TITLE:
Darkest Before Dawn #40 Prelude
AUTHOR:
Nmissi
PART: 40/?
RATING:
R (For Series)
DISCLAIMER: I own Nothing and No one. Especially not Spike. If I did,
what makes you think I'd share him with you?
DISTRIBUTION: Anybody, just credit me and let me know where it's
going.
Feedback: Please. Nmissi@aol.com
SUMMARY: The way the world would work if I wrote the Buffyverse.
She was still wrapping his hand when
Buffy came through the doorway, wrinkling her brow as she took in the scene.
"Dawn? What happened?"
The teenager barely turned her head
in acknowledgement.
"Window."
She waited patiently, but Dawn
failed to elaborate. Finally she looked down at Spike for an answer.
"Well?" she asked.
He shrugged.
"Like the kid said. I broke a
window."
Buffy gritted her teeth and tried to
extract the whole story from the tight lipped pair.
"What window? And how?"
Spike whispered to Dawn, and she
sighed and stepped away from him.
"Whatever."
Then she flounced up to her room.
Wearily, Buffy sank down onto the
sofa. Lately all her interactions with Dawn seemed to go this way.
'Was I like this at fifteen?' she
wondered.
Spike was still sitting across from
her, cradling his bandaged arm.
"She's had a rough day, Slayer.
Don't expect too much from her. It's not you- It's the whole world she's mad
at."
He took in her haggard appearance,
and moved over to take her in his arms in a quick hug.
"How was school tonight?" he asked.
Buffy made a face.
"Don't ask. Suffice it to say, I
don't think I have a brilliant future ahead of me in any of the hard sciences."
He grinned at her.
"Nah. But I think your schedule's
sort of full up, anyway, innit?"
She smiled, then her face fell.
"Damn. I forgot to pick up milk on
the way home."
He tried to reassure her.
"No big deal, love. I'll get some in
the morning."
She sighed.
"I had planned to make mashed
potatoes tonight, to go with the frozen meatloaf. No milk means no potatoes. No
potatoes means Dawn won't eat meatloaf."
Dawn herself reappeared on the
stairwell, wearing streetclothes and a backpack.
"Debbie called. I'm going over her
house tonight. Her mom says its cool."
Spike jumped in.
"Oh, no you're not, Missy. You go
call her back and tell her you can't."
His voice softened.
"It's not a good idea, you know
that, pet."
Dawn gave him an ugly look.
"I'm as safe there as anywhere.
Prob'ly safer than here. Everybody knows I live here. Besides, Debbie's mom's a
good cook."
Beside him, Buffy winced.
Then she spoke up.
"Fine. You can stay the night at
Debbie's. Is her number-"
"It's on the fridge." Said the girl.
Spike bit his lip, struggling to
keep silent. He could prevent Dawn leaving, but then he'd have to tell Buffy
about the drugstore. And tonight was not the night for that. Tomorrow, maybe,
but he had other plans for this evening, ends to tie up, things to take care
of.
But it really galled him when she
contradicted him to Dawn. How were they supposed to present the "united front"
she wanted, when she constantly flouted his authority with the girl?
Dawn headed for the door, and Spike
grabbed his jacket.
"You're not walking over, at any
rate. I'll drive you," he said.
She just shrugged her shoulders at
him and gave him a defiant stare.