canon au } { post-603, of missing people and missing anchors

[wildkingdom]

Derek: [blinks]

Malia: [sulks] Scott's worried about me losing control.

Derek: Why would he be worried about that? [goes to sit on the couch and motions for her to join him]

Malia: [goes to follow before slumping into the cushions] Because I may have gone full coyote in the middle of a math make up test?

Derek: [nods] That.... could be a clue. What's been going on lately? I know you had control.

Malia: [she shrugs, tucking one leg under the other] It just seems like everything is happening at once. Graduation, keeping my grades up, figuring out what I want to do after ... and there's things missing.

Derek: Yeah. Senior year tends to have a lot of that. I actually never got to hit a lot of this part of my senior year, but I remember just how crazy it was. Colleges, tests, prom, all of that.

Malia: Yeah. [a beat] It's not always big things though. Most of the time it's just ... my claws popping out when they shouldn't.

Derek: When that happens, is it because you're angry, or afraid?

Malia: Both?

Derek: Any other time?

Malia: [she shrugs] I always kind of had that. But it's gotten harder since the stuff with the Hunt started.

Derek: With the Hunt, or after you got the power from your mom?

Malia: ... Both?

Derek: [nods] Okay. Up until then, what was your anchor?

Malia: [and that's when she gets quiet because look at that ... she doesn't remember]

Derek: [tilts his head] And now I think we know how it's related to the Hunt. Okay, well what we need to do is find you a new anchor first. Something that the Riders can't take from you.

Malia: I remember being scared of something. Of ... doing something, I guess? But I can't remember what it was.

Derek: Well, what are you afraid of now?

Malia: [Scott wanting her to go away] I don't know. I don't want to hurt anyone because I can't control it.

Derek: Well, not hurting someone is a good motivation. Now we probably don't want to focus on a specific who just in case the Riders up their game, but perhaps a theoretical person, or even yourself.

Malia: Does it work that way?

Derek: It can. You can be your own anchor. Scott is.

Malia: Scott's better at this than I am.

Derek: [chuckles] Scott sucked at this when he was first starting. And he had control issues after he lost Allison as his girlfriend. Trust me, you're more than capable of figuring this out

Malia: [huffs a bit. then after a quiet moment] I think I'm missing more than everyone else is.

Derek: How so?

Malia: I mean, I can feel the gaps they're feeling. But ... there are other gaps that aren't making any sense.

Derek: Concerning this Stiles person?

Malia: Yeah. Like ... he was there maybe, but he wasn't the important thing.

Derek: What are some of these gaps? Maybe we can figure out if they are the same person or a different one.

Malia: It's hard to explain. It's ... a different energy.

Derek: What kind of feelings do you get around the memories where you can't remember the person?

Malia: With the Stiles guy - at least, I think it's the Stiles guy - there's this ... nervousness. Like I'm drowning in anxiety that isn't mine. The other person is ... calmer. [a beat] Angrier.

Derek: Older or younger then you?

Malia: Older. Way older. [a beat] And way stronger too.

Derek: [okay, that's different. He was the oldest werewolf in the pack...] Do they feel like they were a part of the pack?

Malia: [she considers for a moment, before she shakes her head. then there's a long pause] Who did we fight in Mexico?

Derek: [he thought a moment] Kate. She had kidnapped Scott and we went down to save him and Kira.

Malia: No. You fought Kate. [looks over at Derek with a very serious expression on her face] Who was the pack fighting?

Derek: [he hadn't been in there, but he had heard about it after. He tried to think, closing his eyes and trying to find the memory] I... I don't remember. [another moment] I have two blanks from that day. Who you fought, and who was with me when Liam was having problems controlling his shift. I don't think they were the same person.

Malia: I also don't remember how I got to Mexico.

Derek: You weren't with me. Shit, we are missing two people.

Malia: The others didn't really seem to notice.

Derek: Then it's someone we both know, that either they don't, or isn't important.... [he pauses a moment, and his eyes widen a bit] Malia, how are you related to me again?

Malia: [.... ..... .....] Cousins?

Derek: Yeah, but by who? [and that's a bit of fear in Derek's eyes because he is scared of losing family]

Malia: [there's a long pause as she tries to place a name or a face, and her nose wrinkles] I got nothing.

Derek: That's who's missing. It's not your mother, because I remember things about her.

Malia: [grits her teeth] So do I.

Derek: It's your father. Not your adoptive father...

Malia: Yeah, I get it. I remember my dad too. [because her biological father has never been able to replace her dad]

Derek: And if we're cousins... he has to be my uncle. but I don't have an uncle. [goes to grab his phone and calls Laura]

Laura: [it rings a lot before] ... This better be important, I was having a really awesome nap.

Derek: Do we have an uncle?

Laura: No. [the answer comes a little too quickly but she would remember if her mother had a brother] Wait, Mom or Dad's side?

Laura: No. [the answer comes a little too quickly but she would remember if her mother had a brother] Wait, Mom or Dad's side?

Laura: [long pause as she considers that] I think we had some great uncles on dad's side, but ... they're a bit too old to be Malia's father.

Derek: I think it's related to the Ghost Riders in town.

Laura: You think we lost someone?

Derek: Two. Scott was over earlier trying to figure out who or what a Stiles is, and now Malia is missing someone and it's not the same person. It's two people, and it's not the Stiles shaped person that is related to us.

Laura: That's not a good sign.

Derek: No, it's not. And Scott says that something happened and he's pretty sure that the riders are going to be grabbing most of the high school students soon.

Laura: Greeeeeeeeat. [rubs her eyes as she sits up] I'll talk to Jordan and see if there's anything we can do.

Derek: Yeah, and you may want to watch him, since he's from the same piece of mythology as they are. Who knows what they will do if they see him.

Laura: I'll do my best. I can't see these things, and I don't want to.

Derek: No, you don't want to because when you do, that means you're next.

Laura: Exactly. [sighs] And here I thought things might be quiet for us this time around.

Derek: You got your maternity leave. Be grateful for that.

Laura: [snorts] Jordan should be home soon. I'll let you know what he says.

Derek: Alright. Thanks Laura.

Laura: Let me know if you figure out anything else.

Derek: Will do. [and he hangs up] No luck. Maybe I can talk to this Corey kid. See if he can find anything hidden in the loft that may give us a clue. But right now, let's work on getting you a new anchor, okay?

Malia: [exhales through her nose] Okay. I hate this part.

Derek: Yeah, I did too. You know I didn't get control until I was living in New York, right?

Malia: [squints at him] Really?

Derek: Yeah. I was told that wolves with blue eyes have a harder time. It hurt a lot, and I tried so many ways to figure it out.

Malia: I just didn't have anyone to teach me until Scott.

Derek: And now you have all of us. You know why Scott asked me out of everyone?

Malia: [shakes her head]

Derek: I use my anger as my anchor.

Malia: Anger doesn't work for me. Makes it worse, not better.

Derek: Have you tried to focus it though? Everyone I'm sure tells you to calm down, breathe, you need to relax. Right?

Malia: [nods] That doesn't work either.

Derek: Try this instead. When you feel that anger building, use it to straighten your back. Set your jaw. Plant your feet and focus on making yourself still, silent, and solid. Someone tries to instigate you, just funnel that anger into your eyes to stare at them. Don't let them see your anger though, because you're scarier when you're silent and glaring than when you're letting it out. But that focus in keeping you in that imposing position can help you focus on not losing the control.

Malia: Is that why Hales just stare down people all the time?

Derek: [thinks, then smiles a bit] Yeah, pretty much. Keeps us from ripping their throats out with our teeth. Or punching them in the face.

Malia: I'd rather punch them in the face.

Derek: So would I most of the time. But that's part of why you want control. It keeps you from getting those pesky assault charges that put you in jail.

Malia: [sighs] The guy dropped them this time.

Derek: This time. And because Stilinski I'm sure talked him out of it.

Malia: Most of the time they deserve it.

Derek: Yes, but again, human laws we can't skirt around. Which is why we have to be the better people.

Malia: [makes a face]

Derek: I don't want to see you end up in a cage.

Malia: [that seems to get through to her and she sighs and nods] Okay.

Derek: So try it. If that doesn't work, we can try something else. Just remember that by grounding yourself, you're also keeping yourself from losing control and really hurting people more than you want to.

Malia: [she nods] Okay.

Derek: [and he will sit back, letting Malia focus and try it]

Malia: [and she'll try, but it doesn't feel natural. It doesn't feel like she is actually solving anything and she shakes her head] It doesn't feel right.

Derek: Okay. I'd suggest the meditation mantra next. It could help?

Malia: [she shrugs] I'll take what I can get.

Derek: [he pushes himself up and goes to the mantle where Dawn's television is and grabs a metal box from it. He walks back to the couch and opens it, pulling out the triskele] You recognize this symbol?

Malia: Hale family crest, right?

Derek: That's it. It's a triskele. Each spiral represents a level a werewolf can be - alpha, beta, and omega. We can rise or fall to them at any point in our lives, but we are all connected.

Malia: But I'm not a wolf.

Derek: You're related to me. You may be a werecoyote, but you still are part Hale. We’re connected.

Malia: [there's a slow pause] I've never really felt like a Hale.

Derek: That's probably more on me than anything else.

Malia: It's not just that. Ever since stuff went down with my mom, I've felt more ... coyote. Getting the ability to shift back - I started to feel like me again. And ... I'm not a wolf.

Derek: No, you're not. And I don't actually know any other werecoyotes to be able to call to ask for help with you. But you and I are more similar than you give me credit for.

Malia: The only other werecoyote I knew other than my mom was Theo. And he didn't really count.

Derek: With all the pieces that were in Theo, I think you're more Hale than he was werecoyote.

Malia: Maybe. [leans back against the couch] It's just hard to know where I fit sometimes. When I'm doing everything right, and I'm with the pack, it all makes sense. But when I start screwing up ... [they shuffle her off for someone else to deal with and she doesn't feel like part of them anymore]

Derek: I know it sounds like a crappy answer, but Scott is still a teenager, like you. Alpha he may be, but he's still very young when it comes to werewolf lives and he just doesn't know a lot. Everything he does know about werewolves, he's learned from me for the most part.

Malia: I just don't want to be on my own.

Derek: Hey. [he will reach over and squeeze her knee] As long as I'm here, you're never going to be alone. You're my family, and I take care of my family. Got it?

Malia: [glances over and watches him for a moment before nodding] Okay.

Derek: [puts the triskele into her hands] The mantra may seem stupid at first, but it helped my older sister focus. You just rub your thumb over each spiral and just focus on the words Alpha. Beta. Omega.

Malia: [nods a bit, before taking it in her hand] It probably won't do me much good when I'm not struggling.

Derek: Do you have my number?

Malia: [she nods] Yeah.

Derek: When you're struggling, call me. Until then, keep it in your backpack. I'll try and find you something smaller like a keychain.

Malia: [nods again] Okay. [a beat] Thanks, Derek.

Derek: You're welcome, Malia. And if you need a safe spot when you feel out of control, go into the vault. It's your space too.

Malia: [nods, and she will. probably. but for right now ...] I should get home. Mrs. Martin still wants me to make up that math test.

Derek: Ask her if you can do it in a room without a clock, and if you can listen to music on your phone while doing it. I hated math too, and it helps you focus and not get nervous.

Malia: [her face says she's not getting her hopes up, but she nods] I'll ask.

Derek: Good luck.

Malia: Thanks. [and with that she will bail]