Sorry sorry sorry sorry! I know I said I would update after the fourth review, BUT, life once again got the better of me and I was forced to put it off for more… erm academic things… My beta has been out of order again and I'm doing a co-author work with ShadowHawk, I'm also doing yoga and learning guitar on top of math, math tutoring and two hours of biology 11 homework a night. Now after all those excuses… here's your update after a few short messages…
DISCLAIMER: Nothing you recognize I own outside of this plot. I wish I did. I wish I could get this published and you all could buy a copy and keep it forever… BUT being the copy-writed characters they are, I cannot and will forever remain under the shadow of the creator… J.W. and Co. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME.
Big thanks to Evergreen-Baby for putting up with the nit-picking and pressure and annoying rambles of the insane author. HUGE thanks to the 'regular' reviewers, who I love so much! And the rest of the reviewers who reviewed so promptly after my taking this chapter for ransom… I got 5 reviews out of the 39 people who read the last chapter. A RECORD! Pat yourselves on the back and enjoy the chapter you all have earned!
Chapter 11: Pre-War Interlude.
The 'Summer's House' group ended up just there, in the middle of the Summer's living room. Everyone had gotten there safely except Jake whose cry of, "God! Why would someone put a coffee table here!" Had echoed off the silence of the house, Jay had snickered and got thwacked on the head by the back of Jake's hand.
Giles had made that annoying sound he tends to make when he's exasperated. It sounded somewhere between a snort and a sigh. Willow couldn't help but smile at Xander who covered up a laugh with the weirdest cough any of them had ever heard.
"Right, so we need to set about making random sounds as well as sealing this house up tight. I have some ideas, but anyone else have anything they would like to share?" Jay asked plunking himself on the couch. Willow nodded, she had been thinking about this all day and when no one else spoke up she did. "I can bewitch the pots and pans to go around and make random noises." She said grinning.
Jay nodded, "Me likey, it's simple and effective. There's another flaw in Oz's plan though, as much as I hate to point it out. We will be hearing the random loud noises as well, which will slow us down. Ideas?" Jay asked. "Ear plugs." Faith said shrugging.
"No. Can't do it. We need all our senses intact for the fighting or they could sneak up behind us and we wouldn't hear them." Jay decided. "I have a spell that could help with that." Willow said frowning, "Let me get my books." She added heading for the stairs. The room nodded, not really wanting to get in her way.
Willow rushed up the stairs, ignoring the smell of 'werewolf' as it now filled the house. Willow guessed they had searched the house once they found out where everyone had been staying. She guessed it hadn't been that hard to find the only people living in the city.
Quickly she walked through the hallway and through to her room. "Hello falta." A voice came from behind her, a female voice. It was coming from the bathroom. Willow's blood ran cold as the smell of werewolf suddenly got stronger and she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Willow, I'd take it. Interesting name." The voice sneered. "What are you doing in here?" Willow asked calmly, almost too calm. A tall woman stepped out of the bathroom to lean elegantly on the doorway. She was dressed in a silk red shirt, black pants and a pair of soft leather boots that reached the bottom of her knees. She had long black hair that curled slightly and fell to her waist, pale skin and gray eyes.
"Snooping" she shrugged, "What else. Waiting for you and your band of mischief-makers to make an appearance. It would seem my patience has paid off." She stated hotly. Upon seeing Willow's reaction she added, "Don't worry, the Civilized Wolves still have a place for you on the light side, all you have to do is ask." She stated in her elegant Spanish accent.
Willow glared. "And if I decline your request?" Willow asked. The woman's eyes flashed a bright yellow, "Well then you die with the rest of the mutts. Daniel has manipulated all of you, he is stronger than what we had thought before, and grief from his lost mate has blinded him." It took Willow a while to realized she was talking about Oz. She hadn't heard anyone call him Daniel, ever, he had told her that was his actual name but she always just assumed no one used it.
"You failed to mention his mate's death was your side's fault and that you are the one's being manipulated by the one hunter you all feared the most." Willow stated crossing her arms defiantly. "The one known as Blade has felt the call of the moon and has changed his killing ways. He now understands fully what it is like to be on the other side of a silver bullet. He has taught us much." She stated.
Willow snarled. "Changed his killing ways? What are you guys doing here then? Taking a vacation in the high school and inviting Buffy for tea and finger sandwiches? No, I don't think he changed his killing ways, I think he changed yours. Which is why your organization should be taught a lesson." Willow growled in a principally tone. This made her proud; she could apply her life with her current occupation.
"Oh, so you think you have the strength to deal with one of the C.W.'s you got nothing on me." The woman stated matter-of-factly. Willow frowned confused and the woman laughed. Anger bubbled below her surface and Willow brought her open hand across the woman's face leaving bloody streaks where her nails went over.
The woman gaped. "Now I have something on you." Willow said quietly. "How dare you!" The woman began, taking a step forward and drawing a long silver blade. Willow paled, only now realizing that bitch slapping the older werewolf may not have been the best choice for her.
The woman's face reddened and she glanced out at the sky, the sun was just about down, and they had about a half an hour. Blood dripped off of her scratched face and Willow watched with overwhelming unease as the wound healed in a matter of seconds. She seemed to be pulling strength from the coming moon. Willow followed her gut instinct and took a big step back. The hairs on the back of her neck raised and a shiver went down Willow's spine when she realized that the woman was growling so low only she could hear it.
"You little bitch." The woman hissed, her teeth grinding. Willow took another step back and kept her eyes just below the woman's eye level. She couldn't take anyone in a fight, that included a pissed off werewolf she didn't know, holding a long sharp silver sword. To her dismay she heard the sword move up swiftly to bring down a blow. "I think I will enjoy this, you and yours have done a hell of a lot to mess up a good operation. Although I don't understand why, we were at peace for a hundred years and then you decided you needed to go and ruin the system." She was rambling. Willow was backing away quicker now, then she hit something human shaped.
Jay's eyes were flashing as he pulled Willow behind him and putting himself between the two females. "Serena." He stated in a low growl. "Get out of here." He added holding up his own sword. "You. You were always an idiot Jayson, following Daniel and the mutt like a lost puppy, like the C.W.'s meant nothing to you! They raised you Jayson, they brought you back from the brink of death and insanity. They taught you how to defend yourself and the ways of the world. They sent you to medical school, you could have been a leader Jayson!" She exclaimed. Jay raised his hand and shook his head.
"Alright, alright, enough with the guilt trip. You obviously haven't heard the part where the monks only help themselves right? And the part where the mutt, you were referring to saved all of us from exposure to the human world as well as mass slaughter and the monks did nothing to save her from torture." Jay quirked an eyebrow and Serena raised her sword.
"Did I mention the part where I never liked you." Jay added, both swords came down with a deafening clang and they fought, it was so fast Willow could hardly make out the thin lines of blur that was their silver swords. "You're a jerk." Serena snarled. "But I'm a loveable jerk. Unlike you, who taught sword play like a fucking Nazi." Jay snarled back. The woman made a rough jab at Jay's stomach and he parried it. "I taught sword play the way I was taught swordplay, back when sometimes we couldn't eat for weeks." She slurred twisting her neck a little bit to knock the hair out of her eyes. "When you were taught sword play, Spain was being invaded by the French. Things change Serena, but apparently you don't." Jay said taking a sharp bold swing.
Serena ducked and Jay jumped over her, stooped down and she swung around, and stabbed her in the back. "That move wasn't around in the twelfth century." Jay stabbed the blade in further. "They won't come for your body, give you a proper funeral. You know it, they don't care, and you're just a pawn. It doesn't matter how noble you died for the cause, they won't come back for you." Jay said calmly, Serena was gasping for air now, Willow could tell it wouldn't be much longer. "Now you know how Sasha felt, how Oz felt. Betrayed by the group that promised to support them… Now who's the traitor?" Jay asked flinging her off his sword and into the wall.
Willow didn't realize she hadn't been breathing until Jay turned around and she felt her brain switch back on and took a sharp breath. She felt an arm on her shoulder and jumped. It was Xander, he gave her a shaky smile and she turned around to face the rest of the group. She hadn't even heard them enter. "Did she hurt you?" Jay asked very quietly, turning around and piercing her eyes with his, now serious, chestnut ones. Willow shook her head no. "I see you got her though." Jay commented, nodding towards the scratch marks on Serena's face. Willow nodded and crossed her arms around her cold, numb body.
"Who was she?" Willow asked after a while. Jay frowned, "She used to be swords master at the school. Evil bitch, even before we figured out they were all evil." Jay said nodding for Faith and Jake to take the body somewhere. Willow didn't see where cause she couldn't watch. She couldn't see werewolves as just another demon now, she didn't before but still she thought of them as a different species, now that she was the same as that body on the floor. Just like the one who had killed it. Then she realized that this was only the first of a whole army of werewolves… her… kind that would have to die by her hand, or close to her. Xander left the room and came back with her book.
Jay walked over to her and tried to grab both her hands, she kept hers limp. Tears had begun to form in the corners of her eyes and she could bring herself to make eye-contact with her good friend. "C'mon Willow, it's just me." He said softly, he used a soft knuckle to bring her chin up to look into his soft chocolate brown eyes.
Willow nodded, but more tears fell down her face. "I don't know if I can do this." Willow said in a voice barely above a whisper. Jay nodded, he knew the feeling, but glanced out the window instead of commenting. Willow followed his gaze to the on coming dusk. "You won't have to." He said truthfully. Willow let out a shaky sigh and nodded, she hated the idea, but she had no choice, she would have to change tonight, and then she wouldn't have any control. "Thanks…" She said finally. "For the rescue."
Jay nodded, "My pleasure. Come on, let's go help set up. It'll take your mind off things." Jay decided motioning towards the stairs. Xander came up beside her and pressed the leather bound book in her hands before placing his hands on her shoulders and giving her a comforting massage. They both watched Jay walk down the stairs, with his sword in hand. Xander rubbed the small of her back a second longer and Willow turned around and gave him a hug, leaving all the tear stains on his once dry shirt, before putting on a solid resolve face and followed Jay down the stairs, flanked by Xander who was slightly pale.
Buffy was lying in the back seat of somebody's jeep. Her head hurt like hell but she was awake and alive, which was more than she thought she would be after that night. The wolves had had their own way of punishment, but the big guy, Blade, was brutal. The pain she had felt in that room had been unbearable. But she didn't want to relive that at the moment. She couldn't. Instead she focused on who was in the jeep. Dawn was driving, fast, faster than she had ever driven herself. Then again, she never drove at all. Sunnydale was small, so most of the time there was no point.
Buffy moaned and a wave of nausea hit her but she swallowed it down. Preferring to ponder who the guy in the passenger's seat was. He had carried her to the jeep in the first place. Finally, she felt good enough to speak and did so. "Who are you?" she questioned quietly to the guy in the passengers seat. He turned away from Dawn who he had been staring at intently and turned to her. He offered her a small smile and held out his hand. "I'm Connor." He stated.
Buffy moaned again. "Your not a werewolf are you?" she asked weary of an answer. Connor chuckled, and ran a hand through his hair before pulling his hand back. "No, I'm not, guess you've seen your share of those lately." He added an eyebrow quirking. He head Buffy mumble something that sounded like, 'duh, understatement of the year.' Before she asked, "Who are you exactly and where did you come from?" Connor smiled a little bit, this slayer got right down to business. "I'm a friend of Oz and the band. Angel's son." He stated hoping she didn't hear the last part clearly, that was always a long and complicated story. Buffy just nodded too tired to care about much else except the fact that he was on their side.
Her next question took both people in the front seat by surprise. "Why the hell am I covered in baking soda?" she asked slightly confused. Dawn laughed, same old Buffy. "It covers up your scent." Dawn stated a small, relieved grin sliding across her face. It was Buffy's turned to cock an eyebrow and this time both people in the front seat laughed. "It's a long story." Connor added helpfully.
"Did you get that?" Jay asked looking up from his drum set and towards Jake who was on a laptop. He grinned and nodded and Jay was pleased. "That has to be the most random drum playing ever." Jay commented taking the earplugs out of his ears. "And it sounded disgusting!" Jake said popping an aspirin that Giles had just handed him. "And that's how it was supposed to sound. Faith did you find those speakers?" Giles asked Faith as she entered the room.
She nodded, "All hooked up and ready to go." Giles nodded, "Good. Jay would you mind triple wiring it for me so cutting one line won't turn the whole system off?" Giles asked turning back to Jay who had crossed the room and was leaning over Jake's shoulder at the computer. He looked up and grinned. "Good idea, I'll put one on each floor and come back up for the spell. You got some pliers?" He asked. Giles nodded towards a drawer in the kitchen and Jay was off.
Xander appeared out of the living room and announced the pots and pan spell was finished as well as an extra shield spell.
"Are you sure all these are going to work?" Jake asked cocking an eyebrow. Willow emerged out of living room and gave Jake a mock-severe look.
"You don't believe it worked?" She asked looking disappointed. A pot and pan duo raced over silently behind Jake, who was unaware and grumbling something about Willow having 'stupid werewolf hearing' and wasn't supposed to hear that.
Willow let this go on for a few seconds before flicking her hand and allowing the pot and pan to go off. They did and it made Jake jump and pull out a gun. Even Giles snickered. "I. Get. The. Picture." Jake said through his clenched teeth, whilst bashing away the relentless cookware.
Willow smiled lightly and commanded them to stop, the feeling was back with a vengeance and she could just as easily jumped out of her skin then smiled but, but she had to keep her mind off things some how.
Jay came back down the stairs wearing a scowl, "What the hell was that?" he asked tossing the pliers back to Giles. "That was a demonstration of magic." Willow stated.
Jay smiled, "Jake… did you get punked?" He asked crossing his arms. Jake said nothing instead got up and left the room looking grumpy. "So, the monks… You don't think they will get through the barrier too soon. I mean, I used the toughest one I have, but I've seen monks go through them before." Willow asked shifting uncomfortably.
Jay actually laughed, hard. Willow didn't know what to make of it but waited patiently, with confusion biting at her stomach, for Jay to finish. He did promptly, only for her sake, however. Everyone in the room was staring at him and waiting for an explanation. "They aren't really monks, in the 12th century they had to pose as monks in order to begin bringing wolves in from around the country without fear of prosecution. Back then most people believed in werewolves. So they pulled a Pistachio Disguiseo and took up the lifestyle. They never delved deeper than they had too, unless they got interested, and not many got interested. Most of them just did the Zen thing with aromatherapy and meditation, lots of meditation. Most of the time they just used the monk thing for the isolation to the human race." Jay said still smiling.
He shrugged at the looks he got. "I thought it was pretty brilliant." He added. "It is, and I'm glad you decided to tell us before we got into this." Faith said looking annoyed. Jay smiled. "Sorry guys, I didn't think it was relevant." Jay apologized. Xander nodded, "But what about the whole 'wax on wax off' thing you had happening upstairs?" Xander asked.
Jay nodded, "All the wolves got taught some kind of fighting, it helped with control and stamina. The Karate Kid thing was just the technique I chose. Not to mention it gave the monks something to do other than sit on their asses and meditate all day." Jay commented. Everyone nodded, it made sense but it didn't make them feel any better knowing all their new opponents were trained, so they got back to business. Willow herded the group into the living room to do one last spell.
Anya paced the house once again, she had made tea; twice. Paced the house eighteen times and was in the process of using Mrs. Harris's juicer to juice everything in the fridge.
She couldn't help but feel anxious. The Sunny Dale Crew had never fought without Buffy, she wasn't even sure if Buffy was alive. She didn't even get to say thank you for saving her all the time.
Anya took a sip of her tea and stuck another couple of eggs in the juicer with a bored look on her face. She took slight enjoyment out the crunch and chunks that was produced by the tiny infomercial, three payments of $19.99, machine. So far the rest of Willow's fruit basket, half a cucumber, a five pound sack of potatoes, two apples, some leftover meat loaf, a cardboard-like piece of what she thought was green pepper pizza and the piece of apple pie Spike had written his name on, were now among the eggs in the large pitcher she had sitting in front of her.
When she heard the jeep drive up she almost ran full out to the door. By the time she had swung open the heavy oak door they had the engine stopped she was out the door and pressing her nose against the passenger side window of the red jeep. Connor opened the door and cocked an eyebrow at her. "Anxious or bored?" he asked. "Both actually. How is she, did you guys make it out okay?" Anya asked. "Well obviously we made it out ok." Dawn commented getting out of the jeep and walking around to the back to help Buffy out. Connor followed and they both helped a very conscious Buffy out of the back.
"Anya you have chunks of… something on your shirt." Buffy commented as she passed Anya on the way into the house. Anya glanced down and her brow furrowed, there on her favorite black shirt were chunks of the eggs she had just 'juiced.'
"It's egg, I was making juice." Anya commented as she held open the door. "You normally put eggs in your juice?" Connor asked. Anya just shrugged, "I had nothing better to do." Anya commented leading them into the bathroom and motioning for them to help Buffy onto the counter. "And your letting her stitch Buffy up?" Connor asked Dawn. Dawn nodded, "She knows what she's doing." She stated knowingly. She glanced over at Anya who had just taken off Buffy's shirt to check for other injuries. "Not this time she doesn't." Anya said shaking her head, "I'm not even sure how she's conscious. We need to call Jake." Anya said heading for the phone.
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked slowly as she took a step through the doorway. "She didn't look that bad, I mean yeah, she had that cut and those bruises on her head but she could walk okay." Dawn added watching Anya rush to the phone, significantly paler than before. Dawn took another few cautious steps forward, wondering if she really wanted to see what was on the other side. Buffy was sitting on the counter in only her bra.
She was fine except that there was a huge gash running from just below her bra to just above her bellybutton. It looked like the skin had been burnt off by something large and it had started to bleed again as all the movement had opened the wound once again. Dawn couldn't get over how big it was. Black bruises covered her ribcage so dark they didn't even look like skin anymore. Dawn moved her line of vision up to Buffy's face. She gave her a weak smile. "I'm okay Dawnie, it doesn't hurt much anymore. Thanks for the rescue." Buffy reassured her. It didn't help, Dawn felt tears stinging the back of her eyes.
It was about time, Willow had about five minutes of dusk left before the moon came out for it's final phase. She was exhausted, all those spells had taken a lot out of her but at least now she was slightly re-assured about the safety of her friends. The earth spells she had used that day didn't suck her energy as most spells did, but she used energy channeled from the earth and used her body as a tunicate. The powerful spells she had used that day had taken some energy from her as well. All that power seemed to have made the beast inside her hungry for more; and she wasn't talking about the wolf either. It took her long moments to get used to not having all that power flowing through her.
Luckily enough though, she knew she would recover as she always did. Maybe the best part was the magic hadn't seemed to affect the wolf inside of her at all. This was a large relief considering she wasn't sure how it would react. Right now that made no difference.
She was back in her regular bedroom, surrounded by pictures of her friends. Dark orange light pooled over her as she sat on the bed, and waited until it was time to enter the cage in the basement. Her heart was so heavy it was hard to take the next breath. Her thoughts pushed down on top of her and crushed her like an avalanche. After she was the wolf she couldn't do anything else to help them, any of them, she could even hurt them. What if she hurt Xander? How was she supposed to face them after they see what she becomes?
Silent tears fell down her pale cheeks and she shuddered. She wondered what was taking Oz, she didn't want to have to change with Xander in the room, she didn't think she could bare the look on his face when he saw what she became. Her whole body was shaking now, like it did every time the wolf tore out of her skin and came to the surface of her mind. Pins and needles ran up and down her legs and behind her knees and elbows.
Her senses heightened and she could hear everything happening in the house, Jay and Xander were heading towards her room and she stood to open the door before they could knock and swung it open. Jay grinned at her and gave her a wink and Xander cocked an eyebrow questioningly at her. She blushed slightly and motioned for them to lead her into the basement.
Both men immediately sobered and each reached out for a hug. Which Willow took.
Jake ran down the stairs, just about tripping on the way down, his cell phone still in hand although all you could hear from the receiver was dial tone. Cursing as he tripped on the second last step. He rounded the corner and slid on the linoleum floor with his white socks. Giles looked up at him and raised an eyebrow from the kitchen table.
"Where's Jay?" Jake asked dropping his phone on the counter. Giles frowned "The basement why?" He asked, then he noticed his phone and caught on, concern crossed over his face and he let out a big sigh. "How bad is it?" he asked. "I don't know, she only said to get over there. They might have tapped the city phone lines." Jake said heading out of the kitchen and to the basement. Giles sighed and took a sip of his tea a worried crease across his forehead, and then he collapsed his head in both his hands.
Jake only saw that much before he rounded the corned and skidded down the stairs, face first into a closed door. Then he knocked, exasperated, he hated being messenger boy. The mumbling voices behind the door stopped and he heard the doorknob being turned, "Jay!" Jake yelled, "Hurry up they need you down at house number one!" he called through the door. He heard a muffled, "Shit." And the door swung open so that he was face to face with his slightly taller friend.
"Gimme a few seconds ok? Or Xander may need me more than Buffy." Jay spoke through his teeth. Jake nodded and got the door slammed back into his face. Just what he needed, he thought taking a few steps back and taking a seat on one of the steps.
"Don't, under any circumstances, look her in the eye, watch when she's in the middle of changing, or touch her at all. Keep her in the cage until either, Oz or I get here. Don't under any circumstances let her out. She has little or no control and she will kill you. Especially when she wakes up after a change in a cage instead of a nice calm forest and with the sounds and smells of fear around her. When she is the wolf, she is not Willow, but a wild and strong animal." Jay was pressing upon Xander in a tone Jake had only heard him use once before. It was a cross between stern teacher and angry cop; Jake was impressed that Jay could even handle that tone with so much seriousness.
"Got it Xander? I know you've seen Oz change before, but you have to realize that it's much different when you see someone you love go through so much pain. Just keep in mind that it's not her. You're there strictly for moral support, Willow needs you and loves you, and the wolf will sense that and calm down a little bit. The most important thing you need to do is stay calm and do what I said. I need to go, stay safe guys. Oz should be here soon." Jay finished in a softer tone before opening the door and slipping through the doorway. Jake stood and searched Jay's face, he didn't look happy about this at all.
Jay met Jake's gaze and scowled, "I hate leaving them here like this." He stated bitterly. Jake nodded, "But someone needs you more right now, lets go." He said nodding. Jay nodded back and felt that familiar tug of Jake's flash as he was transported to Xander's house.
Oz and Spike were both running towards the house, they were about ten minutes away at the rate they were going as they ran down the middle of the road. Oz could feel the pull of the moon and only quickened his pace. He couldn't leave Willow alone for this, he wouldn't allow himself to, every time he thought about her all he could see was her wolf backed into the corner of the cage. He remembered his time in the cage and shuddered. He did not want to see her that way... ever.
His lungs were collapsing from the pressure of the long run. He wasn't going as fast as he could have been considering Spike was already running full out and could barely match him. It was probably a good thing; Oz didn't think he could take anymore pain without passing out. His chest was already working as hard as it could so he didn't pass out. Stabbing pain shot through his chest and seemed to be going into his heart. His breaths came out in heavy wheezes.
Spike turned to him and asked something in English, Oz knew automatically it had something to do with stopping and growled, not bothering to translate it into English before quickening his pace even more, it was killing him inside, but he needed to get to Willow, they had a little more than five blocks ahead of them and he could hear something that sounded like pure noise. It was excruciating and the wolf tried to change his course to get away from the sound, but he kept it in check. Jay had the whole house wired for sound and even though it gave away their position, which the C.W.s already knew about anyways, it was brilliant.
Finally, he spotted the source of the unforgiving noise and slowed down ever so slightly to let Spike catch up. He didn't look like he was taking the noise very well either and had both hands over his ears as he ran. He was yelling something Oz could only take as the few choice words for the noise he had in his own head.
Apparently, someone else heard Spike too cause Faith was running out to them from the house and stopped right in front of them. Spike started off on some sort of swearing escapade and Faith said something and gave Spike an Oreo. She inclined her head in Oz's direction and Spike nodded, she tossed Oz a cookie too. Oz was to tired to argue with the fact that there was no logic in running all the way out there to feed them cookies, caught the thing in mid air, and swallowed anyways. He was too busy heading towards Willow's scent to worry about un-logical cookies.
Then he realized he couldn't hear the noises coming from the house anymore, and was slightly impressed but mostly relieved. He took in another sharp intake of air and started off towards the house again. Faith followed behind him with Spike, and he burst through the still open door.
Oz ran full out the basement where he heard Willow crying, fear flowed from the room and filled the house with unease. Which was good considering what was going to happen next. Giles was looking scared as he stared at the gigantic wolf in front of him. Oz snorted and motioned for him to open the door not wanting to waste anymore time. He had to get to Willow.
Spike came up behind him and nodded at Giles who open the door, who did so very cautiously.
Willow sat alone in the cage; Jay had been nice enough to bring her a blanket, which was now draped over her… more private areas. She was shaking uncontrollably, partly because of the change, but also because she was scared about how Xander would react. All she wanted now was to be alone, but not. She didn't know if she could stand being all alone in a cage. Xander was watching her, he was trying very hard to look ok, like he wasn't scared shitless; but Willow knew the contrary.
Not only did she know him better to see through his façade, but; she could also hear his heart thumping around in his ribcage like a cornered woodpecker. It was a very tense silence between the two, Willow was too uncomfortable to say anything and Xander wasn't sure what to say to make her feel better, for once. This saddened Willow even deeper. She only knew that there was only one person in the world that would make her feel more comfortable than Xander at the moment, and he wasn't present.
It was Oz, with him, she couldn't help but feel completely at ease, and his demeanor just automatically calmed her down. She couldn't help but yearn for his touch, his calm eyes and his supportive smile. She was so scared; she couldn't help but be so, sitting in a dark corner waiting to change into a carnivorous monster, with her best friend sitting in the room. The change began all at once and slow at the same time.
Tears streamed down Willows face, she couldn't do this with Xander in the room. She couldn't help it. She wanted to scream for him to leave, her heart was pounding in her chest, not only because of the change but because she didn't want him to see her like this. She was sobbing now, it was scaring Xander even more now.
"Xander..." she started, her voice shaky. She was just about to tell him to leave the room when a large amber wolf jumped through the door and motioned for Xander to get out the best he could, which Xander did almost happily as he closed the door behind him.
Willow had never been so relieved to see a bloodthirsty werewolf in her entire life. She couldn't help but think she would be okay now. He had survived, he was okay and he was here for here. After the door closed he went over to her and snuffled quietly and then retreated to another corner of the room and turned his back on her to give her some privacy, and himself some time to rest.
His breathing was so labored she felt a pang of guilt before the pain of the change took over her and instead of crying she was screaming. Oz made whimpering sounds but made no move to look at her or go near her. He knew better than that and he didn't think he could move another inch if he didn't. His whole body was racked with pain and his chest was on fire more than he had ever felt it before.
Jay finished stitching up Buffy's stomach and looked around at the people in the room. Buffy seemed ok after he gave her something for the pain and now he had to work on her broken ribs. There were at least five and Jay could only imagine what had happened for them all to be broken. He was amazed at how brave she was, she hadn't flinched once and was now looking down at him expectantly so he decided to give her a status report.
"You might get a bit of a scar on your torso but the wound should heal alright. Your ribs are another story, those will take a few months to heal and you might need some surgery depending on how bad it is." Jay said taking as he put away the stitches and took out some gauze to cover the stitches. Buffy nodded. "No surgery." She said quietly. Jay shook his head, "I can re-position them here but it will be really painful; like bad opera painful. It's probably better if I just wrapped you up and got you to a hospital." Jay said seriously as he applied antibacterial cream to the stitches.
"No surgery." Buffy repeated, "Do it now, I can't go to the hospital." Buffy explained. Jay cocked an eyebrow. "It's not like you have anything to hide Buffy, blood tests are ok for you, your blood is human." Jay said seriously as he pulled a hand through his hair. "You don't understand, I hate hospitals, do it now. Here. I need to be here for everyone. Once you bandage me up I'm going with you guys to the battle." Buffy stated stubbornly.
"You shouldn't be fighting with broken ribs." Jay warned. Buffy glared and Jay backed off, "Fine, do what you want, don't listen to the doctor who knows best, might as well... Just like everyone else I treat." Jay grumbled. Buffy smiled, "Maybe next time." She decided frowning. Jay sighed and got out some more stretchy nylon. "I warned you this will hurt, so don't hate me afterwards. Even if your calling for morphine afterwards; which I don't have with me considering we kind of left the cabin in a hurry." Jay warned waggling a finger in her direction.
Buffy nodded, "Never crossed my mind." She stated. "Or slay me. You can't slay me, I know you have the whole title and birthright but I'm a werewolf, and I am really, really, strong." Jay warned. Buffy laughed, "You keep talking like that wolf boy and I just might have to slay you." She warned. Jay winked at her "We might have to try that out one day." He commented smugly.
Buffy smacked him, "Ouch… ok, ok, no maybe slaying. I'll be a good boy." Jay backed off. "Good, now, Fix my ribs and let's go. Times wasting." Buffy commented crossing her arms. "Persistent aren't you? Take off your shirt again; lets get this over with." Jay said seriously, then he snorted; "Innuendo, I promise." He added glancing over at Buffy who was laughing and trying not to flinch in the process. "Right…" She managed before she pulled off her shirt once again.
Connor walked into the room and frowned. "How long is this going to take?" He asked. Jay frowned, "It depends how bad the breaks are. Get Jake to flash you, Dawn and Anya down to the Summers house if you need something to do." Jay said frowning with concentration. Buffy winced. "Ask him nice though. He can get grouchy before a fight." Jay cautioned pointing to his nose discreetly. Connor snorted and left the room.
"Who the hell is that guy? He reminds me so much of someone." Buffy asked with a frown, Jay had some sweat on his face as he tried to straighten up the second rib. Buffy flinched and let out a little scream. "Sorry…" Jay mumbled. Buffy just straightened again and held her hands over her head.
Jay straightened and took a few deep breaths; he had always hated this part in Med. school. "He's closer to you than you might figure, but I'll let you ask him later." Jay said smugly before going in to straighten the third one. Buffy just rolled her eyes. "Cryptic much?" She asked gritting her teeth and waiting for the mind numbing pain to come once again.
Spike sighed and headed towards the kitchen, followed closely by Faith who kept glancing up at him with a questioning look on her face. Spike strolled into the kitchen and glanced at Giles who was at the kitchen table sipping tea and then Xander who gave him a questioning glance.
The room was dead silent for a moment and it seemed like some people didn't even breathe, it was so still. Spike lit a cigarette from his baking soda covered pocket and glanced around the room. Giles was giving him a severe look, like the kind of look his father used to give him when he had come home drunk. Sighing again he took a long drag before looking around the room again.
"She's alright, a little bashed up but she's okay. Dawn and Connor brought he back and I'm guessing called Jake and the Doc." Spike explained quietly. He then proceeded to wipe off his duster, creating a white cloud of baking soda that filled the room.
The room nodded. "The wolves had our scent by the time we got abut half way here. I'm guessing we have about twenty minutes before we start to see the first of them ere." He added glancing around again. The room nodded again and then was silent. Spike took another drag. "Was she conscious?" Xander croaked from the other side of the kitchen. He seemed paler than usual.
Spike nodded and jumped up onto the counter. "Yeah, barely for a while there, but she seemed okay."
"Twenty minutes huh?" Faith asked lighting a cigarette of her own. Spike nodded affirmative. Faith cracked her knuckles, "Let's suit up then." She commented putting her cigarette out on a dirty plate and strode out of the room.
Giles glanced over at Spike who put his own, now spent smoke, onto the plate beside Faiths. "I really wish you two wouldn't do that." He commented before taking a sip of tea. "Get bent Ripper." Spike commented leaving the room.
Giles made the 'exasperated noise' again, and glanced over at Xander who shrugged, but a smile was quirking on his face, the noise got louder… Xander had to leave the room. Wishing either of his female friends had been there to witness the monster of all exasperated Giles's.
FIGHTING NEXT CHAPTER! I PROMISE. I love the next chapter and it's not even finished yet! Be excited guys, it's gonna be good. No ransom this time as there isn't too much to say about it. I might however, give the next one a ransom. 10 reviews maybe? I'll think about it. Other than that, we'll see how long it takes me to update… hopefully not too long… Peace!
W-B-D:)