Xander's Cross, Oregon: a small town ringed with forbidding mountains and misty forest. The sky may be gray, but the townspeople are welcoming to people of all kinds...and things that are not quite human as well. Here the native shifters, aliens, werewolves, and witches live in peace. They have yet to find out the new business owners encroaching on the land are also vampires.
The peace has been broken by murder, however, and things in Xander's Cross are about to become quite a bit darker.
Welcome to your new home.
is it better to out-monster the monster or to be quietly devoured?
August 20, 2020
The mayor, Rowan Starkwood, was found dead less than a mile from his home. Rumors say his body was mutilated, but the state of the body has not yet been released to the public.
Post by Paige Anderson on Aug 15, 2020 22:33:06 GMT -5
"Thinkin' about you, you're in my head, Even without you, I still feel dead, Why do I run back to you, like I don't mind if you fuck up my life?" Paige Anderson bobbed her head to the loud music of All Time Low blasting in from her AirPods. Her right arm was in a sling but it didn't stop her from doing her little dance down the street to the medical clinic. She was dressed in cut off short overalls, a white t-shirt, and her hiking boots. Her long blonde hair was tied in a side braid that bounced on her shoulder while she silently rocked out on her walk to her doctor's appointment.
She'd refused her mom's offer of a ride, wanting the exercise. And if she was lucky, the sling could come off today and she could run again. She had issues staying still anyways. Those three months in Iraqi hospital before she'd been able to come home and heal had been hell. And being a werewolf? Talk about getting creative in disappearing... She was happy to finally be home. Her hip and still ached, but it was getting better. As was her collar bone where the bullet had shattered it. After two surgeries and bed rest, she had full function of her arm. Or at least, she thought she did. The Doc would determine that today. "I'm wondering why do all the monsters come out at night? Why do we sleep when we want to hide?" She spun herself around so she was walking backward, doing a little bop while she hopped in place, and then dropped into a small lunge while she did a headbang. Not caring at all if she looked like a weirdo dancing in public. She grew up with half the people in town anyway, they should have expected this. Paige didn't give a shit about anyone or what they thought of her. If she wanted to dance, she was sure as hell going to dance. Even at 7:45 in the morning.
Her boots scuffed against the ground and she slid her feet while she mouthed the words to the song. When she spotted Haven Medical Center right in front of her Not realizing she'd nearly danced her way past it. Her dancing slowed and she realized she was a bit out of breath. Her hip ached her a bit but she ignored it. Doing a small stretch so it didn't pull to much on her. She pulled the air pods out of her ears and then put them in her front overall pocket. She took out her phone and flipped Spotify off, and then pulled the door open with her good arm. Cold air instantly hit her in the face and Haven certainly smelled like any other clinic. That hospital sterile smell. She scrunched her nose, closing the door behind her. She was early, but on time for her 8:00 appointment. She'd wanted it early so she could enjoy the day with hopefully two free arms.
It was her first time here at Haven. She hadn't been home in over two years, save for a Christmas ago when she'd been here on a short leave before getting deployed. The new clinic (At least to her) seemed pretty nice. Her mother had nothing but praise about it, especially about the two Docs who ran it. H"They're sweet boys!" She's said. To Brenda Anderson, all boys were sweet. Paige would be the judge of that. From what she knew her medical records had been sent over beforehand so they'd be aware she was injured in the line of duty. Still humming the song she'd just been listening too she wandered over to a seat. No one was around yet, and she eyed the giant jar of what looked like cookies. Cookies? Weren't they supposed to have like...healthy food? Like Apples? An apple a day kept the doctor away right?
Her stronger than the average human hearing could hear faint laughter from the back somewhere, and she leaned over in her seat to try and look down the long hallway but didn't see anything. She huffed tapping her foot, while she began to wait. Hoping these Dr. Hunt and Dr. Carson didn't keep her waiting too long.
Post by Blake Carson on Aug 15, 2020 22:53:49 GMT -5
Blake rode his bike around a corner, the coffee was safely secured in their travel mugs in the small basket he kept at the front of his bike, and the bag of pastries was held securely between his teeth, as he coasted up the street to Haven. He was running a bit behind that morning, but he managed to make up the time. He turned down to the back of the clinic. Greeted by the small empty parking lot. He hopped off the bike, pushing his glasses up on his nose before he wrestled the bike up the few steps and fumbled with his keys. He pushed the door open, elbowing to the side so he could get his bike in. "Unt Uu ere!?" He hollered around the brown bag he was still holding with his teeth. He walked the bike the short distance into the staff room, putting it in the corner before he grabbed the bag and tossed it on the table. "Hunt!" He yelled again. He knew he was late, but was Cal Late too? It wouldn't surprise him...
He unbuckled his helmet, resting it on the handlebars before grabbing the travel mugs. He started to hum as he began to track down regular mugs. With his arms full he wandered to the small table and opened the brown bag, pulling out his blueberry scone. He held it between his teeth as he walked across the hall to the room that kept their lockers and the bunk beds. Blake flipped the light on, quickly changing into his dark navy scrubs. He was placing his stethoscope around his neck when he came back out, half his scone already eaten by the time he came out. He walked quickly to the front of the Clinic, pushing open the door that separated the back of the clinic from the front, and went to unlock the front door. Flipping on lights as he went. He stopped by the front desk to see who their first patients of the day were. His eyes widened slightly, "Well shit." He said with his mouthful. He found the files and tucked them under his arm before going to the staff room. "Mornin' sleeping beauty!" He said a bit too cheerfully. He tossed the files on the table. "You want the kid with possible poison oak, grandma with the sniffles, or gunshot checkup?" He asked. He was bouncing on the balls of his feet. As much as he loved the family practice and the quiet life, he'd be lying if gunshot check-in didn't get his blood pumping.
last edited Aug 15, 2020 23:05:40 GMT -5 by Blake Carson
But if love was enough, I wouldn't feel this way. I'm incomplete.
He had dreamed of her again. Those wide, dark eyes. The swirls of dark hair atop her head. The way she smelled and how those tiny fingers curled around one of his own. Sometimes it still felt so real, that he thought that when he woke up, he'd walk down the hall to find her chubby smiling face. But that's all it ever was, just a dream. It was strange, though, because he hadn't dreamed of his daughter in months, and suddenly thoughts of Brianna had been keeping him up nearly every night this week.
And it had been one of those nights.
Cal remained at the clinic overnight because he couldn't seem to calm his brain. He was afraid to sleep and just kept himself busy, knowing that the moment he shut his eyes, that sense of dread was going to claim him. When exhaustion finally hit, he didn't bother going home and crashed in one of the beds until his phone beeped obnoxiously to wake him up a few short hours later...barely ten minutes prior to when the clinic should be open.
Sitting upright, he shut the alarm off and tossed his cell aside, running a hand down his face. Fingers filtered through that dark hair to give it a quick brush before he was able to find it in him to get up to his feet. Callum was still in a bit of a fog as he wandered to the restroom in hopes splashing cold water on his face would wake him up. Managing to clean up a bit and be somewhat presentable, dressing into clean scrubs, he heard Blake fumbling with his bike at the back entrance. He was calling out to him, but Cal didn't respond right away. He had to wake up, forget the dream and move on before the other doc could sense something was wrong.
He told Blake a lot of things, probably everything in all honesty. All except for the fact that he was a werewolf...and Brianna. Those were the only things he kept secret from the man. Maybe it was foolish, but Cal wasn't ready to talk about Bri even a year and a half later, and he truly didn't think Blake could handle the whole "wolf thing". Which was funny considering this town was filled with many beings that the human doctor was unaware of.
While his friend was opening up, Cal wandered his way back to the break room because he immediately smelled the coffee and scones, although he could go for a huge, greasy breakfast sandwich right about now. Blake ate like a bloody mouse sometimes and the wolf was probably going to be cranky until he could get some real food in him. He was grateful, though, and was already nearly done shoving that pastry into his face by the time Blake came back in, tossing the files onto the table.
Ocher eyes flickered up to him with a look that clearly stated he didn't need to bother asking. Of course he wasn't going to turn down the gunshot. However, it was a little surprising to hear such a thing in Xander's Cross. Finishing off the scone, he was reaching for that particular file: Anderson, Paige. Marine Corporal, currently on leave for injuries out in the field. Gunshot wound on her left hip; collarbone fractured and underwent reconstructive surgery. Well, that explained it. Still, it was perhaps the most lively injury this place had gotten in some time.
"The kids and old women love you, you know that," he said in way of answering him. He heard the faint chime of the bell above the door when someone already came in. There was rarely ever a time that they didn't have a patient promptly there when the clinic opened. It was usually the older people, too. But just as Cal was going to say something else, he paused. Eyes flickered through the doorway of the staff room in the direction of the clinic's entrance as though he could see it. Whoever it was wasn't human. Whoever it was, they were wolfen.
Not that he thought every mythic was a danger, but Cal tried to take these cases as frequently as possible to spare Blake any surprise. So now, he was praying this presence wasn't the poison oak kid. He didn't do well around kids these days. He much rather take the sniffling granny. Scooping up the other two files in case, he lightly hit Blake on the side of the arm with them before making his way out. "Don't worry, I've got this one."
The moment he turned away, the grin on his face dissipated and he made his way to the waiting room. That feeling grew, that familiar draw to another of his kind making him move just a little bit faster, making his chest tighten as he recalled what it had been like to be around other wolves. It was a feeling that never went away when you left it, and he had been pretty much abandoned it. Cal had abandoned everything in Arizona and it left this hole in his heart that he was unable to fill.
Stepping out from the hall, those eyes immediately alighted upon the young woman. Well, she certainly wasn't a grandmother, and she was definitely not a child. Unless she was a random walk-in, she was exactly who he was waiting for. "Miss Anderson?" he asked lowly in the strange quietness of the room. The hair at the back of his neck was standing on end, that sensation hitting him again as he looked her over quickly. Her arm in the sling was already answering his question.
last edited Aug 16, 2020 14:32:31 GMT -5 by Cal Hunt
Post by Blake Carson on Aug 16, 2020 15:07:17 GMT -5
For once, Blake hoped that Hunt would take the old lady. Blake didn't mind the kids as he actually quite liked them, but a gunshot? the last time he'd dealt with something like that he'd been in California and he'd be lying if he didn't have the itch. "Oh no you don't!" Blake retorted. "You always get the fun ones!" He glared, shoving the rest of his scone in his mouth while he got his cup of coffee. He missed the look Cal gave the hallway, having not heard what he could hear. He turned his head and looked at the clock, seeing they were going to have patients any minute, if not now.
Hunt hit him lightly on the way out, and he grabbed the poison oak kids folder, and started to follow him while he began to sip his coffee. "Okay, but like, I seriously think we should start playing rock paper scissors or something." He pouted. "And I wanna hear all the details!" Patient doctor confidentiality and what not, but Cal could give him something. He was a bit slow in following Hunt, as he was trying to get a few swallows of coffee in. He came out behind Hunt, his eyes instantly going to the woman that was waiting. He blinked for a second mid pause in taking a drink. His dark blues flickered to Hunt, and he elbowed him in the side as he went to sit behind the desk, waiting for the next patient. Gunshots and Hot Blonde? "Not fair." Grumbled quietly as he sat down. "Welcome to Haven! I'm Dr. Carson, This is Dr. Hunt." Blake set his mug down and hooked a thumb over at Cal. He spotted his patient coming in then, and leaned up to snatch the old lady file from Cal. Glaring at him as he did so.
Post by Paige Anderson on Aug 16, 2020 15:27:39 GMT -5
Paige continued to bounce her left left while she bit down on her right thumb. Looking around the small waiting room. It was cozy, or as cozy as waiting rooms could be. She could faintly hear movement coming down the hall, and she caught the scent then now that her nose had become used to the clinic smell. Well this was interesting... Her head tilted back slightly, while she took a deep breath. Getting a bigger whiff of the air. A slightly confused look crossing her face as she didn't recognize the scent. She'd grew up in this town, and was familiar with nearly all the other wolves. She knew them all by scent even if they weren't apart her pack to speak, but the town was crawling with them, and this was one she did not know. Why hadn't mom mentioned one of the Docs was a werewolf? Or at least someone in the building was.
The unfamiliar scent put her a bit on edge, and her leg all but stopped its bouncing just as the scent flooded the waiting room. Her blue green eyes instantly zero'd in on the tall unfamiliar figure wearing scrubs. Her body tensed in the silence, the hair at the back of her own neck standing up as she stared at him. He was certainly no one she knew, nor did she grow up with. She tilted her head to the side curiously, his voice was filled the quietness as he called her name. Before she had time to answer, who she could only assume was the other doc came up behind him. Taking notice of her as well. From his scent she could tell he was human, which made her more interested. He might have thought he was being quiet with his soft grumbling but Paige heard him loud and clear, and it caused the corner of her mouth to twitch up as he introduced them. She climbed to her feet, nodding at the both of them. Her eyes looking at them both before they went right back to the unfamiliar wolf and that pull that usually happened when she was around her own kind.
Wondering which one she was getting handed off too. Dr. Carson reached for one of the files that Hunt, her amusement grew at hearing his pun of a last name, held. The door chimed open and Carson was already greeting the old woman. Well that solved that question. She arched her blonde brows at Dr. Hunt, and would follow him as he took her back. When they were out of human hearing range she finally spoke. "You're new..." She said it more matter of factually. Mom was really going to have some explaining to do. More importantly, what else had come to Xander's Cross in the time she'd been away.
It's for your own good, he wanted to tell him. Sue him, but Cal wanted to make sure that Blake remained oblivious to the world around him. Not that it was terrible, per say, but some of it was dangerous. It was perhaps best if the other doctor stayed blissfully unaware of all that happened around him. He'd been friends with Cal how many years now and had absolutely no idea that he could change into a wolf, so...it was working.
The man was slowly following him, and if Hunt hadn't been keenly aware of that other wolfish presence, he might have explained that Blake shouldn't offer options if he didn't wish to lose the choice he truly wanted. Of course he wanted the gunshot patient- it wasn't dull like all the others! But, fair was fair. Not to mention, Cal often got what he wanted, so the human would have to deal.
As he stood there eyeing the Marine, he was trying to discern whether she was a threat. More often than not, Mythics just weren't in this town yet he was still just a bit wary. That is, until Blake stumbled on in; stammering on about things not being fair. Cal knew immediately what he meant by that, because his buddy caught sight of his first patient of the day. He didn't look over to him, even as he was elbowed, because Cal was still watching Paige closely. However, his mouth curled up in a faint grin just as hers did, knowing the other wolf heard Blake's grumbling. Without bothering to look, he was tossing Sniffling Grandma's folder onto the desk in front of Carson, as though he expected this one to take awhile.
He didn't even acknowledge the old woman who was entering as he finally broke eye contact to turn and lead Paige towards one of the exam rooms. 'You're new...' His grin still remained as he opened the door, waiting for her to enter first before following suit. Then it was shut behind him as he pretended to gloss over her file that he already read most of. "I've been here a little over a year now-" he paused in his reply to allow those bright eyes to flicker up from the paper and back to her own. "And you clearly haven't. Iraq, was it?" He would have known if she was around town frequently, and not just because she was a pretty face.
They both knew this.
It was quite obvious what they both were, but Hunt wasn't going to outright say it. Perhaps there was no need, and yet, she'd probably be able to sense the slight uneasy air about him, like he was still trying to gauge whether or not she was a threat. He was a lone wolf, after all, he had a squishy human to protect. "So, reconstructive surgery on your collarbone and a possible bum hip, eh?" Paige hadn't' walked with a limp, so he was assuming her hip was fine. It was the collar that was a bit more alarming and probably what she was here for.
Post by Paige Anderson on Aug 18, 2020 1:33:07 GMT -5
Paige's bluish green gaze stayed on Dr. Hunt as she followed him to the exam room, and her eyes flickered up to his face briefly to see that grin he had. She had to admit it was sort of cute. In fact Paige had that feeling she knew why her mom thought both docs were so sweet. They were sweet to look at. Her eyes flickered to the padded exam table as she walked towards it. Hearing the door click shut behind them caused the hair at the back of her neck to stand up more on end while she turned around to face him. She used her good arm to brace herself as she hopped up onto it with ease. Her legs dangled over the side, and because she couldn't sit still, she kicked her legs slowly while she tilted her head to the side. Watching him.
Dr. Hunt was looking down at her chart before he met her gaze answering her statement. "A little over a year." She responded to him mentioning Iraq. The corner of one side of her mouth quirked up into a half smile. "Must of got here just as I left." She scooted a bit back more on the table. Sensing his unease made her more curious then on edge. There were only a few things that could make him uneasy. He was either a loner knowing he was in a town with multiple packs, A loner not knowing there was more than one wolf in this town, and given his profession it would be difficult to not know. It could have been something else altogether. Paige was a local to Xander's Cross. There was something about this town that pulled in people from outside to try and give them their fresh start. It was a Haven. A safe place for those that needed it, whether from whatever they were running from, their new chapter, what have you. Funny they named their clinic Haven.
"I'm surprised you haven't been adopted yet." She said rather bluntly, ignoring him about her shoulder for the minute. "Or if you have, I've clearly been under a rock or.....Iraq. With people trying to turn me into swiss cheese." The grin grew, turning a bit more friendly, despite the bad joke. Being shot at was not something anyone should have to endure, nor was it a laughing matter. But it was her job, and she survived off of humor.
This was a doctors office, she wasn't dumb enough to start anything here with a lone wolf. Besides, she had no reason to. Werewolves, or at least the ones around here, often took in the strays. Helping them, finding those that they wanted to protect or consider their pack. The bond was not something you could ignore. They're kind gravitated towards each other. They were social creatures with that need to be around their own kind. How had he lived this long being away from another? How had she lived with what she did for a living with being the only wolf her in her squad? Sacrifice. Self discipline, and knowing once she got done boiling in a middle eastern desert, she could come home to her mom's hugs, and Corinne's baked goods. The Pack was home. She was thankful to be back.
The bond was like Louis with his students. Like Paige had been with Corinne, taking in the quiet girl no one wanted to be friends with. The wolves found their people and they didn't let them go easily. Was he avoiding them? Or was it really pure chance that he hadn't met one until now. Her mom really did suck at giving her all the details. "Hip aches if I do too much movement, but it's tolerable. Aside from our friend Luna. Which by the way, 10/10 would not recommend changing with a bad shoulder. Hurt's like a S.O.B. I've managed to keep movement on the shoulder limited. Which is a real killer, because I hate staying put." She kicked her legs out a bit farther to get her hint across.
She reached up pulled the Velcro up on the sling strap, feeling it loosen, and then the moved to pull the strap over her head. A bit impatient with the hope of being told she wouldn't have to continue to wear the sling. "You like it here so far?" She asked curiously as she placed the sling next to her on the table, reaching down to scratch an itchy spot on her arm now that she was free of it.
last edited Aug 18, 2020 1:39:05 GMT -5 by Paige Anderson
Her file was tossed onto the counter in the room so that he could give his patient his full attention...as if she didn't already have it, even before he looked upon her in the waiting room. His head canted to the head just slightly, honestly wondering if they were going to go through this entire exam without mention the "W" word. Perhaps he was waiting to see if she would simply do it first because, yes, he was still learning that not every other Mythic was dangerous. It had taken Cal a few weeks to come to this conclusion upon his arrival to Xander's Cross. He had known his pack back home, but any others outside it, well...it was often a tossup, and they usually weren't that friendly. This town, however, seemed to be a safe haven and precisely why he was glad for taking Blake up on his offer.
Still, physically it was safe, but mentally he was still haunted. Hunt wondered, with her being fellow military, if Paige suffered from the dark memories of deployment. If she struggled with the same things he had when the need to change arose. Maybe those questions would be too personal to ask right now, and he was supposed to be a doctor right now.
"Well, an unfortunate coincidence, I suppose," he remarked quietly, keeping the smirk from his face that nearly showed. Washing his hands at the sink, she finally brought up the very obvious fact that lingered between them, and he gave a glance over his shoulder in amusement. There was a faint laugh, huffed through his nose before he shook his head; shutting the water off and drying his hands with a clean paper towel. "No, it's been just me," Cal answered her before a gesture of his head, he was indicating the other doctor somewhere else in the clinic. "And my buddy out there, although he doesn't know it." There was a subtle warning in his tone, even if that mouth of his was smirking again. It was just a small way of letting her know that the human was under his watch and protection. Cal couldn't help it, he was still trying to get used to the friendliness of this place. If he thought Paige was that big of a threat, he wouldn't have been this...pleasant. In fact, she was a little interesting, perhaps because of her military background. It was nice to know he hadn't been the only one.
When things turned back to the true matters at hand, he finally approached closer as she spoke and removed the sling. Those blues narrowed in thought. "Yes, well...stayin' put will ensure that it heals properly," Cal replied so matter of fact, because it was stating the obvious. Still, he had cringed slightly at the thought of having to shift with any kind of broken bone. That couldn't have been pleasant. Silently, he drew the collar of her shirt aside just enough to get a good look at that healing incision from the surgery. It had been nearly three months according to her file, and it looked to be just about healed. That didn't mean there still wasn't pain. She clearly didn't wish to remain in the sling by her comment of not being able to stay still, but he couldn't just magically make that happen, unfortunately.
"It's alright, I suppose. Quiet." Funnily enough, Cal wasn't being very talkative right now. Maybe he was too much in "doctor mode", even if there was a lovely she-wolf sitting right there, smelling of whatever shampoo she had used and the woods- an intoxicating wildness only their kind seemed to possess. He was also just a male, and a lonely one at that. She was reminding him of what it was like to be next to his own kind, because it didn't happen very often anymore.
His touch carefully traveled down that particular arm before grasping her wrist gently. "Let me know if this at all hurts," he spoke quietly, trying to ignore the weird sensation inside his chest. His other hand was at her shoulder before he'd start to move her arm very slowly, bending it and rotating it carefully, all the while watching her face for any flicker of pain or discomfort.
last edited Aug 18, 2020 22:21:14 GMT -5 by Cal Hunt
Post by Paige Anderson on Aug 18, 2020 23:41:36 GMT -5
"No, it's been just me," How sad. There was a pang in her chest, at that idea that he truly was a lone wolf. With no one who understood him. His nod to where Dr. Carson was in the building only confirmed to her how small his pack was. The squishy human doc didn’t know his partner was a child of the moon, and had one heck of an attack dog at the ready should he ever need it. How had this man survived this long being just him? Paige had nearly gone insane being the only of her kind in her squadron, and she’d claimed that squad as her own. Being more overprotective then she would care to admit. “Lil Mama” is what they’d called her because she acted like their mother, when really she was trying to deal with the pack anxiety of not being near her own kind. When you grew up being surrounded by them, it was difficult being the only one. Sometimes you didn't think you could be so lonely and yet be surrounded by people.
Hint taken Dr. Hunt, don’t touch your human...but what about you?
There was this sudden urge that had occurred only once before, that slowly crept in on Paige. Knowing someone had no one, or was alone. She hated it. Hated seeing it. She’d seen Corinne like that in school, always being alone, so desperate to make friends but being a bit to shy or fearful because she was chubby that no one would like her. Paige had put a stop to that right quick. Taking the girl in under her wing, and aside from Louis, Corinne was her best friend. That same need to suddenly take this stranger wolf in came over her.
No one should be alone.
“So I’ve been told.” She retorted, watching him carefully as he approached closer. That pull to her own king got stronger, and she practically had goosebumps now as he came to stop in front of her. She was all summing it up to the fact he was an unfamiliar wolf, because she never had this feeling around her own family. She stopped kicking her legs out almost immediately and held ramrod still as he moved the neck of her t-shirt to the side. She reached up with her good arm to unclasp the strap of her overall, and tossed it over her shoulder so it didn’t get in his way. Her eyes never left his, almost hyper aware of him now, as his scent practically invaded her nose. The wilderness smell was certainly there, but something else that made him more interesting, and maybe that was just his own personal scent.
He was taking her wrist then, moving her arm and rotating it, and Paige found herself staring right back at him. Watching his face with gentle curiosity as she stared into those ochre eyes of his. “Do you like the quiet?” She found herself asking quietly. An innocent enough question, but they’d both be dumb to deny there was a bit of a tension already in the room, and she couldn’t put her finger on it. He rotated and pulled her arm a certain way that had her inhale sharply, for a brief moment there was a sharp intensity to her features before it fell away. “That hurt, but like a 4 on a pain scale.” She clarified. Not realizing she was still talking quietly, almost afraid to speak at a louder volume for fear of scaring him.
Could he have tried to join others? Certainly. He had been here long enough, and he had very little excuse...except that he preferred it this way right now. Cal had abandoned his previous pack with barely any explanation, although they had known his loss. He just up and left with very little word, so why did he deserve another pack? It made him feel ill to think he was trying to forget all he had left behind, but to dwell on it only made matters worse. It was as though he couldn't win either way.
No, it was better alone, even if Ms. Anderson's presence right now was making it very difficult to recall just why he was avoiding his own kind. Was it foolish? Did it even make sense? Really, he had no idea anymore, but he felt empty, he didn't feel whole without a pack. And he thought that was befitting punishment. According to Shan, he was a monster, after all. A heartless void.
Cal was grinding his teeth then, attempting to push these thoughts aside while he concentrated on his patient. 'Do you like the quiet?'"No, not usually," he answered her a little too softly. Hunt enjoyed the quietness of the woods, but he also enjoyed the rowdy company in bars or the rumbling sound of his bike on the highway, reverberating in his ears. Concentrating on the exam was proving to be harder than he thought- that is, until she inhaled a sharp breath to indicate there was a soreness still there. Recovery took weeks, just about three months, and she was nearly there. However, he wondered if her need to shift had delayed it a little bit, even if she appeared to be doing alright. That was when his gaze finally broke from hers and he pursed his lips in thought.
Drifting from her side, he was going to her file on the counter and retrieving the pen he'd slipped behind his ear to quickly jot a couple things down. He could feel his breathing slow just a little bit now that he put just a short distance between them, but it wasn't enough. He was blinking, trying to brush the magnetic draw away. "You should probably start some physical therapy. It'll help ensure you're healing and using that arm properly, which means-" He fixed her with that steady gaze, his mouth twitching as though he was trying to keep a smirk from appearing. "No unnecessary shifting for another two weeks, at least." He knew how hard it was to avoid, because he'd suffered a deep laceration across his back years ago...and that made changing into wolf form very painful for awhile. Sometimes he still got the phantom pain.
Eyes flickered to her hip. It was the left one, if he recalled. "It'll help with that, as well. Has it healed?" Perhaps he should be checking it for himself...but he could take her word for it at this point. That, and he was confused and not trusting himself. It wasn't as if other wolves avoided the clinic. Cal just happened to like the scent of this one a bit more than most.
Post by Paige Anderson on Aug 19, 2020 17:40:08 GMT -5
They were going to talk in their quietest inside voice weren’t they? She suddenly thought. You could practically cut the tension with a knife and Paige really didn’t know if she liked it or not. “Me either.” She said a bit bluntly, but it was still a whisper. Finally that eye contact was broke, and whatever spell had been on them disappeared as Dr. Hunt walked away. Going to her file to write something down in it, and she didn’t know if it was a good or bad thing. She didn’t realize she was holding her breath as she watched him. Waiting for that hammer to drop. Her eyes watched his every movement, checking out his profile, and there was that strange tug again.
He began to talk then, turning to meet her gaze. There was a small spark of excitement that showed in her eyes when he said she could start physical therapy. Her own lips were beginning to twitch up in a smile. Yes! He’s going to tell me exactly what I want to hear! She thought, only the excitement was abruptly cut off and she felt like a deflated balloon as the disappointment filled her. Her body finally let out the breath it was holding in a deep sigh, as she slouched forward a bit, running a hand down her face, before her body did a rolling motion and she flopped back onto her back on the exam table in pure Paige dramatic fashion. She was upset though, and if there was an emotion she hated more then heartbreak it was disappointment. That mix of sadness and anger, as well as emptiness. It was not a pleasant feeling. There was an audible growl from her frustration. “Your killing me doc.” She nearly whined. Her good hand clenching into a fist as she felt the disappointment and frustration. Two more weeks of not running? She’d already gone three months. Wasn’t this torture enough? She felt like suddenly going outside and yelling. Or punching something.
Her hand drifted to her injured hip. A sudden part of her wanted to suddenly be a brat and throw a tantrum. Claim she was fine, more than fine and peak medical condition, but she knew it wouldn’t do her any good. Louis had already told her the more she took it easy the faster she could get better, but she was going insane with this lack of activity. She was glaring at the ceiling she suddenly realized, and huffed. Her hand gripped her overalls. “Doc in Iraq said it was healing fine before I left.” She mumbled, forcing herself to sit up. “I...may or may not be taking it as easy as I could be with it…” She threw in with another sigh, but at least she was being honest. Dancing down the street on the way to her appointment, or standing too long on it at the hardware store, was probably not helping matters. “Why’d you come to Xander’s Cross then if you don’t like the quiet?” She asked abruptly, changing the topic back around on him. She arched an eyebrow at him curiously. As far as little town’s went Xander’s Cross was one of the quiet ones.
last edited Aug 19, 2020 17:42:37 GMT -5 by Paige Anderson
Yep. He knew she wasn't going to like that. Now, Cal didn't know which was worse- that lingering tension that only lessened a very tiny amount or the sudden childish reaction to his verdict. He half expected her to throw a tantrum as he turned towards her, leaning back against the counter to fold his arms across his chest. "Killing is quite the opposite of what I'm supposed to be doing..." he replied in light humor, possible fit or not from her. "Look, at least give a week. Our kind is pretty resilient." That was the first time he verbally acknowledged it since this appointment started, and it brought him to a brief pause before he was talking again. "The more you rest, the faster it will heal. You're just about there, I promise you."
She was talking about the hip wound then, and he was actually a bit surprised to hear she was being honest about it. After the clear disappointment, he half expected her to lie and say everything was great. ’I...may or may not be taking it as easy as I could be with it…’”Uh huh…” he murmured and was closing that small distance between them once more while slipping the pen behind his ear again. You can do this, Cal. You’re a damn doctor. You see pretty eyes all the time. And it was, embarrassingly, probably just hormones. Yet, he oh-so-casually undid the other clasp of her adorable overalls, like he had done it a hundred times before. This time, however, he wasn’t looking her in the eye; an expression of confusion and possibly very mild annoyance and amusement flickered across his face with her questioning. She was nosy, wasn’t she?
”Lie back again and let me have a look at it,” he said, ignoring her question for now. Paige said she didn’t hold still, so he really should check the wound out. It was the...doctorly thing to do. If she complied, he’d hunch over and draw her clothing down only enough to get a look at it; the pads of his fingers gingerly pressing against the flesh that was no longer inflamed, his touch warm against her skin. There might have been only mild irritation, which could just have been from her clothes rubbing against it. The doc in Iraq did his job well. ”Looks like you’ll survive this one, too,” Cal spoke again, his voice still strangely quiet but the grin had crept back. ”It’s further along than your arm, anyway...but don’t push it. No aggressive running, changing, rough sex, that sort of thing.”
Post by Paige Anderson on Aug 19, 2020 20:03:00 GMT -5
“Is that a pinky promise?” She asked, her lips quirked up in a small smile as he closed the distance between them. She looked down to watch him unclasp the other side of her overalls, watching his fingers move expertly. Her eyes went up to look at his face, seeing the mix emotions crossing his features. Wondering what he was thinking. She playfully glared at him as he ignored her question. Deciding she wouldn’t push him...for now. She could pester him later.
Doing as she was told, she leaned back, sighing through her nose, and tried to ignore the fact there was a hot doc, who was also an unfamiliar wolf pulling her overalls down. At least she’d worn the good underwear today. Having been prepared ahead of time. Her hands folded over her stomach, one hand held the hem of her shirt up so it was out of his way. As soon as the pads of his fingers touched her skin her body tensed like it had when he held her wrist. She held surprisingly still, not daring to move a muscle. Her breathing was hitching slightly, and her skin was feeling warm where he’d touched her. “It’s a miracle.” She said amused, hearing she’d survive yet another near death experience.
What he said next had her turning her head to look at him, her eyes slightly wide in surprise. He was a doc, it was his job to tell her what to avoid, but for a moment it left her speechless. Seeing that hint of a grin as well… There was a sudden burst of laughter from her, the sound filling the room. “So you’re telling me my usual monthly weekend getaway is a no go as well?” She couldn’t help but chuckle. “C’mooooooon Doc, you're taking all my fun away!” The mirth was in her eyes making it almost seem like she was kidding, but that grin would tell a different story. Paige and Louis, when Paige was at least at home, would always drive off for a weekend. Usually to Portland to hit the clubs or what have you for a weekend of wild, carefree fun. Where they didn’t have to worry about running into anyone at home. In truth, the two went away for the weekend so they could both get laid.
No one in Xander’s Cross save for their small group of Friends knew that Louis was far more interested in a male partner than a female one, and the fact that nearly the entire male population of Xander’s Cross considered Paige a “bro” made it real difficult to have certain needs met. So they had to go elsewhere. Paige had that sinking feeling that their monthly weekend adventure wasn’t going to be the same now that she was back.
“Do I gotta wait at least two weeks for that too?” She inquired with a coy smile. Both her eyebrows raised slightly as her blue green eyes settled on those ochre colored ones of his.
last edited Aug 19, 2020 20:32:21 GMT -5 by Paige Anderson
In all honesty, she would probably be fine, but there was no harm in being careful for a little while longer. But he knew that need to keep moving. Perhaps it stemmed from the military, not knowing how long you would be able to rest for, always being woken out of your sleep at random times that was never a deep slumber to begin with. It was why he kept himself busy. It made him feel safe, it made him forget everything he had lost and left behind, never allowing a moment for it to seep into his mind.
But Xander's Cross is a very quiet town, and it was often pretty difficult for him to be okay with it. There was only so many times he could rearrange the clinic's filing system, too. At least, the last time he did it, he remembered to tell Blake. There was almost a very bad mix up with a pregnant woman and her sister the first time...something to do with a cheating husband? Hunt had swiftly pushed it from his mind and hasn't touched the files since.
Now, he just had to worry about the stupid shit coming out of his mouth. At least this woman wasn't sneering at him or seemed to be appalled. She was lovely to look at, which meant, he was obviously assuming that she probably got around. You know, if she wanted to, she could. Thank God he wasn't voicing this bullshit out loud.
Cal didn't look at her, even though he felt her widened gaze on him. He was, quite literally, biting his tongue, attempting to be a damn professional. Her burst of laughter was refreshing though, even if he hadn't been so much embarrassed about his comment as he was worried about her freaking out over them. Nope, she was going along with it, but those dark eyes turned to her in curiosity. "Monthly weekend getaway?" Maybe he shouldn't be intrigued, but while it was up in the air... "You got some out-of-town boyfriend?" A pause, he casually gave her another once over. "Girlfriend?"Oh my, you better stop it now, dude."Regardless-" he was quick to add whether she actually answered that dumb question or not. It was none of his business. "A week max. I'm sure you're capable of that." He felt like a fucking priest now. It was gross.
"Because, listen..." he began, a small laugh escaping through his nose at himself before he was even uttering another word. That hand was letting go of the elastic band of her underwear to let it gently snap back into place. "I didn't wait long enough...and I had this long laceration clear across my back-" Another short pause, he barely realized that he was very slowly drawing the overalls back over her hips before brown eyes settled on her face; looking down at her still. "Shrapnel. Afghanistan." Those two words were added to explain, and now she knew he had once served. His voice suddenly managed to get even lower and quieter when he continued, "And it practically tore right back open. Got the scar to prove it, and sometimes it still hurts like a bitch."
Finally, he drew away. "Give it a week. Doctor's orders."
Post by Paige Anderson on Aug 19, 2020 23:32:17 GMT -5
Oh wouldn’t you like to know doc? Paige thought to herself. Maybe sounding a little full of herself. Her grin just widened more, and she was laughing again. “Nah, no one can keep up after maybe two nights, or they get sick of me.” Okay wooooow Paige. Way to sound conceited. She thought. But also, there was that self deprecation too. Apparently she wasn’t worthy of any sort of relationship in this town, she was only good enough for short weekend flings, and apparently she was only good to cheat on your pregnant wife with. Sooo…. Yeah.
“I’ll try.” She sighed. What was one more week? She’d still have to take it easy on the shoulder though… She tilted her head to the side curiously as he gave that small laugh, giving him her full attention. Especially when she felt the snap of her underwear back in place. All the humor from before slowly began to fade away, and there was that pull again. That sudden need to take this lone wolf in as she watched him.
"I didn't wait long enough...and I had this long laceration clear across my back-" Her eyes instantly darted to what she could see of his back, before they were back on his face. That curiosity returned, and she suddenly felt like a five year old bursting with questions. She barely noticed him putting her overalls back in place, and when his eyes landed on her face she was still again. Her face was blank. And then he said it.
It was as if a dark shadow had crossed over her face and a light bulb had gone off at the same time. Her left side suddenly tingled across her ribs from her own shrapnel scar she had, and she wondered if he could see the small scar under her chin as well. His voice was even lower, and she realized how much deeper his voice got when he spoke quiet. It sent a different type of tingle down her spine, and she found herself slowly sitting up. Sympathy and understanding crossing her face.“I know the feeling.” Her voice was quiet, as she rubbed mindlessly at her side before re-clasping her overalls straps. Or at least she tried too. She had to have her mom clasp the strap to her bad shoulder that morning because her arm couldn’t bend that way yet.
“I’ll hold you to it Doc.” There was a slight smirk to her lips, and she nodded to her bad shoulder. “Mind helping me out?” She asked. He’d had no issue undressing her, the least he could do was help put her clothes back on. The smile soon faded away though, and her expression softened. “How long did you serve for?” She asked. Suddenly wanting to know what his experience was like. It wasn’t everyday she could talk war stories with someone around her own age, or anyone else in Xander’s Cross for that matter. Most people had thought she’d been kidding when she said she was off for the marines at eighteen. Even more surprised when she’d come back each time only to turn around and go off again, and each time she came home with a new injury and a little bit more of her missing. Everyone had their demons and though she wouldn’t admit it, Paige had brought hers home with her from a warzone.
Paige tilted her head slightly, watching him with a calculating gaze. Lone wolf and former serviceman? Did Artemis put this man on a steel (because silver would burn) platter in front of her? Practically begging her to take him in? It sure as hell felt like that as the pull was getting almost too much to ignore, and those gears were starting to turn.