Chapter Six

The next night…

Buffy didn't go out patrolling. Afraid she would feel him again. After the dream last night, she couldn't handle the feeling anymore. She had locked her bedroom door so that no one would disturb her.

A few times, Dawn would ask to see if she wanted anything, but she would get no answer. Everyone began to worry about her. Willow had called Giles and left a message on the answering machine to call her back.

ºººº

Buffy laid awake, staring up at the ceiling, counting how many tiles are up there. She'd cry when she would get to a certain number, remembering that's how old Angel was. She felt miserable...afraid...alone... She knew that she had worried her friends. For the last half hour, someone would be knocking on the door, to see if she wanted anything or to talk. She didn't mean to worry her friends. She just wanted to be alone, to think her feelings through.

ºººº

Willow was on the phone with Giles. Xander, Anya, Tara and Dawn waited on what he had to say.

"Okay. Thank you Giles, I'm sure she'll be happy to hear," Willow said. She said her goodbye and hung up the phone.

"That was Giles. He said, he'll be on the first flight to America tonight," Willow told everyone.

"I...I hope this will help her," Tara said.

"Me too. I haven't seen her like this, since Joyce died," Xander said, as he removed his arm from around Anya and sat forward.

"It was hard on everyone," Willow said. She glanced up at Dawn. Sadness was in her eyes. Willow got up and walked over by Dawn. Dawn rested her head on Tara's shoulder, as she remembered the frightening day, which her mom had died.

"Dawnie, you alright?" She asked, as she sat on the edge of the couch.

"Yeah. I'm fine. I'm just a little worried about Buffy."

Willow put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "She'll be okay. She just needs a little time to her self."

"Wanna come out with me while, I patrol?" She whispered. This caught Dawn's attention. She never had gone patrolling with Buffy. Said, it was too dangerous for her. She shook her head.

"Go put your shoes on," Willow told her.

Dawn got up and headed up stairs.

"I'm gonna go take Dawn for some ice cream. Anybody want any?" Willow asked.

"Chocolate fudge sundae for me," Xander said. He turned to Anya. "You want anything?" She shook her head no.

A few minutes later, Dawn came down, ready to go.

"We'll be back," She said, kissing Tara.

"Be careful," Tara told her.

Willow and Dawn left the house.

ºººº

Buffy got out of bed and went to her window. She heard the door close. She could see Willow and Dawn, walking down the street. She looked at her alarm clock. It was past 10:00.

"I hope she isn't taking her patrolling," She said, as she headed back to her bed. "Maybe they're going out for ice cream. The shop doesn't close until 11:00. But she should have taken Xander with them. Ahh, Willow will know what to do if they run into any trouble." She covered back up with her blanket. Then it hit her. What if anything happens to them, it would be her fault? She was too worried about her own problems to watch out for them. Guilt ran over her face.

She got out of bed and got dressed. She threw on a pair of sweats and her shoes. She walked over to her window and opened it. A cool gust of wind blew through the room. She grabbed her stake off her nightstand and climbed out through the window.

She was just going to make sure that they got through safe and back home.