Holding up a hand, she showed Spike the cut across her knuckles. "I hit Principal Wood."
"In the face?"
Dawn nodded.
"The human mouth harbours some nasty bacteria, love. Let's get that seen to before you lose a hand." Spike applied Betadine and a novelty band-aid to the wound. "Want to tell me about it?"
"I told him he hurt you again I'd kill him."
"I did kill his Mum."
"He needed to know that hurting you hurts me the same way."
Spike kissed her forehead. "My hero."

