Friday morning after a hurried breakfast of reheated breakfast muffins Jess ran out to the truck with Anne to get her dropped off before school. Dropping Anne off and arranging for her to spend the night with the vet Jess headed to school. Skipping her morning tea Jess pulled into the parking lot and parked the truck before taking a deep breath. Today was going to really suck. Just how much it sucked would depend on how things went.

Getting out of the truck and heading into the school Jess was flagged down by Danny who snatched her bag away and handed her a tea. Looking down in shock at the hot tea in her hand Jess started sniffling desperate not to start crying. Wrapping his arm around Jess Danny pulled her to his side and guided her into the school while she sniffled and dabbed at her eyes with one of the many hankies she had been given since moving to this town. She kept them clean and folded in her coat pocket for the chance to use them or pass them along to someone else.

Getting to Jess's locker Danny opened the door and placed the books she didn't need in the morning classes inside the locker for her. Once he had lightened her bag he let her take it back and led her to class with his arm around her.

Allison and Lydia seeing her red eyes and tightly clutched hanky rushed over to ask what was wrong. Still fighting the urge to break down and start sobbing, Jess pulled out a pen and paper and started scribbling furiously.

What is wrong!? More like what isn't wrong!

I have no dress, shoes, purse, or date for tonight. But who cares about that! I was actually excited about it originally because I've never gone to a school dance, but whatever.

But then my dog gets poisoned when everything is already absolutely horrible.

Derek is missing! He was gone working through some stuff but was still letting me know he was safe and alive. But I haven't heard from him for over 24 hours!

Shoving the paper at the girls Jess collapsed forwards with her arm folded on her desk and her face in her arms and fought not to sob.

When the teacher came in Lydia quickly handed her the note and gestured at the silently crying girl. Reading the note over the teacher handed it back to the girl and walked over to the group. Danny was crouching beside the desk, Scott and Stiles we seated in the desks immediately infront of and behind her desk. Allison and Lydia sat in desks in the left row beside her and Danny's stuff was in the seat directly to the right of the girl. "Miss Black... Would you like to go and see the nurse? Or maybe just go find a private corner to compose yourself?" The teacher offered gently.

Pulling herself together Jess raised her head and wiping her eyes one last time gave the teacher a weak smile. "No, I'm sorry for being disruptive in class. I'm fine now. Just been a rough week." Jess said quietly pulling her textbook and binder out of her bag and smiling reassuringly to her friends. "I'm fine now."

The rest of the school day was tense as all of Jess's friends surrounded her and watched her like a hawk worried about another breakdown.

At lunch Jess refused to take any food at all. She had a juice but she didn't even finish that.

During gym class the coach even tried to cheer her up by offering to make the students do ridiculous things but Jess turned him down and just read her assigned reading for the weekend.

At the end of gym Jess overheard the Coach telling Scott that he wasn't allowed at the dance. So Scott ended up having to threaten Jackson to get him to take Allison.

The minute they got out of the shower after gym Allison and Lydia grabbed Jess from where she was cuddling with Danny by her locker and dragged her out to the parking lot and rushed her to her truck. "To the mall as quick as you can!" Allison ordered slamming shut the door of the Tardis.

Staring at the two girls in shock Jess rolled her eyes and headed to the mall. Normally dramatics would cheer Jess up but today she was just too tired and depressed over everything.

"Hurry, we don't have much time!" Lydia yelled grabbing Jess and hauling her down out of the Tardis when she got to the Mall.

Allison quickly grabbed Jess's other arm and began to help drag Jess into the Mall. Once the two girls had finished sniping at one another and established that Lydia would go with Stiles, they turned to Jess expectantly.

"I am going alone. Or not at all. I do not date teenage boys." Jess shuddered. "They are way to immature."

The trip might have been fun if Derek hadn't been missing. But with Derek missing it just made everything flat and lifeless. Jess let the girls pick her dress, a dark emerald green that shined slightly in the light, with a gold belt, with a knee length skirt. It made Jess think of tinkerbell. But Jess put her foot down and flat out insisted on shoes she could run in. Going with a pair of thick black combat boots Jess picked a purse that could be worn like a book bag that had room to hold her green and gold shawl, water, first aide kit, pepper spray, and her phone.

When the girls had finally finished shopping they all split up to go home and get ready. Arriving back at the McCall house Jess was surprised to find that Melissa had turned the living room into a spa area and got a nurse friend from work named Stacey to come and help the girl get ready. Sending her upstairs to shower and shave and get ready they told her to come down in a robe when she was done to start getting ready. Twenty minutes later they had her sit backwards in a chair and one did her hair while the other did her make-up going for big drastic eyes and dark lipstick. A gold scarf from her dresser upstairs covered the last bits of faint bruising. Putting her hair into an updo with just a few wisps and curls hanging loose around her head and framing her face. The ladies proclaimed her perfect. Shimmying into the tight dress and stomping into the boots in her room upstairs Jess took the chance to put her thigh holster and gun on one leg and a knife strapped onto the other. A second and third knife tucked one into each boot finished her defensive attire. Putting a first aide kit, pepper spray, water, the new green and gold shawl, and her phone in the backpack purse Jess stomped down the stairs and told the ladies she was ready. Melissa was determined to take a ridiculous amount of pictures and didn't seem to want to stop until Scott called downstairs and asked for help. Handing the camera to her friend Stacey, she told her to be sure to get pictures of Jess's date and took off to help Scott.

Grabbing her keys Jess headed for the door. When Stacey tried to order Jess to stay for the pictures with her date Jess snorted and explained she didn't have a date. Apologizing Stacey told her to have a fun night and headed upstairs to bring the camera to Melissa. Heading out to the Tardis Jess considered for a moment just going out to the woods and watching the stars instead of going to the Formal. It had been ages since she watched the stars.

Don't be late. Already warned the boytoy that I would be splitting my time between him and my best girl tonight. -Danny

Well that answered that question. Star watching for the win. If she went now she wouldn't just be ruining her night. She would also ruin Danny's night and whatever boytoys name was. Jess didn't think Danny had ever referred to him as anything but Boytoy. So probably not true love being ruined. But at least a night of love would be ruined if she went.

Getting in the truck Jess was about to leave when Scott came out of the house and ran over to the Tardis.

"Can I get a ride?" Scott asked eagerly.

Sighing Jess unlocked the doors and waited for him to rush around the truck and climb inside slamming the door hard in his excitement.

"Oy, be gentle. The Tardis is a fine lady, treat her as such." Jess ordered petting the dash.

"Sorry. I'm nervous. And excited. And scared." Scott babbled patting the dash anxiously.

Starting up the truck Jess drove to the school. Parking to let Scott out Jess planned to make a break for it the moment he was gone. A loud knock on the truck window made her jump. Turning and looking out Jess groaned when she saw all her friends waving and smiling excitedly from outside the truck. Putting her keys in her bag and checking one last time to be sure her gun and knives were not showing Jess plastered a smile on her face and got out of the truck. Getting instantly snagged by Danny Jess found herself dragged into the gym. Standing to the side watching everyone smiling and dancing Jess groaned. Why had she though this would be fun.

"Want some?" A familiar voice asked.

Turning Jess saw Jackson holding out a bottle of Vodka. "Yes, very much so."

Snatching the bottle Jess chugged down a few good swallow before a pair of hands was carefully tipping it back down and pulling it away from her.

"Keep that shit away from her tonight Jackson. She is going through some real crap right now and the last thing she needs to add to it is a drinking problem." Danny ordered Jackson while digging in Jess's bag to find her water. Finding it he handed it to her and ordered her to drink some to dilute what she had just drank.

Once Jess had drank some water and reassured Danny she was fine he dragged her to a table and sat her down. Coming back with some punch he told her to drink that if she didn't want water.

Taking a sip Jess frowned. "But there is no booze in this." Jess complained quietly.

Rolling his eyes and asking Allison to watch her Danny took off looking for his date.

The minute Danny was gone Jackson swooped in and topped up Jess punch with vodka before tucking the bottle away and sitting innocently beside her.

Picking up her cup Jess tilted it to Jackson in a toast before draining it dry. For the rest of the night every time Danny got Jess more punch Jackson would put a shot or two of vodka in it. The rest of their friends were watching with interest to see how much booze the girl could handle while worrying if they should step in to stop the drinking or not. Jess danced a few times with Stiles, a few with Jackson, one with Scott, and a bunch with Danny and even some with Boytoy.

When Scott danced with Danny to avoid the anger of the Coach Jess laughed so hard she nearly passed out. Danny had to carry her outside to see if the cold air would sober her up. When Boytoy brought her some punch and Jess took a few sips before stopping to ask where Jackson was with her vodka Danny looked ready to kill.

When Jackson stumbled out and not seeing Boytoy trying to talk Danny down a few feet away poured a shot of vodka into Jess punch while she cheered Danny was ready to kill him. Knocking the punch out of Jess's hand making her whine sadly Danny turned to Jackson.

"What is wrong with you? She is like 1/3rd of your size and you know she hasn't eaten anything today. Are you trying to give her alcohol poisoning?" Danny bellowed shaking Jackson by the arm. "How many cups have you spiked tonight?" Danny asked seeing the nearly empty vodka bottle.

"Every single one." Jess said loudly staring sadly at the empty cup on the ground. "He's a good guy. He shared his booze." Jess said saluting Jackson. "I wonder who else brought booze?" Jess asked Boytoy. "Ohh, I bet Greenberg will know!" Jess said excitedly grabbing Boytoy's arm.

Turning to drag the teen into the gym Jess was stopped by Danny picking her up in a bridal hold and walking towards the parking lot. "Nope, it's the hopital for you my lady." Danny said sadly giving Boytoy an apologetic look.

Suddenly Jess was swinging up and over his shoulder and was standing behind Danny. "No way in hell! I am drunk, but I am not THAT drunk." Jess scolded. " I spent most of a year partying when I was 14. I know how to pace myself and I know when I am dangerously intoxicated. This is not that. I am not even having a hard time walking or talking or anything." Seeing that Danny was still concerned Jess took her keys from her bag and gave them to the teen. "I'm sorry for scaring you. Let's go back inside and you guys can dance. And I can pout and be sad where you can keep an eye on me. The booze is gone and I don't actually know who Greenberg is. I just always hear the Coach yelling at him. So I won't be able to get more." Dragging both boys inside Jess sat down and actually drank some unspiked punch.

An hour or so later Jess came out of the bathroom to see Danny holding her bag looking worried. The minute Jess stepped out of the bathroom Danny hauled her straight for the doors of the school and out into the cold night air. "Are you sober enough to drive?" Danny asked clutching her keys tightly.

"No, but I will be in a minute if I need to be." Jess said seriously.

Looking at the large crowd of people milling around excitedly Danny nodded. "I definitely think we need sober Jess right now. Lydia was hurt. Jackson found her on the lacrosse field. Scott, Allison, and Stiles have all disappeared. And I am really freaking out." Danny finished breathing fast and looking like he was on the verge of panic.

Freezing as she processed everything she had just heard Jess took a deep breath and held her hands out for the keys. Snatching them as soon as Danny loosened his hold Jess yanked open the back door and opened the compartment hidden under the seat. Pulling out a large bottle of water, a towel, and 2 instant ice packs Jess closed the compartment. Popping the packs Jess set them on the front seat to chill. Pulling off her shawl and scarf Jess tossed them into the backseat. Opening the water bottle Jess bent over and poured it all over her head, neck, and face. Patting herself mostly dry with the towel Jess wrapped it around her head and hair. Getting in the front seat Jess placed one ice pack on the back of her neck. The other she shoved up her dress and under her bare upper thigh gasping a bit at the shock from the coldness. "Ok. That's me nice and sober again." Jess said pulling the driver's door shut and rolling down the window. "Give me my purse. I'm going to head to the hospital. I will grab a tea and food on the way. If you hear any news from anyone call me." Jess ordered seriously. "Oh, and take this and keep it with you until you are safely home." Jess said pulling a large knife out of her left boot and giving it to Danny.

Looking at her and at the knife Danny bowed low to Jess. "My Queen." He said respectfully before carefully tucking the knife up his sleeve. "I'll keep it with me until all the recent craziness around town settles down." Danny said turning to go find his date and start asking people what they had seen.

By the time Jess got to the hospital after stopping for food and tea, and taking a minute to fix her hair slightly, she had found out quite a lot of info.

Deaton warned that Scott had been hunted again after being betrayed by Allison and now was out searching for Derek after learning that Peter had lured Laura to town to kill her.

From Jackson Jess had learned that Peter had bit Lydia before Kidnapping Stiles. And she learned what floor Lydia was on.

Heading up to check on Lydia Jess was nearly run over by Allison. Watching the way she held herself and the way she acted like she didn't even know who she had just knocked into Jess decided that bitch slapping the girl could wait and hurried on to check on Lydia.

A few minutes after Jess got to the hospital Stiles showed up and talked to the Sheriff before rushing over to Jess to tell her that Kate was the one who killed the Hale's.

"Yeah, we all knew that already." Jess said slowly.

"No, we just suspected it, now we know it." Stiles said proudly. "Now we need to go get to the Hale house to save Derek from Kate." Stiles said quietly just as Jackson showed up and offered to drive. Turning the group saw Chris Argent and two of his men. Backing away down the hall Jess made it around the corner and back to the crowded waiting area before the guy that was chasing her could get his hands on her. Screaming loudly as she rounded the corner had a large part of the group of officers taking off after the man. Once Jess had reassured everyone that she was alright now that the man was gone she quickly slipped away heading for her truck. Getting into her truck Jess saw Argent's big red vehicle taking off and turned to follow it. She knew the general area of the Hale house but not the fastest way to get there from the hospital. When Jess was close to the house she lost track of the other vehicle.

Pulling over Jess got out of the truck and keeping low she crept towards the house. Hearing cries of pain and loud voices Jess flattened herself and army crawled, going faster and faster as she went. Once she was close enough to see people Jess pulled out a knife and her gun. Seeing that Allison was the one shooting arrows made Jess furious. But seeing Kate shoot Derek made something inside her break. Jess froze until another voice joining the argument and Chris Argent holding a gun on his sister snapped her out of it. Well damn. Now she could almost respect the guy. Suddenly Scott was yelling for people to run. Flattening herself Jess breathed down into the dirt and didn't move a muscle until the growling and yelling stopped. Looking up to see Kate get dragged into the house and the idiotic Allison running after her Jess scrambled forward to check on Derek. Seeing him flip over and scramble towards the house with Scott Jess changed course and went to check Argent. He was the most helpless person here at the moment. Having lost her own parents Jess wouldn't want anyone else to loose their's even if they were backstabbing idiots. Finding him knocked out cold Jess pulled off her belt and looping it around his feet like a figure eight Jess started to pull him away from the house. Then Allison was running out a back door and was grabbing his legs and pulling with her. They didn't make it very far before the fight exploded out of the house. Crouching down Jess got her gun ready but didn't trust her aim when everyone was so close together and moving so erratically.

Suddenly Stiles and Jackson were there in Jackson's car and Stiles threw a fire bomb that Peter caught. Scott tossed a bow to Allison and she shot the bomb setting Peter on fire. A second bomb from Jackson had the Alpha in serious trouble. Seeing the three normal humans grouped together so close the Alpha started to charge towards them but Scott attacked and sent him off in another direction to stumble into the woods and collapse.

Argent waking up and thanking Jess, and Allison and Scott having a disgusting reunion distracted Jess for a few moments. Then Derek was standing over a still barely alive Peter and Scott was screaming about a cure. Then Peter was dead and Derek was the new alpha. Seeing Argent's hand twitch for his gun Jess cleared her throat and raised her own gun slightly. "Don't even think about it. We just saved your asses. I would have handled Kate if you hadn't come when you did. But without us you would both be dead."

Getting up from where she had crouched to be ready to shoot Jess walked over to Scott and pulling out her first aide kit Jess started to clean up any cuts and scrapes so they could heal faster. When Allison offered to take over Jess growled at her so fiercely everyone jumped and glanced to the dead Alpha. "Do not talk to me right now Allison Argent. I need to process what just happened and sort out some things in my head BEFORE I even consider talking to YOU!" Standing up and handing the alcohol and cotton pads to Stiles Jess motioned for him to continue patching up Scott.

Taking a deep breath Jess took the rest of the first aide kit and her purse and walked over to where Derek was still staring down at his dead Uncle. Shifting so that she was standing where the breeze would carry her smell to him Jess watched as he slowly raised his head and made eye contact. The deep bags under his eyes and the sunken in look of his cheeks made Jess want to break down and cry.

"Oh baby, what did that witch do to you?" Jess whispered softly. Watching as Derek flinched slightly at the question Jess wished Kate had survived so that she could kill the woman herself. Walking up to Derek Jess pulled out her water bottle and handed it to the man. Putting her hand on his chest she felt him shaking as he chugged the water almost desperately. Looking around and seeing that Chris Argent had gotten shovels from his car and what looked like Wolfsbane and was motioning into the house with it Jess decided he seemed to know what he was doing and looked ready to handle the clean up with Stiles, Allison, and Jackson there to help.

"Argent!" Jess called loudly causing Derek to jump slightly before leaning in and settling with his head on her should with his face buried against her neck. Watching Argent spin around and suddenly look horrified to see Jess so close to the new Alpha made Jess laugh softly. Raising one hand to gently stroke through Derek's hair caused him to shift closer and wrap an arm around her waist. "I need to get these two boys home and start getting them cleaned up. Scott isn't too bad. But Derek looks like he hasn't eaten or drank since we saw him last a few days ago." Seeing Allison wince and look down Jess froze. No. No there was no way. There was no way Allison had known where Derek was.

"We need to figure out what the cover story should be first so that we can stage the bodies." Argent said flinching when he glanced towards the house.

"Bury Peter under the floorboard inside the house wrapped in the wolfsbane. Put the pendant on Kate. It's how everyone described the woman who slaughtered my family. If you just leave her here wearing the pendant and my Uncle goes missing they will assume he killed her to get revenge for our family. We won't even have to lie about who killed Kate. And no one needs to know we were here." Derek said raising his head and scowling towards the house.

Everyone seemed to agree with the plan until Stiles asked about the mess in the basement. Noone seemed to know what to say about that.

"We will just say Kate locked Derek in the basement and tortured him until Peter helped get him out. Then Derek went for help and passed out in the woods. When they come back to check out the torture chamber under the house they will find Kate dead and Peter gone." Jess suggested slowly. "Explains Derek's disappearance and Peter's. They will figure that Peter killed Kate and then ran off."

Nodding slowly Argent turned to the teens. "You heard them. Carefully start pulling up some floorboards so we can dig a hole. I have some tarps in my truck we can pile the dirt on and move the body with."

When Scott tried to go inside to help Argent stopped him. "Go get yourself cleaned up Scott." Argent ordered softly. "You've done enough to help already."

Standing practically holding up Derek Jess huffed in annoyance when Scott continued to look unsure. "So help me Scott I will neuter you if you don't get over her right now so we can go. You know that I know how to do it. And you know I have the drugs to knock you out so that I can do it."

Paling Scott turned and scrambled over to where Jess was waiting with Derek.

Waiting until Argent had walked away to get the tarps from his car Jess motioned Scott closer. Once he was close enough Jess reached out and slapped the back of his head. "Bad puppy!" Jess hissed. "You don't kiss someone who just tried to capture you and your friend." Jess scolded. "Now help me get Derek out of here before he collapses."

With each of them supporting one side they got Derek across the woods to where Jess had parked the Tardis. Getting Derek in the back wasn't too hard. But they quickly learned that the only way to KEEP him in the back was for Jess to sit back there with him. Handing the keys to Scott Jess told him to head to the Clinic. Sitting in the back with Derek clinging to her with his head pressed into her neck his whole body trembling Jess had rarely felt more hate for a human being then she felt for Kate Argent. Making sure to keep her touch light Jess started gently running her hand up and down Derek's back.

"We'll tell your mom that Anne had a relapse and Doc called me and we rushed over there." Jess told Scott quietly. "We need to have Stiles let us know as soon as they are all clear from the house so we can announce that Derek came stumbling into the vet hurt and needing help but wouldn't talk for a while." Jess continued laying out a backstory.

Pulling out her phone she snapped a quick picture that showed both Derek and Scott and sent it to the vet along with a short text.

Coming in hot with two patients. One young puppy not too bad who got into a fight with a bigger dog. And one more seriously injured. An abuse case someone kept chained up and tortured for a few days before he broke loose and joined in the fight with the bigger dog.

Running her hand up and down Derek's back Jess continued planning out their story. "Then we call the Sheriff. He will likely send men to the Hale house and come here himself." Turing her head slightly Jess whispered in Derek's ear. "Papa Stilinsky has been worried sick about you puppy. We all have been." Pressing a kiss to Derek's temple Jess was shocked when he snarled and turned his head away for a moment before freezing and turning it back and nuzzling it against her until she gave it another soft kiss.

"Sorry." Derek groaned. "Witch got a bit handsy when she had me chained up. I just want a shower and food and sleep, in that order."

In the front seat Scott looked horrified. "What do you mean she got handsy?" Scott asked looking suddenly nauseous.

Groaning Derek just buried his face tighter against Jess's neck. "Not really something I want to talk about with you Scott." Derek growled. "Thankfully she kept to just normal torture methods when your little girlfriend was around to watch." Derek said a shudder running through his body.

Jess froze and slowly lifted her eyes to make eye contact with Scott through the rear view mirror. "Keep. Her. Away. Scott. If you plan to keep spending time with her just be sure to keep her FAR away from me." Jess growled tightening her hold on Derek.

Scott just nodded repeatedly and carefully pulled the truck into the Animal Clinic parking lot.