Chapter 13: the dream sequence
Stay away from what might've been, and look at what can be
~Marsha Petrie Sue~
...
A few hours later, in the middle of the night.
''Hey Deucalion, where are you? We tried to reach you several times. I went by your place but only found a few of your beta's who said you didn't return home yet.'' James speaks into the phone, pacing the dining room of the Hale house.
Deucalion walks out of Malia's bedroom, closing the door behind him quietly. ''We're at the Adelaide house, apparently Malia has been staying here. My apologies for being unavailable, we were dealing with other things James.''
''Right. Uhm-'' Sighing he continues, he hates this situation. ''We need to know where you left Paige's body so we can make sure she is found in the morning. God Deuc, Derek, he's heartbroken and I don't know what to do. He has some foolish notion that it's his fault. Talia is staying with him to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid like seeking out her body or contacting her family.''
''About that… James I think it would be best if you came to Adelaide house and bring the pup.'' Deucalion answers, entering the living room. Signaling Dean, who'd been sitting there to go upstairs to keep an eye on Malia.
James looks into the living room, hearing Derek and Talia's argument getting louder. Peter, Laura and Caroline having been caught up on the events that had taken place earlier that night, try to lend their support as much as they are able to. Meanwhile Alexander and Cora lay upstairs, hopefully still asleep despite the noise.
He refocuses on the conversation with Deucalion even though his instincts are screaming at him to go and comfort his son, ''Why, what's going on?''
''I think it would be best if you came over James, I doubt you'd believe me if I told you.'' Deucalion responds, looking straight at Paige. A living, breathing, Paige sitting on Malia's brand new L shaped pull-out couch.
''Is Derek okay?'' Paige asks quietly, scared by tonight's events. Still trying to process what had happened.
The other end of the phone got very quiet at the sound of her voice and then chaos erupted. ''Paige?! Is that you? You're okay?'' Derek asks, snatching his father's phone with lighting speed.
Putting the phone on speaker, Deucalion puts the phone on the coffee table, nodding at the girl. She smiles tearfully, ''I-uhm, I think so. Yeah.''
''I'm coming.'' Derek says before turning to his family, ''She's alive.'' He breathes out unsure, eyes wide, disbelief hanging in the air. Then an ecstatic smile breaks out, ''She's alive!'' he yells excitedly, voice filled with relief.
Tiny footsteps can be heard coming down the stairs, ''Who's alive?'' Cora asks groggily, Alexander standing next to her rubbing his tired eyes.
Within minutes the entire house was empty, all the Hale's on their way to Adelaide house. Normally they wouldn't have taken the youngest with them but after everything that happened today, they weren't letting any of their children out of their sight anytime soon.
…
Meanwhile at the Adelaide house Dean is wiping Malia's forehead with a washcloth. Swallowing as he listens to her weak but steady heartbeat. This world, the supernatural world, was still quite new to him. He was a normal middle aged mechanic when all of a sudden he was bitten and poof, he wasn't human anymore. The revelation that the alpha who bit him was a monster was enough for him to skip town after a year, becoming an omega with little knowledge of the supernatural world he was now a part of. He only started to really learn when Deucalion took him in a few months ago.
But what he did know, even before encountering Deucalion, is that nothing comes for free in their world unless you are part of their pack or family. And yet Malia had done many things, some putting her own life at great peril, without asking for anything in return. Why? She wasn't part of the Hale pack and though she shared blood that didn't guarantee her a place in the family.
The woman in question sighs in relief as he places a fresh wet cloth to her forehead. She lays on the bed immobile, black lines still faintly visible. Sometimes she mumbles something but he hasn't been able to make any of it out.
He hears Deucalion and Paige climb the stairs slowly. Entering the room quietly both of them stare at Malia.
''The Hale's are coming over.'' Deucalion relayed quietly, even though he knew that Dean had probably already heard as much.
He nods. ''She's alive,'' he reassures the girl.
Paige nods, not taking her eyes off the older woman. ''Why'd she do that if it would hurt her like this…''
''You know why,'' Deucalion says solemnly. ''It is the how that remains a mystery.''
Paige sits down on the bed, careful not to disturb the other occupant. Softly she grabs Malia's hand, ''Thank you, I know that doesn't suffice. I don't think anything will, I was-'' she swallows tearfully. ''I'm pretty sure I would've died if it wasn't for you, so thank you.''
They sit there in silence, listening to her weak but steadily rising and falling heartbeat, processing the day's events, and letting everything that happened sink in.
''Do you feel any different?'' Deucalion asks, looking at the increasingly tiring teen. She was holding Malia's hand like it was her life line and now that he thinks about it, she quite literally had been.
The girl's body had rejected the bite. It had been breaking down the human cells in her body reshaping and rebuilding them into something different, something more. But her body had an adverse reaction to the transition, treating it like a virus that the body had to fight off no matter the consequence. And the consequence was grave, rejecting the new cells left her body with only the rapidly dying ones… She was dying no doubt but then Malia did something, something thought impossible, that pulled her back from death's doorstep. A lifeline tugging her back from the abyss.
Sitting up a little straighter, Paige blinks. ''I don't think so, I mean I'm tired and my side hurts but I don't- I-.''
''That's alright.'' Deucalion says with a small smile, aiming to reassure the young girl who quite frankly should be a lot more distressed at the turn of events, ''You know, don't you?''
Eyes flickering up nervously she licks her lips, ''I've seen things before,'' providing him with a short smile she continues, ''Derek, he says some things that just don't make sense. Like he caught a scent or he hears something that I can't hear. Am I going to be like him?''
Deucalion looks at Paige, facing the revelation of the supernatural better than many grown men he's met. ''Perhaps. Your situation is unique so there may also be a possibility you'll simply remain human.''
Nodding Paige wonders what her parents are doing right now, she wants nothing more than to snuggle into one of her father's bearhugs. To have her mother pet her hair, combing the knots out with soft strokes of her fingers. She longs to be home but knows she can't leave, not yet. The man before her, Deucalion, had told her she'd get to go home tomorrow after she'd gotten examined by their doctor. She'd texted her parents that she fell asleep during their study session and was staying over at Derek's house, in Laura's old room of course.
The sound of three cars disrupts the quiet that blankets the Adelaide house.
''Come on, I'm sure Derek would love to see you.'' Deucalion says gently, helping her off the bed and escorting her downstairs.
Dean stays, caring for Malia and monitoring her closely. He looks around the sparse room, spotting an empty picture frame. Very few personal items for a young woman's house… It worried him, so young and already living like a ghost. He wonders where her family is, the people who raised her, surely there was someone in her life. Or perhaps she'd come here seeking out the Hale's because she was left all alone, he could relate to that. His parents and only family died when he was forty-one, years before he turned, leaving him essentially alone.
…
Running up to the house Derek pauses, what could he say? I'm sorry I almost got you killed? Eyebrows drawn together in worry, his hand hovers above the door. His father comes to stand next to him and knocks on the door, giving him a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder.
Deucalion opens the door calmly, the kettle already whistling. He nods as everyone enters, filling up the living room and kitchen. Paige sits on the couch, nervously twiddling her fingers. Looking up she sees Derek freeze at the sight of her, she jumps up and runs into his arms intensely happy to see him.
The teens reunite, sitting down in the living room, whispering apologies and reassurances to each other.
The others follow Deucalion to the kitchen table, it's big enough to accommodate a family of six or eight if you put an extra chair at each tablehead. Peter carries a sleeping Cora, while Talia carries Alexander who is yet to fall asleep again curious eyes taking everything in.
''There are two extra bedrooms upstairs, though I haven't checked them so I'm unsure if there are even beds in them.'' Deucalion tells Talia and Peter. But the two don't bring them upstairs, instead holding them as they sit down, keeping them close.
Laura helps Deucalion with the tea, bringing two cups to the teens while he brings one to Dean upstairs. After a few minutes everyone is seated and has tea.
Talia shakes her head looking stumped, ''How?''
Deucalion looks at the Hale's with a serious expression, ''I don't know.''
''What do you mean you don't know, I thought you were there when it happened?'' Peter asks, annoyed. ''So my pregnant wife is out in the middle of the night for nothing?'' Not amused that Caroline and the children joined this little outing when he could've stayed home to protect them if need be, they didn't need this stress.
''Peter.'' Caroline admonishes, grabbing his hand. ''I'm pregnant, not deathly ill. I think I can handle missing a few hours of sleep. Besides I'm pretty sure my boss will be lenient and give me some time off to catch up on my rest.'' She says coyly, as technically they both worked for James.
He turns to Deucalion knowing she was right, don't burn bridges you might need to cross in the future. ''I'm sorry.''
Deucalion waves it off, he's more than used to temperamental beta's that lash out first and think second.
''What do you know?'' Talia asks, incredibly thankful for this turn of events but also wary since this seems almost too good to be true.
Taking a sip of his tea he collects his thoughts, ''Malia was taking her pain but then it progressed, black lines covered her entire body, even her eyes. It was like she was absorbing the sickness into herself along with the pain…''
''I didn't know you could do such a thing.'' Caroline says.
''That's because you can't. Unless it's a were-coyote thing we didn't know about but I highly doubt it. If that were the case alpha's would just hire a coyote to keep the bitten from rejecting the bite.'' James responds, laying his hands on the table.
Looking around Laura states the obvious, ''If Malia did it, why don't we just ask her?''
''And some more things…'' Peter grumbled. They didn't know anything about this girl. Good on her for killing Gerard but other than that she was a risk, an unknown omega who's doing whatever she wants. Stealing, fighting and killing in their territory.
Deucalion closes his eyes, sighing. ''Because she has been unconscious ever since she saved Paige. She's suffering from a high fever, weak pulse and the black pain lines that should've receded in seconds remain on her skin still. Add onto that her previous injuries and underlying conditions.'' He shakes his head, sorrow filling the air. ''It doesn't look good for her.''
That's when Paige and Derek walk in. ''She's dying?'' she asks crestfallen.
''Malia is dying?'' Alexander asks grief stricken, ''But she's our guardian angel…'' Wiggling out of Talia's arms, he runs up the stairs straight into the twins' future room. Leaving the door open as he leaves intent on finding his guardian angel. He bypasses another room which isn't housing what he was looking for. Arriving at the last door he finds her, his guardian angel. Dean was also there but he doesn't know Dean that well, so he simply bypasses the beta and continues his path to Malia.
Climbing onto the bed quickly he holds Malia's hand, lying down and burrowing into her side. He always feels better when mommy or daddy hugs him.
''What are you doing little man? You allowed to be up here?'' Dean asks, bemused by the five year olds' antics. Hearing the adults downstairs scrambling up the stairs, in hot pursuit.
Said adults pause at the other bedroom though. ''What is this? Does she have children?'' Talia asks, wide eyes gliding over the rooms contents.
''Talia I know her no better than you, I've told you all I know and suspect about her. This I never would have guessed.'' Deucalion answers, flabbergasted at the room as well. There was no hint in their previous interactions that she had children, no scent, no haste to be home at a specific time, nothing indicating this.
Caroline looks at two plush motorcycles, one on each bed. ''Ethan and Aiden.'' She reads off of the stitching on the plush toys, touching her own stomach protectively.
''Whoever they are-'' Peter says, avoiding looking at the children's things. ''or were, they're not here and from the smell of things no child has been in here.'' He gently tugs Caroline to the exit.
''Everything is new, as if they're supposed to arrive soon though. Like she readied it for them, putting down roots here.'' Caroline says looking at her husband, she knew how cynical he could be, how cold and calculated he was towards outsiders. But this woman is potentially his half-sister and she sounds like someone worth knowing. He needs to realize she is here to stay before he does or says something he'll come to regret later on.
They all follow after Talia and Deucalion when they leave the children's room. Closing the door with tender care as if the room was already housing sleeping children.
''I've already called Deaton and Morrel, they're on their way.'' Deucalion says as they quietly enter Malia's bedroom, squeezing in.
''How is she?'' James asks, genuinely hoping for a positive answer even though evidence to the contrary was laying right before his eyes.
Dean shrugs, ''I don't know, some of the time she lays there peacefully and other times she groans in pain or discomfort. But she hasn't woken up yet. Her fever concerns me the most, had she been human I would've rushed her to the ER.''
Sliding up to her littlest brother Laura asks him, ''So what are you doing, laying next to the pretty lady?''
''Angel.'' Alex whispers back, ''I'm helping her feel better.''
Smiling Laura praises him for his efforts, ''I'm sure our angel feels much better already. How about we go downstairs though and watch some tv with Cora, Derek and Paige? Sound good?''
Looking back towards Malia he hesitates.
''It's alright buddy, we'll help Malia feel better. You go downstairs with your sister.'' James coaches.
Dean joined Laura, Derek, Paige and Alexander downstairs as Deucalion took over taking care of Malia for a bit. Caroline and Peter stayed near the door in case they needed to exit the room quickly. Talia and James circled the bed as Deucalion sat down, dapping Malia's head with the cold cloth.
''She looks like death.'' Peter says bluntly.
''Not strange considering she pulled Paige from death's claws…'' Caroline adds, much gentler than her husband.
James frowns, ''Did she though, or did she somehow exchange places with her?''
Talia observes Malia closely, marveling at the family resemblance now that she had the time to really look at her. ''She looks like dad.''
Peter's head shoots in his sister's direction, ''She looks nothing like dad.'' he denies, anger replacing his earlier shock.
Glancing at her brother she responds, ''And yet she does, I dare say she resembles you quite a bit. Perhaps you bear the same temperament as well.''
''Dad would never cheat.'' Peter growls. Though his voice speaks volumes, he sees the same as Talia but to admit it would turn his father into some adulterer.
''Peter, everyone makes mistakes. How else would you explain her?'' Talia asks eyebrows drawn together in question.
''No.'' Peter vehemently denies.
Grasping her husband's hand Caroline squeezes it in support, she knew this would be hard for him to accept. He idolized his father, his parents' marriage, forever seeing them through the lens of a child as they died when he was only eleven.
Deucalion didn't meddle in the discussion, he knew Leroy and he too found it incredibly difficult to believe he'd do such a thing but there was no other option. She's either Leroy's illegitimate daughter or they'd have to entertain the thought that she is the product of an earlier illegitimate Hale, who somehow escaped their notice.
''Three things cannot be long hidden; the sun, the moon and the truth.'' Peter whispers, shaking his head in disbelief. Looking at the woman lying on the bed he didn't know how to feel. How was one supposed to feel in this situation? He looked at her prown, scar filled form and felt nauseous, whether that was from the revelation or her condition he couldn't say. But anger filled his entire body.
''Take a breather Peter.'' James told him, seeing the emotions Peter was battling. Peter and Leroy had been incredibly close, he'd seen their relationship and even envied Peter for the bond he had with his father compared to his relationship with his own father.
Peter gladly took his advice, fleeing the room with his wife in tow. Heading straight down the stairs and through the front door, passing Deaton and Morrel on their way out.
…
''Sweetie, it's time to get up the guys are waiting for us at Sheila's.'' a voice tells her.
She groans, burrowing deeper into her pillow. Trying to ignore the voice.
''Come Mal.'' The voice says seemingly amused by her grunted refusal.
''Alright, You leave me no choice, guess I have to bring in the calvary…''
Something small and light jumps on her back prompting her to flip over immediately, eyes flying open she sees a small girl of maybe three sitting next her. Beautiful brown eyes look into her own, light curly brown hair framing her small face.
Achingly familiar laughter fills the air, looking up she sees Scott, her Scott, alive and well. He bends down picking up the little girl.
''Come on sweet pea, let's let mommy get ready alright?'' He smiles at her.
Swallowing hard, she sits there, watching them leave the room. She reaches out even though she's afraid it'll break the illusion, ''Scott?''
Hearing the tone in her voice Scott turns around and comes back in backbreaking speed, kneeling next to the bed. ''Hey, you okay Mal? Have that nightmare again?''
''What nightmare?'' She asks with an uneven shaky voice.
Petting her cheek Scott responds, ''You did, didn't you? Mal the war is over, has been for years. Monroe's militia disassembled after we defeated the Anuk-Ite, remember?''
Tears fall as she throws her arms around him, ''The war didn't happen? It was all just a nightmare?'' She feels him nod.
''Remnants of the Anuk-Ite, our worst fears manifest themselves in night terrors.''
''It was all just a dream…'' she breathes out, ''So that girl. That's…?''
Looking into her eyes he smiles, accentuating his crooked jaw. ''Our daughter-''
''Sascha…'' She breathes out, a smile forming on her face. Her husband was alive, her baby was alive, her family was alive.
''It must have been a bad one.'' Scott says frowning in worry, ''We could stay home, have a day in if you want?''
''No! No. I uh… I want to go to Sheila's diner and see-'' She licks her lips nervously, ''And see the pack.''
Kissing her forehead he walks away, pausing in the door opening, ''I'll go check on Sascha, make sure she hasn't gotten into the deer jerkie again. You gonna be okay here?''
Nodding, she follows him with her eyes as he leaves the room. Getting up she marvels at her skin, all clear of any scarring. On the nightstand next to her stands an empty picture frame next to the pack picture from her…dream. And another picture of herself, Scott and Sascha with a big birthday cake decorated with three candles. Moving on she throws on a black shirt and a pair of jeans and walks out of the bedroom. Bypassing two doors she makes her way down the stairs.
''Mommy!'' the little girl from earlier hugs her leg tightly.
Bending down she picks her up hugging her tightly, ''Morning baby.'' She still feels unsure of the whole situation, it's like the more she tries to think of her nightmare the more it slips away.
''Ready?'' Scott asks.
Nodding, she walks out the door with her family.
…
A while later, early morning hours.
''What do you think?'' Talia asks carefully, settling down at the kitchen table once more. Casting a glance over the sleeping teens and children in the living room.
Washing his bloody hands Deaton goes over all the possibilities in his head. Turning as he dries his hands he is faced by everyone in the house, Malia still unconscious upstairs.
''Her fever has broken, which is a good sign but that doesn't mean she's out of the woods yet. As for Paige… She's a remarkably lucky girl. I can't say anything for certain regarding her other than that she would most definitely be dead had it not been for Malia.'' Deaton explains, ''It appears as if Malia absorbed the rejection from Paige into herself, the consequences of which remain to be seen.''
'''Will she turn?'' Peter asks, entering the house again with Caroline. Apparently not having missed a word of their conversation.
Shaking his head Deaton turns to look at the sleeping Paige, ''I don't know, this is unprecedented. Her physical examination revealed no abnormal healing, strength, hearing or sense of smell.'' he turns to look at Talia, ''Does she smell different to you?''
Closing her eyes Talia sniffs the air, focusing on Paige's smell. Shaking her head in the negative, ''No, other than smelling of Malia a bit.''
Deucalion blinks at this, sniffing out Paige's scent himself. ''That's not Malia's scent…'' He says.
All eyes turn to Deucalion.
He continues, ''Malia's scent, it's different from Paige's. Malia's scent is mature while Paige's is… Well, like that of an infant. ''
Laura looks up, thinking of her latest lesson with her mother which happened to be about were-coyote's. ''What if she sacrificed a part of her power for Paige, like how were-coyote's pass a piece of their power down to their children?''
''That could be the cost…'' Deaton hypotheses'. ''There is this theory, a rumor really, that an alpha can save a dying person by giving up their extra power, by giving up the spark that makes them an alpha. I've never given much credence to it before, since there was no evidence that it had ever been done let alone succeeded but-''
''But it sounds like what happened here.'' Talia says.
''But what extra power did she have to give up? She wasn't an alpha right?'' Caroline asks. ''Would a piece, that meant for an infant, be enough to save someone from the rejection?''
''No, it wouldn't be nearly enough. Were-coyote's only pass a sliver of their power to their children, which then grows and cultivates as they grow.'' Deaton sighs.
James nods, ''So the only possibility is that she had more power than a regular were-coyote.''
''No, more like she had twice the power of a regular were-coyote.'' Deaton corrects.
''You mean to tell me she was more powerful than other coyote's and chose to give it up to save some random teenager?'' Peter scoffs in disbelief. Who in their right mind would do that for a stranger?
Talia raises her eyebrows as the pieces fell into place for her, ''Not random at all.'' she says softly, ''To her yes, but not to us. To the Hale family Paige isn't random at all…''
''A family of which she is a part, or at least seems to want to be.'' James adds as he starts to get it as well.
''A pledge of loyalty.'' Deucalion says, taking a sip of his tea. ''Or perhaps she simply wished to see the young girl live rather than die.''
Morrel simply observed as her brother spoke once more, ''Even so, to give up a significant part of your power is a great risk to take, especially as an omega. Whatever her intent it yielded a miraculous result.'' he says looking at Paige.
''So will she turn?'' Peter reiterates, the question still unanswered.
Deaton shrugs, ''She might turn any day now or maybe only in 15 years when her powers have matured, perhaps earlier if triggered by a life and death situation or maybe never at all. I simply don't know, because as far as I know no one has ever survived a bite rejection.''