Chapter 40 - Alpha Pact

Hearing someone running down the stairs, Scarlett turns to see Stiles. "Where's Scott? Where's my mom?"Stiles sighs, "Jennifer took your mom. And Scott..." He trails off."Stiles, what happened?""He went with Deucalion." Scarlett's mouth falls open in shock, unsure of how to process this new information. Rather than thinking about it right now, she decides to turn back around to try and get Derek to wake up.After a few more agonizingly long minutes Derek slowly blinks his eyes open. Spotting Scarlett and Stiles above him, he pushes himself into a sitting position and asks, "Where is she?""Jennifer? Gone." Stiles answers."With my mom." Scarlett quietly adds, still trying to process the fact that her only two family members are with psychopaths."She took her?" Derek questions.Stiles nods, "Yeah. And if that wasn't enough of a kick to the balls, Scott also left with Deucalion. So get up. The police are coming and we need to get you the hell out of here."Stiles and Scarlett both help Derek off of the elevator floor, "What about Cora?" The Alpha asks, concerned for his sister."She made it out with Peter and Isaac." Scar answers as they make their way to the exit."You should go with him, Scar." Stiles speaks up.Scarlett quickly shakes her head, "No, I'm staying with you." Stiles sighs but nods.Before Derek gets the chance to leave, Scar pulls him into a quick hug. "Be careful. And please keep us updated."Derek awkwardly pats her back, "Uh, yeah. You too."Stiles raises his eyebrow in question once Derek is gone, "What? I'm his favorite. I can get away with doing things like that." Scarlett shrugs in response.Stiles shakes his head, though a small smile forms on his lips. "Let's go wait for the cops." He says, leading Scar over to the waiting room chairs.*_*_*_*_*_*Stiles and Scarlett sit side-by-side holding tightly to each other's hands. They needed some sort of comfort since both of their parents were taken by Jennifer and Scott decided to be friendly with the demon wolf. They looked up at the sound of the hospital doors opening. Scarlett's mouth falls open as she sees an FBI agent making his way towards them, "Do you think he saw me? Can I make a run for it?" Scarlett quietly asks Stiles. "I'm pretty sure he saw you." He gives Scarlett's hand a squeeze. "I'll be right here for you the whole time."Once the Agent approaches them, Scar quickly looks down at her and Stiles entwined hands, refusing to make eye contact. She starts focusing on her breathing, counting inside her head but also focusing on the words exchanged between the two guys near her."A Stilinski at the center of all this mess. What a shocker." Scarlett's jaw clenches at the Agent's words, Stiles becoming more annoyed by the second. "Though I do wish you weren't here, Scarlett." Neither Stiles nor Scarlett answers. "Do you think you can give me some answers without the usual level of Sarcasm?""If you can ask them without the usual level of stupid." Stiles replies, glaring at the man.Scarlett starts to play with Stiles fingers as she hears the Agent speak once more, "Where's your dad and why has no one been able to contact him?""I don't know. Haven't seen him in hours." Stiles answers."Is he drinking again?""What do you mean again? He never had to stop." Stiles spits out."That was you." Scar mumbles under her breath, but both men hear her.The agent sighs but chooses to ignore her words, "But he did have to slow down. Is he drinking like he used to?""How about next time I see him I give him a field sobriety test? We'll do the alphabet starting with F and ending with U." Stiles angrily says, making Scarlett smile lightly."How about you just tell me what the hell happened here?" The agent asks, trying a different approach."We don't know. We were stuck in the elevator the whole time." Stiles answers, sticking to the lie the two teens came up with earlier."You're not the one who put the name on the doors, are you?"For the first time in the conversation Scarlett looks up, exchanging a look with Stiles. "What name?" They ask together."Argent. Do you know who that is?" Stiles and Scarlett both nod in response, not feeling the need to answer considering the agent probably already knows who they are too."Well you can leave Stiles, I would like to talk with my daughter.""I stopped being your daughter the day you left me and Scott. If Stiles is leaving I am too. And you can't make me stay." Scarlett glares at the man. She looks back to Stiles and tugs on his hand, "Come on."*_*_*_*_*_*Stiles and Scarlett quickly make their way to the Argent's to let them know that their name was left on the elevator doors at the hospital. "The word is Guardian, Allison. More than anyone, you know that's a role I haven't exactly lived up to lately." Mr. Argent says to his daughter.The group moves down the hall, walking into Mr. Argent's office. "But she took Mrs. McCall and Stiles' father. That's not a coincidence." Allison argues."I'd also consider the fact someone put your name in large block letters on the elevator doors. That kind of felt like a pretty big warning to me." Stiles adds."I think it might have been Morrell. I think she knows a lot more than she lets on. She might even be trying to help us.""Well she needs to get on that a lot faster since the lunar eclipse is less than two freaking nights away."Stiles fell into a chair as Scarlett chews on her bottom lip. "Stiles, don't give up hope." Mr. Argent says, looking at the teenager."They could already be dead.""I don't think so. There's something about Jennifer's tactics. It's like she's still positioning. Still moving pieces into place.""And you're one of them." Allison says."Okay." Mr. Argent sighs, "Then let's not wait around to see her next move." He lays out a map then continues speaking, "Everything she's done has been on a Telluric Current. So Melissa and the Sheriff have to be somewhere on one of the Currents, right?""That would make sense." Scarlett answers. Though Mr. Argent is looking at Stiles."Stiles, if we're going to find them, we need your help.""You seriously want to go after her? Have you even seen what she's been able to do? She tossed Scott across the room like it was nothing." Scarlett places a comforting hand on Stiles shoulder as he speaks, understanding his concern and frustration. "What if she just takes you like the others? I mean, no offense, but what's the difference between you and them?" Stiles continues."I'm carrying a .45." Mr. Argent places the gun on top of the map. "Maybe she can heal from a shot to the leg and a few slashes to the face. But, personally, I'd like to see how she holds up with half her skull blown off. We've got one priority right now. Find your mom," He says looking at Scarlett. He then turns to Stiles, "And your dad. We've got a map and every clue we need to figure this out. The only thing we don't have is time. Which is why I need all three of you.""We can do this. We have to." Scar says, giving Stiles' shoulder a squeeze.Stiles nods in response, "Where do we start?" They all gather around the map as Mr. Argent pulls out a black light."The place where the sacrifices have been committed have usually been different from where the bodies have been found. I think the placement has to do with the strength of the Current. So there's the School, the Animal Clinic, the Bank.""What about the motel?" Stiles asks."I don't think she'd take them that far.""This still looks like too much ground to cover. We could spend weeks looking at all the possibilities." Allison says."She must have some sort of pattern that she follows." Scarlett adds in."She wouldn't use the same place twice, would she?" Stiles questions."Only if she didn't succeed the first time." Mr. Argent says. He moves his finger to point at the bank."Scott's boss?" Allison asks her father."Deaton. It was her only failure. That could mean something.""So we should go check it out, right?""Definitely.""But that's just one place so far. We need more help." Stiles says."What about Lydia?""Lydia? What can she do?" Mr. Argent asks."She's found a few of the bodies without meaning to. It has to be related to the supernatural but we're not sure what she is yet." Scarlett answers. She then turns to look at Allison, "We can try to see if she knows anything but she still doesn't know how to control it. And if they are still alive she may not even be able to help."Allison and her father nod. They then turn to start collecting weapons so that they can go to the bank and try to find Mrs. McCall and the Sheriff. Stiles and Scarlett look on in awe as they see the two Argent's pull out weapon after weapon. "I thought you guys were retired?" Stiles asks."Retired, yes." Mr. Argent says, "Defenseless, no. Now make sure your phone's on. If you hear from Scott, let us know immediately.""I'm thinking that's going to be kind of unlikely." At Stiles' words, he, Allison, and Scarlett share a look."The three of you, try to remember he's just doing what he thinks is right. I've seen that seventeen year old boy come through more often than most men I've known. Don't give up yet.""I'll never give up on my brother." Scarlett says, a look of determination on her face. Stiles gives a nod as they turn their attention to Allison.She isn't paying attention to them but rather looking towards the door. They follow her gaze to see Isaac, "How did you get in here?" Mr. Argent asks."Through her window." Isaac replies, glancing at Allison. "Sorry. I just. I want to help. I can't shoot a gun or use a crossbow. But I'm starting to get pretty good with these." He opens his hand to reveal his claws."We'll take it." Mr. Argent says.*_*_*_*_*_*Stiles and Scarlett are now sitting in Lydia's room, telling her about what occurred at the hospital. "I don't believe it. Scott can't really be with them. He can't be." She says, shaking her head."You didn't see the look on his face. It was the same one I saw on my mother when the doctors told her there was nothing they could do. It was just total hopelessness." Stiles replies."I still think he'll come through. It's Scott we're talking about. He'll never do anything to harm someone." Scarlett says."What do I do?" Lydia asks, "I mean I get that I'm like some kind of human Geiger counter for death. But I don't know how to turn it on and off yet. All I know is she tried to kill me because of..." She trails off."Because of what? Lydia?" Scarlett asks, lightly grabbing her best friend's hand."She called me a Banshee. Scar, you were on the right track. I'm a Banshee. She was surprised by it. What if that's not why she tried to kill me?""Then why did she?" Stiles questions."That's what we need to find out."*_*_*_*_*_*Stiles, Lydia, and Scarlett walk through the school hallways. Lydia keeps glancing at her phone, "Aiden's not texting me back." The sound of Scarlett's phone beeping stops her from saying anything else, "What? Oh God, what is it now?" She asks Scarlett as Scar looks at the text."It's Isaac. Jennifer took Allison's father. That means she has all three of them now." Scarlett replies. Scar stares down at her phone and quickly replies only to shove it in her pocket a second later.Lydia's voice breaks Scar out of her thoughts, "Stiles? Are you okay?"Scar quickly turns to face him, seeing that his breathing is becoming irregular. "No." He mutters out."What is it? What's wrong?""He's having a panic attack." Scarlett answers for Stiles, already knowing the symptoms.Scarlett gently takes him by his arm as she brings him into the locker room. "Just think about something else. Anything else." Lydia says as she follows them into the room."Like?" Stiles asks.Scarlett lowers him to a sitting position as Lydia continues, "Happy things. Good things. Friends, family- I mean- not family.""I love you Lyds, but please shut the fuck up." Scarlett says as gently as possible."I can't- I can't." Stiles says, breath becoming more rapid. His hands are placed firmly on his knees. Without much thought Scarlett gently grabs his face, forcing him to look at her."Stiles. Look at me. Focus on my voice. Match my breathing." As Scarlett talks, she grabs Stiles hand and places it on her chest so he can feel her heartbeat. Stiles gasps for breath, still not being able to stop the panic attack. Finally, Scarlett closes the distance between their faces and kisses him.After a brief moment, he gently begins to kiss back. Their lips slowly part, Stiles' body relaxes as he opens his eyes to look at Scar. "How did you do that?" He quietly asks."Holding your breath helps you regain control of your breathing. When I kissed you, you held your breath.""I did?""You did.""How did you know that holding your breath helps?""I started having panic attacks after my dad left. Plus I used the same trick on Isaac not too long ago." She shrugs."Thanks, that was really smart.""It was nothing." She shrugs once more.Lydia speaks up, "Well if I was really smart I'd tell you to sign up for a few sessions with the Guidance Counselor. Both of you.""Morrell." Stiles says."She knows more than you'd expect."Scarlett scoffs, "Yeah, you can say that again." Stiles and Scarlett share a knowing look. Scar helps Stiles stand back up so that they can go talk with Morrell.*_*_*_*_*_*Once they make it to Morrell's office they see a girl waiting, "You here for Ms. Morrell?" Stiles asks."No, I thought this was gym class." Scarlett would had laughed at her sarcastic reply if they weren't in such a rush to find the woman in question."Sweetheart, we're not in the mood for funny. Do you know where she is?" Lydia questions."If I did I wouldn't have been waiting here for twenty minutes. So how about you three back out the door and wait your turn.""We're not here for a session.""Well I am. And I've got some serious issues to work on.""You're Danielle. You're Heather's best friend." Stiles says, realizing who the girl is."I was Heather's best friend. We've been working on that issue three times a week.""Hold on. Did you say Morrell's twenty minutes late?" Lydia asks, bringing the attention back to her.Danielle nods, "And I don't know why either. She's always on time."Lydia turns her attention to Stiles and Scarlett, "I was seeing her at the beginning of the semester. She was never late. Not even a minute.""Three guesses on where she is." Scarlett says looking at Stiles."I want to know what she knows." Stiles replies. He starts rifling through papers on her desk then moves to the filing cabinet when he doesn't find anything. Scarlett turns to help as the other two look on in shock."What are you two doing?" Danielle asks."Trying to find her.""Those files are private.""She's kinda right." Lydia pipes in."Here's yours." Stiles says, pulling out Lydia's file."Let me see that." Lydia grabs the file from Stiles hand. She opens it, looking inside. The rest of them look over her shoulder to see."Wait. That's your drawing.""Yeah, I know. It's a tree.""You're good." Danielle says, impressed.Lydia brightly smiles, "Thank you.""That's the same one." Stiles says.Scarlett gently pulls the drawing out of the file to get a better look as Lydia asks him, "The same as what?""The same one I've seen you drawing in class.""It's a tree. I like drawing trees.""No, he means it's the same one. Like the exact same." Scarlett replies, finally tearing her eyes away from the drawing."Let me see your bag." Stiles says. He opens her bag to pull out her notebook. When he opens it they see the same drawing found on page after page. The only difference is the size of each drawing."Okay, you can have my session. You've got bigger issues." Danielle replies, she stands up and walks out of the room, though the rest of them don't pay much attention."What is this?" Lydia asks, clearly frightened.Stiles and Scarlett are both quiet as they study the drawings, "Wait. What if it's not supposed to be looked at this way?" Scarlett speaks up. She takes one of the drawings and turns it upside down."I know where they are." Stiles says."The root cellar." Scarlett adds, voice laced with disbelief.After putting Lydia's file back where they found it they rush out of Morrell's office. "It's the Nemeton. That's where she's keeping them. It has to be.""Scarlett, Stilinski!" A voice calls from down the hall."I'm not dealing with this right now." Scarlett says as soon as her eyes meet her fathers."I will, don't worry." Stiles reassures."We'll go to Derek's. Him and Peter will know where it is." Stiles nods at Scarlett's words. She grabs Lydia's hand and tugs her away."Was that your dad?" Lydia asks."Yes, I don't want to interact with him anymore than I need to."*_*_*_*_*_*Scarlett reaches to open the loft door without knocking but stops when it slides open to reveal Peter. "You." Lydia says in shock."Me." Peter replies.Lydia's anger rises, "You."Peter winces at her tone, "Me." He says once more, almost sounding apologetic. "Derek. We have visitors."Peter steps back to let the best friends in. They walk past him to see Derek beside Cora. "How is she?" Scarlett asks, laying a gentle hand on the Alpha's shoulder."Not getting any better." He replies. He then turns around to properly face Lydia and Scarlett. "What do you girls need?"They quickly explain the situation to both Peter and Derek and wait for them to reply. Though when they answer, it isn't what the duo wanted to hear. "You don't know where it is?" Lydia asks, confused."We did. After a few memorable experiences, though..." He shares a look with Derek. "Talia- Derek's mother and my older sister- decided she didn't want us ever going back. She knew how dangerous it was. So she took the memory of its location from us.""So how do we find out where it is?" Scarlett asks, her frustration rising.*_*_*_*_*_*After leaving Derek's loft, they meet up with Stiles, Isaac, and Allison at the Animal Clinic. All of them, plus the vet, stood around an exam table, "It has to be on a Telluric Current. Maybe even at the axis of two. Or where all intersect. I know it's where Derek took Paige to die." Stiles speaks, glancing at Scarlett as he says the last part."My dad and Gerard were there once. But Gerard said it was years ago and he couldn't remember where it was. And my dad obviously isn't going to be able to tell us now." Allison says."Mine either.""She took everyone who would remember." Lydia pipes in."Then how do we find this place?" Isaac questions."That's the same question I asked Peter and Derek. They didn't have an answer." Scarlett replies.The teenagers turn to Deaton, "Doc?" Stiles asks.Deaton sighs, "There might be a way. But it's dangerous. And most importantly, for it to work... We're going to need Scott."*_*_*_*_*_*Stiles, Scarlett, and Deaton stand in front of Stiles jeep. The headlights of the car lighting up the darkness around them. Scott steps out from the shadows, slowly making his way over to them. "How did you find out?" Scott asks."Lydia. You?" Stiles answers."Morrell. But none of the Alphas know where it is either.""If this works, are you going to tell them?""I can't stop Jennifer without them.""How about we concentrate on finding your parents first?" Deaton pipes in.Scott nods, "What's the plan?""Essentially, you, Allison and Stiles need to be surrogate sacrifices for your parents.""So we die for them?""But he can bring us back." Stiles says. He then turns to Deaton, "You can definitely bring us back, right?""Hopefully, yes.""Hopefully?" Scarlett asks, bringing the attention to her."You remember the part where I said it was dangerous?" Deaton then turns to Scott, "If it goes right, the three of you will only be dead for a few seconds. But there's something else you need to think about. This is a dangerous thing in more ways than one. You'll be giving power back to the Nemeton. A place that hasn't had power for a long time. When it did, Beacon Hills was quite different. This kind of power is like a magnet.""A magnet for the supernatural?" Scarlett asks.Deaton nods so Stiles speaks, "Doesn't sound any worse than what we've already seen.""You'd be surprised what you have yet to see." Deaton ominously says."Is that it?" Scott asks, hoping that that's all there is to worry about."No. It'll also have an affect on the three of you. You won't be able to see it, but you'll feel it every day for the rest of your lives. It'll be a kind of darkness over your heart. And permanent. Like a scar.""Like a tattoo." Scott whispers.*_*_*_*_*_*Reconvening at the Animal Clinic, Scott, Stiles and Allison step towards the tubs filled with ice. "All right. What did you bring?" Deaton asks the three teenagers.Stiles holds up his dad's badge, "Jennifer kind of crushed it in her hand. I hammered it out a bit. Still doesn't look great.""It doesn't have to look good if it has meaning." Deaton's eyes then move to Allison.She holds up a silver bullet, "Is that an actual silver bullet?" Isaac asks, looking at it cautiously."My dad made it. It's sort of a ceremonial thing. When one of us finishes learning all the skills to be a Hunter, you forge your own silver bullet as a testament to the code." Allison replies."Scott?" Deaton asks, looking at the werewolf.He holds up his mother's watch, "My dad gave this to my mom when she first got hired at the hospital. She used to say it was the only thing in their marriage that ever worked."Stiles looks it over, "It says water-resistant. Not waterproof.""I don't think she's going to mind if it saves her life.""Okay, the three of you will get in. Each of us will hold you down until you're essentially... well, dead. But it's not just someone to hold you under. It's someone who can pull you back. Someone with a strong connection to you. A kind of emotional tether."Lydia immediately starts moving towards Allison while I move towards Scott. "Scarlett, you go with Stiles.""Scott's my twin though. I'm pretty sure we have the biggest emotional connection." Scarlett says, giving the vet a questioning look."You'll be able to bring Stiles back and Isaac will be able to bring Scott."Scarlett looks between Scott and Stiles, unsure what to do. Scott gives his twin an encouraging nod, "It's okay."They all take their places and the trio steps into the tubs. They shiver as they sit down and Stiles turns towards Scott, "By the way, if I don't come back and you do, you should probably know something. Your dad's in town."Scott quickly glances at Scarlett seeing an unreadable expression on her face. She gives him a brief nod then he turns back around to focus on the task at hand. In an instant Isaac, Lydia, and Scarlett all push their respective people under the water, waiting until they lay still.