August 2, 2014

Never Know What Hit You 3/8


Title: Never Know What Hit You
Authors: Sxymami0909 & Xtremeroswelia
Fandom: Teen Wolf
Timeline: Set after 3.18 'Riddled' AU from there.
Rating: R - for extreme violence
Pairings: Stiles/Lydia, Scott/Kira, Allison/Isaac, Eventual Sheriff Stilinski/Melissa, Derek Hale, Aiden, Ethan, Alan Deaton, Chris Argent
Summary: Stiles is in a race against time to figure out the latest mystery in Beacon Hills before he can no longer remember his friends and family. But when Stiles heads down a dark path, Scott and Lydia have to work with the pack to find a way to save their friend and save Beacon Hills. But are both possible? Or will they have to choose? Does one life outweigh the many? Or will a sacrifice be made to protect what's left of the town? Friendships will be tested, bonds broken, and lines drawn. And when all is said and done, nothing will ever be the same again.
Parts: 3/8
Previous Chapters: | One | Two |

Chapter 3

Scott sat on the bench outside with Lydia, Allison and Isaac as he scrolled through his cell phone. “They said the fire started in the basement and in fifteen minutes the entire building was engulfed in flames...Can you believe that?” He asked looking away from the phone and shaking his head.

Isaac popped a potato chip into his mouth and shook his head. Sometimes he wondered why he was the only one of his friend who actually ate during lunch time. “Did they get everyone out?” He asked before eating a fry.

Scott looked back at the article on his phone. “Mostly, there was one casualty.” he said sadly shaking his head. His gaze drifted to Lydia and he frowned at the look on her face, “What’s wrong?”



Lydia glanced up from her cell phone, “Has anyone heard from Stiles? I called him twice and he didn’t answer...Not my texts either.” She said worry furrowing her brow. Stiles always got back to her usually right away.

Allison frowned at that, because she knew how unusual it was for Stiles not to respond to Lydia almost immediately. “Maybe…” She hesitated, looking down. “Maybe he wasn’t feeling well.” She looked troubled, and glanced from Lydia to Scott. “Should you call his dad? Check on him?”’

Scott frowned and he nodded, “Yeah, I’ll call now,” he said bringing up the screen and dialing the sheriff’s number. He hadn’t even thought that something might be wrong. The call went to voicemail and he left a message for the sheriff to call him back. “He’s probably working,” Scott said as he slipped his phone into his pocket, his brows drawing together. “You’re sure he didn’t get back to you?” Scott asked knowing it was weird for Stiles not to answer Lydia’s calls. After all it was Lydia.

Lydia arched an eyebrow at Scott, “Yes, I’m one hundred percent sure he didn’t answer the phone,” she said a hint of annoyance in her voice.

Isaac shifted uncomfortably, looking troubled. “Okay not to alarm anyone, but uh, you know who else I haven’t seen in school today?”

Allison quickly shifted her attention to him, eyes widening. “You think Aiden went after him?”

Scott glanced between them. “He wouldn’t dare.” Scott said, tension creeping into his body. Just because neither of them were in school, it didn’t mean Aiden had gone after Stiles. He glanced at Lydia. “Can you call Aiden? See if you can find out where he is?”

Lydia nodded reluctantly. She had a bad feeling, but she didn’t think it involved Aiden unfortunately she couldn’t say the same thing about Stiles.

“It just seems like a weird coincidence after yesterday,” Isaac said, looking down at the table.

Allison looked around at her friends, not liking this.

“Why the long faces?” Stiles casually dropped into the seat beside Lydia, setting his bookbag down on the floor behind him. “It’s like someone died or something.” His tone was curious but not overly interested, either.

Relief filled Lydia’s face and she put her phone down. “You’re here,” she said surprised, “We were worried,” she rested a hand on his arm, “What happened to you this morning I called twice, everything okay?” She asked.

He shrugged, glancing down at her hand on his arm. “Lost my phone. I don’t know what happened to it.” He looked across the table at Scott, eying the tuna sandwich he was eating and making a face. “Why were you trying to call?” he asked, turning his attention back to Lydia.

Scott followed Stiles gaze and then looked back at his friend a frown forming on his face.

Lydia arched an eyebrow, “Since when do I need a reason?” She asked, “I mean I had one, but,” she paused realizing she was rambling. “The asylum, the one we were talking about last night caught fire...it went up in flames.” She explained her hand still on his arm.

“Why were you guys talking about the asylum?” Isaac asked from his seat beside Allison.

Scott’s frown deepened. He was curious about that too. He wondered if maybe they thought it had something to do with Lydia’s scream last night.

“Maybe that’s what your whole…” He motioned to her vaguely, shrugging. “Maybe that’s what it was about. Anyone die?” He picked up his fork and stuffed a mouthful of green beans in his mouth.

Isaac frowned a little at the very casual tone to Stiles’ voice. He knew the guy was known for his sarcasm and wit, but an entire asylum had burned to the ground, and he didn’t seem very concerned about it. He shot a glance at Scott, who looked equally worried.

“One person,” Allison told him, frowning, too.

“Bummer.”

Scott’s eyes were on Stiles watching as his friend ate, practically shoveling food into his mouth, something he hadn’t done in days. Scott had noticed his friend’s lack of appetite lately and it seemed odd that it was suddenly back. But the weirder thing was the attitude. He’d been so concerned about Barrow and the asylum the other day when he made Scott tell him about what happened the night he was sleepwalking and now no interest at all. Something wasn’t right.

Lydia’s brows drew together and she squeezed his arm gently, “Are you sure you’re alright?” It wasn’t like Stiles to refer to her that way or to not care that someone died. A slight shiver ran up her spine and she swallowed hard. Something wasn’t right.

Stiles glanced at Lydia sideways. “What could possibly be wrong?” he asked, arching an eyebrow. “I lost my phone and then overslept. Shouldn’t you be happy that I actually managed to get some sleep for a change?”

Allison shot Scott a look, raising her eyebrows. Maybe this was part of the illness talking. She wasn’t sure, but it was definitely unsettling. It was like he’d changed overnight and was an entirely different person. But she hadn’t had a chance to do any research on frontotemporal dementia yet. Was this what it was going to be like?

Lydia opened her mouth, but before she could say anything Scott spoke. “Lydia, I was hoping you could help me with some Science,” he pointed to the book by his side. “Why don’t you come over here? We can take a look at it really quick before class.” He said keeping his tone light.

Isaac arched an eyebrow; maybe they were both going crazy because now Scott was acting weird too.

Lydia wanted to protest, but there was something in Scott’s eyes that made her comply, which didn’t happen often. “Sure,” she said slowly letting her hand slip from Stiles’ arm and getting up.

Stiles narrowed his eyes at Scott momentarily, watching as Lydia moved over to sit down beside him. Then he popped a piece of his roll in his mouth, glancing around the cafeteria like he was looking for someone.

“Stiles?” Allison looked at him with concern. “Who are you looking for?”

He shrugged. “No one specific.”

Isaac glanced around the table and finally put his food down. “Alright, you guys are seriously creeping me out, what the hell is going on? You’re ruining lunch; it’s my favorite period of the day.” He said while balling up a napkin.

“Lunch is over soon anyway Isaac,” Scott’s voice was calm, but low. “Didn’t you say you had something you wanted to show Allison earlier?” He asked glancing over at his friend, “Why don’t you take her now, I’ll get rid of the garbage for you.” He said lightly an easy smile pulling at his lips though he felt anything but at the moment.

Lydia pursed her lips as she listened to Scott talking. Something was definitely going on and either he didn’t feel like sharing or he couldn’t. She felt another chill go up her spine and she frowned. She glanced up and saw Stiles watching her. Lydia swallowed hard. Something was different about him, but she couldn’t seem to pinpoint what it was.

“Don’t pout,” Stiles told Isaac. “It’s unseemly to the ladies.” He glanced at Allison with a faint smirk.

Allison was officially creeped out. “Right. Yeah we should probably head out,” she said to Isaac, reaching out and tugging on his arm as she rose to her feet. “See you guys later.” She pulled him away from the table before he had a chance to respond to Stiles’ comment. “I don’t know if this is because he’s sick or if it’s something else.”

Isaac went willingly, “I have no idea what’s going on. I feel like we walked in, in the middle of a movie,” he said as he threaded their fingers together. “Hopefully we can get Scott alone later and talk to him about it. We don’t really know a lot about what’s going on with Stiles’ sickness,” He said trying to reassure Allison as he glanced back at the table briefly hoping Scott was alright.

Scott tapped his finger gently on the table top. “Hey, I was thinking if you were free tonight we could head up to our old camping spot, maybe campout for the weekend, we haven’t done it in a while.” He suggested watching Stiles as he spoke.

Stiles took a drink of his soda, tension obvious in his shoulders as he looked at Scott. “Sure, why not? I don’t have any plans.” His gaze slid over to Lydia momentarily, and then he looked back at Scott once more.

Scott smiled, “Cool, you don’t mind driving right? I can’t get my bike up there with gear and the both of us. You know how it is.”

Lydia sat beside Scott her body tense as she watched them talking a sick feeling in her stomach.

“I could pick you up,” he suggested, taking another drink. “Better for the environment.”

“Great, come by at five we’ll head out then.” He said as he grabbed his books and stood. “Come on Lydia, I’ll walk you to class.”

Lydia hesitated; a part of her didn’t want to leave Stiles. Something was obviously wrong and he was always there for her when she needed him, but another part of her couldn’t wait to get away and that made guilt turn in her chest. “Stiles and I have class together next period, I can wait,” she said to him. “If you want.”

Scott pursed his lips, “Lydia,” he said quietly.

He looked between the pair, eyes searching intently. “No, it’s cool. We’ll have plenty of time to walk to class together in the future. It’s not like I’m dying or anything,” he said casually, shrugging.

Lydia’s face paled at his comment and Scott gripped her arm and practically tugged her out of the seat. He met Stiles gaze, his eyes hard. “I’ll see you later.” He said as he gently tugged Lydia along with him away from the lunch table.

Lydia opened her mouth, “My books,”

“You’ll get them later; don’t say anything else right now.” He said as he brought them back into the school. He paused and took a deep breath. “We need to call a meeting can you do that? Can you get everyone together? I need to call Derek.” He said finally releasing Lydia’s arm and running a hand down his face.

Lydia pursed her lips together as she watched Scott, the anxiety clear in his demeanor. “It’s Stiles,” she whispered, “He’s-”

“He’s not right. Something’s going on and I think until we figure it out everyone should stay away from him.” He caught Lydia’s gaze, “Especially you, got it?”

Lydia didn’t like being told what to do, but she could see Scott was in frantic mode so she nodded, “Got it.” She told him quietly.

He inclined his head, “Text me and let me know what everyone says okay?”

Lydia nodded and Scott squeezed her arm gently before walking down the hall leaving her standing there and suddenly she was wondering if she should have tried harder to figure out whatever those voices were trying to tell her.

______


Derek stood in front of the windows arms crossed over his chest as he waited for Scott to come inside. Isaac was sitting on the couch with Allison and Lydia was behind him glancing out the window. Scott had called him while he was in school saying they needed to have an emergency meeting about Stiles. He didn’t give him details over the phone, but Derek was pretty sure he didn’t need them. At this point it was pretty clear what was going on.

The sound of the loft door opening pulled Derek from his thoughts. He spotted Scott and Kira walking in and gave him a tight smile. “We ready?”

Scott nodded his chest tight. He kept Kira’s hand in his pausing when he was standing near Isaac and Allison. “I thought it was important for us to all meet up here because something is wrong with Stiles...outside of what’s already wrong with him,” Scott added.

“What do you mean?” Allison asked immediately, her eyebrows furrowing as she looked at him, and then at Isaac. Because dying of a terrible disease wasn’t enough already?

Kira shifted uneasily, squeezing Scott’s hand as a guilty look crossed over her face. She looked over at Derek, realizing he hadn’t told Scott what was going on. She swallowed hard.

Isaac noticed Kira’s sudden change and he arched an eyebrow. She looked like she knew something was up with Stiles, too, which was kind of weird since Stiles hadn’t really liked her very much according to Scott.

Derek sent Kira an apologetic look. “I actually have a theory, that I didn’t get a chance to run by you the other day at the hospital,” Derek said. He glanced at Kira and then at Scott.

“I think that Barrow used the foxfire from Kira to jumpstart the Nogitsune that hitched a ride in Stiles when the door inside him was opened after the ritual. The dark spirit inhabited his body, but wasn’t able to take control of it until what happened at that power plant.” He explained.

Scott pursed his lips, his hand tightening on Kira’s, “The Nogitsune,” he repeated, “That makes sense,” he said quietly. “The way he was acting today...it just wasn’t right. There was something about him that didn’t fit and I couldn’t place it.” He explained shaking his head. “How do we stop it?” He asked Derek.

Derek shook his head, “I don’t know.” He said honestly.

“I’m really sorry,” Kira said earnestly, looking up at Scott. “I didn’t mean to do anything to Stiles.” Her eyes watered and she blinked rapidly to keep the tears from falling.

Scott turned to Kira brushing a thumb beneath her eye. “Hey, I don’t blame you. You didn’t even know what was happening.” he said as he cupped her cheek. “We’re going to figure this out and get Stiles back and then everything will be fine.” Then again who knew how much damage this Nogitsune was doing to Stiles’ already unhealthy headspace.

Allison nodded agreeing with Scott’s words. “Kira, we know that,” She told her quietly, taking it all in. “It isn’t your fault.” She looked down at the floor for a long moment, then over to Lydia. She walked over to the plate glass window reaching out and resting a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Or yours. So stop. No one’s to blame here.” She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “I can start going through my family’s bestiary. I may need some help with the translations.”

Isaac got up and followed Allison over to Lydia resting a hand on the small of Allison’s back rubbing circles into it as he spoke. “I can help translate...even though I don’t know the language.” He said lightly.

Scott glanced at Lydia. She’d been silent since he pulled her away from Stiles at school and he wasn’t sure what to do to snap her out of it. “We all have our parts to play. Allison talk to your dad too see if he’ll help. Kira and I will look into the Kitsune legends and see if we can find more information about the Nogitsune. Derek maybe you can work on finding a way to stop the Nogitsune?”

Derek nodded, “I can handle that,” he said matter-of-factly.

Scott nodded, “Good...Lydia maybe you can help Allison with the translations.” He suggested.

Lydia glanced over at Scott and just nodded. Of course that was what she was going to help with. It’s not like she could do anything else right. She’d screamed three times in the last couple of days and they were all for Stiles, they had to be. That was the only thing that made sense and it killed her that she’d missed that.

Kira looked around, and then up at Scott. “My parents have a library with a lot of Japanese mythology. We should start there.” She hesitated, then looked around. “I’ll do whatever I can to fix this.” She sounded anxious.

Allison smiled, but it was faint and she reached out, taking Isaac’s hand. “All right. We can head back to my place and get started.” She looked over at Lydia.

Isaac squeezed her hand gently as he followed her gaze to Lydia, who looked a little out of it and slightly more frazzled than usual. He hesitated, “Lydia, we’re going to go now.” He repeated Allison’s words.

Lydia glanced over finally realizing they were talking to her. She swallowed hard, “I--I’ll meet you guys there. I need to do something first.” She said.

Scott kept Kira’s hand in his. “Lydia, remember what I said...keep your distance from Stiles.”

Lydia met Scott’s gaze, “I heard you.” She snapped.

Scott sighed; this was going to be harder than he thought. “Kira I’m going to drop you off at home and then I’m supposed to be going camping with Stiles.” He told them, “He’s meeting me at my place.”

Scott glanced at Derek when Lydia walked over to the table where her purse was. He stepped closer to the other werewolf and lowered his voice. “Would you mind keeping an eye on her for me.” He asked quietly.

Derek’s gaze drifted to Lydia and then nodded as he glanced back at Scott. “I’ll make sure she’s okay, you guys go.” He told him.

Scott sent Derek a tight smile, “Thanks. Alright guys let’s head out.” He said walking back over to Kira.

Kira couldn’t help but overhear the quiet conversation between Scott and Derek and she was relieved that Derek would be keeping an eye out for Lydia. She was pretty sure that Lydia didn’t like her, and she didn’t blame her for that, considering. She just wanted to fix things for Scott and his friends, because she genuinely liked them and wanted to be part of this group. She squeezed Scott’s hand as he led the way to the door a moment later.

She just hoped they could find a solution quickly because if Stiles really was possessed by the Nogitsune, he was in a lot of trouble. She’d read stories about the kinds of things possession did to a person, both physically and mentally. She wanted to get this over with before the damage was irreparable.

______


Lydia sat silently in the passenger side of Derek’s car, her gaze focused worriedly out the window. Her stomach was twisted in knots and her hands kept clenching and unclenching in her lap. She was filled to the brim with anxiety and guilt and something she couldn’t quite understand. At some point she was going to need to apologize to Scott. She knew he was hurting just as much as she was and yet he had to step up and be a leader. Lydia shouldn’t be giving him such a hard time.

She let out a soft sigh and leaned back against the seat trying to get herself to relax. But it was practically impossible. All she could think about was Stiles.

Derek glanced at Lydia out of the corner of his eye as he made his way to the Sheriff’s station. Her pain was practically palpable in his car. It was suffocating and he wasn’t sure what to say to her. Lydia Martin was an odd girl. The picture of perfection to all who saw her and yet, she felt things more deeply than most.

Derek knew a lot of it had to do with the fact that she was Banshee, but he also knew she didn’t really understand what that meant just yet, and yet she was still trying to help. Lydia wasn’t nearly as shallow as he’d first assumed. He cleared his throat, “We’re almost there, a couple more minutes.” He paused, “I’ve seen Scott do a lot of things in the past three years that people thought weren’t possible,” Derek commented casually, “If anyone can find a way to help Stiles, its him...and you.” He told her quietly.

Lydia turned her head in Derek’s direction and studied him for a minute. “I think that’s the most you’ve ever spoken to me...or anyone.” She said her voice monotone as she rested her hands on her knees to keep them still.

Derek’s lip lifted up at the corner, “I’m working on my growth as a person. Step one, engage in human interaction. Step two, buy curtains.”

The absurdity of his comment made Lydia chuckle softly as she shook her head. “Derek Hale ladies and gentlemen, making strides in werewolf-human interspecies communication one shopping trip at a time.” She quipped.

The grin stayed in place on Derek’s face as he pulled into an empty spot outside the Sheriff’s office. He parked the car and turned off the ignition pocketing his keys.

Lydia unhooked her seatbelt, the expression on her face once again serious as she stared at the lights inside the building. “How am I supposed to tell him about Stiles?” She asked quickly, “After everything he just found out...I just...I wish Stiles was here he’d know what to do. He always knows what to do.”

Derek pursed his lips. “It’s okay to be upset...to care. The two of you are close.” He commented his voice gruff, not used to trying to comfort people. That wasn’t his ball game. “But I have a feeling he needs you...so you need to do the hard stuff so that you can get him back and if you’re willing to do that, then in the end we’ll make sure it works out.” He hoped.

Lydia glanced at Derek, “You’re not nearly as sour as Stiles thinks you are,” she said with a weak smile before pushing open the door and getting out of the car. Lydia heard Derek following suit as she made her way into the station in hopes of finding the Sheriff.

Sheriff Stilinski was in his office, trying his best to focus on the paperwork he’d been staring at for the last hour and a half. The asylum had been burned down to the ground sometime early that morning and initial reports were indicating that foul play was suspected. Arson. The last arson case he’d investigated in Beacon Hills had been the Hale family fire.

Needless to say, this wasn’t bringing up any good memories for him. That fire had been devastating, and he hadn’t known who’d been involved with that until a few months ago. It had been an unsolved arson case for nearly a decade. He didn’t like things going unsolved. Not only because it meant that there was no peace for the victims left behind, but because it made him feel helpless.

Now he was a lot more aware of the kinds of things that went on in the town, and while he didn’t necessarily understand all of it, he was at least more knowledgeable about it than he had been.

Someone had died in this fire, too. A young woman who’d resided there for the last couple of years who had hidden under her bed when the chaos broke out at the place. His chest hurt when he’d read that she was only seventeen. The same age as his own son.

Despite the case, it still wasn’t quite enough to get his mind off the fact that Stiles was sick, dying from the same disease that had killed Claudia. He’d watched her suffer, unable to really do anything because there was nothing he could do. Was he going to have to watch his son suffer that same fate?

Stiles had mentioned that Scott could turn him into a werewolf, but he hadn’t missed his son’s hesitation about that. He knew that becoming a werewolf would be a huge change for both of them to deal with, but if it kept him alive…

Michael wasn’t going to pressure him though. He wouldn’t force him or try to convince him to walk that path because he knew that wasn’t an easy path to be on either.

He sighed, sitting back in his chair and pinching the bridge of his nose as he felt a headache coming on.

It didn’t take Lydia long to finagle her way past the deputies, though a few of them were watching Derek closely. She rolled her eyes and came to a stop outside of the Sheriff’s office. Her stomach flip flopped, but a strange feeling inside of her propelled her forward. Lydia lifted her hand and knocked on the door, the rapping insistent, but not too hard.

“Come in,” Sheriff Stilinski called as he looked up and saw Lydia through the glass, smiling softly and rising to his feet. “Lydia. Is everything all right?” He spotted Derek behind her and he grew still. That wasn’t good. Something was wrong.

Lydia shook her head, her heart pounding heavily in her chest. Derek closed the door behind him as Lydia spoke. “I know Stiles told you about the different things in this town, but we’ve got some new things here now and I know you’re not going to completely understand this, but Stiles...Stiles isn’t himself right now,” she explained her hands tangling together as she spoke.

“There is something called a Nogitsune, it’s a dark spirit, a type of kitsune. Someone--we think it’s taken over Stiles. We don’t know how or why, but--I needed to come here and tell you. I just got this feeling like you should know...I mean you should know but I,” she paused swallowing hard. “I had a feeling.” Lydia looked down knowing her feelings meant very little to the Sheriff and pretty much everyone else since she couldn’t seem to get anything right.

“A dark spirit,” he echoed, thinking back to his chess-board talk with his son several weeks before. That definitely hadn’t been part of the talk. There hadn’t been anything about spirits or ghosts, though he wasn’t exactly surprised to hear about it now. “A kitsune?” He tried to make sense of what she was saying.

“...Lydia, are you telling me that my son is possessed by this spirit?” His eyebrows rose and he stared at her. She appeared to be completely serious. He thought back to his last interaction with his son. He’d left for work before Stiles had gotten up that morning, so the last time he’d seen Stiles was the night before.

“I know how it sounds and I know these names weren’t on the chessboard,” Stiles had told her about that not long ago saying it’s how he explained things to his dad, “But it’s real. Do you remember when we were in here after the power outage? With Kira? Well that was when the Nogitsune got into Stiles, I guess...it’s been sort of slowly taking hold I mean I don’t--” Lydia paused her face paling as her heart jumped in her chest.

Derek frowned and took a step forward when he heard Lydia’s heartbeat jump. “What’s wrong?” He asked his brows drawing together.

Lydia glanced between Derek and the Sheriff, “I screamed...I screamed the night Barrow tried to electrocute Kira it’s how we found her. And I screamed the night Stiles was in the hospital. And then last night, last night was the worst.” Lydia’s chest tightened.

Sheriff Stilinski nodded when she mentioned the power outage, grimacing as he remembered the oh-so-pleasant conversation with Agent McCall that had taken place in his office later that night. He hadn’t noticed anything different about his son that night. He’d been his smart ass self, mocking the FBI agent much to his own delight.

Lydia pursed her lips. “I knew about the Nogitsune I just I didn’t understand what the voices were saying, I didn’t get it,” she told them her tone elevating as guilt built in her chest. This was her fault. Michael frowned “But if you hadn’t screamed that night, then Kira might be dead now,” he said slowly.

Derek sighed, “No, she wouldn’t. Kira is a Kitsune, not the bad kind,” he added quickly. “We think that Barrow used Kira’s foxfire to jump start the Nogitsune’s power in Stiles. We think it’s been in him since the nemeton ritual.”

Lydia winced, “Derek,” she said his name and he arched an eyebrow at her. She sighed. “Sheriff, there’s a lot of stuff to explain, but I’d feel more comfortable if we talked about it somewhere else...I’ll tell you everything. But...we should go.”

“Nemeton ritual?” he echoed, shaking his head. He had no idea what Derek was talking about at all, but he already didn’t like the sound of it. He looked down at his desk, still stacked with paperwork, but it was going to have to wait until morning. This was about his son and his son came first.

“All right. My house?” he suggested, picking up his car keys as he looked between the pair standing in front of him.

A wave of anxiety rolled in her stomach and something inside Lydia shifted unsettling her. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end and she swallowed hard. “We need to go now...we have to leave.” She reached for the Sheriff, “Get out of the office,” she said.

Derek glanced around not sure what had Lydia so worked up. He blinked shifting partway so he could have a closer look at the room his eyes. The heat coming from the Sheriff’s desk wasn’t natural. His eyes widened and he turned, “Get out now, tell everyone to get down.”

Lydia tugged the Sheriff forward to the door, her only goal to get Stiles’ dad away from harm.

“What’s going on?” Sheriff Stilinski asked in confusion as he allowed Lydia to lead him toward the door, shaking his head and looking back at Derek with worried eyes. “What did he -- “

Before he could finish his sentence, the room rocked, glass exploding as he used his body to cover Lydia’s to shield her from harm even as Derek tackled him to the ground.

Pieces of glass and wood flew all around them some slamming into Derek, but he stayed where he was making sure the Sheriff and Lydia were covered. His ears buzzed and after a few minutes that felt a lot longer than they were, there was a deafening silence, smoke billowing around them. And then in seconds there was a flurry of activity people calling out yelling, calling for the Sheriff and other officers.

Derek pushed himself up grunting in pain as he noticed the piece of plywood sticking out of his side. He pushed aside some of the debris near the Sheriff and Lydia before gripping the plywood in his side, gritting his teeth and yanking it out. “Come on, we need to go.” He said reaching out to help them up.

Sheriff Stilinski looked at Derek worriedly as he watched him yank the plywood out of his side. He knew that Derek was a werewolf -- he was on the chessboard, of course -- and he knew from Stiles that werewolves healed very quickly unless something like wolfsbane or mistletoe was used against them. He didn’t understand, though, how someone had managed to get in to the department and plant a bomb. It didn’t make any sense.


Derek heard the Sheriff groan and he followed the other man’s gaze. “We don’t have time for him,” he said.

Lydia stood on shaky legs, “Turn around and go out the back,” she said as she looked away from Scott’s dad. “We can lose him in the crowd outside. There’s a door that leads to a side entrance,” she said.

Derek arched an eyebrow at her and Lydia cleared her throat, “Stiles told me,” she said shifting on her feet, “Guys hurry come on,” she said gripping each of their arms and shifting them forward in the opposite direction of Scott’s dad.

Sheriff Stilinski lifted a brow as he wondered just how many times Stiles and his friends had utilized that door. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer. He led the way out the door, pausing when he caught sight of a familiar figure outside a few yards away. “Stiles?”

Lydia sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of them. Derek moved slowly around the Sheriff stepping in front of him and Lydia and glancing at Stiles. He let his eyes flash, “There’s nothing here for you.” He called out keeping himself in front of Lydia and the Sheriff.

An unnatural smile twisted onto Stiles’ face. “You think you can stop me, Hale?”

It looked like his son. It sounded like his son. But the boy that stood there, smiling like he was proud of himself wasn’t his son. It couldn’t be. Stiles didn’t have that kind of evil within him.

“I think you’re going to walk away,” he said his fists clenching at his sides. “I don’t want to hurt you Stiles...but in the long run if it’s to protect the people you care about I will.” He said and it was true. Derek wouldn’t hurt him severely, he’d most likely find a way to restrain him, but that thing inside of Stiles didn’t need to know that.

Lydia took a step forward, “We’re not afraid of you.” She said holding herself beside Derek though he didn’t look happy about it. “You need to go, you don’t belong here.” Not like this, not when that thing was looking at her with Stiles face. Her heart clenched, but she held her ground.

“You’re right. I do have other plans.” He grinned at them. “Gotta go camping with my buddy Scott.” He winked at Lydia. “But I’ll catch up with you later, Babe. I think we need to have a little chat, too.” He shifted his gaze back to Derek. “But you are wrong about one thing, Beta.”

Sheriff Stilinski felt sick as he listened to the thing inside his son taunt his son’s friends.

“Stiles doesn’t live here anymore.” He lifted his hand, making a shooting motion with his fingers. “See you around, Pops.”

A wave of rage filled Lydia and she took a step forward, but Derek’s arm was around her in seconds, holding her back, “Let him go, now’s not the time.” He said quietly.

Lydia watched his retreating form and she couldn’t stop her mouth from opening, “You’re a liar!” She screamed. Stiles was still there...he had to be.

He simply chuckled as he turned his back to them and headed away, disappearing from sight.

Derek swallowed heavily, the image Stiles left in his head disturbing. He released his hold on Lydia and turned to the Sheriff. “I would suggest an alternate living situation at the moment. Preferably somewhere that has some kind of supernatural protection.” He said his tone calm.

Lydia pressed a shaky hand against her stomach. “We need to get some mountain ash from Deaton. It kept out the Oni, it should keep out the Nogitsune.” She said her voice low.

“That thing said Stiles was gone,” Sheriff Stilinski whispered. “But he’s not. He’s still in there, somewhere.” He looked from Derek to Lydia. “My son is not gone.”

“I know that,” Lydia said quietly. “It’s lying. We’re going to get Stiles back; I will not let that thing keep his body.” She said her voice hard.

Derek shifted and winced. “I should get you home Lydia...Do you know where you’re heading Sheriff?” He asked the pain in his side throbbing slightly, but not too bad.

Michael rubbed a hand over his face, feeling overwhelmed. “I should give Melissa McCall a head’s up about what’s going on, unless Scott already has.” He paused. “He said he was meeting up with Scott.” There was alarm in his voice. “Scott knows what’s going on, right?” The idea that the thing that had hijacked his son’s body would go after and harm Scott pained him. Stiles would never forgive himself if he managed to hurt his best friend in any way. Stiles looked at Scott like a brother. The two had been inseparable since they were children.

Lydia nodded, “Scott knows. We all have things to do. Allison and Isaac are looking through her family books to see if there’s any information in there about the dark spirit. Kira is going to look through her family stuff too since she’s a Kitsune, Scott is meeting up with...the Nogitsune and I needed to see you, to tell you.” She said softly.

Derek rubbed the back of his neck as she listened to them talk, wondering if this was the beginning of how bad it was actually going to get.

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