I'm starting to feel a bit better and am hopeful for future productivity! Thank you for the favorites, follows, and reviews! -V
Chapter 35: Faith
"Rafe…"
It was late afternoon when Agent McCall heard the ever familiar whisper of Daria Stilinski in his ears. He was currently investigating a suspected drug ring, and his partner was close to finding their base of operations.
"You go weeks without so much as a whisper," he muttered casually under his breath from an empty alley. "Now really isn't the best time, Daria, so make it quick."
"Hello to you too." He could feel the slight sarcasm dripping in her tone as she laughed. "I'll cut to the chase, then. What do you know about the unsub being tracked by Interpol on the east coast?"
The question caught him off guard. "Interpol? I'm not aware of any current investigations."
"The sooner you can look into it the better."
Rafael grimaced, "You know, Daria, I'm not one to dig into other government agency's dealings without knowing why."
Daria let out a loud puff of air. "They're after a wrongfully accused werewolf - one I have a vested interest in."
This was serious if Interpol was involved, but he trusted Daria implicitly. "This werewolf friend of yours, can you vouch for his innocence?"
"Yes." she replied without hesitation. "I would trust him with my life."
"All right," he nodded to himself. "Tell me what you know."
"He was tracking a string of murders in Brazil. Werewolf murders. And we know it was a set-up, but we don't know who's pulling the strings."
"Brazil," Rafael paused. "I might actually know something about that. Give me an hour to get to my office."
He contacted his partner and was able to postpone the remainder of their operation. Getting back to his office however was a different story. San Francisco rush-hour traffic was unforgiving, and Daria checked in two more times before he finally made it back to his office.
"Raaaaaaafe," Daria popped into his head a third time with a whine just as the sun was setting through his office window.
"Relax, Daria, I'm pulling it up now."
"Thank you." He could feel the relief in her voice.
"Okay," he opened the file and stared at the video footage. "Wow."
"Wow? What do you mean, wow?"
"There's video footage of your wolf friend running through the woods in North Carolina. They have over fifty percent coverage of his face. If he gets put on a fugitive database, Daria… it's only a matter of time before they find your friend."
"No…" her voice faltered. "Is there anything you can do?"
"He's wanted for mass murder, Daria. This isn't my case or my jurisdiction. Interpol is an international organization made up of government agencies around the world."
"I know," she breathed. "Okay, I - uh, we'll just lay low for a while."
"Hang on a minute," Rafael pulled back in his chair. "Daria, are you with him right now?"
There was silence for a few seconds. "Would it potentially implicate you if I tell you the truth?"
He considered her point. "You know what. Nevermind, I don't want to know. But, Daria, listen to me. They're tracking his current whereabouts as somewhere in Virginia. You need to head in the opposite direction as fast as you possibly can."
"We can do that," she readily agreed. "He needs to go back to Brazil anyway. He has family there, and we need to make sure they're not one of the murders."
"Brazilian police officials are on high alert, Daria. I don't want you getting into more trouble than you can handle."
"You know me, Rafe," she laughed lightly. "You and Deucalion have taught me to be untouchable."
"By humans who aren't in the know," he cut in. "But if someone is really setting up your friend, they've also successfully slaughtered dozens of werewolves. They planned it all in advance."
"I'll be careful."
"Do more than that." Rafael paused. Daria had become almost like a daughter to him since their time training together. "If you have to - protect yourself… by any means necessary."
"I promised myself I wouldn't become a killer," she inhaled steadily, "but I promise you that I'll do everything I can to stay safe."
"That's all I ask."
–
When Daria opened her eyes, Derek had already left the room. He was roughly packing a small backpack with a few t-shirts, jeans, and emergency supplies from a closet in the hall.
"Packing already?" Daria paused in the door frame. She could feel his sense of urgency and hypervigilance.
"You trust him?" He continued to rummage through the closet without looking at her.
"Yes. And you should too."
Daria had spoken out loud to Rafael for Derek's benefit, but something she said must have put the wolf on edge.
"Forgive me for not being as willing to trust an FBI agent as you are."
Anger bubbled in Daria's chest. "I spent three months with Scott's father. I felt every emotion he had." She crossed her arms indignantly. "I promise you, we can trust him."
Derek stopped moving as he took in her words, and he set the backpack on the ground. "Trusting people… it's not easy for me. And you told him about Cora. What if it ends up being another trap?"
Daria walked over to him and placed her hands just above the collar of his shirt. She focused every feeling she had picked up from Agent McCall. The initial distrust, curiosity, gratitude, and the eventual fondness that bled into trust and affection. "Emotions don't lie, Derek. This is everything he felt. Please… at least trust me."
He rested his head on her shoulder and exhaled. "I trust you." Then he kissed her neck. "What else did he tell you?"
"Interpol thinks you made it to Virginia. We need to run the other way."
Derek nodded, feelings more certain and sure than a moment ago. "Can we make it to Brazil?"
"Police are still on high alert, but we can make it." She slid her hands up the base of his neck and into his hair.
She could feel the trust and warmth budding inside the wolf, and she smiled. He kissed her gently and began pressing his lips across her jaw and down her neck, and all thoughts of packing were forgotten for the night.
