He's right. The session isn't easy, and he winds up crying for a good portion of it, letting all of his greatest fears out - seeing his father again, having to relive everything, and in front of so many strangers, just to make sure that his dad stays behind bars. It doesn't seem fair, and it's not, but he's been told so many times that life isn't fair, and he has more proof of that than anyone.
He feels weak and helpless when the session is over, and he knows that he got help, and that that's a good thing, but it's going to take awhile for all of that to kick in, and for the time being, it's tough.
But Stiles is there when he walks back into the waiting room, his head hung, and just seeing him, he feels a bit better. It's just another reminder that he's not as alone as he feels, that he's never going to be that alone again.
"You good?" Stiles asks.
Isaac shakes his head, because he feels he can be honest with Stiles.
"Yeah, that's what I thought." Stiles bites his lip. "Let's get out of here."
Isaac nods, afraid to speak. He knows that his voice is raw from crying, and he knows that it's probably obvious that he's been crying, but he doesn't want to solidify that belief in Stiles, he doesn't want Stiles to know everything that's pathetic about him.
The drive home is silent. Stiles doesn't ask Isaac anything, and Isaac offers nothing.
When they get inside, dinner is on the table waiting for them, which is good, since Stiles is apparently starving.
Isaac pushes rice around on his plate with his fork while Stiles wolfs down the salmon, rice, and green beans on his own plate, answering the questions that Clara asks him between bites.
It's pretty clear that they're waiting for Isaac to say something, rather than trying to push him to talk, and Isaac is grateful for that right up to the moment where he falls asleep at the table, just narrowly missing face planting in the dinner Clara set in front of him.
That definitely stops the conversation, and Stiles' eyes go wide with surprise.
"He's exhausted." Clara walks over, shaking Isaac gently. "Isaac, go upstairs, get some rest."
"Hmm?" Isaac lifts his head, dazed and drowsy, and Clara just smiled at him patiently.
"You need rest. Go upstairs, get some sleep."
At first, Isaac hesitates. He has a guest, company, and he feels like an idiot for having passed out in front of him, but he's exhausted, and when Clara guides him out of his chair and to the stairs, he doesn't argue. He mutters a goodnight, which Stiles gladly returns, and goes up to bed.
It is only about 30 seconds into cleaning up the kitchen when Stiles starts asking questions.
"Is he gonna be okay?" Stiles asks, looking at Clara, genuine concern for Isaac clear on his face.
"God, I really hope so." Clara nods. "It's going to take a lot of time, though. How much had he told you?"
"Not...not much, but enough," Stiles explains. "I know his dad hurt him, his mom, brother, they're both dead. He's been through a lot."
"He's been through too much," Clara states. "And now that asshole is going to drag him back through all of it just for sport. God, hasn't the man done enough already?" Clara sets down the rag she was using to wipe the counter. "He kept me out of Isaac's life, and hurt him, and now this? Sometimes it's hard to believe that there are people in the world who are actually like that."
Stiles doesn't know what to say, so he goes back to rinsing dishes. He agrees with Clara, what Isaac's father is doing is so far from okay that he can't believe any of it is real, but he's seen the pain on Isaac's face, in the way he carries himself, and he knows that it is.
"I'm glad he has you, though," Clara states, looking over at Stiles after a long while. "I think he's gone a long time without friends, and having you here…" she trails off, and Stiles notices for the first time just how tired she looks, and can he really blame her?
"Hey, of course." Stiles shrugs. "Anything I can do."
"His father opted out of having a lawyer," Clara says suddenly, looking at Stiles.
"What does that mean?" Stiles asks. "Everything I know about courtroom procedure came from Law & Order, and I'm not sure how accurate that is…"
"It means that he's representing himself," she states. "Which means that, if Isaac takes the stand, which he really has to for maximum sentencing...his father will be the one cross examining him."
"Oh my god, are you fucking kidding?" Stiles throws the sponge into the sink, because that's aggravating, and it's wrong, and hasn't this fucker put Isaac through the ringer enough yet?
"It's awful. He's playing this mind games, and the jury will see it instantly, he doesn't have a prayer of winning, he's just doing this to have one last chance to get at his son."
"Does Isaac know?" Stiles asks.
"No. I just found out today when I met with the lawyer. I haven't told him yet, I don't know how to. That poor kid has had so much bad news in his life, and I just…I'm sorry, I shouldn't be putting all of this on you."
"Hey, it's okay." Stiles shrugs. "I get it, Isaac doesn't have a lot of friends, you just moved here, the two of you are practically an Island, and this is the last sort of time where people want to be Islands."
"You're awful smart for a teenager," Clara observes.
"That's what they tell me." Stiles shrugs, picking up the sponge and finishing up the last couple of dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
"Thanks for staying to help clean up, and are you absolutely sure I can't give you gas money for all of the times you've driven Isaac?"
"My dad pays for most of my gas," Stiles admits. "It's fine."
"Alright, well if you ever change your mind, just let Isaac know, I'd be happy to give him gas money to give to you." She walks Stiles to the door. "You're welcome here any time."
"Thanks." Stiles nods. "Will you let him know that I said goodbye?" Stiles asks. "And that if he wants to hang out this weekend, all he has to do is call or shoot a text? My buddy Scott's out of town, so I pretty much have the whole weekend open."
"I will." Clara smiles, and says goodbye to Stiles, standing in the doorway until he's safely in his car.
Besides her, Stiles is the only person that Isaac really has to lean on, and she wants to make sure he doesn't get crushed under the weight of all of this drama. He's the last person who needs to be collateral damage in this power struggle Mr. Lahey is putting on.
When Stiles gets home, his father is already back, which is unexpected, but Stiles isn't complaining.
"You're home early." He smiles, setting his keys down on the kitchen table.
"And you're home late," his dad points out.
"Yeah, sorry. I was over at Isaac's house."
"You've been spending a good amount of time with that kid," his dad observes, though really, it's only been the time between school and therapy, and therapy at home, barring the one day of truancy...which yes, he told his dad about.
"He needs someone to lean on." Stiles shrugs. "He's practically alone, he's only got his aunt, and I know you can't tell me shit, but I know that you and I both know his dad was a twisted fuck."
"I know." The Sheriff nods. "But Stiles...don't let him lean too hard, okay? I know you want to help him, but you've gotta look after yourself, too."
"Dad, I'm doing okay," Stiles assures him. "I go weekly, I don't have panic attacks hardly ever. It balances out. I promise you, I'm not putting too much on myself."
"Okay…" The Sheriff looks at Stiles in that way that says he trusts him to make his own decisions, but he's not sure if he believes what's being said. "You know I just worry because I love you," he says finally.
"I know, and that's all the more reason for me to be there for Isaac. His dad would have never said those words to him."
"God." The Sheriff rakes his hands through his hair, clearly tired. "You're so much like your mother."
Stiles gulps, not sure what to say to that at first. He remembers his mother, but he hates how much it's only bits and pieces these days.
"She would be so proud of you, Stiles, looking after him like that? She was always the nurturing type, and you're following right along."
Stiles doesn't respond, not verbally, but he reaches forwards, hugging his dad tightly, because he knows how much they both miss his mom, and he knows how much it's taking for his dad to talk about her like this. It's important, but that doesn't make it easy, and while Stiles misses his mother more than he's ever missed anyone, he's also insanely grateful to have even one parent that loves him as much as his father does.
Not everyone has that, and now he knows, he's seen how damaging that can be on a person.
A/N - GAH I AM SO SORRY THIS HAS TAKEN ME SO LONG! The story is NOT dead, I Promise! I'm just happy you're still reading! Thank you for putting up with my busy schedule, and I hope you enjoyed! Love you all!