Co-Captain

Artemis took the longest shower of her life after the lacrosse game. The shower was a source of solace for her as the rushing hot water seemed to block out noises and wash away her troubles.

She had her own private stall where no male could enter so she could change and shower before and after practices and games. Tonight's game had been a success. They'd won and were going to state. Everyone was excited and Artemis had gained more of her teammates' favor by passing the ball to them several times during the game.

She'd just dried off and changed into her regular clothes when the lights switched off. Artemis's werewolf senses immediately went up. The lights were dead and there seemed to be no one around, but that could easily change.

She looked around and soon found Derek, looking conflicted. "Derek, what's wrong?" she asked, not liking the look on his face or what she was feeling from him. "What happened?"

Derek just beckoned to behind her with his head.

Artemis turned around was stunned to see Derek's uncle completely healed and up and about. He was examining one of the lacrosse nets.

"I really don't understand lacrosse," said Peter. "When I was in high school, we played basketball. Now there's a real sport."

Artemis's heart skipped a beat when she recognized Peter's scent. "You. You're the Alpha wolf." Derek's uncle was the one responsible for everything that had happened: her being turned, Laura's death, the murders of the other men, everything! She looked at Derek, horrified. Why in the heck was he just letting Peter stand there, talking?

"Still, I read somewhere that lacrosse comes from Native America tribes and that they played it to resolve conflict," said Peter, as though Artemis hadn't spoken. "Is that right?" He frowned and then shrugged before putting the net down. "I have a conflict of my own to resolve, Artemis. But I need your help to do it."

"And what makes you think I want to help you murder people?" she demanded. How could he possibly think she'd willingly help him after all he'd done? He'd turned her, murdered people including his own niece and tried to force her to kill her old pack.

"I'm not murdering anyone. I'm just delivering justice to the responsible ones. You see, Artemis, the people that I killed weren't innocent little humans. Every one of them was involved my family's massacre," said Peter.

"And I'm supposed to believe that? You tried to make me kill my friends, even though they had nothing to do with the Hale Fire!" snarled Artemis.

"That was merely a test. I wanted to see how strong you were," said Peter. "And you passed with flying colors, I'm proud to say. And anyway, it's completely true. I am only after the ones who killed my family. That doesn't have to include, what's-her-name."

"Alison," said Derek.

Artemis couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Derek, I know he's your family, but you can't possibly be on his side. He killed Laura and he's been making my life miserable for weeks! He made me think you were dead! How can you be okay with this?"

"I'm not, but we have no choice," said Derek, gruffly.

"There's always a choice," said Artemis. How can Derek of all people be like this?

"He says Laura's death was an accident," said Derek. "It happens."

"I don't believe that, not for a second," said Artemis, flatly. She'd seen the Alpha in action. There was no way Laura's death was an accident.

"Artemis, please," said Peter. "I think you and I got off on the wrong foot. "All I want to make the responsible ones pay and help you reach your full potential."

"I'm doing a fine job of that without your help, thanks," growled Artemis. She didn't want anything to do with him, least of all have him be her lycanthrope mentor. "And how does killing people help me reach my full potential?"

"Sometimes the people closest to you can be the ones holding you back the most," replied Peter.

"I don't believe that," said Artemis. "And you want to know something else? If they're holding me back from being a psychotic nutcase like you, then I'm fine with that."

Peter just shook his head. "Perhaps you'd understand if I were to show you things from my perspective?" He raised his hand and extended his claws, but Derek grabbed his wrist as he snarled.

"Don't you dare," growled Derek, as his eyes flashed their werewolf blue. "Don't you dare hurt her. If you do, I'll kill you."

"Derek, stop," said Artemis. She didn't want a conflict here and she wanted answers. This was the best way to do it. She turned to Peter. "You can show me, but then I want you to leave."

"I'll leave, for now," said Peter. "Oh, Derek, you might want to hold her. The memories can be a bit overwhelming."

He then plunged one of his claws into the back of Artemis's neck and she inhaled sharply as memories of the last six years hit her like a ton of bricks. She collapsed into Derek's arms and he held her as she saw what had happened—the fire, the coma, and the kills—through Peter's eyes. It wasn't like when she'd seen Derek's memories. It was almost painful.

When it finally ended, she was shaking as Derek rubbed her back.

"You okay, Huntress?" asked Derek.

"I will be," said Artemis, as she swallowed painfully. Peter's memories would give her nightmares for the rest of her life. All that pain, anger and grief she'd felt from him didn't help matters either. "I know he's your uncle, Derek, but I don't trust him."

"I know. I don't expect you to, but trust me. I'm not going let him hurt you, I swear," said Derek, firmly. "We're going to figure this out. I just need a bit of time."

That's something at least. Artemis sighed. "Derek, I need to get some sleep. Would you please take me home?"

"Of course."

Derek drove Artemis home and she went to sleep feeling conflicted and unsure as to what to do.

XXX

The following morning, Artemis and Stiles ended up saving Jackson's hide. Chris had sabotaged Jackson's car in order to get a look at the claw marks on the back of his neck. Jackson almost gave away everything until Artemis and Stiles showed up at just the right time. Right after that, Jackson's car worked perfectly and Chris drove off. Artemis ended up yelling at Jackson to watch himself and to give up the idea of becoming a werewolf or else he was going to get himself killed.

Once that was taken care of, Artemis went into the woods to return Alison's pendant to her. She was almost to Alison's location, when suddenly, Artemis found herself being tasered as she fell onto her back. Being hit was a taser was not fun.

"Artemis? Oh, jeez," said Alison, looking appalled. She put the taser down and helped Artemis. "I'm so, so, so sorry. I was doing target practice and I thought you were a predator."

"Technically, I am one," said Artemis, jokingly. "Seriously, it's okay."

"I am sorry. I didn't know it was you, if I'd known, I wouldn't have pulled the trigger, I swear," said Alison. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. I heal fast," said Artemis, nodding. After being hit like that, I'm really glad that I heal fast. "Anyway, I just came to return this to you." Artemis pulled Alison's necklace out of her jeans pocket.

"Thanks," said Alison. She put it on. "Did it help you find the Alpha?"

"Yes and no," admitted Artemis.

"Meaning what?" asked Alison.

"Meaning, it didn't help Derek and I find him. But we did find the Alpha," said Artemis.

Alison frowned. "Why do you look like you could use someone to talk to?"

"Because I do, badly," said Artemis. She sighed. "I know who the Alpha is and why he killed those people."

"You do? Who is it and why?" asked Alison.

Artemis sighed again. "It's Derek's uncle."

Alison's eyes widened and they ended up going to Artemis's house for hot chocolate and pizza—comfort food, and Artemis told Alison everything she'd seen through Peter's eyes. Alison was sympathetic to Artemis's problems, but didn't know what to do. Artemis just wanted her to keep working on her archery so she could protect herself.

Later that night when Artemis got home, Stiles called her.

"Dude, I've just earned myself a place in perdition," said Stiles.

"What'd you do this time?" asked Artemis.

"Why do you automatically assume it's my fault?"

"Because I know you," said Artemis. "What happened?"

"I did a little snooping and found out something. The Alpha's been making the animal attacks go up like crazy. That's why the cougar showed up in the parking lot the night of the PTA and I also found out something about the murders you're not going to believe."

Artemis sighed. She knew where this was going. "Let me guess, except for Laura Hale and the janitor, all of them had something to do with the Hale Fire." And she'd been so hoping she was wrong and Peter was mistaken.

"Yeah. Mr. Harris spilled on how to do arson to Kate and get away with it. The bus driver was an insurance agent investigating the Hale Fire. He was fired for suspicion of fraud. The video store clerk had a history of arson in his rap sheet. And the two guys that got flambéed in the woods had a prior sheet the size of Mt. Everest, which included arson," said Stiles. "Hey, wait, how'd you know they were all connected?"

Artemis told him what had happened with Peter.

"Crud. This isn't good. This means that Kate's next on the list. She started all of this."

"Yeah, I know. I have no freaking clue as to what to do. If I try and get the cure, I'll be killing the only family Derek has left. But if I don't do anything, he's just going to keep killing until he gets what he wants. On one hand, I understand why he wants revenge, but the other hand, I can't justify killing people." She understood Peter's pain and she could understand why he was doing all of this, but she didn't condone it.

"That's because you're not a wacko like Peter. You'd turn these guys over the police, not murder them," said Stiles.

"Would I? I mean, look at what I almost did on the full moon," said Artemis. She liked to think she was a better person than Peter, but for all she knew, she wasn't.

"That's because it was a full moon. All werewolves act like nutcases on the full moon. Besides, Peter did what he did when it wasn't full moon. You didn't do anything until the full moon made you go all crazy, remember?"

"True," she agreed. Maybe she'd been wrong. Just then, she heard the doorbell ring. "I've got to go. Someone's here. Keep me updated, okay?"

"Will do. Bye."

After hanging up her phone, Artemis went to answer the door, only to find Peter there, dressed for a date. Anger surged through Artemis and she barely managed to control it.

"What in the heck are you doing here? I thought I told you to leave," growled Artemis.

"I said I would leave for now, I didn't say I wouldn't come back," said Peter. "I'm taking your mother out on date tonight. She's a divine woman whose company I enjoy. After being in a coma for six years, dinner with a lady like your mother is a treat I refuse to pass up on."

He's taking my mother out on a date? Then Artemis remembered Melissa had said she was going out with someone she'd met at the hospital that morning. Of all the people she had to date, it had to be Peter Hale! Naturally, the child of a single parent rarely thought anyone was good enough for their parent, but Artemis would rather her mother go out with one of the Argents than the Alpha.

"Stay the heck away from my mother. She doesn't know a thing about any of this," said Artemis, angrily. "If you hurt her, kill her or turn her, I'll come after you, I swear to heaven." If he had some kind of plan to convince her to join his pack by turning her mother, she didn't know what she'd do.

"Artemis, you need to understand how much more powerful we are together, you, me and Derek," said Peter, softly.

"I don't care. Derek and I managed fine without you. We don't need you," hissed Artemis.

Just then, Melissa came over to them, looking beyond spectacular and beautiful. "Hey," she said. "How do I look?"

"Perfect as usual," said Artemis, smiling. She wasn't lying about that. "Have fun with your date tonight."

"I will," said Melissa, smiling. "Don't wait up for me."

Artemis nodded and continued faking a smile until they were gone. At which point, she frantically dialed Stiles's number. "Stiles, code red. My mom's going out with the Alpha to dinner tonight."

"Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack. Listen, I don't care what you have to do, just help me stop this. As much I hate the idea of breaking my mom's heart, I'm not risking my mom becoming a werewolf," said Artemis. She grabbed her jacket. "Can you help me or should I call Alison?"

"Call Alison. My dad's watching me and I can't get away. Good luck, dude," said Stiles.

Artemis called Alison and then they went off to save Artemis's mother.

Alison was worth her title as she managed to pop the tires of Peter's car by shoot an arrow into two of them when Peter pulled over to double-check the directions for the restaurant. Melissa was furious, but there was no way to trace the arrows as they were unmarked and clean of fingerprints. Artemis had a good view from her hiding place.

While Melissa thought it was just some idiot teenagers pulling a prank, Peter wasn't fooled. He looked impressed. While Melissa was talking the policeman who'd come over to help them, Peter spoke to Artemis. "I know you're there, Artemis and I am very impressed. Nice work. It's no wonder Derek calls you his Huntress of the Moon."

Derek calls me his Huntress of the Moon? Since when?

"It's a pity most people your age aren't so clever," said Peter. "Like that one on your lacrosse team, Jackson. He thinks he knows all about us, but he couldn't be more wrong. Knowledge isn't power in his case. If I were you, I'd check on him at my old house. Derek's very angry with him. It seems he found out that boy's been blackmailing you."

Derek found out about Jackson? Oh, crap.

Knowing her mother would be fine, Artemis told Alison to return home and then she went off to save Jackson's hide.

XXX

Meanwhile, Derek had gone after Jackson by meeting him at the gym where the boy was working out. He'd found out Jackson was blackmailing Artemis by seeing her memories and was beyond furious. He intended to make some things clear to him by any means possible.

"Hey, who's messing with my music?" yelled Jackson, when his music suddenly switched off.

"You've got interesting taste, Jackson," said Derek, startling him.

Jackson looked scared but then grabbed his lacrosse net. "I'm not scared of you," he lied.

Derek just smirked. "Your heartbeat says otherwise. You know, I bet there's never been one day in your life when you haven't been scared of something, Jackson. But you won't have to be anymore. Word is you want to be turned. I can help you with that."

"You can?"

"Oh, yes. All you have to do is come with me and I'll take you to the Alpha," said Derek. He actually had no intention of doing that, but he did have something planned. "You want to be one of us? Follow me."

He left the gym and Jackson followed him to his old burnt down house. "The Alpha's in here." He held open the door. "After you."

Jackson looked excited until Derek followed him inside and shut the door. Then he turned white as snow.

"He's not here, is he? And he's not coming?"

"Finally, you show me you're the total idiot everyone thinks you are," said Derek, mockingly. "No, he's not here. I was never going to take you to him in the first place."

"Then why am I here?" asked Jackson, starting to look scared.

Derek extended his claws and glared. "Think, Jackson. Why would I bring you here unless you'd done something you shouldn't have?"

"I-I-I—" stammered Jackson, as he backed up into the staircase.

"I know what you did. You threatened Artemis," growled Derek. "And before you ask, no, she didn't tell me. I found out another way and that's really bad news for you because I don't tolerate members of my pack being threatened, especially by people like you." He wolfed out and held up Jackson by the throat. "Listen well, because I'm only going to say this once: if you don't leave Artemis alone and keep your fat mouth shut about what you know, there'll be consequences or I'll make dea Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal," gasped Jackson. "I'll shut up and I'll leave Artemis alone, I promise!"

"Derek, that's enough!" said Artemis, as she appeared at the top of the stairs. "Let him go, now."

Derek shrugged as he dropped Jackson to the ground. "We were done anyway." He glared at Jackson. "I'd get lost if I were you."

Jackson didn't need telling twice. He bolted out the back door just as Artemis jumped down from the stairs, in the same way she'd seen Derek do it several times before. "Was that really necessary?" she demanded.

"Hey, someone had to do something to keep his mouth shut after diplomacy failed. The only reason I didn't kill the little punk was because I knew you wouldn't want me to," said Derek. "And why in the heck didn't you tell me he was blackmailing you?"

"Because I knew you'd react like this, that's why!" said Artemis. She knew Derek would go ballistic and she'd wanted to avoid that.

"And how should I have reacted? Do you think I liked finding out that creep was blackmailing you?" demanded Derek. "If he'd said one word to the Argents, you could've gotten exposed and killed! If anything happened to you, I'd never have been able to live with myself."

Artemis sighed as her face softened. Derek had only been trying to protect her. "I understand, but we can't do this. I don't want to stoop to Peter's level. Killing people solves nothing. Now, would you mind telling me how you found out about Jackson? Who told you, Stiles or Alison?"

"I—" he cut himself off as a whistling sound hit their ears. "GET DOWN!"

Gunshots went off. The hunters had followed Derek, thinking he'd lead them to the Alpha. Without thinking, Artemis leapt in front of Derek, taking a few bullets for him. She then found herself on the ground, barely able to breathe as unbearable pain coursed through her system, thanks to wolfsbane laced bullets. She found herself coughing up blood and feeling like death itself. She couldn't move as the pain and bullets had incapacitated her. Derek looked horrified and devastated.

"HUNTRESS!" yelled Derek.

"Derek, save yourself and get out of here!" she said, as more pain shot through her.

But instead of getting himself out of there, Derek managed to get up and got Artemis out of the house by placing her somewhere safe in the woods before running back to distract the hunters.

Artemis would've gone after him, but she found herself passing out from the pain.

Derek please, don't die…was her last thought before she succumbed to the darkness.

XXX

When Artemis woke up, she launched into a coughing fit as she found herself in Dr. Deaton's office and her wounds were being treated. He didn't look the least bit surprised to see her injuries and he was quite calm as he treated her.

"Dr. Deaton?" she whispered. She tried to sit up, but the pain forced her back down.

"Easy, Artemis," said Dr. Deaton, soothingly. "You're going to be fine, but you need to rest. You took a big hit this time. I've given you something to help with the pain and heal faster."

Did she really just hear him say that? Excuse me? "You…?"

He nodded. "I've worked with the supernatural before, Artemis. You're not the first werewolf I've come across. I heard the gunshots and found you in the woods and brought you here to help you."

Does everyone in this town have some kind of secret or connection to the paranormal? Sheesh. "Where's Derek?"

"I didn't find him, but I think he'll be fine. You can sense him, can't you?"

She nodded. She could feel him. He was alive, but whether or not he was injured or his exact location, she knew not.

Dr. Deaton soothingly stroked her hair. "Sleep. You're safe here. You can look for Derek when you've healed up."

"Okay," she murmured, sleepily.

Within a few moments, she was asleep again.

XXX

Despite the late hour, Alison wasn't back at her house or in bed.

Rather, she'd been dragged out blindfolded by her aunt Kate as Kate decided to let Alison in on the family secret. While Kate looked like the cat who'd swallowed the canary, Alison was horrified and sickened to see that chained to the wall with wires taped to his stomach, was Derek Hale, and he was Kate's prisoner.