It turns out in the search for Liam—which now involved werewolves, banshees, hunters, and a supernatural dead pool—Rory couldn't be of much assistance.

Garrett had taken Liam and left him somewhere, and wouldn't tell anyone until Scott helped him get Violet out of custody.

Her brother's friends turned out to be orphans in desperate need of cash, so they had decided to kill supernatural creatures from the deadpool. The very deadpool that Rory was still trying to wrap her head around, just like everything else that Kira had filled her in on.

Rory's gut clenched at the knowledge that Liam was on the deadpool—even being worth millions of dollars, which put a huge target on his back. Scott, Kira, Lydia, and Malia were also on the list, which made Rory feel even worse about the situation.

It amazed the girl how much was going on right under her nose. So much life threatening situations had happened right where she went to school, and Rory didn't have a clue about them.

Since Rory couldn't offer much help in locating Liam with Garrett's plan, it meant that she had to come up with one of her own. Because she would be damned if she let Liam get hurt, especially at the hands of one of his so-called friends.

And that was what led Rory to grab Kira on her crusade to find Liam on her own, which Scott already knew about. She had to help in some way—and he approved of this.

The pair had just arrived at their destination, and the entire car trip had consisted of Kira packing as much supernatural information she could into Rory's brain. And there was a lot more things to know than Rory first figured.

It wasn't just werewolves, the entire world was so much larger and expansive than Rory could have ever imagined. Half of the things present in her town were too complicated for her dreams.

And the drama that came along with it was insane. Scott and his friends had been through so much and endured it all. Rory didn't know how they did it, even the word supernatural still freaked her out. Lord knows how she was going to cope.

Because as long as Liam was in this world, then she would be right there beside him. Somebody had to look out for him, and although Rory trusted Scott she still wanted to be there to make sure everything ran smoothly. Even if she was only a mere human.

With a few calls to Beacon Hills Family Services posing as police officer Emilia Shepherd, Rory was able to find out the foster home that Garrett had been placed at for just a few months now. It had seemed the boy moved around often, much like many kids did in the foster system.

A small part of Rory felt sorry for Garrett and Violet. She couldn't imagine her life without her family, particularly Mason. That stability was something she relied on more than she would ever let on, no matter how many times she complained about them. But that didn't excuse killing people. Kids came out of the foster system without being convicted of first degree murder.

"Does it ever get easier?" Rory asked Kira as the two parked up at Garrett's current house. "The whole supernatural thing, I mean."

Kira paused slightly at the question posed for her. Rory could easily tell she was deciphering what answer to give—an honest one that would be unsettling, or a lie that would sit better with Rory. "It gets normal. Definitely not easier."

Rory hummed in approval at that. She knew she had a lot more to learn (like what in the hell was a kanima?) and it would take time. Not to mention, the brunette knew she needed to fully process it all. And that meant for sure Rory would freak out, which she thought was logical.

But now it was time to save Liam. Rory would be damned if her own feelings got in the way of that.

Rory and Kira both moved out of the car. The brunette couldn't help but wonder as she got out of the driver's seat whether this was what her life would be like now—missions to save people. She figured it might not be bad if she had people to do it with, like Kira was right now. The girl didn't even ask questions once Rory called her, she agreed so easily that it stunned the brunette.

"Run me through the game plan again," Kira asked as the two started to walk up to the front door of the home.

It was a nice house, in a nice neighbourhood of Beacon Hills. Rory hadn't ever stepped foot in there before this, but it looked like a place that would be perfect for a family. It was cottage-esque in it's setting—with small windows and light brick walls. Rory could see pride was taken in the garden. Flowers bloomed underneath the windows, dark red roses and bright yellow sunflowers. A bold mix.

Rory wondered how Garrett—a seemingly crazy, killer—had ended up in a house like this. Maybe that was where half of his problems started, Rory wondered whether it was his childhood that made him the way he was. Maybe if his parents lived he would be just like her and Mason.

Or maybe he would always be like he was. Tons of people had traumatic childhoods, yet turned out completely fine and powered through to be better people.

"Interrogate Garrett's current foster mother to get any information we can on where he would take Liam. Obviously with a little less obviousness than what I just described."

"This is a long shot, Ror," Kira noted to the girl, which was information that Rory was completely aware of herself.

Rory nodded as they walked up the last step to stand in front of the beige colored door. "I know, but I had to do something. Scott wouldn't let me go with him and Garrett—so I made my own plan. It might not be good, but it's a start."

"And it's your first," Kira said with a gentle smile on her face. It was encouraging—almost welcoming. "You'll get better at hero plans with time."

"Here's hoping. Because this one isn't great."

Rory knocked on the door now as she and Kira stood side by side. Her nerves bubbled in her abdomen at the thought of what she was truly doing. And what was at stake.

Rory had always wondered the lengths of which she would go to protect the people she loved, it was often a question that people thought of when you heard stories of what others had done. The brunette guessed that on this journey—whatever the hell kind of journey it was now—she might come to find out. Find out just how far she would push herself, her morals and what she would do to those around her, to secure the safety of people like Mason and Liam. And even the new friends like Scott and Kira she was beginning to make.

A rather frail lady swung the door open, and looked more than happy as she did it. Rory was already aware from her phone call to family services that this was Edith Summers—a long serving foster parent that had been taking in kids since the 60s.

Rory smiled gently at the lady that was easily in her seventies. Her eyes grazed over her slightly wrinkling features, and the silver hair that curled on the top of her head. The brunette stuck her hand out in greeting, fully prepared to take the reigns of this conversation and the plan she had spent the last hour formulating. "Hi there. I'm Aurora Hewitt, and this is my friend, Kira Yukimura. Does a boy named Garrett live here by any chance?"

Rory watched from the corner of her eye to see Kira smiling next to her, although the girl did glance at Rory a few times as she spoke. She probably still didn't quite know how Rory was going to play this.

Once Edith had shook Rory's hand lightly, she nodded eagerly. She quite clearly didn't seem to think this was as weird of an interaction as Rory thought she might. "He does. What can I help you with?"

"My little brother, Mason, is friends with Garrett. I'm not sure if you've heard of him," Rory asked the lady but she shook her head at the mention of Mason's name. "That's okay. It's just that Mason promised to meet Kira and I over two hours ago, but he didn't show. I was wondering whether you knew where Garrett was? Or somewhere he usually hangs out so that I could try find him. Mason's probably with him—or Garrett might be able to help me find him."

Edith seemed to think this over for a second before she widened the door that she still held onto. Her kind smile only shined brighter as she invited both Rory and Kira inside. "My memory isn't the best, but I'll try my best to remember something. Come in, take a seat."

And Rory thanked her out loud as she moved through the home. But she also thanked whatever she could in the moment, in her head because this was the entire aim of her plan. Well not the entire aim, just the dream result.

Because Edith might not be able to tell her all she needs, in which Rory is fully prepared to find a way into Garrett's bedroom and investigate with her own two eyes.

---

"You're going to have to distract her, Kira."

Rory gave the black haired teen a pleading look as she said this. It was the only way Rory would be able to sneak into Garrett's bedroom (which she had already squeezed out the location of from Edith with the simple question of how Garrett was—to which Edith instantly began to complain about how late he stays up, and how because his room is directly above her bedroom upstairs she could hear everything) and get the information she needed.

Or at least try. Going upstairs could be a dead end, but with Liam's life on the line there was no way in hell that Rory wouldn't at least try.

"How do I distract her?" Kira asked nervously, and Rory sent her a gentle smile.

"She's old, Kira. Ask her about anything and she'll chat your ear off. Unless you want to go upstairs while I distract her?"

This suggestion was met with a very fast shake of Kira's head. Rory thought that would be the case—she didn't peg sweet, adorable Kira for being keen on searching through a killer's room and having to do it quickly without being caught. Although, Rory didn't think it was really her style either. She could count the amount of times she had done something risky on her hands.

"I have your waters," Edith announced as she walked from the kitchen room into where Rory and Kira were sitting in the living area. Her hands were indeed full with the glasses of water she promised the pair.

Rory accepted hers with a quick thank you, and Kira did the same.

Although Rory quickly set hers on the coaster laid out in front of her on the wooden coffee table. She stood up with an apologetic look on her face, despite the nerves that pressed hard against her stomach. "Would I be able to use your bathroom, Edith? Is it just upstairs?"

With all the feelings that brewed in Rory's stomach—fear, nerves, adrenaline—she almost let out a sight of relief at the simple nod of Edith's head. She looked completely normal, like none of this was out of the ordinary. In fact, the old lady even looked at Rory with happiness—such a gentle, kind smile. "It's the second door on your right, dear."

Rory smiled and nodded to this. She spared a quick glance at Kira and tried her best to sent her a supportive look, not knowing how successful she was as Kira stared at her almost blankly. Rory had faith she would pull through—this wasn't the craziest plan she had been involved in by the sounds of things.

The upstairs area of Garrett's foster home was much like the downstairs—bleak walls with paintings hanging on every free space. Rory tried her best to move at a fast pace without causing too much suspicion.

Her heart was beating a mile a minute, constricting tightly in her chest. She was more than aware that it was already falling around night time—and that tonight was a full moon. Meaning the limit of time to find Liam was decreasing, only making her heart pound faster and adrenaline fly through her veins.

The bathroom was exactly where Edith said, but Rory didn't take more than a glance in its direction. She walked to the next room—with pink walls and posters of that new boy band every young girl was obsessed with, everywhere. Rory guessed it wasn't Garrett's, athough it would be a turn of events if it was.

Her body turned and looked at the other side of the hallway, and her feet instantly walked into the simple room. There was no question this was Garrett's—his lacrosse jersey was haphazardly thrown across his large bed.

Rory nearly sighed in defeat upon her first look at the room. It was so plain—without a personality, it barely looked like anyone even lived in there. The bedspread was a simple navy blue, with a wooden head board that contrasted with its darkness. A chest of drawers sat opposite the bed, with nothing more than a single photo frame resting on the top. The closet was pulled shut. And a desk was placed right under an open window, with not one single bit of decor on top of it. Just a computer.

Rory pushed forward towards the chest of drawers, ignoring the hope that depleted at the sight of really nothing that seemed helpful. Her fingers grasped the framed picture, which looked to be the only personal item in the entire room, aside from the lacrosse jersey resting on Garrett's bed.

And if this was the first thing you saw about Garrett then you would think he was the most normal teenager on the planet. It was a picture of him, Violet, Mason and Liam. Garrett himself had a red solo cup in hand, with Violet's lips pressed against his cheek. Mason and Liam had cups of their own in hand, with Liam's tongue sticking out of his mouth and Mason's lips pulling up in a cheeky grin. They had clearly been a surprise entry into the photo, both peering just over Garrett and Violet's shoulders. The picture looked to be quite recent, due to Rory knowing Mason had only bought that hoodie a few months ago.

A teenager and his friends—that was what the picture simply looked like in Rory's hands. But yet there was so much more than that. All that betrayal made her stomach turn and it only made the brunette feel worse for Liam. And for Mason, if he was to ever find out the truth behind what Garrett and Violet were capable of.

Which for the record, Rory hoped never happened. Rory would keep her little brother as far away from this supernatural world as she could, for as long as possible.

Rory had to mentally move the image of Garrett from her mind as she placed the photo back where it once was. The more she thought about him the less time she spent finding something that would help in the search for Liam.

He was running out of time. The full moon was coming and Rory didn't want to think about what that meant if he was all alone—or even dead like Garrett had threatened.

With that her legs moved over to the next, and only other, item in the room that looked like it might aid her investigation—the desk and the computer that sat atop of it.

Rory quickly grasped the mouse and moved it rapidly, and to her luck the screen lit up with brightness. It was obvious it had been used recently.

And as she saw the computer, not locked or encrypted with some kind of password-code, Rory almost screamed out in joy. It was so clear that Garrett was just a teenager—not some kind of criminal mastermind. It didn't make any of this better, nor did it make Rory feel bad for the kid but it did remind her that he was simply that. A kid.

Without thinking too hard, Rory grabbed an internet tab and hit the history button.

And right there amongst random youtube videos and facebook links, was the only answer that Rory needed. The thing that made her let out an instant breath of relief—she allowed herself that much, to be grateful for a second without thinking Liam could be dead.

Rory clicked on the google maps link that was at the very top of Garrett's history, which lead to a location that she knew of, as did many people in Beacon Hills.

It was the well that most knew of, but it was clear that Garrett hadn't been too sure of it's location. Hence why he looked it up.

The well was located within the woods of Beacon Hills, and was more than commonly used as a party place for teenagers. It was far enough within the secluded woods that people couldn't hear a lot of the noise, but also easy enough to find for the people invited. Rory remembered her first party she ever attended being there in her freshman year—she got dragged along by her best friend at the time, Tori.

And it was the perfect place for Garrett to take a werewolf he needed to hold hostage. In a place that wouldn't be familiar to him, with a huge deep well to keep Liam contained. And no one would hear his pleas of help.

Rory pulled out her phone as soon as it all clicked in her mind, with her fingers dialling Scott's number quicker than she thought possible.

Because she had just cracked it—Rory could only hope that Liam could hang on just a few more minutes for Scott to save him.

---

Rory clung to Liam desperately upon the first sight of him.

She didn't care that he smelled like scum filled water, or that he was still soaked from being kept in the well. All that mattered to Rory was that her brother's best friend was safe, that she and Mason wouldn't have to live without him—which was what she truly feared.

"I always told you and Mase that Garrett was bad news," Rory spoke as the two pulled away. She kept her hands on his shoulders, smiling at Liam gently.

Liam rose his eyebrows. "Is now really the time to rub it in?"

"You know I'm kidding. I'm just so glad you're okay."

"Thanks to you," Liam said gently. He looked rather sheepish as he eyed Rory now. The two stood outside the Dunbar household, with Scott not too far from them. He had been dropping Liam off home and Rory insisted on seeing the boy. "Scott told me what you did."

"It was nothing—seriously."

Rory and Kira had left Garrett's foster home at knowing exactly where Liam was. Their trip had been successful and Scott was already on his way to Liam when the young boy let out a rippling howl that gave Scott even more direction.

"I'm glad you have my back." Liam had always been close with the Hewitt's—especially Mason obviously. He just didn't know how much they all truly cared for him and his wellbeing, which Rory showed tonight.

"Always," Rory spoke gently. "And so does Scott. Everybody else too. You're lucky to have them all."

Liam eyed Rory curiously now at the mention of Scott and his group of friends. "I think you have them too, Ror. I mean you know everything now and helped save me. I can't imagine them not having your back now, too."

And maybe they would. Rory smiled at that fact. The brunette had never been one to have a large group of friends, or friends for a long period of time for that matter. She was definitely more of a person to keep to herself, have a few select friends and then move on when they fell through. It had never been something that upset her or made her feel lonely—but right as Liam said that they would have her back, Rory felt a sense of relief.

Maybe it was because with the revelations she now knew, her world had only gotten scarier and it felt nice to know someone had her back. Or maybe it was simply good to feel valued, to feel like other people needed her like she needed them.

Either way, Rory felt apart of something for once. And that felt good.

---

i would say sorry for the lack of updating but i literally say that every chapter and i'm sure ur sick of it bye.

kira and rory are my fave lil detective team. i love their friendship its so cute, i cant wait for you all to see rory with every member of the pack and what their scenes are like.

also sorry if a lot of this was nonsense—i wanted to fit rory into finding liam but obvs she couldnt go with scott due to her being human and kate probs would have killed her??? lmao so i took some creative liberty with garrett's life so leave that alone lol

hope you enjoyed, and props to you if you read all this rambling bye