Don't Give Up on Me

17

Erica entered with Jackson. Derek gave Ania, who had just walked in, a small smile as he walked out to Jackson.

"What happened to you on the night of the full moon?" Derek asked.

"What? Nothing. Nothing happened," Jackson protested.

"You're lying."

"No, wait. No, wait, I can -- I can prove it. I taped myself."

"You taped yourself?" Isaac asked in disbelief.

"Yes. It was the full moon. And maybe while you were curled in the corner having an existential crisis about turning into a monster, I was preparing for the so-called gift your big, bad Alpha promised me, and what did I get? Nothing. You want proof? Let me get the video."

"No," Derek said. "No, I have a better idea."

"What is that?"

"You know, Jackson, you've always been kind of a snake, and everyone knows a snake can't be poisoned by his own venom." Derek squirted a drop of kanima venom down Jackson's throat.

Ania, saw what Derek was up to, narrowed her eyes and yelled, "Derek!"

"I need to know, Ania."

She pursed her lips and walked away.

He scoffed and turned back to Jackson. "You're still a snake, Jackson, just not the one we're looking for."

"You're still gonna have to do one more thing for us," Isaac said. "Well, actually, for me."

---

During Chemistry the next day, Lydia was tested, and nothing happened.

After class, Scott, Allison and Stiles talked in the library. They were trying to figure out the Bestiary.

---

Ania had made her way back to the subway station, still irritated with Derek. She fiddled with the handcuffs on her belt, half-tempted to arrest him then and there.

"Yeah, which doesn't prove anything," Scott said. "Lydia's different."

"I know," Derek replied. "At night she turns into a homicidal walking snake."

"I'm not going to let you kill her."

"Who said I was gonna do it?"

"It'll be your betas."

Derek nodded. "I don't know why you think you have to protect everyone now, Scott, but even so, Lydia has killed people and she's gonna do it again, and next time, it's gonna be one of us."

"What if you're wrong?"

"She was bitten by an Alpha. It's her."

"You saw that thing up close. You know it's not like us."

"But it is! We're all shapeshifters. You don't know what you're dealing with. It happens rarely and it happens for a reason."

"What reason?"

"Sometimes the shape you take reflects the person that you are. Even Stiles calls her cold-blooded."

"Well, what if she's immune? What if she's got something inside of her that makes her immune to the bite, which is why she didn't get paralyzed?"

"No one's immune! I've never seen it or heard of it. It's n- it's never happened."

"What about Jackson? That's why you tested him, isn't it? Because you gave him what he wanted, didn't you?"

"Scott-"

"Peter said the bite either kills you or turns you. You were probably hoping that he would die. But nothing happened, right? And you have no idea why, do you?"

"No."

"Well, I have a theory. Lydia's immune, and somehow she passed it onto Jackson. You know I'm right. Ania, tell him I'm right!"

"No!"

Ania stared at Derek with a frown. "He's not gonna listen, Scott. Trust me."

"I will listen," Derek said.

"No you won't."

Derek frowned. "Are you mad at me?"

"Gold star to the crazy alpha."

Scott frowned and turned back to Derek. "You cannot do that!"

"Look," Derek said, "I can't let her live! You should have known that!"

Scott sighed. "I was hoping I would convince you, but then again, I wasn't counting on it."

Scott left and Ania turned to Derek. "Please tell me you're not serious. She's a teenager!"

"I need to know. If Lydia is the kanina, she's got to be stopped."

"And how exactly do you intend to do that? Murder?"

"I don't want to, but if I need to... I'll stop her whatever way I need to."

"Then I'll gladly arrest you. Touch one hair on that girl's head and the cuffs go on and I escort your ass to jail."

She left and Derek stared after her with a frustrated expression.

---

Derek made his way to Scott's and sent Erica and Isaac into the house. Scott, Allison and Stiles soon came outside, leaving Jackson and Lydia inside the house.

Derek looked at Scott. "I think I'm finally getting why you keep refusing me, Scott. You're not an Omega, you're already an Alpha of your own pack. But you can't beat me."

"I can hold you off until the cops get here," Scott shot back.

"Get them out of here," Derek ordered as the kanima ran across the roof.

Lydia came out of the house and stood on the front porch as she demanded, "Would someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"

"It's Jackson," Scott realized.

Derek and his pack left.

Derek went to find Ania, finding her at the Sheriff Station.

He tapped her shoulder and her expression turned stony as she said sharply, "What?"

"You were right."

"I'm sorry, repeat that, please."

"You were right. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you, Ania."

"Apology accepted. Next time listen. I actually do tend to know what I'm talking about."

"I know. We okay?"

"That remains to be seen. Apology is a good first step. Now if you don't mind, I have a lot of work to do."

Derek nodded. "I'll let you get back to it. See you soon, Ania."

"See you soon."

He waved goodbye and she waved back.