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Wish Stone Spike gets his hands on a vengance Demons pendant ... and loses it
By alex (blackmarblesphere@yahoo.co.uk)
Spike rubbed his hands together in glee as he surveyed his prize. It sat alone on the coffee table of his crypt.
"My precious ." He admired the pendant and cackled gleefully. Popping the ring pull on a can of beer, he wondering just how much it was worth. And knowing how it actually worked might be a good idea, too. Spike had learnt that after the little incident with the Ring of Change. Magic could be a dangerous thing. Stupid artefact! he had clearly stated that he wanted to be a were-TIGER, but three hours as a kitten in the same house as Dru praying for his morphagenic field to right itself had been ... an experience.
Spike picked up the pendant carefully, turning it slowly in the light and studying the stones shifting hues of colour in the crypts poor light. He could ask Anya how to work the thing, but she might get ideas and in any case Spike had no intention of letting the Scoobies know he had a vengeance demons wishing Stone. Visions of a chipless Spike eating them all one by one made him smile, as did an image of Tara and Willow as his adoring slaves or Xander in lederhosen.
"Cripes!" Spike shook his head and gulped a mouthful of beer in alarm; chip must be turning his brain to mush or something. All the more reason to get it out of his head as rapidly as possible. "I wish ... " Spike paused, wondering how to word his desire in such a way that his head didnt explode. These things were tricky, he knew, and just saying ‘I wish the chip was out of my head" might involve it bursting through his forehead with maximum gore.
"Hmm." His thoughts were interrupted as the door burst open and the slayers sister strode in. He closed his hands around the pendant; hiding it from view.
"What you got there?" she asked, smiling at him.
"Nothing." He glanced over her shoulder. "You bunking school again?"
"Free period."
She was getting to be almost as good a liar as he was. "Big sis knows youre here?"
"Ha .. Ha." She treated the comment with the derision it deserved, plonking herself onto the sofa beside him. Things had been hard for the nibblet lately; maybe he would wish her a boyfriend, or something to clear up the acne. Possibly a brother-in-law; Buffy might see him in a whole new light soon.
"Lets see!" She demanded; holding out her hand as Spike moved away.
"See what?"
"Whatever it is your hiding, Spike."
"You have a nasty suspicious mind, just like your sister." He admonished.
She pouted, "If you dont let me see; I'll tell Buffy you stole her sweat pants."
"You do and I'll tell her you skip school."
"I'll tell her you put sugar in Xanders gas tank."
"I'll tell her that you got a crush on Giles."
"Do NOT!" Dawn screeched, "Now let me SEE!" She made a grab for Spikes hand. He laughed, holding the pendant out of her reach.
"Ok, ok ... I'll let you see, but you got to keep it quiet, like. Dont want big sis knowing ALL my secrets."
"Girl Scouts honour."
"Cross your heart and hope to die?" He vamped out momentarily, chuckling as she jumped in alarm.
"SPIKE! That is so lame." She grumbled as he let his face return to its human visage.
"But it is so much FUN!" He dangled the pendant in front of her eyes, "What you think, snacklet?"
"Pretty ugly stone." Was her opinion as she snatched at it. Spike moved it rapidly out of her reach.
"Not meant for lookin' at." He growled, "Its magic."
"Where you get it?"
"Vengeance demon was wondering around the cemetery last night, drunk as a skunk." He smirked, "Got it off of her, didnt I?"
"You killed her?" Dawns eyes widened.
"Nah, silly bint fell over and banged her head on a grave stone. Out like a light she was, so I helped myself."
"Stealing wrong!" She admonished sternly, if somewhat hypocritically.
"Hello!" he tapped her head lightly with his knuckles, "Evil monster to Dawn."
"Uhh ... I guess." She frowned, "What you going to do with it?"
"Thought I could get the chip out."
"Buffy would SO stake you." Dawn warned, not liking the sound of that idea one bit.
"Yeah well, maybe I'll wish her head to explode its big enough." He puffed his cheeks, putting a hand each side of his head, and moving them outwards, "Pooofff!"
"It is not!"
"Is too!"
"Anya used to be a REAL vengeance demon, and SHE couldn’t take Buffy." Dawn sniffed,
"What makes you think YOU can?"
"Because I am wise, and powerful, and command the power of The Wish." He intoned solemnly, "And I can do anything I like, so NAH!"
"Yeah, right! I bet you dont even know how to work that thing."
"cant be that hard if Anya used to do it." Spike reasoned.
"HA!" Dawn snorted, "monkey with a bandsaw."
"Just for that I'mm going to wish you the biggest, yellowiest spot in the world right on the end of your nose."
"You wouldnt!" She paled, truly alarmed for the first time.
"Oh?" he swung the pendant nonchalantly, "Wouldnt I?"
"DAWN!" vampire speed or not, she had somehow snatched the wishing stone from his grasp and jumped off the sofa, glaring at him.
"I'm going to wish you bald!" She threatened.
"Give it back!" Spike dived for her legs, but she had already broken for the door. Running out into the sunlight and smirking at him from the safety of the outdoors.
"I'm going to eat your brain!" Spike spluttered with rage, "I'm going to feed you to.... to to....something."
"Play nice, Spike!" She swung the pendant. "If you're nice, I'll wish you some turtle wax to polish your head with."
"Dawn..." Spike took a deep breath, "Thats not a toy, pet. Be a good girl and give it back before something horrible happens."
"More horrible then giant spots?"
"I was only joking, you know I wouldnt do anything like that." He smiled.
"I bet you were planning to turn Buffy into your love slave!" Dawn said, happily revelling in her momentary power, "I can JUST imagine the sort of things you would wish for."
"I'm sure you cant." Well, not unless she was seriously disturbed.
"I think that this will be MUCH safer right here." She fastened the pendants chain around her neck carefully, smiling at him.
"And what do you think youre going to DO with it?" Spike folded his arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Uhh .... I wish...I wish I had some cookies!"
"DAWN!" Spike yelled a warning just as she heard the whistling noise coming from above, looking up in alarm Dawn threw herself to one side as a wooded crate impacted the ground where she had been standing, bursting open and Spilling choc chip cookies over the damp grass.
"Wow." she gulped, picking herself up, "that was....Cool."
"Are you alright?" Spike asked with genuine concern in his voice.
"Cookies!" Dawn laughed, grabbing a handful and throwing them into the air, "Cookies beyond my wildest dreams!" She bit into one, "Ughh...I wanted-"
"DON'T!" Spike snapped, "Dont even THINK about saying anything! Now give me the bloody stone back before you get yourself killed. You're too immature to use it."
"Immature?" Dawn narrowed her eyes, "Me, immature?"
"Er, what I meant is that you're not as... as Uhm..." Spike smiled desperately, "As knowledgeable as me, is all. Not as old, see?"
She glared.
"Come on, Dawn, dont be like that! You know I like you.... understand you, like."
"I wish you did!"
<
Chapter Two
William walked into the crypt, plonking himself onto the sofa and asked. "What you doing?"
"Evil, sick stuff that would warp you mind." Dawn was thumbing through a well worn copy of Playgirl, a cigarette hanging out of her mouth.
"Let's see!" He leaned over to look.
"Bit of a poof are we?" She enquired with a smirk.
"Ewwww!" Spike went red, jumping backwards in alarm.
"Nothing to be ashamed of....I meam, I'm sure its genetic or something and That sister of yours is a bit butch."
"Buffy is NOT!" Spikes lower lip jutted out in indignation.
"Just playing with you." She mussed his hair, tossing the magazine into the corner, "So, what was school like?"
"Horrible." Spike made a face, "Darn algebra!"
"Dont worry,Just a few more years, and you can quit school to work at the car wash."
"I' going to be a famous writer." Spike stuck his nose in the air, "You wait and see."
"Yeah I'm sure you will." Dawn suppressed a giggle.
"Will too!" He fumbled in his bag for a dog-eared notebook and well chewed bic, "Just need to do some more research."
"Yes?" Dawn smiled, "And this research wouldnt be asking someone all kinda personal stuff?"
"Come on, Dawn, you know you love talking about yourself." Spike grinned, "Give!"
"Ok, short stop, what you wanna know?"
##
Dawn leaned forwards, letting her words sink in as she spoke slowly, "And then he said ,,,, "
"Yes?" Spike licked his dry lips anxiously, pad and pen long forgotten.
"He said..." She looked around as if to check that no one else was present, "He said.... ARghhhhhhhhh!"
"Dawn!" Spike lay on the floor where he had rolled in alarm, pale and shaking as he glared,
"That was mean!"
"Funny though." Dawn giggled at his face, kid was so easy to frighten. It felt good to be able to scare someone, well anyone. , "Oh, dont be such a girl." She leaned forwards and held out a hand.
"I was'nt frightened." He tried to maintain his dignity, difficult under the circumstances.
"'Course you werent."
The door to the crypt was banged open as Buffy walked in, looking around, "Whats going on?"
"Short stop popped over for a visit." Dawn shrugged.
"Spike!" the slayers voice was irritated, "What do you think your doing?"
"Research."
"I see..." her eyes moved over the pizza box and cans of drink, "Have you been giving my little brother beer?"
"Oh, like I'm going to give a minor booze!" Dawn shrugged innocently, "He can get himself a fake ID like everyone else."
"See you dont." Buffy said warningly, "Come on William, you need to be inside. Its late."
Spike flushed, he hated being called by his real name.
"Yes Buffy." He grabbed his school bag, looking sulky and following her outside.
"You wait 'till I tell mom you were hanging out with Dawn." She told him as they walked across the grass towards the exit.
"OH BUFFY!" he whined.
"Dont oh Buffy me! It is NOT ok for you to hang out with Dawn." Buffy made a face, "Shes evil, and icky."
"Dawns not icky..." Spike cursed the words as soon as they were out of his mouth. Buffy frowned.
"I mean shes cool." He gulped at his big sisters expression, "I mean shes interesting..."
Uhh-ho, he just kept on digging that hole....
"You have a crush on her!" Buffy sniggered.
"Do not!"
"You do too!" Buffy burst out laughing, "Oh dear.... Spikes in loooooove!" She covered her mouth, trying to smother her grin, "You wait till I tell the Scoobies."
"You wouldnt!" his cheeks were burning with embarrassment.
"Spikeys got a girlfreind..." she taunted, "Ohhhhhhh.... how ROMANTIC."
"Shut up!"
"I wonder what she'¢d say if I told her about the three copies of Penthouse under your mattress?"
"How do you kn- I DONT!"
"Do too!" Buffy laughed, "May, December and June."
"Dawns right, you ARE a lesbian!"
"Huh?"
"Would'nt be looking other wise!" Spike dodged out of her reach.
"Buffy is a lesbo!"
"You wait “till I catch you!" Buffy warned.
##
Dawn was asleep in bed, enjoying her dream. It involved eating Buffy, beating Dru, and lots of hot sex with Angel. As dreams went, it was quite convoluted, but most enjoyable. She was just getting to the part where she tore Angels shirt off while a bound and gagged Dru watched helplessly when Xander burst in wielding a stake.
"Yo, dead girl!"
"What do you want, creep?" She asked, "And how come you're naked? Thats just dumb...Even for you."
"I dont know." He shrugged, not being the brightest spark in the fire, "Your dream."
"Oh God!" She sat bolt upright in the bed, jerked awake by the horror.... "Oh God, please no."
##
Xander shook his head. He stabbed another pork ball with his chopsticks and shoved it into his mouth. "Buffy thinks Spikes got a thing about Dawn... Icky much?"
"Huh?" Anya looked shocked.
He shrugged, "Hormones....The curse of the adolescent male."
"No...." She shook her head, "Boys of that age- its a well know fact that they prefer blonds!"
"Yeah, thats what I told her." Not listening Xander shook the carton of take away, spying another pork ball he impaled it, "Hormones."
"But...But..." Anyas face crumpled, "How can that be? He looks down my blouse!"
"He does?" Xander almost choked, eyes bulging.
"YES!" Anya nodded vigorously, "MY blouse, not Dawns! You know, honey, that red one with the low neckline? Hes always trying to sneak a peek."
##
Giles looked up from his book as Spike walked into the magic box after school, "Ahh...William. A word."
"Spike!" Anya waved from behind the counter, "Do you want to come help me put stuff on high shelves?"
"Ahh...perhaps later." Giles answered for him, "I just need to have a chat with William in the back."
Spike shrugged as Giles took him by the arm, led him into the back, and sat him down on the bench. Whatever Giles wanted couldnt be as bad as the puberty talk. He shivered just thinking about it.
"Well Ã...well....." Giles began to polish his glasses, "You are getting to be a big lad."
"Yeah?" Uh ho, This didnt sound good. Not more hormone stuff.
"I remember when I was your age..." Giles smiled for a moment before frowning and looking worried, "Ahh...This is why I need to talk to you. Your mother had a little chat with you yesterday."
"Yeah." Spike shivered, wondering if everyone knew.
"Buffy said that you were hanging around at Dawns crypt."
"I wasn¢t doing anything wrong!"
"No...no, I'm sure your werent." Giles patted his shoulder, "Dawn maybe an evil monster but shes....No, I have absolutely no fear that she will take,ahem, advantage of you."
"Huh?" Spike frowned, glancing down at himself. What was wrong with him?
"No, no....However, the girls at school, dinner dances, and what not...well," he smiled, nudging Spikes shoulder, "I'm sure a good looking lad like you knows what I mean."
"Nope."
Giles sighed and took a small box from his pocket, "Do you know what these are?"
"Balloons?"
##
Spikes eyes widened in shock as he found himself back where he had started in the doorway of his crypt. Dawn was spitting and making faces.
"Eewwww! Bloods salty!"
"Balloons...." He shuddered at the memory Giles explaining genital harpies, "Bloody balloons..."
"Salty and icky!" Dawn made a face, "And you live in a pigsty!" she spat again, "I can still taste those horrible cigarettes."
"See what you did?" Spike snapped, "What if we'¢d been stuck like that?"
"Then when I got the chip out, I'd have eaten you!" She scowled at him.
"Thats a mighty fine idea! I might just borrow it off you." He said dryly, "Now give me the bloody thing back before you do some real damage."
"I dont think so, Spike." Her hand closed around the stone, "I think this stone is going to stay right here." With that she smirked, turning and flouncing away happily.
Chapter Three
Dawn had fun with the pendant. She gave Buffy fleas, Mom a pay rise, and herself a higher allowance. She had considered making good her threat to wish Spike bald, but decided against it just in case he ever did get the chip out.
It was the next day at the magic box that the idea to use the pendant for something a little bigger came to her. Buffy was lecturing her about not hanging out with Spike, and telling her that she shouldnt be getting into trouble at school because mom had so much to deal with already. Ha, like Buffy had been the best student when she'¢d been going to school. At least Dawn hadnt burnt anything down. She listened to Buffy droning on and on; until Giles came out of the back and told her it was time for training. Seeing Buffy trotting off docilely at Gileses command gave her an idea. Rubbing her hands together, Dawn ran, grinning, to the bathroom. The thoughts of bossing her sister around for a change filled her head.
"I wish...." She hesitated, looking at herself in the mirror. She didnt want to end up stuck in some weird dimension FOREVER.
"I wish that for one day I was Buffys watcher..."
##
Dawn looked up from her book as Buffy walked in."Buffy." She folded her book and rose, "Glad you could join us." She tutted, glancing at her watch.
"Sorry! I had to pick Rupee up from school." Buffy nodded at her brother who was picking his nose and eating the finds. "Got to keep him out of trouble."
What a revolting child he is, Dawn thought to herself. She shook her head. He was already homing in on the kettle, humming to himself as he fixed a cup of tea.
"Researching?" Buffy asked. She nodded at the heavy tome Dawn had been leafing through.
"Uhh....yes!" She laid a magazine atop the shoe catalogue, and coughed, "Are you ready for tonights patrol?"
"Yup!" Buffy smiled brightly, "All ready for another night of slayerage."
"Cool!" Dawn grinned, looking over at Rupert who was already curled up on his chair reading a book. Little freak.
"You were going to show me some stuff?" Buffy asked, uncertainly, "You know...Fighting?"
"Uhh....sure, why not?" Dawn shrugged and headed out to the back room with her Slayer.
"What you want to know?" Dawn looked around at the junk that had collected in the storeroom.
"You know.... " Buffy smiled a little desperately, "Fighting stuff?"
"Uhh..." Dawn shrugged, "Sure, whatever." She rummaged through one of the boxes, tossing used up lipsticks and unfashionable cloths out as she searched, "I know I left some weapons in here...yeah, there you are!" She produced a heavy broadsword which she swung experimentally, or tried to anyway.
"Uhm,,,you take this." She passed the weapon to the Slayer who hefted it as if it weighed nothing.
"Your going to show me how to use it?" Buffy asked hopefully, "Right?"
"Er, Yeah." It occurred to Dawn that she had no idea how to use it, "Sure I will,“cause I'm your Watcher, so I know how to use it...dont I?" Stupid fencing instructor: If he hadnt been such a hottie Dawn might have paid more attention in class.
"I certainly hope so." Buffys laugh was a little strained, "Its just that....Uhh, you know, its kinda dangerous out there. I thought, you know, what with you being a Watcher and me a Slayer...Uhh well, you might teach me something?"
"Yes." Dawn nodded, trying to look sage and wise, "thats right...You are the Slayer and I am the ...the Watcher."
"So..."
"Yes?"
"The lesson?"
"Oh!" Dawn smiled, "Yes...you hit things with the sides." She made a swinging motion with her hand.
"Right!" Buffy swung the sword, narrowly missing Dawns head, "Swing."
"Thats right.." Dawn moved out of range, "thats all there is to it, swing and hit stuff."
"Like this?" The slayer swung the sword, embedding it in one of the roof pillars.
"Uhh...sort of."
"Its stuck!" Buffy pulled at the handle of the firmly fixed sword, "Stupid sword."
"Bleedin sad that is!" the coarse accent of Buffys arch nemesis made the Watcher and Slayer jump in surprise.
Spike was standing in the doorway shaking his head, "A Slayer that cant swing a sword."
"Its, uhm..." Buffy coloured, "Its not working properly!"
"Maybe its broken?" wondered Dawn aloud.
"Lets see-" Spike walked to the pillar and extracted the blade with a jerk of his wrist, swinging it in an arc to test the balance before moving smoothly through a sword drill, finishing with a flourish, he reversed the blade offered it handle first to Buffy.
"Seams ok to me." He shrugged, reaching into his pocket for a packet of smokes.
"You must have fixed it..." Buffy grumbled as Dawn sighed, looking at the vampire in awe, he was BETTER then her fencing instructor.
"How come YOU cant do that?" the Slayer glared at her.
"Oh I can." Dawn stuck her nose in the air, "I just choose not to show off my manifold talents."
"Sure you can, Watcher." Spike sneered, crushing her, "I've seen you in action- death with a nail file you are. Manicure of doom."
"Perhaps you guys should spar?" Dawn asked, the vampire was chipped anyway and couldnt hurt Buffy even if he had a mean bone in his gloriously tight body, "It would be good practice..."
"What you say, Buffy?" Spike raised an eyebrow, "You and me? Want to do a few rounds?"
"No." She shrunk a little at the thought, even if her watcher said that a chip was as good as a soul Spike scared the bejebbies out of her.
"Come on, Buffy!" Dawn said sternly, "none of that! Spike, maybe you should take your shirt off for this?"
"Huh?" he coughed, dropping his cigarette.
"So that you dont get it all...." She gulped, "Sweaty."
##
Dawn wrapped her coat around her as she followed Buffy across the graveyard, secure in the knowledge that she was with the Slayer. Safe as houses...
"What was that?" Buffy jumped at the sound or a twig snapping, Dawn frowned.
"Now, now Buffy!" She admonished, wondering what was wrong with the girl, "You're the Slayer!"
"Yeah." Buffy said, looking miserable, in a small voice adding "The Slayer."
"Theres one!" Dawn clapped her hands together excitedly, pointing to the newborn vamp clawing its way up through the soft earth of a fresh grave, "Sic it, Buffy!"
"Bbbbut!" The Slayer looked around desperately, "But-"
"Sic the vamp!" Dawn glared.
"Ok." Buffy sighed. She crouched low as the vampire freed itself. It emitted a blood chilling growl, and fixed its hungry eyes on her. It moved towards her as Dawn reached into her pocket for a bag of cheetos.
"Arghhhhhh!" The vampire snarled in anger, as it Buffy scuttled backwards, keeping out of its reach.
"Not like that!" Dawn snapped, "Hit it!"
"Ok." Buffy stepped forwards, slapping the vampire around the face. It paused, surprised if unimpressed. Its blow, a moment later, sent the slayer flying.
"Come on!" Dawn called. "Its only a little one!"
"Im trying!" Buffy rolled out of the way as the beast tried to jump on top of her. Scrambling to her feet she pulled a stake from her pocket and circled it warily.
"Really, Buffy!" Dawn spat cheeto crumbs in irritation, "If you're not going to take this seriously...."br>
"This is my LIFE!" Buffy lunged at the vampire, which lashed out with a clumsy swing that she dodged, "My life on the line." She gripped the beasts lapels, swinging it away from herself and slamming in over a gravestone to the ground.
"Youre the Slayer." Dawn shrugged, "Hey, you think I make the rules or something?"
"ARGHHHHHHHHH!" the scream made Dawn shiver. The slayer threw herself on top of the vampire and began to pummel its face and chest.
"No MORE! No MORE!" Buffy drove the stake into the vampireÃs chest and jerked herself onto her feet, looking at Dawn with a feral gaze.
"Ahh.....you did ok." Praise might be in order.
"Every night I come out here." The slayer muttered, wiping blood out of her eye with her jacket, "Every night they try to kill me...They all want me dead!" She shuffled forwards, tears in her eyes. "They all want me dead, and you DONT CARE!"
"I do too!" Dawn nearly dropped her cheetos at the comment.
""Kill me..." Buffys head was twitching erratically, "every night...its too much."
"Buffy..." Dawn backed slowly away as the Slayer advanced, "Buffy, you wanna-"
"Merrick taught me stuff.."Buffys eyes were glazed as she twitched, "Merrick was a nice Watcher...He didnt want them to kill me..."
"I dont want to them to kill you..."
"But they cant kill me...." She smiled insanely, "You cant kill me, Dawn thats why you won¢t show me how to use weapons isnt it? You want me dead, and your going to let them do it!"
"Er, Bbbbbuffy-"
"But if I kill you first... "
Buffy spun her stake, and Dawns nerve failed her. She fled screaming in terror.
She could hear the slayer hot on her heals as she ran, looking desperately for a means of escape.
"Help!" She yelled, seeing figures in the distance she headed for them, sighing with relief when she saw the familiar figures of the Scoobies. She frowned, they had disobeyed her order to stay at home tonight! Who did they think they were? There was time for recriminations later; right now she had other worries.
"Help!" She panted as Buffy took her from behind with a crude tackle that sent them both sprawling on the damp grass.
"Jez Buffy!" Xander and Willow struggled to slow her down a little, using her slayer strength she tossed them away from her as if they weighed nothing.
"Come on, Slayer!" Spike appeared out of the darkness and seized her, "easy now..."
"Shes trying to kill me!" Buffy collapsed in a fit of crying and sobbing, "My own watcher is trying to kill me...."
"No ones going to kill you, pet." Spike patted Buffys back as he held her, glaring at Dawn.
"Shes gone mad!" Dawn exclaimed from the ground, "She tried to kill me!"
"I cant take it any more!" The slayer sobbed into the vampires shoulder, "I just CANT."
"Not your fault pet." Spike glared at Dawn who quailed, "Not your fault. Its that bloody useless Watcher of yours."
"Damn right!" Xander called from the grass where he was laying very still.
"Yeah!" Willow had picked herself up and was returning to the scene, "No one could do what you do, Buffy."
"Its her JOB!" Dawn protested.
"Hows the poor chit supposed to be the Slayer when you wont teach her anything!" Spike snapped, "Watchers got a sacred trust, they do. Meant to help and support their Slayer. Meant to guide them through the pitfalls of life and an all that. You're a disgrace!"
"Oh PLEASE!" Dawn snarked, "What would YOU know about Watchers?"
"Ate one or two." He said seriously, looking down at Buffy, "You think if you do, like, kill her I could, well, you know...eat her after? Waste not want not an' all that."
"You're not seriously going to let a vampire eat me?" Dawn asked, shocked. "Hes EVIL!"
"He couldnt be worse then you!" Xander called, still laying flat on his back., "Uhh...You guys think you could help me when you got a minute?"
"Buffy," Willow, ever the voice of reason stepped in, "wont the other Watchers be mad if you kill Dawn?"
"You could always say I ate her?" Spike raised his hand, "Wouldnt even really be lying...especially if I, DO eat her after."
"Sure Spike." Buffy wiped her eyes with her sleeve and sniffed, "Will YOU teach me? You're so strong and clever..."
"Yeah." He smirked, "Suppose I am."
##
Dawn nearly fell over when she found herself back in the magic box.
She shivered...Ok, being a Watcher hadnt been as much fun as she'¢d though. Definitely no fun, no wonder Giles was always so po faced. Gripping the pendant Dawn wondered if she should throw it into the garbage.
"Hell no!" She said out loud. It wasnt like anything bad had happened, was it? She'd just be a bit more careful next time.
Chapter Four
Dawn sat in the magic box, eyeing up the Scoobies speculatively and wondering what they would be like to swap with. Tara and Willow were holding hands...Nah, icky lesbian stuff. Xander...Could be interesting, he was quite cool, not as cool as Spike but still.
She just was weighing up merits of being a money grubbing ex-demon when Reily walked in, smiling at her before sitting down next to Buffy and putting what looked like a steel compact on the table. Dawn wondered if he wore make up. Her thoughts were interrupted, when the compact began beeping. He flipped it open, glancing at the Star Trek like innards.
"Whats that?" Dawn asked, immediately curious.
"Spikes coming." Reilly explained, pointing to the display which was flashing in a really cool way even if she didnt have a clue what any of it meant, "Ambient temperature is 20 degrees Celsius, and rain is forecast in an hour." He smiled, snapping the case closed and putting it back on the table.
Cool... Dawn immediately knew who she wanted to be, and if Spike were coming it might be best to wish NOW.
"I'm going to the bathroom." She gripped her pendant and grinned.
When she was alone she phrased her wish more carefully then the last."I wish I were, for just one day, Reily, AND know all the stuff he knows," she had learnt her lesson being Giles.
##
Dawn nodded stiffly to Buffy as she walked into the Magic box, heavy army boots clomping on the floor as she headed for table and dumped her kit bag on it...Damn the thing was heavy! Having her utility belt wasn¢t speeding her up much, either. There was a clunk and a muffled phunt as the silenced automatic in the bag went off, putting a hole in the wall.
"Opps!" She made a face, she knew better then to leave guns loaded, chambered and cocked. Oh well...anyone could make a mistake.
"Dawn!" Buffy glared at her, "What have I told you about guns?"
"You ARE rather a...Ahh compelling argument for gun control." Giles was holding his glasses as he turned his head to study the hole two inches from his head.
"Guns are dumb." Dawn shrugged, wondering for a moment why she had spent the last eight years learning how to use them. Maybe she should have been a vet instead of joining the army?
The Scoobies were readying themselves for patrol, little Reily sulking because he couldnt come.
"But I'm BIG now!" he grumbled, "Dawn let me play with her gun last weeee..." he trailed off as Dawn shushed him desperately, "Oh...." He went red and looked at his boots.
"Dawn!" Buffy glared, "What have I told you about letting Reily have guns? You know I dont like them!"
"Oh I was supervising him!" She felt herself quite a competent weapons instructor, even sitting in front of the TV sipping soda, "It wasnt even loaded!" She began unpacking her kit bag, strewing thousands of dollars worth of gear over the table to get at her CAR-15 which didnt even have a magazine in...Safe or what?
"DAWN!" Giles went white.
"Sorry!" She apologised, pointing the guns muzzle at the floor rather then the watchers genitals, she pulled expertly on the cocking handle.
Giles went green and rushed off to the bathroom as the round she had left chambered bounced out of the rifle, pinging on the table and rolling off into a corner.
"So, where we going tonight?" Dawn asked.
"Uhh...Am I the only one who thinks that maybe Dawn should...You know, NOT come with us?" Xander asked.
"Huh?" She was hurt, "I saved your life last week Xander! When that vamp caught you-"
"He only caught me because you hit me with your Taser!"
"Yeah!" Buffy nodded, lip set firm, "Your more dangerous to US then the local demons."
"But I got all the cool gizmos!" Dawn objected, "You guys know you need me...Willow, help me out here?"
"You are kinda...clutzy." The red head shrugged.
"In Dawns defence," help from Anya was a pleasant surprise, "She has only ever shot SPIKE by accident." Or maybe not so pleasant.
"Yeah..." Xander smiled, lost in the memory, "Man, what did you call that thing?"
"The Vortex cannon..." Dawn snivelled, poor spike...perfect abbs reduced to ash in seconds.
"Well, even killing SPIKE is more then enough!" Buffy said firmly, pausing as she too smiled,
"Still...." She coughed, remembering the point she was trying to make, "But the point is, Dawn- your off the team."
"Huh?"
"You cant be a Scoobie anymore." Buffy shrugged, "And you cant come by the house either."
"I told your mom I'd pay for the damage!"
"Yyyyour oooofff the team!" Tara put in, smirking, "Get used to it."
Bitch had never forgiven Dawn for miss kitty fantastico. Like it was her fault the stupid cat had decided to fall asleep in a satchel of charge. True, the extra weight should have alerted her, but still...maybe if she hadnt been in a hurry she would have realised that the explosives were meowing...
"But Ã.."
"You're a bloody menace!" Giles was drying his face with a towl as he came out of the bathroom.
"I helped you beat the Judge!"
"You missed him!" Buffy snapped.
"Yeah...but it distracted him! And what about the mayor?" Dawn smiled, "You wouldnt have won without my help!"
"Exploding the high school with us IN it was hardly helping!"
"Dont talk about that!" Xander screamed shrilly, clenching his teeth and shoving fingers into his ears.
"Yes!" Anya growled, "The post traumatic stress makes Xander scream at night! And it makes it hard for him to maintain an erec-"
"Dont talk about THAT either!"
"But Ã..Ã..Â, But I brought the flame thrower! You gotta let me come!"
"A world of NO!" Buffy shook her head.
"Screw you guys!" Dawn snatched up her kit and began to stuff it roughly back into the kit bag, no way was she letting the have any of it NOW, "I'll just go work for the initiative again."
"Dawn...Their all dead." Buffy pointed out.
"THAT WASNT MY FAULT!" she stamped her foot angrily, "I dont need you guys anyway!" She gathered up her kit bag and turned to go.
"Hey Ramboett- you forgot this."
Dawn turned to see what Xander was holding.
"Give me my Grenade!" Dawn snatched at it, yanking it from his grasp too fast and knocking it to the floor.
"See what you made me do!" She growled, wondering where it had rolled, "Where'ed it go?"
"Theres the pin." Reily reached down and picked up the piece of metal, holding it up proudly.
"Yeah, but where did the REST of it go?" Dawn asked.
Xander screamed.
##
Dawn was shaking slightly as reality righted itself...Being exploded was NOT fun.
"Stupid pendant!" She hissed, yanking it from her neck and throwing it down on the floor,
"Stupid, icky demon pendant!" She was about to stamp on the stone when she thought better of it.
"What you doing?" Xander surprised her by coming up behind her.
"Uhh...Nothing."
"Didnt look like nothing." He looked down at the floor, reaching down for the stone but Dawn snatched it up before he could, shoving the pendant into her pocket.
"What is that?" Xanders eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Just some dumb costume jewlery."
"Yeah?" Xander didnt look like he was buying it, "Can I see?"
"Uhh...Maybe later."
"I really think you should let me see."
"Its ugly."
"I wish you'd let me see."
"Sure." Dawn was horrified to find herself reaching into her back pocket and holding up the pendant for him to examine. It wasnt something she'¢d chosen to do, her body just did it.
"Uhh...that looks kinda like..." Xander paled, "BUFFY!"
"I wish you didnt remember!" Dawn snapped desperately as Scoobies came rushing into the bathroom brandishing various weapons.
"What? Where?" Buffy looked around the room for the demon threat.
"Dawns got a wishing thingy!"
"Ahhh....." Anya made a sound. A sound, which hither to that moment had only been heard by Xander when they were alone, and usually, but not exclusively, at home in bed, "A Wishing Stone!"
"Its MINE!" Dawn slipped the pendant behind her back, "I stole it off Spike so its MINE!"
"You dont want a silly old thing like that!" Anya licked her lips hungrily, "Give it to me...ppplease." her mouth contorted around the unfamiliar word.
"NO!" Buffy, Xander and Dawn spoke with a single voice.
"But its really not much use to anyone else." Anya looked hurt, "I should have it, being the only one of you who knows how to use it."
"I wish you would all forget about this!" Dawn said desperately.
"Man, so do I! That thing is a whole world of trouble." Xander held out his hand, "Its dangerous."
"I wish you didnt want it!" She said desperately, wondering if she'¢d broken the spell throwing it on the floor. Damn shoddy demon workmanship!
"We shall have to destroy it." Giles said gravely.
"NO!" Anya screeched, taking a breath and smiling innocently, "I mean...its just a silly little thing, harmless really." She giggled.
"I WISH you would all go away!"
There was a collective movement forward as the Scoobies ducked. They laughed nervously, looking at one another a second later when nothing happened.
"You could have sent us all to a demon dimension!" Anya objected peevishly.
"You'ed know all about that." Willow muttered.
"I think I broke it." Dawn said miserably.
"No."
They all started at the new voice in the room; turning to see a large demonic figure towering over them all since, he was standing up, "That stone has been blocked on all the major networks."
"D'hoffren!" Anya was surprised to see her old boss looking grimly down at her.
"Anyanka, How small your world has become."
"Hey, this is only the bathroom!"
"Whatever." He shrugged, extending a hand, "That artefact does not belong to you...You have misused its power and I have come to reclaim it."
"Uhh..." Dawn knew of this demon, "Does this mean I have to, like, become a vengeance demon now?" she asked uncertainly.
D'hoffren shook his head, "We're fully staffed right now, I could get you a job as a Jarkshessh demon if you like."
"Cool- what do they do?" Visions of an all powerful demonic Dawn filled her mind.
"Eat corpses livers and go "wahhhhhhhhhh." Anya rolled her eyes, "You KNOW she'¢d never pass the aptitude test, D'Hoffren."
"True, But since your a friend of Anyanka I could pull a few strings. Its a union job..."
"Ewww...No thanks." Dawns nose wrinkled I disgust, she HATED liver.
"Now, the wishing stone." He flexed his fingers, waiting.
"Stupid thing wasnt any fun anyway." Dawn dropped the pendant into D'HoffrenÃs hand. His fingers closed around it, "It didnt get me what I wanted."
"And what might that be, young one?" the demon inquired curiously.
"I wanted to be, like, a real Scoobie." She scowled, "They never let me do anything."
"An odd wish..." the demon shrugged, "But since you didnt destroy the world or anything I'll grant it."
"You will?" Dawns face lit up as the demon smiled benevolently at her.
"Of course!" he waved a hand looking around the room, "What?"
"I think its an improvement." Anya said, "She kind of cute."
"You see?" D'Hoffren said, "And they say we're EVIL" He vanished abruptly.
Dawn smirked happily. She was a real Scoobie now! They would have to take her seriously! She looked around the room wondering why they were all staring, most with open mouths.
"What?" She asked, her voice sounding strange to her own ears. Turning her head she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
"Uh-whoa."
She was indeed a real Scoobie now. Xander was the one who said what they were all thinking, "Scooby dooby doooooooo!"
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