To Those I see

by lovehatepainjoy

Rory Lovette came to Beacon Hills after the tragic death of her sister. Jaded and aimless she finds herself a ghost among the living, or maybe she was just over dramatic, she's always been over dramatic. under construction needs help not edited at all.

11. 10

"So how did that go?" She asked and Rory sighed looking down at her hands.

"He's not looking for applicants, guess I'm screwed huh?"

"Seriously? You were in there for 20 minutes and he's not even willing to hire you? Well, you don't need a job anyway." Flipping her mirror she fixed her lip gloss.

"So we're too?"

"Home, apparently Allison's busy and we'll," she trailed off to keep herself from saying 'I have no one else'. Instead she smiled tightly, turning to look at Rory.

"I did get a date though." She was beaming the same way a cat would when they cornered there pray.

"Really, you already choose someone?" Burying her hands under her thighs she basked in the easy warmth. It was nice not having to rely on the wolf boy heater. "Who's the lucky lad?" Lacing in the sarcasm she smiled back just as viciously.

"Markus Fry, he's on the swimming team. I decided to take a break from lacrosse players."

"Really two was too much for you?" She basked in how quickly her face dropped

"No," turning back to the wheel she huffed. "I just think it's overrated now Tracy and Lydia are both going with lacrosse players."

"I'm sorry Lydia?" Frowning Lydia rolled eyes, crossing her arms.

"It's Dias' full name now that we're officially not friends. She doesn't want to settle anymore; she wants to be called Lydia now."

"Wait, so let me get this straight her real name was Lydia all along?" She laughed and Lydia took it the wrong way, agreeing snidely. "God you really are a terrible person." She laughed harder when Lydia straightened, looking shocked and slightly embarrassed.

"We both couldn't be Lydia, it would get confusing."

"So you made her change her name." It was hilarious to her that she couldn't see how messed up it was to make someone change their name. And Rory had no doubt that she didn't just ask her politely, no the strawberry blonde probably just started calling her 'Dia' and everyone followed suit. "Did she even like being called Dia?"

"She never said anything." Wide eyes and slightly alarmed Lydia defended herself with a pitch in her voice.

"So you gave her a new name and you stole her cheerleading career? Cruel." She was smiling because Dia or Lydia didn't mean shit to her, just one of Lydia's ex friends. "Let me guess, wait , no you started calling her Dia after she messed up the pep rally?" She asked but Lydia's wide eyes and parted lips told her everything and Rory laughed harder.

"You humiliated her then stepped on her when she was down I," sucking in a breath she had a hard time keeping it down. "I love that!"

"It's not funny! Rory it's not funny they were my friends!"

"There not anymore, they betrayed and abandoned you people like that don't deserve sympathy so yeah I can laugh. And I will laugh because Lydia is funny."

"They were at one point before. Just because they aren't anymore doesn't mean."

"Lydia," she shook her head,"it's not that big of a deal they don't want to be friends with you and honestly you can't blame them but that doesn't mean I have to sympathize with them." She didn't look convinced and Rory stopped laughing even though her smile was still eating her face.

"Okay my sister had this girlfriend right her name was Danielle they dated for about a year and had a awful break up. Danielle was terrable to her but she tried to spin the narrative right she tried to say that my sister was some kind of control freak. Some people sided with her They called her a

manipulative, heartless, cut throat all that shit. Danelle claimed that she was smothered, lonely, dependent like she couldn't put a toe out of place." She laughed but in the moment when her sister was crying in there room she hadn't been.

She had been vengeful at the time Rory had been furious that she had the gall to spread rumors. Who would make up lies about the nicest girl in school? She had almost cost Ariel everything.

"Ariel was devastated. She had really gotten along with Danielle's group of friends but they completely turned on her. So after a few weeks of this I helped create mistrust in the friend group and the world balanced out and people started to dismiss Danielle all together." She hadn't even noticed she had said her sister's name out loud and she forced a smile. It was easier remembering how she watched them all begin to hate Danelle.

"You created mistrust?"

"Yeah! I put planted pictures of Cal's boyfriend on her phone, and I cut up Sabrina's favorite purse and put it in her locker. They were her closest allies but Cal has jealousy issues and Sabrina saved for a year for that purse so of course it destroyed their friendship." She beamed because they sought out Ariel the next day and begged for her forgiveness.

Lydia looked reserved pulling away from her something in her eye that Rory couldn't place. "you framed her?"

"She was spreading lies ruining Ariel's reputation. People were calling awful names, they were making assumptions about there relationship that weren't true."

"Who told you that?" Lydia asked slowly, looking a bit shocked and Rory tilted her head.

"What you already know I did things for her just because she was willing to turn me in doesn't mean she deserved to have her reputation ruined."

"But I didn't know that she never, Ariel didn't even write that in her email. Maybe her ex was telling the truth she felt smothered, lonely, dependent, scared to step out of line. Rory, that's exactly what Ariel did to you." She felt her brows scrunch, unable to believe it, shaking her head rapidly.

"No Danelle was lying, she was just a bitter ex. Ariel said that she was lying she said that she was just.." trailing off she couldn't finish the sentence and she knew she couldn't but Lydia did.

"Out to get her? Trying to put the blame on her? Jealous? Rory, she was treating her girlfriend the same way she treated you."

"No no she didn't, she didn't. It's not that I," Rory malfunctioned having a rare moment were she didn't have a coherent thought.

"Rory," suddenly she looked horrified her hands rising over her lips. "the girl the one at the funeral with the bald patches was the Danelle? She was the one with the guy Vic the one you covered in glue?"

Her face crumbled and she tried to justify why she did it. "yeah they humiliated her at the dance she came home crying? She came home crying…" opening the door she stepped out.

"We're are you going?" Lydia shrieked and panicked for no reason.

"I'm going for a walk okay I'm," trailing off she looked for the word. "I never said I was a good person, okay. I just need some air go on home I'm gonna go somewhere. I'll be back in a bit."

"What? Rory, no get back in the car there's something out there."

"I'll be fine, okay Scott's going to be here soon for his shift. I'll have him take me home."

"Scott is not working today," Lydia retorted quickly "get in the car don't be a child Rory."

Taking a breath re-fought back her overwhelming urge to act like a child when she's called one instead she eased back into the seat. Lydia didn't wait putting the car into drive the moment the door was closed.

It had been extremely cold and the heater was being used by everyone in the building so she was more or less lucking out. But it was a Saturday night and nothing was going to deter her so she planned it all out. She put on the classic Nightmare before Christmas, made some powder keg hot chocolate and plopped her sister's blanket over her shoulders. She wasn't high maintenance and it was enough for her.

Half way through the movie is when it happened during 'Kidnap Mr. Sandy Claws' the front door crashed against the wall so violently that it knocked out the coat rack. Rory was going to ignore it, roll her eyes and bury herself deeper into the covers when her sisters sobbing rolled over her ears and she sat up straighter.

"Bunny!" The scream didn't bounce off the walls it was more to say they transcended them, a gutteral horrifying sound that if she was paying attention maybe she would of seen how the room shook.

But she wasn't paying much attention to anything but her summoner. She wasn't fast or athletic but her feet touched the floor behind the couch in the next second and she only had a few minutes to register that yes she had just jumped the couch before she was at Ariel's side.

Her arms were bare and outstretched and had it been any other time Rory might have told her she looked like a baby but now wasn't the time. Her sister's head was colliding with her chest before both of her knees hit the wood. Her arms wrapped protectively around the layers of puffy fabric and smooth satin.

"Hey.. hey what's wrong? What happened?" Ariel's hands fisted into her sweater as she pulled her closer letting out another whale that could barely be considered muffled in the thick fabric.

Cupping her water stained cheeks Rory kept her hold as genital as possible as she angled her head. The look that was etched into the beautiful features of her sister's face was enough. She knew from the streaks that were created into the pink blush that she would be getting revenge. She didn't know who it was; she didn't really care she would make a mess out of them.

The feeling was solidified as Ariel began to choke on the words, her eyes squeezing shut and her own hands climbed Rory's chest until fingertips ground into the hollow of her shoulders. It was painful with the nails she was used to Ariel keeping her nails short but she didn't say anything, this wasn't about her.

"It was Vicky." She finally whispered, collapsing deeper into the fabric of her sweater, her hands climbing up her neck until they were in there usual position. In the spot right under Rory's eyes where the bone met the socket Ariel's favorite spot. She was pulling at the skin; her sharp nails felt like tiny daggers but Rory ignored it.

"H-he humiliated me. He was never actually planning on going with.." she trailed off Rory just waited patiently, her back finding the wall behind them as she held the red head soothingly down the curls and fly aways strands that Ariel and Holly spent so long on less then two hours ago.

"He was with Danelle this whole time! They were both in on it." Rory would have asked if Avey already beat the shit out of the both of them but Avey wasn't here. Ariel had come home alone Ariel was never alone. She was always surrounded , supported and uplifted by her friends… that meant that she needed her and only her.

"What? What is it?"

"Listen to me.. listen okay Bunny." Her nails moved to the back of her skull but her thumbs stayed in place digging into the fragile skin under her sockets. "I can't deal with this.. what they did… it was Infront of everyone… everyone saw it I can't.. deal with it. B-but you can... I know I ask a lot but could you please.. for me. Your the only one who will do this for me. The only one I can trust."

It was vague, nowadays it was always vague but at least she was getting confirmation this time. She didn't have to do a wild guessing game of who was being the traitor, the bad friend, or simply thought they could prey on her sisters kindness. Rory had done a lot of shit at this point all in her sister's name and looking down at the desperation in her face watching her dark eyes flit over her own face to find understanding she knew this wouldn't be any different.

Ariel was too good. She wanted to see the good in others; she wanted them to be her friends so she could be there's. People weren't good; they saw the popular girl that had it all and they wanted it too. Ariel let it slide she tried to keep seeing the good but when they got too deep she would turn to her sister who in perfect contrast only saw the bad.

Pressing her forehead to Ariel's she gave a slight nod, her eyes going wide and buggy and to her delight Ariel smiled.

"Thanks bunny, at least I'll always have you."

The momary flitted through her mind as she stared up to the ceiling. She needed fresh air. She needs to get away. Away from seers and banshees and ariel. Away from the gnawing feeling that she did everything for nothing. For her everything.

She didn't move.

She didn't get up.

She laid there until the edges of her vision went black and all the sleep she had been running from hit her all at once.

She was in her white room.

The door loomed off to the side and she fixed her face into the strongest expression she had. Bored and apathetic before she turned and walked towards the door passing her throne that didn't even look like it could support her anymore. Each step felt more foreboding them the last the closer she got to the oak door and it's shining golden knob the more she lost her resolve.

But she needed to get Ariel out… no maybe she could keep her in.

They could talk.. maybe they could come to an understanding.

She could have her sister back and this time she would be hers and just hers.

"Ariel?" The word made her tongue dry and she rudded it against the roof of her mouth to avoid the feeling. "Ariel? I know you're in here!" She waited for footsteps, rustling anything.

"You were the one pounding on the door, why are you hiding from me!" She called again knowing that the last thing she wanted to do was open the door.

"Ariel, please talk to me."She was nine again, ten, eleven, twelve, begging her sister. "Are you still mad at me?" Thirteen, fourteen, "I haven't done anything this time." Fifteen "I did what you told me to!"

In a deep part of her mind she knew this was her realm, her domain, that if she wanted Ariel then she should bend to her wishes. But having that kind of control wasn't something she even thought she wanted.

"Ariel!" She tried again making a fist and then finding that she just couldn't bring herself to touch the door. When she turned around she saw someone standing feet away from her where her crumbling trone once sat keeping her calm and comfortable.

Ariel looked different, her tan skin pale and dead, her dark red hair that once had big voluminous waves was limp against her head like seaweed. But she was there standing feet away Rory felt the glaze form in her eyes she took a step and the her sister who had been swaying generally went rigid.

"Why have you been hiding?" She asked after a second and those dark eyes that she stared into her whole life stared at her blue and stormy trough and wild ocean caught in a thunderstorm.

This was her second chance she could have her sister back; she could have her all to herself. Ariel had stayed this long; she must have been afraid hiding until there was just her and Rory left. They could be together now.

"Ariel?" She said again feeling a bit withdrawn. Why wasn't she saying anything? Why was she just staring blankly at her with a vague expression? "What's wrong?" Deaton had said that banshees who hid in seers were selfish but Ariel wasn't. Not exactly. So she must have been scared. Scared of being dead, scared of not having a body of her own. She was so scared but she was still beckoning, arms extended out.

Rory collided with her shoulder pressing her face into her sister's neck, her arms going around her waist. It had been the touch she had been looking for, her sister gave the best hug. They were warm and tight every time, perfect in every way. But this was tighter, harder the arms that wrapped around her circled her.

"Ariel?" She managed to squeak out sucking in a breath. Rory tried to tilt her chin up but the fingers that were tangled in her hair were keeping her in check. She could feel the spikes of pain at her roots Ariel's grip had gotten lighter, her other hand traveling up to her neck gripping it like a mother cat to their kitten. The chill swept over her as her sister's fingers dug into her neck. Her breath chilled her ear as she put her lips closer.

"You betrayed me."

Three words.

Rory never would have expected it but three words could have caused her to combust. It made her want to curl up and die. But she couldn't, all she could do was stand there pressed to her sister's shoulder shivering. Feeling as if she was seconds away from frostbite.

"I can't stay with you anymore Rory, I can't trust you."

"What?" She asked but it was drowned out by the no's that were pouring out. "You can't leave! You can't leave, I didn't. I didn't do anything!"

"I won't stay here! You doubted me! You were supposed to be mine and your doubting me.. don't you love me anymore!"

"I do, I do , you have to leave, you can stay here." She was begging wide eyes upturned turned to her since Ariel was always couple inches taller. "Please don't cry!"

"Wait! Wait! No I didn't! I wouldn't.. I.. how do I make it up to you! Ariel!" The words echoed around her head but she wasn't the one saying it. She wasn't screaming, but it was everywhere her own voice begging for forgiveness. Offering everything she had.

It whirled around her room breaking it inch by inch cracking the walls. "Just let me! I'll give you anything please."

She opened her mouth expecting the words to come from the source but nothing came. She shut it again.

"If you want to leave, go. I'm not going to stop you Ariel, I love you." The walls of her room faded softly and without a sound.

Maybe it was over? Maybe Ariel would visit her.

She didn't know. But what she did know before consciousness took her was that there still something there among the white. An oak door with a golden knob.

Lydia hovered over her holding a phone that was screaming a song in her ear. And for once she felt peace something peaceful settle over her.

It was better than the usual song and dance. Losing her mind every other day screaming more than she ever had in her life. She was tired of her problems, how there were so many. It was all so tiring. What did she have to worry about in the before? Before that damn door. She stared into the ceiling past Lydia as she thought about this.

It had always been so simple.

Ariel.

So easy.

Ariel.

She didn't have to worry about other people, no one else mattered. She didn't have to care about Scott's anxiety. She didn't have to paint Lydia's nails and coordinate outfits. She didn't have to listen to Allison worry about Scott or tip toe around her innocence. She didn't have to solve this murder case with Stiles.

She just had to be Ariel's pet. She just had to be the shadow in the background.

"Rory!" Lydia hissed and she became incredibly aware of the world around her. Her phone was ringing loudly beside her head, the heated blanket that was warming her chest and arms to the point of burning them. Lydia who was holding her wrist as it flopped around.

Her hand was pale again and she was acutely aware of how her stomach dropped.

"Your phone's ringing," Lydia said again, turning her attention to Rory's hands she gave a slight nod of approval. "Looks like your hands are finally normal again I was starting to think that doctor didn't know what the hell he was talking about." Rory swallowed but her throat was to dry.

Dropping her wrist Lydia picked up her phone as it rang vibrating in her hand.

"Hello? Are you the one at the front door?" Usually Lydia didn't just go around answering people's phone but she sounded annoyed enough that Rory didn't question it. "It's the sheriff's son talk to him before he knocks down our door." Handing the phone over quickly getting annoyed that she wasn't taking it and shoving it into her palms.

Rory didn't want to do anything but have an existential crisis in her bed. The bastard was gone now but riddance to him, Laura to and Rory actually liked her. Now Ariel was too, she was alone now in her head. She took the phone mechanically, holding it to her ear.

"Rory, you have got to start answering your phone! There's way to much going on for you to not answer your phone!" Stilinkis voice rushed out and she could hear knocking on the other end just behind his voice.

"Are you at my house?" Her words made her groggy and pain pressed against her temples.

"Yes!"

"You know your not allowed at my house." Yawning she pulled herself off the bed reaching for her gloves before pausing. Should she even put them on? Bringing her fingers to her mouth she the end teeth clicking against her nails and she winced at the pain.

"We can worry about that later okay, we have bigger problems."

"Okay okay like what?" The edges of her vision were blurry as she went into the hall only vugly hearing Lydia's door shut.

"Like Scott's mom is going on a date!" She threw the door open and almost shut it again but he stopped her used to this rutine.

"That's bad."

"Yeah, it's bad when shes going out with Peter its pretty bad." The words I'm going back to sleep died on her tounge as she adjusted the end of her glove pulling it up to her elbow.

"Yeah okay I see what you mean so what are we going to do about it?"

"I have an Idea."

She should have never trust Stiles Stilinski she thought that as he rammed his jeep into the back of a black car.

She could be at home begging for her sisters forgiveness but no she was here watching Melissa get out of her car huffing and puffing as she went. "Stiles!"

"Mrs. McCall?" She could see were he was going with this and she rolled her eyes her head hitting the headrest.

"Sorry did we hit you?" She asked sounding slightly paniced. "I kept telling him to go right and he went left and I grabbed the wheel.. did we damage anything?" Climbing out of the car she tried her best to look like she had just spent the last hour being kicked in the stomach.

Ahe frowned looking at the back of the car for any signs of damage when a man came out this man was obviously Peter Hale but not. He wasn't the man in the photo and he wasn't the man in the hospital. His face didn't have the wear and tear that it did before.

"I'm sorry about that it's my son's friends," instantly she turned to Peter looking more apologetic then her previous anger. "They were being idiots it doesn't look to bad though." It could of been worse Stilinski wasn't trying to combine the cars just dink them like two tea cups.

"I mean you really came out of nowhere I didn't even see you there."

"You didn't even see us? Stiles we were parked at the side of the road we weren't moving."

"Yeah that's my fault I wasn't really thinking before I gravbed the wheel." Melissa mellowed slightly not being aquatinted enough with Rory to become the same motherly figure she was with Stilinski. She could only drag in long deep breaths and center herself.

"You should not be grabbing the wheel when someone's driving I shouldn't have to tell you how dangerous it is but trust me I work in the ER." She said pumping what Rory assumed was humor into her words.

Peters hands rand along the line of a small scratch and if he let out his claws he could probably do more damage with his thumb and forefinger.

"It's," he paused, looking up at them dramatically in every right. She wondered if it was just the men in the family or if Laura was the anomaly. "alright it happenes."

"I don't know, we should probably call the police. We can have an accident report drafted up if your not busy," he looked between the two as Melissa closed in on herself covering her outfit with crossed arms. "Were you two busy?" He asked even though he had explained everything on the way. He knew that Peter was posing as a medical rep and apprently he had his eyes out for Scott's mother which could not and would not be taken as as coincidence.

"Oh? Oh my god were you on a-" he trailed off understandably when Rory elbowed him in the side. He was being a bit too thractric but Melissa didn't do anything but roll her eyes so maybe this was just Stiles normal octave of dramatic.

"Were really sorry it was an accident. Well, uh, we're trying to find this Italian place uh Fella…" she pretended to struggle for a bit longer until Melissa stepped in.

"Fellachinies that's we were uh going?" She looked awkward, suddenly the idea of having Scott's friends in the same restaurant was making her uncomfortable even if she didn't want to admit it.

"Oh really? That's great my aunt has this date tonight and I'm just going to make sure that nothing comes out of it." That made her reel back harder even if it wasn't true Melissa didn't seem to know that.

"Oh yeah, no that's perfect! Do you think we could follow you maybe?" Stilinkis perked up beside her and Melissa took a physical step back.

"No, I'm sorry I think I might need to reschedule. I just got a call from my nephew. I'm sorry Melissa, maybe another time." He looked at them as he said the final words and she could feel the air get sucked out between the two cars.

"Oh, yeah no it's, it's fine I get, do you uh need to go now?"

"I'm sorry, let me take you home alright, it's the least I can do." His voice was low and sympathetic, his eyes soft as he looked at her like she really mattered to him.

She watched them and didn't exactly know what to say or how to get Melissa to come with them. They followed at a safe distance but by then she didn't think Peter was going to do anything. Meaning he had another plan. One that Stilinski was apparently getting an ear full from Scott about.

"He's got Jackson." Stiles sighed, his head rushing forward, obviously worn out.

"Great and I guess we can't just let him die."

"Nope. He's telling me to go to the preserve. He wants you to see if you can see him?" He said it as a question, his eye sflicming down to her hands and she sighed pulling off her gloves.

"There.."

"I told you it would go away." And with it her sister but she didn't have the emotional capacity for that instead she tried to focus on Jackson as Stilinski turned the car around. Probably taking the back roads so he could drive like a bat out of hell.

"What can you see?" He asked as black shrouded her vision but not from anything supernatural she just had her eyes closed.

"I don't know Jacksons, not anyone I'm in-tuned to, you know he's just there."

"Okay then Derek? Focus on Derek." She tried and images of a young sixteen year old stood In Front of her.

"Derek? We're are you taking me!" The voice was younger than who she expected, not young enough to be Cora, not deep enough to be Laura and not old enough to be Kate.

"I just want to show you something." His voice was higher than the one he had now cracking slightly and then dipping to cover the mistake.

She pushed it away because this was young Derek and she did not need that today or tomorrow or ever. Young Derek meant seeing predator Kate. She wasn't mentally prepared for that. She tried to think of Derek now the brooding bad boy batman arcitype.. if batman went to the dark side that is. Not thing she ever thought Derek would use a gun but still

She was becoming more and more trusted, opening her eyes and hitting her back to her chair.

"Nothing."

"Okay then what about Scott? He's tracking both of them." Scott.

Scott could work. She thought of the human sauna, she thought of his puppy dog eyes, the boy too good and to nobel and overly annoying with his hero complex. She thought of him trying to to save Jackson despite the fact that Jackson was actively black mailing him she thought about how she would have let Derek kill the shit out of Jackson. But that's why she wasn't the leader of their little group. No, they followed Scott.

She could see him then running through the trees a abnormal black mass towering alongside the trees to thick and wide to be one of them.

"I got him, he's close to the house!" She jerked forward as Stilinski threw the car into park and then paused.

"What?" Straightening in her seat she tried to look at what he was crawling over the dash to see exactly what he saw.

"See that?" He asked, pointing toward a group of trees clustered tightly together.

"No? What is it?"

"It's a van? People are here."

"People? Like what people?" She asked, looking at him.

"I dont know." Unbuckling his seat belt opened the door and slid out and she followed suit.

"Are we going to find out?" The fan was almost an exact copy of the one she saw at the Argents big and black with tinted windows but these tires were larger, making the van stand about a foot off the ground. Placing her hand on the door she dragged it along the sleek door until she felt a slight change in texture.

The argent crazy flashed through her eyes and she was starting to think that she had been extremely handicapped for the past few weeks.

"So?"

"It's definitely the Argents? Which means.." she looked at him then into the lining of trees leading into the woods. "There in there."

"And so is Scott." She didn't like the resolve on his face but she guessed there really wasn't anything she could do about it.

"Should we call him?" She after a moment of shooting ideas between one another. He shook his head and she nodded that they shouldn't draw any attention to their wolf boy. "Okay what about the tracker? Track his phone we can use so we both know where he is."

"Yeah okay I installed an app on his phone so it would be easier." He said it so easily like it wasn't an invasion of someone's privacy and she couldn't help but look back at the jeep where her phone was laying in the cupholder.

Tilting her head she stared at him as he searched through his phone oblivious to her accusing gaze. "Delete it." She said finally but whether she was talking about the tracker on Scott's phone or the hypothetical one assumed was on hers she didn't know.

"Yeah see it says that he's about a mile into the preserve." His face melted as her words finally derailed his train of thought. "Wait what?"

"You can't just track your friends Stiles. It's not ethical."

"And when did you ever care about things being ethical? Didn't we have to stop you from bashing Jackson's head in with a bat?" She opened her mouth not really knowing what she was going to say but being cut off anyway. "And didn't you tell us that the only way that you would back off is if we pop his tire?"

"I did but didn't you take it a step forward and key his car?"

"Well I mean," he trailed off and then started again with vigor "we had to key it Scott's nail kept getting stuck." They stayed silent again and it occurred to her that they had been stalling in a way.

"Should we track him?" She asked biting down on her fingers, grinding her teeth into the soft skin.

"Yeah, probably."

"We could get caught by the Argents."

"Yep."

"We could just let Jackson die. I mean we could get Scott and leave. We don't know where they are if they know he's even here. If," she paused looking harder into the tree line. "If this goes south if they start shooting we sacrifice Jackson okay we let them think he's the second beta. Okay?"

"Your preaching to the choir I already tried to initiate the let Jackson die plan Scott isn't really into it." She bit harder to stifle her laugh, it caught in her throat causing her to make an odd gurgling sound.

"Do you think we should figure out where the agents are?"

"There, probably near the house, they most likely were staking it out and since I won't let Derek back into my attic he went here."

"What about the apartment couldn't he just got there?"

"I don't even know if he knows about it."

"Why would Peter let Derek stay in a delabated house?"

"Maybe he's staying there by choice?"

"Sounds sentimental."

"Nah psychos are just weird like that."

"Do you really think he's psycho? I mean everything that he's been makes sence."

"He's killing people."

"No technically he hasn't killed anyone. And they deserved it."

"I know I know Convicted felon, falsifying insurance reports, setting the fire I know.. it's just."

"It's just what?" They stopped and she turned to him moving her fingers to the side of her mouth to be ground on by her molars. "You can't tell me they didn't deserve it they let the entire family die. Children burned."

"Rory I know," he swatted her hand forcing her fingers out of her mouth. "it's just my dad.."

"What about your dad? He wasn't even on the case, remember?"

"But he's on this one!" His leg bounced and he paced backwards his hands ran over his face and down to his hips before he came back. "He's killing himself over this case, I know what's happening and why! I got him drunk earlier so I could figure out what he knew! And not only did I know everything he knew, I know the killer! And I can't do anything about it, I just have to stand there and watch this case eat him alive. You know Mrs. Fisher still comes over everyday; she's getting more and more restless; she's threatening to search for Ela by herself and ensure that he doesn't get reelected for the job."

His little rant wasn't hardly above a whisper. Some words jumped up more than others but his whole body was shaking at this point. His hands opened and closed and he took seconds to stare and his palms, then his knuckles, then his palms again.

"No I didn't know that, but what are we supposed to do? You don't want to tell your dad about this werewolf shit. Who are we supposed to put the blame on?" She asked her fingers returning to her mouth a habit that she thoroughly missed.

"I don't know. Let's just," he looked back at his phone "let's just keep going." Moving forward he didn't look back and she wondered if she could have been more gentle if maybe it looked like she didn't care.

They moved down the line of tree looking out for any sign of Argents and following the little red dot. It was telling they were getting close and she recognized the steps from her dreams. She realized she hadn't made her way to the house while awake even though she really should have. She should have been trying to get every ounce of knowledge she could from the wooden skeleton that laid barren in the middle of the preserve.

The gun shots stopped them and they both dropped to the floor on reflex, looking up to find where the constant stream of thunderclap were coming from. She felt a hand coming over her head and she instantly reached for it trying to twist the fingers only to relax at the cold skinny hand.

It was Stiles just, Stiles being chivalrous.

She moved closer to him before raising up. They were off to the side of the house but she wasn't looking at it, instead she was looking at the three gunmen who were shooting at random into the house. Kate stood at the forefront front and center, rather than tucked in the bushes like her men. She held a rifle aiming towards the front door.

Her eyes trained on the phone that was clenched in Stilinski's left hand. The little red dot moved frantically. She caught Stilinkis gaze and they both knew that Scott was still inside, possibly being turned into swiss cheese; they didn't know if the gunmen were using wolfbane lace bullets and the thought disturbed her. She slightly as Stilinki pulled her down, not willing to move up in the sight of the crazed trigger happy men.

"We have to get him out of there." He spoke loudly in her ear and she nodded.

"There's an entrance in the back. We go there and try not to get shot." He looked hesitant, obviously not willing to be completely honest; she wasn't either; she knew guns were not a joke, they were deadly. But what else were they going to do there wolf boy could be getting creators punched through his skin and wolfsbane in his bloodstream.

They ran despite feeling terrified creeping to the back of the house when it burst open and they came face to face with Jackson.

"Where's Scott?" Stiles asked suddenly looking around like he expected Scott to be on Jackson's shoulder.

"He's..he's inside I had.. he got shot I had to get out."

"So you just left him in there?"

"He can heal! I can't!" He had a self righteous self-importance that reminded Rory exactly why she hated him and she wanted to punch him but she wasn't exactly strong.

"They could have wolfsbane laced bullets jackoff! Meaning he won't heal!" Stiles demanded beating her; she could only shake in silence.

"Wolfsbane?" His eyebrows shot up and she couldn't tell if he was amused or worried "Wait, that crap actually does stuff to werewolves."

"You want to be a werewolf and you don't even know the first thing about it?" She bristled before she recognized exactly what he said. Scott was shot.

Theoretically she knew she shouldn't get in the way of gunfire and crazy psychopaths but the impulse hit and she slipped between Jackson instantly hitting the floor. Crawling across the wood to find her wolf boy slumped in the corner holding his chest blood covering from his chin. Her lips quivered as she wiped the blood from his mouth getting his attention he looked at her wearly shaking his head slowly but not having it in him to make an expression.

"Come on, come on you did good." She muttered pulling at Scotts arm willing to drag his heavy ass when he stood quickly covering her and pushing her towards the back door. He moved quickly then mostly without her help groaning as he staggered across the floor to the back door.

"Is Jack-" he was wheezing too good for this freaking world to deserve a bullet in his chest. Or the one in his back. And she realized with quick horror how quickly he moved to cover her he took the bullet without even making a sound. When they reached the back door she expected someone to be waiting there for him ready to take him but the gun fire had stopped completely. And it was just Stiles

Stiles was already helping Scott move him forward and she heard the roar that caused Scott's head to roll back whimpering slightly. His eyes had a deep sadness that could of been his own.

"He- he's telling us to leave." Stiles stopped adjusting Scot for a minute to look at him with raised brows.

"You understood that?" He lost interest a second after the question as he pulled his hand away looking at the blood that had smeared on his palm and gagging. "Oh my god you're bleeding!"

"Come on, we need to take him back to the jeep."

"Derek- he.. where's Jackson?" He was lucid coming in and out of consciousness.

Finally slipping under Scott's other arm, she and Stilinski pulled him away from the house trying to go the way they came. "Derek's.. he.. went.. the door.. protect." Words fell from Scott's lips slowly as he tried to piece the words together into a coherent sentence.

"Hey Scott" there was a small hmm as he turned his head to look at Stilinski. "Stop talking, yeah you're sort of ruining my concentration, you're not exactly light." Sleepily Scott nodded like he was agreeing his head drooped back.

"So what are we going to do about the bullets?" She asked taking a step and finding that nothing was moving with her. "Stiles?" She asked, looking over at him but he was looking straight ahead.

"We left my Jeep."

"What?"

"My Jeep was parked right next to the Argents van so if we take him to the car they're going to see us." She was about to argue that maybe they packed up and left but then the idea of them seeing another vehicle might keep them there waiting for the owner.

"So what do we do?"

"We.." his words stuttered and she craned her neck to see him. He wasn't staring blankly this time his eyes were trained on someone. She turned her head seeing a familiar man standing between the trees, his white lab coat sticking out among the blues and blacks.

"Dea…ton?" Scott said in a questioning hum as the man approached she noticed he was slow in his steps cautious like he was approaching wild animals.

"It's alright I've come to get Scott, is he alright?" Is asked in a pragmatic way assigning his role as a mediator.

"He's been shot, what the hell do you think?" Stiles balked and she could feel his hold around Scotts shoulder blades tighten.

Deaton put his hands out as if asking for Scott like he was a toy or an animal being given to him to be treated. Stiles scoffed openly his body piviting slightly.

"What do you think we're going to give him to you? Hell no you haven't told us a single thing and you want us to trust you?"

"No, I need you to trust me. Scott needs care and I can provide that."

"And how exactly did you know he needed care? You're being so freaking shady right now." He paused looking between the vet and Rory. "Right this is insane."

"Scott is a part of the Hale pack therefore he's under my care."

"So you are working for the alpha? No way!" He laughed a bit, making a humorless sound. "Hell no, I'm sorry, no. No! I'm not handing over my best friend to someone who works for crazy, okay."

"I'm not working for Peter." Taking a step Deaton tested the waters and Rory, who he had helped, wasn't able to form a sentence.

"You just said."

"He works for the Hales but that doesn't mean Peter remembers he helped Laura and so he was probably working for." She looked back at him waiting for him to finish her sentence.

"Talia." Deaton nodded looking quickly at Rory then to Stiles. "I was her emissary when she passed, my contract was still intact. I worked for Laura and kept her informed. After she passed sadly my contract was still intact because Peter is a Hale. I don't agree with what he's doing but I can't go against the contract. I'm a healer and if I go against that it pushes my heart into the wrong direction."

"So you're an emissary? But wait, aren't they, like, sorcerers or something?" He asked one hand flapping in the wind and the other holding Scott up. She moved to give Scott all of her support.

"Sorcerers no. emissary are usually druids who draw their abilities from the earth. They are vital for wolf packs especially in times of peace we help keep their humanity."

"O-okay and you couldn't have said that before? It was that easy your there advisor. Is that why he sent you?"

"No, send me because I can help."

"And then what are you going to give Scott to him? No way."

"No, I have no plans on doing that. I'll take him back to the clinic. I'll treat his wounds and most importantly I'll protect him just like I did with Derek." His diplomatic tone wasn't setting off any alarm bells but something cold was eating at her hands. She tried to focus on the air but it was a small breeze at best.

"Let's just give him Scott." She said one hand came up to pressing against Scott's chest who was barely conscious at this point. Stiles looked at her bewildered and half betrayed. Blood was starting to find other places to go as his shirt became soaked. "He's just going to keep bleeding, he's going to pass out soon. Do you know how to treat a werewolf?"

"Well no but."

"Stiles, we don't have any other choice!" She looked back at Deaton tilting her chin to signal him to come closer. "He's like a son to you right that's what you said."

"Yes, I won't do anything to him I just want to help."

"You better come to every game! And," Stiles paused looking around as they passed him off and death crouched down readjusting Scott's body. "And give him a promotion and if anything happens to him swear to God!"

"He'll be completely safe under my care. You can come by tomorrow and see him. He should be awake later tonight."

"W-what about his mom when she sees he's not home? What? Do you want me to lie for you?" Stiles asked accusingly, squinting his eyes.

"Just, do your best." He nodded fully carrying Scott bridle style and turned starting off before he paused. "And Raven it's good to see your hands are healed." Then he was gone slipping between bushes and trees getting farther and farther away.

"Do you- do you really think he's going to be fine?" Stiles asked, turning to her his foot pivoting forward like he was about to run to stop him, already changing his mind.

"We have to put our trust in someone and a so-called druid might be our only option besides he's morally grey." Stepping closer she put her hand on his arm ignoring the blood that she was possibly leaving there. "I'll watch him. I'll keep my mind attuned to him."

"So what happened to Jackson?" She asked, finally remembering that he existed.

"He ran, said his car was somewhere and he wasn't sticking around."

"Hey, Kate, take a look at this, someone else is here." A man barked over the snarls in the background. She saw the hand against the blue pain before anything then the man bald and big pale and looking like he came straight out of a biker gang.

"Huh? Looks like someone came for you Derek? We might get your beta tonight after all." Kate, blond , pretty and tall cheered smugly as she turned to the back of the fan were another roar echoed.

"The sheriff's son I have to say this alpha is pretty creative though the lawyer's kid could be a good choice too. Two kids who would be terribly missed if they went missing." She thought for a minute tapping her fingers against the jeep.

"Load 'em up boys, go on and take him."

"What about the beta?" Another man, the one she saw outside the house, the younger one.

"Load him up, I'll stay, see who comes back. I might get lucky." She was pulled back by a disgusted grunt and she saw Stiles trying to flick the blood off his hand.

"They found the jeep." She said and Stiles hissed turning away from her as he let out a low damn it.

"No no its good. Kate's staying behind there taking Derek."

"Derek? They caught him?" His head bobbed along with his leg realization shining in his wide eyes. "that's what Scot meant about Derek protecting. He got their attention." He sounded almost angry that Derek was daring to help them and she in a way couldn't blame him.

"But if Kate's at the jeep then we can't go home!" He hissed again pointing between them to emphasize her point.

"No it means one of us can't go home. One of us has to draw her attention." She breathed and he looked at her like she had said something completely outlandish. "Or you know we can abandon the jeep and walk home." His mouth feels open, twisted and then fell open again and he got close to her face.

"I will not leave that jeep! I will never abandon that jeep." Pulling away he looked suddenly apologetic, bouncing he put his thumb between his teeth.

"Okay then my plan one of us lures her away the other gets the hell out of here and guess what I can't drive."

"No, she'll catch you, she already caught Derek and then I'll have to report you as a missing person and your aunt will literally kill me. She'll kill me!"

"Listen to me if I can outrun her I can get home and it will be fine. I live literally less than a mile away. I'll be fine." She was bluffing lying through her teeth. There was no way in utter hell she would ever out run Kate argent. Trained since she probably knew how to walk. If Allsion got four years of gymnastics, who knows what Kate had under her belt.

Martial arts of probably every kind black belts white belt who knew what kind of damage she could do.

If she thought she would out run her it was a pipe dream and she never did that hard of drugs.

Not that Stilinski needed to know that besides if Rory went missing she was under the age limit of being considered a runaway and they would probably have to do something since she was minor. It wasn't fair because Ela was actually dead and she didn't even get a search party. Since she was old enough to leave there wasn't much that could be done. But it was the cards she was dealt.

She might as well use it.

She never said she was a good person.

Kate would have to return her eventually.

She stopped herself from falling down the rabbit hole she turned to Stiles who she found was being annoyingly bouncy.

"We are not doing this, you are nothing. Have you seen any horror movie? Splitting up is the last thing that we need to do."

"Got another plan?"

"Yeah we both jump into the jeep and drive off before she catches us?"

"I really don't see the working."

"You don't see the future and so I could be right and it does work. It's a hell of a lot smarter than leaving you to fend for yourself against a crazy lady who burned a family and opened fire on a house!"

"And if that doesn't work." He choked on his words, stuttering out replays that weren't exactly coherent.

"Okay okay maybe we can be more strategic I don't know let me look." She tried to think about Kate again but of course the vision came when she wasn't trying. Her mind flickered and instead she saw Scott shirtless in the backseat. His wounds looked packed with white stuffing; he looked like a human teddy bear. His head moved left to right as she repeated 'Allison' in his sleep.

"Well?" Stiles asked as her vision came back and she rolled her eyes.

"I just saw Scott. I can't really control what I see, you know I'm new to this."

"I know I know, okay okay how about this we just wait her out okay we just wait her out and she'll get bored and leave and…" his head swayed slightly eyes closing because he heard how ridiculous it was.

"She won't leave. We're talking about a woman who seduced a 16 year old boy and then burned his family alive. She's obviously used to playing the long game." Crossing her arms she shifted her weight. "She's a monster and most monsters don't just give up." Flickering thoughts of her own grandfather came and went lucidly.

He was a monster to one that like Kate had a smile and good guy act. But he was a monster, his hands that were strong and warm to Rory were hard and terrifying to the bastard. He could never get away from his monster and was even favored over him by his own family. And now Derek was stuck with his own monster caught and caged.

"Are.." he turned away from her but she heard the gears spinning. "Are you sure you can outrun her?"

"I," pausing, she could feel her shoulders becoming uneven and she swallowed. "No I don't but I think I can weave around enough and stay hidden. She's alone and she's just one person. If I make it to my house I should be fine."

"I don't like this." His words were rushed but she could hear his keys jingle. "If she gets you, what do you think she'll even do, right? She's psycho but wouldn't she think someone would know you're missing. Someone would report you."

"No one reported Ela."

"She doesn't know about Ela."

"Okay we need to come up with something. We don't have all night. Nat could be back by now and wondering where the hell I am." Sighing he nodded his fingers splayed over his forehead laughing slightly. He thought this was ridiculous but he was coming up with anything himself.

She could see the blonde standing next to the jeep scrolling on her phone. She was treating it like she was waiting for a friend and not trying to kidnap kids. It was slightly insane and she started to understand authors who made characters so cruel and heartless.

She was slowly trying to make sure that she was ahead of her before she got her attention and how she didn't know she was already there was insane. Maybe seers were just quiet, maybe they were built for stealth she didn't know. She had always been silent, getting into the ceiling wasn't a walk in the park so maybe it was that.

She had successfully gotten to the point where the van would of been when she remembered her phone was in the car sitting in the cup holder and she paused. She toyed with idea of getting it just to let Stiles know she was fine but then she thought about what would happen if she was caught and she sighed.

It was better that way he couldn't call her and expect her to answer if he had her phone. It was perfect actually but it always solidified the idea that she was going to get caught. Seers had feelings they did things that they didn't even understand.

Like leaving your phone in a car when you promised your aunt to be honest.

Stupid little things that she had admittedly been doing her whole life that worked out in the end.

Like not mentioning to her sister that she drugged Vic. Or dropping quarters down the drain causing her to only be able to afford regular glue rather than the super glue she wanted.

Leaning down she picked up a stick that she had picked up to keep her fingers busy and out of her mouth and once she had a good sight on Kate she snapped it. To her pleasure and horror it instantly alerted her. Her stomach could've dropped out of her body but she ran regardless, ensuring to step on as many twigs as she could find.

Dead leafs, jingling keys, loud thumping footsteps, she was the bunny hopping from her predictor. It was funny how her instincts didn't tell her to run from Peter, they were telling her to run now. Every instinct was on high alert. She could feel Kate behind her. She ran faster trying to get as far away from the damn jeep as she possibly could. She weaved around trees letting the keys thump against her leg. The jingle almost kept her from losing it.

And she was close to losing it Kate was on her tail. She probably wasn't as winded as Rory was but that was expected, her chest probably didn't burn and compress leaving her with a sheen of cold sweet and burning lungs.

She pulled her body around another tree twisting her feet to make tracks in the dirt. If Scott did recover maybe he would smell her and track her. Maybe Stiles would make it to her house and tell someone and the cadaver dogs would find her. Because she knew she wasn't getting out of this.

Though she didn't bother to mention it when they were making the plan. The truth was so obvious now that if she saw even a hint of the lanky boy she would scream it at the top of her burning lungs.

She had no idea how to get back home.

Aurora was running aimlessly; and she had no idea where the cottage manor was.

She knew that before this but they needed bait and she was bait. She was doing her job after all Kate was taking the bait. She wasn't screaming like a normal cartoon villain would. She was silent. It scared Rory to no end. The silence meant she had her complete focus that this woman was zeroing in on her, hunting her.

Rory was royaly fucked.

And then she saw a ledge. One that was vaguely familiar and she closed her eyes and ran faster hoping her intuition would do her the same justice it always had. Her body tumbled and bumped against the hard edges of growing stumps and the soft mounds of kicked up dirt. She ended up on her hands and knees and went to spring back up when something caught a handful of hair.

Her intuition didn't fail her. She was the bunny caught by the ears and who ever said fate was kind. Turning she saw Kate who had the smuggest smile on her lips showing her teeth. She half expected her to say something cliche. She expected to be taunted about how easily Kate had caught her . She expected some kind of victory speech but none of that was necessary.

Her eyes were enough.

Her pupils were blown out making them look dark and hungry.

She twisted the clump of hair she had caught, Rory's faithful companion that had been straightened and curled that hung over her face and protected her from the world and Rory didn't resist. She followed her hair, not willing to let any of it be yanked out.

"That was a good work out, but you didn't actually think" Kate's smile widened and she looked terrifying, the sick mocking glee filled look would imprint in Rory's brain for the rest of her life. "That you could outrun me?"

Rory could have said anything a one liner anything to get a leg up but she was silent the words dried up in her throat.

"Nothing to say? Well that's weird you're usually such a talker." She was still smiling as she twisted her hair and Rory bit her tongue. "Come on, you must have something. Maybe about derek? You know we have him now right? And then we're going to get that alpha of yours and his Beta. And you're going to help me get it." Her smile suddenly dropped and Rory's breath stuttered.

"Call him, go on call him, you know who it is I just know ir! Call him, he'll come to save you. Whether it's the cute little lacrosse player or the sheriff's son, wolves don't like when their tools are being used by others. So go on." She kept her mouth shut, not quite sure if Scott was even awake. She didn't know what movie this lady had entered or maybe the one she had been in for years but Rory didn't think it worked that way.

She wasn't even an established raven, more like working under the table. "Okay fine the hard way it is." Kate picked her up with more ease than a wrestler would and they started to walk. "You know what I don't like about you ravens? Your so sacrificial you don't know a thing about self worth."

Rory stayed silent as they moved and walked with ease Kate didn't even seem to look twice for where she wanted to go. She stayed on the path until they were in the clearing where the sign on the chain was. Rory could have flipped the jeep completely gone. He hadn't been an idiot or a hero; he left a part of her that wanted to die but it was small and shriveled.

She looked up at Kate who looked furious suddenly, not smug or mocking, purely enraged.

Different scenarios played through head she could be terrified not understanding why Als aunt was doing this. She could be smug and taunting egging her on. She could tell her that Nat would report her missing and demand she take her home. Or she could make Kate feel crazy by telling her she went into the woods for a walk and didn't come with anyone.

She didn't do any of that.

Instead she watched the women walk forward as if the jeep had gone invisible and all she had to do was touch it to make it reappear.

"He left?" She said more to herself before turning. "how did he leave you had the…" she trailed off and Rory slowly pulled out the keys. They had every key and Stilinski had everything other than his car keys.

She didn't have any satisfaction showing them, only displaying them to answer the question.

The woman opened her mouth when her phone screamed, making nature come back to Rory's ears and she realized she had zeroed in solely on herself. She didn't want to hear the engine start; she didn't want to see him leaving; she just needed to focus on herself.

Now it was just Kate and her. No Derek no Argent workers no Scott no Stiles.

"Hurry up, I want him awake when I get back got it. Let him know that I have something for him." She paused she looked at Rory with a angry playfulness the girl didn't even know was possible. "no I didn't but I caught something else get the Nitrous oxide ready we'll be using it after all."

…..

She was in the dark and she had for.. well Rory wasn't exactly sure. She didn't know how to measure time when she couldn't see anything. Her eyes were covered the moment she was shoved into the SUV and yes it was an integrating as it looked in the movies. She didn't know why she didn't compare it to true crime. Maybe it was too real , at least movies were just actors playing their parts. Comparing it to that was easier.

Time … that was what she was trying to focus on. Focusing on the time of day would make things easier; she would know that at some point Natiles would get worried or at the very least concerned.

She was walking and had metal on her hands, probably cuffed and chained. So she hadn't been there long. There was an array of loud grinding and metal thinking against metal. The air was stiff and when she looked at the floor she found stoon covered in coats of dust and dirt. So it was old too.

"Kate." The heavy accent caught her attention and Kate's hum answered. "She's is a child." This man sounded Russian, his voice was throaty and guttural.

"She's a raven." Another man snapped pushing at her shoulders since she had slowed due to the gossip.

"Not in our domain shouldn't we take it up with Argent? Shouldn't she know about this?"

"She doesn't need to know anything." Kat snapped her anger sounding very real but she covered it with an amused laugh. "What do you think I am going to do to her? She'll be home in time for school tomorrow as long as she tells us what we need to know there won't be a problem." The voice was directly in her ear as her hands went to her shoulder and something heavy squeaked and groaned.

"Now go wait at the front door and let me know when Allsion gets here." There was an uncomfortable clearing in someone's throat and she envisioned it was the Russian man.

"Alright Rory," Kate said her name like it was something to be mocked. "Just come with me, sit right there, don't want you to fall, put your hands here good girl." There was a certain tone Rory recognized as she was puppeted by Kate, one that evoked a growl. She heard the clicks as her elbows rested on the arm rests. The chair was hard and steady; she didn't like it.

"Now we're playing a game." She said in a voice that could be considered playful pulling the bag off her head with a rush of light.

Derek was In Front of her strapped to the chain link fence and bandaged on his bare abdomen. She followed the wires attached to a machine that she guessed would cause him a lot of pain. She shifted preparing for whatever the hell this was. Derek on the other hand looked livid and Rory could not tell who it was directed towards.

"Oh you noticed, see we have your beta all hooked up and ready." Smiling, she played it as a sick joke walking to the dials. "Of course we'll spare him if you answer my questions. If not we'll." Turning the dial she watched Derek convulse and she wasn't quite sure how she was supposed to react.

Most people in the movies would scream and cry and beg for the assalent to stop. Rory never liked that reaction. She always felt like if someone wanted to hurt someone they would and it didn't matter what you said. Crying and screaming only did a disservice to the other person. It showed the antagonist that they were in fact getting under your skin. She promised herself that she would never be that person begging for her life and considering her circumstances she didn't have to be.

Scott was safe-ish and if anything he had Stiles. The main character has his sidekick that's what mattered.

So she blinked slowly remembering how much of a jackass Derek could be and pushing away the fact that he was a victim. This apparently was not the reaction Kate was looking for and she switched the dial again and Derek didn't just grit his teeth he let out a roaring scream.

"Stop, please! Stop stop stop!" It's not her voice she's probably just as frozen and silent as she wanted when Ariel was screaming slamming on the door as their mother cried out behind it.

She pushed it down, stomping on it mentally slowly releasing her hands from the wood. She bumps her sleeves picking at the hem pushing it up until she was able to crawl the sleeves over her knuckles. She couldn't but her fingers but she could buff her knuckles anything to ease the feeling in her fingers. The need to feel something in her freezing hands.

"You're not even listening to me?" Kate's acting a bit too theatrical now but maybe she had been doing that this entire time. Her fingers tapped against the machine as she thought for a minute.

"I can't keep you here.. we both know that if you're reported missing, well that would not be ideal, you actually have people who will notice you're gone. But think about what you'll be leaving behind?" She strolled over to Derek like he wasn't her victim, her fingers tracing his jaw.

She wanted to throw it in her face… Rory just wanted to use her information but she couldn't. She kept her mouth shut. This was a monster right before her eyes, a certified Narc who was still preying on her victim. Still terrifying him and wielding power.

Her mind raced and she decided that she needs to keep them talking.

"Do you?" She decided to start with a question. "Do you know this woman?" She asked suddenly, making it sound more accusing then she originally intended.

Kate smile large and wide and genuinely amused.

"Come on now! We don't need to do this," she looked between the two and Rory was opting to play coy. This didn't amuse Kate but she still smiled regardless she even laughed.

"Come on, I know that you sent your little revenge to steal my bullet. That's how you are alive right now. We don't need to lie to each other. Now how she got into the house I'm not sure but it had to be her." Clapping her hands together she made the space between Rory Derek and the machine her own personal dance floor gliding effortlessly between them. "Because that's what ravens do."

Rory saw this opportunity not willing to go too deep into it or worse deny it since Scott was the only one there. "I did it when Als boyfriend came over. They were so busy upstairs they hardly noticed me. I only live a block away. It was easy." She lied and a part of her shriveled. The fire had abandoned her and from the stoney look on Kate's face it most likely wasn't coming roaring to life anytime soon.

"You were going to kill him unprovoked, do not look at me like that!" Kate recoiled but not in a way that actually seemed to affect her instead she did it mockingly pressing her fingers to her chest.

"Unprovoked? Honey I didn't even know I hit him I thought I got the alpha." She was lying but she was good at it. It was probably as easy as breathing. She probably used the heat trick to convince little children werewolves that she was unarmed.

Only to have a gun hiding in her waistband.

"You're an Argent and you missed?" Rory deadpanned, gagging Derek's reaction to see if she was going too far. He only stayed silent and slightly limp; he didn't even pull at his restraints.

"Well I wouldn't have to hunt him at all if I just knew who the alpha was, see he's the real monster. Did you know that he killed his sister? The last bit of family he had left." Sucking in through her teeth she didn't look apologetic at all. "Now that's got to hurt and think of the territory dispute if we don't take him down," she sucked in a breath then clicked her tongue. "Beacon hills will become a hot spot for big shot alphas looking for territory. That's why the argents are here. We're keeping you safe."

She didn't even attempt to cover her bullshit with a holier than thou tone. Her tone was unsympathetic and strategic.

"Okay but if Derek becomes the alpha you can pack it up and leave." Kate sucked in again and looked towards Derek disappointed.

"See, now that won't work either see we have a deal with the Hales. They can't have blue eyes before they become an alpha and Derek here well why don't I show you," there was a certain kind of gleep as she turned another file and then twisted another uncapping a sprite bottle.

Derek roared again, his werewolf features growing more prominent on his face, his eyes glowing blue she walked back toward him, grasping his chin looking like a teacher. "see if you don't already know blue eyes means they killed someone," she paused, meeting Rory's eyes. "to be more specific they killed someone innocent meaning he's the real monster here." Realizing her hold she advanced on Rory letting Derek's head fall forward.

"The Hales passed down their spark or whatever they call it down through bloodlines, no killing necessary. It's why my great grandmother was willing to make a treaty in the first place. She said they were a pack of civilized werewolves but Rory." Crouching down she got eye level with the girl smiling a strange smile this time something Rory could place.

"You know want to know what I think?" Again Rory stayed silent and she rolled her eyes. "I'll tell you anyway. I don't think there is such a thing as a civilized werewolf, they are all monsters. All killers. They're just animals waiting to be cut down by a superior predator." Then she leaned closer, getting close enough to her ear that Rory felt her breath.

Rory didn't appreciate it; she only liked touch when she initiated it… from people she liked. She didn't like Kate.

"That's why we need to know who the alpha is.. so we can cut him down. You need to tell me who he is." She pulled back smiling like she expected Rory to just spit up the answer. Instead she gazed off in the distance watching Derek at the corner of her eye shaking his head ever so slightly.

"What happened," Kate groaned and sounded genuinely annoyed. "You were so talkative now I'm hardly getting anything. Maybe," she grinned and Rory wondered if she would ever stop and moved back to the machine turning the dial and Rory watched as Derek's jaw dropped open to let out sounds that weren't exactly human.

Rory just buffed her wrist against her sleeve and wished she didn't wake up from her dream. She wished for Ariel's bone crushing hug.

"It doesn't have to be like this!" Kate shouted over the man who was making a slight whimper sound as he came down from the volts. "Seers aren't bad, we hardly even consider them supernatural. You don't have fangs or claws, you're not fast or strong and you need protection. That is why you seek out wolf packs but we can give you the same protection. I can so do that if you just tell me who it is."

…

She should have talked. She should have just said Peter and had it over with. The thought crashed and burned against her skull. The gas swallowed her whole, taking her thoughts and fogging her mind as it compressed on itself. The cuffs rattled against the wall as she huddled closer to it. Her hands tried to reach her head but the cuffs wouldn't reach and she had to bring her head to to them.

She was curled in a tight ball counting her breaths.

She could breath slowly that just let more gas in and she could breath quickly because it made her head hurt more. She was at a crossroads and it was entirely Peter's fault.

She had stayed silent. Derek had subtly advised her to keep her mouth shut and that's what caught her to end up in the whole she was in now. The door room was small with concrete walls and floors but it was the gass she couldn't take.

Nutria oxide.

Laughing gas

Loopy juice.

She didn't care what it was called ... .her mind whirled, feeling light on one side and heavy on the other. Random spots around her shull hurt for no reason.

She had remembered the last time she was subjected to laughing gas she had bit the dentist and threw the little tubed pig nose into the assistants face. They didn't listen to her. She said that she didn't like the gas they thought she was just exaggerating. And maybe running out of the office with dentist blood on her teeth wasn't the best idea but she had to run from it.

They found out after that she was allergic to it but that didn't come soon enough. Her mother had already introduced the flat side of a brush to her ass both enraged and embarrassed. She gave her one of the bastard pills after that since Riry hadn't cried or screamed she didn't understand why.

She was eight when it happened… She tried to think how long that would have been but the gas whirled in her nose again and she thought vaguely that they pumped more into her little cubby.

She screamed because she was good at it. The tiny spots of pressure expanded and pushed at the same time. Connecting in some sports one was right behind her eye and she wanted to rip it out. She wanted to cut off the chunks of skull that hurt and put them somewhere else. Anywhere else.

It was Peter… but Peter deserved to get revenge Kate was absolutely off her rocker. There was absolutely no telling what she had done if she was willing to kill people unprovoked. But Kate didn't even seem to know about Peter; she thought Laura was his last remaining family. Which couldn't be right because it even said in the paper that Peter was the only survivor….

Unless she didn't count catatonic patients as living…. Which made her even more of a monsters.

All signs pointed to Kate needing to die including the gas poked and prodded around Rory's lungs. She remembered Ariel would say it made her loopy that she always got the giggles when she had the gas. So she started laughing just to try it out testing a strained giggle dipping her head down to fall into her hands.

She could feel the sweat on her scalp beading into her hair and making it feel matted. Lydia wouldn't appreciate that, which told Rory she would need to shower when she got home…. Because she was going home Kate couldn't keep her here she had already said that much… but if that was the case why kidnap her at all?

Why scare and torture when she could of just lied and bluffed her way out of it?

Kate knew how to lie… why was she willing to show her colors now? Kicking her foot out she smashed it against the short distance between her and the wall. She couldn't keep hurting her head.. she would get a real concussion this time and her whole face would swell up. Again that was something Lydia wouldn't appreciate.

Rory laughed again because she was getting tortured and worrying about her appearance for Lydia's sake!

Ridiculous!

Hilarious!

Pain circled back around, it felt new and old, fresh and rotten. This kept happening pain in her head that she could run from. The eye, the gas, the pain.

She was a lamb for sacrifice.. but that was okay?

She huddled into herself pushing her head into her hands to squeeze her head. The gas was slowly clearing. She noticed the change instantly and she stood feeling the restraints bite at her wrist and she steeled on her knees yellow light flooded the wall she was facing.

She fell back on her butt pushing her knees to her chest.

"So, are you willing to talk now?" The voice wasn't Kates, instead it was Russian. "We need to know the alpha it's dangerous to keep him out there killing people." He reasoned and she noticed he was not moving from the door. He was keeping a distance but if that was to keep her from seeing him or to not scare her she wasn't sure.

"If you talk we can let you out. You just have to help us." They talked in plural a lot she noticed Kate did it to maybe it was because they thought of the whole argent organization as a whole unit.

"Kate isn't," he trailed off looking off. "Kate isn't going to keep you here but we would like to know what you do while you're here. If you're just trying to wait it out, she might try other methods." Rory kept her mouth shut and she wasn't even sure why.

She loved talking. She liked those corny one liners; they were a staple for movies, tv shows and books. But she just couldn't speak. It was like she shut down. Frankly, it was embarrassing… did it mean that if she did talk she would cry and plead and beg.

"It's imperative that we know who it is if you can help them, we can help you."

"I.." she started but trailed. The sentence 'I don't know who it is' caught in her throat and she shut down again. Her intuition that had been so shitty to her had stopped her from talking. That was her excuse.

The door closed with a heavy groan and the light disappeared. She thought about Scott seeing him groggily shake his head. Deaton was busying himself dunking a pink rag into a tub of steaming water. In a chair Stiles sat hunched into himself, his eyes trained on Scott's wound, his leg bobbing up and down as he bit at his thumb nail.

"Is he going to be….".

"He'll be fine. The bullets didn't appear to be laced with anything. Now that they are removed he will start healing." Deaton paused examining Scott's torso with a quick glance before looking at Stiles. "You should go home. Your father is the one who set the curfew after all."

"I don't know where Rory is." He finally confessed looking smaller. "She said she would make it home but I don't know she left her phone in my car and I can't call her."

"The Argents aren't going to hurt a seer." He said it calmly in that same diplomatic tone. "Are you worried she's going to say something?"

"No. No it's not that I just.. I left her there.. I just left."

"You couldn't both get caught."

"But we could have caught up with you.. I could've gone back for my Jeep in the morning.. I just didn't want to leave it. I have a journal in there. I've been taking notes about Scott and I was worried that Kate would…" he trailed off looking to the side.

"Go home I'll take care of Scott, pick your worries back up tomorrow you need to sleep."

The vision didn't fade like it usually did. Instead it was ripped away from her, pulled from her mind and shattered at her feet. Replacing it she could feel the gas in her eyes up her nose clawing down her throat.

She clamped her mouth shut, placing her head between her knees.

There's something about knowing that it would end eventually that made it easier to let her brain stay active rather than shutting down with her mouth. But that didn't stop time from slowing as her head rebelled against her.

They were pumping more and more gas more and more and more. She was choking on it, coughing it up in heavy hacks. Between lasps of laughter and screaming she felt her mind race and then slow like it was in a pattern she hadn't quite figured out yet. She was screaming when she heard her…

"Kate! Kate what is that! I thought you said there were only three." Als voice was sweet in her burning ears. They were probably bleeding with how much she had clawed at them, the gas making them feel hot and itchy.

The light filtered in on the wall again and she saw two shadows this time.

"Wait, wait Kate is that.. Rory?" Allison's footsteps were fast and her face was In Front of hers. "Why is she here? Is this why you needed Lydia's moms number?" Allsions asked her questions and it made Rory's ears feel heavy and strained. It was hard to comprehend the words and their meanings.

"Of course she's staying with us tonight. I thought she would of helped me before you got here but she's been silent."

"Helped you?" Als eyes darted moving fast fast fast over her shackled wrists. "she's not Kate she not a," she trailed off looking at Rory then at her aunt. "she's not one of them.."

"No." Rory reached out for Als hand feeling like a child trying to steal a cookie. Greedy, innocent in the way that her head was to light be devious. "Shes not, she's a raven."

"So she can turn into a bird?" Al asked her hand pulling away for a second before firmly clasping Rory's. "That, Kate, that not dangerous, she doesn't have claws or fangs."

"No, no!" Kate laughed amused. "she's a seer. She can see things others can't, the past present future, all that crap. She can tell us who the alpha is. But she is not saying anything."

Rorys head fell back and she could see those eyes again staring down at her huddled into a heap on the floor. She decided that she needed out now before so she did what she did best. She lied.

"I.." she tested her words sliding her tounge across the roof of her mouth before proceeding. "I have no idea who the alpha is." She said finally piecing her story together. In all honesty she should have been doing that from the very start but she had had much time between the gas and the screaming.

"She doesn't even know who it is Kate! You kidnapped my friend." There was 'for nothing's lingering in the back of her throat but Allison didn't say it.

"No, no, non" Kate's fingers pressed into the top of Rory's head forcing her to look back again. "you have to know your there raven."

"I don't know who the alpha is! He's been blocking me. He has this eye things okay I don't," talking caused her to suck in the gas and she shut her eyes at the pain. "I just dont."

"An eye?" Kate asked and Rory guessed she should of just went with this story to begin with.

"Yeah an eye in a necklace thing. I don't know it hurts to look at."

"Then the beta you must know who the beta is?"

"No! We, me and Stilinski only found out about this cause I made a stupid joke! Okay I said what if it's a werewolf and then. He found this picture taken outside the video store and we just started putting the prices together okay! We have no idea what we got ourselves into."

"So the night at the school?" Al asked slowly try to tread carefully because she wasn't the one bound in shakles.

"We think it was the alpha.. maybe we got to close to something and he tried to shut us down. He called Scott's work "he's been watching us this whole time okay" lies poured out like chocolate from a fountain quick and hot and smooth.

"So you know nothing? Not the alpha not the beta just Derek?"

"Yes!" She hissed, feeling more fixed in her lie. "He said he was trying to stop the alpha. We believed him because what were we going to do about it? That's why I stole the bullet. Okay, he said that if he died the alpha would kill everyone." She hoped these walls weren't sound proof and that Derek could hear her because it would be a damn shame if he didn't corroborate her story.

"So.. why were you there last tonight?"

"Because Jacksons a fucking idiot!" Rory had so much she could work with. "He wants to be the best and in his twisted little mind being a werewolf will make him the best." Kate laughed at tha, really laughed.

"Does he? Aren't you going to the formal with him Allison?" Al who looked horrified nodded slowly.

"Good. I need you to go with him, keep an eye on him and if there's any changes I need you to report back to me. You were very helpful Rory." She reached over, pressing a key into one of Rory's cuffs and turning until there was a click. "Now why don't both go home and get some rest being normal teenagers is a bit hard when you're introduced to this but I have faith you'll work it out."

Rory thought about springing onto this crazy women's face like a cat but restrained herself instead she wrapped her arms around Al's waist clinging to her.

"Your aunt gave the okay for you to stay at our place tonight though she wasn't happy that you didn't call and let her know yourself." She smiled and Rory took a moment to realize that there was a chance that Kate would have kept her in the little cubby all night if necessary. She was dangling Al over her head as her freedom.

"I don't understand, Kate, why did you need to chain her up? Why is she here at all?" Als voice was heavy and thick and she sounded more valuable than Rory had ever heard her before. "I know you said this was a joke to you but this isn't funny. She's my friend."

"Allison, I didn't even do anything to her. Trust me there are curled methods for getting answers from a seer. This." She jestered around the room. "was childsplay." Als grip tightened around her shoulders and she hook her head.

"Come on Allison I was never planning on hurting her and I told her I would let her go once she told me everything. I had to keep her separated from Derek. Now that's the real monster. He had her break into our house and steal one of my bullets. and lied to her that he would kill regardless. He would turn people to if Derek died he would just find someone to replace him. Because that's how there kind are." Her speech was unbroken despite All drawing up several times like she wanted to say something.

"Wait.." she looked over at Rory, something dawning in her eyes. "that day when Derek was at the school and he got into Stiles' jeep."

"Exactly! See now you're getting it. I had to get to the bottom of why they were helping him." Kate said taking the opportunity like she was taking a bull by the horns. "he was using them and they were probably powerless to stop him."

"Stiles called Scott didn't he he was asking for help and I…" she trailed off before she suddenly looked scared. "Does Scott know? Does he know anything?"

"No." Rory was torn between shoving her head into Allison's neck, hating the fact that Scott was even brought up and trying to remember every detail of every word Scott said about Derek. "He's been stalking him. We know that much but Scott really freaked out by him… that's about all we know." She kept it brief and vague and didn't want Kate to get any kind of glimmer in her eye. Allison however was breathing a sigh of relief.

…..

"Your aunt tortured me." She said finally when they were in the car and Allison was pushing forty.

"She wasn't."

"I'm nitrous oxide. She left me in a room with nitrous oxide. She was actively torturing me. I was screaming before you got there."

There was silence that sat between them and Rory waited for Al to say something. Maybe defend her aunt, maybe said she was scared herself.

"Someone is killing people, she just wants to stop them." She said finally her hands growing tighter don't he wheel.

"So torture a teenager?"

"I-i don't know what she was thinking but her intentions. She was trying to help!" Her hand hit the wheel and it sounded like she was about to go into a mental shock. "She's just trying to find a killer!"

"So you saw Derek?"

"Yes I saw Derek… why didn't you tell me or my aunt or even my parents we could have helped you."

"I was just in a room of gas that I'm allergic to. I didn't exactly have to put up with that without the famous Argents."

"You know when you told me that first day, dinner was so quiet and I couldn't figure out why. Usually on my first day they ask all sorts of questions but no one said a word. And then my dad asked about it and what you had said." She was chocking on her words and rory took a moment to regonised tbag hate was completely avoiding the whole torture topic. Which was a topic a reasonably big topic.

There were a range of other topics Rory could bring up. The fact that her ex was a werewolf, her aunt was a predator, and her victim was now strapped up in an undisclosed location. Then of course there was the kidnapping. The fire. The fact that her aunt killed people.

"Did you know? About my family?" Allison asked but not in an accusatory way just slightly broken.

"Your aunt tortured me. If I didn't know then I know now." She was really trying to drive home the torture part.

"She said it was safe.. that it wouldn't hurt you." Rory had a retort on her tongue but faltered Allison was really trying to cling to her aunt it was a shame that she was a terrible person. She sounded lost and broken like a toy left in a garden.

"She's not a hero here Allison, she literally has a man in her basement."

"H-he's a werewolf there dangerous."

"He's strapped up for electric shock therapy; they didn't even give him a piece of leather to bite onto."

"Rory, please take this seriously.*

"That's a lot to ask from someone who's just been tortured." There was a sudden halt in the car and Rory's eyes went wide. She was starting to wonder if anyone knew how to drive in a small town.

"She wasn't trying to… it wasn't." She vered of the on her own sentence taking an intense turn in the road.

"I'm allergic!" Rory snapped back and Al slammed on the breaks again.

"She didn't know that!" They were stopped in the middle of a small road and Rory was wondering just how far out they were from the preserve. Als hand smacked the wheel again, her eyes filled with tears. "she didn't know! I didn't even know that I didn't tell her that you were allergic; it was just… just a coincidence." She was shouting more to herself, completely distressed.

"She not a bad person! She.. she's the only one who is willing to tell me what's going on! My parents didn't even know if they were going to tell me. I'm sorry okay I'm sorry about what she did but didn't you see, she's basically working alone on this. My dad's not helping her!"

"She had men with her."

"You're not getting it. Kate.." she trailed off looking forward, her face becoming harder as she tried to push her walls back up. "She's always tried to be honest with me. Always! She's always there when I need someone to talk to. I have to trust her! Even if it seems cruel she has to have a reason." Rory's defenses dropped because she understood Allison was alone so she moved around getting opportunities to make friends and Kate had been there for every milestone. Of course she would cling to her..

"Okay."

"Okay?" Allison looked at her like she was surprised that she was willing to drop it but the blonde was sure that Kate answered the phone when she called. Kate probably didn't go out of town and completely ignore her when she called.

The Kate, Allison's Kate was different from Derek's Kate.

She saw that.

Just like her Ariel was different from Avey's Ariel.

Kate was still a monster, still a predator and as much as Allison needed to know that it really wasn't her story to tell. Not to someone like Allison. Not now.

So she huffed gestering her open palm at the road and indicated that she should drive.

"You know Al people have different faces. Sometimes the face they show you is different then the one they show others."

"Thate not always true. Some people are the same all the way around."

"Really? Like who?" She asked and Allison looked pained before answering.

"Like Scott. I overheard him talking to my dad. He was trying to keep me safe at the school and that's why he didn't come back. Do you know what really happened? It was the alpha right at the school?"

"Yeah. I think Scott was trying to lead him away from everyone. He was lucky to get out alive you know."

"So the thing that came out of the ceiling it."

"Was a huge ass monster." She nodded playing with her fingers twisting and pulling at them.

"And Scott tried to lead him away?"

"He's an idiot but his intentions were pure. He thought it was Derek."

"And at the video store?"

"I honestly don't know how Nat convinced Lydia she saw a mountain lion. But I don't want to know."

"Oh my god when I showed her the picture…and she left I didn't even think about it. I didn't even ask her what happened." She sounded distraught, her voice changing octaves as she tried to keep it from breaking. Surely enough it made it break more. "And you knew all along?"

"In the beginning I didn't know, know, you know? I had visions I would see things they weren't frequent but then I got caught in shit too deep to track out of." Sighing she knew better than to run over her lies too many times. To her a lie was like going down a poorly kept road. One with potholes and edges that were crumbling away.

You have to be careful to go over it gently every time so you don't hit a road bump or run yourself off the road. Sometimes you could be so caught up in it you could be going 70 and just fix patches after the fact. But this wasn't one of them.

"But now I'm too far into this. And honestly Allison you don't even know the half of it." Allison's eyes widened and she looked at her, completely missing the police car that was sitting off in the grass.

"Do you know who it is? The one Kate's after? The beta? She said beta like it was a strange word foreign on her tongue and Rory let her answer be drowned by the police siren in the background. Her intuition never failed her.

"Oh god, not now." She sounded defeated as she pulled to the side and Rory thought she might combust at some point.

"Allison? Right?" Sheriff Stilinski asked, suddenly looking very pained by the conversation he obviously saw the displasure were molding Allison's features. He looked away catching sight of Rory. "Rory hello, uh what are you girls doing out so late you know there's a curfew?"

"Yeah, no, of course the curfew of course. We're just getting some.. some fresh air and we.. I'm sorry uh," trailing off Allison began fanning her tears trying to fight off the tears. "I-i was going too fast , I wasn't paying attention to the road… I'm sorry I'm usually.. I'm usually more put together.. it's just really.." her voice dropped again leaving the sentence open but leaving no room for interpretation.

It made the sheriff deeply uncomfortable as his hand that was holding a small note pad dipped out of few. "no no it's alright. Completely fine you were uh just.. Well, this is a construction zone and I don't want any mishaps. We don't need anyone getting into an accident. Are you alright?" He asked in that good ol dad tone Rory found herself responding to.

Allison on the other hand seemed to freak out. "No, of course I'm fine, I'm just. I'm not crying, it's just been a long day… night it's been a long night and can you just write me a ticket?" She asked in a tone that woulf of been demanding if it had less tears.

"Well let me just see your license and I'm sure it will be okay. Alright I'll just need your license and insurance and I'm sure I can send you on your way."

"No, no just please I'm not trying to get out of a ticket.." Rory nearly clamped her hand on Allison's mouth, obviously she didn't know how bothersome the ticket actually was. Instead she just helped herself to Allison's purse taking her wallet and getting her id. She was completely invading her privacy but there was a possible 150 dollar ticket that was giving her a green light.

"Allison, where's your insurance?" She asked and Allison let out a breath but opened her glove box. Handing it off to the sheriff with a handful of apologies they watched him take it with a grim nod and walk back to his car.

"This is.. this is so humiliating. I just, I just don't want to feel weak anymore… I just" her head fell forward thumping against the string wheel.

Rory reached out pulling herself over the center console to wrap her arms around Al's shoulder placing her hand on her ear. "You're not weak, you're just in a situation that you didn't know anything about. No one asked to be chased around a school. You didn't ask for this okay." Allsion didn't nod like Rory thought she would but she did lean into her touch.

"I don't want to feel weak anymore, not ever. I'm going to get stronger so I can protect people. I can.. no I want to protect you and Lydia and Scott and stiles and even Jackson." Rory made an automatic face since Jackson ran like a coward but she didn't say anything. "It's my family's legacy, they don't only hunt werewolves, they help people who can't help themselves. That's what I want to do. An Argent is the protector so that's what I'm going to become." It was a bold statement for such a crumbling face but she didn't back down.

"Okay, you can protect us but if you're going to do that you need to know we're going to protect you too. "

"I.. I don't think.."

"Hey you get a choice just like I didn't get a choice to be locked in a room and tortured." She framed it as a joke dipping down so Allison could see the Cheshire grin she was sporting and Allison smiled back. It was small, more like half a smile but Rory would take it.

She wanted so desperately for Kate to be a hero. For her to be the protector of the weak and innocent but reality was often cruel.

She didn't know when she would have to tell Allison the truth. In fact Scott could have one slip up and she would instantly catch on the thought didn't not soothe Rory, it gave her nightmares.

"Well it seems you have a clean record Mr. Argent so I don't see any reason to put anything on that record. Just be safer on the road okay." The sheriff said smiling brokenly like he just couldn't give a crying girl a ticket. Rory locked that away in a file to use when she finally learned how to drive.

"Now you two stay safe and I suggest you make your way home. It's pretty late."

"Yeah yeah we can do that." Whipping her face Allison gave a watery smile as the sheriff walked away rolling up her window.

"I am totally using that when he pulls me over." Rory said once they got on the road and Al let out something that was between a gurgle and a giggle.

"Seriously please don't I wasn't trying to."

"You won't but I will." Giving a coy smile Rory rubbed at her wrist where the cuffs took their hardest bites. She would never forgive Kate; she would see to it that she died a miserable death.

Al wasn't the only one humiliated tonight.

…

To say that Mr. And Mrs. Argent was surprised to see Rory the next morning and was not surprised to say the least. Even if Allison trotted down the stairs with all the confidence being able to shoot a bulls eyes three times in a row would allow.

"Allison you wouldn't happen to know where your aunt Kate is, do you? She texted me last night but that's all I've heard from her." Rory focused on the sting smell of coffee that was much harder than her bougie chocolate infused brand at home.

She stared at the coffee pot as Als father stared at her. "So," he started putting his mug down with a sigh. "That's what she meant."

"No uh she came home last night while I was studying with Rory I asked her to call her aunt since she fell asleep." That was the story apparently it didn't make a lot of since but nothing did anymore.

Absolutely nothing.

"Why didn't you tell us you were having someone over? That's not like you?" Mrs. Argent asked her voice harder then her face.

Mrs. Argent was terrifying. Running from Kate was awful but looking at the red haired women in front she noticed that under the pink silk of the ruffled blouse cling to her arms. She could probably knock Rory out with one swing and considering all the teams her head had endured through the mouth she might just be better off staying on the ground.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't want to call and interrupt your date. Kate worked really hard to get that reservation. I did send you a text though?" Allison opened her phone, scrolling through it for a second before showing it to her mom.

"I guess it just didn't send," she said sheepishly and Rory felt cold sweat remembering that she used the same tactic.. and apparently she only thought she got away with it. "I just thought you saw it my bad."

Allison argent… Rory couldn't possibly stair at her with more awe. Maybe it was because it was her parents and she was comfortable. She knew what buttons to push but Rory could have applauded as they took her sheepish apology blaming the new family plan.

"Well, that alright honey, we don't mind having your friends over. We would just like to stay informed. Rory, would you like some breakfast?" Mrs argent smiled that steel filled smile directing her to the cabinets. While Mr. Argent picked up his cup coming closer to his daughter.

"Did your aunt say where she was going?" He asked as Mrs. Argent opened the bread box offering toast.

They played it perfectly ensuring to keep family issues in the family. The tactic would of worked if Rory wasn't nosy. She had to keep her mouth shut because blurring out 'yeah she probably torturing a man wolf' seemed far more appraising then any toast.

"Rory." Mrs. Argent voice grew harder as she snapped back.

"I was just thinking, do you think I could have some coffee?" She asked moving her head toward the coffee maker the smell was calling her.

"Of well of course" turning she opened another cabinet and busyed herself grabbing a mug Rory expected her to hand it over and she would listen in on the other conversation but she lost all interest in it when Mrs. Argent went to the coffee maker.

Rory watched in horror as she poured for less then a second and then filled the rest of the cup with creamer. Holding the cup out Rory looked at it like it was an alien. It was basically just creamer with a hit of coffee.

"Well, go on." She felt at a loss for words as she took the cup.

"But this is.. it's just creamer?" Her words were small but at least she was able to get it out compared to last night this was a win.

"Well I figured that since you're already so active It wouldn't be right to send you off to school with sugar and caffeine now go one drink up it's what you asked for." Rory shook her head looking down at it, adding it to her list of fears because it was not what she asked for.

"Now go sit down and I'll make you some toast. Is plum jelly okay?" Rory nodded, never looking up from the cup of creamer… if it was an anomaly. It wasn't that Rory didn't use sweets in her coffee she added Irish cream, chocolate, raspberry but this felt… wrong.

It was wrong…

She stared dejectedly at the creamer slumped in her chair at the table until Allison came to join her with a glass of orange juice.

"Al?" She said tilting her head up to look at the other girl. "I think," she looked back down at the creamer trying to confirm her own feelings to herself. "I think your mom doesn't like me?" She was going to say something along the lines of 'made me extremely sad' but she dropped it last minute.

Al choked a bit on her juice puting the cup down before she spilled any, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. "Hmm?" She took a second to compose herself but finally she swallowed and laughed a little.

"No, she did the same thing to me. She calls it 'candy coffee'. She used to work at this all boys school and it made her pretty antsy about letting kids have coffee?" Shrugging, she offered her orange juice, pushing the coffee away to Rory's relief. "So it's not just you."

Dipping down she leaned in closer, almost afraid that Mrs. Argent would hear. "Can we stop and get some coffee on the way?" Al laughed again at the skittish behavior but Rory didn't find it all that funny.

She wasn't much of a skittish person. People didn't scare her as much as they should.

Maybe she was just broken now. People knew so much more about her then she did. Peter knew how to take her down at the school before she even arrived. And Kate knew somehow that she was allergic to nitrous oxide. She didn't know the weaknesses of a seer but the rest of the supernatural did.

She was defenseless in that way not that being in a vision gave her a force field no she was defenseless then too. The store clerk could have done whatever he wanted and she would've never known until it was too late. That is why Kate told her that seers look for protection because they were vulnerable creatures.

"Rory?" Allison was looking at her funny and she realized she had spaced out trying to fall down the rabbit hole of possibility. She shook her head letting her know that she was listening.

"I said your going to have to ask Lydia since she'll be here soon."

"Right so we're going with her?" Of course Lydia had called this morning. She had woken up bright and early, probably overly excited to go dress shopping.

Al heaved a sigh swirling her juice in her cup."She said it would be easier if we all took one car. Though she was not happy that we changed the plans."

"Lydia's kind of just like that. She needs to know the plan. She doesn't like going with the flow which is fine its good actually I like control freaks."

"Yeah?" Al asked, picking her phone up slightly and Rory nodded. "good cause our control freaks here now." The knock on the door probably came in perfect sync with the text that appeared on Als phone.

"I forgot you could see us typing? Don't you think that's weird?"

"A little bit it's fine."

"Rory!" Lydia exclaimed not exactly sounded excited instead her green eyes scanned over her disapprovingly. She was a merical being able to hold her phone, keys, purse and hanger of clothes in one hand like it was nothing. Well her purse was actually slipping down her wrist but still.

She advanced moving around the table gracefully. Her keys didn't even jingle "I left you alone for a night and this is what you look like." Lydia fussed pulling at the strand of hair that had started to curl from the sweat. Last night events had left them a chaotic mess of curls with different patterns sprawled throughout. Some parts were tight while others were loose. It was just like it had been a few months ago when she couldn't care how it looked.

"And your eyes you are lucky I brought my makeup bag." She was talking more to herself, her fingers hovering under Rory's sockets but never touching. She paused suddenly, her hands touching the side of Rory's forehead where the cut had healed then as if she snapped out of it she straightened.

"Did you take a shower? She can take a shower right? She obviously needs one especially if we're trying on dresses later." Lydia voice cracked a bit like it would when she was being condescending even if it was a little.

"Yeah uh?" Looking at her phone Allison nodded. "I quick one I guess? Or maybe she could take one at school? Usually we have to shower after swimming anyway and.."

"No no no. See I picked today because they clean the pools on Tuesday so we won't have to worry about doing our hair after. Mine gets curly after a shower. Which is not ideal. It's now or never and I'd prefer now. While she's showering we can pick out your outfit for the day." Allison looked down at the outfit and it was alright but even Rory noticed the way the pattern of her top had a lot going on compared to the simple leather jacket.

She just didn't care.

Lydia on the other hand did care.

She seemed to care more than usual.

Overzealous even.

Stepping back from her usual spot, wedged between them, she brandished the outfit on the hanger which Rory assumed was her clothes for the day. Once again picked out meticulously by Lydia.

While yesterday was all black greys and red to show her rage, sadness and mourning today purple, whites and grey which she was sure had a meaning but Rory wasn't sure what it was.

She had hardly scraped by yesterday. Today she had no idea. Purple was the color of royalty so maybe that had something to do with it? She didn't know

Lydia's thing about color psychology was interesting enough to keep Rory entertained. But she wasn't sure how long she wanted to be in her colors, projecting her mood. But to argue the thought she looked at the proud look on her face cat like in all aspects but there was a shine in her eye. Dressing Rory up genuinely made her happy.

"Oh dad right!" Al called into the kitchen and the man poked his head out. "I just wanted to remind you again that I'm going to be at the mall after school. Are you still able to walk Lila?" She asked and Rory realized she hadn't seen the dog all night.

"Right about that I was actually thinking," coming fully into the dinning room. "I was thinking about taking her to a trainer."

"A trainer?" Al asked, giving an uncomfortable smile. "Why? She's doing everything we're asking her to? She comes when called she can sit, shake. She even know to go out when dinners ready?" All defensiveness should have raised some kind of alarm but her dad didn't bat an eye.

"I know, but I was thinking that with everything going on that we could get her to be a bit more protective."

"Like what a guard dog?" Oh.. she was thinking that her father was trying to get Lila into the argent legacy maybe like a cadaver dog but for werewolf hunters. If so the defensiveness made since the dog got let in on the family secret before the daughter. That would sting.

"Well yes and it will give her an excuse to sleep inside that way she can alert us if anything were to happen." There was a dark undertone that could easily be seen as a double meaning but wasn't always something with Mr. Argent.

"Well.. I guess" Als eyes shifted then she sighed then she nodded. "Would that make you feel better if someone was guarding us?" She asked and her father nodded slowly, his fingertips pressed together.

"It would."

She hesitated for a moment before nodding "Yeah, okay dad it might be good for lila."

Rory stepped out of the shower after Lydia rapt on the door three times letting her know she was in there too long. She didn't say that of course but it was something she had done before. When Rory first arrived she would stay in the shower for hours. The first time they let her stay as long as she wanted and she took complete advantage of it.

Four hours tested their resolve and after thirty minutes Lydia knocked on the door three times every couple of seconds.

Rory was sure even if she couldn't really remember Lydia did the same thing when Rory didn't sleep after seeing Laura. The only difference was that Rory had no energy to pull herself out of the tub and Lydia ended up having to haul her out. That was how her cousin described it at least.

Speaking of her cousin… looking at the outfit Rory thought that Lydia must had completely lost her fucking mind.

In theory the outfit was nice though Lydia would kill her for using such a simple word. A dark grey lace camisole and dark purple ruffled skirt that went to her ankles and blue tights. In all honesty a lengthy skirt was a breath of fresh air but there laid the problem. That was all Lydia had left her with. She stared into the mirror, her arms exposed in a way that she didn't have to face.

Huffing she considered just getting back into the tub or wearing the clothes she wore last night with dust and the blood and the trauma.

Lydia had once told her that a fresh pair of clothes were like putting on a new skin everyday a fresh start. Though whether that was just to get Rory to change out of the clothes that she had been wearing… since she arrived or not she didn't know.

She arrived in something Lydia wouldn't approve of in any way; her sweater was threadbare and ripped to compare it to Freddie Krueger's. Her pants were worn and faded dirty from her refusal to shower.. to look people in their eyes… well no that didn't have anything to do with her jeans.

Picking up the towel she draped it over her shoulders before throwing the bathroom door open pausing to make sure everything was back into place before sweeping out of the room.

"Did you leave my cloak in that car?" She asked sweeping into Allison's room where there wasn't a mirror and pulling off the towel folding it tightly like Nat taught her. Crossing her arms she turned towards the girls at the mirror, the blocked mirror.

"I didn't bring it," Lydia said breezily, not even attempting to look back. "What do you think? I didn't want to have a solid color and I found some houndstooth?" Lydia wasn't questioning her dision she was waiting for confirmation; she was just waiting for praise.

"Can we stop and get it?" She didn't want to say she felt distressed.. cause it wasn't the right word panic wasn't either…

"No, we're already stopping by the coffee shop?"

"We woke up early, it can't be that hard." Lydia scoffed, turning Allison by the shoulder to needlessly adjust the collar of Als leather jacket.

"Uh I think you look nice?" Al asked, turning with pleading eyes. "And so do I. Lydia I look fine." Al said, pulling away and Rory bit into her fingers ready for the blow.

"Hmm? Well I suppose." Lydia snipped and Rory slightly deflated because it wasn't the reaction that she got. Huffing she pressed her canines into the pads of her fingers. It hurt… her teeth ran down the length of her hand until she bit her wrist.

Ridiculous!

This was ridiculous!

There was a dress code and she was sure she was violating it. It didn't matter if she didn't have a chest, she was violating something….

"Where's your cardigan?" Lydia's voice pitched in her ears causing her train of thoughts to tip off the tracks. "It's not exactly in your color palette but It still a part of your outfit. It brings it together." Crossing her arms she looked miffed like Rory and offended her.

"Cardigan?" Al asked, raising a brow and Lydia suddenly tensed.

"This ladies, is why I don't like being thrown off schedule. I forgot it." Huffing she turned back to the mirror, her hand heading for her forehead but changed traction resting delicately under her chin. "Alright new plan you obviously can't go in that then send you home and my mom is already mad enough plus it would throw us off more." Turning to Allison's closest she seemed apprehensive before diving in and pulling a black long sleeve and a off white cardigan.

It wasn't surprising that Lydia was able to fish them out as swiftly as she didn't; she probably had every closest she had ever seen memorized.

Holding the two handers up she examined it not looking entirely pleased with either. "You don't mind right." Lydia finally said to let the hangers drop as she looked at the owner of the clothes.

"No, I completely get it?" Al said it in a way that sounded like she really didn't but was trying. She would understand the eye for fashion after a while if Lydia Martin though and a few thousand run through of The Devil Wears Prada.

"Well I had a knitted cream colored cardigan picked out. I'm not really getting what I'm looking for with either of these?" Lydia mused out loud not giving any space for outside input. She seemed to be staring off in the distance as if going through Als closest without actually having to see it. "Okay how about this the skirt is ruffled so here." Handing over the fitted black long sleeve Rory snatched it almost greedily quickly pulling down the camisole and throwing the long sleeve over her head.

"There!" Lydia nodded as Rory slipped into her boots, since they were leather Lydia didn't let her take them into the bathroom. She heard her click her tongue on the other side of the room a disappointed sound that made Rory lookup.

"What?"

"Your hair is wet." Lydia scoffed, crossing her arms, obviously more high strung than normal. I won't have time to dry curl and cover up the periorbital hyperpigmentation that you can't be bothered to get rid of. How much sleep did you even get last night?"

"She slept." Al said coming to Rory's defense but it was useless. "I had to wake her up this morning after my shower."

"Sure. You know Rory if you actually slept at night wouldn't have to add so many steps to our morning routine." The blonde scoffed right back.

"I actually think pediobal hyperpigmentation is pretty, stunning even your the one who wants to cover it all the time." Lydia winced slight picking up a brush from the shelf next to Allison's bed.

"It's periorbital hyperpigmentation and no, it's not, it's unhealthy." Taking the brush she ripped it through her hair stinging her scalp. Rory hissed at the pain, slinking down into Als desk chair and groping above her head for the brush.

"How about I do her hair and you put on her makeup?" Al suggested probably trying to stop a fight that was about to happen if Rory got a grip on the brush.

"I've seen the curls you do there to shell look like a pixie no it would better…"

"Lydia it's fine it's just…"

"Just!" Lydia snapped; it was becoming increasingly hard to ignore how high strung she was, her cords of patients snapping. "If she can't act normal she can at least look decent! Appearance can make even the…" Lydia's eyes searched her and Rory glowered.

Her words dropped off.

"Fine fine but don't make her look like a hippie it's not the 80s."