It's been a long time I know, this chap took me longer than I thought and with school and recent other fics I've been working on I've had almost no time. The updates should come faster after June 21st because that's when I get out of school and can put all my effort into pleasing you. The reader.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except this plot, any mention of mainstream media, guitar brands, Sesame Street, The Big friendly Giant or anything written and produced by 3 Doors Down ISN'T MINE. I swear. Of course Joss and his wonderful cast of happy go lucky writers own anything to do with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I OWN Sasha, Jake and the Wonderful Jay, who is my hero… sometimes.
THANKS TO: My lovely reviewers, who stick with me however long it takes me to update and my Beta, Evergreen Baby, who is also my hero… sometimes.
With out further adu:
CHAPTER 7: The Ally, The Enemy and the Concussion.
Willow woke with a start to a head numbing headache and an annoyingly pointy rock jabbing her back. She didn't bother opening her eyes as the memories of the previous night came flooding back.
Slowly she let out a groan and rolled over, causing spasms of pain to jump up and down her spine. She opened her eyes and just about screamed as she saw two chocolate brown eyes staring into hers, and she was suddenly very aware that she was lying on mud, naked.
Jay was smiling slightly and let out a soft chuckle as he got up. She heard him walk away and come back. He dropped a bag in front of her. She sat up and pulled the blanket draped over her around her bare chest with one hand as she reached for the bag. She glanced in it and was relieved to find fresh clean clothes and a bottle of extra strength Motrin inside. Willow blushed, her face turning a dark rosy pink.
It was a bright and sunny morning, the sun was already pretty high in the sky and the 'crash' site seemed all the more dream like.
Jay smiled and looked away as she got changed. He started talking softly at first to make sure he didn't hurt her head. Concussions were painful and he knew that first hand, having had countless concussions. His lips twitched slightly as he heard the bottle of pills being tipped, even before she got changed.
"Well, you had a rough night." he said a smile he had kept (or attempted to) keep hidden crept slid easily onto his face. He heard her snort and chuckled softly. "Yeah, I guess for you that's the understatement of the year." He added.
Thankful for his understanding; Willow smiled, she was glad he had turned his back and allowed her to change, it also allowed her to clean off a little bit, using magic.
"You have a mild concussion and your head split open, other than the bruising is there anything else causing you pain? You took a bit of a tumble there." Jay commented.
Willow glanced up the steep 40ft gorge and sighed, "A bit of a tumble?" she asked talking for the first time. She glanced over towards Jay, noticing the change in clothing.
Yesterday he had been dressed more professionally, in a pinkish dress top and black jeans he had worn black leather dress shoes and a nice silver watch. Today he was wearing an orange, long sleeved top, an olive green vest and some cargo pants. His shoes were generally skater and dark brown.
Willow sighed, "My back hurts, but other than that I'm okay, just a little jittery." She said answering his question. "Do you like tea?" Jay asked, still facing the other way.
Willow finished getting dressed and walked up behind Jay. "Yeah, tea's good." She answered. He turned around and smiled at her. "We should get back to the cabin so I can properly clean out your cuts." He said sweeping into his now trademark bow and allowing her to pass.
Willow chuckled and moved forward as they headed towards the cabin. Suddenly she remembered who fell with her. "Oz! What happened? Is he okay?" she exclaimed stopping and turning around to face Jay. He smiled. "Oz is okay, he sprained his wrist and cut his leg, but he's been through much worse, and he was okay enough to come and see if you were okay before slunking back to the cabin." Jay said smiling at her.
"Slunking huh?" Willow asked raising her eyebrows. Jay laughed, "Did I say slunking? I meant more of an, ouch! I fell down a gorge type walk." He said his eyes dancing with good humor. Willow grimaced. "I guess it's my fault then." She mumbled falling back a step. Jay stopped and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey," he said meeting her eyes. "It was your first change and you weren't in control, if it's anyone's fault it's mine, I didn't prepare you enough. Alright?" He asked making sure she nodded before moving on.
"Besides," he added with a cheeky grin. "Last night was worth it, I've never seen sparks come out of a wolf before. I guess I just have that effect on some people." He said as they walked into the clearing the cabin had been built on. Willow frowned. "Sparks?" she asked. Jay grinned, "I'll explain later alright." He added.
They entered the cabin and found Oz asleep on the couch. Jay grinned, mischief gleamed in his eyes and he lifted his finger over his lips and motioned towards the sleeping lump on the couch. He then stomped into the room. He then rather loudly cleared his throat and said "Wow! I've never slept with a lesbian before." He exclaimed. "You told me she was good Oz, but you never mentioned she was THAT good!" he added.
Willow covered her ears and kicked Jay playfully in the leg, motioning towards her head. Jay gave her a sympathetic look and led her to a chair. Oz was looking around the room and frowned at Jay. He then groaned and stretched. He then cocked an eyebrow in Jay's direction and asked sarcastically, "Hot lesbian sex? Eh Jay? What a nice dream that must have been for you." Oz said glancing at Willow who grinned despite her headache.
"It's nice to know I still have a friend I can count on to have absolutely no faith in me." Jay said in mock grief. He grinned, "Where's my bag?" he asked after a moment. Oz nodded towards the kitchen and Jay was off. Willow smiled at Oz. "I'm guessing he's a morning person?" she asked raising her eyebrows. Oz nodded. "Unfortunately."
Jay bustled back in the room with a bowl of warm water, a cloth and a bag. "Gimp time!" he exclaimed. He sat down on the couch and summoned everyone who got up close and personal with the ravine the night before to his side.
"I'll do your wrist first. Did you ice it last night?" Jay asked Oz, looking skeptical. Oz shook his head and held out his blue-black wrist. Willow grimaced and looked over at Oz. "That looks painful." Willow said looking up from his wrist and raising her eyes to his face. She sighed slightly and then said quietly, "Sorry." She felt really guilty regardless of what Jay said.
Oz frowned and glanced at his wrist. It wasn't that bad, his chest hurt worse. " I guess that could've gone better, I'm fine, it'll be better tomorrow anyways." Oz commented quietly, wishing it would be the same for his lungs. Willow smiled slightly. "That's one upside of superpowers I guess." She said running a hand through her mop of hair.
Oz smiled and allowed Jay to wrap up his wrist with some nylon medical bandage, the pinkish orange colour contorting as he tightened it to the desired grip and placed a metal clingy strip over the end of the bandage so it stayed in place. Once Jay had finished he looked up at Oz, and for the first time since she had met him; he looked dead serious. "Now go put some ice on it." He said meeting his eyes. Oz sighed and got up.
Willow watched as he walked into the kitchen and sighed. Jay looked up and watched, his head cocking to the direction of the kitchen. Listening for the sounds of the freezer and the ice being shoved into a bag. A small smile crossed his face as he heard some ice fall on the floor and Oz letting out a curse.
"I guess you already know he's not a morning person. I love it when he's groggy." Jay said with a grin. "He's also incredibly stubborn." Jay added with a wistful look over at the kitchen again. Willow smiled then winced as the gash on her head opened up and the scab started bleeding.
"I should close that up, have you ever had stitches before?" Jay asked taking out his medical kit. Willow shook her head, which if she thought about it was quite amazing since she had been working with the Scoobies for over 5 years now. Fighting demons she thought; may not be as dangerous as once assumed. Then again, she was almost never on the front line; she left that to the certified slayers. She was strictly back up and back up only, she got to use her spells as defensive attacks and that suited her fine. She had seen enough battles to know that she wasn't cut-out for the front line and had no intention on testing that theory.
Jay seemed to be thinking the same thing. " Never?" he asked cocking an eyebrow. Willow shook her head again and smiled. "Buffy keeps us pretty safe." She said smiling. Jay looked impressed. "I guess I missed that. She didn't look like a big time warrior. Now Faith, I can see doing the whole noble slayer ass kicking thing, but not Buffy. She is however, a very graceful dancer."
Willow looked impressed. "She must like you then. It took Riley forever to get to that stage." Willow commented off-handedly. Jay's eyes twinkled. "I knew she was digging' me." He said patting his chest. Willow frowned. "How do you know Faith?" she asked as a crease entered her forehead.
Jay grinned, "That's a long story, one that involves a vampire rave and a gig we were playing. Oz thought she was still evil and then Sash came up to her and was like, so you recognize that guy, and she pointed out Oz and the rest is history." Jay said grinning. Willow smiled. She wondered if that was before or after Faith had gone to jail.
She watched as Jay slowly prepared a needle and thread and then looked up and took the cloth with the hot water and cleaned out her cut. It stung but the warm water made her feel marvelous. He then asked if she wanted a shot to numb her head.
Willow thought for a second and shook her head, her fear of needles coming back to her from when she was seven. The stitches were going to be enough torture she decided. Jay just smiled knowingly.
Oz re-entered the room and gave Willow a genuine smile. The first one she had seen from him since she had first found him again. His eyes sparkled as he came up behind Jay and released the ice cube in his hand down Jay's orange top. Willow smiled at the familiar feeling, Oz was in cheering up mode and he wasn't going to get out of it until she was feeling better.
Jay let out a screech of annoyance as the ice slowly fell down his back creating a streak of dark orange in his orange shirt as the ice cube progressed down his back. "Is that ice satisfactory enough for you Jay?" Oz asked kicking his foot up and landing on the couch with a smug look on his face, that seemed very un-Oz but Willow wasn't complaining. He seemed to have had a change of heart towards this whole situation and this thought alone made her heart soar with hope and the promise of new beginnings.
Jay shot Oz a dirty look that broke into a smile before answering his friend's question. "Yes, I deem this ice satisfactory for use Mr. Osbourne." He joked as he fished it out of his shirt and chucked it playfully at his friend.
Willow smiled and winced as her wound pinched again and Jay turned back to her and gave her a grin. "C'mon, lets get this over with." He said holding up the needle complete with medical thread. Willow bit her lip and nodded as she watched the slow assent of the needle to her forehead, just above her left eyebrow.
Oz watched Willow playfully from the couch and took in the humor of the situation, Willow was sitting on a chair in front of Jay, she was biting her lip and her eyes followed the needle as slowly was raised to her face; a picture of unease, as she shifted uncomfortably below a much taller Jay.
The mid-morning sun flowing through the window in the front door of the small cabin lit up Willows naturally red and coppery hair until the time where it looked almost on fire. It was slightly bushy due to its previous run in with a puddle.
Jay had it set up so that the sunlight acted as a medical lamp and slowly and cautiously tightened the thread just enough so that the wound closed and skin was still comfortable. He was just about finished when he finally noticed Oz watching with a slight glimmer in his eyes, his lips played across a smile.
Jay gave him a wink as he finished tying the last stitch and wondered what had put him in such a wonderful mood. Jay locked eyes with Willow again and smiled. He then brought the cloth back to her face and dabbed away the new blood. She winced slightly but the pain wasn't bad. He then gently took the anti-bacterial cream Oz handed him and gently applied it to the cut.
When he was finished he gave her a nod and she got up and sat down with Oz on the couch. Jay turned to Oz and motioned him up also. He gave Willow another cheeky grin "I must service your leg now monsieur." He remarked motioning towards Oz's upper thigh. Oz sighed, if anything overdramatically and got up.
Jay then glanced over at Willow and smiled "I didn't put gauze on that so that you could take a shower if you wanted. It doesn't matter when but when you get out, eventually find me and I'll put that gauze on it for you, kay?" he asked with a wink. Willow smiled gratefully "Thanks, if you two don't mind I think I'll do that now." She replied.
Oz nodded "Whenever you like." He said answering for both males. "You're the only woman here anyways so you get first dibs." He added his eyes sparkling again. Willow got up and followed Oz's directions to the clean towels before going to get her clothes.
Jay laughed "Too bad you won't be around to see me and Oz's thigh get some action though." Jay commented snidely. Willow turned around and gave him a mock glare, "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.
Jay backed off immediately and was considering apologizing when Oz cut in, he saw right through her act. He knew her better than that. "It's supposed to mean that you may not be the only homosexual in the house." He said to Willow with a dead serious look on his face.
Jay was now totally behind and ran a nervous hand through his hair. Willow who was trying hard not to laugh finally broke, her stern face morphing into a large grin and then she let out a whoop of laughter. Oz chuckled too and Jay who was still confused finally clued in. "You two think you're soooo funny." He said sarcastically rolling his eyes. Oz turned to him and nodded. "Yes, yes we do." He commented off handedly.
Jay raised his eyebrows, "Just take off your pants buddy, I won't take anymore lip coming from you…" he said waving his finger back and fourth. Oz played into Jay's mock motherly scheme, and wobbled his lower lip slightly, "but…" He started, "No 'buts' TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS, let the Dr. fix you riiight up." Jay said smiling. Oz mock sighed again but did as he was told. Willow smiled and raised an eyebrow in Jay's direction.
"I'm not gay!" he exclaimed exasperated. Willow sighed. "I'm not!" Jay said cheekily. "Alright then I believe you." Willow said giving in finally, the hot water was calling her. She slowly opened the door and turned to survey the room again. It was a funny sight, Oz had his bare leg draped over Jay's knees, and Jay was bent over concentrating on the stitches. Oz had Marvin the Martian boxers on.
He turned around for the last time and said more seriously now. "We won't be around when you get out alright, I thought Oz and I would go for a walk, you know, to talk about tonight's game plan."
Willow nodded, a smile spread on her face and she muttered loudly something that sounded like "Gayer than Christmas." Oz snorted from the couch and Jay shook his head a grin sliding onto his face. Willow sighed her head hurt, the silence would probably do it good. Not that she hated the 2 young men being around the cabin, but some time alone would also allow her some time to reflect on what happened the previous night.
She smiled and gave a small wave before stepping into the bathroom, closing the door and undressing slowly.
When she was finished, she wasn't sure where to put the clothes, they were dirty and covered in mud and she was never one to mess up the bathroom, having lived with 3 other women for 3 years or so. Finally she decided to toss them in the corner. She then opened the window slightly; she had a feeling she was going to be in there for a while.
She then stepped into the small room, sighing as she felt her heart sink again. She was alone. She reached for the hot water tap and turned it all the way; she didn't bother turning on the cold water. The scalding water came out of the head and hit her cold body. The heat was almost unbearable but at the same time she felt all her muscles unclench as the water poured down her back.
She sighed and ran a hand through her sopping hair. Her forehead stung but it was only for a few seconds before that pain dissipated as well. She jumped as she heard the front door of the cabin slam, and she knew that she was alone. All the strength seemed to leave her body as the guys left.
She closed her eyes and slowly let in the comforting sound of the drops of water hitting the bottom of the shower.
Willow…
She thought she had heard something and opened her eyes; someone was calling her. She opened the door of the shower stall and glanced around a nostalgic feeling hitting her square in her chest. No one was there.
She shrugged, convincing herself she was hearing things and closed her eyes again, attempting to calm down.
Willow, I know you can hear me. I don't have much time,
Willow opened her eyes again, this time she knew something was up.
Close your eyes again, it's okay, we just need to talk.
Willow did what the voice was telling her. The voice was female she was positive of that. When she did she did she felt her body pull away and her spirit was re-located.
"You can open your eyes now, it's okay. I'm sorry I had to do it this way but there wasn't much of a choice." The voice sounded less like a whisper now, and there was a hint of sharpness to it.
Willow opened her eyes and gasped. She was standing in a white room she was the only one there except one person. She looked vaguely familiar and Willow finally realized who it was. Sasha.
She stood out like a sore thumb against the white, in her tight dark blue jeans, olive green low-cut top, she wore a bellybutton ring that shone in the whiteness, with a denim jacket over her green top and chestnut coloured hair. She was slender and tall and her choppy shoulder length red streaked hair was blowing in the wind although there was none.
"You know who I am right?" She asked taking a few steps closer, her heels hitting the white marble echoing off the walls. Willow nodded slightly alarmed at seeing Oz's dead fiancé. The picture Oz had showed her didn't give her justice, her moss green eyes sparkled as she smiled nervously and the freckles on her cheeks came along for the ride.
"H-How, what?" Willow asked swallowing uncomfortably.
Jay grinned as he got into the 'Oz mobile.' "Man you have no idea how much I missed this thing!" he exclaimed getting in quickly. "Then you wouldn't mind getting out and getting back in would you?" Oz asked eyeing his driver's door with a grim look on his face.
Jay frowned and got out. He then followed Oz's gaze to his busted door. "How?" he asked giving Oz a look. "Manhattan, dangerous town for Volkswagons." Oz said, getting in through the passenger's door and sliding over to the drivers seat.
Jay laughed and got in after Oz. "We gotta fix that at some point, huh?" He asked grinning. Oz nodded and turned the key, the old engine sprang to life and hummed pleasantly as the gravel under the tires crunched. The van surged forward and Jay couldn't help but smile at the familiar thunk it made as Oz shifted gears.
"Ah, this is the way it should be," Jay said kicking back and relaxing. "2 partners and friends, like, Batman and Robin, Chip and Dale, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Tom and Jerry." Jay added frowning slightly. "Weren't Tom and Jerry mortal enemies?" Oz asked looking up. Jay shrugged.
"So," Jay said as he opened the glove compartment and rummaged through it. "Last night was pretty interesting huh?" Jay said glancing over at his friend, who was fiddling with his well-used c.d. player.
"Wicca wolf." Oz said smiling and hitting the play button. Jay frowned. "I've never seen anyone fight that hard for control before. It was pretty insane." Jay said shaking his head. Finally he found what he what he was looking for.
He took out a pair of drumsticks and broke the cardboard holding them together; 'Kryptonite' by 3 Doors Down, came out through the old speakers. Jay grinned and closed the glove compartment with his foot as he kicked back. He then weighed each stick in his hands and grinned up at Oz.
"Good song, drum heavy." He said grinning and taking a stick in each hand. He then started drumming the song on the already dented dashboard. Oz let out a small sigh, "You see all those dents?" He asked "Those, are you." Oz said motioning to the dashboard.
Jay grinned, "I know, I just thought I should add to my collection, I mean heaven forbid they get lonely." He said grinning and waving a drumstick in the air. Oz grinned and turned up the music.
Jay sang along and his voice fit quite well with the song. Oz was glad his friend wasn't musically challenged and had excellent pitch.
The song ended and Jay took out his phone from his back pocket and turned it on. Oz glanced over at him and Jay grinned and shrugged. He then went into his voice mail and his eyes popped. "203, 203 voice messages." He stuttered, then he grinned, "Ah ha ha." He said in his best count voice.
"That's what you get for not taking calls." Oz said sarcastically. "Especially when you quit the monks." Jay added grinning at his friend. Oz laughed, "monks, many monks, ah ha ha" he replied smiling, "No fair you gotta say a number!" Jay said crossing his arms and pouting.
"Never really was up on Sesame Street, my little cousin was always more of Big Friendly Giant fan." Oz commented. Jay frowned, "How come all the toddler shows have to do with puppets and old guys?" He asked. Oz smiled, "The only things kids aren't weaker then?" Oz suggested. Jay frowned, "What about old women?" He asked. "They can get pretty violent." Oz said shaking his head in mock-shame.
Jay laughed and the song on the scratchy C.D. changed and some random un-known band came on. With Oz there was always some un-known song, some un-known band from this random hole in the wall studio, Jay wasn't even sure where he got them from, but if you wanted a new sound, chances are Oz had already discovered it, and half the time it wasn't even a 'new' sound; often it was some undiscovered band from the 60's or 70's with a sound no one had ever even thought about before.
Jay knew Oz must have thousands of burnt disks hidden somewhere, and one day he would find them. Then his perpetual boat would come in and he would strike pay-dirt. Although, it would have been nice if Oz had left a map or some clues or something; mad-libs even, make it a good old-fashioned treasure hunt. He could dress up and everything, hat and hook, maybe a fake bird; or a real one, that way he could charter a carrier pigeon to do his evil non-monk bidding. Besides, it was rude of Oz to keep all the booty, wait, heh, pirates called treasure booty… maybe they were Munichs… to himself, one day he would find it. Yes. He would. Jay decided twirling a drumstick between his fingers. Then the song ended.
It was quiet for a little while longer and the Jay turned to Oz, "Should I listen to the messages?" Jay asked. Oz shrugged "They are all going to say the same thing." He said looking over at Jay. "They did for me, they just had a bunch of people phoning and saying that they couldn't believe I could ever do something so stupid and that if they ever saw me again they would turn me in… Bla bla bla." Oz said looking over at Jay.
Jay sighed, "Nice going away present." He commented grimly. Oz nodded and looked over at Jay, " Well I might as well get this over with," Jay said pressing the speakerphone button on his phone and selecting voice mail. Oz glanced over at Jay and raised his eyebrows wondering why he had put on speakerphone.
"I thought you should share in the grief." Jay said reading Oz's mind and answering his question. Oz resisted the urge to roll his eyes as Jay flipped through the numbers on his voice mail until he found one he didn't recognize.
"This one doesn't even show a number." Jay said holding up his phone and frowning. Oz glanced over at Jay but said nothing. "Well, this one I HAVE to listen to, it won't let me delete it." Jays said pressing the delete button repeatedly. He then gave up and pressed play.
The cheap cell phone cracked and buzzed but the voice on the other end was clear and precise, even stern and Jay paled when he heard it. He just about dropped the phone out of shock. He managed to mellow out just enough to comprehend the noise into words.
"Jason, your mind has been twisted into believing that we are the bad ones here. The murderer has shut your eyes to all that makes sense and the loss of the she-wolf has weakened your reasoning skills. I will ask you once to come back to the side of reasoning and just before it is too late and you do something radical. I need you to search into the depths of your mind and find what is truly right." At this Oz snorted, but kept listening.
"It's not too late to join us again, but know that if you are seen anywhere near that traitor that you will be shown no more respect or mercy than he is." The message ended and Jay turned off the phone. He looked almost transparent he was so pale.
"That was him. That was the man who found me and took me in. The one that ordered us out of the building with no intention of coming back to get her. Not to mention he thinks I'm the insane one." Jay finished with a low growl. Oz shook his head not bothering to glance over at Jay, he was well aware of Jay's story and would rather avoid the topic all together.
Jay, on the other hand wasn't thinking what Oz assumed he was thinking. He had gotten over the death threats the minute they started coming; his mind was on Blade and how to help Willow. Slowly he looked up, hoping that he had enough courage to tell Oz about Blade. Which, at this time, was relatively impossible, and then again, it was always relatively impossible.
"Yeah, I'm not really sure how this happened either, but nice threads." Sasha said biting her lip. Willow panicked; she had been in the shower right? She looked down and saw she was in a pair of tight blue jeans and a white tank top. Slowly she let out a sigh of relief and sank into a chair.
Sasha laughed and shook her head; "I should probably explain some stuff while I have you around." Sasha stopped and tapped her foot on the hard marble floor. "I guess the first thing I should tell you is that Blade is back." She said a frown creasing across her forehead. Willow couldn't help but show her surprise. "What do you mean, back? I thought Oz had… well" Willow said not wanting to offend the woman in front of her. "Killed him?" Sasha supplied. Willow nodded a blush falling across her face.
"Well Oz told you right, Oz had bit him, but he didn't die. Those damn monks had to go and rehabilitate him." Sasha explained, annoyed with those damned monks. Willow swore under her breath, it was true, it was very rare she would bring out the profanity but today, she decided to make a special exception. Sasha smiled, "I know how you feel." She commented with a sigh.
"I guess I should tell you Jay already knows. He found out during his stay in Sunnydale; ran into some of Blade's possible recruits." Sasha added. "He's in Sunnydale?" Willow exclaimed. Sasha nodded. "Don't get mad at Jay, he didn't want to put stress on the both of you during the moon cycle. That I can understand, he also has the Sunnydale crew all prepped and ready for anything he thought Blade could dish out until Oz and him could get there." Sasha said smiling wearily. Willow sighed, "Oz doesn't know yet right?" She asked. Sasha nodded and picked at her nails. "I think it would be better if it stayed that way until at least the moon cycle is over. I know he wouldn't like to be kept in the dark but I think this time should be an exception. He needs to be stable enough to help you out." Sasha said giving Willow a sympathetic look.
Willow was touched so many people wanted to help her and nodded. "But this isn't good though right? I mean why is Blade in Sunnydale in the first place?" Willow asked. "I guess I failed to mention Blade is slightly bitter when it comes to the guy that turned him into a werewolf in the first place." Sasha said with a sigh.
Willow sighed as well. "I'm guessing bitter is the understatement of the year right?" Willow asked, suddenly afraid for her friends. Sasha nodded and pulled a hand through her hair. "That about sums that up." She added.
"What can I do to help?" Willow asked. Sasha smiled. "Just work through the phases and you'll be doing enough, don't push too hard though. When you have to leave I can give you some stuff that will help you make the changes easier, but don't push nature. Do what Jay and Oz say and you should be okay. There's no pressure on you, no matter how fast you think you have to get control because of stuff going on back in Sunnydale, you need to be in the moment. Don't push the wolf or it will push you back, alright?" Sasha said giving her an encouraging smile. Willow nodded, taking in the situation.
"I thought I'd also let you know why you're talking to me instead of Tara huh?" Sasha asked. Willows head snapped up from the floor and her mind spun. "Tara?" She asked. "Yeah, she says hi. I'm sorry it couldn't be her talking to you but the rules are you can't know the one your talking to." Sasha said looking sympathetic. Willow nodded she understood although was more than a little disappointed.
"Don't, don't tell anyone about our little talk okay? I would also like to tell you to drink the tea Jay has waiting in the kitchen, it's good for you and will help you stay calm during the change. I also took the liberty of curing that headache of yours and stopped time so you could finish your shower in hot water. A cold shower sucks, especially when you were cold to begin with." Sasha said with a grin. Willow nodded returning the grin. "It was good to meet you. Will I be seeing you again?" Willow asked.
Sasha shook her head, "Probably not, this is one of those one time things. The guy up stairs decided that you needed a heads up and Tara made that possible." Sasha said smiling. Willow frowned absorbing the information in a state of awe. "Hey, you better not think you good guys are alone down there huh?" Sasha said laughing at Willow's expression. Willow finally shook her head and smiled.
"Good, we also talked about it and decided you two need to move on with your lives. You know as well as I do that Oz still loves you, you saw that spark in his eyes this morning." Sasha said grinning. Willow blushed again. "Oh there's no rush but you 2 have our permission. Which is saying a lot." Sasha said waving a finger in Willow's direction. Willow laughed. "One more thing." Sasha started. Willow mock sighed. "I thought it would be fun if you went into the storm-cellar around the back of the cabin and took a look around." Sasha said ignoring Willow's sigh with a grin.
Willow frowned but nodded and stood up, recognizing the time was almost up. "Thank you." Willow said a smile playing across her sad expression. "Try not to look so glum all the time huh. Things will get better." Sasha said also standing.
Willow held out her hand and Sasha grasped it. Her skin was cool to the touch but soft and reassuring at the same time. "It was good to have met you." Willow said allowing herself to look into Sasha's dark green eyes. Sasha nodded and she smiled lightly, "Treat him good okay?" she asked. Willow nodded. "And give good old Jay a nice solid punch in the arm for me as well." Sasha added after a minute. She was still smiling but Willow could tell this was difficult for her. Tears had started to well up behind her eyes, but she only got a glimpse of this before she felt the familiar tug taking her back from where ever she had been.
Soon she felt the hot water massaging her back again, but a faint whisper still played on the inside of her ear, like an echo from the past.
I made it so the wolf had more input in what you do when your not in that form, it will be difficult but you will learn how to deal with the impulses. They may come on a bit strong at first, but believe me this will help… Then again, what do I know, I was born with a wolf.
A musical chuckle played in her ears as the echo grew fainter and Willow waited for the information to sink in.
"What do you think we should have Willow try next?" Jay asked shifting uncomfortably. Oz shrugged "You're the expert." He said easily. "Although," he added with a slight chuckle, "We should tell her to stop fighting with it so hard, we won't get hurt if she's not fighting for control and I think that's what she was trying to do last night, she sensed the wolfs unease and tried to stop it from getting any closer to us." Oz said turning into a small corner store. Jay nodded, "Agreed, that was when the sparks started flying. Being Wicca and all I guess she could fight it more than we could judging by the power she showed" He commented slipping on a pair of sunglasses.
"I also think she needs to loosen up more, if her muscles are all tight when she changes it's gonna hurt more." Oz said frowning. "Thé-chai then?" Jay asked. Oz frowned, "We can let her decide." Oz said finally. Jay nodded and bit his lip. "We could also have her try to change before the moon, to get her used to the feeling so that she's more comfortable. Maybe as the wolf have her do a hunt or something, get to know the pack. You know?" Jay said grinning. "You'd like that wouldn't you?" Oz asked pushing him out of the van. Jay laughed. "Of course, I haven't been on a good hunt in months." He said waving off his raised eyebrow.
"So Devon's pretty cool huh?" Jay asked cocking an eyebrow. Oz looked faintly surprised, "Really?" he asked scooting over to the passenger's side and exiting the car as well. "We had a run in at your 'welcome back Oz party' at that club." Jay explained as he walked into the store.
Oz nodded, as if it wasn't a strange occurrence to have a welcome home party after he skipped town. "Was he upset?" Oz asked examining the cooler full of beverages. Jay shrugged, "He was pretty hammered, but he was looking for you." He commented grabbing a slurpee cup and choosing a flavor.
Oz sighed and chose some Fruitopia. "Can't play a guitar to save his life though." Jay said moving over to the beef jerky Oz chuckled, "Defiantly not." He said shaking his head. Jay grinned, "They have some good songs though." He commented off handedly. Oz cocked an eyebrow in Jay's direction, "I was invited on stage to play some string." Jay explained motioning for Oz to add his juice onto the pile on the front counter and taking out his wallet.
Oz smiled and nodded his thanks as the Asian clerk handed over Jay's change and they walked out of the store. His fingers itched for a guitar; his stint on stage back in Sunnydale suddenly didn't feel like enough. "So, up for an adventure?" Jay asked. Oz frowned and glanced over towards the trees.
An adventure is what they called it when they a hunt or run around the forest, the adventure part was the fact that no one really knew what they would end up doing. He then shook his head, "Nah, I've had too much of the forest scene lately, it's actually nice being in this form for a while." Oz said off handedly.
Jay gave Oz a sideways glance and a cock of an eyebrow. "What do you mean too much?" he asked, allowing a hint of worry to enter his voice.
Willow finished her shower quickly, despite what Sasha had said, she wanted to get out of the shower, her head was feeling much better however she was still slightly shaky from just talking to what she assumed was a ghost or, something.
As she dressed and stepped through the door and into the silent house, her cool feet hit the hard wood floor as she padded down the small hallway and into the kitchen. She jumped slightly as a shadow passed almost inexplicably behind her eyes and she felt a spark of something she didn't know in the back of her mind. Her heart thudded faster as she tried to fight whatever it was that was that wanted out.
It pushed back, fighting against her barrier. It was there, she could feel it and it pushed against her defenses as it tried to find a window out. Her hands shook as she tried to remain calm, it felt so much like it was going to take over. She sat down, tears flooded her eyes and threatened to pour down her cheeks. She gave a shuttering sigh attempting to clear her thoughts. She was going to lower herself into a chair when she spotted the teapot on the stove.
Sasha hadn't lied when she had said that Jay would have tea ready. Willow thought as she reached over and grabbed the handle on the pot and at the same time with the other hand reached and grabbed a mug from the hooks attached to the cupboard and set it down on the counter in front of her.
Her hands still shook as she felt the wolf watching through her own eyes. Wary of the tingling sensation in all of her extremities. She feared the pain of the change she had experienced the night before and the thought of that returning tonight was almost unbearable. She tilted the pot slowly and watched as the steaming hot golden tinted liquid filled her cup, the comforting smell hitting her in the face almost at once.
She inhaled deeply and soon a feeling of calm over powered her jumpiness. She then took her cup into the living room. Walking made her whole world jerk lazily like she was watching a fragmented video. She bit back an angry growl. She was startled when she found herself cursing under her breath, cursing Sasha for making the wolf easier to contact. Cursing the one who bit her in the first place. She wasn't even sure who bit her, Buffy and Giles had taken care of it.
She sat there glowering for a second, her rage only volumized by the wolf breaking into her senses. Sounds suddenly became sharper, and louder, more clear, the groan of the old hide-a-bed as she switched positions. She jumped at the sound. She decided she was thankful for the concussion being taken care of or it would have really hurt her head.
Among the new sounds she was hearing she also heard Sasha's caution in her head; Don't push the wolf or it will push you back. Willow, although still fighting for control shook her head, how the hell was she supposed to live with the wolf breathing down her neck, influencing her normal self, sight, smell, taste. The battle she was fighting in her head she felt would eventually be a losing one, she could feel that everytime she blinked or breathed or her heart beat. She was losing strength and as she was losing strength the wolf was gaining more.
She sighed, indecision fluttering around her head like a mosquito. Finally she gave in, she would rather lose the battle freely than lose it as a weak whisper in her own mind. She let the wall crumble in her mind and felt the wolf rush in. Dizzying her world for a second as she felt everything change.
She closed her eyes and when she opened them it was like seeing a whole new world. Her vision was sharper and everything seemed more clearly defined, shadows weren't as dark.
Her nose picked up more than she could ever imagine possible. She could actually smell Jay's dufflebag in the guest room, though all the clothes were clean. She could smell her blood soaked bandage in the bathroom garbage can. She could smell a squirrel walking across the clearing outside.
And while she could smell the squirrel, she could hear it too. Every step brought on the crunch of gravel and leaves. Then came the rain came, she smelt it first, then she heard the first drop hit the ground with a light splash, soon followed by another five and then a countless amount of minute droplets hit the ground.
Willow sighed the sound was comforting and it echoed through the quiet house. Willow took a sip of her tea and let the warmth of the liquid spread slowly through out her entire body. Slowly she calmed down her mind became at peace with her surroundings and her mind slowly calmed, her hands stopped shaking and she sighed once more.
When she had finished her tea she got up and took her cup to the kitchen, she was still getting used to her new viewpoint on the world and swayed slightly as her eyes adjusted to the new viewpoint.
She rinsed it out and went back into the living room wondering what she could do now when the phone rang. Jumping at the shrill ring; she reeled around and spotted the phone sitting innocently on the table beside the couch. She hadn't even noticed it there before. She wondered who would be calling a cabin in the middle of no where. But picked up anyways.
"Hello?" She asked tentatively hoping to hear Jay or Oz's voice. Instead she got something quite different, "Oz?" A male voice asked. "He's um, not here at the moment. Can I ask who I'm speaking to?" Willow answered. "I guess you can ask who your speaking too, but if you're not Oz can I ask who I'm speaking to?" The voice said. Willow noticed a hint of amusement in his voice and smiled.
"I'm Willow Rosenbourge." She said pacing the room. "Really? Willow Rosenbourge? From Sunnydale? What are you doing up there?" The voice said sounding surprised. "There was a little um, problem." Willow said shaking her head. "I see, well, I'm Jacob Glenn, known by most people as just Jake." Jake said changing the subject.
"Nice to meet you, I think." Willow said biting her lip. "Same here." Jake said. The connection was quiet for a second and the phone buzzed and cracked. "You wouldn't know Jay would you?" Jake asked finally in a doubtful voice. "Yeah, he's out with Oz, is something wrong?" Willow asked in a worried voice. Jake choked. "If Jay's with Oz there must be something wrong." He commented.
Willow laughed, "It started that way." She commented. "I can see it now." Jake said with a laugh. "So, something happened in Sunnydale then?" Jake asked. "Yeah, I got bit." Willow said quietly. "Wow, I'm sorry man, that sucks." Jake said sounding genuinely concerned. Willow nodded slightly, "Yeah, it really does." She agreed. "So are you a wolf then?" She added curiously.
Jake laughed, "No, no, I'm so much different then that." He said mysteriously. Willow smiled "Fair enough. So why are you calling? Did you need to get a hold of Jay?" Willow asked. "I do actually, he's had his phone off for a few days now, do you want to tell him to give me a call when he gets in?" Jake asked. "Yeah, I'll do that, it was nice to meet you." Willow said frowning. "You too." He said then he was cut off and she heard him swear, and a deep growl, "Son of a Bitch" He growled "Thought you could ambush me could you?" He hung up and all Willow heard was a dial tone.
Willow hung up with a frown. She was slightly worried about what had happened to Jake and mentally noted to let both guys know what she had heard. She sighed and headed out the front door with out even noticing. She needed some air and the rain was comforting.
She started walking around the cabin examining all the doors and windows. When she got around to the back she saw a door attached to the cabin, leading underneath it. Curiosity took the best of her and she bent down to examine the lock, it was the average key lock, slightly rusty. She couldn't help but wonder if she could break it or not.
Slowly she reached out and grasped the cool metal in her fist. She then pulled with all her strength, which was more than enough to break the lock. It broke off easily into her hand, she smiled and kicked open the wooden door.
Only then did she realize she had just broken Oz's lock. Hopefully he wasn't too connected to it, she thought biting her lip. She lowered herself down the hole until she felt herself hit wood. She stepped down from the solitary stair and into the darkness. Her forehead hit a string hanging from the ceiling and she pulled. Flooding the basement in light.
It was like going into a hole in the wall music store, a solitary desktop donned one side of the wall, hundreds of shelves lined the walls absolutely full of c.d.s, plastic milk crates full of records were stacked on one wall. There were spare guitars and a snare drum in one corner with a few different amps and hook-up cords.
Willow sighed, she had found Oz's nook. The nook of Oz, misty light poured into the room from the muddy old windows surrounding the ceiling as dust floated lazily through the air and shone gold as it hit the light from the windows. She slowly sat down in the chair in front of the computer and sighed.
She was startled by the sound of the computer turning on and realized that it had been on stand-by. A window popped up on the dark screen and asked what her name was. Not really thinking about it she typed: Willow. And the screen lit up. The desktop was a wall paper of a guitar. The only icon she had to click on was a media player, so she did.
It opened up to an all music list of millions. The scroller bar was a literal line. None of which in view she had ever heard of. Slowly she double clicked on one and music boomed from speakers hidden around the room with crystal clear quality and Willow found herself absorbed with the music. Slowly she got up and walked around the room; stopping once and a while to examine a case or two as she walked through the isles of small jewel cases.
She stopped at some un-marked cases and took them out, there were six in total and she brought them over to the computer and stuck the first one in the disk drive.
Jay bit savagely into his beef jerky, his eyes boring into Oz's. "What do you mean too much of the woods?" He pressed again. Oz looked away from Jays gaze and turned on the engine in an attempt to avoid the topic, but Jay saw through Oz's plan.
"That's not healthy Oz and you know it. Is that why no one could get a hold of you? Why you're acting so strange? You can't grieve that way man." Jay said running a hand through his hair. "I know, but it was easier in that form…" Oz almost whispered as he drove down the road.
"One and a half years is way too long Oz" Jay said looking pale. Oz laughed, "A little late to look back on the past like that now huh?" he asked glancing over at Jay, who frowned. "True but still not healthy, you could have really screwed yourself up Oz, and both Willow and I need you to be at your sanest." Jay said with a smile.
Oz raised an eyebrow. "When am I ever not sane?" he asked. Jay laughed, "Good point. But no more long term wolf for you okay. I'm worried about you man, which is kind of creepy because normally it's the other way around." Jay said running a nervous hand through his hair. "Don't worry about me Jay, I'm okay, a little tired but okay." Oz said as his voice trailed off.
Jay rolled down the window with a sigh, and stuck his head out it was hot the rain had died off and hot sun slowly beamed through the clouds. The water on the road evaporated and steamed as the van made it's way lazily down the long heavily forested road. Sunlight hit the new spring leaves above and created a light green glow on the forest ground. The perfect time for an adventure and he was sitting in a car with his best friend wondering how it was going in Sunnydale and why in the name of hell that Oz would feel the need to be the wolf for one and a half years. What if the wolf denied Oz changing back into human form and Oz would have been stuck? What if the wolf had the control now?
Jay shook his head slowly as he tried to sort out his thoughts, it didn't look like it, but guys like him had been the wolf for shorter than Oz and had gotten stuck. Jay pulled his head back into the cab and saw Oz with a smile playing across his face. His eyes twinkled in the sunlight. Jay almost couldn't keep a straight face as he asked. "And what would it be that you find so damned amusing?"
Oz was grinning now. "You got bug guts on your face man." Oz said shaking his head and watching as Jay's eyes widened with a look of pure horror and he pulled down the blinder so that the mirror was facing him. Sure enough there was a mosquito the size of a small island of goo exploded on his forehead. "God!" Jay said taking up his vest and wiping off the remains. "Yes?" Oz mocked turning his attention back to the road.
"You know, that wasn't very nice… he could be listening you know?" Jay said crossing his arms like a six-year-old girl and pouting. "I thought with religion you were a in-different." Oz said quoting Jay from two years before. Jay snorted, "You started it." He said indifferently he then broke out into a smile and started laughing.
Oz rolled his eyes and took the sharp turn into the familiar road, towards the cabin. "Think Willow will be awake?" Jay asked quirking his head. Oz shrugged and sped faster down the road. When they were a few feet away Oz heard faint and familiar music coming from the inside of the cabin and frowned at Jay, who heard it too. "So much for having to pussy foot around huh?" He said with a shrug. He thought a moment and then added, "Somehow I wonder whether she took more than the suggested dose of meds. With a concussion like hers she should be hearing that three or four times as loud." He said raising an eyebrow.
Oz shrugged, "Maybe she healed herself or something." He said thinking of his first night spent in the cabin. "Healed her self?" Jay asked looking as if the suggestion was the most impossible solution in the world. Then a look of realization dawned on his face and mumbled, "Right, Wicca wolf…" Oz smiled and stopped at the end of the driveway. It was at this point where he realized where the music was coming from…
He looked over at Jay who seemed to have realized where the music was coming from as well and was looking excited. "Why is there music coming from under the cabin Oz?" he asked slowly, Oz shrugged and went for the front door but found himself being pulled away at the last second. "leg-go" He mumbled as he was pulled by the much taller Jay to the back door where the hatch to the basement of the cabin.
There they found Willow in a swivly chair, music blared out of speakers so loud the cabin shook. She was spinning around in the chair with her eyes closed arms out. Jay laughed and yelled over the music "Oz, man I think we've got another fan!" Oz grinned; he had recognized the music at once, more Lunar Phases. Willow jumped at the sound of Jays voice and then grinned up at the two of them.
"Congratulations Will, you found what I never could find; Oz's booty." Jay said walking over to Willow and giving her a congratulatory pat on the back. "Booty?" Willow asked biting her lip and eyeing Oz who was shaking his head sadly. "His stash, his supply shed, his source of all musical power!" Jay was counting them off on his fingers now. Willow laughed, "Don't forget his nook." She said smiling.
Jay nodded, "Exactly!" He said, and with that he nodded, turned around and started examining the nearest shelf. "He'll be in here for hours now…" Oz said with a sigh. Willow giggled and Jay turned around "Well you know; she does seem to have a thing for the band. I might wait for later if she wanted, you know, a live show." Jay said winking at Willow who temporarily panicked and glanced at Oz wondering how he was feeling while hearing his dead fiancé sing. He looked fine, if anything a bit jazzed about playing a few songs.
A smile played against his lips as he glanced at Jay. "There's your drum heavy song right there." He said walking over to the speakers, fiddling with them for a moment and the sound came out even more clear. Jay grinned, "I think it sounds better live, I'll go get them." Jay said heading for the door.
When he was gone Willow turned to Oz. "Your okay with this?" She asked. Oz nodded, "Yesterday just hit me kinda hard you know? It was the first time I had heard that song since she left and well, it was my favorite." He said trying to explain. He ran a hand through his hair and looked up into her eyes. Willow nodded, "Understandable. When I came home after England and after Tara you know; Buffy and Dawn had cleared the house of all of Tara's things but they missed her secret spot and I found all her favorite dried flowers and broke down all over again." Willow said blushing slightly, the rose colour going across her nose and cheeks.
Oz nodded, if only she knew. Willow smiled slightly and it was quiet for a second before Oz motioned towards the stack of guitars and hook-ups behind Willow who moved over. Oz grabbed a dusty case and a hook-up on one of the shelves. "You guys really don't have to you know… I mean I love these songs and everything but if you aren't okay with everything, it looks like you haven't touched a guitar in ages and…" Oz put his hand up a smile sliding onto his face. "It's alright, back in the 'dale Devon dragged me up with the Dingoes." Oz said with a shrug. Willow smiled and a drum in a case fell through the underground door, pronouncing Jay's return, which appeared to be fruit full considering it was followed by another six before Jay himself came back down the door.
"Miss me?" He asked with a pout as he came back. Willow shook her head with a laugh, "Defiantly not" She said shaking her head. Jay gave her a playful shrug. "Whats with the liveliness all the sudden, this morning you were dead on your feet. Not to mention the music blasting." He said grinning. "That shower did wonders." Willow said with a mischievous grin. "I see." Jay said bending down and putting the drums together. Oz and Jay exchanged glances and Willow laughed, "Alright, what are you two thinking?" She asked putting both hands on her hips.
Both turned around and gave her an innocent look and she rolled her eyes. "Oz am I drummin'and singin'?" Jay asked changing the subject. "Well, seeing as Jake's in Miami we don't have a beat." Oz said shrugging, "Why can't you handle them both anymore? You getting old?" Oz added. Jay laughed, "Walked into that one didn't I?" He said laughing. Willow then remembered her interesting phone call, "Jake called the house. He was looking for Jay." She said frowning.
Both men stopped and looked up at Willow who shrugged, "He ended it kind of quick it sounded like he was being followed, I hope he's okay." Willow added looking up. Jay shrugged, "He should be, a day in the life of a superhero." Jay said with a wry smile. "What did he want?" Oz asked going back to his cords.
"He was trying to get in contact with Jay, when he heard Oz was with him he got worried about the fireworks you know, what with the 'grrr my pack' thingy." Willow said with a slight chuckle. Jay laughed, "That was a bit over dramatic wasn't it? Then again, it was staying true to my middle name." Jay said getting up from the floor, drum-set complete. Oz looked over at him, "You should call him man, this can wait." He said picking up a case from the corner and bringing it to the desk, he then opened it to reveal a dark blue vintage fender Gibson and pulled it out. Jay watched for a second, then nodded and dug his phone from his vest pocket. "I missed that one, the sound was always somehow…" Jay said motioning towards the electric guitar. Oz looked up and nodded, "Agreed, by far." He said sitting down with it.
Jay then walked up the stair and exited the basement again.
Jay got out in the fresh air and sighed as he waited for the phone to turn on. Finally he picked up the phone and pressed speed dial number three. It rang a few times and Jake picked up. "Jay man what's up with you where have you been?" Jake asked into the phone not bothering to say hi first.
"I quit the monks. Then I came out to your cabin to help out Oz and Willow." Jay explained being frank. Jake whistled into the phone. "Ah they're gonna be on your ass man. There's a war coming up." He said finally. "Is it that bad?" Jay asked biting his lip and turning his back on the cabin to stare out into the sunny woods. "It's getting there. I suggest getting as far away as you can from Sunnydale." Jake said knowingly. "Can't man, got a bone to pick as well as some ally's behind enemy line." Jay said shaking his head. "Good luck with that. It'll be brutal." Jake said grimly. "What do you got going right now?" Jay asked hoping to get some firepower on his side. "Not much, C.W.s phoned a week ago looking for fire power, told them to wait. I wanted to talk to you first." Jake commented. "Good. Cut all contact and move somewhere. I don't need you hurt as well man." Jay said frowning. "Little late, I got their goons on my ass now, they want to know if I can get the weops." Jake explained. "Is that who you were attacked by?" Jay asked, his mind reeling.
"Yeah, they're getting kind of violent, I wanted to check with you first but I got some malfunctioning stuff, the electricity is off, if the gun gets wet, you get 4000 volts going through your body shall I hook them up with those?" Jake asked with a grin. "That could be good, especially with a witch on our side, can you make more?" Jay asked. "Yeah, but you can't be thinking about going against them man, they're a force man, like a cult or something." Jake said frowning.
"We're going to be needing some uh, non faulty weapons too man, this fight's not looking too pretty now." Jay said biting his lip. "You got it man, but I got one question." Jake stated. "What are you doing training a new wolf at a time like this?" Jake asked. Jay sighed, "This girl is something, as a wolf she's the strongest thing I've ever seen; that and Oz really cares about her, she can be a valuable asset to the effort." Jay tried to explain.
"Alright man. I got yah." Jake said shaking his head. "Jake I need you to do one more thing." Jay said thinking of the people he left at the front line. "You know me man, I'm with you, slightly confused, but with you." Jake said with a chuckle. "I need you here in California." Jay said relaying the information on how to get to the Summer's house all the while hating the fact he had to plan this himself. "Who am I meeting here Jay, do they know about demons and junk? I wanna be able to take my damn coat off." Jake asked sounding skeptical.
"The slayer and a few others, they'll be quite understanding I think; they gotta ex-demon and a vamp with a soul on their side man, the only problem I got is they have no idea what they are going into." Jay said shaking his head. "You know who it is right?" Jay asked. "Yeah, Blade's back, how's Oz taking it?" Jake asked, his voice filling with concern. "No, he doesn't know yet, I was going to tell him but he needs to be able to focus on what he's doing here, I need to tell him now though. It wouldn't be fair to keep him in the dark anymore. But I'm worried, the reason we couldn't get in contact with him was because he was the wolf full-time for one and a half years." Jay said trying to explain. "That's not good is it?" Jake asked. "No, but he's coping okay, I think. He's always hid it pretty good." Jay said slightly confused.
"You better make sure you tell him, he needs to know, but he also needs to be sane." Jake said frowning. "That's a lot to put on my plate buddy." Jay said a headache beginning to creep onto his temple. "I know, but it's crutial especially with all this junk going down." Jake commented dully. "Alright, see who you can round up and get down to that address, we need all the help we can get." Jay said changing the subject. "Ight man, you got it, what ever you need." Jake agreed. "Cudos." Jay said hanging up.
As he hung up his phone rang again, Jay checked the display and there was nothing there. So naturally he picked up. "Yellow?" he asked in the phone. "Jason." Came a steely voice on the end of the line. Jay rolled his eyes at his full name. "Yeah, that's what they call me." Jay said wondering who it was. "You're in trouble Jason. You picked the wrong side and if you don't show your face in this town with the murderer soon bad things will happen to the innocents." The voice Jay finally recognized as Blade.
Jay hung up, he didn't want to hear anymore. He then turned off his phone and threw it into the forest. "Fuck!" He kicked the ground in front of him creating a wet cloud of dirt. He took a few minutes to calm down as he paced in front of the cabin, wishing he had the courage to tell Oz what the hell was happening. He would have to now, after tonight, he decided.
He started walking towards the forest and then remembered he had left Oz and Willow waiting. He cursed again, attempting to calm down. He had about one night to train a noob and tell his best friend the one who killed the love of his life that he's back to finish his job.
As they waited for Jay to return, which was taking a while; Willow continued listening to the disks she had found by the band and Oz tuned his guitar. When the song changed Willow frowned, it was rap. "This isn't Sasha or Jay, who is this?" Willow asked, Oz looked up and raised his eyebrows. "Forgot about this disk, this one has some Jake on it, he likes rap. He was our bass. He also did covers by Queen and the Bee Jees. It sounded great but he absolutely wouldn't do it unless he was hammered." Oz said with a wistful look at his computer.
Willow gave him a questioning glance but said nothing. Jay came back down the stairs, his face was red like he had been running but he smiled and held up his medical bag. "I forgot about covering those stitches" He said in a choked voice. He walked over to Willow and took a look at her face. "Where'd the cut go?" He asked moving some hair. Willow smiled. "The shower did wonders." She repeated.
She looked over at Oz who was smiling slightly. "What did Jake say?" Oz asked looking over at Jay hoping to change the subject. Jay paled, he wasn't a good liar and he knew it so he changed the subject again, "Are we going stay chatting or play?" He asked tossing his bag to the side and walking over to his drums and sitting down. Oz gave his friend a questioning glance but hopped up with his guitar and pick ready.
"My song." Jay said starting off with the drums. Willow stared and turned off the other music again excited about hearing them live; even if they were missing 2 band members.
The room was full of golden sunlight and the music was low in the beginning. Oz weaved his pick through the familiar riffs of the song he wrote not so long ago. Wondering why the hell he hadn't played in so long. Thinking about the time he spent wandering through the forest wondering about things like territory in those parts. Then remembering the dreams he had had sleeping under the trees. About Sasha at first and then about Willow.
He forced his body to change back the pain rippled through his body 5 times the amount it was supposed to. The wolf fought back with viciousness. Knowing that going back would only bring on more mental torment.
But he had to if he didn't she would be in danger. When he finally finished the transformation he shook, all his human emotions coming back to the surface. Where the hell was he, how long had he been gone. Seeing out of his eyes had seemed so foreign the colours were different the contrast had changed. His body was like speaking a foreign language. There was nothing familiar in the forest anymore. It was so hard to breath.
Oz shook his head from the memories of the past and allowed them to melt away through his music. He glanced over at Jay who looked like he was thinking hard, and then at Willow who's eyes were shining as she watched him play, he gave her a smile and glanced over at Jay it was soon his cue for vocals.
He got up from the forest floor on wobbly legs, legs that hadn't been used in, well, he wasn't sure how long, his brain was still trying to process this new information. He closed his eyes as another spasim of pain shot through his body, flashes of the wolf pooled through his brain as he fought to stay in this form.
It took a while before he even remembered who he was as a man, and why he now was in a different form. He opened his eyes again and the light burnt his eyes and he let out a shuttering sigh.
He was cold. Colder then he was before he looked down and found his pale hairless body looking up at him. It was so funny, he thought suddenly. Why was he standing in a forest? How did he get here? Where were his clothes? Clothes, tee-shirts and stuff, they kept you warm. Another chill swept down his spine there was less pain now his breathing still shuttered but he was cold, and shaking.
He looked around again there was no one there, nothing before him but trees. Maybe he was looking for someone, someone with sympathetic eyes to tell him it was alright, not to be afraid. His brain kicked into action after that thought, he didn't deserve sympathy, not after what he did, after that it would never be all right. He would never be all right.
The song started and Oz was pulled out of thought as Jay's voice added to the noise, it quite at first but it got louder. He realized suddenly how fitting it would be for tonight and got absorbed.
Thanks readers! This should help explain chapters two and three. You all get gold stars, apologies again for the boring chap. The next one should be kick ass with excitement so it should make up for resent about the un happenings. PLEASE REVIEW! Tell me what you think. Flame me for all I care, ALL I WANT IS IMPUT! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!