puppy love } { of confrontations and ultimatums

[arbalete]

Chris: [and he will come up to check on her one evening, knocking on her door because teenage daughter]

Allison: [glances up and quickly flips from Derek to Lydia's texts] Come in.

Chris: [comes in, smiling gently] Hey, thought I'd come up and see if you needed any help with homework.

Allison: [small smile and she shakes her head] I'm good, Dad. But thanks.

Chris: You know, you've been hiding up in your room after school a lot lately. I kinda miss our post dinner chats.

Allison: [there's another small awkward shrug] I just have a lot of homework, that's all.

Chris: Anything interesting?

Allison: Just the usual.

Chris: [nods, looking around her room] You still haven't really decorated yet...

Allison: I haven't decided on a color yet.

Chris: Well we could go get you some samples.

Allison: I got some with Lydia after school. I'll figure it out.

Chris: Okay. [nods, and comes in a bit more, closing the door behind him because it's the other reason he came up] So, I have to ask - something happen between you and your aunt? She's been feeling a cold shoulder lately.

Allison: [looks down at her text book] She lied to me about something a friend of mine said.

Chris: Oh? Maybe I can help clear things up because I don't think Kate would outright lie to you?

Allison: [she raises her eyebrows] He says she threatened his sister to try and keep us from being friends. I asked her about it, she said it never happened. But I found out today that someone else was there and that she held a gun to this girl's head.

Chris: [sighs. It's the sigh that she's probably heard him do often when Kate is up to something he doesn't approve of]

Allison: [but that's not a denial either] She can't do things like that.

Chris: She failed to tell me about the gun part, which I agree on.

Allison: So you knew she did this?

Chris: She told me that she had met one of the Hales in the forest and that they were trying to get in good with you. We don't have a good history with that family from the last time we lived here, and Kate felt she was protecting you from them.

Allison: [her eyes widened a bit, before she shakes her head] Actually, the only reason Cora tolerates me is because Lydia does. The Hale that I'm friends with is Derek and he wasn't even there. Cora was just hanging out in the woods with her boyfriend, she didn't do anything wrong.

Chris: I never said that your aunt is rational. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've complained about that fault of hers many times.

Allison: Also, what's so wrong with Derek? She doesn't even know him.

Chris: It's more that we're worried that his family will use you to get at us.

Allison: Why would they do that?

Chris: Because for a long time now, the Hales and the Argents just don't get along. It's gone on for generations, and as much as you and Derek may like being friends, you aren't going to be able to change that.

Allison: How do you know? Why won't you let us try?

Chris: You just have to trust us. We just don't want you getting hurt.

Allison: Too late for that.

Chris: [sighs and rubs her shoulder] You'll understand some day, I promise.

Allison: Actually, no. I don't think I will. I don't believe in blaming someone for things that people in their family did.

Chris: They're going to blame you.

Allison: Derek doesn't.

Chris: Yet. When put between you and his family, he's going to choose his family. Hales always do.

Allison: [she shakes her head] He wouldn't have to choose if Kate didn't put him in that position in the first place.

Chris: Like I said, you'll understand one day.

Allison: [shakes her head as she goes back to her homework] Is that it?

Chris: I guess so. [goes to stand up]

Allison: [and she's just going to keep her eyes down on her homework]

Chris: [and he's going to go downstairs and fume. Or get a beer.]

Kate: [is leaning against the wall, watching her brother] None of this would be necessary if you just told her the truth you know.

Chris: [grabs her arm and drags her into the garage] What were you thinking, waving a gun at a Hale with a witness around?

Kate: Have you met the kid? His relationship with the truth is estranged at best.

Chris: And he's also the Sheriff's son, who knows when his son is lying and when he isn't.

Kate: Well, considering the Sheriff hasn't shown up at our front door, I'm pretty sure he either didn't tell him or the sheriff didn't believe him.

Chris: Or he's waiting to use it when it needs to be used.

Kate: You really think this kid is that manipulative?

Chris: You're the one who's met the kid. [stare] You tell me.

Kate: I'm mostly surprised he didn't wet himself.

Chris: You shouldn't be. I remember his father back when he was just a deputy. He's a lot smarter than he let on, and a recklessly sense of duty. That's why he's a good sheriff.

Kate: Even if Derek Hale is a dumbass who can't take a hit, his sister isn't. Cora's too smart to risk giving her family away.

Chris: And what if you're wrong and all this backfires?

Kate: Then we'll deal with it. But trust me - I know what I'm doing and you will thank me for it.

Chris: The Hales hurt my daughter, and after I'm done with them, I'm coming for you.

Kate: Coming for me? What did I do?

Chris: You pulled a gun on the daughter of the alpha. You really think they aren't going to consider that a direct threat to the pack?

Kate: If I'm such a threat, why haven't they come for us yet?

Chris: I don't know. But you keep stirring things up, and they will.

Kate: Don't worry, big brother. So long as they keep their end of the deal, I'll keep mine.

Chris: You better.

Kate: I will.

Chris: [and he's going to leave it at that and walk away]

Kate: [and she'll shake her head before ... going back to her room for the night]