Broken

Dawn couldn't believe she actually saw that happen. Everytime she replayed the scene in her head she got sick. She couldn't understand it had happened. That Riley had actually allowed a vampire to suck his arm. Again.

She had been on her way to tell him what was wrong, but now she walked home again. She didn't know if he had seen her, and right now she didn't care. Afer closing and locking the door she fell on her bed and cried her eyes out. She couldn't believe that this had all really happened. It felt like it had been a bad dream.

He knocked on her bedroom door. She knew he had the key to her house but she hadn't expected he had the nerve to actually come in.

Quickly she wept away her tears and turned around to face him.

The look on his face made her heart go out to him. Yet she remained silent, wanting him to start the explanation. At first he hesitated, and then he walked over to the bed and sat down.

'There's no excuse for what you saw'

His voice sounded weak and he hid his face in his hands again. She had seen him cry before, but this time she couldn't stand it. She took him into her arms and started stroking through his hair.

'It's okay'

Her voice was hoarse from all the tears she'd cried

'it was my fault. I should have told you what happened'

He looked up and gazed into her eyes. She didn't know what she was saying. Was she actually forgiving him. Already?

'What happened?'

She couldn't stand to look into his eyes and see the hurt that would appear there. So she looked down at her hands, who nervously played with his shirt.

'The day after we made love I was walking in the city. Suddenly two guys came out of nowhere and I...'

She hated saying the word

'I got raped'

Riley put his arms around her and tried to comfort her. She immediately felt safe and leaned into his strength and warmth.

'I'm so sorry baby'

He stroked through her hair and looked up into her eyes

'god I've been such an asshole. I shouldn't have walked away. I should have stayed with you and not force you to talk and...'

She put a finger onto his lips and silenced him with a kiss.

'It's not your fault'

She felt tears welling up in her eyes

'and it's not your fault that you did that with that vampire...you were right...I was shutting you out...just like Buffy did...'

'No baby...no...you're not like Buffy...that was mean of me to say that...'

He touched her face and kissed her cheek.

'You're so much better than Buffy...it wasn't wrong of you to keep silent...I would have been scared too.'

She felt hot tears trickeling down her face.

'I was so scared you wouldn't want me anymore...that you would say that it was my fault because I dress too sexy or something...'

He comforted her, swore that he wouldn't never ever hold something like that against her, and that he would protect her forever. He would never leave. Never ever.