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Lacy here! See? I kept my word this time! Mainly because I can't focus on anything else and this is the best option I have right now. So, we have a rather impressive confrontation with the Nogitsune first, then a chance to save Stiles from the twisted fox. But what will the pack lose in the meantime? Read on!

Disclaimer: I own only Effie.

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~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie walked into the loft with her father, just like two nights before, only this time, Stiles was standing there, staring at them. And she could see it wasn't really Stiles.

"Hey Dad," he greeted. "Effie." John pulled out his cuffs but didn't speak. "You wanna handcuff me?"

John walked down the steps. "If my son is still here, if there's still a part of him standing here in front of me, then he'll put these on willingly and he'll come with me, because he knows I'm here to protect him from himself and from others."

Effie stayed back as Stiles held his hands up and let John put the cuffs on. She knew it wasn't her brother but if he made no move against their father's safety, she wouldn't have to step in.

John took one look at Stiles' face as he looked up and knew. "You're not my son."

The Nogitsune shook his head and shattered the cuffs. Before anything could happen, Chris, Derek and Allison entered the loft and backed up Effie and John. Allison shot at the Nogitsune with a taser but he just caught the wires and ripped the gun from her hand. Derek growled, wolfed out, and charged the trickster, only to find himself thrown against a support beam after Nogitsune snapped his shoulder. Effie fought the urge to move to Derek, knowing if she moved, the fox would attack her as well.

The sound of a cocking gun pulled Effie's eyes from her mate and she saw Chris pointing his gun at Stiles.

"Argent, listen to me." John spoke calmly to him. "Don't do this."

"Why not?" Chris asked. "I've done it before. Werewolves, berserkers. I can easily add a nogitsune to the list."

John pulled his own weapon. "You're not going to shoot my son."

Derek reached for Effie, pulling her out from between the two armed men. Allison followed his lead and stepped back as well.

"You said it yourself, Sheriff." Chris went on. "That's not your son."

"Put it down. Put it down."

"Dad," Nogitsune spoke. "he's gonna shoot me."

Effie growled. "Don't you dare call him 'Dad'."

"Stay quiet, Ef," Derek muttered.

She wanted to argue but saw that things were quickly escalating as John started yelling and Nogitsune started egging Chris on, telling him to shoot, to pull the trigger.

Derek, Allison and Effie turned as they watched the sun set.

"Stop! Stop it." Allison spoke. "This is what he wants. This is exactly what he wants."

"Not exactly." Nogitsune spoke. "I was kinda hoping Scott would be here. But I'm glad you all have your guns out. Because you're not here to kill me." he turned to the window. The Oni had arrived. "You're here to protect me."

Nogitsune stepped back and they formed a circle around him. The Oni started forward, forcing Chris and John to fire while Effie brought fire to one hand and lightning to the other. This was going to be interesting.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie followed her father into the house after the Oni vanished on them, along with the Nogitsune. She was done thinking of that monster as Stiles. It wasn't her brother, not any more. But she would get him back, even if it took her last breath.

"You should try and get some sleep, Effie." John said quietly.

Effie leaned back against the front door. "I don't think anything short of heavy grade pharmaceuticals are going to knock me out, Dad."

John sighed. "Yeah, I know. Thought it was worth a try anyway." he frowned a bit. "Why didn't Derek come home with us?"

"He's feeling guilty." Effie informed. "For not getting Stiles back by now and for not being around when this all started."

"He was being held hostage," John argued. "it's not like he had a choice in the matter."

Effie smiled at her father defending Derek. "It's Derek, Dad. Guilt is kind of his number one emotion."

John huffed. "Remind me to do something about that." he sighed again. "I'm gonna head to bed. My review is tomorrow."

Effie nodded. "Kay," she held up a hand. "Uh, Dad, those cameras you had installed."

John laughed. "There aren't any in your room, don't worry."

Effie blew out a long breath. "Oh thank god."

"Trust me," John grinned. "I may accept your relationship but that doesn't mean I need to know all aspects of it. And there's only so much of Derek I ever want to see."

"I'm sure he'll be relieved to hear that." Effie snorted. "Night Dad."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie felt weird when she woke up the next morning, and not just because she managed to sleep for five hours when she was sure not even one hour was going to happen. No, it was like something was wrong with her, inside.

Sitting up in bed, Effie closed her eyes, her brow pinched in a frown, and focused on the feeling. A low buzzing filled her ears and the harder she focused on it, the louder it became. Before she knew what was happening, she started coughing, feeling as though she was choking on something.

John came running into the room as Effie's coughing grew violent. He sat beside her, rubbing her back and murmuring softly. Suddenly, she coughed one more time and a fly came out of her mouth. She panting, trying to catch her breath as the fly landed on her bed. Before it could get away, she grabbed it in her hand, squeezed hard enough to break its wings then opened her fingers.

"What the hell is that?" John asked.

Effie's eyes flashed lilac. "The Nogitsune's next move. Flies are how it controls its minions." crushing the bug completely, Effie grabbed her phone. "My guess is it's trying to distract us from going after it." she sent out a text to the humans of the pack;

'Nogitsune's made its next move. Watch your backs.'

"Why aren't you warning everyone?" John asked.

Effie looked at the fly again. "This could have only gotten in me while I was sleeping. No doubt the others are infected, too. Even if I warn them, they won't be in their right minds to understand the message." she shoved out of bed. "I've got to check on each one of them, myself."

John frowned. "Is that really a good idea, Ef?"

"I have no choice, Dad." Effie said. "One thing about wolves and foxes that I follow to the letter is we never leave a wounded member alone. We treat and heal as a pack."

"I do get that, Effie." John reassured. "But I don't want you going after them by yourself. It's not safe and I can't stand the thought of you getting hurt on top of everything else."

Effie sighed. She knew where her dad was coming from. "Then what do I do?"

"Wait." John said. "I know, even before the bite, that is the opposite of what you're used to doing but, I think it's your best option. You've warned the others, you're no longer infected. All you can do is wait for the rest of the pack to come around."

Effie leaned against her desk. "I hate waiting."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie raced into Scott's house, already picking up the scents of Deaton, Aidan, Melissa, Lydia and Scott. And the mixed scent of Stiles and the Nogitsune. She nearly got bowled over by Aidan, who was charging from the house with a determined look on his face. Effie didn't bother stopping him, her mind set on her brother.

"Oh, I hope he gets there in time." she heard the Nogitsune taunt. "I like the twins. Short tempers. Homicidal compulsions. They're a lot more fun then you bakemono trying to save the world every day."

"Doc," Melissa spoke up. "you brought something to paralyze his body. You got anything for his mouth?"

Effie walked over. "Let me." she punched the Nogitsune as hard as she could across the face. It didn't knock him out but she felt a few bones break. "Tape him up, Doc."

Deaton pulled a piece tape and placed it over the Nogtisune's mouth. He glared at the group, trying to scream against the tape and broken jaw. When he gave up on that, the group retreated away from the couch, Effie a steady presence at Lydia's side as the banshee seemed to be bordering on very upset.

"How much longer do you think we have?" Scott asked, referring to the Kanima venom that was restraining the beast.

"I wish I knew." Deaton shrugged. "But if we don't figure out something soon, we're gonna need to find a better place to keep him. I think we're grossly underestimating the danger here. He might be paralyzed, but it still feels like he's got us right in the palm of his hand."

Effie tapped the table. "That's because he does. He has this entire time. As long as he looks and sounds like Stiles, he has us right where he wants us." she looked at the others. "It's his game, right now. We just have to wait until we can make a move."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie didn't like it. Not being able to get a hold of Derek and the others deciding to call Peter in. She trusted her mate's uncle about as far as Coach could throw the bastard.

"Little Effie,"

Effie glared at the elder Hale. "Let's get something straight, Peter. You do anything that causes lasting damage to my brother, more then what the Nogitsune's done, and I'll rip your throat out. And this time, I'll make sure you don't come back."

"Such a cocky little beta," Peter taunted, emphasizing her rank.

Effie smirked. "We both know I'm not just a beta and you're not better than an omega. Do what we called you here for then leave."

Peter crossed his arms. "Do you really think I'll play nice because you're Derek's mate?"

Effie mirrored him. "Do you really think I'll play nice because you're his uncle?"

"Peter," Scott called the other man over. "leave Effie alone."

Effie stepped aside, waving a hand for Peter to go into the living room. If she dogged his every step as he went, she was just protecting her brother.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Though she knew it would do no good and that it wasn't actually her brother sitting before her, Effie slid his ID bracelet from her own wrist and back onto his. She knew touchstones wouldn't help Stiles right then but it would go a long way to grounding him back to reality once he was in control again.

"I didn't realize you guys still had those." Melissa commented.

Effie sat back on her heels. "Last part of Mom that we carry with us." she sighed. "For a while, we didn't let Dad see them, not wanting him upset. But on our tenth birthdays, he gave us the charms on them." she ran her thumb over the lacrosse stick on Stiles' while looking at her own paintbrush. "He always knew and it helped instead of hurting."

"So," Deaton spoke as Lydia and Peter came back into the room. Melissa helped Effie to her feet and away from the couch. "do we have a plan?"

Peter set his hands on the back of the couch. "Scott is gonna try and dig through pale and sickly Evil Stiles's mind to unearth pale and sickly Real Stiles. Then guide him back from the depths of his own subconscious. But he's not gonna do it alone."

"What do you mean?" Scott asked.

Peter turned his head slowly towards Lydia. "Somebody needs to go in with you."

Effie couldn't help but notice that under Lydia's obvious fear was determination. As scared as the other girl was, she wanted to help Stiles more.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Watching Peter line Scott's claws up with the back of Stiles' neck and Lydia's, Effie couldn't help remembering the last time she'd witnessed this being done. She was grateful that, this time, Peter wasn't actually doing it. There was no way she'd be able to let him sink his claws into her brother without ripping his arm off.

"So what do we do if we find him?" Scott asked.

Peter shrugged a bit. "You're gonna have to guide him out somehow. Try to give him back control of his mind, his body."

"Could you elaborate on the 'somehow'?" Lydia asked. "It's not feeling very specific at the moment."

"Improvise." Peter threw out.

"What if this is just another trick?" Scott voiced suddenly.

"When are you people going to start trusting me?" Peter asked.

Scott looked at Peter briefly before looking back at Stiles. "I meant him."

"Oh,"

"Scott," Deaton spoke. "we're running out of time."

As Scott's eyes shifted red and he prepared to sink his claws in, Effie felt Melissa take her hand and found herself holding on. Especially once she felt a spike in her connection with both Isaac and Derek.

"Effie," there was concern in Peter's tone seconds after Scott connected with Lydia and Stiles. "your eyes are lilac."

Effie nodded, exhaling heavily. "Being connected to more than one person can suck from time to time."

"What do you need?" Melissa asked.

"To stay right here." Effie informed the three adults. "Derek and Isaac aren't in life threatening danger. Stiles is. Blood's thicker than fur."

Peter wrinkled his nose. "I hate that saying."

Effie gave him a look. "Tough."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie blinked, staring straight at Scott as a shiver ran down her spine. "Scott,"

"Effie," Deaton and Melissa echoed each other.

"He howled." Effie explained. "I don't know how I know but he howled. He called to his pack. To Stiles."

Before anyone could question further, Scott and Lydia gasped and came back. Lydia shot off the couch, rubbing her neck while Scott came around to see if Stiles was back.

"Did it work?" Scott asked. "Did it work?"

"What happened?" Lydia asked. "Why didn't it work?"

Peter grabbed Lydia's arm. "Because it's not science, Lydia. It's supernatural. I did my part. Now give me the name."

"What name?" Scott asked, his concern for Stiles fading into concern for Lydia. "What are you talking about?"

Peter pulled Lydia away from the others. "Lydia, a deal is a deal. Even with me."

Scott and Effie watched Lydia lean closer to Peter so she could whisper in his ear.

"Malia."

No sooner did the name leave Lydia's mouth, did Stiles suddenly gasp and start choking. He was also back in full control of his body. He ripped the tape from his mouth and started pulling back looked like surgical gauze out, covering in vomit and spit.

Effie tried to step forward, to help, but Scott held her back. Stiles fell to his knees, retching and throwing up more and more gauze. There seemed to be no end to it. And it was coming with some kind of black mist. Effie didn't know whether to be revolted or terrified.

Once it finally stopped, Stiles scrambled back from the pile and a hand started making its way out. The hand quickly turned into an arm, which slowly became an entire body. Effie frowned at it; it seemed confused. Startled, even. It lurched forward and Peter and Scott grabbed it, pinning it to one of the chairs. That was when Effie felt it.

"Stop!" she shouted. She shoved Peter out of the way and started pulling at the wrappings. "Stop, Scott! Stop!"

Scott held Peter back as Effie removed the bandages. Slowly, she undercovered the face she'd been missing for far too long. Stiles. Her Stiles.

"Effie?" Stiles panted out. "Scott?"

"Scott," Deaton called their attention to the front door, which was wide open. And Lydia was missing. And so was the Nogitsune.

"Where are they?" Scott demanded. "Where are they?" he took off running. "Lydia! Lydia! LYDIA!"

Effie hugged Stiles close. She got her brother back. And lost one of her best friends. It was never going to end.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

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Nothing is easy for this pack. And it probably never will be. But we've got Stiles back! Now, leading up to the last two episodes, this is where things get truly dangerous. And where lives are lost. Let me know what you think, flame policy stands and thanks for reading!

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