The tension was palpable. You could cut through the air with a knife or at least that was what it felt like. No one in the department had ever seen Parrish react like this before. He was always so polite and unruffled in everything he did. Then again, there was no one in the department who had ever seen him buck ass naked. Not that several wouldn't have liked the opportunity in more pleasurable circumstances.

It was a nice ass but why did Parrish look like he'd been in a fire? Why was he attacking Haigh? Why was Haigh not fighting back? In fact, why did Haigh look like he'd seen a ghost?

All these questions were what stopped anyone reacting. Shock at seeing one of their own attacking another Deputy.

The reason was Haigh was sure he was seeing a ghost. His mind was too confused to react. By the time it had processed it. It was too late. Parrish had got the drop on him. Haigh didn't understand how Parrish could be in the office. There was no way any creature could survive being burnt like he'd done it. It was why he had killed using that method when he hunted. The fire was pure and cleansing and tended to kill everything in its path.

His method was the stupid reason the hunters kicked him off their council. They were too squeamish! It was something like fire was too cruel. Haigh didn't get it then and he didn't get it now - the only good animal was a dead one in his book.

The other deputies were too stunned to help him. Haigh understood that he was going to die. He could see it in Parrish's eyes. There would be no money or reward. He would laugh at the irony if he had any air in his lungs to do anything.

"JORDAN put the scum down!" Stiles shouted.

Jordan dropped Haigh like the piece of shit he was. He turned around not bothering to hide his look of betrayal. Jordan couldn't understand why the Fae prince was stopping him from taking his vengeance. It was his right even his father had said so!

The Sheriff raced forward to put Haigh in handcuffs. He needed to get the criminal in a call before Jordan changed his mind. John could tell that he wouldn't be able to stop him if Jordan decided to end Haigh. What made the Sheriff want to snort was Haigh's response.

Haigh was something else, all outraged and demanding. He playing innocent. "What you're arresting me? He is the one who just tried to choke me."

Stiles' saw his Dad's face and it was a picture. It was the type of face that said, 'son don't even bother' . Still, his Dad was smart and knew how to throw suspicion off something he didn't want to be investigated. He was only too happy to throw Haigh under a bus. It was for that reason John announces in the middle of the office, "You try and set light to your partner in his cop car! And you have the nerve to ask why I'm reading you your rights?"

The hiss of fury from the others was enough to know where the anger was in the department. His Dad was a genius. The other deputies would now be furious at an attack on one of their own rather than why Parrish was alive. Still, the story wouldn't hold too much longer if Parrish remained naked and covered in ash. They were all trained investigators so the question was going to occur soon no matter how mad they were.

Stiles pulled at Jordan's arm, not showing any reaction to the state his he was in. In fact, it was like he was talking to a scared or skittish child. "Come on buddy let's get you in your own clothes."

Jordan let Stiles take him from the main office after a few seconds. He couldn't let himself move away until he saw Haigh locked in a jail cell.

Stiles had stood over the locker room door so Jordan could relax enough to shower. He promised Jordan that he would and that was enough. Jordan needed to get the smell of ash out of his nose or he would never calm down.

Stiles knew the deputy wouldn't calm until he'd faced the horrific situation. Calming him down was the other reason why Stiles was insistent on the shower. Stiles was more than aware how bad a baby hellhound could be when they were learning about their powers.

Parrish was out of the shower and was now wearing pants at least. Stiles could see he was still not happy. In fact, he was pouting. The first question Parrish asked was,

"Why did you stop me?"

Stiles offered Jordan the rest of his clothes with a snort. He may not have known about his other nature for long but he'd taken to certain qualities rather quick. Most hellhounds never saw the point in clothes once they learned how to take their second form.

Stiles wondered how long it would take Jordan to see the logic. He got why Jordan was mad but he needed Jordan to take a step back and think. It was horrific what had happened but they could not afford to expose the supernatural world. There was a can of worms Stiles was unwilling to open. He settled on a calm statement of, "Take a deep breath and think about it."

Jordan was sullen, "I don't know. That's why I am asking?"

Stiles rolled his eyes with frustration. Why was he the one to always see the bigger picture? "Answer this, where are we?"

"The station," Jordan replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Exactly. So how were you going to explain how a) you're alive? And b) why Haigh deserved to die?" Stiles said. There was an edge to his voice that was begging Jordan to understand. He was not sure how else to explain it.

Jordan felt everything catch up with him all at once. The exhaustion he felt was bone deep and he just sagged against the locker. It was sinking in, his partner had just tried to kill him. God, he was never partnering with anyone but Derek. He figured he could use this trauma to justify it. "I think I might have died tonight."

Stiles chuckled, "Welcome to the family. You will be able to swap stories with anyone in the pack. We all hate it but it is part of life." Stiles felt that was a little bleak, "I wouldn't change it for the world."

Jordan felt an arm go around his neck for a sideways hug. He chuckled but it was a weak effort, "Do I get a tee-shirt?"

Stiles grinned, "Yeah sure we will get Lydia and Erica to design them." He tried not to shudder at the idea of being a dress-up doll for the girls. His phone interrupted the conversation with a much-needed distraction.

Hit List stopped 3

Stiles didn't know what to think of the fact his grandma texting. He'd explained the benefits to his reluctant grandmother in such a simple way. He was betting no salesman had ever used the pitch, with a simple phone number you could track your enemies . He was sure it would strike fear into the heart of her enemies. Well if that didn't the heart emoticon would. He was drifting away from the important point,

"Well, we will have no more assassins coming to town. We just need to clear up the ones in town."

Stiles was sure he fell just short of being reassuring. In fairness, he wasn't trying to be. He was just summing up how safe the pack was. Stiles decided on the scale of things, they were safer than yesterday but they had some work still to do.

Parrish snorted, "Yeah but if there is one fucked up thing in this whole thing has shown. We can trust no one."

Stiles shrugged not denying the valid point. Parrish had yet to learn Stiles didn't trust anyone who wasn't pack. He wanted Parrish to understand that, "I was always taught to trust but verify."

Parrish looked him in the eyes. He was trying to gauge Stiles' sincerity at a guess. He saw it because all Stiles' got as a response was a,

"Good motto."

Stiles decided to take it as a compliment and smiled, "Well they are words to keep living by. There is something that I know will make you smile."

Parrish was just glad to still be alive. He was working on smiling. He was curious about what would make him do that.

"What's that?"

Stiles smirked, "Well Derek and Chris will conduct the interrogation. Dad said so."

Parrish was glad he had calmed down. He chuckled liking the picture forming in his mind - It was too good. There was some confusion, Jordan was going to blame the flames for his question. "Chris is a Deputy now?"

Stiles looked way too innocent for what he was saying, "You know it's the strangest thing. Dad was talking about how he is thin on the ground and did you know Chris was a deputy many moons ago?"

Parrish knew better than to believe the tone and yet found himself playing along, "Is that so?"

Stiles nodded. It was the story he was sticking to. He was glad his Dad had Derek but the area seemed to be getting crazier.

Chris and Derek were stalking the streets. There was no other way to describe it. They were both more than aware that there were assassins on the streets. The trouble for the assassins was - they were the better hunters.

Chris was humming and thinking about the problem in his mind. The assassins were looking for a payday. Where would be the greatest money to be had for the least risk? He rolled his eyes wondering why it had taken him this long to see it.

The vocal groan caught Derek's attention, "What is it?"

"We're thinking about this all wrong!" Chris said as if it was the most obvious thing.

Derek frowned not seeing it. "Like what."

"If I was an assassin going after stronger foe ... I would target those I perceive as easier targets?"

Derek got a sinking feeling as it did make a twisted sense. Of course, you would go after the younger kids first. It was quick easy money and if you had no morals - why would you care if they were kids? He wasn't being arrogant when he said, "Our pack is safe."

He wasn't. The betas were sick but hidden away whilst they recovered. On top of that, the betas had fearsome guards in Lydia and Allison. Derek knew it would take a horde of assassins to scare Lydia away. So if it wasn't his betas who could it be?

Chris nodded, "Yes but you have the Kitsune and Satomi's pack."

Oh yeah. Those would be tempting targets and not as well guarded as his pack. Derek would be a poor Alpha if he couldn't come with battle strategies. There was another part of him that liked the fact his pack was not considered a good investment. Too dangerous to an assassins health so it was a smart choice. They were a young pack and one that should have been rife with land disputes from cheeky packs. It never happened and the defeat of the Alpha pack would have made many to wary to even talk to them.

Derek knew the young betas of Satomi's pack would make the most tempting targets. "Kira has her mother's protection and their swords. The betas wouldn't have it."

Chris knew they were both right in that moment. "We need to find them fast."

Derek hoped they were not too late. He was also glad that he was on good terms with the other Alpha. He had his phone in his hand and looked around to make sure there was no one else to hear their conversation.

"Hey, do you have sight of your entire pack?"

Derek heard the ugly pause. He took a deep breath as now was not the time to give in to baser instincts. "Satomi there is a hitlist out there with every supernatural name on it. So I ask again ...Do you have eyes on your pack?"

There was horror in her voice, "All but Brett and his sister Lori."

Derek could tell that these would be their next victims. "Where are they?"

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