Categories > TV > Angel > Never Will You Be Alone
The Healing Touch
0 reviewsAs the teens grow closer in their friendship, so does the confusion and doubt both of them feel. Emotions are such a trifling thing for a boy unaccustomed to feeling anything.
1Insightful
Never Will You Be Alone
Chapter Three-The Healing Touch
Dawn awoke feeling very warm. The cold that surrounded her encasement made movement a hated task. So with a content sigh, she snuggled toward the warmth. Her hand touched the chest of the source and her arm was easily sliding around the side of it. Her eyes widened as she realized that the source of such warm was breathing. Its arms were wrapped around her lightly. Dawn glanced up toward the face of her furance. The young man that had cared for her yesterday was sleeping softly beside her.
'He looks even better in sleep...' She thought before glancing back down. Through the first rays of sunlight she could see scars littering his chest. With a shaky hand, she traced the one closest to his heart. 'He was almost killed...' Her whole arm seemed to tingle as a shock went through her. 'And he just might be the death of me...' She thought. Her green eyes focused once more on the scar. A fine blade had been its cause just like the ones across her stomach.
"What are you doing?" He asked, his voice thick with sleep. Dawn jumped.
"I'm sorry!" She squeaked as she struggled to break free of his arms. The reddening of her face gave way to her embarrassment.
"It's okay..." He reassured as he let her loose. A small flash of her panties made him look toward the smoking embers of last night's fire. His own face held a red tint.
"What were you doing..." Dawn started.
"You wouldn't let go of me when I set you down," he glanced back up at her. "For someone so small, you have a lot of strength to you..." She blushed at his praise.
"You know, you've slept beside me. You've seen more of my skin than anyone ever has. And yet, I don't know your name..." Dawn mumbled. He stood up and rolled up the pallet.
"My name's Stephen Holtz," he answered. Dawn sensed that he was leaving something out, but shrugged it off.
'If he doesn't want to tell me, then I'm not going to push.' Dawn looked down at his shirt and picked at the ends. Then her eyes wandered over to the dress in the corner. 'Well..'
"I'm just going to step over there and change..." Dawn whispered. A small shiver ripped down her spine as the morning chill brought an even colder wind. "I think you might want your shirt back."
Stephen shivered for a different reason. When she had been touching his chest, her touch had been a gentle carress as if a lover's touch.
'She is unlike any I have ever met before...' Stephen thought as he listened to his surrounds. 'And I want to keep her...' His eyes widened at the thought. His mouth fell open for a moment. 'I want to keep her?! I don't even know her!'
The brush rustled as she came back. His shirt was clutched in her hand while she lifted the end of her dress up with the other. Dawn looked upward as his eyes racked her form. A fiery blush spread across her face and down her chest. Her face burned worse as he stepped toward her. Her eyes widened as he drew his knife from his belt.
"What are you doing?!" She exclaimed. He wrapped his arm around her forearm and looked up at her.
"Trust me, okay?" Stephen requested. "I won't hurt you..." Dawn flushed at his words. The touch on her arm was gentle. His brown eyes held a gentle hue. Dawn bit her lip and nodded.
"Okay.." She whispered and watched as he knelt down in front of her. He grabbed the end of her dress and slid the knife underneath the fabric. Dawn fought to keep her breathing even. Knives were not her friend at the moment. It also didn't help that his hand seemed to trace the path his knife made on her leg as Stephen made a quick slit up to her hip. He fought off a blush as black and red lace boy shorts greeted him. He stood back up.
"We're going to have to find you some shorts somewhere..." Stephen said as he tucked his knife back into his hostler beside his gun. Dawn nodded, unable to find the ability to talk. Stephen glanced up at her. "You ready?"
"Be gentle?" She asked sweetly. Stephen chuckled, but nodded.
"I will be," he vowed with a small smirk on his face. His eyes widened as her foot nearly connected with jaw. He caught her leg in his hands giving a glimpse of her small shorts underneath. He suppressed a blush and flung her foot away. 'Defiantely going to get her some suitable shorts...' She let it smack the ground before striking out with her fist. He shoved it away easily. Dawn came back with her elbow. Stephen grabbed it gently and locked his leg around hers. His other hand grabbed her free arm and he took her to the ground.
"Umphf!" Dawn exclaimed as he fell onto her. Stephen's hand was at her throat. His touch and body wieght were gentle and light. Stephen smirked down at her.
"You're good, but not good enough..." he teased. Dawn wondered if he knew that his thumb was rubbing gently on the skin of her throat. With a small jerk, he had her back on her feet. "Again," he demanded.
Never Will You Be Alone
"Well, let's just go on the assumption that she's not dead..." Buffy spoke gently underneath Spike's worried gaze. "And search for her. Willow," the crying red head glanced up at her long time friend, "think Tara and you could do a scrying spell when we get home?" The redheaded witch looked at her partner. They both nodded lightly.
"I'll help," Anya vowed. Buffy and Xander smiled at her. Anya shifted in her fiancee's arms and winced lightly. Xander's arms tightened around her as he cast his worried gaze down to her. Anya smiled reassuringly up at him. "We'll find her..."
Never Will You Be Alone
Dawn huffed as she found herself on the ground again. Stephen laughed lightly against her shoulder. His hand was once again at her throat. Her arms were pinned above her head by his much larger one. His legs, once again, had hers trapped. As he laughed, Dawn discovered that the motion of his body sent delicious shivers down her spine.
"This is so unfair!" Dawn protested. "You're like ubber strong!" Stephen laughed again and propped himself up on his elbows, still hovering over her. Dawn's breath caught at the sight of his dancing brown eyes. 'This guarded boy...his walls have fallen...' Dawn thought as she stared up at his easy smile.
"Yeah," he answered, the tone of his voice matched the gentleness of his eyes, "but that's the way it is. You're not the Slayer. You're not a vampire or even a demon. You're just Dawn."
"And the Key..." Dawn grumbled. Stephen smiled.
"That too," he whispered. "But the point is, you're always going to be a disadvantage against the supernatural. Now," his tone morphed into a playful one, "if we could tap into that super cosmic energy you've got going on, you might kick some serious ass." Dawn laughed lightly. Stephen smiled and stood up from her body. He extended his hand to her again. She smiled up at him as she took it. "Again." Dawn suppressed a groan.
"I'm an so going to be sore!" Dawn exclaimed. Stephen laughed as she darted toward him. She dodged his strikes with a dancer's ease and dropped down at the last second. His eyes widened as his feet were knocked out from underneath him. "Hah!" Dawn punched the air. "Wow!" She jumped up to avoid Stephen's foot. He jumped to his feet and struck out with his fist. She dodged it again and twirled out of the way of his kick. Stephen couldn't stop the smile as he watched her. But, like the two times before, he got the better of her. But this time, he had her pinned against the bark of an oak tree. She pouted up at him.
"You're gettin' better," Stephen encouraged, "or..are you just getting angry?" Dawn glared up at him and analyzed the position they were in. His hips were wedged between her legs. She smirked up at him. Stephen blinked before Dawn's legs clamped around his waist. She ignored the tingle that shot through her lower body as their hips pressed against one another and swiveled her body. In shock, he dropped her wrists. Dawn grabbed a hold of a low hanging branch and planted her feet in between his biceps. Stephen's breath left him roughly as he smacked the ground. A steady burning feeling was left in the imprint of her feet. He gasped as she fell onto him. Her thighs were straddling his hips and her hands were locked around his wrists at his side.
"Oh my goddess..." She whispered as she looked at his shirt. He looked down with her. Small red blisters in the shape of her heel were on his chest. Her eyes widened. "I'm so sorry!" She exclaimed. Stephen watched as she placed her hands over the blisters gently. He flinched then moaned lightly as something gentle like clean water ran over his blisters. The pain in his chest was slowly being removed.
Dawn blushed and looked away from him at the small groan that escaped Stephen's lips as she touched him. Something like water on her hands made her look down. Her green eyes widened. Her hands were glowing a gentle blue. The same gentle blue seemed to stretching across his wound.
"Stephen.." He opened his eyes at his name to see Dawn staring down at him. "Are you..alright?" He noticed that she seemed to be alternating between him and her hands. Stephen propped up on his elbows. The action brought their bodies closer.
"I feel fine..why?" Stephen asked. Her lips parted then closed. He tilted his head in confusion.
"Look down at your chest..." She whispered. He glanced down. His brown eyes widened. Where the blisters had been skin lay in their place. Stephen glanced back up at her.
"You healed me!" He exclaimed. Dawn bit into her lip and nodded.
"I didn't...even know...I just didn't want you to hurt anymore.." Stephen's eyes widened at her quiet admission.
"Even though you don't know me?" Stephen returned quietly. The urge to touch her to make sure she was real was becoming more and more hard to resist.
"You're not bad..." Dawn whispered. "I can tell. You're not evil.." He raised his eyebrows at her admission. Dawn looked up at him. At his disbelieving look, her eyes hardened. "You're not." She stated more firmly. Her hand fell to his chest gently. "Just..." Stephen bit into his lip as her fingertips seemed to unknowingly carress his bare skin. "More dangerous than most.." Stephen placed his hand over hers. Her cheeks reddened as she realized what she had been doing. He smiled gently up at her in return. She returned it shakingly.
Dawn squealed as she was flipped onto the forest floor. A small laugh escaped him at her shocked expression. He jumped back to his feet and held his hand out. Once more, she took it and let him pull her to her feet. He dropped her hand. Stephen attempted to ignore the absence he felt as he turned toward the pallet. He lifted it underneath his arm. He turned to see her staring at him curiously.
"We're going to head into town to find you some suitable shorts," he stated, as he pulled her along behind him.
"There's a town in hell?" Dawn asked, incredulously. Stephen chuckled lightly as he pulled her into the forest.
"It's not really a town, just a market place." Stephen explained as he helped her over a log. His hand brushed her lower back as he let her go. Her heart rate picked up slightly before slowly toning down.
"But I don't have any money..." She said in a small voice. "We aren't going to steal it, are we? Because I got in enough trouble for that the last time I didn't have any money to buy what I wanted. My sister nearly-" Stephen placed his finger over her moving lips. Tingles shot through his arm and her lips at the touch. He slowly lowered his hand.
"We aren't if it makes you uncomfortable. They usually ask that you perform in place of money." Panic widened her eyes.
"Perform?!" She squeaked. Stephen arched an eyebrow and glanced over at her.
"Why does that sound worse than the idea of stealing?" He asked. He lifted the pack higher up underneath his arm.
"I'm not good with crowds..." She admitted in a small voice.
"You'll do fine." Stephen reassured.
Never Will You Be Alone
Willow cried out in frustration and threw her hands into the air breaking the connection Tara and she had created. Tara smiled sadly at her girlfriend. They had been scrying for an hour and had not gotten a clear hit on Dawn.
"Any news?" Xander asked as he handed both of the women a plate of pizza. Willow sighed and rubbed her temple. Tara smiled at the kind hearted burnette and took her plate from him.
"All we know is that she is alive...but it's like she's not on earth.." Willow mumbled. Anya's eyes widened slightly. Tara glanced at her and rose her eyebrows.
"She's in another dimension!" Anya exclaimed. Silence fell over them.
"So, that means..." Xander whispered.
"We can't bring her back..." Everyone in the living room spun around to see Buffy leaning agaisnt the arch of the doorway. Slowly, she sank to the floor.
Never Will You Be Alone
"Do they have an inn in hell, Stephen?" Dawn asked as they stepped foot onto the dirt of the marketplace. Their hands were still joined.
"Yeah. Why?" Stephen asked.
"Because sleeping on the ground sucks..." Dawn grumbled. Stephen snorted.
"Spoiled..." He drawled.
"Yup," Dawn popped the 'p'. Stephen suppressed the smile that threatened to split his face. The demons in the marketplace were afraid of him. If he gave them any reason to doubt his coldness toward their death and life in general, they would not hesitate to attack him.
"Mr. Holtz!" One of the demons greeted. Dawn's eyes widened at the greeting. "What can I do for you today?"
"My friend needs a pair of shorts," Stephen explained coldly. "And we need a place to stay for the night." The demon nodded eagerly.
"And does the lady know how to perform?" The demon asked shrewdly. His eyes racked her form. Dawn blushed in outrage. Her hand twitched violently. The urge to hit him was mounting in her blood.
"Damon..." Stephen's voice alone held the threat. The demon tore his eyes away from Dawn.
"I'm sorry, sir, I did not know she was yours..." The demon stuttered. "You have not marked her.." Stephen leaned against the counter. His eyes were cold and unforgiving as he stared the demon down.
"You will do well to remember it..." Dawn watched the demon swallow nervously and nod.
"Alright, my dear. Show me what you've got..." Damon's eyes widened before glancing over at Stephen. "I mean..." Dawn fought off a giggle and took a deep breath. Stephen tilted his head in interest.
"I wanted to be like you. I wanted everything. So I tried to be like you and I got swept away. I didn't know that it was so cold. And you needed someone to show you the way. So I took your hand and we figured out that when the time comes I'd take you away..." Stephen's eyes widened in shock as did the demon's own red eyes behind the counter.
"The voice of an angel..." Damon whispered in shock. Demons all around the marketplace seemed to stop to listen.
"If you want to I can save you! I can take you away from here. So lonely inside. So busy out there. And all you wanted was somebody who cares." Stephen fought off the emotions that threatened to consume him. It sounded as if she were singing directly to him. Dawn slowly started to dance with to an imaginary tune. Stephen found himself more captivated than before. "I'm sinking slowly so hurry hold me! Your hand is all I have to keep me hanging on. Please can you tell me so I can finally see where you go when you're gone...If you want to I can save you. I can take you away from here. So lonely inside. So busy out there. And all you wanted was somebody who cares!"
"Where did you find her?" Damon breathed.
"She found me," Stephen admitted to the breathless demon. His eyebrow quirked at the look of worship on all of the demon's faces surrounding her. It seemed he was not the only one captivated by her voice.
"All you wanted was somebody who cares. If you need me, you know I'll be there. Oh, yeah. If you want to I can save you. I can take you away from here. So loney inside. So busy out there. And all you wanted was someone who cares. Please can you tell me so I can finally see where you go when you're gone..." (Michelle Branch-All You Wanted) Dawn opened her eyes and nearly jumped. Demons surrounded her. "Um...Stephen.." She called gently. "A little..help.."
At his name, Stephen stepped through the parting crowd. He took her arm gently and helped her through the crowd. They came back to stand in front of Damon's stand. The blue demon was smiling brightly at her.
"You, my dear, have the voice of an angel!" He exclaimed. Dawn blushed and looked over at Stephen. He nodded. "You're beautiful singing has rewarded you enough points to stay in an inn, get a weapon, and these shorts!" Dawn beamed happily and suppressed the urge to hug Stephen. "So take your pick!" Dawn lifted a pair of black shorts into her hands and looked toward the weapon area of the market. She bit into her lip and looked toward Stephen for help. He pointed to one without a word. The red demon behind the counter handed her the a dainty, but long blade. Dawn smiled at him as she removed it from his hands.
Stephen's eyes scanned the marketplace for danger. His eyes narrowed as he spotted three male demons gathering around a dark stand. Their beady eyes kept glancing toward Dawn. Stephen placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned to face him with a blinding smile.
"Let's head to the inn now..." He demanded lightly. Dawn nodded and tucked her new blade into it's hostler across her hip. Dawn's heart beat sped up as his hand slid down her shoulder to her hand where he entwined their fingers. She smiled shyly and allowed him to tug her gently in the direction of the inn.
"Welcome, my dears..." The elderly inn keeper greeted as they stepped into the inn. "I could hear your voice from here, my dear. It truly is lovely..." She complimented Dawn. "I would like you preform here when you get the chance..."
"Certainly.." Dawn answered happily. The inn keeper smiled and handed Stephen their key.
"Here you are, my dear, room 132."
"Thank you," Stephen said. The inn keeper smiled and shooed them on. Dawn gigled lightly as they walked up the stairs.
"Hey, Stephen.." Dawn asked once they were fully in the room and the door was closed. "What did he mean by 'you haven't marked her'?" Dawn watched as the muscles in Stephen's back drew taunt. Dawn reached forward and touched his shoulder gently. "Stephen?"
"Humans, demons, and everything in between have a way of marking their intended ones. Humans use a type of magic that blends their scent with that of their one. Demons mark them with a bite."
"Which category would you fall under?" Dawn asked. Stephen's eyes widened slightly. His head snapped over to her. She smiled slightly.
"The other..." He admitted quietly. "It's why I'm so 'ubber strong' and why every demon we have met here is afraid of me."
"So you're not human," Dawn's observation was blunt. Stephen nodded.
"My real father and mother were vampires on earth. My human side is more dominant than the vampire. But I still have the perks of being one. Excessive strength, speed, hearing, smell..." His tone was bitter and pained. Dawn could feel her eyes filling with tears. "I'm what many would call a miracle child. But it feels more like a curse.." Stephen gasped as her arms wrapped around him from behind. Her hands linked together in front of his chest and her head fell to his shoulder.
"You're amazing, Stephen." His eyes widened even further at her quiet admission. "I'm happy I met you, because...now I don't feel so alone." He knew that her cheeks were a rosy red as she spoke. He could feel the heat of her blood on his neck. "I'm glad you were born. And as awful as it sounds, I'm happy you were here. Because I don't know if I would have been able to survive without you. I probably would have fallen into some whole and woke up all those tunneling demons and been a midnight snack...and I would have never met you." Stephen tackled her back onto the bed. His arms wrapped around her waist and he buried his head into her chest. Her cheeks flamed at the intimate gesture that was until she realized he was crying. Her own tears fell. Dawn wrapped her arms around his strong, shaking shoulders.
Dawn's arms had long since gone numb when Stephen started to talk.
"No one has ever told me those words before..." He whispered. Dawn hands never stilled their circles on his back.
"You deserve to hear them.." Dawn whispered lightly. Stephen rolled off of her body. The action dislodged her arms from around him. Stephen felt the absence immediately. He did not ask for her to hold him again, although he longed for it. Dawn stared at his forlon face as stared up at the ceiling. His eyes were still swollen and puffy. Dawn smiled gently before rolling over and wrapping her arm around his toned waist. Stephen glanced down at her quickly. Dawn smiled shyly up at him. Her eyes conveyed the message she was to shy to say: "I'm here. Whenever you need it or want it, I'll hold you." Stephen smiled down at her and wrapped his own arm around her back.
"Goodnight, Stephen..." Dawn whispered.
"Goodnight, Dawn..." Stephen laid up lost in his thoughts, wondering if he should tell her of his true name. His brown eyes traveled to her sleeping form. 'Would she still accept me if she knew...'He wondered as he listened to her heart beat and the rhythm of her breathing.
The stories of Angelus stretched far and wide, even through dimensions in which he had never visited. It was part of the reason why fear was so easily for Stephen to instill into others. The other part was simply himself.
'An angel such as she should not be tainted by a child of sin like me...' He thought before letting his eyes drift closed. Slowly, the teen found himself being lulled to sleep.
Chapter Three-The Healing Touch
Dawn awoke feeling very warm. The cold that surrounded her encasement made movement a hated task. So with a content sigh, she snuggled toward the warmth. Her hand touched the chest of the source and her arm was easily sliding around the side of it. Her eyes widened as she realized that the source of such warm was breathing. Its arms were wrapped around her lightly. Dawn glanced up toward the face of her furance. The young man that had cared for her yesterday was sleeping softly beside her.
'He looks even better in sleep...' She thought before glancing back down. Through the first rays of sunlight she could see scars littering his chest. With a shaky hand, she traced the one closest to his heart. 'He was almost killed...' Her whole arm seemed to tingle as a shock went through her. 'And he just might be the death of me...' She thought. Her green eyes focused once more on the scar. A fine blade had been its cause just like the ones across her stomach.
"What are you doing?" He asked, his voice thick with sleep. Dawn jumped.
"I'm sorry!" She squeaked as she struggled to break free of his arms. The reddening of her face gave way to her embarrassment.
"It's okay..." He reassured as he let her loose. A small flash of her panties made him look toward the smoking embers of last night's fire. His own face held a red tint.
"What were you doing..." Dawn started.
"You wouldn't let go of me when I set you down," he glanced back up at her. "For someone so small, you have a lot of strength to you..." She blushed at his praise.
"You know, you've slept beside me. You've seen more of my skin than anyone ever has. And yet, I don't know your name..." Dawn mumbled. He stood up and rolled up the pallet.
"My name's Stephen Holtz," he answered. Dawn sensed that he was leaving something out, but shrugged it off.
'If he doesn't want to tell me, then I'm not going to push.' Dawn looked down at his shirt and picked at the ends. Then her eyes wandered over to the dress in the corner. 'Well..'
"I'm just going to step over there and change..." Dawn whispered. A small shiver ripped down her spine as the morning chill brought an even colder wind. "I think you might want your shirt back."
Stephen shivered for a different reason. When she had been touching his chest, her touch had been a gentle carress as if a lover's touch.
'She is unlike any I have ever met before...' Stephen thought as he listened to his surrounds. 'And I want to keep her...' His eyes widened at the thought. His mouth fell open for a moment. 'I want to keep her?! I don't even know her!'
The brush rustled as she came back. His shirt was clutched in her hand while she lifted the end of her dress up with the other. Dawn looked upward as his eyes racked her form. A fiery blush spread across her face and down her chest. Her face burned worse as he stepped toward her. Her eyes widened as he drew his knife from his belt.
"What are you doing?!" She exclaimed. He wrapped his arm around her forearm and looked up at her.
"Trust me, okay?" Stephen requested. "I won't hurt you..." Dawn flushed at his words. The touch on her arm was gentle. His brown eyes held a gentle hue. Dawn bit her lip and nodded.
"Okay.." She whispered and watched as he knelt down in front of her. He grabbed the end of her dress and slid the knife underneath the fabric. Dawn fought to keep her breathing even. Knives were not her friend at the moment. It also didn't help that his hand seemed to trace the path his knife made on her leg as Stephen made a quick slit up to her hip. He fought off a blush as black and red lace boy shorts greeted him. He stood back up.
"We're going to have to find you some shorts somewhere..." Stephen said as he tucked his knife back into his hostler beside his gun. Dawn nodded, unable to find the ability to talk. Stephen glanced up at her. "You ready?"
"Be gentle?" She asked sweetly. Stephen chuckled, but nodded.
"I will be," he vowed with a small smirk on his face. His eyes widened as her foot nearly connected with jaw. He caught her leg in his hands giving a glimpse of her small shorts underneath. He suppressed a blush and flung her foot away. 'Defiantely going to get her some suitable shorts...' She let it smack the ground before striking out with her fist. He shoved it away easily. Dawn came back with her elbow. Stephen grabbed it gently and locked his leg around hers. His other hand grabbed her free arm and he took her to the ground.
"Umphf!" Dawn exclaimed as he fell onto her. Stephen's hand was at her throat. His touch and body wieght were gentle and light. Stephen smirked down at her.
"You're good, but not good enough..." he teased. Dawn wondered if he knew that his thumb was rubbing gently on the skin of her throat. With a small jerk, he had her back on her feet. "Again," he demanded.
Never Will You Be Alone
"Well, let's just go on the assumption that she's not dead..." Buffy spoke gently underneath Spike's worried gaze. "And search for her. Willow," the crying red head glanced up at her long time friend, "think Tara and you could do a scrying spell when we get home?" The redheaded witch looked at her partner. They both nodded lightly.
"I'll help," Anya vowed. Buffy and Xander smiled at her. Anya shifted in her fiancee's arms and winced lightly. Xander's arms tightened around her as he cast his worried gaze down to her. Anya smiled reassuringly up at him. "We'll find her..."
Never Will You Be Alone
Dawn huffed as she found herself on the ground again. Stephen laughed lightly against her shoulder. His hand was once again at her throat. Her arms were pinned above her head by his much larger one. His legs, once again, had hers trapped. As he laughed, Dawn discovered that the motion of his body sent delicious shivers down her spine.
"This is so unfair!" Dawn protested. "You're like ubber strong!" Stephen laughed again and propped himself up on his elbows, still hovering over her. Dawn's breath caught at the sight of his dancing brown eyes. 'This guarded boy...his walls have fallen...' Dawn thought as she stared up at his easy smile.
"Yeah," he answered, the tone of his voice matched the gentleness of his eyes, "but that's the way it is. You're not the Slayer. You're not a vampire or even a demon. You're just Dawn."
"And the Key..." Dawn grumbled. Stephen smiled.
"That too," he whispered. "But the point is, you're always going to be a disadvantage against the supernatural. Now," his tone morphed into a playful one, "if we could tap into that super cosmic energy you've got going on, you might kick some serious ass." Dawn laughed lightly. Stephen smiled and stood up from her body. He extended his hand to her again. She smiled up at him as she took it. "Again." Dawn suppressed a groan.
"I'm an so going to be sore!" Dawn exclaimed. Stephen laughed as she darted toward him. She dodged his strikes with a dancer's ease and dropped down at the last second. His eyes widened as his feet were knocked out from underneath him. "Hah!" Dawn punched the air. "Wow!" She jumped up to avoid Stephen's foot. He jumped to his feet and struck out with his fist. She dodged it again and twirled out of the way of his kick. Stephen couldn't stop the smile as he watched her. But, like the two times before, he got the better of her. But this time, he had her pinned against the bark of an oak tree. She pouted up at him.
"You're gettin' better," Stephen encouraged, "or..are you just getting angry?" Dawn glared up at him and analyzed the position they were in. His hips were wedged between her legs. She smirked up at him. Stephen blinked before Dawn's legs clamped around his waist. She ignored the tingle that shot through her lower body as their hips pressed against one another and swiveled her body. In shock, he dropped her wrists. Dawn grabbed a hold of a low hanging branch and planted her feet in between his biceps. Stephen's breath left him roughly as he smacked the ground. A steady burning feeling was left in the imprint of her feet. He gasped as she fell onto him. Her thighs were straddling his hips and her hands were locked around his wrists at his side.
"Oh my goddess..." She whispered as she looked at his shirt. He looked down with her. Small red blisters in the shape of her heel were on his chest. Her eyes widened. "I'm so sorry!" She exclaimed. Stephen watched as she placed her hands over the blisters gently. He flinched then moaned lightly as something gentle like clean water ran over his blisters. The pain in his chest was slowly being removed.
Dawn blushed and looked away from him at the small groan that escaped Stephen's lips as she touched him. Something like water on her hands made her look down. Her green eyes widened. Her hands were glowing a gentle blue. The same gentle blue seemed to stretching across his wound.
"Stephen.." He opened his eyes at his name to see Dawn staring down at him. "Are you..alright?" He noticed that she seemed to be alternating between him and her hands. Stephen propped up on his elbows. The action brought their bodies closer.
"I feel fine..why?" Stephen asked. Her lips parted then closed. He tilted his head in confusion.
"Look down at your chest..." She whispered. He glanced down. His brown eyes widened. Where the blisters had been skin lay in their place. Stephen glanced back up at her.
"You healed me!" He exclaimed. Dawn bit into her lip and nodded.
"I didn't...even know...I just didn't want you to hurt anymore.." Stephen's eyes widened at her quiet admission.
"Even though you don't know me?" Stephen returned quietly. The urge to touch her to make sure she was real was becoming more and more hard to resist.
"You're not bad..." Dawn whispered. "I can tell. You're not evil.." He raised his eyebrows at her admission. Dawn looked up at him. At his disbelieving look, her eyes hardened. "You're not." She stated more firmly. Her hand fell to his chest gently. "Just..." Stephen bit into his lip as her fingertips seemed to unknowingly carress his bare skin. "More dangerous than most.." Stephen placed his hand over hers. Her cheeks reddened as she realized what she had been doing. He smiled gently up at her in return. She returned it shakingly.
Dawn squealed as she was flipped onto the forest floor. A small laugh escaped him at her shocked expression. He jumped back to his feet and held his hand out. Once more, she took it and let him pull her to her feet. He dropped her hand. Stephen attempted to ignore the absence he felt as he turned toward the pallet. He lifted it underneath his arm. He turned to see her staring at him curiously.
"We're going to head into town to find you some suitable shorts," he stated, as he pulled her along behind him.
"There's a town in hell?" Dawn asked, incredulously. Stephen chuckled lightly as he pulled her into the forest.
"It's not really a town, just a market place." Stephen explained as he helped her over a log. His hand brushed her lower back as he let her go. Her heart rate picked up slightly before slowly toning down.
"But I don't have any money..." She said in a small voice. "We aren't going to steal it, are we? Because I got in enough trouble for that the last time I didn't have any money to buy what I wanted. My sister nearly-" Stephen placed his finger over her moving lips. Tingles shot through his arm and her lips at the touch. He slowly lowered his hand.
"We aren't if it makes you uncomfortable. They usually ask that you perform in place of money." Panic widened her eyes.
"Perform?!" She squeaked. Stephen arched an eyebrow and glanced over at her.
"Why does that sound worse than the idea of stealing?" He asked. He lifted the pack higher up underneath his arm.
"I'm not good with crowds..." She admitted in a small voice.
"You'll do fine." Stephen reassured.
Never Will You Be Alone
Willow cried out in frustration and threw her hands into the air breaking the connection Tara and she had created. Tara smiled sadly at her girlfriend. They had been scrying for an hour and had not gotten a clear hit on Dawn.
"Any news?" Xander asked as he handed both of the women a plate of pizza. Willow sighed and rubbed her temple. Tara smiled at the kind hearted burnette and took her plate from him.
"All we know is that she is alive...but it's like she's not on earth.." Willow mumbled. Anya's eyes widened slightly. Tara glanced at her and rose her eyebrows.
"She's in another dimension!" Anya exclaimed. Silence fell over them.
"So, that means..." Xander whispered.
"We can't bring her back..." Everyone in the living room spun around to see Buffy leaning agaisnt the arch of the doorway. Slowly, she sank to the floor.
Never Will You Be Alone
"Do they have an inn in hell, Stephen?" Dawn asked as they stepped foot onto the dirt of the marketplace. Their hands were still joined.
"Yeah. Why?" Stephen asked.
"Because sleeping on the ground sucks..." Dawn grumbled. Stephen snorted.
"Spoiled..." He drawled.
"Yup," Dawn popped the 'p'. Stephen suppressed the smile that threatened to split his face. The demons in the marketplace were afraid of him. If he gave them any reason to doubt his coldness toward their death and life in general, they would not hesitate to attack him.
"Mr. Holtz!" One of the demons greeted. Dawn's eyes widened at the greeting. "What can I do for you today?"
"My friend needs a pair of shorts," Stephen explained coldly. "And we need a place to stay for the night." The demon nodded eagerly.
"And does the lady know how to perform?" The demon asked shrewdly. His eyes racked her form. Dawn blushed in outrage. Her hand twitched violently. The urge to hit him was mounting in her blood.
"Damon..." Stephen's voice alone held the threat. The demon tore his eyes away from Dawn.
"I'm sorry, sir, I did not know she was yours..." The demon stuttered. "You have not marked her.." Stephen leaned against the counter. His eyes were cold and unforgiving as he stared the demon down.
"You will do well to remember it..." Dawn watched the demon swallow nervously and nod.
"Alright, my dear. Show me what you've got..." Damon's eyes widened before glancing over at Stephen. "I mean..." Dawn fought off a giggle and took a deep breath. Stephen tilted his head in interest.
"I wanted to be like you. I wanted everything. So I tried to be like you and I got swept away. I didn't know that it was so cold. And you needed someone to show you the way. So I took your hand and we figured out that when the time comes I'd take you away..." Stephen's eyes widened in shock as did the demon's own red eyes behind the counter.
"The voice of an angel..." Damon whispered in shock. Demons all around the marketplace seemed to stop to listen.
"If you want to I can save you! I can take you away from here. So lonely inside. So busy out there. And all you wanted was somebody who cares." Stephen fought off the emotions that threatened to consume him. It sounded as if she were singing directly to him. Dawn slowly started to dance with to an imaginary tune. Stephen found himself more captivated than before. "I'm sinking slowly so hurry hold me! Your hand is all I have to keep me hanging on. Please can you tell me so I can finally see where you go when you're gone...If you want to I can save you. I can take you away from here. So lonely inside. So busy out there. And all you wanted was somebody who cares!"
"Where did you find her?" Damon breathed.
"She found me," Stephen admitted to the breathless demon. His eyebrow quirked at the look of worship on all of the demon's faces surrounding her. It seemed he was not the only one captivated by her voice.
"All you wanted was somebody who cares. If you need me, you know I'll be there. Oh, yeah. If you want to I can save you. I can take you away from here. So loney inside. So busy out there. And all you wanted was someone who cares. Please can you tell me so I can finally see where you go when you're gone..." (Michelle Branch-All You Wanted) Dawn opened her eyes and nearly jumped. Demons surrounded her. "Um...Stephen.." She called gently. "A little..help.."
At his name, Stephen stepped through the parting crowd. He took her arm gently and helped her through the crowd. They came back to stand in front of Damon's stand. The blue demon was smiling brightly at her.
"You, my dear, have the voice of an angel!" He exclaimed. Dawn blushed and looked over at Stephen. He nodded. "You're beautiful singing has rewarded you enough points to stay in an inn, get a weapon, and these shorts!" Dawn beamed happily and suppressed the urge to hug Stephen. "So take your pick!" Dawn lifted a pair of black shorts into her hands and looked toward the weapon area of the market. She bit into her lip and looked toward Stephen for help. He pointed to one without a word. The red demon behind the counter handed her the a dainty, but long blade. Dawn smiled at him as she removed it from his hands.
Stephen's eyes scanned the marketplace for danger. His eyes narrowed as he spotted three male demons gathering around a dark stand. Their beady eyes kept glancing toward Dawn. Stephen placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned to face him with a blinding smile.
"Let's head to the inn now..." He demanded lightly. Dawn nodded and tucked her new blade into it's hostler across her hip. Dawn's heart beat sped up as his hand slid down her shoulder to her hand where he entwined their fingers. She smiled shyly and allowed him to tug her gently in the direction of the inn.
"Welcome, my dears..." The elderly inn keeper greeted as they stepped into the inn. "I could hear your voice from here, my dear. It truly is lovely..." She complimented Dawn. "I would like you preform here when you get the chance..."
"Certainly.." Dawn answered happily. The inn keeper smiled and handed Stephen their key.
"Here you are, my dear, room 132."
"Thank you," Stephen said. The inn keeper smiled and shooed them on. Dawn gigled lightly as they walked up the stairs.
"Hey, Stephen.." Dawn asked once they were fully in the room and the door was closed. "What did he mean by 'you haven't marked her'?" Dawn watched as the muscles in Stephen's back drew taunt. Dawn reached forward and touched his shoulder gently. "Stephen?"
"Humans, demons, and everything in between have a way of marking their intended ones. Humans use a type of magic that blends their scent with that of their one. Demons mark them with a bite."
"Which category would you fall under?" Dawn asked. Stephen's eyes widened slightly. His head snapped over to her. She smiled slightly.
"The other..." He admitted quietly. "It's why I'm so 'ubber strong' and why every demon we have met here is afraid of me."
"So you're not human," Dawn's observation was blunt. Stephen nodded.
"My real father and mother were vampires on earth. My human side is more dominant than the vampire. But I still have the perks of being one. Excessive strength, speed, hearing, smell..." His tone was bitter and pained. Dawn could feel her eyes filling with tears. "I'm what many would call a miracle child. But it feels more like a curse.." Stephen gasped as her arms wrapped around him from behind. Her hands linked together in front of his chest and her head fell to his shoulder.
"You're amazing, Stephen." His eyes widened even further at her quiet admission. "I'm happy I met you, because...now I don't feel so alone." He knew that her cheeks were a rosy red as she spoke. He could feel the heat of her blood on his neck. "I'm glad you were born. And as awful as it sounds, I'm happy you were here. Because I don't know if I would have been able to survive without you. I probably would have fallen into some whole and woke up all those tunneling demons and been a midnight snack...and I would have never met you." Stephen tackled her back onto the bed. His arms wrapped around her waist and he buried his head into her chest. Her cheeks flamed at the intimate gesture that was until she realized he was crying. Her own tears fell. Dawn wrapped her arms around his strong, shaking shoulders.
Dawn's arms had long since gone numb when Stephen started to talk.
"No one has ever told me those words before..." He whispered. Dawn hands never stilled their circles on his back.
"You deserve to hear them.." Dawn whispered lightly. Stephen rolled off of her body. The action dislodged her arms from around him. Stephen felt the absence immediately. He did not ask for her to hold him again, although he longed for it. Dawn stared at his forlon face as stared up at the ceiling. His eyes were still swollen and puffy. Dawn smiled gently before rolling over and wrapping her arm around his toned waist. Stephen glanced down at her quickly. Dawn smiled shyly up at him. Her eyes conveyed the message she was to shy to say: "I'm here. Whenever you need it or want it, I'll hold you." Stephen smiled down at her and wrapped his own arm around her back.
"Goodnight, Stephen..." Dawn whispered.
"Goodnight, Dawn..." Stephen laid up lost in his thoughts, wondering if he should tell her of his true name. His brown eyes traveled to her sleeping form. 'Would she still accept me if she knew...'He wondered as he listened to her heart beat and the rhythm of her breathing.
The stories of Angelus stretched far and wide, even through dimensions in which he had never visited. It was part of the reason why fear was so easily for Stephen to instill into others. The other part was simply himself.
'An angel such as she should not be tainted by a child of sin like me...' He thought before letting his eyes drift closed. Slowly, the teen found himself being lulled to sleep.
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