Backfire - Spander Files

Xander didn’t know. How much time had passed? An hour? A day? A week?
“Angelus was dust barely twelve hours ago,” Giles answered the questions that
Xander hadn’t known he’d asked out loud.
Xander looked down at himself for the first time. His eyes widened. “This is new.”
Giles turned toward a terrified Willow. “Get the first aid kit…NOW!” he shouted at
her frozen form.
Willow jumped and ran back to the bedroom to gather the kit she had recently been
using on Spike. Xander heard his vampire shout expletives at his friend, but did not
hear Willow respond. When she returned, Giles set about cleaning Xander’s
wounds.
“How’s Spike?” Xander asked Willow, but got nothing in return as she stared at
Xander’s arm. “Willow!” Her eyes lifted to meet his. “How’s Spike?”
Willow’s brow wrinkled into an expression that Xander had rarely seen. Then it
was smooth again and she answered, “Better. He can’t walk yet, but it won’t be
long.”
Xander stood up quickly, causing Giles to fall back in alarm. He was almost to the
bedroom when Willow caught his uninjured arm and spun him around.
“What is with you, Xander?”
“What? Spike’s hurt. I’m going to see him.”
“Okay. That’s it. You’re acting crazy. Sit.” Xander glared at her. “SIT!”
He hesitated for just a moment, but seeing the look of resolve on his friend’s face,
Xander obeyed, taking a seat on the couch closest to the hallway. Giles immediately
sat next to him with the first aid kit and resumed his duties. Willow kneeled in front
of Xander and rested her hands on his knees. Xander was beginning to feel like a
false idol.