FF: Red Moon Rising 7/11 - B/W/T - NC17 Red Moon Rising, Part 7 Author: Hunter Ash Copyright © 2001 by Hunter Ash. All Rights Reserved. Email: carrkjar@yahoo.com 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 . 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. B/W T/W B/T Spoilers: Some general 5th season stuff, but nothing major. Summary: the gang prepares for the next full moon and Buffy's possible change into a werewolf but Willow has a dangerous plan and Riley suspects Buffy has been bitten and wants the Initiative to take action against her. Rating: NC-17, same sex action, werewolf attack, major character injury, angst, hurt and comfort. It's Buffy, there's violence. Author's Note: While this is not my first story, it is my first Buffy story. So….kind words are hoped for…. Oh, and by the way, this will be posted in parts. This being part seven. Feedback always welcome. =============================================================== Buffy angrily wiped at the tears streaming down her face as she slowed down. Somehow her Slayer skills had kept her from falling and breaking her neck in her mad dash into the woods and she knew that was about all that had saved her. she now reflected. Buffy heard the soothing sound of a stream and walked towards it instinctively. She was hot, tired and felt covered in sweat and grime. She found a small creek running over boulders and cool looking ground. The Slayer knelt down on a boulder and dipped her hands into the stream and let the water splash over her upturned face. She knew better than to drink the water but just cooling her skin felt good. The water was ice cold and revived her energy. Buffy sat down on another boulder and watched the water flowing and let it take her panic with it. She knew it had been stupid to run off like that just because Xander had made a stupid joke about her possible werewolf status. If she let every Xander comment get to her, Buffy realized, she would have killed him a long time ago. The Slayer let the sun warm her as her sweat covered body began to cool down in the chilled autumn air of late October. Then her Slayer senses kicked into alert and she looked around cautiously, pretending not to notice anything or to be alarmed. Buffy cursed herself for running off from the others. She could usually take care of herself and often spent time saving her friends when they tried to help her but she knew things were different now. Giles was right, if Buffy was infected with lycanthropy, she shouldn't be alone where Oz could reach her. The Slayer somehow knew the movement surrounding her was dangerous. After a moment several figures appeared on all sides of her, four on the other side of the river and three on her side. One in front, side and back. There were five males and two females and they had the same predatory look that Buffy had seen before when spirits of hyenas had possessed several of the students, including Xander. These males and females had that same feral look, even though they were dressed like any other high school or college student. Buffy stood up slowly and waited, her eyes darting around constantly, trying to keep them all in sight as they moved closer. The Slayer didn't even bother to look surprised when Oz stepped out of the trees and slowly approached her. He had dyed his hair and beard black, probably in an effort to avoid the police but that was the only thing that had really changed about him. , Buffy thought, His clothes hung limply on him and hadn't seen the inside of a washing machine in quite awhile. His shirt still had the blood from where she had stabbed him with the silver dagger a month earlier. "Oz," Buffy said easily. "About time you showed up," he growled. "Ready to join the pack?" "Not really, I was really looking for some quiet time," Buffy said easily. "You know how it is; slaying day and night, needed a break." "Don't fight it, Buffy," Oz ignored her quip. "I can smell my mark on you; you're already part of the pack." "You know, I discovered when I was cheerleader that I'm not really a joining person anymore," Buffy said casually as she jumped off the boulder, still keeping an eye on the other werewolves. "I think I'll pass on this one." "You don't have a choice," Oz growled, his green eyes shifting to wolf yellow. "Same old Buffy though, you'll probably be joking when someone rips your throat out." "Well, when that happens someday, I'll let you know," Buffy countered. "Buffy, either you come with us today and join the pack or I hurt you really badly and we take you anyway," Oz grinned, his teeth growing into fangs. "Nobody tells me what to do, even Giles learned that one a long time ago," Buffy growled. "You can't fight me, Buffy," Oz laughed a guttural laugh. "I'm your alpha male." "Don't you sense something else, Oz?" Buffy grinned right back at him as she pulled a silver dagger out of her belt. "I'm not yours!" Oz moved a little closer and sniffed the air and Buffy's muscles tensed. She grinned a vicious smile when his eyes widened in shock and he began to tremble. "Willow?" he said softly. "You mated with Willow? After I bit you?" "She insisted," Buffy grinned and answered Oz's growl with one of her own. "Seems she wants me instead of you, even as a wolf." Oz roared his rage and dived at the Slayer. Even expecting the attack, the swiftness almost caught Buffy off guard as Oz changed in mid-air and, as a full werewolf, tackled her into the boulder behind her. Knowing she didn't have to worry really about being bitten or scratched, Buffy fought back with no holds barred and rammed the dagger into his chest as he raked hers with one of his clawed paws. The werewolf fell back howling in pain as his pack gathered around him. Buffy noticed they were circling and appeared nervous but none of them moved in, they were leaving the fighting to their leader until he gave the signal. Buffy tried to regain her feet but was stunned to discover how much the slashes across her chest hurt. Oz managed to get to his feet at the same time the Slayer did and they squared off once again: Oz with his claws at the ready and Buffy with the dagger in her hand. Suddenly shots filled the air followed by screams and sounds of panic. Oz looked around in confusion as his pack was scattering to the woods or across the river and shots were following them. Two of his pack were on the ground, one dead with a head shot and the other moaning with a back wound that was probably fatal. Oz turned as Buffy attempted to stab him again and backhanded her into the water. He bounded over her to the other side of the river and disappeared into the woods. "Buffy!" "Here!" she called out, getting to her hands and knees in the water and then she began moving towards the embankment. Two sets of legs were there in a moment, splashing around her as hands grabbed her by the arms and helped her to the bank. She was turned over and she saw Giles and Tara examining her as her teeth began to chatter. "Glad you guys showed up," she stammered through her teeth. "We've got to get her to a hospital, even with her Slayer healing she's going into shock with that cold water and loss of blood," Giles grumbled as he stripped off his coat and covered the Slayer with it. Together they got the Slayer on her feet and began walking her back towards the car. "It's too far away, Giles," Tara complained as Buffy became harder to guide as she started to slip into unconsciousness. "I know, I know," he growled. "Listen, give me your jacket. I'm going to stay with Buffy; you get back to the car and guide the paramedics in here. I'm going to call them on the cell phone and tell them where the car is. Can you run that far and back?" "I have to," Tara said firmly and handed the Watcher her jacket. He quickly added it to his as he laid his charge on the pine covered forest floor. Tara was gone at a sprint. Giles leaned over Buffy and checked her pulse and wasn't happy with what he found. The Watcher moved his body alongside Buffy's and pulled her into his arms, trying to lend his warmth to her quickly cooling body. He pulled out his cellular phone and started making his calls, first to the paramedics; Detective Santiago was next, followed by the call to Joyce and Willow. =============================================================== Giles met Willow and Joyce outside the Emergency room. "She's going to be fine!" he said quickly, attempting to reassure a very anxious mother and lover of his Slayer. "Just as we feared, Oz and his pack found her and she fought with him. We got there in time to break it up but he got in one good slash across her chest and she landed in the creek." "Then why the hospital?" Willow demanded. "She went into shock from the loss of blood and the cold water, the doctor's are finishing stitching the wounds now and say that she'll be fine," Giles said gently. "They've warmed her up, replaced her blood and cleaned the wounds. They want to keep her overnight just to be sure." "When can we see her?" Willow asked. "They'll let Joyce in right after they finish with the stitches. They want the rest of us to wait until they move her upstairs," Giles answered and moved aside as Joyce rushed past him. He led the distraught witch inside the Emergency Waiting Room where Tara quickly hugged the redhead. Ignoring the other anxious people waiting for loved ones or waiting to be seen, the taller witch leaned down and kissed Willow lightly on the lips and continued to hug her. "Goddess, I needed that," Willow muttered. She and Tara went to a free set of chairs with Giles. The Watcher looked frazzled and Tara looked exactly like what she had been through, she looked like she had taken a mad dash through the woods in the middle of fall. There was mud covering the bottom of her sweat pants and sweat stains on the shirt and her hair was mussed up. Willow tried to ignore the blood on Tara's sweat jacket, knowing it was Buffy's. "Okay, what happened?" Willow leaned over, whispering to both of them. "Oz attacked her and they were fighting when we got there," Giles began. "Giles shot a couple of them and they scattered just as Oz knocked Buffy into the creek and ran," Tara finished. "She got in a good chest wound and so did he," Giles continued. "Tara ran to lead the paramedics in while I called everyone. I told Detective Santiago that Oz attacked her with some kind of clawed weapon, like a martial arts thing." "Good thinking," Willow muttered. "How bad are the wounds?" "Deep but not bad for a Slayer," he whispered. "They'll heal over and barely leave scars." "She was able to fight him?" Willow demanded, her green eyes shining brightly. "Yes, they were fighting when we got there," Tara nodded. "I think your bonding worked." "Thank the goddess," the witch muttered and leaned back in her chair. "I've called Xander to watch over Buffy's room tonight and Anya to stay with us at Joyce's place," Giles informed the young witches. "Good idea. Tomorrow we all need to talk about Halloween night," Willow said firmly. "I know we've been avoiding it but it's time." "I agree," Giles said wearily. All three stood up quickly when Joyce entered the waiting area and then rushed over to the Slayer's mother. "She's awake and asking for both of you," she said with a small smile. "They're moving her to the third floor, room 17. Go on up, Giles and I will follow." Willow and Tara were off promptly, trying to refrain from breaking into a run down the hospital corridor to the elevator. Joyce turned and accepted Giles' offer of an embrace as she began to cry. "How do you do it, Rupert?" she sobbed. "She looked so small on that bed. Those bandages were so large!" "I won't lie to you and say it gets easier, it doesn't," he admitted as they began walking towards the elevators. "What if she is infected?" she whispered. "How are we supposed to deal with that?" "I don't know, I just don't know." =============================================================== Buffy managed to smile when Tara and Willow entered the room and she reached out her hands to both of them. "Oh my God, Buffy!" Willow cried and held the Slayer's hand next to her cheek. "I fought him, Will," Buffy said softly as Tara stroked the blonde hair off Buffy's forehead. "He didn't control me." "And you almost got yourself killed!" Tara countered with a slight smile. "I'll be mostly healed by tomorrow," Buffy protested. "Taking on a pack of werewolves by yourself was not in the plan!" Willow responded. "Terrific, now I've got two girlfriends to gang up on me!" Buffy grinned. "You bet!" Willow nodded as Tara grinned and pulled up a chair. "Giles and your mom will be here in a minute," Tara said. "Cool," Buffy said softly. "I'm going to stay here until Xander takes over when he gets off work at the mall," Tara continued as Buffy began to drift into a drugged sleep. "My God, Tara, I can't lose either of you," Willow whispered, reaching across the bed and touching the other witch's arm. "I know, neither could we," she agreed. "Let's get through the next few days and see what happens." Willow nodded as Giles and Joyce entered the room. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Giles had over-ridden Tara's decision to stay with Buffy and insisted that she stay with Willow and Joyce and the three women had finally gone home, leaving the Watcher to watch over Buffy. The Watcher settled in with his notebook, writing down all the revelations of the last couple of days among the Wiccans and his Slayer while Buffy slept a healing sleep of recovery. Giles was stunned for a moment when he looked up at the sound of the door opening and realized Riley had stepped into the room. Giles frowned and put his notebook behind him in his waistband as he stood up. "What do you want, Riley?" he questioned. The young commando was in civilian clothes but had a very serious look on his face and Giles was cautious. "I've come for Buffy," Riley responded. "What on earth do you mean?" "We heard the police scanner and Detective Santiago's orders to look for Oz in the woods. She's been attacked by a werewolf and we're taking her in for safety," he said in a flat voice. "Buffy is our responsibility, not yours!" Giles hissed as he ran a hand through his mussed up hair. Riley, watching the Watchers' eyes, failed to notice Giles' other hand moving to his coat pocket. "Slaying vampires and demons is yours and now your Slayer is a hostile, that makes her our responsibility," Riley countered, his eyes showing anger. "Why, so you can lock her in a cage, put some device in her head to drive her insane for the rest of her life?" Giles demanded. "What will you do with her?" Riley countered. "Lock her away in a cell somewhere like you did Oz? So she can howl at the moon all night and maybe get out, like he did." "Buffy isn't going with you," Giles growled. "Get over it, old man," Riley snapped. "A team is on its way, we'll take her even if we have to go over you to do it." Riley looked surprised when he moved forward towards Buffy's bed and found himself staring at a Glock automatic pistol in Giles' hand. The commando froze in place. "You won't do it, librarian," Riley muttered. "You don't know Watchers, we train girls to fight better than you'll ever achieve," Giles smiled a deadly smile and Riley had the feeling he was suddenly watching a Bond movie. "My nickname used to be Ripper; do you really want to test whether I can pull the trigger to protect Buffy?" Riley looked down the barrel into the unflinching eyes and calm face of the Slayer's Watcher and knew with a chill that Giles really would pull the trigger and would have less remorse than Buffy over killing. "Get out of here, I want to watch from Buffy's window and see you moving across the lawn towards the parking lot," Giles ordered. "If I don't, then I'll shoot anyone coming through that door I don't know, including you and I am an expert shot and have plenty of clips in my pocket." "We'll be back for her," Riley warned. "If I see anything that looks like you or your playmates, I will nail your sorry bloody asses to the wall and pin your ears back, little boy," Giles growled and cocked the weapon as Riley turned bright red with anger. "Don't think that I'd get away with shooting my future step-daughter's stalking ex-boyfriend as he hovered over her hospital bed threatening her? This is Sunnydale, Riley, they won't even ask questions, especially after you were seen fighting with her physically because she rejected you for a female." "I'll kill you, Giles," Riley threatened. "It'll take more than you," Giles snarled. "You're male ego was so assaulted that you assailed her in the hospital after you heard she had been attacked. I found you threatening her and choking her and I had to defend my future stepdaughter. Forget about Buffy, tell your team that she wasn't bitten by Oz because she wasn't; she was slashed. Either you forget about her or I'll make sure every single person on campus hears my version of your hospital visit." "My superiors won't believe you!" "Yes they will, they know how hung up sexually you were with Buffy," Giles said easily. "They even doubted your judgment in bringing Buffy into the Initiative, didn't they?" Riley's refusal to answer was enough of an answer for the Watcher. "Leave, Riley, and convince your team she wasn't bitten or you'll deal with a very pissed off Slayer tomorrow," Giles suggested. "You shouldn't mess with the Initiative," Riley threatened. "I don't know what the conversation is about here but that sounded like a threat," a new voice entered the conversation and both Giles and Riley glanced over and saw Detective Santiago standing in the doorway with his gun drawn on Riley. Giles quickly lowered his pistol. "Young Mr. Finn was just leaving," he said calmly. "He and Buffy broke up last week and he isn't taking it well. I was encouraging him to leave." "Then maybe you should leave Mr. Finn," Detective Santiago said just as calmly, lowering his gun but keeping it in his hand. Riley turned on his heels and left, quickly. "Okay, Mr. Giles," Detective Santiago began as he entered the room and put his gun away. "It's time for some answers and I want the truth." Giles sighed heavily and sat down and became very attentive when Buffy began stirring. Detective Brad Santiago waited with his questions as they both watched the young blonde woman begin moaning and thrashing. Giles leaned over and gently held Buffy's hand and began shaking the Slayer. "Buffy, it's okay," he said softly. "Come on, wake up, you're safe." After a moment the wounded woman slowly opened her eyes and smiled slightly at the sight of Giles' concerned face. Her eyebrows rose in question when she spotted Detective Santiago on the other side of her bed. "Hey," she said. "Nightmare again?" Giles asked. "As usual," Buffy attempted to shrug and winced at the pain from moving her chest. "Ow!" "Easy, you," Giles chuckled slightly. "Detective Santiago walked in while I was having a rather heated discussion with Riley Finn." "Riley?" Buffy tried to sit up and moaned in pain. "What did he want? Last time I saw him he was calling me a dyke." "Buffy," Giles took off his glasses and began cleaning them with a Kleenex from Buffy's nightstand. "Detective Santiago is demanding answers and knowing him, he's going to keep digging." "You want him in?" Buffy asked with a frown. "Hey, I'm right here!" Brad protested but Giles waved at him in a dismissive manner, still focusing on his Slayer. "Well, it might be advantageous," Giles said thoughtfully. "If he believes us," Buffy countered. "Well, there is always the fresh grave approach," Giles smiled. "Oh right, like Merrick pulled on me!" Buffy smirked. "Goddamn it!" Brad nearly shouted. "What the hell is going on?" "Quiet for a moment, detective," Giles ordered. "It's Buffy's life that is the one ultimately at stake, it's her decision." "Well, we don't have to answer to the Council for someone other than the Powers That Be knowing what I do," she continued to frown in thought. "Yeah, okay, go for it." "It'll be difficult, how to convince him quickly," Giles said thoughtfully. "Fresh grave tonight?" Buffy suggested. "Seems the quickest plan," Giles agreed and turned to the detective. "Tell me, Detective Santiago, has anyone died within the last three days from massive blood loss from a brutal neck wound?" "Well, yeah, one of the detectives was talking about it," Brad answered with a frown. "Do you know where the victim is buried?" Giles asked. "No, afraid not," Brad answered, his face still a mass of confusion. "That's okay, Willow can hack into the Coroners records," Buffy said confidently. "Hey, that's not legal!" Brad protested. "Don't worry about it, Detective," Giles smirked. "It'll get much worse," the Watcher turned to Buffy. "I'll call Anya to watch over you until Xander gets off work." "Is Xander mad at me?" Buffy asked, her voice sounding younger and smaller. "No, Anya said that he is fine and thinks that he was an idiot," Giles smiled. "Sit down, Detective Santiago, it'll take Anya a few minutes to get here and we may as well start with the explanations." TBC