A/N: I have labeled this new snapshot as a "Part 2" in my Tori vs. Derek battle, which means that it relates to the previous story. Just as an FYI, very few of these snapshots will end up with Part 2's, but I love the back and forth between those two too much. This is just Tori's little payback for Derek's grumpiness in the earlier snapshot, but as his parting remark suggests, it isn't over yet.

As always, the narrator is Chloe (and always will be), and this snapshot was actually based off of an actual conversation that I had with my brothers... yeah, we're so not going there right now. :) Anyways, thanks - as always - to those awesome people who took the time to review; even just a smiley face makes my day! So to : Theeyeoftheteapot, Aqua279, Horsygirl96, not-so-innocent011, smilin'intherain and moon-called-princess, THANK YOU!

And for all the Chlerek fans out there (Chlerek FOREVER!), I've got a few snapshots marinating at the moment, and they're just about ready, so hopefully I'll be able to post a couple this week in between writing my History paper and my English paper and my Exceptional Students project and...well, I'll do my best, how's that? :)

Disclaimer: I went to Kelley Armstrong's signing in Toronto last week and I asked her if I could get the rights to DP. The good news is that she's awesome. The bad news is that I still don't own Darkest Powers. *sigh* Life goes on...

Gwen tilted back in her chair until it rose up on two legs, idly wobbling back and forth between them. Andrew sighed exasperatedly – he'd commented on that twice already - and turned his attention back to the t.v. screen. Simon bumped my shoulder to get my attention.

Look, he mouthed, jerking his chin to where Derek was rifling through some pages that Andrew had handed him. Apparently it was a preliminary manuscript that Tomas was working on about werewolves.

Tori, who had been trying to ask Derek a question for the past few minutes, was getting irritated. The intent look on his face was such a contrast to the pissy look on hers that I had to smile. Simon already had his sketchbook open to immortalize the moment.

"Derek's last few moments of life," I whispered in his ear.

"That's a good caption," he said approvingly, pencil moving quickly but with a precision that still amazed me. "The part where she blows him up should get its own page, though."

Tori, frustrated with her inability to get Derek to listen to her questions, hung over his shoulder and started reading from the pages as loudly as possible, directly into his ear.

""The reproductive practices of werewolves have not been formally studied due to their highly secretive nature and the inherent difficulties in interviewing their female partners, who are unaware of the uniqueness of their pregnancies…""

I tuned her out, focusing on the way Simon could take a couple of lines and make a completely familiar face appear. He threw a few more lines down and Derek's characteristic scowl graced the page. I grinned. "Nice work." Tori's voice droned on, now onto something about insemination…wait, what?

She stopped reading and pulled back to give Derek an assessing look, her brows raised. "Is that so?" she drawled. "Well, that's interesting." A dangerous grin crossed her face. "Wolfie's got game."

Very uncharacteristically for Derek, he looked uncomfortable and he hastily folded the pages and jammed them in his sweater pocket. "Don't you have a mother ship to return to?"

With a laugh, she turned away, sauntering back to the computer desk. "Oh, I'll shut up about your mating rituals," she said lightly, dropping into the swivel chair. "But that other section was so interesting. You know, the part about your-"

"Enough," he growled warningly, his fidgeting betraying his discomfort. A blush was starting to tint his cheeks. I grinned with dark satisfaction even as my curiosity was piqued. At least I wasn't the sucker who was blushing now.

Gwen choked back a laugh and even Andrew looked like he was biting the inside of his cheek to hold back a grin.

Tori continued undeterred, still smiling. "But that part about-"

"We are not discussing my sperm!" Derek bellowed, shooting to his feet, his face flushing fully when he realized what he had said. Tori shrieked with laughter as Gwen clapped a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Andrew chuckled, but kept his eyes on the screen.

Simon's shoulders started to tremble with laughter and he had to lift the pencil to keep from screwing up his sketch. "Sounds like a helluva read," he commented, his eyes crinkling as he seized a rare opportunity to tease his brother.

"This isn't over," Derek snarled at Tori as he stalked out of the room, and I heard his unusually loud footsteps as he stormed out the back way, closing the door harder than necessary. After a few more chuckles, we all settled back down, except for Tori, who was still laughing to herself fifteen minutes later as she booted up the ancient computer.

"I told him I'd get him back for the other morning," she snickered. "Payback's a bitch."