Serious Conversations, Good News

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Continued from here.

Wesley looked at Spike steadily. "And what do you think that is?"

Comments

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"None of your concern," Spike said bluntly.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Aware of the sinking feeling in his chest that came with rejection despite the fact that he should have learned better long, long before now, Wesley took a shallow breath and let it out silently. "No, of course it's not. I shouldn't have..." He wouldn't finish that sentence, and just shook his head slightly.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike could see Wesley's face fall, and he felt guilty for being so curt. "Look, mate, you're a nice enough bloke, but you're still Angel's friend."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"And that makes me untrustworthy." Wesley wasn't sure why he felt disappointed -- it wasn't as if he particularly cared what Spike thought of him. Or at least, it wasn't as if he should care.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"That makes you loyal to him, which is a major character flaw but something I can usually overlook," Spike said with enough of a grin to take the edge off of his words.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"You don't need to explain," Wesley said. "You certainly don't owe me any --" He was interrupted by the phone ringing, and quickly reached for it.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike sighed, frustrated that Wesley seemed to be taking more personally than necessary Spike's unwillingness to talk about certain subjects. It's not that he thought that Wesley couldn't be trusted, but Angel's interests were obviously going to come before Spike's in his mind. That was how it should be among friends.

With a slight wave, Spike headed toward the door.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Giles," Wesley said, a little bit more loudly than he would have otherwise. No matter how the conversation went, after all, Spike deserved to hear it. "How are things?"

"Very well actually," Giles said. "And I've something for you. It's sitting here beside me on the sofa."

Calculating the hour in England, Wesley felt a smile spread across his face. "That's great. I'm so pleased -- thank you."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike stopped and turned, making no attempt to hide the fact that he was listening. If he had a beating - and corporeal - heart, he was sure it would have skipped when Giles said that he had something for Wesley.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Giles tried to brush off the thanks, but Wesley repeated it insistently. Then he asked, "What kind of condition is it in? Does it look how you expected it to?"

"It does seem to have survived the years well, but then, weapons are one of the things that tend to," Giles said. "Now the question is how to ship it to you. I take it the permits won't be any trouble?"

"None at all," Wesley agreed. "And Wolfram and Hart will pay for everything, of course, including the costs you racked up acquiring the thing." He glanced at Spike, who was clearly listening to the entire conversation, and raised an eyebrow.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike couldn't help himself; he smiled widely at Wesley. He wasn't out of the woods, but he was delighted by the news that the sword existed and would soon be in their hands. In his hands, only figuratively speaking, of course, but soon that could change, too. If Angel had to pay for it all, the whole situation was that much better.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

They worked out the details of having the blade shipped, then Wesley asked Giles to hold for a moment and pushed the proper button on the phone. He looked at Spike. "Is there anything you'd like me to ask, while I've got him on the line? Or anything you'd like to say?"

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Alarmed by the thought and distrustful of the technology, Spike shook his head.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"All right." Wesley set the phone back to normal. "Sorry, Giles, someone came in that I needed a word with. Well, give everyone our best, if you will, and I'll let you know as soon as the blade arrives. And thank you again."

He hung up the phone.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Guess old Rupert is good for something, after all," Spike said.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Apparently so." Wesley jotted down a few notes, reminding himself to let Harmony know that he was expecting a package. "It should be here by tomorrow night if everything goes as planned."

Almost speaking to himself at this point, he said, "I need to get that powdered bone, and I'll have to check the supply vault for the Dragon's Blood. Oh, and find out where the amulet ended up."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike felt as awkward and unneeded as always when Wesley was focused on his work, but he forced himself to speak up.

"Anything I can do?" he asked.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley realized he'd been essentially ignoring Spike, and thought back over what he'd just been saying. "See if you can locate the amulet?" he suggested. "I'm sure it's been put somewhere for safekeeping. Er, for that matter, maybe you already know where it is."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"It's in some storage room," Spike said. "I'll figure out which one."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

"Good, good. And find me tomorrow -- chances are good the blade won't arrive before... oh, three in the afternoon at the very earliest. But I think we'll be able to do the spell tomorrow night."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Spike blinked at him for a moment, surprised at how quickly everything was coming together, and then nodded. He took a step toward the door, then turned back.

"Uh... thank you. Don't know anyone else who could've done this so fast." Spike held up a hand to fend off Wesley's expected protest. "No, the spell hasn't actually worked yet, but you've found a ritual to do something that probably hasn't been done before, figured out what you needed, and managed to find an object that supposedly doesn't exist. Guess showing up in this bloody place wasn't such a bad thing for me after all."

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Wesley stopped everything and just looked at Spike. "Yes. Well, it's..." He shook his head, not knowing how to put into words how grateful he was for the distraction -- for the need to concentrate so completely on something. "I'll see you tomorrow."

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

"Right." Spike gave him a final nod and walked through the door.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Continues here (http://www.livejournal.com/community/reality_bends/4269.html).