A New Dawn: 'Who Am I?'
by Faith_5by5
Xander arrived at Giles’ home, keeping a watchful eye out for Dawn along the way. He parked his car by the sidewalk and climbed out, hurrying towards the stairway that led down to Giles’ apartment. He made his way down the tiled steps, moving passed the fountain that stood in the middle of the courtyard and stopped outside Giles’ door. Xander knocked loudly and waited, but no Giles. Feeling impatient Xander knocked again.
“Giles!” He called. “Giles, we got a problem!” He bit his bottom lip, the seconds passing like minutes. He balled a fist and banged hard on the door. “Come on Giles, this is urgent!” He heard a faint noise inside, like the sound of a chair scraping, followed by footsteps. After an unbearably long moment Xander heard the lock being turned and then the door opened, just enough for Giles to peer out at him. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days, his eyes were tired with bags beneath them. He was slightly paler then normal and his chin was covered in stubble. Xander stared at him for a moment, at first not quite recognising him. “Giles?”
“What’s the problem, Xander?” Giles asked, his voice cracked and sore.
“Dawn.” Xander explained. “There’s something wrong with her, she’s lost her memory or something.” Giles frowned, retreating back inside and closing the door behind him. Xander stood for a moment, unsure what to do. He was about to call out again when the door opened, fully this time, and Giles stepped outside. His expression was determined as he marched across the courtyard with Xander following behind.
“Where is Dawn now?” Giles asked, starting up the stairs.
“We don’t know.” Xander shrank back as Giles snapped around, glaring at him.
“What?” Xander could smell the distinctive odour of vodka on the Watchers breath, but he did his best to ignore it.
“She was in her room, she was freaking out, and then she pulled a Houdini.” He explained. Giles frowned and continued up the stairs. “Giles, are you… ok?” Xander ventured, receiving another icy glare from him. “Never mind.”

Dawn didn’t recognise any of the streets she passed.
‘Just how far away from home am I?’ She wondered. ‘Then again, where’s home?’ She glanced up and down the street, trying to find anything she recognised, but none of it was familiar, it was all new to her. She continued along the street at a brisk pace, occasionally looking back to make sure no one was following her. ‘I wonder how long I’ve been gone for.’ She thought. ‘What did those guys want with me?’ She stopped at the next intersection, looking every way for anything familiar. She continued going straight, leaving the row of houses behind her and coming to a park. She walked on for a moment longer before the idea came to her. ‘Maybe I’m famous.’ The thought made her stop in her tracks, going over the possibilities. ‘Or maybe my parents are famous, and this is a ransom thing.’ With that in mind, Dawn started into the park, spying a couple sitting together watching their children play. Dawn walked up beside them and turned to them, after a moment the couple turned to look up at her.
“Can we help you?” The husband asked. Dawn realised that what she was about to ask would be completely embarrassing, but she didn’t have a choice.
“Well, I… err…” She stammered, trying to find the words to say. “You guys don’t know me, do you?” The couple exchanged a bewildered glance.
“No, I don’t think so.” The husband shook his head. “Should we?”
“Oh, no.” Dawn shook her head, feeling her face growing hot. “I was… just… checking.” She turned away, and walked hurriedly away from them, her face completely red.
‘Ok, definitely not famous.’ She told herself. Dawn continued through the park, doing her best to stay out of sight, believing it would only be a matter of time until someone came looking for her. She knew it wouldn’t be a good idea to stay out in the open, she had to find somewhere to hide, at least until she could remember what had happened to her.

Xander and Giles arrived at the house a short time later. Xander pushed open the door, announcing his return, while Giles walked in behind him, taking a long look about the hall. It was just as he remembered it being.
“Willow?” Xander called out, and almost immediately she emerged from Dawn’s room at the top of the stairs. It took her a moment to recognise Giles as she moved down the stairs.
“Giles, we’ve got a major problem.” Willow said lamely.
“I know, Willow.” Giles nodded, speaking in a calm tone of voice. “Come now.” He started into the living room with Willow following behind him, both of them taking a seat on the couch. “Now, Willow, go over everything very carefully. Tell me what happened?” Willow tensed up. She was certain that Tara would be furious if she knew Willow had used magic to try and fix things, but Willow knew that Giles would be fuming. Especially since it was because of the spell that things had grown even worse. She hesitated at first.
“Well, last night, Dawn was really upset, and I went in to see her.” Willow stopped for a moment, seeing Xander coming into the room and taking a seat. “But she was fine… well not fine-fine of course, ‘cause I mean, why would she be at a time like this… but she wasn’t in pain or anything… I mean, she was in pain, but not actual…” Willow struggled her way through.
“I understand.” Giles said interrupting, but he did so with an understanding smile. “Please, continue.” Willow swallowed, knowing she couldn’t let slip that she knew more than she was telling.
“Anyway, I stayed with her until she calmed down. But she was still really upset, and I asked her to try and get some sleep.” Willow recited her story, being careful not include anything that could arouse suspicion. “And then I left.”
“Is that all?” Giles asked with a frown. Willow nodded. “You didn’t notice anything odd at all?”
“No, and then she woke up this morning with amnesia.” Willow shook her head. Giles thought on it for a moment, a moment that seemed to drag on forever as Willow sat, trying not to fidget uncomfortably.
“So, what do you think?” Xander asked. “Do you think this could’ve been brought on by too much stress?”
“No.” Giles said abruptly. “Well, I doubt stress is a factor here. No, I fear this may be mystical.” Giles concluded, much to Willow’s dismay.
“So what, do you think some big, scary demon took her memory, or a spell?” Xander enquired. At the mention of the word ‘spell’ Giles’ gaze turned Willow. She froze up, her breath catching in her throat.
“I suspect it’s the work of a spell of some kind.” Giles answered, his eyes remaining on Willow. “Do you know if Dawn had access to any of your spell books?”
“No.” Willow shook her head. “I don’t think so.” She relaxed a little, realising none of the suspicion rested on her.
“It would be best to discover if this was her own doing, once we know what kind of spell it was we can attempt to reverse it.” Giles suggested. “But first we need to find her. Willow, can you and Tara do a locater spell?”
“Yeah, we’ll get right on it.” Willow nodded, standing up from the couch and hurrying up the stairs. Giles rose from the couch and was about to start after her when Xander got up and blocked his path.
“Xander?” Giles frowned.
“Giles, are you ok?” Xander asked. “You’ve not been yourself lately, you’ve been M.I.A since… ‘it’… happened.”
“Move Xander.” Giles tried move passed him, but Xander remained in his way.
“Giles, I know you’re hurting. But take a look around, you’re not the only one. You could’ve come to us, we could’ve helped you, rather then you trying to drink your life away.” Xander continued.
“Move!” Giles menaced, pushing passed him and starting into the hall.
“Come on Giles, this isn’t who you are.” Xander reasoned.
“Who I am became a little hazy the night my Slayer died.” Giles said bitterly. Xander watched him go, before dropping down onto the couch. He thought back to that night, when he had witnessed Buffy’s death, feeling the pain and sadness beginning to well up inside. He tried to hold it back but couldn’t, and so he placed his head in his hands and started to cry.

Dawn unlocked her motel room door, slipping inside and closing the door behind her. It had cost her nearly all of the money she had taken, but at least she was hidden now. She dropped her bag down beside the door and looked around the motel room. It was fairly dull, the walls painted grey and the worn carpet was a colour to match. The bed covers were white, and spattered with faded stains that Dawn didn’t even want to guess as to what it may be. An ancient-looking T.V stood opposite the bed on a less then sturdy looking table, and beside a torn yellow chair stood a full-length dress mirror, only partially broken in one corner.
‘Well, I guess it’ll do for just one night.’ She reassured herself. She walked over to the bed and sat down, trying to remember anything that could tell her what had happened to her, or even who she was, but she had no answer to any of the questions. She let out a sigh, and moved to the mirror, examining herself as if for the first time. ‘Well, at least I’m cute.’ She thought, letting out a short laugh. ‘So, despite the obvious fact that I’m a girl and cute… I know absolutely nothing.’ She let out a groan, staring at her face in the mirror, finding it completely unfamiliar. ‘Wait a minute!’ A fresh thought intruded through her mind, and she turned from the mirror. ‘What if this wasn’t a money thing? What if they kidnapped me for… something else?” The thought made Dawn whimper, but she pushed it aside. ‘Let’s try to forget about what they wanted with me for now, and try to figure out who I am.’ She thought hard, trying to remember what had happened when she woke up in that strange room with those people.
“Dawn!” She said aloud. “They called me Dawn.” She looked back at the mirror, reciting the name over and over.
‘Ok, well, I’m a girl, named Dawn, who’s cute, and was kidnapped by a guy and two girls for either money… or a sexual reason.’ She thought it over, cringing at the last part. ‘Well, at least we’ve made some progress.’


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