Disclaimer: teen wolf does not belong to me in any way, shape or form thank you for your continued support, my new scheldue is to update every 1-2 weeks (with some exceptions) especially with the news of the new teen wolf movie coming out in 2022 – I'm legit so excited, so I have found my muse again haha.
ALSO PLEASE READ THE A/N AT THE BOTTOM – it's super important to me because it's like a new storyline idea (just an idea for now, dont kill me)and I need your thoughts because I don't want to do it and for you all to hate me or think its stupid (for the record I love the idea because it's so different) but we shall see haha – thank you
For Ethan, returning to Beacon Hills was… confusing.
It had been months, nearing on a year, since he watched his brother die here and just when he was getting used to living with the pain, to adjusting to life without his twin, the pain was back and stronger than ever. This excruciating, mind numbing, heart wrenching twinge of loss that just kept bubbling up inside him, threatening to explode.
This town had caused him so much pain, when he and his brother both thought – and hoped – it would be their fresh start.
It was too fresh, too raw. He had almost turned around, shrugging off the guilt of leaving when he knew he was needed for whatever reason but that all changed when he heard that familiar voice.
He thought he was losing it, that the grief was making him relive past memories because not only did his twin die here, but so did Kayla, someone he did genuinely think of as a sister – they had been through a lot together, more than anyone from this small town could ever comprehend. A whole life lived before many others begun. So why then did he hear her voice?
He had to be sure. He had to know. Which was why he came face to face with that shit hole of a jeep outside the animal clinic, the rain soaking his clothes and seeping to dampen his skin when he saw her. Alive and well. Living and breathing. A god damn miracle.
He remembered that night so vividly. Holding his brother's pale lifeless body, begging for him to come back, to just wake up so he could fix things. He remembered it all as if it was yesterday, each detail carved into his brain, a torture for him to relive repeatedly, over and over and over again, slowly chipping away at his heart.
He was sobbing, silent screams escaping his lips as he rested his head on Aiden's chest, an ear placed directly over his, now, still heart – his chest empty and void of all life. Oh, how he yearned to hear his strong heartbeat, to be connected to his brother once more. It was like half of him had been cut in half, torn away from the other. He, too, felt himself slowly dying, the pain making him wish death would come – and fast. He would rather die than feel this ache.
He felt Chris' comforting hand squeeze his shoulder, an act of alliance and friendship but he was too succumbed to the agony to gain any comfort from it, barely hearing Lydia clumsily fall down the steps, her cries echoing off the concrete.
"D-Derek, you have to-to go inside. Y-You have to get inside n-now"
"Lydia… why? Lydia… what happened?"
Ethan knew, whatever happened, it wouldn't be worse than this, wouldn't be worse than hugging his dead brother's body.
"It's-It's Kayla" Lydia sobbed, "she's… she's gone"
Ethan's attention spiked, his tear-stained face lifting from Aiden's chest as he watched Lydia let out a loud broken wail, her hand clawing at the shirt covering her chest in pain, the other gripped onto the railings for support.
He watched as Cora stepped forward, cautiously approaching the hysterical strawberry blonde, "Lydia… what do you mean Kayla's gone? Gone where?"
Ethan knew deep down what that meant… he knew, in that moment, he hadn't just lost his brother but the girl he had vowed to keep safe all those years ago. She had gone into this battle with one thing on her mind – to save Stiles, but in doing so, had ended up just like Aiden. Dead.
"She… she… Kayla's…" Ethan blanched, slowly rising to his feet on shaky legs, staring across at Lydia with broken eyes, his head slowly shaking in denial, "Kay's… she died. She's dead" she sobbed, falling to her bare knees as Cora rushed past her, leaving Lydia a wailing mess on the cold concrete.
Ethan took a few tentative steps forward, not wanting to leave Aiden alone as he tried to catch Lydia's stare, his own eyes stinging with unshed tears, "She.. she died saving him, didn't she?" he asked quietly, his bottom lip shaking with the pure onslaught of raw emotion being pumped through his body, "s-she saved him?"
Lydia managed to contain her next bout of wails, her face crinkled up in agony as she simply nodded and, despite his own selfish desire to continue holding his brother knowing it would now no longer comfort him, he pushed past that and walked towards Lydia, kneeling down next to her and taking her in his arms, allowing more tears to fall as they grieved for the ones they held dear.
It hurt him so damn much reliving that moment, all that grief hitting him in the space of a blink of an eye as he focused on Kayla, watching her live and breathe and talk. It was a god damn miracle, there was no other way to describe it.
He heard her heart beat, watched her walk towards him, felt her warm skin – living and breathing – as he rushed to hug her. Her body, alive and well and not bloodied and limp like she was the last time she had seen her, Stiles carrying her dead body out from the school and unwilling to let go. Cocooning her in the nest of his arms, trying to protect her from something that had already happened.
The rain became heavier, pelting down and he watched her begin to shiver so ushered her back to the jeep, helping her climb into the back seats as Stiles awkwardly went to join them but at Ethan's raised eyebrow and glance at the uncomfortable amount of room, just hopped back into the driver's seat, turning around to stare at them.
"I… I don't understand" Ethan mumbled, wiping the droplets of rain from his face before shaking out his hair, resembling a wet dog, "how are you here?"
She swallowed thickly, completely lost for words as she looked helplessly towards Stiles.
"Uh… right, well… um…" Stiles clapped his hands together, letting out a nervous laugh, "the others – others like her, um… they performed some dark ancient magic, a resurrection spell about two months after she died and, hey presto, Kayla's back" he explained, just as dorky as Ethan had remembered him, "… back ish"
Ethan frowned, "what do you mean back ish?"
"Um… that's a little more complicated" Stiles winced, his eyes drifting towards Kayla tentatively, "I can explain later-"
"I-It's okay" Kayla interrupted, her voice so much frailer than what he remembered it, "y-you can te-tell him"
Ethan was worried now, casting his gaze between Stiles and Kayla as the latter dipped her head, resembling something close to shame.
"Uh… okay, um…" Stiles was hesitating, meeting Ethan's cautious stare, "it's just been a whole thing this last nine months. When uh… when she came back she was… different. Cold" he clarified, choosing his words carefully, "it took a while to um… get her humanity back, I guess. But with that came the guilt, the trauma… remembering hell-"
"Hell?" Ethan interrupted, snapping his head back to Stiles in shock, "what do you mean hell?"
"The nogitsunes hell dimension" Ethan could feel the hatred and contempt in Stiles' voice, the pure raw contempt for the creature that single-handedly ruined his life, "by uh… by saving me she uh… ended up there. With him, for a… a long time" he sighed, "and we've just found out that her soul, or parts of it, are still down there with him"
To Ethan, it sounded like Stiles was speaking in a foreign language. Hell, souls… it was unheard of to him. He knew the supernatural existed (obviously), he was living as it for years now, but the reality of actual hell dimensions and the concepts of souls was completely new to him.
"So is this why you called me back?" Ethan asked tentatively, "to help out?"
"No, it was because of-wait" Stiles frowned at him, "how did you know it was me texting?"
Ethan rolled his eyes, "you signed it Danny-boy" he panned, holding back a chuckle as Stiles 'ah'd', "plus only you could think of something so dramatic, who else could it have been?"
"Okay, no need to be rude"
Ethan resisted another eye roll, quirking a brow at the fidgeting boy in the front seat, "so come on, spill it. Why did I just drag my ass all the back from London to return to this hellhole?"
"Because Theo isn't Theo" Stiles proclaimed, waving his arms out in front of him almost slapping Ethan across the face, "there's no way he got turned by the same Alpha that turned you, what are the chances?"
"My Alpha?" Ethan swallowed the lump in his throat, casting a nervous glance to Kayla who was sitting quietly next to him, like a perfect porcelain doll scared to break, "and who the hell is Theo?"
"Aha" Stiles exclaimed excitedly; his stare somewhat bug-eyed as he pointed directly at Ethan, "so you don't know him?"
"Stiles, what the hell are you talking about?"
"Theo" he near enough shouted, way too invested in whoever owned that name, "he just rocks back here after, like, eight years – suddenly, of course, as a werewolf, insisting he doesn't have a pack because the alpha that turned him got killed by two of his own betas, like, there's no way. What are the chances of that happening?"
"Our Alpha… he uh… he did like to turn people" Ethan said, "most of the time because he ended up killing his betas in a fit of rage so he needed a new pack, but… I mean maybe, the possibility is slim but-"
"Exactly – slim"
"Not long before Aiden and I killed him, he did kill the youngest member of the pack. He could have managed to turn someone before we slashed his throat and ripped out his heart I suppose"
Stiles frowned, "couldn't you just like, I don't know, sense it with your weird werewolf clique crap?"
"I doubt it" Ethan shrugged, "especially considering the alpha is a long time dead and we were never actually a bonded pack"
"So, basically, you're useless"
"Coming from the human" Ethan smirked, "what's your special skill again, wit?"
"I'll have you know it's saved my ass plenty of times, thank you"
"Yeah yeah" he chuckled, rolling his eyes, "I would like to meet him though, this Theo guy. I can tell you're suspicious of him and if there's one thing I've learnt it's to trust your gut"
Stiles nodded in thanks, "come to the school tomorrow, he'll be there"
Ethan had noticed Kayla remained quiet throughout that whole exchange, just sitting there, as still as a blade of grass on a quiet summers day, blurring into the background.
"What do you think Kay?" he asked quietly, "what's your impression?"
She simply shrugged, "I uh… I d-don't kn-know. I d-d-don't tr-trust myself to m-make ju-judgements t-these days"
It was only now he really noticed the prominence of her stutter and the slowness of her speech, like her brain was desperately trying to play catch up and his heart ached for his damaged friend, seeing her so broken and frail, something he wasn't used to seeing.
Kayla always got back up… why not this time?
He decided to steer away from that topic, instead focusing on how happy his heart bloomed seeing her alive, fate somehow giving her a second chance at life.
He gently nudged her arm in a playful manner, meeting her shy gaze, "I'm so happy you're back Kay… you didn't deserve what happened to you"
She was hesitant, trying to find the right words to say, still overwhelmed at seeing the blast from her past sitting in front of her, the blast that so happened to wear her dead ex boyfriends' face.
"I-It was m-m-my ch-choice" she mumbled, "I.. I had t-to"
He knew she had to… he knew she loved that human more than life itself and of course she would do anything to protect him, even dying, but that didn't mean she deserved to be put in that position of either saving herself or saving her love… it was beyond cruel, it was barbaric.
He smiled gently, "Aiden would be happy you're here. He hated himself for ruining you"
She didn't seem all that convinced but managed a small smile, "t-thank you"
This whole period of time was overwhelming for him, being back here with all these memories… seeing someone he thought to be dead actually alive and well was enough to make him lightheaded but he knew he had to stay. At least for a little bit. He owed them that.
"I'll be at the school tomorrow" Ethan nodded to Stiles, giving him his promise, "we'll figure it out"
Stiles inclined his head back in thanks and Ethan simply said a small goodbye to Kayla, squeezing her hand in comfort as she stared up at him with those big green doe-like eyes – eyes that he saw had seen so much terror and pain.
"You got this Kay" he whispered, lifting their encased hands upwards to place a friendly kiss to her bare knuckles, "I believe in you"
Her eyes lit up ever so slightly, finding comfort in his familiar gaze as she nodded and he smiled back, exiting from the jeep and hurrying through the rain to his bike that was parked under a shelter and hopping on.
He didn't like being back… but maybe, he thought, maybe he could do some good when he was here.
"Do you want me to drop you off home first?" Stiles asked, not wanting to keep her out too late, knowing these past few days have been hard on her, both mentally and physically and now no doubt confusing after just seeing Ethan, "I just need to head to the station for a bit. Dad is apparently going on some hot date so Scott and I are going to go and snoop" he chuckled but was secretly happy his dad was finally doing something for himself, "or… or you can come, it's your choice"
He saw her flinch slightly at the mention of the police station, kicking himself for bringing it up. She had barely spoke about the police, let alone step foot near the station since what had happened and he couldn't blame her. The bad memories would no doubt be overwhelming.
"Uh… forget I said that, I'll take you home" he reassured, indicating to turn left at the crossroads but to his surprise, from the corner of his eye, he saw Kayla shake her head.
"I-It's okay… I uh… I-I can wa-wait in the j-j-jeep" she mumbled, "I-I can w-wait"
He stopped at the junction, turning his indication off, "are you sure? You don't have to, not after-"
"I-It's f-fine" she nodded bravely although he could tell she was nervous, "i-it's just a pl-place"
He was going to question that, make sure she felt comfortable in her decision but a car pulled up behind him and beeped impatiently, frustrating Stiles right to the core as he flipped them off in his wing mirror and in response they just beeped back and just when he was about to start shouting obscenities through the window, Kayla placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and immediately every inch of his attention focused back on her.
"I-It's okay" she promised, "g-go"
He took her for her word, indicating right instead and sped off, knowing the route off by heart to the station and before long was pulling into the parking lot, parking directly opposite the entrance.
"I won't be long" he promised, watching tentatively as Kayla gulped, hyper focused on the sign above the door that read 'Beacon County Sheriff's Station' in big bold letters, the police badge next to it – the very same badge she saw when he did unspeakable things to her, "um… are-are you sure you're okay?"
She tore her stare away, focusing on him with terror filled eyes but managed to nod, her body sinking into the front seat as if for protection.
"I-It's j-just a bu-building" she murmured, trying to be strong but all the colour draining from her face told another story, "a-a bu-building can't h-hurt me"
No, he thought sadly, but the people in there meant to protect you can. That deputy – the one Stiles didn't even want to say his name – was in a position of power, put in place to help and protect people but instead he used it to abuse people.
He was a bad apple, and he was proud to say his dad was continuing to weed them out. Despite Beacon Hills being short on cops, his dad now screened, double screened, hell even triple screened new officers and did his best to keep them in line. Any funny business or a whiff of wrong intentions, his dad would make sure they got an internal and external review. Stiles knew this whole incident with Kayla, with the upcoming potential trial, made his dad sick to the stomach and he vowed to never allow anything like that to happen again, not when he was in charge.
"I won't be long" he promised, "just honk the horn if you want to leave and I'll be straight out, I promise"
Because, for her, he would do anything.
She nodded, clinging to the seat, "I-I'll be o-okay" he wasn't convinced, still sitting in the jeep next to her, one hand on the door handle, "l-let me tr-try"
He sighed, giving her a small smile, "you're doing so well, have I told you that?"
Her lips upturned ever so slightly, "a-all the time"
He reached forward, cupping her chin gently, tilting her face upwards so he could see every inch of her, the streetlights outside bouncing off the angles of her face, "then I'll say it again… you're doing so good Kaylz. I'm proud of you"
No truer words had ever been spoken. He had watched her claw her way up from the depths of gruesome horrors and, somehow, miraculously, still be standing – albeit wobbly and in need of crutches at times but standing none the less. He didn't know anyone else that would have the strength to do that.
His thumb gently reached upwards, tracing the outline of her lower lip, aching to feel them on his, to have the loving touch of something so familiar and warm but refrained, respecting boundaries despite how much it tore him up inside.
"I'll be right back" he vowed, softly dropping his hand and opening the jeep door and hopping out, giving her a smile through the window as he loped into the police station, meeting Scott in the hallway.
"Was that Kayla I heard out there?" Scott asked, jutting his head towards the exit, "does she not want to come in?"
Stiles winced, "not since uh… y'know…" he didn't even want to say the words, too sick at the reminder.
Scott's eyes turned sad, glistening with sympathy, "right. I understand"
"It's a step in the right direction though" Stiles shrugged, "she's getting there, I know she is"
Scott agreed, "yeah… it'll just take time"
Stiles grabbed his arm before Scott could walk away, scared to ask these questions but knowing he needed the answers.
"That night… uh… when it happened-" he inhaled sharply, squeezing his eyes shut at the brutal images that entered his head, "-I wasn't there… and I've hated myself ever since. It's like my brain comes up with these images of what may have happened, how upset she was after… and it kills me" he settled on saying, "just tell me you looked after her properly... please?"
Scott squeezed his shoulder reassuringly, his eyes shimmering with nothing but honesty, "I did the best I could. Lydia too. That night still haunts me too y'know… not in the same way as Kayla, of course, but out of all the things I've seen… out of everything we've dealt with, that night was the worst. It was the worst because… because it was the very worst act of humanity and…" Scott swallowed, feeling tense and uncomfortable at the memories, "… and I think, since then, Kayla hasn't been the same. I watched her break and I couldn't fix it" he finished sadly and Stiles could see just how badly Scott was traumatised from the reminder, his dark eyes harbouring disgust and an infinite amount of horror.
Stiles blinked quickly, holding back the tears, "I'm glad you were there… for her I mean. I don't think I ever said thank you"
Scott sent him a small, saddened smile, "you don't have to thank me. Kayla is our friend, she's part of the pack… I would do anything for her"
"Uh… Afonso is working with Deaton just now to find a way to fix this. Hopefully they come up with something"
"Oh right" Scott's eyes widened in realisation, "he's here now. What did they find out?"
Stiles, in a rushed whisper, explained briefly the situation about Kayla's soul, about how hells darkness had tainted her from the moment the resurrection spell took hold and how that's why Kayla had been so emotionless, soulless even, because parts of her soul were missing and the parts she did have were poisoned.
Scott was speechless, staring at Stiles in awe, "Oh… my… god… what… how…"
"That was my thoughts exactly" Stiles shrugged, "it's crazy. It's impossible… except it's not. She's been walking about when parts of her are still down there with him… with the nogitsune. Makes me sick just thinking about it"
"So… Kayla wasn't really Kayla?"
"That's about the gist of it"
"So she's still not really Kayla? I mean… not entirely"
"Uh… sort of. It's complicated. Afonso said it was a miracle she even managed to start feeling again with hell tainting her like that. It should have poisoned her to be, basically, eternally evil"
"… Wow" Scott ran a hand through his tousled hair, completely and utterly shell shocked, "that's… that's heavy"
"Yeah" Stiles scoffed, "you're telling me. My head is still spinning"
"I'm sure they'll find a way to fix it" Scott reassured, "Deaton is good, and Afonso seems to be an expert too. Between the two of them they'll find something"
"I hope so" Stiles sighed, "I just want her back. Really back… it hasn't been the same since she died. Nothing has"
Scott knew the feeling, having felt the same since Allison took her last breath in his arms, "I know… things shouldn't have played out the way they did"
"It's like everything we do has a knock-on effect" Stiles shrugged, "we went into those ice baths to save our parents but that then meant the nogitsunes got a foot hold in my brain and the people we cared about died. But if we didn't do it then your mum and my dad would've died. No matter what decision we make to save people, people still end up getting hurt. It's frustrating"
"Yeah… I wish time machines were a thing. Tell our younger selves what to do and what not to do" Scott chuckled, "doubt we would listen"
Stiles' lips quirked at the thought, "go back in time and get a re-do. I would definitely prepare myself for how utterly terrifying Derek can be"
Scott laughed, "he secretly likes you"
"Then I wish he would make it less of a secret because, my god, he scares me shitless"
Scott's smile was infectious and Stiles found himself lightening up, his mood much improved, "come on" Scott encouraged, "let's find out who your dad is dating"
Stiles followed him eagerly down the corridor and towards the sheriff's office, "ten bucks it's your mum"
His friend simply screwed his face up, "ew, no, plus she's working tonight"
"Or she just told you she's working"
"I can hear her heartbeat, she wasn't lying"
"We'll soon see" Stiles smirked, teasing his best friend and opening the door to the sheriff's office, seeing his dad tying his tie.
"Wow, very dapper dad" he greeted, "surprised that suit still fits you" he added, cheeky as ever.
His dad turned around and screwed his face up in annoyance, "oh no… what are you doing here?"
"Nice to see you too" Stiles smiled as Scott smirked, "just came to wish you luck on your big date"
His dad was looking at him suspiciously, his brows furrowing as he looked between the two of them, "no… I know that look. You're trying to dig"
Stiles threw his hands up in surrender, "no digging, see?" he held out his hands, "no shovel?"
"Hmmmm" his dad wasn't convinced, picking up a handheld mirror and squinting at himself, tugging nervously at his hair.
"Oh, I should've got a haircut"
"Well, you know someone your age should be happy you still have hair to cut" Stiles smirked, loving winding his dad up, the playful banter between them keeping his mind occupied and away from the dark thoughts that normally intruded his brain.
Scott snorted, "I think you look great"
"Kiss ass" Stiles murmured under his breath, playfully rolling his eyes.
His dad deliberately shot Scott a smug look, "Well, thank you, son I should have had"
"Wow, harsh dad, harsh"
"Oh, what the hell am I doing? This is a terrible idea" his dad groaned, moving to try and untie his tie but Stiles jumped forward, batting his hands away.
"What, Dad... Dad, it's one date, okay? The town of Beacon Hills won't implode while you're out with one woman…Or man" He added, secretly trying to fish for the juicy details.
His dad sighed, "It's a woman, Stiles. Okay. A very beautiful woman in fact"
Stiles shared a smile with Scott, "Oh, and what beautiful woman by the way?"
"None of your business. Either one of you"
Stiles pursed his lips, "but I want to know"
"No"
He crossed his arms in disappointment, "I'll find out"
His dad's look was priceless, "oh will you now?"
"You know me… you know what I'm capable of"
His dad ran a hand down his face, "trust me, I know… I've dealt with it for seventeen years. Why do you think I look so old?"
Stiles smiled smugly but their attention got drawn to loud shouting outside in the bullpen and they all moved out of the office, seeing someone getting restrained by two deputies, chains and handcuffs tight around his body.
It took Stiles a couple seconds to realise who it was, but as soon as he met his furious gaze he knew. Donovan. Bloody Donovan. Even just the name enraged Stiles, knowing that he had his hands all over Kayla at that party, using her for sex and smugly rubbing it in Stiles' face afterwards.
What a dick.
"I'm going to kill you"
"Donovan, if you think that shocks me, remember it was well-documented in your Anger Expression Inventory. Deputies, escort the prisoner out"
Stiles was happy to watch him get dragged out like trash, thinking it was the least he deserved. He was barely worth the air he was breathing, let alone any more chances.
"I'm not angry like I'm gonna throw a brick through your window. I'm angry… like I'm going to find you, I'm going to get a knife and I'm going to stab you with it until you're dead. And when you look at me and you ask me why, remember right now. Because this is why"
Stiles' lips thinned, a wave of red hot anger rushing through his veins. First his girlfriend and now his dad? No way, not on Stiles' watch.
"Wow, that was awesome. That was awesome" he exclaimed, bitter sarcasm dripping from his tone as Donovan's glare slid to rest on him, "that was great. Can we do one more? Give us another one, maybe like Christopher Walken this time, you know. Okay, you know what? It's fine. You'll have plenty of time to work on it when you're in your tiny, little cell, you know. Just stuck there, forever"
Donovan sneered at him, contempt burning like acid in the depths of his pupils, "how's Kayla?" he asked, feigning innocence, "I wonder if she's up for round two yet"
His fists balled in anger, his cheeks flushing red as he went to take a step forward, ready and willing to punch his lights out but Scott grabbed the back of his shirt, pulling him back and his dad held a hand out against his chest.
"He's not worth it Stiles" his dad said, "deputies, escort the prisoner out"
Donovan's sadistic chuckles echoed off the walls of the station, haunting Stiles even after he left as he shrugged off Scott's grip, wishing above all else he could wrap his hands around Donovan's neck and not let go.
"You should've let me at him"
His dad raised an eyebrow, "so, what, you can be in the police escort van next to him?"
He shrugged his squint and ruffled shirt back in place, huffing out an annoyed sigh, "he's a smug prick"
"Yeah well… he won't be a bother to you anymore" his dad reassured, "he's going to jail, and he won't be out for a long time"
"Not long enough" he grumbled, a permanent and unhappy frown etched onto his face, hating how – in those brief moments – he reverted back to that chaotic jealous version of himself, assaulted with images he didn't want to imagine.
"Um… what's an anger expression inventory?"
"It's a test you take before you can become a deputy"
Scott blanched at the sheriff, "wait… Donovan wanted to become a deputy? That guy?"
"Yeah" Stiles scoffed, "like this place needs any more bad rotten apples like him" he exclaimed without even thinking, the deafening echoing silence ringing in his ears.
He shot an apologetic look to his father, his face turned down in disappointment and guilt, "I'm sorry dad, I didn't mean it like that"
His dad simply gave him a tight smile, regret and remorse shining in his eyes, "no, you're right. Being a police officer comes with a lot of responsibility and the desire to do good… it's our job to weed out the ones that want to abuse that power"
"Uh… speaking of that…" Stiles said quietly, keeping his voice lowered, "I don't think Kayla has made a decision yet – y'know, about the trial…"
His dad nodded in sympathy, "Understandable. It's a big thing"
"But if she chooses not to do it, that means he walks away right?" the thought itself making his stomach churn.
His dad gave a small shrug of the shoulders, "Maybe, it's hard to tell. We still have a case though, what with the evidence gathered and witness statements but it all depends on the jury"
"What kind of evidence?"
His dad simply reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder, "son…. You know I can't tell you that. She deserves her privacy" he added, "and, deep down, I know you wouldn't want to know"
"Can't be worse than what I'm imagining" he grumbled under his breath, hating the way his mind imagined those dark, unspeakable moments, "I just want to make sure he gets what he deserves"
"Me too Stiles, me too" he reassured, "but with it being a case involving a minor, it shouldn't be a public trial. I'm doing my best to make sure it isn't"
"Thank you" Stiles nodded, "maybe that will help… y'know, with her decision"
"Just don't force her Stiles" his dad warned gently, "it has to be her choice whether she wants to relive that trauma. As frustrating as it is potentially not seeing him go to prison for this… it has to be on her terms"
"I-I know" he rubbed at his eyes a little too harshly, his vision going like static, "god I know, I just… I wish she would just talk to me, that's all"
"She'll get there, give her time" his dad, ever so wise and insightful, "just keep being good to her – both of you" he directed a look to Scott as well, "she needs her friends"
Yes… friends. He knew the word shouldn't make him feel so disappointed, but he couldn't help but despise that word when it came to him and Kayla. She shouldn't be just his friend… she should be more but of course that was off the table just now. Maybe forever. Especially after what that so called Deputy did to her. Maybe she wouldn't ever be able to trust like before that, or be able to rationally and safely have a relationship. Maybe he should force himself to get used to being her friend and nothing more.
"She'll always have us, no matter what" Scott vowed and just as the hum of silence encased them, the radio to the left buzzed to life, static voices filling the air.
Immediately his dad rushed over, tinkling with the radio to hear it better and bringing it up to his ear, "repeat that"
"The prison escort van has crashed, with a potential 187 on board"
Stiles swallowed thickly, his heart dropping to the base of his stomach.
"Wait… what's a 187?" Scott asked cluelessly, unable to keep up with the police lingo and codes.
"Homicide" Stiles said, casting his nervous glance between Scott and his dad, "did Donovan… did he kill…"
His dad's sigh was heavy and full of lost hope, "I'm not sure… but let's find out" moving back into his office to grab his gun and badge, "guess I better cancel by date huh?"
A/N) AHHH a long one, yay – so happy to be back writing, I missed it. Anyway please please leave your thoughts below and I'll try and update in the next few days if y'all motivate me enough – haha
Also, in relation to what I said at the top of the chapter, I had been brainstorming ideas for tweaks on the direction of the story and out of nowhere this massive new plot just hit me across the face and I was like WHOA and I haven't been able to get it out my head, so I'll briefly explain what I was thinking (without giving too much away) and you guys can let me know if it's something that would be doable or not? Okay let's goooood.
So – I was thinking, the process of Kayla getting the pieces of her soul back from hell would mean she basically gets a redo. What I mean by that is, the whole ritual of crossing that barrier into that hell dimension to piece her soul back together creates like a surge of energy and, for it to be successful, it basically means she would wake up again in her grave but this time, no hell darkness inside her and her full soul. But I was thinking, she then wakes up again at the start of season 4 (like she did originally) meaning only she remembers the events of season 4 because now it basically didn't happen (aka now she didn't murder anyone lol) and maybe like the new season 4 can be her in Eichen house dealing with those memories and getting better (ish) to take it back to this point in the story (I can briefly write a few chapters of what happened during that time, in this timeline) OR
Have Kayla wake up in her grave, no hell darkness inside her and her full soul in tact but it's at the point of the story we left it and did the ritual (so start of season 5) and that's when she returns and to everyone else she has been dead like 9 months so it's a MASSIVE shock and it's about Kayla trying to deal with the memories and the trauma that happened when, in that reality she's in now, it didn't actually happen but it still did, ya know? at least to her. So I suppose something like time resetting itself. The soul is known to be powerful, so I guess maybe her soul could use its power to set things right and give her another chance?
I know it's complicated, its midnight so I'm not very good at explaining it but your thoughts on this would be great – it's something different and I've never really seen it in a fic before, especially teen wolf, but idk haha I don't want you all to hate me Hahaha
So please leave your thoughts on this chapter and that idea and ALSO I STILL HAVE TUMBLR and I'm active a lot there recently, starting to remake edits etc, so head on over/follow/interact with me because I'm lonely on there haha even leave asks ect if you want