I got back to my jeep in record time. Once there, I grabbed Scotts phone from its usual spot stuffed in-between the seat and arm rest and sent Mama McCall a quick text.

"Hi mom; Lacrosse practice is gonna run late today so I won't be home before you leave. Gonna stay at Stiles' for the weekend so he can help me study for my exams. Have a good shift. Luv you!

Once I hit send, I tossed the phone into the passenger seat and set off toward home.

It didn't take long for my house to come into view. But, seeing my father's car in the driveway was an unexpected surprise. Usually, he'd be at the station until at least seven but, after everything that'd gone on recently, he wanted there to be more occasions for me to talk to him. Cause, you know, werewolves, kanima and murder were everyday things teenagers went through.

I parked the jeep and headed in hoping he'd be too swamped in his latest case to notice my entrance. He noticed.

"Hey Stiles, come here for a sec."

I swore under my breath before pulling my best nonchalant face and proceeding into the kitchen.

"Yea-

But myself and my sentence stopped short when the smell of grease, starch and tomatoes hit me like a bullet train causing me to stop in my tracks before I'd gotten the swinging door that lead to our kitchen open fully.

"Dad, I better not come into this kitchen and find Pizza or French fries anywhere."

The sound of footsteps echoed on the linoleum floor before the stove was open and shut.

"Okay, it's safe." He called. I walked through the door and rolled my eyes at his half-hearted attempt to conceal what he'd been eating. French fries lay helplessly on the floor, his fingers and mouth were still greasy, and if I wasn't mistaken, there was cheese hanging from my father's bottom lip.

"Yes dad?" I said with a slight chuckle as the piece of cheese that was hanging from his lip started to move independently of him as he walked toward me.

"Nothing really, Stiles; I just wanted to see how you were today is all."

Internally, I was screaming how not okay I was, but if the rather large stack of manila folders and the stressful look on my father's face was anything to go by, he didn't really want to know anyway. So I lied.

"Well, Summer Break is around the corner and with the exception of still having Lacrosse practice even though the season has been over for a while, I'm as dandy as a Daisy. But how are you, Dad? You look more stressed and tired than usual.

I was overly sure that, as a Sheriff, he'd see through my answer and press deeper; a surety that was shot to hell when he picked up the nearest manila folder and looked at it with a sigh.

"It's just this new case I've got….Kind of a conflict of my ethics and my Job description. He ended his sentence with another sigh before patting me on the shoulder and sitting back down.

The topic of a new case in Beacon Hills raised my interest and I decided to try my luck at seeing what it was about before I headed upstairs to grab a few things.

"Anything you wanna talk-

I didn't get my full sentence out before his famous "Stiles you're a teenager, my son and a civilian -no I am not talking about this case with you" face.

I gave an effortless Nevermind before spinning on my heel and heading toward my room. The phone rang as I started to mount the stairs, I heard my dad answer and figured that, if I wanted to leave the house without another round of question, I'd better hurry while dad was still on the phone.

Once there, I wasted no time –grabbing a bag and throwing enough cloths in Scott and I to span three days each.

Not too long after Scott first turned, we both agreed that we'd just clear one whole draw out for one another and keep cloths at the others house; an idea that had come in handy more times than one over the last couple of months.

I grabbed my charger, laptop and the spare money I kept in the old sock at the bottom of my dresser before giving my room one more good look over, deciding that I hadn't forgotten anything and heading back downstairs.

"See ya Dad." I said loudly from the front door, hoping that he was still on the phone and would let me leave without giving me the third degree on details. It was a fools hope to say the least.

"Where are ya off to?" I rolled my eyes and headed back toward the kitchen to explain.

"I've got weight training for lacrosse for a few hours then I'm headed to Scotts so we can get an early start on studying for our exams."

"And those are the only places you'll be?"

I suppressed the impatient growl that itched my throat and answered the question.

"I'm sure we'll go grab food or something I mean, it is Friday. But other than that, we'll just be relaxing at Scotts doing man stuff...-Which reminds me."

I walked to the stove and removed the large Pizza box that no doubt contained at least half a pizza and the remaining fries that hadn't fallen to the floor.

"Men need food, and since you're on a strict healthy diet, I'm going to take this with me. You don't mind, do you?"

He starred at the box with a longing gaze before shaking his head no.

"Didn't think so."

And with a quick cheek kiss and an even quicker "Love you" I bid him good-bye and was gone before any more questions could be asked.

I put the stuff in the back seat before climbing into the driver's seat and starting the engine.

My phone chose that moment to ring. The annoying polyphonic tone echoed off the jeep walls and the need to shut it up became all consuming.

"He's awake." Was all that greeted me when I finally fished my phone out of my pocket. But the simple words brought a smile to my face and I breathed a sigh of complete relief. Scott was okay.

With the though resonating through my brain, I pulled out of the driveway and set a course for the nearest burger joint.

If asked, I'd firmly deny the silent tears that inched their way down my face as I drove to get food. But there, while I was alone, I let the tears fall. Once again, I'd come close to losing one of the most important people in my life. Once again I had to face the question of what I'd do if I lost Scott. And Once again, the fear was dissolved completely in one instant. So I cried tears of pure elation and the only people who'd ever know were me and my Jeep.

Or so I thought.