Chapter 5

Buffy definitely had an urge to find Will to gossip, dig up more information, on Bela. She'll be looking forward to interrogating Dawn about her friend tomorrow. She motioned to everyone else to head inside for their various duties and to debrief the Slayers accompanying Dawn tonight.

Dawn and Bela shared an amused look, complete with an eye-roll from Dawn over her sister's overbearing, nosiness. She slid an arm around Bela's waist, while Bela grabbed her purse, and then they slowly headed inside through the huge, ornate, iron doors, which opened up to polished marble, floors, and a desk to one side, complete with yet three more young women. Dawn walked them over, gave them Bela's security card, scanned her own, briefly engaging with small-talk with the women, before she led Bela down a long hallway until they came to a modern steel door with a keypad entrance. Dawn pressed a set of numbers and it hissed open to a gleaming, lab-like, room, with more young women except they were wearing scrubs.

An older man in a white lab coat and scrubs, along with an older woman wearing the same thing –different color scrubs though. "Oh hello Dawn. I take it this is your guest? Welcome to Medi-Bay." The older woman spoke, an air of authority about her, suggested she was the one in-charge.

"Hey Molly." Dawn leaned over to kiss the woman's cheek in greeting. "This is Bela. She had a run-in with the 'usual', and got a nasty knock on the head for her troubles." Glancing in Bela's eyes for a moment she continued. "Anything else I'm sure she's a big enough girl to let you know." She returned her attention to Bela for a moment. "This is Dr. Molly Morgensen – but we call her Molly, or in Faith and Xander's case; House."

Once they helped Bela sit up on one of the tables, Dawn went into another room to grab a couple juices from the fridge she knew was there, before quickly returning and handing one to Bela. She plopped into a chair as she watched Molly examine a somewhat reluctant, Bela. For a moment Bela looked wildly about the room, her eyes suddenly filling with terror, causing Dawn to lurch to her side, laying a calming hand on her thigh, and Molly to pause, before Bela registered Dawn's presence.

Bela's eyes swung to Dawn's, breathing heavily, while Dawn's other hand soothingly rubbed her back. "It's ok Bela. No one here is gonna hurt you. I've got you." She watched as Bela's eyes seemed to water before she quickly closed them, trying to regain control.

Dawn reached up, brushing a lock of hair behind Bela's ear, and then affectionately cupping her jaw, she willed Bela to open her eyes, ignoring the loud silence in the room. Without taking her eyes off of Bela, she decided to quickly get Bela up to her room, she could take care of everything there. "Hey Molly can you just check on her head wound and I'll take care of the rest."

"Sure Dawn, no problem." And with that the doctor probed and prodded at the wound, eliciting a wince from Bela at a particularly tender spot. She finally opened slightly reddened eyes, Dawn barely held in a gasp at the brief deeply wounded look , before they shuttered, staring into Dawn's eyes, continuing to ignore everyone around them.

"Well, I've laid in a couple butterfly strips and she's more than likely got a mild concussion. If she's staying the night you might want to bring her down here tomorrow morning for a quick examination before she leaves."

With a quiet 'thanks' to Molly, along with some additional instructions, Dawn ushered a silent Bela out of the infirmary, taking her down a series of hallways, before pausing before the more private elevators used by the Scoobies to take them to their rooms. Bela avoided any eye-contact, Dawn could see her trying to erect 'walls' around herself. Dawn was hoping to gently lower them again, except without the traumatic triggers. Dawn lifted a tentative hand to Bela's shoulder, feeling the tension knotting her shoulder muscles. "Are you ok?'

Bela wrapped her arms around herself, as if warding off any more hurt, letting out a mirthless chuckle. "You know I started out this evening being eternally bored and thought a few drinks and some food at the local pub would set me straight." Then Dawn horrifically watched as a tear found its way down Bela's cheek. "But as usual you swoop in, upsetting my very tenuous reality, and it all goes to…hell. Bit o' irony in that last part."

The elevator finally stopped, Dawn letting out an internal sigh of relief that none of the Scoobies were nowhere to be found. Before she could gently nudge Bela towards her rooms, Bela halted, finally looking at Dawn. "I think it would be best if you took me home."

Her heart felt like it was ricocheting around in her chest, her stomach began knotting up so tight with tension she wondered if there was such a thing as instant ulcers, Dawn knew that if she let Bela go now she'd never see her again. She was as certain of that fact as she was that some demon or evil entity was plotting her next kidnapping. Dawn also knew that not seeing Bela again would be… intolerable. "Wait… let's just get to my room and we'll see about getting you home."

She saw Bela was about to protest and rushed to give her some more time, turning on the potent Summers-imploring –look; eyes big and pleading, she stepped closer to lift a cautious hand to brush Bela's cheek. "Please," she whispered with some urgency.

Bela's eyes closed, trying to cut stop Dawn's pleading from weakening her already porous defenses, which she's discovering doesn't seem to work very well. Leaning her head against Dawn's forehead she warred with herself. The instinct to run screaming from this situation was very strong. However, just as compelling was the need to allow… someone to take care of her for once in her life (either of them). Not to mention, was the fact that one of the more interesting side-effects since her "Resurrection" was that she could sense… otherworldly things.

Buffy gave off a sort of pleasant humm, stronger than the two other women she'd met earlier tonight, that trickled down her spine. Whereas those Vamps gave off a bit of a sting, unpleasant, and often left her with nightmares later on about her stay in Hell, or being torn to shreds, the second most powerfully, unpleasant, memory, after her stay in Hell.

Dawn had an… energy all on her own. It was intoxicating and… comforting; a bit like being wrapped up in a warm, soft, blanket. Even better was that when they were having sex that comforting feeling was ratcheted up something wholly enveloping; a sort of pleasure-pain, luckily heavy on the pleasure part. And sometimes when Dawn was writhing underneath her, she could swear that a sort of greenish-glow emanated from Dawn when she orgasmed. It was an astonishingly-beautiful sight. But at the moment, it was the comforting energy that had her reconsidering leaving immediately. Well that and those big, baby-blue eyes staring at her in concern.

Lifting her head from Dawn's, letting out a huge, long-suffering sigh, Bela gave in. "Fine. But there had better be a bloody good bottle of scotch and you'd better feed me too. I expect to be pampered."

Beaming, ignoring Bela's eye-roll, Dawn pressed a firm kiss to Bela's lips, and then quickly ushered her towards her rooms. "I promise."

They finally came to another huge, wooden, ornate, door at the end of the hallway, in which after Dawn entered the proper security procedures, opened up into a sitting room, with a plush chair-and-half, flat-screen TV, a matching plush sofa, that judging by a blanket, a couple of empty beer bottles and soda cans on the table, the area was well lived-in.

"Ah, sorry about the mess. Obviously I wasn't expecting company." She cleared about spot for Bela on the sofa, "Just make yourself at home." Dawn pointed towards to other doorways, before providing additional information. "To the left is the bathroom, towels on the shelf to the right, straight-ahead is the bedroom if you feel like laying down; over there is my office—which I rarely use, and over to your right is my kitchen and," she paused rolling her eyes, "the door leading to my sister's rooms -which I'm on my way to lock right now."

Dawn watched as Bela took it all in, hoping that she'd be comfortable enough. "I think I'd like to take a shower if you don't mind," responded Bela.

"Oh, no, not at all. Like I said, feel free to make yourself at home. I'll get you something to wear, but use whatever you need. I'm gonna go round up something for us to eat and get that bottle of scotch." Dawn, finding it hard to not… touch Bela, moved closer to her, sliding her arms around Bela's waist, feeling relieved that Bela allowed the move.

"I'm glad you're here and… if you need to talk about anything, anything at all, I'm a pretty good listener. And I can guarantee you I won't be shocked." She let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Being shocked is hard to come by with my life."

"Interesting. But there's always a first-time for everything." This time it was Bela that pressed a brief kiss to Dawn's lips, nibbling on Dawn's pouty lower lip, before gently stopping. "Now, go get me my scotch."

She stepped back, watched with affection as a smile lit up Dawn's face, before shepressed another quick peck on Bela's lips and rushing out – but not before Bela was treated to watching Dawn's delectable ass walk away. As soon as the door closed, Bela plopped herself on the sofa letting out a groaning sigh. Along with her head, her other aches and pains were making themselves known and she was feeling spectacularly tired.

The subsequent emotional… toll following their run-in with the vampires was the one of the worst one's she's had yet after the initial few weeks of…recovery from her resurrection. The fact that she'd had to go it alone, while dodging her old contacts was particularly stressful. Running a hand through her hair, wincing when it slightly pulled against the wound on her head, she wearily stood up and made her way to the bathroom.

Once she got there she was suitably impressed with the size and luxuriousness of it. Gorgeous marble floor, with a plush bath mat, two sinks, and a huge sunken tub on one side of the room, the walk-in shower located on the other side, almost made her giddy with pleasure. Mulling it over for a moment, Bela decided to take a bath, her body could use it. After finding appropriate scented bath salts, a huge bath towel, she turned on the water, seeking the perfect temperature, and while the tub was filling up, she finally took a long look at herself in the mirror.

Aside from the darkening bruise on her jaw, her eyes red-shot, and her hair a slight mess, she didn't appear as if she recently had a small melt-down. She discovered anIpod component on one of the shelves, after scrolling through the various Playlists, she settled on some Sade. As the music softly played throughout the room, she dimmed the lights before removing her clothes. She might as well treat herself after the night she had so far. After the water rose to the appropriate level, she finally slipped in, hissing as the hot water hit some tender spots along her back and ribs, before finally sighing as she settled into the soothing, hot water.

Letting out a groan of pleasure, Bela leaned her head back against the rolled-up towel, closing her eyes, content, wishing Dawn would hurry back, and possibly join her. To scrub her back of course.

Dawn managed to avoid engaging in any long conversations with the various Slayers, Watchers, and Witches, thrumming around the busier section of HQ – which is where the kitchens were, and where she had to give her very short debriefing. Dawn knew Buffy planned to grill her to death, but this is one thing in her life where she'd be demanding her space… and privacy, which would only make Buffy more nosey. She hoped Willow was around to help divert Buffy's attention and she usually supported Dawn's need to build something of a separate life. Although having Bela hurt by Vampires only to be saved by both Dawn and Junior Slayers, made that separation a little dicey. Nevertheless, she was determined—she had a feeling Bela was worth it.

Finally arriving before Buffy's office, she took a deep breath before entering. Nodding at the WIT (Witch-in-Training) sitting at the reception desk, she continued on towards the voices in Buffy's inner-office. Breathing an internal sigh of relief at seeing both Willow and Xander, along with Buffy, who immediately jumped to their feet upon seeing her, she faced the music.

Willow only smirked with a knowing look in her eye. "Well it seems like you brought home a friend."

Meanwhile Xander briefly turned red, gaze turning inward, obviously thinking naughty, inappropriate-Buffy-will-kill-him-thoughts, before adding his two cents. "So is your friend single and does she like men?"

Buffy only rolled her eyes in exasperation, while she huffed her annoyance. "Guys she's only a friend and she was hurt, so I doubt she's looking to hook up Xander." Crossing her arms in an attempt to intimidate –which she knew wouldn't work with Dawn. Nonetheless, she narrowed her eyes at Dawn. "Well you have some explaining to do 'missy.'"

Dawn had her own annoyance to deal with, coupled with a surprising dose of possessiveness and jealousy. "Everyone will leave her alone. I mean it. She's MY friend and no she's not looking to hook up either."

Crossing her arms in defiance to Buffy's attitude, she planned on finishing this up as quickly as possible. "Look it's simple; I went out on a short patrol with Jodi and Raya because I was bored and decided to tag along. We came across Bela, who had the upper-hand for a moment, but as you know how things can turn at a moment's notice, we arrived when things started to look complicated." She slid into a chair before continuing on. "Since it was Bela it became imperative for me to help out, especially when it looked like she was in trouble. Discovering she had a head-wound that was making her woozy and possibly other injuries, lent to my decision to bring her here."

"Why didn't you just take her to the hospital?" Willow gently asked. She sensed that this woman was important to Dawn in some way, and not in the slumber-party-kind of friends. But more like Willow-and-Kennedy-kind-of-slumber-party.

Buffy decided to add to the conversation. "You know we have a strict protocol about bringing strangers here and since her injuries weren't life-threatening I think you mi—"

"That's enough! Look, she's MY friend! No one says ANYTHING to any of you when YOU bring someone home; I'm going to ask for the same courtesy. "

"That's because ourfriends are more than that, we're usually involved; emotionally and horizontally with our friends," Buffy responded with smug superiority emanating from her face, which immediately turned into wariness as she watched a smirk grow on Dawn's face.

"Well I guess then Bela fits that criteria… although we'd been engaging in the horizontal part more so…. although not that one time at the movies…" she finished as her hand coming up to cup her chin in a fake sense of contemplation over the word: horizontal.

Xander and Willow shared a 'look', grinning, before Willow had to smack him as his eyes turned glassy with thoughts of Dawn and Bela, before they mentally sat back to watch the fireworks that were sure to erupt from the Slayer.

They weren't disappointed. "What?" Buffy stepped closer to Dawn. "But you can't, you're straight…. Right?"

With a scowl Dawn could only shake her head at her sister's idiocy. "I doubt I'd call myself straight after the things Bela and I have up to." She loved needling her sister.

Paling, Buffy lifted a hand to her brow trying to stave off a headache she could feel growing. "But, but, you can't. I mean… Bela seems a little too…," she paused, knowing that what she said next could either make her life miserable, complete with LOTS of groveling or ten times more easier. She heaved a mighty sigh. "Look, just—we'll deal with the potential security protocol in the morning. We may have to have a more formal chat with your…," she scrunched her nose in bemusement, "girlfriend as well. Right now I'd like to wipe my brain of visions of you engaging in…stuffwith Bela."

"Fine. goodnight." Nodding at the tiny grins on Willow and Xander's faces, she left a weary and slightly-traumatized Buffy behind. Her work was done here.

A few moments later she arrived at the kitchens and began hunting through the fridge and cup-boards for some food for Bela. Going to the phone on the wall, she called Giles and begged him for one of his bottles of Scotch, complete with promises to pick up him up two bottles of the 'good stuff' next time she was in town. While he was on his way down or more than likely sending one WaIT (Watchers-in-Training), she heated up some food, grabbed a tray to start loading items, mulling over Buffy's reaction to her disclosure over the nature of her and Bela's relationship. Dismissing that train of thought in place of Bela's emotional melt-down and wondered what she'd been through, plus what triggered it.

Obviously something traumatic happened to her, perhaps on the Sunnydale-Apocalypse scale, but what worried Dawn more was that Bela didn't appear to have any friends or family to help her shoulder whatever burdens she was carrying. She may be a loner like Faith. Regardless knowing that Bela carried that kind of pain made her feelings of protectiveness and compassion grow.

It also meant that the growing dread knotting up her stomach at the thought that Bela will run as fast and as far away from Dawn because if she was anything like Faith, she'd rather avoid emotional entanglements or complications rather than face them as a self-defense or coping mechanism. She also found it curious at the way she handled the whole Vampire-thing tonight. If Dawn didn't know any better, she'd guess that Bela has had her share of run-ins with them in the past. It wasn't until they arrived in the Med-Bay, that things started to go-south. A beep from the microwave signaled that the rest of the food was ready. She hoped she liked stir-fry, chicken-wings, pop-corn, a couple of Andrew's chocolate scones, and some freshly-cut pineapple. Grabbing some cream soda and beer from the fridge, she loaded all the items precariously on the tray and started the trek back to her room.