“I know.” Hayley whispered back quietly as he reassured her that he was there with her.  “I just-You’re the most important person in my life, Jackson. If you would’ve died out there tonight, I think some part of me would have too.” She whispered quietly into the abyss of silence that was now taking shape. The words weren’t easy for the wolf in the slightest. Admitting those things meant admitting that she cared about someone more than she cared about herself; it meant that she’d accepted the fact that maybe she could have a family, even one that wasn’t made out of blood and ancestry. As for as she was concerned, she’d found a home after two decades without a true one, and now anything that threatened that shaky foundation, left her at a lost and stagnant with fear. Hayley only prayed that Jackson understood that she was more upset than she’d let on she could be.

The silence in the cabin was appreciated. Hayley knew their wolves weren’t far out of reach, but they’d respected the fact that herself and Jackson needed a few hours of just peace before they got back into their daily routines. “You know we’ll never see a dime.” The wolf muttered as his hand patted her smaller one. She was glad to see a smile finally break through from the other before returning the gesture easily. “It’s good to see you smile even though you just played chicken with a bullet and lost.” She whispered, fingertips trailing against the bottom of the bandage as she checked to see if blood was seeping through in any areas. 

Her fingers were idle against the curve down from his shoulder into his bicep while his own danced over them. She honestly wasn’t quite sure how the other alpha was even still conscious after the night’s affairs. Hayley was running on empty herself, and she hadn’t been punctured with a silver bullet. “I swear, if he in any way tries to blame us for this, your gonna have to drag me back to the Bayou by my hair because I will go ballistic on that prick.” She nearly growled, her fingers tensing around his muscle as she imagined whatever smart ass spin the vampire would try to put on the whole ordeal. “Me too.” Hayley muttered softly, as she looked up to him through her lashes and sighed quietly. “Would you tell me if you were honestly in pain?” She questioned, still hesitant to move knowing his arm had to be sensitive. Waiting for a rejection, the wolf then moved upwards slightly until her head rested against his shoulder so she could keep an eye-well, an ear, on his heartbeat.

Her words weighed on him as he thought them over. Jackson knew that she wouldn’t offer them lightly. The other wolf had been through enough in her life that they weren’t just fluff. He hoped Hayley knew she was just as important. It wasn’t every day a long lost wolf returned home and he damn well didn’t take that lightly. A part of him boiled at the thought that she had been put in a situation where she got hurt again. Maybe it was a little unrealistic and even a bit hypocritical but hell, he couldn’t help but feel it. Girl had been through enough.

“I buttered you up with alcohol, didn’t I?” Hayley teased, offering her own glass out for a clink before smirking at him above the rim. She didn’t think it was that personal of a question, but then again, she had never really thought about the idea herself to know how she’d feel about being asked about it. The Labonair had always pictured herself as a lone wolf; even just settling down with someone for the rest of her life seemed obtuse.

“Really? My mind was about 75% rage, and 25% find something to reduce the rage.” The alpha hummed softly as she tapped her fingers against the wooden arm of the chair before her head swiveled back in his direction at the mention of his revenge plots. “Alright, Robin Hood. Spill what exactly you were planning to do to the kingdom before you calmed down.” She asked, curiosity getting the better of her words. There’d be times when Hayley contemplated sneaking into the Quarter and biting every vampire in sight, but she imagined that it wouldn’t exactly come down well on her pack if she were to do that. So, she’d chosen to just run until she tired her wolf form out enough to get some sleep. It’s how most of her days were passed for those terrible months.

“You’ll have them, Jackson. Not a small part of me doubts that that Bayou charm is gonna do someone in so deep, the pack is gonna have to play the lotto to see who takes over when we’re old has beens in wheelchairs.” She teased softly as she fished a bite of greens into her mouth with her fork. Hayley imagined it’d only be a few more years before she was forced to turn Jack over to his new best friend for life, and a part of her wasn’t ready to do that. He was the only person that had her full trust, and without being able to really lean on him anymore, she feared she’d wind up going slightly mad. “Yeah, there is all of that, but if you and I can get our jobs done decently, they should have a lot less to worry about than we did growing up.” She smiled softly, bringing her glass upwards to sip some of the liquid before releasing a long sigh as the kid conversation slowly changed tides. 

“Oh, I’m not sure there are ever going to be any kids coming out of this body.” She chuckled softly as he mentioned her having kids. “I’m not good with them like you are, Jack. You’re right, I’d protect them with every fiber of my being, but that doesn’t mean they’ll grow up right with me as a mother. I never had a good mom of my own. I doubt being a foster kid with an attitude problem helped me acquire any skills that would aid in awakening my maternal instincts.” She huffed out. “Besides, who’s gonna put up with me for another sixty plus years? That may be an even bigger problem than my future spawns.”

One thing about Jackson is his ability to poke fun, but in an harmless and playful way which gets received very well from her. She might sport a stoic expression right now, but it is certainly not a real indication of what her mood is, because inside, the young Hale is amused. This finally comes through by the way her lips curl up at the edges and she lets out a small chuckle. The elbow to the ribs is just an added bonus. 

The small grip between finger and thumb, remain on the cuff of his shirt for a moment or two as they start to walk, casually dropping a few seconds later as she looks up at him and a soft expression graces her face. “It will always be like my second home…so….good.” The Hale house will remain has her family home, safely captured in her heart where nobody can hurt it or her deceased family any more. Her first home is with her brother at the loft, but both the bayou and Jackson will always be special to the young wolf. 

“That’s okay…it’s like furniture and things….they can always be rebuilt and replaced…the area always stays familiar and the same though–with the same group of people…which is what I take comfort in.” Cora isn’t so keen on banging into Hayley right now, because she has been deliberately avoiding the female alpha since their last encounter, so hopefully she won’t be around. “Come on then, Jacks….I wanna eat and then maybe take you up on that offer of sparring?”–something she has always enjoyed with him. “Let’s see if I can beat you there…” Without a word of a warning, Cora sets off running full speed to the bayou.

As the other man confirmed his suspicion that the snipers had moved on for the time being, Isaac rose from his crouched position but kept alert in case the gunfire grew closer. He dabbed the wound with a wet cloth to clean it more, exposing the entry wound of the bullet now that the blood and cleaning solution were wiped away. If it had been through and through it would have been easier but from the look of things, the bullet was lodged in there and was the reason for the lack of healing and intensified. Grimacing, Isaac paused and looked down at the tools he had brought back with him. He couldn’t physically touch the bullet himself but it needed to be removed if he was going to get the other out of here…

“Isaac,” he returned at the introduction as he briefly took his thoughts away from the predicament. It might not be the smartest thing to reveal who he was to an Alpha but he had stopped to help so he might as well talk to distract him from the pain. “If I don’t remove the bullet, it won’t matter how tight the bandage is. It’ll mess you up from the inside out.” Sliding on a pair of latex gloves, he held up a small pocket knife and what looked like a large pair of tweezers. “Just….don’t hold this against me. Hold still.”

Leaning further into the driver’s side, Isaac was very aware of the smell of blood and just how close he was to the Alpha. If the other lashed out, the space was too small and tight, and with no way to defend himself he would be screwed. His blue eyes flickered to the other once more before inserting the pocket knife into the wound - he needed to be able to see the bullet better before he could think about removing it. And the other would heal just as soon as he removed it.

Trying to focus on the outside commotion rather than the heartbeat and the painful sounds coming from Jackson, Isaac was finally able to grasp the end of the projectile with the tweezer-like tool and pull it out - quick to toss it away from both of them. “That should-…!” he braced himself as the whole street seemed to shake with some sort of explosion in the direction of the Opera House. Reacting quickly, he back out of the car door and pressed a piece of gauze into the hand of the other. “Apply pressure, but without the silver…you should heal now.”

Isaac had a point. Fuck he had a point. Nodding slowly, Jackson didn’t argue with what needed to be done. From the pain and the bare ability to move the arm, he worried that there was more done to it but silver had to go if there was gonna be any hope for everything else. Shifting slightly in the seat he made sure to keep his hands needs the bottom of the leather seat below him. If there was any need to grip onto something he had the perfect thing that was soft flesh and bone. Watching the pocket knife get near him, he turned his head towards the passenger side before taking a deep breath.

The smile of Jack’s was always such a heart warmer. It never failed to make her own stick around a little longer than it normally would have. Eventually, it did fade as their conversation steered back towards Marcel. “I know, but I’m not exactly a social bumble bee either. My words are kind of, uh, blunt?” She offered, looking to Jack, sure he’d know what she meant about her speaking temperaments. “I just don’t want to piss him off more and cause you all to suffer because of it if he gets under my skin. I mean, truth be told, he is already under it, and if I had my way right now, I may well smack him with that  hot frying pan a few thousand times.” She huffed before looking back to the other alpha and sighing softly. “I know, I know. I need to be the happy, smiley wolf who makes all things good and all the creatures come and adore her like Snow White. Then all the creatures can live together happily ever after.” Hayley mocked as she tapped her fingers against her lips. “Why don’t you prep me? You know, let me run through a few things with you before I go bouncing off to war. It’ll relax me some anyways knowing I can pull phrases out of the Jackson approved manual should I ever need to.” She teased with a soft smirk.

“Hell, I need all the toes, fingers, and elbows I can get. My knife skills are still in the beginner stages.” Hayley laughed as she shook her head and set a few of the cutting boards into the sink before her attention found its way back onto the taller male. “Maybe one day, I’ll be the one teaching you a few things in the kitchen–and by that, I definitely mean how to mix a mean cocktail or two. No way in hell will I ever be elevated to a proper Bayou chef like yourself. Good thing too. Wouldn’t want to be the wolf who ate a little to much and got stuck in god knows what hole or gap in the trees.” Hayley teased before tapping her fingers gently against the wood of her door before pushing it back more so it’d stay open for him to exit through. 

“You think you’ll ever have any of your own?” The wolf asked softly, her brows crinkling together as she looked towards Jackson whilst popping a bite of meat into her mouth. Her lips were all too happy to accept such a delectable piece of meat, and she even went as far as to lick her lips to ensure not an ounce of it was left unattended to. “I mean, I know everyone thinks they will, but have you thought about it?” She explained further as her eyes rolled down to her plate as she began to cut away another piece of meet; though, it didn’t take much effort to slide the piece free as the meat’s preparation had made it plenty tender. “I think I’d have to commit you. Those kids would definitely need a full time jungle gym jack.” Hayley teased before snorting as he mentioned a baby boom.

 “-Hey, who are we to judge. When you’re stuck like that, you have all kinds of urges. I half considered it once just so I’d have something to do other than to pad around.” The wolf hummed before shaking her head slowly. “But, I don’t think that I’m cut out to be a mom to a kid or a pup. Half the time I still act like I need parenting myself.” The wolf confessed as she propped her feet up a bit and eased own another bite. 

“Wolves died because of me. You got shot, Jackson. Someone put a goddamn bullet in your shoulder.” Hayley whispered against his chest. Small hands splayed out over his lower abdomen as she slowly retracted from the hug, but she wasn’t willing to give up physical contact with the other wolf just yet. Half of her was hell bent on not letting him out of her sight until he was completely healed, and she could be sure that nothing interrupted or complicated his healing process. 

“Y-You could’ve died out there, Jack.”

The words caused her physical pain to speak, and while her hands could tangibly tell that he was there with her, it didn’t stop the tidal waves of what ifs and guilt that were constantly rolling through her psyche. The warmth of his hand falling down her back caused her frame to tilt back into his own as she pressed herself into his good side and lingered there as she toyed with the edges of his bandaging. Hayley couldn’t speak much without the threat of tears slipping out or her words failing her all together. Out of all of the people she cared for in this world, she was firmly positive that losing Jackson would take the most toll on her. With Jackson, the brunette knew what it was like that have a home, to have a place you knew had safety waiting for you with open arms no matter what time of day it was. In the riptide that was her life, he was the thing that’d kept her afloat, and now that she knew what it was like to believe she’d lost him, the alpha had sworn to herself she’d never have to face such a thing again so long as she was still breathing.

Minutes passed, and she was aware that he probably didn’t want to be vertical right now between the pain of his shoulder and the lack of sleep they’d both gotten. “You should lay down.” She breathed softly as she slowly stood up straight and finally let her hands release his skin from beneath their touch. Waiting for him to do what she’d said, the girl looked around the room with her weight resting on her good hip. The brunette was nearly positive that she’d managed to undo the reset and possibly caused more damage than the tree had originally. She’d been on her feet since the ordeal, not willing to lay down and rest until she’d seen for her own eyes that he was alright and safe. With that notion, the brunette glanced over to Jackson before one hand went out to the wall to brace herself on as she eased her smaller frame down onto the bed. 

It took her a few moments to drag herself upwards on the bed until she could guide her head down onto the pillow and finally allowed her body to unwind. “-Do you care if I stay here?” She whispered softly, kicking over her shoes before pulling a sheet over herself. “I can’t bring myself to go home right now.” The alpha admitted to the other. She couldn’t tell him that she didn’t want to be alone. Right now, all the girl wanted was comfort and reassurance. Hayley didn’t want to talk about the wolves they’d lost, how angry she was with Derek for biting Damon, or her hip. She just wanted to be still. Hayley needed to just let herself come down of the events of the night before processing them was even brought into the question. Rolling over onto her side then, the wolf grimaced before placing a hand against Jack’s shoulder so she’d know he was there, and that this wasn’t some form of nightmare bred by the vervain and wolfsbane pumped into the opera house. “I think my hip’s busted again. Between that  and your shoulder, think we can comp some kind of health insurance outta Marcel for his shitty party?” Hayley whispered, trying to let some of her normal self peek through, if only in sarcasm for now.

Cora knows him well–she can read the way he sports that delicately placed frown and how he continues to pursue some line of calm composure with whatever she throws at him. This is why she has always been able to talk to him though.

“I do….” Her own expression is welcoming and appreciative at the way he can read her too. She wants to fight without getting into any more trouble and so sparring feels like the perfect opportunity to do so. It also polishes her usual skills. “Maybe we can talk a little…and then I can kick your ass and show you who is boss.” There’s a playfulness in her words, even though a serious thread runs through them too. Cora knows full well she would never be able to beat Jackson–but this is not what any of this is about. “Pink fuzzy ones?…really?” Internally she is amused at him. Externally, the young Hale just sports a stoic expression. “Because yes..they would really suit me…” Her arm moves and there’s a quick elbow to Jackson’s ribs and it is then a smirk appears on her lips. “Save the pink for some other teenager.”

A determined reaction ripples through her as she nods and agrees with him about having plenty of fight left in her. “I will always have enough of that…I refuse to be beat.” Even though some days it feels like she is suffocating. 

Her gaze connects with his and just when she thinks there is going to be one of those moments, Jackson injects some lightheartedness into it. Though it’s debatable just how much truth is there. It is exactly something she would have done and said, so Cora chuckles. “Either that, or I will rip it off and shove it so far up their ass, their fingers will tickle their tonsils.” She blinks and takes the cuff of his sleeve. “C’mon…we can go back to the bayou for a while, right?…I’d like to spend a little time out there.”