John was trying to go easy on him by letting him set the pace but he did make it clear that he needed more than just Stiles telling him to have a closer look at Kate Argent. He needed to hear Derek's side. So Derek agreed to a Skype session after work the next day. He would leave an hour early so that Stiles wouldn't be looming in the background.

And it would give him time to think about what he wanted to tell the sheriff. However, it was hanging like a dark cloud over his head all day and he couldn't be as happy for Stiles' upcoming trip to San Francisco as he should be.

The second they entered Stiles' apartment, Stiles was all over him. Their arousal clogged Derek's nose and there was no doubt about how Stiles intended to celebrate.

They did back up immediately when they noticed that Derek was not in the mood, though. They instantly changed their mind to an evening on the couch but Derek's mind was too restless for that. At home, he would throw himself into his workout until his mind was numb but that was not an option here. But a good orgasm could do the trick as well.

He didn't think about what he was doing, he acted on instinct alone. Afterward, Derek was a bit worried that he had gone too far but Stiles assured him that they had liked it. The easy way they snuggled up to him was proof of that along with the fact that Stiles had come twice.

Stiles offered to stay with him for the Skype session with their dad but Derek declined, that was something he had to do alone. Besides, he was pretty sure that there would be details coming up he didn't want Stiles to hear about.

"About Erica." Stiles changed the topic for which Derek was glad but he wasn't sure if he liked the new one better. "Can you do something for her?"

Derek had intended to bring it up tonight but the evening had made an unexpected turn or two and he wasn't sure if he was up for that conversation. But Stiles had asked and even if his orgasm had calmed his mind, Derek doubted that he could go to sleep anytime soon. Might as well get this over with.

"I could help her with the pain," Derek said. "But that's all."

"What about Laura?" Stiles asked. "She could do something, right?"

"Yes."

Derek told them what Laura had said earlier. They had talked about packs before but now Derek tried to explain that an alpha needed a pack. One beta was just enough to hold the alpha status. For her own sanity, Laura needed more. She didn't need a bigger pack tomorrow, she had time, but she should start to look for possible pack members soon.

"She's looking at you," Derek said. "As my partner, you're her first choice."

Maybe it was too soon, they could still count the time they were together in weeks but Derek was confident. The way he felt around Stiles … he hadn't felt like this around another person ever before. Stiles felt like home. Like pack.

"That sounds pretty final."

Derek smelled Stiles' anxiety at that thought.

"I am thinking long-term with us," Derek admitted. "But you can leave whenever you want. You're not trapped in a pack, you're there by choice. You can change your mind anytime."

"I'll have to hear Laura's side first," Stiles said but it sounded as if they were considering it. "The more pressing matter is Erica."

"Laura wants to meet her," Derek said. "That's all she can promise at the moment. If they don't fit, they don't fit. She can't turn Erica and walk away. If an alpha turns somebody, they're responsible for the beta."

Stiles hmmed to that and Derek could tell that they were already thinking about how to best introduce the two. Erica was probably not in the mood to meet new people. And they could hardly tell her that Laura had the power to cure her but might choose not to help her. That would be cruel.

They went to sleep eventually and in the morning the alarm went off way too early. At least Derek didn't have to crawl under the bed this time so he called it a win.

They even had time for a real breakfast before they had to leave for work.

Over the last few days, Derek had grown into his new role. By now he was managing their social media and was in charge of most of the emails. He still did all the mundane tasks Stiles and Isaac did not have the time for but he was helping them out with things that required a bit more skill by now as well. It would take a lot more than a few days to truly master the programs they were working with but he could do some basics.

Today Derek threw himself into his work. He needed to keep his mind busy to not think about his upcoming conversation with John.

Conversation was the nice way to put it, it would be an interrogation and it would leave Derek wrung out at best, he just knew. He was still not sure if he wanted to stay with Stiles afterward or if he would rather spend the night as a wolf with Laura. He would see. First, he had to survive John.

He had cleared with Finstock beforehand that he could leave early so when it was time, Derek went over to Stiles, gave them a sideways hug, and kissed the crown of their head. Stiles wished him good luck and then Derek drove over to Stiles' place to call John.

They were still talking when Stiles came home three hours later.

John tried to go gentle on him but he also wanted to do this right. It was not an official interrogation but close enough. Aside from taking notes, John was recording the session for future reference.

John wanted to know everything. How Derek had first met Kate, if she had initiated the contact, which she had, and what she had said to him. When and where they had met. What they had talked about, the questions she had asked, and what he'd told her without even noticing. Had she mentioned possible accomplices? Had Derek met her friends or family? John wanted to know everything. Every little detail Derek could remember.

Then John asked the same questions again. And again.

Derek got it, John had to be thorough and he had to see if Derek contradicted himself but he wasn't sure for how much longer he could stand this.

When Stiles had come in, they had looked surprised that Derek was still on the call but then they had slipped into the bedroom and had closed the door. When Derek strained his ears, he could hear muted music so he guessed that Stiles had put on headphones for good measure. At least they were not listening in on him when Derek once again told John about waking up in Kate's bed.

Eventually, John thanked him and they ended the call. Derek closed the laptop and then he just sat there with his elbows on the table and head hanging. He felt drained and wrung out and just so exhausted but for the moment his mind was blissfully numb.

"You can come out now." Derek raised his voice to make sure that Stiles heard him.

"How did it go?"

Derek had no idea how to answer that. It was done, that much he could say.

Stiles stepped up behind him and slung their arms around his neck, hands resting on Derek's chest. Derek closed his eyes and leaned into them.

"Laura should be here soon," Stiles said.

"Laura?" Derek blinked his eyes open. Did he miss something here?

"We texted for a bit, about that pack thing and all that." Stiles shrugged. "When she heard that you were on a call with my dad she asked how you were holding up. You looked distressed when I came in earlier so I told her that and now she's coming over. We're going to have a sleepover."

Derek hadn't been sure who he needed more tonight, he had been favoring Laura but he would have to drive over to her which made staying with Stiles look more appealing. It had never occurred to him that he could have both.

Stiles was still holding him when the doorbell rang.

Laura brought ice cream.

Stiles got out the caramel sauce and chocolate chips along with sugar pearls and various kinds of sprinkles. Of course, Stiles had rainbow-colored sprinkles at hand.

Derek just sat numbly at the table while the two of them were puttering around but he did accept the bowl Stiles was offering him.

"Soul food," Stiles told him and fixed a bowl for themself. They topped it with so much sugary stuff that Derek couldn't even see the ice cream any longer.

Laura sat across from him and he wondered what she was thinking. Over the last few days, they had successfully pretended that Kate had never happened but now that bubble had burst.

Laura did not ask how it went, she didn't need to. She knew him well enough. Derek felt raw and open under her gaze but he didn't try to hide anything. Instead, he ate his ice cream.

Getting the hint, Laura turned to Stiles. They talked about their day. Laura had a lunch date with Kira today and they would have another date on Saturday. They even intended to leave the house and have a real date with dinner and a movie.

"Can I exile Derek here for the weekend?" Laura asked with a glint in the eye. "Just in case."

"You mean sexile," Stiles corrected her. "But sure, I don't mind having him around."

It was easy banter and for a while Derek just enjoyed, listening to them. Their conversation turned to Erica eventually, Laura wanted to know more about the woman before she met her, but Stiles kept it lighthearted and did not mention her current situation. They didn't try to pressure Laura into just giving her the bite. Even with half his mind absent, Derek noticed and he loved them for that.

Stiles' bed was too small for one human and two wolves so they pushed aside the coffee table and built a nest with pillows and blankets there.

"I have to admit, this is going to be the weirdest night of my life," Stiles said when Derek and Laura came out of the bathroom in their fur.

With his family, they had nights like this on occasion. The whole pack sleeping together in the living room, wolf and human bodies tangled together in one big pile. Lately, it was just the two of them so it took them a moment to fit Stiles in but eventually, everybody had found their place.

Derek was in the middle, this was about him and the other two wanted to comfort him, while Stiles used him as a pillow and Derek knew that it wouldn't take long until they would have him in a full-body hug. Laura was lying pressed to his back with her muzzle in his neck.

Derek woke up buried under both of them.

Derek stood, dislodging and with that waking them up but by the time Stiles was coherent enough for more than a yelp, Derek was already in the bathroom. He heard Stiles grumbling to Laura who answered with a low growl but he tuned them out with the noises of the shower.

After the shower and with a fresh set of clothes Derek did feel better.

"I was thinking," Stiles started when they were all in their human form and fully dressed sitting at the table.

"Should I be worried?" Laura asked over the rim of her cup of coffee.

Stiles ignored her, they were looking at Derek.

"Why don't you come with me to San Francisco?" They asked. "I'll have to work but I should be able to slip away to actually see a bit to the whole thing. Would be more fun with you around. We could make it a vacation and stay in California for the week."

Right, Finstock had given them the week off. It was tempting.

"We could visit my dad," Stiles added in a low voice.

Visiting John meant visiting Beacon Hills. Derek shared a look with Laura.

"We don't have to," Stiles hurried to add. "Lots of bad memories for you, I get that. We can stay in Frisco for the week. Lots of stuff to do there as well."

Stiles and their dad didn't see each other that often, it would be stupid to be this close and not come by for a visit.

"Only if he doesn't grill me again," Derek agreed with a smile.

"No promises." Stiles returned his smile while Laura gave him a proud nod.