The Hospital
When the ambulance arrived, Angel had slipped away. The vampire, looking embarrassed, had exchanged a glance with Dawn before disappearing. He was no doubt aware that he hadn't been particularly heroic in the circumstances.
The paramedics treated Joyce Summers competently and efficiently, without commenting or questioning her throat injury. They'd seen it all in Sunnydale. And half an hour later, the Summers sisters were sitting side by side in a hospital hallway, waiting for news of their mother. The nurses had been reassuring, however.
Buffy felt her heart breaking inside her chest when she noticed her sister's shoulders shaking, and silent sobs escaping her eyes. At once, she took the little girl in her arms, drew her onto her lap and began to tenderly wipe the tears from her cheeks, while patting her back comfortingly and whispering sweet words to her :
«Dawn, sweetheart, I'm so sorry you found yourself in this situation ! It's my fault, I should never have let something like this happen to you. You must have been so scared… But it's over now. It's over. You're not in danger anymore. No one is going to hurt you again. Honey, I love you so much, I promise I won't let anyone touch you again, so please, calm down… I know you must be feeling so upset, that you don't understand anything, that it all seems to make no sense, I promise I'll explain everything to you, but please, trust me : you're safe with me…»
Dawn sniffed loudly, then explained in a ragged voice:
«It's not that, Buffy... I'm not scared anymore... Not for me... When you hold me, I feel so protected... But it's this place... This hospital... I hate this place... I hate these hallways... I hate being here waiting to find out if Mom's okay, if she'll recover... I hate seeing Mom like this...
– Mom is going to be okay, her big sister assured her firmly. She's going to be okay, and it's thanks to you, thanks to your presence of mind. You reacted well, Dawn, you were very brave.
– It's not true, Dawn replied, shaking her head. I was useless. I know you would have saved Mom anyway... But I couldn't just stand by and do nothing... I couldn't...»
It was then that Giles arrived, flanked by Xander and Willow. They had come as quickly as possible to show their support, and none of them remained unmoved by the distraught Dawn. Hugs and words of concern continued until a nurse came to inform the sisters that their mother was out of danger and had regained consciousness. However, Joyce was still weak, and it was only possible to pay her a brief visit.
Joyce hadn't understood what had happened to her. A doctor had told her she had probably injured herself by falling on a barbecue fork. Barbecue fork injuries, often fatal, were commonplace in Sunnydale: all the town's medical staff knew that.
«It wasn't a barbecue fork.» Dawn said simply after leaving her mother.
Giles gave Buffy a questioning look. She sighed:
«Vampire... I took care of it, but Dawn saw everything. She was almost bitten too... I hate myself for letting something like that happen to her...
– It wasn't your fault, Dawn protested weakly. You saved my life. Buffy, are you going to explain everything to me ? You know these things, you know how to fight them...»
Giles drove Buffy and Dawn home. On the way, Buffy began to give her a rundown of the basics: vampires, the Hellmouth, the Slayer's mission...
She was surprised to see how easily Dawn accepted all this. Perhaps it was a gift inherent of childhood, not to reject new discoveries, to readily accept having one's worldview challenged. When she had finished her explanations, the little girl gently grasped her big sister's hand and squeezed it.
«You've always been my heroine, Buffy. Thank you for saving my life.»
Buffy's throat was too tight with emotion to reply. But a memory came back to her. Ten years earlier, when her parents had returned from the clinic with a baby in their arms, Buffy had asked if she could take care of her sister. Their mother had said yes.
Silently, the Slayer promised herself that she would never let any vampire, demon, or force from hell harm this little girl. If anyone threatened her, they would pay with their life.
And if Angel had the slightest responsibility for what had happened, then…
Dawn's voice interrupted her train of thought :
«Buffy, that guy, Angel… He's a vampire too, right? I saw his face… But I don't think he was here to hurt us. He kind of tried to help me… I think… You should talk to him, have it out with him… I don't like him much, but if you're going to fight these things… I'd feel more secure if you had someone tough to help you… I know you're strong… but I don't want anything bad to happen to you.»