new york wolves } { of missing boyfriends and big secrets

[impetere]

[Setting: Central park. It's cold, not yet really spring so at night you still needed to bundle up. So when Hal realized that Stiles was gone and both his jacket and sneakers were on the desk chair he knew this was bad. He woke up Alexis to try and get them to look around the campus. He also called Cora to see if Stiles was with her. A chain of phone calls later had Derek telling Kate what was wrong and they headed out to check along the subway lines.

Derek picked up the scent he knew as Stiles at one of the Central Park stops. Something was wrong, though, as it was sick. He had split up from Kate at the park entrance, and he followed the scent trail to a bridge where there was a cave like tunnel under it. There he could see the boy sitting there, barely conscious and freezing in just pajamas. When he doesn't respond to his name, Derek goes to pull him out of the cave and that's when the screaming began. "Stiles, Stiles wake up. Wake up, Stiles!" Derek shouted, wrapping his arms around the boy as he tried to fight Derek off, holding him close and trying to warm him with his body.]


Cora: [her head snaps from where she's looking with Laura turning towards the sound of the screams. Her heart jumps and she doesn't even wait before she's taking off and running across the park, not stopping until she's skidding to a stop next to her brother] Stiles?

Stiles: [is awake now, shivering and cold to the touch, looking up at her] What happened?

Derek: That's what we are hoping you'd tell us.

Cora: [she drops down onto her knees next to him] Hal woke up and you were just gone. We were worried sick, we were looking all over campus.

Stiles: I.... I was dreaming... I don't... I don't remember...

Derek: [ Shrugs off his jacket, putting it around Stiles and rubbing his arms] We need to get you inside, Stiles, or to a hospital. You could have hypothermia

Cora: Home is closer. We could take him back to the penthouse.

Stiles: Yeah. Yeah, can we go there? My dad... he can't afford more medical bills...

Derek: [looks at Cora, then nods] He needs shoes. Take mine.

Cora: [nods, going for her phone] Laura brought the car, I'll let her know you found him. [and text text text]

Derek: [just works to take his boots off, then just sighs and goes to pick him up because the body heat will help]

Stiles: I can walk...

Derek: You have no shoes, Stiles, and it's a long walk to the edge of the park. Just let me make sure you get there without getting any worse.

Cora: [looks up, before glancing to the side] She'll meet us at the entrance. [turns and points to the one she means]

Stiles: [nods, and then just pulls Derek's jacket closer around him, shivering more. He tries to shake his hand out, but it's rigid again]

Derek: You're going to want to warm him back up slowly so he doesn't go into shock. Warm, but not hot drinks, blankets, and if his exposes skin is still blue, you need to get him to a hospital, okay? [to Cora]

Cora: [nods as she follows him, and by the time they reach the entrance to the park, Laura is pulling up with the car] Tell Flack thank you, for me? I know I sort of ... imploded all over him.

Derek: Yeah, he was a bit confused as to why you didn't just call me. [which he gets, so there's no anger in that at all]

Cora: [shrugs as she opens the back door for him to put Stiles inside] I figured since he was actually in charge he might be able to help better?

Derek: Probably. [gets Stiles in and gives his sister a nod from her spot at the front seat.] I'll call and tell him we found him so he can call off the manhunt.

Cora: [she nods again, before looking up at him] Thank you. [for more than that, but that's all he'll get before she's sliding in next to Stiles and curling up close to him]

Derek: [closes the door and taps on the roof twice, cop signal for safe to drive away as he steps back, hands in his pockets and ignoring the cold he's starting to feel in just his t-shirt.]

Stiles: [shivering, just curling into Cora] I don't know what happened.

Cora: [slides her arms around him, rubbing his shoulders softly] Have you sleep-walked before?

Stiles: Not like this. Just... maybe into the bathroom. Or onto the porch.

Cora: [her eyes soften a bit because she knows what that means. He's getting worse and they're running out of time. But she won't say that, she'll just pulling him closer and try to warm him up more. It's not long after that that they're pulling up to the penthouse] Come on. Let's go inside.

Stiles: [nods, keeping Derek's jacket tight around him. He gets out of the car, stumbling a bit as his bare feet are on the pavement, but keeping close to her]

Cora: [she gets them inside, into the elevator and into the penthouse, before leading him quietly to her bedroom. It's not as little girl-y as it used to be. There's a few stuffed animals here and there and bookshelves of books against the far wall. In the middle of her room is her bed, which was big enough for two people, and she darts ahead of him to pull back the covers] Get in, and I'll go make you some hot chocolate, okay?

Stiles: [nods, not taking Derek’s jacket off and just goes under the covers] Okay. I'll be here.

Cora: [she nods and heads down to the kitchen, starting to go through the motions of fixing two cups of hot chocolate from what they had in the kitchen. as she does, Laura comes in.]

Laura: Where is he?

Cora: He's in my room. [she puts the kettle on the stove to heat the water, before glancing back to her] He's getting worse.

Laura: I know, honey. I know.

Cora: [takes a breath before turning to face her] Did you talk to Victor?

Laura: I did.

Cora: ... And?

Laura: [sighs softly] He's okay with it. So if he wants this, and if he follows my conditions, I'll turn him.

Cora: [surges forward suddenly to throw her arms around her sister. Laura catches her easily, rubbing her back lightly as she does] Thank you.

Laura: You're welcome. Just break it to him easily, okay?

Cora: I will. [and with that, she will finish fixing the hot chocolate, and make her way back to Stiles]

Stiles: [and he's curled up, his eyes just staring out her window with a vacant stare, his lips moving as he's almost muttering to himself]

Cora: [makes her way in, giving him a small smile as she does] Here. This should help warm you up. Give it a second, though, it's still a little hot.

Stiles: [it takes a moment and he snaps, looking up at her and nods, shifting to sit up] Hot, okay.

Cora: [she goes to sit next to him, sliding under the covers and curling up close to his side] How're you doing?

Stiles: Cold... embarrassed. But mostly cold.

Cora: Well, the cold I can help with. I've been told I'm like a space heater.

Stiles: Yeah... yeah you are. Um... do you... my phone? I should call Hal....?

Cora: I can call him. [she shifts to put her hot chocolate on the nightstand, before grabbing her phone and pulling up Hal's number] Unless you want to talk to him?

Stiles: Does he.... he had to tell you... I was gone, right?

Cora: [nods] Yeah. He's the one who called me.

Stiles: Probably... good for him to know... it's cold out there.

Cora: [nods and hits send, before placing the phone to her ear, waiting for Hal to pick up.]

Hal: [out of breath] Cora, please tell me you got something.

Cora: Yeah. Yeah, we found him and he's okay. He's staying at the penthouse with me for tonight. [possibly for the weekend if she has her way]

Hal: Thank God. Tell him he's an ass for giving me a heart attack like that, alright?

Cora: I will. Derek said he'd talk to Flack about calling off the cops, so you guys should just go home. I'll call you tomorrow.

Hal: Sure, sure we can do that. Talk to you tomorrow. [and he's starting to convey the news to Alexis as he hangs up]

Stiles: Yeah, that's so going to be awkward when I go back.

Cora: They were worried about you. They're glad you're okay.

Stiles: I'm glad their glad. I just.... I can't keep this up, Cor. I... I should go home. I can't do this to you guys.

Cora: [now isn't the time to talk to him about this. she should wait, she should give it time, but she can't let him go home, either. She reaches for his hand and takes it for a moment, before turning to face him] What if I knew something that could help you?

Stiles: You got a magic healing potion hidden somewhere? Cause the problem with incurable diseases.... kinda uncurable.

Cora: Sort of. [and she's actually rather serious]

Stiles: [he takes a sip of his hot chocolate] Alright, shoot.

Cora: [she waits until he swallows before ...] I'm a werewolf.

Stiles: [he's going to choke on air anyway] You're what?

Cora: I'm a werewolf. [she looks a little nervous, mostly because she worries how he's going to take it or if he's going to think she's crazy but she needs him to believe her]

Stiles: I think my brain is getting worse because I keep hearing you use this word werewolf.

Cora: Nope. Your brain's working fine. At least for the moment.

Stiles: [his hands are shaking and he just looks at her] You know werewolves don't exist, right?

Cora: [she pauses for a moment, before closing her eyes, and when she opens them they glow gold. She stops there, trying to see how he handles that before she goes further]

Stiles: [and that is going to be hot chocolate falling from his hands as he scuttles back] Oh shit... wow... um...

Cora: [she surges forward to catch it before it sloshes, before turning away from him to place that on the nightstand as well. When she glances back again, her eyes are back to their normal brown.]

Stiles: [and he's shaking a bit, still more from the cold but his nerves are there too] How did you... how... eyes glowy...

Cora: As I said. I'm a werewolf. [there's a pause, and it's clear from the look on her face that she's worried about the rejection, thinking that maybe this was a mistake to do right then, rushed into because she's scared of losing him before she gets up the nerve] But I'm not going to hurt you. I would never hurt you.

Stiles: [he licked his lips, blinking a few times because he wasn't sure if this wasn't another way his mind was trying to play tricks on him. But there was one thing he knew] I know you won't. I just... I don't even know how to tell if this is real.

Cora: [she can't really blame him for that. She exhales slowly, before nodding and taking a step back - not literally, just ... figuratively] I'm not really sure how to prove that to you. Maybe we should just ... get some sleep. And I'll try to explain it more in the morning.

Stiles: [he nods at that] Yeah. Yeah maybe if I actually feel awake. Maybe tell me again there and I can know it's real? [and it's not that he doesn't completely disbelieve you, Cora. His voice and how he says it shows he doesn't trust his own mind anymore]

Cora: [she nods again] Yeah. [she leans in to kiss him softly, just once, before pulling him down with her to curl up in bed] Just sleep for right now.

Stiles: [his lips are cold and numb, but he kisses her back gentle, and then just curls up into her arms for once. He's freezing and still clutching Derek's jacket around him]

Cora: [she pulls the blankets up around them, tangles herself around him, trying to provide as much warmth as possible in trying to warm him up. Her hearing is tuned to his heart beat, listening carefully for if it gets too slow as he starts to drift off to sleep, but right now he needs the rest more than anything else.]

Stiles: [and he will drift off to sleep after a bit, and may get about three hours before he starts to twitch a bit in his sleep. It's not a nightmare, just his body moving on it's own out of his control]

Cora: [she dozes off somewhere in the middle and wakes when she feels him twitch, hypersensitive to every move he makes as though he's going to get up and walk away from her again, and this time it will be too late. but when she listens to his heartbeat, and he doesn't move much more than that twitch, she exhales slowly and tries to drift back off to sleep again]

Stiles: [it settles out again after about five minutes, and then he's dead to the world until about 8am, and that's when he just sits up suddenly, gasping, looking around the room trying to figure out where the hell he was]

Cora: [starts next to him when he moves so suddenly, her body half asleep and trying to catch up with what her eyes are seeing. one hand reaches out for his arm gently, drawing his attention back to her] Stiles?

Stiles: [he jumps a bit, then looks down at her and blinks a moment, then sees Derek's jacket nearby and he closes his eyes] That... that was all real, wasn't it?

Cora: [she glances up at him blinking a bit as her mind focuses and she nods, moving to sit up so that she can face him a little more] Yeah. It was.

Stiles: [he reaches up to rub at his arms. He's still cold, but not nearly as freezing. His brain is trying to catch up with himself as he thinks about what happened and then he stops and looks up at her] And..... you're really...?

Cora: [her eyes go a little sad as she nods] Yeah. I can show you, if you want?

Stiles: [he bites his lip, then nods. He needed to understand what she was trying to tell him, and his mental capacity was so-so these days]

Cora: [she nods, sitting up more and closing her eyes for a moment, and this time she shifts completely. when she opens her eyes they glow yellow, and with it comes the elongated ears and fangs and claws, but she doesn't make any sign of trying to threaten him with it. Just sits there like the adorable wolf-gremlin she is]

Stiles: [He watches, confused as fascinated at the same time. After a moment he reaches up with a shaking hand, his fingers tracing along her brow ridges, and then her ears] How long have you.... been a... [he tries to find the word] been this?

Cora: I was born a werewolf. So ... pretty much forever. [her voice has a bit of a lisp to it because of her teeth, but she lets him take his time, doing whatever he needs to do]

Stiles: You... born? I thought you had to be... bitten?

Cora: You can be. But you can be born one too. It's just ... genetics.

Stiles: So does that mean... everyone? [aka everyone named Hale]

Cora: Not everyone. Some of my family was human, before the fire. But ... everyone here, yeah. They're all werewolves. My sister is the alpha.

Stiles: The fire... Dad said... someone do that because you're... this?

Cora: [her eyes go a little sad, and that's still clear, despite her wolf face, and she nods] Yeah. There were hunters - we hadn't hurt anyone, but they didn't care.

Stiles: I'm sorry. That.... that sucks. You don't look scary.

Cora: [she smiles a bit at that, before gesturing up to her face] Can I ... ? [go back to normal now?]

Stiles: Oh yeah, yeah totally. I mean, it's your face and all.

Cora: [and a second later she's back to being Cora again, and looks up at him with a small smile] So there you go. Now you really know everything there is to know about me.

Stiles: Does... does anyone else know? Like Alexis?

Cora: Yeah. Alexis knows. But Hal doesn't.

Stiles: .... So no telling the roommate I'm dating a... [his fingers snapped the air. He just can't get his brain to say the right word]

Cora: Werewolf. [said gently, with no judgement. It's not his fault, it's his brain]

Stiles: [nods] Yeah, that. Sorry.

Cora: It's okay.

Stiles: [thinking] So um... what does it mean to be a... you?

Cora: A lot of things. Being a werewolf means different things to different people, but for the most part I'm just a normal girl. I just ... have this other part to me that I have to deal with. But we're stronger and faster than a normal human. We turn on the full moon, but with practice you can learn to control it. And we can ... heal. We live longer, don't age as quickly ... we don't get sick.

Stiles: [he looks at her, hearing the words heal and sick and it clicks] You... you think that if I... it'd stop me from dying?

Cora: [she nods a bit] We talked to a doctor who works with werewolves and he thinks that if the bite takes, it could work. It could ... fix you. You're not so far gone that there isn't too much for it to heal.

Stiles: If? What happens if... it doesn’t?

Cora: [she glances down for a moment, playing with the edge of the blanket] If it doesn't take, then it will kill you.

Stiles: Oh. [and then he just laughs. because that's totally the appropriate response]

Cora: [she looks up at him because that was not the reaction she was expecting]

Stiles: [it's partially a brain misfire, but yeah] So choices are becoming a .... you or dying. Which I'm already dying.

Cora: Basically. But it's ... it's a big deal, Stiles. My sister is going to have conditions to make sure this is done right and this is really what you want, but ... I couldn't not let you know the option was there.

Stiles: [the laughter ends, almost abruptly] Is there any reason right now... that I shouldn't? Because I don't want to die. I really don't want to go crazy and die. I don't want you or my dad or Hal to live through it. I did, and this is still me able to be aware. You don't want to see the next stage. That's why I... split up.

Cora: [she takes a deep breath] It could change you, in ways you might not like. It may make you more aggressive. More territorial. Some people don't but it depends on your personality.

Stiles: [nods, and he goes to try and shake out his hand that's fisting again but it won't and he just tucks the fist under his arm] I also have to explain to my dad. And Scott, and Hal... my dad's going to think I lost it.

Cora: I think that telling your dad is probably going to be part of my sister's conditions. It's safer for the pack that way.

Stiles: Safer for me too. He might shoot me.

Cora: He won't shoot you.

Stiles: If he thought I was a zombie, he would.

Cora: But you won't be a zombie.

Stiles: He wouldn't know that. We have a thing - no trying to save the other if we turn into a zombie.

Cora: Good to know.

Stiles: I don't want to eat my dad's brain.

Cora: You won't. I promise.

Stiles: [he thinks a moment] Does it hurt?

Cora: Well ... she's going to be biting you. So ... it probably does at first? But ... I don't know about the actual turning. I've never seen it happen. I was too young when my mom was an alpha and Laura has never turned anyone.

Stiles: ..... So I get to be her first time too? That's kinda awkward. [there's a small smirk]

Cora: [a bit of a look because ew stop that's her sister]

Stiles: [and now that's appropriate laughter]

Cora: [that makes her smile though. At least he's laughing] You can talk to her about it at breakfast.

Stiles: [and that is his stomach growling because he is starving] Breakfast sounds good.

Cora: [nods] Let's go have breakfast.

Stiles: [goes to get up, his bare feet hitting the ground and curling] Do you have socks I could borrow?

Cora: [she nods before getting up and heading towards the door] Derek's might fit you better. I'll be right back.

Stiles: [nods, and then slips his jacket off] You can give him back this too.

Derek: [groans from inside] Yeah?

Cora: Can Stiles borrow a pair of socks?

Derek: Yeah, sure. Come on in.

Cora: [and she pokes her head inside, holding up the jacket in her hand as she does] He also wanted to give this back.

Derek: [is in his bed, but rolled over to look at her as she came in] Just toss it on the chair. How's he doing?

Cora: As well as can be expected, I guess, considering I just told him that I'm a werewolf and the bite might save his life.

Derek: [there's a small smile there, a bit sad] Well, I hope it does work. [for both their sakes]

Cora: Me too.

Derek: [he slides out of bed and goes to his closet, reaching up for a plastic box of clothes] Here, this is some of my old stuff that doesn't fit anymore. I hadn't gotten around to donating it, but maybe some of it will fit Stiles so he can have some real clothes on.

Cora: [nods as she takes it from him with a small smile] Thanks.

Derek: No problem. Let me know if you need anything else. [rubs at his eyes as he sits on the bed, debating on if he should stay awake, or go back to bed]

Cora: [nods, starting to leave again, when she stops, glancing back to him] We're going to make breakfast, if you want some. [and with that she'll just head back to her room with the clothes in hand for Stiles]

Stiles: [and he's standing, looking at things on her dresser as he waits, arm still tucked under his armpit.]

Cora: [comes in and drops the box on her bed] These are some of Derek's old clothes. They might fit you and it'd be better than just sitting in your pajamas all day.

Stiles: Probably a good idea. [and he's going to open it with his good hand and play around in it, looking for something he could put on with one hand because he has a feeling it'll be a few hours before his brain releases his arm since it's been stiffening against his chest now]

Cora: [watches him for a moment, before reaching for his hand gently] Do you need help?

Stiles: [she's not going to be able to move it - the muscles are all tensed up tightly] Actually... I probably will need help. I'm losing this arm more and more lately.

Cora: Okay. Just tell me what you need me to do.

Stiles: [sighs] I um... see if you can find a short sleeve shirt? Those are easier to get on and I can toss a hoodie or something on over it. [he found a pair of black sweats to swap out for his dirty flannels and started to try and work his shirt off with one hand, but he got stuck on his head and shoulder where the other arm gave him no give.]

Cora: [pulls out a t-shirt and places it on the bed before moving to help him, gently getting the shirt the rest of the way over his head and gently pulling it down over his bad arm]

Stiles: [he is able to move it just a bit away from his chest to let the fabric move past it.] They say that the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, so I think it's my right brain going first.

Cora: [she just nods as she listens, before bunching up the t-shirt in her hands and gently taking his bad arm to feed it through the shirt sleeve] Try not to fight it too much. Just breathe through it.

Stiles: I try to, but it scares me. I'm afraid one day I'm going to wake up unable to move. Or speak, or anything really.

Cora: I know. But we don't have to worry about that right now. Right now, we just have to get your shirt over your head. [she takes his bad arm gently in one hand.] So just close your eyes, relax, and let me do all the work.

Stiles: [nods and he does so. HIs eyes close and he takes deep breaths. His arm eventually gives away a bit]

Cora: [she works quickly, sliding the t-shirt up the bad arm, and then pulling it over his head. Derek was always a little bigger than he is, so Stiles has a bit of give when getting him into it. Once that's done, she guides his good arm easily up through the arm hole, and takes a step back] Done.

Stiles: [looks down at the shirt and smiles a bit] Thanks.

Cora: [smiles back, before leaning up to kiss him softly] No problem.

Stiles: [goes to put on the socks] Dad had to get me sneakers without laces when I was home last time. I can't really tie them anymore.

Cora: After we talk to Laura we should call Hal. Maybe ask him to bring some of your stuff over for you. [because you're obviously going to be staying here for a while as far as she is concerned]

Stiles: Yeah. Like my phone. God, I hope my dad hasn't tried to call.

Cora: We'll find out after breakfast.

Stiles: If he's not already halfway to New York. [and he's going to just follow her downstairs to breakfast]

Laura: [is already up and cooking and she glances over with a smile when she sees them] Hey, Stiles. How're you feeling?

Stiles: Warmer. [small smile] Still a bit foggy but that's a norm lately

Laura: [nods a bit] Hungry?

Stiles: Starving.

Laura: Pull up a chair. I'm making pancakes.

Stiles: [goes to sit at the breakfast bar, not really sure what to say right away so he's just going to look at Cora a moment]

Laura: [don't worry, she's got this. She's just going to fix up a plate of pancakes and bacon before setting it in front of him] So did Cora talk to you?

Stiles: Yup, complete with visual effects.

Laura: Good. [and she turns back to fix another plate for her sister] Do you have any questions for me?

Stiles: Probably a lot, I just can't get the right words to figure out how to ask.

Laura: Well, take your time. But if you have them you should ask them before we go any further.

Stiles: [he uses his good hand to try and cut the pancakes with the side of his fork] Cora said that there was a doctor... who thought it could help?

Laura: [nods] His name is Marcus, and he works with a pack we know here in the city. This isn't our territory, so they offer us protection from other packs. In order to turn you, I needed permission from their alpha, and I wanted to be sure that our healing factor wouldn't accelerate your symptoms, or that your disease wouldn't keep you from being able to control your shift.

Stiles: Does he know... will it?

Laura: He wants to examine you himself before we do it, but he thinks that if you're in the early enough stages, the brain damage is still within that window to be healed.

Stiles: I hope so. I just... I don't remember everything when my mom died, but I remember enough. I'm close to being bad enough that I can't care for myself, but I'm not there yet. My dad... he knows more.

Laura: Yeah. We're going to have to talk to your dad. Probably have him come out here and do this in person if we can. Because I'm not going to do this without him at least being aware of what's happening.

Stiles: Well, if nothing else, he may be halfway here if he got wind about what happened last night.

Laura: [nods a bit] If he is, he can stay here. We have a guest room. Because I think if my sister has anything to say about it, you won't be going anywhere for a while.

Cora: [sheepishly looks down at her pancakes]

Stiles: [blinks and then looks at Cora] Why?

Derek: [coming downstairs, throwing on a sweatshirt] Pretty sure it's because she doesn't want to risk you ending up in a less safe part of town the next time you go sleepwalking.

Cora: [points towards Derek] I'm a really light sleeper. If you start trying to leave I can at least ... wake you up or something.

Stiles: Oh. Yeah, that's probably handy. But I swear I've never done it that bad before.

Cora: We just have to make sure you don't do that bad again.

Derek: [making himself a cup of coffee] If you want, I can get you a tracking bracelet. Normally we use it for people under surveillance, but I could probably talk Flack into getting me one for this.

Stiles: People will think I'm some kind of... bad dude.

Cora: [a look] We don't need a tracking bracelet. If he stays here, he's sleeping in a penthouse with five werewolves. Someone will hear him moving.

Derek: It was just a suggestion. I'm trying to be helpful.

Cora: [sighs] I just ... think this is safer.

Derek: [nods] Alright. [and he's going to take his breakfast to the kitchen table so he's not in the same space as them while he eats]

Laura: Personally, I'm a fan of either, but if the sheriff is already on his way, this might not be the situation for much longer. So ... let's avoid misappropriating police resources until we absolutely have to.

Stiles: Can I borrow your phone? I should call him anyway. [he puts his fork down in frustration because nope, can't cut his own pancakes and he was feeling pretty damn helpless at the moment]

Cora: [nods as she places her phone down in front of him, trading him the phone for his pancakes so that she can cut them for him]

Stiles: [nods and slips out of the chair to walk off and call his dad who, apparently had heard from campus security and no one had called him back on his status until a few minutes ago when he called the NYPD and talked to a detective Flack and no, Stiles he is at the airport and coming to take him home now and pack your things mister and Stiles isn't able to get in a word in edgewise as he just goes to sit on the couch and listen]

Cora: [is listening from a distance and her face just softens in worry, glancing over to meet his eyes from the breakfast bar]

Stiles: Dad.... dad please... [he sees Cora and there's a sad look] Okay, okay Dad. I'm staying at Cora's place. [he rattles off the address] Yes, I'll stay here. Yes, sir. Okay. [there's a pause] Love you too, Dad. [and he hangs up the phone and just drops it on the table and curls up on himself, trying not to cry]

Cora: [she climbs off the stool and moves to sit next to him on the couch, just letting him curl into her if he needs to]

Stiles: He's pissed. He's so pissed and he's coming to take me home.

Cora: I know. I heard. [she slides her arms around his shoulders and pulls him closer] We'll talk to him when he gets here.

Derek: [to Laura] I can go get him at the airport.

Laura: That's a good idea. Stiles, what time does he get in?

Stiles: [sniffs and wipes his eyes] He said his flight was in ten minutes out of LA. Direct.

Peter: [and someone is finally coming home, Baron at his heels as he has the paper, coffee and a very well walked dog. He stops at the smells in the house and looks at Laura] Did I miss something?

Laura: [sighs] We're having a house guest in the form of a very angry sheriff in about six hours.

Peter: [nods, looking at the pair on the couch, then Laura] Do you need anything from me?

Laura: Diplomacy logic and reason. Your three favorite things.

Peter: So I'm part of the breaking the news to the sheriff committee.

Laura: Yep. Oh, and I need you to call Marcus. We have about six hours to prep an argument that is so good that the sheriff won't yank his son back to California and smash your niece's heart into a million pieces.

Peter: You're lucky I work well under pressure. [and he's going to go off to the patio and make that call]

Laura: [sighs before turning back to Derek] Think you can find out what flight he's on so you can pick him up?

Derek: Yeah. if anything else, I can use a few resources. [he's already playing with his phone to figure out what flights could be the one from LA]

Laura: Thank you. [and with that she's going to turn to the couple on the couch] Call Hal, ask him to bring some of your absolute necessities over. You [to Cora] call Alexis and have her come over so that she can help you break this to him gently.

Cora: You sure?

Laura: If he knows about what's wrong with Stiles, then we can't have him asking questions about some miracle cure.

Cora: Good point.

Stiles: [takes a deep breath, then nods] Okay. [and he goes to do that, wiping at his eyes] Hey man, it's me. Yeah... yeah I know, dude I'm sorry. Listen... I'm at Cora's. Can you bring me over a few changes of clothes and like, my travel kit? Yeah, I don't care what, just something to wear. Yeah, we'll be here. OH, is my phone... yeah, I called him. Yeah... okay, I'll see you in an hour.

Cora: [is having the same conversation with Alexis with the added ...] Yeah, I told him. We're going to tell Hal too. Can you come over? [a half-laugh] Oh, and Stiles’ dad is coming. We may need a stubborn ginger. [more laughing] Okay. I'll see you soon.

Derek: [was on the phone] Okay, I've got the confirmed flight that has a Stilinski on the passenger manifest. He'll arrive here at seven.

Laura: Okay. Hal and Alexis will be here in an hour. I need to be here to help them talk Hal through this but if you could find your other sister and fill her in, that would be great.

Derek: [groans because yup, he was just doled out "find out where Malia slept last night duty] I need another cup of coffee first.

Laura: [smirks and claps him on the back] Good man.

Stiles: [just leans into Cora] I should probably eat.

Cora: [nods] I'll go get ...

Laura: [swoops in with plates of pancakes] Here you go. Eat.

Stiles: [and they are cut to he can just eat them now.] Thanks.

Laura: No problem. Just relax - we can handle your dad.

Stiles: Good luck. [and he's going to just pick his pancakes up with his hand, leaning into Cora and he's just... numb]

Cora: [will just curl up with him, picking through their food and waiting for Hal and Alexis to show up]

Laura: [will watch them for a moment, before wandering out to find Peter]

Peter: [is just getting off the phone with Marcus as Laura joins him on the patio] Marcus is going to prepare his studies and will be available to be here around five to work on his presentation.

Laura: He is awesome.

Peter: I'm sure he will love hearing you call him that.

Laura: [nods for a moment, running her hand through her hair before glancing back to him] Am I doing the right thing?

Peter: Which part of all this are you referring to in particular?

Laura: All of it?

Peter: [looks in at where Cora and Stiles are] The boy is dying, Laura. You are offering him a possible cure, or a possible death by different means. He is making the choice.

Laura: [nods a bit] His dad is going to be harder to convince.

Peter: His dad is the Sheriff of Beacon Hills. Even if he doesn't know we exist, he knows something is different in the world he lives in. He just has never been able to see if before.

Laura: I just ... I know that ninety percent of the reason why I'm doing this is to protect her. And I'd hate to think of what would happen if I can't.

Peter: Are you doing it to protect Cora's heart, Laura, or to save a boy's life from a disease that will rob him of any chance to even see his 21st birthday?

Laura: Both?

Peter: [sighs] As much as I hate to say it, but death is part of life. We've seen more than our fair share of it, but to do this just to keep her from losing someone is not healthy for her. What if next week Alexis is diagnosed with something, or another friend she will make? I don't wish her to ever feel the pain again, but this isn't an answer for it. She needs to learn how to grieve in a healthy manner.

Laura: I know. But Stiles doesn't deserve to ... lose himself, either.

Peter: No, he doesn't, and that is a valid reason to do this. He's a smart boy, very intelligent and if we can give that back to him, he will be valuable to the pack. He may even be a means to eventually reestablish us back home.

Laura: [nods slowly] So yeah. It makes sense. I'm just worried about this going bad.

Peter: It's a valid fear to have. One that may even happen and Cora will still lose him. We all need to be prepared for that. [he looks in the kitchen where he sees Derek watching Cora and Stiles carefully out of the side of his own eyes] Some that you may not think may need it more than others.

Laura: [glances back to Derek and sighs softly] Maybe helping her will help him.

Peter: Maybe. That will also be is Cora trusts Derek enough to let him help her. They are still very guarded around each other.

Laura: I think Derek finding Stiles gained him a little traction.

Peter: I hope so. [puts his hand on her shoulder] Are you ready to have your first beta? This is also a big thing for you, you realize that right?

Laura: [she nods a bit] I want Victor here too. Just to ... supervise. He actually has done this before.

Peter: I figure him and Marcus both. Marcus will want to observe Stiles' changes as his body goes into healing. He has a few theories on how his body will react and some of them are not all that pleasant. He has offered to schedule a vacation when you choose to do this so that he can be available for you during that time just in case.

Laura: [nods] With the way he's getting worse, I think sooner might be better than later.

Peter: We'll discuss it when him when he and his PowerPoint presentation get here. [small smirk as he sips his coffee]

Laura: [laughs] I'm pretty sure the Sheriff is going to think we're crazy.

Peter: Half the time I'm not sure we aren't. [smirks]

Laura: [huffs] Fair point.

Peter: And remember, if this goes bad... it's not a reflection on your power. It just sometimes isn't for everyone.

Laura: [she nods] I remind me of that after it goes bad.

Peter: I will.

Laura: Thank you.

Peter: I can go pick up the Sheriff if you would prefer.

Laura: No, I think Derek will be fine. He can at least tell him about finding Stiles from the law enforcement angle. He'll probably be more comfortable with another cop.

Peter: [nods] Alright. If he's coming in at seven, he will probably need to eat when he gets here. Marcus will need to be fed as well, so I will get enough for all of us to have a late dinner.

Laura: Sounds good. I will ... manage the college students.