Comments: Sorry to those reading this, for the wait on this chapter, I'm afraid with starting work and me Fringing it, the last few weeks, time has escaped me. Alas though my muse reappeared after I went and saw an interesting little comedy show about the history of Pirates, so I say it was all for the good.

This is basically another filler chapter, setting the foundation for the next few chapters where things should hopefully start to come together. This is a bit slow, but I promise the end is in sight and the reasoning for everything will be explained. Though there are a few hints along the way as to what is going on.

Chapter 8

Oz stood in the dark, still a little unsure as to how exactly he had got there but seemingly unfazed given the abrupt change in scenery.

"Mr Osborne, I have to say you are very calm and restrained given the situation. The other werewolves I have come across in my time would all have been rather unsociable by now. Then again it may just be possible that you have no control over your transformation and well, do not have a choice but to be calm." A voice rang out in the darkness, its tone almost smug.

"I take it you already know the answer." Oz replied evenly.

"Yes, and well lucky for you I have an offer to make, something that you have yearned for, beneath your calm exterior. I can offer you the power to control your beast. All you need say is yes and it is all yours."

"Some how I think the answer is no."

"And why do you say that Mr Osborne?"

"Because I think that is the answer you want me to give."

"How have you come to that conclusion?"

 "Actions speak louder then words." Oz deadpanned.

There was a chuckle before the voice continued to query, "I am still curious as to what drove you to your conclusion."

"You have done what you can to assure us you are evil…" Pre-empting the voices next question, Oz continued. "You tormented Willow, drowned Xander. It makes anything you offer suspicious, but you already know that. I think that's what you want, so I will say no."

"Interesting hypothesis you have there, I hope for your sake you are correct…" The voice took a timely pause before continuing, "So you are definitely not interested in being able to control your inner wolf."

"Of course I'm interested, but it won't help either of us, so no."

"Very well." With that, light lit up the small room and Oz found himself flying backwards into a surprised Giles, whom had been searching the bookcases for a lever and had barely moved out of the way of the bookcase as it swung open.

Both crashed to the floor unceremoniously, as both Willow and Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief, "Oz! I was so worried, what happened?" Willow declared rushing to his side.

"Uh, ghost guy grabbed me and dragged me into a room behind the bookcases. We discussed, I answered…he threw me out." Oz replied sardonically, standing up and helping Giles to his feet.

All the occupants of the room seemed to think on what he had said for a few seconds, before all coming to the same conclusion, all of them moving to the nearest couch and helping push it in front of the wall of bookcases.

Cold air blew down the corridor, causing Xander to shiver violently in Angel's hold. Angel looked at him, realising the shaking had not been just from exhaustion, but because his clothes were still wet through.

"We need to get you out of those clothes." Angel remarked before realising his mistake.

"You don't think Buffy will get jealous."

Xander could have sworn he saw Angel smirk before he answered, "We could always let her watch."

If Xander was shocked by the reply he was to fatigued to show it, "You think your soul can handle it."

Surprised by the playful banter, Buffy decided it was better to hurry the two of them up, they still needed to find the games room yet and Xander was not looking any better. "Standing right here you know…Sorry Xander, but we have got to keep moving, we'll find you a blanket or something until we can find the others again."

Buffy was about to turn back around and carry on her way when a sudden smile from

Angel stopped her in her tracks. If the smile was meant to be reassuring it was not working so well. Angel had been acting weird the last hour or so and he was far to relaxed compared to how he had been when they had entered the house. It could be put down to his reaction to Xander and his comments, but something was putting Buffy's slayer sense on edge and she hoped to god it was just the house and not Angel that was causing it.

Buffy was distracted from her thoughts by Xander calling out to her, " So Buff, do you think we can hurry this up a little, I promise I'll walk faster if it gets me to food and warmth sooner."

Buffy took a good look at her friend; he looked on edge, his earlier unperturbed countenance gone. She hoped he was not sensing something as well.

"I don't know it may still be a while." Seeing her friends features fall at that revelation and Angel's cold countenance prompted her to ask the question, "Angel do you want a break? I can take the 'hold up Xander' duty for a while."

"Do what you have to do Buffy, I can take care of Xander." Angel remarked, his tone continuing to put Buffy on edge, but she smiled to cover up her unease.

"I want to." Buffy reassured Angel.

Xander grinned and with forced chirpiness remarked, "Yeah, we can swap drowning stories." Though seeing her glare, stopped him short and he finished with an,  "Or not."

"You go ahead Angel, it will give me a chance to catch up with Xander and give him a stern talking to for scaring us." Buffy reprimanded, giving Xander another glare.

Xander gave her a goofy grin, sure she was kidding, but the glare remained. "You are kidding, right?"

Buffy gave Xander a smile before turning back to Angel, prompting him for his answer.

Angel grimaced at the two before answering, "Okay, I'll take the lead."

Buffy moved to Xander's side, putting her arm around his waist to support him as Angel pulled away and started down the corridor on his own.

"Eww, you're all wet." Buffy whined jokingly.

"It's all for you Buff." Xander returned unerringly.

"Okay, again with the eww." Buffy replied grimacing.

Xander chuckled, and then remarked, "Yeah, but you still like me right."

"I don't know, Cordelia told me you had Twinkie breath. I don't know if I can like somebody with Twinkie breath." Buffy pouted at him, glad to see he was okay after all that happened to him tonight.

Xander suddenly looked nervous, "You guys talk to each other, about me, oh that can't be good."

"It's not that bad Xander." She patted his arm reassuringly, her hand squelching in the sogginess, "I think we should probably make that blanket a priority."

Seeing Angel had stopped down the corridor, looking impatient as he waited for them to start moving, Buffy called out to him, "Tell us if you find a bedroom, we'll start looking through doors too, the faster we can do this the better."

Angel simply nodded then continued down the corridor, opening doors on his way.

Buffy watched him as he moved down the corridor opening doors, worried about his sudden mood swings. Ignoring the tingling in her slayer sense, she moved with Xander to an as yet unchecked door, opening it to reveal a fully furnished bedroom.

"Again with the games." Buffy grumbled as soon as she realised what the room was. She started to pull her arm from around Xander's waist, but stopped when he grabbed her arm.

"That was way too convenient and an easy way to separate you from us."

Buffy pouted, still smarting from Giles insistence about her safety the last few days, she gave an exasperated response, "Fine we'll all go in."  Turning to look up the corridor for Angel, whom was still walking away, she shouted, "Angel, we need you here…Xander won't let me do my job."

Xander glared at her in a look reminiscent of Giles, making Buffy smirk at him and tighten her grip around his waist in a hug, to show she was not totally disagreeing with his reasons.

Angel strode back towards the two of them, stopping momentarily when he reached them, but then strode into the room without warning. He headed straight for the bed, pulling the top blanket off when he reached it and then headed back towards the door. Ignoring Buffy's look, Angel handed the blanket to Xander before continuing on down the corridor.

Xander unlatched himself from a distracted Buffy's hold so he could shake the blanket, trying to dispel the dust before wrapping it around his shoulders.   Xander then proceeded to wait patiently as Buffy eyed Angel suspiciously as he continued walking down the corridor without them.

Buffy waited until Angel was out of earshot, before putting her arm around Xander again, pulling him in close, she whispered. "Does he seem like he's acting weird to you?"

"As compared to what? His usual broody and bizarre behaviour." Xander whispered in reply, noting her look though he conceded, "Yeah, he is acting a little off, even for his naturally charming character."

Ignoring the jibe, Buffy whispered anxiously, "Hopefully we can find this thing sooner rather then later, I can't wait to get back with the others."

Xander nodded knowingly, "Tell me about it."

As they started to continue down the corridor to the next door, Xander seemed to think about the last comment, then added. "Of course I'm in for it from Cordy, so maybe not."

Buffy smiled at him before opening the next door, revealing the rest of the group sat on and around an antique leather lounge. They appeared to have been researching and discussing something before the interruption, but all now looked at the two stood in the doorway a little surprised.

Both Buffy and Xander internally voiced a 'this can not be good' before smiling self-consciously at the attention. Both quickly scanned the room, noting its contents, namely lots of bookcases and the oddly placed antique lounge in front of one set of bookcases.

"Hey books…"Buffy remarked, looking around the room, before directing her next comment at Giles, "You Watchers sure have a wacky appreciation for the definition of games."

"I think it's called a library Buff." Xander smirked from his position beside her.

"Fine Mr Fancypants, then you can help Giles research, cause I'm going to pretend it's a games room." Buffy retaliated.

There comments seemed to break the shock in the other group as Willow and Cordelia shot up from their seats to greet them both with hugs.

TBC…