Chapter Eleven

"So, what's the plan? I mean, there is a plan, right?"

Dawn had been asking non-stop questions their entire trip home. It wasn't like they were ignoring her; they just didn't have an answer.

The first thing they did when they got home was make sure it was safe. And it was –at least there wasn't any sign of the Mara. Now, they needed to come up with an answer to Dawn's question.

"The best thing right now is to retreat to a safer location," Giles spoke up. "They know this place too well."

"I agree," Buffy said. "We gather up as many supplies as we can and leave five minutes ago."

"You should head west," Darwin pointed out. "Mara are allergic to salt –it severely weakens them and in certain doses can be fatal."

"Sweet, beach party!" Xander clapped his hands together. "Nothing like surf 'n turf after a butt wuppin'."

"Guys, aren't you forgetting something?" Dawn demanded loudly. "What about Emily?"

They all looked to one another in an "I know something you don't know" sort of way only less third-grade-mocking-y. Everyone seemed to be purposely avoiding Darwin's gaze.

"What?" Dawn asked, angrily.

No one wanted to say it.

To everyone's surprise, Darwin stepped forward, addressing the teen. "Dawn, by now they've no doubt captured Emily and figured out she was lying about the Key. They'll probably torture her for information but they know we'd never trade the Key for her life. When they realize she'll not give them what they want –and she won't," he said to Buffy certainly. "They'll have no reason to keep her alive."

Dawn's hand flew to her mouth. "She's going to die a-and you're just going to let it happen?"

Pain etched across the older man's face. "That last bit she said to me before she left? 'Sayonara o iu koto wa arimasen'? It means 'never say goodbye'.

"You see, Dawn, Emily and I are fully aware that every time we leave our presence could quite possibly be the last time we ever see each other. That's why we made two rules: first, we never leave angry. And second, we never say goodbye. Do you understand? Emily understood the sacrifice she was making."

Dawn looked around at the others, waiting for someone to interject. To tell Darwin he was ridiculous for believing they'd just give up on her. But no one spoke. No one.

"I can't believe this!"

"Dawn, there's nothing we can do," Buffy said in a regretful tone.

"Yes, there is! We can go save her!"

"We barely made it out alive back there," Kennedy said. "You expect us to go into the belly of the beast? It's suicide."

"But she sacrificed herself for us! We can't just let her die!"

"We don't have a choice," Buffy said a little more stern.

Dawn turned on her sister. "Would you be saying this if it was Xander or Willow for Vi that got taken? Just because she wasn't your friend doesn't make it okay to abandon her!"

"That's enough, Dawn!" Buffy shouted, making everyone jump. "This conversation is over!"

Hot angry tears burned in Dawn's eyes. Without another look at her sister, she bounded up the stairs, slamming her bedroom door.

Nobody seemed to remember how to move or speak for a while.

"Everyone," Buffy commanded, breaking the spell. "Pack. Take only the essentials. We need to get out of here."

They all split off to do as ordered, moving quickly but solemnly. All except Darwin who'd moved to a map of the county resting on the dining table.

"I'm sorry," she told him, meaning the words, needing him to know that she understood the sacrifice he was making even if she could do nothing about it.

He didn't acknowledge her words. With a finger, he pointed to a spot on the map. "This is where Emily and I located the enemy's base of operations. An abandoned train station a few miles due north of here."

Buffy nodded. She knew the place; she and Dawn had passed by it several times. That was before the electrical fire had rendered it condemned.

"You'll want to avoid that area on your travels."

The Slayer frowned. "You're not coming?"

"No. I'm going to the train station."

"You just said-"

"That it's pointless to try and save her. I did and it is. But I can't leave her alone."

He didn't look scared or anxious or doubtful of his decision. Like it was nothing worse than choosing whether he wanted mayo on his sandwich or not.

"Thank you," she said because she didn't know what else to say.

Darwin dropped a hand on her shoulder and smiled in a very Giles sort of way. "It was an honor to work with you, Miss Summers."

Before her emotions could overtake her, Buffy moved away from the man to oversee the operation.

Within a few minutes everyone was packed and ready. Everyone except Dawn who hadn't come out of her room.

"Get the cars loaded," Buffy told the others while she and Giles went up to coax Dawn from her room.

It pained Buffy for her sister to believe her to be this cruel, heartless warrior that could throw another person's life away. But what could she do? Tell Dawn how much she hated leaving Emily and now Darwin to die to protect her little sister? Better to just let Dawn be angry with her.

"Dawn!" she called, rapping on the door a few times. "We've got to go. Come out."

No answer.

She almost wanted to roll her eyes at Dawn's childish behavior. God she was so stubborn. But there wasn't time.

Buffy twisted the handle and opened the door, saying, "Let's go, Dawn, now!"

But she was speaking to an empty room with an open window.