Backfire - Spander Files

It was a long time before Xander’s body was fully functional again. Angel seemed
to sense when that was, so he let go, and they walked wordlessly into the kitchen.
Xander sat at the small breakfast table, and Angel proceeded to make hot cocoa.
The silence continued until Angel put the mugs on the table and took a seat across
from Xander.
“We’re out of the little marshmallows,” Angel told Xander apologetically.
“Remember to put it on the list.” Xander gestured to the magnetic pad of paper
attached to the refrigerator door.
“It’s on there.”
“I don’t know if I really stop him from killing. He probably wouldn’t, even if I
wasn’t there.”
“You’re wrong. You are the only thing stopping him. Don’t worry. After the two of
you leave, I get them help. Most are fine. A couple have been borderline, but they
got better after a few days.”
“Why haven’t you stopped him?”
“It’s his nature, Xander. If I can’t lock him up, or kill him, then I have to monitor
him.”
Xander took a sip of his chocolate and burned his tongue. He kept his fingers laced
tightly around the hot mug and continued the conversation quietly, speaking into the
rising steam.
“Why haven’t you stopped me?”
“It’s your nature, too.”
“I’m human. How is it my nature?”
“You’re falling for Spike.” Xander shook his head in automatic denial. “Yes, you
are. And like any young man in love, you want to be around the object of your