Hostile 24
Authors: Karen and Superpixie
Rating: Pg-13
Disclaimer: All characters are owned By Joss and Co.
Feedback: To Coe42@aol.com & Superpixie@aol.com
Part 1
Lights flashed and things screamed. They'd only turned their heads for a second. Only let their guards down for a second. It was enough. The beast fled the examine rooms. The glass started dropping, trying to trap it. It was too fast for them. Sliding under the last one, it leapt onto a stairwell. Climbing half on fours, it reached one of the emergency exits. It was out in less then ten seconds.
Walsh was furious. She slammed open communications. "All units. Hostile 24 has escaped. Repeat: Hostile 24 has escaped the grounds. All units: Search and apprehend. Use whatever means necessary. Bring me a corpse if you have to people. This one's contagious."
Riley dropped his radio. "We got a live one Garrett. Contagion factor. We're moving on this yesterday." Pulling on his flak jacket, Riley called out orders. "Mike, Angers, take Marty and reccie the North end. Garrett, Jake and I are south. Do not engage in hand to hand. Hostile 24 is a class ten contagion. That means teeth and claws. One bite and you're a hostile. Got it? Good."
Garrett clapped him on the back. "Don't worry. We'll get him."
"Yeah but before or after he makes contact with a civilian?"
Part 2
"Walsh seemed cranky today." Buffy observed as she and Willow walked across the crowded campus of UC Sunnydale. Willow nodded in agreement, tucking her pencil into her bag.
"Probably Initiative stuff. Maybe the 'Hostiles' were misbehaving." Willow squinted. "Do you ever wonder what they do to the... other ones? The non-Vamps?"
Buffy shrugged. "Riley was telling me. Less than the basics, really, but it sounds kinda brutal. Like experimental surgery, ooky stuff like that."
Willow made a face. "I don't know. I guess I'm still with the whole 'See a demon. Kill a demon' mode. Call me old-fashioned but if they're bad, ya slay 'em, otherwise, leave them be."
"There are always exceptions..." Buffy agreed, trailing off when something off in the distance caught her attention. "Riley!" She called. He turned, and waved to her. Both Willow and Buffy could instantly tell something was wrong.
They met halfway across the courtyard. "What's up?" Buffy asked, touching his arm.
"Long night." Riley replied. He lowered his voice as they started to walk. "We had a hostile escape last night. Left a huge mess and the thing's dangerous. So far we haven't caught it and Professor Walsh is less than happy about it."
"I noticed she wasn't fitting the bright eyed and bushy tailed mode this morning. What are you going to do?"
"Well, so far we've been scanning the campus all afternoon. Dressed as civilians, of course. Nothing. But there haven't been any reports of attacks either so that's a good sign. Walsh had us call for some back-up, and we're going full out tonight. That thing doesn't stand a chance."
"Happy fuzzy." Buffy said dryly. Riley smiled sheepishly.
"I don't mean to burden you. I might need your help, though."
"Ooh fun!" Buffy smiled at Willow. "A hunting demons date!"
Willow grinned as she replied. "There's nothing more romantic than beating up large, demonic creatures under the twinkling stars." She stopped, and gave her friends a small wave. "I'm gonna stop by the room and get some stuff before I head to the library. So I'll see you guys."
Buffy and Riley nodded, and continued on. Willow hurried up to her room, wanting to get to the library before the mid-afternoon crowd. She bounded in, tossing her books on the bed and walking to the closet to grab a sweatshirt. That was when she noticed it.
The bedspread had been removed from the bed. And there was definitely someone in the room with her. She breathed in silently. "Whoever you are, I have a big pointy number two pencil and I'm not afraid to use it."
There was no reply. She turned around and gasped at what she saw. The primal look in the green eyes that stared back at her made her blood run cold.
"Willow." Was the half growl that came from it's mouth.
Part 3
"Oz?"
It was under a blanket. It had only said one word. It was definitely Oz.
"Don't look at me." His voice was lower, more animal and he drew the blanket closer around his shoulders, hiding himself. Willow took a step forward. "Please. Willow, please."
Willow paused. "Oz?" Her voice sounded small and weak. He heart started hammering against her chest. "Oz.." She tried to close the gap between them. Oz backed away into the corner, huddling down. "What happened to you?"
His breathing was ragged. "I..couldn't leave the city. Cops on the border."
Willow felt herself get angry. "You've been here this whole time?" She moved forward and snatched the blanket away. She fell back in horror. Oz's face was half animal. "You're changing!"
Oz shook his head. "No. I've been...This." He sounded disgusted, scared. "They did something...Help me."
Willow dropped to her knees and cradled Oz's head in her hands. "Of course I'll help you. Oz...I love you."
"Can't. Can't love me like this."
~~~~~~~~~~
Riley's radio crackled to life. "Hostile 24 cornered. Stephenson. Request orders on engagement? Over."
Riley clicked in. "Negative. Do not engage. Repeat: Do not engage. Got a floor for me?"
The radio crackled and Garrett came on. "It's your girlfriend's room Riley." Riley turned to Buffy.
"Oh my God! Willow!" Buffy took off running.
"Buffy! Wait!" Riley swore and lifted the radio. "All units converge. Wait outside. Set up a safe perimeter. No one in or out. Repeat: No one in or out!" He took off after Buffy. In seconds they were up the stairs. Buffy stopped and kicked the door open. Riley pulled his gun. It was loaded with silver bullets. Special issue for hostile 24.
What he saw when he entered the room confused him. Hostile 24 was on the floor. He seemed unscathed. That wasn't the weird part. The weird was Willow who was gently stroking Hostile 24's hair. Riley aimed at them. "Step back Willow."
Her eyes met his and she moved to block Hostile 24. Then Buffy turned on him. "What the hell are you doing? You can't shoot him!"
"I'm doing?" Riley stared at them as if they'd gone nuts.
"You can't hurt Oz!" Willow screamed, shielding the hostile.
"Oz?" Riley held his gun steady.
Part 4
"Yes." Buffy spoke slowly, not entirely believing it herself. She looked down at Oz who was hiding behind the bed. Willow joined him and softly stroked his back. "Oz."
"I... I don't understand." Riley stuttered, his gun still aimed at Hostile 24... or Oz ... or whoever.
"What did you do to him?" Willow's voice was soft but held an anger that Riley had never heard before. Not even from Walsh on one of *those* days. She glared up at the commando, and then at Buffy, squeezing onto Oz's furry hand. "You want to lock up monsters. You want to 'learn about' them. YOU'RE the monster." Hot tears stung her eyes.
"Willow. Calm down." Riley lowered his gun to appease her.
"You've been keeping Oz and you didn't tell me?" Buffy looked up at him, she didn't want to believe it.
"No! I mean... I didn't know. I didn't know it was Oz. The first time I saw it -- Him, he was already in his half-lycanthropic state. I didn't recognize him." Riley looked helplessly from Willow to Buffy to... Oz. The half-wolfed out guy was breathing heavily, but it sounded more like growling. Riley shivered. "I'm sorry."
Buffy took a deep breath. "Okay. We need to think quickly here. What's... what's wrong with Oz? Why is he wolfy? The full moon isn't even close."
Riley swallowed heavily, his eyes fixed on Willow and Oz. Oz. The guy Willow had been depressed over forever had been right there the whole time. And oh, God, he'd helped do some of the things that... "It's a chemical. We've been ... performing experiments. Trying to control the change between human and beast. Eventually I think it's going to be sent to the main base. Used to help track and locate other hostiles--"
"Stop." Willow cried, looking at Riley. "I don't want to... Just change him back. Please you have to change him back. He's miserable like this."
"I.. I can't." Riley looked to Buffy. "You have to understand, there are orders that I have to follow. Right now, there are about 30 guys out there waiting for me to drag a creature out of here and back to the lab."
"But it's Oz." Willow protested. "Just explain to them that he's not dangerous that he's--"
"That doesn't matter. Walsh claimed him into the lab, there's nothing that's going to get her to let him go. Even if I didn't turn him in, someone else would find him. There's a tracking device planted on him " Riley shrugged helplessly, his eyes pleading with Buffy.
"Take it out. Take it back. Do something!" Willow was squeezing Oz's hand hard enough to break the bones. "Please, Riley."
"Riley, there has to be some way." Buffy said softly. "You can't send him back there."
"I... I'm sorry." Riley shook his head, averting his eyes. He jumped when Oz snarled at him.
"Change me back."
"I can't!"
"Do you know how?" Buffy was trying to stay calm. She could feel time closing in on them. "Do you know how to change him back?"
"I..." He trailed off. "We've been administering shots. I think that if he went a few days without one he might start to revert back to human form. But I can't be sure. And even so, it wouldn't..."
"Riley." Willow looked up at him. "Please. Just take the tracking thing out. Let Oz hide out for a while. Please."
"You're asking me to completely betray the Initiative and lie to my commander."
Three pairs of eyes stared at him. Two female, one animal. "Will you?"
Part 5
Riley stared at them as his radio let out a burst of static. Buffy's eyes pleaded with him and he knew what they were saying. 'Keep your mouth shut Riley.' He lifted the radio and clicked the button. "Finn. I have the hostile secured."
The light died out of Buffy's eyes. He liked her, maybe even loved her but he was a good soldier first and whatever else Oz was, he was a class contagion. Innocent people depended on him to protect them. "I'm sorry. He's contagious. I can't risk..."
"You son of a bitch!" Buffy slammed Riley through the closet door and spun to face her friends. "Let's go. I bet we've got less then a minute before GI Joe gets in here. Out the window." She grabbed Willow's arm and pushed her towards the window. Sliding a hand underneath her bed she pulled out the trank gun.
Oz blinked.
"It's not for you. It's for *them*. They're human...," She glance back at Riley, "barely." Buffy hopped out the window. Oz followed.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Garrett busted the door in. Riley hadn't answered his com. Now he knew why. Riley was sitting on the remains of the closet door, out cold. Garret clicked a smelling salts pack and wafted it under his leader's nose. "Riley?"
"Garrett? Where...?"
"The hostile?" Garret scanned the room. There were no other signs of violence. The window was open. He clicked his radio on. "The hostile went out the window, possibly has hostages...Riley wasn't kidding when he said not to engage. Shoot to kill that thing."
"No.." Riley's world was swirling back into focus.
"It's okay buddy. We'll get the S.O.B."
"Garrett...Don't." Riley had to get up. Had to tell them not to kill Oz. If only the room would stop spinning in and out of focus. "What have I done?"
~~~~~~~~~~~
Oz could scent a hundred humans. It was the gun oil that gave the commandos away. He clutched Willow's hand like a life line and let her flare out like a flag behind him. Ducking under and around bushes with Buffy keeping pace beside him, Oz felt scared and hopeful.
This could be his potential happy ending or just an ending. Careful of his claw tips he held Willow's hand tighter and then Buffy had slammed them both down into the earth. Mud and grass blurred his senses. Willow's fresh scent was all over him as she kept his head pressed close to the ground. Her voice carried her scent into his ears. "Buffy says we're surrounded. Oz..I, I thought Riley would help us. I'm sorry."
Oz tried to form words around his fangs. "It's okay. We'll be fine."
Of course by then the search light was blinding both of them. Oz felt Willow's tears hit the back of his neck as he turned toward the light. His eyes reflected the light like a dog and he heard clips click into place.
"Hostile 24 has been captured outside of Stephenson. Over."
Part 6
He was vaguely aware of waking up. Sounds and smells overpowered him and it felt as if he were blind. Bright white. Dead? No, he was being moved. Dropped onto hard cold surface.
He barely felt the needle pinprick on his side. He heard the animal howl that echoed around the room, though. Was that him? Where was he?
He blinked, and for a moment, the blindness went away and it wasn't blindness at all but the sterile walls.
"Oz?" It was Riley, standing over him, looking down. He said it so softly that only his sensitive ears would be able to pick it up.
He tried to respond. A growl came out instead, and Riley disappeared.
What was happening to him?
"Hostile 24 recaptured and has been sedated." He heard Riley's voice. "I will administer the injections from this point on to assure security and safety." It felt as if it were pulsing through him. He felt like he was getting further and further away and that terrifying feeling, the one he'd gotten seconds before he had changed and killed Veruca filled him. Primal rage and instinct and lust. Bare essential needs. Needing. Wanting.
Oh God.
****************************
"It's going to be okay." It was Buffy's mantra. She held Willow tightly, letting the shaking witch cry into her shoulder. "It's okay. We'll get him back. It's okay."
"All this time!!" Willow cried, in between sobs. "Here all this time and... Buffy he was here! I was holding him! He must be so scared."
"It's okay, Will. It's fine. I'll beat the living shit out of Riley until he submits to my will. We'll get Oz out. I'll go straight to Walsh myself tomorrow and *make* her give him back."
Willow wiped away her tears. "What if it doesn't work? What if it's too late and he's like that forever?! He doesn't deserve this!"
"No." Buffy replied firmly. "He really didn't."
"I want him back." Willow sniffled.
There was a soft knock on the door. It slid open and Riley appeared. Willow gave him an icy stare but Buffy just looked hopeful.
"I think I have an idea." He announced.
Part 7
Buffy stared at Riley. Her eyes were cold in a way that only Buffy could pull off. He took a step back but held on. Redemption could happen..Right?
"Before you kick my ass, hear me out."
"Talk."
"We kill him." Riley stated with absolute conviction. Willow burst into tears.
"That's you're idea of a solution? You want to kill Oz?!" The witch moved forward as if to attack him. "I think that that idea sucks and.. And you suck and I'm sorry I ever told you that Buffy likes cheese you mean evil You!" Her eyes were blazing and she started to carve symbols out of the air.
"You better have a damned good..." Buffy started.
Riley cut in. "I do. And it's a good explanation. I promise. Right now I need to get back. Walsh has Oz sedated. It's only a matter of time before she decides she wants to experiment on him again..." Willow made an odd noise. "Sorry."
"No you're not. Cause you're a good boy, Riley. A good soldier. I can't believe I ever liked you. I am so going to kick your ass." Buffy moved forward. Riley wisely stepped out of arm's reach.
"Buffy..." Riley gave up when she pulled the stake. To say he made a strategic retreat was an understatement. In other words: He bolted.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Walsh stood over the lycanthrope. He was heavily sedated but the beast still managed to thrash around. She couldn't risk another dose. Might kill him before she was ready. She just needed to get another shot into him while he was calm. Garrett brought her the hypodermic. "It's some kind of flea repellent?"
Walsh grinned darkly. "Not exactly. This should destroy any desire our Hostile 24 has of ever escaping." She grabbed the hostile's arm and pulled the sleeve up. This would be more difficult to administer since the last shot had covered Hostile 24 in a downy fur. Not that she minded. Maggie Walsh loved a challenge.
"What does it do?" Garrett asked. His curiosity was becoming tiresome. Luckily for him, Riley chose that moment to arrive. "Finn, here." She handed him the needle. "I need to round up another toxicology screening. He's not reacting as well as we thought to the shots. Good work stalling the hostile long enough for the recapture."
"Thank you sir." Riley stood straighter. "But it was more a case of creatively getting my ass kicked, sir."
"Nevermind. Inject the subject and join me in the observatory. One of the other hostiles has been acting up. We may have to eliminate it. I can't have another breech of security." Walsh walked towards the door.
"What does this do, sir?" Riley asked holding up the needle.
"What do you care? Inject him and let's go." Walsh grimaced. Everyone was becoming entirely too dependent on questioning her orders.
"Sir?"
She sighed. Deciding to indulge or endure his curiosity she answered him. "It will destroy the centers for accumulated memory."
"Won't that...?" Riley looked a little green. Walsh was amused.
"Destroy his entire experience of life, personality and desire to escape. Yes, Riley, it will. Now give him a good poke and let's go."
Part 8
Shining white lights blurring out everything. Voices echoing inside his head, so soft, muffled by the beasts' whimpers.
I am Him. I am It. I am. I am.
Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Trust? No trusting.
Needle.
~~~~~~~~~
"Finn, what is the problem?" Professor Walsh glared agitatedly at Riley as he stared down at Oz.
< Please. Just a distraction. > He begged silently. < Please. Please. >
"Sir!" Forrest jogged up, panting, the side of his shirt torn slightly. Walsh and Riley both looked at him, surprised. "We've got a code red." He breathed. "Again. Hostile 11. Hasn't succeeded in escape but it almost took a bite out of Campbell and your assistance is needed."
Walsh looked back to Riley for a moment. "Can you handle this?"
He took a deep breath and poised the needle against Oz's neck. "Affirmative."
She watched him warily as she walked out the door. "I trust you, Finn."
Riley watched her go. < Thanks, Distraction sender. > He took a deep breath and leaned down close to Oz's pointed ear. "Hang on, Oz. I'll get you out of this." He moved into the one angle he knew the security cameras couldn't see clearly and stuffed the hypodermic needle into his pocket, pulling out the replacement needle within a second's time. He knew that realistically, he would need a new solution to counteract the Initiative's experiments if Oz would ever get back to normal. But for now, keeping the new hypodermics out was all he could do. He poised the needle at Oz's neck and moved back into position, ready to give him the "injection."
Then he heard the door open and shut behind him. He turned around and his eyes widened.
"Get the hell away from him." Willow demanded.
Part 9
Riley was surprised. Okay, shocked was a stronger more accurate word. "Willow how the hell did you get in here?" Guiltily, Riley pulled the needle away from Oz's neck.
"Same way I got in." Buffy stepped into the room behind Willow. Riley felt his heart jump to rabbit speed. She was dressed...To kill. Him. "Buffy." <Explain Riley. Tell her you're actually helping her. On camera where Walsh can see you.> He slammed the needle into Oz's throat and pushed the plunger. Oz winced and Riley flinched.
Buffy had him a foot of the floor before he could remove the needle. It was just a simple vitamin shot but he had to make it look good...for Walsh. Of course that meant getting his ass kicked by Buffy. Again. She slammed him into the walls while Willow touched Oz's cheek almost reverently. Then her eyes turned evil. Hands came out in front. A low chant came demonically from her lips and her being dressed in a fuzzy shirt with a picture of a bunny on it just intensified his terror. <She kills me with magic and Walsh will mark her as a hostile.>
A wind began to rise up ruffling their hair. Willow's eyes began to shift to a horrifying black when Oz let out a sharp bark of pain. The wind dropped and she turned. "Oz?"
"Will..."
Buffy growled and pinned Riley to the wall. Leaning in close she breathed. "I get him out of here. I come back for you and tear this place into tiny pieces of confetti. What was in the needle, Riley? More hormones or whatever?"
Riley whispered his answer.
"What?" Buffy leaned in closer and Riley whispered. "Cameras."
"What? Oh. Huh?" Buffy kept her eyes on Riley deliberately not looking for the cameras. She gave him a vicious shake. "Don't tell me you're going to help me?"
Riley bit down a smile.
Buffy tossed him across the room. "Sorry farm boy. Not buying it."
Willow slid a supporting arm under Oz. His flesh was hot. Then his features slipped becoming more feral. "Buffy! He's getting worse!"
Buffy straddled Riley. "Looks like it's your lucky day. You get to be my hostage."
Part 10
Riley felt himself being pulled up before he could blink. He saw Willow holding Oz's canine-like face in her hands, whispering soothing words to him.
"You're going to be okay. You're going to be *fine.* A good nice Oz that's wolfy but only looks it three nights a month. Like before." She looked down. "Only different."
Oz snarled an unintelligible reply. Willow looked at Buffy, distressed.
"How long do we have?" Buffy murmured into Riley's ear, standing behind him and slinging her arm violently around his body for sake of the security cameras. She held a knife to his throat. "Cough twice for a while, and once for not awhile."
Riley coughed once ... then hesitated. He didn't cough again. Buffy sighed. He murmured a weak "Please stop!" Hoping the cameras would pick it up.
"Hours?" She whispered.
He nodded, then spoke. "Yes, I'll do anything you say, just drop the knife."
"Can you get a counteracting formula?"
He nodded again. "I promise."
She smiled, trying to make it look wicked. Then she opened the door and walked out with him. Willow stayed back with Oz in hopes that the Initiative wouldn't barge in and do terrible things to them. She sat on the examining table and pulled Oz into her lap. His eyes were dark and feral, his nose and mouth had almost completely morphed into a snout. His hands/paws clutched at her hips and for a second she could swore she could see the terror behind his eyes. The Oz part of his consciousness knew it wouldn't be long before he went away.
"Love you." He growled. Willow bit back a sob.
"I love you, too!" She kept stroking his back. "Don't say that. You'll be okay. Remember animal crackers?" She pulled the box out of her purse quickly.
"See. We can eat them. Like we used to. It's okay." She was beginning to shake.
*************************************
"Let him go." Walsh barked at Buffy as they stepped into the main room. She was flanked by ten or so members of the Initiative on each side. < Where did they come from??? > Buffy tried not to panic. She could handle this.
"Let Oz go." Buffy replied, tightening her grip on Riley's neck. He did his best to look more afraid than he was. Which he was. That thing was sharp and she was strong.
"Who?" Walsh eyed Buffy impatiently. She didn't even look at Riley.
"Hostile ... whatever. The wolf. He's ours."
"I'm afraid I have to disagree." Walsh replied coolly, with a click of her tongue. "We've administered several different hormones and hypodermals, the transformation into complete wolf is irreversible. He's ours."
Buffy's mouth tightened up and she pressed the blade into Riley's flesh. "You think I care about that?" She lied. "I know people. He'll be back to normal before you'll even have time to fill his spot."
Walsh stared Buffy directly in the eye. "Try to take him." Buffy shivered. The smile on Walsh's face was truly evil. "We implanted a second device into him a little over an hour ago to ensure he wouldn't escape again. If he gets within five yards away from here, or if I just feel like pressing a small red button, it will send electronic shocks directly to his heart and it will fail."
Riley closed his eyes. < Of course. I should have known they'd try it on him.
> It was time to make a decision. Walsh was making it sound a lot more complicated than it was. The implant could be deactivated without even laying a hand on Oz. He silently hoped that Buffy would see through the Professor.
"I..." Buffy trailed off, looking down at Riley. He wouldn't look at her. He just coughed. Once. Twice. Three times. < Huh? >
Walsh raised an eyebrow at Buffy's puzzled expression. The Slayer noticed and recovered as quickly as she could.
Had to buy time. "I don't believe you." She tried to look confident.
"Would you like me to prove it?" Walsh held up something that resembled a remote and tapped a button.
Riley and Buffy both jumped as Oz's howl, and Willow's sob of fear echoed from the other side of the closed door behind him.
Walsh grinned. "Still skeptical Ms. Summers?"
Part 11
Willow panic. Not good. Oz concentrated. Words slipped from him. He could barely remember his name. He could remember her name. Willow. Willow and pain.
~~~~~~
Willow shrieked. High pitched terror escaped her when Oz's body jerked. She felt the shock through him and his claws tightened into balls on her lap. He was trying to protect her from his fingers. White rimmed his irises and little flecks of foamy spittle touched his lips. "Oz? Oz??"
~~~~~~
Riley was suddenly bleeding. Buffy had nicked him. Her hold had tightened when Oz had howled. Then Willow screamed. The knife bit deeper. The trickle was warm and it trailed down onto his gray undershirt. The guards cocked their rifles.
Walsh held her little remote control.
"Okay maybe I'm not as skeptical." Buffy managed. Riley could tell all she wanted to do was check on Willow and Oz.
"Your friend is contagious. He's worse than aides. Werewolves eat people Ms. Summers or had you forgotten?"
"I'm not explaining Oz to you. I don't care if you think he's a.." She leaned down to Riley. "What did you call him?"
"Class one contagion." Riley choked out.
"Right. I don't care. I'm going to do something. Any minute now. And you won't like it. Oh boy do I need help with the threatening. Guess I'll just have to kill your boy here." Buffy pressed the knife into the small cut. Riley hissed.
Walsh laughed. "You won't do it. You like him. Whatever I've done doesn't change your feelings about him. Stupid sentimental girl. I'm waging a war here and you're playing at bluffing. Hostile 24 is..."
"My friend." Buffy growled.
"I'm not interested in your personal feelings. Just tell me one thing and I'll let Oz go." Walsh smirked.
"What one thing?" Buffy asked hopefully.
"Has Oz ever killed anyone?" When Buffy didn't answer, Walsh nodded. "I thought so."
"I'm tired of this game." Buffy feigned boredom. "Gimmee the dog collar and I'm out of here."
"No."
"Fine." Buffy's grip tightened on Riley. She lifted him and tossed him into the firing line. Then Buffy dove on Walsh grappling for the control.
~~~~~~~~~
Fear. Scared. Terror. Homonyms??? Rage. Willow.
Oz's eyes whirled. Willow watched them. She could almost feel his mind slipping out of his body. She ran her fingers through his coarse hair as his shirt got tighter as muscles corded and swelled. She was probably going to die in this room. Eaten by her own boy friend. Kissing the top of his head, Willow ran through a million spells in her head. One had to fit.
It just had to. Otherwise Oz was about to get the Willow special with fries and a side of regret.
~~~~~~~~~
Riley thought furiously. Entangled in his own men he purposely made it difficult for him to get out of the way. By then Buffy was safely wrestling with Walsh. Now all he had to do was get those implants out of Oz. The simplest way, the way he'd mentioned before. He was going to stop Oz's heart.
Part 12
"Goddess... Goddess...Oh!" Willow cried in frustration. She could feel Oz slipping away more and more every millisecond. Spells whirled through her head but they didn't fit. None of them. She might have to resort to turning Oz into a turnip but she didn't even know if that would work. Needed the protection spell. Or god, was it the spell that made people unconcious. Oh god...
She shut her eyes. She saw him in the van telling her he'd wait. He'd always wait for her. His perfect green eyes that liked to make her feel like he was a blind person that had just regained eyesight and she was the first sunset he'd ever seen.
When he growled she had to open her eyes. He wasn't Oz anymore. And she had to tell herself that at least four times before she believed it and backed herself into a corner.
**********************
Buffy grunted. She had managed to pin Walsh onto the ground but she only had a few seconds. Had to get the remote before Riley couldn't hold out blocking the other guards. What were they going to do? She had to think fast. Get the remote and get the hell out. But what about Oz? So they could keep Walsh from killing him. That didn't get the implants out and that didn't help.
She hit Walsh and vaguely wondered if this might mean she was going to fail Pysche 101. She grabbed the remote.
"Tell me how to turn them off." Buffy demanded.
Walsh coughed. Blood was running down her face and Buffy had a feeling blood would be coming up pretty soon. "Ask your traitor lover to tell you."
Buffy's face darkened. Riley. She looked back. Riley had actually managed to tangle a couple of the Initiative onto the floor. He needed to get to Oz before one of Them did. She knew it. "GO!" She shouted to him. Their cover was already blown. Too late now.
He looked up at her. Walsh was close to unconscious and Buffy had the remote and was probably going to break it. She could handle this. He nodded and kicked his shoe off into the blob of people he had once called friends but would probably soon be calling death threats waiting to happen. He disappeared into The room as Buffy moved into the crowd.
*********************
Willow didn't notice Riley come in until Ozwolf snarled and jumped at him. Riley was prepared. He had the tranq stick and he touched him with it. Ozwolf squealed but fell over.
"It will only work for a minute." Riley panted at Willow. She didn't hear him. Remembering Barry White and the time they had gone to babysit together and ended up watching a Pop-Up Video marathon on TV all snuggled up and eating popcorn and...
"WILLOW!" She snapped out of it. Her now non-existant fingernails burned pain.
"Wha?"
"I need you." Riley motioned to Oz who was already coming to it. "Need a spell. To disengage the implants."
Willow nodded softly. Ozwolf was looking at her. It was Oz it was. He was still in there he had to be. "Is he going to be okay?" She whimpered. She was losing it now. In a major way.
"Willow." Riley kneeled down and shook her. "I need you. Do the spell and he will be but it's the only way."
That seemed to spark some sanity into her. "What do I need to do?"
"Listen to me. And please don't interrupt. I need you to do a spell to stop his heart and I promise you we'll revive him but the only way to deactivate them is to stall his heartbeat."
Willow was already shaking her head. "I can't. I could kill him I can't do that. I'm not that good yet, and I just can't risk hurting him--"
Ozwolf was grogily trying to stand up. She looked over at him.
"You have to risk it. It's his only chance and it's our only chance."
Buffy barged in, panting and with a few new bruises. "We need to get out of here, like faster than stat." She leaned against the door, trying to keep out the Initiative. "And I need some weapons."
Riley kept staring at Willow. "He'd want you to. Willow, please."
Willow sighed. She could hear the Initiative yelling and trying to get in. She looked to Ozwolf, who was still struggling to get up, but was ready to kill. Tried to think of what Oz would tell her to do. < 'Whatever you decide, I'll back your play.' >
"Okay." She said shakily. "I'll do it."
Part 13
Maggie Walsh was livid. If there were a word to describe her mood it would be too obscene to pronounce. Nobody betrays her. NO ONE. She turned to Graham, "Get in there. Riley is a traitor. You are authorized to shoot him on site. Is that understood?"
Graham blanched. Garret's eyes went wide. "IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?"
"Sire, yes sir." They moved to the door and started hitting the override codes. Walsh would not lose the best tracker she could create. And imagine a bunch of criminals turned into lycanthropic hostile trackers...No. This was too good of an opportunity. "I need that door OPEN! NOW!"
~~~~~~~
Buffy ripped the wires out of the door and heard a painful scream on the other side. "SORRY!" She turned back to see Willow staring Oz down.
Riley held the tranq rod. But he didn't want to use it again. Willow turned to Riley and pulled a knife out of his belt. Slashing it across her wrist she let the blood hit the floor with a warm hiss. "Don't anybody tell Giles what I've been reading, okay?" Then with her foot she smeared the blood into a cross pointing at Oz.
Buffy dragged the gurney over and tried to use it against the door. Willow stared into Oz's feral eyes and bit back a world of tears. She was going to kill him. No questions. No arguments. She cleared her mind of every memory of their love and concentrated on the spell. The room kicked up a wind out of nothing. Willow felt her eyes begin to swell with power. She shouted. "Auitomi Dio!" Sparks flowed around her. "Caro mio, dimi morti. Dimi morti. Tu sei morti."
Lightening struck the werewolf dead center of his chest. He collapsed like a house of cards. Willow heard a horrible keening sound. It was the sadest most painful sound any human could ever make. Riley grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Willow??" He was slammed aside by Buffy. "God, Will? What did you do??"
Riley slid across the floor to Oz. He cautiously tapped him. When the fury beast didn't move, Riley pressed his hand against the pulse point. He bowed his head. "He's dead."
"No!!" Willow shouted. Then scrambled out of Buffy's grip. "He's not. He can't be. Because I..." The door pounded. Willow glared at them. "They'll be in any second."
Riley slid his hand across the floor obliterating the charm as Willow slammed his knife into Oz's body. Straight through to Oz's heart. Then she grabbed his hand and put it on the knife.
The door burst open. Riley was shocked. Willow stood up and shouted at Riley. "TRAITOR! You KILLED HIM! Why??"
Walsh pushed her way into the room. Riley stood up, ramrod straight. "The hostile is dead. Contagion contained. Sorry for the ruse sir. Permission to dispose of the body?"
Professor Walsh frowned. "Get a blood sample for work up. Graham, check his heart. I need to know which is the ruse. Forgive me for being skeptical. You've just turned your coat one too many times today."
"Sir." Riley answered.
"Look, you got what you wanted. Our friend is dead. Let me bury him for his family..." Buffy's face was blotchy with tears.
Graham stood up. "Implants disengaged. No heart beat. This dog's dead."
Willow burst into tears.
Professor Walsh gave her an almost sympathetic look. "Dump the body in the incinerator."
"NOOOO!!!" Willow screamed.
Part 14
Riley was amazingly calm, considering the fact that he had both aided in the death of his girlfriend's bestfriend's boyfriend and betrayed his commander in a matter of minutes. He knew he didn't have a lot of time to get Buffy and Willow safely out of the HQ and revive Oz.
"Affirmative." Riley avoided Buffy's gaze and tried to block out the sound of Willow's tears. He snapped into extra-good-soldier-boy-mode. "Permission to request to make a suggestion sir?"
Walsh exhaled softly. "Ask away Agent Finn." She eyed the slayer carefully.
"Perhaps I should see to it that these civilians are taken care of." He desperately hoped he had sounded somewhat convincing. "Before I dispose of the hostile."
"Perhaps you should do what I tell you and I should assign Graham the task of making sure these two girls don't talk." Walsh nodded towards the other agent present and Riley resisted gulping. 'making sure people didn't talk' usually meant they didn't make it home.
"Sir, yes sir." He nodded, hoisting Ozwolf's limp body up over his shoulder. Without looking back he walked out.
*************************
"I hate this part." Graham muttered as he led Willow and Buffy down a dark hallway. The room for dead people, Buffy presumed. Willow was still fairly hysterical though she was attempting vainly to hide it.
"Why don't you just let us go?" Buffy tried to reason with him, not sure whether or not Riley had come through. No matter what, whether he was swinging for the Initiative or the Slayer team, he definitely deserved a best actor nod. "I mean, you know I'm the slayer and all. I could probably kick your ass a few times before you had time to aim that gun."
Graham looked straight ahead. He was following orders. Wait five minutes after Finn left. Forcefully relocate potentially harmful civilians to room 203. Terminate lives of potentially harmful civilians. Check back in with Walsh. Forget. Forget.
"So where did Riley take Oz -- or, I mean Hostile 3.14 or whatever?" Buffy kept on going. "C'mon, you can tell me. You're gonna kill me. Who could I tell?"
"The location of the incinerator is of no interest to you." He spoke clearly and was proud.
"Graham! Graham. Agent Morris!!!" Riley's voice suddenly echoed through the corridor and Graham raised his gun almost automatically.
"Finn?" He called back.
"Graham we've got complications in here. Hostile is showing signs of struggle and awakening. Repeat he's not dead. I need a hand." Riley's voice was muffled through a door, though Buffy couldn't tell which one.
Graham looked from Buffy to Willow and then back down the hall before replying. Then he grabbed each one of the girls with one hand and shoved them into the nearest room, closing the door and locking it. "I'm coming in, Finn."
********************************
Buffy couldn't see Willow but she could hear her sniffling.
"Is Riley serious? Or is he ... what's he doing?" Willow was rocking herself softly. Oz was dead. She had killed him.
"I don't know." Buffy replied honestly. "I hope he's doing something superhero like and that in a few minutes he'll bust in with Oz in tow and we can get out of here."
Willow couldn't smile. "Me too."
"If he does that ... what... I mean..."
"A spell. I did a spell I can reverse the spell it should be easy, I mean it can't be that hard." Willow was mumbling more to herself than to her friend.
*****************
Riley was glad there weren't security cameras in the incinerator. For some reason they didn't seem to find any need to watch the dead. His fist stung as he watched Graham slump to the ground and felt his first pang of regret since he'd gone against Walsh and tried to save Oz.
"I wish I didn't have to do that." Riley once again hoisted Oz up on his back and took a deep breath. This was the big It. If he made it to have grandchildren one day this would be his "saving the day in the war" story. Or maybe that was wishful thinking.
******************
By the time they got outside it was dark, which was one amazing blessing in itself. Made it easier to escape and boy they had to run fast.
"Willow." Riley called to the redheaded witch without raising his voice. "He needs to be resuscitated as soon as possible. That means now."
"I know. I know I know." Willow was panting for breath. Do the spell now. Consequences later.
"There's not ... there's a chance it's too late." He had to tell her. He couldn't have her fall apart if Oz didn't wake up. They needed to get away. Graham was a friend. But he was a soldier. The likeliness of him covering up for him was very much slim to none. Not to mention the fact that Willow and Buffy were supposed to be dead.
"I know. I know." Willow searched her mind. It was harder to find the spell in there. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them. "We have to stop for a second."
Riley slowed and lowered Oz onto the ground behind a bush, out of sight if They happened to catch up with them. Buffy had to sprint back to them she was so far ahead.
Willow leaned down and clutched Oz's furry paw. "Oz dimi vivi. Caro mio, tu sei vive. Caro mio." She watched his chest anxiously. A second stretched on for a good three months in her mind, and his body shook suddenly.
Riley leaned in closer. "Is he breathing?"
Part 15
Willow couldn't answer. She felt magic coursing up through her like the last time. It took almost no energy to kill. The reverse spell was taking everything she had left. She repeated the words again and again.
Buffy watched Willow as light exploded from Oz's eyes, nose throat and knife wounds. "Willow?" As Oz's body shook for the second time, Willow began to rock back and forth. "Willow??" The girl's eyes blazed with orange light and she toppled. Buffy was stalled. She didn't know who to check on. Tears sprang up in her eyes as she saw the two bodies lie still. Were they both dead? *Oh God. The spell went wrong. Oh God, oh God oh...*
Riley stared at her for a split second and then made the decision for her. He went to Willow's side. Buffy dropped down next to Oz. Her hand flew to his throat. Nothing. Buffy let tears run down her cheeks, leaving her hand on her friend's furred throat. She turned to Riley and he shook his head once. Willow was dea...Buffy felt a flutter beneath her fingertips. "Oz?"
Riley was covering Willow with his flak jacket. Buffy rounded on him. "Check her again!"
"Buffy, I'm sorry..So..What?" Riley pulled the jacket back as Willow's chest fluttered. Oz's mouth opened and he sucked in air bolting into a sitting position. He dragged black animal lips back into a snarl. He was up faster than Buffy could react. He launched himself at her.
Willow tossed the jacket aside and through up her hands. "STOP!!" A light blazed out of her hands and hit Oz square in his lupine chest. He stopped in mid air, suspended. Riley blanched.
"I didn't know you could do that!" Buffy exclaimed, getting out of Oz's reach.
"I can't..I mean, I." She faltered and Oz dropped to the ground. He stayed their, shocked. His eyes whirling in fear. Willow slumped forward.
"That's it. I'm getting everyone out of here." Buffy hefted Oz. "Riley get Willow. We need Giles."
Riley gently scooped Willow up into his arms. "What about Walsh?"
"Walsh...can wait." Buffy's head was whirling. "Or maybe Giles knows how yo handle her.." She was exhausted and out of good plans. She took off and hoped Riley would follow her like a good soldier.
~~~~~~~~~~
The door burst open. Giles dropped his magazine as Buffy charged in and dumped a werewolf onto his coffee table. "Buffy this is..." He spotted Riley and Willow. "Oz? This is Oz?!"
"Giles..Walsh had Oz. They did stuff to him. Willow had to kill him. Then she unkilled him but stunned him and we need manacles. Kay??" Buffy looked nervously at the werewolf who was beginning to twitch his way out of shock. Giles stared. "Giles. Manacles. NOW!"
He started out of his own shock. "Yes. Yes of course." And moved to the trunk. He pulled them out as Riley lay Willow on the sofa. He moved forward to snap them onto Oz's wrists when a thought occurred to him. "The full moon isn't for a coupla ..."
"Giles. Manacles" Giles slapped them on. "Walsh had him?"
Riley stood up stiffly. "The Initiative bagged and tagged hostile 24 almost three months ago. Suspect was attempting to reenter Sunnydale. I had no idea it was Oz. I, they...We experimented on him."
Giles puffed up indignant. "You experimented on him? Did no one care to notice he is a human being most of the month??"
Riley's eyes dropped shamed. Giles turned his attention to Willow. "How is she?"
Buffy frowned. "I think she's just exhausted. She used magic on Oz a lot tonight. Walsh is going to hunt us down. Riley, maybe you should do a sweep of the house."
"She'll kill us, Buffy. She has an army." Riley opened the door and stepped outside.
Giles' thoughts were whirling. He'd known he hated Walsh for a reason. He also knew now was not the time. Willow was coming round. Oz struggled feebly on the coffee table.
"Oz?" She breathed. "Is he?"
"He's alive, Willow." Giles touched her cheek. She was cool to the touch. "You've done a lot tonight."
"And I need to do more...Commandos...Figured it out. We can make them forget this happened." Willow rubbed her forehead.
Giles stared at her. "That's magic on a grand scale Willow...Perhaps we should just attack Walsh. Make her forget."
"Oooh Giles is practical." Willow mumbled.
"Or we could kill her." Giles thought grimly then realized he'd spoken aloud.
"Not so practical. They'd notice. So do we have to get Walsh here?" Buffy asked. Riley opened the door. "Nothing. We're clear. That won't last."
"So how do we do this thing?" Buffy asked the room.
Giles frowned. "We go to Walsh."
Part 16
Riley blanched. "We just escaped from there and you want us to go back into that hell hole?"
Giles pulled a handkerchief across his glasses. "Walsh is in charge yes? Walsh wants the three of you dead. The soldiers do what she says. We make her forget to kill you..."
"The soldiers forget to." Riley finished.
"In a manner of speaking. Unfortunately I need to be within twenty feet to cast properly." Giles grabbed a small green book and started rummaging in a box. "Now as how we accomplish this..."
Buffy bit her lip. "Oh! Make us invisible!" They all stared at her. "Then we could sneak up and splash her with the 'forget me' potion. Good plan?"
"It would be. I just don't know how to accomplish it." Giles sighed mournfully. Willow frowned. "Oooh we could cast a glamour. Sneak up on them as trees.."
"No good. Walsh will be down in the compound. And trees would be conspicuous to the 'shoot first ask never boys'." Buffy grimaced and her eyes darkened. "We'll just have to do this the old fashioned way. We'll go in the front."
"We will?" Willow looked at the coffee table. Her heart sank at the emptiness in Oz's eyes.
"No."
"No? But you said..." Willow reached out and touched Oz's hair. She jumped when he growled but placed her hand on him farther down away from his teeth.
"Riley and I are going in the front. You and Giles are sneaking up behind them." Buffy grabbed up a trank gun. "And maybe I can get Walsh with the Sleepytime gun."
"Oh Buffy..." Giles wanted to argue but he didn't have a better plan.
~~~~~~~
Riley knew this was nuts. The commandoes were good. Better than good, these guys were the best the US had to offer. The streets were more than likely roadblocked. The perimeter had to be established by now and the boys were homing in on Oz's nonhuman life sig as Riley and Buffy creeped.
Willow and Giles had moved off into the side streets as soon as the door has opened. Oz was safely locked in Giles' basement and Xander was on his way to wolf sit. Riley surveyed the area to his right and motioned to Buffy. "Two on the right."
Buffy nodded. "One on the roof. Two on the left, one behind that pillar and your two. Not bad." She whispered. All they needed was a few more minutes and then it was frontal assault time. Riley sighed. This day had not turned out the way he had planned it. "So now what?"
Buffy stalked out into the middle of the street. "Hey losers. Get down here and kick my ass." Riley stepped out next to her. "That's your plan?"
"Yep." Buffy watched as marines appeared out of cover. "That's better. I like to see who I'm about to beat the hell out of before the beating. I'm quirky that way." She breathed to Riley. "I need to buy Willow and Giles time. And a brawl is just the fun way."
As the soldiers bum rushed them Riley rolled his eyes and moved back to back with Buffy. "Nice plan. Really great."
"Shut up and hit people." Buffy shot a guy in the crotch with the trank gun. "Oooo Sorry."
~~~~~~~~
Giles took the lead as they climbed down the secret ladder escape that Willow, Buffy, Rile and Oz had used to escape the last time. Giles slid to the ground and caught Willow. Her face was ashen with effort. "Perhaps you should remain here."
"No way. This white coated meanie has to go to Lethe land. And I'm just the witch to send her there. I owe this one to Maggie for the mean thing she said about him not ever coming back and the meanness of knowing she had and was torturing him the whole time. I want a piece of this bitch." She gently let her self out of Giles' arms, staggering a little when she hit the floor. "Well? What are you waiting for? Let's go get her."
Giles smiled at the girl's strength of will. "Which way?"
"I think we'll be leading you right back out of here. After you've been debriefed that is." Giles turned to face Maggie Walsh. "When will people remember I'm a psychology professor. I know how you think. You want to release the others now don't you? Just like Peta at a breeders rally. Stupid really."
"Not so stupid." Giles stepped forward and tossed a vial of powdered forget-me-nots and narcissus with a few activators mixed in. Maggie sneezed.
"You're attacking me with pollen?" She growled but backed away from Giles.
"Forget-me-nots forget thy name. And all bright flowers do the same. People birds and animals to this Lethe I cast..." Giles crashed to the floor as a soldier rammed a gun into his guts. Willow squeaked. He hoped she had the presence of mind to finish the spell before the ingredients dissipated.
Maggie moved farther back and let the soldiers close in. "See Mr. Giles? No real man in their lives. Just you. Pathetic."
Willow glared at her. "All you do is hurt people! You hurt me when Oz left! Your hurt Spike which I'm kinda grateful for but that's not the point and you tortured Oz! He's only a werewolf three days out of the month which makes you a monster for twenty-eight of them, maybe more."
"Shoot her." Maggie grinned like a Cheshire cat. "Then find the Hostile and kill him too." She turned her back on Willow.
"Oh that's it." Willow stared at the soldiers. "The opposite of memory I call you. Grant waters of the Lethe to Professor Walsh. She cannot harm what she doesn't remember."
Walsh turned her eyes surprised. "SHOOT HER!"
The soldiers aimed their guns in slow motion. Willow fell into Giles' arms as a bright white light filled the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy knocked another solder on his rear. A pile of them were at her feet. Three more went for her and another went for Riley when suddenly all their beepers went off. A second later Riley checked his. "It's Walsh."
"So kill or no kill?" Buffy asked helping Riley to his feet.
The soldiers got together and moved off as a unit. Riley started helping the downed officers to their feet. "No kill?" His radio clicked. "Hello?"
"Riley where the hell are you? Your practice maneuvers should have ended at 1800. It's 1900. Move."
Riley grinned. "Yes sir."
"Go play soldier." Buffy swatted at him playfully. "It's all over here."
Epilogue
Nervously Willow ran her hand down Oz's fur covered body. It was morning. He was still wolfy. She'd slept on the sofa and run down in the morning hoping to see a change, any change. Xander said he'd opened the door a few times because he though he heard Oz talking. Eventually he had sacked out on the floor next to her. Now he was sleeping on the basement floor all furry but calm. He hadn't even tried to move. He just watched her with sad eyes. Willow wanted to cry.
The basement door opened. "I told you she'd be down here. That's why I told you *not* to fall asleep." Buffy grumbled. Xander started to apologize until he saw Willow's face. "No change?" He asked gently.
"Nothing. Not even a little less wolfy." Willow touched Oz's ears.
"Riley said it might take a few days..." Buffy offered.
"We went through so much to free him. Now he's trapped in his own body, Buffy." Willow unlocked the manacles and rubbed at Oz's wrists. He just watched her. "And I know he can understand me."
"Maybe but Will, not too close he could bite or scratch. Sorry Oz. Just being careful." Buffy stepped closer and Oz watched her. "Just give it a few days Will. He'll be fine. You'll see."
Xander put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll bring you down some food in a little while, 'Kay?"
"Thanks. For not making me leave him down here alone." Willow smiled up at them trying not to look as miserable as she felt. The nodded, and Xander grinned, "I'll even bring those cookies Oz likes."
Willow mumbled her thanks and they left her alone with him.
~~~~~~~~
Riley stood at the top of the stairs. "Professor Walsh has no idea what's happened. And I got rid of all Oz's medical records personally. She won't find him. He's safe."
"Yeah. But he's still an animal. How happy can he be like that? I hate her for this." Buffy hugged Riley. "Don't ever become like her."
"I won't change. I just hope Oz does." Riley held on to her and closed the basement door.
~~~~~~~~
Warm. Curtain of red...Hair? Scent, definitely... "Willow?" He rasped. He heard her even breathing and felt her warm weight on his chest. "Willow." Oz smiled gently just for her but she was sleeping. He raised his hand and saw smooth clear nails in dire need of nailpolish. But the smooth pale flesh relaxed him. "I'm okay."
Willow mumbled in her sleep. Raising a hand he ran it gently through her hair and she sighed. Her face was beautifully relaxed. He hated to wake her but he wanted to hear her voice. "Willow?"
"Hm?" She mumbled. "No gotta stay with Oz. I'm not hungry little gnome." Oz smiled again and tugged gently at her hair until her eyes opened. "Hi Oz." She smiled then her brain woke up. "OZ? OZ?" She bolted upright.
"I wish you hadn't done that. I was warm." Oz whispered.
"You're awake! And you're incredibly human. I like you all human and nonfurry. I mean look at you..." She ran a hand through his hair and it felt wonderful. "I was so worried. I thought..." He smothered her words with a light kiss.
They broke apart. Willow stared at him. "I was so scared I'd lose you."
"All I did when I was in there was dream of you. I started to think you were there. My mind was kinda gone. I was terrified but even when I was mostly animal all I could think about was you. I was scared I'd lose you because I'd lost myself." Oz gently touched her hair. They kissed.
The basement door flew open. Buffy and Giles stood at the top of the stairs. "Willow you yelled an ah..Oh." Buffy laughed. "Nice to see you again Oz. Normal human *all* of you." Giles discreetly looked away but he was just as happy as Buffy. "I'll get you something to wear."
Willow blushed. "Not just yet. Okay Giles?"
The basement door closed.