FF: Wanted, a Werewolf - 1/8 - B/W/T - NC17

["carrkjar" <carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx>]

Wanted: A Werewolf and a Superman
Red Moon, Book III
Part 1/8

Author: Frau Hunter Ash 
Copyright © 2002 by Hunter Ash. All Rights Reserved.

Email: carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx Feedback welcome!!

Homepage Addy: http://www.hunterash.com/ 

Disclaimers: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, 
Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and God only knows who else. The storyline, 
however, is the sole property of the author. This story cannot be 
sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made 
for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright 
notices.

F/F romance: the story assumes a loving and sexual relationship 
between people of the same gender and may even include 3 at the same 
time <G>. If this offends or is illegal for you, then please leave.  
Come back when you are older, have an open mind, moved, or changed 
your laws. 

Spoilers: This series starts at New Moon Rising and takes off in 
different directions from there. <g>  

Summary: It's a full moon, Willow is a werewolf and there's an 
earthquake. The gang have to concentrate on getting Willow back, 
dealing with the consequences of a possible werewolf double killing 
and the latest rogue experiment from the Initiative. Adam, anyone?

Rating: NC-17 for sex and description of bodies.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
November 30

Scully frowned as she looked up from her laptop when Mulder entered 
her hotel room with barely a knock.  

"What up?" he asked casually as he dropped a pizza on the bed next to 
her and peeled off a Pepsi from the six-pack he was carrying.

She decided to make him wait as she raised the top of the pizza and 
investigated what kind he had ordered. <Combination without onions, 
nice.>

"I've been going over Willow Rosenberg's records from the 
Initiative," she said as Mulder settled in on the other side of the 
bed and grabbed for a slice, handing her several napkins.

"And?" he asked.

"They put her through hell in just those three days, Mulder," Scully 
growled. "Electric shocks, mind altering drugs, heat tolerance, cold 
tolerance, pain tolerance, and that's just the start. Then they 
decided on some real torture, more mind altering drugs, extreme 
noise, light, sleep deprivation, and triggering phobias."

"What were they trying to accomplish?" he asked with a frown as 
intense as his partner's.

"To force her to change into a werewolf without the trigger of the 
full moon," Scully answered. "Their goal is to train werewolf 
soldiers to be able to change on command, either voluntarily or 
through some device implanted in them."

"Like trained guard dogs," Mulder muttered, the disgust in his voice 
plain.

"More like pit fighting dogs," Scully nodded.

"Did they succeed?"

"Not with Willow, they may have with others," the FBI agent/doctor 
said as she moved her cursor around on the screen. "I'm 
concentrating on Willow's file specifically right now so we might be 
able to tell Giles and the others what to expect."

"Good idea, we've been called back to the Hill to account for our 
time here," Mulder said casually.

"Someone at the Initiative complaining about us shutting down their 
organization?" Scully questioned with a smile.

"Well, sabotaging their entire computer system, blowing up one of 
their Centers, killing several of their operatives and stealing 
Willow back from them tended to make them very unhappy," Mulder 
agreed.

"Any danger to us?"

"Danger? Yes," Mulder nodded. "Career? No, they can't touch us 
without risking exposure, for once."

"Any chance Professor Maggie Walsh will talk and they'll capture 
Willow again?"

"There is a risk but a small one, I think she'll move onto her Super 
Soldier program and leave Sunnydale alone," Mulder shrugged between 
bites. "Any permanent damage to Willow?"

"Possible flashbacks from some of those drugs, almost all of which 
are not approved for testing on animals, let alone humans," Scully 
complained. "Definite flashbacks from the physical torture she went 
through. Possible seizures from the electric shocks, and sensitivity 
to heat and cold. She was very lucky, actually."

"Lucky? How so?" Mulder questioned with a frown.

"They put her in with a male werewolf," she began.

"Right, Daniel Oswald, the young werewolf responsible for breaking 
her hand and infecting Buffy. Ultimately responsible for Willow's 
lycanthropy," Mulder nodded, reaching for another slice of pizza.

"Yes, they were hoping he was still out of control and would rape 
her," Scully said bitterly.

"Oh God," Mulder muttered, struggling to keep his pizza down at the 
thought of his young witch friend being raped by a werewolf.

"They wanted to use her as a brood mare werewolf," Scully said 
softly, remembering her own child. A daughter she never knew she had 
conceived, born in a test lab and dying because she was an alien 
hybrid and couldn't tolerate the Earth.

"I'm sorry, Scully," Mulder said softly, realizing by Dana's 
expression what she was thinking about.

"I'm alright," she said with a small smile. "It would have been 
worse for Willow, going through the pregnancy and giving birth due to 
rape and then have the child taken away as a lab rat."

"You know we stopped them here in Sunnydale but they have other 
Centers," Mulder complained softly.

"I know. A little at a time, Mulder," Scully said. "That's all we 
can do. One windmill at a time."

"Like these kids, one day and one night at a time," he agreed.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Buffy felt the body next to hers jerk and then heard a familiar 
whimper. The Slayer opened her eyes and tightened her arm around 
Willow as the young witch flinched.  

"Will," Buffy said softly, lightly shaking Willow. "Come on, Will."

Willow whimpered again, her hand twitching.

"Will, it's okay," Buffy shook her lover again and wasn't surprised 
when Tara, on the other side of Willow, turned over to face Willow 
and Buffy.

"Come on, Willow," Tara joined in the reassurance.

Willow jerked and opened her eyes, a look of fear on her face. She 
blinked a couple of times and then sighed.

"I'm sorry, guys," she said softly as both blondes wrapped their arms 
around her.

"It's okay, Will," Buffy smiled, wrapping her arm around both Willow 
and Tara.

Tara leaned up and looked at the clock and then snuggled back down 
onto Willow's shoulder. "Time to get up anyway, the alarm is about 
to go off."

With a frown, Buffy leaned back and whacked the radio alarm, just as 
it started to buzz.

"I could use another few hours," Tara complained, lightly nuzzling 
Willow's neck.

"Me too," Willow whispered as her hand unconsciously played in 
Buffy's hair. "They didn't let me sleep much."

Buffy frowned and squeezed both her girlfriends tightly. She 
reflected she could use some extra sleep as well, especially now that 
they had Willow back from the Initiative.

"Come on, guys," she said easily, leaning over to kiss Tara and then 
Willow. "Giles is expecting us downstairs."

After a short meeting at Giles' place, the girls and Joyce had 
returned to the Summers home for a round of showers, food, and a long 
nap. It had been 11 a.m. when they finally laid down for some much-
needed rest.

Now it was 4:30 p.m. and they needed to get ready for the full moon. 
Another night when Willow would turn into a werewolf.

"Okay, I admit it, I'm scared," Willow said, sitting up in the middle 
of the bed.

Tara sat up beside her and wrapped an arm around the red-haired 
witch's shoulder.

"We'll be right there," Tara tried to reassure her lover. "The 
spells we did will keep out everyone out of the crypt, except members 
of the Scooby Gang. You'll be safe with us."

"I know, I'm just squeamish when it comes to pain," Willow tried a 
small smile.

"After all the times you've been thrown around, backhanded by some 
vampire, put in the hospital and terrorized out of your mind, you 
won't notice this," Buffy grinned. "I don't remember beginning to 
change last month when you did that spell."

"I know, Oz said you don't start remembering the change until you're 
used to it and it's not as painful," Willow commented, getting out of 
the bed behind Tara.

Buffy leaned down and grabbed Willow's shoes and motioned for the 
witch to sit down on the bed.  

Since they had lain down on top of the bed with their clothes on, 
they didn't have to get dressed except for shoes and Willow needed 
help with hers.  

"I would love to spend the rest of the night snuggling with both of 
you but we've only got an hour and twenty minutes before moonrise," 
Willow reminded them as Tara reached down to kiss her and then 
Buffy.  

"I have a feeling we're going to know the rise and setting of every 
moon for the rest of our lives," Tara complained. "Moonrise at 5:54 
p.m. and setting at 6:24 a.m."

"Probably," Buffy agreed and stood up.

"Goddess, I'm going to hate this," Willow muttered.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Giles was sitting at the dining table with Scully and Mulder while 
Joyce prepared a quick dinner in the kitchen.  

Buffy and Tara looked over Giles' shoulder at the computer screen 
while Willow began to pace in the living room.  

Scully and Mulder watched the young witch with concerned 
expressions.  

"Restlessness is common," Giles muttered to them. Willow glared and 
then continued pacing.

Joyce entered from the kitchen with a plate of roast beef sandwiches 
and three bags of chips. Giles jumped up and went into the kitchen 
for sodas.

Everyone grabbed paper plates and sandwiches but Willow merely shook 
her head.  

"What have you science types figured out?" Buffy asked, watching 
Willow pacing.

"You already know most of it," Mulder commented. "You've actually 
dealt with werewolves before. The affects from her time with the 
Initiative should be short term except for the flashbacks and 
nightmares."

"Terrific," Willow muttered.

"So we go on as before?" Tara asked. "We continue helping Buffy with 
slaying?."

"And lock me away three nights every month," Willow finished.

"Yes," Scully answered.

"You know that spell you did was irreversible, don't you? It can't be 
undone even with another spell," Giles commented.

"I don't think we have time to lecture me about risking such powerful 
and dark magick," Willow snapped.

"Yes, you're right," Giles said, looking at his watch.

Joyce winced and went into the kitchen to come back with a box.

"Snacks and sodas for the night," she explained as she handed it to 
Giles.  

"Shall we then?" he asked as Buffy grabbed another sandwich as they 
headed for the door.

Joyce wanted to hug Willow but the young woman seemed distracted and 
irritable.

The worried mother watched her daughter and two daughters-in-law 
leave with Giles and looked over at the two FBI agents.

"There's no hope?" she asked them both.

"There's always hope, we've seen some incredible things," Mulder said 
with a small smile.

"We might be able to do something with reversing the DNA change that 
she's been through," Scully said thoughtfully. "And Mulder, Giles, 
and Willow will continue to look for a spell."

"God, she's so young," Joyce complained. "Buffy was only fifteen 
when Merrick told her she was the Slayer and turned her into a 
vampire hunter."

"Fifteen," Scully whispered.

"Yeah," Joyce muttered.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Willow sat down unhappily on a sleeping bag as Tara knelt and began 
removing the red-haired witch's shoes. Willow unconsciously 
scratched at her fingers sticking out of the cast.

Buffy sat down behind Willow and wrapped her arms around the hacker.  
Willow leaned back and interlaced her fingers with the Slayer.  

"You brought spare clothes, right?" Willow asked.

"Yup, got it covered," Buffy agreed. She looked up and saw Giles 
preparing a needle. "With you unconscious when you change, you 
probably won't shred your clothes though."

"Just in case," Willow muttered, watching the needle in Giles' hand.

Buffy felt the witch stiffen and her breathing quicken. Tara also 
noticed the change in energy and looked up into Willow's green eyes.

Giles noticed Willow's fearful look when he entered the cell and held 
back.

"Willow, you know I would never hurt you," he said softly.

Tara fell backwards and Buffy tightened her embrace around Willow 
when they all heard a warning growl from the witch.

"Willow," Buffy said softly.  

Another growl was her answer.

Giles handed the needle and alcohol wipe to Tara.

"Maybe you should do it, Tara," Giles suggested.

"Okay," she agreed and tried to keep her breathing calm and even as 
Willow's green eyes changed to yellow. Tara looked up at 
Buffy. "Drop your shields, Buff."

Buffy dropped her mental shields and let Tara connect with her. In a 
moment she could see what Tara was seeing, Willow's yellow eyes, 
growing teeth and tense muscles. Together, she and Tara melded their 
connection and reached out for Willow but found themselves blocked.

Tara reached out with her left hand as if to gently stroke Willow's 
cheek and slid the needle to Buffy.

Willow growled at Tara's hand and Buffy tightened an arm around the 
witch and quickly injected the hacker in the neck.

Willow growled once more and then her head slumped forward.

"Giles!" Buffy shouted as she gently lowered Willow to the sleeping 
bag.

The Watcher moved forward and checked the witch's pulse and 
pupils. "She'll be okay. Let's get out of here before she changes, 
she may thrash."

Buffy and Tara reluctantly moved out of the cage with the Watcher and 
watched as he shut the door firmly and listened to the lock click.

The two blondes gripped the bars as Willow's body began to spasm.  

"Come on, Tara, this is the painful part for us too," Buffy urged 
Tara, gently pulling the witch away from the cell.

"Buffy?" Tara whispered as Buffy tried to lead her away from the 
bars, her eyes still locked on Willow as the red hair turned into fur 
and claws extended from the hacker's hands.

"Come on, Tara," Buffy urged and got her girlfriend away. "Giles, 
what was that about? She started changing early!"

"I think she was reacting to the sight of the needle, recent trauma 
and such," he pondered.

"She's on the verge of being able to change at will?" Tara asked, her 
voice fearful.

"Quite possibly if the trigger is powerful enough," Giles responded.

Giles hung up a blanket across the cell bars and turned to comfort 
his Slayer and Tara.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Okay, Professor," a young man with a military haircut called to a 
middle aged woman in a lab coat. "We set up in those caves you 
specified. Industrial size generators installed, super computers, 
three labs set up."

"Good work, Finn," the woman said with a satisfied smile.

"Now will you let me in?" Riley Finn demanded.  

"Totally, Finn. You get to know everything now," Professor Walsh 
smiled. "The first thing you get to know is the need for absolute 
silence. You cannot be spotted by Buffy Summers or any of her 
friends, they cannot know we stayed here in Sunnydale and had this 
alternate plan."

"Yes, Professor," Riley agreed, frowning as he thought about his ex-
girlfriend.

"Your first assignment is to contact the Los Angeles unit, they have 
a particular demon that we need for our experiment, arrange 
transport," Walsh ordered. "You'll be let in on the project very 
soon, Finn."

"Yes, Professor," Walsh ignored his unhappy face.

"Now we work full time on the ultimate project, the super soldier of 
the future," Walsh said softly to herself. "The first soldier shall 
be named Adam."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Buffy moaned and lifted her head off the pillow and glanced down at 
Tara sleeping in her arms.  

The Slayer had stayed with the blonde witch during Willow's first 
night as a werewolf with them. The drugs had worn off after two 
hours and they had elected not to shoot her with a tranquilizer dart 
when the werewolf didn't seem overly violent, just restless. They 
tried to ignore the werewolf watching them through the bars most of 
the night and the animals' pacing. Occasionally the werewolf would 
even growl when they moved around the crypt.

The werewolf had finally settled down on the sleeping bag at 4 a.m. 
and Buffy and Tara had decided to lay down on the air mattress to try 
and sleep. Tara had drifted to sleep and Buffy dozed lightly. She 
was aware every time the werewolf got up, looked around and then lay 
back down.

Buffy stood up and walked over to the bars and glanced over the 
blanket. She remembered the numerous times they had watched Oz in 
the bookcage at the school library. Similar blankets had been hung 
up to give the young man privacy when he would change back into human 
and find himself totally naked.

Willow was asleep in the sleeping bag with her back to the door.  
Buffy could see the red head's naked shoulder and sighed with relief 
that the young witch had gotten into the sleeping bag shortly after 
changing. Maybe they wouldn't have to worry about Willow catching a 
cold from the cold winter morning in a damp crypt.

Buffy heard movement behind her and turned with a smile to see Tara 
sitting up, rubbing her eyes sleepily.  

"Hey, baby," Buffy grinned and crossed back to the bed and into 
Tara's arms. The Slayer laughed softly as Tara pulled her over onto 
the mattress, ending up on top of Buffy.

"Morning," Tara said softly and began kissing Buffy as the Slayer 
moaned and wrapped her arms around the witch.  

Buffy slid her hands under Tara's t-shirt and the witch responded 
with a moan of arousal and broke the kiss to nibble on Buffy's neck.

Tara's head and back arched as Buffy's hands roamed over her breast 
and pulled at her t-shirt.

"Oh Goddess," Tara whispered. "We had better stop, lover."

"Don't wanna," Buffy muttered, still pulling at Tara's t-shirt.

"Willow is going to wake up and Giles will be here any minute!" Tara 
insisted with a small laugh.

"Oh hell," Buffy complained.  

"Listen, I'm going to go outside and head Giles off, you wake Willow 
up," Tara suggested. "I'll bring Giles back in about an hour."

"Why in an hour?" Buffy asked softly.

"Because Willow is going to wake up frisky and need one of us," Tara 
explained and was surprised when Buffy frowned.

"You make it sound like you're second choice," Buffy 
complained. "You are not second choice or second best!"

"Relax!" Tara smiled. "I don't think that even though I know you've 
always been in Willow's heart first."

"Yeah, you're the one that woke her up from that darkness Oz left her 
in," Buffy growled. "And your connection with her is much different 
than mine and deeper."

"Not deeper, just different," Tara argued.  

"Why don't I find Giles and you wake her up?" Buffy suggested.  

"Okay, do we flip a coin or what?" Tara laughed.

"Rock, paper, scissors?" Buffy giggled.

"Oh, this is silly!" Tara grinned.  

"Why can't we both wake her up?" Buffy asked softly.

Tara suddenly looked shy. "Are we ready for this?"

"Might be rushing Willow," Buffy said thoughtfully. "Those damned 
Initiative types messed with her a lot."

"You stay and I'll find Giles," Tara said.

"Tara," Buffy started to protest but Tara stopped her with a kiss.

"No, we'll talk about this after breakfast, school, and a nap today," 
Tara promised and sat up, reaching for her shoes.  

Buffy wrapped her arms around Tara from behind. "I love you, Tara."

"I love you, Buffy," Tara answered with a smile, leaning back into 
the embrace. "I'm not jealous and I don't feel left out."

"I hope not," Buffy said softly. "Have you seen the way Willow looks 
at you?"

"And you," Tara added.

"At me or me at you?" 

"Both," Tara laughed. "At least before the Initiative. Agent Scully 
didn't say anything about hurting her sexually."

"No, they didn't have time," Buffy confirmed. "They wanted Oz to 
mate with her but he became a nice guy again according to the 
reports."

"Goddess, does this ever ease up for you and the gang?"

"No, not really," Buffy answered seriously. "You know we still need 
to find out more about that spell she did. Mulder said it was dark 
magick."

"I know, to call a curse like lycanthropy on yourself is almost the 
equivalent of making a pact with a demon for your soul," Tara said 
thoughtfully.

"Damn," Buffy muttered and then tried to smile. "Go, find Giles and 
head him off."

Tara stood up and leaned down for a kiss. "Tell her I love her."

"I will," Buffy smiled and watched the blonde witch climb the stairs 
to the upper crypt and out the door.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Professor Walsh stood over the table and looked down at the figure on 
the steel table with the loving eyes of a parent, or Victor 
Frankenstein looking at his creation.

The only ones that could look at the creature on the table with such 
affection would be a creator. The only thing normal looking about 
the figure was its short brown hair and part of the right half of his 
face. The rest of the head was a combination of strange green demon 
skin and the shiny metal of a cyborg. The rest of the body was 
covered with a white sheet.

Various tubes and wires ran to different parts of the body under the 
sheet, including the metal part of his head.  

Professor Walsh checked several read-outs from different machines 
lining the walls around the table in the center of the room.

"Soon, Adam," she said softly.  

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Buffy whimpered and clutched at the sleeping bag below her as Willow 
thrust into her even deeper and harder.  

Tara had been right in her assessment of Willow's mood when Buffy 
woke her up. Willow had nearly attacked her when the `good morning' 
kiss became something very heated and lively between the two.  
Buffy's clothing had quickly been pulled off or ripped off as 
Willow's teeth, hand and lips were all over the Slayer.

"Will! Oh, God!" Buffy cried out as her hips lifted off the sleeping 
bag. Willow followed the Slayer with her fingers and tongue, not 
stopping pleasing her lover and never breaking the rhythm they had 
set.

"Will!" Buffy screamed again. She had no idea any more how many 
times they had pleased each other. She became aware of her 
surroundings when she collapsed back onto the sleeping bag, breathing 
heavily. Her muscles were shaking and she felt like she had no 
strength left.

Buffy looked down to see Willow's head resting on her thigh, loving 
green eyes watching her as the red haired witch caught her breath and 
slowed her heart rate.

"God, I love you," Buffy said softly.

"I love you too, Buff," Willow smiled. "We should get dressed; won't 
Giles and Tara be here soon?"

"Yup, to take us home to a large breakfast and shower before class."

"Buffy," Willow began slowly as she reached for a t-shirt and Buffy 
helped her get it on. Willow leaned on Buffy's shoulder to step into 
the sweat pants she had taken to wearing since her hand was caught in 
the cast.

Willow waited for socks and shoes while Buffy put on her own clothes.

"What happened last night?" Willow asked softly. "I don't remember 
getting a shot."

Buffy suddenly looked uncomfortable. "Uh, Will, you saw the needle 
and had a panic attack or something. You started to change early."

"Change, early?" Willow repeated. "I was so scared I started to 
change? Oh God, Buffy!"

"Will, it's okay!" Buffy exclaimed, grabbing Willow from behind and 
hugging her. "You didn't hurt anyone. Mulder and Scully said you 
might have reactions like that."

"I'm sorry," Willow said after a moment. "I'm okay."

"That's my girl," Buffy smiled for both of them. "We need food."

"After that workout, I agree," Willow finally smiled.

"After that workout, I probably won't need to spar with Giles this 
afternoon," Buffy teased and grinned as Willow blushed.

They both looked up at the sounds of the upper crypt door being 
opened.

"Cool, Tara and Giles types," Willow smiled.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The day went quickly for the three young college students. Willow 
felt a little ridiculous going to class with the threat of the full 
moon hanging over her just a few short hours away. She wondered once 
again how Oz could have dealt with it all those months with very 
little wigging out.  

By the end of classes all three were dragging; especially Willow and 
Tara since they didn't have Buffy's Slayer stamina. They readily 
agreed to a nap. Giles and Joyce went to the crypt to stock snacks 
in anticipation for Tara to watch over Willow that night.  

Willow woke up in Tara's arms and no sign of Buffy. Tara muttered 
and slammed her hand down on the snooze bar of the clock radio.  
Willow couldn't help but grin.

"This could get to be a habit," she smiled as Tara grumbled 
something. 

"How does Buffy do it, night after night with so little sleep?" Tara 
growled.

"Slayer stamina, goes along with that extra strong thingy," Willow 
managed to smile as she glanced at the clock. "We'd better get 
going."

"I know, I know," Tara muttered, swinging her legs over the side of 
the bed.

Willow and Tara were surprised to see Mulder and Scully waiting 
downstairs in the living room for them along with Buffy, Giles and 
Joyce.

"Where's Xander, Anya and Brad, it could be a full Scooby meeting," 
Willow quipped, trying to be upbeat.

Willow grabbed a quick hug from Buffy and sat down on the floor in 
between the Slayer's legs while Tara sat down on the arm of the 
chair, playing with Buffy's hair.  

"We have to leave in an hour and thought we'd drop by," Mulder 
explained. "Didn't want to leave without saying goodbye."

"I'm glad you did," Willow said with a smile.  

"Did you find out anything that can help us with Willow?" Tara asked.

"Just very detailed reports of what they did to her," Scully answered 
and Willow shifted uncomfortably.  

"I don't remember a lot of the details, it was all pretty awful," 
Willow muttered. "Really high up there on the awful scale."

Buffy rested a hand on Willow's shoulder trying to reassure the young 
witch.

"Just like we figured the other day, you may experience flashbacks 
from some of those experimental drugs they gave you," Scully said 
softly.

"Terrific," Giles complained. "They get through their entire teen 
years without drugs and now this?"

"She'll also have some reactions that are common to victims of 
assault and torture, I'm leaving a disk with things to expect," 
Scully continued. "Panic attacks, nightmares, flashbacks during 
intense emotional moments, depression, insomnia, short temper, 
relationship problems?."

Willow and the entire Scooby Gang frowned deeply.

"Look, I'm really sorry," Scully said gently. "We just want you to 
know what you might expect."

"We appreciate that, Agent Scully, truly," Giles said 
calmly. "Please go on."

"Denial, suppression, uncontrolled sweating, hyper alert, hyper 
watchful, distrust of government or official institutions?"

"Go figure," Buffy muttered.

Scully matched Mulder's grin.

"Headaches, lack of concentration, possible memory loss, and feelings 
of being numb are just some of the fun highlights," Scully finished.

"Not to mention clenching jaw muscles, racing heartbeat, breathing 
difficulties, chest pain, change in appetite, and emotional 
outburst," Giles added. "Slayers often suffer PTSD during their 
careers and Watchers seem to suffer quite a bit with it, especially 
in retirement."

"You mentioned relationship problems," Willow said softly, "Like 
what?"

"Nothing we can't handle, Willow," Tara said firmly, glancing at her 
watch.

"Dealing with all the side affects can work on a relationship," 
Scully explained. "Having your partner suddenly snapping at you, 
suffering with nightmares, having flashback during sex, all that can 
take a toll."

"We already deal with Buffy's nightmares and doubts," Willow said 
thoughtfully.

"Exactly," Giles nodded with a rueful smile. "Now it's time to say 
goodbye, girls."

"Damn!" Willow muttered and ducked as Buffy climbed over her to stand 
up. The Slayer reached down and helped Willow to her feet and drew 
Willow into a reassuring hug which was joined by Tara.

Willow turned out of the hug and accepted Scully's hug and then 
Mulder's.

"I'm going to miss you," the red haired witch said softly. "You'll 
still email?"

"You bet," he grinned as she fought against crying.

"I gotta go," she mumbled and dashed out the door.  

Buffy and Tara quickly hugged the agents and followed Willow out the 
door.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thing went a little smoother for the three young women, Willow didn't 
freak at the sight of the hypodermic needle this time and let Buffy 
inject her with the tranquilizing drugs.  

Tara held the witch as the drugs took affect and Willow's head fell 
back against her shoulder.

Tara gently stroked Willow's head and laid the witch back onto the 
sleeping bag and watched closely.

"Come on, Tara," Buffy said softly, gently touching Tara on the 
shoulder. "She'll be okay the change won't hurt."

"It hurts us, though" Tara said softly. "Doesn't it?"

"Yeah, totally," Buffy agreed and held Tara's hand as they walked out 
of the cell and closed the door, listening to the combination lock 
click into place. Buffy looked at Tara's watch and sat down at the 
card table with her lover.

"You going out slaying tonight?" Tara asked.

"Yeah, you sure you're going to be okay here?"

"How many times did someone sit outside the bookcage and watch Oz 
during his furry time?" Tara asked.

"Lots," Buffy answered with a smile. "With your protection spells 
around the place it should be safer than the library at school was."

"Then I'll be fine. I'm going to do homework and nap," Tara said 
easily, glancing over at the cage. She frowned as Willow began to 
jerk and moan softly in her drugged sleep. Buffy followed her gaze 
and both watched as Willow's light red hairs on her arms became 
darker and thicker.  

"Come on, Tara," Buffy said, turning her head. "Don't torture 
yourself."

"I know, it just kills me that she goes through this," Tara said 
softly, trying not to cry. "Those damned Initiative bastards!"

"They didn't help, that's for sure," Buffy agreed.

"Go on," Tara urged. "We'll be fine. She's changed and still 
asleep."

Buffy glanced over and saw that Willow was indeed a full werewolf now 
and still unconscious.  

"She should sleep for several hours, Oz averaged about four hours 
before the wolf came out of it," Buffy said.

"Okay, with that cell, I won't need to sedate her again, will I?" 

"No," Buffy frowned. "Only if she managed to rip that door open 
would you need to sedate her."

"Then go, love," Tara urged and stood up, pulling Buffy into her arms.

Buffy melted into Tara's embrace and the kissing lasted over a couple 
of minutes until they broke apart, their foreheads touching.

"God, you feel so good," Buffy muttered.

"So do you, love," Tara said softly. "Now go before I attack you."

"I'll be back in a couple of hours," Buffy promised.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Giles watched as the FBI agents got into their rental car and slowly 
pulled away in the early evening. The Watcher hated seeing them go 
but knew they had their own jobs and lives to get back to.  

He wrapped his arm around Joyce's shoulders and pulled her close.

"What they said about Willow, it's horrible, Rupert," she said as 
they turned to go back inside the Summers house.

"I know, it won't be easy. They've all been through a lot with that 
damned deal with Oz, having the Initiative kidnap Willow and torture 
her isn't going to be easy to get over," he commented.

"We'll get them through it," Joyce said firmly. "Their love is 
strong."

"You know, I wasn't sure Buffy would really get over Angel," Giles 
said thoughtfully. "I never really thought she was deeply in love 
with Riley. I knew she depended on Willow, just didn't know they 
would realize how deep that love went. Tara was a surprise, I must 
admit."

"She's perfect for both of them, though," Joyce smiled.  

"I agree, they've been good for each other. All we can hope now is a 
chance at some peace and quiet," Giles smiled.

"The Slayer and the Scooby Gang getting some peace and quiet?" Joyce 
teased.

"I know, I know," he muttered, sitting down on the sofa and pulling 
her into his arms. "What say we set a wedding date now that we have 
Willow back and the Initiative is gone?"

Joyce leaned up into his kiss, pulling his glasses off.

"I'd like that," she whispered.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Buffy grinned as she spotted Xander and Anya snuggling in a corner of 
the Bronze. She quickly made her way over to the couple and tapped 
Xander on the shoulder.

"Hey, Buff!" Xander grinned and Anya smiled, keeping her arms around 
Xander's neck. "Heading back to the cemetery for furry duty?"

"Yeah, the streets around the Bronze are clear as of five minutes 
ago," Buffy grinned.  

"How many tonight?" Anya asked.

"Four vampires and one new demon I need to talk to Giles about," 
Buffy grinned. "Not even a scratch."

"Cool! You are the best!" Xander raved. 

"What was the new demon thing?" Anya asked as Buffy sat down in a 
lounge chair across from them.

"This one was big, green, ugly and had a long spike that came out of 
its forearm," Buffy described. "Fortunately, he tried to impale me 
and got the spike thingy stuck in a fence. Took him out with a sword."

"Sword, what are you now, a Highlander?" Xander teased.

"Giles pointed out that some demons have really thick skin and stakes 
may not always work. Angel and I used to practice with swords."

"Wow! Watcher stuff comes through!" Xander said in admiration.

Buffy was surprised when she fell out of the chair amid shouting, 
screams, creaking walls and a deep rumbling from the ground. The 
Slayer clung to the floor with her hands over her head. She glanced 
over and saw Xander lying on top of Anya, trying to protect her with 
his own body.

"Earthquake!" he screamed and Buffy nodded, putting her head under a 
coffee table as Xander moved Anya and himself to do the same.

The quake seemed to go on forever but Buffy knew that it was probably 
less than 30 seconds, if that. Anya started to move and Buffy 
grabbed her shoulder, keeping her down. In a moment the aftershocks 
hit and the screams started again.

Buffy felt the last rumble shake the hangout and sat up slowly. She 
looked around and was relieved to discover that no one seemed more 
hurt than maybe broken arms and sprained ankles. A few cuts from 
broken glasses but no collapsed walls or ceiling and no smell of gas 
leaks.

"I need to get to the crypt; can you guys help out here?" Buffy asked.

"You bet! We're the good guys!" Xander agreed readily.  

"Be careful, Buffy," Anya added. "Earthquake may have tossed unhappy 
things out of their crypts."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Buffy muttered.

"What?" Xander asked and then his and Anya's eyes widened. "Oh no! 
Willow!"

"Meet me at the crypt in an hour," Buffy instructed them as she 
headed for the door.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Willow! No! Please!" Tara pleaded, trying desperately to get the 
heavy cell door off her legs as the werewolf approached her slowly, 
growling deep in its throat.

Tara quickly looked over at the card table, a good five feet away and 
now on its side. The tranquilizer gun lay on the cold stone floor, 
at least six feet away.  

The witch looked deep into the werewolf's yellow eyes and saw nothing 
of Willow inside.

The wolf's jaws opened and Tara whimpered at the sight of the mouth 
full of very sharp teeth meant for ripping.

Tara closed her eyes and mentally tried to calm herself and dropped 
her shields, reaching out psychically. She felt her mind touching 
the werewolf's brain and felt it hesitate. Tara opened her eyes and 
tried to calm her heart rate as the werewolf walked over to her and 
sniffed her hair and neck.

The blonde witch somehow kept from screaming both physically and 
mentally. She poured all the love she felt for Willow into her 
projection to the wolf and Tara felt a tear escape as the werewolf 
nuzzled her neck for a moment, a low whine in the back of its throat.

Then the werewolf was dashing up the stairs, heading for the open 
crypt door.

"Willow!" Tara screamed, trying to maintain her contact with the wolf 
but sensed nothing but the intense need for freedom and the hunt.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Buffy wasn't surprised when she saw Giles and her mom getting out of 
the Summers car in front of the cemetery gate.

"Giles! Mom!" Buffy yelled and ran over to them.

"Willow?"

"I don't know, I was patrolling around the Bronze when the quake 
hit," Buffy explained.

"Come on then!" Giles urged, pulling out a tranquilizer pistol as 
Buffy dashed through the gate.

///Buffy!/// 

Buffy grabbed her head but kept running. ///On my way! Almost 
there!///  

///Be careful, Willow is out!/// Tara yelled mentally.

"Giles! Willow is loose!" she shouted and kicked open the crypt 
door.  

"Come on, Joyce," Giles said anxious, keeping his eyes moving around 
the cemetery. "Get inside; it's probably safer in there, right now."

"Would Willow really hurt us?" Joyce asked with a frown.  

"Oz tried to attack anyone within sight, including Buffy, Faith and 
Willow," he explained.  

Giles closed the door and bolted it from the inside and the couple 
moved to the second door leading to the lower crypt. As they headed 
down the stairs, watching for cracks and loose stones from the 
earthquake, they spotted Buffy squatting down next to the cell door, 
still trapping Tara beneath it.

With a growl, Buffy lifted the door as Giles and Joyce reached the 
girls and they grabbed Tara and pulled her out.

Buffy dropped the cell door and was beside Tara in an instant as 
Giles and Joyce looked her over.

Tara reached for Buffy and broke into tears.

"Willow!" she sobbed. "She's loose!"

Buffy held her lover close and fought against her own rising emotions 
as she thought of Willow as a werewolf and loose.

"What happened, Tara?" Giles asked.

"Ow! Ow!" Tara cried as Giles moved her foot. "Willow, I mean the 
werewolf woke up in a really anxious mood. She kept pacing and 
growling, not like last night. Then she started howling and pounding 
on a wall. Ow!"

"I don't think it's broken but the ankle should have an x-ray just as 
a precaution," Giles announced.

"Go on, Tara," Joyce urged.

"I got up and went to the door, I was trying to reach her with our 
mental connection but the wolf wouldn't let me in. Then everything 
went crazy. Earthquake, I guess. I grabbed onto the bars, trying to 
keep my balance and it twisted off the hinges and fell on me."

"It's okay, baby," Buffy whispered, stroking Tara's hair and holding 
her tightly as Giles went to the first aid kit and came back with a 
large ace bandage and began wrapping the witch's ankle.

"Buffy, she?s-she started towards me," Tara said softly, her tears 
beginning again. "The wolf, I mean. It?it wasn't Willow."

"I know, I know," Buffy said softly, remembering what Oz was like as 
a werewolf before he left Sunnydale.

"I tried to connect again, I was so scared! She growled?and?and?she 
was s-stalking me. I?something happened."

"What, Tara?" Giles asked, keeping his voice soft and calm.

"The w-werewolf stopped and?.it sniffed me," Tara sobbed. "I could 
feel her c-confusion and c-curiosity. I poured all of my love into 
the connection. Buffy, she nuzzled me and then took off!"

"Oh my God," Giles said softly. "She knew who you were?"

"I d-don't think so," Tara shook her head, clinging to Buffy. "I?I 
confused her, the wolf. It knew me on a basic level but not as 
Willow. I tried to connect with it as the werewolf ran away but 
couldn't. Being free to hunt was in its thoughts."

"Thank God she didn't hurt you," Buffy said, letting the tears escape 
down her face. "None of us could live with that."

"Especially Willow," Tara nodded. "You've got to find her, Buffy.  
That's not Willow, only the werewolf who wants to hunt."

"With the earthquake there's going to be a lot of people in the 
streets," Giles commented. "It's a natural human reaction, to check 
on neighbors, curiosity about damage and possible death, and the need 
to connect with other humans after a crisis."

"This graveyard is the closest to the woods, I'm betting that the 
wolf will want to run through the woods rather than the streets," 
Buffy said thoughtfully. "Most werewolves try and head for woods or 
fields."

"Hopefully with the earthquake that'll mean the woods won't be 
popular tonight," Joyce commented.

"Good point, Mom," Buffy grinned.

"Let's get Tara and your mother to the car," Giles suggested. "She 
can take Tara to the hospital and get that ankle checked out while 
you and I look for Willow with the dart guns."

"Good idea, Xander and Anya are supposed to meet me here in about a 
half hour," Buffy added. "They can help look."

"Let's meet them at the gates, if Willow stayed in the graveyard, I 
don't want them running into her on their way here," Giles instructed.

Within a half hour Joyce and Tara were on their way to the hospital 
and the remaining Scooby Gang had split into two teams and were now 
searching the woods and the graveyard for a werewolf. Xander had 
Giles' tranquilizer pistol and Buffy with the tranquilizer rifle.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Damage report!" Walsh snapped at the soldier stopping at attention 
in front of her.  

"The cave on the northwest quadrant collapsed with three lab techs 
and one guard, we're trying to dig to them now. Expected level of 
damage in the labs themselves, broken vials, beakers, and equipment, 
nothing that can't be replaced or repeated."

"Good, any structural damage that will force a move?" Professor Walsh 
questioned.

"The engineers are checking that out now, Professor," he 
reported. "It doesn't appear necessary. A low grade earthquake, 
looks like the tunnel in the northwest quadrant may have been 
structurally unsound before the quake. The soil behind the rock in 
that part of the tunnels and caves was mostly sand, very unstable."

"Excellent observation, soldier," Walsh praised. "Where is Riley 
Finn?"

"Supervising the digging out of our personnel, Professor."

"Once that's completed, have Corporal Finn report to me," she 
instructed and the soldier quickly saluted and dashed down the tunnel.

Professor Walsh turned and walked down a different tunnel, heading 
deeper into the cave structure that had been expanded by the Army 
Corp of Engineers who had worked secretly for seven months. Instead 
of a simple series of small caves the area was now large enough to 
continue with Professor Walsh's work as well as that of several other 
Initiative researchers.  

The Professor cursed the earthquake once again as she made her way 
back to her inner sanctorum, the lab containing the developing body 
and mind of her prize experiment. The Super Soldier of the future, 
Adam.  

She had been in the middle of operating on the body when the quake 
had hit and Walsh had been forced to end the operation quickly. That 
meant that her latest grafting would appear ugly and careless and 
Walsh wasn't happy with that. She knew deep down that Adam would be 
seen as a monster, she was enough of a realist to know that but she 
also knew that as a prototype, his looks really weren't of importance.

Once she proved her theories in actual real life, the government 
would come through with enough funding and personnel to ensure that 
the future soldiers would be more pleasant in appearance, or more 
frightening. 

Walsh stopped just inside the door, totally stunned as she took in 
the sight of Adam sitting up on the steel table looking at her.