"How is she?" said Dawn.
"It's hard to say," said Fred.
Willow lay motionless on the soft fabric of her bed. She looked as one asleep, yet too deep to reach or recall.
"Was it the magics?" said Dawn.
Wesley entered into the room.
"We think so," he said "She seems to be in some kind of mystical coma."
Dawn sat beside the witch, brushing the deep red hair from her brow.
"Come back to us Will, we need you."
Beneath them the house was quiet. The Potentials had moved into the basement while the Scoobies cleaned the lounge.
"I don't know how many times I have replaced this window," said Xander.
"Quite a light show though," said Anya.
"Forgive us if we don't share your enthusiasm," said Giles.
The watcher sat at a small round table, volumes of ancient texts and decaying scrolls laid out before him. He searched their pages for some answer, some sign or pointer to where their champions had gone.
The door opened and Conner and Gunn stumbled in. Gunn clutched at his side where scarlet blood stained his shirt and hand.
"We've got trouble," said Conner.
He set Gunn on the sofa.
"What happened?" said Giles.
"Bringers," said Gunn "A whole mess of them."
He recoiled at the touch of Anya inspecting his wound.
"And one big ass ugly vamp."
"It was strong," said Conner "Really strong. I couldn't take it."
"Great," said Xander "More fun then we can poke a stick at."
Giles took off his glasses cleaning them thoroughly.
"The First must be on the move."
He looked around the room to all gathered.
"There can be no more patrolling, especially in such small numbers. We cannot afford more casualties."
"Yay team," said Anya.
They all looked at her.
"Sorry," she said.
The night passed slowly yet none found rest. Dawn, Fred and Cordelia stayed with Willow while the boys studied ancient texts and dialects. Nowhere could be found answers to the spell or more on The First. Anya and Lorne sat with the Potentials. Most had drifted into uneasy sleep yet some still stayed awake.
"If it's not one disaster it's another," said Rona.
"We should be out there, fighting," said Kennedy.
"I miss Andrew," said Amanda.
The others turned to her.
"What?" she said "I was beating him in dungeons and dragons."
A long silence met them.
"So," said Anya "Kennedy's a lesbian."
Kennedy rolled her eyes and moved off to find a space to sleep, Amanda and Rona following.
"Cheer up kitten," said Lorne "We'll find an answer somewhere."
Anya snuggled up beside him and covered them both in a thick downed quilt.
"Try and get some sleep," said Lorne.
Silence met him.
"Anya?" he said.
A soft snoring filled the room and a warm wet patch of drool spread over his suit.
"It's gonna be a long night," he said.
Dawn woke to the morning sun filtering through the deep fabric of the curtains of Willow's room. The witch lay as she had always done, cold and still. Cordelia and Fred sat asleep on chairs close to Willow's bed. Quietly Dawn stood and left the room.
The lounge looked much like the bedroom, Gunn, Xander and Conner passed out over volumes of texts, yet Giles and Wesley were still searching the yellowed pages.
"You guys been up all night?" said Dawn.
"Yes," said Wesley "Though little good it did us."
"So no luck?" said Dawn.
"No," said Wesley "The text containing the spell was very specific. What happened shouldn't have. It was almost like Willow was possessed, swallowed by the magics."
He shook his head, sighing deeply.
"I don't know what else we can do for her."
Disbelief and fury took Dawn.
"So that's it?" she said "You're just going to let her slip further and further away?"
Dawn's emotions spilled out. She had lost her sister and now Willow who was closer to her at times then Buffy was gone as well.
"I won't accept it," she said.
Giles who had remained quiet spoke to her.
"Dawn,"
"Don't treat me like a child," said Dawn "I'm not some stupid little kid."
She left the lounge and stepped out into the cold quiet of the Sunnydale morning. Dawn needed time to think and she found herself wandering through the streets, no idea where she wanted to go. She was lost in need, in memory, in sorrow.
"Dawny?"
A voice called to her and Dawn looked up. The street in front of her was lined with cars. Both lanes were filled with one-way traffic leaving the town.
"Klem," said Dawn.
The slightest trace of a smile crossed her features as she looked upon the demon. Dawn studied the street.
"What's going on?" she said.
Klem was almost amused at the question.
"Everyone is leaving," he said.
The cars started to move and Klem crept forward in his beetle and Dawn followed.
"Every-thing is leaving," he said again "Look Dawny, it's not safe here anymore."
Dawn raised an eyebrow.
"Well as safe as it can be in Sunnydale," said Klem "Humans, Demons, they all are leaving."
As he spoke a veil of fear fell on him.
"The biggest bad is getting stronger. It knows Buffy is gone. Beats me why it hasn't come after you yet."
This thought struck Dawn back. Why hadn't The First come after the remaining Scoobies? Buffy was gone.
"Buffy's gone," said Dawn "That's it! Thanks Klem you're a sweetie."
Dawn turned and began to run home.
"That's okay," said Klem confused as Dawn sped off around a far corner of the street.
Dawn knew all the shortcuts in Sunnydale. As a child she used them to beat Buffy home from school. On her left the sun rose higher and cast black shadows across the street. The road and pavement were quiet, a dreaded silence that made Dawn slow. She felt eyes upon her, surrounding her. From the darkness of alleys and beneath her feat they came, their mutilated faces cloaked from the light of day. They were the Bringers.
Fear choked Dawn, a well of ice growing within her. She had to run, but to where? The Bringers surrounded her, drawing daggers and knifes, coming ever closer.
"Get the hell away from me," said Dawn screaming at the eight Bringers.
"She calls to you," said a voice.
Dawn looked about her.
"Who said that?" she said.
"She calls to you," it came again.
Dawn then knew who had spoken. It was her. By some magic the Bringers channelled their voice through her.
The Bringers were upon Dawn. She was pressed to a large brick wall, its hot grains melting into her. Dawn had to fight. She had to run.
A Bringer grabbed at her but Dawn ducked under him scrambling to get away. Another reached for her, holding her leg. She kicked out making contact with his face. Dawn got to her feet and began to run but the Bringers sped after her. In the gutter lay a sharp metal pipe. Dawn couldn't outrun them, she had to fight. She lifted the pipe and turned as the evil wave came over her. Dawn struck out at one, the pipe crushing the Bringer's face, its scarlet blood spraying the road. Dawn attacked another and it fell at her feet.
"She will have you," said the voice.
"Get out of my head!" said Dawn.
With a swift movement she impaled a Bringer, the harsh steel cutting through his chest. Dawn felt a hot pain run through her arm. A Bringer had cut her shoulder, her pale pink blouse stained red from her blood and theirs. Five remained but Dawn did not relent. The Bringers fell in broken ruin until two remained. One came behind her seizing her around the chest. It lifted Dawn and threw her into the windshield of a parked car. The glass broke beneath her cutting into her skin. Dawn was wearied. She lay there one the bonnet, cut and bruised, the new afternoon sun seeping into her. The Bringers stood before her and made to strike, yet one fell, an arrow piercing his chest. The other faltered also, its neck broken from behind. Five shadowed blurs stood over her, shielding Dawn from the harsh light.
"Dawn, Dawn," they called to her as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Dawn awoke and found a familiar mattress beneath her. She was in her room.
"You okay kiddo?" said Xander.
Dawn sat up. Though a little sore her wounds were superficial.
"Giles, where is he?" she said.
"Downstairs," said Anya.
Dawn got up and hurried out of the room, Anya calling back to her.
"I mean, don't thank us or anything."
Giles was by himself in the kitchen. He was staring at a picture on the wall; Himself, Buffy, Dawn, Joyce, Willow, Tara and Xander. He stirred at her coming.
"Dawn," he said "You should be resting."
"There's time for that later," said Dawn "I have to talk to you."
She clutched at her side and slowly sat at the table. Dawn looked at Giles. Several years seemed to be weighing on his shoulders, aging him.
"Why hasn't The First attacked?" said Dawn.
"Well I suspect-," said Giles but Dawn cut him off.
"It's because Buffy's gone," she said "Wesley said The First was here because of the mystical powers that lingered after Willow brought Buffy back. Now Buffy isn't here, neither are the energies."
"Of course," said Giles.
He too sat down and removed his glasses.
"Without them The First is stuck," said Dawn "I mean, it wanted to get rid of Buffy, just not now."
Giles furrowed his brow.
"Then The First didn't have any part to play in this," he said.
The realisation struck him.
"There seems to be another party in all these dealings. We cannot assume that The First is gone though. It may be simply biding its time. These events may not have affected it at all."
The sun sank into the West as the house began to stir. The attack on Dawn had put them all on alert. The Potentials were all armed and Gunn, Conner, Xander, Fred and Cordelia were patrolling the streets around the house.
"I've got a major case of the wiggins," said Amanda.
"Oh this is nothing," said Anya "These are just a few Bringers. You'll want to start worrying when The First opens the Hellmouth. There's more then just bunnies in them there halls."
The room fell silent.
"Guys," said Rona "It's them, they're back."
The front door slammed open and the five ran inside. Xander shut the door and bolted it.
"Let me guess," said Rona "Trouble?"
"Uh-ha," said Fred "And not the regular friendly Bringer kind."
"Not that they're not out and about," said Gunn "But it's the Ubervamp, its back."
"The Turok-Han," a voice came from behind them.
Wesley entered the room, sword in hand.
"A vampire of eons passed. It is extremely powerful. Its heart is encased in a sold bone capsule meaning that steaks won't work against it. They are not as badly affected by crosses or holy water either."
"And you are telling us this now?" said Anya.
"Guys," said Rona.
The sun was gone and night had fully fallen.
"I mean I just figured you'd be terrified, and I would be sarcastic about it," said Anya.
"Hey!!" said Rona "We've got company."
The lights in the Summer's house went out. A heavy silence filled the room where thin lines of radiance from the streetlamps outside illuminated their scared faces. Noises came from all around them, the soft scraping of leaves and earth and the short breath of terrified beings. All at once the commotion rose as the Bringers broke into the house. Glass flew in all directions as well as arrow shots and swords.
"Get out," said Xander "Everyone out the back."
The Bringers continued to enter the house. Xander and Gunn fought through the torrents of bodies and made their way to Willow's bedroom.
"Dawny, c'mon we've got to go."
Dawn, who had been sitting with Willow, jumped up. Gunn lifted Willow into his arms and followed Xander out of the room. They flew down the stairs as the Potentials and Scoobies fought to save themselves. As they reached the bottom of the stair the front door broke from its hinges and there stood the Turok-Han. Xander was thrown from his feet and the beast made for Dawn and Gunn. A blur sped across their vision and knocked the Ubervamp off its feet and into the front yard.
"Run," said Conner.
Dawn helped Xander up and they fled from the house. The Potentials were led by Giles and Lorne while the others held the back line. Bringer after Bringer came and fell and yet still more followed, and then from the back door came the vampire. The Scoobies retreated into the street only moments before they were set upon.
"Oh god, oh god, oh god," said Anya.
"Where to?" said Kennedy.
"I know a place," said Xander "Follow me."
The Potentials ran through the streets, Conner and Wesley making sure none fell behind. The streets were dead, a pit of blackness. None remained save those who ran for their lives. The Bringers were in close pursuit as the group fled into a large construction site. The masonry glowed blue in the silver of the moon. Tools and scaffolding littered the ground.
"Form up," said Xander "Form up."
The Scoobies and Potentials moved into a tight circle, their eyes darting in all directions. They stood in the foundations of the new library. A high scaffolded wall towered on their right and on the other sides low retaining walls fed into further parts of the building.
As silent wind they entered, their scarlet robes cutting through the black ether. Near fifty Bringers stepped onto the floor, all with swords and spears and other tools of evil. The high lights of the construction site came on with an electrical thud. Death would be their only escape. The Bringers charged bringing their fury down upon the Potentials. The mass of arms clashed together, cries of battle and fallen bodies filling the still air. The Potentials held their ground and the thought of victory filled them. The Bringers faltered, drawing back.
"What are they doing?" said Anya, her wearied breath caught in her throat.
She was answered. A deep growl cut the night and into the fluorescent gleam came the ancient vampire. It set upon them with unwavering hate and desire. Conner flew in front of it yet with a thrust of the beast's arm he was easily thrown aside.
"Go," said Xander "Climb the scaffolding. Fred, Cordie, GO!"
The Potentials ran to the far wall.
Conner rejoined them, a deep gash on his forehead. He, Gunn, Xander and the Watchers challenged it. At once the wave came again yet the line did not relent. The Bringers fell till all that remained was the Ubervamp and the five men. They circled around it yet the Turok-Han did not show signs of fear. The Potentials watched on with mingled fear and doubt. The Turok-Han sped a Wesley knocking him to the ground, his sword spinning out of his hand across the hard concrete. He lay on the ground, sliding, trying to move away. The Ubervamp stood over him yet it stopped. Xander had thrust his short sword into the vampire's chest cavity. The Turok-Han lifted Xander from his feet and threw him away, leaving him unconscious in a crumpled heap. Giles and Gunn moved forward yet were as easily dismissed. Conner faced it again.
"Time to play," he said.
Blow for blow the two went, the vampire striking out, its speed and strength matching that of the boy. Conner drew a stake from his belt. He knew within himself he had to end it. He struck a blow to the Ubervamp and it stumbled back. Again he kicked and punched and the vampire faltered. Conner drew back the stake and sunk it deep into the Turok-Han's chest. The wood splintered cutting into his hand. He had missed the heart. Conner was thrown across the foundations, spread bleeding and weak on the ground. He tasted blood in his mouth. His vision was blurred. The others tried to help but it was useless. Again and again they came at the vampire and each time cast down. They were outmatched and the beast wanted retribution. It hovered over Conner, the dark moon casting a deadly silhouette. Conner was lifted from his ruin, the Ubervamp so close to drinking. He felt its harsh lips press against his skin and its daggered teeth pierce his flesh. Conner cried out, yet distant and muted. He felt himself slipping away until a terrible blow threw him to the ground. Through the stream of blood clouding his vision he saw Gunn standing over the Turok-Han. He had hit it in the head with a length of wood, knocking it to the floor. The vampire moved yet was knocked down again, this time by Giles. Xander motioned to it and broke its face, striking out with all his strength with a crafted mace. The Turok- Han got to its knees, its hatred fuelled. Then the sound came of steel on stone. Wesley lifted his sword and walked to the beast. He lifted the blade high above him taking in his enemy. He drew the blade down with fury and the vampire was scattered into the breeze, its black dust furling into the night. The Potentials ran back to the others, Fred and Cordelia rushing to help Conner. All of them were injured, cuts and scarring, wounds of the battle. The night had become bitterly cold.
"We should return to the house," said Giles.
"Back," said Rona "The baddies know we're there."
Giles dismissed her.
"It is likely that we have stopped the greater of its forces. I doubt that they will attack the house again."
"As long as I don't have to carry the witch anymore," said Anya.
She held Willow under each arm, dragging her through the cemented waste.
"Guys," said Amanda.
Her face was fallen and scared.
"Where's Dawn?"
Each of them stopped, looking ceaselessly around the library's foundations. Anya let Willow fall to the ground yet hurried to lift her again. Giles looked at all of them then back at the shadow.
"Oh dear," he said.
Dawn stirred. The cold was cutting into her. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked at her surroundings. She was in a cellar of some kind. The floor was dirt beneath her naked feet and the air smelt sweet and bitter all at once, dust and wood and fruit. Her hands were tied above her head, the coarse rope burning her skin. Dull lanterns illuminated the room, an eerie yellow, the kind of darkness that hurts the eyes. Looking further she saw many Bringers. They did not stir or even seem to breathe, silent sentinels on watch of Dawn.
"Hey," she said.
They did not move. Again she spoke, yelling at them.
"Hey!"
Nothing.
"Don't ignore me you bastards," said Dawn "You are so dead when the others find me."
The Bringers stood and left the room by damp wooden stairs, as though an action of some silent order.
"Hey," said Dawn "Don't leave me here."
She struggled at the ropes but they held firm.
"You shouldn't speak like that Dawny."
A voice called to her and Dawn's feet nearly fell from beneath her. The voice was soft and sweet and painfully familiar. Dawn's stomach churned.
"No," said Dawn "No!"
"What sweetie," said the voice again "Haven't you missed me?"
From the pale light at the corner of the room the voice took form. Joyce stepped out in beautiful white silk, smiling gently at her daughter.
"I never really left you, you know honey."
Joyce walked closer to Dawn.
"I have always been watching," she said.
A tear slid down her milky skin and she spoke again.
"Oh Dawny I've missed you so much, your face, your laugh, your smile."
Joyce was only feet from her.
"Smile for mommy."
Dawn was trying not to listen, struggling to get free, turning her head in defiance.
"Dawny?" said Joyce.
Dawn looked straight into the woman before her. She saw her mother, she heard her mother, she wanted it to be her mother, but she saw past it, she saw its centre, the truth cloaked behind her mother's eyes.
"Get away from me you bitch."
Fury had her.
"How dare you say you are my mother, you could never be her."
Joyce stepped even closer, clouding Dawn's vision.
"Did she choose you?" said Joyce.
Dawn stopped and looked into her mother's eyes.
"What?" said Dawn.
"Buffy," said Joyce "Did she choose you? When it came to it, did she stay with you?"
Dawn didn't answer.
"She left?" said Joyce "Oh honey, I'm sorry."
"Get away," said Dawn.
She was screaming, crying, this wasn't her mother.
"I came to you Dawny," said Joyce "I tried to warn you, you saved me. I had to help."
"Why are you doing this?" said Dawn "Why do you want me? Buffy's gone, you know that, she won't come here, it's useless."
"That's just the problem," said Joyce.
Her sweet demeanour fell away. Joyce's face became stony and without emotion. But then she changed. Before Dawn her mother's skin melted to that of another, before Dawn stood Glorificus.
"Long story short," said Glory "Cause your big sis went bye-bye I, shall we say, couldn't have as much say as I wanted."
Glory walked around Dawn, her fear taking over. The First couldn't touch her but the memories of the hell goddess were still fresh with her.
"It happened slowly after Buffy's lesbian witch did her migics. Don't get me wrong, I can still exist on this plane, incorporeal as ever, I just couldn't play an active roll in the deaths of all those pretty girls anymore."
Glory stopped, smiling evilly, moving a hand to near Dawn's face. Dawn grimaced, trying to pull away.
"I can't tell you how much of a headache that gave me," said Glory "But I got to thinking. Buffy's gone, but something of her still existed. I thought of you, I mean how could it have slipped my mind, you're the key to it all, the key to my solution."
Glory dropped her serious tone and Laughed.
"In more ways then one hon. So pretty and green."
Glory leant close to Dawn, a look of hatred on her face.
"I made you bleed once little bit, I can make you bleed again."
Dawn heard footsteps behind The First, slow and heavy. She looked up and saw a man, dressed in black, a priest.
"And he will come and purify the weak and give power to those who know it. Dirty girls need to learn their place," he said.
Glory stepped back and once again changed. A length of sandy blonde hair fell about the shoulders of the short slender form. Dawn was lost and Buffy spoke to her.
"Dawny, meet Caleb."
A brilliant sun had begun to rise over the quiet town. The trees were washed orange and gold and a crisp, fresh Southern breeze led the warriors' home.
"I can't believe this has happened," said Xander "I lost her."
"You can't blame yourself," said Fred.
She placed a comforting hand on his back.
"The First clearly wanted her for something," said Wesley "She was singled out from everyone, no one else was taken."
The Potentials reached the house and it was in ruin. Glass and wooden debris littered the surrounding yards, yet the fallen Bringers were gone. They stumbled through the wreck finding places where they may to sit down. Conner and Willow were taken upstairs.
"First and foremost," said Giles "We must clean this place up and fortify it. Although I doubt another attack we would do best to be prepared."
None questioned him. Silently they began to work, repairing the damage of battle.
The day wanned slowly into night. Xander and Gunn all day had wanted to go and search for Dawn. The others were hesitant. They had gone up against The First and only just survived. Wesley and Giles had gone back to studying their mystical books.
"There is something in this," said Wesley "Something we're missing. Why would The First want Dawn?"
Giles jumped, straightening his glasses.
"Yes," he said "How could I have missed it? She is The Key."
"What?" said Wesley.
"It was something Dawn said to me after she was attacked," said Giles "About The First being stuck somehow, because Buffy is gone."
"I don't understand," said Wesley "The key to what?"
"No," said Giles "Dawn is in herself The Key, an energy given form, sent to the Slayer in the guise of a sister so that she would be protected. Dawn has the power to open dimensional rifts. Well, her bl-,"
Giles stopped.
"Oh no," said Xander.
"The First," said Giles "It's going to use her blood, use Dawn to come back. The Bringers didn't come for the Potentials, they came for Dawn."
"We have to get out there," said Xander "We have to find her."
"Rushing in blind won't save her," said Giles.
"Dawn's not real?" said Lorne.
A feeble knock came at the front door of the Summer's house. The Watchers left the kitchen, hurrying to the bottom of the stairs. Wesley opened the door and a young girl fell into his arms. She was bruised and bleeding badly, barley alive.
"Let's get her downstairs," said Giles.
They carried her into the basement where all were save Conner and Willow.
"What's happened?" said Fred.
"Not another one," said Anya.
They laid her down on one of the many sleeping bags covering the stone. The girl moaned slightly then suddenly opened her eyes, terrified.
"Lie still," said Giles "You're safe."
She shook uncontrollably, staring at the numerous faces standing over her.
"What's your name?" said Giles.
"Shannon," she said.
He voice was stuttered and hoarse.
"Who did this to you?" said Wesley.
"A-a priest," said Shannon "There were B-Bringers."
Her eyes closed, she was reliving the moment, the sites, sounds and smells.
"They were chasing me a-and then a car stopped and I got in. I was trying to get here. It was a priest. I thought he could help me."
"Slowly," said Giles "Take your time."
"He-he said I shouldn't have been out so late, he called me a whore." said Shannon.
Tears slid silently down her face.
"He b-burnt me," she said.
Shannon turned her head and Giles swept the brunette hair behind her ear.
"Oh my," said Giles.
A blistered mark, red and pustulated was scarred into her neck. It was a strange symbol that neither of the Watchers could identify.
"He threw me out of the car and I came here. I had to find Buffy," said Shannon.
The Potentials looked sick and scared. They were silent and watchful, not wanting to learn, but needing to know more.
"Now there's a psychotic priest in town," said Anya.
"Please," said Giles.
His patients had left him. He would not suffer interruptions.
"Think clearly Shannon," said Giles "Did he say anything else?"
Shannon turned to him looking alone and weak.
"He said," she stopped "He said he has something of yours."
"Great," said Anya "Psycho guy is in league with The First."
"It might not be Dawn," said Amanda.
"Yeah," said Rona "It could be a stapler."
"This is no time for idiotic jokes," said Giles.
"Then what do you think we should do?" said Fred "I mean, we don't even know where this priest guy is letter lone anything else about him."
"Then we find him," said Xander "We scout the place out, find out where he is and storm the place."
Giles took off his glasses.
"There is little else we can do," he said.
"So," said Fred "Nice town you grew up in."
"Yeah," said Lorne "Shadowy."
He, Fred and Cordelia were patrolling the outskirts of the forest.
"It wasn't too bad," said Cordelia "Till the school brew up at graduation."
"Well, it's a ways to go out," said Lorne.
Fred stopped.
"Did you guys hear that?" she said.
The three of them stood silently, the moon full above them, a slight breeze whispering through the fir trees. Light feet were falling nearby, heading further North into a distant vineyard. Cordelia led them quietly forward. Soundlessly they crept into the strangled vines.
A turn of the century structure stood before them. The building stood out menacingly between the rows of dark growth.
"Bringers," said Fred.
A few tall, faceless shapes left the cover of the trees, their unmistakable scarlet robes illuminated purple in the waves of night.
"What's the bet Dawn is in there," said Cordelia.
"What?" said Lorne "The decaying house that just screams murder me."
More Bringers came and left through its door.
"Evil always tends to swarm around a place of power," said Fred.
She looked about hesitantly as the Bringers became more numerous.
"Maybe we should head back," she said "Giles said we were just meant to look around, not to go to our bloody deaths."
"I second that munchkin," said Lorne.
Cordelia looked hesitant, she knew Dawn was inside.
"Okay," she said "We'll go but we better hurry up. Who knows what they are doing to her."
"Oh," said Buffy, each of her words strung with hateful sarcasm "Don't cry Dawny, it wont hurt much."
Dawn's face was steel, a blank canvas of emotion.
"I wouldn't shed a tear for you," she said.
"Now, now," said Caleb "Little girls' best learn how to talk nice."
He stopped and looked at her with evil hunger.
"Or I'll have to do some teach'n."
Buffy smiled at the priest.
"Do me a favour Caleb. Go see how the project is coming along. I wanna talk to my sis all alone."
Caleb left the two. Dawn looked at The First, incapable of fear.
"No need to be brave Dawn," said Buffy "Feel free to kick and scream. I know I will enjoy it."
Dawn was silent. She wouldn't be affected like this.
"You know it's kinda ironic," said Buffy "I die for you, then come back, only to die again and then you die to set me free. Quite some adventures we Summer's girls have."
"You are not Buffy," said Dawn.
He tone was icy and she did not meet The Firsts eyes.
"And Buffy is not dead."
"Oh no?" said Buffy "Then tell me where she is huh? I know I'd like to know. I'd kick my own ass."
"With what?" said Dawn finally looking up "Empty threats and lame sarcasm? You know nothing about any of us and when Buffy gets back you'll find out what ass kicking's about."
The First was furious.
"When I'm done," said Buffy "Their world won't be worth coming back to."
The First made to leave
"Oh," said Buffy "As for the not knowing about you, what kind of sister would I be if I didn't? Like when I came to school to tell you mum had died and you screamed in my arms; When you were on that tower and I sacrificed myself to save my little sister, jumping into the portal and death; Or maybe when you sat for hours in the room with Tara, her dead eyes looking at you, her cold blood sprayed around the room. How can you say I know nothing about you Dawny? I love to reminisce."
The First disappeared in a flash of light. Dawn let out a dry sob and hung limply in her restraints. Her legs could hold her no longer. The pain welled up within her and spilled out. She wanted her sister. She wanted Buffy.
"Where?" said Xander.
"The vineyard," said Cordelia "North of the forest."
"And you're sure?" said Giles "Sure Dawn is down there?"
"It was heavy with Bringers," said Cordelia "My bet's she's there."
It was nearing midnight and the five of them sat around the kitchen table.
"We can't do it," said Fred "How can we send them in? It has to be a trap."
"Trap or not they have Dawn, Fred," said Xander "We can't leave her there."
Fred wanted to say more but she knew herself that there was no other answer.
"What?!" said Rona.
"Go after them?" said Amanda.
Giles and the others had gone into the basement to inform the Potentials of the plan.
"I like her and all," said Rona "But it's suicide."
"I'm with that girl," said Anya "She's expendable."
Xander couldn't believe what he was hearing. He would go in alone if he had to.
"Guys," said Kennedy turning to them "We have to try. Buffy would have been there already. We can get her back."
Silence ensued. A silent thought that was without time to be swayed.
"Ignore the lesbian," said Anya "Do you all want to die?"
"That's what a Slayers for," said Rona "Don't see a Potential is much different."
The consensus had risen. They would fight for Dawn.
"Saddle up," said Xander.
The Potentials went to the walls of the room and took from them weapons; swords and axes and crossbows.
"We can't leave Willow alone," a voice came from behind.
Conner was walking down the stairs, a deep stain of blood over the bandages covering his head wound.
"You're good to go?" said Cordelia.
"Always," said Conner.
He took a short sword from her hands and led the first group of Potentials up the stairs.
"I'll stay with Willow," said Anya.
The group was ignoring her.
"Fred, you right to stay with Will?" said Xander.
"I'd rather be on the front lines," said Fred.
"I'll stay," said Anya.
"But if you want me here I'll stay," said Fred.
Xander nodded and turned to Anya.
"You ready?" he said.
Anya frowned and reluctantly lifted a mace from a low iron bracket on the wall. She followed the rest up the stair and into the waning night.
"Wakie, wakie," said a voice in Dawn's ear.
She had passed out from exhaustion, hanging painfully from her wrists. Dirty tear marks streamed her face and through bloodshot eyes she looked again upon The First.
"Have a good sleep Dawny?" said Buffy "I would have but I am too excited, what with your imminent death and all."
Dawn was shaking more from cold then fear. She wanted it ended, relief from the torment. She knew it wasn't Buffy but it was so painfully real, as though her sister was cutting into her heart with each new word.
"How I like this bit," a voice came.
Caleb walked in once more drawing a silver knife from the back of his belt.
"Called to duty in a time of need with your god down and out. Some folk don't like their work, I can tell you that, but me, I love killing filthy little whores like you."
"You know," said Dawn "You really shouldn't talk like that or people might think you were a woman hating prick."
"Now, Now," said Caleb "Sticks and stones."
The priest loomed over Dawn, thoughtfully swaying the dagger back and forth. He pressed the cold steel to Dawn's throat, the fine point close to breaking her skin.
"TTFN," said Buffy.
Caleb's bite did not fall though for at that moment two wooded shafts sank into the wooden wall centimetres from where he rested his hand. Dawn stood and saw Kennedy and Amanda, crossbows raised, and the other Potentials stream in behind them.
"Sigh," said Buffy "Caleb, kill them then spill her blood."
With that The First vanished.
From the other side of the room more Bringers came, each armed and with savage wrath. They met the potentials and Caleb set to them also. Conner charged at the priest and was knocked away. He flew backwards across the room smashing into cedar barrels, spilling their blood wine onto the floor. Like an iron fist Caleb went through them that none could withstand.
"Get to Dawn," said Xander.
Anya and Cordelia ran to the girl trying to cut her free, but Caleb had seen them. He moved toward them yet Gunn stood in his way.
"Now boy," said Caleb "You really want to die?"
"Not me gonna be the one dying padre," said Gunn.
He struck out at Caleb but the priest did not stumble. Again Gunn hit him yet he did not falter. Anya and Cordelia were nearly through Dawn's bindings.
"No," said Caleb "Not that easy."
Gunn was thrown down. The Bringers fought on and the Potentials fell and the Scoobies wanned. Dawn fell limp on the shoulders of her rescuers.
"Get out," said Xander "Everybody out!!"
Caleb met Dawn with anger. He lifted Anya from her feet and cast her across the room. Cordelia was prised from the girl and thrown into the stone wall, crumpled on an injured ankle. Xander saw the priest drawing his knife on Dawn and he ran to her side. Caleb was struck back by all Xander's strength and Dawn fell into his arms.
"I got you Dawny," he said.
The Scoobies were retreating. Girls and Bringers lay dead on the ground and those that survived stumbled to escape. Wesley and Giles grabbed Anya and Cordelia as the others called the last Potentials to the door. Xander hurried with Dawn but he felt a powerful hand on his shoulder. He was turned around and a deafening cry filled the air. Caleb had thrust his thumb into Xander's eye, blinding him. Xander fell to his knees in agony, blood and membrane spilling over his hands onto the floor.
"Xander!!" said Dawn screaming for help.
Caleb swung his hand and hit her hard across the face. Dawn cried out as searing heat shot across her arm. She opened her eyes as Caleb withdrew, the stained dagger fresh with her blood. A look of triumph fell on the priest and he seemed to stop, not needing to fight further. At that Caleb was hit hard from the side and skidded the length of the floor into the far wall.
"C'mon," said Conner.
With all his remaining strength the boy lifted Dawn and Xander from the floor. Dawn clutched at her arm as the warm liquid spilled from her shoulder, the dark river streaming to the tips of her limp fingers. A single scarlet drop fell from her hand to the soft earth floor. The last thing Dawn saw as they fled the vineyard was the ground littered with the bodies of her friends and the defeated remains of the rescuers before her.
The room lay silent, a field of death filling it to its corners.
"Yahoo that was fun!" said Caleb.
He got to his feet, a sinister smile of greed and pleasure on his face.
"Can we do this again?" he said.
A short form walked beside him, soundlessly moving to a point near the door. Buffy crouched down and placed her hand near the drop of Dawn's blood now soaked into the dirt. Buffy smiled.
"Soon Caleb, soon," she said "I'm back."
Once again the Scoobies found themselves back in the Summer's home. Few of the Potentials had survived the skirmish and those that lived had severe injuries.
"It's broken," said Fred.
"Great," said Rona.
Bloodied cloth littered the basement as well as red stained water and torn clothes. Dawn looked around the room and couldn't help feel responsible. Because of her, because she allowed herself to be taken was why all these people were injured. She looked painfully at Xander as he seemed too sick to move.
"This is bad," said Wesley "He needs a hospital."
"We'll take him," said Gunn, and he and Conner led him up into the house.
"Move your hand Dawny," said Cordelia.
Dawn had been lost in thought. She moved her hand from her wound and the cold air bit into it. Mindlessly she let Cordelia tend to it as she battled within herself, wishing she hadn't done what she did.
"It's not too bad," said Cordelia "Lots of blood but not very deep."
"Thanks," said Dawn.
Cordelia was about to bandage the cut when Giles walked over to them.
"Dawn," he said "You were cut?"
"Yeah," said Dawn "But no biggie. Caleb didn't make a good job of it, I'm still alive."
Giles removed his glasses.
"Nothing worse could have happened. You said yourself that The First needed your blood. Glory's portal was opened with but a few drops of it. The First may have returned."
A quiet fell on the room that was deeper then deep, a thick cloud of unease.
The sun had risen over Sunnydale but brought with it no warmth. A yellow gleam settled over Buffy's bed where Xander lay sleeping. Dawn lay curled next to him, his hand in hers, and Dawn's head resting gently on his shoulder. She drifted in and out of sleep wanting to be the first person Xander saw when he woke up. His chest rose slowly and Dawn followed its motion.
"Monkey pants," said Xander.
Dawn sat up startled.
"Xander?" she said.
"Oh hey kiddo," he said "Did I wake you with my Cyclops dream?"
"Don't joke," said Dawn "It's not funny."
Xander gave a weak smile and Dawn lent down and gave him a kiss on the cheek then snuggled back into the groove of his shoulder.
"Would it be lame to ask how you are?" said Dawn.
"No Dawny," said Xander "I'm okay. Gunn and Conner patched me up at the hospital then brought some supplies back here."
With his free hand Xander reached up and felt the bandages covering his eye.
"I'm kinda tired still Dawn, I think I might try and get some more sleep."
"Oh," said Dawn "No, that's good, rest. I'll head downstairs and see if anyone needs help."
Dawn slid from the bed leaving Xander staring up at the blank ceiling, still touching the bandages over his injured eye.
When dawn got to the bottom of the stairs she found the front door open. Giles sat in the morning sun staring out into the bright day. She stepped out onto the porch but he did not stir. Dawn thought she better go back in when he spoke.
"It feels a little different," said Giles "When Buffy is the one that left me. Once again it seems I am the one that can teach her no more and has lost her."
Dawn sat down beside the Watcher, not saying anything. Giles stared off into distant blue, Dawn not knowing if he himself was lost.
"I was holding onto hope Dawn," he said "Hope that we would find her. And now that Pandora's Box is open it seems that hope also has escaped us."
Dawn didn't believe it. She couldn't believe that Buffy wouldn't come back. Yet somewhere within her, deep beneath belief and reason, so deep she herself did not feel it, she knew that Giles was right. Dawn couldn't find words of comfort within her. She placed her small warm hand to his shoulder then walked silently back inside.
Dawn didn't know if she could take going into the basement, not after what she had seen and heard so far, but the house was quiet and empty. She opened the basement door to find everybody talking, the Potentials, Anya and Lorne.
Dawn walked slowly down and Lorne caught sight of her.
"Oh good kitten, you're here," he said "Come take a seat."
She got to the stone floor and went and sat between Amanda and Rona.
"This is stupid," said Rona "I don't sing."
"You'll sing and you'll like it," said Anya.
All the Potentials were sitting up looking at the demon and his assistant.
"What's going on?" said Dawn.
Lorne smiled at her.
"Well hon," he said "I haven't been able to get a good read on things so the lovely-,"
"Don't forget beautiful," said Anya.
"And beautiful," said Lorne.
"And smart," said Anya.
Lorne cleared his throat.
"The lovely and beautiful and smart Anya here suggested a little sing- along."
Dawn almost laughed. She looked around the room and saw mixed emotion. Some Potentials looked eager, some, like Kennedy looked scared and others, like Rona, looked pissed off.
"I won't do it," said Rona.
Anya gave her a threatening stare but Lorne laughed it off.
"Oh don't be such a Gora demon."
Lorne gave a small nod to Anya and she took her cue.
"Right girls," she said "You're gonna sing well and you're gonna sing hard. You're gonna sing so well you knock Lorne out. I want to hear you hitting those notes. You have your direction, Dawn you join in on the chorus. Ready?"
Anya walked to the CD player and pressed the play button. A string of piano notes filled the air and they began.
Amanda: First I was afraid, I was petrified.
Kennedy: Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side.
Rona: But I Spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong, and I grew strong, I learned how to carry on.
The beat took up and Lorne nodded thoughtfully.
"Everyone," said Anya.
Everyone: Oh no not I, I will survive. As long as I know how to love I know I will stay alive, I've got all my life to live, I've got all my love to give, and I will survive, I will survive, yeah, yeah.
From the latent, blissful smile on Lorne's face something took over. Slowly his features dropped and his eyes grew wide with fear. Anya still conducted, ignorant to the demon's fate. The Potentials sang on and Lorne began to shake, first slightly then uncontrollably, his eyes rolling back in his head. The song began to stutter as the girls saw him. Lorne fell to the floor and Anya ran to his side.
"Good work girls but maybe a little brisk on the E-sharp."
Lorne lay still for a while then let out a long groan.
"What do you need?" said Anya "Water? A pillow?"
"Whisky," said Lorne "A whole barrel full."
The bright morning had turned to a humid day and the demon sat in the kitchen with the senior of the Scoobies. Lorne was reluctant to talk, not wanting to share what he had seen, the horror was too much.
"What was it Lorne?" said Wesley "What did you see?"
Lorne drank slowly from his cup, his green had still shaking a little. He looked up at the group unable to find the words. After a time he spoke, though stuttered and afraid.
"I-I saw the girls," he said "The Potentials. They were making their last stand against The First."
He drank again from his iced scotch and continued.
"They were at the high school, they were going into the Hellmouth, somehow they had to finish it. And then, then there were cries."
Lorne closed his eyes. He could hear and see them.
"Horrible, shrieking cries," he said "And they fell, their last defence broken, blood and bodies, the stench of death and decay thick in the air."
The group looked scared. Lorne didn't usually speak so seriously but this was wrapped with undiluted fear. They needed to know more.
"Go on Lorne," said Giles "Please try."
Lorne nodded and with another steadying swig went on.
"There was nothing left, none of them, and the school was destroyed. But then it got worse. They came like a swarm of bees, thousands and thousands of demons and not your regular, crazy Pilean kind, these were bent on torment. Like locusts they swept out over the city, spreading to the other Hellmouths and opening them too, releasing the worst demons of purgatory. And then it came, The First, in its true form and it was real, with flesh and everything. It commanded its armies over the planet, drawing evil to it from each corner. Then, then there was nothing left, a black sphere of evil, stripped of beauty and peace and Barbara. Horrible."
Those around the table were oblivious to Dawn standing in the hall taking in every terrifying word. She shrank silently to the floor and silken tears fell from her eyes. Her mind wandered all around her to Xander, permanently injured; To Willow, their most powerful weapon in a mystical coma no one knew if she would wake up from; And finally to her sister, her strength and heart, their champion, the one thing that wasn't there that they needed to win the imminent war, the greatest war they ever fought, the war to end it all.