Chapter 14 - Missing
Willow, Buffy, and Spike rushed in from the back room. Riley was a little thrown that the vampire had apparently arrived sometime when Buffy had been in the back room. But he pushed down his thoughts about what that could mean and focused on the problem at hand.
"Where's Dawn?" Spike asked growling at the boy, causing Buffy to glance to the angry vampire at her side.
"I... I don't know, she wasn't at the house..." He explained. "I didn't think Blondie-Sire had taught her how to go play during the day yet."
"I sure as hell didn't."
"She's a smart kid, she could figure her way across town..." Xander offered. "When I found the house empty, I was kinda hoping she just got bored and came by early."
"I highly doubt she tried to figure out the sewer system on her own." Buffy tried to reason, "Besides, she would be more than happy to have sewer tour quality time with her sire."
"Mini-vamp ain't waltzing about the sewers just yet. She knows better." The senior vamp insisted to the group then set a hand on Buffy's shoulder, turning her to look to him as he reassured her. "She was at the house, I can track her." Buffy nodded to the idea, then Spike released her, stepped over to the bench and handed her jacket to her.
"Was this the demon guy?" Tara questioned, "Do, do you think she summoned him?"
"Why would Dawn summon a musical demon?" Willow added to her girlfriend's concern.
"Maybe she didn't read the fine print on the vacation to hell?" Riley offered.
"In all fairness we don't know her disappearance is linked..." Giles inserted but was interrupted by Anya.
"To the exact topic we were discussing. Plus, an immortal teen would make an ideal child bride."
"And Dawn was making extra efforts to try and make certain things better." Tara pointed out to the super pair, who then glanced at each other sharing a knowing look. "Maybe she thought spontaneous music would help everybody unwind after the Glory stuff."
"Well we can ask the little troublemaker when we find her." Spike reassured and ushered Buffy toward the door.
"Um, call us when you know..." Giles added.
"We'll call in the calvary when we know where we're going." Buffy assured her watcher.
"I got wheels, let's go." Riley insisted, following them to the door.
I so don't have time to be giving him a reason why not... "Fine, but if one of you starts shit, I will throw you out of the car. I don't care if you're the one driving it."
"Deal, now let's go find your sister." Riley agreed as they stepped out the door.
Riley was zooming through town toward Revello Drive. Buffy was sitting in the front seat trying not to give a right or wrong look at either man who didn't want the other one there. Eventually Riley broke the silence with what he thought would be a non-car-ejecting conversation.
"So, Spike, Buffy tells me you've been training Dawn?"
"Well, Buffy and the watcher have been a bit laid up as of late."
"Giles got hurt?"
"Man got shish-kabobbed in the Winnebago then an oversized lizard felt peckish."
Riley glanced confused to the creature in the back, then looked to Buffy. "Was that supposed to make sense?"
"He was stabbed by a javelin when we were trying to run from Glory, we all loaded up in an RV after she found out Dawn was the key." Buffy explained. "Then he was bit by a dragon a few days ago."
"A javelin? Glory fought with medieval weaponry?"
"Not Glory, these Knights of Byzantium guys who came to kill Dawn." She clarified.
"Why?"
"If you destroyed the key before Glory's window, then she couldn't use it." The girl explained. "But I wasn't about to let that happen."
"Of course." Riley agreed. "You're good at what you do."
God he still doesn't get her... "She's bloody brilliant at what she does mate." Buffy looked back to the vampire in her peripherals and smiled a little. "Never met a slayer like her."
"So," Riley redirected his attention to the vampire in his backseat. "You really think you can track wherever she went?"
"Not even a question there Charley."
"Vampire's do have a pretty keen sense of smell Riley." Buffy interjected.
"Bloody child's play with scents I know as well as hers."
"So why don't you stick your head out the window and see if you catch it." Riley questioned.
"Don't work quite like that cub scout." the vampire scoffed, "We've been all over town the last few days, a might too easy to get yesterday's patrol scent trail mucked up with a new one."
"Smellamentary." Buffy commented quietly. Spike chuckled a little at the nibblit's light in her sister. Their little swap really did wonders for the both of um...
The remaining few minutes of the ride the three were silent, when they pulled up to the house Spike hopped out stating he'd just be a minute and that they should just start following him when he came back out. The pair were quiet in the car. Buffy wasn't too sure if they could start a musical number in the car, but she wasn't too anxious to find out. So she remained quiet as they waited for the vampire to re-emerge.
I can tell she's still holding something back… But what? More secrets about Dawn? Something else that happened when I was gone she doesn't want to share? Why? And has she actually found somebody new? … Or not so new? Riley glared at the leather clad monster that had just stepped out of the house and started down the street. He put the car in gear and followed the vampire's brisk pace.
After a few minutes Riley had to ask while they were still alone. "What haven't you told me Buffy?"
"What?" She questioned turning to face him.
"I can tell there's something you're holding back from me." He quickly turned around the corner following the platinum head in front of them.
God I suck at lying… well I've got to give him something… She thought to herself… Maybe hearing how helpful Spike has been… then maybe Riley wouldn't try to run him over at least… She took a breath. "You're right, I didn't tell you everything that's happened in the last week." Riley glanced to her, unsure of where she was going with the conversation. "I mean, I may have left out something."
"What might that be?"
"Well, after the whole thing with Glory, I was pretty irritable. I was laid up in bed, not able to do anything. It was the worst I've ever ended up after a fight." She tenderly touched her mostly healed ribs. "So... You remember that spell that Faith did, after she popped out of her coma?"
"Yeah..." He recalled then easily put her point together. "You switched bodies with your sister."
"Yeah, and honestly it was a good, for everybody." Buffy started to explain. "I got to get off my broken butt. Got to get back to patrolling and sparring. And I got to see what it was like to be a vampire. Plus I got to see in first person how everyone acted with my not so normal little sister. Particularly how Spike was treating her and if he was sharing or showing things I didn't want her to be doing or seeing." Riley nodded, silently agreeing with her initial concern. "And Dawnie liked the switch too, she got to see what it was like to be me. Everything I have to do, and feel what I was going through. Plus she so loved being in charge." Buffy snickered a little at how take charge her little sister became, showing just how ready for responsibility she was. "She was the sweetest when we switched back to our own bodies, helping me, but not coddling."
"So when did you switch back?"
"Umm, after you saw me in the cemetery."
"That was you?"
"Me it was."
"Why didn't you just tell me then?"
"Cause I didn't want to get into it, and there was some other stuff I was dealing with."
"Like what?" He raised an eyebrow to her.
"Well, Spike had just found out I was in Dawn's body, then we sang, so I kind of ran away from him… Then I ended up at Mom's grave and started singing again… And I really didn't want to have the whole Spike and you reunion so quick with him knowing it was me, and you thinking I was Dawn, and both of you having one issue or another with the other..."
"I mean I know Spike's not my favorite bloodthirsty demon, but it's not like I would have staked him on the spot."
"Well, that is exactly what you did the last time you saw him. So what evidence did I have you wouldn't try again?"
"I only did that cause I was mad and I was trying to scare him into staying away from you."
"I know, he told me."
"Clearly it didn't work."
Their conversation was brought to a quick close when Spike stopped in front of them. He looked back to the SUV behind him, and motioned for them to get out. Riley parked the vehicle and got out as Buffy did. Buffy looked around, recognizing the ally he was walking them down. It was the backside of the Bronze, where she had slain many vampires hoping for a drink from the club.
"She's in there." Spike said confidently.
"You're sure?" Riley asked skeptically.
"We never went in the club." Buffy assured, glancing to Spike, conveying in a moment that she had shared about the switch to her ex.
"Alright then, I'll call the shop." Riley confirmed then stepped out of the alley to get a better signal.
Spike looked to the woman beside him. "Dawn didn't go willingly. Bit of a mess in her room where they must've grabbed her."
"But why?" She questioned, then paused, "Wait she was in her room?"
"There were some blankets tacked up on the windows for her. Suppose the nibblit wanted her bed back."
"Suppose..." Buffy could tell by the way the vampire was looking at her that he had more he wanted to say, but Riley was already walking back into the alley. They both knew what he was thinking did not have time to be said, but if this was the musical demon behind the abduction, they were undoubtedly about to be singing about it.
"You ready for this luv?" He asked softly, then reached a hand to her damaged ribs. She made a face that suggested a 'better, but not good' response. "I'll protect you and yours, 'til it dusts me."
"Counting on it, cause this may go against Dr. Tara's 'take it easy' prescription."
"Buffy..." Riley stepped up to the pair, happy to be interrupting their moment, but concerned with the pair's proximity. "Is there something else you've forgotten to tell me?" Spike glared at the boy, not having the patience for whatever conniption he was having now. Buffy merely looked down to where Spike was still gingerly touching her ribs.
"What are you getting at Riley?" Buffy turned to face him, causing Spike's hand to drop to his side.
"Are you...?" Riley gestured to her belly. "He just said 'you and yours', and his hand was... are you..."
Stupid git! Spike huffed out a scoff. "You didn't knock the slayer up you wanker." Spike spat out bluntly. "I wasn't feeling a rumbly in her belly. She smashed her ribs to bits when she tumbled off the tower." Couldn't have said it better myself... Buffy thought as she nodded in agreement to what her vampire had just explained. "So be a good cub scout and watch her back so she don't get hit there. You think ya can manage that?"
"Of course." he stated indignantly, then added, "The gang will be here in a few minutes. You want to wait for them or..."
Buffy didn't let the man finish. She simply made her way around the corner to the main entrance to the club. "The back door goes into a tight hallway, not the best approach for a fight." Buffy explained as she marched. "Plus the gang would most likely head for the front and I want it open for them." They quickly reached the door. Locked... of course... Buffy huffed, not especially wanting to have to kick the door in.
"Alright, Spike will go in first, then he can deflect any immediate threats, then Buffy, and I'll have your back." Riley declared.
Buffy just rolled her eyes to the militia man's plan. But Spike's response was a little more blunt. "Why don't you just let the slayer do what she does best." Then he looked to his girl. "What the hell do you see in this wanker?"
*A/N: Short chapter I know, but the next one will make up for it 10 fold!