Chapter Eight
February 25th, 2011

Stiles woke before his alarm went off when he felt someone in the bed with him, he looked down to see Jackson wrapped around him like an octopus. He snarked quietly, "This is becoming a habit."

Jackson went to move away in embarrassment and Stiles pulled him into a hug and he murmured, "I don't mind. The fact you can get in here without waking me, means I instinctively trust you. If anyone else tried, I would be awake in a heartbeat."

Jackson raised an eyebrow and he asked, "Shifter thing?"

Stiles shrugged as much as he could with Jackson using him as a heater and he said, "Maybe, I'm not entirely sure. Are you going to stay with Derek while Peter and I take Dad through the evidence?"

Jackson nodded, "I want to, Danny will too. Are you going to show him your crime wall in the basement or just the basic notes?"

Stiles shook his head, "Just the basic notes to start with, if he takes it well I will take him down to the crime wall. It should be enough to get him thinking about just what that family has been up to." He leaned into Jackson and tried to get a scent of his wolf, "Have you noticed any other changes?"

Jackson shrugged, "No, just strength, reflexes are a bit faster and better hearing. My eyesight is doing something, but I haven't figured out what yet."

"We can spend some time on your training this weekend," Stiles promised.

They jumped when Stiles' alarm blared from the bedside table. Stiles reached out and turned it off as Jackson stood, "I should go get ready for school. Don't forget your Lacrosse gear, we have that game tonight."

-x-

As they walked together to class Jackson asked, "Are you going to play tonight? Coach put you on first line, remember?"

Stiles shook his head, "No, I've been thinking about it and I think it's too risky, I want to be able to keep an eye on you and Danny given you were both recently bitten."

Jackson stopped and stared at him, "Wait, the bite was why McCall flipped out and dislocated my shoulder?"

Stiles nodded, "It was just before his first full moon and he wasn't listening to me or Derek. We both tried to tell him he needed to find an anchor and needed to get his wolf under control."

They started walking again and Jackson quietly asked, "What did he do to you?"

Stiles snarked, "Oh, he just tried to kill me and I had to use the fire extinguisher to stop him."

Jackson shook his head at the idiocy. He ignored Lydia trying to wave him down and Scott's glaring as he dragged Stiles to seats at the back of their English class.

Scott tried several times over the day to talk to Stiles, but Stiles refused him point-blank. He eventually cornered Stiles as he was entering the locker room before the game and he demanded, "Why did you lie to your dad about what happened at the school? They called us in again to give a more detailed statement last night, they said there were conflicting statements given by each of the witnesses."

Stiles pushed Scott away and he said coldly, "I didn't lie, Scott. I told the deputy that interviewed me the truth about everything that happened that night."

Jackson came out of the locker room and he said, "We both did, McCall. Are you coming, Stilinski? Coach is waiting."

"No." Stiles glared at Scott. "Nope, just… look, I can't with him right now… I'll see you back at home after the game. Sorry, Jackson."

Jackson shrugged, knowing it was part of the plan, and he went back into the locker room with a glare at Scott. He whispered to Danny, "Stiles isn't playing. Scott accused him of lying to get him in trouble."

Coach stormed out of his office and he looked around the locker room and he bellowed, "Bilinski? McCall where is your Siamese twin?" He saw the look of confusion on Scott's face and he demanded, "Where the hell is Bilinski, McCall?"

Scott shrugged and he was about to say he didn't know but Jackson spoke up, "McCall pissed him off by accusing him of lying on a statement to the sheriff and he stormed off."

Coach expressed his displeasure, "McCall! Remind me to give you extra suicides next practice."

Danny muttered, "If he doesn't I will."

Coach looked around the locker room before he yelled, "Lahey, you're replacing Bilinski. Gear up!"

Isaac Lahey looked up in worry. He knew if he screwed up his dad would take it out on him later.

Danny could scent the worry coming off Isaac in waves and he whispered, "Don't stress. You'll be fine Isaac."

Jackson had a feeling Isaac's home life was shit but he could never prove it. When mentioned his suspicions to David, his adoptive dad told him to drop it.

The team all trooped out onto the field, they were playing a semi-local team from Oakdale High, the Oakdale Beavers. Jackson and Danny were confident they could wipe the field with Oakdale as their team was stronger than last year and they ground Oakdale into the ground during their last match.

Stiles was using the shadows to hide on the edge of the field in the trees, knowing Scott barely used his senses he whispered, "I'm not far away if you need me."

Danny and Jackson both nodded imperceptibly as they ran out onto the field to start the game.

As expected the Cyclones stomped the Beavers into the ground. Jackson and Danny tried to temper Scott's showing off and Jackson helped Isaac score a goal, which in itself was worth it for the size of the grin on the teen's face. They ended up winning the game 3 - 0 which had Coach leaping around on the sidelines like a lunatic. Which was honestly better than games they lost where he was stomping around yelling at them.

On the way back into the locker rooms Scott shoulder barged Jackson, hard enough to do serious damage to a human as he muttered about him being a ball hogging dick. Before Jackson could give in to the rage that was overwhelming him with an urge to attack the other beta, Stiles pulled him into the shadows under the bleachers and held him while he struggled to go after Scott.

Stiles whispered fast, "It's not worth it. You know he'll twist things so it looks like you're the one being a dick."

Jackson eventually calmed and he said, "I'm good, I'll just ignore him. I promise." He stepped back and mindful of werewolf ears he said, "We need to get back to your place for that thing."

Jackson ran into the locker room and pointedly ignored Scott as he and Danny got changed. He murmured, "Are you coming over to hang out tonight? I know he wants to give you some training."

Danny nodded, "Yeah, I already told my parents I am staying with friends this weekend. You have to be dreaming if you think I am going to miss our walk in the preserve."

Jackson smirked, "I am looking forward to that as well. I think it'll be fun." Jackson looked around and he could see several people listening in to their conversation so he let out his inner troll so he added, "I can't wait to see how big he is."

By the time they got to their cars both Jackson and Danny were laughing so hard they could barely see at the looks Jackson's trolling had got them. Scott had looked disgusted and he couldn't get away from them fast enough.

Stiles raised an eyebrow and he asked, "Do I want to know?" They both shook their heads and promised they would explain later.

-x-

When they arrived at the Stilinski house the cruiser was already parked in the driveway. Stiles swore, "Shit, ok, you two go get Peter and Derek and go through the Batcave, you should be able to stay hidden in our basement so you can all listen in. If Derek's not keen on that you can all wait in my bedroom, I'll go up and open the window."

Stiles trusted his pack would do what he asked and he walked into the house. "Daddio?"

Noah called out from the living room, "In here son."

Stiles walked in with his backpack still on his back and he said, "I'll just go put this up in my room."

A quick trip to his bedroom where he had a whispered conversation with Peter who confirmed that Danny, Jackson, and Derek were all settled on the sofas in the basement so they could all listen in.

He thundered down the stairs and threw himself onto the sofa beside his dad and he said, "So, I have someone who's going to help me explain what's going on. You just have to promise not to shoot him."

Noah pulled him into a half hug and he said, "As long as you trust him I am sure I won't shoot him."

Stiles nodded and he murmured, "Alpha, why don't you join us."

Peter sauntered in from the basement with a folder in his hand and he said, "Long time no see, Noah."

Noah looked at Peter in shock and he said, "You're looking a lot better than the last time I saw you. I thought you were being transferred to a clinic in Europe."

Peter nodded as he sat beside Stiles on the sofa, "A cover story, to a point."

"We had to get him out of there Dad," Stiles exclaimed, "He was being poisoned with both aconite and digitalis."

Noah held up a hand to stop Stiles and he asked, "I know aconite is bad but wouldn't your system process digitalis out before it could do any damage."

Peter shook his head, "No, from the research I did after Troy left, the digitalis exposure is what allowed my wolf to move around, it gave the wolf side of me more control over my body, something that normally only happens when we are shifted." He saw the confused look on Noah's face and he chuckled, "Ok, so let me try and explain it."

Stiles interrupted and he said, "Think of it like my mental state when I am in my dragon form. The wolf is more primal and runs more on instinct, especially if the human mind is still asleep."

Noah nodded so Peter continued, "The particular strain of wolfsbane they found in my system is one used to keep werewolves docile. We suspect it was being used to keep the human side of me in a coma state, but we aren't entirely sure. The digitalis was a high enough dose to energize my wolf for a few hours and he would escape out the window to run while awake. I guess I was lucky the wolf returned to the hospital when it got tired instead of hiding in the preserve. Troy said it seemed like a bit of a lucky combination, if not for the digitalis I would have stayed in the coma as long as I was being dosed with wolfsbane."

Noah stopped writing in his notebook and he asked, "Laura?"

"Was an accident," Peter said sadly, "My wolf caught the scent of a foreign alpha in our territory and killed it for trespassing when it wouldn't stand down. I didn't realize it was Laura until the boys told me. Part of me will always regret killing her, but after learning how she's treated Derek since the fire the other part of me is glad he's free from her, and had I been lucid I would have challenged her formally for her actions."

Noah asked, "Do I want to know?"

Stiles shook his head vehemently. "You really don't… But you will likely find out as we explain what's been happening."

Noah asked, "So the deaths that have been happening around town? I know they are all related to the fire but why kill them?"

Peter snapped, "Pack justice. It's been six years since the fire and they were all free to live their lives while I was left to suffer in pain. I was reliving the fire all day every day, you have no idea what it's like to hear your pack dying around you."

Noah made more notes in his notebook and he asked, "So, you mentioned you had more to explain? I take it you mean more than a simple case of aconite poisoning and animal attacks?"

They both nodded as Peter opened the folder in front of him and he explained, "The fire wasn't an accident, which I think you already know. What you probably don't know is that it was one of a series of fires. We have identified eleven fires set by Kate Argent on various stable and peaceful packs. The Argents have then gone on to bribe officials so the cases are closed as accidents."

Noah looked at Stiles and he asked, "You have a crime wall?"

Stiles stood, "Come on, you can meet some more of the pack and we can take you through the crime wall I set up downstairs."

They all trooped through the basement into the main cavern where Stiles had used a large patch of blank wall to setup his crime board. Noah commented, "I can see why you set it up down here. That's a lot of evidence, what are you planning to do with it all?"

Danny handed over a flash drive and he said, "We have created a mundane version of the file with all of the legally collected evidence for each fire. We are sending the individual case files to the local police departments for each fire and then a master file is going to the FBI via a contact of Stiles."

Noah snapped his head around to Stiles and he demanded, "You're involving Booth?"

Stiles nodded, "He will know what department to pass it all too so they start investigating, he will also make sure it doesn't get swept under the rug."

Noah nodded, "You realize he will probably work out you're involved."

"I'm aware," Stiles agreed, "He would've found out eventually. He does visit whenever he has a case nearby."

Noah trailed down the wall and he asked, "The survivors, they all seem to fit a specific age."

Stiles glanced back at Derek as he nodded, "They do."

Derek saw the look and he demanded, "There were others? I know you mentioned Brett but you didn't say she seduced him."

Jackson nodded, "We have found evidence of her working at the schools of each of the minors that survived the fires. Brett said she tried to seduce him but he's gayer than Danny so it didn't work."

Derek paled and he ran from the cavern toward the library, with a glance at Peter the teens all took off after him.

Noah asked quietly, "Part of your issues with Laura?"

Peter contemplated how to answer, he knew now that Laura had been a bad alpha but he wasn't aware of it when he killed her. Then she was just a foreign wolf in his territory, an interloper and a threat. He hedged as he said, "Yes, and no."

Noah raised an eyebrow and Peter knew he wouldn't accept such a blatant non-answer so he added, "When I killed her, only my wolf was awake as I said earlier. The human side of me that would have recognized Laura was still locked away in the nightmare of the fire as my wolf was running around. Killing her gave me her alpha spark which has allowed me to heal enough that I was able to wake up, still not entirely lucid so the wolf still had a lot of control."

Noah nodded, "Hence the attacks on those who caused the fire. You seem fairly lucid now, I take it building a pack has helped?"

Peter grinned, "That and Troy helping expel the wolfsbane from my system. He's Alpha Ito's emissary and an ally."

Noah asked, "Why didn't you approach your own emissary?"

Peter turned away from the wall and Noah reached out a hand to stop him from walking away, Peter turned with a snarl and he said, "I don't know who it is. I can feel the emissary bond but it's blocked somehow. Talia always kept the emissary away from the pack so only she and Laura knew who they were."

Noah asked, "Can you break the bond?"

Peter shook his head, "Not easily, most bonds require agreement from both sides to break it unless it's being replaced, and while Stiles is a magic-user he's already said he's not diplomatic enough to be an emissary."

Noah chuckled, "Let me guess, he would rather burn the world than play nice to get what he wants."

Peter nodded, "That about sums it up. He has agreed to ward the territory so we get warnings about major threats coming in. He can't do a full ward scheme as that requires the pack emissary to add their magic."

Noah held up the drive he had been given and he asked, "When are you planning to send these out?"

"I am doing one last read-through tomorrow afternoon with Ralph," Peter confirmed, "You're welcome to join us. Then we'll send out the finalized version via anonymous email tomorrow night."

Peter implored, "You need to be careful and watch your deputies closely, we are pretty sure at least one of them was paid off by the Argents. Danny is still digging into the fires to see who was bribed but it's a slow process."

Noah took one last look across the wall as he contemplated who would have been around to help the Argents bury the fire reports before he gestured with his head at the library and he asked, "Are they ok?"

Peter nodded, "They are calming him down. I should check on Danny since I bit him last night, but I am sure they would have said something if he was having issues."

He was reluctant to say more where the betas could hear him so Noah suggested, "Danny will be fine, that kid is so chill his wolf will be more relaxed than a grown born wolf. Let's go up and watch the game. I have tomorrow off so I can join you all on your hike through the preserve in the morning. Oh, before I forget, in case Ralph hasn't already passed it on, Derek was cleared by the evidence, and is no longer wanted in relation to the school janitor's death, the autopsy showed he had been attacked by an animal. Conflicting witness statements backed up by traffic camera footage showed at least two of the witnesses were lying. We have given the three teens all a warning about lying to the police."

They settled on the sofa and Noah turned the game up fairly loud before he asked, "Now what were you reluctant to say downstairs."

Peter was still paranoid that the kids would hear him so he leaned into Noah and he whispered, "Derek didn't know Kate seduced others and he's beating himself up that he couldn't report her and try and stop her."

Noah scowled and he whisper-shouted, "What the hell did Laura do to him that he couldn't report what happened?"

Peter sighed and he whispered, "She alpha ordered him to stay quiet and she spent the six years they were in New York keeping him isolated and making sure he knew she blamed him entirely for the fire."

Noah settled back to watch the game as he murmured, "You both need all the therapy."