Disclaimer: "I do not own Teen Wolf. The show, the characters, and any quotes from the show belong to Jeff Davis and his amazing team of writers. I only own Nixie, and anything I maker her do or say."

Hi Guys! I'm back!

Finally, right? This half of season 6 is taking a long time for me to write, and I apologize for that. But life happens, you know.

Before you get to the story, I just feel the need to grant a heads up. I am still not finished writing for 6b. But I feel kind of bad for making people wait so long to read this, when all my other stories, after maybe a month, I was able to post rather rapidly. So, here's what I'm doing. I usually post the stories once they're completely finished. Not the case this time. I have the first four chapters complete at this point, working on the others as we speak. But I'm going to go ahead and start posting what I do have anyways. Be warned, if I go back later and decide something needs to change, I will go back and alter previous chapters.

Okay, I think that's all. You guys know my writing style by now, so I don't feel the need to warn you about anything else. Enjoy! :)

Chapter 1: Episode 6x11

"Okay, wait… Liam, slow down." Sitting up in bed, Nixie runs a hand across her face before asking, "So… how many wolves are just… dead in the woods?" Liam glances at Scott, but he hasn't even begun reaching a total on how many dead wolves were lying scattered across the floor of the woods past the lacrosse field. Shaking his head, Liam says, "We don't know. But… Nixie, it's a lot."

Nixie ponders that a moment, and then asks, "Do you guys need me to come there?" Liam immediately says, "Yes!" But then Nixie hears a scuffle of the phone changing hands, and then Scott's voice says, "No, Nixie. It's… well, it's a little weird. I'll give it that. But they're not werewolves. I don't think it's necessarily supernatural. They're just regular wolves."

Glancing around at all of the dead animals, he says, "A lot of dead regular wolves. But I don't see a supernatural cause right off." But Nixie can hear Liam shout from nearby, "Hundreds of spiders started shooting out of their eyes and mouths! You don't think that's supernatural!" Scott sighs, and then says, "Nixie, it's weird. But there is actually a medical breakout that could've caused it in the animals. So…"

Nixie nods, and then says, "Look, if you don't think you need me, that's fine. But if you want me to come, I will. Five minutes tops." "I know. But we're fine. If anything, I think Malia would be the one to call. She is, technically, the former animal." "Yeah, I can see that. Keep me posted, alright?" "You bet."

Hanging up the phone, Nixie is about to stand up and stretch, maybe get a glass of water before returning to bed. But that's when Jordan's arm snakes its way around her waist. Pulling her back onto the bed, he asks, "And where exactly would you have been running off to?" Nixie smiles over at him, and then says, "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." "Never mind that. And I'd prefer it if you did wake me before you go gallivanting off into the night." Nixie nods, and then hums when he kisses the side of her neck.

Chuckling against her skin, feeling her pulse quicken a bit, he says, "It's nearly midnight. Do you ever get tired of being so easily turned on?" "By you? Hell no." Jordan chuckles again, and then kisses right beneath her ear before asking, "What happened with the boys?" Nixie sighs, "There are apparently a lot of dead wolves in the woods right now. Not werewolves, just regular wolves. Liam is convinced it's something supernatural. But… I think Scott's pretty sure Liam is only stressing that point because he'd rather us not leave at all."

Jordan nods, and then asks, "Are you ready to leave tomorrow?" "Depends. I'm ready for college and to knock my GPA up into the stratosphere. I'm ready to start studying to be a nurse and help people. I'm ready to make sure my roommate isn't going to behave like a…" Jordan pinches her side, smirking when she laughs and grips at his hand to hopefully stop him from tickling her. Sighing, she says, "I'm ready for that." "But…"

Turning to look at him, Nixie says, "Not really ready to leave you." Jordan props himself up on his arm so he can look down at her. His free hand runs through some of her hair as he says, "You'll come back every other weekend. And I'll drive up when I can." "I know." "You'll be fine. We will be fine." Nixie nods, and then draws his hand down so she can kiss the inside of his wrist.

Though their honeymoon had technically been over after their week at the beach, Nixie hadn't really felt the end of it quite as profoundly as she was feeling it now. With it being summer and all, she only had her summer reading to fill her spare time when she wasn't with her friends, family, or Jordan. Well… and she was on the lookout for another supernatural disaster, but since that hadn't occurred yet, Nixie had a particular sense of still being on a sort of honeymoon. There were no monsters to chase. There was no one trying to kill her pack and family. And she was now married to the hottest man on the planet. Literally.

But now summer was ending. She would be moving into a dorm at college. Nixie had considered trying to live off campus. Given that she could fly at speeds that occasionally broke the sound barrier, it would not be any trouble to get to and from the school each day. But freshman were actually required to live on campus, for at least their first semester.

And it wasn't just about leaving Jordan behind in Beacon Hills. It was also about where everyone else was going. Scott was going to a college in California, which was comforting. He was the alpha, after all. But Stiles was already in Virginia for the FBI program, which was, as they'd discussed earlier in the summer, on the complete other side of the continent. And Lydia was going to Massachusetts for MIT, which was, again, an entire country of separation.

She wasn't sad that her best friends, practically her brother and sister, had been given these great opportunities. The fact that they had gotten these opportunities showed who they were, and why Nixie had chosen them from the start. But… well, Nixie's a blue dragon. Separations of a great distance would always be tricky for her.

She supposes she's lucky that her mate turned out to be a bit older than her. If they'd been the same age, in the same school, Jordan would've been joining the army at this point. And Nixie doesn't think the United States would be able to handle the multitude of rainstorms that would've followed that particular separation. But because Jordan was older, and already had a job he loved, in a town he didn't intend to leave… well, Nixie would never be so far away from him that she couldn't return at a moment's notice to be with him.

But she was leaving tomorrow. Which meant that tonight and tomorrow morning were really all the time they had left together. Well… for now at least.

With that in mind, Nixie grins and pulls his hand away from her lips and moves it to rest on the other side of her head. Jordan raises an eyebrow in amusement, "I say again, it's past midnight now." Nixie simply wraps an arm around his neck and draws him down for a kiss.

Her drive for making love with him had seemed to spike rather recently. Not that Jordan minded at all. It only concerned him slightly at all, because he thought it might be because of the blue dragon not wanting to leave him behind. But if this was the only consequence that was going to arise from Nixie's soon departure… well, Jordan can think of a million worse things to happen.

When she puts a hand on his shoulder, trying to push him onto his back, Jordan takes it in his hand and pins it beside her head. She whines into his mouth, but Jordan simply pulls back. Biting at her lower lip in admonishment, he says, "You were on top not even four hours ago." Nixie nods, preparing to retort, but is cut off as Jordan's other hand begins sliding down her body. Focusing at her chest for a while, he leans down to suck hard against the curve of her neck.

Her free hand grips his shoulder tight, fingers digging in. Panting breathlessly, she says, "You… spoil me… too much… when you… hmm…" After working a hickey onto her skin, Jordan trails his lips down to her chest. Grinning, he asks, "You don't like this?" "Shut up." "Now, that's not nice."

She hisses when he nibbles on her nipple, her hand on his shoulder moving to hold the back of his head. Whimpering, she says, "I like… trying to spoil you… too." Jordan's attention gentles a bit, and then he lifts his head enough to say, "This does spoil me, Mrs. Parrish."

Nixie can't help smiling as he calls her by their last name. He had done it at least once every day since they'd been married. And she thinks part of that is because she finally told him why she had no problem simply taking just his last name.

Jordan had thought, for a time, that she may want to keep the name 'Haven'. Certainly, it was the name she'd changed to because her mother had forced her too. But she'd chosen it for a reason, and it had become sort of trademark for her. She was everyone's safe-haven. No one felt safer anywhere else in the world, then when Nixie was standing beside them.

He'd offered to join their last names, hyphenating in between so they would become Mr. and Mrs. Haven-Parrish, or Parrish-Haven. Either would've worked for him. But Nixie had declined both, and for a time, he didn't understand why.

Finally, about three weeks after the wedding, he'd asked why she'd been so willing to suddenly drop a name that had become her moniker. She'd blinked at him in confusion at first, but then simply smiled. And her response was simply, "Jordan… I love you. And I love your name. And I want that name to be mine. And… sure, I'm kind of a haven. But I don't need my name to be Haven in order to still be that."

And then, as a smirk had formed on her face, she'd added, "Besides… you do know what a parish is, right?" When Jordan had raised an eyebrow, she said, "A parish is a sanctuary. It's a place people can go and feel welcome and protected, no matter who they are or where they've come from." Then she'd shrugged and said simply, "A parish is a safe haven. So… my moniker remains the same. I'm just using a different name to describe it now. One that we both get to share."

Now, as his lips travel down her skin, towards where she wants him most, Nixie trembles and asks, "How does this spoil you?" Chuckling against her hip, feeling her shift desperately beneath his touch, Jordan says, "Because I get to taste you like this. And you, my beautiful wife, are like all of my favorite deserts rolled into one."

He sucks at a hollow point over her left hip, and as she grips his head tighter, Jordan whispers deeply, "But if you've forgotten how much I enjoy this, then please, allow me to remind you."

Nixie has no words left to try and use to argue after that.

As Scott holds the electrifying baton up before his mother, Melissa sighs worriedly, "Eight-hundred-thousand volts sounds pretty dangerous." Scott doesn't argue that point, but this was more important that the pain he might be put in. He was leaving for college tonight, same as Nixie. He has to make sure his mom knows how to protect herself while he's gone. At the very least, he needs to know she can take care of herself long enough for him to get back in time to help.

With that in mind, he hands it over and says, "Just use it on me. I'll be okay, I promise. I can take it." Melissa looks at him like she doesn't believe that last statement in the slightest. But then she smiles when Nixie adds, "And if he can't, I'll take his pain."

Scott turns to glance at where she's sitting on one of the morgue examination tables. At his raised eyebrow, Nixie throws up her hands, "What? That's why I'm here!" "Really? I thought you were here for moral support." And Scott can't help laughing when Nixie says, "Moral support seeps out of me all the time, no matter where I am or why I'm there. I'm a living, breathing morale booster. So that part goes without saying." And before Scott can comment, Nixie grins and adds, "And yes, so does the sarcasm."

Scott just lets out a sighing laugh, and then turns back to his mom, who stands up so she can practice with the baton.

It obviously doesn't go as Scott would've liked it to. Melissa was not about to actually electrocute her son, even if he could take it. She cringed at the very idea, not at the fact that Scott was pretending to lunge at her like a predator. Sighing, Scott says, "Mom, you have to hold the button down."

Melissa gives him a look, and then holds up the baton to show that she is more than capable of operating it. Then she says, "I'm going to be fine, Scott. And if something happens, I'll call Liam." Scott still isn't satisfied; not that Nixie blames him. Liam was a wonderful beta, and he would take care of Melissa as best he could if something did happen. But Nixie nods in agreement with Scott's next question of, "What if he's not around?"

And yet again, Nixie can't argue with Melissa's follow up question of, "You think that this thing is gonna protect me? Scott, I'm a nurse. A stun baton is not my thing." Nixie raises an eyebrow at that, and then points to Scott in agreement again when he asks, "You have a thing?" Melissa simply says, "Sort of."

She pulls out one of the morgue drawers that's supposed to be empty. But inside, she has jars and vials filled with herbs, roots, and supernatural additives, kind of like Deaton had in his clinic. Nixie hops up off the table to join Scott as they look down at it. Melissa nods towards her collection, "If something does happen and people get hurt, I've got it covered."

Nixie smiles down at everything and says, "I like it." Scott gives her a look, and then asks his mom, "Where did you get all this from?" Melissa gives him a look, and then says, "Scott, you have orientation tomorrow. Classes to schedule. Cats and dogs to heal at UC Davis."

Nixie nods, and then jumps when Melissa points to her and says, "And that goes for you as well. Orientation. Classes. Dummies to practice putting IVs into. So both of you…" She shoves the drawer away, closing the door behind it. Then she turns back to them and says, "Worry about that."

Scott sighs, but smiles as his mom opens her arms so she can give him a hug. Of course, the next thing he knows, the baton in her hand accidentally goes off… against his back. Melissa gasps, and then says sorrowfully, "I held the button, didn't I?" Scott nods, and then narrows his eyes over at Nixie, who is about to fall down laughing. Upon meeting his gaze, she asks, "What?! That was funny! And don't even get me started. You wanted her to shock you in the first place. This is called karma." "For what, exactly?" "For not listening to me when I told you it was a stupid idea."

He rolls his eyes at her, but then smiles as he steps back, allowing Melissa to wrap Nixie in a hug as well. When she leans back, Melissa then says, "Besides, if worst comes to worst, I have the most important asset anyone could possibly have, set and ready to go." Scott tilts his head curiously, but then grins when Melissa pulls out her phone and presses the number one speed dial. Nixie's phone starts ringing five seconds later, and Nixie glances down at it, and then back at Melissa's phone.

And they both can't help laughing when Nixie says, "I don't see how that's such a great accomplishment. In fact, I think we should address the fact that I wasn't number one on your speed dial already. Scott, we should make it a rule. Anyone and everyone that's in this pack is required to have me as number one on speed dial. No exceptions. And what are earth are you laughing at? This is serious."

When Melissa gets called away to deal with multiple traumas, Scott wraps an arm around Nixie's shoulders. "Thanks for coming." She shrugs, "Like I'd be anywhere else." "I thought you might've wanted to be with Lydia right now. You know? Giving her mom the list of creatures and stuff?"

As Nixie's frown, Scott asks, "What's wrong?" Nixie sighs, "Nothing. I mean… it's not nothing. It's just, not anything you really need to worry about." But Scott gives her a look, so Nixie answers, "It's just… Natalie doesn't get it. She feels like now that we're all leaving, she doesn't have to deal with any of the supernatural stuff anymore. She feels like, since her daughter won't be here, it's not her problem."

Scott squeezes Nixie tighter, "But we know that's not true. We know things. And that gives us the responsibility to do something about it." Nixie smiles up at him, "I've trained you well."

He chuckles, and then Nixie says, "Anyways. I didn't want to deal with trying to argue with her right before we're about to leave. I'm not in the mood. Lydia understands." Scott nods, and then asks, "By the way, how are Liv and Veronica doing?" "Good. After they came back that second time to get to know me more, their flight landed safely back home. They're actually working on compiling a list of supernatural creatures on the East Coast for Stiles and me. It's pretty awesome."

Sighing, Scott says, "Yeah. Gosh, I can't believe there's so many of us. I mean… I always knew it couldn't be just us. But still… it's like the names never stop coming. And who knows what else there is out there that we still haven't had time to learn about." "Tell me about it. I'm still waiting on a mermaid to wash up on the beach any day now."

Scott laughs, and then they both glance up when they hear the commotion that is starting on the floors above them. Nixie smiles when she hears Jordan's voice, and then says, "I'm heading up to see Jordan. I'll meet you at your garage later. Sound good?" "Yeah."

He kisses her on the top of the head before he moves to exit out of one of the back entrances. Nixie hops in the elevator to take her up a floor.

What she finds when she gets there, is complete and total chaos. Not that the trauma wing of a hospital wasn't always filled with chaos. But… it somehow felt like it was worse tonight. Something in the air. Something she couldn't put her finger on. Something that was causing all the madness around them to seem so much worse than it might actually be. Something… frightening.

Nixie pushes past that feeling though. She was used to that fear by now. It was like she'd told Alison, just a couple of years ago. She was not fearless. She was frightened and terrified of a lot of things. All of which revolved around her friends and family being hurt and taken from her. That kind of fear was not new to Nixie. She felt it every time a new threat came into Beacon Hills.

Courage, and sheer force of will made it possible for her to think past that fear. And that's what she'd always done. And it's what she did now. She ignored the feeling that everyone else was allowing to overtake them. And with an assured step, she walked down the hall to try and find Jordan.

When she found him, he was standing in front of the elevators, staring down another long hall. Nixie's smile was brief, slipping down into a frown as she looked at him. He had to be able to feel her at this point. They could always feel each other when they walked into the room. Being complete opposites in the sense of their powers, it was as easy as breathing to tell when the other was approaching.

But Jordan didn't look at her. He wasn't moving at all, in fact. His eyes were trained down the hall, as though in a trance.

And the last time he'd had those, he'd been seeing Lydia and her in visions. Not exactly the worst case scenario… but it certainly didn't bode well for allowing them to all still leaving for college on time.

As for Jordan, he doesn't understand what it is he's seeing. The stranger he'd been following down the hall had vanished. And why he'd felt like following that stranger… Jordan didn't have a clue. But when he'd turned back around to face the hall again, it was covered in fire. At least… in his mind, it was covered in fire.

And the stranger he'd been following? He was in the center of the hall, supernatural eyes glowing and teeth slipping between his lips to show that he wasn't normal.

Jordan was still trying to understand what was going on, when he felt a chill sweep up his arm. And he supposes most people would shiver and maybe try to edge away from the sudden cold. But not Jordan. He let that feeling invade the space in his mind that was telling him the entire room was on fire, and it slowly begin vanishing.

Shaking his head after a moment to clear it, relieved when the hall looked normal again, he turns to see Nixie standing beside him. And the look of concern on her face tells him he'd been standing here, staring off into space, entirely too long. Not only had Nixie had time to find him… but she'd also had enough time to figure out that he was clearly seeing things again.

His response to the curious tilt of her head was to reach for the hand that was on his arm. Drawing it up, he places it against the side of his suddenly overheated neck and face. In fact, all of him suddenly felt too hot. And he was a hellhound, so that was saying something.

Sighing as Nixie let her chill sweep over him, he bends to kiss at her wrist before saying, "I'll tell you later. Promise. Right now, Melissa needs help maintaining order." Nixie nods instantly, but smiles and launches herself at him anyway. Wrapping him in a hug, she grins against his skin when he chuckles at her. His arms lock around her waist, and he sighs in relief against her before saying, "Thank you."

She kisses his cheek, and then says, "If you don't get to come home before we leave, Scott and I will swing by the station first. Or… just tell me where you are and we'll come meet you before we actually head out of town." He nods, and then kisses her forehead before saying, "Love you." "Love you too, babe."

Nixie watches him walk off down the hall after that, trying to help contain a few people that were arguing. Her eyes drifted up and down his frame from behind, and then she shook herself back to the present. It was getting a little ridiculous, how very often she found herself wanting to crawl back into bed with him. I mean, yes… she was married to him. They were mates. They could have each other any way they wanted, however often they wanted.

Still… Nixie thinks this is getting a little ridiculous. He walked into the room, and she was already thinking of ways to seduce him back into the bedroom… or to the couch… or…

Yeah, she needs to quit. Maybe being married and having sex for the first time somehow unlocks a great amount of lust in a dragon for the first few months. She might actually have to ask Deaton about that. Embarrassing as that conversation might be… it also might make her feel better.

She's contemplating going to see him now, since she and Scott will be leaving soon. That's when she hears Liam from up the hall muttering, "The sun, the moon, the truth… the sun, the moon, the truth…"

If the young beta was using his mantra, it couldn't be good. So Deaton would have to wait.

Nixie meets him half way up the hall. His claws are out, and his teeth are extended. Poor thing. He was trying so hard to keep it together. But his nose was also bleeding, which meant that someone had most definitely punched him in the face.

Liam's ability to calm down increased immediately when Nixie snarls and asks, "Who hit you? Where are they? And how painful do you want their death to be?" He manages a grin at her, before he slings himself inside the elevator. Hitting the button for the fourth floor, he continues with his mantra, and keeps his eyes on Nixie, who joins him inside.

It takes him another round, but he does finally calm down. Checking his fingernails, relieved to see them back to normal, Liam sighs and says, "Thanks." "Sure. But you didn't answer my question."

Liam is laughing, but Nixie really did want an answer to her questions. The only reason she didn't press Liam for an answer, was because of the presence she suddenly felt on the other side of the elevator doors.

It wasn't evil. It wasn't a presence she hated. She did feel a sudden need to be more protective of Liam at the moment… but the presence wasn't one that she felt needed her concern in the sense that he was a threat to everything she held dear.

That being said… Nixie's never felt a presence that felt such a strong sense of… of… obligation? No, that was the wrong word. Nixie had obligations and she took them as seriously as anyone ever could. And it wasn't duty that she felt on the other side of the doors either. Jordan was a person who Nixie could always feel had a sense of duty. It's what made him one of the best police officers this country had ever seen. So that wasn't what this presence had either.

Mission. That was it. The presence that was slowly fading beneath them as the elevator moved… it was as mission-oriented as anyone could be. It had a task, a set goal, and there was not going to be anyone, any place, or anything that stood in it's way of accomplishing that. And Nixie can't help but wonder who that might be, and why they felt that way.

But right now, Liam was her concern. Even if he was fine now, she would walk with him for a few minutes while he cleared his head. And his smile as they stepped out together let her know how much he appreciated that.

Besides, she still needed to know how painfully Liam wanted the bastard that hit him to die.

As Nixie tosses her bag in along with Scott's, he looks over at her and says, "I would've gotten it for you." "And you are a gentleman for being willing to do that. But Jordan said we could meet him at the school, and I'm in a hurry."

Scott raises an eyebrow, and then says, "You realize we are not going to have time for you guys to… well… to…" Nixie smirks, "Are you trying to give me the birds and the bees pep talk? Scott, I hate to break it to you, but I am already well informed about the birds and the bees." "Okay, ew. TMI. Way TMI." "I'm just saying."

They pile into Stiles' jeep, and after lowering the visor so the keys would drop down, Scott is confused when a slip of paper falls down with it. Picking it up, he then grins and shows it to Nixie. Stiles' final note left as far as taking care of his precious jeep, was to simply 'Be Gentle'. Nixie grins too, and then folds the note and puts it in the glove compartment. As Scott starts trying to crank the engine, he asks, "Where's Lydia? Is she meeting us at the school too?" "No, she's still meeting us here. Which gives us a cause for concern, because she's usually the timely one."

Scott glances over at her, a look on his face that says he really doesn't want anything to happen today to stop them from going to college. And Nixie understands that, but says, "I'm just saying. If the banshee rolls up out of nowhere and says that we can't leave, I'm not leaving. You don't ever argue with a banshee about something like that."

Scott chuckles, and then huffs when he tries to turn over the engine again, and still gets nothing. Nixie reaches over for the key then, and says, "Easy Scott. You just have to use the right touch." And as she turns the key, the engine roars to life, purring beautifully.

Of course, that also cuts the headlights on. Which reveals that Lydia is now standing in front of the jeep. Scott jerks a bit in surprise, but then he looks to Nixie when she sighs in a defeated sort of way. She simply says, "I know what I just said… but I was really hoping it wasn't actually going to happen."

But, as though to contradict those hopes, the first thing out of Lydia's mouth is, "We can't leave."

Scott just stares at her for a moment, his own disappointment settling in at those words. Because Nixie was right. Lydia's interpretation of things, as far as visions went, that was up for debate. Her visions were rarely straight forward, and they needed to be looked at from all angles if you wanted a shot in hell at understanding what they meant. But like it or not, when a banshee got that look in her eyes, and told you that leaving wasn't an option… there was no arguing with that. Bad things were bound to happen, if you ignored a banshee on that point.

But in spite of his disappointment, Scott grins as Nixie flops back in her seat and says, "I'm going to have to unpack my entire suitcase. Do you know how long it took me to figure out how to fit everything in there without the damn thing popping back open? I mean… come on."

Lydia moved to the passenger door, at which point Nixie smiles and says, "You're gonna have to help me pack it again." Lydia grins in return, and then opens the door while Nixie slides herself into the backseat. Hopping in next to Scott, Lydia says, "I had another vision." Nixie nods, "Always reason for concern. Continue." "I was at the school. And one of the hallways was filled with these huge cobwebs. They were thick and they stretched from floor to ceiling. And every one I touched…"

She pauses, and then turns to face them. "It… the sounds I heard when I touched them. It was like they were from the past. Some of them, I mean. Like when we were fighting the Nogitsune, or when we were fighting the alpha pack. Some of the webs held voices of death from those times." Lydia runs a hand through her hair, "And the others… were new sounds. Gunshots and screams of terror. Not like what we've been through before. Like… like it was a forewarning of what's on it's way next. What's on it's way now."

Silence for a moment, and then Lydia says, "And then there was a voice. Some man's voice, and he told me that we let it out. That it was supposed to ride the hunt forever, but we let it out."

Nixie lifts her head at that, and then asks, "So… wait. The guy in your vision trapped someone in the hunt? And because we had to go about saving our entire town, we're the reason it got out?" Lydia nods, and then as Nixie ponders that, she says, "Huh… that's… well, it's not impossible. The hunt was merged with our world for quite some time. If the thing trapped in there had been there long enough to be able to realize where he was, then it's definitely possible that he realized there was an opportunity for escape, and he took it."

Scott turns to her, "What do you mean? Wouldn't he know where he was the whole time?" "No. Stiles is exceptional in that sense. Based on what he was able to tell us after the fact, I'm thinking it took him maybe half a month before he figured out he was stuck waiting for a train that was never going to come. And the only reason Peter figured out he was stuck, is because Stiles woke him up and told him. But the rest of the people…"

Nixie shrugs, "If we hadn't come along, they would've stayed there, sitting in the station, waiting on a train forever. But if this thing was supernatural, and if it was in there long enough to realize that he was trapped…" Scott nods, "Then he saw his chance to get out while we were trying to save Beacon Hills. Great."

Lydia nods, and then says, "And if what I'm seeing and hearing is anything to go by… the hell he'll unleash now that he's out… it's not going to end well. Not if we leave before we fix this."

Scott and Nixie look at each other, and then Scot grins when Nixie says, "We'll have to get Deaton and Melissa to write up notes explaining that we've come down with some serious illnesses. Depending on when we wrap this up, we can either start the semester late, or we'll just have to start in the spring. But don't you guys worry. We will still have complete and total full-rides when all is said and done."

Scott would've commented, but Nixie's phone rang at that moment. Pulling it from her pocket, she asks, "What's up Mase?" "Hellhound! He's… he's a hellhound!"

At hearing the panic in his voice, Nixie was instantly on high alert. That being said… "Mason… we already knew Jordan was a hellhound. That's…" "No! Not Jordan! The other guy he's fighting! He's… he's another hellhound!"

And at the roar Nixie could hear on the other side of the phone, the pained sound of her husband being slashed into, she didn't waste another second on questions. Jordan had been at the school. That's where he was now, if Mason was there too. She shoved her phone back into her pocket and scrambled over the backseat. She didn't' have time to make Lydia or Scott move out of her way.

Her wings tear through her blouse in an instant once she's outside, and she's pretty sure she cracked some of the pavement beneath her feet with her hard takeoff.

As was customary nowadays, she was wearing Alison's coat underneath her clothes. And no, it technically wasn't a coat anymore. But she didn't exactly know what you'd call the new getup that Veronica had fashioned it into. All Nixie knows, is that the material is still from Alison's coat, and with this new design, she never had to worry about removing it before taking off into the sky.

Stiles had told her once she looked like one of those comic book, female warriors… but without the expansive show of boobs in the outfit. And since Stiles was always likening everyone in the pack to some of his favorite comic books heroes, Nixie takes it as one of the highest form of compliments she's ever received.

Nixie assumes Scott or Lydia can call Mason to figure out why she bolted into the sky like a bat out of hell. She didn't have time to explain to them why she was leaving. She just bullets her way through the sky as fast as she can towards the school. And as she hears the roars and feels the heat of the hellhounds below, she also hopes that Mason is keeping himself at a good distance from this fight.

She was so close. A second sooner and she could've prevented it. But while she was descending towards the double doors, that's when Jordan was thrown through them and into the brick wall outside. And that in itself was enough to piss Nixie off.

But then his body went limp. The fire surrounding him went out. And he didn't move. He didn't even look like he was breathing. And his eyes, for a moment, looked as though they'd gone completely lifeless.

The hellhound inside the school was still approaching Jordan at that point. To what end, Liam and Mason didn't know. But it didn't surprise them when he suddenly froze in place as Nixie made impact with the ground. She knows she cracked pavement this time.

"JORDAN!" Falling down beside him, she rolls him to his back. Her hands run over his shoulders worriedly, and then finally settle at his neck. She holds two fingers against his pulse point, tears welling in her eyes from the fear that's building in her heart.

But she finally feels a 'thump. And then another one. They were slow, and farther apart then they should be. But Jordan was alive. His heart was beating.

Nixie gasps hard in relief, dropping her head onto his chest as her tears spill over. The rain begins to fall down in a gentle way, as though to aid in the relief she now feels. But as it hits the ground, it turns to frost and ice around her. Her worry was still too great.

And her rage.

For his part, the hellhound was now staring at this cold creature with a tilted head. He was a hellhound, same as the man he'd thrown through the doors a moment ago. He was centuries older than this newer and younger hellhound. He was also stronger; both because of the age difference, and then simply because of the experience he had gained in his previous years.

But… the closer he came to the dragon on the ground, the more he felt her canceling out his power. He'd been on fire, before she'd arrived. But her swift descent down, and the immediate blast of cold that shot out all around her, had instantly put out his flames. And the closer he got, the more powerless he felt in her presence.

And the young one… the man he'd fought and nearly killed… he seemed to come more alive now that she was with him. The dragon's power did not cancel out his powers. If anything, Jordan's body seemed to flourish, become hotter and hotter, the colder the dragon made it. Her cold had no effect on his ability to heat the entire area.

The hellhound in the hall didn't understand. He was older, more experienced. And yet, this young new hellhound could control flames far hotter than he had ever been able to conjure. Certainly, when they'd been fighting, they'd been on equal footing. But now that the dragon was here, Jordan grew hotter to counteract the cold… while the older hellhound couldn't find a way to overcome the chill she put into the air.

If he'd been about to ask how that was possible though… or if he'd even been about to say anything, Nixie's eyes lifting to find him silenced him immediately. Silver eyes, colder and icier then they had ever appeared before, glare at him from outside. Rising to her feet, she says through her teeth, "You really should've left my husband alone."

Liam's roar from behind tells Nixie that he's ready when she is, and then they both charge the hellhound from either side. But in spite of her cold, he manages to light himself back on fire as they approach. Snarling, he turns to Liam first, throwing the young beta against some nearby lockers.

He was older, for sure. But that didn't make him wiser about everything. He should've tried to handle the dragon first. Because now he hadn't only hurt a blue dragon's mate, but he was continuing to hurt people that mattered to her.

All of which only fueled her rage, and therefore the cold surrounding her. When he turns to finally face her again, she was already right at him. And rather than pull out her knives, she choose to continue working with the ice that was so easily forming around her. Shards of ice formed in her hands, just as sharp and sure as the blades she usually used. Ever since facing the ghost riders, when she'd done that for the first time without even thinking, she'd been practicing with that.

And tonight, it was particularly easy. The hellhound finds himself sliced in four different places before he can even blink. His fire goes out as she roars at him, shoving another cold-front at his body. And then she spins her body around, extending her leg and knocking her foot into his chest hard enough to send him careening to the complete opposite end of the hall.

She throws three shards of ice at him as a distraction, and then hurriedly rushes over to Liam. Checking that he's alright, she says, "Come on. We need to tell Scott." Liam nods in agreement with that, but then glances back at Jordan's prone body still outside the doors. Nixie obviously hadn't forgotten about her husband. That would've been a stupid thing to even begin considering. But Liam knew well enough that Nixie was configuring a way in which she could manage to bring all of them out of here with her, at the same time.

She was a dragon. Liam didn't doubt she was strong. But carrying three people at once might prove a challenge, even for her. Besides… if they were going to leave for college, he needed to prove he could handle things here without them. Even if that might not be what he wanted.

Nixie blinks at him in confusion when, after she helps him up, Liam pushes her towards the open doors. Nodding at Jordan, Liam says, "Get him out of here. I got this." "Liam! He's a…" "Nixie, I'll holler if I need you! Just get Jordan out of here!"

She frowns in disapproval, but sprints to where Jordan is still lying on the ground. And it takes every ounce of willpower she possesses to not turn around again when Liam snarls at the approaching hellhound inside again. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Jordan's torso, and pushed back into the air with a mighty brush of her wings.

She was, however, only halfway home with Jordan when she decided to screw the willpower it was taking to keep heading in the other direction. Liam's howl of pain was not going to be ignored. She landed in the edge of the forest, put Jordan down as gently as she could, and then raced back to the school in record time.

When she got there, Liam was against the lockers again. The hellhound had him pinned there, a torn off locker door in his hands, pressing down on Liam. Snarling, sparks flying off of him, he says, "If the wild hunt couldn't keep you, nothing can."

The wild hunt? What did this idiot know about the wild hunt? And why did he specifically think that it was supposed to have kept Liam?

But even as Nixie marches forward, the hellhound frowns in confusion. Leaning in closer, eyeing Liam up and down again, he finally says, "No. No, it's not you."

And then Nixie, seeing Mason creeping up on the hellhound's other side, decides to try and distract him by interjecting with, "Obviously not, you complete jackass."

The hellhound did turn to look at her, his head tilted in confusion again at the sight of her. But even so, the damn mutt apparently had eyes in the back of his head. Literally, he had to. Because Mason swung the bat as fast and as hard as he could, and the hellhound still caught it. He didn't even flinch, or turn his head to see where the bat was. He just reached out his hand, and caught the damn thing.

Which was, consequently, beginning to melt in his hand.

Well, until Nixie snarls, "Hey! That's Stiles bat!" Her cold rushed into the hall with her, providing another deterrent for the hellhound. And it was enough distraction to give Liam a second to move.

Only a second mind you. Seeing that melting the bat was upsetting the cold dragon, the hellhound opted for letting it go. Which, in his mind, apparently meant taking it and tossing it aside. Along with Mason. Into the wall of lockers.

And now Mason was on the ground. Unconscious.

This hellhound really is an idiot.

Nixie's snarl aggravated him when she came charging faster, rather than calming down. Nothing he did seemed to be the right thing in her eyes. Removing the locker door from Liam, who was already breaking free, he then swung it to try and hit the beta in the head. If he could knock out the wolf, then maybe he could have a moment alone with the dragon. He needed to understand why she was so upset. Even if he was on a mission, he knew enough history to know how dragons were created. She was a person worthy of her power and title. Which meant she was someone to be revered.

Which meant he needed to understand what he was doing wrong. And he needed to explain to her what he was trying to accomplish, so maybe she would stop trying to kill him.

But in any case, his swing missed Liam's head. In the split second he'd had to take advantage of those distractions… Liam had done well. He slipped out of the hellhound's grasp, and ran for the lockers on the other side of the hall. Pushing off of them and flipping into the air, he landed his foot against the jaw of the other man, sending him back into the lockers this time.

Nixie was still keeping the entire area chilled at an uncomfortably low temperature. But upon seeing how much aggression Liam was channeling into his takedown of the hellhound, she opted for letting him handle it, and went to Mason's side.

And for his part, Liam held his own. The hellhound managed to get at him once, at which Nixie snarled ferociously. But Liam gave her a look to stay back, and then continued taking on the hellhound, until he finally managed to beat him back and onto the ground.

Of course, he fell to the ground too. Exhausted and hurt. But the hellhound was down, far more wounded, and too weary to get up again himself.

As Nixie moves closer to Liam though, she can't fathom why the hellhound suddenly starts laughing. Glaring at him, she's about to threaten to rip out his throat. With her teeth. Derek would very much approve of that statement.

But before she can, the hellhound says, "It won't stay hidden." And then he lowers his gaze so he can look at them again. And in spite of his wounds, his weariness, and even Nixie's icy stare, he says, "It must be stopped. Nothing else matters."

And that's when Nixie finally feels it. With all the anger she'd felt at seeing Jordan on the ground when she arrived, she'd completely ignored her ability to read the auras around her. But now that she was paying attention, Nixie recognizes the aura of this man. It was the same one she'd felt in the hospital, when she'd joined Liam in the elevator. The aura that had been on the other side of the elevator door before they moved up a couple floors.

And from the way his aura flares around him, as though providing him a boost of strength, reminding him of that mission… Nixie believes him. Or at least, she believes that he most certainly believes that nothing else matters. Whatever he was hunting? Whatever the wild hunt was supposed to keep contained forever? Nothing else mattered to the hellhound, except that it was stopped.

That being said, Nixie disagrees highly with his assessment. And she tells him as much. "There is most certainly a hell of a lot that matters besides that. Like the fact that my boy is lying on the ground, bleeding, and it's all your fault!"

The hellhound tilts his head at her, and then watches as she takes Liam's hand in her own. And as lines begin to form where the wounds were supposed to be on Liam's stomach and left collar, the hellhound snaps his eyes back to the dragon's face.

Liam pulls his hand away before she can actually begin to bleed. Nixie frowns in disapproval, but Liam simply says, "I'll heal. Check Mason." "I already did. He's fine. You're the one bleeding." "I'll heal." "Yeah, you said that already."

"Blue dragon." Nixie turns her head back to the hellhound, her eyes shining silver and her scales rippling across her skin, showing off their blue color. Glaring, she says, "Yeah. What's it to you?"

He glances between her and Liam on the floor. And finally, he understands what he'd done wrong. Blue dragons were the most rare of them all, and dragons themselves were already a rare race. And blue dragons protected the people that mattered most to them. They protected them with a ferocity that couldn't be matched by any other creature on this earth.

And he had gone about and nearly killed one of them.

Nixie blinks in completely surprise when the hellhound bows his head slightly and says, "I'm sorry." Nixie and Liam look at each other, both shrugging in confusion. Then Liam winces at the pain, before closing his eyes and beginning to recite his mantra again.

By the time he's finished, Mason has woken up, and he's joined them against the lockers. But as they all turn back to look at the hellhound… he's no longer there. A giant patch of blood stains the locker that had been behind him, but the hellhound himself is gone.

Sighing, Nixie says, "Great. Just freaking great." Back to Liam and Mason, Nixie nods at Mason and asks, "You got him?" He nods, and then can't help chuckling when Nixie says, "Good. Because I left my husband lying in the woods, half naked and unconscious. I need to go make sure nobody else finds him and decides to keep his hot body for themselves."

After she takes off out of the building, Mason helps Liam to his feet, and then into the locker rooms. He removes his shirt with a grimace, looking down at the injuries that he'd prevented Nixie from taking. And a small part of him wishes he'd just allowed her, because they weren't healed yet. Thumping his head back against a locker, he says, "They're supposed to be healing faster than this."

Mason gives him a look and says, "It's hellfire. I mean… all things considered, you're doing great!" Still unconvinced, Liam says, "Great isn't supposed to look like this." "Liam… you fought a hellhound. Practically on your own. Without Scott." Liam gives him a look, "Nixie came." "Yeah, and then listened to you and took her husband to safety. And even when she came back, she let you handle the fight. Why do you think she did that?"

Liam ponders that a moment, and then Mason answers for him, "Because she knew you could handle it. On your own." Liam huffs wearily, and then admits, "I don't know when, or if, I'll ever get used to that." Putting a hand on Liam's back, Mason says gently, "Liam… wounds heal. People move. Things change." Sighing, Liam says, "Yeah. But it still hurts, though."

Mason doesn't argue with that. But he does add, "But, it'll only hurt for a while. Your wounds will only hurt for a short while. And you'll only be leading on your own, for a short while. Because that's the beauty of being in a pack. Even when you're miles apart, you're always there for each other. And whether people stay away for years, or even only a few months… they always come back in a heartbeat, when you really need them too."

Squeezing Liam's good shoulders, Mason adds, "You'll never be alone, Liam. Not really. And if you ever start to think that again, just remember one thing." Liam looks to Mason curiously, and Mason just smiles, "You're in a pack with a blue dragon. A creature whose only real weakness, is the thought of being left alone. So if she can't stand being left alone herself, how can you think she's ever going to truly leave you on your own?"

Leaning back, Mason adds, "They'll always come back. Nixie will always come back. She'll always be here for us. She's just a phone call away. But she'll always come…"

As though on cue, she bursts into the room, and Mason grins before finishing, "…back."

Nixie doesn't comment on that. She simply rushes up to Liam. Looking over his wounds, she tilts her head sadly, and then asks, "Are you sure you don't want me to take them?" And a minute ago, he'd wanted her to. But it was different when she was standing there. All her scars on display. Some of them her own, and others were ones she'd taken from everyone else.

No. Mason was right. He would heal. So he shakes his head in response to her question. Nixie seems to chew over that thought for a bit, clearly still not happy with that response. And in reality, it wasn't like he could really stop her anyway. Their ability to stop her at a distance was only because she wasn't physically with them to take the injuries. And even then, she was only able to do that if the injury itself was something as terrible as what the ghost riders had tried doing to them.

Compared to that, this was nothing.

Finally, Nixie says, "Fine." But instead of leaving again, she puts her hands on either side of Liam's face. Kissing his forehead, she says, "I still have to get Jordan. But I forgot to tell you something." And when she pulls back to look at him, she smiles and says, "I am so proud of you."

She kisses his forehead again, and then squeezes Mason's shoulder as well, before taking off back out of the room.

When Nixie got the text from Lydia, saying that she needed to meet them at Malia's, it took her a moment to decide what to do. Jordan still hadn't woken back up. And although he was now in bed, taken care of and as comfortable as she could get him… she was loathe to simply leave him there.

But her friends needed her. And aside from the ice pack she had resting against his head, there was nothing more Nixie could do for Jordan. So with a sigh, and a kiss to the forehead, Nixie leaves a note on her pillow, and then grabs her bike and heads to Malia's house at lightning speed.

While she's downstairs, preparing to join everyone upstairs, is when Nixie realizes why Lydia wanted her to come. Because Malia, in spite of how very bad everything was clearly about to get, still wanted to leave for Paris. And yes, at some point, there would need to be a better system. A system that allowed for all of them to leave on occasion without fearing that the world would cave in around them.

But right now, they were what Beacon Hills had. They were needed here. And if the three of them that were supposed to be going to school were willing to stay, then Malia should be to.

Which is what Nixie knows Lydia is hoping she'll be able to emphasize. But… well, Lydia was going to be disappointed today. Scott was already explaining to Malia that he wouldn't force her to stay, but he hoped she'd want to help. And Nixie wasn't going to be able to do much better. She was no longer in a fighting mood.

Well… not entirely. If the new hellhound returned, she'd totally kick his ass. But apart from that, she is in no mood to fight with her friends. Her mind was still focused on Jordan, who was lying unconscious in the bed of their home. Nixie just… she just couldn't deal with Malia's more coyote-like nature right now.

So when Malia came to the top of the stairs and saw Nixie standing there, she smiled at first. But then immediately frowned when she saw the look on Nixie's face. Not anger… just deep sorrow. She looked worried, and it was never good when Nixie was worried.

Before she can ask what's wrong though, Nixie just holds up a hand to stop her. Shaking her head, she makes to walk past her to get to Scott and Lydia. Malia catches her arm and says, "Nixie? What's…" Nixie pulls away. Not unkindly, or even in a jerking fashion. She just pulls herself from Malia's reach.

Sighing tiredly, she says, "I can't today, Malia. Alright? Too much shit has happened in the past couple of days for us to not know that we need to stay here. And I get that you're still the blunt coyote. You're still learning a lot. But you've been with us long enough to at least know this much by now." Shaking her head again, Nixie says, "You want to go, and that's fine. I'm not going to argue with you about it. I don't have the time, or the energy. So it you're going to go, then just go. I don't have time to waste trying to convince you otherwise."

And with that, Nixie continues on up the stairs, finding Scott and Lydia still in Malia's room. Lydia looks her up and down, and then tilts her head sadly and asks, "Jordan?" Nixie shakes her head, "Still unconscious. He's alive, and breathing. Aside from a bump still on his head, he appears fine. His other wounds have healed. He's just… not waking up."

Scott's arms wrap around her from behind. And Nixie relaxes as he kisses the top of her head and says, "He will. Don't worry."

Silence for a moment, and then Nixie sighs and asks, "So… what…" But before she finishes, Scott reaches out swiftly to catch the bag that was being thrown at them. Malia walks back in, arms crossed and not exactly looking thrilled to be here. But she softens her gaze when she looks at Nixie again, and then asks Scott, "What are we supposed to do?"

And it relieves them all when Nixie says, albeit in a gentler voice than usual, "Hey. That was my line." Scott squeezes her tighter, and then says, "Find a hellhound."

And Nixie groans before saying, "We actually need to find him? Can't we just… I don't know… avoid him? Or kill him?" Scott gives her a look, to which she says, "Hey, he hurt Jordan. All bets are off. Which means while we're hunting for him, you'd better pray I don't find him first."

But, Lydia stops that plan by saying, "Nixie… we need him."

Silence for a moment, and then Nixie sighs before saying, "Fine. Everyone load up in the jeep. And Lydia. Explain to my why we need this other hellhound. Because we have one, and in my opinion, Jordan is a hell of a lot better than this other guy."

On the way to the woods, Malia and Nixie in the back, with Lydia and Scott up front, Lydia explains. "We opened a door to another world. And something came out with us. Now we need the hellhound to stop it."

Nixie opens her mouth to comment again on the needing of this new hellhound. But before she can, Malia huffs and says, "So we put it back. We've put things back before." Nixie gives her a look, and when she meets Lydia's eyes in the rearview mirror, Nixie wipes a hand over her face before saying, "Yeah. I know." Malia looks at all of them and asks, "What? Why are you all looking at each other like there's something you know that I don't?"

To which Nixie raises an eyebrow and says, "Maybe, and I'm just spit-balling here, but maybe it's because we've actually been trying to help out these past two days, and you've been sitting in front of a computer, solely concerned with whether or not your flight would take off on time or not."

So… yes, Nixie was still not pleased with Malia's attitude about staying here, up until this point. But at least now, Malia has the decency to settle back into her seat, the look on her face one that suggested she'd now been sufficiently berated. Scott glances back at Nixie, a look in his eyes that asked for her to ease up a bit.

She simply raised an eyebrow back at him, daring him to ask her to ease up out loud. She wasn't blind. And she hadn't forgotten how close those two had already been getting before school let out when they graduated. And it hadn't been lost on her that, when Malia told them all she was going to Paris to find 'hot French men'… well, Scott hadn't exactly been pleased. He always had a calm demeanor, and he'd wished her luck on her trip at the time.

But Nixie knew her boy. And the look on his face afterwards had been disappointed and possibly a little ticked.

In any case, she hadn't done anything to intrude in what she felt was the slowest possible relationship that had ever started brewing between two people. She'd given Scott one look, on a day when he'd complained about Malia not leaving for college like the rest of them. A look that told him that she knew exactly why he was really upset about her going to Paris. But other than that, neither of them had openly talked about it or broached the subject.

And in keeping with that pattern, Scott promptly turned back to facing the road, though he did shake his head a little in amusement. He didn't think Nixie would actually do anything that would reveal his developing feelings for the were-coyote. But… well, he wasn't about to push it right now.

He did still find her threat amusing. Now, if she threatened to hit him in the head in a few seconds… now that he would believe.

In any case, Lydia finally says to Malia's original question, "We saved Stiles. We brought everyone back. But… that's not the way it's supposed to happen." Nixie nods and adds gravely, "There is always a price to pay." Scott nods, "We learned that from the Nemeton."

Malia leans forward, definitely worried now, and asks, "What kind of price? A big price?" Nixie meets Lydia's gaze in the rearview mirror, and feels her heart jump worriedly when Lydia affirms, "Big."

They all relax a little though when Nixie says, "For the sake of paying it quickly, I am fully willing to sell my bike. It has been dear to me, and I will cry when it leaves. But I'm a dragon. I can fly wherever the hell I want. And Scott, quit laughing at me."

He raises an eyebrow and asks, "Because you're serious?" "Yes! How did you know?!"

Before they actually get to the school parking lot, Nixie says, "So… I still need to ask. Lydia, why do we need this particular hellhound?" Concern working it's way onto her face, Lydia asks, "Do you not trust him?" Nixie ponders that a moment, and then says, "It's not that I don't trust him. I just… I don't think I'd specifically trust him with what's important to me."

When everyone gives her a look of confusion, Nixie sighs. "He… almost killed Liam and Jordan. Would have… except… he finally got a good look at Liam, and he realized that Liam wasn't actually the one he was after."

Shaking her head, she says, "He's the most mission-driven person I've ever seen in my life. And by that, I mean that nothing else matters to him. Literally nothing. If it comes down to saving people, or sacrificing everyone so he can catch this thing… he'd let the entire world burn to ashes so he could complete his mission."

Lydia nods in understanding when Nixie tacks on, "He's not evil. I just… really don't agree with his methods." And then Nixie looks to Lydia again and asks, "So why do we have to have him?" Turning so she can face Nixie more fully, Lydia says, "Because whatever we let out… that's the whole reason this guy is a hellhound."

When Nixie tilts her head, obviously asking for more, Lydia continues. "Remember when we were talking to Jordan in the cooling machine? Before he and the hellhound were in sync? He told us that he was born the day Scott, Stiles, and Alison sacrificed themselves to the Nemeton."

Nodding to herself, as though she was becoming more certain of it the more she thought about it, Lydia says, "I think that's a part of how hellhounds even come into existence. Like… like dragons, almost! Dragons aren't born, per say. They are chosen by the supernatural nature of things. You were chosen because you are the prime candidate to be a blue dragon. And when tested, you passed with more than flying colors."

Nixie still hasn't completely come to terms with the fact that her mom went insane so the supernatural essence of everything in this world could test her resolve. But apart from that, Nixie can see where Lydia is going with this. Lydia adds, "I think hellhounds are created out of a necessity by the supernatural. When we added power to the Nemeton, we turned Beacon Hills into a magnet for supernatural creatures, and all the mayhem that has followed. And because of that, the supernatural world needed a new being to add to it's protection and safe keeping. And that's why Jordan became a hellhound."

Nodding, Nixie asks, "So… why do we still need the other hellhound?" "Because Jordan is a hellhound with the mindset of trying to protect Beacon Hills, and this pack. That's his purpose as a hellhound. But this other guy… he's the one whose purpose is to track down and stop this… this… well, whatever it is. It's his job."

Silence for a moment, and then Nixie sighs, "Fine. But when we find him, you stay behind me. And if he tries to hurt any of you, I reserve the right to break several of his bones. Maybe all of his bones. I've yet to decide." Lydia raises an eyebrow, "Don't you think you're overreacting a bit?"

But before Nixie can respond, Scott says for her, "Jordan still isn't awake. Until he is, all bets are off. So we'd all better just do what we can to make sure this hellhound doesn't find a reason to hurt us. Because Nixie will kill him, regardless of how much we might need him." And in spite of how much they did need this guy, Scott can't help grinning when Nixie says, "Damn straight."

When they pull up at the school, Scott immediately hops out and says, "Okay. We should move pretty quickly." Hopping out behind him, Malia asks, "Do we even know what we let out?" Nixie raises an eyebrow and says, "Obviously not. That's why we're entertaining the idea of still keeping Mr. Hellhound around. Where have you been the past ten minutes?"

Scott nods, and to emphasize what Nixie's pointing out, he says, "This hellhound might be the only one who does."

And as if on cue, which Nixie notes happens a lot in this town, a roar echoes from within the forest behind the school. Scott hurriedly ushers them all forward to try and track it. As they venture further into the woods, the roar erupts again… joined by a woman's scream. Nixie huffs and says, "If he's killing some innocent woman, and not the creature he's supposed to be killing, I'm going to be pissed."

But as they hurry on and the roaring continues, Nixie hurries up to Scott's side and also comments, "He's in pain." "How can you tell?" "How can you not?! He's not roaring in anger. He's roaring because he's hurt." She glances back at Lydia, and then adds, "And if we really need him, then we need to hurry up."

But even though they do, even though Nixie drops back to pick Lydia up, so they can all sprint at their supernatural speed to get there… they're too late. The hellhound, when they do find him, is laying at the bottom of the short hill they arrive at. The wounds on his chest were from the fight with Liam, which Nixie had already told them about.

The bullet wound to his forehead however… that was something new. And as he laid there, not moving and not breathing… well, Nixie couldn't help the terror that swept through her. Because this guy was a hellhound. And he was dead.

Her thoughts are echoed when Lydia says aloud, "I thought you couldn't kill a hellhound." Nodding, Nixie adds, "That makes two of us."

As Lydia moves to wrap Nixie in a comforting hug, Scott bends down to pick up a discarded bullet-casing. Which, in itself, wasn't all that strange to find. The hellhound was dead, with a bullet hole in his head. Finding a bullet-casing was expected.

But when he turned it around to reveal the crest embedded into the metal, Scott gasped out, "Argent."

Lydia glances down at the hellhound, then at the bullet. Her lips tighten together in a worried line for a moment, before she says, "Then it's true." Malia looks between all of them, and upon seeing Nixie's confused expression as well, she asks, "What's true?" When Lydia doesn't elaborate, Nixie moves to stand in front of her.

Tilting her head, she gently asks, "Lydia? What else did you hear?" Lydia lifts her eyes to meet Nixie's, and then lets out a shaky breath before answering. "The sound of people who've never lifted a hand against another human being." Scott looks between the two, and then asks, "Something was killing them?" But at the fear in Lydia's eyes, Nixie shakes her head and says, "No. It wasn't something like us that was killing them? Lydia?"

Finally, she swallows thickly and answers, "They were killing each other."

And now they're biggest lead to trying to find the damn thing that was going to cause all of this, was lying on the ground, dead in front of them. And all Nixie can think to say in response to that is, "Damn it."

Back in Scott's room, all of them sitting on the bed beside each other, Scott is holding Nixie's phone in his hands. Nixie's phone, because when Nixie called it didn't matter what else was going on. You answered. You could be in the middle of a test, in a class, or standing before a serial killer with a gun pointed at your head. And if the phone rang and Nixie's name appeared on the screen, you still answered the phone.

But they weren't dialing yet. Lydia runs a worried hand over her mouth before saying, "In case anyone forgot…" Malia scoffs and Nixie puts a hand to her head and says, "Oh Lydia. Please tell me you didn't just use the 'F' word." Lydia rolls her eyes, "Yes, I just said 'forgot'. Sue me. But it needs to be pointed out that… we almost lost him last time."

'Him' being Stiles. That is who they were considering calling. And Nixie knows that, if it was her, she'd be pissed as hell if they didn't call her immediately to tell her what was going on. And Stiles… well, he was Stiles. Having him in on this would be a big help. Having him in on anything, would always be a big help.

But Lydia was on point. They had nearly lost him. And everyone, even Nixie, was still working to get over that. They couldn't keep him out of danger forever. Hell, he was joining the FBI. He would be in dangerous situations, with or without them, for the rest of his life. But this… it was still a little soon.

But… in spite of that point, Malia makes one just a solid when she says, "If this turns out to be something big, and we don't call him…" Scott sighs, "He would kill us."

To ease some of the tension rising in the room, Nixie flops back on the bed and says, "Speak for yourselves. Stiles wouldn't ever dare threaten to kill me. He'd never even threaten to hit me in the back of the head, like I do with all you losers."

Lydia glances back at her and says, "Maybe. But he might threaten to never make your coffee again." The speed with which Nixie snaps back into a sitting position makes them all laugh. And even as she grins at them, Nixie says, "You should not say such devastating things. I don't think I'd survive."

Malia shakes her head in amusement, and then suggests, "Maybe we should just go back to the woods tonight and find the killer." Silence for a moment, and then Lydia turns to Scott and asks, "Scott?" He looks at all of them, and then sighs, "You and Malia didn't hear his voice on the message he left me and Nixie. He sounded really excited to be there." Nixie nods, and then punches in the password on her phone and says, "Just play them the voicemail, Scott."

Stiles' voice breaks over the phone. "Hey, Nixie. Hey, Scott. So, I'm here. I'm in Quantico, Virginia. At the FBI. I'm at the freaking FBI! It's real. I'm really here! Uh, and I kind of told Lydia that I miss her and I can't wait to get home, but…" He pauses, and then continues, "Listen… you guys? Whatever you're doing right now… just make sure you're still getting out of Beacon Hills. I mean… maybe you think you can't leave, you know. Like, the whole thing falls apart if you're not there. And I get it, I do. But you have to. And I know you guys are supposed to drive out tonight, so if you don't call me back, just promise me you're actually going. Just get in the jeep, and go. Oh, and don't forget, Nixie, I wrote down the recipe for your coffee on the new notebook I bought you for your anatomy class. And the supplies for making it are already in the box in the back of the jeep. And I miss you. And I love you guys. And yes, Nixie, I will remember to call or text you, at least once a day. Even if it's just with a smiley face or something. I won't forget. Alright, bye!"

They all smile as the message ends, and then Lydia sighs and says, "So… we don't tell him." Nixie nods, but then emphasizes, "Yet." When Scott looks at her in confusion, she says, "Like he won't somehow figure out what's going on here, just because we don't tell him. So we will… eventually. When we know we need his expertise on coming up with bizarre, insane, and sometimes suicidal plans. But until then… let's work the problem and try to do this ourselves."

When everyone finally nods in agreement, Nixie jumps up off the bed. Clapping her hands together, she says, "Alright. So, I need the number for the RAs, the supervisors, and possibly the deans for both of you guys." She points to Lydia and Scott. And then to Scott, she says, "Tell your mom that I need those medical emergency notes quickly if possible. People are going to want them faxed over ASAP. The longer we take, the more suspicious it looks."

As those two get on that, Nixie looks to Malia and says, "And I need the number for the airline you were about to fly away on." Malia hands over her phone, but says, "They already told me I won't be refunded." "I'm aware. I have also, in the past hour, memorized their reimbursement policy. So you will be refunded. And quite possibly over-compensated for all this hassle we're going through, before I'm finished with these people."

When Lydia shakes her head, she then laughs when Nixie says from behind her, "I sense doubt, and am highly offended. I mean, seriously. Do you people know me at all?"

When Jordan woke up, the first thing he noticed was that he wasn't completely covered in cold. There was only one spot of cold, and it was on the back of his head. He assumes a lump must've been there earlier, but as he touches that spot now, he doesn't feel anything.

Nixie wasn't here, which definitely wasn't good. The fact that he was here, in bed, meant that she knew he'd been attacked. He wondered briefly if she'd caused a rainstorm when she found him. He'd have to figure that out later. Currently, the more pressing issue was that she wasn't here. And he knows she most certainly wouldn't have driven off to school with him like this.

Which meant something else had definitely happened after he'd gotten knocked out. Something serious enough to merit Nixie leaving him here, which is something he knows she wouldn't have been fond of doing. He needs to call her, to let her know that he's alright. And to figure out if she's alright, because if this new hellhound had done anything to hurt her, he would kill him.

Sighing, he works himself out of bed and into the kitchen. His phone was sitting on the counter, where he usually left it. And as he opened it, he couldn't help grinning when the screen immediately showed Nixie's number in the contacts list. She'd set it up that way so that, as soon as he got to it, the first button he'd have to hit would be her number to call.

He was about to… except the phone started ringing. And he would've hung up… except it was Liv. Sighing, he swipes to answer, "Hey, Liv." "Hey!"

Nixie was still learning all of his sister's and his grandma's quirks and tells. But Jordan knew both of them like the back of his hand. And the high, almost screechy pitch, that his sister had just reached… yeah, that wasn't good. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he asks, "What's wrong?" "Why would you ask that? Can't I just call up my big brother? Can't I just want to say hi?" "Yeah, you could. But you're not. So what's wrong?"

When she doesn't answer, Jordan says, "Liv, I don't have time for you to beat around the bush, alright? This day has just been shot to hell, and I need to go find Nixie. Like… now. So if it's really important, spit it out. Otherwise, I'm gonna have to call you back tomorrow."

She sighs on the other end of the phone, but then asks dismally, "Have you received any calls or letters or emails from… from anyone strange lately?" Frowning, Jordan says, "No. Why? Is someone stalking you? What's going on?" "Oh no! Nothing like that. I'm fine. I am totally fine."

A pause, and then Liv says, "Alright, fine. It's… it's mom and dad. And Marcus. All of them." Frowning again, Jordan asks, "What about them? Are they hurt?" "No! God… alright, just… just let me get this out."

Sighing, she says, "So… Grams and I didn't tell them about the wedding. That's what you wanted, and we totally supported that. Understood completely. Got it. That being said…" Another pause, and then Jordan's eyes widen when Liv says, "All the weddings get published in the paper, or on the internet, in some form or another. And I don't know how they even found it or why they would've been looking at what weddings had taken place in Beacon Hills… but… they know, Jo. They know you're married. They know you're living and staying in Beacon Hills. And they…"

When she stops again, Jordan asks, "Liv… what?" "They're… they're coming, Jordan. They're coming to Beacon Hills."

The silence that meets her makes her wonder if Jordan had simply hung up the phone. But then, finally, she can't help but close her eyes and nod in agreement when she hears him say, "Shit!"

When Nixie made her way home, braking so hard she left skid marks as her bike slid into the garage, she tore her way into the house and almost immediately ran into the bedroom. That was where she'd left Jordan.

In hindsight, she obviously should've known he wouldn't still be in there. His phone had been on the counter for Pete's sake. But it was only the fact that his arm caught her around the waist that she didn't actually get into the bedroom before realizing he wasn't there. Apparently the screech of her bike had very clearly alerted him to her mood.

Sighing as his heat immediately engulfs her, she leans back against his chest and says, "Never do that again." He kisses the side of her throat tenderly, "I'll do my best. I promise." Turning in his arms, she asks, "Are you alright?" "I'm fine. Everything's healed. Not even a bump left on my head."

She runs her fingers into his hair and over that spot anyway, just to be sure. Sighing in relief again, she finds him grinning in amusement at her when she looks at his face again. Narrowing her eyes, she says, "Don't you dare laugh at me. I've been worried sick." "I know. And I don't mean to laugh."

He leans forward, resting his forehead against hers. Brushing his nose against hers, he asks, "Do I pass inspection?" "I'm not sure. I haven't completed my more thorough examination yet. Could take a while?" "Is that right?" "You have no idea. We're talking hours."

He chuckles at her, still amazed at how her sex drive was acting right now. In fact, it was even more surprising at this point, considering she was no longer leaving for college right away. She'd already called everyone's supervisors and gotten them all leaves of absence. If they ended up having to stay in Beacon Hills longer than a month, she had also arranged that they be allowed to simply start their classes in the spring, rather than the fall.

Bottom line, she wasn't about to leave him any time soon. So why was her lust still on the high end of the spectrum?

Before he could get very far into that though, Nixie kissed him hard, and he fell into that kiss with a groan. And she clearly had no intention of stopping. And with the way her hands were trailing over his skin… it took all of his willpower to take her hands in his and draw them away.

She pulled back with a pout, which made Jordan groan before pleading, "I need to talk to you, Nixie. Please?"

It was the 'please', more than anything, that got to her. Jordan shouldn't have to beg for them to have a conversation. He should simply be able to gently pull her away, and then they could talk.

Seriously. What the hell was going on with her?

Deaton. She definitely needed to talk to Deaton. And she'd do that… right after Jordan told her what he needed to tell her.

Fixing him with her utmost attention, she nods and asks, "What's up?" He kisses her forehead, and then sighs and says, "I… it's… Liv just called… and… she just… she told me…"

Nixie watches him as he lets her go and begins pacing in front of her. Which was not good. Pacing wasn't his thing. He more stood on the side, looking at everything and taking it in, with his calm demeanor and exuberant amount of patience. Nixie, between the two of them, was the pacer.

She finally steps into his path. Hand landing gently on his chest, she says, "Jordan… just tell me. What has you so worried?" He stares into her deep blue eyes for a moment, letting their beauty and assuredness calm him. Whatever was wrong, even though she didn't know what it was, she was confident that she could fix it. She would always fix it, because nothing that wasn't a supernatural problem should ever bother Jordan this much.

Finally, he says, "My parents… and my brother. They… they know we're married." Nixie nods to that, and when nothing else happens, she prompts, "And?" Jordan sighs, and then adds, "And they're coming here. To Beacon Hills. They… hell, I don't even know why or what they want or what they expect. But… they're coming here."

Nixie takes a moment to absorb that information. Then she straightens her posture and begins to pace. But, unlike Jordan's pacing, hers was simply the pacing that went with her mind working to think up a strategy.

Jordan watches her with a tilted head for a moment, and then blinks when she asks, "You don't particularly like them. Right? I mean, your brother you're still kind of okay with. But your parents… you and them have problems. Right?" He nods, to which she says, "So they can't stay here. That's out of the question. We'll give them directions to a hotel. Maybe one on the border of Beacon Hills. That would at least keep them at the edge of the danger that's about to come at us." Pausing for a moment, she turns to look at him, "If I tell them to leave, will they?"

Jordan ponders that, and then shrugs, "Probably not. Mom in particular… if she's coming, it's because she wants something. I have no idea what that is, but she won't leave until she either gets it, or figures out that it's impossible to get. It's why I haven't spoken to her in so long. I went into the Army, and when she found out I would never be working in her business… or in any business setting, she just stopped talking to me."

Nixie nods, and then says, "Well, then after we figure out what she wants, I'll make it my job to show her she can't have it. I'm good at these things. And if she won't listen, I'm not above slapping her in the head. Do you have a problem with that?"

He raises an eyebrow now, but shakes his head. Nixie nods again, and then says, "We'll have to put her in her place. And your father and brother. If they come in here demanding things, like the entire world is supposed to just unfold before their feet like a red carpet, I am going to be pissed. Like… it's going to get cold in here. And then I'm going to kick them out, until they learn some manners. I don't care if they're your family. This is our house, I'm your wife, and they do not get to disrespect us here."

She would've continued pacing… except Jordan started laughing. Raising an eyebrow at him, she asks, "What on earth is so funny? I'm serious." "I am well aware that you are serious." Coming up to her, backing her into the wall behind her now, he says, "I love you." Nixie smiles at that, "I love you too. But I'm strategizing now, so don't…"

His lips catch hers in a swift kiss, and then he trails down to her neck. Attacking the sensitive skin there with open-mouthed kisses, he scrapes his teeth over the curve and grins when she shivers. Up to her ear, he whispers, "Don't what? Distract you?" "Jordan… don't… I…" His hands start sliding down her sides, and she whimpers before saying, "Be nice." "I am being nice. So incredibly nice."

Before he actually gets to her hips, he kisses her cheek and says, "I love you. I love how easy you make all of this seem. I love how unintimidated you are. And I love how easy it is for me to distract you." He pauses, and then adds for clarification, "Well… when the crisis we're facing isn't looming immediately in front of us."

Nixie nods, and then catches his wrists before he can tease her hips. Tilting his head at her curiously, he then grins when she bites her lower lip before saying disappointedly, "I'm… hungry. I haven't eaten since… well, we were supposed to eat on the way to college, and that didn't happen. So…"

Jordan kisses the top of her head, and then wraps his arms around her, soothing them up her back in a calming gesture. She melts into him instantly, and Jordan chuckles before asking, "Do you want something quick, or a full blown meal?" "Quick."

When he leans back with a raised eyebrow, Nixie does blush. But she still doesn't miss a beat when she says, "Oh, make no mistake. Soon as I'm fueled up with food, we will be returning to this. So much of this." Smirking, Jordan asks, "Hours?" "Don't tease me." "Don't tempt me. You've made me rather incredibly happy. I've half a mind to turn your phone off so you can't possibly find an excuse to leave me tonight."

And he can't help laughing when Nixie smirks and says, "You're terrible to tease me so. I hope you know that."

And that's Chapter 1! Ta Da! Let me know what you think. Chapter 2 will follow shortly (I hope).