Chapter 2
Dawn awoke the next morning around eleven thirty. She groaned when she looked at the clock; not meaning to sleep in so late. She rolled over onto her back and looked up at the ceiling as she replayed the events of last night. Three days. She had three days to decide. She really didn't want to join the Bureau of paranormal whatever. She wanted a normal life. A life outside of the strange. She jumped out of bed and ran into the living room to answer the phone that had been ringing.
"Hello." She answered excitedly; knowing it only had to be her family.
"Hey Dawnie." She heard Buffy's voice on the other end and a smile spread across her face.
"Hi, Buffy." Dawn replied as she sat down on the worn out chair resting in front of the small black and white TV.
"Whatcha up to?" Buffy asked.
"Nothing yet. I just got up." Dawn answered with a yawn.
"You were always the one to sleep late." Buffy replied and Dawn knew that she was rolling her eyes.
"Well, it didn't help that I got home late last night." Dawn retorted.
"Dawn, were you out partying last night?" Buffy asked sternly.
It was Dawn's turn to roll her eyes before she answered her sister's question, "no Buffy. I was not out partying. I was actually, um…" Dawn was trying to find someway to explain to her sister that she was being held against her will by a man, a demon, and a fish dude.
"What? Dawn. You sound different all of a sudden. I know that voice. You're keeping something from me." Buffy responded when silence fell over the receiver.
"I am not." Dawn defended back while furrowing her brow.
"Look, Dawn. I'm worried about you. You are my little sister, remember." Buffy could tell Dawn was starting to get defensive and she didn't call to start a fight.
"Well, if you haven't noticed I'm not so little anymore." Dawn always hated being viewed as the weak little sister that couldn't defend herself or live on her own.
"I know that. But you'll always be my little sister. And I can't help but worry about you. Especially now that you're living in New York. I swear that place is worse than Sunnydale and I'm not talking about demons. I'm just talking about creeps in general." Buffy replied.
Deciding to change the subject she asked her sister an everyday question, "so, how's London?"
"Oh, it's great. I love it here." Buffy responded excitedly; not noticing right away that her sister had changed the subject. "wait, don't change the subject on me." Dawn couldn't help but laugh at her sister's delayed reaction.
"Bye sis. I've got to get ready for work." Dawn replied.
"Fine. But don't think you're getting off that easily." Buffy replied before she hung up. She hardly ever said goodbye when they were on the phone. Dawn figured Buffy was afraid it'd be a permanent thing.
She pulled herself out of the lumpy chair and walked into the kitchen to pull out a box of cereal. She had little food in her apartment because she couldn't really afford it. Most of her paycheck went for rent in this place. And her job didn't really pay well. She worked as a sales clerk in a clothing department. With a sigh she poured the cereal into a bowl and ate it without milk because, well, she didn't have any. Her life was miserable but at least it was the normal kind of miserable. She lied to her sister about going to work. She just didn't want to be lectured anymore. She had two straight days off and it was a relief. Her weeks always felt extremely long and she hated it. Her co-workers always viewed her as a freak because she was poor and they weren't. One of the girls had even asked her how she got the job because the manager only hired people with money. She completely ignored the question and continued on with her work.
Well, she was nineteen years old, life was supposed to be crappy at this time. With just getting out in the real world all on your own. Yeah, right. Dawn figured no one had it this tough, but she had put herself in this mess and hopefully soon she'd get herself out of it.
She thought about the offer Myers had given her and she didn't really want to take it. She came here to have a normal life; then she gets rescued by some demon named Hellboy and then brought to a Bureau where she's asked to stay because they could protect her from all the evil that wanted her. She had been there and done that and she didn't really want to do it again.
She pushed the bowl out of her way and released a heavy sigh. She still had three days to decide, but she was already starting to decide on turning down the offer. In fact, she was positive that's what she was going to do. She didn't need protection. She had been protected her whole life and she was sick of it. When she was a kid she was protected because she was too young to be left alone, when she was the key she was protected because Glory wanted to use her to open a portal that would destroy the world, and after that she was protected because her sister was the paranoid slayer. She didn't need anymore protection and frankly she didn't want it. She was happily willing to welcome the things life threw her way. Every other normal person has to deal with that so why couldn't she. Yeah, she was going to turn down the offer when the time came. It was time for her to have the thing she longed for; she deserved that much. She deserved a normal life for once.
Three days passed since Myers made the offer and Dawn was starting to get restless. She couldn't wait for this day to come so she could tell him off and now she had no idea when he would show up.
She was working at the clothing's store hanging up dresses and pants that had been tried on but never put back on the rack. She heard someone come in by the ringing of the bell but she didn't turn to see who had entered.
As she put the last piece of clothing up she felt someone tap her on her shoulder. She turned around to see Myers standing in front of her with a slight smile on her face, but it soon fell when he noticed the stern look on Dawn's.
"So. Have you made your decision?" He asked as he looked around. Dawn noticed he was wearing the same suit as before but this time with the jacket on.
"Yep." Dawn replied; not really caring how he found out where she worked. The time had come for her to tell him and she decided on playing a bit of hard to get. Though the Bureau wasn't getting her at all, it was still fun to play.
"And…" Myers started; anxious to hear her answer.
"And…. I've thought about it." Dawn replied as she looked around at more clothes to make sure they were all in the right spot."Well, what's your answer?" Myers asked in a hushed tone when he noticed the other workers staring in their direction.
"My answer is…." Dawn started but got distracted by a dress that was in the wrong spot. She pulled it off the rack and started walking in the direction where it belonged.
"What?" Myers asked getting impatient with her little game.
"No." Dawn answered bluntly; not looking at him.
Myers was speechless by her answer. He was expecting her to say yes so he wasn't quite sure how to respond. "Well, may I ask why?" He asked while scratching the top of his head. Dawn turned to face him with anger and frustration flashing through her eyes.
"Because I want a normal life. I've never had that, alright." Dawn answered before turning back to focus on her work again.
"And what makes you think you won't?" Myers asked confused.
"Because I would be around things that aren't normal. Demons, monsters and well being around a demon wouldn't be normal either. I don't want that. I want a normal life. I've always been around abnormal things and in fact I've been abnormal. And I'm tired of it." Dawn responded calmly while working still.
"Well, if you are this light thing Abe claims you to be, then you most likely won't have that." Myers responded quietly.
"Look, if you're afraid I might tell people about this Bureau of yours; you don't have to worry. I won't tell. Believe me, I understand the whole must-be-kept-secret thing. My sister was or is the slayer. Or a slayer now." Dawn said as she turned to face him.
"No. I'm afraid there may be something out there after you." Myers explained himself.
"There isn't. I told you already that I've been used up. There's not nor going to be another chance to use me." Dawn replied getting angry with him.
"How can you be sure?" Myers asked calmly. Dawn sighed as she looked at her feet in thought before looking back up at him.
"I can't be. But I'm willing to take that chance. I am desperate for a normal life and you and your Bureau can't give me that." Dawn answered while glaring at him.
"Miss Summers I…." Myers started but was interrupted by Dawn.
"Please, just leave." Dawn whispered and Myers was a bit shocked and a little hurt.
"But…" He started; wanting to get through to her.
"Please." Dawn said again without looking at him. Myers nodded his head in understanding that he wasn't going to be able to talk her out of it. He turned around and headed out of the building in defeat. There was nothing else he could do to convince the girl to come with him. He got the hint that she was well aware of the dangers in her life.
He climbed into the black car that was parked outside of the building and rested his elbow on the arm of the door while rubbing his head with his hand. The driver looked in the review mirror at Myers' reflection and could see it didn't go well.
"Is she not coming, sir?" The driver asked and Myers looked up in the mirror and shook his head in response. The driver nodded his head in understanding and pulled the car away from the curb and headed for the Bureau.
Myers walked into the Bureau with a tired look on his face. Though the conversation was short; Dawn seemed to have worn him out. He was heading to his office when he heard loud footsteps behind him and he knew right away who it was.
"Myers. Where is she?" He heard Hellboy ask as he turned around.
"She's not coming. She said no." Myers answered; not really wanting to deal with Hellboy at the moment.
"What? What do you mean she said no? Didn't you bug her to come?" Hellboy wasn't happy with Myers' answer.
"Yes, I did. But she had made up her mind and there was no way I could have convinced her otherwise." Myers answered as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well apparently you didn't try hard enough." Hellboy responded with a glare.
"Look, Red. She said no and there really isn't anything we can do about it." Myers replied getting agitated with him.
"Maybe there's nothing you can do about it." Hellboy responded, turned and walked away from Myers.
"Wait. Red! What are you doing!" Myers' yelled after him; knowing very well what Hellboy was up to.
"I'm going to convince her!" He yelled back as he turned the corner; vanishing from Myers' sight.
Dawn walked out of the clothing store after closing up. The manager always made her work late and every night he would hit on her. He was a creep she knew, but she needed the money so she dealt with it. He hadn't done anything sexually to her yet, and if he did he would regret it instantly. She still remembered some of the moves Buffy taught her when they were preparing for the battle with the first. So, she could kick the guys ass if need be.
She crossed the street without looking either way; knowing there weren't any cars coming at this time of night anyway. It always took her a couple hours to close up. The store would close around ten and she wouldn't leave until about midnight. As she walked she pulled the hair tie off around her wrist and pulled her hair into a messy ponytail to keep it out of her face from the wind. She felt utterly exhausted from the day's events, but luckily the manager wasn't there tonight. He had gone on a camping trip with some of his buddies so that made the day a little more better.
Dawn didn't notice the red demon following her as he jumped from one building to the next. He didn't know why he felt he had to watch her before he tried to convince her; he just did. He really wanted her at the Bureau and again he wasn't sure why. There was just something about her.
Dawn was about to cross the next street when she felt the ground slightly shake under her feet. Recognizing the feeling she closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again and releasing a sigh. She slowly turned around and saw Hellboy standing a few feet away from her; slightly hidden by the shadows.
"What do you want?" Dawn asked impatiently with her right hand on her hip.
"For you to come to the Bureau." Hellboy answered as he took a couple steps towards her.
"No." Dawn answered as she turned away from him and continued to cross the street.
"You're not safe." Hellboy yelled after her.
"Who is?" Dawn yelled back; making a good point.
She heard a growl escape his lips before he ran after her. He knew Myers had difficulties with her, but he didn't think he would. She was damn stubborn, that was for sure. He placed his left hand on her right shoulder and turned her to face him.
"There's evil after you." Hellboy told her and she just rolled her eyes; causing him to furrow his brow.
"Yeah, well. I'm kind of used to it." Dawn replied as she shrugged his hand off her shoulder.
Hellboy glared at her as his arm fell to his side. She was really starting to upset him and Dawn could see his jaw twitch from his teeth grinding together.
"That's bad on the teeth." Dawn said as she pointed to his face before walking away from him.
"Would you at least tell me why you won't come to the Bureau?" Hellboy asked as he chased after her.
It was Dawn's turn to growl; frustrated with having to explain herself. She quickly turned to face him and she placed her pointer finger on his chest. "Because I want my life to be normal! I've never and I do mean never had that and that's all I want; normalcy. But you people can't seem to get that through your thick skulls, now can you!" Hellboy suddenly felt very intimidated by the girl and he couldn't help but laugh about it.
"What are you laughing at?" Dawn asked angrily.
"Nothing." Hellboy said in between laughs, "just how such a small girl could intimidate me."
Dawn's face had a look of surprise written on it before it was followed by a smile, "I intimidate you?" Dawn asked; getting an answering nod from Hellboy. "Go me. If only Buffy could see me now." Dawn said to herself.
Hellboy had his hands resting on his knees with his head down as he tried to catch his breathe and at the sound of Buffy's name he looked up at Dawn with a questioning look on his face. "Who's Buffy?"
"Oh, uh, my older sister. She had always protected me from just about everything and never thought I could protect myself. She viewed me as weak." Dawn answered as she kicked a pebble with her foot. They stood there in silence for a moment; neither knowing what to say.
"So, will you come back with me to the Bureau?" Hellboy asked as he looked at Dawn's turned down head. She slowly looked up into his eyes wearing a resolve face that she learned so very well from Willow.
"No." She whispered while shaking her head. Hellboy opened his mouth to try to talk her into coming with him, but she held up her hand to silence him.
"I'm sorry. I just can't do it." Dawn said as she turned and walked away from him. This time Hellboy didn't follow her. Instead, he just watched as she rounded the corner and left him standing in the middle of the street alone.
