A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's…though I wished I owned the rest….*sighs*
Stiles read the text from the hunter as he waited for Scott by the classroom door.
Thanks for everything…..Scott hasn't gone suicidal yet has he?
The last bit was sarcastic he knew but then again maybe she wasn't too far off. Scott had not been himself ever since Allison dumped him the night of the Alpha's attack. Stiles had stayed in contact with Brooklyn, running up to the Hale house when he knew it was safe to do so. Derek had been out the last time he saw the hunter so he hung around a little longer.
Two days prior…..
"Thanks for keeping the clothing line going," Brooklyn hoisted the hampers and bag out of the Jeep. "How does your dad not know what you've been doing?"
"Very carefully," he shrugged. Stiles had developed a fondness for Brooklyn even though she didn't quite feel the same way.
"Did you find out anything else about our victims? Since I can't get to a library or get inside the station…."
"Nothing, nada, zero, zilch," Stiles rambled.
"Figures," she sighed.
"So where's Derek?"
"I suspect he's off to try and track the second Alpha."
"Wait….There's a second Alpha?"
"Yep," Brooklyn started up the steps. "It saved my ass from the Big Bad Wolf."
Stiles stared at wide eyed disbelief as he followed the hunter's frame up the steps. He nearly tripped over his own feet racing up the steps.
"What do you mean it saved your ass? Come on tell me!"
"The Alpha had caught me in the woods after I chased Derek down and the smaller one came after it."
"Okay that's like not normal is it?"
"I wouldn't say not normal but rather it wasn't interested in me," Brooklyn stuffed her clothing in the duffel and placed Derek's in drawer.
"Can I ask why you aren't sharing furniture with Derek? I mean you are his mate right?"
"Force of habit I suppose," Brooklyn started placing her shirts and jeans in the drawers. "I mean I've been alone for a long time."
"I get that," Stiles rubbed the back of his neck.
"Look," she paused and drummed her fingers on the smooth ash, "I'm sorry if I was ever a hard ass to you."
"Whoa, stop the presses," Stiles stood as a stunned expression crossed his face. "You're apologizing to me? I mean after weird head lock and threats?"
"Yes, Gilligan that's exactly what I'm saying," she spun around. "But it doesn't mean I won't be a hard ass in the future."
"Right," he rolled his eyes and flopped down on the bed, causing one of the legs to pop at an awkward angle.
"Stiles what did you do this time?"
"I didn't do it swear! I didn't mean to! Oh my god Derek's gonna kill me! I'm gonna be wolf food!"
"No he won't," Brooklyn knelt down to examine the support. "Not if I can get it fixed….."
Stiles heard her voice trailing off as something caught the hunter's attention. He cautiously peered over her shoulder to see something sticking out from the joint.
"What's this?" She carefully slid the wrinkled worn paper from the wood and shoved it in her pocket. Brooklyn returned her attention to the joint and noticed it was rigged to do that. With a simple twist and pop the post was back to the way it was.
"See no harm no foul," she eased her slender frame on the mattress and fished the paper out of her pocket. On it she noticed a list of names, a couple of which jumped out at her.
"What the Hell is this?" She carefully read the names on the list, most of which she didn't recognize.
"Know any of these?"
Stiles sat closer to the hunter and silently went through the names. One in particular stood out.
Adrian Harris
"Mr. Harris," he pointed at the last name. "He's our chemistry teacher."
"Now this is interesting," she folded up the paper in a series of neat squares before tucking it away. "Why would your teacher wind up on this list? I mean the three names I see are somehow connected to the fire unless….."
"What is it Brook?"
"He had something to do or knew something about the fire."
"Hold up! You mean you think that our chemistry teacher had something to do with the fire? The Hale fire right?"
"That's the only fire I'm aware of," she stretched out on the bed. "So you're going to tell me everything you know about one Adrian Harris."
Present….
Which turned out to be very little; at least where Stiles' knowledge was concerned.
Harris had no criminal record except for a stint to AA which was over six years ago. Brooklyn knew she would have to corner the teacher to find out what he knew. It would also take Derek's help as she was certain Harris wouldn't be so open to a female.
She sat before the laptop, organizing her notes and seeing how Brady was holding up. Her best friend had been up in Chicago working a few cases. Nothing special just poltergeists and angry spirits. Derek had taken her car since no one would recognize it except for Scott, Stiles, the hunters, and….
The knock on the door alerted her to someone downstairs. Immediately the hunter cocked the sawed off and carefully treaded out the door. If it had been the cops they would've came in ala Stormtrooper style but this unwelcomed guest was knocking. Brooklyn knew where the spots that creaked and groaned were as she quietly darted down the stairs and across the main entrance. The windows had long been boarded up so she decided to go around the back and catch the intruder from the side.
Brooklyn rounded out the back door and to the West, never letting her gun waver. She slipped around the corner, all the while telling herself it wasn't the hunters as they would've just opened fire on the house. The clouds rumbled overhead as it was the colder season in California which meant rain rain and more rain. The grounds were slick but not enough to make the hunter lose her footing as she made the final step to the porch.
"Who the….."
Jackson jumped and clutched his chest as Brooklyn held the gun trained at his head.
"Okay what the Hell are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in school?"
"Can you lower that thing please?"
Brooklyn obliged but only lowered it to his torso as she stood with legs hips width apart.
"This is as low as it goes," her expression was not a welcoming one. "What are you doing here?"
"Is it true? Did you and Derek kill those people?"
"No," she answered in a cold dead tone. "But thanks to your good buddy Scott, everyone thinks we did."
"He's not my friend!" Jackson instantly turned defensive.
"What were you doing at the school that night?"
"We drove Allison there because it said she got a text."
"And why would he want that? Think about it genius. The school, after hours, alone, in the dark? What did you see?"
"What do you mean?" Jackson felt his heart racing.
"I can see it in your eyes clear as day Jackson. You saw something in that school but you don't want to tell me or rather you don't want to remember."
Jackson felt the marks on his neck begin to itch as he remembered the intense pain that shot through his body that frightful night. It was the ungodly howl of rage that reverberated through the halls, shattering glass bottles and windows along the way. He remembered being chased like an animal through the halls minutes after seeing something at the end of the corridor. It was something out of a Poe novel or Lovecraft story.
"If you know something you need to tell me," Brooklyn started to approach. "Anything that will help clear our names."
"I….I…..don't….." he started to say but Brooklyn gripped his bicep tightly in her arm.
"So you're gonna leave us to hang is that it? While whatever or whoever killed those people continues to run free?"
Jackson was panting at this point as the hunter's hold continued to constrict. The part of him that actually cared, the tiniest part of what was called a soul, wanted to tell her everything. But the part of him, the one that was in total control, the one wanted everything and expected nothing short of it all, refused to help.
"You know what, leave. Leave here before you find two rounds up your little arrogant ass."
Brooklyn dropped his arm circled around him like a shark that circled its prey. Jackson shouldn't be afraid of her and he wasn't! Why should a woman tell him what to do!
"You have five seconds to leave," she growled.
"Or else what?" Jackson challenged her.
"Or else Derek's going to return, find you here, and rip you a new one."
The thought of the green eyed man did scare Jackson as Derek had rattled him good in the locker room. But then again he had his ace up his sleeve.
"You know I won't tell anyone you're here," Jackson let a cruel smile cross his lips. "But my silence won't come without a price."
"Now you're being stupid," she marched towards him.
"No," Jackson shook his head, "I'm being smart. You see you know what McCall is up to and I want in on it."
"You have no idea what you're asking of me," Brooklyn shook her head.
"Oh I do," Jackson presented the torn glove from his bag.
"Where did you get that?" She felt her heart stopping at what he held.
"That night of the game when McCall fled the field I found it after the game. Now what could make holes like this?"
Brooklyn watched to her horror as he held up a claw and fit the two together like puzzle pieces.
"So as long as you and the others help me get what I want, your secret stays safe with me."
"Why should we trust you?"
"Because it's a win-win situation! You two stay out of jail and I get what I want."
Including you…
"So I'll talk to McCall about our little talk and proposition and uh you just stay quiet and don't let Derek in on our little talk…..Okay? It would only make things worse for you both."
Brooklyn refused to show any fear to Jackson as he put the glove and claw back in his bag. The smug smirk went wider as he dared to lean over close enough to kiss her and whispered.
"I'll be seeing you again….."
He let his fingers trace along her jaw before he turned and headed to his car, leaving Brooklyn shaking on the porch. The silver Porsche sped away down the old gravel road.
Brooklyn raced in the house and up the stairs, shedding her clothing along the way. She turned the water on as high as she could tolerate it and sat in the tub rocking back and forth.
"Bastard," she muttered.
Derek rolled up an hour later and detected the scent dying in the air. Someone else was here….Jackson!
The werewolf charged through the house and saw the clothes strewn along the steps.
"Brook!" He hollered while taking the steps two at a time. Derek turned and listened as he heard the steady heartbeat coming from the room. His urgency decreased once he saw her.
Brooklyn was asleep in the bed, nestled beneath the blankets. Her hair was slightly damp from the long agonizing shower she endured but Derek didn't know that. On the stand was a bottle with her name on it.
Ravenwood, Brooklyn
Take one as needed for insomnia
Ambien
Why was she taking sleeping pills? What had happened? Had she not slept well the night before but wait….Brooklyn had slept soundly after their latest tousle in the sheets. No, something or rather someone else had caused this and he was going to find out.
Jackson cranked the radio up as he pulled onto his street. He had Brooklyn right where he wanted her and soon enough McCall would be in the same position.
Nothing is going to stop me from getting my way…..
Jackson Jackson Jackson...Playing with fire as usual...And now we are onto the good teacher...
And remember my poll will be open for about the next week and that will decide a huge part of the Derelyn relationship! And I love hearing from you guys! If there is anything you may want to see or if you think you know who the second Alpha is...PM me with ur guess... :)
