Disclaimer. I don't own anything except my original characters.
Pacing in front of the bathroom, Grace glanced every now and then towards the tub. She could make out Liam's shadow, struggling against his bounds, grunting every now and again. She looked over at Scott and Stiles as they took a seat on the bed, Scott looking bleak as he stared down at his hands, Stiles looking out ahead of him in thought.
Stiles was the first one to speak after the brief moment of silence. "So..you bit him?"
"Yeah." Was all Scott could say.
"And you kidnapped him?"
"…Yeah."
"And you brought him here?" Stiles turned to Scott, who quickly turned to him.
"I panicked."
"Yup." After a beat Stiles continued. "This isn't going to end with us burying the pieces of his body out in the desert, is it?" All three of their heads turned to the bathroom where they could distinctly make out the muffled whimpers of Liam, who didn't really agree to that plan.
"Really Stiles?" Grace admonished, raising her eye brows.
"As a reminder this is why I always come up with the plans. Your plans suck." Grace sighed quickly walking over to the two.
"Ok enough. We need to figure out what the hell were going to do. So, mister-my-plans-are-the-best what do you suggest we do?" Grace asked, raising her eyebrow as both she and Scott stared at Stiles expectantly. Stiles quickly stood to his feet.
"Grace go grab a chair, Scott you're with me." Grace quickly headed down the stairs, grabbing one of the kitchen chairs before lugging it back up to Scotts room. As she made her way in, she heard struggles in the bathroom, a few curse words leaving Stiles as he and Scott moved out of the bathroom, both of them hauling a still duct taped Liam. They quickly settled him in the chair, all three of them starring at the bound boy.
"Liam were going to take the tape off your mouth. If you scream it goes right back on, if you talk quietly it stays off. Got it?" Stiles asked, watching as Liam's eyes shifted between them. They briefly stayed on Grace and she couldn't help but notice the small bit of hurt and betrayal in his eyes. Hopefully he would understand why they needed to do this. Noticing his small nod, Stiles looked over at Grace. Recognizing the silent permission, she leaned down, gently pulling the tape off as carefully as she could.
"I'm so sorry Liam…about all of this. I swear it will all make sense." She whispered before moving to stand beside Stiles once more.
Stiles nodded to the two of them before he continued. "Okay, Liam, now you've seen a lot of confusing things tonight. And more confusing things are going to happen because of the confusing things that happened tonight. Do you understand?" Grace and Scott looked at each other behind Stiles, both equally confused as to what their friend was trying to say.
Apparently, they weren't the only ones. "Not really" was Liam's answer and Grace couldn't blame him.
Stiles nodded. "Good. That's good."
"We don't understand either." Scott said, Stiles looking over at him before waving towards him. "Maybe you should tell him."
Scott nodded, turning his attention on the freshman. Looking at him, he remembered just how young Liam was. Scott felt a memory tug at the back of his conscious, when he had been in Liam's same shoes (all a bit not kidnapped and duct taped) and how scared and confused he had been. It made the guilt in his chest heavier. He never wanted to drag anyone into this, let alone an innocent kid.
"Tell me what?" Liam's irritation was prevalent as he stared between his three captors.
Scott was the first to speak. "Liam..what happened to you, what I did to you, which I had to in order to save you, its going to change you."
"Unless it kills you." Graces eyes widened as she quickly looked to her best friend. "Shouldn't have said that."
"Seriously Stiles." Grace said, turning when she heard Liam start to cry.
"Is he..is he crying?" Stiles asked stupidly, Grace rolling her eyes as she kneeled in front of him.
"Wouldn't you if someone told you you might die. Think Stiles." She turned her focus back to Liam. "Liam hey you're going to be ok." She said softly, moving her hand to gently grasp his still bound ones as Scott knelt beside her.
"Liam, its okay your going to be ok. You're not going to die." He tried to calm down the scared boy but it wasn't working. It didn't help when Stiles again piped in. "Probably not."
"Oh my god Stiles stop it." Grace glared. "Ok that's it come on were untying him." Grace started on his feet as Scott and Stiles started to untie the rest of him. Once that was done, they backed up, giving him some space as he turned, his back to them.
"Liam you ok?" Scott asked as Liam continued to stand there.
"Were really sorry about this." Stiles said, rubbing the back of his neck. The next few moments happened in a blur. Grace screamed, her and Stiles instinctively jumping back as Liam turned, swinging the chair and connecting with Scott. He grunted, falling into a heap with the shattered chair lying on top of him in pieces.
"Liam, what the hell is your…" Stiles soon joined Scott on the ground, Liam's fist connecting swiftly with his jaw. Lunging towards the door, Grace moved her body in front of it, her hands held out.
"Liam please I know this all sounds crazy but….OWW." She didn't get to finish her thoughts, her body jolting back into the hallway as Liam pushed past her, rushing down the hall. Slowly sitting up, she saw both Scott and Stiles scramble to their feet and out the door as the pair stared Liam down the hallway.
"GET HIM!" The boy's yelled, rushing forward as they tackled Liam, sending all three of them tumbling down the stairs. Rushing to her feet, Grace hightailed it down the stairs, coming to a stop when she saw Stiles and Scott tangled up, both starring out the open door, no Liam in sight.
Grace looked over at Stiles, as they moved to their feet. "Well…guess your plans suck too."
Hell, that was how accurately Grace could describe the next day at school. She had heard about Scotts failed attempts at convincing Liam to trust him, feeling a small weight lifted from her shoulders however when she was told that the bite on his arm had completely healed, a good sign that his body was not rejecting the bite. Now it was just trying to get him somewhere secure that night for the first full moon.
Having Liam in most of her classes, she thought she would be able to try and speak with him but it had not been easy. He actively avoided her, sitting on opposite ends of the classrooms and hurrying out before the bell had fully rung dismissing the class. She noticed his flinches every time they chimed, not yet used to the new abilities.
The only class they didn't have together was French and Grace took that opportunity to ambush him. Waiting by the door as the bell rang, she watched as Liam exited. "Liam."
She saw the way Liam's shoulders tensed as he heard her, but instead of turning around, he continued forward. Pushing through the crowd of students. She quickly caught up to him, reaching down to grasp his wrist.
She was surprised when his other hand moved, gripping her wrist as he wrenched it away, as if he had been burned. "Leave me the hell alone." Grace nearly flinched back at the glare he was sending her. A small part of her was afraid that he would shift right then and there but relaxed when he took a few steps back. "Like I told your friends I'm fine. Now you and them can all leave me alone ok. I don't know what kind of freaky shit you guys are into but I want no part in any of it…including you." With that, he turned, roughly pushing past students as they headed for classes.
She knew it was his anger talking, that his fear and confusion were clouding his mind. But the look he had given her had scared her more than she would let on. His words, however, had stung worse. She moved her hand to wipe at her eyes, feeling the sting of oncoming tears. She didn't have the luxury to cry or be upset. Her mind turned, flipping onto hunter mode, like her uncle and like Allison.
"We protect those who can't protect themselves." She whispered the words like a mantra, almost hearing her cousins voice as she spoke them. In that moment, it was Liam who needed protection. It was Liam who needed help. If they did not come up with a plan quick, she knew they could have a dead body on their hands. Whether that was an innocent bystander…or Liam's, Grace didn't want to find out.