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Lacy here! Who's ready for some good ol' Erica and Effie get along? Awesome! Cause we have a bit of it in this chapter. Should balance out the conversation with John, though, not sure anything can balance that out. Not even Effie standing with Stiles when it happens. Yeah, that'll suck serious ass. Not a lot else on the positive front, outside of Effie and Erica. So read on!
Disclaimer: I own only Effie.
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"Derek, are you sure about this?" Effie spoke into her phone as she drove to school. "He's been so hell bent on doing this himself and suddenly, he wants to be pack and help us?"
"It's weird, I know." Derek agreed from the other end of the line. "But at the rate people are dying and Jackson is kicking our asses, we need all the help we can get."
Effie sighed. "Alright, I get it."
"What is it?" Derek asked.
Effie pulled into a parking spot and leaned back in her seat. "Something about this feels off. I dunno, maybe I'm being paranoid."
"Your feelings haven't led us wrong yet," Derek pointed out. "If it gets worse, let me know. We've gotta watch our backs, no matter what Scott might be up to."
Effie nodded. "Okay, I'm at school so I'll talk to you later."
After a shared 'I love you', Effie hung up and climbed out of her jeep. She headed towards the steps of the school and was met with Erica holding up three tickets.
"And these are?" Effie asked.
Erica handed her one. "These are how you, Isaac and I are getting into the rave. Derek and Scott's plan needs us all there and Derek wants you there to make sure someone has an eye on you at all times. Just to be safe."
Effie gave the ticket a glare that was aimed at her boyfriend. "And he couldn't have mentioned that on the phone two minutes ago."
"Communication isn't his strong suit, I've noticed." Erica commented, lacing her arm through Effie's. "Not with his mouth, anyway. Those eyebrows on the other hand,"
Effie laughed. "They need their own subtitles."
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"Effie! Let's go!"
Effie rolled her eyes as she struggled to tie the satin fabric that would hold her halter top up. "Come help me and I'd be moving faster!"
Stiles let out a whining sound before appearing in the doorway. "Aren't we a bit exposed, baby sis?"
Effie gave him a look, handing over the ties. "It's a rave, Stiles. Not Sunday church. I may not be going to actually take part in it but I do need to blend in." And for that, she was wearing a lilac mini skirt with a violet halter and gray knee high, low heeled boots. "Take a deep breath, though," she grabbed a sheer white long sleeve button up. "I'm not going completely like this. Derek would have a heart attack before we catch Jackson."
Stiles smirked as he moved back to the door. "I might actually pay to see that any other night."
Effie shook her head and grabbed her phone and small clutch. "Let's go, Batman."
The two headed downstairs and out of the open garage door, only to stop as they took in their dad climbing out of his regular car instead of his police cruiser.
"What's wrong?" Stiles asked.
John shook his head, hands in his pockets. "Nothing,"
Effie frowned. "Where's your gun?"
John sighed. "I left it at the station with my badge."
The twins stared in disbelief. "What?"
"It's alright," John said. "we'll talk about this later."
"Dad," Stiles stepped towards him.
John shook his head. "Don't worry about it."
"Dad," Effie pressed.
John saw their question written on their faces. He turned back to them with a heavy sigh. "It was decided that the son of the police chief stealing police property and having a restraining order filed against him by one of the town's most respected attorneys did not reflect well on the county."
"They fired you." Stiles easily guessed.
Effie hooked her hand around Stiles' elbow as a support and comfort.
"Nah," John tried to reassure the two. "it's just a leave of absence. It's temporary."
"Did they say it was temporary or," Effie started.
"Actually no," John admitted. "But you know, it's fine. Don't worry about it. We're gonna be fine."
"Dad," Stiles stopped the man again. "I-I don't get it. Why aren't you angry at me?"
"I dunno," John shook his head. "Maybe I just don't wanna feel any worse than I already do by, uh, having to yell at my son."
When John turned to go inside this time, the twins let him go. As the garage door closed, Effie looked at Stiles. She could see the tears threatening to appear in his eyes and hugged his arm.
"We're gonna catch Jackson." she said softly. "And then we're gonna do whatever we have to, to get Dad's job back. Even if it means avoiding all supernatural. Scott and Derek included."
Stiles looked down at her. "You'd do that?"
"Blood's thicker than fur," Effie smiled. "at the end of the day, Dad's what matters. Derek will understand."
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"Wow, Momma Wolf went all out,"
Effie turned at Erica's comment. "Would you knock it off? I'm no more dressed up than anyone else here."
Isaac laughed. "Yeah but no one else here has an alpha for a boyfriend. Do you plan on letting Derek see you like that?"
Effie gave her betas a look. "You two and Stiles are going to be the death of me. If Derek has an issue, I'll just remind him that he's the one who wanted me here. Now go," she shooed them. "Stiles and I need to take care of our part and you two have yours."
Isaac kissed her head while Erica hugged her. "Be careful."
"Momma Wolf?" Stiles asked as he handed Effie one of the bags of Mountain Ash.
Effie snagged the bag. "Don't you start." she looked at the bag. "Deaton's sure about this stuff?"
Stiles nodded. "Yeah. We just have to make sure we believe it'll work."
Effie shrugged. "My boyfriend's an alpha werewolf, your best friend is one of his betas and there's a giant lizard thing running around killing people. I think I can believe in some fairy dust."
Stiles smirked. "Good, me too."
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Effie and Stiles stared at each other across the fifty foot gap that they had left. Both only had a handful of ash left and it wasn't nearly enough.
"What now?" Effie asked.
"Deaton said we have to believe." Stiles said. "Imagine it can work."
Effie frowned. Imagine? Then a quote from Harris' class popped into her head. Imagination is more important than knowledge. She and Stiles looked at each other again.
"Imagine." they said together. Taking deep breaths, they closed their eyes and started walking, releasing the ash from their hands as they went. Once they felt the last of the ash fall, figuring they hadn't made it, they sighed and opened their eyes, only to find they were face to face and the ash had made it.
Effie smiled. "We did it!"
Stiles gave a celebratory jump and swung Effie around as he hugged her.
"Let's go check on the betas." Effie said.
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Effie grabbed Isaac as he managed to pull himself away from Jackson's grip. She held his injured arm and looked at his eyes, making sure he was okay. He gave her a nod and they turned back to Jackson.
"Kay, no one does anything like that again." Stiles stated. "Okay?"
"I thought the ketamine was supposed to put him out." Isaac said through his pain.
"Yeah well, apparently this is all we're gonna get." Stiles said. "So let's just hope that whoever's controlling him decided to show up tonight."
"I'm here." Jackson suddenly spoke in a weird voice. The four stared in shock. "I'm right here with you."
"So not expecting that," Effie breathed.
Stiles moved closer to Jackson and squatted down. "Jackson, is that you?"
"Us," he said. "we're all here."
Effie exchanged a look with the betas. She was tempted to check Jackson's pockets for mice.
"Are you the one killing people?" Stiles asked.
"We're the ones killing murderers." Jackson said.
"So all the people you've killed so far,"
"Deserved it."
"See, we got a little rule book," Stiles said. "that says you only go after murderers."
"Anything can break if enough pressure is applied."
"Alright, so the people you're killing are all murderers, then."
"All. Each. Everyone."
"Well who did they murder?" Stiles asked.
"Me."
Stiles frowned. "Wait, what? What do you mean?"
"They murdered me."
Jackson's eyes shifted to red with yellow slits and Effie let Erica and Isaac pull her behind them as they moved closer to the door.
"They murdered me."
Stiles shot up and backed away towards the others as Jackson started turning more and moving.
"Okay, alright. More ketamine. The man needs ketamine. Come on,"
"We don't have any more." Isaac held up the empty vial.
Stiles looked at him. "You used the whole bottle?"
Effie and Erica patted Stiles' arm frantically, their eyes locked on Jackson. The half turned kanima was starting to stand up and suddenly bared his teeth, screeching at them.
"Okay out," Stiles started pushing them towards the door. "Everybody out!"
They rushed out and slammed the door shut, pressing their backs against it to hold it closed. Which turned out to be pointless as the kanima came crashing through the metal wall to their left. As he vanished, the four shared one thought.
'So not good.'
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Effie and Stiles made their way out of the warehouse, keeping an eye out for Jackson as they went. Isaac and Erica had started at the other end, making sure all ground was covered. They crossed over the Mountain Ash barrier as Derek came up to them. Effie immediately pressed against his side for a sense of security and found it as he wrapped an arm around her.
"Hey," Stiles greeted the alpha. "so we kinda lost Jackson inside but it's-" He stopped as Isaac and Erica came out, empty handed.
Effie let herself focus on Derek's pulse as Stiles gloated about the barrier working and how he and Effie had actually managed to do something that helped.
"Scott." Derek said suddenly, releasing Effie.
Stiles looked at him. "What?"
"Break it." Derek said, referring to the barrier.
"What?" Stiles protested. "No way!"
"Scott's dying!" Derek insisted.
"Okay, what?" Stiles paused. "How do you know that?"
Derek was getting frustrated. "Stiles, I just know! Break it!"
The twins knelt down and waved their hands over the barrier, creating enough of a wind to scatter the ash out of line, allowing Derek through. He ran off and Stiles looked at Effie.
"What now?" he asked.
Effie watched Derek disappear. "Call Deaton. I get the feeling Scott's gonna need him."
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Resting her head against Derek's, Effie watched Scott fade in and out of consciousness. She sat on Derek's lap as they both held a hand over the bandage on his left forearm, where Victoria Argent had managed to slash at him with her nails.
"Dad got fired," Effie whispered. "because of the restraining order on Stiles and Scott."
Derek let go of the bandage to wrap his arm around Effie. "We'll fix this. All of it. I promise."
Effie pressed her forehead against Derek's temple. "Even if it means we can't be together?"
Derek heard the tears in Effie's voice and shut his eyes. "I believe this is meant to be, Effie, you and me. And I'll do whatever it takes to keep us together, even if some separation is required." he turned his head so his forehead rested against hers. "I love you, just hold on to that and we'll get through this."
Effie gave a small nod. "I will. And I love you too."
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Oi. That's all I can say for this. Oi. Oh, and who else was creeped out by Mr. Harris being at the rave? Yeah, that was just, *shudders* So, things get worse from here, as per usual. Let me know what you think, flame policy stands and thanks for reading! Oh! And let's see if anyone can guess Effie's wolfsbane punch induced vision for the next chapter! Along with the different way Lydia distracts Derek to douse him with the powder.
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