Author's note: Finally getting to Liam's story. Mentions of abuse and some other darker stuff. (nothing graphic)

The sense of betrayal was suffocating. After everything they've done for the kid… and the entire time Liam was working for the enemy. They got played like morons by a 13-year-old.

Liam's sobbing only increased in volume, but Stiles didn't feel the need to comfort him. He wanted to hit him. Hurt him. Like he hurt them. In fact, Stiles was rather surprised that Derek hadn't yet. After all, he was the target all along and his explosive nature could easily land Liam in hospital.

But Derek didn't look enraged, he looked devastated. He grew to care about the kid just like Stiles did.

Stiles tried to block out his hurt feelings and analyze the situation. In a sense, this was a good thing. The boy had information. Perhaps he could be helpful. With the evidence on Palmer's collaboration with Blast Pharmaceuticals from Peter and Liam's testimony on Deucalion maybe they could make a case.

They wouldn't be able to get anything out of the kid while he was this hysterical though. Stiles got up, bracing against the sofa for a moment to find his footing as he was still a bit dizzy. He made his way to the kitchen and searched for that valerian bottle Derek used to calm him down after the shooting episode. Ruby got immediately summoned by the smell, showing keen interest in the plastic cap. Stiles let her play with it while he poured three glasses of water adding a couple drops of valerian in each. He drank his own, grimacing at the taste, placed one in front of Derek, and handed the last one to Liam.

"Drink," he ordered firmly. The boy never heard Stiles speak to him in such a tone so he immediately obeyed, gulping down the liquid in between shaky breaths. "Try to calm down, we need to talk," Stiles instructed and then prompted Derek to do the same.

Ten minutes later the dizziness was gone and his headache subsided. Liam seemed to be over the worst of the sobbing, only letting out shaky breaths every now and then and Derek had some color return to his face.

"Talk," the Alpha growled.

Liam hugged his knees tighter and cast Stiles a worried glance. But seeing that he was not gonna get any sympathy there either, he gulped and muttered, "I don't know where to start."

How about explaining how you could do this to us?! Stiles thought angrily. Except that wouldn't get them anywhere.

"Why now?" he asked instead. "You have been here for so long, you had many opportunities to do this before."

"They didn't want me to do this before. I was meant to find what Derek had on Palmer, or anything else useful."

"So you offering me weed was a coincidence?"

"No... I mean that was the original plan, but then…"

"Are you lying again?"

"No! I'm not! I'm so sorry. I'll tell you everything! I couldn't…" The tears welled in his eyes again, and Stiles actually felt bad for being the cause of them.

Derek didn't. "Stop wailing, it won't work. Get a grip and start talking, or I'll give you an incentive you won't like," he threatened, making the kid flinch, but oddly enough it did stop the approaching fit of hysterics.

"When you refused to buy the weed, I couldn't just leave empty-handed so I grabbed the laptop. But by the time I brought it to Deucalion, it was locked. He was pissed…" The boy didn't have to add that it meant he got beaten. They have seen the evidence of that time and time again. "I was sent back to either plant the weed somewhere it could be found, or come back with something worthwhile."

"And I offered you unlimited visits." Stiles shook his head. "Stupid."

Liam lowered his gaze guiltily. "It was so nice of you..."

"Yeah. I was real nice to the kid who jumped in front of my car to get me killed!"

"NO! That was an accident! I swear! Please, you have to believe me! I didn't know you back then. I just wasn't looking!" Liam waved his hands frantically, eyes like saucers. "It's when I've seen you at the BRP headquarters, that my uncle told Deucalion we knew each other and that the best way to get Derek out of the picture was through you."

"Wait, your uncle works for the BRP?" Derek asked, frowning.

"Garrett Douglas."

Oh God, of course! That was so obvious! Why didn't Stiles think of that before? He saw Liam talk to Douglas that day, but then he totally forgot about it and never asked the kid what it was about.

"Douglas? That asshole is your uncle?!" Derek grimaced as if that name brought a sour taste to his mouth. Which it probably did.

Stiles shared the sentiment. "So your uncle works for Deucalion?" he asked the boy.

"Yes and no. He works for the government and he worked with Palmer for many years."

"So he must be the missing link between Deucalion, Blast Pharmaceuticals and Mason Palmer," Stiles said looking at Derek, and then turned back to Liam. "So what did you find? What kind of information were you feeding them?"

Liam bit his lip, picking at the loose thread on his jeans. "I never wanted to tell them anything! I said that you don't trust me and won't let me out of your sight. That worked for a while. Till it didn't and I got beat up, you got mad and I ran away. They found me and forced me to go back. I was sure I'd get caned for kicking you…" Liam glanced up and seeing Derek's frown he shrugged, "Uncle said Stiles got it pretty badly at the BRP group. But you didn't even get angry. And you were so nice afterward, I felt like crap…" The boy stared in his lap for a moment, then ran a hand through his hair and continued, "They knew they can't beat me up if they wanted me to continue snitching without you calling the social services, so they started beating up others in front of me as motivation." His voice cracked again, and he took a couple shaky breaths to calm himself.

Stiles's heart throbbed for the boy. He might be angry at him, but he couldn't help feeling bad. Obviously the kid didn't want any of this.

"It was the worst. I was forced to watch as they wailed on this guy or that guy, sometimes they were only a couple years older than me. And they always made sure I knew it was my fault. So I had to start looking for something... anything to give them."

It then hit Stiles. "Wait, you accused me of snooping!" he exclaimed, looking at Derek.

The Alpha nodded. "I started noticing misplaced things in my drawers. I knew it had to be either you or Liam and originally I thought it was about money. So I started leaving money unattended in various places, but nothing ever disappeared, so I figured it had to be about something else. And then you mentioned the photo and I assumed it was you going through my belongings to dig info on my past."

Well, it made sense now that Derek flew off the handle this way. Stiles would be pretty pissed as well if he found his boyfriend snooping through his things.

"I'm sorry. I know it was a shitty way to repay you for all the kindness. I saw you going through the profiles on the computer, so I searched for the names I knew to give you a hint. But you didn't recognize any till Morton."

"You were trying to help us?" Derek looked skeptical.

"I know you don't believe me, but I swear I never wanted anyone to get hurt. Least of all you two."

"And that's why I found you with a shot of heroin ready to go into Stiles's vein."

"I DIDN'T WANT TO!" the boy yelled, smashing his fists against the sofa in frustration.

Derek narrowed his eyes, clearly not in the mood for a display of teenage angst, but Stiles had a hard time staying mad at the boy. Liam was suffering, they knew he was mistreated and they did nothing about it. Derek wanted to. God, he should have listened to him. If he knew what the kid was going through he wouldn't hesitate to call the child protective services. Even if he ended up locked in some juvenile correctional facility it would have been better than this.

Liam caught Derek's glare and shrunk. "I spent two hours persuading myself to do it. His sedation started to wear off and then you came. I swear if I had any other choice…" his voice quivered again.

Stiles's hand moved on its own volition landing on the kid's shoulder and squeezing it gently. "What did they do?"

"I had to give them something so I told them that you got Morton. I thought they would get off my case, but it only spooked them. They gave me the heroin and told me to inject you so that the next urine test proves you are on drugs. When I refused, they brought in the girl. A hooker. She was 18 or so and high on meth…" Liam trailed off and Stiles' stomach churned with dread. "They beat her up and... raped her. Said that they will do it as many times as needed to get me moving." The last words were accompanied by a new wave of tears.

Even Derek couldn't keep a straight face. "Those fuckers!"

Stiles pulled the crying kid in a hug gently petting his head. "It's gonna be alright, kiddo. We will figure it out. I promise."

"You hate me now," Liam wailed.

"We don't," Stiles reassured him.

"How can you not?! I betrayed you. I'm the reason Morton didn't lead you anywhere. And now they want to get rid of Derek. I fucked up everything!"

It finally made sense why the kid was acting out the way he did, why he didn't want a birthday party. He was under so much pressure. Add the constant guilt to the mix, it was a wonder he didn't crack sooner.

Stiles sighed unhappily and glanced at Derek for help. The Alpha got up and joined them on the sofa, wrapping a hand around Liam's trembling figure. "You should have told us," he scolded gently.

"I was scared."

"Fear makes us do stupid things, but you knew that this could only end badly. I just wish you trusted us more."

"I wanted to but…" Liam shook his head, hiding his face in Stiles's shirt.

"But you don't have exactly prime role models in your life," Stiles finished for him. "I knew Douglas was a sadistic asshole, but to do this to his own nephew..."

"He wasn't always like this. He used to be the fun uncle that always brought me expensive presents. But when my parents died, I became a burden he had to take care of. He resented me for it, blamed me for my parents' deaths because they were going to pick me up from my friend's birthday party when the drunk driver hit them."

It was the first time Liam ever spoke about what happened. Stiles saw Derek's hand tighten around the boy.

"He said that I wasn't gonna be a freeloader, that I had to do my part, and tossed me over to Deucalion. He never wanted to know what I was doing for him. Said that it was my job and confidentiality was an important part of it. He didn't care if they hurt me, always covered for my bruises at school. I thought that if I please Deucalion, then maybe he would love me again…"

"Oh kiddo," Stiles felt his own heart bleeding for Liam. Poor, lonely, affection starved boy. He learned to be tough-skinned to survive, but he was still just a kid, craving love and attention. A family. Stiles figured they sort of became one - a weird and problematic one for sure, with obvious trust and communication issues - but a family. Stiles knew that he and Derek won't be able to undo years of emotional and physical abuse, but they could forgive him and be there for him. They let the boy cry, as they held him and petted his head softly.

"I think it's time we hit the bed," Derek said after a couple of minutes. "We will talk more in the morning and figure out what to do. But right now we all need some sleep."

"Would it be alright if I slept in my room tonight?" Stiles asked Derek, reluctant to leave the boy alone after the emotional turmoil of the evening.

Derek smiled and nodded, "Of course, babe. Good night," he kissed Stiles on the lips and then leaned down to kiss the top of Liam's head.

xxx

Despite the "forced nap" in the evening, Stiles fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. He vaguely remembered the "elevator smell" joining them in the middle of the night, but since Derek wasn't in bed when Stiles woke up, he figured he might have dreamed it.

Derek was cooking breakfast, which was a first. But definitely a good sign. Stiles tiptoed towards him sneakily and hugged him from behind. "Hey. How are you? Were you lonely tonight?"

The Alpha smiled and kissed his cheek. "I managed," he shrugged with a grin, which made Stiles think that he might not have dreamed it after all.

Liam joined them a few minutes later looking like a bundle of nerves. He munched on his lower lip, hands twisting the hem of his shirt as he hovered by the door. "Am I in trouble?"

Stiles wasn't sure how to answer that question, though it was probably not addressed to him either. Punishing Liam for his actions felt completely disproportionate. Either they viewed it as utter betrayal in which case no amount of discipline would ever make things ok between them. Or they viewed it as a poor abused child being pressured into crime by his only living relative, unable to fight with conditions he was put in. And Stiles believed they had already established that it was the latter, in which case, Liam did nothing to be punished for.

Sure, he should have told them earlier. Should have trusted them. Should have done the right thing. But after years of emotional neglect and street justice, was it really so wrong of him to fear rejection? To fear that the people who showed him care and kindness would turn away from him if they learned the truth?

Stiles was pretty sure that Derek arrived at the same conclusion and yet, the Alpha didn't outright say so. Instead, he tilted his head to the side studying the kid and asked conversationally, "What do you think?"

That was smart on his part. Liam might have seen it differently. It was clear that he was still overridden with guilt and if they suddenly told him, that he did nothing wrong, it might send the wrong message. Derek was always on his back for coarse language, attitude, and other minor things, and now if he simply dismissed something so big, the boy might interpret it like he didn't care anymore.

"Yes?" Even though Liam phrased it as a question, it obviously wasn't one.

Stiles and Derek shared a look and the Alpha nodded curtly. He got up and walked over to his desk, pulling the chair out and beckoning Liam over with his hand. The boy cast Stiles a pleading look. He might have expected to be punished, but it didn't mean that he wanted to be.

Stiles didn't want him to be either but it was not his call and he was not gonna interfere. Frankly, he was contemplating leaving the room altogether. But then when Liam finally dragged his feet over to the desk, Derek sat him down and placed a paper and pen in front of him. Stiles exhaled with a smile knowing exactly where Derek was going with it.

Liam looked up confused. "But I thought…"

"You thought wrong," Derek said firmly. "Now you are gonna write down a few sentences and then copy them till you start to believe them. Number one - I am a good person, capable of doing the right thing and deserving to be loved."

Liam grimaced, giving Derek a skeptical look.

"I don't see you writing, champ. Go on."

The boy huffed but didn't argue and wrote the sentence down.

"Number two - I am not responsible for other people's actions, including but not limited to drunk drivers, thugs, drug lords, murderers, and rapists."

Stiles's skin prickled at those words. After all the things the boy was forced to watch, it would probably take more than copying that line a couple times to get him to get over it. Stiles made a mental note to ask around for a good therapist.

"Number three - Stiles and Derek care a great deal about me. I will trust them and never keep anything important from them again."

Liam blushed, a shadow of a smile playing on his lips.

"Got all that? Let me see." Derek scanned the paper and nodded in approval. "Now I want you to sit here and copy them 50 times each."

Ouch. Stiles's fingers whined in sympathy.

"EACH?! Are you kidding? That's 150 and these are some long-ass sentences too!" the boy exclaimed indignantly.

Derek remained unmoved by the outburst. He crossed his arms on the chest and gave the boy a stern look. "Would you care to make it a 100 each?"

"No, Sir."

"Didn't think so."

Liam scowled at the Alpha sulkily. "I would have preferred a whupping," he grumbled under his breath.

"Too bad. Now cut the attitude and get on with it."

"Derek, what about breakfast?" Stiles reminded him.

"Right, go eat, then you can start on the torture."

...

"Hundred and fifty! My hands will fall off," Liam complained, stuffing his mouth with an omelet that Derek made.

Stiles smirked, knowing exactly how it felt. "You'll be fine."

"Even Derek himself called it torture! This is abuse!"

Stiles stared at him, his smile disappearing.

"It's a joke, Stiles. Unclench."

"Brat."

...

As Liam wrote down his lines, Stiles and Derek were joined by Peter to figure out how they can use the newfound information. Predictably Liam didn't know much. Just enough to be able to do his job. Stiles was advocating for involving law enforcement, while both Derek and Peter argued against it because they didn't trust the police.

"Stop taking this personally, Stiles."

"I'm not!"

"Remember how easily I paid off the guy who found the weed in your jeep?" Peter jumped in to support his nephew. It was unfair to be ganged up against by two Alphas, but Stiles was not giving up.

"If it wasn't for Jordan, we would…"

"Jordan is a friend, he can be trusted, can you say the same for the police here? One asshole fucks up and suddenly half the evidence becomes inadmissible in court."

"And you think that your private investigators will do better? They obviously did such a great job so far," Stiles countered sarcastically.

Frustrated silence fell between them.

"Can I take a break?" came Liam's voice from the desk.

Derek turned to him with a frown. "How many have you done?"

"Twenty."

"No."

"He has been at it for over an hour," Stiles appealed on the kid's behalf.

Derek looked between Stiles and Liam and then nodded, "Alright, you can take 10 minutes."

Stiles thought the kid would take a bathroom break, or go laze around in his room, but he joined them at the table instead, smiling at Stiles gratefully.

"Ohh, buddy, you are so screwed," Peter teased, clearly indicating that Derek was a big softie manipulated by the Betas.

"No one asked for your input," Derek retorted.

"Is he always such a wuss?" Peter asked the boy, nudging him in the ribs.

Liam gave Peter an assessing look. "I smell a trick question."

"Smart boy." Peter ruffled his hair. "Deucalion lost quite an asset."

The boy just shrugged at the questionable compliment, focusing on stretching and flexing his fingers demonstratively. Nobody seemed to be particularly sympathetic to his plight though.

"Well, Deucalion doesn't know about it yet," Derek said, bringing them back on the topic, "Which gives us a short time window to act, so we better come up with something."

The idea popped into Stiles's mind. "Why don't we give him what he wants?"

"Huh?"

"The evidence on Palmer. Let's give it to him."

"Sure. And then why don't we off ourselves as well, while we are at it. You know, just to help the guy," Peter said sarcastically.

Stiles shook his head, fishing his phone out of his pocket and dialing Danny's number. "Hey, Danny. Is Jackson nearby?"

"He is asleep. Why?"

"Remember how in 10th grade he infected my tablet with a virus that loaded pics from my selfie folder to the front page of the school website?"

"Yeah, that was hard to forget," Danny laughed. "Especially since you kept taking new ones for a week before you finally found out."

Stiles blushed at the memory. That was embarrassing as fuck...

"Do you think he could cook something like this for me again?"

"No, Stiles, I don't think he can."

"Why?"

"Because it was me."

"You son of a…" Stiles flexed his fists in silent outrage. "Nevermind. I'll beat you up later... or send Derek to duel you in my honor, whatever. Right now I need your help. How fast can you get here?"

TBC