Few things!
1- Rewrote the first three chapters, and the summary! Very much recommend rereading!
2- If there was a review issue with FFN, it's fixed! So please remember to review!
3- I forgot to say, the HAWOM tag on my tumblr has spoilers, because when I posted the first post in the tag had a spoiler warning and I didn't think about the fact that people might go to it in the future. It has a spoiler warning now!
4- If anyone is wondering why it says there are 18 less reviews, I deleted my ex's reviews, not a big deal.
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"You sure you don't want me to help?" Sam asked, obviously hovering.
"Nah. If anything I'd have Cas help."
"No, you wouldn't, because Cas doesn't approve of any of this." Cas muttered from the other side of the table, going over school stuff. Dean rolled his eyes. "Hardly want you using my phone for it."
"Look, if you want me to, I can just call the guy from my phone."
"Then I still have to give you the number." Cas huffed.
"You're really gonna tell me you're not worried about this, Cas? This is weird."
"Weird, perhaps. But we have no indication it's dangerous. They seem to be agents of protection."
"One hates his boyfriend with a burning passion!" Dean balked.
"You hate his boyfriend with a burning passion."
"I don't hate his boyfriend, I know he's a good kid, probably, I just- I'm old fashioned, okay?" Dean sighed. Cas rolled his eyes.
"Mortal, please…."
"I'm just saying, we've seen protective spirits get out of control before, and 5 out of control powerful spirits is not something I wanna deal with completely unprepared, when apparently burning doesn't work, assuming Stiles wasn't lying about his father not having any meaningful possessions."
"Fine, fine!" Cas insisted, waving dismissively. "I'm still not helping you invade our son's privacy anymore than I already have." Dean shook his head.
"Okay, sure, do you two mind if I make this call now or what?"
"Why are you calling this guy again?" Sam asked despite having not asked about it for a first time yet. "I mean I get he's a teacher or whatever, and would've known the Stilinskis, but like… Melissa would probably know about all this a lot more, and you guys seem to be getting along with her really well…"
"Melissa's working and her dinner break isn't 'til later, and besides, I'd rather not go to her not knowing shit, because if they were weird and she knew about it, she probably won't be quick to talk about it. You don't share that kind of shit if you don't think the person can keep the secret." Dean explained, going through Cas' contacts. "Adrian's just the first of many stops. First mostly just because he seems like the one least likely to rat on me to the kid or get suspicious about me asking." Sam nodded understandingly as Dean hit the button to dial.
"Kay, well, you know where I am. Knock first this time." Sam reminded before walking off. Dean rolled his eyes.
"Don't fuck your stupid dickhead boyfriends in my-!" Dean stopped yelling as he heard the call picked up.
"Cas, hey, I was just reading the-" Adrian answered amicably.
"Uh, hey, man." Dean cut off, much to Adrian's sudden confused silence. "This is Dean actually."
"Yeah, I assumed so, it's fine. Um… What can I do for you, Dean?"
"Nothing much, I just remembered you said you had an ear if either of us wanted to talk about Stiles, so-"
"Is something wrong?" Adrian asked before Dean could explain.
"Oh, no, nothing like that- it's just I'm worried he's been having a hard time grieving and all and I didn't wanna stir him up anymore asking him about… His parents..."
"His parents?"
"Yeah, I was just curious, y'know? I don't wanna open old wounds but they were huge parts of his life and his purpose and now…"
"Yeah… I see what you mean… I mean, I'm happy to help, but I didn't really know either of them particularly well."
"I thought you knew his dad?"
"Well, yeah. Small town and all, I at least knew of them most if not all of my life, but Stiles' dad and I pretty much hated each other, and… I didn't know Claudia much more than anyone else in town."
"Hate's a pretty strong word."
"Strong word for a strong feeling."
"What inspired a feeling that strong?"
"Well on his end, I… did something really stupid when I was younger and… it ended up getting a lot of people hurt… Nothing illegal, but he knew about it, and after that decided to make my life a living hell."
"And that's why you hate him back?"
"That and how he used to treat Stiles."
"What do you mean?" Dean asked, a bit worried. He knew Stiles didn't always have a great relationship with his dad, but he didn't talk much about it. Claire had mentioned Stiles had dreamt of his dad yelling at him or something, but that was pretty much the most he knew about for certain. However the way Stiles acted, carried himself, the ways he responded to being in trouble, it reminded him way too much of him and Sam, and Dean worried Adrian was implying what Dean had fear all this time to be the case. Adrian seemed hesitant though.
"How much has Stiles told you about it?"
"Himself? Next to nothing. He… I think he… likes to block it out, remember his dad at his best, not his worst. But I've seen that look he gets. How bad was it?"
"God…" Adrian scoffed a pained cynical scoff. "Hell if I know. But… from what I could tell, pretty damn bad." Dean could hear the sigh through the phone and looked up to find Cas watching attentively, with that pitying look of his. "Dean, I can't tell you how gut wrenching it is to have a student, who's supposed to trust you, who you're supposed to be a safe place for-" Adrian sighed again breath broken and shakey this time. "... Some days he would flinch if I so much as put a paper on his desk. God forbid he knock something off my desk he'd have a fucking break down. He didn't usually have bruises, at least not anywhere visible but… I- I knew how Noah could be- and I was inexperienced with such situations… so I reported it." Adrian said bitterly. Dean nodded.
"And he was the sheriff…"
"Yep!" Adrian breathed out tenderly, with a cynical chuckle. "Bastard didn't even show up. The department just sent my record- DUIs, parking tickets, disorderly conducts; most courtesy of Noah- and before I knew it I was threatened that I'd be fired if I ever "made such an unsubstantiated claim" again with a heavy implication I'd never work as a teacher again…. So like the coward I am… I let it go."
"It wasn't your fault, kid." Dean offered sympathetically, annoyance threatening to give him a headache. "You've got family to worry about, too. You scared him straight at least, didn't you?"
"No… It got worse before it got better, and after that was pretty much when Stiles took up his current attitude towards me. And because of the school's gag order, I couldn't even ask him about it, or apologize, or offer to help." Adrian was quiet for a second. "I don't know what got the sheriff back on the straight and narrow, whatever it was, I'm glad it did." Adrian said pretty finally, so Dean took the cue to turn the conversation in a different direction.
"What about his mom?"
"Claudia?" Adrian confirmed, sounding almost surprised.
"Yeah, I mean I know she passed before you were his teacher, but small town and all…"
"Oh, yeah, no. Everyone knew Claudia. She practically ran this town, between her volunteer work and having everyone in town pretty much in her pocket.- Erm... " Adrian laughed a bit more genuinely. "That sounds more sinister than I meant it. Claudia was from what I could tell, one of the best kind of people. Very sweet woman, smart, sense of humor, beautiful, you name it."
"Even when she was younger?" Dean asked, knowing Stiles had mentioned that Claudia had grown up in Beacon Hills. But there was a confused silence in return.
"Uh, actually- it's weird. I'm pretty sure Claudia had an aunt in town or something, because everyone talked about it? But she didn't… really grow up around here. And her aunt must've moved or something…"
"Must have? You never met her?"
"No, Just, people would tell her how much she reminded them of her aunt. Grandmother too, now that I think of it. I guess her mother must've moved when she was a kid, because first I heard of her was when she started dating Noah in High School."
"She transferred in High School?"
"What? No. Claudia was like twenty something?- Ha.. guess that runs in the family." Dean faked a laugh as he thought about what Adrian had just said. That didn't make any fucking sense. Stiles' adoption records stated his parents had been the same age. Claudia Stilinski had died at 32, 6 years ago, Noah John Stilinski at about 37-38, just earlier this year.
"They had Stiles when Stilinski was in high school? That's creepy…" Dean answered figuring he'd let Adrian figure it out himself, maybe correct his mistake.
"W-What? No... Why would you think that?"
"Well, Claudia died at 32, didn't she? When Stiles was 10? That's what the paperwork said, anyway…"
"No, no. Whatever paperwork you got must've been a mistake." Adrian insisted. Or forged, Dean assumed. "Claudia was older than Noah, it was a pretty big deal when we were in school. And by the time I was in school with them he was 18 so it must've been a pretty noticeable gap if people were still harping on it."
"Huh," Dean nodded writing 'falsified med records?' on his notepad. "That's really weird. You're right must be a typo then…" Dean was confused. This didn't even explain her untimely death. A few years older was nothing in the scheme of things. He was about to ask another question when Adrian started talking to someone off the phone, Dean assumed Adrian's little brother he'd mentioned to Cas.
"Yeah?- Okay, I'll come up in just a minute.- I know, I'm on a call with a friend though, I just need a moment, Matt." Adrian's voice was a bit stressed but patient, only sighing once he came back. "Sorry to cut this short, Dean, duty calls. I can call back if you need anything else?"
"Nah." Dean shook his head. "This was a good chat, thanks for your insight, good luck with the kid."
"Oh," Adrian laughed. "Wifi out and math homework, no big deal. It was nice talking to you, tell Cas I said hi, remind Stiles to his study chem notes. And um, please don't tell anyone I talked to you about this stuff."
"Of course, my lips are sealed, man. See ya." Once Adrian returned the gesture, Dean hung up. Dean slid the phone to Cas across the table, and Cas set it aside.
"Anything?" Cas asked, looking away from his work.
"Nothing much. Dad was apparently a bit of a dick. Least for a while. Nothing to indicate he was involved in anything weird. Mom, however, was lying about her age by at least 2 years, probably more; is from here, but didn't grow up here, and her family who lived in town moved away at some point prior to her moving here… And she was apparently was a pillar of the community and beloved by everyone in town."
"Then safe to say whoever broke in and attacked Stiles, they weren't locals…. You don't try to kill the child of a beloved pillar of the community." Cas suggested. Dean shrugged.
"Could've been someone on the Sheriff's shit list. Seems he was certainly not loved by all."
"Acquainted with John, but not with Claudia perhaps. That would most likely suggest a younger assailant though. Stiles said the younger of the two even looked to be in her 30s."
"Out of towners or newbies it is then."
"Hired isn't out of the question."
"Who'd hire hitmen to take out a teenager?"
"Someone who doesn't want to kill said teenager themselves?" Cas said, going back to his work, signalling he was done devoting his time to this.
"Kay, who should I hit up next? Chris or Alan?"
"I trust Dr. Deaton much more to not murder our son if he catches on…"
"Cas, Chris isn't like that…" Dean was surprised Cas would think he was.
"I wouldn't know, I've yet to be introduced." Cas said, slowly and tactilely. Dean rolled his eyes.
"We'll have a barbeque some time. I can call Chris; Alan I'll probably get more info if I go to see him in person."
"If you know the smarter choice, why ask me, Dean? That insistent on dragging me into this?"
"No, angel, just value your feedback."
"Chris is a busy man, I suppose you should call him first. Just don't show too much of your hand, for Stiles sake." Dean decided not to argue, just nodded his agreement, quickly navigating to Chris' number and dialing. The call picked up but sounded like it was on speaker.
"Winchester, good to hear from you. What kind of trouble you getting into?"
"The keeping busy kind. Figured I'd do some personal research while- supposedly- on break from hunting. Remembered you used to live in Beacon, thought you might have some insight. You busy?" Dean waited for Chris' response, it took a moment before he spoke.
"Not at all. Just about to pick up some milk and head home for the night. You've got me as long as you need."
"I was just wondering if you knew John and Claudia?" Chris didn't speak when Dean paused as if waiting for more information. "Stilinski." Dean clarified.
"Oh." Chris said, as if suddenly understanding. "Stiles' parents, I take it?"
"And I take it that's a no?" Dean tried to temper his disappointment.
"No, not really. Might've seen them around, but we lived outside city limits then, would come into town occasionally when needed. Allison was in a different school district, so we didn't really get the small town treatment much." Chris explained. Dean nodded, but after a moment Chris continued. "Uh, Claudia- nut brown hair, pale but a bit tan in complection, same yellowish brown eyes as Stiles, stood about 5'3-5'5?" Dean pulled his laptop over and looked up a picture of Stiles' mom, making sure it was the same woman he'd seen a few times in the picture Stiles kept on his desk.
"And a smile for days? Yep, sounds like her, least from what I've seen."
"Right, I…. met her... Once or twice."
"How well you know her?"
"We had a... mutual friend, so we hung out often enough. We didn't get particularly chummy about it, but she seemed nice enough. Doubt I would know whatever you wanna ask about."
"Just trying to get a general character reference. Mind me asking who the friend was?"
"Um…" Chris seemed to hesitate. Dean wondered if he should push Chris on it if it was that tough to talk about. After a minute though Chris sighed. "If… you promise this doesn't go beyond us. I don't know who all knows about this, but the only people I've told are Victoria and Kate. It could be issues if any of my other... colleagues found out."
"This is just a family thing, Chris, not interested in telling anybody anything. Swear."
"The friend…. was…." Chris took a deep breath. "Peter… Hale…" Dean felt a drop in the pit of his stomach, as if he'd swallowed a cobblestone. A combination of horror and disappointment made his bile turn in his stomach.
"Chris, tell me you didn't-"
"I would never have anything to do with a bloodbath like that, Dean, you know that. Hell, if we had had anything to do with that, I'd have-... I- I wouldn't be here... I didn't know anything about it, Dean…" Dean believed him. Chris' voice was overflowing with emotion, and though he couldn't seem to pick which was foremost, none of them seemed positive in the least. "That was over 20 years ago now… Long time before-... Before." Chris sounded so… mournful. He'd always been a pretty solemn kind of guy, but Dean had never heard him sound like this.
"He knew Claudia Stilinski?" Dean asked, deciding it was best to change the subject.
"Yeah," Chris said, obviously trying to compose himself. "Though her last name was something Spanish back then, from what I remember."
"Spanish? She an immigrant?"
"No clue, could've been. Hales had a bit of spanish in the family, Peter had a lot of friends who were at least of hispanic descent."
"Possible she was family?" Dean asked, earning a pointed kick from Cas, and Dean assumed a glare. He didn't look over to check.
"I… doubt it? Could've been, but- Um, yeah no, probably not." Chris' tone took on a slightly weirded out vibe, and Dean raised an eyebrow.
"Why'd'ya say that?"
"Uh… Her and Peter seemed… more affectionate than family. I mean, he was a flirt, and I know how old families can sometimes be, especially supernaturals… they just didn't give me that vibe. I'm pretty sure they used to date or something. I dunno, didn't wanna pry." Chris pointedly took a breath before continuing, as if he needed a second to ponder something. "Although now that I think about it, she might've been a family friend, since Talia didn't seem to have an issue with her being around. Peter always said she wasn't big on... 'fraternizing' with humans aside from... family." Chris scoffed. "Now that I think about it, he might have just said that because it was less offensive than 'she wants to break your face because you hunt us for a living'..." Yeah, that seemed a fair alternative conclusion…
"Wait. So, guy you dated was kissing up this girl? How old was she?" Dean didn't want to be rude, but it seemed the most natural way to slip in a question about her age.
"22, maybe 23? She wasn't much younger than Peter, and he was around my age. They might've gone to school together? She seemed like she could've been an artsy type. Sister had tattoos and was naked all the time so…"
"Wait. Claudia had a sister?" Dean asked, more concerned at the moment with Stiles having an aunt they didn't know about than her apparently being 7+ years older than they thought she was.
"Yeah, has as far as I knew. Older, but around the same age. She was pretty cool. Threatened me with a knife once. Pretty sure she liked me more than Claudia did though. Also pretty sure she's kind of stalking my family, because she's been sending us christmas cards for like…. 15 years… Never a return address. It's... kinda weird. But thoughtful, I guess."
"Doubly weird because I literally had no idea Stiles had... any family… Chick's not on any of the paperwork…"
"Well," Chris chuckled. "Expect a non-denominational christmas card."
"One thing to look forward to I guess…." Dean muttered, looking through the resources he had out, looking for the paper on the Hale fire. Peter… "Peter Hale, he and his niece were the only survivors, weren't they? You two aren't in touch?" Dean asked, thankful the dude wasn't dead. But Chris gave a heavy sigh.
"His niece, yeah… But Peter survived in the… barest most miserable sense of the word."
"You sure? If he lived, he should've healed, shouldn't he? I mean even most humans born in pack I've met have some healing factor."
"He was a wolf… but…-" Chris paused, Dean heard a swallow and a shaky breath over the phone.
"Chris," Dean sighed, looking at the table. "We don't have to talk about this if it's hard to talk about."
"I'm fine, Dean…" Chris reassured, apparently finding his composure. "Peter protected his niece from the flames. She was fine, 'minimal injuries' by the time they found them. But Peter was so badly burned he had brain damage. From what I understand, it stunted his healing factor. He's healed since, but…. From what I heard there's no sign he'll ever be responsive. He's… basically a living corpse." Chris said in as stoic a tone he could manage. But Dean knew Chris, how he was. Chris had a hard time not going head over heels over even just a foxhole. That's the main reason the two of them were still friends- they were both a couple of needy romantic sluts just trying to not get attached. Dean had always wondered where Chris had got his brooding tendencies. But now that he'd found out he was sorry he'd asked.
"Chris, I'm sorry…."
"It's fine…" Chris' shaky sigh belied his words. "I'll be fine."
"You need a shoulder to cry on, I've got you, okay?" Dean said, shifting the phone around to his other ear.
"Yeah…" Chris relented.
"Remember that." Dean insisted.
"I will." Chris confirmed with promise. "I should hurry up. Before I go- I assume the kids still went out bowling?"
"Yeah. Were they not supposed to?"
"Told Allison she needed to stay in, have them come over. Absolutely shocked she didn't comply." He laughed. Dean scoffed.
"Teenagers."