The column of red refused to fall. It had been two days. Two days since the exchange of minds. Rupert studied at his desk sipping a mug of blood through a straw.

Spike lay flat on the floor with electric fans playing over him. He was very brown. He had lived outside in the sun, refusing to come inside until sunstroke threatened. Rupert regarded his lover and wondered if Spike had forced "his" body to risk skin cancer! He couldn´t really stop Spike; he had missed the sun so much.

"Spike, do you want something to eat yet?"

"Aw. Gawd, no! I´m sick! You don´t care…" Came the moan from the floor.

"Well, now you know that too much sun isn´t good for you…" He smiled as he toyed with his glasses, glancing at the nut-brown ankle and tried "the warming" again. It worked this time.

He watched with lust filled eyes as Spike rose from the floor and appeared by his side. The vampiric game face slid into position and, slipping from his chair he licked the engorged overheated cock, of his lover whilst gripping his hips and gently nipping the sweet succulent flesh of his inner thigh. They had decided that this was the safest place from which to feed for the duration. As he lapped up the blood he reinforced the thrall, leaving the wound to weep, he captured his lover´s cock swallowing its hot length.

Spike lunged into Rupert´s mouth with a gasp. He felt as though he was melting. It was almost worth having heat stroke just to have this treatment. He stared down at the bobbing blond head feeling the tug of his climax creeping closer, chased by his pounding heart and ragged gasps for breath. He finally exploded into the welcoming cavern of his lover´s throat.

Spike shivered from the sudden chill as the thrall faded. The blond vampire got up after sealing the bite wound and tilted his head to study the human´s expression.

Rupert shot a question over his shoulder as he walked into the kitchen, "Tea?"

Spike paused whilst carefully easing himself into his jeans. "Ta love, any biscuits?"

When the tea was brewed he brought the mugs into the living room. Spike was dressed in his jeans. He accepted the tea and sipped it. Rupert sniffed the aroma he had tried his favourite drink, but it had turned his vampire stomach. Spike tolerated the tea because Rupert had made it for him.

They were partaking of tea in companionable silence when the Slayer arrived.

"Giles! Giles? My God! Giles, when did you become a sun worshipper?"

The two men shared a nervous glance between them. Buffy studied them, her suspicions aroused. "You two look very chummy…."

Clearing his throat, Spike tried out his "Giles" voice. Because they hadn´t retained the same speech rhythms and inflections when the mind change-over occurred.

"Something, I can do for you Sl…Buffy?" He took an extra long swallow of tea to cover his name mistake.

"Uh.. Yes. Demon´s. Uhm whole nest of ´em. Sorry, Spike," She added addressing the vampire. "Riley found them you can´t come out to play." She smiled sweetly at him.

"You want mm me? To come with you and soldier boy? Without…." Spike jumped as he was dug in the ribs. "Right fine, lemme get dressed. I´ll be out in a sec…" He grinned at her and Buffy retreated frowning with a shake of her head.

Spike thundered downstairs leaping the last three steps and smiled at Rupert. Who rolled his eyes, the weapons bag was open on the desk. He held his left hand out of sight. Spike´s smile faded as he sensed something was wrong.

"Show me…" He murmured. Rupert reluctantly showed him his scalded palm.

"The screw top of one of the bottles was loose, everything´s damp. I´m alright Spike, it was just a shock…" Spike looked at the pale hand disfigured and reddened. He brought it to his lips, kissing the heat of the burn. A tear dropped onto the hand.

"I´m sorry. If I hadn´t insulted Ethan, we wouldn´t be in this fix." Spike moaned.

Rupert smoothed the hair back from Spike´s bronzed forehead, catching his breath as Spike´s lips brushed his, warm and soft a farewell kiss. He clutched Spike wrapping his arms about the human´s warm body, not caring if his Slayer discovered them or not. The kiss came to an end with Willow´s presence in the room. Spike´s grip of his hand lingered as he backed off toward the door and danger.

"Take care… Hurry back!" Rupert cried. Then he was alone, or so he thought…. Because he heard a familiar chuckle from the corner of his living room. He shuddered, then realised he was stronger and could take Ethan easily… But he forgot about the chip and when he struck the first blow it was like a canon shell blasting through his head. He was helpless.

"Well, well. You awake yet? C´mon it´s no fun if you keep going away like that. I only held you in the water for a short while.." Ethan complained.

He opened his eyes convincing himself it´s only water, why did it feel like his cock had just been dipped in boiling acid? His hands were bound above him with a chain made from crucifixes, his toes just brushing the floor. The suns unbearable glare was muted by the stained glass of the abandoned church. He shook his head in confusion. The sun? It had been night when Spike left the apartment. Then Rupert realised, he was dealing with Ethan… He had found a way to simulate daylight and use it as a means of torture. If he were in his right mind he´d applaud! Ethan paced round him bathed in the multicoloured Holy light.

"Ethan…" He moaned. "Let me go. You don´t know what you´re do.." He stopped as Ethan angled a mirror to re-direct a beam of sunlight onto the bare, pale chest. He jerked and screamed trying to escape the play of the light.

Rupert´s mind faltered, he was fairly sure Spike wouldn´t scream but he wasn´t used to water and daylight hurting his body. He kicked out in frustration at Ethan and was rewarded by another explosion in his head. Just before he blacked out he used the thrall to contact Spike…

Spike ducked the sword wielded by the demon and smirked just before he smashed his fist into its face. He adored the feel of broken bones and cartilage beneath his fingers. He drew his right hand back and the pommel of his sword thrust forcefully into the stomach of the demon behind him. He spun on his heel and sliced both of them in two laughing as he was bathed with their blood.

Buffy and Willow had dispatched their demons fairly early on but "Giles" had given chase to the remaining pack and launched a one-man crusade.

"Wills, look at him…He look´s like…like Spike on AB-negative. Do you think Spike´s living with him has affected Giles in some way?"

Willow stared, as Spike finally stood alone in the clearing breathing hard and grinning like a maniac. He stared at his sword and ran his fingers along its tip, collecting the blood that dripped from its point. Willow shook her head, hoping he wouldn´t do what she thought he was going to do.

Spike´s fingers halted on the way to his lips. His eyes focusing in the middle distance. He walked forward blindly. "Rupert…" He shook his head and sheathed his sword.

"RED!" He shouted. "I´m off hunting, Rupert is in trouble… ´Splain things?" Buffy rounded on Willow who smiled weakly. She glanced back to where Spike had stood. A sudden wind whipped her hair and she smelt rain on the breeze.

Ethan put the small blowtorch on the floor. He ran his hand up the pale thigh, the skin peeled off at his touch to reveal new marble flesh beneath…

"Vampire healing…" The voice rasped bitterly. "Spoiling your fun is it?" The blond was resisting everything now, getting used to the sensations his body gave him. His game face showed all the time, it was the only thing he couldn´t control.

Spike´s demon paced at the open door of his cell knowing he could never leave to wreak havoc. Another had displaced his master, his Spike, and he found himself doubly neutered.

Then this … human began the torture of his master´s body and he was royally pissed! He´d have Ethan. He´d make him pay any side of Hell!

Spike sent out feelers of warmth, seeking out the answering vibrations of his lover. He prowled the warehouse district, dusting the odd curious vamp. Mostly the creatures of the night stayed away. He created a dangerous spectacle, resembling a demon himself as he stalked in the heavy moonlight, drenched in demons blood. He halted in front of a church. There was a generator humming by the buttressed wall. He mounted the steps two at a time, this was the place. He closed down the link and slipped into the church unnoticed.

"Ethan, you Pillock!" Rupert´s voice was a harsh whisper. "You´ll never break this body. He´s immortal. I know you too well, your game is over because you have never broken me…"

He looked up at the crucifix chains which bound him and pulled with all his might. The chains didn´t give way but the beam that held them secure did. He fell in a heap into a shaft of daylight as the heavens opened and cold rain bathed his back. He screamed as his hands flamed. Lightening arced through the night sky striking the generator and killing the artificial daylight.

The demon stopped pacing. Spike was back where he belonged! The wretched human lover had fled at the first drop of rain….

Spike rolled onto his side exhausted. The flame slowly extinguished itself. Ethan came closer to the vampire, his toe kicking the inert form. He stepped back and sighed, he wouldn´t be anywhere near Ripper in the near future…

The sound of a match being struck made him turn slowly on the spot… He gulped when he saw a grinning, smoking devil step from the shadows, one palm loosely resting on the pommel of his sword.

"´ello Ethan…." The man known as Ripper looked skyward as the rain started. "Look´s like rain. Fancy some pain…?" He slashed the sword through the air a few times slicing Ethan´s shirt.

Spike´s hands shook as he accepted the cup of blood, his wrists bled. He savoured the brew.

"It´s the blood of the vanquished. He´ll never hurt you again, I promise." Spike´s head relaxed into Rupert´s chest. He looked over to where Ethan lay still in a bloody heap.

"You killed him?" He had to ask, knowing that the answer would be no. Rupert shook his head. "Pity."

"How did you stand it so long?" Spike surveyed his body and the marks on it still healing slowly.

"I made a lot of noise! Ethan likes that, I realised pretty quickly I couldn´t fight him…" He tapped Spike´s skull gently. "How do you stand the pain?" He asked quietly. Spike shrugged.

"I use the gab, mate. I talk my way out of things now. Peaches said I had a silver tongue…" He smiled.

Rupert grinned down at him, kissing his upturned lips. "You have at that… Let´s get you home and rested, then you can demonstrate that silver tongue of yours…" He Helped Spike to his feet and walked from the church into the storm that had broken their enchantment.

END

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