College Campus

Sunnydale

In most humans the sense of smell is unremarkable. The scents that overlay every surface, that drift on every breeze, barely register in that part of the human brain allocated by nature for that purpose. But to Oz, casually strolling across the college campus, no scent went unnoticed. The relaxed expression on his face belied the feverous activity behind his eyes.

Altered by the wolf within, that section of his mind was constantly separating and categorizing every scent encountered.

That, almost wolf like smell, was a dog that had passed here early this morning. The smell that drifted in on the breeze from the building to the south, indicated that the canteen would be serving meatloaf again. The scent on a flattened patch of grass, showed that a couple had been making out there yesterday evening.

Suddenly, drifting from the direction of a large tree to his left, a familiar scent caught his attention. Instantly the smell was identified as 'Willow's Scent ' by his human side, and as 'Mate's Scent' by the wolf within. Changing direction in mid stride, Oz headed for the large tree.

Willow, leaning back against the wide bole of the tree, was rounded by scattered books and large piles of computer printouts. Glancing at the titles of the books, Oz smiled. None of Willow's course's involved astronomy or ancient Egyptian history, yet the titles of the book indicated that this was what Willow was currently studying. Look's like Willow's studying for 'Fun' again, Oz though in amusement.

After observing Willow for a few moments, Oz eventually spoke. "Hi."

Willows studious expression instantly changed to one of happiness as she jumped to her feet. "Oz!" After a fierce hug, Willow pulled Oz into a seated potion against the tree and snuggled under his arm. Resting her head on his chest, Willow snuggled even closer and said. "Purrrr."

Laughing quietly, Oz hugged Willow with his arm and relaxed against the tree.

After enjoying the comfort of Oz's presence for awhile, Willow finally looked up at Oz and asked. "I thought you had band practice this afternoon?"

With a sigh, Oz answered. "Bands breaking up."

A shocked look on her face, Willow sat up. "Breaking up?" She exclaimed. "But why?"

"Phil's stepdad's in hospital up in Seattle. He was in a bad car crash and it'll take him months to recover. Phil's mum can't handle 4 kids on her own." Oz said in a resigned tone.

Willow after a moments hesitation said. "I know it's bad luck for Phil, and I hope everything goes alright, but can't you get someone else?"

Oz shook his head. "That's not all. Steve heard from his brother Paul last night. The band he's in lost two guys and he asked Steve to help out. He also asked if he knew a drummer." Oz looked down at Willow, who had returned to her position under his arm. "What with Phil leaving, Steve decided to head for New York and help Paul." Shrugging his shoulders Oz continued. "I had a talk with Mark. With only two of us left, and Paul needing a drummer, we talked it over and he's going with Steve to New York."

With a questioning expression, Willow looked up and said. "No more band?"

Gently smiling down at Willow, Oz said. "Lots of bands split up. I'm gonna chill for awhile before starting a new band in a couple of months."

Looking at the books around the, Oz changed the subject. "What's with the astronomy books? I thought you'd covered it all in High school already."

Looking at his face for a few seconds, making sure he was taking the band's break up ok, Willow answered. "Just checking to see if there's been any new discovery lately." Leaning back into Oz's embrace she carried on. "Do you ever think about the stars? I mean about the planets around the stars?"

"What about them?" Oz asked.

"Do you ever think what it'd be like to explore them? To be able to go to practically any planet in the galaxy, to be able to explore a whole new planet?" Willow asked.

Oz thought for a moment. Finding the idea interesting, he finally said. "Cool." Adding after a few seconds. "Maybe our kids will."

Willow, her blushes subsiding after a while at the mention of 'our kids', said. "We can do it now."

Oz looked at Willow in confusion. "What do you mean 'now'?

Willow picked up one of the piles of computer printouts and clutched it to her chest tightly. "I found a backdoor into the computers of a government project." Pulling the printouts away from her chest, she handed them to Oz. "It's about something called a Stargate..."

**********

Cockroach infested Motel

Sunnydale

Travers looked around the motel room with disgust. In the normal course of events they would have set up base in the best hotel suite money could buy. However, considering the covert nature for their presence in Sunnydale, this was the safest place they could find to operate from.

Turning to the four large men piling their luggage on one of the beds, he spoke in his usual arrogant manner. "Which of you is the sniper?"

With a broad Scottish accent, one of the men stepped away from the luggage and said. "Tha'd be me Mr Travers."

Pulling a small notebook from an inside pocket, Travers quickly flipped through the pages. Stopping at one particular page he ripped it from the notebook and handed to the man. "This is the name and address of a contact in Los Angeles. I want you to choose a suitable rifle and be back here by tomorrow morning." Stopping the man before he could leave the room, he added. "Oh, McPherson? The shot will most probably will take place at night, so get a night sight as well."

As the door closed behind McPherson, Travers turned and walked to the telephone. After once again consulting the small notebook, he began to dial a number. "Hello? Could I speak to Nurse Waterstone please?....Waterstone? Travers here, I'd like to see you soon as possible....You can? That's excellent....Do you know the motel that's at the north end of town?....I'm in room seventeen....I'll see you in twenty minuets." Turning to the three men standing by the luggage, he waved his hand at them. "Put the luggage away somewhere and hand me that briefcase."

Twenty minuets later there was a knock at the door. Travers, after first looking through the peephole, opened the door. A blonde woman, dressed in a nurse's uniform entered the room. Travers shook her hand before waving her at a chair. "I'd like to hear your report on the condition of the Slayer Faith."

After a quick glance at the three men playing cards on one of the beds, Waterstone began to speak in a brisk manner. "The attending physicians consider her condition as stable."

"They have no suspicions?" Travers asked.

Waterstone shook her head. "No sir, none at all. While they are stumped for a reason for her continuing coma, their suspicions have not been aroused. The reason for a coma can sometimes go undiagnosed and for this reason her case is not unique."

"Any problems with the injections?" Travers asked, as he glanced briefly down at the briefcase in his lap.

Waterstone once again shook her head. "No sir." She smiled primly as she continued. "The Hospital considers itself fortunate to acquire someone with my credentials, who is also willing to work the nightshift." She added with a quirk to her mouth. "I'm also considered by the rest of the staff to be a 'softy'."

With a raised eyebrow, Travers asked. "Softy?"

"It is my habit to visit all the long-term patients when I first come on duty." With a sniff at the gullibility of the rest of the staff, she explained. "I've told them that I say a private prayer for each of the patients. This gives me ample opportunity to inject her I.V with the compound. My visits with the other patients merely avoids associating me with one particular patient."

Travers carefully unzipped the briefcase. "An excellent subterfuge."

Reaching into the briefcase, Travers withdrew a small blase case and handed it to Waterstone. "We have an improved compound for you to administer."

Waterstone opened the case and looked inside. Nestled on top of a foam lining was a single ampoule. The liquid in the ampoule glowed a dark red and presented a somewhat menacing appearance.

"Just the one ampoule." Waterstone asked in confusion.

Travers, who had considered her reaction before the meeting, quietly explained. "This new compound is much more effective. You need only give her one injection each month to achieve the same results of the daily injections. It also has the benefit of reducing the number of times you risk being discovered."

Smiling as she placed the case in her purse Waterstone asked. "Will there be anything else Sir?"

Escorting her to the door, Travers shook his head. "No, an excellent report." Opening the door he added. "A monthly supply of the new drug will begin arriving in two weeks time."

One of the men on the bed turned to Travers as he made his way back to his chair. "Are you sure you can trust her to carry out her duties Sir?

Stopping in surprise, Travers looked at the man. "Whatever do you mean."

The man looked at the door with contempt. "She must as thick as two short planks. We've all taken the lectures regarding magical compounds. That course is compulsory for all Watchers. She must be an idiot to forget that a red glow in a magical compound means it's a deadly poison." Turning back to Travers he continued. "Are you sure you can trust an idiot like her?"

Travers began to laugh. "You do Nurse Waterstone an injustice. She suffers from a most unfortunate condition for someone in her profession." He began to laugh even harder. "Nurse Waterstone is colour blind."