Just an idea I've had for a while, finally got around to starting it.

Timeline wise, this takes place about a decade after Chosen and 7 years after Spider-Man: No Way Home.

This is going to be a Dawn centric story and it will call out some of the more toxic elements of Dawn's relationship with Buffy, specifically Dawn's treatment by Buffy. It will be critical of Buffy, largely by Dawn, so if you have a problem with that, you know where the back button is.

Thank you to Aragorn II Elessar for his help with the title.

Slayer Compound

Morning

In the briefing room, Buffy, Willow, Faith, Giles and Xander sat around a table, a newspaper lying on the center of the table. The front page had the headline 'serial killer strikes again'.

"We're sure it's a Vampire?" Faith inquired.

"I asked Angel, told him what we knew. He said the killings reminded him of his early work as Angelus. I also reached out to Spike, he agrees that a vampire did this," Buffy explained.

"And if the two dead boys agree on something, we should take it seriously," Xander noted and Buffy nodded.

"So what do we do about it? New York is a big city," Faith pointed out.

"Faith's right, we could search the city for weeks and find the vampire whose killing people," Willow agreed.

"I would suggest we use the police department but the Council's former connections have dried up and I fear the police won't allow us access to their findings," Giles said with a sigh.

"Gee, it's a real problem. It's not like we know a Detective who works in New York. Oh wait," Faith said dryly and the room was suddenly filled with tension.

"In case you've forgetten Faith, she hates us," Buffy snapped.

"No, she hates you three," Faith agreed, looking from Buffy to the uncomfortable Giles and finally to Xander, who avoided her gaze before looking back at Buffy. "Willow and I get along with her just fine. Even Spike talks to her on the phone every few weeks, he even spent Christmas with her and her boyfriend."

"She has a boyfriend?" Giles interjected, looking displeased by this.

"Not the time Giles. But Faith is right, we do know a Detective in the New York PD, and we all know she's not going to let whatever feeling she has towards us interfere with stopping a killer vampire," Willow said, meeting Buffy's gaze evenly and, after a few moments, Buffy sighed, giving in.

"Okay…okay. Guess we're going to New York," Buffy said, although she didn't look like she liked the idea.

New York

Night

CSI was examining a body when a brunette with long, dark hair walked passed the tape.

"Anything new?" Dawn inquired.

"Sorry Detective, but it's the same as all the others. This two puncture marks here drained the blood," one of them said, the CSI pointing to what Dawn knew were bite marks from a vampire. "Then they were just staged like some sort of ritualistic killing. If I didn't know better, I'd say this was done by a vampire."

Dawn was silent for a moment before she felt someone walk up behind her. From the looks on the faces of the two CSIs, she knew who it was.

"Your consultant is here," one of them muttered and she smiled slightly.

"Mind giving us the scene boys?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah, leave the real work to us," Spike said smugly and they glared at him before walking off.

"Can you try not to make enemies? You're here to help," Dawn pointed out although he could see the slight smile on her face.

"Where's the fun in that?" Spike said and she rolled her eyes.

"So what can you tell me about this?" Dawn asked as she pointed at the body.

"Reminds me a bit of Angelus's work, although a bit sloppier," Spike noted as he knelt down to properly look at the body. "Whoever did this wanted attention. Why or from who, I don't know Niblet."

"Spike, I'm 26, can you stop calling me that?" Dawn asked in exasperation.

"Never Niblet," Spike said cheekily and Dawn sighed in exasperation. "You know, Big Sis is looking into this to."

"Well when she actually does something, let me know," Dawn said, her face darkening.

Spike glanced at her but didn't say anything. He knew Dawn well enough by now that pushing her on the subject of Buffy would just lead to a fight. And he didn't like fighting with Dawn, he never won.


Up on a rooftop overlooking the scene, Spider-Man was looking down on the scene, frowning behind his mask. Another body, just like the last several. Neither he nor the police had been able to find anything on the killer. Peter was beginning to get worried.

Peter was shaken out of his thoughts by his cell phone ringing. Pulling it out, he froze as he saw it was Dawn.

"Heeey Dawn. What's up?" Peter asked awkwardly as he answered.

"What are you doing at my crime scene?" Dawn asked without any pleasantries. "Don't bother denying it, Spike can smell you up there."

"I didn't know this was your crime scene, I was on my home from patrol when I heard the sirens and the tape. I swear," Peter assured her. "Let me guess, same guy, vampire?"

"As far as we can tell. You haven't heard anything on the streets, have you?" Dawn asked without much hope.

"No, sorry. Whoever's doing this, they haven't left much of a trace," Peter said regretfully and Dawn sighed in disappointment.

"Well, it was worth a shot. I'll see you at home. I love you," Dawn told him.

"I love you too. I'll see you when you get off," Peter promised before hanging up.


Down on the street, Dawn hung up before looking over at Spike, who had done his best to look like he hadn't been listening except the smirk on his face told her he had heard everything.

"Stop enjoying it so much," Dawn said with a slight smile before frowning as she looked back at the body. "I have to go back to the Precinct."

"Alright. I'll check out any demon hangouts in the city, see if they might know something," Spike told her and Dawn nodded.

"Head back to my and Peter's apartment if you find anything. I'll see you later," Dawn said and Spike nodded his agreement. "Thank you for coming. I know this puts you in an awkward position with Buffy."

"You needed my help. There was no choice to make," Spike assured her.

Dawn nodded, appreciating it more than words could say. Spike had always been there for her and looked out for her. Even when she'd been angry at him, he'd always done his best to protect her. It was why she knew she could count on him.

With those thoughts in mind, Dawn exited the crime scene, allowing the coroners to take over as Spike disappeared into the shadows, off on his own investigation. They had a killer to find.

A short chapter I know, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway.

Next chapter will feature the arrivals of the Scoobies in New York and the different dynamics Dawn has with each of them at this point in the story.