A/N Well, since I got my 50th!!! 'story alert' today am going to post this one early. After today though posting may get more erratic, back to college tomorrow and a tonne of work to do! Will be finished by the end of the week though I hope, am planning on posting a chapter a day if I can.

Alder… my wonderful wonderful beta… I worship the very ground you walk on! Please do me the honour… of checking the next chapter? *offers manuscript*

Disclaimer: Not mine though I *did* tweak them for my own nefarious purposes… will restore to save point before putting them back in the cupboard.

Chapter 12

Several hours earlier

Tony pulled himself to his feet and started pacing. It was some time since he had woken up and the pain was beginning to recede. However, now he itched and it was driving him mad. He was also full of a restless energy, even the soothing words from Rhi were doing nothing to calm him now. DiNozzo was terrified, he still wasn't sure if he really believed Rhi and the Frenchman - Gerard - about the whole were-wolf thing… hell, it sounded like the plot of some terrible B-movie, or a TV series that struggled to make three seasons.

Rhi looked up as Tony gave a strangled laugh. There was absolutely no humour in the sound and his hands shook violently as he ran them through his hair. She shook her head sadly, realising he was close to a panic attack. It was more than understandable, in a few short weeks he had been working a stressful case, was kidnapped, drugged, tortured, drugged some more, found out his boss was a creature from horror movie specials and to top it off he was to apparently change into one himself. Rhi would have been more surprised if he had acted any other way, she thought he was remarkably in control of himself.

Tony spun round, staring at the door, muscles quivering with tension. A few minutes later Gerard entered, carrying a pizza box and two bottles of water. Making Rhi back up, he placed them in her cell before locking her in again. Gerard then went to stand by Tony's cell, hungry eyes eagerly taking note of the agent's changed status. Grabbing a chart he jotted down information on the restlessness, increased heart rate, breathing rate, perspiration and initial signs of aggression. The Frenchman was annoyed that he would have to wait another twenty-four to forty-eight hours to administer the final potion mentioned in his book.

When he had found the medieval text he had been unable to believe his luck. For years he had been using his position in Alica Domus to find a way to become someone, a leader, powerful and feared. The book was a detailed guide for the Lycus Mystica, the shamans that served as magical aides to were-wolves and other mythical creatures. They were skilled healers and one of their duties was to help humans who were bonded to a were-wolf and allow them to transform themselves to become a member of the Clan. The book was supposed to be a training aid and resource to be used alongside many years of training though, without a tutor in the arts Gerard had been learning by trial and error…mainly error.

A naturally slight and weak child, Gerard had been a favourite of the bullies throughout school. Instead of learning to move past his youth he instead decided to find a way to punish everyone who had ever belittled him. Believing his besotted mother, a woman who was convinced her son was a genius and could do no wrong, Gerard had grown up taking offence at every turn. His plan was to take the potion and control both Tony and Rhiannon, use them as merciless killing machines, to murder and maim all who opposed him - he was too lost in his own madness to see how anyone could find fault with his plan.

Tony growled, a low rumble that no human could hope to emulate. He stopped, shocked at the sound emanating from his own throat. This was the first thing he could identify as proof of the changes going on within his body. DiNozzo started growling again, his fear driving his anger towards full on rage… He had no control over his wayward emotions, he just wanted to hurt, to kill, to punish someone…anyone…in retaliation for what was happening. His eyes focussed on the grinning Frenchman just outside his reach.

"You, you did this… Why? Let. Me. GO!" Tony leapt at the bars with a roar, desperate to kill the man responsible for the torture he had endured.

Rhiannon could only watch helplessly as the agent's anger grew. To her dismay there was little sign of him being able to control his beast. Unlike a True-Born, the Bane-Born did not learn control over many years as they matured, they faced several years worth of physiological and hormonal changes all within a few hours. Very few humans were permitted to become Bane-Wolves…even then it took at least four years of study before the transformation, followed by two to five years in seclusion with their wolf family, learning to control their new side.

"Excellent…" Gerard breathed. "As soon as you are changed, my boy…then you may have your final medicine. After that you belong to me, mind, body and soul."

Tony flinched, even the soft French accent did nothing to disguise the horror implicated by those words. Rhiannon had explained the final mixture to him earlier on, the shamans had come up with a potion that could be fed to a Bane-Born wolf that could not control themselves. It bound them to the person who administered it, making them a total slave. They were physically unable to disobey and were totally under their handler's command. This was to be used as a final resort, rather than execution, if the Bane could not control themselves. If Gerard were to force Tony to take the mix then Tony would become a mindless beast, subject to his master's every whim.

Tearing at the bars, Tony snarled at his captor, once again he formed sounds that should have been impossible. Some small shred of sanity remained, causing DiNozzo to withdraw and try calm himself. His only thought was that he wanted Gibbs to come.

After some time passed, he fell into a restless slumber, allowing Rhiannon to relax and drink the bottled water Gerard had provided. The Frenchman had departed some time ago and she was parched. Tony had devoured the pizza shortly before his nap. After draining the bottle, Rhiannon realised her mistake. She saw Lepatier return, just as her vision blurred and her limbs became heavy. She tried to growl before the darkness came crashing in.

*****

Rhiannon woke with this instinctive knowledge that several hours had passed. She noted that she was now tied to the support in the centre of the room and Tony was once again awake. However instead of pacing he was curled in the corner of his cell, a terrible keening cry coming from his throat. Rhi whimpered in sympathy, she remembered the agony of her first change…the last hours before it felt like her entire body had toothache. Pain filled green-grey eyes looked at her, begging for help.

Tony didn't know what to do with himself, there was no relief to be had from the throbbing ache in every tissue of his body. Every sense seemed to be peaking as well so the lights were too bright, the sound of his own breath too harsh, the sharp scent of fear drowned out everything and his skin was so sensitive even the very air burned as a breeze ghosted across his arms.

The change when it finally came was almost a relief. Tony felt a cool sensation flow over him, leaving him reeling and tumbling. It was like diving into a swimming hole with a waterfall…dizzying and thrilling. When he was aware of himself again everything had changed, he had the same mass as when he was human, making him a large wolf. However his head was now much lower and his four legged stance felt alien yet natural and right, all at the same time. He could barely process all the information his senses were now supplying him with. He felt stronger than ever before and the anger from before was still overwhelming him. He wanted to…no, needed to hurt or kill someone now. He needed to run and to hunt. He was dimly aware of another's thoughts, searching for something or someone but he was too busy trying to find a way to get out of his cell.

Rhiannon moaned with fear. She could sense that there was little, if any, Anthony DiNozzo in control of the mind of the wolf before her. She tugged at her bonds, if he got loose whilst she was tied then she knew he wouldn't see Rhi McLeod, friend and ally. He would just see prey. Still sluggish from the drugs she sagged in relief as she recognised Gibbs' mind as he tried to establish a telepathic link. Rhi started to cry in relief, now Gibbs was here they could figure out a way to save Tony, but even as she dared to feel hope it was shattered as she heard a click and the cell door confining the huge wolf started to slide open.

Tony snarled in triumph, he was finally free! Soon he would have the sweet sensation of blood, flesh and bone in his jaws, the sound of a dying breath in his ears. As the door opened he saw a blue-eyed man running into the room…he looked familiar. Ignoring him, the newly created were-wolf crouched on powerful legs and sprang towards the helpless woman.


A/N #2: I know, another cliffie... or rather the *same* cliffie from a different angle... am writing the rest as fast as I can.