Title: Sire

Author: Lilithangel

Email: abchainey@xtra.co.nz

Website:   www.livejournal.com/users/lilithbint/

Fandom(s): AtS

Genre: will eventually be slash cause I'm a Spangel girl.

Pairings/Characters: Spike/Angel and the rest of the AtS gang.

Rating: will include boy on boy stuff so pay attention.

Warnings: see above.

Notes: This will start from AtS series 5 'Destiny' episode and carry on from there so there will be spoilers for various episodes. However this is going to go AU from the beginning.

Inspired by a challenge but totally deviating from the original suggestion.

Summary: Drusilla renounces her claim as sire to Spike. Master vampires from all over the country arrive to vie for the right to claim him. The AtS gang and Wolfram & Hart have to deal with the fallout and Angel has to deal with his conflicting feelings. Spike has to come to terms with himself, his relationship with Drusilla and what he wants to do with his future.

Italics indicate dialogue taken from the episodes in question

You're Welcome/Why We Fight

"Really should knock on a bloke's door, especially when he has no qualms 'bout killing trespassers." Spike commented to the figure standing in his doorway.

"Is that any way to talk to your benefactor, but obviously not your only one." Lindsey stared at Spike's apartment in amazement.

The spartan room had been transformed, Spike was sitting on a leather couch playing a video game on a large flat screen TV, there were rugs on the floor and the tiny single bed had been replaced with a queen-sized four poster draped with silk and velvet.

"What the hell?" Lindsey exclaimed looking around.

Spike grinned and shrugged "People trying to get on my good side, go figure, would have been rude to decline their gifts."

"You haven't been out in the field lately." Lindsey sat down next to Spike.

"In case you haven't been keeping up with the sports pages." Spike waved a hand at Lindsey "I got my bloody hands hacked off by that deranged slayer that you sent me after."

"I'm sorry about that but hey, good ol' buddies at Wolfram & Hart managed to reattach them just fine for what? You to sit around her and play video games." Lindsey scolded.

"Rehab mate, working on the digits" Spike got up and went over to the refrigerator "you have no idea how rotten this feels."

"Amazingly enough I do yeah, got my hand cut off a few years back... line of duty. So believe me when I tell you I can feel your pain."

"Well half of it anyway, give you that." Spike returned to sofa with his beer.

"Don't forget you've got a job to do. The Powers that Be they're counting on their champion so are all the other helpless people..."

"Don't need a pep talk Doyle already plan on going out. You just get on of your visions to tell me when and where."

"That's more like it..."

"No time for the hero bit right now" Wulfric's voice interrupted Lindsey "it is time for the next stage of your recovery; you need to do some weight training to build up the strength in your arms."

Spike laughed and tossed his game aside "sorry Doyle" he said to Lindsey "therapy comes first." Grabbing his coat he headed for the door, "you can let yourself out since you are so good at letting yourself in."

Wulfric slung a companionable arm around Spike's shoulders "I thought we would start with half pints mixed with shot glass reps until you are ready for full pints again."

Lindsey snarled but was interrupted by a phone call.

Meanwhile at Wolfram & Hart

"You're wrong about the Powers, they're not in my corner anymore. Looks like Spike is their new champion." Angel admitted grudgingly.

"Spike, Spike who?" Cordelia asked carefully.

"Spike... he's got a soul now and he saved the world and he's out there on the streets, you know... helping the helpless."

Okay... Spike's a hero and you're CEO of Hell Incorporated. What friggin bizzaro world did I wake up in?"

"And half of the elder vampire families of Europe are here courting him." Angel's voice is tinged with jealousy.

"Who are what?" Cordelia asked with confusion.

"Vampire family matters, it's complicated. Dru gave up her claim to Spike and now everyone wants him." Angel explained bitterly.

Later

"Spike, well well, heard you weren't evil anymore which kinda makes the hair silly..." Cordelia broke off when Spike went into game face and headed for her, "or not..." she screamed.

Spike bites into Cordelia's neck then pulls back, before he can say anything Angel throws him against a wall and takes a swing at him.

Spike kicks Angel and gets him into a head lock, "took me on and lost remember old man."

Angel throws Spike and sends him crashing into the floor "touch Cordelia again and get ready for the really last rematch."

"She's evil you gormless tit." Spike picks himself up from the floor.

"Excuse me" Cordelia exclaimed, "Who bit who?"

"Did you call me a tit?" Angel asked indignantly.

"I thought he had a soul?" Cordelia accused Angel.

"I thought she didn't" Spike countered.

"I do." Cordelia declared.

"So do I."

"Well clearly mines better."

"Look..." Spike advanced on Cordelia only to be thrown against a wall by Angel.

"I see fangs and I'm gonna play dentist." Angel warned.

"And you call this guy the big hero." Cordelia commented scornfully.

"You called me a hero?" Spike questioned.

"I didn't know you were eating people."

"This thing is after me, I'm not going to risk anyone I care about." Angel said firmly intent on going down to the basement and defeating the creature and stopping Lindsey.

"I'll go." Spike volunteered.

"Okay." Angel agreed quickly.

"I'm Angel... I beat the bad guys."

Angel and Cordelia watched as the Senior Partners dragged Lindsey through the portal and it closed up.

The door slid open and Spike was standing there still holding onto a zombie limb.

"Done?" he asked casually, one arm obviously dislocated.

"Done." Angel confirmed.

"Good, let's get out of here." Spike levered himself off the doorframe tossing the limb aside absentmindedly.

"Definitely." Cordelia agreed heading for the door.

"Wait" Angel commanded, "Let me fix that." He walked over to Spike.

Spike looked at Angel and shrugged painfully.

"Hold on." Angel directed Spike who braced himself.

Spike managed not to scream as Angel forced the shoulder back into joint.

Ouch, you enjoyed that." Spike grumbled.

"Shut up Spike, don't be such a baby." Cordelia teased.

"Spike... thanks for the backup." Angel said without looking at Spike leaving the blonde speechless.

Later in Angel's office Angel drops the phone receiver without a word.

"Thank you." He whispered into the darkness.

A shadow at the door made Angel turn.

"Where's the cheerleader?" Spike asked, "Thought you two were coming out for a drink."

"Cordy... she was never here; she never came out of her coma." Angel replied tonelessly.

"Then who was here cause it sure tasted like her." Spike moved into the room.

"It was her but only part of her, she's dead." Angel's voice breaks on the last word.

"Hell, I'm sorry" Spike replied in surprise.

"Why would you be sorry?" Angel snapped "you only ever tried to kill her you were never her friend."

Spike took a step back "Back off mate, just trying to help."

"Well don't" Angel snarled stepping up to Spike.

"Fine you stupid nonce, not like you've got any real feeling anyway."

"That's it Spike I have had it with you." Angel swung a punch connecting with Spike's cheek.

Spike turned his head back to face Angel once hand touching his cheek carefully.

"That's how you want to play it then?" Spike questioned and then lashed out with his foot knocking Angel over.

Spike immediately followed up with a kick to Angel's ribs that propelled Angel across the room.

Angel leapt up with a roar and launched himself at Spike ramming him into the wall. A flurry of punches followed; in his grief Angel did not notice that Spike's punches were less effective than normal.

It wasn't until Angel grabbed one of Spike's hands to block the punch that the realisation washed over Angel. Spike's face twisted with agony when Angel crushed his hand back and reality came crashing in on Angel.

"Your shoulder, it's not fully healed Spike, what are you doing?" Angel released his grip.

"Returning a favour mate. Anyway you took a sword through the guts so neither of us is fully fit." Spike admitted.

"Dru..."

"Figured you started that one for me so it was my turn to start it for you." Spike looked away from Angel.

"Why?"

"Know how it feels to lose someone you love... hurts like hell... vampires don't deal well with hurt even with our shiny souls, you know that better than I do." Spike turned back to face Angel concern showing in his eyes.

The held back tears began to track down Angel's face as he finally allowed himself to mourn and he sank to the floor in grief.

Clumsily Spike gathered Angel up into an awkward hug, tears of his own streaming down his face.

"They took her away, they brought her back to get me on track and then they took her away. Sometimes I hate them..." Angel growled.

"Don't matter and it wouldn't be why she came back." Spike stated firmly "she loved you and wanted you to find your way. You're the champion Angel, you're the hero."

"Heroes are defined by their deeds Spike and my deeds recently do not make a hero." Angel pulled free of Spike's arms and got to his feet.

"So what are you going to do about it?" Spike demanded getting to his feet as well.

Angel turned bleak eyes towards Spike "What she wanted me to do."

"Not tonight mate, tonight we farewell a champion in her own right. Your bloody Irish man we've got to do this right." Spike pulled Angel to the door.

"Second man down." Angel agreed sadly.

The table had quieted down finally. Everyone had been broken when Angel told them all what had happened to Cordelia. It was Spike who got the drinks in, got everyone telling their favourite memories of Cordelia, and numbed their grief with more alcohol.

The table had rung with laughter as the tales were retold and Angel could feel some of the weight lift from his shoulders. Cordelia had put him back on track and now Spike was helping him mourn.

Angel stared blearily at Spike who was still going strong, teasing Gunn and flirting with Fred much to Wesley chagrin. The sadness was clearly evident in Spike's eyes and Angel realised it had always been there he had just not wanted to see it.

Something he had said to Lindsey came back to Angel "I'm Angel, I beat the bad guys" and he suddenly understood how much he needed bad guys to fight. So much so that he would create bad guys just to justify his existence, Spike had stopped being the enemy but Angel had not seen it happen.

Everyone standing up and saying goodbye shook Angel out of his thoughts and he looked up.

Everyone was standing but Spike who was grinning at the others "come on" he coaxed "you can't be piking now the nights still young."

"It's the morning that's young now sweet cheeks" Lorne yawned "some of us have work to do."

"You coming Angel?" Wesley asked as he helped Fred on with her wrap.

Angel shook his head much to everyone's surprise "think I'll stay a bit longer, I'll see you all at the office later."

The others shrugged and made their farewells leaving Spike and Angel sitting alone at the table.

Spike drained his beer watching Angel curiously.

"Got something to say?" he questioned Angel.

"Just sorry."

"For what?"

"I realised something about myself today, I need bad guys. When we took over Wolfram & Hart I found myself beginning to be one of the bad guys, your arrival gave me something to focus on to hide behind. I wanted to believe you hadn't changed wanted to keep fighting with you, cause then I was still the good guy." Angel confessed.

"Bloody hell you shouldn't drink." Spike complained "brooding was bad enough but I don't think I can handle you maudlin and regretful. I fought back remember and beat you."

"Well that won't happen again. Why can't you just take my apology in good grace?" Angel's voice rose and he was half out of his seat before he realised Spike was laughing at him.

"You bastard" Angel sank back into his seat.

Spike raised an eyebrow at him "what?" he asked innocently.

"You did that on purpose," Angel complained.

Spike laughed and signalled the waitress for more drinks.

"So you reckon you can beat me then?" he challenged.

"Bring it on, I've been drinking a lot longer than you have boy." Angel lifted his glass.

"We'll just see about that old man." Spike grinned.

Angel forced the stake back towards Lawson's heart determined to end things.

"Come on chief give me a mission." Lawson gasped and Angel stopped staring into his childe's eyes.

"Come home." He said throwing the stake aside.

"What?"

"You want a mission I can give you a mission, right here." Taking advantage of Lawson's confusion Angel swung out and knocked him unconscious.

Angel quickly and carefully got the three down from the chairs and removed their bonds.

"What are you doing?" Wesley asked pulling out his gag.

"He wanted me to dust him. I turned him and abandoned him, he could have killed you all instead he staged this elaborate way of getting my attention." Angel was almost talking to himself.

"He was trying to kill you and us, he's evil boss." Gunn protested.

"I was willing to give a slayer who had murdered a dozen people a chance, why can't I give Lawson a chance. He didn't ask to be turned but he still did his duty. I have to do this guys..." Angel pleaded for their understanding.

"Alright Angel we understand but will he?" Wesley asked.

"Take him to one of the holding cells for now I will talk to him tomorrow and see what happens." Angel relaxed slightly.

"What if he doesn't want to cooperate what then?" Fred asked timidly.

"I don't know Fred." Angel confessed.

The next day Angel stands in his office, debris still scattered everywhere.

"Really ought to do something about security they'll let anyone in here won't they?" Spike stepped over the glass into the office. "Fred gave me the cliff notes, so sailor boy finally came back for a yo ho ho did he?"

"Finally came back."

"Took him long enough, know revenge is best served cold and all but his must have been frozen solid."

"Don't think that was what he was after."

"No... then what was he looking for?"

"A reason."

"And that's why you have him locked up down stairs? Not much of a reason in my book."

"You changed, hell even Harmony is trying not to be so evil. If I expect redemption then I should be able to offer it to others too." Angel replied earnestly.

"And if he doesn't want to change will you dust him then?" Spike moved in closer.

"I don't know" Angel ran his hand through his hair in confusion "I couldn't dust him on the sub when I should have anymore than I could dust you." Angel closed his eyes briefly "I am tired of dusting my family."

"Good" said a voice from the doorway.

Spike and Angel spun around to find Cleo standing there.

"Bloody hell woman do you have to sneak up on people all the time?" Spike demanded irritably.

Cleo smiled faintly "should I wear a bell around my neck?" she questioned. "You are vampires you should have known the minute I entered the building."

"We've been distracted recently." Angel justified quickly.

Cleo raised an eyebrow but did not reply.

"What do you want? I told you all I would make my decision when I was ready." Spike told her.

"I am not here to talk with you William" Cleo chided Spike "I am here to speak with Angelus."

"It's Angel and what do you want?" Angel asked.

"If your childe does not want your mission I am here to offer to take him back to Europe, he would not bother you again." Cleo sat elegantly on the sole remaining chair in the office.

Spike and Angel stared at her in amazement.

"Why would you do that?" Angel finally asked.

"He is the last childe of Angelus and he is unclaimed. While he is no William the Bloody he still carries the blood of Aurelius and is of value." Cleo explained calmly.

"Why would I agree to that?" Angel demanded.

"Are you intending to take all his choices away? He is not like you or William but he is not like normal vampires either. We would take care of him and give him a home." Cleo reasoned.

"I will talk with him and see" Angel temporised.

"Good..." Cleo stood up and turned to Spike "You must make your choice soon William, others are not as patient as I."

"What is your game really Cleo?" Angel asked suspiciously.

"It is not my game Angelus it is my sire's, I only do as he commands."

"What does he want with Aurelius?"

"It is not my place to speak of such things until I am given leave. We will talk again soon, I would like to put my offer to Lawson in person please." She requested as she left.

"How the hell does she know so much?" Spike demanded after Cleo was gone.

"From what I know of the Ptolemy family and what Wesley has managed to find out I would surmise it involves magic." Angel mused.

"Great... I hate magic." Spike scowled.

"Let's go talk with Lawson." Angel braced himself for the upcoming confrontation.

TBC...

Next time, Lawson's choice and things come to a head during "A Hole in the World".