A.N. – I own nothing. Joss does.
'The Hyena and thoughts'
"Regular Speech"
Angel noticed Xander's demeanor get a little defensive as they got closer to the Harris residence. Angel's eyes narrowed as he took in the house. Xander pulled keys out of the jean's pocket and unlocked the door and went in. The entire place smelled strongly of alcohol and human sweat to Angel and he saw Xander cover up her nose, shaking her head disappointedly. They passed the living room where the T.V. was going. Xander's mother was passed out on the couch, her father in the chair. Empty beer cans and liquor bottles littered the floor around their feet. Xander ducked her head to hide her blush, embarrassed that anyone had to see his parents.
"I'll be right back." She said, fleeing the hallway.
Pictures were on the wall in the hallway, some slanted sideways or had their glass broken. Xander as a little boy with an arm in a cast, with Willow at the playground, his fingers in splints. Leg casts, more finger splints, black eyes, bruises, scratches and the like. Angel stared in disbelief at the pictures and cast a dirty look in the direction of the living room, a small part of him glad that Xander wouldn't be coming back to this hell hole. Xander came back down with a box.
"Is that all your taking Xander?" Angel asked, frowning.
"It's the only things that are worth anything to me."
Angel nodded and they left the house. Xander paused in the yard, looking up at the house she'd spent her entire life in, before turning to catch up to Angel.
Angel and Xander entered the library to see Giles standing by himself looking through a book. The Watcher looked up when he heard the door open.
"Oh, Xander, Angel. I didn't think we'd being seeing you any time soon."
"Just looking for some slayage. Lay it on me, Watcher-man" Xander quipped.
"Buffy and Faith are already on patrol tonight I'm afraid. I'm sure you'd rather avoid a confrontation. "
Xander nodded, and sighed.
"Why don't you go out and see if you can rack up a higher slay count without running into Buffy. Test your senses; you should be able to sense them." Angel suggested.
Xander looked up, intrigued. Angel chuckled and took the box out of her hands.
"You go, have fun, I'll see you at home." He told her.
Xander nodded, grinning and took off down the hallway. She paused, sniffing the air and her eyes narrowed. She walked silently down the Chemistry wing and looked into one of the class rooms where Willow was messing with beakers and herbs.
"Haven't learned your lesson yet Willow." She growled, making the redhead jump.
"Xander!"
Willow got up and tried to go over to the brunette, but Xander growled at her.
"I thought Giles banned you from doing magic without his supervision."
The redhead looked guilty.
"Thought so, G-man doesn't know."
"I'm trying to banish the hyena! That way we can be friends again."
Xander scowled.
"Banishing the hyena wouldn't make us friends again, Willow. Not that you could. We started merging when you made me female."
'Pup! Behind you!'
Xander turned, only to be caught in a tight supernatural headlock.
" I need to borrow the little girl, you don't mind do you, luv?" a familiar voice purred in her ear.
Xander snarled and kicked out off the door jamb sending both him and Spike across a counter top, sending beakers and test tubes crashing to the floor. Spike pushed her aside and got up. Xander tried to get up but Spike punched her in the face, stunning her slightly. He turns to see Willow coming at him with a microscope and catches it mid-swing.
" 'S not nice threatening me, luv. We're all gonna be the best of friends." Spike said menacingly. He yanked the microscope out Willows hand and swings it around, hitting Xander hard in the temple, sending her into the wall, unconscious.
"Xander!"
Spike paused and looked at the brunette girl.
"So…puppy-boy got turned into a bird…interesting, your work?"
Willow nodded slowly.
"Good, your gonna do a spell for me. Do it, and both of you will get out of this alive." Spike threatened.
Spike set Xander on the remains of Dru's bed, and pushed Willow down to sit at the end. He dumped a box of magic supplies next to her.
"A spell. For me. You're gonna do a spell for me."
"What kind of spell?"
"A love spell. Are you fuckin' brain dead! I'm gonna get what's mine. Teach her to walk out on me!" Spike shouted, taking a long swallow of Jack Daniels. He turned to glare at Willow.
"What're you starin' at?"
"Nothing!"
Spike looked at her suspiciously.
"You can do it right? Make Dru love me again?"
" I c-can try"
Spike grabbed her by the neck and snarled. He smashed the bottle of Jack against the dresser and put it in Willow's face.
"There'll be no trying! Your gonna do it!"
"Right, I'll do it!."
Spike shook her, pressing the bottle to her neck.
"You lie to me, and I'll shove this through your face."
"No…please"
Spike shoved her away in disgust and sat down on the bed. He looked at Xander and ran his fingers through her dark curls.
"It was the truce with Buffy that did it. Said I'd gone soft. Soft! I told her it didn't mean anything, but she wouldn't listen. Then I found her making time with a sodding Chaos demon! Have you seen those things? All slime and antlers, they are. It's disgusting!" Spike sniffled.
Willow patted his knee awkwardly. "There, there."
Spike continued to play with Xander's hair, even as the girl slowly came too, staring at him blearily.
Spike smirked at her as Xander stiffened. He turned his head to scowl at Willow.
"Get started." He growled.
Willow went over to the box and looked through it.
"There are other ingredients…and a spell book, this isn't the right one."
"You got the one you need?"
"Y-yes, it's at home." Willow stuttered.
"You get the book and the ingredients and be back here or I'll skin your little friend alive. If I even smell a hint of Slayer, I'll kill her." Spike snarled.
Willow nodded, flinching away from the blonde.
Spike watched her leave and turned to Xander who was sitting up.
"You may wanna watch spells from Willow, you'll end up like me."
Xander touched her temple gingerly and winced. She rubbed some of the blood away, revealing mild bruising but otherwise no laceration.
"That's impressive, didn't know human girls could heal that quickly."
Xander's eyes flashed green and she growled.
"So you've got a little something extra. Fascinating, wanna tell me why you're wearing Dru's clothes."
"I didn't have anything else, not exactly speaking to Buffy or Willow" Xander muttered.
Spike cocked his head to the side.
"You? Not all chummy with the Slayer anymore?"
Xander glared.
"I'm a girl because I lied about Willow re-souling Angel. Buffy got mad and through a temper tantrum and Willow decided to give me what I deserve."
Spike blinked.
"They turned you into a bird, cuz you told one little lie? Cor, I'd hate to see if they hadn't liked you beforehand. " he muttered.
Xander nodded forlornly.
"Sorry about Drusilla." She offered. Spike hung his head with a sigh.
"She didn't even cut off my head, or set me on fire. I mean is that too much to ask? You know? Some sign that she cared?"
Xander rubbed his shoulder.
"Maybe if she's gonna be so unreasonable, you should torture her or something."
Spike looked up.
"Your right, I should go torture her….and make her love me again."
Xander nodded.
Spike got up, and stormed out and Xander sighed. She got up and wobbled her way out of the warehouse, heading back to the mansion.
Angel looked up when he heard the door of the mansion open.
"Xander?" he called.
"Yeah."
Xander walked in and Angel shot up out of the chair.
"What happened?"
"Spike. Dru left him for a Chaos demon. He wanted Willow to do a love spell for him. He got me after I caught Willow trying to banish the Hyena."
Angel's eyes widened.
"You may wanna make sure he's really leaving town." Xander muttered.
Angel made her sit down and left to go make sure Spike really left town.
A.N.- I couldn't resist using Lover's Walk. And yes, Spike still went to see Joyce, I just don't feel like putting it in. Enjoy!