It's Not Enough
By: Morrigan


A/N Hello again!

Just a quick note, anyone just catching up might want to re-read the last chapter.  I had some trouble getting the full chap to post and so only half of it went up.  It's all fixed now, and the second half is up.

This chapter title is part of the song "Brass in Pocket" by the Pretenders.


Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon and ME.  I still would like a piece of that pie, but Joss hasn't contacted me yet.



'Cause I'm...
I'm gonna make you see.
There's nobody else here...
No one like me.
I'm special
So special.
I gotta have some of your attention.
Give it to me!...


Dawn was in the kitchen, singing softly to herself, while buttering a piece of slightly burned toast.

She was the only one up and around, so far.  Giles and the potentials had come back very early this morning and, therefore, should still be sleeping for hours, yet.  And she was thankful for it.

For the first time, in a month, Dawn had been able to take a shower without waiting in line, and she could get first crack at the sugary cereal, which was of the good, since she usually ended up finding just the empty box, making her to be the one to have to add it to the grocery list.

Dawn poured it generously, into her bowl, smiling happily to herself as she left *just* enough to have good reason to put it away, before sitting down at the counter to enjoy her breakfast.

She contemplated whether or not she should wake Buffy up. Maybe, she would fix her something, when she was finished, and bring it up to her so that she wouldn't have to deal with all the morning (er...afternoon, around here) madness either.

"Yep!" Dawn chirped, to herself, "I think that's a good idea."

Dawn was swinging her feet, munching and drinking her juice.  After a short while, she put her dishes in the dishwasher and began rummaging through the refrigerator and cabinets, completely oblivious to the presence of Andrew, who had come sneaking in behind her, with his camera rolling.

"And this, Gentle viewers,"  he began "Is Dawn!"

"AaaaHHHH!"

Dawn screamed, as two pieces of bread went flying into the air, to land on either side of the kitchen.

Quickly, trying to appeal to her *softer* side, he continued.

"She is beautiful, and has a smile-that-lights-up-the-room!

"Andrew!" she yelled at him, cutting him off.  For the moment, forgetting about her friends and sister, and the potentials who were still asleep.

"You Creepy"... "Little"... (she couldn't think of a better word)  "Creep!"  "What"...  were you doing"... "sneaking up on me, like that!?"

Dawn, tried to catch her breath.  Her chest heaving dramatically, as she waved her hand, pointing her finger out at the object Andrew held out, before him.

"And, what's up with the camera!?"

Andrew gulped, and nervously started to explain.  "I"... "I'm documenting!"

"Documenting what?"  Dawn snapped back, "Girls Gone Hungry?"

The potentials were slowly filling up the kitchen.  Yawning and milling about the center island.  Her sisterly good-deed-of-the-day was ruined.  She glared at him, dangerously.

"No!"

Andrew held up one hand, and edged, slowly, across the room by the fridge.  He slowly leaned over and picked up one of the fallen pieces of bread.

"Listen, Dawn,"  he stammered out  "We are about to face the First evil"... "I think it's important that the people have a record of what happened when it's all over."  He shrugged  "You know?"  "So, they know who to thank?"...  "Don't you?"

Xander came through and snatched the piece of bread out of Andrew's hand.

"Thanks, Dweeb!"  He spouted out, cheerfully, and dropped the bread into the toaster.  

Andrew crinkled his nose and thought about saying something to Xander about where it had been, but feeling hurt by the name-calling and still dealing with the wrath of Dawn, he decided against it.

Dawn didn't miss it either.  She smiled a little, and cast her eyes to the side,  Seeing this, and sensing that the imminent danger was over, he breathed a little sign of relief.

Spike came sauntering up from the basement, looking tired, yet, somehow much cheerier than usual.

"Practicin' for the opera now are we, Bit?"

He leaned against the pantry and casually lit a smoke.

"Oh great!"  Dawn, ground out, and in a very Buffy like manner, folded both arms over her chest.  "Second hand stinky-ness!"

Spike winked at her and blew smoke rings into the air, for effect.

Xander walked across the kitchen to get a plate, stepping on the other piece of bread, which stayed firmly attached to his slipper as he walked back to the other side.

"You know, those things will kill ya!" Xander stated, matter of factly, around a mouthful of toast.

"Not me. Whelp!"  "Spike retorted.  "'M dead, already."  "You, on the other hand,"... He exhaled, blowing a plume of smoke in Xander's direction.  "Well, a bloke can only hope."

The potentials continued milling around the island, pouring cereal and juice, occasionally waving their hands in front of their faces for fresh air, when Buffy came sailing in.  To her credit, if any of last nights events were still on her mind, she wasn't letting it show.

"Hey, Dawn!"  She chirped out, perkily.  "What's with all the screamie-meemies?"

Xander, abruptly interrupted "So, Spike getting his soul back means he gets to hang out here and be on the non staking list, why!?"

As if on cue, Anya walked by with a handful of grapes, popping one into Xander's mouth to shut him up.

'Why does he have to keep talking like that, with his whiny little man-voice?'  She thought to herself.  It was too early for her to handle listening to him.

Buffy had crossed over to stand by her sister.  Mirroring her stance, her face took on a confused pout as she noticed the smooshed bread stuck to Xander's shoe...

Spike, who had instantly slipped back into his *Big Bad* pose upon Buffy's arrival, cocked his head to one side as he responded to Xander's little outburst.

"Ay!" He pointed a finger at Xander, who was now chomping on a bagel, flipping his wrist toward his eyes.  "Hello!"  "Still Evil!"  Then, casting his eyes back toward the linoleum, he finished,  "To you."

Buffy bit her lips to conceal the smirk, she felt forming there, as a result of Spikes *scary vampire* posturing.

Turning to Dawn, she repeated her earlier question.

"So, really."   "What gives?"

Suddenly, remembering her anger, Dawn turned back to Andrew who was now, once again fidgeting from foot to foot.

"Nerd boy snuck up on me with that camera and scared me half to death!"

"I was NOT sneaking!"  Andrew interjected quickly, temporarily bringing un-wanted attention back onto himself.

"I"..."I was performing a documentorial obligation."

The last of this was spoken so softly, only the vampire could truly make it out.

Softening, again, Dawn dropped her eyes to the floor to stare at her sisters fashionable, yet, affordable shoes.

"I guess, it's my fault, really."  "I was going to bring you breakfast."  "I didn't hear him come in."  "And actually," she added  "I think he might have a pretty good idea."

"Really?" Buffy raised an eyebrow at her sister, then looked pointedly to Andrew.  She didn't think any idea that sprouted from him could be any of the good.  She held him with her gaze as she asked him  "Well?"  "What do you feel is your part in all of this?

"Oh! Well..." Andrew chewed on his bottom lip and looked up to the ceiling.

"Well, see...I was going to interview Dawn about the fight with The First...and she screamed and threw bread on the floor and I was going to pick it up and throw it away, but..."

"No, Andrew."  Buffy stopped him, holding up her hand, for emphasis.  "I mean, what idea is it, that you have, that my sister thinks is so great?"

Xander, putting two and two together, about the bread, made a yucky face and drank down the rest of his juice, quickly, before exiting the kitchen, un-knowingly taking the mutilated piece of bread along for the ride.

As Andrew began to explain his plan to create a record for history, Buffy realized that, as she had suspected, she didn't like the idea at all.  Andrew was annoying and SO not useful.  How much more annoying and NOT useful would he be, following them all over, video-taping them?  

Spike told her that he didn't see the harm in it, if it kept Andrew busy and it didn't involve filming His truly.  Of course, she noted, that as he said this, the camera was on him, and he had stuck a statuesque pose.  

"Good Lord!"  She sighed, as she walked out into the living room.  Spike followed behind her, and Dawn could hear them, still bickering, through the house as their voices slowly faded away.

The kitchen was a mess.  The potentials had, one by one, gone out to the back yard out to begin training.  

That left no one but she and Andrew.   And he was looking out into the house, still trying to hear the petty argument between Buffy and Spike.

"Well," she scuffed at the floor, with the toe of her shoe "I guess we could do that interview now..."

Andrew hadn't heard her.  He was now, leaning out through the doorway, still trying to eavesdrop on her sister and the *soulman.*

"Hey!" She barked, nudging him on the shoulder.

"Huh? Andrew startled, glancing once more, out into the house before turning to meet her gaze.  "I'm sorry, Dawn."  "Did you say something?"

Dawn took an exasperated breath before answering him.

"Yeah."  She composed herself to start over.  She smiled warmly at him, and tried again.  

"I'm sorry I got all wiggy on you."  "I just didn't know anyone was up."  "Silly, I guess."  "So, do you wanna interview me, now?"  "Cause, like...I'm totally chalk full of info, here."

She flashed him her best happy grin, thinking it was the least she could do, since making such a big scene.  Besides, it all sounded kind of fun.

Andrew, however, didn't feel as enthused about interviewing her, as he did before.  He wanted to see how the vampire slayer and the vampire related with one another.

"Umm, Dawn?"

"Yeah?" she replied.  She settled herself into a chair and steepling her hands, got with the ready to tell all.

"Why don't we do this another time, huh?"  Andrew put his camera up to his shoulder as he backed out of the kitchen.  "I'm going to go see what's going on out there, and I'll catch up with you, later, ok?"

Dawn was taken aback by his sudden change of mind.  She blinked a couple of times, looking at the counter tiles as she asked, "But, I thought..."

Her voice trailed off as Andrew scurried out hurriedly after her sister and Spike.

"O.k." She called out, softly.  "Later."

Alone, again, Dawn sniffed, forced a smile, and noticing the disaster that was the kitchen, she went back to singing her song as she started cleaning up.


I'm special...
So special.
I've gotta have some of your
attention.
Give it to me...