Chapter 7

Running Away

"Shut up!" Spike roared at Rose who was at his feet whimpering. He took the chair leg he was holding and it cracked over Rose's head. Blood trickled down from her hair and mixed with blood from the wounds on her arms. She screamed as loud as her vocals would let her. Spike took another swig of alcohol then fell over. Rose stayed dead silent. Drusilla wasn't home and Rose knew she needed to get out and fast. She grabbed her cloud blanket and her fairy tale book and fled from her underground prison. On the streets above Rose didn't know where to turn but out of fear she started to run as fast as she could; forcing her legs to run forward.

Soon she ran head on into a person and fell over on the sidewalk. She sat up and came face to face with Cordelia. Rose's eyes locked with hers. She started sobbing uncontrollably, dropping her fairy tale book. Cordelia knelt down and touched Rose lightly on the cheek. Rose's body filled with warmth and she felt better. She stopped crying.

"Rosa, he hurt you again didn't he? Spike hurt you," Cordelia asked. She held Rose's book in her hands. Rose nodded and Cordelia picked her up.

"You want to come home with me?" Cordelia asked.

"Yes," Rose answered right away. Cordelia kissed Rose on the head and started to walk home.

"Does that hurt Rosa? I'll stop," Cordelia whispered. Rose sat on Cordelia's bathroom counter as Cordy gently washed her wounds with a bath cloth that was soaked with warm water.

"No," Rose replied. She was exhausted, hungry, and hurt. After Cordelia rinsed out the blood soaked rag, she set Rose on the ground. Cordelia looked painfully down at the little girl who she cared about so much.

"You must be hungry baby," Cordelia said.

"I rather go sleep right now," Rose said. Her blood loss was getting to her, Cordelia could tell, as she started slurring her speech and her eyes got droopy. She started to fall and Cordelia hurried down to her. She caught her before she hit the ground. She hurried Rose into her bed then picked up the phone to call Buffy.

"Bunny! Uffy! Here!" Alex cried rushing into the kitchen. Willow had gone home a little while ago and her mom was away at a 'book talk'.

"What is it Alex?" Buffy asked him.

"There's a vampire in the closet," Alex said. Buffy jumped to attention.

"Alex where's Nicky?" Buffy asked him hurriedly grabbing Mr. Pointy.

"The vampires got him!" Alex exclaimed. Fear gripped Buffy's heart as she picked up Alex and rushed into her bedroom. Setting Alex down on the bed she flung open her closet door. In the closet was a giggling Nicky. He sat in the lap of Angel who blew on his belly making him laugh.

"We got her boys. High five," Angel said to Nicky and Alex. They both took turns slapping Angel's hand.

"Angel! That isn't funny!" Buffy scolded. Angel smiled and before he could tell Buffy she looked cute when she was angry the phone rang.

"Summers residence," Buffy answered.

"Buffy, I need your help. Rose is hurt. I need to get her to the hospital and soon," Cordelia sounded worried.

"It's okay Cordy. I'll be right there."

"I don't want her to die Buffy," Cordelia sounded like she was crying.

"She's not going to die Cordy, don't worry." Buffy hung up the phone and turned to Angel.

"Will you stay with the boys? Cordelia has an emergency." Buffy and the rest of the gang had agreed to keep Rose a secret from Angel. If Rose was Drusilla's daughter then obviously she had to of had some encounter at one time or another with Angel. Bringing him into the situation right now would just be too complicated.

"What kind of emergency? Could I help?" Angel asked.

"It sort of a girl thing," Buffy lied quickly

"Will you stay with the twins until I get back?" Angel nodded. In an instant Buffy was gone.