Isaac buried his face in his hands, shaking his head slowly. Stiles couldn't help but laugh, even though this situation wasn't really funny. There was still a dead person after all. But what were the odds?

"What are you laughing about?" Scott asked incredulously.

"It just reminded me of something Isaac and I were talking about earlier. We-"

"Shut up!" Isaac hissed, slapping his hand over Stiles' mouth. He rolled his eyes in response. It wasn't like he was gonna go into detail with his dad in the room. But now he was sure that everyone would be able to figure it out, based on Isaac's reaction.

"Whatever," Scott waved off, turning back toward his dad. "What should we do?"

"As much as it disturbs me to say this, I'm going to need your help," he admitted, running a hand down his face. "My deputies aren't equipped to handle things like this. And investigating it will only make it obvious that this wasn't an animal attack."

"Of course we'll help you," Stiles said as soon as Isaac peeled his hand away. "Just tell us what you want us to do."

"I want you to stay home."

"Dad!" Stiles groaned, rolling his eyes. "I can help."

"If you can do magic to assist, that's fine. But you can do it from here," his dad argued.

"But-"

"Stiles, I was out there when you were dealing with your teacher at that tree stump. If she'd focused all of her efforts on you without Isaac and me to distract her, would you have been able to protect yourself and do your magic?" he questioned. Stiles hated questions like that, because there was no way to have a definitive answer. You never truly knew until you were in that situation.

"But it's not like I'll be alone out there this time either," Stiles pointed out. If his dad's concern was him being out there alone, it wasn't something he had to worry about. Isaac wouldn't leave his side for a second.

"It's not like you'll be out there at all," his dad said firmly. "I'm asking for werewolf volunteers to track the killer or killers. Can you track?"

"I found Erica and Boyd."

"Using items of their clothing. We don't have items from the killer."

"Maybe I could backtrack the victim's movements."

"And do you have a spell for that right now?"

"No, but-"

"So you can stay here in the safety of your own home and figure it out."

"Dad-"

"Maybe he's right," Isaac interrupted quietly. Stiles looked at him with a bit of betrayal on his face. He thought his boyfriend would support him in everything.

"Isaac."

"I'm not saying that what you provide to the pack isn't important, because it is," Isaac insisted, grabbing Stiles' lax hand and squeezing it. "But it does make more sense for you to stay here with your books and try to find a spell that could help. Or even find mention of what we could possibly be dealing with."

"I guess," Stiles sighed, knowing that what they were saying made sense, but still not liking it. The idea of Isaac going off to track whatever was capable of doing this set him on edge. They were always supposed to stick together. He had the ring to connect them, but it wasn't enough.

"We should make a plan," Scott declared, looking around the group for suggestions.

"No one goes out alone. I don't care if you're a werewolf or an adult," his dad said, looking pointedly at Derek. Derek glared back, but it wasn't as powerful as the ones he gave everyone else. Stiles knew that on some level Derek respected his dad, especially when it came to how he treated Isaac. And it was probably nice to have someone show concern for him, even though he'd never admit it.

"I'll go with Scott," Allison volunteered.

"Why does she get to go? She isn't a werewolf," Stiles huffed.

"Because I know how to defend myself," Allison bragged, raising an eyebrow. "Besides, there is an odd number of werewolves and three of them going off together would be a waste of resources."

"I'm with Boyd," Erica said, snuggling down with her boyfriend.

"No, you aren't," Derek grunted.

"Why not?"

"Do I need to remind you what happened the last time you two went off together?" Derek snapped.

"That wasn't the same!" Erica snarled back.

"Guys, come on," Isaac sighed, looking between the dueling pack members. "Let's not fight."

"Actually, I agree with Derek," Stiles piped up, causing everyone to look at him in surprise. That was kind of a rare occurrence. But he wasn't saying that he agreed with Boyd and Erica needing to be split up for the same reason Derek had. "I don't want Isaac to end up having to go with Derek."

"Stiles."

"Do I need to remind you what happened the last time you two went off together?" Stiles asked, parroting Derek's words to Isaac. He poked his finger into each spot where an arrow had been shot into him. Derek hadn't kept him safe then and Stiles didn't trust him to do it now.

"I'll go with Isaac, you frickin' morons," Erica hissed, crossing her arms.

"It's too late for anyone to do anything tonight, so why don't we cool off and meet up again in the morning," his dad suggested.

"Whatever," Erica muttered, standing up from her spot and flouncing out the front door. Boyd followed after her without saying a word. Stiles would probably never understand that relationship.

"I'm in for a fun night," Derek said, stomping off after his Betas. Isaac didn't go with them, which Stiles was happy about. If they were going to be separated tomorrow, he wasn't willing to let him go tonight.

"You two can stay the night at my house," Lydia offered, motioning for Scott and Allison to go with her. Stiles was glad that none of them would be alone. He had no idea if whatever was killing people was even aware of their existence, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Once that trio left, it was only the Stilinskis and Isaac who remained.

"Can I trust you two tonight?" his dad asked. Stiles spluttered, while Isaac's face immediately turned red.

"Of course! Why wouldn't you?" Stiles asked defensively.

"I was talking about you two going off on your own to try to find this thing," his dad replied with a smirk. "I was a teenage boy once. You guys aren't as sneaky as you think you are." Stiles didn't think it was possible, but Isaac's face got even redder.

"I- what? Huh?"

"As long as you two are being safe and responsible, I don't care what you do," his dad said, raising his hands. Isaac buried his face in his hands and scooted away just enough so they weren't touching anymore.

"Thanks dad," Stiles mumbled.

"I'm going to get cleaned up and go to bed. I meant what I said about you two staying put. If either of you even think about trying to leave, I'll sick Winnie on you," he threatened with an evil grin. "We've come to an understanding."

"Her loyalty lies with me," Stiles called after him as he walked up the stairs. His dad had really relaxed after being so worried earlier, but Stiles wasn't going to question it. This was the quiet lull between making a plan and actually executing it. The real stress would start tomorrow. For now, they were going to enjoy the night before all the chaos began.

"I'm sleeping on the couch from now on," Isaac muttered.

"Don't be so dramatic," Stiles laughed, nudging him with his elbow. "He was going to find out about us having sex eventually."

"But not until years down the road when we were in college and not living in his house," Isaac argued.

"There is no way he'd believe I could hold out that long when I have a boyfriend who looks like you," Stiles scoffed.

"Nothing you're saying is making me feel any better about this."

"How about I try to make you feel better in the bedroom?" Stiles suggested, wagging his eyebrows at him.

"I'm never touching you again while we're in this house!"

"I guess I'll just have to touch myself," Stiles teased, walking his fingers down to the front of his pants. Isaac snatched his hand away from his goal faster than Stiles could even see. "What happened to not touching?"

"You are absolutely insane," Isaac growled, but Stiles could see the lust building in his eyes.

"For you," Stiles purred. Isaac sprang up from the couch and grabbed Stiles, throwing him over his shoulder. He was happy enough to go along for the ride. Isaac carried him up the stairs and tiptoed past his dad's room, trying not to alert him to the mischief going on right outside his door. Even if Stiles' dad said he knew what was going on, actually seeing it was a whole different story. Catching them making out the day they told him about their relationship was probably enough.

Isaac dropped him on top of his bed, then quickly closed the door behind them. Stiles definitely had some tension built up from the moment they'd noticed all the missed calls and there was no better way to let it all out. He started pulling his shirt up, but Isaac stopped him with a hand on his stomach.

"I'm sorry I didn't have your back out there," Isaac murmured, looking guilty.

"It's fine," Stiles waved off. "I know you were just agreeing with my dad to try to get in good with him. Gotta make up for taking his son's innocence."

"Stiles, I'm being serious," Isaac sighed.

"Really, it's fine," Stiles insisted, pulling Isaac down so he was sitting on the bed next to him. "I don't like having to stay behind, but I get it."

"But I should've supported your decision out there and talked to you about it in private."

"Hey, we're not one of those couples who pretends to be perfect in front of everyone and then argues behind closed doors. I mean, we are perfect, but that's because we're allowed to be honest with each other, even when we don't agree."

"We're perfect?" Isaac huffed, rolling his eyes.

"Yes. And that's one area I won't accept any arguments in," Stiles smirked. Isaac rolled his eyes, but didn't disagree. Stiles scooted back on the bed so he was laying down and dragged Isaac back with him.

"I do wish it was you going out there with me tomorrow," Isaac sighed, resting his head on Stiles' chest. "I love Erica, I do, but I know she's going to drive me nuts. She never wastes an opportunity to tease me."

"That's what siblings do. And you can't choose your family. Well actually, you can. Or Derek can. Whatever."

"When are you gonna forgive Derek for me getting shot with arrows in the preserve? You know it wasn't actually his fault."

"Never. He should've taken all those arrows for you. I would've," Stiles grumbled. He knew he was being ridiculous and getting shot that many times would probably kill anyone. But he would take every hit he could to protect the people he cared about.

"And that's why you're staying home. I heal, you don't."

"I heal too, just a lot slower. Don't human shame me."

"I like that you're human, with a little bit of magic mixed in," Isaac murmured, dragging his head up to press feather light kisses under Stiles' jaw.

"How about you let me put some of my magic in you?" Isaac moaned low in his throat, then started pawing at the waistband of Stiles' pants.

"You have to be quiet," Isaac warned.

"Deal. And I'll work on a noise blocking spell as soon as this current crisis is taken care of," Stiles promised, pulling the back of Isaac's shirt up. They got lost in each other, forgetting about all the stress that awaited them the next day. It was about living in the moment, since you never knew what the next would bring. And if Stiles knew what was going to happen in less than 24 hours, he never would've let Isaac out of his bed.