Rowan poked her head into the hall, listening to her mom and dad talk in the kitchen. She bit down on her cheek nervously, holding her bag to her chest as she tiptoed towards the door.

"I don't think so, you're staying in."  Rowan let out a long sigh and turned around to see her mother standing there, arms crossed. "Not after the other night."

"Mom, I'm fine." She groaned, looking up at the ceiling in annoyance. "It was just a cut."

"Why were you even in that nut house?"

"Evelyn-" Her father scolded, shaking his head.

"I was visiting a patient." Rowan swallowed nervously, already dreading her mother's reaction. "Charlotte Gallagher. I was uh, I was visiting Charlotte Gallagher."

Evelyn looked like she had just been smacked across the face, her mouth dropping open and a surprised gasp escaping her lips.

"Now if you don't mind," She cleared her throat, holding up her keys. "I'll be going. Mom."

"You take one step out that door, you'll be grounded until you graduate."

Rowan didn't hesitate opening up the door, stepping outside and slamming it promptly behind her.

"Let's just hope I live to see graduation."

● ● ●

"Is three enough?" Rowan asked, setting her laptop on the table with the two others and looking up at Stiles.

"It depends on how many cameras they have, but I think so." He nodded in confirmation, his eyes flitting to the outline of the bandage under her sleeve. She just nodded, signalling to him she was fine.

"Are we really doing this?"  Liam asked nervously,  tapping on the table.

"We're doing it." Scott nodded. "Tonight."

"But isn't it kind of dangerous?"

"Yeah, it's incredibly dangerous." Stiles confirmed, holding onto the edge of the table. "And borderline idiotic."

"Have you guys done something like this before?" Liam's persistent questioning seemed like it was never gonna end.

"Something dangerous or something idiotic?" Stiles asked, but Rowan had a feeling they did a substantial amount of both.

"I think it's a yes to both." Kira voiced Rowan's thoughts, the kitsune seeming the most anxious.

It made sense, seeing as her boyfriend was going to be pretty much dead.

"You don't have to be a part of it if you don't want to." Scott assured, looking at Liam with a concerned expression.

"I'm not scared."

"Then you're borderline idiotic." Stiles chuckled, grabbing his shoulder. "If we do this, we don't know what's coming for us, you know that right?"

"How do we even know somethings definitely coming?" Kira questioned, frowning.

"Because the tape from Garrett's bag said visual confirmation is required." Scott explained, not meeting her eyes.

"Creepy scientist guy said the same thing." Rowan added, rubbing her forehead. "He said he couldn't get pain until he had proof we were dead."

"So the idea is, what if you kill someone on the Deadpool, and you can't send proof?"

"You don't get paid."

"But how does that get us any closer to the benefactor?" Liam argued, looking around at them.

"He still needs to know of his target is really dead." Scott sighed, the tension and anxiety growing in the room.

"Especially if it's someone high on the list." Stiles added, glancing over at Rowan as she chewed on her thumb nail.

"So if he wants visual confirmation," Liam trailed off, looking down at the table.

"He's gonna have to come get it himself." Scott finished.

"Why aren't we using Rowan?" Kira asked, all eyes turning towards her. "I'm not saying I want her to practically die, but she's highest on the list. Wouldn't that be more tempting?"

"Well, Rowan is human." Stiles answered, clearing his throat. "If we used her..."

"If we used me, I'd die." Rowan ended his sentence bluntly, crossing her arms. "Not only do I die, but I put all of you guys at a higher risk of being killed."

"Good point."

● ● ●

"Are you okay?" Stiles asked, his eyes darting over to Rowan in the passenger seat.

"You mean, do I feel like I'm dying yet?" She sighed, her eyes closed. "Not yet."

"Well just let me know, okay?" Rowan opened her eyes and looked at him, raising an eyebrow.

"I think you'll be able to tell." She chuckled, scratching her wrist.

"Oh, right." Stiles laughed uncomfortably, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. "So, are you going to the bonfire thing?"

"Yearbook, so yes." Rowan nodded slowly, giving him a funny look.

"Cool." Stiles nodded, clicking his tongue. "I'm gonna be there too, y'know, because it's a lacrosse thing."

"Calm down." She laughed, his cheeks turning red. "You don't have to be nervous arou-"

Rowan sucked in a huge gasp of air, her hand reaching out and grasping Stiles's arm.

"Are you-" His eyes widened with panic, putting his hand over hers. "Of course you are, what am I kidding."

Rowan cried out in pain, her other hand clutching her chest as she struggled to breathe. "Son of a-"

The pain only lasted a few seconds, before she let out a deep breath, resting back against the seat.

"Okay, let's do this." Stiles turned the key in ignition, swallowing nervously.

● ● ●

"I still really hate this plan." Mrs. McCall wiped her face, staring down at her son's body. "I mean, this is pretty significantly terrifying. He looks dead."

"Give me your hand." Noshiko reached out, Melissa glancing over to Stiles who nodded. She took her hand and placed it over her son's chest. "Wait for it."

A sigh of relief escaped Melissa's lips as she felt a slow, almost miniscule heartbeat. "Is that enough to keep a werewolf alive?"

"Enough for an alpha."

"How much time do we have?" She asked, not looking up from her son.

"Forty-five minutes." Noshiko answered, her face unmoved while the other mother struggled to breathe.

"What happens after that, exactly?" Rowan spoke up, chewing on the skin next to her nail as she looked around.

"I bring him back the same way." First whatever reason, Kira seemed alot more calm than she was before.

"But, what happens if he stays like this longer than forty-five minutes?" Melissa looked over at Stiles, the one she trusted most in the room. He looked at Kira, who looked at her mother.

"No one's told her?" Everyone shifted uncomfortably, Melissa growing impatient.

"What?" Her eyes darted around at the teens and the aged kitsune, her jaw clenching slightly. "What happens after forty-five minutes?"

"He dies."

● ● ●

"That's your assassin speak?" Stiles raised his arms, an unsatisfied look on his face.

"I said he's dead." Chris gestured to the computer. "What more do you want?"

"It was a little dry." He argued, putting his hands on his hips. "You could've said something like, target has been neutralized. The crow flies at midnight. That's always cool."

"Stiles," Rowan covered her mouth to hide a smile, shaking her head. "This isn't Tomorrow Never Dies."

"You watch James Bond movies?" Stiles's mouth dropped slightly, looking at Rowan in disbelief.

"Duh."

"Kids." Chris nods towards the laptop, which had beeped with a reply.

VISUAL CONFIRMATION IS REQUIRED.

Stiles jumped to type back, Chris leaning over to watch.

"Type this." Argent ordered. "Visual confirmation not possible. Police coming to claim body in forty minutes."

Rowan didn't know it was possible for a teenage boy to type so fast without even looking at the keyboard, but Stiles proved her wrong.

CONFIRMATION IS REQUIRED FOR PAYMENT.

"Tell him number two in the lost is dead. I killed him, and if the wire transfer isn't completed in forty minutes-" Chris took over, typing the last few words. "I'm coming after you."

"So now what?" Rowan asked, leaning against the wall. "We wait? And hopefully not die before Scott dies?"

"You guys meet Kira and Liam upstairs with the laptop, I'm going up to the roof."

"Sir yes sir." Stiles held his hand up in a salute, only to slowly lower it due to the look he received. "Okay."

Rowan carefully grabbed the laptop, careful not to shut it or push any buttons as her and Stiles made their way towards the elevators, Argent taking the stairs.

"I never got a chance to really apologize." Stiles said once they were in the elevator.

"For what?" She looked over at him, her hair falling partially in front of her eyes.

"For um, hold on," He quickly reached forward and mover her hair back, before snapping back his hand like he'd been burned. "For taking you on a fake date, and dragging you into all this."

"Well, I kinda got dragged into this when I was born." Rowan let out a dry chuckle. "It's not your fault, really."

"If we make it out of all this mess I um," He scratched his forehead, searching for his words. "I would like to take you up on that offer back in the vault. The second date offer."

"I know what offer." She smiled. She smiled, and it made his heart jump into his throat.

"Like a real date this time." He swallowed nervously, only making her smile more.

"I'd be glad to." The elevator reached its floor, and she bumped her hip against his. "Let's go."

They got to the empty room and set the computer on the bed, just waiting for Argent's call.

After about five to ten more minutes, Stiles's phone rang.

"I'm here. You ready? Try it now."

Stiles hit the button, the computer screens showing cameras all over the hospital.

● ● ●

"Is that supposed to look like that?" Liam pointed to the flickering camera angle, which promptly turned gray and lost signal.

"I don't think so." Rowan frowned, squinting at the screen.

"Where is that?"

"It's the roof. Someone's gonna have to check it out." Stiles answered, looking at Liam and Kira.

"I'll go." Kira offered, turning to leave.

"Whoa, whoa-" Stiles looked at her warily, holding up a hand. "This may not be just a malfunction."

"That's why I'm bringing this." Kira pulled out her katana, making Rowan jump a little.

"I'm coming with you." Liam jumped at the chance, Rowan and Stiles sharing a look.

"Hey, guys?" They paused and looked at rowan, who gave them a small smile. "Please try not to die, because that would suck. For me and you."

"Yeah, come right back!" Stiles called after them as they jogged out of the room. "Immediately!"

"Are you nervous?" Rowan asked, looking over at Stiles. "Because I'm nervous."

"Yeah." He nodded, breathing shakily. "Very nervous."

The rest of the camera angles started shutting down, one by one, only making matter worse

"Maybe we should go look for Argent." She said slowly, shrugging. "He has guns."

"Good idea." Stiles nodded, grabbing her hand. "Let's go."

They jogged down the halls looking for Chris, soon rounding a corner and coming face to face with a gun.

"The uh, the powers out in the whole building we lost all the cameras." Stiles explained, the hunter lowering his gun.

"Stay with Scott." Chris ordered. "Text me if you see or hear anything. Repeatedly."

Rowan's eyes glanced towards Argent's watch, the numbers reading how many minutes they had left.

18:28.

● ● ●

"Answer the phone Argent, answer the phone." Stiles paced, becoming more and more frustrated. "Why aren't you answering the phone?"

Suddenly Argent crashed through the doors, landing hard on the floor. "I was right. Get out of here."

"I can see why he didn't answer the phone." Rowan breathed, looking up as a blonde woman walked through the doors. She looked at Stiles, who's face got even paler, which she didn't know was possible. "Bad guy?"

"Bad guy." Stiles whispered, moving in front of Rowan as Chris got back up.

"Move out of the way Stiles, I'm taking the body." The lady ordered, clenching her jaw.

"Why visual confirmation?" The confidence showed in Stiles's voice, which was something Rowan wasn't used to.

"Don't worry handsome, I'm not the benefactor." She shook her head, taking a step forward.

"Then what do you want with the body?"

"I wish I could tell you." She pursed her lips, taking another step. Chris lunged forward, the woman twisting one arm while the other pressed a gun under her chin. "I always forget you carry two."

"I'd really, really like to be filled in on what's happening." Rowan whispered, her hand clutching Stiles's flannel.

"Kate Argent. Werejaguar." Stiles whispered back, Rowan taking a shaky breath.

"Back off." Chris threatened, shoving the gun deeper into his sister's throat.

"Think you can pull the trigger fast enough?" Kate challenged, not a sliver of fear on her face.

"I don't want to."

"You're not going to kill me."

"I'm not gonna let you take his body!"

"Well obviously you guys have a lot to talk about, so I saw some coffee, a vending machine, outside." Stiles tried to break the tension, but he was instead ignored.

"Take the berserkers and go." Chris growled, his eyes not breaking their gaze. "Listen to me, Kate. We have a plan."

"If killing Scott was part of it," Kate pursed her lips. "You're worse than me."

"He's telling the truth, we're trying to get to the benefactor." Kate glanced over at Stiles, Rowan nodding urgently behind him.

"If you didn't notice, you're on the list too and you're with more than most." Chris pointed out, only irritating her more.

"That's why I'm here." She raised her voice, making Chris grit his teeth.

"Then back off and let us do what we planned." Kate slowly released her grip, looking at her brother's watch. "Take the berserkers, and go. Kate, please. We have a plan."

Kate took a deep breath and dropped her brother's arm, before shaking her head and shoving her way out the door.

"I'm so glad I'm an only child." Rowan muttered, letting go of the flannel.

● ● ●

"Here we are." Stiles sighed, shifting into park and looking over at Rowan. "You okay?"

"Just sorry that the pain didn't work, and Kira's mom." She ran her hands down her face, rubbing her eyes. "And the fact that I'm gonna be grounded from everything except school functions."

"I'm sorry." He frowned, scratching the back of his neck.

"Don't worry about it." Rowan shook her head, looking over at her house to see the kitchen light on. "I'm just happy to reunite with my bed."

"Sleep tight, okay?"

"You too." She smiled lightly, opening the passenger side door. "Goodnight, Stiles."

"Night Rowan."

__________________________________

NOT EDITED AT ALL SORRY

THIS IS SO LONG AND SO BORING, BUT I NEEDED TO GET THROUGH THIS BC I DIDN'T WANNA MAKE IT INTO TWO CHAPTERS

This took me hours to write, idk about anyone else but I go through and watch the episode with the captions on, pause, write, pause, write, pause, write. I literally write with the episode and it's hard af

Sorry I've been MIA, but hey this book is close to being done and the next chapter gets spicy

Brea out

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