A/N: This was a very interesting chapter to write. O/C Tyler will be leaving soon. Haven't heard from anyone reguarding a side fanfiction piece entitled 'Guardians' but think I will go ahead and start it anyway. It will be set in the break between seasons 2 and 3.
"I'm not saying that", Derek growled in frustration. "I'm saying we need a new plan because next time one of us is going to be too hurt to heal."
"Ooh that coming from you is rich. Excuse me if I am wrong but it is me who has to do the healing. But I have to admit you're right", Stiles mumbled. Derek glared at him and Stiles knew what he was thinking. Stiles was aggressive at times and he made more work for himself by causing the injuries first so he didn't really have a right to complain. Derek might never admit it but Stiles knew that he loved it when Stiles was aggressive.
"I get it we can't save Jackson", Scott hated to admit it but he had being thinking about it lately.
"We can't seem to kill him either", Derek muttered darkly as Stiles sat beside him and laid his head on the alpha's shoulder. "I've seen a lot of things but I've never seen anything like this. And every new moon is just going to make him stronger."
"So how do we stop him?" Scott asked.
"I don't know", Derek admitted while he took Stiles hand into his own. "I don't even though if we can."
"Maybe we should just let the Argent's handle it", Scott suggested.
"I'm the one who turned him. It was my fault", Derek replied.
"Yeah but you didn't turn him into this. This happened because of something in his past", Scott reminded the alpha.
"He is right Der. I mean he isn't often right but he is this one time, besides I know we can find a way to save him", Stiles smiled at them both.
"That's a legend in a book. It's not that simple", Derek answered angrily.
"What do you mean? What are you not telling me?" Scott asked suspiciously.
"Why do you always think I am keeping something from you?" Derek asked getting annoyed with the beta now.
"Because you always are keeping something from me", Scott replied just as angry.
"Well maybe I do it to protect you", Derek replied honestly. Not that Scott seemed to pick up on it but Stiles sure did and began to rub his arm up and down his boyfriend's arm to comfort him.
"Doesn't being part of your pack mean no more secrets?" Scott asked hesitantly.
"Go home Scott. Sleep, eat, heal, make sure your friends are safe because the full moon is coming. And with the way things are going I got a feeling it's gonna be a rough one", Derek sighed.
"I think I could try again. I mean I haven't fought him again since you know died but I feel stronger. I might be able to take him", Stiles whispered trying to lightening the mood in his own signature way.
"Uh uh. No way are we letting you try that", Derek growled as he turned sideways to look at his love; his eyes temporarily flashing red with his anger at the idea. Stiles looked over at Scott for support but found Scott nodding in agreement with Derek.
"Are you coming Stiles?" Scott asked as he headed towards the exit of the train car.
"You go ahead and I'll catch up", Stiles answered. Waiting until he was sure Scott was out of hearing range he turned on Derek. "Okay so at least tell me what you don't want him to know."
"If what some of the books say on the kanima is true then what I said about it getting stronger with each full moon is not an exaggeration", Derek sighed.
"Okay but as you said they're just legends right. We don't know that for sure. Legends are often exaggerated or distorted. Now do me a favour tonight and follow your own advice okay? Get some rest and relax. I'll be over in the morning with Tyler", Stiles whispered before he leant into kiss his alpha.
"I can hardly wait", Derek replied sarcastically. Tyler had made his feelings on werewolves very clear and Derek had made his feelings on Tyler's opinions very clear too. Poor Stiles was stuck in the middle.
The sheriff popped his head into his son's bedroom expecting to see him in the middle of something or other since the kid always had too much energy. He was rather surprised to find Rory in Stiles room and no Stiles anywhere.
"Hey Rory. You know where Stiles is", John asked his nephew.
"Umm. Sorry what was that?" Rory asked looking up from whatever he was doing. "Uh Stiles? He left earlier. Something about him going to see Derek and Tyler."
The sheriff looked at him confused. Who the hell was Tyler? "Okay. What are you up to anyway?"
"Umm just doing some homework", Rory replied as he went back to the book on the desk in front of him.
"But its spring break", John replied as he walked over to have a closer look. "Rory!" he cried. "Not you too. It's bad enough I have Stiles who isn't able to leave a case alone. Now you won't leave police business alone either."
"Look Stiles must be rubbing off on me or something but I'm doing this to settle my own curiosity", Rory stared his uncle down.
"The police brought Harris in for questioning this morning", John told his nephew. "And they're working on a warrant to arrest him for the majority of the murders."
"What proof is there that he is the one behind them?" Rory asked knowing Stiles would want as much information as possible.
"You remember the couple that were murdered? There were tyre tracks nearby that match Harrison's car. The same car was also seen outside the hospital when the pregnant woman was murdered. It's got some bumper sticker on it with a quote from Einstein." John informed him
"Hold up. What quote?" Rory asked as his heartbeat picked up.
"Something about imagination and knowledge", his uncle replied.
"Imagination is more important than knowledge?" Rory asked already knowing the answer. His uncle nodded to answer his question and waited for Rory to elaborate. "I saw the same bumper sticker at the rave the other night."
"That means you're a witness and you'll need to give a statement", John muttered. "How about we pretend you didn't tell me that and we both just forget it?" Rory nodded. "You and Stiles are aware you don't need to solve this one for me right?" John asked his nephew.
"Yeah we know. But I need to do something", Rory replied shamefully. He felt guilty that he had let Jackson kill all those people. If he had a better handle on his clear sight ability maybe they would have known who the kanima was earlier. "What? What's up?" Rory asked when he noticed his uncle staring at the page he was on.
"Look at the swim team", John told him. Rory looked down and saw straight away what his uncle noticed.
"Look at the coach. It's Issac's dad", Rory whispered.
Stiles walked into the abandoned train depot with Tyler shuffling along behind him. Derek came out of the train to greet them and pulled Stiles into a tight embrace.
"Where are the others?" Tyler asked rudely, ignoring that Stiles and Derek were having a romantic moment.
"They're out but will be back in a couple of hours. Being their first full moon and all they need to be restrained", Derek answered ignoring the guardian's rudeness.
"Okay well we better get this underway if we only have a couple of hours. Besides I know Stiles wants to get back so he can get ready for Lydia's party", Tyler replied icily. "Stiles from what I've heard you are quite powerful already but you need to train harder, even if it means spending less time with your friends and other acquaintances. A guardian should always be asking themselves if they are the best they can be. I keep two things clear in my head at all times. First your enemy could be anyone even the person you least expect. A friend, a relative or a boyfriend", Tyler sneered giving Derek a look of loathing.
"Watch it Tyler", Stiles warned him. "You said you would help but if you can't do it without insulting the people I care about you can leave and I will figure this out on my own."
"Secondly", Tyler continued as if there hadn't been an interruption. "If the enemy turns out to be someone you know you must remember to surprise them you must first be able to surprise yourself. Therefore my advice is to learn how to use the abilities you already had and your new abilities in different ways. Be creative. Now Derek tell me about his fighting style. What are his strengths? What are his weak points?"
Derek looked thoughtful for a moment not liking how much information this other kid wanted on his boyfriend. Potentially dangerous information that made him consider how much to tell carefully before he spoke. "His physical attacks are flawless due to a combination of speed and magical potency. He is fast and thinks strategically while remaining calm under pressure. He can attack from a distance as well which is useful. Not something a werewolf could do. I can only think of two weak points. First he gets distracted; surprised easily which can make him into an easy target. And secondly his stamina is under developed. Using any new type of fire drains him as does any injuries he obtains due to his lack of healing abilities in the midst of battle."
Tyler was pacing back and forth while he listened, "Thank you that is most insightful." Tyler continued to pace for a moment while he remembered what Stiles had told him of his abilities on the ride over here. "Stiles you need to develop some sort of work out program to develop your stamina much like I had to learn martial arts when I first became a guardian. I don't think there is anything we can do about the lack of healing."
Stiles nodded before asking, "Well if we are done here, do you want to come back to mine Tyler? Rory isn't going to Lydia's party because he doesn't get along with her particularly well. Thinks she is a cold-hearted bitch or something. I don't like the idea of him being alone on a full moon and you could use some company right? It's better than sitting in that motel room. Plus who knows maybe he can give you more insight on me since apart from Scott, my dad or Derek he knows me the best", Stiles rambled.
"Sure. Maybe I can borrow your books to do some research while I'm there. I have a few jobs to attend to over summer but I can't if I'm unprepared", Tyler replied.
"See you later Der. Text or call me later if you need any help controlling the pups", Stiles smiled as he leant in for a lingering kiss. He ignored the sounds of disgust behind him. Pulling away he headed for the door.
"Have you seen Jackson anywhere?" Stiles asked Scott.
"No. Have you seen Allison?" Scott replied.
"No but we should probably tell her what we found", Stiles suggested.
"I'm still kinda not sure what we found", Scott admitted.
"We figured out it has something to do with water. You know the fact that all the victims were on the swim team. The way the kanima reacted around the pool", Stiles clarified.
"So whoever controls the kanima really hates the swim team?" Scott muttered.
"Hated. Specifically the two thousand and six swim team", Stiles clarified again while waving his arms around. "So maybe it was another teacher or maybe like a student from back then. I mean what are we missing? What haven't we thought of?" Stiles stopped as Allison walked up and stopped in front of them.
"Ahh, Jackson's not here", Allison informed them.
"Yeah no one is here", Stiles pointed out the obvious as he looked around.
"Maybe it's just early", Scott suggested with overwhelming positivity.
"Or maybe no one is coming because Lydia has turned into the towns whack job", Stiles mumbled darkly. Scott sighed knowing his best friend was right.
"Well we have to do something because we've like completely ignored her for the past two weeks", Allison said.
"She's ignored Stiles for the past ten years", Scott pointed out.
"I prefer to think of it as me not having been on her radar", Stiles cried indignantly. "Besides I'm over her now cos I've got myself a big bad alpha boyfriend."
Scott shook his head still confused how his best friend could feel that way about the resident alpha. "We don't owe her a party", Scott murmured.
"What about the chance to get back to normal?" Allison asked. "Because she wouldn't be the town whack job if it wasn't for us. We're all prepared to handle this but she isn't."
Both boys looked across at Lydia putting on a valiant face but they could also both smell the sadness that she was radiating. "I guess I could use my status as the co captain to get the lacrosse team here", Scott sighed resigned to do it for reasons he didn't understand.
"Yeah and I could make a few calls to some people who could get this thing going", Stiles mumbled. "Like really going."
"Who?" Allison asked confused.
"Um they're just some friends I've made when I've been out at night. Let's just say they know how to party", Stiles answered hesitantly. "Allison why don't you give Rory a ring and tell him and Tyler to get their butts over here too? Don't except no as an answer."
Surprisingly their phone calls made a great improvement because in the next fifteen minute the party really did get going. "So are you gonna go over there and apologise to Allison?" Stiles asked Scott who was staring across at her. She kept glancing over at him too.
"Why should I apologise?" Scott frowned.
"Because you're the guy it's like what we do", Stiles told him.
"But I didn't do anything wrong", Scott defended himself.
"You should definitely go apologise then. You see whenever a guy doesn't think he has done anything wrong it actually means that he has definitely done something wrong", Stiles rambled after taking a sip of his punch.
"You should listen to the man cos he's right", Rory laughed as he moved to stand by his cousin. "What I wanna know though is how it works in his relationship. So Stiles tell us how does it work between two guys?"
"Well I don't know how it works for other gay couples but for Derek and me it works like this; Derek glares at me until he realises that I'm always right and then he apologises", Stiles chuckled and smiled when he saw Tyler laughing as well. "But we got off topic. Back to Scott."
"I'm not apologising", Scott replied in a heavy low voice.
"Is that the full moon talking buddy?" Stiles asked knowingly.
"Probably. But why do you care anyway? You never liked it when Allison and I were together", Scott reminded him.
"Look I was just sick and tired of feeling like the spare wheel. Now I've passed that on to Rory I'll be nothing but supportive. Something at least has to go right because in case you haven't noticed we're getting our arses royally kicked; people dying, you may be getting held back at school", Stiles rambled. "And if I on top of all that I have to watch you lose Allison to a stalker like Matt then I'm gonna stab myself in the face with a fork."
"Don't stab yourself in the face", Scott spoke quickly.
"Why not?" Stiles asked.
"Probably because Jackson's here", Rory breathed following Scott's gaze.
"Wait a minute so you know who the kanima is? Then what's the problem?" Tyler cried out quietly.
"Because we don't want to kill him we want to save him", Stiles answered as he glanced at the mage. Tyler rolled his eyes but didn't push the issue.
Stiles wandered off to talk to some of his friends that had responded to his cry for help with getting the party started.
Hallucination #1
"Why am I wearing black?" Stiles heard his dad's voice say angrily. "Because I just came from a funeral, okay?" Stiles turned to see his dad standing by the drinks with a bottle of whiskey clutched tightly in his hand. "People wear black at funerals", his dad continued angrily.
"Chill", some party goer said to him before the sheriff shoved the kid off into the crowd.
"Get outta my face", the sheriff snarled before he turned and caught sight of his son. "It's you. It's all you. You know every day I would walk into that hospital and I saw her lying there slowly dying. I thought how the hell am I supposed to raise this stupid kid on my own; this hyperactive little bastard who keeps ruining my life."
Stiles swallowed as he felt tears start to form in his eyes but he refused to let them fall here in front of people. Everyone had turned to watch and this was one of his worst nightmares. "It's you. It's all you Stiles! You killed your mother", John Stilinski slurred as he pointed at his son."You hear me? You killed her. And now you're killing me", he finished as he dashed the bottle at the pillar beside Stiles.
End of hallucination #1
Stiles leaned back against the pillar and rubbed a hand over his face as he tried to draw strength to put on a brave face again. He wasn't sure what had just happened. Well okay he was smart enough to know what happened but not why.
Stiles grabbed another glass of punch from the table on his way inside to find Scott who seemed to have vanished. He drained the glass in one mouthful before he headed inside. He was hoping the liquid courage would help him talk to his best friend about this because even trying to talk to Scott about this was going to be difficult.
Hallucination #2
Stiles froze when he heard a throaty deep chuckle from somewhere to his left and he turned to find Derek with a blond girl more his own age sitting on his lap. He knew that chuckle had been Derek's. Stiles felt his blood run cold as he took in the scene though. The girl had her hands all over the alpha while he seemed to be doing nothing to discourage her while she straddled him.
"Ah there you are Stiles", Derek breathed when he looked up and saw him standing there. "Have you met Lucy yet?" Derek asked while he tried to gesture to the woman who was now attacking Derek's neck with her lips. "I'm sorry Stiles I don't think we are going to work out. It was fun though while it lasted. You're just not good enough for me", Derek told him honestly.
Stiles could hear it in his voice and see it in his eyes. Derek meant every word he had said. As Derek turned his attention back to Lucy, Stiles felt the tears he held back earlier break through his control. He had since they first kissed feared that Derek would realise that he could do so much better. But to hear the words straight from his mouth and in such a public display hurt Stiles more than he thought he would be able to handle.
End of Hallucination #2
Stiles looked back up ready to give that arsehole Derek Hale a piece of his mind but in his place he saw some scrawny speckled kid. What the hell was happening? Was that just another hallucination? If so what was causing them? Stiles decided his best course of action was to find Scott, Rory and Tyler.
He found Rory a couple of minutes later sitting by one of the water features Lydia's mom loved in her garden. "Rory drink the water. Come on man", Stiles muttered as Scott joined him. "You need to sober up so we can get outta here."
"What are you doing?" asked Danielle as she came over. "If you want to sober him up you're going about it the wrong way."
"Oh really. And I suppose you can do better?" Scott raised an eyebrow sceptically.
"I can do this. Just watch", she replied before she grabbed Rory by the neck and shoved his face in the water next to him. She held his face in the water a couple of seconds before she pulled him back up. "How do you feel?" she asked ignoring Scott and Stiles' incredulous faces.
"Like I might have to revisit Stiles policy on hitting a girl", Rory replied.
"He's sober", Danielle smiled happily. Stiles smirked at his cousin's words and pulled out his phone which had just vibrated. It was a text from Derek.
Need help containing the betas. 12.27
Stiles looked at the time on his phone it was almost one in the morning. Damn it he really needed to get over there and check that Derek was alright.
"Scott man I got to go. Derek needs help", Stiles called loudly while he tossed his jeep's keys to Rory. Without another word he disappeared into the crowd.
Half way to Derek's temporary home at the train depot Stiles sensed something. He wasn't sure how he knew but being part of the supernatural world he didn't ignore his hunches. Something was telling him that he needed to go to the old Hale house not the train depot so Stiles changed course. He had already tried to get hold of Derek by phone seven times but decided to try once more.
"Hey Derek, it's just me. I got your message and I was on my way but something is happening at your old house. I've got to check it out. It's important. Hold on and I will be there as soon as possible", Stiles left a message on the answer phone. Stiles had been running at full speed towards the train depot but this urgent feeling to get to the hale house caused himself to push himself even harder.
Arriving at the hale house he went straight into the living room where he found Derek lying unconscious on the floor next to a giant hole in the floor. He tried calling his name to wake Derek but it didn't seem to be working.
"Stiles?" Deaton said calmly. Stiles turned his head to look at the vet. "What are you doing here?" the vet asked him.
"I had this feeling that I need to be here. I guess I sensed something", Stiles answered as he tried to focus. He needed to achieve a partial shift again so he could use his eyes to confirm what he had felt when he tried to heal Derek with his pink flames. After a couple of seconds his vision changed and he looked at the alpha while biting his lower lip. With the shifted phoenix eyes he could see a person's life force. Derek's was slipping away. "He's dying", Stiles whispered to Deaton.
"Stiles you understand what happened here right?" Deaton asked. "You sensed it. Peter managed to resurrect himself through a combination of Lydia and Derek's help. You are the guardian of life and death. Peter has crossed over that boundary and you must deal with him as you see fit. But first we must find a way to save Derek. You can't heal him."
"No. I already tried. My healing flames work on the body not on life force", Stiles sniffed. Suddenly his head snapped up. "Wait I've been having these visits from previous guardians while I sleep. I think I know what to do." Stiles concentrated harder than before and looked deep within himself to his magical core. He summoned fire to his right hand and willed it to turn to what he had heard was called ghost fire or the flames of draining. Ghost fire was magic that only the guardian phoenix could summon apparently. Deaton watched as the flames turned a brilliant white. Stiles laid his hand over Derek's heart and pushed the flames into Derek's unconscious body. Stiles watched as the flames surrounded the life force and cut the trail that was steadily leaking from his body. Sighing with relief Stiles removed his hand and sat back exhausted as he always was when he used a new type of fire for the first time. He watched as Derek's life force stabilised and thickened.
"Cover your ears Stiles", Deaton advised him as he put something silver to his mouth and blew. Stiles still heard the sound and it still set his teeth on edge but it was dulled by the hands over his ears. Derek's eyes opened sharply. Focusing on Deaton's face for a moment before then turning to look at Stiles he slowly sat himself up asking, "That sound. What was it?"
Deaton gave an awkward yet pleasurable smile as he showed them a dog whistle. Derek just huffed and tried to stand. Failing to hold himself up Stiles ducked under his shoulders to help keep him standing. Derek leaned gratefully on Stiles and smiled. "You're going to be weak for several hours Derek", Deaton told him.
Derek looked at the marks on his arm which was around Stiles shoulders then looked at the floor, "It actually happened then", he decided.
"Don't worry you're still an Alpha. But as usually not a particularly competent one", the vet voiced his thoughts honestly.
"Where is he?" Derek barked before Stiles could say anything to defend him. Derek had to admit the vet was right but he wasn't going to say it allowed.
"I wish I could tell you", Deaton replied.
"Then how about you tell me what you are doing here and why you are helping me?" Derek asked stepping towards the man as he stepped away from Stiles.
"Helping your family actually used to be a pretty important part of my life. Helping you was a promise I made to your mother", Deaton told him.
Derek stepped back away from the man. "You're the one my sister talked about", Derek realised. "She said you're a sort of advisor."
"She was right. And I have some advice that you need to listen to very closely right now. What Peter managed to do doesn't come without a price. He is going to be weak, physically weak so he will rely on the strength of his intelligence, his cunning. He's gonna come at you Derek. He'll try to twist his way into your head, preying on your insecurities. He'll tell you he is the only way he can stop Gerald. Do. Not. Trust. Him."
"I don't trust anyone", Derek replied with a smile while squeezing Stiles shoulders to show him that his statement didn't include him.
"I know. If you did you might be the alpha you like to think you are. And unfortunately the one person, besides Stiles here, that you should trust doesn't trust you at all", the vet said slowly.
"Scott", Derek acknowledged.
"He's at the sheriff station right now. You need to get to him. You need to get to him as fast as you can. I've known Gerald a looonng time. He always has a plan. And something tells me it's going exactly the way he wants it to."