It was full moon night again and Xander arrived half way thru the night to relieve Willow of Oz-Wolf sitting duty. She handed him the tranq gun.
"He's been quiet. I read him a story and he fell asleep."
"Good, it should be a quiet night then." He sat down and took a package out of his bag and began to take the tranq gun apart.
"What are you doing?!" Willow exclaimed.
"Cleaning the gun. I don't think it's been cleaned since Giles got it and it should be cleaned after each firing. A dirty gun can jam or misfire."
"More of the Soldier Boy knowledge?"
"Yes. Guns are useful tools, Willow. Just like swords, which also have to be kept cleaned and maintained. This will keep me busy for awhile and I brought a book to read for when I'm done. Don't worry, I'll keep Oz safe."
"Thank you, Xander. I appreciate that."
"Hey, Willow, he makes you happy. Even if he wasn't my friend too, that alone would be enough reason for me to help you two. He's a good guy and I trust him with you. You're my family."
Willow felt tears mist her eyes. Xander rarely said things like that. He may not love her the way she'd once dreamed of him loving her, but he still loved her. It was good to know.
"He does make me happy, Xander. And I've noticed that you and Cordelia are happy. I may never like her, but as long as she makes you happy, I'll work at getting along with her."
"She says pretty much the same thing where you're concerned. I appreciate it. Especially since, when I think about the future, I see her more and more."
Willow squeezed his hand and left, heading home to get some sleep. Xander cleaned the rifle and read his book and except for a couple of trips to get snacks and use the bathroom, maintained a watch on his Oz friend. Like himself, Oz didn't want to hurt anyone and was taking precautions. Before long it was morning and Xander looked up from his book as a frantic Giles came in the library.
"Did Oz get out last night?"
"No, he's been here all night, why?"
"A student was attacked in the woods, clawed up and the authorities are speculating that it was an actual animal."
"It wasn't Oz, Giles. He wasn't alone for more then a few minutes at a time, when I went to get snacks and use the bathroom. Each time I blocked the door. The exit thru the sewers is locked and that open window up there is too high and too small for him to use. He'll be waking up soon, calm down. The last thing Oz needs is to think or be made to feel that he may have hurt someone."
"You're right, although we should check into this attack. Just because the authorities think it was an animal, doesn't mean it was."
"I agree. After school, we can check out the area where the attack occured, see if there's anything that points to a demon."
"What's up, guys?" Oz asked, as he woke up and began to get dressed.
"We need to do some sleuthing after school." Xander told him. "Between your nose and my tracking skills, we should be able to determine if an attack that happened in the woods last night was a demon or an animal."
"Ok."
"You have a good sleep?"
"Yeah, it's getting easier. The wolf used to be so restless, but those meditative techniques are helping."
"Thank Leo, he's the one that taught me. It's a good thing I've got third period and lunch free, I can catch a nap in the student lounge."
Their investigation led to them discovering a student who'd use weird science to change himself. One who also turned out to be an abusive asshole, with a battered girlfriend. Although they weren't able to catch up to him until he attacked Oz, imaging Oz had been fooling around with his girlfriend. The student didn't know Oz was a werewolf and Oz transformed and defended himself. The others arrived to find them fighting. Xander grabbed the tranq gun and shot Oz, as in this state, he was the more dangerous one. The student used the opportunity to escape.
"Go after him! He's already proved he'll kill." Giles ordered Buffy, who nodded and ran out.
"Giles, help me get Oz into the cage. Poor guy, he's trying so hard not to hurt anyone and that idiot had to go and attack him."
"Yes, it is unfortunate. Whether he was just defending himself or not, I have no doubt this will prey on his mind."
"Then we'll just have to help him to deal. It wasn't his fault."
They got Oz into the cage and together maintained a vigil on him, while Xander cleaned the tranq gun again. Eventually Buffy came back and reported, Pete, the student dead.
She purposely avoided telling them who else she'd run into while hunting for Pete. The freshly returned from a demon dimension and very much feral, Angel. Or that she'd captured him and chained him up in Angelus' lair, Crawford Mansion.