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© 2003 Red Wolf %57%65%62 %44%65%73%69%67%6E — All rights reserved
Alley 08: Respite

Respiteby Red Wolf

Dawn had finished tending the results of Spike's latest encounter with her sister and was fetching blood from the fridge when she saw the crypt door start to open. She raised her crossbow to chest level and waited for the intruder to enter, when Tara stepped into the crypt.

Tara was a little surprised to be greeted by an armed Dawn and noted that, while the girl lowered her weapon, she didn't set it aside. "How is he?" she asked in genuine concern.

"Conscious..." Dawn paused to let the impact of the word sink in. "For a change. It was mostly bruises this time, but I think there's a couple of cracked bones in his wrist."

Tara winced in sympathy and dropped her eyes, not willing to meet Dawn's direct gaze. "Buffy's at the Magic Box. She's very upset."

"I suppose Spike is to blame for everything." Dawn snorted in derision, she doubted Buffy was worried about Spike's welfare and was instead more concerned that her friends would discover she wasn't the princess they thought she was. Dawn had witnessed the messy consequences of far too many Slayer tantrums of late and wasn't prepared to be charitable towards her sister at the moment.

"She didn't make a lot of sense." Tara sighed. "She just said that Spike had been hurt and you were helping him. I thought you might need a hand."

Smiling for the first time since Tara arrived, Dawn visibly relaxed, the tension in her chest unwinding slowly, like a clock spring. She wasn't surprised that the only one of her friends who'd bothered to check on her and Spike was Tara.

"What happened?"

"Buffy happened." Dawn's furious look startled Tara, the girl's anger was still close to the surface. "She's been using Spike as a punching bag to avoid dealing with the fact that she's alive again. Somehow, screwing my best friend and beating the crap out of him makes her feel better about herself."

Tara blanched in shock, she knew about Buffy's relationship with Spike, but was horrified to learn that it extended to physical abuse.

"He can't stay away from her and I'm terrified she'll end up killing him." Dawn's fingers tightened into a fist, her nails biting into her palm to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. "If she actually bothers to ask, tell Buffy I won't be coming home. I'm staying here with Spike."

Tara nodded and gave Dawn a quick hug. "I'll let everyone know and bring you some clothes and other things over tomorrow."

Dawn thanked her and barring the door after Tara's departure, returned downstairs with the blood for Spike.
15 Minute Ficlets — word #49: spring

Published Babble Horde — 06.04.2004
Published deviantART — 28.04.2004
Published fanfiction.net — 08.05.2004
Published Little Girl Lost — 08.05.2004
Published Forever Fandom — 08.05.2004
Published The Slayer's Fanfic Archive — 25.07.2004

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Comments

Tara! Yay! I'm not sure how much sense I'm making, but the was wonderful and I'm happily awaiting the next peek into this !verse. Your characterizations are perfection. ::pets poor Spike:: — via LiveJournal — posted by MAC at 07.04.2004 08:29 AEST | #
Happy to provide your fix for the day — via LiveJournal — posted by Red Wolf at 07.04.2004 08:29 AEST | #
OOh! Preeety!

Love strong Dawn.
Love blushing Tara.
Love hurtyhurty Spike.

LoveLoveLove. ::sigh:: — via LiveJournal — posted by Snowpuppies at 07.04.2004 08:30 AEST | #
Many thanks — via LiveJournal — posted by Red Wolf at 07.04.2004 08:31 AEST | #
You brought in Tara; I must now adore you. Seriously, though — I agree with others. The characterizations are spot on. More, it's fascinating to get a look into what happens when Dawn takes an active role in Spike's life. Always happy to see more of this 'verse — via LiveJournal — posted by Willa at 07.04.2004 08:32 AEST | #
It does seem a shame that Dawn was relegated to the background in season six and seven. At least I get to make up for that oversight now.

But then I guess the powers that be didn't get your letter requesting they sack all the girls, lock the male characters in a room together, throw in some oil and see what happens, either. A bit disappointing that — via LiveJournal — posted by Red Wolf at 07.04.2004 08:32 AEST | #
More of a damned shame, if you ask me... but at least I can play with them and force them to do my evil bidding in stories. ;) — via LiveJournal — posted by Willa at 07.04.2004 08:34 AEST | #
Somehow, screwing my best friend and beating the crap out of him makes her feel better about herself — Love angry Dawn, willing to take care and protect Spike from Buffy/himself.

Love understanding Tara.

Can't wait for the next part! — via LiveJournal — posted by Leni at 07.04.2004 08:35 AEST | #
Angry Dawn is always fun and Tara is adorable, so how could I not include her — via LiveJournal — posted by Red Wolf at 07.04.2004 08:36 AEST | #
Brave-pretty-Dawn with a crossbow in her hand! all the baddies, demons and humans(Buffy, of course!!), will tremble in front of that image!!! :)

And yay!! a scene with Tara too! ::hugs Tara!::

I love the Alley!verse !!! :) — via LiveJournal — posted by enn_enn at 07.04.2004 08:37 AEST | #
Glad you're enjoying the ride — via LiveJournal — posted by Red Wolf at 07.04.2004 08:37 AEST | #
Ah if only this actually did occur. I was really peeved when the Spike-Dawn relationship came to an abrupt halt in season six, and think things could have gone a lot better had he had Dawn's support. The entire onscreen situation was total crap, if you ask me.

Anyway, good work. A lot darker than your usual works, but still just as enjoyable. Nice touch with Tara added in there — I always imagined her, Dawn and Spike developing a pretty friendly relationship over the summer between seasons five and six.

I hope alley!verse will end with something alternate to Seeing Red — that episode just killed me. o_o Keep up the good work — via fanfiction.net — posted by Radia at 07.04.2004 08:40 AEST | #
Ohhh... Tara enters and finds out about Buffy's nasty habits. And the plot thickens... — via LiveJournal — posted by Dawn S at 07.04.2004 08:41 AEST | #
Let's see how Buffy worms her way out of this one — via LiveJournal — posted by Red Wolf at 07.04.2004 08:41 AEST | #
loved that, can't wait to find out how buffy is going to get out of these one. She still has xander though lol — posted by welshy at 08.04.2004 04:51 AEST | #
I love your Dawn. I love your Dawn. And, oh, did I mention I love your Dawn? 'Cause I really do!

I never could quite figure why Dawn, the epitome of "You're not Mom, you can't order me around" stopped going to see Spike because Buffy didn't like him anymore. I like your version better.

"Somehow, screwing my best friend and beating the crap out of him makes her feel better about herself."

I love this line. See, Spike can be a good influence on young girls! He teaches them insight and biting sarcasm! :-) — via LiveJournal — posted by Elizabeth Culmer at 09.04.2004 11:36 AEST | #
I thrilled that you love my Dawn. And loved that you pointed out Spike's influences on Dawn — good from her point of view, possibly not so good from Buffy's when she's on the receiving end — via LiveJournal — posted by Red Wolf at 09.04.2004 11:38 AEST | #
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