A/N: Drama!! Duh duh duh!!



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“Isn’t she pretty?” Drusilla cooed, retreating from the girl’s side to his, admiring the teenager as one would a pet, “I got her just for you.”

“Please,” Dawn called out in a quiet voice, “Please let me go.”

Frowning – but knowing better and quickly veiling his expression – Spike took Drusilla by the arm and led her out of the room. He had to play this carefully if he wanted any chance of success.

“Do you like your present?”

“S’very nice.”

She giggled and rubbed herself against him.

“I knew you would like it. Miss Edith told me you would.”

“What about you though, pet?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. You got me a present, but what about you? You don’t have anything to play with.”

Drusilla paused and considered for a moment, and then a pout spread across her face.

“No, I don’t.”

“And you’ve been such a wicked girl,” he murmured, running a hand over her hair.

“Wicked and naughty,” she purred with another giggle.

“Then don’t you think you deserve a treat?”

“Oh yes.”

“You better go find one then,” he whispered, leaning close to her, brushing his lips over her ear, “Then we can play together.”

She pulled back and smiled at him wickedly.

“You promise not to break your toy before I get back?”

“Course not, pet,” he smirked.

He kissed her roughly then and drew back, regarding her with a hungry expression. She moaned in approval and ran a hand down his chest.

“I knew my naughty boy was in there.”

He bared his fangs in a wide smile and she laughed delightedly, clapping her hands together like a child.

“Hurry,” he whispered.

“Yes, yes. We must run before the sunshine gets here.”

Drusilla was gone a moment later and he turned back to the room, the frown spreading across his face once more.



He went into the room and shut the door behind him. Hearing the door close, Dawn’s head flew up and he saw her go stiff with fear.

“Please,” she whispered tearfully, “Please don’t hurt me.”

He went to her and quickly crouched down, reaching out to untie the blindfold. She tensed with his closeness but as he pulled the cloth away she let out a harsh breath.

“Spike?!”

“Are you okay?” he asked softly, looking her over worriedly.

“Is she gone?” Dawn asked nervously, looking over his shoulder.

“For now, yes.”

He untied the rope binding her arms and looked her over once more, his gaze landing on the bite on her neck.

“How did I get here?” she asked shakily.

“I’m not sure, pet. But we’re going to get you out, okay?”

“She wanted you to kill me, didn’t she?”

“It doesn’t matter, Li’l Bit. You know I wouldn’t hurt you.”

“I know. That’s what I told Buffy.”

He smiled ever so slightly and rose to his feet, helping her to stand.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?”

“No, my head’s just a little woozy,” she said, holding one hand to it.

“It’s blood loss,” he explained, steadying her with a hand on her shoulder as he wavered.

“She’s not going to come back, is she?” Dawn asked with a worried glance at the door.

“Not yet. She’s going out hunting.”

Dawn nodded shakily.

“Can we go now? This place gives me the creeps.”

He nodded and took her by the arm, leading her out of the room swiftly.



They rushed down the stairs and were almost at the front door when a voice stopped them.

“You can’t leave.”

Drusilla’s tone was hard and cold and when they turned to face her, she focussed her dark gaze on the frightened girl.

“I saw it in a dream,” she murmured, “But I didn’t believe it. And then Miss Edith told me. Told me that you weren’t real.”

He tightened his grip on Dawn’s arm as she tensed.

“Nothing but a pretty little key to fit in a lock.”

Dawn turned big, wide eyes to his.

“Spike!” she gasped.

Before he could reply, Drusilla lunged for the girl and he pushed her aside, tackling his sire head on and sending them both to the floor. Drusilla grew wild and began to scream, scratching out at him.

“No, no!! Take it back, take it back!”

He struggled with her, trying to restrain her, and eventually succeeding in throwing her clear of him. They both got to their feet quickly and after a moment’s pause, Drusilla turned, ready to flee. Without a moment’s hesitation, he went after her, catching her and trying to trap her in his arms. He couldn’t let her go, not when she knew Dawn’s secret.



She struggled and finally managed to lash out at him, throwing him off balance and sending him to the floor. He went to get to his feet but Drusilla was quicker and the next thing he knew, a small marble statue made contact with the back of his head, sending him to the ground.

“Spike!”

Dawn’s cry forced him to turn, even as his head spun, and he somehow managed to get to his feet, stopping Drusilla only a few feet away from the teenager. She turned on him and lashed out with her nails, catching him across the face.

“Bad! Bad!”

He tried to catch her hands and they struggled some more before he was able to send her to the floor. She quickly got up again, slipping into game face and baring her teeth at him. Undeterred, he went at her again, but she used his momentum against him and sent him into the nearest wall. His head struck the wall and made him dizzier still and he now noticed the blood trickling down from his forehead.

Drusilla did not pause in her attack and flew at him again, blow after blow hitting him. His head was spinning but he finally managed to block one of her blows and send her crashing into the wall as well.



“Dawn, get out of here!” he called, struggling to defend himself against Drusilla’s now-crazed attack.

“No! No!” Drusilla cried, lashing out at him frenziedly, her golden eyes wide with rage.

She backhanded him and he hit the wall, sliding to the floor as he was unable to hold himself up any longer. Drusilla paused for the briefest of seconds and then turned in the direction of the door, through which Dawn had just fled. She dashed after the girl and he pulled himself up as quickly as he could, his head spinning as he stumbled after them. He dragged himself through the door and stopped with a jolt, wide eyes taking in the scene before him.

In the few moments he had been incapacitated, Drusilla had caught up with the girl and held her tightly now as she fed viciously. He let out a cry and without hesitation, dashed forward. He tore Dawn away from his sire, sending a quick worried look her way as she sank to the floor unconscious, but swiftly turned to face Drusilla once more. Her eyes flashed with anger as she stared at him, bloodstained fangs bared.

“You will pay for this!” she bit out.

It took him only a moment to spot his weapon and – before he could even consider – he scooped up the branch, clutched it tightly in his hand, and plunged it into Drusilla’s chest. A tiny cry – and his sire was gone.



There wasn’t time to think, to consider his actions – or even to mind his own injuries. He dropped to Dawn’s side, brushing her long hair out of the way and regarding her pale face. She was out cold and he knew by the amount of blood she had lost that he needed to get help, and soon. There was no time to find Buffy, to leave a message – nothing.

He quickly scooped her up in his arms and, ignoring his own dizziness, he dashed out of the garden. The hospital was a fifteen minute walk at tops and he had to get her there. Had to save this girl who meant so much to Buffy. To him, when he dared to admit it. Her heart rate was starting to slow now and he sped up his steps desperately.

“Come on, Bit. Come on. You’re gonna be alright,” he whispered, spurring himself on with the words, “Gonna get you safe. Get you patched up.”

She seemed paler than ever as he reached the hospital car park and he sped up as much as he could, finally reaching the emergency room. He was spotted straight away by a nurse and with a cry, a gurney was summoned and he placed Dawn on it gently.

“Sir, you need to get seen too,” the nurse said as he stepped back.

“I’m fine.”

“Sir-“

“I’m fine. Go see to her.”

They were already leading Dawn away and the nurse hurried after them, leaving him alone in the entrance, coated in his own blood and hers.