Title: Lonely No More

Authors: angelspike69 and anamcara420

Pairing: Angel/Spike

Rating: Adult. This story contains M/M sex. If that isn't your cup of tea then go away now and don't read any farther.

Warnings: None. This story takes place after the final scene of "Not Fade Away".

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, Angel and Spike don't belong to us. If they did, they'd be following up all their fighting snarking with each other with lots of shagging (lol).

Spoilers: None, unless you haven't seen Angel the Series at all. This story goes totally AU after the screen darkened in "Not Fade Away".

Feedback: AngelSpike69 (marinersgal69@msn.com) and Anamcara420 (ldelrossi@excite.com)

Notes: This story is written for the Forging_Ghost Ficathon. The idea for this story is based on Challenge #200 issued for our fantabulous leader Ghost_Forge. Songs used in this story include in order - Let Me Love You by Tim McGraw, Maybe It's Love by Trisha Yearwood, Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas, The White Cliffs of Dover by Burton and Kent, I Melt by Rascal Flatts, Here for the Party by Gretchen Wilson, This Love by Maroon 5, Lonely No More by Rob Thomas, and Forever and For Always by Shania Twain.

Summary: The only survivors, Angel and Spike have relocated. They attempt to lay low in Middle America together. For the first time, they get a shot at a "normal life", doing "normal things." The fact that everyone thinks they're together was unexpected.

Chapter 9

Spike tore up the road away from the cabin, raving mad. Once again Angel had gotten to him; had made him feel like shit. His Sire was good at that. Long ago he had made him feel desired and...and beautiful. Spike had searched for him after he had left them in Romania. He was heartbroken despite Angelus' brutal beatings. His Sire was always so loving afterward. He tended to his wounds and held his battered Childe in his arms.

Spike realized that he was distracted and not paying attention to his driving. He pulled the bike off the road, got off and took out his cigarettes. He heard the jeep and saw the deer rush into its path. He watched in horror as the driver lost control of the vehicle and it tumbled down the hill. Spike hurried down the hill, slipping and tumbling over brush and rocks. The jeep was crushed against a tree. Spike peered inside. He was shocked to see that the driver was Angel. He saw that Angel's body was pinned between the seat and the dashboard; his bloody head resting against the crumpled doorframe, one arm bent awkwardly in front of him. Spike pulled on the door frantically, but even his vampire strength couldn't budge it. He sniffed and realized that gasoline was leaking from the damaged vehicle. He tried again to open the door and could not. Tears of frustration and fear coursed down his cheeks. He pulled out the cell phone and called Mr. Duffy who promised to come right away with help. Cursing, he ran to the back of the jeep. The canvas top was ripped and he tore it more. He reached in and yanked one of the back seats out, tossed it away and heaved himself inside.

"I'm here Angel. Gonna get you out." The older vampire made no sound or movement.

Crawling toward the front of the jeep, he struggled to reach the seat belt that held Angel. Using every ounce of his strength, he finally wrenched it free.

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

Patrick Duffy was stunned after Spike's phone call. He immediately called Bill Reilly, told him where the accident was and asked him to call Joe Jones. They got to the scene within 10 minutes. The men were horrified as they looked at the twisted wreckage. Concerned with the smell of gasoline, they knew they had to work quickly and the three of them staggered hurriedly down the hill to join Spike.

"Spike? Spike?" It was Joe's voice.

"I'm in the jeep. Can't get the door open. I have to pull Angel out through the back."

Spike tried to ease Angel out of the seat, but he was pressed too tightly against the steering wheel. Mr. Duffy climbed into the jeep.

"I'll wiggle into the front and hold onto him. You tear out the seat."

Spike yanked and pulled and finally lifted the seat away from the older vampire's body. He lay down and Mr. Duffy lowered Angel on top of him. Spike held him with one arm and scooted backwards. Joe grabbed his shoulders and drew him out. Bill took his feet and they lowered both of the vampires to the ground. They lifted Angel off Spike and placed him gently onto a board that Bill had laid on the ground. Mr. Duffy covered Angel with a blanket and the men carried the unconscious vampire up the hill and put him carefully on the bed of Bill's truck. Spike jumped in and held onto Angel as they drove to the cabin. The men helped Spike carry Angel into his bedroom. They lowered the board to the bed and then slowly lifted Angel off.

"What do you need us to do now Spike?" Bill asked.

"He needs blood, human blood to start the healing." Spike spoke without thinking, then realized what he said and stiffened. Joe knew they were vampires, but the others didn't.

Joe placed his hand on Spike's shoulder and spoke quietly. "Bill, Pat and Rose know that you are vampires. I told them your story, about the souls and all. They are your good friends."

Spike looked up at the men, his eyes glittering with tears and nodded.

"I'll go get the blood Spike and be right back. Can I get Rose? She could help cleaning the wounds and bandaging." Joe asked.

Spike merely nodded, unwilling to tear his eyes from Angel.

"Spike, Bill and I will arrange for a tow truck to retrieve the car. You'll call us if you need us right?" Mr. Duffy asked.

Again the blonde vampire merely nodded. Finally the humans left and he had Angel to himself. He took off his duster and climbed carefully onto the bed. He vamped and ripped open his wrist. He sucked blood into his mouth, opened Angel's mouth and dripped in the liquid. Angel didn't swallow and the blood dripped from his mouth. Patiently Spike tried again, this time stroking Angel's neck. Angel still didn't swallow. He tried several more times, but the older vampire wouldn't respond. Spike was terrified. If he couldn't feed his Sire, he wouldn't recover quickly. He might not recover at all. He heard voices from the living room. Rose and Joe came into the room.

Through his tears, Spike spoke. "I tried to feed him my blood, but I can't get him to swallow."

Rose rushed to the bed. "Don't you worry darlin'. You know Joe was a medic in the war. I was a nurse for forty years. We'll help. I'll start the IV."

The nurse and the medic worked quickly and soon human blood was dripping into Angel's arm. Spike didn't stop whispering to the older vampire. He gently caressed his face and ran his fingers over Angel's arms and legs, hoping to awaken him with his touch.

After setting up the IV, Rose and Joe felt the vampire's body to find the extent of the broken bones. They bathed and dressed all of the cuts.

Rose touched the younger vampire's arm as she spoke. "Spike, his legs are broken and one arm, but I'm worried that his spine has been damaged. I don't really understand vampire healing."

"Everything will heal, but some things, like his spine, will take longer." Spike replied.

"Spike, I've brought a bag. I'm staying for a while. We need to keep the IV going and I need to be here if ...if something happens." Rose responded quietly.

Spike looked up at her sharply, his faced streaked with tears.

"I won't be in your way, darlin'. I live alone so no one needs me. Angel needs me and you do too. You can't be alone in this."

Alone. Spike thought about the battles that he and Angel had since the fight with the Senior Partners and their minions in the alley – arguments, tantrums over nothing; stupid snarking, harsh words flung at each other. He began to tremble, giving in to despair. He felt the bed move and warm arms surrounded him. He looked up to see Rose's troubled face.

"He'll get better, Spike. Angel is a strong man ... vampire. You'll give him your strength and he will heal. I know it."

The older woman held him and rubbed his back while his body shivered with sadness and fear. After a long while, the shaking stopped. Spike had fallen asleep out of exhaustion and worry. Rose laid him gently next to Angel and the younger vampire intuitively curled around his Sire's body. Rose sat in a rocking chair for the rest of the night and into the day saying her rosary. She heard a voice and stood up. Joe Jones had come with fresh human blood. They replaced the IV. Neither vampire awakened.

"You go home for a bit Rose. Get something to eat and then come back. All they have in this house is O positive." Joe smiled at his friend.

The older woman had tears in her eyes. "He has to heal Joe. If he doesn't Spike will...he won't be able to..." She couldn't verbalize her painful thoughts.

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

Another day passed and another. Spike could no longer be patient. "I need to feed him, Rose. Family blood is even more powerful than human."

He vamped and sliced his jugular vein with his fingernail. The blood pumped powerfully from the open wound. "Angel, I'm going to lift you up a bit so you can reach my neck."

Spike held him tightly rubbing his back. After a few long moments, Angel began to suck. He shivered and stopped. Spike pulled away and looked down at him. He slapped him slightly on the face. "My blood is flowing Angel, and you're wasting it. You will drink now!"

Angel's eyes fluttered open and a look of terror raced across his face. He reached up toward Spike's face and whispered, his voice shaking. "Spike, I can't see. I can't see."

Spike started, but covered it up quickly. "Well you got hit pretty hard on your head. Prob'ly knocked somethin' loose. More reason to drink now."

Spike bent his neck and pressed Angel closely until his mouth touched the bleeding wound in his neck. Angel did nothing for a long moment and Spike began to panic. Finally the older vampire began to suck deeply.

"That's it ponce. This is payback for all the times you fed me."

Angel reached up to stroke his Childe's face, tears flowing from his unseeing eyes. Tears sprung to the younger vampire's eyes but he blinked them away furiously. Spike allowed Angel to drink until he began to feel a bit woozy. "Okay. That's enough for now."

He laid the injured vampire down and stood up but Angel grabbed his hand. "Spike, don't go."

"I'm goin' to get something to eat before I fall over since you just about sucked me dry. I mean blood of course."

Spike laughed at the look on Angel's face. The younger vampire put on his snarking persona knowing that if he did, Angel would relax a bit. "You want one of your poncey CDs on? I've got one here that says Deb...Debu..."

Angel smiled for the first time. "It's Debussey Spike. You've chosen one of my most soothing poncey CDs."

"I can put it in your CD player or you can listen with your headset." Spike replied, allowing himself a small smile.

"Hmmm, let me see. How much do I want to torture you Spike?" This time the older vampire actually smirked.

Spike laughed out loud. "You're healing Angel if you have your snark on."

Angel fell asleep listening to Clair du Lune. When he awoke, another voice spoke to him.

"Angel it's Rose. Spike is lying down for a bit. He has barely slept since your accident." She reached out and took one of the vampire's hands in her warm one.

Surprise was clearly evident on Angel's face as Rose told him what had been happening while he had been unconscious. He was amazed. Stunned that these humans who had known him for so short a time, could care so much about him, despite what he was. He held the woman's hand and fell back to sleep, tears glittering on his face.

Angel woke when he felt the bed dip. He opened his eyes and reached out. The younger vampire leaned his face into the touch. "Angel, you have two broken legs and a broken arm which are healing, but you may have hurt your spine. Can you move your legs?"

Rose and Bill stood at the end of the bed holding their breath. Spike bit his lip and watched the determination on his Sire's face. He could tell that Angel was trying desperately to move. Nothing happened. Angel looked up at Spike through sightless eyes, his face a mask of fear.

"I can't Spike. I can't move."

"It's all right. You'll be able to soon. You need to feed more. Remember when I was paralyzed. I got better."

Spike looked at Angel's face and could have bitten off his tongue. Angel was remembering the return of Angelus to Sunnydale several years ago. He squeezed the older vampire's hand.

"You're weren't yourself Angel. You were crazed."

"There are so many things I regret...I"

"Bugger that Angel. No brooding on my watch. Past is past. We each have things we're sorry for. Not helpful to dwell."

Spike stood up and smirked lasciviously down at Angel, tracing his finger along the older vampire's neck, grinning broadly when Angel shivered.

"Hmmmmm. You're at my mercy Angel. I can do anything I want to that body of yours and I have several things in mind." He laughed loudly at the look on his Sire's face. "Be back in a bit."

Angel lay in bed stunned by Spike's comment. He closed his eyes and remembered his brutality when Angelus erupted after he and Buffy made love. Spike had been paralyzed. He couldn't run away, and Angelus used that to his advantage. He cringed remembering raping his Childe over and over until he bled. He recalled the numerous times he took Drusilla, forcing Spike to watch by putting wood in the spokes of his chair. Once again tears crept down his face. How can he stand to be near me? Mr. Duffy's Irish brogue interrupted his thoughts and he pushed the horrific memories away, happy to listen to all of the gossip the man brought him.

"Okay food service is back." Spike chirped from the side of the bed. "Have to heal you. You're too heavy for me to carry around. Besides, my fans at Duffy's are clamoring for my lovely pipes." He grinned, forgetting that Angel couldn't see. His smile collapsed and he furrowed his brow, much like his Sire often did.

Angel closed his eyes tightly and grimaced. Spike put a hand on his shoulder.

"Angel are you in pain. What hurts?"

"What hurts? My regrets. My heart. My soul. Everything." The older vampire whispered.

Spike sat on the bed and tenderly stroked his Sire's bruised face. "Angel, you have to stop these thoughts. Your body won't mend if your mind isn't at peace. I know. Mine almost drove me to suicide in that high school basement."

Angel leaned in to Spike's touch, but his bruised face was haunted. Spike reached for his hand. He turned it over and kissed the palm and spoke quietly.

"Angel, I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you. You try Angel. You don't give up no matter how much evil is thrown at you. Look how working with you changed your friends. Cordelia was no longer a selfish princess. Wesley was not a namby pamby watcher livin' under Giles' shadow. You rescued Fred and gave her something important to do. The same with Gunn and Doyle. They all worked with you willingly. They believed in your cause, and they believed you were worthy of their friendship. They...they saw what I see...A good man with a huge heart..." He laughed softly. "Even if it's not beating."

Angel was shocked. He didn't think he had ever heard his Childe speak so much at one time. He was deeply touched by his words. "Spike, I...I'm sorry."

"For what? And if you start cataloguing your faults I'll stuff a sock down your throat. The slate is clean. We go on from right now. Got it?" Spike's voice was almost angry. Angel didn't answer, but nodded and tried a small smile at Spike's tough talk.

The younger vampire sat on the bed. He pulled Angel up his body so the larger man could reach his neck. "Okay, now eat."

Angel nuzzled against Spike's neck and began to feed once more. Spike rubbed his Sire's back. They stayed like that for a long time. Angel stopped feeding and he reached up to caress Spike's face. He put his hand around his Childe's neck and drew him down touching his lips to Spike's. His soft kiss was returned with one of intense passion. Spike pushed his tongue into Angel's mouth and the older vampire groaned. Spike broke the contact and feathered gentle kisses over Angel's face and down onto his neck, making him quiver.

Spike laughed. "Hah! I've still got it! Always could make you tremble Sire. I knew it even when you tried so hard to hide it."

"You did much more than that Spike, much more."

"And I plan to do much more real soon, mate." Spike answered smirking.

"And I shall be a willing participant." Angel turned serious. "At least the top part of my body will."

"You made a joke Angel! Maybe you can get a comedy routine ready when we go back to Duffy's."

"You've still been singing right Spike?"

"No, took some time off. My pipes needed a break and you needed care."

"You should go back now. At least one or two nights each week. Your fans are missing you I'm sure. I know Rose would stay if we asked her."

"We'll see." Although Angel couldn't see him, Spike was grinning broadly. "I want to touch you Angel to see what you can move. I know my dick could harden when I was in the wheelchair. Let's see about yours."

He brushed his hand over the front on Angel's boxers. The cock stiffened slightly in response.

"Can you feel this?" Spike asked as he massaged the organ through the cloth.

"What are you doing?" Angel reached for Spike's hand and realized where it was. "Oh God Spike I can't feel anything!"

Spike was horrified by the look of fear on Angel's face. There were only a few times that he had ever seen his Sire display that emotion. He willed his own panic away.

"Okay Angel okay. It's too soon. It took me a while to use my legs again. But your dick is fine. Hardened as soon as I began stroking it." He intensified his ministrations and then grasped Angel's hand let him feel his engorged cock.

"Oh thank God it still works!" Angel grinned.

Spike laughed but it was hollow. He bit his lips trying to force his usual snarking bravado into his voice. "So, plan on usin' it then? What about the curse?"

Angel reached out for him, but Spike did not move closer. The older vampire dropped his arm, hurt and confusion clouded his handsome face.

"Spike, I didn't know what the curse was when I...when Buffy and I slept together. Now I know. Do you really think I'd ever lose myself in perfect happiness again? An innocent young girl loved me even though she knew what I was. In that moment, I forgot what I was. That will never happen again. Wes..."

Spike interrupted. "Think I'll go...I'll...there's laundry." He finished lamely.

As he moved to leave, Angel sat up and reached out, grasping his shirt. "Spike, there is no perfect happiness, the cost is too high. Neither of us wants Angelus to return. We've both lost too much to have perfect happiness." He sighed and continued, "Wesley told me most people make do with acceptable happiness. I...I know...Spike, I can only have acceptable happiness with you."

Spike stared down at the man who had filled his life with powerful feelings – hate, anger, fear, and incredible love and devotion. He moved toward Angel and the older vampire captured his hand, rubbing his fingers over the back, turned it over and kissing the palm. He pulled him closer and put the younger vampire's hand on his hardened organ. "You did this. You. Only you." Angel smirked suddenly saying, "And you better not leave it like this!"

The two vampires burst out laughing.

"Well it sounds like quite a bit of healing is going on in here." Rose said from the doorway. "Interesting rehabilitation technique." She smiled and left the room.

If vampires could blush, Spike and Angel would have had very red faces. But they sputtered and laughed until happy tears streamed down their faces.

Finally the laughed subsided. Spike glanced tenderly down at his broken friend. He suddenly slid down and swallowed the stiffened member entirely, while massaging Angel's sack with his hand.

Angel's brow creased. "Spike, what..."

The cock tensed and erupted, seed rushing down the younger vampire's throat. Spike milked it until it softened.

"Spike. Spike. Did you just...I felt a little pressure."

Spike grinned up at his Sire, licking his lips at the taste he remembered from long ago. "You'll be fine soon Angel. Already mending. Maybe we should keep doing this. You know, work the muscles."

Angel smiled. "I agree. I can only feel a slight sensation, but perhaps if this is repeated often it will get stronger." He fondled Spike's curls. "I...I like having you close Spike. I always want you close."

Spike lifted Angel's hand to his lips and kissed the palm. He moved up Angel's body and laid his head on the older man's chest. Angel began to gently stroke Spike's back. Soon both vampires were asleep in each other's arms. Rose and Joe glanced at them from the doorway and smiled.

"Finally." Rose whispered as they turned and left their friends in peace.