jedibuttercup

PG-13; B:tVS, DOOM. 400 words. (Next in the Handle ID Slayer ficlet series).

There was something in Dr. Carmack's blood.

Title: Infectious Agent
Author: Jedi Buttercup
Disclaimer: The words are mine; the worlds are not. I claim nothing but the plot.
Rating: PG-13
TtH Prompt: #66 - Were-animal
Summary: There was something in Dr. Carmack's blood. 400 words.
Spoilers: B:tVS post-"Chosen"; "DOOM" (2005)
Notes: Movieverse. Next in the Handle ID Slayer ficlet series

Buffy watched Dr. Willets draw a vial of blood from Dr. Carmack's arm-- blood visibly contaminated with fat black specks.

"Oh my God," the doctor exclaimed. "There's something in his blood."

"What's happening to him?" Sam breathed, worriedly.

Buffy thought she could probably tell them-- not that they'd believe her. She'd bet anything that the whatever-it-was that had attacked him had been kind of like a werewolf-- something that started out human, had transformed into something monstrous, and was now infectious. Except that the transformations seemed to take effect within hours, and there were no indications that infected people could turn back. The Council hadn't heard of anything like it-- which meant either their origins had been kept from Sam, much as they'd presented only their non-supernatural face to her, or Sam was a brilliant actress. The latter didn't seem likely; there was too much Xander in her, transparent emotions and all.

Buffy shuddered, turning to pace again, as voices broke over the radio, punctuated by gunfire and harsh breathing.

"Reaper, what have you got?" Sarge barked.

"We're chasing something!" John replied at the top of his lungs. Buffy flinched, then looked back over her shoulder at a tense Sam.

"What do you mean, something?" Sarge demanded.

"Something big. Not human!" John answered, still yelling.

Sarge swore. "God damn it! Give me confirmation on what you see!"

Goat's voice broke in urgently. "Reaper, it's in the sewer!"

There was a pause, then Reaper's voice again, calmer, but no less intense. "All units, all units. Southwest corridor, near the med lab."

Oh yeah, Buffy thought. There's our infectious agent. Good thing it can't get to us in here… but maybe it doesn't think it has to...? Following the prodding of her instincts, she paced back toward the medical bed, sidling into a shadow where Dr. Carmack couldn't see her. Sam had turned away, urging Dr. Willets to go to her daughter, and Duke was watching them; Carmack could easily take the opportunity to make like a tree.

The lab's computer beeped; footsteps crossed the lab, followed by Sam's voice: "What's going on?"

Buffy didn't hear whatever Duke said in reply, though, because sure enough Carmack bolted off the bed, shucking his med coat as he went.

"Duke!" Buffy yelled, then pounced, pinning Carmack's transforming body to the ground. No way was she going to be the one who failed this mission.

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