Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf.

CHAPTER 9: Test

"Alive? Why do you think she's alive?"

"I know it's a long shot, Dad, but Lorraine might be working for the Benefactor or be the Benefactor," Stiles explained to his father. He and Lydia had dropped by to update his father with the most recent developments of the dead pool, including the code Lydia had received from her mother at the lake house.

The banshee nodded in agreement. "She was like me. The Benefactor knew Scott wasn't dead at the hospital, so there has to be a banshee involved."

"Hang on one second, start - " Sherriff Stilinski began to say but a loud commotion outside his office stopped him mid-sentence.

Stiles, Lydia, and Sherriff Stilinski ran out the office and saw Parrish on top of Deputy Haigh, punching him repeatedly. Haigh kept repeating the same words over and over.

"But you're dead!"

A gun went off and Sherriff Stilinski doubled over, clutching his shoulder. He cursed, calling them idiots, and Stiles ran by his father's side.

About an hour later, Scott, Derek, Lydia, and Parrish were all gathered in Derek's living room. They told him everything about the supernatural world and listened to how Parrish was able to survive the fire.

"So this is why you're on the list," Scott said, examining Parrish's hands. "You can protect yourself against fire."

"Maybe even more than that," Derek said.

Rose carefully took the plastic bags out of her backpack. Inside laid some wolfsbane flowers that she had dug out of the ground in the woods, its roots spiraling off in every direction. She retrieved her gardening gloves from the backpack and began to plant exactly twelve flowers into flower pots she bought on the way home, treating each one with care. Once she finished, she watered the soil of each pot and put them out on the balcony, positioning them carefully near the door.

She really should have done this right when she moved back. Wolfsbane had always been her friend. Whenever she felt threatened by Peter or Derek got out of line, she would pull the flower petals from the locket her ex-boyfriend, Trent Sword, had given her. Her old house had its own mini wolfsbane garden to protect her mother from werewolves. She even planted some at Scott's house.

But she was now in her new home and she had to start from scratch. A garbage bag full of mountain ash wood sat near the fireplace waiting to be burned. She had also prepared her bow and arrow for a practice session when she got a chance.

Rose refused to be defenseless. It concerned her that there were several murders in town and knowing what she knew, it most likely meant there was some kind of disturbance in Derek's world.

Now it's Scott's world, too.

The thought depressed her. She had never wanted this kind of life for him. All those years of hiding the existence of werewolves was all in vain. She wondered for the umpteenth time how different things would have been if she had never left. A buzzer sounded around the loft, indicating someone was at the door.

"Hey guys," she said when she opened the door, slightly confused.

Scott, Lydia, and Parrish all stood before her.

"You guys know each other?" she asked, looking from her cousin to Parrish as she gestured for them to come in.

"Yeah," Scott said. "And this is my friend, Lydia."

"She's the one I told you about," Parrish said.

"Ah, the psychic," Rose remembered. She and Lydia shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

"I'm not really a psychic though," Lydia corrected.

"I know. I didn't realize Parrish was talking about you, though. Are you that same girl Stiles had a crush on when he was a kid?"

Scott coughed loudly. "Yeah, but he has a girlfriend now," he said, disregarding the fact that Malia didn't want to have anything to do with his best friend at the moment.

"Yes, of course. Peter's daughter, what a lovely choice," she said sarcastically. "So what brings you guys by?"

"I wanted to invite you to dinner tomorrow night. It would make my mom happy," Scott said.

"I'd love to. You have to come bring her here. She came to visit after work one night, but I didn't get a chance to make her a proper meal. I wanna show her how much better of a cook I am now," Rose said.

"And I wanted to talk about what we talked about the other night," Parrish said.

"How well do you guys know each other?" Lydia asked. Scott found the question a little odd.

"We just met," Parrish said. "She's doing some research and needed some help from the station."

"Yeah, just pharmacy stuff," Rose said, trying to sound normal and keeping her heart rate even.

Scott wasn't fooled. "Well, I'll see you then."

He and Lydia left, leaving Parrish alone with Rose.

"How do you know my cousin?" she asked the deputy.

"He's been involved with the station before," Parrish said vaguely. He studied her in her black yoga pants and oversized hoodie with the logo of a band or whatnot on it. She seemed harmless but he remembered Lydia explaining Stiles's theory of Rose helping the Benefactor. Stiles also thought Lydia's seemingly dead grandmother might be the Benefactor's aide, so Parrish wasn't so sure he could rely on his judgment.

Lydia had found the last piece of code that she claimed her grandmother left for her. He hoped she could figure out what it all meant and that they could stop the Benefactor soon before they were all dead.

He hadn't mentioned to the others Rose's request to get the files of the wolfsbane victims, but he did tell them that she looked into her case from when she was seventeen. They didn't seem too concerned, but Derek looked worried and had wondered why she was suddenly digging through that part of her past.

Parrish decided he needed to know more about her, see if she had anything to do with the list. If he could gain her trust, maybe he could find out what she was hiding.

"This is a nice place you got here," he said politely, walking around.

"Thanks, would you like a drink?"

"Water please."

She disappeared to the kitchen and Parrish took a good look around. He noticed the backpack and gardening tools as well as the garbage bag near the fireplace. Before he could look inside, Rose was back with two glasses of water.

"Doing some gardening?" he asked.

"Yeah, I planted some flowers to liven up my balcony." They sat down on the couch and sipped their water.

"So those files you want," Parrish began. "I looked at the list you gave me and I can let you see them."

"That's perfect," Rose said brightly. "Thank you again."

"On one condition," Parrish said. "Tell me what's really going on."

Rose stared at him. "Excuse me?"

"I know you know about werewolves," Parrish said. "I was just at Derek's and they told me about it."

"What?" Rose asked incredulously. It wasn't like Derek to tell outsiders. What was he thinking? Unless...

"Did Scott add you to the pack?"

"No, of course not. I'm just a deputy looking for some answers," he replied. "Now why do you want those files? The truth this time."

"I told you, it's about the wolfsbane," she said, not convinced that he wasn't a werewolf. She contemplated slicing him like she did with Scott. Or maybe the wolfsbane would do the trick.

"Parrish, can we go outside? I need some air." She stood up before he could answer and slid the balcony door open.

He apprehensively followed her outside, mentally preparing himself to fight if she attacked him. "You can call me Jordan, you know.."

The sun was getting ready to set and Rose looked up at the pink and blue sky. She would know right away if he was a werewolf. The wolfsbane pots were right near the door and twelve flowers were enough to cause some kind of discomfort. If only she had some mountain ash ready.

He joined her at the balcony's edge and together they looked at the buildings of downtown Beacon Hills. Rose waited for him to cough or clear his throat but he remained silent. Maybe he wasn't a werewolf after all.

"So you know about our town's secret," she finally said.

"The reason you're looking into wolfsbane - does it have something to do with the supernatural world?"

She didn't answer him right away. "Yes."

Parrish raised his eyebrows in surprise. He hadn't expected her to admit it, although he had known the answer.

"When I was seventeen, I got shot by a werewolf hunter. All those statements I made to the police were lies. I think she used a wolfsbane bullet and it changed my blood," she said. "While I was at the hospital recuperating, the doctor discovered I had some kind of rare blood disorder. They said they would have never discovered it had I not been shot, but I think I got it because I got shot. And she did that to me.

I need those files because I need to know all the ways wolfsbane affects humans, if something like this has happened to someone else."

Parrish could tell she was being sincere. "So you have nothing against werewolves?"

"I have nothing against werewolves who don't give me problems," she said.

A chilling phrase echoed in Rose's mind: We hunt those who hunt us.

"Your blood disorder. Is it serious?" Parrish asked.

"Thankfully no. It's a rare type of anemia. I just have low red blood cell counts and weak bone marrow. I also had a few heart issues but I've had it treated. The doctors were impressed that the medicine worked so well. Other than that, I can live a pretty normal life. I used to get really tired but I'm able to keep my energy level up now."

"And you have no grudge against supernatural creatures?"

"Just one. Kate Argent. She's the one who shot me. She's not a hunter anymore from what Scott said."

Parrish knew that name. It was the first name on the list Lydia and Stiles had shown him, the list that had his name on it.

"Would you kill her?" he asked seriously.

She scowled at him. "Why would you ask me that?"

He didn't break away from her gaze but didn't say anything.

Rose kept his gaze. "If it came down to it and it had to be me or her, I would do it. She would kill me in a heartbeat and I rather not die when I have so much left to do in this life. I would do what I have to in order to survive."

"You don't have to justify yourself," Parrish said, calming her down. "I'm a cop, remember? I know all about making that choice."

"What's going on, Jordan?" Rose asked. "Why are you asking me all these strange questions?"

He sighed. His gut told him Rose had nothing to do with the Benefactor and his gut was usually right. But then again, she had it out for Kate Argent. Was that enough for her to help someone destroy all supernaturals, including Scott?

"Kate Argent is in Beacon Hills."

Rose's shoulders slumped in disappointment. She thought there was a better reason behind his behavior. "I know. Can't believe she rose back from the dead like that. Peter can't do anything right. Let's go inside. I'm getting cold."

They walked past the flowers and she held her breath in anticipation, but to her relief, Parrish didn't react. She had decided that she needed allies if she was going to help save Derek and find out the truth about what Kate had done to her that night. Who better than to partner with someone with official authority? As for Scott and Derek telling Parrish about werewolves, she would have to talk to them about it later.

"Come on, I have a microscope that I can use to study my blood." She led the way up to her bedroom. A laundry basket filled with underwear and other delicates was on her bed. She grabbed the basket and placed it inside her closet and took out a box that contained her microscope.

As Rose made her preparations, Parrish looked around her room. It looked like she was mostly settled in, with only one large box filled with stuff sitting at the corner near the stairwell. Several medals and trophies lined her bookshelf, many of which were for first place for various archery events. He was impressed. She must have been really skilled to earn such a collection.

"Alright," she said as she positioned a glass slide on her desk. She took out a syringe with a needle attached and inserted it neatly into her left forearm.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Parrish exclaimed. The sight of her drawing her own blood made his stomach knot up.

"Sorry, are you sensitive with this kind of stuff?" she asked him, the needle still stuck to her arm.

"Not usually, but it looks weird when someone is doing that to themselves."

She turned her back to him so that he wouldn't see.

"What's in that black garbage bag downstairs, by the way?" he asked, hoping he hadn't sounded like a weakling.

"Mountain ash wood," she replied. "And lots of it. I don't know if they told you, but supernaturals can't cross it. I'm going to burn them and save the ashes."

"Good to know," he said. He would have to be careful not to come across any of that if he was to keep his secret.

When she was finished, Rose covered the incision point with a cotton ball and band aid. She placed a drop of her blood on the slide and prepared it for viewing.

"Let's see what we can find," Rose said as she placed the slide underneath the lens of the microscope.

"See anything interesting?" Parrish asked from her bed after a moment.

"Nothing. Come take a look." She got up and they switched places.

"What am I looking for?" Parrish asked as he turned the knob on the side to focus on the sample. "It's just red blobs."

"I had a feeling there'd be nothing," Rose said. "Here's what I think happened - Kate shot me with a wolfsbane bullet and it poisoned my blood and created that disorder. When I developed the disorder, the wolfsbane somehow got absorbed by my blood, so that's why the later tests showed no wolfsbane and they retracted their original finding. By the way, you haven't said anything about this to Scott or Derek, have you?"

"I only told them you asked to see your police file from your incident, but nothing about the wolfsbane."

"Good, because I don't want anyone to know about this, especially Scott. They're already dealing with the Benefactor and Kate and we don't really know anything about this anyway. I'll probably have to teach you how to lie to werewolves. They can tell from your heart rate. Derek and Peter used to catch me all the time, but I've learned how to get around it."

He nodded in agreement. "So what happens now? How do we prove you have wolfsbane in your blood?"

"Maybe there isn't any. Maybe it left my system but left my blood damaged, hence my disorder. I need to do more research. As for those files, you can still let me have them right?"

Parrish sighed. "I guess a deal is a deal." He had a nagging feeling that he had just gotten himself into something bigger than he anticipated.

Derek laid awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. Braeden slept peacefully next to him, but Derek didn't even feel tired. He felt completely useless and defenseless. He felt weak and it drove him crazy. He could sense that all of his werewolf abilities were gone. Thoughts of hunters and greedy bastards like Deputy Haigh successfully killing him in his non-werewolf state kept him awake. He rubbed his face in frustration. The moment he found Kate, he would shake the answer out of her and make her reverse whatever she did.

A strange sound came from the corner of the room and Derek quickly sat up in bed. A startled Braeden followed suit. They both stayed silent and listened to the noise.

They looked at each other and slowly got out of bed. Derek went to the corner of the room to where his desk sat. The sound was coming from the printer. It spat out page after page, the papers falling to the floor. He bent down and picked up a few sheets. Braeden turned on a lamp and looked over his shoulder.

"It's the dead pool," she said, recognizing the list of names.

"Something's different, though," Derek said as he scanned one of the sheets. When he realized what it was, he felt his heart drop. He tossed the pages to the side except for one, then quickly stood up and retrieved his set of master keys from one of the drawers of his desk.

"What's wrong?" Braeden asked, seeing the serious expression on his face.

Derek didn't answer her. He grabbed a wooden container from the corner of his desk and with the keys, he slipped into a pair of shoes and went out the door. Braeden quickly pulled a long shirt over her body and followed behind him.

Outside Rose's door, Derek fumbled with the keys and found the one that unlocked her door.

"Rose!" Derek yelled inside the dark loft. "Rose, come down here!"

A light switched on upstairs and he heard her thumping around. He saw her run quickly down the spiral staircase as Braeden entered the loft.

"Derek? Derek, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" Rose asked as she hurried to him, tying her curly hair into a knot on top of her head along the way.

"Sit down," he ordered her. Rose noticed his harsh tone and sat down on her armchair. She knew from years of experience that it was best to just keep quiet and let him explain himself on his own terms when he acted like this.

Derek handed the wooden container to Braeden. "Pour this around the chair," he instructed her.

Braeden took the box that once held the claws of Talia Hale and poured the mountain ash around Rose.

"Derek, what are you doing?" Rose asked, recognizing the dark powder.

Derek refused to answer her and turned on the overhead light, making everyone squint. Braeden completed the circle.

"Cross the mountain ash," he said with less edge in his voice. His heart thumped loudly. She had to cross, there was no way she wouldn't be able to. She couldn't be like one of them. She was Rose - delicate, human Rose.

Rose looked at her friend with a worried look. Why was he doing this? Did he actually think she wouldn't be able to cross? She stood up confidently and Derek held his breath as she stepped over the black line with ease.

"What is this?" Derek asked abruptly, holding the dead pool in front of her face.

Rose took a step back and took the paper from his hand. It was a list of names with numbers. In the middle of the page were words she couldn't understand.

ROSAURA MCCALL 20 (WANTED ALIVE)

Yes, Rose is on the dead pool! Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was fun to write, especially Derek reacting to seeing his "harmless" friend on the list. I can't wait to share with y'all the coming chapters which explain what's so supernatural about Rose.

Thanks for those who have reviewed. It's always good for me to see feedback and it really helps motivate me.

I have a bit of Allison waiting for y'all in the next chapter, so stay tuned!