Shots, Shots, Shots

Brett slowly stepped into the bar as Nolan stood back with Theo and Liam. The tall wolf eyed the crowd and noticed the four empty seat directly in front of the bartender. There were four empty shot glasses, one placed in front of each seat. Brett narrowed his eyes as the bartender grinned at him. The wolf charged forward and smashed through the barstools, the shot glasses flew off the bar, and grabbed the bartender by the front of his shirt and lifted him off the ground. He growled deeply as he flashed his golden eyes, "What did you do to them?"

The bartender widened his grin and held his hands up in surrender, "I don't know what you are talking about tall, dark, and growly. I'm innocent and this is no way to treat your bartender."

The crowds turned and faced the wolf. Nolan darted to Brett's side as Theo and Liam stepped in. The preschool pair instantly turned back into their usual selves and felt their telepathic connection disappear. Theo glanced at the crowds and then back to the bartender, "We know they are illusions."

The bartender smirked and rolled his eyes as the people disappeared. The many booths, pool tables, fancy lighting and all the liquor on the shelves disappeared with them. The bottle filled with the shimmering beverage appeared on the bar. The bartender responded happily, "So it's all smoke and mirrors? What's the harm in that? You boys seem fine, what brings you back?"

Brett growled and tightened his grip, "What did you do to them?"

The bartender sighed and slowly floated through Brett's grip as the tall wolf almost stumbled forward. Disembodied laughter was heard throughout the room. In a brief puff of smoke, the bartender disappeared. Brett, Liam, and Theo tried to track his scent as Nolan took a few steps backwards.

The bartender reappeared behind Nolan and placed a hand on his shoulder which caused the nervous teen to jump and release a high pitch scream. He replied, "You're a jumpy one aren't ya?"

The three growled at the bartender who only laughed, "Call down boys. What do we have here anyway?" He looked to Brett and Liam, "We've got a couple of wolves" then Theo, "A jigsaw puzzle" lastly Nolan, "and the world's most human chihuahua."

Nolan turned around and argued, "I'm not a chihuahua."

The bartender laughed, "Of course you aren't. I'm just having fun, it's what I do."

Liam asked, "What are you?"

The bartender stroked his chin in contemplation, "I thought you guys figured it out already. I mean you came back here with everything I need, and you need."

Liam shook his head, "You aren't making any sense."

Theo quickly replied, "He's talking about the wishes."

The bartender smiled and nodded, "You bet."

Nolan excitedly asked, "Oh, is he like a genie or something?"

The bartender glared at the human which caused Brett to growl at him, "A genie or something? Wow. Seems like pronunciations have changed. Yes, I am a jinni. And yes, the wishes have everything to do with it."

Brett growled louder, "Then why couldn't I hurt you?"

The bartender laughed at Brett, "Because I am made of smokeless fire and air, moron. Do you usually try to punch the wind?" The bartender appeared next to Liam and gently elbowed him, "Not the sharpest wolf I'd say."

Liam fought back a snicker before he turned to the bartender, his anger renewed, "Why did you turn Theo and I into kids."

The jinni replied matter-of-factly, "Because you two wished for it. It's kind of what I do."

Nolan asked, "Why?"

He Cheshire grinned at the teen, "I bet you were an annoying kid, always asking questions from everyone." Brett edged himself between the jinni and Nolan as he continued, "I did it for food. Duh." The jinni laughed loudly at his response.

Brett thought for a moment before he said, "Wait. I thought djinn ate people."

The jinni shook his head as he tutted, "Not all djinn eat people. Just most. Not me though. I just eat lives."

Liam's eyes widened as he growled, "That sounds worse."

The jinni laughed, "Of course it does. It's not though. I'm practically a vegan djinn." He nodded several times before he continued, "Most people wish for boring things, wealth, power, love, blah, blah, blah. Well, it changes their lives little since wealth and power are temporary and any love I create alone is short lived. You can't force fate. That changes their timelines some and I eat the leftover energy from their old timeline."

His eyes sparkled as he looked to Theo and Liam, "Now you two boys. Man, you gave me a feast. That's why I used a lot of power on your wishes. You drastically changed entire timelines. That leaves a lot of energy for me to eat since it is far reaching and long."

Theo nodded as he understood, "That's why past events changed, and other people were affected."

The jinni nodded as Nolan asked, "Why are you here in Beacon Hills?"

The jinni placed a hand on Brett's shoulder which caused the wolf to growl at him, "It's simple. I received a call. When Ole' Nemey calls, you answer. So here I am. And since it's almost my bed time, I figured I would crank out a couple of meals to hold me over."

Theo argued, "What if we change our minds?"

The jinni looked to the chimera and shrugged, "Doesn't matter now, either way I eat good off you two. One timeline will end, and that energy residue will hold me over for at least a thousand years."

Liam weakly asked, "So you'll change us back?"

The jinni disappeared and reappeared behind the bar, "You bet. That is if that's what you wish."

The shot glasses reappeared at the bar and the stools reappeared as well. Brett asked, "Why should we trust you?"

The jinni crossed his arms and huffed, "Fine, don't trust me. Doesn't matter much anyway. Two more days and this timeline becomes permanent. I've already tied it to your fate lines anyway."

Liam gasped, "What?" He rushed to the bar, "Change us back, now."

The jinni's tone became light-heartedly annoying, "I don't know. Mr. Growly hurt my feelings." He mocked a sad pout, "I think he owes me an apology."

Brett snarled at the djinn, "Not a chance. I'm not apologizing."

Nolan looked to Brett, "Just apologize."

The jinni smirked as he nodded, "See what I mean? No wishes being granted now."

Theo looked to the tall wolf, "Just apologize. He's actually willing to help."

Nolan looked to the djinn, "I'm sorry. I'll apologize for us."

The jinni tilted his head at the nervous teen, "You sound eager for a drink."

Brett looked to Nolan, "Don't do it. He'll trick you too."

The jinni gasped dramatically, "I'm not trying to trick him. I just want to get him drunk. I bet he says adorable things when he is shithoused."

Nolan blushed as Brett interrupted, "Fine. I'm sorry."

The jinni deadpanned, "I don't believe you. But I'll settle for a handshake."

Brett shook his head, "No way."

Nolan chimed in, "I'll do it."

The jinni rolled his eyes, "I know you'll do it, but will he?"

Brett repeated, "Not going to happen."

Liam pleaded with the tall wolf, "Come on dude, it's a handshake versus Theo and I being kids. Get some perspective."

Brett sighed and began to extend his hand, "Just a handshake."

The jinni nodded, "Simple right?"

Brett finished extending his hand, "Alright, I'll do it."

The jinni grinned mischievously as he grabbed the wolf's hand and started pulling and pushing it back and forth, "Sawing a tree!" He quickly coiled his fingers inside the grip and tickled Brett's palm, "Teaser!" He pulled his hand away and quickly slapped it back. Everyone heard a loud electrical buzz as Brett flew backwards and hit a concrete wall as the djinn smiled and yelled, "Buzzer!" He held his sides laughing as Theo and Liam laughed at Brett while Nolan snickered.

Brett slowly raised his head and the djinn waved his open right hand which held a tiny metal buzzer. He growled as he stood, "Can you be serious?"

The jinni shook his head, "Nope. Only serious for wishes."

Brett stood up and stared the djinn down and said, "I want to have a drink."

The jinni smiled for a moment before he realized he was figured out. He sighed, "Alright. Everything seems to be in order." He poured a shot for the tall wolf and Nolan stated, "Brett, you don't want to do that."

Brett looked to Nolan and smiled, "Just make a wish." Brett tossed back the shot as Nolan exasperated, "I don't know what I want to wish for."

The jinni looked to the teen, "Just don't be boring." Nolan thought for a moment and the jinni stated, "Oh, that is a good one" and poured the teen a shot. Theo and Liam sat at the bar as Nolan tossed back the shot.

As soon as Nolan's shot glass hit the table he reached over and grabbed Brett. With a strength and certainty that no one expected, he pulled the wolf into a needy, hungry kiss. After a moment of pushed lips and bumped teeth he released him and sat back. Nolan's face was cherry red as he pleaded, "I didn't wish for that!"

The jinni grinned as he replied, "No shit" He looked to Brett, "He did."

Nolan gasped, "What?"

Brett's cool exterior melted and he nervously smiled, "I figured it was worth a shot."

The jinni looked to Theo and Liam, "The best part is about to happen in 3,2,1." When the jinni finished counting, Brett reached over and placed his arm around Nolan and pulled the teen into his lap. He wrapped his arms protectively around the jumpy teen and placed his forehead against his back.

Brett's eyes widened and Nolan fidgeted as he mumbled, "This isn't what I wished for."

Theo and Liam snickered as the jinni explained, "Growly wished for the cutest guy in the room to kiss him and You, Noley, wished to never be scared again. See? Problems solved."

Brett and Nolan smiled at each other before slumping over the bar unconscious.

The jinni looked back to Theo and Liam, "Alright guys, what are we thinking?"

Theo looked to Liam, "I think we want things to go back to normal."

Liam slowly nodded, "Yeah."

The jinni sighed, "Alright, I can do that."

Theo pondered for a moment and asked, "You can see the past and future right?"

The jinni smiled, "Sure can, what do you want to know?"

Theo looked to Liam as he asked, "What does our future look like if we change back?"

The jinni nodded a few times, "Okay. I can't show you everything but here are a few highlights. And do me a favor, try to act surprised when these things happen."

Both men see a vision of an older, middle aged Liam standing outside a pastel yellow house. He opened his wallet and looked to a picture. In the picture, Liam and Theo are in tuxes, grinning from ear to ear with the sign of "Best Men" above them.

Both men hear children laughing as Liam yelled out, "Kids, it's time for dinner." He looked back to the picture and whispered, "I hope you are okay, Theo."

The vision fades and opens to the sounds of gunfire. They see a similarly aged Theo as he ran through the thick brush of a jungle. He has several gashes across his dark fatigues and his arm is bandaged and bleeding. They can hear men with dogs as they gave chase and the chimera ducked behind a tree. He reached into the front breast pocket of his fatigue jacket and pulled out the same picture. He kissed it for good luck and whispered, "Just one more fight, Little Wolf."

They slowly see the bar again and Theo mumbled, "So we don't end up together?"

The jinni sarcastically explained, "No shit you don't. You both suck at communicating. It took you almost a year just to admit you like each other. Hell, if it weren't for Liam's wish which caused the telepathy, then you wouldn't even be on the same page here."

Liam stated, "Wait. The picture. There is a chance we could be together."

The jinni shook his head again, "That was from Mason and Corey's wedding. You two were their best men. Don't worry though, that's years after you two leave Beacon Hills and move on from each other. You're both happy."

The jinni glared at Theo as he continued, "And when this guy finally decides to settle down, your families will be neighbors. You both carve out a pretty good existence."

Theo looked to the shot glass and sighed, "What'll happen if we stay as kids?"

Their vision shifted again. They were bombarded with images as they grew up together. Both kids playing on the playgrounds at elementary school, smiles on their faces. Laughter as Liam blew out the candles on his birthday cake for his 10th birthday. A fist fight between them as early teens. Being chased by hunters through the woods of the preserve on the first full moon after they turned 15. Theo standing in between a group of hunters with their weapons drawn, laser sights trained on him as Liam was injured, huddled near a tree, he yelled, "If you want the wolf, you have to go through me first!" Another vision of an older Theo, unconscious, a large gash across the side of his head that bled down his shirt, slumped against a rock with Liam's arms wrapped around him as the Little Wolf cried and pleaded with the chimera, "Please don't die Theo. Please, for me, don't die." Another vision as Theo and Liam, at prom, dressed in matching tuxes, wearing golden crowns, as they danced under the spotlight of a darkened, empty, dancefloor. The last image of Melissa and Jenna as they hugged one another, Scott, Tara, and a small child with smiles on their faces and Doctor Geyer with a hand on the shoulders of Liam and Theo, both still in their graduation gowns, a shiny silver ring on both men's left hand, "He said yes!"

Both men released a breath they didn't know they held.

Theo asked, "With everything that has happened, will we remember it?"

The jinni nodded, "You two will remember everything. It's how you are fated. Eventually, Nolan and Brett will forget too, but you have time. When it's all done, the history and how it changed will become history and what you two know will be the secret of how everything came into place."

Liam asked, "What about Mason and Corey?"

The jinni nodded again, "The same. Just like your communication will only stay permanent with each other."

They looked into each other's eyes and while they couldn't read each other's thoughts, they knew. The jinni looked at each man, "So what'll it be?"

Liam smiled genuinely as he turned around, "I'm ready for my shot."

The jinni laughed as he poured Liam's drink, "I love it. Of course, I can do that. Just know they'll be a bigger pain in the ass for you."

Theo smiled at his Little Wolf before he smugly grinned at the jinni, "I'm ready." The jinni looked to the chimera and his laughter fell as he muttered, "You're an asshole, you know that." He filled the shot glass and slid them to each man.

They picked up the glasses and looked into each other's eyes as they downed the shots.

A vision fades as laughter can be heard and four young boys run to a man with dark hair standing next to a shorter man with sandy brown hair.