This is my disclaimer. Witness me disclaiming. I do not anything in this story. It all belongs to Joss, Mutant Enemy, and all the other high muckey-mucks. There are not even any original characters.
Part Six
Three months passed uneventfully. Buffy continued to deal with the influx of out of town vampires while trying to graduate high school. She and Angel continued to avoid the discussion they should have had 6 months ago. Xander and Cordelia kept up their relationship of sniping and insults with many pauses for necking and other hormonally motivated activities. Willow, after being actively recruited by every engineering school in the country, decided to stay right where she was in Sunnydale. Oz's band kept playing, getting more and more polished, while Oz finished up his second semester of college with decent grades and was able to find a job working at a music store. He also adjusted very well to the continuing integration of his two halves, coming to appreciate the extra perception his keener senses gave him. While he still didn't look forward to what Willow had once referred to jokingly as his monthlies, he stopped dreading them so much once he was able to hunt without worrying about hurting anyone, and his previous good humor and stable attitude returned. He still didn't remember anything though, aside from occasional images of chasing small animals through fields, and he couldn't swear those weren't dreams. In general though, everything was going very well for all the members of this most unusual group of friends.
The day had just ended and Cordelia, Willow, Xander and Buffy are sitting on the steps of the high school. The colleges had just mailed their decisions, and Xander was bumming.
"Oh please, Xander. Like you could hope to go anywhere but right here for college. Did you really expect to get in to UCLA?" Cordelia teased.
"I knew it was a long shot. I'm just saying, having a reason to move away from the Hellmouth might not necessarily be a bad thing."
"But why leave?" Buffy said. "We're all staying here. It'll be just like high school."
"Oh, that's an enticement," Xander said sarcastically. "Look, you have to stay to be near the Slayer action. Willow is staying for Oz. Cordelia is staying... Actually, you could leave too. Why aren't you?"
Cordelia's eyes narrowed. "You are such a moron, Xander Harris," she said, stomping away.
"What? What did I say?" Xander looked to his closest female friends for advice.
"She's staying to be with you," Buffy said. Xander looked baffled.
"What? You're kidding."
"No," confirmed Willow. "She told us three weeks ago she was turning down UCLA because she knew you wouldn't get in and didn't want to leave you here alone."
"Really. Wow. Must be my natural Xander charm working its magic."
"Get a grip Xander. We both think she's lost her mind. Now go apologize before she decides to leave after all." Buffy shooed Xander off.
"Right," he said, turning to leave. "Bronze?"
"Bronze," confirmed Buffy. "See you then." Xander took off after the rapidly disappearing Cordelia. "Those two. I never would have thought it would have lasted this long, but it seems to be working out."
"Yeah. Like oil and water can sometimes make good salad dressing," Willow said. Buffy looked at her, startled at the bizarre analogy.
"Well that's one way of looking at it, I guess. Speaking of true love, how's Oz? I haven't seen him in a while."
"He's on the road with the band. They'll be back Thursday, in time for the full moon. He's a lot better though. Since the spell, now that he can go out at night without worrying about getting the wrong thing, he's like a different guy the next morning. And he's kind of enjoying the side benefits."
"I noticed he's moving differently. More smoothly."
"Yeah. He's a lot stronger too, and he can smell and hear almost anything."
"Including conversations about himself from across the street," said Oz, appearing out of nowhere by Buffy's elbow, who jumped about a foot and came down ready for action before she realized who it was.
"Oz, don't do that!"
"Sorry, I forgot about those hair-trigger reflexes of yours. What's going on?"
"Oz!" Willow jumped up, and threw her arms around him. They kissed warmly, making Buffy avert her eyes in embarrassment. "I thought you weren't coming back for another few days. Is everything okay?"
"Fine. Well, no, the last place we were going to be playing at got raided by the police. So, here we are a bit early. How's my best girl?"
"Lonely. I missed you."
"Yes," he said, grinning evilly. "I can smell how much you missed me. Did you save any of that honey for me?"
"Willow! You devil!" Buffy gasped, as Willow simultaneously said "Oz! Not in front of Buffy."
"Sorry. Let's go over to my place and get reacquainted. I've missed you too. Later, Buffy." He took off, pulling Willow behind him.
"Did I mention the increased sex drive? See you tonight," she said to Buffy as they left.
Buffy just laughed. "Tonight, then. Don't wear her out Oz. She has school tomorrow." This last had to be shouted at the rapidly departing figures. *Well, that seems to have worked out for the best,* she thought as they disappeared.
That night, Buffy walked into the Bronze, ready to enjoy a rare night of just plain hanging out with her buds. Xander was sitting on a sofa over in the corner, looking around him expectantly. When he saw Buffy, he waved, that impish Xander grin spreading across his face. Buffy want over and plopped down next to him. "Hey. Everything all patched up with Cordelia?"
"As it can be. She went to the bathroom to check her makeup. Where's Willow?"
"Oz came back from his road trip early. Last I saw them they were headed to makeout point on a rocket."
"Oh, and there's a mental image I didn't need. Angel's not here either, so it's just the three of us, I guess."
Just at that moment, Willow came running in, hair askew and clothing obviously hastily thrown on. Something was deeply wrong.
"Buffy! Xander! I need you."
"What is it? What's wrong?" Buffy jumped up and pulled Willow off to the corner, since it looked like she was about to talk very loudly about something that should be spoken of quietly. Buffy was right.
"It's Oz. I was getting dressed to come over here, and he'd just gotten out of the shower, when he fell down. All he could say before he changed was to tell you Angel was in danger and needed you and to go to the woods. Then he took off."
"Changed? But Willow, the full moon isn't for another 3 days. He couldn't have changed."
"I know, but it happened. You've got to help him; something's very wrong." Willow's voice was starting to rise in desperation. Buffy calmed her down, then turned to Xander.
"Okay, I'm going. Xander, get Cordelia and Giles and some supplies and meet me in the woods. Willow, come with me and show me which direction Oz went in." Buffy and Willow ran out, leaving Xander with the feeling that maybe he should appeal his UCLA rejection. Cordelia came back 10 seconds later, and Xander explained to her what was happening.
"So now we're going to track down Oz, who changed on the wrong night and ran off into the woods. I hope you have a change of shoes."
"I have my cheerleading sneakers out in the car. But I can't use those; they don't match this outfit." Xander just stared at her. "Okay, I'll wear the sneakers. Don't give me that look." They left, Cordelia dialing her cell phone to let Giles know they were on their way over and why.
20 minutes later, the merry trio was in the woods, carefully searching. Giles had brought flashlights, and the moon was large enough to provide some illumination, but nothing unusual had turned up so far. Xander abruptly sat down and cursed as he almost tripped over a fallen branch.
"This is ridiculous. We don't even know what we're looking for."
"Well, presumably something that would jeopardize Angel so much he would compel Oz to change again his natural cycle and come protect him," Giles said, helping Xander up. Suddenly, Cordelia put one hand up, listening intently.
"Wait, be quiet. Do you hear that? It sounds like... barking. C'mon, this way." All three took off through the trees. They emerged into a clearing to find a full scale battle in progress. Buffy was battling three vampires at once, staking one just as they entered. Oz was rolling on the ground with a 4th. Angel was tied to a post in the middle, and appeared to have passed out. Xander and Giles weighed in to the fight with the stakes Giles had thoughtfully brought with him. Cordelia ran to Willow, who was trying to untie Angel. There was another shrieking explosion as Buffy staked the second one. "Willow, what's going on?"
"I don't really know. When we got here, Oz had already killed some, judging by the dust piles. Angel was just like this."
"Here, try this," said Cordelia, taking a largish penknife out of her bag. They cut him down and dragged him out of the way. When they turned back to the fight, Buffy was holding a vampire as Xander staked him. There was only the one fighting with Oz left, and as they watched, Oz bit clear through its neck and it exploded. Oz sneezed from the dust and sat down to lick his wounds.
"Is everyone okay?" Buffy asked. Everyone signaled they were fine. "Good. Let's wake up Angel. I want to find out what happened here." She tried to move near Angel, but Oz started growling and charged at her. "Okay, okay, nice Ozzie. Giles, he knows I'm a threat to Angel. You try."
"Well, okay," said Giles, dubious at the wisdom of that plan. He slowly approached Angel. Oz growled slightly, but made no move to stop him. Giles gently shook Angel. "Angel, wake up. We need you to get Oz back to normal. Good Oz, nice Oz." Angel stirred and sat up.
"God, what happened? Where am I?"
"First, get Oz to calm down and change back if you can," said Buffy.
"Oz? What the.. Okay." He stared at Oz a moment, who then whimpered and lay down. "He'll be back in a minute. Now can you tell me what happened and what is Oz doing here in that form?"
"Actually, we were hoping you could tell us," said Buffy. "All we know is Oz changed and took off after sending Willow to get us to help you. Who were those guys?"
"You got me. I didn't recognize any of them. They grabbed me off the street and that's the last thing I know."
"So you have no idea what they wanted," said Giles.
"None. Oh, here we go," he said as Oz changed back to human form.
"Did I get here in time? And what is that vile taste in my mouth?"
"You've been killing vampires," said Buffy. "Do you remember what happened?"
"No, of course no..." Oz started to say automatically, then stopped. "Wait, there is something. I remember.. oh my god, it's coming in pieces, but I remember the whole thing. I knew Angel was in trouble, and I had to go to him. And I was thinking that it was very important I remember what was happening this time. It was easier than I would have thought. I got here, and they were waiting for something or someone. They had Angel tied up, and I knew I had to save him before they used him."
"Used him for what?" asked Willow.
"I don't know. But there's something special about him they needed for something. I remember them saying that he was the only one who'd been there long enough. I attacked, and then you and Buffy came in and then it was all over. I almost attacked Buffy. And Giles talked to me like a dog." This last part came out highly offended, and Giles looked slightly embarrassed and tried to change the subject.
"Been where long enough, I wonder."
"My time in hell. That would make me valuable for any number of rituals. I wonder what they were trying to do."
"Well, between Oz and Buffy, we only have piles of dust left to ask," Xander said. "Excellent fighting action by the way. I especially liked the part when you ripped out the ugly one's throat with one bite."
"Thanks, I think," said Oz with good humor. "Want to know what vampire dust tastes like?"
"Pass. So, can we go now?"
The rest stood to leave, but Oz remained right where he was "Um, can I get a coat or something?" The rest finally noticed that Oz was quite without clothing.
"Oh, yes, sorry. Here. Take mine," offered Giles. Oz put the jacket on, which was luckily long enough. Willow put her arms around him and hugged him tight.
"I was so scared when you took off. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Really, I'm fine. And Angel, I mean, I'm glad I was able to help and all, but try not to do that again. I mean, what if I'd been out in public instead of in the shower? It's hard enough constantly worrying about blowing my cover without you forcing a change."
"I'm sorry," said Angel. "I didn't do it on purpose. I wasn't even aware I'd called you to me until I saw you just now."
"Yes, well, it was probably a involuntary reaction to a perceived dire threat," explained Giles.
"Great, Giles. That's very helpful, except you're not the one sitting naked in the middle of the woods. Just stay out of trouble, Angel. I can't be doing this a whole lot.
Let's go home. I want to brush my teeth."
That night, Willow sat on Oz's bed, pensively brushing her hair. Oz came in after his second shower of the evening, and Willow perked up.
"Hi! All better?"
"Yeah, I think the third gargle really did the trick. You call your mom?"
"She thinks I'm staying over at Buffy's. We have the whole night for you to explain to me what has you so upset."
"I'm not upset. Why do you think I'm upset?" Oz tried to avoid the question, but Willow knew him too well.
"Because, I know you. Something more is bothering you than an unscheduled change. What is it?"
Oz tried to look away, but he knew she wasn't going to let this go. He paused to gather his thoughts. "It's the remembering."
"What do you mean? Remembering what you were doing tonight? as the wolf?"
"Yes. It was disturbing, like being trapped inside someone else. But I could feel everything about that someone else too, at the same time that I was still me. I could feel the directions Angel gave to the wolf, and at the same time, I, the human Oz, knew I had no control, but had to go along with those orders. I was helpless within my own body, but at the same time strong, and full of rage against the ones who wanted to hurt my master. And the thing is, now that I've started remembering, I'll probably keep remembering."
"But most of the time, when you're hunting with Angel, the orders he gives you are orders the human Oz would want to obey, like staying away from people."
"Yes, but now I know how the wolf thinks. He's not going to like those orders, and I'll feel his resentment, his rebellion. You don't know how dangerous he is, Willow. He only wants one thing, the chase, to feel flesh ripping apart in his jaws, the blood running... If Angel wasn't here, you'd all have been dead a long time ago. One way or the other, one of us is trapped doing something we don't want to do."
Willow put her arms around him. "Oz, I do know how dangerous the wolf is. I've been with you since the very beginning of this. I remember the first time I saw you change, in your parent's living room. You chased me through the yard, and over the fence and into the woods. I think you would have killed me if Cain hadn't set that trap. I was terrified of you then. I'm still afraid now, but for you, not of you."
"You should be afraid of me. Hell, I'm afraid of me."
"Well, you said you thought there would be a downside to gaining the wolf's abilities when you're human."
"Yup. And it looks like I found it," Oz concluded gloomily.
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