DISCLAIMER/AN: I DO NOT OWN TEEN WOLF OR SYDNEY VANCE. This story is now on Wattpad under the same name if you like that site.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

PETER PERSPECTIVE

Peter watched as the two teenagers exited the house, his nephew was even more vulnerable than he first thought- excellent.

He walked in the door to see Derek leaning over a table before turning quickly and sending a shard of glass hurtling Peter's way. Peter caught it just before it embedded itself in his neck. He forgot how over-dramatic Derek could get.

"I expected a slightly warmer welcome after my little present," Peter said twirling the glass in his hands "But, point taken."

Peter walked into the room he could practically taste, Derek's anger- Peter fought the urge to roll his eyes at his nephew's antics. He could smell two other slightly familiar wolves, but the knowledge didn't concern him. The scents weren't fresh so the wolves weren't here at the moment and even if they were so what? If Derek had two more teenage guard dogs, they were of little consequence to him.

"I assume you did get my message?" He asked.

Derek glared at him his jaw clenched.

"Yes." he admitted grudgingly.

Peter smiled. O the fun he was going to have.

"And how is little Charlie doing? Does she still go by Charlie? Lydia always referred to her as Charlotte- Charlotte has a nice ring to it don't you think? She favors her aunt doesn't she?"

"Shut-up"

"Not that you would know, of course, I don't believe you ever met Mila Vujosevic. Then again Mila and Miri could be twins if weren't seven years between the two-" Derek threw something again- the boy had never learned to use his words.

"SHUT UP!"

Enough small talk, now it was time to get down to business.

"Quite a situation you've got yourself in Derek. I mean, I'm out of commission for a few weeks and suddenly there's lizard people, geriatric psychopaths, and you're cooking up werewolves out of every self-esteem deprived adolescent in town."

"What do you want?" Derek growled.

Finally, they were getting somewhere!

"Well, I want to help, you're my nephew. The only relative that I have left. You know there's still a lot that I can teach you" Peter approached and placed a hand on Derek's shoulder.

Derek looked down at the hand, "Sure" Victory, sweet victory! "Let's talk."

The next thing Peter knew he was colliding with the staircase. He should have known better, Derek wasn't fond of touch- unless he was causing bodily harm that is. Peter would have to recalculate the situation.

He coughed throwing his hands up in surrender. "You don't" He had to take a breath "think I actually want to be the Alpha again do you? That wasn't my finest performance considering it ended in my death."

He chanced sitting up, Derek watching warily the whole time. Scott's jittery friend was right, Derek was a Sourwolf.

He was rambling on and on Derek had suddenly grabbed him by the shirt rearing back to punch him again, he had clearly misjudged the situation.

"Okay, you know what? Hit me, HIT ME! I can see that it's cathartic for you. Doling out all the anger and self-loathing that comes with being a total and complete failure." Derek tensed again. "I may be the one taking the beating Derek, but you're the one that's already been beaten. So go ahead, hit me- if it will make you feel better, after all I did say I wanted to help."

That did the trick, Derek dropped him instantly.

"You can't help me," Derek said. Did this boy ever get tired of playing the Angst card, it was downright nauseating at times.

CHARLIE PERSPECTIVE

I had to go to that game tonight, I wasn't exactly sure what I could do to help, but I needed to be there. So maybe wolfsbane didn't work on Hunters but I was starting to wonder if holy water did. At least on Gerard anyways, there was a church on the way to the field... maybe I'd mention it to Deaton.

Scott didn't want me to go at first but then I reminded him that telling me what to do was about as useful as voting independent so he caved. Deaton gave us a ride, I waited in the hallway while Scott ran into the locker-room.

I called Uncle John.

"Charlie everything alright?" He sounded worried.

"No- Yeah, everything's fine, I was just gonna let you know that I'm at the game- well I'm near the locker-rooms anyways, Scott changed my mind."

"Good I'm glad, I'll save you a seat."

"Actually, I was going to see if Coach Finstock wanted me to keep the stats tonight but I'll stop by and visit."

"Okay," He sounded relieved that I was getting out of the house.

"I think I see Ms. Melissa coming up I'll see you soon okay?"

"Alright- Oh and Charlie, I love you."

"Love you too Uncle John. Bye." I smiled at Ms. Melissa, who was just walking up.

"Hey, looking for Scott?" I asked her, she nodded going to open the door.

"One second," I told her.

I started rapping on the door to the tune of "da-da-dadada" and waited a second before Stiles responded "da-da". It was the way he signaled the "all clear" to me. Ms. Melissa stared at me for a second before she walked in.

Stiles nodded at us as we went to stand beside him, I saw Finstock exit his office with his aviator jacket and a walkie-talkie. Oh God. Stiles and Scott said he did this at the end of every season, but I knew from finals day of Freshmen year what to expect next.

"Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will be joining others from around the world."

Even if Finstock hadn't taken every possible opportunity to quote it, I would have known this speech anywhere me and Dad watch it every year for the Fourth of July.

"And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of Mankind-"

"What?" Ms. Melissa was confused

"Mankind, that word should have new meaning for all of us." Coach continued his dramatic impression of Bill Pullman's president, I wish I had a camera to film it for Dad.

"What the hell is he talking about?" Ms. Melissa demanded, her movie prowess was about as impressive as Scott's which wasn't saying much.

"He does this every year" Stiles sounded somewhere between exhausted and exasperated.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah" Stiles sighed.

"We're fighting for the right to live-" The boys broke off into cheers and "yeahs"

Realization dawned on Ms. Melissa as she listened she held her finger up, "Wait, is this-"

"Yeah" Stiles cut her off wearily. "It's the speech from "independence day""

Melissa smirked. We went back to listening- I was starting to think Coach missed his true calling in life.

"But as the day the world declared in one voice!" He held the walkie thing up.

"It's Coach's favorite movie" Stiles commented, I rolled my eyes every free day we had in his classes were devoted to "Independence day" and "Men in Black" I think Coach was secretly in love with Will Smith.

"WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT!" The Coach boomed.

My hand hit my face. Ms. Melissa looked incredulous.

"He doesn't know any sports movie speeches?" She asked us.

"I don't think he cares-" Stiles started.

"Well that and he got in trouble with the school board about using the one from "The Longest Yard" I added.

It was seventh grade, he went on a two hour rant to my dad about how the school board wouldn't know a cinematic masterpiece if it bit them on the ass.

"Today we celebrate our independence day!" Coach growled the boys resumed their cheering.

Melissa, Stiles and I all tensed up when we saw Gerard enter the room squeezing the Coach's shoulder. Melissa gripped my hand in one of hers and Stiles in the other, I wished Scott was closer to us.

"Well Spoken Coach." Gerard said. "I might have chosen something with a little more historical value but there's no denying your passion."

I glared at him- like that was going to do anything.

"And while I haven't been here that long there's no denying my pride for having a winning team here at this school. I know you all will be brilliant tonight even with only one co-captain." Wait what? The three of us glanced at one another and looked worriedly to Scott.

"Now, I'm your principal but I'm also a fan so don't think I'll be content to watch you merely beat this team, get out there and MURDER them."

Even fanatical Finstock seemed taken aback by the last statement.

"You heard the man!" Finstock said quickly recovering, "asses on the field!"

Scott tried to reason with the Coach but there was no having it. I ran over to Coach.

"Charlie what are you doing here?" Finstock demanded. "You haven't even been in class, don't you need to be resting or something."

"Resting? It's State's I couldn't miss the game" I said I needed to be as close to the field as I could get. "I'm the Coach's personal assistant right?"

I really hated myself for that. Finstock got a huge grin and slapped my shoulder.

"That's what I'm talking about! Way to commit!" He told me smiling I noticed a little black ribbon pinned to his tie. My breath caught.

"What's that for?" I asked him. Coach looked sheepish.

"The team has memorial ribbons tonight for the deputies its no-"

I hugged him. I don't know why- I did know why, because despite the fact that Coach was crass and offensive he still cared about all of us and even though he didn't know I would have seen it he had ribbons for Whitney and the others and that meant that Stiles would know his team mates were supporting him.

It was beautiful really.

"Thank you." I told him, I had tears in my eyes so I tried to wipe them away.

Coach looked uncomfortable.

"Yeah well it was Danny's idea, I just made it mandatory." He mumbled.

I followed him out of the door and towards the field.

"We're losing Dude." I heard Stiles say as we walked up.

"What the hell are you talking about? The game hasn't even started now put on your helmet and get out there you're in for Greenberg." Coach said leaning on the back of the bench, Stiles face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"What? What happened to Greenberg?" Stiles looked around.

"What happened to Greenberg?" Coach demanded holding a hand out like he was measuring. "He sucks" he held his other hand out, "you suck slightly less."

"I'm playing? On the field? With the team?" Stiles asked again me and Scott were both beaming.

"Yes. Unless you'd rather play with yourself." Finstock said sarcastically.

"I already did that today, twice-"

"I think I'm going to be sick" I commented.

"GET THE HELL OUT THERE!" Coach boomed. Stiles clumsily got his gear together and ran on the field. Scott was still laughing.

I heard my Uncle John and turned around, he had his fist in the air triumphantly "MY SON IS ON THE FIELD!" He declared.

I waved at him and he waved back.

I looked at Scott.

"That is one proud Papa!"

Scott laughed and then tensed up suddenly.

"Scott?" I asked confused he held a hand up to silence me. I waited, he seemed terrified. After what seemed like a century, Scott finally looked at me.

"It's Gerard, if I don't give him Derek by the last 30 seconds of the game he's going to have Jackson kill someone."

"We have to get you on the field." I said looking between Uncle John, Melissa, Lydia, and Danny and Stiles on the field.

"Tell me something I don't know." Scott said watching 37 closely.

PETER PERSPECTIVE.

"See, prime example, right here I'm not healing as fast." Peter told Derek observing his scrapes absently. "Coming back from the dead isn't easy you know, I'm not as strong as I used to be. I need a pack, an alpha like you. I need you as much as you need me."

Derek scoffed.

"Why would I want help from a total psycho?"

Peter rolled his eyes, were they ever going to get past his little indiscretion? Seriously you murder one long lost relative and suddenly you're "the big bad wolf".

"First of all, I'm not a total psycho- by the way, you're the one that slashed my throat wide open. But, we're all works in progress right? So... We need each other. Sometimes when you need help you turn to people you'd never expect."

"I'm not sure there's ever going to come a time we need help from Mr. Zombiewolf, what do you think Steve, do you think we should listen to creepy Uncle Peter?" Peter heard a female voice say.

He turned to see Sydney Vance, Derek's stunning but insufferable young alpha friend, Steve Stilinski by her side. Judging by the flashing gold eyes, it would appear Charlie wasn't the only new supernatural in the family.

"I suppose we should probably hear the talking corpse out before we throw him back in the grave. That is of course, assuming Derek wants to listen to him at all" Steve said crossing his arms.

CHARLIE PERSPECTIVE.

Scott and I, watched as the game played out. Stiles caught the ball at one point only to get knocked down seconds later.

"He's just warming up." Scott told me.

I nodded but I didn't need to be a werewolf to know he was lying. We couldn't focus on Stiles at the moment though, Scott needed to get on the field.

"Coach?"

"What Stilinksi?" Coach was watching in horror as his championship team was having their asses handed to them.

"I really think you have no choice but to put-"

"No Stilinksi!"

"But Coach according to the stats without Scott we have a 79 percent chance of failure." I tried again, Scott looked over at me strangely.

"No Stilinski." Coach said through clenched teeth I knew this had to be killing him.

I went back to the bleachers.

"79 percent is that real?" Scott asked me.

"No I just pulled a number out my ass, it sounded legit though."

We turned back to the game.

Stiles just got knocked over again. I groaned. This was going to be very bad if we couldn't get Scott out there soon.

Stiles missed a throw. Coach blew the whistle finally some common sense- or no sense. Scott went to stand up and Coach yanked him back.

"Sit down McCall!"

"But Coach we're dying out there!" Scott tried to appeal to his fanatical side.

"Oh I'm aware of that." Coach said sarcastically "Now sit" He slapped his shoulder.

"Nice try." I told him sympathetically, looks like it was back to the drawing board.

We both hung our heads, what the hell were we supposed to do now?

I felt Scott knock my side and sat up, there sitting beside Scott like nothing had happened was Isaac in his game jersey. My heart was doing flip flops. I didn't know if I was more worried that he hadn't left or relieved to see that smirk again. I couldn't seem to find my voice.

"You came to help" Scott said looking at him seriously.

Isaac leaned over to glance at me for a second before looking at Scott again.

"I came to win."

He couldn't be here.

I couldn't take my eyes off of him.

He couldn't be here.

I never wanted him to leave again!

HE COULDN'T BE HERE!

"You shouldn't be here." I had finally found my voice.

Scott looked at me funny and Isaac rolled his eyes turning his attention to Scott.

"You got a plan?" He asked.

"You shouldn't be here." I told him again.

Now Scott was ignoring me too.

"Right now, pretty much it's just keep Jackson from killing anyone" Scott said.

Like Isaac.

"Well that might be easier if you're actually in the game." Isaac retorted.

I didn't want Isaac in the game- I didn't want Stiles or anybody at the game but I had already decided, I was supposed to save Isaac and he was screwing up my plan!

Scott exhaled.

"You're not supposed to be here!"

It seemed to be the only words I knew how to say. Isaac looked at Scott.

"Mind giving me a second?"

Scott nodded and traded so Isaac was sitting beside me.

"Your-" I tried again but he cut me off pulling me into a brief kiss.

"I love you." He told me cupping my face in his hands. "That's why I have to stay"

My eyes widened, I hadn't dreamed seeing him last night, I did see him. He took my good hand in his and turned back to Scott.

"We have to make it so Coach has no choice but to play you." Isaac said, I didn't like the sound of that.

I tightened my grip on his hand and he squeezed mine lightly.

"How do we do that? He's got a bench full of guys he could use before he ever puts me on the field." Scott pointed out.

The boys looked at one another an idea creeping into their mind, an awful, terrible, no good, very bad idea.

"No!" I told them both.

"Charlie if we don't someone could get hurt." Isaac tried to reason.

"And if you do, you could." I countered.

"What if it's Stiles?" He asked me.

"That was low" I told him, how could he ask me to choose between my boys.

"It's true." He reminded me.

I looked out on the field at my cousin, out of all the boy's he was the most vulnerable. I hung my head in defeat.

"Be careful." I begged him.

He squeezed my hand.

"Can you do it without putting anyone in the hospital?" Scott asked dragging us back to reality.

Isaac looked thoughtful for a second.

He let out a breath squeezing my hand one more time before letting go of it and reaching for his helmet.

"I can try."

I watched with my fingernails in my mouth as number 14 began bulldozing his own team mates. Coach was beside himself.

"LAHEY!" Coach hollered before hanging his head in defeat. "RAMIREZ" Ramirez stepped out on the field. Ramirez was out in another second.

"Murphy" Coach sighed, Murphy didn't look too thrilled to be in on the action. I gripped Scott's hand nervously watching as 14 ran across the field, if he died, I was going to kill him!

Three players were down back to back. I cringed at the sound of impact. Coach was on his feet. "LAHEY! Seriously, what the hell is your problem?"

He pointed his finger at Isaac who shrugged innocently.

"It's going to work." Scott promised me.

We watched as Isaac went for another player and was knocked over by Jackson. I held my breath, Scott stood to his feet.

Get up!

Isaac was still on the ground. Please, please be okay. Scott was on the field. I followed him out ignoring Coach's yelling.

"It's not broken, but I can't move it." He told us. My hand went to his instantly. They were bringing a stretcher out. "I think Jackson nicked it because I can feel it spreading-"

This couldn't be happening. Scott looked over at Gerard. I started following behind the stretcher.

"What are you doing?" Isaac demanded.

"I'm coming with you." I told him.

"Charlie I'm paralyzed I can't pr-"

"You decided not to leave so, I'm not letting you out of my sight anymore." I told him.

The paramedic looked at me, he looked a little- well he didn't exactly look like someone I'd want near me if something bad had happened.

"Family only-" He started.

"I'm not leaving!" I told him forcefully.

He and his partner got a wicked glint in their eyes.

"Suit yourself"

We were shoved into locker room.

"Run!" Isaac told me, the paralysis was spreading he wasn't going to be able to get very far.

I put one of his arms over my shoulder but crumbled under the weight.

"Charlie go."

We were both crawling now, I still had his arm wrapped around me trying to take some of the dead weight off of him so we could crawl faster.

"I'm not leaving you!" I told him.

I heard Gerard's familiar drawl.

"It was a good effort Isaac." he said patronizingly as he walked closer to us.

We were getting closer to the sinks if we could just- I didn't know. I could see the sweat coming off of Isaac's brow as he struggled to move. This couldn't be how it all ended.

"It was." I heard the sound of scraping metal and glanced behind me Gerard had a sword. "This would be so much more poetic if it were half-time"

I let go of Isaac and lunged at Gerard's knees. I managed to knock him off balance but one of his cronies caught him and the other threw me into Isaac who was at the sink now, standing up.

"And then there's Charlotte here who just doesn't seem to know how to die." Gerard said annoyed.

Isaac was gripping the sink for balance and I was holding Isaac. He looked at the cronies.

"I wonder, would you still survive if I were to cut you in half?"

I buried my face in Isaac's chest, if this was going to be my last moment at least I had him here with me.

PETERS PERSPECTIVE.

"You tried to build your pack, you tried to prepare for the worst but you weren't ready." Peter told Derek, he had his nephew right where he wanted him, desperate. "Because of it, Gerard is winning. He's taking his time, he's toying with Scott he's going after your wolves, Charlie." Peter looked over to Steve for that one. "One by one he's relishing in his victory!"

"How about you tell me something I don't know" Derek said glaring at Peter.

If Peter had known how annoyingly depressing his nephew was going to become he might not have encouraged him to turn Paige, then again. The migraine inducing self-loathing of the younger wolf did make it easier for the older one to manipulate him- so long as he could find a way to distract Sydney and Steve from his efforts. Sydney was terribly perceptive for a young alpha, and well accident or not, Steve's experience and age would make him an ideal beta for his young nephew assuming Derek didn't muck things up again.

"Oh I'm going to, and it's going to prove why you should trust me, why you need to trust me because I'm going to tell you how to stop Jackson-"

"What? How to kill him?" Derek scoffed.

Steve growled a bit at that.

Peter smirked.

"Actually how to save him."

CHARLIE PERSPECTIVE.

I could hear the sword sliding against the concrete.

"I love you" I whispered to Isaac.

I tightened my grip around him. I was afraid.

"I love you too." He whispered to me.

I felt Isaac tense and closed my eyes waiting to feel a searing pain in my abdomen but nothing happened. Isaac relaxed. I chanced a look up at his face and saw him smirking. I looked at the mirror behind us and saw Scott with his glowing yellow eyes.

I found myself laughing. Scott took care of the two hunters and whether it was from the adrenaline or what Isaac seemed to be getting feeling back into his limbs. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a kiss. This was the happiest I had been in over a week, I was alive, Isaac was alive we were going to be okay.

"Guys" Scott asked suddenly serious. We both turned our attention to him, his canines were still elongated and his eyes still glowed. "Where's Gerard?"

And just like that the happiness was gone.

"We've got to get back out there." Scott said, looking at Isaac and me. "Can you move?"

"It's coming back a little at a time." Isaac said.

"Go Scott, I'll help Isaac." I told him, there was no point in arguing, until the paralysis completely wore off Scott was the only useful person we had.

PETER PERSPECTIVE.

"There's a myth." Peter started. "That you can cure a werewolf simply by calling out it's Christian name."

"It's just a myth" Derek argued.

"Sometimes myths and legends bare into truths." Peter said looking at Steve pointedly for a moment. The man had to have realized by now, exactly what it was his wife had been involved in by now. "Our name is a symbol of who we are, the Kanima has no identity. That's why it doesn't seek a pack." Derek looked up at him.

"It seeks a master."

"And who else grows up with no pack?" Peter asked as if he was addressing a kindergarten class. "No identity"

"An orphan"

"Like Jackson, and right now his identity is disappearing beneath that reptilian skin and you need to bring him back-"

"HOW?"

"How, his heart! How else?" Peter said, his nephew could be an idiot at times... his nephew was an idiot.

"Yeah, in case you haven't noticed, Jackson doesn't really have too much of a heart to begin with."

"Not true." Peter shook his head. "He'd never admit it, but there is one person, one young lady with whom Jackson shared a real bond. One person who can reach him... who can save him."

Realization finally dawned on Derek's face. "Lydia"

"Your best ally's always been your anger Derek but what you lack most is heart. That's why you've always known that you need Scott, more than anyone. And even somebody as burned and dead on the inside as me, knows better than to underestimate the simple yet undeniable power of human love."