Chapter 20 – Convalescence

It's so good to be home. I don't believe they only kept me in hospital for two days. And, I get to stay off school until next week! Yay!

Xander took time off work to take Buffy to collect me. I wish it had been Spike, but Buffy said he had to work.

It's not like I haven't seen Spike. He's visited me, normally when he thinks none of the others (except Buffy) will be there. He makes me laugh. He tells me silly stories about his past, and about school. The stories he used to tell me, the ones where he killed, they're not included. I guess they hurt him too much now.

Buffy wanted me to go to bed when I got here, but I pleaded, and managed to persuade her that I can recuperate perfectly well lying on the sofa with the TV remote in my hand.

She hasn't been to work since the attack. She says the Principal understands because she's my sister. I guess he wouldn't understand about Spike. I mean, he's not family or anything.

They don't talk a lot. When Spike visited me, they both concentrated on me, and didn't talk to each other much. They might not be fighting any more, but they're being too careful. It's like they hardly know each other. They're both scared to disturb the peace that exists between them.

Xander's coming over after work. He's trying hard to be nice, I can see that. He's even stopped making snide comments about Spike. Well, most of the time. I think it's just too much of a habit now.

I spend the afternoon watching TV, amazed to find that I'm bored. How often have I wished to have a day to spend lazing like this, only to have my wish granted? Of course, it would be better if I could actually do something, but every time I get up, Buffy shoos me back to the sofa with threats of bed!

She's spending the afternoon catching up on laundry and other things that got neglected with her almost living at the hospital with me.

"What do you want for dinner?" she asks, coming up from the basement with an armful of newly laundered towels.

"Pizza?" I ask hopefully. She smiles at my response. I think she knew what I'd say.

"Ok, you want to make the call?" she asks, throwing the phone towards me.

"Xander too?"

"Yeah, he said he'd be here."

I phone and place the order, and as I put the phone down, Xander appears. He comes in, grinning, and walks straight over to me.

"How's the Dawnster, then?" he asks, planting a kiss on my forehead.

"Ok," I reply. I can't get used to him kissing me like that. It doesn't feel right. He didn't do that before, so why has he started now? I stiffen as he kisses me, and he notices. Now I've hurt his feelings! I didn't mean to, it's just, he's trying too hard. He thinks he should be my big brother, my protector. But that's Spike's job.

We eat the pizza, and for once, Buffy lets us eat it in front of the TV. Recently she's been insisting we eat either in the kitchen or in the dining room. I think it has to do with her whole 'make things better' drive. She wants to be a mom for me, and she wants to do things right.

She's clearing the things back into the kitchen when there's a knock at the door.

"That'll be Giles and Willow," Xander says, going to open the door.

"Since when have they knocked?" I ask myself, but I stay where I am.

I can hear Xander talking quietly, but can't make out who he's talking to. He calls Buffy, and now I'm really itching to know who it is.

The next thing I know, someone is coming this way, and in walks ... Riley. I didn't see that coming.

"Hey, Dawn," he says. "You remember Sam, don't you?"

His wife comes into the room, smiling widely. I remember her, but I remember him more.

"I hear you were attacked?" she says, coming to sit close to me.

"Yeah, but I'm fine now," I reply.

Riley takes a seat across the room, and Buffy offers to make coffee. Xander and Riley chat for a few minutes, while Sam mainly listens.

"So, what brings you to Sunnydale this time?" Xander asks.

"Government business," Riley replies. "I'm afraid I can't discuss the details. But, since we're here, I thought I'd look up some old friends."

"We're glad you did, aren't we Dawn?" Xander replies, looking at me for confirmation.

I never did like Riley too much. He and Buffy didn't belong together, and I'm just amazed it took her so long to see it. I try to smile an answer to Xander's question, but I don't think either of them actually expected one.

"So, what about the last time? Did you get everything sorted out?"

"Yeah, we did." It's Sam who answers. She's obviously not one to be sidelined in a conversation. "But, you wouldn't believe the merry chase we had finding all the rest of those eggs! We covered large parts of four states before we'd finished."

"I didn't think Spike had it in him," Xander comments. "I mean, planting the eggs all over like that."

"Spike?" Sam looks surprised. "Spike wasn't important. He was just keeping some eggs for someone else. Apparently he wanted money for something, and offered to help out. There was something funny about that, wasn't there? Honey?"

She looks at Riley, and notices for the first time that he's not comfortable with what she's saying. She looks confused. "What's the matter, Riley? It isn't classified. They know about it anyway. What was it Spike thought the eggs were for?"

Riley doesn't look well, but he covers. "Apparently he was told they were the latest in demon haute cuisine! Can you believe he'd be that stupid? The real Doctor was human. He had quite a racket going, too. He'd farmed the eggs out all over the place.

I sense movement at the doorway, and spot Buffy. I wonder how long she's been there, but not for long. Her face is unnaturally pale, but two red circles form on her cheeks. She's angry.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asks Riley.

"Tell you what?" Riley asks innocently.

"About Spike. Why didn't you tell me he wasn't responsible for the eggs?"

He's about to answer, but Sam gets in there before him.

"Why would you think Spike was responsible? We knew he was just a pawn when Riley went to retrieve the eggs."

I didn't think Buffy could get angrier, but she does. She doesn't speak for several seconds, and Sam is looking bemused. Riley's looking guilty.

"Why?" Buffy's question is directed at Riley who can't look at her. He doesn't answer.

"Why did you tell me he was the Doctor?"

Riley is still silent, but a glimmer of understanding forms on Sam's face.

"Riley wouldn't have said that. You must have misunderstood."

Buffy ignores her. "Why, Riley?"

Something breaks within him, and he looks up. "Because I could see what he was doing to you. Because he's not human. Because he's dead. Because he was bringing you down to his level. He screwed you on a tomb, Buffy! I had to do something. I had to stop it. And I happen to think it's one of the best things I've ever done!"

Xander's looking bemused at the whole exchange. Sam's looking angry, but Buffy's rage is like a physical presence in the room. "I think you'd better leave," she whispers, but there's no way anyone missed it.

Riley gets up, holding his hand out to his wife. Sam ignores it, and walks towards the door.

"I'm sorry, Buffy," she says. "I'd have told you if I'd known what he said."

Buffy just nods, taking the other woman's hand for a second before standing back to allow Riley to pass. I can see her hands itching to hit him, but she restrains it.

When they're gone, Buffy starts to rant. The language she's using is a bit much for someone of my tender years. Xander's trying to reason with her, telling her he understands why Riley did what he did. It's not helping, and when Xander realises, he decides to leave.

"Will you be ok?" he asks me, retrieving his jacket.

"I'll be fine," I tell him. He looks really troubled.

When he's gone, Buffy slowly calms down. Unfortunately, as she calms, the tears start.

"Oh, Dawn, what am I going to do? It was hearing about the eggs that made me decide to finish things with Spike. That was what I used to keep him at a distance, and he was telling me the truth. All that time, he was telling me the truth, and I didn't believe him."

I get up off the sofa and go over to the chair where she's sitting. I sit on the arm of the chair, and put an arm around her. "Buffy, it's over. Whatever you said's been said, and Spike still loves you. I'm not saying an apology wouldn't be a good idea, but, that's all you can do now. It's not your fault. It's Riley's."

She's crying softly, but she nods. We sit like that for a while, before she realises I'm off the sofa. With an exasperated sigh, she hustles me back there, and goes out to the kitchen to clear up, leaving me with the TV for company.