new york wolves } { of new threats and returned betas

[hereditare]

Laura: [throws open the door, kicks his bed] Hey! You! You did what to my baby sister?

Peter: [jostles awake, then groans at the angry alpha growling over him] She's fine, Laura. You can check on her upstairs.

Laura: That is not the point! You could have killed her!

Peter: I know, which is why I was careful. I've never killed anyone doing it yet, and you know that.

Laura: [GROWL]

Peter: [hands up, pushing himself up into a sitting position] She couldn't focus on her memories because of her bond with him. But she saw more than she thought she did, and right now Derek is tracking down the plates of the hunter who took him to find Stiles. From those memories. She knew the risks and wanted to find him. We called you first but you weren't answering.

Laura: [huffs] I get that. I still don't appreciate you asking for forgiveness rather than permission.

Peter: Every minute matters, Laura. We couldn't wait.

Laura: [still scowling but she's putting the growling to the side for now] Have they found anything?

Peter: [reaches for his phone to see if Derek has texted him yet] They got a match on the SUV that Stiles was taken in, and they were tracking it as a separate snatch and grab from Alexis and Hal.

Laura: [sighs before nodding] Alright. Nik is downstairs so I guess I'll check in with Derek and see if there's anything we can dig into ourselves.

Stiles: [and that would be the exact moment that the Hale loft door opens and Stiles... pretty much fall inside as he loses his balance and he run out of adreneline.]

Nik: [it's followed by some Russian swearing as he runs forward to catch him some, helping to balance him a bit] Stiles? You alright?

Stiles: [he shakes his head, but he's twitching too much. There are electric burns on his wrists, he's sweating, and there are cuts along his back that look like whip marks and smell like wolfsbane]

Nik: Son of a bitch. [He shifts his grip before getting him over to the couch and sitting him down. Once he's there, he'll have a look at his eyes] Doesn't look like it's enough to kill you, but we're going to have to get you in the shower. Sooner we get that wolfsbane off your skin the better.

Peter: [sits up] Do you smell that?

Stiles: Cor... Cora...?

Nik: She is fine, kiddo. Don't even worry about it. [the wolfsbane needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later and he pulls him to his feet] C'mon. Shower.

Laura: [glances over and nods before darting to the door] Nik?

Stiles: [is barely holding onto consciousness, trying to get to his feet but falling more against Nik with a whimper]

Nik: [softly] It's okay. I got you. You'll feel better after this, I promise. [and as he's steering him to the shower he'll call back to Laura:] Bathroom!

Peter: [he hears Stiles' whimper and is out of bed] I'll text Derek, you get to them.

Stiles: [Just focusing on his breathing and walking, his vision swimming as he can't control his shift as well as he can]

Nik: [it's okay, Nik can take a few scratches. He keeps him steady as he makes his way into the bathroom and to the shower. One arm holds up the teenager cranking up the water nice and hot before starting to pull off the shredded clothing. once that's done, he glances back to Stiles] This is probably gonna sting. [and that's about all the preamble he gets before he shoves the baby wolf under the hot water]

Stiles: [and what is a full out wolf howl of pain before it fades to a whimper, the shaking getting worse]

Nik: [is just holding him up under a water, listening as the pound of Laura feet gets closer stopping just outside the door] I've got him - it's mostly topical so it'll wash off with the water and sleep. Can you get me some dry clothes for him?

Laura: [the worry is clear on her face, but she trusts Nik so she nods] Yeah. Yeah, I'll be right back.

Stiles: [as the wolfsbane washes out of the open wounds and they start to bleed, they also finally start to heal. The final last burst of adrenaline from the shower fades and as his breathing calms back down, he's going to lean in and have Nik mostly support him] Thanks.

Nik: [small smile as he rubs his healed back] No problem, kiddo. Let's just dry you off and get you into bed. [and he'll reach for a towel as Laura returns with clothing and sets it on the sink]

Laura: [lingers in the doorway for a moment] How're you doing, Stiles?

Stiles: Twitchy. Tired. Wanna go to bed.

Laura: [nods as Nik gets him dressed in warm dry clothes] Nik'll take you upstairs and we'll talk in the morning, okay?

Stiles: .... Hal?

Laura: Peter's checking in with Derek, but from what I know, they're still looking for him and Alexis.

Stiles: [his face drops a bit, but he nods.] Wake me if...?

Laura: [nods] Of course. You'll be the first to know. Just get some sleep for now, okay?

Stiles: [nods, and he's going to go upstairs with Nik, going slow and heading for Cora’s room]

Cora: [her head picks up when Nik opens the door, having curled up in the dark on Stiles’ side of the bed. She blinks for a moment and when she sees who's on the other side her eyes widen] Oh my God.

Stiles: [Nope, not even going to pretend he can make it from the door to the bed and has Nik help him the bed] I'm okay. Now.

Cora: [will just wait until he's close enough before pulling him into bed next to her, burying her face in his shoulder and just clinging to him as much as she can] I was so scared.

Stiles: I'm sorry. [and he's going to nuzzle close, closing his eyes] You're safe though.

Cora: Yeah. [she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, taking in his scent as she does] Yeah, I'm fine.

Stiles: [he smells very, very clean, with a faint after scent of wolfsbane] Good. Good.

Cora: [the wolfsbane bothers her, but there's not much she can do about it here. She's just glad he's there] I love you. I'm sorry I didn't stop it.

Stiles: Alexis and Hal... trying to help them. You didn't know.

Cora: I should have been paying more attention. [her hand comes up to brush against the back of his head, fingers threading through his hair] I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you.

Stiles: I don't know. But luckily, don't have to figure that out.

Cora: [nods softly] I don't want to ever have to.

Stiles: Same here. But can we talk in the morning. Sleep now?

Cora: [nods again] Yeah. You sleep. [She probably will just stay up watching over him until her body forces her to pass out.]

Stiles: You sleep too. [pulls her closer]

Cora: [nods as she curls into him] I will. [she lies]

Stiles: Liar. [but he's going to close his eyes and snuggle closer, too tired to argue]

Cora: [smirks a bit and will just let her fingers brush through his hair until she hears him drift off to sleep]

Stiles: [yup, out like a light]

Esposito: [Derek's with Beckett running down a lead, but asked Espo to check on Laura and to get Stiles' statement. Which is why he's ringing the doorbell]

Laura: [is fussing with the dryer while Nik is sitting in the living room in his boxers] Can you get that?

Nik: [because he is shameless he doesn't even bother with the robe and just opens the door] Hi there. [he at least keeps his package out of view]

Esposito: [mmhmm yeah. Not impressed] Hi. You aren't Laura.

Nik: Nope. She's in the laundry room. C'mon in.

Esposito: [mmhmm. That look? The one where he's not liking what he's hearing. Totally plastered on his face] So I know the Hales and you are not one of them.

Nik: Nik Kirsanov. Family friend.

Esposito: And you just hang out around here in your boxers for fun?

Nik: Nah, my clothes are in the dryer. Stiles had wolfsbane poisoning when he got back, I was trying to get him healing.

Laura: [makes her way back in] Trouble, boys?

Esposito: [turns to look at her, crossing his arms and yup, acting like he's not completely feeling inadequate next to the six foot something wolf in his underwear] Nah, just fine, thanks.

Nik: [is just looking amused because he's an asshole.]

Laura: [throw a tennis ball that was lying around at Nik's head] Stop it.

Esposito: Well, your brother asked me to come over to see if Stiles is okay and get a statement, but if you're busy...

Laura: I'd let you but Stiles is out cold. He probably won't be conscious enough for a statement until tomorrow morning. [and she'll move closer to him, letting her fingers find the lapel of his jacket and Nik takes that as his cue to be elsewhere]

Esposito: Well then, I should probably get back. I mean, you got company and all.

Laura: [rolls her eyes a bit as she leans closer] Don't do that.

Esposito: He's pretty comfortable walking around in his boxers for a house full of girls.

Laura: [she hesitates for a moment] A - wolves are a little more comfortable with nudity than most, B - the two girls we'd have to actually worry about are asleep and C - it's nothing I haven't seen before.

Esposito: Mmhmm. It's the C I'm having problems with.

Laura: [she rolls her eyes] It was after my mom died, and it wasn't anything serious.

Esposito: That don't matter. You don't see Lanie coming and hanging out in my apartment in her lacy pink push up, do you?

Laura: [sighs] His clothes got wet saving my beta from wolfsbane poisoning. The least I could do is dry his clothes and in case you haven't noticed it's not like one of my robes is going to fit him. It's not like we were having some kind of sexy water fight in your absence.

Esposito: You better not. Only person you should be having sexy water times with is me.

Laura: I happen to agree.

Esposito: [pulls her closer] Good. Cause I'm feeling kinda intimidated right now with fuzzy over there strutting his stuff around my girl.

Laura: [shakes her head] I'm over being impressed by all of that.

Esposito: Good. [and he's going to kiss her, because yeah, Nik, this little Hispanic man totally has this Alpha]

Nik: [doesn't really care. Honestly, he's just glad to see Laura happy]

Laura: [hums softly as she kisses him back, pleased that they're okay.]

Esposito: [keeps kissing a bit more before leaning back] Derek and Beckett are working the case while Ryan's off on checking on Jenny. You okay, or would you feel better with a little protective detail?

Laura: Well, I don't think the big guy's going anywhere anytime soon, but I wouldn't say no if you wanted to stick around.

Esposito: I can stay until your brother asks me to come back. Right now there's nothing left on Castle's daughter and her boy until someone calls for a ransom demand.

Laura: [nods, before pulling back and taking his hand. To Nik:] Your clothes'll be done in about forty five minutes.

Nik: [thumbs up as he keeps tossing the tennis ball in the air] Got it.

Esposito: Catch you later, man. [and nope, correct that, this alpha has herself a hot hispanic man indeed]

Laura: [Yep. there's a reason she's always on top. And she'll just guide him back to her bedroom and start shedding layers once they get there because she went right from yelling at Peter to dealing with Stiles and she hasn't really had a chance to slow down and let everything catch up with her yet]

Esposito: [he has a feeling that this is going to be the kind of sex that is Laura needing to ignore the world a bit longer before it crashes down on her and she has to deal with it, so he's going to give her all the affection she craves to soften that crash a bit. however, their sexy times will have to happen either offscreen or tomorrow because its bedtime]

Laura: [and after, she's just going to curl up against his side, letting her head rest against his shoulder as her finger draws low shapes against his chest. Her mind is still elsewhere, but there's a bit less tension than there was before]

Esposito: [he's going to hold her, his fingers rubbing her back a bit. He can see her mind isn't there and eventually runs a hand along her cheek] Qué mal? [what's wrong?]

Laura: [sighs a bit, letting her hand rest flat for a moment] Too many things. [purses her lips] We've been so careful with Stiles. How did hunters figure out he was one of us?

Esposito: Maybe they didn't know until they had him. He's attached to Cora's hip... maybe they took him for that and when he tried to fight free, they learned?

Laura: [makes a face] It's too careful for that. From what I've heard it sounds like they used electricity, right?

Esposito: A taser is an effective way to take down anyone. We have police issued ones for the ranks that don't need actual firearms.

Laura: Yeah, but in order to have a taser strong enough to take down a wolf that easily? You need to have one that's practically a lightsaber. If Stiles had been human they would have killed him.

Esposito: Well, maybe Stiles has the answers already. You can't ask until he wakes up.

Laura: I know. [and her finger picks up again] Just why now, why us ... why Alexis and Hal?

Esposito: We have one theory on a why you. [he sighed] Derek is crosschecking the owners of the van and SUV against the registration of the van that took Cora.

Laura: [her head picks up at that and now she's pissed] Chris Argent and I had a deal. He doesn't reneg. [there's a bigger, scarier option that she doesn't want to acknowledge so she'd rather be pissed at Chris for breaking their agreement than think that there's another psychopath in town.]

Esposito: Yeah, but people lie. Or maybe he can't control others in his family.

Laura: [and with that she's pushing away and pulling herself into a sitting position, burying her face in her hands] Fuck.

Esposito: Hey, baby, come here. [sits up as well] You can't let yourself spiral down on the list of unknowns.

Laura: If it's an Argent there isn't a list! There's two options and it's either Chris screwing me over or ... or his father and I ... I can't protect them from Gerard Argent. You don't reason with that kind of crazy.

Esposito: Let's see what Derek finds, and what Stiles tells us in the morning, and then we can see if we're even dealing with that at all.

Laura: [she closes her eyes, exhaling slowly as she tries to breathe through it and nods. He's right. She can't go on the defensive when she doesn't even know what she's defending against] You're right. You're right.

Esposito: [slides up behind her, rubbing her back] You need to rest, girl. Otherwise you are going to pop and I don't want to see that happen.

Laura: [exhales slowly as she leans back into his hands] This just ... isn't what we need right now. I told Stiles’ dad that I would keep him safe.

Esposito: [thinks for a moment] Besides his father, who else in Stiles' life knows what he is now?

Laura: [there's a pause as she considers for a moment] Alexis and Hal. Rick. Maybe his best friend from home, and his mom, because she's a nurse and I've seen Scott and Stiles together and I doubt they keep secrets.

Esposito: So maybe something happened out west that none of you could control that got the information out. I mean, teenage boys aren't always the best at keeping secrets.

Laura: Maybe. I guess we'll have to ask Stiles in the morning.

Esposito: Then let's sleep. You've got a half-naked werewolf playing guard dog for the night. You can afford a few hours of real sleep.

Laura: [she doesn't think she'll manage it. Her brain is buzzing with too many of the possibilities to relax but she's at least willing to make it seem like she's going to try] Okay.

Esposito: [yeah, he figured. But he can always make out with her some more until he's exhausted so that she can have a bit more out of her own head time]

Laura: [that does sound like fun, but she will let him sleep eventually and try to follow him but she only manages an hour, maybe two.]

Stiles: [he will remain passed out for most of the night as his body heals. But as morning starts to glow, it's not really a nightmare, but just that feeling of something bad that jolts him awake and has him on edge and twitching a bit as his brain tries to remember where he was]

Cora: [had passed out somewhere along the way but not long enough that she was in any kind of deep sleep when he jolted awake next to her. She startles with him but doesn't sit up, flopping back against the bed as he pulls away from her] Stiles?

Stiles: [her voice calms him a bit, pulling his attention to her and then he lets out the breath he was holding] I'm okay... I'm just... I'm okay.

Cora: [brown eyes blink up at him in concern, before reaching for his arm to pull him closer again] Okay.

Stiles: [and he's going to shift into her arms, holding her tightly]

Cora: [shifts just until they're settled perfectly, leaning forward and brushing a kiss to the nape of his neck] How'd you sleep?

Stiles: I don't think that was really sleep and more like spontaneous loss of consciousness for an extended point of time because my body just couldn't do anything.

Cora: [smirks slightly] So how was your extended unconsciousness?

Stiles: Good. I don't hurt anymore. [he looks at his hands and wiggles his fingers] And the twitching is gone. Well, it's back to it's normal level. [he never fully lost it when he was turned into a wolf, but at least he didn't have bad spells or get locked up]

Cora: [follows his eyes to his hand and her hand comes up to link her fingers through his when he's done wiggling them] That's good.

Stiles: They didn't hurt you though. That's good. [holds her hand tightly]

Cora: [shakes her head as she pulls their hands in close] They didn't even touch me. I just ... turned around and you were gone.

Stiles: Good. I'd hate to think they hurt you again.

Cora: [blinks] Again? [was it the same people as before or did he just mean in general?]

Stiles: [he nods his head a bit] I need to talk to Laura. She needs to know.

Cora: [glances up and nods] Okay. Do you want to go talk to her now?

Stiles: I should get it over with.

Cora: [nods, as reluctant as she is to let go of him, he's right] Want me to go with you?

Stiles: [he thinks a moment, because he's going to have to lie to Laura. He doesn't want to, but he has to. But he doesn't want to lie to Cora] I should do it on my own.

Cora: You sure? [she wants to know what happened to him too, but she'll stay out of it if that's what he wants]

Stiles: [nods] Yeah. [he squeezed her hand]

Cora: Okay. [she lets go of his hand] I'll be here when you're done.

Stiles: Love you. [he leans in to kiss her softly, and then goes to get up and hunt for Laura, rubbing his arm nervously]

Cora: Love you too. [she kisses him back before curling up and probably drifting back off to sleep for a little while]

Laura: [is in the kitchen stress cooking. Enjoy that smell of bacon]

Derek: [will also be there with a cup of coffee. He will be living at the penthouse during the duration of this since hunters means that the pack sticks close together]

Stiles: [comes downstairs slowly, giving them both a hesitant smile] Hey.

Laura: [glances over and there's a soft smile in return] Hey. How're you feeling?

Stiles: Better than yesterday.

Laura: Good. Hungry?

Stiles: Not really. Can we um... can we talk?

Laura: [nods] Yeah, sure. Of course.

Derek: [stands up] I'll finish breakfast. [goes over to take over on the bacon.]

Stiles: [backs up a bit, heading to the living room]

Laura: [follows his lead and goes to sit on the couch] What's up?

Stiles: I'm supposed to deliver a message. [his eyes are sad, and he takes a deep breath. he can feel the burn of the wolfsbane that's long gone in the skin, making him focus. Keeping his calm. His heart slow and steady] He said to tell you that he knows it wasn't just the Ivanovs. He says that he knows Derek is the blame. And if you don't give him Derek, he will take away everything you hold dear until you do.

Laura: [yeah, she really doesn't like that and it shows on her face] Who?

Stiles: He didn't tell me, but one of the guys called him Gerard.

Laura: [the look fades from anger to fear in almost an instant and she sinks back against the couch for a moment before she's getting up and shouting into the rest of the apartment] Peter!

Peter: I heard. [reveals himself from where he was sitting at the top of the stairs]

Laura: [she looks up at him before shaking her head] I was afraid of this.

Peter: I know. As was I. Stiles, what else did he say?

Stiles: [he said that if Stiles made them believe they were after Derek, leading Laura and Peter to him, that he would let Cora and Malia live. Him live. That if he told them where they were, Cora would be the first to die, and how he knows how easy it is for them to get her] Just that they don't care about who's protecting you. Derek took his daughter, and he's taking Derek.

Laura: I'm not giving Derek over to that psychopath. He'll kill us all anyway.

Peter: Of course not. Derek's done nothing wrong. But he's going to come at us no matter what. Leaving the city will only make them chase us, and put people at risk.

Laura: So what would you suggest?

Peter: You mean beyond cutting the head off the snake?

Laura: Would that really solve any problem? [eyebrows up] Because to me that just seems like an easy way to get Chris coming after my head. Again.

Peter: And that's if he isn't a part of this and only led you to believe he was in a truce.

Laura: So maybe that should be my first order of business. Yelling at Chris Argent.

Peter: It may make you feel better.

Laura: I'll put it on my to-do list. [pinches the bridge of her nose before glancing back to Stiles] What did he say exactly? That he was going to do if I didn't give him Derek.

Stiles: Take away everything you hold dear. I wasn't really in a position to get clarification, but it sounded like people and not things.

Laura: [nods as she goes for her phone] And probably not just my pack.

Stiles: [sits there, his finger tapping on his knee, but calm otherwise]

Peter: Who are you calling?

Laura: Texting - Nik and Javi. Just telling them to lay low.

Derek: [is going to come and stand in the alcove between the kitchen and living room. He's been quiet the whole time, but he's been listening] Breakfast is ready if anyone's hungry.

Laura: [glances over at him as she sends off the text "Lay low, I'll explain later" and her face softens slightly before nodding] I'll be out in a second.

Derek: Stiles, do you know what happened to Hal and Alexis?

Stiles: Not really. I was barely conscious, but I heard voices and there was the sound of a plane engine. I think they took them somewhere. [this wasn't part of the training so he was less sure on his answers] I think that whoever took me worked for the people who wanted Alexis. I don't think Hal was supposed to get taken.

Laura: So basically it was just a whole lot of collateral damage. Great.

Stiles: Is there any leads on where Alexis and Hal are?

Derek: No, but if you remember hearing a plane...

Stiles: It was definitely a plane. I was still in the van when I heard it take off. And then it was a lot quieter.

Derek: I'm going to call this in, see if Ryan can figure it out. How long do you think it was from when you got taken to the plane?

Stiles: I don't remember. Not too long. Maybe just an hour or two?

Laura: You handle the human side, I'll deal with the werewolf one. [she's going to eat her breakfast and she's going to compose herself ... and then she's going to be (intelligently) pissed in Chris Argent's general direction]

Stiles: [and he's not really all that hungry, so he will probably take a few pieces of bacon and just go to sit on the couch and wait for Cora to wake up.]

Derek: [and he's going to go stand out on the balcony and call Flack]

Peter: [and he is going to wait until Laura is done, listening in and not offering suggestions]

Laura: [and once that's done she will hang up and bury her face in her hands] Damnit.

Peter: [heard most of it] Laura....

Laura: I'm not giving him Derek.

Peter: I would be worried if you ever considered it.

Laura: [nods] That's just ... all I got right now.

Peter: Does Chris understand at least the position his father is putting you in?

Laura: [nods] I think so. But ... what the hell is Gerard even after? He's not like Kate who's ... violent for the sake of being violent. He's smarter than that.

Peter: Gerard is a psychopath Laura. Whatever he's planning, he's got layers to it no one will understand, and I'm sure the poor boy didn't have another sense to even try and figure it out. Even your mother steered clear of him after the failed attempt Deucalion attempted at peace.

Laura: Yeah. I don't want to become Deucalion.

Peter: I still believe cutting the head off the snake is the best solution here. It may even benefit Chris in the end. He would be able to regain control of the clan and their code.

Laura: [shakes her head] Nope. Victoria is technically the lady in charge. And she's just as bad as Gerard.

Peter: It's going to end in blood either way. We both knew this was going to come one day.

Laura: And I can't drag a bunch of kids into a war with the Argents. We don't have the man power and I can't ask that of what few allies we do have. Even if I thought I was manipulative enough to get Deucalion here to finish Gerard off for me, I don't want to be on his radar either.

Peter: Then we need to sit with Victor and Nadia and make a plan.

Laura: [rubs at her forehead for a moment, before nodding] Yeah. We should do that.

Peter: I'll set that up. We don't even know what kind of timeline we're working with here, so we need to act fast.

Laura: [nods] I'll ... also ask them about maybe watching the back of another wolf in the city. He doesn't have any allies here and we can't protect him right now.

Peter: You mean the one currently sleeping at the foot of Malia's bed?

Laura: Yep. That would be the one.

Peter: Yes, because the last thing we need is the Lockwood pack becoming involved.

Laura: My thoughts exactly.

Peter: Let me talk with Nadia and set up a time to talk tonight.

Laura: [she nods] Sounds good.

Peter: [goes to put a hand on Laura's shoulder] You should talk to Derek. Make sure he understands that this isn't his fault.

Laura: [swallows and nods slowly, before giving him a small smile, she glances over to the couch and makes her way over to give Stiles’ shoulder a squeeze] Go back to bed. I'm giving you and Cora permission to do nothing today.

Stiles: [looks away from the spot on the wall he's been staring at to look up at her and nods] I'm sorry. [because he had a feeling it was his fault that they knew he was a wolf]

Laura: [she shakes her head as she leans in to pull him into a half-hug] This isn't your fault either. It just is what it is.

Stiles: [he hugs her back, not as tightly as he used to because he's feeling guilty, and the nods and just goes to head up the stairs and snuggle into Cora's side]

Laura: [and then out to the balcony she goes to deal with the other guilt heavy wolf in the house]

Derek: [he's just staring out at the clouds, his phone and coffee on the table behind him as he leans on the balcony]

Laura: [makes her way closer and rubs a hand between his shoulder blades] Hey.

Derek: Hey. [looks over at her and sighs through his nose] Let me guess, out here to remind me that this isn't my fault?

Laura: More or less.

Derek: Well, I figured that. Sweets is worth the money that the department pays him for my therapy.

Laura: Good. That saves me a lot of time and effort.

Derek: [nods] Yeah. I'm just trying to think a way to work around this.

Laura: Me too. [there's a pause] You may want to give Kate a wide berth.

Derek: I'm waiting for her to text me back. I think she's still sleeping. I asked Flack to come over later.

Laura: [nods] I have to talk to Javi too.

Derek: Even if I fled the city, he'd still go after you to try and force me back, won't he?

Laura: [nods] Honestly, he's not very good at keeping his word. I have a feeling that even if I were willing to hand you over he'd still kill us all anyway.

Derek: If becoming an omega and trying to lure him away would keep the rest of you safe, I would do it in a heartbeat.

Laura: I know you would, but it's a dumb plan and you shouldn't.

Derek: I'd rather not myself. [frustrated sigh] Things were finally going good for me. I knew it wouldn't last.

Laura: We'll figure this out.

Derek: I know, but what then? We fend this off, and then one of his old hunting buddies will exact revenge for him, and so on and Peter's right - this is only going to end in blood.

Laura: Hey, right now nobody's dying. Not if one of us, and not Gerard.

Derek: I'm a homicide detective, Laura. I see patterns. I see motives. I know how things get connected. It’s what I do.

Laura: I know. And I'm choosing to think optimistically here. We still don't know what Gerard wants and there's no guarantee that it's actually you.

Derek: What else would he want?

Laura: I don't know. But nothing with Gerard is ever straight forward.

Derek: You think he fed Stiles a story?

Laura: I think there's much more to it that Stiles wouldn't have been looking for.

Derek: What I don't get yet is why Alexis? I mean, Hal's the unfortunate bystander, but why would hunters want her?

Laura: I don't think the hunters did. The Argents are respected arms dealers, it's possible that Alexis could be something ... unrelated.

Derek: It also means there's never going to be a safe harbor for us. Not really.

Laura: [she makes a face] The only reason there was before was because of how established Mom was. I'm never going to have the clout she did. [not unless she manages to achieve what she did and Laura doubts that]

Derek: It was also easier to defend the house. At least until I screwed it all up. Here... there's too many places people can hide.

Laura: But the same goes for us too.

Derek: Reminds me of that time the Covenant was coming into town a few years after we got here, and Verity couldn't get anyone to leave for their own safety.

Laura: It is a little like that, yeah.

Derek: We should probably warn her that something worse is coming.

Laura: [nods] She's on my list of people to warn.

Derek: I don't know how to keep Kate away. I don't know if I want to be away from her.

Laura: Then be careful.

Derek: [nods] She and I are stronger together. Would you be opposed to me having her here some nights? We'll keep it PG friendly.

Laura: [nods] That's fine. I might wind up doing the same with Javi.

Derek: Yeah, but you're not very PG with Javi. [smirks a bit]

Laura: [sticks her tongue out at him] It's my apartment. I'm allowed to not be PG so long as I'm not rubbing it in your faces.

Derek: [chuckles] Fair enough.

Laura: [sighs] And usually I'm pretty good about keeping it to his place.

Derek: I know. And after Peter... well we tend to stick to her place most of the time.

Laura: The only ones who don't really have anywhere to go are Cora and Stiles.

Derek: I'm sure Stiles misses his dorm some nights.

Laura: That's why I try to get both me and Peter out of here when I can.

Derek: [nods] I've actually been thinking about moving back in since I can use Beckett's to get away now. This wasn't how I expected it to happen though.

Laura: Me either.

Derek: But um, yeah, I'm moving back home if you and Peter are okay with that.

Laura: Fine with me. The more people we have here to protect everyone the better.

Derek: Good to know that's why you want me here. [snotty brother tone]

Laura: [smirks before pushing up on her toes to kiss him on the cheek] I love you.

Derek: [smirks and nuzzles her cheek back] Love you too, Sis.

Laura: [sighs as she holds up her phone] I need to go call Javi. You gonna be okay out here?

Derek: yeah. Just waiting for Beckett to call

Laura: Okay. I'll see you later.

Derek: [and he is just going to sit and said, holding his phone]

Laura: [and she'll head back through the apartment to her room, flopping down on her bed and pulling up her phone to call Espo.]

Esposito: Hey girl. So what's going on?

Laura: So you know that thing that I was worried about?

Esposito: Yeah?

Laura: It's happening.

Esposito: The very bad option?

Laura: Yeah. He's coming for me and he wants Derek.

Esposito: And l like hell we'll give him to him. Who the hell does this asshole think he is?

Laura: He's a psychopath. It doesn't matter who he thinks he is.

Esposito: He's going to be taking on more than your pack. That will be the entire weight of the NYPD.

Laura: Javi, he cauterized another alpha's eyes when he tried to negotiate with him. He doesn't give a shit.

Esposito: And why is he not dead already?

Laura: Because killing him isn't the answer. It will only ... cause more problems.

Esposito: Are they ones that can be handled?

Laura: No. They're the kind that end with people dead.

Esposito: Fuck.

Laura: He's the patriarch of the Argent family, and he has their leader wrapped around his finger. The only one I have any sway with at all is his son and he doesn't care enough to interfere. Not yet, anyway.

Esposito: There's a weakness somewhere. You have to just exploit it.

Laura: Yeah, well, until I find it he's threatening everything I care about. [which also includes him]

Esposito: You know we could go over Derek's interrogation with Kate argent. See if there are any clues there. [he gets that]

Laura: It's her dad. I don't think she would have said anything to give him away.

Esposito: No but her weakness could be his too.

Laura: [lets her and rest over her eyes for a moment before nodding] If you think it's worth a shot, then go for it.

Esposito: I'll have Ryan go over it with me. No need to put Derek through that again

Laura: Okay. [there's a long pause as she tries to figure out how to tell him to keep his distance until all of this blows over] Javi ...

Esposito: if you're even thinking of telling me to keep away, don't. I'm a big boy and have a few tricks of my own.

Laura: [she tips her head back] I don't want you on his radar.

Esposito: If this guy figured Stiles for what he is, pretty sure that ships already sailed, babe.

Laura: Yeah, well. I can hope. Just be careful.

Esposito: I always am.

Laura: You might want to crash with someone else until this blows over.

Esposito: Well there's one place I have in mind.

Laura: Oh really?

Esposito: Mmhmm. I think it's almost as safe as Fort Knox.

Laura: Well, good. You should go there.

Esposito: should I pack a bag?

Laura: You might be here a while.

Esposito: Yeah, bag for sure, leave a few suits at the station. Want me to bring lunch?

Laura: Sure. Sounds good.

Esposito: See you soon then.

Laura: Yeah, see you soon.