Disclaimer: "I do not own Teen Wolf. The show, the characters, and any quotes from the show belong to Jeff Davis and his amazing team of writers. I only own Nixie, and anything I make her do or say."

Chapter 10: Episode 1x10

"By the way McCall…"

Scott turns to where Danny is getting dressed and ready to leave. They won the game, they were going to state; and it should totally be a great night and one to celebrate.

But Scott can't find Nixie or Stiles right now. They never showed up to the game. He has to figure out what that means and where they went.

Sighing, but pulling himself together, he gives Danny a look of wonder, asking silently what it is that he wants. Danny just grins and says, "Apology accepted."

Blinking in confusion, Scott says, "I didn't apologize." "Every time you got the ball tonight, you passed it to me."

Oh yeah, he had. Though he hadn't really thought it would be that obvious at the time. Shrugging, trying to play it off, Scott says, "Every time I passed it to you, you scored."

Danny slings his bag over his shoulder, and smirks again before saying, "Apology accepted."

Scott smiles back at him, and then is getting ready to dress too, when Danny says, "You're really lucky you know." Turning back to him, Scott asks, "How?" Danny just smiles again and says, "Nixie, man. That you have her the way you do. You're lucky. Because I don't even have her… but when I was with her earlier today, I still felt like that woman would climb mountains for me if I asked."

Nodding to Scott again, he says, "And if I feel that way, I sure I can't imagine half of what she'd be willing to do for you. You're lucky man."

Scott smiles again and says, "Yeah, I know. Thanks." "See you around McCall."

And of course, that is when all hell breaks loose.

Stiles nearly falls down on his way into the locker room. Everyone else was gone now, but Scott's bike was still there at the school, so they knew he was still inside.

Nixie rolls her eyes as she follows in more calmly behind him while Stiles says to Scott, "Dude, we have a huge problem."

"Trust me. I know."

For a moment Scott still doesn't move, but he finally looks up when Nixie bends down in front of him. She just stares at him for a moment, and then says gently, "Finish getting dressed Scott. You fill us in first on the way home. We'll go after you."

He does as she says, and when he gets back outside, she's already loaded his bike into the back portion of Stiles' jeep. Sliding into the passenger seat with them, he waits for Stiles to start driving, and then sighs and says, "First… Jackson is giving me seventy-two hours to give him what he wants, which is the bite. I've confirmed that now. And he's also trying to piss me off by saying that if I give it to him in time, he'll help me get Alison back, and if I don't he's going to take her to the winter formal."

Nixie makes a note that at some point in the near future, she's going to break Jackson's nose. She's not even going to threaten him before doing it. He'll already know at least one reason why she's breaking his perfect face, and when she does it, maybe he'll take it a little more seriously.

Scott then says, "Second… the alpha is Peter, Derek's uncle. They came to see me after the game. And…"

"They?" Scott turns to look at Nixie, and then nods and says, "Both of them. Derek is on Peter's side now. And before you ask, yes, I reminded him about the fact that Peter killed Laura. Derek said that's been explained as an accident." "An accident?!"

Scott nods and says, "Thank you so much for having the same reaction to that as I did. But Derek swears that it happens, at least with their kind. Something about Peter's mind still being out of whack or something because of the fire. Anyway… Peter still wants me to kill all of you, and he wants me to help him kill everyone responsible for the fire. And he knows about Alison. That I'm in love with her, I mean."

Nixie, fuming in the backseat now, asks, "How does Peter know about Alison?" "Derek told him."

And as Stiles fills in Scott on what happened with them that night, Nixie sends a text message to Derek's phone.

He's not with Peter when he sees it, so Peter doesn't get to feel the sense of loss that started to sink into Derek's bones when he read…

"You helped him hurt Scott. You told him about Alison. You're taking the side of a psychotic, murderous, evil alpha. One that would've killed me and Stiles if you hadn't left with him. So the only reason you aren't already on my hit list, is because you probably saved me and Stiles lives.

But if you help him hurt either of my boys, or anyone else I care about… I'm going to end you.

Don't you dare fucking call me. Asshole."

As Lydia and Alison are walking through the woods, Alison with her bow and quiver, Lydia in her high heels, Lydia says, "You know, Alison, when you said you needed to stop for an errand before we went shopping, a five-mile hike in the woods was not what I was expecting."

Alison rolls her eyes, but then says, "Before I forget, I wanted to ask if you were okay with something. Jackson asked me to the winter formal."

Lydia nearly trips and falls when she hears that, but quickly recovers and asks, "Did he?" "Yeah. Just as friends. But I just wanted to make sure you're okay with it first." Lydia takes a moment to consider that, knowing that she can't really afford to lose Alison as a friend right now. She'd already lost Jackson and Nixie. She couldn't really lose another one at this point. So she says reluctantly, "Sure. As long as it's just friends."

And Lydia does stop in her tracks for a moment when Alison laughs a little and says, "Well, yeah, I mean… It's not like I would take him to the coach's office during lacrosse practice to make out with him or anything." "Uh… about that…"

Alison glances back at her briefly, and then says, "Nixie told me."

Because Nixie had. It was a very long winded text message on her phone that detailed how while Lydia was telling Alison one thing about that night at the school, she had told Scott something else altogether. Lydia had been playing with them, was what the text ended up explaining.

And then of course, it told Alison that Nixie didn't want Alison to call her about it, or for anything else unless it was an emergency. Which told Alison that she was in very dangerous territory of being exactly where Lydia was now… Nixie-less.

Alison hasn't even known Nixie for more than a couple months now… but she can already feel the void that is the place where she used to stand. Nixie was usually somehow always there when you needed her to be. Sometimes without you even asking her to be there. And now… because Alison was still hanging out with Lydia, Alison could also feel more of what life would be like without Nixie as a friend.

Nixie had said from the beginning that she would be an impossibly hard friend to replace. Now Alison knew that she'd been one-hundred percent right when she'd said that.

So Alison knew she just had to be patient. Something would happen that would make it possible for them to be good friends again, she just knew it.

Until then, she had Lydia… who was for once being quiet and not being a force to be reckoned with, considering Alison was now aware that Lydia had made out with Scott.

Lydia was going to have to make that up to her, and Alison had an idea of just how she was going to get Lydia to do that.

Scott, from the backseat of the jeep the next day, asks, "Is driving so fast really necessary?"

Nixie was behind the wheel, and Stiles was wearing his seatbelt for once as she flew down the road in his baby. Patting the dashboard, as though that would hold her together, Stiles agrees, "Yeah, is it? I mean… we don't like Jackson… right?" Nixie gives them both a look and says, "Your jeep will be fine. And yes, we need to go this fast, before Argent does something stupid enough to make me want to hurt him too."

As they squeal down the ramp and then into the open space next to Jackson's car, Stiles and Scott both end up leaning forward and then landing back in the seat. Sighing in relief that they're done driving for the moment, Stiles then turns with a grin towards Chris and Jackson and says, "What's up?"

Scott leans forward, looking at them as well, and then asks, "Everything okay?"

Chris, nods to Scott, but then looks to Nixie in the front seat, who had yet to take her eyes off the road in front of her. Taking a breath, he says smoothly, "Hey Scott. Your friend was just having car trouble. We're just taking a look."

The bark of harsh laughter from the driver's seat pulls all their attention that way, and Chris can see Nixie's hands on the wheel, squeezing so tightly that her knuckles are turning white.

She was pissed. Probably at him. Damn it.

Stiles turns back to them, glancing at the car, and says, "Wow. Tough break." Scott then adds, "There's a shop right down the street. I'm sure they have a tow truck." Stiles nods, "Yeah. You want a ride?"

Jackson hesitates as Stiles and Scott move to let him get in. Stiles rolls his eyes and says, "Come on Jackson, you're way to pretty to be out here all by yourself."

Jackson still hesitates, Chris' hand still near the back of his neck, and at this point, it kind of feels more threatening than anything else.

That's when Nixie finally turns her gaze from the road, and Chris' hand and whole body actually leans away from Jackson at the glare he sees there. Then Nixie turns to Jackson and says, "Get in the jeep."

He finally nods and moves towards them, until Chris says, "Guys…"

He cranks Jackson's car with no problems, and then says to Jackson, "Told you I knew a few things about cars."

Then he looks at Nixie and says, "Nixie… I know the boys probably have other places to be, but would you mind coming with me for a bit. I'm sure Alison would love to see you. And I can get you home afterwards as well."

Nixie raises an eyebrow and says, "I'm hanging out with my boys today." Chris nods and says, "Alison… could use a friend right now."

She stares at him all of a moment longer, and then looks to Stiles and Scott. Whispering, she says, "Deal with the pretty boy jackass. Try to make him understand this is serious." Then to Scott, she says, "I'll try to see if Alison's opinion of you can be swayed now. She knows what Lydia did… maybe that'll help." Scott nods his appreciation, and then Nixie hops out and walks over to Chris' car.

He tries to move to the passenger seat, maybe to open her door for her, when she says, "Just get in and drive Argent. Sooner we leave and get to your house, sooner I don't have to deal with you."

As they take off down the road, Chris says, "You're not very subtle with your anger." "I never have been." Glancing at her, he asks, "So, I'm Argent now?" "What was your first clue?" "Nix…" "Only friends get to call me that. We're not friends." "Fine. Nixie. What do you want me to do, huh?" "Not be an ass for starters." "I'm not being an ass!"

He actually pulls over on the side of the road and Nixie turns to look at him when he does. Leaning towards her, he says, "I… I have a code. I do everything by this code. It's a way of life, and it's a necessary one. I…" "Bull shit."

He blinks, and then Nixie leans closer to him. "Argent… you're little code is fucked up. If it has you tampering with teenagers' cars so you can get them all alone to threaten them and question them. If it has you bashing in innocent peoples' windows."

Chris watches as her eyes actually take on a sad quality as she adds, "If it has me calling you Argent instead of Chris… it's fucked up. And you should seriously reconsider it."

Leaning back into her seat, she sighs and says, "I can respect a man with a code. Just not when it's fucked up."

Silence for a moment, and then Chris starts the car again and pulls back onto the road. And he lets it remain silent for a while.

Then Nixie says, "I have a code too Argent. What's yours?"

He glances at her, and then says, "We hunt those who hunt us."

Nixie nods, and then sighs when he asks, "What's yours?"

"Family… above all else. You protect your family, no matter what." Turning to look at him, she says, "And I don't mean blood family. I mean the family you choose for yourself."

Nodding back behind them, Nixie says, "Those two boys, my boys… they're my family. I chose them."

Chris nods, and then freezes for a second when she says, "And I will kill, destroy, or beat down anyone that tries to take them away from me." "Kill?" Nodding, she adds, "Painfully, if I can manage it. But yes… kill is on the list of options." "Rather violent."

"Yeah, well, when you're this short, people don't take your threats seriously if you don't make them violent enough."

And Argent can't help but smile a little at that, and he lets the silence reign for the remainder of the trip to his house.

When they get there though, Mrs. Argent says that Alison and Lydia went for a quick hike before they were going to go shopping that evening. Chris sighs and says, "Sorry Nixie. I didn't realize…" But Nixie shrugs and says, "It's alright." "Well… here, let me get you…"

But Nixie's phone rings, and on the other end, Stiles says, "Hey! My dad is here, and he's got case files all over the dining room table. And I need help getting him to talk to me about them. Can you…" "On my way." "Thanks!"

Hanging up, she looks at Chris and asks, "Think you can drop me off at Stiles' house." "Sure."

Just then, Kate walks out the door. Seeing Nixie, she smiles and says, "Ah… one of Alison's friends. Now, I believe we have met once before. You would be…"

Chris doesn't miss how, though Nixie tolerated his presence and would speak to him civilly if she stuck around long enough, Nixie's relaxed posture vanished and her lips turned down in a stern frown upon Kate's appearance.

And before Kate can finish speaking, Nixie says, "I don't like you."

All three adults turn to look at her at that, but Nixie doesn't care. She simply then adds, "So I don't care if you know who I am."

Turning back to Chris' car, she says, "If you need to talk to them a minute, I'll wait."

But Kate calls out, "Why don't you like me? You don't even know me."

Turning back to Kate, Nixie says, "I know enough. It's in your eyes." "My eyes? You can't…"

Alison and Lydia were returning to the house finally, when Alison pauses by the front door and asks softly, "Nixie?"

Lydia jumps to her side as well, and then they both listen as she marches up to Kate and starts talking.

Nixie stares at Kate for a moment, and Kate actually can't believe it when she feels herself becoming unnerved under this freshman's gaze. Then Nixie says, "You find pain fun. You enjoy causing it even. It's all a game to you."

Shaking her head sadly, Nixie says, "I have no time for people who think life is a game. And I certainly have no time for people who I think aren't good to be around my friends. So I don't like you. There's something wrong with you. And I'm fairly certain there's nothing you'll ever do to change my mind on that point."

Kate stares back, and then says, "You can't tell that from a glance." "I can actually. I've been doing it since I was a kid. My mom used to call it a sixth sense. I just know which people are worth or worth getting to know, and I know which ones aren't and which ones to try and keep away from."

Smirking a little, she adds, "And I know which ones are going to become family. That's why I latch on so quickly to people that matter to me. And it's why it hurts so much if I have to consider letting them go."

She turns back to the car, but then pauses when Chris asks, "Is that what you're doing to Alison? Letting her go."

To Alison's relief, she hears Nixie say, "No. Your daughter just isn't family yet. And Alison also happens to still be Lydia's friend, so that makes it more difficult to be around her right now. But no… I'm not letting Alison go."

Chris nods and says, "But you let Lydia go."

The silence between them has Lydia struggling to see Nixie's face. And what she sees there breaks her heart.

Chris had only known her briefly, but he knew that Nixie wasn't really a person who cried a lot, particularly in front of other people. But Lydia… Lydia was still like an open wound for Nixie. It had hurt to let her go. It still hurt, to not have her anymore.

But finally, Nixie nods and says, "Yes. I let Lydia go. I had too." "Why?" Nixie smiles sadly and says, "I could only handle so much of the fake Lydia to begin with. Then fake Lydia started messing with and hurting people who were already family. So… something had to give. And she wouldn't… she wouldn't quit. She wouldn't give. So I had to."

Chris then asks, "And is there any chance that she can fix that?" Nixie shrugs and says, "That's up to her I guess."

She then glances between the three adults, and then asks, "Any other questions, or am I done being interrogated?" Chris chuckles a little and says, "Sorry. Let me get you to your boy."

And he feels a little relieved when Nixie grins at him before sliding back into his car. Nixie didn't like Kate. He'd need to look into the 'why' of that later. But she didn't hate him yet. He had time to get back in her good graces.

Now he just needed to make sure he didn't screw up again. No pressure.

At Stiles house, Nixie glances from the whiskey bottle to the empty glass on Noah's table, and then hisses at Stiles, "Are you getting him drunk on purpose?" Stiles nods absentmindedly, but then leans forward before turning around to make sure she isn't about to hit him in the head. Holding up his hands, he hisses back, "It got him talking. I mean… look at this."

He shows her the 'mug shot' of Derek that they had, which Nixie tilts her head at and asks, "What the hell is the flare up on the camera?" "His eyes. Derek's blue glowing eyes. It stops them from getting a good picture of him!" Nixie nods and says, "Convenient. What else?" "This! Look."

Stiles hands Nixie some files and says, "The bus driver? He was originally an insurance investigator. He was assigned to the Hale house after the fire. And this… the video store clerk, the one working the night Jackson and Lydia were there? He was a convicted felon. Want to guess what was on his record? Arson. Same as those two bozos that ended up dead after they bugged us in the woods. Both had previous records, both with arson."

Nixie nods as she looks over what he hands her, and then says, "So… maybe they were all involved with the fire." "Exactly! That's what I'm…" He glances back at his inebriated dad, and then says softer, "That's what I was thinking too." Nixie nods, moving so she's between Stiles and his dad at the table. Glancing over everything, she then asks, "Okay, so would there be any reason to go after Laura? I mean…"

Noah slaps her gently on the back and says, "That's one of the questions. So many questions, but that's one of them. She had nothing to do with the fire. So why would Derek go after her? I just… it doesn't make sense."

Nixie stares at him for a second, his words so slurred that it's amazing she can understand what he's saying. Glancing back at Stiles, she says, "You gave him way too much." Stiles nods, already knowing that, and then adds, "And I've already come to the conclusion that I will be spending eternity in the lowest circle of hell for it."

He does smile though when Nixie says gently, "Hell has to go through me first to get you. No worries." "Thanks."

Turning back to Noah, who has grabbed her wrist, Nixie asks, "What?" "The cougar. You remember when it came to the school?" "Yeah." Noah points at her and says, "I checked with animal control. Did you know that occurrences of while animals coming out into the public has shot up by seventy percent in the last few months? It's like… It just doesn't make any sense. Them coming out of the woods on their own."

Nixie nods, and then says to Stiles, "Or something's scaring them out." Stiles nods at that, and then says, "I'm gonna call Scott."

To his dad, Stiles says, "I've got to make a call dad. I'll be right back." Noah looks at him and says, "You know, I miss talking to you. It's like we never have…" "Right back dad. I'm sorry."

Noah sighs and says, "I do. I miss it. And I miss your mom."

Stiles freezes where he's standing, and then turns back around in time to see Nixie catch the glass before it can fall off the table. Back to his dad, he asks, "What? What did you say?" Noah sighs, very drunk, but then says, "I do. I miss her."

Noah's about to pour another glass for himself, when Nixie grabs the bottle gently and helps him lower it back to the table. He sighs again, but smiles softly and says, "Thanks." Nixie gently runs a hand through his hair and says, "You should try to get some sleep Noah."

She helps Stiles get him up the stairs and into bed. And as Stiles removes his boots before pulling a blanket over him, Nixie's phone vibrates and she leaves the doorway to answer it. "Scott?" "He was here!"

Stiles is slowly closing his dad's door, when Nixie motions for him to hurry up while she asks, "Where? Where are you?" "I'm at home! But he's not here now!" "Where did he go?" "He took my mom!"

Nixie freezes for all of a second, and then says to Stiles, "Get your keys. Now."

Stiles runs to his room to grab them, and Nixie says to Scott, "Took her where? Into the woods?" "No… he… he took… he's taking her on a date. But I think he plans on turning her like he did me! Nixie… he can't…"

Nixie nods and says, "We won't let him. Stiles! Get your laptop too!" When Stiles returns, Nixie says, "Pull up the site Danny was using before." It takes him a minute, but Stiles finds it, and then asks, "Okay, what? We can't trace a text or anything…" "No, no, don't click that one. Click here."

She shows him where to go, and then says, "Put Melissa's number in there. Hurry Stiles."

He punches it in, and then leans back in surprise and asks, "Wow. How'd you know how to do that?" "Danny told me as a favor for the paper I helped him with. Now I can find you people even if you don't answer me."

To Scott, she says, "We're following them. Call Stiles' phone and get him to help you find us." "What are you gonna do?"

Snatching the keys from Stiles' hands, she says, "I'm driving."

"Oh, are you kidding me?! Stiles!"

Melissa shouted at him immediately, being that it was his jeep and all. But as Stiles half fell and half stepped his way out of the passenger seat, Melissa looked over to see that Nixie was the one driving. Eyes widening, Melissa says, "Nixie! You…" "I'm so sorry Melissa. I… I swear I glanced down for one second… and the next thing I knew…"

Melissa groans and then glares at Stiles when he says, "Me, personally, I honestly don't know what happened. I mean… to me it looked like you guys came out of nowhere. Nixie was just…" Melissa shuts him up for a moment with a look and says, "Out of nowhere! We were parked on the side of the road, Stiles! And you…" She points at Nixie and says, "Why were you driving his jeep?" Nixie shrugs and says, "He was taking too long to get to the jeep in the first place. So I took over driving. I'm faster than him."

Glancing at the back of Peter's car, she adds, "Which in hindsight, may not be an excellent excuse right now." Stiles nods, and then says, "So… I guess we should call the cops. Do an accident report and all that?"

Peter walks up to them and says, "I don't think that's necessary." Nixie rubs the back of her neck and says, "Really? I don't know, I'm feeling a little whiplash." Stiles nods and concurs with her, to which Melissa says, "Whiplash? You hit us!"

As Melissa continues berating them, Nixie listens as Peter turns away and whispers, "I know you're there Scott, and I'm impressed. Especially with your girl Nixie. Certainly doesn't take her long to come up with an excuse on the fly does it? It's a shame not all teenagers are that smart. Like your friend… Jackson. He thinks he knows all about us. And you know what they say… about how knowledge is power. Well… not in his case."

Nixie watches as Scott takes off, but she personally isn't going to go after Jackson herself. Scott can warn him. Nixie has to deal with Melissa.

Who is pointing at her again while saying, "And we are having that talk? Where's Noah?" Nixie sighs and says, "He's sleeping. And I'm sure come morning he'll agree with you. For now though, the man really needs his rest. Trust me on that."

Melissa stares at her for a moment, and then sighs and says, "Fine. But I'm serious. By the end of the week. We are talking." Nixie nods and says, "Agreed." "Good, now both of you come here."

She hugs them both tightly and sighs before asking, "Are you two okay?" Nixie and Stiles nod, and then Nixie grips Melissa's arm before she can pull away. Stiles leaves her to continue complaining about whiplash to Peter, who can't do anything right now with so man witnesses.

Wrapping a firm arm around Melissa, holding her tight, Nixie says, "You know how protective I am of Scott and Stiles." Melissa nods, and hugs Nixie in turn when Nixie says, "I'm just as protective of you. So please hear me and know that I do not say this to hurt you. I'm trying to keep you safe."

Leaning back from Melissa, she glances in Peter's direction. Then she says, "You need to go home Melissa. Let Stiles take you if that would be better. But you need to go home."

Melissa stares back at her for a long time, and then asks in a soft and sad whisper, "Are… are you sure? I mean… he seemed so…" "Melissa, please trust me. Go home. And if he calls, don't answer. Please."

It takes a moment more, but Melissa nods, and then calls Stiles over to her so she can ask for a ride, apologizing to Peter repeatedly for their bad luck.

Nixie nods to Stiles to just go. The most important thing right now was getting Scott's mom out of here and away from Peter. That's what mattered. And Scott had only left because he'd known Nixie could get it done.

Hell would freeze over before she left Peter alone right now so he could just stalk Melissa back to her house. Nope. Not gonna happen.

Turning to Peter, she leans back against his car and says, "So… accident report? I'm pretty sure you're the one that has to call it in. Since I hit you and all." Peter stares at her for a while, and then moves to stand next to her. Sighing, he says, "Perhaps I chose poorly when I picked Scott to be my first. I mean… in my defense, I was still out of my mind then." "You don't seem to be in your right mind now either."

He smirks a little, and then leans closer to her and says, "Perhaps I should've chosen you. After all… you weren't the one who freaked out so much that you fell down the hill." Nixie nods and says, "I'm also the one who bashed you in the head with a big ass stick. And I'll gladly do it again."

Peter chuckles and says, "I'm stronger now." "I don't care." "Maybe you should. I was careless then. I'm not so careless anymore." "You're desperate."

Peter frowns at that, turning to look at her. But Nixie just shrugs, and then says, "And desperate men always make mistakes." Standing up from the car, she says, "So… if you aren't calling the police, I have places to be." "Such as..." "Literally anywhere you aren't is a place I'd rather be."

Peter chuckles again, and then says, "Yes… I do believe I should've chosen you." "I really don't think it would've worked out for you the way you think." "And why is that?" "Because both of those boys, the one you're trying to kill and the one you're trying to claim… they belong to me. They're my boys."

Coming closer, surprising him with how close she's willing to get, Nixie then says, "And at the rate you're going at them… I would've already killed you myself by now. In the light of day. In the hospital. While there wasn't anything for you to do about it."

Leaning back, Nixie then starts strolling away, but shouts back to Peter, "Leave my boys alone Peter. The water you're stepping into is about to get incredibly dangerous otherwise." "I'll have you know my dear, I'm an excellent swimmer."

And though she's farther away now, he doesn't miss when she grumbles, "You're going to have to be if you want to survive the hurricane I plan on bringing down on your ass."

On her bike, she hadn't even made it out of town yet, when her phone rang. Picking it up, she says, "Hey Scott. Did you manage to save Jackson's sorry ass?" "Nixie…"

She brakes hard and turns around, heading for one of the bike paths that would eventually get her to the woods and closer to Scott. "Scott? Where are you?" "I… I'm not sure… I'm… I've been shot." "You've been what?!"

Nixie doesn't stop riding her bike down the trail. She keeps on pedaling as she enters the woods. And yes, she knows there's a good chance she's going to flatten her tires out here, but it'll be worth it. "Scott, talk to me. Give me something. What's around you?" "I… I can't… I'm not sure… it's all… it's just…" "Anything Scott. Where were you when you started running?" "Hale house."

Gritting her teeth, she then asks, "And when you started running, which way did you leave the house?" "Out the back, I think." Nixie turns sharply to her right, frightening a rabbit from it's hiding place in a bush, and then pedals straight into the woods in the direction Scott should be in. "Listen Scott. I'm coming okay. You just hang on." "Nixie…" "Yeah?"

"Where's Alison?"

Nixie rolls her eyes and says, "I currently don't know. And look, I know you love her, but don't worry about that right now. Just keep talking to me." "Alison…" "Scott? Scott… Scott!"

She hangs up when he refuses to answer after a full two minutes. Pocketing her phone, she feels her legs begin burning as she continues to push the pedals as fast as she can.

Note to self, Nixie needs to get the motorcycle up and running. Like… yesterday.

She does finally find him though. Lying on the ground, shot to hell, and black ooze and filth leaking from his mouth and wounds. Dropping her bike and scrambling over to him on weak legs, she says, "Scott… hey Scott. Scott, wake up. Come on damn it. Wake up."

His eyes open for the briefest of moments, and he reaches up to touch her face and he says, "Hey… you… I know you." "Obviously you idiot. What the hell happened?" But his eyes shut and he drops down to the ground again. Gritting her teeth, she says, "Scott… you have to wake up."

But he won't. He can't.

Grabbing him under his arms, Nixie does what she can to start dragging him out of the woods. But even if she manages to make it to the road, she isn't sure what good that would do. She's already tried calling Stiles, but he isn't answering. Melissa is probably still giving him a lecture on how he should not ruin peoples' dates by slamming into their cars… even though Stiles wasn't the one driving.

The only other person she even might've called is Derek… and that's not even an option right now. Derek is with Peter. Stupid, hateful, and not even that handsome Peter. Seriously, what did anyone else already see in this guy. Nixie didn't think he looked very nice at all. In fact… he reminded her of Kate. Only worse. Yeah… Peter was definitely worse.

Nixie has managed to drag him a good ways when she pauses upon hearing someone ask, "Nixie?"

Dropping Scott gently to the ground, she moves in front of him protectively, and then asks, "Who's there? Show yourself right now."

She was honestly expecting more resistance. But Deaton just came out from where he'd been hiding a moment ago. Walking up to her, he asks, "What are you doing here?"

For a moment, Nixie has no earthly idea what to say. I mean, Stiles at least had suspected him of being the alpha at one point. Could they trust Deaton? Was that smart? What could she tell him? Would he even believe her?

Nixie would've liked more time to think about that, and all the bad repercussions that might occur with saying anything to Deaton at all. But… she didn't have a choice, and she didn't have time. Scott was shot… quite possibly dying from the look of it. And Deaton was here. And even though Stiles had suspected the man of dark secrets… Nixie still looked at him and saw a friend.

And that's what she needed desperately right now. A friend.

Grabbing his arm, she says, "Save him. Please."

When Scott's eyes finally burst open and he wakes up with a coughing fit, Nixie moves behind his head in a second and gently cradles it in her hands. He relaxes instantly upon seeing her face, and then looks to Deaton when he says, "I wouldn't get up just yet Scott."

He looks around blearily, and then looks up at Nixie and asks, "Where am I?" Nixie shushes him and says, "You're somewhere safe. That's all that matters right now. Okay?"

Scott nods, and Deaton smiles gently at them. Scott had been shot with wolfsbane bullets. And even though Deaton had gotten them out and was fixing him… he had still expected Scott to ask more questions, be more frantic.

But at Nixie's words and at the sight of her, Scott was calm. It was a good thing, in that sense, that Nixie had insisted on staying. Deaton had tried to send her home to rest, but she refused outright, and the look she'd given him was so severe, he didn't dare try to send her away again. Instead, he just pulled a chair up for her from another room, and had her sit at least while she waited for Scott to wake up.

Deaton wipes up some more of the blood, and says, "I've also given him something to speed up the healing process. He should be fine soon." Nixie nods and says, "Thanks Doc." Scott looks over at Deaton and says, "But you're a vet." Deaton nods and adds, "That's very true. And ninety percent of the time, I'm mostly treating cats and dogs."

Scott, still weary, asks, "Mostly?" "Mostly."

Nixie looks up at Deaton, wondering at the mysterious way his voice has changed and at his cryptic answer. But the man's smile is gentle, and she still doesn't feel the need to worry about him hurting Scott. He was helping. He was a friend. He always had been.

Rubbing Scott's temples gently, soothing him what little she could, Nixie says, "Rest Scott. Everything is fine right now. I promise." And with those words of reassurance Scott rested his head back down, and went back to sleep.

Nixie didn't let go of him until Deaton had finished bandaging him up. And when Deaton came back, he had a blanket and a pillow with him. Pulling the chair up closer to Scott's side, he guides her into it and says, "He's going to be alright." "You're sure?"

He smiles gently and says, "Yes. I'm very good at what I do." Nixie nods, and then sighs and says, "I'm not leaving." "I know. Hence the pillow." "And you'll wake me up when he does?" "If he doesn't wake you up himself, yes I'll wake you."

Nodding and relaxing a little, Nixie rests her head on the pillow and says a soft, "Thank you Deaton." "You're welcome dear. Get some rest."

As she falls asleep, Deaton steps up to the windows and glances out at the sky. Storm clouds seemed to be building far outside the edge of town… but they also seemed stuck. It had been happening more frequently as of late. They clouds would build and the skies around the town would darken… but the rain and storms would never actually come.

Putting a hand to his chin, Deaton says softly to himself, "Curious. Very curious indeed."

Chapter 10! Yay. Chapter 11 and 12 will hopefully be posted tomorrow. (Again, no promises, but I'm going to try.) Hope you're loving the journey as much as I did while writing it. Let me know. :)