The next morning Derek spent an hour reading through everything Melissa and the Sheriff had given him about Service Dogs, and looking over all the gear they got. Putting the vest, and the booties on Anne he found a super short stiff leash loop that wouldn't drag on the ground or bother her when dropped and attached it to her collar. That way she was technically leashed. Even if he had no plans to ever use the thing. Slipping some bags into a helpful pocket on her vest he clipped on the collapsible bowl and called it good.
Sitting down with the papers in his hand he started a long whined conversation with Anne. Lots of pointing and motioning and whining passed back and forth between the two and they conversed for nearly an hour. When they finally quieted down Derek pressed his forehead to Anne's and gave one last whine before suddenly standing up and announcing it was time to go shopping.
Smiling at his obvious excitement about being able to take the dog with them Jess tried to bring her wallet but had it wrestled away from her and places on a box on on high shelf in the closet by the much taller then her man. Picking up one of the papers they had been given that had the Sheriff's personal and work phone number Jess saved them in her phone and sent a copy of the contact card to Derek's phone. If they got stopped while in a store she wanted to be able to call the Sheriff directly to sic him on whomever questioned them. Grumbling angrily about her wallet Jess threw her pepper spray at the Derek's head and snatching her keys she made a break for the truck. Hearing nails clicking behind her Jess rushed down the stairs, ripped open the door and was about to sprint to the truck when she saw Derek standing beside the truck, holding her sling, smirking. Apparently her window, and the covered porch made a good shortcut.
Closing and locking the front door Jess stomped grumpily to the truck and climbing in the passenger seat she traded her keys for the sling when Derek climbed into the driver's seat after helping Anne into the backseat. Putting on the sling Jess buckled herself in. Pulling some paper and a pen from her cargo pants pockets she began to work on a meal plan for the week. "We can do a roast in the slow-cooker on Monday with baked potatoes and veggies. Nice and easy since I think I will be starting actual classes on Monday. Then we had enough tomato sauce left over last time that I froze to use for another meal so we can use the leftover baked potatoes and make gnocchi and then just need some sausages. Then Wednesday we can do something with chicken again. I have those drippings in the fridge I can warm tonight and pour off into a container to freeze then I can use it for chicken gravy on Wednesday with the chicken and some buscuits. The leftovers from that meal can be made into a pie to freeze for an emergency supper. Thursday we can do tacos and burritos. Friday we will do a big breakfast for supper thing and make lots of French toast to freeze for quick breakfasts for the week. Weekends everyone can eat leftovers or fend for themselves." Jess finished her plan listing the ingredients that they would need for the week.
Reaching the store Derek helped Anne out of the truck and linking his arm through Jess's he led her into the store snagging a cart on his way past the cart return. Walking along in a perfect heel with no leash or commands being given as they went through the store Anne gained a lot of attention from other shoppers. No matter how much people tried to distract the dog she never wavered from her heel or gave people more then a passing glance.
Watching Derek's smirk grow by the second Jess leaned in and whispered. "You explained her new job this morning didn't you?" Jess asked, smirking herself when the man nodded. "I hope you realize that I WILL be insiting you help with my fundraiser when the time comes." She said seriously.
Looking up Jess saw Allison walk past the isle they were in walking alongside a women with short hair. Waiting until they had passed she turned to Derek concerned. "Hey...just had a thought. How are we supposed to react if we run into the Silver Psycho out in public? Or possibly Mrs. Silver Psycho? What do we say about how we know each other? Cause I just saw Allison walk past with a women I assume is her mother." Jess said quietly tensing for a possible explosion.
Grabbing Jess by the waist with one arm Derek hissed "Duck!" And abandoning the cart started hurrying her towards the exit of the store crouching slightly and walking so fast it was almost a jog. "Same story we told Mama McCall. Foster care meeting. You moved to be close to me." Glancing sideways at Jess and seeing that she was standing straight and not at all hunched down Derek angrily hissed. "Why aren't you crouching down?"
"Because I don't need to!" Jess hissed back looking up at him.
"Why the hell not?" Derek hissed looking down at her angrily from his slight crouch.
"Because even when you crouch you are still fucking taller then me!" Jess hissed back looking up at him and rolling her eyes.
Hurrying towards the last corner they would need to turn to be able to slip out of the store the pair put on a burst of speed and rushed around the corner and promptly skidded to halt when faced with not one, not two, but three Argents staring at them in surprise.
"Fuck!" Derek swore quietly tightening his arm around Jess's waist and slowly starting to back away pulling her with him. At his side Anne's fur was bristling slightly.
"Jess!" Allison called happily. "Are you ok?" She asked concerned when she saw the pair backing away. Moving to step forwards she was grabbed by her father and pulled sharply back.
"Stay back Allison." Chris Argent ordered harshly moving forward slowly toward the pair. "Just let the girl go Hale." Argent ordered hand hovering near his waist. Behind him his wife had shoved Allison behind her and was hissing at her to call 911 and report a Kidnapping.
"What! Mom, Dad chill out! He isn't Kidnapping her! That is Jess's brother!" Allison said angrily at her parents. "You two are so embarrassing!"
Mrs. Argent snarled. "All the Hale's are dead or comatose. Except for Derek Hale."
"And he will be soon if he doesn't STEP AWAY FROM THE GIRL!" Chris Argent yelled pulling a gun and pointing it at the floor. "I don't know what lies he has been telling you kids. Or how he managed to get near you kids to tell them. But Hale has no family anymore." Chris snarled darkly.
Derek froze when the gun was pulled and slowly easing his hold on Jess's waist he started trying to shift her to the side so he could step infront of her.
Guessing his plan when his arm loosened Jess responded by latching on tight to Derek's arm so he couldn't get her shoved behind him. "Shut the fuck up you creep!" Jess snarled. "Clearly you don't know what the fuck you are talking about. Leave us alone."
By now several bystanders had gathered to watch what was going on including an armed security guard and a man who identified himself as an off duty police officer.
Mrs Argent started demanding the officer arrest Derek for Kidnapping and brainwashing a young girl, pointing angrily at him.
Mr. Argent smiled reassuringly at the other men and said he would keep an eye on the suspect until they could get cuffs on him. And would gladly keep him eye on the young lady until her real gaurdians could arrive. The two men looked from the respectable couple and their horrified daughter to the slightly scruffy looking man clutching a teenage girl and they nodded and started moving to flank him.
Shrinking back against Derek in horror Jess tried to call off the men. "No! He is my brother you idiots. He isn't Kidnapping me!" When they ignored her Jess sighed and whispered to Derek. "Fuck it. I'm calling Stilinski." Pulling out her phone Jess dialed the Sheriff and putting the phone on speaker she thanked her lucky stars when he answered on one of the first rings sounding confused.
"Hello, this is Sheriff Stilinski. May I ask who is calling?"
The officer and security man both froze hearing the voice clearly a bit confused when they recognized it as indeed belonging to the town Sheriff.
Sniffling pitifully and glaring at them Jess answered her voice wavering pathetically. "Sheriff? It's Jess Black. Me and Derek went to go shopping and that awful Argent man is here and he threatened us and now he is pointing a gun at us."
"WHAT!?!" In the background on the Sheriff's end of the call, loud crashes and shouts were heard as he ordered all units both on and off duty to scramble to the grocery store immediately.
"And there is an off duty officer and a security guard trying to help Argent arrest us because Argent is telling lies." Jess wailed into the phone cuddling closer to Derek.
"WHAT!!!" This yell was even louder then the first.
The confused officer looked down at his pocket in horror when his phone began to ring. Pulling out his phone and quickly answering it he listened and gulped at what he heard before stuttering that he was already on the scene. Spining quickly he stepped forwards between Chris Argent and Jess and Derek and yanking out a gun he ordered. "Chris Argent. Holster your weapon and put your hands behind your head!"
The security guard not as slow as some people may have assumed based on his job quickly turned and watched Mrs. Argent who had started cursing at the officer telling him he is going after the wrong person.
Allison just stood to one side horrified. The store was soon swarming with officers.
In the chaos while Chris Argent was kneeling on the floor with his hands being held behind his head he watched in horror as the local Sheriff jogged on to the scene and ignoring everything else jogged straight to the two young people and pulled them BOTH into a hug. The young girl collapsed against him sniffling while Hale stood tense for a moment watching Argent over the Sheriff's shoulder before he gave Argent a sinister smile as he curled one arm around the Sheriff and hugged him back for a second before pulling away.
In the end after hearing from everyone and much cajoling from the Sheriff towards Derek, Chris Argent got a very stiff fine, a restraining order concerning Derek and Jess, and was warned that ONE more Incident would result in no further buisness between the local police and Argent Arms and there would be charges pressed and investigations opened against them.
At one point Allison pulled angrily away from her mother and approaching the pair she apologized profusely hugging Jess repeatedly and at one point even hugged Derek who stood tensed and confused until the hug was over. Finally heading back to her mother she coldly informed her that she would wait in the car before turning and stomping away.
The manager of the store horrified by the security officers actions had the pair finish gathering their groceries and then comped them the entire large purchase.
All their groceries were loaded into the truck for the pair by helpful officers who couldn't seem to get enough of Jess who kept thanking them and calling them heros sniffling gently and dabbing her eyes with a hanky. The way she was otherwise holding it together despite her injuries still being visible from her first awful encounter with Argent had the officers tripping over themselves to help her. Her complaining of being too hot and removing her scarf exposing her bruised neck while talking to the officers about the first Incident may have had something to do with the increased fawning from the officers over the 'Brave Little Thing' as they had soon all started to refer to her.
Derek the officers treated with respect after seeing how protective he was of the tiny girl and that he was clearly friends with the Sheriff.
Anne they watched with awe as she never needed a single hand signal or command the entire time the shopping trip was finished and the groceries were loaded. An officer helped load her into the truck jokingly saying he was glad she didn't wash his face again this time and explaining that he had helped to get her into the clinic the night of The Incident.
Getting into the truck and carefully pulling out of the parking space and onto the road the pair obeyed all the traffic laws and made it all the way home without saying a word. Pulling into the driveway they watched as the house door opened and Scott and Melissa rushed towards the truck clearly concerned. The two insisted on carrying in most of the groceries and Scott helped Anne out of the truck. Herding the pair inside Melissa insisted they sit on the couch while Scott helped her put the groceries away so that they wouldn't spoil while they sat and talked over what happened.
When all the groceries were away Melissa sat on the edge of the coffee table and stared at the pair on the couch in concern. "Are you two alright?" Melissa asked them gently.
Turning to stare at Derek Jess grabbed his hand as she suddenly started shaking violently.
"Oh Honey" Melissa cooed grabbing the girl and pulling her into a hug and tucking her head tight to her shoulder. "It's OK. It's over now. You're safe."
"He was too tall, even when he tried to duck." Jess said in a chocked whisper against her shoulder shaking harder. "He is so fucking tall."
On the couch Derek slouched forwards covering his face with his hands and starting to shake as well.
"It's OK. You're both safe now." Melissa said soothingly to the two shaking young people.
Pulling away from Melissa Jess turned to Derek and collapsed against his side laughing hysterically.
"You're fucking taller than me, even when you duck!" Derek chocked out in a squeaky voice before collapsing against Jess and joining her in her helpless laughter.
Looking at the pair in concern Melissa turned to Scott. "I think they might still be a bit shocky."
Waving helplessly at the concerned pair Jess and Derek slowly managed to get themselves back under control.
"We are fine." Jess said wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "And we didn't get to finish our errands. So we need to go."
Standing up Derek reached down for Jess's hand and helped to pull her to her feet. "Can't forget to get Anne her new dog food. She got a new job. She deserves a raise." He joked smiling at the dog who was sitting beside the couch watching him.
Turning down Melissa when she offered to go pick a food for them Jess and Derek headed back out to the truck.
A short while later they were in the Animal Clinic in the feed room and were watching as Anne sniffed each bag before stopping at one bag and pawing it excitedly. Grabbing the bag Derek carried it to the front and purchased it from Dr. Deaton.
"Was there some problem with Anne's previous food? She shouldn't have finished it all yet." Dr. Deaton asked in concern glancing down at the visibly excited dog.
"Didn't taste or smell like chicken. She wanted something that tastes and smells more like chicken." Derek replied shortly before spining on his heel and leaving the Clinic followed closely by Anne.
Left behind with a confused Dr. Deaton Jess smiled and leaning close whispered. "He wanted to let her pick her own food because he didn't think it was fair she always ate the same thing. I think he will likely end up getting some other things for her as well and then letting her pick which she gets at each meal. " Jess said with a soft smile. "I don't think he has ever had a pet before. He spoils her constantly."
Jess had just finished giving her explanation when Derek marched back into the Clinic and walking over to a large display of toys and pet clothes he pointed to a fake leather jacket and turned to the dog "That one? You will look ridiculous in that!" Looking over the rack of dog clothes he picked up a yellow rain coat with a matching hat and held it towards Anne. "How about this to keep you dry?" Grabbing a dark green sweater he held it up in his second hand. "And this one to keep you warm?" Nodding solemly he tucked both item under his arm and gestured towards the toys. "Do you want anything to play with?" When the dog started spinning in excited circles before dashing down the hall towards the dog clinic room yipping Derek paled and rushed after her shouting. "That is NOT what I meant. I meant a toy! Not a friend!"
Turning to the vet Jess laughed awkwardly. "Like I said...he spoils her a lot." Before rushing after them whispered yelling. "We can NOT get another dog! Not until you get your own place to live."
When they finally got home from the clinic Anne was no longer pouting and Derek had bought her so much stuff it took three trips to get it all inside.
Melissa had looked very worried until she saw some of the cute outfits. Then she had recruited Derek's help to turn the cupboard under the stairs that had held extra shoes into a doggy wardrobe and storage space complete with hangers for the clothes and baskets on the ground for the toys.
Standing with Scott watching as Derek and Melissa carefully hung each item of doggy clothing before lining up Anne's booties and rain booties by the front door Jess leaned towards Scott and whispered. "You will never have to buy your babies clothes. Their grandma McCall is going to be ALL over that."
Smiling and leaning back towards Jess Scott whispered back. "I can just see it now. Derek and Mom fighting over who gets to pick your babies outfits for the day."
Blushing Jess shook her head. "Nah, Foster parent's don't usually keep in touch once a kid ages out of the system. I am probably going to end up moving out as soon as I turn 18 in just a little over a year. I doubt your mom will get so attached that she keeps in touch after that. You've made it clear you don't want to be a part of Derek's pack once the Alpha is defeated so I figure we will just stick around until the Alpha is defeated and I turn 18 then hit the road and find a new spot to den. I love the Animal Clinic and Dr. Deaton is great but if the Argents stick around then we WON'T be sticking around." Walking over to where Derek and Melissa were debating over which outfit would be best for Anne to wear the next day Jess grabbed Derek by the arm and dragged him away from the closet towards the kitchen. "Come and eat. Anne can help you pick an outfit tomorrow morning when we have a better idea of what the weather is like."
After a supper of leftovers Scott got a text and showing it to Derek the boys had a whispered conversation before Derek suddenly turned to Melissa and Jess and asked if he could borrow Scott and the truck to go and get his car back from the shop. Getting permission the two boys hurried out the door leaving Anne home with Melissa and Jess.
Getting a text Jess opened her messages and read.
Stiles hanging out with his dad, got called to animal attack murder at video store. Lydia and Jackson witnesses. Going with Scott to check it out. Likely be back late. Lock windows and don't wait up. Keep pepper spray close. -Derek
Deciding that sleep sounded like a wonderful idea Jess said goodnight to Melissa and headed up to bed. Sending Derek a text as she got to their room.
If Melissa is awake when you boys get home just tell her that Scott was asking you questions about guy stuff so you guys stopped for a soda and to talk about guy stuff. -Jess
What! No way are you telling my mom that! -Scott
Got a better idea? -Jess
Fine. But we will not be specifying what guy stuff. And if she asks me later I am going to say we talked about sports! -Scott
Rolling her eyes at the ridiculous boy Jess locked her windows, grabbed a can of pepper spray, and crawled into bed with her laptop. Checking her emails Jess was surprised to see and email from the school with results from her placement tests. She had done it. She had managed to get into all of the same classes that she was already sitting in on while doing the placement tests. She would be with her friends for the year it took for her to turn 18 so she could drop out of high school to get her GED and get on with her life. Closing her laptop Jess laid down to get some sleep. The day had been crazy and the next week was sure to be a pain as she tried to play catch up at school. But she would be with her friends!