The Wolf and The Sensitive (closed for Tighe and _kyrie_)

The Wolf and The Sensitive (closed for Tighe and _kyrie_) SMEXY AWARD RECIPIENTS 2009

Jamie Farrell carefully tied off the end stitch on the big tabby she was working on. He was ready to be brought out of anesthesia but her team knew her well enough to know she would recheck everything in detail before giving the signal to rouse him.

She knew everything had gone well and everything was where it was supposed to be but double checked anyway, out of habit and strict training. The cat would live and one little girl was going to be very, very happy. A nasty snake bite had become infected. Part of the cats left, back hind leg had to be amputated but they had gotten to it in time before the gangrene had set in and caused the cat to go septic. At that point, Jamie could only have eased the poor cats passing but luckily, the family had caught it in time and brought the big orange cat in immediately.

Jamie stretched, arching her back to work out the kinks and nodded to her team. They were well trained also and good friends. Jamie refused to work with or hire someone she would not also choose to befriend. Her practice held a rather eclectic mix of vet assistants, vet techs, groomers, receptionists and the varied other positions it took in order to keep her practice running smoothly. She was happy with all of them but always ran a tight ship. Her father had taught her that and the time he had made the mistake of not doing so, not going over every last detail had been his last, she would not make that same mistake. Not ever.

"You headed up to the mountains again this weekend Doc?"

It was Rudy, one of her best vet techs and a good friend. Rudy was a bit short and rotund and seemed always to be blushing a deep crimson. He sported an easy smile and a very passive if not even a submissive posture around everyone. But he was intensely loyal not only to Jamie but to the animals that were brought to her for healing, suturing or when the time called for, being put down.

Rudy was one of the few, very few, wereanimal's, Jamie associated with and the only one that worked with and for her. Rudy was a werefrog. How could anyone not like a the very shy, red spotted cheeked werefrog? Even Jamie had to cave in and put her own prejudices aside where wereanimal's were concerned, after one of her other employees introduced Rudy to her.

Jamie removed her goggles after scrubbing her hands and arms down in the O.R. sink with Rudy scrubbing beside her. She was sure she heard a distinct ribbit sound come from Rudy's throat and glanced over, raising one eyebrow in question.

"Sorry Doc. Getting close to the full moon. A bit hard to keep him in right now but I'm working on it."

Jamie laughed out loud. Poor Rudy looked like she was going to eat him alive, which would have been a distinct possibility if Jamie herself had been a were but she wasn't, so Rudy was safe.

"Just make sure you go to your safe house, bolt all the locks and put up your safeguards. I do not want to come back from the mountains to hear my best vet tech was eaten by a werehawk or some other carnivorous type were while I'm gone. Got it?"

Rudy laughed good-naturedly and nodded, promising he would take all the precautions necessary during this time of the month. Jamie still couldn't help but worry, which was one reason she hated associating with and befriending the were's. She loved animals of all types, well, almost all types but no one, absolutely no one knew of her one phobia and no one was going to find out either, ever.

She was looking forward to the long weekend. Her headaches had returned recently, so had the nightmares that preceded them and a short ice-climbing expedition up at Horse Shoe Falls, away from people, weres and animals was exactly what she needed. Her back pack was packed and waiting for her in her Jeep along with her tent, climbing gear, survival and medical pack and enough food to last her for at least four days. She was more than ready to go, she needed to go for her own sanity.

Only a few more quick appointments, all post-op rechecks and one were vaccination and she could leave. Jamie looked at the clock, right on time. She'd be out of here with the doors locked and the city in her rear view mirror in less than an hour.

Rafe Williams sat in the precinct house at his small desk looking over the pictures from the latest scene of the crime. It was gory to say the least. The woman had survived the attack by someone. That is why Rafe had been called in. He and his unit followed the crimes that were not explainable. Sometimes it was a great catch all for the other units who were trying to dodge the hard work. Sometimes they truly were not explainable. This time it was obvious the other unit didn't want to deal with the slasher case. He twisted his neck back and forth, the collar of his shirt wearing at him. The moon was getting close to full and his temper was beginning to become irritable, again. Everyone knew Rafe was very tempermental during the full moon when he locked himself away until it was over. Nora came to his desk and sat on the corner. She was about the only one who could make him smile when he was deep in thought or feeling the tug from the moon. She sat down a cup of coffee and smiled. "Any ideas about her yet?" He looked up and tried to smile back, but it looked more like a snarl. "Yeah, and I don't like ay of them." He told her. "Well, that's a good sign. When you say that we usually get it all wrapped up pretty quickly." He tugged at the shirt collar and she noticed his discomfort. "It will be tomorrow night before it's full." She told him gently. "I know. It's just damned uncomfortable til it's over." She nodded. She had seen Rafe in full mode before, when he could control the change. She could only imagine what it was like for him when the full moon caused the changes and he could not control them. He took a sip of the coffee. It was at least fresh. "Don't we have an expert on the line who we can call about some of this damage? What was her name?" He opened his rolodex to look. "Dr. Jamie Farrell." She told him without looking. She was a vet who had helped them before when bites or damage had been impossible to determine. "Lets give her a call and then go to the hospital and talk to this girl." Nora smiled and turned his phone around so she could dial. Rafe closed his eyes as he drank the coffee, thinking about the woman he was about to go interview. He was just so not in the mood. He needed to be home, alone and watching the ball game. As Nora made the call he pulled on his jacket and went to the Sargent's office.
He leaned in, holding the door frame. Another detective was there and Rafe could smell the scent of death on him. He looked at Rafe and excused himself. "Hey, boss, we're headed to the hospital to interview the girl, then I'll be back in the morning for awhile. Gonna take the afternoon and next morning personal though." The older man looked at his calendar. Sure enough the little moon was circled in red. "Isn't there a shot or something you can take for this?" Rafe fought between laughing at the man and growling. "Wish there was, boss. I'd damn sure take it." "Alright, talk to you in the morning then." He nodded and started out. "Rafe." "Yeah?" "Be careful tomorrow." He smiled at the man he respected. "I will." He walked past his desk and nodded to Nora. "You ready?" She picked up her coat and followed him out. They got in his car and drove to the hospital where the victim held on to life by hoses and tubes.
At the hospital they were let into the room by the nurse in charge. The woman was awake, but not really able to talk with the tube down her throat. Rafe introduced himself and noticed she had no reaction to his presence. Usually the victim of an attack by an "unnatural" being would react to his presence, sometimes very violently. She tried to smiled at him, but that was all. "Ma'am, just a question, but did you recognize your attacker?" She looked at him a little strangely then shook her head no. "Dr. Farrell is on her way." Nora told him after answering her cell phone. He nodded. "Ma'am if you know who did this to you we need to have a name or something." He was already tired of beating around this bush. She shook her head no, but tears were in her eyes. "Rafe." Nora touched his arm and he turned to face her. "She's hiding something." He told her. "At least wait until Dr. Farrell gets here." "Why? She know who did this and it damn sure wasn't any wereanimal." He was getting bent out of shape at the regular crime unit for the wild goose chases. The woman's doctor came in and introduced herself. "I am sure she will be fine." She told them. "When can she talk to us?" Nora asked. The doctor shrugged. "She is able to communicate now by nodding, writing, whatever. She is on no medications that might alter her reasoning. We did find small amounts of cocaine in her tox screen." Swear to God, Rafe would beat the shit out of Crabtree when he saw him again. He turned back to the woman in the bed. Putting on his best smile he spoke softly to her. "Ma'am, if you know who attacked you it would be a great help to us all if you could let us know who it was so I could get the proper unit out there to arrest him, her, whoever."The woman nodded and reached for a paper. The same time, the door to the room opened and a young woman came in, dressed as if she were about to go hiking, her hair pulled back and her eyes shining. When she looked up at Rafe she stopped dead in her tracks and almost snarled at him. He wasn't sure whether to laugh or curse. "Dr. Farrell, this is Rafe Williams." Nora introduced them. He looked at her and neither extended a hand. He nodded at the woman in the bed. "Sorry to waste your time. This is obviously a lover's quarrel." He moved aside and watched her as she unbandaged the wound at her neck. Rafe watched and saw the smooth edges of a wound caused by a knife or something sharp. Obviously it was not from anything "un-human."

The baby kittens were next up. Were vaccines were newly developed and even more recently required by law, just like rabies vaccine. The thought being that many animals, such as domestic cats carried the latent virus somewhere within their system. One bite, one scratch from one of these sweet little felines, if carrying the virus, would easily turn an unsuspecting little boy or girl into a raging, ferocious werecat.

While Rudy readied the room and vaccines, Jamie took a moment to grab her favorite vitamin water, down some headache meds and sit in the small break room to take a breather.

She should have known better than to close her eyes, but the last month of sleepless nights had caught up with her. The daymare started the minute she rested her forehead against her outstretched arms.

The screaming of the victim was the worse. She seemed never to take a breath, the sound shattered the sharp silence of the wood where it dragged her. Jamie felt the girls terror and pain; especially when its oversized shaft pierced her between the legs while simultaneously biting chunks out of her shoulders and arms. It was literally eating her alive.

Jamie looked up and saw the moon was full and bright. It shown on the back of the huge wereanimal, reflecting the beasts hips as he drove himself into his victim. Jamie didn't want to but she focused on the creature. She felt his blood thirsty lust and hunger and something else, something she had never felt from a wereanimal before. Deep, dark evil.

Jamie shook as she watched the scene unfold. She broke out in a cold sweat, her own body displaying signs of severe shock. She was connected to the girl. Feeling her die, taking her last breath. Jamie projected love and warmth to her, letting her know she was not dying alone; promising the girl she would let her parents know her last thoughts had been of them and her love for them.

Jamie jerked awake, panting for breath. The girl was gone, destroyed forever by a crazed 1/2 human, 1/2 animal beast. Rudy shook the doctor vigorously trying to rouse her. He let out yelp and hopped back quickly when she raised her eyes to his. They glowed an ominous yellow, much like the big wolves Rudy liked to tease when only a little tadpole. Only then he could swim beneath the deep water to escape their snarling teeth after splashing their long muzzles.

"Doc? Doc? Jamie, you okay?"

Jamie blinked and looked up to see Rudy shivering against the refrigerator, phone in hand.

"Another episode Doc?"

Her staff was kept up to date, usually, during an episodic period. For some reason, she had kept this one private. In her half dream state, Jamie nodded and took the phone from Rudy who left quickly, no doubt to let everyone else know it had started again.

Without realizing it, Jamie had not only agreed to but now found herself standing in a young girls hospital room facing the most handsome wereanimal she had ever met. What was worse, this one was sporting a badge and a gun. What idiot had decided it was alright to arm something that could generally kill with one bite?

Her immediate response was to snarl at him. Remnants of her recent daymare she supposed. No way was she shaking his hand only to be bombarded by the wild and feral emotions she knew lurked just beneath his skin. Especially right now. Unconsciously, Jamie glanced out the window at the encroaching darkness and shivered.

The response from the doctor to him had been immediate. He knew she knew as she looked away from him and out the window. Rafe just hoped she hurried and made the call so they could all get on their way. He wanted to be home, secluded with a bottle of very cold beer, his lounge pants and a movie or ball game on his big screen.
He watched the young woman look closely at the wound, inspecting the edges. "When does Crabtree report tomorrow?" He asked Nora. "You know Matt. Whenever he gets there." She told him. "He'll probably be at O'Malley's tonight though." He thought about that. If he waited long enough he could let the man get tipped and go wait for him to pick a fight. Then he thought better of it. Baiting him this close to the moon might not go well for either of them. He looked back to the doctor. And waited. He tilted his head a little at the sight of her bent over the bed, the outline of her butt in the jeans. His nose wiggled just a bit to catch her scent as Nora whacked him with the back of her hand across his shoulder. She had known Rafe a very long time.

Jamie focused completely on the girl and the wound. She was obviously not showing the distressing signs one who had been ravaged or bitten by a wereanimal usually did. A bite almost either meant death or an infection that would forever change the person's life; for the worse in Jamie's opinion.

She spoke to the girl quietly who answered with blinks of her eyes lids. Jamie did not want to touch the girl but knew it had to be done. She was almost certain this had been done by a knife or some other sharp instrument but something was askew and she needed to get to the bottom of it, even if she was not an official investigator she could never place the lives of those who were on the line just for her own comfort, not even his; the too handsome werecop.

She kept herself shielded to keep her distance from him. He emanated sex, lust and hunger. She could only imagine how he would be when the moon was full and pitied any woman stupid enough to cross his territory then. There was also irritation, anger and something else, something deeper. Pain, loneliness.

Jamie snapped the metal door closed, she hadn't realized she had opened it to him and had no desire nor care as to what nor why he was feeling anything. Period. The girl took precedence. Maybe she could help Jamie locate the beast that would attack on a full moon, perhaps even tomorrow night's full moon. She hated these visions. They never gave enough detail and usually only gave clues after the victim was dead or mutilated beyond recognition. What good were they anyway? She had asked herself this question so many times she didn't even bother trying to come up with an answer.

The girl blinked up at Jamie again, telling her that no, a wereanimal had not harmed her. Jamie lay her hand on the girls neck, just to the right of the wound. She felt, saw the knife slash down and looked up into the eyes of a young man filled with rage and jealousy. She backed up out of the vision a bit, placing herself in the girls memories prior to the stabbing.

Both had been using illegal drugs and both had sex. Then the girls new boyfriend came in and a fight ensued. The new boyfriend was the wereanimal. The victim had lured her ex boyfriend there hoping to cause a fight and she had, only it was not over her, it had been over the drugs. Now she was filled with remorse. Not that she was wounded or that her ex boyfriend was in jail but that she had not gotten to see her new boyfriend change.

Jamie removed her hand quickly and grabbed her head. The headache speared her just above her eyes, the room spun for a moment and stars exploded around her head while she caught her breath and tried to regain her equilibrium.

Rafe watched the vet look the girl over and place her hand at the wound. He suddenly heard noises, sounds, voices adrift in a tunnel as she touched the girl. A sensitive. Damn it. He turned quickly and walked away, back towards the door. He hated being in the presence of a sensitive. They were always trying to read him. Then he felt her shut herself off completely. Rafe watched silently, until the woman pulled her hand back and reeled. She rocked to her toes then back to her heels. Just as he started for her, Nora stepped in and grabbed her shoulders, steadying her. She had heard Doctor Farrell was a sensitive and the last thing she needed was to let Rafe touch her so close to the moon cycle. Could be bad for everyone involved. "You alright?" She asked as Doctor Farrell righted herself.

The headache passed quickly, it usually did after touch. It was the ones from the nightmares that lasted the longest, as if her brain had been overloaded.

"Yes, I'm fine, really Detective. It's an after-effect from touching something or someone. Especially after a violent episode. It's almost gone now, thanks."

She felt only professionalism and care with a little bit of interest from the lady cop. In that instance, she felt nothing but friendship towards her partner, the werecop and wondered if it had always been that way. Jamie was filled with a sudden, sharp pang of jealousy that they may have been intimate at one time. Where the hell had that come from?

Jamie shook her head, as though to clear the last remnants of the headache and looked directly into the werecops beautiful blue eyes. She almost swooned again but was professional enough, she thought, to school her features and speak to him calmly.

"Definitely a knife, and definitely the ex boyfriend. The human ex boyfriend." Jamie tried to keep the slight sneer out of her voice and hoped she succeeded.

"There is a wereanimal involved though. The girl's new boyfriend. You can bust all three of them on illegal drug charges to start. The girl needs psychological counseling and education once she recovers or she may wind up dead next time."

Jamie said this loud enough for the girl to hear on purpose. She hoped to scare her into not trying to play games with these wereanimals. Most people thought of them as larger versions of their domestic dogs and cats, which they were nothing like, at all.

Rafe looked at her. She was staring intently at him as she fed them the information. A wereanimal always kept him involved even when he didn't want to be. The attending physician noted the need for the psych eval. Rafe thanked the woman for her help, told her he hoped she would get the help she needed and then looked deeply into her eyes, leaning close to her ear. "You need to rethink the drug use and the wereboyfriend. Believe me, the two won't mix well." She stared at him and he backed out of the room, following the two women to the hallway.
Doctor Farrell looked like she had something on her mind as Nora stood with her, talking quietly to her. Rafe joined them. "Thank you for coming, Doctor. Sorry it was such a goose chase."

"It's never a goose chase if one life can be changed or at least altered Detective Williams. It's fine, I was ... "

Jamie hesitated, pushed her long dark hair back over her shoulder, then continued.

"I was headed out of town for a long weekend but something came up and I'd like to run it past you if I may?" She looked at both cops standing above her.

"Both of you please? If you have a moment?"

Nora and the werecop both shook their heads although the werecop looked like he'd rather be a hundred miles away and definitely out of range of the tentative grasp she had on that metal door to her psyche she was struggling to keep closed to him.

"I would like to describe a place to you, see if anything sounds familiar? Perhaps it's somewhere near here that I'm not familiar with? More than likely, it's hundreds or even thousands of miles away but I'd like to make sure, just in case if you don't mind?"

Rafe heard her ask. God, why couldn't he just go home? Or at least to O'Malley's to beat some sense into Crabtree. He hated Matt Crabtree and Matt hated him. Actually Matt hated all weres. Rafe tried to look interested as Nora listened to the woman describe some generic wooded area where she was certain something bad was going to happen. Nora was all ears, hanging on every word. Rafe listened half heartedly. Just because he was a wereanimal everyone thought he ran naked through the woods once a month. His mind raced ahead, planning his evening. Nora gave him a slight nudge with her elbow, knowing he was loosing his focus on the conversation. He looked back at the woman. Her hair was long and dark, hanging over her shoulders as she pushed it away.

Jamie sensed his disinterest immediately, the bastard. Fine, she didn't need him or his help anyway. She felt his thoughts, even without touching him and strained to shut that metal door again. She was going to have to mentally conjure some huge lock to keep it closed against this one. His pull was strong, especially the night before the full moon.

"Thanks for your time Detective's. Sorry to keep you from O' ... I mean from where ever you need to go next. I need to be off as well."

Jamie gifted Nora with a full fledged smile that changed her face completely, lighting up her violet blue eyes and softening the skin around her mouth. The eyes she turned to Rafe were cold and distant, keeping herself contained and him locked out, tightly.

Neither reached to shake her hand goodbye, for which she was grateful. At least they both seemed to understand her predicament as far as her sensitivity. She turned back to thank Nora for her help again and caught Rafe's eye. She saw the beast there, lurking, ready to spring as soon as it could and recoiled both physically and mentally. It was a good reminder to her not to forget what he was, not ever, not once. She had almost asked him what kind of were he was, but now was glad she hadn't. More than likely, he was used to women falling all over him as soon as he pinned them with those gorgeous eyes and that made her even angrier for some reason.

hiccup

Rafe looked at her as she avoided him. He could feel her intense dislike for him and he didn't try to change her mind. She was beautiful though. Nora stepped up, smiling. "Well, we are going to O'Malley's if you'd like to join us. We at least owe you a beer." She offered. Rafe did not argue with her. He wasn't opposed to a beer before he went home. Perhaps the good doctor would join them and give Nora some female company for a change.

Jamie stopped mid-step. The invitation took her completely by surprise. Even her friends from work rarely asked her to go out with them. As much as they liked and respected her, very few wanted their raw emotions read; even accidentally.

That's why Jamie had been working so hard on building the walls, the imaginary metal doors she could slam closed when unwanted pictures, visions or whatever others might call them, invaded her thoughts. She had been doing pretty well at it until the newest set of nightmares had begun and now, felt that metal wall crumbling at her feet.

Jamie didn't miss the look from Rafe either. He no more wanted her there than she wanted to go. That presented a challenge and a challenge was something Dr. Jamie Farrell rarely backed down from.

"Actually, you're on Detective. It's too late to head up into the mountains now, so I'm free for several hours. I'm driving my car though, so I'll meet you there."

Jamie smiled that brilliant smile at Nora then turned and nodded her head slightly at Rafe, before making her way to her Jeep.

Rafe followed the women out to the car. He got into the sedan with Nora and slammed the door. "What was that?" He asked her. "What?" Nora asked. "Why did you have to invite her with us? She obviously has issues with weres." "You are too sensitive, wolf boy." "She's the sensitive." He hated when she called him wolf boy. He shut down and she pulled away. The jeep fell in behind them as Nora picked their way to O'Malley's. Once there they got out, waited for Dr. Farrell to join them and they went inside.
It was loud, busy and smelled of people and beer. Rafe went to the bar and picked up 3 bottles of beer then found the booth where the women had gone. He slid in next to Nora and placed the bottles on the table. Then, just like clockwork, Crabtree sauntered over, leaning on the table. "Hey ladies." He nodded then looked at Rafe, "Hey Rafe." "Matt." Rafe took a deep draw from the bottle then set it down, peeling at the label. "So, how did you get dragged into this little party pretty lady?" Crabtree turned his attention to Dr Farrell. Crabtree was well on his way to being drunk and he was ready to mess with Rafe. Trouble was, Rafe was waiting for him tonight. Nora watched the unscene exchange between the men. "Matt, we were talking here, if you don't mind." He slid in next to Dr.Farrell. "Naw, I don't mind." Nora put her hand on Rafe's leg, knowing what could happen very quickly.

Jamie knew Rafe didn't want her there. Somehow she took perverse pleasure in being there knowing this. Wasn't she doing exactly what she had warned the girl victim in the hospital not to do? Why was this werecop getting under her skin? Jamie shook her head, her long dark hair shifting across her shoulders to fall across her chest and lower.

Automatically, she moved further away from the other cop, Matt, when he sat next to her. She had seen him before but had never spoken to him. He was good looking, at least to most women. Jamie found him conceited, pompous, arrogant and way over-confident in his sex appeal.

Rafe's immediate dislike of the man would have been apparent, even if Jamie hadn't been a sensitive. His blue eyes darkened and the curve of him mouth stayed in a perpetual frown. Jamie looked at that mouth and wondered if it ever did curl up in a smile and what it would take to make that happen. She shook her head again to clear her thoughts and keep that door closed. He was a were and she needn't forget that, not ever.

Matt continued to crowd Jamie in the small booth. It had been a mistake for her to come here. She had let her own sense of competition goad her into making an unwise decision and was paying for it now. Where had all her common sense gone? Maybe the full moon was affecting her as well and maybe, she should have gone on up to Horseshoe Falls even in the dark. Somehow, Jamie thought it would have been a lot safer than sitting here on the eve of a full moon with a werecop and his nemesis.

"Detective Crabtree. Dr. Jamie Farrell." Jamie rarely if ever used her title when introducing herself, but did so tonight. She needed to put distance between she and Crabtree, both literally and figuratively.

"I'm working on a case with the Detectives here and we were involved in a private conversation, if you don't mind?"

She set her violet blue eyes on his, willing him to get up and leave before things got way out of control, way too fast.

Rafe watched Dr. Farrell take control of the situation quickly, trying to turn Crabtree off with her professionalism. Her eyes burned into his as she willed him to leave them alone. It was working as he looked a bit confused. Suddenly Rafe heard a noise and saw Crabtree's eyes glaze over as Nora's well placed foot under the table urged him along towards an exit from them all. Crabtree turned a dark red as he excused himself, glaring at Rafe until he realized he was sitting opposite sides of the table, then he stared at Nora who smiled at him sweetly before taking another drink of beer. "See ya, Matt." She told him as he slid from the booth. He limped back to his buddies who all comforted him on striking out with the good doctor. "Sorry about that." Nora told her. Rafe shook his head and continued to peel the label from his beer bottle. "So, do you go to the mountains often?" He asked, trying to make conversation. Nora looked at him as well because the question was so out of character for him. He never showed interest in anyone, much less a woman who was a sensitive. Nora was his best friend. He tolerated others in his unit and was a fair, but tough leader to them. Dr. Farrell's violet colored eyes put him on edge when she shifted her gaze to him. There was a loud roar at the bar as Crabtree and his men shared a good laugh, at Rafe's expense no doubt when one of them had messed up his own hair and was pretending to growl and snap at the waitress as she served the next round of drinks. His blood boiled a little, but he was used to the teasing from others. It had been that way since he was a kid.

Jamie looked into the clear blue eyes of Detective Williams. Sky blue she would call them. She had always been ultrasensitive to color. The swirling blue of his eyes told her much about him before he lowered them to study the peeling label of his beer bottle. His blonde hair hung long and shaggy, framing his face with its silken lovliness. A man should not be allowed to have such beautiful hair. She wondered again what type of were he was. She could let down her walls and find out easily, but respected his privacy too much to pry.

Realizing she had not answered, she blushed softly and did so.

"Actually I go as much as I can. A lot depends on emergencies, who's on call and whether I'm needed ... elsewhere."

Jamie let that hang in the air for a minute before the noise from Crabtree's crowd started to annoy her.

"Seems there's two choices to be had here Detective Williams. I can go over there and pour this beer over that jerks head to get him to either cool his jets or take a swing at me. In which case this bar will quickly turn into a boxing ring and we'll all be in trouble. Or, and I'm not too crazy about this idea myself. You can come dance with me, which should definitely cool his ummm, jets so to speak?"

She looked at Rafe almost dispassionately. Hoping the mischevious glint was well hidden as well as the veiled challenge.

Nora almost fell out of the booth. She had known Rafe Williams as long as anyone around and no one had ever asked him to dance. In fact, she had never seen him dance. She had seen him, drunk, worn out, in as stupid a mood as he was ever in, but he never did anything like dance. So, she almost spewed beer out her nose when Rafe glanced over at Crabtree and nodded. He slid from the booth, holding onto the beer and waited on Dr. Farrell to get up as well. The song on the juke box was a smooth, slow song, not mushy, just not the kind you could dance to and not touch. He winked at Nora and followed the good doctor to the small floor where there were two other couples hanging on each other. He knew it was a challenge. The woman was obviously a sensitive and as soon as she touched him she would probably know his life story, but he was beyond caring. Since the world had been opened up to weres things had changed. It was common knowledge about them and what happened at full moons. Some could instigate changes as needed, shape shifters of old who had been born into the heritage. Others, less in control, were usually those who had been turned by another and had no control of what they did. They were dangerous, rogues who usually wound up dead or in prisons specially made for the kind. Crabtree hated them all and Rafe hated him. He glanced over Dr. Farrell's shoulder at the other unit as he took her hand and positioned himself for the dance. The electricity jolted him as soon as they touched. He tried to keep things together, but so close to the moon phase and his control was not tightly reined as usual. It was almost painful as he settled into the touch. Then he realized she was not the petite, slight fragile woman who seemed to hound him the most. This dark haired woman was 5' 6", maybe 5' 7", her body, what he could feel, was tight and dense. She was a physical, strong person who seemed to be very in control of herself and probably everyone around her. She remained stoic in his arms as he began to sway with her. Now he knew Crabtree would piss himself. The idea made him laugh just a little. He knew he couldn't hide the faint smile at the corner of his mouth. He glanced at Dr. Farrell as they turned.

Jamie nearly jerked her hand back when he wrapped his big hand around hers. She felt a jolt as they touched and expected his emotions and memories to flood her but her metal door held tightly. The jolt was something else entirely, something Jamie had never felt before, from anyone. She looked up at him confused, he seemed nearly as confused as she was but didn't let it show, at least not much.

She let him enclose her hand and fought to keep the emotions out. She didn't want to know this man, didn't want to get close to him and certainly would never trust him. He wasn't really a man, at least not wholly. And just because she loved animals and the animal world, didn't mean she wanted to be involved with one.

Jamie smiled when Rafe did though, after looking over at Matt Crabtree. Matt looked like he was about to have a stroke or a heart attack. She wasn't sure which and didn't much care either. Something about the man had set her on edge immediately but she didn't allow herself to open to him, she felt like that was what he wanted her to do and often times, it was a very intimate experience. She had no wish to be intimate with that man in any way.

"Enjoying this aren't you Detective Williams?"

She allowed her body to relax and move with his. They were a good fit. He was tall and well built. Muscular without being over-bearing or over-confident. She liked how he moved and moved well with him. It had been many, many years since she had actually danced with anyone and found she was enjoying herself immensely. Unknowingly, she relaxed completely against his body, closing her yes she let her head drift to his shoulder, breathing in his male scent and a scent of something deeper, more alluring and musky.

Jamie turned her face towards his neck and inhaled, loving how his hair moved around her face. She felt him stiffen and realized what she had done, but didn't move away. It as the first time in a very long time, she had allowed herself the luxury of dancing and touching a man and was too lost in the moment to worry about it.

Rafe felt the woman in his grasp relax some as they swayed to the music. She had been happy to help him piss off Crabtree and he liked that about her. It more than surprised him when she actually turned her face into his neck, her head on his shoulder. He suddenly had no idea of how to react. She was warm and built to fit his embrace, yet he had no desire for that. His life was about catching werecriminals, no matter what the type. He had no time or patience for a woman and he wouldn't allow himself to become involved. Dr. Farrell seemed almost like she had forgotten to be smug, as she had before at the hospital. Surely this was to irk Crabtree and nothing else. It was working as he saw the jerk start across the floor to them, intent on cutting in on the dance.
Just as he figured, Crabtree tapped his shoulder. Rafe turned and looked down at him. "Like to cut in." He told Rafe. "No." Was all he answered and turned away from him. Crabtree turned with him. "Said I want a turn." Rafe looked at him again. "I said no." He told him. He turned again. Crabtree put his hand on Rafe's shoulder. "Listen, Rover, you know what's coming tomorrow night. Don't get her all hot and bothered then have to cut out on her for a whole evening while you scratch fleas." That was it. Rafe turned loose of the doctor and stepped toward the insulting detective. "You need to back off, Crabtree." He warned him. "Or what? You gonna come get me?" He asked. "Had your shots lately?" He asked, laughing back over his shoulder at his friends. What he didn't see was Rafe's eyes as they narrowed and the pupils became slits of ice blue. Just as Crabtree turned back around Rafe had him by the throat, his feet slightly off the floor, dangling in the air. Rafe was in his face, his hot breath on the smaller man's face. "You need to shut the hell up and leave me alone, Crabtree." He warned. "It won't be shots you'll need when I'm done with you." Nora was up and between them as Rafe held the man up. Nora put her hand on his chest. "Rafe, stop. Put him down." She looked at him, unafraid of his eyes and the anger there. She had seen it all before. "Rafe." She growled. She swore she would hit him if she had to. Rafe finally focused on Nora as Crabtree's eyes started to bulge. He lowered him to the floor and then dropped him mercilessly to the tile. He stalked to the booth and picked up his jacket. He was out the door before anyone could say or do anything else.
Out in the fresh air he took a few deep breaths and then felt a little better. His panting stopped and he loosened his shirt. He decided he had been social enough for one night. The doctor would just have to understand. He started down the street and towards his small house. He had made such a walk many times before. He had to work tomorrow. Why had he tried to be social at all?

The violence between the two men nearly knocked down the solid metal door blocking Jamie's sensitivity to Rafe as well as the others in the bar. She caught a brief glimpse of unreleased violence and something else from Rafe before she slammed the door back in place and firmly locked it. What had she felt from him? Whatever it was, it sent shivers through her, raising goosebumps on her arms and legs and a swirling fear deep within her gut.

Jamie shook her head, some of her hair moved from behind her shoulders to caress her face. She could smell Rafe on her hair and suddenly grew angry that this bully, Crabtree had ruined the first nice time she had been having in perhaps years. He still sat on his butt, looking stunned. Jamie heard the front door slam closed and knew Rafe was gone. Nora stood over Crabtree, her stance making it obvious she would stop him if he chose unwisely to go after Rafe's retreating form.

The man looked so smug as he started to get up. Jamie never did remember thinking about what she was going to do, she just did it. Very atypical of her character, the second time this night she had not acted like herself. Perhaps the full moon was truly affecting her as well?

Jamie smiled down at Crabtree seductively. Anyone that knew her, would have seen the smile for what it truly was. But, Crabtree was so full of himself and his self-righteousness, he only saw what he wanted. Jamie extended her hand to him, offering him a pull up off of the bar room floor. Before he touched her fingers, however, she asked in a quietly disturbing voice.

"Have you ever been touched by a full sensitive Matt? A trained sensitive? Did you know that a fully trained, strong sensitive can turn your thoughts, emotions back on you? Every single dirty deed you have ever done, every single crime, every dirty thought you have ever wanted to act out but didn't, or perhaps did secretly, will come back to you. Screaming and tearing through your brain worse than any nightmare or horror flick you could imagine. Not only the pictures but the smells, the sounds and the feel of it. Ever pulled the trigger when you shouldn't have Matt? Ever looked into the eyes of an innocent as he lay dying at your feet and know it was your mistake that put him there? Ever felt someone die Matt? Truly die as they gasp for breath, the last gurgle filled with blood and fluids as the light fades from your eyes and your body struggles to survive?

Take my hand, Matt. You wanted to dance with me so badly you ruined my evening out, my 'date' Matt. No, don't want to take my hand. Pity. I was rather looking forward to it."

Jamie cocked her head, looking down at him as he still sat crouching on the floor at Nora's feet.

"Well, take this instead. A gift to remember me by Matt Crabtree. And you will remember me after tonight, make no mistake about it."

Jamie upended her nearly full beer and poured it neatly over Crabtree's head. Her movements were slow and calculated, nothing hurried about them. He sat through it, not daring to touch her but his eyes shot daggers of hate right through her. Good, maybe it'd take some of the pressure off Rafe then, she thought as she sat the bottle down on the table and retrieved her backpack from the bench where the three of them had been sitting.

She watched as Nora moved away from Matt, both women keeping their eyes on him as they made for the door. Jamie was shaking with rage at the audacity of the jerk as well as the placidity of his unit as they stood and watched his antics.

Both women walked out the door to the sounds of much laughter and jeering. Neither could be sure if it was at them or Crabtree and neither much cared either. Jamie needed to ask Nora something and the only way she knew how to do it, was just to ask straight up.

She turned to find the woman smiling at her. Jamie was sure it was the first real smile she had seen on Nora's face since meeting her.

"What?" Jamie asked, smiling in return.

"Nice, real nice. Made you a new enemy back there Doc."

Jamie shrugged. She didn't care and wasn't intimidated by the likes of him. She had been an outcast in school and college due to her abilities and learned real early not to buckle underneath some bullies games.

"Won't be the first time or last I'm sure." Jamie shrugged and pushed her hair back off of her shoulders again, the length of it falling nearly past the top of her small butt.

"So, Rafe. What is he Nora? What type of were?" Jamie's eyes were so clear they were nearly translucent violet beneath the parking lots lights.

Nora looked at her, as though gauging her reason for asking then replied with one word,

"Wolf."

Rafe made it home and went inside. His little walkup was nestled next to another one where a much older woman lived. She had often told him how much she liked having a cop as a neighbor. She felt safer she had told him. He found the little pan of home made brownies waiting at his door. He picked them up. They were his "payment" for protecting her. His key turned in the lock and he stepped inside to his solitude. He switched on the light and kicked off his shoes, moving to the kitchen as he pulled the plastic wrap from the brownies. They were still warm as he pulled a gallon of milk from the fridge. Standing at the counter he ate almost all of them and downed half the milk. Rafe had a ravenous appetite and his metabolism was of course, that of a were which meant he never gained weight. He wiped his mouth with his hand and put the milk back in the fridge and went to the bathroom where he turned on the shower. He stripped and stepped into the hot stream of water. He held his head up, his eyes closed as the heat poured over his face. Soon he was wet all over and he carefully washed himself, knowing it was likely the last shower he would take until he was past the change tomorrow night. His glands were already swelling in his neck and legs, the precursor to the pull of the moon. His scent had changed, musky and strong. He washed at it, trying to get rid of it. Finally he turned the water off and stood dripping for a long minute, then, he shuddered, shaking water from his body in a very canine like way. It was something he did in privacy. A towel was used to soak up the rest and run through his hair which hung in silky waves. Time for a cut, he thought as he saw it in the mirror. Maybe later. He didn't bother shaving tonight and would do it tomorrow before he went to the precinct. Totally nude he strode through his small house, padding silently back to the kitchen. He found a bottle of beer in the back of the fridge and plopped down in front of the television where he watched the early news and then the national edition. His mind returned to Dr. Farrell. Why had she engaged him in such a way? Surely she did not know Crabtree enough to dislike him so much. But, that could be possible. Crabtree was a real dick. He considered her a bit longer as the news ended and he found a basketball game to watch. He kept thinking of the dark haired beauty though with her strangely colored eyes. He knew she could find out anything she wanted about him, but he hoped she would not.
Rafe sat late into the night, watching movies and different infomercials. He was most definitely nocturnal and the precinct was very aware of it. He was given to coming late most mornings unless something big was going on. Tonight he finally laid down on the couch, yawning, a groan slipping from his throat as he settled in on the large sofa.
Rafe woke the next morning, running a bit later than he planned. He brushed his teeth, dressed and made it to the precinct and was still there before Crabtree. He checked messages, spoke with the sargent and filed his reports from yesterday. By lunch he was ready to head home. Nora headed him off when Crabtree showed up. He was on his way back to the file room when Crabtree mouthed off again. "What happened to your vet last night, Rover?" He asked. "You go to her place for a round of were vaccinations?" Rafe looked at him, hoping he would come for him. "That's enough, Matt." Nora told him as the idiot came to them. "No, Rafe's girlfriend poured a beer on my head last night. I think she owes me an apology. I think I'll find her and remind her that once a were always a were." "Why don't you stay the hell away from her." Rafe growled. Matt stepped forward, close to Rafe. "Because. You are a were and sooner or later, you will slip up and hurt someone. Wereanimals are not to be trusted, ever. You can't control yourself, I don't care what the experts say. If you could, we wouldn't need you for these cases. I'm waiting Rafe and when it happens, I'm going to be damned happy to haul your furry ass to prison. See how long you last in there where you sent all your freak buddies." Rafe was about to snap when the sargent came to them. "That's enough you two. I will not have my precinct fighting itself. There's enough damned crime and violence out there. I won't have it in here." Crabtree backed down. The sargent looked at Rafe. "Doesn't your day end about now?" He asked. Rafe nodded and took his coat, signed his computer off and stormed out with Nora close behind.
"Just leave me alone." He told her over his shoulder. "No, not until I know you are okay. I'll do like always and leave you at your house. And I'll wait for you to call when it's over. No arguing." She thumped his chest. "And no arguing with me you big lump." He had to laugh at her as she tiptoed to hit him.

Jamie entered the name Detective Rafe Williams into her computer for the third time, then deleted it just as quickly. She had clearance through the police department to access personnel as well as criminal files during an investigation. She wanted to know more about him, needed to know more about him.

She didn't trust weres, usually she didn't even like them but somehow, this big one had gotten under her skin and yet, terrified her at the same time. That last burst of energy from him had been so foreign, so primal that it had really shaken her. Yes, primal was how she would have described it.

As she always did when trying to put the pieces of a puzzle together, she wrote Rafe's name down on her notepad and beneath it wrote. Primal. Then without thought she wrote, gorgeous, moody and then lonely.

Lonely? Where had that come from? Now Jamie was sure she was projecting her own emotions. She scratched out lonely and left the rest. Instead of searching through the police department's personnel files, she researched human werewolves instead. She knew a little about most of the documented and categorized weres, including the wolves but she wanted to see if she could pinpoint Rafe's exact species. It would be a long shot at best. She would be going on only his looks, actions and the bit of feeling she had picked up from him before she managed to slam her safeguards in place.

Jamie sat at the computer long into the night. She fought sleep. Fought the possibility of the nightmare returning. She didn't remember falling asleep at the computer, but it was happening again. The screams of the victim. The gurgling sound as she fought to breathe. The desire to let her parents know she loved them. But there was more this time.

Cold blue eyes looked up from where his muzzle had been buried in the girl's neck. Sky blue. Eyes she recognized from somewhere but couldn't place. The wolf growled low in his throat, as if sensing her there. Her eyes met his and he recognized her as well. His growl grew deeper and he howled. Behind him the moon was full, glaringly brilliant as it lit up the wood where the beast was feasting on the girl.

Jamie saw the wolf's lips curl up as though smiling, taunting her. It lifted the front half of his huge body, to show Jamie his shaft was still buried deep within the girls center. He thrust forward and looked up, snarling at Jamie, daring her to come for him. She took a step forward and felt the leaves crunch beneath her feet. She could smell the clean, crisp air around her. Hear the crickets chirping and in the far distance, the sound of cars speeding down the freeway.

Another step and she was closer. She could smell him now. Wild and musky. His coat was beautiful. A long, shaggy almond color, nearly blond in its luminescence. Jamie moved forward quickly. Her only thought to save the girl, this time she would get there on time. This time she would make a difference.

Jamie thrust her body at the wolf, surprising both of them. He snarled but stayed connected to the lifeless girl beneath him. Jamie ran at him again, shouting no as he bent to take another bite from her small neck.

The wolf slung his big paw out, catching Jamie's shoulder, raking down her bicep to her elbow. She screamed in pain and awoke as she tumbled out of her computer chair to the ground. Jamie lay there a long time, panting after having the breath knocked out of her. The room was dark, the computer having gone to sleep long ago.

Something wet roused Jamie from the spot where she landed. A deep ache began throbbing at the top of her shoulder. She rose shakily, using the chair to brace herself and made her way to the bathroom. In the glaring light, she saw it. Her arm oozed blood from several cuts that begun at her shoulder and ran just to the end of her elbow. Werewolf scratches. The beast had reached through her mind and injured her with her own thoughts, her own beliefs. It wasn't possible. Jamie was a strong sensitive, it could not have been possible. Not unless they had a previous connection, knew each other and had touched each others thoughts in the past.

The shimmering color of the wolf's coat swam through Jamie's mind. The musky odor, the sky blue eyes and that feral smile. She wouldn't believe it. She refused to believe it and put the thought from her mind. There was another answer, something she was missing.

Jamie cleaned the wound, taking care to use the special precautions she had been taught when dealing with were wounds, even if this one was caused by a dream. No stitches were needed but she was going to be damn sore for a few days and her right arm was going to be next to useless too.

Damn were's were nothing but trouble. She wondered if she needed to get a booster vaccine tomorrow against the were virus and then shook her head at herself. She could see it now, Dr. Jamie Farrell going down to the local clinic to be vaccinated against the were virus she contracted through a dream. They'd be sending her to the mental ward before the day was through, which might not be a bad thing after all, considering what had just happened.

Jamie did something she rarely did, she took a pain pill and a sleeping pill to get her through the night. Tomorrow was Saturday. The office was closed and there was no way she could go climbing now. Her lack of sleep, combined with the pills knocked her out for the rest of the night and through the next day. She awoke the next night, the night of the full moon, ate a light dinner, cleaned the wounds on her arm and looked out the window.

The moon was full, smiling down at her and at some other girl who could even now be laying, dying in a pool of her own blood.