new york wolves } { of unexpected alphas and complicated pack dynamics

[beanchaointe]

Stiles: [his consciousness is borderline as he lays on an operation table on his stomach. His head is strapped down, hair shaved and a breathing mask on him that is a mix of oxygen and wolfsbane coming from an herb smoker. There are cuts along his bare back but no real evidence of tampering otherwise or things being added to him. Next to him is another OR table, bloody and used with tools all around it showing that it was the spot the other chimeras had been operated on. However, Lydia isn't here for this project. No, she's here for another purpose, which is why she is strapped to a chair just in Stiles' line of vision, but he can't do anything but watch from his weakened state.]

Lydia: [comes to slowly as the drugs work their way out of her system, almost as though she's waking up from a deep sleep. Then that clears when she remembers where she is and what she's supposed to be doing. She pushes up, struggling against the strap across her chest as she takes a deep breath, before glancing over and seeing Stiles across from her. She almost doesn't recognize him at first, but when she does she subsides for a moment] Stiles? Stiles, can you hear me?

Stiles: [stirs a bit, his eyes opened just a bit to look at her. He sees her there, strapped down as his shoulder moves just a bit like he is trying to break his own bonds but he knows it's not going to happen]

Lydia: It's okay. I'm okay. [she's not, but she's better than he is, and she doesn't want him to try and hurt himself. She glances around for a moment, hoping that the Dread Doctors are out of earshot for now] They're coming. They're coming for both of us. [and just so they don't have to completely rely on Parrish's banshee-dar, she wiggles one hand down to her boot to try and see if she can find the emitter that they had given her]

Valek: [and he is going to appear from the room behind Stiles, putting a hand on his shoulder to stop his struggling] That's right Stiles, it's okay. You're both going to be okay... in fact, better than okay. You are both going to be remarkable.

Lydia: [immediately drops what she's doing, figuring she can wait until Valek leaves to try again] I'm already remarkable. I don't think it's something you can take twice.

Valek: Ah, but that is where you are wrong, my dear. You are lacking in many ways. Control of your power... the strength of a banshee. You've struggled so long to have that, haven’t you?

Lydia: And you think you can give it to me? Unlikely.

Valek: Oh, I think you will see that I can, and will. [he motions with his head, and two leather masked doctors come out to prep her] I'm also aware that time for us is very limited.

Lydia: Is that so? [and that's when she's actually going to start to struggle because no. nope. noooooooope.]

Stiles: Let…her go... [he tries to struggle again, his eyes glowing yellow]

Valek: Yes, Stiles. Fight through it. [he reaches for a syringe full of kanima venom and starts to approach Lydia] Your doctors have been waiting for you to show some initiative.

Lydia: [it's a self-defense mechanism just as much as it is a side effect of dead people, and when she sees that syringe she doesn't have to know what it is to be scared of it. Never mind the fact that she's immune (she doesn't know that yet), her body continues to fight against the bonds before something clicks, her head tips back as she screams]

Parrish: [HELLHOUND ACTIVATE and he's off and running through the sewers, the NYPD on his heels]

Stiles: [growling louder, fighting against the bonds more as his eyes slip into a deeper yellow, heading towards red.]

Valek: [waiting for the dread doctors to strap Lydia's head down and goes to inject her] I promise you, one little procedure, and you will have unlimited power to control.

Lydia: [the injection hits her system, but nothing changes. She still continues to fight against the bonds] No! I don't want it!

Valek: [sees this and nods] Interesting. You're immune to the venom. That will just make this harder. [and he is going to reach for the drill, moving to the side where one of the dread doctors is pressing down on Stiles' neck, reaching for a similar device]

Lydia: [yep, well, she's definitely not going to make it easy on him. And she's going to try again to get at the emitter and if that hand comes anywhere near her mouth she's definitely going to bite it.]

Valek: The more you struggle, the more this is going to hurt. [he will lift her hair out of the way, one hand going to press against the side of her head to keep the hair up, and then he looks at the dread doctor] Start at two centimeters in.

Lydia: [nooooooooooooope, you're messing with her hair, this is not cool. Her hand finds the emitter, and she presses the button. maybe in all their sciencing they gave themselves extrasensory hearing, or the frequency will mess with the equipment SHE DOESN'T KNOW but it's all she's got at the moment]

Stiles: [no, but it does mess with one very pissed off werewolf in the room, making him howl in pain both as the frequency and the cutting into his head. He's had enough of his brain messed with in his life. He's able to push through the poisoning, his eyes a bright red as he rips out of the bonds and tries to fight the dread doctor away.]

Valek: [sees this and return his focus to Lydia anyway, but he's stopped as a fist of fire connects with his face, and then throws him across the room]

Lydia: [oh hey, Parrish, nice of you to show up. She doesn't stop struggling though, and manages to wiggle one of her feet free by losing the boot attached to it and kicking it up towards one of the dread doctors by her face. thank you years of dance training]

Stiles: [one of the other doctors goes to help the first and trying to hold Stiles down. He howls again as he's slammed into the table and they start to drill again, but Espo is there with Derek and two gunshots take them down and the bloody drill falls to the ground]

Valek: [and he is going to be screaming as he is set on fire by the very angry hellhound]

Lydia: [when the guns start going off she stops fighting so much, especially considering the number of dread doctors are less. Gloria will also take out any more that happen to be near her and work on getting her free, after which her shoe goes back on and she's moving right to Stiles]

Derek: [he can smell the wolfsbane in the air and coughs, going to shut the tank off] Gloria... fall back. Espo, get him.

Esposito: On it. [and he is going to help Lydia with Stiles]

Stiles: [isn't moving, the hole not closing because he still has wolfsbane in his system. He's breathing though]

Lydia: [Gloria does as she's told and Lydia is hesitant to touch him because she doesn't know what will hurt or not] He's not healing.

Hound: [coming to join them, his fire off but his skin is now grey with glowing amber lines] It is the wolfsbane. He is unaltered. He will not need me.

Lydia: [glances back at him for a moment before nodding] Thanks for coming.

Hound: [he just nods, looking around the room, and then his eyes blink away and Jordan is back because they are safe now]

Lydia: [watches that happen and ...] Hi.

Parrish: [blinks, and then looks around, then at her] I take it it worked?

Lydia: It worked. We just have to get Stiles out of here very carefully so he can heal.

Esposito: I think he's going to need an ambulance, Derek.

Derek: [from the hallway] No, Marcus is going to meet us at the apartment.

Lydia: I don't think he can walk on his own though. And Sheila said we need to destroy everything here.

Parrish: We can do the destruction. Sam can find us and help.

Derek: [comes back in wearing a bandana around his face.] I got Stiles. See if there is gauze to wrap the head wound up in.

Lydia: [nods and goes shifting through the various supplies until she finds some, and goes to wrap it up expertly because she totally aced first aid]

Stiles: [his eyes will drift open to look at her] Are they... are they gone?

Lydia: [smiles softly and nods] Yeah. Yeah, they're gone.

Stiles: Good. [and his eyes will roll into the back of his head and he's out for a while]

Lydia: [and they will shuffle him out of the sewers and back to the penthouse?]

Stiles: [yup, where Marcus will put him on pure Oxygen and look at the wound, clean it out and bandage it]

Laura: [and Laura will call her sister to let him know they found him and he's safe and Cora tells her she'll be home tomorrow]

Stiles: [and he is just going to sleep it off, Bucky in bed with him resting his head on Stiles' chest making sure Daddy is okay]

Lydia: [will just wait at the penthouse for Sam to be finished doing whatever he's doing]

Sam: [will return dusty and smelling like smoke. He will give Marcus a USB drive with all the information on the computer before they erased it, shot the hard drives and set it all on fire. He will smile though, looking at her] We’re good.

Lydia: [smiles back before nodding] Good.

Bonnie: [comes in not far behind him, and addressed to the room:] Is Jeremy okay? I was told he got hurt and I was told to wait for Elena before seeing him but ... just wanted to put that out there.

Peter: He had a concussion but he is recovering well. I will let him know you're here. [aka prewarning Malia there is company]

Bonnie: [she nods] Thanks.

Lydia: So am I free to go? Or am I still in protective custody?

Peter: [pauses, looking at Laura] I think you're free to go. Just be careful and let us know if you feel you're still being watched.

Sam: It's not she doesn't have her own pair of bodyguards.

Peter: True [knocking on Malia's door]

Lydia: [she nods] I will. [and with that she will take Sam and we will come back to them at a later scene]

Malia: [coyote head perks up from where she's lying next to Jeremy with a confused whine]

Peter: [sticking his head in] Malia, Jeremy's friend Bonnie is here to check on him.

Malia: [she glances back to Jeremy for a moment, before lowering her head back down to the bed, basically saying okay, I won't chew her face off the second she enters]

Jeremy: Bonnie's here? [sits up, yawning]

Peter: Yes. Remember that the doctor said for you to take it easy still, so don't overexert yourself.

Malia: [she will make sure he doesn't. Just in case]

Bonnie: [at the sound of her name will sort of follow Peter towards Malia's room] Don't even think about getting up, I will come to you.

Jeremy: Hey Bonnie. [relaxes back down, and he's going to put one hand along Malia's neck, just gently massaging her there]

Malia: [she keeps her head low, eyes closing at the touch and just staying where she is]

Bonnie: [pops her head around the corner once Peter is out of her way] Hey you. How're you feeling?

Jeremy: Tired. It sucks being woken up every two hours.

Bonnie: I can imagine. But that's what you get for going out and getting yourself a concussion. [teasing]

Jeremy: I wasn't doing it on purpose.

Bonnie: I know. [makes her way inside, sitting on the edge of the bed, just accepting that there's a coyote because that is their life] I could make you some of my Grams' tea. Might help with the headache.

Jeremy: I wouldn't say no to that. That stuff cures anything.

Bonnie: [she smiles softly before nodding] Sounds good. Let me run down to grab my stuff from the car, and I'll be right back.

Jeremy: I'll be here.

Bonnie: [and she will head out]

Malia: [and she will shift around so that she's facing him rather than the door, resting her head on his chest gently]

Jeremy: You know, you can shift out of that anytime you want now.

Malia: [she knows. sort of. Part of it is her having missed it, as it was something that she was for so long. And part of it is that instinctive need to protect and the final part was her not sure how he feels about all that murder a couple days back. So she just shifts a bit, long tongue licking under his chin]

Jeremy: [chuckles] Yeah, I love you too. Though I'd rather be kissing you.

Malia: [she weighs her options for a moment, considering, and then closes her eyes to see if she can try and get out of it on her own this time. She understands more how this works, and it takes a little time, but eventually things start to shift and she slowly becomes more human shaped, along with human vocal chords] Hi.

Jeremy: There's the girl I know. HI.

Malia: I kinda missed that. Sorry.

Jeremy: [lifts his head up, cupping her cheek and kissing her proper]

Malia: [kisses him back gently, one hand coming up to curl around his wrist]

Jeremy: [and after a bit] You want to put clothes on before Bonnie gets back?

Malia: Yeah. I should probably shower too. [and he can have some time with his friend who she knows he doesn't get to see a lot]

Jeremy: I'm sure your dad would like to see you too. But don't be gone too long. [smiles. He totally loves you]

Malia: [she smirks a bit at that, before getting up to grab her bathrobe and a change of clothes] I'll be back soon.

Jeremy: Okay. [and he will settle back in bed]

Malia: [and she will wander off and shower and since Bonnie and Jeremy are still talking when she gets out, she'll go hang out on the couch in the movie room. not in a way to actually draw attention to herself, but just because it's comfortable and quiet for now]

Peter: [and he will come in, staying in the doorway] Are you hungry?

Malia: [actually ....] Starving.

Peter: Come on, I'll cook you whatever you'd like now that you have opposable thumbs again.

Malia: [nods as she gets up to follow him back to the kitchen]

Peter: What are you feeling like eating?

Malia: Meat. [she is not specific on what that meat is or how it is cooked though]

Peter: [reaches into the fridge and unwraps a brown bag. The smell of uncooked venison will hit her] I think I know what kind.

Malia: [and she'll just grin at him because yes]

Peter: You know, I'm proud of you. Right?

Malia: [always nice to hear but] For what?

Peter: You protected your mate, all on your own. And you figure out how to shift back into the coyote and come back from it all on your own.

Malia: [she makes a face] I still don't know how I got into it in the first place. But coming back is easier than it was when I was a kid.

Peter: You also weren't stuck in it as long.

Malia: [she nods] I guess.

Peter: Maybe if you practice it will get easier.

Malia: Maybe. I don't know where I'm really going to be able to practice, though.

Peter: The roof?

Malia: I can't run up there, though.

Peter: True. [thinks a moment] Your Uncle Michael's art studio. We can go and move his things around so you have all the room you need.

Malia: Maybe. How big is it?

Peter: The same size as the old apartment, but completely open space.

Malia: [she nods] Maybe. Not the same as running in the woods, but it could work.

Peter: We can go to the mountains when it's warmer.

Malia: [she nods] That would be better.

Peter: Then we will do that. It can be our little project?

Malia: [she nods] Sure.

Peter: [and he will serve her a plate of venison, not even bothering to add anything else but two slices of bread to make it into a sandwich]

Malia: [perfect. she digs in and gets about halfway through it before:] Is Stiles okay?

Peter: He's recovering. Would you like to see him?

Malia: [she shrugs] Maybe later, when he's healed more. [resting is important] But before Cora gets here. [because once that happens, she's going to want him all to herself]

Peter: Well, Cora's train is due in tonight. His father is up there right now but he could probably use a break. Stiles is sleeping.

Malia: [considers before nodding] I can sit with him for a bit.

Peter: Okay. Why don't you do that and send his father down. I'll make him some coffee.

Malia: [nods and heads upstairs to knock on Stiles' door]

Sheriff: [looks up from the paper] Come in.

Malia: [pokes her head in for a bit] I'll sit with him for a bit if you want to take a break.

Sheriff: [smiles because hello Malia] Sure. He's pretty easy to watch. Boring, really.

Malia: I think I can handle it. My dad's making coffee.

Sheriff: I could use another cup. [he stands up and stretches] Good to see you back to normal.

Malia: Thanks. Though I did spend like ... five years as a coyote before we moved to New York.

Sheriff: Yeah, your Dad told me about that.

Malia: So normal is relative.

Sheriff: Understandable. I'll be back in a bit. [and off he goes to leave them alone]

Stiles: [is just laying there like a log. a bald, pale log with an oxygen mask. The wolfsbane was really taken root on the fine line of almost killing him for over a day]

Malia: [and she'll just sit on the edge of the bed, idly petting Bucky as needed]

Bucky: [cold noses her hand and leans into her a bit. Why isn't he waking up Malia?]

Malia: He's gotta heal, buddy. It's gonna take some time.

Stiles: [and after a while, there will be a soft groan and his face scrunches up as his head rolls to the side a bit]

Malia: [and she'll move her hand from Bucky to Stiles] Easy. You should stay asleep.

Stiles: [whimpers, his hand squeezing hers. He's still in pain and can barely whisper] Water.

Malia: I'll be right back. [and she'll get up and run to the bathroom to get him some water, before coming back and placing it on the table next to him. she had the foresight to grab a straw.] You can sit up against me.

Stiles: Help? [He moved to push up, but he had no strength since he burned the last of it saving Lydia]

Malia: [she nods as she very slowly, very gently moves him so that he's resting against her chest, before reaching for the glass and holding it up for him so he can reach the straw]

Stiles: [he lifts the mask out of the way so he can drink slowly, resting back against her.]

Malia: [lets her hand rest against his shoulder and squeezes gently as she tries to pull some of his pain]

Stiles: [groans softly] Thank you.

Malia: Of course.

Stiles: I'm glad you're okay.

Malia: You too.

Stiles: [closes his eyes and leans back into her more, taking her hand again and he is going to just drift back off]

Malia: [and she's just going to stay with him and try not to jostle him too much]

Derek: [one big puppy pile until Bonnie leaves and Derek comes to let Malia know]

Malia: [nods as she slowly starts to shift Stiles back against the bed] Is Cora back yet?

Derek: Peter went to get her. He dropped Stiles' dad off so he could shower and they are picking him up on the way back.

Malia: Okay. He's still in a lot of pain, but I got him some water.

Derek: [ walks over to help her shift Stiles] Wolfsbane poisoning is never fun.

Malia: Nope. Never mind whatever else they did to him.

Derek: I don't want to think what would have happened if we had been five minutes later.

Malia: Then don't. [because she's not]

Derek: [nods, and there is a door opening downstairs] I think they are back.

Malia: [nods as she goes to leave] I'm gonna go back to Jeremy.

Derek: We're ordering pizza for dinner. I'll get one for the two of you to split.

Malia: Thanks. [and back to her room she goes]

Cora: [is going to say very brief hellos before just heading upstairs to crawl into bed with Stiles and probably won't move until he's better]

Stiles: [the mask makes it hard to catch her scent, but the familiar feel of her warmth has him roll into her a bit on instinct]

Cora: [just lets him curl into her, staying close and trying to take whatever pain she can]

Stiles: [eventually his eyes will open and he will smile at her]

Cora: [she smiles back] Hey, you.

Stiles: [mouths the word sorry behind the mask]

Cora: [shakes her head] You have nothing to be sorry about.

Stiles: I should have run.

Cora: You were protecting Lydia.

Stiles: [nods, nuzzling into her before he paws at the stupid oxygen mask because the cord is taut]

Cora: [moves to shift it for him so that it fits better]

Stiles: I hate being like this.

Cora: I know. But you need to heal.

Stiles: I'll heal better with you here.

Cora: And I'm not going anywhere until you're better.

Stiles: What about school?

Cora: I'll figure it out. I don't have any labs this week, and I can write my papers from here.

Stiles: Okay. [goes to lace his fingers with hers]

Cora: [squeezes his hand as she stays close]

Stiles: I love you.

Cora: I love you too.

Stiles: Need to stop... getting kidnapped.

Cora: Yes, you do. My nerves would appreciate it.

Stiles: Why... why me?

Cora: I don't know.

Stiles: We need to know. Too many times.

Cora: I'll see if I can figure it out.

Stiles: [nods and nuzzles back again]

Cora: [and she's just going to try and sooth him back to sleep again, her hand stroking gently against the back of his head]

Stiles: [and it will be easy to send him off, feeling safe in her arms. Bucky will also wiggle closer to be with them too]

Cora: [and Bucky gets pets too. good boy, Bucky. She would have brought Sadie, but there wasn't enough time to make sure she'd be ready for the train, so she left her with a friend]

Marcus: [and in the early morning he's coming to check on his patient]

Cora: [and the three of them are just curled up in a puppy pile on the bed]

Marcus: [smiles, because he is really happy how the two of them have grown back together, and he will clear his throat]

Cora: [shifts and opens her eyes before starting to shift up] Hey.

Marcus: Hey. How was your trip back?

Cora: Too long.

Marcus: Well, you're here now, and I'm sure he is happy to have you.

Cora: I'm happy to be here.

Marcus: If you want, you can help me examine him and measure how far he's healed.

Cora: [she nods, before slowly starting to shift away so that Marcus can get closer]

Marcus: [comes over with his bag, giving Bucky a pet and a piece of jerky that he had left over from treating Malia to examine Jeremy] Good morning, Stiles. I need you to wake up for a bit for me.

Stiles: [groans, looking up at him, and then nods.]

Marcus: [goes about examining him, seeing the cuts on the back are healed, and taking a small sample of blood and testing it before smiling] The oxygen has done it's job. We can take this off now and regular air will be fine.

Cora: [smiles softly] Definitely a good sign.

Marcus: Now, this may not have healed as fast, so Cora don't be too upset. But let's check this one now. [and he will start unwrapping the bandage on Stiles' head]

Cora: [SHE'S GOING TO WORRIED FACE ANYWAY]

Marcus: [and he is going to look at the fading hole in stiles' head and the pink flesh starting to close] Much better. Cora, it looks like you have a healing presence.

Cora: [smiles softly] That's usually how it works.

Marcus: Now maybe you can help fix the shape of his head? [smirks]

Stiles: [blinks] What are you talking about... my head... [reaches up to rub his head and gets confused] What happened to my hair?

Cora: [her face softens slightly] That, I'm afraid, is beyond my control.

Stiles: [looks at Marcus sadly]

Marcus: You still have a head. It will grow back.

Stiles: I look like a freak, don't I?

Cora: A very cute freak.

Marcus: And your hair will grow back to hide the shape. And your ears.

Stiles: [whines]

Cora: [she laughs softly] It's just hair.

Marcus: [laughs] You want to see how steady on your feet you are? I think breakfast was almost done when I got here.

Cora: If you'd rather stay in bed, I can bring it up?

Stiles: We can try to get... just to the couch?

Marcus: The movement will help his blood flow and get the rest of the wolfsbane out and finish the healing. Just don't run any marathons for a few days.

Cora: Okay. C'mon. Let's get you up.

Stiles: [and between the two of them, he will get up and walk slowly. He gets a bit stronger with every step]

Cora: [And they will just slowly ease him down to the couch and once he's there, she'll kiss him softly] I'll get you a plate.

Stiles: [sitting in the living room smiling.] Thank you.

Derek: [sees him and walks over, putting a ski cap over Stiles' head] There, it'll help keep the ears warm.

Stiles: Funny.

Cora: Leave him alone.

Laura: [will follow Derek in, Thomas on her hip] How're you feeling?

Derek: I'm being concerned. He doesn't need to catch a cold.

Stiles: I'm doing better. Hey Tommy.

Laura: [and he's totally going to reach for Uncle Stiles, but Laura keeps him straight up as best she can] Your uncle's recovering, kiddo. I know you missed him, but he can't play with you right now.

Stiles: Rain check. I will make it up to you. Hey Derek?

Derek: Yeah?

Stiles: You call me out dead?

Derek: Of course. You just need to call in when you're functional.

Stiles: Kay.

Cora: [brings him over a plate and settles in next to him with hers] You know who's totally good for aunt time though? [bright smile in Thomas's direction] C'mere Tommy.

Thomas: [kind of stares at her uncertainly because he doesn't remember her as well as he should]

Laura: Oh, don't give me that face, you remember your Aunt Cora. [and she will hand her son off to her sister, and give them a chance to get reacquainted]

Stiles: [and he will take his plate and look at Laura because hi alpha pet me?]

Laura: [and she will sigh and sit on the arm of the couch to do just that]

Cora: [It takes all of two seconds for him to warm up to her and Cora smiles] He got so big.

Stiles: [just leans into his alpha as he slowly eats breakfast with one hand, the other just occasionally touching Cora to remind himself she is there]

Esposito: Yeah, you should see him eat. He's going to be a big boy.

Cora: Oh yeah? [she grins] That's good. You should grow up big and strong.

Peter: And then we can get him playing basketball.

Esposito: Hell no, my son's going to play baseball.

Cora: [to Thomas] I think you're going to play whatever you wants, and your dad and Uncle Peter can stuff it.

Stiles: He's got three sport people in the house. He'll get a lot of exposure.

Laura: Technically four. Maybe he'll take after his aunt.

Malia: Five if you count me. [grins at Espo. Don't you want your son to be a ballroom dancer?]

Esposito: Nope, baseball. Right Tommy boy? [leans in to kiss his son's cheek]

Cora: [Thomas is just happy with all the attention and giggles as Cora starts to tickle him] We'll see.

Esposito: Well, Derek and I are heading to work. You guys have a fun time.

Derek: [kisses Cora's head] Good to have you home, pup.

Cora: [glances up with a smile] I'll see you later.

Peter: [comes over to sit on the coffee table] How are you feeling, Stiles?

Stiles; Better than yesterday.

Laura: You look better too.

Stiles: I'm just tired of being attacked.

Laura: And we are tired of you being attacked, trust me.

Marcus: [sitting off to the side with his tablet and coffee] This is what, time number three?

Stiles: [thinks] Gerard... the witch... and yeah, now. I think?

Laura: Third time's a charm. I'd be good if you never did this again.

Marcus: I seem to remember that the Mikaelson's aunt said something about Stiles. As did Deucalion when you had the alpha pack here. Perhaps that was linked to why he was chosen to be the beast.

Laura: We'll have to ask Bonnie's grandmother while she's still here.

Stiles: Yeah, because whatever it is drawing psychos to me, I want to cut it out of me. Literally.

Laura: Let's just figure out what it is before we become set on mutilation.

Stiles: Okay. [and just nibbles on his bacon]

Marcus: And if Ms. Bennett is still here, we could ask for a spell that would be able to stop it.

Laura: [glances over at Malia] Jeremy still here?

Jeremy: [totally there, getting ready to shower]

Malia: He's getting in the shower, why?

Laura: When he gets out, let him know I want to talk to him?

Malia: [nods and drops her dishes off before heading back to her room]

Jeremy: [just about to walk out of the room] Hey.

Malia: Hey. Before you go, Laura wants to talk to you about Bonnie's grandmother.

Jeremy: ... Okay?

Malia: Something about Stiles wanting to know why he keeps getting kidnapped, I think she just would appreciate it if you made an introduction.

Jeremy: Yeah, I can do that. [reaches for his phone to text Bonnie on if they were still in town]

Bonnie: Yep. Grams is getting quality tree bonding time, why?

Jeremy: Laura Hale would like to talk to her before you guys go.

Bonnie: I'll let her know. Just let me know what times are good? I don't know how long she's going to be communing.

Jeremy: I'll check with her and get back to you.

Bonnie: k.

Jeremy: Okay, let me shower and then I'll talk to your sister and try and set up a time.

Malia: Thanks. [small smile and off she goes]

Marcus: [now that Stiles has eaten, he's just checking blood pressure and some other things again. Time to examine his eyes] Okay, Stiles, now show me your real eyes.

Stiles: [and he does and look, everyone... that is not yellow]

Laura: [especially looks taken aback because nope.] What the hell.

Stiles: What? What's wrong?

Marcus: I think we found our reason...

Cora: [gently] Your eyes are red.

Stiles: What? How the hell? [yup, freaking out just a bit]

Marcus: I'm going to wait for Shelia before I make a determination on that.

Laura: Probably for the best.

Stiles: [looks up at Laura] I don't want to be an alpha... [he really, really doesn't]

Laura: [she sighs] I know. But I don't know if you can reverse it either.

Peter: Alphas can fall back to Betas, and Omegas. You know this, Laura. [they have a symbol that represents it as their family sigil]

Laura: Yes, but it's easy to be an omega and an alpha. Going back to a beta usually comes at a price.

Marcus: Stiles, between Peter and I, if there is a way we will find it.

Cora: [just reaches over and squeezes his hand gently]

Stiles: [goes to lean into Cora]

Thomas: [takes advantage of this and abandons his aunt for his uncle like the clever little kid he is]

Stiles: [laughs and settles Thomas into his lap] I can only offer you snuggles, kiddo.

Thomas: [that's fine, he's just probably going to babble at you so that doesn't require much movement]

Stiles: [just smiles, talking back and soaking in pack time until he starts to feel himself drifting off]

Laura: [notices that, and that Thomas is getting a bit cranky] Alright. I think it's naptime for both of you.

Stiles: Good plan.

Laura: Want to just stay down here or go back upstairs?

Stiles: I'm good here. [looks over at Cora]

Cora: I have some school work to do, so I was just going to grab my laptop.

Laura: What about you, Tommy? Wanna take a nap with Uncle Stiles? [Thomas makes whiny sounds of protest and she nods] I'll take that as a yes.

Stiles: I'll just stretch out here. [and he will shift and make the couch into a bed]

Laura: [and she will let Thomas settle with him because he goes down easier if he's got someone to snuggle with]

Cora: I'll be right over there. [points to chair near the couch] If you need me.

Stiles: [and he will wrap one arm over Thomas to keep him close, and he will go back to sleep almost instantly]

Cora: [Thomas isn't far behind him and Cora will grab her laptop to settle into her seat to work on her paper]

Peter: [and he's just been in his chair, holding his coffee and watching Stiles carefully]

Cora: [tap tap tap tap tap tap] You're doing that creepy overbearing stare thing.

Peter: I'm thinking.

Cora: About what?

Peter: Everything.

Cora: And you need to stare at my fiancé to do it?

Peter: Because it's about him.

Cora: What about him?

Peter: About how the Mickelson Aunt tried to kill him, warning about the balance.

Cora: [eyebrows go up, waiting for him to elaborate]

Peter: While Doctor Whitmore may not speculate, I will. Even with Gerard, he has always put protection of those he loves above all. That's a strong quality. He's also loyal, intelligent... everything an alpha needs to possess. And when we were in Beacon Hills, his friends look to him for guidance. Like he is their alpha.

Cora: [her brow furrows] Like a true alpha?

Peter: Exactly. Maybe all of them saw it coming where we didn't because we were too close.

Cora: But that happens in the absence of an alpha.

Peter: If he started on the path during that time he was in Beacon Hills, he would have been.

Cora: Then why is it coming into play now?

Peter: Lydia is part of that pack, not this one. And she was the one in danger.

Cora: [and that has her eyes falling back to her computer because Lydia is still a sore subject when it comes to Stiles] Mmm.

Peter: A true alpha can lose their powers though when they go against the nature of a true alpha, or they forsake the pack they have built. A true alpha only has power when he has a pack.

Cora: Stiles won't give up on them.

Peter: Then if this is a true alpha, and not something that the dread doctors have done to him, we will see what can be done to revert him back to a beta.

Cora: [nods and is just going to go back to her paper, not wanting to deal with the implications swimming in her head, because she knows that Stiles can probably feel it]

Stiles: [nope, dead to the world with baby on his chest and the ski cap coming to cover his forehead and starting towards his eyes]

Cora: [at least there's that. But she's going to focus on her homework for now because feelings are dumb. especially dumb feelings being dumb] Maybe Lydia might be able to tell you more.

Peter: Maybe.

Cora: [she can't. she wasn't here. and oh hey, there's the guilt she was trying to avoid]

Stiles: [he still loves you bb]

Cora: [she knows, she's just mad at herself for being so far away]

Stiles: [stop it. you didn't know.]

Cora: [not gonna stop it. feelings are hard and complicated]

Stiles: [siiiiiiiiiiigh]

Cora: [they can talk about it when he's better]

Stiles: [yes, but first he's going to cough a bit in his sleep and shift a little]

Cora: [her head snaps towards him and she waits to make sure he and the baby aren't waking up, before turning her attention back to her paper again]