Authors Note:
Thanks to all my new followers and reviewers. I'm a little bit unsure of this next chapter. Sometimes I find it hard to write canon characters but let's hope for the best!
Chapter Eleven: Friend in Arms.
The Hale house couldn't be creepier if it tried. There was constant echoing throughout it. All through the night, at the slightest movement, the entire place felt like it was going to fall to pieces. Maybe Avery's imagination had been playing up, but she was sure that this place was haunted. She could feel someone watching her and it wasn't Sam.
She had slept on the bare mattress that had squeaked just like the house. She used her sleeping bag as a blanket and was reasonably warm. She rose bright and early for the new day, ready to go on her next mission. They had to stock up on weapons.
"You know, I can go buy a gun or two. I'm not completely helpless." Sam said as Avery threw him her last granola bar for breakfast, slung her bag over her shoulder and got ready to leave.
"I know. But it's not about that." she rested on the door, surprised it didn't break off it's hinges, "I can't risk anyone we know seeing you. Besides, you need to sleep. You've been on watch all night."
"I'll sleep when you're back safe." Sam replied as Avery opened the door and left.
She had gone into town, the busiest part, and found the local arms dealer. She had transferred all of her account savings before she left Tallahassee into a new account that couldn't be traced by her parents, although she did prefer to pay by cash since they were still close to Bellevue. She had a trucker cap on covering her face from any in store security cameras. She managed to purchase the weapons and get out of there without any run ins. Still, she was surprised at the luck she was having. She bought some groceries, more bars and a few odd pieces of fruit and got out of town. She hated being out in public at this time, unsure of how her brother was doing.
When she got back to the Hale house, she found Sam waiting for her at the front door.
"What are you doing? Someone could see you!" she scolded him for standing out in the open.
"No they couldn't. I've been sitting here the whole time listening and sniffing the air. I would have known if anyone but you came close."
"Yeah, well don't get cocky. You know how hunters play against those senses." Avery persisted in lecturing him, despite the fact that he had been in complete control of any risk. She just felt she had to say something, since she had promised not to control his physical actions.
"Now, I'm back. You can go rest." she said as she entered the house.
"I'm actually not tired. I think I'm running off of adrenaline." he shrugged and walked into what would have been the living room ten years ago.
"We'll both go to sleep normally then tonight. Just we'll have to be half awake."
"Sure. Now show me what you got." he said, referring to the arsenal she bought them. She opened the contents of her bag onto the floor. There was two hand guns, one shotgun and one crossbow.
"Nice." Sam nodded, as she laid out some arrows and bullets she had bought as well.
"You can sit here and play with your new toys while I go upstairs and put our food away." Avery smiled at him, suddenly he had turned back into a typical male obsessed by weapons and violence. Why she ever thought it was a good idea to buy weapons for him she'd never know. He'd insisted on trying to stay out of Kanima form if possible, using normal weapons to defend himself. Avery was just happy not to be powerless anymore. She felt safe now that she had a shotgun to get rid of any pesky people who came looking for them.
Before she could reach the bedroom to put anything away though, the front door swung open. She had been delayed in her reaction, so the intruder had had a chance to survey their competition before they realised.
"Who are you?" they boomed, their deep masculine voice reverberating off the walls. Avery spun around to see a dark figure standing in the doorway. Sam had come out of the living room to get a look of the person, but the bright sun had skewed his view. The man saw Avery's shotgun in Sam's hand and immediately thought the worse. He saw two people inside the house, with weapons and stunned expressions and assumed they had been waiting for him. They must have been hunters. He growled and sharp talons grew from his hands, his face morphed and protruded. He grew fangs and sported a pair of red eyes. Avery panicked as he jumped, up the stairs towards her. She had no weapon. Actually she had no guns. With a simple glance at Sam, he shifted into his Kanima form and quickly grabbed the guy by the shirt. He pulled him away, falling back down the stairs as he did. The Alpha wolf got the vantage point and jumped on the top of Sam going to slash at his throat. His claws penetrated Sam's neck as Avery screamed. But Sam barely felt a thing, cracking his neck as it healed right before the guy's eyes.
There hadn't been a lot of light in the room. After the guy had come in, the door had shut and the place was as shadowy as ever. The guy tried to slit Sam's throat again, but her brother got the lead. Sam threw him away from himself and stood threateningly in front of Avery. Sam was quite a terrifying sight, if he wasn't protecting Avery. She didn't want to hurt this wolf that had come in, but if he didn't leave soon she was afraid she'd have to make Sam take action. But there was something familiar about his face, something that she felt she was missing. The two males both growled at each other once more, starting to circle. Then, like a puzzle piece fit, she knew who it was standing before them.
"Stop!" she screamed at the male. He looked up at her as she rushed down the stairs and stood in front of Sam herself.
"Derek Hale?" she asked, squinting at his wolf face. He slowly shifted back into human form and she was certain she was right. He nodded silently. Behind her, Sam was shifting back too, catching sight of the old friend that was standing in front of him.
"Sam?" Derek said with a dry throat, his voice was riddled with disbelief. Sam nodded as he came to his sisters side.
"And that makes you... Avery." Derek shifted his gaze to Avery, eyeing her up and down. Without warning, he lunged forward and swung a fist at Sam's face. It collided with such force that Sam fell to his knees, rubbing his jaw in pain.
"What's your problem?" Avery pushed at his chest, he didn't budge.
"I deserved that." Sam got to his feet, clicking his jaw back into place.
"What are you doing here?" Derek asked brashly, he was still trying to hide his amazement at what Sam had turned into before him.
"We're here for a holiday." Sam crossed his arms, "What do you think?"
"I think that you're trespassing on my property." Derek replied.
"Then we'll be on our way. We didn't realise the place was still vacant." Avery pulled on her brother to pack up their things and get out of there. She could sense the tension in the air and didn't like it one bit. This encounter was not going to end well.
"No. You can stay," Derek said oddly, "But I should warn you that the Argents patrol this area all the time. That's why I tend to stay away from here."
"Then we'll still be on our way." Avery tugged harder at Sam's arm to get their stuff and leave. Derek and Sam were currently engaging in a stare off, that not even Avery could break. Even if she had turned Sam into a Kanima and forced him to do her will, he would still do it with eyes on Hale.
"It's been a while Derek." Sam said openly.
"I remember last time you said something like that you poisoned me with wolfsbane, beat me to a pulp and declared us mortal enemies."
"Let's be clear that it was a deed that didn't go unpunished." Sam looked at his sisters cheek, Derek's eyes followed. He gulped, knowing who was responsible for her scars.
"You have Peter to thank for that." was all that Derek could think of. Sam snickered, he had remembered Peter being a bad influence on Derek.
"Remind me to thank him when I see him."
"So..." Derek waltzed forward, "Besides the fuzzy tail, why are you back here?"
"Just the fuzzy tail." Sam tilted his head.
"Care to explain how that happened?" Derek asked.
"Not really." Sam cut him off. There was an eerie silence in the air as the house creaked beneath the three of them.
"I get it." Derek shook his head and scoffed slightly, "You want your privacy."
"No we want safety." Avery finally managed to disperse the tension, stepping forward and pulling Sam behind her.
"You should at least take your bags with you." Derek called as she was halfway out the door. She came wearily back in, to climb the stairs and retrieve her belongings. As she walked back down Derek blocked her path.
"You once showed me a gesture of kindness and you didn't have to." he said, turning back to Sam, "There's a small group of us living down in the abandoned subway if you need a place to stay. The one we used to hang around as kids."
"Thanks but, no thanks." Avery pouted, brushing past Derek. Sam folded his arms and now blocked her from the front door.
"What are you doing?" she whispered, knowing that Derek would be able to hear anyway.
"Where do you suppose we go?" Sam asked. Avery didn't have an answer.
"You've been staying away from the hunters I'd guess?" Sam looked back up at Derek.
"Trying. You know how pesky your lot could get. But they don't know where we're staying if that's what you're asking." Derek came down the stairs. Sam was thinking Derek's offer over, it could be awkward at first but they'd be away from hunters.
"Then, if it's not too much of a hassle, it'd be really helpful. There's only so much running a person can take." he replied.
"You know where to find it." Derek left his house, "I suppose I'll see you around."
Avery and Sam watched on as Derek got into his black car and drove away from the house. They could hardly believe what had just happened. Had Derek Hale really just invited them to stay with him? The same Derek Hale that was supposed to hate Sam, that should have ripped him to pieces despite whatever he had turned into. Avery and Sam's ventures were beginning to grow weirder as weeks went on. What was next, lizard people falling from the sky?