Title:    Transition (Story 2 in the series)
Series: A NEW LIFE
Author: MarieC
Email: mariecynthia2003@yahoo.com
Feedback: Please. Be gentle: this is my first fic
Archive: None
Pairing: Spike/Angel
Spoilers: Spike is chipped; Angel is Spike's sire; No Fred or Connor;
Buffy did not die
Rating: R
Summary: Spike is bitten by a demon in Sunnydale and has turned into
a female vampire. Angel takes her to LA after she is raped.
Warning: Transgender fic, mentions of rape
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.  They belong to
Joss Whedon, ME, WB, UPN, etc.   
**Please read the fic "Changes" before this story**
Many thanks to Ghostsforge for beta help and answering numerous
technical questions.

2/9

Spike awoke the next morning slowly, her weary blue eyes carefully
surveying her environment. She felt her Sire's arms around her waist.
She was still tired, but felt more refreshed than in recent days. The
cloud of confusion that had muddled her brain appeared to have
lifted. She realised she was in Angel's home. The scent of her Sire
permeated the entire space. Although there was a sense of comfort
being there, she felt uncomfortable being held by Angel. Spike grew
nervous as she could feel Angel's erect member against her back. She
felt him stir behind her as she attempted to remove herself from his
arms.

"You're awake. How do you feel?"

"B-Better." Spike quietly responded in her raspy, high-pitched
English accent. She attempted to move away from him.

"Are you hungry? There is fresh human blood downstairs."

"No, I'm not hungry."

Angel turned the female vampire towards him as he attempted to sit up
in the bed. His brown eyes gazed down lovingly at Spike's blue
orbs. "I don't want to rush you, Spike, but I know what happened in
Sunnydale." As he spoke, Spike turned her head away and looked down
at the bed. Angel adjusted his position and placed his hand under her
chin to lift it up. She flinched as he touched her. Angel could sense
her fear. "You have nothing to be ashamed of. They hurt you, Spike."
His undead heart was breaking as he saw the despair in her face,
unshed tears threatening to fall.

"Please, Angel...I don't want to talk about it." Spike pleaded with her
Sire. She was not ready to face recent events.

"Why don't we go downstairs and feed?" Angel asked, desperate to
change the subject.

"I'm fine...tired that's all." She had no desire to leave the room. She
knew Angel had colleagues. His human pets as Spike called them in the
past. She could not face strangers at this time. She did not want
pity from them or worse yet, they may think she deserved the attack
because she was William the Bloody. Her stomach twisted with fear.
She turned away from Angel, curled into the foetal position, and
buried herself in blankets. He reached out to touch her but withdrew
his hand. Angel wanted to comfort her, but he sensed that now was not
the time. He could not force her to immediately open up and discuss
what had happened. Angel sighed. He was accustomed to dealing with
the old Spike: incessant chatter and obnoxious witticisms in a loud
cockney accent. Spike always pushed buttons with his words. Angel was
concerned as he gazed upon the quiet, small figure in his bed. Angel
wondered if her disposition was secondary to her trauma or to her
gender change or both. Regardless, he was worried he would not be
able to reach her.

Angel quickly showered, dressed, and descended the stairs to the
lobby. The team of AI was already at work. Cordelia answered the
phones, Gunn polished the weapons, and Wesley appeared to be in
research mode.

"Hey guys, anything so far?" Angel he sauntered into to the kitchen.
He removed a blood bag from the refrigerator, placed the contents
into a black porcelain mug, and placed it in the microwave.

"Pretty quiet am so far." Cordelia replied as she placed the receiver
down.

"Angel," Wesley interjected, "I am not finding a significant amount
of information on the Demon, I am afraid. It is a fairly ancient
species, a predator with an amazing capability of incapacitating its
prey. I cannot find any reference to gender altering aspect of the
venom as well. Perhaps Mr. Giles is correct in enlisting the help of
the Council."

"Any information will help, Wes. Thanks." Angel stated with a small
smile.

"So, how's your kid, Angel?" Gunn asked.

"Childe." Angel corrected.

"Same thing. Anyway, is she better today?"

"She rested well, at least for a few hours. Her bruises are healing.
Thanks for asking." Angel replied as he entered his office and closed
the door. He needed to sit in his chair and think for awhile.

After some time, Angel sensed the humans had left for a lunch break.
Angel sighed in relief as he realised that he could now be truly
alone with his thoughts. Suddenly he heard a light knock on his door.

"Angel, its Cordelia."

"Come in, Cordy."

"Hi." She peeked her head through. "Wes and Gunn went to lunch. I
wanted to talk to you." Cordelia entered the office and proceeded to
sit in the chair opposite Angel. "I have a feeling you glossed over
some details about what really happened to Spike."

"I did." Angel was calm he sipped his blood. "Those details are
private."

"I understand that, Angel. I mean, it's hard to see Spike as a
victim, you know? After Sunnydale and the Marcus thing?" Cordelia
looked directly at Angel. "But...I have a feeling Spike is going to
need a female friend eventually, Angel. Isn't she one of the hopeless
that we help? If Wes or Giles are unable to find a reversal spell,
Spike is going to stay a woman, right? How is she going to adjust?"

Angel knew Cordelia was correct. All this time, he felt that if he
could help Spike through the initial trauma, that eventually turning
her back would be the next step. Angel honestly had not considered
the possibility that she would remain a female indefinitely.

"Spike hasn't been able to talk about what happened, yet. After
seeing the bruises and burns on her body, I knew something horrible
occurred. I smelled human men all over her. She was raped brutally
and by many. And because of the chip, she could not fight back." He
looked up at Cordelia as he spoke. Cordelia gasped at Angel's
confession. She could not comprehend something so horrific.

"She is less confused now." Angel continued. "But, she's distant and
barely speaks. Even when I touch her innocently, she acts like I burn
her." Angel voice rose in desperation, "I'm worried that I'll fail
her...fail to protect her or help her."

Cordelia looked at her friend, unsure how to reassure him. "Don't
worry, Angel. You'll be great. We'll all help." A warm smile emerged
from the brunette.

"I appreciate it."

"I'm off to lunch, 'kay?" Cordelia turned and started walking out the
door.

"Oh, Cordy!" Angel quickly stood up to catch her as a thought entered
his mind. "I need a favour." He reached into his back pocket and
pulled out a black leather wallet. He handed her a credit card. "Can
you pick up some essentials for Spike? Clothes, undergarments,
shampoo?"

"Sure, what size is she?" Cordelia chuckled as the tall, dark vampire
stood there shrugging his shoulders. "Size is very important, Angel!
Do you know how hard it is to find the right bra size?"

Angel nearly blushed as Cordelia mentioned buying bras for his
Childe. "I have no idea her size, Cordy. You saw her. Can't you just
figure it out?"

"As if, mister! You have a lot to learn about women. How much do you
think she weighs?"

Angel paused for a moment. "I don't know, maybe 45 kilograms."

"Hello, we're in America! The New World! We don't use kilograms."

"Sorry." Angel apologised. "That's about 100 pounds." Angel was now
slightly annoyed. "Just grab a few things to tide her over, okay?
We'll find out exact sizes later." Cordelia turned to walk away. She
was headed for the exit as Angel yelled, "Remember. No bright
colours!"

*