Author: Buffywatcher

Feedback: Constructive comments always welcome: jinxascendant@hotmail.com

Pairing: Angel(us)/Spike

Rating: Strong R Possibly a bit of romantic NC-17'ish circumstances.

Spoilers: None this story takes place in AU

Disclaimer: Just borrowing them for a bit of harmless fun. All characters, recognizable likenesses are retained by their owner and accredited license holders.

Writer's Notes: This takes place after Sad Eyes never Lie, Story one of the Reclamations Series. This portion of the series will feature the song Do That To Me One More Time by the Captain and Tennille. It may seem an oddly antiquated choice but I think you'll see how well it fits in this particular story. As usual a wav of the song is available to those that would like to hear it. As always thanks are going out to GF my most excellent Beta/Editor.

Distribution: If I've already given you permission please consider it yours if you want it. If I haven't and you would like to archive it please do, all I ask is that you email me and tell me where it's going so I can visit J.

SUMMARY: Just when Angel has begun to realize the importance Spike holds in his life and in his future, he stands to lose him for good to a shocking adversary.
 

The ground rushes up to meet him with little mercy as the weight hurtling into his side pushes him out of the way of the heavy clawed hand that swipes the air harmlessly where his face had been only a second before. Angel groans as Spike lets his momentum carry him over his back into a somersault and onto his feet to regain his footing. The pause is nonexistent as Spike pivots with agile ease and leaps onto the back of the Dreezka Demon and buries his own talon like nails deep into the soft flesh of the back of its neck and starts ripping. The Demon roars and tries to slash at the enraged Vampire with its gore covered claws.

Spike roars in pain as a claw catches the side of his face, laying it open as easily as a letter opener does an envelope. Angel shakes off the cloud of unconsciousness as he hears Spike's roar of pain and leaps with his own roar of rage; ripping into the soft belly of the hideous looking flesh covered beetle-like Demon. Avoiding  the claws that slash at them alternating between them, the pair coordinate their attack  with one attacking as the other is dodging and within seconds the Demon is ripped to shreds and Spike kicks clear and rolls off its back and lands beside Angel as the pair get clear.

As soon as the Vampires are clear a fusillade of crossbow bolts from Gunn and Wesley finish the foul beastie off as Angel and Spike collapse onto a park picnic table.

Spike turns his head to watch the Demon's last breaths and flops onto his back with a groan. "I really hate those things." He lifts a hand to his face, grimacing at he'll no doubt find that the claw did to it but his hand is caught before he can find out the extent of the damage.

Angel growls softly and releases Spike's hand as the younger Vampire relaxes and lets him check the injury; letting his head flop back onto the picnic table. "It's pretty deep but looks like it missed anything vital."

Spike grimaces and growls. "Fuck vital...is it going to scar?"

Angel chokes back his laughter at Spike's priorities and feigns a serious look at the wound. It is fairly deep and bleeding profusely. He cups a finger under Spike's chin and turns his face to the side gently, probing the wound carefully, wincing as Spike whimpers quietly. "The edges are pretty clean and I don't see any traces of the poison the bloody things usually inject with their claws but it's bleeding a lot, it may have nicked a vein." Angel leans over and carefully flips the fold of skin over; as he extends a fang and thrusts his tongue up onto it until his blood coats it thickly. Pulling his tongue off his fang, Angel slowly drags it over the wound, lightly sucking the blood leaking from it as he goes.

"Those poor tourist buggers musta gotten the worst of it... who the hell would want to summon a Dreezka?! Everybloodyone knows the dumb fucks only see the world in eat or be eaten. No one can control the damn things." Spike says muttering on a low moan as he pushes his face against Angel's sweeping tongue. "Oi; Wesley; where are you Magic man?!" Spike tries to move his head to look for Wesley; only to still as Angel's hand tightens in subtle warning on his chin holding him still.

Hearing his name Wesley straightens from where he's been examining the corpse of the Demon with Gunn looking on and looks around for Spike. He pulls his glasses off and cleans them with the edge of his shirt before putting them back on and staring at the sight just a couple of  feet away. From his angle he can clearly see Angel slowly licking the wound on Spike's face with long, slow strokes of his tongue cleaning the injury and helping it to heal. Both men have their eyes half closed and are making soft, rumbling sounds deep in their throats. Angel's hand is resting on Spike chest flexing gently and Spike's hand is resting on Angel's back, rubbing in a soft circle. From his studies as a Watcher, Wesley knows that the gestures and sounds are meant to comfort but that doesn't stop the sight from being blatantly erotic at the same time.

Wesley knows that while Vampires are merciless predators when it comes to other species, they are deeply caring and sensual beings when it comes to someone they perceive as being "family". No books he's ever read however can portray the sheer heat of the moment between Angel and Spike. There isn't anything the least bit sexual about the caring sight of Angel ministering to his Grandchilde's wound; the sheer sensual enjoyment of the act however has him shifting uncomfortably. Wesley hears a sharply indrawn breath and turns to see Gunn hurried gathering up their gear and hot-footing it to the car. After a moment and a brief glance at the engrossed pair, Wesley wisely follows him in double time; after pulling at his pants leg briefly.

Spike watches them go with a knowing gleam in his eyes and a deep chuckle that manages to sound amused and wicked at the same time. "I think we've managed to make the kiddies uncomfortable, Peaches." Angel lifts his head and watches Gunn and Wesley seemingly in a foot race to the car for a moment before shrugging and going back to licking his wound. "I think Wesley may have been injured, he seems to be running a little funny." Spike says with a snicker; before letting his head flop back down on the picnic table. "You almost done there, Peachy or should I just lay here and think about the queen then?"

Angel lifts his head with a last, long slow dragging of his tongue over the almost healed wound. He runs his sensitive fingertips over it and nods satisfied. "It's almost healed over; won't even know you were injured by the time we get back to the office." Angel says moving back and easily levering the younger Vampire off and back onto his feet.

"Thanks for the Housecall Dr. Poof." Spike says with a grin; flicking his duster around as he turns on his heel and makes for where they parked the car. He's lighting a cigarette and taking a slow drag as Angel catches up and falls in beside him. "How are you, Pet; none the worse for wear?" Spike traces his eyes over Angel's muscular form and nods; satisfied that he doesn't have any injuries. His nose twitches slightly at the sweetly musky scent of arousal and grins around the cigarette. The more things change the more some things will always be the same; he thinks to himself.

"I'm fine, Spike." Angel says quietly; looking at him from the corner of his eye.

"Well will wonders never cease, finally something we can agree on without it being a sign of an impending Apocalypse." Spike says with a wink, exhaling a soft cloud of fragrant smoke. He snickers silently as Angel almost trips but covers it quickly; trying to disguise it as side stepping a piece of litter. "Yeah you can never be too careful with that trash there, Pet. That cup could have been a trap or something." Spike says laughing at Angel's transparent antics.

Spike is still laughing as they arrive at the car where Wesley and Gun are packing their gear into the trunk. Spike braces a hand on the front car door and vaults easily right into the front passenger seat; settling down with athletic ease to relax; flicking his ashes well away from the car. "Mind dropping me by the bar, Mate?" Spike asks as Angel opens his door and slides behind the wheel with dignified elegance.

Angel sighs with exasperation. "We need to get back and review the case Spike, same as always." He says with implacable certainty. "The Sorcerer that conjured up that pain in the ass may try again."

"Not without a Gravloc's heart he won't and those are hardly easily come by." Spike says with a scoffing sneer. "There aren't but two or three supply houses for a ticket item like that as you know. A few quick calls and you know you'll have him persona non grata at every one of them." Spike says with absolutely assurance.

"I wasn't aware you were familiar with the spell to summon a Dreezka Demon, Spike." Wesley says as he and Gunn close the trunk and climb in the back seat of the car.

"Wasn't that much to do but read; back when they were keeping me chained up in Giles' bathtub, Wes." Spike says with a nonchalant shrug. Everyone laughs as Angel starts the car and points them homeward bound.

Angel waits until they're well clear of the park and the evidence of a gruesome night; and flicks his cell phone at Spike; he catches it with ease; never turning his head; flicking it open and dialing quickly. "Yes, I saw something very large chasing some people in the park off Botero and Nast." A short pause.  "No I didn't get a good look at it but it was big and I heard a lot of screaming, please hurry!" Spike inflects just enough breathless panic into his voice and funnily enough no trace of his English accent at all as he hangs up on the 911 operator. He snaps the phone closed and pitches it back to Angel who catches it without turning his head and pushes it back into his coat pocket without taking his eyes off the road.

Spike glances over his shoulder and chuckles at the looks on Gunn and Wesley's faces. "Now Gentlemen, I am a 129 year old VAMPIRE sitting next to a 253 year old VAMPIRE and what amazes you both the most about me; is that I can actually speak proper English without an accent?" Spike says allowing his accent to smooth into the softly rolling cadence of an American voice.

Angel starts laughing and shaking his head. Spike is much more the Chameleon than he seems and the depth of his personality and intellect is a secret he has always kept well; sharing only with those he holds in deepest trust. Angel glances at Spike and finds he's looking into cerulean blue eyes that sparkle with humor and the pair laughs; joined after a moment by Wesley and Gunn.

Spike looks over his shoulder, still chuckling now and then. "I was actually quite bookish as a young man, before I met Drusilla. My Professors at Oxford were always properly impressed by my talents. Sadly one of my talents did not however extend to poetry." Spike says with a wry smile; turning his head slightly to meet the doe brown eyes of his grandsire briefly. "Darla was never one for being looked down on and she already had cause enough to be..." Again the Vampires share a silent glance that speaks loudly of shared secrets and confidences shared longer than either of their companions has been alive added together. "...Displeased with me; there would have been some unpleasant consequences for provoking her further." Spike says softly; as Angel tightens his hands on the steering wheel. "It was decided that it would be best if my past remained just that and I didn't reveal much that would draw her anger." Spike's voice takes on the husky low English accent that has been his for over a hundred years with the ease of pulling on a coat. "As for now well... this is just who I am now and there is no reason for living in yesterday when today is here." Spike turns his head to stare out at the twinkling lights of the city, losing himself in his memories.

Angel glances at Spike's profile from the corner of his eye and holds his tongue. He's never truly spoken to Spike about the arbitrary decisions he made all those years ago and doesn't begin to know how to broach the subject now.  He would take none of those decisions back as they were truly made in his best interests at the time but perhaps Spike is right. They have today and what good does dwelling on yesterday do? Whatever those decisions were, they have made Spike into the person he is today so perhaps it all happened as it did for a reason. Glancing at Spike again Angel makes a sudden decision and hangs a left rather than the right that will take them back to the office.

Spike notices the change of direction and smiles without turning his head from the night view but he knows that Angel knows he's smiling all the same.

The line of waiting people has already grown to a sizeable crowd as Angel pulls up outside the club and slows looking for a parking space.

"Head to the corner and take a right, Pet. There's a gated back lot and entrance there for regulars to park in." Spike says quietly and Angel skillfully maneuvers the convertible following Spike's directions. Spike nods and waves at the attendant working the back gate and he hurriedly opens the gate to admit them. "My parking space is there; by the door." Angel pulls into the parking spot reserved for one W. Faulkner; raising a brow at the unexpected sighting of Spike's birth name after all this time. Spike just smiles unashamedly and shrugs his shoulder dismissing the significant event ;as he gets out followed by his friends Spike can hear Wesley talking to Fred on his cell phone, inviting her to join them.

After a brief stop at the desk just inside the rear door to secure passes for his friends; Spike catches up and hands each of them a V.I.P.  Key card and a parking pass; handing Wesley the set he picked up for Fred. "Keep a hold on those passes Gents just flash'em to the bartenders and wait staff and your food and drinks will be on the house. You have free access to the two V.I.P. lounges as well." Spike takes them on a short tour that seems to take twice as long as people keep coming up to talk to him but they eventually end up at the bar; near the dance floor. The bartender hurries over when he sees Spike and gets them their drinks straight away.

Spike lounges against the bar, quietly talking to his friends and sipping his favorite Irish style Stout beer and genuinely enjoying himself. He's arguing with Wesley over how well Manchester United is playing; when the seat next to him at the bar becomes open and a large form claims it. Spike doesn't need to look over his shoulder to know it's Angel sitting so close he's almost lounging between his open knees. Several people have tried to come over and start a conversation but few are up to the challenge presented by a protective Angel and Gunn; who have closed ranks around their smaller counterparts by instinct.

Everyone smiles as Fred and Harmony arrive and the group shifts again as the two women are moved to the protective center of the group and the merriment continues with the small group drawing  no small crowd of admirers as they're all vital and very attractive in their own ways. Spike waves over a passing waitress and whispers in her ear briefly before she nods with a big smile and hurries off.

She returns within a few minutes and hands Harmony her V.I.P. pass and parking permit; while Wesley hands Fred hers. Spike thanks her with a smile and a pat on the back that makes her smile beam as brightly as if she'd won the lottery and she zips off through the crowd again. She returns within a few minutes with a tray full of various appetizers that she lies out on the bar before blushing and hurrying off once more amid their chorus of thank you. Spike reaches over for a particularly plump stuffed mushroom; only to find that someone else has reached for the same one. Spike chuckles and nudges the hand aside and picks up the mushroom and holds it over his shoulder; feeling Angel's teeth carefully biting it neatly in half before he pops the other half in his own mouth. When he feels the strong arm settle lightly across his shoulders he smiles and laughs quietly as his own arm slips naturally around the trim but powerful waist.

Angel smiles; reaching over to snag another mushroom; as Spike moves to naturally rest against him with comfortable grace and ease. The house band is playing a quiet set of instrumental romantic ballads and the House lights are low and intimate and the dance floor is crowded by slightly swaying couples. The food is excellent; as is the Irish whiskey he thinks with a silent moan of appreciation for the smooth aged perfection of the fiery concoction. Angel realizes he's genuinely enjoying the evening and wonders what other simple pleasures of life he's been missing. There is only one mar on the evening as far as he's concerned and that are the patently blatant attempts by women and men alike to catch Spike's attention; as though he were a Marlin or some big game fish they could hook and reel in. Angel moves with deliberation to reach an olive from a dish on the far side; shifting his body in subtle ways until Spike is turned safely into the center of the group with Fred and Harmony. Angel pops the olive in his mouth ; hard pressed not to grin at his cleverness at having nonchalantly maneuvered Spike into the safety of being between the bar and himself. The smile fades however replaced with awareness of how right it feels to protect the slight blond who is all too capable of looking after his self. It's a sentiment helped along as Spike starts to dance in place to the house band and his body brushes against his; only to be gone again on the next beat of the music. Having tasted Spike's blood earlier, he can feel the younger Vampire's enjoyment and it has settled over his brain like a cloud of sheer sensation.

Spike hides his grin; knowing that little by little Angel is rediscovering the simple pleasures to be found with good friends, good drinks, and good music. A familiar tune starts up and the grin he's been concealing finally breaks through. "I've always loved this song. An oldie but a goodie." Spike purrs as he begins to sway to the music.

Angel takes a sip of his Whiskey to hide his own grin, Spike's enjoyment is evident in the flash of a fang he shows before he carefully schools his features to conceal the deadly canines once more. It's a natural Vampire instinct to let their canines descend when their guard is down and they're in the grip of strong emotions and Angel chuckles as he carefully draws his tongue across of one of his own deadly canines that has dropped and relaxes his muscles until he feels it withdraw back into his gums. He hears a low sound building in Spike's chest that is slowly growing stronger by the moment and it startles him to realize that he's singing in a tone so low that only another vampire can hear it. Slowly though; it grows louder and the conversation around them starts to die as people realize what they're hearing and stop to listen.

Angel sets his glass down absentmindedly as he finds himself lost in the endless depths of sparkling Cerulean blue eyes that gaze fixedly into his. Lost in Spike's eldritch gaze and siren's voice, Angel is barely aware of his actions; as his hands rise to cup the younger Vampire's shoulders and Spike's hands slip up to cover his hips lightly as he sways.

Do that to me one more time
Once is never enough with a man like you
Do that to me one more time
I can never get enough of a man like you
Whoa-oh-oh, kiss me like you just did
Oh, baby, do that to me once again

Pass that by me one more time
Once is never enough for my heart to hear
Whoa-oh-oh, tell it to me one more time
I can never hear enough while I got'ya near
Whoa-oh-oh, say those words again that you just did
Oh, baby tell it to me once again

Do that to me one more time
Once is never enough with a man like you
Whoa-oh-oh, do that to me one more time
I can never get enough of a man like you
Whoa-oh-oh, kiss me like you just did
Oh, baby do that to me once again

Whoa-oh-oh, baby, do that to me once again
Whoa-oh-ho-oh-oh-oh, baby, do that to me one more time
Do it again
One more time
Do it again
One more time

He realizes; that for whatever reason; Spike allowed them to think so. Wondering if maybe he just used the illusion of safety to make him acceptable to the Slayer and her compatriots? After all it was easier to accept the fact that he COULDN'T bite them over the fact that perhaps he just didn't want to. He knows he's right for he too felt himself safe for that same reason once and his respect for Spike grows tenfold. He lowers his eyes as he imagines what Angel must be feeling right now; to have that remarkable man so focused on him; that Angel doesn't realize that not only is he dancing but that they're the only couple on the floor.

Angel has realized it, he just doesn't care; as he's locked into the moment and for just once he's letting himself enjoy it without thinking it to death.

Spike shimmies closer and staring into Angel's eyes sings soft and low for Angel's ears only.

Do it again
One more time
Do it again
One more time

Angel wraps his arm around Spike's lower back and pulls him tightly to him as he strokes his nape and nuzzles his cheek against Spike's temple tenderly. He sighs as he feels Spike's fingers slip into his hair, petting slowly; his fingertips tracing his ears; knowing how much he likes the light touches.

Spike presses his mouth lightly to Angel's ear and breathes softly. "And you thought you couldn't dance." He says with a soft chuckle; as Angel growls softly in mock warning and Spike shuts his eyes and just gives himself up to the moment and to the care of the giant of a man holding him like fine china. Sight is merely one sense that is his to call upon and Spike smiles as the scents of his friends fill him and he knows they've each taken a lady and are dancing nearby. A delicate sniff and he can tell Wesley and Fred are dancing to their right and Gunn and Harmony are dancing slightly behind them and to the left. A sense of well being fills him and he lets go of his cares. Tomorrow will come in its own time. For now tonight is enough.

*** This has been but a small interlude in the action folks, a brief *Passo-doble* moment between our two favorite fanged ones. The story will pick up immediately following this segment so stay tuned! ***

*Passo-doble is a Latin dance often likened to a bullfight with one partner being the Matador while their partner symbolizes the cape, a protective, complimentary companion that moves to the rhythm of the Matador's movements as if they were one person. If you've never seen this dance performed you're missing a real treat.*