Spike ignored the ringing of the doorbell, figuring whoever it was would give up and go away eventually. However, when the ringing switched to relentless knocking, he sat up in annoyance. //If it's one of those bloody door-to-door salesman, I'll rip 'is lungs out -- sod the flamin' chip!//

He got up and stalked over to the door, wrenching it open. A man stood outside, hand raised, a shocked expression on his face. Spike looked him up and down, sneering. "Well?" he demanded. "What the bloody hell do you want?"

The man stepped back with a frown, as if uncertain that he was in the right place. He cleared his throat. "Um, I'm looking for Oz?"

Spike snorted. "Yeah, so?"

"I'm...sorry. I guess I must have gotten the wrong place."

"Well, maybe you did." Then Spike frowned and leaned forward, sniffing deeply. The man stepped away, taken aback by this odd behavior. Spike grinned wolfishly. "Hey, you're that bloke Oz was shaggin' last weekend, aren't you?"

"I don't -- how did you know?"

"Oh please," Spike scoffed. "The mutt came home with your smell all over him! Who the hell else could you be?"

"So...Oz does live here?"

"Yeah, sure. Didn't tell us he was expectin' you, though."

"Us?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, if we'd have known, we'd have fixed you dinner or something." He paused, cocking his head. "Actually, no we wouldn't have."

"You...live with Oz?"

Spike rolled his eyes. "At the risk of sounding like a bloody teeny- bopper or something...duh! You're not a real quick one, are you?" Then he gave the man a look that was frankly appraising. "Then again, with looks like that, why would you need to be?" Spike laughed at the man's angered expression. He stepped back, gesturing expansively. "What are you waiting for? Come in already."

The man glared at Spike, but accepted the invitation. Once inside, he looked around the apartment curiously. "So, where is Oz?" he asked.

Spike shrugged. "Out," he replied. "Dunno what he's doin', but chances are, he'll bring back a bit of dosh." He waved a hand at the sofa, waiting for the man to sit down. "Make yourself at home, mate. I'm gonna go fix m'self somethin' to eat." He left the room without a backwards glance.

Xander woke, stretching with a grunt. He yawned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Crawling from the bed, he stood and dressed quickly. He stretched again, then shot an irritated glare at the rumpled covers. //Man, gotta stop taking all these naps. I'm not a baby!//

Sighing, he pulled open the door and left the room. Judging from the noises in the kitchen, he figured Spike was in there making himself dinner. //Or lunch. Or whatever meal this is for vampires.// He decided to go see if he could help.

He stopped abruptly, noticing the man on the sofa. "H-Hi," he said, backing up slightly. he wasn't used to them having visitors, just Willow and Tara on occasion.

The man looked up at him, a flash of something -- irritation? -- flickering in his eyes. //Great, *another* one!// Aloud, he asked, "And who might you be?"

Xander swallowed, his eyes darting around the room. "Um, I'm...Xander." He licked his lips nervously.

The man nodded. "Xander. And...I suppose you live here too?"

"Yeeeah," Xander replied. Then he straightened. "Well, who are you?"

The man snorted, coming to his feet and moving to stand in front of Xander. "I'm Lindsey," he said, holding out a hand.

Looking at the hand without taking it, Xander wondered about the thin scar running its circumference.

Lindsey let out a bitter laugh, pulling his hand back. "Ok. Guess not."

"W-Why are you here?" Xander asked.

"Thought I'd drop in on Oz," was the reply.

"Oh. I didn't know Oz was expecting company."

"He wasn't," Lindsey answered abruptly.

The tone of his voice made Xander swallow nervously. Warily, he inched around the man, heading for the vacated sofa. He flinched imperceptibly when Lindsey followed, sitting down next to him.

"So, you and your...'friend' live here with Oz? He didn't tell me he had roommates."

"Yeah. He's, uh, he's letting us crash here for a while."

"Huh." Lindsey studied the young man, noticing how nervous he seemed in his presence. Hoping to reassure him, he reached a hand out, pulling it back when he noticed the flash of panic crossing Xander's face. "Sorry," he offered. "Didn't mean to startle you."

"No, um, that's ok." Xander twitched uncomfortably, wishing Spike would come out. His hands fiddled with the hem of his shirt, stretching out the fabric. Beads of sweat popped up on his forehead, and he wiped at them with a trembling hand.

A noise from the kitchen captured their attention. After a moment, Spike sauntered out, carrying a full glass in his hand. He frowned at the close proximity between his human and the newcomer. Noticing Xander's distress, he set his glass down on the coffee table and sat between the two, forcing Lindsey to scoot down. "You all right, pet?" he asked softly, stroking one of Xander's hands.

"Yeah," he answered quietly, then cleared his throat. "H-How long has Lin-Lindsey been here?"

Spike lifted an eyebrow, turning to the other man on the sofa. "Lindsey? That your name? Kind of nancyish, don't y'think?"

Lindsey was only half-listening to him, eyes locked on the glass of dark, ruby liquid in front of him. "Y-Yeah, sure," he answered, distracted. "Um, is that--?"

Spike picked up his glass. "What, blood?" He took a long sip, then flashed crimson fangs at Lindsey. "Course it is, mate. What else you expect a vamp t'be drinkin'?"

"Shit!" Lindsey jumped up off the sofa. //What *is* it with me and vampires!?//

"Oh, relax!" Spike scoffed. "I'll only bite you if you ask me *real* nicely."

Shaking his head in confusion, Lindsey stammered, "But-but Oz--"

"What, you're worried 'bout the mutt?" Spike grimaced. "Please. Can't bloody *stand* the taste of werewolves."

Lindsey backed up slowly. "This is...this is just *too* weird." He'd almost made it to the door when it suddenly opened.

Oz walked in, kicking it shut behind him. "Hey Lindsey," he said absently as he walked across the living room toward his bedroom. "Hey Spike, Xander."

He came to a sudden halt. Turning back slowly, he stared at the man by the door. "Lindsey? What are you doing here?"

"Long story. Quit my job, had to leave L.A."

Spike snickered. "Sounded short enough to me!"

Oz quirked an eyebrow at the vampire. "Shut up, Spike." He heard a pained groan, and again turned his attention to Lindsey. The man seemed to be extremely shaken up. "You ok, Linds?" he asked.

Lindsey just dropped into a chair, gazing at Spike with a sort of pathetic horror. "Spike?" he repeated dazedly. "Spike!?"

Smirking, Spike preened just a bit. "Heard of me, eh?"

Lindsey covered his face with his hands, whimpering softly. "Someone...hates me," he muttered. "Someone really, *really* hates me!"

Oz frowned. "Ah, Linds? You have a hand. How'd you get a hand?"

"Most blokes are born with 'em, you know," Spike interjected.

"Shut...Up...Spike," Oz said. "Linds?"

Lindsey laughed somewhat hysterically. "Yeah, a hand. I've got a hand. It's an evil hand, but it's a hand."

Spike perked up at that bit of news, and opened his mouth to inquire further. However, he wisely decided to refrain from commenting when Oz shot one of his 'annoyed glares' his way.

"Part of that long story?" Oz asked.

"Oh yeah."

Oz nodded. "You want a drink or something?"

"Sure, whatever."

Oz moved toward the kitchen, pausing briefly. "Spike, you wanna come with me?"

Spike thought about protesting, but gave in when the werewolf just continued to stare at him implacably. He grudgingly followed the smaller man, and again Xander was left alone with Lindsey. He wasn't quite as nervous this time, though, as he realized that the other man seemed even more jittery than he.

Lindsey practically quivered with nervous energy and, unable to remain seated, he soon got up and began pacing across the room. Without really noticing, he snagged the pencil and pad of paper that were kept by the phone, tapping the pencil against his thigh as he walked.

Xander watched. After a few minutes, he let out a brief chuckle. "Um, gettin dizzy here," he offered in an attempt at humor.

Lindsey stilled. "Sorry." He let out a sigh and sat down again. His right hand, still holding the pencil, lifted and began absently doodling on the pad of paper.

Oz walked back into the room, trailed by Spike, who appeared to be suitably chastised. The werewolf came to stand beside Lindsey, and his brow wrinkled. He cleared his throat. "Ah, Lindsey?"

The lawyer looked up at him. "Yes?"

Leaning over, Oz took away the pad of paper, staring at the scrawlings curiously. Spike peered over his shoulder at the shaky handwriting. One word, 'KILL', littered the surface, occasionally underlined as if for emphasis.

Spike snorted. "Frustrated much?" he muttered softly. "Ouch!" He rubbed the ribs Oz had just elbowed.

Oz didn't even bother turning to look at the vampire. "What's all this, man?" he asked Lindsey calmly.

"Shit. I'd hoped that had stopped."

"I'm assuming this is part of that evil hand thing you were talking about?"

Lindsey closed his eyes exhaustedly. "You could say that, yes."

"You look like shit, Linds," Oz commented.

That got him a bark of laughter from the lawyer. "God, I just love it when you whisper sweet nothings to me."

Oz's lips stretched into a grin. "At this point, you'll just have to settle for the offer of a bath and a bed."

"Does that offer of a bed include you?"

"It could happen."

The lines on Lindsey's face softened, and he reached out to take hold of Oz's arm. "Missed you, baby," he murmured softly.

"Ditto." Oz leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips. "C'mon, let's get you settled."

Xander watched, wide-eyed, as the two disappeared into Oz's room. "Spike? Oz kissed him. Why'd he do that?"

Spike blinked. "Well, that's his boyfriend and all, you know."

"But he-- I didn't know-- Oz isn't...is he?"

Shrugging, Spike replied, "Nothin' wrong with it, y'know."

A haunted expression stole across Xander's face. "It's bad," he whispered, sniffling quietly.

Spike frowned, sitting next to Xander and pulling him close, holding him against his chest. "Doesn't have to be, luv. Not when both blokes are willin'."

Xander looked unconvinced. "He...he doesn't hurt him?"

Sighing, he squeezed Xander tight. "Luv...there's so much you don't know about this sort of thing. What...happened to you -- that's not the way it always is." Spike struggled for the words to express himself. "With the right person, at the right time, it's...intense. And...*sexy*." He let out a wry chuckle. "It can be the greatest thing ever. It's not always about...pain, or power. Sometimes...sometimes it's about--" Spike took a breath and swallowed hard. "Sometimes it's about love," he admitted.

Xander laid his head on Spike's shoulder, tilting it to look the vampire in his eyes. "Have you--" he started to ask, then stopped.

Spike gave him a sad smile. "Both ways, luv."

"Oh." Xander's hands tightened around Spike's waist. "I'm sorry."

"S'ok, Xan."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Xander yawned. Spike grinned. "Come on, to bed with you."

"Mmmm, not sleepy," Xander said through another yawn. Spike just raised an eyebrow. "I just got up!" came the protest.

"Uh-huh." Rolling his eyes, Spike stood, pulling Xander to his feet. "Well then, best get you fed I suppose."

The boy's stomach growled in approval of this suggestion, and Xander followed Spike into the kitchen, smiling.

*****
Part 28:

A freshly showered Lindsey walked out into the living room wearing a clean pair of pants and nothing else. He noticed that Xander was absent again.

Spike whistled. "Well Oz, certainly can't fault *your* taste."

Oz sighed, shaking his head bemusedly. He handed Lindsey a glass of soda. "Don't have anything stronger," he explained when Lindsey stared at the beverage curiously. "Xander--" he flicked a glance over at Spike, then continued, "Xander feels more secure if we don't keep any alcohol in the house."

"Huh." Lindsey nodded, then sipped cautiously at the drink.

Oz took a seat on the sofa, motioning for his boyfriend to join him. "So...wasn't expecting you."

Lindsey laughed briefly. "Yeah, I think we've covered that."

"You've looked better, Linds," the werewolf remarked bluntly.

"I imagine so," came the tired response. Then Lindsey lifted his right hand, twisting it back and forth as he stared at it with a mixture of revulsion and gratefulness. "But hey, at least I can play my guitar again!"

Oz reached out and captured the newly attached limb, fingers massaging gently. "Wanna talk about it?"

A sigh. "Sure, why not?" But he stared somewhat nervously at Spike.

Nodding, Oz stood, pulling Lindsey up with him. "C'mon." He pulled the other man to his bedroom, and the door closed gently behind them.

Spike sniffed. "Well, a bloke knows when he ain't wanted." With a roll of his eyes, he got up and went to join Xander in their room. He paused in the doorway, smiling at the sight of the boy, long limbs sprawling across the bed. With a fondly exasperated sigh, he walked over and pushed an arm aside, making room for himself. Stripping, he pulled on a pair of clean sweats, then climbed in beside Xander. He smiled as the boy automatically snuggled in close to him.

~~~~~~~~~~

Giles sighed as he hung up the phone. He supposed he should be thankful that no one matching Xander's description had as of yet turned up at the morgue, but it would be nice to get *some* sort of lead on the boy's whereabouts. Of course, Buffy was still firmly convinced that Xander had been turned, and was dead set on staking Spike...and Xander if need be.

Giles wasn't so sure, though. Something told him that Xander was alive. And that Spike's involvement in Xander's disappearance wasn't some part of a plot to get at Buffy like the Slayer thought. God knows, he loved Buffy like she was his own child, but sometimes the girl could be so...obtuse!

At least Willow appeared to be coping better. He'd thought for a while there that she was going to fall apart at the seams. Then suddenly, a few weeks ago, she'd simply...calmed. Of course, the two girls had taken to disappearing for odd intervals, becoming remarkably 'unavailable'. He was reluctant to chalk it up to hormones.

Giles frowned as he stared across the room at the two witches, who were chatting softly as they leafed through one of his many books. Actually, now that he stopped to think about it, those two had become remarkably reticent to speak about Xander lately. It was if...they knew something. Something that they weren't sharing. About Xander perhaps? But then, what reason would they have to keep it a secret? Although, if Willow *had* heard something about Xander, it would tend to explain the way she'd tried to tone down their ongoing search for the boy.

Perhaps those two were now involved in keeping him hidden?

Giles shook his head, clearing it of all that idle speculation. He had no proof of anything of the sort. Still...

He studied the girls once more, making a mental note to keep a close eye on them.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Wow." Oz blinked in a manner that conveyed his deep awe. "Heavy."

"Tell me about it."

They sat on Oz's bed in silence, Lindsey staring at his hand as he prodded the skin.

Oz watched for a bit, then chuckled. "So," he said suggestively, lying back on the bed. "Why don't you show me what your new hand can do?"

Lindsey's head shot up, taking in Oz's pose. He grinned, crawling up the smaller man's body. Straddling his slim waist, he leaned forward and pressed their lips together. Pulling away, he whispered, "Well, I can do this..." Both hands grasped the fabric of Oz's shirt, ripping it apart violently.

Eyes dilating with extreme arousal, Oz arched his back, grinding his body up into Lindsey's. He reached for his shoulders.

"And then there's this." Lindsey grabbed his hands, pushing them up over Oz's head and pressing them down. He kissed Oz again, smiling as the man began to writhe under him, trying halfheartedly to break free.

When his lips were finally released, Oz murmured, "Both of which are good things, I agree."

"Oh, you ain't seen nothin' yet, sugar." He almost snickered as he said that in a lilting tone, managing to catch himself and instead apply his new hand to the task of stripping them both out of the clothes they still had on.

Once he had Oz naked under him, he simply stared. There was something about the other man's body; so smooth and lean, hiding his deceptive strength. He licked his lips; and it was all his...

Scooting down, he lowered his head to Oz's lap, engulfing the erection he found there. Oz let out a strangled shout, clawing frantically at the bedsheets.

Xander woke, frowning at the strange noises coming form the other end of the apartment. There was a steady 'thump, thump' beating its rhythm on the wall, and it took him a moment to place the sound. When he did, he stiffened.

"Luv, you 'kay?" came the groggy question from his bedmate.

Xander didn't answer, instead listening wide-eyed to the moans and muffled shouts drifting into their room.

Spike came fully awake. "Xan?" A rather loud yell caught his attention, and he suddenly figured out what it was Xander was listening to. //Bugger it. Couldn't they bloody keep it down?// He sat up carefully, pulling Xander to his chest. "Wanna talk about it?" he asked, unconsciously mimicking Oz's earlier words to Lindsey.

Xander took a deep breath. "They're...um..."

"Shagging, yes. An' bein' bloody loud about it, too. Damned rude of 'em if you ask me."

"You...you're sure he's not hurting him?"

"Positive, luv. They're just havin' a bit of fun."

Xander continued listening until the sounds drifted off. He shifted. "Spike?"

"Yeah, pet?"

"That look Lindsey gave Oz before he kissed him..." his voice trailed off.

"Yeah?" Spike coaxed.

Ducking his head, Xander traced random lines across the vampire's chest. "You...you look at me like that sometimes," he whispered.

//Hell.// Spike cleared his throat nervously. "I do?" He cursed at the slight squeak in his voice. He felt Xander nod. "Oh. I can...stop if you like." //Yeah, like maybe if someone rips my eyeballs out.//

Xander shrugged. "It's ok." He seemed to struggle for more words. "Spike?"

"Uh-huh?"

"Do you...do you wanna...kiss me? Like that?"

Spike sighed. "Doesn't matter what I want, Xan. I won't do anything to you unless you want me to. Ok?"

"Ok." Silence, then, "But Spike?"

The vampire stifled a groan. "Yes?"

"You want to, don't you?"

//Just tell him, y'coward!//

{Sod off! You and your bossy ideas. Liable to get a vamp in trouble.}

//Tell him. Please?//

Spike squeezed Xander gently. "Wouldn't mind," he admitted softly.

"Oh."

Spike was somewhat surprised the Xander didn't pull away from him then, but he wasn't going to argue. Instead, he scooted them back down until they were once more lying in bed.

"Night, Spike."

"Night, Xan." He stroked the boy's hair for a moment, then grew still. He had almost fallen asleep again when he felt Xander pull out of his arms. He forced himself to let go.

His eyes flew open with shock, however, when he felt a warm pair of lips brush softly across his own. It lasted the barest instant, then Xander resettled his head on Spike's chest.

Knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep again for a while, Spike was content to hold Xander as the boy drifted off. He stared up through the darkness at the ceiling. //God...or whoever's listenin' up there...don't you fuckin' let this be a dream!// He glared. //Amen.//

Listening to Xander's even breathing, he smiled. //Love you, Xan. Maybe...just maybe, we got a chance.

Finit