Chapter Six: The Jungle Brawl
AN: On a roll with the updates. Hope you are all enjoying them.
~Carry On~
Jameson's Perspective:
"Oh, hey, Bobby!" I greeted my Uncle as I picked up the phone.
"Hey, Jamie, you missed check in. Just wanted to see if you were okay."
"Yeah, fine," I told him, turning sharply, "I was just studying with some kids from school for our mid-term tomorrow."
"That's great kiddo. Glad to hear you are making some friends."
"Yeah." I answer.
"Turn left." Scott said. I nodded and made another sharp turn into the warehouse district. My wheels squealed as I drove.
"Jamie," Uncle Bobby said in a warning tone, "What's going on?"
I scoff.
"Going on, nothing's going on, pfft…"
"Jamie! What the hell is going on?"
"Fine some idiot in Porsche though he could outrun my car and I j-"
"Jameson Annabelle Winchester!" Uncle Bobby yelled through the phone causing me and Scott to wince, "What have Dean and I told you about racing?"
"Racing is okay except for every other Tuesdays and bank holidays." I answer back.
"Jamie!"
"Fine, I'll smoke this jackass and quit tomorrow." I tell him.
"Jameson, you pull that ca-"
"Yo—re brea—ng up ta—soo-." I tell him faking a phone malfunction before hanging up. I toss my phone into my back seat, "I'm going to pay for that later."
"Who was that?"
"Someone who believes in grounding for life, now where to?"
"Jackson's smell is still here in the area. Hang a right."
"On it." I hang another right and continue to follow Scott's nose's directions until we hit a no fly zone blocked by spikes.
"Damn it!" I exclaim, "Well, what now?"
I turn to Scott to get his reply, but he's already out of the car and hopping a fence.
"Yeah, going on foot sounds like a great idea Scott. Better yet, let's split up and not tell each other." I yell after him. I huff and grab my phone, before following after him. I climbed the fence with a well-practiced hand and jump off it when I got half way down on the other side. Once on the ground I took off in the direction I saw Scott go in.
I ran about two blocks when my phone rang. I checked the ID, I really couldn't have another Bobby conversation. Thankfully it was Stiles.
"Where are you guys?" Stiles asked the moment I picked up.
"Warehouse district, two blocks from the underpass. Currently on foot, and Scott has gone all rogue hero on me."
"Be there in 5." He says before hanging up. What happened to formalities? No hello, no goodbye, kids these days. I stuff the phone in my pocket and continue trying to find Scott.
I stopped mid-stride when I heard gunshots close by. I drew my own gun out of the waistband of my jeans. I held my gun downwards and ran in the direction of the gunshots. As I turned around a corner I came upon Scott, who had just shoved the Kanima away from Gerard. The Kanima ran off, and after sharing a look with Gerard, Scott took off again after it.
I ran after him, but skidded to a stop in front of Gerard. There was just something I've always wanted to do. I stand in front of him smiling and give him the finger. He sneers which only causes my grin to grow wider.
With a little bow I take my leave to follow Scott. Luckily, I was able to keep up with him better this time than I had earlier. He started slowing down when he turned into an alleyway and I managed to come alongside him. We came around a fence and saw a line of people waiting to get into a large industrial building. The only windows were at the top of the building and I could see the glow of changing colored lights. A door opened at the end of the line and I could hear the pulsing sound of club music. I was about to ask Scott what was going on when a hand fell on my shoulder. I grabbed it and twisted the guy's arm. I shoved him against the fence behind us and pinned his arm against his back. I had my gun against his back as well.
"God!" a voice yelled, and it was then that I recognized the person I assaulted, "What the hell, Jameson?"
"Don't what the hell me! What the hell, Stiles! Who sneaks up behind someone in the middle of dark alley? Creeps, that's who." I said letting him go. He brought his arm around front and clutched it to himself.
"Fine. I'm sorry." He says sarcastically, still rubbing his arm, "Geez…Were you raised by a bunch of freaking cops or something?" He asks.
"No, two hunters and an ex-Marine." I answer him, with a shrug.
"Do you see where he went?" Stiles asked us, still rubbing his arm.
"I lost him." Scott answered.
"What you can't catch a scent?"
"There's too many smells around here, I mean I was able to catch one to get us here, but I lost it awhile a go."
"Okay, well any clue where he's going?"
"To kill someone." I say in mock cheerfulness,
"Thanks, James. Well that at least explains the claws and fangs and all that. Good, Makes perfect sense now."
Scott gives him a look.
"What? Scott, come on. I'm 147 pounds of pale skin and fragile bone, okay? Sarcasm is my only defense."
"Just help me find it." Scott says to the both of us.
"Not "it." Jackson."
"Jackass." I correct him automatically.
"Jackson." Stiles repeats.
"I've heard it both ways."
"Guys!" Scott exclaims, "Let's just find him."
Stiles rolls his eyes before getting his game face on.
"Did anyone else see him back at your house?"
"I mean, I don't think so, but he already passed Derek's test anyway." Scott replied.
"How did he pass the test?" I ask, "He obviously can be paralyzed by the venom."
"I don't know." Scott said in frustration.
"Maybe it's like an either or thing." Stiles theorized, "I mean, Derek said a snake couldn't be poisoned by its own venom, right? And Jameson's book says the Kanima was immune to its own paralytic when she tried it on the thing. When's the Kanima, not the Kanima?"
"When it's Jackson." Scott and I said in unison.
A sharp hissing noise overhead caused me to look up. I hit Stiles in the stomach with the back of my hand. He looks over at me with an annoyed look. I point up and he starts backing up slowly, pulling me with him.
"Dude." He calls out to Scott. Scott turns to look at us and when he notices we have backed up he walks over to see what we're looking at, "See that?"
We watch as the tail of the Kanima, disappears into the upper window of the club.
"He's inside."
"What's he going to do in there?" Stiles asks.
"To shake some tail." I answer him. He shoots me a look.
"I know who he's after." Scott says suddenly.
"What, how?" I asked.
"Did you smell something?" Stiles asked noticing the look on Scott's face.
"Armani."
"Wait, Danny? Why?"
"Not sure, let's go around the back."
Stiles and I nod and the three of us head to the back of the repurposed warehouse. When we reached the back door, Stiles went to turn the handle. And surprise, surprise the door was locked but that didn't stop Stiles from jiggling it violently to get it to open.
"Step aside, you look ridiculous doing that." I tell him shoving him away. I stuck my gun in my waistband, and reached into my front pocket for my lock picking kit. I grabbed the pieces I need and got to work. Within seconds I heard the tumblers give way and the door was unlocked. I turned the handle and pulled the door open wide. I stood to the side of the door and made a large sweeping bow.
"After you, ladies."
Stiles rolled his eyes while Scott wore an amused expression on his face.
"I don't even want to know where you learned that." Stiles said, before walking into the building.
"I'm going to take that as a 'thank-you' and that he's jealous that he can't do it." I say to Scott as I follow him inside. He laughed softly, before shooting me a smile. We walk through some backstage looking area, following the sound of music. As we emerged from behind a curtain, we discovered an interesting thing about the kind of club we broke in to.
There were dancing men everywhere, jumping to the beat of the techno music. There were even several gorgeous specimens dancing on tables and I was cursing myself for being a girl. Because there were a few sandwiches I wouldn't mind being the ham in.
"Dude, everyone in here is a dude." Scott stated the obvious, "I think we are in a gay club."
"Thank-you, Captain Obvious, I totally missed that." I teased.
"Yeah, man, nothing gets past those keen werewolf senses, huh, Scott?" Stiles added sarcastically. I turn to smirk at Stiles, but ending up snickering as I saw him being pawed at by some drag queens. When they notice me, they look questioning from Stiles to me. I contemplate how I'm going to handle this. I suppose the right thing to do would be to rescue him, but on the other hand messing with him is so much fun. I internally debate over it for a minute, before answering the drag queens unspoken request.
"Fine, he can come out and play, but no tattoos, piercings, or unnatural hair colors." I tell them. The drag queens smile and laugh and continue to fawn over Stiles. Stiles glares at me from his spot between them. I turn to look at Scott over my shoulder but he's not even paying attention to us.
"There's Danny." Scott says pointing to the bar. Scott begins to walk over there without even seeing if me and Stiles were following him. So much for team work, I guess he didn't learn anything from daytime kids TV. Stiles untangles himself from the drag queen and grabs my wrist and pulls me along after him.
"I'm really beginning to question our friendship, Jameson." He says.
"Aww…you said we were friends. Really, I am touched."
He looks back at me with his mouth open to say something but thinks better of it. He just turns back around and catches up with Scott. Once we make it to the bar, Stiles slams his hand down on the wooden surface.
"Three beers." He tells the bartender.
"IDS?" The guy asks. The boys hand him their IDS. The bar tender looks at them and chuckles to himself.
"How about two Cokes?" he offers.
"Rum and Coke? Sure." Stiles replies. The bartender just gives him a look. I roll my eyes and decide it's time to intervene before Stiles got us all kicked out.
"Sorry, about them. It's there first time out," I say stressing the word out, I could feel Scott's confused look and Stiles' glare, "They'll be fine with two Cokes, but I'll take an Irish Hammer."
I slide my ID across the bar.
"Jameson Cole, that's an interesting name." the bartender says as he hands me my ID back.
"Yeah, Pops wanted boy and he loved his whiskey." I replied, using one of them many stories I told about how I got my name.
"I thought I recognized the name," He told me as he prepared my drink, "It was nice of you to come out and support your friends tonight."
"That's what sisters are for." I say slinging and arm over Stiles' shoulder.
"Yeah, she's the greatest." Stiles said sarcastically. A second later one of the shirtless servers came over carrying two Cokes, he set them down in front of the boys and made sure to catch Scott's attention.
"That one's paid for." He told Scott, then nodded his head to a brunette across the way. He smiled flirtatiously at Scott and raised his beer. Scott ducked his head shyly, and smiled smugly at Stiles. "Oh, shut up." Stiles said annoyed.
"I didn't say anything." Scott said.
"Well, your face did."
"Girls, girls, you're both pretty." I tell him. Scott smiles, but Stiles once again ops for the glare. One day he's going to get his face stuck like that.
"Irish Hammer." The bartender said, placing my drink in front of me.
"Thank-you," I said, putting cash on the bar for both the drink and the tip. I take the shot and throw it back.
"Are you even Irish?"
"Isn't everyone?" I ask. He makes a face before nodding his head. All three of us then turn to lean against the bar. After a moment, Stiles points to a spot in the crowd.
"Hey! I found Danny."
"I found Jackson." Scott said looking up at a spot on the ceiling.
"Okay, Stiles you get Danny and pull the fire alarm. Scott, you—"
I'm cut off by the sound of Scott's claws popping out like Wolverine.
"That'll work. And I'll be back up."
I said pulling out my machete from my inner jacket pocket.
"Where do you find all that space to hide that stuff?" Stiles asks.
"Stiles!" Scott and I exclaim. Like seriously, we have more pressing issues.
"Oh, right. Get Danny, pull fire alarm." He said going off to get his teammate. Scott and I follow Jackson as he scales across the ceiling toward his victim. Unfortunately for us as we are tracking him, a smoke is released to increase the mysterious club atmosphere. The smoke also gave the Kanima cover, and Scott and I lost sight of it.
"Damn it!" I exclaim, "Can you catch its scent?"
Scott sniffed the air.
"No, it's like it doesn't have one anymore."
"Because it's hunting." I say with a sigh, "It's like when a wolf or lion will come from downwind, so their prey won't catch their scent."
"So how are we going to find him?"
"Split up?"
He nods and points in one direction. I nod and head off in the other. I make my through the dancing masses and come across an opening where a couple of guys where paralyzed on the floor. I look up and see the Kanima standing over one of the victims.
"Jackson!" I call out; the creature looks up at me and hisses. Over its shoulder I noticed a wolfed out Derek ready to strike. I catch his eye and nod at him-together. He nods in return. We both then lunge to strike at Jackson. Seeing Derek as the bigger threat the Kanima turns to deal with him first. He hisses as Derek's claws make contact, giving me access to dig my blade into the Kanima's back and pulled it down. Jackson howls in pain and uses his tail to knock me over before fleeing as fast as he could out of the building with a gash in his back.
"Jameson!" Stiles called out. He came running over and helped me up, "What happened?"
"The Kanima. Derek and I both cut him pretty deep; he couldn't have gotten too far."
"Which way did he go?" Stiles asked. I pointed at the floor, where there was a trail of dark colored blood.
"Let's go!' Stiles said and we follow the trail of fresh blood out of the club. Once we make it outside we spot Scott over by a Land Rover. He's crouched over not the Kanima's body, but Jackson. I jog up to him, unaware of one thing.
"Whoa, that's way more of him than I ever wanted to see."
"What?" Stiles asks coming up beside me. He quickly averts his eyes when he sees what I mean. "Whoa, warn somebody next time, James."
I give him a look.
"Oh, yeah." He said, realizing I did.
"Guys!" Scott said getting our attention, "What do we do with him now?"
Stiles then gets his thinking face on and for the first time tonight I'm scared.
~Carry On~
I lean against Stiles' Jeep as Scott questions Danny about what happened tonight. To be honest I didn't think we were going to get too much out of the kid, being paralyzed from the neck down and going through a traumatic experience has been known to inhibit brain functions. Stiles didn't want to stick around either, he was afraid his Dad or one of his deputies would see him. And he wasn't too sure how to explain to his Dad why he was here.
After a few minutes Scott comes jogging up to the car and I push myself off the Jeep. Scot opens the door and gestures for me to get in.
"Oh, no, Fido. I'm not sitting in the back with him." I tell Scott.
"Why do I have to?"
"Because your running this dog show, and I can't promise I won't kill him if he comes to."
"Just get in the car, Scott." Stiles called out to him.
"Fine." He huffs and climbs into the back of the vehicle with a passed out Jackson. I climb in after him, and buckle up. Stiles turned to Scott.
"Well?"
"I couldn't get anything out of Danny."
"Okay, can we just get the hell out of here, before one of my Dad's deputies sees me?"
Scott nods and Stiles turn back to the front and starts his car. He's about to pull out when a police car with its lights blazing drove up and parked in front of us.
"Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Could this get any worse?" Stiles freaked.
As if to answer his question, Jackson begins to groan in the back.
"That was rhetorical." Stiles turns to yell at the unconscious boy.
"Get rid of him." Scott tells Stiles.
"Get rid of him? We're at a crime scene and he's the sheriff."
Scott rubs his face.
"Do something." He tells his friend pointing at Jackson. Stiles flails his arms around and tries to get out of the car. It takes him a bit causing me to smirk.
"You're coming too, James." Stiles says when he finally opens the door.
"Why do I have to go?"
"One, because I saw you smirking and two, because you owe me for last time."
"B-but, b-but," I start and end up sighing, "Fine."
I open my door and get out. We both walk over to his Dad, who's getting out of his cruiser.
"Hey!" Stiles greeted his Dad.
"What are you doing here?" He asks his son, and then he spots me coming up alongside his son and points at me, "And who's this?"
"This is Jameson." Stiles told his dad.
"Wait, this is Jameson?" He said incredulously, he gives me a once over. Not it a creepy way, more like my son is actually hanging out with a pretty girl kind of way, "The one who came over to study with you the other night. I thought Jameson was a guy. Wow."
"My father wishes, sir." I remark.
"So what are you two doing here?"
"What do you mean what are we doing here? It's a club. We were clubbing. At the club." Stiles word vomited all over the parking lot. The Sheriff looks at his son, looks at the club, looks at me, then back at his son.
"Not exactly your type of club."
"Uh…" Stiles stalled trying to think of a story, "Well, Dad, there's a conversation that…"
"You're not gay." The Sheriff interrupted him.
"I could be." Stiles said indignantly, "And who knows maybe Jameson is my beard."
"Not when you dress like that."
Stiles looked at me, and I nodded. He then looks down at his clothes.
"What's wr—"
The Sheriff ignores his son's babbling and heads towards the Jeep. Stiles scrambled to stop him. The Sheriff throws his hands up.
"Stiles, this is the second crime scene that you have just happened to have shown up on." He told his son, "And at this point, I've been fed so many lies, I'm not even sure I know the kid standing in front of me. Now, what the hell is going on?"
Stiles looks dejected, and his shoulder slump.
"Dad, I…"
"The truth, Stiles."
Stiles sighs.
"The trut—"
"The truth is their friend Danny just went through a nasty break up and they wanted to take him out for some fun."
"Okay, that explains why they're here but not you."
"Stiles knows how much I like to dance and invited me to tag along."
"Well, that's really good of you guys. You're good friends." The sheriff says, Stiles smiles at the praise and pats his Dad's arm.
"Yeah I'm such a giver. Come on, James, I got to get you home." Stiles said to me. I nodded and her grabbed my wrist and pulled me after him.
"It was nice meeting you, Jameson." The Sheriff called after us.
"You too, Sheriff." I called after my shoulder.
"Thanks."Stiles says to me once we are out of earshot.
"Well apparently I owed you." I told him. The corner of his mouth twitches in response.
"Come on, let's go get your car before somebody steals it."
"If someone has stolen my car, I would hunt them down and definitely cut their head off."
"I don't even think Scott would stop you."
I laugh and get in the Jeep. Stiles drove me to my Mustang, which thankfully was untouched. Once I got in my car I called his phone so the three of us could still plan our next move even if we weren't in the same car.
"Yo!" he said picking up, as he pulled out from where we were parked.
"Hey, so where are we talking the Creature from the Black Lagoon."
I heard Stiles snort. I turn on my own car and follow after the boys.
"Uhh...what about your house, Scott?" Stiles asks.
"Not with my mom there. We need to take him somewhere we can hold him long enough to figure out what to do with him. Or long enough to convince him he's dangerous." I heard Scott say.
"I still say we just kill him." Stiles said.
"Oh so it's all killing is wrong when it's the pretty redhead but when it's Jackson it's all off with his head." I complain.
"See." Scott said, "We're not killing him."
"Oh I wasn't disagreeing I just wanted to point out the double standard of it all."
"Not helping, Jameson." Scott gritted out.
"I'm not customer service, I'm a hunter. And I vote for killing him."
"We're not killing him." Scott repeated more forcibly.
"God. Fine. Okay, okay." Stiles said giving in.
"We'll try it your way, but the moment…" I trailed off.
"Yeah, I got it," Scott says.
"Hey, I got an idea!" Stiles exclaimed.
"Does it involve breaking the law?" Scott asked.
"By now, don't you think that's a given?"
"I was just trying to be optimistic."
"Don't bother, Scott, it's better to be realistic. Illegal activity? I'm in. Where should I meet you?"
"The Sheriff's Station." Stiles answered.
"Gre…at. I'll beat you there." I said hanging up. I then sped up and passed the boys, saluting them as I crossed in front.
~Carry On~
Stiles' plan turned out to involve stealing a police transport vehicle, locking Jackson in the back, and parking somewhere in the middle of the woods. Seriously killing him would have been less of a hassle.
After we set everything up in a clearing in the Preserve, we ended up camping out in our cars nearby for the night. I offered to take first watch so the boys could get some sleep. Scott and I had an unspoken agreement that only he and I were going to be on watch tonight. Stiles wouldn't be able to do anything if Jackson woke up.
I got a blanket from my trunk and sat on the hood of my car leaning against the windshield. I wrapped myself up in my blanket and began looking for constellations. Sa-S—Sam and I used to do this all the time when Dean was looking for some alone time. After being kicked out of the hotel room, we would lie on the hood of the Impala and find the constellations in the book Sammy stole from a library years ago.
I was able to spot Cancer easily, as one of the more well-known constellations its shape was easier to pick out. I moved on to fine the pieces of the Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and the Argonauts from Greek legend, but then I remembered you could only see it if you were in the South. I sighed in frustration; the Argo Navis was one of my favorites. I use to make Sammy tell me the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece all the time when I was little. Giving my search for the ship up I look for the Lynx, its design made me think of a heart beat monitor with its little bumpy lines. Then there is the straight line of Canis Minor one of the two hunting dogs of Orion. One of its stars Procyon was the 8th brightest star in the night sky.
The slamming sound of the Jeep door startles me and I sit up to see what's going on. It's Scott. He looked at his sleeping friend, who was sleeping with his mouth open in the front seat, and shook his head. He turned and began walking over to my car.
"Hey." I greet him, "What are you doing up?"
"Couldn't sleep." He replied, "I feel like I can't sleep, I mean between Derek, the Argents, Jackson…"
"Yeah, why sleep when there's so much to worry about. You can sleep when you are dead." I joked. He gave me a half smile, and I patted the spot next to me on the hood. He looked hesitantly at me, like he thought it was a trap or something that I was letting him sit on top of my car.
"Come on, McCall, you're the one who bites not me."
Scott laughed, and climbed up next to me.
"What are you doing?"
"Just looking for constellations."
"I didn't know you were into that stuff."
"Scott, I've known you for about a week, there's a lot we don't know about each other."
"True, I guess I meant star-gazing didn't seem like your thing," he said, I raised my eyebrow, "Not that I'm assuming or you know…I just meant…"
"I know what you meant." I tell him, putting him out of his misery, "I'm a bad-ass hunter, who cares more about her arsenal than her shoes. Star-gazing wasn't exactly a hobby I would have chosen for myself either. It was just something that I did with my brother when I was younger."
"The one who went to medical school?"
I tense up, I did it again I opened up and got hit.
"No." I replied, "We didn't spend all that much time together growing up. My other brother and I were the star-gazers."
No need to get into too much detail.
"So, what can we see tonight?" Scott asks leaning down to rest his back against my windshield.
"Uh…right there you see that bright star?"
"Yeah."
"That's Procyon, it's the 8th brightest star in the sky. It's also the first star in Canis Minor. The second star is up and to the right a little bit. The constellation is supposed to represent one of Orion's hunting dogs."
"Cool," Scott said, "What else can we see?"
"There's Cancer, over there." I said pointing towards the formation, "It looks like an upside down 'Y', with the right leg a little longer than the left."
"I think I see it."
"It was one of the creatures sent to attack Hercules during his 12 trials. He was battling a Hydra and Hera sent the crab Karkinos to distract him. She was hoping the crab would give the Hydra the advantage and that it would kill Hercules. The story ends one of two ways, one with Hercules kicking the crab into the sky where he remains today or two, Hercules crushed the beast with his foot and Hera rewarded Karkinos efforts and placed him in the sky to honor him. "
"Wow, poor Karc-Kark…"
"Karkinos." I say with a laugh, "And well he should have known better than to get involved in one of Hera's vendettas. She's quite vindictive and things usually don't turn out well for people who get involved with her.
"Sounds like it." Scott said with a laugh, "Is there a story behind all the constellations?"
"Yeah, my brother said it was a way for people to tell stories on long voyages as wells as help them get home."
I showed Scott a few other constellations in the sky, telling him the stories I could remembers. Eventually he turns to me and tells me to get some sleep.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Yeah, I can't sleep anyway."
"Fine. But wake me up, and I mean it, wake me up, if Jackson does."
"Okay."
"Good doggie." I say. He shakes his head at me. I slide off my hood and throw him the blanket.
"Thanks."
"No prob. Night McCall." I said opening my back door.
"Night."
I crawl into the back and pick up one of Sam's flannels from the floor and wrap myself up in it and fall asleep.
~Carry On~
"MCCALL. I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" an angry voice yelled jolting me awake. What the hell? I scramble out of my car, knife drawn.
"What was that?" I asked Scott and Stiles who were leaning on my hood.
"Jackson."
"Shit."
~Carry On~
Stiles and I skipped school that day to watch the prisoner. Scott wanted to stay but considering how not well he was doing in school, Stiles convinced him to go. Scott reluctantly agreed.
Around 11, Stiles went to town to get lunch for the three of us. Apparently not only am I not allowed to kill Jackson I have to actually treat him like a decent human being. Frankly, I still wanted to cut off his head.
I picked my head off my wind shield when I heard Stiles' Jeep coming up the small path. He pulls up next to my Mustang.
"About time, I'm starved." I say to him when he gets out of his car.
"Well I'm sorry, your highness, that our saving lives is messing with your eating schedule."
"I'm just going to ignore your crankiness, Princess, because I know you're hungry too." I reply.
"Soo… hungry." He said digging into his bag for the stuff he bought. He pulled out two sandwiches, chips, and two bottles of Pepsi.
"I didn't know what you wanted so I figured I go with the classic turkey on wheat and chips and pop."
"It'll do, but for future reference if you really want to win me over, burgers. You can never go wrong with burgers."
"Noted." He said handing me my food. He leaned against my car and we both ate in silence, both too hungry and too tired to carry on a conversation. After Stiles finished up he stuffed his wrappers in the bag.
"Time to feed the prisoner."
"Whoopie!" I exclaim sarcastically swinging my legs over the side of my car, "You want back-up, Boss?"
"Yeah," he said, "I might need you to break both his legs."
I snort and follow after Stiles. He pulls the keys out of his pocket and fumbles with the lock a bit before finally popping it open. He climbs in and holds it open so I can get in. Once we're both inside he closes up leaving us in a tiny room with a Kanima. And I know there's absolutely nothing that can go wrong.
"Okay, I brought you some food..." Stiles started to tell Jackson, before the other teen lunged at him.
"Let me out now!" He yelled pulling against his restraints. In a flash my knife was out and against his throat. I look him coolly in the eye, so he knows I'm dead serious. He slowly sits back down, my knife against his throat the entire time. Once he's seated I pull back and take a seat with Stiles across from him. I sheath my knife back in my boot and take out a throwing star and flip it in between my fingers.
"Are we done with the dramatics now?" Stiles asked looking between us. I shrugged and continued to play with my throwing star.
"Look we can't let you out." Stiles told Jackson, "Trust me we're actually doing you a favor."
"This is doing me a favor?" Jackson said angrily, holding up his chained wrist for us to see.
"Yes. You're killing people. To death. Yeah. And until we can figure out to stop you, you're going stay in here. I'm sorry." He told Jackson, he then turned to look in his bag of food, "Now, do you want the ham and cheese or the turkey club?"
"You actually think my parents won't be looking for me?" Jackson asked.
"Well, not if they don't think anything's wrong." Stiles said holding up Jackson's phone. Last night he took it from Jackson's things and told his parents that he would be staying at Danny's. It seems plausible. Jackson made a face, and remained silent.
"Now that, that's over. Ham and cheese or turkey club?" Stiles said holding the sandwiches up again.
"I'll take the turkey club." Jackson grumbled. Stiles smiled at him and handed the sandwich to him. Jackson took the sandwich and bit into it angrily.
"You know, Boss, I'm getting the idea the Geico Gecko over there doesn't believes us. " I stage whisper to Stiles.
"So…what he can't remember what he does when he's the Kanima?"
"Wait, you guys think I'm the Kanima?" Jackson said with a laugh, "It's Lydia, she didn't pass Derek's test."
"Okay then tell us what happened after you took Lydia upstairs last night?" I asked him.
Jackson looked smug for a moment thinking he could prove us wrong, but after a few beats his face fell into confusion.
"See you can't tell us because you turned into some scaly killing thing." Stiles said jumping in.
"Scales? Like a fish?" Jackson asked. Stiles pursed his lips and propped his feet on the bench across him.
"No, more like a reptile." Stiles answered him.
"Oh, and don't forget about the paralytic." I chime in.
"Yeah, your claws have this liquid that paralyses people, and you have a tail."
"I have a tail?" Jackson asked,
"Yeah, you have a tail. And you're not above throwing people into walls with it. My back is still bruised from when you tossed me around at the pool." I hissed.
"Does it do anything else?" Jackson asked.
"No, not that I know of." Stiles answered.
"Can I use it to strangle you?" Jackson asked lunging at Stiles again. I readied my throwing star, but Stiles seemed unfazed by angry Jackson.
"Yeah. You still don't believe me. All right. Let's take a trip down memory lane. The night of the semi-final, what did you do after?"
"I went home." Jackson answered, his anger thinly veiled.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes, you idiot. What the hell else would I do?"
"Hey! No need for name calling. That's grounds for a time out."
"James, I got this. You attacked Derek and us at the school and you trapped us in the pool."
"For hours." I added.
"Yes, for hours," Stiles said, "You also killed a mechanic. Right in front of me, by the way. That was lovely. And one of Argent's hunter. Oh, and last night, you tried to kill Danny."
"Why would I want to kill my best friend?"
"Cause the guy controlling you wanted you too." I answered.
"Controlli-. No one is controlling me."
"Sorry Pinoc, you got strings to tie you down. And last night those strings told you to go to a night club and kill your best friend. "
"But, why?"
"Well, that's what Scott's out trying to figure out right now." Stiles said.
"Mmm…What maybe he should be trying to figure out is how he's going to pay for a lawyer when I prosecute your asses all the way to jail!"
"Alright on the night of the first full moon, what happened?"
"Nothing," Jackson answered in a disappointed tone, he leaned against the wall of the van in defeat, "Nothing happened."
"Or maybe nothing you remember." I say to him.
"Who are you?" Jackson asked.
"Jameson. I'm the best at what I do, and what I do isn't very nice." I warn him. Jackson and I get locked in an intense stare down.
"Okay, I think this playdate is over," Stiles says, causing both of us to look at him, "Come on, Jameson."
I huffed and got off the bench and pushed open the door. Stiles followed after me and jumped out.
"Are you sure I can't cut off his head?" I asked Stiles as he closed the door.
"Scott said no." Stiles replied, as he locked the door.
"But I feel like I would be doing everyone a favor."
"Scott said no." Stiles replied, but his tone implied he would let me if it was up to him.
"Fine, but I call first hack if Scott changes his mind."
"Sure, whatever you say Wolverine." He replied, "Will you be okay for a bit? I want to take a nap."
"No prob, Boss."
Stiles rolled his eyes and got into his Jeep. He lowers the back of his seat so he can take a nap. Boys! They can sleep anytime and anywhere. I remember one time I caught Dean sleeping standing up.
I got in my own car and grabbed my book bag might as well study since I have time to kill. Never thought I would see this day me, Jameson Winchester, actually wanting to study.
~Carry On~
A couple hours later Stiles woke up from his nap. When he saw the time and realized school was out he started texting Jackson's parents again. He was hoping to buy us some more time to figure out what to do with Jackson.
I leaned against the transport truck with Stiles, helping him decide what to tell Jackson's parents this time. A rustling sound came from behind me, causing both of us to go on alert. I raise my finger to my lip telling Stiles to be quiet. He nodded. Slowly I pulled my gun out of my waistband and raised it to shoot without even looking. I hear a feminine gasp, and I turn towards the sound. There was Allison Argent at the other end of my gun.
"Jesus, Argent, warn somebody next time. I almost shot you."
"Sorry." She apologized as I lowered my gun, "But they know."
"What?" Stiles asked.
"They know Jackson's missing." She said urgently.
"No, they can't. I've been texting his parents since last night. They don't have a clue."
Allison shook her head.
"My grandfather told me his parents went to the police. They know."
Stiles and I look at the phone, wearing the same 'oh shit' face. Stiles loosen his hold on the phone till he's holding it like it's a used tissue.
"Oh." He says, waving his other hand up and down, "Chuck that."
He hand the phone to me and I chunk into the wood like a baseball and scramble to my car. I know what this means we're going to have to run. Stiles jumps in the van and Allison gets in the passenger side. Stiles sticks his head out the window after a few moments and indicates for me to roll my window down. I do it and stick my head out the window.
"My Dad's on his way."
"Well what now Opie?"
"We get far away from here."
"What about your Jeep?"
"We'll have to come back for it. Follow me."
"On it, Boss." I stuck my head back in my car and follow after Stiles as he speeds out of the clearing we were in. I followed Stiles up to the cliffs that overlooked town. Stiles parked the Jeep and hopped in with me, so we could get his Jeep, leaving Alison with Jackson. It didn't take us long to get his car and by the time we got back Scott had finally decided to show up.
"Hey," he greets us as we get out of our cars, Allison in tow. I salute him in return.
"Yo." Stiles greeted. With the formalities out of the way, Scott indicates for us to follow him and Allison.
"So how'd things go with Jackson today? Did he believe you?" Scott asked.
"Apparently being the Kanima comes with one blessing," I reply, "You don't remember anything you did while you were the Kanima."
"If Jackson doesn't remember being the Kanima, he's definitely not gonna remember stealing Danny's tablet."
"Why would he steal the thing if he doesn't even know what's on it?" Stiles asked, as we stop just a few feet from the drop off.
"And more importantly was he the one who stole it? I mean I know we lost him for a bit, but he was pretty one-tracked that night and Derek and I sliced him up pretty good. He practically limped out of there."
"So what..." Stiles asked, "You think the master was the one who stole it?"
"He would have perfect opportunity in all that chaos last night." Scott said warming up to the idea, "Danny said the video was of Jackson sleeping and someone had erased two hours of footage."
"Like two hours where Jackson was the Kanima?" Allison asked.
"Possibly." Scott said.
"And the master wouldn't want Jackson or anyone else knowing what Jackson was. Jackson could find a way to stop it or somebody could stop Jackson." I said continuing the train of thought.
"And if what Jameson's book and that South American legend are true, the master isn't going to be satisfied until he gets his vengeance." Scott said.
"But it came after all of us and besides Jameson here, none of us have actually killed anyone."
"Hey, just a few days ago you said those deaths were justifiable." I protested.
"Not the point, James."
"But did it really come after us?" Scott asked. He turned to Allison, "When we were at Isaac's house, it went right by us, didn't it?"
"You're right it just ran off." Allison answered.
"And it didn't kill you in the mechanic's garage." Scott said to Stiles.
"Well, yeah, but it tried to kill me, Jameson, and Derek in the pool."
"Did it?"
"It would've. It was waiting for us to get out."
"What it Jameson was right and it just wanted to keep you in? Keep you distracted."
"Why do I feel so violated all the sudden?" Stiles asks. I roll my eyes.
"Okay, so we're not the targets, we just keep getting in the way." I say, "So what about the victims? What's something that links them all together?"
"I don't know." Scott says with a shake of his head.
"I still think we should kill, Jackson." Stiles says, "No weapon of vengeance no more killings."
"He risked his life for us." Scott said, "Against Peter, you remember that?"
"Yes, but what did we find out? He got the bite from Derek." Stiles agues, "It's funny exactly how he just got exactly what he wanted, by supposedly risking his life for us, it's funny."
Yeah, I knew Jackson didn't exactly look like the type to things out of the goodness of his heart. But who's Peter? And what would happen if we did kill Jackson? The master is still out there and he's the one really killing people. Would he stop? Or would he go on and complete his mission since he's gotten this far?
"That doesn't mean he's not worth saving." Scott's voice interrupted my thoughts.
"It's always something with him though."
"He doesn't know what he's doing."
"So what?"
"That's exactly why we can't kill him." I say almost reluctantly.
"What?" Stiles exclaims. Scott even looks taken back by my statement.
"Technically Jackson isn't the one killing people. He's just a gun. We need the guy pulling the trigger. There's no guarantee that now that the master has had a taste of revenge that he won't continue killing people on his own." I reason, "As much as it pains me to say this…we can't kill him because it would be like executing a private for a general's war crimes."
Stiles flings his arms in the air.
"Make up your mind woman!" Stiles exclaims.
"Look if we want to end this, for real, we need to fry the bigger fish."
"GOD! I hate that you make sense."
"Jackson doesn't have anybody in this, we need to help him. You remember when I tried to kill you and Jackson?" Scott asked Allison. She nodded. "I had somebody to stop me. He has nobody."
"That's his own fault, Scott, we don't have to save everybody." Stiles tells his friend.
"Doesn't matter. If we can save him, we should try."
"It is our duty," I tell both of the boys, "Once you know of what goes bump in the dark it's your obligation to protect others from it."
"Exactly." Scott agreed.
"Fine, okay, you two convinced me. But I would still like to leave the option of killing him on the table."
"Noted." I said, "Come on Stiles, let's go grab dinner for us and the prisoner."
"Fine, okay." He said and followed me to my car. We pulled out and I waved to Scott, completely ignoring Allison, before heading to my squatter house.
~Carry On~
I pulled in to the driveway behind the house and parked it, but left it running.
"I just have to go get some money from inside. I'll be right back." I said turning to Stiles.
"Is this where you live?"
"No, but it's where I'm staying while I'm in town."
"Can I come in?"
"Knock yourself out." I said getting out of my car after turning it. I walked over towards the door and heard the sound of the passenger door opening and closing. Stiles quickly caught up with me and I opened the door. I headed in knowing how to make my way through the dark,
"Your power's out." Stiles voice says from behind me.
"I know." I said. I walk over to the living room and turn on one of the camping lights, illuminated my base of operation.
"Whoa." Stiles said looking around room.
"What?"
"I guess I was expecting a gun wall or something." He answered, before looking around "Wait, are you squatting?"
"I like to call it alternative renting." I replied as I searched my bag, "Aha!"
"What?" he asked.
"I found it." I said, holding up my wallet. I reach in and pull a couple twenties out for pizza and drinks.
"Let's roll, Stilinski. I'm starved."
"Are you sure you're not a guy?" He teased. I punched his arm.
"OW!" He exclaimed," Okay, I'm sorry. God you hit hard."
"I didn't get kid gloves and neither will you." I tell him
"Wait people actually punched you."
"During training, fights, and there was this one time freshman year…"I said trailing off, "Anyway shake it off Stilinski, somewhere out there, is a pizza calling our name."
"Right." He answered following me out of the door. We head back to my car and get in. I turn on the car and start back towards the road.
"Is it okay if I station surf?" Stiles asked once we turned onto the highway. I nodded it was just some Bruce Springsteen song that I wasn't a fan of anyway. Stiles turned the dial, messing around with the station until he landed on a song.
"Love this song." He said. I listened closely to the melody that was oddly familiar and then…
"It was the heat of the moment tell-"
My hand shot out and spun the dial in a random direction.
"Whoa, dude! What was that? That was Asia."
"Never Asia." I tell him seriously.
"What? Why?"
"Three reasons: One, I hate Tuesdays. Two, pig 'n a poke is evil, and Three, that damned Gabriel."
"What does that even mean?"
"Go to a bookstore, look in the discount bin, and you'll find out."
"Again what does that even mean?"
"That Asia will never play."
"Whatever." Stiles says, "What station are you even on?"
We listened in and the sounds of a mariachi band came through the radio. I shrug and let it play. Anything it better than Asia. Stiles just threw his hands up in frustration and didn't say another word until we got to the pizza place.
~Carry On~
"So where do you think the lovebirds are?" I asked Stiles as I pulled up in front of the prison transport van.
"Probably making out somewhere."
"Well then more pizza for us and our bestie then."
Stiles snorted and got out of the car. He opened the back door and got the pizzas and soda we bought for everyone. We round the corner of the van and stop short. We turn around and go back, before spinning on our heels and coming around the corner again.
"Shit, it's still there." I said, looking at the busted van.
"Do you think he's still around?" Stiles asked.
"Probably not, the master probably called him."
"Hey, there's Allison's car." Stiles said point to a small black car.
"Let's go." I tell him, "And a leave the pizza."
"Oh, right." He said placing the pizza in the van. I pull out my knife and give it to him.
"Just don't stab yourself, alright." I tell him. He gives me a look but nods anyway. I draw out my gun and ready myself, as we walk to Allison's car. We come up behind it and I look through the rear window and see Scott and Allison half-dressed lying in the back completely fine. Stiles and I share an exasperated look. He rounds the back of the car and bangs on the back passenger side window, startling the pair awake. So, they hear that but not a giant lizard busting through metal.
"You guys might want to come take a look at this." Stiles said in an exasperated tone. The pair quickly got dressed and followed Stiles and I over to the van. They stared at it completely surprised. Well, maybe if you actually did your job and watched Jackson we wouldn't be in this mess.
"I have to tell my father." Allison said.
"Well if he trained you, I don't know how much help he'll be." I told her.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"That you were supposed to be watching him," I yell at her, before turning on Scott, "Both of you. But once again you two put us all at risk so you could spend some quality time together. I hope that having sex was worth the lives of everyone who dies after tonight."
"That's not fair." Scott said.
"Maybe not, but she's got a point." Stiles backed me up, "You guys were supposed to be watching him, but like the other night…"
I raised my eyebrow smugly.
"Alright, we screwed up." Allison apologized, "That's exactly why we need to bring in my dad."
"Maybe if this was a werewolf problem." I argue back, "Plus, do you really think he or your grand-pappy will be willing to save Jackson? I wouldn't put it pass them to shoot through us to get him."
"That's not true."
"Really? Than why don't you ask your grandfather what happened the last time there was a Winchester/Argent team up."
"Scott," Allison said changing tactics, "He's going to kill someone."
"Okay, tell him. Tell him everything." Scott caved.
"Scott, I got tell mine, too." Stiles piped up.
"Heaven to Betsy!" I exclaim, "Sure let's go tell everyone's fathers, put everyone at risk, and create a bigger shit show than we have now."
"Jameson! Come on, my dad can't solve this thing without half the puzzle."
"This is a bad idea. The Argent assholes are one thing, but a civilian newbie…it's not safe Stiles. Trust me people are much happier being oblivious to this kind of life."
"I got to tell him, James. I can't lie to him anymore." He told me earnestly. I made a face.
"Stupid-flam—fliggle—and the eyes—damn Argents-" I grumbled, "Fine!"
Stiles nodded his thanks.
"How are you going to make your Dad believe all this?" Allison asked Stiles.
"I don't know."
"He'll believe me," Scott said flashing his wolf eyes at us.
"Or think you are on drugs." I added, before turning to Stiles, "I'll go with you to tell your Dad, I have some experience with giving people "the talk." However, this is a very bad idea on both fronts, and I reserve the right to tell you 'I told you so' whenever I want."
"Noted." Stiles said, "Scott and I will head to the station in my Jeep and you can follow us in your car."
I nodded and the pair of us walked over to our cars together. I didn't hear Scott's footsteps behind us, he must be saying good-bye to the Argent chick, who oddly remind me of my least favorite Smallville character Lana Lang. A whiny woman whose faux self-righteous "strong" act was poison for the growing hero.
Smirking to myself, I slid into the front seat. I was turning on the car when the passenger door opened. I look up in surprise, and saw Scott climb in.
"What the hell do you think your doing, McCall?" I asked him, still angry at his hormonal stupidity, "Get out!"
He ignores me and waves Stiles to go on without him.
"No, no, Stiles get back here!" I yell out of Scott's door. Either he ignored me or didn't hear me, because he drove on leaving me with Scott. I huff in frustration, "Close the damn door, McCall."
He shuts the door and I turn on the car. I shift gear to reverse, and ease on down the hill. I then shift into Drive and turn on to the road out of the preserve. We may not have been speaking, but McCall had been practically screaming since he got in the car.
"Just spit it out McCall." I tell him.
"Why do you hate the Argents so much?" he asked.
"They're a bunch of self-righteous entitled blue-bloods who are useless as hunters."
"That's not all of it, it sounds personal."
"Some people are just poison, McCall. Not everyone is as nice as you are." I said, reaching for the volume on the radio and turning it up.
"What is this?" Scott asks.
"Mariachi music." I tell him, "You go a problem with it?"
"No. no."
"Good doggie," I tell him, as we turn into town and head to our doom.
~Carry On~
Stiles' Perspective:
"Could you buzz us in? I gotta see my dad." I asked Mike at the desk. He made an annoyed face, but buzzed us in anyway, "Thanks."
I pause after I open the door. Is this really a good idea? Maybe Jameson's right and he's better off, safer even not knowing about what goes bump in the night. But this could help him solve the case, and find the master. Maybe he would be safer knowing what to look out for.
I turn to look at Jameson and Scott with a questioning look. James, of course, shook her head, but Scott nodded. It's the right thing to do, he seemed to say. I take a deep breath and head to my Dad's office. I hear Jameson huff in the background.
As we turn into Dad's office there's Jackson sitting comfortably on my Dad's couch wrapped up in one of the officers' jackets. He smiles smugly when he see us. Oh shit!
"Scott, Stiles, Jameson. Perfect timing." My dad greets us," Have you met Jackson's father, Mr. David Whittemore? Esquire."
"That means lawyer." Jackson clarified for us.
"Damn it!" I heard James exclaim softly. I look at Scott and I know he's thinking the same thing-we are royally screwed.
~Carry On~
Next on Carry On Wayward Winchester: Detention just got dangerous.