Begin Transmission

Lacy here with our next chapter for Effie. We've got another talk with Derek after Lydia is taken to the hospital, and Melissa offers Effie some motherly advice. After that, it's time to come face to face with the Dread Doctors and learn a few more pieces about these chimeras. Read on!

Disclaimer: I own Effie and her weirdness.

End Transmission

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie felt Scott and Stiles coming before their scents and steps caught her other senses. And it steadied her racing heart, until she caught Theo's scent. It wasn't what she wanted to deal with, but Stiles coming into the office, fear on his face, distracted her.

Theo pushed passed Stiles, removing his belt to help stem the flow of blood, but Effie stopped him.

"I've got it." she nearly snarled.

"She's using magic." Kira explained at Theo's confused look. "She can't heal her, Lydia won't let her, but she's keeping her from losing any more blood."

"How long can you do that?" Theo asked.

"As long as I have to." Effie replied. She moved some as Natalie came into the room, dropping by her daughter's head. Melissa also joined them, checking Lydia's pulse and breathing.

"Stiles." Scott called to the older twin. "Stiles. Stiles, come on."

Stiles looked at Lydia, who was smiling as best she could.

"Tracy," she said. "Stiles, I'm fine. Help Tracy. Find Tracy. Go."

"It's okay." Theo said. "She's alright."

"Come on, Stiles." Scott urged.

Effie met her brother's eyes. "I won't let anything happen to her, I swear. Go."

Stiles took another moment before nodding and leaving with John and Deaton.

"Effie," Melissa looked at the girl. "the ambulance is almost here. Can you hold on until then?"

Effie nodded. "Yeah, but I'll be weak after."

"We'll take care of you." Melissa promised.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie sat alone in the nurse's lounge, her iPad set on her knees. She was suddenly very glad that Derek had gotten her the device before they parted. Waiting for Derek to answer, she tried to wipe away the last traces of tears from her face, even though she knew Derek would be able to tell. But the sight of Lydia's blood flowing once more when Melissa insisted the paramedics couldn't see her stopping it with nothing more then her will was stuck in Effie's mind.

She had drawn Tracy in her twisted beast form, Donovan speared on a metal pole, but her damn precognitive visions couldn't have shown her that her best friend was going to nearly bleed to death? She was sick of being controlled by her powers, even after practicing so long and so hard while she was away.

"Effie, what happened?"

Effie took one look at Derek's face as the Skype call connected and knew he'd felt her whirlwind of emotions. Further proof that their mate bond really didn't know what distance was.

"Lydia got hurt." Effie choked out. "Tracy, damnit, she was our friend. And something or someone turned her into a real life monster. She had a kanima's tail and scales, Derek. But her teeth and claws were of a werewolf. She caught Lydia with her tail." new tears ran down Effie's face. "My best friend almost bled out in my lap, Derek. If I hadn't managed to stem the flow with my Spark-"

"But you did." Derek stopped her before she could spiral further. "You did. You saved Lydia's life." he watched Effie nod, even as her tears flowed faster. "Do you need me to come home?"

Effie sniffed, exhaling loudly. "I'm not sure. I think, after so long of nothing bad happening, it's just overwhelming me. And I'm popping out sketches left and right, but nothing about Lydia's attack. I could have been prepared. I could have protected her. I-"

"You could have been hurt in her place." Derek pointed out. "And then she'd be just as upset as you are, if not more, because it would have been because of her. Don't put Lydia in that position and don't belittle the role you played in saving her." he looked around behind Effie. "Where's Stiles or Melissa?"

"Melissa is assisting in Lydia's surgery." Effie explained. "And I told Stiles to take Malia home. She was attacked by the masked things that I drew the other night, and saw them kill Tracy. It left her pretty shaken."

"Your dad?"

"On a tear about having to break rules and not crossing legal lines. Tracy was still partly shifted when she died. We couldn't risk anyone seeing that, so Deaton had to take her."

"There has to be someone who can sit with you." Derek said. "I don't want you alone right now."

Effie gave a small smile. "I'm not."

Derek returned it. "You know what I mean." he sighed, shaking his head. "I should be there with you. I shouldn't have to rely on someone else to take care of my mate."

"Hey," Effie's tone was sharp. "you think it doesn't kill me that you're in another country, sorting through all the crap you've had to deal with, alone? I know you have Cora, but I can feel each and every stumble you take while coming to terms with your past. It's only cause I promised Dad I'd finish senior year with Stiles that I'm still here. Just like you promised Cora to stay with her until she felt ready for you to leave."

"It's hard." Derek admitted. "Harder than I thought it would be. Especially with all that's going on, now."

"We knew Beacon Hills wouldn't stay quiet forever." Effie said. "Not after the Nemeton and the Deadpool."

"Any more issues with Theo?" Derek asked a question he knew would let Effie's mind wander away from Lydia.

"He seems to be in exactly the right place at exactly the right time." Effie said. "Every time. And his heartbeat, it never falters."

Derek frowned. "Never?" he shook his head. "Everyone's heartbeat falters at some point."

"Derek," Effie shifted in her seat. "this kid's heart didn't even register learning Stiles and I are Sparks. Everyone reacts to that, even if they already know. Having it confirmed gets a reaction."

"I don't like this." Derek said. "Ef, promise me you'll stay away from this guy. Please."

"I'll do what I can." Effie said. "But Scott's considering letting him into the pack, so I'm not sure how long it'll work."

"If he does anything," Derek said. "And I mean anything, to you or Stiles, call me and I'll be on the first plane home. If Scott can't see there's something wrong, you need someone with you who does."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie woke in the nurse's lounge the next morning to find she'd been moved to the couch and that Melissa was supporting her legs across her lap.

"Lydia?" Effie barely managed to croak her best friend's name.

Melissa smiled at her. "Hey sleepy head. Lydia is just fine. Made it through surgery with no problem and Parrish is sitting with her now." she rubbed Effie's leg. "How are you?"

"Tired," Effie didn't bother trying to hide. Melissa saw through her as well as her mother had. "and I miss Derek. And I'm sick of all this supernatural sh-" she paused, looking at her surrogate mother. "-tuff."

Melissa chuckled. "Nice save. Have you talked to Derek about last night?"

Effie nodded. "Yeah. He made me swear I'd call him if things got too bad. He'll be back as fast as possible if we need him."

"'We' as in you and Stiles." Melissa easily guessed. "Doesn't take being a werewolf or werefox, to know you two are the most loyal people he's had in a long time." she patted Effie's shin. "Did you tell him to come home?"

Effie shook her head. "Not yet. I'm just overwhelmed. And having Lydia's life literally in my hands shook me."

Melissa watched Effie's face. "You don't have to do this without Derek, Ef."

"I know," Effie said quietly. "I know I don't." she sighed. "Beacon Hills has just brought him so much pain, the more he can stay away, the better I feel it is for him."

"Does he know you feel that way?" Melissa asked.

"Tell Derek Hale I won't ask him to come home for his own good?" Effie worded the unspoken question. "You have met him, right?"

Melissa laughed. "Good point. But let me tell you something, Effie, and this comes from a failed marriage. You know communication is key in any relationship, I've watched you and Derek shout at each other until you're both red in the face, it's impressive. Like, really impressive."

Effie giggled. "You were about to give me advice?"

"Right," Melissa cleared her throat. "you may think you're doing what's best for someone you love, but unless they tell you there's a problem, it's not a good idea to assume there is. You're right, Beacon Hills has brought Derek a lot of pain, but you know what it also brought him?" Effie shook her head. "You. It brought him you, the one person who will always be there for him, no matter what happens. It really doesn't matter what bad things have happened, because you're here to keep him grounded and heal any wounds, physical, mental or emotional, that are caused."

"What are you trying to say?" Effie asked.

"Trust what you have." Melissa said. "Trust that, no matter what, no matter the past, you can get through anything together. You just have to talk to each other."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

"Effie!"

Effie caught Mason as he ran towards her. They were in a club called Sinema and there was a new chimera running around.

"Where are they?" Effie asked. "Mason, where arm Liam and Brett?"

Mason pointed towards the back of the club. "The guy, he has spines on his arms."

"Scorpion stingers." Effie corrected. "Yeah, I know. Get yourself out of here, Mason. We'll take care of this." She took off, not giving Mason time to argue. She crashed through hanging chains and saw Liam tackle Lucas away from Brett, who was bleeding from his abdomen. "Liam!"

The beta looked at Effie and kicked the chimera towards her. She charged her powers into her claws and swiped at Lucas. She connected across his chest, but he seemed to barely feel it. If anything, it made him stronger. Eyes black as night, Lucas ran for Effie and slammed her into a wall, knocking the wind out of her. She dropped to the ground, watching as Lucas took off towards Liam, again, pinning her beta down.

Hearing and feeling Kira and Scott coming, Effie turned as they came bolting in.

"You're a little late." Liam snarled at the alpha. Scott easily sprung into action and kicked the chimera off the beta while Kira pulled her sword and prepared for her turn to take a swing at him.

Scott was quickly knocked to the ground and Kira took over. Liam ran for Effie, pulling her to her feet. Once Kira knocked Lucas back, the two charged him and easily slammed him to the ground, where he stayed, stunned and black eyes faded back to normal.

Panting, Effie saw Mason helping Brett moments before feeling a surge of power. The same surge she'd felt at the police station when Kira freaked out on Tracy. Turning, Effie saw the same aura surrounding Kira from the other fight. The kitsune twirled her sword, yelled in Japanese and went to strike Lucas dead.

"Kira!" Scott shouted as he grabbed his girlfriend's wrist. The aura slowly faded as Kira returned to them. "Is everyone okay?" Brett and Mason nodded while Effie and Liam exchanged looks. Okay was one word. "We need to get him out of here. Liam, help me." They went to pick him up by the arms and legs, but a bolt of some kind suddenly appeared, piercing Lucas's torso. It was quickly retracted on a wire and they all turned, seeing the faces Effie had drawn up on the metal rafters of the ceiling. "Why did you do that?" Scott demanded.

"His condition was terminal." the lead of the three spoke.

"What does that mean?" Effie asked. But the doctors just started walking away.

Scott stepped forward. "What does that mean?"

They stopped. "Failure."

Panic built in Effie as the mystery men disappeared with sparks flying all over the place. Lucas was a failure. Did that mean Tracy was as well? And what did they mean by failure? What made him a failure? And did that mean there were going to be more? Maybe she should call Derek and tell him to come home. Beacon Hills was becoming a whole new battle ground.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie stopped as she finally finished painting. Her breathing was coming short and fast, taking in the image before her.

It was Donovan, teeth like a wendigo and a matching mouth on his hand. A hand that was coming down on Stiles's shoulder.

Effie threw down her brush and ran from her room. She was not losing her brother. Not now, not ever.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Begin Transmission

I was asked what Effie was going to do once it came to Stiles killing Donovan. Here's your answer. He's her brother, there's nothing she won't do to protect, help and care for him. Just like she told John before all hell broke loose with the Nogitsune. Let me know what you think, flame policy stands and thanks for reading.

End Transmission