[continued from previous message]   
      
   "Miss Summers, I don't think you understand what I've been saying. Neither   
   Miss Rosenberg, nor Miss Maclay, can live in the same house with Dawn. At   
   fifteen, she is much too impressionable to have such negative influences in   
   her life. Even now, I'm sure she has seen much more than other  girls her   
   age."   
      
   "Can't argue with that," Buffy mumbled under her breath.   
      
   "Excuse me? You said something?"   
      
   "No. It's just – it seems like you're saying I can only work six, maybe   
   seven hours a day. How am I supposed to earn enough money to take care of   
   everything if I can't work enough hours to make a decent salary?"   
      
   "Well, you strike me as an intelligent young woman. I'm sure you'll be able   
   to work things out."   
      
   Buffy took an exasperated breath. "Fine. So what else?"   
      
   "Well, obviously, the Magic Box is off limits. And I think it would be best   
   if Dawn's time with Miss Jenkins and Mr. Harris is severely curtailed."   
      
   "You're cutting her off from everyone she loves, and who love her? So the   
   only people she'll get to see are the few friends she has in school?"   
      
   "Dawn won't be returning to her school. We have an excellent in-house   
   tutoring program."   
      
   "You know, this sounds an awful lot like she's being held prisoner – can't   
   leave, can't see her family, can't see her friends."   
      
   "I know you are getting tired of hearing this, but everything being done is   
   for Dawn's protection and for her welfare."   
      
   "And no matter what I do, or how hard I try, it will never be enough. Is   
   that it?  It  IS, isn't it?"   
      
   "I'm not sure I know…."   
      
   "The only way you can justify your job is to make sure Dawn, and probably   
   dozens of other kids, never go home. You have to make sure they stay locked   
   up in this – stinking system, so you'll have a job."   
      
   "I assure you, Miss Summers, that certainly is NOT the case."   
      
   "Well, you sure could have fooled ME!"   
      
   "Very well. I see that our attempt at civilized conversation has broken   
   down."   
      
   Mrs. Kendall passed an envelope to Buffy.   
      
   "If you are truly committed to having Dawn returned to your custody, here is   
   a list of things you will need to do in order to make that happen. I know   
   you want to see her. Come back next week, show me that you are making the   
   effort, and I will allow you a short visit with her."   
      
   Buffy got up and started to leave, very unsatisfied with the way things   
   turned out. Just as she got to the door Mrs. Kendall said, "You know, a   
   positive attitude can go a long way."   
      
   "I'm sure it can."   
      
   "Oh, Miss Summers, one more thing."   
      
   "Now what?"   
      
   "When the two associates went to Dawn's school to get her, she became quite   
   agitated, as would be expected, but more than once she said, and I quote,   
   'My sister is so going to kick your sorry asses!' "   
      
   "What would you expect her to say? 'Take me away'?"   
      
   "I can't help but wonder what kind of household she is living in where her   
   first thought was for her sister to do bodily harm to personnel just doing   
   their job."   
      
   Buffy started to answer, but knew there wasn't much she could say in her   
   defense.   
      
                   Buffy's Kitchen   
                   Monday Afternoon   
                   4:45 p.m.   
      
   "And that's it?" Willow asked. "You have a list of impossible rules to   
   follow or no Dawn?"   
      
   "That's it. I have to get a job, but can work only while she's in school.   
   But I have to make enough money to support both of us."   
      
   "What about your patrolling? You can't abandon that."   
      
   "Well, apparently her spy, or spies, haven't seen me in any cemeteries, so I   
   guess I'll just concentrate on them."   
      
   "Buffy, if it will help you get Dawn back, I can move back into the dorm,"   
   Tara volunteered.   
      
   "Thanks. But Willow has to move out too. She doesn't want either one of you   
   anywhere near Dawn. She seems to think your relationship is – what's the   
   word she used? – abhorrent? Something like that. And she was really down on   
   the Wicca. I guess she thinks you guys worship the devil."   
      
   "We do NOT," Willow said loudly.   
      
   "Well I know that, but it sure sounded like she thinks so.  Oh, also Anya   
   and Xander have to stay away as well. She kept talking about them living in   
   sin, and flaunting it in Dawn's face."   
      
   "She sounds kind of like a prude. Is she like a hundred years old?" Willow   
   asked.   
      
   "No. She's about fifty or so. But she did strike me as pretty religious."   
      
   "How so?"   
      
   "Well, she was wearing a necklace and a cross, which living on the   
   Hellmouth, makes a lot of sense. But she had a huge picture on one wall of a   
   guy who obviously is supposed to be Jesus. And he's surrounded by a bunch of   
   little kids and has his hands on top of two of their heads. And on another   
   wall was this big cross and a Jesus – in living color. Right down to red   
   spots on his hands and feet."   
      
   "That's religious, alright."   
      
   "You know, I don't have a problem with that, not at all. But it's like she's   
   trying to make everybody live the way she thinks they should. Shouldn't   
   people be allowed to believe whatever they want to without other people   
   trying to convert them, or condemn them?"   
      
   "Well, of course they should."   
      
   No one spoke for a few moments, not having a solution to anything.   
      
   "Where's that invisibility ray gun when you need it?" Willow eventually   
   said.   
      
   Buffy chuckled, then answered, "Don't think that would help this time. I'm   
   sure that lady has all her files backed up. And her backups are probably   
   backed up."   
      
   "She kind of sounds like Snyder. You know how he was always on your case   
   about, well, everything."   
      
   "She does, doesn't she?" Buffy thought for a minute. "You don't think he was   
   reincarnated into her, do you?"   
      
   "I was thinking she sounds more like that guy from the Council – Clinton   
   Travels, or whatever his name was," Tara said. "You know, the way he kept   
   making you go through all those tests and the interviews with everybody when   
   they came here about Glory."   
      
   "Quentin Travers. And you're right," Buffy said. "She surely does."   
      
   "Buffy, did you ever think about getting a lawyer?" Willow asked.   
      
   "Yeah I did. But good ones cost a LOT of money. Money I don't have. And if I   
   did have that much money I wouldn't worry about paying all the bills."   
      
   "Maybe you could find one who'd take the case pro bono," Tara suggested.   
   "Sometimes they do that."   
      
   "Couldn't hurt to ask around, I guess. But, in the meantime, I guess I'll   
   have to start checking things off this list."   
      
      
                   Department of Social Services   
                   Visiting Room B   
                   Friday Afternoon   
                   3:35 p.m.   
      
      
   Buffy was shown to Visiting Room B and was told Dawn would be there shortly.   
   She looked around. It wasn't a big room, maybe twenty five feet by twenty   
   five. Several small windows were near the ceiling, too high and too small   
   for anyone to escape through. Along one wall was a worn out looking sofa and   
   an easy chair. In the middle of the room was a table with chairs on three   
   sides. Buffy sat down in one of the chairs facing the door. Ten minutes   
   later Dawn came into the room accompanied by Mrs. Kendall. Buffy and Dawn   
   immediately had their arms around each other, tears in both their eyes.   
      
   "Still strong," Dawn whispered in Buffy's ear, trying not to sound like she   
   was in too much pain.   
      
   "Oh, Dawny, I'm so sorry. I just missed you so much."   
      
   "Me too."   
      
   They sat down on opposite sides of the table, holding both hands.   
      
   "How've you been? They treating you okay? How's the food?"   
      
   "I'm okay – been better, been worse. Food's alright. I'm not starving."   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)