| Title: Tough Love: SlayGal’s version! Author: SlayGal Email: [email protected] Summary: This is what I think should have happened in the caves in Tough Love. Couples: S/D Rating: PG, I guess. Genres: Kindness, kissing, and angst Feedback: Yes please! Disclaimer: I don’t own Dawn or Spike – just like playing with them :-) They belong to the God that is Joss Whedon, k? “Nothing to be worried about, kid.” Spike promised as he walked through the caves, Dawn trailing behind him, “No one’s gonna hurt you.” “Oh, yeah, the same no one who did that to you?” Dawn asked sarcastically, referring Spikes injuries at the hands of Glory. “What, these? Just a few bruises, nothing to write home about.” He said casually. He looked round, Dawn was hesitantly following him, “Chin up, Platelet,” He urged. “And don’t get scared. Maybe Glory doesn’t wanna kill you, maybe its something –” “Worse?” Dawn cut in. He looked round at her again, he could see she was trying so hard to be strong, but she looked as though she was likely to crumble any second. Spike continued along a little way before realising Dawn wasn’t following, she had stopped and sat on a rock. She clicked off her flashlight and just sat there. Spike looked at her, so small, so afraid, he moved closer to her, “Hey…” He said soothingly and reached out to touch her hair, but as she looked up he jerked his hand away, running it through his own hair, real-cool-like. Dawn didn’t even notice. “You want to know what I’m afraid of Spike?” She asked. “Me.” She said simply. “Right now Glory thinks Tara’s The Key, but I’m the Key, Spike, I am.” She said, looking up at him, he saw tears glistening in her eyes. “And anything that happens to Tara, is cos of me. Your bruises, your limp,” She continued, Spike listened, “That’s all me too. I’m like a lightening rod for pain and hurt, and everyone around me suffers…and dies…” The teenagers face was filled with anguish, Spike felt his unbeating heart break. “I must be something so horrible, to cause *so* much pain…and evil.” She said, struggling to keep a sob down, the odd tear escaped, and ran down her pale cheek. Spike wanted so badly to make her feel better, but he saw no way, he said firmly, “Rot.” In answer to her statement. Dawn looked away, “Whatta you know?” She sighed. “I’m a vampire,” Spike said, “I know something about evil…you’re not evil.” He assured her. Dawn looked up at him, her face had tear marks down it, “Maybe…I’m not evil…” She said, uncertain. “But I don’t think that I can be good.” She confessed. Spike let this sink in before shrugging and saying, “Well, I’m not good, and I’m Ok.” Dawn wiped her face with her hand and got up, “I don’t get to have it,” She said, quietly as she began to pace. “Have what, luv?” “Everything…all of it. Glory wants me, only me, and I know that she’s going to use me to do something…horrible…and probably end the world…and all I can think is how I’m never gonna get what I’ve always wanted.” She said, as though embarrassed at her thoughts, “I’m never gonna go to my prom, I’m never going to graduate…I’m never going to get to have a boyfriend,” She said the last part quietly, as she stopped pacing and sat back down. “I know how shallow that sounds…this is the entire universe hanging in the balance…and I’m worried about not going on my first date, never going to the movies, eating popcorn with a guy…never having my first kiss.” Spike couldn’t stand the pain in her voice, the helplessness, he sat down next to her, “Don’t worry nibblet, you’ll get all those things.” “No, I won’t.” She said, looking into his eyes. She began to get a little panicky as her deepest thoughts and fears came out, “Buffy can’t stop Glory…and if by some major miracle she does…it won’t end…I’m always gonna be The Key…I don’t even know what will happen…I mean…what could happen, if a guys close to me…I could end up electrocuting him or…blowing out the power for the whole town…I might not even be able to be with a guy…and even if I can? I can’t explain that I’m not real...that I’ve only been her for about 7 months…or maybe I’m as old as Glory…either way I can’t tell some15 year old –” She was silenced by Spikes mouth on hers. She was stunned but soon began to kiss him back. He was so gentle with her…he didn’t want to freak her out…he just had wanted to do that for so long…to comfort her…give her something to hang on to, so she didn’t feel so alone…and she had given him the perfect opportunity. After a few minutes she pulled back for air. That was one of the perks of being a vampire, Spike thought, air not needed. “Sorry about that, lil’ bit, had shut you up somehow, you kept babbling.” He smiled slightly. Dawn smiled back. “Well, that’s your first kiss sorted, now, about the other things…” Spike said. “Yeah?” Dawn asked. “You *are* going to get your first date…even if its with me cos the other guys are such wankers that they don’t understand you.” He rolled his eyes, “Like that’s even an issue…they’ll be lined up round the block, bloody looker like you. Any of ‘em don’t treat you right though, and they have Big Bad to answer to, alright?” Dawn’s mind was still stuck on the part where he said he’d go out with her, but she quickly regained herself, “Ok,” She said, “But what is “Big bad” gonna do? Hurt them with your insults? Cos you are kinda chipped…” “Let me worry bout that…you just let me know.” Spike tenderly looped her dark hair round her ear as it fell in her face. “I mean it, bitesize, any bloke would be lucky to have you.” He looked into her eyes, sincerity sounding in his voice. “Any girl would be more than lucky to have you, Spike.” She said, meaning it just as much. “You shouldn’t be wasting your time on Buffy…she doesn’t deserve to have you feel that way for her cos she doesn’t appreciate it.” She got up again, “But there’s no use in telling you this. It’s always about her…I don’t wanna sound mean…but it’s true. Its always Buffy, The Slayer…The Chosen One…she with the birth rite…and I’m always The Slayers little sister…never me, Dawn Summers…its always about her…for once I’d like for someone to care about me for –” Spike was up in an instant, again kissing her. He pulled away, “Seems to be the only way to keep you from yammering on.” He said. Dawn blushed a little, “Sorry…don’t mean to go on…but if this is how you silence me, guess it’s not too bad.” She smiled a little. “Now, how bout we carry on to my old lair? I think Harm’s cleared out…if not there’s always staking her…passes a little of the time.” “I’m up for it.” Dawn nodded, she turned her flashlight on, “These caves are seriously creepy.” “You get used to ‘em, Pet. Til ya do, Spikes here.” He said, offering his arm. Dawn slipped her arm through his and shivered a little as they continued walking. “Now how bout we don’t tell big sis about what just happened?” Spike said, a little pleading in his voice. “It’s our secret.” Dawn promised with a smile. |