I AM YOURS 
By: PetiteMiel 

Chapter Twenty-Four

Angel removed Spike's damp clothes, letting them fall to the floor, for once not caring about the mess. His childe didn't resist and it was this more than anything that concerned Angel. He had seen the torment and agony in the younger vampire's tear filled eyes and he had wanted to take that pain away, but he knew there were no easy answers.

Reaching over, he quickly turned on the shower and watched as the steam filled the bathroom, then rid himself of his own clothes as well. Spike stared blankly into the steam, his mind a confusion of memories and pain. Angel took his hand, pulling him into the shower, and Spike let himself be led. 

The older vampire moved them beneath the spray, letting the hot water cascade down over their cool flesh as it quickly warmed them both. He wrapped his arms around his childe's smaller frame holding him close, needing to feel him near, and Spike responded in kind. They stood there silently, not moving as the chill of the rain was washed away.

A moment later Angel felt Spike's body tremble against him and he tightened his grip once more. Rubbing his back gently, he tried to comfort him but in the end all he could do was hold him while he wept. 

Dawn lay in her bed, unable to go back to sleep. She stared up at the ceiling, trying her best to pretend that everything would be fine, but deep down inside she knew it was a lie. She had been determined to keep the truth from Buffy and the others because she had thought she was protecting them. Now she wasn't so sure. 

She rolled over, pulling the blanket over her shoulders, and jumped at the sight of The First in her mother's guise staring back at her. She scowled at the shape it had taken and was about to tell it to change when it spoke instead.

"They are here." It said, vanishing before she could respond. 

Wesley stood at the windows in his suite staring out at the river. The water churned slightly as a stiff breeze skimmed across its surface, disturbing the calm beneath it, and Wesley felt similarly disturbed. Watching as the morning fog dissipated in the rising sun, he took in the view. Tower Bridge rose up before him, bringing back a horde of memories from his childhood, and these disturbed him most of all. 

He had been born in London, had lived most of his life within its boundaries, but he felt like a stranger now. It was no longer his home and, in moments such as these, when he was being honest with himself he could admit that it hadn't been home for some time. 

He took a sip of his tea and turned away, seating himself at the small table. He didn't want to think of the life he had lived before going to LA. There were too many memories and too many ghosts for any joy or good to be found in them. His life had been unhappy and he wanted to put the past behind him but, here in this place, he found that hard to do. Everywhere he turned there were reminders of the life he left behind -- and none of them were pleasant. 

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts and he rose, shaking off the disturbing feeling that Angel's broodiness was rubbing off on him. He made his way quickly across the room and smiled as he opened the door. Fred stood in the hallway, carrying several of the texts they had brought with them, and he ushered her in, closing the door behind her 

"Sorry to stop by so early but I couldn't sleep and thought we might get an early start." She said as she entered. 

"Oh yes, that would be fine. I was having a bit of trouble sleeping myself. Never did like hotels." He replied, smiling weakly.

The slim brunette headed toward the windows, admiring the view, and Wesley stood admiring her. She was something of an enigma to him, so innocent in appearance and manner yet able to invoke in him thoughts and feelings that were anything but innocent. She turned toward him a moment later, and he blushed slightly at the thoughts running through his mind. 

"You've got a much nicer view than me. All I can see is an old Inn and some shops. Not much to look at." 

"Oh, the Inn is actually quite historic, but the Bridge is a much more imposing structure, I will admit." He answered, stepping over to her. 

"I've never been to London before. I always wanted to come here though. You know, the tower of London isn't far from here." 

"Yes, I know." He answered, smiling broadly at her. 

"Oh, of course you do. I'm so stupid sometimes." She said with a small giggle.

"No, not at all. Perhaps when all this business is done, you'll have a chance to see some of the city." He replied, taking the books she held from her and setting them on the table. 

"Maybe...maybe you could show me around?" She asked somewhat nervously as she turned toward him. He paused for a moment, her comment taking him by surprise. "...Or maybe not." She continued, sensing she had said the wrong thing. 

"I'd love to show you London." He answered finally as he took a seat. 

"Well...then good. It's a date...uh, I mean not a date as in a date, just ...well..." She stammered, suddenly very embarrassed. 

"Yes, it's a date." Wesley said, reaching out to touch her hand gently. She smiled at him and he smiled back, then sighed deeply. 

"Well it's a bit early yet to phone Giles. I don't want to wake him up and have him in a bad mood when he learns we're here. So I suggest we order breakfast. You haven't eaten, have you?" She shook her head and he reached for the phone, thinking that perhaps new memories would be enough to chase the old away and put his ghosts to rest.

Spike lay buried beneath a sea of blankets, Angel spooned snugly against his back. He could feel his sire's strong arms wrapped around his waist holding him close and it made him feel safe. His fingers ran lightly over the soft skin of the other vampire's larger hand, unconsciously needing the reassurance that touching Angel gave him. 

His eyes stared unfocused as the morning light chased the shadows from the corners of the room, but it was not enough to chase them from his mind. The events of the previous night had frightened him more than even Angel knew, and he couldn't figure out how to rid himself of the fear that threatened to smother him. 

Spike had not been prepared for the sudden feelings of guilt and shame that crashed down upon him and, even now, he didn't understand fully how he was going to deal with them. A million scattered thoughts raced through his mind, and he sighed deeply as he tried to push them away. 

When he had first regained his soul he had struggled to find a way to deal with what he felt, but he knew now that he hadn't really dealt with it at all. Sitting in the basement of the high school he had allowed The First to manipulate him. It had played on his doubts and fears but the pain that he had felt, that had been his own. He knew that now. It was something basic to the human he had once been and, short of cutting the soul out of his chest, he would not be rid of that pain for some time to come. What frightened him most, though, was the thought that the pain would push him over the edge. The First had come close to stripping his sanity from him once and he feared now the pain would finish the job.

"Stop it." 

Angel's whispered words echoed in the stillness, interrupting his childe's thoughts as he pulled the smaller vampire closer. 

"Not doing anything." Spike replied as he wiggled back against the larger vampire's body, making his sire moan slightly at the contact.

"You're brooding."

"Am not." The blonde responded, a slight pout forming on his full, soft lips. 

"Yes you are, and that is strictly my territory. So cut it out or I'll be forced to take drastic measures." Angel said playfully as he kissed him lightly on the back of his neck.

Spike smiled at the comment, rolling over to face his sire. 

"What kind of drastic measures would those be then, Luv?" He asked coyly, his hands resting against the firm chest in front of him. 

"These." Angel said as his lips met Spike's. 

He kissed him slowly, his tongue playing with his childe's as he savored a taste that was all Spike. Pulling him closer, he wrapped his arms around him not wanting to let him go. His hands slid up and down Spike's back, his finger-tips barely brushing against the smooth skin. His touch was just as gentle as the kiss and Spike responded in equal measure. Their bodies melted together, their legs tangling beneath the sheets as their arms held one another closer still. 

Rolling them over Angel slowly pressed the blond into the mattress. His superior size covered the smaller vampire like a blanket, shielding him from the world outside and anything that might take him from his sire. 

Spike moaned softly into the kiss as his hands slid into Angel's hair, pulling lightly on the dark strands. He arched his neck as Angel's mouth descended upon it, the older vampire kissing and nipping his way along the jugular, teasing Spike. Whimpering softly as his sire sucked gently on the scar that bound them together, he could smell his arousal and it only served to fuel his own. 

Angel took his time, relearning every inch of the body beneath him as his mouth left a trail of cool kisses across the surface of Spike's pale skin. His childe moaned and arched, writhing on the bed as his blood rushed through him, making him feel so alive. 

Angel continued moving downward, the feather light touch of his finger-tips making Spike tremble with need. He could not take away all the pain, but he was determined to show Spike that there was still more to this existence than guilt and suffering.

His hands roamed over the pliant flesh, seeking Spike's erection and, finding it flat against his childe's stomach, he stroked it firmly. Watching his childe thrust his hips upward seeking more, he did not hesitate to give it. His mouth descended slowly around the bulbous head, sucking gently.

Spike arched off the bed and Angel reached up, pressing his hips firmly back down to the mattress. He watched as his childe closed his eyes, giving in to the pleasure completely, and Angel knew he had never seen anything so beautiful. 

Spike moaned loudly, his hands fisting the sheets, and Angel reached out, taking his childe's hands in his. Their fingers interlaced, he continued to pleasure the younger vampire, feeling his own need rising to the surface. 

He licked his way down one side of Spike's erection and back up the other, quickly circling the reddened tip as he pulled the foreskin back. Then descending once more over the stiffened cock, he made his way back down it, swallowing it to the root. The dark haired demon flexed his throat muscles and Spike moaned again as he started to pant. 

Spike could feel his sac tighten and he knew he couldn't hold out long. The feel of Angel's mouth on him was just too much and he started to thrust gently upward, needing to come. Angel allowed this and let go of one of Spike's hands as he slipped a quickly moistened finger into his body. His childe arched upward once more as his prostate was played with and, in moments, he found his release. 

Angel swallowed hard, then licked Spike clean. He smiled at the harsh breaths coming from his childe and moved over him, kissing his lips again. Spike reached up, pulling him down upon him as his arms wrapped around his sire's neck, and they lay that way for some time, kissing gently. 

"So, did it work?" Angel asked quietly between kisses. 

"Yeah, but if that's the way you cure broodiness, I think I might have to brood more often." Spike answered, smiling up at him. 

Angel laughed softly then rolled off Spike, pulling his childe with him, holding him tightly against his chest. He could feel his own erection hard against his belly, but he had decided to ignore it. 

"I see you're brooding now. Could it be because of this?" Spike asked teasingly as his slim fingers wrapped around Angel's cock.

"Spike you don't have to... I'm fine. You need to sleep." Spike looked at him for a moment, then smiled and stroked him gently, causing Angel to moan loudly. 

"Oh yeah, you're fine, luv. Trying to be all noble, is that it? Well, I say one good turn deserves another. Plus, how am I supposed to go back to sleep with this poking me in the back?" He asked, grinning once more. The older vampire tried to protest but Spike kissed him quickly, then moved down, taking his cock in his mouth, effectively cutting off any argument he may have had. 

Willow and Xander sat in Giles' room, staring at the watcher as he told them about his encounter with The First. Buffy stood leaning against the wall by the door, her arms crossed over her chest as she waited for one of them to speak. She didn't have to wait long.

"I thought we killed it." Xander said, rising from his chair and running a hand nervously through his dark hair, clearly agitated. 

"You can't kill it. We destroyed the tools it sent against us, but it is pure evil -- it can't be destroyed." Giles answered, watching the younger man begin to pace.

"Do you think this has anything to do with what happened to Dawn?" Willow asked, a look of concern marring her pretty features.

"We're not sure, but it could." Buffy replied. 

"Ok, so what's the plan? What do we do?" 

"Well at the moment, Xander, there isn't anything to do. We wanted you both to be aware of The First's presence but, until we know what it wants here, there really isn't much to do but watch and wait." The Englishman said.

"Ok, not liking that plan at all. Who votes for another?" Xander asked, looking around the room as he raised his hand.

"Look, I don't like the idea of just sitting here waiting for this thing to start playing with our heads, but until we know what it's up to we don't have a choice." Buffy answered, stepping away from the wall. "We're going to have to let it make the first move." 

"What about the others? Should we tell the other slayers and the coven...and what about Dawn?" Willow asked softly.

"I don't see that we have a choice there either." Giles began. Buffy gave him a stern look, but he didn't back down. "I know you don't agree, Buffy, but they have to know. I don't want to put any of them in danger, and their ignorance where the First is concerned could get them killed."

"Fine, but we don't tell them anything else that's happened -- at least not yet." 

They all nodded their agreement and Xander was just about to speak when he was interrupted by the phone. Giles turned and walked to the nightstand answering it.

"Hello. Ah, Wesley, a bit early for you to be up... or late, I suppose ,depending on your perspective. You're where? Oh, I see. Well yes...yes, of course. Who? Oh, alright...yes, I'll tell them. I'll be expecting you then. Good bye."

"What was that about and what do you mean you'll be expecting him?" Buffy asked.

"Well, apparently he and some of his colleagues are here in England. He has some information about the symbols I faxed him."

"So they're coming up here?" Willow asked, rising from her seat on the end of the bed. 

"Yes, but they won't be here until this evening -- it seems two of his companions can't travel during the day." He answered, staring at Buffy.

Willow and Xander turned toward Buffy at Giles' comment but she didn't reply, only turned and strode from the room.