Jackson awoke in the clearing alone. Something felt…off. He began walking home, wondering why the pack had left him behind. As he approached his home he saw a "for sale" sign. This wasn't right. Something was beyond wrong. Jackson sprinted to Stiles's house. Stiles's window light was on. Jackson jumped onto the roof and opened the window. Stiles spun around in his chair.

Stiles flicked his wrist and a ball of fire appeared hovering over his hand. "What are you and why are you wearing my friend's face?"

Jackson was startled by the reaction. "You really took the Genim thing really well. It's me I promise. Why'd you guys abandon me in the clearing with the Nemeton thingy?"

Stiles glared suspiciously. "You are not Jackson Whittmore. Jackson is currently stuck as a Kanima and is my familiar. So I ask again, what are you?"

Jackson was confused. Then he realized something important, he couldn't feel Stiles. Not the one he was looking at. His pack felt impossibly distant. "Ok I'm going to go out on a limb and say I'm in the wrong universe."

Stiles said, "that I may tolerate. Would you allow a werewolf to verify?"

Jackson said, "sure. Mind if I come in and sit while we wait?"

Stiles begrudgingly nodded. He texted someone. The silence in the room while they waited was tense. Stiles was too still, too cold. Jackson knew this universe was all wrong. Stiles should be excited about other universes.

Scott came in through the open window. He looked harder, tougher. His hair was as short as Stiles's. The look of open shock on his face when he smelled Jackson was still something of his Scott. He said, "Even though we didn't like each other, I have really missed you."

Jackson said, "even if we weren't pack, if you disappeared I would miss you too."

A human sized lizard creature crawled through the window. Jackson stood up and went furry. Scott said sadly, "Jackson, meet…Jackson. He hasn't shifted since his parents died."

Jackson felt like he got punched in the gut. "My parents died?"

Stiles said, "Wendigo attack. Not an easy fight to eliminate that one. We were only 14 though. Probably could save them now."

Jackson said, "14? How long has this been going on?"

Scott said, "I was turned when I was 11. We've been struggling to hold this town together since."

Jackson was appalled. "And who is 'we'?"

Stiles said, "The three of us. It hasn't been easy."

Jackson was still processing. He felt the alpha power coming off of Scott. "When did you become an alpha?"

Scott said, "We killed Peter Hale when we were 12. Then the endless monsters started coming."

Jackson said, "motherfucker. Why haven't you… wait, without Derek, you would never consider turning another. Where are the Argents?"

Scott asked, "The who?"

Stiles asked, "why would we want the premier hunter family here? We have enough problems as is."

Jackson said, "this world is fucking broken. You need help so that more families aren't destroyed. Would you like to make that happen?"

Scott said, "Yes. If you are this adamant about solutions, I'm willing to put some faith in you."

Stiles said, "Yeah, we have been way out of our league for years."

Jackson pulled out his phone to find it had no service. "Figures. Jackson is always a lizard, so has no phone, so there is no copy of my SIM. Can I borrow one of yours?" Stiles passed over his phone wordlessly.

Jackson dialed Derek's number.

After a moment, "Hello, Derek Hale speaking."

Jackson said quickly, "I need you to allow me to finish before hanging up. Please. I'm in Beacon Hills, visiting briefly. There is a lone Alpha who is a teenager, turned against his will, who desperately needs guidance and assistance. This town is being destroyed and there's nothing I can do. But you can. I believe that you could greatly assist this town. Please could you consider coming back to your ancestral homeland?"

Derek said quietly, "Laura, did you hear that?" There was jostling over the line.

Laura Hale said, "of course we will. Give us… a week. I can be back home in that time. Derek, are you willing to come?"

Derek said, "I wouldn't know what to do without you."

Laura asked, "can I speak with the alpha, preferably in private?"

Scott looked shocked but nodded.

Scott soundlessly passed Jackson his phone before going onto the roof.

Jackson started piecing the timeline together. "Peter got the Alpha power from the fire, didn't he?" Stiles nodded. Jackson said, "Laura Hale got the power in my universe, leaving Peter in a coma for longer. Where's Dr. Deaton?"

Stiles said, "The Vet? The first person Peter killed."

Jackson said, "He was a Druid. Probably the reason my town isn't besieged. If I said I know where the nemeton is, do you think you could start fixing the source of the problem?"

Stiles said, "I have zero training. That's the kind of magic I am afraid to mess with. I could make it worse."

Jackson said, "Big question before I make the next call. Is Kate Argent dead?"

Stiles said, "The last person Peter killed. And he tortured her before he did it."

Jackson said, "Very relieved by that." He picked up Scott's phone and dialed Chris Argent's hunter only phone number.

Chris answered, "Christopher Argent speaking. How did you get this number?"

Jackson said, "through a trusted source. Please listen to me completely before hanging up. Beacon Hills is being besieged by every creature in the Bestiary. Some hunters of the code of your caliber and pedigree are desperately needed."

Chris said, "There has seemed to be a competent hunter in the area who has kept casualties to a minimum. That is why we haven't dispatched anyone."

Jackson said, "3 16 year olds have racked up a kill count to rival yours in the past 5 years. While they may seem competent from the outside, it's not truly the case." You could hear a pin drop at the other end of the line. Chris Argent was many things, but a father first, and up until that moment Jackson hadn't realized how true that statement was.

Chris said, "you are telling me untrained 11 year olds have been doing hunter's work. I'm moving my headquarters to Beacon Hills right now. I'll be there in less than a week."

Jackson said, "Wait! Please understand that one of the 16 year olds is an unwillingly turned werewolf. I am getting him some betas, but I called you because of your family's code."

Chris said, "I appreciate the warning. I will keep that in mind."

Jackson said, "also there's a nemeton that has no caster… dealing with it, which is causing the problems. Can you contact the correct people to find a solution?"

Chris said, "Solution oriented. I like that. I will reach out. Shamans and druids tend to be the best at stabilizing regions."

Jackson said, "thank you."

Chris said almost angrily, "Thank you for pointing out my oversight." Then he hung up.

Jackson said, "I wish I could do more."

Stiles ran his fingers through his hair. "I've been unsure on how to get help for too long. Scott won't consider turning anyone or telling anyone. It's been destroying me."

A gravelly voice spoke, "Mom and dad alive your world?"

Stiles looked down at the kanima in shock. Jackson said, "yes, they are."

Stiles said, "you've been mute for years!"

The kanima slowly asked sadly, "you going home soon?"

Jackson said, "hopefully."

The kanima slowly began to shift to his natural form. "Can I come home with you?" He was lankier than Jackson was, and his hair was even shorter.

Jackson thought for a second and said, "If it will make you want to be human even part time, I say yes."

The kanima asked, "can I go with him, Sstiless?"

Stiles said, "you are free to go. I know magic bullshit makes you need a master, but you are my friend." Stiles looked to the other Jackson, "he will need a master. Making your me his master works in both of their favors. Helped stabilize my magic. I'll have to pick up another familiar soon. Maybe I can convince dad to let me have a pet."

Scott came in through the window, clearly having been crying. "Oh, Jackson, your human again. Also naked."

The kanima said, "I forgot clothess were a thing." He grabbed a pair of Stiles's sweat pants and a t-shirt.

Stiles asked, "How proficient is your Stiles with magic?"

Jackson said, "He started casting today. But he's with a scary competent witch. And Danny, who can also be a caster apparently."

Stiles said, "Danny, huh. I could definitely use a caster buddy. And I suspect he could use a good friend. He never recovered from losing Jackson."

Stiles touched Jackson's chest. "I can feel your connection to your pack. It's stretched to its very limit. Is that what a pack is supposed to feel like?"

Jackson focused on the pack. It was more somehow than before but the sense of family was present. Jackson said, "that's what a healthy pack feels like. Though maybe not that strong. Something overcharged it very recently."

Stiles looked at Scott. "We are building a full pack. Two betas is not enough. Three minimum, healthy would be higher. We will make a game plan on who we invite and when, but we are building a pack, so you can stop not being you."

Scott said, "I'm the alpha. I don't want to turn people."

Stiles said, "The fighting isn't the only thing turning you to stone. You think it is, because I have also hardened. You are denying what it means to be a werewolf and it's killing you inside out."

Scott said, "maybe you are right. I just am also afraid of Jackson happening again."

Jackson said, "that's a pretty slim chance. Might I recommend Isaac Lahey? He's a rocky start, you'll want Derek and Laura around, but he's worth it. Also his father is an abusive piece of shit."

Scott seemed to at least be considering it.

Stiles said, "I have a plan to get you home. Or at least half a plan. I'm going to open a doorway at midnight. I'm going to hope that your Stiles has the same half plan I do. The two doorways should automatically connect. We will just need to take you to the exact spot you came through."

Jackson asked, "You still have your Jeep?"

Stiles answered, "always."

Jackson said, "I'll direct you to the right place."

They piled into the Jeep and drove out to clearing. Stiles said, "this place is bleeding dark manna. No wonder everything wants Beacon Hills."

Jackson led Stiles to the exact spot he woke up. Stiles pulled out his phone and started scrolling. Jackson peered over his shoulder and saw Spotify.

Scott chuckled, "Stiles finds magic easiest when singing. Accompanant helps. The song is usually at least tangentially related to the task at hand."

Stiles said, "this one." He looked at his Jackson and said, "Truly, for you." He pressed play and a song began playing. "I am unwritten. Can't read my mind, I am undefined. I'm just the beginning, the pen is in my hand, ending unplanned." Stiles was waving his hands around wildly.

A glowing golden doorway in reality opened up. From the other side, another Stiles was singing, "life is an open door for you." Jackson grabbed his doppelgängers hand, looked at him, and they ran through. As they passed through. There was a moment of sight of infinite universes. Then the clearing appeared again, full of family. The portal closed.

Stiles said, "Uh, I picked up an extra Jackson."

Jackson said, "he needed to get out of that terrible universe, though I helped as much as I could."

Derek said, "How are we going to explain an extra you?"

Jackson said, voice full of determination, "I'm telling my parents. My dad will help."

So, three chapters in a matter of hours… from a writer who hasn't updated in years. I'm going to be honest, I went through a long dark period where nothing in my life brought me joy anymore. I'm writing again, not just this but other things. This I'm going to try to keep up with for a while.