A/N~ I'm totally blaming the natural disasters from the past several weeks and the recovery from them for the lateness of these chapters. It's my excuse and it's a very legitimate one and I'm sticking with it and my personal recovery from them. That being said, I hope everyone is recovering from these horrible events and my prayers go out for everyone else who was also effected by these events. ~A

Chapter 24

Stiles with Derek's unwilling assistance has checked himself out of the hospital AMA or against medical advise. He reassures the Alpha that he's fine. The werewolf isn't sure he believes him but as Melissa's isn't there to argue the point and his father can't be found to gainsay his son, the hospital even though he's a minor has no choice in the matter, especially when Derek agrees to be his de facto guardian, again reluctantly.

They continue to try and locate the Sheriff and Melissa with growing trepidation. Derek mentions his concerns about finding Dyson naked and marked by his sister, in the loft. "So what you've marked me and I've marked you and we're both mates as well. Plus I'm even younger than your sister."

"Yeah but that's different," Stiles glanced at his mate incredulously as he heard the near whine that came from the Alpha's lips.

"Why because its you?" He sees the realization hit the older wolf that he's been had by his mate. "Please tell me you're not going to be that guy Derek." He sees the embarrassment and ire rising in his mate not above using the recent accident as a diversion, Stiles lets on a little to how much pain he's really in.

While the Alpha is trying to draw his pain he kind of clues into some of the teens insecurities about their relationship and they begin talking about that for a few minutes. Stiles is mostly just glad for a change of subject, mostly.

After a bit of coaxing from his Mate, Stiles admits "I'm a pale skinny kid who has a Greek Adonis type telling him he loves him in a forever kind of way. Do you get where I might be insecure about why you chose me as your mate?"

The Alpha explains, "It's not like that, its not a matter of choosing, not really. The heart wants what it wants. If it were a matter of choosing though, I couldn't have chosen better than you. You're smart, compassionate but not so gullible and generous to the point of nearly getting yourself killed on a number of occasions. Usually because of me or another member of our Pack, you do still realize even as a Spark. You're still more human than fae right?"

"And that fae are still vulnerable to various things?" Stiles said and reached up to rub his palm along the werewolves bristled cheek warmly as he agreed, "I am aware. I just hope you never live to regret me." Then they notice the light on the alarm is on and find they have company.

~O~

Bo is looking out the window of the little sports car. Trying with some difficulty to see the street signs in the bright morning sun and still maintain a safe speed in traffic. The Mesmer sat in the passenger seat beside her snoring. She knew, he was merely taking advantage of the opportunity of getting out from under the Morrigan's very abusive thumb. So far though the dark fae had actually been very helpful, and even though he was still recovering the mindbender had been surprisingly helpful both in the bar and after in the fight with the townies.

She pulled into the gravel parking area of the industrial looking structure. The yard if you could call it that was overgrown with weeds and grass grew through bare areas of the parking area as she pulled in. She had double checked the address and was fairly sure this was where she was supposed to find the Hale's.

The Morrigan had given her an address that was several miles away in an animal preserve. The only problem was the address was also over ten years old. Her own

nomadic lifestyle and the fact she knew Kenzi had also been something of a wanderer, led her to doubt the accuracy of the previous address and go with what the locals knew.

Luckily while mostly keeping to themselves, the Hales were known in the area and also had a tendency to attract several local teens with various reputations among the local population. Especially the Sheriffs own son who had a reputation for being a but of a flake but generally a pretty good guy. One older bar-goer even remembered a much younger Kenzi. Even Vex had wandered over to listen to the older man's memories of a younger and tomboyish Kenza Hale and her brother and sisters.

Bo managed to get out of the low slung car without disturbing the sleeping Mesmer and stretched. Her lithe body appreciating the ability to stand and bask in the light of day. Sunlight and the succubus weren't natural enemies per say but lately she had been burning a lot more midnight oil than daylight hours.

She once again felt the vestiges of guilt assail her over the way she had pretty much left her bestie out in the cold for the past several months. Even though Kenzi had told her several times over she didn't mind Bo spending more time with Lauren, or that she was happy her succu-bud had found someone to love. The unaligned fae had known that she wasn't doing right by the Goth.

"What is that?" Vex hissed miserably as he crawled out of the car, nearly falling to the ground at least three times as he managed to end up leaning against the vehicle. Bo felt a little guilty as she assessed their surroundings a little more closely. Berating herself mentally for being so caught up in her emotions, until she realized she couldn't really detect anything. Had the Mesmer's talents picked up on something?

"What's what?" she asked seriously. Coming to stand by the dark fae.

"That," he said shielding his eyes as he pointed over his shoulder. It took a few more seconds of study for the brunette to realize that the older fae was talking about the bright morning sun.

Bo couldn't resist the urge to tease, "It's called the sun, Vex. Surely you remember it from your childhood?"

"I assure you succubus. That thing and I have never been introduced, nor do I at anytime intend to become more intimately acquainted with it." Vex said testily as he blindly fished around inside the car for a pair of sunglasses which he slipped onto his nose. "There that's somewhat better. So is this the place then?"

"If the local gossip mill is to be believed, yeah." she replied easily, a half smirk still sitting on her face as she watched her would be companion move over into the shadows out of the direct sunlight.

"Then let's have a go shall we. Sooner we find the little Goth girl and save the Morrigan's mystery poppet the sooner we can get back to civilization. Yeah?"

They heard a feral growl behind them and turn to find a werewolf larger than either of them and a young man with his hands glowing purple glaring at them. "Yeah about that, who are you again? What are you doing here and who the hell is the Morrigan?

Oh and by the way I'm not feeling all that hot this morning, so talk quick before I find myself needing to throw up or something. Because that will probably just set this guy straight off and kind of hard to talk sense to him when I'm trying not to throw up last months mystery meat special from the school cafeteria."

~O~

After a few awkward moments, and a few quiet words…okay maybe not as quiet as they thought. The "discussion" between Bo and Kenzi having been rather loud and downright angry and suspicious in parts, degenerates into a crying, mascara filled mess. With Dyson very amusingly narrating their discussion from within the loft near the large wall of windows. as if by rote. Seeing the curious expression on the other Pack members faces he explains that he has dated both of the women in question. That fact doesn't make Derek feel any better about his dating the Alpha's sister.

When the two return to the loft arm-in-arm to explain, that the pair of Bo and Vex are being added at their insistence to the roster of allies for the Hale Pack. For the most part its accepted with good grace, although Stiles does ask what exactly constitutes them being able to "roll with the Hale Pack". He doesn't really remember much after that only that when he comes too, there is amusement and some embarrassment in the Pack's eyes. That and Derek is blushing, his lips are kiss swollen and the Alpha has a rather huge hickey on his neck that he didn't have before.

Because Allison saw the video with the three Alpha's driving away from the station, clearly unconcerned with anything to do with Chris Argent; she and the rest of the Pack are fairly sure that the Alpha's had nothing to do with his kidnapping. This leads the group to conclude no matter how reluctantly that they probably had nothing to do with the missing parents and that the serial killer they have been dealing with on the side has now for whatever reason stepped to the foreground.

With what Lydia, Deaton and Scott have found out they now can semi-confidently say that the Darach is the serial killer in question. They can also say that the Darach is actually Jennifer Blake, English teacher. The group then hatch a plan the fact that it plays off of Stiles fears, doesn't exactly sit well with the Alpha Pair or with Derek's two sisters. The Alpha will put himself out there as bait to try to draw the Darach out and then expose her. Thus according to Deaton, weakening her significantly and then interrogate her on the whereabouts of the parents of the Pack.

As a plan, it isn't perfect but pretty damned close. Besides they are running out of time, the eclipse is getting closer, and besides what could possibly go wrong. Never ask that question its like a clarion call to Murphy's Law, with an automatic activation clause thrown in for good measure.