Is This The World We Created

Chapter 26

"Help her, please, she needs help," Chris begged of the magical wizards, Aurors whatever they were. "She needs a doctor." Trudging through his mother's own excrement and pee in order to reach her. She was so cold; he could barely feel her pulse. Selfishly, he didn't care about any of the others at that very moment. Only his mother had any value. He wanted her alive and safe, the others were strangers. He'd always chose his mother over strangers. Always.

"We're all trained in emergency medics, but not situations like this." Grayce told Chris after waving her wand around the room then at the Muggle woman. "Her best bet for survival is to use the Portkey straight to the infirmary…none of us have bands with us." a mistake that could cost someone their lives, but the urgency and change of people had left them a little out of sorts.

"I've got one, can't you use them? Put them on her instead of me and take her," Chris stood, basically putting his upside-down fists in her face. showing off the bracelets that Harry had attached to him upon their entrance to MACUSA.

"Go ahead, I'll bring him back via the front for a new set," Floyd calmly stated. She was their mission, to get her back to MACUSA on the president's orders. They weren't going to allow her to die, and she did need immediate medical help. Well, not immediate, but very soon.

"You've got it, we'll alert the front desk." Erin declared, removing the bracelet on Chris roughly, but not aimed to hurt but in haste. "We'll see you when you get back." she told both men, as she attached the bracelet that had moments ago been on Chris Argent.

Once it was attached and the magic flaring a bit to prove as much. "Ready to go," Erin told Grayce who was busy informing the group of people at HQ what was going down.

"…We have attached a magical bracelet and will be escorting her back to the healer ward. Floyd and Chris are making their own way back. We'll make sure nothing else looks disturbed." She added to the rune adorned her wrist. "Now we're ready to go."

"You have to let her go," Erin whispered quietly, a sad grimace on her face. "I've got her." she added, arms around where Chris' were to make for an easy transfer. She was stronger than she looked, she'd be able to keep the Muggle woman's weight during the transfer easy.

Chris inhaled sharply, before closing his eyes and reluctantly parting with his mother. He wanted to kiss her forehead tell her nothing would hurt her again. That he would take care of her, but the thought of displaying such weaknesses wasn't easily overcome. His father had well and truly attempted to make him nothing but an empty headed (emotionless) person, by putting him with someone who was perfect in his fathers' eyes, Victoria, but them giving him a daughter? That had given him more strength than they could have understand since they were so unfeeling.

He hadn't been strong enough before for her, losing her ironically enough broke him entirely. Now? Now he would destroy everything he'd ever known to protect her.

It was thousands of people he knew would be dead.

He would. He did. He was.

The age of the Argent hunters was over…the age of hunters themselves was over.

It was time that the supernatural governed themselves.

He was retired, he'd spend time with his mom, his daughter, the pack he'd made through the most severe of trials and tribulations. Somehow banded together and the Hales who had been so wrong by him, by his family had forgiven him.

Hell, he thought Harry was even coming around. Who would have guessed all it took was a little blood? Well, it was happening before, it was just more obvious now, maybe because he could see that Chris was trying? Giving up all he'd ever known? It was easy…almost as easy as breathing at the end of the day. Another timeline probably not, but it was what it was.

Then suddenly the ground under them shook, like the earth was splitting in half under their feet.

"Holy shit, what was that?" Chris asked, calmly as he so often was under stressful circumstances. Getting worked up and scared during a damn hunt would only ensure their death.

"One of the other teams was sent close by," Floyd explained, giving a nod for the girls to go. Auror Floyd grasped a hold of Chris and began to propel them through the corridors, closing doors as he went. "They've all been given orders to try and make it seem like accidents, and they've all had to make sure that the accidents were different. The last thing we need is a bunch of bloody suspicious cynics trying to turn it into a conspiracy." Even if that was exactly what it was.

"All of them?" Chris asked incredulously, it was far fetched surely. Swallowing uncomfortably, aware that many of them would have children, babies…it was awful what he was condemning them to, to save his own child. Wrong in other words. Chris forced himself not to think on it, as he scrambled after Floyd who as far more swift and graceful than him. Mostly because Chris was no longer used to this healthy weight, and the injuries he'd sustained weren't there.

"No, some will be 'unexplained' or 'homicides' that our own people will be investigating." They'll remain open and unsolved, a necessary evil to make their world safe, everyone knew that.

"But they won't…suffer unnecessary?" Chris asked as the front door banged closed with a feeling of finality for those still within.

Floyd gave him a blank look, before making his way down the steps.

"The…babies, I mean, the babies," Chris added, God, he wasn't usually this tongue-tied, and when he was…it was because his father was doing something…unspeakably evil.

"The children will survive," Floyd declared, but said nothing more on the subject. Face perfectly impassive, the one he used while dealing with the public and more specifically the press.

Children were not killed without a really good reason. Scott McCall was one of the two exceptions that were ever made since MACUSA was founded. The other…was a Obscurial, bless their souls, and it was a last resort. It was never an easy decision.

Well, two is what everyone believed.

The truth was…the Presidents of MAUSA bore a burden of truth that they would never reveal. The numbers were much higher than officially started, on all things not just the figure out deaths that MACUSA was responsible for.

Today…it would go significantly higher, but it was too high profiled to be contained, so only one more death was to be kept a secret from all.

Except a suspicious Peter, Stiles and Harry, but they would never give voice to the unmentionable. They understood why it had to happen. Even if Stiles wasn't happy. He never could totally give up on anyone.

Too loyal for words, and that was why Peter always said he'd make a magnificent werewolf.

Chris cursed inwardly when he was once again gripped – not too tightly but enough to startle – and side-long apparated back to MACUSA entrance that Harry and the others had used the other day…God it felt like weeks if he was honest.

Chris outright gagged, but considering he hadn't eaten much since his return there was nothing to come up.

"First time Apparating?" Floyd said, giving him a little bit of sympathy, as he patted him on the back with his left hand. sticking next to him, keeping a grip of his wrist like a scolded child.

"No, Harry brought me this way, it's my fourth or fifth time now I think." Chris confessed, shuddering, "How do you keep doing it? Or is it because I'm not magical?"

"Oh no, everyone reacts that way, even the strongest of us all." Floyd revealed with amusement. "It takes a while to get used to it. I've not heard Muggles having a worse time of it."

Chris nodded his understanding, ignoring the wizard's amusement. Truth be told he would find amusement in training newbies to the hunter trade. He'd been young then, full of life, full of arrogance that his actions were justified.

He'd been a fool.

"Come on, let's go," tugging Chris behind him, while talking into the rune jewel informing the president and the people listening that his team had returned, and he'd write up a report as soon as he got to his desk. He never once let go of Chris, and Chris didn't comment, well aware of why it was happening this time.

Chris also didn't protest because his mom. The need to be there with her was so strong. What if something happened before he got there and he didn't get to say goodbye? He hadn't gotten to last time. It had been a closed casket funeral. Go figure, she was alive this whole entire time.

It didn't take long before Floyd had him harnessed in with the magical rune bracelets.

"Where will my mom be?" Chris asked him immediately, feet tapping impatiently. The desire to run in whichever direction she was in was so strong.

"You can't go alone." Floyd declared seriously, "If you're seen in the building unescorted with these on, you'll end up in a cell. With things the way they are, we wouldn't know for at least twenty-four hours, the president is rather busy."

Chris froze, licking his lips, nodding curtly. He didn't need to wonder whether they were serious or not. He knew they were very serious without even looking at Floyd. "Would you escort me, please?" it didn't hurt to be polite. It had nothing to do with the fact they could snap him like a twig.

"Of course," Floyd deflated a bit, he'd rather go straight to his office and write out his report before heading home. He was exhausted, he hadn't slept for over forty-eight hours, hadn't seen his own family either. Wasn't able to tell them a damn thing, a few of his friends were lucky, their partners were Aurors themselves, so they knew what was going on. He couldn't tell his wife anything. He couldn't wait to see his kids, and he was determined on his next day off to see his mother, even if only for a few hours.

"Thank you," Chris could have collapsed in relief, flexing his wrist, he jogged alongside Floyd.

"Floyd!" "Floyd!" "Auror Floyd!"

Chris groaned inaudibly when they stopped.

"Yes?" his voice curt and impatient, as he waited for the wizard to approach. "What is it?" he asked much kinder, seeing the worry on the wizard's face, it wasn't his fault he was tired.

"The command centre is still open if you want to listen in. If not in exactly an hour an announcement will be made by the President on the radio." The wizard, a clerk, informed him. "There's also free food in the cafeteria and many of the Auror's wives are there…"

Floyd startled at that, highly unusual, given their task. Yet it was true, they had been without contacting them, now that the worst of the need for secrecy was over perhaps, he shouldn't be surprised that the President had brought them in. Not only to reassure them that all was well, but to reward the Aurors for their good work.

"Do you know whom is there?" Floyd asked, he wanted to know if his own wife was there before he went home.

"I have a list?" he said, "Would you like to…"

"I would, please," he replied, hand already waiting out for the paperwork.

A clipboard was eased into his hand, and he was quick to look through it. It didn't take him long at all to find Felicity Floyd on the board. His lips twitched, pleased, but he did wonder where the kids were, his parents he assumed or hers. "Thank you very much," he told the wizard, "I shall head to the cafeteria after I escort Mr. Argent to the Healer ward."

"I'll take him!" the clerk enthused, "I need to talk to two Aurors that are currently being healed there anyway." He answered him sincerely, glancing back at the clipboard, Aurors Smith and Auror Heading specifically.

Floyd glanced at Argent before he stated raising his hand side-ways to emphasis, "Take him straight there, don't leave his side until he gets there." Then turning to Chris, he added, "Someone will be up to get you soon, you can't stay in the healer ward unfortunately. If you ask nice enough, you'll probably get a bed and a room to sleep in." they had plenty of them, a lot of the higher ups don't bother going home on the really long nights just kip here and go back to work in a few hours.

The Aurors do it too, during the usual evening shifts.

Chris inclined his head, "Thank you," he replied, honestly and sincerely. He was grateful that the wizard had been kind to him, he knew it could have gone a whole lot differently.

"You're welcome, she's going to be fine," he reassured Chris, "Our healers are very good." An underestimation for sure, but nonetheless true, Joan Argent would be just fine.

The three, Chris, Joan and Allison were probably already the last of the Argents.

Or would be by the time the night's over.

"Follow me, Sir, it's only up two more lights then another corridor!" the clerk said chipperly, his name on his tag read Liam which made Chris' heart clench, another member of the pack they'd left behind.

No, he wasn't left behind, he was just a child. One that wasn't going to be affected by the supernatural world. He'd have anger issues that won't be compiled with him being a werewolf.

It was the best future one could have.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Peter asked Derek, staring at his nephew intently. It was still taking some getting used to, seeing his nephew so young again. Almost as much as he was at getting used to feeling so much lighter, and don't forget to mention being able to breathe.

Derek nodded firmly, he might be young, but he had already killed. His blue eyes attested to that. Plus, he wanted to see Kate's face as she realized she was caught…and honestly? He wanted to see her burn, he wanted to shred her heart to pieces and burn it. So he knew that his family was safe, so there was no repeat of what had happened before.

Derek glanced at his grandfather and father, before a quick flick towards Peter in silent worry.

Peter could feel the wolves closer to the surface on Jasper, his father and Sebastian, his brother-in-law. Both of them were riled up, furious, eager for the chase, to rend, to tear, to rip and kill without thought and mercy. "Get a hold of your anchors." He snapped, his eyes glowing red with the powers of an Alpha.

The glow receded as they grappled with control of their wolves. The humiliation almost stank the air around them all. They'd never had such issues of control before (and if they had it was a long time ago in teenage years understandable lapses) and it was embarrassing.

They'd never had trouble with their anchors before.

"Just calm down, due to this experience and everything with Talia and the hunters…you might find yourself geared towards a different kind of anchor." Peter said, laughing humourlessly. "I know mine changed." He'd used an emotion but after the fire it wasn't enough. No, that rage had been the only thing anchoring him. Which left him on shaky ground anchor wise and even more susceptible to an Omega status.

Derek gripped his shoulder, staring Peter right in the eye, "I'm here. I'm here Uncle Peter." It seemed to be the right thing to say, Jasper noticed as any remaining tension bled out of Peter.

Inhaling sharply, it didn't help that he could smell her even from this great distance. She was in a motel at the edge of Beacon Country, just inside of Talia's territory. No, outside of his territory, his and Derek's.

"Let's make her regret even setting foot in our territory, shall we?" Peter said, his voice practically growling the words, not due to the lack of control, no, just due to changing into his other form. "Put these on." he lisped out, handing them pendants.

"What is this?" Jasper asked, pressing his thumb against the design fascinated, "These are runes…" his son had gotten his love of learning everything from him.

"It will stop any wolfsbane from touching us, and will make us entirely human to the Mountain Ash allowing us to avoid it." Peter returned back to human form. "He's amazing, isn't he?" smug and proud of his mate in equal measures. Not only had he given them the means to return to this time (Stiles was vital too he knew and he was just as proud as him) but he had an amazing mind that could keep up with him. For that Peter was grateful, he honestly didn't know what he would have done with a dumb mate.

"Will it really?" Sebastian said, putting his own, staring down at it in fascination. He could feel the power in it, the Talisman.

"Does it need recharged? Can it be recharged or is it a one-time deal sort of thing?" Jasper asked in fascination, he knew it was the wrong time to ask, but he was only now gaining control of his wolf. It wouldn't last long, he knew, a huntress had gone after his grandson, he was furious and he was feeding off of Sebastian's emotions the most, which didn't help matters at all.

Peter glanced at the Talisman, "I have no idea, let's put it to the test, shall we?" the bitch was awake complaining to someone that the mission had gone sideways and she needed new help. 'It's what I get for using idiots!' she complained.

Jasper and Sebastian snarled furiously at that.

"Someone's here," she said, sounding confident but an undercurrent of worry began to get the better of her. She was usually confident, mostly because she always had back up. Here and now? She was completely alone.

She set the phone aside, and grabbed her shotgun. Ready to take on whoever she had to in order to get herself out of here. She'd come back for the Hales another time…with a lot more backup. Her mistake was trying to make it look like an accident to the humans…she should have just told her father where to stick his plans.

If she had…she wouldn't be facing an unknown number of werewolves. It sounded like two at least, with no traps and no backup. She grabbed her second gun that had been strapped to the nightstand.

"Who…who's there?" making her voice sound meek and vulnerable, "Derek…is that you?"

Peter smirked and quickly put his hands over Jasper and Sebastian's mouths. They were entirely too predictable really. It would have been embarrassing that the were his family if not for the fact the were indeed family.

"No," Derek exuded exasperation.

Sebastian and Jasper glanced at Derek, Jasper biting down viciously on his son's hand. Alpha or not, nobody stopped him defending his family or the family honour.

Peter hissed out, glaring at his father eyes red, before he petulantly glanced down at his hand in time to see it fade to nothing. "Ouch," he stated dryly. "And yes," he added to Derek a vicious grin on his face.

"No," Derek crossed his arm, and truly looked like a child having a temper trandrum.

"Try that look again in five years, it will work then…right now, not so much." Peter told him, a gleeful look on his face, "I'll let you stay off school for a few more days and convince Noah to allow you." bartering for what he wanted.

"What are you planning, Peter?" Sebastian asked cautiously, standing in front of his son as if Derek needed protection.

"Dad I'm fine," Derek grumbled, not really annoyed, if anything he was happy. Which wasn't an emotion any teenager would feel to being protected by their father. "And still not happening."

"Oh, it's happening," Peter said, "Come on, please," acting like a kid in a candy store begging for another sweet.

"Peter!" Jasper growled out lowly, annoyed at being out of the loop.

"Come on, Derek, just a little fun?" Peter never made any attempt to Alpha him into doing it. Not that he could really, since they were both Alpha's and wouldn't feel the need to obey like a Beta or Omega would. "She deserves it after all she's done to you…time for a little payback!" as always knowing best how to get to his nephew.

"And to Stiles," he added slyly. He'd been hurt like everyone else going after those blasted Berserkers. Although nobody had known at the time, as is, Stiles had been too good at hiding everything from the pack. He shouldn't have had to.

Derek's eyes darkened at the reminder. He'd actually died, and Stiles…he'd been injured.

"Peter stop manipulating your nephew," Jasper scolded him, still unsure of what they were planning. It made him leery, once again reminded that this wasn't his son, wasn't his Peter he'd known just a few days ago…nor was this his grandson…from a few days ago.

"Fine, but no evil villain monologue, we kill her, burn her body, bury it in different places and then we head back." Derek stated, the mere mention of Stiles had made his need to return to his mate's side more prevalent. The only thing stopping his need to return right this minute was the fact his mate couldn't be in a safer building if he tried.

It was also a good way to test just how they were going to get through these years.

"Excellent!" Peter said, all that was missing was flexing his fingers together with an evil laugh like Burns from the Simpsons. Speaking of which, they were rich again, the family fortune was whole and untouched. "Here's what we're doing…" he actually missed Harry, which was odd, he'd never considered the mate bond with them both being so strong, not like Stiles and Derek who'd known each other years and years.

A/N – Here we go! So, will Derek take part or just stand apart from it all and let them do what the want? Will he be still affected by her after all this time? That kind of Trauma never fades, wanting to see her get her due is different from taking part…what do you think? Will Derek be able to overcome just knowing she's actually gone and having took part? Or will Stiles' forever be the most vicious and most protective of the pair? Or will the years living in a wasteland of Beacon Hills changed Derek Moreso than anything else the world threw at him?