A New Breed of Slayer
A/N: A big thanks goes out to me Beta reader 'Willow' as she will be called here. She has worked hard to beta my last three chapters as well as this one and for that I am eternally gratefully. Other thanks are called for to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. You don't know how much it means that my story is appreciated. So, with no further ado I bring you my next chapter. Enjoy and please review.
Ch 4 Pain
Dawn whimpered as she looked up once more and realized she was now completely alone with Angelus. The horror stories that Willow, Xander and Buffy had fed her when she was younger about Angelus to keep her from patrolling flooded back into memory. Right about now she wished she was back home, tucked safely away in the confines of her bed listening to the shrieks of the potential slayers as they fought over whose turn it was to shower. Anything was better than this because she knew that there was a very good chance she would not live to see another day. Angelus seemed to read right into her fears as he smugly stood over her, probably thinking of all the horrible harm he would cause her. That was one thing she had learnt about Angelus as she began to research more, coming across his name in various different texts. He savoured the torture he inflicted on his prey. Just look at Drusilla. He had driven her insane before he turned her. Angelus knelt down and lifted Dawn's face so that she had no choice but to stare into his eyes. Eyes that showed no sign of Angel concealed in there. No care, no remorse nothing but Evil and Dawn shuddered. "Scared?" Angelus wondered, although he already knew the answer to that question. "You should be."
"Just kill me," Dawn pleaded, hoping that he wouldn't delay the inevitable. Angelus seemed amused by this request but showed no signs of appeasing to her plea.
"What fun would that be?" he cackled, "I like to soften them up first." With that Dawn received the first blow, a kick striking her in the stomach. "Of course you could always try to get away," Angelus suggested, "Just makes it all the more fun."
"I'm not going to run," Dawn informed the vampire. Why should she? Angelus would catch her before she reached the door. It was no use running. That was one thing that Buffy had been wrong about in teaching the potentials. Although you should listen to your instincts running wasn't going to help the situation. She knew. The first few nights Faith had began training Dawn she had run only to be caught and nearly killed by the attacker vampire. No, running was no good.
"Too bad," Angelus shrugged, disappointed, "At least tell me you're going to put up a fight. Being the sister of a slayer and all I would be extremely disappointed if you didn't. Then again you're just a big ball of energy. Buffy filled Angel in on the whole thing after she came back from the dead, again. You're just a bunch of fake memories and you should've been the one who died. That was your purpose anyway."
"No," Dawn gritted her teeth angrily before launching herself at Angelus. She was not just a ball of energy, the key to the heavens. Buffy had made that perfectly clear before she jumped into the portal. She was her sister, a Summers.
"Ooh, feisty," Angelus cooed grabbing Dawn's fist before it hit him and twisting it behind her arm, "But you know it's true. You know it, Angel knew it when he found out and the others know it too. You were the reason Buffy wasn't there. The reason they had to mourn. The reason Tara almost died. If it wasn't for you Glory wouldn't have bothered with them. You hurt them."
"No!" tears rolled down Dawn's cheeks from the pain of both Angelus twisting her arm and the words he whispered in her ears. They were words she had believed true herself for a long, long time.
"Yes," Angelus snickered, knowing his victim's weakness as usual. He let go of Dawn's arm right before he broke it and shoved her away. Dawn stumbled and fell to the ground from the strength of his shove. "You've caused them all pain. They hate you. They all do."
"No, no, no," Dawn cried covering her face as Angelus approached her shaking body. Dawn felt him standing over her and grew fierce and angry once again bolting up from her spot on the ground, "NO! You're wrong!"
"No Dawnie, I'm very, very right," Angelus moved closer to Dawn until she was pinned against a wall, "After all I've been buried inside Angel for a long, long time hearing all his thoughts. It's what he thought, felt." Dawn's breath grew heavier with anger at every word Angelus fed her. Anger towards herself, Angelus, Angel, everyone and then she launched again flashes of all Faith taught her, everything she had heard Buffy telling the potentials. She managed to get a few hits in on Angelus before he struck, backhanding her across the face. Dawn's head whipped to the side as she felt her eyes sting with fresh tears. Angelus didn't stop with that hit either. He sent a kick and another punch Dawn's way before sending her to the ground once more.
"Stop," Dawn pleaded, "Please, stop." Angelus' eyes twinkled with delight at Dawn's plea. He showed no signs of wanting to stop his torture on his latest victim. He knew that it was most likely the last victim he'd have for a long time and if this was too good an opportunity to let down especially since it would haunt Angel and make him suffer more than any of the other victims Angelus had killed.
"Now, why would I do that?" Angelus questioned forcing Dawn to return to her feet and holding her up with one hand as he caressed her cheek. Dawn's closed her eyes to keep all the tears back, shaking, and praying for death.
~*~*~*~*~*~
(Just outside the doors to the Hyperion.)
Faith slammed her already bloody fist into the cement of the stairs causing it to crumble under her strength. She was angry, bloody and sweating. The sun pounded down on her face from above as the inhabitants of Los Angeles went along their business not knowing the trouble Faith had gone through to bring the sun back. Not knowing that a sixteen, almost seventeen, year old girl was being tortured because of it. The sun was the only good thing that had come out of that day, but Faith would rather have Dawn safe inside the hotel. She felt a hand touch her shoulder and Faith looked up to find Willow standing above her. Faith frowned wondering whether or not she would give her hell for Angelus capturing Dawn as Xander had. "What?" Faith spat at the witch.
"Fred says there's a shower upstairs if you wanted..." the red-head trailed off as Faith nodded and rose form her seat. She might as well clean up. Entering the hotel Faith noticed for the first time the new arrival. A confused and not at all cheerleader like Cordelia sat in the lobby. Faith looked questioningly around, waiting for an answer. Xander had disappeared from the lobby as well as Spike, Conner, Wesley and Gunn.
"What's she doing here?" she addressed to anyone who was willing to answer her nodding towards the brunette.
"The Powers sent her back," Fred responded, "She doesn't remember anything, but Willow is working on that.
"And where's your showers?" Faith wondered.
"You can use the one in my room." Fred offered leading Faith up the stairs. Faith nodded her thanks as she entered the bathroom and slowly undressed and stepped into the steaming water. Rinsing off the blood anger rose in Faith's veins. Angelus was going to pay if Dawn was dead. She didn't care if Willow was going to bring back his soul; if Dawn was dead she would stake him. Dawn was the only one who offered Faith unquestioned forgiveness, the only one who gave her undying trust from the moment she met her. If Dawn was dead, Faith wasn't sure how she was going to return to Sunnydale.
As she exited the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her Faith looked around the room. She found the bag holding the spare clothes sitting by the door and she silently thanked Willow for bringing it upstairs. Changing into the new set of clothes Faith towel-dried her hair and returned to the lobby where she found everyone sitting, waiting for something or other. As soon as she entered the room a stormy look crossed over Xander's face as he quickly averted his gaze from her wandering one." We've got to get Angel's soul back," Faith stated, "Willow, can you perform the spell now?"
"I'd need the soul," Willow said shaking her head, "The soul isn't in some other dimension where I can reach it without having it here. It's somewhere trapped in a jar. I need to summon it."
"How soon can you do it?" Faith wondered.
"Right away," Willow informed the slayer, "But we're going to try to get Cordy's memory first. If the other Cordelia has her memory if we return it to the real Cordelia there's a chance she might know where Angelus is holding Dawn and we could get there faster."
"There's also a chance it won't work," Faith snapped, "And that Dawn will be dead by the time we get Angel back." She heard Xander mumble something under his breath.
"We have to try," Willow stated staring the slayer straight in the eyes. Faith was surprised. Willow had certainly obtained some guts since Faith had last seen her.
"Fine," Faith muttered, "I'm going out, search for information on Angelus. Look for a trail."
"Then you'll need me," Conner stepped up.
"Okay, you got a cell phone?" Faith questioned. Conner shook his head.
"I'm coming," Xander put in, "And I've got a cell phone."
"You better not get in the way," Faith threatened, "The last think I need is someone else in danger."
"I'll call you if anything comes up," Willow cut Xander off before her could respond to Faith. Faith nodded and motioned for Conner and Xander to follow, which they did.
~*~*~*~*~*~
(Back where Angelus is torturing Dawn.)
Dawn felt her cheek pulsing, swelling up from Angelus' hit. Her lip was now cut and bleeding and she was almost certain he arm her had broken during her last attempt to fight Angelus off. She was in pain, both mental and physical, and she knew that Angelus was not going to kill her anytime soon. It was in his grin, his eyes, in every movement he made he made sure Dawn knew that he would not relent, not before nightfall. Smoothly Angelus filled her brain with horrid words on how terrible a person she was. How everyone hated her and would not miss her. Worst was, Dawn was beginning to believe him. With every word he fed her Dawn became more certain that it was the truth. Hate for the world and everyone she had ever cared for filled her veins and she wished to be rid of this horrible pain that clutched her heart. Angelus now stood in front of her, continuing his torture. Adding more bruises to Dawn's body, adding more to that horrible feeling that held her heart. Hate and evil engulfed her to a point Dawn almost wanted to end her life herself, to get this over with, not having to wait until it pleased Angelus to kill her. She couldn't fight much longer. Not with one arm anyway.
Angelus knew all this about his victim. Knew everything that was and would be going through her head as time progressed and the night drew nearer. He knew what to tell her and when to weaken her barrier even more, to bruise her self image and the image of her loved ones. He savoured every minute of this young girl's pain. Watch her shrink into the corner wishing to end her very own existence. Waited for the exact right moment to spring again as he had his fun, for this was fun. This was Angelus' sport. The best part was that when Angel returned he would be able to re-live this again and again as Angel sulked in his remorse over killing this poor, innocent creature. Angel would know the endless torture he had put her through; know all the pain he had caused before killing her. He looked down at the shaking body of the girl and his smirk grew. It was time to dig deeper into this girl's mind. "You've been a bad girl for a very long time," he growled into her ear as he dragged her out of her corner, "You hid things from Buffy about Faith. You knew she was meeting the mayor. She told you everything. You could've stopped her. Prevented all the horrible things she had done to Buffy and the others, to Angel. When Faith was out of her coma, after she came to visit, you could've told Buffy. Then when she told you she was going to get back at Buffy, switch bodies. You wanted her to, didn't you? You wanted Faith to be Buffy, your sister? You wanted Buffy to rot away in jail in Faith's place didn't you Dawn?"
"No," Dawn mumbled. She had uttered that word a lot in the past hours, not wanting to believe what Angelus told her. Not wanting to believe that she had done such horrible things, but she did. She couldn't help it. She remembered after Faith left Sunnydale calling Angel, the one person she felt she could trust. Hiding in her room when no one was home and telling him all that had happened. Angel had consoled her. Told her it wasn't her fault that everything was going to be alright. He had promised never to tell Buffy about their conversation and for all she knew he hadn't. Dawn hadn't told Buffy about Faith's late night visits and her confessions on everything she had, and would do because she felt if she had she would betray Faith and lose her as a friend. Yet, Angelus was right. If she had told Buffy about Faith maybe Buffy, or Giles or even Wesley would've been able to convince Faith not to revert to the dark side. A lot of things could've been prevented.
"It's true," Angelus remarked, "Angel was only trying to protect you by not telling Buffy. He knew you had done wrong by letting Faith go around doing her evil."
"Shut up!" Dawn shouted limply throwing a punch with her unbroken arm. Angelus snickered at her attempt and shoved it off. He then lifted his leg and kicked the back of her leg sending Dawn to her knees on the floor, whimpering with pain. Dawn glared up at the vampire and drew up the remainder of her strength and swung her leg around tripping the vamp, who flipped back up onto his feet almost before he touched the ground.
"Getting brave are we?" Angelus wondered taking a step closer to Dawn, "We'll change that."
~*~*~*~*~*~
(On the streets Los Angeles.)
Faith and Xander walked a little behind Conner, who was scoping out Angelus. Neither one of them spoke but Xander made perfectly clear in his silence how he felt about this situation and Faith. He blamed her. He blamed her for a lot, Faith knew that but right now the main issue was that he blamed her for Angelus torturing Dawn. Faith couldn't help but accept Xander's silent blame because she knew it was her fault. She could've, should've stopped Dawn from going after Angelus. From the minute she met Dawn Faith had felt the need to protect that young thirteen year old from the evil of the world. She had just lost her watcher, her mother, her family because of what she was, the slayer. Sometimes when training Dawn she forgot that she was a normal girl and not the slayer. That was what happened tonight. Seeing Dawn slay the vamps as easily as she would, made Faith forget that she was just a young girl, and not the chosen one.
The sun burned on their backs as Faith looked around at the faces of all the citizens going around their daily business, as if they forgot that the sun had ever disappeared. As Conner continued to track Angelus Faith began to realize it was no use searching for Angelus in the middle of the day. Not without some sort of idea on where he might be. Conner seemed to realize this as well as he turned around and headed back to the hotel. Despite knowing that it was hopeless Faith couldn't help but snap at the boy, "Where are you going?"
"Home," Conner grunted, "It's no use."
"The hell it is," Faith growled. She couldn't help it. She was angry at herself and no matter how hopeless it seemed Faith didn't want to give up. She couldn't give up because if she went back to the hotel right now it would be as if giving up on finding Dawn alive.
"Stop pretending to care," Xander spoke up for the first time since he had left the hotel, "You can't care."
"Xander I'm really sorry that I led you to believe that," Faith snapped, "But right now I'm trying to find Dawn."
"Why? Why do you care now?" Xander wondered.
"Because Dawn and Angel are the two people who believed in me no matter what," Faith informed him, "They mean more to me than even my life. And I can't lose them Xander. If Dawn dies, I lose both of them." Xander's cell phone rang and he moved away from Faith and Conner to answer it. As he hung up he turned back to Faith.
"We're going back," Xander updated, "Willow's going to perform the spell now and we're going back." Faith stormed ahead of them heading back to the hotel. Hopefully Cordelia would be the key to finding Dawn, to saving Dawn.
~*~*~*~*~*~
(At the Hyperion, in the lobby.)
Willow rung her hands nervously waiting for Xander to return before she preformed the spell on Cordelia. She had promised she would wait, but for all she knew these few minutes could mean the difference between saving Dawn and having Faith stake Angelus. Willow saw it in her eyes, could see the murderous look that she too had once sported. If Dawn's dead, Willow shuddered at the thought. It was the same thought that was going through Faith's mind and Xander's at this very moment. A thought that scared Willow to even think about because she couldn't stand to lose someone else she loved. She couldn't stand to have another one of her friends murdered out of cold blood, this time by a soulless vampire, Angelus.
The door to the Hyperion swung open once again sending Spike ducking into the shadows of the hotel to escape the light. Faith stormed in followed by Conner and lastly Xander. Faith leaned against the counter waiting for Fred, Lorne, Wesley and Gunn to return to the lobby with the remaining materials. Cordelia still sat in the same place as before staring curiously at the people around her, waiting for someone to address her and inform her on what was happening. As the others returned to the room Willow took a deep breath and gathered her energy before approaching Cordelia. "You sit over there now," Willow instructed her, "We're going to try and get your memory back." The girl nodded and followed Willow's instructions.
"Where do you need these?" Gunn wondered holding up two candles.
"Here," Willow took the candles from Gunn and placed them where she needed them.
"I'm going back there," Lorne put in as Willow sat down across from Cordelia, "Last time we did a memory spell I woke up with a splitting headache tied to the couch."
"Alright," Willow breathed, "Here it goes." As Willow chanted the spell focusing mainly on the spell and its purpose the others looked on praying for it to work, praying that they would get Cordelia, Angel and Dawn back. Praying that they didn't lose Willow to all the power that was being used for the spell. A flash of light filled the room as Willow concluded the spell and when they could all see again, Cordelia was unconscious.
~*~*~*~*~*~
(On Some Other Plane.)
Cordelia opened her eyes and was surrounded by the swirling colours and lights. The white cloud under her feet, everything she had gotten used to during the time she had had to spend here, learning to harness the power of the visions. In front of her stood a young girl clad in a long white robe. Her long, wavy brown hair hung loosely over her shoulder and her brown eyes sparkled. She motioned for Cordelia to come nearer and she obeyed. "What's going on?" Cordelia asked, "Why am I here?"
"To get you memory," the girl replied, "Do you remember me Cordy? Everything I taught you?"
"Yes," the brunette nodded, "Everything."
"Good, you will remember it when you return to your body as well," the girl smiled and held out her hand revealing a small, glowing globe in her hand.
"What's that?" Cordelia wondered.
"Your memory," the young girl informed her, "An evil being entered earth, taking your form and deceiving your friends. Thinking that she was you they cast a spell and gave her memory, your memories. With the memory of everyone was able to manipulate them. Willow's spell allowed me to retrieve your memory but it's not your memory anymore. You're now connected with the one who takes your form and in order for you to reclaim you life you must kill her. She has done many evil deeds that you will remember and regret but once she is gone, those things will no longer be your memories. They will disappear and you will only remember what you did as you."
"It doesn't make any sense," Cordelia admitted.
"It's not supposed to," the girl smiled at Cordelia and stretched her hand out, "Take it. They need you. Someone's life will be taken without your help." Cordelia reached out and as she touched the glowing globe the girl and her surroundings disappeared and instead were replaced by a vision.
~~A girl with straight flowing brown hair sat cowering in the corner of an old building, her face not visible. A tall man stepped in front of the girl. The view whirled around until his face was visible, morphed, fangs showing. He pulled the limp girl up and pushed her hair aside before feeding on her, drinking her blood. As he finished he pushed her back onto the floor. Her arm lay on her side revealing her watch and the time, 12:00. Then the girl's lifeless face was then revealed. ~~
~*~*~*~*~*~
(In the lobby at the Hyperion.)
"DAWN!" Cordelia shouted snapping awake. She became fully aware of her surrounding, the people, and the memories. Memories filled her head. She remembered who she was, where she was from and, what she had done. Horror filled her eyes as memories from the months passed, things that the monster who had taken her form had done to her friends, her life.
"What is it?" Cordelia's gaze wavered over to the redhead sitting in front of her, "What's happened to Dawn?"
"Willow..." Cordelia looked at the girl who seemed to have changed so much since she had last seen her.
"Great, we've established you remember," Faith lifted herself off the desk and approached Cordelia, "What do you know about Dawn?"
"I had a vision," Cordelia clarified glaring at the slayer, "Dawn was...Angelus he...she was dead."
"Oh god," Xander muttered.
"Anything to tell us how much time we 'ave?" Spike spoke up from his corner.
"What is he doing here?" Cordelia asked staring at Spike cautiously.
"Is it that hard to believe I 'ave a soul?" Spike wondered grouchily.
"Uh...Yeah," Cordelia responded truthfully, "12. Midnight. We have until midnight."
"Do you know where she is?" Faith wondered. Cordelia nodded.
"I'm sharing my memories with the evil me," Cordelia updated them, "I remember what she had done and will until I kill her. She, I, talked to Angel not long ago when the brought Dawn in... She was angry. It's at this old building uptown."
"How fast can we get there?" Faith asked.
"An hour, half an hour depending on traffic," Cordelia responded.
"Willow, get to work on getting Angel's soul," Faith ordered.
"Just let me get some Tylenol," Willow got up and headed towards her purse.
"Let's go then," Faith motioned to Cordy. Cordy sighed and followed the slayer.
"Wait," Xander stopped them at the door, "I'm coming.
"No," Faith pushed past him, "You're not getting in the way. Stay and help Willow." With that they were gone. Cordelia was having a hard time dealing with all that was happening. Faith was out of jail and Dawn was being tortured by Angelus. Not to mention some evil being taking her form and sleeping with Conner. That was one think that seriously disturbed her and she was glad that Conner wasn't coming along for this. If they didn't kill the other her soon she didn't think she would even be able to be in the same room as Conner knowing was had happened between him and someone he thought was her. She pushed that out of her mind and focused on finding Dawn who had a matter of hours before she would be killed by Angelus.
~*~*~*~*~*~
(The old building where Angelus has Dawn.)
"She had a vision!" 'Cordelia' stormed into the room where Angelus was torturing Dawn, "She knows when you're going to kill her. They're on their way now."
"Good," Angelus chuckled, "When will they join out little party?"
"Soon," 'Cordelia responded, "Twenty minutes tops."
"She'll be dead before then," Angelus assured his "master", "Now go!" 'Cordelia' glared at the vampire before leaving the room so he could do away with his victim. Angelus turned to Dawn and grinned. "Looks like the slayer is on her way," he stroked her cheek, "Too bad she's going to find you dead." Dawn's lower lip trembled. Angelus ran his thumb over it, "Don't worry though, it's the best part." He brushed her hair back and kissed her neck lightly before morphing into his demon form.
~*~*~*~*~*~
(On the streets of LA.)
"He's going to kill her now," Cordelia turned brusquely to look at the slayer, "She knows about the vision, she told him. He's going to kill her.
"Shit," Faith cursed slamming her hand into the building next to her. They were taking a shortcut through the alleyway. Faith's reaction to the news surprised Cordelia because the slayer seemed to sincerely care. The same slayer that had made them go through hell in Sunnydale, tortured her and Wesley, seemed to really care about whether this girl died or not. "Where is it?" Faith wondered, "With good old Slayer speed I can get there."
"Make a right, on the next corner," Cordelia began, "If you want to get there even quicker jump the fence that's to your left after you turn, continue straight two more streets and then left, and then right five streets after that. It's the oldest house at the end of the block."
"Great," Faith muttered before taking off.
~*~*~*~*~
(At the old building.)
As Angelus' fang came closer to her neck Dawn remember the tranquilizer gun. She had had many opportunities where she could've used it, but with Angelus feeding her his torment she had forgotten about it. Slipping her hand quickly into her pocket she pulled it out slowly as Angelus' fangs sunk into her neck and began feeding. Dawn squeezed her eyes shut from the pain as she felt her blood quickly leave her body. She pressed the gun against his lower abdomen and pressed the trigger. Angelus' body fell limp against Dawn who gathered a last bit of strength to push him off. As soon as Angelus was lying on the floor, unconscious, Dawn fainted.
~*~*~*~*~*~
(Outside the old building.)
Faith was hardly out of breath as she reached the house Cordelia was talking about around ten minutes later. It was more of a building than a house and Faith sincerely wished that this was the place and that she was not too late. Realizing that she was wasting time she crashing into the building and raced up the stairs, and as she opened the first door on her left she found and unconscious Angelus and a seemingly lifeless Dawn. Faith rushed to the teenager's side and felt for a pulse only to retract her arm and look at her fingers. Blood. She turned Dawn's head and saw the fang marks. Angelus had fed, but she was still alive. The tranquilizer gun lay at Dawn's side and Faith was relieved that Dawn had had that. Or else, Faith knew she would be dead now, but Dawn was still badly beaten and if they didn't get her to a hospital soon she would most likely die.
Now, Faith looked over to the tranquilized Angelus. She didn't know what to do. She couldn't leave Angelus here, not at the risk of him finding Dawn and finishing the job. Yet, if she didn't leave him here it was almost certain Dawn would die from lack of blood. As a stroke of luck Conner and Spike burst into the room. "Bloody hell," Spike cursed as his gaze fell on Dawn.
"How'd you get here?" Faith wondered.
"Peaches' tunnels," Spike informed the slayer, "An' the boy 'ere."
"I need to get her a hospital," Faith notified them picking the girl up, "Take care of Angelus." Faith carried Dawn towards the door before turning and facing the men, "And Spike, make sure the kid doesn't stake him."
"Sure thing slayer," Spike nodded as he turned to help Conner with Angelus.
~*~*~*~*~*~
(At the hospital.)
Faith stepped back into the hospital room. She hated hospitals. The smell, the colours, the people, she hated everything about them. She had just gotten back from calling Xander back at the hotel to get an update on how Willow was doing on getting Angel's soul back and to tell him they found Dawn. Needless to say he was on his way over. Dawn was still unconscious and according to the doctors there was a 50:50 chance that she would come to. Faith took a seat next to Dawn's hospital bed and wondered what Buffy would be thinking if she knew what had happened to her sister, what her sister looked like. Dawn's arm was in a cast, her lip cut and her cheek bruised badly as well as the rest of her body. The doctors had also informed Faith, the patient's "sister" that Dawn would most likely be limping due to a sprain in her ankle. Also, due to her lack of blood Dawn had also needed a blood transfusion and since Dawn seemed to have a rare blood type they worried about whether or not they would find a match. Surprisingly enough Faith was able to donate blood to Dawn.
Of course they had asked Faith about what had happened to Dawn. Faith just said she had been beaten by someone in the family and that the police were looking into finding him. What else could she do? She did now want the police crawling all over the hospital; chances were someone might recognize her.
As Faith sat there she noticed Xander enter the lobby from the window of the room. He seemed to be having a problem with the nurse behind the desk. Faith sighed and shook her head before getting up and exiting the room to inform the nurse that it was all right, she knew him and he could come visit. As soon as Xander entered the room and saw Dawn he was at her side. Faith noticed he looked just as guilty about that as she felt. Maybe Xander's anger towards her was towards himself as well. "Is she going to be alright?" He questioned, tears appearing in his eyes and he stroked Dawn's hair.
"They don't know," Faith shrugged, "They don't know."
"Buffy didn't want her to come," Xander whispered, "Willow and I convince Buffy that it was the right thing to do letting her come. It would get Dawn out of the house; give them her one less girl to worry about."
"It was the right thing," Faith assured Xander, "I wouldn't have broken out if Dawn hadn't come and you probably wouldn't have asked me to break out. The beast would've still been loose too."
"But look at what happened," Xander pointed to Dawn, "Look at her. She came here and I allowed her to go out. I promised Buffy, Willow promised Buffy we would look out for her and...And look at her. Faith, she's on the verge of death! She was tortured by Angelus and nearly died. It hurts seeing her like this. I've strived so long to protect them, to protect Buffy and Dawn. And now look."
"I...I used to take her out and train," Faith confided, "When I met her I felt the need to protect her. So, I used to sneak her out and train her, teach her how to fight. A lot of the time I forgot she wasn't a slayer. She was great at it. We...we created this bond that I've never had with anyone before. I told her everything. I put so much on her shoulders. Telling her what I did, about the mayor and what was going to happen. I made her promise not to tell Buffy. And Angel, Xander, Angel saved me when I thought I couldn't be saved. Dawn was amazing tonight. Fighting off vamps like any slayer would and I forgot. I handed her the tranquilizer gun and allowed her to go after Angelus. This is my fault, my fault that Dawn is like this. That Angel will be locking himself in his room the minute he gets his soul back, afraid to come out."
"So we're all playing the blame game then," Xander sighed, "Deadboy is going to have a hard time with this."
"Yeah," Faith nodded, "That's why Angelus picked Dawn to torture."
"I wish I could stake him," Xander pounded on his knee.
"X-man, changing the subject," Faith shifting uncomfortably in her seat, "I'm sorry about the whole, trying to choke you thing."
"Hey, I nearly got sacrificed the other day so it's okay," Xander cracked a smile and Faith couldn't help but smile a little as well. Then, the smiles faded as they listened to the slow even beeps of the machine tied up to Dawn. Waiting for something anything to happen, waiting for their greatest fear to happen, waiting for the teenager to wake up and be alright, just waiting.
~*~*~*~*~*~
(Back at the Hyperion.)
Night had fallen and they were all tired. Cordelia still hadn't returned since she and Faith left and the others hypothesized that she was getting rid of the evil version of herself. Conner and Spike were keeping and eye on the unconscious Angelus, and each other. Fred lay tiredly on the couch as Lorne and Willow prepared for the spell. Wesley and Gunn each sat in a corner, respectively. Willow was most probably the most tired of them all. She had summoned Angel's soul and prepared to restore it. She was worn out from the last two spells and eager to visit Dawn in the hospital and make sure she was alright. This had to be done first.
Spike and Conner sat in the basement where Angelus was caged. Waiting patiently for either Angelus to wake up, or Angel to return and begin his whole brooding remorse routine. The vampire in the cell began to stir on the ground and both knew that it was Angelus and not Angel right away. "Bitch," Angelus muttered referring to Dawn, "Had to ruin a perfectly good meal. I hope she's dead."
"Sorry, she's still alive," Conner informed the Vampire, his father.
"Damn," Angelus muttered, "Feisty one. I didn't get a chance to do my favourite part either because of her damn tranquilizer trick." Angelus smiled nastily. Spike gripped his fists together. He knew very well what Angelus would have done to Dawn if he had killed her and he didn't want to think about that.
"Go check if Red got the spell ready," Spike ordered Conner. Conner grudgingly went upstairs to check on the others and Angelus chuckled.
"Going to let me out Spike?" Angelus inquired, "We can kill the witch and rule the night again, find Dru."
"Rather not," Spike turned down the offer as Conner returned.
"It's ready," he stated, "She's doing it now." Spike smiled triumphantly. When he turned back to the cage he saw that it was Angel who was back. The vampire was cowering in the corner of the cage. Guilt traced all over his face and Spike could only imagine what was going through his head.
Angel could still taste her blood on his lips; feel her slim body shaking in his arms, how easily her arm had broken under his wrath. She was in the hospital, on the verge of death. Angel approached the front of the cage slowly, refusing to look at Spike and Conner. "I want to see her," he murmured. Spike nodded and sent Conner to fetch Wesley who had the key.
Wesley, Conner, Willow, Gunn, Fred and Lorne entered the basement all looking at the newly returned Angel. Willow looked sadly upon him as he sang to Lorne to be sure that he was actually Angel. Angel had to sing the whole song loud and clear since last time Angelus had been able to trick them. Finally, Wesley opened the cage. "I'll take him," Willow offered, "I want to see her anyway." The others nodded their approvement as Willow and Angel exited the basement and the hotel.
~*~*~*~*~*~
(Dawn's hospital room.)
Faith and Xander looked up at the door as Angel and Willow stood at the door. Faith stood up, in fighter's stance before realizing it was Angel who stood before them. Willow, seeing Dawn, rushed to the side of the bed almost as quickly as Xander had. She stood looking down at the girl, tears streaming down her cheek. Xander stood up from the chair and hugged Willow. Telling her everything was going to be alright. Angel stood motionless at the door. He was hardly able to look at Dawn. "I...I hurt her so much," he whined, "She...she was scared, wanted to die but I wouldn't let her."
"It wasn't you," Faith tried to comfort Angel; "Angelus is not you."
"He's in me now," Angel stepped away from the room slightly, "He's a part of me, a dangerous part. Angelus did this to hurt me. The things he said, I said, I did to her. She...she wanted to die. Begged, cried. I played with her mind, used her memories as weapons."
"Angel, it wasn't you," Willow now stepped forward wiping her tears, "Not the real you."
"I'm too dangerous," Angel shook his head stepping away from the group once more, "If Angelus gets released again. It's too dangerous."
"I didn't curse you," Willow informed him, "I gave you the gift of your soul. Angelus won't be coming back, ever unless the soul is forcefully removed by black magicks."
"You mean he can..." Xander trailed off from Dawn's bedside. Willow nodded affirmative. Then, Dawn's lifeline went flat and the constant whine of the machine filled the room. Everyone turned to stare at the girl lying in the bed, dead. They stared in shock as the line remained flat and doctors pushed passed them to reach the girl, to bring her back. Willow buried her face into Xander's chest letter her tears flow freely as he hugged her trying to whisper words of hope into her ears, hope that he himself didn't believe in. Faith just stared at the now shut door that blocked them out from what was going on inside the room. She did not move or speak, just stared. Angel watched these three sadly realizing that he had caused them all pain, pain that could never be healed.
~*~*~*~*~*~
(On another Plane.)
Dawn felt healed, safe. Looking down at her body she realized she was. There were no bruises, blood, scars, she was healed. Then, as a young girl appeared in front of her Dawn realized she was dead. Her eyes widened in shock, she didn't want to be dead. The young girl didn't say anything to her. She just held out her hand for Dawn to grasp. Reluctantly Dawn took it and found herself back in the hospital room.
Nurses and Doctors were rushing around her lifeless body. Xander, Willow, Faith and Angel stood watching outside. Fear, sadness, and guilt were written across all their features. Dawn knew that it was Angel who stood there and not Angelus. Being dead she seemed to be able to see their auras. Yet, even knowing it was Angel Dawn wasn't able to look at him, afraid to. Angel was the spitting image of the one who had put her in this situation, being dead; it was him in fact, his body just soulless. Dawn then looked at her battered body as the doctors tried to revive her. "Go back," the girl next to her whispered, "It's not your time."
"I can't," Dawn confessed, "I can't."
"You can," a new voice filled the room, Joyce Summers appeared in front of her body, "You have to Dawny. Live. They need you to."
"Mom," Dawn reach to her mother, "Mom."
"Go honey, go back," Joyce motioned towards Dawn's body lying on the bed. Dawn looked sadly at her mother.
"Mom was it you?" Dawn wondered, "I have to know. Was it you that day when you told me Buffy wouldn't choose me?" Before Joyce could answer Dawn's question she was slammed back into her body and everything went black.
~*~*~*~*~
(Back in Real Time.)
The whine returned to the slow rhythmic beeps and the doctors sighed, relieved that they had now lost another patient They began to run tests, checking the patient's blood pressure and heart rate among other things, including brain waives. One doctor stepped away from the mad rush and exited the room. As he did all four people outside the room watched him intently, waiting for the news that he bore. "She's alive," he informed them, almost able to feel their relief, "She's still unconscious and we're running tests to be sure everything is normal. She lost a great amount of blood and although Ms. Summers here donated some, she might need more. I would like to ask all of you to donate some blood and we'll see if we have any other matches."
"Sure..." Willow nodded slowly, looking questioningly at Faith. Ms. Summers? Sure, she had expected Faith to give another name to the nurses than her own, but Ms. Summers making Faith Dawn's sister, Buffy. It was all a bit too déjà vu.
"Is...is she going to be alright?" Angel wondered.
"We're not sure yet," the doctor, Sanchez his name tag read, responded, "We'll need to monitor her very closely."
"I also have a few questions to ask about the patient's wounds," Dr. Sanchez looked down at his files on Dawn, "The...bite marks on her neck are quite strange. Of course, I've seen them before but mostly on people who are already dead. We feel the need to ask you if any of you know the origins of these marks..." The others looked at each other, neither sure how to answer as the doctor trailed off.
"We don't know," Faith spoke up angrily, "I told the nurse all I knew about the beating and what happened. By the way, the patient has a name, it's Dawn."
"I'm sorry Ms. Summers," Doctor Sanchez bowed his head as a nurse exited the room; "I know this must be hard for you."
"Dr. Sanchez," she called, "We need you in here." The doctor nodded at the nurse.
"If there are any developments I'll let you know," he enlightened before returning into the room behind the nurse. Faith gripped her fists together tightly wanting to kick Dr. Sanchez's ass. She had just been scared shitless that Dawn had died, no fuck this was hard. Then again, he didn't really care; he just didn't want Faith to pull a fit in the hospital.
"Ms. Summers huh slayer?" the familiar voice caused the four to turn around, finding Spike standing there with Cordelia. Faith sighed, right just what she needed, Spike.
"Got a problem Spike?" Faith asked, "Couldn't exactly use my real name could I?"
"How's the bit?" Spike wondered.
"Died briefly," Faith briefed. Cordelia approached the stained glass window, barely able to make out Dawn's form on the bed.
"Does Buffy know yet?" she asked.
"No," Xander spoke up, "We don't want to worry her."
"Or send her on an angry rampage to stake Angel," Cordy interpreted, "Wouldn't be the first time." Cordy gaze then shifted to Angel, "How you doing?"
"How am I supposed to be doing?" Angel inquired, "I nearly killed her...she could still die..."
"Angel, it wasn't you fault," Cordy tried to comfort the vamp, "You couldn't control what was going on."
"Hey, I'd keep my voice down," Faith interrupted the two nodding towards the nurses behind the counter. The last thing she needed was more unwanted questioned from stupid doctors about Dawn's 'predator' and Angel and Cordelia's little chat would certainly draw suspicion if over-heard. "I'm going to donate more blood," Faith notified the group before storming off. She couldn't stand the way Angel was acting, the fact that Dawn was in a coma and that everyone else was acting like it was the end of the world. Like they really gave a fuck when all they were worried about, in her opinion, was whether or not they would have the deal with the wrath of Buffy. Well, Faith couldn't care less about what Buffy thought. After the other slayer hated her, wanted to kill her, so why should she care?
"Wait," Willow spoke up and Faith turned around, "I'm coming too." Faith shrugged as Willow came along followed by Xander. She felt guilty then for accusing them of not caring. They did, both of them. She saw that they did. She was just fucked up, just angry that this was happening. That there would be another spat with Buffy, although having to be around Buffy at all was something Faith dreaded anyway. Faith had a feeling that Xander and Willow dreaded retuning as well, which lead her to wondering how much Buffy had changed since their last encounter.
(A couple of hours later.)
The doctors had all slowly returned to their other tasks and patients, some waiting for test results, others waiting for death and few waiting for the girl to wake up. Faith, Xander, Willow, Spike, Cordelia and Angel had all been allowed back into the room, rather reluctantly on the front of the nurses and doctor's. Every fifteen minutes to half hour either a doctor or nurse retuned to the room to check on Dawn. Now, the six just waited. It was an hour to sunrise and Spike and Angel were preparing to head back to the hotel, Gunn and Wesley were meeting them outside in a half an hour. Willow sat on the floor next to Dawn's bed, her head leaning against Xander's knees turning his cellphone slowly in her hands. Her fingers brushing the numbers every so often, longing to call the familiar numbers of the Summers' home and talk to Buffy, Kennedy or even Andrew to make sure that all was fine. That they were all alive and they needn't worry about anyone else. Spike stood over Dawn watching her protectively, and Angel loomed guiltily in the corner. Faith sat silently in the chair on the opposite side of the bed than Willow, Xander, and Spike with Cordelia nearby. None of them spoke. None of them wanted to.
As another minute or so passed there was a change in the air. The six towards to the closed door where Dawn stood, completely healed not a scratch to be found. They were in awe a moment as the girl stepped forward, an odd grin upon her face. Spike was the first one to come to a definite realization. "Bugger off," he told the girl.
"Aw...Spikey is that anyway to speak to me?" 'Dawn' grinned, "I mean I'm almost dead after all. Do you want the last words you'll ever get to say to me be bugger off?"
"You're not the Niblet," Spike spat.
"Oh god," Willow sighed as both she and Xander stared from Dawn to the First, "Buffy..."
"Oh, yes, Buffy," the first rolled its eyes, "My wonderful, loving sister. So loving she sent me here to get killed by Angelus. Of course I'm still alive...for now." The gaze of the first fell upon Angel who stood in his corner still. "Oh, and you," the First approached Angel, "Look at me. Look at what you did to me. You don't deserve to live you've done many bad things to Buffy and me. You should've stayed dead when Buffy staked you. You should've staked yourself a long, long time ago." Angel fidgeted glancing at Faith catching a glimpse at the stake she had tucked away. The First seemed to notice this as well and went on, "Go on. End this all right now. Just take it and put it through that non-beating heart of yours. Maybe it'll bring me back."
"Angel, don't," Faith protested, "You're a champion and you need to work for redemption. Ours is a fight that is never done. You can't give up."
"Faithie," the First now turned on Faith. The slayer managed to not show emotion as she stared into the eyes that looked so much like Dawn's, "You can be blamed to. You did so much to me too. You're a murderer and not only that but you used Dawn. You told her everything you were going to do before you did it. You told her all that you had done. You filled her mind with so many things she couldn't help but go pouring it out to Angel after you left Sunnydale. And Angelus used it all against her. All of you here can be blamed. It's all your faults, every single one of you."
The door to the room swung open to reveal Gunn and The First disappeared with a small wave of Dawn's hand. "Yo! You vamps ready to go?" Gunn asked, "Sunrise is in an hour."
"Yeh," Spike nodded glancing over at Angel, "Not sure 'bout Peaches."
"I'm ready," Angel spoke up, "Let's go." Gunn nodded and the two Vamps followed him out.
"You think he'll be alright?" Willow asked.
"Eh, brood boy will be fine," Xander said bitterly, "He's not comatose."
"Xan," Willow mumbled quietly, "We both know Angel and Angelus are completely different."
"Yet completely the same," Xander added.
"Harris," Cordelia spoke up for the first time for a long time, they had almost forgotten about her presence, "I've known Angel for a long time and got to know him well during the past four years...and Angel's haunted by everything he had ever done. If Dawn doesn't make it, he's not going to get over it. He came close to staking himself just second ago."
"Help..." Dawn mumbled weakly from her bed, "It hurts." They turned to Dawn who was now lying awake; her eyes squeezed tight, fist balled up and tears streaming down her cheek. Willow was on her knees now leaning over the bed stroking Dawn's hair. Dawn sunk down into the pillow and shook her head slowly, "No..." The nurse entered the room just then and ran off to inform the doctors on the news of Dawn's awakening.
"Dawnie," Willow looked sadly down at her. Dawn opened her eyes then and looked around the room her gaze lastly falling on Faith and the slayer stared into her eyes for a while before a bunch of doctors, including Sanchez, entered the room and ordered them out. Faith reluctantly followed Cordy, Willow, and Xander. She didn't want to leave Dawn alone with them, not after what she had seen in her eyes. It was the same haunted look that she had seen in Angel's eyes, the same look she herself had sported. Faith realized now that although Angel's pain was never ending, Dawn's was just beginning. Faith could see the pain, the fear, and the sadness all there. Pain that was now only physical, but mental as well and Faith felt for the girl. She wanted to help her, but in order to help she needed to find out what Angelus had told Faith, and to convince Dawn that it was all lies and from the look in her eyes Faith knew it was going to be hard. She had to do it though. Dawn meant the world to her and she would do anything to help her, anything.
