Spike couldn't believe it.  

He'd gone to Tara for help when the stake wound that the Cardboard Commando had given him had begun to bleed copiously and wouldn't stop. He hadn't known who else to turn to. He couldn't risk going to Joyce. Buffy might turn up and that would mean Finn would be brought into it, ensuring the vampire's final dusting. The Watcher, Whelp, and Red either wouldn't care, wouldn't help, or would tell the Slayer, which would in turn, once again, lead to dusting by Cardboard. He hadn't had any other choice. 

Her reaction had blown him away. She'd immediately invited him into her dorm room, told him to lie down on her bed, grabbed a towel for him to hold to the wound and then proceeded to treat his injury. 

While she worked, Tara spoke...and managed to shock him into silence. 

"Y-you're family, Spike. I d-don't c-care, what the others say. You're the one th-that convinced me I wasn't a-a demon," she focused her eyes on him as she spoke, her confidence growing with the look of awe on his face. "You could have really hurt me, or-or at least made me bleed, but you didn't. You gave me just enough pain to set off your chip and no more." 

As she finished bandaging him, she continued to speak. "I've spent a lot of time reading about demons, Spike. I know that demons are strongly reliant on the connection of family. And I know that you've been away from your family for nearly two years." She took a deep breath before continuing. "I hereby claim thee, Spike, also known as William the Bloody, descended from the Order of Aurelius, in a familial claim.  You shall be my brother, my friend, and I shall be your sister, your guide. Let my blood of magic link with your blood of mystic."

"From blood to blood, I accept your claim," he responded automatically.  

Spike couldn't believe it. The little white witch had completely blown him away. She was his. End of bloody story. He'd protect her with his life, er, unlife. Chip or no chip – he'd kill the first wanker that tried to hurt her in any way. She was family and Spike looked after his own. 

What Spike didn't know, but would soon learn – so did Tara. 

It hadn't taken her long to slip out, make a few phone calls and enlist the help of the others. The ones that the illustrious Scoobies considered the 'B' team, and some that weren't considered to be any part of the team. Tara was delighted that she wasn't the only one that was incensed over the whole situation. The blind bigotry and hatred had apparently angered more than just her. 

In just two hours she had managed to help Spike, find him a safe haven and set up a meeting with a group of people she liked to call 'The Scoobies; Version Two'. As the last person arrived at their new meeting place, Tara shared her idea with the group. 

"My f-first priority is Spike. I believe in him a-and I think he has the p-potential to be a real champion. I read auras, and I've s-seen the changes in his. That he's managed to come this far without any encouragement at all just p-proves his worth. Imagine what he can become if we h-help him. I've claimed him as family and I am NOT okay with the way he has been and is being treated by the others. I will be saying something," she stated firmly. She may have started off shakily but her conviction soon overrode her initial nervousness. 

"Oh, you are not alone in that, dear." Joyce Summers said crossly. She was absolutely livid over what she'd already learnt. 

Dawn turned excitedly to her mother, "I think we should claim Spike, too. Let him know we're really on his side." She was practically bouncing at the thought of claiming the vampire.  

"I already have, sweetie. It was the first thing I did when I went up to check on him." Joyce smiled widely at the enthusiasm of her youngest.  

"How did you claim him? He can't bite you and you're not a witch...?" Dawn demanded petulantly. She never got to do any of the cool stuff. 

"Haven't you ever heard of a pocket-knife?" Joyce replied, her eyes flashing mischievously. "One tiny cut and presto! Instant claiming. You're not the only one to borrow books from Giles, missy. Besides, I've had worse filing paperwork." 

"That so sucks," Dawn muttered, pouting.  

A slight frown marred Joyce's features as she was struck by a sudden thought. "How do we protect him while he's healing? I have no doubt that Riley Finn will try to retaliate." 

"I've already dealt with that, Mrs Summers." Wesley spoke for the first time. He had been surprised by the dishwater blonde's phone call, but after she had explained the situation to him, he had readily offered his home as a place for Spike to recuperate and for their meeting. To say he was intrigued by the blond vampire would have been putting it mildly. Spike's control of his demon, his chip, and his choice to voluntarily work with the 'white hats', as he put it, appealed to the ex-watcher. The fact that Spike could do all this without a soul or praise while his grandsire seemed to gain forgiveness for his every sin because he had a curse infuriated Wesley. If the things he had been told were true- and he had no cause to doubt them- then the blond vampire deserved the title of champion far more than the brunette.  

"I had a friend in Los Angeles arrange a sanctuary spell on my home. It's specifically designed so that there can be no violence here, either demon or human. I have also put in place a rather strong barrier spell, so that no one may enter without an invitation; humans included." 

"Who did you get to do the sanctuary spell? I've been thinking of getting Giles to get one for the shop part of the Magic Box," Anya rushed to ask. 

"Lorne, the Host of Caritas, arranged it for me." 

Anya happily thanked him before suggesting they decide what they were going to do next. She hadn't told Giles where she was going, only that she had some errands to run. She needed to get back to work soon, but the information about the sanctuary spell would at least give her an excuse for her absence. 

"I'm going back to the shop with you, Anya. I'm going to wait for Riley, tell him what I think of him, then I'm coming back here to work with Wesley about the best way to help Spike." Tara spoke with firm decisiveness; her anger fuelling her resolve. 

"Dawn, I'd like you to stay here with Spike and Wesley. I will be going with Tara. There are some things that your sister and her friends need to hear." Joyce's tone indicated clearly that her request of Dawn brooked no argument.  

Dawn pouted unhappily, but nodded in agreement. 

Joyce turned to Wesley. "Would it be possible to do your barrier spell at my home too?" 

"Of course," Wesley gallantly informed her. With a slight quirk of his lips, he felt honour bound to add, "You do realise that as it is only your name on the ownership papers, this will mean that Buffy will not only need an invitation, but that she won't be able to invite anyone else to enter?" 

Joyce innocently batted her eyelashes. "We all make sacrifices for the greater good."  

Dawn snickered as she thought about her sister's probable reaction to the new state of affairs.