Together

Women of the Otherworld Fanfiction

Singingfrogs

No copyright infringement intended

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Clayton roared. To Riley everything happened so fast; only a moment before Clayton was calm and uninterested, his features impassive and his concerns elsewhere. But now, the dark fury of the pack's bodyguard was unleashed. His teeth were bared, his eyes were dark and his tall bulky frame was looming over the obstinate woman who was assertively standing her ground. Riley could see the intense emotions that were flying over Clayton's body as he loomed over her petite frame, his profound acrimony visibly vibrating over his form. Nevertheless, with her quick reflexes and depleted of any judicious and rational thoughts Riley quickly flung herself in between Clayton and Karl whose smug look was not helping Riley to prove her point.

The Doctor could feel the strong contours of Clay's chest, his muscles shining underneath the palm of her hand that was resting over his beating heart, pushing him away from the vexatious man who was being held back by Riley's surprising strength. Riley could feel the trenchant gazes of the men standing behind him, their eyes curving over the naked section of her shoulder, taking in the tip of her grotesque scar that littered her skin.

"Clayton, calm down, you don't understand." Riley soothed, shoving her head to look behind her as she pointed a sullen gaze directly towards Nick who was standing protectively behind the newest member of their pack, his mouth curled into a smile as his attention was somewhat caught to Clay's rage. "I did this for the good of the Pack."

"The good of the Pack?" Clay snarled, his voice hoarse with animalistic rage as he continued to glare down towards the werewolf, assessing the strong enhanced hold she had against him. Riley just moved her sharp grey eyes to look at him before she once again turned her attention towards Nick whose own anxiety was simmering within his eyes.

"Just calm down and think about this. He could provide us with the information we have missing and we need his extra strength." Riley expressed with the authority of a woman who ordered a group of people when it came to treating a patient.

"It should be you doing the thinking. Marsten can't be trusted; how do you know that he won't throttle us in our sleep!" Clayton bellowed, irritation emanating within the confines of his statement as he watched Riley taking a cautious step away from him, the deep purple circles gleaming against the smooth skin of her face as she gazed up towards him.

"You will just have to trust me; give him a chance, the same chance that you gave me." Riley voiced, trying to defend her decision.

"But that's different."

"Is it? I was a Mutt, the same as Karl. I was difficult to tame when it came to changing and controlling my wolf, while he got himself mixed up amongst the wrong crowd." Riley said with a small smile as she looked up towards Clayton, watching his hands curl into tight fists as he struggled to reign in his anger.

"If he puts one step out of line or even thinks about Elena, it will be your head." Clay threatened and he loomed over Riley who refused to back down and give Clayton more power over her.

"I understand." Riley agreed, giving him a small nod as her Packmate continued to glare at her before he muttered under his breath and grumbled his way out of the room. Marsten however noticed Jeremy standing in the doorway and headed towards his Alpha while Nick meandered towards Riley who refused to turn around. When she felt Nick's hand against her bare shoulder she twisted so she could get a better look at him and his reassuring smile. "Well, that coulda been worst." Riley finished as she released the air she had been holding within her lungs.

"But now you have no way of stopping Clay from being pissed off with you." Nick countered as he slowly guided the pair of them into the living room.

"What's a girl to do?" Riley stated as she shrugged her shoulder and rested a smile to her lips, Nick just responded to her statement with a genuine laugh.

o-o-o

To say Elena was fuming was an understatement. Clay had barged down the stairs refusing to listen to reason, stomped right up to Riley and demand she rethink her actions. Elena wasn't surprised when the young werewolf had stood her ground, countered Clay's angry statements with her own calm and rational ideals that she had to force onto Elena's husband. Why Clay had the need to shout at her when she was only following Jeremy's order she didn't know, but as she clomped away from her fuming lover she was searching for one person. She was looking for Riley.

She was about ready to give up when she almost jogged towards the last room she had to search, and as she drove her way through the tight corridors of her home, across the foyer and through the large archway that led to the main living room did she falter in her searching.

Riley was quite happily sitting on the largest of the three leather sofas that were positioned around a coffee table. Her long, coiling ginger hair was pulled into a low pony tail, her loose curls falling around her face and down her chest as she rested her shoe cladded feet to the wooden table. However, what melted her heart was the way her fingers absentmindedly played with Nick's short brown hair as he quite contentedly slept with his head in her lap. His hand was fanned across her right thigh while his head was resting against her stomach, the rest of his figure draped across the vacant seats, obviously tiring from Riley's reading.

"There you are, I've been looking all over." Elena breathed, her voice low as to not disturb Nick. Riley just lifted her eyes from her book, a little startled by Elena's sudden intrusion but as the taller woman curled herself into the chair opposite Riley's expression turned into one of welcoming happiness.

"We've been here since we got back." Riley replied, her own voice quiet as she lifted her hand to motion to Nicholas's dozing form, her warm hand moving to rest to the middle of his shoulders as she closed her book and once again ran her fingers through her hair to move her wavy locks from her face.

"I can see that." Elena smiled, struggling to hide her thoughts as she recognised the contentment that was etched to Nick's features that were hidden from Riley's view. Numerous occasions Elena had discussed with Nick his conflicted emotions concerning Riley, she had also defended her young friend when it concerned her affections. It seemed Nick doubted Riley and how she truly felt, but considering her timid and shy temperament was one of the only things she showed to the real world and the people she wasn't totally comfortable with, Elena knew why. But as she observed how open and how relaxed she was being as she sat within Stonehaven's walls, with a man Elena knew she was in love with, sleeping on her lap; how could Riley and Nick be so blind to each others affections.

"I guess I wanted to see how you were after Clay ripped you a new one." Elena replied as soon as she pulled her attention from Nick and back to Riley.

"Ha, I'm alright, I learnt long ago to not let Clay bother me." Riley said with a small chuckle, her free hand finding Nick's hair once again as she felt him stirring underneath her hands, the older werewolf readjusting his position as Riley fluttered her eyes towards Elena.

"Good, sometimes he just gets so angry he forgets who he's talking too and what he's fighting for."

"I know, which is why I take the blame. We've never seen eye to eye, so after fourteen years there is really no point in trying to change that."

"Must be hard, considering he's so volatile."

"I have nothing against him, I respect him." Riley started with a sincerity that blew Elena away. "In my own messed up way I guess I kinda love him like a brother. It's weird I know, but I guess if he ever needed me or if I ever needed him I know we would jump at the opportunity." Riley finished with a smile.

"But how can you feel that way when he shows you nothing but ignorance" Elena questioned as she crossed her legs at the knee and rested her clasped hands to her lap. Riley just allowed a small smile to engulf her lips as her eyes drifted back towards Nick again as if trying to come up with a coherent answer.

"I guess it's because I never expect much when I visit Stonehaven. I mean, you and Nick are my closest friends and allies and when I'm here I show a little more of whom I really am. But who am I kidding when I say that I don't think about what my life would be like if I wasn't tied to this place. I mean, Josh and Charlie are fantastic when it comes to policing the mutts over in England and part of me wishes that maybe I should stand down as the Pack liaison and just fall into obscurity." Riley answered, her voice confident, her expression heartfelt and voided of all dejection and melancholy as if she was granting Elena a snippet of the true Riley, a woman who was comfortable with who and what she was, a young Doctor who was running her ideas through a friend who could give an honest opinion and a young lady who knew that her life was only just beginning.

"I didn't realize you felt so strongly about this." Elena uttered. "I mean, I know you're very reserved but the last day or so since you've been here you've been different. Don't get me wrong it's a good different because you seem more sure of yourself, more assertive in your ideas when normally you would shriek back into the shadows and let everyone else take charge."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Where have all these thoughts come from? Have they been unearthed during your year away? Did your separation from the pack help put everything into perspective?"

"I don't know. Just look at me Elena." Riley urged, her eyes frantic with emotion as she forced her best friend to really look at her, for her eyes to penetrate the layers of barriers she had put in place to protect her so Elena could finally see her for who she was. "I'm not tall and strong like Clay and Antonio, I can't track like you, hell I can barely go it alone without getting lost. I'm not like you guys; I don't have the strength that most werewolves have. I'm a Doctor not a murderer, I find my strength in books so why should I keep pretending that the Pack needs me when I provide so little in terms of usefulness." Riley voiced, her hands still as they rested to Nick's shoulders, her eyes swimming with emotion as she confidently conveyed her worries to Elena who was momentarily stunned into silence as she tried to comprehend everything she had just heard.

Elena knew how it felt, had been through it herself. And now it was her turn to try and convince Riley the same way the young Doctor had for her seven years ago. Elena had struggled to comprehend the enormity of her new world; there had been so much for her to take in as she struggled to regulate her changes and control her instincts. She had wrestled with her emotions concerning Clay and she had felt so isolated and alone until Jeremy invited, more like begged Riley to come to Stonehaven and as soon as Riley had met her, had started talking to her that was when Elena had finally started coming around to the idea. Why Riley felt so worthless Elena couldn't understand because during that time she had relied on Riley's comfort, her friendship and her compassion, providing her with a woman's touch when she had been overwhelmed in a man's world.

But, just as Elena was to say something the sound of crunching snow on the driveway vibrated to their sensitive ears. Elena turned in her seat as she fluttered her attention to the door before looking back towards Riley who was holding a confused look of her own. As Elena was getting to her feet Riley waved away her concern when she noticed Jeremy calmly heading towards the door while Karl and Antonio joined them in the living room.

Elena just replaced her form in the chair as she lifted her eyes towards Antonio who was looking down at her from his perch on the armrest while Karl's gaze was trained directly to Riley. When her grey orbs connected with his, his smile only widened when he took in Nick's sleeping form. Riley just glowered over at him before curling her fringe around her ear and gently shook Nicks slumbering figure.

"Nicky." She said gently as she tenderly pushed at his shoulders "Hey, time to wake up." Riley uttered softly again as she felt Nick stirring. His chest and his shoulders increased in size as he heaved in a hefty volume of air into his lungs before the older werewolf fluttered his eyes open to see the crowd that had joined them. Riley was not surprised to see his confusion and as he wearily removed his hand from Riley's thigh and to the cushion just next to her, his eyes shot her a question as he moved into a seated position.

"What's going on?" He asked, as he rubbed at his eyes with the heel of his hand, thankful that he had changed from his suit and into a t-shirt as he took in the concern shining in his family's expressions.

"We don't know." His father ascertained before he turned back towards the door and Jeremy's figure that was welcoming Sherriff Peterson and his deputy into Stonehaven. It was at that moment that everyone sitting in the living room knew the seriousness of the house call before each and every one of them got to their feet and waited for Jeremy to guide the officers towards them.

"We're sorry to have to call upon you at such late an hour." Peterson explained as he walked beside Jeremy; Riley just shared a glance towards her alpha that was politely dealing with the Sherriff.

"It's alright, as you can see me and my family are still awake." Jeremy smiled. "What is it we can help you with?"

"Unfortunately we've found another body about four miles from your property in a church." He explained as he looped her thumbs through his belt loops of his trousers.

"That is unfortunate."

"Indeed. But, we haven't come to point fingers we have actually come to ask for you help."

"You want our help?" Elena interrupted as she took in Peterson's bolding hair, his weary posture and his Deputies invasive glaring around the parts of Stonehaven that he could see.

"Miss Thompson you said you were a Doctor." He continued as he smiled from Elena and towards Riley. Riley just frowned as she briefly turned her attention from the Sherriff towards Nicky who was just as confused as she was.

"I did yes."

"Well, our town Doctor is currently unavailable due to attending a funeral in New York City and we have no one we can call on to determine a cause of death and to complete the autopsy. You said only yesterday that you would be more than happy to help. I guess I'm asking for your help."

"Of course, let me just grab my medical supplies and I will be right with you." Riley said with a nod as she once again pulled her hair from her features.

"Sherriff, do you mind if both myself and Antonio accompany Riley? It's just she's my guest and I don't want her stranded so far away from Stonehaven at this hour." Jeremy voiced, his sharp eyes recognizing the hesitation in the old Sherriff's eyes before it seemed his willpower gave in.

"I see no problem in that." He replied. "See you out front in ten minutes?" He finished and nodded his head in acceptance when he saw Riley's own nod and the Doctor could only follow with her eyes as Antonio guided them from the building.

"I best get my stuff." Riley uttered as she looked between Elena and Nick, slowly pulling down the hem of her shirt over her jeans as she flashed a sad smile in Nick's direction. Nick however had other idea's, grasped hold of her wrist and pulled her close to his large form that engulfed her. He felt her small hand resting to his sides while he placed his large hand to the back of her head.

"You stay safe okay." He whispered as he kissed her forehead, his eyelids squeezing shut a little tighter, as if he were fighting himself inside. Riley just closed her own eyes, understanding the tormenting emotions that was engulfing her friend, knowing that he was uncomfortable with the idea of letting her out of his site, but she had already agreed to go, and though she was shy and sometimes sweet she was also stubborn as a mule and never went back on her word. Besides, she wasn't exactly alone considering their Alpha and one of the strongest members of their pack were accompanying her.

"Don't worry about me." She whispered as she pulled apart, her grey orbs connecting with his brown ones before she finally stepped away and headed towards the kitchen and her medical belongings.

0-0-0

The early morning snowfall was of little help to Jeremy as he tried to navigate the treacherous roads that were covered with a mix of both snow and ice; it seemed the valley snowploughs had been unable to uncover the tarmac of the roads and as the werewolves travelled through town in their massive explorer they were also unable to locate any. Nevertheless, as they drove cautiously along Main Street of Bear Valley, Riley could hear the tires hissing through the snow slush, the windscreen wipers scraping at the hoar-frosted glass and the bellowing of the heating as the warm air boomed from the grills.

The road took them into a small neighbourhood of run-down foreclosed houses that looked in dire need of being ripped down and rebuilt. In the darkness, Riley's sensitive eyesight could see the peeling paintwork, the termite infested wood was shattered or breaking ultimately compromising the decking and the foundations of the building, while the grotty aged windows did little to enhance the cleanliness of the buildings. The bleak skies and the tremendous winds that were bellowing through the streets did little to shake Riley's feeling of a desolate neighbourhood.

However, as Jeremy slowed the young Doctor could see a patrol car parked near the front gate of the chapel, its light flaring blue and white in the darkness of the night ignited the butterflies of Riley stomach to intensify and she had to prevent the wolf within her from bolting. Antonio spun around a little in his seat to gaze towards her, nothing but dread and unease sparkling in his own eyes as he too prepared himself with coming face to face with death once again. Jeremy flashed the officer his ID and made general chit chat as he answered the questions spoken to him, the officer making it very clear that he had been told about the arrival of an English Doctor and her friends. It seemed Riley's coming was highly anticipated.

Jeremy parked his Jeep next to the several cars that littered the front driveway of the Chapel. As Riley rested her hand to the door handle she braced herself for the first blast of cold air to hit her and as she stepped out of the car, her shoe skidded right out from underneath her. The young werewolf barley had time to catch herself but she flailed her arms and found herself hanging between the car door and the roof of the explorer. Dragging herself back to her feet, she felt the icy water trickling down her calves from the soaked hem of her coat and she could hear Antonio's soft chuckling as he held out his hand to aid her departure of the car.

She glanced across the courtyard at the intense volume of people who were coming and going. During her career she had been to several crime-scenes when none of the forensic pathologists were available, or like now, when being a Doctor was the only thing they could get. But as she took in the crime-scene techs that were busily attending to their job roles she couldn't help her eyes from falling to the police officer who was intently watching her from the doorway of the chapel. She had no doubt that he had seen her fall and she had to bit back her stinging pride as she reached back into the Explorer for her medical supplies and swung the door shut behind her.

As the group of them muddled their way through the intense crowd of people, snowflakes whirled and danced amid needles of sleet. The chapel looked something out of a fairy-tale; its windows climbed high against the red brick before curling to meet in the middle, the beautiful stain glass depicting several characters from the bible. Riley couldn't help but stare up at the tall steeple that was the main focal point for the church and neighboured by two identical sections of the 'Medieval' chapel. Once she forced herself from her studying she noticed they were coming up towards the smiling patrolman who seemed to be shuffling on his feet with glee as if he witness an enemy embarrassing himself. Riley however, just curled her hair around her ear as she stood behind Antonio and Jeremy who held emotionless expressions.

"You okay there Doc? That was a nasty slip." The officer said with a snide smile that set Riley's teeth on edge. Here she was, doing the Bear Valley Police Department a service and all she was getting was the taunting and the mocking of the officers who really wished to be left alone and not have interfering Doctors messing up their crime scene. It seemed the Valleys distrust of Jeremy and his family extended far beyond just the town's folk.

"I'm fine, thank you for helping me." Riley voiced, her own sarcasm evident within her tone that abruptly caused the officer to stop talking when he heard the authority in her voice and the surprise that shone on Jeremy and Antonio's face concerning the confidence she protected herself with.

"Where is Sherriff Peterson, he specifically asked for Riley to complete the medical examination?" Jeremy asked causing the patrolman to turn his attention from Riley and towards her Alpha.

"Just inside, you can't miss him."

The entrance to the chapel was draped with a strand of yellow crime scene tape, which was drooping under the weight of the fallen snow. She slowly lifted her eyes towards Antonio who was lifting the opposing obstacle for her; the young Doctor just whispered her thanks before falling quickly behind Jeremy who was already sliding through the door. A camera flash exploded in her eyes and she froze. The door was slowly hissing behind Antonio who was also dazed by the sudden explosion of light, each of them shaking their heads of the after image that had overwhelmed their eyes. As her vision cleared, she saw what was almost identical to the church she attended when she was growing up. Nostalgic recognition of the several rows of uncomfortable solid oak pews, the whitewashed painted walls that had chips in the paint and the elegantly decorated front area held several golden plated crosses, chalices and bibles dominated the alter.

"Watch your step Doctor." A photographer suddenly stated as he motioned towards her feet. Riley just looked down towards her shoes and saw the sheer volume of blood. Inhuman footprints that seemed to be giant wolf prints crossed with what would be a size fourteen human foot were littered in front of her. Antonio just came to stand next to her, his own gaze looking down to the jumble of prints before he gave her a supportive squeeze of the hand and guided her towards Jeremy who was speaking with the Sherriff.

As she moved down the isle she could see her own breath within the glacial walls of the church, the temperature seemingly dropping as she grew ever closer to the body, her figure getting even colder when her eyes took in the blood splatters that seemed to dominate the first three rows of the church. She just thanked the officer who passed her paper shoe covers and again moved towards Jeremy.

"Doctor Thompson, good, you finally got through my officers. The victim is just over here." The Sherriff said from the front of the chapel, Riley able to recognise his balding hair any day. It was when she cleared the first three rows did she see the body of the young girl, lying face down, the fabric of her bright white shirt blending into a large pool of blood. Plastic sheets to preserve whatever evidence maybe found encased both hands but what really spooked Riley was her appearance.

The victim was what seemed to be around the age of thirty-four, her pale grey eyes frozen in the look of eerie serenity while her copper ginger trellises would travel to the middle of her back had it not been for the blood clotting the strands together. Her skin was pale, blotched blue and purple as the cold affected her deceased body while the skin of her arms and her neck was adjourned red with blood.

"Her name's Tansy Randclyffe, she's a waitress at the diner down Main Street. Lived here in Bear Valley all her life." The Sherriff said, sounding crest fallen. "She had plans to go to Law school and become a barrister, but when her mother got sick she stayed behind to care for her." He voiced. Riley just shot him a sad smile before she lifted her sleeves to pull her hair into a ponytail-bun to prevent her own DNA contaminating the scene.

She squatted by her bag, pulled out a pair of latex gloves before she pulled them over the skin of her hands. It was then that she went about studying the body. She had to try and keep her emotions hidden considering the three large, serrated wounds that littered her back were almost identical to the ones she held; there was no denying that the creature was the one who had attacked this young woman, but as she briefly lifted her grey eyes towards Jeremy and Antonio, from the look they gave her they had come to the same conclusion.

However, upon closer inspection it seemed another instrument had been used on the woman. She had irregular linear tears on her scalp resulting in fragments of bone to protrude through the lacerations; she had to fight back her own unease when she identified a clump of grey matter protruding from her compromised skull.

"Has she been moved?"

"No, we wanted to leave her as she was so you could get an honest to god opinion." Said Peterson, his hands on his hips as he watched Riley work.

"So she died face down?"

"It would look that way."

"What time was the victim discovered?"

"About eleven this evening." Peterson glanced at his watch. "Nearly three hours ago."

"Was there any sign of force entry?"

"No, but that church isn't very secure anyway. The walls that protect the chapel are covered in ivy so you could hop right over it or use the vines for an easy footing. We've had several problems with partying kids in here over the last few years because it's out of the way and half the houses in the neighbourhood are empty."

"Footprints?"

"Only the ones by the door, the others outside have been buried with snow." He started. "I doubt we will get much from them anyway; you now understand why it's been so difficult for us to determine whether it's a wolf kill or if we're looking for a serial killer."

"And no ones heard anything? Not even the vicar?" She questioned and inwardly cursed when the American's around her frowned. "Ah, priest?" She rephrased and relaxed when she noticed understanding wash into their expression.

"He lives the other side of Bear Valley so he was at home sleeping. I doubt the church gets used much anyway, we have another more popular Chapel down Main Street." Riley just nodded her head before she leant over the body, preventing herself from touching Tansy and continued to study her wounds. After she had finished she lifted her hands and began to palpate her scalp and felt the shifting of bone beneath the skin. "Multiple blows, all of them landing to the back of the skull."

"And the bruising on the face?" Jeremy asked, surprising both Riley and the Sherriff who looked up at him, astounded by his confidence. "I was accepted into medical school, but never went." Jeremy replied flippantly, the Sherriff buying his lie while Antonio and Riley knew the correct answer.

"Natural colouration from rigor mortis and it's fixed."

"So the attack came from behind and above?" Peterson asked and nodded when he took in Riley's nod. The Doctor once again went about her work and reached for Tansy's elbow, flexing the joint to find it moved effortlessly.

"It's flaccid so rigor mortis has yet to set in."

"So when could you estimate time of death?"

"I'm not sure, it's very cold in here so lividity could be delayed almost indefinitely."

"But her face looks bruised."

"Livor mortis is probably the culprit. It won't help us identify the time of death considering it probably set in within thirty minutes." Riley replied as she searched through her large bag of supplies. She took out her chemical thermometer to measure the temperature of the building and decided against a rectal temperature until she had been transported to the appropriate facilities; she was also certain that this young woman hadn't been sexually assaulted considering the information about her attack had led to a creature intent on killing and not sexual pleasure. In the meantime she just took out her equipment and took various fluids for post-mortem potassium levels that would help her estimate the time of death.

It was now time for Riley to pay closer attention to the injuries that lined Tansy's back. This was the part she was dreading considering whenever she thought about looking at them her mind was involuntarily flung back sixteen years when she herself went through the ordeal. The young Doctor just removed a knife from her kit and went about removing the clothing from her back. Once that was completed she got a better look into the mutilated flesh that was protruding fat, muscle and blood. However, something caught her eye. She readjusted her position to get a closer look before she pulled out a plastic test tube. She did not care for the flinching of her companions when her fingers protruded into the victims back and pulled out what seemed to be a goblet of blood or poison.

"What is that?" Peterson interjected as Riley went about placing the fluid into the tube.

"I can't be sure, but I would rush this through to the lab to help me get a prognosis." Riley started as she removed her gloves and got to her feet. She tried to fight back to the shivering of her body as she felt the freezing water on her skin. It seemed her jeans had absorbed the water from the floor and now, as she stood within ice-cold walls of the church she was hoping she wouldn't get a cold. "As a cause of death I can only assume it was the blow to the back of the head, but if you want me to conduct an autopsy I will be able to give you a more definite cause." Riley finished as she packed up her belongings.

"Would you be able to come by the morgue around three this afternoon to complete it?" Peterson asked. Riley just looked towards Jeremy who gave her a firm nod, his eyes somewhat dazed as if his mind had been plagued by conflicting ideas.

"Shall I meet you at the station?"

"That would be great."