I do not own Teen Wolf
Chapter Nine
"This is the reading of Peter Hale's will," the lawyers voice bored River to death, but she continued listening anyways, Noah holding her hand tightly in his. "To Brook Hale, also known as River Stilinski, I leave all of my earthly belongings, including my properties, money, and personal property. Until she reaches the age of 18, she will receive $5,000 a month. When Brook, or River, reaches the age of 18 she will have full access to my accounts. She is given access to the home that I own (316 Connecticut Dr, Beacon Hills, California) at this present time. She will receive access to the other properties once she reaches the age of 18. I now ask that she be given the letter I wrote her that she can read on her own or out loud at her leisure."
The lawyer finished reading the will and River let out a sigh. Once she had been handed an envelope with the name 'Brook' written across the front of it, she stood and followed Noah out of the office. Once in the car, they drove home, River squeezing Noah's hand like a lifeline. Entering the house, River breathed in the smell of home before moving to the living room where Stiles was watching a movie.
She laid across the couch, putting her head in his lap and he immediately began running his fingers through her hair. River hummed at the feeling, a small smile forming on her face. She felt Noah sit on the table in front of them and opened her eyes. His concerned look held her in place and made her breath catch in her throat. He finally broke the silence, letting her breath again as he spoke.
"Do you want me to read it for you?" he asked.
River shook her head and opened the envelope, reading through it a few times and feeling tears run down her face. She sat up, dropped the letter on the couch, and ran to her room, shutting and locking the door behind herself. Noah ran after her as Stiles grabbed the letter and began to read it.
'River, Brook, my daughter,
I am not sure what happened to you on that night, but I know that you don't remember either. If you are reading this, I am dead and did not get the chance to tell you the truth. I am sorry for that and for the pain that my death will cause you both physically and emotionally. I wish we had more time, but I want you to know that hearing you reading to me, getting to know you through those moments, was the best moments of my life.
Stick close to Derek. He'll keep you safe. Remember to take things slow and don't grow up too quickly. I am happy that you already found your mate and I am so proud of you for being such a kind and strong young woman. Never lose that.
All my love and my entire heart, Your father, Peter'
Stiles folded the letter and put it back into the envelope before heading upstairs. Noah was standing outside her door, unsure what to do. He looked to Stiles, noticing the letter in his hands, and reached for it. Stiles shook his head, telling his dad that River wouldn't want him to.
"He was her father," Stiles whispered before sliding the letter under her door. "I'll talk to her."
"I know," Noah sighed quietly.
Stiles grabbed his dad's arm and dragged him down the stairs where River wouldn't hear them.
"What do you mean you know?" Stiles questioned.
"When half of Laura Hale's body showed up, we ran blood tests to see if we could find a match in the hospital database. Her blood matched River's as a cousin. I requested blood from Peter from the hospital and Melissa got me the results a week later. They showed a direct match."
"Why didn't you tell her?" Stiles asked, angry for her.
"Because the only family she had were either in a coma or a suspected murder," Noah answered back with a roll of his eyes.
Stiles let out a frustrated breath, looking towards the ceiling where River's room was.
"Don't tell her that you knew," Stiles said after a moment. "She'll never forgive you."
"I have to go into the station," Noah sighed. "Finish the paperwork for Kate Argent."
"Don't forget the system River made," Stiles smirked.
Noah smirked back before his smile dropped. After a few long minutes, Noah left, heading to work. Stiles knew River wouldn't open her door so he went to his room and grabbed the walkie talkie, hoping she wouldn't turn it off.
"River, it's Stiles. Do you copy? Over."
He heard River moving next door, opening the drawer where she kept the walkie talkie. When she didn't respond, he tried again.
"Riv, it's Sti. Do you copy?"
When he didn't hear his own voice through the wall, he knew she had turned off the walkie talkie. He groaned at the next idea he had, hoping he wouldn't end up falling and breaking his neck. He put down the walkie talkie and went to his window, opening it slowly so that she wouldn't hear him coming before stepping onto the roof and going to the window right next to his. He smirked when he saw it was cracked and lifted it. River sat up in her bed and looked to her window, glaring when she saw Stiles climbing in.
"I want to be alone," she stated.
"Can we be alone together?" Stiles asked, standing in front of her.
River let out a deep breath before nodding her head and lying down, moving closer to the wall with her blanket pulled up to her shoulders. Stiles climbed into the bed and pulled her close, cuddling into her back. She wasn't crying, which Stiles couldn't tell if it was a bad thing or not, but he whispered soothingly to her anyways. River took his hand and brought it around her and holding it by her face, her breath hitting his hand.
After a few minutes, River fell asleep and Stiles stayed up, wanting to make sure she didn't have a nightmare. He was pretty sure it was the longest he ever stayed still in his life before he fell asleep holding her. He woke on his back, arm around River's shoulder as she buried her head in his chest, their legs wrapped around each other and the blanket around their waists. Stiles stared at River as she slept, noticing how beautiful and peaceful she looked in the mornings, the sunrise causing her skin to take on an orange glow as it peaked into the room. A gentle breeze swept through the room, causing her to shiver and cuddle to Stiles more as her blonde hair rustled slightly.
Stiles gently pulled the blanket higher on them and wrapped his other arm around her, trying to help keep her warm. He kissed the top of her head before closing his eyes, fully prepared to fall back to sleep. A throat clearing caused him to frown. Assuming it was his dad, he looked around the room and held in his yelp and forced his body not to jump as his eyes landed on Derek.
"What are you doing here?" Stiles managed to whisper once he had his racing heart under control again.
"I came to check on my cousin," Derek whispered back, glaring at where Stiles' arms held River.
"Get over the scary cousin routine," Stiles rolled his eyes. "River likes to cuddle. I'm not going to tell her we can't cuddle just because it makes you uncomfortable. You're really going to have to get over it for when Scott's also here."
"You all sleep together?" Derek questioned.
"In the most innocent terms, yes," Stiles shot back, feeling defensive of his relationship with River before he saw the opened letter on River's desk. "You shouldn't have read that without her permission."
Derek rolled his eyes and let out an annoyed huff.
"What does he mean?" Stiles asked.
"Which part?" Derek questioned.
"The mate part," Stiles clarified.
"Well, Hale's have a tendency to mate for life, human or otherwise. Someone in her life is her mate."
"Please don't let it be Isaac," Stiles sighed. "I might just have to kill him if it is."
"Who's Isaac?" Derek asked.
"Guy she used to be friends with. His dad's an abusive asshole and when River reported the abuse to dad, Isaac dropped River as a friend and treats her like shit."
"Do I need to have a talk with him?"
"No," Stiles rolled his eyes. "Jackson and I have been keeping him away from her."
"Jackson's an issue," Derek said as if Stiles hadn't been thinking the same thing his entire life.
"He wants the bite," Stiles sighed. "Wolves want packs though. He'll want to be alone."
"I'll have to give it to him to keep him quiet," Derek admitted.
"He'll become more insufferable than he already is," Stiles groaned before going still as River fidgeted slightly in her sleep.
"I should go," Derek said softly. "I'll come check on her later."
"Be careful," Stiles told him as he stared at River.
Derek stared at Stiles for a moment, watching how Stiles looked at River. It was the same look that his father used to give his mother. Derek knew who River's mate was in that moment but kept it to himself, not wanting to add any pressure to the situation after everything River had been through. He jumped out the window, landing on his feet easily before jogging to his car down the street. Mrs. Anderson shook her head in disappointment from her window before going back to her knitting.
Stiles couldn't hold still anymore, no matter how hard he tried. He carefully untangled himself from River, putting the stuffed wolf in her arms to cuddle. He smirked at the wolf, at the irony of it. He unlocked her bedroom door just as Noah went to knock on it. Stiles just barely dodged the incoming fist, stopping himself from flailing and looking over his shoulder to make sure River was still asleep. Seeing her still asleep, Stiles led Noah downstairs, pulling River's door closed softly as they left.
"How's she doing?" Noah asked as Stiles started the coffee maker.
"She'll be okay," Stiles promised.
"How's Lydia?"
"Minimal scarring and it's already healing over."
"Good," Noah nodded.
"Yeah," Stiles nodded along. "She'll be able to hide her scars better than River."
"How's she doing with that?"
"Well, it's getting colder outside, so the sweaters and long sleeves look normal now. I'm not sure how she'll feel once summer hits."
"We'll try to help her out," Noah nodded.
"Already working on it," Stiles smiled. "She let Scott see the scars the other day. I know Lydia has seen the scars, too. As more people get used to it, the sooner she'll forget about them completely."
"Might get her in a dress in time for prom," Noah joked.
"We'll figure it out. Any plans for today?"
"I was going to get some much-needed sleep, but I'm worried about her."
"We're going to go see Lydia later," Stiles told him as he placed a coffee mug in front of his dad. "River was really freaked out when she saw her, but she hasn't been there since Lydia woke up."
"It's been a week," Noah sighed.
"Seeing your best friend in a hospital bed with no clue if they'll survive does strange things to a person," Stiles mumbled into his coffee, remembering when River had been attacked at the school. "It isn't a good feeling."
"I'm sorry, son," Noah said, placing his hand on Stiles' shoulder at the haunted look on his face. "She's okay now though."
"I know," Stiles nodded, sipping his coffee.
"So, you took Lydia to the dance? Anything happening there?"
"No," Stiles shook his head. "Lydia owed Allison a favor and Allison owed me one, so it was Allison trying to pay me back."
"A favor?" Noah asked.
"Don't ask," Stiles joked.
Noah rolled his eyes and shook his head at the teenager, deciding to not get into it.
"So, no one in the dating department?"
"Do you remember a few weeks ago when I promised to tell you if I started having feelings for River?" Stiles asked, refusing to look at his dad and staring into his coffee instead.
"Do we need to have a talk?" Noah asked.
"Probably," Stiles shrugged. "Nothing's going to happen. I just wanted you to know. It's weird. It's like a switch got flipped when you mentioned it and I've just been noticing things that should have been obvious before."
"I'm sorry for saying anything," Noah said. "I didn't mean to make it awkward for you."
"That's the thing," Stiles sighed. "It isn't awkward. It feels right. Makes it harder to deal with. It's just a crush though. It'll go away."
"How long did it take you to get over your crush on Lydia?" Noah countered.
"I don't think my crush on Lydia was real," Stiles argued. "Lydia's gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but she…"
"She isn't River," Noah nodded. "We Stilinski men pick someone for life."
"What do you mean?" Stiles asked, looking to his dad and remembering the words Derek had said earlier that morning.
"Well, I fell for your mom when I was your age and that was it for me. Once you've fallen, it's kind of hard to get back up."
Stiles nodded, looking away again. Was his crush really something more? He shook his head, clearing it as a loud knocking came from the front door.
"That sounds like Mrs. Anderson," Stiles smirked.
"What did you do now?" Noah asked, heading to the front door.
"Why do you assume it's me?" Stiles asked, offended.
"Because River's my good kid," Noah joked before opening the front door.
"Well, your 'good kid' had a boy sneaking out her window this morning," Mrs. Anderson informed Noah, having heard the comment through the door.
"What are you talking about?" Noah asked, confused.
"Derek!" Stiles slapped his forehead as he came into view of Mrs. Anderson. "He came by to check on River. We were both asleep and didn't hear him knocking. He assumed something was wrong and scaled the house to come through the open window, which was River's room. Mrs. Anderson must have seen him leave."
"Derek was here?" River asked, coming down the stairs and rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"He left right before dad got home," Stiles nodded.
"Grown men should not be climbing out of teenage girl's windows," Mrs. Anderson complained.
"Well, he's her cousin, so," Stiles stated, giving Mrs. Anderson an annoyed look.
"What?" Mrs. Anderson questioned.
"He's her cousin," Stiles said again. "Her father's sister had a kid. Makes them cousins."
"Stiles," Noah warned him. "Sorry for making you worry Mrs. Anderson. Thank you for your concern."
"Oh, anytime, Noah," Mrs. Anderson smiled sweetly, thinking Noah was being genuine.
"The kids and I are going to head to breakfast though. Some bonding time. We'll see you later," Noah smiled, dismissing the nosy woman.
"Of course," she smiled before leaving.
Noah shut the door behind her, letting out an annoyed breath. River and Stiles wore similar smirks before going to the kitchen. Stiles passed River a coffee, cream and sugar already stirred in. She made grabby hands until the mug was in her hands and hummed happily as she took her first slip.
"You're my favorite," she whispered.
"You talking to me or the coffee?" Stiles joked.
"Dad," River smirked.
"Rude," Stiles huffed as Noah laughed.
"Go get dressed and we'll go to the diner," Noah instructed the two teens.
River took her coffee and headed upstairs as Stiles stayed where he was, just watching her walk away.
"You got it bad," Noah joked.
"Shut up," Stiles mumbled before heading upstairs to get dressed.
He threw on jeans and a random hoodie before opening his door and dodging the second hand to try knocking on a door he was opening that day. River caught herself though and pulled her hand back before it got close to Stiles. He smirked and raised an eyebrow.
"Can I steal a plaid?" she asked, her voice small.
"What's mine is yours and what's yours is yours," Stiles joked, stepping aside and letting her into the room.
"Good boy," River smirked, patting the top of his head as she went to his closet. "You should hide those files somewhere other than under some clothes in your closet, by the way."
"Wait, what?" Stiles asked.
"Maybe make your password something other than mine and Scott's names and the date I moved in," River continued. "If dad comes in, he'll be able to find everything really easily. Can we tell dad?"
"We aren't telling dad," Stiles responded immediately. "Wait, how do you know my password?"
"It was super easy to guess," River shrugged, pulling a plaid over her tank top and buttoning the top three buttons before tying the bottom of it so it stopped under her breasts. "Why can't we tell him?"
"You were in my room," Stiles accused.
"Obviously," River shrugged, pulling her hair into a messy bun on her head.
"What were you looking for?"
"Evidence," River stared at Stiles like it was obvious as she exited his room to head down the stairs, Stiles hot on her heels. "It was the night Lydia stayed over last. She watched the door while I rifled through your stuff. Also, clear your search history. I don't need to know what you watch in your spare time."
"Don't go through my history and you won't see that stuff," Stiles stated, an embarrassed blush covering his face and travelling down his neck.
"Won't see what stuff?" Noah asked, standing by the door.
"River was snooping in my room," Stiles explained.
"I was bored," she shrugged.
"River, how would you feel if Stiles went through your room?" Noah tried.
"Go for it," River shrugged, handing her phone to Stiles. "I don't care."
"Oh, jeez," Noah sighed, rubbing his face as Stiles started going through River's phone.
"You clear your search history," Stiles accused.
"Duh," she smirked before looking to Noah. "Breakfast?"
River drove her car, Stiles in the passenger seat as Noah drove himself, not wanting to be in the car with the two bickering teens. Stiles was still going through River's phone when they sat in a booth, the waitress automatically bringing three coffees over to the table. They ordered their usuals and the waitress was off.
"Find anything?" River asked, knowing he hadn't.
"You and Lydia have very strange conversations," Stiles mumbled setting her phone down.
"I know," River shrugged.
Once breakfast was eaten and Noah had gotten some information about how school was going, River and Stiles headed to the hospital while Noah went home to get some sleep before work. River parked beside Jackson's Porsche and stepped out of the car, Stiles holding her hand as they walked through the halls towards Lydia's room.
"Can I leave now?" Lydia questioned.
"One more night," her mom argued, smiling when River stepped into the room. "Hi, River. How are you dear?"
Allison and Jackson both turned to stare at River as she walked over to Miss Martin and gave her a hug.
"I'm good," she told her before turning to Lydia. "How are you feeling?"
"I swear to whatever Gods exist, if you ask me that question again, I will smother you with a stuffed animal," Lydia promised.
"She's fine," River smirked to Miss Martin.
"She has one more night," Miss Martin stated. "Don't the two of you start ganging up on me now."
"Fine," Lydia huffed, scooting over in her bed so that River could climb in next to her.
River kicked off her Converse and laid beside Lydia. Lydia rolled so that her back was to her mom and grabbed River's hands. River breathed a sigh of relief as their hands met and the bond warmed in comfort. Lydia smiled at the feeling and rolled her eyes from the movement behind River.
"I should go," Allison said and River didn't even pretend to care as the girl walked out.
"I have to get to work," Miss Martin sighed. "I'll leave you in River's capable hands."
"So, you'll leave when River is here, but not anyone else?" Lydia asked.
"I know for a fact that River will take care of you," Miss Martin stated. "No offense Jackson. River is just a mother hen like I am."
"Am not," River grumbled as Stiles and Jackson snorted.
Miss Martin kissed Lydia's head and left the room, closing the door behind herself and giving the teenagers a semblance of privacy.
"So, anyone want to talk about all the weird shit in this town?" Jackson asked.
"You mean werewolves and witches?" River asked, turning so she was on her back. "Sit down, Sti."
Stiles took the empty seat beside Jackson, leaning as far away from the other boy as possible. Lydia moved closer to River, snuggling into her side as River wrapped her arm around Lydia's shoulders. Jackson smiled softly, watching the two girls interact with each other. It wasn't often that Lydia was soft with someone, but River brought it out in her better than anyone else.
"So, Scott's a werewolf," Stiles stated.
"Yeah, and Lydia and River are witches," Jackson rolled his eyes. "I'm badass, but you're still kind of a weak human."
"Jackson," Lydia warned, narrowing his eyes at him.
"I said kind of," Jackson defended himself.
"Jackson can teach you self-defense," River offered Stiles.
"No," both boys immediately declined.
"It's him or Derek," River said with a roll of her eyes. "Either way, you're learning."
"Why would Derek teach him?" Jackson asked.
"Because I'll tell him to," River shrugged.
"Why would he listen though?" Lydia questioned.
River sighed and rubbed her eyes before speaking.
"So, Peter was my father apparently."
Jackson and Lydia both stared at her with wide eyes.
"We almost had your name right," Stiles spoke up.
"I said it was something about water," River laughed.
"Wait, what?" Lydia questioned.
"Apparently my real name is Brook Hale. I'm sticking to River Stilinski. We're guessing I snuck out before the fire started. Not sure why I didn't show up until a few months later," River explained. "The reading of Peter's will was yesterday. He left a letter telling me who I really am and he left me everything."
"Including a house down the street," Stiles stated.
"We should go look at it," Jackson said.
"Tomorrow," River sighed. "That way Lyds can come with."
"You could sneak me out of here?" Lydia suggested.
"Not happening," Melissa's voice came from the doorway. "What have I said about hospital beds, River?"
"That they aren't big enough for three people, but we are two people," River smirked.
"Smartass," Melissa smirked.
"It's a Stilinski trait," River smiled back.
"You're a Hale," Stiles defended.
"I'm a Stilinski," River growled out. "Say otherwise and we will be having words. Hope you know sign language, because all you're seeing is my hands."
Jackson snorted and Lydia rolled her eyes. Stiles just looked offended as Melissa checked Lydia over.
"What's the verdict?" River asked.
"Doctor wants her to stay one more night," Melissa sighed. "If it were up to me you could leave today though."
"But it isn't," River sighed.
"So, I'm stuck," Lydia sighed back. "You kind of look like a Brook."
"I will lie and tell the doctors you told me you were having pain so that they keep you longer."
"Shutting up."
"All right kids, Lydia needs her rest. Maybe you three should be doing homework or practicing lacrosse?" Melissa offered.
"Good idea Momma McCall," River smirked, standing up. "Let's go boys. To the field!"
"Have fun torturing our boyfriends!" Lydia called out and River rolled her eyes as Stiles got red again.
"So, you're back to being boyfriend?" River asked Jackson as they headed towards the cars.
"Yeah," Jackson smiled. "Meet you at the high school?"
"See you in a minute. Going to go home and change and grab some gear," River responded. "Let's go thing one!"
Stiles climbed into the car, still beet red. Once they got home, they both changed into work out clothes and Stiles grabbing his lacrosse bag. They drove to the school with the windows down and the music on, both singing along terribly as they went. Jackson rolled his eyes when they pulled in.
"You're both terrible," he smirked.
"You love me," River smirked. "Stiles needs to work on his back shots. I'm going to run a few laps before I sit and judge you both."
Stiles kissed her head before she stripped off her jacket and took off. Jackson stared at her scars as she ran off, not having seen them before.
"Don't stare," Stiles said quietly enough that River wouldn't hear. "She's trying to let people see it, but if you stare she'll get weird."
"Let's go Bilinski," Jackson rolled his eyes.
"No," Stiles held his ground. "Call me Stiles. If River is insisting that we hangout, the least we can do is try to act civil."
"Fine," Jackson sighed.
"How about we start over?" Stiles suggested.
"How?" Jackson asked.
"Hi, I'm Stiles," Stiles held out his hand. "I like video games, comic books, and true crime."
Jackson rolled his eyes before taking Stiles' hand.
"Jackson," he breathed. "I like sports and fast cars."
"Nice to meet you Jackson," Stiles smiled. "Let's go. River's right about my back shots."
Jackson snorted a laugh as he and Stiles headed towards the pitch. River ran circles around them as they practiced, Jackson giving Stiles helpful pointers as they played. After River had worn herself out, she laid in the grass near the guys, catching her breath.
"You're fast," Derek's voice spoke up and River opened her eyes to in time to see Derek sit down next to her.
"Thanks," River nodded. "Think I'm going to take up track."
"You should," Derek nodded.
"You here for me?" she asked.
"Yes and no," he said. "I wanted to check on you, but Jackson has been asking for the bite."
"He'd be a decent candidate," River acknowledged. "I think he needs to work on social skills a bit more first."
"He's a popular kid," Derek provided.
"Not because he's liked," River said. "He's good at sports and kind of a dick."
"Then why are you friends with him?" Derek asked.
"I met him through Lydia and then we had a heart-to-heart," River shrugged. "After a drunk night of confessing your darkest secrets, you kind of have to become friends after something like that."
"You drink?" Derek asked with raised eyebrows.
"God, no," River shuddered. "One- and only-time event. I learned the hard way."
"Did anything happen while you were drunk?" Derek asked.
"No, you perv," River sighed. "We got drunk, said some dumb shit, and then proceeded to pass out. He made sure I drank a bunch of water and ate plenty of bread the next morning before he took me home."
"So, get him alone and he's fine?" Derek asked.
"Depends on who you are," River shrugged. "Me, Lydia, or Danny, then yeah. He doesn't trust easily."
"Good. He shouldn't," Derek grunted.
"He is behaving himself with Stiles though, so that's something," River sighed, looking over to see the two boys playing. "They need to take a break. Guys!"
Stiles and Jackson both turned to her and ran over when they saw Derek.
"Are you here for me?" Jackson asked.
"Not yet," Derek told him. "We need to work on your social skills first."
River and Stiles both smirked, Stiles sitting down beside River. He went to lay on her, but she pushed him away.
"Ew!" she complained. "You're all sweaty!"
"So are you!" Stiles stated, lying on her anyways.
"Yuck," River continued complaining. "You smell."
"I was just playing!" Stiles defended.
"Drama queens," Jackson sighed.
"You're one to talk," River smirked.
"How's your friend?" Derek asked.
"Good," River smiled. "She's being released tomorrow."
"How are you?"
"I'm fine," she sighed. "It's just a lot. How are you, dear cousin?"
Derek rolled his eyes but felt warm at the title.
"I've been worse," he shrugged.
"That doesn't mean that you're doing good," River stated. "Peter left me a house in town. We're going to go look at it tomorrow. You coming with?"
"Sure," Derek nodded, passing her his phone. "Put your number in."
River put her number into his phone and snapped a picture of herself, Stiles' face just barely visible in the frame. She sent herself a text, followed by sending the picture to Stiles and herself before handing the phone back over. Derek rolled his eyes at the photo, biting down on a fond smile. River closed her eyes again, the sun warming her skin as she laid out and the boys talked about lacrosse together over her. Eventually, the sun began to go down and the temperature truly dropped, reminding River it was supposed to be the coldest night of the year and they all began moving.
River and Stiles raced into the house, trying to beat each other to the bathroom for first dibs at a shower. Stiles ended up grabbing River halfway up the stairs and picking her up at her waist.
"Put me down!" she yelled, kicking her feet around.
Stiles took her up the stairs and to her room, dropping her on her bed before running to the door. She got to the door just as he slammed it shut, holding it closed so she couldn't escape. River concentrated and heated the door handle and smirked when she heard a yelp on the other side of the door. River opened the door and ran pass Stiles where he was shaking his hand out. He ran after her, catching her just inside the bathroom door and lifted her at her waist again.
She sighed as Stiles simply held her up. He slowly set her down on her feet, both just standing in the doorway to the bathroom. She leaned against him and closed her eyes, feeling his chin on her shoulder. He let out a soft sigh as he rocked them back and forth slightly.
"You smell," River joked. "You can go first."
"We could always shower together," Stiles said before turning red.
River let out a laugh and turned in his arms.
"Oh, sweet, sweet boy," she took his face in her hands. "You wouldn't know what to do with me."
River patted his face lightly and moved around him, leaving him speechless in the doorway. She went to her room and shut her door, pulling her phone out faster than she ever thought imaginable once Stiles couldn't see her.
'I think Stiles and I just flirted.'
Lydia texted back as if she already had the message waiting to send.
'What happened? Tell me everything.'
River texted out what happened and Lydia told her she should undress and climb into the shower with him, which River rolled her eyes at. Eventually she grabbed sweatpants and one of Stiles jerseys to sleep in and opened her door, half expecting Stiles to still be standing in the bathroom doorway in shock. She smirked and laid across her bed, arms out beside her so she took up as much room as possible. As she laid there, she felt her bond flare slightly and frowned before rubbing her chest. She reached out to Lydia from the bond and, upon getting no response, called Lydia's phone. When she didn't answer, she called Melissa. Melissa also didn't answer and River felt the bond grow cold and numb, causing her to sit up. She tugged on a pair of tennis shoes just as Stiles came out of the bathroom.
"Somethings wrong," River announced.
"What do you mean?" Stiles asked coming to her doorway and leaning against the frame.
River glanced his way and did a double take. His arms were crossed over his chest, showing off muscles that were typically hidden under plaid. He still had a bit of water clinging to him as well and he looked at ease in her doorway. River shook her head to clear it as she stood.
"Something's wrong with Lydia. The bond flared up a bit as if she was in danger and now it feels numb. I tried calling her and Melissa and neither answered," she explained.
"I'll put my shoes back on," Stiles said, heading to his room.
Once they were in the Jeep, Stiles drove to the hospital where they saw the Sheriff's cruiser. They ran into the hospital towards Lydia's room and froze. There were three officers talking to nurses and going in and out of Lydia's room. Stiles and River headed towards Melissa and Noah, seeing them speaking in a corner. Noah and Melissa both gave them matching worried looks.
"What happened?" River asked.
"Lydia's gone," Melissa said gently.
"What?" River asked.
"How?" Stiles asked as he put his arm around River, pulling her close to comfort her.
"She went out her window apparently. She was in the shower and someone heard her scream. We ran in and the window was open."
"We need to go look for her," River insisted, turning to Stiles.
Stiles was about to agree when Noah interrupted.
"No. You need to get home and let me do my job."
"She's my best friend," River argued. "You can't stop me from looking for her."
"Yes, I can," he said. "I am your guardian and I am telling you to go home. Don't make me have a deputy follow you home and ask Mrs. Anderson to keep an eye on the house."
"Fine!" River yelled in anger, turning and heading outside.
"I'm just going to go pee and then go after her," Stiles said, pointing his thumbs to the bathroom.
He disappeared into the bathroom in the hall and waited a moment before looking out the door. Once Noah and Melissa were distracted, he snuck into Lydia's room and grabbed her hospital gown, calling Scott on the way to the Jeep. He explained what had happened and hung up before climbing into the driver's seat, River fuming in the passenger seat.
"He's your dad when he acts like this," she complained.
Stiles chuckled as he pulled behind the hospital and put the Jeep in park.
"What are we doing?" she asked, confused.
"Scott's on his way. I snuck in and grabbed this," Stiles held out the hospital gown. "He can use it to track her."
"Is this her hospital gown?" River asked.
"Yeah," Stiles nodded.
"Stiles?"
"Yeah?"
"If this is her hospital gown, what's Lydia wearing?"
Stiles froze at the thought, turning slowly to look at the hospital gown. Scott jumped onto the top of the Jeep and backflipped off of it just then, causing River and Stiles to both curse at him. River climbed into the backseat as Scott opened the passenger side door and climbed in.
"Here," River said, passing over the gown.
"I'm not going to let anyone hurt her. Not again," Scott promised.
"All right, just shove the thing in your face and let's find her. Wow!" Stiles shouted out as Allison appeared in Scott's window
"What are you doing here?" Scott asked. "Someone's going to see us."
"I don't care," Allison stated firmly. "She's my best friend, and we need to find her before they do."
"I can find her before the cops," Scott assured her.
"How about before my father does?"
"He knows?"
"Yeah," Allison nodded. "I just saw him and three other guys leave my house in two SUVs."
"Search party," Scott nodded.
"More like a hunting party."
"Oh, my God! Just get in the Jeep so we can go!" River yelled from the backseat, causing everyone to jump.
Allison climbed into the back, leaning as far away from River as she could, basically pressing herself into the side of the Jeep as if River had some sort of disease. River rolled her eyes as Stiles began driving. She held in a snicker when Scott stuck his head out of the window like a dog and caught Stiles' eye in the rearview mirror, noticing him trying not to laugh as well. He drew Allison into a conversation and River tuned them out as she tried feeling for Lydia through the bond, but still getting the numb feeling.
"Take the next right!" Scott's voice broke her concentration.
"Can't River feel here through their bond?" Allison questioned.
"River is right here," River spoke. "She feels numb. I'm not getting a direction and I can't send her a message."
Allison looked chastised and went back to staring at Scott. Stiles caught River's eye in the mirror again and she shrugged, not sure what Allison's problem was this time. Last time that they had seen each other, River has stepped between Allison and Peter. Twice.
They pulled down the road that led to Hale house and got out of the Jeep, following the scent on foot.
"She came here?" Stiles asked to clarify. "You sure?"
"Yeah, this is where the scent leads," Scott nodded.
"All right, but has Lydia ever been here?"
"She didn't make it here on the night that everything happened," River shook her head. "She did have the directions to get here though."
"Maybe she came here on instinct, like she was looking for Derek," Allison added. "Wolves need a pack, right?"
"She isn't turning," River shook her head. "She can only be one of three magical beings, and all of them are immune to the bite."
"Not every wolf needs a pack," Scott threw out.
"You have a pack," River told him.
"Who? Derek?"
"Us, you ass," River rolled her eyes.
"Lay off him," Allison ground out.
"Don't tell me how to talk to my brother," River shot back.
"Whoa, hey, look at this. You see this?" Stiles voice distracted the two girls from their argument. "I think it's a tripwire."
"Stiles?" Scott asked from behind all three of them.
"Yeah, buddy," all three turned and tried not to laugh. "Oh."
"Next time you see a tripwire – don't trip it," Scott said as he hung upside down.
"Yeah, noted."
"Let's get you down," River shook her head.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Someone's coming," Scott said. "Hide. Go!"
Stiles grabbed River and pulled her behind a tree, Allison behind the tree next to them. As Chris threatened Scott, Stiles put his hand over River's mouth and held her still when she tried to go defend Scott. Allison rolled her eyes at River, causing the girl to glare at her. Once Chris was out of earshot, Scott called the coast clear and Stiles released her.
"Are you okay?" Allison and River asked at the same time.
Allison glared as Scott made a joke out of the situation and then cut himself down. Scott wasn't able to pick up the scent again so they headed home, Stiles dropping Allison off first and then Scott. River climbed into the front seat and sighed.
"You and Allison don't like each other," Stiles stated.
"I don't know what her problem is," River huffed out. "I literally stepped between her and a psycho wolf. Twice!"
"I think she sees you as competition," Stiles shrugged. "You have to admit, your relationship with Scott and I is weird to an outsider."
"She needs to get over it. If I wanted to date Scott, I would date Scott," River insisted.
"Sure, you would," Stiles nodded, going red again.
"I could date Scott!" River insisted. "I'd date him so hard!"
Stiles let out a loud laugh, causing River to smile. Once they were home again, River tried the locater spell, Stiles watching from her bed. When it didn't work, she sighed and cleaned up. After her shower, she walked back into her room and smiled as Stiles was still on her bed. She climbed in next to him, taking her side of the bed and getting under the blankets. Stiles turned off the bedside lamp that he had left on before sliding down in the bed and pulling her close.
"We'll find her. I promise," Stiles insisted. "We'll go looking after school tomorrow."
"Okay," River whispered, letting sleep finally take over as she felt safe and warm in Stiles arms.