Before heading out on patrol, Buffy stops by Dawn’s room to warn her about the full moon and remind her to stay indoors. Dawn rolls her eyes. “Thanks, Buffy. I know what a full moon looks like.” Remembering that Xander has wolf duty, Dawn eagerly asks to help, offering to bring hot chocolate with little marshmallows. Buffy says “absolutely not” before leaving with Faith. Later, Dawn calls the library to talk to Xander, but no one answers. He must be too focused on his post to take a phone call.
The next morning, Buffy retrieves the butterfly clips that migrated into Dawn’s room and complains about seeing a counselor. Dawn pointedly suggests that Buffy should talk to someone, since she refuses to talk to her. Buffy insists she’s only trying to protect Dawn.
By the next morning, Buffy still hasn’t come home, so Dawn calls the library. Even over the phone, she can tell something is wrong. Buffy shuts down her questions, insisting she’s fine and telling Dawn not to worry and to just go to school. Of course. More secrets. “Fine. But I’m so not covering for you,” Dawn snaps. Exhausted and reeling from seeing Angel, Buffy answers, “Fine,” and hangs up.
After an extraordinarily heavy day at school, Buffy finally returns home and finds a still-salty Dawn waiting in her room. Buffy apologizes for hanging up but again insists she’s only trying to keep Dawn safe. Dawn explains how frightened she was when Angel was trying to hurt them—and then when Buffy disappeared she didn’t know whether Angel was still out there or whether he would come after her or Mom.
She was an almost-thirteen-year-old alone in a world full of monsters, without Buffy. Buffy pulls Dawn into a hug and apologizes for leaving. Tearfully, she explains that the way Angel hurt her wasn’t normal or okay—and that no one is ever allowed to hurt Dawn that way. For the first time since their reunion, Dawn hugs her back. “Can we please just go back to the way it was?” Buffy agrees and hugs her tighter.