Disclaimer: Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and Angel are not mine, I'm just playing with them.
Chapter 11: Freedom?
Dawn scrunched her face up as Connor helped her up out of the sewer. She shielded her eyes against the brilliant light of the sun with one hand, the other Connor was holding firmly in his grasp. Dawn was trying not to enjoy the way their interlocked fingers were making her feel. She knew he was only holding onto it to prevent her escape, but since they were on the street level now, in broad daylight, he wouldn't be waving the crossbow at her. If she were going to get away from him, her only shot would be while they were out on the street. Once they arrived to where ever Connor was taking her, she wouldn't be able to get away. Not until he let her, and for some reason, he seemed really keen on keeping her around. She wondered if he realized that he would have to let her go eventually. Otherwise, it would be kidnapping, because she sure as hell wasn't here on her own free will.
He steered her towards the end of the alley, and within minutes they were walking down a busy street. Connor walked fast, pulling her along, and looked straight ahead. In a moment they would be at an intersection, and Dawn knew she had to make her move once they reached it. She didn't want to hurt Connor, but she would. As if he somehow knew what she was thinking, Connor tightened his grip on hand.
"Ow. You're hurting me." Dawn protested. Why did he have to be such an ass? Why did he have to be so damn cute? She sighed, and began slowing down. Any second now, she would make her move.
They reached the corner, and as he stepped down off the curb, she shoved him hard. Surprised, he stumbled, and she managed to wrench her hand free. It ached as she took off down the street. Her freedom lasted only a minute or so, as Connor caught up with her. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into another alley. Dawn struggled with him, trying to get out of his grip. She tried pushing him to one side. That worked only partially, but it was enough for her to kick him in the shin, and pull one of her arms loose. She tugged uselessly on the other, still in his grasp, and then attempted a move she'd once seen her sister do. She twisted their arms, hoping it would get him to loosen his grip, but he put a foot out in front of her and she tripped over it. Dawn fell to the ground, incidentally pulling Connor down on top of her. They stared at each other, neither of them wanting to blink first. Dawn wasn't sure who made the first move, but suddenly she and Connor were kissing.
*
Fred stared at the door in front her, clearly panicked. She had never really told anyone in the gang that she was claustrophobic. Somehow, it just never seemed to come up, and now here she was, locked in a closet. She brushed her hair out her eyes, and renewed her pounding on the door. She froze when Wesley covered her hands with his, and pulled them away from the door.
"I don't think anyone is out there." Wesley said. They'd been pounding on the door for several minutes.
"We've got to try." Fred replied, sounding panicked.
"I'm sure Angel will find us eventually." Wesley reassured her. "He'll get the psychics on it as soon as he realizes we're missing."
"What if he's so wrapped up in Connor he forgets about us?" Fred nearly shrieked.
"Fred." Wesley looked down at her, concerned. "You're not claustrophobic, are you?"
*
Angel sniffed the air, trying to determine which tunnel his son had taken. He was hoping that Connor would have left Dawn behind, but at this point, he was thinking they had gone above ground. Angel sniffed again. He was having a hard time telling them apart from the sewer smell, which was overpowering. He sighed, running his hand through his hair. Angel turned around and headed back the way he'd come. He wasn't going to find them down here, not with out the help of the psychics, and a larger search team. Buffy was not going to be happy when he returned empty handed. Although, he was sure Spike would comfort her. He shook his head to rid it of that mental image. The last thing he wanted to do was imagine Buffy with Spike. Angel nearly shuddered. It was bad enough that he had to smell Spike all over her, and watch as Spike touched her in front of him.
He supposed it was for the best, at least, for himself. Being with Buffy somehow always led to badness. Angel figured no matter what they did, their relationship was doomed. In fact, he'd realized that long ago. It just never stopped him from hoping that one day, maybe, just maybe, they'd get it together. Part of him always assumed she'd be waiting for him to come back for her. Sighing again, Angel headed down the sewer tunnel.
*
Connor was shocked to find he was kissing his hostage. Sure he thought her pretty and sure she was actually a decent kisser, but he had no idea how it had happened. All he did know was that he had to let her go. His plan, when he'd snuck into Wolfram and Hart, had primarily been to get some answers. After getting hit in the head, fear had taken over and he'd just wanted to get out of there. Taking Dawn had been an impulse. He'd intended to make a bargaining chip – a way to find out what really happened to him, to find out what was real.
If anything was real.
It didn't matter anyway; she probably wanted him to pay for taking her, just like his father would make him pay for trying to kill him. Still, she was kissing him back.
He broke the kiss, and they stared at each other, gasping heavily. He helped her up silently. Staring at the ground, he spoke first.
"I'm sorry." Connor said.
"For kissing me?" Dawn asked, not sure what he was apologizing for.
"For everything. Taking you hostage, hurting you...kissing you." He explained. Dawn's face fell at his last words, leaving Connor to wonder if she'd like the kiss as much as he had. It was nothing like kissing Tracy, that was for sure. Kissing Dawn had been like touching a high voltage wire.
Electrifying.
He scuffed a shoe along the ground. "Look. I shouldn't have taken you, it was stupid. You can go. I won't keep you any longer." Connor finished.
Dawn stared at him. He was letting her go? What she that bad at kissing?
"Just go, Dawn." Connor said. After all the struggling to get away from this boy, now she debating whether or not to stay. "Go!" He shouted, punching the nearby brick wall of a building. Startled, she jumped, but held her ground.
"No." She said, surprising herself. He turned around and stared at her.
"What?"
"You need my help." Dawn insisted.
"I don't want anything from you."
"You want information, don't you?" She said. "You want to know how this perfectly normal existence suddenly became a nightmare you can't wake up from, right?"
All he could do was nod wordlessly, shocked by how well she understood what he was feeling.
"I don't remember anything about what happened to me." Connor answered her. "I don't know how on Earth Angel, a vampire, could possibly be my dad." His sneaked scuffed the ground. "I have parents, Dawn. Good parents, a good life." He was visibly upset. She put a hand on his arm.
"If anyone knows what that's like, it's me." She told him. "Let me help you. I don't know what happened to you, but I think I know a way we can find out." Dawn said. Connor looked down at her, his face filled with surprise. "Where were you going to take me?" She wanted to know.
"My cousin's house. I don't think Angel knows about him." Connor replied.
"Let's go." Dawn smiled at him, and slipped her hand in his.
*
Fred was hot. Very hot. So hot that sweat was running in small rivulets on her back and chest, causing her sweater and blouse to stick to her like second skin. Wesley was trying not to stare at her, but he was finding it very hard not too. He knew she was getting agitated, and he was running out of ideas to keep her calm.
"Fred, what's the definition of Pi?" Wesley asked, hoping to divert her attention.
"3 point...3 point..." Fred began. She suddenly found herself unable to remember what the definition of Pi was. "I don't know!" She cried out, and began pulling at her hair. Afraid she'd do real damage to herself, Wesley grabbed her hands and held them in his own.
"Fred, you've got to calm down." Wesley instructed her. It wasn't working. Fred was still staring at him, her eyes wild.
"I've got to get out of here!" Fred screamed at him. Still unsure of how to handle this, Wesley did the first thing that came to mind. He kissed her. Shocked, Fred slowly kissed him back. He broke the kiss, but before he could apologize, she kissed him again. This time he was shocked, but he recovered quickly. He kissed her back, and before he knew it, he was easing her down onto the floor.
*
Connor knocked on the front door to his cousin's house. He wouldn't be expecting them, but Connor was sure they would be able to stay there. While they were walking, Connor had explained to Dawn the little that he knew. Dawn had said that she knew some one who could help. Connor perked up as he realized that the door was opening.
"Well, I'll be." His cousin said. Connor grinned. His cousin's accent always cracked him up. "I wasn't expecting you, Connor." He paused. "And what the hell happened to you two?"
"I know." Connor replied. "Dawn, this is my cousin, Lindsey McDonald. Lindsey, this is Dawn." He introduced. "Can we come in?" Lindsey held the door open for them, and they disappeared inside. The door closed behind them with a solid thunk.