Author's Note: So, I have gotten some positive feedback for chapter 3. I guess people are loving the new "improvements" to Chloe. I have a question for you readers…Were any of you surprised by the revelation that Chloe's dad is not her father? If not, I am sorry for that, and if you were, then I did good as an author. I like the new powers that I chose for Chloe and I hope that you all will too. Be prepared. There is some OOC moments, but I like them. I love writing fluff, so there will be some sporadic Chlerek fluff mixed in. Yum. Not lemony yum, but yumminess. :D

Thank you to those of you who reviewed. You made my day and motivated me to write some more. =)

I hope that ya'll like the chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own either series. I am not Kelley Armstrong or Sherrilyn Kenyon. I am not even close to being in their league.

I Can Do What!

Previously

I nodded. "Well, I just found out that I'm half demon, which means that I'm not useless anymore."

Jaden nodded. "Come. Take a walk with me. We have much to discuss."

I nodded and we walked out into the night.

CPOV

Jaden led me to a nearby park and we sat on one of the benches.

"So…you're my father. How did you meet my mom?"

"I was out collecting a payment for a favor. Your mom was in a park, much like this one, and she was talking to a ghost. For some reason, I stopped to watch. What I saw surprised me. Your mother, she was…I can only describe her as kindness personified. She was listening to the ghost's story, talking with him. The ghost asked her to write to his family for him. She did what he asked, right there in the park. After that, the ghost moved on. She glanced over and caught me watching her." He smiled at the memory. "She waved at me. Then, like she wasn't bothered by me at all, she took out a sketch pad and started to draw. I went over and sat on the bench that she was sitting on. I kept watching her. Without looking up, she asked me "Well? Are you just gonna sit there or are you gonna tell me why you're watching me?". Never before had I been spoken to as just as a man. I told her that I had never before seen someone show kindness to a spirit. Her answer to that was, "My gift is necromancy. I am able to give peace to the dead and their loved ones. Most of the spirits I encounter just want peace. They are still a person, just corporally challenged. Why not treat them with kindness?" I could not answer her. We started talking and I walked her home. Before I left, I asked her one more question. I asked her if she knew what I was. Her answer was shocking. "Yes. I know what you are. I also know that you are a man in pain looking for a port in the storm." Chloe, your mother could see others for what they were. She took the time to look beneath the surface." He turned to look at me. "Chloe, I loved your mother. She was the only one who never betrayed me. It killed me to have to leave her. On the last night that I was with her, I gave her your pendant. As I was leaving, she said that she was keeping a part of me with her. I didn't understand then, but I do now. She was talking about you.

Hearing his story, I felt a connection with him, like a daughter to her father. I could feel his pain at the loss of my mother, which strengthened that connection. What I did next surprised us both. I hugged him. After a few seconds, he returned it, which surprised me. I pulled back, wiping away tears that I didn't know that I had fallen.

"So, Dad, what can my demon half do?"

He smiled when I called him "dad".

"Well, as of yet, your demon half has not been "unlocked", so that's what has to happen first. This will hurt."

I nodded, accepting it. He reached out and touched my shoulder. Immediately, agonizing pain ripped through me. I fell off the bench, gasping in pain. Dad took my hand, telling me it'd be over soon. After a few minutes, the pain lessened until it was gone. Shakily, I sat up.

"Holy shit, that hurt."

"Watch your language."

I chuckled. "A demon telling me to watch my language."

He smiled. "A father telling his daughter to watch her language."

I smiled at him. "So, what can I do now?"

"Well, you can now touch a ghost, and you can hear, see, and smell better. You are now stronger and you are immune to most viruses, including the werewolf virus. Your new powers are that you can control the elements, you can do witch and sorcerer magic, telekinesis, and you can transform into one animal of your choosing. Be wise though. Once you choose that form, you can't choose another."

"I can do all that? Seriously?"

He nodded.

"Okay. I definitely need to practice my new powers. Um, could we try the transforming thing?"

He nodded. "Think of your favorite animal, one that would fit you."

I nodded and began thinking of animals. The only one that I could think of was a wolf. It felt right to me. "I have one. It feels right."

"Okay. Now, think of how that animal acts, how it lives, what the personality is like, and then, blend those thoughts with those of your own, making them one. Once you successfully do this, you will transform."

I thought of how a wolf runs, their graceful forms rushing through the forest, how they were protective of their pack, how caring the wolf could be. All of a sudden, I was running through the forest, chasing Derek in wolf form, playing, how I would die for every member of my new family, how if someone was hurting I would try to comfort them. I felt my bones shift and something push out of my skin. I opened my eyes. I was lower than Dad, my vision was enhanced, I could hear the distant murmur of voices 30 feet away, and I could smell everything. I looked down at myself and instead of seeing blonde fur, I was blood red. Weird, but cool.

I nodded, letting Dad know that I was ready to change back.

"To change back, think of walking on two legs, of using your hands, anything human."

I thought of goofing around with Derek, of talking with Tori, of writing the comic with Simon. I felt my bones shift and the fur recede. I opened my eyes and I was human again, although, I could still see, hear, and smell better, but not as good as in wolf form.

"I have a question. Why was I still clothed when I changed back."

"It's a part of your magic. You are not a werewolf, so your magic allows you to keep your clothes on when you change back and forth."

"Why was I blood red and not blonde?"

"In my true form I have blood red skin. I guess that I gave you that gene. It just shows itself when you change into your animal form. It means that you chose correctly and are in touch with your animal. You did very good for your first try. The next time, all you'll have to do is think of your wolf form and you'll change. Same for turning back into a human."

I smiled. "Thank you. That was really cool. Um, we should probably head back. The others will worry."

He arched an eyebrow. "Especially the werewolf?"

I blushed. "Yes."

"I just may have to speak with him."

"Dad! You can't do that! We aren't even going out!"

"Fine. I won't do it…yet. When you do start going out with him, I reserve my right to scare him."

I sighed. "Typical "dad" move."

"Hey! I have a lot of time to make up for and I'm starting now." I looked at him. "I won't be able to be around all the time, but I will be there as much as I can."

"Why not?"

"You have to keep what I'm about to tell a secret."

"Okay. I promise to keep what you are about to tell me a secret."

He nodded, satisfied. "I am a bound demon. I have a master. No one knows this but you."

"Why is that important?"

"Because no one wants to have to deal with my master."

"Fair enough. So…because of this fact, are you going to treat me differently than you are now if there are other people around?"

"Unfortunately, I have to. But I want you to know this. I may not know you very well yet, but I do love you. You are my daughter."

I felt the tears well up. I nodded and hugged him again.

"Oh yeah, I forgot a part of your powers. You can now flash travel. Do you want to try it?"

"Is it hard to do?"

"Not after you've had some practice."

"I'll give it a try. How do I do it?"

"Think of Simone's living room, then think of traveling there. Oh, and if you want to take someone with you, you have to be touching that person. There are restrictions to this though. You can't take heavy objects, like a car, but after some practicing, you should be able to take a few people with you."

I nodded and grabbed his hand. I closed my eyes and thought of Simone's living room and of going there. I felt a small tug and then I heard some gasps and a squeak of surprise. I opened my eyes and found myself in Simone's living room.

"Oh, hell yes! I did it!"

Dad looked at me. "Chloe…"

"Sorry, Dad."

He nodded and smiled. "Very good for your first try."

"First try for what?" Derek inquired.

I turned around and smiled at him. "I flash traveled."

"You what?"

"It's kinda hard to explain, but you think of a place that you've been to and that you want to go and you just kind of flash there."

"Ooookay."

Dad walked to the door. He turned and looked at Xypher and Simone. "You are to teach Chloe and to protect her. That is the debt payment I demand." He looked at me, smiled, eyed Derek then walked out the door.

I laughed as he left. Everyone looked at me like I had lost it. I fought to get myself under control. Tori looked like she knew something and gave me a look that said that we were going to be talking soon.

I looked at the clock. It was about one in the morning. Holy crap! I had been gone for about three hours. Time flies when you're learning I guess.

I yawned as exhaustion hit me and knocked me on my ass. "I'm really tired."

Simone smiled. "There are extra blankets in the hall closet and Jesse's room. Simon and Tori can show you where they are. I'm gonna hit the hay. Night, guys." She walked down hall towards her bedroom.

Xypher turned to look at us. "Tomorrow, training begins. Simon, Tori, you will be learning from me. You too, Chloe." We nodded.

Derek looked worried, like he didn't think that Xypher could find a teacher for him. "What about me?"

"A friend of mine is coming over tomorrow. Vane. He's a werewolf. He's going to help you master Changing on command. Once you've mastered that, he's going to teach you more fighting skills, both as a wolf and a man."

Derek nodded.

"Night." With that, Xypher turned and headed to the bedroom.

We got the extra blankets and were getting ready for bed when I remembered that I had nothing clean to sleep in.

"Crap. I have nothing to sleep in. Again."

"Well, you could always sleep naked." Tori smirked.

"Haha. Tori, you are so funny. But you know what? I think I will sleep naked."

"What! You can't be serious."

It was my turn to smirk. "I can if I sleep in animal form."

"Do what?"

"Sleep in animal form. Or I could just borrow a tee shirt from someone." I turned around, looking for my favorite werewolf. Spotting him, I smiled. "Hey Der? Do you have any semi-clean tee shirts left?"

He eyed me. "Yeah…"

"Can I borrow one? Everything of mine is beyond too dirty to sleep in."

He nodded and handed me a green tee shirt. "Thank you."

He half-smiled and walked away to find a snack.

I went into the bathroom and changed. This shirt was baggy on me, but it came down to the bottom of my ass and the neck was a little more open, almost hanging off of one shoulder. I gargled some mouth wash and left the bathroom, only to be met by a frowning Tori.

"You're seriously going to sleep in that?"

"Yes. Why?" What the hell is wrong with her?

"It belongs to wolf-boy, that's why."

"So…?"

"That doesn't bother you?"

"If it did, I would not have asked him if I could borrow it."

She smiled. "I knew it."

Now I was getting frustrated. "Knew what Tori?"

"That you like wolf-boy."

I started to panic. Derek could hear us. What was he gonna think? I tapped my ear and pointed to the kitchen. Thank God Tori understood what I meant. She nodded and we switched to the form of communication known as girl-speak, the silent form of English that drove boys nuts.

She arched her eyebrow. Well, you do don't you?

I nodded. Yes.

She tapped her wrist where a watch would be. Since when?

I put my hands together and pulled them apart, then gestured at her then me. Since we first got separated, during Derek's second Change.

She lifted her eyebrows. Really?

I nodded and smiled. Yup and I'm crazy about him.

She smiled. Cool. Happy for you.

She walked into the bathroom and I headed for the kitchen to get some orange juice before bed. As I walked in, Simon and Derek were sitting at the table, snacking.

"Where are the glasses?"

"Cupboard to your left." Simon answered around his apple. He hadn't looked up yet and neither had Derek, so they had not seen my "nightgown".

I reached up to get one and heard two gasps and no one munching anymore. I looked over my shoulder to see that both boys were staring at my…ass. The tee shirt had lifted to reveal my underwear, my light blue, lacy underwear. They looked like boy shorts, just made out of thick lace. You couldn't see anything, but…oops.

Oh, well. I got my glass and turned around. "You see something you like, boys?"

They both blushed furiously and looked down. I chuckled and got out the juice. I got some and sat down at the table, silently, just drinking my juice.

Simon cleared his throat. "Um…Chloe did you forget something?"

I fought a smile. "Not that I can remember. Why, did I?"

"Shorts?"

"Um, I don't have any. This is the only thing that I had to sleep in. It's not my fault that it's kinda short. Blame your brother." I smiled at him and continued to sip at my juice.

"What do you mean blame Derek?"

"I don't have any clean clothes right now and I asked Derek if I could borrow a tee shirt. This is the one that he lent me."

I glanced at Derek and smiled. He blushed harder.

He cleared his throat. "So, how did it go with your father?"

My smile got even bigger. "It was great. I learned a little about my mom and I learned about my demon half. I can now touch a ghost, and hear, see, and smell better. I'm stronger and immune to most viruses, including the werewolf virus. My new powers are that I can control the elements, I can do witch and sorcerer magic, telekinesis, and flash travel. Oh, and I can transform into a wolf."

On that last bit, Derek choked on his water. "Do what!"

"I. Can. Turn. Into. A. Wolf-fa."

"How…how is that possible?" Derek looked dumbfounded.

"Like this." I quickly morphed into my wolf form, still sitting in the chair.

Simon squeaked and Derek's eyes about fell out of his head.

I barked and looked at Derek.

"Holy shit." He still looked shocked. "You can turn into a wolf."

I turned back into me, and looked at the boys, then took a sip of my juice. It was some great orange juice.

"Um, Chloe…why were you red?"

"I asked my dad that same question. It's part of my demon genes. Dad's true form has red skin. He said that I found my true animal form, and that's why I'm red. I'm going to bed. Night."

I made it about halfway to the living room when I got a brilliant idea. I smiled at Derek and Simon and made the universal sign for "shush". I changed into my wolf and walked into the living room.

Tori was laying on the couch, turned away from me. Perfect. I snuck up behind her…I jumped, landing on her. She screamed and fell off the couch. I was still sitting on the couch. She sat up and glared at me. Realizing that there was a wolf sitting on the couch, and not a person, she squealed and ran to the kitchen.

I transformed back and then I fell off the couch…from laughter. The boys came in the room laughing. Tori had explained what happened. She followed, glaring at me.

Once I got myself under control, I stood up and faced Tori. "Sorry, Tori. I couldn't resist."

She smiled. "I would have done something, too. You're forgiven."

We all headed to bed, Derek on the floor and Simon and Tori on the huge sectional. I nodded and walked over to the love seat. I burrowed under the covers, falling asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Sometime later, I heard someone whimpering and thrashing. I turned over and saw that that someone was…Derek. He growled and thrashed some more. I got up and hurried over to him. He was lying on his back, shifting in between thrashing and whimpering with the occasional growl mixed in. I knelt next to him, placing my hand gently on his shoulder.

"Derek." I called softly.

He just thrashed some more. "Derek." I called softly again, this time brushing his hair back.

He jolted awake. Seeing me there, he grabbed me and held me tight. I laid there on his chest, offering what comfort I could. I stroked his arm, whispering to him that he was okay that everyone was safe, that he was safe.

He finally let me go, standing up, pulling me with him. He walked into the kitchen. He doesn't look okay. I followed and saw him standing at the sink, staring out the window. I could smell blood. I looked and saw him clenching his fists, with a few drops of blood falling off his hand.

I walked over to him, taking his fist in my hands. "Derek…"

He looked down at me. "Derek…stop, you're making yourself bleed."

I uncurled his fingers. There were four crescent marks in the middle of his palm. I got a wet paper towel and washed it off. I knelt down and cleaned up the few drops of blood on the floor. I led him to the table and gestured for him to sit. Surprisingly, he did. I got him a glass of water and sat down across from him, silently, waiting for him to explain.

"I…I…" This was the first time that I have ever seen Derek at a loss for words.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I want you to know that you're starting to worry me."

"What do you mean?"

"Derek, when you got hurt and were unconscious, you started thrashing and whimpering, then you called out for me. And just now, you were thrashing again, whimpering, and growling. After I woke you up, you held me like I was a lifeline. And just now, when I walked in here, you had clenched your fist so tight that you drew blood. What's going on?"

"I called out for you?"

"That isn't the point and you know it."

Derek nodded, taking a deep breath. "I only remember bits and pieces of what I saw while unconscious. I saw me chained to a wall, and those Daimons, they…they were taking you apart piece by piece, feeding on you. I couldn't do anything to save you. And just now, I was being held back by some rogue werewolves and Liam and Ramon were holding you down, taking turns…I could do nothing. I was helpless while you were hurt over and over again, calling for me. I couldn't get to you. It felt so real…" I could see tears well up. I got up and walked over to him, hugging him. He was almost as tall as me while he was sitting down, so his head rested in the crook of my neck. He inhaled deeply, hugging me to him tightly. I stroked his hair and lightly rubbed his back.

"I'm fine, Derek. I'm safe. None of it was real. Liam and Ramon are nowhere even close to here. Those Daimons are dead. You were the one that kept them off of me until we could get help. You have kept me safe throughout our whole journey, and I know that, as my friend, you would do anything to help me. I have faith in you. I know that you feel helpless about a few things concerning me, but you have always been there to help me. You ground me; you help me focus so that I can do what needs to be done. That is real. We are safe."

I pulled back, looking him in the eye. "Der, we are safe."

He nodded and hugged me once more before pulling back, letting me go.

I tugged on his hand, silently asking him to come with me. I led him into the living room and he went to his bedding, lying down. He still looked uneasy and still a little upset. I made a quick decision, grabbing my pillow and blanket, I went over to where he was laying. He looked a little surprised…but relieved that he didn't have to sleep alone. I lay down next to him, under my covers (just so that we didn't get into trouble in the morning). He wasn't sure what to do, so I grabbed his hand and pulled his arm around my waist. He pulled me closer and I snuggled into his chest, getting comfortable, content and sleepy.

"Night, Der."

"Night, Chloe. Thank you." He buried his nose in my hair.

"Mmhmm." I felt asleep listening to his strong heart beat, safe in his arms.

Like it? Love it? Hate it? Did I go too overboard on Derek's reaction to his nightmares? I don't think that I did, but please let me know. While writing it, I thought of how I would feel if I had the nightmare that I had to watch someone that I cared deeply for raped and tortured in front of me. Tears would be involved. So, I figured that a mate, someone who had that deep a connection to someone would be tearful. Oh, and what about Chloe's conversation with her dad? What did you think?

P.S.-If you're wondering why Chloe was so bold or confident, it was because of her demon half. She felt useful, she felt that she could actually contribute to the group and this made her self-esteem rise and some of her inhibitions fall.

I feel evil. Chloe and Derek are getting closer, but they aren't together yet. Soon, but not yet. Lemony goodness is on the way. I promise. This is rated M after all. :D

Please, please review. Please push the pretty blue button and leave me a note.