TITLE: RAGING MOON
DISCLAIMER & NOTES IN PREVIOUS PARTS.
A/N: THANK YOU SO SO MUCH TO EACH AND EVERYONE WHO SENT FEEDBACK!
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
SUNNYDALE
Buffy was feeling pretty low and down in the dumps. She was sure the pregnancy wasn't the only reason she felt like that. Placing her hand over her belly she tried to feel the life growing inside of her. A life she and Angelus had created together. Buffy could not help but smile at the thought. The fetus was still very small, it didn't even look like a baby yet, but she felt a strong sense of connection with the entity growing inside her.
It was no secret that she had always wanted a child of her own. Morgan and Cooper were the first children she could really interact with and she loved every second of it. Alyssa and Lark always got this certain look in their eyes when their kids were around them and she now knew what it was -Unconditional love. What proud parents they were. Buffy admired them very much.
She hated that she couldn't share this with Angelus. Why did Angelus have to lie to her about Darla? Why did it have to happen now? Try as she might she could not get those thought from her mind. Buffy knew she couldn't carry on like this. She had to be strong now, for her unborn baby and for herself.
The future of her baby was more important now than her own feelings. She knew she had to tell Angelus, he deserved to know. What he chose to do with the information was up to him. She decided she would call Angelus later. What she would say to him she didn't know yet but figured she would know what to say when the time came.
Buffy's entire body was feeling achy en tense, probably because she hadn't transformed for a while. Scribbling a quick note to Faith, she said she was heading out for a few hours, she placed it on the kitchen table and took her coat.
She needed a good run in the woods to relieve the tension in her body and ease the stress. Excitement raced in her blood as she walked the short distance to the park. Looking around for any bystanders or witnesses, Buffy was relieved to see that no-one was around. Buffy moved into the shadows and removed her clothes. She placed them under a thick bush and let the change take over her body.
As soon as he landed on her four paws Buffy felt her body come to life once again. Her bones stretched out and she welcomed the feeling. Shaking out her shiny coat she didn't waste any time taking off in a quick run around the woods.
Because of the life that was growing inside her Buffy took it easy. As she didn't have much information about wolf pregnancies, she decided not to push her body too far. Alyssa had told her she had transformed up until six months when she had been pregnant with both her children. Buffy wasn't that far along yet but she didn't want to take any chances.
Buffy had been waltzing around for more than an hour when she felt a bit tired and decided to drink from a nearby pond. It was dark out but her eyes saw perfectly. The full moon cast a bright glow over the pond and it was a great sight to behold. After taking a few sips of water, Buffy leisurely strolled around. It felt great being in her wolf form again. When she was like this, she always appreciated nature more. Looking at everything around her Buffy tried to memorize every tree and flower.
These woods had been her playground for a while and she was glad to be back here again. Luckily not much has changed in the few months she had been away. The trees were tall and the flowers blooming wonderfully.
She couldn't help but compare the woods here to the one she had been roaming in L.A. for the better part of two years. Sunnydale's woods weren't nearly as big and private as the one in L.A. Where she was totally at ease in the woods in L.A, here she felt less protected and a bit unsure of her surroundings. This wood was nowhere as big as the one back home but it had served her very well and for that she was very grateful.
A sudden wind rose up and Buffy felt the chill through her thick fur. Suddenly an unfamiliar scent penetrated her nostrils and her fur stood on end. The scent was thick and musky, it smelled of dirt and …antiseptic soap? Was that even a smell? Glancing around her, she saw nothing but darkness. A sense of dread crept into her stomach and she turned and trotted back in the direction of the bush where she had stashed her clothing.
Risking a glance over her shoulder again she was relieved to see nothing was following her. As her gaze settled in front of her again she stopped dead in her tracks.
A few yards in front of her stood a large wolf. He looked menacing with his dark brown coat and his ears pulled back. His lips were pulled back exposing his sharp teeth while foam dripped from his mouth corners. Clearly this wolf was not a happy camper.
Looking at him Buffy knew this wasn't going to end well. This wolf looked nothing like the pack back home in L.A. Where Angelus and the other males of his pack were fully muscled with large paws and shiny coats, this wolf appeared mangy and worn down. His tail had very little hair covering it and his coat was long and shaggy. He appeared gaunt and somewhat dirty.
Instinctively Buffy knew this wolf was not upset over her being in his territory. Somehow she felt she had to know this wolf for some reason. He seemed somewhat familiar in a disturbing way.
The brown wolf slowly started making his way over to Buffy, growling all the while. It suddenly hit Buffy right at that moment…this was the wolf that had attacked her that night, this was the wolf that changed her.
Blinding fear snapped her into action. Before the wolf could come any closer Buffy bolted back into the dark woods. The darker wolf was momentarily stunned at her sudden retreat but dashed after her as soon as he gathered his bearings. With a fierce growl he ran after Buffy.
Buffy heard the growl erupt from his throat and forced her legs to propel her faster away from him. This wolf was after her and it was not to make friends or apologize for what he had done to her. There was no way she would give in without a fight. Not only for her sake but for her unborn child's as well.
She dashed behind trees and debris, trying to shake the wolf off but she was not so lucky tonight. Buffy knew these woods like the back of her hand and she believed he did also. To her relief a familiar fallen oak tree could be seen a few yards in front of her.
The tree was very old and had huge roots sticking out everywhere. Once she had inspected the tree close up and found that she could easily fit underneath it to a small 'cave' in the ground. If she could just make it to there then she would be ok. The other wolf would never be able to fit underneath.
Buffy made the mistake to glance back and see how far he was behind her. In the few seconds she looked back over her shoulder, the wolf charged forward and leapt at her. His teeth caught her in the left side of her neck and he bit down with force, effectively taking her down to the ground.
As soon as he felt her flesh in his mouth he pulled and swung her, the momentum and the strength in his bite threw Buffy a couple of feet from him and she landed in a tangle of limbs. He dived at her as soon as she hit the ground, trapping her body by stepping on her hind paws. She whined in protest at the added weight but he didn't let up, just stared down at her.
The breath was knocked out of her with such force she had trouble breathing. Blood ran down her chest and leg where he bit her and she felt dizzy from the knock she took as she hit the ground. She tried getting up but she could not muster the energy to lift herself up. No matter how many breaths she took she could not get enough air into her lungs.
She felt helpless and defeated as the brown wolf sniffed at her. Buffy tried her best not to shy away and show her fear. He then stepped back, releasing her from his painful grasp and to her amazement he transformed back to his human form.
Buffy couldn't believe her eyes, she closed them and opened them again but he still stood before her. Ben Weber…the doctor from Sunnydale general hospital? But how…? He was supposed to be helping people, not attacking them.
"You look so surprised my dear. I guess that can be expected." Ben said as he circled her.
Buffy felt like she should be polite close her eyes at his nudity but he seemed unfazed. He seemed smug and gleeful as he moved around her naked.
"You must be wondering why? I can just see all the questions running around in that pretty little head of yours." Ben tiled his head as he spoke to her.
Buffy could do nothing but stare back at him.
"See it's a funny story. Ever since the first time I saw you I've wanted you. But you never seemed to notice me. You were always too busy with your stupid friends and that bastard boyfriend of yours to notice me." Ben laughed sarcastically.
"I went out of my way to be nice to you, to try and get your attention but it never worked. So I figured the best way to get you to notice me was to make you come to me. I must say, I unfortunately lost control of myself that night I attacked you. I had it all planed out but that fell through when those idiot's pulled you through the fence. But they got what was coming to them soon after."
Buffy felt her heart sink at the revelation. She had read in the news shortly after her attack that one of the guys that helped her went missing. She never would have thought Ben got to him out of revenge.
"So anyway, after they took you from me I rushed back to the hospital to be there in time when you arrived. I treated you that night. I didn't realize how much damage I had done until I saw you on my table. I felt horrible, it wasn't supposed to go down like that. I never meant to scar your beautiful body.
The next day you woke up, you thanked me with such kindness in your voice and at that moment I knew I had done the right thing. I figured it would only be a matter of time before you came to me. And to my utter joy, your boyfriend dumped you not long after. I seemed like everything was falling into place."
Buffy dragged air into her lungs, feeling herself regain some control over her body. Anger was a great motivator and it was the only emotion she felt at that moment. Had this man never thought what he had done to her? He didn't even feel bad about brutally attacking her. He felt no remorse over anything he had done.
"But then the bomb went off. You left Sunnydale and I couldn't find you. I tried everything to find you but no-one knew where you went. That bitch friend Faith refused to talk to me. I'd have killed her if I had the change but it seems she's very safety conscious. Don't you worry, her time will come.
You must know how overjoyed I felt when I heard you were back in town. I figured it would only be a matter of time before you would go for a run and then I would find you. I'm so glad you realized that you belong to me Buffy. I only wish you had come to me sooner." Ben grinned down at her.
Buffy felt repulsed, Ben was clearly delusional and he belonged in a mental institute. Ben kneeled before her, lifted his hand to place it gently on her fur. She used his distraction to her advantage and leapt out from under him and bolted to the tree.
Ben was still in his human for and he would never be able to catch her. Better yet, it would take him a few seconds to change back to his wolf form and by then she would be in the safety of the tree. He may be a doctor but he was a fool for thinking she would give in so easily.
"NO!" Ben screamed at he tried to run after her. She could smell the anger radiating off him. Within the next few seconds he transformed again but Buffy was hidden safely out of his reach under the tree. She didn't risk changing back to her human form in case she needed to make a run for it again.
Ben slammed into the tree trunk and tried to fit through the small entrance. Buffy heaved a sigh of relief when he didn't fit. He franticly clawed at her but he came up short. Buffy was leaning far away from him into the hollowness of the tree. He growled and scratched but nothing happened.
The only problem now was getting past him. Ben would probably not leave her there and she couldn't stay in there forever. Either way, she didn't have a lot of options. Where were Angelus and Gunn when you needed them? She left a note for Faith and when she didn't return Faith would get worried. Hopefully she would call the police and not come looking for her alone.
Ben had been trying for almost an hour to get to her. Buffy was feeling scared and exhausted and didn't know how much longer they would be there. She whimpered as she tried to get into a more comfortable position. Her legs were cramping from being in one position for too long. If she needed to run now she wouldn't make it very far.
Ben had stopped trying to claw at her, now he was just circling the tree like a caged animal. Buffy glanced at him, trying to see if she could slip past him, but there was no way she was getting away from him so easily. He watched her like a hawk.
After a while he walked back a few paces and started smelling around, he moved off to the side and Buffy couldn't see him anymore. She listened to him move around but stayed where she was.
Suddenly there was a fierce growl and sounds of shuffling. Buffy jolted at the sound but was too scared to move forward and poke her head out to see what was happening.
####
Angelus wanted to pull the hair from his sculp. He was driving way over the legal speed limit but it felt like he was moving slower than a snail. Every second away from Buffy was a second too long. He just hoped Buffy didn't refuse to see him or send him away.
After a few more minutes he arrived in Sunnydale and felt relieved to see the building coming into sight. Angelus didn't know where Faith lived but luckily for him, Gunn knew and forwarded him her address. Once again he was very grateful for the tracking device installed in Buffy's car. He didn't want to take any chances with her safety and had the device installed before he gave the car to her.
Stopping in front of Faith's apartment, he bolted from the car and didn't even bother closing his door. Before he even knocked on the door he knew there was no-one home. Walking briskly back to his car, he shut the door and locked the car.
He remembered Buffy telling him that she had always gone to the nearby woods to change and walk around there. It was in walking distance from him so he took off at a brisk pace and scanned everything as he walked.
Angelus got to the woods in a matter of minutes. It seemed dark and deserted, he was just about to turn around when he smelled Buffy's scent lingering in the air. He jogged to a nearby bush where her scent was the strongest and found her clothes folded in a neat pile, just like she always placed it.
He looked deeper into the woods and gave the air a light sniff, trying to find her. A rich scent filled his nostrils…blood…not just any blood, it was Buffy's. He'd know her scent anywhere. His entire body went ice cold with fear as he also smelled another wolf.
Clothes littered the ground as he took off in a dead run, his body changing into his wolf from within seconds. His vision turned red with rage. The sight that met him made his heart skip a beat. Up ahead he could see a dark brown wolf circle a large tree. Blood stained the ground at what appeared to be an entrance below the tree.
Buffy was trapped underneath the tree and she was bleeding. Angelus let out a mighty growl as he attacked the wolf who had attacked her. Angelus slammed his larger body full force into the other wolf. They tumbled to the ground and the wolf yelped in pain. He paid it no mind as he landed on top of him and bit into his exposed neck.
Another whimper escaped him as blood started running from the wound. Angelus had no mind of what he was doing, he just tore into the wolf with abandon. Rage and fear drove him forward. Buffy could already be dead and he would make sure the creature would suffer horribly.
Ben tried to bite at the wolf that attacked him but could not get a decent bite on him. It was obvious the black wolf had the upper hand and Ben felt fear creep into his heart as he realized he didn't stand a chance against the stronger wolf.
Angelus had him on the ground and under him in no time. The urge to kill him for what he had done was overwhelming but Angelus had to make sure Buffy was alright. Angelus sent out a sharp mental blast and it knocked the wolf out cold.
Angelus wasted not getting to the tree. The entrance was big but not big enough for him to fit through. Bending down and sniffing at the entrance, he was startled when a cold wet nose pressed against his. Relief flooded his body as he took a few steps to allow Buffy to crawl out.
Buffy didn't know what had happened but she could smell Angelus' scent. When he poked his nose into the entrance, she crawled closer and pressed hers against his. Attentively she crawled out of her hiding place.
Angelus stood a few feet away, studying her every move. Buffy gave a cautionary glance at Ben lying unconscious on the ground as if trying to make sure he wouldn't get up. Once she laid eyes on Angelus again she flung herself at him, relief and exhaustion flooding her body.
She nuzzled into his warm fur and closed her eyes. Strong arms surrounded her and she saw that he had changed them both back to their human forms.
"God Buffy, are you okay?" Angelus was frantic as he ran his hands all over her naked body. When his hands came in contact with her neck she flinched at his touch. "That son of a … I should kill him in his sleep." His hand was covered in Buffy's blood as he pulled it away from her.
Buffy didn't reply, just threw herself at him again and wrapped her arms around him. "I was so scared, I thought I wouldn't…see you again…" She couldn't finish her sentence as tears started running from her eyes.
Angelus held her tighter against him "It's ok, you're going to be ok my love." Nothing he said made her stop crying. Buffy had no idea how long they sat in the woods and she didn't care. Angelus was with her and she was safe.
Suddenly she thought of her unborn baby. Ben had flung her around and her entire body ached all over from the beating she endured. Her hands started shaking and she had trouble standing. Luckily Angelus scooped her up before she hit the ground. "Hospital…"
"What? Baby, what's going on?" Her face had gone pale and Angelus started worrying anew.
"I have to get to the hospital, please. I have…now…I have to get there now…" She was starting to get frantic and Angelus had trouble keeping his grip on her as she squirmed around.
Buffy didn't know how it happened but suddenly Gunn, Groo, Lark and Forrest were next to them. Gunn moved to the fallen body of Ben while Lark handed Angelus a blanket and his clothes. Lark took her from Angelus and started running with her towards the car, Angelus was on his heels as he pulled his clothes on in the process.
They were in the car and Angelus had her dressed within seconds, right as they stopped at the hospital. Angelus hoisted her back into his arms and ran to the closest nurse. Buffy was quickly taken into an examination room where they started treating her shoulder and other injuries.
Angelus loomed over them but an elderly nurse ushered him from the room. Angelus protested but she was stern and he finally relented.
"The baby…" Buffy sputtered, unable to form word in her shocked state.
'What my dear?" The friendly old nurse asked when she came back to Buffy's side after leaving Angelus to wait in the waiting room.
"I'm pregnant…I fell… my baby…" The nurse quickly sprang into action. She alerted the doctor and he immediately set out to see if the baby was ok. After a sonogram confirmed that the baby was perfectly fine, Buffy's body started to relax.
The doctor assured her she would be fine but needed to stay overnight for observation. He administered some pain medication via a drip and Buffy's eyes soon fell shut in utter exhaustion.
####
SUNNYDALE GENERAL HOSPITAL
Angelus was pacing like a caged animal. The doctors had ushered him from Buffy's room more than 40 minutes ago and he was still waiting to hear what was going on. The door to Buffy's room opened and he rushed to the doctor.
"Is she okay?" Angelus rushed out. When the doctor gave him a skeptical glance he felt like shaking the man and prying an answer from him.
Seeing the worried look on the younger man's face, "Are you her husband?" he questioned. The doctor could not just share information about patients to anyone, it had to be family.
"I'm her fiancé. Is she going to be ok?" Angelus didn't care about their policies and he was going to cause one hell of a scene if this doctor didn't tell him what he wanted to know.
"Yes she's resting now. We treated the wound on her neck and shoulder and the other bruises were minor injuries and will heal in time. We gave her some pain medication and a relaxing agent, she should be awake tomorrow morning. You don't have to worry sir. She's doing fine, they both are." The doctor was pleased that he could give the man some reassuring news.
"I'm sorry, both? What do you mean by both?" Angelus couldn't understand what the doctor was saying.
"The baby of course…" When he saw the stunned look on Angelus' face he stopped talking. Obviously he didn't know about the young woman's pregnancy. He knew he obviously spoiled the surprise and fell bad about it.
"She's…pregnant?" Angelus' voice had gone hoarse from the shock as he stared wide eyes at the man before him.
"Yes, she's about seven weeks along. You didn't know?" When Angelus shook his head the doctor felt bad for giving him the news under such dire consequences.
"You can go in and sit with her. She's sleeping now and I must stress how important it is that she must not be disturbed. One visitor at a time so you're friends will have to wait their turns outside." The doctor indicated to the three large men standing behind him.
Angelus glanced over his shoulder as if seeing his pack members for the first time. His body was in total shock as he walked into Buffy's room. Her eyes were closed and she looked very peaceful. Taking her pale hand in his he brought it to his lips and kissed her softly. Angelus stayed with her like that the entire night.
####
Gunn stood up and stretched his legs for the umpteenth time that night. He and the other members of the pack were waiting outside Buffy's hospital room. Lark had fallen asleep in a very awkward position and Gunn guessed it was only a matter of time before he either fell out of the chair or it broke from the strain.
Angelus had yet to come out of the room. Groo came back with a cup of coffee and they both took long deep sips. They were tired but there was no way they were leaving Angelus and Buffy here alone.
After Angelus had sped out of his office like a bat out of hell, he had phoned Gunn and told him to get to Sunnydale. Lark, Forrest and Groo were in the car before Gunn even stepped out of the building. When they found Angelus and Buffy in the woods, Gunn felt his heart sink at the sight.
Angelus had a bleeding Buffy cradled in his arms as she sobbed into his chest. Groo and Gunn had made quick work of the fallen wolf and he was now halfway to Los Angeles in the back of the car with Forrest, ready to be placed in a cold cell under the mansion.
A cracking sound snapped his head up and he saw a stressed looking Angelus come from Buffy's room. "She's sleeping but she's ok."
Everyone was very relieved to hear some good news. Angelus looked Gunn in the eye and muttered in a flat tone "She's pregnant…I'm going…we're having a baby". Lark woke suddenly when the words left Angelus' mouth and fell to the floor. No one paid him any mind as he stood up.
Gunn and Groo were shocked into silence as all three of them looked at each other. A smile broke out on all their face at the same time. "I'm going to be a dad!" Angelus said happily and they all started laughing happily. Groo jumped onto Angelus and started shouting happily, Gunn and Angelus soon joined in.
"Excuse me gentlemen, this is a hospital not a playground." A nurse chided them at the noise they were making. All shouting eased immediately, but no-one stopped smiling as they looked guiltily at her.
"I'd say congratulations are in order." The nurse said as she also broke out a smile. The pack men were stunned at her but they all started jumping and shouting once again. Gunn ran over to the nurse and picked her up while laughing and jumping.
"She's pregnant, we're going to have a baby!" The nurse could not help but join in to their happiness.
A doctor cleared his throat noisily and looked at the men and nurse in a disapprovingly. Gunn placed the nurse back on her feet and they all straightened up. The nurse wasted no time in disappearing and getting back to her rounds.
Gunn and Groo turned their back on the disapproving doctor and slapped Angelus on the back. "Congratulations man. I can't believe it. This is great." They continued to talk excitedly for a while longer till the nurse came back and informed Angelus that Buffy had just woken up.
END CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR