Threshold of the Valiant

Stiles regained consciousness slowly, his head was pounding and his whole body felt like he'd been hit by a truck. The last time he'd felt like this had been after one of Manticore's...

His eyes flew open as he shot up quickly, heart racing. He looked around and panicked.

"Stiles, it's okay. You're safe, son."

Turning his head, he met his dad's worried gate. The man's hand clutched his wrist, thumb moving reassuringly across the skin.

Stiles swallowed his racing heart and tried to calm himself. He wasn't in the infirmary but rather a familiar comfortable bedroom.

the memory of the past few weeks flooded back in. He was indeed safe. Back home, back with his dad, and his pack. Back with Derek.

Wide eyed, Stiles turned, "You're awake." He declared , launching himself at his father.

John wrapped him in a hug, holding him close and burying his face in Stiles' shoulder.

Drawing back, Stiles looked at his father searchingly, "Are you okay?"

John straightened, gently pulling his hand away from Stiles' arm. Almost instantly pain seeped in, and he hissed, closing his eyes. His dad grabbed him again, but Stiles shook his head. "I'm fine, Dad, really."

"If you're in pain... "

"It's not that bad."

John narrowed his brows, head tilted, "Say that again."

"Huh?" Stiles looked up, " I said... " Shit. "Damn werewolves." He sighed. There went any chance he had of lying to his dad.

John chuckled, "Apparently, it was your idea."

Stiles slumped back again the pillows with a huff, "Yeah. Are you - okay?"

" I'm alive, that's the important part. "

Stiles nodded, "But seriously Dad, you can let go. You can't hold on to me for the next six weeks." He gestured with the cast on his arm.

John looked unconvinced, but reluctantly withdrew his hand from Stiles' neck. It wasn't instantly, it was a slow pulsing feeling as the pain started to worm its way back through his body. He gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and breathed through his nose, slowly.

"Stiles..."

"I'm fine, Dad. " He grunted, "I'll take two Tylenol and I'll be right as rain." The smile his painted on was as far from sincere and reassuring as it could get. Thankfully, his dad didn't press further.

After what felt like eternity, Stiles was ready to open his eyes and move. When he did, he found his dad holding out a glass of water and two pills.

"Melissa left them for you."

Stiles took them gratefully, then finished the glass of water. Setting the glass down, he swung his legs off the bed and got up, swaying slightly. John grabbed his arm only briefly, to steady him.

"Where's Derek?" He asked. He remembered Derek being with him while Melissa checked his head and arm, but then everything went blurry.

"He's downstairs with Sandeman and the others."

Stiles looked up at his father, eyes widening, "Sandeman? He's here?"

John gave a sharp nod, his whole demeanour stiffening.

"Have you spoke to him?" Stiles asked carefully, already knowing the answer.

"I haven't left your side." John said shortly, shoving his hands into his pockets of a pair of sweatpants that were clearly Derek's.

Stiles understood his dad's reluctance to meet the man who for all intents and purposes, was his father-in-law.

"You can stay up here." Stiles said carefully, "Derek won't mind."

John lifted his chin and puffed out his chest, his posture switching to that of the town sheriff. "Why would I do that?" He said sharply .

Stiles sighed, shrugging, "I... - I was just saying dad."

"I'm fine. "

It was a lie, and Stiles didn't need any super werewolf abilities to know it, but he wasn't going to call his dad on it. "Alright." He smiled weakly but encouragingly, "Let's go meet the family, yeah." He staggered to the door, John half a step behind him. Stiles could feel his dad holding back, stopping himself from reaching out to help Stiles.

He could hear the yelling from the stop of the stairs, and he glanced towards his father, who simply shrugged. With his broken arm pressed to his chest, Stiles picked up the pace and hurried down the stairs, his father right behind him. The closer he got, the clearer the voices. Angry voices.

"You're insane if you think we're going to let you sacrifice…."

"Let him finish?" A strange male voice snapped.

"You take another step, and I'll rip you apart! " Jackson seethed.

"Derek, please call off your…"

Stiles' eyes darted around the room as he took the final few steps. Aiden and his brother stood in front of the large window, back to the room, clearly acting as they looked out. Derek stood sharply, one arm stretched out towards Jackson, a silent signal to keep back. On his left, Peter stood, eyes blazing electric blue. There was a palpable tension in the air that Stiles hadn't felt since the confrontation between Scott and Derek a year previously.

He had no idea where Erica, Boyd or Isaac was, and that made him a little anxious.

Facing Derek, a man sat in the chair, looking up at him seemingly unaffected by the unease that hung in the room. His long dark blond hair was tired back, revealing his features. If it weren't for the fact that Joshua was standing awkwardly in the corner, Stiles might have thought it were him. That fact told Stiles precisely who it was, and his heart twisted.

Around Sandeman was gathered a group of unfamiliar faces, interwoven with those he knew. Henry and Alec stood stiffly, as if... Wait, Stiles did a double take when he also saw Alec stood lounging against the far wall with conflicted looking Finstock.

Before he could really focus on the obvious answer to that bizarre situation, he caught a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye and a harsh demand of, "This is getting us nowhere."

"Zach," Yelled a dark-haired woman, leaping forward to grab Zack's arm, but it was too late because Peter was responding, grabbing the guy by the throat, and driving him hard to the ground.

In an instant, fighting erupted. Stiles felt his father's hand on his good shoulder, pulling him back, but he shook it off. This wasn't his first rodeo. With a shake of his hand, he lifted his fingers to his lips and let free a sharp high-pitched whistle.

Everyone froze, turning his way and he sighed with another shake of his head, then in a calm tone asked, "What the fuck is going on!"

There was a tense silence as everyone just stared at Stiles, then Derek was there, reaching out to gently grip his good shoulder, "Are you okay?" He demanded softly, concern blazing in the green eyes that flickered down to his broken arm.

Stiles smiled softly at him and breathed, "Yeah. I'm fine." The anxiety drained from Derek's face instantly, and Stiles' heart skipped. "Now, answer my question?"

Before Derek could say a word, Sandeman was stepping forward, no sign of a limp, despite the cane in his hand. "Stiles, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. Alec has told me a lot about you."

Stiles shot a questioning look over to the X5, who shrugged, "I told him you were a pain in the ass." That sounded about right.

He turned back curiously to find Sandeman smiling at him. Stiles had spent most of his life wondering about the infamous Sandeman, the man who'd created his mother, and himself. He'd pictured a crazy scientist with shock white hair and beady eyes. – Okay, yeah, he'd definitely envisioned Dr Brown, sue him.

What he hadn't pictured was a man with warm blue eyes and an aura of comfort. "You're him. Sandeman."

The man nodded, the smile fading from his face, but not from his eyes as they scanned his features, "I am. How's the arm?" He sounded genuinely concerned.

Stiles shrugged, "It'll heal." Licking at his lips, his eyes traversed the room once more, "I see you brought back up."

Sandeman huffed out a dry laugh, "Yes."

Stiles nodded his head absently, taking in faces. "Where is everyone else?" He asked quietly, looking at Derek.

"Erica and Cora took them up to the bedrooms. Isaac and Boyd are patrolling outside. "

Stiles glanced over his shoulder with a sigh, "Good idea. Don't really think other kids need to see Peter ripping their throats out." He observed dryly, looking past Derek to where Peter still held the stranger down. "Talking of which, why is Peter trying to kill, again?"

"They want to kill Lydia. " Jackson growled, eyes still fixed on Alec 2.0.

"What?" Stiles instantly stiffened, gaze going to Lydia before snapping to regard Sandeman, "Is he joking?" He snapped.

Sandeman exhaled a long, tired breath, "It's complicated. I was attempting to explain to your friends, but things got - out of hand." He gestured to Peter.

Stiles glanced briefly down at Peter with a sigh, "What can I say," He shrugged, "We're very protective of each other. - It's a pack thing." He heard a disgruntled sound to his left, and turned to see Scott scowling from the corner, arms folded. Stiles rolled his eyes and turned back to Sandeman, "How about you run it by us again."

With a sharp nod, Sandeman made his way back to his seat, and Stiles took the final steps. He reached out blindly, taking Derek's hand to lead him to the couch. Lydia was already back in her abandoned seat and Stiles settled in beside her, Derek to his right, while Stiles' dad perched on the arm.

"Would you mind?" Sandeman said calmly, eyes flickering to Peter.

Derek left out a quiet growl, turning his head and flashing his red eyes to Peter. It took a few seconds, but eventually, the beta climbed off their guest and stomped through their line of sight to get back to Lydia's side. Perching himself on the arm of the couch. Jackson also stepped back from his confrontation, moving to take up a protective stance beside Peter. Stiles gave the pair a quick glance and kicked himself for never seeing the familial similarities between them before now.

"Alright, so lay it on us?"

Sandeman regarded them briefly, then shifted to make himself comfortable in the armchair. "I'm not going to 'sacrifice' your friend." He finally announced, his voice trying to sound reassuring. However, what we have planned is not without risk."

Stiles narrowed his eyes, "How much risk?"

Sandeman looked between him and Lydia, his shoulders slumping. "A lot."

Behind Stiles, Jackson growled again, "It's not happening. We're not risking Lydia's life."

Stiles turned to Lydia, "Lys?"

Lydia fixed Sandeman with a curious, detached stare, "Tell me what I'd need to do."

Sandeman's focus settled on the young woman wholly. "As I was saying, Stheno has been trapped in the Nemeton for centuries with the souls of…"

"We know the history," Lydia sighed, "Where do I come in?"

Sandeman smiled, "Just like your grandmother." He observed, and there was a sadness in his tone that triggered Stiles' curiosity. Looking down briefly, Sandeman took a breath, then pushed himself out of the chair and began to pace. "I'd been looking for a more permanent solution to Stheno for decades, securing a hidden generation was a little more than a band-aid on an open wound. One that, as you know, failed." There was something about the way he spoke that niggled Stiles'. "When I discovered Claudia had ignored my orders and come here to Beacon Hills, I came to confront her about it. However, it seemed I was too late. She'd already found and married." Sandeman's gaze fixed on John across the room.

Both Stilinski men gritted their teeth and glared at the stranger. Sandeman, ignored the look and kept talking, "While I was here, I met with your mother and grandfather," He looked to Derek, "and they introduced me to Lorraine, who'd been researching the history of the Nemeton. She was quite the genius." He said fondly, "Especially when it comes to ancient history. Likely because of her connection to the dead. - Anyway, she had a theory and asked - No," He scoffed, ''demanded I tell her all I knew."

Stiles and Lydia shared a look, before looking back expectantly to Sandeman.

"It's taken years to get everything in place. Years of travel, research and planning. Years to reclaim an army." He glanced over at the men and women he'd brought with him. He settled back in the chair, and set his cane across his legs, his fingers wrapping around it like some sort of comfort blanket. "Everything was almost in place when they found us." His voice broke, and his eyes never left the top of his cane, "I don't know how, we'd always been so careful. We were in Crete, locating the final piece of our puzzle we were cornered. I did everything I could," He added desperately, lifting his eyes apologetically to Lydia. "I swear, I tried to get her out alive."

A heavy silence settled over the room. Lydia swiped at her cheek and Peter reached out and took her hand while Stiles pressed his shoulder to hers.

"It took me months to recover," Sandeman continued, his voice deep and rough with restrained emotion. "I knew I had to get to you, but by the time I got her you were in hospital." His eyes flickered to Peter, then to their hands. He stared silently for a second, then continued. "Lorraine always intended to take the key role in their fight. She'd spent years training for it, mentally and physically. Which is where the risk comes in."

Lydia raised her chin, defiant and determined. "I'm not weak." She said firmly.

"No one is saying you are," Sandeman insisted, "But this..." He shook his head, "It is going to be taxing, Lydia, and I won't lie, it very well may cost you, your life. - Trust me when I say, if there was any other way," Sandeman said earnestly, "but we're not the only ones with a contingency plan. The Sthenians' have spent centuries searching for a way to release their Goddess, and the only thing standing in their way was the fact that they didn't know the location of the Nemeton."

"Until now." Derek muttered.

"Exactly. - And now the only thing standing in their way, is us. This is our last stand."

"No pressure." Stiles huffed, swallowing nervously. "Lydia?" He said softly, turning to look at his friend. Despite the stony expression on her face, and the way she sat, spine ramrod straight, Stiles could see the tears shimmering in her eyes and the way her pulse hammered frantically at her throat. And if he knew she was terrified, so did the pack.

They all sat silently, eyes fixed on Lydia. She'd always cracked the limelight, always basking in the attention of those around her, but Stiles sincerely doubted she was soaking up the attention now. He licked at his lips, and lent forward, "Lyd's, you don't..."

Lydia inhaled deeply, "What do I need to do?"

Sandeman shifted forward, leaning heavily on his cane and looking over its top at them, "How much do you know about what you are?"

"I'm a banshee. I know when death is coming."

"There's so much more to it than that." Sandeman said, "You're linked to death. So much so that you can touch it. – And that's what we need you to do. Reach out and touch death." He said dramatically.

"What the hell does that mean?" Stiles frowned.

Sandeman took a deep breath, "The only way to stop Stheno for good, is to kill her. Permanently."

"Excellent." Stiles exclaimed enthusiastically.

"But in order to do that, we need to make her flesh once again. She needs a vessel."

"Wait, are you suggesting we let this psycho goddess possess Lydia and then – kill her?" Stiles gasped, eyes widening. "Fuck you, no way!" he snapped angrily.

"You can't be serious? " John said, voice thick with loathing.

Sandeman rubbed a hand down his face, exhaling a weary sigh. "As I was trying to explain last time…."

"There has to be another way," Derek said, trying to remain calm.

"Lydia isn't Stheno's vessel," he roared, shooting to his feet, "we already have a vessel, someone Manticore always intended to fill the role."

"Who?" Derek asks carefully.

"She should be here soon. What we need from Lydia, is to locate Euryale."

"Who?" Asked Jackson and John in unison.

"Stheno's sister." Derek said carefully.

"Don't we have enough trouble with one snake goddess?" Stiles scoffed.

Sandeman settled back into the chair, eyes flickering between Peter and Derek. Peter looked baffled, while Derek sat staring, eyes wide and mind, all the pieces clearly slotting in place. "She's not just another snake goddess." He said slowly, eyes now permanently locked on Derek.

Stiles frowned, looking between Sandeman and the werewolf, "What is she then?"

"Euryale is the first Hale pack matriarch." Sandeman said, his lip curling at the corner. "It wasn't a coincidence that the Nemeton was brought here."

Stiles looked at Derek, eyes blown wide open, "Wait, you're a god?"