Old Habits

Tish: no one's happy

Tish

I dozed first; mostly because I was sure Conor wasn't going to be able to sleep. When I woke up, I made Conor lay down, head resting in my lap. I pulled my fingers through his thick brown hair. He fell asleep just after we stopped for gas.

"And we'll have to eat," I mentioned to Jackson. "Even if you don't."

"I'm aware, thank you," Jackson replied.

"What do you think we'll find in St. Louis?" I asked.

Mike sighed. "Not sure. I doubt it's very good. The last time I couldn't get ahold of Pat, someone had buried her in a cemetery. The last time we lost Stefa was when the hunters got her. I truly don't know how we'll get her back."

"Easy," Jackson rumbled. "We'll turn in these two."

"The hunters are not going to trade Conor for Stefa," I scoffed. "Conor is in a sanctioned pack. I was once a hunter. They know us."

"Yeah, I was a little surprised that you chilled the hell out," Mike remarked. "Because you had zero chill in Chicago."

"I had been taught that all vampires were monsters and were evil," I shrugged. "I was wrong, but I'm not sure how I would have ever known that as a human. Hunters don't know anything about the people they hunt."

"No, they don't," Jackson sighed. "You were a hunter? You don't seem like Conor's type."

"Please. Conor likes strong women who tell him to be better and then give him the chance to do so," Mike scoffed. "Like I said, I've been watching him for a while. I see why Stefa is obsessed. I don't agree with it, but I understand where she's coming from."

"Yeah," I sighed, brushing his forehead. Even in sleep, he looked a little worried.

"However, I think you shouldn't have come," Mike continued. "What if someone finds out you're pregnant? You're starting to show, Tish."

"Okay, that's really creepy, you knowing that," I complained.

"Well, it was my job, and I am good at what I do," Mike shrugged.

"She's pregnant?" Jackson complained. "Oh my god, are you due like, soon?"

"No," I replied hotly.

"What is it?" he asked.

"A baby werewolf," I replied.

"No like, its gender."

"Conor and I didn't want to know. So I don't know."

"Which I think is very cute," Mike remarked unhelpfully.

I settled back in my seat and pulled out my cell phone, wondering if calling Peter would be a good idea. It couldn't hurt, I decided.

Peter didn't pick up the phone when I called, but then immediately called me back.

"Tish?" he questioned. "What's going on?"

"Grant is fine," I told him. "The pack is fine. We had some vampire show up looking for Stefa? Do you know anything about that?"

Peter paused. "No, we haven't heard anything," he said slowly. "It seems like the vampires have moved back to their original territories, we're getting the usual amount of attacks and reports. But the Midwest is eerily quiet. More so than when Stefa was in charge here."

"Damn it," Jackson muttered.

"We called Stefa, couldn't get ahold of her," I told Peter. "After the severed head incident, I don't know if I really like the idea of her being in the wind. Have you heard anything from her clan?"