darkest timeline } { of damage control and recovery periods

[impetere]

Stiles: [so he's hanging out at the bar, having dinner and a drink while enjoying the company. He's seriously debating on asking for a job here instead of the club just to not have to wear the fishnets and heels. Sure, they were doing wonders for his legs, but the chafing was getting to him. But it would remove him from a large part of the cryptid community, so it was something he had to debate on. Over curly fries.]

Cora: [breezes in the door, with her game face on, looking for Kol. When she does see Stiles, she slows, and swallows hard] Hey.

Stiles: [looks over at her and finishes the sip of beer he's taking before smiling] Hey Cora.

Cora: [deep breath, but that smile doesn't quite feel right] Have you talked to Derek?

Stiles: No, should I have? [he reaches for his phone to see if he has a missed message]

Cora: [damnit Derek. She closes her eyes before sliding up onto the stool] My mom was killed this afternoon.

Stiles: Wait, what? [he looks at her, confused] Killed?

Cora: [she nods, running a hand through her hair] It was another wolf.

Stiles: Another wolf... oh man. Cora, I'm sorry.

Cora: [she nods] It's been ... a lot. Peter asked him to reach out, but I think it might have been too much for him for right now.

Stiles: Yeah. Yeah, I'm sure. He was close with Talia. But how are you? I mean, are you okay?

Cora: [she hesitates because she might be too okay, but that's guilt she can wrestle with when everyone isn't on high alert] Yeah. I'm fine. Peter wanted us to get our allies in order, given the situation, but I'm honestly more worried about Laura.

Stiles: [takes a moment, then sits back] The killer took the power, didn't they?

Cora: [nods] And when we do find the person that did this, Laura's going to have to take it back.

Stiles: Or someone else.

Cora: Or someone else. But Peter is expecting it to be her.

Stiles: Laura has a say in it. [thinks] So do you and Derek.

Cora: I don't want to kill anyone any more than Laura does. And I don't want Laura to have to kill anyone. But I don't think Peter is going to rest until we get it back.

Stiles: Alright. Well, I'll let my mom know. When word hits town, others will try to take over the territory. She needs to be aware.

Cora: Peter was getting in touch with Satomi too. And we'll be back within the week most likely to bury her.

Stiles: Will you... be staying?

Cora: I don't know. I don't think Peter is committing one hundred percent to anywhere until we have an alpha again, but he's also talking to Victor to make sure we're still able to stay here.

Stiles: Well, what can I do to help?

Cora: Keep an eye out for any surprise new alphas? Maybe get word back to your family to do the same. I don't think they're stupid enough to stay in town, but they're going to pop up somewhere.

Stiles: Yeah. And I'll check my notes. Maybe there's a way I can track them.

Cora: Thanks. Right now, I'm just trying to keep Peter on track so he doesn't go off the revenge deep end.

Freya: [totally listening to all of this from the other end of the bar]

Stiles: Good luck. If I had a sister and someone murdered them, I'd want to murder them with my bare hands too.

Cora: I know. [she glances over at Freya] He's going to come to you for help.

Freya: [raises an eyebrow] He say as much?

Cora: [shakes her head] No. But he will. He's going to need someone on his level, and it's not going to be us. But no matter what, you can't let him time travel his way out of this.

Freya: And you thought I would?

Cora: Given what you've already done from him, I think you'd do whatever he asks of you.

Freya: [looks away at that, but nods] I'll do my best to keep him from going too far.

Stiles: [rubs the back of his head, realizing that this is a side effect of their time traveling] Should I check on Derek?

Cora: Text Elena first. She's there with him, and she might know better what his headspace is.

Stiles: Yeah, I'll do that. [and he's going to reach over and put his hand on top of hers] And if you need me, you have my number. Don't hesitate to reach out for anything.

Cora: [nods as she turns her hand over to give it a squeeze] I appreciate that, Stiles. [and she probably will, when she feels like she's being a terrible daughter for not grieving in the same way, because hopefully Stiles won't judge her] I'll keep you in the loop.

Stiles: Alright. Be safe.

Cora: You too. [and with that, she'll take a breath and get up to head back to the apartment]

Stiles: [and he'll turn to look at Freya] ... Well this just hit a new level of fucked up.

Freya: [nods slowly, before making her way closer] Contrary to what Cora believes, I can handle Peter. We'll get him through the funeral, and then I'll try to keep him on revenge rather than course correction.

Stiles: Do you think he'd actually ask?

Freya: I don't know. Not until I put myself in his line of fire again. [she glances to where Rebekah is sitting on the other side of the room] But if it was my sister, I would.

Stiles: Do you think this is cosmic whiplash from what we did?

Freya: No. [a beat] I don't know. There were always going to be dominoes that we couldn't predict. Maybe no matter what Talia Hale had to die.

Stiles: And now the Hales will suffer, just in a different way.

Freya: Immortality is a bit out of our scope, Stiles. And ... she was dying already.

Stiles: I know. I know, I just... I know what it's like to lose a mom. I know what my life became. Look at what we did to save mine. What do you think they'll do just to get back the one piece of her they can?

Freya: I think they'll do what they have to. And they'll have us there to keep them from losing themselves in the process.

Stiles: [thinks a moment, doing math in his head] Yeah, but we're a bit outnumbered. Three of us verses four of them.

Freya: Detective Esposito hasn't made an appearance?

Stiles: He has, but I don't think he understands much. [he pulls his phone out of his jacket and opened a password locked folder with photos inside. He found the pictures of Peter, Elena, and Espo and showed Freya] He works with Peter and Elena is their banshee consultant. But Laura's only been in town for what, maybe a month? If they've met, and they got past the awkward of her being Peter's niece, it's still a gamble on if they're even friendly.

Freya: Well, from what Cora said, it doesn't seem like she wants Peter doing anything reckless. She might be the most level headed of the four. So maybe that puts her in favor of us.

Stiles: Yeah, but it's also a power she was supposed to inherit. Not having it has got to be messing with her head. From what Derek told me, she already believed that Talia was doing to whole energy drain thing because she didn't think Laura was ready.

Freya: I didn't mean Laura. I meant Cora.

Stiles: Oh. [sighs] Yeah, but she's also angry. I don't think that's going to diminish anytime soon.

Freya: There's a difference between anger at the parent you lost and anger at the one who took them from you. Cora's anger may not longer have a direct target, but it also means she doesn't want her siblings or her uncle to get themselves killed over them.

Stiles: True. She's protective of the rest of them, for sure. Maybe... I'll give her a day or two and check in again to see what's going on. It'll give me time to do some investigation of my own of the crime scene to see what I can find.

Freya: [she nods] I'll keep you in the loop if Hurricane Peter comes my way. And touch base with Elena, make sure she's in on the plan.

Stiles: [and since he's done with his meal, he'll toss money on the bar and slip out of the stool.] Do you think we should fill Espo in on, you know, the whole time traveling?

Freya: Do you think he's a worthwhile ally to have?

Stiles: He was last time. He's a soldier, and he is at least invested in Peter's life.

Freya: Then I trust your judgement. I don't really know him in this timeline, so let me know if you need help looping him in.

Stiles: Yes ma'am. And let me know if we need to do a magical team-up.

Freya: I know where to find you.

Stiles: [and he waves goodbye and heads out, getting himself up a fire escape and onto a roof quickly for his run home. He debates on who he should call first, and decides to let his mom know, and then he'll try and track down Elena and or Derek. When he gets to his own roof, he sits on the ledge and phones home]

Claudia: [picks up on the second ring] Hey, bud. How's it going?

Stiles: Oh, you know, the usual. For New York.

Claudia: Usual good or usual bad?

Stiles: A mix. You got a minute?

Claudia: For you, always.

Stiles: [deep breath] Mom, the police found Talia Hale's body today. She was murdered by another wolf.

Claudia: ... Are you sure? That it was another wolf.

Stiles: Yeah. Cora said so much, in that Laura would have to take the power back from whoever killed Talia.

Claudia: Damn. Any idea who?

Stiles: Not yet. I'm going to visit the crime scene later and see if I can figure out anything out. Do you know of any spells I could try that would let me locate where her power has gone? Maybe it'll let us get an idea on where they are hiding.

Claudia: Tracking power isn't like tracking a person. I don't really have the finesse to pull off something like that. I loathe to say it, but you might be better off talking to your Mikaelson friends.

Stiles: Yeah, I was just there. Freya's more worried about Peter going over the deep end. But I'll see if maybe Kol has a trick up his sleeve.

Claudia: I don't blame her there. An angry Peter Hale is not someone you want to contend with.

Stiles: Really? How bad can he get?

Claudia: Talia used to say that Peter could get so angry that he would break his toys out of frustration. He learned to manage as he got older, controlling it like he controlled his wolf, but with somewhere to point it ...

Stiles: Well, guess we know what side of the family Cora gets her anger from.

Claudia: Probably.

Stiles: So, um, if you could ask the family to keep an ear out if they hear rumors of a new alpha, that could help. Oh, and the Hales are going to head home for her burial, so I may or may not join them.

Claudia: I'll make sure your room is ready. And I'll let you know if I hear anything. [she pauses] You okay, kiddo?

Stiles: ... I don't know. I haven't talked to Derek yet, so that's probably what it is.

Claudia: Okay. Then I'll let you go so you can do that. But let them know that if there's anything that needs to be done here ahead of their arrival - I can help.

Stiles: Yeah, I'll let them know. [thinks] would it be bad if I asked one of the mice to stay with them in case something happens and they can't get in touch with me?

Claudia: No, I don't think so. Just make sure the Hales know they're there.

Stiles: I think it'll make Cora and Malia happy.

Claudia: I think so too.

Stiles: [and he's silent for a moment before] I love you, Mom.

Claudia: I love you too, kid. It'll be okay.

Stiles: Okay. [he needed to hear that. Honestly, he just needed to hear her voice. Getting his old memories included the years of watching her lose her mental facilities and die]

Claudia: [she's getting that. She lets the silence hang for a moment, before nodding] If you need anything, just call.

Stiles: I will. Tell Dad I said Hi.

Claudia: I will. Talk to you later. [and with that, she'll hang up and let him get back to it]

Stiles: [and he will head down to his apartment, change, and then ask for two to three volunteers to join him on a trip to Peter's place. When they are safe in his backpack, he will head back to the roofs for his traveling]

Caroline: [and coming up the sidewalk as he drops down to go into the main entrance is Caroline, with several casserole dishes in hand and she stops short in surprise] Hi, Stiles.

Stiles: [and he'll smile at the sight] Hey Caroline. Need some help there?

Caroline: Please. [she nods to the top of the stack for him to take] Someone dies, you make food, but when you're making food for werewolves, you need to make a lot more food.

Stiles: [and he shifts his weight to take on the casseroles] Well, that's true. I'm sure, however, they are glad that I'm not bringing food. I'd probably give them food poisoning.

Caroline: [she snorts] Yeah, Derek and Malia are alone with Elena and we do not want her cooking either.

Stiles: Derek can at least make a few things. But not a lot. Mostly stuff on the grill.

Caroline: Maybe. But his mom just died, so no heavy lifting. [she gets them past the doorman and onto the elevator] It was so sudden. That's always the worst.

Stiles: No, it's not. It's not great, but there are worse ways to lose a parent.

Caroline: [she glances back at him, before shrugging] Maybe. I just ... if you know it's coming, at least you can plan. When you don't, it cuts your legs out from under you.

Stiles: [and he'll just nod, staying silent while reminding himself he just talked to his mom and she's here and she's healthy.]

Caroline: [and the elevator dings open as they make their way over to the door, Caroline shifting the weight of the remaining casserole dishes to knock on the door]

Elena: [and a few minutes later, she pulls the door open] Hey, what are you ... that's so much food.

Caroline: That's what you do when people die, Elena, you make food.

Stiles: [looking over his stack] Hey.

Elena: Hey. Come in. [she pulls back the door to give them some space] Derek and Malia are asleep in his room.

Stiles: [and he will let Caroline lead them in, but he knows where the kitchen is and heads that way] Cora hasn't gotten back yet?

Elena: No, she texted and said that she was going to Hal's. I think she wanted a little space.

Stiles: Oh, ok. Well, I wanted to check up on Derek, so if you don't mind I'd like to hang out for awhile?

Elena: Yeah, sure. He's asleep right now, but I wouldn't mind the company.

Stiles: Well, I've got that in spades. [and once he has his hands free, he will open his bag and let the mice out]

Elena: [and she'll help Caroline put the food away before glancing over and smiling] Hi, mice.

Mice: Hail, screaming Priestess!

Elena: Care what did you bring?

Caroline: Chicken parm, egg plant parm, mac and cheese and that baked feta pasta they put on Tik Tok.

Elena: [back to the mice] Any of that sound good to you guys?

Mice: [and there is a chorus of cheers because it all smells good]

Elena: [glances over at Stiles] Is there a preference?

Stiles: The one with the most cheese. [smiles as he goes to find plates]

Elena: Mac and cheese it is. [glances to Caroline] You staying for dinner?

Caroline: [she shakes her head] I have to work, there's an event I'm covering tonight. But text me if you guys need anything else.

Elena: We will. Thanks, Care.

Stiles: See you later, Caroline. [and he will rest plates in front of them for Elena to serve on as she leaves. When the door is closed...] So, how bad is he?

Elena: He's ... [there's a pause as she tries to articulate it] He's been really low energy. We talked about reaching out to you but he said he wasn't sure if he had the energy for it. [which is half-apology, half-explanation] But he's the one who spent the most time with her. It's a bit like a phantom limb right now.

Stiles: Yeah. The level of energy he's had here with the rest of the pack has been tenfold to what he has on a normal day in the Hills.

Elena: [she nods] I think he's okay, physically, he just needs time to readjust. But emotionally ... I think that's going to take a lot longer.

Stiles: [and he's going to watch the mice give their praises for the food, his stomach not really hungry] You remember how it was when your mom died?

Elena: [nods as she goes to put the food away] Both my parents all at once. I woke up in the hospital and they were gone.

Stiles: How long did it take you to finally start feeling like yourself again?

Elena: I don't think I ever really did. [she presses her lips together as she closes the fridge] I just ... learned to live in the new normal. Sometimes there's some things where you have to adjust the line for normal, rather than returning to what you had before.

Stiles: [nods, taking a deep breath] Ever since we got our memories back, I have to keep reminding myself that my mom's alive at times.

Elena: [her face softens] That must be scary. Knowing that there's the potential for you to lose her all over again.


Stiles: That, and sometimes I just get hit by that panic I felt when she was dying. The last couple of weeks, I just call my mom to hear her voice to ground me. [he looks up the stairs] He's so close to his mom. Cora may be the baby in the family, but he was definitely the one she babied the most. He could get away with stuff neither of his sisters could.

Elena: [nods] And he'll have us to help him through it. I'm not saying it's not going to be bad for a while, because it will but ... it will get better.

Stiles: Not for awhile. And probably not until they avenge her death, but he'll get there.

Elena: [she nods] How'd you find out? Cora?

Stiles: Yeah. I was having dinner at Freya's bar when she came in.

Elena: Did she seem okay?

Stiles: She's worried about Peter and what he'll do. My mom mentioned that you don't want to be on the wrong side of an angry Peter Hale.

Elena: She's probably not wrong. He's pretty intent on getting Talia's power back.

Stiles: I have faith he'll keep himself in check. He's not at all like the old Peter.

Elena: [nods] I hope you're right. I'm not sure Derek or Laura are in a good place to challenge him. Especially without Laura actually being alpha.

Malia: [footsteps sound on the steps and a tiny face appears] Is that food?

Elena: [glances over, and flashes her a smile] Yeah, my friend Caroline brought over some really good mac and cheese. Hungry?

Malia: [nods as she makes her way closer, until she sees the additional guests] Are those mice?

Stiles: Yup. They're very special mice, too. [he pats the stool next to him, which are close to the three who are almost done eating and now have their whiskers up in curiosity at the little voice]

Malia: [goes and hops up on the stool, and peers down at them] Hi, mice.

Stiles: Everyone, this is Derek's cousin, Malia.

Mice: [taking her in, they raise their hands] Hail Tiny Wolf Priestess! We great you with the dance of Hello, please don't eat us! [and they will start their ritual dance for her]

Malia: [takes a bowl of mac and cheese from Elena] Can I be a Tiny Coyote Priestess? I'm not a wolf. [she just wants her honorific to be accurate]

Mice: [they stop, then solemnly bow their heads] We apologize, Tiny Coyote Priestess. We were not aware. We ask for your forgiveness.

Malia: It's okay. Everyone else in my family is a wolf except for my mom.

Stiles: I should have mentioned that. Sorry, guys.

Mice: We shall continue our dance of hello please don't eat us for the tiny coyote priestess! [which they do]

Malia: [ and she will watch, obviously enchanted]

Elena: Derek still asleep?

Malia: [nods, not looking up from the mice] He was when I left anyway. [to Stiles] Do they go everywhere with you all the time?

Stiles: Well, they moved here with me from California, but these three here, they are going to help me with a special job. Wanna know what it is?

Malia: [nods, clearly it is an important special mice mission]

Stiles: [he leans in and whispers] They're going to stay here and watch over your family for a couple of days just to make sure you're okay. They're really good at helping and can find out things without being seen.

Malia: [her eyes widen because all she hears from that is that she gets to keep them. Malia has her own mice colony now, sorry. she grabs her bowl and turns back to the mice as they finish their ritual] Want to come see my room?

Mice: [and there is a chorus of cheers and hails]

Stiles: Your cousins know how to take of them. I'll let you know when I'm coming to take them home.

Malia: [nods and holds out her arm for the mice to climb up, and once they're all loaded up, she disappears back up the stairs to show them her room]

Elena: [smiles as she goes, before turning back to Stiles] You probably made her day.

Stiles: I hope so. With everything going on, I thought she could use a happy distraction. Might also be good for Cora, and Derek has an established relationship with them so they can help him out while he's adjusting.

Elena: Good. [she glances back to the stairs] I should go check on him. See if he's hungry. You going to stick around for a while?

Stiles: Yeah, I'm here for the night at least. I'll clean up while you check on him.

Elena: [nods, and with that she will wander back upstairs, stopping in the doorway of his room to see if Derek is awake]

Derek: [is awake and has left Malia's room and returned to his. He's shirtless, looking for a new one to put on. He hears her approach and sighs] I take it Stiles isn't leaving until I come downstairs.

Elena: [she shakes her head] That's not it. He just wants to help.

Derek: I know. Stiles has this scary level of empathy and he's a great friend. I just... I don't need logic. Tomorrow I can deal with logic. Right now I just want to... not be.

Elena: And that's okay. I don't think he expects you to want to be logic-ed right now. He just wants to be here for all of you. [takes a step closer and rests a hand on his arm] You can just stay up here if you want.

Derek: [and he leans into the touch, giving up his shirt search] Are any of my sisters or Peter back?

Elena: [she shakes her head] Cora texted and said that she was going to Hal's, so I don't think she's going to be back for a bit. And Peter and Laura are still at Victor's.

Derek: [licks his lips and nods] As much as I want to, I've got responsibilities. I need to be awake and alert.

Elena: Okay. Caroline brought by some food. Maybe it would help if you ate something.

Derek: I will, in a minute. I was going to just get a quick shower.

Elena: Okay. When you're ready, come down and I'll fix you a plate.

Derek: [he smiles, then leans down to kiss her]

Elena: [kisses him back warmly, one hand coming up to cup the side of his face gently]

Derek: [and he'll rest his forehead against hers] Thank you for staying.

Elena: Of course. I'll stay as long as you need me to.

Derek: Be careful. Peter will take advantage of that for free babysitting.

Elena: Well, I happen to be a great babysitter. But, Stiles also brought a couple Aeslin mice to help keep an eye on things and Malia has claimed them as her own.

Derek: Oh, Peter's going to love that. [and he smiles a bit] Just make sure he pays you.

Elena: Will do. [she leans in to kiss him again before pulling back] I'll see you downstairs.

Derek: [he'll let her go, and five minutes later he'll come downstairs and have a quick chat with Stiles about him being okay and sorry for not calling and giving him what further information he has that Cora didn't say, but he's still not wanting to know the visual details]

Elena: [which is fine and she'll just pull out the casserole dishes and fix him a good plate of Caroline's food - but a human sized portion, not a wolf-sized one]

Derek: [and they can eventually dissolve into talking about things not related to the horribleness of reality right now]