Stiles was worried about his dad. They'd cleaned the house three times over. Scott even smelled the house to make sure there was no trace of his undead mother. Even though everything was as safe as it could be, Stiles' dad would not come to his senses. He was completely unresponsive.
There was only so long the station would take Stiles' calling in on his dad's behalf before the deputies got suspicious and started dropping by. So Stiles had called 911.
He couldn't reach Scott, who was out with Allison and Lydia, but he had gotten Scott's mom and she was at his house before the ambulance. It didn't take much acting on his part to cry into Melissa's arms as the EMTs loaded his father and drove away. Melissa whispered soothing words into Stiles' ear and helped him pack an overnight bag.
They had driven to the hospital to wait and see what would happen, but Melissa had told Stiles he was staying at her house until they had things figured out.
"Hey, Diane," Melissa said to one of the desk nurses, "Can you let Andy know I'm not working tonight? Sheriff Stilinski has been admitted and I'm the emergency contact to take care of his son."
Stiles blocked out the rest of the conversation as he remembered the promise his father and Scott's mother had made to take care of the kids should something happen to one of them. It had been years ago, when Scott's dad left, and Stiles had no idea they'd made it official and legal. But they had. Until his dad got better, Melissa McCall was his legal guardian.
"It's going to be okay," Melissa said as she sat beside Stiles and held his hand. He put his head on her shoulder and she stroked his hair. "Your dad is tough. Whatever is wrong, he's going to beat it."
All Stiles wanted to do was tell her how wrong she was, but he didn't want to tell her that her son, his best friend, was practically a murderer and that the girl he'd been crushing on since he was seven had killed his returned-from-the-dead mother. He didn't want to tell her that his undead mother had attacked him and was likely going to kill him and his dad if it weren't for Lydia.
So, instead, Stiles buried his face in his best friend's mother's chest and cried. She rocked him back and forth like a baby. Like a mother would.
TW
Allison was upset. She needed to kill something. She wanted to kill someone. She settled for crying as she kicked a punching bag. While she was in the bathroom at the restaurant avoiding Scott, her father called. Rory, the cousin she'd blown off to meet with Scott, had been found dead by one his men. They'd covered the scene up and erased any trace of Rory before the police arrived.
Her fists were sore and her knuckles bled, but Allison kept punching the canvas. Hot tears blurred her vision. Allison willed them not to fall, because she knew if the damn broke she was done. She had lost her mother and her aunt to werewolves. Her father was sure that a werewolf had killed her cousin: ripped her throat out.
She'd bolted past Scott and Lydia without explanation. She'd driven off without them, without telling them where she was going. Both tried calling her. Scott called once and Lydia called repeatedly for an hour before giving up. Allison ignored her cell and the dozens of text messages on it. The blood was running down her arms and she didn't care.
Her father and his men had gone patrolling without her. They were hunting Derek's pack. Allison wanted to go, but her father ordered her to stay behind. He said he had lost enough people. He forgot that she had lost the exact same people.
As much as she wanted to call Scott and tell him what happened and have him come over and hold her and tell her everything would be okay, she wanted even more to rely on herself. She didn't want to be rescued or protected or calmed. She wanted her rage.
Also, Scott would warn Derek. As much as Scott hated the Hales, he had shown them a modest degree of loyalty and helped keep them alive. Allison wanted to hang Derek Hale's head on her wall.
TW
"She ran off?" Danny asked as he pulled into Scott's driveway. "She ran off and Lydia left you there after driving you over?"
"Yeah. And I didn't want to go into wolf mode in the middle of the day. My mom still hasn't given me back my car privileges and Stiles isn't answering his phone," Scott explained as he unbuckled.
"So I'm your second choice?" Danny laughed as he parked his car.
"Third, actually." Scott grinned as he opened the passenger side door of Danny's car. "Thanks for the ride. I would've called my mom, but I'm not ready for that conversation."
"Coming out?" Danny asked even though he already knew the answer. "Scott, you're going to want to do it sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the more you needlessly torture yourself."
"I know," Scott shut the car door and leaned back into the seat. "But you don't have a Latin mother. When she found out I was a werewolf, she locked herself in her room and refused to speak to me for ages. Do you really think she's going to be okay with having a son who likes boys?"
"He likes girls, too," Danny reminded Scott. "You have a girlfriend. Your mom is going to be fine with it. And if she isn't, then it's her loss."
"Speaking of my mother, I thought she'd be home. She's supposed to have today off. Another dodged bullet, though, since we all skipped school."
Danny killed the engine and pulled the keys out his car's ignition. "So, you told Allison about the stone and all the dead people."
"I didn't tell her who came back, Danny. But I did tell her you did it."
"And she ran off. Scott, that isn't a good sign. Too many people are learning about it."
"You think I don't know that?" Scott shouted angrily. "You think I don't know about how bad it can go when secrets come out?"
When he realized what he'd done, Scott apologized profusely. Danny assured him it was okay.
"Really, it's fine, Scott. We're all stressed. I'm sure Allison is just processing."
"You're lying," Scott pointed out.
"I know," Danny admitted. "Scott, I lie about a lot of things."
"Danny, are you about to tell me that you didn't try to bring back your cat with the stone? Because that is too stupid to be a lie," Scott scoffed.
"No, Scott, that is the honest truth about how the whole mess started." Danny shifted in his seat and put his hands on the steering wheel. His knuckles turned white he was gripping it so hard.
"I could tell, Danny," Scott assured him as he put a hand on Danny's arm. "You wear Armani every time you feel lonely. You aren't wearing it now."
Neither one said anything further. Scott kept his hand on Danny's arm as he leaned over the seat and half-straddled Danny. This time, the kiss was more pleasant, but it was awkward. Danny kept one hand on the steering wheel and used the other to help hold Scott up.
Scott wasn't used to kissing a man. Danny fought him for control, and he liked it. He liked the challenge and the taste of Danny's chapstick. Keeping his left hand on Danny's arm, Scott used his right to brace himself against the window. The steering wheel dug into his back but he didn't care.
They were so into each other that Scott didn't know his mother had pulled into the driveway until she was knocking on
Danny's car window. He smiled weakly at her. Stiles stood behind her and gave them a thumbs up.
TW
"You know, I'm fine with Scott being gay. Now I get why I'm not his type," Stiles told Danny as he lounged around on Scott's bed. Danny nervously paced the floor. "What I don't get is why you decided to stay."
"Scott asked me to," Danny explained as he tried to listen to what Scott and his mom were saying in the living room. "I've done this, Stiles. Coming out isn't easy."
"But making out with a guy with a girlfriend is?" Stiles held his hands up and scooted back when Danny glared at him.
"Hey, I'm not judging. I'm just wondering how you flipped Scott to your team and I can't even get Lydia to look at me."
Danny sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. "You know, you think you're being cute, but you're really being annoying. I didn't flip Scott, and Scott's not gay. You do know what bisexuality is, right?"
"Yes, Danny, I know what bisexuality is. I've watched Jerry Springer," Stiles stared at Danny intensely. "But why do you find Scott attractive and not me?"
"Why do you care so much about whether or not I'm into you? Are you gay? Bisexual? Or are you just stupid?" Danny huffed. "Besides, what Scott and I do is none of your business."
"I'm afraid that's where you're wrong," Stiles said as he held up his pinky finger. "See, when you get my sexually confused, semi-closeted best friend to cheat on his scary girlfriend with you it becomes my business.
"Besides, you two weren't even being private about it. You were making out in the driveway."
"It was dark out," Danny argued ineffectually. Truth was, he knew Stiles was right. Once was a mistake, but twice was cheating. And Danny actually liked Allison. "And why are you even here?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
Stiles went into a funk immediately after and wouldn't say anything further. Danny actually found himself missing Stiles' ignorance. It kept his mind off whatever was happening downstairs.
TW
It wasn't unusual for Lydia Martin to go on walks. It was unusual for her to wander around a forest the next county over. She didn't know why, but she felt compelled to go to this place she had never been before and she was certain that it involved Peter Hale.
"I know you know I'm here, Asshole!" Lydia screamed at the trees. She didn't even get birds flying off for her trouble.
The moment Allison left the restaurant, Lydia sensed it. She sensed Peter calling out to her. And as much as she told herself it was a bad idea, she drove off to find him. Leaving Scott stranded was just a perk.
There was a rustling of the foliage. Lydia followed the sound with her eyes and watched as a large werewolf burst through the brush and stopped just short of smashing into her. Its breath and hot and putrid and made her eyes water as it bared its fangs mere inches from her face.
"Hello, Peter," Lydia said calmly.
She had to look away as he morphed into human form. He stood naked in front of Lydia and made no attempts to cover himself. Lydia made no attempts to keep her eyes above his waist.
"You weren't scared," Peter acknowledged as he leered at Lydia. "Why, you didn't even blink."
"Because I know that you still need me. You need me alive."
"Oh, I do?" Peter smirked as he ran his hand through Lydia's hair. "What would I need with a pathetic little twit like you?"
"Because your life is tied to mine. I don't know how, but I know it is. I can feel it," Lydia said in a sultry whisper as she stepped up to Peter. She ran a hand over his bare chest. "I know you're the reason I destroyed the stone. Why? Why did you have me do it? What purpose did that serve?"
Peter grabbed Lydia's hand and held it. The back of his other hand brushed her cheek. "Because I know what that stone did, Lydia. It didn't bring back the dead. Which you knew. It brought back things too ancient for you to comprehend. And the longer they spend in this realm, the more power they gain. I couldn't risk it being used again."
"So, it's like The Old Ones from Lovecraft?" Lydia asked as she used her free hand to trace muscles on Peter's back.
"Something ancient and mysterious that would drive me mad from the revelation? Because I'm already crazy thanks to you."
"Not quite that mainstream, but similar."
"How do you know this?" Lydia asked Peter as she laid her head on his chest.
With a sigh, Peter held Lydia to him. She could hear his heart beating. "I learned a lot of things when I prepared my plans for you. Oh, the plans I have for you."
"You might want to work on perfecting your control over me, then," Lydia warned as she stepped away and curtsied.
"Because I don't work for you."
"What are you talking about?" Peter asked confused.
"You know what I'm hearing and what I'm saying, but not what I'm thinking. Or who I'm texting."
Before she had even finished the sentence, Derek and Isaac tackled Peter from either side. Derek held him down and ordered Isaac to fetch a blanket.
"You can't get naked around teenage girls. It's creepy, even for you," Derek told his uncle before punching him in the face.
TW
Scott threw open his bedroom door and practically pounced on Stiles with a hug. "Oh, man, I was so wrapped up in my own drama I completely blanked on what it's doing to you. I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," Stiles assured him awkwardly as he patted Scott on the back. Danny just stared at them silently.
With guilty eyes, Scott asked Danny for some privacy. "I'm sorry. I know I asked you to stay, and now I'm kicking you out. This is important."
"I guess I'll head home?" Danny said with uncertainty. "Call me if you need anything."
"Thanks," Scott replied as he walked Danny out of his room. They stopped in the doorway and a nervous grin played on Scott's face. "It was... fun."
"Call me," Danny repeated.
"I will."
Danny headed down the hallway and Scott closed the door. He turned to see Stiles grinning at him stupidly.
"What?"
"How do you get two hotties and I can't even manage one?" Stiles laughed. "So, your mom is cool with it?"
"Stiles, I think your dad is more important than my love life," Scott answered as he sat beside his best friend. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, I don't," Stiles said. "I really don't, Scott, so let's get back to how you're gay for Danny."
"I'm not gay, Stiles," Scott reminded him.
"I know, you're bisexual. Whatever. You're still gay for Danny. And your mom?"
Scott sighed. "She took it better than I thought. I guess she had thought for a bit that you and I were gay."
"Together?"
"Yep." Scott looked at the ceiling. "Then Allison happened and she figured out we were just losers."
"No offence, Scott, but if I were gay I would like to think I could do better than you," Stiles said. "Like, I know he's a werewolf and hates me and stuff, but Isaac is cute. Don't you think Isaac is cute?"
"Stiles, stop. We are not discussing whether or not Isaac Lahey is cute."
"But he is," Stiles argued. "You know, you could date any guy and talk to me about it. Except Derek Hale. He scares me."
"I have a girlfriend," Scott reminded Stiles. "Remember her name? Allison?"
"Yes, Scott, I remember. I also remember your mom and I walking in on you and Danny making out in your driveway. So, yeah."
"Yeah..." Scott stood up and began pacing. "Stiles, I feel weird because I love Allison. Like, walk across burning hot coals and dive into a frozen lake kinda love. But I really like Danny. A lot. Which is weird because I don't know if I like him or if I'm projecting the whole being into guys thing on him because he's gay."
"I think it's weirder that you know what 'projecting' means," Stiles pointed out. "You're over thinking everything. Do you want to be with Allison?"
"Yes," Scott said.
"Do you want to see if there's anything with Danny beyond awkward groping in a car?"
Scott was silent for a few seconds before answering. "I think I do."
"Then you probably need to talk to them instead of me. Personally, I'd talk to Danny first because his family doesn't keep hundreds of weapons in the house."
"And what do I say? 'Hey, Danny, I know we bonded over you raising and dead and I'm just now figuring out I'm bi-something, but do you wanna go on a date and pretend I don't have a girlfriend?' Because I don't see that going over too
well," Scott proclaimed. "I mean, I'm not that big on the whole cheating thing."
"Scott, listen, whatever you do I'm here to support you. I helped you with the Kanima thing, so being gay is no big deal."
Scott just rolled his eyes.
TW
"He broke up with you? Over the phone?" Lydia shouted into her phone as she drove home. "Do you need me to come over? Do you want me to kick his pussy ass?"
"It's fine," Allison told her in an icy voice. "He said he had issues and that it wasn't me. It probably didn't help that I pretty much ran out on him after he came out."
"You ran off after he told you he'd been killing zombies," Lydia clarified. "It was a perfectly normal reaction, Allison."
There was silence on the other end of the line and Lydia thought the call had been dropped for a while before Allison finally responded. "Yeah. I guess it was."
"Allison, he was a dweeb before the whole werewolf thing, and he still is a dweeb. You deserve better than that loser. Your ass had better be at home, because I'm headed to the store to get ice cream and country music CDs. The old stuff. Not the crap they have now. And then I'm coming over to make you cry your feelings out."
"That's not necessary, Lydia," Allison started before Lydia hung up.
Her foot pushed down on the gas pedal and she was well beyond breaking the speed limit. Lydia just smiled as she planned her revenge.
TW
"This is me calling you," Scott announced into his phone. He heard Danny chuckle into the receiver. "I broke up with Allison."
"Scott, are you sure you want to do that?" Danny questioned.
Honestly, Scott wasn't sure of what he wanted. Every time he thought he had things figured out his whole world turned itself upside down.
"No, Danny, it's not what I want. But it's what I need. I need to be alone. I need to take care of my best friend. I need to realize that not everything revolves around me," Scott insisted. Whether he was telling Danny or reminding himself he wasn't sure.
"So why did you call and tell me you broke up with Allison? Because I like you, Scott, but it's too soon for anything serious to happen. Making out in your driveway or not."
"That's exactly why I'm calling. To tell you nothing is happening. I like you, too, Danny, but it's not going to happen anytime soon, if it ever does."
"You are a presumptuous ass, Scott McCall," Danny testified. Then he hung up.
Scott sat on his bed and smiled at Stiles.
"Welcome back to Loserville, population us," Stiles laughed as he threw a pillow at Scott's head.