Chapter 2

 

Dawn ran through the darkness blindly, the trees seemed to be reaching out for her as she struggled on.  The image of Spike lying injured on the ground flashed into her head once again and a loud sob tore from her throat.   

The next moment the ground seemed to give way under her feet and she went tumbling down.  

“Now what’s a sweet little piece like you doing out in the middle of the night.”
 
Dawn screamed as a cold hand wrapped around her throat and pulled her up, she stared into the yellow eyes of the vamp as she dazedly watched his sharp fangs descend towards her neck.  

‘NIBBLET!’ Dawn heard Spike’s voice echo in her head ‘Kick him in the nuts’ .  

Dawns knee came up sharply hitting the vampire viciously between the legs, he let her go abruptly as he cradled his injured privates “You little bitch!”

‘RUN!’  Dawn obeyed the command, turning on her heel and racing towards town once again.  She seemed to be running blindly through the streets, however every now and then Spike’s voice would sound clearly in her mind ‘Go right here.  Cut through the park. Left here’ Dawn paid no attention to the darkened houses around her until she came to Revello Drive , there 1630, that’s where the slayer’s mother lived.

Dawn’s footsteps sounded like drums as she ran up the pavement ‘Almost there’ she thought and began to slow down.  ‘NO Nibblet, he’s coming, not safe yet.’   Dawn put on a burst of speed as she headed towards the house, knowing that the vamp was not far behind her.  

She took the front steps in two large strides and began pounding on the door; fear strengthened her blows as she franticly tried to gain the attention of the home's occupant.  

……………………………………………………………………………………………..  

Joyce hurried down the stairs, the frantic pounding waking her from a restful night.  As she neared the door she could hear the sounds of someone’s pleas for help.  Buffy had warned her about opening the door to strangers at night; however the ‘girl's?’ terrified cries seemed to pierce her heart. ‘Ok, if it’s a vampire they can’t get in without an invite and if it’s a demon they’ll break down the door eventually.’   Resolve straightened her spine as Joyce threw open the door to face whatever was out there.  

Dawn could feel the vamp getting closer as she renewed her assault on the door, at the first sound of heavy boots landing on the wooden porch she spun round to face her attacker.  With her back against the door Dawn took up a fighting stance as her eye’s desperately searched the darkened porch for something to use as a weapon.  Just as the vamp began moving forward, the door behind her swung open and Dawn fell through with a small squeal.

The vamp roared in fury as his prize tumbled out of his grasp.  

Joyce looked down in surprise at the sobbing young girl who she now held in her arms.  As the vamp roared ,she casually leant forward and slammed the door shut, a small laugh escaping as she caught the shocked look on the vamps face as the door had swung closed.

“Shhh  Shhh.  It’s ok, you're safe now.” Joyce began to rub her back gently, as she tried to soothe the shaking girl.  She looked into her tear filled eyes and took note of the myriad of scratches that marred her face, Jand oyce felt an overwhelming rush of protectiveness run through her.  

“You come and sit here, and I’ll get you something to drink” Joyce drew her into the living room and settled her onto the sofa, pulling a small throw rug around her shoulders.  “Would you like a glass of water or something else?”  

“HHot ChChocolate please.” Dawn burrowed deeply into the blankets and studied the slayer's mother.

Joyce smiled gently. “Hot Chocolate, it is.”  

Joyce filled the kettle and put it on to boil before she moved to the phone “Giles, it's Joyce.  Is Buffy still there?  Good, can I speak to her please?”  Joyce cradled the phone on her shoulder as she waited for the sound of her daughter’s voice.  

“Buffy, you need to come home.  No, I’m fine.  I have a young girl here, a vamp attacked her.  I’m not sure it could still be outside.  OK sweetie, see you soon.”  Joyce hung up and finished making the hot chocolate, grabbing the bag of mini marshmallows as an after thought.

Joyce sat the cup on the coffee table tossing the bag of marshmallows beside it; she turned to speak to the girl, only to see her transfixed by the bag.  “What’s the matter, sweetie, don’t you like them?” she sat down beside her and fussed with the blanket across her shoulders “You don’t have to have them, I only keep them because a …. friend …. of my daughter's likes them” Joyce sat back in surprise when the girl darted forward and grabbed the bag, before curling up on the sofa and sobbing loudly.  

Dawn clutched the small plastic bag as memories hit her. 

‘The Slayer’s mum, Joyce, she’s a top bird.’ Spike had smiled affectionately as he spoke of the Slayers mother ‘Always ready with a hot cuppa and a willing ear.  Makes the best hot chocolate with these little marshmallows init.’   Dawn remembered that she had tried to make Spike a hot chocolate that night. He had stoically drunk the lukewarm lumpy concoction she had offered him, stating that soon she would be giving Joyce a run for her money when it came to hot chocolaty drinks.   

Dawn had loved him even more after that.   

“Mom” Buffy stopped as she saw her mother sitting on the sofa, a small form huddled under a blanket and sobbing heartbrokenly beside her.  

“Buffy, was the….” Joyce trailed off, as she noticed the others follow Buffy in.  

“Dust.” stated Buffy as she moved towards the sofa “And who’s this?”  

Joyce stared at the girl beside her “I don’t know, all I’ve managed to get out of her so far is hot chocolate.”  

“Quite understandable, really,” said Giles “She’s most likely in shock”  

Dawn started to quiet down as strange voices began to make their way through the sound of her sobs.  She sat up abruptly and stared at The Slayer for a few minutes before throwing herself at her and wrapping her arms around her throat. “Please,” she begged. “You have to get him back.  They’ll hurt him.  Please you have to save him.”  

Buffy stared down at the girl in confusion “Who?  Sweetie, you have to calm down and tell me.” she began to stroke the girl’s hair “Who do I have to save?”  

Dawn sat back slightly. “Spike!  They took him.  You have to get him back.”  

……………………………………………………………………………………………….
 

Spike felt a sharp boot digging into his ribs “Shit, Riley he’s still awake.  We hit him with enough juice to knock out an elephant”
 

Spike felt another presence move towards him. “Nah he’s fine, paralyzed.  He won’t be any trouble”
 

Spike gave a sigh of relief, he had been worried that they would knock him out before he knew if Dawn was safe or not.
 

As soon as Dawn had started to run Spike had extended his senses, sending her messages when he had picked up on danger.  When he finally realised that she was safe, he had allowed himself to succumb to unconsciousness.  

Spike woke up in a stark white room; his body felt like it was on fire, his limbs ached and burned.  Groaning he tried to pull himself up, finally giving up in frustration he focused on the white tiles that covered the roof of his prison.  

He started in surprise when he heard a loud buzzing sound, and saw one of the roof tiles swing open, a bag of blood dropping to the floor.  

Spike lay still, his eyes fixed on the bag just out of his reach, he tried to move an arm out towards it, biting down on his lip in pain as he concentrated on his task.  

After what seemed like hours Spike finally managed to grab hold of the corner of the blood bag and began to pull it towards him.  The burning sensation was finally starting to abate and Spike was able to pull himself up into a corner.  Exhausted he left the bag resting on his chest as he gathered the strength to lift it to his mouth.

During his attempt to get hold of it he had managed to tear a small hole in the bag.  Blood was slowly seeping into his shirt “Bloody hell” he muttered to himself.   After awhile, the smell of the blood started to get too much for Spike’s demon, so he lifted his arm to grab the bag once more.  Thankfully it no longer felt like he was being jabbed by a thousand needles every time he moved. Just as the bag reached his mouth, Spike suddenly tossed it aside, muttering  “Fuck” At the last minute, Spike had noticed the underlying scent of drugs.  He closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall as he tried to push his hungry demon back down.  

After a few minutes, Spike heard the sound of his cell door opening and opened his eyes to see one of his captors approaching him.  A square metal box in his extended hand.  

“You just have to do things the hard way,” the figure said, as he pressed the box against Spike's neck and sent a pulse of electricity through him, once again sending Spike into unconsciousness.  

“Ok guys come and get him.” Riley kicked the unconscious vamp in the ribs “Professor Walsh wants this one down in experimental”  

Two men joined him in the room and helped to man handle Spike onto a gurney.  

Riley looked down at Spike in disgust. “I don’t know why we keep these animals alive.” He sent another electric shock through the vampires prone body, laughing as his muscles jerked in response.  

“Come on Riley” one of the men stopped him before he could shock Spike again “Walsh won’t be happy if you mess him up too much.” He looked down at the body before him, sympathy flashed briefly in his eyes before he covered it “Anyway, aren’t you meant to be out looking for that girl the Hostile was with?”  

Riley slapped the man on the back “Yeah Graham I am.  Pretty little thing she was, too.”  Riley gave him a sly smile “I’m really looking forward to bringing that one in.”  

Riley strode out of the room, as he went to suit up and look for the pretty little brunette who had escaped.