THE SHAPESHIFTER

Leo hadn't been completely okay with the idea of Jackson going out to meet Danny, but it didn't take long to convince him.

"I get it, you wanna go see your best friend," Leo responded. "It must be nice…"

Jackson had tried to not leave Leo in such a somber mood, but Jackson knew he couldn't do much to better Leo's mood in this state. Leo didn't like talking all that much about the past, and this town didn't help things either.

As Jackson was leaving, however, he saw Leo putting on gear.

"Where are you going?" he asked suspiciously. Jackson had an idea of where Leo might go, but he was worried it would only make things worse.

"Don't worry, Abercrombie," Leo said with a grin that seemed like he was trying too hard. "I'm gonna see if I can't get some more leads. We've been out of those gross sewers and the Hale house for nearly over a week, and we don't have anything to go on. I know Angela gave us time for this, but… well, I'd rather we wrap this up as fast as possible so we can leave."

"Okay, just be careful," Jackson replied, seeing Leo grab a strange mask. It was white and reminded Jackson of the face of an anime cat. He was used to seeing Leo don the mask, even if they were never going anywhere people would recognize him. Jackson wondered if the mask also helped Leo feel better about things in general, with how often he would wear it when they went out.

Jackson left soon after from their shotty apartment. Leo had done some real sweet talking with the landlord's, allowing them to have the place rented for at least three months without any background checks, any leases agreements – which Jackson was sure was because Leo had flashed a wad of cash at them, no doubt from the fund Angela had allowed them to take.

It was remote, and no one who was genuinely curious about people's behaviors seemed to be in the vicinity. It was good for them.

It was also a great place for Jackson to sneak around in, what with all the alleyways, buildings with ladders that led up to the roof, etc. And that was how Jackson would be traveling tonight – in the shadows, hopping from roof to roof.

He decided to wolf out for this one. He had learned how to control both sides of himself, but the Kanima always felt like more of a reckless, all-out assault form than a stealthy maneuvering form.

Jackson made it in no time, and as he dropped from the roof, he saw Danny already waiting in the alley. Punctual as always.

As he landed, he saw Danny move a bit in surprise, no doubt expecting Jackson to enter in a normal way. He knew he could have, but this felt more perfect, what with being a dramatic entrance. It was much more his style.

"Whoa! Could have warned me," Danny replied quietly, trying to regain his composure.

"You know me," Jackson replied slyly as he got up from the crouch he was in. "Dude, I've missed you."

Jackson immediately felt and embraced his best friend, feeling homesick and overall relief. It had been since summer that they had last seen each other, and ever since Angela had told his parents about the "special school" she was "recruiting" him for, he hadn't had much time to actually talk to him, other than weekly calls.

"I've missed you, too, bro," Danny replied, hugging him back, then pulling away. "I hate having to sneak around just to see you. What are you even doing here?"

"We can talk more about that in a second," Jackson replied with a smile. "There's a place we can go and talk – luckily, a place Jackson Whitmore's face never graced, so no one should recognize me."

"That sounds rather sketchy. Then again, I've been through a lot more sketchy activities with you," Danny replied. "I still remember the ferret incident."

Jackson couldn't help but chuckle as he saw his friend shudder.

"Here, follow me," Jackson said. "I'll lead the way."

Jackson felt relieved when they arrived at the diner. It was a small place, and more of a mock-up of what a diner would be than an actual diner, but it was dark, friendly enough, and no one seemed too interested in the clientele. He couldn't shake the feeling, however, that he was being followed. Fortunately, Jackson couldn't sense anything was amiss, and besides, who even would be following him and Danny? Some jealous ex of Danny's?

"So," Danny began, once they were seated, "can we talk now? I'm really curious as to why you're, you know, here."

"I'm in town visiting," Jackson replied nonchalantly.

"And I know I'd be the first person you'd visit, but I'm getting the feeling I'm the only person you're visiting," Danny replied. "And I know you're parents are still in London, and I have a hard time believing they just let you come here."

"I'm on a field trip," Jackson replied, which wasn't a complete lie. "School-stuff."

"And that's what I was afraid of," Danny sighed. "You know, I Googled the school you're 'attending'."

"I forgot, you're an investigator," Jackson replied slyly.

"I like to have all the facts. Jackson, I'm not even convinced you're going to a real school, and you being here when I also know you're parents think you're in school is all the proof I need that you're involved in something."

"You know, it's things like this that make me love and hate being you're friend," Jackson joked. "On one hand, you can tell when I'm lying through me teeth and try to help me. On the other hand, you can tell when I'm lying through my teeth and insist on helping me."

"I'm just trying to figure out why you're keeping something like this a secret from me," Danny replied. "I thought we were over secrets."

"It's not that I don't want to tell you," Jackson replied. "I… I can't," Jackson replied, and saw Danny beginning opening his mouth, "and I mean it," he interrupted. "I really can't tell you. I just need you to trust me on this."

"Did you come back because of Lydia?" Danny asked. "I'm not sure what is going on with her and the others, but they seem to be involved in something."

Of course they are, Jackson wanted to reply. He was afraid of this, but no more than Leo was. They both knew just how involved McCall's "pack" were in the happenings of Beacon Hills. He had been hoping that his path wouldn't cross with theirs.

"If I say yes, will you drop the subject on why I'm here? And Lydia?"

"I'll drop why you're here," Danny began. "But not Lydia."

"Fine," he sighed. "Yes, I am here for that. But it's better you don't know."

"I have to agree," Danny replied. "I dated a werewolf for a semester and despite not knowing what was happening, I know I was at least connected to something… bizarre. But back on subject, Lydia told me awhile back you stopped contact with her."

"It's not like my school exactly allows me to make as many social calls as I'd like," Jackson replied. "I call my folks and you. Besides, Lydia's moved on."

"Have you?" Danny asked, raising his eyebrow. "The whole time you've been 'in school', I I never once heard about a girl – though I do know for a couple of weeks you were really slutting it up."

"I was not –"

"There's nothing wrong with that, of course," Danny replied grinning. "You should be allowed to sleep with whomever and however many people you want, so long as you keep your safe and safe."

"Okay, this conversation getting way too intimate, Danny," Jackson replied, nearly laughing.

"You're right. So, back to Lydia –"

"Can't you drop that?" Jackson asked. "Whatever was between us is over. She can't know I'm here. No one can. I only came to see you because I missed my best friend, and I knew you'd kill me if you found out I was here and hadn't come to see you, secret or not."

"You're right about that," Danny replied happily. "But fine, we'll move subjects. Let's order something, and we can talk about your new… 'school'."

And so they did, while people came in and out of the diner – although Jackson did leave out some minor details, such as his school really being a training center for people like him. And the fact that the students would get set out on missions, be it to investigate suspicious supernatural behavior or people, to… well, sometimes, darker things, more violent things.

Jackson hadn't ever been involved in anything like that, hadn't ever killed anyone – not since Matt had control of him – but he knew Leo had. Leo had been at the school longer than Jackson had, and he could tell by how Leo carried himself.

Then again, he also knew because he remembered something Leo told him he shouldn't be able to remember.

Jackson did neglect to mention he was here with a fellow student. He didn't want to worry Danny, who already seemed suspicious enough. If anything, Jackson was worried Danny might try looking into what Jackson was involved in, now that Danny had an actual understanding that Jackson's problems were both normal and supernatural now.

And Danny shared how things had been for him in school, how well he was doing, as well as strange occurrences in the town that left many wondering what was going on, and whether or not Beacon Hills was a safe place anymore. Jackson never really thought of Beacon Hills as "safe" his entire life, but then again, he could see how incidents involving a mountain lion, people being paralyzed and killed, and a string of ritualistic murders in the span of a year could leave many wondering what the hell had went wrong with this town when the only other bad event had been the Hale fire.

Eventually, it did start to get late, and Jackson knew he should start heading back. Chances were, Leo was back at the apartment and might start getting worried. Leo could get paranoid, for justifiable reasons, though. It was also a school night for Danny, so his best friend began to leave, saying they would need to hang out again at least one more time before Jackson left. He promised Danny they would.

Then, his best friend left the Danny, and Jackson decided to stay behind a moment to gather himself. He didn't want to admit it, but part of him really did miss this town, and certain people he wasn't sure he'd ever see again, nor did he think it would be good for him to see again.

That is, until suddenly a girl came over to his both and sat down across from him. At first, Jackson was worried one of the other customers had seen him and were about to make a move on him – until he saw who it was. He'd never forget her, even if he didn't see her for a hundred years.

"Hello, Jackson," she said with an even tone, but Jackson could tell this was bad without her even getting a tone.

"Lydia."