Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all related characters and storylines are copyright Joss Whedon and company. Prison Break and all related characters and storylines are copyright Paul Scheuring and company.

Author Notes: This was written before I'd seen season three, but I knew about the escape from spoilers. As such, as far as this series is concerned, Alex never joined Whistler and Gretchen after the breakout. And it will mostly ignore season four, unless they provide me with something I think will be good for the series.
Post-season five of "Angel: the Series". Doesn't comply with the comics. LA is no longer demon-infested. The Scoobies know about Spike return to the world of the living.

---

Spike glanced up at the mirror when the beads covering the entrance to the bar rattled. He wasn’t the only one to look up either. The human that entered could be smelt by most in the bar – and not just because he was human. His face, hair and clothes were dirty and even another human could have smelt the stench coming from him.

Most of the demons looked away after a few seconds; even they had standards when it came to feeding, and a lot preferred clean over dirty. Spike kept looking; there was something interesting and familiar about the man. He couldn’t see his face because it was kept down and he had a cap on, pulled low. Shoving his hands in his pockets, the stranger made his way down the steps and headed straight for the bar, sliding into a seat four down from Spike.

“What you after?” the bar-demon asked.

“Cheapest beer you ...”

The stranger trailed off. Mid sentence he’d glanced up and caught sight of what was serving him. The demon scowled as the stranger stared at the horns and blue skin.

“What are you staring at?”

The stranger shut his mouth and swallowed. “Nothing. A water, please.”

He looked back down at the bar top and then glanced around the room. Spike watched with amusement as shock, fear, and disbelief crossed his face. The stranger didn’t even notice when the bar-demon placed the glass of water in front of him. Eventually the stranger’s eyes moved around to land on Spike and the vampire felt the relief wash over the stranger at seeing another human – or so he thought at least.

The stranger looked away quickly when Spike made eye contact; finally noticing the glass of water, he gulped it down in one go.

“Look like you needed that,” Spike said. The stranger glanced at him.

“Yeah.”

“Look like you could do with a shower too.”

The stranger just shrugged, toying with the glass. He glanced at the bar-demon a few times, obviously wanting to order another drink but not wanting to speak to the thing.

“He won’t bite,” Spike said. The stranger glanced at him. “Not unless you provoke him anyway.”

Spike had to hold back a laugh at the stranger’s face. “Relax. He’s a nice fellow.”

The stranger didn’t look convinced. Spike called to the demon.

“Hey, top me up. And a beer for the fellow.”

The demon nodded and did so. Spike took his drink and moved down to sit beside the stranger.

“I’m Spike, by the way.”

The stranger wrapped his hands around the bottle. Spike noticed the slight quiver as he held it and watched as the man seemed to struggle with a decision. Eventually he said, “Alex.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Yeah. You too.”

He unscrewed the lid from his drink and took a sip.

“Thanks. For the beer.”

Spike waved it off. “It takes the edge of a bit.”

Alex looked up.

“Seeing demon’s for the first time,” Spike explained.

“Demons.”

“What’d you think we are?”

It took a second for the words to click with Alex but Spike knew exactly when they did because the fear around Alex increased.

“We?”

Spike smiled slightly and downed the rest of his whiskey. “Yeah. You’re the only human in this bar, kid.”

Alex frowned and eyed Spike, his annoyance at the term temporarily over-ruling his fear.

“Who'd you think you’re calling a kid? You’re barely thirty.”

Spike laughed. “What are you? Forty? Forty-five?”

“Something like that.”

“I’ve got a hundred years on you.”

Alex laughed harshly. “Right. You’re hundred and forty-odd years old. Like I’m gonna believe that.”

“You’re sittin’ in a bar surrounded by demons, Alex. It really that hard to believe?”

Alex looked around the room then back at Spike. “Let’s say I did believe you, how would you live so long anyway?”

Spike shrugged nonchalantly. “Vampire.”

Alex stared at him and then laughed. Spike looked at him. He’d spent long enough around Drusilla to recognise a hint of madness when he heard it and he could hear it clearly in Alex’s laugh.

“Vampire. That’s good.”

Spike smirked. He waited for the man to look at him and then put his game face on. Alex yelped and scrambled backwards, falling of his stool in the process. Several demon’s looked his way, sniggering. Alex glanced at them and then back at Spike, whose face was back to its human form. He held out a hand to the man but Alex scrambled away. He got to his feet and backed up a few steps before turning and running from the bar, pulling his cap down nervously over his face.

Spike felt a slight twinge of guilt at the back of his mind for scaring the man but he shrugged it off. It wasn’t his problem what happened to the man. He was already crazy to some extent, he would probably only think he was even more so.

He was therefore surprised when an hour later he left the bar and found Alex barely a hundred feet from the entrance, sat on the ground with his knees up. One arm was slung across his knees, the cap tightly grasped in his fist. The other hand rested on his head, nervously rubbing back and forth, messing up his dark hair even more. He was murmuring to himself.

“Knew I shouldn’t have taken that hit. Knew I shouldn’t. Demons?” He laughed. “Demons and vampires. Yeah. Hallucinations.”

He laughed again then looked up sharply when he heard Spike approached, scrambling to his feet and backing away. Spike held up his hands.

“Relax. I’m not gonna hurt you.”

“Well of course not,” Alex replied. “You’re not even real.”

Spike frowned. “I’m real. Look, I didn’t mean to scare you back there.”

Alex turned away, apparently intent on ignoring Spike, obviously believing that the ‘hallucination’ would disappear if he ignored it.

Spike approached the man cautiously and laid a hand on his shoulder. Alex flinched and pulled away but turned to Spike, looking him over.

“You’re real,” he stated. Spike nodded. Alex laughed. “I don’t know if that makes me more or less crazy.”

“Less I’d have thought.”

Alex didn’t look too sure. Spike found himself feeling sorry for the man.

“Hey, you got somewhere to stay for the rest of the night?”

Alex shook his head. He glanced up nervously when a couple of whore’s walked passed. They looked at him with disgust and he scowled.

“Why don’t you come back to mine for the night? You can grab a shower.”

Alex shook his head, pulling his cap back on. “I’m fine. Thanks.”

Spike frowned but nodded. He’d offered. He may have a soul but he wasn’t that nice. He watched the man wander off and then turned to head back to his apartment. He decided to take the longer route through a few cemeteries and back alleys, smoking and taking the time to admire the night sky. His time with Dru had taught him to appreciate the stars and the moon, even if they didn’t talk to him like they did for her.

He wasn’t far from his apartment when he heard the yells coming from an adjacent alley. Speeding up slightly, he went to investigate, seeing a fight between a vampire and human come to an abrupt end when the vampire sunk his teeth into the man. Breaking into a run, Spike pulled the vampire away, throwing him into the wall opposite and driving a stake through his heart before he even had the chance to look shocked.

Spike turned to the man, surprised to see Alex’s dirty face. His cap was lopsided and he had one hand pressed to his neck whilst the other pressed against the wall as he breathed heavily, eyes staring at the pile of dust.

Spike grabbed him as he began sliding to the floor.

“You alright?”

Alex didn’t answer. His shakes had increased, making his whole body quiver.

“Here, let me get you to a hospital,” Spike said, easily pulling the man to his feet and helping him keep upright. Alex’s eyes finally drifted away from the pile of dust to Spike’s face.

“What? No.”

“Don’t be stupid. You need to get the bite looked at and I think you’re going into shock.”

Alex shook his head, pulling away from Spike. He stumbled without the support but flung out a hand to lean against the wall.

“No ... no hospital. I’m fine.”

Spike scoffed. “Sure you are.”

Alex didn’t answer, just turned and leant his back against the wall, attempting to straighten out his cap, but his hands shook too much and he only succeeded in dislodging it further. He growled in frustration and pulled it off, twisting it angrily in both hands.

“You should really get that looked at,” Spike told him before turning and walking away. He was done with trying to help this man for one night. Next time he was just gonna leave him to get killed.

“Hey.”

The voice was quiet, but Spike heard it easily and he stopped, half turning to look back at the man. Alex looked up at him then back down at his hands.

“Is that ... could I ... is that offer still ...”

Spike could hear the self-loathing in his voice. This was not a man used to asking for help. Spike waited him out. He’d done his part trying to help the man, he could bloody well ask for it this time

“Look, that offer ... to stay at yours, for the night. Could I still ... is that still open?”

He looked both relieved that the ordeal was over and disgusted that he’d asked for help. Spike stayed silent for a few seconds then answered, “Yeah, sure.”

Alex nodded and pushed away from the wall. “Thanks.”

“I’ve got some first aid too,” he said, waiting for the man to reach him. Alex stumbled a few feet away but Spike grabbed him before he could fall. He could tell the man was going to pull away and tightened his grip on his arm.

“Don’t be an idiot, Alex. You won’t get very far on your own.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Alex nodded and let Spike help him the rest of the way back to the apartment.

---

Alex spent a long time just standing under the hot spray of water, revelling in the feel of it on his hair and skin. The showers at Sona had been lukewarm on a good day, and that was if you were lucky enough to get one of the showers with a hot tap. The only thing close to a wash he’d had since breaking out were clothed trips into rivers.

He heard the door open and pushed the hair out of his face to look towards it through the steam coated glass. He saw a blurry hand reach inside and place a black pile on the laundry basket before pulling back.

“Hey, I’ve got to go out for a bit.”

Alex hesitated, fear suddenly hitting him like the water was. Go out? What if he was headed for the police station? Spike hadn’t seemed to know who he was before but he could have seen or heard the news since arriving at the apartment.

Realising Spike was probably waiting for an answer he quickly called out, “Okay.”

The door shut again. Alex watched it for a couple of seconds, mind racing through his options. He could either stick around and hope Spike hadn’t gone for the police, or make a run for it while the apartment was empty.

He couldn’t take any chances. Knowing he had to give Spike time to get ahead, he grabbed the shampoo and rushed through the rest of his shower. At least he would be clean for a while.

Turning of the water, he stepped out, grabbing the towel that was on the rack and hurriedly drying off. Looking over at the laundry basket, he saw that the pile of black was actually some nightwear, and for a second he hesitated. Would someone who was going to hand him over do that, lend out nightwear? Perhaps if he wanted to lull the man into a false sense of security, he thought.

Feeling grateful for the act, he nonetheless pulled on his own clothes, despising the fact that they were still filthy, even if he was clean. He stuck the gun he’d picked up on his travels in the waist band of his trousers and stepped out of the bathroom. He glanced around the empty bedroom and hesitated before heading for the chest of drawers. Even if Spike was going for the police, he had been helpful towards Alex and the man felt a slight twinge of guilt for taking advantage of him, but not enough to stop him from searching for any cash he had lying around. He found a handful of notes in the third drawer and stuffed them into his pocket then headed for the door.

He was halfway across the living room when there was a knock at the door. Instinctively he reached for the gun, already slightly panicked. It wasn’t Spike – he wouldn’t knock on his own apartment door. He remained silent, not even moving. After a few second there was another knock and a female voice called, “Spike?”

Silently, Alex pleaded with the visitor to leave, and soon. If she hung around too long then Spike would be back and Alex would be in serious trouble, especially if Spike returned with friends of the blue-uniformed variety.

The person knocked again, harder. “Spike, its Willow. There’s a slayer in town and we need to find her.”

Alex wondered just what the hell a slayer was but was more worried about the fact that the door knob was turning. Cursing silently, he backed into the bedroom, quietly shutting the door and pressing himself against the wall beside it, gun in hand as he listened carefully.

He heard the door to the apartment close and footsteps crossing the floor, the sound changing when the female stepped into the adjoining kitchen.

“Spike?”

She was silent for a moment and then she moved into the living room again.

“This isn’t Spike’s,” she murmured and Alex swore. He’d forgotten about the cap he’d left discarded on the sofa. Why did this woman have to know Spike well enough to know that the cap didn’t belong to him?

He tried to keep his breathing quiet as he heard the woman approach the bedroom door. She knocked on it first and called out for Spike once more before pushing it open. She gasped at catching sight of Alex but he didn’t give her chance to react. Shoving her aside he ran from the room but before he could reach the door out of the apartment it opened again. Alex came to an abrupt halt when Spike entered carrying a plastic bag and without any blue-uniformed friends. He looked at Alex in surprise before moving his eyes to Willow. Alex took a step back then turned slightly so he could see both people.

“Red? What are you doing here?” he asked, shutting the door and heading for the kitchen area. He stopped suddenly, noticing the gun in Alex’s hand. He raised his eyes to the man’s face.

“Alex, what are you doing?”

Alex didn’t reply, looking between the two people. He lifted the gun and pointed it at Spike, deciding he was probably a bigger threat than the Willow girl. Spike glanced at the weapon but didn’t look the slightest bit bothered.

“You can’t hurt me with that.”

Alex didn’t answer. Willow was looking between the two with panicked eyes.

“Spike, why is he here?”

“Well he was a guest. I helped him out earlier. I guess he didn’t appreciate it.”

He stared at Alex. The man managed to keep eye contact but eventually looked away, licking his lips nervously.

“I notice your shakes are coming back,” Spike commented calmly, as though he had a gun pointed at him every day. He stepped towards the kitchen again, pausing when Alex cocked the gun.

“I already told you, that won’t hurt me.”

He carried onto the kitchen, placing the bag down.

“I think kill is a bit more than hurt,” Alex said, now with his back to Willow as he kept the gun trained on Spike. Spike smiled sardonically.

“Vampire, remember?”

Spike watched as Alex had and internal argument, obviously wondering whether he was going to believe the vampire thing or not. Keeping the gun on Spike, he backed up. Spike’s eyes widened as he realised what the man was going to do and leapt over the counter as Alex got level with Willow but froze when the man grabbed the witch and pulled her close, pointing the gun at her instead.

“Put her down, Alex.”

“Even if I did believe you,” Alex said, “which I don’t, but if I did, you’re going to tell me she’s a vampire too?”

Spike debated bluffing and answering that she was, but he couldn’t risk Alex calling him on it and shooting Willow.

“No,” he answered, “she’s a witch.”

“A witch,” Alex said, the disbelief evident in his voice. “Demons, vampires, witches. What are next, werewolves? Unicorns? Leprechauns?”

“Leprechauns aren’t real,” Willow told him before she could stop herself then bit her lip. Spike could smell the fear on her.

“Neither are vampires or witches or demons,” Alex replied. “But the guy over there is telling me otherwise.”

“Look, Alex, put the gun down and let Red go. Whatever your issue, we can sort it out.”

Alex laughed and Willow whimpered when he pressed the gun to her head. “Yeah. Sure. Is that before or after you get the cops here?”

Spike frowned. “Why would I bring the cops in?”

Alex blinked in surprise. “Well for one I’m holding a gun to your girlfriend’s head.”

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“I’m not his girlfriend.”

The two shared a slight smile at their simultaneous answer. Alex didn’t look amused.

“Whatever. They’re probably out there right now so you’re just gonna stay right there while I back out slowly and when I’m far enough away I’ll let her go, alright?”

He was already heading towards the door, dragging Willow along with him.

“Alex, stop a minute. There are no cops out there. Have I even touched a phone since I got here?”

Alex paused, looking confused. It was Willow who explained.

“You don’t watch the news, do you, Spike?”

“Well, no. What’s that got to do with anything?”

Willow glanced up at Alex. “He’s a criminal. He broke out of prison a couple of weeks back.”

“Oh.” Spike looked Alex over again. “That would explain the nervousness. What’d you do?”

“I didn’t do anything!” Alex burst out. “I was set up!”

Spike nodded. Alex couldn’t tell if he believed him or not.

“Look, just let go of Willow and you can go back to living on the streets and spending your days hiding from the cops.”

Alex shook his head. “I don’t think so. I need something to guarantee you’re not gonna call the cops on me the second I leave here. She’s my insurance. When I’m far enough away I’ll let her go.”

Spike growled. He did not like having his friends threatened. He’d kill this fucker if he hurt Willow, and even then Buffy was still likely to kill him for letting Willow get hurt. He could also see that Alex’s shakes weren’t getting any better; at this rate he was going to hurt someone whether he meant to or not.

Spike wasn’t the only one to notice the shakes; Willow could feel Alex’s whole body shaking and could tell he was more scared than she was, though she couldn’t understand why. Catching Spike’s eyes, she pulled a face, furrowing her brow and baring her teeth. Spike gave a slight nod of understanding. He put his game face on and when Alex stepped back in shock and fear, Willow took his momentary lapse in concentration to pull away. She turned to him and before he could point the gun back at her she lifted her arms and with a word had him pinned to the wall, three feet from the ground, his arms flung out to both sides, and the gun falling limply from his hand.

He looked at his arms, struggling to pull himself away from the wall before looking down at Willow with terrified eyes.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“I told you, Alex,” Spike said approaching the two, “she’s a witch. And a damn powerful one too.”

Willow gave him a small smile of appreciation.

“You alright?”

“Yeah,” she answered. “What should we do with him?”

Spike tilted his head as he observed the terrified man, lighting up a cigarette.

“Call the cops I suppose.”

“No!”

The two looked at him.

“No, please. I’ll just go. Won’t bother you again.”

“We couldn’t do that,” Spike said conversationally. “For all we know you’re a murderer and if we let you go you’ll kill the first person you come across.”

“I’m not! I didn’t try to kill you!”

The both stared at him.

“I wasn’t gonna kill her,” he said defensively. “Just ... it was just self-preservation.”

Spike took a step closer to him, holding back a grin at the fresh wave of fear that rolled from the man.

“Tell us what you were imprisoned for. And keep in mind we’ll know if you’re lying.”

Alex looked between the two. He wasn’t sure who he was more scared off anymore: the vampire or the witch who could control his every move with a single word. He swallowed and answered, “I was set up. For drug possession.”

Spike looked him over. Even pinned down by Willow’s spell the shakes still coursed through him.

“Set up, eh? So those shakes, they wouldn’t be from withdrawal, then?”

Alex clenched his jaw, a slight flush creeping up his cheeks. Spike chuckled.

“Yeah, I thought so.” Spike moved over to the TV, stubbing out his cigarette in the ash tray resting on top of it. “I’ve been in withdrawal meself. It’s nasty business. All that shaking, the twisting in your gut when you don’t get what you so desperately want, what you need. Course, my withdrawal was enforced, so to speak, but I became a better man because of it.” He stepped up to Alex and patted the man on the leg in a gesture of mock comfort. “Maybe you will too.”

Turning away he flopped onto the sofa, crossing his feet on one arm whilst putting his arms behind his head and resting it on the other, looking up at Willow and Alex.

“What do you think we should do with him, Red?”

Willow turned slightly towards the vampire. “We should hand him over, Spike. Whatever his crime, we can’t just let him go free. Plus, if we got found out, we’d be criminals for helping him.”

“Hmm, true.”

“I’ll tell!” Alex blurted out. The two looked at him. “I’ll tell them what you are, the both of you.”

Spike grinned and sat up. “Alex, do you really think they’re going to believe you if you tell them you were held captive by a vampire and a witch?”

Alex didn’t answer. Spike smirked.

“Didn’t think so. They’d only think you’re crazy. Er. Crazier.”

Alex scowled, struggling again against his invisible bonds but Willow’s spell held strong.

Spike sighed and stood up, going to the phone that sat beside the door. “You should let him down, Red. We’ll tie him up for when the cops get here.”

“NO!” Alex cried. “No, please, I’ll do anything. I’ll ... I’ll ... look, anything you need, I’ll do it for you. Just please don’t call the cops.”

Spike glanced at Willow who looked back at him.

“We could use an extra pair of hands to find the next slayer.”

Spike scoffed. “Yeah, like this idiot would be any use. If you really needed more you’d have brought one of the others along.”

“Well I was going to drop by Angel’s after this, see if he was free to come along.”

Spike almost dropped the phone. “Oh no! I am not working with that ponce again. I had enough of him, thank you very much.”

Willow smiled slightly. “Well, in that case the only other person free is Denise. You remember her right?”

Spike scowled. He did. Denise had been the last slayer he’d helped retrieve and she’d developed a very strong and very annoying crush on him.

“You put me in a very tough position, Red.”

“I can help. Whatever a slayer is. I can help you find it,” Ale said quickly.

“You know how to fight?” Spike asked. Alex nodded. Spike looked at Willow. “Your call, Red. You’d have to keep an eye on him and take action he looks like he’s gonna turn on us.”

Willow looked over Alex with scrutinising eyes. Alex squirmed uncomfortably, feeling as though she was looking at his very soul.

Eventually Willow turned back to Spike and nodded. “What do we do with him after?”

Spike thought for a moment. “We can either let him go, hand him over, or keep him prisoner ourselves.” He glanced at Alex. “He’d probably be less annoying than Andrew was.”

Willow grinned. “What do you think?”

Spike shrugged. “Not really bothered either way. Your call.”

“I think we should leave it until we’ve got the slayer. See how that goes first.”

Spike nodded. “We’ve still a few hours until sunrise. That long enough or will we have to wait for tomorrow night?”

Willow thought for a moment then shook her head. “Few hours should be fine.”

Spike nodded. Willow walked over to the fallen gun and picked it up. Alex looked as if he wanted to tell her not to but he kept his mouth shut. The red head took the weapon to the kitchen, laying it on the side and looking at Spike questioningly.

“Just leave it there. We’ll deal with it later.”

Willow nodded and turned back to Alex. With a word the spell was cancelled and Alex fell to the floor, leading in a heap at the bottom. He looked up to glare at the witch but caught sight of Spike’s look and returned his eyes to the floor as he stood up.

“You’ll do as we say,” the vampire ordered, approaching the man. “Exactly as we say. You will stay within sight of Willow at all times and if you even look like you’re thinking about making a wrong move, you’ll have more than a binding spell to worry about. Is that clear?”

Alex clenched his jaw, instinctively wanting to hit the blonde for presuming he could order him around. But he refrained; these two were keeping him out of jail right now and they were both dangerous, more dangerous than the men he used to chase when he was an agent. So he nodded.

“Good. Let’s go, Red.”

“Yep,” the girl answered. Her demeanour was now relaxed and cheerful, almost childish. Alex almost forgot that just moment before she’d had him immobilised, but when she looked at him and nodded towards the door, he could see the power raging in her eyes and simply did as he was told.