As is the usual fare they've decided on, Tony is at Gibbs' home for the night of the full moon. The moon shows itself; Tony's eyes glint with the wolf inside him.

"Relax yourself, Tony," Gibbs encourages, standing by--gun in hand, just in case--as Tony begins shifting.

"Easy--for you--t'say Boss--" Tony gets out, trying futilely as the pain of the shifting takes hold of him. He still doesn't understand why it hurts to change on the full moon, when it doesn't any other time. He lets out a muffled cry as his bones change in his feet, then his spine grows to accomodate a tail. His face shifts drastically, giving him a temporary severe headache and a horrible burning sensation. Within moments of this, the transformation is complete; even though he'd changed twice before by the full moon, he still hasn't gained immediate control of the wolf. He turns to Gibbs, growling menacingly.

{Damn, still?} Gibbs puts his hands up, backing off a bit. "Easy, Tony. Easy now. Calm down." At this, Tony just stares, eyes glaring, before he decides Gibbs is not a threat--and turns, heading for the window--and straight through it, out into the night. "Damn! TONY!" He calls up Abby to let her know they have another wolf hunt on their hands, telling her to call Ziva and Vance to let them know their werewolf is loose again. He himself makes a few calls.

"Hello?" comes the voice of Gibbs' first contact, sounding distracted.

"McGee, Tony's loose. Stay inside and keep your weapon ready, just in case."

"Boss, wouldn't it-" He's cut off as Gibbs hangs up to call Ducky; Gibbs by now is driving after where he saw Tony run.

"Oh, Jethro, hello. How are you to-"

"Duck, Tony's loose. I didn't wake him up in time. Stay inside," Gibbs warns.

"Oh, rest assured, I will. I wish you luck, friend." Gibbs utters a quick 'thanks' before closing the phone, dropping it, and making a sharp turn as he spots Tony making his way down another street.

"Dammit, Tony, get back here..!"

---

McGee looks down at his gun, wondering if he should go out to search for Tony or stay put like Gibbs asked him to. If he could wake Tony up, he could possibly save lives; but if he were to leave his apartment against his boss's wishes, Gibbs would tear him out a new asshole. He finally decides to try and help Tony; but just after he gets ready and opens the door, Tony leaps through it, tackling McGee to the floor. His hand smacks the floor, sending the gun flying a foot out of reach. He looks up into the face of the rabid-looking werewolf; snarling, low growling in the throat, long, sharp, white teeth glinting in the light of his desk lamp as he drooled.

Before McGee is attacked, the last thing he can think of, so stupid, is how, of course Tony would have to have clean white teeth, even as a werewolf.

Then, everything goes red.

---

"TONY!" Gibbs spots the werewolf running towards him. A few gunshots later, Tony finally slows; he takes a drunken leap toward Gibbs, coming up short and stumbling before hitting the ground. Gibbs notes that Tony is bleeding pretty badly; he smacks the back of Tony's head and relaxes slightly when the wolf groans.

"Srry B'ss.." Tony mumbles, the blood loss causing him to have a foggy memory of that night.

"Don't apologize," Gibbs says automatically, before dragging Tony into the backseat of his car--with much effort due to all that muscle, I might add--and drives him very, very quickly to Duck's recently-rebuilt home. "Who the hell shot ya, Tony?"

Tony mumbles low, low enough that Gibbs just barely catches it. "Y'did, Bozz," he slurrs, breathing heavy. "Iono.. whoelzz.."

"Just stay awake. Stay awake, dammit." He soon arrives at Ducky's, driving onto the lawn and right up to the door. He leaps out and pounds on the door furiously. "DUCK! DUCK, OPEN UP!

Ducky opens the door in under five seconds, looking at a panicked Gibbs, smeared with Tony's blood--who he spots bleeding in the backseat, sinking further and further. "Gracious! Let's get him in, quick!" He helps Gibbs get Tony in and on his new couch, rushing to get his emergency kit--he keeps one in every room of his home, for situations he or friends may be in--and asks Gibbs to clean Tony's wounds to dress them quickly.

After a good half hour of cleaning, applying antiseptic, and bandaging; Tony is finally wrapped up, still in werewolf form. He's asleep by now; Gibbs and Ducky look at each other, both highly tense.

"Will he be all right, Duck? Thank you."

"Most certainly he'll be fine. A few days' rest will heal him up and he'll be back to work, good as new. Which is more than I can say for my sofa," Ducky jokes, looking at his previously-pristine couch.

Gibbs just smiles and nods. "Ah, no worry. I'll buy you a new one. Keep plastic handy though, just in case."

"I do hope there won't be a repeat of this. We must find a better way to control him."

"At least he didn't injure.." Gibbs trails off, remembering Tony had been shot before he had met up with Gibbs. "Duck, someone else shot Tony. What if he.. killed someone..?"

Ducky frowns. "Awaken Abby, have her find who fired the bullets, and you'll surely find the shooter." He places the bloody bullets into a plastic baggie and hands them to Gibbs. "Hurry, Jethro.. Time may be of the essence for this other person."

Gibbs nods, looks at Tony, then at Ducky. He hands Ducky his gun, just in case. "Thanks again, Duck. Keep him under close watch." He runs out, calling Abby on the way.

---

"Fuuuuuck," McGee hisses, leaning over the sink in his bathroom. He's cleaning off his right arm with as much peroxide as he has, just in case whatever causes the werewolf curse did get on him. He looks in his mirror; on his face is blood, a four-clawed scratch across his collarbone, and that look in his eyes.

His eyes.

As he looks at them, still pouring the peroxide, the scene replays in his memory.

Tony, on top of him, had dove in for a bite to the neck to kill; McGee had somehow managed to block the attack with his left arm. Just after shoving Tony's face away, he reached for his gun to the right; Tony instead put his right hand over McGee's collar to pin him and bitten into his left arm, yanking it from the gun. McGee had cried out in pain; but when he twisted his body violently to escape, he knocked Tony off balance, causing Tony's clawed hand to scrape his collarbone as he tried to stay up-before Tony hit the floor, jaws releasing. In a flash, McGee had the gun in his hand just as Tony was up and leaping toward McGee again. McGee fired three times before Tony shrank back, turned and ran from the residence, leaving an exhausted, panting, bleeding McGee who slumped to the floor, shaking.

He returns to the present, looking down to see that the peroxide bottle had been empty for a few minutes now. He tosses it into the garbage can, grabbing the bandages in his medicine cabinet to wrap his arm. As he covers the ugly marks, he shivers a bit.

What will he tell Gibbs? Will he tell Gibbs? Will Tony remember? He doesn't want this on Tony's conscience. He doesn't want to hurt his friends, either. Or anyone else, for that matter. Maybe he could find a safe place to change?

For now, he decides to keep quiet about the bite, and if Tony remembers, just admit to Tony getting a scratch in and that's all. He finishes on his arm and moves onto his collarbone; he looks at the bone-deep wound and wonders why the hell it doesn't hurt that much. With a frown, he dresses the wound, wrapping it very tightly before heading for his bedroom.

It's only 9. He feels exhausted, like a train wreck; his wounds throb with a dull pain, much less than they should. He's shaky, still, from his battle; his nerves are on edge, he knows he won't be able to clear his mind for the rest of the night. Just as he's about to turn in to bed, his cell rings. Abby.

"Yeah, Abby?" he answers with a sigh.

"McGee? You okay? You sound really tired."

"I feel it. How's Tony?"

"Recovering at Ducky's. He's still asleep." McGee cheers internally at this slight break. "McGee.. what did he do?"

"What do you mean?"

"You shot him." She goes silent, waiting for his answer, which doesn't come. "I matched the bullets in him to both you and Gibbs. McGee, what did he do to you?"

McGee closes his eyes and sighs. No way around it. "He attacked me. I'm fine, don't worry, he just gave me a few scratches. Deep scratches. I cleaned and wrapped them myself; I'll be fine, Abby. Honest."

"He.. didn't bite you, did he?" Abby says quietly into the phone.

Though he hates lying to Abby--well, anybody--he lies to her, for the sake of Tony. "No, Abby. I didn't give him the chance."

Abby releases a relieved sigh. "Good. I don't know what Tony would do if he'd bitten one of his friends."

A pit sinks in McGee's stomach at this comment. "I know what you mean. Hey, Abby.. don't tell Gibbs about this, please? He has enough to worry about. I can cover the wounds up at work."

"You know he'd be really ticked off if he knew you were hiding it from him, Tim," Abby replies.

"I know." He smiles a bit, and stifles a yawn--not before it's heard over the phone. "I'm-I'm gonna hit the head. I mean, the hay. Now. Night, Abby."

Abby giggles. "G'night, McGee."

Abby is in the bullpen with McGee as soon as he arrives; he had actually carpooled with her.. well, more of her insisting he shouldn't drive due to his 'injuries', which he still hasn't shown her.

"Come on Tim, you won't show me your scratches but you'll sleep with-"

"Ziva! Did you hear the news?" McGee suddenly interrupts, looking up as Ziva walks in.

"Yes, I did. Tony had another.. panic attack last night," she says as she sits down. They always refer to the transformations as this, due to the other agents in the room.

"Yeah. Someone shot him before Gibbs did," McGee comments, glancing up at Abby as Ziva focuses on putting her things away. "Abby said the bullets were too damaged to identify them."

"We must be aware for a new.. wolf, around," she says quietly. At spotting the sudden color drain from McGee's face, she speaks. "McGee, what is wrong?"

McGee comes up with an answer pretty quick. "One.. one is enough," he stutters. "I can barely handle Tony.."

"Barely handle what?" Tony asks, arriving with Gibbs in the elevator. He looks healthy; he's got a bit of a limp, suggesting one bullet was somewhere in his left leg or hip. He sits down slowly in his seat.

"Rough night, Tony?" Ziva asks him.

"Could say that, Zee-vah. I rocked her world."

"Really? That you are limping suggests he rocked your wor-" She's silenced by a head-slap from Gibbs.

McGee gets busy checking and replying to his email; at the same time, making notes for his newest book. Adding in that last interaction between 'Tommy' and 'Lisa' and 'Tibbs'. He grins; pure gold.

---

After a short time of browsing cold cases; until the coffee is gone, that is; Tony gets that distracted I-smell-something look on his face. "Hey, Boss," he says, calling low to get Gibbs' attention.

Gibbs looks up from his morning paper, silent.

Tony takes a look around, speaking low enough so only their team can hear it. "I smell blood."

"Well yeah, Tony, you got shot last night."

"No, not that. Ducky fixed everything up. I can barely smell my own blood, only medicine on it. But I smell blood around here from somewhere else. It smells different than mine too."

Gibbs gives him an incredulous look. "Blood is blood. It all smells the same."

"Not to my nose," Tony comments, looking around. He stands and casually walks slowly toward the elevator, trying to hone in on the scent. He notes the smell is strong as he passes McGee; and dissipates as he walks further. He stops, makes his way back, and leans down by McGee, pretending to be his usual pain-in-the-ass self that reads McGee's screen and bugs him. Oh yeah; this is the source. McGee ireeksi of the blood. "Found it Boss," Tony comments, looking at McGee as he straightens up.

"McGee? Got something to tell us?"

McGee looks nervous and looks up at Tony, noting that Tony didn't seem to notice. "Ah.. not really. I'm fine now."

"What happened last night?" Gibbs stares hard at McGee, who can't lie when Gibbs is looking at him like that.

"It-it was Tony," McGee admits. "He attacked me in my apartment last night. He tried to bite me, but I shot him before he could get the chance." He looks up at Tony, who looks shocked at the news.

"I..? I did..?" He looks down at McGee, spotting the way his shirt fits his arm a little tighter. "I.." He looks up at Gibbs, who has just glanced up at him from McGee. "I remember attacking someone, but Boss said it was him.."

"It's okay Tony, I'm fine. You didn't hurt me that much. You hesitated before you attacked me, you know," McGee reassures him, though that moment was more of a sizing him up to attack. "Besides, if you hurt me too much, I would've gone to the hospital, not fixed myself up. It's just some scratches."

Tony heads to his desk and sits there, picking up his stapler and toying with it in silence. He had attacked one of his friends. One of his friends that he would put his own life on the line to help. What if McGee hadn't shot him? Would he have killed his friend? He couldn't live with that. "What if I attack someone else?" He suddenly says out loud, staring at the stapler.

Gibbs looks up, praying that this would not have come, but knowing that it probably would. "We'll set up a place for you, Tony. I have a basement. We'll set something up."

Tony nods, looking defeated. "Yeah.. sure." He turns to his computer screen, typing half-heartedly. Mostly, it's an apology email to McGee. One that he might not end up sending.

McGee looks over at Tony with a frown, then at Gibbs, who is still watching Tony. No, he couldn't let them know he'd been bitten.

No matter what.

---

They had been called for a dead man in the creek; a man recently enlisted in the Navy, located in Rock Creek Park. Seems to be a popular dumping grounds. McGee comments on this as they browse around the wreckage. "I always loved nature. Liking it a little less each time though, it seems like someone's always dying or being murdered out here."

Tony, noting McGee's spirits are up, feels a little better himself. "It's a big place. Keep off the beaten path, and there's a lot of secluded areas. Get someone alone, and.. bam!"

McGee frowns. "I just hope it's not me one day."

"Well, you'd die in nature that you love?"

"With my luck, it would be in a bed of poison ivy." He shudders, then notices he's standing in it now. "Wh--no, no!" He quickly jumps out of it, frowning. "Nooo, not again..!"

"What? Oh. Well, your skin didn't touch it."

"No, but it'll probably get on my hands when I take my pants off. Gah.."

"Damn, McSensitive. When will you learn-"

"DiNozzo! McGee! Got anything for me?" Gibbs hollers out, the two agents running back towards the crime scene.

"Sorry Boss, McIvy here was checkin' out the local poisonous plants. We did find something for ya, McGee's got it."

McGee holds up the baggie, looking nervous that he'd be getting poison ivy soon. He certainly didn't need that, especially on top of his injuries. "Got it, Boss."

"Good. Anything of interest?"

"Honestly.. nothing good. Just the guy's wallet. We think maybe he was running and dropped it. Or, someone took it and dropped it when they didn't find what they wanted. Which sure wasn't cash; the wallet's still got money in it."

Gibbs nods. "Ducky's here for the body. Let's head back."

---

Once back at NCIS, McGee offers to take the evidence down to Abby. Gibbs looks at him out of the corner of his eye; he knows McGee wants to spend some time alone with her. Gibbs' eyes go back to his computer screen, he gives a nod.

Cheering internally, McGee heads for the elevator, heading down to the lab. When he enters the lab, he hears the familiar loud rock playing, but catches Abby's rear end rocking to the music as she browses the internet, expanding her knowledge on all things forensic. McGee feels his body heat rise; he calms himself and heads in, holding up the bag with the wallet. "Hey Abby, I brought you something."

She spins around, and when she spots the wallet, jumps in excitement. "McGee! You brought me something!" she repeats his words, trotting over to take it from him. She sets it on the table, signs the paper in his hand, and begins her work. "What's the story behind this?"

"It's the wallet of our victim," he begins. "Who was found dead in Rock Creek Park. We think it might-"

"There's been a lot of murders around there recently," Abby comments. "Wonder why?"

"Dunno," McGee replies, looking at the wallet. "There should at least be the victim's prints on it, but there might be another set. Unless our guy was wearing gloves." McGee suddenly gets a weird feeling and look behind himself; he frowns and looks back at Abby, who had noticed that.

"What was that for? Abby asks, looking at McGee, brows raised curiously.

"I thought someone was watching me," he says, then looks back again. "It feels really weird."

"Someone is now, McGee," Gibbs announces from McGee's other side, causing the man to jump.

"Wh-Boss, don't do that!" McGee says, giving a glance to Abby before heading out of the lab.

"..Gibbsy, what was that about?" Abby asks, looking after McGee as he heads out. "McGee's acting pretty weird today."

Gibbs nods in agreement, then pauses. "..Gibbsy?" He cocks a brow at Abby, who grins.

"Yes, Gibbsy. Now, why are you here? I don't have anything for you yet."

"I know."

"Then.. why are you here?"

"In case you and McGee were doing something. Other than work."

"Wh--Gibbs! You stalker!"

Gibbs chuckles. "I have to watch out for your well-being, Abbs." He turns to head out, still smiling.

Abby turns to her new wallet. "Men."

In the month following, McGee experienced himself, threefold. If he got nervous, he got extra nervous; if he was paranoid, he was extra-sensitive to it. When he was curious, he didn't even pay mind to the person whose privacy he was invading. This made his entire team worry about McGee, who, to their extent of knowledge, seemed to be on something. Drugs of some sort. Illegal, painkillers, hell; maybe even allergy pills.

McGee hasn't really thought any of it could be related to the werewolf. After all, hadn't Tony had a hellish time leading up to his first full moon? Rage, madness, suffering. McGee didn't experience any of that. Sure, he got defensive more than he ever had before, but nothing like what Tony had gone through. So naturally, finding a safe place to transform into a werewolf was the farthest thing from McGee's mind as he relaxed at home on the night of the full moon.

His first real full moon.

He had just given up on typing more of his book, feeling particularly agitated and distracted; going out for a walk, he had gotten a milkshake from the nearby fast-food joint. As he was sucking it down, he looked up at the moon in the night sky; he noted that not only was it a beautiful clear night with a vibrantly bright moon.. but he felt entranced. Drawn. He had the desire to jump around and act.. act.. he couldn't come up with a word, despite even being a writer. There was no word to fit it. He just wanted to do it. Do it.

Do it.

As this feeling fully filled him, he suddenly felt a shot pierce through him; he thought he'd been shot with a gun again. He twisted in pain, dropping the milkshake on the ground as he grabbed the back of his neck. He felt no blood. He felt the pain dissolve. He panted a little, wondering what that was as he looked down at his spilled shake. However, no sooner than the pain had gone, did it arrive again, hitting him in rapid succession, throughout his entire being. Neck. Head. Face. Shoulders. Arms. Legs. Stomach, spine, hips, feet, hands, head again, everything just hurt, so so much; he couldn't focus on any of his senses; he heard screaming--before realizing it was himself.

Several people had gathered to watch the man crying, screaming as he writhed in pain; none of his friends were nearby, but the onlookers that were here, watched as McGee began to shift forms, face growing and pushing forward into a fearsome, sharp-toothed wolf snout; fur covered his body, his fingernails lengthened into lethal claws. He leaned over as his spine formed a tail; his feet grew and shifted shape. His shoes burst, unable to contain his strange feet. His ears were now atop his head, twitching to hone in on possible prey. His eyes snap open.. the transformation is complete.

He stands there for a moment, hunched over, muscles rippling under his sleek, reddish-brown fur. His mouth opens but to pant for a moment, body still coursing with the pain of shifting. He drops to all fours, lifting his head to sniff as the people around him stare.

Fear. Excitement. Arousal. Fear.

These are what he smells. These are what the wolf smells. McGee watches as some of the people run; he doesn't chase them, for many are staying, and making noise with their hands. Cheering with their mouths. This is very agitating to McGee's wolf, and so the dominant word appears in his mind again, charging his being with what to do.

Prey.

He snarls and leans back, giving a loud, excited howl. He returns to all fours afterward, picking a woman who had remained. He runs toward her, mouth open slightly, opening his mouth wider before leaping..

---

Tony lifts up his head as he hears the howl that Gibbs had not. His pupils shrink and he growls in his throat, opening his mouth a little. "Lemme go lemme go lemme go," he mumbles, pulling at the chains that Gibbs were just about to remove.

"Tony? What?" He spots the strange reaction to nothing that Tony had made. "What is it?"

"Howl. Wolf. Howl. Werewolf. Another one. Gotta find it. Howl. Gotta find it."

Gibbs frowns. "What will you do when you find it?"

"Smell. Greet. Run. Howl." He pulls at the chains. "Lemme go, gotta find it. Howl."

Gibbs nods. "Right." He makes a quick, makeshift collar from the belt he'd been wearing, attaches a tracer he'd kept in his pocket [never know when you'll need one], and puts it on Tony's neck. "Tony, stay human now. Don't let the wolf have you."

Tony just nods, still tugging at the chains a bit.

"Tony?"

"Howl. Lemme go Boss, gotta go howl."

"Tony!"

Tony blinks and looks back at Gibbs. "Uh, yeah Boss. I know. I will." He looks at the chains on his wrists. "Please Boss? I really, really gotta find it. The other wolf. I can't resist. Please."

Gibbs nods. He unlocks the chains restraining Tony. "Let me get to the car first."

Tony runs up the stairs and waits at the top of them, then runs out to wait by the car. The whole while, Gibbs can see Tony restraining himself from running off full-blast after the other wolf.

Once Gibbs turns the car on, Tony's gone, running rather quickly. Gibbs throws the car into gear, tires squealing as he rockets toward his furry agent. Tony's running awfully fast; Gibbs reaches pace with him and finds he's doing nearly sixty. {The hell you goin', DiNozzo..?}

---

Prey. Prey is smart. Prey is fast. Prey is weak, but smart.

McGee looks around at the absence of life. He had attacked a woman, but before he could injure her at all, his tail had been painfully yanked, causing him to focus his attention on her boyfriend. She had screamed at him, insulting the wolf, and he had targeted her again. Suddenly, rocks were being pelted; a rather large one hit him square on the side of his head, dazing him; when he finally had snapped out of it, everyone had gone indoors for safety.

McGee lifts his nose and sniffs the air; he lets out another howl, and within moments, smells another wolf heading his way.

Growing defensive, McGee faces the newcomer, letting out a growl and flashing his teeth as he spots the brown creature running his way. He focuses not on the car behind it; he just snarls viciously at the wolf.

Tony slows down as he gets near the new werewolf, coming to a slow walk before completely stopping. He raises his head and lets out an excited howl, returning his gaze to the new wolf when finished.

McGee stares at Tony for a minute, sizing him up, before deciding that he was hungry. Very hungry. And this wolf seemed naive, friendly. Could be prey. He slowly, cautiously walks toward Tony, who watches McGee eagerly.

Gibbs watches the interchange very carefully; he has his gun ready, just in case something would go wrong. He would not hesitate to kill this new wolf.

Suddenly, McGee leaps toward Tony, mouth open, to kill; but he's deflected just as quickly by Tony, who knocks him to the ground with the simplicity of a cat swatting a fly. Tony has a confident grin on his face, saying; Don't fuck with me, bruddah.

McGee, standing and nursing his pride, growls and snorts. Tony sniffs the new wolf; he begins walking off, with McGee following close to his side.

Gibbs frowns. {Tony?} He gets out of the car. "Tony? Tony, where are you-"

McGee's head snaps to face Gibbs; he looks at Tony, then starts charging for Gibbs--but before Gibbs can fire off a round, Tony is between the two, growling menacingly; protectively. McGee backs off, headed back to where he was, with Tony once again leading the way.

As they head off, Gibbs puts a hand to his head. "What the hell.."

---

Nighttime had been and gone. Morning arrived at NCIS, where Gibbs had come in early, to await Tony and question him. However, as McGee and Ziva had come in, Gibbs is left to wait. Half an hour after work hours began, Gibbs was just about to call the team to search for him, when he walks in. Gibbs sighs in relief, before spotting how tired Tony looked. Unharmed, but exhausted.

"Panic attack?" Ziva says, her way of asking, "Bad wolf night?"

Tony nods and sits down at his desk. He looks up at Gibbs, dark circles under his eyes. "Permission to nap, Boss..?"

Gibbs watches Tony, knowing his agent wouldn't operate at his best, being that tired. "Yeah." Gibbs leans back with his coffee as Tony leans forward on his desk. However, his eyes flick over to McGee, who is falling asleep with his hands on his keyboard. "..McGee?"

McGee's eyes blink open and he looks over at Gibbs. "Huh? I-I mean, yeah Boss?"

"Why are you so tired? Up all night?"

"Yeah. Trying.. to get to sleep. Couldn't sleep, knowing Tony was on the loose." He glances over at Tony, not really meaning his statement the way others had heard it-

"Tony did not mean to attack you, McGee," Ziva says in Tony's defense.

"Huh? Oh.. I know. I was always.. uneasy with him being a werewolf. Not as bad as Palmer, but.."

Gibbs nods. "Take a catnap, McGee." Those words gave McGee freedom; crossing his arms on the desk, McGee is out in seconds, free to dream of the night before.

Running. Howling. Energy. Power. With this new wolf at his side, he felt stronger. Weaker, subdued; but they were a pack. Together, they ate. Deer. Raccoon. More deer. Little was left. They had done the work of a large pack of wolves. They were stronger. Together, they were power. Nothing in the world to worry about. Nothing could stop them. Nothing could run from them. Running. Howling. Energy. Power..

"Hey Ziva, have you noticed McGee's been acting weird?" Tony talks to Ziva as they search the grounds in their newest case. Unfortunately, their search radius encompasses the river. As they stop there, they focus on the conversation.

"McGee? Yes, he has been unlike himself. His emotions have been out of smack."

"The phrase is out of whack, but yours kinda works. I like it."

Ziva nods and gives a small smile. "Yes. But, I see what you mean. Do you think he is?"

"Is what?"

"What you said before." She glances behind them, spotting Gibbs talking with the local LEO who had found signs of foul play around the abandoned car of the naval officer, and McGee searching around for any clues to the missing man. "That McGee may be taking something."

"Oh, right. I think he might be. D'you think Boss knows?"

"I see him watching McGee every so often. I think he suspects something."

"Suspects what?" McGee asks, appearing right behind the two. "I heard my name, so I came over."

"What.. from way over there?" Tony looks over where McGee had been; some twenty yards away. And they weren't talking loud.

"Was it that far? Couldn't have been." He looks at the water. "..Do you think that's where he is?"

"If he's even here," Tony replies. He pauses, glancing at Ziva before speaking again. "Hey, McGee.. are you.. on anything?"

"Hm? On what?"

"I don't know.. anything? Medicine.. drugs.. for something.. allergies even?"

McGee blinks confusedly. "No.. why, do I seem like I am?" He pauses, then gets a frustrated look. "Tony, have you been slipping me something?!"

"Wh--hey! No way! I wouldn't risk your job just to have fun. C'mon, McParanoid. Seriously."

McGee sighs. "Yeah, right. No, I know you wouldn't. Sorry Tony." He turns to look at the water. "So.. who's going in?"

"Well, you are classed in nature. Perhaps you would like to buff up on local river flora and fauna?"

"Perhaps you would rather jump in a river? I'm sure lots of ladies tell you that all the time," McGee retorts.

"I am senior field agent. Which means you, as junior, need the experience."

"But as a junior, what if I find something down there and don't realize it's important to the case?"

"Will both of you just be quiet?" Ziva snaps. "I think Tony should go in."

"I agree," Gibbs says, walking up. "McGee, take a dive."

"Wh--but Boss, you just said-" At the mild glare-stare he gets from Gibbs, McGee turns and starts pulling off the excess clothes, getting down to his t-shirt and pants. {Thank goodness it's not autumn yet.} He wades into the water until he's waist-deep, before swimming in and down.

"D'ya think he'll be all right, Boss?" Tony watches the bubbles as McGee swims down-de-de-down-de-down-down.

"Just watch 'im." Gibbs turns to do a little more searching around the area.

---

McGee, under the water, swims farther and deeper, actually a little surprised that he's not having any trouble holding his breath. He's never been able to do it for this long. He continues in, feeling a burst of excitement deep inside him. However, as he swims, he notes many things: tires, wood, various metal objects, but.. nothing resembling bones. He does find a set of keys that look relatively new. Careful to lift them [with gloves], he heads for the surface, taking in a deep breath upon cresting. Free. As he feels this emotion, he suddenly is flashed with an image of running. In the darkness, in the night woods. That is all he gets; it's enough to confuse him, make him wonder if it's a memory, hallucination, nightmare.

"Yo, McFish! Ya comin'?" Tony calls to him, waving from the shore.. rather far away, McGee notes in surprise.

{I did all of that.. on one breath?} He waves to Tony, beginning to swim back. As he does, another flash hits him; a memory of excruciating pain. The memory is so intense, so real; he feels the pain again, cries out, and takes a deep breath to keep himself floating. He quickly focuses all his attention on the process of swimming, exiting the water, and handing the keys to Tony. He says not a word, just heads off to find a garbage can. Poor guy even looks nauseated.

Tony looks at McGee before looking at Ziva. "Did you hear him in the water?"

"Swimming? Yes."

"No, cry out in pain. You didn't hear that?"

"We can not all be dogs, Tony."

"Wolves, Ziva."

"No, you are just a puppy."

Tony grumbles and puts the keys into an evidence bag, handing it to Ziva before heading off to check on McGee. He finds McGee just turning around from a garbage can, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Hey, swallow that nasty river water?"

"No, I.." He looks up at Tony, not sure how to continue.

At McGee's hesitation, Tony nods. "I heard you. Cry out. What happened?"

McGee looks up at Tony, shaking his head. "I don't know." As Tony stares at McGee, studies him; he cracks. "I don't know, okay? It's like a memory, or a dream. But it was vivid. So vivid that I felt the pain from it." He frowns. "It made me feel sick."

"The pain?"

"That and the feeling." He tries to come up with words, but truth be told; he can't even understand it himself. "The feeling. I don't know how to describe it."

Tony frowns and watches McGee struggle with what he's got inside. "Are you sure you're not on something?"

"Tony, I told you! I'm not on anything!"

"But.. you're a writer. You should be able to come up with words for anything."

"Well this time, I don't know. Okay?" McGee turns and heads back to where Gibbs and Ziva are, leaving Tony confused.

Somehow, neither of them remember that night.

---

"Yeah, Abby, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Abby, I'm fine!" McGee snaps defensively, a little more roughly than he'd intended. "I'm.. I don't know." He puts a hand to the back of his neck, giving a little squeeze, trying to calm down. "Sorry. I've just been.. not feeling myself lately."

Abby watches McGee and frowns. "Nightmares?"

"Yeah," McGee mumbles, failing to mention that they're during the day. They make his heart race, make him pant; at one point earlier today after their river recon, he had literally leapt out of his seat, knocking it back; before noticing where he was and sitting back down quietly.

"Want some help with that?" She smiles and reaches around his neck.

McGee's face immedately flushes as she pulls him close. "A-Abby.." Nevertheless, he grins, leaning down for a kiss. "This might help.."

---

McGee returns to the bullpen about a half hour later, sitting down at his desk with a giddy expression on his face. He begins typing at his computer, writing a few lines for his book before checking his email. All the while, Tony is watching him.

"McGee.. what'd you do?" He asks, standing in front of McGee's desk.

McGee looks up, unable to hide his smile. "I visited Abby. We watched some videos online together."

Tony nods slowly. "Uh-huh. Sure. Instead of getting right to work on the forensics like Gibbs would like her to do."

"She did that first. She's.. very good at what she does." He feels that happy feeling rising again. "She's the best."

Tony studies McGee's face. "..You are dating Abby. You're dating Abby?"

McGee blinks. "I-wh-we haven't been on a date!"

"They why do you look like a lovesick puppy?" Tony points out, but only earns a headslap from Gibbs.

"Tony, go see Abby. See if she got any hits yet."

"Yeah, Boss."

Once Tony is gone, Ziva and McGee remain. Ziva is checking her email, always tuned in; but she can't see Gibbs' face as he looks at McGee, closing his eyes and smiling. He nods to McGee once before returning to his seat.

McGee grins and returns his attention to his email, feeling high as a cloud.. until he opens a certain email.

  Agent McGee,
I have heard rumors of a new werewolf on the loose. I don't have intel yet on who it is or where it lives, but if you know of it and can take care of it, please reply to this email and let me know. If it is a friend, please keep it under control. If I encounter it first, I will use deadly force.
We must keep the streets safe for all, humans and werewolves alike.
		-Richard Wang

McGee stares at the email, rereading it a few times, hesitating before running his fingers over where he had been bitten. He puts his head in his hand and focuses, trying to recall those strange dreamlike images. The running. The pain. Suddenly, more come to him. Seeing Tony. Seeing Gibbs. A gun pointed at him. People running. Hunting. Power.

McGee's eyes snap open; he glances up at Gibbs and Ziva, who are focused on their own things. They hadn't noticed McGee's regression. He pauses before continuing; closing his eyes, concentrating.. soon, it all returns to him, in order. The whole night.

He had changed. He had tried to attack other people. Tony stopped him. He tried to attack Tony, but wasn't strong enough. He tried to attack Gibbs; but Tony stopped him. He and Tony had gone out running. Hunting. Running. Howling. They had lost themselves to the wolves that night. They had lost themselves so completely, they had no recollection of it upon awakening. McGee hadn't remembered anything from that night. He remembered waking in his own bed, feeling completely satisfied, completely at peace with the world. As if life were perfect.

"MCGEE!" Gibbs yells, standing at McGee's desk.

McGee suddenly jumps, looking up into the faces of three very concerned people; Gibbs, Ziva, Tony. McGee opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. He realizes he's sweating, shaking, panting. As if he had been having a panic attack. He looks up at them, unable to speak; he just puts his head in his hand again, continuing to shake.

"Tony, get Ducky up here immediately. Go. Wolf-speed."

Tony nods and rushes off, shifting to quadrupedal wolf once he's out of sight of any agents. With clothes in mouth, he zooms toward autopsy, bypassing a few other agents--but they pay him little mind; it's common news that Abby's got a pet wolf running loose sometimes, that he's harmless, but shy.

"McGee." Gibbs reaches out and places his hand on McGee's shoulder, who doesn't even seem to register it. "McGee, calm down. It's just us."

Ziva watches as McGee looks up again, trying again to speak--this time, managing a few words. "Boss.. sorry.. Boss, night.. night.. dream."

Gibbs frowns. "You weren't asleep, McGee. I was watching you." He narrows his eyes, looking over the telltale signs.. "McGee.. answer me truthfully. Are you on any drugs?"

McGee's eyes widen in disbelief as Gibbs asks him that question. "How-how many ti-imes are you guys go-going to ask me tha-at?" He stutters, still finding his voice. He shakes his head. "I'm n-not! I swear, Bo-oss!"

Gibbs looks into McGee's face; nervous, afraid.. and definitely hiding something. McGee had never hidden anything big from Gibbs; but he knew people would lie through their teeth to hide drug abuse. "McGee, tell me what's going on. Now."

McGee's eyes focus on something else as he tries to come up with something. He can't let them know what he is. He can't let them know Tony tried to kill him.

"No lies, McGee," Gibbs hisses, noticing easily that McGee was about to make one up. "Truth. Now!"

Just as Ducky and Abby's 'pet wolf' are arriving, McGee yanks away from Gibbs.

"No! NO!" He shoves Gibbs away suddenly, running for the elevator in a panic. Stunned, the other team hesitates before Tony and Gibbs run forward. Tony gets there first; just after McGee presses the 'down' button, Tony grabs McGee by the bottom of his shirt. Gibbs is nearly close enough to grab McGee. In response to both of them, McGee gives Tony a kick and whips out his gun, pointing it at them shakily. "Ba-back off," he stammers, backing into the doors that suddenly ding open. He decides that losing his job would be a better option than Tony having to live with attempting to kill his friend.

He watches as the elevator doors close, gun still held in his hands; the expressions of everyone in the room. Fear. Disbelief. Sadness. Pity. As he descends to the ground floor, McGee slumps, tears leaking from his eyes. That'll be the last time he'll ever see his team.

---

Gibbs throws out his orders quickly. "Abby, track him. Ziva, search his desk and bag for anything that could be making him act this way. Tony, you're with me. Let's go." Gibbs runs for the elevator as soon as it dings, holstering his gun; Tony does the same, hot on his heels.

Once in the elevator, Tony looks up at Gibbs, still in wolf form. He's got his clothes in his mouth; he'll change once they get into the van. He speaks something muffled; Gibbs looks down at him in annoyance. "Mouth full, DiNozzo."

Tony nods, waiting until they get to the van, mouth is free of the clothes, and are moving before he speaks again. "What do you think's wrong with him?" He shifts to werewolf, putting his clothes on over his fur. He doesn't like the feeling, but it's better than being naked, as a human, in the back of the van.

Gibbs shakes his head, dialing Abby's number when he notes McGee's car is gone. "Gonna find out."

"Yeah, Gibbs?"

"Where is he?"

"Gibbs, come on, I just started tracking--oh, there he is. He's heading southwest.. he's almost to Virginia!"

"Already?! He just left!"

"He's moving fast. Really, really fast." Abby watches McGee's tracer dot moving quickly across the map. "Gibbs, I think he's pushing 90."

"Thanks, Abbs. Keep me updated."

"Boss.. what if McGee is under the influence? Going that fast?"

"We have to catch him before he hurts someone. How fast can you run?"

"Not 90," Tony says, frowning.

"We'll catch him." Gibbs pushes the pedal all the way down, going as fast as he possibly can--going at 90 and 100, slowing down only for curves.

---

"I can't let them catch me," McGee says to himself, shaking as he books it straight into Virgina. {If they do, they might find out. Tony can't know, no matter what.} He takes a curve, just keeping his car on all fours as he turns, doing 90 still. However, the next curve is more severe--he doesn't know these roads, and at 90, he loses control.

---

"Gibbs! His phone isn't moving!"

"Track it. He might have gotten rid of it."

"Got it." She tracks it for him, and leads them around the curve that it's stopped at. "Right ahead."

"Jesus.." Gibbs stares ahead of them, pulling over to the side of the road. "Tony.. Go."

"Gibbs? What happened? Is McGee all right..?" Her voice is unheard to Gibbs, who gets out to investigate with Tony.

McGee's car is just ahead, overturned completely. Mangled is an understatement; save the color, it almost looks as if it'd gone through an explosion. Totaled.

"Tony.. can you.. smell?"

"I smell him. His.. blood," Tony trails off, getting closer, fearing the worst.

"Dammit McGee.." Gibbs approaches the wreck; he looks at the shape of the vehicle, the knot in his stomach growing larger by the second. "Tony, where is he?"

"I can't.." Tony searches around the car, then starts the radius. "He's.." He takes a deep whiff, locating a larger area of blood. "Here, Boss!"

Gibbs runs toward Tony's voice, dreading what he'll see. Never make assumptions.. this is different.

Instead, they see a pooling of blood, then haphazard footsteps off the road, into the woods to the side. "He's alive, Boss.. but.."

"Go, wolf, track him. Hurry."

Tony doesn't need to be told twice. He shifts down to wolf, shakes off his clothes, and takes off after the scent. So familiar.. but all he has in his mind is to find McGee.

Gibbs runs back to the van, resuming his talk with Abby. "McGee's on the run. He left his car. Send out a BOLO on him, across Virginia and neighboring states."

"You don't think he's gotten that far on foot, do you?"

"He might not be on foot. I'm going to follow Tony. Keep at the search!"

---

Power. Speed. Invincibility.

McGee runs loose in the woods, feeling blood leak from the hole in his side; but there's no pain. Only a feeling that his power won't end. His strength will only improve. He charges on, no aim in sight; the wolf has him again. McGee wouldn't mind. He loves this feeling. He's drunk on it. He's not aware of what's going on, but he can feel the raw emotion. He'll stay subconcious, so long as he can keep feeling this. Yes.. he is on something. He is the wolf. He loves being the wolf.

But.. howl. Another wolf just let out a howl. It's getting closer. McGee slows and turns to face it, the adrenaline finally calming and letting his body come off the high. He's panting, sweating, and bleeding out of apparently more than one spot. Not badly.

The brown wolf appears; slowing to a rapid stop when it spots McGee. It looks McGee over carefully. Neither are wearing anything but fur. Both look defensive, agressive. The brown wolf looks more worried and scared than McGee, who's more annoyed, curious.

As brown wolf gets closer to sniff, McGee releases a warning growl, baring his teeth in a snarl.

Brown wolf backs up a bit, waiting. Waiting for something.

Soon, McGee hears it. Something running through the forest towards them. ..Human. This is not his home. Humans and forest do not mix. McGee stiffens as he spots who it is; the same man from before. Are he and this wolf.. friends? He snarls at the man, stepping forward. However, the brown wolf is quickly at this man's side, growling defensively.

McGee watches them. Run? Fight? The man is holding something small and black. He remembers it from somewhere. It makes things go away. It hurts. Would it hurt him? As he's deciding, the human yells something that shakes him to the core.

---

Gibbs watches the interchange between the two wolves; something strikes him as the new wolf looking very familiar. Deciding that he's got nothing to lose, he calls out.

"Hey, MCGEE!"

The reaction is instantaneous. The wolf freezes, stares into space for a long minute; when it does awaken, it looks between Gibbs and Tony, an expression of confusion, fear on its face.

"..McGee?" Gibbs watches the wolf, whose gaze locks with Gibbs'. That's McGee. He'd know those eyes anywhere. "McGee, calm down."

Tony looks at Gibbs, then McGee. "..McGee? You're a..?" He blinks in surprise, looking over at Gibbs. "How'd you know?"

McGee stares at Gibbs, avoiding Tony's gaze. It's pleading, hoping. {Don't figure it out, Tony. Don't figure it out. Don't figure it-}

"Oh," Tony says quietly, breaking the silence. "..I did it." He sits down, wrapping his tail around him. He looks up at McGee, remorse and regret clear on his face.

McGee finally looks at Tony; his shoulders slump at the expression on his friend's face. "Tony.."

Tony looks at McGee, shaking his head. "McGee. McGee, I'm so sorry. I thought I.. and then I.. when? How?"

McGee slowly forces himself to shift human, speaking as he does. "I don't remember what happened. You attacked me, then I woke up in the morning, but I thought it was just a dream." Fully human now, fully nude; his weaker human side succumbs to his injuries. He groans and drops to his hands and knees. There's a puncture in his right side, just below the ribs; there's scratches and bruises all over him, and a gash on his right hip. He was in the car when it was totaled.

"McGee!" Gibbs runs forward. "Tony, let's get him back to the car." Gibbs looks up as Tony quietly runs over to help his friend.

"I've got 'im, Boss. Let's go." Tony lifts McGee up in his arms effortlessly, running towards the car with Gibbs in tow behind him. He looks down at McGee, ears flattening in anguish. Here is his friend, dying in his arms. Because of him. He had attacked McGee. He had given his friend this curse. McGee had tried to keep it from Tony, for Tony's sake. In doing so, he nearly killed himself. He survived, only for the possibility to die from injuries. "Wake up," Tony growls, watching McGee battle for life in his arms.

McGee says nothing; his eyes open a bit, spotting a wolf head over him, spots the canopy of trees blurring by. Then again, everything is a sort of blur...

"Yeah, Gibbs."

"Gibbs! Is he okay? You never told me about McGee!" Abby is pacing frantically in her lab, worrying her butt off over McGee.

Gibbs, in the hospital room with Tony and McGee, sighs. "I know, Abbs. He'll be fine. He's recovering."

"..Recovering? From what?"

"He uh, totaled his car. With himself inside." Gibbs looks over at Tony, who has been staring at the sleeping McGee for the last half hour, silent.

"He WHAT?! How?! Never mind, I mean, why? Why was he running? Gibbs, tell me everything!"

Gibbs sighs. "We're not sure why yet. You'll know when I know." Gibbs closes the phone before Abby can reply, his gaze turning to McGee.

McGee isn't that bad off. They had gotten McGee in the car quickly, and Gibbs had gotten McGee to the hospital in record time. McGee had lost an awful lot of blood; upon arrival, he was very pale, wasn't awake, and almost wasn't breathing. McGee had been taken in immedately to be worked on. Now, hours later, Tony and Gibbs sat with him as he slept, still having not yet awoken. Tony had been watching McGee, deep in troubled thought. Gibbs had been worried for for both agents; McGee for his physical health and possible lingering effects, Tony for what may be going on in his mind.

"Tony."

Tony continues his staring at McGee.

"Tony."

Tony looks up, having heard this time.

"He's not taking it as hard as you are. Wait until he wakes up, then you can talk to him about it. Don't let it eat at you."

"Boss.. I attacked McGee," Tony says, his voice quiet, wavering. It surprises Gibbs a bit. "I could've killed him. I attacked him, and I don't even remember it. What if.. I attack someone else?"

"That time, I wasn't smart enough. I didn't have you restrained. We did this last time, and you were fine. We can go that route each time, nothing will happen."

"But Boss, what if it-"

"I promise," Gibbs says, staring Tony straight in the eyes. "I won't let anything else happen."

Tony gazes into Gibbs' eyes, nodding slowly. "Yeah, Boss. Understood."

---

Beep. Beep. Beep. What is that steady beeping? McGee slowly awakens, opening his eyes and groggily scanning the room. He spots Gibbs in the chair to his left, reading some papers; he then spots.. Tony? asleep on his right, sleeping uncomfortably in the chair. He opens his mouth to speak, but all that comes out is a groan.

Gibbs looks up at the sound; he sets the papers down. "Welcome back, McGee."

McGee looks up at Gibbs; he just gives a questioning look to Gibbs, asking what happened.

"What do you remember?"

McGee closes his eyes, thinking back. What does he remember? He remembers panicking at his desk.. running.. oh. He opens his eyes again, looking at Tony; his expression is all Gibbs needs as an answer.

"Get some more rest, McGee."

Rest? No. He pulls the oxygen mask from his face, noticing Tony is waking from Gibbs' voice. "Tony?" His voice is low, but strong.

Tony looks down at McGee. "Uh, McGee.. how're ya feeling?" He gives a nervous grin, glancing up at Gibbs before returning his gaze to McGee.

"I'm fine. Tony, really." He pauses, taking a deep breath. He may heal fast, but he still kinda needs the oxygen. "I don't blame you.. okay?"

"But.. I attacked you. I attacked you, McGee."

"No, Tony, the wolf did. Just make.. sure it doesn't.. happen again, okay?" McGee slides the mask back onto his face, looking at Tony's own apologetic, down expression.

"Promise. It won't happen to anyone."

Gibbs smiles a bit, then looks at McGee. "Does anyone else know?"

McGee talks through the oxygen mask, deciding it'd be a better idea to keep it on. "No. Just you and Tony. The others, they don't have to know.. do they?"

"That's your choice," Gibbs answers. "We'll stand behind you whatever you decide." Just by looking into Gibbs' face, McGee is reassured of this.

"..Thanks, Boss." McGee closes his eyes, relaxing.

---

McGee is back in action the day after the accident, arriving at NCIS before the others arrive, accompanied by Gibbs. They hadn't carpooled; they had both pulled in at the same time. Without a word to each other, just some knowing looks, the two enter the building, heading to the bullpen. They sit down, Gibbs sipping his coffee and opening his paper while McGee glances at Gibbs for a moment before returning to his morning email routine.

Abby is the first to arrive, and once she spots McGee, runs to him and leaps on him in a hug. "McGee! Are you okay? I heard what happened yesterday. Well, part of what happened. What DID happen? Were you drugged?"

Gibbs smiles as he reads the paper, hearing McGee wheeze as Abby squeezes him. "Leave him alone, Abbs."

"But Gibbs!" she protests, releasing McGee. "Why won't you tell me?"

"Because it's my job to do that," McGee says, just as Gibbs is opening his mouth. Abby's and Gibbs' eyes land on him; he takes a breath and reveals his secret. "I'm a werewolf, Abby."

Abby looks down at McGee, furrowing her brows as she takes this information in. She chooses her next question carefully, hoping she's wrong. "Are there other werewolves besides Tony running loose?"

McGee slowly shakes his head. "Just him. And me, now."

"He bit you?"

"Uh.. Abby.." The voice trails off, coming from their side. Nobody had noticed Tony enter the bullpen; not even Gibbs, with his Jedi powers.

McGee looks up at Tony, suddenly looking ready to crawl into a hole. His expression is similar to Tony's; but Tony's shows fear. Fear that Abby might fear him.

"Tony.." Abby looks at Tony, and her worry for Timmy only transforms into worry for Tony's sanity. She pulls Tony into a hug to reassure him that he's got nothing to worry about. "I could never be afraid of you, Tony."

Tony looks down at McGee, before closing his eyes and returning the hug. "Thanks, Abby. It won't happen again, trust me."

"No, it won't, I'll make sure of it." Gibbs looks up at Abby and Tony, then across the way at McGee, who is watching his friends pull apart. "Next full moon, I'll make sure you're both ready."

Tony looks down at Gibbs and grins. "Thanks, Boss."

Abby heads off after glancing down at McGee, who looks close to depressed. {Oh, McGee..}

Now that Tony knows the truth, he's acting a little differently. He's not really talking to McGee; he sits at his desk and does his thing, not speaking at all. Ziva enters not much later, confused when she spots the silence and obvious apprehension in the air.

"Did.. I miss something? Other than what happened yesterday?" She spots McGee, who is just getting up. "McGee?"

"I'm.. gonna go see if Abby has anything new on the case," McGee covers, turning and heading off, leaving her utterly confused. Once he's gone, she tries again.

"Gibbs? What is wrong with McGee? Why did he trip out yesterday?"

"The term is flip out, Ziva. Unless you actually think he was on drugs and was on a bad trip."

"Why was he 'flipping out', then? Gibbs?"

"Ask McGee later," is all he answers, giving Ziva a familiar, stubborn look. One that says, 'that's all you're getting out of me'.

Ziva turns to Tony, hoping to get a different answer--but Tony is paying very intent attention to his computer screen. And not just to avoid her, she can tell. With a sigh, she heads to her desk. {Men.}

---

McGee arrives at Abby's side before she realizes he's there, causing her to jump a bit--but just as fast, she pulls him into a hug. "Oh McGee! How are you feeling?"

As she releases him, he sighs and looks at her computer screen. "Tony found out what he turned me into. I tried not to let him, and you've seen how he looks at me now. How do you think I feel?"

"I can understand how he feels," she sympathizes; "you two are best friends and he attacked you."

"He's afraid he might attack us again. Abby.. how do we know if he will or won't?"

"We have to help him control it." She pauses. "McGee.. can you control it?"

McGee looks into Abby's questioning eyes and frowns. "Well..see..I kinda.. don't wanna." He looks away, but Abby turns his head to look into his eyes again.

"What do you mean by that?"

She stares into his eyes with a look of expectation, caring and worry that he can't pussyfoot around. "I like.. being the wolf. I like it, okay?" He pulls away from her, glances at the doorway, then continues. "When I turn into the wolf, go into werewolf mode, whatever, I feel so much stronger and more powerful than normal. I feel like I can do anything, no matter what. It's the greatest feeling I've ever had. It's.. it's like a.. a.."

"..A drug?" Abby finishes for him, as he'd been struggling to describe it. She looks at him sympathetically. "Tim, you do know you're strong even without that wolf, right?"

"..It's not the same, Abby. You've never felt it; you don't know what it's like. It-it's amazing."

"So when you change, you keep your awareness?"

"Ah.. no, not exactly. I can feel the wolf rising, and I don't fight it. But I can kinda see what's going on, and I can feel the rush of emotions and raw energy."

"I can see how a McGeek would like that," comes a voice from the door; Tony is standing in the frame, a weak smile on his face. In spite of the joke he just made, he looks really stressed. He speaks again, his voice coming out in the same wavering sound as before. "McGee, I--"

"Tony, don't. Look.. I won't bite anyone, okay? I can kinda control it, and I won't spread the.. the virus," he calls it, abstaining from referring to it as 'curse' for Tony's sake. "Don't worry."

"That's not the point!" Tony yells. "You're my best friend and I tried to kill you! I could never forgive mys-"

"I'm your best friend?" McGee interrupts Tony, looking surprised. There's a hint of amusement, because McGee had always suspected; but mostly surprise, because he never expected Tony to admit it.

Tony looks over at McGee, swallowing. "Uh.. yeah." Sigh. "Yeah, of course you are, Tim. You're my friend, my partner. Second only to Gibbs, you're the one I'd want with me in any tight situation."

McGee frowns at being called 'second', but after a moment of thought, shrugs and nods. "Yeah, okay." With a smile, he walks over to Tony and gives him a regular guy-hug, which even more surprisingly, Tony returns. As they pull apart at the maximum three seconds later, McGee grins. "We'd better get back to work before Gibbs comes to--"

"Find you?" Gibbs' voice makes Tony and McGee jump and look for their boss; but he's nowhere to be seen. "Over here." They spot Gibbs on Abby's videoscreen. He looks mildly amused. "If you're done, I need ya back up here."

"Right. Thanks for watching out for him, Abby," Tony says, back to his old self again.

"Anytime, Tony." Abby gives McGee a hug before nudging him towards the door. "Now go, go! Go do the Bossman's bidding."

"You want me to go WHERE?"

"Clubbing! C'mon Timmy, get outta this apartment, let's go do something fun."

"Tony, I really don't want to go--"

"Don't be such a spoilsport, McBoring," Tony snorts, but McGee, who has greeted Tony in the doorway to his apartment, can spot that it's more than just an urge to go out rocking. Tony wants forgiveness for attacking McGee, even if McGee has already reassured him.

With a defeated smile, McGee caves. "All right. Let me just get changed."

Tony does a silent cheer when McGee turns and heads back inside, and invites himself in to re-inspect the apartment as McGee gets ready. However, he only gets about five minutes, as McGee is finished quickly and is out the door with Tony.

"Your car or--"

"My car, McGee. MY car." Tony cuts McGee off as though McGee's question is the stupidest one imaginable. "Do you want to get lucky or not?"

---

Once at the club, which seems to favor house music, Tony orders McGee a few drinks. McGee asks why Tony isn't drinking anything, which earns a head-slap from Tony. "I'm driving, McGee. I would think a federal agent would be smarter than to drink and drive, but you've--"

"Funny, Tony. I wasn't thinking." Before Tony can respond with a smartass remark, McGee speaks again. "I'm just not used to the club scene."

Tony could make a remark at that too, but he shuts up and shakes his head. "Timmy, Timmy, Timmy. You have to get out more! Now, go have some fun. Meet a girl, go dance, or just hang out." Tony slides off the barstool. "I'm gonna go do that myself."

McGee waves to Tony as he heads off, then sighs and leans back against the bar, watching the lights, listening to the pulse of the music, and tuning into the energy of everyone dancing.

This is where Tony finds him still, a half hour later. Though McGee hasn't moved from the spot, nor consumed anything; McGee looks as though he'd been dancing, and that he'd taken something to make him high. His eyes are half-closed, he's sweating, he's breathing deeply; he seems to be in a trance. Worried for his friend, Tony nudges him. "McGee? Hey man, what's wrong?"

McGee's eyes tear away from the crowd of dancing people to face Tony, but they don't really focus on him. While he'd heard Tony, he hadn't registered what his friend said, and it had sounded more of an echo than anything. He closes his eyes and grins, taking in a deep breath. His mouth opens a bit, and Tony can spot fangs.

"Shi--McGee, hey! Calm down, you're changing!" Tony hisses, head-slapping McGee in an attempt to snap him out of it quickly. This only causes McGee to, several moments later, open his eyes and look over at Tony. No sound, no real look of recognition in McGee's eyes. "Shit, man.."

McGee leans his head back, and as Tony watches, his face elongates into the unmistakable wolf. This catches the attention of a few other people, who gasp and point as McGee continues changing. He leans forward, clothes growing tighter as his frame and muscles expand slightly; he grows furry all over, his tail slips out just above his pants as it grows in. Just after his hands and lupine feet grow long, sharp claws, completing the transformation; McGee slides off the barstool, lifting his head and howling loudly, filling the club--even over the sound of the loud music. Even while he has everyone's attenion, McGee is still somewhat unaware of what's going on--he's only half-aware, letting the wolf take main control. Heart thumping to the beat of the music, adrenaline rushing through his veins, mind clouded from a club-induced-trance; McGee stands to his full height, whips his head back, and howls loudly once again, before leaping up onto the bar and letting loose on the club, racing across the bar.

Suddenly, all hell breaks loose.

Glasses fly. People scream. People run. Tony yells. McGee runs. Tony chases him. People scream some more. McGee can't stop now; he can't shake the excited tremors in his muscles, can't get off this high. With mouth open, he romps around, throwing the equivalent of a werewolf temper tantrum; he races around the place--even somehow managing to run on the ceiling for a few moments; he flings glasses from tables, plows into tables and chairs, sending them flying; and overall unintentionally terrorizes the place.

Tony looks around; there are still many people in the club, some remaining from fear, but most of them just gawking at what's going on. With a groan, Tony knows he'll only be able to stop McGee as a wolf. He runs toward McGee, shifting as he gets closer, then leaps and tackles him. They roll, and as they come to a stop, McGee whips away from Tony, taking a four-legged stance before growling.

Just as Tony is about to speak, he hears the DJ's voice echo in the club. "Yeah everybody! It's time for a WEREWOLF RAVE!" Immediately after, the speakers emit a howl, followed by techno music. Tony looks at McGee, who is standing up on his hind legs.

"Tony?" He looks around at the place, at the people. He's trashed the place a bit; but not irreparably.

"Seriously man?! A werewolf rave? ARE YOU ON SOMETHING?" Tony yells at the DJ, who just grins and stuffs up the song queue.

McGee grins. "Well, I uh, really messed up, didn't I.." He waves to the people. "Sorry, uh, I'm fine now." He still receives nothing but confused stares; then looks at Tony, who's started to move to the music. "Wh--Tony, really?! We have to get out of here!"

"No way, McGee. They've seen us. They know there's werewolves. So let's just party and enjoy ourselves!"

"But, Tony," McGee whines, but watches as Tony dances. He groans and shakes his head, then turns to see his tail is waving to the music. He shrugs and raises his clawed hands. "Eh, why fight it?" He begins dancing, mostly following Tony's lead.

Eventually, some people filter back out onto the dance floor, though most are extremely cautious. Many take cellphone pictures, and one girl even gets close to McGee to really get a good look at him. As she stares, McGee notices, then jumps and gulps. "Uh, h-hi. Uh, look, sorry about earlier.."

"It's not a mask. It's not an illusion, it's not lights. It's real, isn't it?"

McGee looks into her eyes; she's not really afraid, just curious and amazed. "Uh.." He wants to lie and tell her it's part of a prank or show, but for some reason he doesn't. "..yeah, it is." He smiles a bit, glances at Tony, then holds out a furry hand. "Um.. Tim."

She doesn't jump when his claws move toward her; and when she sees it's for a handshake, she accepts and returns the shake. "Jessica." She smiles a bit. "Do, uh, you come here often?"

"No, actually, I don't go to clubs much. I was dragged here by--"

"Hey, Tim! Finally!" Tony slaps McGee on the back, grinning when the other man groans. "Still, you had to go wolf to--"

"Thank you, Tony." McGee sighs, shaking his head. "Jessica, Tony. Tony--"

"Nice to meet you, Jessica." Tony grins and goes back to his dancing, and McGee just shakes his head.

Helluva day.

---

McGee, Tony and Ziva are at work