Disclaimers: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own it all. I'm just doing this for fun, and hopefully entertainment
Reviews: Welcomed and appreciated
Joyce seemed to come to her out of a fog. "Mom? Where are we?" Dawn was confused. She was in a darkened room, alone except for the ethereal form of her mother.
"Sweetheart, you have to be strong. Things are going to happen and you are going to have to be very strong." She had walked over to Dawn and laid a cool hand on her cheek.
"You aren't her, are you? You look like her and you sound like her but you aren't her." Dawn knew she should be frightened but she wasn't. "Am I dreaming?"
"In a way. You're asleep but this really isn't a dream. I'm here to help you, to give you guidance. To help you realize what you already know. You are going to have to make quick and smart decisions Dawn. You are going to have to decide what the most important thing is."
Dawn shook her head in attempt to wake up.
"It's not time for this to end yet. When it is I'll wake you but you must not act rashly. You must use your gifts my dear." The Joyce image sat next to her.
"I'm just a kid. I don't have any gifts. You do, you fix everything. Your mom. Giles, he has gifts, he knows everything. And Willow and Cordy, they have gifts. Willow is a powerful witch and Cordy, well she's Cordy. Her gift is to balance Willow. And Buffy, she had the greatest gift of all, she saved lives. She saved the world. But me, no I have no gifts." Dawn hung her head as she felt her eyes begin to sting.
"You just stop that right now young lady. You just haven't found your gift yet. But you will." She put her hand under Dawn's chin and pulled her face up to meet her eyes.
Joyce began to fade right before Dawn's eyes. "It's time to wake up sweetheart. Remember what has passed here and take strength from it. You were created from the strongest stock and you can handle anything put before you. Never falter in this belief. You are a gift."
Dawn held hand out, trying to keep her from leaving. "Mom, not yet. Please don't go."
Dawn slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the brightness and her surroundings. What was it her dream mother had said? 'You were created.' Not born, not made, but created. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. There was something she should know but it was just out of her grasp. She turned her head slightly, trying to figure out where she was, trying to move slowly enough so no one would know she was awake.
"Oh sweetie, you can cut the play acting. I know you're awake, I can smell the wood burning in that little brain of yours." A woman who was way over-dressed walked over to her. "Well, you are a little cutie, aren't ya?"
"Did Ben bring me here?"
"Ben did his gosh darnedest to keep you from me, but face it I'm a god and I know just about everything." She looked down at her finger nails. "Damn, that freaky boy made me break a nail." She shook her head. "Oh well, luckily I have strong bones and my nails grow very fast. Jinx! Come and do my nails, now! And bring me a snack, that little blond will do." She turned to look at Dawn. "She has brains to spare, that one does, but I'll take all of them."
"What? Brains? A god?"
"Focus little girl. Those pesky adults didn't tell you about me or about you did they?"
"Why am I here? If you're trying to use me to get to Buffy you are so out of the loop. She won't care what happens to me." Dawn felt as if she were about to cry, but she fought it.
"Buffy? The old slayer? Oh no my dear. I need you just for you. You my sweet little girl are my way home. I suppose it's up to me to tell you what you are."
"What I am? What do you mean? I'm Dawn Summers." Dawn's stomach began to knot and she felt a cold sweat sweep over her. "What am I?"
"You my sweet Dawnie are the key. My key. The key that will open the interdimensional portal that will allow me to return to my world." She smiled triumphantly. "And Ben found you for me."
"I…I don't understand. So I open the portal for you and you leave? Is that all? You could've just asked."
"You are just as cute as a button." She smiled at the girl. "But no, I'll need to bleed you to open it up. Once I open it sweetie, it stays that way. This boring place you call home will become my dominion as well." Her voice faltered and she shook her head. "Which is only right since the people here really haven't been all that nice to me." She swayed and held onto the couch. "Damn! Not now Ben!"
Before Dawn's eyes the woman changed, morphed into Ben who rushed over to her side. "Oh my god Dawn. Are you alright? Did she do anything to you? We have to get you out of here before she comes back. Quick."
Dawn was very confused. Wasn't that woman just here? She looked around, where had she gone? "Where is she Ben? She said you found me for her. Do you work for her? Are you evil? Who are you? And why the hell are you wearing a dress?"
"Never mind, you know me Dawn. It's me, Ben. We need to get you out of here before she regains her strength and comes back. Now hurry!"
Ben had led Dawn out of the warehouse and onto the street. "You have to run Dawn. Try to find somewhere safe. I don't know how much more I can help you. Go to your mom, she can find someone to help." Ben felt a fine sweat break out over his brow, he was beginning to lose control again. "You have to leave now. Run Dawn, run far and fast!"
Dawn felt the familiar pinpricks behind her eyes, but she fought them back and ran. She ran through the downtown district and up the hill past the park. Before she knew it, she was on Crawford Street. The street where Buffy and Angelus lived. Over the past week she had found herself here, trying to determine just how to find their home. Giles said it was hidden by an interdimensional spell. If she could get in now she would be safe while she tried to figure this one out.
"Buffy!" Maybe if she just called out to her, Buffy would hear her. It seemed silly and frantic, but that was just what she was feeling right now. "Buffy!"
"Well, hello poppet. You looking for Angelus' bitch?" Spike had seen the young girl when she had run up to the corner, the sun was starting to set and most of the street was in shadows. Good for him, not so good for the girl.
"Do you know Buffy? Do you know how I can get in to see her?" She was pleading, unshed tears making her eyes luminescent.
"That's not really the question poppet. Would she want to see you? And do I really care? You would make quite a nice snack." He smiled at her and felt her shiver. Very nice, he thought.
"She used to be my sister and she's coming to my house tonight. Please, just tell her I'm here and I just got away from a hell god. Please. You can eat me if she doesn't want to see me. That would be better than having Glory catch me again." A tear escaped from her eye and Spike was lost.
Why oh why am I such a pussy when it comes to women in distress? Okay, so she was a girl, but still…Drusilla was such a loser as a sire. The crazy bitch couldn't get it right, ever.
"Come on then. If I leave you out here who knows what ghoulie will come out for a nibble." He took her arm and led her to a trail that stopped at a huge oak tree. But instead of stopping he just kept walking. She hesitated, but he just pulled her along, both of them passing through a mist that ended up at a large, ornate door. "The master's lair." He said with a smirk. He began to open the door.
"Shouldn't we knock?" Dawn asked in a very small voice.
"Naw, if he doesn't want us in, we won't get in." He opened the door to a large foyer. "Hey Buffy, I found this outside looking for you." Spike yelled.
Buffy walked out of an adjoining room. "Dawn? What the hell are you doing here?" Dawn flew into Buffy's arms so quickly that all she could do was hold the hysterical girl. "Dawn, what happened?" She pulled slightly away to look at her face. "Talk to me Dawn."
Looking accusingly at the woman who used to be her sister, she spoke. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me I wasn't real? I had to find out from a crazy ass, over-dressed bitch with a major god complex."
Angel was standing in the doorway, taking in the little drama that was unfolding. He came to stand before the woman and the girl. "And just how did she get in here?"
Spike, who was leaning on the wall, raised his hand with an evil grim on his face. "Sorry peaches, she was standing outside yelling Buffy's name. Thought she lost her invitation."
"Well, you can just take her out of here. Now." He turned to face Buffy as Dawn moved behind her 'sister'.
"Angelus, I cannot just throw her out. That bitch will use her to open up the portal, none of us want that, now do we?" Her eyes were pleading with her sire.
"Fine. Just fine. Don't listen to me. But she won't be safe here. We are between dimensions Buff. Not in an alternate one. That hell god bitch may not be able to get back to her world without Dawn, but she can certainly find her here." He turned to Spike. "Go, find the doctor and kill him. We are going to try to get away from the Hellmouth. I'm sure she's finding strength from this place."
"Yeah, but I think she sucks out brains too." Dawn spoke from behind Buffy, her face buried in the vampire's shoulder.
"Dawn, will you let go?" Buffy attempted to loosen the girls grip, but fear made her a very strong lady, so she just gave up. "Where do you propose we go?" The idea of leaving their safe haven didn't sit too well with her.
"Don't know yet, just don't want any hell gods in my house. Call that witch and tell her to get Dawn's mom over here. I do not want her clutching you all night." He turned and went into the library. Maybe the safest place for them would be an alternate universe. He'd have to do some quick research and find the safest place where they could easily get back from. Maybe they could just leave the pesky little bitch there for good.
