"You can stop sulking now," his father said. "Like, anytime is good. Really, I won't mind if you just start talking and chatting and basically not be a moody teenager. Anytime. Really."

Stiles bit his tongue before answering. "I'm not sulking."

"He says petulantly," his father retorted.

"I'm sixteen, what do you expect from me?"

"Well, you're also Stiles, meaning I expect an endless commentary on everything, including the weather, girls, school, my driving abilities, your health, my health, and whatever else might be on your mind."

"Oh so you want an endless commentary, which I resent by the way the fact that everyone seems to think that all I do is talk talk talk when really I do know how to be quiet and I often exercise that ability thank you very much, on how much I think this is utter crap, that you're dragging me to Sacramento when I'm perfectly capable of staying home alone for a few days without burning down the house? You really want me to expound on how much I hate this? Really, Dad?"

His dad's jaw tensed momentarily but he didn't look away from the road. "Well, how about we talk about why you hate it?"

"I have things to do!" Which was completely true, though he certainly couldn't tell his father any of the things he needed or wanted to do. Everything was changing back in Beacon Hills. Peter was now back from the grave, which raised plenty of awkward, painful, scary questions that Stiles didn't even know if he wanted answered. Jackson was now cured of being a kanima and was officially a full-fledged werewolf, which Stiles was actually still confused about (was he really cured of being a kanima or was he now just a hybrid, or a weird mixture of werewolf, lizard, and human, and what did that mean?). Lydia and Jackson were back together, and Stiles didn't want to go anywhere near that topic with a metaphoric ten foot pole. Derek said something right before he left regarding Alphas coming to Beacon Hills, but Stiles had been in such a rush that he was hoping he'd misheard. One Alpha (or two? Was Peter also an Alpha now? Or did he take back his Alphahood when he came back?) was enough for one town and if another Alpha came, that was bad news, but if a whole pack of Alphas came… Peter's full Alpha state was enough to give Stiles nightmares still and if a whole pack of Alphas came running through Beacon Hills wreaking havoc, Stiles was pretty sure he was going to have to say goodbye to sleep for good.

Stiles was sure that even five days away would be too many. Who knew what might happen in five days?

"Like what?"

For a moment, he thought he'd said all that out loud. "Like… I don't know, stuff. Scott and Allison just broke up again and he probably needs me."

"I think he can handle a few days. And it's not like I took your phone away."

"But why, Dad?" Stiles turned to face his father as much as the seatbelt would allow. "Why do I have to come with you? Why couldn't I stay at home?"

His father shrugged, eyes still on the road. "Maybe I just wanted some quality time with my son. Is that a bad thing?"

"You're going to a conference! We won't even see each other most of the time!"

"Well, maybe you can look at some schools while we're there."

That brought Stiles up short. "Schools? As in, college schools?"

"Sure. You'll be graduating in a couple of years, it's good to look around."

"Dad, I don't even know what I want to study yet! Besides, I figured I'd go to Beacon Hills community college first."

His dad shrugged. Stiles realized he was serious.

"I don't really want to look at colleges, Dad." Even as he said it, though, he felt the sincerity seep out of his voice. College. He had just started thinking the werewolves, the kanima, the pack was his life. But just like that, his dad was showing him a way out without even trying.

"Stiles, you're smart. You hide it a lot and pretend you're not, but I know you better than that. You could start taking classes at the community college next year, get your foot in the door for a really good college…"

Stiles cringed. "On top of regular school and lacrosse, I'll have no free time if I take college courses."

His dad shrugged again. "Maybe that's a good thing."

Stiles looked at his father. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." His father shook his head as if to drop it.

"Dad…"

"I just…" his dad stumbled. "I worry about you, Stiles. The last few months… it's been one thing after another. And…" He sighed. "I don't know."

Stiles blinked, letting the pieces slide together. "You think it's because I have free time? That's why you brought me along. Not for quality time or schools but because you think I have too much free time. You think I'm going to get into trouble, or something. You don't trust me."

"Have you given me much reason to trust you?"

Stiles flinched and swallowed. Well, Dad, I kind of thought you'd freak out about werewolves and kanimas if I told you about them and I've been working so hard to keep you from having a heart attack that it would be counter productive of me to give you one because of the life I lead now. Nevermind the possibility that, if I did tell you, we'd be going to Sacramento to look at loony bins instead of colleges. Oh and forget the fact that your guns are pretty much useless and I'm pretty sure it would do a number on your psychological health knowing your son was mixed up in shit you have no way of protecting him against. No, that wouldn't remind you of the way you couldn't protect your wife from cancer, not at all.

"I'm not an idiot, Stiles," his father continued. "You've been lying to me for months. I kept thinking that you'd tell me when you're ready but the more silence I get, the more lies you tell me, the more I feel like a fool. So no, I didn't trust you to stay home alone."

Stiles sank in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. His dad knew all the best ways of making Stiles feel like an ass.

"Sulk all you want," his father said, exasperation finally creeping into his voice. "We've got three and a half more hours. Get it out of your system."


Derek sys he cn smll thm. mst b clos

Im 6 hours away. don't do n-e-thing stoopid

dnt worry ill b fine

Whats his plan?

hasn't told me yet

Allison's dad know yet?

dnt no allisons acting wierd

Weird how?

nt tlking 2 me. Sux man

Don't worry she loves you you'll get thru this

hpe so. Gtg


He was still annoyed the next day when they went out for dinner, though it had dwindled a bit. Mostly, he was concerned about the pack and whatever stupid idea Derek had come up with. Derek wasn't a very good planner, as Stiles had realized when Derek had convinced him to cut off his arm. Also, Scott sounded pretty upset about Allison not even talking to him. And here he was, chilling with his dad who blatantly told him the day before that he didn't trust him. Which, given, he had every reason not to trust him. Stiles was an idiot for thinking he could lie to his Sheriff father. Still, it sucked being between a rock and a hard place.

Apparently, his silence was grating on his father's nerves, which he quickly realized when his father slammed down his utensils. He took a deep breath, ignoring the worried glances from the other patrons. "Anything, Stiles. Say anything. Please."

He considered, briefly, saying, 'anything,' just to be a smartass but instead went with something else he'd been thinking recently. "How come we don't talk about her?"

His father froze and just looked at Stiles, his eyes practically screaming, 'Why? Why now, why that topic, why are you doing this to me?'

Stiles shook his head and looked away. "Something I saw today reminded me of her, that's all. I'm sorry, we don't have to -"

"No, Stiles. I said anything, I meant anything. You want to talk about her, we can talk about her." He took a deep breath. "Just took me by surprise, is all."

Stiles stared at his plate. "She hated diners, didn't she?"

"Always said the food was too greasy." His father finished his milkshake. Stiles was sure the only reason he'd gotten it was because he knew Stiles, while in this mood, wouldn't say anything. He had anyway but didn't fight it the way he usually would. "We were a mess, you and I, after she died. You started having panic attacks, you got diagnosed with ADD, I was… lost. Then when your panic attacks started to go away, I kind of thought if we talked about her, you might… I don't know, relapse or something."

Stiles bit his lip. Now was definitely not the time to tell him that the panic attacks were already back. He swallowed the lump that tried to form in his throat. "I feel like… sometimes, I think I'm forgetting her."

His dad stared at him, sadness etched in every wrinkle on his face. "What'd you see that reminded you of her?"

Stiles smiled, remembering. "A car. Looked a lot like the Delorean."

His father burst out laughing. "Oh my god… those movies…" He sighed. "She loved those movies. I haven't been able to watch them since. Hell, every time I see Michael J. Fox, I think of her."

Stiles poked at his mashed potatoes. They were too lumpy for his liking but he was considering putting some salt on them and eating them anyway.

"We should watch them."

He looked at his father, surprised.

"Yeah, we should do a marathon one Saturday. Just you and me. We'll order pizza and eat popcorn. And we can talk about her. Then, now, whenever you want. I like… I like talking about her."

Stiles grinned. "You just want an excuse for me to let you eat pizza and popcorn."

His father allowed a small, sheepish grin.

"I have a, uh…" Stiles blushed, he could feel the heat in his cheeks. He continued, though, knowing his dad would be interested. "I have a notebook. Whenever I think I'm forgetting her, I pull out the notebook. It's got stuff in it… I'd like to add to it."

His father stared at him for a moment, smile gone though his mouth was still open. "You have a notebook? Of memories?"

Stiles nodded. "Of stuff about her. Her favorite movies, her pet peeves, what she smelled like."

"Smoke," his father said. "Like bonfire smoke. From the incense she loved. And a hint of cumin."

Stiles laughed. "She used cumin in everything, didn't she?"

His father's face looked haunted for a moment. "Everything," he drawled. Then he laughed. "When did you start that?"

"The notebook? When she was in the hospital. I'd go, talk to her, memorize every little thing she said or how she said it, then go home and write everything down."

"I didn't know that. I'd like to see it. Or you could read it to me. I'd like that."

"I'd like it, too. And maybe you can tell me stuff I don't even know about."

For the first time in months, since before he got his father fired, before the kanima, before Scott even got bit, he felt like the tension, the rift between him and his father was finally going away. At least a little. It was easier talking about something he didn't have to lie about.


Thnk we need u man

Why?

Ngtiations nt goin 2 gd

How do you mean?

Derek threw 1 of the alphas

That was stupid

She shot erica w/ wolf's bane

Oh

Whn u comin bck?

3 days

Dude. Sooner

Not my choice

Dude

OMG ill try!


He did try. He tried explaining that Scott was taking the breakup pretty bad. Of course, he was shot down. It wasn't like his father was going to drop everything and drive Stiles back six hours home just because Scott was having emotions. He didn't push the issue, either, since he didn't want to ruin the good mood they'd established the night before at the diner. Derek was an Alpha and Peter was an ex-Alpha. They should be able to handle things for a little while, especially the way Derek made it blatantly clear he didn't trust Stiles or even really want him around.

He did ignore his father's request to check out the schools in the area, though. Instead, he went to the library after dropping his father off at the conference. The library was bigger and better than the one in Beacon Hills and he ended up getting lost in some books about werewolves pretty quickly. There were theories he hadn't seen on the internet, which led him to books about real wolves, to try to separate the similarities and differences, and soon he had stacks on either side of him. He made a mental note to put away at least the werewolf books so the librarian wouldn't get suspicious. Just to be safe.

At four, just as he was about to leave to pick up his dad, his phone rattled the table. He knocked a book off the table in his haste to grab it, then hit his head when he darted to grab the book that fell.

He muttered a curse as he read the message from Derek. Get back now.

He rolled his eyes. No can do.

Immediately, he got a response. Not a request.

He made a face at the phone, mixture of tongue and pinched nose. Screw you =P

He ignored the phone the first time it rang, silencing it but not rejecting it. Quickly, he put the lycanthrope books back in their places and took his bag out to the car. By the time it rang the third time, he was settled in the driver's seat, not yet driving but at least he was away from any possible listeners.

"Mr. Sour Wolf, so good to hear from you."

He could hear the growl and annoyance before he even said anything. "They have Scott."

Stiles swallowed. "The Alphas?"

"The Hunters."

"Why do the Hunters have Scott?"

"The Alphas have Allison."

Stiles rubbed his face with his free hand. "Are you kidding me? Oh my god!" He hit the steering wheel. "Five days! Five and you can't even last two! How, how do you guys get yourselves into these messes?"

Derek was silent.

"Okay. Why? Why do you need me? What good am I going to be?"

Derek's voice was somewhere between cold, as in colder than normal, and strained. "You are neutral."

Stiles waited for more. When none was forthcoming, he gave a grunt of annoyance. "What do you mean, I'm neutral? Because I'm human?"

"Something like that."

Stiles sighed slowly, trying to keep his temper in check. "And Lydia? What is she, chopped liver?" Stiles winced. "Please don't tell me she's chopped liver."

"What? No, she's fine." Stiles felt a little better hearing Derek use the tone he was so fond of using when Stiles was being a moron. "But she won't work."

"Why?"

"Because she won't, you idiot! You need to get back here or both Scott and Allison are going to die tonight and Beacon Hills will be a battlefield between Hunters and Wolves."

Stiles used both hands to hit the steering wheel this time, effectively hanging up on Derek at the same time. He texted Derek requesting the location he was supposed to be at and when and prayed to a god he wasn't entirely sure he believed in that his father wasn't going to kill him.