Over the next two weeks, Stiles balanced his time between trying to keep searching for potential places the Hale women could be and helping rebuild the pack house. Jackson and Isaac were there more often than most of the others, though with summer practices for lacrosse starting it limited even their time. Allison was there quite a bit too and Stiles found he actually liked the girl, when she wasn't on Scott's arm anyway. The two of them together were a sappy, mushy, lovestruck sickness. Something that he could only handle in low doses, at best. Scott, as they already counted on, was there the least. He still managed to be there a few days a week, though.
Their first day of school was hell. If only because Stiles was exhausted. He'd stayed up far later than he'd meant to, having gone down the internet rabbit holes of possible locations. Then awoke to his alarm blaring in his ear with his face pressed against the desk. Thankfully, the first day of school rarely held anything of real importance. Even senior year, it was the same old stuff: introductions to the teachers and the courses they'd take, finding their lockers, and collecting textbooks. Which meant he was free to micro nap through half of his classes.
When the final bell rang he started, having fallen asleep with his chin in hand. Everyone else was headed off to practice, so he walked toward the parking lot. Lydia waved at him as she slid into Allison's car. They were going shopping before heading out to the preserve. Allison had pulled him aside earlier to make sure he'd inform Derek.
Once he'd slid behind the wheel, he shoved his keys into the ignition and turned them. The Jeep made a sound as though it were trying to turn over but didn't catch. With a sigh, he waited a few moments, then tried again. This time it didn't even try. Awesome. Clambering back out, he lifted the hood. It wasn't oil or gas. He'd done an oil change two days ago and had filled the tank before school. Which meant, god only knew what the hell was going on with it this time. At least he had a few ideas, having been fighting with the Jeep off and on for the last two years he'd learned quite a lot about the potential reasons it wouldn't start.
So, pursing his lips, Stiles ducked under the front and knocked hard on the starter, then moved around to turn the key again. His eyes rolled when it started right away. So, on top of an electrical issue (somewhere in there) the starter was going out, the alternator was close to dying, and he was fairly certain some filter needed changing. Which one; he wasn't sure.
While making the drive out to the pack house, he called his dad to find out how much they could spare to get parts. If it came to it, he'd climb in there himself rather than paying a real mechanic. Something his father was against, considering how little Stiles knew about engine repair. He may not know what he was doing but he was sure he could figure it out; What with YouTube and varied manuals at auto parts stores. Unfortunately, it didn't sound as though his father's bank account was looking any better than his own right now. The loss in added income from using their house in Beacon Hills as a rental was already starting to take its toll.
Roscoe was able to make the trip out to the preserve and thankfully didn't stall out when he put it in 'park'. Stiles was going to count that as a win. Derek had had lumber delivered the day before and he, along with the others, had helped unload everything before getting to work. A surprise greeted him when he looked up at the house, not having expected Derek to have accomplished so much on his own. Nearly half of the first floor's frame was completed.
The elder teen was currently leaning over the picnic table, his hands pressed on either side of the blueprints Peter had drawn up. He didn't look up when Stiles came to stand beside him. "Don't you have homework?"
"First day. There is noooone." He tried, and failed, to stifle a yawn.
That got Derek's attention, drawing his gaze upward with a hint of concern showing in those green eyes. "You look beat."
A shoulder rose, "stayed up too late last night," as if that was all that really needed to be said. "Allison asked me to remind you that they are going shopping before coming out."
Derek nodded, "I messaged Lydia and told them not to come today. There isn't much that either of them can really do today." Without the same strength as the rest of them, the girls were more likely to struggle.. or slow them down.
"Alright, so where are we..?" He leaned over the blueprints as well from across the table.
"You sure you don't want to go home and sleep?" Derek arched a brow at him while studying his tired face.
Stiles waved the concern off and shook his head, "nah. If I stay up, I can adjust my schedule. If I go home and crash, I'll be up at 2 am and just repeat this tomorrow. Let's get to work."
Derek stared at him only a moment longer, then shrugged and traced a finger over the section the two of them would be laboring over. He set his thermal water bottle atop to hold them in place when he stepped away from the table.
The two got to work. Mostly in silence but every so often Stiles couldn't handle that silence and would either hum some song he'd heard on the radio to himself or fill the air with whatever chatter he could. Long silences had always been known to make him uncomfortable anyway, and Derek wasn't the world's greatest conversationalist. He did notice, however, that when it was just the two of them out here he could get the elder teen to talk a lot more.
–
It carried on that way for nearly almost two weeks: Some days they were joined by the rest of the pack, others it was just the two of them. The only time Stiles didn't show up right after school was when he actually had homework, though most of the time he managed to get the majority of it done during class time. And once when his father had the day off, the two spent the afternoon together.
The Jeep's condition worsened and one Monday morning he couldn't even get it to start. He'd debated calling his father for a ride but the sheriff was already at the station and he didn't want to bother him over it. Scott's motorcycle wouldn't accommodate both of them, if only because Scott refused to allow a passenger without a second helmet and he'd yet to buy one. With a huff, he sent Jackson a text who showed up only a short while later to get the two of them off to school. Jackson didn't complain about it, actually the two had a rather enjoyable ride. Stiles fully expected to walk home afterward since the jock had practice but was pleasantly surprised to find a familiar Camaro in the parking lot. Derek stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the hood while a pretty brunette talked to him from only a few feet away.
As Stiles moved closer he recognized the girl from his history class. Tracy something. She'd seemed nice enough the few times the two had talked. Derek almost looked relieved when Stiles came to stand beside her, as though Stiles was saving him from a conversation he didn't want to have. "You ready?" The elder teen asked when Tracy stopped talking to look over at Stiles.
"Hey," Stiles greeted her before nodding. "Yeah, thanks for the ride."
"Yeah, so… it was good to see you, Derek." Tracy smiled a little too brightly up at him.
Stiles understood why Derek had that look now. The signals coming off the girl screamed lust and tension. He knew he didn't have a right to feel that jealous pang because someone else was crushing on the guy. Knowing it and feeling it were two totally different things, however. Her cheeks flushed when the elder male looked back at her before she took a step back. Derek inclined his head toward the girl, then moved around to slide behind the wheel without saying anything more to her. Stiles waved at her as she walked away, though for the most part she ignored him. He couldn't blame anyone for wanting to focus all of their attention on Derek, even if it rubbed him wrong that it was this girl. She was pretty enough that she could have any guy at Beacon Hills High drooling over her if she wanted.
Making sure not to brood about it, he dropped into the passenger seat and tossed his backpack into the back before fastening his seatbelt. His gaze turned toward Derek, who seemed more relaxed now that he was away from someone's undivided attention. "Let me guess: Jackson messaged you?"
"He said your Jeep might be down for the count," Derek replied and bobbed his head.
"Yeah.. wouldn't start at all this morning. I think I know what's wrong with it."
"He told me that too, gave me a list of what you believe is going on." He chuckled and started the Camaro.
Derek eased out of his parking space and onto the road. It took Stiles a moment to realize they were not heading toward the preserve and when he cocked a brow at the elder teen there was a little smirk playing at the corners of Derek's mouth. "Uh, where are we… where are we going?"
"I gave everyone the day off so we can get your car working again."
"Umm," Stiles hesitated in confusion, glancing out of the window as they drove and noticed they were on his street. "Not to be a downer or anything, but I still have to order parts and scrounge up the cash to even buy them."
Derek eyed him as he parked in front of Stiles' house, then climbed out again. Pressing a button on his keyfob he popped the trunk while Stiles grabbed his backpack and followed. "We already have everything."
Stiles' jaw dropped and he floundered a bit when he saw the boxes in the Camaro's trunk. "You… that… I…" He huffed at not being able to articulate properly then tried again. "That couldn't have come cheap." Which wasn't really what he wanted to say but it was the first thing that managed to escape him without stammering.
The elder teen shrugged and hefted two of those boxes out. "Jackson paid some, I covered some, and Peter paid the rest." Seeing the look on Stiles' face made him laugh. "Pack helps pack. Did you really think we'd leave you unable to get around?"
"Okay, but I called around to the stores in Beacon Hills, and all of them needed to have the parts delivered."
"I didn't have school. I drove a little out of town to get everything." Derek said and shrugged as though it wasn't a big deal at all.
Stiles could have kissed him. He didn't, but god he wanted to. The gesture alone meant more to him than he could even express. Other than his dad, and maybe Scott when the boy wasn't caught up in Allison, no one put much thought into him like that. To have friends who put themselves out to help him -even if neither Hale nor Jackson really had to worry about the cost- was amazing. That Derek had not only driven out of town but called around to figure out what stores might have the parts they needed was even more amazing. Stiles had assumed, more often than not, that Derek only really tolerated him because he was pack. Now, he couldn't be entirely sure of that. Derek might think it was a big deal but to Stiles, it was a huge deal.
He knew his face had turned a brilliant shade of red as he scuffed his sneaker against the concrete. "Thanks, man." What more was there to say? Especially since Derek didn't seem all too keen on accepting much more than a brief show of gratitude.
Derek only flashed a smile that made his stomach do somersaults before walking away. He wished that would stop. How was he supposed to just think of Derek as nothing more than a friend when that happened every damned time the guy smiled at him? The guy made it really hard not to fall for him. Just one more reason he knew he couldn't be upset when someone else saw it in the guy.
–
The two worked until the sheriff came home around 5, stopping only long enough to greet him. Noah was now used to seeing varied members of the pack -even if he didn't know that's what they were- at the house at random times. Though admittedly, he'd grown more used to not seeing Stiles for days on end since the kid was in school and spent so much more of his time out at the pack house. Noah offered to help but Derek told him they were fine and that the sheriff had already worked hard enough for one day. Instead, he went inside to prepare them dinner while the teens pulled the old alternator out.
Much like when they were building the house, the two worked in a mostly comfortable silence. Except when that silence got to be too much for Stiles and he'd rant on about whatever subject came to mind. From something that bothered him at school, to obscure facts, to the research he still did. Or when communication was a must; like when they had to work together to get some rusted old bolt free. Every time their hands brushed one another as they worked it sent a little jolt through him that he had to fight more and more not to let it show how much their close proximity was affecting him.
They'd quit working to go and eat when Noah called them in a little after 6. His father made steamed broccoli, roasted chicken, and baked potatoes. He'd chastised Stiles for the dirt and oil still under his nails when he sat at the table but Stiles didn't worry too much about it, since they were planning to get right back to work as soon as they'd eaten. Which was less than twenty minutes. His father retired in front of the television while the two stepped back outside. Even from outside Stiles could hear a game announcer's voice from the television.
"Have you heard from Peter yet?" He asked once they were situated near the Jeep again.
"This morning. They're still looking at the pack there in Ohio but he doesn't think it's them. Looks like a new Alpha with a fairly new pack. He's planning to make contact with them tomorrow and try to learn a little more about them." Derek tried to hide the hopeless expression but Stiles saw it nonetheless. The air around them was tinged with bitterness and sadness.
"Are you sure it's a pack that has them? I mean, you know the Argent's started the fire, right? And the girls went missing right around the same time."
"Deucalion was around then too. He'd been sniffing around my mother at the time. We're pretty sure he sent the girls with one of his old pack members. They all spend so much time on the move, it's hard to know for sure who they're with and where they are."
Stiles nodded thoughtfully while spinning a new belt into place, his gaze focused on the elder male. "I'll keep looking. They're bound to turn up somewhere."
Derek nodded, though said nothing else. Stiles could tell he was letting himself get too lost in his own thoughts, closing himself off again. It hadn't escaped his notice that it was something the elder teen did whenever they talked about the girls or when emotions ran too high. Or even if it was a difficult subject. He felt bad but didn't know what to say that could even remotely be comforting. Other than continuing to offer his help where he could.
After a few minutes of silence, Derek said, "thanks," quietly enough that Stiles wasn't entirely sure he'd heard it at all. Since it was said so softly, Stiles assumed that Derek would have preferred it go unacknowledged so pretended not to have heard it.
–
His father popped out much later, after the sun had gone down and the two were working by the porch light and what moonlight shone down on them. Not that either of them really needed the light, given that both could see in the dark just fine. Noah's voice rang out, sounding exhausted, "boys, it's nearly 10 and Stiles has school tomorrow."
"I know, Dad. We're almost done. I think. Don't worry, I'll be up in time for school." He promised, glancing over his shoulder from his position leaned over the open hood. Derek lay under the front of the jeep installing the new starter.
Noah muttered something along the lines of, "you better," before retreating. Stiles heard his footsteps going up the stairs inside and returned his attention to the task at hand. Honestly, he wasn't doing much besides filling the air with chatter while screwing in new spark plugs. He was certain at least a quarter of the engine would be new by the end of the night. Also, between Jackson and the Hale's, they'd probably spent well over 3 grand in parts.
"If you need to go to bed I can finish here," Derek said from beneath him.
"Nah, I'm not tired anyway. I'd rather try and finish it. But if you're ready to call it a day…" he trailed off, knowing the other teen would understand that they could stop whenever. From their positions, he couldn't see Derek's face but knew it was just as smudged as his own. Both had more engine grease and grime caked on their hands and arms than he would have expected. And both had touched their own faces more than a handful of times. Last he'd seen Derek's the guy had a streak of it across his cheek.
"I don't sleep much, anyway." Derek countered, chuckling to himself. "Besides: like you said, we should be just about done. As long as nothing else is wrong, anyway." He slid out from underneath and rubbed his grease-covered hands over his once pristine dark blue jeans. "All hooked up?"
"Yup," Stiles grinned, he'd waited until Derek was out from beneath the Jeep to hook the battery back up. Derek nodded and opened the driver's side door -Stiles on his heels- then leaned in and turned the keys that had been left in the ignition earlier.
Stiles threw both fists into the air with a cheer when it started right away. "Success! Listen to her roar!" He jumped up and down in his excitement before throwing his arms around Derek in a hug. Like he would have Scott. Realizing it didn't have the same brotherly sort of feeling as it would have the other boy, he pulled back again awkwardly.
Derek pretended not to notice. "Pretty sure it's supposed to be 'purr'." He arched a brow and shook his head, smiling again.
"Have you heard this thing? I doubt it's ever purred." He laughed and eased the hood back into place as Derek turned the Jeep off again. "Hey, man, I can't thank you enough for this."
Derek passed his keys over and shrugged. "Like I said: pack helps pack."
"Yeah, but this was... I dunno, a big help." He replied and pocketed the keys. Turning, Stiles began cleaning up the tools and old parts from the driveway.
"And you've been a 'big help' with the house and searching for my sister and cousin. It's not a big deal, Stiles." Even though Derek wasn't making a big deal out of it, he still felt warm all over. Whether from the approval in the big guy's tone or the fact that Derek had spent the entire day helping him. After having gone well out of his way to get all the parts and tools needed to help. Once everything was picked up, Derek reached out and patted his shoulder before moving away. "Get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."
With a look at his grimy hands, his nose wrinkled. "Shower first. See ya." Stiles watched Derek walk back toward the Camaro before trekking inside. He liked spending time with Derek. Whether they were working on a car, building the house, or just sitting around talking. It didn't help that he was crushing so damned hard on the guy. Unfortunately, he was pretty sure Derek was 100% straight. So, all those feelings would remain as hidden as he could possibly keep them. Because he wasn't about to ruin a good friendship over a crush that he figured would go away eventually. That's what happened with crushes, right? Especially when they were on a friend. The more you learned about a person and their habits the less likely the crush would remain. Except Stiles was finding that the more he learned about Derek the more he liked him.
It was ridiculous. Still, as he washed all the grime away that he could, Stiles was committed to ignoring those stirring feelings in favor of being able to hold onto that friendship. He'd rather have Derek in his life as nothing more than a friend than not at all. Even if he was pretty sure the guy wouldn't kick him out of the pack for expressing himself, Stiles had a feeling that Derek wouldn't spend as much time around him if he knew. That wasn't acceptable for him. Especially considering Derek had become his anchor.
–
The week that followed continued in much the fashion it had before. Where the pack could find time they were at the preserve working: Derek and Stiles were there every day. The two were working on the framing for the second floor currently. Honestly, it was a good thing Stiles wasn't afraid of heights. Not like the fall would hurt him that much, but still. They'd just put long screws into the wood to hold it in place when the breeze blew familiar scents toward them. Both perked and turned as Peter and Erica stepped into the clearing.
Derek leaped down and rushed toward his uncle, wrapping him in a tight embrace before moving on to Erica as Stiles followed behind. Peter clapped Stiles on the shoulder. "Unfortunately, Ohio turned out to be nothing of importance. Though, I do believe we've made an alliance with the pack there should we ever have need of them. A young Alpha by the name of Brett Talbot leads them. He, like you and I," indicating himself and Derek, "was born into this. When his father passed the power transferred to him. He has a small pack there that he is attempting to rein in. We discussed the girls and he has promised to keep an ear open for any other packs that might come through their lands."
Derek nodded, looking as though he'd fully expected this information. Stiles couldn't help but feel bad for having sent Peter and the others on the goose chase. "We'll keep searching, Der. We'll find them."
"We've been searching for years, Stiles." Peter spoke instead, offering a halfhearted smile to the teen, "though we'll never entirely give up hope, it is difficult not to feel the weight of it all. That does not mean we won't continue searching." The last was aimed at his nephew.
Derek released a heavy sigh, one that spoke more volumes than words ever could and all Stiles wanted to do was reach out and comfort him in some way. Before he could Erica stepped away from Peter's side to link her arm with Stiles', tugging him away from the two. "Show me what you've done around here." He had a feeling she didn't care as much about the house as she was feigning interest in.
Regardless, Stiles pointed toward the framework and walked her along the foundation that had been laid, into each 'room'. "We're going to add a third story, we think it'll be needed with the size of the pack and all. You and Boyd's room should be that one." A hand raised to point above them. "Unless you guys think you need separate rooms. How does that work anyway? Dating within the pack? What happens if you guys split up? One of you have to leave or is it just tension all the time?" He didn't realize he was babbling until Erica arched a brow, a smile on her full lips.
"Why so curious, Batman? You wondering what would happen if you opened your mouth and told someone how you really feel?" Her voice was low enough that there was little chance the Hale's would hear her given the distance between them.
Even knowing that, his eyes widened. Stiles' jaw dropped and he was sure his face had gone red. "What?" Her smile widened. Like a cat playing with a mouse before devouring it. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Erica's gaze flicked toward his chest, clearly looking at his heart because she heard it jump with the lie. "Mmhmm." Disbelief radiated off of her. "Anyway, we're mates. Bonded for life. If one of us left the other it could kill both of us. We're stuck together. It doesn't matter because I've loved Boyd since we were about ten, I can't see either of us ever wanting to be with someone else. So, one room is fine. I'd say ordinarily, though, dating within the pack could cause some tension. Especially between an Alpha and Beta." That smirk formed again.
Stiles sputtered in response, glancing toward Derek over his shoulder. Which, okay, was a dead giveaway. Really, he was just trying to make sure the guy wasn't listening. He and Peter were deep in conversation, however, and appeared not to be paying any attention to the other two. Trying to change the subject as he turned back to the blonde, Stiles cleared his throat, "so, where is the big guy?"
She laughed quietly at his obvious attempt, though indulged him. "He went to check in with everyone else as soon as we crossed into Beacon Hills." Erica leaned against the wooden frame behind her with one foot propped under her. "You're deflecting, Stiles." Crossing her arms in a very Derek way, the girl smirked. Obviously, Erica wasn't going to let this go. "Why are you deflecting?" Stiles rolled his eyes in response and flicked another glance back toward the Hale's. Or more specifically: one of them. "How he doesn't see it is beyond me."
"See what, Erica? There's nothing to see here. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Nothing of importance at all." Shut up, Stiles! He chastised himself, because he knew blathering on like that wasn't going to help his case. And the way she quirked that brow confirmed it.
"Mm, you know I can smell it coming off of you, right? Normally I'd chalk it up to typical teenage hormones, but... that's not what this is, is it? I'm willing to bet that's what everyone else thinks when they smell you."
How Erica had picked up on it with only a few minutes around them, he didn't know. And honestly, he wasn't sure he wanted to. All he did know, or at least could hope for, was that she was right. That if the others did pick up on those chemosignals they'd just blame it on his being 17. With a Stiles-typical full-bodied sigh, he relented. "Look, it's a stupid crush. It means nothing, alright? I'll get over it and everything will be fine." Right?
"You're an idiot." Her tone was fond as she rolled her eyes skyward. "A giant idiot. Huge."
Stiles pouted a little and waved his hands animatedly. "Why? Why am I an idiot?" This wasn't exactly the first time anyone had called him one. He doubted it would be the last either. While he knew he was intelligent, Stiles also knew he could be oblivious to a great deal of the world. Right now, however, he was failing to see what would bring about the statement. It wasn't as though saying something to Derek would make any real difference. Except maybe make him feel worse. He'd been honest with Erica. It was a crush and he'd get over it. Eventually.
"I swear, no one opens their eyes around here." The words were muttered more to herself than for Stiles' benefit. The blonde curls were tossed back and forth as she shook her head while glancing over his shoulder. Instead of giving him a real answer, Erica flashed a toothy grin at him. "Stiles was telling me you're adding a third floor?"
Even with enhanced hearing the werewolves still managed to sneak up on him sometimes. Like now. He nearly jumped, thankfully able to hide it as a twitch, when he turned and both Derek and Peter were right there. Derek perked a brow, looking between him and Erica before nodding softly and repeating Stiles' earlier words. "Yeah, we don't think it'll be big enough with only two." Stiles tried not to notice how close the guy had positioned himself to him.
It always seemed to go the same way, really. Whenever the two of them were in the same place they wound up gravitating into the other's orbit. He knew that when he did it, it was mostly unintentional. Stiles just liked being near him, feeling that wave of calm that he didn't otherwise. He liked the way Derek smelled and smiled and laughed. Who was he kidding, he liked everything about the guy. Derek was infuriatingly perfect. Not without flaws, no one was, but even those held an appeal for Stiles.
He purposely kept his gaze from dancing toward the guy who stood close enough that all Stiles could smell was that strange combination of leather and cinnamon. Instead, focusing on a section of frame over Erica's head as though it were suddenly the most fascinating thing on the planet. Even still, he was able to see the smirk that had formed on the blonde's lips.
His attention was drawn back to her as she straightened, stepping closer. "I think it's a great idea. I'd stay and help but I think I'm going to catch up with Boyd first, say hello to everyone, and then get a good night's sleep before I jump in."
"I'll join you." Peter offered a gentle smile to the girl. When her brow twitched upward his eyes rolled as though she were the most annoying thing in the world. "In saying hello." He clarified. "Besides, I need to speak with Jackson anyway."
The elder Hale raised a hand in a wave before following after Erica. When they'd vanished from sight into the trees, Derek chuckled to himself and turned back to Stiles, flashing that smile that made his stomach do flips. "If I didn't know better, I'd say they were avoiding doing anything to help."
–
They'd been home for all of three days before deciding to follow up on the next lead Stiles had found. This one was much, much more subtle than the one in Ohio. Really, when he thought about it now, any experienced wolf was going to hide themselves a hell of a lot better than the pack there had. Just because the Argent's were basically gone didn't mean there weren't hunters still out searching for werewolves to exterminate.
Between school, rebuilding the pack house, and training sessions every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning, Stiles didn't have much time to do much research. But he made it. Every night (except Wednesday's because he was too damned tired) he'd stay up much later than he probably should have at his laptop. Even when the other three had been in Ohio, Stiles had continued searching. Which was how they'd gotten the next lead to chase after.
Roslyn, Washington.
An old mining town in the mountains with forest all around. Old rumors of Wendigos kept most of the locals from entering the old mines. However, the trails through the forest attracted backpackers. Some of whom disappeared, which only fed into the rumors, others made reports of bears or mountain lions. Both were native to the area but among those reports, which Stiles had to dig hard to find, were claims of these animals with glowing blue or golden eyes. Generally, those reports were laughed off by stating that the claimants were drunk, on drugs, or hallucinating due to the rumors surrounding the area in general.
Stiles believed them. Even if Wendigos were real. Deaton confirmed their existence. A creature that feasted on both living and dead flesh. Gross. Deaton had also told him that Wendigos had white eyes. They didn't share the same color as the wolves. Which meant there were wolves in Roslyn.
When he brought this evidence, a little more hesitantly, to Peter and Derek he'd been worried that neither man would see much in the research. That they'd write it off as Wendigos. So, he had been pleasantly surprised when Peter cast him a fond smile and told him they'd investigate.
"I knew I liked you, Stiles." The elder man claimed, slinging an arm over his shoulders while Derek walked off to call Erica and Boyd. "You know, you're much better at this than I might have given you credit for.. initially."
"Thanks?" Why didn't that sound like a compliment?
Peter chuckled under his breath. "You've garnered better information than I would have been able to. Truthfully, we were scouring the continent just hoping for a sign. Neither Derek nor I are as tech-savvy as you seem to be."
That sounded more like a compliment. Yet, it also sounded like he was trying to butter him up. "Probably helps that I can get access to police files." Something he shouldn't be able to do. Honestly, what did his dad expect from a bored teenager back in Ely? He knew all his father's passwords by now and had access to the sheriff's work laptop, and that meant he could search for things in an entirely different way than just Google. Which, probably, helped matters. A lot.
"Mm, I imagine that does offer quite a bit more aid than it should. Perhaps I'll send your father a complimentary fruit basket. For his… unknown assistance."
Stiles rolled his eyes and laughed. "That would just confuse him. Or make him think he has a secret admirer." For a second he contemplated that, then shook his head. "Don't send him anything."
"Too late. Mind's made up." Peter clapped him on the shoulder and stepped away, grinning wolfishly.
"I can't see how that could end badly. At all." Sarcasm. Though he grinned. Okay, so Stiles really enjoyed Peter's company. He had this unwavering buoyancy, when he was in a good mood that is, that was almost infectious. It made it difficult not to like the man's charismatic personality.
Peter cast a wink in his direction before sauntering off while calling over his shoulder, "I'll be sure to include an endearing note."
Chuckling, Stiles leaned against the picnic table to look over the blueprints that were spread out. His warm gaze danced over the lines and sketches of what the house should look like when they were finished, modeled after the original Hale House with several improvements.
He'd just been tracing the lines of what would eventually be the large kitchen when a deep booming sound echoed all around. It almost sounded like a bomb yet at the same time was much too close and so far away. For a split second, he thought he'd imagined it. Then it came again.
Louder.
Accompanied by a slight shake. The hell? His gaze lifted, searching the clearing. It didn't register until both Peter and Derek were back in the clearing and moving toward him. The shaking grew steadily harder until all three were crouched low around the picnic table to keep from being thrown off balance.
Four minutes.
That's all it lasted. Four minutes. It was still long enough to have his heart racing. "Was that a freaking earthquake?!" Stiles asked, his voice a little higher than he would later admit. Peter nodded a confirmation. "When's the last time Beacon Hills had an earthquake?" He couldn't remember any from his youth here and he'd never experienced one in Ely. From the fluttering heartbeats around him, he could tell he wasn't the only one who had panicked a little.
"20 years, give or take a few." Peter replied as the world righted itself again.
All three looked toward the framework that had been done to the house and Stiles exhaled happily that it mostly appeared untouched. Still, they moved closer to inspect it anyway. Everything on the first floor seemed stable, but a few of the upper sections were loose or had collapsed. Which meant they would have to re-work some of it.
Once again, Peter made for his car while Derek and Stiles secured the loose sections and returned to work. Or, started to anyway. They would have gotten much further had their phones not begun chirping and vibrating less than 20 minutes after the quake ended. Stiles answered Scott at the same time Derek answered Jackson's call.
"Dude, where are you?"
"The pack house... shouldn't you be at practice?" Stiles could hear a host of chatter in the background. Enough that it nearly overwhelmed his senses. How it wasn't shaking Scott was beyond him. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine but…" Scott trailed off and the chatter grew louder. Listening closer, he could hear the whole of the lacrosse team. "Man…"
"What?" He asked now, starting to get nervous that something terrible had happened.
"The school…" Scott sounded dazed. "The school collapsed.."
"What!? Is there anyone inside?"
"I… I don't know."
Derek moved up beside Stiles after having hung up with Jackson. He'd likely just had the same conversation. "We need to go. If we can help, we should."
"We're on our way, Scott. Find out if there's anyone trapped, my dad's probably on his way." He waited just long enough for Scott to give an okay before hanging up and following Derek to their cars.
–
It wasn't the whole school. Thankfully. The whole of the second floor and everything over the pool had caved in. Beacon Hills High School was not built to withstand an earthquake. That much was made clear when he pulled the Jeep to a stop half a block from the building. Police, fire, ambulances. Everywhere. They'd even called in other counties to help with search and rescue.
There had been a detention class in the building as well as the basketball team. Those in detention weren't in the collapsed zone and most of the gymnasium survived. Students had been in the library as well, but other than some shattered windows and toppled bookshelves the library was safe.
Overall, it looked as though there were only minor injuries and a few people who needed to go to the hospital from breathing in all the dust that had been stirred up. It could have been worse. Much worse. However, Lydia acted as though it were the end of the world because all classes were on hold for a full two weeks while construction crews came in to assess the damage and attempt to rebuild. There wasn't anywhere else in town that could accommodate the 3500 students that had classes and there was no plan in place for such a situation.
The superintendent would later make a report that circulated between the news and social media to inform students and parents that they were actively working on a solution so that no student fell behind or have to extend the school year into their summer break. Until further notice lacrosse, swim team, and basketball practices were all on hold.
It wasn't the worst tragedy as far as Stiles was concerned. Lydia would still graduate with honors, she was the smartest student in the whole school and really, she could have graduated after Junior year.
The pack assembled for a while to watch the crews at work. Knowing no one had died or been seriously injured, however, none of them wanted to linger too long.
Isaac, who stood on Derek's left, finally piped up to ask, "wait. Two weeks? Does that mean we can go with Peter?"
Peter, Boyd, and Erica had left Beacon Hills right after the quake ended. The moment the elder Hale had left the preserve they'd hit the road. Derek was silent for a short time with half the pack watching him, the other half still focused on the school while actively listening for his answer.
After releasing a sigh, he shook his head. "Not yet. Let them investigate first and see if there's even a reason for us to be there."