Chapter 15:
Spike rolled over and pulled Buffy towards him. She was tensed up and muttering in her sleep.
The vampire looked down at her in concern
is she having more visions about Niblet?
He held her against his chest and stroked her hair, trying to calm her.
"calm down luv, nothing to worry about. Spike's here."
She murmured, "dawn!.. no…not you too…"
Spike sighed and decided he should wake her up.
He sat up gently and pulled her up with him, stroking her face with his hand. "Buffy luv, wake up."
She wrapped her arms around him and opened her eyes. "Spike?"
He stroked her silky blonde hair, "yes love, I'm here."
She sobbed a little into his shoulder, obviously trying to stifle them.
"did you have another dream then buf?"
He felt her nod against him.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
She sighed, "even if I wanted to I still couldn't. I don't remember what I dreamt about. Just that something
horrible happened. I think dawn was dead. And someone else to…" She paused and pulled out of his
embrace to look at him, "I think it was you."
Spike frowned. "Buffy, love, I wouldn't let myself get dusted, not know I've go you, and the niblet."
She smiled through her tears, " I know.. but I remember thinking, 'oh god. They're gone.' . you and dawn
were dead.."
Spike kissed her softly.
"Look, I'll make you a deal okay? You make sure I don't get dusted, and I'll make sure the niblet doesn't
get into trouble? Ok? Everyone's covered."
She nodded. "okay."
******
Dawn was running, there was something following her, they were after the little boy she held in her arms.
She didn't know whose child the baby was, but she knew she had to protect it from what was following
them.
She turned a corner and caught her breath, noticing her strange wardrobe. She was dressed in a bizarre
white dress that was almost a robe, fasted at her waist with a soft length of cord. Her feet were bare and her
hair was longer than it had ever gotten before. The child in her arms looked up at her with solemn bright
blue eyes.
She held it to her shoulder and looked around her. She was in some sort of building. It was like a church or
a cathedral. Beneath her feet was cold smooth marble. All around her statues of saints and dead people
loomed over her. She looked down again and saw that the floor was etched with plaques.
ewwww!! I'm walking on dead people!
The baby squirmed against her and she heard voices in the distance.
They were coming. She had to open the portal. It was her only chance to escape.
If not, the tiny child she held would be sent to hell. That much she was certain of.
******
Light poured in threw her window.
Dawn yawned and reached across her bed for Connor. Then she remembered. He was in LA. And probably
wouldn't be in her bed anyway.
What a stupid dream… I shouldn't have watched that boring documentary on churches…or something on
the history channel last night…
She sighed and flopped back into the pillows. She missed him. She had spoken to him the night before, but
that wasn't enough for her. She wanted to touch him, hold him against her and kiss him.
She closed her eyes and thought back to how his kisses felt. His soft lips brushing against hers, his tongue
tasting her, his eyes boring into her own…
Her memory slipped back to the dream she'd had, the one where they'd made love.
She sighed and blushed.
If only that hadn't been a dream..
Eventually she made herself stand up.
She yawned.
She was hungry.. very hungry.. her stomach grumbled.
I want mango chutney on cornflakes… yes…that's what I want…
She was just downing her delicious creation when buffy and Spike appeared in the kitchen. Spike sniffed
her food and raised an eyebrow.
"what *are* you eating niblet?"
She smiled, "mango chutney and cornflakes."
Spike peered into the bowl, "Is that coke instead of milk!?"
she nodded. "it's sooo nice! You have gota try it!"
He poured himself a teacup of blood. "no thanks… " he shook his head in disbelief.
Buffy made a face, "spike's breakfast looks for appetizing.. that's gross dawn.." She shook her head and
started reading the paper.
Dawn and Spike chatted about Connor, or Dawn gushed about how wonderful and strong and brave he was,
and spike sneered a lot.
"ha! He's only what, 18? He's only a baby! He doesn't even know how to fight properly yet."
Dawn pouted, "hey! He IS a miracle child! His parents *were* vampires remember? And he *was* raised
in hell, he picked up stuff other 18yr olds don't."
Spike scoffed, "like how to take a beating like a good boy?"
Dawn flicked some of her 'breakfast' at him, "hey! He's just as strong as you! He is Angel's son after all."
"Like being the 'poof's son is a good thing?"
Dawn paused for a moment, "hey, I just thought of something.. if angel's your grandsire, and Connor's his
son.. " her eyes lit up, "CONNOR'S YOUR UNCLE!!!"
Spike started at her open-mouthed, she was right, damn her. "hey! Gradsire and grandpa are two entirely
different things!"
Dawn shook her head, "nope, his parents were vampires, so he counts as a childe!
Buffy looked up from her paper, "hey guys, I just realised something… when you left Dawn, a lot of the
demonic activity around here ceased. And the week you were gone, there were *no* suspicious homicides,
according to the paper anyway."
Dawn frowned, "what does that tell us?"
Spike looked at the paper, "that what ever was after you was here in sunnydale, and followed you to LA."
Buffy continued, "which mean's its probably back here by now."
Spike nodded, "So, it must be close.. if it knows your back.. maybe it has a spy planted somewhere..
Connor for instance…"
Dawn threw her spoon at his head.
Buffy stood, "Stop being childish you two! ..I'm calling Angel, see what he's found out."
Spike muttered and wiped coke and mango chutney of his forehead with disgust, "you'll pay for that niblet.
Heh heh.."
Dawn shrugged, "yeah Spike, whatever."
******
Buffy returned half an hour later.
Dawn looked up at her, "well?"
Her sister handed her the phone, "here, Connor wants to talk to you."
She watched as her sister took the phone and left the room giggling.
Spike looked up at here expectantly.
"well?"
Buffy took a deep breath, "well… it seems they found one of the guys after dawn. Some kind of religious
cult. Turns out they aren't actually after dawn though. They called her 'the vessel to achieve their plans'.
They are going to use her to get to someone called 'the giver'. That ring any bells?"
Spike shook his head, "nope. There's so much of that religious stuff out there.. 'the giver' is probably some
messiah that's been foretold for thousands of years.. But there are too many of those to keep track of… I
wonder what he's supposed to do when they get him.."
"What we need to know is why Dawn has to lead them to this giving person."
Spike frowned, "maybe they just need to use her as the key. Maybe their generous moron is in another
dimension?"
Buffy shuddered, "I hope not…"
********
Dawn couldn't control her urge to smile as soon as she heard Connor's voice.
"Connor! It's been awhile…"
He laughed, "yeah, at least.. 8 hours…"
"so…. read any good comics lately?"
"… shuddup dawn…"
She cackled evilly, "oh Connor, what's wrong? You don't like you heroic exploits being published?"
"I shouldn't have told you about that."
"awww…you're that embarrassed?"
"heh. Well, I'll be sure to buy a copy of the next issue, which will feature *YOU* and frame it."
"what!? I don't want to be in some stupid comic!!"
Connor chuckled, "weeeelllll now who's embarrassed?"
"… I hate you…"
"no you don't, you love me!"
Dawn sighed, he was right. Damn him.
******
