Chapter 17: Memories

Catori looked up and smiled at Scott.

It was very sweet of them to be staying with her at the Hudson family home to keep her company. But the girl had a feeling that there was something else.

The way in which Scott, Lydia and Stiles alwaus looked at her. Like they knew something she didn't. Or like some words were left unspoken because of everything that happened.

She understood that she was vulnerable and they didn't want to rush her. Yet that was precisely what bothered her so much.

Catori looked at her friend, who had visited her that time instead of Lydia and Stiles, and decided to speak up.

"Scotty, can I ask you something?" The girl finally piped up.

"Sure" Her friend gently smiled, with that immense kindness that defined him.

"What is it with you guys?" She bit her lip, uneasy, and stared at him. "First Stiles, then Lydia and now you. I appreciate it but..."

The boy, however, stopped her midsentence to speak himself.

"We're just worried about you" He rushed to say. "And we want you to feel safe. Besides, we love to keep you company"

Catori knew Scott, and she didn't have to be a werewolf to know he was nervous. Something was wrong.

"What are you hiding from me?" She frowned, concerned, and sent him a pleading look. "Don't insult my intelligence pretending that everything's okay. Please, tell me"

Everything felt bad enough already.

The constant nightmares. The lack of sleep. Staying at home because she couldn't really bring herself to go out. The physical and mental damage done during the time she was taken. The feeling of imminent danger, knowing that who kidnapped her were still free.

But that her friends kept secrets from her was just too much.

Scott knew this. He could feel the mixture of her emotions, how sad and scared she was still feeling and how vulnerable and angry at the same time.

He didn't want to lie to her.

She was back to almost being the true Catori, and he wanted to admit everything. So he did.

The boy tilted his head and sighed in defeat.

"We need you to remember what happened" To soften his words despite his already gentle tone, he sweetly held her hand. "Maybe if you do, it will help us know who they are once and for all"

Catori froze in panic and even though all she wanted to do was refuse and tell Scott she couldn't do that, the girl was left speechless.

"Tori?"

"I... Scott, I don't want to" She shut her eyes tight and shook her head, already shaking at the mere idea of reliving that harrowing experience.

"Hey, I know" He shushed her kindly to soothe her restlessness. "You don't have to do right now, it's okay"

"I just can't" Being extra sensitive lately, she felt the need to hold Scott's free hand. "I-I... Scott, I..."

"We know it's hard, that's why we didn't tell you" To try and cheer her up, he smiled compassionately.

Catori nodded and forced herself to be stronger. To take up her usual stubborn behavior and leave behind that terrible emotional and sensitive attitude that overcame her those days.

The two friends stared there in silence for a moment, holding hands to her comfort.

"There's something more" Scott dared to say carefully.

His friend took a deep breath and adopted a collected demeanor.

"What is it?"

"That wound in your neck is made from claws" He started slowly, observing her to study her reaction. "Which means..."

Scott trailed off for a moment, wondering what the best way to put it was. In the pause, he stirred restlessly in the spot while Catori drove her hand to her nape, carefully feeling the bruise that still hurt.

"Which means what?"

"They were trying to get inside your head" Scott spoke fast, not really thinking much about his choice of words because he wanted to spit it out as fast as he could.

"Why would they want to do that?" The girl was confused and incredulous.

"We don't know" Still, he couldn't stop thinking about what Stiles kept saying.

That Catori was something. That she was different, maybe a supernatural creature even. Yet as he observed her, sitting right in front of him, he didn't notice anything even remotely supernatural about her.

Then... why would they try to do that? Why look into her mind, maybe looking for her memories or thoughts? It didn't make any sense.

"I don't understand anything at all" She mumbled, tired and fed up.

"I know, but we'll figure it out" Trying to display as much kindness and give her as much comfort as he could, he sent her a meaningful glance. "For now just focus on getting back to normal"

"What about what you said?" The girl asked him, anxious. "Do I have to tell you if I remember something?"

"Only if you feel comfortable enough to do it, okay?"

"Thanks" Catori smiled a little, feeling grateful for her friends. Without them, she would feel even more lost and afraid.

The both of them went in for a hug at the same time.

They embraced the closeness and the warmth, the comfort of a friend's hug. It definitely helped Catori feel better, probably because of his calm and kind aura as usual.

"I should get going now" Scott made a pause to see if she stopped him, needing to have him around a bit longer. When she didn't, he kept talking. "We have to see Deaton about the triquetra"

"Who's Deaton?" She asked as he stood from the bed and put his jacket back on to leave.

"He's my boss, at the veterinary clinic"

"I never knew you worked there" Catori smiled a little, amused. "Suits you"

After all, Scott McCall was always looking after all the people. It was only normal that he took care of animals as well. It went along with him alright.

Scott chuckled, very glad to see her smiling.

"Yeah, I guess so"

"And why are you meeting with him?"

"He knows a lot about the supernatural"

"Oh"

Scott opened the door of her room and stood still for a moment, staring at his friend.

"Got any plans for today?"

"You mean before or after your watch replacement?"

He laughed at her sarcastic comment, especially because she was right. Stiles was supposed to arrive soon.

"Before Stiles comes"

"I might go out for a walk around the block" Catori lied down on the bed and stared at the ceiling in apathy. "I've been locked in my room for a few days now, I could use some fresh air"

"That's a good idea"

The girl looked at him and decided to stand up and give me a last quick hug.

"Thanks for everything, Scotty"

The boy, pleasantly surprised by her sudden fit of affection, grinned widely and hugged her back.

*

Since their task with Catori wasn't really advancing, Scott indeed met Kira, Liam, Mason and Malia to go talk with Deaton.

Before he came into the clinic, he saw Derek standing outside.

"Anything on the pack?" Scott asked the young man, who shook his head in a negative gesture.

"They know how to hide their trail" Derek shoved his hands on the pockets of his jacket. "I'm afraid that only Catori will be able to help us about that"

"She still needs time" Scott defended her, not wanting to rush her.

Derek pursed his lips, knowing his friend was right but still feeling a bit frustrated. They badly needed to know more about the pack, to take precautions and find a way to protect themselves from them. Even fight them. Know their enemy.

But he didn't say anything because Derek himself didn't want to put Catori under that kind of pressure, especially after what happened. He was fond of her despite the fact that they weren't too close.

But Catori was fierce, smart and strong. And he liked her.

"Tell me what you find out" Derek told him quietly, taking a step.

He felt too useless, and he hated not being able to help.

Unfortunately, he didn't find anything new about the pack no matter how hard he tried. And he didn't really feel like standing there hearing Deaton ramble about symbols and everything supernatural.

He was about to walk away when Scott stopped him. Almost as though he knew what passed his mind and wanted to remedy it.

"Could you do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

"Stiles told me he would text me when he arrived at Catori's, but he hasn't yet" Scott shook his head slightly from side to side, resigned. "And she wanted to take a walk, but she's alone and..."

"I'll go" Derek just replied, nodding once.

"Thanks" They exchanged a meaningful glare in which they told each other a lot of things.

The older one began to walk away, glancing at his friend one last time before he left. The other boy smiled a bit to himself and walked into the clinic.

*

Luckily, Derek easily found Catori. She was walking around the block, circling around her house in a small stroll to stretch her legs.

"Catori" He called her, effortlessly positioning himself next to her and walking alongside the girl.

She jolted up in fear and let out a startled squeak. Immediately, she sighed in relief and placed a hand upon her chest to try and calm her racing heart.

"Derek..." Catori mumbled in frustration. "I'm not a freaking werewolf, I can't hear you arrive!"

"Sorry..." He apologized in spite of himself. "Didn't mean to scare you"

"What are you doing here anyway?"

"Scott-"

"Say no more" She laughed a little, yet finding it endearing and heartwarming.

It was obvious that Scott hated the idea of leaving her alone even if Stiles was to come when he left. But he couldn't be trusted to arrive on time.

"Babysitting again, huh?" The brown-haired girl rolled her eyes. "Sorry about that"

"I don't mind" He calmly replied, shrugging slightly.

An awkward silence followed as they kept walking, only the sound of their shoes against the pavement breaking the tension.

"How are you feeling?" Derek piped up after a while.

"Slightly less terrified than a few days ago" Catori chuckled nervously. "But as you can see, still jumpy"

"It's nothing to be ashamed of" He fixed his eyes on her, trying to send her a reassuring look. "Everyone's afraid of something"

"Even you, big wolf?" She smiled a bit, softly yet cautiously nudging him on the side.

"Even me" It made him smile in spite of himself.

"The more you know"

"This is yours, by the way" Knowing he would go to see Catori, Derek remembered about the totem they were keeping as a proof.

Now that she was back and safe, he wanted to return it to its rightful owner. Which was her.

"I almost forgot about that!" The girl observed the wooden piece, which looked smaller in Derek's big hands. "I thought Stiles would know something had happened to me if I dropped it and he found it"

"Did he give it to you?"

"Yeah" She chuckled. "It's basically like a white flag"

Derek recalled how Stiles disliked her at first, and he laughed a little at the simile.

"Thank you" Catori softly smiled at him as she took it, which made him like her even more.

That girl managed to get to everyone, they all ended up growing fond of her even if they were reluctant. Like Derek himself. Or Stiles.

"Cat!" And speaking of the devil...

The both of them turned around to see a running Stiles going over to them.

"I'm here!" He rushed to say, wheezing as he put a hand up in a sign that he needed a moment. "I'm here..."

"Scott told me you're late" Derek deadpanned, glancing at him with secret amusement. "What took you so long?"

"Never mind that" The boy straightened himself up and heaved a breath. "I'm here now"

"I can see that, Stiles"

Catori smiled a little to herself, amused by their relationship. And more when the two of them stared at each other in silence, seizing the other.

"I can take over from here, thank you" Stilinski piped up after a while.

Derek looked at her just as her eyes fell on him too. They spoke without any words, and their smiles told them they were thinking the same thing.

If they didn't know him any better, they would say Stiles was... jealous.

*

As he looked around to his friends, Scott realized he wasn't the only one taken aback by the new information.

"You think it would only make sense if it was an amulet instead of a vase?" The boy repeated, dumbfounded. "And that they're trying to use it because the triquetra has great power?"

"Yes" The man nodded. "The vase itself would be useless, but I have heard of powerful amulets used in varied schemes"

"But it would have the power to be actually used?"

"I thought you knew about this" Deaton was taken aback by their surprise. "Didn't Catori tell you?"

"She didn't know much" Kira made a face and shrugged a little.

"All Tori told us was that it was similar to a triskelion and could allude to trio principles like alpha, beta and omega" Scott made a pause, trying to remember what Stiles told him Catori said a long time ago. "And that it shows a connection between those ideals and just that unlike the triskelion, it doesn't show growth or evolution"

"She was partially right, it represents vital cycles" The veterinarian tilted his head. "But not quite completely right"

"What does that mean?" Malia piped up, frowning in confusion.

"It means that, with the right means it can trigger its power and use the triquetra's properties"

"Which are?"

The man was silent for a moment, feeling like what he was about to say would change everything. It was crucial information, but not necessarily good.

"The triquetra is characterized by its healing or killing properties"

"Guess which one the bad guys want..." Liam heaved a shaky sigh in concern.

"And what are those means they would need to unleash its power?" Mason looked at his friend and then back at Deaton.

"The triquetra needs of a smaller power in order to be used, to be activated" The man gravely told them. "And only a supernatural power can do that"

"Where would they find that?"

"It has to be a very specific one, like that of a banshee or any other similar creature"

"Why didn't they use Lydia then?" Malia observed calmly. "She's a banshee"

"Maybe that's why so many girls went missing" Mason thought. "They were trying to find someone with that power"

"Wait..." Kira gasped lowly in realization. "Is that why they took Catori?"

The room turned completely silent. They looked at each other, not daring to say a word. It wasn't really necessary since they knew what they had to do next.

Turned out Stiles was right about Catori in the end.

*

Being in Catori's room again feel strange yet exhilarating for Stiles. It made him feel like he was extremely close to her, almost like he could have a peek inside her- persona. After all, a bedroom says a lot about a person.

"Well..." As he shrugged, the boy rose his arms. "Here we are"

Catori saw his arms open and approached him. Even though she saw him yesterday, she was extremely happy to meet him again.

She wanted to hug him. And his arms were open, which probably meant that he sought the embrace as well. So she went for it.

The girl collided with him and squeezed his torso against her. However, she felt him turning stiff and looked up at him.

"Wow" He mumbled in amazement, looking down to her. "What...?"

"This... this was your fault!" Catori quickly broke the hug and averted her eyes from him, embarrassed.

"What? Why?"

"I thought you wanted me to hug you... your-your arms were open and..."

Since Stiles was so shocked, he couldn't reply. He just stared at her, still not believing Catori Hudson hugged him, Stiles Stilinski, spontaneously.

"I was just cold" She lied, turning red both from embarrassment and annoyance.

"Here then" Quickly, he simply took his hoodie off and put it over her shoulders. "You're always cold, aren't you?"

"I have tons of hoodies here. It's my room, remember?"

"I just want you to have mine, don't be a grumpy cat!"

Catori dedicated him an exasperated expression to show him how done she was because of that silly little pun again. Since he just gave her a goofy grin, she rolled her eyes and let it be.

The girl just put her arms through the sleeves and lied down on her bed comfortably.

"This is gonna be fun" She mumbled to herself, half sarcastically and half seriously.

Slowly, almost as though he was trying to make sure she was okay with it, Stiles sat down with her. It reminded him of that day they spent at his place. The day when they kissed.

They hadn't talked about it again, like it never happened. Even if Stiles was dying to debate about its implications, or at least to do it again.

As an excuse to be closer to her, he lied on his side next to her and rubbed her arm to keep her warm. He actually wished she'd go to sleep, she seemed exhausted.

An awkward silence settled in Catori's bedroom since none of them said anything. They didn't really know what to say. That was exactly why Stiles decided to break the ice. He stirred a little before he gathered the courage to speak up.

"If I tell you something you promise not to tell anyone?"

Catori sent him a glare full of suspicion and curiosity.

"What is it?" She gave in after a few seconds.

"I was late because I was finishing this" The boy gingerly took something out of his pocket, holding it carefully like it was a baby.

"A dreamcatcher?" Catori sat up and gently took it from his hands.

"It might help with your nightmares" He shrugged like it was no big deal. "And it also goes along with your heritage, just like the totem"

The boy fixed his eyes on the totem that Catori put over her bedside table. He smiled to himself, recalling what she told him a while ago about Derek giving it back to her. Stiles liked that she got his gift back.

When he gazed at her, his smile widened since she was admiring the objet in her hands.

Nimbly, she got on her knees on the bed and faced the headboard, hanging the dreamcatcher from it. As she returned to her previous sitting position, her eyes fell on him. Stiles was staring back at her, almost admiring her calmly.

"Thank you" Thinking that doing it fast would negate it, she pecked his cheek briefly.

They lied on their backs without saying a word, blushing and with a confusing combination of emotions and thoughts bursting inside them. Catori held back the need to snuggle closer to him.

"Can I tell you something back?" She whispered, feeling herself fidgety and uneasy.

"Sure"

"I guess you need to tell everyone about it, though..." Catori sighed in resignation. "I just feel more comfortable telling you about it"

She didn't understand why, though. Lydia and Scott were her friends as much as Stiles was, probably even more due to her differences with the latter.

Yet somehow she knew what their reactions would be to their confession. Scott would freak out and she didn't want to show weakness in front of him just because of it. Lydia would hide it better, but... The girl just knew that Stiles would be the only one that wouldn't make a big deal out of it. Even if it was, even if it was huge.

But he would pretend like it wasn't. He would stay calm for her and act like she needed him to. That was why she wanted to tell him and no one else. Even if they would eventually have to pass the information over to the rest.

Stiles observed her expectantly, waiting to see what was so important.

"I remember a woman" Catori gulped, seeing as her memories were even more painful than she thought. "She was the alpha, and she was the one that did this to my neck"

When the boy noticed she was talking about what happened at the Nemeton, he opened his eyes wide in shock and intently listened.

"I don't remember much, just tiny pieces here and there..."

"Anything helps"

Catori nodded and rummaged through her mind, trying to gather any memories no matter how small and insignificant.

"There were werewolves and other creatures I didn't even know... And they all gave me the creeps, but especially that woman... I don't know what she was"

"Do you remember who she was, though?" Stiles urged her, feeling like they were so close to solving the puzzle. "Did you know her?"

"I don't remember... It's all kinda hazy"

"Anything else then?"

"I remember something they said... It was me who they were looking for. And they wanted me for something"

When she became silent, Stiles figured she was finished talking. He stared at her in concern, hating he was always right. She had something to do with the other girls missing. Those girls were taken because the bad guys thought they were Catori. They were looking for her. And apparently, to get something from her. Which explained why he knew she was different or special somehow.

Catori sighed deeply and that caught his attention. She was anxious.

When it came to her, Stiles was almost like a werewolf. He could almost feel her restlessness since he knew her so well. He didn't need Scott's powers to know.

"What was the last time you trained jujitsu?" He snapped out of the blue.

Her first response was a funny face of perplexity. Then she gawked at him as she opened and closed her mouth, trying to find words to speak her mind.

"What the hell does that have to do with anything?"

"I bet it helps you vent your anger and anxiety" He smirked, proud of his idea. Then he picked up a pillow and held it over his chest.

That smirk lingered on his lips, silly and quite adorable.

"Are you going to be my punching bag, Stiles?" Smug as well, she stood up from the bed.

"I mean, I can try..."

Catori grinned, knowing what he was doing. And it was indeed a good idea.

It distracted her and also helped her get rid of all her repressed emotions. Just like jujitsu did before she stopped training.

It was things like these why she liked him so much.

*

Catori was about to open the door so Stiles could leave the house when it opened by itself. Lucy appeared, accompanied by no other than Scott McCall.

"Mom?"

"Hi" Mrs. Hudson waved to her daughter and to her friend. "I ran into Scott and he was coming here too"

"Just wanted to check on you guys" He dedicated them his sweet smile and did a cute shrug.

"Well, come on in" Catori invited him in. "We can hang out"

Scott and Stiles went into the living room while the girl greeted her mother.

"How are you, sweetie?" The woman kissed her daughter in the cheek.

"I'm fine, Stiles was with me"

"These friends of yours are lovely"

"They sure are" Catori looked over his shoulder to them and thought that she was so fond of those two nerds.

"Sorry that I'm so late" Lucy mumbled as she took her coat off. "Got hold back at the museum"

"How so?"

"Apparently there was an amulet inside that vase that disappeared the day of the robbery"

"And they tell you just now?"

"It seems they just discovered it"

"Well... Now that you're home get some rest, mom"

"You have fun with your friends, Catori"

They briefly hugged and the girl then went to join their friends.

She frowned when she realized they were murmuring and Stiles slapped Scott's arms in restlessness.

"What's going on?" Catori announced her presence, seeing as they hadn't noticed.

Well, Stiles didn't. Scott probably did.

"Did your mom say there was an amulet in the vase?" The latter asked her while the other boy was in deep thought.

"Yeah, why?"

"Deaton talked about it, not even knowing it actually existed"

Just then Stiles broke out of his daydream and fidgeted around, wrapping her wrist and pulling at her.

"We need to talk"

*

Scott left claiming he was needed somewhere else and he just passed by to quickly check on her. Catori knew it was Stiles' doing since he wanted to be alone with her. She knew the two of them two well already.

Stiles and Catori took a walk even after the one she took with Derek. But this one was much longer as they needed to talk about so many things.

The boy updated her in everything, and after that they were just too far away from the Hudson residence and decided to wander around. It didn't take them too much longer to walk back because Catori just turned around and began heading home.

When they engaged in conversation again after it died down, they were almost home again.

"You look exhausted" He piped up, observing her.

"Maybe because I am" She grumped tiredly, dragging her feet along the ground.

­"Come on, grumpy Cat" Stiles chuckled, nudging her kindly. "When was the last time you got a good night's sleep?"

"Let me see..." The girl pretended to be thoughtful. "I think it was before I found out that my friends were supernatural creatures. Or that I was kidnapped by murderous werewolves and their alpha. Somewhere in there"

"You still got it" He laughed a little, amused by her fierce sarcasm.

Catori wanted to reply, but didn't in the end.

She couldn't be bothered to do so, not being able to think anything witty enough in response. Besides, the girl was so exhausted that even being on her feet felt like such a challenge.

Those last few days had been crazy, she got very little sleep and her constant mental state didn't help. Not to mention the walk with Derek and then Stiles and the improvised jujitsu training.

Catori didn't even remember the last time she felt so was worn out.

Stiles observed her in silence with an evil grin as they entered the house. She lazily yelled a greeting to the house, to wherever her mother Lucy was.

The boy walked her up the stairs, watching that she didn't wobble and being ready to reach out to support her if needed.

Once in her room again, Catori tiredly plopped down on the bed. Stiles couldn't suppress an amused chuckle.

"You okay over there?" He tried to hide his smirk as he walked closer to have a better look at her.

"Mhm" The girl hummed affirmatively, too exhausted to even speak.

She had closed her eyes and embraced the great feeling of lying down to give her sore muscles a breather. Besides, with all those crazy events from the last days she was emotionally tired as well.

"What do you say, are you up to-?" When the boy turned to look at her, he noticed she had fallen asleep.

Stiles grinned to himself as he put the blanket over her. His plan had worked.