And here we are!

This is the beginning of the end. Officially, the first chapter (of three) of the last installment of Chaos Theory! I really hope you'll enjoy. Writing this particular series has sure been something. Hard and easy by turns, and more than a little insane (then again, I think all my stories get a little insane every so often).

Chapters will be updated weekly this time.

Also, as I made it known, my little guessing contest was closed the moment this was posted. I'll be sending messages to the lucky winner(s) in the following days, before announcing their names when I post chapter two. And hopefully delivering the prize along with chapter 3 (wish me luck!).

This story has some minor crossovers with both Charmed and Criminal Minds. Some basic knowledge of both fandoms would help, but isn't entirely necessary. Like with Suits in previous fics they were just convenient. The Violence warning is in relation to the battles, though I do believe Canon was much worse, so I don't think anyone needs to worry too much on that front. The Mature Rating is both due to the Violence and to sexiness (nothing graphic on that front, but still, better be safe...).

Enjoy the chapter!

The Guardian

Butterflies

The earthquake is the first sign that something's very, very wrong.

The summer break starts alright. Lydia, Jackson and Allison are taking some summer courses, to be able to graduate high-school a year early. For the longest time they weren't sure if they'd do it or not, but they've finally made up their mind. Cora and Stiles for their part have fully graduated. Contrary to what most who don't know them would have expected, neither of them will be going to college. Cora's not interested. While she'll be taking some photography classes in the Arts School in Beacon Valley, Phoebe's boss has come through and she's officially hired as a photographer. Mostly it's for nature and 'real life' shots, though she's agreed to be on call when they really need someone. It's not like San Francisco's that far…

Stiles for his part, he's about a year from earning a Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree from the University of Pennsylvania (all courses taken entirely online). Though he has no plans of joining the Sheriff's Department, not anymore. It's not that he thinks there's anything wrong with that, but his priorities are different, being what he is. Mage is what he chooses to call himself, though he knows different individuals would call him by other names… if they knew about him at all. In any case, magic is his priority. With some help from Papa and Danny he set up his business, which he handles entirely online: "Naiche's Crafts". At first sight, it looks like nothing more than an online store for new-age and pagan looking pieces that most people would think he's trying to charge too much for them to be worth it. Of course the people to think that are those that don't realize that he doesn't sell mere trinkets but talismans, spelled crystals, and even ward-stones. The website is set up in such a way that only those 'in the know' will even see the right links and realize what he truly has on offer. There's a section for those who want information, rather than any product (or perhaps need information to know what exact product to acquire). Stiles also has plans on taking several supernatural and/or magic related courses long-distance from other colleges that offer them. He knows that because he's not studying for an actual degree in those schools he won't be able to get a mundane equivalent to add to his credentials, but he doesn't need to. He's fine with just his Bachelor's in Criminology. Which he only got in the first place so he could serve as official Consultant for the Sheriff's Department if necessary (much like Chris does at times).

Stiles and Derek start dating after the full moon in June, after the confrontation with the Rogue Alpha… They do not use Laura's name, not ever, Derek still hurts because of that betrayal. Even knowing that his sister wasn't the best Alpha, that so much that she did just wasn't right… she was still his sister and Derek cannot help but love her, at least a little bit. Surprisingly enough the one who understands him most on that instance is none other than Chris. Thanks to his sister. He hates what Kate became. The Kate who had no compunction about seducing and using teenagers to then go at their families and murder them all, who no longer cared about doing what was right, but just about hunting, about killing… the Kate who found him in San Francisco, who pretended to be understanding and sympathetic, and then pointed their father at a very pregnant Claudia; she was behind Addy's kidnapping, and quite probably behind the blowing up of the building Noah's apartment was in as well… Almost a dozen people died there that day! All of them humans! Innocents! And yet at the same time, he can still remember Katie, his little-sister, who admired him, who always had his back, who loved him… He has no idea where that girl went… She probably died a long time prior, their own father killed her. So, while they might not agree in their opinions, at least the two men understand each other.

Stiles and Derek date very publicly, the teenager claiming that if they tried to hide it… well, it's not like they'd be able to do so for long, and the mere attempt would make it look like they're doing something wrong, which they aren't. One thing they both agreed on from the start was that there would be no sex, nothing even approaching sex, until he turned eighteen. It's not that anyone (not even Stiles's fathers) thinks a few months will change him in any significant manner. But after Kate… the last thing Stiles wants is for Derek to ever feel he's anything like her.

There's a lot of support from everyone in town, and the only one surprised by that is Derek (which is normal, seeing how he's been away for so long).

"You should've been around when we first moved back, a few years after the fire." Stiles points out. "The town being this small, there was no gay couple quite as 'out' as Dad and Papa. And then when Papa got into that legal battle for custody of Jax… DA Whittemore tried to use that against them. Trust me, if the town didn't go for the pitchforks back then, they won't now."

And it's not like the addition of Chris to that particular marriage is exactly a secret. It's never talked about in the open, but everyone who cares to knows where the Argents live, and Chris doesn't exactly try to keep a distance from Noah when he's called in to assist in some way or another (either with a case, to conduct the firearms' test, or whatever else).

At first it seems like the summer will be pretty good. Cora and Stiles do their tests, get their diplomas, make arrangements for what's coming next for each of them, and prepare for a great summer vacation… then it all goes to hell in a hand-basket when Scott McCall's body's found.

It's a hell of a mess. The body's first found almost fifteen miles from Sacramento, just inside the limits of Yolo County. That'd technically make it someone else's mess, rather than Noah's. However, the body is so mutilated, in ways that point towards either torture or ritualistic murder (or both), and the Sheriff's Department of Yolo County are having a hard time even identifying it, so the file is shared with neighboring Counties. When even then no one can identify it, the assistance of the public is requested, as deputies go through a list of missing persons who might fit what description they have of the victim. That's how they eventually realize it's Scott. Melissa McCall, Scott's divorcee mother is less than cooperative with the department. Insisting to hell and back that Stiles is somehow responsible for it.

"What the hell?!" Cora demands. "Where does she get off making such accusations?"

Despite not yet having finished his degree, everyone in the Sheriff's Department knows Stiles and sees no problem with him acting as a sort-of unpaid consultant for the case (he claims it's practice for when he actually graduates). Tara's the one conducting the interview of Nurse McCall, while the Sheriff and Stiles watch from the observation room. Cora's not even in the room with them, instead in Noah's office, watching over the program Stiles left running, that's comparing the different injuries in Scott's body to various weapons and animals in an attempt to find the murder weapon. It's less fancy than how the CSIs in the TV shows do it, but it works (for the most part they think they already know the answer, but they still need proof, also a way to point at anything not supernatural would be great, though Stiles has a feeling that will be harder).

"Why do you believe Stiles is in any way connected to the murder of your son, ma'am?" Tara asks, the absolute professional that she is, she doesn't so much as suggest that she might not agree with the bereft mother.

"He felt threatened by Scott, that he might take his girlfriend, of course." Melissa explains, as if it were the most obvious thing.

When Tara asks next for Melissa to explain the situation Melissa tells a story about a gentle, dedicated boy who fell in love at first sight with the new girl in town. A girl who attached herself to the Sheriff's boy… a boy 'everyone knows' is nothing but trouble. But that was okay, because her son was working on 'wooing her', he was studying, and exercising, and he had a plan!

"This is absolutely ridiculous." Allison (Noah doesn't even know for sure when she arrived, but she's there, along with Chris) mutters. "Charming? Gentlemanly? Does she know her son at all?"

"Probably not." Stiles says, blunt. "Considering the shifts she must have to work to be able to afford not just food and the like, but also Scott's inhalers, which he's always losing, nevermind the lacrosse gear."

"Not like he ever played." Allison mutters.

"Of course not," Stiles scoffs. "Coach might be a bit nuts, but he's not insane enough to put a severe asthmatic on the field!"

It's when Melissa goes into yet another rant about how 'bad' Stiles is, and how a 'nice boy' her Scott was, how Allison should have dated him, that Allison finally cracks. Stiles isn't much affected, it's not like he doesn't know what some people think about him. How some will look at him being out at hours when most kids/teens his age will be at school and believe him to be skipping, instead of that he's already done with his work. They see his flailing limbs and tongue, his blunt manner of speaking, and think the worst of him. Few people outside of his pack have ever tried to understand him. But that's okay, it's not like Stiles cares. The people he loves know the truth, and that's all that matters. Allison though…

The three men don't quite realize she's moving until she's already out of the observation room and bursting into the interrogation room where Melissa McCall practically jumps at her arrival. Tara for her part, if she's surprised, she doesn't show it.

"Who are you?" Melissa demands. "Why are you bursting in here?!"

"Oh, this is precious!" Allison laughs. "My name is Allison, and you, lady, have no idea what the fuck you're talking about."

In the observation room Noah mutters something about 'language', Chris sighs as he shakes his head while Stiles is pretty much laughing his head off.

"You're Allison?" Melissa clearly wasn't expecting that.

"Yes, and your son was no nice boy, and no gentleman." Allison retorts. "He was a foolish boy who ignored his own health-issues, and kept creating trouble for everyone trying to play a game he was never going to be good at. He was failing half his classes so I have no idea how you think his grades were any good. And he was a fucking stalker!"

"My Scott wasn't a stalker!"

"He was stalking me lady! So I think I would know!"

"He just wanted you to go on a date with him. What's so bad about that? Are you gonna tell me you're too good for my boy? Maybe he shouldn't have been even trying! From where I'm standing, you're not worth it."

"So what, now you're saying your son was too good for me?"

"Maybe!"

"And what? It'd have been alright for him to say no to me, but there's some kind of problem with the fact that I said no to him? What kind of fucking double standard is that?! That kind of stupid rationale is what breeds misogynistic assholes! And fucking rapists!"

The men still in the observation room blink repeatedly. Allison is clearly beyond angry, she's furious. They've never heard her curse so much. Then again, they all know how much the situation with Scott was driving her nuts until the teenager disappeared. Also, in the few months they've been aware of their connection, Allison's become extremely protective of Stiles. It's a running joke between them, which of them should be more protective of the other (Stiles arguing it's his right, as the elder brother, while Allison insists that as the physically stronger one of the two, she should be the one taking care of him).

"When's the FBI arriving?" Stiles asks right about then.

Because he has no doubt that they are, in fact, coming. With the nature of the murder it's only to be expected that they'll send someone. Also, the recent string of 'unsolved' murders probably doesn't help matters any. While they did manage to conclusively point the finger in Deaton's direction (claiming that him being a vet it wasn't hard to fake the signs of an animal attack), they have no way to explain how or why he managed to vanish before he could be arrested. So that doesn't really count in Noah's, or the department's favor.

"In a few days." Noah answers. "They're sending in the BAU, one of their best teams."

Which means the FBI is definitely taking things seriously… Stiles can only wonder if they'll be a help or just a bother… He supposes it depends on how aware the team being sent is of the supernatural world. He's quite sure there's no way that everyone in an agency that big remains completely ignorant of the 'things that go bump in the night', but still. He supposes they'll have to play it by ear, hope for the best.

"My boy isn't a rapist. Or misogynistic." Melissa snaps right then, pulling the men's attention back to the interrogation room. "I taught him to treat women right!"

"Did you?" Allison seems to almost be taunting her. "Then how come he never learned that no means no? I said no to him, not once, or twice, but over and over again. And he kept insisting, kept pushing. Offering me flowers, and candy, and trinkets. And no matter how many times I told him I wasn't interested he wouldn't stop. If it had gone on much longer I would have sought legal action against him!"

"He was just trying to be nice!" Melissa's really angry. "And what? You're gonna tell me that Stiles is better?"

"What does Stiles have to do with anything?!"

"You're the one who chose him over my son!"

"I'm not dating Stiles!"

"Then why couldn't you go at least on one date with my son?!"

"Because I didn't want to! And I have a right to say no!" Allison deflates, it's clear that Melissa doesn't get it, she probably never will, she's so convinced her son was this perfect person, she has no idea… it almost makes Allison sad, it would, if the woman didn't make her so angry. "Oh, and just so you know. I cannot possibly be dating Stiles. First, because he's already happily in a relationship with someone else. And secondly, because he's my brother!"

Probably not the best way to handle that particular revelation, but they all suppose it was going to come out at some point so…

xXx

The arrival of the FBI makes things harder in some ways, easier in others. Rafael McCall arrives first. Which surprises the pack not at all. Of course the man would get on a plane the moment he knew what happened to his son. The problem is that the man is less cooperative than his ex-wife, if in a different way. He insults Noah, and his whole department, calling him a drunk, and them all idiots, negligent, among other things.

Peter mutters something about those two being made for each other, after listening to yet another rant from the so-called FBI Agent. Chris cannot help his curiosity about what happened there. Not just with the divorced couple, but the clear enmity between Noah and McCall.

"It depends on who you ask." Noah comments. "Most of the gossiping ladies in town will tell you that Rafael is a good-for-nothing drunk who took out his bad temper on his wife and young son, until Melissa either finally grew tired of it, or brave enough to kick him out."

"Scott made up that story." Stiles offers as he serves dinner that night. "I think he might have heard the original rumors going on. About how McCall Sr got an offer from the FBI and took it, and how his wife chose to stay, and kept her son with him. I suppose Scott didn't like people so much as suggesting that his father's leaving might be his mom's fault, or his own. Though everyone knows that Melissa screamed at Rafael to get out of the house one night, the night he left and didn't come back… several of their neighbors heard her. Some even commented on him having had a bit too much to drink that same night."

"It was the night we found the bodies of those children, deep in the preserve, wasn't it?" Noah deduces, sadly.

"That's my deduction, yes." Stiles nods. "In any case. Scott never liked anyone so much as suggesting that something, anything, might be his fault. Back before the ADHD and the homeschooling, when we were kind of friends… whenever he made a mistake of some kind, dropped something, had some kind of accident, or even outright did something he wasn't supposed to, he always found a way to point the finger at me. It's why I'm not surprised that Melissa would say what she does. She's used to me being the problem-child."

"That's ridiculous, you and Scott haven't even hung out in years, much less been friends!" His dad states with a shake of his head.

Stiles just shrugs in a 'what are you gonna do?' gesture.

Thankfully, things get considerably better the next day, with the arrival of the BAU team lead by none other than Supervisory Special Agent Hotchner. As it happens, not only is Hotch's (as he asks to be called) team in the know regarding the supernatural, but they were each hand-picked for that team because most of them (all but one, really) are connected to the supernatural in some way. In Hotch's case, his son is a magic-user. Apparently, much like Stiles's case, the Gift skipped several generations before manifesting in the boy. When they learn not only about the Stilinski Pack, but about Stiles's status as a Mage, Hotch expresses a great interest in having his son meet the teenager. To which Stiles agrees, eager to meet Jack.

Dr. Reid is the only member of the team with no direct connection to the supernatural, nor is he supernatural himself. However, as Hotch explains it, he's a very inquisitive man, with an open mind; he's also a genius with perfect recall. He probably knows more than most people his age have ever forgotten. Not official knowledge, but things that are essentially oral history and heritage. He's made a point to visit all he can to learn from them. Stiles and Peter are both fascinated by them.

The team in turn is deeply entranced by the story the Stilinski Pack has to tell. Not just in what's been happening in Beacon Hills lately, but the history they all have and share. Stiles and Allison's status as twins, how they were forcibly separated, and how they came to be together again. They know already some of the history of the Argent Clan, but not all, certainly not the darker aspects of it. But if Allison decided something when she gained the title of Matriarch of the American Branch it's that they won't be hiding the more unsavory parts of them, ever again. She'll destroy everything Gerard and Kate stood for, and as long as it depends on her, she'll ensure something like that will never happen again. She has an idea to ensure that continues in future generations, but hasn't yet found the right time (or the courage) to talk to the others who will be involved in it, about it. Perhaps once they've dealt with whatever's going on now…

With help from Hotch's team they manage to officially close the case on the deaths Deaton and Laura were involved in. They also report officially Kate's own death, and her culpability on the Hale Fire, years prior. It's not hard for the FBI to 'redact' the cases in such a way that the cases can be declared close (thus much improving the reputation of Beacon Hill's Sheriff Department in general, and Noah in particular) without putting the pack, or general supernatural secrecy at risk in any way.

That still leaves them having to deal with Scott's murder. It's complicated. Because the things profilers would usually claim point towards some kind of cult and/or to the Unsub attempting to hide the identity of the victim, they know are in fact connected to the supernatural. Specifically, the body's jaw was damaged, several teeth missing; same with the hands, with all his nails missing. Humans would see that as signs of a vicious, psychopathic Unsub who likes to torture his victims, while at the same time doing his best to hide their identity (it had to be a male, because there was no way a woman would have the strength to do something like that). However, if one takes in consideration that the victim was a wolf…

"It's the supernatural version of emasculating him." Reid states. "Taking his fangs and claws."

"Those things also have magical value, lets not forget that." Stiles adds for good measure.

"Of course, of course." Reid agrees immediately. "And that, added to the missing heart and liver… well, we know several ancient cultures believed that eating the liver of an enemy made them stronger, or braver. A belief we know has actual roots in the supernatural. And the heart…"

"Yeah, it's no good." Stiles concludes when Reid drifts off.

Officially the case is the FBI's, though they requested the assistance of the Sheriff's Department, allowing Noah to remain involved (he's left Tara in charge of the Department in the meantime). The FBI have also officially invited Noah's consultants (Chris, Peter and Stiles himself) to be involved in the case.

When time comes for a well-deserved break in the investigation Stiles and Reid get talking about anything and everything. The rest of their respective family/groups coming and going throughout it all. Reid is very interested when hearing about the Nemeton in the preserve and the way Stiles has managed to connect to it.

"So you're its warden?" Reid asks, very interested. "Like one of the priests from ancient times?"

"Not really." Stiles shrugs. "I could be. But… see, there was a ritual that took place at the tree. A Five Fold Knot. To this day it remains unfinished. Until that circle is closed the Nemeton will not accept any other ritual being performed. Though the gods know a Cleansing would be very helpful not just for the tree but for everyone around here!"

"Hmm…" Reid ponders on that. "Have you any idea what the purpose of the ritual was? Why it remains unfinished?"

"None at all." Stiles replies. "We know when it happened, 2004, but that's it."

"I'll look through our files." Hotch offers. "See if we have anything that might be connected."

Stiles nods his thanks.

Reid distracts him then with some myth he's heard several different versions of. It's one of the things that interest him the most. The way entirely different groups of people sometimes believe in the exact same things. This one is about a Warrior, or Priest, Wiseman, Healer, Shield…? Translation and interpretation make it so he cannot be quite sure what the right word should be… or if perhaps it should be all of them. And a 'sword of glory' that said individual will wield in the defense of their land and people…

"A sword?" Stiles is very interested. "Like Excalibur?"

"I've always thought that, but the rest of the myth doesn't sound anything like the Arthurian Tales so…" Reid shrugs.

Stiles opens his mouth to say something when he feels it. Like a sort-of ringing in his ears. He's on his feet before he quite realizes it, only noticing he's moved when he turns and notices Dr. Reid looking up at him, mouth open to say something, probably ask a question. He never gets a chance. As in that precise moment everything around them shakes violently.

"Is that a bomb?!" Someone screams, even as everyone starts running.

"I think it's an earthquake." Noah comments, focusing on coordinating the evacuation of the building with as much order as possible.

"This doesn't feel like any earthquake I've felt before." Hotch points out, suspicious.

"There's something wrong…" Stiles begins, trailing off when he tries and fails to find the right ways to express the terrible feeling of foreboding he's feeling.

A scream cuts him off rather violently… or no, not a scream, a wail, the wail of a banshee…

Stiles wouldn't know how to even begin to explain it, but amidst Lydia's wail he hears more than that, a whistling like a violent wind going through the leaves, the groaning of earth and stone, and beyond even that, another scream… Paige's!

Stiles half runs, half stumbles out of the station and across the street. He pays no mind to anyone who might be calling to him, not to the FBI, his father, or the pack. He's so focused on what he's hearing that he's almost run over by a car, before people stop completely, seeking safety from the earthquake that's still making the earth rumble… He bursts to the trees and into the Preserve at the first opportunity. He's not paying any attention at all to where he's going, trusting his feet, his magic, to guide him.

He breaks through the treeline and into the clearing that houses the remains of the Nemeton right as Paige's scream cuts off, only barely catching sight of the spirit-girl as her figure shutters and vanishes, like a TV-image with bad signal. Stiles has no idea what just happened, but the whole thing terrifies him nonetheless.

He sees her then. A woman who looks like she might be in her thirties, with wavy dark hair and eyes, in a dark flowery top, dark-washed skinny jeans, a thin black leather jacket on top and hiking boots. That's what she looks like, he's sure, except… except for the image of the clawed up, badly scarred figure that looks so awful it's impossible to even tell their gender. That image only lasts a fraction of a second. There one moment and gone the next. But after having seen it Stiles just cannot forget it.

The woman screeches the moment she sees him and with a wave of her hand there's suddenly a bunch of birds attacking him. Stiles has no idea what's going on but he reacts automatically. Pulling out his daggers from the enchanted sheaths underneath his red-leather jacket (he's taken to wearing it more often lately). He fights off the birds, all while trying very hard to keep the woman in his line of sight as well. It's not the easiest thing he's ever done.

He hears it the moment several members of the pack break into the clearing as well. And it's until then that he realizes the woman isn't alone. There's a male with her, a werewolf! One who's clearly an Alpha, and strong enough he throws both Jackson and Cora aside like they were rag-dolls. Peter's left fighting him alone (Noah still having to be the Sheriff). Agent Morgan's standing by the treeline, but he's not getting involved in the fight, clearly realizing he's in over his head. Though he has his gun in hand, ready and willing to give a helping hand if the opportunity presents itself.

Derek's the last to arrive, having been elsewhere, but before he can aid Peter the woman's upon him. Moving inhumanly fast, and the moment she lays a finger on Derek, the wolf stops moving, it's like he cannot move… Stiles hisses in fury, how dare that bitch lay a finger on his mate?! He throws himself at her, daggers held out and ready to stab her. And then… the last thing Stiles could have ever imagined happening… He's fast enough to reach the woman, fast enough that she can barely raise one hand in a defensive gesture, one that shouldn't have meant much except… except the moment his daggers touch her skin they don't penetrate it, they shatter.

Stiles is so shocked by that he cannot even defend himself as the woman slams her other hand into his solar plexus, throwing him through the air until he crashes against some tree hard enough his breath is knocked out of him.

"Stiles!" Several voices cry out at the same time.

The Mage thinks he might black out for a short while because when he regains his bearings enough to look around, it's all over. The woman… witch, she's a witch, or some other kind of magic user, and the werewolf are gone. Peter's standing in the middle of the clearing, panting, and holding what look like part of his intestines against his own body to keep them from spilling out while he heals. Cora and Jackson are standing by him, guarding him, while Derek himself pulls Stiles to his feet slowly, clearly worried.

So perhaps the earthquake wasn't the first sign of things being wrong, precisely (what with McCall's murder and everything that followed that particular mess), but it's certainly a sign that there's no going back. And what followed…

He has a concussion, judging by the wave of dizziness and nausea that hits him the moment he's fully on his feet. Stiles sways a bit, and if it weren't for his mate, he'd have fallen on his face. He can see from the corner of his eye Agent Morgan on his phone (and he has to wonder just how good that technomage friend of his must be, if he's truly managed to get a signal as deep as they are in the preserve…). Or if maybe something else is going on. He can feel something's… off, even if he cannot pinpoint what it is exactly, until he turns around and sees it… or not:

The Nemeton is… gone.

So... what do you think?

Please don't forget to leave likes/kudos and review/comment. Tell me what you liked, what you didn't; if you have any questions. And if you cannot think of anything to say, emoticons are more than welcome! I just enjoy knowing people are reading this fic, that you like what I write. It's the whole reason I do it.

As always, full sized poster/cover of this fic, along with the pieces for the other parts, and the series in general, can be found in my DA page, where I go by Princess-Lalaith.

P.S. If there are any Shadowhunters fans out there, tonight I'm posting the first part of a time-travel fix-it series I'm writing for that fandom. The series is called "Butterflies and Hurricanes" (inspired a bit by the same song that inspired this fic, actually), and the first fic is "Chosen".