Gasping, Chris lifted his head and looked around dazed. Focusing on his breathing, he tried to slow it down.

"You okay over there?"

Sheriff looked to the newly conscious Argent with a relaxing voice. Shutting his eyes, Chris focused against the throbbing pain in his head.

"Chris?"

Looking in front of him as his sight began to focus. Melissa McColl looked to him. Her voice also smooth trying to calm him. Nodding to Melissa, he ignored the looks of them both as he began to survey. As he looked around he began to notice he knew the layout. He had been here before.

"Oh"

Chuckling to himself, Chris leant his head back before rolling forwards.

"Is it just me or has somebody been here before."

The sheriff looked at him with a quizzed look as the realisation hit them all that Chris knew exactly where he was. Bringing his legs up, Chris reached for his ankle knife.

"Hate to disappoint you but uh, we watched her take your ankle knife."

The sheriff looked to where Chris was grabbing to stop him reaching for it in vein. Chris quickly pushed his hands up to reach for the knife in his sleeve.

"And the knife thats in your sleeve."

Melissa looked straight to Argent watching as he frowned before he attempted to reach for his other sleeve.

"And the switchblade in your other sleeve."

Sheriff watched Chris with a concerned look. Chris groaned before kicking about trying to loosen his hands. There was a rattle to the shutter doors before they opened and the light shone in. Looking up Chris looked to the silhouette.

"And the taser in your jacket pocket."

Jennifer looked straight down at him and watched as Chris Argent leant back with a face she would happily say was defeat. She had outsmarted him, and now he was fully aware. Stepping down the steps, she watched as everyone looked up at her with disgust. Especially Chris who didn't seem pleased at all.

"Argent. The french word for silver."

Walking around the beam he was bound too, Jennifer couldn't help but smile. She carried on until she was in front of him and knelt down. Bringing her left hand up, she brought a cloth towards his face to wipe the blood onto for Chris to pull away to his left. Reaching out to grasp his chin, Jennifer pulled his face to look straight at her.

"Uh uh uh."

She leant in delicately as she dabbed the cloth across the blood on his forehead. Looking at her with a frown, Chris held still against her touch as he glared at her in silence.

"Interesting how truth becomes altered by legend."

Wiping one last time, Jennifer pulled the cloth away along with her other hand. Chris lowered his head as he stared back at her letting out a sigh.

"When it's not actually the metal silver that kills werewolves, but the family."

She smiled and turned her head a little.

"What's the Argents code again? We hunt those, who hunt us."

Jennifer smiled before looking at Chris's shoulder and frowning.

"I hope you don't mind if I borrow it for a little while since I've been hunted myself."

Chris quickly looked at Jennifer in the eyes.

"Don't pretend like we are the same cause. And I don't kill innocent people."

Frowning, Chris couldn't help but emphasise his last words.

"That's why they call it a sacrifice. And I wished it worked another way. But think about what you're doing. You are making this town, even this world safer for your children."

Leaning back, Jennifer turned to look at Melissa.

"Well, uh, most of them."

Jennifer smiled before turning back to look at Chris. She grabbed his chin once more, lifting his head and turning it left to right to check his wound. Proud of her world, She reached towards his ear and whispered.

"It's nice to sacrifice an Argent. Though I would much rather do other things to you first."

Smiling to herself, Jennifer got up and walked up the stairs. Taking one last look, she looked to them all before stepping out and closing the hatch doors.

—

Pulling at the ropes between his hands, Chris shuffled trying to get a hold so that he could loosen it enough for him to escape.

"I don't want to kill your optimism or anything but you know but both of us have been trying to do the exact same thing for hours."

Chris glared at Melissa. If only she knew. He was trained to escape situations like this. That's why he got himself captured, why he willingly gave himself to Jennifer.

"You been tied up before?"

Chris looked to the Sheriff who had his leant back against the wooden pillar with his eyes closed.

"Many times."

Leaning his head down, Chris tried to curve his back to loosen a piece.

"What is that uh, part of being a werewolf hunter?"

Chris looked to the Sheriff shocked before turning and looking at Melissa who turned and grinned at him and shrugged, acting all innocent at it.

"I tried to download him on as much as I could"

Chris looked back to the Sheriff who looked at him with a frown.

"Yeah I'm starting to feel a bit left out"

Leaning forwards, Chris let the cogs rotate in his brain. Deep down he always had a feeling the Sheriff knew.

"You knew."

The comment was truth, he knew it.

"I remember meeting you once before you were Sheriff."

Leaning back a little, Chris couldn't help but look at the confusion on his face.

"You questioned me about a body, you knew something was up. You just weren't ready to believe it."

Now he knew he had the upper hand. Melissa looked at Chris puzzled before turning to the Sheriff who was staring at the floor.

"You're right."

Melissa watched as the realisation washed across John's face.

"There was a night eight years ago."

Chris frowned and leant back a little.

"The night my wife died. It was the end of a shift, and a call came in. There had been a pile up and a young woman, ah she was a teenager actually. She was trapped, under an overturned car. We had to wait for the paramedics. We were never getting her out. But I was able to hold her hand, she knew she was going to die. But I kept telling her no, no listen. paramedics are their way. And I remember, her hand suddenly gripped mine so tightly that I, I literally thought she was gonna break the bones. And she looked me in the eye and she said, 'If you want to be with her, go now'."

Looking to Melissa, Sheriff saw the look on her face before looking down to the ground.

"And I knew she was talking about my wife, but then the other part of my brain, the part that looked for clues, for fingerprints, for logical explanations, that part told me that there was no way that this girl could possibly know about Claudia. And so I stayed. I stayed until the paramedics pulled her out. Until her heart stopped beating. And they declared her dead. When I finally got back to the hospital, I saw Stiles sitting in the waiting room with his head in his hands. He was with Claudia when she died. But I wasn't."

Tears fought to pour from Sheriff's eyes as he looked at Melissa then to Chris.

"I wasn't with her because I didn't believe. I just, did not, believe."

Looking down, the Sheriff closed his eyes to bite back the tears.

"It wasn't your fault, you didn't know. Stiles is brave. She had someone she loved with her. You were with her in your heart, that's what matters."

Chris watched the pair as they shared some kind of bond that had obviously been there for many years. He could see there was just more than friendship between them. Just hearing that the Sheriff's wife had died in hospital tugged at his heart. He had only recently lost his wife, so he knew how the man felt. Being unable to help where needed. Reaching around to the back of his trousers, Chris fiddled with a hidden flap before pulling out a black device catching both Melissa's and John's attention.

"What is that?"

Melissa was the first to speak up. Chris looked from the device to her.

"Ultrasonic emitter. Smaller version of what we use to koral werewolfs. Only they here it. Most of the time we use it to push them away. Let's see if it works to attract them."

Everyone looked down to the device as Chris pushed on the white circle. A small bleep echoed through the cellar. Looking up Chris hoped that just one of the pack would hear and understand the meaning. Letting out a breath he hadn't realised he held, Chris leant his head forwards. Enough to rest his head on his chest, but not enough that between that and the bound ropes would stop him from breathing. It only lasted a few seconds before he couldn't handle it. Yanking at the ropes again he tossed and turned. He hadn't met a rope until now that he couldn't get out of. He was trained to get out of yet here he was, Christopher Argent was stuck bound to a post in the Nemeton cellar and unable to escape.

"Chris."

Melissa's voice was stern but received no response. Frustration washed through him as he felt the ropes burning and his head spinning.

"Chris!"

Tugging forwards, he let out a yell as they only grew tighter around his body. It felt like they were constricting like snakes, taking away his airway.

"Chris!"

This time both Melissa and John shouted his name together, receiving a snapped look from the man. His vision was spinning as he tried to focus on them. His breathing heavy and tight.

"Chris you need to calm down, you're having a panic attack."

Panic attack? Argents don't panic. Melissa must think he was weak. Weak like the days when his father locked him up.

"Chris, listen to me. Listen to my voice. Take a deep breath, count to five and exhale."

Taking a deep breath, Chris started to count but let it out at two.

"Again. Deep breath and count to five."

Letting his head roll onto his right shoulder, Chris inhaled before counting.

One.

Two.

Weakling.

Three.

You ain't no Argent.

Four.

Five.

Letting out his breath, Chris sighed and repeated it again.

I'm not weak. I protect those who need protecting.

Letting out the deep breath, Chris felt his mind ease. His head throbbing more as the pain threatened to take over. This time it was the Sheriff that spoke up.

"Let's take it in turns to take watch. I'll go first, the pair of you get some rest."

Melissa looked between the two men, worried about if they slept that they may not wake up. But she could feel the exhaustion raining down on her. Dragging her towards sleep.

"I mean it Argent, get some sleep. I'll keep a check on the pair of you to make sure you don't die on me."

Chris looked up as if to question but was met with a nodding from both parties as reassurance. Leaning his head to the side so that his airway was clear, Chris gave into the pain as Melissa dozed off watching him.

—

Waking up, Chris looked to see the pair talking between them. Lifting his head up with a grunt, he pulled out the Ultrasonic emitter and looked at it. Melissa and John turned to look at him as they noticed the movement. Worry went across Melissa's face as she looked to see Chris staring at the emitter.

"Is it still working?"

Chris looked from the emitter to the pair, he could see the worry on their faces.

"But not for much longer."

He hated to admit it, but the device is only designed to work for 24 hours. He could see that it was losing power already, the light of the button had began to fade.

"Anyone else feeling an unbearable itch that they cannot scratch?"

Changing the subject, Melissa looked to John seeing the man frown before smiling.

"Well not before you said something, but now yes I do."

The pair briefly chuckled as they looked to one another. Chris couldn't help but feel admiration for the pair. If only his plan has gone right. He came to save them, not end their lives quicker.

"Is she actually going to come down here and slash off of our throats?"

Melissa looked to John as her voice trembled, momentarily forgetting that Argent was with them.

"Nah."

The Sheriff pulled a face before looking back to Melissa.

"She'll come down, and strangle us with a garrotte, and then slash our throats."

The ceiling shook as the wind blew over the tree stomp. Dust dropped from the ceiling over the trio.

"It's just the wind."

Melissa looked to Chris before letting out a sigh. Another gust shook the stomp as dust poured down on them and shook the floor. It picked up and carried on blowing, threatening to cave in the cellar. Chris looked up as he surveyed the movement, Melissa panicked and looked to John who tried to give her a reassuring smile. Chris looked to the pair before speaking.

"This cellar is old, but it won't just come down. It feeds on the Nemeton. We'll be fine."

Melissa and John looked to the Chris and nodded.

"How long was I out?"

Melissa tilted her head at him with his eyes barely open trying to change the subject.

"Almost a day I would say. Don't worry, we kept a check on you. Even if your head is banged up, it isn't bleeding as much anymore. But you are getting checked for a concussion if we get out of here."

Chris looked to Melissa wide eyed. Briefly giving him some energy.

"I was out almost a day?"

John nodded and looked up.

"Watched the sun rise and fall. Judging the moonlight, I would say we're almost half way through the night now."

Chris groaned as he leant his head back. He couldn't waste sleeping that long, but he doesn't feel like he slept enough. His head was pounding, the wind and shaking wasn't helping.

"I'll take watch."

Melissa and John both looked to Chris before replying together.

"No."

Chris looked up and stared at the pair, Melissa was the one to speak up.

"I would like to bet my months wages you have a concussion, so letting us rest is not going to happen. You can barely keep your eyes open as it is Chris. What happens if you accidentally fall asleep because you have a concussion. I would rather be awake and know when I am about to be strangled. Me and John will take watch, I'll go first whilst you two can try get some rest."

Melissa gave Chris a stern look. He opened his mouth to reply but her facial expression changed to that of 'don't you dare try me' leading him to shut it instantly. He nodded gently, but swore to himself he would not fall asleep again.

—

Footsteps above them in the howling wind caught their attention. All three looked to the door as they heard it rattle. Chris couldn't help but let out a smile as he watched Allison and Isaac coming down the stairs.

"Thank god!"

Allison grasped her fathers face before planting a kiss on his forehead.

"You found us."

Allison chuckled as Isaac went over to Melissa and Sheriff.

"Where's Stiles? Where's my son?"

Hope and fear filled John's voice as he watched Isaac.

"And Scott?"

The pair of them looked to Isaac began to free them.

"They're coming, all right? They're on their way to help."

As Isaac pulled at the ropes that bound Melissa, a cracking sound above them grasped their attention as dirt, leaves and dust poured down from the ceiling at a rate of knots. Isaac grabbed the rope holding Melissa and clawed at it until it snapped. Allison used her knife to cut through the ropes of her dads bonds whilst Isaac moved to John and Melissa stood trying to gain her balance. As the dirt slowed down, the five of them headed towards the stairs. Chris walked to the wall of dirt and timber that blocked their exit.

"It's blocked."

Looking to Isaac, he watched as the teen looked through a gap.

"What do you see? Anything?"

The teen looked from the gap to Chris and shook his head with a gloom look. They were trapped, and he wasn't one for confined spaces. John looked to Melissa and squeezed her hand with reassurance and hope. They would escape, he knew it. A creaking sound and of dirt moving filled the air before a stone wall by Chris began to move.

"Look out!"

Grabbing Allison, he tugged her away from the moving stone wall as the ceiling began to fall.

"Isaac!"

Allison screamed as her father covered her from the debris. John pushed Melissa away before grasping Isaac jacket and tugging him away from the falling debris. They all watched as the main wooden support beam cracked under the pressure and began to fall.

"Melissa! Go, go go!"

Standing up, Isaac grasped the beam, using his wolf strength he held onto it tightly above his head. His eyes glowed yellow as he took the brunt of the force. Growling, he took short breaths as he tried to balance the weight. Chris dragged Allison further under him as a wooden pillar holding Chris moments ago splintered into multiple pieces.

—

Isaac grunted as the ceiling began to cave move. The weight getting too much to handle.

"Is it me, or is this place getting smaller?"

He feared small spaces after what his father did to him. He could feel some energy surge in him as he feared that letting it collapse would trap him. The ground shifted again, pushing more weight into the beam he held dropping it further on him. Growling, Isaac tried to re-adjust. The Sheriff dived to Isaac's side to give little help he could, Chris followed and pushed on the opposite side.

"Argh, I can't do it. I can't hold it! I can't hold it!"

This time everyone grabbed the beam, pushing with the strength they all had.

"It's too much. It's too heavy!"

Allison yelled as she pushed hard against the beam. The ground continued to shift as the beam slowly lowered upon them, the ground poured in through holes around them. A thud could be heard behind them as Stiles jumped into the hole to reach them, wielding his metal baseball bat. Crouching and running over to them, he wedged it under the beam by his father. A thud followed and the weight of the beam stopped pushing the five down. John turned to see his son and smiled, opening his arms at the surprised look on Stiles face of his idea working. The Sheriff smiled before pointing and looking to the bat.

"I always said aluminum was better than wood."

He chuckled before Stiles jumped past the bat into his fathers arms. Embracing him into a hug as relief washed through him. The ground continued to pour in from holes around them. Chris looked to the ceiling whilst covering Allison in hopes of finding a way for them to get out as the ground shook. The ground continued to shake until moments later it stopped. The wind suddenly died down and everything stopped moving. Everyone looked around them as hope rushed through them.

"Is it over?"

Allison looked at them all before looking up at the ceiling. John started chuckling first, Stiles patting his chest as the realisation dawned on them that it had stopped. They quickly embraced one another at the thought they were going to make it. Stiles pulled out his phone as Scott called. Answering it, he put the phone to his ears trying to hear through the small amount of signal he had.

"Scott?"

'Hey. You okay?'

Everyone turned to Stiles as they heard Scott's voice.

"Yeah, We're okay. We're all okay."

Letting out a small huff, Stiles felt everyone looking at him.

"How 'bout you? Are you okay?"

There was a few seconds silence before Scott replied.

'Sort of.'

"Well, you think you can come get us?"

He waited as his best friend again took a few seconds to answer.

'Yeah, of course.'

Stiles looked down and grabbed a handful of dirt.

"Great. Okay, um, uh bring a ladder."

Everyone around him let out a laugh at Stiles comment before he hanged up.

Chris leaned into Allison as his head pounded, Melissa looked to Isaac and squeezed his hand whilst Sheriff draw his son towards him. Time started to pass as they waited for Scott and Derek. Melissa looked to Chris whose eyes were barely open as he held onto Allison. As she turned to look to Isaac, she noticed him breathing and staring at the wall, to his side the Sheriff had Stiles braced in a hug. Moving across to Isaac, Melissa looked at him in the eyes.

"Isaac?"

His glazed eyes turned back to normal as he looked to Melissa.

"Don't like small spaces."

Melissa nodded and looked to Chris then the Sheriff. Chris looked to Isaac and noticed why Melissa was worried. The boy had his claws out digging into his own palm, the sweat was wearing off of him. Shuffling gently from Allison, Chris surveyed the area and looked to the hole where Stiles had jumped down from. Blinking his dazed eyes, he walked over to the gap whilst using the floor to balance him. Looking up through the moonlight, Chris stood up and checked the distance. He would be able to boost Isaac up and get him out from this angle. They couldn't wait much longer without risking Isaac going crazy.

"Isaac, come here."

Chris gave him a stern voice and crouched down as things around him spun from standing up. Isaac hesitated but after a shove from Melissa, he walked over to Chris and looked up.

"I'm going to give you a boost, once you're out I'll start passing you the others."

Isaac nodded as Chris clasped his hands, standing on Argents hands, he was lifted up out the hole. Grasping the ground, Isaac pulled himself well clear of the hole before heading back over on his chest.

"Allison you next."

Allison looked to her father before going over to him.

"Is it safe?"

Chris nodded, instantly regretting it but kept his face stern. Allison stepped onto his hands before he raised her into Isaac's grip. Isaac pulled Allison away from the gap before returning and looking down to Chris. A strange scent passed over him but he shook it away and waited. Chris looked to Sheriff and Styles.

"Whose next?"

John nodded to Stiles and pushed him towards Chris and pulled Melissa.

"Stiles first, then Melissa."

Chris looked to Stiles and smiled. He lowered his hands that started to shake. Biting his lip, he hoped no-one noticed. As Stiles rested his foot on Chris's hands, he looked to Chris.

He noticed.

Before Stiles could say anything, He lifted Stiles up quickly surprising both Stiles and Isaac, eliciting a strange squeal from Stiles. The teens clasped one another before pulling each other away from the hole. As the pressure left Chris's hands, he turned to look at Melissa a bit too quickly. The world spun around him as darkness loomed.

"Chris?"

Sheriff and Melissa jumped forwards as Chris's body swayed then fell into their arms. Melissa tapped on his cheek before checking for a pulse. John groaned as his body ached from being tied up for so long and lack of being able to move.

"He has a pulse."

Letting out a breath she didn't realise she held, Melissa looked to John and noticed he was pale.

"Don't you go passing out on me either."

Melissa gave John a stern look before Allisons voice echoed through the hole.

"Is everything okay? What's taking you guys so long."

Melissa looked to see Isaac leaning over the hole who looked worried.

"We're coming, Isaac get ready to grab Chris."

Melissa dragged Chris's body over to the hole with Johns help before putting the unconscious man into a sitting position.

"Isaac you better be ready for him. Allison we're sending your dad up, once he's up make sure he is on his side. He's fine he has just passed out. John's coming up afterwards, Stiles do the same because he's close to passing out himself."

John looked to object but Melissa shot him a daring look.

"Just help me get him up John."

Moving to Chris's sides, the pair grasped Chris's waist and shoulders before lifting him up into a waiting Isaac's arms. The teen wolf grumbled as he dragged Chris away from the hole. Melissa looked to John whose face was turning very pale than before.

"Your turn. Don't you go passing out on me. So much for ladies first, two men pass out before she can leave."

Melissa chuckled then grumbled as John fell forwards into her arms dropping her to the floor. Grunting, Melissa frowned as a gasp distracted her from above. She looked up to see Isaac who was staring at her. She looked down to John and noticed the position he had landed in.

"He passed out."

Isaac frowned then looked between them.

"Need a hand?"

Melissa shook her head and shuffled under John's weight.

"I work in an ER. I can deal with this heffalump."

Lifting John up, Melissa grabbed a better hold before lifting John up into Isaacs grasp. Thankful for the wolfs strength, the mans weight was quickly taken away as he was dragged out and over the hole. Looking around, Melissa looked at where moments before they were facing death, hours before that they were tied waiting to be sacrificed. Now they were free. It was strange to know that now it was over. She just couldn't help but worry. Argent looked bad, John had been tied for days, unable to move. She hated the state they were in, they certainly would need some help. A cough brought her back to the situation as she looked up to see Isaac leaning into the hole.

"Ready to come out?"

The teen smiled at his adoptive mum, the woman who took him in after all the hell he's been through without a doubt. Nodding, Melissa walked over to where Isaac was leant in and smiled.

"Let's get out of here."

Jumping up, Melissa grasped the ground as Isaac grabbed her waist and began to pull her over the gap. As Isaac pulled her over the edge, Melissa spotted Stiles leaning over his passed out dad and Allison holding hers in her lap. Crawling away from the edge, she looked back as she head a snap. The ground behind her caved as dust rose and shot out of the hole. She frowned at what just happened. If she carried on thinking, or if Stiles didn't get to them when he had, they certainly wouldn't be alive now. Getting up, Melissa walked over to John, checking his pulse and breathing before smiling.

"He's just exhausted. A good rest should heal him."

Stiles looked at Melissa and let out a sigh before sitting back at his fathers side. Sliding over, Melissa moved to check on Chris. She took his pulse first before leaning over and checking his head wound. The gash was fairly deep which concerned her. He certainly had a concussion, she would bet on it happily. Looking to Allison, Melissa grabbed her arm and squeezed it.

"He's going to need some stitches and a scan, but he'll be fine. The concussion is what's knocked him out."

Opening one of his eyes, Melissa checked his pupils.

"They're responsive so no damage. He's just going to have a headache for a few days."

Looking to everyone, Melissa couldn't help but feel admiration that they survived.

"When Scotts here-"

A car drove up to them, the headlights blinding them all. As the ignition turned off, Scott jumped out his mothers car and looked to his pack.

"I heard you needed a lift?"

Melissa and Stiles looked to Scott before chuckling. He reached into the car before bringing a bag to Melissa. Dropping it down, she looked at it before smiling. Scott had thought ahead and brought her medical supplies. With the teenagers help, Melissa bandaged Argents head and checked on John before everyone was loaded in the car and headed back to Melissa's house.

—

Chris grumbled as he woke with a headache on something soft. Opening his eyes, Chris brought his hand up to cover him from the bright light. His mind was groggy as the pain resinated through his head. A hand was quickly by his side easing him into a sitting position.

"Easy. Easy. Your head took a beating."

Chris turned to the female voice to see Allison helping him up. Once she was happy he was comfortable, she reached the bedside cabinet and grasped a cup of water and pain meds Melissa had left her. Pushing the pills into her dads mouth, she handed him the water before he could complain.

"Melissa's orders. She said they'll help with the pain."

Chris grunted before accepting the water and swallowing the tablets. He looked to Allison and smiled before frowning.

"How long was I out?"

Allison chuckled before putting her hand on her fathers shoulder.

"The three of you have been out for the past day and a half. As soon as we got back and Melissa finished patching you up, the three of you passed out or were already well and truly out for the count."

Chris frowned before looking around. He took in the new scenery as he noticed it wasn't of his own home. He turned his head to the left to see John Stilinski sat up looking at him on the other side of the bed, and Melissa was curled up to him. Before he could speak, John had beaten him to it.

"So I heard you sacrificed yourself to save us."

John looked to Chris with a frown but also a small smile. Melissa grumbled under him and turned onto her back, opening her eyes slightly before looking to Chris.

"Yeah, what was that about?"

Chris tried to think of things to say, but his mind was blank. After a silence he finally spoke.

"I thought I would be able to get the weapons past her. Not many know about my hidden weapons. Guess I was out smarted."

Everyone around him chuckled before Melissa leant her hand on Chris's.

"Next time, think about yourself as well. It's not smart to sacrifice yourself. You may not get a concussion next time. But thank you."

John smiled and nodded.

"Yeah thank you, it helped explain a lot of what was going on. I think if they took someone else, we'd be dead. Lucky we have three smart kids and an extra."

Smiling between them, Chris, Melissa and John yawned simultaneously. Allison smiled and stood, walking to the door before turning the light off on the parents.

"Get some rest, Stiles is on watch next. Anyone that dares move and not sleep will have assistance to make them rest."

Allison gave them all a look of rest or else before pulling the door too and walking downstairs. Scott, Stiles and Isaac were huddled around the kitchen talking before looking up to Allison as she walked down the stairs.

"They're all resting. Give them half an hour before we check on them."

Smiling, Scott walked over to Allison and handed her a drink before heading to the fridge where he pulled off a Chinese menu.

"Whose hungry?"