Chapter 1: The Doctor Visit

Doctor Alan Deaton was used to being called in for the high risk and profile patients of Eichen House. This time it was different, one of his most dear and respected colleges had called him, frantic about the state of her son. He remembered Derek, he was a quiet boy, lived in his head but was harmless and last time he had checked was an insurance investigator for some large firm in New York.

Talia had been frantic, faxing and emailing him everything that her own private investigator and Ms. Martin had been able to pull together. The worst were Derek's notes, they went from understandable to mere scribbles and frantic writing of one name, Sutter Cane, had been scribbled frantically, repeatedly, in the last entry of Derek's notes.

The court appointed doctor had written Derek had suffered a break down; he was no longer able to tell the difference between the real world and the fictional world created in those books.

It was late when Deaton had arrived; with the riots and the rising in the numbers of murders and suicide, traffic had been almost at a standstill as emergency vehicles sped past. Many of his colleges were joking that it was the strange phases of the moon; so far no one knew why it still hung full and red.

Parking his car, Deaton took a deep breath and tried to mentally prepare himself. Ms. Martin wanted him to convince Derek to claim it was stress and maybe some lingering unaddressed trauma from that scandal with the Agents, but, to Deaton it was the very public committed murder and Derek's own testimony that was damning. Even having Derek brought to Eichen House to be Deaton's patient, had been difficult , almost impossible with the influence of both himself and the Hales.

Grabbing his files, he exited his car, mentally preparing himself for the longest one sided conversation he might need to have before Derek opened up.

Once he entered the building, an orderly that he had never noticed before was approaching him.

"Doctor Deaton, I have been expecting you." The orderly greeted as he walked towards the doctor with a wide smile and almost strangely bright amber eyes. "You're here to see Derek? It's a shame about what happened to him, never would have guessed, I mean sure he can be all caveman and creepy but to kill someone like he did."

Deaton opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by a motion to follow the chatty orderly.

"It's a shame, cause he is hot. Not that I'm checking him out, but he is, and then since he's been here he doesn't really talk to anyone but me, and has taken to drawing on the walls and himself. But he's not much of an artist, it's like playing Pictionary with a kindergartner that's using his mouth and sometimes his feet to draw, but don't tell him I said that, he's sensitive sometimes, attacked one of the orderly's yesterday. No one really liked Brunski anyway, but he was clawing and biting at him, he's in intensive care, Brunski not Derek…so that's why he's wearing the jacket now…..but Dr. Fenris was busy and then called away, just answered his cell phone this morning and left, so that's why I'm greeting you and not him. But he did want to see you, said I was to personally escort you, make sure that you get to Derek" The orderly took a deep breath and let it slowly out before smiling again at Deaton and then escorting him out of the elevator.

Deaton blinked, as he processed all the information, he was about to ask the orderly something when he was interrupted again and gently guided into the now open door of the 5th floor wing, a key card placed in his hand.

"Third door on the right, it's all set up for you, a desk and a chair. Just don't touch Derek's crayon or criticize his drawings. He's a little sensitive right now, you think he'd been betrayed or something. So... so then, I'm going to wait here for you. Derek likes his privacy and I can't be quiet to save my life and I think he wants you to hear it all from him, so I'll be here, waiting at this door, for you."
...

It was a quiet night, nothing really out of the ordinary as Deaton made his way to the cell, and without trouble he entered the room, noticing the writing and holy symbols on the wall and the crosses that now decorated the stoic face of Derek Hale.

"Hello Derek." Deaton began.

Derek glared at him, and then at the door, as if waiting and looking for something or someone, Deaton was tempted to ask if it was the chatty orderly Derek was searching for.

"I'm not crazy." Derek stated.

"You murdered a man in front of a bookstore, there are witnesses to it." Deaton reminded, he had promised Talia he would help Derek, she couldn't believe her son was capable of this; he was more of the quiet stalking obsessive type not the murdering in public. No one had found the weapon, and some of the witness seemed crazy themselves when they described what Derek had turned into.

"I had to do it." Derek stated, his eyes staring into Deaton's, "I tried to stop it, I had to, it was my fault."

"Stop what Derek?" Deaton asked, he had read all the documents provided to him and Derek's confession at the station, but even Sheriff Stilinski was thinking the man was insane, especially when he mentioned Gemin.

The sheriff's son had disappeared when he was barely seven years old, went out into the woods to play with his best friend and then both were gone. There had been searches, suspects and their pictures on nearly all the local and global news outlets, but then deputy's son and the son of a FBI agent didn't just disappear. Only nothing was ever found.

Hearing from Derek that his son was possessed by a demonic fox spirit, who had seduced, manipulated and then mated himself to Derek, well there could be a case against the Sheriff but Derek didn't have any signs of the beating he had received from the Sheriff, well the beating Talia and the photo's Ms. Martin had taken claimed. Derek aside from the markings on his face had no bruises, broken bones or cuts.

It seemed that nothing was matching up and that was irking to the Doctor. It could be a simple case of mass hysteria, or delayed trauma that caused Derek to mentally break down. It wouldn't be unheard of, several people had been suffering from them lately, screaming about monsters and demons, loved ones being devoured before their very eyes. The Riots, murders and suicides that usually coincided with a release of a book or movie based on a book by Cane, were worse this time, it was the last book after all, the final one.

Sighing Deaton leaned back into the chair that had been provided for him, and began spreading out his files, making it easier for himself and Derek. What he really wanted to know was what happened in those 4 months that Derek had been missing. Laura had informed him of her last conversation with her brother. Claiming that he had been at some motel with his assistant, someone that once this was over he was going to bring home with him. It had been confusing for Laura since Derek had seemed to put off anything that wasn't work or forced family time. What had really gotten her attention was when Derek informed her, Stiles would need to become a patient of Deaton that Derek was going to devote his time towards Stiles care. That had been the last call, and then Derek went over the time table he had given Laura, and had seemed to disappear.

He understood that Derek was a runner, but he had always contacted his family made them aware of where he was, this time there was nothing until he was found in the preserve.

Found howling, dirty and naked in the preserve.

Then 3 days later he had apparently turned into a giant monster and killed that young man.

Derek stared at him and then snarled, his eyes going back to the door.

...Six months previously...

Derek Hale was good at his job.

Well he was one of the best in his field, on his desk sat the mug his boss brought him, the words - number 1 insurance investigator in the world - printed on it in nice bold lettering. He is and was several times in a row employee of the month. His colleges liked him, his boss adored him, he had a nice apartment, fancy car and separation from his family, and he couldn't help but feel accomplished.

His mother always bragged about him, her successful son living in New York. His sister visited him every chance she had, staying in the second bedroom of his apartment. Laura might not understand his work sometimes but she listened attentively none the less.

He was on the phone with her as he waited for his take out order.

"The man really gave his wife's jewelry to the mistress?" Laura asked in disbelief. Derek smiled noticing one of the waitresses redden as she stared at him.

"His wife confessed everything, even gave us the dates. Once she saw those pictures it was over, and I closed my case, no pay out for him" Derek concluded.

Laura laughed. The waitress walked over to him, placing a large drink in front of him, he guessed it was tea from what it smelled like.

"On the house." She whispered to him, winking before walking away, a little more sway to her hips as she did.

"Mom wants to know if I can go up there next week, says she's in need of some down time with the easier siblings and members of our family." He could hear the slight pleading tone in her voice, he felt like a monster when he knew he'd have to tell her no.

"I have a new case, its high profile and to be given my full attention. I'll be out of town for awhile on this one. The payout is in the high millions, I've been personally requested, especially with the attention that comes from this client, we all want to be sure it's exactly what their claiming it to be. When I get back you can stay for a month if you want." Derek explained looking out towards one of the windows in the front of the restaurant when he noticed everyone's attention going towards them.

"I have to call you back." Derek hung up rising from his seat as he watched the man with the ax making his way towards the Chinese restaurant; the man seemed to be staring directly at him.

...Present time...

Deaton remembered that, it had been on the news. The unknown man had broken the window of the Chinese restaurant, charging in screaming about the end, the renewal of the darkness and a hell hound, the messenger who was to usher everyone to their destruction. He had been shot to death by the police in the restaurant, maybe less than 5 feet from where Derek had stood.

That unknown man, who had latter been identified confidentially to Deaton as Jackson Whitmore. He had been a proof reader for Beacon Hills Publishing; been moved to edit only Cane's works at Cane's own request.

"In Heather's statement she mentioned that man, was coming towards you, screaming that, you had to die." Deaton stated, showing Derek the statement.

Derek stared at the statement then returned his gaze back to Deaton, the power flickered putting them in darkness, and Deaton swore Derek's eyes were red before the lights stabilized again. Deaton blinked and reminded himself that he was tired, and this case was different, it was personal.

...6 months previously...

He called his sister in the morning, letting her know that he was fine. She had asked him several times in the conversation if he was alright and if he wanted to come home, but he refused. He was fine on his own in his apartment, beside work always distracted him from everything else.

When they finally hung up he headed to his meeting at Beacon Hills Publishing, one of their writers was missing and more importantly the manuscript for his newest and final novel. Derek had spent two days looking up this Sutter Cane, and the effect the books had on the readers, it left him thinking this was a publicity stunt. They probably had Cane holed up in some fancy hotel, and were using this as part of the advertisement campaign.

He could picture the head line already, "Writer goes missing! Private investigators even the insurance ones are called in! Where could Sutter Cane be, even worse where is his final novel!" Derek was going to break this wide open, reveal it for the fraud it was. He just needed to find Sutter Cane.

He had never been a fan of writers; they had this lost connection with reality that unnerved him. His uncle had been a writer, unpublished but a writer, spending hours locked in his room before he simply disappeared. Said he was going for a walk, and then nothing, spirited away his grandma had whispered, spirited away like those little boys.

"You should pay attention. Someone might think you're rude."

The voice cut through his thoughts, he hadn't realized that he was in the Publishing house, looking at the person who spoke; he was taken aback as he felt like someone shocked him. The young man, early 20's was leaning against a wall by the elevators, simple slacks, white dress shirt and a buttoned vest, with simple black dress shoes. The young man smiled, it was a wide smile, it took a minute and the pressure of a hand on his chest stopping him that made him realize that he had been approaching the younger male and was well past acceptable personal space.

"You must be Derek Hale, I was warned about you." The smile never slipped his face. "Ms. Reyes is waiting for you, and she is not one to make wait."

"I'm early." Derek stated, the younger man had bright eyes,

"So you are."

Derek hadn't moved, and neither had the hand on his chest, Derek wanted it moved, he didn't know why, he only wanted to be closer. Derek knew he was scowling, and the unnamed male, who was the rude one since he hadn't introduced himself, laughed and calmer than anyone in the situation would be, lead him to the elevator.

If Derek had been expecting a quiet elevator ride he was mistaken. The bright eyed male stared at him with a smirk, like he was expecting something. Did he know Derek, did he already guess what was happening or what Derek thought? He felt a slightly cold hand place itself on his wrist.

"A walking lie detector, you must be very impressive Mr. Hale. You were highly recommended. It seemed it had to be you, and no one else."

Derek stared at the hand that rested on his wrist, he couldn't make out any lie in those words, and all he could hear was an interest that was sparking his own.

"Ms. Reyes is very excited to meet you; in fact she even assigned you an assistant for this."

"Assistant."

"Yep. Imagine that, you get your own personal assistant. I already know who it is, would you guess... it's me. I get to be all yours."

"Mine."

The elevator door opened and Derek followed his assistant to Ms. Reyes office, no one stopped them or questioned where they needed to be, he didn't know if it was because of him or his assistant. He was a little annoyed when they reached the over sized office of Ms. Reyes and his assistant released his wrist to move away from him to stand beside her.

Erica Reyes was a very attractive woman, a powerful woman; with a wave of her hand she dismissed the three already in her office. Making a motion with her hand, Derek sat in the plush seat in front of her desk. She sat in her seat after he had, motioning to the large file that was on her desk.

"Mr. Hale."

"Ms. Reyes."

"Stutter Cane is very important to our publishing house. He's one of our best sellers, never missed a deadline, so you can understand how this would upset us, when he is not only behind schedule but suddenly unreachable." Ms. Reyes began, she looked at his assistant and smiled, it made Derek uncomfortable.

"Is this a publicity stunt." Derek asked or told, he had been told more than once he hadn't mastered the art of making a question sound like a question.

Ms. Reyes narrowed her eyes. "Stiles."

Stiles, his assistant nodded at her. "No, we've been trying to keep this quiet, luckily with Mr. Cane being a recluse it's been a possibility, but with all the preorders, the movie deal and the amount of money we'd lose, not to mention the damage to the company...if it became public, we need that manuscript and Mr. Cane found."

Derek stared at him, Stiles; it was either a first or last name. Maybe a nickname, but it was nice. He wasn't lying when he had answered but it wouldn't be the first time someone higher up was keeping secrets.

"Stiles has been Mr. Cane's personal assistant since before Mr. Cane was one of our authors, and his contact within the publishing house. He will be helping you, we want our property back Mr. Hale." Reyes stared at him and he stared right back, he was pleased, with a nod he took the folder on the desk, stood, and found himself smiling slightly as Stiles followed him.

The walk to the elevators was silent, both just walking close to each other almost shoulder to shoulder and hip to hip. It was only after they entered one, and the doors closed that Stiles began talking.

"Have you ever read any of Mr. Cane's books?" Stiles asked. "They seem to have this effect on people, makes them go crazy. Nightmares, hallucinations, paranoia and memory loss, all those are side effects to reading his books. Who knew reading could make people crazy." Stiles laughed at that, then looked at Derek. He seemed to be judging him, before taping a long finger on his chin, "No, I don't think you're much of a reader. But I sent the books to your apartment anyway, left my number in the acknowledgements page of the first book. Just in case you needed to reach me. Let me know what the next step is, I'll be waiting for that call."

Stiles looked away from him, Derek couldn't explain it but he didn't like being ignored. "It's a publicity stunt," Derek began, "He's somewhere hidden away, just waiting for the signal, give that final farewell." Stiles was staring at him again, head tilted slightly up and pressed against the wall of the elevator. Derek felt that hand on his chest again. "I will find out the truth."

"You have no idea about personal space."

...Present time...

"Did you read the books?" Deaton asked.

Derek stared. He didn't answer, Deaton knew that he had. He had told Laura on the phone that he had, laughing that he couldn't understand what was causing people to go insane. Laura had informed him she had only read one book of his, the first one and hadn't even finished it. As they spoke , Derek noticed something as he compared the covers, they had all been drawn by Cane. On each cover was a small incomplete design, it nagged at him. When he had put the covers together, put that design together it had spelled Oak Creek. He had never heard of Oak Creek actually existing but it was always the setting for Cane's stories. His novels, all his novels took place there. Stiles whom he had called had sleepily informed him that it was based on some small town in California from Cane's past.

Deaton was looking at his notes, "Stiles said the books made the readers crazy."

"I thought it was mass hysteria." Derek was now glaring at the papers spread out on the table. "I knew about the riots, the hallucinations... at first I thought I wasn't affected."

"At first?"

Derek nodded, "Then I was cutting up the covers taping them together, finding the location for Oak Creek, packing my things, loading the car and then going to pick up Stiles."

Deaton nodded, as he wrote that down in his own notes. He pushed a paper towards Derek; it was the tapped together covers of the book, with the words Oak Creek written over and over on it in black crayon.

There was no design on it, just the black crayon words overlapping on top of each other.

...Six months earlier...

Derek was knocking more like banging on Stiles apartment- apparently not very sturdy- door, feeling hurried since this wasn't the worst neighborhood but it wasn't the greatest either. He could hear Stiles rustling around; hear his footsteps, the sound of his heart. Beating a little faster, the fear that covered his scent, Derek was now rattling the door knob; he wanted in the apartment, he wanted access to Stiles.

When the door finally opened, Stiles was staring at him.

"Derek? What are you doing here at 3 in the morning?" His heartbeat was returning to normal, the smell of fear was fading, but the interest and curiosity were present. "How did you even know where I lived, I just gave you my cell….you know what. No, I don't want to know."

Derek only smiled, then presented him with his findings, feeling pleased that he had discovered where Sutter Cane was.

Stiles just stared at him, well more like judging him. Which was just rude, since he had just figured all this out, and found a location for Cane and read all the books, he might not remember everything in them but he had read them. Now Stiles was just staring at him and his duct taped on the back pieced together cover from all the books, like they personally offended him.

"Maybe I should have just printed out the summaries for you."

"Oak Creek." Derek's answered.

Stiles still in the doorway and in pajamas since it was 3am in the morning hesitantly took the art and craft project from Derek and wondered if it would be rude to slam the door on Derek's face and then move.

"Oak Creek." Stiles repeated, feeling a little freaked out when Derek smiled all bared teeth and wide eyes.

Derek just stared at him. "It's the setting for all his stories. Somewhere in California," Stiles was really considering moving apartments when as Derek spoke he was moving closer to him. He wondered if Derek's creepiness simply made people want to confess so Derek would get away from them. "I can take us there. I already packed, we'll take my car." With that Derek was pushing him into his own apartment, closing the door and locking it once both were inside. Stiles only stared at him slacked jawed.