Chapter 3: Gathering Forces

********Vegas********

Buffy couldn't believe so many things had occurred in the past forty-eight hours. Oz had arrived with his little boy. To say he was devastated was an understatement. Buffy had experienced her share of loss, and she recognized the look in Oz's eyes all too well. It was how Buffy had looked when she had been raised from the dead. The horror and aching sense of loss was tangible when they looked at Oz. Willow was trying to be strong for him. As soon as he had arrived, she had embraced him and his baby.

Oz had said only one word: "Will." Then he'd clung to Willow, his baby in a car carrier. It was like Willow's presence allowed him to breakdown, and he sobbed in her arms.

Dawn, Xander, and Buffy had surrounded the baby. He looked up at them, flashing big blue eyes and a smile. It was instant love.

"Oh, Buffy, he has red hair!" Dawn gushed.

"Look at those little hands!" Xander said in awe.

All Buffy could think was: I want one. Never had she felt a desire to reproduce until looking down at Oz's offspring. Knowing that a classmate of hers was a father stirred something inside of her. Images of Derek flashed in her mind. I don't even have his number. He's on his way to another country, and I may never see him again. The thoughts swam in her head even as she reached down to unbuckle the baby and pull him into her arms.

Twenty-four hours later, Oz finally emerged from Willow's room. His sorrow was still tangible, but Buffy detected a lessening when he greeted her. She was feeding the baby. Willow had taken care of Oz while they had taken care of the baby. Buffy had to fight off more than one slayer, who were as fascinated at the sight of a baby as she was.

"How is he?" Oz asked, his throat scratchy. He couldn't believe how shattered his world was. It was just a few days ago that he had been happy with his wife and life in Nepal. Then it had been destroyed. All he could think about was getting to Willow and his friends. Although they hadn't been around each other in years, he had known without a doubt that he and his baby would find a home again with them. When he walked into the room, it was like he had never left. There she was, his Willow, with Xander, Buffy, and Dawn. Of course, he saw in a moment that there were changes. Xander had only one eye, and Dawn was all grown up. Yet the sense of family was as strong as it had always been. They were his first pack—they still were his. He didn't need to worry about his baby anymore.

While he'd mourned with Willow, he didn't worry about William. He knew that his boy would be cared for. Looking at Buffy holding him, it was clear that he was more than fine. William kicked his legs as he recognized his dad. Buffy reluctantly handed him over. "He's so perfect, Oz. I've never spent time around a baby except Dawn when she was a baby, but that was so long ago. I think he might be the most perfect baby on Earth."

Oz gave her a slight smile as he kissed his baby. "His mother was perfect, and now she's gone," Oz said.

"I'm so sorry, Oz," Buffy said.

"Willow tells me that this is happening all over? That wolves are being slaughtered?" Oz asked.

Buffy nodded. "That's what we're finding out. I've got teams chasing down leads all over the world—whereever there's been reports of killings. We'll find out who's doing this and stop them. I promise," she assured him.

Oz's eyes flashed red. "Thank you," he said.

"Your eyes? They're red. You're an Alpha?" Buffy asked in surprise.

Oz looked surprised that she knew anything about his kind. "How do you know that?" he asked. He was fascinated to see Buffy blush.

"Well, uh, I met one the other day," she said. "I mean, I met a werewolf at this club. Derek. He told me about the eye thing. His were blue, and he explained the colors to me. His were red once, but he gave up his power to save his sister."

"If his were blue, you know that means he killed an innocent," Oz said.

Buffy nodded. "Yea, he told me. His girlfriend took the bite, and it was killing her. Derek said he couldn't handle her suffering, so he ended her pain. His life hadn't been easy," she said. She and Derek had talked in between bouts of lovemaking. A pang of longing filled her as she thought of him. She missed him so much already.

"Most wolves don't have it easy," Oz said.

Buffy didn't think she and Oz had ever had such a long conversation before. "This is nice," she said. "Having you here. Talking to you again. We've missed you."

"I missed you guys," he shared.

Buffy smiled. "I hope you know that you can stay with us as long as you need. Forever even," she said.

A real smile broke out on Oz's face. "Thanks," he said, knowing he made the right choice coming there.

Buffy wondered something. "Derek told me that wolves became alphas by killing another Alpha or if their alpha dies," she shared. "His uncle became alpha when his sister died, and then he killed his uncle when he kept murdering people in his hometown."

"There's another way to become an alpha," Oz said.

Buffy looked at him in awe. "You're a true alpha? Derek said he knew one—the only one," she said.

"Not the only one," Oz said, a note of pride in his voice. "It happened when I finally mastered my wolf. My wife's father was alpha of his pack. I became a member of their pack, so when he was killed, I got his power too. He was a different kind of wolf than I was. So now I'm not sure exactly what I am. I feel different, though. I'll know on the full moon."

"I don't think I've ever heard you speak so much," Buffy said with a grin.

"It's good to be home," Oz said simply.

Buffy knew what he meant and walked over to hug him.

Home was where your family was.

********* Brazil*******

Derek saw his sister, and somehow ended up telling her about Buffy. She insisted he get a phone and call Buffy. He pulled out the card she had given him, feeling nervous. It was an odd feeling—one he couldn't remember feeling since he was a young teenager. Finally, he dialed the number.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Buffy?"

There was a pause. "Derek? Is that you?"

"It's me," he said.

"Thank God! I was so worried. My friend Oz—the werewolf in Nepal I told you about—had his entire pack, including his wife slaughtered. He barely escaped with his baby—his baby, Derek!" she exclaimed. "Something or someone is going around killing werewolves."

Derek's hand tightened around the phone. "I'm okay. I'm in Brazil. I'm going to investigate some rumors in a nearby town," he said.

"Is this a number I can reach you at?" she asked.

"It is," he said.

"We're getting reports of worldwide slaughter. They're killing wolves wherever they are. It doesn't matter how young they are either. They're organized and brutal," she said.

"Hunters," he said.

"My girls are going to pin them down sooner or later," she said.

"Hunters are human, Buffy," he reminded her.

"Humans with souls don't orphan babies, Derek," she said grimly. "These people are monsters, and we are the thing that monsters fear. These hunters are going to learn what a slayer is really soon."

Derek smiled. His sister Cora blinked in surprise. She hadn't seen that particular smile on her brother's face in a long time.

"Be careful," Derek said.

"I'm always careful," she said. "But no one hurts my friends. Oz is devastated. His son isn't even a year old, Derek. It's not right."

"No, it's not," Derek said, feeling for the guy. He knew what it was like to lose a pack.

"You need to be careful yourself. I'm not alone—you are," she said.

"I'll be okay," he said.

"You better or I'll kick your ass," she threatened.

Derek laughed. The idea of his tiny lover beating him was humorous, but he'd heard enough rumors about the original slayer to know she was formidable. "I'll keep that in mind," he said.

There was a pause. Then in a low voice, Buffy said, "I miss you."

Derek was caught off guard at her confession. "Me, too," he replied.

"When are you coming back to the States?" Buffy asked.

"In another day or so. I'm going to check out the rumors here," he said. "I'm going to Cabeceiras."

"Call me when you find out something," she said.

"I will," he assured her. He disconnected. His sister was grinning—no surprise.

"You've been boning a slayer? Seriously? Do you have no sense of preservation, big brother?" Cora asked.

"Buffy doesn't kill werewolves," he said. "You heard her. She's pissed. One of her oldest friends is a werewolf—the Oz guy."

"What did she mean about her girls?" Cora asked. "I thought there was only one slayer at a time?"

"That's how it was. Then Buffy changed the rules," he said. "Her best friend, Willow, is a very powerful witch and turned all the potential slayers into slayers, so she doesn't have to fight alone anymore."

"That's impressive," Cora said. "Sounds like a good friend to have. Don't screw it up."

Derek realized that he didn't want to. He wanted more mornings, more days with Buffy. He'd go check out the rumor and then he'd go back to her.

*****A Day Later*****

Derek was grim as he drove north in his newly acquired Camaro. The senseless slaughter of wolves he had witnessed enraged him. He knew that he had to get to Beacon Hills, to Scott. But first he had to track down Stiles. Although he had been gone a long time, Stiles still emailed him a few times a month, so he always knew what was going on with his pack. It had been hard to stay away during the Ghost Riders attack on Beacon Hills. Stiles stopped emailing him, so he knew something was wrong. However, Scott never reached out, so he figured things were under control. Scott was a good Alpha, but he didn't always have enough confidence in himself. Derek wanted him to lead without any help, to grow as a leader.

Now, though, their way of life was being destroyed by the same family that had destroyed his. Argent was the one name he'd gotten from his investigation at the slaughter he'd found in Cabeceiras.

He pulled out his cell to call Buffy.

"Hello," she said.

"Hey, Buffy. It's me."

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I am."

"I'm glad. Are you coming back?" she asked.

"Yes. I'm driving to the airport now," he said. He found a company to deliver his car to Beacon Hills. Driving would take too long.

"Where will you be heading?" she asked.

"I've got to pick up a friend in D. C. Then I'll be heading home. The leader of this group is in Beacon Hills. That's where you should go. Look up the name Argent. The head of the family is behind all this. His son Chris, though, is an ally. His sister, Kate, is the hunter that slaughtered my family," Derek shared.

"Seriously? The bitch is still alive?" Buffy asked.

"She's got nine lives," Derek said. "But it's her dad, Gerard, that is the true maniac. He's strategic and patient. The most deadly kind of hunter."

"I'll look into the family and meet you in Beacon Hills," she said. "Be safe."

"I will. You, too," Derek said. He hung up. Knowing that he had Buffy as an ace in his hole made it so much better.

Back in Vegas, Buffy went to her friends who were assembled in the dining room. "I have a name. Gerard. That's the hunter family that is slaughtering wolves," she shared. "Will, find out everything you can. Then we need to get ready to head to Beacon Hills."

"Where's that?" Xander asked.

"California," Buffy said. "Looks like we're heading back home."

*****Stiles*****

Stiles wasn't sure how a training op became so FUBAR, but there he was in all his wolfy glory, pulling Stiles out of the fray when shrapnel hit his leg. As they cleared the building, he looked at Derek Hale, who he'd not seen in a year and said, "You know if I wasn't in love with a redheaded goddess, this rescue-me moment might turn my head."

Derek smirked and replied, "If I was into guys, no redheaded banshee would be a problem."

Stiles laughed, appreciating how bonds forged in battle could never be severed. "It's good to see you. You know the F.B.I. thinks you're a serial killer," he said as Derek set him down.

"Yea, we'll clear that up, and then we have to go," he said.

"Scott needs us?" Stiles guessed.

Derek nodded. "Yes, he does," he said. "And I've made a new friend who will help."

Stiles blinked at Derek in surprise. "You made a friend? Seriously?" he asked. He looked around for a hidden camera. "I'm being pranked, right?"

Derek growled at him. "Why did I come here again?" he asked aloud.

"'Cause you love me, and you missed me!" Stiles declared with a smug smile.

Derek rolled his eyes and didn't reply. Stiles could annoy a saint—some things never changed.

*****Chapter End*****