AU Part Four
Characters: Speirs, Lipton, Roe, Winters, etc.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: This is based off performances in the HBO miniseries, not the actual soldiers. I mean no disrespect and I own nothing. Not to be taken seriously.
The trio climbed into a black SUV parked by the side of the house. Eugene drove, Lipton sat next to him and Speirs had the middle bench to himself. He stared out the window as they drove to Roe’s house, seeing right through the glittering snow and towering trees as he became lost in thought.
Eugene stopped the car outside a small brown house halfway into town, it was separate from the other homes by a long stretch of driveway. The three werewolves got out and strode up the porch, the wood creaking beneath their feet. Doc unlocked the front door and ushered the others in.
Inside the entryway opened up into a living room and dining room off to one side, with the kitchen and hallway on the other. Roe led the way into the living room and gestured for Speirs to sit on the solitary gray couch within.
“I need my kit.” He disappeared down the hall, leaving Speirs and Lipton alone.
Speirs sat on the arm of the couch, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he stared at the carpeted floor. Lipton remained standing, attempting to stare around the room rather than at the object of his interest. He looked briefly at Speirs, then the couch, then back to Speirs.
“You want to ask me something?” Ron inquired in concealed amusement.
Lipton was about to shake his head when he changed his mind. “How’d you become a werewolf?”
Speirs looked surprised at the question, but he quickly recovered. “Same as you.”
“I was dying of cancer when Dick offered to turn me.” Lipton said softly as he recalled that day. “He saved my life.”
There was a short pause. “Funny, ‘cause the wolf that changed me, took my life.” Speirs said, without a trace of humor.
Roe returned with a bag of medical supplies and crouched in front of Ron. “Take off your shirt.” He directed.
Speirs pulled off the borrowed shirt and shoved it to the side, next to his bag.
“Lay on the ground.”
Speirs gave him a dubious look.
Roe sighed. “I can work on you better if you're horizontal.”
Ron shook his head, but did as he was asked, laying down in front of the couch. Doc and Lipton kneeled next to him, as Eugene took some things out of his bag.
“Lipton, I need you to hold his shoulder steady, alright?”
Lipton laid his warm hands on Speirs’ unexpectedly cold shoulders, gripping him gently as Roe searched for the bullet. Speirs stared up at the rough white ceiling as the doc began inspecting his wound with a metal instrument. He grimaced at the feeling, but didn’t move, the light pressure of Lipton’s callused hands keeping him grounded.
The pain hadn't been bothering Speirs since he was shot, but now that Roe was digging in and prodding it anew, the throbbing had increased. His expression tight, Speirs looked for something to distract him as he felt fresh blood trickling down his shoulder. His eyes found their way to Lipton's concerned face, watching as the man winced along with the doc's movements, as though he were the one being operated on. Bemused, Speirs studied Lipton's young face, watching him tense in empathy of his discomfort, even as Carwood's eyes roamed from the puncture down Speirs' rib cage.
Eventually Roe managed to remove the projectile and moved on to disinfecting the gash. He had just finished sewing it up, much to Speirs' surprise and pain, when the doorbell rang.
Roe leapt to his feet in alarm, sniffing the air. His eyes were wide as he turned to his patient and assistant. “It’s Renee!” He hissed.
Lipton climbed to his feet. “What’s she doing here?”
“I don’t know! You guys can’t be here!” Eugene was distraught. He ran his hands through his thick black hair as his mind raced desperately.
Speirs sat up gingerly. “Who’s Renee?”
“His girlfriend.” Lipton explained, staring at the entryway, beyond which she waited. “She doesn’t know he’s a werewolf. Or that his friends are too.”
The doorbell rang again. Roe pulled Speirs to his feet, grabbed both him and Lipton by the arm and dragged them towards the hall. He released them, opened a door and shoved them inside the closet. Then he slammed the door closed and raced to the front door.
Speirs and Lipton were stunned, standing amidst the hanging snow coats and shoes cluttering the floor. Outside they could hear Roe and Renee happily greeting each other.
A low growl emanated from Speirs. “What the f--”
In an effort to silence him, Lipton put a hand on his bare chest, surprising them both.
The snarl died in his throat, replaced by a heavy silence as a new emotion swept through Speirs, erasing his irritation and leaving him feeling warm. The two men stood quietly, inches apart, Lipton’s hand still in place, staring into each other‘s eyes.
They forgot all about Roe and Renee, forgot they were hiding in a closet. For a breathless minute their world narrowed to the intensity they found in each other's gaze.
The door swung open and Lipton jerked back. He and Speirs both looked at Roe, who had already turned away. They followed him silently out into the living room. He gathered up his medical equipment while Speirs put his shirt back on, resisting the urge to brush a hand over his torso where Lipton’s fingers had rested.
“That was close.” Roe closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.
“I told you having a human as your mate was difficult.” Lipton said, avoiding Speirs’ dark gaze.
Roe shook his head. “It’s not like I have much choice, there are no female werewolves and I like women. Being a wolf hasn't changed that.”
"I'm not sure if that makes you luckier than some or not." Lipton replied, his eyes locked firmly on grey carpet.
"Neither am I." Eugene admitted.
"So what do you tell your girlfriend every time the full moon comes around?" Speirs was curious, or maybe he just needed a distraction.
Roe smiled. "Well, sometimes, like tonight, she'll be out of town, visiting relatives, or she'll be returning and too tired to come over. Other times I'm working late at the clinic, or over with Winters and the others."
"And she believes that?"
Roe nodded.
The three fell into a heavy silence, avoiding each other's gazes. Outside, Speirs could hear the human population rousing themselves from sleep, sitting down to the morning meal and bundling up against the chill air. Even dressed only in a cotton shirt and jeans, Speirs didn't feel the same coldness that accompanied the winter, one of the benefits of being a werewolf. Like superior strength and healing, the ability to withstand extreme cold had been a lifesaving attribute on more than one occasion.
As he were listening to his thoughts, Roe frowned at Speirs. "You should be wearing a coat. Blend in with the locals." He went to the closet and pulled out a bright green sweatshirt.
Speirs accepted it wordlessly, easing it over his sore shoulder. Now he smelled of Roe as well as Lipton.
"We should get back to the others." Lipton said. "We have preparations to make for tonight. This close to the full moon, Winters will be nervous. Which makes Nixon edgy, and that is never a good thing. I just hope he hasn't ran out of his whiskey."
That said, the werewolves left the house, Eugene locking it behind them. He drove them back to the pack house and parked the SUV out of sight in the back. Once they were back in the house, Speirs quickly found Winters' room and knocked on the door.
There was a muffled curse and then Winters opened the door. "Speirs? Was there something you needed?"
"It's time I left." He answered, ignoring the glare he was receiving from Nixon. The other man was behind Winters, with the smell of liquor on his breath. "I've stayed in one place for too long."
Winters gave him a thoughtful look. "You think they'll be here soon?"
Speirs considered the question. "Maybe, I don't want to risk it."
"But you're willing to risk my pack? If they're on your trail, then they'll be headed this way, whether you leave now or not." Winters said.
Speirs' jaw tightened. "If I'm not here, they won't bother you. These wolves aren't going to just let me get away, they'll follow my scent out of town."
"Why are you so eager to go?" Winters gave him curious look.
"Why do you think?" Because I'm getting too comfortable here. Something's happening and I have to stop it before it's too late.
Winters shook his head. "It's the first night of the full moon, Speirs, I can't risk you being out alone tonight. You're a danger to the townspeople. You could be a danger to anyone else out there, campers, hikers, lost tourists. Those people are all my responsibility. I'm sorry, but I can't let you leave until after the full moon."
Speirs' eyes went dark. "I can control myself for a night, Winters. I won't hurt the humans. But if you really want your people safe, all your people, you'll let me head out now. Before the other pack arrives. If it even looks like we're in league, they won't hesitate to kill your wolves." His hand constricted on the strap of his bag.
"You're staying, Speirs, that's an order." The door shut softly and two pairs of feet moved further into the room.
Speirs glared at the door, tempted to smash it into kindling. But he decided it wasn't worth the effort, and he probably didn't want to see what was going on behind it, so he turned around and strode off.