A/N:  I've been wondering a lot lately about how old most people reading/posting here are. I know there are quite a few people like me that have just stopped being teenagers, and some adults but  I get the feeling a lot of people are younger. What is the median age you think? 11? 13? 16? 17? Is there some sort of statistics about that somewhere? It would just be nice to know and help when deciding how "naughty" of a rating a story should have!

Seven

- Cookies, Carvings and Compromises-

Part II

*Annabeth*

//

I banged my fist on the glass. "No you don't. You're a good person. I may not know all that much about you but I know that. I saw it in your eyes." I thought about how he'd looked at the popcorn I'd brought him. How surprised and happy he'd been by something so small. "You just need a chance."

  //

He turned and stared at me like I was crazy; like the idea of him deserving a chance was so beyond what he himself thought he just couldn't understand how I had come up with it. Then he smiled a little before looking back down, studying his hands.

"Ryan, I..." I said, wondering how to convince him. But I guess there was something in my voice, because he looked up and smiled again.

"A chance huh? Well it seems like a moot point anyway," he said after I tried another birthday and the light flashed red. I swore. "Since you don't seem to know the code."

"It's a birthday, I'm sure it is. I'll try April's. He might have used it twice." But April's birthday didn't work either.

"You try your own?" he asked as I swore at the control panel some more.

"No," I said and did. Much to my surprise the light flashed green and part of the Plexiglas slid to the side.

Ryan stayed seated on the bed but raised an eyebrow. "High tech," he commented. He must have been unconscious or at least to drugged when they put him in there.

"My dad likes computers and gadgets. He invested all sorts of money into it over the years and most of it paid off so he can indulge," I said walking into the Cage. Ryan still didn't get up off the bed.

"You should go outside. What if it locks automatically or something? I don't want you trapped in here with me," he said, looking a little panicked at the thought.

"Well if you don't want that to happen, how about we'll both go outside, is that-" My phone beeped indicating the cookies were done. "Hold on. I have to get the cookies," I said before leaving the Cage and hurrying back through the basement and up the stairs. Ryan stayed on the bed. I shook my head. Something was seriously wrong with the boy. He had a chance to leave his prison, heck I would even help him escape all together - even if that would piss my dad off royally - if he asked me to.  But he was just sitting there.

The cookies came out a little brown and kind of ugly since they had no shapes. April had always made all sorts of shapes, Christmas trees, people, hearts, snow men and even wolf-shaped ones and I felt a little like I was messing up when I dropped more dough on the tray. But I figured I might be able to save them with some icing. Yeah, they'd be fine. After I put the tray in the oven, I put some of the finished cookies on a plate and took them with me back into the basement.

A little to my surprise Ryan had left the Cage and gone over to the work bench, where someone –Jimmy I guessed- had put his green military jacket.

"I brought cookies," I said lamely as I got closer.

He looked up from the jacket and smiled. "You got flour in your hair."

"I do?" I asked putting the cookies down on the bench next to Ryan's jacket. I brushed at my hair but had no clue if that was actually removing the flour.

"Hold on," Ryan said, "You're making it worse." He leaned over to me and held some of my curls away from my head and shook it a bit. "It's really stuck in there. I'm not sure how to get it out."

Smiling sheepishly I nodded, resigned to look a bit of a mess. He let the piece of hair he was holding fall back down but instead of pulling back touched my hair, running his fingers through the curls. I stayed where I was, suddenly feeling warm and fussy all over.

"Your hair is amazing," he whispered and I felt my cheeks turn a little pink. "So are your freckles." He touched one finger to my left cheek and trailed it over the freckles there. I wanted to argue that those two were my worst features, but somehow I couldn't. Because with him telling me he liked those parts I suddenly didn't feel like they were my worst parts anymore.

Seeming to realize he was majorly invading my personal space, he abruptly pulled back, taking several steps away from me, putting his hands in his back pockets. "Sorry," he muttered and began to study the wall, which held a whole bunch of tools.

"It's fine." I picked the plate with cookies up. "It's more than fine. You want a cookie?" I held out the plate for him. "I can't guarantee they're good or even edible so feel free to spit it out."

He turned back to me and looked at the cookies like he'd never seen cookies in his life. "I'm not really a cookie person," he said but he took one.

"Edible?" I asked as he chewed. He nodded. Hoping he wasn't just saying that to make me happy I took a cookie too. It wasn't anywhere near as good as April's cookies had been but they were better than I'd expected.  

"So it's Saturday today right?" Ryan asked as he took  the plate from me and put it back down on the work bench.

"Yes," I said.

He smiled, taking another cookie."I've been here for a whole week and I still don't know what this place is called."

"You don't? There is a sign when you get to town. It's a big one." It had Pine Creek Valley in big red letters on it and a bear catching salmon. It was pretty hard to miss, which I guessed was good or else people wouldn't realize they had actually passed through a town.

"Must have missed it," Ryan said and shrugged. "These cookies are great."

"Thanks," I said nibbling my own cookie."And you're in Pine Creek Valley"

"Lovely name," he said, looking at my lips. I got the sudden idea he was jealous of the cookie. I sure was of the one he was putting his lips to. Blushing deeper I remembered how his kiss had made me feel. I wanted to feel like that again.

"Mmm," I agreed, suddenly not really remembering what we were talking about.

Ryan suddenly shook his head, the motion reminding me off a dog shaking off water. "You really should lock me back up in that thing," he said pointing towards the Cage. "Or distract me. Yeah. Annabeth come up with something to distract me with or else I'm going to..." he trailed off and by the way his eyes swept over me and I could see little sparkles of yellow I got a pretty good idea of what he was going to do. Either kiss me senseless or let his wolf rip my throat out.

Deciding even though I really wanted to do the first one, it wasn't worth risking the second, I turned with my arm stretched out. "How about I give you a tour of the basement? We got all sorts of things down here."

"A tour, yeah sure," Ryan said, not sounding very enthusiast. Not that I would be either. The basement might be bigger and filled with more cool stuff than most basements but it was still a basement.

I quickly walked over to the medical area, Ryan following me. "This is like our own trauma center. We got all sorts of things," I said and pointed to a bunch of oxygen tanks, a defibrillator, cardiac monitor, IV pole and shelf which held bandages, orthopedic equipment and all sorts of other things. "People are always getting hurt around here so it's pretty handy. They took care of you pretty good didn't they?" I looked down at his leg.

He touched the surgery table he'd probably been on last night. "I think I remember a little of what happened here."

"Maybe the wolf wasn't completely in control then?" I said carefully.

"Maybe," Ryan said noncommittally. I didn't quite feel like he was in the basement with me anymore. It was like he'd gone somewhere far away in his head. "What's in there?" he asked pointing to a door at that was half hidden behind all the medical supplies and equipment.

"It's like a safe room, a really big one. My dad built it when people started getting paranoid about terrorists and he was worried someone in the government would decide we were some sort of animal version of them." I rolled my eyes. My dad was a little weird about stuff like that. "As if a safe room would really help if the government descended upon us with machine guns and grenades. Well it might help a while but in the end we'd all be screwed anyway."

"You think that could happen?" Ryan asked, looking at the door intently. "That the government could figure us out?"

"Figure us out?" I said, raising my eyebrows. "They already know. At least we're pretty sure they do. They're just as eager as us to keep us hidden though, that's why nothing has happened yet." At his doubtful expression I added, "Come on. Imagine trying to explain to the good people of the US of A that shape shifters and witches and apparently werewolves have been living next door to them since the birth of their nation. I don't think it would go over well."

"I suppose you're right."

I took his hand and pointed to the stack of wood by the stairs, "Pile of wood," I said attempting to be funny but much to my surprise Ryan seemed genuinely interested in the large wood pile. He let go off my hand and walked over to touch and lift a few of the slabs of wood up. "What?" I asked, unsure how wood could be this interesting. Was it a werewolf thing maybe?

"This is cotton wood," Ryan said after a moment."Can I use a bit of it?"

"I guess. We use it for fire wood. I didn't even know it was whatever the thing you said it was." Still I wasn't quite sure what he wanted to use the wood for. "Why though?"

"I got some knives in my jacket. Carving knives," he added hastily when I guess my face showed worry. "I like to carve stuff when I'm bored. And if I'm going to be stuck in that thing-" he pointed across the basement to the Cage. "- I'm going to be bored most of the time."

"Take as much as you like," I said, pointing to the pile. Wood carving might not be the most normal of hobbies but it was kind of charming. Ryan picked two pieces, one that was square-ish and another that was more flat."Dad can just get more if you run out."

He grinned."Don't think I'd be able to carve up all this wood if you left me down here for a year." He looked suddenly somber. "You're not going to leave me down here for a year right?"

I turned away from him. "I don't think so. My dad wants to send you to this place in Europe with other werewolves."

"There are more werewolves?" Ryan said, sounded interested but also worried. "Can't really imagine that. Werewolves living together? I figured that there would be too much violence for that."

"It's not a peaceful, puppies and candy place from what I understand," I said and turned back to him, trying to look sure of myself. "But I'm not going to let them send you there. Don is working on getting some info from what you told him."

"Don?" Ryan frowned. "The blonde one right?" he said. "I remember him a little."

"Yeah," I said as we got back to the cookie plate and his jacket. He put his slabs of wood down.

"You friends?" he asked, a little edge to his voice.

"Not really," I said, sliding down on the uncomfortable little chair next to the work bench. "We used to be together. But we're not anymore." I figured that sounded better than he dumped my ass to hook up with other girls.

"Oh," he said. I couldn't tell if that made him happy or not. I took a cookie off the plate.

"But he said he'd help you." For a price, but I decided not to mention that to Ryan. "Get some articles or something that would prove you weren't dangerous and could control your wolf. That has to make my dad let you go."

"Yeah," Ryan said not sounding overly optimistic. I ate some cookie and thought for a moment.

"Remember how you told Don all sorts of things?" I asked carefully. "About becoming a wolf, about where you come from and stuff?"

"A little," he ran his hand through his hair, his gray eyes focused on the wood rather than me. I felt oddly angry at the wood. It was taking all of Ryan's attention. I knew that was stupid and selfish but I wanted him to talk to me. To share what he'd shared with Don with me.     

"Would you tell me about it?" I asked as I took another bite off my cookie. They were growing on me. Who knew, maybe I had a secret talent for baking? "I mean I don't even know your full name."

He finally turned to me."I don't know your last name either."

I put the last piece of cookie in my mouth, stood and held out my hand for him. "Annabeth Crystal," I said perkily. He took my hand, his expression telling me he thought I was being a bit silly but he was clearly willing to go along with it.

"Anderson. That's my last name."

"Nice to me you Ryan Anderson," I said.

We both smiled, and kept holding each others' hands. His thumb stroked the top of my hand, making lazy little circles that made me forget all about...well everything. Everything but his fingers and his so deep gray eyes. I could drown in those eyes. Nothing but us existed. It was all so wonderful for some reason. Even though things weren't exactly perfect just as long as I could feel him and look into his eyes everything would be fine.

I kept feeling like that until footsteps on the stairs made Ryan suddenly jump, ruining the moment.

Before I had time to do much more than blink Ryan had grabbed his jacket, the wood and gotten back on the other side of the Plexiglas.

"Lock it back up," he whispered. "Don't want us getting into trouble."

I did as I was told, quickly pushing the button that made the Cage seal itself

It had barely just closed when my dad came into view.  

"Hi dad," I said stepping away from the Cage, trying to act innocent. "I was just-"

"Visiting with your werewolf? Yeah I figured as much." He didn't look very angry, which I guessed was good.

"Yeah," I said stupidly. "You find anything?" I quickly added wanting to change the subject. Maybe they'd caught the rogue and needed the Cage? Even though I was fairly certain since the rogue had taken and most likely killed two of our pack, both very young members, he wouldn't be granted any kind of mercy. What awaited him was a quick death.

"No." My dad looked over to the plate of cookies and to Ryan who had somehow managed to hide the jacket. What he however couldn't hide was the slightly guilty look on his face. "You let him out. When Ink told you I'd said you couldn't even come down here."

"I'm sorry dad, I just wanted to see him. I didn't think you'd know," I said, the words coming out even though I knew they wouldn't help my case. "How did you even know?"

"It was kind of a dead giveaway with the cookies burning in the oven."

"Oh crap," I muttered.  I'd forgotten to set the timer.

"Language," my dad said, but his voice wasn't too stern. He added, "Come on, let's go talk." He turned and began to walk back through the basement. I glanced over at Ryan and mouthed 'I'll be back.' That made him smile a little.

Dad led me to his office. A whole bunch of the pack was in the living room and got to witness my little walk of shame. Only I didn't feel that bad. Sure I had done something my dad had told me not to, but I had done it because I knew it was right. It wasn't like when I'd snuck out to go to a party with Hannah or when I'd shifted to wolf and run away from summer camp because I didn't like my roommate.  This was different. This was about me being right about Ryan and my dad wrong.

"So," dad said as we got to his office. We both sat. He behind the desk and me facing him.

 The little old book that he had been looking at yesterday, the one that I knew was important was on the desk. Besides the book there was a large crystal and an oddly colored very sharp looking knife. He kept all three objects in a secret drawer in his old desk. I knew because he'd showed them to me seven years ago. These were the three things of magic I'd one day inherit along with the luna position. It was odd that they were out of their drawer. The book for the second time in two days.

"I'm not sorry I let him out," I said defiantly. "He didn't do one thing to me. No wolf coming out to kill me." 

My dad sighed. "You clearly really like this boy," he said, making me look down at my hands feeling a little awkward. "And I understand that. I also understand you feel like you should keep him safe. You saved him once with the bear trap thing. But you need to realize I don't give you or anyone here orders because I like it. I do it to keep you safe. So when I tell you not to go in the basement I expect you to not do it. "

"But that's not..." I was going to say fair, but realized he'd just counter with 'life isn't fair Angel.'

"I know. It's not fair. But it was for your own good. I wanted to talk to him further and see if I could trust him with you. It seems fairly certain I can since, as you say, you are fine and he was out of the Cage for quite a while. Wasn't he?"

"Yes." I nodded.

"I'm not happy with the way he's making you act. You've broken rules twice now, by not telling me about him and now defying an order from me. I don't like that. Christmas was always about family and love for us-" Us meaning him and April I supposed. "- I'm just wondering if I'm doing something wrong. I know I haven't exactly been a good dad-"

"No dad it's not you," I said quickly. "You're great and I understand it's tough for you."How could I really expect him to be acting like super dad when I'd killed his mate? I understood why he wasn't exactly giving out hugs by the dozen."And I'll try not to do things I know you don't want me to. I just really-"

"Like this boy?" he filled in for me. "Really want to save him?"

"I guess."

"Like I said before, understandable. But I still don't like it. Even though he doesn't seem quite like the werewolves I've met and heard of."

"He's not," I said, even though I had no clue how those wolves had been.  My dad smiled.

 "Go help Jimmy make your wolf some lunch and then you can eat it with him down there. Spend as much time as you'd like with him. But he stays in the Cage and you stay outside of it. Can we agree on that?"

"I guess, " I reluctantly said. For now at least I would do what he wanted. "But just so you know..." I added as I stood. "...if you gave him a chance you wouldn't regret it."

"I'll take that into consideration," my dad said as I turned and walked over to the door. "I really will."