Derek's been gone for awhile now. Nobody really knows where he went, but then again, when do they ever know where Derek goes?
He's here and gone again, just like that. A blink of an eye, a billow of smoke, a snap of the fingers and he's here… and then gone again.
First of all, nobody saw him go. Usually, he leaves some kind of indication, there's some kind of sign that he's leaving. This time, there were none.
Second of all, something's happening. Supernatural activity has quieted, the birds have stopped chirping and Scott can smell the terror in the air.
But where's it coming from?
And third of all, is Stiles. Suddenly, he's been missing school. Having panic attack after panic attack. Noah is afraid they'll escalate into seizures. Scott prays they won't. He can't lose And somehow, Scott is sure it all has to do with wherever Derek went, whatever he's doing. And man, that makes him mad.
Of course Derek had to go, of course he had to be stupid and untrusting and leave without a word. Now things were getting messed up and it was the stupid lycan's fault. Stupid wolf. Stupid stupid stupid wolf.
Stiles had been trying to find out, frantically, before his panic attacks had started getting bad. Damnit, Derek.
Gone and here again.
And suddenly, he's back, the sun is shining, and he's standing there, at the edge of the woods, looking like he was just run over by a truck. Scott has half a mind to walk over and punch him in his stupid smug face, but the thought disintegrates.
Stiles runs up to him, jumping into his embrace forcefully enough it makes the wolf stumble back. He holds Stiles around the waist, and pets his hair.
Lydia's next, joining the hug that Stiles initiated, then Jackson, and Boyd. Erica, Kira, Issac, Malia, then Liam. Scott watches, the prowling eyes of the alpha still angry, but also relieved.
He walks forward, and meets Derek's eyes.
"You have a family now, Derek. A mate," Scott nods towards Stiles, "You can't just be…" Scott trails off, and Derek casts his eyes down. Scott starts again.
"You have a family, now, Derek. And a mate," he says, "You don't have to be here and gone again, all the time. We're here for you." Derek meets Scott's eyes again. He offers a rare smile, and Scott smile back.
Anger diminished, Scott joins the hug.