What if # 4: New Moon Rising

Basics: What if Oz had bitten Tara in "New Moon Rising"?

Disclaimer: counts money According to the $4.06 in my pocket, these character's aren't mine.

Chapter 3: It Girl

Tara was quiet, head down so she could hide behind her hair, hunching over so it looked as if at any moment she might shrink into herself. It broke Willow's heart to see her like that, so small and scared. It only added to her determination; the Scooby Gang would do everything in its power to help her sweet girl.

"Okay Will, we're all here; what's the what?" Buffy asked, seeming to sense Willow's urgency.

"Yes, I would like to know what exactly was so important that you all needed to convene in my living room at 9am on a Sunday." Giles added, not really sounding annoyed, but putting up a valiant attempt at it. It was too early for him to feel much more then exhausted. Maybe the aggravation would set in once he finished his first cup of tea.

"Something happened to Tara the other day, something horrible," the redhead began, squeezing the girl's hand in reassurance. "Oz… he…" she trailed off for a moment, voice catching. Clearing her throat, she tried again, smiling at Tara when she felt her squeeze back. "Oz changed in front of her and attacked her."

"Jesus! Are you all right?" Xander asked, eyes wide, looking Tara over as if he expected her to be missing a limb.

"Y-y-yes." Tara stammered, not liking to be the center of attention. "He-he only managed to b-bite my arm. Then the Commandos c-came and stopped him."

With infinite care, Willow took Tara's injured arm and pulled back the sleeve of her sweater, revealing the bandages. "Twelve stitches." She said quietly, angry at herself for being the cause of so much pain. This never would have happened if she would have just told Oz in the first place… But now was not the time to think about that, now was the time to be supportive and helpful. She would have a talk with Oz when he came back. She had already contacted him, and knew he would be arriving soon, within the next few days.

"I'm going to show them now baby, okay?" Willow asked, fingertips resting on the edges of the gauze, waiting for confirmation. Tara nodded quickly, turning her head away, so she was facing the wall. Willow watched her swallow hard, trying not to cry. "So brave." She whispered, pealing the bandages away, exposing the wound to the room.

"Damn…" Xander breathed, jaw flexing. The skin around the bite was a brilliant red, swollen and very obviously infected. It looked terribly painful, and suddenly everyone in the room was silent and serious.

"We-we went to the hospital; they gave her antibiotics, but, there wasn't much more they could do. This isn't a normal infection anyway." Willow said quietly, stroking Tara's hair so it lay behind her ear.

"No," Buffy agreed, voice just as quiet. "This is just the beginning."

"I-I d-d-don't t-th-think I-I-" Tara began, but stopped herself. She was just too upset right now.

"Its okay baby," Willow murmured, drawing her head onto her shoulder.

"What are we going to do?" Xander asked, drawing attention away from the injured girl. "I mean, Oz was one thing, but, I really can't imagine Tara spending three days out of the month in a crypt. Not to mention, how's your family going to react? I mean, you can't just go home like this."

"C-c-crypt?" Tara squeaked, looking at him in disbelief. "W-Why? W-what do you mean?"

"She wasn't planning on going home this summer," Willow answered added, not looking up from her task of rewrapping Tara's wound. "And, you're right, no crypt. I was hoping you guys could help figure out an alternative."

"What do you mean crypt?" Tara demanded, jumping up from her seat and backing up so she could see everyone in the room. "W-why would I need to stay in a crypt."

"Tara, we talked about this. Oz, when he bit you, he made-" Willow began, but was quickly cut off.

"B-but, you never said anything a-about a crypt." The blonde said, breathing heavily, eyes becoming a bit unfocused.

"If you aren't… restrained, then you could end up hurting someone," Giles broke in, and Tara's attention was drawn to him.

"N-no! I w-would never hurt anyone! I couldn't!" she insisted, but sounded suddenly unsure. "I-I couldn't…"

Willow bit her lip, tears running down her face. This was all her fault. She would have done anything to keep Tara from having to suffer through this. "Tara, sweetie, you wouldn't be in control. Oz never was."

"Look, it's understood that what the Wolf does has nothing to do with you." Buffy began, standing and moving to Tara. "But, and this is me being brutal and honest here, from now on, for three days a month, you are going to become a monster. You'll be dangerous and out of control, and unless you are kept in check, you could hurt and kill innocent people." Willow could only glare at her best friend for being so blunt. But, it was true.

"B-but, I d-don't like violence. I could never-" The smaller of the two blondes reached forward, placing a hand on the Wicca's shoulder and looking up at her with sympathy.

"This has nothing to do with who you are, and everything to do with bad luck. But, if you'll let us, we'll help you."

For long moments, everything was silent and still. Then, very slowly, Tara sank down to the floor and began to cry. Buffy followed her down and enveloped her in her arms, and Willow was beside them in an instant, cradling Tara from behind. "Th-th-there's a voice, at th-the back of m-my head, telling m-me y-you s-smell wrong. Th-that I sh-should b-bite and scratch and r-r-run away. B-but, I d-don't want to hurt you! M-make it stop, please." She whimpered, clinging to the smaller blonde, but looking up at Giles with large, watery, pleading eyes. He looked away, a lump forming in his throat.

"Maybe I can help." A soft, sad voice said from the doorway. Everyone turned towards it.

"Oz!"

A/N: Right, so, here's yet another bit of the story. I was going to have Oz just leave, but, I actually like Oz, and couldn't bring myself to make him an asshole. So, yeah, here you go; more soon. Thanx to everyone who has reviewed so far, keeps me going. Any comments, questions, flames, and/or praise readily accepted.