Chapter 4: Running Away

Buffy kicked the stone in front of her ignoring how it hit the tree next to her instead of going straight ahead. She had been looking for Dawn now two hours straight with no luck. Spike couldn't even pick up her scent and that could have been because it had started to rain. Buffy was upset and fighting tears afraid she had lost Dawn forever. With no trail to follow, no way to know where she went and with the hard falling rain she knew it was hopeless.

She turned towards Spike as she admitted, "I don't know where else to look."

Spike frowned, "What did you do when you wanted to run away? Surely you have run away before. Where would you go and how would you do it? The bit is bloody smart. She would have thought of a plan quickly. If it was you, what would you have done?"

Buffy thought for a minute stopping to look at Spike, "I would have hopped on a bus and gone somewhere. Probably L.A. That's where I went after Angel was dead. I wanted to get lost and knew I could do so in L.A. Dawn wouldn't have wanted that. Dawn would have…"

"Would have done what pet?"

Buffy took off racing and Spike yelled after her quickly catching up to her, "Dawn would have what?"

Buffy grinned proudly as she pushed her wet hair from her face, "Dawn would have wanted to go see Dad in L.A. She's probably at the bus station."

Buffy cut through the cemetery then was stopped as Spike swung her around, "Wait pet. I have a feeling about this place."

Buffy put her hands on her hips, "What? Dawn could be on a bus already! What is your feeling about?"

Spike sniffed then raced off in a direction. Buffy groaned but followed him knowing his nose was good and reliable. She turned the corner only to bump into Spike who steadied her. She glanced down at the hole he was looking into and yelled, "Dawn? Dawn are you down there?"

She heard some movement into the dark hole as the reply came, "Buffy is that you? I'm in here. Help me."

Buffy turned towards Spike, "Can you see her?"

Spike nodded, "She looks hurt but not too badly. We need to find something to get her out…"

Buffy nodded and looked around for something. She found a large vine and looked towards Spike, "Hold the one end and we can lower it down. If Dawn can, she can tie it around her waist and we can pull her up."

She then spoke louder, "Dawn, I'm lowering a vine. When you can reach it, tie it around your waist so we can pull you out. Ok? Think you can do that?"

A soft, "I think so" came from below and Buffy handed Spike the vine only to start to lower down her side. Slowly the vine entered the dark hole and Buffy hoped Dawn would have enough light in there to see the vine even though Buffy couldn't. Further and further the vine disappeared until Dawn yelled, "I got it. Hold on."

The air was silent as Dawn tied the vine around her wait, "Ok got it. I'm ready."

Buffy turned towards Spike, "Just keep it steady. I'm going to do the pulling."

Spike nodded and Buffy turned around shouting, "Ok hold on Dawn. I'm going to pull you up."

Slowly once again the vine moved up and up. Further and further the vine was pulled until Buffy could just see the top of Dawn's head. Immediately she dropped the vine and grabbed Dawn by the waist pulling her to safety. Both girls held on to each other as they talked all at once. What was being said wasn't important. They were just happy to see each other and that they were both now safe.

Spike left them cry and hold each other even in the rain until finally he could no longer. Both girls were muddy and soaked and the rain didn't appear to be getting any lighter. Spike leaned down towards them asking, "Dawn can you walk?"

Dawn stood up swaying slightly as she admitted, "My ankle is hurt but I can walk on it I think. My head hurts as well."

Spike got on one side of her and Buffy on the other as they helped her home. The walk home was silent even though it was longer than any of them liked.

Spike pushed open the door to the house ushering the two wet girls inside. He was ready to take his leave as the witches entered the room, "You found her. It started to rain so we all came back and we were so worried."

Dawn was rushed to receive hugs from Willow, Tara, and Xander. All Anya did was pat her on the back exclaiming, "You're wet."

Dawn shivered as Spike suggested, "Perhaps Dawn and you too Buffy should get changed. I'll be going."

Xander glared at Spike, "Yea you should be going. Everyone is home now."

Buffy stood up ignoring the others as she spoke quietly towards Spike knowing he could hear, "Thank you for helping me."

Spike nodded, "Anytime pet. See you tomorrow night for patrol?"

Buffy nodded and walked Spike to the door whispering softly, "Thanks again. I couldn't have done it without you."

Spike nodded once again and whispered softly back, "Remember listen to her pet. She needs to be heard even if she's wrong. Then decide on how to punish her but only after you listen."

Buffy smiled slightly and closed the door turning towards her friends, "Thanks for your help tonight. I think we can handle it from here. Go get some sleep. It's almost midnight."

Xander and Anya walked towards the door both offering a goodnight. Willow and Tara went up the stairs after both of them gave a goodnight to Buffy. Buffy was left shivering at the bottom of the stairs trying to figure out what to do. Part of her wished Spike could have stayed to help. She didn't want to do this. In fact when Dawn came down the stairs a moment later dressed, Buffy offered, "Get some sleep. We will talk about this tomorrow."

Dawn whispered, "Thank you for saving me. I'm sorry about tonight."

Watching as Dawn limped up the stairs, Buffy sighed. Collecting the first aid kit, she carefully helped Dawn into bed wrapping her ankle up tightly after feeling it wasn't broken. Buffy was great at telling how serious injuries were after her billion she had received since becoming a slayer, "I think it's just a sprain Dawnie. I'll write you a note in the morning for gym. If it's still hurting you badly we can take you to the doctors to get it officially checked out."

As Buffy tucked the covers under Dawn's chin, Dawn admitted, "I think it's just a twist. Thanks for saving me. I know I said it but thank you."

Buffy nodded moving quickly towards the door determined to talk about it tomorrow. Right now she needed to think, "Sweet dreams Dawn. We can deal with this tomorrow."

Buffy walked into her room stripping the wet clothes off her pulling on a pair of jogging pants and a sweatshirt before crawling into bed hoping tomorrow was better.