Who: Ava Mills and Peter Hale When: Sunday morning after Hurley stabbed her (super backdated) Where: Guest room at Gideon’s cabin What: Recovering from fire surgery sucks Status: Complete
Ava remembered being picked up by Gideon and being pissed that Hurley was getting away. One twitch to be let down made her scream again. All she could do was hold on to the large Alpha and focus on being alive. What came next when they reached his cabin was a special kind of hell she would like to never live through again. There was only one way to get rid of the wolvesbane in her system. Fire. As soon as Gideon touched it to her injury the rest was a blur of pain until she blacked out entirely.
Waking up was a lot more enjoyable, which wasn’t saying much. She was sore from the fight and her muscles clenching. Then there was the warning twinge in her belly that told her she was not going to be moving from wherever she was for a little while. And all of this before she even opened her eyes.
Her nostrils flared as she caught a familiar scent. ”....I knew you wanted to get me in bed but this is fucked up even for you….” Her voice sounded like someone took sandpaper to her throat, and she coughed more than she chuckled.
*** Peter had wasted no time in leaving his place and heading to Gideon’s. He still couldn’t believe that Ava had been attacked. She should have never gone off by herself. If she hadn’t, maybe none of this would have been happening.
He wanted to go after Hurley. But that could wait. At least for now.
By the time he had gotten there, Ava had passed out from everything. And even so, he pretty much stayed by her side, plotting the many ways he was going to make Hurley pay for what he had done to Ava.
He didn’t remember falling asleep, but hearing Ava woke him up. He looked at her, small smirk on his lips. “The opportunity was too good to pass up.” He paused for a moment before asking, “How are you feeling?”
***
“Like I got stabbed by a knife covered in raw wolvesbane then sat on by an Alpha who has no right being that huge while he pushed fire into my open wound.” Her eyes slit open as she lolled her head carefully to the side, smiled slightly as she reached a hand out to Peter. “So, y’know. Sex is out.”
Next problem. “How many photos do I owe the advent calendar?” In other words, she didn’t know how long she’d been out and this was her way of asking.
*** “You were already passed out by the time I got here.” So, he didn’t get to see anything that happened, which was probably for the best because he probably would have turned around and tracked Hurley down himself. “For now,” he said as he grabbed a hold of her hand.
She smiled. He had forgotten about that. He had been too worried about Ava. “You owe me last nights and I’m pretty sure you’ll be owing me tonight's, too.”
***
The squeeze she gave his hand was far weaker than her usual grip. She was trying to put on a good show, but she wasn’t trying to get out of bed which might have been predictable, and she looked a little thin around the edges.
“I think Gideon took my phone so I guess I’ll have to send you a bunch when I can muscle it back from him.” Ava’s chuckle was a little less rattly in her chest as she brought Peter’s hand to her lips to press a kiss to his fingertips.
“Get the stupid out of your head, Peter.” She arched a brow at him.
*** Peter wasn’t used to seeing Ava like this. He was used to her being able to kick anyones ass in a moments notice. This Ava, this Ava was hurt and weak at the moment. And it seriously still pissed him off to think some jerk from another place figured out their weakness. They were all fucked until that psycho is brought down.
“I can wait,” he told with a half a smile.
“What stupid?” It was almost like she could read his mind. He hated that she could do that.
***
“Can you,” Ava said. It was far less of a question than a challenge. She had a personal bet running with herself on how long it took before Peter snapped from her Advent Calendar photos and just tossed her over a shoulder. Her current downtime wouldn’t count toward the final tally. The smirk she gave Peter, though a far cry from a normal one from her, backed up her amused challenge.
It was a shaky effort, but she tightened her grip on Peter’s hand. “You know what stupid. Don’t you go gunning for this guy and especially not alone.” She paused. “Not over me.” That sucked to admit, and it was dirty pool, but if it kept Peter from running off alone she’d fight dirty.
*** Peter gave Ava a nod of his head. “Yeah, I can wait.” Ava getting better was the top priority right now. Their little tease fest over the phone could continue another day.
“Ah, right, that stupid,” he said with a hint of more seriousness. “If I went after this guy, I wouldn’t do it alone. He took you out. That says something. I would take Gideon with me if I had to.” Ava shouldn’t worry about what he might do. She needed to focus on herself.
***
He was being weird. Correction, he was making this weird. If Ava was forced to say she’d say he was being schmoopy. Not that there was anything wrong with schmoopy. It was just weird coming from Peter. Ava decided to test the waters a little.
“He fights dirty,” she said. It was good information for them to have, but she wanted to see Peter’s reaction to the details she was going to give. “And he’s seriously fucked in the head. Even after I made sure his nose was seriously broken he kept laughing. Telling me to bring it on.” Now this one. “And that daddy would kiss it better.”
***
“Obviously,” he said as he motioned to Ava’s injuries. “Maybe he was trying to throw you off of your guard or, like you said, he’s fucked in the head.” He didn’t really know. All he had to go off of was what Ava told him and what little bits have been floating around within Scott’s pack. “I think I’m going to go talk to Gideon.” He wanted to know more and he had a feeling the Alpha knew some details that Ava didn’t.
***
Shit. That backfired. Ava had a spike of worry and fear shove itself into her chest and this time her grip on Peter’s hand was more desperate. “Don’t.” There was a hint of pleading in her voice and her eyes. For once she let her weakness show. Fucking Peter anyway. Only he could get her to this.
“Stay with me. For a while at least.” She’d lost him once because of his actions. She just found him again, and they were coming to an understanding. Ava wasn’t willing to lose him again because of hers. “Please?”
*** “I’m not going anywhere.” Not at the moment. He would wait for Ava to fall back asleep before he slips out and talks to Gideon. He leaned in and kissed her temple. This was definitely a side to him that most people didn’t get to see. “You should try and get some more sleep. You’ve been through a lot.”
***
It occurred to Ava that this was the first time Peter kissed her since they split all those years ago. The fact that it was an affectionate kiss instead of a lusty, passionate one was interesting. It told her a lot about where Peter’s head was in relation to her. Surprisingly, Ava was ok with it, and smiled.
“Give me a break,” she said. There was relief and affection in her voice, however. “Like I’m some wilting flower or something.” She scooted to the side away from Peter, and kept herself from flinching when the movement pulled on her wound. A few beads of sweat formed on her forehead, betraying what she was hiding. “Get in here with me so I can fall asleep on you.”
*** “Trust me when I say that I know that you’re no wilting flower. You’re anything but that. Right now, though, you’re hurt.” All he wanted was for Ava to get better and fast just in case that jackass decided to attack again or worse finish what he started with Ava, especially if he knows what wolfsbane can do to them.
Watching the way she moved and how much effort it took only proved what he had been saying. She needed to rest and get better. “If it’ll get you to rest…” he didn’t hesitate at all to get under the covers with Ava.
***
As soon as Peter was situated Avan draped an arm over him and put her head against his chest. Hearing his heartbeat along with the touch of someone she trusted relaxed her, and her eyes drifted shut.
“You are such a mom…” she mumbled before she slipped into sleep.