After a restless night dreaming about rampaging werelambs Jess woke up bright and early to go to the clinic. Grabbing a yogurt and a bottle of juice Jess checked the supply of frozen breakfast items. Plenty of French toast, breakfast boritos, and savory breakfast muffins were left in the freezer. Pulling out the slow cooker Jess put in a small ham, a few whole baby potatoes and some peeled and roughly chopped carrots. A bit of water to cover the bottom of the slow cooker finished the simple meal. Turning the switch to low Jess plugged it in. She may have made cracks about no longer cooking. But Melissa would have had a tough night with a missing patient and while Jess was definitely mad at the woman she didn't hate her. If anyone commented Jess would just say the meal was made while she was half asleep and not thinking straight. Gathering all her school supplies Jess locked her room door then went outside and locked the door of the house. Getting in the Tardis Jess pulled out her phone and texted Melissa.
Leaving to go to the clinic for work. -Jess
Putting down her phone Jess started the truck and headed for the Animal Clinic. After greeting a massively over excited Anne, Jess fed her before heading into the breakroom. Pulling out a beef roast Jess put it in the slowcooker, spiced it, and seared the edges with the high heat setting. Once the outside of the roast was seared she added onions, carrots, celery, and a small bit of water to cover the bottom of the slow cooker and keep things from drying out before enough fat rendered out of the roast. Putting on the lid Jess turned the power to low and cleaned up the counter.
Leaving the breakroom Jess started cleaning cages and feeding the animals. Once all the morning chores were done Jess took a shower and got dressed in her clothes for school, choosing thick leggings, a long tank top, a longsleeved sweater dress with a belt and a light jacket. Putting on the electrodes for the TENS machine Jess smiled. The TENS machine plus her pain pills would make this period almost bearable. Piling her hair under a loose scarf Jess made sure she had everything she needed packed for school before she grabbed a bunch of files from the put away basket on the counter in the exam room and started putting them away in the filing cabinet.
Jess had finished putting all the files away and was looking through the appointment book and pulling out the files for each animal scheduled to be seen that day when Deaton arrived at the clinic.
"Morning Doc!" Jess chirped from where she was seated behind the desk making the vet jump slightly.
"Good morning Miss Black. I didn't see you there at first." Deaton said with a rueful chuckled.
"Sorry." Jess apologized. "I finished the cages and morning feeding so I was putting away your files from yesterday's appointment and once I finished that I figured I would look in the appointment book and just pull all the files for today's appointments and have them ready for you." Jess said holding up the stack of files.
"Thank you, that is a big help to me." The vet said with a smile. "But please don't feel like you need to work every minute that you are here." Deaton said softly. "I gave you the extended hours to give you an excuse to avoid awkward questions and arguments with Mrs. McCall. Not to try and get you to actually work here every minute you aren't in school." The vet said to the girl.
"I like to keep busy. And you've done a lot to help all of us. If I can do something to make your life easier that is this simple for me to do, then why wouldn't I do it. When I finished the cages and getting ready it was too early to go to school. And until Derek comes and checks with the animals to see who is interested I won't be able to get more done with the fundraiser selection. So I figured I would do some filing." Jess said setting the files on the desk and grabbing her bag. "Derek is spending the morning keeping an eye on a kid we saved from a weirdo corpse eating werewolf last night. Then he has a meeting with the realtor to finalize the lease for the loft we looked at yesterday. He said he would meet me here at the clinic after school. I am hoping he can talk to the dogs about the calandar then." Jess said double checking she had everything she needed for the day in her bag. "Not sure how long before he can move into the loft. I think he finds that out today. But I get the feeling we might still be spending a lot of time here at the clinic in you don't mind. It's nice to have an adult that we can trust. I mean. Derek is technically an adult too. But you are an adultier adult. You know?" Jess said over her shoulder as she headed for the door of the clinic, her truck keys in hand.
Chuckling Deaton nodded. "Yes I do know. Have a good day at school today. Drive carefully and remember to take it easy. That TENS machine may mask the pain but the cause of the pain is still happening and it is still taking it's toll on your body." Deaton cautioned as Jess headed out the door.
Climbing into the Tardis Jess pulled out her phone and sent a text to Melissa.
Heading to the coffee shop. -Jess
When Jess had ordered a tea and a fritter and paid for her food she sent another text before leaving the parking lot.
Heading to school. -Jess
Getting to the school and parking the Tardis Jess took a pain pill. Sipping at her tea, she ate her fritter while she waited for the pill to kick in or for it to be time to go into the school or for Danny to show up. Or all of the above Jess thought as she began to feel slightly numb, her alarm went off to warn her to go inside, and she spotted Danny walking towards the truck waving excitedly. Pulling out her phone Jess sent another text.
Heading INTO the school. -Jess
Climbing out of the truck Jess staggered slightly when she hit the ground before slowly straightening with a wince. Slowly pulling her bag out of the truck Jess smiled gratefully when a hand plucked it from her hands. Turning expecting to see Danny Jess squeaked in surprise to see Isaac Lahey standing behind her holding her bag and smiling shyly at her. "Isaac!" Jess squealed reaching over and pulling the shy teen into a gentle hug frowning when he winced slightly. "Are you ok?" Jess asked concerned resting her hand on his arm.
Standing with his chin down Isaac peered at her through a curtain of curls and nodded. "I'm alright. It was a long night." Isaac said tiredly giving Jess a shy smile. The boy suddenly frowned looking past Jess at something behind her. Raising his chin Isaac moved forwards and stepped around her standing at her back protectively.
Turning Jess saw Danny standing there with his arms crossed scowling down at her looking pissed off.
"You don't call, you don't write. You are right in the thick of all all drama and you give me ZERO details." He ranted angrily.
When Danny tried to lean to one side to better glare at Jess, Isaac sidestepped into his path scowling darkly back up at him.
"Who the heck do you think you are and what's your problem?" Danny asked confused about why the kid was all up in Jess's space. Leaning to the other side Danny tried to ask Jess but the kid sidestepped to be between them again. "What the hell? When did you meet this kid? Why is he carrying your bag?" Danny asked Jess.
"Hey, Isaac, relax. It's ok." Jess said laying her hand on Isaac's arm and holding him in place as she slowly moved around him to stand beside Danny. "Danny here is my best friend. I know he is a big guy, but he won't hurt me! He is my Knight of Dramatic Flair. My platonic soul mate. The one that keeps me sane in this dreary land of academic drudgery." Jess said smiling brightly at Isaac. Turning to Danny she gestured to Isaac. "Danny this is Isaac. We met last night. I am ashamed to say that until he showed up just now I had no idea that he attended this dreary land of academic drudgery alongside us." Jess said blushing lightly. "I'm a little bit scared to ask if he is in any of our classes." Jess said wincing when she saw Isaac's face fall slightly.
Danny noticed and came to her rescue. "You'll need to excuse her Isaac. She is the world's most introverted individual." Danny said shaking his head sadly as he grabbed Jess's tea and closed the door of the Tardis. "She's been in the school's official Drama Club since she joined the school at the beginning of the semester and she hasn't been to a single official meeting. She randomly wanders over to their table at lunch and throws ideas at them as they all frantically scribble down her suggestions then she wanders away again without ever learning any of their names." Danny said with a laugh handing Jess her tea. "She often sits at the table with a bunch of us from the lacrosse team and our dates and yet has zero idea who any of us are except for a very select few." Danny said putting his arm around Jess and slowly leading the way towards the school with Jess between them and Isaac following along beside her still listening in disbelief to Danny's explanation. "She knows Scott, because she lives in his house. She knows Stiles, because he practically lives at their house as well, with how much time he spends with Scott. She knows Allison, for the same reason. Knowing Allison introduced her repeatedly to Lydia and Jackson. She was seated beside me in one of her first classes and our Dramatic Auras collided and caused a Super Nova of Dramatic Awesomeness and so we became friends." Sighing Danny shook his head sadly again. "Honestly though other then that, she doesn't know anyone at all at the school. She knows the NAME Greenburg from the Coaches rants. But she couldn't pick him our of a lineup if she tried. She actually attempted it at the Formal and failed miserably." Danny said with a chuckle. "And she calls my longtime boyfriend BoyToy...to his face...because she can't be bothered to remember his actual name." Danny said shooting Jess a look of annoyance.
Turning to Isaac Danny looked him up and down. "The very fact that she remembered your name after just one meeting, means she has officially adopted you." Danny told the boy seriously. "I hope you enjoy animals, cuddling, and being fed really large meals cooked completely from scratch." Letting go of Jess Danny stepped closer to the boy and pulled him into a gentle hug having noticed the bruised cheek. "Welcome to the family." Danny said warmly as he released the boy and put his arm back around Jess.
Isaac just stared at Danny in disbelief before turning to Jess and asking softly. "How much of that, if ANY, is true?" Isaac asked quietly.
Linking her arm through Isaac's Jess blushed bright red. "Oh...only about 99.99%." Jess said with with wince. "By the way which do you prefer ham or pot roast? Cause I have both of them in slow cookers right now. One at the McCall's and one at the Animal Clinic." Jess asked as they maneuvered awkwardly through the door without unlinking their arms. "Oh and Danny. Allison is dead to us now. I will explain it to you later in private." Seeing Isaac's face fall Jess tightened her hold on his arm. "I'll explain it to BOTH of you later. I just don't want to talk about it at school where the walls have ears." Jess said heading for her locker. Opening the door she took her bag from Isaac with a smile and unloaded all the books she didn't need for her morning classes and slung the bag over her shoulder. "Now let's move away from here. I can't deal with with her right now while I am in so much pain. I don't want to confront her at school. And even if I was ok doing it at school I wouldn't do it with her Aunt's funeral happening today. So let's move." Jess pleaded quietly, smiling gratefully when Danny grabbed her bag off her shoulder.
"Of course my Queen." Danny agreed easily walking away from the lockers. "Do you need to grab anything from your locker?" Danny asked Isaac.
Ducking his head shyly Isaac shook his head pointing at his backpack with his thumb. "I got it here." He mumbled quietly.
"Did you and Derek have any luck looking at apartment listings before Lydia ran away and everything got abandoned so you could join the search party?" Danny asked Jess as they got to the classroom for English. Looking up and seeing Isaac slinking away towards a seat in the front corner Danny reached over and snagged his bag. "Hey, Isaac!" Danny said tugging lightly at the bag. "Where are you going? There's plenty of empty seats right here." Danny offered motioning to the seats around the two that Jess and Danny had fallen into in the back corner.
Glancing up at Danny in surprise Isaac looked over at Jess as though to check if she thought it was alright.
Lightly kicking the leg of the desk directly in front of her Jess smiled at the boy. "Plenty of empty seats if you want to sit with us." Jess offered. "And you still haven't answered my question about ham or beef so you should definitely sit close so you can answer it."
Turning to Danny Jess pulled out her phone, opened up a saved listing on it, and handed it to Danny to show him the pictures before class started. "Derek is signing the lease today. He's suppose to text me when he gets the details about move in dates and stuff." Jess said excitedly.
When Danny had finished oohing an aahing over the pictures, remembering to make sure to especially exclaim over the large kitchen, he glanced towards Isaac and then to the phone and smiled when Jess nodded instantly. Holding the phone out to a surprised Isaac Danny smiled and warned. "Make sure to soundly admire the kitchen. It is likely 98% of the reason that they picked that particular apartment."
Tentatively taking the phone Isaac gave Jess one more glance to be sure it was really alright. When Jess smiled and nodded Isaac started flipping through the pictures in the listing. When he got to the pictures of the kitchen he remembered to smile and say how nice he thought the kitchen was.
Jess just sighed dreamily. "Imagine having counter space to use a bread machine, slow cooker, AND a stand mixer all at the same time!" Accepting the phone back from a shyly smiling Isaac Jess smirked and texted Melissa.
In English class. -Jess
Glancing over and reading the text Danny snorted. "I see the passive aggressive obedience campaign is still in full swing."
Jess shrugged. "What can I say. I don't like being lied too. And if I play this right I think there is a chance I could get permission to get a puppy. She has really latched onto the whole me giving my dog to Derek thing. I think if I wind up falling in love with another dog at the clinic during the photoshoot and calander making process. I can get Scott to drop some hints, maybe Deaton too and she will offer to let me take it home." Jess said hopefully. Looking up Jess scowled suddenly seeing Scott, Stiles, and Allison enter the room.
Seeing Jess scowl Isaac watched the three warily. When Allison walked over and sat in the empty seat infront of Danny and beside Isaac, Isaac saw that Jess made a point of opening her books and staring at them intently. So he quickly opened his books and did the same. When Jess ignored Allison's quiet attempts to ask her how her searching the night before had gone Allison repeated the questions again slightly louder. Isaac frowned. "I am sure if she had found something important, she would have let whoever needed to know about it know, last night already. Can you keep it down some of us are trying to study." He mumbled quietly.
Looking over in shock at the stranger sitting beside her Allison frowned. "Oh, sorry. I am just really worried about my friend. She's missing and no one knows where she is or if she is ok or not." Allison said sadly missing the look of horrified panic on Scott's face when he over heard Allison speak those words around Jess. "I'm Allison Argent. I don't think we've met before. Did you just transfer here?" Allison asked smiling at the boy.
In the back corner Jess was making a noise like an engine about to explode. It was a kind of spluttering, choking, strangled, snarling.
Beside her Danny had grabbed her arm and was saying softly. "Not now! Not in class. Wait for some privacy. Not here. Run to the nurse if you have to get away. But you said you didn't want to say it here and not today so don't!"
Biting down on her hand Jess closed her eyes and breathed deeply through her nose for a minute before she slowly stopped biting her hand and reaching out and giving Danny's hand a squeeze quietly muttered. "Thanks." And turned back to her books.
Finally Isaac looked up at Allison and wrinkled his nose in disgust. "I've been a student here since before you moved to Beacon Hills." Isaac said coldly before looking back at his books.
Sitting beside him Allison blushed. "Oh, sorry. I haven't actually met everyone in our class yet. Like I said I'm Allison Argent." She repeated before looking at the boy expectantly.
Isaac sighed clearly annoyed. "I know who you are. Everyone knows who you are." He said still not offering his own name.
By now Danny was trying not to laugh at the passive aggressive snubbing from the shy boy.
Allison's smile was getting very tight as she tried again. "Sorry, but I don't think I caught your name at all." She said still holding her smile in place though it was quite strained looking by now.
"Probably because I didn't offer it." Isaac muttered unsure why the girl was pushing so hard to get his name. "Not like we are ever going to hang out." He muttered. Seeing the girl take a deep breath as though to reply again he groaned. "Isaac! My name is Isaac! Now can you leave me alone to study?" Isaac demanded softly staring down at his books. The popular girl blushed and finally stopped badgering him. A hand reached over his shoulder and dropped a note on his lap. Grabbing the note and reading it Isaac smiled.
My hero! If you keep it up you'll end up with a knighthood. Until that time you can be Squire Isaac Lambkins Lahey the Passive Aggressive. We'll call you Squire Isaac for short. - The Queen of Drama
Folding the note carefully Isaac put it into his pocket as the teacher finally called the class to order.
When the class ended Scott and Stiles quickly approached the group in the corner.
"Anyone have any ideas where to start searching after school?" Scott asked glancing at Isaac in confusion when he stood and waited near the group. "Is Derek going to keep searching while we are here in school?" Scott asked Jess.
Jess frowned lightly. "He has some meetings today and his new job but I think he will keep an eye out as he goes around between meetings and work." Jess said suddenly remembering the new job and feeling bad for forgetting about it. Hopefully Derek would have remembered it himself. He hadn't mentioned it the night before.
"Oh, right. I forgot all about that." Scott said sheepishly. "After school will you guys be helping to look again?" Scott asked.
Jess frowned lightly. "I have to stop at the house for a bit to get the rest of Anne's stuff for Derek and then I have work at the clinic. But then I will probably end up going searching for a bit. Depends what all happens between now and then and on what Derek is doing. He doesn't like me to go out at night without him with everything that is going on right now." Jess said shrugging helplessly.
Allison scowled. "Your friend is missing and your going to go and play vet and then check with your boyfriend to see if it's ok for you to go out and look for her?" Allison asked in a disgusted voice.
Snarling in fury Jess stepped forwards and opened her mouth to lay into the other girl.
Lunging forwards and grabbing Jess firmly around the waist Danny clapped a hand over her mouth. "Not here! You said not to let you do this here! And not today." Danny reminded Jess frantically carefully tugging her away from the other girl. Looking over at Isaac Danny hissed. "Isaac grab her bag and let's get out of here before she blows a gasket." Slowly Danny pulled the girl backwards out of the room followed closely by Isaac carrying her bag.
Staring after the trio Stiles asked the questions they had all been wondering. "When did Isaac Lahey start hanging around with Danny? You think maybe he's gay?"
In the next class Stiles and Scott wisely created a human shield between Jess and Allison to keep the peace.
Jess just scowled as she pulled out her phone and texted Melissa.
In math class. -Jess
At lunch Danny herded Jess and Isaac towards the Drama Club table whispering to Isaac to watch the Drama Club Kids scramble. Sure enough the minute Jess sat down half the kids pulled out papers or their phones and began to read ideas from them. Jess approved some, asked for more details for others, and rejected some outright. Then she started rambling off ideas that the people at the table scrambled to write down. As lunch ended Jess pointed out the current emergency as holding up the animal selections slightly but let them know she was back at work at the Animal Clinic so she would be slowly starting the assessments in her spare time between patients even if she couldn't devote her free time off of work to them while the search continued to find Lydia.
Checking her phone Jess saw she had gotten a text from Derek during math class. Sending a brief text to Melissa saying she was in lunch Jess checked the text from Derek.
Apartment is ours. Keys are in my hand. We can start moving in anytime we want. I will pick up some catelogues for you to look through for furniture shopping on my way back to the clinic. Take it easy today. Let yourself be pampered. You deserve it. -Derek
Smiling at the text Jess quickly typed one in reply.
Yay! That's amazing news. In other news did YOU know Isaac is not just in my school but is also in ALL of my classes? I felt like such a shallow bitch when I realized. But Danny saved the day by showing Isaac that I am just the world's most introverted introvert by sitting us at the Drama Club table for lunch. I still don't know ANY of their names... I really am a horrible person! Isaac saved me from Allison today so we have made him a Squire. We shall call him Squire Isaac for short but his full title is Squire Isaac Lambkins Lahey the Passive Agressive. He was magnificent. Between him and Knight Daniel the Dramatic I haven't lifted my bag at all today. Isaac also stepped between Danny and me when Danny first approached me today while in a snit about not being told about Lydia. It was so cute. Isaac was glaring up at Danny and kept side stepping to keep Danny from looking past him at me. Don't care if he becomes a wolf or not. I have decided. I am KEEPING him! Love the idea of you getting catalogs. That way I can ask Danny for design advice while at school. As usual you are perfect in every way. Love you! Miss you! XOXO! -Jess
When lunch ended and the trio got up and left the table Isaac turned to Jess his eyes sparkling and a wide grin on his face. "You just spent almost an hour with them. You didn't use a single name the entire time. And when someone else used a name you just waited for the named person to start talking to signal who it was before you bothered to glance up from your food. It was genius." Isaac said quietly in awe over her performance.
Giving a curtsy Jess grinned and headed to their next class. "What can I say? It's a gift." Jess said grabbing her bag and having it promptly snatched out of her hand by Danny.
"You don't need to be carrying that with your Knight and Squire both here to assist you my Queen." Danny said taking her hand and bowing low over it.
Dropping another low curtsy Jess groaned slightly when she straightened up. "Yeah, yeah that might be a good idea. I am a bit on the ow side of things." Linking her arm through Isaac's Jess smiled up at him. "Now, are you ever going to tell me which you prefer ham or beef or should I have done a chicken?" Jess teased lightly as they headed to class. Pulling out her phone and sending a text to Melissa.
In Science class. -Jess
Blushing Isaac dropped his chin to his chest. "I'm not picky. I'll eat anything." Isaac mumbled softly.
Behind him Danny groaned. "You fool! You've doomed us all! Now she is going to go on a crusade to figure out what things you actually like best! Prepare to randomly have food thrust upon you when ever you meet with her. And since she is incapable of cooking small portions the rest of us will be doomed to be fed alongside you." Looking down at his stomach and putting a hand on his perfect abs and he sighed deeply. "I shall remember you fondly you beautiful beautiful things. Come back to me when the crusade ends I beg of you." Danny said dramatically as they entered the classroom.
Sitting on the opposite end of the room from Allison the trio settled quickly. Glancing from one group to the other the teacher frowned and opened his mouth to comment when Jess slowly looked up and made eye contact with him her eyes swimming with tears. Snapping his mouth shut he turned and started teaching the class.
Sitting at the lab table behind Danny and Jess Isaac buried his face against his arm fighting not to laugh at Jess's easy manipulation of the teacher.
When class was over and the teacher dismissed the class Danny and Isaac bracketed Jess and herded her quickly to the door of the gym to avoid Allison.
"I'll bring your bag in the gym for you. You can just go inside, sit down, and relax." Danny promised. "Just sit near the Coach if you want Allison to leave you alone." Danny suggested with a smile. "Everyone knows that Coach dotes on you." Danny said with a wink before turning to hurry to his locker.
Lingering behind for a moment Isaac gave Jess a shy smile. "I need to head to work right after gym is over. So I probably won't see you until tomorrow." Isaac said quietly.
Stepping close Jess gave him a gentle hug. "Do you have Derek's number?" Jess asked quietly.
Staring down at his feet Isaac nodded. "He gave it to me this morning when we talked." He replied softly.
"If you need ANYTHING you call him!" Jess ordered sternly. "Even if all you need is someone to talk to." Jess said seriously.
Hearing this Isaac looked up at Jess through his curls in disbelief.
Chuckling Jess put her hand on Isaac's arm. "I know he doesn't seem particularly chatty. But I will be with him most of the night so if you call him just needing to talk he will just hand the phone to me." Jess explained.
"Oh, that makes sense." Isaac said giving Jess a soft smile.
Taking Isaac's arm Jess turned him and gave a gentle push towards the locker rooms. "Now go before you end up being late. You don't want to make Coach angry. Greenburg already has that handled most days." Jess joked.
As he walked away Isaac called over his shoulder. "Now if you could just find out who Greenburg was and stop him the Coach would give you an automatic A in all his classes for the rest of your time in high-school." Isaac joked with a soft laugh.
Heading into the gym Jess sat on the bleachers near the Coach and pulling out her phone Jess sent Melissa a text.
In gym. -Jess
Once Danny brought her bag Jess reached inside and pulled out her water and her pain pills and took one. Unclipping her TENS machine from her belt Jess turned it up slightly and sighed in relief. Turned up this high made it hard to walk around and it combined with the pain pill made thinking difficult so Jess had to wait until she was free from thinking for a period to take the pill.
Beside her the Coach eyed the TENS machine in confusion for a while before suddenly grimacing and looking away. "If you want to go to the nurse I think she keeps heat packs in her office." The Coach offered carefully looking anywhere but at Jess.
Pulling out her pills Jess rattled them and smiled. "I strictly rationed these babies when they gave them too me after the Incident for just this reason." Jess said with a smirk. "They help a heck of a lot more then a heat pack would. I just have to be careful when I take them. Can't do Math or Science on these things. English I can do even on a full two pill dose. And I need some time to adjust after taking a single one before I drive." Jess said tucking the pills back into her bag.
Shaking his head the Coach got to his feet and called the class to order just as Isaac slipped in the door. The Coach rounded on him to start yelling but paused when he saw the boy standing beside Danny waving shyly towards Jess. Turning to see Jess beaming back at the boy and waving back at him the Coach sighed and ignored his late arrival and just started the class.
After school Jess insisted on just taking her bag to the truck herself so she could get to the clinic faster. "I haven't seen Derek all day!" Jess wailed pathetically to Danny as she tugged at the bag trying to take it from him. "I'm going into withdrawal!" Jess groaned dramatically.
Releasing the bag Danny rolled his eyes when Jess staggered under the sudden weight a moment before recovering and placing it on her shoulder. "If Derek asks you took the bag and ran before gym was even over!" Danny called after Jess as she jogged out of the gym.
Jess was almost to the front doors when a figure stepped into her path. "Miss Black!" The drama teacher greeted her happily. "Just the girl I was hoping to see." He continued ignoring her groan and her wistful glances past him towards the door. "I know you've had a lot of your plate but I was wondering if you've made any progress with the calandar fundraiser?" He asked her hopefully.
"I was just on my way to try and get some time for checking the animals suitabilities for the project actually. I have started working back at the clinic again recently so I should be able to get the animal assessments done this week between patients and animal care." Jess said watching as the teachers face lit up and he started bouncing excitedly. "And at lunch I gave the group some new ideas, and went over the ideas they had and discussed which ones were or were not suitable." Jess said slowly inching around the visably excited man. "So if I can just be going now..." Jess said slowly inching away from the man and towards the door. When he didn't stop her Jess turned and rushed out of the school and towards the truck. Only pausing long enough to send a text to Melissa.
Leaving school heading to my truck. -Jess
Leaving the parking lot heading to the house to grab Anne's stuff then heading to the animal clinic. -Jess
Jess drove to the house and grabbed all of Anne's stuff. Grabbing a container Jess put some potatoes, carrots, and ham into the container leaving most of the meal in the slowcooker on the warm setting. The drive to the animal clinic seemed to take forever. When Jess finally got there Derek was waiting in the parking lot leaning against the Camaro. Sending Melissa another text Jess put her phone in her pocket and hoped out of the truck and rushed towards Derek.
Heading from my truck into the animal clinic. -Jess
Reaching Derek Jess pulled his down into a searing kiss before melting against him and cuddling into his chest. "I MISSED you." Jess whined. "I had to stop and get the rest of Anne's stuff from the house first before I could come here."
Chuckling Derek wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close to his chest. Nuzzling the top of her head he sighed happily. "And I missed YOU!" Derek said into her hair. "But I got a lot done today. We have a den now. And a second hidden den for training. I got some catalogs for you to look at when you have time. Isaac said he will be fine for a few hours while he is working because it is a public space. So I can check with the dogs to see who wants to pose for the calander and help you clean the cages before I head out to the train depot to be close to Isaac if he has any trouble with his dad. If there is trouble I will bring him back here." Derek said pulling Jess into the clinic and towards the breakroom. Entering the breakroom Derek pointed at the container of food in Jess's hand and then at the slow cooker. "You are suppose to take it easy today! Why do you have two suppers cooked?" Derek scolded lightly.
Blushing Jess stared at the floor. "I know I said I wouldn't cook at the McCall house anymore. But that damn woman will end up starving to death if I don't cook for her. And I don't want her to die!" Jess pouted. "And then Isaac was too shy and wouldn't tell me which he liked better Ham or Beef. So I wanted to make him a container of each." Jess said smiling and holding up the container of ham.
Pulling the container from her hand Derek set it on the counter and pulled Jess close. "Best. Mate. Ever!" Derek growled kissing Jess's neck and nipping it lightly before he nuzzled his face against her neck and just breathed deeply. "I'm going to go start with the dogs. YOU take it easy this afternoon." Derek ordered stepping back and pushing Jess gently toward the couch. Turning Derek headed for the dog kennels with Anne trotting along at his heels.
Rolling her eyes at Derek's fussing Jess headed to the counter and pulled out some potatoes and tossed them whole in a pot with water and a touch of salt to boil. When Jess finished putting the potatoes on she headed out to the clinic and grabbing the file for the next patient she began to help Dr. Deaton to get through all the patients in the waiting room stopping only long enough to go check and turn off the potatoes when they were done.
When the patients had all been seen and the clinic closed down for the evening Jess and Dr. Deaton went to the breakroom. Pulling the roast out of the slowcooker Jess carved it and set it aside. Pouring the drippings in a pot with some beef broth Jess started it heating. Setting the carved roast back into the slow cooker with the cooked onions, celery, and carrots Jess turned it to warm. Next, Jess drained and mashed the potatoes. Whisking the broth and drippings Jess added some thickener to make the gravy. Turning to Dr. Deaton Jess smiled and gestured towards the food. "Please go ahead and help yourself. I am planning to wait for Derek before I eat." Jess said walking over to the table and grabbing a pile of files that Derek had set to the side with a note saying these dogs would be willing to dress up for the calandar.
Sitting on the couch Jess started to read over the files and think about which dog might fit each costume idea taking notes as she went. Meanwhile the vet got himself a plate of food and ate. When Dr. Deaton finished eating he excused himself to go back to the front to work on the inventory. Jess waved him off absent-mindedly while scribbling away on a piece of paper.
A few minutes later Dr. Deaton came hurrying through the door and holding it opened looked down the hallway for a moment before looking up at Jess. "Congratulations. It's a boy!" The vet said as Derek entered the room with his arm wrapped around a soaking wet, shocked looking Isaac who was clinging onto Derek's shirt with one hand. His eyes were blazing bright yellow.
Jumping to her feet Jess grabbed a blanket from the couch and rushing forward she wrapped it around the soaking wet boy. "What's going on? What happened?" Jess asked anxiously wrapping her arm around Isaac and ushering him to the couch. "Shhh, shhh, lamb your okay." Jess cooed coaxing the boy to sit down and cuddling him to her side. "I've got you sweetheart." Looking up at Derek Jess raised her eyebrow. "Explanation please?" Jess asked.
Walking over to the counter Derek made up a plate of food as he explained what he knew. "Kid showed up at the train depot. Said his dad attacked him so he rabbitted and his dad chased him. Then some creature attacked his dad and he's pretty sure his dad is dead." Derek said softly, bringing the plate over to Isaac and handing it to him. "He looked pretty shook up so I brought him here to get him warmed up and fed and figure out what we should do." Derek said glancing to Jess to see how she reacted to the news.
Reaching up Jess carded her fingers through Isaac's hair. "You're safe now sweetie. You just have yourself something to eat while we think about the best way to handle all this." Jess cooed softly to the shaking teen.
Looking uncertain Isaac looked down at the plate. "I...I don't think I can eat right now." Isaac whispered ducking his head. "I...I can't believe he's gone...I'm all alone now." Isaac said his voice breaking.
Derek took the plate and set it on the sidetable next to the couch. "It's right here if you decide you want it. And you're not alone! You're one of us now! You're pack. We're going to take care of you now." Derek said gently. Heading to the counter he made himself a plate while he contemplated what to do. "Do we call the Sheriff right now or just wait to see if they even suspect Isaac of something first?" Derek wondered out loud pulling a chair close to the couch and sitting in it to eat facing Jess and Isaac.
On the couch Jess pulled Isaac close to her side and ran her fingers through his hair. "Shhh, shhh, shhh lamb. We've got you now. It's going to be alright. He can't hurt you anymore and we won't let anyone else hurt you either." Looking up at Derek Jess hugged the boy tighter to her side. "You'll have to make up with the Sheriff and Melissa ASAP so you can have them both help you with the paperwork to be an emergency foster care provider." Jess ordered turning and dropping a kiss on the boys forehead as she felt him start relaxing into her side. "Once the cops find the body they will probably send Social Services to the school looking to talk to Isaac. If anyone asks we could say he met us the other night and we suspected abuse and told him to come to us if he needed help. So when his dad and he fought he called you to get him while running to us here at the clinic and he was with us at the time of the murder." Looking around the room Jess smiled. "With the three of us offering an alibi the police shouldn't be able to hold him long if they even bother to take him into police custody." Looking down at Isaac she smiled. "If you just get tossed in a temp foster home you can just call us and we'll come check on you and Derek can hang around the area to keep you safe if needed." Jess said reassuringly.
Listening to Jess calmly plan out an alibi and problem solve the whole situation Isaac slowly relaxed. When Derek nudged Isaac's leg with his foot and gestured to the plate on the sidetable Isaac nodded and smiled shyly when Derek immediately grabbed the plate and handed it to him. Slowly nibbling at the food on the plate while Jess rubbed his back and Derek watched over the pair protectively Isaac felt safer then he had for a long, long time. When he stopped eating and started to drift off to sleep he felt the plate taken from his hands and felt himself getting covered with a heavy blanket.
"I'll call Melissa and tell her a friend got in a bad fight with his dad and came to us for help then fell asleep in your lap." Derek said softly carefully lifting the boys legs onto the couch while Jess shifted and cuddled the boy closer to her shoulder. "If I send her a picture as proof I think she might not throw a fit." Derek said pulling out his phone.
"If you sit back in the chair and watch them I'll take a picture myself and then send it to Melissa a few minutes after you send yours." The Vet offered. "I could also call the Sheriff and report suspicions of abuse and tell him that a young boy is crashing here on the couch for the night while his friends try and convince him to report the abuse to the authorities. Then when they find the body they will already know he has an alibi." Deaton offered. When Derek sat back in the chair and gazed at the pair on the couch with obvious worry on his face Deaton snapped a quick picture. "There. Now let me know when the man was suppose to have been attacked so I can say he showed up here before it happened. And tell me when you text Melissa so I can text her shortly afterwards saying I wasn't sure if either of the two of you had thought to do it yourselves." Deaton said happy with the plan they had come up with.
Standing up Derek laid another blanket over the pair on the couch smirking at how Jess was so fully focused on the boy in her arms to the exclusion of everything else. "Sounds like a good plan to me." Derek agreed taking a picture of the pair on the couch. "Jess can drive him to school tomorrow morning for lacrosse practice and keep him calm through the day while I try and figure out what killed his dad." Sighing Derek sent the picture to Melissa along with a text.
A new friend called us in a panic a little while ago. His dad got violent and he was scared enough to run away out into the rain. I picked him up and brought him to the clinic to get warmed up and calmed down. We spent a while trying to convince him to report his dad to the police but he is too scared to. Jess fed him and started cuddling him and the poor kid ended up falling asleep in her lap. Based on the awful bags under his eyes I don't think he felt safe enough to ever sleep properly back at home. Jess really doesn't want to wake him up or leave him here alone with just Dr. Deaton and I. Kid has some major trust issues towards men. If it's alright we would really appreciate it if you let her stay here for the night to keep the kid comfortable. I promise I won't be sleeping in the same room as her. Honestly after the shit the kid told us I won't be sleeping at all. -Derek
Sending the message Derek nodded to Dr. Deaton who pulled out his own phone and sent a picture and message of his own.
Mrs. McCall. I felt compelled to text you and let you know that your young ward Miss Black is currently trapped under a sleeping child. We strongly suspect he had been facing some serious abuse at home but so far are unable to convince him to report it to the police. He appears to be quite uncomfortable around both myself and young Mr. Hale and is only fully trusting of Miss Black. If at all possible I believe it would be best if she were to stay here with the boy for the night to build trust with him and hopefully she will eventually be able to convince him to report the abuse to the appropriate authorities. - Dr. Deaton
Sitting on the couch slowly starting to nod off herself Jess got a text on her phone. Pulling it out she opened the message and smiled.
Jess, I just got texts about what is happening from Derek and Dr. Deaton. Thank you for trusting me with this and for actually ASKING about staying the night instead of just texting and telling me you would be. Of course you can stay to help that poor boy. I know that things have been tense between us and I know it is my fault. I hope that this can be a beginning of us getting back to being able to trust one another and talk to one another. Thank you so much for making me supper tonight. I had a really rough night and day so I really appreciate it. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. -Melissa
Showing the text to the two men Jess slowly settled back into the couch cushions and drifted off to sleep cuddling Isaac to her side. Shit had been awful for a while but just maybe it was starting to look up again.