Chapter 14: Fourteen.

Sammy slowly reached for her radio as the wolf stared her down, his head slightly lower than his shoulders as he watched her every move and she was desperately trying not to startle him.

Pressing the button to connect her through, she steadily brought the device to her lips, "Tom? Susan? Come in? Over." She said in a shaky voice, while keeping her body as still as possible.

She winced at the loud white noise that followed when a reply came through, praying it wouldn't upset the animal.

"Sammy, what's up? You alright?" Came Tom's Irish accent. "Oh, shit I forgot: over."

"Erm, no. Not really okay, Tom," She replied in a panicked voice, while the wolf cocked his head with interest. "I'm in the north west corner, by Carrigan's Point. There's a wolf, he is loose, and about ten feet away, on our side of the fence!"

"Fuck! Alright. Shit, shit! Sammy, we won't get there in time, please tell me you took the tranq gun?" came Tom's panicked response.

"No, I wouldn't be calling in this state, if I had!" Sammy snapped back, "Sorry, it's not your fault."

Daniel watched as Sammy panicked, trying to determine how to approach her without scaring the living daylights out of her any further. He laughed in his head at the thought of her even attempting to shoot him with a tranquilizer gun. That's something he would never live down.

*"Daniel! Sammy's in trouble, she's been cornered by a wolf."* Came Shane's sudden and frantic mindlink. *"Tom and Susan can't get there in time, but we can. Where the hell are you?"*

*"Dont worry. It's me, Shane. She is in no danger."* Daniel replied rolling his eyes at all the fuss.

Shane growled, *"Dont you dare do something stupid, Daniel, your month isn't up yet."*

*"Give me some credit, I am well aware of when my month is up. But I have to get close to her somehow, and she hates my human face. So, I'm trying something new."* Daniel snorted back.

Shane growled through the link, but didn't respond further, as Daniel's full attention shifted back to Sammy.

"Just, get here as quickly as you can," she murmured into the radio.

Her eyes hadn't left his, and he knew he had to somehow relax her. It was the only way he could get close to her. But how? How do you calm someone, when you are the object of their fear.

Sighing, he sat down. The action giving Sammy pause. He heard it, her heart rate though high, settled slightly. Then he remembered playing with the youngsters in the pack; he had to make himself smaller to earn their trust. In response to this realisation, he lay down on his stomach, and began crawling towards her slowly, even going so far as to let out a whimper, knowing it would play on her need to help an animal in distress.

Sammy relaxed as she watched the wolf's strange behaviour. Even though every logical bone in her body was screaming that this was dangerous, the wolf's behaviour wasn't threatening. She stood still and unmoving as he approached, knowing not to run, but being too afraid to get closer to him.

It didn't take Daniel long to close the distance, and soon he was sat back upright in front of her, his nose level with her navel. Then he watched, evaluating his mate's response. She hadn't run from him, that was a bonus. He decided to push her further, and stuck his wet nose against her hand, shuffling it till her fingers were resting on his head.

Sammy sighed relaxing, "You're not wild at all are you?"

Daniel made a gruff noise in the back of his throat. His pride wanted to disagree, but his heart knew if he did, he would scare her.

Sammy grabbed her radio quickly, and connected herself through to Tom, "Hey Tom, don't fret. He is tame. Over."

At this, Daniel flopped down at Sammy's feet, rolling onto his back with his tongue hanging out for good measure.

The radio buzzed, as Tom responded, "Sammy, are you sure? You cant take chances. I know you've been upset but please, dont be reckless. Over."

Sammy sighed exhausted by the past twenty-four hours, "I'm not taking chances, Tom, he has rolled onto his back across my feet. Believe me, he isn't a threat. Over."

"He what?" Tom blurted out astounded, and yet again forgetting their radio protocol.

"You heard, now I'll see if he will follow me back. Connor's old enclosure is still empty, he can go in there for now, and I'll get him checked out. Over." Sammy responded pointedly.

She looked down at the wolf as Tom radioed back in confirmation and tilted her head at the animal.

"If you think for one minute, I am going to put my hand on your stomach, after you dragged your belly through that muck on your way here, then you have another thing coming, Buddy." She stated, stepping back away from him with a shake of her head.

Daniel stood up suddenly with a long, low whine, before butting his head affectionately against her stomach, as his tail swayed lightly behind him. She was letting him close, and as selfish as his trick was, he really needed the contact.

"Come on then," Sammy nodded as she began walking, presuming he must know basic commands 

Daniel, trotted along beside her, pestering her for attention at every opportunity that he got. Reveling in her laughter as he tried to coax her to play with him, while he acted as silly as he could.

At one point he even thought about picking up a stick, and bringing it to her. His wolf was firmly against the idea, until Daniel pointed out that if they acted like a big dog, she might take pity and take him home with her.  But even he couldn't bring himself to do that, it was far too demeaning.

Meanwhile, Sammy was at a loss, this wolf was like a big puppy. Playing and splashing about her. He wasn't displaying any wolf like behaviour at all, yet was clearly a wolf, and the sillier he acted around her, the more she smiled and the less her heart ached.

Maybe this is exactly what she needed. A new work focus. Something to take her mind off of the pain Daniel had caused.

She was still ruminating on this and not paying attention to where she was walking, when she suddenly twisted her ankle and fell to the ground.

"Shit!" She cursed out, wincing as she removed her crumpled leg from beneath herself.

Daniel had stopped his frivolity, as soon as he saw Sammy begin to fall. He was beside her in a flash sniffing at her ankle, as he whined. What he wouldn't give to shift and carry her home. But, he couldn't, instead all he could do was sit beside her as her eyes filled with tears, while allowing her to lean on him.

It was too much, Sammy couldn't help the tears that fell. She was so overwhelmed, that the pain from her ankle though not severe was enough to break the wall on the dam she had built. She cried for a good ten minutes, before a wet tongue hit her cheek.

She laughed at this, mostly because of the absurdity of it.

Then a very cold wet nose was pressed against her neck, making her shriek.

Daniel groaned in his wolf form, she smelled so good. Even if she did pull away quickly. He went in and licked her face again, pulling out another laugh, before he flopped onto her lap.

He had seen Gomez do it many times, and there was always a jealousy burning within his wolf when he'd seen the action between them. But, when Sammy began to lightly stroke his head, his wolf almost purred, he was so content and he knew he would never like that damn bear again.

All too soon though, Sammy was pushing at him to get him off of her and he found himself mimicking the growl Sammy displayed whenever he tried to disrupt her sleep.

For some reason totally, unbeknownst to herself, his reaction made her laugh.

"Come on, get off me. My trousers are soaked through now," she said, pushing at his head.

Reluctantly Daniel raised his head, glaring at her when he made eye contact.

"Don't you give me the stink eye  Buddy " Sammy laughed out. "It's time to get back."

Raising herself gingerly to her feet, she ignored her damp backside and began limping back towards the enclosures, being extra careful where she placed her feet this time as she walked through the undergrowth.

Daniel stuck to her side like glue, trying to encourage her to at least lean on him.

Of course she wouldn't though, he was forced to hold steady at her pace, and hope she didn't tumble as they made their way through the undergrowth of the forest.