Disclaimer: don't own anything and thanks for the buffy transcript must go to Joan the English Chick! No idea who, but her request was that she was named if the transcript was used so I'm honouring that! Thanks!

Wrecked

Tuscany opened the door to the beautiful smell of pancakes. Either Dawn, Willow or Buffy had gotten a taste for cooking in the last 24 hours. She rubbed her eyes. Served her right for spending all night out thinking about the offer Dracula had made her. A chance to gain power or at least understand hers. With her surprising magical abilities showing up that wouldn't be such a bad idea.

Her fingers traced the delicate puncture wounds on her neck. A taste he had called it. And his theory about her being the witch from the coven. Instinctive magic. It was all too insane for Tuscany to deal with right now. All she wanted was some food, a shower and to crash.

She walked into the kitchen where Tara and Dawn stood pouring batter into a frying pan.

"Hey Tara," Tuscany tried to hide the surprise in her voice at seeing the sweet witch. She hadn't been around much since Willow left.

"Hi Tuscany," she replied. Dawn avoided her sister's eyes.

"It's good to see you," Tuscany said earnestly, caught another whiff of the pancakes and said with more emphasis, "very good to see you."

"Only because I come bearing food?" Tara joked.

"One of the many reasons. So how come you're here for breakfast?" Tuscany asked leaning against the bench.

"Well I didn't want to leave Dawn here by herself at night so I st..."

"Alone. What about Willow or Buffy?" Tuscany cut in, eyes narrowing.

"They didn't come home," Dawn spoke for the first time exchanging a worried glance with Tara.

"Shit… shiver," Tuscany amended while Dawn rolled her eyes, "If I'd known I would have come home."

"Patrolling?" Tara asked putting a shaped pancake on a plate and handing it to the slayer.

"Yeah. Bad guy got a little rough," Tuscany answered eyeing the pancake for a full second before it disappeared down her throat.

"I can see," Dawn gestured to her sister's throat. Tuscany avoided her eyes. At that moment the door opened and Willow and Amy came spilling through into the house. Both looked very happy and slightly drunk.

"It'll wear off in a day or…" Willow paused as she saw the three females in the kitchen. Her eyes widened and the look of pain was obvious on her face as she looked at her ex-lover. Tuscany and Dawn shared a moment of camaraderie as they both felt the hurt the witches were experiencing.

"Hey," willow managed in a breathy voice. Amy peered over her shoulder confused.

"Hey. I just ... B-Buffy and Tuscany didn't come home last night ... either, so..." Tara stammer was back in full force and she couldn't quite make the sentence. She looked down and obviously battled the blush that spread up her cheeks.

Willow shot a quick look at Tuscany before turning back to Tara. She struggled to find something to say. Amy moved at her back and provided her with a topic. "uh ... this is Amy. Amy, Tara, Tara, Amy."

"How you doing?" Amy said softly, sensing the unease within the household. She didn't know what had happened between Tara and Willow.

"Fine, I ... I'd b-better g-get going," Tara turned to run out the door. Tuscany winced and Dawn looked distraught. It was clear Tara had gotten the wrong idea about Amy and Willow's relationship.

Willow realised that too because she practically shouted, "Amy! Amy the rat?"

Willow glanced back at Amy and muttered, "Sorry."

"No. That's fair. I was a rat!"

Tara looked at the pair possibly even more confused about the rat fact than about the lover aspect, "When?" Dawn hovered by the frying pan trying to focus on cooking and Tuscany was looking at her food like it was the most interesting thing in the world. Neither liked where this conversation was going. The only good thing that could be gained from this was an excuse not to think about Dracula. Any distraction was a good one.

"Last night. It's nuts, everything's different. I mean the Bronze, for one thing. And Willow! She's a freaking amazing witch," Amy grinned broadly. Both Summers sisters looked up sharply. Both had a look on their face, which said they would have liked to either block Tara's ears and go 'La la la' and hope she didn't hear about the magic, and throttling Amy or turning her back into a rat.

To make things worse Amy finished with, "couldn't even keep up with her last night."

"Amy," Willow pleaded, her tone low. Tara's eyes were hardening.

Amy mistook Willow for being modest, "No, it's true! I mean, I can do some transmography, but she is messing with dimensions and everything, it was awesome! This blowhard dude, first she made his mouth disappear? Thank god. And then…" She finally noticed the demeanour of every other person in the room, "I'm talking too much. Sorry. It's just been ... you know ... me and a bag of pellets for the last few years, so..."

"No, it's, it's fine. It's just, um, I, I re-really need to go," She turned and managed a weak smile at Dawn before leaving.

"Tara, uh, you left some stuff upstairs, it's in…." Willow's called after her, her face falling. Dawn looked like she was moments away from crying.

"I'll get them later," She replied as she walked faster.

Willow couldn't' contain it any longer and released an anguished cry, "Tara!"

But Tara was gone. She was replaced by a confused Buffy. She was covered in bruises and limping. Tuscany jumped off the bench and went to her big sister.

"Buffy! Uh, where were you, are you okay?" Dawn asked her panic showing slightly.

"I'm fine," Buffy tried to reassure her.

"You're not, you're all sore and limpy. And Tuscany came in with a bite on her neck," Dawn babbled.

"I, I'm not ... sore, I just...I had a fight, you know, the ... all-nighter kind. And Tuscany came home with a what?"

Tuscany tilted her head, "Vamp got a little passionate before I made him dust."

Buffy nodded clearly distracted, "Yeah so we both had vamp fights last night!"

"Figured. I knew that's why you didn't call. So, what's the big bad? Uh, should we be worried," Dawn sounded calm again.

"No. I mean, I, I think you guys are, are safe," Buffy stated and Tuscany nodded, keeping her nighttime visitor to herself, "Tara was here?"

"I guess she stayed over with Dawn." Willow answered.

"You guess? Where were you?" Buffy asked. Tuscany took this as her cue to leave. She didn't want to have to explain her own absence. She carefully walked up the steps and into the bathroom. She stripped off her clothes and jumped under the hot water. It stung the bites. She would have liked to stay under the water for longer but she was exhausted and planned on sleeping right through to nighttime. Bugger the day. Who needed it?

She wrapped a towel around her and gathered her clothes in her arms before stepping into the hall. She walked into Buffy.

"You were out all night too?" it wasn't really a question.

"Yeah. Vamp fight took a while. Tough bastard," Her Australian twang made the word bastard sharp and clear.

"Dawn was home alone," Buffy said.

"Are you trying to make a point?" Tuscany asked riling up.

"She shouldn't be at home alone," Buffy's worry was evident in her eyes.

"Yeah I know. If I had known I would have come home!" Tuscany tried to be calm because Buffy wasn't trying to place the blame on her but alleviate her own guilt.

"It's not your fault. I should have been home," Buffy sounded like she was berating herself.

"Hey you gotta deal with the vamps. They don't just disappear because you ignore them," Tuscany pointed out.

Buffy snorted, "Don't I know."

"So you defeat the bad guy?"

"Not just yet but I'm on top of him… it. I'm on top of the problem," Buffy stammered out.

Tuscany narrowed her eyes, "You want my help on this?"

"No!" Buffy said a little to sharply.

"Hey just offering to help," Tuscany threw her hands in the air.

"I know. I'm sorry. It's just something I want to deal with on my own," Buffy explained.

Tuscany shrugged, "Sure. But if you start to get overwhelmed. Like you can't escape. You give me a call!"

Buffy shifted, "what about your vamp. He a problem."

"Not really," Tuscany replied bringing a hand to her neck.

"Ok then well I'm gonna go get some sleep," Buffy said and slipped past her sister. Tuscany let out a breath of relief. She could still keep Dracula to herself.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A figure burst into her room and flicked the light switch.

"Buffy, this better be good," Tuscany mumbled groggily.

"Dawn's missing."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"So you have decided to accept my aid?"

"I need your help finding my little sister. I can't find this guys place. He must cloak it of something," Tuscany was rambling to Dracula.

"You have the powers of a witch. Could you not feel his cloaking?" Dracula purred in his deep voice.

"I don't know how to use them. Can you just help me find it?" Tuscany's voice was shrill. She was worried. It had taken her long enough to actually find Dracula and she was worried what might be happening to Dawn and Buffy. The older slayer said she was going to swing past Spike's first to get his help when they couldn't find the place on their own.

Tuscany had sought out Dracula.

"Why are you so worried? Was she not with the witch?"

"Yes but Willow… she's changed. Addicted to magic," Tuscany breathed growing frustrated with Dracula's hesitation.

"That is no good. I think I can help you," Dracula said. His voice was seductive but Tuscany didn't have the luxury of being turned on by his exotic accent.

"Thank you so much, Drac!"

"But there is a price," Dracula held his hand up to interrupt.

"You evil bastard! What?"

"Let me be your watcher. Every second night, meet me here and let me teach you," Dracula re-spoke his offer.

Tuscany weighed up her options. Willow was going to get a good bitch slapping. She was tying herself to Dracula because of her. "Fine!"

"Good," He extended his hand to her, "Now help me find them."

"I am so not holding your hand Drac!"

"I can scan the area for their, eh, signature if you will but I need to know what to look for," Dracula didn't move.

"Screw it," Tuscany cried and placed her hand into his. His fingers were cold but there was power in them. The vampire closed his eyes. Tuscany rolled her eyes and glared at him. The suddenly he stiffened.

"They are in a car. Out running a demon. It is such a pretty demon."

"Where?"

"See for yourself," Dracula thrust the image into her mind.

Tuscany gasped as she saw the picture but she recognised the place. She snatched her hand back and started running.

"I will see you soon," The vampire called after her. Tuscany gave him the finger. She was under the evil vampires thumb now. And she hadn't even told Buffy that he was alive. What was wrong with her?

Tuscany turned the rage into fuel and propelled herself faster and faster. She had seen Willows eyes. It had been scary.

She heard the screech of tires and yelling and headed towards it. Her legs were beginning to tire from sprinting but she couldn't stop. She saw Buffy facing off with a demon. 'A pretty demon' Dracula had called it. Yeah right!

Buffy fell at one particularly vicious punch and Tuscany threw herself into the demon.

"Took you're time," Buffy grunted.

"Oh you know us Australians always late unless it's dinner time," Tuscany retorted wrestling the creature to the ground. It kicked her off. She went into a wall hard. She looked up and saw Willow crying by the wall. Her eyes were black still. She was just staring ahead, horrified.

Tuscany turned and saw Spike hovering by Dawn. He couldn't attend her though. He was watching the demon and Buffy with a very worried expression.

Buffy was swinging hard punches. The thing tried to kick her but Tuscany grabbed the leg. She flipped it on its back and moved to stand by Buffy.

The demon stood but suddenly began to tremble all over.

"Now you're scared?" Buffy demanded, "well better late than never."

"I don't think he's scared," Tuscany hissed as smoke and steam poured of the demon.

Then, just like that, it was gone.

Willow stood there, fingers sparking and tears falling thick. Buffy ran to Dawn while Tuscany stayed and eyed Willow. They seemed locked in a staring contest till Buffy exclaimed, "God there's blood."

Both women brought their attention back to the injured girl. Spike and Buffy helped her stand.

"Is she okay? Is she okay?" Willow screeched frantically.

Tuscany thought she sounded pathetic and it was horrifying. Buffy kept telling Willow to back off but she didn't take the hint. It wasn't until Dawn slapped her and Willow collapsed in a heap sobbing that things changed.

Buffy looked from Tuscany to Spike and looked at Dawn. They both understood and moved forward to help. Dawn didn't shrink away from Tuscany's touch. Showed how much pain she was in.

"Convict," Spike nodded.

"Spike," Tuscany's greeting was equally bland.

Tuscany tried not to listen to Willow's break down. It was too private and painful.

But she heard her confess she needed help. Over and over again she admitted it. Tuscany remembered Dracula's eyes in the dark and thought that maybe she needed help too.

AN: Well there is a chapter for everyone. Sorry it's taking me so long to update. So much work to do. Well please review.

MD666