canon au } { post-3b, of love confessions and successful rituals

[kiss_evilgoodbye]

[After Derek is released from the hospital, they all regroup at the loft to form a plan of attack. Stiles and Buffy are both passed out in a chair and on the couch respectively after their late night cram session, while Giles is still working on the situation.]

Peter: [as they walk in] Cora, put Derek into his bed while I go find a handsaw.

Cora: [nods as she steers Derek towards the bed, pushing back the screen for now so that he can see into the room and they can see him. She sits him down gently, before reaching to pull off his jacket]

Derek: [is starting to come out of the drugged up dazed look as the cuts on his face are starting to heal on their own] We should be out there looking for her...

Cora: We will. [puts the jacket to the side before reaching down for his shoes.] Right now, you need to rest.

Derek: I'm fine. [he isn't, but hey he can sit up on his own]

Cora: [there's a look as she gets the first shoe off, because she knows he's not fine in any way]

Peter: [comes back over, carrying a mini electric table saw] Well, this is all I can find. It's a good thing he is still renovating this place because it was buried in the toolbox.

Cora: [gets his other shoe off before nodding] It'll work.

Derek: What are you doing with that?

Peter: Take your cast off. When your body starts healing, it won't be needed and will just get in the way

Cora: [takes his casted arm gently, holding it out for Peter] It'll just take a second. [then she glances over to where Buffy and Stiles are sleeping] Should we ... [wake them up first?]

Peter: [looks at the sleeping people] Oh, I think they will wake up in 3....2....1.... [turns on saw]

Stiles: [jumps awake, falling out of the chair] Whassup I didn't do it...

Buffy: [startles a bit herself, and sees Cora with Derek's arm and Peter with a saw and her sleep addled brain draws one conclusion] What? No! Why are you cutting Derek's arm off?

Stiles: We're back to cutting off Derek's arm again? Did he get shot with wolfsbane?

Peter: [eyebrow raised] This shouldn't be as amusing as I find it. We're taking off the cast so his arm can heal.

Buffy: [at the explanation, she relaxes considerably, slumping back against the couch] Right. Sorry. Carry on.

Cora: [shakes her head] Do it before he sobers up enough to realize what's going on.

Derek: Don't cut my arm off Peter.

Peter: While I have ever reason to take off a limb of yours, dear nephew, I will be gentle. [and he is, carefully cutting into the cast and keeping away from Derek's actual arm even as his finger twitches a bit in remembrance of being severed]

Cora: [holds his arm steady as the cast is sliced through, turning his arm so that it slices along the side with his thumb, and peeling it away when they're finished]

Derek: [well, watching this is sobering him up very quickly, his eyes flashing blue as the heat against his arm increases] Peter...

Peter: Shut up or else I may slip.

Stiles: [goes over to sit with Buffy] Yeah, you know the Hale family still scares me sometimes. You?

Buffy: [makes a face as she does] I just ... let them do their thing. It's usually for the best.

Cora: [gives Peter a look] Don't.

Stiles: I should try and invest in like, bracers of healing or something. Because I lack this ability from the rest of you and think I'm going to need it.

Peter: Just a little more.

Derek: [tries to shift his arm up away from the heat and the blade he swears is getting too close to his bicep] Damnit Peter....

Cora: Peter. [firm niece "stop tormenting your nephew" tone.]

Peter: [looks at her, then rolls his eyes and finishes, lowing the blade back just a hair so Derek doesn't feel it. And three seconds later...] There, torture session over. Don't thank me at once.

Cora: [sighs softly, pulling away the pieces of cast to toss in the garbage. then she nudges Derek towards the bed] Sleep.

Derek: Cora, I'm fine. [but he lays back anyway. He's a lot more sober now though]

Cora: [well, Dawn isn't here to mother you. She's picking up the slack. She sits down on the edge of the bed next to him before glancing back to Buffy] Did you guys find anything last night?

Buffy: [sighs before shaking her head] Not really. You think it wouldn't be this hard to track down a giant, but apparently he's really good at hide and seek.

Derek: He literally came out of nowhere. Had to be seven foot tall. [trailing off because oh yeah, adrenaline fade into sleep again]

Cora: [her hand comes up to brush across his forehead, because she's just going to let him sleep] Seven feet tall means there's probably not a lot of housing he can use. Especially with those minions creeping around. [there's a beat] Do you think we could torture it out of one of them?

Buffy: [eyes widen a bit] Maybe. If we can find one.

Peter: Oh, we'll find one. Cora, you still remember the scent?

Stiles: Um guys... isn't torture bad?

Buffy: It's a demon. And not one of the good variety. They tortured Spike once, I think turnabout is fair play.

Cora: [nods to indicate that she both agrees and remembers the scent] Shouldn't be too hard to track one down.

Buffy: Besides, these guys don't take much. A few well-placed punches and they'll be singing like a canary. We just need to make sure someone's here with Derek just in case.

Stiles: I can stay with Derek. Can we put him back on drugs though?

Peter: ..... He has a valid point. When Derek wakes up, he will be healed and back to normal, and is going to be very pissed. We may want to keep him drugged.

Buffy: And if Dragor's lackeys wind up here because he finds out trying to turn the charger into the Matchbox version didn’t work, we're going to want him nice and angry to make sure the minions don't make mincemeat out of Stiles. [there's a beat] You should call Allison and Isaac too, for back up. Maybe Scott.

Stiles: I'll start making the phone calls. Also, he doesn't know about the car yet, right?

Peter: No. And best you wait for us before you tell him.

Buffy: Maybe we should save that for after we find Dragor? So that we have as much momentum as possible.

Peter: Good plan.

Stiles: [texting] Well, you guys get going. Isaac is already on his way

Buffy: [nods] Good. Call if you run into trouble.

Cora: [brushes her hand over her brother's forehead one last time, before getting up to follow Buffy and her uncle]

Stiles: [goes to lock the door behind them since Isaac has a key, and then returns to the couch] You just keep sleeping there, buddy.

Buffy: [so off they go to wander the street in search of a minion] I'm thinking demon bar as a good place to start.

Cora: [eyebrow raise] There's one in Beacon Hills?

Buffy: Willy relocated here.

Peter: Well, sounds like fun. [cracks knuckles, itching for a fight to get out his own frustrations]

Cora: [gives a bit of a shrug] Alright. Let's go.

Buffy: [nods and turns to lead the way] Good. Because I'm definitely ready to punch something.

[And when they get to the bar, there is a group of demons in the corner celebrating the victory of Dragor and how they are going to be soon sailing to victory.]

Buffy: Oh, hey. Looks like we've found our party.

Cora: [already snarling, claws extending from her fingers as she starts to make her way closer]

Peter: [drops a small roll of bills on the bartop to the bartender] Bar's closed. Here's for the damages.

Bartender: [looks at Buffy and Cora, then the demons. Nope, taking the bankroll and getting out of there with the few regulars he likes and are smart enough to get out of the slayer's way]

Minion 1: You're too late, Slayer.

Buffy: Funny. I don't see the world ending. See, I know how this ritual works. There's a tower, and some bleeding - it takes time. So I'm going to beat you until you tell me where my sister is. [tips her head to Cora] Or she'll do it.

Cora: [yeah, she's fully wolfed out at this point, the tension barely controlled in her shoulders]

Minion 2: Presuming that he's doing the same spell. Once again, Slayer, you lack information.

Buffy: [falters, but only for a second before reaching forward and grabbing him by the collar] Why don't you educate me? [and this is when the punching starts]

Peter: [is going to stay back for a moment, letting the girls work out their anger issues. However, when minions 3 and 4 try to run, he shifts and grabs them both by the neck and tosses 3 back into the girl fray and holds 4 against the wall] You look like a smart one. Why don't you watch this with me for a while. [claws around the minions throat holding him just off his feet]

Buffy: [Three gets grabbed by the collar and collided into Two, while Cora slashed through One with a whole lot of fury. Minon 4's three friends are getting the crap beaten out of them. Someone better talk.]

Peter: You see, I learned a long time ago not to mess with the families of a slayer and a former Hale alpha. You boys happened to have done both. Now - [digs his claws in further] - I can throw you back into that, or you can tell me where Dragor is hiding.

Minion 4: [Can't talk as blood is starting to slide down his chest. Makes gurgling noises]

Peter: What was that? [pulls them back a bit]

Minion 4: The docks. He's at the docks at the bay.

Buffy: [grabs Two by the collar] See? That wasn't so hard. [then turns and slams him into a nearby wall] Now what's this about a different spell?

Minion 2: The Mighty Dragor does not require the pomp and circumstance that the Magnificent Glorificus favored. He is doing a much smaller ritual. When the new moon crests, the spell will begin.

Cora: [blinks for a moment, before glancing back to Peter] Isn't the new moon tonight?

Peter: And the sports car is conveniently out of commission. How far are we from San Franscisco, Cora?

Cora: Couple of hours? If we leave now, we might make it.

Buffy: There's a cell of Slayers in San Francisco. We can get them to stall.

Peter: You two go get the others. I'm going to find the two fastest sports cars available to the rental place and convince them it's in their best nature to give them to us. [he looks at the minions] after I say goodbye to our newest friends

Cora: [looks apprehensive about that, but nods and turns to Buffy]

Buffy: [nods in return] Let's go. We've got a battle to prepare for.

Peter: I'll meet you back at the loft in an hour.

Buffy: [nods before taking Cora's hand and leading the way out the door]

Peter: [once the door is closed, he looks at the minions and grins, popping out his claws] Gentlemen, thank you for your cooperation. [and he just goes to town until there is nothing left]

Buffy: [and they book it back to the loft where they find what's assembled of the pack. She comes in the door like a woman on a mission, which, essentially, she is] Peter's getting the cars. We need to move - the ritual is happening tonight.

Isaac: I'm in. Can I drive?

Derek: [was awake and eating, but is standing now] I take it my car's in the shop?

Stiles: Something like that.... [going to move closer to Cora]

Cora: [gives him a bit of a look, before turning back to Derek. Then reaches for Stiles's phone to pull up the pictures his dad sent him of the accident. She flips through a few of them, before holding one of them up to show her brother.]

Allison: [had been over Derek's shoulder. Her eyes widen at the sight of it and she decidedly moves closer to Isaac]

Buffy: [is going to ignore the angering of Derek and just focus on collecting weapons] There's a cell of Slayers in the area - they're going to stall for time as much as they can until we get there. We only have until the moon crests.

Derek: [oh yeah, deep breathing as his anger just rises] I'm going to rip the guy's head off.

Isaac: You know, I've never actually seen him that angry before. Too bad he's not still an alpha...

Derek: [GLARES at Isaac]

Isaac: [hides behind Allison.]

Buffy: Good. We'll need that. [turns to Isaac] Get Lindsay on the phone, tell her to meet us here. [then back to Stiles] You call your dad. Let him know what's going on. The rest of you, make sure you're ready. We won't have a lot of time when we get there, and we won't know what's waiting for us. If you aren't in, I need to know now.

Allison: [nods for a moment] I'll call my dad. If anything, it's another car.

Cora: [yeah, no, she's in this. that wasn't a question]

Stiles: [goes off to call his dad, who all the wolves would be hearing Sheriff trying his best to convince Stiles to stay here because he just went through the notgitsune and doesn't need to be running off on another thing hours away]

Cora: [yeah, and she feels guilty about that. She'll wander over and drop her voice, low enough so that only Stiles can hear it] If you don't want to go, it's okay. [he and his family have been through enough lately. She won't hold it against him]

Stiles: Dad....Dad.... [sighs and puts his hand over the speaker] I don't want you going without me and staying here wondering what's happening.

Derek: Stiles. You need to stay here and stay safe. We don't need to be worrying about you getting hurt.

Stiles: Ouch. I'm hurt. I'm not going to be in the way.

Peter: [returning, taking off his jacket to reveal a blood-soaked shirt] Transportation has arrived. Let me just change my shirt.

Cora: [gives her brother a look, before placing a hand on his shoulder and pulling him out the door, out of earshot] You wouldn't be in the way. [she turns him to face her, her hands finding his] But it's not just about me. It's about you and your dad and this is a lot, especially right after the nogitsune. Taking care of your family is just as important.

Stiles: [looks at her, listening to his dad still talking over the phone and finally he sighs] Just... don't do anything stupid. That's my job, okay?

Cora: [she smiles a bit before nodding. She waits for him to get off the phone with his dad, before leaning in and kissing him softly, her hands cupping the side of his face and brushing her thumbs against his cheeks] I love you. [now. she picks now to say it but she does, and she needs to say it.]

Stiles: You... but... [he smiles, biting his lip at that] .... I love you too, Core. And not just because you said it, but I do. So really, don't do anything stupid. I don't want to lose you.

Cora: You won't. Promise. [she's about to kiss him again when Buffy pokes her head at the door]

Buffy: You ready?

Cora: [turns and she nods, before turning back to him] I'll call you when we have Dawn.

Stiles: I'll hold down the fort them. Literally.

Cora: [turns to kiss him one more time, before going to join Buffy at the door.]

Buffy: [turns back to the room] Okay. Let's go.

[and then off they go and a 4 hour car ride later...?]

Dawn: [and when they arrive at the warehouse in question, Dawn is standing in the middle of a very complex ritual set up, but at least it hasn't been started yet.]

Dragor: [is standing in front of her, athame in hand, eyeing the battle that's going on with the Slayers fighting with the minions but not really getting to him. His eyes wander up to the skylight, head tipping to the side] Almost time.

Dawn: Time's not up yet. [her people would come for her. They always did]

Derek: [motions for Isaac, Peter, the Argent(s), and the other slayers to spread out while he and Buffy go to distract him from the spell. Nods to Buffy, since he knows she loves to give the one liners while he shifts into wolf mode]

Buffy: [smirks a bit as she strides into the room, scythe in hand as she stares down the god at the other end of the room.] Well, you know me. I love a good deadline.

Dawn: [visibly relieved at the sight of her sister]

Dragor: [a small smirk crosses his face as he takes a step closer] Slayer. So glad you could make it. I would have hated for you to miss your own death. [and with that, they rumble!]

Derek: [rumble, rumble, rumble and when Peter gets close enough, tags out for his uncle to help Buffy while he runs to Dawn and grabs her] Getting you out of here, now.

Dawn: No, no! [she holds out her hands in front of her before he can cross the lines of the ritual] The magic is already live, I don't know what would happen if you interrupted it now.

Derek: [skids to a stop] We can't let it finish either!

Dawn: We wait for the moon to pass, we're in the clear, we just have to keep him busy. [and make sure he doesn't make her bleed] I'll be okay. Help Buffy.

Derek: [conflicted because he doesn't want to leave her] Peter's got her back. I'm guarding you. He's not getting back in there to get near you without going through me.

Dawn: [she considers for a moment, before nodding in agreement. Okay. Okay they can do that. She's good with this entire thing before she catches sight of some minions coming up behind Derek] Behind you!

Derek: [and he turns, angry wolf mode on full and takes them on, Isaac quickly coming to his aid.] Watch the line and keep them, and us, from crossing it.

Isaac: Got it.

Dawn: [the Argents are trying to pick people off from above and Cora is on the other side of Buffy and Peter, helping some of the Slayers tear apart a pair of minions.]

Buffy: [slices the scythe across the back of Dragor's knees, causing him to drop to the ground.] Looks like I'm winning.

Dragor: [his fist lashes out against Peter tossing him to the floor closer to the ritual. Buffy brings the scythe up this throat. Then he smiles, eyes drawn up to the sky for a moment, before turning and flinging the athame until it lodges in Dawn's shoulder]

Derek: [doesn't see it in time, and turns to look at her in horror] No!

Dawn: [the minions take advantage of that hauling him back from the edge of the ritual. the wound itself isn't fatal, but she is bleeding, and the markings on the ritual are starting to activate]

Cora: Dawn! [she's not thinking. she's just running for the other woman, trying to find some way of stopping it, heading right into the eye of the event.]

Buffy: [slices the scythe across Dragor's throat, leaving him to bleed on the floor, before trying to make her way closer]

Dawn: No! [her eyes meet Buffy's before shaking her head] Not this time.

Peter: [goes to grab Buffy] You don't know what this is going to do. Stay back.

Derek: [grabs Cora, but shifts back and blue eyes flash at Dawn] You need to get out of there Dawn!

Dawn: [glances over to him and shakes her head. She knows how these rituals work and she knows that her blood started it - her blood has to end it. And she won't let Buffy do this for her, not again.] I'm sorry. [for everything. for being one more person he's lost.] This is the only way.

Cora: [is not having it. nope. The world is starting to open behind Dawn and she can't lose someone else. She's shoving her brother off her and trying to do something, even if she can't]

Derek: [loses his grip on Cora]

Peter: [pushes Buffy into Derek and tries to grab Cora before she does something stupid since he's closer now]

Isaac: Um, hey guys the big guy isn't dead yet.... [looking behind them]

Buffy: [stumbles into Derek and turns at Isaac's words, eyes fixing on Dragor who is still laughing, despite the blood spewing from his throat]

Dragor: Not the death I was anticipating, but ... a worthwhile venture all the same.

Buffy: [her teeth grits and she throws her fist down into his face] Tell me how to stop it.

Dragor: You know better than that. The spell stops when all the blood is spilled. [and that last word is cut off with Buffy's fist coming down again.]

Cora: [Dawn is starting to fall back into a vortex and while Peter manages to get ahold of his niece, she steps just over the side of the line to get her caught in the pull. Her feet slide out from under her, and she can feel herself start to be dragged closer, fingers latching onto her uncle's wrist]

Peter: [grabs onto Cora hard, his toes just barely at the line] LITTLE HELP HERE!

Isaac: [grabs Peter] Derek!

Derek: [is with Buffy and wants to rip the demon's head off, but hears the cries of concern] No.... [and he starts to go back towards the vortex]

Cora: [Dawn's contining to slip away, and as the vortex finally solidifies, Cora's feet slip out from under her, yanking her body towards the mouth of the portal. She does her best to hold on to Peter tightly, but her fingers are slipping, and she can feel herself sliding further and further into the portal.]

Buffy: [Allison and Chris are coming down from above, Allison ahead of them to help Isaac, but Buffy catches her around the middle to keep her from just launching into the fray with the rest of them] Derek, wait!

Derek: [it's listening as he rushes to try and grab onto his pack. But Peter's toes go over the line, and he's swept as well, and Isaac had no chance of pulling them both back]

Chris: [knows Derek is about to follow the rest of them in and hates doing it, but he aims at the werewolf and shoots, hitting his shoulder and making him fall back in the opposite direction away from the portal as it sucks away everyone inside of the portal]

Buffy: [watches with horror as the portal closes, keeping Allison in place as she tries not to feel the way everything just spun out of control. Her body sags for a moment, before she turns to face the god at her feet] Where did they go?

Dragor: [just keeps laughing] Does it matter? You won't find them in time. Those portals are gateways to Hell you know.

Allison: [turns with her, jaw setting as she draws her bow] That's not an answer.

Derek: [pushes in between both of them, full wolf and still bleeding from his shoulder, grabbing Dragor and somehow pulling the demon up and throwing him through a wall, then storming after him, claws slashing his face] And now you're in your own personal hell. And I'm not going to let you go until you tell me how to get them back. [his eyes flash and he slashes at the demon's face again before stabbing his hand straight into the monsters chest] Even if I have to rip the answer out of you.

Allison: [glances to Buffy for a moment, eyebrows raised] Should we ... ?

Buffy: [shakes her head] No. He needs this.

Dragor: [puts up with the punishment for some time, before he can feel himself fading and spits out] Manhattan. 2014. [his eyes wander to Buffy] She knows the one.

Derek: [growls and looks at Buffy, hoping that it's an answer they can work with]

Buffy: [by the look on her face it is. And she turns and swings the scythe, bringing the blade down on the top of his head, and embedding it in his brain, watching as the god finally dies for good. When she pulls back, she turns to Derek.] You call Giles. I have to call Dean.

Derek: [pulls his hand out of the demon's chest, Dragor's heart still in his hand as he does so.] In case Willow needs it later. [not that they have anything to put it in, but he wasn't going to let all the demon disappear without something for the witch to work with.] He goes for his clean hand in his pocket and looks at it, then shakes his head] No, I can't make the call.

Chris: [is pretty sure Derek is calming down and puts a hand on Allison's shoulder] Give the phone to me. I'll do it.

Derek: [looks at Chris, not all that happy with the elder Argent, but hands the phone over after hitting Giles' phone number]

Buffy: [nods, then wanders off to call Dean on the other side of the warehouse.]

Giles: [is in the loft pouring over old texts when his phone starts to ring. he doesn't bother to lift it to his ear, just accepts the call and puts it on speaker phone] Derek, yes. Did things go according to plan?

Stiles: [hears the phone ring and Derek's name and Giles has all his attention.] Is Cora okay?

Chris: This is Chris Argent... Allison's father. No, it didn't.

Giles: [there's a pause as he glances to Stiles, before taking the phone off speaker and placing it to his ear] How much did they have to ... divert?

Stiles: Hey, no I want to know. IS CORA OKAY?! [shouting into the phone]

Chris: There are casualties. Dawn, Cora, Peter and Isaac. Whatever spell he was doing opened a portal and they were sucked in. Dragor mentioned Manhattan 2014 before he was... killed. Does that mean anything to you?

Giles: [his face falls slightly, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose a bit as he does] Dean Winchester mentioned a "2014" as an alternate timeline he experienced once. It ... was not a pleasant place, but not unsurvivable. [there's a beat] This spell you mentioned. Were there any kinds of markings or ingredients that you can find? Perhaps if I have more information I can reverse it.

Chris: I'll take pictures of the floor. Dawn’s blood was used to activate it. And Derek... has a sample of the god to bring back.

Derek: We better. [focused on his hands]

Giles: Perfect, thank you. I'll consult with Willow and see if we can reverse engineer the ritual. [there's a pause] Keep an eye on them, will you? I'm not sure they can be trusted to be ... rational at the moment.

Chris: Seeing what Derek has gone through in the last 36 hours, I'm pretty sure rational is far from where he is.

Giles: My thoughts exactly. But yes, get me that information, and I will get started on the research.

Chris: I'll text you the photos to this number. [and he hangs up so he can get to work, getting all the angles] Allison, can you find something to draw on and sketch this out for me as well?

Allison: [nods and heads back to the car to grab something to sketch with]

Derek: [found a burlap bag to put the heart in and has it lashed to his belt and goes down to the water to try and wash the blood off his hands. He's very, very quiet.]

Buffy: [finishes the phone call with Dean before making her way to the water] We're getting them back. All of them.

Buffy: Dean's on his way in. He and Sam weren't too far from here.

Derek: Good for them. We going to sit here and wait for them, or they going right to Beacon Hills.

Buffy: Beacon Hills. I don't think the ritual is location specific.

Derek: Then why did he do it here and not in Beacon Hills where he grabbed us?

Buffy: Because it would take us longer to find her. Which means he was more likely to be able to finish without interference.

Derek: I think there's more to it. Stiles said something about a boat. They tried to grab her when we were here first. There's something about being near water that has to be a part of it.

Buffy: [crosses her arms in front of her chest as she considers that] And there are no large bodies of water in Beacon Hills?

Derek: We're in the lower hills below the mountains. Lake Los Angeles is a giant crater so all you have is the ocean. But there's 6 hours of coastlines between where you dump out in Santa Clarita and San Francisco.

Buffy: [rubs her chin a bit, before pulling out her phone] Dean's coming from the south. I'll have him drop off Sam with Giles for research and keep coming here.

Derek: [stands up, looking at Buffy with not an ounce of emotion on his face] No, better we go back. We can drive back out here when we have a plan.

Buffy: [pauses and nods, before tipping her head back towards the warehouse] Come on. We should see if Allison and Chris need any more help.

Derek: I'm not going back in there. I'l going to start back and get this to Giles. I'll meet you there.

Buffy: [nods in agreement] Okay. Drive safe. [he needs his space and she's not going to begrudge him that. She lets him be, then turns to head back into the warehouse]

Derek: [goes to the car and his hand grips the handle a moment before he can't help it and he just howls. Anger, frustration, and so much pain in that howl]

Chris: [head pops up, and then his lips form a hard line because he knows that sound all too well]

Allison: [her head looks up from the drawing she's doing and she frowns even more, gripping the pen tightly in hand. she takes a deep breath, before getting back to work]

Buffy: [makes her way back inside] Do we have everything?

Chris: I believe so. Allison?

Derek: [is going to go drive back, four hours to stew in his anger and pain]

Allison: [nods] We're good. Let's go.

Buffy: [nods in agreement before picking up her scythe] The Slayers can take the other rental. I'll ride with you guys.

Chris: I'll drive. You two probably can use some sleep anyway.
Emily Proulx (23:27:07): Giles: [gives him a small smile at that before nodding] Yes, we will. We've faced steeper odds than this.

Buffy: [there's a small laugh at the idea of her sleeping right now. There's going to be a considerable lack of Buffy sleeping as they try to get everyone back, but that's fine. She'll sleep when her sister is safe and Peter is next to her and Cora and Isaac are home] Okay.

- - - - -

Giles: [there's a pause as he hangs up the phone, before turning to Stiles] Dragor triggered a transportation ritual using Dawn's blood. Isaac, Peter and Cora were sucked into the portal with her.

Stiles: [holds a hand up to his lips a moment, fingers twitching] Um... say that again... because I think those words came out wrong...

Giles: [reaches up and pulls off his glasses] They're gone, Stiles. Allison's father is sending me whatever information he can find on the ritual - I should have it a matter of moments. I know this is a lot to comprehend, but if we are going to get them back, I need you to be present. So if you're going to panic, do it now, before I get that call. [Cora says he's Watcher material - let's see him prove it.]

Stiles: No, she promised me she wouldn't do something stupid. She said... she said she loved me. So no, you call him back and tell him he's... he's wrong... [starting to hyperventilate]

Giles: Stiles. Stiles! [he gets up and takes him by the shoulders] We are going to get them back. You will see her again. But I need your help - can you do this?

Stiles: I... I just... I can't breathe. I can't breathe. [stumbles back and falls to the ground, shaking]

Giles: [tries to keep a grip on him, but at least slows his descent, lowering him to the ground gently] Stiles, listen to me. Listen to my voice, take a deep breath. You can do it.

Stiles: [tears streaming down his face, shaking his head] My dad. Call... call my dad.

Giles: [nods reaching for his phone and finding the sheriff's number and handing Stiles the phone]

Sheriff: Stiles?

Stiles: She's gone... Dad she's gone and I can't breathe

Sheriff: I'll be right there. Just take deep breaths. [turns on the GPS tracker to find Stiles quickly]

Giles: [just listens to them on the phone, trying to do the best he can for him.]

Stiles: [hangs up and goes to start crawling to Derek's bathroom] Steam. Shower.

Giles: [nods and helps him to his feet, knowing what he's referring to and trying to help him get there faster]

Stiles: [gets there and turns on the water, sitting in the bottom of the shower to try and breathe through the gut wrenching pain and tears]

Giles: [sits on the toilet, taking a deep breath as he tries to process this himself. Cora and Dawn are a loss for him as well.] We know where they are. We know what ritual they used, for the most part. We will be able to get them back, Stiles. [he won't promise, but those words aren't empty.]

Stiles: [trying to focus until he hears his father running into the loft.]

Sheriff: [appears there and goes into the shower, holding out Stiles' inhaler] Come on, son.

Stiles: [takes is and takes two hits, and his breathing gets better] We... we'll get them back. [He nods slowly]

Sheriff: [sits back next to Giles, looking up at him] Someone want to let me know just what the hell happened?

Stiles: It went bad.

Sheriff: How bad is bad?

Giles: The demon we were tracking triggered a transportation spell. Cora, Isaac, Peter and Dawn were pulled into what we believe to be an alternate timeline.

Sheriff: Oh. [give him a minute] That's... pretty bad.

Giles: [nods] But given the information we have on the ritual, we may be able to determine a means of reversing it. We simply need a little time.

Sheriff: Well, right now all you've got is time. Just gotta make the most of it.

Stiles: [nods] That's how time works.

Giles: [he nods slowly] And hope that everything is ... manageable on their end. [because from what he knows about this timeline, it's hard to say how well that will go] But I'm sure they'll be fine. Three werewolves and a human who is quite capable is a formidable group, in the very least.

Stiles: They will kick that alternative timeline's ass.

Giles: [small smile] Yes, they will.

Sheriff: Come on, son. [to Giles] I'm going to take him home. I'm sure he'll be back in the morning.

Giles: [he nods] Of course. Get some rest, Stiles. You'll need it.

Stiles: [nods] call if you need me.

Sheriff: [picks Stiles up and all but carries him out of the loft and back home where he tucks his son into bed]

Giles: [goes back to work on the research, this time turning more towards spells and rituals]

Sam: [knocks on the loft door two hours later] I heard you were calling out for reinforcements on the research side?

Giles: [looks up and sighs] Yes, Sam. Do come in. I just got the images of the ritual from Chris Argent.

Sam: You're not wasting any time. Dean's gone to get us something to eat. You want me to text in anything for you?

Giles: [shakes his head] I had something quick not too long ago. I'd rather stay focused for now.

Sam: Alright. Let me set up my laptop and I'll start hitting up my bookmarks on weirdass demon rituals

Giles: [smirks] I'll make some tea. Hopefully Buffy and the Argents will be here in a couple hours, along with Derek. Though I would not be surprised if he asked us to relocate. He seems to have lost the most in this little venture.

Sam: I heard. I'm assuming Buffy's got a place here too we could move off to?

Giles: I ... am not sure, actually. I've been staying at a hotel - there should be space enough there. I am not sure how ... close, she and Peter were.

Sam: She was doing her brave voice over the phone. I'd say close

Giles: Yes, well. Whether she had a place of her own or simply staying with him - hard to say.

Sam: We can ask when she gets back. [and off they go to be research geeks]

Giles: [yep. ALL THE RESEARCH!]