Chapter Ten
Spotlight
Stiles sat beside Scott in the McCall living room. The local news broadcast had superseded all programming on television. Had Melissa McCall not been sitting in the chair next to the boys they would undoubtedly be near the scene attempting their own investigation. Had she not taken both of their cell phones they would know if Derek, the Argents, or the Fuocos were aware of what had occurred.
"I've got to go to the bathroom," Stiles said.
Melissa eyed the boy, "There's a window in all of our bathrooms, no way Stiles."
"Mom, this is ridiculous, we're not going to go there." Scott protested.
"You're not going to go anywhere," Melissa said, "this is too dangerous. I'm sure I'll be called to the hospital soon, and then the two of you will be coming with me."
Stiles sighed heavily; he made sure Scott's mom heard him. He knew she only had his best interest in mind, but not knowing where Derek was, or if he was safe, was slowly driving Stiles insane. Scott kept glancing at him. Stiles knew he could hear his heartbeat accelerating, and for once Stiles' didn't care.
Preliminary reports say five officers are dead and two are severely wounded. Attempts to get a statement by Sheriff Stilinski have been unsuccessful, but some officers are claiming that this is was an animal attack.
Melissa shook her head, "I just don't understand."
The phone rang. She answered it and quickly sat it back down.
"That's it, we're going to the hospital," she grabbed her bag. She had already put on her scrubs just in case she was needed.
The boys grunted as they followed her out of the house.
X-X-X-X
Scott showed up dutifully at the Argent house the next day at his designated time: 6:30pm. Though the attack the previous night was tragic and required most of his attention, he was slightly thankful for the 8:00pm curfew Sheriff Stilinski set after the events at the Preserve. Once he rang the doorbell Allison answered the door and grimaced as she led him to he dining room.
Victoria served a five course meal that Scott would have really enjoyed had he not been on edge around Gerard. The tables had turned so much in just a few months. Chris, Victoria, and even Allison sat quietly while most of the conversation shifted between him and Scott.
"So," Gerard said after a sip of wine, "Did you make it out to the Preserve last night to sniff around?
"No," Scott replied, "my mom didn't want me out with what happened."
"You know we've received orders to kill any Werewolf suspected of those crimes, no matter the cost?"
Scott shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "I didn't know that, sir."
"You were a well trained dog, huh?" Gerard laughed, "Look at those manners, I would almost guess you're from the South!" Gerard leaned forward, "You don't have to impress me, Scott, I'll never like you either way."
Allison gripped Scott's hand, helping him keep his heart rate down, "I don't understand what I did to make you dislike me. I didn't ask for the bite."
"Even so," Gerard said, "you are what you are. I didn't ask to be a Hunter who's job is to kill wolves. The Code is temporarily protecting you, Scott. But I would tread very carefully if I were you. I know an Alpha's goal: to build his pack. If your friend bites a human, whether to change them or not, whether their willing or not, he will be ordered to be Hunted."
Scott's eyes were on his plate, but he lifted them to stare Gerard in the eyes, "I thought this was a good luck dinner, can we talk about lacrosse now? I've gotten your point."
Allison chuckled under her breath.
Gerard scoffed, "I hope so." He rose from his seat and excused himself from the table.
X-X-X-X
Saturday morning Stiles woke up early, much earlier than Derek had anticipated. He promptly opened his blinds to reveal a still-dark morning sky. His plan had been to wake Derek up with sunshine, but instead Stiles resorted to shaking him.
"It's championship day!" Stiles exclaimed.
Derek grunted, "Shake me again and I'll bite your hand off."
Stiles laughed as he rushed to get ready, the team was meeting for practice in a few hours and Stiles would not be able to contain his energy in the house. He decided it would be in his and everyone's best interest to go and bother Scott instead.
"Are you coming to the game tonight?" Stiles asked.
Derek sat up and rubbed his sleepy face to some sense of alertness, "I'll be tracking again today. Crowds really aren't my thing, Stiles. I'm sorry."
Though Stiles was not happy with this statement, his ecstatic attitude prevailed, "It's alright, I'll call you when we win."
He rushed out of his room and ran out to his car. Derek rose from the bed and, in his now-normal morning ritual, went to the guest bedroom to feign sleep until Sheriff Stilinski left.
X-X-X-X
Despite the Friday night dinner, Scott decided to keep Gerard's threatening words to himself so he, Stiles, and Jackson could focus on bringing home the championship. The game began later that day, and the lacrosse stands had never been as packed. Beacon Hills fans were nearly outnumbered by the fans from the other team. Though the energy was high, there were several awkward additions to the crowd of cheery fans. Chris, Victoria, Peyton, Terry, Gerard, a few distant Argent cousins, Giovanni, Marcella, Carlo, and Adonna all sat carefully watching the woods around the field and the clear path to the school behind them. Though they looked like normal people, they were littered up and down with anti-Werewolf weaponry.
Between the two families Allison and Gabriella stood side by side, cheering with the rest of the crowd in pre-game excitement. Between Allison and her father sat another awkward addition, Derek Hale. Allison took a seat beside him before the game's start countdown timer reached zero.
"C'mon," Allison tugged on his arm, "I got you here, now you have to enjoy this."
Chris eyed Allison, displaying his discomfort with having her show her friendship with the Alpha so openly around Gerard and the other Hunters.
Derek frowned at Allison, "I am enjoying this, I'm sitting here, like you pestered me to do."
Allison pouted, "Derek! C'mon, you know you want to be here!" She leaned in and whispered her next words: "Stiles is going to be so happy you came."
Derek sighed, "I have people to track, Werewolves to kill!"
Allison grabbed Derek's arm and forced to his feet. Though she accomplished her goal, she knew Derek allowed her to force him to his feet.
"If you don't enjoy things like this, a lacrosse game, you'll always be swamped, tired, and depressed."
Derek sighed and released himself from her grasp. He stood there, hands in his pocket, as she and Gabi bounded up and down yelling. Gabi surprised Allison, she was more than willing to sit next to Derek and her when Allison requested.
Once the game began the crowd erupted into cheers. The starters for both teams tried to get their sides of the field even louder than the other. Though Allison was sure they wanted to, the police lining the outskirts of the field, armed with rifles, did not move to watch the game.
As the game progressed Allison worked to fill Derek in on how to cheer at lacrosse games. She tried to get him to alternate between "Go, team, go!" and "Defense, defense!" with her and Gabi to no avail. When it came time for them to hold up their signs, Derek refused to help. And when the team scored she grabbed Derek's hand out of his pocket to make him raise it and move it with them, to which he responded, "I'm not an invalid, I can move it myself."
For a moment, she felt as though Derek wasn't enjoying the game, even though his eyes were tracking the ball as if it were the wolves he had been hunting for so long. It wasn't until Stiles scored a goal and Derek gave what could have been the cutest grin she had ever seen on any guy's face, including Scott's, that she knew dragging him to the game was the right choice. She saw Stiles erupt into celebration at his first in-game lacrosse goal and look straight to Derek. When Derek grinned even wider and winked to Stiles she couldn't help but sport a wide, cheesy smile. Despite the fact that he never exactly cheered, watching him and Stiles shoot glances back and forth entertained her to no end. Even more entertaining were the confused stares coming from Jackson and Scott about Derek's presence at the game.
X-X-X-X
Stiles opened the door to his room, where Derek was waiting on him. He threw down his duffel bag and opened his arms wide.
"Give your state champion a hug!"
Derek raised one eyebrow, but acquiesced to his request. As Stiles released Derek he drew back. "No afterparty?"
"The large police and parent presence and mandatory minor curfew kind of shot that horse in the face."
"Ah," Derek replied.
"I saw you came to my game," Stiles grinned.
"Allison made me," Derek said, but then added: "you were great."
Stiles nodded. Derek noticed a tear forming in the corner of Stiles' eye and cocked his head to the side, "Are you crying?"
"No," Stiles stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest, "I just have something in my eye, you know, like a twig, or a branch, maybe a contact."
"You don't wear contacts."
"Hence why I'm tearing up."
Derek smiled, one of the few full smiles Stiles had ever seen him show, "I love you, Stiles."
"What," Stiles face twisted into some mixture of disgust and astonishment, both of which were forced, "you think—"
"You told me in your sleep one night."
"Oh!" Stiles said, "Well that just sweeps the awkwardness away." He wrapped his arms around Derek's torso. Derek wrapped one arm around Stiles and used the other to place his hand on the back of his head, securing the boy in his arms.
"I love you too." He said, but he couldn't leave it at that, "how could you be so cavalier about this if I told you this already."
"Because I'm not a Gossip Girl in a Sweet Valley with Traveling Pants."
"Ah," Stiles grinned against Derek's shoulder. He leaned his head up and looked Derek in the eyes. Derek's wit genuinely impressed him, "it just meant a lot to me that you were there, especially with everything you have going on."
"I'd do anything for you, Stiles," Derek said.
Stiles happily exhaled, "Me, the handsome jock, and you the pretty cheerleader in the stands. It just literally—"
Derek's scowl interrupted Stiles' attempt at humor.
"Don't ruin this, Stiles."
Stiles smiled and nodded, returning his head to Derek's shoulder. He heard Derek take in a deep breath.
"Are you smelling me again?"
"You smell good after a game."
"I haven't even showered!"
"Shut up."
X-X-X-X
"How are you doing?" Melissa asked Ms. Martin as she filled in Lydia's vitals chart.
Ms. Martin gave the nurse a weak smile, "I'm trying to be well."
Melissa nodded, "Did you go to the game last night?"
Ms. Martin nodded, "Her father and I went. I recorded some of it on my phone. I thought it would be nice to come back and tell her about it. I showed her some of the videos I had."
Melissa smiled, "I'm sure she loved that."
"She always loved the lacrosse games," Ms. Martin stroked Lydia's hair, "and all of her boys were playing: Jackson, Scott and Stiles."
Melissa leaned down and hugged Ms. Martin, "You're gonna be surprised how soon she wakes up, I can feel it."
Ms. Martin smiled, "Thank you, Melissa."
Melissa nodded, "If you need anything you just ring the bell, I'll come to you, okay?"
Ms. Martin nodded as Melissa exited the room. She walked past the nurse's station and down to the vending machines. On her way down she passed the security office, which was actually a room with all of the building's cameras wired in for one officer to view them. She opened the door to check up on the security officer, who was almost always asleep.
"Wake up, Carl!" Melissa exclaimed as she saw that he was indeed passed out.
Carl jerked awake, "Oh, sorry Melissa."
She rolled her eyes and shut the door. Carl promptly fell back asleep. If he was awake he may have seen the exterior cameras go out, one by one. If he were not sleeping he may have noticed as each of the hospital's interior floor cameras faded to fuzz. If he were awake, he may have been able to warn someone before two large, black, wolf-like creatures rammed in through the lobby windows of the hospital's ground floor. However, he wasn't awake, so neither he nor the cameras saw the tragedy begin.
X-X-X-X
Derek, Stiles, and Sheriff Stilinski sat at the dining room table. It was the first time the Stilinski's had used it for dinner since Stiles could remember. Stiles sat watching Derek practice his manners in a way he had never seen before. Perhaps they taught him respect for your elders in Werewolf day school.
"Thank you for inviting me into your home," Derek said, "I'm surprised you weren't angry that Stiles let me sneak in here."
"I get the impression that you're a good kid, Derek," the Sheriff replied, "I'm just sorry so many things have happened to you lately."
Stiles grinned as he chewed a tough piece of roast beef. His father made a valiant attempt to cook dinner, but failed somewhat miserably. As Stiles watched his father and Derek interact he wondered how life would have been different if his father knew the whole time. It had only been a two days since his father revealed he knew Derek was living there. And now, gathered around a Sunday dinner, his father was talking to Derek as if he knew him for years.
Despite their good-hearted dinner effort, life intervened. The Sheriff received a phone call and immediately jumped up to grab his jacket and gun sling.
"Dad, what?" Stiles jumped up as well.
"Stay here, both of you." He ordered.
Derek winced slightly from receiving orders from someone else, and slightly surprised himself when he considered following them. Without another word, Sheriff Stilinski disappeared out of the door.
As soon as he was gone Derek picked up his cell phone. He had dialed Scott. As soon as he answered Derek barked, "Meet me at the hospital, now. We'll go in by the Emergency bay."
He hung up the phone and looked at Stiles, "You cannot leave this house, understand?"
"Derek-"
"Stiles, I don't have time for this," Derek said, "I heard the dispatcher who called your father. From what she said, it sounds like both Alphas are attacking the hospital."
"Both!" Stiles exclaimed as he followed Derek to the door, "Why?"
Derek turned to Stiles, "I cannot express to you how much time I do not have right now. And if you follow me, I will not have sex with you for a month." Derek left and slammed the door behind him.
"You can't threaten me with no sex when we haven't had sex," He mumbled, as if that detail mattered in the situation.
"Then I'll hurt you!" Derek yelled as he took off towards the hospital.
X-X-X-X
"My father and Derek just forced me to stay at the house!" Stiles yelled to Jackson through his cell phone.
"Look, dude, it's for the best." Jackson said, "You're going through the same thing I went through, feeling powerless, but at some point you've got to realize that…unless you're a trained Hunter or a Werewolf…you're not going to be on the fighting side of things."
Stiles paced around his room. He did not speak.
"Stiles," Jackson said, "just be thankful. No news stations are at the hospital, I think this is worse than what happened at the Preserve."
Stiles nodded, as if Jackson could see that through the cell phone, "Thanks for letting me vent. I don't hate you as much as I did anymore. I've got to go."
"Stiles," Jackson said, "I'm not telling you what to do, but please don't leave that house. Just wait."
"I got it," Stiles said as he hung up the phone. He left his room and walked downstairs. He made his way to the kitchen to grab the full half-gallon of milk with full intention to drink it all and passive-aggressively get back at his father and Derek. He was tired of being weak, tired of being protected. Above all, he could not fight the feeling that Derek was treating him like a child again. As irrational as he told himself he was being, the thought still lingered in his mind.
Stiles' train of thought ceased as soon as his doorbell rang. Jackson had come over to make sure he didn't leave the house. Of course, now he needed to be babysat. Stiles made his way to the door and opened it.
"Look, Jacks," he said, but instead saw a pizza delivery guy standing in front of him, "you're not Jackson."
"Nope," the guy said and pointed to his nametag, "Ben. That'll be $22.79."
Stiles crinkled his brow, "I didn't order pizza."
The delivery guy dropped the pizza and unzipped his name-tagged windbreaker, "You're right, you didn't."
Another guy appeared beside the pizza delivery guy. Stiles didn't know who they were, but slammed the door on them and locked the deadbolt.
"Listen," he yelled, "there's nothing in here to rob, just leave! The sheriff lives here!" He slowly backed away from the door. In a matter of seconds the door was kicked down by one of the men, and the other threw himself through the large living room window. When they looked at Stiles they no longer had the features of normal humans, they were Beta Werewolves.
"Oh, shit." Stiles yelled as he ran away, deeper into the house.
X-X-X-X
Perhaps it was the sirens. Maybe it was the assault, the gunshots, the roars. It could very possibly have been just fate. Regardless of the cause, in the tragic events that had occurred that night, Lydia opened her eyes.
X-X-X-X
Chapter 11
"Monster"
Stiles fights the Werewolves at his home, while Derek and Scott intervene on the hospital attack. Lydia, now awake, has many questions. Derek returns home to speak with Stiles.