Chapter Four

Derek saw the boy right away as he got to the Nemeton's location. Calvin was lying unconscious beside the tree, bruised and his clothes stained with blood. Derek gently scooped up the child in his arms, and checked his vitals.

He sighed in relief upon confirming that Calvin was still breathing, and doesn't seem to be severely injured. Derek tried to sense again if the boy's abductor was still there, but he found no sign. In fact, none at all—as if there was never anyone else with the boy. Only the dried up blood in Calvin's skin and clothes, and the ground indicated that someone has been there, but had left for quite some time already.

Derek straightened up and carried Calvin to his car.

"You guys, it's late. Good for you that it's not a school day, or else," Melissa disapprovingly shook her head upon seeing her son and his friends. "Hasn't Derek updated you yet? Dr. Deaton's here, too. He's already checked the boy, and made contact with the hunters." Melissa wasn't exactly pleased at the remembrance of the Calaveras who had been after Scott.

"Derek did call, Mom. But we just wanted to check on the boy," Scott reasoned out. "How's Calvin?"

"He's still asleep, which is pretty good. Poor little boy. He has a couple of bruises, a bump on his head, and the worst that he's got is that cut in his arm. It went a little too deep, so we had to stitch it up. He's also dehydrated. But what concerns us more is the possible psychological trauma he's suffered, so we're bringing in a child psychologist."

"It's great that Calvin is safe. But I hope it's not only for now," remarked Stiles.

Melissa agreed. "Your father has been coordinating with their counterpart authorities. Apparently, the boy was abducted while in transit. He and his mother were heading someplace when their car was attacked and overturned. Calvin's mom was injured, but now recovering. Araya's with her, so that explains the absence."

"So, would we be expecting his mom or maybe even Araya anytime soon to come and collect him?" asked Lydia.

"I heard the mom's on her way. She wasn't supposed to be out of the hospital yet, but she insisted. I'd normally be pissed at hard-headed patients, but this one, I can feel so much for her. I'm a mother, too." Melissa smiled tenderly.

"Great. I hope they'd bring in more answers, and no more questions, please." Stiles said in a low voice, skeptic and expectant at the same time.

Derek was unbelievably and unusually… happy. He didn't realize he'd missed being happy, until he remembered how it felt like. And it was all because of the little boy, Calvin. When he first heard of what they were about to deal with, he looked at the boy as no more than a mission. Then he'd seen his photo, then the boy himself at the preserve. The more he spent time with Calvin, his fondness grows even more.

It wasn't even sunrise yet when the child had regained consciousness. It was him that Calvin first saw when he opened his eyes. As he looked further around the room, he didn't find his mom or any familiar face. Derek was about to panic that he'd cry, but the child didn't. Thankfully, only a tearful "Mom" was what he had to deal with.

He was surprised at how easy they got along with each other. After Melissa and the doctors checked the boy, and assured him that his mom's on the way to the hospital, Calvin maintained an unusually calm demeanor. He, on the other hand, had been unusually playful and good with kids. The two of them spent the early part of the morning together, playing and reading with kid stuff Melissa was able to find around.

Derek's now driving to the loft to change clothes, and get food (Calvin requested for ice cream)—and some toys. He couldn't wait to go back to his new found buddy.

Scott, Stiles, and Lydia were again at the hospital, this time, tagging Malia and Kira along. They're waiting for Calvin's mom to arrive, so they could try to put the pieces of the puzzle together. They, too, were drawn to Calvin that they'd stayed in his room to play with him. Sheriff Stilinski involved himself in the case as well, assigning officers to guard the boy (but as one can guess, Scott and Stiles can breach such protocols).

"He speaks pretty well for his age," Kira uttered her observation about the now sleeping Calvin. Stiles has been asking Calvin all sorts of things in childlike curiosity and hyperactivity that're more fitting for the little boy. To their amazement, the child already has a sophisticated language faculty in terms of comprehending what they're saying, and responding.

Scott nodded. "Yeah. Mom said the doctors who checked him think he's a highly gifted child."

"Based non-supernaturals standards?" said Malia with an interrogatory tilt of her head.

"Yeah."

"He speaks well—in sentences that is. He's got some advanced mathematical abilities, and excellent memory. And he's only almost 3. So, yes, he's more probably than not a highly gifted child, based on developmental milestones for humans." Lydia should know better, being the clique's resident genius.

"So, he doesn't seem to be a supernatural, not a werewolf to be specific. 'Doesn't have healing abilities which Derek said even baby werewolves should possess. I don't think his being gifted is enough reason for someone to be after him." Stiles still won't stop with his deductions, which is good news for them since they're all dying to know what this case is all about.

Lydia sighed. "We can only hope that his mother finally getting here would solve this."

Not an hour had passed, and all of them had finally met Calvin's mother. On Scott's and Stiles' ends, well, admiration for the woman quickly developed, much to their girlfriends' dismay. The lady is of a natural tan skin, raven hair that complemented a dark pair of deep-set eyes. Not even the bandage and bruises on her head could mar her beauty. She's quite tall, too, just about Allison's height.

They'd expected a hysterical mother to storm in, only to be surprised to see a tearful young woman (though worry's all over her face). Must be why Calvin seems to be a brave boy, they concluded. Celine let out a litany of thank-yous to them, and agreed to help them out in figuring matters.

Celine's in Calvin's room while they're in the hallway, waiting for Derek's return.

Kira sat beside Lydia. "What's the matter, Lydia? You're acting, uhm, weird. You've been like this since Celine got here," said Kira who noticed Lydia's sudden change of behavior.

"Part of what's happening—I think I have an idea," Lydia spoke in a hushed voice, eyes on the floor.

Stiles ran to her other side. "What particular part of this complicated web?"

Her eyes met Stiles', and then, "On who Calvin might be. On why he must be so important to the Hales."