new york wolves } { of dead hunters and possible vacations

[flack]

Esposito: [knocking on Flack's door]

Flack: It's open.

Esposito: [opens the door and shuts it behind him] Sir, we've got a big problem.

Flack: [looks up and groans] How bad?

Esposito: We've got a dead body in holding. Take a wild guess.

Flack: Argent?

Esposito: [nods] There was another werewolf in holding with her. There's blood everywhere.

Flack: ... Jesus. [swallows hard] Derek know?

Esposito: No, he and Beckett aren't in yet. I was actually thinking of calling Beckett and having her sideline him and take him home since he was rattled yesterday.

Flack: [nods] Do that. I'll meet them at the penthouse so I can tell Laura and Peter too. [sighs] Make sure this ties up clean. We don't want it making it seem like we got lax and let her get killed.

Esposito: Yes sir. [and he'll leave to start doing that, tapping Ryan on the shoulder to follow him to the break room and closing the door before calling Kate and putting her on speaker]

Beckett: [they're just finishing up breakfast and she grabs her phone, placing it to her ear] Hey, Espo.

Esposito: Hey, do me a favor, take Derek home? His sister wants him there and honestly, he doesn't need to come into the office.

Beckett: Yeah, sure. I can do that. Everything okay?

Esposito: I'll tell you when you get in. Just another murder case we have to handle.

Beckett: Okay. I'll drop Derek and off and head over.

Esposito: See you in a few. [and he's going to fill Ryan in on what happened]

Derek: Another murder?

Beckett: [blinks because how did he ... oh yeah, werewolf] We must have gotten another call. Flack wants me to drop you off at home, though.

Derek: I'm amused that Flack follows my sister's orders sometimes. [he's still a bit shaky, but he had felt a lot safer once he had gotten into Beckett's bed that he had slept deeply the rest of the night]

Beckett: I guess he knows who the boss is.

Derek: Guess so. [he goes to pick up his plate and hers to take and wash in the sink] Thanks, um... for last night.

Beckett: Of course. Happy to help.

Derek: I can get myself home... you don't have to go out of the way...

Beckett: I'd rather see this through myself. Just in case there's still people around looking for Hales to go missing.

Derek: [chuckles, but nods as he finishes the last dish and sets it to dry] Alright. Let me just get my wallet and phone.

Beckett: [nods and gathers her own]

Derek: [and then they go off and head to the apartment where the Hales live] I'd invite you up, but murder calls.

Beckett: [nods] Spend some time with your family.

Derek: Let me know if Flack changes his mind and wants me to help. [and with a wave he's going to head home and upstairs]

Laura: [except Flack is already waiting with Laura (and maybe Peter) upstairs, having broken the news. They both look serious when Derek walks in the door, but they don't say anything right away] Hey.

Peter: [no, he's there because he's guarding his alpha, but he's quiet as Derek enters]

Derek: [sees Flack and his sister and Peter and one eyebrow goes up] What did I do?

Laura: [shakes her head] Nothing. [she then takes a few steps forward, reaching out and taking his hands] Derek, Kate's dead.

Derek: [he blinked, feeling his sister taking his hands but he pulled them back] No... she's... what do you mean she's dead?

Flack: Apparently there was another wolf with her when she was in holding. She killed her. Kate's dead.

Derek: But we just... we finally... no. [he looked at his sister, and there was something more there.] No... no she's can't be...

Laura: [reaches out for him again, but this time she waits for him to close it the rest of the way] Derek, I'm sorry.

Derek: [he hadn't really recovered much in the way of emotional exhaustion, so he was already overwhelmed. He went to push past her, but he stumbled and fell to his knees, his hands hitting the ground hard. He was shaking hard, trying to keep his control] No... no we just.. we had her...

Peter: [licks his lips, going to take a step closer. He could smell the emotions rolling off Derek, but Laura had to take care of this.]

Laura: [drops down next to him, reaching for him gently and pulling him in. She knows this is hard on him, but she can't help him if he won't let her touch him]

Derek: [he's breaking. He had just gotten her. He had been steps away from finally getting justice... finally getting the payback he had spent over nine years of his life fighting for. He had come clean, he had been trying to do the right thing, to do it by the book and now it was all gone and he couldn't hold it back any more. He knew he probably looked weak and pitiful, but he just curled into his sister and cried because it hurt too much to be so close and to lose it all.]

Peter: Captain, I have a feeling he's not going to be in any position to talk for a while. Perhaps it would be best if your came back this evening?

Flack: [nods as he goes to head out] I'll call if there are any updates. [and with that he's gone]

Laura: [pulls him in close, brushing a hand against the top of her head] It's okay. It'll be okay.

Peter: [is actually going to follow him out and go down the elevator with him because he has a question] One thing, Captain. By chance, the wolf who killed Argent? Did she has a tattoo on her body similar to this? [and he shows Flack his neck by pulling down the turtleneck's collar]

Derek: [he just shook his head against her, trying to just breathe]

Flack: [his eyebrows go up at that before nodding] Yeah, she did.

Laura: [will just keep holding him for as long as it takes]

Peter: [he pulls his collar back up before nodding] This is not going to get better, Captain. I have a feeling we're just starting on a very dangerous path.

Flack: Then I guess we'll brace for impact.

Peter: [nods as they reach the ground floor] You may want to start doing your research on the Argent family. This is only going to be the beginning.

Flack: [nods] I'll look into it. Just ... take care of him. Tell him he can take as much time as he needs.

Peter: I will. But there's a chance it may be best for us to leave. Sometimes it's better to hold a line... and other times running and hiding is the option that will save your life.

Flack: [his face falls a bit, because he's not looking to lose his friend, but he understands the reasoning, so he nods] Just keep me in the loop.

Peter: We will. I'll have him call you when he's in a better state. Thank you, and your team. At least it's one less psychopath in the world. [his heart isn't bleeding at all in this. A dead Kate Argent is a good thing. It's the mess that's to follow he's concerned about]

Derek: [he's pretty much cried out at this point, just shaking and holding onto his sister]

Flack: [nods and with that he'll head back to the precinct]

Laura: [presses a kiss to the top of his head, before starting to pull him up] C'mon. Let's go to bed.

Derek: [nods, pulling himself to his feet and taking a deep breath] I'm sorry... I just...

Laura: No, hey - you have nothing to apologize for. [she gets up with him, guiding him back to his bedroom and just curling up in bed with him]

Peter: [and he will follow the scent trail to Derek's bedroom to see where the siblings are cuddling and sighs. Because this is not good news he has. It's written all over his face.] Do you want me to go and retrieve Cora and Stiles?

Laura: [glances up at him] Do you think we have to?

Peter: The less humans we have in the line of fire, the better.

Laura: [swallows and nods] Then go. And tell Rick thank you.

Peter: I will. I'm also going to text the Kirsanovs and keep them in the loop on what happened at the station. If Victor is available, I'm going to see if we can set up a meeting with him soon.

Derek: [Peter is in diplomat mode. Derek knows that is never a good thing.] What's wrong?

Peter: [sighs, then looks at Laura] It wasn't just a random wolf. It was an Ivanov.

Laura: Goddamnit.

Derek: [he's confused] We didn't arrest an Ivanov yesterday. I have an alert set up to notify me when one is arrested.

Peter: [his eyebrows raised] Why would you have that?

Derek: To make sure your association with them was protected. Why else would I?

Peter: [there's something there, almost grateful] That was stupid. You could have exposed yourself and your own connection.

Derek: You're welcome.

Laura: Maybe their name isn't Ivanov. They're just part of the pack.

Peter: Either way, this is more complicated than we thought, and I would bet that this wolf was an assassin sent in to kill her.

Derek: And a wolf killing an Argent is definitely going to bring her family here wanting blood.

Peter: Which is why the less of our human allies in their sights, the better. Gerard won't care if he's out for revenge.

Laura: No, I agree. And it makes me glad that school's going to be out soon.

Peter: Same here. I will be back shortly. Call me if you need me. [and he's going to go after checking in to see if Malia was still in the apartment]

Laura: [she is, so that's easy enough. Laura will just nod and curl into her brother more]

Peter: [he will tell her to stay inside, no school, and then head off to the Castles]

Derek: [cuddles her back] We're going to have to go, aren't we?

Laura: I don't know yet. I don't want to.

Derek: I don't want to go either. I don't want to have to start a whole new life again.

Laura: Maybe we can reach out to Chris. Try and cut them off at the pass.

Derek: Maybe. Do you think he would listen to us?

Laura: He's always been more reasonable than the rest of his family. He follows the code. Maybe he can get a handle on his father.

Derek: Maybe. It's worth a try.

Laura: [nods] I'll talk to Peter about it.

Derek: I'm sorry, Laura. I thought... I thought this would be it. That we'd finally be free.

Laura: This is not your fault. At all.

Derek: She came after me. I'm the one who let her into our lives.

Laura: She manipulated you. And she's a psychopath. This is not your fault. You're her victim, not her accomplice.

Derek: I... I didn't really realize just... just how much until yesterday.

Laura: Want to talk about it?

Derek: It's just... sitting across from her all these years later... I don't know what I was thinking I was going to see.

Laura: What did you want to see?

Derek: That maybe there was something. Just... something that wouldn't make me feel used.

Laura: Well, now that you know for sure, maybe you can finally start moving on.

Derek: I don't know if I can. Or should.

Laura: Why wouldn't you?

Derek: Because obviously I'm not really all that good at it. I don't have much of my soul left to lose.

Laura: Oh, don't be so dramatic.

Derek: [he just shuts up because he wasn't trying to be dramatic. he was trying to be serious]

Laura: [sighs heavily, before shifting to look at him more] You don't heal by isolating yourself and condemning yourself to solitude. You've made your mistakes, and you've been hurt, but you don't know if you're good at something until you actually try it.

Derek: You don't have to be in a relationship with someone to be able to be happy, you know.

Laura: No, but you're lonely all the time. Even Malia can pick up on it. [placing her hands on his shoulder to steady him] You're not that same dumb kid. You grew up, and you turned out pretty great. That guy is probably pretty good at it.

Derek: [he looked at her, part of himself wanting to believe that, but he just shook his head] I don't know.

Laura: I know it's a big risk. And I know it won't be easy. But sometimes you have to take a chance.

Derek: I just don't want to risk the pack if I screw up again.

Laura: Not every girl is going to be a Kate Argent. Your instincts are better now.

Derek: [he nods, because it was true. If only because of everything he had been through]

Laura: So trust them. Follow your gut.

Derek: [he just nodded and curled back into his sister's side. Mostly because he didn't really want to keep talking on his topic]

Laura: [that's okay they'll just keep cuddling, her fingers stroking the back of his head gently]

Derek: [and she'll end up lulling him back to sleep like that because he is so out of emotional cope]

Laura: [that's fine, he probably needs it anyway]

Peter: [so in a cab and heading to the Castle flat, calling Nadia in the process]

Nadia: [picks up the phone after checking the caller ID] Everything alright, Peter?

Peter: Not really. Things have just taken a very bad turn.

Nadia: What happened?

Peter: [his eyes watching the cab driver] Apparently there was a bit of an incident at the precinct involving the detainee and someone from the group I used to work for. Seems that they took some matters into their own hands.

Nadia: Is she dead?

Peter: Yes.

Nadia: Damnit.

Peter: My words exactly. I'm gathering the children from their sleepover, but this isn't good. We were hoping your brother may have time in his schedule to plan with us.

Nadia: Of course.

Peter: Depending on traffic, I should be back there in two hours. Laura is there now with Derek. Any time after that would be best, but I know he's got a tight schedule.

Nadia: How about we bring over dinner?

Peter: That would be perfect. Thank you.

Nadia: We'll see you at seven.

Peter: See you then. [and he will get to the Castle loft soon and head for the door]

Castle: [opens the door with a smile] Peter. We weren't expecting you.

Peter: I know, I would have called but things have been moving a bit too fast to keep on top of all the pieces.

Castle: [frowns] Is everything alright?

Peter: [tells Castle quietly about what happened to Kate at the preceint.] I need to take the kids home. We're very appreciative of your help, and we don't want to risk anything coming at you until we better understand what kind of storm is coming out way.

Castle: [nods slowly] Do you think she'll be alright to go home?

Peter: I hope so. Between Stiles and her brother, I'm pretty sure there's going to be a puppy pile in her room for days.

Castle: [nods with a small smirk] Fair enough. She's upstairs.

Peter: [and he's going to walk up to where he can smell to teenagers and knock on the door] Cora, sweetheart.

Cora: [picks up her head from where she's nestled next to Stiles, her brow furrowing] Peter?

Stiles: [shifts and nuzzles into her back more, not fully waking since it was Cora's name called, not his]

Peter: Yup, it's me. It's time to come home. Your siblings miss you.

Cora: [sigh, and with that she'll nudge Stiles gently to wake him] Is it safe?

Stiles: [whimpers and opens his eyes, looking at Cora with a stupid little morning grin, then up at Peter and yup, now he's awake] Oh, hey.

Peter: To go back home, yes. [there's a big but there]

Cora: [squints at that, because she may be half asleep but she can hear that but] What happened?

Peter: [walks over to sit on the bed next to them] Your brother was able to arrest Kate Argent yesterday with his team. Overnight, an Ivanov was put into her holding cell and killed her.

Cora: [her eyes widen at that] Are they insane?

Peter: Highly. Or they are trying to get the Argents to do what they failed to do against us already when we broke our ties with them. Either way, we can't let the Castles get caught in the crosshairs right now.

Cora: [nods before starting to slowly slide out of bed, everything still a little bit sore from before] Okay. That makes sense.

Stiles: I'll get our stuff. [and he will pack everything]

Peter: Do you want me to carry you, sweetheart? I don't want you to exert yourself more than you feel you're ready for.

Cora: [shakes her head] No, I can get down to the cab. [a beat] There is a cab, right?

Peter: Yes. I'm paying him handsomely to sit in his cab and wait.

Cora: [nods] Then I can make it to the cab.

Stiles: [hauls a backpack over his shoulder] Okay, we're good.

Peter: [holds out his hand to Cora to at least offer her a steady shoulder to press against]

Cora: [she will take that offer once her shoes are on, before following them back through the penthouse and giving Castle a hug and a thank you before they go]

Peter: [and he's going to rush them both home] You should both know that Derek hasn't had an easy time in all of this. I think you being home will also help him a bit, Cora.

Cora: [nods a bit] I'll do the best I can. [but Derek is Derek and stuff like this tends to drag him into a black hole]

Stiles: Is he going to be okay?

Peter: Some time, some therapy... I think he will recover fine. [he rubbed Cora's back because it was a similar recipe for her recovery]

Cora: [yep, she can get that much, and just leans into Peter's shoulder a bit]

Peter: [and they will return to the penthouse soon after, directing stiles to take the bag to her room and he follows his nose to bring Cora up to her siblings]

Derek: [is passed out on Laura's bed at this point]

Laura: [she's glad it's a big bed because Cora's pretty much going to just climb in next to her sister and curl up close] Hey, you.

Cora: Hey. He okay?

Laura: He will be. [kisses to the top of her head, before slipping out between them and letting Cora take her place as Derek's body pillow. Once she's comfortable and drifting off again, Laura will close the door behind them and turn back to Peter] Victor coming?

Derek: [whines a bit at all the shifting, but he smells his little sister and just moves closer in his sleep to cuddle up against her]

Peter: Yes, they are bringing dinner to discuss plans.

Laura: Fantastic. [she takes a deep breath before moving downstairs and settling into the couch. It's a long time she before she actually talks] I think I'm going to try and talk to Chris Argent before this goes too far.

Peter: Do we know if it's him who will come to claim the body?

Laura: No. But Detective Monroe has worked with him before. She could probably get him here.

Peter: Do you think we should also bring Sheriff Stilinski in on this, so that he can show his evidence to him?

Laura: Maybe. But I also don't want him giving away that Stiles is a wolf. We kept this quiet, there's no attention on him - I don't want it to start.

Stiles: Speaking of Stiles... [he's hanging out in the doorway] Um... is there anything I can do? I don't want to disturb Derek and Cora so I'm kinda feeling useless.

Laura: [glances over to him with a small smile before shaking her head] No, not right now. But I don't want you going anywhere either. It's too dangerous right now. Do you have any finals stuff you need to do?

Stiles: I did most of it while Cora's been sleeping. [rubs his arm] I just want to be useful.

Laura: I know. I'm afraid we don't have a whole lot of useful right now, though. Situations like this have a lot of hurry up and wait.

Malia: [pokes her head down the stairs behind Stiles] Want to quiz me for my astronomy exam? [because she's not focusing with how stressed and worried everyone is, and she needs someone to keep her there]

Stiles: [looks back at Malia and nods] Yeah, I can do that.

Peter: You kids go study then. I'll make some lunch in a bit.

Malia: [gives him a small smile before they disappear up the stairs again]

Laura: [just rubs her face as she keeps turning things over in her head] I feel like meeting with Chris is probably the only shot we have to avoid a bloodbath.

Peter: I think it's your best bet. You can probably get Flack or Detective Esposito to give you the official reports to back you up on having had nothing to do with her death.

Laura: [nods] I'll talk to Victor, but I'll talk to Lindsay once that's done and see if she can get him to have a meeting with me alone.

Peter: I'm going to talk with Nadia about what I need to do to get this tattoo removed. We need to remove ourselves as far from the Ivanovs as possible.

Laura: [nods] In fact, I think we should go on vacation while this is being done. Just put as much distance between them and us as possible.

Peter: What kind of vacation are you thinking?

Laura: [takes a deep breath before shrugging, then glancing up with a bit of a smirk] Disney World?

Peter: [snorts] You children have fun with that.

Laura: [laughs] I don't know. Just ... somewhere not New York for a little while. ... Castle has a house in the Hamptons. I'm sure they would love to have a little family getaway with us.

Peter: That would work. And then if you kids take a trip to Disney for a long weekend, I can relax and get some time to myself.

Laura: [chuckles] Fine. That works out for all involved.