new york wolves } { of captured mates and surprise traitors

[hereditare]

Esposito: [coming too, groaning a bit as he readjusts to being conscious]

Gerard: Detective. So glad that you could join us.

Esposito: You know, you could have just texted me. [opens his eyes to look up at the voice, and then take in his surroundings]

Gerard: [they're in a warehouse somewhere, but there's nothing distinctive from what he can tell. He's zip tied snuggly to the chair and Gerard is not far away, hands clasped behind his back] I could, but that would ... defeat the purpose of the experiment.

Esposito: What, seeing the response time on the NYPD when you assault and kidnap one of their own? You're going away for a long time, pal.

Gerard: The NYPD is not what I'm interested in. And while I am sure you do a very effective job of keeping this city safe, I have known my way around evading the law for a very long time. We'll still get some quality time before they come beating down my door. [he takes a few steps closer, before leaning forward, peering into the man's eyes with an amused smirk] No, I am much more interested in your alpha.

Esposito: Oh, I'm sure. But you're what, pushing eighty now, grandpa? And you don't know my team. [he smirks, because he can play the smug, smartass hostage well. His hands are already testing the zip ties, knowing how to break out of them in seconds. Special forces and all. But he's going to wait and see what this guy was going to reveal first] Sorry, fresh out of alphas. I can put one on back order for you. May take six to eight weeks for delivery.

Gerard: [smirks, because he does love playing the feeble old Grandpa, but a few seconds later he's slamming his fist hard into Esposito's stomach. He hits far harder than one would expect a geriatric psychopath to] Oh, let's not play coy. You know how ... attached Laura Hale is to you and I know as well. So let's not waste our time with subterfuge. It seems rather pointless.

Esposito: [coughs, tasting the blood in his mouth from whatever had taken him down and he spits it on the ground before looking up at Gerard] You're looking for the sexy details, that's five dollars a minute. Trust me, she's well worth it.

Gerard: Ah, nothing quite so perverse. Tell me, Detective, how much do you know about werewolf mating bonds?

Esposito: I may have googled it.

Gerard: [begins to circle him as he speaks, clearly taking his time with the monologing] Werewolves happen to be incredibly monogamous. Some do not even enter romantic relationships until they find someone they believe to be their true mate. When they do, they'll mark them with a bite and an emotional bond is formed between the two, allowing them a hyper awareness of each other. It even goes so far that they can feel the other's emotion and if they are in trouble or in pain. [and as though to punctuate the point, he turns as he completes the circle, slamming a left hook to the side of the detective's face]

Esposito: [ he works his jaw, and then laughs] Yeah, I heard about that. Except your little experiment is doomed to failure because it seems you forgot one little thing.

Gerard: She couldn't have bitten you. Because if she did you'd be a werewolf, just like her. [he smirks] Don't worry, I've accounted for that. Her mother had a human mate as well. It's odd, most alphas will turn their mates eventually, for simple ease, but Talia Hale, in all her exceptional flare, kept a human mate until the day they died. While she may have completed that bond before she became the Hale alpha, I know that Laura did not, which makes me wonder ... can the same bond be formed without the presence of the bite?

Esposito: Pretty sure it doesn't work that way. So all you're doing is racking up charges against yourself you're not going to be able to loophole your ass out of.

Gerard: You may be surprised. The supernatural world has had some ... remarkable loopholes of it's own. [smirks before taking a step back to his table of toys]

Esposito: [he looks over at that and that's going to be a nope. He's pretty sure it's only about pain for him to draw Laura out, so.... he's going to rock that chair back and use the force of it to add to the power of breaking the zip ties. Just because they took his weapons doesn't mean that he's helpless at all.]

Gerard: [ah, yes. He knows that tactic well. Which is why he's grabbing one of the taser wands from the table and bringing it up to meet whichever part of Esposito comes up first]

Esposito: [he was expecting some kind of weapon, so he looked before he came up. That half second of vigilance is what has his wrist grab Gerard's a moment before the wand hit his shoulder. He'd take a jolt and thank god he wore the rubber soled boots, but the old man was going to join him with the shock]

Gerard: [Oh, he feels it. But a lifetime of resistance training makes him harder to take down than most. He holds flips the switch on the taser before rearing back on shaky limbs, turning to slam the wand into the side of the man's head]

Esposito: [that sends him down, but he rolls back to his knees, focusing on keeping his breathing even as he got himself out of distance for most of those weapons he had seen] You messed with the wrong hombre, veijo.

Gerard: No es la primera vez que he oído que, ese. [not the first time I've heard that. and it's okay, he doesn't need a weapon to kick him in the face]

Esposito: [Yeah, that's not going to happen. He's going to shift out of the way at the last second, his mind three moves ahead of how the body would react as he drops onto his back, and then kicks his own leg out at the ankle of the supporting leg, intending to knock him to the ground, break the ankle - preferably both]

Gerard: [he manages to catch what's happening as he rolls, taking a couple steps back to get out of range. He's not close to his table of toys, but he smirks all the same] Another thing you're forgetting, Detective.

Esposito: [he's going to roll to his feet, which was also close to getting himself to some cover if he needed it] Yeah, and what's that?

Gerard: I'm not alone. [and just as he says that one of his lackeys is going to come up behind him and cold cock him against the back of the head with his gun]

Esposito: [and down he goes, unconscious.]

Gerard: [sighs, before gesturing to the other one] Strap him to the fence. We should take some extra precautions.

Esposito: [and he's going to come back around again a few minutes later, one hand already strapped to the fence. He sees what's happening and punches the guy in the face, kicking out at the one holding him and is a very angry, deadly look in his eyes]

Gerard: [the one that got punched in the face is going to be deadly right back, while another lackey comes to back him up and forces the detective's arm back]

Esposito: [and that one is going to get kicked in the painful space between the legs, and when he bends over, Espo is going to reach over because he saw that one was packing and he's got the gun and going to put it at the man's head] You're all going to want to think your next move very carefully.

Lackey #1: [smirks at that holding up his hands but there's a bit of a mocking quality to it] Oh, I'm sure.

Lackey #2: [and he's going to reach up for the wrist with the gun, gripping tightly and twisting with the aim to either get him to drop it or break his wrist, whichever comes first]

Esposito: [no, it'll break first because he's not letting that shit go, bitch. And his legs are still free so he'll kick at asshole #2 first, then knee #1 in the face. If only to give him time to fight through the pain to shoot the cuff off and switch hands with the gun, aiming it at Gerard and cocking the hammer] You know, I could solve a lot of problems with just one tap.

Gerard: I'm sure you could. [there's a gun in his hand this time and he'll fire without a second thought, aiming right for his knee] But the problem, Detective, is that you hesitate.

Esposito: [that will send him to his knees, biting back a cry of pain. He sees Lackey #2 coming at him and well, bye lackey #2, at least that gunshot was aimed to make you not feel the pain. Lackey #1 is short work as well, and Espo aims it back at Gerard, aiming for the shoulder]

Gerard: [he just barely manages to dodge the shot, the bullet grazing his shoulder, but before he can get another shot off, more lackeys are coming out of the shadows to subdue him and get the gun out of his hands]

Esposito: [and he's not going to resist, but the look of hate that Gerard gets shows that next time he gets free, that bullet isn't going to miss]

Laura: [annnnnnnd meanwhile, across town at the twelfth, Laura had passed out fitfully on Flack's couch and suddenly jerks awake from a sharp sudden stab of pain]

Peter: [is at the station with her, and her jerking awake has his attention] Laura, what is it?

Laura: [one hand is steadying herself on the couch and she moves one hand to her knee] Javi.

Peter: [he's confused, looking at her hand on her knee, then her. His eyes go to her neck a moment] How? You're not mated to him.

Laura: [her eyes widen slightly, before giving a shrug] You got me. I don't ... I just know it's him.

Peter: [thinks a moment] Can you focus on it? See if you can get any impressions?

Laura: [closes her eyes as she leans back in the couch, trying to see if she can focus it] He's in a lot of pain.

Derek: [coming into the room, hanging onto the doorframe] We're getting reports of gunshots in the warehouse district where we traced the van that took Alexis. We're going in.

Laura: [gets up] I'm going with you.

Derek: Yeah, we figured that's why I'm coming to get you. Vests, both of you.

Laura: [eyebrows go up at that]

Derek: You want in on a police takedown, you're putting a damn vest on so I don't have to explain how you survive any bullets to the chest. [that's his cop voice]

Laura: [SIGH] Fine.

Derek: [grabs them from Ryan and tosses them at Laura and Peter] Let's go. [and off they go to the scene where they are talking logistics of how they are surrounding the place]

Laura: [follows, eyes glancing around for any sign of a more subtle entrance]

Peter: [yeah, because they need to be a distraction. He sees the side door that has been left open and is going to take her hand and move her in that direction]

Laura: [and she's just going to follow Peter's lead and head inside]

Derek: [and he's going to see them sneak off.] Crap. [he's going to whisper to Beckett that he's going to stop his family from getting themselves killed. He pulls out his phone, calls her and tells her to keep it on speaker and to work with Flack to come in when they know it's safe. And he's about two minutes behind Laura and Peter as they enter]

Gerard: [has Espo back up on the fence with a new set of handcuffs. They cleaned up the knee just enough so that he didn't bleed to death and he's currently standing in front of him, snapping his fingers to keep him from passing out] Careful now. You might have a concussion.

Esposito: [spitting on Gerard's shoe] Go to hell.

Gerard: [smirks] Oh, I probably will someday. But not today. Tenacious as your alpha may be, she doesn't have that killer instinct, do you Laura?

Laura: [she doesn't say anything right off the bat, but Espo can probably see the red glow of her eyes from the darkness of the warehouse]

Esposito: [mutters softly] Damnit girl...

Derek: [and there are a few "umps" as Derek and Peter are working around the sides, taking down the lackeys in the shadows]

Laura: [she hears that. Unfortunately so does Gerard but she doesn't really care about him, since he already knows she's there] This was a mistake, Gerard.

Gerard: [the man turns on his heel to face her, a wide smile on his face] Oh, hardly. This was a very carefully calculated plan. I think you know me well enough to at least know that.

Peter: [and he's stepping out into the light at Gerard's right, blood on his hands. They'll live. Maybe] Of course, that does beg to differ if we haven't figured out your little plan already.

Derek: [and he's getting to Espo and checking him over]

Laura: [just takes a couple steps forward, eyes on Gerard even though she wants to look to Javi] Personally I'm surprised he hasn't tried to shoot me yet.

Gerard: [wide smile] I'm keeping that option in my back pocket for later.

Derek: [he has Espo down and helps him to the ground, checking him over.]

Esposito: [waves him off] She needs you. I'm good.

Derek: [hands his phone to him, and Javi sees the open line and nods, and Derek's up and full attention on Gerard, completing the triangle of angry Hales]

Gerard: I have to ask - while Detective Esposito and I were having our fun - did you happen to feel anything? I would hate to leave my little experiment as inconclusive.

Laura: [doesn't say anything but her fingers flex, baring claws that aren't there yet]

Peter: You know, the villain monologue is very cliché. Can I just kill him now?

Gerard: Now, now. No need for unnecessary violence. After all, you did bring me what I asked for. [and in a second the gun is up and he's firing off one shot in Derek's direction - not anywhere fatal but certainly close enough] Or at least part of it, at any rate.

Laura: Derek! [the word explodes from her before she even knows what's wrong - all she can smell is the gunpowder and the blood]

Derek: [the hit is on his neck, above the vest and right below his chin. It sends him onto his back, hands going to claw at his neck as he gasps for air. Espo is already on the move, going to help put pressure on it, verifying that it's not hit the artery or his spine, but it's not going to heal fast]

Peter: [no, sorry Laura, that's about as patient as Peter can be before he's shifted and going for Gerard's throat with his teeth]

Gerard: [will turn and shoot Peter in turn, three shots to whatever available skin he can find, just enough to push him back]

Peter: [snarling, on his knees but at least it was just a flesh wound.]

Stiles: [coming out of the shadows] You said you wouldn't hurt them!

Laura: [was about to yell for them all to stop but suddenly Stiles is there and her eyes are drawn to her beta, the question written all over her face]

Gerard: [turns to Stiles before giving a bit of a shrug] I say a lot of things. Not all of them work out in practice.

Peter: [ there's a growl from the second because he doesn't take to betrayal well]

Stiles: [ looks at Laura and purses his lips] I'm sorry. I had no choice.

Laura: [yeah, she's mad. It's clear in her voice as she speaks] Had no choice in what.

Stiles: It was you or my dad. But he said he wouldn't hurt the others.

Peter: He lied to you, Stiles. That's what hunters do.

Laura: [her eyes turn back to Gerard, eyes completely cold because she will deal with Stiles later] So what? Looking to take me out? Because here I am.

Gerard: Oh, no, my dear. Before we do that, I need something from you first.

Laura: [it takes her a moment, because looking at him in confusion because she can't imagine what he could possibly need from her until she takes a breath and catches his scent. And then, it's only a moment later, she starts laughing]

Peter: [is carefully inching closer because nope, still intending to rip throat out.]

Esposito: [blinks as a first aid kit slides silently to his knee. He looks into the darkness but can't see anyone there, but he's going to use it to get gauze on Derek's wound to try and stop the bleeding]

Laura: He's dying. [her tone is dry and sardonic] He's dying and he wants me to give him the Bite to save him. [leans forward with a conspiratorial smirk] Does your son know how crazy you've gotten?

Gerard: My son has stooped to making deals with mutts in order to get half the job done. I think it's best his weak will is left out of this don't you.

Stiles: [is walking towards Laura, knowing what Gerard wants him to do. His eyes are apologetic, but something more. A silent begging. For forgiveness? to trust him? both] I don't want to hurt you, Laura.

Laura: [she glances back to Stiles, understanding what he's asking but not willing to do it] No. Fuck that. I'll die first.

Stiles: Then I'm sorry. [and he's going to shoot at her face with a water pistol full of kanima venom]

Laura: [she stumbles back sputtering for a moment, but it doesn't take long for it to take effect after that. her arms go useless and she drops to her knees first]

Stiles: [and he's going to walk over, looking down at her]

Peter: [nope, protect alpha instinct kicking in and he's going to jump at them, but Stiles hits him with a shot and he's down and immobile]

Stiles: [and he's going to look up at Gerard and nod as he goes to hold the back of Laura's head]

Laura: [can't help but go where she's lead, and she glances back to Stiles] He's just gonna kill me after. Why just be a wolf when he can be an alpha?

Gerard: [is rolling up his sleeve as he makes his way closer] The young Mr. Stilinski is quite intelligent. I'm sure he's already figured that out.

Stiles: He has people as deputies in my dad's station. If I don't, he kills my dad. He's all I have left. I can't lose both my parents.

Laura: I just hope you know what you're doing. [her eyes flash and her fangs are out a moment later]

Gerard: [places his arm in her mouth and the Bite happens a moment later. he doesn't even flinch at the pain. He pulls back a moment later, arm posed in the air in victory]

Stiles: [and he waits, and the whole room is silent, and then he smirks as he sees the bite not heal, but instead turn black just like Marcus said it would.] It actually worked.

Laura: [her eyes go to the bite, relying on Stiles to hold her up, and when she sees what's happening her eyes widen]

Gerard: [looks in confusion, then looks at the arm and his face contorts in horror] What? No.

Stiles: [he looked down at her, smiling] Everyone had a plan. Well, I had one too. [looks at Gerard] I may not be the strongest one in this pack, but you're right. I'm damn intelligent. And I'm always open when people are willing to offer me advice.

Marcus: [stepping out of the shadows, holding up the video phone that he's been recording on a Skype call with Chris Argent on] So Chris, I'm sure you heard his comment very clearly about your weak will... Oh, let me take that mute off now...

Gerard: [isn't really paying attention, just fumbling for his pills and when he finds one he breaks it open and ...] Mountain ash.

Laura: [yeah, no, she's still mad at you. They are going to have words later. but she's glad that Gerard isn't becoming a werewolf]

[and the lackeys going to respond will be met with Kirsanovs and the NYPD and eventually they will clean up and Espo will get taken to the hospital and Laura will probably insist on going with him once she's mobile again and we can jump to that tomorrow at work. Derek will probably need to go too, but will get discharged the next morning. And Stiles will probably crash at Hal's dorm room since Stiles has a key to the dorm still and is sure the Hales aren't going to want him around anymore. But he kept them alive, and ended this Argent feud, and that was what mattered in the end. At least that's what he tells himself.

Poor Stiles. We will have to play out how his girlfriend finds out about this, because how will impact how she handles it. yes. but for now, bedtime. tomorrow, we plot MWA HA HA]