Keeping on top? (Dawn)

[Phoebe Hartley]

Where Life leads..

Phoebe walked into the Bay Mirrior, oh how she loved this place. She really did and didn't even notice how much time she had spent here over the last few weeks. It was one of her favourite get away places, she could spend hours just sitting here typing up convincing advice for her readers. They helped her in more ways than they knew, and in a way the were giving something to her as well. Something that made everything even, even though Phoebe knew nothing in this world was even. Not with the evils that were out there.

Phoebe took off her glasses and sat back sighing as she did so. She read over her Column and nodded in approval to herself before tapping her pen and looking up to see someone walk in. It was.. It was Dawn Summers?. Phoebe wondered what she was doing here today.

[dawn]

Moving her hair out of her face, Dawn quickly slipped her packet of smokes into her pocket. She had started when she was 18, now she couldn't stop. After her Key powers began to manufest, it put a lot of stress on her. First she only had casual puffs of Faith's, but now she had a packet a day. Smoking kills; but Dawn wasn't really human to be exact.

She had the days issue, needed it to be looked at. Allyse was gone for Christmas, and Phoebe was suppposed to be acting editor. And she didn't want to give it to Lane but she really could not put up with her. So holding it in her hand she walked in.

''Hey Phee, here's today's issue. Christmas is bringing out the crazies'', said Dawn referring to a story where a father got their children, put them in Santa Sacks, dosed them in gas and lit a match. She sighed, she had heard worse things. But poor kids. Thoughts aside she then looked up at Phoebe to see what she thought.

[Phoebe Hartley]

Where Life leads..

Phoebe watched narrowly as Dawn slipped the pack of cigarette's into her pocket. Phoebe didn't say anything as that wasn't her style, and her and Dawn were quite close so why ruin a good thing?. Right?. That's what Phoebe thought.

Looking up and smiling as she saw Dawn herself Phoebe crossed her arms. A wince appeared on Phoebe's face as she heard this and she shook her head. " What kind of people do that to kids?." Phoebe managed but wasn't stupid. " Okay.. Don't answer that." Phoebe than got up and took the paper and looked it over. She couldn't help but imagine how fun this article would be to edit. Shrugging Phoebe motioned Dawn to take a seat infront of her. " Business aside, how is everything sweetie?." Phoebe wasn't the type to boss people around and especially a friend she wanted to make her feel comfortable.

[dawn]

When Phoebe indicated towards the chair, Dawn sat. It was a tad weird though, because they had two relationships. One was the professional relationship full of shop talk and seriousness, and the other was where they could go out and get a drink or hang out and what not. Sitting, Phoebe then asked how she is going. It was a bit of a bad time, being on a deadline and everything.

''Um, pretty good girl. Just stuff you know. With my sister and everything. Their are definitely times when I could kill her. You know how they can be. Other then that, everything is fine'', said Dawn to Phoebe with a smile and then rested back. She hadn't had a laid back talk in such a long time. It was good to be able to do it with a friend.

That was until a shimmer appeared behind Phoebe near the window. Seeing the demon, she did not know what to do. Vampire; stake through the heart. Monsters; sharp things. These demons with super powers; that was a mystery. She had only encountered them since she had moved into San Francisco with Buffy. So she did not really know what to do.

Rising, she then glared at him. She couldn't expose herself as The Key. To many questions, most that she didn't have the answer too. Looking to Phoebe, then to the demon and then knew that the fighting skills she had been trained with would come in handy.

She jumped onto the desk and then jumped over Phoebe's head. Launching, she sent a hard kick into the demons head. It staggered backwards as she landed onto her feet. A hard punch met her face, and forced a groan and she fell in a spin on the desk, he chest smashing into the desk. Using it for support she gripped onto the desk and glancing back she saw it was coming for her, and she stomped backwards into its face and it smashed back onto the ground. Gripping a stake out of her jacket, she readied it. It might not dust him or kill him, but it would hurt.

[Phoebe Hartley]

Where Life leads..

Phoebe sat there. she could tell her friend was happy to have someone to talk to and Phoebe loved talking. Especially if someone was having a hard time and needed to get away.. Boy did Phoebe ever know that feeling. That's when Dawn jumped over Phoebe's head and Phoebe ducked in a hurry. She knew something was wrong.. However there was always the what.

She really hoped it wasn't Cole.. Not now that is at work. Than Phoebe dashed to the door and in seconds smashed it closed with her foot. She looked just in time to see Dawn give the demon a nice few smashes here and there and Phoebe grabbed Dawn by the arm.
" Careful!." She said protectively as the demon didn't bleed he just took the stake out.

" Hello.. Dawn, and Charmedone." The demon says and before either had time to act he put his hand out and shot thorns at both of them. Phoebe was hit with one in the arm before sticking her hand out and electricuting him. The demon screamed loudly before falling on his knees. He glaired at them both before shimmering out.

[dawn]

Phoebe's protection reminded her of Buffy. Even though Buffy wouldn't just grab her arm but probably push her to the ground and begin smacking the crap out of the demon. But Phoebe was protective and supportive, and she appreciated. But then the demon knew Dawn's name, and the referred to Phoebe as a Charmed One. What the hell is a Charmed One? And the the fact that he knew Dawn's name worried, because that meant the demons in San Francisco knew she was The Key, so that meant life was going to get a lot more complicated for her.

Thorns large and pointy shot from his hand flew at them. Dawn dodged one just by and inch and as she witnessed one hit Phoebe's arm. Getting concerned she then grabbed Phoebe and flipped them both over the table, flipping the table on the side as thorns hit the surface. But then she saw a stream of electricity come from her hand and hit the demon, wounding it.

''Wow'', she said and then as the demon shimmered she sighed. Thankgod that was gone..

[Phoebe Hartley]

Where Life leads..

Hearing the demon Phoebe got worried, ever since the Ultimate power this was the first demon that actually knew of Phoebe.. Phoebe wondered what that could mean, was there a new evil?, a new source?, did they know of Piper too.. Phoebe hoped not.

After having hit the demon with her electricity Phoebe looked at Dawn worriedly. She wanted to make sure she was okay, Dawn was very close with Phoebe and Phoebe felt the obligation to look after her. Phoebe was good though, she knew her powers and was so accustomed to these demons attacks that she sometimes lacked the care for herself as shown by this attack. Phoebe didn't notice that her arm was beginning to blacken like worse than a burn, like some disease spreading on her arm.

Phoebe got up from the table still alert knowing her friend was fine. Grabbing onto the side of the table Phoebe made one last look around and walked around the table. She than felt something.. Something weird, she wasn't dizzy just mentally blank. Phoebe went to touch the table again when Phoebe fell backwards and totally went blank. Hitting the floor in seconds as if having a heart attack but she looked fine..

Instead Phoebe was burning up, her temperature and body shook slowly but all she could do was stay in the transe. At first she wondered if it was a premonition coming on but all she saw was blackness.. Than Phoebe saw Cole.. It was when they first went to his appartment. They were about to kiss when another black figure that Phoebe could not make out appeared in Cole's place and stabbed Phoebe. " PIPER!!.. PIPERRRRR!!." Phoebe screamed before being shot back into reality and holding her arm.