Life's Little Secrets
Hey, guys! Well, I'm back on this site and I've decided to update my fics. Sorry it's taken so long! Last time I updated, I believe it was the beginning of last summer! And here I am now, waiting for all this damn snow to end and a new season of Spring to begin. Don't get me wrong, I love the snow. Snow angels are the best! But, there's been so much of it, that it gets a bit…redundant. Anyway. I may not have been updating, but I have been writing (like I could ever stop!) and my writing has matured, even if it's only a little. I noticed it was a bit…loose before. And the formatting, oh lordy, did that go to hell! I'll be editing the earlier chapters for this, when I stop being lazy and actually get a chance! My brother's hog the computer. Not an excuse, just a fact. Oh, and CAPT tests are coming at the end of this month and that'll take a while. I'm a nervous wreck! Are they really as bad at they're made out to be? I'm just wondering. Okies, well, now I do believe I should start the chapter. What about you?
Disclaimer: Joss Whendon owns everything, and, -sigh-, even Spike. But I own Ryan :-D
And thanks for your reviews!
Chapter Six
Waking up felt like traveling through a cave for Dawn. She could see nothing but darkness, and her senses were dulled. As she fought to raise her heavy lids, she tried to remember, sluggishly, what had happened. All she could recall was talking to Willow…
"Dawn? Dawn, can you hear me?" It was Xander's voice. The same Xander that Dawn had had a crush on for years.
"I hear you," she croaked out. And then opened her eyes, only to shut them again. The light was too bright.
"Dawn?" Xander asked again, his voice filled with concern.
"I'm awake, Xander." Dawn gave him a weird look when he put a comforting hand on top of her trembling one.
"What happened?" She questioned.
"Where to start? First you passed out and then you wouldn't wake up…"
"I passed out?"
"And hit your head, apparently."
"I hit my head?" That meant she had fallen to the ground pretty hard. And…Her baby! Was her baby alright? She had to get out of here! Get to the clinic! If she'd hurt her baby, Dawn would never be able to live with herself…
"Whoa, Dawnster. Stay put."
She shook her head. "I can't Xander, you don't understand-"
"I understand that you took a pretty nasty fall and you might have a concussion. Unless you want to fall again, I think you'd better just lye still." Dawn's protest died in her throat. Xander's voice had been so stern. He never sounded stern. Well, unless you counted that time Buffy had come back after months of running away…
"Fine." She tried sounding angry, but it didn't quite work. She was so tired. And he was right. She could fall again…and hurt her baby even more. Please be alright.
Xander kept talking. "Buffy and Willow went to get Giles. And Giles knows some doctor that makes house calls…"
Dawn bolted upright. A doctor! Here! He would examine her and then everyone would know…
"I have to get out of here!" Before Xander could push her back down, Dawn was off the couch. The world shifted and she started to run as she tried to put it in place. As her hand went to turn the knob of the front door, it did it for her. Oh, damn! And then there was Buffy, Willow, Giles and some old man standing there, staring at her. She backed away slowly.
"Dawn? Are you okay? You shouldn't be up…" It was Buffy's voice. Dawn recognized that much. But it only sounded like a faraway echo. The four forms in front of her soon turned to blobs and Dawn took a frantic, blind step towards the direction she thought the door was in. She was on the verge of passing out again…
And then there was a familiarly strong arm wrapped around her middle. Arms that had been wrapped around her one very special night. "Dawn, Dawn hey! Why don't you just sit down? C'mon, I'll help you."
She allowed Ryan to sit her on a chair. Oh, god. Could this day get any worse? Now Ryan, the cause of all this, was here. And it disturbed Dawn that she didn't want him to leave. Once the world stilled, Dawn looked up, sheepishly, at her loved ones.
"So, how's about that doctor?"
& & & &
Dawn rolled over in her bed when she heard the door to her room open. She forced a smile when she saw her anxiety-ridden boyfriend standing there. He came and sat on the foot of her bed.
"Baby, why didn't you tell anybody?"
Dawn had to still her jumping nerves. It was alright, she told herself. No one knew. The doctor had concluded that she had a mild case of pneumonia. And a huge gash on her head covered in a large bandage.
"I-I just thought it was a cold. Why are you here?"
He looked at her like she should know the answer to that. "Why do you think? I was worried about you. You just ran away from me at the park…"
"Oh, that."
"Is that all you have to say? No explanation? Just 'oh'?"
"Ryan, look. Can we do this later? I'm kinda tired."
His handsome face softened. "Okay, babe. I'll call you later. Sleep well." And with a gentle kiss to her forehead, he was gone.
For a minute, Dawn listened carefully to all the noises in the house. No sound of footsteps or whisper of a voice missed her ears. And when she was finally sure the coast was clear, she pushed the blankets aside and let her bare feet touch the cold floor. After tying back her long, light brown hair and putting on a pair of old sneakers, Dawn unlocked her window and slowly opened it. Then she climbed down the trellis and into the inky night…
Hmm, was that kinda meshed? And rushed? Or was that just me? Anyway. I'll try to update when I can. Please review! Thanks!
-Samara
