Brother

"Oz, you're back!" Xander exclaimed, standing and moving towards the boy.

"Yeah; Willow contacted me. Kinda figured I should rush." He said quietly, eyes flittering – in an uncharacteristically nervous way – around the room, until they came to rest on his former lover and the blonde huddled against her. "Tara." Without another word, he turned and left the house. As if in a trance, Tara rose and followed him, ignoring Willow's concerned voice.

"Well… that was new."

They sat silently for long moments, the boy staring at the girl, and she in turn staring at the ground. Finally, the silence became too much, and he spoke. "I am so sorry." He whispered, closing his eyes for a moment. Tara let out a cold, mirthless chuckle.

"No you're not," she rasped, looking up and glaring at him. He nodded his head once in agreement.

"You're right," he conceded, "I'm not." Silence overcame them again.

They sat facing each other on Tara's bed, as far as they could get while still sitting on the same furniture. Oz had lead them there, never once looking back or asking for direction, just seeming to know exactly where they were going. After Tara had opened the door, they had both, as if by some unspoken signal, taken up their positions on the bed. All that was left was to talk…

"I'm faced with a problem here, Tara." He began, pausing briefly to consider that during the course of this conversation he would probably use more words then he had ever even spoken to Willow.

"You have a problem?" she interrupted incredulously, suddenly feeling bold. "I-I, you made me a monster!" It was harsh and she knew it; she took a small satisfaction in his almost indiscernible flinch.

"If we're going to get anywhere, you have to curb the attitude." He replied, jaw clenched. She gaped at him indignantly for a moment, before taking a deep breath and nodding.

"I-I don't know w-what's w-wrong with me." She admitted, her eyes back on the floor. This was going to be a long conversation indeed.

"I wonder what they're doing right now." Xander muttered, flipping through a magazine distractedly.

"Talking." Buffy said firmly, cutting her eyes at the boy, before going back to what she had been doing. She stared hard at Willow, who was sitting dejectedly in the corner of the room, putting out a very strong 'leave me alone' vibe.

"Or," he began, warming up to the subject, "They could be gettin' all with the furry and beating the hell out of each other."

"Xander." The Slayer grumbled, shaking her head at him.

"Or," he continued, oblivious, "They could be gettin' all with the furry and hunting the unsuspecting populace." Willow sat up straight, looking decidedly uncomfortable, if not outright distressed.

"Xander," Buffy growled, glaring.

"Or, they could be mating." Anya suggested off handedly, trying to be helpful. Willow looked ill.

"Anya!" Buffy snapped standing and shooting the former vengeance demon a death look. The ex-demon only shrugged and went back to what she was doing.

"Right now, I am being torn apart." Oz stated candidly, knowing that in order to get through this, they would both have to be completely honest with each other. He was willing to bare his throat here, so to speak; he knew exactly how confusing the beginning – and all of it really – could be. Tara snorted at him.

"You seem to be taking it very well." Instantly, as the words left her mouth, her face fell and he could almost taste her anguish. It helped him curb the intense anger that coursed through him. "I'm s-sorry… I c-can't control m-m-myself anym-more." He only nodded at her.

"Tell me what you're feeling right now, Tara." The boy commanded – and there was no mistake it was a command. Tara could feel the hairs at the back of her neck prickle and stand on end, could feel the growl building her in chest.

"I feel angry; I want to hurt you." She replied, voice rumbling deep. Oz shook his head.

"No, that's what the wolf is feeling, not Tara." He said patiently. "What is Tara feeling, right now?" he asked. She whimpered quietly, hands cradling her head.

"I-I don't know. Part of m-me w-wants to kill y-you, part of me wants to run away and… and -" she cut herself off for a moment, looking up at him through fingers and locks of hair. He nodded at her to continue. "P-Part of m-me wants to-to m-m-mate, I g-guess…"

Embarrassed, she turned her head away. How could she? She loved Willow more than life itself, and was gay besides. But, there was no denying it; she could feel it as soon as his scent had entered her nose, the overwhelming urge to mate. To bite and claw and feel him – she shuddered and closed that line of thought. She had never felt more disgusted with herself, thinking about that at a time like this.

"Tara." Oz whispered, and as if by magic, she was looking at him again. The urge to rip him apart was just as strong, she realized. "How do you feel Tara." He asked again, and she realized what he meant. Suddenly, she was outside herself, looking down. She saw the wolf – her wolf – golden, and strong, and snarling. It was controlling her, driving her every move; its needs had taken over her needs. It needed to hunt, to protect what was hers, and it needed, above all, to mate.

She and Willow had not been intimate yet, but even the wolf recognized Willow as mate… but, it could smell Oz. The human part of Tara had been keeping her from attacking Willow, from taking Willow, but Oz, he was another wolf. He would survive, and her anger towards Oz made her a lot less charitable about caring if he was willing or not. She might even, if given the chance, kill him afterwards.
But, all these feelings weren't Tara's – except the anger; but, even that was blown out of proportion by the wolf. No, Tara didn't really want to hurt Oz, and she definitely did not want to mate with him. Tara the human was scared and angry and confused. Tara the human felt helpless, weak, and out of control, and the wolf had moved in and promised strength and command.

"I… I feel…" she stumbled, unable to put it into words. She felt the wolf rushing forward, trying to get back control. Oz nodded, and she knew he understood.

"Remember this feeling; this is who you really are. And, with time, it will help you control your transformations. You are in charge of the wolf; you just have to find your way back here. It'll be easier after your first transformation." Tears filled Tara's eyes, and it was all she could do not to break down and sob. "I'll stay around until you're able to… control yourself." He promised, reaching out and taking her hand. She could only nod and whisper a shaky 'T-Thank you.'