| Dawnty's Inferno Part 2 : Walking the Kid Home Author: Jerri Cocke Summary: Spike takes Dawn home. Wackiness ensues. Disclaimer: Joss owns all, I own none. I do try not to break them to badly before I return them. Spoilers: Crush Feedback: It gives me a happy. Spike felt true amusement, as he watched the teenager sulk. She did it nearly as well as he did. She trudged along behind the vampire muttering under her breath about how unfair it was with every step. He grinned. Bloody hell, he actually liked the chit! Not that he ever had any intention of telling her that. She had a mouth on her, too. "Hey, I am not nor have I ever been a poofter. That's Peaches, you silly twit. 'Sides which, do you even know what a poofter is?" "Yeah, it's what you call Angel. And it's what you are for making me go home." The 'so there' remained unspoken. After all she was fourteen now. She was too mature to say 'nah, nah, nah' to anyone. As Spike swung around to glare at Dawn, he recognized her expression as one he had worn often. The one that said 'I'm alone, no one understands, no one really cares about what I think.' Gentling his expression, he spoke in a low voice, "Luv, you are important to your family, your friends and to me. I'd never forgive myself if I got you hurt." "I won't get hurt." Spike started to reply to that asinine remark, when he heard faint noises in the bushes ahead of them. Looking around for a defensible position, he could see nothing. They were still several blocks from Revello Drive and there was no way the kid could outrun whatever was lying in wait for them. Bloody hell, this made two attacks in under one hour. He looked down at the diminutive brunette. "Pet, there's something up there and I'm not sure what it is. I'm going to distract it, all right? I want you to run just as fast as your legs will take you. Go straight home. Got it?" She shivered then drew herself up. Since she was a tiny little thing, the show of bravado was a bit useless, but she tried. "Spike, what if there are more than--" "More than I can handle? Well, then, I guess your sister will never know what she's missing out on. When I say run, you go." He carefully positioned himself in front of her to give her a shield. Then sauntered unconcernedly down the sidewalk. Just as he reached the corner, something large and scaly hit him from the side. He didn't recognize the type of demon, just gave himself over to the joy of the fight. His demon loved these unplanned bouts of violence. The combatants rolled into a ball of skin, claws, fangs and scales. Growls and yowls came from the melee as they fought. It seemed to go on forever, before Spike finally got a grasp on the ugly's head. Exerting all of his considerable strength, he snapped it's neck. Dragging himself to his feet, he surveyed the damage. Well not too bad, he was bleeding from a dozen claw and bite marks, but he'd live, or unlive as the case may be. He heard something he knew he shouldn't hear. Turning his head he stared straight down into Dawn's eyes. He shook his head in disbelief. Yeah, she was still there. His golden eyes glowed as he growled at her. "I thought I told you to run!" "But, Spike," she wailed, "There was only one!" "One could have been enough! I Told You TO RUN!. What part of RUN did you not understand?" Cursing under his breath, he latched onto her hand and dragged her towards home and safety, while Dawn continued to whine, "But, Spike..." tbc |