Chapter 26 - Lacrosse

ARGENTS' HOUSE

Seated on the lower part of the stairs that led to the Argents basement, Mickey yawned as he listened to Allison and her father trying to figure out where Derek was hiding out. It had been like that ever since her mother died as if her whole life suddenly appeared to be about finding and killing Derek. He'd been the one who killed her or the one who'd bit her. Maybe that was the case but then, Derek hadn't been the one holding the knife which had ended her life. So yes it might have been Derek who'd caused it but it was the hunters' code that had ended it.

Though stating such facts only brought pain, seeing her changing into the one thing that had brought on her mothers' death. A hunter living by the code, dying for the code. Mickey couldn't watch her go down that path, so he'd made himself scarce. Going back to old routines as he spent the nights with Stiles, playing video games and stuffing their mouth full of pizza and snacks. Two troubled teenage boys attempting to escape from reality if just for a night.

Finally, Chris called quits on the search and Allison took Mickeys' hand as both of them headed up to her room, slumping down on the bed as he pulled her on top of him. She smiled into the kiss and he sneaked his hands under her shirt, stroking at the soft skin on her hips. He wished they could stay like that forever, carefree and in love. The bad memories locked behind thick walls, ignoring reality as it was just the both of them.

Yet humans live in reality and the memories of death and pain remained a solid block in their minds making it hard to ignore, the flame dying down just as quickly as it had sparked.

Sighing, Mickey hugged her body closer to him as he stared up at the empty ceiling. It was mockingly white without a single trace of a speck, ''Were you serious when you said you would kill Scott if it meant getting to Derek?''

''Derek killed my mother,'' she said as if it was reason enough, the answer spoke without having to use the precise words.

Her phone vibrated where it laid on the nightstand and she leaned over to pick it up, the name grandpa showing on the screen making him raise a brow, ''Grandpa?''

''Figured I'd start calling him that as he is my grandpa,'' she reasoned with a shrug, her expression stale as she absently tapped out a response to his text.

He didn't get it but then Stiles would tell him that it was because he was a dude, dudes never understand how girls think. Although he'd understand most people who'd use that reasoning, this was Gerard they were talking about. Truly regretting not having been there when she was the most vulnerable, it was now clear to him who'd been there.

''Grandpa Gerard,'' he mused bitterly ignoring the dirty eye she sent him, releasing his hold around her in favor of putting his arms behind his head, ''I'll remember to call him that when I meet him at the games tonight.''

LACROSSE FIELD

Greeting some of the people he knew, Mickey quickly found his two friends where they were seated awaiting the start of the game. He greeted them with a curt nod as he sat down next to Stiles, picking up the other males' lacrosse stick and twirled it in his hand.

''It's going to be bad, isn't it? I mean, like people screaming, running for their lives, blood, killing, maiming kind of bad?'' Stiles asked his eyes roamed over the field and then the people on the bleachers, all innocent people unknowing of the horrors that threatened to take place.

A silence fell between the three as the answer was obvious yet no one wanted to confirm it, all fearing for what could happen. Still, Scott sighed, ''Looks like it.''

''Scott, the other night seeing my dad get hit over the head by Matt, you know, while I'm just lying there and I can't even move, it just - I want to help, you know, but I can't do the things that you can do. I can't -,'' he didn't know how to finish and Mickey forced a smile as he put a reassuring hand on Stiles's shoulder, he hated seeing Stiles so upset.

''It's okay,'' Scott reassured him.

''We're losing, dude,'' Stiles voiced what they'd all been thinking, Mickey hated how hopeless it made him feel as he thought about how he was losing Allison.

''The hell are you talking about?'' a familiar voice came from behind and they all turned to face the Coach, the man himself looking at Stiles, ''Game hasn't even started. Now put on your helmet and get out there. You're in for Greenberg.''

Shocked and not knowing if it was actually true, Stiles looked bewildered, ''What? What happened to Greenberg?''

''What happened to Greenberg?'' Coach repeated before he used his hand to show the scale between Stiles and Greenberg, ''He sucks. You suck slightly less.''

''I'm playing?'' Stiles asked just to be sure, ''On the field? With the team?''

''Yes, unless you'd rather play with yourself,'' Coach confirmed, Mickey smiled at the pure look of joy on Stiles's face.

''I already did that today, twice,'' Stiles said before looking towards their coach.

Tired of his stalling, Coach raised his voice, ''Get the hell out there!''

''Ah, alright,'' Stiles said as he scrambled to get his gear, Mickey laughed as he watched his friend make his way onto the field.

...

Watching the school team getting their asses handed to themselves out on the field, Mickey winced as he watched Stiles getting tackled by a player from the other team. He glanced towards were the benched player were seated, his eyes landing on Scott who looked eager to get out there but unable as he'd gotten banned from playing due to his failing grades. There really wasn't anything they could do but to pray and like an angel in disguise, Isaac showed up to save the day. A smile fell on Mickey's lips, his eyes returning ever to more hopeful towards the field.

''He's one too,'' his mothers' voice cut through his mind, reminding him that she was beside him. It was very unusual seeing her outside of the house, her business keeping her mostly occupied to late hours but for some reason, she'd showed up to the games.

Biting down on his lower lips, Mickey finally asked the question he'd been asking since she showed up waving for him to come over and sit by her, ''What are you doing here?''

She was silent for some time, her eyes showing amusement as she studied the game. Having grown up in the small town, Mickey was sure she already knew all about lacrosse. His father had been the captain although only for his sophomore years as he dropped the year after, still he'd been a legend on the field. He could sense it from her, the memories filling her with bittersweet joy and she finally spoke, ''I'm here because you need me.''

His gaze shifted towards somewhere in the crowd and he followed it, both of them looking at Gerard Argent who was stood alone in the outskirt of the audience watching with calculating eyes. Of course, Mickey already knew what the old hunter was up to, it was the same thing he'd filled Allisons' head with. Derek, it seemed like the werewolf had made enemies with every hunter out there.

''The last thirty seconds, Scott's got until the last thirty seconds to deliver Derek to Gerard or he's gonna have Jackson kill someone,'' his eyes returned to his mother who didn't seem the least faced by the news, her eyes ever so bored as she pondered his words.

Her eyes remained on the old hunter as she reached into her pocket, a packet of her favorite brand of cigarettes now in her hand. She glanced at Mickey awaiting his approval, he sighed but gave a curt nod. Placing the cigarette between her lips, she lit it up and sucked in a long breath before exhaling the smoke in the opposite direction of her son, ''The only way to stop him is to kill the kanima and the kanima is too powerful to kill. So maybe it's time to consider walking away, let someone else fight this war.''

Glancing over at the other end of the bleacher, Mickey watched as Stiles's dad, Scotts' mom, and Lydia cheered for Stiles. All innocent bystanders who lived their lives trying to do good towards others, a sheriff and a nurse both saving lives on a daily basis. Scott and Stiles who'd only been curious and eager for some action dragged into something the two of them could never even imagen. That was the supernatural, always in dire need of a hero and clutching on to every innocent soul.

''Walking away used to be a lot easier,'' he said as he watched Stiles finally score a goal, a smile gracing his lips as the crowd cheered and his friend looked towards them as if not sure he'd actually just done that.

...

The buzzer went off announcing the end of the game, the home team had come out victorious all thanks to Stiles who'd become the unexpected MVP. Suddenly all the lights went off and Mickey knew that things were about to go downhill. A loud scream was heard and then it all broke out, people panicking as they tried to hurry away from the field. He felt his mother's hand on his arm, ushering him to stand up. Yet they remained where they'd been seated, eyes looking over the crowd of panicking people.

Someone had been hurt, one of the players. It wasn't Stiles so he exhaled, eyes searching their surroundings for Gerard but came out empty. He could hear Lydia call out Jacksons' name and he knew who'd been hurt, the question was why.

It might be mean but he didn't care much for Jackson, there was no way Gerard would have just killed his most powerful weapon. What he cared for was Stiles and the fact that he couldn't find his friend, it only felt worse as the sheriffs' panicked screams for his son erupted through the air.