"What did you find out Isaac?"

Isaac had just come through the front door of the Hale house. Derek had asked the question. Stiles looked a little lost, looking back and forth between the two of them.

"Find out what?" he asked curiously.

"Nothing that's a big deal," Derek shrugged. "I just need to find out Scott's intentions."

Stiles frowned a little at him.

"You send Isaac to spy on Scott?"

Derek could tell his mate wasn't entirely pleased with his tactics.

"Its for our protection Stiles," he explained, keeping his tone even. "I didn't hurt him or anything."

"I suppose you have a point," Stiles agreed.

Peter was distracted from what was unfolding in front of him by Xaiu's voice again.

"Peter where are you? I want a status report on Derek and Scott."

Peter bit his bottom lip a little nervously, praying his nephew couldn't read actual complete thoughts.

'Derek's still here,' he thought, willing for Xaiu to be able to read it.

The response was displeased.

"Guess you'll be coming late again. Even we alphas need our shut eye Peter..."

ooOoo

Sheriff Stiliknski knocked at the door of the McCall residence, scowling with impatience. Scott answered.

"Oh hello Mr. Stilinski," he said, expression becoming a little nervous. "What's up?"

"Is Stiles here?" the sheriff asked.

"No. Hasn't been here all day."

The sheriff sighed.

"That boy lied to me again," he grumbled. "Do you know where he is?"

A very interesting thought suddenly occured to Scott. It took all he had to contain a smile.

"Why yes, matter of fact. He's with Derek."

The sheriff's mouth dropped open in a way remarkably like his son.

"Derek Hale?"

"Yep," Scott said.

He noticed the sheriff's hand run across the gun strapped to his belt.

"Well thank you Scott. I will certainly be talking to him about the friends he keeps. Good night."

"Goodnight Mr. Stilinski."

Scott couldn't help but smirk as he watched the sheriff walk toward the police car. Let's just see how Derek would handle this latest development.

ooOoo

"You planted wires in Scott's house?" Stiles asked Isaac, raising an eyebrow. "Surprising, coming from you."

"Why because you're the brains of this outfit Stilinski?" Isaac replied with a playful grin. "That's a worrying thought."

Stiles smirked back. Derek watched them with mild amusement. It was good to see some laughter and happiness in this house again. That's what he really wanted one day, to make this house a home again, with them his pack.

"Scott didn't notice?" Stiles went on.

"Don't know if you've noticed or not Stiles. Your friend isn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed."

Stiles had to admit Isaac had a point. Scott could be downright careless sometimes. A sudden pounding on the door grabbed all their attentions.

"Stiles!" came his father's voice. "Are you in there?"

"Oh shit," Stiles swore, looking at Derek apologetically.

He lifted up his shirt. Nope, not healed yet. The door flew open. His dad's eyes scanned the room, taking in Derek first, then Stiles and Isaac seated on the couch, and lastly Peter.

"Really Stiles?" his father asked in a tired voice. "The Hales? This is who you keep company with these days?"

"So I changed my mind about Derek," Stiles attempted to joke. "He's not so bad."

"Yeah well he's not exactly the type of person I want you hanging with either."

Derek knew better than to speak at the moment. It'd just get the sheriff started. Let Stiles try to talk him down.

"Dad I'm not ten," Stiles pointed out.

"I know that," his dad replied irritably. "I just thought you had better sense. Apparently you don't."

"Dad there's something you should know," Stiles said.

Isaac looked at Derek with a worried expression. Was Stiles about to tell his dad everything?

"You know how Scott kinda changes into this wolf creature on the full moon?" Stiles began nervously.

"Yeah, why?"

"Well... "

Stiles figured he'd better just show him. The shock might keep his father from trying to kill Derek if he told him in words. Stiles willed his fangs to elongate. His eyes glowed silver. The sheriff jumped back in fright, and put his hand over his heart, inhaling for courage.

"Stiles," he whispered, composing his breathing. "This is for real?"

"Its for real dad," he nodded.

The sheriff turned his gaze on Derek, eyes blazing with anger.

"You bastard," he hissed. "You just couldn't keep him out of it could you? You know I can overlook you turning a few teenagers, but my own son?"

"Calm down," Derek said.

"Calm down?" the sheriff asked with a laugh. "Think you can order me like your pack?"

He reached for the gun in his belt and pointed it at Derek.

"Dad no," Stiles spoke.

The sheriff put his finger against the trigger. Stiles was looking at him, pleading. His hand shook a little.

"Dad you can't. What has he done wrong? You're a cop. You're supposed to protect the innocent."

"Shut up Stiles," he commanded. "Let me handle this."

Stiles was up and at him in a flash, grabbing his arm and taking the gun, eyes silver again.

"I am so tired of you not listening to anything I say dad," Stiles spat, tossing the gun aside. "Stop telling me to shut up. I'm your son."

His eyes returned to their normal color.

"Listen to me for a change... " he whispered sadly.

The sheriff couldn't believe Stiles had just defied him like that. His eyes narrowed even though he knew his son could be dangerous now.

"Who do you think you are Stiles? You know, I'm just tired of all the lies. Do you actually not care that much?"

"Of course I care," Stiles said gently.

"You've got a funny way of showing it kiddo. Still, standing up to me like you just did. That took guts. That's why... "

His dad hesitated, exhaling, his expression a little sad.

"I can't handle you anymore," his father whispered. "You lie all the time. You sneak around behind my back. You don't do anything I say. I promised your mother I'd take care of you, but I don't even know you Stiles. You're growing up Stiles, and you know what? You're not the man I'm sure I wanted my son to be. If this is the kind of people you want to be around... I want you to move out."

Stiles looked at his dad in disbelief.

"You don't mean that," he said carefully.

"You better believe I do," his dad told him, standing his ground. "You don't respect me at all, or anything I do for you. You're 17. You think you're so grown up. Well go ahead Stiles."

He jerked his arm from his son's grip.

"Dad wait!" he called out.

He watched his dad keep walking. Stiles felt the tears begin in his eyes.

"No," he whispered. "Why?"

Derek stepped forward and placed his hands on his shoulders supportively.

"Why did he do that Derek?"

"I don't know Stiles... " he replied gently.

Yet he did know. This was all his fault. He'd caused it by giving Stiles the bite. Yet what else could he have done?

"He doesn't hate you Stiles. He just needs some time to accept this. He's probably shocked."

"You're right Sourwolf," Stiles said, hugging him.

"You can stay here with us. You know that."

Stiles nodded against his chest, but Derek didn't see the tears falling down his mate's face. Stiles didn't want his dad to forgive him. He wanted him to listen for a change. His dad never listened to anything he had to say. It was like that night he'd said he could be gay. His dad hadn't listened then, hadn't caught the meaning behind his words.

"I want him to listen Derek," Stiles whispered. "That's all I really want."

Isaac suddenly felt like he'd been so rotten to Stiles in the past. The boy didn't deserve this. No one did. He remembered losing his own father. Wasn't pack supposed to be family and support each other? Stiles felt a hand on his shoulder, even though Derek was still holding him.

"It'll be ok Stiles," Isaac said softly, meaning it. "For what its worth, we're family. Pack's family."

Stiles gave a little smile and switched to Isaac's embrace. Derek allowing it. That's what pack did. They supported each other.

"Thank you Isaac," Stiles told him. "I'm sorry too. For all our arguments."

"Shhh," Isaac hushed him. "Its past."

They pulled away. Isaac grinned at him.

"We're friends, right Stiles?"

Stiles smiled, feeling like they were for the first time.

"Yeah," he replied.

ooOoo

Jackson found this new bit of information very interesting. Isaac had planted wires had he? To tell Scott, or not to tell Scott? His wolf was definitely saying tell Scott.