Welcome to My Nightmare

Rating: NC-17

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.

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Feedback: Feedback welcome!

Grouping: Buffy/Willow/Tara

Part 6

Willow found the Elder Council and quite a few of the town's people waiting for her in the church. The red-haired witch/werewolf blushed profusely as they crowded around, hugging and encouraging her to either stay with them or come back soon for a visit.

She grinned and felt the wolf rising closer to the surface as several Lupercalia pack members growled friendly growls and yips. Some were letting their fangs grow longer and hair turning into fur as they let Willow and the wolf inside know she was welcome with them.

Willow felt her own wolf responding, hugging Luke and Thena tightly.

"You are always welcome here, Red Willow," Sterling Johnson said softly.

"Thank you, all of you," Willow said, wiping at happy tears.

"We know you have a life outside the wolf but you'll always have a home here," Thena agreed.

"You've shown me so much and have given me hope," Willow stammered over her emotions. "I can never repay you for that. If you ever need me or the gang, we'll be here."

"Thank you," Robert Stockwell smiled. "We heard you were leaving tomorrow."

"Yes, we need to get back to our lives in Sunnydale," Willow nodded.

"We'll see you off in the morning," Helki said easily.

"For now, wanna party with the animals?" Thena grinned a very wolfish grin.

"Oh yeah!" Willow agreed as Layton broke into a howl.

Buffy sat with her back to a tree were Tara settled in her arms, between the Slayer's legs, as they watched the water flowing peacefully through the woods.

"Willow's happy," Buffy said softly.

"Yeah," Tara nodded, holding Buffy's arms as they wrapped around her ribs. "The wolf is happy."

"I love you both so much, it almost hurts at times," Buffy whispered and Tara leaned back, kissing Buffy gently.

Tara turned over and touched Buffy's cheek softly.

"You're afraid of losing us," Tara commented.

"Yes, or leaving you," Buffy nodded, her eyes filling with tears.

"Buffy," Tara said softly, sitting up, straddling the Slayer's legs and running her fingers through her lover's hair. "We live in Sunnydale and you're the Slayer. That fear is something we have got to learn to live with."

"We almost lost Wills because Dracula noticed her, because of me," Buffy complained.

"And most of the problems the last few months have been because Will is now a werewolf," Tara countered. "Wanna leave her because it might get one of us killed?"

"No!" Buffy's eyes widened in shock. "I'd never leave Wills because of that! It's not her fault!"

"Then why are you blaming yourself because you're the Slayer?" Tara countered.

Buffy broke into a grin and hugged her mate closely.

"You're good, my witch," Buffy said softly, her voice becoming husky. "Wanna show me what you're good at?"

"Oh yeah," Tara smiled, kissing Buffy again, slowly, tenderly and thoroughly.

Buffy moaned as Tara's tongue explored her mouth and the witch's fingers ran through the Slayer's hair. Buffy melted into loving her mate, time standing still for both of them as they moved slowly and lovingly.

Willow smiled as the gentle waves from Buffy and Tara reached her and looked around the party that had spilled out into the main square of the town, the bar patrons pouring forth out to join them.

Luke had wheeled the jukebox from the bar out the door and kicked it a couple of times, setting the thing into play without the need for coin. Willow found herself dancing with Xander and Anya as the sun began to dip further towards the mountain line. She smiled as Luke wrapped his arms around Thena, looking deep into the female werewolf's eyes.

"You look good, Wills," Xander commented as he leaned down to kiss Anya.

"Thanks, I haven't felt this good in months," Willow admitted.

"I was thinking of maybe checking out a construction job when we get home," Xander said slowly.

"That's a wonderful profession!" Anya smiled. "People are always needing dwellings and new stores, that always means money."

"Leave it to Anya to see the financial side of things!" Willow grinned. "I think that's great. Are you still going to college?"

"Yeah," Xander grinned, moving in time to a slow song with Anya as Willow sat down in a bar chair near them. "Maybe night classes."

"Sounds good," Willow agreed.

Buffy smiled as she held Tara close after their sweet love making. She could feel Willow's contentment and was glad. Things had been so rough for so long and Buffy knew the odds were it wouldn't last much longer and wanted to treasure it for as long as possible.

A Slayer, two witches with one a werewolf, a former vengeance demon and one brave and loyal male. The odds were against them having a peaceful time of it for long.

Buffy frowned when Tara moaned softly in her sleep, a look of pain crossing her lover's face. The Slayer moved up on her elbow as Tara moaned again and opened her eyes slowly.

"Tara?" Buffy asked softly, suddenly very concerned.

"I don't feel so good, Buff," Tara said softly, holding her stomach and curling up.

"Come on, let's get your clothes back together and get back to town," Buffy suggested, reaching for Tara's shirt buttons until Tara cried out in pain and rolled over, losing the contents of her stomach.

"Christ," Buffy growled, gently touching Tara's back as the witch was sick, unsure how to help.

"Oh goddess," Tara whimpered and another round hit her before she went to her hands and knees, retching.

"Tara?"

Buffy whimpered, feeling helpless and beginning to get really worried when it didn't seem to let up for at least five minutes. Tara sobbed in agony and collapsed onto her side, still grabbing her stomach.

"Tara, how can I help?" Buffy begged. She knelt beside her lover, feeling Tara's forehead. "Oh God, you're burning up."

"I don't think I can walk back," Tara whimpered.

"I know, I know," Buffy muttered. "Stay put," she ordered and went to the stream. She pulled her t-shirt off and soaked it in the water.

Buffy wrung the material out and placed it over Tara's forehead, hoping to cool her lover down.

Tara curled up in pain and another wave of nausea hit her.

//Willow!// Buffy mentally called, trying to keep the desperation out of her voice.

//Buffy?//

Xander and Anya glanced up when Willow's feet hit the ground and she sat up quickly.

"Wills?" Xander called over to her, recognizing the far away look in his friend's eyes.

//Wills, Tara's sick, really sick,// Buffy said, gently stroking Tara's hair and back as Tara continued dry heaving.

//Where are you? How can we help?// Willow demanded, standing up, not noticing Xander and Anya running up to her.

"Wills?" Xander asked as more of the town people noticed and stopped dancing.

"Tara is sick, really bad," Willow muttered as Luke and Thena approached her.

//We're by the creek, trail heading south from town. We're gonna need a stretcher, she can't stand up. I can't carry her that far!//

"Oh Goddess," Willow muttered as she looked up at Luke. "We need a stretcher and a couple of strong types, Tara's really sick down by the creek."

"We've got one in the Sheriff's office," Luke told them. "Manpower is easy! Alright everyone! I need Phillip, Jamie, DJ, and Zeke as carriers; it'll probably take two shifts to get her back. Send for the doctor in the next village. Phillip, get the stretcher."

Phillip darted off towards the Sheriff's office and Luke turned to Willow.

"What's wrong with Tara, we need to tell the doctor what to expect," he demanded.

//Buff, what's wrong with Tara? We're sending for medical help.// Willow relayed.

//Stomach cramps, she can't stop hurling and has a high fever. The pain is bad, Wills.//

//Cavalry is mounting up now, Buff. We're on our way.// Willow said calmly but inside she was shaking badly.

"DJ, get the large flashlights out of the back of my car and the bar, it's getting dark," Luke ordered. "Willow?"

"Painful stomach cramps, non-stop vomiting and a high fever," Willow repeated, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Xander run and get jackets for you and Willow," Luke directed. "Anya, can you help Thena set up a cot in the church for Tara while she's calls the doctor?"

"You want to give me something to do," Anya accused but nodded. "I can do that."

The trek down to the creek was agonizingly slow for all the members of the Scooby Gang.

Buffy quickly put her bra back on and wished she and Tara had thought to bring jackets. Her only protection against the night cold was now soaked and on Tara's forehead. They hadn't intended on staying by the creek past sundown.

Willow and Xander wanted to rush down the path as quickly as possible but stayed with the group, heeding Luke's admonishment that the rescuers didn't need to end up being rescued with a broken limb from rushing around in the woods in the dark.

Finally they spotted the two women by the creek.

"Oh thank the goddess," Willow muttered, rushing to the side of her mates. Buffy's frantic eyes told both Willow and Xander how worried she was.

Luke's flashlight quickly played over Tara's sweating and pain racked face as she moaned, barely conscious.

"Okay, nothing to be done here," he muttered. "Zeke, DJ, you two on the stretcher. Phillip, cover her with that blanket after they get her on the stretcher. Let's move people."

The Sheriff was responded to quickly and Xander pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around Buffy as they started back up the path, Willow holding Tara's hand as they went.

"Oh Gods, Buffy, what happened?" Willow asked as they walked at a brisk pace, nearly trotting.

"We were resting and I…I don't know. I was about to suggest heading back and she moaned and woke up in pain," Buffy stammered. "She turned over and was sick, her stomach hurting bad."

"How often is she throwing up?" Luke questioned.

"About every ten minutes, first a wave of stomach cramps and then she dry heaves," Buffy answered, trying to be detailed. "She became feverish almost immediately and says her muscles ache and hurt."

"Okay," Luke nodded and pulled out a walkie talkie from his police belt. "Thena, you there?"

"Copy, Luke," Thena's voice greeted them.

"Any word on the doc?" he asked.

"Be here in about an hour once we tell him more details," Thena responded.

"Stomach cramping followed by vomiting that won't quit," Luke relayed. "It hits about every 10 minutes. Tell him fever and muscle aches and pains as well."

"Okay, she'll be dehydrated by the time you get back, I'll have him bring a couple of IVs and stuff. Any sign of food poisoning or something like that?"

"Hang on," Luke said and turned to Buffy. "Did she complain when she first threw up about the taste of the food?"

"No, nothing like that," Buffy shook her head.

"Food poisoning, people always know what it was they ate, it lets you know when it comes back up," Luke tried to explain. "Thena, I don't think its food and there's no splotches around the mouth or other signs of poison."

"Okay, maybe a really fast acting virus, no one else is sick though," Thena's voice was thoughtful.

"I know and the kids have been here long enough to rule out bringing it in from the outside," Luke added. "Listen, tell that doc to hurry. The fever worries me."

"Copy that, Luke," Thena acknowledged and Luke replaced the walkie talkie in his belt. "Okay, switch guys."

Those chosen as stretcher bearers, switched and the pace resumed an almost trot.

Willow frowned and ran her free hand over Tara's face, a faint glow radiating from her hand.

"What was that?" Luke asked.

"I was seeing if it was a spell, it's not," Willow said softly as Tara moaned and clutched at her stomach and Willow's hand in pain.

"Set it down, guys!" Luke advised as Tara rolled over, dry heaving once more, choking on the stomach acid she was retching.

"Tara, baby, we're right here," Willow said softly, both her and Buffy crying tears of fear and frustration.

Finally Tara collapsed back onto the stretcher, nodding that she could hear Willow and Buffy beside her.

"Up and at 'em," Luke ordered.

Buffy paced restlessly in the main room of the church while Willow sat in the front pew, wringing her hands.

"Why won't he let us in there?" Buffy growled.

"I think he's afraid I'll wolf out and you'll pound him when the IV's hurt Tara going in," Willow said softly.

"He knows?" Buffy asked, stopping her pacing.

"Thena says he knows but he's cool," Willow nodded. "His sister is married to Robert."

"God, this is so hard," Buffy complained, looking over at Xander and Anya at the far end of the pew. Both looked miserable and unsure what to do. "I never get used to this."

"I know," Willow said softly.

Finally Thena opened the door and motioned Buffy and Willow inside. Xander and Anya thought the two girls might break a leg rushing to the inner room of the church. The young couple walked up slowly to Thena.

"How is she?"

"She's stable," Thena answered slowly. "The IVs are replacing the fluid she's lost and her fever is coming down. The doctor's not sure what's causing her illness but the pain is only hitting her every half hour now and not as bad."

"Sounds like it's passing," Xander said hopefully.

"The doctor thinks so but still wants her in a hospital for observation for a couple of days," Thena informed the couple, knowing the doctor was saying the same thing to the lovers.

"How far is the hospital?" Xander frowned.

"Seventy five miles," Thena said with a frown.

"How do we get her there?" Xander asked, his voice firm and determined.

"Luke will take her and either Buffy or Willow, the rest of you can follow in the RV," Thena explained.

"Oh boy, deciding which one of them rides with Tara?" Xander whistled. "Don't want to make that decision, thank you!"

Willow was sitting by the cot, holding Tara's hand and stroking her lover's hair off her face. The IV slowly dripped stability into the witch.

Tara tried to smile.

"It is kinda interesting to see you on that side of the sick bed thing," Willow tried to joke softly.

"I wish it wasn't any of us," Tara responded and Willow drew her hand up and kissed the palm.

"Me too," Willow said softly, trying not to cry.

"Okay, guys," Buffy said, kneeling down to lean against the cot, touching her forehead to Tara's lovingly. "Luke can take Tara and one of us to the hospital. I suggest Wills ride with you."

"Do I have to go?" Tara whined.

"It's for the best, love," Buffy said and Willow nodded.

"I want you to ride with her, Buffy," Willow said firmly.

"Rock, paper, scissors?" Buffy suggested with a small smile.

"Dr. Keiran thinks it could be something she ate, something maybe even poisonous," Willow said slowly as Tara closed her eyes, resting. "That could be intentional. I want the Slayer with her if it was intentional."

Buffy leaned back on her haunches, considering Willow's words.

"Alright, I don't like it but it makes sense," the Slayer finally agreed. "You, Xan and Anya follow as quick as you can?"

"You bet," Willow nodded, touching Buffy's cheek gently.

"Well, ladies?" Dr. Keiran asked as he and Thena walked up.

"I'll ride with you and Luke," Buffy said.

"Alright, we'll put you in the back of the cruiser, Tara's head on your lap and I'll sit up front with Luke," the doctor said easily. "We should move. She's doing better but I still want her under observation."

"Let's move then," Buffy responded.

"Tar," Willow said softly. Tara opened her eyes slowly. "We're going to move you now. Buffy's going to ride with you and I'll be right behind you."

"Okay, don't take too long," Tara whispered.

"I won't, promise," Willow said, kissing Tara on the forehead as Luke and the doctor grabbed the ends of the stretcher.

"Goddess, this is taking forever!" Willow complained from the passenger seat as Xander rounded another mountain curve.

"I know but I'm not going to play Jeff Gordon here!" Xander snapped.

"It's okay, Xan," Willow said slowly. "I'm just anxious. She was so sick."

"We'll get there, Wills," Xander reassured his best friend as Anya glanced around from the chair behind Willow.

"She will be fine, Willow," Anya said, trying to reassure her friend. "Scooby Gang members die violent death not from illness."

"Thanks," Willow muttered, shaking her head.

"Hey, what's this?" Xander mumbled, easing off the accelerator and down shifting. Willow sat up a little straighter in her seat as Anya leaned around to look.

"Looks like a detour," Willow said slowly.

Ahead was a series of barricades with the typical flashing amber lights. Large signs pointing to a side road on the left confirmed the observation.

"What do we do?" Xander asked, pulling the RV to a stop.

"Take the detour, I guess," Willow said with a frown. "I don't see the patrol car so they must still be ahead of us."

"I don't like this," Xander grumbled.

"I agree with my fiancée," Anya said cheerfully, causing Willow to roll her eyes.

"Do we have a choice?" she pointed out. "Do you want me to get out and move the barricades?"

"No, you're right," Xander said but continued to frown. "Let's hope Luke slowed down, I'd really like to have someone to follow. This mountain road is awfully damned quiet."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Willow nodded as he slipped the RV into first and began turning the wheel.

Anya pulled out her cell phone and dialed but swore in some ancient language.

"No answer, I think these hills are blocking the transmission," she growled.

Buffy waited patiently as the nurses and on-call ER doctor worked over Tara. Having many years experience of ending up in hospitals, all of the Scooby Gang carried copies of their medical records and all necessary insurance and Power of Attorney paperwork for each other when traveling. It saved time and legal hassles. Buffy had a feeling that Tara wouldn't appreciate her family being called if she slipped into unconsciousness.

Luke walked into the waiting room with two cups of coffee and handed Buffy one.

"Still no sign of the others?" he asked.

"Nope, not yet," Buffy answered, tired and worried.

"Takes longer with an RV," Luke pointed out.

"Yeah, I know," Buffy nodded. "I just hate waiting."

"Me too," he agreed, sitting down next to her and stretching his long legs out in front of him. "Tara will be okay."

"Yup, she's gotta be," Buffy nodded again.

"I've never seen anyone as close as the three of you," Luke commented. "It's not totally uncommon among weres and vampires but you guys are amazing."

Buffy blushed and smiled. "We are lucky and I'm the luckiest to have both of them love me back."

Luke nodded, his eyes distant and thoughtful.

"When are you going to tell Thena you love her?" Buffy asked and Luke blinked in surprise but then laughed.

"That obvious?"

"Kinda," Buffy grinned.

"Soon," he said firmly.

"Don't wait too long," Buffy advised. "I almost did."

Buffy pulled out her cell phone and dialed but got one of the annoying "caller out of ranch" recordings and swore. "Goddamn mountains."

Both Buffy and Luke stood up when Dr. Keiran entered the room with the ER doctor, Dr. Sarah Whitman.

"You can go in now," Dr. Whitman said with a smile. "Dr. Keiran did a fine job with the IVs and stabilizing her."

"What's wrong with her?" Buffy demanded.

Dr. Whitman frowned. "We're still not sure what the cause of her nausea and pain is. I've ordered a series of tests to see if we can get some answers. From what you and Tara told us, it sounds like some kind of poisoning rather than viral."

"That doesn't make sense," Buffy complained. "We all ate at the diner or in the RV and no one else got sick."

"How long for the poison to work? That might narrow it down," Luke asked, pulling out a small notebook and flipping it open.

"No way to tell until we know what kind of poison or bad food it was," Dr. Whitman explained. "Was she alone at all today, when she might have ate or drank something that the others didn't?"

"No," Buffy answered, frowning. "Not at all. We had a late night and she slept late. We had lunch at the diner and then went for a walk in the woods. We spent time down by a creek and then she got sick."

Dr. Whitman's frown matched Buffy and Luke's.

"Who in the hell would want to poison Tara?" Luke complained.

"We're not even sure it is poison yet," Dr. Whitman pointed out. "Let us get the test results back and we'll know more."

They watched as Dr. Whitman moved off towards the nurses' station.

"I repeat, who the hell would want to poison Tara?" Luke snapped.

"She said they were passing through and stayed for the week when you all invited her girlfriend in for training, right?" Dr. Kieran asked.

"Yeah, we found Willow is a Were and we offered to train her," Luke said, his voice low.

"So, no known enemies in your pack?" Dr. Kieran continued.

"Nope, they all fit in so well that we hope they come back and maybe settle down," Luke smiled at the Slayer.

"This does not make sense!" Buffy complained. "No one followed us to Lupercalia."

"No strangers in town either and the kids are all well liked," Luke agreed.

"Okay, if it is poison," Buffy growled, pondering. "Why Tara?"

"Why any of you?" Luke countered.

"Damnit! I hate not having answers! I'm going in with her," Buffy growled as Luke headed for the telephones.

"Oh boy," Xander muttered and shifted down another gear. "Willow, Anya, I think we're in trouble."

"Besides the fact that this road is not a main road and turns into a dirt track?" Anya snapped.

"Yeah, besides that," Xander grumbled. "There's lights up ahead but they're not car lights."

"Anya, something feels terribly wrong," Willow agreed. "Maybe we should have some backup fire power?"

"Look, if it's just muggers, we give them whatever money we've got and credit cards and get out of here," Xander advised. "This isn't Sunnydale, shooting someone outside Sunnydale can have serious consequences."

"Someone went to some trouble to detour us down here, think they just want our credit cards?" Willow countered.

Xander sighed and shook his head 'no' in agreement. "I can't turn around. We either go forward and see what those lights are or we stop and make them come to us."

"It might be a road repair crew," Anya suggested.

"We need to chance it," Willow said softly. "If there's a chance to get through to Buffy and Tara, we need to chance it."

"Okay," Xander said and shifted the RV into gear and moved the small monster forward, slowly.

Anya moved to the trap door in the RV and pulled out a shotgun and two pistols. She handed Willow a small automatic and Xander a Glock, keeping the shotgun for herself.

"This is not good," Xander complained as they pulled up on what was obviously a campground. They could see tents, a couple of campers, vans and several RVs, just a little bit bigger than their own. There was a large fire in the center of the grounds with people seeming to hang around, each had a pistol or rifle in their hands as they watched the RV pull up.

"Could just be as paranoid as we are," Willow said thoughtfully.

"Then where are the men?" Xander countered and Willow looked again, discovering Xander was right. The group around the fire consisted mainly of women, mostly young women and teens.

"Oh boy, either we just ran into a Dianic coven or the men are in the shadows," Willow agreed.

"Dianic?" Xander muttered as he looked around for a way to turn the RV around and began maneuvering it to drive around the other cars and vans.

"All female witch coven," Willow answered absently as she and Anya watched out the windows.

"Do we stop and be polite or just leave?" Xander demanded.

The group around the fire wasn't moving towards them and made no sign of welcoming the newcomers or warning them away.

"They are like totally freaky!" Anya squeaked and both Xander and Willow nodded.

"We don't have time to be polite," Willow said firmly.

"Oh fuck!" Xander exclaimed and slammed his foot on the brakes, almost sending Willow into the window despite the slow speed they were moving at. Willow and Anya took in the sight of a large van blocking the car path in front of them and several men standing near it, rifles in hand. One of them was Phillip.

"So not good!" Anya complained as she pumped a shell into the chamber of the shotgun.

Several rifles and shotguns were suddenly pointed at the RV, all focused on Xander.

"Uh, Wills, isn't Phillip our friend?" Xander whispered as the man in question stepped into the RV headlights.

"Willow! The three of you come out of there with your hands in sight!" Phillip yelled.

Willow opened the side window.

"What the hell is going on, Phillip?" she demanded. "You know I need to get to town! Tara is sick!"

"Yeah, I made her that way," Phillip grinned. "Don't worry, she'll live."

"Phillip, you know we have silver bullets in here," Willow shouted back, motioning Anya to get down in the RV. She heard Anya scrambling back to the secret compartment, digging for the special werewolf rounds.

"Silver?" Xander questioned, keeping his hands on the steering wheel.

"We know Phillip is a were," Willow answered. "I've got a tingling feeling about the others."

"Don't make this difficult, Willow," Phillip yelled back. "This is the part where the bad guy tells you that all the rifles are pointing at your best friend's head. If you don't agree to come out unarmed, we shoot him and torch the RV, killing you and Anya next. Don't think of using magick either, our own witches are dampening you."

Xander glanced over at his friend and frowned when Willow turned very pale and her eyes looked fearful.

"He's right," Willow said softly. "I can't protect you."

"Then we fight our way out of here!" Xander growled.

"Xander, how many rifles are aimed at your head?" Willow countered. "The women have moved behind us."

"Come on, Willow, we don't have all night!" Phillip yelled.

"What the hell do you want with us? Why make Tara sick?" Willow shouted. "And I am so going to hurt you for that," she promised under her breath.

Phillip grinned in the glare of the headlights and pulled something out of his pocket and dangled it in front of him.

"No, please, no," Willow whispered and Xander gritted his teeth.

"What is it?" Anya asked from her crouched position behind the seat.

"Oz' dog tags," Xander said softly.

"You bought your werewolf a dog license?" Anya asked innocently.

"No, he had military type dog tags. One side painted black and a rabbit's foot in between them," Xander explained. "Phillip has the dog tags."

"He's the one that corrupted Oz," Willow muttered.

"This must be the pack he ran into," Xander nodded.

"They want me, like Oz did," Willow said softly, her eyes wide and fearful as Phillip twirled the necklace on his finger, gloating.

"Why? You're just learning control? You're a good werewolf!" Anya protested.

"If you cut the lights and we dive to the floor, can we fight back?" Willow asked, ignoring the question.

"They'll shoot the hell out of the RV," Xander said slowly. "They'll rush us and we can take out several of them. They set fire to the RV and we're forced out a window or door or we burn to death. Odds aren't good, Wills."

"Phillip, you swear you'll let Xander and Anya go and I'll come out!" Willow yelled.

"No!" Xander and Anya protested at the same time.

"Sorry, kid," Phillip shrugged. "No witnesses and all that. They'll give us a good hunt though."

"I say we fight!" Anya grumbled.

"We'll still end up just as dead," Xander pointed out.

"Maybe they'll slip and I can use magick before the hunt," Willow said thoughtfully. "Maybe I can get you guys out of this."

"We're not leaving without you!" Xander growled.

"Come on, Willow!" Phillip yelled. "This melodrama is getting boring!"

"No, if you get a chance, take it!" Willow snapped, putting her gun on the dashboard. "You find Buffy and get back here for me. That's why they made Tara sick, to separate and weaken us."

"Wills," Xander was cut off by Willow reaching over and taking the glock from his lap and throwing it onto the dash in front of him.

"I'll join you willingly if you let them go!" Willow yelled back at Phillip.

"No deals, you'll join us the same as your mate did," Phillip said with a shake of his head. "Given the right drugs and spell, you'll fall easier than he did."

Willow felt her eyes filling with tears.

"I'll fucking kill you wolf-boy!" Xander shouted, gripping the steering wheel tightly in anger.

"Take them!" Phillip ordered.

"Open the door, Anya," Willow said softly, tears beginning to flow down her cheeks.

"We don't give up like this, Wills!" Xander protested.

"No, we stay alive and look for a chance!" she countered as Anya sat the shotgun down and unlocked the door. "If you get it, take it! Use your military memory, Xander! They don't know about that!"

"The duty of a prisoner is to escape and harass the enemy," he said softly as the door opened and two armed men reached in and grabbed a screaming Anya, dragging her out of the RV.

"I love you, Xander," Willow said softly as he stood up and walked to the door.

"We love you too, Wills," Xander said calmly before being yanked out the door.

Willow sat in the passenger seat, waiting. She didn't even turn when Phillip entered the RV and sat down in the driver's seat.

"Why?" she asked simply.

"My pack needs some human blood and you're perfect for us as a wolf," Phillip said easily. "You have a darkness about you and you've tasted human/werewolf blood. You'll even be easier than Oz was."

"Buffy and Tara will come for us, they can track me," Willow said, frowning.

"Yeah, and they'll be given the same choices as Buffy was last time," Phillip nodded. "Join or die. With you in the pack, they'll join and we'll have a Slayer werewolf. Then we can take out Lupercalia and those white light types."

"How do you keep your evil from them?" Willow asked, finally turning to look at Phillip.

"I don't change and let my wolf rage in front of them. They think I'm a college student that comes back for long visits," he explained.

"How did you know we'd come this way? We didn't," Willow asked, curiosity winning out.

"We've followed you for months, we sent those vampires after you in LA," Phillip explained. "I thought we had you then. No Buffy or Tara, only a vampire guardian but you got away and back to Sunnydale. Then that damned mess with Dracula and we didn't even dare stay in town while he was there."

"So when we decided on a road trip, it was perfect for you," Willow said bitterly.

"Oh yeah!" he agreed with a grin. "We're a traveling pack, kinda like gypsies. We just kept someone behind you at all times, switching people and cars along the way. It was just dumb luck that you came across Lupercalia."

The werewolf laughed at her fallen expression.

"Talk about ironic! You fall into the hands of our worst enemies!" he grinned. "It's all good though. They taught you some basic control and got your magick a little more stable. We'll just take that and corrupt you on all sides."

"And I bet you claim me as mate, right?" Willow asked bitterly.

"No, we'll wait and see if Buffy and Tara can be persuaded to join us in the darkness," Phillip said thoughtfully. "If not, then I'll claim you as Alpha mate."

"Let Xander and Anya go and I won't fight you," Willow begged.

"Sorry, kid," Phillip shrugged. "In about an hour, they'll be the foxes in the hunt."

"An hour?" Willow squeaked.

"Did you think we'd wait to let Buffy and Tara bring the cavalry in?" Phillip laughed. "Not likely! This is where the movie takes a plot twist. The bad guys kill the minor characters and the heroine wakes up in the morning to discover that she took part in ripping her friends into pieces and eating them."

Willow screamed and launched herself at the werewolf. Phillip, expecting the attack, smashed the witch across the temple with a huge fist, sending her to the floor of the RV unconscious before she could reach him with her claws.

"Take her, have the witches work the spell and force the drugs down her throat," Phillip ordered the two young men waiting at the door. "I want this done quickly."

Continued in Part 7...

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