“So what are we doing tonight?” Spike asked Xander, his roommate of two months. When Willow had moved back home, her friends had joined her. Every Saturday they did something together, when Willow didn’t have school and Xander wasn’t with his girlfriend of the month, Monica. Neither Spike nor Willow knew why he was wasting his time with the airheads when he was in love with Angel.
Willow walked into the room, looking nervous. She kept picking up books and pillows, and putting them back down. The phone rang and she flew to the receiver.
“Hello? Hank! Oh, yes, that’s fine. 6:30? Alright, I’ll be ready.” Spike felt a wave of jealousy come over him at the other man’s name. He looked to Xander for help, who was trying to control his laughter. As soon as Willow left the room, Spike was at his throat. He lunged back, holding his head in pain.
“You really shouldn’t do that, you know,” the small brunette told him. “Who is this damn Hank?” Spike growled, unnerved at showing so much emotion. “He’s Willow’s Uncle. None of us has ever met him She won’t let us. She used to go and visit him in secret, while her parents were away on business. They ‘forbid’ her to see him. After they left permanently, he’s been coming here.”
“So she’s meeting him tonight?”
“Actually,” Willow said, coming into the room, “You are meeting him this evening. Although it doesn’t really involve you, Xander, you can see him, too. I think your acceptance of Spike has proved your maturity.” “Why does that matter?” Xander asked, curious as to why he and Spike would get to meet Hank after so long.
“You’ll see…” The doorbell rang and Willow ran to the door. Before opening it, she reminded her boys, “Remember, be nice! He is very polite and I don’t want you to be rude.” She threw open the door and wrapped the tall figure in a hug.

“Hello, Miss Willow. I’m glad I could make it this time. I am eager to meet your friend.” Hank took off his coat, hat and sunglasses, surprising Xander and Spike, who were peering around the hallway.
“Bloody Hell, Willow! You brought back the judge!” Willow levitated a book and hit Spike with it.
“This is not the judge, this is my uncle. Hank, this is Spike and Xander. Xander and Spike, Hank McCoy.”
“Greetings,” her uncle said. Spike nodded and Xander reached out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. McCoy. Willow’s told me a lot. But she never told me you were blue!” Hank looked down at his blue-fur covered body and wolf-like ears.
“I rather like the color, Xander. And please, call me Hank.”
“Then what kind of demon are you?” Spike asked. He was confused as to where this was heading.
“He’s not a demon, Spike,” Willow admonished. “Uncle Hank is a mutant. On my mothers side, and I get most of my genes from my father. Hank works at Professor Xavier’s school. I think he may be able to help you.”
“Whoa, too much. Hank is a mutant and now he’s going to help Spike? With what?” Xander asked.
“I am told Spike has a chip implanted in his brain. My research is very advanced, and I feel I am capable of removing this problem.”
“You want to help me?” Spike asked. He was touched; no one had ever gone to so much trouble for him, not even Dru.
“Of course, Spike,” Willow told him. “They should never have done that to you.”
“And you agree with this, Hank?” Xander asked.
“Yes, I agree. If I had this implant, I would surely go insane.”
“You hurt humans?” Spike asked with a smirk.
“Just the ones who get on my nerves,” he replied. He was very serious, but Willow could see humor in his eyes.
“Why don’t we move this into the kitchen? I covered the table in some old sheets so Spike’s blood won’t damage it.”
“Oh, nice to know you care, luv.”
“Of course, Spike! Now, why don’t you change your shirt, we all know how much you love that one.”
“It’s the only one I brought with me, Red. I’ll just have to do without one!” Spike removed his button up shirt and then his tight black one. Willow swallowed hard at the sight of all his flesh. Hank looked between the two and smirked.
“Let’s get started, shall we? I have everything I need in my bag.” Spike hopped up on the table, and the blue mutant set about washing his hand and setting out his tools. Willow was becoming more nervous as the time went by. Had she done the right thing? What if this didn’t work, or there was some problem during surgery?
Hank turned around, and seeing her distress, told her, “Why don’t you and Alexander sit in the other room? I need to have full concentration.” Xander nodded and took Willow’s hand and led her into the living room. He knew this would be hard for both her and Spike.

After three hours, Hank stepped out of the kitchen. “Do you want to see him?” He asked. The surgery had been very trying on his part, because for one, he had only practiced brain surgery twice before, and second, this was his favorite niece’s love (Even if she didn’t know it yet.) But he was determined to help them. He smiled when he saw Willow rush past him, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before moving into the kitchen.

“Spike? Can you hear me?” The vampire on the table opened one golden eye, glanced at her, and closed it again. When he sat up and looked at her, his eyes were ice blue again.
“Red?”
“Does it hurt?”
“Not anymore.”


The End