Chapter 24.
Sorry that last chapter was so short. I have a lot on my plate now and my brain has been shorting out on ideas.
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Preview: Dawn gets sent to another dimension and talks to Samuel Richardson, Anya, and Spike.
We left off with Dawn saying
"So what do I do?"
"Well, you are the Key right?" Andrew asked.
Dawn nodded.
"And that Glory person said that she wanted you to open some dimension up right?" He continued.
"Yeah, so?" Dawn said.
"I got nothing past that." Andrew admitted.
"Actually that may have been enough." Giles said slowly. "Someone please get Emerald and fill her in."
"I'll do it." Gunn volunteered as he was already heading towards the door.
"Giles what?" Buffy asked.
"I wonder." He murmured to himself.
"GILES!" Buffy yelled breaking his train of thought. When he looked at her she said
"Explain."
"Well, Glory could use Dawn to open a portal to a different dimension. What if Dawn could open more than just hell ones?" Giles asked.
"Like one to a heaven dimension?" Willow asked. "Is that possible?"
"Yes, I believe it is." Giles said picking up a book.
"But Giles?" Xander said "Glory was a God."
"A demigod actually." Giles said. "And I figure a God can open a portal to anywhere with the right words."
"Oh great." Buffy said "So all we have to do is find a God. That should be easy cause they are all probably hanging out on street corners." Buffy finished sarcastically.
"We may already have one." Giles said.
"What?" Fred exclaimed. "That was a joke about me being the goddess of sugar."
The door opened and Wesley, Gunn, Angel, and Emerald came into the room.
"You needed me Mr. Giles?" Emerald asked.
"Yes, I believe we do." Giles said. "What we talked about earlier, I think we may need to spill the beans now."
Emerald looked at first betrayed, then scared.
"You." Buffy said finally getting it. "Your a God?"
"No!" she said quickly "Well maybe, I don't know."
"It's very possible and likely" Giles said. Emerald was not listening. She was feeling the emotions of the people in the room. Fear, disbelief, and from Buffy, sympathy? She looked at Buffy strangely.Buffy realized the Watcher was scared of her reaction and moved to take her hand.
"It's OK." She said "I've had one bad brush with a hell God. I understand why you didn't tell us sooner."
"I'm sorry" Emerald said "But quite honestly I've never been sure. I've had my suspicions but that's all."
"Well, I guess now is a good time to test those suspicions" Dawn said taking her other hand. "Will you help me?"
"Of course I will but what if I accidentally send you to a wrong place?" Emerald said worriedly "Time moves differently in some places. I could strand you somewhere for years."
"Yeah or remember last time?" Xander said "Someone had to die to shut the portal. Anyone getting that?"
"It will be fine." Dawn said bravely "It's all in the wording right?"
"Yes, exactly." Giles said."And I don't plan to open a portal, more of a doorway."
"Smaller." Wesley said thoughtfully "Easier to close."
"Quite right." Giles agreed "And be able to see where it opens to before Dawn goes in."
"It's risky" Angel said "How can we be sure Emerald is a God?"
"Emerald could you please shift?" Giles asked her "I know it's a bit painful but please try."
Warily she nodded before closing her eyes and concentrating. Her clothing began to blow around her and her shape turned into that of a black panther. The group sat stunned until she transformed back. She gasped and moaned when her shape was once again human and Gunn rushed to help her to a chair.
"Sorry" She muttered "I'll be fine in a second."
"So she can shape shift." Angel said. "OK it's not common, it's actually pretty uncommon, but what gives you the idea she is a God?"
"May I?" Giles asked Emerald before she nodded. Giles filled in all that they had talked about earlier. When finished he looked at the group again.
"So any objections?" he asked. Slowly everyone shook their heads. "Well, then shall we try? Dawn? Emerald?"
They both nodded and stood before the portrait. Giles gave a slip of paper he had written on to Emerald. She read the words in Latin and a small light appeared before her and Dawn. With a small knife she cut both herself, and Dawns hand and the two girls clasped hands and recited the verse again. The light got bigger until it was the size of a door and both girls gave each other one last look before Emerald held her other hand out and said
"Reveal"
Both Dawn and Emeralds eyes glowed a bright green before the light faded and they all stared at a brightly lit room beyond the door.
"I guess I just go in." Dawn said nervously.
"Dawn, you don't have to." Buffy said to her.
"No, I do." Dawn said back "This is my turn."
with one last look behind her she said to everyone
"I love you guys." Before she jumped through the doorway and out of sight.
"Giles?" Buffy said panicked "I thought we were supposed to be able to see her."
"I can see her." Emerald said softly. "She is fine. I guess I'll know when to pull her back."
"Lets hope so" Xander said worriedly.
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Dawn took a deep breath. She did a mental inventory, feet check, hands, check, terror, double check.
"Hello?" she called "Mr. Richardson?"
"So you made it?" the voice said behind her. She whirled around and came face to face with the man who's portrait hung on the wall. He was smiling and took her hand.
"yeah I guess so." Dawn said "So, umm are you evil?"
Samuel smiled "No. Are you?"
"Me? No." she said flustered.
'Well, then, that settles that. Please call me Samuel." He said with a formal bow.
"Dawn." She said. "So what's the deal with the house?"
"You are blunt aren't you?" he chuckled "I appreciate that. The deal with the house is that I knew it would become a place of great things, of great people, I had to protect it."
"So are you some kind of male witch?" Dawn asked.
"Well I was." He said proudly "But I wasn't alone in doing that spell, I just directed it."
When Dawn looked confused he continued
"You see, there is nothing more powerful than love. No matter what a witch can do, no matter what the scientist or doctors say, family love is the strongest kind of power. My family had that. We directed our love and energy to create the spell that is still present in the house."
"But how can that be?" Dawn asked "Giles said that a spell normally ends when the witch umm... well they..."
"When they die?" He filled in. "Don't be afraid of upsetting me Dawn. I had a wonderful life and now I'm back with the ones I loved."
Dawn looked embarrassed before he continued.
"But the spell hasn't been active for all the years I have been dead."
"What?" Dawn asked. "Now I'm confused."
"you see," Samuel said "I knew your sister would come to own the house. I saw it. I also know the dangers you have all fought and the homes that are now gone. I didn't want you to lose another home. So when your sister walked in that door the spell reactivated. The love that's in the house now rivals even my own family's and that makes the spell stronger."
"So we did it?" Dawn asked "With love?"
"Among other things." He said simply. "I'm afraid as long as your there in the house I'll be looking out for you all. I truly hope you don't mind."
"So your like our guardian?" Dawn asked delighted "That's so cool."
"Yes, well I was worried you may not like that part." He said. "My wife told me I had no right to be a worried old grandpa and keep an eye on people who never knew me. Between you and me I think she was proud I wanted to."
"Hey no problems here." Dawn assured him "Buffy will be ecstatic. She said you make her feel protected."
"This wasn't the only reason you came here." Samuel informed her.
"No really it was." Dawn said "What else could there be?"
"Me nibblet." Spikes voice rang out. Slowly, Dawn turned, afraid to look and be disappointed if it wasn't him. She took in the battered combat boots, moved up to the Black jeans and duster, and finally to the blue eyes and platinum hair.
"Spike?" She asked in shock.
"Course Lil Bit. Who else?" he drawled. After 3 seconds of staring at him she launched herself into his arms. He chuckled and regained his balance when she showed no signs of letting go. "And once again I'm thankful I don't have to breath." He said to Samuel who just chuckled. Dawn inhaled the scent of leather and cigarettes that was so much a part of the vampire she once had a crush on.
"I can't believe your really here." She whispered. "I didn't get the chance to say good-bye." She said as tears fell from her eyes.
"I think this is my cue to go now. You two have a lot to talk about." Samuel said cheerfully. Dawn pulled herself away from Spike and wiped her eyes.
"It was nice meeting you, young Dawn." He said formally."And please tell your sister how honored I am to be watching over her."
"I will" Dawn promised "Thank you."
With a cheery wave he walked away and disappeared into the light. Dawn turned back to Spike.
"So is this heaven?" She asked him.
"Not exactly, but close." He said. "I'm not done yet you know. Like Samuel I won't really go until my work is done."
"Like knocking sense into Angel?" She asked slyly. "Enjoyed that didn't you?"
"More than you could ever know." He agreed with a smirk "He really is a poof you know."
"I'll take your word for it." She said rolling her eyes."So what was so important you had to bring me here?"
Spike smirk disappeared and he frowned "I have to tell you something but you can't tell anyone else Bit."
Dawn, suddenly wary about the grim look on his face asked,"What? Big bad? Apocalypse?"
"No." He said "the cheerleader."
"Cordelia?" Dawn asked surprised "What about her?"
"She won't be coming back anytime soon Pet." He said "You all will try, but it's not meant to be."
"But if we get the demon out?" Dawn said "What's the problem?"
"You WILL get the demon half out Luv." He explained "You have to make sure of that. Otherwise lots of people you love will die. But after it's out, well, she won't all be there."
"Why are you telling me this?" Dawn asked "Why not tell Angel?"
"Because Angel won't believe me for one." Spike answered testily "And two, if he knows, he won't remove the demon and people will die. Like Gunn, and Xander, and a few Watchers and Slayers."
Dawns eyes got wide "So what do I do?"
"Nothing love. Just be there afterwards for Angel and the others. They will need you." He said sadly.
"I can't even tell Andrew?" she asked.
"No! Bloody hell the whole town will know in twenty minutes!" He exclaimed before adding "By the way he's not good enough for you."
"Yeah yeah I already heard it." Dawn said glaring at him "Don't change the subject."
"The Watcher. The one who helped you get here? She'll know. She's smart. She won't tell anyone." He said.
"OK, I wont either." Dawn said reluctantly "Is this part of being a grown up? because it sucks."
"Yeah welcome to the world Pet." Spike said chuckling.
"Well actually she has already been in the world a while." Anya's voice rang out. "Shouldn't you have told her that years ago?"
Dawn turned to face a smiling Anya.
"Anya!" She said before hugging her.
"Yes, hello to you too." She said quickly "I don't have much time, so please listen closely."
Dawn nodded "Yeah I can feel me being pulled back"
"Okay, one, please tell Xander I'm proud of him and I love him and want him to move on now. I really think he can never do better than me but that's not the point." Dawn and Spike hid their grins from her.
"Number two," she continued. "Tell Andrew how glad I am that he made it. I'm still not understanding it but congratulations to him for surviving. Number three, thank Buffy, Willow, Giles, and you of course, for teaching me to be human. It was worth it. Oh Damn! I had more but I forgot. Just tell them I'm happy and I love them all and I miss them." She said tearing up.
Dawn felt her own eyes fill with tears as she realized she was getting pulled back.
"No! Wait!" she said "Spike, Anya, I love you both, and I miss you every second."
"Miss you too Nibblet but it's time to go." Spike said as he gave her one last hug. "Be good and don't worry, I'll still be looking out for you."
"Bye Dawnie. Tell Xander I love him." Anya said crying as she and Spike held onto each other as they waved goodbye. Dawn was sobbing openly and memorizing their faces when Emerald grabbed her and pulled her back into the library. Everyone in the room stared at the returned Dawn, sobbing on the floor, and Emerald wiping away tears and whispering to the brokenhearted girl.
"So... Did it go well?" Xander asked the rest of the group. They all just stood there silently.
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I really hope for reviews after this one.
Sorry that last chapter was so short. I have a lot on my plate now and my brain has been shorting out on ideas.
.........................................................
Preview: Dawn gets sent to another dimension and talks to Samuel Richardson, Anya, and Spike.
We left off with Dawn saying
"So what do I do?"
"Well, you are the Key right?" Andrew asked.
Dawn nodded.
"And that Glory person said that she wanted you to open some dimension up right?" He continued.
"Yeah, so?" Dawn said.
"I got nothing past that." Andrew admitted.
"Actually that may have been enough." Giles said slowly. "Someone please get Emerald and fill her in."
"I'll do it." Gunn volunteered as he was already heading towards the door.
"Giles what?" Buffy asked.
"I wonder." He murmured to himself.
"GILES!" Buffy yelled breaking his train of thought. When he looked at her she said
"Explain."
"Well, Glory could use Dawn to open a portal to a different dimension. What if Dawn could open more than just hell ones?" Giles asked.
"Like one to a heaven dimension?" Willow asked. "Is that possible?"
"Yes, I believe it is." Giles said picking up a book.
"But Giles?" Xander said "Glory was a God."
"A demigod actually." Giles said. "And I figure a God can open a portal to anywhere with the right words."
"Oh great." Buffy said "So all we have to do is find a God. That should be easy cause they are all probably hanging out on street corners." Buffy finished sarcastically.
"We may already have one." Giles said.
"What?" Fred exclaimed. "That was a joke about me being the goddess of sugar."
The door opened and Wesley, Gunn, Angel, and Emerald came into the room.
"You needed me Mr. Giles?" Emerald asked.
"Yes, I believe we do." Giles said. "What we talked about earlier, I think we may need to spill the beans now."
Emerald looked at first betrayed, then scared.
"You." Buffy said finally getting it. "Your a God?"
"No!" she said quickly "Well maybe, I don't know."
"It's very possible and likely" Giles said. Emerald was not listening. She was feeling the emotions of the people in the room. Fear, disbelief, and from Buffy, sympathy? She looked at Buffy strangely.Buffy realized the Watcher was scared of her reaction and moved to take her hand.
"It's OK." She said "I've had one bad brush with a hell God. I understand why you didn't tell us sooner."
"I'm sorry" Emerald said "But quite honestly I've never been sure. I've had my suspicions but that's all."
"Well, I guess now is a good time to test those suspicions" Dawn said taking her other hand. "Will you help me?"
"Of course I will but what if I accidentally send you to a wrong place?" Emerald said worriedly "Time moves differently in some places. I could strand you somewhere for years."
"Yeah or remember last time?" Xander said "Someone had to die to shut the portal. Anyone getting that?"
"It will be fine." Dawn said bravely "It's all in the wording right?"
"Yes, exactly." Giles said."And I don't plan to open a portal, more of a doorway."
"Smaller." Wesley said thoughtfully "Easier to close."
"Quite right." Giles agreed "And be able to see where it opens to before Dawn goes in."
"It's risky" Angel said "How can we be sure Emerald is a God?"
"Emerald could you please shift?" Giles asked her "I know it's a bit painful but please try."
Warily she nodded before closing her eyes and concentrating. Her clothing began to blow around her and her shape turned into that of a black panther. The group sat stunned until she transformed back. She gasped and moaned when her shape was once again human and Gunn rushed to help her to a chair.
"Sorry" She muttered "I'll be fine in a second."
"So she can shape shift." Angel said. "OK it's not common, it's actually pretty uncommon, but what gives you the idea she is a God?"
"May I?" Giles asked Emerald before she nodded. Giles filled in all that they had talked about earlier. When finished he looked at the group again.
"So any objections?" he asked. Slowly everyone shook their heads. "Well, then shall we try? Dawn? Emerald?"
They both nodded and stood before the portrait. Giles gave a slip of paper he had written on to Emerald. She read the words in Latin and a small light appeared before her and Dawn. With a small knife she cut both herself, and Dawns hand and the two girls clasped hands and recited the verse again. The light got bigger until it was the size of a door and both girls gave each other one last look before Emerald held her other hand out and said
"Reveal"
Both Dawn and Emeralds eyes glowed a bright green before the light faded and they all stared at a brightly lit room beyond the door.
"I guess I just go in." Dawn said nervously.
"Dawn, you don't have to." Buffy said to her.
"No, I do." Dawn said back "This is my turn."
with one last look behind her she said to everyone
"I love you guys." Before she jumped through the doorway and out of sight.
"Giles?" Buffy said panicked "I thought we were supposed to be able to see her."
"I can see her." Emerald said softly. "She is fine. I guess I'll know when to pull her back."
"Lets hope so" Xander said worriedly.
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Dawn took a deep breath. She did a mental inventory, feet check, hands, check, terror, double check.
"Hello?" she called "Mr. Richardson?"
"So you made it?" the voice said behind her. She whirled around and came face to face with the man who's portrait hung on the wall. He was smiling and took her hand.
"yeah I guess so." Dawn said "So, umm are you evil?"
Samuel smiled "No. Are you?"
"Me? No." she said flustered.
'Well, then, that settles that. Please call me Samuel." He said with a formal bow.
"Dawn." She said. "So what's the deal with the house?"
"You are blunt aren't you?" he chuckled "I appreciate that. The deal with the house is that I knew it would become a place of great things, of great people, I had to protect it."
"So are you some kind of male witch?" Dawn asked.
"Well I was." He said proudly "But I wasn't alone in doing that spell, I just directed it."
When Dawn looked confused he continued
"You see, there is nothing more powerful than love. No matter what a witch can do, no matter what the scientist or doctors say, family love is the strongest kind of power. My family had that. We directed our love and energy to create the spell that is still present in the house."
"But how can that be?" Dawn asked "Giles said that a spell normally ends when the witch umm... well they..."
"When they die?" He filled in. "Don't be afraid of upsetting me Dawn. I had a wonderful life and now I'm back with the ones I loved."
Dawn looked embarrassed before he continued.
"But the spell hasn't been active for all the years I have been dead."
"What?" Dawn asked. "Now I'm confused."
"you see," Samuel said "I knew your sister would come to own the house. I saw it. I also know the dangers you have all fought and the homes that are now gone. I didn't want you to lose another home. So when your sister walked in that door the spell reactivated. The love that's in the house now rivals even my own family's and that makes the spell stronger."
"So we did it?" Dawn asked "With love?"
"Among other things." He said simply. "I'm afraid as long as your there in the house I'll be looking out for you all. I truly hope you don't mind."
"So your like our guardian?" Dawn asked delighted "That's so cool."
"Yes, well I was worried you may not like that part." He said. "My wife told me I had no right to be a worried old grandpa and keep an eye on people who never knew me. Between you and me I think she was proud I wanted to."
"Hey no problems here." Dawn assured him "Buffy will be ecstatic. She said you make her feel protected."
"This wasn't the only reason you came here." Samuel informed her.
"No really it was." Dawn said "What else could there be?"
"Me nibblet." Spikes voice rang out. Slowly, Dawn turned, afraid to look and be disappointed if it wasn't him. She took in the battered combat boots, moved up to the Black jeans and duster, and finally to the blue eyes and platinum hair.
"Spike?" She asked in shock.
"Course Lil Bit. Who else?" he drawled. After 3 seconds of staring at him she launched herself into his arms. He chuckled and regained his balance when she showed no signs of letting go. "And once again I'm thankful I don't have to breath." He said to Samuel who just chuckled. Dawn inhaled the scent of leather and cigarettes that was so much a part of the vampire she once had a crush on.
"I can't believe your really here." She whispered. "I didn't get the chance to say good-bye." She said as tears fell from her eyes.
"I think this is my cue to go now. You two have a lot to talk about." Samuel said cheerfully. Dawn pulled herself away from Spike and wiped her eyes.
"It was nice meeting you, young Dawn." He said formally."And please tell your sister how honored I am to be watching over her."
"I will" Dawn promised "Thank you."
With a cheery wave he walked away and disappeared into the light. Dawn turned back to Spike.
"So is this heaven?" She asked him.
"Not exactly, but close." He said. "I'm not done yet you know. Like Samuel I won't really go until my work is done."
"Like knocking sense into Angel?" She asked slyly. "Enjoyed that didn't you?"
"More than you could ever know." He agreed with a smirk "He really is a poof you know."
"I'll take your word for it." She said rolling her eyes."So what was so important you had to bring me here?"
Spike smirk disappeared and he frowned "I have to tell you something but you can't tell anyone else Bit."
Dawn, suddenly wary about the grim look on his face asked,"What? Big bad? Apocalypse?"
"No." He said "the cheerleader."
"Cordelia?" Dawn asked surprised "What about her?"
"She won't be coming back anytime soon Pet." He said "You all will try, but it's not meant to be."
"But if we get the demon out?" Dawn said "What's the problem?"
"You WILL get the demon half out Luv." He explained "You have to make sure of that. Otherwise lots of people you love will die. But after it's out, well, she won't all be there."
"Why are you telling me this?" Dawn asked "Why not tell Angel?"
"Because Angel won't believe me for one." Spike answered testily "And two, if he knows, he won't remove the demon and people will die. Like Gunn, and Xander, and a few Watchers and Slayers."
Dawns eyes got wide "So what do I do?"
"Nothing love. Just be there afterwards for Angel and the others. They will need you." He said sadly.
"I can't even tell Andrew?" she asked.
"No! Bloody hell the whole town will know in twenty minutes!" He exclaimed before adding "By the way he's not good enough for you."
"Yeah yeah I already heard it." Dawn said glaring at him "Don't change the subject."
"The Watcher. The one who helped you get here? She'll know. She's smart. She won't tell anyone." He said.
"OK, I wont either." Dawn said reluctantly "Is this part of being a grown up? because it sucks."
"Yeah welcome to the world Pet." Spike said chuckling.
"Well actually she has already been in the world a while." Anya's voice rang out. "Shouldn't you have told her that years ago?"
Dawn turned to face a smiling Anya.
"Anya!" She said before hugging her.
"Yes, hello to you too." She said quickly "I don't have much time, so please listen closely."
Dawn nodded "Yeah I can feel me being pulled back"
"Okay, one, please tell Xander I'm proud of him and I love him and want him to move on now. I really think he can never do better than me but that's not the point." Dawn and Spike hid their grins from her.
"Number two," she continued. "Tell Andrew how glad I am that he made it. I'm still not understanding it but congratulations to him for surviving. Number three, thank Buffy, Willow, Giles, and you of course, for teaching me to be human. It was worth it. Oh Damn! I had more but I forgot. Just tell them I'm happy and I love them all and I miss them." She said tearing up.
Dawn felt her own eyes fill with tears as she realized she was getting pulled back.
"No! Wait!" she said "Spike, Anya, I love you both, and I miss you every second."
"Miss you too Nibblet but it's time to go." Spike said as he gave her one last hug. "Be good and don't worry, I'll still be looking out for you."
"Bye Dawnie. Tell Xander I love him." Anya said crying as she and Spike held onto each other as they waved goodbye. Dawn was sobbing openly and memorizing their faces when Emerald grabbed her and pulled her back into the library. Everyone in the room stared at the returned Dawn, sobbing on the floor, and Emerald wiping away tears and whispering to the brokenhearted girl.
"So... Did it go well?" Xander asked the rest of the group. They all just stood there silently.
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I really hope for reviews after this one.
