Continuation From Last Post

News had gotten back to the Scooby HQ that Dawn had been found alive, and in more or less one piece, at least she was still breathing, and not six feet underground like everyone feared. As soon as Buffy found out Dawn had been missing, she was out there on the streets day and night doing what she normally did, only ten times more intense, in fact she almost torn up the city in the search for Dawn. That was the problem now, Buffy was still out there, somewhere, carrying on the search, Willow and everyone else tried to find her and tell her the good news. But nobody could reach her up on her cell, and all others forms of finding Buffy, seemed to come back blank every single time, even when Willow cast a spell that created a big ball of blue light, it was meant to lead them to Buffy, but all it did was spin around the room before exploding into a small a ray of fireworks.

Nobody could understand why nothing was working, not even Giles, who had spent the past two nights pacing a hole into the floor of the magic store. The search for Buffy was still ongoing, but someone had to go to the hospital, and check up on Dawn, it also had been a few weeks since she had seen a friendly face. So it was decided that for now Willow would go to the hospital, and be at Dawn's bed side, until Buffy was tracked down, and told of the news. It was something Willow wanted to do, and yet on the other hand it was something she didn't really want to do, she wanted to be there for Dawn of cause, after everything they had been through back in Sunnydale, and then in New York City, Dawn was like a younger sister to Willow.

It was just that Willow didn't feel all that comfortable in a hospital, of course who didn't feel uncomfortable, in a place where there was sick, and even dying. With Willow however it was more than just feeling unnerved or uncomfortable, the red haired Wiccan felt that way on the daily bases. No for Willow it was to do with the fact that, when something went wrong in her life it always seemed to end up within a hospital, whether it was herself hurt or injured, or if it was someone she really cared about. To Willow hospital's were a bad omen, and if she could help it then she would avoid them like the black plague, unfortunately that wasn't an option now, and Willow had to walk in through the doors of the place, after she took in a very deep breaths, and composed herself of course.

Once in through the front door, Willow made her way up to the front desk, and asked the nurse behind the counter which room Dawn was in, when the nurse gave Willow the information she wanted. Willow nodded her head and smiled politely toward the nurse, before she made her way down the hall to stand in front of an elevator; she pushed the button and waited for the doors to open. When the doors opened, a tall rather mean looking guy (Killian), stepped out and bumped into Willow's shoulder, instead of turning around and apologizing, the guy carried on walking without missing a beat in his step. As Willow watched the guy walk away, she rubbed her shoulder, and sighed gently to herself with a disapproving shake of her head. What happened to the age where gentlemen were gentlemen... Willow thought to herself, as she stepped in through the elevator doors.

The rest of the trip to Dawn's room went by without any further incident, and within no time Willow found herself stood outside of Dawn's door. Before Willow opened the door, she took one last deep inhale of breath; she then twisted the handle, and made her way inside the room with a warm, wide and reassuring smile upon her lips. "Hey Dawnie!...it's me Willow... There was more to the greeting, but Willow seemed to trail off, and get all frowny, and panty, as she normally did when she found something unsettling or uncomfortable.

This time it was the sight of Dawn all battered and bruised, as if she was some piece of meat, which had been ripped apart by all kinds of predators. Without saying anything more, or thinking it through first, Willow walked up to the side of the bed, and pulled Dawn into a warm, embracing hug. Willow then realized that any sudden movements might be painful for the young woman, when the realization washed over Willow like a tidal wave, she took a step backward, and covered her mouth with both her hands. Ohohohoh I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry Dawnie, what..hmm..what happened? Who...Who did this to you?" Willow said as she lowered her hands, and moved in to gently cradle Dawn in a tender and friendly embrace.

Silence filled the room following Killian's chilling departure. It was the look that he gave with his eyes, a message that was crystal clear. The vampire wasn't playing around, he said he would take things to the next level if she were to provoke him. The previous hour had been such a whirlwind. The revelation that Killian was in fact a powerful and sinister vampire gutted her. Her judgement clearly had been lacking while she had been living in the city on her own, before the Scoobies followed suit. While she had coerced herself into forgetting Killian's alter-ego Travis a year before, Dawn couldn't help but suffer the loss of that relationship once more. Killian's visit today rocked her to her core. Tears began to well up in the ducts of her eyes before spilling down her pale cheeks. It surprised her that she could go from hating him several minutes ago, to mourning the loss of "Travis," despite the fact that "Travis" was definitely flawed. His blood had some effect on her. The other vampire on her mind was Eric Northman, and she still was very much enthralled by him and his effect on her.

Dawn looked down at her blood stained hospital gown. Killian had placed a white robe on top of her bed, which she was to change into. It would look highly suspicious if she had blood on her gown with no open wound. There was no easy way to maneuver her way out of the gown without disconnecting some wires, which was not her her agenda for the foreseeable future. Dawn simply draped the robe over the front of her gown and then pulled the blankets up over top of the robe. That should be sufficient, she thought. The time between Killian leaving and the arrival of her next visitor was only a matter of minutes. The door opened and Willow Rosenberg entered the hospital room.

A wave of relief swept over her broken body. It was actually nice to see someone she knew that was in fact living for once. There was also the fact that Willow was a really powerful witch, that gave her a feeling of security. "Willow?" She almost couldn't believe that the witch was here. You're here? I'm not hallucinating am I?" The red-head approached the bed and wrapped her arms around her, pulling Dawn into a hug. She winced as the embrace was just a little too tight, her body was still slightly sore from her ordeal. "It would be better if I wait to disclose what happened until Buffy gets here. I don't think that I would have the strength to tell it more than once."

And where was Buffy? There hadn't been so much as a sign of her sister since she had been admitted to the hospital. It was highly suspect. Dawn's face was overcome with worry as she looked at Willow searching for answers. Why did they sent Willow? Did something happen to my sister? Dawn was already on edge following her conversation with Killian. If he had done something to Buffy he would have said so…right? Willow had been the one to deliver the bad news to Angel after Buffy sacrificed herself to save the world. She could only hope this was different. "Willow…where is my sister? Did something happen while I was gone?"

One of the other reasons why Willow didn't like hospitals, was because she was always the one to deliver bad news about someone, whether it was reporting back to the rest of the scoobies, informing them that someone else has died, or whether its visiting someone that Willow could had saved herself, like the situation now. Willow had always made sure to look after Dawn, even when Buffy was dead and six foot underground, the once Key to the end of the world was like a sister to Willow.

So when news reached the Slayer HQ that Dawn had been found, and in a very messed up state, both mentally and physically, Willow's heart sank like a stone in water. If Willow had only kept a closer eye on Dawn, and wasn't so caught up in her own mess with Kennedy and Whiskey, she might have stopped this situation from ever happening in the first place, and Dawn wouldn't be in so much pain right now.

It was made clear how much pain and suffering Dawn had gone through over the past few weeks, when she made the comment about only being strong enough to tell the story once. When Willow heard those words, it made her heart sink even further, and caused her facial expression to take on an expression of guilt and self blame. "Oh Dawn....I’m so so sorry, I should have been there for you, I should have spent more time with you. I've just been so caught up in my own mess just recently I...ohohoh how about when you get out of here I make it up to you and take you to that little ice cream place you love so much? You know the one on 5th?"

When she first started to talk, Willow's stammer was very strong, as it normal was when she was dealing with something uncomfortable, and that made her feel guilty. The stammer didn't get any better toward the end of Willow's, rather fast pitched, shaky way to change the subject, in fact the only thing that changed was the tone took on a more cheery one, which made Willow sound like Micky mouse with a stammer.

When Dawn inquired about Buffy, a question Willow was hoping to avoid, but she understood the reason behind such a question. Before Willow addressed the rather difficult situation, she looked down Dawn's broken body, and noticed some fresh blood upon Dawn's robe. "Oh...hmm shot you're...you're still bleeding...I'll get the nurse...". As Willow talked she waved her hand up and down in front of the blood in question, she then stood up off the bed and pressed the call button upon the wall a few times, hoping that the nurse or doctor would arrive soon, and at least delay the situation some, which would give Willow time to think up her response to Dawn's question about Buffy.

It was evident to Dawn, given Willow's tone of voice and body language, that the red-headed witch was uncomfortable with the situation. It should of been her sister who was in that room with her, probing her for answers. That's how the plan was to play out. The slayer would go after the new sheriff, Killian Brandt. This is what Eric wanted, so therefore it was also was Dawn wanted too. "Willow, you don't have to put on a brave face with me. I'm not a kid anymore, so much has happened that there is just no escaping it."

"Ice cream does sound good right about now. Although, I wouldn't be able to indulge quite as much as my younger self back in Sunnydale. " Dawn offered Willow a friendly smile. It was no secret that Dawn would get ice cream with Willow and Tara back in Sunnydale. Those were happy memories for her. The two of them helped her through the period of time when her mother was sick and her subsequent death. Like Willow, Tara's death had hit Dawn hard. Of course Dawn didn't go off the deep end like Willow did, but she mourned for awhile in her own way.

"Oh...hmm shot you're...you're still bleeding...I'll get the nurse…"


Dawn's eyes widened in alarm and she pulled the covers on the bed completely over her body to conceal the sight of the blood on her gown. A nurse opened the door and stepped inside shortly after the button was pressed. "Sorry. My friend hit the button by accident, sorry for bothering you." As soon as the nurse left Dawn let out a sigh of relief. Well, this is awkward. Dawn didn't know how to address her sudden, rash behavior. The blood on her gown was not helping her cause. "The blood isn't mine." It would not be easy to keep the conversation from dealing with issues from her past. The logical thing for Dawn to do would be to deal with the issue head on. "It's good that you're sitting down." Dawn paused for a moment to collect herself before continuing.

"While I was out here on my own for college, my lifestyle choices were not exactly ideal. I met a guy who I fell head over heels for. He got me hooked on drugs, primarily V. We spent a few years together, until last year he was arrested for dealing and sent to prison. Some catch, huh? So, imagine my surprise when I come face to face with my kidnapper and it's him. He's so much different, no longer the guy that I fell hard for. That's when he dropped the bombshell on me. He was a vampire, and old one in fact. Much older than Angel. He had pretended to be a human for who knows what reasons? In the time that he kept me locked away, I was beaten, raped, bitten, and forced to drink his blood. I managed to escape, I don't even know how. It's all kind of hazy. He paid me a visit right before you came, brought me flowers and vials of his blood. I spilled one on my gown, the others he forced down my throat after he fed off of me. My kidnapper's name is Killian Brandt. He's the new vampire sheriff of New York City. If that's not fucked up, than I don't know what is."

Her mind drifted back to the thought of her sister. Willow had avoided her questions on her sister's whereabouts, and she was acting strange. "Is Buffy dead?" It was a blunt and valid question. The witch had done nothing to ease her fears on the matter. "Just tell me what's going on Willow. I have a right to know."

Willow watched on the edge of the bed as Dawn told the nurse it was a mistake that the call button was hit, which only made the red haired Wiccan very confused. If the blood wasn't Dawn's then where did the blood come from? A question that didn't go unanswered for long as Dawn began to explain what had happened to her over recent weeks, the frown upon Willow's forehead went from one of sadness and sorrow, to one of extreme anger and hatred for the one that did all those nasty things to someone so young. There was also a small amount of shock to learn that Dawn had been on drugs, especially something as strong, and as dangerous as V. Willow never really had that much experience with drugs, at least not normal types of drugs, only the kind that were more magical in nature, and even then it was more about the power rush that came along with using and feeling magic.

The little Willow knew about V was from stories, and rumours that had been going around the magical world, even before the ugenta's came out of the coffin. There were stories about a special type of vampire blood that could be used for all types of things, things that were very powerful and yet very dark, and dangerous. Willow thought Dawn had more about her, and would have known from personal experience from the things back in Sunnydale that anything to do with a vampire, any kind of vampire, was never good news, and should be avoided at all cost.

Now however it seemed as if Dawn was just like any other normal young person, who was too stupid and naive to know any better, although she couldn't be blamed fully for what happened. "I'm...disappointed in you Dawn, after everything we have been through both here and back in Sunnydale. You should have known better, as soon as this Killian person offered you anything like V, you should have walked away, or at least told one of us about what he was trying to make you do. He'll get what’s coming to him don't you worry, no one messes with our Dawnie, and gets away with it." Willow's stammer wasn't as strong as it was early, it was strong enough however to still be noticeable, and strong enough to know that Willow was still uncomfortable and now rather upset with Dawn.

Before Willow could continue on with her righteous lecture about the dangers of V, Dawn asked yet again about Buffy, and asked if she was dead. It was then Willow's frown lifted slightly, and her facial expression changed to one of slight panic and nervousness, which was emphasized by Willow's left hand that moved up and down in the air gently. "Ohohoh...no nothing that serious, no she's just out working on a very important lead. We think someone might be trying to break the seal upon the hellmouth within New York, so Buffy is out there doing what she does best kicking ass and taking names. We've let her know about you, so she'll drop by later to see if you're alright." After she had explained about Buffy, Willow smiled briefly and took Dawn by the hand to reassure her that everything was going to be okay. But the smile and the reassuring period ended when Willow got back to the matter of Dawn's V addiction. "Why Dawn? Why didn't you get in touch with someone or tell some about this Killian guy the moment he offered you V?"

It wasn't a surprise to Dawn that Willow was upset with her. Based on the way Willow was carrying herself through the conversation, it seemed like the witch was unsettled in some way. A part of her was let down by Willow's reaction. Of all people, Willow should know what it's like to be addicted to something, to be seduced by dark elements. Dawn had been along for the ride, literally. Fortunately for Dawn, she only walked away from that accident with her arm in a sling. "The sooner Buffy eliminates him the better. He won't stop until he has me again."

Dawn was hurt by the fact that Buffy hadn't shown up to the hospital yet. Not only that, she was agitated as well. Eric had meticulously planned her release and subsequent actions, to set his agenda into motion. She was fully dedicated to carrying that plan out, even more so now that she really knew who Killian Brandt was. If Buffy wasn't going to come, then there was no reason why other slayers couldn't go after Killian. However, it was not in Dawn's best interest to disclose certain details of her life to these outsiders. While Buffy may be the head of The Slayer Organization, Dawn did not trust any of the slayers within the group except for a select few. Faith would be a good person to send after Killian. She would be able to relate to doing stupid things for a guy.

"I'm sure you're right Will. I think if Buffy were in trouble we would know about it by now. At least I would hope so." She offered Willow a smile. "I understand if you want to bail. Hospitals are not exactly my favorite places either." Dawn immediately thought back to when her mom was sick and then ultimately passed away. Her cousin Celia had died in a hospital and Buffy had been there. Nothing good had ever come out of being in hospitals for her family. "If you want something witchy to do, perhaps you could rescind Killian's invitation from my place? I can't believe he had me fooled for so long. I'm embarrassed to be Buffy's sister."