"We have a problem." Stiles stated as he walked into his father's office.
"So this time you decided to ask for my help."
Stiles ignored that comment.
"Derek is young. Very young. And he has no memory of the fire whatsoever. He doesn't trust anyone. I told Scott that he has to know about his family, but Scott can't seem to break the news to him. What am I supposed to do?"
"Well, where's Derek now?"
"Outside."
"Okay." The sheriff said. "You and Scott go home. I'll deal with it."
Stiles thanked his dad and left the room. The sheriff went to Parrish's desk and told him to keep an eye at the office, in case shit would go down. Parrish agreed luckily.
"Hey. I'm sheriff Stilinski, but you can call me Noah," the sheriff said and walked to the young boy sitting on the bench. "Can you tell me your name?"
"Derek." The kid said, looking up. "Where's my family?"
"Why don't you come have a seat in my office. We can talk there."
"I don't wanna talk, I just want my family."
"I'll tell you all about it, kiddo. Just take a breath and come with me."
Derek finally did as told, following the sheriff and taking a seat in a chair. The sheriff sat in his own chair across the desk.
"Derek, I understand that you and your family has some talents or powers if so could be said, yes?"
Derek nodded.
"And sometimes in the world that you guys live in, things are a bit different. So what has happened is that you became a few years younger than you actually are. At the same time you lost some of your memories. You see, we're actually in 2020 right now."
Derek shook his head in disbelief.
"Kiddo, if you had the rest of your memories, you would remember all of this, and I am so sorry for having to do this to you, but a few years the Hale house burned down. Everyone inside it sadly passed."
"No." Derek said, eyes filling with tears. "You're lying!"
"You and Peter were the only ones who made it. I'm sorry, Derek."
"No! It's not true!" Derek started shaking and tears ran down his cheeks. He stood up and headed for the door but Stilinski was faster. He grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer. The boy struggled against him. Yelled to make him let go. But the sheriff just wrapped his arms around him. Rubbed his back.
Derek screamed, cried and sobbing. He clung onto the sheriff with everything he had.
"Shh.. shhh.. it's okay.. it's okay.." the sheriff shushed and stroked his hair. He cried for a while. An hour even. In the end the sheriff lowered himself and the boy into the floor. Held him in his lap and comforted him the best he could. He thought about Stiles. About how he had reacted when Claudia died.
Eventually Derek fell asleep, eyes red and bloodshot. Parrish came in with a blanket and wrapped them up.
"Do you want me to take him?" He asked. The sheriff shook his head.
"No, I'm good. I'm just thinking."
"About what?"
"About Stiles. About Claudia."
Parrish nodded.
"And about what the hell I'm gonna do with a heartbroken, teenage, orphan werewolf."
"I could call Child protective services?" Parrish offered. The sheriff shook his head.
"Nah, I'm gonna take him in for a while and hope Stiles and Scott will fix this."