The Friendship
Written by Belle_Joy
Rating: M15+
Pairings: Buffy and Spike
Disclaimer: I own no one and nothing, especially the characters in this story. I'm merely borrowing them for the pure pleasure of messing with their lives.
Dawn gently knocked on the door to Spike’s crypt.
Spike (infuriated): Look Angel I told you. Now bloody go away and give a guy some peace.
Dawn: Spike? It’s me Dawn. C-c-can I come in?
Spike (his voice softer): Yeah sure Nibblet, welcome. Just have to let yourself in though, pesky sunlight and all that.
Dawn pushed open the door to his crypt and entered slowly. She always felt funny coming here without her mother or Buffy. She looked up to see Spike sitting on a armchair facing toward the TV. His face held a light tinge of purple to it from where he and Angel had obviously gotten into a fight. There was also a small amount of blood under his nose. He got up from his chair so Dawn could have somewhere to sit.
Spike: Seat Bit?
Dawn: It’s ok, I’ll stand.
Spike: Sure?
Dawn: Uh huh
Spike sat back down in his armchair and looked at her purposefully. There was a reason she was here. She wanted to tell him something and for some reason he was extremely intrigued as to what it might be.
Spike: So Dawn what brings you to this neck of the cemetery. Does Buffy know you’re here?
Dawn gave him a withering look.
Spike: Ok, she doesn’t. But how bout answering my first question?
Dawn took a deep breath and sat on the floor in front of Spike’s feet. He looked down at her with a look in his eyes that told her he was really interested to know what she was going to say. She liked that about him. Nobody ever looked at her like that. Especially not Buffy.
Dawn (very quietly): Spike, I am scared. I am scared about not having a Mum, I am scared about what sort of parent Buffy might make and mostly I am scared about what sort of a kid I can be now. Can I still be a normal teenager? My sister will be looking after me. Does that make me different? Will that make it harder? I am scared and confused and nobody wants to listen to me. So I thought maybe you would seeing as well, it’s daylight and you have nothing else you can do. And Passions is finished so I am not interrupting anything. And well, I brought you some blood. So you have to listen.
She adde that last bit in a rush. She never knew quite what it was that made Spike tick. It was one of the things that made her like him so much. She kept staring at the ground afraid to look in his eyes for the fear that he might reject her plea and make her feel even worse that she already was.
Spike snorted. This girl was nothing like her sister. She had decency about her. She brought him blood for goodness sake. Buffy would have barged in and hit him until he said what she wanted to hear and then she would have left again. Maybe it was the fact that Dawn was so different to her big sis that made him want to protect her from Buffy. Spike smiled his half lip smile and placed his hand under her chin. He lifted her head up and looked her straight in the eye.
Spike: I told you that you could come to me with anything. And I meant it so come on spill. Tell me everything.
Dawn looked into his eyes when he lifted her head. In them she saw compassion, understanding and perhaps a little bit of love. This didn’t shock her. She knew Spike was a vampire but she always knew he was special, he didn’t have a soul but for some reason he didn’t need one to be nice or kind or maybe even in love. She found herself sighing again. She trusted him, she new she did and so she felt compelled to let her feelings out to him.
Dawn: Spike I am frightened.
Spike: I know you are pet.
Dawn: It’s just that Buffy and I really don’t get along and now we have to make like we are the big happy family. I am not sure we can.
Spike: Of course you can. If nothing else Buffy loves you. She will do everything in her power to make sure that you both get through this.
Dawn nodded, she knew he was right. Another thought hit her and she looked at the ground again.
Dawn: Buffy has to go and identify the body tomorrow. I want to go with her. I want to make sure that is really is my Mummy.
Spike: You know that you can’t do that luv. It’s not right for a kid to be at the morgue. But Buffy shouldn’t go either. Can’t Giles do it?
Dawn: The Policeman said it had to be a relative.
Spike: Damn. Well I guess that I would have to go with her.
Dawn looked up at him hopefully
Spike: And before you even ask, no you can’t come.
Dawn: But Spike I am a relative, I am allowed.
Spike (with a slight growl): NO!
Dawn: Gees, ok ok, keep your fangs in.
Dawn got up and began pacing around the room. She began talking to herself.
Dawn: I wanna be an adult. At least I want everybody to treat me like an adult. I am 15 for goodness sakes I can look after myself. I know what vampires are. I mean I am friends with one. Nobody cares; they all just want to protect me. All I want to do is BE me. I want to be Dawn not what other people perceive Dawn to be. Just what I want to be.
While Dawn had been pacing Spike had risen from his chair and followed her around with a little half smile on his face. Like he was amused. When she turned for the last time he caught her arms I his hands and stopped her. She looked up at him surprised. She hadn’t realised that he was there.
Spike: You will be an adult soon enough pet. You don’t need to rush into it. Trust me; it’s coming from a guy that will be an adult for the rest of his life. Or unlife as the case may be.
Dawn: Why doesn’t she let me grow up?
Spike: ‘Cos she had to do it so fast I reckon. She never got to be a teenager; maybe she doesn’t want you to miss that opportunity. It’s like I said before. She loves you. We all do and we wanna make sure you grow up right. Ok?
Dawn pondered this for a moment. He was right in the fact that Buffy hadn’t been able to have a proper chance at growing up slowly and painfully. Dawn guessed that this was a bad thing from the way that Spike explained it. She decided that she would be a teenager for a little while longer. Enjoy the things Buffy could never have had. Partly for herself, partly for Buffy and partly for Spike who would never age.
Dawn: I have made a decision. I will be a teenager for a little bit longer.
Spike: That’s my girl.
Dawn: Spike?
Spike: Yeah Bit?
Dawn: How do you know so much and of the stuff you know why are you always right?
Spike chuckled
Spike: Been around a long time Nibblet. Seen a lot of things. Done a lot of things. So I just ended up knowing a lot of things.
Dawn: But I mean about Buffy. And me.
Spike: Well even I don’t have the answer for that one.
Dawn: Is it because you watch us all the time. Because you are a vampire. Or maybe it’s because you love us?
Now it was Spike’s turn to look at the ground. Sometimes the younger Summers girl could be so perceptive. He shrugged his shoulders.
Spike: Maybe all those things.
Dawn: But you do love us right? I mean, I know you love Buffy in a romantic kinda gross grown up way and all, but you do love us right?
Spike: Yeah I ‘spose your right. I ‘spose I do.
Dawn smiled at that remark. She knew he was telling the truth.
Dawn: Can I stay here today? While you sleep?
Spike (grinning): Did you mention blood before?
Dawn and Spike sat down for the rest of the day and watched TV. Spike drank his blood and Dawn ate pretzels which were left from the couple of times that Joyce and her had stayed with Spike before. Spike sometimes slept but Dawn felt happy and safe the whole time she was with him. He woke for the final time just about nightfall.
He rubbed his eyes and glanced over at the dozing figure on his armchair. He smiled, he liked playing the role of the big protector, and at least Dawn would let him do it.
Spike: Dawn. Dawn. (he said softly shaking her awake)
Dawn: Buffy, can’t you see I am busy
She mumbled in her sleep
Spike: OI.
Dawn: I’m up. I’m up. Gees give a girl a break would you?
Spike: I have to get you home, Buffy’s gonna want to patrol tonight and she will check on you before she goes so let’s hop to it eh?
Dawn: All right, but your going to walk me?
Spike: You think you would get home any other way.
Dawn: You know what would be easier? If you moved in with us. Then I could talk to you whenever I wanted without having to go through the cemetery.
Spike: Yeah and Buffy would really go for that. Anyway I couldn’t impose. Not at the moment.
Dawn (slyly): Well let me see about Buffy. I have my ways.
Spike grinned. Maybe Dawn was more like the Slayer that he thought.
Together they exited his crypt and began to make their way towards the Summers’ house. They were about halfway there when a large human/demon hybrid like creature lunged out at them from behind a tomb. With his quick reflexes Spike managed to push Dawn down behind another headstone and out of harms way before turning to the Demon.
Spike: Well well, not nice of you to be here when I am walking the little lady home.
Spike charged for the demon. Producing a small knife out of his pocket he aimed it at the demon’s chest. The demon lunged past him at the last minute making his knife stick into a tree.
Spike: Nice, really bloody nice.
Giving up on getting the knife back Spike attacked the demon creature with his bare hands. He landed a couple of swift upper cuts to its jaw, the final one sending it sprawling on its back. Taking the opportunity at hand Spike knelt on the demon’s body and placed his hands on it’s neck. With a deep throaty growl and one swift motion he twisted and broke the creature’s neck.
Dawn peered out at the commotion from behind the headstone. She saw Spike break the creature’s neck and decided that she was glad she was going to be a teenager for a while to come. Spike walked over to her and helped her up.
Spike: C’mon Bit, we had better hurry home before big sis suspects your missing and comes out to stake me.
Back at the Summers residence Buffy was pacing nervously around the front room. Where the hell had Dawn gone? She knew it was dangerous out in Sunnydale by herself. The only place that Buffy could think Dawn had gone to was Spike’s. And strangely that comforted her. She didn’t fully trust him but she knew he would never hurt Dawn. And she also knew that he could protect her if anything happened. At that moment she heard keys in the back door lock. She marched over and flung the door open.
Buffy (eyes blazing): Where the hell have you been? I was worried sick. Don’t you ever do that to me again. (turning to Spike) Why didn’t you call and let me know where she was. I could just stake you right now.
She turned and stormed back into the front room expecting the other two to follow her which they did. Spike spoke first.
Spike: Slayer, now don’t be mad at Nibblet here, she just wanted to do some talking so that is what we did. And I couldn’t very well call you ‘cos I am a vampire and I live in a crypt with not many telephony things around.
Buffy: Get a mobile.
Spike: Yes, that helps.
Buffy: Still doesn’t change anything. I had a nap. I woke up and she was gone. Do you know how that made me feel? I already lost my mother I am NOT going to lose my sister too.
Spike: You know she was safe, I was with her. I walked her home. We are fine.
Dawn (yelling): Hello?? I am IN the room would you both stop talking about me like I am not.
Spike/Buffy: Sorry.
Dawn (to Buffy): I went to Spike’s because he is the only one who understands me.
(to Spike): I went to you because you care about me AND Buffy and I thought that you could talk to her as well.
Spike/Buffy: Dawn.
Dawn: I am going to my room. Talk about it Buffy. You too Spike. If for nothing else do it for me. Tomorrow we will have to tell Giles and everybody and then our time will no longer be ours so get it over with now.
Dawn turns to walk up the stairs leaving behind two open mouthed individuals.
Dawn: Oh Buffy, by the way, I asked Spike to move in, I hope you don’t mind.
She turned back on her heel and continued her way up the stairs with a smirk on her face. She couldn’t wait to wake up and see what happened in the morning.
End of part 4.
