<see Part 1 for disclaimers>

Dawn

Red Moon Series, Book 8

Frau Hunter Ash

www.hunterash.com

Part 3

# # #

Dawn frowned as Demmy stumbled down the hallway towards the nurse’s office. It was becoming a more and more frequent occurrence, almost daily as the boy’s headaches continued to get worse. The male Slayer was scheduled for an MRI and they were trying a new drug, hoping it would ease his pain.

Buffy walked out of the library and rushed from the opposite direction towards Demmy as Dawn grabbed the young man’s arm. Together they helped him into the medical office and onto a sofa. Dawn pulled out a bandana from Demmy’s backpack and placed it over his eyes.

The male Slayer whimpered and Buffy stood back frowning in frustration as the nurse came out and began tending to the student. Dawn moved close to her step-sister, looking worried.

She followed the Slayer out into the hallway. “Buffy?”

“What, runt?”

“What’s wrong with him?” Dawn asked softly. She had become quite fond of the older male teenager.

“Giles thinks that his body is trying to reject part of the DNA manipulation they did on him,” Buffy said sadly. “Like losing his senses occasionally.”

“But if his DNA is fighting his DNA…” Dawn pondered. “How can he survive that?”

“We don’t think he can,” Buffy said truthfully.

Dawn stopped walking, her jaw dropping in shock. “But… he… he can’t die!”

“Yeah he can,” Buffy said sadly, stopping and facing the young teen. “It’s not fair, he didn’t ask for this and it shouldn’t be happening to him but it is. We’ll try to make him as comfortable as possible and be the family he never had a chance at before.”

Dawn frowned and started walking again.

“Like you’re doing with me?” Dawn asked softly.

“Yeah,” Buffy smiled. “Good thing we like you.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Dawn muttered, playfully hitting the Slayer.

# # #

Willow and Tara laughed as they watched Buffy and Dawn play in the surf on the beach, trying to splash each other without getting soaked themselves. Both were failing miserably, getting very wet and laughing until they both fell into the water wrestling.

“Those two are doing well,” Tara giggled, leaning back into Willow’s arms.

The redhead nodded in agreement. “Nice to see. And look at Giles and Joyce Mom, finally relaxing.”

“He’s almost back to full strength,” Demmy agreed, rolling over onto his stomach, enjoying the California sun.

“I’m worried about that limp though,” Willow said thoughtfully. “That nerve damage isn’t healing like it should.”

“Giles says if he gets away with only a limp after all this time as a Watcher and living in Sunnydale, he’ll be happy,” Tara smiled, nuzzling Willow’s neck.

Demmy smiled and watched the older Slayer with obvious admiration as Buffy raced away from Dawn, squealing in mock terror from the seaweed in the teenager’s hands.

“I think they’ve bonded,” Willow grinned. “She’s always thought of Giles as dad-like. Having Dawn around is like it’s her own sister.”

“You two aren’t jealous of that?” Demmy asked, leaning on his elbows.

“No, just like we’re not jealous of the time Buffy spends with either of us,” Tara smiled. “I’m very sure of the love the three of us share and we can see how attached Buffy is becoming to Dawnie but it’s different.”

Demmy nodded slowly and thoughtfully. “I’m glad I was sent here and people are finally honest with me. They think I have a few months left and I’d rather be in California than Siberia,” he attempted to joke.

“Demmy, we’ll find answers,” Willow whimpered but the male Slayer shook his head.

“You aren’t scientists and they gave up years ago. It’s alright, really. Here I have friends, people that feel like family and I’m accepted. If I hadn’t been sent here I would have died a reject and alone. Here I can fight back a little.”

Giles was lying on a blanket with his head on Joyce’s lap, much like the girls nearby. He smiled as Joyce brushed his hair back and watched him.

“I love you, Rupert,” she said softy. “I’m glad Demmy and Dawn are here. You would have made a wonderful father.”

“Probably best I wasn’t, I was pretty shut down when I went back to school and the Council,” Giles sighed.

“She’s a lot like you,” Joyce smiled, watching her daughter and step daughter playing, the two girls moving to the blankets to dry off in the sun and work on their tans. “Stubborn, intelligent, and curious as hell.”

Giles smiled and nodded. “Yes, she’s grown a bit more serious since she saw Buffy on patrol. She realizes that vampires aren’t romantic figures who seduce young maidens but demons that rip your throat out and toss the body aside.”

”Thank God for that!” Joyce agreed. “Is she still resentful of you being a Watcher?”

“Buffy says she is a bit, picked that up from Ethan,” Giles sighed.

“Are you sure he isn’t up to something? I know he helped bring you back but he’s the last man on earth I’d ever trust,” Joyce complained.

Giles chuckled lightly. “I agree. I can’t see what he could be up to except complicating my life. Dawn’s not under a spell, is totally human and has my DNA. If it is a trick, she’s innocent in it.”

“I wish Anya and Xander had been able to come with us,” Joyce said wistfully after a few moments of watching the girls play.

“I know but Anya wanted to keep the shop open and Xander had to work,” Giles shrugged. “Brad and Theresa are out of town so it’s just us today. Our happy little band of Slayers and witches.”

“And one normal teenager,” Joyce reminded him.

“God, heaven help us with that one!” Giles teased.

# # #

Buffy hugged Tara from behind as the witch reached in the mini-van to grab the picnic basket and then squeaked herself when Willow tickled her ribs. The Slayer turned and chased Willow up the sidewalk as Willow screamed.

Dawn giggled as she reached for a water thermos, helping Tara as Joyce handed Giles his cane, watching him carefully for signs of pain.

The teen and witch closed the back of the van and started up the sidewalk when Dawn squeaked, falling backwards onto the curbside grass, a figure hovering over her.

“Hey!” Tara snapped as she grabbed the figure and moved him back from Dawn.

“Beautiful! The green surrounds her!” the man cried, not taking his eyes off of Dawn.

The teenager blinked as Giles and Joyce hurried around the van.

Tara was unsure what to do, the man was obviously homeless with tattered and filthy clothing, unkempt beard and hair but she wasn’t sure if he was dangerous or just insane and harmless or insane and dangerous.

The man looked at Giles and Joyce and laughed, stumbling off at a semi-trot.

“What the blazes?” Giles mumbled as Tara helped Dawn to her feet. Buffy and Willow came running out of the house to quickly check on the young teen and Tara.

“I don’t know,” Dawn complained. “Total homeless weirdo!”

“He didn’t’ seem to want to hurt her,” Tara said softly as Willow hugged her.

“Gee, a nutcase homeless person in Sunnydale, color me surprised,” Buffy mumbled, wrapping an arm around Dawn’s shoulders and grabbing the thermos. “Come on, brat, you’re still not off the hook for the dishes.”

“That is so not fair!” Dawn protested, pulling away from the Slayer.

“Hey, I don’t live here anymore! Your dishes!” Buffy yelled, chasing the teen.

“You ate the food on the plates!” Dawn shouted as she dashed through the door.

Joyce shook her head as Demmy watched the antics with a smirk. “Are you sure they aren’t related by blood?”

“No, just by spirit,” Joyce smiled. “Lets get this stuff inside. Are you staying for dinner, girls, and how is the new apartment?”

“It’s great!” Willow grinned. “Don’t have a lot of furniture but we’re young and healthy. It’s fun trying to agree on decorations and paint colors.”

“We’re meeting Anya and Xander for dinner though,” Tara added.

“Maybe tomorrow night?” Willow suggested.

“Then it’s the full moon and we’ll be at the crypt,” Tara said softly.

“How are the control issues going?” Joyce asked as Giles looked through the mail.

Willow shrugged and blushed slightly. “It’s okay, with everything with the Council and stuff, I’m still struggling a little. We’re thinking of taking a couple of weeks and going up to see the wolf clan.”

“That would be wonderful for all of you,” Joyce smiled and hugged Willow tightly. “Ru and I are going away for a long weekend, can you girls check in on Demmy and Dawn?”

“Sure,” Tara nodded and smiled. “Where are you heading?”

“Lake Tahoe, we need some R&R,” Joyce said softly, watching Giles move towards the kitchen, leaning heavily on his cane. “He’s been through so much lately.”

“You both have,” Willow corrected with a sad smile. She remembered Joyce refusing to leave Giles’ side when he was comatose.

“Getting away for a weekend will be good, especially away from Sunnydale,” Tara agreed.

# # #

Buffy frowned as she watched Willow rolling on the floor of the tomb as she changed from human to werewolf. Her lover had learned quite a bit of control during her time with the friendly werewolves in Luperacalia but after all the stress and touching negative magic with Rack, her control had slipped.

Being a full moon, the young witch had no control over the change and it apparently hurt still to change from humanoid to lupine.

The Slayer winced at the sound of cracking bones and cries of pain from Willow.

Buffy sighed as Tara walked up behind her and embraced the Slayer.

“She’ll be alright,” Tara said softly.

“It just hurts to see her in pain,” Buffy complained.

“I know, baby,” Tara sighed and pulled Buffy towards the air mattress on the floor. “Try and get some rest before you go out Slaying, okay?”

“Yeah, can you keep the wolf calm?”

“She’ll settle down in a few minutes,” Tara smiled as she picked up a book. “She likes it when I read to her.”

“Me too,” Buffy admitted as she laid down on the air mattress. “I’m going to drop by and check on Demmy and Dawn after patrol. Make sure she hasn’t talked him into breaking too many of the rules.”

“Sounds good,” Tara smiled, knowing that the precocious teenager could talk both Buffy and Demmy into almost anything except when it came to her safety, then Buffy put her foot down and stood her ground. Being the Slayer, Buffy knew what could be waiting for Dawn in Sunnydale after dark.

“What are we reading?” Buffy asked as she cuddled around Mr. Gordo.

“Watership Down,” Tara said softly.

“One of my favorites,” Buffy sighed and pulled a blanket over her head. “Willow too.”

“I’m not sure if the werewolf likes it but it seems to calm her. Maybe she dreams of chasing the rabbits,” Tara teased and heard an answering snort from under the blanket.

# # #

“Thanks for coming out with me, Xan,” Buffy smiled as staked a vampire and he fell over backwards with a squeak. The Slayer threw her stake and killed the vampire before his hand reached Xander’s neck.

“Uh, yeah,” Xander blinked, wiping the dust off his chest. “Anya’s counting the monthly receipts and stuff and hates it when I hover while she counts money.”

Buffy giggled and helped her friend to his feet.

“A quick run in the warehouse district and then pizza?” she suggested.

Xander perked up at the offer of food, just as Buffy knew he would.

“You bet, just… no more surprise vampires?” he begged. “I’m getting too old for this.”

“Hey!”

# # #

The two Scooby members started by another warehouse when Buffy stopped and glanced around.

“What is it, Buff? Vamps?” Xander asked softly, pulling out his stake.

“No, something different,” Buffy said slowly. The Slayer glanced around and jumped up to a fire escape ladder, pulling it down. “Something… cold and scary like.”

“Oh great,” Xander muttered, beginning to follow her up.

Buffy moved to a fire escape window and opened it, glancing inside carefully before dropping to the catwalk below. It felt vaguely familiar, something like the time she and Angel had overseen Spike and Drusilla with The Judge.

Xander followed, managing to be as quiet for once. The Slayer moved to look over the catwalk and blinked.

In the center of a blasted out ritual circle was a… monk? Xander looked at Buffy with raised eyebrows. The monk was tied to a chair and had been beaten, almost as bad as Buffy usually pounded on Ethan Rayne.

Squatting in front of the monk was a young male dressed in slacks and polo shirt.

“You know, when you think about it, I'm the victim here. First off, I don't even want to be here. And I'm not talking about this room or this city or this state or this planet. I'm talking about the whole mortal coil now, you know? It's disgusting!” the young man said, starting out softly but voice raising as he began to pace in front of the monk. “The food... the clothes... the people. I could crap a better existence than this.”

The youth looked possibly seventeen or eighteen and very boyish with carrot red hair, bright blue eyes, and face that would get him carded until he was forty.

“How old is he?” Xander hissed. “He looks like Oz in school.”

“Oz looked older,” Buffy whispered back, looking for a way down to the floor. She wasn’t sure if she was sensing occult evil or just witnessing a crime of some kind.

The youth backhanded the monk, snapping the religious man’s head back violently.

“But... okay- and feel free to tell me if this next part gets a little too personal, because I'm told I have boundary issues- but I'm hurt! Yes, by your incredibly selfish behavior. Newsflash, hairdo: it's not always about you. All I want is the Key! Why? Why can't you tell me where the Key is?”

Buffy and Xander moved along the catwalk, sticking to the shadows as they tried to find a ladder or something. Buffy wasn’t looking forward to jumping two flights down if this was a human threat. That was a little too high profile and she knew Xander couldn’t make the jump.

The monk groaned around the duct tape covering his mouth, closing his eyes.

“Oh! Forgive me... monky. Sometimes I just... I get so anxious- like there's something deep inside of me and it's swelling up and it's making me crazy!- that I forget there's all that duct tape on your face!”

The boy ripped the tape off violently from the monk’s mouth and smiled at him.

“He’s nuts! Totally loony tunes!” Xander whispered and Buffy nodded. There was something about the boy’s eyes that caused her to agree. “Damian lives!”

“Now... tell me where the Key is,” the boy insisted as he shoved his knuckles into the monk’s eyes and then wrenched his nose, causing it to begin bleeding.

“Zabbij me... zabbij me,” the monk whispered, his eyes fearful.

“Josve novem svete, tak prohoba speak American,” the youth shouted. “We're in the New World now so please, for God's sake, speak American,” he repeated in English.

“I... will tell you... nothing!” the monk snapped, spitting at the boy. “Zabbij me, Rufus Praetorious! Kill me!”

“Where is the Key!” the boy, Rufus shouted, backhanding the monk again and kicking him in the chest, knocking him over.

“Hey, enough you little twerp!” Buffy shouted and bounded over the railing. The Slayer landed on the floor in a crouch easily and looked up. “Where’d he go?”

“Took off as you dropped,” Xander yelled, leaning over the railing. “I think I see a ladder on the other side of the room.”

“Get there and help me with this monk guy,” Buffy yelled back. “Whoa, major beating.”

Buffy ran over to the man and pulled the chair upright and began working at his bounds.

“You must… protect…” he said softly.

“That’s me, I protect, that’s what I do,” Buffy tried to smile. “Don’t worry, I’m stronger than I look and I’ve had experience with stuff like this before. Best of all…”

The Slayer whirled and grabbed the boy Rufus by the throat, almost lifting him off his feet.

“I’m not stupid,” Buffy finished, her eyes serious.

Rufus, instead of whining, merely smirked at Buffy and hit her nose with the palm of his hand. The Slayer shook her head as she looked up from where she had fallen, a full fifty feet away from the monk against the wall. Cement dust floated down from where she had cracked the wall from the impact.

Buffy looked up as Rufus approached her. “You sure about that last part?”

“Listen, pipsqueak, I figure you’re not human, which means you’re fair game now,” Buffy growled as she jumped to her feet. “Take a hike and we’ll call it even.”

Rufus looked at the blonde with obvious contempt and grabbed her by the front of her shirt. He spun Buffy around and rammed her into the wall face first, widening the crack in the wall.

“And another thing? I just want you to know...” he shouted, slamming Buffy into a support pillar and hitting the blonde in the lower back.

“The whole ‘beat ya to death’ thing I'm doing with the monk? It's valuable time out of life that I'm never gonna get back. That really upsets me,” Rufus complained.

Buffy spun and swung at the boy only to have both her arms grabbed and wrenched downward, causing the Slayer to cry out in pain.

“Wait, I've always wanted to try this, you know, that thing with worms where if you have one, you rip it in half, you got two worms? Do you think that'll work with you?” Rufus grinned.

Buffy decided not to respond verbally, instead slamming her head into the youth’s face and breaking free.

Rufus stumbled back, his face reflecting massive shock. “You hit me! What, are you crazy?!”

Buffy ran through a series of kicks and punches that forced Rufus back several yards but they didn’t seem to hurt the boy at all.

“You can't go around hitting people,” Rufus protested. “You’re only a mortal! What, were you born in a barn? Fine. Be that way.”

Rufus blocked the next punch and shoved Buffy back into the wall and threw a punch of his own. The Slayer managed to dodge the blow and looked up as the boy’s hand punched through the cement.

Rufus shrugged and pulled his hand free as Buffy punched him in the ribs and he ignored it. The boy grabbed Buffy by the throat, lifting her off her feet and held her there.

“I just noticed something. You have super powers. That is so cool. Can you fly?” Rufus asked calmly and threw Buffy all the way across the room where Buffy landed next to the monk.

“Xander out of here!” Buffy shouted and grabbed the ropes holding the monk and snapping them. She pulled him out of the chair and to his feet.

“Hey! Hands off my holy man!” Rufus shouted.

Buffy picked the monk up and threw him over her shoulder. With a glance at the red-haired boy, she turned and ran for the nearest window.

“Hey! That’s mine!” Rufus shouted as he started to run after her.

Buffy landed on the ground below with a cry of pain and glanced back at the boy standing in the broken window frame.

Rufus was about to follow when he pulled back, looking at his hand. He turned from the window, picking at a splinter absently.

Xander jumped down from the fire escape ladder and helped Buffy to her feet and then picked the monk up. “Come on, the jeep is across the parking lot.”

Xander pushed the monk into the passenger seat as Buffy pulled from the other side. “Stop, please,” the man begged.

“We have to keep going,” Xander protested. “That dude will be out that door any moment.”

Buffy started the jeep as Xander climbed in the back. “Go! Go! You didn’t look like that was fun back there.”

“It wasn’t!” Buffy grumbled, peeling out of the parking lot. She drove quickly out of sight before turning on the lights. She took a round-about way towards the hospital.

“My journey's done, I think,” the monk whispered.

“Don't get metaphory on me,” Buffy snapped. “We’re almost to the hospital.”

“You have to... the Key. You must protect the Key,” the monk said softly.

“Fine,” Buffy agreed easily. “We can protect the Key together, okay, just far, far from that kid.”

“Many more die if you don't keep it safe,” the monk insisted.

“How? What is it?” Buffy demanded.

“The Key is energy. It's a portal. It opens the door...,” the monk gasped.

“The Hellgate?” Xander asked anxiously.

“No. For centuries it had no form at all. My brethren, its only keepers. Then the abomination found us. We had to hide the Key, gave it form, molded it flesh... made it human and sent it to you,” the monk explained. “You’re the Slayer, you protect mankind. You’ll protect it and the sorcerer.”

“Demmy?” Xander asked in disbelief.

“Dawnie?” Buffy asked at the same time.

“The Key… is with… your family…” the monk’s head fell forward.

“You put this energy thingy with my family? My mother? My dad-like?”

“We knew the Slayer would protect…” the monk nodded, trying to open his eyes.

“Hey! Undo this! I don’t want them at risk!” Buffy protested.

“The Key is now human. You cannot abandon your calling to protect,” the monk insisted. “It is human and helpless… totally innocent. The Key needs you.”

“Which one? Which one is just an energy thing that Carrot Top wants?” Buffy shouted, grabbing the monk by the robe as she stopped the jeep.

“The Key doesn’t know, we planted memories in the Key and everyone around…” the monk coughed and his head dropped, his breathing stopped.

“What the hell does that mean?” Xander demanded. “Demmy or Dawn isn’t real and that guy back there is willing to kill for him or her?”

“Looks like and we don’t know which one is The Key, who Carrot Top is and what the damned Key is in the first place,” Buffy muttered. “Let’s drop him somewhere and get home.”

“Buffy? What’d we do?” Xander asked quietly as he pulled the monk out and moved the body to a bench in the park.

”We go home, get Giles researching and we find answers,” Buffy frowned.

“You going to tell him his daughter might not be his daughter but some mystical Key thingy?”

Buffy frowned. “I don’t know. Maybe we won’t say its either Dawnie or Demmy.”

“And what was that guy? He tossed you around easy like!”

“Yeah, way easy,” Buffy agreed. “Research time.”

“Problem is Giles is out of town and Will is all furry tonight, tomorrow night and the next,” Xander complained.

“Yeah, means Will can search during the day though,” Buffy pointed out.

“You gonna call Giles and Joyce Mom back?”

“No, not until we know something, I won’t ruin their weekend,” Buffy frowned.

# # #

Giles leaned back into Joyce’s arms as they sat on a rock on the shore of Lake Tahoe. The snow wasn’t deep yet and there were plenty of trails leading down to the cold water. The light dusting made everything look beautiful, especially to the cold starved Englishman.

“Happy, Ru?” Joyce asked softly, moving her hands across his chest.

“Better than a long time,” he nodded. “You?”

“Much, much better,” Joyce smiled, kissing the top of his head. “You’re back, I now have a step-daughter, an adopted son and three daughters that are finally out of the house.”

Giles chuckled. “I love you, Joyce. I’m sorry I was gone so long, I couldn’t get it long enough to escape.”

“I know,” Joyce said softly. “Are you alright with coming back? Facing your past?”

Giles hesitated, pondering for a moment. “Yes and no. It wasn’t pleasant, especially knowing that Tara saw… everything, things I’ve even blocked from my mind, and that Buffy saw quite a bit as well.”

“They love you, Rupert,” Joyce reminded him, hugging him tight. “More than Willow and Tara do their own fathers, I think.”

“I wish it hadn’t happened,” Giles admitted. “Every once in awhile I see Tara watching me and blushing, I can see MY memories in her eyes. Hurts a bit.”

“And Ethan?” Joyce asked. “Having him help you and back in your life in some ways?”

“Very strange and I’m not sure that I like it,” Giles admitted. “In fact, I know I don’t like it. I don’t mind him helping but being in my life I object to.”

“Why? Besides the fact that he’s always bringing trouble every time he shows up?” Joyce smiled softly. “Is it because you’re still bothered by your former relationship with him?”

Giles blushed and he started to pull away but Joyce tightened her hug.

”Rupert, I love you,” she said softly but firmly. “I love all of you and all of your past because it brought you to me and made you the man you are today. One that I am extremely proud to call my husband. I don’t care that you were with men and women both, as long as we’re faithful to each other now.”

“Forever, luv,” Giles whispered and turned in her arms, kissing her passionately and moving her back on the rock. “That was a long time ago.”

“And the police car wasn’t that long ago,” Joyce teased, smacking his chest softly. “We are not repeating that on a rock!”

Giles laughed and bit her neck slightly and pulled back.

“Let’s go back inside by the fire then,” he suggested and Joyce’s heart soared, seeing the pain and weariness gone from his eyes that had plagued him since coming out of the coma.

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