It had been two days and Stiles still didn't have any more answers. It was frustrating to say the least and Stiles was never one to say the least when he could grumble a whole mountain's worth instead. Not that Derek and Laura weren't trying but Gerard Argent, sneaky rat bastard that he was, had hidden his tracks well and had just disappeared off the face of the earth.
Stiles wished him to Hell but then, he reasoned, the evil SOB would just take over and really start to cause trouble. The image of Gerard with little red horns and a pitchfork made Stiles snort with amusement, breaking him out of his momentary funk.
"You know the pack is going out of their minds trying to figure out what you are thinking about." Max moved almost silently compared to Stiles who could out stomp a dance troop as he moved about, his almost brother-in-law was a ninja.
But Max's statement threw him for a loop. "Huh?" Stiles responded. Yeah, he thought, how eloquent was that?
"Your expressions. You show everything you are feeling on your face. You've got a good portion of the pack watching you through the windows trying to figure out what you have going on upstairs."
Stiles leaned over to look back at the windows behind Max's shoulders. The wolves moved quickly back but they had been made. Super wolf spies they were not. "Uh…guys…that's kinda creepy." He said knowing they could hear his every word. "Unless you are in a teenage romantic drama you shouldn't be lurking around watching a guy just sitting on the lawn. Dudes, next time just come out and sit with me."
The door opened and Isaac and a smaller female beta came out to join Stiles and Max dropping to sit on the edge of the large blanket spread across the grass. "Sorry," Isaac smiled without looking apologetic at all.
"You guys are weird." Stiles mock growled at the unrepentant wolf.
"You get used to it. They followed me around in droves when I first started dating Laura. At first I thought they were tailing me to make sure I was good enough to date one of their alphas," Max smiled and patted Isaac on his leg at his blurted 'that's not why' of denial and continued. "After a few months I learned that they just like our scent. Having a human around makes them happier."
"You smell nice." Isaac shrugged trying to explain as Stiles looked at him in confusion. "You're relaxing."
"Like comfort food," smiled the female beta.
Stiles threw his head back in laughter. "Being compared to edible substances is not quite the compliment you think it is." Seeing the blush that covered the young beta's cheeks Stiles added, "But I understand what you mean Ames. But I don't understand why, if we are so comforting to you, that wolves don't have more humans around. Doesn't make a lot of sense."
Ames shrugged a delicate shoulder. "Humans don't seem to like us. Most of you smell of fear and terror. So we stay away. You and Max don't." The four sat in silence for a while watching the clouds float by as they focused on their own thoughts.
"The waiting is driving me nuts." Stiles let himself flop backwards. "There's no new information?" Even with the whole pack focused on finding the Argents and trying to decipher the meaning behind their strange color coded files, there had been no new developments about the Pack Home. There were too many coincidences to be ignored but all leads just seemed to go nowhere.
Isaac and Ames shook their heads as he looked over at him. "I know Derek will tell you as soon as something new is found." Isaac promised.
"What you need is to get out of here for a while. I'm heading to the city for my checkup. You can come with me and we can get some lunch and talk about life among the wolves."
Stiles readily agreed. Max was becoming one of his favorite people. He was calm and full of interesting stories and information. Plus, his being human made life with a pack of wolves a little less intimidating for Stiles. "I'll have them pull a car around for you." Isaac offered rising with an easy grace to his feet. It was almost like watching someone levitate, he didn't use his hands or even shift his center of gravity to get his feet under his body. One second he was sitting and the next his shadow was falling across Stiles' face as he offered him a hand up.
"Do you have your own car?" Stiles asked as the wolves walked toward the house. He had a sudden vision of driving a sleek sports car around the curves that lead to the Hale Manor. He thought he would look good in red but given that blue was the Hale color he would most likely have to settle for something in that shade.
"The pack has been a bit over protective with the latest Human First attacks. They insist on driving me wherever I go these days. Laura feels safer if there is someone watching out for my well-being."
"Uh…paranoid much?" Stiles' dream of a sports car shriveled and died. He would be stuck in the back seat being chauffeured about like some little old biddy. He mentally added that to the list of things he and Derek would be discussing in the future.
"They have their reasons. There have been two attacks just this month. The violence has Laura on edge and letting someone drive me around is an easy way to make her feel better."
"It also sets precedence where you just follow her orders no matter what. By the time you start to stand up for yourself it's going to be really hard to break this pattern."
Max nodded but didn't seem upset by the idea. Stiles just couldn't imagine letting someone else just dictate his life but maybe that was why he was always getting into trouble, he was too stubborn, too hard headed. "Do you still want to go with me into the city?"
"I'm always willing to eat." Stiles followed Max through the house and out the front door to where Isaac had directed the car. A huge wolf held the door open for Max but stopped Stiles with a hand on his shoulder.
"Does the alpha know you are going out?" The beta's voice was a deep rumble which sounded intimidating but the kindness in his eyes made it impossible to be afraid.
"Nope! Didn't know I needed his permission. I'm his mate not his property." The beta tilted his head one way and then the other as he processed Stiles' flippant response.
"No," he agreed. "But maybe you could let him know so when he finds you gone he doesn't…" The beta tapered off looking a little embarrassed.
"You mean so he doesn't go alpha-shit all over the place when he can't find me. Fine." Pulling out his new cell phone Stiles dialed the only number he had saved. Derek was still in some meeting with the alphas from other packs so he knew it would go straight to voice mail. "Hey, Derek. I'm going to lunch with Max in the city. Don't eat the betas while I'm gone. Love ya!" Hanging up Stiles looked at the phone in awe. He hadn't meant to say that last part but it didn't make it any less true.
The smug smile of the big beta's face was all the confirmation Stiles needed to know that he had spoken the truth. He was in love with Derek Hale. And worse, he said it for the first time over the phone. How the hell was this his life?
The ride to Zillarrezko was smooth. The pack's cars were lush beyond Stiles' wildest dreams. It was the first time he had been inside one and he spent the first fifteen minutes of the drive playing with the multitude of buttons and checking out the mini-bar. By the time he was done there were small Hale Pack flags flapping in the breeze created by the AC jets that Stiles had set to arctic and the driver was looking distinctively yellow eyed as the middle divider shimmied up and down to every "ho hey" sung by the Lumineers.
"How did you and Laura meet?" Stiles had been wondering about that since watching the news show about their wedding, the one that he had crashed so spectacularly a few nights ago.
Max leaned back as a huge grin spread across his face, his love for the alpha seeming to shine from his very pores. "It wasn't anything as exciting as you and Derek's meeting. I didn't run her down or cause a major traffic jam when we first met."
Stiles felt the heat spreading across his face and knew he was blushing. "I didn't do it on purpose."
Max chuckled and rested his hand on Stiles' shoulder. Stiles was beginning to see how the pack had influenced Max. Wolves were much more physically affectionate and touched each other at every opportunity. Stiles had always been tactile, hugs were awesome in his opinion and should have their own month in celebration, but most humans didn't like to be touched by those not in their immediate family. It was strange to see people touch others without any sign of unease.
"I know you didn't. I shouldn't tease but Laura must have told that story fifteen times that night before Derek received the phone call about you running away. And now that you are safe and sound, I'm sure she will be pulling it out to rile Derek up any day now."
"So how did you and Laura meet? Come on, it's only fair that I have some ammo as well."
"I had been interviewing at all the pack companies hoping to get an entry position. You know how having pack credentials can really open door and even something as lowly as a coffee boy or gopher would have paved the way for me later on."
"But you are like some sort of genius or something. I heard Laura bragging about you. You should have had your pick of jobs."
Max lifted one shoulder, neither agreeing nor denying. "I was coming back from an interview in Denver. I had scrapped together every last penny to get a plane ticket and was pretty devastated by being turned down again. I still don't know why. I was more than qualified for the position. I still wonder if I messed up on the ethics test that all the major firms give to candidates but I've always thought of myself as an honest and moral person so I don't know why I would have scored poorly on that."
"It's their loss. They will probable kick themselves in a few years when they realize what they missed." Max gave Stiles a faint smile before turning away. Stiles tried to be patient and wait for the older man to return to his story. Within seconds his knee was bouncing with his restraint and he blurted, "Was it love at first sight for you?"
At first Stiles thought Max wouldn't answer and just continue to stare out the window as the scenery became filled with the bustle of the outer city. "At first I was too scared to feel anything. I was boarding my plane to head back, feeling more defeated than I ever had in my life. I was thinking that the best I would ever be able to be was a shift manager at a fast food joint that all my schooling and all the hard work that I had put myself through was going to just turn to ashes."
"I'd already been bumped from two different flights. The Packs don't realize how little respect un-claimed humans get out in the world. Most places are run by turned betas or the claimed and the rest of us…"
"…get treated like garbage." Stiles finished as he nodded. "It's weird. When I was hiding I met a younger alpha and he told me how much he liked humans but all the wolves I've ever met have seemed to hate me at first sight."
"The turned," Max agreed. "I've noticed that as well now that I am on the inside but how many un-claimed humans get to experience the inside of a wolf pack?" The silence was just reaching that uncomfortable point when Max started back up with his story.
"I had an economy class ticket, basically one step up from cargo, and was the last to board. Laura was sitting in first class and I noticed her as soon as I walked by. But who wouldn't, she is stunning. She looked at me as I walked passed and I couldn't even remember to lower my eyes, I was caught by her gaze. It wasn't until the stewardess directed me to my seat that I realized I was just standing there staring at her."
"The stewardess gave you a kick in the ass you mean." Stiles translated from polite Max speak into what most likely occurred with a cocky grin.
"Hmmmm. Well, yes. But it wasn't until then that I remembered to drop my eyes. I made it back to my seat and buckled in without anything else happening so I thought all was well. The plane had even started to taxi out when the pilot came back to where I was sitting and asked me to come with him."
"That would make me want to crap my pants."
"Eloquently put, Stiles but yes, I was feeling rather terrified. I was hoping that at best I was being thrown off the plane but in the back of my head I was convinced I was going to be carted off to jail for offending the Pack. I was half way to a nervous breakdown by the time he brought me to Laura's side. She smiled and I just melted."
"So love at first sight."
"More like gut wrenching terrifying attraction but close enough. Laura requested the pleasure of my company and the rest is tabloid history." The car had been idling curbside as Max finished the rest of his story. Max smiled at the driver for waiting and opened the door to step out on the curb.
By the time Stiles had slid across the seat the driver had made it around to hold the door properly and hover protectively over both humans. "It's like an overly muscled umbrella." Stiles whispered to Max as he followed him through the revolving doors of Zillarrezko, one of the biggest medical companies in the nation.
Max was met in the lobby by a tall blond man with startling blue eyes. He greeted Max warmly before introducing himself to Stiles. "Welcome. I'm Chris Venator." Chris wore a collar of thin blue leather with gold threading. Stiles tried to discreetly look at all the people that hurried busily through the main lobby of Zillarrezko.
He had never seen so many claimed humans in one place before. It was a bit shocking to see humans dressed as fancy as the packs, walking with their heads held high. He was mostly used to people like himself who kept their heads down in order not to attract the wrong type of notice from the betas that seemed to be everywhere. Turned betas, Stiles corrected himself mentally. He was discovering that there was a marked difference between turned and born wolves.
"I've been monitoring your recent blood work and I think we might need to up your dosage. I would like to slowly work you up to double the amount over the next couple of months."
Max paled. "Chris I'm not really comfortable with the side effects. Are you sure there isn't another treatment for this?"
Chris shook his head and continued toward his office. "My assistant will be with you shortly. We need another blood sample today as well. I need to get back to my work but I wanted to check in on you and let you know about the increase in dosage. You will call me if you have any questions."
Without even giving Max a chance to respond Chris left the room. "You're sick?" Stiles asked bluntly.
"It's a blood disorder. They caught it when I was twelve. I just had preventative shots twice a year until I met Laura. Then I had all the best doctor's looking at me and creating specialized treatments geared just to me."
Stiles couldn't help thinking angrily about the difference in care the wolves received. Nobody had really cared until about Max until he was Laura's boyfriend and then, suddenly, he was important enough to have people look more deeply into his health and well-being. The other half had it easy.
"I feel the same way." Max said as he noticed Stiles' displeased frown before he leaned back in his seat to wait, crossing his legs at the ankle and wrapping his arms around his stomach as if to hold himself together. "I went from waiting in line for half a day until some overworked nurse came by to stick my with a needle to having my own team of doctors working on ways to counteract my condition and all I ever did was fall in love."
"With an alpha."
Max was saved from having to respond by the arrival of the nurse who apologized profusely for the delay. Blood was drawn and Max was given a shot of a surprisingly purple viscous liquid before being escorted back to his waiting car.
"Be sure to eat something. Preferable something high in protein." The nurse advised as she waited for them to enter the car.
"The steaks at Ululate are divine. I think that's all the protein I would need. Stiles when is the last time you had a good steak dinner?"
"I don't think I've ever had a good steak dinner. I was always more of a hamburger guy when I was a kid and then there wasn't a lot of steak at the Pack Home." Stiles regretted mentioning that as soon as he saw the flash of pity in Max's eyes. He was starting to hate that look. "But steak sounds awesome!"
The nurse shut the door and gave the car a double pat as it pulled away from the curb. Stiles turned to wave good-bye but she had already started to hurry away down the street and around the corner. Stiles had just a split second to wonder about her actions before the entire side of the car erupted into flames.
There must have been an explosion but Stiles couldn't remember hearing it just the feel of the car as it lifted up into the air before spinning in a gut clinching roll that sent both humans slamming into the opposite side of the car before tumbling to the ceiling and back like pennies in a dryer.
Stiles' ears were ringing but his brain still supplied the tinkling of the glass that moved in slow motion around him as the car flipped again. Derek would pine, he thought, and Laura too. Without lifting a finger against a wolf someone could wipe out an entire pack because without Laura and Derek to lead the pack as alpha, they would be forced to disband and merge with other packs with the death of Derek's father.
With a long slide that Stiles couldn't hear but felt though his teeth the car came to rest against a building. Stiles could see the faces of people inside from his position against Max's door as he looked outward through the moon roof. Their faces seemed to be made solely of O's as they silently screamed and flailed about.
His shoulder flared with pain and Stiles shifted to try to get some relief. The warm sticky liquid under his hand didn't register for a moment and then he realized that it was Max's blood. His scream for help died on his lips as the driver ripped the door from its hinges and reached in to pull Max out. Stiles was able to clamber to his feet, the glass popping and twisting under his weight, before the driver came back into view to haul him to safety as well.
The blood from Max was already starting to pool around his lower body. Stiles tore the shirt off and pressed it to the wound on the older man's legs praying that it hadn't hit an artery. "Talk to me Max. You have to talk to me. I need you to stay with me because if anything happens to you Laura will go out of her mind. She can't go on without you."
Max's face was pale and shocky. "Not her true mate. She'll be okay. She'll be okay." Stiles eyes blurred with tears as Max continued his chant that Laura would be okay. The blood clung to his hands, its thick wetness gleaming in the sun making it look like he was wearing a pair of dark red leather gloves.
Hands grabbed his shoulders pulling him away from Max's side and Stiles fought back until his driver wrapped him in his strong arms and pulled him away from the paramedics that swarmed around Max. Within moments they had him prepped and on a stretcher in the back of an ambulance.
Stiles sat on the sidewalk with the blood slowly drying and flaking off his hands his own medics asked him questions in faraway voices and moving mouths that didn't match up to any of the sounds he was hearing. It was like watching an old kung-Fu movie, he thought as they lifted him on his own stretcher and wheeled him into the back of the second ambulance.
The oxygen mask that the paramedic kept placing over his face made Stiles Closter phobic and he kept pushing it away, the rush of pure oxygen chilling his nose hairs. "Sir," said the far away voice of the young man with the golden collar. "You need to stop fighting me. I'm trying to help."
Stiles nodded and clung to the edges of the stretcher, counting each of his breathes as the sounds of the siren and the hiss of the machines surrounding him slowly came into focus. It wasn't long until the ambulance came to a halt and Stiles was wheeled through the sliding glass doors into the emergency room. Most of the staff seemed to be franticly converging on a room down the hall and Stiles knew it was where Max had been taken. He craned his neck, twisting to see but was taken into a smaller side room without every catching a glimpse of his friend.
Friend. An icy fist clutched at his heart. He hadn't really had a friend in so long and he didn't want to lose one now. His mind flashed back to the nurse's face as she shut the door behind Max, she had worn the caring smile to perfection until the last second when her mask had slipped and her smile had become more of a snarl.
Stiles was good with faces and he would make sure to remember hers.
AN: Yes! Chris is really Chris Argent.
Wanna play a game? What do the claimed-human run companies have in common? So far we've had Pilak and Zillarrezko. I'll have to come up with some sort of prize for whoever figures it out…I don't think it will be THAT hard.