Chapter 8 Informative
On the way back to the Hale House Scott got a call from Malia, "What's up?" He asked her.
"Hey, we could really use some backup." Malia answered her alpha without hesitation, "Derek and I picked up Peter's sent around the high school but we tracked him to the old train depot."
"Wait, you're tracking Peter right now?" Scott asked her as he turned around to make eye contact with Genim in the back seat, knowing the other wolf could hear every word of the conversation. There was no way Peter had run all the way from the hospital to the school in so little time. Heck it must have taken Derek and Malia the better part of two hours to get from the school to the depot.
Malia responded with a voice that sounded like she was talking to someone who was special needs. "Yeah, right now. As in, I am physically near the train station and can use some backup."
"Got it. We'll be there in a few minutes." Scott said rolling his eyes. No respect. He didn't have any special needs, he could understand everything she was saying, thank you very much.
Malia hummed then told Scott, "I don't know how long we can keep him busy. Hurry, ok?"
"I'll see what we can do." Scott told her before clicking the end call button. "Mom, can you drop us off downtown?"
"Sure, Sweetie." Melissa said making a hasty right turn. "What's going on?"
"Looks like Malia and Derek have picked up Peter's sent at that old abandoned train station." Scott told his mom. He glanced over at Genim who was being awfully quiet. Scott could see the gears turning in the other wolf's mind. He was kind of surprised that there wasn't any smoke coming from his ears.
Scott, for once, felt like he was ahead of the information game. The only possible explanation for the multiple Peter sightings in such a short time; was that there had to be two of them. That meant that Genim's missing alpha had to be the other Peter running around. The only question now was, 'Which Peter was which?'
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After Melissa had let the two werewolves out relatively close to the station, Genim and Stiles jogged the rest of the way. They didn't want Melissa within five blocks of any sort of danger. This meant that the boys were still quite a ways away from where they needed to be. Scott felt like he had been doing an awful lot of running recently. Maybe the vocational college that he was planning on going to offered track. If it did Scott would totally make the team. It was interesting what you found yourself thinking of when you were running. Not for the first time Scott wondered if he could catch Stiles' ADD.
They heard snarling and the thumps of people being slammed into concrete as they approached the entrance. It looked like Malia and Derek were already in the thick of it. Scott followed Genim down the stair into the subway. Scott was glad he had climbed down second because Malia came flying through the air and crash landed into Genim. For once the bad luck wasn't happening to Scott. This allowed the alpha to sneak towards Derek and Peter who were trading blows.
With a sudden leap Scott was able to get Peter in a headlock. While Peter was surprised Derek started pummeling his uncle's unprotected kidneys. The hits, along with a significant lack of oxygen, had Peter slumping in Scott's arms. Scott gave a silent "Woohoo," in his head at their quick victory. Out loud he said, "Good job, team. Mission accomplished. Let's roll out."
Malia gave him a look and Derek was using his eyebrow of doom again. Genim just said, "Okay, Optimus."
"What?" Scott complained still holding up Peter's dead weight.
"Nothing. Just that, that was the corniest line in the history of corny lines?" Genim told him in the condescending, know-it-all voice.
Scott rolled his eye, "Yeah, yeah it's not like I spend all my time coming up with witty one-liners on the off chance that I get an opportunity to use them, like some people. Now will someone grab Peter's, feet so we can go?" Derek went to toss the Camaro's keys to Genim and then he apparently thought better of it and switch to Malia. Genim pouted just like Stile normally did when he was denied the Camaro. Somethings were universal. Derek finally bent down and hoisted Peter's legs up.
Scott couldn't help but feel a tiny bit immature. He and Derek had let Peter's head bang into walls on the way out of the station a few times and they had dropped him twice. The last time he hadn't even been slipping. On top of that Peter didn't quite fit into the back of the trunk. So they kind of had to fold and squish him so the door would close. It wasn't the most comfortable position in the world; Peter was sure to be sore in the morning. And they still didn't know if he was evil-Peter of just douchey-Peter.
Genim and Malia were playing rock-paper-scissors to decide who got shotgun but Scott pulled rank on them. Being an alpha was good for something. He didn't even feel bad as he pushed his seat down so they could squeeze into the back. Scott did scoot his seat forward so Genim didn't have to ride with his knees up to his chest. Overall it was a tight fit. Scott felt like he was riding in a clown car. He hummed the circus music off and on during the ride to the house. Derek kept shooting him glares the entire trip. Someone must have woken up on the wrong side of the floor that morning.
Derek's mood could have something to do with the tale Genim was regaling them with. "So there we were, in the middle of this high speed chase. Everything's going to plan… and then Scott flips it. How you even flip a Camaro I have no idea. You'd think with how low it was to the ground that it be impossible. Anyway, we're shimmying out the back the window, 'cause our doors are totally crap by that point, when we smell smoke. So we're like "Ah crap!" We're high-tailing it away when cops finally show up. And boom." Genim clapped his hands for emphasis. "It was like we were in some sort of Hollywood movie. Man, Derek nearly killed us later. I told him he should have let me drive. But no. 'Scott is more responsible.' Hah. You should have seen his face."
Scott was hunkered down in his seat by the time they got to the house. Derek was an intimidating man. Alpha or not, Scott still feared bodily harm. It didn't even matter that in this universe the Camaro had survived the police chase distraction. As Scott was letting Genim and Malia out of the back, Stiles started humming that same circus song from the front porch. Scott snorted and Derek shot him one last glare. They left Peter in the trunk not wanting to deal with him just yet.
"What was that about? Why is Sourwolf so grumpy?" Stiles asked Scott, not missing the glare.
Scott glanced at Genim and replied, "Genim was telling us about the Camaro's fiery death."
"Oh," Stiles said rubbing his hands together, "I got to hear this."
"Maybe later. What do you think about me and Genim running after Peter at the hospital and then Derek and Malia cornering him at the old, abandoned train station like only twenty minutes later?" Scott asked his best friend.
"There's two of them," Stiles exclaimed excitedly.
Scott nodded his head, agreeing, "That's what I'm thinking."
"That confirms the other universe's Peter is here. Now we know why the supernatural- sensitive felt two pulses. So, where are they?" Stiles asked looking around as if expecting they'd pop out of thin air.
"Well, that's the thing. The first one got away but the other is in Derek's trunk?" Scott told him.
"Which did you get?" Stiles asked Scott undeterred.
"We'll know when he wakes up." Scott said and then asked. "Have the others checked back in yet?"
"Yeah Isaac called saying that they followed Kate's sent out of town. They're going to go a couple more miles and then heading back. Jackson and that girl Lexie are back. They didn't find anything. I don't think they even tried." Stile said counting off the teams on his fingers as he gave running commentary. "The twins are running off a Wendigo who they found sniffing around Eichen House. Erica said that Willy talked. Whatever that means. She and Boyd are on their way back now. Liam say's that he and Brett are spending the night at Mason's. Aren't they a little old for sleepovers? And that just leaves you guys."
"How about the research team?" Scott asked. "And has anyone heard from Braeden?"
"No, I haven't seen her since this morning. Well, she is dating Derek so she's probably evil. We should've done a background check on her before now." Stiles said messing with his finger nails. His voice turned from unconcerned to haughty as he informed Scott, "The team's found out quite a bit but we think we should wait for everybody to get back." Scott was heading to the kitchen because he had to replenish all those calories he'd lost running that day. There were a lot of great things that came with being a werewolf: speed, strength, stamina, heighten senses, and healing abilities just to name a few. However they came with a price. Werewolves burned hot and needed to eat a lot to keep them going. It cost the pack a small fortune just to feed everyone.
Scott heard laughing from the kitchen and was about to ask the gathered crowd what was going on. Before he could Lydia shushed him. She shushed him, the alpha. Scott seriously was concerned about the utter lack of respect his pack gave him. He opened his mouth to complain but she shushed him, again. He decided to roll with it at least until he figure out what was going on.
Scott glanced through the door and found Lexie and Jackson sitting at the bar, their backs to the crowd. Lexie laughed again at something Jackson said flipping her mane of curls back. "You remind me of one of my best friends back home."
"Really, is he devilishly handsome like me?" Jackson asked striking a pose.
"Ha," Lexie laughed again, pushing him. "Surprisingly… yes. But he was way more humble. I had the biggest crush on him when I was younger."
Jackson seemed to take that bit of information in stride "What ever happened with this best friend?"
"Nothing," Lexie turned sober, "He was always hung up on his ex-girlfriend."
"Seriously," that one finally got to Jackson. He tried to cover it up with more shameless flirting. "What a loser, he missed out on the beauty right in front of him."
Lexie flashed him a bright smile, "Shut up." She said punching him in the arm. "How about you? Hung up on any ex-girlfriends?"
Jackson gulped and stuttered a "No." He blushed but managed a save with, "Not at the moment."
"Good," Lexie said shyly.
Scott was actually really shocked at Lydia. Scott figured she'd make Jackson suffer more for leaving her while he was in England for two years. Right after they had confessed their undying love for one another and all the drama of her saving his life. Of course she had moved on. But not only was Lydia not standing in the way of Jackson flirting with another woman, she was actively encouraging it by preventing Scott's entry into the kitchen. If there was one thing Lydia was better at than being scary smart, it was matchmaking.
Jackson coughed and rubbed the back of his head. "So, how'd you end up with the pack?" The couple was completely oblivious to their audience and one, apparent, hard-core shipper.
Lexie huffed, "Sure, hard questions now. Might as well ask me my life's story." She lent an elbow on the bar and rested her head on her hand facing Jackson. "Some shit happened back home so I ended up running away from the fallout and right into the Alpha pack. Peter and the others rescued me."
"Did they bite… er?" Jackson seemed at a loss for words. Usually the douche didn't care how much of an insensitive jerk he was being.
"Did they turn me?" Lexie asked, "No. I'm a born wolf. There was a whole bunch of us where I grew up in Washington."
"Oh," Jackson said. "What about the best friend?"
"Brett?" Lexie asked, "Yeah him too."
"So you're into werewolves?" Jackson asked gaining back some of his confidence.
"Not necessarily. There was this one guy, Charlie." Lexie teased. Jackson didn't seem to know what to do with that so she took pity and asked, "How about you? Bitten or Born."
"Bitten." Jackson replied totally glossing over the train wreck of his transformation.
"Cool-" Lexie was saying until Scott's stomach gave a loud grumble. "Gig's up. We know you're there guys. Come out with your hands up." Lexie said turning to face the doorway. She playfully had her fingers pointed like pretend guns.
"Sorry." Scott called loudly walking into the kitchen with his arms raised playing along. "Couldn't help it. I'm starving." With the moment broken everyone else started filing in too. Stiles went to the fridge and pulled out three tin casserole dishes from the freezer. Scott assumed that Stiles had made them earlier in the day because he couldn't remember buying Lausanne that month.
Genim walked over to his pack mate giving her a hug hello. She hugged his middle from her perch on the barstool, scenting him. It was a werewolf thing. While doing that he gave Jackson his best big brother glare. Which was much scarier on him than it would ever be on Stiles.
Lexie whacked Genim on the side, "Stop scaring Jack."
"Jack?" Genim looked down at his pack mate perplexed. "Who's Jack?"
"He's Jack." Lexie said pointing to Jackson still wrapped around Genim.
Genim stared at Lexie and looked back at the grinning Jackson. "No, hun, that's Jackson." Genim explained slowly, "I'm sorry if none of us tol- ooff… What was that for?" Genim asked because she punched him in the gut.
Lexie had finally let go and scowled up at Genim, "Duh, I know what his name is. Do you call me Alexandria? No, you call me Lexie. It's called a nickname. You should know what a nick name is Stiles."
"What?" Stiles asked head poking above the tiled bar across from them where he was loading the casserole tins into the oven.
The dimension travelers looked over at Stiles. "Not you." Lexie said waving her hand from Stiles to Genim. "Real-Stiles."
"I am, too, real!" Stiles said, super offended. Believe it or not, reality was a sore subject for Stiles. "Except that one time when I was a fox." Case in point. "No food for you!" He yelled at her like the food-Nazi that he was.
"What?" Lexie asked confused. Not many people knew what to do with Stiles' extreme reactions. One would think she'd be used to it by that point. Seemingly Genim was the mellower of the two counterparts.
"Don't worry about it." Genim sighed, "For now just call me Genim."
Lexie nodded slowly, "Like Peter."
"Yeah, like Peter." Genim agreed unenthusiastically. "Now what were we talking about?"
"I can't remember," Lexie said fuzzing up her afro. It seemed like that was an unconscious habit. "Oh, you were giving Jack a hard time."
Genim rolled his eyes at the ridiculous nickname and ignoring the innuendo for the trap that it was. "I was just making sure that Jack-ass," Genim adeptly avoided another punch, "knew that if he hurt you, he'd have to answer to me." Genim gave Jackson another threatening glower for good measure. It looked scarily like the sheriff's 'I'm unimpressed with your teeth and claws' look. The one that seemed to say if you gave him a reason, he'd shoot you.
"Hey you know the rules. No cock blocking." Lexie complained. She must have ignored the horrified looks and gagging in the background. Jackson just looked smug. "It's been awhile."
"No, Lexie, no!" Genim said wagging his finger at her. One she tried to bite when it came too close to her face. She was more than a little pissed at how he was talking down to her. "Remember the talk we had. There are certain things we don't share about at group level. Yes we know things happen; but we do not talk about them." Scott wondered if it was the same talk Stiles had given him when he first started going out with Allison.
"Are we eating in the dining room?" Malia, ignoring the romantic comedy completely, asked Stiles drawing everybody's attention to the important topic: food.
"What's the word alpha man?" Stiles asked Scott.
Scott shrugged, "Yes?" He didn't have an opinion on where they ate. They could eat in the living room for all he cared. Wait, on second thought the living room was a bad idea; teenagers and brand new carpet. Nope, the carpet was going to stay clean for as long as Scott could keep it that way. Steam cleaning cost a fortune. New policy starting immediately; no shoes in the living room or upstairs. As soon as they cleaned up the glass. That reminded Scott of the window they had to repair. "Hey, Derek?"
"Yeah," Derek answered from the living room.
Scott headed his way. "Can we get bullet proof windows?"
"I might know a guy in New York. I think it might be a safety hazard." Derek said as Scott came around the corner, obviously thinking about the fire.
"The pop-out kind." Scott reassured him.
"Sure, I'll give him a call in the morning." Derek said nodding.
"Do you think we can return the other windows?" Scott asked hopefully despite the unlikelihood.
`Derek raised one shoulder in an almost shrug, "Maybe for half price. I'll see what we can do."
Scott rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands and sighed. They had nearly spent all of the Hale fortune on repairing the house. The pack was going to have to get jobs very soon to keep paying for stuff. Scott was too young to feel so old. Money, Money, Money. Bills, food and school for… one, two, seventeen teenager. It all costed so much money.
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AN: So what do you all think so far? Is there more of anything you want to see? What are your favorite parts? Are there things you don't like or stuff I should clear up? Oh, and a metaphoric cookie to the first person who can tell me where Lexie is from. No, she is not an OC and yes, I have been planning this since the beginning.
