A/N~ Ok so again remember the T-rating. Fourteen and under, need not apply and for those who may be triggered there is BDSM rules and so forth that are discussed. No sex or actual torture but it is mentioned and of course there is some bad language. Very much like the show. ~A
Chapter 17
Issac was smart enough to admit that he still had a lot to learn. Derek's training had taught him enough that though there was still a great deal of mistrust in the teen from his past, there was strength in numbers. He also knew that for wolves there was no bond stronger than mates. Not just hooking up, or flirting , but actual mates.
According to Kenzi it was hard to find your mate sometimes. The red-haired wolf who stood silently beside her like a bodyguard was her mate and he had to wait for over a thousand years for her. He saw the way they were with each other though. They seemed to gravitate toward each other like a magnet almost, it was especially obvious when they were in the same room. This wolf though had found her from across the country though, all the way to Beacon Hills and then he had followed her until he finally caught up with her.
He had seen something similar between Stiles and Derek, for some reason the Spark had seemed more tuned in than the werewolf but then when the Alpha had denied it, the Spark had backed off. Which apparently pissed Derek off even more than usual. So the Spark had taken the werewolf by the ears and showed his true feelings for everyone to see. Now instead of seeing the opportunity, the older wolf was positively comical in acting a bit lovesick.
Perhaps there was a process to all of this mating stuff. Issac though, who understood time and love being stripped from you at another persons whim, couldn't understand why you would waste an opportunity like this for true love.
He waited until Peter, Cora, Kenzi and Dyson had decided to take the younger werewolf female out for ice cream to celebrate her continued improvement. Derek had begged off with the excuse of more research on the Alpha Pack, but everyone knew it was just so he could mope in peace unmolested by his family.
That was okay. He wasn't family, he was Pack. If Pack couldn't tell you the truth, who could. He knew it was screwed up but he was going with it. If it blew up in his face, he could always use the excuse that he hadn't had a real family in years. Hey he was traumatized and yeah he was going to milk that puppy for all it was worth.
"Not now Issac," the Alpha said, warningly. His eyes flashing crimson as he glanced at the Beta, "I'm busy."
"Busy moping?" the younger wolf said knowingly, "Yeah I noticed and as for not now, if not now when? He's a good looking guy Derek and I know for a fact that you think so too. These walls aren't that thick dude and running water is great but even in a shower it doesn't drown out everything, especially from werewolf ears."
Derek blushed hard, even his ear tips turning bright red as he realized what the younger werewolf had overheard. I survived before he came along, I'll keep surviving…" he began.
Only for the Beta to interrupt and say, "Will you? I think if something happened to Erica, Boyd would follow soon after her. I wish my Dad would have followed my Mom. You think your sister and Dyson would survive each other leaving now that they finally found each other?"
The Alpha wasn't still trying to throw him out, Issac counted it as a victory and kept going. "He made the first move, now it's your turn."
At Derek's doubtful expression, Issac reminded him, "You're the Alpha remember? Your mate actually made the first move, he staked his claim on you in front of everyone. Which is not how its supposed to go, I get it. Stiles challenged your machismo, but in his defense you did kind of force it. Thus the mopiness, mopage? Whatever, this is?" he said with a wave of his hand indicating the general demeanor of the older werewolf.
"Now he is waiting for you to come and claim him, and when you do it you need to make it Alpha'y but also romantic as hell to prove that you're worthy of his big gesture." the younger teen said agreeably. "You know where he is right now and you have the perfect excuse of visiting Erica, your wounded Pack member, so go do it. Get your mate." the Beta said as he headed toward the loft door before he turned back with one more point. "Just don't tell Erica I used her name and wounded in the same sentence please."
"Hey Issac," the Alpha called as the younger wolf pulled the door open. Issac turned back and gazed at Derek questioningly. "How's you get to be so smart?"
The Beta quirked a smile and said, "I'd like to say years of practice, but no pretty sure it happened after you bit me."
As the werewolf stepped across the threshold Derek called again, "Hey Issac?" The younger wolf looked back again this time with both brows raised in query, "Thanks"
Issac gave one of his grins that made his face light up as he said, "Sure. Now go get our mom."
~O~
When the dark fae burst through Vex's door, Bo saw three things. One she recognized the leader as one of the Morrigan's favorites, two there were a lot of them, and three she once again saw the condition they had left Vex in the first time.
The swell of protectiveness that went through the succubus was such that she became enraged on behalf of the Mesmer. The piece of driftwood was in her hands with her at first deciding to use it like a baseball bat. It had other ideas.
When she went to take a swing at the first fae into the room, the baseball swat she was about to take at the fae turned into an underhand swing with the staff, equivalent to a massive uppercut. With the added momentum of her strength the fae went down like a ton of bricks.
Grateful for the move even if she didn't know where it had come from, the unaligned fae, nevertheless realigned for another swing for the bleachers. Only to have the staff swing up to parry a blow from the next fae who came at her, swinging what looked for all the world like a club, complete with nail studs on the end. Then a swing from the left and right ends of the staff, had the succubus delivering a double tap to the head of the attacking fae that left them on the ground stunned.
Bo took a second to stare at the staff as something vague came to mind. No matter what she did the staff had its own plans and seemed to be doing well with its own style of fighting. As she was contemplating this turn of events though, the Morrigan's assistant grabbed her by the elbows temporarily immobilizing her as she spat in her face, "We're not here for you succubus. Stand down, we're only here for the Mesmer."
Bo was sure that the words were supposed to be reassuring instead they only made her angrier. "See, that's a problem." She growled before stepping back throwing the other fae off balance before slamming the staff up to deliver a glancing blow to the other fae's temple and then performing a spinning roundhouse kick to her face.
She rushed to get in between the bedroom where Vex lay helpless and the other fae who had made their way into the apartment. Bo thought it didn't bode well that the lead fae was already back on her feet. Looking only a little unkempt for the trouble.
"Damn it girl, the Morrigan only wants to talk to the Mesmer," the older woman explained a little more hostile now.
"Yeah right, you'll excuse me if I don't believe you. Especially since if you didn't bring him yourself you ordered him dropped off here, in the condition he's in. Knowing he had no one to see to the wounds you watched her inflict and not caring if he lived or died." Bo replied, venom dripping from every word.
The older woman actually developed a flush to her cheeks from the younger fae's words. Bo merely said, "Yeah that's what I thought." Since they weren't actively being attacked, the staff had grounded itself to the floor and for the moment her hands with it.
Bo wanted to attack though, it was almost a visceral need to wreak havoc on these people. Who knew how many fae and humans had fallen before them either through action or inaction. She felt her lips pull back as she snarled at the assembled fae in the room. A threat inherent in the expression, as she said, "There aren't enough fae left you let her kill off more of you for sport then think you have the right to bemoan your imminent extinction and blame it on humans. Really? You should be ashamed. If you even knew what the word meant."
The leader reluctantly reminded, "There are a lot more of us than there are of you. It's only a matter of time before…"
"Just one problem for you, I'm feeling very righteous right now," she said indicating the staff with a glance.
A touch to her arm and she almost brought the staff around to slam into his head. Only once again the staff knew better and stayed grounded as Vex actually held onto her arm for balance. His normally pale face was almost waxen in color, with a grayish cast, his shaggy hair was even shaggier and was actually caked in blood in places. A red silk robe was thrown over his shoulders and loosely belted at the waist to cover his dignity, but the duct tape showed through and looked like some weird kind of armor.
Bo knew better than to try and shake him off, he would have hit the floor. "It's not the staff of righteousness, though is it. That's one of it's cousins, the Staff of Protection. It only activates if you're feeling protective of someone. Never knew you cared, then succubabe."
"Don't call me that," Bo said. Although she was glad to see some of the old spark back in the Mesmer, she could have done without the snark a bit.
"Why not? Kenzi does it all the time," Vex said and Bo was certain she detected a hurt tone in his voice. The fact he was weaving on his feet also didn't bode well.
She turned her burning gaze onto the older fae who led the group and indicating the Mesmer with barely a move of the head said, "Does it look as if he could handle another visit with the Dark Bitch Fae Leader?" she hissed angrily at the other woman.
"Easy Bo, it doesn't matter if I can or not. When my lady calls I must answer the call. It's the rules." Vex said and nearly crashed into her. Instinctively the unaligned succubus let go of the staff to grab the Mesmer before he fell. Instead of falling to the ground the staff flew up into a blocking position as several of the dark fae saw a vulnerability and were about to take advantage until the staff blocked their move.
"Shite, that hurts." said the Mesmer as he was held in place as gently as possible by the unaligned fae. Then he saw the staff flying in mid air. He would have said floating but the staff was moving too aggressively for it to be floating. Then he saw the blue sparks that would occasionally shoot out if one of the fae got to close.
"It's never done that for me. You must have an incredible protective instinct," the Mesmer said as he looked at the young woman who was basically holding him up.
"Let's put it this way, I saw what they let happen to you/ What she did to you and they're here to take you back for more. It took a lot of time and effort to put you back together. I'll be damned if I'm letting them mess up my good work." As she spoke the staff shot off even more blue sparks with some gold as well thrown in for good measure.
"Like I said I have to go but there's nothing says you can't go with me, as my healer, it's your right to ensure my continued well being. After a few assurances from the Master of the Whip of course."
"Norris, I heard you say Evony only wants to talk?" Vex said to the older looking fae woman.
The woman merely nodded not really paying attention to the other fae as she watched the staff suspiciously. "Norris," the dark fae snapped, "I demand your guarantee of safety as the Master of the Whip and the Dungeon. My safe word is barbecue."
The older woman's eyes widened and snapped around to face the mindbender so fast for a second the succubus thought Vex may have taken her mind but she knew instinctively that even as weak as he was, it shouldn't have been possible. When she heard the older woman talk she knew that it was shock that had prompted the dumbfounded expression on the older woman's face.
Norris was a Master of the Whip. She could use her skill with implements of torture to bring forth pleasure or pain to the point anyone would confess whatever she wanted them to. As such for an over 400 year old she had an incredible physique. She was also the Master of Evony's dungeon as such as long as they were in the dungeon she had sway even over Evony. A fact that had never been called into play, until now. The older fae smiled at the dark fae mindbender and there was an almost cunning look in those pale blue eyes as she looked into his dark ones and she said, "Oh you are a clever boy. Very good, yes very good indeed."
"The succubus was not summoned to your dungeon and has no interest in playing. She is merely there to support me, literally. Her safe word is pink." Vex told the older fae. Now that they had reached an understanding between them, the dark fae was a great deal more confident. "What type of transportation have you come in?"
"A van," the older woman said plainly.
"Yeah that you planned on throwing him in the back of like a sack of potatoes no doubt." Bo said with open hostility. The dark fae woman looked at the Mesmer and again there was that fleeting expression of guilt before she pulled out her cell phone and after a few instructions including one barked command again in a fae language Bo didn't understand, Norris looked sheepish as she said, "I'm afraid it will be a few minutes."
"Aha excellent, Vex said cheerily but everyone in his living room could tell the Mesmer was fading fast. "Gives me a little time to make myself a little more presentable. Try not to break anything while I'm gone and by the way touch the bowl and I will turn your brains into tomato paste. Of course for a few of you that might be an improvement. Succubus if you please."
Bo whispered even as she was helping the dark fae back into his bedroom, "Why me?"
"One of all of the people in that room you're the only one I trust not to slip a knife in my back, except maybe Norris. You're also the only ones who have seen me in this condition, and three Norris isn't exactly known for her tender mercies."
"Yeah, ok I can see that." Bo said as she guided the Mesmer into the bathroom. Looking at the shower and the Mesmer's duct tape clad body the unaligned fae said, "Sponge bath."
At the same time the Mesmer said, "Whore's bath," he smirked a little despondently as he admitted, "Yours is nicer, but mine's more accurate."
The brunette didn't comment only ran the tap in the sink until it got to a comfortable warm temperature and then put a stopper in the sink. She went and got the remainder of the shop towels and dropped them in the sink. Then brought in a blood red silk shirt and leather pants from the closet before she turned off the water. She took the first shop towel and after soaping it up she gave it to the Mesmer and did her best to remove the robe to a certain point, while still maintaining his dignity.
"That lady doc is good for your maternal instinct, but might be bad for your sexual instincts," the Mesmer said with a leer.
"You're making a pass at me and you can barely sit up. If I accepted exactly how were you going to make good on it?" she asked as she walked back out of the bathroom and over to the dresser.
"For you love, even in this condition I would definitely make the effort." came the pained statement from the bathroom.
Feeling very much the trespasser and the voyeur Bo opened several drawers till she found a drawer with underwear, one with socks and one with accessories. "What type of underwear, do you want?"
"None." came the reply.
"Ew much," Bo said
"No offense to your delicate sensibilities sweetie but in my current condition and wearing those leathers you've put out. None is about the best I can manage right now." the Mesmer said and there was definitely more than a hint of pain in his voice now.
"Fair enough," Bo said agreeably and moved on to the sock drawer and grabbed out a pair of tube socks. Before going to the accessories drawer, she found of all things a pair of bracers that matched the pair of pants she'd already picked. Then she headed back into the closet and looked for the fiercest pair of boots she could find. A pair of boots that by her estimation came up about mid-thigh on the mans legs and had a small enough heel to not cause the already unsteady fae any issues with his balance hopefully.
When she walked back into the bathroom, the Mesmer was already working to get his pants up his legs and when he saw her come in with the boots a bark of pained laughter escaped his lips. "You have a high opinion of me Bo."
"Not really. Kenzi says whenever you feel your worst that's when you need to look like your going to war. These are the most kick ass pair of boots you have in that closet and today you are wearing them to face the Morrigan."
"I like your thinking." he said as he finally managed to get the leather pants pulled up and zipped. The succubus put the socks on him and then the pair worked together to get the boots on. She then stood and squeezing out one of the shop towels worked to clean off the parts of his back and neck that weren't covered in duct tape, which admittedly there wasn't much of.
Then she looked at his hair again and carefully turning him away from her began working hunks of blood caked hair between the wet edges of the cloth. Until the clots began to break up into the moist fabric. Although they were in a hurry she slowed her movements when she heard Vex give a soft moan. Until she realized the moan was in pleasure not pain. She paused.
"Don't worry succubabe, as you guessed not in any condition to do anything like that. Besides this isn't sexual, not really. More…" Here the Mesmer found himself at a loss for words.
The succubus said, "Comforting." and Vex merely nodded his head as she went back to work on his hair. She combed it out and then finger fluffed the hair, the little bit of blood that was left acted like it's own natural product which the younger fae tried hard not to think too much about. She helped him put on the shirt and left him to button it as she went back out to grab her purse.
The staff had grounded itself she noticed as she grabbed her makeup bag out of her purse. As she walked back to the bedroom, she caught Norris's eye who said, "The car will be here in two minutes. The others will be waiting in the van downstairs," she said. Which was when Bo noticed that the other fae were no longer in the apartment. She nodded at the older woman as she rushed back into the bathroom.
Vex was struggling to put on the second bracer, she helped with it confidently. As she admitted, "This will do. Normally I would say add eight hours of sleep and one of your jackets but the shirt is already more than you should have on and the car will be here in just a minute." She said as she began to apply a slim line of guy liner around his eyes. The man's eyelashes were thick and sooty enough not to need any mascara. Then Bo had a thought, it was risky she hadn't fed in a while and she was not full by any means but the Mesmer needed it more right now and she hadn't even thought of asking him what she needed to know.
She grasped his chin and gently pulled his face up to meet her eyes as she said, "Not sexual, for medicinal purposes only." Before sending a healthy dose of chi into the Mesmer. Vex was shocked and placed a hand on her neck and she suddenly felt as if she was receiving the chi back. As if they were on a feedback loop.
"Car's here," Norris called from the other room. The two pulled back and gazed at each other, both now much stronger than they had been before their shared chi kiss.
"What was that?" Bo asked as she stepped back.
"Have that talk later, yeah?" the Mesmer asked as he levered himself up, still a little wobbly, but at least this time he hadn't needed her help. As they neared the bedroom door he seemed to sag back into the weakened state. Bo gazed at the fae male as he did this and Vex merely winked at her. A quick smirk of relief and understanding graced her expression as she supported him carefully out the door.
Instinctively her hand went up and the Staff of Protection flew into her waiting grasp. Norris looked questioningly at the pair as they made their way to the door of the apartment. The older woman slid into position at the Mesmer's side offering herself as crutch as well to her fellow dark fae as they made their way down to the waiting limo.
Once they were settled and Vex found himself leaning in to the succubus both for support and to ease some of his pain that he heard her whisper, "Barbecue?"
~O~
Stiles sighed in relief as he eased Erica back into a more restful sleep. He quickly packed the few items he had needed for the ritual back into his backpack. Then he pressed the nurses call button. When the nurse came on the line he asked her to call the head nurse. She responded, "I'm afraid the head nurse is very busy can I help you?"
"Yes you might tell the head nurse that Erica Reyes is beginning to wake up and that she might want to call her family and the doctor in charge of her case." Stiles said in a quiet tone. He understood that sometimes the men and women who worked in the medical services business were often stretched to their limit and could be a little snippy. He was wiling to give the woman the benefit of the doubt in this case.
"I beg your pardon?" the woman said and Stiles was willing to admit he was getting a little annoyed as he repeated.
"I said Erica is beginning to wake up and you might wasn't to call Ms. McCall and tell her so she can contact her family and the doctor."
"Ms. Reyes isn't scheduled to come out of her coma yet," the nurse answered and sounded putout as if this were a terrible inconvenience to her schedule.
Stiles had to be snarky as he replied, "I'll be sure to tell her that."
The Spark stood at the window once again and began to try and work the kinks out of all the muscle groups in his body. The spell was a little challenging and rather time consuming involving a lot of tense muscles and now the kinks needed to be worked out
The teen felt someone cross the threshold of the wards. It wasn't one of the Alpha Pack. The backlash of magic would have caused a very audible and physical whomp in the atmosphere. This felt very much like one of the Pack and at first the Spark thought it might have been Boyd, then he felt a twist to his heart and knew who it was even before he'd heard the doorknob to the room twist.
"I find it highly disconcerting that you got here faster than the nurse from the nurses station down the hall. Don't you?" he said without looking away from the window.
He hadn't faced Derek since the incident after he had saved Cora…and kissed the Alpha in front of several members of their Pack. He wondered for a split second if the older man was here to tell him he was kicking him out of the Pack. If so Stiles was going to fight to stay in.
Even though he really didn't want to hate Derek, that would probably be the one thing that might manage to break him. Losing the little family they had in the Pack, Stiles would fight for that, he might not win but he also was not going to willingly give it up.
Stiles continued talking to the window as he saw Derek's shadowy reflection step closer to the bed to check on his sleeping Beta. "She's waking up, was sort of awake a few minutes ago but I put her back to sleep. I want her to wake up gradually, less pain that way.. She is a stubborn little vixen though. The nurse is supposed to be calling Mama McCall, the doctor and hopefully the family. Which will hopefully involve the rest of the Pack. I already texted Boyd, who hopefully won't get any speeding tickets on the way over here."
He saw the reflection scent mark his Beta and brush the blond hair back from her face. Then he stood up and turned to walk toward Stiles. "Did you feel her start to wake up? Is that why you're here?" The Spark realized he was babbling about the time Mama McCall came through the door with the rather harried looking floor nurse.
Melissa Mc/Call stared at the two young men in the room and still stinging from Stiles too accurate assessment of the security at the hospital snapped at the pair, "What are you doing here? "
"Visitors can stay in the ICU rooms in between visiting hours to comfort patients and keep other family members and friends aware of the condition of the patients." Stiles quoted verbatim from the rules that were posted next to the ICU nurses station.
"And I am Erica's guardian in loco parentis. I think you'll find a copy of the document in her chart if not I have a copy right here." Derek said and pulled his wallet out of the back pocket of his jeans removed the folded sheet of paper to present to the head nurse. Mama McCall scanned the document while continuing to look a little hostile. Instead of wasting anymore time talking to the pair though, Melissa went instead to assess Erica.
The two men stood side by side at the window, staying out of the way as best they could.. When the nurses began a more thorough assessment, the two refused to leave instead turning away to gaze out the window. In her present mood they were concerned Ms. McCall might throw them out of the ICU if they left the room.
When the nurses finally finished their exam on Erica, Melissa was glaring a little suspiciously at the pair as she came over to speak to them. "Erica does seem to be rousing but that may take a while and it may only be temporary." she told the two younger men in her compassionate professional tone.
The other nurse walked out the door and as soon as the door clicked Melissa asked, "Ok what did you two do?"
Derek widened his eyes innocently, honestly it was a good look for the older man but even Mellissa knew better. Instead she looked at the younger man who was her frustrating pseudo son. Stiles merely gave a small smile to the older woman as he said, "Just a moderate spell to try and increase her own healing factors and boost her adrenaline a little."
"A spell?" the woman said and there might have been just a hint of hysteria in her voice now.
"Yeah. Just a moderate one," the teen said genially as he held his fingers a couple of inches apart to demonstrate. Instead of answering the woman made an odd noise in her throat and turned on her heel to walk out of the hospital room.
"She seems a bit annoyed," Derek rumbled next to him and Stiles had to give a little smile as he replied.
"She's used to it," he said a little too cheerfully as he leaned over to pick up the discarded backpack. "The Pack should be here any minute so I'm just going to go and…"
Stiles felt the iron grip as the werewolf pulled him to a stop. "Aren't you going to stick around, I'm sure they'd all like to thank you for …"
Before he could even finish Stiles was trying to snatch his arm away from the Alpha, "What express their appreciation like you thought Cora and I were doing. Would you let go?"
Instantly Derek released him and overbalanced he fell to the floor, and hissed, "Ow."
"Not what I meant and you know it and you know it. You're a hell of a lot better at expressing yourself than I am. " Derek said as he helped the younger man to his feet.
"Why because I actually talk?" Stiles asked in a snaky tone.
"No because you can do this without feeling self-conscious," the Alpha said before pulling Stiles closer and began to plunder the younger mans mouth. At first Stiles resisted thinking this was some kind of a joke but his feelings for the older man took over and their mouths began meeting instead of clashing.
Stiles and Derek had relaxed into each other and the kisses were becoming hot enough that clothes should have already started flying off or possibly beginning to catch fire when they both heard a sultry feminine voice say in kittenish tones, "You know this would be so hot, if I didn't feel like 10 miles of bad road right now."