new york wolves } { of changing dynamics and stagnant frustrations

[hereditare]

Stiles: [has been on house arrest without Cora for two days now. Which means there is a moody wolf in the living room stretched out on the couch tossing a tennis ball against a wall. Bucky will get it and bring it back to him. Rinse, repeat]

Thomas: [and Tommy is going to chase Bucky so it's puppy leading puppy leading puppy]

Stiles: [This is totally how you babysit, right? Right. Bounce, bounce, toss]

Laura: [and Laura will come back in after her nap, watching the three of them and smirk a bit] Having fun?

Stiles: A blast. [bounce, bounce, toss. He sighed and looked at the dog and Thomas] What about you guys?

Bucky: [OMG THROW THE BAL YOU THREW THE BALL I'M GONA GET IT!]

Thomas: [grins as he chases the puppy before detouring and going right to his mom HI MOMMY WE WERE HAVING FUN WITH A BALL]

Laura: [grins as she scoops him up] Looks like it's good times all around.

Stiles: Yeah, pretty much. [and he will toss the ball in the air a few times, getting a whine from Bucky]

Laura: [she watches him for a moment, before moving to sit on the couch with him with Thomas] What's wrong?

Stiles: I'm bored.

Laura: Why don't you watch some TV?

Stiles: There's nothing on.

Laura: And I take it the internet has failed you too?

Stiles: Yup.

Laura: Why don't you ... read a book?

Stiles: Eh.

Laura: [she sighs] Well, I was thinking about taking Tommy to the park? Wanna come?

Stiles: [oh, that will get him outside] Yes! [was that too eager?]

Laura: [she laughs] Okay. Let me get him ready and we can leave in twenty?

Stiles: Sweet. [and he will swing off the couch and head to his room to get changed into something more suited for outdoors.]

Laura: [and she will get Tommy ready and meet him at the door with the stroller and the dogs]

Stiles: [and he is down there with a Mets cap covering his head] Ready.

Laura: Let's go. [And off they go to the park. Stiles gets the dogs and she has the stroller and Thomas who is pretty much just going WHEEEEE PARK TIME.]

Stiles: [and he will get the dogs into the dog park part of the park and let them go off the leash and go sniff other dogs]

Laura: [will take Thomas over to the swings and settle him in, before starting to push him back and forth] So how're you doing?

Stiles: I miss Cora.

Laura: I know.

Stiles: I miss working. I just... I want things to go back to the way they were.

Laura: I know that too.

Stiles: Are you going to have to kick me out if I can't get rid of this?

Laura: [she grimaces for a moment, before shaking her head] No. But ... it's complicated. Instinctively, I don't like having another alpha on my turf.

Stiles: So me being around is pissing you off?

Laura: Not ... pissing me off. More like ... someone's rubbing my fur the wrong way. Not literally, of course, but that kind of sensation.

Stiles: [nods] So what are we going to do?

Laura: I don't know. Because I, Laura, do not want you to go anywhere. But you make the alpha in my antsy. Especially considering how you got your power.

Stiles: I think that's why I'm moody lately too. I keep wanting to get out.

Laura: Of the apartment or the pack?

Stiles: The apartment.

Laura: Well ... the apartment is just me being overprotective until we're sure all of Valek's lackeys are gone.

Stiles: Yeah, I know. But I just... I can't move on when I can't do anything.

Laura: I know. But I'll try and get you some more park time until you can go back to work.

Stiles: Yeah, I have to go talk to a department shrink next week.

Laura: Sweets?

Stiles: Yup.

Laura: He's good. He'll give you a fair shake.

Stiles: Yeah, that's what Derek said. I just don't know.

Laura: About what?

Stiles: How talking about it is going to make it better. I don't even know what it means.

Laura: Sometimes just ... putting things out there in the open, saying them out loud to someone else can be liberating. There are no consequences when it comes to talking about things in therapy. You can tell the truth safely without fear of hurting someone's feelings.

Stiles: [nods] I guess.

Laura: It's hard to imagine from the outside, but once you're in it, I think you'll find it really cathartic.

Stiles: Well, I have no choice in going. So I guess we'll just see. [and he will throw the ball for Bucky to chase]

Laura: [and she will watch as Tommy's eyes follow the ball to it's destination and giggle when the puppy finds it] I have a feeling no matter what we do, Bucky and Tommy are going to best friends.

Stiles: That's what happens when we decide to have kids at the same time.

Laura: [she laughs] Guess so.

Stiles: [he rewards Bucky with pets when he brings the ball back, and then goes to throw it again towards where Barron is] Hopefully Bucky won't turn traitor and leave me for him.

Laura: I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Stiles: Barron may get jealous too because I'll have to go get myself another dog.

Laura: And we can't have that.

Stiles: You don't need that many men in the house to try and handle.

Laura: Nope. I'm already outnumbered as it is.

Stiles: You obviously need to get some more women into the house then.

Laura: Guess we'll have to see what happens.

Stiles: You still have Malia.

Laura: You say that like she doesn't spend eighty percent of her time at Jeremy's.

Stiles: She still has a bedroom here.

Laura: It doesn't count unless she's actually in it.

Stiles: You could always ask Jeremy to move in.

Laura: Do you want another couple around?

Stiles: I kinda miss having everyone in the house. I didn't realize how much I'd gotten used to having so many people around.

Laura: Well, that is up to Jeremy and Malia.

Stiles: Yeah, I know. [and Bucky comes back with the ball and it's thrown again]

Laura: [and they will repeat the process until all the puppies are exhausted and it's time to head back to the penthouse]

Stiles: [as they are heading back] You think I could go to the Freakshow tonight? Just to get out?

Laura: [deep breath] As long as you go with someone, not by yourself.

Stiles: Does a cabdriver count?

Laura: Nope.

Stiles: I don't really have anyone to take me. Never mind, I'll just find a game online or something.

Laura: Why don't you ask Hal or Caroline or someone?

Stiles: Hal's got a game, and Caroline's.... well she's Caroline.

Laura: But it could be fun.

Stiles: No, I'll just... play Warcraft.

Laura: Alright. Suit yourself.

Stiles: [and he goes to throw the ball again, and there is a bit of anger behind it and it goes far. Which makes Bucky all the happier as he takes off]

Laura: [yeah, she can tell. and she moves closer to rest a hand on his shoulder] Look, I know I'm being overprotective. I do. But I'd just ... feel better if you stuck with the buddy system for right now.

Stiles: I know. But I just want my life back. None of this is my fault, yet I'm the one being punished. Again.

Laura: And I'm not trying to punish you. But you're the one who won't at least call and ask. Caroline may be Caroline, but last I checked, she was still your friend too. And you have a lot of friends to choose from.

Stiles: Caroline is a succubus and I miss Cora. It's a bad combination.

Laura: Well, what about Alexis? Maybe you could go with her to Hal's game.

Stiles: Please... just stop.

Laura: Alright. Suit yourself.

Stiles: [and he's going to just sit on the bench, just as frustrated as he was before they left]

Laura: [and she will sigh before eventually gathering everyone back together so they can head home]

Stiles: [and he's got the dogs, and he will get them all hotdogs because good dogs, and he's hungry, and be silent on the way home]

Laura: [and she will wait until they get home, before she goes] You're not the only one on the buddy system, you know. Malia is too.

Stiles: Yeah, well Malia's buddy is here. Mine is five hours away and I can't even go to her because of the buddy system.

Laura: [purses her lips] That's not what you asked me.

Stiles: But that's what it is. [the dogs are free, and he's trying not to let his emotions overwhelm him and make him tear up]

Laura: [she sighs softly, before moving closer and pulling him in for a hug if she'll let him] You have been through a lot. And I know Cora wasn't here as long as you would have liked, but that's not something we can control. I can't send you up to Boston indefinitely, because you do have obligations here. You have your appointment with Sweets and a job to get back to and things will ease up once they get back to normal.

Stiles: [he wants the hug, but after a moment he just shrugs himself away] If you need me, I'm upstairs.

Laura: [she sighs before stepping back and letting him go] Compromise? You go to your psych eval and if Sweets clears you for work then I will let you go spend the weekend before you start up again with Cora. Deal?

Stiles: [he looks back at her and there is a tiny smile] Deal.

Laura: [she nods] As I said. I'm not trying to punish you, Stiles.

Stiles: I know you're not. And I know you're trying your best, Laura. I just... we don't know what was done to me and I just want to curl up in bed with my mate like the rest of you get to do every night and I can't. And it's getting to me more than it has before and it's a kind of comfort none of you can give me.

Laura: I know. And I'm sorry.

Stiles: So I'm just going to go upstairs and hide and just let me be, okay?

Laura: Okay. Do you want me to text you for dinner?

Stiles: Sure.

Laura: Okay.

Stiles: [and he's going to go upstairs and Bucky will follow, and he's going to just curl up in bed with his dog and try to fall asleep]

Laura: [and Laura will settle Tommy down for his nap and get in some Laura time]

Sheriff: [and eventually Laura will get a text wanting to check in on his son who isn't answering his texts]

Laura: He's okay. He's just a little depressed.

Sheriff: Well, that's to be expected. Want me to come over?

Laura: He wants Cora. Cora's in Boston. He said he wanted to be left alone until dinner.

Sheriff: Yeah... he doesn't take well to separation. Especially when he's scared on top of it.

Laura: Well, we have a deal for when he passes his psych eval so hopefully Skype will tide him over until then.

Sheriff: How about I come over for a few dinners too? Maybe me being around can help?

Laura: You are always welcome for dinner. Kidnapping or no kidnapping.

Sheriff: Not tonight, or he'll think you called me. Tomorrow.

Laura: I'll look forward to it.

Sheriff: See you then.

Laura: See you then.

Cora: [meanwhile, upstairs Stiles' Skype app will start ringing]

Stiles: [that sound he will move for, going to wipe at his face before reaching for his phone and opening the feed]

Cora: [and there is his fiancé, confused and concerned] You okay?

Stiles: [he shakes his head] I got mad at Laura. I know she's trying to protect me but I'm going crazy here alone.

Cora: [she frowns] I know. I can tell.

Stiles: I just want to go out on my own without a babysitter. I can't even do that. I feel trapped all over again and I just want to claw my way out.

Cora: You wouldn't be complaining if the babysitter were me.

Stiles: No, because you're my partner. I want you here with me. I don't feel alone when you're here.

Cora: And those people at home are your friends, Stiles. They want to help you.

Stiles: I know. [snuggles into Bucky more]

Cora: I know you miss me. And I miss you too. And I wish I was there to help you. But I don't want you to cut yourself off just because that person isn't me.

Stiles: They have lives, Cora. They don't want to babysit me.

Cora: It's not babysitting you if they want to spend time with their friend.

Stiles: [sighs, because she's right.] I don't want to put them in danger.

Cora: Why would you put them in danger?

Stiles: What if this isn't over? What if they did something to me more than this...

Cora: Sheila looked you over and said you were fine. I know you feel different, but that's probably mostly because of your alphaness.

Stiles: Which isn't helping in any of this.

Cora: No, I know it's not. We're going to figure out a way to fix that.

Stiles: Everything is just going all crazy in my head. These are times I need Adderall.

Cora: I know. Maybe Marcus might be able to recommend something that'll work with your metabolism.

Stiles: I can have him talk to Dr. Sweets tomorrow.

Cora: Yeah. We'll figure it out.

Stiles: At least I can remember my words. It's a step up from the last time I had brain damage.

Cora: Yes, it is. And it'll get better. I think talking to Dr. Sweets will help too.

Stiles: I hope so. I hate feeling like this.

Cora: I know. And I wish I could help.

Stiles: Me too. I wish I knew how to stop it right now.

Cora: It will probably just take time.

Stiles: And maybe when I can leave on my own and not have to ask people to come get me like a kid who needs permission from mommy to come out and play.

Cora: [she tips her head to the side] It doesn't have to be like that.

Stiles: It's what it feels like.

Cora: What's so wrong with spending time with your friends?

Stiles: Cora, we're already had this conversation.

Cora: I know. I know. Never mind.

Stiles: Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.

Cora: Maybe. You should get some sleep.

Stiles: Yeah, I think I will. Talk to you tomorrow?

Cora: Yeah. Sleep well, okay?

Stiles: I'll try. I love you.

Cora: Love you too.

Stiles: [and he will hang up, and curl back up into Bucky and go to sleep]

Cora: [and she will do the same, but with Sadie]