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Lacy here! Sorry for the lack of post on Wednesday, kids. Mom, Lil Sis and I went to the beach and I was exhausted with a bad headache by the time we got home, so I went to bed early and completely forgot to post. I was gonna post Thursday, but I haven't been working on season five too much and decided to skip two chapters this week to give myself a bit of a break. Don't worry, I'm already on part two of the season, so it's not like I'm miles behind. I'll be honest, I started a new character that's gained a lot of my focus, but Effie is right there with her! Alright, now for the chapter, Stiles entering Eichen House, stealing from an armored car and Effie knows the moment Stiles is no longer Stiles. Scary, right? Read on!

Disclaimer: I own Effie and the really long AN. Sorry 'bout that.

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~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie woke up, crying and gasping for breath. Images filled her mind of Stiles hurting Scott, hurting Kira. She didn't know what was happening.

"Shh, shh, it's alright, Effie."

Effie reached out blindly, comforted as she felt her father's arm close around her.

"I got ya," John rocked his daughter. "I got ya."

"S-st-stiles," Effie stammered. "he hurt S-scott and K-kira. Only, it wa- it wasn't really him."

John nodded. "I know, sweetie. Deaton took care of the fox, for the moment. And your brother's made a decision."

Effie frowned, pulling away. "What decision?"

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie couldn't believe she was sitting in the back of her father's car as they drove Stiles to Eichen House, the mental institution of Beacon Hills. Effie understood why Stiles made the decision but she still had trouble wrapping her head around it. Her brother wasn't crazy. If anything, he was the most sane out of anyone in their group. Which, if Effie thought about it, was a little sad but no less true.

They pulled up to the gate and Scott was standing there, waiting for them.

"Why didn't you tell me?" the alpha asked.

"Because we wanted to avoid something like this." John answered.

"It's only seventy-two hours." Stiles added.

"This is the same place where Barrow came from." Scott pointed out. "The guy who had a tumor inside him filled with flies. You don't know everything yet."

"I know enough." John said. "Nogitsunes, Kitsunes, Oni, or whatever they're called."

"No," Stiles nodded a bit. "that was actually all surprisingly correct."

"Scott," the sheriff spoke to the alpha again. "I saw an MRI that looked exactly like my wife's." Stiles shifted and wrapped an arm around Effie. "And it terrifies me. I'm headed down to L.A. tomorrow to talk to a specialist."

"Then why are you putting him in here?" Scott asked.

"He's not." Stiles answered. "It was my decision."

Scott looked like he didn't believe him. "Stiles, I can't help you if you're in here."

"And I can't hurt you." Stiles pointed out.

"Deaton's got some ideas." Scott kept trying. "Argent's calling people. We're gonna find something. And if we can't-"

"If you can't," Stiles picked up. He stepped forward. "If you can't, then you have to do something for me, okay? Make sure I never get out."

Effie dropped her eyes to the ground. She knew Stiles had hoped no one would hear his words but there wasn't a chance she wouldn't pick up on it. And, she glanced at her father, she knew he heard it, too.

"Come on," John said quietly, taking Effie's hand.

The Stilinskis ventured passed the gate once it was buzzed open for them. Stiles led the way, his overnight bag in hand. Once inside, they looked around at the patients that were loitering around the entrance hall. Effie could feel their confusion, hear every muttered word escaping from their mouths.

"Mr. Stilinski?" a nurse appeared. "This way, please."

They followed the woman to her office and Effie sat back as John and Stiles listened to the instructions.

"First seventy-two hours, there's no phone calls, no emails, no visitors. We will be taking you from here to a brief physical. In the morning, you'll be assessed by a staff psychologist, speak to a social worker and attend group therapy."

John set the pen down after signing the forms. "I-I feel like we're forgetting something."

The nurse set a pair of slippers on the desk. "You will be wearing these, Stiles. No laces allowed. You don't have a belt, do you?" she put a white tray out. "And please empty your pockets in here."

Effie bit her lip. "What about his ID bracelet?" she held up her own wrist, hers shining in the light. "We never take them off."

The nurse saw Stiles playing with his. "It's small enough, he can keep it on."

Stiles smiled a bit. "Thank you,"

"Your pillow." John said. "Your pillow. We forgot your pillow."

"Dad, it's okay." Stiles said as he removed his laces.

"No, no," John shook his head. "You're never gonna be able to fall asleep. We gotta go back."

"It's fine Dad," Stiles reassured him. "I don't need it."

"I can't believe I forgot it." John went on. "I mean, every time that we've ever stayed in a hotel, the first thing you pack is your pillow."

"You can bring it tomorrow." Stiles said. "It's alright."

John suddenly stood. "Okay, you know what? Stop. Stop. Enough. Stiles, get your stuff. I'm not checking you in here if you're not going to get one good night's sleep."

"Dad," Stiles stood and took his father by the arms. "I haven't had a good night's sleep in weeks." The two men hugged before Stiles moved and hugged Effie. "Take care of him."

Effie swallowed and nodded. "You know it." she moved to her dad's side as Stiles walked away with the nurse. "He'll be okay, Dad."

"God, I hope so." John said quietly. He wrapped an arm around Effie and squeezed her shoulders as she returned the gesture. "Let's get you to Derek's."

Effie frowned. "But Mr. McCall still has him in custody."

John nodded. "True but the loft is a lot safer than home right now," he looked down at his daughter as they left Eichen House. "and I know you won't want to be in the house without Stiles. It's how you've always been."

"I don't like being anywhere without Stiles." Effie admitted quietly.

"I know, baby girl." John kissed her head. "And I hate separating you guys but it was his call." he faced Effie once they reached the car. "We'll get this figured out, get this thing out of your brother and find out if he really is sick."

"And if he is?" Effie asked, her voice cracking.

John exhaled slowly. "Then Scott will give him the bite and I'll have two weres running around the house."

Effie laughed wetly. "You'd really be okay with that."

"As long as I have my kids," John reassured. "I couldn't care less what species you two are. I will never abandon either of you."

Effie hugged John as tears fell down her face. "I love you, Dad."

John pressed his cheek to Effie's head. "I love you too, Effie. You and Stiles, both."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie listened to the quiet snoring of her father on Derek's couch. Since he was leaving in the morning, he decided to stay the night with Effie so she wouldn't be alone. And she was grateful for it. While she'd gotten used to sleeping at Derek's every once in awhile, she always knew Stiles was a phone call away, willing to talk to her if she needed. While he was in Eichen House, that wasn't true. She couldn't reach him and he couldn't reach her.

Getting up from the bed, Effie wrapped Stiles's red sweatshirt around her shoulders and stood in front of the large window. She couldn't see the moon but actually found she was glad for that. She had enough issues without having to worry about the coming full moon.

Turning her back and leaning against the window, Effie held up her right hand, watching the faint light from outside reflect off her ring as she felt the different elements running through her. Fire, wind, water, earth. She was getting better at actually controlling them.

With a long sigh, Effie crossed her arms and looked at the loft. It didn't feel right without Derek. Hell, even Peter would make it feel more normal but John had given the elder Hale his walking papers the moment they arrived. The sheriff did not have the patience to deal with the psychotic ex-alpha.

"Effie,"

Effie blinked and saw her father watching her from the couch. "Hey,"

John sat up, rubbing a hand over his face. "You should be sleeping, kiddo."

Effie shrugged. "Tried. I can't get my mind to settle down. Too much going on."

"You want your meds?" John offered, thinking of the bottle in his bag. "I know you're a big bad fox now but one can't hurt."

"They don't work any more." Effie admitted. "Haven't since I was turned."

John knew his daughter needed a distraction. "I see he gave you the ring."

Effie looked down at her Claddagh ring with a smile. "Yeah, before we went to see Isaac. Said he got your permission first. Personally, I would have loved to be there for that conversation."

John laughed. "It wasn't as eventful as you'd like to think, Ef. I made peace with you and Derek being long term a while ago. No," he sat back. "I just got his word that the next step for you two would be your decision."

"Don't worry, Dad." Effie reassured. "He's never pressured me into anything, ever."

"Good," John exhaled. "good." he watched Effie for a long moment. "I know you're feeling unsettled right now, Ef. I'm sure Stiles is feeling the same thing but you need rest."

Effie nodded without speaking and walked back to the bed. As she crawled under the covers, she looked at John one last time.

"Sometimes, I wish Derek and Peter had never come back into our lives." she whispered. "That all this supernatural insanity had stayed myth instead of proving to be real. But at the same time-"

"-you were a part of this world from the moment you were born." John finished. "Your mom was a part of this world. It was Fate, baby girl."

Effie laughed humorlessly. "Sometimes, I hate Fate."

John echoed the laugh. "Yeah, me too."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie blinked as Scott's words sank in. "You want to what?"

"We have to do this, Effie." Scott pressed. "If we want to get this thing out of Stiles, this is our best chance."

Effie scrubbed her hands over her face. She should have stayed in bed when Scott called. "We're going to rob an armored car. A federal armored car. Federal, as if under your dad's orders."

Scott nodded slowly, worried about Effie's reaction now. "Yeah, exactly."

"Alright, I'm in." Effie said. "But Scott," she leveled him with a look. "if I didn't want my brother back so much, I'd remind you that breaking the law cannot always be a solution. It cost Dad his job once, I won't let it happen again."

"Yeah, I kinda figured." Scott agreed. "I know it's stupid and reckless but it's the best we've got."

Effie sighed. "I know, Scott. I promise, I do." she grabbed Stiles's sweatshirt. "Let's go."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie watched Parrish go down after the rather large man smashed his head into the bed of the armored truck.

"Who the hell is that?" Scott asked.

"Kincaid." Allison answered, even if they hadn't been expecting one.

Effie looked between the two. "Look, I don't care who it is, he just knocked out a deputy and god only knows what he did to the driver."

Scott tapped the ground. "Alright, we'll get the finger. Effie, you get the deputies out of the way."

Effie nodded and slid around to the left side of the parking lot, pressing against the wall as she moved towards the truck. She watched Scott and Allison move towards Kincaid, Allison with her weapon raised.

"We need that finger." Scott got Kincaid's attention.

Kincaid smirked, appearing unimpressed. "Why should I give it to you?"

"There's a briefcase in there with $150,000 in it." Allison supplied.

Kincaid held up the silver finger. "The scroll inside this prosthetic finger is worth three million."

"Give me the finger." Scott ordered. Effie nearly groaned at his wording. Kincaid's look did it for her. "You know what I mean."

Effie looked up and saw Kira jump from the top of the trunk onto Kincaid's back. He easily swatted her aside but was now thoroughly pissed off, his eyes ice blue.

"I guess negotiations are over." he growled.

Effie wasn't surprised it had fallen to fighting but at the same time, was more than a little annoyed. It made getting Parrish and the other deputy away that much harder. When Aidan and Ethan joined in, Effie took her chance and moved passed Lydia and Allison, pausing to make sure they were okay, same with Kira, then knelt at Parrish's side.

"Stop!" Lydia yelled at the twins before they could kill Kincaid.

"You want him to come after us?" Aidan demanded.

"Scott," Ethan spoke, his tone more calm. "we've seen guys like this. Trust us. He's dangerous."

"So are we." Scott argued back. "And he looks smart enough to remember that." he stepped forward and took the finger from Kincaid then shook the scroll into his hand. "We're here to save a life. Not end one."

Effie looked at Kincaid. "Where's the other deputy?"

Kincaid exhaled. "Dead."

Effie growled. "Son of a bitch," she looked down at Parrish. "He better just be unconscious."

"He is." Kincaid assured.

"Get out of here." Scott ordered the beta. "Effie, take Parrish to the hospital. Mom will help."

Effie nodded, shifting to her feet and sliding Parrish's arm over her shoulders. Carefully, she stood and took the unconscious deputy with her. Yeah, she was really thankful for having fox strength.

"I'll call when he's admitted."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie crossed her arms as she watched the nurses work on Parrish. "But he'll be okay."

Melissa nodded from beside her. "Well, his head's gonna hurt for a while but yeah, he's gonna be fine."

"Thank god," Effie muttered. She took a moment to calm herself before a sense of dread sent a shiver down her spine. She turned, looking around. "Stiles,"

Melissa frowned. "Effie?"

"Something happened to Stiles." Effie said, almost to herself. "He's not," she looked at Melissa. "He's not Stiles any more."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

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And we enter a world where Stiles is no longer driving his own body. Dylan seriously did an amazing job playing this part and I loved/hated it so much. Loved, because damn was it awesome. Hated, because leave Stiles alone, damnit! Alright, let me know what you think, flame policy stands and thanks for reading! And I promise, there will be a chapter on Wednesday!

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