Author note: So, I've been a fan of Sanctuary every since it started airing in the UK, and then I found the fanfiction. Specifically, a couple of fics by skatergurljubulee, which suddenly alerted me to the amazing dynamic between Henry and Will. This will be a three part story, and I wrote the first part and half of the second part in one night, typing away for the whole time while my bemused flatmate sat three feet away playing video games, keeping me company instead of taking his girlfriend to bed. Poor girl slept on the sofa. The title is taken from the Arthur O'Shaughnessy poem Ode, from his book Music and Moonlight.
Warning: Sex, pseudo-science, Henry being emotional.
Pair: William Zimmerman and Henry Foss.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sanctuary, because if I did the ending would be more of an ending, rather than just stopping like it did. Stupid cancellations...
PART 1:
Fall
"Will, could I have a word, please?" Will Zimmerman looked up from his notes to see Helen Magnus leaning out of a doorway just ahead of him.
"Sure, Magnus." He tucked the notes away and joined her in the room. Kate was sitting on the desk behind her, cleaning off her gun calmly. "What's up?"
"It's about Henry." Magnus admitted. "He's too embarrassed to bring it up with you himself, but you both need to know regardless. We've just entered the beginning of the werewolf mating season. Henry won't be of much use to you until it's over with." Will frowned.
"How long does the mating season last? A couple of weeks?"
"Actually, it lasts just under a month once a year in most Lycanthropes, however Henry's season lasts around twice that, but happens less frequently, although there doesn't seem to be a schedule."
"Really? Interesting." Will kept his mind strictly analytical, forcing himself to think of this objectively, instead of acknowledging the fact that he was actually discussing a co-worker's sex drive with their boss.
"Yes." Magnus agreed. "We believe it has something to do with the fact that he was mostly raised as human, and that because the wolf in him was suppressed for so long, it's affecting his... cycle, for lack of a better word. He's still quite young, for a werewolf, barely out of adolescence, but the season should have settled down by now." Kate chuckled and started reassembling her weapon.
"Sounds like that puts us both squarely in wolfy's hot-zone."
"Not quite." Magnus corrected. Her employees looked askance. "The last time this happened, we had settled something of a pack mentality for Henry's wolf. Both Ashley and I were considered inappropriate choices for a mate, so the wolf was never interested in pursuing us." Will went to ask, but Magnus beat him to it. "As his surrogate mother and leader, he considered me too dominant to be worth an attempt, and I raised Henry and Ashley as siblings. The wolf doesn't want inbred offspring."
"So he's never had a suitable available mate?" Will clarified.
"Not during the mating season." Magnus agreed. "Of course, it's not as simple as that now."
"Kate."
"Exactly." Magnus nodded. "And you, Will." There was a pregnant pause.
"Excuse me?" Kate turned red from holding in the giggles.
"Henry isn't... how should I put it? Exactly picky about gender." Magnus explained. "He sees no distinction between male and female in his partners, so his wolf doesn't either. In fact, if I were to hazard a guess, I'd think Will would be the preferred choice." Will blushed slightly and dropped onto the sofa.
"Why would you think that?"
"The wolf isn't sure of where Kate falls in the pack hierarchy yet. No offense, Kate, but with weres, just like animals, it's all about furthering the bloodlines with perfect young. You're attractive, but genetically you might be the worst possible mother for his cubs, and he hasn't been around you at the 'right time' for both of you yet."
"But Will can't give him kids at all." Kate pointed out. "Why would that be better?"
"Because if there isn't a suitable female available, mating will help end the season much more quickly than it would naturally." Will realised. "If he can't find someone to reproduce with, it could help to just go through the motions with someone who doesn't have the possibility of producing unwanted or inferior cubs."
"So... it goes from 'wants babies' to 'wants sex'?" Kate finally holstered the gun. Magnus nodded.
"Exactly. Kate, I want you to try to spend as little time alone with Henry as possible. Will, I'd suggest you speak to Henry as soon as you can, let him know where you stand in all this."
"I'll go see him now." Zimmerman stood and headed for the door.
"Will." He paused and turned. Magnus looked embarrassed. "You can talk in privacy, but the way Henry's hormones work right now I won't risk leaving you entirely unattended. We'll be watching on the security system in case you need us." Will turned away again to hide his blush.
"Thanks, but I think it'll be alright."
"Henry, can I come in?" the werewolf glanced up, and Will automatically started categorising his friend's body language.
"Magnus spoke to you?"
"Uh, yeah." Will looked around the lab, nervous. Everything about Henry's posture had changed the second he registered who was in the room. Suddenly, Henry was tense, almost vibrating with pent up energy, almost as if he was fighting the Change. "Look man, I know what Magnus said, but I kinda need to hear it from you." Henry turned scarlet, but nodded.
"The wolf wants you." The technician admitted. "You're a comparable level of dominance, and no risk of knocking you up." He put down the gadget he was tinkering with. "Look, honestly?" Will indicated for him to continue. "I can't control this. You're in so much danger right now, it's not even funny. The only thing stopping me from vaulting over this desk, ripping your clothes off, and fucking you through the floor is that I know you don't want me." Will blinked, blushing. Well, that explained the nervous energy. Henry realised exactly what he had said, and who to. "And that was more descriptive than either of us wanted."
"I'm not interested in you like that. Guys aren't really my thing."
"I know."
"We're being honest, right?" Will rubbed his palms on his jeans while Henry agreed. "Then I should probably tell you that what you just suggested doesn't seem to be entirely out of my range." Henry froze, eyes flicking across Will's figure in a way that the profiler was all too familiar with. He held still, allowing Henry to fully evaluate him.
Henry's nose wrinkled as he got a whiff of the hormones rolling off Will. The usual scent of the human was evident - coffee, old paper, washing detergent, Terrain Cologne – but it was joined by a faint musky smell, something he rarely smelt on the profiler. Arousal.
"Wow." He blinked. Will's soft smile evolved into a full on smirk. "You, uh..."
"Apparently so. Do you give off pheromones, by any chance?" Henry shrugged, and slid around his desk. Will couldn't help but watch as Henry slunk towards him, the predator in him more apparent than he'd ever seen it before.
"Dunno, but if you're feeling it, then maybe I do."
"Maybe you're just really fucking hot." Will shot back, then blinked and stumbled backwards a few feet. "Hm. I wonder if I can get a sample of those pheromones to analyse later." Henry laughed, and leant back against his desk.
"Nice to know you won't go completely brainless on me." Will chuckled.
"We needed to know where we both stand in this." he admitted. "I don't like it. I don't like not being in full control of who I choose to sleep with. As we've just proven, those pheromones are damn strong. You're pushing all the right buttons, and if this season of yours doesn't pass, I'll help." Henry nodded silently. "I'm not saying it won't be weird as hell afterwards, but if it makes everything easier round here, I'll do it."
"Thanks man." Henry quirked a quick smile. "I'll owe you one after all this."
"At least I'm not asking to be wined and dined before I agree to it." Will quipped.
"I'll see if I can find a way to tone down the, uh..." he waved vaguely. Will nodded. "And, um... if you did want wining and dining, you're totally asking the wrong guy. I'm not great with the whole romance thing."
"Me neither. Too nit-picky on the details." The profiler admitted. "I guess you'll just have to buy me a beer afterwards." As Will left, he was almost painfully conscious of wolf-green eyes burning into his back, and had no doubt that his friend was watching his ass as he walked.
TBC
