Awake = Arguing. Apparently.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Continued from here.

Wesley was struck suddenly by how much this conversation reminded him of the one he'd had with Angel only a few weeks before, when he'd had to defend the fact that he'd taken Fred with him to meet Emil at the warehouse. God, that seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Sometimes," he said carefully, "there's a difference between what someone wants and what he needs."

Comments

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

His voice barely above a whisper, Wesley said, "I really am sorry."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"I know," Spike said, running his hand down Wesley's arm again, this time entwining their fingers instead of pulling away. "Thank you. But I should've told you, anyway, so it's all right."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley let his hand be held passively. He couldn't tell if Spike genuinely wanted the contact or was just trying to console him, and he'd run out of things to say.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike had the feeling that nothing he could say or do would matter to Wesley, but when he attempted to pull his hand back Wesley's fingers tightened on his. "What I am not saying that you need to hear?" he asked finally, since he didn't think he had much chance of figuring it out on his own. "As far as I'm concerned, it's over, pet."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

A slight shrug was all Wesley could manage. "I suppose I need a few minutes to adjust to the idea that you aren't leaving," he said after a moment.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Take as long as you like. I'll be here," Spike said, squeezing Wesley's hand. He tried to focus on the fact that Wesley seemed upset about the thought of him leaving and not on how little Wesley knew him if he thought that Spike would.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

A few long seconds passed, then Wesley cleared his throat a bit and squeezed Spike's hand in return. "Should you really be on your feet?" he asked, attempting to get them back onto even ground.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"I don't feel any worse upright," Spike replied. The tension in his chest eased slightly.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"No?" Wesley reached out slowly with his other hand and rubbed his fingertips over a line at Spike's temple, soothing it away.