Disclaimer: Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and Angel are not mine, I'm just playing with them.

Chapter 7: Foreplay

Connor felt like his school marching band was playing the Orchestra of 1812 inside his skull. It was because of the constant throbbing that it took him a minute to realize that he was tied up. After a moment of near silent movements it was clear that he wasn't going to be able to get out of his bonds. Not without a serious bit of work involved. He gathered up his courage, scrunched his eyes really tight and then forced them open as wide as he could. He heard the cocked of a weapon over to his left, and a cool, lilting voice speak.

"Well." Dawn said, pointing the crossbow at him. "Look who's awake." Connor groaned in reply, his head pounding even harder than it was before. The confident look on Dawn's face slid away as she registered the fact that he was in pain. She set the crossbow on the coffee table; far enough away that he couldn't get it, but not so far that she couldn't reach it quickly.

Connor observed this, puzzled. He was shocked when she knelt in front of the couch and began doing something to the gauze on his forehead.

"Ahh." He cried out softly, clearly in pain.

"I'm sorry." Dawn replied, gently checked the wound. It was already starting to heal around the edges.

"Well you should be. You're the one who hit me." Connor told her, his tone extremely spiteful.

"Well, you shouldn't have shot my sister." Dawn countered, her tone pertinent. She pushed a little too hard on the tape as she reapplied it his wound. He hissed.

"If you hadn't hit me over the head, I wouldn't have shot her!" Connor all but shouted, and then raised his bound hands to his head in an effort to soothe it. Her hands moved quickly out of the way, but not fast enough. Their hands brushed slightly, and Dawn sat back so fast she nearly fell sideways. Her hand tingled where it had brushed with his.

"I already said I was sorry for that." She told him crossly, trying to ignore the way her stomach was fluttering. He, too, was trying to hide his reaction. They were silent a moment, before Dawn spoke again. "What's your name?" Dawn asked, scooting backwards to what she considered a safe distance. She picked up the crossbow and held it in her lap.

"Are you going to shoot me if I don't answer?" He wanted to know, staring pointedly at the weapon in her hands.

"If I wanted to shoot you, I'd have done it by now!" Dawn cried out, frustrated. "I was just trying to be nice." She whispered. They looked at each other for almost a full minute before Connor turned away.

"It's Connor." He answered, somewhat reluctant.

"What?" Dawn said.

"My name. It's Connor." He replied, his jaw clenched. Turning his head back in her direction, he continued. "What's yours?" Connor wanted to know.

"Dawn." She said quietly, looking down at her hands.

"It's very pretty." He said, unsure of why he felt the need to compliment the girl. After all, she was holding him captive.

"Thanks." Dawn mumbled. Well, that settled it.

She officially had a crush on him.

*

Buffy and Spike had left Angel and his gang interrogating the woman named Eve. Apparently she actually knew the senior partners, a pleasure Buffy was sure she never wanted for herself. Buffy had excused herself to check on Dawn and had grabbed Spike on her way out. Now they were walking silently down the hall to the office where Angel had stashed her sister and his son. His son, Buffy repeated in her mind. It was safe to say that she never saw that one coming. Not for the first time since hearing the news did Buffy wonder if having a child with vampire was actually possible.

Quietly she slipped her hand into Spike's. He looked at her, surprised. She shrugged, and gave him a smile. He smiled back, the smile that made his face look tender, and his eyes bright. When he looked at her like that she felt like agreeing to anything. So when he pulled her close, and leaned down to kiss her, she didn't object. Small kisses in the empty hallway quickly escalated to something more. It had been months since she'd been with him in that way, and in Buffy's eyes, it had been way too long. Spike had her pressed up against the wall, and he was nuzzling her neck.

"Spike..." She breathed, one hand resting on the back of his head, holding him against her.

"Yes, Love?" He whispered, his face near her ear. The vibration sent tingly jolts down her spine.

"I should ...check....on.... Dawn." Buffy managed to get out.

"Dawn's a big girl." Spike whispered again, nipping lightly at her throat. "I'm sure she's fine." He went on, tangling a hand in her hair. It was growing long again, and he loved it. Buffy was silent, enjoying Spike's attentiveness.

"Yeah, I'm sure...she's...fine." She gasped before Spike planted a fiery kiss on her mouth. Buffy felt her insides melt into a puddle. "Room, now!" She exclaimed. While she and Spike had had an interesting relationship in the past, her exhibitionist days were over. Fluidly, Spike broke their embrace and the pair hurried down the hall.

*

Angel met Eve's gaze, his eyes revealing how angry and frustrated he was. Eve had boldly interrupted their conversation earlier, promising answers, and now she was extremely mum on the subject.

"I want answers, Eve. Now." Angel demanded. "How did Connor know where to find me? How did he know to attack me that way?" He questioned her. Eve sat there calmly, her gaze revealing nothing. "Answer me!" Angel shouted, when Eve didn't speak. The former members of Angel Investigations jumped at the sound of his voice.

"You're not asking the right questions, Angel." Eve told him. "I don't have the answers you want." She said, opening a manila folder she'd brought in with her. She removed a picture, an 8x10 black and white glossy, and set it before him. "But he might." Eve pointed to the photo. Angel looked down at it, clearly surprised. It was a photo of one Lindsey McDonald.