Chapter Four: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
AN: Here comes another wild ride. Stiles finds out about Jameson and Dean, Derek is out of jail, and Scott may have just killed a guy. Thanks for the all the support! Let me know what you think of this chapter.
~Carry On~
Saturday, January 16th
Stiles' Perspective:
"What are you talking about?" I whined into the wall.
"Derek, you dumbass!" Jameson said letting me go, "What were you thinking?"
"What are you talking about?" I asked rubbing my arm.
"You got him arrested." She stated, flinging her arms up like she was trying to take off.
"Wh-wha-why do you care?"
"Because Stiles, we were working with him to find out who killed his sister and who bit Scott."
"What?" I asked again, "Ar-are you werewolf?"
"No!" She asked sounding offended, crowding me again "I'm a hunter."
What the hell was happening here? She was hunter? Wait, this whole time? Working with Derek? Aren't hunters supposed to hunt werewolves? Why am I only saying this in my head?
"Wait, aren't hunters supposed to hunt werewolves?" I asked her, "Are you with the Allison's Dad?"
"God, no! Those Argent assholes are the reason why we are helping Derek."
"Derek who killed his sister and bit Scott." I said accusingly.
"No, the Derek who was not in town the night his sister died and someone else bit Scott." Jameson said, talking to me like I was slow, "There's another wolf out there. An Alpha."
"What? Just what the hell is going on here?"
Jameson held her hands and backed up to give me space.
"You're right, you're right." She repeated, "How about we start from the top?"
I nodded. She stuck her hand out.
"Hi, I'm Jameson Winchester. Slayer of Werebears, Sasser of Demons, and a currently a high school sophomore."
Winchester? Werebears? Did she say demons? What the hell? What. The. Hell? I hesitantly took her hand; afraid I was going to end up against the wall again.
"Stiles Stilinski. Slayer of Wit, Sasser of Coach, and currently confused." I said regaining some ground.
"Nice to meet you. Now about our mutual acquaintance Derek. What the hell were you thinking?"
"That I was catching a murderer and protecting my friend."
"Did you ever think to talk to him?"
"Derek didn't seem much like a talker; all he did was threaten Scott."
"Fair point. He's more about the eyebrow game." Jameson agreed, "Now, you mentioned something about Derek biting Scott."
"Yeah, he's the one who turned him the night he killed his sister."
"Wrong. He wasn't even in town that night. Plus, it more than likely that the Argents killed Laura, one of their MMO's is to cut their victims in half."
"Oh, well that's pleasant." I said, imagining Scott's body split in two strew across the woods, "But, the Medical Examiner determined cause of death to be animal, as she was ripped in half. Ergo, Derek killed her."
"No," she said softly, leaning against the side of the couch "It was the other wolf, the Alpha."
"The Alpha? Like a leader." I asked, and she nodded, "Who's the Alpha?"
"Well, it used to be Laura Hale. If it wasn't the Argents that killed her, her killer must be either a rival Alpha or a wolf who wanted to be one."
"And so somehow this makes it not Derek?"
"Yes, because Derek isn't an Alpha. If he killed her, he would have become one."
"So, wait, you're saying I got him arrested for no reason and there is a killer werewolf out there?"
"That's not all you did."
"What? What else could I have done?"
"You now have Derek under police surveillance, which is going to make it even more difficult for us to investigate the Alpha."
"Great." I said taking a seat in the chair across from her.
"And Derek, really never told Scott any of this? And Scott or you never asked him?"
I shook my head. Her face screwed up like she was contemplating someone's murder.
"Okay," she said in an eerie calm, "It's now so much clearer. We need to have a little get together. You, me, Scott, Dean, and Derek."
"Derek?" I squeaked.
~Carry On~
Sunday, January 17th
Stiles' Perspective:
"What are we doing here, Stiles?" Scott asked as I pulled into motel parking lot, "I thought were getting food?"
"We are. We're just picking up Jameson first." I lied. Jameson had been very clear that I wasn't to tell Scott anything until we all sat down. Frankly, I didn't think she trusted Scott to come if he knew what was happening. I only agreed because my own mind was navigating everything that she ever told me. I didn't know what was real anymore.
"Oh." Scott said, "Two days in a row, things must be going pretty good."
"Yeah, things have been interesting." I said parking the car, "Come on, I need you for back-up. Her brother scares the crap out of me."
Scott laughed, but got out of the car with me. We walked up to Jameson's room, and I knocked on the door. Jameson emerged with a smile. Probably a fake smile.
"Hey," she greeted, "You guys are kind of early, how about you come in for a minute while I finish getting ready?"
"Sure," I said, tensing up about what was behind that door. Jameson opened the door more to let Scott and I in. She shut the door behind us, leaving us not quite in the dark, but the room was darker than it was outside, and it took a minute for my eyes to adjust. And when they did, there was Derek. Derek who was currently glaring at us.
"Hello, Scott." Derek greeted, before giving me a "special" look, "Stiles."
"What the hell is this?" Scott asked. He started to leave, but Jameson blocked his path.
"It's time we all had a chat," Dean said, announcing his presence "All of us."
"Stiles, get behind me." Scott said.
"Actually Scott," I said twisting my hands together, not meeting his eyes, "I-I-I…"
"You knew Derek would be here?"
"Yeah," I said, "Jameson told me last night, along with a lot of other things."
"What the hell is going on?" Scott asked again. Looking at me in utter confusion in betrayal.
"Well, there comes a time in a time," Jameson began turning a wooden chair around for Scott to sit it, "in a young man's life man, when he must be told the facts of life."
"You tricked me here to have a sex talk?" Scott demanded.
"No," She replied with a rueful twist of lips, "To tell you that the world as you know it is a lie, it's fake. Congratulations, it's a werewolf!"
"Wait, you know?" he asked, before turning me to "You told her?"
"No, she just knew."
Scott finally fell into the seat.
"Are you two werewolves?" Scott asked gesturing to Jameson and Dean.
"No, they're not." Derek spoke up, "They're hunters and for now, they are our allies."
"What?"
"We're helping Derek, and therefore helping you, with what's coming for you." Jameson explained.
"What's coming for me?"
"Derek," Jameson said, bending down next to him so she was up on the side of his face, "Do you want to take that one?"
Derek turned to glare at her.
"I thought not. I will then. You see Dean was right about Stiles being a wealth of information." Jameson began, "I learned from him that you were under the impression that Derek killed Laura and bit you. And instead of explaining that to him, what did you Derek? What was it that you said?"
A wealth of information? Was that all I was to her? Is that the only reason she talked to me, flirted with me, almost…kissed me. Was anything about her…us, real?
"It's a gift," Scott said quietly, bringing me back "We're brothers now."
Jameson started clapping at Derek sarcastically.
"Way to go, Derek! And then Derek what did you do? Threaten him, right? Went after his girl. You incredible d-"
"Jameson, how about we do this later," Dean interjected.
"Fine," she said plopping down on one of the beds with her arms crossed, "Proceed."
Dean sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose, reminding me of my dad.
"Scott," Dean began after a beat, putting his hand down, "Derek didn't bite you or kill his sister. Thanks to the Medical Examiner's report, we now know that was done by one person or werewolf I should say, the Alpha."
"The Alpha?"
"Yeah, it's the leader of a pack." I explained, "You see Scott, Laura was an Alpha. If Derek killed her, he would have become the next one, but he's not. So, they think she was either killed by a rival Alpha or someone looking to become one."
"So, you didn't do this to me?" Scott asked Derek. Derek shook his head, "Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because he's an incredible dum-."
"Jamie!" Dean warned.
"Fine, he's not a people person."
"Then why are you helping him? Did you know Laura?"
"No, we never met her or Derek until we got here. Buuttt…we have had run-ins with the Argents."
"Allison's Dad?"
"Yeah," I answered, knowing he was not going to like the next part, "They have a tendency to kill all werewolves they come across."
"Not just werewolves," Jameson said softly.
"They like use their little honor code as an excuse for mass genocide and for harming those who happen to be what they consider in their way, which right now means all of us." Dean explained.
"So, they're the bad guys?" Scott asked.
"Yes, for you, they are what goes bump in the night." Jameson added.
"So, we just stay out of their way?"
"Yeah, I tried that. Umm…there's a little hiccup with that plan." I said.
"What?"
"The Alpha bit you, making you part of its pack." Derek explained, "And sooner or later, he's coming back for you."
"Oh, that's ummm…" Scot said begin to breath heavily.
"Scott, Scott, come back to me buddy." I say crouching down in front of him, "That's why we are here. We are going to work together to stop the Alpha before the Argents, so things will quiet down, and they'll leave us alone. Derek…Derek is even going to train you. See, so…yeah."
"Yeah…" he breathed.
"Good," Jameson said, "Now there is just a few more things we all need to discuss."
~Carry on~
Jameson's Perspective:
"Hey Stiles, wait up!" I called out, running towards Stiles, trying to put my jacket on. He stopped halfway to his car and tossed Scott the keys. By the time I got to Stiles, Scott was out of normal earshot.
"Whattsup?" Stiles asked in a weird tone.
"I just wanted to apologize for yesterday," I said, wrapping my arms around myself to keep warm, "I was just angry about Derek and then Chris, and I took it out on you."
"You don't need to apologize to the, what did you call me, the "wealth of information."
"What?"
"Is that all I was to you?"
"Stiles, I-I—"
"I just need to tell me one thing, the truth, did you talk to me that first day because you want to use me for information."
"Yes, but Stil-."
"Thanks, that's all I needed," he said before turning on his heel and stomping off to his car.
"Stiles, wait!" I said, starting off after him. He spun around and gave this awful look. He was angry and he was hurt, and I think…I think he hated me. I stopped short and looked down.
"Yeah, that what I thought." He said, "Well, your free now. You got the information you wanted; you no longer need to hang out with the dork."
He turned back around, got in his car, and left. After a few moments, I went back inside the room.
"You okay, kid?" I heard Dean asked. I looked up to see him looking concerned. Derek was noticeably avoiding my gaze. I guess he heard everything.
"I'm always okay." I told him quietly "I think, uh, Stiles just needs some time to cool off. Umm...I just came in to grab my wallet. I am in the mood for some Moose Tracks and Tacos. You guys want anything?"
"I could eat," Dean said, "Wait a second, we'll take the car."
"If it's all the same to you, I could use the walk." I said. Dean nodded. I grabbed my wallet, along with my brown beanie and gloves and disappeared into the cold night.
~Carry On~
Monday, January 18th
Scott's Perspective:
"So, you killed her?" Stiles asked, as I finished telling him my dream from last night.
"I don't know," I replied opening the door to the school, "I just woke up. And I was sweating like crazy, and I couldn't breathe. I never had before where I woke up like that before."
"Really? I have. Usually it ends a little differently." He joked, as we walked towards the back door to the field. Coach wasn't having us suit up today for practice, he wanted to talk about our strategies for morning practice.
"A, I meant I never had a dream that felt that real," I clarified, "And B, never give me that much detail about you in bed again."
"Noted." Stiles said, "Let me take a guess here."
"I know, you think it has something to do with me going out with Allison tomorrow. Like, I'm going to lose control and rip her throat out."
"No, I was going to say that Derek and the Winchesters dropped a lot of information on you last night, and this is just probably a manifestation of your stress. Which now that I think of it does include going out with the daughter of the werewolf hunters, possibly losing control, ripping her throat out, which ends with a battle between us and the Argents. And most likely the Winchesters won't help out because you killed someone. So, it will be you, me, Derek. Well, not Derek. Just you and me against trained killers."
"Thanks." I said sarcastically. I hadn't gone that far when I thought about tomorrow's date.
"Sorry," he apologized, "Personally, I think you are handling this very well. You succeeded Derek's expectations, he was totally expecting you either have killed someone or been killed by now. Even Dean said you have some weird level of control."
"It just felt so real," I insisted, pushing open the back door, "Maybe Derek can….help."
As soon as we came out where were face with a scene straight from a horror movie. The back door of one of the buses was ripped open and blood was everywhere-on the door, back of the bus, seats, ground. The Sheriff's Department was surrounding it collecting evidence and taking photos. Did I just kill someone?
"How real did you say it felt?" Stiles asked taking in the scene in front of us.
"Like, it actually happened." I said slowly.
"I think it did." Stiles agreed, cringing a bit, "I'll be right back."
He began walking towards the scene where his Dad. I scanned the area looking for something, until it hit me, I wasn't looking for something but someone.
"Allison!" I said and ran back inside to find her. I pulled out my phone and began texting her. She was responding and I couldn't remember what class she had during first period. So, I was just walking down the halls looking at the faces of every long hair brunette. With each face, I grew more and more nervous. I killed her, I killed her. Derek was right, it was only a matter of time. I stumbled under the weight of this and fall into the nearby lockers. I could feel the shift right underneath my skin, but I needed to stay human. I couldn't kill anyone else. I roared and punch the locker in front of me.
Once the haze of the change disappeared, I saw what I did to the locker, and slowly backed-up from it before someone asked any questions. I wasn't looking where I was going and ended up knocking into someone.
"Oh my god!" I heard someone explain, and I spun around to see that it was Allision. She was alive! I didn't kill her, "You scared the hell outta me."
"You're okay." I breath and bend down to help her pick up her stuff that she dropped when I bumped into her very much alive person.
"Once my heart starts beating again, yeah."
I just breathed out a laugh still just so happy she was alive.
"What?" she asked, noticing my expression.
"I'm just happy to see you."
"Attention students," a voice came over the intercom, "this is your principal. I know you are all wondering about the incident that occurred last night to one of our busses. While the police work to determine what happened, classes will proceed as scheduled. Thank-you, that is all."
Allison made a disappoint face, before ruffling up my hair.
"Save me a seat at lunch?"
"Yeah." I agreed.
She smiled and began walking to her class. Alive. I let out a huge breath and start to go find Stiles. A metallic jostling noise stops me, and I see Jackson messing with the locker I punch and left barely hanging by its hinges.
"What are you looking at asswipe?" he asked, once he notices me watching him mess with it.
"Nothing," I said. I turned to make a face and then left to go find Stiles.
~Carry On~
Jameson's Perspective:
He wouldn't even look at me. And he wasn't looking at me in the way a person does when you they want you to know they were giving you the cold shoulder. It felt like he was glaring at me from his spot on the bench. I guess he needed more than a night to cool off. The crime scene in the parking lot was also probably not helping his mood either.
I got here just before the bell for first period rang, so I didn't get to investigate but it sounded grizzly for the tidbits of conversation I caught. In fact, it was all the girls sitting near me on the bleachers for first period could talk about. I felt eyes on me, so I looked up from my sketch to turn towards their gaze. Derek. He nodded to something behind me and I saw a commotion near the bus. I couldn't what was going on from this far away. I climbed down the bleachers and walked closer to what was happening.
"New girl!" I heard someone yell, "What's her name? New girl, get off the field! Hey! Somebody what's her name?"
I heard a whistle but ignored it. I was too busy trying to see what was going on. It looked like they were taking something big from the scene, rolling it actually.
"Stilinski! McCall!" I heard the same voice from earlier yell, "Get back here!"
"Is that?" Stiles asked coming up.
"Yeah," I replied, "It's a body."
The body suddenly jerked and sprang up as the EMTs were loading it on to the Ambulance.
"This is good, this is good." Stiles said, "He got up, he's not dead. Dead guys can't do that."
"Guys," Scott began, "I did that."
"You did what?" I demanded to know. But Scott didn't answer, he was just staring at the ambulance. So, I turned to Stiles, "He did what now?"
He didn't answer either. I looked behind me to see if Derek was still at the tree line, but he was gone. So, it's going to be that kind of day.
~Carry On~
Scott remained in a daze for the rest of first period and Stiles was back to pretending I didn't exist. Given these circumstances, I returned to my spot next to Isaac in English. He gave me a questioning look as I sat down, but I just smiled and took a seat next to him. Allison came in a moment later and sat down behind Scott and started scanning the room for me once she saw I wasn't in my seat next to her.
"What's wrong?" she mouthed when she saw me.
"Talk later?" I returned, not feeling like getting into it now or ever really. She nodded. I gave her a tight smile before pulling out my stuff to take the test we had today. Mr. Keller began handing it out the moment the bell rang, giving everyone very little time to scramble for their pencils and paper to answer the questions on
I took the test from Mr. Keller with a quiet thank-you and began the test. I didn't put all that much thought into my answers, I just made sure the questions were answered. I just wanted to get out of here, and go to history, which I also have with Stiles. Great. Talk about a Cold War.
I turned in my test with about 20 minutes to spare and asked to go to the library. I think I'll just hang out there during history and get the notes from Allison in French. As I walked to the classroom door, I paused to look at Stiles. As if he could feel my eyes on him, he tensed up and seemed to double his concentration on this test. I sighed and left the classroom.
~Carry On~
"Jameson!" I heard Allison call out. I turned to look over my shoulder to see Allison waving me over to her in line with Lydia, Jackson, and Danny. I internally grimaced before making my way over to the lunch line.
"Hey." I greet the group.
"Hey," Allison said, "Where did you go after the quiz?"
"Oh, I decided to get some sketching done in the library, ended up missing History too." I replied, "Speaking of which, can I get your notes later?"
"Yeah, no problem," she agreed, before leaning in to whisper, "Is everything alright between you and Stiles?"
"Umm…" I hummed, looking over my shoulder at Lydia, Danny, and Jackson.
"Talk after school?" Allison caught on, "Lydia and I are studying at my house this afternoon."
"Thanks, but I can't." I lied.
"If this is about my dad, I'm really sorry about what happened."
"No, I have been hanging out a lot with my friends, and Dean wants to do a family night."
"Oh."
"Homework/Casework and then tacos."
Allison grinned. We then chatted about classes and what happened this morning until it was our turn to get our food. I grabbed a juice and something that looked like chicken fingers, and then followed Allison over to a table where Stiles and Scott was sitting. I slowed upon coming on the table, which allowed the others and more of Lydia and Jackson's friends to take up most of the seats, leaving only one. The one next to Stiles. Great.
Being the coward I am, I ducked my head and walked past the table. I looked around and found a familiar curly blonde head sitting sort of by himself. I place my food tray in the table in front of me and slid my bag on to the back of the seat before sitting down. I started open my juice when I felt two pair of eyes on me. I look up to see Isaac and another student, who's name I think was Lloyd or Boy George staring at me.
"What?"
"What are you doing here?" Boy George asked.
"Eating lunch, that's what you do in the cafeteria right?" I asked them.
"Yes, but why are sitting here?"
"Look, I can leave if this is going to be problem," I replied ignoring the question.
"No!" Isaac jumped in, "You can sit here."
"Thank you, Isaac." I said, before turning to the other boy to give him a pointed look, "At least someone here is a gentleman."
He rolled his eyes and went back to his lunch.
"So…" Isaac said. I sighed.
"I screwed up," I found myself confessing, "Like always. So be prepared."
He gave me a wry smile.
"Good to know." He said going back to his food. We both finished our meals and I pulled out my math homework as I still had a few to finish up before class this afternoon.
"What did you get for number 7?" Isaac asked breaking my concentration. I look up from my work and see that he is working on the same assignment. I forgot that we were in the same math class.
"Uhh…x equals 8."
"I got 11."
"How?"
He frowned.
"I don't really know."
I grabbed his paper and looked over his work and realized we both were wrong. Possibly. It may be 9.
"It might actually be 9." I said. Isaac gave me a confused look.
~Carry On~
Stiles' Perspective:
"Wait, Scott! You didn't answer me. Am I not attractive to gay guys?" I called after Scott as he rushed out to the parking lot, "You didn't answer my question. That's cool."
I turned around to head to the lot where I parked my car. I guess I could head home, do homework, research werewolves. All that good stuff. I pushed through the side door and made a beeline for the Jeep. However, I stop short when I hear a familiar raspy laugh. I look over my shoulder to see Jameson coming out of the same door with that Isaac guy from the team. He was shy, blushing mess and she was playing the cool, new girl. She works fast. Wonder what Isaac is. The Loch Ness Monster?
I scowled and stalked off to my car ignoring the sound of a "friendship" in the making. Though maybe I should warn Isaac what coming for him. I climb into the Jeep and find myself looking for the pair of them. I watch Isaac hop on his bike and ride off with a small wave over his shoulder and Jameson then takes a seat on sidewalk. She then immediately…deflates. She wraps her arms around her legs and rests her chin on her knees. She looks…sad, lonely. No, no, no. Don't do this Stiles, nope, nope. She used you. She doesn't care about you, about lacrosse, and she probably researched the Jeep as re-con. She's just going to save your best friend and the move to the next town. So forget her.
I give her one last look and…she just looks so alone.
"Mmm—dag-fluhh—ugh!" I growl, before turning on the car, and backing up before pulling in front of Jameson on the sidewalk. She stands up with a confused frown, "Get in. Before I change my mind."
She grabbed her back and hopped in the Jeep with little hesitation. I pulled away from the curb and started driving away. Jameson buckled up before making herself as small and compact as possible against the door.
"Thank-you," she whispered.
"Yeah well," I said waving her away her gratitude. We road in silence until it got to me. I mean, I may be pissed, but I hate awkward silences more, "So what? You're not going to say anything?"
"I didn't think you wanted me to." She answered.
"Well, not really. But I hate awkward silences more." I told her. She snorted.
"What do you want me to say?" she asked.
"Anything!" I say throwing up my arms, "The alpha? Today's attack? Classes?"
"Well, we haven't picked up anything about the Alpha since yesterday. Classes were okay. And did I hear Scott say he thinks he's the one that hurt the bus driver?"
"He had a dream, about Allison an-."
"Eww!" She complained, covering her ears, "How about we go back to silence?"
"Get your mind out of the gutter, okay. It wasn't that kind of dream, or at least didn't end that way. Instead he killed her."
"Okay, well, yes that didn't go the way I thought," She commented, "But how does him killing Allison in a dream, relate to him killing the bus driver?"
"Because he killed Allison on a bus. The same bus."
She let out a low whistle.
"For what it's worth, I don't think he did it." She said, "I mean, you look at Derek, he's got the eyes of somebody who would rip your throat out with his teeth. Scott, well, he looks like puppy. And not just any puppy, a hound dog puppy with those big brown eyes of his."
I snort.
"Scott, the were-hound pup." I joke.
"It would make for a great cartoon."
I let out a small chuckle.
"I'll let Dean and Derek know that he's on edge though," she said, sounding like she was helping me.
And instantly any goodwill I felt for her was gone. I had forgotten just for a moment, that I was nothing more than "a wealth of information".
"Great."
We fell in to silence again, and this time I didn't try to restart the conversation. I could hear Jameson open her mouth every so often like she was thinking of saying something and then stopped. I pulled into the motel and drove up to the area in front of her room.
"Do you want to come—"
"I got to get home." I cut her off.
"Yeah, sure." She said, before opening the door, "Umm…thanks again."
She hopped out and closed the door. I waited until she got into the room before pulling out of parking lot and going home.
~Carry On~
Derek's Perspective:
I heard the vehicle before I saw it. They were checking up on crime scene. Checking up on me. While I was exonerated for the murder of my sister, it was clear they did so unhappily. The deputy parked the car a little way from the house and got out. I watched as he pulled on the radio clipped on his collar and speak into it.
"It looks pretty deserted, Dispatch. Are you sure you want me to look inside?" the Deputy asked.
"Unit 16, its county property. Orders are to make sure its vacant," answered the crackling voice.
"I don't think anyone's home," the Deputy tried again.
"For the love of God, 16, go inside and see if anyone is in there."
"Copy that."
I smirked. I heard the dog in the back of the car bark, causing the deputy to jump, giving me an idea. I catch the dog's eye and flash my eyes at him. The dog senses the threat and goes wild. I can smell the fear and apprehension coming off the Deputy in waves. He runs to the car and quickly drives off. That should prevent another visit for a while.
I watched the car until I caught another scent. Scott. I turn my head towards his scent and see him walking up to the house.
"I know you can hear me," he said once he was close enough, "I need your help. I think I screwed up."
I headed downstairs to where the foyer used to be and opened the front door. I stepped out to the porch and Scott came up the steps out of the evening rain.
"You said the other day that you would train me. I think I might need a lesson sooner rather than later, I really screwed up."
"What happened?"
"I had a dream about…someone. But someone else got hurt. And it turns out that part of the dream might have actually happened."
"You think you attacked the driver," I stated. Jameson had mentioned earlier that Scott believed himself responsible for the attack on the driver. We planned on going later this evening to check things out. However, this may be a good time for Scott to accept what he is.
"Did you see what I did?"
"No," I lied.
"Can you at least tell me the truth? Am I going to hurt someone?"
"Yes."
"Could I kill someone?"
"Yes."
"Am I going to kill someone?"
"Probably," I answered him truthfully. He looked overwhelmed as he stumbled to lean on the nearby post, "Look, I can show you how to remember. I can show you how to control the shift, even on the full moon. But it's not gonna come for free?"
"What?" Scott asked, "You never said—what do you want?"
"You'll find out." I told him, "But for now, I'm gonna give you what you want. Go back to the bus. Go inside. See it, feel it. Let you senses-you sight, smell touch-let them remember for you."
"That's it?" Scott questioned, looking at me, "Just go back?"
"Do you want to know what happened?" I countered.
"I just want to know if I hurt him."
"No, you don't" I called him out, "You want to know if you'll hurt her."
Scott nodded.
"Okay, I'll be going," he said pushing off the post, "Thanks."
I nodded silently at him. He slowly made his way from the house and into the preserve. Once he was out of sight, I pulled out my phones and called Dean.
"Hey, it's me." I greeted, "I'll pick you up in 15."
~Carry On~
"Do you mind telling me why we are hanging around a high school like a pair of perverts?" Dean asked taking a sip of his coffee. We were sitting in my car in a darken corner of the property facing the parking lot where the bus the attacked happened was.
"Scott." I answered.
"So, you think he did attack the bus driver?"
"Possibly," I said, "Or someone wanted him to know something."
"The Alpha," Dean stated, "You said something about how some Alpha's can share their memories with the rest of the pack."
I nod.
"Now all we have to do is wait for Scott to show up." I told him. We sit in silence until the Stilinski kid's Blue Jeep comes into view. They pull up to the fence around the lot, and park in front of the gate. They both get out of the car, and I hear them arguing about Stiles needing to stay behind.
"Let me guess, the Sheriff's kid doesn't like being sidelined." Dean said, indicating the two with his coffee cup.
"No."
"No wonder him and Jamie get along so well."
I find myself smirking. They were an interesting combination to be sure. I turned my attention back to the idiots. Scott looked like he won the argument and he climbed over the gate and dropped down to the ground. Scott approached the bus slowly. I could him trying to control his breathing as he did what I told him to do-feel and remember. His heart rate spiked before he got on the bus and was erratic as he walked down the center aisle. It was working, he was remembering. And if I was right, his memory would reveal more about the Alpha that bit him.
Suddenly, there is a car horn blasting, breaking my concentration.
"We got company." Dean said pointing to a night guard combing the parking lot where the bus was parked.
"We can go, Scott's got what he needs." I said, before turning the car and slowly pulling out of our hiding spot and towards the road, "We just need to wait until he comes to us."
~Carry On~
Jameson's Perspective:
I was sitting on my eating ice-cream and watching The Golden Girls in my bed shirt when the banging started. I slowly set the ice cream down on the bedside table, before grabbing the gun I kept in the drawer. I kept the gun behind my back as I headed towards the door, I peaked through the peephole and saw Scott standing at my door with Stiles behind him. I rolled my eyes and placed the gun on the dining table and open the door halfway.
"Welcome to the Winchester Summer Home. Some're here, and some're not. How can I help you boys?"
"We need to talk to Dean and Derek." Scott insisted. I narrowed my eyes at him, he was acting more anxious than normal.
"Come on in," I said opening the door wider, "They just stepped out for a bit, they should be back soon. Make yourself comfortable."
"Can't you text them?" Scott asked as he and Stiles stepped into the room, "It's about the Alpha."
The Alpha?"
"I can do better than that." I told them, grabbing my phone of the dresser. I pulled up Dean's number and then hit the call number, "Hey, it's me. Scott and Stiles just dropped by, they got something on the Alpha."
"We're two minutes out." Dean said before ending the call. I put the phone down and turned back to the guys. They had taken residence in the chairs around the dining table. Stiles was eyeing the gun with apprehension.
"They're two minutes out. Probably even less they way Derek drives." I told them.
"Thanks." Scott replied. While Stiles just nodded, still not taking his eyes of the gun. I huff and grab the gun, ignoring the way he jumped, to put it back in the drawer.
"So, you shoot guns?" Stiles asked sourly.
"Don't tempt me." I mumbled under my breath, before saying in a louder voice, "It helps to have them when we're hunting-silver bullets, iron bullet, salt shotgun pellets."
"Salt shotgun pellets?" Scott asked.
"Ghosts don't like salt." I answered, "It tends to make them go whoosh for a bit until we can salt and burn their bones."
"We are so unprepared for this," I heard Stiles mumble to the ceiling. I softly chuckled, before turning to the tv. The episodes had changed since I had gotten up and it was beginning to play one of my favorites, where Blanche, Rose, and Dorothy have tickets to see Burt Reynolds leaving Sophia out in the cold. Well, not for long anyway. I chuckle at some of the dialogue and start to get comfortable on the bed.
"Why aren't you asking us about the Alpha?" Scott asked.
"Why do you need to explain it twice?" I said without looking at him, "Plus, I really like The Golden Girls."
"What?" Stiles asked, "Yesterday, you were all 'we need to find the Alpha,' and now when we have actual information you want to wait?"
"What can I say? I am just full of contradictions."
I was rescued from further conversation, by the appearance of Dean and Derek. Derek practically mowed through Dean to get to Scott.
"What did you remember?" He demanded. Scott scrambled up to face him.
"I was there," Scott stammered.
"So, you did attack the driver?" Dean asked.
"No, most of the blood was mine. There was someone else there with glowing eyes, I think I was protecting the driver from the Alpha."
"Did you see his face?" Derek asked, getting really into Scott's personal space. When Scott didn't answer fast, enough Derek grabbed Scott by his shirt and shoved him against the door, "Did you see his face?"
"Whoa!" Dean and I yelled in unison. Stiles scrambled away from the two of them moving closer to Dean. I got off the bed and went up to Derek.
"Derek, let him go, okay?" I said, and when Derek didn't do anything, I became more insisted, "Let the kid go, Derek. This is all new to him, he's barely had 48 hours to process that he's a werewolf and that everything he's ever known is a lie. You can't expect him to remember everything. Let him go."
Derek reluctantly let him down and backed off.
"You okay?" I asked Scott. He nods, "Now, do you remember anything about his face? Heigh? Weight?"
"No," He said shaking his head, "I just saw him for a second, but he definitely had glowing eyes."
"Do you remember what color?"
"Red, just like you said."
"Okay, you and Stiles should probably get home. It's almost curfew." I told him. He nods again.
"Let's go, Stiles."
He and Stiles head out, and I follow after them. Once we are outside, I grab Scott's arm stopping him in his tracks.
"Sorry, about Derek." I said.
"I get it." Scott said sympathetically, "If someone had killed my mom, I would do anything to find them too."
"You are the weirdest werewolf I have ever met." I told him.
"Why?"
"Maybe it's because you show more humanity than most humans." I said, wrapping my arms around myself to keep warm. Scott gave me a half smile and turned to walk to the Jeep. He stops after a few steps and comes back over to me.
"He'll forgive you, eventually." Scott said, "He really likes you."
I couldn't help the small upturn of the corner of my lips.
"Good, 'cause I really like him too." I confessed, "I never lied about that."
Scott grinned and gave me a goodbye nod before jogging back over to the Jeep where Stiles was already waiting. I smiled to myself and went back inside.
~Carry On~
Tuesday, January 19th:
Jameson's Perspective:
"What's up with you and Stiles?" Lydia asked in a nonchalant way, "And don't even think of blowing me off like Allison?"
I leaned around the easel I was using and raised my eyebrow at her.
"I thought you said you've modelled before?" I countered, putting my pencil down, "Models are supposed to be quiet."
This week we were studying portraits in art class. We had been split off into pairs to do portraits of each other. We had to first sketch them and then it was up to us if used paints, pastels, charcoal, or colored pencils to add in the details. Lydia did her initial sketch of me yesterday, because I was wearing one of the outfits, she bought me. But today was my turn to draw her. And while I sat quietly for hers, she was not giving me the same curtesy.
"And what did I say about blowing me off?"
I rolled my eyes and went back to work.
"Fine," she said, "We can just discuss the color of my nails, your nails, how I think you should style your hair, what me and Jackson did the other night."
"Fine!" I hissed back at her. I looked around to see if anyone was listening, but they were all focused on their assignments and not paying us any attention, "He found out that the only reason I talked to him the first day was to pump him for information for Dean's story. You happy, you harpy?"
"So why is he mad at you?" Lydia asked, "It was pretty clear that you both were totally into each other."
"I guess he feels betrayed." I said adding some details to paper Lydia's eyes, "And it made him question if any of it was real."
"Was it?"
"Yeah, at least I thought it was."
"Then what's the problem?" Lydia demanded, "Just tell him and then this can all be over."
"Why do you even care?" I asked.
"Because I put a dime on the team this week, and if there is tension amongst the players, even among those on the bench, we don't play as well. And I need the team to win, because I only date winners."
"You are so, so damaged." I tell her, "But I like you."
Lydia rolled her eyes, and then went back to posing thus ending my torment. I have had more chick-flick moments these past few weeks than in my entire life. My first period wasn't this bad.
I finished up the remaining details-iris, cure of the nose, strands of hair, the finger tossing her hair back. Once I was done, I leaned back to survey my work.
"Okay, I'm done." I announce, "You wanna to take a look?"
She slid off the stool and came around and surveyed my work with pursed lips.
"I like the use of motion, but my lips are not nearly that big."
"It more proportionate than anything on your drawing."
"Honestly, Jameson, there is no need for this hostility. I already like you."
I barked out a laugh completely taken back by the comment.
"I really don't understand this friendship," I told her once I stopped laughing.
"What's not to understand? We are both strong, smart, capable women. It was either band together or destroy each other."
"That does seem to be our way." I told her, "I'll fix the lips."
"And I'll readjust some things."
~Carry On~
Derek's Perspective:
I pulled into the gas station to fill up after eating dinner with the Winchesters. They help me piece together Laura's last few days, and we combed through some video footage to see if there had been anyone following her. If there had been somebody, they were smart enough to not show up on the footage from the gas station she used or the hotel she was staying at. In the end it was a bust.
I sighed and got out of the car and opened the gas tank. I grabbed the nozzle and stuck it inside before putting my card in and picking out the gas. As I was filling up, two SUVs-one red, one white- boxed in my Camaro. Hunters. Two men emerged from the white SUV that was preventing me from backing out. They leaned against the front of the car. To anyone passing by, it would look like they were waiting their turn for the pump.
I continued filling up the car acting is if their presence didn't not bother me. Neither of them made a move, not even when I finished up. Intimidation?
"Nice ride," A voice finally spoke. I looked over towards it and saw Chris Argent coming alongside my car. He trailed his fist along the side of the car, "Black cars, though. Very hard to keep clean."
He went through the motions of polishing up a blemish with the edge of this coat sleeve, before continuing.
"I would definitely consider a little more maintenance." I said, before grabbing the window squeegee from the tub against the gas pump, and beginning to clean the windshield "If you have something this nice, you want to take care of it, right? Personally, I'm very protective of the things I love. But that's something I learned from my family. And you don't have much of that these days, do you?"
My hands curled up into a fist so tight, the crackling sound of my fingers echoed through the night. What does he want to take credit for Laura? Remembering my sister and why I was here, helped release some of the tension and my hand went back to its relaxed form.
"There you go," Argent said smugly, "You can actually see through your windshield now. See how that makes everything so much clearer?"
"You forget to check the oil." I shot back. He had been leaving, his message now sent-stay away from my family, leave town. But I would not be run off by him or any other hunter until I found my sister's killer.
"Check the man's oil." Argent ordered, as he turned back around to face me. One of the men pushed off the white SUV and walked up the passenger side. With a crowbar they smashed the window.
"Look good to me," he pronounced with a smirk as he surveyed his work.
"If you don't mind, I think I would like a second opinion," I told the guy, before turning back to Chris Argent, "I hear the Winchesters are in town. And they have some interesting things to say about your family that I'm sure others would love to hear."
You come after me, they'll come after you.
Argent let out a dark chuckle.
"Make sure to wear your seatbelt especially with a Winchester behind the wheel," he said before returning to his car. He kept his eyes on me as he got in and backed out and drove away. I heard the rumbling of a second engine letting me know the others were leaving too.
I went around the car and looked into the passenger side. This was going to be a long night.
~Carry On~
Sneaking into the driver's hospital room was easier that cleaning out the glass in my car. I had to drop it off at a mechanic who I knew was open late and then go to the hospital on foot. I went in through a staff entrance and slipped through the halls into the hospital room. The driver was asleep, but I didn't have time for that.
"Open your eyes," I commanded quietly, "Open your eyes."
I his eyes flutter open and told him to look at me. He lifted up his head slightly to get a better view of me.
"What do you remember?" I asked him.
"Hale." He breathed out.
"How do you know my name?"
"I'm sorry." He said.
"How do you know me?"
"I'm sorry," he repeated before dropping his head back on the pillow.
"What do you mean?" I tried again. But he didn't say anything, my only answer was a blaring noise from the monitor. I looked over at it and saw that the machine was sending out an emergency alert. Crap! I backed out of the room and ducked down at a hall. I was right, this was going to be a long night. I now had more questions than answers.
~Carry On~
I hoped you enjoyed this latest installment. Next time, we meet the woman we all love to "hate" Kate Argent.