*

"Right, nibblet, come on over here."  Dawn let Spike guide her away from the main doors, clutching tightly to his arm with both hands.  She crimped the leather jacket in the crook of his elbow reflexively, twisting the material in anxious fingers.  Leather meant Spike, and she wasn't about to let him slip away.

"Dawn," Spike murmured, glancing warily around the lobby at the sea of curious faces turned their way.  "What's wrong?  Is something going on?"  His posture was familiar, Dawn realized.  He'd put himself between her and the crowd, the arm she clung to was also positioned to sweep her behind him.  He was taut and tense beside her, crackling with energy.  Despite her earlier tantrum about over-protective friends, Dawn flushed happily.  It meant that he still cared.

"Of COURSE something's going on!" she laughed, embarrassed, scrubbing at her eyes with the back of her sleeve.  "Where the hell have you been?" 

Spike's attitude changed completely as the threat changed from external to internal.  Looking slightly abashed, he ran a hand through his hair and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.  "Later, pet, eh?"  He suddenly sized her up again.  "Hold on – who said you could grow?"

"New Hampshire?" Dawn shrugged.  "I have this theory about the energies of the…" she gave her head an unconscious shake, "…of where I grew up.  I think it vibes people into staying short."

Spike noticed the censored statement, but let it pass. "Well, you tower over big sis, no question.  Unless she's gotten a boost as well, or is she just striving for higher and higher heels?"  He twitched a little, and Dawn anticipated the question.

"No, she's not here.  She's there."  Still.  On the other end of the phone, sounding forcefully cheerful - except for the stony silences that answered every taboo query.

"Yeah."  Dawn couldn't tell if Spike was disappointed or relieved.  He leaned against the wall with his cigarette packet in his hand, tapping it absently against his thigh.  She leaned next to him, close enough the feel the thudding vibrations running up his arm.  Fidgety as always.  He seemed a little distant, especially for Spike – he usually broadcast his emotions, and the sensation that he was holding back?  Bizarre.  She was so busy watching him that she jumped a little when he suddenly spoke.

"As I remember, Bit, you weren't exactly happy to see me last time we met."  He didn't look at her as he said it, but his voice was low and strained.  He stared straight ahead, and Dawn suddenly realized he was nervous.  And ashamed. 

"Well, I didn't know that I wouldn't see you again," Dawn replied, watching his face closely.  He sighed and tipped his head towards her.

"Sorry 'bout that."

"Yeah." 

"I wasn't…"

"Oh, THERE you are!"  Alicia appeared from out of nowhere, the rest of Dawn's friends on her heels.  "We're gonna go…. Oh!"  Spike had pushed away from the wall and become extremely noticeable.  Even without the duster and Billy Idol hair, his appearance was remarkable.  Blue eyes examined the gang of kids piercingly for one quick moment before relaxing and nonchalantly looking away.  Alicia's eyes widened as she took him in, and then she turned to Dawn.

"Spike?" she mouthed widely. Spike caught the gesture and started a bit in surprise, and Dawn hurried to make introductions.

"Uh, yeah!  Spike?  This is Alicia, she's my roommate at the dorm," she rattled off, ignoring Spike's lifted eyebrow at the mention of a dorm.  "And these are Brian, Kirsten, Sean, and Christopher.  Oh," she added, noticing two girls standing a couple feet away, "Rachel and Eileen.  Over there.  Behind the pillar."  Hah.

Spike smiled charmingly, winking at Alicia quickly before extending his hand.  "I'm Spike."  He offered no other explanation, but the kids didn't notice the omission, too fascinated by his appearance to ask. 

"New generation of Scoobs?" he asked Dawn under his breath as he stepped back to her side.  She shook her head sharply, and he nodded.  None of the Hellmouthy talk, then.  Interesting again.

Dawn suddenly realized that he was waiting for a cue to work from, and began talking quickly.  "Spike's a friend of my family… well, of me, anyhow.  And my mom liked him a lot.  And he helped me out when things got kind of rough."

"After she died?"  Kirsten said gently. 

"Yeah."  Both 'she's, really, but the second death had been the biggie… Now that she'd gotten herself into this discussion, Dawn wasn't quite sure how to extricate herself gracefully.  There'd be no way to explain that he'd lived with her, bought her pizza, taught her all about punk rock, and put her safety above everything else.  She opened her mouth, but no sound came out, her mind too jumbled to form words.

She's floundering, thought Spike, and he changed the subject adroitly.  "What movie were you lot at?"  He tugged at Dawn's hair, drawing her attention, drawing everyone's attention.  Good.  "Somehow I don't see you all tramping in to see a Disney on a Friday night."  Time to play big brother, it seems.

"Well, we were SUPPOSED to be going to see 'Citizen Kane' at the Empire in town, but it turns out they're on a Fred'n'Ginger kick right now."  Christopher shot a disgusted look at Alicia, who shrugged.

"Sorry!  I can't help it if the Daughters of the American Revolution petitioned for a change… the little old ladies have spoken."  Alicia turned to back to Spike and pointed at one of the posters.  "We went to that one, with the big shadow that's supposed to be a monster?  But you never really SEE the monster, so don't go thinking you'll get some great makeup effects," she confided.

"Really?"  Smirking encouragingly, playing up his new role.

"Screaming, running, lots of dark sets and bad things that only happen when it's dark outside," supplied Sean, eager to get in on the conversation.  "It was pretty mediocre, but had some pretty good scare moments."

"And you enjoyed that?"  Spike lifted an eyebrow at Dawn slightly.

"Oh, she's an expert," a scornful voice drawled. Eileen had sauntered closer as the conversation went on, and Dawn scowled as the girl positioned herself next to Sean.  Eileen nudged him like she was letting him in on the joke.  "Dawn's full of ideas on how to escape a big nasty.  Spike - you know her from when she was little, right?"

"Pretty much," answered Spike, "you could say that."  His tone had cooled considerably as he watched the interaction between the two girls, and he eyed the pretty blonde in front of him.  She was wearing too much makeup, but that was typical of girls her age.  And she seemed to be gunning for Dawn in a major way.

Eileen smiled her best, most innocent smile at Spike.  "Dawn says that she'd be able to kill a monster with a chair leg.  Or, a PIECE of a chair leg, to be exact.  But don't you think that's a little optimistic?" She said this in another version of The Voice, a just-between-us tone. 

Dawn seethed, the implication hanging in the air like an accusation.  Just like Eileen to make her sound like a greedy, bragging child, and at a time like this? In front of Spike AND Sean, no less…

Spike considered Eileen for a moment, then turned and looked objectively at Dawn.  She squirmed a little under his intense stare, but she could see his expression change gradually as he took in the definition in her arms, the balance in her stance, the long lines of muscle underneath her clothes.  He gaped at her delightedly.

"I reckon she could take almost anything at this point!  You been training with Buffy?" He was almost gleeful as he turned her around, looking her up and down like a new toy.  Dawn laughingly pushed him away, thrilled that he'd noticed.

"Yeah, she finally decided to let me in on it," she said, showing him some of her more impressive calluses.

"Ah, I always thought I should've gone to work on you that summer, before everything… hey," he stopped, backtracking.  "She lets you IN?" 

"Purely self-defense," Dawn clarified ruefully.  Suddenly, both of them became aware of Dawn's friends, who were desperately trying to follow the flow of the conversation.  Eileen had lost the plot completely, and Spike's emphatic response made her jump.

"This girl could take you out with just about anything, Ellen," he told her.  Mispronouncing her name couldn't hurt either, he supposed.  "I doubt you lot've met her sister, but Buffy isn't much to look at, either.  In a fighting-opponent sort of way, that is," he added.  He absently fingered the scar marring his eyebrow, and Dawn's friends abruptly noted the breadth of his shoulders, the vaguely predatory cast to his movements.  Eileen stopped smirking.

"But I've fought a fair few in my day, and come out on top almost every time," Spike grinned wolfishly at the admission, but quickly focused on his point.  "Buffy could take me down almost every time.  If Dawn's even half as good as her sister, then I'm not worried about her."  He half-smiled at Dawn.  "Little worried for myself, more like."

The balance of power had shifted, it was clear; with Spike backing her up, Dawn knew she was beginning to sound too good to be true.  Eileen looked at Dawn, then back at Spike; she considered the situation for a moment, and plastered a sneer on her face. 

"Nice, Dawn – I knew your family was a little off, but your friends, too?  Jeez, I'd hate to be a guest at one of your parties.  Neighbors swinging at each other, a sister who's probably too busy to show anyhow, 'good family friends' who also beat each other up on a regular basis… good to know."  She smoothed down her blouse and folded her arms.  "You know, if this is what happens to people around you, I think I'll just take the bus home.  Might be safer.  Anyone else?" Without waiting for a reply, she spun on her heel and loped out of the multiplex, Rachel tailing her anxiously. 

"Spike, meet the Sarcastibitch," muttered Alicia.  Spike barked a short laugh, then glowered at the girl's retreating back.  Dawn just waited for the inevitable.

Sean sighed.  "Much as I hate to say it, I have to go after her." 

"Oh, okay," Dawn's heart sank, but she tried to sound upbeat.  Hey, it was bound to happen sometime, she thought to herself.  Guess it's not the Hellmouth after all – it's the Summers curse.  Love 'em, get left by 'em…

"No," Sean said, taking Dawn's wrist.  "I mean, she's got the keys to the car in her purse.  I'll be right back."  He squeezed gently, then jogged through the doors after Rachel and Eileen. 

The doors had barely shut after him before Kirsten and Alicia were jostling Dawn delightedly, nearly trampling Spike in their eagerness to get to their friend.  Spike snorted and retreated, joining Christopher and Brian as they mocked the events.

"Oooooh, he touched your WRIST, Dawn!" Christopher warbled in a high falsetto, affecting Kirsten's light southern twang. 

"And you know what THAT is, right?"  Brian-as-Alicia squeaked, "It's right next to your HAND!"

"And that means luuuuuurve!" Christopher trilled.  Both boys swooned, and Spike rolled his eyes behind them.

"HEY!  I heard that!"  Kirsten tried to look fierce, but was giggling too much to hold the expression.  "C'mon, we need to get some microwave popcorn-thingies before CVS closes."

"What, and you can't go on your own?" Brian asked, outraged.  "It's right next door!"

"Yeah, but Eileen's out there somewhere." Kirsten shuddered.  "And once she finds out that Sean only wants the keys back…?  Safety in numbers, kiddos."  She turned to Spike.

"We'll be right back, but if we miss you – it was real nice to meet you."  Spike grinned at the girl and nodded back as she dragged the two boys out of the lobby.  He was glad that Dawn had these people around her.  She hadn't had enough friends back home.  Or was it even home anymore?  He turned around to see Dawn in deep conversation with Alicia.  Well, the question would just have to wait, along with all of the others that were streaking through his mind.  He hadn't expected any of this to happen, but now Dawn had found him, he was going to have to make some plans.  He leaned up against a pillar, closed his eyes and tried to think.

"Well, I think he's gonna be all over you like… like…."  Alicia stopped.  "You know, I can't think of anything to end that phrase that's not vulgar and gross, so I'll just say that he luuuuuuuuuuurves you!"

"Oh, shut up!"  But Dawn was blushing pink and her smile was so wide that it was beginning to hurt.  She clamped her lips together and tried to distract Alicia before Sean turned up again.  "Shhhhh, or he'll SO come in and hear you saying all of this and get all wigged."  What else to talk about….. oh! 

"So, that's Spike!  Can you believe that he could see I'd been training?  I'm so psyched, I can't even tell you…"  But Alicia's face clouded over at the change in topic.  She grabbed Alicia's hand.  "Whoa – what?  What's wrong?"

The words burst out of Alicia like she'd been waiting to say them.  "He beat up your sister?  I thought he… they were kind of…" Alicia trailed off, looking uncertainly at Spike a few feet away.  Dawn saw Spike stiffen and open his eyes.  Shit.  Fucking vampire hearing.

"Sparring partners," she supplied.  "They never really hurt each other…"  Her mind flickered back to the last time she'd spoken to Spike, and she winced.  She looked at Spike, but he was staring at the floor fixedly.

"No, we hurt each other."  The words were harsh and gritted out between clenched teeth.  Spike looked up sharply, and Dawn couldn't tell which emotion was more evident on his face: rage or pain.  "We hurt each other badly, Dawn."  Alicia stepped behind Dawn a little, as though she were trying to avoid a blast.  Spike noticed the move and dropped his head.  Screwing up again, he thought bitterly, all over again.  A new set of kids to be afraid of him.

"But she didn't – Buffy doesn't hate you."  Dawn struggled to get the words out, torn between Alicia's wariness of Spike and Spike's obvious emotional turmoil.  "Seriously, she's not mad.  Are you pissed off at her or something?"

"No."  He said it quietly, and peered past Dawn at Alicia.  "Sorry, Alicia.  I'm not too good with the steady-emotions bit."  He smiled ruefully and mussed his hair again.  The entire motion reminded Alicia of a frustrated little boy, and she relaxed a bit.

"No, I shouldn't have mentioned it, I don't know anything about you and Dawn's sister," Alicia insisted.  "As I told Dawn earlier, I can be obnoxious and loud, though tonight I seem to be on a roll."

"Oh, you are not," Dawn groaned, shoving her slightly.  Alicia smiled apologetically at Spike, and he shrugged.

"Doesn't matter, don't think of it.  Now," he said, coming over to Dawn, "I've got to get out of here."  Dawn began to object, but he cut her off, rooting around in the pockets of his jacket as he continued. 

"I'm going to give you my number, because you're an insistent little bit and you'll whine until you get it."

"Too true!" chirped Dawn smugly.

Spike chuckled and handed over a strip of pink paper with a printed phone number on it.  "I'm staying at this number for now, it's just me so call when you want."  He tilted her chin up with one finger so that she looked him in the eye.  "And we should talk soon, love.  You let me know, right?"  Dawn nodded, eyes wide.  He smiled at her, quickly kissed her on the forehead and stepped back.

"Pleasure to meet you, Alicia – see you soon."  He backed away a couple of steps before spinning and swiftly slipping out of the multiplex.  Dawn exhaled slowly as she watched him leave, the pink paper clutched safely in her palm.

"He's a little intense, but nice," mused Alicia beside her.  "Not to mention hot."

"Yeah," Dawn agreed.  "I always thought so.  My sister does, too."  She turned to Alicia earnestly.  "He and Buffy never actually damaged each other, not really.  He didn't beat her…"  In fact, she thought, it was the other way around if anything.  She tried a different approach.

"They're both just too strong, and my sister had different priorities and different reasons and…" She sighed.  "I think they really liked each other, but it all blew up in their faces."

"My mom used to say 'You always hurt the ones you love'.  Sucks that it's true."  Alicia said sympathetically.  Dawn leaned her head on Alicia's shoulder and nodded.  Outside, Sean was walking back towards them, his breath misting white in the cold, damp air. Spike was nowhere to be seen.

TBC