new york wolves } { of litt vs. martin and puppy children

[beanchaointe]

Lydia: [arms cross in front of her chest as she watches him with a critical eye] Has the quality of his work suffered?

Louis: The quality, no. But my associates are expected to make a minimum hourly quota.

Lydia: [her head tips to the side] Are they? And that is detailed in their contract that they are required to work [over] the legal limit of hours in a week? Because I may not be a lawyer, but if the quality of his work isn't the issue and it's just that he's not going to snap to at your beck and call, then I don't really think you have the grounds to imply that he isn't doing his job.

Sam: [comes up next to Donna] What's going... oh shit -

Donna: No, no don't stop this. This is the best entertainment I've had all day. [holds out popcorn to Sam]

Louis: I'm sorry to say, but I am his boss, and this is a law firm. He knew what he was getting into when he started here. And he gets his legal break minutes for the length of time he is in the office, so there are no laws being broken.

Lydia: Oh, I'm sure they're not. But prior to the start of our relationship Sam worked, what? Eighteen hour days six days a week? That's one hundred and four hours a week. According to US labor laws, an employee cannot be fired for refusing to work more than seventy-two hours a week. Add to the fact that unless his contract explicitly details that he needs to work seventy-two hours, unspoken expectations or not, anything beyond the maximum standard of forty hours a week would be considered "overtime" which is elective and not required to be given in order to keep his job, especially since the quality of his work isn't suffering. [her head tips to the side with a thin smile] But you're a lawyer, after all. I don't think I need to tell you that.

Louis: Yes, but the FSLA only covers non-exempt employees in that regard. A lawyer is an exempt position, which doesn't limit hours worked or paying overtime as his base pay is a salary. Billable hours are what we charge the clients, not what he gets paid. He gets additional wages per quarter based on a share of earnings system that is determined his share by the hours worked. Associates in their first five years are given a minimum billable hourage as part of their contract to be able to get a place as a staff attorney when their associateship is completed.

Lydia: Mmmm. And has Sam stopped meeting that requirement?

Louis: Not yet, but they are heading in that direction and I'm intervening before I'm forced to put him on probation.

Lydia: And what does that mean exactly?

Louis: He brings his numbers up and keeps them there, or we will have to part ways with him.

Lydia: [huffs. She's still convinced that Lewis is just being a tool, because she doesn't bug him that much. She has her own concerns to deal with. But she also doesn't want to get Sam in trouble by continuing to push the point] Well, I'm not going anywhere.

Louis: So I figured. Then maybe you need to figure out how to enjoy the hours he isn't here. Doing... whatever you two do.

Lydia: [her eyes narrow a bit] What do you think I do, exactly? Sit on the edge of his desk all day and distract him with my cleavage?

Donna: You better go...

Sam: Yeah.... [slides by, going to move over to them] Hi, Lydia. Lewis... she was just picking me up for lunch. We're going.

Lydia: [is so not backing down until Lewis does, but she is tiny so Sam can forcibly remove her if he needs to]

Louis: [yeah, he's not going to step down, but] One hour, Mr. Winchester. [and he will go off, and Donna will quickly get back behind her desk and hide the popcorn]

Lydia: [glares at him as he walks away before making a frustrated noise and heading for the elevator]

Sam: [follows] It's nice to see you too.

Lydia: [will wait until they're on the elevator before turning back to him] How do you work for that piece of ... [more frustrated noises]

Sam: Because working for him lets me also work for Harvey, and that's who I really want to work for. If I have to deal with Lewis for two years, I deal with it.

Lydia: How has he made it this far without a sexual harassment suit?

Sam: [laughs] He's a jerk, but he's got a soft side. At least that's the rumor.

Lydia: [rolls her eyes, before she looks at him, slightly concerned] I'm not causing that much trouble for you, am I?

Sam: Nothing I can't handle. [he looked down at her] You know, you are pretty hot when you're arguing.

Lydia: [she can't help but soften at the compliment. she's a sucker that way] I'm pretty hot when I do a lot of things.

Sam: Yeah, but I only have.... fifty seven minutes.

Lydia: [deep breath as the doors open and she sighs] Guess we better make good use of our time.

Sam: I guess we should. Come on, our fast food awaits.

Lydia: [sighs as she takes his hand and tries to let the anger go for now]

Sam: [and they are going to skip into a cheap but amazing hole in the wall Thai place for lunch, snuggled up close at the counter stools since it's a lunch rush in NYC] So why did you even go after Lewis?

Lydia: I came to see you, I was talking to Donna and he made some snide comment about my being there and how I was ruining your shot.

Sam: And you let him goad you into an argument?

Lydia: [makes a face] I don't like judgmental people. And he's so snide.

Sam: He's a lawyer, and a partner at that. His name may not be on the wall yet, but he's not far from it

Lydia: Well, I don't work for him. So I'm sorry if I got you into trouble, but I'm sick of people thinking they can make comments about me because I like short skirts and high heels.

Sam: He probably did it because he's jealous. If he didn't know you were with me, he probably would have been hitting on you.

Lydia: ...... Ew.

Sam: Lewis doesn't know how to people well.

Lydia: Maybe he should work on that, given that part of his job is to be personable.

Sam: Yeah, but the one thing you can't say is that he can't do his job. He's good. Real good, Lydia. He may be a jerk, but he's one of the best lawyers in the city.

Lydia: Then I hope you're learning a lot but I would pass on picking up his people skills.

Sam: Trust me, my brother would kick my ass if I turned into Lewis. [laughs]

Lydia: As would I. [because nope. there's a reason she said "ew"]

Sam: And knowing the heels you wear, that's a deadly promise.

Lydia: Indeed it is.

Sam: You know, we've spent too much time talking about Lewis. Let's just focus on us for the rest of the day.

Lydia: I think that is an excellent plan.

Sam: So the little indie theatre down the street has got a series of shorts that are Cannes winners tomorrow night. Half of them are in French, but I remember you can speak it so would you be interested?

Lydia: Sure. That sounds like fun.

Sam: Good. I got Saturday off too in case you want to stay for breakfast.

Lydia: [grins] I would love to.

Sam: Then I'll be out at six. Movies start at eight so we should be able to grab a quick dinner on the way. Something better than street side hotdogs this time.

Lydia: Good. Those are terrible for you.

Sam: But they taste so good.

Lydia: Your heart in thirty years will thank you if you resist the temptation.

Sam: I will try, but it's a bad addiction.

Lydia: There is a nice sandwich place right across the street from your office. They even deliver.

Sam: Kosher?

Lydia: Maybe? I've only been in their once.

Sam: Well, I'll try it once and see if I like it.

Lydia: I think you'll be surprised.

Sam: Sometimes I like surprises.

Lydia: Oh really?

Sam: Yeah. I mean, you were a total surprise. And I like you.

Lydia: [smiles at that] Then I should surprise you more often.

Sam: I may get to like surprises more that way.

Lydia: Good.

Sam: [smiles, going back to his bowl a moment] So, I have to ask...

Lydia: Ask what?

Sam: Have we hit the point where this relationship has hit the title phase?

Lydia: [ahh that question] That depends. Do you want it to?

Sam: Well, with that passionate argument about getting me more time to spend with you, I'd be crazy not to want it.

Lydia: [and she grins] Good.

Sam: Good. [grins]

Lydia: I'm glad we're on the same page.

Sam: Me too.

Lydia: [she nods and there's a whole mix of emotions on her face, but they're all good ones. She hasn't had something this steady in a long time] It's a shame you only get an hour for lunch.

Sam: Well, one day when I'm partner and I have my own office, I can take as long as a lunch as I want, and do it behind closed doors.

Lydia: Mmmm. Even better.

Sam: Until then, the copy room is the only place we can get privacy after hours.

Lydia: .... No. I think I'd rather just wait for you back at your place.

Sam: Yeah, that's much better.

Lydia: [she nods] Though probably not until late tonight. I told Stiles I'd help him with his math.

Sam: That's fine. I have to work until, um... seven at least. But if you want to grab something for a late dinner?

Lydia: Sure. Sounds good.

Sam: [his phone beeps and he looks down at it] And I'm being paged by one of the partners - not Lewis. I guess I will see you later. [he reaches for his wallet to get cash for his meal]

Lydia: [nods with a small smile as she gets up] I'll text you when I'm on my way over.

Sam: Great. [and he will lean down to kiss her quickly before he's off because he's not going to piss off Mike Ross]

Lydia: [and Lydia will head off to finish class and meet up with Stiles]

Stiles: [and he's waiting in the coffee shop, working on his coding assignment and completely absorbed into it]

Lydia: [makes her way in and lets her hands rest on his shoulders gently]

Stiles: [he caught her scent a moment before and he looked up, smirking] Hey.

Lydia: Hey. What're you working on?

Stiles: Coding. Our assignment was to look at a script and find the bug that's affecting the processes that would allow a custom form to accept data, but not revealing what piece of data was being corrupted when telling the user to reenter their information.

Lydia: How's it going?

Stiles: Good so far. I've found the line that is causing the error, but I’m still trying to find the issue that's not letting the code tell the user what the error was.

Lydia: [she shrugs] Let's take a break to work on calc and then maybe that'll help you come back to it with fresh eyes.

Stiles: Sounds like a plan. Want a coffee? I can totally get you a coffee when I go to get a refill for mine. Or cookies? The cookies are amazing.

Lydia: Let's go with both.

Stiles: Alright, you set up and I'll get them. [he jumps up, a bit too fast. You can guess how much he's had as he goes to get the refill and cookies]

Lydia: [sigh. She will set up and wait for him to come back before] Are you sure that werewolves can't die from a caffeine overdose?

Stiles: Totally sure. Body is healing as I inhale it. If I don't keep a steady stream, I wouldn't even feel it. [puts her espresso down in front of her]

Lydia: [sighs as she glances down at their books] Alright. Math.

Stiles: Math. [and they will get down to business]

Lydia: [and they will go through some calc stuff that I'm so not smart enough to write about, and Lydia will occasionally glance down at her watch to check the time, trying not to make it seem like she's impatient.]

Stiles: [but he will notice eventually] Got a hot date or something after?

Lydia: [glances over before shrugging] I was going to head over to Sam's.

Stiles: The new guy?

Lydia: The new guy.

Stiles: So how did you meet this guy anyway? You never told me.

Lydia: [snorts] I was a material witness in a murder investigation thanks to my ... [gestures with her hand to her head] ... and he was the defense attorney.

Stiles: ... You're dating the asshat lawyer?

Lydia: [she shrugs] He became less of an asshat.

Stiles: [it's the I don't understand what you're thinking face]

Lydia: [sighs] He was just doing his job. After he gave me everything he knew about banshees as an apology. He's ... nice.

Stiles: [sighs] Well, that's good at least.

Lydia: Yeah. He's a good guy - and I know that my judgement may be suspect considering my past choices - present company excluded - he's not one of them.

Stiles: [he watched her a moment] Are you happy?

Lydia: [she pauses for a moment, before nodding] When his boss isn't being an insufferable asshole, yeah.

Stiles: ... Do I even want to know?

Lydia: [rolls her eyes] No.

Stiles: Then I won't ask.

Lydia: [she nods] You know how I feel about people who treat me like an easy idiot girl.

Stiles: Yeah, especially after you stopped pretending to be one.

Lydia: [she shakes her head] But he's a partner and Sam's boss so I can't murder him like I want to. [she's kidding. maybe]

Stiles: Um, I'd prefer no murder? Because then you will really end up in jail.

Lydia: Yeah, I'm not looking to.

Stiles: Good. [looks at his math and rubs at his eyes, coming down from his caffeine high]

Lydia: [sighs as she rests her chin in her hands] Think of it like code.

Stiles: How?

Lydia: [she turns the notebook to face her for a moment] Think of the equation like a line of code. The answer is the function you want the code to do. [she circles the answer] The variable is the missing piece. [circles the variable] If you're starting with that function, how do you determine the missing variable?

Stiles: [and he will rattle off the right response and soon it will actually click]

Lydia: [grins] There you go.

Stiles: Thanks. [and he will do the rest of his homework easy now]

Lydia: [And she will check his answers with a nod] Perfect. You got it.

Stiles: Well, now that I know a better process to look at it with, it's easy.

Lydia: That's the thing with math. It's all about how you look at it.

Stiles: Well, I do appreciate it.

Lydia: Anytime.

Stiles: I should probably let you get going so you can meet your lawyer boy.

Lydia: [she nods] Any tips for talking Allison out of wanting to meet him when she and Scott are in town in a couple weeks?

Stiles: Depends - you plan on staying away from him for a week as well?

Lydia: [there's a pout that indicates she doesn't want to]

Stiles: Alright, then he has to work when you have custody of the best friend duo, and you can sneak off to see him when I have custody, okay?

Lydia: [and there's a grateful look] Thank you.

Stiles: Just remember, if we're going to try and convince them to move out this way... we need to make sure we really, really impress them.

Lydia: Oh, we will. Just, this thing with Sam is new and I don't want Allison ... overdoing it. Either scaring him off or being too excited about it.

Stiles: I can subtlety tell her to tone it down is she acts up.

Lydia: I appreciate it.

Stiles: Hey, no problem. But really, go. I can finish up this coding on my own before I head back to the Hales. You've got better places to be.

Lydia: [she nods, before gathering her bag] I'll see you later.

Stiles: Remember no glove no love. [smirks]

Lydia: [rolls her eyes, before waving as she walks off] Goodbye, Stiles.

Stiles: [grins and goes back to his coding, and then once he's done he'll jump on the subway heading back to the Hale's penthouse from NYU]

Laura: [is at home, with her feet up on the couch watching terrible TV. At the end of the couch is Bucky, who is lying on his stomach looking incredibly forlorn and longing for love] Don't you start with those puppy eyes. I've already spoiled you enough today.

Stiles: [and he picked up dinner at the Chinese place on his way home as he had promised, knowing it would just be him and Laura for most of the night. He arrives, putting his bag on the floor] I'm home and I've got dinner for two!

Laura: [both heads perk up at the mention of food and Laura gives the dog a look out of the corner of her eye] Two is him and me not him and you.

Stiles: [walks into the living room and puts the food on the table, and leans over to pick the puppy up] Come on, Bucky, your food is in the kitchen.

Laura: [smirks as she reaches for the food, sorting through for her order]

Stiles: Yeah, yeah, I missed you too oh my god my face is already clean boy. [walking into the kitchen and putting the puppy down as he goes for the food dish]

Laura: [she laughs] He is a needy little thing.

Stiles: Yeah, he is but he's adorable so I'll forgive him. [and that is the sound of food going into the bowl and then exploding all over the floor] seriously. Seriously Bucky?

Laura: [laughs some more] Welcome to puppyhood.

Stiles: At least he will eat it up off the floor. [puts up the puppy gate] Okay, you stay there and eat and I'll be back for you when I'm done.

Laura: [can hear the sounds of ravenous puppy hunger and she will just lean back into the couch with sweet and sour chicken]

Stiles: [and he will jump over the back of the couch and grab his tub of pork fried rice and two egg rolls] So how was your day?

Laura: I grew a liver. Or a kidney, one of the two.

Stiles: Good job. You're very productive.

Laura: I am. How's Lydia?

Stiles: Good. Got my calculus work done and found out more about her mysterious boy.

Laura: You were also productive.

Stiles: But it's not the same as growing body parts.

Laura: No, it's not. But mine are very tiny body parts, at least for now.

Stiles: They grow quickly though.

Laura: They do. Before you know it, she'll be here and I won't be getting any sleep.

Stiles: And I will never have been as glad as I am for the sound proof walls.

Laura: Don't worry. You'll just have to worry about during the day when Mom desperately needs a nap or else she will murder someone.

Stiles: I think I can handle short periods of time and not break the baby. [chuckles]

Laura: Good. Your alpha will appreciate it.

Stiles: Anything to make her happy. [holds out a fried wanton]

Laura: [and she will take one with a nod] So how's the countdown to Cora shipping off to MIT going?

Stiles: [sighs] Trying not to think about it too much.

Laura: [she nods] I know it's going to be hard. But I'm sure you'll see more of each other than you think.

Stiles: It will be easier than our sophomore year was. And I'll hopefully have a job so I'll have something to distract me.

Laura: Any prospects on that?

Stiles: A few places say they aren't making their decision until April when they'll be able to get a good idea on our final semester scores. Two already turned me down.

Laura: I'm sorry.

Stiles: [shrugs] Hey, the odds on getting a job out of college suck. I knew it was going to be hard.

Laura: Well, if all else fails, maybe Victor can give you a job working IT for his investment firm. Or hey, you could talk to Flack. Cops always need new tech people.

Stiles: If all else fails. [but he wants to try and do it himself]

Laura: [she nods] There is nothing against trying to do it on your own. But New York can be a rough city, so exploiting who you know isn't such a bad thing either.

Stiles: [he nods, but he stares into his rice a moment] Laura, not to insult you... but everything I physically have in New York is because of others. And I know that's how the pack works, but I just... I want to be able to get something on my own. Something I earned.

Laura: [she nods, before waving her hand] No, I get it. I'm not insulted. I'm just letting you know that it's okay if you need it. And asking about opportunities doesn't mean that you haven't earned them. Especially if you work for the police - you could wind up in an entirely different department and you'd still have get past the interviews and up the ladder - they don't give jobs out just for fun.

Stiles: I'll... I’ll think about it?

Laura: [she nods] Of course. You've still got time. You don't have a degree yet.

Stiles: Still got a few months.

Laura: Yep. You'll be fine.

Stiles: It's just.... it's scary sometimes to think about everything that's changing.

Laura: I know. But it's all good change, not bad ones.

Stiles: My Dad's still talking about coming out and working with Castle at his PI firm.

Laura: See, that's good. You'll get to see him more.

Stiles: My Dad and Castle working together. [he gives her a look like this is only going to end in tears]

Laura: [smirks] If all else fails, Flack will take him at the twelfth. He's going to wind up on most of their cases anyway.

Stiles: True.

Laura: Then he and Derek can work together.

Stiles: Oh God.

Laura: You don't think that'd be good?

Stiles: I love my Dad, but he tends to go easy on people.

Laura: [she squints] Go easy on people?

Stiles: Small town. Easy to forgive little things and believe people for their word.

Laura: I think your dad is more of a cynic than you think.

Stiles: Why'd you think that?

Laura: He raised you.

Stiles: Exactly, and do you know how much shit I got away with?

Laura: That doesn't mean he doesn't know that you did it. He just loved you enough to let it go.

Stiles: I'd just worry about him.

Laura: Which is a legitimate fear. But he'd be on a team with three seasoned detectives, one of whom is a werewolf and another is Special Forces. He would probably be the safest cop you've ever seen.

Stiles: [just bites his lips] Well, it's up to him.

Laura: [sighs as she shifts closer and leans against his side] I know that feeling, okay? I've felt it every day that Derek's been a cop, and now with Javi its pretty much double. But every day they come home and they're okay.

Stiles: I've been doing it since I was eight, Laura. And I worry about Derek and Espo too.

Laura: Yeah, but you said it yourself. New York is a lot bigger than Beacon Hills.

Stiles: Right. And a lot deadlier.

Laura: You don't think he'd be in danger as a PI?

Stiles: Castle's still alive.

Laura: Because Castle is insanely lucky, and usually working on the twelfth's cases, so he's surrounded by cops.

Stiles: He's at least a safer option.

Laura: [she nods] Maybe.

Stiles: [sighs and goes back to his eggroll before the sound of puppy whimpering comes from the kitchen] I think it's walkies time.

Laura: [she nods] Have fun.

Stiles: I'll be back in a few. [and off he will go to get the wiggly puppy] Hey Barron, you want to go on a walk too?

Barron: [walk you say? He will wander off to start sniffing at the door.]

Stiles: [and he will go and take them both out for a walk around the block, trying to keep Bucky from getting tangled in Barron's leash]

Cora: [good luck with that, Stiles. And by the time he gets home, Cora will be up in their room, working on homework]

Stiles: [and when he gets back, there is a very tired puppy carrying a very tired tinnier puppy upstairs. He's not hungry any longer but he packs up the Chinese and puts it away for Laura, and then climbs upstairs to his and Cora’s room] Oh hey, when’d you get home?

Cora: [looks up with a smile] Not long. [looks at the tiny tired puppy] He have a good day?

Stiles: He got to go on a walk with big brother Barron and wanted to show him all the things along the block.

Cora: Awww. [and she will reach for the tiny puppy because unlike the alpha, she doesn't mind cuddling with the wiggly little thing.]

Stiles: [hands over Bucky, who manages a few tail wags and some face looking but mommy I'm so tired it was a big day and I did all the things] Barron is getting better handling him.

Cora: [that's okay, she'll just lean back on the bed and let him cuddle against her chest] He's always been good with other dogs.

Stiles: It'll help prepare him for a baby in the house too.

Cora: [she nods] He and Laura have always gotten along. I'm sure he'll be fine with a little Laura.

Stiles: Until that little Laura is pulling on his face.

Cora: Or his ears.

Stiles: Or tail.

Cora: But luckily, little Laura can't pull very hard, now can she.

Stiles: Nope. But then she will try to ride him.

Cora: That might be fun.

Stiles: Picture perfect moments.

Cora: Indeed. [she smiles a bit] I think having a baby around is going to be good for us.

Stiles: Except for your sister's sleep.

Cora: Yeah, well. If she gets too cranky, give Little Laura to Peter and lock her in her room.

Stiles: I'm the only one still living here full time. Peter won't always be here to save me. [laughs]

Cora: [smirks] But I doubt he will be far. If all else fails, you could probably just take little Laura to the park.

Stiles: Probably. [leans back against the headboard] At least it will be good training.

Cora: Training?

Stiles: How not to lose a baby in Manhattan.

Cora: [she laughs] That is a very important lesson to learn.

Stiles: Plus, you know, for anytime far down the road when you and I... [he licks his lips, eyes on Bucky and trying not to blush a bit] Well, you know.

Cora: [she glances at him curiously, before reaching for his hand to pull him closer] You wanna have kids with me?

Stiles: Well, one day, yeah.

Cora: Good to know.

Stiles: What, you didn't think I would want to?

Cora: [shakes her head] No. But I didn't know you were thinking about it.

Stiles: Of course I'm thinking about it. I mean, your sister is pregnant. How can I not think about it?

Cora: I don't know. Most guys our age probably wouldn't be thinking about it, pregnant alpha or not.

Stiles: Well, I'm not like most guys my age. Plus I mean, my dad was getting ready to have me when he was my age.

Cora: Really?

Stiles: Yeah.

Cora: My mom was older, obviously. I was sort of an accident.

Stiles: Well, that explains the age difference then.

Cora: [she nods] My dad used to joke that they weren't really sure how I happened.

Stiles: Maybe it was fate. God made you so you could find me.

Cora: [she smiles a bit at that] Maybe.

Stiles: [he looked up at her, smiling] He brought you here to save me.

Cora: [grins a bit as she leans in to kiss him] You saved me too.

Stiles: [he kissed her back, his grin growing] We saved each other then.

Cora: [she nods] Yeah, we did.

Stiles: And we have a puppy baby to practice with.

Cora: [grins as she looks down at Bucky] Yep. We can have lots of puppy children to practice on.

Stiles: Why did I think you wouldn't complain?

Cora: [she laughs] I never complain about puppies.

Stiles: Especially big, overgrown ones.

Cora: The bigger the better.

Stiles: [he leaned close and playfully licked her nose]

Cora: [she wrinkles her nose a that]

Stiles: [laughs]

Cora: I think I prefer a different kind of kiss from you.

Stiles: But sweetie, the baby is in the room.

Cora: [her eyebrows go up at that]

Stiles: [laughs and just puts a hand gently over Bucky's eyes as he leans in to kiss Cora]

Cora: [grins as she leans into the kiss, getting in as much as she can before the puppy starts to squirm]

Stiles: [laughs and pulls back] Okay, buddy, time for bed. You're sleeping in the bathroom still.

Cora: [she grins before shifting to let him take Bucky from her] Night, Bucky.

Stiles: [and he will put the puppy in his little puppy bed, putting down the puppy pad, and closing the door. Almost instantly, there was puppy whining from the other side of the door] That kills me every time.

Cora: [cleans up her homework while he's doing that, so there's plenty of room for him to curl up and snuggle] Yeah, I know. But that's how he'll learn.

Stiles: I'm so going to be the dad who will let the baby sleep in bed with us until they are like, ten.

Cora: [she laughs] Maybe. But we'll need a bigger bed for that.

Stiles: I won't complain about a bigger bed.

Cora: I figured as much.

Stiles: As long as you're in bed with me too.

Cora: Of course.

Stiles: So do you want to have kids with me?

Cora: [she glances up at him before nodding] Yeah. When we're ready.

Stiles: Awesome. We’re going to make adorable little babies. When we're ready.

Cora: [she nods] And until then, we will just have canine babies.

Stiles: So many canine babies.

Cora: I'll probably check out one of the local shelters once I get settled in Boston.

Stiles: We're going to end up running our own foster place... only never adopting them out. OH, we could learn how to train seeing eye dogs!

Cora: That could be fun. But then we'd have to give them away when we're done.

Stiles: But they would be going off to better careers.

Cora: True. But I have attachment issues.

Stiles: So not helping train drug sniffing dogs for Flack?

Cora: I don't think they do that with non-cops.

Stiles: Well, Derek's a cop. We could contract for him.

Cora: No, I think they get trained by their handlers, so the bond is there.

Stiles: Well... Laura was suggesting I talk to Flack about trying to get a job with the force.

Cora: Really? [there's a beat] Oh! You could work with Adam.

Stiles: Who's Adam?

Cora: Adam Ross. He's the tech expert at the crime lab. I think you'd really like him, he's really nice.

Stiles: I just... I want to try and get a job on my own. But getting a job in New York is like finding a needle in a haystack the size of Texas.

Cora: Well, if you apply to the crime lab, Mac's not just going to hand you the job because you're Derek's almost brother-in-law. He's really tough and picky with his team, so you'll have to prove yourself. But at the same time, Derek's recommendation could be the difference between your resume getting seen and it getting lost in the shuffle. Getting the interview is the hardest part.

Stiles: Derek ... he liked working there?

Cora: Before Derek got to the twelfth ... he kind of had a rough time. There were a lot of personality issues that kept him from getting promoted so he was frustrated a lot, but he got along with the people really well.

Stiles: Did they know... he was... you know?

Cora: Flack did. I think Detective Monroe did too. But most of them aren't in the know.

Stiles: So I'd have to hide like he did.

Cora: Well, I wouldn't consider it hiding. You don't have to tell the people you work with everything about you. Did you want to tell all your professors you're a werewolf?

Stiles: No.

Cora: Same thing with work. Just because they don't know you're a wolf doesn't mean you're hiding. You can still be you.

Stiles: [nods] It's going to be weird not using my senses to solve puzzles.

Cora: You can still use them. You just have to make sure the real world evidence backs it up. Besides, if you're working with Adam, it'd mostly be computer things which you wouldn't need the senses for anyway.

Stiles: True. [leans back in the bed, holding his arms open for her to join him]

Cora: [goes easily and curls up into him] I get wanting to do it on your own. But I don't think Derek giving Mac your resume isn't doing it on your own. It'd be different if they outright handed you the job on his say-so but they're not.

Stiles: I guess I could ask. I mean, if nothing else it's a job until I find something better.

Cora: Exactly. And it'll be good experience, with a good paycheck and good benefits.

Stiles: it won't be a typical nine to five though, so it may put kinks in my visits to you.

Cora: That's okay. If anything, I could come down for the weekend instead of you coming up to me.

Stiles: True. You won't have a puppy to worry about finding a sitter for.

Cora: Well, I might at some point, but I could bring him or her home with me. They'll have to get used to both places anyway.

Stiles: Bucky is going to be so jealous.

Cora: We'll see. They might be friends.