"No, not again!" I called out in horror.

My mom was grinning at the camera in my dad's hands while she posed with five marines in full dress against a backdrop of the pier. I groaned embarrassedly as they laughed at my discomfort. This was the 6th group she had stopped to take a picture with. There was an appreciation day on the pier, and well…she was sure showing her appreciation. My dad was laughing as we walked away. I can't believe they were doing this to me. I felt a little better as we dropped into the magic shop, I was awed even though I technically knew how to do some of the tricks. They were just so smooth.

I had been surprised when they woke me up Saturday morning and told me we were going on a trip to San Francisco. I had protested since so much was happening "That's why we have to do it, honey, you're always going to be busy. It's important to get away every once in a while," So I did. Despite all my protests, I was having a great time. The mist from the ocean sprayed against my face, listened to the seals bark. I felt lighter than I had in a long while.

"Maybe you want to get a picture with me?" A voice called out from behind us. I groaned and turned around to see what fresh hell awaited my eyes. I stood there in shock. My mom nudged me and I went sprinting toward him.

"Isaac!" I launched myself into his arms. He laughed as he steadied us, trying not to collapse under my exuberance. I was crying and laughing and doing my best impression of a barnacle as I felt my mom and dad's arms come around us. I finally pulled away, wiping my eyes even as more tears fell. I had to sit down for a second lightheaded.

He crouched down to look at me "you alright?" I felt my lip quiver for a second before I was bawling and held him close. He just held me tightly until I was done, a little pink-faced. I was a little embarrassed at all the strange looks we were getting but I was so happy. My brother was home.

We spent the rest of the day together as a family. We took corny photos, went out to eat, and even took a boat out around Alcatraz.

"Are you going back?" I asked him, a little afraid of the answer.

He laughed and pulled me into his shoulder "No, I just couldn't get a flight at the same time as Chris. I'm home. I called and planned the surprise with mom and dad," He grinned at them, they couldn't help but hug us all again. It was the perfect day.

On the way home I was inundated with news from the pack. Another assassin had attacked the PSATS, they infected everyone in the school. Stiles had almost gotten shot, and Malia found out that Peter was her dad. I showed Isaac worriedly. He closed his eyes and shook his head. He had only just got back and already things were chaotic. He pulled me to him so I was leaning against his side. We both fell asleep for the rest of the ride. We finally got back around midnight. Isaac was exhausted from his flight from France and the full day, I made sure he fell asleep before I snuck out of my window.

I made my way to Stiles's house, climbing up the drain to the second story. Looking in and sure enough, he was tossing and turning. I lightly tapped on the window. It caused him to jerk up in surprise but he was up and opening the window in a second. I hopped in looking at him carefully. He looked nervous.

We just stood there for a second, pulling him into my arms the next moment. He tried to protest but I held on tighter. Tears hit my sleeve. I rubbed his back soothingly as both his arms came around to clutch at the back of my shirt. We stayed there until he stopped trembling as much. Taking his hand and guiding him to the bed. I sat up against the headboard bringing his head to rest on my lap. I ran my hands through his hair comfortingly, scraping his scalp with his nails. One of his hands pulled one of mine away and held it as I continued with the other. I hummed lowly, with a few squeezes of his hand he was out hard. A few times in the next hour he would jerk awake in a panic. I would hum and rub my hands through his hair until his heartbeat slowed and he would fall back to sleep.

There was a creaking sound near the door. I looked up through bleary eyes to see the Sheriff watching us, tears in the corners of his eyes. He smiled when he saw I was awake and moved into the room quietly "Thank you for being here," He whispered to me running his hand through Stiles's hair, he took a shaky breath.

I nodded, humming as Stiles stirred. He nuzzled back down in the blankets and his breaths evened out again.

"I'm going back to work," His dad whispered again. I waved when he took one last look at us.

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Shifting on the bed woke me up the next morning. I groaned as I popped my back which was sore from sitting up all night. I opened my eyes to see Stiles holding out a mug to me looking sheepish "Morning,"

I reached out my senses to gauge his emotions, he seemed okay. Taking the mug from him I thanked him. I could smell the hot chocolate, and he had put extra marshmallows in it for me. He was drinking coffee and trying not to spill as he sat down next to me.

"Thank you for coming over," he told me staring hard at his drink,"

I reached out and rubbed his back "Don't thank me. I wasn't here for everything yesterday,"

He shrugged "You wouldn't have been there anyway, you and Lydia already took your PSATS. Not much you could have done, and last night helped me a lot," I nodded as I sipped. I waited for him to go on. "Do you think she will ever forgive me?" he asked.

There it was "Yeah, I do. It might take a little while. If all else fails just tell her it was me who decided to keep her in the dark, she already hates me,"

He laughed "I really don't want her to murder you," he said finally looking me in the eyes. I got up and stretched again.

"You wanna come to breakfast at my house? My family is going to be making a big breakfast this morning since Iz is back,"

He shook his head "You go enjoy your time, I'm headed to Scott's house. We'll let you know our next steps?" He asked like it was a question.

"Of course," I told him. Then leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek "Be careful, call if you need me, don't forget your Adderall," I told him heading downstairs.

"Okay mom!" he called down. I laughed and placed my mug in the sink before heading home.

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It was an amazing feeling walking into the kitchen and watching my family move around each other getting breakfast ready. Like each one of them was a planet in orbit, never touching except to taste test something or to show some type of affection. Everyone acknowledged me when I came in to wash my hands so I could help. My mom pressed a kiss on my forehead. My dad handed me the cheese grater and a block of cheese, squeezing my hand before he was off to chop onions. I smiled at Isaac who was wearing an apron while kneading dough to make biscuits. Mom was starting to fry sausage in a pan. The best biscuits and gravy can take up to an hour to cook so I wasn't afraid to steal a few pieces of cheese which both parents scolded me for.

Knowing it was going to take a bit I finished my job and went to take a quick shower. My phone buzzed, it was the pack. They were meeting at Scott's at 10, we had a little over an hour to meet them. I wrapped my hair in a towel and went to the kitchen. Everything was just finished, and my mouth watered at all the food on the table. Isaac looked like he already had sampled a little of everything. Loaded eggs, biscuits, and gravy. I was going to gain weight if this became a weekly tradition.

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"Sorry but what?" Isaac asked, mirroring my thoughts. These geniuses were standing in front of us and talking about the plan for tonight. Scott, Stiles, and Kira were explaining how they were essentially going to kill Scott so that the benefactor would have to show up and get confirmation of him being dead. Isaac, Liam, and I were on the other side looking at them like they were nuts.

"But isn't it kind of dangerous?" Liam asked, finally looking around at all of us. The conversation devolved again for a second before Kira brought up another point.

"How do we even know something's coming?"

"Because the tape from Garrett's bag said visual confirmation required," Scott told us. I did not like the sound of this "So the idea is, what if you kill someone on the dead pool, but you can't send the proof? He still needs to know if the target is really dead,"

"Especially if it's someone high on the list," Stiles explained.

"I see what you're saying, but this is crazy," I told them "Did Deaton come up with this plan?" I asked suspiciously. It sounded like one of his plans.

Scott rolled his eyes "No. Hopefully, the benefactor will be making an in-person visit to confirm I'm dead,"

Isaac and I gave each other a look. Neither of us wanted to be a part of this, but it would be better for everyone if we helped. He nodded, and I sighed in agreement "Where do you need us?"

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I still hated the whole plan but I wanted to see Derek so we could talk to him about it, plus I knew he would be happy to see Isaac. There was a lot of tension between them last semester but they had been pack mates for a long time. Opening the door to the loft I was surprised to see him in the middle of the room in the dark. I froze at the scene in front of me.

He had his shirt off and with the sounds coming from him I thought he had been working out. He was, in a way. I heard a strange strangled noise and realized the sound was coming from me. He shot up from his position on top of Braeden. We stared wide-eyed at each other.

I felt Isaac's hand on my back guiding me out of there. I heard Derek protest for a second before I felt Isaac's hand fall from my back. There were a few grunting sounds for a second before it was back and guiding me to my car. He took the keys and we drove off.

I burst into tears halfway back. Isaac reached over and held my hand and talked to me while I cried it out.

An hour later we met back up with everyone so we could start the plan. I saw questioning glances at my red eyes but Isaac stared them down. Kira and Liam would be protecting Stiles in one of the rooms and providing backup for the side of the hospital. Kira's mom would be in the parking lot after guiding Kira into slowing down Scott's heart. Melissa would join her after she was told about Scott being dead. That part made me choke up. Even if she knew the truth, the whole situation would be difficult. I hated the plan even more. Isaac and I would be in the emergency waiting room waiting for "news" on Scott, just in case the benefactor came through that way.

I had them call the ambulance before Kira stopped his heart, and when we could hear sirens Kira would do her thing. After she left to meet Stiles and Liam. Isaac and I would stay with Scott to provide the cover story. That we were supposed to meet up to celebrate Isaac coming home, hadn't heard from him, used our spare key and found him collapsed near his bed.

I let myself cry as we sat next to Scott's admittedly dead-looking body as the paramedics rushed around us. Isaacs's hands were on my shoulders as I held Scott's hand. I felt someone come and remove them gently, moving me up and away from his body. It was Jordan. I tried to wipe away the tears but they kept coming. Isaac turned me so I was facing his chest, arms around me as he spoke to Jordan. He and Haigh gave us a ride to the hospital where he sat down next to us and asked a few more questions.

Everyone stopped what they were doing when we heard someone wailing. Melissa. I sobbed again and even Isaac let some tears fall at the sound of anguish. It wasn't real, I reminded myself. It just sounded like it. With 20 minutes to go Stiles text us that one of the cameras went off and that Liam and Kira were investigating it. We were getting some weird looks from people since we had been there for a while now after we had been told by the doctor that Scott hadn't made it. I made sure to drag out the conversation with Jordan. With 10 minutes to go, he got up to get me water.

"You know Parrish isn't always going to be around to cover for you," Haigh told me, smirking.

I felt Isaac tense next to me "excuse me?" I questioned quietly.

"You and all your little delinquent friends are always getting away with everything," He said leaning forward so that he was close enough that no one else could hear "I wouldn't be surprised if it was you guys who killed the kid," My hand turned into a fist, Isaac grabbed it before I could make a move. If anything that made him smile more "So new boy toy then? What? The other one get tired of you already?"

I made a huge mistake, I lunged for him. Not even Isaac could have stopped it. I tackled him to the ground and started punching him. Isaac pulled me off hurriedly as everyone stared at us in shock. Haigh got up from the ground wiping blood off of his face with his sleeve. He had a malicious look in his eyes as he stared at me "You are under arrest for assaulting a police officer," Jordan was there as soon as Haigh began cuffing me. He protested but Haigh shook his head "I even have it on camera, partner. Why don't you stay here while I take her in? I think you are too close to the assailant to be making good calls," He told him in mock sympathy.

I looked over at Isaac who was holding himself back "Check on Stiles! I'll be fine," I told him as Haigh practically dragged me out of the hospital and stuffed me in the back of the cruiser.

He taunted me as we drove, I was too busy staring at the clock to react to what he was saying. It was three minutes passed the 45-minute mark. Had I ruined everything? Was Scott okay? No one had come in while we were being questioned, so at least we hadn't missed the benefactor. I groaned as the brakes were slammed causing my face to hit the grate. I had a matching bloody nose to Haigh who was turned around in his seat "It's rude to ignore someone," he taunted "I have half a mind to go the long way around and mess up that face of yours a little more. Consider it justice for all the complaints you made,"

I rolled my eyes at him which annoyed him. I forgot about him as soon as I saw shadows outside the car. His door was wrenched open, and Haigh was pulled out and hit in the temple hard enough to knock him out. I scooted to the opposite side of the car away from whatever it was only for me to go freefalling as the door opened behind me. I groaned as my shoulders hit funny due to my hands being cuffed in the back, not to mention the wind was knocked out of me. I kinda just plopped down and laid there for a second before I remembered to breathe. When I looked up there was a face with a bluish tint to it. I tried to scramble up but I was just doing my best impression of a bug stuck on its back.

I was pulled up roughly and turned to face her, Kate. She stared at me for a second contemplating.

"So…uh are you going to kill me?" I asked finally. She smiled, showing all of her sharp teeth.

"So your Arielle," She said contemplatively. I looked briefly at Haigh to make sure he wasn't dead or something. He looked fine just out "I heard you were a good friend to Allison,"

"We had our rough patches, but we were great friends," I looked at her suspiciously "Is that why you let me out,"

She laughed "No, you have someone who wants your precious self to stay out of harm's way. I remember when I used to inspire such devotion,"

"Yeah, I hear we have the same taste in guys. I mean I know you like them younger, but still," Her smile never left her face, and I belatedly remembered that maybe I shouldn't be so…me when I was vulnerable. "Um so, how about getting these cuffs off of me?" I questioned.

"Sometimes Arielle, you have to learn how to help yourself," She said shrugging and walking away "I did my part,"

I bit my lip trying to think about what to do when headlights flashed over me. Great now someone was going to think I was trying to escape and took Haigh out. It was Isaac in my car, and Jordan was right next to him. He got out and looked at me disapprovingly "So this isn't what it looks like," I told him sheepishly.

He studied the area quietly and then reached into his belt to get the keys for the cuffs. I was surprised when he uncuffed me. I shook out my shoulders happily and rubbed the red welts on my wrist "I'm guessing that bloody nose is from him?" He questioned darkly. I had forgotten all about that. How embarrassing, the first time I met Allison's aunt and I had blood all over me.

"I'll be alright, he stepped on his brakes real hard and I smacked my face. Him being knocked out though, not my doing,"

"Isaac, come help me move him," Jordan called. I was a little insulted he didn't ask me, but my shoulders hurt. Isaac got out and grabbed Haigh's shoulders while Jordan grabbed his feet. Jordan gave him his look of disapproval when he "accidentally" ran Haigh's head into the side of the door. They moved him to the passenger side, buckled him in and Jordan got into the front "You were never arrested," he told me.

I smiled sheepishly "That's great and all but how do we play this out?"

"He never called it into the department, which is why we followed you. He could have done anything and said he found you that way. I'm pretty sure your friends have already taken care of the video footage," This was also said with disapproval "The nurses will probably ignore it because of the situation, and I am going to play off his nap as a very bad headache,"

"Thanks, Jordan," I told him, hugging him. Isaac said the same. He ushered me to the passenger side and headed home since Scott was alive and would probably be held for a while as he had been declared dead for nearly an hour. We will meet up with them tomorrow.