Try and Try Again: Drowning in Silence
by tamzinrose
*I stood behind when no one asked me and took you home after the fight* Cry, Cry - Mazzy Star
It was late afternoon by the time Dawn got home from school, tired and hungry.
Her stomach had been rumbling all last lesson. On the bus back, she’d made plans to head straight for the fridge, then sit and vegetate in front of the TV. Probably a talk show, maybe some cartoons. Whatever was on. She couldn’t be bothered with changing the channels.
She’d been expecting a full house, the whole gang: her sister, Tara, Willow and Xander. It still felt weird knowing that Giles wasn’t around anymore. Sometimes, she even wondered whether her mom would be out at the shops, or bustling round the kitchen. Then she’d catch herself thinking it and remember. It hurt again every time.
Instead she walked in to an almost empty house. Tara had been waiting by the door to greet her as soon as she walked in. Dawn froze instinctively, feeling the fear rising in her instantly. She would never get used to coming home to a Buffy-less house.
Tara’s eyes were red and puffy; her make up was streaked from her tears; there was blood smeared on her hands and her clothes; she was solemn and serious and silent.
There was a heavy tension in the air and words hung between them, unspoken. For a long time, neither of them said anything. Dawn stayed quiet for as long as she could bear, until she felt like she’d explode.
“Buffy! Xander! Willow! What’s happened?” Dawn screamed, feeling the panic overpowering her.
“Dawnie, they’re ok. Calm down. Willow and Xander are fine.”
Dawn buried herself in Tara’s protective hug, whimpering and quaking. “Buffy…is she…is she alive?”
Tara stroked Dawn’s hair gently, comfortingly. “She’ll be all right. Don’t worry.”
“What happened?’ The teenager repeated more confidently, reassured by Tara’s soft nature.
“She was shot. Jonathan came for revenge and he shot her.” Tara was hesitating. “Do you want me to take you to the hospital? The others are there and they might know something by now.”
Dawn glared at her sulkily. “When did this happen? Why didn’t anyone tell me? Buffy could have died! I was at school in Math and my sister could have died! Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
She stamped her foot, flying into a temper tantrum like a four-year-old denied a chocolate bar. “Don’t I matter anymore? Is that it? If you guys don’t want me around, that’s fine! I’ll go somewhere people actually care enough about me to tell me when bad things happen!”
“I’m sorry Dawn. I’m so sorry, really I am. It’s all been crazy here and I didn’t want to worry you because Buffy is going to be absolutely fine.”
“I want to see her! I have to know that she’s…if she’s…I have to see her.”
Tara nodded. “Ok. I’ll just call Willow quickly and then we can go.”
Dawn pouted. “Why are you calling Willow?”
“She was taking it pretty hard before and I want to check that she’s all right.” Tara replied, picking up the phone and dialling Willow’s mobile number.
*Declare this an emergency, come on and spread a sense of urgency and pull us through. And pull us through. And this is the end, this is the end of the world* Apocalypse Please - Muse
This story archived at: The Slayer\'s Fanfic Archive
The Slayer\\\\\\\\'s FanFic Archive - http://www.slayerfanfic.com/viewstory.php?sid=8504