Now that I've had some time to ponder it, did Dawn stay overnight at the hospital? Or at lest was there for several hours? I wonder why she wasn't there with her sis as opposed to hiding her in her room.

Then I thought, Spike was probably with Dawn, and Buffy assumes he'll stop by her room next, but then he never shows, which is why she decides to keep the lighter in the next ep, having had the chance to miss him.

At any rate, stupid scene is stupid.