Part 8

Dawn and Wesley enter the lobby of the Hyperion where the others were waiting anxiously for them.

"We ah were successful in returning the child," said Wesley.

"Yeah, it was so cool, I found some cops and played it so cool."  "I was awesome," squealed Dawn.

"Yes," adds Wesley.  "Right up until the point where they wanted you to come down to the station as well."

"Well, it was still cool," says Dawn.  "I can't wait to do it again."

"Well, that won't be happening Niblet," said Spike.  "You and I are heading back to Sunnydale tonight."

"What, NO WAY!" shouts Dawn.  "I'm not going back there, and you can't make me."

"Look Little Bit, your sister is going to stake me when she finds out what happened to you."  "If I leave you here, it will be worse."

"Spike, you listen to me," said Dawn in a deadly quiet voice.  "I am not going back to Sunnydale."  "Something incredible has happened to me, and I want to learn how to use it."  "If I go back home with you, I'll go back to being Buffy's little sister and nothing more."  "If I stay here, I'll have a chance to do something good."

"Dawn, I'm not bloody well going to stand her all day and argue with you."

"Um, can I make a suggestion," interjects Fred.

"What!" both Spike and Dawn yell at the quiet woman next to them.

"Why don't you call Buffy and tell her what happened, and see what she has to say."

"Cause she's gonna tell me I have to come back," said Dawn resentfully

"Maybe she won't Dawn, if you talk to her calmly and explain everything," said Angel.

"Yeah, that's what you think," said Dawn.  "Dying turned her into a real bitch."

"Yeah, it does have that effect on her," said Cordelia.  "The first time it happened she was a total bitch for a couple of weeks."  "I was like you died you came back, now get over yourself please."

"What, she's died before?" asks Gunn.  "Man, that is one busy chic."

"Yeah, the Master, he was like this big time evil vampire dude, bit her and she fell into a pool of water and drowned," said Cordelia.  "Angel and Xander found her, and Xander did mouth to mouth and saved her."  "Really, it was no big deal, it could have happened to anyone."

Dawn rolls her eyes as she turns to Spike.  "Let's call her, ok, and see what she has to say."  "Angel, will you come too, she might listen to you."

The three leave the lobby and head into Wesley's office for some privacy.  Dawn reaches for the phone and dials the number.

"Hey Buffy, It's me"

"No, really everything's fine ah Angel wants to talk to you."

Dawn quickly shoves the phone into Angel's hand and flashes him a guilty smile.

"Ah Buffy, Hi!" said Angel in a falsely cheerful voice while shooting Dawn a dirty look.

"No, really, she didn't do anything."  Taking a deep breath, Angel rushes on.  "Well, except for cure Cordelia of the pain she gets when she has her visions, rescue a baby and slay the vamp that kidnapped the baby."

Angel pulls the phone away from his ear as Buffy begins to yell on the top of her lungs.

"Sent you to her to protect her and keep her safe."  "This isn't what I had in mind."  "Not even there a full day and she's killing vampires?" 

"Buffy,  Buffy, if you'll just listen for a minute," says Angel timidly into the phone.

"I don't want to hear it, put Spike on the phone right now!"

Angel gladly passes the phone off to Spike and says, "Well, I think that went better than could be expected."

"Slayer," says Spike.  "Don't waste your time yelling at me, I'm all for bringing the Niblet back home to Sunnydale."

"No, it seems your little cheerleader friend gets these visions and they really hurt her."  "Somehow, the Niblet took the pain away, but now she's getting the visions too."

"What, the baby."  "Yeah, she got a vision and decided to pretend she was big sis." 

As he is speaking to Buffy, Spike turns his back to Angel and Dawn and lowers his voice.

"The thing is slayer, she took this vamp out, with no problem."  "She's strong, almost as strong as you."  "Must be a part of her 'Keyness" or whatever."

"Safe?"  "Yeah, I think she'll be safe."  "She can take care of herself, after all, she learned from the best."  "Yeah, I think this is where she belongs."  "Ok, here she is."

Spike turns and hands the phone to Dawn and pushes Angel out the door.  "Come on, give them their privacy."

Angel and Spike had no sooner taken their seats when Dawn bursts out of the office. 

"It's ok, she said I could stay!" shouts Dawn.  "I have to keep my grades up, and promise not to patrol alone, but I get to stay."  "Can I have my own business cards too?"

The gang bursts into laughter as they gather around the newest member of Angel Investigations.

The End.