A/N: Okay so please don't get mad that there hasn't been an update in like months. Here it is now. I got the worst case of WB on this story which happens a LOT. Then when I wanted to write there was life staring at me saying you really don't have time for this. I swear to you that it'll be a faster update this time. ENJOY!

Also if you're feeling really 'help an author out' why not, if it's not too much trouble and time. Check out my new website that I spent a LOT of time on. The link is in my profile and tell me what you think of it. I only have my friends telling me I did a good job and I don't know if I can trust them 'cause there my friends. Now this is only if you have the time. Now pressure at all!

Disclaimer: No these characters are not mine. Please don't sue me for having some fun with them. They all belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox and UPN and the WB. Everyone but me basically. The PLOT is mine though and I don't take kindly to stealing! : )

Distribution: If you actually think that it's good enough to go anywhere, but here, then by all means. Just ask first.

Spoilers: None

Chapter 18:

Buffy couldn't sleep another wink. She turned on her side to see what time it was. The big green numbers of her alarm clock flashed 5:30. She, Dawn and Andrew were due in court at eleven. She had plenty of time to sleep in, but her brain just wouldn't stop working on overdrive. Today was it.

Today was the day Dawn testified in court. Today was the day that she found out for sure that Riley would never be able to touch her little girl ever again. She had faith in Spike and his abilities to get the job done, but it was still nerve wracking nonetheless. So it was time for a caffeine IV.

She slowly and silently got out of bed, put on her slippers and robe and made her way to her small kitchen all the while her mind trying desperately to focus on the case and only the case. Of course it wandered to Saturday night. It had only been a short while ago. Not even three days yet.

Despite what Buffy thought, meeting Spike the afternoon after the let done wasn't at all awkward. Okay so she spent most of the time wandering the offices, but the part she stuck around for wasn't awkward at all. It was straight forward and to the point. Spike still just wanted to be friends.

Yet there wasn't any relief to that statement like there should have been. He said she was free. Free to do whatever the hell she wanted to do, but the only thing she wanted to do was virtually impossible.

She didn't know anyone that owned a time machine. If she could just go back in time and change everything. Snuggled closer to him instead of pushing him away like she had. If she had just embraced the fact that he wanted her then maybe she wouldn't feel so devastated.

Now she was left with that dull ache in her chest she had almost grown accustomed to and now matter what Spike said about being friends, Buffy wasn't sure she could do that. Not after what was the best night of her life. It wasn't just the sex, although that was beyond greater than greatest, the time before that had been fun.

Riley never got along with her friends like that. He had always butted heads with Andrew, thought Willow was way too psychoanalytic, and that Oz was strange with his stoic way of being. Spike got along with everyone and although he didn't smile, which Buffy had come to learn was rare for Spike, he had a goofy grin on his face the whole time.

So to say Buffy had screwed up would be the understatement of the year. All her friends loved Spike. Even Dawn seemed to have taken a liking to him early on. She had ruined it. She wondered how much of a head start Willow would give her before hunting her down and kicking her ass. Maybe an ass kicking was in order.

"Mom what are you doing up? Do we have to go already?" Buffy turned around to see Dawn standing in the kitchen doorway rubbing sleep out of her eyes.

"No, I just couldn't sleep honey. What are you doing up?"

"I couldn't sleep either. I'm a little nervous." Dawn said sitting down next to the dinning room table.

"Butterflies in your stomach." Buffy said in her sweet mother voice.

"More like bats. Big ones that keep flying around making me almost nauseous." Dawn said.

"Would you like some hot chocolate?" Buffy asked.

"Sure with extra little marshmallows please." Dawn said.

"Coming right up." Buffy said then proceeded to keep herself busy with making hot chocolate. Dawn was the only reason Buffy hadn't gone out her mind thinking about Saturday night. She had to take care of Dawn so she hadn't been able to let her mind wander.

"So I guess today's it huh." Dawn said after five minutes of silence had passed.

"Yes, are you sure you can do this?"

"Yeah I'm pretty sure. Spike said it would be pretty easy. Not like that time in kindergarten when I had to do that play. All I have to do is tell the truth. I can do that."

"As long as you're sure. I wouldn't want you to do anything that you didn't feel like doing. Spike's right though. All you have to do is tell the judge exactly what happened when Spike asks you the questions. Just tell the truth." Buffy said.

"I can do that." Dawn said.

"Well if you're sure that you can do that."

"Yeah I am. Telling the truth is easy to do. All you have to do is put in words what happened. It's like telling a story that actually happened." Dawn said.

Buffy nodded silently and placed the hot chocolate in front of her daughter. Dawn took it in her little hands and drank greedily using a spoon every once in awhile to take out a marshmallow. She was so content with what was placed right in front of her. She was still a child and didn't understand the ways of the world. Buffy began to play with her daughter's beautiful long brown hair.

"Dawn are you happy here?" She asked. Dawn looked up from her mug.

"Yeah it's okay." Dawn said.

"You wouldn't rather be at your old house." Buffy asked.

"No it's fine here. I like my room. It's not as big as my other room, but it's big enough. I can fit all my toys in it." Dawn said.

Buffy smiled sweetly at her daughter's simple logic. Of course she'd be happy if she had a room and a bed and a place to put her things. She was six. What would happen when she was twelve and outgrew her room? What if she started asking for things like a dog or a real yard? Right now she was happy. There was enough room for her and she was doing great. It was simple. Buffy longed for things to really be that simple.

"Why don't I make us some breakfast." Buffy said.

"Sure pancakes?"

"Yeah. Circles or funny shapes."

"Funny shapes."

"All right. One stack of funny shaped pancakes coming up."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It smelled like antiseptic. Hospitals had that lingering smell of antiseptic. It was strong and powerful and almost overwhelming. The more and more Spike saw of this hospital the more and more he hated it. He wasn't even really sure why he was here.

He had to be in court in about an hour and he really should be preparing. It was most likely going to be difficult for Buffy and Dawn. He had to be ready for the emotional strain it would put on the woman he had come to call his friend and her daughter.

Something had drawn him to Angel's room though. Something had said to turn at the stoplight that led to the hospital. Something had made him walk inside the elevator, press the appropriate button, and walk over to the room his brother was in.

That same something was telling him to knock on the door no matter how hesitant he was. It was pushing at him to stop being such a wuss and just knock on the stupid door. He knew why he was here. He knew what his purpose was. He would be leaving this Saturday to look for a place and then leaving again after that, to stay.

Sucking in one last sigh, Spike knocked on the door. He heard the quiet 'Come In' from Angel and walked inside.

"Hey, Will, what's on your mind?" Angel asked shifting himself so he was sitting rather then lying.

"Cordy here?" Spike asked working his way around the lump in his throat that had formed from the minute he walked into Angel's room.

"Um, no she had to work and the kids had to go to school. Something wrong?" Angel asked.

Ever the fucking worrier. Here he is lying in a hospital with needles and tubes running this way and that and he's worried about me. Just tell him already. Spike thought.

"Um, sort of. See I wanted you to be the first to know. Well, you aren't the first, but I told Xander out of sheer necessity. Haven't even told Wesley yet." Spike said knowing that he was babbling.

"Out with it, William." Angel said with just a tiny hint of annoyance.

"Giles asked me if I wanted to be a partner at the new law firm he's opening up." Spike blurted out. Angel looked at little confused as to why this news would be bad before saying,

"That's good news isn't it. Nothing to be fidgeting about."

"Well, yeah, it's good news. I mean it sounds like good news without all the messy details." Spike said.

"What are the messy details?"

"The jobs in San Francisco." Spike said.

"Oh." Angel said quietly then looked as though he was in deep thought.

"Well are you going to take it?" Angel asked after about five minutes of silence.

"Yeah, I'm going to take it." Spike said.

Both men were silent for a long time. Neither one knowing exactly what to say.

"What brought up this exciting new life altering decision?" Angel asked in that controlled voice he did so well.

"I just… I need a changed. Something that's going to make a real impact on my life. I could use the experience. It's a step in the right direction." Spike said repeating what he had been trying to pound into his head for the last couple of days since making his decision.

"A change. Experience. What they don't have jobs with experience here?" Angel said slightly losing the control.

"It's a good thing Angel. You said so yourself."

"Yeah that's before I knew you would be moving away. This is really selfish of you." Angel said.

"Yes, it is selfish. Don't I get to be selfish every once in awhile. I've never been selfish in my whole entire life. Just let me do this one time. Please." Spike said knowing that the desperate pleading was there but not caring.

"I know you've given up a lot for us, Will, but why now. Why couldn't you just wait a little while? A month or so." Angel asked realizing he was acting like the selfish one.

"If I stay any longer I'm never going to leave, Angel. I have to do this. It's something I have to do. I just can't stay here anymore. I tried, but I don't know. I think I just need a little room to breathe." Spike said plopping into the chair right next to Angel's bedside.

"Yeah I get that. Um, I'm not exactly sure what else to do in this situation. No one's ever moved away from me before." Angel said in that lost little boy voice he hadn't used in years.

He was scared, but more then scared he was sad. Sure there was a great deal of animosity between the two brothers when they were teenagers, but that soon dissipated after releasing they were both venting over the same loss just in different ways.

"I don't know. Say hope you have a good time. Maybe good riddance just to be funny and sarcastic." Spike said.

"Yeah okay I think I can do that. Have a good time, Will. Come back and visit. Oh yeah and Good Riddance."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"We shouldn't be this nervous. Buffy needs us calm." Willow said yet again for the umpteenth time since Andy, Warren and she had taken their seats in the benches.

"Willow, you've said this already. You have to calm down." Andrew said reasonably.

"How is it you two can just sit there and not feel the paralyzing fear?" Willow asked in an exasperated tone.

"We're guys. We don't do paralyzing fear. A little shrieking, yes, but paralyzing fear is for women." Warren said trying to use levity to lighten the situation.

"Well I just feel like we should be doing more then just sitting here while Buffy and Dawn have to face something this huge. Should we go over there and offer comfort and support?" Willow asked.

"No I think Spike's doing a pretty good job with that." Andrew said pointing over to the three people in question.

Spike was talking in hurried hushed tones to both Buffy and Dawn. Dawn and Buffy were listening with full attention as he went over and over how things were supposed to go down.

"So all I have to do is tell the judge guy about what happened and everything will be just fine?" Dawn asked.

"Of course. Just tell the truth. Like how we practiced. No one's going to try and hurt you or pressure you into lying. If the other lawyer does just look over my way and I'll put an end to things." Spike said.

"Okay I can do that." Dawn said taking a seat next to her mother and giving off a thousand-mile stare.

Spike leaned over to Buffy and whispered in her ear, "Do you think she'll be okay." Buffy fidgeted slightly at Spike's breath on her ear, but Spike chalked it up to nervousness.

Buffy gulped and then said, "Yeah, she'll be fine. She's a trooper."

"Good, okay, it's almost time to start." Spike said watching as Dru, Riley and Joyce sat on the other side of the courtroom.

Joyce was sending Spike death glares as Riley and Dru both looked unusually pale even for someone who was naturally pale like Dru. Maybe Spike had freaked her out, which was a good thing. He had her on the ropes and it was a good feeling to know that she was going to loose and he was going to win.

"All rise." The bailiff said and everyone in the courtroom rose. Here we go, Spike thought.

"So Mister Flannery, are you ready with your witness?" Judge Stevens asked.

"Yes, I call Dawn Summers-Finn to the witness stand." Spike said as he watched Dawn climb out of her seat and walk over to the witness stand.

"Hello Dawn. Please state your name for the court." Spike asked putting on his ultra sweet voice so Dawn would feel comfortable.

"Dawn Nicole Finn." Dawn said her voice not quivering at all. She sounded strong and confident and Spike wanted to keep her that way.

"I'm going to ask you a few questions and I want you to answer them as honestly as you can, okay." Spike said just like they had practiced.

"Okay." Dawn replied.

"Good, now do you know what's going on between your mommy and daddy?" Spike asked.

"Yes, they're getting a divorce."

"Do you know what a divorce is?"

"Yes."

"Do you know why you're mommy and daddy are getting a divorce?"

"Yes."

"Why is that?"

"Because my mom and dad don't love each other anymore." Dawn answered.

"Now this is very important Dawn and I don't want you to be afraid to answer me. Did you ever see your daddy hit your mommy?" Spike asked deciding that the faster it was over the faster Dawn could go back to a normal life.

"Yes." Dawn replied in a low voice that was barely above a whisper.

"Was it more then once?"

"Yes."

"Please tell me what happened one of those times." Spike said.

"Um, well, I had just gotten home from school. It was a little while ago. Mommy and daddy were arguing about something. Daddy was yelling at mommy and mommy was yelling back. Daddy grabbed mommy's arm and twisted it really hard that mommy said ow. Then he threw her onto the ground and called her some very mean names." Dawn said finishing her story with her head down.

"How many times did you see your daddy hit your mommy?" Spike asked.

"It was only one more time after that."

"Can you tell me about that time?"

"Yes, it was Auntie Willow's birthday and we were over at Auntie Willow and Uncle Oz's house. We were having a barbecue. Everything was going okay and then mommy and daddy started yelling at each other. I don't remember why. Daddy started throwing beer on mommy and calling her mean names again. Uncle Oz got up to go over to where they were to stop the fighting, but daddy had already slapped mommy a few times. By the time Uncle Oz got over there daddy was walking out of the gate and to his car." Dawn finished telling her story with tears streaming down her cheeks and looked just above Buffy's head.

"Okay now Dawn, its okay do you need a minute." Spike asked.

"No I'm okay." Dawn said shaking her head at Spike.

"How much longer after the barbecue did your mommy stay with your daddy?" Spike asked.

"She made him leave about a week after that. He didn't come back right away after the barbecue." Dawn said.

"Now this is the really important question. Did your daddy ever hit you Dawn?" Spike asked. Dawn swallowed and looked up at Spike. Her bottom lip was quivering and she was shaking slightly.

"Yes." She said in a low voice.

"Can you tell the court what happened."

"Yeah, daddy came home after the barbecue and he was really mad at mommy. Mommy told me that if he came home when she wasn't around not to let him inside the house. He came and mom was next door at the neighbors house borrowing something and daddy came inside the house."

Dawn stopped for a moment to catch her breath.

"Mommy had changed the locks, but daddy broke one of the windows. I was in the living room playing a game because I finished my homework early. Daddy came in and said that he was home and to give him a hug. I started backing up and was going to scream, but he grabbed me and said 'don't you miss your own dad. Aren't you going to give your dad a hug?'. He started twisting my arm and it hurt a lot. Then he said that mommy was telling me lies and that he would never hurt me, but I never said that he would, but he kept twisting my arm and finally he smacked me on my face really hard."

"How many times did he hit you?"

"Only twice. Mommy ran in and called the cops from her cellphone when she saw one of the windows was broken. She tried to pull him off of me and he let go of me and walked over to her. He started calling her names and she said that he better leave because she called the police. So he left and then we moved out of the house and into an apartment." Dawn said.

"Thank you Dawn. I have no further questions your honor." Spike said. The judge nodded his head.

"If it would please the court I would like to ask this witness a few questions of my own." Dru said. "As you wish, Miss. Connelly." The judge said.

"Hello Dawn. Did Mister Flannery go over what you were going to say before you got here?" Dru asked. Spike sat at the edge of his seat ready to stand up and object at any time.

"Yes."

"And you told him that everything you said right now was the truth." Dru said.

"Yes."

"Dawn do you love your father?"

"Objection your honor. Relevance."

"Sustain. Find another line of questioning, Miss Connelly." The judge said.

"Dawn is what you said today in the courtroom the truth?"

"Yes."

"And your mommy didn't tell you to say any of this?"

"No, she didn't tell me to say this."

"Dawn did you ever go to the hospital when your dad hit you."

"No, mommy took care of it because she's a nurse."

"Did your mommy go to the hospital when she got hurt?"

"I don't know. She went to work the next day and she bandaged up her on cuts." Dawn said.

"Dawn, you know that lying in the courtroom is against the law." Dru said.

"Was that a question your honor?" Spike asked.

"Stick to questions, Miss Connelly.

"Dawn do you know that lying in the courtroom is against the law."

"Yes."

"And you still say that you aren't lying."

"I'm not."

"But your mommy didn't even go to the hospital and you said that she didn't take you to the hospital. There's no way to prove that any of this happened."

"Your honor she's leading the witness." Spike said.

"Miss Connelly, your line of questioning needs to be just that. A line of questions."

"Sorry your honor." Dru said looking as apologetic as possible.

"Dawn I'm going to ask this one more time. Are you lying?"

"No I'm not lying." Dawn said tears running down her face faster.

"Then why is there nothing to show that what you're saying is true?"

"You honor how can a six year old answer that question?" Spike said.

"Was that an objection?" the judge asked.

"Yes, it was an objection."

"On what grounds?"

"The question clearly goes over the witnesses head." Spike said.

"That isn't ground for an objection." The judge said knowing that this was hard, but having to abide by the rules of the court.

"You may answer the question, Dawn." The judge said.

"I don't know."

"So there isn't any evidence to back up what you're saying, but you're telling the truth."

"Yes." Dawn said still protesting that she wasn't lying.

Spike could see the pain on her face. He looked over at Buffy to see her gritting her teeth and clenching her fists. He couldn't do anything to stop what was going on. He really didn't think Dru would be this vicious. He looked over to see Buffy's mom and Riley visibly blanched. Maybe if he just waited she'd hang herself.

"Dawn if you were telling the truth there would be facts to say that you were telling the truth, but there isn't anything. Now, did your mommy tell you to say that your daddy hit you?"

"No he did. Daddy please tell them that you hit me. Please make the lady stop. She's mean." Dawn said practically sobbing. Her small breath hitched in her chest as she tried to talk and cry at the same time.

"Please. I'm telling the truth. Im not lying." Dawn said.

"But Dawn there isn't anything that says you're telling the truth." Dru said in a too sweet voice.

"But I am. I'm not lying. I swear I'm not. Daddy please tell the lady I'm not lying. Please tell her to stop. I'm scared. Somebody help me." Dawn said as she put her hands over her face and began to cry even harder.

Spike looked over at Riley who seemed to be battling inner demons. He was white as a ghost.

"I'm not lying." Dawn chanted over and over again. Buffy's hands were firmly placed on the arms of the chair. She gripped it so hard Spike thought it was going to break off.

"Dawn you have to calm down and answer the questions." Dru said.

"I'm not lying. Daddy tell her I'm not lying." Dawn looked directly at Riley who avoided eye contact.

"Don't you love me anymore?" Dawn asked in a hurt voice.

"Your honor the witness is non-responsive." Dru said.

"Maybe she wouldn't be if you weren't hounding her." Spike said.

"Your honor you have to make the witness answer the question." Dru said.

Dawn was reduced to sobs and hitches of breath. She couldn't talk and Spike knew it. He also knew that Willow and Andrew were watching his ever move. And so was Buffy. She was looking for him to be the big savior and he wasn't quite sure what to do.

"Your honor I don't think you're going to get an more answers out of Dawn today. It's obvious that she visibly upset." Spike said hoping the judge would see things his way and praying that he would take Dawn's crying for what it was; the tears of someone that could believe their father wasn't going to save them.

"Your honor I haven't finished my questioning." Dru said.

"No you have." Spike turned to see Riley standing up.

"Dawn isn't lying. I hit her and Buffy. Just please stop hurting her. She's been through too much." Riley said.

Spike almost admired him for sticking up for his actions, but that feeling went away as quickly as it came. He couldn't admire someone that had lead his little girl to be so broken like Dawn was. He owed it to Dawn to do this. Dru looked visibly outraged obviously oblivious to the fact that her own arrogance had lead to her client's outburst.

"You do realize that you've have lied to the court and that's a serious penalty." The judge said.

"Yes and I'm willing to take responsibility for that fact. Just stop hurting my little girl. I'm sorry for everything and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make things right." Riley said.

"Dawn you may go back to your seat." The judge said. He gestured for Dru to go back to her seat as well. Dawn ran over to her mother's arms. Buffy held her close to her and tried to soothe Dawn's sobs.

"Considering the nature of what you did Mister Finn, however honorable it is that you finally came clean, I think that what Mister Flannery originally said about custody was far to generous. The fact that you were willing to put your daughter through any of this knowing the truth is despicable. I would allow supervised visits, but I'm afraid that that is far too generous." The Judge said.

"I'm sentencing you to pay some hefty finds and quite possibly do some jail time. After that you'll go to anger management classes and in about three to six months we will come back here and consider giving you supervised visits. Court is dismissed and I would like to see you Mister Finn back here in the courthouse for further sentencing in two weeks." Judge Stevens said banging his gavel and returning to his chambers.

Almost everyone in the courtroom let out a sigh of relief. Riley looked like he was about to faint at the news he had received. Joyce looked sorry and guilty. Spike turned to see Buffy looking at him with the utmost gratitude.

"Thank you. You really pulled through for us, Spike." She said her eyes shining with unshed tears.

Spike gave her a small smile and said, "Hey I said I would."

"I better get going. Dawn seems really shaken up. Andrew's giving us a ride home. Thanks again for everything." Buffy said taking his hand and squeezing it.

"Sure what are friends for." Spike said. Buffy gave him another smile and then proceeded to make her way out of the courtroom.

"Buffy." Joyce said as Buffy and the other's were getting ready to leave.

"Not now mom." Buffy said handing Dawn to Andrew to carry.

"I'm sorry for not believing you. I… I … I want to start fresh. Please say you'll give me another chance." Joyce said desperately.

"I'll think about it." Buffy said as she and the other's exited the courtroom.

Riley came up to Joyce and put his hand on her shoulder.

"You stay away from me." Joyce said.

"Joyce I'm…"

"No there's nothing you can say that can change this. You hurt my little girl and then you turned her against me. You are not what Dawn needs." Joyce said storming out of the courtroom.

Riley looked down at the floor for a second, looked up again, straightened out his suit and then walked out of the courtroom. Spike was packing up his things.

"Looks like you still can beat me." Spike looked up to see Dru standing near him.

"Yeah I guess I can."

"Celebrate by letting me by you dinner." Dru said. Spike looked over to the doors of the courtroom.

"Yeah sure."

A/N: Okay so this was an extremely hard chapter to write let me tell you that. First, I had to write some really testimony instead of eluding to the fact that it was there. Then, I had to make Dawn cry and have this huge emotional scene, which was almost impossible to write. I kept going back and saying 'That doesn't sound right' or 'Is that too mature for a six year old to say?' and stuff like that. Next, I kept trying to figure out if I wanted to do the Angel scene (this was after it was written) and I kept saying yes, but then thinking maybe not. Lastly, there was the ending.

I argued with myself over it thinking that maybe I could just end it now and turn it all Spuffy like, but I had this written down and there was at least seven or six more chapters that I really wanted to do so I had to add this plot twist. Yes I know I'm a very bad person for writing it, but it serves a purpose. So at two am this morning I just sat down and wrote it without giving it a second thought, went to bed, woke up at about eight and started formatting. I'm very tired so all I'm going to say after this is PLEASE review. I LOVE you if you do. Okay now I'm going to post this and go to bed.