Is it gone, tell me what went wrong / 'Cause baby I'm not that strong

[work_inprogress]

It wasn't that Peter wanted to leave Scott behind, by any means, but he'd rushed back in there and the Alpha twins--who'd flipped sides just like he'd said they would--were right behind them and Cora had already stopped breathing once. So, he snarled at Isaac who could see the twins behind them and knew, if nothing else, he had a duty to his pack--of which Peter and Cora were a major part.

He floored it.

The epinephrine had burned off a little too fast, which had been embarrassing, but the adrenaline was still pumping--possibly the only thing keeping him upright, honestly. That and needing to take care of his pack...Cora hadn't regained consciousness, and he could only hope someone had found Derek.

Isaac didn't know where Scott was, didn't know if he'd gotten out, and he was shaking, but he got them back to the loft safely. Sure, the pack knew where it was, but they knew where all of them lived and where else were they going to go? Better somewhere they could sort of defend. They didn't have Ms. Blake, anyway, so why would they come after them?

When they got to the loft, Peter got Cora out of the car, lifting her with a pained wince, but when Isaac tried to take her, he snarled at the boy until he ran ahead, getting doors instead, letting them all into the loft and skidding to a bit of a halt at finding Lydia and Hayley sitting there.

Peter noticed the girls, but didn't process, moving across to get Cora on the table, somewhere they could work on her more easily than the sofa. After he got her there, he just leaned against it, head hanging down, breathing a little too hard.

Comments

[wantadistraction]

Lydia hated worrying and waiting for some kind of news. Pacing back and forth in the middle of Derek's loft, she couldn't stop herself from wringing her hands together as they waited for news. After a couple minutes, she looked over to the other woman who was in the same position she was in. "Any news yet?"

Outside the storm was still raging and she couldn't help but feel like something bad was happening. Something really bad, all at the hands of Jennifer Blake.

When Hayley shook her head, Lydia went back to pacing even as she swallowed down the rising scream that felt like it was choking her. Of course it almost came bursting out a moment later when Peter and Isaac came crashing into the loft. Whirling around with a wide eyed gaze, she felt a rush of relief at seeing him but it kicked into concern again when she noticed how bad Cora looked and the fact that he didn't look much better.

"What happened?" She demanded, racing to his side.

[work_inprogress]

Hayley followed her to them, her attention fixing on Cora. Reaching out to brush the girl's hair off her forehead, she noted how bad her color was, then glanced worriedly at Peter.

"Why wasn't she evacuated to the other hospital?"

"We sort of missed the evacuation, and I'm not letting her out of my sight again," Peter said.

He glanced at Lydia, frowning in confusion. "Why..." He shook his head. "The darach came to the hospital. The others tracked her there, and the Alpha twins turned on us. Deucalion and Kali showed up and tried to kill her, while Derek and Scott and Stiles decided we needed to protect her, so she could tell us where she put the sheriff. Also, she swore she was the only one who could heal Cora." Shaking his head, as his head seemed a little foggy and dizzy. "Why aren't you at my place?"

Isaac blinked at that, giving Lydia a wary look, but keeping his mouth shut on questions for the moment.

[wantadistraction]

"I...felt like I had to be here." She gave him a look that said she didn't understand how she knew but there she was. "So I called Hayley and she came to get me to bring me here."

Then, frowning a little more, she leaned in closer to study his face and his eyes. "What's wrong with you?" She glanced at Isaac to see if he knew what was wrong with Peter but then she frowned some more. "Wait, where are they? Where are Scott, Stiles and Derek?"

"Right here." Stiles gasped from the doorway where he was leaning against the door frame while holding up Derek's unconscious form.

[work_inprogress]

"I'm fine," he said, trying to reassure her, though the wince when he turned at Stiles's voice said otherwise.

"Derek!" Hayley moved toward the two in the door fast, Isaac right beside her, as they reached to take him from Derek. "Oh, god. What happened to him?"

Isaac was concerned about his Alpha and helped Hayley get him to the sofa, then frowned, because Stiles shouldn't have been lugging Derek up all by himself. Scott should have been with them.

Turning, he looked back at Stiles, eyes wide. "...Where's Scott? Where's his mom?"

[wantadistraction]

Lydia saw the wince and she frowned a little more which meant she wasn't going to let go of it but, for the moment, she was distracted as she turned to look at Stiles and Derek. As the others rushed to the unconscious werewolf, she went to Stiles. She couldn't help it, even if he hated her now, simply because he looked so lost.

"I don't know. Blake did it to him." He meant the Darach, of course. "I found him unconscious in the elevator and she was gone." Then he looked up at Isaac when the other boy asked about Scott. "He's gone."

Lydia lifted her head at that, seeing the look in his eyes that chilled her. "What do you mean he's gone?"

"Blake betrayed us. Which isn't any surprise to anyone here." He swallowed. "But she took Scott's mom. So Scott went with Deucalion..."

[notweakanymore]

Hayley had barely met Scott, really, and her focus was all on Derek, kneeling by the sofa, hands running over him, searching for an injury.

Peter moved to join her, a little more stiffly and slowly as he started to crash from the adrenaline and the myriad injuries--however relatively minor--inflicted by the Alphas. He figured he was better off than the rest of the family, so.

Isaac just stared at Stiles, unable to comprehend what he was saying, panic welling up like he'd only felt in tight, shut in spaces, because that's how it felt. "No. He wouldn't..."

Except he knew that he would. If Scott thought it would save his mom, save the sheriff, he'd give himself up, and Isaac felt his heart start slamming as he began trembling and gave up trying to stand by the sofa, sinking to the floor instead. "No."

[wantadistraction]

"But why would he go with Deucalion?" Lydia frowned, confused.

"Because he wants Scott as part of his pack. Because Scott is a true Alpha." Scott murmured tiredly before looking over at Isaac, frowning as well. "Dude, are you okay?"

"Scott." That groan came from Derek as he started to stir awake, disoriented with no idea where he was. All he knew was that he had to get to Scott to warn him that the Darach was after his mother. But when he opened his eyes he found himself looking up into a different face and he was confused. "Hayley? How did you get here?"

[notweakanymore]

Isaac heard what Stiles said, but he'd known that, known Deucalion wanted Scott...but Scott wasn't supposed to go with him. He didn't answer Stiles, caught in his own little corner of hell and working on breathing, and really not realizing the question was aimed at him. Clearly, no, he was not okay. He'd pull it together in a minute.

"Fuck," was about all Peter had to say about that before his legs started to give out and he decided it was a good idea to join Isaac on the floor.

Hayley...still was mostly focused on Derek, and she breathed out a sigh of relief to see him waking, even if he was confused. "It's okay. You're home. Where you left me." She hadn't gone off anywhere. Well, except to fetch Lydia, but that didn't count.

[wantadistraction]

"Peter." Lydia caught the curse from him seconds before he was sinking to the floor and she left Stiles to rush to his side. He didn't look right even with the injuries. "What's wrong?"

Derek blinked a bit as he tried to process the fact that he was home and he was instantly struggling to sit up. "Cora? Where is she?"

"She's right here." Stiles has drifted to her side, frowning at how waxy she looked and he leaned down to make sure she was breathing.

[work_inprogress]

Peter shook his head. "Adrenaline crash. I'll be fine. I just...need to sit here a minute." God, he felt old. The fact that he really wasn't back up to fighting strength was pretty apparent--he hadn't been faking it.

Hayley helped Derek sit up. "She's unconscious, still." Which worried her, too, and she felt a little more able to focus on her--and the stunned boy sitting next to her--now that Derek was at least awake and alert.

A sharp knock sounded on the door, Chris finally having made it there and feeling a little bit uncomfortable with the whole situation--going to Derek's home--but they needed to regroup and strategize. The sheriff and Melissa's lives were at stake and that was enough to keep the truce.

Klaus was glaring at the back of the hunter's head, all but sulking at the indignity of having to ride in the back seat. Elijah kept giving him amused looks, even if the situation didn't call for amusement. Really--it was easier for them. They didn't have any attachments but Hayley.

[wantadistraction]

"You look weird." Lydia murmured, lifting her hand to his forehead. He felt clammy and he looked pale which made her worry. It crossed her mind that maybe he wasn't healing which made her more than a little stressed.

Derek shifted up to see his sister on the table and there was a moment of relief at seeing her even if he still felt sick. Reaching out, he clasped Peter's shoulder gently. "Thank you." For looking out for her and getting her out of the hospital.

"Hey, I helped." Stiles muttered before looking at Isaac again. "Seriously, dude, are you okay?" He stopped at the found of the knock and glanced over at the others with curious frown before moving to answer the door.

Allison stood beside Klaus, watching him out of the corner of her eye as he continued to glare at the back of her father's head. She didn't really like the situation either though she was curious about the vampire and the hybrid especially. When the door opened, she shifted to move forward. "Hey, Stiles."

[work_inprogress]

Peter was mostly cursing his body as the clamminess turned to trembling and feeling sick to his stomach, but he also knew it would be okay in a bit. His body could process it, take it, get it through. It worked well enough for that, still. The injuries would heal, too--they weren't deep, though he wasn't convinced he didn't have a cracked rib or four. Catching Lydia's fingers, he wrapped his around them. "Not my best plan ever, I admit, but it bought us time, so."

All right. He hadn't told her what he'd done. Apparently he wasn't thinking straight anymore, either. But he lifted his head to give Derek a slight smile. "She's my family, too," he murmured, before shifting to try and catch a better breath which...didn't work.

Isaac shook his head a little, earning him a look from Peter with a slight frown. His gaze flashed up when Stiles opened the door to find Allison there, and he watched her a little fixedly, if only because Peter had made him choose, and he'd done what Scott would have wanted, but that meant he'd left Scott and Scott had gone off and...he was never going to forgive himself.

Klaus rolled his eyes at Elijah's amusement, then glanced past Chris who gave Stiles a nod, to see who was inside and if Hayley was there, relaxing marginally when he saw her. "I figured we were regrouping here..."

[wantadistraction]

"Plan?" Lydia's brows drew together in a concerned frown as she clung to his fingers. "What plan?"

Derek nodded when Peter stated Cora was family too but all conversation stopped at the Argents arriving with the two men that only a couple of them recognized. Well, the one as Klaus was new but Derek knew who hd was right away.

Lydia felt them too like a chill running down her spine and she was suddenly facing the doorway, watching them with a wary gaze.

Allison stepped in, looking at Isaac and then Stiles as she noticed someone was missing. "Where is Scott?"

"He's with Deucalion." He replied hollowly. "I couldn't stop him. And before you ask, Deucalion wants him because he's apparently a true Alpha. So he told Scott he'd help him get his mom and my dad if Scott went with him...who are they?" He pointed at Elijah and Klaus.

[lovewhentheyrun]

Saved by the vampires, apparently, and Peter just stared with the rest of them.

Hayley breathed out a sigh of relief at seeing them, because Elijah just...made shit better, okay? Even if she was nervous as fuck about Klaus and Derek in the same room when shit had gone so badly.

Klaus gave the boy in the doorway a cheery smile as Chris moved inside, as well. "We're with her," he said pointing at Hayley.

"You have to invite them in," she murmured to Derek, hopefully soft enough that no one else heard.

[wantadistraction]

Unfortunately for him, his girlfriend had a damn good memory which meant it would be brought up later now that she knew there was something to be brought up.

"Can I invite just one of them in?" Derek muttered for her to hear before looking at the vampires. "Come in." He said it reluctantly as he really didn't want this Klaus having access to his home.

Allison caught Klaus's eye, silently telling, or warning, him to behave before she focused on Stiles again. At that moment Cora made a horrible choking noise, like she was trying to catch her breath, seconds before she surged up and rolled into her side just as black blood spewed from her mouth.

[work_inprogress]

Peter was watching the vampires--the hybrid in particular--with a sort of fascination as they stepped in, Klaus giving Allison a smirk that did not in the least bit promise to behave, but she was cute for trying.

Cora's throwing up drew all eyes back to her, though, and Peter pushed back to his feet, not feeling the pain as a surge of natural adrenaline hit. "Shit. I thought we were past this..."

"What's wrong with her?" Elijah asked, concern in his voice, as he crossed to her, as well.

Klaus...tilted his head and stared at the black blood with a little frown, but didn't move from just in the doorway.

[wantadistraction]

"It happened when she went after one of the Alpha twins." Stiles replied, glancing at Elijah. "She got hurt but she wouldn't heal. She just got sicker and sicker." His voice softened. "She's stopped breathing once already."

"It's the Darach." Derek replied tensely as he moved to the table, looking worried as he reached out to take Cora's hand. "She poisoned her. She said she'd save her but..." It was the only reason he had agreed to try helping her but he had failed as Jennifer was gone and his sister was clearly dying.

"What about Scott's boss?" Lydia asked, moving forward as well. "He could help, right?"

[lovewhentheyrun]

Hayley glanced between them all, and shook her head. "I don't know that a vet is going to be able to help, druid or not...if he can even get here in time. Her heart doesn't sound good..." Which the others could hear she was sure. "By the time he came up with an antidote, it might be too late."

Her gaze slid to Klaus. "You could heal her."

Klaus arched an eyebrow. "We don't know that. They're...different." He didn't make it sound like a compliment.

"Fuck that. They're close enough."

"I might kill her."

"Well, she's definitely going to die if you don't," Hayley snapped. "For fuck's sake, make yourself useful for once."

Klaus was to her in a blur, fingers catching her chin, holding her immobile just with that. "Careful with your tone, little wolf."

"What in the entire history of our knowing each other makes you think that's going to happen?" She didn't even try to get free, just stared back at him.

Klaus held her gaze for a moment, then smirked, fingers releasing her chin and one fingertip flicking her nose. "Fine. For you." His gaze shifted to Derek. "If he asks. She is his sister, his pack, after all. Pretty sure you don't speak for him, yet, sweetheart."

[wantadistraction]

A rolling growl escaped Derek when Klaus touched Hayley, his eyes flashing red as he stepped away from his sister and towards the two of them. A click could be heard as Allison pulled out a small crossbow, not quite pointing it at Klaus but the intent was clear that she would make a move if need be.

"Seriously, are we going to do this?" Stiles demanded as he looked between them.

Elijah would feel cold fingers brushing against his then and when he looked down he would find Cora looking up at him, her gaze distant and hazy with whatever was wrong with her. She managed a small smile before her hand dropped and once again she wasn't breathing.

[lovewhentheyrun]

Klaus didn't even blink at the click of the crossbow, but he did arch an eyebrow in Derek's direction, turning to face the implied challenge.

Hayley growled as well, her eyes flashing and she punched Klaus in the arm. "Stop it. His sister is dying. You two can go all snarly alpha male on me later. Bigger problems right now." She shot a look at Allison and her crossbow. "You're just going to annoy him with that."

Peter had been looking back and forth between Klaus, Derek, Allison and Hayley. "Can I just say that I like her? Definitely a step up from Aunt Kate."

Elijah barely noted Klaus and Derek's interchange, or Allison's crossbow, his focus purely on Cora. He squeezed her hand and then stilled as her breathing stopped. "She's not breathing." His gaze shot to Klaus. "Get over here, now, or I'll do it. But her chances are better with you, and you know it."

Klaus glanced at the girl on the table, then back at Derek. "He asks first."

Peter's sardonic smile disappeared at Elijah's pronouncement, and he whirled back to Cora, feeling for a pulse, before looking back at Klaus. "Dammit, I'll ask. I'm the...oldest member of the family or whatever. Please...if you can save her, save her."

[iamthe_alpha]

"I don't mind." Allison drawled, never once taking her eyes from
Klaus. "Turnabout is fair play." Then she heard Peter's comment about her aunt and she turned her attention to him. Like, really? He was going to say that with her and her Dad right there? She knew he had a right considering what Kate had done but still...

Derek stood there glaring at Klaus till he heard his sister wasn't breathing and suddenly winning a pissing match with the hybrid wasn't important. Saving his sister was even more important than who had more of a right to Hayley. He glanced briefly at her with a shadowed gaze before swallowing his pride.

"If you can save her, do it." He clenched his jaw. "I'm asking you to do it."

"It's not going to matter if she's dead, you morons!" Stiles grumbled, tipping Cora's head back to make sure the airway was open before he leaned down to deal his mouth over hers, focusing in giving her air again.

[lovewhentheyrun]

Peter would...not apologize for the Kate comment. He didn't like the Argents being here. Really didn't like that girl having weapons in here around him and Derek, let alone the pups. Pulling out the weapon at all was a sign of hostility in his mind, whether aimed at them or not. Klaus was more one of them than they were like the Argents.

But he really did like Hayley. The whole fighting for Cora's life instead of, you know, trying to end it got her bonus points. And, yes. He really had to say it here, though that was in response to the crossbow as much as anything.

"My pleasure." Klaus inclined his head at Derek in agreement moving to the table. Hayley rolled her eyes at him, but it was followed by a sigh of utter relief.

Biting his wrist, Klaus tapped Stiles' shoulder. "Keep her mouth open and massage her throat to get this down her." Once Cora's mouth was free, he held his wrist over it, milking blood from the wounds and into her.

Isaac had snapped out of it enough to be on his feet, though he stayed out of the way, watching Cora with worry, relieved when Derek asked. The hybrid was clearly a dick, but he was a dick who could save Cora, so.

[wantstopunchyou]

No one could be surprised that the Argents were armed but Allison did out away the crossbow as soon as things seemed to settle. That and she had been ready to do it to protect Hayley from Klaus, if only because Hayley had ties to the pack. And because Lydia had said Hayley was interesting enough which was a compliment coming from the girl.

Lydia who was standing back and watching the whole thing almost like she was in a trance. She felt chilled and almost nauseous as she stood there, waiting breathlessly as Stiles straightened and then nodded though he looked clearly uneasy with the plan.

No one could really place how many minutes has passed while they waited to see if the blood was working. Then, very softly, Cora drew in a breath and then another one before couching again but at least there was no more black blood. Turning her head as she coughed, she finally opened her eyes to look around, seeming a little steadier than she had been moments before.

[work_inprogress]

Elijah retreated to lean against the window. Chris...took up a position almost opposite him--a move Elijah noted with detached amusement. His focus shifted back to the girl, though. She was spunky and sassy and he was really rooting for her to pull through.

Peter was barely breathing, himself, willing Cora to take a breath, to be okay. The adrenaline surge couldn't keep up, drained as it was, but he ignored his own chilled, trembling sick feeling, just leaning against the table, his hand brushing slowly over her hair, concern written all over his face.

Hayley moved to Derek, fingers sliding into his, holding his hand in her own hope, and offering what reassurance she could about the rest.

When Cora coughed, but a more normal sounding cough, a shudder ran through Peter, and his hand slid to hers, curling around it tight. "Welcome back."

[wantstopunchyou]

Cora struggled to catch her breath even as the pressure in her chest started to ease. Turning her head to look at Peter, she smiled weakly then. "Thanks." It was a loaded thank you for everything he had done to look out for her over the last few hours and then she was turning her head. "Derek?"

"I'm right here." Derek stepped forward, still holding onto Hayley's hand though he did reach for Cora's with his free hand.

"What happened to me?" She arched a brow, her voice still raspy.

Lydia looked relieved as she watched the girl coming back to them and the color spread back in her cheeks as she moved towards Peter. Allison looked relieved as well though she worried about the consequences. She nodded briefly at Klaus before glancing at her father and moving towards the door.

Cora saw the movement out of the corner of her eye, glancing at Allison before something else caught her attention and she looked to Elijah who was leaning against the window. "Hey."