Backfire - Spander Files

“Come on, Xander,” she coaxed, hand held tight to her side which possibly
contained bruised or broken ribs.
Xander looked at her a bit shocked. It hadn’t occurred to him to go with Buffy. “Do
you need help?”
Buffy blinked, considering. “Um, no. I’ll be alright. But it’s time to go.”
“I think I’ll stay here.”
She glanced over at Angel who looked confused. Turning back she asked, “Why?”
Xander took a moment to re-inspect the wounds on Spike’s face and hands. It was
probably nothing that wouldn’t heal in a few days; kinda hard to tell under all the
blood. But when Xander saw the look in Spike’s eyes, he knew that he couldn’t
leave.
He stood up and took Buffy’s arm, walking her over to the entrance of the crypt. He
spoke softly, knowing the vampires could hear him anyway. “Look at him, Buffy.
He needs help.”
She peeked past him at the creature slumped on the ground. Shrugging, she said,
“He’s no worse off than me.”
Xander tried to be patient. “Physically, yes. He’ll heal, just like you. But,
Buff…you didn’t just lose the love of your life. He did.”
Buffy looked confused. “Angel can take care of him.”
Xander pulled her outside the crypt where perhaps they couldn’t be heard. “He can,
but he won’t. Listen…,” he tried to gather his thoughts, “I don’t fully understand
the relationship between Angel and Spike. But in the almost three months since I’ve
been living with them, they have never uttered a kind word to each other. Not once.
Spike might be an evil soulless creep of a vampire, but he loved that Drusilla. And
anyone going through that kind of pain doesn’t deserve to be alone. And even with
Angel in there, he’s alone.”