is everything…is he okay?”
“He’s fine, Fred. I told you he would be,” Angel said.
“See?” Gunn said to her.
“Then where is he?” she asked in her delicate Texan drawl. “If he’s okay, why isn’t he with you?”
“He just wanted to be alone for a bit,” Angel said. “He’s fine.” Fred didn’t look convinced, with her eyebrows still pinched together in a frown. “Really, Fred. You’ll see him tomorrow and he won’t even show a mark from tonight.”
“What about now?” she asked anxiously. “Is he marked now?”
“Fred,” Gunn interrupted. “If Angel says he’s fine, then he’s fine.”
“Are you sure?” she asked Angel.
“I’m sure,” he said.
Gunn decided to change the subject and hoped Fred wouldn’t fall back into the same line of questioning once he did. “We were just going in to make some hot chocolate. Want some?”
“No, thanks. I’ll just keep you company until you go to bed, then I’ll go get Spike.”
Gunn picked up on the hint and knew Spike probably didn’t want to face them right away. “Okay. We won’t be long.” He stood and pulled Fred to her feet. “As a matter of fact, I think it would be a little romantic for us to take it back upstairs with us.”
“Upstairs?” Fred asked in confusion. Her little round glasses had slipped on her nose and she pushed them back in place with her forefinger. “What’s romantic about hot chocolate in bed?”
“We can put Cool Whip on it,” he said and Fred covered her open mouth, embarrassed at what Gunn said.
“Charles! Not in front of Angel,” she whispered.
Angel smiled at them and said, “Nothing wrong with a little Cool Whip in the bedroom, Fred.”
She waved her hands in front of her in quick little strokes as if to brush away the embarrassing comments and walked with hurried steps toward the door. “I’ve got to get away from the two of you.” Angel and Gunn shared a good laugh at Fred’s embarrassment and followed her inside.
*****
“Hey,” Angel said and he sat down on the edge of the bed beside Spike. “Feel like coming down now?”
Spike rose up on his elbows and his eyes searched Angel’s. “They’re asleep?”
“They went to bed. I don’t know if they’re asleep,” Angel said with a slight grin.
“What’s funny?” Spike asked.
“Well, you know,” he paused and looked back at Spike, ready to share the joke. “I’m not sure how much sleeping you do when you have Cool Whip in bed with you.”
A smile split Spike’s face and he said, “You tease me, lover. You shouldn’t talk to me about Cool Whip in bed after you leave my arse in shreds.”
Angel stood up and held out a hand toward Spike, helping him to his feet after he clasped his hand. “I didn’t shred your ass, Spike.”
“It damn well feels like you did,” he complained.
Angel looked at him seriously when he tossed Spike his robe. “Remember it, my boy. You don’t disobey me.”
“I got the message,” he grumbled cinching the belt of his robe around him.
“You said that last time,” Angel said, dropping his arm around Spike’s shoulders.
“You didn’t take razors to my arse last time.”
Angel laughed and the two went downstairs together with the first level of the hotel to themselves.
*****
“Thank, GOD! I am SO ready to get out of here.” Lorne wheeled the chair into the room while Wesley held the door.
“Your chariot is here, doll,” Lorne said, parking the wheelchair beside her bed.
“Oh, don’t make me ride in that thing. I’m fine, really,” she complained. “I only had to stay overnight.”
“No arguments,” Angel said and helped her from the bed. She took her finger and poked one of the colorful “Get Well” mylar balloons attached to the handle of the wheelchair.
“Nice,” she said with an approving smile. “Who brought these for me?”
“That would be me, gorgeous,” Lorne said with pride. The mixture of colors painted on the balloons matched his suit, being equally vivid and loud.
Spike stepped forward after Angel helped her into the wheelchair. He leaned down with his arms behind his back and whipped out a fistful of flowers. “They’re ‘welcome home’ flowers. And, ‘forgive me’ flowers.”
“Oh! They are so pretty! Thank you, Spike,” she said, bringing the flowers to her nose. She looked up at him from the wheelchair and said, “I believe I accepted your apology last night?”
“But, I know that if I hadn’t…”
“You didn’t know it would turn out like it did. Now, quit bringing it up. I’m not mad and I don’t blame you.” Angel put his hand to Spike’s shoulder and tightened his hand around it in support. Cordelia smelled the flowers again. “Ummm. They smell good.”
“All right,” Wesley said. “Who wants to go home?”
“ME!” Cordelia said with her hand in the air. “Jeeves, to the limo,” she said to Lorne with a wave toward the door. Lorne spun the wheelchair around and Gunn pulled the door open.
Angel put his arm around Spike’s shoulders and Spike reached up and grabbed a couple of his fingers. Spike turned his head to Angel and Angel did the same. The question in Spike’s eyes disappeared with a reassuring smile from his partner.
“Let’s go home,” Angel whispered to Spike.
“Yes. Let’s do,” Spike said, and they followed the wheelchair down the hospital corridor.
The End.