ANs: Ok, this is for Traci, who asked me about developing the plot started in chapter one. Also, there's a tiny pun for the X-men comic fans. Hugs! sita:)

A Bit of the Wild

Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters

June 27, 1998 10 AM

As was his routine, Charles Xavier was in his office on Saturday morning working on his lesson plans. In the middle of preparing for the following week's Physics II courses, his private telephone line started to ring.

He hesitated for a fraction of a second, then answered, "Rupert, how are things in Sunnydale?"

Giles chucked over the line. "I'll never get used to that, Charles. It's uncanny."

"Nevertheless, you have good news?" Charles prompted.

"Yes-Yes, I do. The charges against Buffy have been dropped in Kendra's murder case. The last remaining obstacle barring her return to us has been overcome."

"Well, that is indeed good news. I will inform her immediately. However, I would be surprised if she agrees with you regarding the last remaining obstacle. We have done all we can to help Buffy to heal emotionally, but she still has a long way to go before she is as she was before."

Giles became agitated. "That may be, but she is needed here. The rumors about her absence began circulating amongst the vampires and sundry demons almost immediately after her departure. The death rate is rising. We are doing the best we can, but... we are not nearly as effective as she."

Xavier sighed. "In good conscience, I cannot promise to communicate that part of your message to her. She needs more time. She's been through so much this past year. She has made some bad decisions recently, I believe in an effort to distract herself from the pain in her life. I think that if she were to return to you now, she might take foolish risks. In a dangerous place like Sunnydale, I'm afraid that she might get herself killed."

"Well, if that's the case, we will do what we can until the end of summer. But she must return for the first day of school if she is to have any hope of swaying the school board in her favor."

"I think that would be fine," Xavier said, relief in his voice. "On another matter, Giles, how well-versed are you in the fields of organic chemistry and biology?"

"Hmmm...they aren't really my area of expertise, but I do have contacts in some of the science departments at UC Sunnydale. Why do you ask?"

"Well, we've found something unusual in Logan's DNA. It was a project Dr. Jean Gray was working on that was never completed, and quite frankly, we're stumped."

"Really?" Giles asked. "I'm intrigued. But surely there are better resources for solving this mystery. Why would you ask me?"

"Let me start at the beginning. As you know, Logan was the subject of a series of experiments conducted by the government almost 18 years ago. From what we've been able to discover, it seems as if this experimentation was funded by the research and development department of the Pentagon, but that has yet to be proven, and most likely won't be for some time. We believe they were looking into the possibility of altering mutants to serve as 'upgraded' soldiers. When Logan arrived at the school, he acquiesced to a battery of tests conducted by Dr. Gray. In his Chromosome 13, there appears to be a series of blended genes. The total number of genes present in his Chromosome 13 is no different than any other human, mutant or otherwise."

Continuing, Xavier said, "I have consulted several of the world's top authorities on biology, anatomy and organic chemistry. They all say the same thing. With our current technology, it is impossible to blend genes, and thus far, blended genes have been ruled out as a possible new mutation." Xavier paused again and looked out the window. "Consequently, the only hypothesis I have left is that somehow Logan has been exposed to magic."

Giles gasped. "Magic! Oh... oh I see. And what is the genetic blend? Have you identified it's components yet?"

"Homo Sapien and Canis Lupus."

Giles gasped again. "My... my God! They've somehow replaced a few of Logan's genes with the exact same number of Werewolf genes? "

"Yes. And Rupert, there's more."

"Yes?"

"To be on the safe side, we gave Buffy a complete physical when she arrived, including some basic blood work. We were concerned about her health. She was absolutely exhausted. We discovered an abnormality and conducted additional tests. Rupert, Buffy's Chromosome 13 has the same genetic blend."

For almost a minute the line was silent.

Charles continued, "We haven't told them yet. Frankly, I don't know what to tell them. And until we have something conclusive..."

Giles interrupted brusquely, "Send me a copy of everything you've got."

(end chapter)

More ANs: Before anyone gets upset, I am not saying that Logan and Buffy are werewolves. Just that a spell was done and they have tiny tiny werewolf pieces inside their cells. They aren't ever going to turn into werewolves at the full moon. The thing is, I researched wolverines a little, and essentially they are overgrown weasels - nothing remotely sexy about that. I choose to believe that the comic creators chose that name because wolves are mysterious and fierce, and the name Wolverine sounds better than The Wolf, The Wolfman, The Werewolf, etc. This may or may not be true, but it makes me feel better than the idea that they purposely set out to create a weasel-y character.

Just go with it. All will be explained later.

Please, please review!