| High Stakes Part 2 by Amber Dawn sat on the edge of the bed, cold, wet and shivering as Spike wrapped a hotel blanket around her, hair hanging in waves down her face " Thanx..." He smiled, even here she came to him, though at this moment, he really wanted time to think, but she was here and the best thing was to make sure she went back! "What's on TV?" Dawn uttered as she kicked off her shoes and sat up crossed up on the bed "can I look?". This proved to Spike that really he shouldn't go straight into the questions about why she had run away, incase she thought it was a lecture, so he thought he would leave it till later. He sat next to Dawn, "the reception's really bad here, though its doesn't seem to effect Jamie's face in "Days of our Lives" "Yea he's always been ugly!" They both giggled, not knowing quite what the other was thinking about their situation but knowing perfectly, they both had the same sense of humour! "Xander, you and Anya should head to Giles's, see if he's seen her...." Buffy was worried that Glory was about, last time she came too close and her friends knew this. "Willow and I will check the streets" but everyone knew that she would also check at Spike's too. They spit up and Buffy was ready, even after what happened with Spike, to kick his Crypt down and drag Dawn kicking and screaming back to her senses. Did she have any idea how important she was, Dawn made Buffy think of her she at her age, but even Dawn must come to realise that she can't just run off, even to Spike! She slammed his door open, thinking that she would find Spike and Dawn playing cards.....but neither one were there. "Hey Giles!" Xander let him and Anya in as Giles popped his head around the bathroom door " You would have happened to see Dawn around, by any chance?" Giles, seeing something was obviously wrong, asked what was happening "Has she gone.....Glory?" "Don't think so...." Buffy interrupted, as her and Willow came in the door " I don't know where she is, but Spike's gone too!" At that moment, Xander was really temped to remark about "why am I not surprised" but seeing that Buffy was closer to him, these day, he decided not to! "Well really there's not much we can do....if Dawn is with Spike, she would be pretty safe...." Giles looked up as he finished "Wouldn't she?" "You're not safe here Dawn, I can't protect you here....." Spike had kept his thoughts about this for several hours, knowing it would sound like her sister. She felt betrayed! He was the only one that seemed to understand her and now Spike was going to make her go back. "Well, you can teach me.....show me to be like Buffy...." Dawn angrily pleaded, she couldn't go back, to someone who didn't care. Spike stared at her, saw her seriousness "I know she's strong but when glory comes for me.....I want to be ready!" "Buffy would be the best....." "Buffy wouldn't help me.....she thinks its too dangerous" before Spike could disagree Dawn added "you can help me defend myself?" "Ok....." Spike held up a pillow towards Dawn "Hit me!" "Hit you?" "Yea come on, just hit me, you know you want to!" he held the pillow up again waiting for the hit. "I dunno Spike....." Dawn said nervously. Spike brought down the pillow and through it on the bed, "I just can't hit you....." "Ok fine..." Spike shrugged and started to turn, as out of the blue Dawn took a large, hard swing which hit Spike's head "Ouch.....I thought you couldn't just hit me!" "Took you by surprise did I?" she said with a smile. Dawn slept quietly, her hands wrapped in pieces of cloth from practising fighting, though not damaged at all, Spike had seen to that, she didn't wake until late. "Spike...?" He had gone, though she knew not forever, as his bag was still next to the bed. "....double!" Spike lent on the Bar, he looked around, spotting a group of lads in the corner then slipped the barman a note, still concentrating on the ruffs drinking beer and laughing with a guttural croak that went down to too much smoking. Spike lit a fag and turning away from them, downed the liquor with on gulp. They, on the other hand, go up to leave, grunting past anything in their way. He took a drag from his cigarette and looked at the time, and deciding that Dawn might possibly be concerned, headed out the door, past the group of lads, "tormenting some poor bugger!" he thought and then her Dawn's voice! "Hey get off me alright!" They pushed her towards the alleyway "Only want a bit of fun little one " as the larger leader smacked her against the wall, with a thump. Just then Spike picked up a pole from a near by scaffoled building, and hit a guy on the edge "Picking on little ones eh?" and grabbed him by the neck slamming him against the wall. The larger leader, left Dawn and went with Spike with a crow-bar "Spike, behind you" Dawn cried out, and Spike Vamped out turning to stop the bar with one stoke "Ain't just a pretty face eh!" . The man's eyes widened with fear, as the backed off to head the other way, leaving Spike and Dawn quite alone in the alley. Spike shook out his vampire looks and dropped the metal pole...he had hit a human! "You ok?" he asked as he peered across to a breathless Dawn, almost in tears, she nodded yes and slowly walked towards him. "Thanx..." she uttered and hugged him that took him by surprise "I'm sorry....you left, I didn't know where you had gone!" "Well one thing I can say....your one hell of a tracker, how did you find me?" She looked up "This is one of the only bars in town!" and he smiled, she knew him too well! They started to walk back, knowing that what had happened was a sign, that Dawn needed to be back home. "Tell you what, I'll make a deal with you....we both go back and if Buffy doesn't so any sign of caring what so ever...." she looked at him angrily "we leave and I won't ever mention it again.....ok?" She smiled and they headed back to the motel to get their stuff. The last coach before morning, heading to Sunnydale, was practically empty and Dawn fell asleep on Spike's shoulder, he felt that though Buffy would give Dawn the sign of her care, he doubted she would do the same for him. Buffy stood in Dawn's room, Xander, Giles and Willow were down stairs trying to them selves awake with one of Xander's war movies and Buffy had tried to sleep, cuddling Dawn's rabbit, that apparently she had give her for her 8th Birthday. Outside the house, Dawn stood next to Spike "go on then" he said as he handed her, her bag. "you not coming with me?" she asked. "You know where I'll be if She doesn't care....." he gave a nudge "Go on, their waiting!" Dawn walked up and opened the door, without looking back went in. Giles stood up by the sound and gave a thankful smile that made Dawn feel better "Dawn you ok where have you been?" Willow hugged her. Buffy turned by the noise and as she was just about to head down stairs, notices Spike turning to leave, she sighed and went down stairs to embrace her sister. "I'm sorry Buffy.....I thought....I thought you didn't want me..." Buffy gently brushed Dawn's hair as she lay on her bed, ready to sleep. "What made you think that....Dawn you mean allot to me...." What happened, where did she go, were all questions Buffy already knew, she just asked "What made you come back?" Dawn sighed and yawned "Spike....I got into trouble....I was so scared but he just saved me....." Buffy smiled little as Dawn added " That man could have killed me, but Spike hit him, he was so calm...." She yawned and gently closed her eyes to sleep but Buffy looked up, Spike can hit?!? |