Chapter Two

Like A Flame

A few days had passed since their heated little make out session, and Jordan has been avoiding Lydia like the plague. Every time she offered to come over and help him go through the bestiary he came up with an excuse, he didn't want to lie to her so he actually took up extra shifts at the station. Anytime he wasn't at the station he was at Derek's loft going through the bestiary. He and Derek seemed to have gotten pretty close, and perhaps it was because they were about the same age.

Derek chuckled and set the beer down in front of the deputy. "You know you can't avoid Lydia forever." He shrugged "And I don't know if you've noticed this, but my loft is the first place that she would look."

He looked down at the beer. "I'm not avoiding her...I'm just busy. That's all." he pouted and twisted the top off.

"Busy drinking my beer? You realize that you can't even get drunk right?" he smirked and took a swig of his beer before sitting on a chair across from him. "Do you like her?"

His answer was automatic "Lydia is a brilliant and beautiful young woman, and we work well together. She's a valued friend and-"

"I mean, how do you actually feel about her? If you like her then just go for it, but if you don't then don't string her along. Tell her how you feel and let her know everything upfront. She may put up this tough act, but her hearts been through enough." As far as Derek was concerned Lydia was pack, and he wanted what was best for her. No one else got to hurt his pack members.

Jordan sighed running his hand through his brown hair. "I know Stiles told me about Jackson and Aiden..." He couldn't even imagine what that was like for her. It was bad enough losing someone you loved but to feel them die was something else.

"Well did he tell you about Peter?"

"Peter Hale?!" He almost choked on his beer. He set it down and sat up hastily, staring at the beta with wide eyes. "As in your uncle Peter? He and Lydia!? He's old enough to be her father! He has a daughter that is literally her age! They-" He stood enraged, prepared to go down to Eicken House and arrest Peter himself.

"Calm down Deputy. It's not what you think. I'm just saying that there was something, it can't be ignored. Peter...manipulated her got in her mind, tricked her into reviving him from the dead. He was able to do this by praying on her heart, charming his way in. She was vulnerable...Jackson dumped her without and actual explanation, blamed her for everything, he broke her...all of this while her mind was slowly snapping from the stress that the bite triggered. Her banshee powers were awakening because of Peter. It's all rather complicated, but given the circumstances it's pretty easy to see that Lydia has a pretty fragile heart...I'm not sure how much more of this it can take."

He looked down "We don't know what you are yet Deputy, but werewolves have mates and anchors. That one person that is absolute, and that person that can keep us grounded to our humanity, but everyone has a tether, the one that will pull you back." Derek paced around the apartment. "Lydia was Jackson's anchor...Stiles tether...and I can't even begin to comprehend what Peter saw her as but...she could be something for you too." He sighed "If you gave her a chance to."

"I had no idea..." he mumbled. He rubbed his temples before taking his seat again.

"Well, you can't avoid her, waiting for her to turn eighteen...go talk to her."

Parrish rolled his eyes. "I can't believe I'm getting relationship advice form you." he crossed his arms over his chest. "Stiles told me about your little dating record. Two psychopathic murderers in a row, and now you're seeing Braeden? Whose literally a mercenary, I'm pretty sure she's killed someone before." He scoffed. "What's that thing that Stiles always says, Ones a incident, twos a coincidence, and threes a pattern."

Derek Scoffed "Yeah well, I'd tell you about Stiles dating history but there isn't much of one to tell."

They finished their beers and Jordan called it a night, as he headed home. As much as he wanted to distance himself from Lydia until he sorted out his feelings he needed her to help with the bestiary, since no one else was fluent in archaic Latin. Which he was still in awe that she taught herself because she was bored.

As he drove home, he passed Beacon Hills high school and noticed Lydia's car parked in front of it. What in the world is she doing here...? He pulled into the parking lot and called Lydia's phone. It rang a few times before going straight to voice mail. He took out his gun and entered the school. He followed the sound of the music toward the only lit room down the hallway. As he turned the cornered he sighed relieved to see Lydia in the art room painting. "Lydia" he lowered his gun, putting it back in his waist band.

She jumped hearing her name and looked back at him. "Jordan? What are you doing here?" She placed her hand over her racing heart. "Honestly, she shouldn't be creeping around a school, waving a gun around."

"Me? What are you doing here? As many things that happen in Beacon Hills especially in this school, what makes you think it's a good idea to be here at night alone?"

"I wanted to paint." she stated as if it was the clearest answer in the world.

"And you couldn't paint at home?"

"I don't have an easel." she shrugged and placed her paint brush into the water. She smiled at the painting. It was another landscape piece, but the Hale house was softly in the background. "I was struck with inspiration, and I have the keys to the art room so I figured why not." she looked up at him as she prepared a new canvas. "So are you done avoiding me?"

"I wasn't avoiding you..." he whispered. "I was just busy that's all."

She stood up and walked toward him. As she inched closer, he subtly took a step back. She eyed him and grinned. "What are you afraid of deputy?"

"You're unpredictable...and I don't know how to deal with you..." His eyes softened. "You're like a flame..." when she looked at him like that, he couldn't help being honest. It's like she saw right through him.

She giggled before playfully tousling her hair. "Is it the red hair?"

He shook his head as he took in her gaze. "No... It's that stare... full of passion... unpredictable... dangerous..."

"I'm dangerous?" she raised a brow and smirked at him.

"Very much so..." he whispered. He knew that she was one of the few things that all of the military training in the world couldn't prepare him for.

"Deputy, need I remind you. You're immune to fire, so if anything that just means that you're fascinated by me, and a little scared but in the end you know I can't hurt you." She grinned, and returned to her seat, in front of the canvas. "Care to be my model?" She prepared a few new brushes. "I promise I'll behave. I'll even let you leave your shirt on. If you want." she winked.

He smirked. He wouldn't deny his fascination, or his fear of her. Most men in his position should be afraid of her. Lydia Martin was the type of woman that brought down congressmen."I-I'm not much of a model." he ran his hand through his hair nervously.

"Oh come on Deputy, it's the least you can do." she pouted playfully. "I mean you've ignored me for the better end of the week."

He sighed and sat in the center of the room. He wasn't going to tug at that string and open up an argument he wasn't prepared to have. He knew it was better to just simply give in to her request. "What should I do? I've never posed before." his shoulders slumped a bit.

"Look up, shoulders back, move your chin forward a bit and just sit still..." she began painting immediately. "So what have you been up to the past few days?"

He looked down but immediately corrected himself. "I had work to do at the station, that's all. It's been busy. Dealing with the extra cases that Agent McCall has had us looking in, on top of that having to work double to cover up anything supernatural and pass it off to the Sheriff."

"So you aren't avoiding me?" She raised a brow and continued running her brush over the canvas. "And this has nothing to do with the fact that I kissed you?"

He sighed and shook his head. "I'm not avoiding you, but...that kiss...it shouldn't have happened. I should have used more self control. I promise nothing like that will happen again."

Her shoulders slumped as a frown graced her lips. "Was it really that bad..?" she whispered, her green eyes flashing up toward him. "Kissing me?" She'd spent a good fraction of her life being perused, but she was always looked at like an object. Something to brag about, something to show off, but with Jordan he looked at her like she was precious, and not something to be possessed, but to be loved. "I'll have you now that it's the first I've heard of it." she joked. "Usually people enjoy my kisses, I mean-"

"That's not it." His head jerked toward her, his cheeks flustered. "It's not like that at all..." He loved the kiss, much more than he was willing to admit. "It's just..."

"I said sit still." She stood up and walked over to him. A gentle sway in her hips with each step. "You sure are fidgety...Models are supposed to stay still" She lifted his chin gently to look forward and she heard the slightest intake of breath. She softly fixed his hair and smiled down at him. "Perfect." she whispered. Her fingers lingered on his chin as she bit down on her lip.

"Lydia..." his voice stern, with warning.

"Relax..." She shrugged and sat back down at her canvas. You continued painting. "You don't have to treat me like a little kid Jordan."

"What do you mean?" he tried his best to remain perfectly still. For both their sakes. He knew he wouldn't be able to handle if she had to pose him again.

"You think I'm just some little high school girl with a crush on you, and you're afraid to lead me on." she dipped her brush in the brown paint and laid more of it on the canvas. "Well I'm not. So don't worry about it. You don't like me I get it. I'm a big girl and I'm not afraid of rejection." She bit her lip and glanced back at him. "But don't distance yourself from me because of that. I still want to help you."

It wasn't that he didn't like her. It was that he liked her too much, and to be honest it was better if she thought that he didn't. "I appreciate that Lydia...you're very..."

"Mature? Yeah, I know." she smiled and layered the background quickly. "Done. It isn't much, just a quick watercolor." she turned the canvas toward him. There was a simplicity about the painting, but it captured him well. Looking out into the distance. He truly looked like a protector.

"That's incredible..." He stood up and made his way toward her. "Have you ever thought about studying art?"

She shook her head "Believe it or not, I'm more into math and science. Art is just a hobby, and somehow it helps me concentrate my banshee powers." She cleaned up the paints and set her new canvas to dry by the window. "At least that's what I tell myself." Her shoulders slumped "I haven't actually been able to do it again since that one time..."

"Does it actually get better...once you learn what you are?"

She looked up and smiled softly. "I spent such a long time not knowing what I was...I felt so useless...like there was something I could have done...but I just didn't know how..." she crossed her arms over her chest. "I thought that maybe Stiles was right, and maybe I was a psychic..." She grinned at him. "I'm no psychic...I'm a banshee...sometimes I can see death coming...and if I can see it, then just maybe...maybe I can stop it...I can save someone before it's too late." She looked down and tucked a red hair behind her ear. "Others...they can't see or feel death...It doesn't matter how many enhanced senses they have...they can't see death coming...they're helpless to the inevitable...but...I'm not...I can protect them. Even if it's only with a warning...I can protect those who cannot protect themselves."

–

Lydia sighed as she unlocked the door to her house, once again her mother was out, and Jordan escorted her to the door. "You know deputy, you didn't need to follow me home." she grinned "And walk me to the door." She raised a brow "You can't help, but to be a gentleman can you?"

He shrugged. "Trouble has a tendency of following you...or shall I say that you have a tendency of finding trouble, I just wanted to make sure you were ok." he glanced around the yard and turned back toward her.

"Well since you came all the way over here, you might as well come inside."

"I-I dunno, I should probably go back home." he looked down nervously. He really struggled with the strong desire to be with her, and the nagging feeling to run away so that he didn't touch her.

"I'm not taking no for an answer." She grinned and grabbed his hand, tugging him inside the house. "Relax deputy I'm not gonna jump you." she eyed him before making her way into the kitchen.

He couldn't help, but watch her leave the room. It's like her very presence demanded all eyes on her. He followed her like a lost puppy and crossed his arms over his chest once he saw her pouring the wine. "Lydia" his voice was authoritative.

Smiling, she raised a brow and slid the glass of wine toward him. "Drink up, it's been a long day."

Walking toward her he moved in closely, his eyes searching hers for a moment. He grabbed her glass and poured it down the drain. "You're only seventeen..." his voice held such a heavy weight. A weight that said more than; you're too young to drink, but one that said; you're too young to be this attractive.

"That was a $300 wine." she whispered, she watched as his eyes were glued on her lips. "Jordan..." she moved her hand on to his arm, seeing the conflict that he was dealing with.

He swallowed hard as he took a step back. "I should get going..."

She sighed and frowned. "You could at least finish your wine..."

He shook his slowly as he eyed her. He found it hard enough keeping self control without alcohol in his system the last thing he needed was to add wine to the mix. "I-I should..."

She placed her hand on his chest and sighed looking down. "You're actually afraid of me aren't you...?" She peaked up at him and pouted. "Afraid of how I make you feel..." She took a step back and let go of him "You're afraid of what I make you want..."

He frowned, pained to see the look he caused her. "I like you Lydia...more then I should...but...you're only seventeen...maybe in a few years...but..."

She laughed and ran her hand through her red hair. "What if I don't have a few years? Do you know how many people...friends that I lost that never made it to eighteen...?" She turned her back toward him and downed his glass of wine. "You're new to this supernatural world...but for the past year this has been my life, and honestly I'm just as confused as you are. This last year has been hell, it's just been death after death, and something or someone trying to kill me and everyone I care about." She scoffed "Even when we win, we still lose...we always lose someone..."

He gently tugged her toward him by her wrist. "Lydia..." he closed his eyes and pressed his lips to hers. For once he was going to do what he wanted to do. He's not going to think of the laws, or rules, or consequences. He was just going to do what his heart wanted.

She froze feeling his lips against hers but deepened the kiss. Tip toeing she caressed his cheek and pulled him closer.

His hands grabbed at her waist and picked her up, setting her on the counter top. One hand holding her face against his.

Her legs hooked around his waist, plastering him against her. His hand moved to tangle themselves in her hair. She gasped against his lips as he deepened the kiss. "Mmm...Jordan..." her hands slid down his chest as she began to hastily unbutton his shirt.

His hands moved to grab her wrist as gently as he could. He panted against her lips, pressing his forehead against hers. "Lydia...can we just..." he took a breath and placed a kiss against her hands aware that the sudden way he grabbed her had startled her. "Sorry...just...can we please just stick to kissing...until we figure out what this is...?"

She nodded with flushed cheeks. "It's a start." she grinned brushing her nose against his. "That's ok...for now." She brushed her lips against his, smiling at him through half lidded eyes.

He kissed her knuckles again before gently letting her go. "This isn't how I imagined this night going..." he whispered.

She smiled and kissed him hungrily. "It's exactly how I imagined this night going..." she played with the hair against his nape, while tugging on his lower lip. A low groan rumbled in his throat.

The sound of the front door opening caused him to pull away from her immediately. "Lydia, baby are you home?" Natalie made her way into the kitchen holding a take out bag. "Oh I didn't know we had company." she smiled.

Lydia smoothed down her hair and wiped her mouth with her thumb. "Yup, hey mom." She glanced at Jordan.

"Allow me." Jordan quickly moved to take the heavy take out bag from Natalie's arms and set it on the table. "Ma'ma."

Natalie raised a brow and looked to her daughter. "Well, if it isn't the young Deputy, thank you. Are you bringing Lydia home again?"

He smiled "You could say that. I ran into her while I was out and I just wanted to make sure she made it back safely."

She laughed "Well thank you kindly Deputy. It's nice having someone looking out for Lydia. She has a tendency of-"

"Finding trouble" he finished her thought smiling at Lydia. "Well, I should get going."

"Absolutely not. You're going to join us for dinner, there's plenty." Natalie began to unpacking the bag. "You don't mind do you baby?" she looked to her daughter.

Lydia grinned and hopped off the counter "Of course not. Please join us for dinner Jordan." she giggled "Come on, it'll be fun, and it's not like have any food at home."

He smirked and nodded "You do have a point...alright, I'll stay for dinner. Thank you for having me Mrs. Martin."

"Please, call me Natalie." she shook his hand. "You know what I'm gonna grab a bottle of champagne from the cellar. Lydia, set the table."

Lydia grinned being left alone with him. "Well...this'll be fun."

"If I didn't know any better I would say you planned all this." he smiled down at her.

She smirked. "I may be a genius Jordan, but even I couldn't plan for all this...not like I'd plan for my mother to join us for dinner." She grabbed a few plates and set the table. He set the utensils beside each plate, brushing into her shyly with each movement. She blushed looking up to him with a small smile.

Dinner was as awkward as Lydia thought it would have been. Natalie took a sip of champagne. "You know I can't remember the last time Lydia and I had a sit down dinner, much less when she invited a boy over."

"Ugh, mother-"

Jordan smiled "My mom was pretty big on sit down dinners back home so it's nice to have one again. Once again thank you for having me."

Natalie smiled "Oh that's sweet. Where are you from originally Deputy?"

"I was born in Illinois. I lived there up until I joined the army."

Lydia glanced up at him a small smile played on her lips. "Do you have any siblings?"

"I do" he coughed uncomfortably. "I'm the oldest of five. I have two brothers and two sisters."

"Wow big family." Natalie poured herself another glass.

"So you're used to being the protector." Lydia looked up to him. Everything about his person said he wanted to help people. Being the oldest of his siblings, serving in the military, becoming a cop. Unlike them he seemed more fit for this lifestyle. Perhaps he was what they needed. They were just kids that fell into being responsible for the whole town, he was someone trying to make a difference.

"I suppose you could say that."

–

After dinner Natalie found herself passed out in bed as Lydia said goodnight to Jordan. "Well thanks for putting up with my mom."

He chuckled. "Well it wasn't any trouble and I got a meal out of it." He looked down at her. "If you're free tomorrow, I'd like to go over the beastiary some more..."

"Like a date?" she grinned.

He nodded "Sure..." he shyly leaned down and kissed her lips. She tip toed to deepen the kiss, but it was over all too quickly. He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I'll see you tomorrow..."

She smiled blushing gently as she stood against her door frame watching him walk back to his car and drive away. She gave him a small wave as he left her street. She hadn't felt that giddy about a boy since she was in middle school. Shy glances, and butterflies, Jordan was the complete crush package.

To be continued...

Thanks for reading please remember to review

Sorry it took so long to update, I lost motivation to work on it but then I was hit with inspiration since they started filming for the new season.