Love's Spiral

Spencer’s eyes shot open as she gasped for breath at the loud sound of gunfire. “Derek.” She sighed, still trying to get air into her lungs. Spencer tried to look down at her shoulders seeing that the cuts on her chest were starting to heal. It was then that it clicked that she could move again. Even if she was moving agonizingly slow and shakily, the toxin was nearly out of her system.

“Oh, thank God. You’re alive.” Stiles whispered, relieved to hear his best friend’s voice.

Spencer looked around through the intense darkness, eyes flickering gold so she could see better. “Derek, what happened to the lights? What’s that noise?” She asked, referring to the alarm blaring through the station.

“I think the Argents are here.” Derek groaned.

Spencer’s eyes widened and shot to the Alpha. “What the hell are they doing here? How did they even know we were here?”

“The kid wanted the bestiary. Scott told him the Argents had it.” Derek deduced.

She paused, thinking of a few things. “Derek, if they - ”

“It’ll be okay.” Derek insisted.

Scott ran into the room, carrying fog from a smoke bomb the Argents had launched. He bent over Stiles, crouching on his knees.

“Take him.” Derek ordered, being able to push himself up with his arms.

“What about Spencer?” Scott asked, looking to her.

“I’ll be fine. I can move now. I’m staying with Derek. I have to get him out of here.” Spencer assured. “Just get your parents to safety.” She tried to move around weakly pulling herself onto the couch behind her.

Scott hesitated, shaking his head at Spencer.

“Go!” Derek forced, making Scott grab Stiles and rush out of the room. The alpha pushed himself up onto his feet using a chair. He turned around, facing the door; his eyes flashing red.

“Help me up.” Spencer requested, reaching her arms out to Derek. “We need to go, before they find you.”

Derek shook his head at her. “Stay here.” He stalked out the door. “I’m taking care of this thing.”

“Derek!” Spencer shouted after him. “We need to go! Derek!” She planted her feet on the ground. She was clumsy in her movements. Spencer chased after Derek as quickly as she could, using the walls as support. She found him by scent, locating him in the holding room. Spencer saw him being pushed over the desk in the room. She growled, quickly shifting and taking a step forward. Something grabbed at her ankle, stopping her. Spencer glanced down, seeing Stiles. “What are you doing?” she hissed, crouching down to his level.

“M-my dad.” He pointed to the ground. “Matt, the son of a bitch. I’m gonna kill him.”

Spencer groaned and rolled her eyes. “Get in line.” She huffed, pushing herself back to her feet. Spencer watched as the kanima grabbed onto the bars of Melissa’s cell, using them as a support to kick Derek back just as he collected himself. She rushed forward, catching him. Or at least attempting to. The two of them fell backwards. Spencer glanced up around Derek’s head.

The kanima was back at Melissa’s encagement, looking like it was trying to attack her.

“No!” Spencer called out, trying to push Derek off of her. Thankfully, Scott entered the room.

The young wolf quickly approached the kanima, stabbing it in the back with his claws and throwing him off of the bars.

The kanima regained its balanced and rushed from the room, Derek pushing to his feet and following it.

Spencer, of course, trailed after him, thankful for his weight off of her. After searching for Derek for a couple minutes, she had finally found him, standing at the end of a hallway with his back against the wall. Spencer squared her jaw and marched in his direction. She pointed a finger at the alpha to scold him, but paused hearing Scott’s voice in a hushed whisper.

“I’ve done everything that you’ve asked of me.” Scott said. “I’m part of Derek’s pack. I’ve given you all the information that you wanted. I told you Mat was controlling Jackson - ”

The responding voice made Spencer’s heart stop and her blood run cold.

“Then leave him to us.” Gerard stressed. “Help your friends. Leave Matt and Jackson to me. Deal with your mother.” The old man paused, taking a couple steps. “Go!”

There was a light clang and Scott spoke again. “You dropped this.”

Spencer grit her teeth and saw Scott pass the hallway they were in. She was about to stomp after him and demand an explanation, but Derek stopped her with an arm around her stomach. “What are you doing?” Spencer asked quietly. “Don’t you want to know what the hell he was talking about?”

“I know what he was talking about.” Derek insisted. “Scott has been working with Gerard the entire time.”

“You don’t know that. There’s gotta be some sort of reasoning behind it. I know Scott. He wouldn’t just - ”

“You think you know Scott. Obviously you don’t.” Derek snapped, pushing past Spencer towards the exit.

Spencer huffed and chased after him. “That’s not true!” she shouted once they were outside. “He wouldn’t do this!”

“God. Spencer, stop!” He said, stopping his trek to the car. “You saw and you heard everything that I did. We can’t trust Scott. I’ve known it and now you know it.”

Spencer shook her head. “But Deaton said - ”

“Deaton doesn’t know anything. You shouldn’t trust him either.” Derek said, turning back towards his car.

“Your mother did.” Spencer pointed out, making Derek’s hand pause on his door handle. “Your mother trusted Deaton. She trusted him with her life and with you. Are you gonna tell me she was wrong?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.

Derek didn’t answer, instead just glaring at her through narrowed eyes. “Things change.” He opened the driver’s door. “My mother’s been dead for almost ten years. He’s different now.” Derek urged, getting into his car.

Spencer shook her head and rubbed her forehead, trying to rid herself of the growing headache. The sound of a car door opening, drew Spencer’s attention back to Derek.

He had opened the passenger side door. “Are you coming?”

Spencer sighed and relented. She took the final steps to the vehicle and lowered herself inside. Spencer stayed silent for most of the car ride until she noticed he wasn’t heading to the subway station. “Were are we going?”

“The house.” He said, making Spencer shake her head. “There’s got to be something there that I missed.”

“No.”

“No?”

“Take me to the station.” Spencer demanded.

“And double back? No way. Just come with me.”

“No. I - I can’t go to the house. Don’t take me there. Take me to the subway.”

“Red, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t want to go to the house!” Spencer shouted.

Derek looked at her carefully before flashing his eyes back to the road and making a u-turn, making way to their abandoned hideout. Upon arriving, Derek parked the car and looked to her. “I could really use your help with this. We still don’t know everything about the kanima th - ”

“I’ll help you. But from here. I - I’ll go through everything we have here. I’ll read my family book again, but I can’t go to that house.” She glanced up at him for a second. “Not yet.” Spencer knotted her fingers. “I’m sorry if you don’t understand.”

“So tell me.” Derek said, his voice softer than it was moments ago. “What’s going on with you?”

Spencer shook her head. “I can’t. Not tonight.” She opened her door and pushed herself out of the car. Spencer made her way to the hideout. She heard Derek’s car shut off behind her. Spencer slowed her steps. “I’m not talking to you about this, Derek. I’m too tired and too afr - ”

Derek had approached her, stopping her words with a finger to her lips. His hand was quickly pushed away by Spencer.

“What the hell?” Spencer inquired.

Derek sighed, his attempt at trying to be sweet was quickly failing. He cleared his throat and took a step away from the redhead. “Is this about that dream?” he asked, trying to move past the awkward moment between the two.

Spencer looked away from him.

“What happened?”

She sighed. “I thought it was just a nightmare. It was supposed to be just a nightmare.” Spencer paused, licking her lips. “But then I saw the hole in the living room of your house.”

“Peter?”

Spencer didn’t answer. She bit the inside of her cheek and went inside the hideout.

“Red, c’mon. Talk to me.” He went after her. “Why didn’t you tell me about the dream?”

She continued to her room. “I hadn’t had a chance to. It happened at Stiles’. I came back, had to deal with the betas, and then you disappeared.” she shed her jacket and torn flannel shirt leaving her in a tank top. “I meant to, but then it actually happened. It wasn’t supposed to happen.”

Derek stood in the doorway, watching as she just stopped in the middle of the room.

Spencer fell to the floor, burying her face in her hands. “Now every time I close my eyes, I see him.”

Derek didn’t move. He wanted to comfort her, but he wasn’t sure how to. “Peter means nothing. He’s just a coward. He’s not going to hurt you.” Derek promised. “”I won’t let him. And you shouldn’t be afraid of him.”

Spencer shook her head and looked to Derek. “I’m not scared of Peter. Peter’s a joke. I’m afraid of what he can do. To me or you or the others. He’s smart. He went a whole four months without us knowing that he was the alpha.”

“He won’t do anything to us.” He joined her on the floor. “The most he’ll want is to join my pack.”

Spencer’s eyes bugged out. “You can’t let him. You do that, and he’ll take advantage of it. He’ll do exactly what Deaton said and he’s gonna work his way into your head to get what he wants.”

Derek shook his head. “I couldn’t. I won’t.”

“Let’s not worry about this now. I haven’t slept in almost twenty-four hours.” She got up from the floor, looking for something clean to wear. “I’m exhausted.”

Derek watched her, getting to his feet and moving to the exit of her room. “Why don’t I stay here tonight?”

Spencer scoffed. “Really? You really think I’m in the mood for that?” She questioned incredulously.

Derek laughed. “I actually thought we’d just sleep.” he said, making Spencer turn to him. “In case you have another nightmare.”

Spencer studied him, seeing it in his eyes that he was being honest. She nodded. “I need to get out of this shirt.” Spencer grabbed the bottom of it, trying to pull it off. She couldn’t make much progress because of the soreness of the new muscle. She groaned, looking to Derek.

He had an amused look on his face.

“Wipe that smile off and help me.” She demanded.

Derek laughed quietly, but went to help her. “Slow or like a band-aid?” he joked.

“I’ll kill you.”

“Band-aid it is.” Derek got the shirt off quickly, Spencer still having to hold in a groan. The alpha stared at the top of her chest where he remembered the slashes to be. He reached out and touched the new skin.

“Please don’t touch it.” Spencer shrugged away from him, going for an extra large t-shirt that she easily got on by herself.

Derek removed his jeans and long sleeve shirt and sat down on Spencer’s bed.

Spencer joined him a moment later when she’d changed into shorts. She was rigid, staring at the ceiling, and keeping to herself. “I shouldn’t have done it. I shouldn’t have tried to protect Stiles from the kanima. I knew it would get me hurt.”

Derek sat up. “You acted on instinct. Jackson hurt your friend so you acted on it.”

“I almost got myself killed.” Spencer pointed out, looking to him.

“It wasn’t deep enough. You did what you had to do.”

Spencer shook her head, turning away from him. “Good night.”

!@#$#@!

Most of Spencer’s day was spent helping Derek go through some of the things he found hidden in the house. They kept a few boxes and chests in a spare train car. It was quiet. Spencer was thankful for that. She didn’t want to talk about how she felt. Mostly because she didn’t really know how she felt.

Derek was worried about her. He knew he was struggling now that she knew Peter was back. Hell, he was himself. Spencer, though, she wasn’t used to all these bad things happening to her. Sure, she’d been through her own troubles, but none as sadistic as she’d gone through with Kate and Peter.

“Do you think we can just move passed this?” Spencer asked, drawing Derek from his thoughts. “I don’t really like the tension.”

Derek looked to her.

“I know that I should talk about it. But I can’t. It’s just something I have to live with.” She paused, looking down at her hands. “You understand that, don’t you?”

Derek nodded. “Okay.”

Spencer smiled. Her cell phone chimed from her pocket and she pulled it out to answer it. “Hey, Stiles. Everything okay?”

“Have you heard from Scott at all since last night?” Stiles asked.

“No.” Spencer responded, confused. “Didn’t you just get out of school? Where Scott should’ve been?”

“Yeah, but he avoided me like I was the plague.”

To Spencer, Stiles sounded jumpy and anxious. “You sound weird. Are you okay?” she asked.

“Uh, not really?”

“Where are you? Where’s Pops?”

“I’m home. He’s not.”

“Look, why don’t I come over? I’ll keep you company. We’ll hang out.” Spencer turned her back away from Derek, disregarding his disapproving look.

“No, I’m okay.” Stiles said. “I’ll be fine.”

Spencer laughed. “Now I know you’re not okay. I’ll leave in five minutes.” She hung up her phone before he could argue. Spencer left the storage car to go to her room and change back into some sweats. She grabbed a backpack with a few things to stay the night and left them in the doorway of the storage car. “I’ll be at Stiles’ tonight.”

Derek mumbled in response, not happy with her leaving.

Spencer rolled her eyes. “I’ll stay there tonight, but I’m not going to school. I can help you all day tomorrow.” she approached him from behind and nibbled the skin over his shoulder blade.

Derek’s muscles tensed beneath her teeth.

Spencer grinned. “Don’t be mad at me.” She worked her way up to his neck, standing on her tiptoes to reach.

Derek quickly dropped what he had in his hand, spun himself around, and switched their places, pinning Spencer to a nearby wall.

“I have to go.” Spencer insisted, straining her neck to pull away from him.

He tied a hand in her hair, holding Spencer’s head in place.

“Derek.” Spencer laughed. “I have to go.” She stressed. “Stiles is still freaking out about what happened. I don’t want him to be alone.”

The alpha growled possessively and bit at her neck.

Spencer had to muster up some of her werewolf strength and pushed him off of her with a laugh. “I can’t. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ She turned, picked up her bag that she left at the door and left the room.

!@#$#@!

After Spencer arrived at the Stilinski household, the two spent much of the time doing a lot of nothing. They spent the rest of the night playing Call of Duty, like they usually do. Spencer made a few personal pizzas for them and Stiles’s dad for when he arrived home.

As soon as Spencer saw the headlights shine through the front window, she got up and added Pop’s pizza to the oven to warm it.

The man walked through the door with a smile on his face and the day’s mail in hand.

“Hey, Pops.” she greeted. “I’ve got a pizza in the oven for you.”

Somehow his smile got bigger. “Have I mentioned how much I love having you here?” He walked over to her, embraced her in a one arm hug and kissed her temple.

Stiles came into the room with the xbox controller in his hand. “I guess we know who the favorite is.”

Spencer smiled because the sheriff’s is so contagious. “What’s with the smile?” She asked. “Not that I’m complaining. It’s good to see you happy again.”

“I’m sheriff again.”

“What?” Stiles exclaimed. “Dad, that’s great.”

His father nodded, looking through the mail. He stopped at one letter and opened it with a furrowed brow. “It’s recommended that you see the guidance counselor.” He handed the letter to Stiles. “You have a meeting with Ms. Morrell on Friday.”

“What?” Stiles questioned, reading over the letter.

Pops handed Spencer a couple of envelopes. “These are yours.”

Spencer took them, opening the one on top from the state. “It’s the emancipation forms.” She said with a smile looking over them. She did for a moment before studying the sheriff.

The man nodded, obviously a little upset with this decision. He looked to the oven timer for his pizza. “Call me when my pizza’s done.” He requested, leaving the room.

Spencer smiled softly after him. “He doesn’t really support this, does he?” she asked Stiles, gesturing to the papers in her hand.

Stiles shrugged. “Not really. But only because he still sees you as the kid who ate mud pies in the backyard when we were seven.”

The redhead rolled her eyes, returning them to the documents in her hand.

“He just wants you to be okay and taken care of.” Stiles admitted. “Dad would rather you drop the emancipation mess and move in with us.” Stiles grabbed Spencer’s other envelope and opened it himself.

“That’s mail fraud, you know. It’s illegal.”

“You’ve got a meeting, too. With the counselor.”

Spencer brushed it off. “Probably because of all my missed days.”

“You gonna go?” He asked.

“No.” She shook her head. “Honestly, I think I’m gonna drop out.”

Stiles’ eyes bugged out.

Spencer shrugged. “I’m not going anymore. I’m too busy with the werewolf stuff and that’s a big part of me right now.”

“But school. You have to go. I mean, how long have you wanted to be a teacher?” He asked, reminding her of her plans.

“That was before I got bit. It’s just not feasible anymore.”

“Spence…”

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

Stiles bit his lip and narrowed one eye at her stubbornness.