AN: Sorry for the delay - here's chapter 2.
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"Jack, I'm here – where are you?" Owen asked over the comms for the second time. He'd arrived at the SUV in 15 minutes as promised and – no Jack waiting for him. "What part of 'No heroics' didn't you understand Jack," he muttered in frustration. Silence was all he heard over the comms so he pulled out his PDA, checked the readings and headed into the park to find Jack. Owen had just reached the copse of trees when he heard a mournful howl which made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and a shiver run down his spine. After checking to make sure the safety was off on his gun Owen cautiously moved through the trees to a small clearing. The stench of dead Weevils assailed his nostrils making him grimace but the low growl to his right captured his attention. He turned and pointed his gun and torch towards the sound only to discover a lycanthrope clutching Jack's body. "Bloody hell!" he whispered. His first instinct was to shoot the lycanthrope but something about the way the lycan was holding Jack stopped him and made him really look at what was happening in front of him.
Looking closer at Jack's body Owen could see the slow and steady rise and fall of Jack's chest as he breathed. 'At least he's alive,' Owen realized. Although the lycan had growled at him, it hadn't attacked him. In fact the creature seemed to ignore Owen now and was totally focused on Jack – was taking care of Jack, even gently carding his fingers through Jack's hair. Owen looked over the small clearing seeing three dead Weevils further away and the other two closer to where Jack was laying. 'Two separate attacks, two victims,' Owen thought. The Weevils had attacked both Jack and the lycan. Making a decision Owen took a step toward the lycan and Jack. The lycan turned his head toward Owen and softly growled at him – not a threat just sort of a 'what do you think you're doing?' kind of growl.
"It's alright," Owen said raising his hands. "Look, I'm putting my gun away," he added fitting his actions to his words. The lycan relaxed a little bit but kept watching Owen, who slowly walked over to where the lycan was sitting with Jack in his arms. Owen could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he crouched down inches away from the huge lycan. Pointing at Jack, he said, "That's my friend Jack; I see you've been taking care of him. I'm a doctor and I'd like to check on him – OK?" The lycan's blue eyes stared at Owen's briefly before nodding and starting to move Jack.
"Don't move him," Owen cautioned stopping the creature from moving Jack. "I can check him out while you hold him." He quickly checked Jack over and found no injuries except for some dried blood and a bump on the back of his head. Jack groaned and opened his eyes. "Jack? Jack, can you hear me?" Owen asked as he used his torch to check the pupil reaction in Jack's eyes.
"I hear you," Jack muttered, "stop flashing the light in my eyes," he complained.
"Well hello to you too; glad you could join us," Owen replied. It took Jack a moment for his eyes to adjust to the moonlight. Finally he saw both Wolfie and Owen's faces.
Jack managed a slight grin. "I see you've met Wolfie," he said. Wolfie gently stroked Jack's face with the back of his hand and looked pleased that Jack was awake.
"Feel like you can stand up?" Owen asked. Jack nodded; Wolfie and Owen helped Jack stand up. He felt a little dizzy but the feeling past. "At least you don't look like you're going to pass out again," Owen observed. Glancing around at the Weevils he added, "Not a good night for the Weevils – they're all dead."
"Couldn't be avoided," Jack replied. Handing the car keys to Owen he asked, "Know where the SUV is?" Owen nodded. "I'll stay with Wolfie while you drive the SUV over here."
"Right; be back in five," Owen replied before trotting off in the direction of the SUV.
Once he was out of sight Jack turned to Wolfie and said, "Thanks for helping me with those two Weevils. I'm puzzled though – why don't you talk? I've met two other lycans over the years and they both talked." Wolfie shrugged then surprised Jack by grasping Jack's shoulders and leaning over Jack. Their eyes locked for a moment and then Wolfie lowered his head down to Jack's neck and inhaled his scent. A rumbled of approval rose up Wolfie's throat. His tongue tasted Jack's neck causing Jack to gasp in surprise. He pulled away from Jack and saw Jack's eyes were slightly glazed over. "Talking can be overrated," Jack muttered. He patted his hand against Wolfie's chest. "I'm chuffed about your interest in me and you could be my kind of guy, but I have a boyfriend I love very much and he doesn't share. I'm sorry, but I hope you understand" Jack explained.
Wolfie let out a big sigh and his ears and tail drooped a bit, but he nodded his understanding. Any further awkwardness was avoided by Owen's timely arrival in the SUV. Wolfie stayed long enough to help Jack and Owen load the Weevils into bags and deposit them in the back of the SUV. "Thanks Wolfie," Owen said, "Jack, I'll drive my car, meet you back at the Hub and help you offload the Weevils – alright?"
Jack nodded. "That's fine Owen – see you there." Turning to Wolfie, he said, "Thanks again Wolfie; take care of yourself." Wolfie nodded and watched Jack climb into the SUV. He raised his hand in farewell and Jack gave him a small salute before driving off into the night.
Later that night some of Cardiff's residents heard a lonesome howl in the night and a couple of pub-crawling mates called the police claiming to have spotted a werewolf on the Roald Dahl Plass before it mysteriously disappeared right before their eyes. PC Andy Davidson took the call and gave the lads a lift to the police station so they could sleep it off.
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Author's note from socalrose: Thanks for reading! Reviews, comments and questions are always welcome. Pretty please click on the button below and let me know what you think.