Lessons

Title: Lessons

Author: Imogene

Disclaimer: All the characters for the BtVS verse and the AtS verse belong to Joss Whedon, Marti Nixon, David Greenwalt, UPN, WB etc etc. New characters all belong to me.

Distribution: Beths site "First Time For Everything", anyone else, just ask

Dedication: To Beth for all her help and ideas, I couldnt have done it without her

Summary: Dawn is in trouble with the law, but is everything as it seems?

Notes: This is going to be like a season of Angel, set 2 years in the future (hence season 5) Ive got a lot of back-story of whats happened to all the significant characters both Scooby Gang and the A-Team thats important to read to understand whats going on. This takes place anytime after "Couplet" - the prophecy "The father will kill the son" never happened, Connor is still with Angel, fully human and now 2 years old. If you really cant be bothered to read it, you at least need to know Dawns been living with Angel for the past 2 years and Wesley and Fred are engaged

Rating: PG-14, in this ep. Some suggestive language, moderate violence

~~~****~~~

Dawn looked over her shoulder and shook her head..great she was going paranoid with living with Angel still she was unable to shake the feeling that she was being followed, and in Los Angeles there was every chance it was something of the undead variety- not counting Angel himself of course. She knew she should feel guilty for sneaking out like this. She was betraying Angels trust, and it wasnt something she deliberately wanted to do, after all he had taken her in and looked after her for the past two years and she was doing exactly the same things that made Buffy bring her to Angel in the first place.

She had hated Buffy for taking her to Angel, called her every name under the sun. Angel had tried his best to calm her down but she wouldn't have had any of it. She had yelled at Buffy until she lost her voice. Telling her she had abandoned her, she nearly spat out that she was only getting rid of her to shag Spike more, but had stopped herself due to Angel's presence, whatever her feelings towards Buffy she hadn't wanted to hurt Angel and she knew that information would have cut him deeply. Despite her age when he left she had known - even understood his reasons. She'd even admired him after she had got past her anger and disbelief. He'd left to give her a normal life, with the chance of a future, and he so did not need to know Buffy was with another vampire. Shed throw his greatest gift, his greatest sacrifice in his face and she wasnt going to cause Angel that pain, he lived with enough on a day-to-day basis. She'd hated her sister then. All their memories (if you could called them that) of messing around, fighting, Glory, mom Buffy dying for her none of them had matter because as far as Dawn was concerned Buffy had betrayed her in the worst possible way, she given up on her and it had taken Dawn a long time to even begin to realise or even accept Buffy's reasons. She'd felt cheated - she'd lost her mom, dad and sister only to get her sister back and lose her again.

When Angel had lived in Sunnydale Dawn had considered him the big brother shed never had, or the dad that never bothered with them. He had treated her like an adult and she had admired him for that. She had loved the idea of her sister in love with a souled vampire. Then he'd left and Riley had come.

Hed been OK - typical All American guy, rose at dawn to say the pledge every morning etc etc, and frankly boring. It hadn't helped that hed treated her as a kid and he and Buffy had hardly been discreet with their sex lives, once she almost walked in on them. Things had changed since Buffy and her friends left High School. They had been more self absorbed, she'd become resentful. Felt that Buffy didn't care about her. It was as if she couldnt see past her Buffy pain her whole I'm-the-slayer-and-entitled-to-as-much-self-pity-as-I-want routine had grown really old real fast.

Privately she'd been delighted when Riley left, hoping Buffy would become more like her old self, but no she got even worse. Sleeping with Spike was the final straw for her. Sure Spike was cool to hang out with, and a good substitute for Angel, but at the end of the day he was basically evil. She knew a chip wasnt a soul and had left disgusted Buffy could lower herself to Spike's level. He been trying to months to sleep with her, and it took a death and resurrection for him to get to his goal. She hated him when she discovered what was going on. She'd hated Buffy for coming back - and for leaving in the first place. Shed hated everyone so shed acted out. Made Buffy's life a misery when she got back, constantly whining, stealing, skipping school. She felt it was pay-back for everything Buffy had (inadvertently) done to her.

Angel had helped her a lot when she came to live with him, had given her the time and attention she craved and needed. He'd given her the time and discipline Buffy had been unable to provide in her fragile state. Shed had Angel, Cordelia, Wesley, Gunn and Fred to look after her. Although she'd had Willow, Tara and Xander to care for her in Buffy's absence, it hadn't been the same. They'd all been struggling with their own problems, Willow from her dark magick addiction, Xander leaving Anya, the only one who seemed able to give her any attention had been Tara. Shed grown close to Tara in Buffys absence and been a kind of Buffy/Willow replacement. After Willow had accidentally cause her to break her arm shed hated her, been afraid of Willow. She didn't want to be around the red headed Wicca anymore who she'd once admired and looked up to, to see Willow fall for the darkness she had fought against had been a wake-up call.

When she came to L.A. although the A-Team had problems they were closely knit, they supported each other through problems. They learnt the hard way due to the Darla era of the whole "all for one, one for all" mantra rang true. They'd been able to stand together and look after Dawn, none of them were too wrapped up in their own problems that they couldn't check her homework or just listen to her.

Two nights after she'd arrived she'd finally broke down and sobbed to Angel and Cordelia the whole night. The thing however that she had found more refreshing with the A-Team was the blunt honesty (mostly from Cordelia admittedly) if things were wrong they were addressed, they werent ignored or glossed over. That was the problem with Sunnydale, people - especially the Scooby gang ignored the obvious. They didn't want to see how badly Buffy was coping or that Willow was falling off the rails - so they didn't.

She had tried to sneak out at first when living with Angel, unfortunately it was soon obvious that Angel knew every trick in the book. He'd even admitted hed done it in his youth (which Dawn couldn't even begin to think about it was so long ago) he'd quickly put a stop to her late night wanderings. He had specific guidelines, and everyone was expected to follow them, being a father had made Angel become more conscious of children. He'd practically read every parent help book before Connor was even a year old. All that knowledge had helped him cope with her rebellious teenager phase, plus the fact that Angel had (so he said) been even worse when he was her age. She could hardly believe that responsible, take the blame for everything Angel had once been a tearaway. That was something she would have paid good money to see (beside him doing a strip routine that was)

That was why she felt guilty about sneaking out tonight. She didn't really sneak out anymore. She had very little to rebel over anymore. But she'd promised Michelle that she'd come tonight, and she did owe her for that time she'd lied to old Wart Hog Mr Bladerton, her chemistry teacher with a real chip on his shoulder. She'd forgotten her text book and he'd been dying for a chance to give her detention, Michelle had leant her hers and got a detention, in return Dawn had to pay back the favour, whenever Michelle asked. It turned out tonight was time to repay. All she knew what that Michelle had meet two guys and wanted her to come along for moral support with the A-Team out for a while slaughtering some unholy evil of the night shed had the hotel to herself, well and Connor. That was the reason she was most guilty she'd left a two year old child (who was like a brother) alone by himself.

She couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension, if something happened to Connor and she wasn't there to protect him she didn't even want to think of it. She knew when she arrived she'd have to tell Michelle she had to get back and do this another time. For another thing she'd borrowed Buffy's car without her knowledge, true she wasn't as bad a driver as Buffy but she only had a provisional license and if she was caught she didnt even want to think about it. She knew the gang couldn't rush through interrupting a sacrifice - it took time, so she had a while till they got back. It sometimes bugged her that she could rarely come on missions, Xander and Willow had helped Buffy fight when they were sixteen, she was seventeen, so why did they hold her back?

Sure Angel had given her self defence lessons and she was getting quite good at it, but Angel would never permit her to come on their missions, the others backed him up and there was no way she could get round it. Usually she could wheedle what she wanted out of at least one of them, admittedly it was usually Angel, Cordelia had summarised that being Buffy's little sister she had the famous Summer's Pout - Angel had never been able to resist that pout. Maybe that was the reason she was out tonighta rebellion. Which frankly was a lame reason, she was too old to be rebelling and began to wish shed just stayed at home, but it was only a few more minutes to Michelle's house,

With her thoughts somewhere else she didn't notice the woman coming towards her and collided with her. "Sorry" murmured Dawn

"It's quite all right. Your mind was clearly elsewhere" the woman stated. She had a strange voice, it as clear - almost pure sounding like bells or something, on an impulse Dawn looked at the woman. Tall and willowy figured with long ginger locks fell loosely down her back. There was something claming in her whole demeanour. "You seemed slightly, worried" the woman ventured looking at Dawn carefully. She found she was unable to look away from the woman's face, her bright blue eyes seemed to pierce through any of thoughts she was having. Tara would have said there was an aura about her - one of clam yes, but also one of power and confidence. Dawn was fascinated by her. Michelle was forgotten she wanted to learn more about this woman "I apologise for my rudeness, what is your name little one?" she asked, normally Dawn would have bristled at the time little one she was seventeen after all, but she didn't. There was something unexplainable about this woman.

"It's Dawn" she offered

"Dawn? Ahh the beauty of the sunrise, Aurora" she whispered almost to herself. "There is more to you than meets the eye Dawn"

Dawn sensed there was also more to this woman than met the eye, maybewhat if she was a vampire? Her heart began to pound yet she felt she could not run away, even if she had wanted to.

"Do not be alarmed" the woman said soothingly, as if she had read Dawn's mind, "I am not a vampire or demon"

"H-how do I know?" Dawn demanded

"Your heart tells you your senses. You have much strength, like your sister - and your guardian, you like they can sense evil. Tell me - do you sense me as evil?" she asked gently, her gentle eyes gazing at Dawns. "No" Dawn admitted. She was right, she could feel evil when it was there. There was no evil around her but there was power, perhaps it was some left over ability from being the Key, she didnt know. "You are able to sense my strength, by you yourself have power little one. You have things hidden away that not even you are aware of Dawn, but they will come to you, gradually. Memories, powers once lost or buried. It will take time, but never forget your are an essential part of the Battle" she said, looking Dawn straight in the eye. "You will be needed soon, things have already begun to be set in motions, the actions you and your friends take now will directly influence what Earths future is to be."

"I-I'm a key player in the apocalypse?!?" sweaked Dawn "I know Angel is, but why me, I'm just a normal seventeen year old. I'm not the slayer or a seer or anything"

"Because you are still the key Glory may have gone, but what your are still remains. You may feel at a loose end at the moment, all you see is you family with abilities you seem not to have, they protect you and keep you out of fights, and you resent it. You want to prove you are capable of being an adult that is why you are out tonight. But you must understand not all power is physical. True power is knowledge, you can have unimaginable powers, but if you do not have the knowledge of your powers - or an opponents weakness, you will always be at a disadvantage. You must understand that" she implored

"Yes I know that. Wait-how did you know about my feelings? No I dont care, what the hell are you?!" demanded Dawn

"I'm Giselle, but that is unimportant. I am here with my brothers and sisters, we are here to steer you and your friends on the right paths. For millennias me and my kin have been chosen to guard and protected those that the Powers That Be have entrusted as Warriors. The time for the End of Days is drawing ever closer, you can feel it. There is unrest and evil in the very air. Things are happening quickly now. One wrong choice and the world could end. Even the most seemly insignificant thing can alter fate. There are signs - some are obvious, other not. We are here to make sure all the signs are read and acted on" she explained in a rush, her lips trembled slightly, Dawn could see she was getting afraid. "I followed you tonight, I feared it would be the only chance I would see you. I was not the only thing following you tonight. You could sense them, as I said there is unrest here." Dawn simply nodded, despite the fact she had know this woman all of ten minutes, she knew she was telling the truth.

She'd been sensing things, and wasn't the only one. Angel had seemed uneasy recently and Cordelia's visions were coming in more frequently. She should have been more observant "I know you believe me Dawn, but now you have to trust me as well. You were planning to go to a friends tonight. You have doubts but you must go. Your presence will be vital as the evening wears on." She glanced around her "I have stayed too long - I must be going. Just remember what I have said Dawn" she said, a soothing look coming across her eyes. Before Dawn could blink she seemed to have vanished.

***

Dawn had calmed down slightly since she'd met with Michelle, who had unfortunately brought Caledon Morsarcoi along for the ride. Sure he was quite cute, if you liked the whole leather, mad eyed look. Truth was Dawn had always thought he was cool. He took not crap off anyone. He told any one exactly what he thought of them. Hed been suspended several times and even arrested once or twice. He claimed it was cause hed had fights with guys whod insulted him or his family. Dawn liked his loyalty to them. At first she'd been a bit worried about being with Cal, but now she was beginning to relax and have a good time. She secretly wondered if Cal liked her, he kept looking and smirking at her that had to be a good sign right?

Cal found himself keep looking at Dawn. She was cute, there was no denying that - even gorgeous. She was also innocent, which was what he loved most. She'd clearly never really walked on the wild side and it was about time she had a crash course. He got the idea she like him, which did tend to help matters. Michelle was O.K. - well kinda boring actually, it was Dawn he was interested in. Despite her innocent features, he guessed she was aching for a little rebellion of sorts. It wasn't like she had a normal home life, she'd had all manner of people pick her up. Some days it was a tall black guy, others it was beautiful brunette who looked like she belonged in the movies, there was also a thin guy with glasses, he was English, Cal had heard him a few times. Typical snobby English man, he bet he had scones at 3.00 PM sharp and had Shakespeare coming out of his ass. He sometimes came with a waif like woman with large glasses and hair right down her back.

Then there was the big guy dressed in black, always dressed in black. He was pale - Marilyn Manson pale, only without the eyes and tattoos. He remembered the girls reaction when hed come to pick up Dawn once. He'd never seen so many jealous and longing faces. Rumours they were dating had spread like wild fire and Dawn had done nothing to discourage the rumours.

Cal briefly wondered if shed dated all the guys that picked her upperhaps she wasn't so innocent as he thought. Yeah he was definitely beginning to like Dawn Summers.

***

"Angel!" yelled Buffy as a tentacle attacked him from the right, as she tossed an axe at him. "Got it!"

"You've got to attack its third eye, that's the only way to kill it" yelled Wesley, trying to hold onto the Book of Eirseral for dear life. "Hey demon breath" Gunn taunted "Yeah I'm talking to ya, ya big smile ball. Ya think ya got us runnin scared-" he sneered, the creature turned round to face him, slime dripping out of every orifice. It was truly disgusting - even by the Hellmouth standards it was so busy paying attention to Gunn it had no idea Angel was creeping up on it. Before it knew what was happening Angel pierced the eye in the back of its head. The creature screamed and lashed out, Angel and Gunn getting the worst impact. Stepping forward Wesley began to chant the required Latin, throwing some fowl smelling herb at the creature. With a scream of fury the creature disappeared into the portal. "Well that was....bracing" Wesley offered. Buffy went to help Angel up. He leaned on her slightly, the wound the creature had caused was deep and was likely to get infected if they left it any longer. "What about the nest?"

"Sorted, Fred and me found them...well Fred found and I burned them" Cordelia said, trying to stop Gunn collapsing on her. "We better get you guys home before you do any more damage to yourself" sighed Buffy "I hope Dawn was OK with Connor" she added a worried tone tingeing her voice

"She's great...ahh..with Connor." Angel said as he tried to straighten up and the pain shot through him again, as they began to make their way back to the car. "I'll never understand why so many vampires and humans for that matter are so willing to be minions" Wesley sighed, wiping his glasses. When he noticed the puzzled glances around him Angel interpretations "He means lackeys" he offered. Wesley was slightly put out "Thank you Angel. But frankly, a min - lackey always ends up dead - either killed by us or their master for failing their duty. They never get their promised power and are treated badly" he sighed "They also get very little recognition when they die Austin Powers got that part right at least" he sighed, Cordelia shook her head

"Ladies and gentlemen - and vamps. The day we thought we'd never see - Wesley Wyndam Pryce spotting pop culture, truly this is a historic day" Cordelia said, pretending to wipe away a tear "I'm so proud you've finally arrived in the 21^{st century."}

"Very funny" snarked Wesley

"But true, you didn't get a video player till a year ago" Gunn pointed out, Buffy looked at him in horror "Please tell me that is not true, even Angel had a video player in Sunnydale"

"Hey!" Angel objected "I personally don't see the point of them, like mobile phones, there complicated with way too many buttons, and the whole timer and paging thing I really don't get it and I only got a TV and video in the first place because you said my apartment was like living in the dark ages" he explained. Buffy shook her head

"There an essential part of life!" Buffy objected

"Phone you can hold anywhere? Why not just use a pay phone?" Angel argued "And the whole texting and voice mail? I can barely figure out how to just ring someone up, and then there are all these weird choices and tunes" he groused, Buffy grinned at him

"You sound like an old man"

"I am old" he pointed out

"Yeah but you don't look it. I think we need to give you - and Wes a crash course in 21st century necessities, starting with mobiles" Buffy said "Cordy, you agree?"

"Definitely, it took him three years before he'd even agree to use a mobile, let alone use it" she grinned. Angel and Wesley mearly looked horrified at each other.

***

Dawn glanced around nervously "Maybe we should just leave" she offered, Cal looked her at incredulously. "You're kidding right? You know how often people get to go in here? I tell you princess this is an exclusive tour, we might as well make the most of it" he grinned. Dawn didn't notice as he secured his gun into his belt, if they met with any trouble they needed to be prepared. "C'mon Dawnie, live a little" grinned Michelle "You can't chicken out now. Are we in this together or not?" she asked. Dawn scowled, "Don't call me Dawnie, I'm not a baby anymore"

"Fine, prove it" offered Michelle

"Fine, were together" Dawn relented. Cal smiled, clearly delighted
"Good girl. We're gonna have some real fun tonight. I promise" he smirked and squeezed her arm. As they crept nearer the warehouse Dawn began to feel more and more uneasy. "Why are we here anyway? It's only an old warehouse. Nothing fun inside of it" Dawn said, trying to get them to change course, she had a bad feeling about this.

"Only a warehouse?! Do you have any idea whats here. This place contains stolen bills. There buried under the floor boards. All we gotta do is get them out and spend it all in one night. No harm, no fowl"

"If it's so simple then why hasnt anyone taken them already?" she asked suspiciously

"Because no one knows theyre there - apart from me. I saw a bust job a coupla days ago, Two guys had a briefcase full of money. They heard the cops and stashed it under the floor boards, I've been keeping tabs on this place and no ones been in or out. The money will still be there."

Silently they crept along. Cal had brought a tiny flash light but it didn't really do much good against the dark. The only window she could see was tiny and practically blacked out with dirt. "Do you remember where the money was put?" whispered Dawn. He didnt' answer her though. He was crouching down on the floor "It's here" he whispered. Slowly the two girls crouched down and together they lifted up a floor board carefully. Sure enough there was a large non descript brief case. Pulling out another blank they could finally reach it. They placed the briefcase on the floor and opened it. Dawn gasped at the amount of money. There must be $100,000 at least! "Can we just get out of here now?" asked Dawn, she didn't like the place, it gave her the creeps.

"What's the hurry? No one comes along here at night and I thought we might have some fun before we leave" he leered, moving closer to her. "You know you're a beautiful girl Dawn." He murmured
"Look we should get out of here, I don't think it's safe. We've got the money, lets just go. We can have fun later OK?" she pleaded

"She'd got a point. Why bother hanging round waiting for trouble?" Michelle added. Suddenly they heard footsteps. A flashlight was evident as a young security guard came round the corner. Cal cursed and the security guard spotted them "Hey! This place is off limits!" he yelled as he walked towards them. "Get out before I call the pol-" he began hen his eyes trailed down to the briefcase of money ad his eyes almost bulged out of his head. He also noticed Cal's gun and began to back away. Before anyone could stop him Cal drew his gun and aimed it levelly at the security guard "I think we'll stay for now. So will you. Get against the wall" he ordered. Terrified the young man complied "Cal! Stop this!" ordered Dawn

"Shut up!!" he yelled "He'll go running to the cops, you saw him try to sneak out.

Dawn began to panic, she didnt want anyone hurt "C'mon Cal give me the gun" she pleaded, but Cal showed no sign of giving it up, it was still point levelly at the man covering in the corner. "He was gonna rat us out, tell the cops, well dead guys don't tell anyone anything" he snarled. Dawn felt sick down to her stomach

"Please Cal, you don't have to do this. Just put the gun down, if you fire you'll be a murderer and nothing will ever be the same for you! Please let just go" she begged gazed at Cal. Michelle stepped forward "She's right Cal, it can all end here. Put the gun down and no ones hurt." She said firmly, moving slightly in front of Cal. She cursed his stupidity. Then glanced over at Dawn, she looked badly shaken, not surprising really. Dawn wasn't used to living by a gun and frankly she didn't want to either. She needed to get Dawn and the man out. She could handle Cal by herself but not until they were safe. Lives were at stake here and one wrong movement would cost them all.

"We can just go home. He's not gonna call the police. We were trespassing, which is wrong, but not a crime. If you kill this man the police will link it back to you, theyl'l have your finger prints" pleaded Dawn, tears forming in her eyes. "I-I-I just wanna go home" she sobbed, she didn't care if Cal thought she was stupid, his appeal had really worn off "You're not going anywhere, any of you. We're all in this together and there's no way I'm gonna let either of you to go and tell the cops. You're in it for the long haul" he grinned sardonically "Once we finish off this guy well get out of here, that's a promise"

"Y-you cant shoot him!" gasped Dawn, suddenly very much wanting to be far way from here. "Look, we let him go free, he'll talk. Don't you understand?!" he yelled angrily but not taking the gun away from the man.

She knew she had to do something, there was no way she was going to let Cal kill this guy. It was a case of wrong place at the worst time. Shed actually thought he was cool, it was sickening. Maybe she had a thing for bad boys and she hoped she was wrong. She didn't want a bad guy. Look at what Buffy's relationship and she used the term extremely loosely with Spike had done to her. Spike was a bad boy, through and through and it had wreaked her. Dawn had vowed silently to herself three things:

She was wondering how to distract Cal, when the sounds of police sirens made their presence know. Half of Dawn wanted to thank God on her bended knees, the other half felt an irrational terror.

What would they do with her and Michelle? Would they think she wanted the man dead, who had given the tip off, what if Cal tried to kill them all? A thousand thoughts whirled in her mind, adding to that the paralysing fear and she was unable to move. "Everybody freeze!! Drop the gun...now!" roared a stern voice.

Cals eyes narrowed to furious slits and he spun round to face three policemen armed, pointing their guns at the three teenagers. "Drop it!" he yelled again "Traitor!" he yelled at Dawn "You called them, you set me up. I swear you'll pay for this" he moved in a blur spinning round to face the man, "CAL!! NO!!!" Dawn bellowed, she saw Cal tighten of the trigger....everything slowed down to Cal and the gun, without thinking acting on pure impulse Dawn sprinted forward. She had to stop Cal the thought pounded through her mind as she ran, colliding into Cal she knocked him off course and felt a searing pain in her shoulder. She didn't hear herself cry out in pain or felt herself fall on the floor. The next few minute past in a blur. There were several voices but she couldnt identify them. All she knew was Buffy and Angel were going to kill her. "Can you hear me?" came a stern voice

"C'mon you've got to get up" he urged "You've been shot Miss. We've got to get you seen to" wavering silently Dawn stood drunkenly to her feet. Her eyesight was coming sharply back into focus. Cal was struggling against the handcuffs. Michelle was deadly white and shacking "Are you OK?" she whispered, a horrified look on her face, it was only then Dawn noticed the blood, she could feel the pain returningshed tried to stop Cal and got shot "Is he OK, the man?" asked Dawn, a note of urgency in her voice. The cop looked at her for a moment, "We didn't want to hurt anyone, you have to believe us" she whispered, as tears began to fall down her checksif the man was dead she'd never forgive herself. "He's fine, pretty shaken though. The guy only fired one round before we cuffed him, and you took the impact of that. You're a very lucky girl" he said seriously "We'll need to take you in to get statements off you"

"A-are we being arrested?" stuttered Dawn, a look of terror crossing her face. Faith had told her a bit about prison and she shuddered. "Well have to take statements from you, and you did break into a building. This is just standard procedure that we have to go through. Youre probably not in any trouble, and youll get off easy unlike your friend weve tried to get him for months. He's already been involved in three armed attacks and a robbery. You need to get your shoulder seen to. You'll get a caution since it's a first time offence, and you were really only witnesses to the crime. Next time though be more careful about the company you keep kid. You don't want to end up on the wrong side of the law, trust me" he added grimly.

"We better get the shoulder seen to, its a pretty deep wound" he said, leading her and Michelle to the paramedics. She saw the poor victim outside wrapped in a blanket, clutching her shoulder she walked over to him. "I'm so sorry, I never wanted to hurt anybody" she whispered, hardly daring to look at the man "You saved my life" he murmured. "Does it hurt?" he indicated her bright red shoulder. Dawn nodded. Truth was it hurt far more than she was willing to admit "I'll live" she added with a brief shrug and then winced at the pain that lanced through her arm. "I hope you can forgive me one day, I just wanted to see what was in the warehouse, I never thought Cal would try and harm someone" she said, feeling a need to explain "I forgive you. If it hadn't have been for you I'd be dead"

"Ms Summers?" the paramedic asked, at her nod she came over. "This should numb you while we get you sorted out. You won't feel a thing" she said kindly. Dawn barley paid attention. It seemed almost surreal, despite the things she had seen...it was still sinking in. "You did a very brave thing for than young man" she offered "If you hadn't intercepted that bullet he would have killed him."

"Yeah" Dawn murmured. Her mind on what Buffy and Angel would say

***

Kate Lockley sighed it had been a busy day, three muggings, one burglary and four GBHs. You could never be board in L.A. She briefly thought back to two years ago, shed been suicidal, lost her jobhit rock bottom. She'd never really got over the loss of her father, had used Angel as a convenient scape goat, just cause he was the same species as the bastards that murdered her daddy.

Angel wasn't like the rest of those creatures, she knew that. After he had saved her from her suicide attempt things had changed. They'd had a civilised conversation for the first time in over a year. A lot of truths had been spilled that day. Angel had only just returned from his own private hell and knew what she was feeling. After that he'd helped her, continued to check on her, help her get her life back on track.

She'd gradually come to terms with her grief, allowed herself to mourn properly rather then burying the loss, it hurt like hell, she wanted to die herself at times, felt so much anger, but now it wasnt directed at Angel it was directed at the more accurate source. It had been a long and painful process but she'd recovered and felt better for it. Her life was back on track.

She had her job back, although she'd had to convince the board she was determined to leave the supernatural to those she could handle. She'd help Angel with warrants and stuff but she simply couldn't handle the supernatural stuff he did. She'd thought she could but was kidding herself. Some people could handle it - Angel, Cordelia, Wesley, Gunn, Buffy - they could all cope with it. She couldn't and she accepted that. It was that simple.

"Ms Lockley, weve a couple of kids for you to interview. They broke into a warehouse, and one of them tried to shoot the security guards. The other took the bullet, we just need statement" Kate sighed. L.A. was a rough town. She never got over the fact that high school children were carrying guns. Sighing she got up. "I only have time to interview one. Judge Kramer want me in court in an hour" The duty officer brought two girls inside the room. One had a patched up wound in her shoulder. Wait a minute she recognised the girl "Dawn Summers" Kate gasped, Dawn turned to see Kate and relief flooded through her. "You know the kid?" the duty officer supplied "Yeah, I know her guardian. I'll interview Dawn. It's probably better if she's with someone she knows. Detective Bryne is free for a few hours too" she offered, indicating Dawn to sit down. "You can go, I'll be OK with Dawn" she indicated to the officer.

Nodding he walked away. "OK Dawn, I know you wouldnt hurt anyone, so you wanna tell me what happened?" she offered. Dawn hesitated, what if Cal - or his friends came after her for telling the police. She'd seen some of the examples he made of people. Kate saw the worried expression and softened "Look, he'll never know it was you that told us. Anyone it wouldn't matter what you told us. Fact was he was caught red handed - not even he can deny that.

"We just want your version of events." Dawn sighed and began to tell Kate everything, leaving out the bit about Giselle, she didn't want Kate having to get involved with all that stuff again. "It's was so scary. I thought Cal was so cool and stuff, he said he only harmed people who insulted his family, and I thought that was good, cause of the loyalty and stuff, but he was gonna kill that guard. He really was, and the man was only twenty-ish. He looked so scared" she cried, Kate felt for Dawn.

"Look, Dawn I know you're a good kid-"

"Why does everyone call me a kid?! Buffy was fifteen when she was called to do an adult's work - saving the world isn't kids work, why does everyone think I'm not responsible enough to take care of myself?!" she fumed. Kate wasnt particularly startled by her outburst, it was a fairly common theme among people of Dawn's age. They wanted more freedom and recognition than they were being given.

"Dawn, the truth is, in the eyes of the law, you are still a child for at least another year. Being an adult isnt all its cracked up to be. I wish I was still a child sometimes. You can get away with thing that are impossible as an adult. You have a lot more expected of you when youre an adult. Trust me Dawn, don't wish the rest of the childhood away, cause you'll regret it when its gone" Kate said sagely. "Is there anything else you can remember about the evening?"

"Two things...there was a briefcase of cash, a lot of it. Cal didn't steal it at first, but he was gonna steal it from the warehouse"

"Thieves stealing from thieves huh?" drawled Kate, a small smile playing round her lips "You really can't trust anyone anymore" she noted. Dawn smiled slightly at that.

"So does Angel know you slipped out?"

"That's the other thing. No" she admitted miserably. "No one know. I thought I'd only be out for half an hour, and be back in no time, and they'll all be home now, wondering where I am. I'm gonna be in so much trouble" she moaned "What if somethings happened to Connor and I wasn't there to stop it? Angel will never forgive me"

"I'm sure he will. For all you know Connor is probably fine. Angel cares about you Dawn. A lot. He won't throw you out or anything. It's not like him. Don't forget everyone whos Angel's friends have made bad choices and really screwed up. They've put their friends in danger, thought not thinking or not caring. Angel will tell you, I made his life a living hell when I discovered what he was, I hurt him a lot, just because of what he was. You would never hurt him deliberately, trust me hell forgive you." She paused for a second, looking at Dawn apologetically at Dawn

"You know we need to contact the Hyperion for someone to collect you. Maybe if you bribe them well enough they'll not tell Angel" she smiled kindly. Dawn managed a weak smile. "I think that's pretty much a no-go. He'd find out one way or another. He's a private investigator, its his job to know things" she sighed "I'ts like having a dad around"

"Is that really such a bad thing?" Kate asked gently

"I guess not." She admitted a small smile touching her lips

***

Twenty minute later Dawn was waiting by the discharge desk when Fred came in. Her usual sweet smile was gone in place of a worried frown. Dawn's heart sunk, she knew she was going to be in for the mother of all lectures when she got back, Fred didn't say anything as she signed the realise papers.

The journey back was uneventful, expect for the absence of Fred's usual babble, and that worried Dawn more than anything else. "I'm in real trouble aren't I?" Dawn murmured not really expecting an answer and Fred didn't give one, it was already obvious. The storm broke as soon as she entered the Hyperion, Angel and Buffy were standing at the entrance.

Fred quickly disappeared, and she was thankful that Cordelia at least wasn't there. The look on Buffy's face however almost made her wish she had to face 100 Cordelias. She'd rarely seen Buffy so mad.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING?!?" she demanded. Dawn decided it was best to get this over with. The whole lecture consisted of irresponsible, left alone, inconsiderate, selfish, untrustworthy, hanging around with criminals, anything could have happened could have been killed and throughout the screeching Angel hardly said a word. She wished he's say something, but it wasn't his way to yell at someone. Eventually after twenty minute of yelling Dawn couldn't take anymore.

"I'M SORRY!!!" she yelled. "I'm sorry I'm not the perfect sister, and that I make mistakes, but I'm only human. You made plenty of mistakes in your life. I remember mom yelling at you for being irresponsible, but somehow those times never count. You are so self centered. Yeah I screw up, badly. But you get on your high horse as if you've never done anything wrong in your life. I made a bad choice, I admit that, but I think I've been punished enough! I nearly watched a man die, I got shot and I have to live with the knowledge of what could've happened to Connor for a life time!!! Do you think I EVER would've forgiven myself if something happened to him?!"

"Then WHY THE HELL did you go out?!?" demanded Buffy

"Cause I wanted to live a little!!! Remember when you were so desperate to live, you lied to Giles and went to a frat party. You betrayed his trust, but that doesn't matter does it?" Dawn flung back, tears were now streaming down her face "You treat me like I'm still fourteen. I'm not, I gonna graduate next year. You wanna protect me I get that, but your were the slayer at fifteen you werent protected - and you coped. What makes you think I can't?"

"Because you're my only family now" whispered Buffy, At that Dawn's jaw snapped shut

"Moms died, Dad doesn't care and when I do I see my other relations. You are my only real family, Giles, Angel, they are family too, as Willow and Xander once were...but when you went to Angel;s I felt a failure, I;d lost the rest of my family. I don;t want you making the mistakes I did due to stupidity"

"I'm not going to cause I'm a different person. I've been through different experiences learnt from today. OK you once said make every day count. I try and stick by that, and sometimes I make bad choices, everyone does, but I've got enough guilt over that without you trying to pile on more." She whispered as she head up stairs to her room. Angel gazed at Buffys defeated posture. "I just want things to be the way they were. After, and just before Mom died, we got so close. I wanna have things the same" she sobbed. Angel took her into his arms. "They can't stay the same. That's what you and Dawn have got to realise. Dawns right, she's a young woman now. She'd growing up, and changing."

"I just feel that with everything that's happened, I need to feel close to her again"

"It will happen Buffy, you've both been though a tough time, but your gonna get through it. You just need to give it time. Your relationships were damaged and that's not going to recover over night, Dawn feels smothered and your scared of loosing her again, but she's not going to desert you Buffy, you're her only family too. Just show Dawn you trust her judgement. Yeah she was wrong and I'm mad with her, but she got in a bad situation and handled it. She stopped a manic shooting someone. I think that's merits some trust. You will be close again, just give both of your time and space." He whispered, hugging his love tightly as she sobbed.

***

Dawn sat in her room contemplating that evening, when she heard a soft knock, and Gunn came in "Great, another lecture. Can you not shout though, my ears are still aching" Gunn didn't smile.

"Look, I'm not here to lecture. I hate it when somebody lectures me, it's something nobody needs "I used to be like you. Determined everyone was treating me like a kid, even when I was fighting vamps every day, but I was a kid. I got sick of people trying to do what was best for me I resented it. A lot"

"I know Buffy cares about me," Dawn almost pleaded " but when is she gonna stop it?"

"At two times - one never, cause she's never gonna stop loving you, and two when you stop acting like a kid" he said seriously "Think about it" he offered as walked out.