Feedback: Pretty please with a cherry on top! Feedback and criticism (but only constructive) is welcomed and appreciated.
Disclaimer: None of it's mine except the storyline, Chuck and Lucille, Commissioner Newtown, Jonah, Ulrich. If it were, Angel wouldn't have left Buffy in the first place. This is therapy for me. Quotes taken from season 1 and two of BTVS though they may have been changed slightly to suit the author's own storyline.
Rating: Pg - 13, for violence
Pairing: B/A, minor use of other ships e.g. W/O, S/F
Summary: AU. The whole gang are werewolves 'cept Cordelia. Somehow I couldn't see here doing the whole werewolf thing. In my mind she screws up her nose and then says ' Fur is sooo last winter'. Angel is the pack leader and his mate is of course Buffy. If I tell u anymore it'll ruin the story. Read and enjoy!
-#-#-
Three weeks passed.
She'd waited patiently for any sign of a rescue attempt but none had come. The flower of hope that she'd been carefully nurturing inside her was slowly withering away, and with every day that passed she became more withdrawn, physically and emotionally sick and tired. Even Ulrich was unable to coax the normally bubbly and outgoing werewolf out of the shell she was gradually retreating into.
Before, she'd always had the comforting thought that Angel and her pack would stage a daring but successful rescue operation and save her. But she'd squashed that notion viciously, resigned to her fate.
Little by little the torture was wearing her down and being isolated from everyone she'd known was taking its toll. Ulrich was by now a good friend and he'd try and engage her in conversation, anything to keep her spirits up. He'd sleep next to her; sharing whatever body heat he could with her at night and try and protect her from the soldiers who came to tranquillise her by day. It didn't matter - they now darted him first and then her, making protection impossible. The cold didn't seem to affect her anymore; infact, if she was truthful, there was nothing now that seemed to move her in the slightest. She was becoming numb to the world, because everything was harsh and grey and painful and inside her head she could dream and love and be free.
"You can't give in," Ulrich had said fiercely one day when she'd come back from another exhausting round of physical tests.
He himself had only just returned and had a bloody mouth where they'd tried to remove his fangs. They'd succeeded only to be confronted with another set growing underneath. The scientists had been delighted to learn that vampires upon loosing a fang automatically grew more and to test this exciting new development they'd continued to keep removing the newly grown fangs.
She'd looked up at him, at the blood dribbling from his mouth, at the bruises on his face and his pale and drawn features.
"Why?" She'd muttered.
"Why?" He'd repeated, confused. "Because you have family and friends out there looking for you and you can't give in now. Can't you see that if you give in they've won?!"
"I'm too tired," she'd whispered. "I hurt everywhere and if someone was coming for me by now they'd have come."
"Be realistic, Buffy!" He'd said exasperated at her expectance of an immediate rescue. "This base is hidden so densely we might as well be in the Bermuda triangle. Give them a little time to try and find you."
She'd shook her head and he'd seen the barely held back tears. "You don't understand! If you lose a pack member it's like loosing a limb. You can't go on without them. We're family, the pack its… its…" She'd struggled to find the words.
"What we feel for each other, it doesn't matter that we aren't related, our connection is thicker than blood."
Her voice had grown stronger and Ulrich had noticed her knuckles becoming white where her hands were clenched by her sides.
"When someone's missing or hurt you don't just leave them to, to die a shitty death, you go after them dammit!"
She'd slammed her hands into the floor and tried to get up, but pain tore through her, making her gasp loudly. She'd collapsed back uselessly against the wall she was resting against.
She'd sank her head into her hands, her chest heaving as she battled with the urge to throw up. Ulrich had walked over to her slowly, sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her. She'd turned and sobbed into his chest for what seemed like hours but what were probably only a few minutes.
"Ssh," he'd whispered soothingly. "It's alright, it'll be okay."
She'd looked up at him, tears tracking down her pale face and when she'd spoken her voice was resigned but laced with bitterness.
"I wouldn't blame them if they didn't come. I mean, I'm practically crippled, what use am I going to be? I can't walk, let alone run and I'm no use to the pack like this." She snorted in derision.
"Angel's already being contested for the title of Pack leader, I'd just be another excuse for Ethan to say that we're weak. And damn him he'd be right as well."
She scrubbed her face with he hands, her eyes puffy and swollen; her voice hoarse.
"He might as well be mated again, I can think of more than one person who'd gladly accommodate him. No wonder Angel hasn't come, he-he's probably living the high life back home - w-what does he need m-me for?"
Her voice cracked as she gave way again to the emotions that had been festering inside her and wept.
The flower of hope turned brown and shrivelled.
-#-#-
Willow growled softly as the magic threatened to swamp her senses completely as she broke through a particularly impressive barrier. Keeping her concentration, she pushed onwards, gently but firmly breaking past each of the wards, which prevented them from accessing the entrance to the base. She worked quickly but there were many wards and it was time-consuming getting the right balance to break a ward but not trigger the counter curse.
Giles checked his watch carefully, noted the time and walked over to Angel, who stood pensively, staring at Willow as though she would vanish if he blinked.
"Angel," he spoke, his voice low.
Angel didn't tear his eyes away from Willow but Giles knew he was listening. "Angel, she's been going at this for nearly four hours without rest. I think it would be wise if Willow stopped and took a break. She's got to be exhausted."
Angel finally turned to face him and Giles was struck by the raw emotions, which were so clearly seen in his eyes. They really were the windows to the soul, he mused. He opened his mouth and then shut it again, and Giles could see in the indecision in his features.
"Look, if Willow takes a break she'll gain back some of her energy and therefore she'll be more careful. If she keeps on like this she's bound to get sloppy and we know what that means."
Angel growled low in his throat, his spat with Giles when he'd first arrived and the subsequent fights still fresh in his mind. They're relationship was still frosty but their mutual wish to get to Buffy mean they had had to put some of their enmity behind them.
"Fine," snapped Angel. "Tell Tara to reach her and sever the connection."
He stalked away from Giles over to where Penn and Oz sat on the ground playing a round of Bloody Black Widow. He slumped down next to them and watched as the elder werewolf walked over to the young blonde who was talking quietly with another young female werewolf by the name of Fred, who was slender with dark hair and fine features. They exchanged a few words and Angel saw Tara glance over at him and then at Willow. She nodded and then went to sit where Willow was sitting in the middle of the warehouse. She joined her hands with Willow's limp ones and then closed her eyes, mirroring Willow's Buddha posture.
After about five minutes Willow came out of her trance like state and opened her eyes. She nodded reassuringly at Tara's gently enquiries and then made to get up. She stumbled slightly, but Tara's lightning reflexes saved her from falling and she helped her walk over to Angel, who watched her progress silently. She smiled at his sullen expression and sat down in front of him, waving away Tara, who smiled softly at her and went to join Fred and Giles who were deep in discussion. Willow studied him closely and Angel avoided looking at her, uncomfortable with her scrutiny. She sighed and scrubbed her face.
"Angel," she said. "I'm nearly through, maybe another one or two hours to go. Only some of the more difficult wards remain, and then we can get through without a problem." He didn't reply but she ploughed on regardless.
"Don't beat yourself up about not being able to find out this was the base site sooner. There was no way you could have known this was anything but an ordinary warehouse, and this place is so heavily guarded and charmed that it's like trying to get into Fort Knox or, or some other really difficult place…" she trailed off but Angel did look a little less depressed, though he still wouldn't meet her eyes. She laid her hand on his arm and at the contact he finally looked up at her.
"Angel I can carry on breaking through now if you really want me too." He shook his head and his voice was low but strong when he spoke.
"No, Willow you've done enough for the moment, Giles is right, you really do need the rest. After all, a pack is only as efficient as it's members." He paused.
"I'm sorry if I seem ungrateful or that I don't care about you all. I'm sure some of the others have noticed it and I suppose falling out with Giles isn't helping matters but I do, that is I mean I do care, and I'm only worried ab…"
Willow stopped him with an upraised hand.
"Angel," she laughed. "You're babbling."
He smiled sheepishly at her and Willow yawned as she realised how tired she actually was.
"Don't give up. We all know you care and you're doing a good job. Once I wake up we'll get back to the rescue. And besides," she muttered sleepily as she curled up next to Oz. "Have a little faith. Buffy's strong. I'm sure she knows we're coming for her."
But Buffy didn't. And the flower of hope died.
-#-#-
Helena, (contrary to the belief of those who worked with her on the base), was not an ice queen.
She did have feelings and she did care, but usually these did not involve other human beings and mainly centred on gaining her own advancement until eventually she would hold the coveted position of power.
Namely, Commissioner Newton's job.
Helena sighed and tapped her fingers idly against the desk she was working on. Her gaze fell on the only picture in the room, in the otherwise rather clinical looking office. It was of the only family member who she had had left.
It wasn't that she didn't have any family, rather that she deliberately chose to ignore that fact.
They had been so determined to stand in the way of her dreams. The only one who had understood her ambition was her Aunt. She herself had been a brilliant scientist and leader, who had encouraged her ambition, and whilst she was still alive had often invited her niece for trips around her base, pointing out the various hostiles which had been captured and that they were working on. Helena remembered the childish glee she had displayed at being allowed to visit this very special facility and being able to work with her Aunt. She had enthusiastically helped plan procedures and watched the soldiers bring in more and more specimens, night after night.
But now that was all gone. Her Aunt was dead and her base now only a charcoal remnant, a cinder filled husk after the explosion, which had decimated everything and everyone that had been in the building. No one had ever found the culprits for it, and the authorities had wiped away all existence of their ever being a secret government operation taking place in Sunnydale, all trace of her Aunt had been destroyed, her good name disgraced.
"We don't want another incident like that," they'd said.
"It was her own fault, she was too arrogant."
"Such a waste."
"But we'll never know who did it."
"Dammed shame."
"Lets forget about the whole mess and pretend it never happened."
Helena snorted derisively. Yes, that was their attitude to everything that didn't go as planned. Let's forget it ever happened. Blame anyone but yourself, was their motto, and if you can't blame anyone living, blame someone who's dead. At least they can't complain. She picked up the picture of her Aunt and traced the features of her face.
Oh, she'd show them. She'd gotton all of the ingredients they needed for their new race of super soldiers and now all she needed was to start putting the whole thing together. It wouldn't take long. A week at most and then…
She was pulled abruptly from her dreams of promotion and rewards by a knock at the door. She put the photo back on the desk, smoothed out her skirt and rotated the chair she was sitting in so that she was now facing the door.
"Come in," she called out, schooling her face into one of neutral detachment. A confidant young man strode in and saluted smartly, before speaking clearly and crisply, and the only reason she knew he was nervous in her presence was the way he studiously avoided her gaze.
"Maam, Commissioner Newton asked me to find out what is to be done about the hostiles who remain within the facility, now that the required ingredients for the project have been obtained."
Helena stood up and turned away to shuffle some papers on her desk into a neat, tidy pile before gathering them up into her arms. She faced the young man with a smile and studied him, as he waited patiently for her answer. Finally she favoured him with a reply.
"You may dispose of all of the remaining hostiles effective immediately," she said and then paused. "Except one. There is a certain hostile, a blonde haired woman who answers to the name of Buffy. You will find her in cell 264 along with a vampire hybrid who may be gotton rid of. I am giving her to you as a special responsibility to ensure she is safely removed. And when I say she is your special responsibility, I mean that I am giving you the freedom to do whatever you deem necessary to the hostile."
There was another deliberate pause and this time the soldier chanced a glance at Helena's cold grey eyes, unhidden behind the designer glasses.
"Anything Maam?"
Helena smirked, and her eyes narrowed. "Yes, soldier, anything you wish to do to the hostile, I am declaring officially authorized, and there will be no repercussions arising from whatever actions you believe obligatory. Do I make myself clear?"
With a sharp nod, the soldier crisply saluted and walked out of the room, leaving Helena Daley a very satisfied woman. Because the government might not have known who blew up the base in Sunnydale but she did. And she would do anything to avenge her Aunt's death. Oh, yes, Buffy Summers would soon learn her mistake. She turned back to the picture on the desk and smiled, a nasty, calculating smile.
Maggie Walsh would have her retribution. With a little help from her niece of course.
-#-#-
It didn't take the young soldier very long to locate the cell in which the hostile he had been given was. He slipped the swipe card through the holder at the side and the bar door swung open. She was quite a looker he decided, even if she was a bit on the thin side. And she'd be fine for what he had planned…
Her head didn't lift up at the smooth click of the bars swinging open. Buffy was no longer much in residence of her body, having retreated inside her head where everything was safer and much quieter. Still, when the now familiar feel of the tranquilliser failed to sink into her skin, Buffy finally roused herself and looked up. Her eyes met icy, black irises and when he smirked she shivered, as he roughly grabbed her jaw in his hands and turned her head as though inspecting her.
"Yes," he murmured. "You'll do." And that was when Buffy began to be truly afraid as she saw the cold lust in his eyes.
"Ulrich!" She tried to cry but her voice was rough and unused and all that came out was a dry rasp, as though someone had poured sand down her throat. Still the soldier heard her and grinned.
"No, no," he laughed and shook his finger at her, as though telling off a naughty child. "Looks like your friend isn't gonna wake up. Not when he's just been dosed up with enough sleeping pills to knock out a sumo wrestler anyway, so looks like it's just you and me." He pushed his face into hers and leered. "And that's just the way I like it."
He picked her up roughly and half carried, half dragged her out of the cell, slamming the door shut behind him. She had no strength to resist him as everything she was had been sapped. She laughed bitterly inside her head. She was about to put up as much resistance as a rag doll.
He dragged her down endless corridors until finally they reached an ordinary brown door with a nameplate on reading:
H. J. Worthy.
The soldier felt around in his pocket for a key and then, having found the right one to open the door, pulled her inside.
"Welcome to my home," he breathed into her ear, leaning against the closed door. Her back was pulled up flush against his chest and he tucked some loose strands of her hair behind her ear. He chuckled when he felt her tremble and roughly pushed her onto the bed as he shrugged off his jacket. Seeing her terrified face he looked at her in mock sympathy and tutted disapprovingly.
"Come on, you should be enjoying yourself! What's that line?" He paused, scratching his chin thoughtfully. Suddenly his eyes lit up with remembrance. "Oh yeah, treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen!" He laughed at the revulsion on her face. " Don't worry baby, I'm gonna give you the ride of your life."
-#-#-
The klaxon sounded deep within the base. It was an urgent whirring sound, and the red alarm lights attached to the wall suddenly began to flash, warning the soldiers inside that unauthorized persons had entered the base.
"Well," said Giles wryly. "So much for stealth."
"Shoot," murmured Willow. "Guess I didn't feel that ward. Sorry guys."
Angel smiled reassuringly at her. "You got us in this far, Willow, you've done more than I thought possible. Now were just gonna have to fight it out." He turned to the group following him. "Everyone," he warned. "Be ready to change instantly. We get in, I find Buffy, you blow up the base, and we get out. No-one pulls any hero stuff, am I understood?"
Before they could answer though, there was the sound of booted feet running towards them and as one the group changed. Human skin, leather, cotton and hair moulded, changed and became sleek fur, sharp teeth and bright eyes.
The soldiers didn't stand a chance.
-#-#-
Buffy shut her eyes tightly, a tear escaping her closed lids, sliding down her cheek, as she tried to hold in her sobs. She was going to be raped and there was no-one there to stop him from doing it. She felt like screaming, like beating this bastard senseless but she was powerless to do anything but lie there passively.
"Ssh," murmured the soldier. "I promise I won't hurt you… much." He grinned and licked up the tear, which was trailing down her soft skin. "See now, didn't you…" he was cut off though by the klaxon going off.
"Damm it," he growled angrily. He shrugged his jacket back on and turned back to Buffy, before kissing her roughly on her lips. She grimaced and sunk her teeth into his lips. He yelled in pain and backhanded her, the slap ringing out.
"I'll be back for you, bitch," he promised and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
Buffy smiled, taking pleasure in getting a little revenge; before the smile slid off her face as she remembered his promise to her, and the tears she had been holding back were let loose.
-#-#-
The fighting was bloody and fast. There was no time for guns and though the odds were against them the corridors were narrow and the agile werewolves had the advantage. They were also fuelled with anger and grief for Buffy and this mean they fought harder and more fiercely than their opponents.
'I'm going to find Buffy', mind thought Angel as he snapped the neck of one soldier. 'Wesley, Gunn, Oz come with me. Xander set up the explosives. When we get back make sure you set the timer and then we run.'
The other werewolves nodded and Gunn, Oz and Wesley broke away from the rest of the group and followed Angel as he turned down a new corridor. It didn't take them long to find new corridors lined with cages, where demons, creatures of all races, types and creeds looked out at him. And it didn't matter what shape they looked like, they all had the same look. One of despair. One of ultimate hopelessness; that they were never going to get out of there.
"Get them out of here," Angel growled, now in human guise, his voice brooking no argument, and the trio nodded, setting about smashing the electrical pads, which opened the cell doors. They slid open smoothly and the demons cautiously headed out, unsure if this was another trick. When it was made clear that it wasn't, Angel addressed the mass.
"I'm looking for my mate," he spoke, unsmilingly. "She's a werewolf, petite, has blonde hair, hazel eyes…"
He was interrupted by a voice from among the demons.
"You mean Ulrich's bitch." A tall, mean looking demon, with blue skin and dark green horns spoke.
"What do you mean Ulrich's bitch?", snarled Angel, clenching his fists as he pushed his way into the crowd, towards the demon, who held up his hands in defence.
"Hey man, no offence, I just assumed cos they seemed pretty close, but maybe I got the wrong impression."
"You sure got the wrong impression," spat Angel, itching for the beast inside him to rip this demon to shreds, and also this Ulrich person who seemed to think he had privileges with Buffy that only he had.
"Now where the hell is she?"
-#-#-
Ulrich found himself roughly shaken awake, a loud, rumbling growling in his ear. He opened his eyes to see four, very pissed off men glaring at him. He sniffed the air and corrected his assessment. Four very pissed off werewolves were glaring at him.
"Ulrich." It wasn't a question.
"Yes and you are?"
"Angel."
Ulrich smiled. So this was Buffy's Angel. He got up slowly and held out his hand to him. Angel glanced at the proffered hand and in that split second Ulrich did something very stupid. He punched him.
Angel snarled and whirled on the man, Oz and Wesley barely holding back Gunn, who was itching to jump in and punch the man for Angel.
"What the hell was that for?" Asked Angel, clicking his jaw back into place.
"That," said Ulrich angrily, clutching his hand, "was for not coming any earlier!"
Angel sighed and raked a hand through his hair.
"I know, and believe me I'm going to make it up to Buffy in every way possible, but for that I need to get her back."
Ulrich nodded. "I was drugged at the time so I can't be sure, but they've either taken her to the experimentation labs or have disposed of her."
"Disposed of her?" asked Wesley horrified.
Ulrich nodded gravely. "They don't need us anymore, now they've gotton what they wanted. If you hadn't of come, I doubt whether we'd have lasted more than few days more."
Angel glanced at the others behind him.
"Then we need to move fast. Wesley, Gunn, get these demons out of here. Oz, I need you to go back to the others and eradicate the remaining soldiers."
Ulrich stepped forward. "I want to help. What can I do?"
Angel looked him up and down, noting his hunched position and tired but determined expression, and shook his head.
"You're about to collapse. You're of no use to me or Buffy so I suggest you just get out of here."
Ulrich opened his mouth to argue, but thought better of it and clamped his mouth shut. With a nod of his head, he limped out of the cell and followed the rush of demons that were trying to exit the building, being firmly herded by Wesley and Gunn, who seemed to be enjoying himself way to much.
Oz followed a moment later, and finally Angel, who took in a deep drag of air, scenting for any sign of Buffy. After a moment he caught it, faint and masked by the smell of blood… he growled at the thought of anyone hurting her and changing, set off at a sprint in the opposite direction of the exodus, his paws, thumping on the sterile floor as he went.
He followed the scent trail to a plain brown door, with a nameplate on it. Not bothering to read it, he pressed against the door with all of his might. The door cracked slightly but remained firm. He backed off a few paces and then threw himself against it once more. Angel kept doing this until finally the door fell forward, landing with a crash on the floor.
He headed inside cautiously, but sensing no one else present, headed over to the bundle sobbing on the bed. Swiftly changing from werewolf to human, Angel reached out a hand to softly touch the now lank and dulled hair on the figures head.
"Buffy?" He asked softly, his fingers almost touching her. There was a sharp gasp and the blonde's head flew up, eyes widening as she backed away.
"No, no, no, no," she moaned.
Angel could only watch in horror as his mate shrank from his touch.
"Buffy," he said desperately, "It's me, An…"
And then the soldier lunged at him from behind, the knife glinting in the light from the ceiling lamp.
-#-#-
Thanks to all of my reviewers!
Please review this story! I got twelve reviews this time – which breaks last chapters record. Help me do it again!
Please continue to write your support, ideas and general comments, they really are appreciated.
Pink Raine: Glad you liked the flashbacks. I wasn't sure how people would take them when I wrote them in originally but now I'm really pleased with them.
Dreamer Child: Thanks for reviewingplease continue : )
liz : thanxs for reviewing!Drop a line anytime you feel like.
Shabopo : Yeah I like Angel all jealous too. Don't worry blood and carnage coming up next chappie!
Regan : Sorry the update was late but glad you reviewed!
DeLiRiUm3: Hhmm, u must be telepathic or something cos I was thinking of doing some spin-off stories but I'd have to see what the interest was like before I started doing them. And there you go, see, I did plug your story. Now if you could do the same for me? You know what they say: you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
Me-Spike-4eva Glad you liked the story. Please keep on reviewing.
Grace: Glad you liked the flashbacks and the alterations!
Slayerchick33 Don't worry Angel's gonna find her soon. Trouble is Buff isn't gonna be herself and there gonna have to get over some probs before they can be all happy and couply again.
Rbritsmom73 sorry I didn't update sooner but I was attacked by the writer's block monster that made my life hell.
Thanx !
Goddessa39 Your wish is my command.
James Lee Hey thanx for your comment – sorry you had to wait so long for the next chappie!