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Lacy here kids! And I know, this is late. Really late. But, you're getting another chapter tomorrow, as this one is so short. I didn't have a lot for this episode and I was struggling at this point with how emotional everything was for Effie. She vents a bit to Derek, which let's be honest, it was coming at some point. We're nearing the end of the season, kids! So read on!

Disclaimer: I own Effie.

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

Effie stood in her father's office, watching Derek and Chris gather their belongings after being released. She could hear what was being said and nearly laughed as Parrish tried to keep Chris's taser stick.

"Sorry, but I can't let you walk out with this. It's way above the legal voltage limit."

"I only use it for hunting." Chris commented, glancing at Derek. Effie saw the look on her boyfriend's face and shook her head, smiling.

"Yeah, well," Parrish continued. "I'm pretty sure you could use it to jump-start a 747."

"This property belongs to me and the charges were dropped." Chris argued. "Although, I'm not exactly sure who's responsible for that."

"I am." John appeared. "I'll take care of this, Parrish."

"Sheriff, I'm not kidding." Parrish preached. "This thing's a few watts from being a lightsaber."

John took the taser. "I said I'll take care of it." he looked at the two men. "My office."

Effie looked up from the floor as Derek walked in with John and Chris. They just watched each other for a long moment before Derek opened his arms and Effie let him hold her. She didn't feel completely better but with her father and boyfriend, she was getting there. She just needed Stiles back.

"You okay?" Derek whispered, his lips pressed to Effie's hair.

Effie nodded. "Yeah, I'm getting there." she looked at John. "What's going on, Dad?"

John tapped his desk. "The specialist I saw in LA told me the thing that every doctor says when he's trying to avoid a lawsuit. 'We can't say for sure.' And then I spoke with Melissa." he pulled out two scans. "These are brain scans. My wife's and Stiles'." he handed them to Chris and the three looked at them. "I knew they were similar. But those are the same. Exactly the same."

"I'm guessing this isn't possible." Derek said.

"Not even remotely." John shook his head.

Chris dropped the scans down. "So the trickster is still playing tricks."

Derek sighed. "But why this trick?"

John exhaled. "When I was in the Army, an officer told me, 'If you want to defeat your enemy, you don't take away their courage. You take away their hope."

Effie shut her eyes, figuring out what the Nogitsune's plan was for Stiles.

"You don't look like a man who gives up hope easily." Chris commented.

"But Stiles might." Effie nearly whispered. "If the Nogitsune is using Mom's disease as a sort of psychological trick, then this isn't a fight for his body. It's also a fight for his mind."

"You know he's left people severely injured." Chris pointed out.

"And others severely dead." Derek added quietly, tightening his hold on Effie.

"That's why I need the two of you." John said. "I need people who are experienced in this kind of thing. I need you to help me stop them."

"And by stop him," Chris wanted clarity. "you mean trap him."

John nodded before picking up Chris's taser. He held it out to the hunter, holding it tightly as a look passed between the two fathers. Then John looked at Derek.

"I'll go with Argent back to his place." he said. "You take Effie-"

"I'm helping, Dad." Effie stopped him. "You're not making me sit this out."

John sighed. "Effie,"

"Sheriff," Derek stepped in. "I understand you wanting to keep Effie out of this, you want at least one of your kids safe but Effie and Stiles are linked. Not just as twins but as Sparks. Even with the Nogitsune in his mind, that won't change. She can help, a lot."

John watched Effie and saw the same stubbornness in her eyes that his wife so often looked at him with when they argued. And, to his memory, he never won against that look.

"Alright," he sighed again. "let's go."

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

Derek watched Effie as he drove her jeep after John's car. "Baby," he reached for her hand. "talk to me."

Effie laced their fingers together. "I just, I don't have words for it any more, Derek. He's my brother, my twin. But he's not. Not any more." she looked at Derek. "How much of Stiles is going to be left once the Nogitsune is done?"

Derek sighed. "I wish I had some way to reassure you, Effie. I wish I could promise Stiles will be just the same as he was before this all happened."

"But we don't make false promises." Effie finished. "We don't lie to each other just for the sake of comfort."

"Exactly." Derek said. "So this is what I will tell you; I don't care how long it takes or what I have to do, I will get as much of Stiles back as I can, not just because he's your brother but also because he's pack. He matters and he deserves every effort we can take to fix him."

"Thank you," Effie said, tears falling. She lifted Derek's hand to her mouth and kissed the back. "Just, thank you."

Derek had no more words, he'd made the only promise he could. So he squeezed Effie's hand and kept holding on.

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I hate posting such short chapters, but I'm determined to keep it to one episode a chapter, so this is what we're left with. Next chapter makes up for it, promise. For now, let me know what you think, flame policy stands and thanks for reading!

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