Chapter Eleven

It took Dawn a while to wake up, and when she finally came to it was slowly enough that Buffy didn't think she would have noticed without the vampire senses making her so aware of everything. With them, though, she noticed a bit of a change in Dawn's breathing—not much, it was still laboured and weak—but enough. Then Dawn was aware and pushing at her chest, squirming to get out of her arms, starting to gasp.

"Shh, Dawn, it's okay," Buffy murmured.

Dawn let out a frightened gasp, hands pressing harder against her, almost hitting as she tried to escape. Buffy let her arms drop, watched Dawn scramble backward, just far enough so they were no longer touching before running out of steam and simply staring. Painful as it was to see the terror in them, Buffy met her eyes.

"Dawnie, it's not what you think. I'm not who you think," she said, trying to keep her voice low. She had no idea what Spike and Angelus' daytime habits were, had no way of knowing whether or not they were sleeping, but the mansion was quiet. Voices would carry, even from down here.

"I know exactly who you are," Dawn said, her voice low and scratchy, tone nowhere near friendly. Not whispering, but unable to project any louder than she was speaking now.

Buffy shook her head, grimacing. "I promise, Dawn. I'm not her."

Dawn looked away. "I'm not playing this game with you again."

"It's not a game, sweetie." She had no idea how she was going to convince Dawn of that, though. Without the memories of the Buffy from this reality, she couldn't make any assumptions about what Dawn had been through. She could make guesses, sure, and good ones, but guesses wouldn't get her anywhere with Dawn if she just thought it was another game.

Dawn curled in upon herself again instead of replying. Sighing, Buffy moved toward her, then cringed and backed off when Dawn let out a whimper loud enough to carry.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Dawn."

"I'm not listening," Dawn said, voice muffled by her knees.

"Like that's anything new," Buffy muttered.

Dawn didn't react to that comment and Buffy sighed. What was going to convince her sister she was telling the truth, that she wasn't actually vampy-Buffy?

She stood, crossed to the door and peered up the stairs, trying to figure out if either of the mansion's other inhabitants were nearby. Sensing nothing, she returned to Dawn and slid down so she was again sitting on the floor next to her.

"I want to get you home."

"No you don't," Dawn replied. Buffy noticed, though, that she was looking at her again, even if it was only through her hair. Despite that, Buffy could only glare at her, exasperated, in return.

"Fine. You got me. I don't. Now, why don't you tell me how this ends because you are clearly the expert on all things Buffy."

Dawn jumped at her change in tone, leaning away a little at the impatience Buffy hadn't been able to hide.

"Go away. Don't come back. I hate you," she mumbled, enough venom in the sentiment that Buffy was sure she'd have spat it if she had the energy.

"Yeah, I get it. Pizza for dinner?"

Dawn actually looked up and stared at her at that, but Buffy had already risen and was leaving the room. At the doorway she turned back to look at Dawn. "Not a word to Spike or Angelus, okay?" Then she closed the door and locked it again before she could lose her nerve and convince herself that grabbing Dawn and running for it now was actually a good course of action.

Wiping at her eyes as she began to cry again, Buffy stared at the bottom of the stairs to consider her options. Take Dawn to emergency, call the Scoobies to let them know where she was and that she was safe, hope the amulet was right where it had fallen.

Not likely. She was going to have to arrange something with Giles to get that amulet back, especially if his interest in it mirrored his interest in her reality. The chance of it just lying around was so slim Buffy didn't even want to bother with it. Stealing it, out of the question. She was going to have to barter for the thing, or fight for it. And she would. Later. When Dawn was safe.

'Dawnie.'

Buffy glanced back at the door, then, wiping the last of the tears from her cheeks, raced up the stairs. If she looked at it objectively, it probably wouldn't be too hard to get Dawn out of here, right under Angelus and Spike's nose. She'd pissed Angelus off, though, when she'd put off the move to L.A. and she was going to have to keep that in mind. But after dark the mansion would probably be empty, and she'd be able to make her move then.

A hand closed around her arm as she entered the main part of the mansion. Buffy jumped, automatically striking back with her free hand. It too was stilled when her assailant, ready with a counter, grabbed it out of the air.

"Hey! Uh-uh. Where're you going so quick?"

Spike. Just Spike. She could deal with nosy Spike.

"Bed. Sun's not down yet, might as well try to sleep, right?"

His hands still on her arms, Spike walked her backward until Buffy was pressed against the wall with him standing way too close and staring down at her.

"Not in the mood, Spike."

"Don't care, Slayer."

She did not like the way he'd said that. Like he was calling her out on something he'd just figured out.

"Get to the point."

"So that you can slip out, maybe get yourself all dusty 'cause you keep forgetting you're a vampire?"

Floored, Buffy stared at him. He'd clearly overheard some part of her conversation with Dawn, and he wasn't having near as hard of a time believing it as her sister did. Great.

Calling to mind how it felt, Buffy forced herself into game face. "Look, Spike. Bumpies. Kinda hard to forget."

His mouth twisted in a shadow of a smile. "Yeah, your host is a vamp. And I've no doubt I'm still talking to Buffy, but you sure as hell aren't the right Buffy. Said it yourself."

"What's it matter? Still Buffy."

"You have a bloody soul, pet. I figured it out. Oughta lock you in that cell with baby sis 'til we figure out how to get rid of it."

Dawn was actually her sister here? That didn't make any sense.

"It's not going anywhere."

"No? Wasn't so hard to get rid of Angel's. Just have to figure out the catch on yours."

Buffy sighed, continuing to look up at Spike, maintaining eye contact. She refused to be cowed by him, didn't believe he would actually do anything to her. Was way, way too focused on getting Dawn out of that basement room, whatever hurdles she had to jump to make that happen.

"Don't taunt me, Spike."

"One thing I don't get," he continued, leaning down a bit. "Is why you're not all regretful. Would've thought you, of all people, would be crippled by grief."

Buffy cringed. Three years. What could she have done in three years?

She didn't need an answer to that.

Spike's lips were at her ear. "I'm betting you don't remember."

Buffy bit down on the inside of her lip to stop herself responding. She should just kick him and take off, but there really wasn't anywhere she could go until dark, and she needed to call Giles before she left the mansion. A tiny part of her, too, wanted to know the worst of what she'd done; it could help her with talking to the Scoobies and getting the amulet back.

"Bit of a drag, really, doing all that and not being able to remember it. Angelus would be disappointed. Should we let him know, love?"

"Are you done?" Buffy demanded, tired of being on the receiving end of his latest personality swing.

He laughed lowly, pulling back so he could meet her gaze again. "Don't like the idea? We both know you'd kick his ass if he tried anything."

"Kind of like how you have two seconds before I kick yours?"

He moved back a little, though he didn't let go of her arms. "Two seconds for what, pet?"

"To go away, Spike. I'm so not dealing with you right now."

"Been more than two seconds. Since I'm not getting my ass kicked yet, I want to propose something."

"If this is an ultimatum, I hope it's a fantastic set of last words."

"Figure I've got a few attempts while you find something to stake me with. But really, pet. I've got a suggestion. Heard most of your conversation with the girl."

Wary, Buffy twisted away from him. "Can he hear us?"

"Nah, sleeps like the dead." Spike grinned at his pun. "You want to take her back to your friends, I'll help you."

"Right. And I'm giving you, what, exactly?"

"Don't know yet. Have to think about it."

Buffy snorted. "No deal," she replied, and began to walk away. Spike didn't follow, didn't respond. Not necessarily a good sign with the way he was acting, but right now she had more important things to deal with.

-8-

Buffy stared down at her hand, hovering above the phone. Convincing herself that the phone call had to be made was different than actually making the call, apparently. Now that she was actually faced with it, well…

Buffy had no idea what she was going to say.

Being struck dumb was new for her. She could always, always think of something to say. So being stymied by a simple greeting confused her, and as a result, she hadn't even dialled the number yet.

"I'm action girl. This is ridiculous," she muttered, picking up the phone and punching in the Magic Box's number. Giles answered on the second ring.

"Magic—"

"Giles, it's Buffy."

A pause. Then, "I have nothing to say to you," stated with a bit of a cough. There was a shuffle and then the line went dead. Buffy stared at the phone in her hand, then put it back in its cradle.

Of course he wouldn't take the call. She was going to have to go for another confrontation, and didn't that sound exciting. She'd been stupid to just take off the way she had earlier. If she'd tried to talk to them, she probably wouldn't have lost the amulet.

At least the sun was almost down; something good could be said for winter. As soon as Angelus and Spike headed out to hunt—and part of her cared that she was being so cavalier about deaths she could probably prevent, but most of her didn't—she'd get Dawn out of here. Until then she'd go out and grab a pizza and a couple of bottles of water in case her plan fell through and Dawn was stuck here longer.

Buffy headed for the sewer entrance, shaking her head. Too many poor decisions. She needed to make good ones from here on out.

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