Stiles

Eventually I had to decide what was the lesser of the two evils; sprint down the hall, slide into my room like a pro baseball player and potentially give the pack a perfect view of my….pack. The second option was to find something in the room to cover myself with, not that I'm a prude or anything, I just like my privacy and my Jove I was going to keep myself a mystery for as long as possible. A washcloth wouldn't just add to the awkwardness and it'd make my running more of a penguin wanna-sprint…not something I want to try when my nudity is at stake. And I wasn't going to use the rug, too many possible misses, if you know what I mean…..I ran my hand through my hair in frustration and sighed, then I realized I was literally hiding behind the thing that could be saving my booty. Toga anyone?

Derek and the Pack

The two betas sprinted to Derek, deciding to forgo the elevator they raced up the stairs and Derek opened the door to this loft with seconds to spare or they would have broken through. Derek wasn't sure what to think of his betas, but he was willing to wait for them to catch their breath.

"Th-There was," Isaac began but was unable to continue, finding that breathing was more of a priority.

"Another murder," Scott finished for him, gulping air beside him.

Derek raised his eyebrow but other than that he didn't outwardly show any surprise. "Do you know if it was a hunter or a wolf?" he asked.

"Neither," Scott responded, having gained some composure.

"He smelled human, he went to our school, was a senior. But that's not why we ran all the way here to tell you –" Isaac began but cut himself off, unsure how to begin.

"The twins were with us when we found the body," Scott began, and looked at Derek while stuffing his left hand in his shorts pocket. "They seemed as surprised as us to see the body, but what caused us to run to you wasn't their reaction…."

Derek fought the urge to roll his eyes or tell them to get on with it, but he was able to resist, if only barely. But he did cross his arms, and lean against the wall trying to not seem too imposing.

"The alpha pack has a human member, but before today we really didn't take much notice because he didn't do anything. I mean, even though he looks odd and smells kinda strange, he blended in so well we forgot about him…" Scott tapered off, looking at Derek sheepishly.

Derek glared at him but allowed him to continue, following Deaton's advice about listening and not interrupting, no matter how difficult.

"Scott went to talk with the Sheriff when he came, and to help with coach, doing all the co-captain things and I was in the back of the group, when I saw the human alpha. He went ashen, like…like someone had shot him, and he fell to his knees. The twins were there faster than I had anticipated, but I was able to overhear something interesting. Something about how he is able to feel or sense emotions of others…" Isaac spoke, and forced back a wince when Derek thrust his head up so fast at the last comment if he were human, Derek would have whiplash.

"Are you sure?" Derek demanded, stepping closer to Isaac.

"Y-yes,"

"We need to get to Deaton."

Stiles

After my toga escapade, which might I add, I make a mean toga, I was dressed and ready to go to this healer. Forced under the watchful eye of the twins, who were sporting rather colorful bruising, which made me wince in sympathy, and neither would look me in the eye. I don't know if that was because they blamed me for their punishment or if they were under orders to ignore me, either way, I felt even worse.

Normally, I would ride behind Ethan on his motorcycle, hugging tightly to his waist and burrowing my head into his back. But now, we were in a small silver car, I honestly don't know who's car it was but it wasn't a fun ride. Aiden drove, Ethan took shotgun and I was in the back, head in hand, rubbing temples. They knew about my headaches so there wasn't a point in acting like I wasn't hurting. God, I hate headaches. Give me a broken bone over a headache, at least I know how long that pain will last and if a person is the cause for the break, I can repay them. Headaches are another thing entirely.

Thankfully the ride was short and not so sweet but we ended up at our destination, wherever here was, and the second I stepped out, I had the twins flanking me. I needed personal space, I craved it like a pregnant woman craved pickles. The building seemed familiar, but before I was able to think about it anymore, a crippling wave of pain sent me to my knees. Or it would have if the twins weren't beside me, ok, they had their uses. I'll admit it. But with their hold, came the noises, and my head hurt enough without the noises, and by the good lord. I had promised myself long ago to never utter a word, it was one of the only things I had control over, in this chaotic life, and I might as well keep an iron grip. But, for a moment, I almost let lose a groan of pain, that's how bad it hurt.

So, I decided to do the next best thing, and with Deucalion back at headquarters, and yes, I do consider that place headquarters, I allowed myself some weakness and went limp in their hold. Going limp took them by surprise for a second or two but they recovered, and quickened their steps after adjusting their grips.

"Damn it," Aiden growled hauling me up, my head lolled.

It took too much effort to care, they knew I was a liability now, so why sugar coat it, and heck, if I wanted to go all out and not give a damn then I was just going to do that. It felt as if someone had massive hands, and was clutching my head forcing my thoughts to scatter like the winds in Arabia….or was it Serbia…both were deserts right? A door jingled and then I heard the twins curse more times and with more fluidity than I think I have ever heard them. They would have made even the trashiest person blush. A rapper would be taking notes. I'm serious.

"I certainly hope you don't always use such language to introduce yourselves." A soft voice came from the back.

"When necessary," Aiden grumbled, and nudged my head with his free hand, to force it onto his shoulder. "Damn long hair," he cursed and brushed the strands from my face.

My eyes were, at best, at half mast, by this point, and I couldn't really focus on the person before me. I could see that he was not white, groomed, and not scared of the twins but he obviously knew what they were because there was dried mistletoe, in a hemp cord fashion, around his wrist and neck. A subtle way to ward off unwanted furries. But his eyes, I knew, I just knew that they were kind.

"What's the matter with him," he asked.

"That's why we came to you, we don't know. Until a few hours ago, we didn't know he was sick." Ethan muttered, shifting uneasily. "You gotta help us."

The man sighed and looked at us, before nodding and opening the little swinging door, allowing us to pass. The twins easily maneuvered me through the small space, and I think I blacked out for a minute or two.

When I came to, blessed silence, but I was on a table, a metal table. A sheet was pulled to my waist and I shivered, memories danced just behind the pain, and I clutched my hair, forcing my knuckles into my temples. I shivered, imagines of flames, flashing ambulance lights, a haunting siren. Unimaginable pain in my left side, a sense of betrayal….ghost warm lips touched my forehead, words whispered against my hair. For a blissful moment I was calm, and I dared loosen the grip on my hair, two heart beats, three…five, a brick to the head would have been just as effective.

Derek and the Pack

Derek and his betas and made it to Deaton's in record time, but they were behind the alpha's. Deaton was waiting for them in the back, he seemed calm enough, then again he had perfected hiding his natural reactions. Being around the supernatural world tended to make a person have a strong and calm demeanor even when, in reality, they could be screaming and crying inside.

"You're late," Deaton said to Scott softly, and motioned for them to come inside.

Deaton motioned for them to be quiet, then took them to one of the back rooms. The twins were unconscious and from the looks of it, they seemed as if they were going to be that way for a long time.

"What did you do?" Derek asked, surprise colored his voice as he watched Isaac bend over one of the wolves and wave his hand around.

"Burnt monkswood, sage and a few key ingredients, and they are out."

"For how long?" Isaac asked, standing up and moving back to his original position.

"As long as I'm burning this," Deaton motioned towards a smoldering mass in the corner, "they'll be out for as long as I need them to be, without any negative effects of a meditative sedative."

"Nice." Scott said.

The wolves retreated before the smell sent them to dream land, they stopped at the door to the other exam room.

"As you can figure, the twins never go far without the third, the human member of the alpha pack. But, Deucalion has brought it to my attention that something has been…happening to him and it would be in my best interest to look at him. But, as you have probably figured, this human isn't completely human." Deaton said, and left it at that.

The wolves peered through the window, unwilling to enter, a battle against hunters were one thing, meeting another species of the supernatural was another. But when they saw him, bare chested, back to them, curled up, clutching his head, it was impossible not to feel sympathy for him. When he relaxed, for a few seconds, they let out a collected breath of air, and opened the door, only to watch their alpha sprint to catch the poor not-so-human when he toppled off the examination table. The sharp shot of pain stung their nose and made their eyes water.

A few minutes had passed and Deaton had finally reentered the room, and was surprised. To say the least. Scott was crying, and not the typical teenage-tears, I have something in my eyes deal, he was downright bawling. Isaac was awkwardly patting Scott and trying to hold back his own tears, while he looked at the figure in Derek's arms. The figure in Derek's arms wasn't moving…oh damn.

"What did you do?" Deaton demanded softly, and made sure to close the door behind him.

"IT – he's….Stiles." Scott sniffed.

Deaton closed his eyes then looked heavenward before back to the three broken wolves, vaguely he wondered where Peter was. "Scott…."

"You knew!" Scott yelled, his tears glistened and he wiped at them angrily.

"I had a good guess that it would be Stiles, but you need to understand something – " Deaton tried to reason with the near hysterical teen.

"He's our pack, OURS, not the alpha pack. He's been under our nose this whole time, its almost been a freaking month and now…now he's sick…"

"Scott….Scott," Deaton yelled, forcing all the wolves to look at him, "look at him," he motioned towards the prone figure in Derek's arms.

Ok, so probably not what you were expecting but I gotta keep you on your toes! Sorry I didn't add this sooner but the snow hit me hard, and I've been trying to dig out for a while. Doesn't help that the flu is in full swing. Keep the love coming and reviews are what helps me plow forward! Until next time - Adieu!