HEADSHOT

Photograph, often in black-and-white, of a person's head and shoulders

My shaking hands curled around the steering wheel as I peered out the windscreen. The vibrant glow of the ever busy A and E department hurt my eyes as I watched figures franticly dash in and out of the sliding doors. Lydia had already arrived. She had been whisked off by paramedics minutes after Jackson had found us. We had tried to travel with her but the medics were having none of it, much to Jackson's annoyance. We had both stared dumbly at them as they began to fuss, I was surprised my Jackson's lack of fight as they ushered us away. It was only after the doors slammed and the blue lights began to flash we remembered we had driven to the formal. Neither of us had spoken during the drive. Instead the car was filled with the soft crackle of the radio and Jackson's impatient finger drumming. Shooting through multiple red lights, I sped along the twisting roads after the ambulance doing everything in my power to keep it in sight.

Lydia's limb body was stretchered into the emergency entrance as we pulled into the hospital carpark. Jackson all but jumped from the moving vehicle as I drive around the front of the building. I didn't bother calling after him, he wouldn't have stopped. Choosing to park my car away from the chaos that Lydia's arrive seemed to have caused I found myself unable to leave the comfort of my SUV. My mind hadn't had time to process the events of the evening yet and now that I was alone everything seemed to come crashing down around me. I had put myself in the line of danger, again! It went against every fibre of my being but I had done it to help Stiles and, once I realised she was there, Lydia. Taking a deep breath I swung the door open and started toward the hospital. No. I couldn't stop here. I had forced my way into this situation, I could have happily sat back and ignored it all like the rest of the school. As I crossed I realised that something had brought the group of us together, fate, coincidence, poor life choices or whatever ideology you subscribe to. We were in this together and I wasn't about to leave Lydia alone. I mean how helpful will the doctors be when she starts growing claws and facial hair. That is if she turned.

I chuckled lightly as I caught sight of my reflection in the glass door. My dark hair had done from Hollywood curls to cavewoman frizz. Dark circles encased my eyes as my smudge makeup continued to streak down my pale cheeks. I looked a mess, the only thing that was reasonable okay was my sequin top that shimmered under the florescent lights as I navigated my way through the maze-like corridors. I knew I had to be close as I passed multiple shocked looking deputies and heard the tell-tale protests of my second favourite co-captain. "This isn't my fault!" Jackson's voice filled the halls as I entered the waiting room.

"She's your girlfriend! That's your responsibility!" I cringed at the sheriff's wording as he slammed Jackson into the glass viewing window. My breath caught in my mouth as I spotted the fragile redhead behind the barrier. Her hair fanned out around her as tubes pumped her full of different substances.

I continued to walk closer as Jackson bit back, "No, she's not, okay? She didn't go to the formal with me."

The sheriff looked perplexed by the boy's confession. Eyes narrowed. His grip loosened fractionally as he questioned the teen, "Then who'd she go with?"

Taking pity on Jackson I teared my eyes from the doll like girl before me and turned toward the older Stilinski. My voice came out quieter than normal but I'm sure that everyone in the room could hear the words that tumbled from my mouth, "Stiles took her." Sheriff Stilinski paused his hands still holding Jacksons jacket as he stared back at me. I couldn't tell if his frozen features were due to realising I was also there or if it was from the fear of his son being involved. Whatever the reason it didn't take him long to snap out of it. Within seconds he was snapping orders at the nearby deputies who sprang into action leaving me and Jackson alone once again.

We both sat on the lumpy waiting room chairs as nurses busied themselves. A couple of the older women kept glancing our way. Either they felt sorry for us or I looked as horrific as I felt as one of them had kindly handed me a couple face wipes to remove my war paint. Jackson stood abruptly and began to pace his emotions written into every furrow on his face. "What the hell happened," he growled down at me pausing only for a moment in front of me before he continued to wonder up and down like a caged animal.

Glancing around, I found the same few nurses eyeing us curiously as the deputy re-entered the room. He had left while talking on the phone to a distraught Mrs Martin, I think my intense staring had sent him running from the room. I shook my head at Jackson dismissively and replied, "not here."

He grunted back angrily and stomped away from the seating area his fist slamming down on one of the nurses work station as he passed it resulting in an angry shift worker scolding the worried teen. I didn't watch were he went after that. To be honest I didn't pay much attention to my surroundings until a familiar brunette strode pass me her purple hoodie hugging her slim figure as she approached the glass. She was so engrossed in watching Lydia that she hadn't noticed me edging closer to her. Something was off, she didn't seem to have the same naive aura I had been so fond of. No, instead Allison was holding herself like a hunter, like an Argent. I watched closely as her hand pressed into the window, the moment her hand made contact with the cold material she flinched backward. Taking a deep breath I joined her, my eyes never leaving Lydia. "I take it you know then," I stated bluntly unsure on how she was going to react to this new world she had been thrust into.

I watched Allison's reflection turn to glare at me, "you knew?" I nodded back lightly. She didn't reply. She didn't need to I knew from her face as she stormed out of the waiting room at she wasn't happy with being kept in the dark. However I didn't have time to ponder Allison's behaviour as an auburn haired woman bolted through elevator doors, Sheriff Stilinski only a few steps behind her, almost pushing a nurse out of the way as she made a beeline for the Deputy standing guard outside Lydia's room.

"That's her mum," Jackson informed me as he re-joined me by the window. Our eyes followed the woman as she rushed into the room and dove into the seat beside Lydia. I only looked away from the mother and daughter when Jackson nudged me hard in the ribs forcing me to yelp lightly under my breath. Before I could question his sudden attack I noticed his eyes focused on something behind me. The nagging worry that had settled in the back from my brain vanished as my eyes landed on a slightly dishevelled but altogether alive looking Stiles. He was currently listening intently to his father as the older man bared down on him. I couldn't hear the pair's full convocation from where stood but I got the gist of it as Stiles questioned about Scott's whereabouts. As his dad replied his eyes trailed over to me and Jackson, we shrugged in unison neither of us had heard anything from the young werewolf.

"Hey, where are you going?" Jackson called out after Stiles as he made his way down the empty halls. The staff that had previously filled the corridors seemed to have vanished as we marched after Stiles. Jackson and I had waited for his dad the leave before chasing the boy down, we and silently agreed that attracting the sheriff's attention was not a good idea.

Stiles didn't slow down as he called back over his shoulder, "to find Scott." Well that was useful. Yes I could understand why he was worried about Scott but personally I was far more interested in finding out how he had talked his way out of Peter's clutches without any sort of injury.

Slamming his hand down onto Stiles' shoulder Jackson halted the teen mid step, "You don't have a car." We both turned to shot dry looks at Jackson. Stiles clearly he knew he would need a car but was reluctant to take anything from the love of his lives ex-boyfriend and I didn't like the fact Jackson was pimping out MY car.

"Neither do you!" I snapped at Jackson slapping his hand away from Stiles as I addressed the sheriff's son, "Stiles let us help."

Obviously Stiles didn't think that highly of either of us as his eyes shifted between me and Jackson. Were we really that bad that it would take this long for someone to believe we genuinely wanted to help? With a sigh Stiles gave in, "all right." He thrusted his hand out toward me and for a moment I thought he wanted me to shake it. That was until he stupidly made his next suggest, "I'll drive."

I scoffed loudly and pushed his hand away from me with a bit more force than necessary, "no I only just got this car." I paused before pointing an accusing finger at him, "you crashed my last one from the passage seat so you can stay in the back and keep your hands to yourself!"

Stiles didn't have time to protest to my demands as a new voice joined the conversation. "I was wondering if any of you can tell me where Scott McCall is," there in the centre of the conveniently empty hallway stood Chris Argent. Two of his goons looming just behind him as he a forced smiled graced his lips. I was starting to think the lack of hospital staff had more to do with the hunter's presence then poorly planned tea breaks.

"Scott McCall?" Stiles began. Gulping lightly as his brain began to form the rest of his lie, "Uhm, haven't seen him since the dance." Allison's father did not look convinced by the simple answer as he cocked an eyebrow at Stiles. The pair didn't break eye contact as Stiles spoke. The older man only looked away as Stiles addressed me confidently, "Emma, you?"

I had been lying to adults for years so didn't take much for the words to form as I let out a light, "nope," making sure the p popped as I said it. Mr Argents lips quirked slightly at the edges, I like to think he found our blatant defiance amusing. "Wait didn't coach ban him from the formal?" I tapped my chin in thought before turning to Jackson, in hindsight it probably wasn't my best decision, "Jackson?"

Jackson stared back at me blankly before looking at Stiles and then finally staring wide eyed the hunters. His lips moved but nothing came out. I glanced at Stiles, his expression mirroring mine as he hung his head in frustration and a muffled whine escaping his lips. He realised the trouble Jackson had landed us in, "Oh, for the love of God."

The two hunters grabbed the boys roughly by their collars and man handled the pair into an empty room. Sending the boys hurtling into an unused stretcher. Chris didn't need to use such brutish force, as he went to place a guiding hand on my shoulder I lifted my hands in surrender and walked in after the others. I didn't need him to steer me in after them. He waited until we had all entered the room fully before turning and locking the door. That wasn't the most comforting sign. "Let's try this again," he moved around the room until he was standing near Stiles. Obviously he had deemed Stiles as the one with the information. His voice held such an authoritative tone that made my stomach churn, "where is Scott McCall?" none of us answered, "Let me ask you a question. Have any of you ever seen a rabid dog?"

My lips curled upwards into a smile as Stiles replied, sarcasm dripping from each word, "No. I could put it on my to - do - list, if you just let us go." I was glad to see I wasn't the only one finding it hard to deal with the demanding nature of the hunters before us.

Allison must have not gone through the rebellious teen stage yet as her father stared back at Stiles thrown slightly by the teen's dismissive response. Shaking his head Chris continued to close the gap between him and the snarky boy, "well, I have. And the only thing I've ever been able to compare it to is seeing a friend of mine turn on a full moon. Do you wanna know what happened?"

I tutted loudly pulling the groups eyes away from Stiles and Chris, "do we look like we care?" The hunter nearest to me reached out and grabbed my arm painfully as the words left my mouth. While Mr Argent frowned lightly in my direction. I had never been formally introduced to the man but he knew I was one of Allison's friend. From the expression on his face, I don't think he was too fond of our friendship, at least I wasn't a werewolf. Stiles opened his mouth to add to my comment but was cut off as the older man pushed him forcefully into one of the cabinets before continuing his story, "He tried to kill me, and I was forced to put a bullet in his head," he punctuated his words with sharp jabs of his finger to Stiles' head for added effect. "The whole while that he lay there dying, he was still trying to claw his way toward me, still trying to kill me, like it was the most important thing he could do with his last breath. Can you imagine that?"

I knew he could. I had seen Scott lunge at Stiles on multiple occasion and I wasn't with the pair all the time so I could only image it had occurred more often than I knew. However to Stiles credit he didn't say anything negative about his best friend. Instead he took a deep breath and shook his head confidently, "no, and it sounds like you need to…"

The hunter wasn't having any more of our back chat, he slammed his hands into the glass doors and held them either side of Stiles head as he lent in closer, "Did Scott try to kill you on the full moon? Did you have to lock him up?"

"Yeah, I did," Stiles replied honestly as he backed further into the cabinet behind him. Jackson's eyes widened as he cast a questioning look my way. Had he really thought the bite was all fun and games? That something that powerful didn't come with responsibilities and consequences?! Hopefully now he wouldn't be so keen on the idea of receiving the 'gift'. "I had to handcuff him to a radiator," Stiles paused lifting his head slightly higher as he questioned back, "Why? Would you prefer I locked him in the basement and burned the whole house down around him?" The Hale fire, I'd never really put the names together. Surely the Argents weren't that cruel? I could remember the papers saying children had been inside the house during the fire.

Chris backed up slightly has the teen spat out his accusation. He didn't answer straight away instead his hand rubbed his face thoughtful as if he didn't quite believe the words he was about to say himself, "I hate to dispel a popular rumour, Stiles, but we never did that."

"Oh, right. Derek said you guys had a code. I guess no one ever breaks it," the hand holding my arm tightened at Stiles words. The Chris glanced around the room as he shook his head in disagreement as if the idea of someone no following a rule was preposterous. "What if someone does?" Chris didn't turn back to Stiles right away. His eyes drifted between the hunter's hand that was cutting the circulation of in my lower arm and the larger guys firm hold on Jackson.

Glancing up at Stiles Chris seemed to have realise the teen wasn't stupid and wouldn't goad the group for the fun of it. Peering closely at the boy Chris asked, "Someone like who?" To me it sounded like he already knew the answer.

"Your sister," the words cut through the silent room like a knife. I had been right though, Chris Argent had known who Stiles was going to accuse, which could only mean that the older hunter had been having the same suspicions. Chris pulled his arm away from the glass beside Stiles and nodded his head to his companions. The pair dropped their holds almost instantly and marched from the room after the Argent.

Rubbing my arm I watched both boys sigh in relief. Stiles took a couple unsteady steps forward and pulled my hand away from my arm to inspect the red marks. They were going to bruise. "Its fine purple is my colour," Stiles didn't seem to find the comment funny as his eyebrows knitted together. I hate to admit it but I found his concern endearing. Reluctantly, I pulled my arm out of his grasp and nodded towards the cabinets behind Jackson, "either of you remember what went into Lydia's fire bomb?"

After a few minutes of fussing and a quick search on google we had armed ourselves, or the boys had armed themselves, with a pair of Molotov cocktails. There had only been enough for two fire bombs and I had decided that throwing flaming bombs at an alpha werewolf wasn't really my thing. I was happy just being the driver. Neither of the boys complained see as I was the only one with a car. As we bundled into the car Stiles lent forward almost pulling himself into the front of the car to bark out directions. As I sped towards the old hale house we both actively ignore Jackson's protests to the speed and off road handling.

The car skidded to a halt as I yanked the hand brake up. My head lights illuminating the horror scene in front of us. Only meters away from the car stood a fully transformed Peter Hale his tall fur covered body looming over Scott and to my surprise Allison. Jackson and Stiles both shot out of the vehicle instantly leaving their doors wide open. The beast howled and stared directly as us as Stiles launched his bottle at him. Peter caught it was ease. "Oh damn," were the only words Stiles could muster as the monster peered at the bottle curiously. Peter seemed to be deciding who would be his first victim when something shimmered in the headlights. Allison's metallic bow lay in the leaves only inches from the front of the car. I'd seen her shoot, she could hit the bottle with her eyes closed!

Diving from the car and stumbling forward I felt everyone's eyes shift to me, including Peter. "Allison!" I yelled over the alpha's roar. The creature looked ready to lunge as I flung her bow into the air. Peter took a threating step towards me and I scrambled backwards sinking further into the dirt. I could faintly hear someone shouting my name telling me run but I couldn't get up. He raised the claw with the bottle it and preparing to pounce. But the attack never came. Instead of pain I felt warmth, from both the glowing fire that had now encased the alpha's arm and from the body that had slammed me to the ground shielding me from flames. Blinking franticly I tried to clear the tears that had been welling in my eyes as Peter had strode toward me. Slowly the blurred white torso that was hovering horizontally over my head turned into a crinkled white shirt and lose dark tie. Stiles had propped himself up on all fours over me watching Jackson throw the last of our weapons at the alpha. After finally catching my breath and regaining my nerve, I wriggled backwards until it was only my legs that were under the teenage boy.

Though by the time I had lifted myself up onto my elbows there wasn't much of a fight left. Derek and Scott were both standing over want I could only assume were the charred remains of Peter Hale. Blood dripped from Derek's claws. Derek's eyes glowing scarlet as he declared, "I'm the Alpha now." Nobody moved as the words whirled around my head. I couldn't stop myself wondering want would come of this new development. Was this a good thing or had we just swapped one big bad for another? Derek was the first of us to move, without another word he strode off into the woods. His actions seemed to snap every else out of their stares. My arms arched, my head hurt and my heart broke as I watched Scott stare longingly at Allison, who was being ushered away by her father. My eyes shifted from Scott to Jackson, who I noted was still watching Derek closely, before landing on the boy who, for lack of a better description, was pinning me to the floor.

"As romantic as this is, do you mind moving?" At my words Stiles' head shot down to look at me only to find my legs. His eyes shifted upwards to my face, I had to try hard not to giggle and I'd like it to be noted that I'm not a giggler, at his shocked expression. Eyebrows high and mouth moving like a land locked fish the teen scrambled clumsily to his feet, a blush shading his cheeks. Though whether it was from my comment or being so physically close to someone of the opposite gender I will never know. Without looking at me he reached out a hand which I just stared back at dumbly, unsure what he was doing. Finally he turned to face me after he realised I wasn't taking it. He frowned down at me and pressed his lips together in annoyance. With a wave of his hand and a one sided shrug he wordlessly asked me why I wasn't taking his hand. I didn't reply. I merely grabbed his hand and pulled myself up. Placing my free had on his cheek I patted it lightly before adding, "and they say chivalry is dead." A smiled curled onto my lips as he grumbled about being ungrateful and how he had practically saved my life. He was still ranting under his breath as I reached my car. Lazily I rested arm on my car door and lent forward as my smile grew. Watching the mumbling boy as he followed me to my car I couldn't stop myself teasing him further, "and what does my hero want in return?" I cocked my head to the side as if thinking deeply, "A kiss…" Stiles paused mid step his foot almost tripping him as it landed awkwardly beneath him. Hazel eyes shooting up to look at me clearly unable to read my expression. He looked like he was genuinely thinking about excepting as I continued, "or a lift home?"

"A lift home," Jackson's voice replied simply as he settled himself into the front passage seat. I let out a bark of laughter as I sank into the driver's seat beside him.

A miserable looking Scott slid into one of the backseats silently as his best friend complained loudly outside the car, "Wait, no, stop! he doesn't get to pick! He didn't even do anything!" Despite his protests Stiles accepted the lift him. As he sunk into the last free seat I watched him closely through the rear-view mirror. Our eyes met for a moment and he pouted comically before turning his head away like a spoilt child, I realised then as the urge to giggle returned that I was in trouble. Crap, I had a crush on Stiles Stilinski. The same boy who was madly in love with Lydia. This wasn't going to end well.

Season 1 completed! I joy you enjoyed this one as much as I loved writing it! Thank you so much to anyone who has read, favorited, followed or reviewed. Season 2 is on its way I just need to sort out a few little bits before I start writing it out properly. But just a bit of warning don't expect Stiles to return those feeling just yet!

I'd love to hear peoples predictions for Emma's role in future.