Very effective psychological portrait of Xander here! Spike's expecting gratitude and reconciliation (and no doubt needing some reinforcement himself after having had to go to Angel for help once again), but Xander's actually continuing to heal, painfully, as seen by his efforts to assert himself and his discomfort about some of those earlier moments . . .

And I'll hold tight to the thought of more of this coming next week to encourage me to finish my grading and prepare to return to classes on Tuesday! Thanks!

(Just two typos:

"Bloody hell, if that wanker hurt one hair on your head," Spike['s] voice trembled, . . .


"Boy comes with me," Spike snarled in a voice that would have sent a sane man… a large sane man… and [an] armed and dangerous sane man run for cover.)