Standing in the middle of the living room David tiredly rubbed his eyes. It had been a long night. He had been asked to leave the room by the paramedics. It seemed that they were too afraid to move the girl before knowing what was wrong and had called a doctor to the site. What David found weird was that they had been prepared for the blood-loss, they had carried an insulated bag around with them that resembled a small blood bank.

He had tried to talk once more to the blond guy, only to see him leave as soon as the paramedics came in. For some reason he seemed to avoid looking at the blood. Oh what the hell, a guy could be squeamish no matter how tough he seemed. Besides it wasn't like he'd left the house, the guy had been hanging around the front door ever since.

Suddenly the door was opened with so much drive it bounced off the wall and started to close again before a dark haired, tall, young man entered the house. Interesting. More interesting was the fact that he was pushing the blonde guy back in, pinning him against the wall.

"Spike!"

David nearly cheered but repressed the notion in time. At least he had a name to go by now. Spike, what kind of name was that?

"What the hell did you do? What's the police and the ambulance doing here? What on earth happened?"

"It wasn't me! I did nothing..." The last word came out more defeated than anything else. "Buffy was hitting her Whelp. Hitting Dawn."

The dark haired young man banged Spike against the wall, hissing, "What are you saying, Buffy would never hit Dawn."

"She'd never do that. Did you get her under some kind of thrall. Seduce her to the dark side so she'd sleep with you. Is that it!" Another rough shove against the wall.

"I think that stops right there." Two surprised sets of eyes looked at David when he spoke up. "I'm officerDeinhammer and I'm with Sunnydale PD." He showed the newcomer his mark, just to be sure. "I need both your names."

"Names, ..." The dark haired man, nicknamed 'the whelp' by the other turned to him in confusion. "I'm Xander Harris. I'm a friend of the family," he almost stuttered.

David could remember the name Harris, he'd seen it before, a few times at that, but he wasn't sure where. "Xander? Is that a nick-name?" When Harris nodded David raised an eyebrow. "Your full name is ..." Leaving the end of the sentence hang off to prompt an answer he looked at the strange tableau. Harris was still pinning Spike to the wall. Why had he jumped to the conclusion that the other man had something to do with the happenings? There had been no blood on Spikes hands or David would have put handcuffs on the guy a good hour ago.

"Alexander Lavelle Harris." Thankfully Harris lost his hold on the blond guy. "I just don't like this piece of filth hanging around Buffy. I don't know what he's been telling you, but he's probably responsible for whatever happened here."

"Why you bastard!"

"What you gonna do, Fangless? Kill me?" Harris was clearly taunting Spike, talking down on him like he was too far below him to talk to. The two were a hair's breath away from another fight.

Shaking his head almost unnoticeable David stepped between the pair, then raised an eyebrow at Harris, keeping his gaze cool and consciously banning the interest out of it.
"Why, Mister Harris, this man probably saved Dawn's live by calling the ambulance as quickly as he did. I seriously doubt he would have acted like he did if he had wanted to kill the young woman."

"Yeah right."

Why couldn't Jim be here with him right now? These two were ready to start a brawl that might lead to even more bloodshed.

"Where's Buffy? What happened."

David pointed upstairs, "Miss Summers is still upstairs, she could not yet be arrested due to the importance of the victim being treated right away. As far as I could find out Buffy Summers came home to a house that was filled with very loud music, she left her jacket and hand-bag on the couch." He pointed at the things that seemed to have been carelessly and in anger flung on the sofa. "She proceeded upstairs to the victim. As of now we don't know what happened then. All we know is that a fight started and that Buffy Summers beat up Dawn almost to a point where you can't tell if she's human or not." Harris stared at him unbelievingly. "Now, what would interest me greatly is why you think that this man has anything to do with it."

"It's ... He's in a gang."

It sounded like the worst excuse David had heard in all of his career, and he'd heard a lot more of those since he'd arrived in Sunnydale. Cause with all the talks of gangs - and gang-violence - the weirdest part of it all ... he had yet to see a single gang-member anywhere in town. It shouldn't shake him so much, but with the regularity that the SD Police put down gang violence, you'd almost had to believe Sunnydale was overrun by them.

Furthermore, Harris wasn't very believable the way his voice shook. The look in his eyes clearly told David that he was lying. Together with the small droplets of sweat on Harris fore-head. He knew with absolute certainty that this was not even close to what the young man had wanted to say.

"I'm ... out on probation." Spike muttered the words, as if he was trying to support the other's claim.

David wondered if he even realized that one check with the computer would prove or disproof that theory. Still, he didn't have the guys real name. "It was Buffy Summers whose hands were bloody, not yours."

Utter shock displayed openly on Harris face. "That's impossible."

"Oh gee Harris, can't imagine your saint Buffy with bloody hands."

It was clear that Spike's anger sprouted more from his inability to prevent what had happened, but Harris seemed unwilling to see that, attacking him again. He pulled some long kind of wooden stick from his coat, attacking Spike. If David didn't know better he'd think that Spike was growling as he pushed the other back, kicking him in the chest before falling down, grabbing his head in pain

David acted instantly, grabbing Harris' right hand that was still holding on to the wood. Pushing him to the ground David kneeled on the angry young man's back. "That's it. Attacking a man in front of a cop is a very bad idea." He looked at Spike, "You will have to accompany us as well, you're an important witness."

"As if." He hissed the word.

Harris just glared at him and the blond man lost control. Jumping at Harris, and hitting him in the face. It was just one hit before he grabbed for his head again. David wondered what was up with that. Then again, he still couldn't tolerate anyone hitting a man who'd already been handcuffed.

Inwardly sighing he took hold of the blond man and shoved him against the wall, "Now, now, boys, if you can't behave you shouldn't be surprised when you find yourself in a cell." Spike didn't even resist as he was handcuffed. He seemed too busy swearing about some chip to resist.

He watched as both men were put in different police cars, the girl was still just sitting there, her hands cuffed. He wanted to go up to her and say something, but before he could, Jim had already gotten to her and ordered her to the car.