After a few hours of driving, Simon asked Derek to pull off at a rest area. I suspected he didn't actually need to use the bathroom, he was just trying to give us some space to talk.

Derek pulled in the next one we found and Simon got out. I want to step out too but Derek's gaze stopped me. He got up from his seat and came to the back. Sliding in next to me and shutting the door behind him. Derek put his arms around me and pulled me up onto his lap.

"Talk to me," was all Derek said.

"Can you promise not to blame yourself?"

Derek shook his head. I didn't say anything. He got antsy waiting for me to speak. Fidgeting slightly.

"Fine," he gave after a minute.

I spoke slowly and quietly.

"It was awful. All the bones in my body were breaking. My skin felt like it was on fire. Everything inside me was moving. I don't know if I've ever been in that much pain before," I paused thinking. "Nearly dying from the Pack wasn't as bad as that experience. Then my powers started getting out of control. Maybe they were pent up or something, I really haven't summoned in a while. The room started filling with ghosts and the ground was breaking apart all around me. Liz helped me get cuffs."

"Like handcuffs?" Derek interrupted.

I nodded, "They had these engravings on them that enchanted them and helped contain a persons power. Liz helped put them on me and my necromancer energy lessened but it wasn't going away. I had to funnel it somewhere else before I brought everything down."

Derek nodded, finally piecing together what happened with the Edison Group building.

"So you didn't make it through," Derek sighed. "Do you at least have the cuffs for next time?"

I shook my head, "I couldn't bring myself to steal from Tess."

Derek looked frustrated that I didn't take them.

"I think that's what the Alpha did too," I looked down. "He forced me into a change but told me I was not capable of finishing it and that my necromancy would spiral out of control. That way I suffer through this forever."

Derek's hand let go of me and gripped the seat, trying to channel his anger to a non living object.

"No one gets through their first time Chloe, you're wrong."

"It's gotta be your father's bargaining chip," I said. "He'll fix me after he gets whatever he wants."

"I don't know Chloe it was your first time. But if you're right then he's going to get what he wants," Derek growled. "I am not letting you go through that for the rest of your life."

"Derek I-"

"I am so sorry Chloe. I should've been there for you. You've been there for me more times than I can count."

"No blaming yourself," I growled at him.

Simon tapped the glass and opened the door. Sliding in on my other side.

"Sorry to ruin the moment," he smiled. "But we should keep moving."

Simon dropped a bunch of snacks he'd been carrying.

"Every road trip needs road food," Simon laughed.

The boys got back in their front seats. Derek was really worried about me now that he knew what was going on.

"Where are we going?" I finally asked.

Simon opened his mouth to answer but Derek cut him off.

"We are retracing our steps until we find my father. This is going to end once and for all."

"What?!" Simon and I exclaimed.

"That's a suicide mission," Simon said.

Derek shook his head, "Only if one of us went. With all of us together it's just a mission. This needs to end before Chloe gets hurt again."

"I'm fine," I argued.

"No, you're not," Derek growled. "We are going to fix you, stop him, and get it over with."

"I don't like this," Simon frowned. "We shouldn't do that without Dad."

"Well we are," Derek said.

I pulled Matt's paper out of my pocket and looked at it, maybe he could help? He wouldn't extend an offering like a phone number unless he really meant it. Matt hated technology after all.

"What's that?" Simon asked.

Derek looked back in the mirror to see what he was referring to.

"Matt's phone number," I said.

"Isn't he anti technology though?" Simon asked.

I nodded, "Yeah, which makes me think he's on our side if he's willing to have a phone."

Derek shrugged, "Or he's baiting you to get your number so he can track you."

"Burner phones can't get tracked. And Aunt Lauren has it now though so what would be the downside of him having it too?"

Derek mulled it over in his head, not saying more. Trying to see a negative angle to Matt's gesture.

"What is Matt?" Simon asked.

I shrugged, "Kit cut him off before he could tell me."

"What did Dad say?"

"Batman," I smiled at the joke. Kit wasn't one to make many movie references.

Simon whipped his whole body around. Locking his seat belt in the process. Derek tensed at the sudden movement, trying to drive as safe as possible. We didn't need to be attracting police right now.

"What?" I asked.

Simon's eyes were wide, "Dad better have been kidding!"

"Could someone please explain?" I was lost.

"Growing up, Dad told us about a half demon that went by the nickname Batman. He was a vampire hunter. Killed every vampire nest he came across. There was conspiracies that it was revenge driven, vampires killed his family or something." Simon geeked out. "But he never actually told anyone why he did it. He was extremely secretive. Then one day, maybe three or four years ago; he dropped off the face of the earth. No one knows where he went, what happened to him, anything. He's just dead or in the wind."

I was stunned, "And you think that Matt is that guy? That your dad just happened to know? It couldn't have been a joke?"

"Dad has connections everywhere, I wouldn't be surprised if he"d crossed paths with the vampire hunter at some point. And that's not a face you would forget I bet," Derek commented.

I shook my head and laughed, "This is nuts."

Simon smiled, "That would be so cool if Matt was him though! We'd be sworn to secrecy and all that. Protecting his identity."

Derek and I smiled and rolled our eyes. Simon continued on about how cool it would be.