The Normal Life
By Didi
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters that are recognizable and I certainly don't own the show. Don't sue me cause all you're going to get is lent, and not much of that either.
Summery: Life is hard enough as a teen without in the problems of being wolf. Sequel to "Eyes of Brown... or is it Green," kind of.
Note: Darn it, they've taken the show off the air again. (sigh) I'm in grief.
Rating: R for restricted under 17.
~~~~~~~~~~
-Sherman's POV-
I watched both of them grow up slowly under the eagle eyes of the town. One the Alpha's son; the other the daughter our town's rebel. Life was tough for both in their different ways, but they've made it this far through different means. Now, just as it would appear that their future would be linked, our ways may take everything away.
But if I had it my way, the danger would pass quickly for both and this pack would have a strong leadership that can keep us safe.
Leadership is the key out the survival of the pack; I've always known that. Willard Cates had been a good leader, a strong influence. Sixteen years ago there was another that could have been better but the fates had other plans in stored for that one. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Willard had been a mistake, just that there could have been an even stronger Alpha. But that's neither here or there.
Now, with the leadership seat empty, the fighting for control will begin. Even at this wake, to mourn the lost of a great man, I can see the reins of control coming loose. The main contenders were ready to go for the goal. I only fear that there will be plenty of blood shed before our town is safe once more.
"You're deep in thoughts," Donner commented as he took a seat next to me. "Care to share?"
I smiled; the man was as sharp as ever. "I was just remembering that old Cates still owes me twenty bucks."
Donner gave a snort of laughter. "What did he owe you for?"
"Game at the diner," it had been a good game too. If he hadn't been distracted by the news of Luke's announcement, he might have won. "The cheap bastard probably up and died just to get out of paying me."
Shaking his head, Donner poured me another drink before sitting back to watch the rest of the pack as I have been doing. "I'm sure V would be willing to honor his debt if you approach her with it."
"Don't think I won't."
"Now that we've got that settled," he turned to look at him with seriousness. "Why don't you tell me what you were really thinking of?"
He was good, the damn bastard. But then that's why I like him so much, one of the few men around that can't or simply won't be distracted by me. He and I dealt well together. We were both watching, waiting, knowing too much. "If Tyler succeeds in convincing Ruby to marry him..."
"He may just win leadership," Matthew Donner was no fool. He knew that stakes in this game. "But then he'd have to go to through some heavy hitters first. The others aren't without their supports."
I knew that part too. The old school would not just simply bow to the hostile take over of a younger, and probably more foolish, upstart. "But Ruby's presence count for a lot, may just be enough to tip the scale."
Nodding his understanding, Matthew tossed back the drink. I had forgotten that Donner was one of the few people that can match me drink for drink. Must remember to invite him over more often. Glancing over at the young cub, Matt shook his head. "You're assuming that Tyler makes it through the next few days alive."
"That's a big maybe," I have to agree with that. The arrogance the boy was pouring forth as he stood there by the mantel; it was enough to make me want the leadership just to see him drop kicked to the curb. "Who knows, he may accidentally drown in that jar of gel he uses on his hair."
Donner laughed. I could always count on him to get my little quirks.
"And what pleasant thoughts brought those smiles on your faces?" Vivian asked as she slides into the seat next to Donner. "Please do share, I could use a laugh right about now."
She looked worn. The last couple of days must be getting to her. With Willard gone, her safe little haven may be in danger. Added on top of the fact that she's got a son that isn't nearly old enough to fend for himself among the big boys yet. That's got to be putting the stress on. "Oh just remembering the good times with Will. He owes me twenty bucks."
She smiles but it didn't touch her eyes. They were glassy with grief, anxiety and fatigue. I felt bad for her. "I'll see to it that you get that money."
I smiled for her, "No hurry. I better be going now, too much to do."
"Sherman," she reached out and touched my hand. Her fingers were icy cold. "Be kind to him in your records."
I knew what she was asking me but I couldn't give her that. "I'm the Keeper of the Clan, V. Not the Keeper of the Conspiracies. I only record what I know, not what I don't."
She nodded, accepting this as all the others before her have. "Thank you for coming to the ceremony."
"He was a friend as well as a leader," I squeeze her hand. She was going to need a lot of strength to get through the next few days. I can only hope that she was as cold as everyone says she is. If not, she may not be able to hold on to her son, her sanity or her life.
This is going to be an interesting few days to come.
~~~~~~~~~~
-Donner's POV-
"Matt," I looked at her, her eyes shielded all the emotions that was no doubt churning in her. "Walk with me."
I nodded. If nothing else, V and I had once been friends. We walked slowly through the crowd, getting more speculative glances that I would have liked. But those I can ignore. What I can't ignore was the uneasy feeling I was getting now that I've noticed that my daughter was nowhere to be found. And while under normal circumstances, I would have gone in search, now was not the time to draw more attention to my child, not with everything else going on.
When we reached the balcony, V drew me outside and shut the door firmly behind her. "The glass was made sound proof. Anything we say here stays out here."
I wasn't sure if I was glad to hear that or not.
"They're going to kill my son, you know that don't you? Just like they tried to Willard when his father passed on." She leaned against the railing, her fears finally surfacing as she looked at me from the corner of her eyes. "The minute the new leader is chosen, they'll come after him."
I didn't know what to say. Even after all these years away from pack business, I couldn't forget the rules taught from the cradle. She was right; they would show no mercy, for if they did, it could be their necks on the line in the future.
"He's not ready," she stared out over the treetops. "Luke is strong but he's not a man yet. He's nowhere near ready to fight them off. And I may not be able to help him."
"Send him away," that was no suggestion, not even a real option but I had to throw it out there.
"We both know that I can't," the incredible helplessness I sensed in here made my heart contract. For a moment, the invincible Vivian Cates looked ready to crumble. This was her child, her only flesh and blood offspring. The thought of losing him... I can't imagine my life without Sophia. What Vivian must be going through...but then she seemed to pull herself together once more. "But that's not why I asked you to come out here."
The grave look she gave me made me shutter. "What is it then?"
"Sophia."
That got my heart pumping fast. "What about her?"
She almost smiled, must have sensed the unease in me. "I take it you heard my son's announcement at the school dance."
"How could I not?" I wasn't really in the mood to discuss this now. That's a bone I'll have to pick with the young Cates at another time. Right now, his life was...
"Sophia is his now, whether you like to believe that or not," she turned to look at the glass partition, at the horde of vultures that sat in her living room. "Do you think who ever becomes Alpha will spare her if they come after Luke?"
By Didi
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters that are recognizable and I certainly don't own the show. Don't sue me cause all you're going to get is lent, and not much of that either.
Summery: Life is hard enough as a teen without in the problems of being wolf. Sequel to "Eyes of Brown... or is it Green," kind of.
Note: Darn it, they've taken the show off the air again. (sigh) I'm in grief.
Rating: R for restricted under 17.
~~~~~~~~~~
-Sherman's POV-
I watched both of them grow up slowly under the eagle eyes of the town. One the Alpha's son; the other the daughter our town's rebel. Life was tough for both in their different ways, but they've made it this far through different means. Now, just as it would appear that their future would be linked, our ways may take everything away.
But if I had it my way, the danger would pass quickly for both and this pack would have a strong leadership that can keep us safe.
Leadership is the key out the survival of the pack; I've always known that. Willard Cates had been a good leader, a strong influence. Sixteen years ago there was another that could have been better but the fates had other plans in stored for that one. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Willard had been a mistake, just that there could have been an even stronger Alpha. But that's neither here or there.
Now, with the leadership seat empty, the fighting for control will begin. Even at this wake, to mourn the lost of a great man, I can see the reins of control coming loose. The main contenders were ready to go for the goal. I only fear that there will be plenty of blood shed before our town is safe once more.
"You're deep in thoughts," Donner commented as he took a seat next to me. "Care to share?"
I smiled; the man was as sharp as ever. "I was just remembering that old Cates still owes me twenty bucks."
Donner gave a snort of laughter. "What did he owe you for?"
"Game at the diner," it had been a good game too. If he hadn't been distracted by the news of Luke's announcement, he might have won. "The cheap bastard probably up and died just to get out of paying me."
Shaking his head, Donner poured me another drink before sitting back to watch the rest of the pack as I have been doing. "I'm sure V would be willing to honor his debt if you approach her with it."
"Don't think I won't."
"Now that we've got that settled," he turned to look at him with seriousness. "Why don't you tell me what you were really thinking of?"
He was good, the damn bastard. But then that's why I like him so much, one of the few men around that can't or simply won't be distracted by me. He and I dealt well together. We were both watching, waiting, knowing too much. "If Tyler succeeds in convincing Ruby to marry him..."
"He may just win leadership," Matthew Donner was no fool. He knew that stakes in this game. "But then he'd have to go to through some heavy hitters first. The others aren't without their supports."
I knew that part too. The old school would not just simply bow to the hostile take over of a younger, and probably more foolish, upstart. "But Ruby's presence count for a lot, may just be enough to tip the scale."
Nodding his understanding, Matthew tossed back the drink. I had forgotten that Donner was one of the few people that can match me drink for drink. Must remember to invite him over more often. Glancing over at the young cub, Matt shook his head. "You're assuming that Tyler makes it through the next few days alive."
"That's a big maybe," I have to agree with that. The arrogance the boy was pouring forth as he stood there by the mantel; it was enough to make me want the leadership just to see him drop kicked to the curb. "Who knows, he may accidentally drown in that jar of gel he uses on his hair."
Donner laughed. I could always count on him to get my little quirks.
"And what pleasant thoughts brought those smiles on your faces?" Vivian asked as she slides into the seat next to Donner. "Please do share, I could use a laugh right about now."
She looked worn. The last couple of days must be getting to her. With Willard gone, her safe little haven may be in danger. Added on top of the fact that she's got a son that isn't nearly old enough to fend for himself among the big boys yet. That's got to be putting the stress on. "Oh just remembering the good times with Will. He owes me twenty bucks."
She smiles but it didn't touch her eyes. They were glassy with grief, anxiety and fatigue. I felt bad for her. "I'll see to it that you get that money."
I smiled for her, "No hurry. I better be going now, too much to do."
"Sherman," she reached out and touched my hand. Her fingers were icy cold. "Be kind to him in your records."
I knew what she was asking me but I couldn't give her that. "I'm the Keeper of the Clan, V. Not the Keeper of the Conspiracies. I only record what I know, not what I don't."
She nodded, accepting this as all the others before her have. "Thank you for coming to the ceremony."
"He was a friend as well as a leader," I squeeze her hand. She was going to need a lot of strength to get through the next few days. I can only hope that she was as cold as everyone says she is. If not, she may not be able to hold on to her son, her sanity or her life.
This is going to be an interesting few days to come.
~~~~~~~~~~
-Donner's POV-
"Matt," I looked at her, her eyes shielded all the emotions that was no doubt churning in her. "Walk with me."
I nodded. If nothing else, V and I had once been friends. We walked slowly through the crowd, getting more speculative glances that I would have liked. But those I can ignore. What I can't ignore was the uneasy feeling I was getting now that I've noticed that my daughter was nowhere to be found. And while under normal circumstances, I would have gone in search, now was not the time to draw more attention to my child, not with everything else going on.
When we reached the balcony, V drew me outside and shut the door firmly behind her. "The glass was made sound proof. Anything we say here stays out here."
I wasn't sure if I was glad to hear that or not.
"They're going to kill my son, you know that don't you? Just like they tried to Willard when his father passed on." She leaned against the railing, her fears finally surfacing as she looked at me from the corner of her eyes. "The minute the new leader is chosen, they'll come after him."
I didn't know what to say. Even after all these years away from pack business, I couldn't forget the rules taught from the cradle. She was right; they would show no mercy, for if they did, it could be their necks on the line in the future.
"He's not ready," she stared out over the treetops. "Luke is strong but he's not a man yet. He's nowhere near ready to fight them off. And I may not be able to help him."
"Send him away," that was no suggestion, not even a real option but I had to throw it out there.
"We both know that I can't," the incredible helplessness I sensed in here made my heart contract. For a moment, the invincible Vivian Cates looked ready to crumble. This was her child, her only flesh and blood offspring. The thought of losing him... I can't imagine my life without Sophia. What Vivian must be going through...but then she seemed to pull herself together once more. "But that's not why I asked you to come out here."
The grave look she gave me made me shutter. "What is it then?"
"Sophia."
That got my heart pumping fast. "What about her?"
She almost smiled, must have sensed the unease in me. "I take it you heard my son's announcement at the school dance."
"How could I not?" I wasn't really in the mood to discuss this now. That's a bone I'll have to pick with the young Cates at another time. Right now, his life was...
"Sophia is his now, whether you like to believe that or not," she turned to look at the glass partition, at the horde of vultures that sat in her living room. "Do you think who ever becomes Alpha will spare her if they come after Luke?"
