Hello, my awesome readers! I'm back! I know it had been years since I last posted for this story, but a few days ago, I got a burst of inspiration and decided to try to revive this fic. Sorry if this chapter seems a bit clunky. Also in this chapter, I addressed some lore of the show and lore about werewolves in general, and kinda put my own spin on things, but hey, it's a fanfic. Enjoy! Please let me know what you think :D
"Are you sure it came from here?" I asked following Derek into a maze of old buildings.
"Yes." He nodded, "you heard it too. Gunshot? Roar? It's the Alpha. There!" Derek exclaimed in a whisper. I followed his gaze to see the beast running from rooftop to rooftop. Derek was about to take off when I caught his arm, "hey! Did you forget the part about there being gunshots?" I whispered harshly.
"I'll be fine." Derek replied, "Lins, I can't let him get away. Stay here." He nodded to me before taking off. I let my hands fall from his has he pulled away, heading after the Alpha. I watched carefully, my eyes never leaving Derek, he chased the Alpha on top of an old building. I held my breath as he ran across the edge. Suddenly a shot rang out, and Derek fell to the ground. I clasped my hands on my mouth to keep myself from screaming out. Heading behind the building I ran to where I saw Derek fall.
"Derek!" I whispered urgently, finding him on the ground, leaning against a garbage bin, "you're hurt."
"I got shot…" He groaned as I grabbed his arm.
"Let me see." I pulled his arm towards me, inspecting the wound. The bullet had lodged itself near the middle of Derek's arm, blood already beginning to spill from it.
"Who shot me?" Derek grunted removing his arm. I shook my head, "I don't know. Come on." I pulled him up, "you need to get inside, so we can wash that."
"The Alpha," he began to protest until I shot him a glare.
"The Alpha can wait." I answered by pulling him up, "come on." I helped him to the car and took the back roads back to the Hale house. By the time we had gotten home Derek had grown quieter, but he moaned in pain every time I moved him.
"Come on," I spoke gently as I helped him lay on the bed, "stay here." I went to our packs in the room and pulled out water, and towels, "give me your arm Der'." I reached out and inspected hos now blood-covered arm.
"Ow!" Derek exclaimed through gritted teeth.
"Sorry." I frowned, "but I have to clean it, I have to see where the bullet is." I looked at him, waiting for a response. He nodded and looked back up at the ceiling. As gently and as quickly as I could. Once the blood cleared I tried to get a good look at where the bullet was lodged, but I couldn't see anything. There was no bullet.
"Did you get it yet?" Derek asked taking in ragged breaths. I shook my head before answering, "not yet…" I looked up at him before wrapping a towel around his arm, "it can wait until morning. You're tired and have had enough." Derek didn't argue with me and instead nodded before closing his eyes. I sat against the bed shaking my head slowly. Where the hell was the bullet?
XXX
"Slow down!" I called running as fast as my short legs could carry me, "Chris slow down!" I called out desperately, stopping to catch my breath. Chris came jogging back, then began to jog in place while in front of me.
"Come on, Lins, it's not that far." He spoke calmly.
"Says you." I shook my head, "you're used to this, I just started."
"Would you rather jog with Kate?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. I shot him a glare before shaking my head, "don't even joke about that." I let out a long breath, "you know as well as I do that she hates me."
"She doesn't hate you," Chris replied as we began to jog again, I noticed he moved noticeably slower than he was capable of to stay next to me.
"She doesn't think I can do anything." I frowned, "I know she thinks I'm a thirteen-year-old child, incapable of this life, being an Argent."
"You are an Argent. Lindsey." Chris stopped abruptly and turned towards me, "you always have been and always will be." He shrugged, "so what if you can't shoot a bow or fight well yet."
"But, I can't!" I exclaimed in frustration but Chris put up a finger and looked me in the eyes.
"Yet." He answered, "you can't do that yet, don't worry," he smiled, "you'll learn."
Two years later:
Kate fell back onto the ground with a thud as she groaned, "god little sis." She laughed, getting up, "you packed a punch." I retook my stance as she rose, raising my fists back in front of my face, ready for her attack.
"You really seem to know what you're doing." Kate let out a soft breath before charging at me again, throwing a punch with her right. I dodged it quickly and swung back around, my fist colliding with her back. She groaned before kicking my gut and throwing me back. I turned on my back just as Kate was about to grab me, but before she could I swung my leg towards her, kicking her side. Jumping up, she tried to punch me again, but I blocked her fist with my arm and brought my other fist up to connect with her head. She fell to the ground dazed and looked up at me in shock.
"Told you I'd get better," I said brushing hair from my eyes.
"Not bad for a fifteen-year-old kid." Kate laughed, "not bad. You're definitely an Argent." She smirked.
XXX
I was jolted awake from my half-sleep by incoherent murmuring. I rubbed my face before turning to see Derek still asleep, but now tossing and turning on the bed, sweat covering him.
"Derek," I turned, reaching for him, "Derek, hey, it's me." I tried to touch his arm, but he simply ripped it away. Gently I moved over to him on the bed and touched his shoulder. Heat radiated off of him.
"Derek." I gripped his shoulder, "Derek, babe. Wake up, it's alright." I shook him lightly when suddenly he sat up gasping.
"Easy, easy." I steadied him, "Derek, what is it?" Derek looked around the room blocking a bit before clenching his teeth and letting out a groan. My eyes landed on his arm. It was turning pale and purple, while his veins had become grey. I quickly touched his forehead before hissing, "you have a fever." I got out of bed and grabbed another bottle of water, "drink this, all of it. You're burning up with a fever." Derek downed the water quickly before coughing some of it up.
"What's going on?" Derek groaned as I helped him to stand.
"You have a fever." I spoke before helping him into his coat, "you're turning pale and your arm looks infected." We began to make our way towards the door, "we need help."
"Wait, wait." Derek spoke breathlessly trying to grab the keys from me as I set him in the passenger seat of the car, "where," he swallowed, "where are we going?"
"We need help." I glanced at the clock, "you slept most of the day, Scott should be getting out of school soon. We need his help." I could tell Derek did not agree but he was too tired to argue. We arrived at the school when it was still in session.
"School should be out soon…" I looked around, "you stay here, I'm gonna go and try and find Scott near the lacrosse field." Derek nodded with his eyes closed. He was shivering now and continued to pale, moaning every time he moved too fast. I kissed his forehead gently before getting out of the car and jogging towards the lacrosse field. I stayed to the edges of the field watching a few boys practice; none of them were Scott. I frowned before the bell realizing school rang out. I made my way back to the car.
"He's not on the…" I looked in the car, but Derek was gone. I snapped my head up, looking around as kids ran out of the building to their cars, racing to leave.
"Damnit, Hale." I pulled out the keys and began looking around. Cars began to honk, claiming my attention. I let out a breath as I saw Derek standing in front of a car. I got to him just as he dropped to the ground, Scott was there seconds later.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded.
"We need your help." I answered trying to help Derek up, "Derek got shot, and he isn't healing." I whispered before grunting as Derek dropped back to the ground. He groaned as his eyes started to flash blue.
"What are you doing!" Scott hissed, "stop it!"
"Don't you get it!" Derek snapped, "I can't stop it…" He tilted his head down grabbing his arm. I saw Scott's face pale.
"That's what she meant when she said 48 hours…" He answered before looking behind him at the line of impatient cars.
"What? Who meant what?" I asked urgently, trying to sit Derek up "what 48 hours?"
"The women who shot Derek." Scott grabbed Derek and helped lead him to Stiles's jeep, "she said it last night."
"What woman?" I demanded, pushing my hand against Scott's chest, "what happened to her?"
"I don't know," Scott shook his head quickly, "I had never met her before. She, she, was kinda blonde?" He said, unsure of himself, "I saw her get into Mr. Argent's car."
My stomach hollowed out, I let out of Scott and took a few steps back, "shit…" I muttered running a hand through my hair, it was her. I was snapped out of my trance as Stiles began to oppose us putting Derek into the jeep. I shot him a glare and growled causing him to shut his mouth. After putting Derek in the back seat of the car I turned to Scott quickly.
"You need to find out what kind of bullet they used." I told him quietly, "you need to find the bullet and bring it back here."
"What? Why?" Scott shot back.
"Because without it Derek will die!" I growled leaning closer, "I can't get it, so you have to. You need him to fight the Alpha, I won't be enough." I shook my head. He let out a breath and nodded.
"Fine, I'll try." Scoot nodded before he looked at Stiles, "get them out of here."
I whispered a thank you before getting in the back of the jeep with Derek. I looked at him, "It'll be okay, Derek." I whispered. He nodded and leaned back onto the seat with his eyes closed. Stiles let out a huff before driving off.
"You know, this is not what I wanted to do today," Stiles spoke as he drove down the road away from the school.
"And you think this is something we wanted?" I replied dryly, staring at Stiles in annoyance.
"Okay, okay," Stiles said as I watched him nod, "I'll...I'll just take you two home."
"No," I exclaimed, surging forward and grabbing onto his shoulder, "We can't go home."
"What?!" Stiles exclaimed, slamming on the breaks, "why not?"
I reached over and pressed my other hand against Derek's chest to keep him from falling forward.
"We can't go back there with Derek like this." I hissed, still gripping onto Stiles's shirt tightly, "if hunters come I won't be able to fight them off and defend Derek at the same time."
"So where do you want me to take you?!" Stiles demanded, turning back to look at me, "because I am this close," he held up two fingers a few inches apart, "to kicking you out of my jeep and leaving you both here! Because I think I could drag Derek's werewolf ass out onto the side of the road with little to no trouble."
I glared at Stiles and gripped his shirt tighter and pulled him against the seat, "Derek may not be able to put up much of a fight but I certainly can. I'm a werewolf with the skills of an Argent, do you really want to test me?" I growled.
"Fine," Stiles retorted quickly, "fine. But where do you want me to take you two?"
I let go of Stiles's shirt and looked back at Derek. He looked at me with tired eyes before leaning his head back against the seat.
"I don't know," I said looking back at Stiles, "I don't know."
XXX
We had been sitting in the cars. I was still in the back, leaning against the door with Derek laid against my chest. He was still heating up, every hour that passed his fever was getting worse.
My eyes snapped open from my light haze when Derek jolted up roughly, coughing.
"Derek," I said, sitting up and placing a hand on his back, rubbing my hand in circles, "Derek hey," I said although he kept coughing harshly.
"Water," I said, turning to Stiles, "he needs water." I pointed to his bag. I was thankful that Stiles put up no resistance before grabbing his backpack and shoveling through it, eventually producing a green water bottle. I snatched the bottle from him and clicked the lid open before gently pressing it to Derek's lips. He drank slowly, and I tried to get him to drink more but he turned his head away clearing his throat.
"Thanks," I said, quickly handing the bottle back to Stiles before looking at Derek. He looked back at me panting heavily. As gently as I could, I pushed the sleeve upon his left arm until it revealed the wound. A ragged breath left my lips as I stared at it.
The wound was still bleeding heavily, but there was more discoloration near the entry wound, and Derek's veins up and down his arm had continued to turn black.
"Call Scott," I breathed out turning towards Stiles, "call Scott!" I snapped making Stiles jump for his phone, "we need that bullet. Now."
"You're gonna be okay," I said, lowering my voice as I turned back to Derek placing a hand on the side of his face "you're gonna be fine, Der." I watched Derek nod slowly before closing his eyes and leaning back against the seat.
"Where am I supposed to take them?" Stiles asked, causing my head to turn towards him as he spoke to Scott. Stiles said a few more things before I snatched the phone from him and held it to my ear.
"Did you find it?" I demanded, holding the phone tightly.
"How do you expect me to find one bullet in here?" Scott exclaimed quietly, "this place is like the Walmart of guns!"
I let out a tense breath before glancing at Derek, "it won't be with Chris's things, alright? It will be with Kate's things. Don't ask me how I know that, just find it." I growled, "Derek will die without it." I hung up the phone before Scott could answer it.
"Well?" Stiles asked, looking at me as he took back his phone.
"Where did he tell you to take us?" I asked, instead of answering his question.
"The vet clinic." Stiles replied starting his car again, "so I take it he hasn't found the bullet yet."
"No," I said softly, sitting back down beside Derek, "but he will," I whispered looking at Derek.
We finally got to the Vet Clinic, Stiles unlocked the back door which led us into a storage room. After getting Derek settled against a wall I stood up, taking in a deep breath. I had to stay calm, for Derek and for Stiles. Although the struggle of staying calm became harder and harder as I heard Derek's heart rate began to slow. I turned to Stiles as he picked up a call from Scott. I didn't bother to grab the phone from him. From what I could tell it was Scott on the other end.
"He's got it," Stiles said hanging up the phone and turning towards me, "he's coming here as quickly as he can."
"Good," I nodded quietly, glancing at Derek again, before walking over to the doorway to get some air. I felt the floor sway beneath me, quickly bracing a hand against it, breathing in heavily.
"Woah," Stiles said quickly, stepping towards me, "you, you okay?"
"I'm fine," I said quickly, shaking my head, "it's just that…" I cleared my throat, "when your mate is this close to death...it takes a toll on the other…"
"Mates?" Stiles asked with a soft chuckle, causing me to look back towards him, "you serious, like actual werewolf mates?"
"Yes," I nodded, "what else do you think it would mean?"
"I, I don't know," Stiles stuttered, "it just sounds...fictional."
I laughed softly, nodding slowly and sliding down against the doorway to the ground, "yes well, modern-day versions of werewolf mates are…" I paused trying to find the right words, "a bit exaggerated. People also put their own spin on things."
"Care to elaborate?" Stiles asked, raising an eyebrow, "like, like can you read each other thoughts?" He asked excitedly.
"No," I laughed, "no, that's...that's purely fictional." I took in a breath, "we can't hear each other's thoughts, but we can feel each other's emotions, each other's pain, and happiness. We are linked, so we can sense when something is off with the other, even from miles away we can tap into the others chemosignals."
"Which are?" Stiles asked, gesturing for me to continue.
"They are chemical signals that channel emotion." I explained, "mates have their own chemosignals that are shared between them. It's like their own personal line of connection."
"What…"
I heard the hesitation in his voice.
"Do you guys stay mates forever?" He asked, staring at me nervously.
"Usually," I nodded, "when you mate you mate for life. But there are some exceptions when something severs the bond so severely between two mates that the bond is broken." I shrugged, "it's rare but it happens." I fell silent looking over at Derek, "the bond develops a devotion between the two that...that truly defies all bonds. The mates will do anything to protect one another…"
"You…" I heard Stiles speak up, "you really love him don't you."
I took in a shaky breath, leaning against the wall, and turned to look back at Stiles, "what, you thought this was all just an act?" I looked over at Derek, hunched against a wall. I could feel my throat constrict again, quickly looking away from him. I couldn't think beyond this point. I couldn't let my mind wander to the possibility of Scott not bringing back the bullet. My chest began to tighten at the mere thought of it.
"He's all I have." I breathed out softly, taking in a deep breath and straightening looking back at Stiles, "he's all I ever want." My head snapped in the direction of Derek as he bent forward, coughing roughly.
"Derek," I got up, racing to him, trying to hold him up as he coughed. I grabbed his arm and pulled his sleeve back, "the infections worse." I said looking at Stiles before looking back at Derek.
"Last...resort…" He mumbled.
I swallowed and nodded, "okay okay. Stiles help me get him up." I began to pull Derek to his feet, "we gotta get him inside." I shoved the doors open, going into the clinic. We found the main room and Derek broke from my grip going over some cupboards and began opening and closing them.
"So-so what happens if Scott doesn't get here soon?" Stiles asked, rubbing the back of his head.
"I have a last resort." Derek said weakly, pulling something off a shelf and turned towards Stiles, "you're gonna cut off my arm."
"What!" Stiles's eyes went wide and I saw him pale a bit, "no, no!" He said as Derek put the saw down on the table. I rushed over to him and helped remove his shirt before turning and finding some rubber to tie around his arm.
"You have to Stiles," I said looking at him, "it's the only way."
"Then you do it!" Stiles pointed at me in fear.
"I have to hold him down." I snapped, "do it!"
Stiles stuttered looking between us and the saw, "uh, uh no. No way!"
"Do it," Derek glared at Stiles, "or I'll cut off your head."
Stiles let out a harsh laugh, "I don't think you are in the right position to make threats."
Before I could say anything Derek reached across the table and grabbed Stiles shirt, growling at him.
"Ah, okay-okay." Stiles nodded nervously, "I'll do it. You got it."
I watched as Derek pulled back but suddenly turned to lean over the table, as black goo spewed from his mouth.
"Shit," I cursed, grabbing onto Derek's arm, and turning his head to look at me. His eyes were glazed over.
"You have to do it now!" I ordered Stiles, reaching over to grab Derek's shoulder, holding his against the table as he laid his arm out over it. I watched as Stiles grabbed the saw, staring at it in horror before placing it on Derek's arm. I looked away quickly, leaning my forehead against Derek's shoulder, "you'll be okay…" I whispered, holding on to his arm tightly.
"Stiles!" Scott yelled running into the room.
"Scott!" Stiles breathed out with a grin, "thank god!" He dropped the saw as if it was on fire, "you just prevented a lifetime of nightmares."
"Do you have it?" I demanded rushing to Scott.
"Yeah, yeah." Scott nodded, digging into his pocket before producing a long and pointed bullet with a blue top. I took the bullet carefully looking at it, the same kind of bullet I was taught to load into a sniper and clip a werewolf with when I was thirteen. I took in a deep breath and was about to speak to Scott when Derek stood up.
"Lins…" He said weakly, grabbing onto my shoulder as tightly as he could before I watched his eyes roll up back to his head and he stumbled to the ground pulling with him. I gasped in panic, reaching behind Derek and grabbing the back of his head as he hit the ground, me on top of him, the bullet falling from my grasp.
"Derek," I said, shaking him in a panic, "damnit," I cursed, checking his neck trying to find a pulse.
"Oh my god!" Stiles stuttered standing over me, "Is he dead?"
"The infection is getting closer to his heart." I snapped shaking Derek again, I growled under my breath and felt a heat build-up in my stomach, "DEREK!" I yelled my eyes turning green as a roar left my lips.
Derek's eyes flashed open and he gasped before coughing and sitting up quickly.
"You okay?" I asked, helping to pull him up to his feet.
"Y-yeah…" Derek nodded slowly, leaning against the metal table.
"I need the bullet," I breathed out, turning to Scott who placed it into my hand. I turned quickly and broke open the bullet tapping the head until the power fell onto the table. I reached into Derek's pocket and pulled out a lighter and lit the powder, the grey shaving ignited with a puff of blue smoke. I coughed, turning away to keep from inhaling it.
"Is this gonna work?" Scott asked, leaning against the table on the other side.
"Yes," I said, gathering the hot shavings in my hand.
"How do you know that exactly?" Stiles asked matter of factly.
I looked back at Stiles, swallowing, "cause I know how these are made." I turned to Derek, looking him in the eyes before pressing the shavings to the gunshot wound. I held my hand tightly against Derek's arm pressing the shavings further into the wound as he groaned in pain. He broke away from my grip grabbing the side of the table before falling to the floor on his back, writhing in pain.
"Don't," I said quickly, pressing my hand to Scott's chest as he stepped forward to help Derek, "you gotta let him fight through it."
"Is this all it does? Stiles asked flinching at Derek's cries of pain, "cause of pain?"
"I just shoved hot wolfsbane into his arm." I retorted with a scoff glancing at Stiles, "it's gonna hurt." I tensed my jaw as a pain seared through my arm as I watched Derek struggle on the ground. But just as soon as the pain appeared in my arm it was gone, and Derek stopped struggling, breathing in heavily as he looked at his arm. The dark veins disappeared and the bullet wound healed.
I breathed out a breath of relief, rushing to Derek with a grin on my face. I turned his face to look at mine, as he breathed in and out heavily, "you're okay."
"I'm okay…" Derek said softly, placing a hand on my cheek in reassurance before slowly getting up to his feet, "except for the agonizing pain," he grumbled sarcastically looking at Scott and Stiles.
"Well it is good to see your humor is intact," Stiles replied shortly. They both stepped back as Derek shot a glare in their direction.
"Okay," Scott began, "we saved your life, which means you're gonna leave us alone right? And, and if you don't I'm gonna go back to Allison's dad, and I'm gonna tell him everything!"
My head snapped in Scott's direction as he mentioned Chris and my stomach churned, "you can't." I said as firmly as I could as my throat went dry. Derek gripped my wrist tightly stepping closer to Robb.
"Why not?" Scott asked, his voice growing louder, "they are a hell of a lot nicer than you two!"
Derek stalked closer to Scott, as I took in a sharp breath, "you wanna know how nice they are? I'll show you." He pulled his shirt back on before grabbing Scott by the shoulder pushing him out of the room.
I looked at Stiles as he opened his mouth to protest before letting out a harsh breath and followed Derek and Scott.
XXX
I sat Derek's car with Stiles in the back as he and Scott went into the nursing home to see Peter. I tapped my fingers in a pattern on my thigh as I sat in silence. Which please, but surprised me as I shared the car with Stiles. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes and moments after Stiles sat forward, pushing on my seat.
"So who is in there again, and why can't we go in?" He asked, looking at me from the side.
I kept my eyes closed and let out a long breath, "Derek's uncle Peter is in there. We can't all go in because it will attract too much attention."
"Yes, but why exactly?" Stiles asked again.
I let out a soft groan and opened my eyes, at this point all I wanted was sleep, "because the Argents have eyes everywhere." I looked over at him, "we can never be too careful." I closed my eyes as Stiles fell silent and sat back in his seat.
"So what happened to his uncle?" Stiles asked, moving forward and bumping my seat again.
"Do you ever stop asking questions?" I demanded, opening my eyes and looking at Stiles.
"Hey," Stiles said defensively, "I'm not in there," he gestured to the building, "hearing the story."
I looked at Stiles in silence for a few moments, he had a point.
"Fine," I said sitting up in my seat more, "do you recall hearing about the Hale house fire years ago?" I looked at Stiles who nodded, "alright, well, it…" I hesitated, "it wasn't an accident. The Argents set the house on fire, trapping eleven people inside and killing ten. Derek was at school with his sister."
"Wait, wait," Stiles said shaking his head, "why?"
"Because they are hunters," I replied, clearing my throat as it went dry again, "it's what they do." I sighed and turned to look back at the building folding my arms over my chest. I heard Stiles settle back into his seat before I felt him lunge forward again grabbing my seat.
"Why are your eyes green?" He asked, the hesitancy clear in his voice.
"What?" I laughed looking over at Stiles.
"You're eyes," Stiles replied, "I saw them earlier when you growled at Derek, they turned green. But, Derek's...Derek's are blue. Why are your eyes green?" He repeated the question.
I stared at Stiles for a moment before sighing, "if I answer this question, will you stop asking questions.
Stiles paused, seeming to weigh his options, "for now." He replied.
I swallowed, at least he would be quiet for the rest of the night, "I don't know." I replied honestly, "I think it has something to do with being a hunter." I sighed, "well an ex-hunter."
"That's it?" Stiles asked, and opened his mouth to ask another question but I shot him a glare.
"Right…" He said slowly, "I'll shut up now."
"Thank you," I sighed leaning my head back against the seat.
Eventually, Scott and Derek emerged from the building and got back into the car. Scott was quiet and lost in thought for most of the ride home. Derek and I dropped Scott and Stiles off at their respective homes before he drove towards the forest.
"You okay?" He asked, breaking the peaceful silence between us as he placed a hand on my knee.
"I'm fine," I replied softly, shifting in my seat, "it has just been a tiring day."
"It has," Derek nodded slowly, taking a sharp left.
"Kates back…" I said softly, I could tell Derek was glancing at me but I kept staring straight ahead.
"Are you sure?" He asked I could feel the tenseness filling the car.
"Yeah…" I sighed watching the trees out the window, "she carries those bullets with her wherever she goes. She fired at you without knowing if you had killed anyone. Plus Scott said she got into a car with Chris." I felt his grip tightened on my knee.
"He brought her here," Derek replied with a low tone, "to help hunt the Alpha and Scott. To help hunt us."
I finally looked over at Derek, "yeah, he did."
Well, thanks for reading! Hope you guys like it, I'll get the next chapter up as soon as possible. Leave a comet and tell me what you think. Also, again sorry for switching back to 3rd person again, but it feels like the best option for me. Thanks for reading!