Chapter 14

"Knock, knock! You're beloved son is home!" Stiles pushed open the door with his crutch and walked into the kitchen where his dad was at the stove, cooking something that smelled delicious. Derek shut the door behind him and hung his keys up on the key rack. The Sheriff chucked and went to hug his "beloved son." He turned to pat Derek on the back as well.

"I know you like my beef stew, so I cooked up extra tonight. It'll be ready in about twenty minutes."

"Thank god. I'm starving!" Stiles sat down at the kitchen table and breathed in deeply. "It smells so good."

"Didn't you just eat a little while ago?" Stiles' dad went back to stirring the stew.

"Yes, he did," Derek interjected. "A large order of nachos and two tacos with extra meat." Stiles grinned and shrugged.

"Anyway," he said. "How long do you think it will be before I can start working at the library again?"

"Not for a few more weeks."

"What? Why not?"

Derek stared at him. "Stiles, your leg is broken and a good portion of your day is going up and down stairs, carrying large stacks of heavy books. If you went to work with a cast, I guarantee Laura would send you right back home."

Stiles slumped in his chair, wincing when his foot knocked against the table leg. "But what if she hires someone else? I mean, there's no way one person can handle all the things you have to do around the library on a daily basis."

"Don't worry about it." Derek leaned over and took his hands. "I've been helping out while you've been gone. She's not going to hire anyone else."

Stiles smiled and relaxed a bit, but after a minute, he asked, "What about your coursework? Aren't you going to get behind?"

"Unlike you, I'm not one to procrastinate and got a lot of the work done at the beginning of the semester."

"I don't procrastinate."

Derek gave him a look. "Did you do any of the work your dad brought you from school?"

Stiles peaked over to where his dad was standing. Of course, he was staring right back, giving him an expectant look. Stiles sighed. "No."

"I didn't think so. Unfortunately for you, you can still go to school with a cast on your leg." Derek stood and pressed his lips to Stiles' forehead in a quick kiss as he started to protest. He then went over to help John cut up the potatoes. Stiles grumbled as he leaned over and took his text books out from his backpack and began the three weeks of make-up work.

The days passed slowly, slower now that Stiles couldn't do anything exciting. He had been home for three weeks now. He had to admit, it was nice to spend some extra time with his dad whenever he came home from work, but dare he say it, videogames were starting to get boring. He needed fresh air.

Derek hadn't been able to come over in a few days. Even though he told Stiles he could manage, he was having trouble balancing classes, working Stiles' shifts, working his own shifts at Beacon Hills Landscaping, and keeping Stiles' company. He finally made Derek go home and sleep after he nearly passed out at the dinner table.

Now he sat in the front seat of his dad's squad car, headed back to the hospital so they could remove his cast. He'd finally be able to walk around without those stupid crutches. Thank god. He swore his arms would have bruises for eternity. The Sheriff pulled up in front and let Stiles out. "I'll be right in, Son." Stiles nodded as his dad pulled away to park the car.

It took almost an hour, complete with warnings about not staying on his feet for too long, still getting plenty of rest, taking it easy, blah blah. Stiles nearly teared up with joy as he stepped outside into the sunshine, free of the cumbersome bindings he had worn for almost a month. He shouted and jumped around, even when people around him stared at him strangely. His father only let him carry on for a few minutes before he dragged him across the parking lot and shoved him into the car. Stiles wasn't really listening, but he was sure his dad had said something about disturbing the peace.

The first place he went as a newly freed man was, of all places, work. Laura practically squealed when she saw him and rushed to hug him. "Stiles! I haven't seen you in weeks! How have things been? You're cast is gone!"

Stiles laughed. "I know it's been a while. I've been under house arrest. Other than the house arrest part, things have been relatively good considering everything that's happened. And yes, my cast is gone. I just got it off a half hour ago." He barely stopped to take a breath before asking, "So, when do I start work?"

Laura's eyes narrowed. "Stiles, you just barely got your cast off."

"I am perfectly functional!" To prove his point, he jumped around and flailed his arms." Laura bust out laughing.

"Fine. How about next Monday?"

"Next Monday? That's an entire week away!"

"It's Wednesday."

Stiles crossed his arms. "Close enough."

She stared at him for a moment. "Why do you want to come back to work so much?"

"I don't know." After an unimpressed look from Laura, he sighed. "If you must know, there are many reasons. First, I've been going stir crazy these last few weeks and I need to interact with people. Secondly, I love my job. Third, I don't want Derek to keep working my shifts for me. I haven't seen him in a few days, but when he calls to say goodnight, I can hear how exhausted he is."

Laura looked at him fondly. "Hm, I can understand your reasoning. However, I know my baby brother and he will not stop working your shifts until he is sure you are up to the task." She smiled. "You start again on Monday."

"Fine," Stiles pouted.

"You know, there just might be something that could cheer you up?" Stiles looked up hopefully. "I happen to know that Derek has no classes tonight and he's planning on just lounging around on the sofa, watching Psych with a beer and a bowl of popcorn. He'd probably appreciate it if you came over with dinner."

Stiles' face lit up. "I can definitely do that!" He started for the door, but then stopped mid stride. "Wait, Laura, I've never been to Derek's apartment. I don't even know where it is."

Laura looked a little surprised. "He's never taken you there?"

"No. We had only been dating a week before the accident happened. I haven't really been up to any apartment visits lately."

"Huh, I guess you're right. It's weird, the way he talks about you; it's like you two have been together for years, when really it's only been a little over a month."

"Tragedy brings people closer I guess." Stiles leaned on the counter and pushed a pen towards Laura's hand. "Now, about that address."

Laura shook he head and smiled. She wrote down the address and handed the paper to a grinning Stiles. "He loves Chinese food."

"I know!" Stiles called as he ran out the front door.

...

You'll never believe the irony of what I'm about to tell you. The reason that I haven't uploaded in FOREVER is because I recently got into a car accident! Weird, right? It wasn't as bad as Stiles', I assure you, but it did leave me pretty banged up and I didn't dare writing with a concussion. Who knows what would have happened? But all is well now and I'll be updating as soon as I can!

My Tumblr: somethingstilinski . tumblr . com