Chapter Text
John knows how hard it is for Stiles to leave Derek alone with him and Peter. Not because his son doesn't trust him, he just worries about his boyfriend. John assures Stiles that Derek will be fine with him and sends Stiles on his way. Derek starts howling before Stiles has even pulled out of the driveway and John sighs. He just needs to find a way to distract the little wolf.
He somehow finds himself on the floor, with Derek running around the living room chasing and tackling the toys as John throws them. It takes a few tries but eventually Derek brings them back once John runs out and there’s nothing flying through the air for him to tackle.
“You’re going to be so angry about being treated like a dog when you’re back to normal.” John says, laughing at the way Derek’s growling and shaking his toy. “But it’s certainly a good distraction until Stiles gets back.” Derek’s head snaps up at Stiles’ name and John groans. “Oh hell. Just forget I said that.”
John sits up, wincing a bit when his back pops. He might not be in bad shape but laying on the floor like he was still does a number on his body. He still has a few more hours before he has to get ready for work so he might as well relax somewhere more comfortable. At first, he leaves Derek on the floor to occupy himself. Until the little wolf notices John laying on the couch and starts pawing at it, trying to get up there with him. John smiles, picking Derek up and placing him on his chest, used to having the wolf cuddling up to him by now.
At some point, John falls asleep only to be woken up by something licking his hand and pulling on his sleeve. John’s eyes snap open and land on Peter. “What? What is it?”
Peter huffs and directs his head towards the watch on John’s arm. When he looks down and sees what time it is he curses, picks Derek up and sits him on the floor, before flying up the stairs to get ready for work. He didn’t mean to fall asleep which means he didn’t set an alarm and now he’s running late. He shoots a text to Stiles when he’s getting dressed telling him that he has to leave for the station but Derek will be fine with Peter. John barely spares a glance into the living room when he’s heading out the door, calling out a goodbye as he goes.
John gets to the car and stills, sure he’s forgetting something. He has his gun, his badge, his coat, his lunch… no. He doesn’t have his lunch. Sighing, he walks back inside to grab his lunch, leaving the passenger side door to the car open since he only plans to be inside for a minute and it’ll be easy for him to throw his lunch in when he comes back out. He grabs some leftovers from dinner last night and heads back to the car, shutting the passenger side door as he goes.
The drive to the station is quiet and uneventful, nothing major coming in over the radio. When he gets to the station he reaches over to grab his lunch out of the passengers seat, pats Derek on the head and gets out of the car. He’s halfway towards the door when he freezes before running back towards the car. For a moment he thought he was just imagining seeing Derek but he isn’t that lucky. There in the floorboard sits Derek, staring up at him with wide eyes. John groans, running a hand down his face trying to decide what to do. He’s already late as it is so it would be inconvenient to have to drive Derek all the way back home. Sure, he’s the Sheriff and could get away with it but he wants to set a good example.
So he just wraps Derek up in his coat and carries him inside the station, making sure no one catches sight of the wolf in his arms. Once he’s safely in his office he pulls a chair around his desk so he can place Derek close by and out of sight. When Derek immediately curls up in his coat John decides he can just do without his coat for the day. Especially when the wolf lets out a long yawn and closes his eyes.
“That’s right, you just keep quiet and sleep.” John mutters, reaching over to scratch the wolf behind his ears.
Parrish walks in a few minutes later and smirks when he catches sight of the wolf. “Is it bring your child to work day?”
“Derek isn’t my son.”
Parrish just shrugs. “Maybe not. But we all know one day he’ll probably be your son in law.” He peers closer at Derek, a grin on his face. “He's just as cute as Lydia said he was. And small.”
John leans back in his chair, fixing the man with a stern look. “Is there something you needed Deputy?”
“I was just dropping off the file you wanted to see.” Parrish says, placing the file on the Sheriff’s desk. He goes to leave but looks one last time over at Derek asleep in the chair. “Does Stiles know he’s here?”
John shakes his head. “Not yet. I should probably text him and tell him.”
Before John has a chance to take out his phone another Deputy peaks her head into his office. “We just got a call about a hit and run. They’re asking for you.”
John sighs, getting to his feet. He looks over at Derek trying to decide what he should do. Derek’s asleep and should be fine but if he wakes up and no one’s here…
“I’ll stay and look after him.” Parrish says, taking on the couch in the corner. “If something happens I’ll call you or Stiles.”
John nods, clasping Parrish on the shoulder as he leaves. Everything should be fine as long as Derek stays asleep. If not, well then he’ll just have to use the friend's needy dog excuse again.
*
Cora’s aware it’s a big risk returning to Beacon Hills right now but it’s one she’s willing to take. She’s been restless ever since her conversation with Stiles and she needs to do something about it. She knows Stiles said Derek and Peter will change back but she still needs to see them for herself. She needs to be there for her family. She still waits to leave until she knows her arrival time will put her in Beacon Hills after the eclipse, hoping that maybe that will put her less at risk of shifting. At least she has that as her defense when Stiles inevitably lectures her for coming back.
She doesn’t have to wait long to see his reaction. Stiles has just gotten out of his jeep when Cora pulls up in front of his house in her rental car. She sees his eyes widen before a stern glare takes over his face as he points an accusing finger in her direction. “You! What the hell are you doing here Cora? I told you to wait to come back until after…”
“After Derek and Peter changed back I know.” Cora says, walking until she’s standing right in front of Stiles. “But I couldn’t wait. I needed to see them, and not just to see how cute Derek looks in person. I needed to know they were really alright for myself. I even waited until after the eclipse, see. That should put me less at risk.”
Stiles throws his hands up in frustration. “It was more than the eclipse though! There are ley lines…”
“I know that too. Which is why I won’t be going out to the Hale property until after Derek and Peter change back.”
Stiles sighs, muttering to himself. “Stubborn Hales. There are ley lines all over Beacon Hills, you know? It could still affect you.”
“You said it was a combination of the ley lines and the eclipse, were you wrong?”
“No, I don’t think so. But…”
“No. No buts.” Cora says, crossing her arms across her chest and meeting Stiles’ gaze head on. “I need to be here for them. Can you really tell me you wouldn’t do the same thing if you were in my position?”
Stiles sighs, of course he would. He would have been on the next flight out if he were away and something happened to Derek, even if it meant putting himself at risk. “You know I would. But Derek is going to be furious when he changes back. You know that, right?”
Cora grins. “I’m sure he will be. And I can handle that. Now, where is he?”
“He’s inside with Peter. I left him them here with my Dad while I went to examine the ley lines on your property.”
“You really left Derek?” Cora asks, raising an eyebrow. She’s not accusing him. She’s more impressed he was able to tear himself away. “I’m surprised both of you were able to handle being out of each other's sight from what Lydia’s been emailing me.”
Stiles smirks. “You’ve been emailing Lydia, huh? You know, if you do change it would settle her curiosity about what you’d look like as a wolf. Or well, at least confirm whether you’d look gorgeous or not.”
If anyone asked, Cora would deny that she blushes at that comment. “You’re deflecting. You just don’t want to admit how much you hated being away from Derek.”
“I’m not denying it. I know what he’s like when I just leave the room. He at least seems calm though if the silence from inside is anything to go by.”
Cora nods, before she stills, listening more closely to the heartbeats from inside the house. Or rather, lack of heartbeats. “Stiles, I only hear one heartbeat inside the house.”
Stiles’ eyes widen before he rushes to the door and into the house. He stills when he only sees Peter on the couch. “Peter? Where the hell is Derek?”
Peter just tilts his head, staring at him before he turns his gaze to Cora. He seems far too calm that Derek is gone. Cora shakes her head. “Same old Peter, I see.”
Stiles doesn’t comment, too busy pulling his phone out of his pocket and trying to call his Dad with shaking hands. Cora sighs, taking the phone from Stiles after he almost drops it a third time. She dials the Sheriff before handing the phone back to Stiles, who miraculously doesn’t drop it and gets the phone up to his ear.
Stiles paces around the room, running a shaking hand through his hair as he waits for his Dad to answer his phone. “Stiles?”
“Dad! Dad! Derek’s missing! Was he here when you left? Cora can’t pick up on his heartbeat! And I don’t hear him anywhere! He would have come up to me by now! Dad? Dad? Why are you laughing at me? This is serious! Derek is gone!”
Stiles listens as the Sheriff tries to control his laughter. He doesn’t do a very good job of it but he still manages to speak around his laughter. “How does Peter seem to you? Is he worried?”
Stiles glances over to the couch to where Peter is sitting there watching him, mouth open and tongue hanging out. “It’s Peter Dad! He never worries about anyone but himself!”
“I assure you son, Derek’s fine. He’s here with me.”
Stiles’ mouth opens and closes a few times before he regains his composure, at least a little bit of it. “With you? Why is he with you? Why would you bring a werewolf to the station?”
“I didn’t do it on purpose.” John tells him. “He snuck into the car when I wasn’t looking.”
“He’s tiny! How the hell could he sneak into the car?”
When John speaks, he sounds a little guilty. “I was running late so I may have left my car door open when I ran inside to grab my lunch. I didn’t bother checking the car when I got back in. I didn’t notice he was there until I got to the station and saw him staring up at me from the floorboard.”
Stiles sits heavily in the nearest chair, trying to calm his racing heartbeat. “But he’s okay?”
“He’s fine son. I promise you.” The Sheriff tells him, voice sounding much gentler. “I didn’t mean to worry you. I planned to text you but then got called out and forgot. He’s sleeping but he’d probably be happy if you came and picked him up.”
Stiles nods before realizing he’s on the phone and his Dad can’t see him. “Yeah yeah. We’ll be there soon.”
Cora drives over to the station, stating that Stiles is in no fit state to drive. Stiles doesn’t argue, wanting to get to the station as quickly as possible. He believes his Dad when he says Derek is there and alright but he needs to see for himself.
Stiles throws himself out of the car before Cora’s even put it in park, running into the station. He ignores the hellos some of the deputy’s give in and runs straight to his Dad’s office, looking around frantically for Derek once he’s inside. He spots Derek in a chair behind his Dad’s desk curled up on top of his coat. Stiles kneels in front of the chair, burying his face in the wolf’s fur. That must wake the wolf up because soon Stiles feels him licking at his face and neck.
Stiles hears a snort behind him and glances over his shoulder to see his Dad leaning against the door watching them, Cora right behind him. “I told you he was okay son.”
Stiles gives him a guilty smile. “I know. I just needed to be sure.”
The Sheriff pushes off the door and walks over to his desk, patting Stiles on the shoulder on the way to his seat. “I know you did. I’m sorry for making you worry.”
Stiles looks back to Derek, picking the wolf up in his arms and holding him close to his chest. “There’s someone here to see you.”
Stiles turns around and walks over to Cora, seeing her face break out into a grin when she sees Derek. “He really is even more adorable in person.”
Cora sticks out her hand without Stiles having to prompt her and lets Derek sniff at it. Derek looks from the hand up to Cora’s face before trying to get out of Stiles’ arms over to his sister. “I’d say he missed you.”
Cora takes Derek into her arms with a laugh, allowing the wolf to nuzzle into her neck. “Well I missed you too. At least in this form you can’t yell at me for being back here.”
“I imagine that will come later.” The Sheriff tells her.
There’s a clattering from behind Cora, causing both Stiles and her to look out the door to see the cause. Stiles smirks when he sees Lydia kneeling on the floor, trying to pick up the books she dropped, clearly flustered.
Cora hands Derek back to Stiles before walking over to Lydia, bending down to help her pick up the books. Lydia sends her a grateful smile, standing up with the books held tightly in her arms. “You didn’t tell me you were coming back in your emails.”
“I didn’t want to risk you telling Stiles and then have him calling me trying to talk me out of it.” Cora says, only sounding a little guilty.
Lydia nods, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with her free hand. “It is good to see you again.”
“You too.”
Stiles watches as the two just stand there staring at each other, neither one saying anything. Rolling his eyes, he calls over to Lydia. “What are those books for?”
Lydia startles, looking from Stiles down to the books she and Cora are still holding. “These are journals. Some have information on ley lines.” Lydia says, walking over to Stiles. “I may have snuck into Peter’s apartment and found them.”
“I didn’t hear that.” Stiles hears his Dad mutter from behind him.
“Wait,” Stiles says, peering at the journals in Lydia’s hands, “are you telling me that Peter has had information of ley lines in his apartment this whole time?”
“He might not have known what was in them.” Lydia says, putting the journal's down on the Sheriff’s desk. “They were in some boxes in his hall closet.”
“Did you look through them?”
Lydia nods, picking one of the journals up and opening it to where the others can look at it. “It’s not much, but it does talk about the ley lines forcing wolves to shift before. More specifically Hales. The first time, or at least the first recorded time, was in the early 1700’s. Then again,” she picks up another book flipping through until she finds the page she wants, “in the early 1800’s. Another book wrote about it happening in the early 1900’s.”
“So every 100 years?” Cora asks, peering down at the page.
“It seems like it. That’s just a forced full shift. There have been other reports of ley lines acting up and wolves losing control of their shift but it’s not as common and the timing is more sporadic.”
“And the cases where the full shift happened they’ve always changed back?” Stiles asks, looking down at Derek.
“They have. Usually within a week.” Lydia says, reaching over to squeeze his hand. “He’s going to change back. Both of them are.”
Stiles nods, sending Lydia a grateful smile. “Yeah I know. I just…”
“You miss him.”
Stiles sighs, running his hand through Derek’s fur. “I do. I want him back.”
“He’ll be back to his grumpy self in no time.” Cora tells him, ruffling his hair with a grin.
“So about those ley lines…” Stiles says, wanting to change the subject. “I’m guessing we probably shouldn’t build rebuild the house in the same spot.”
“Probably not.” Lydia tells him. “I’d suggest moving it over away from the ley line that’s on the property. Just because the journals show the forced full shift happening every hundred years it’s best not to risk it.”
“Now that that’s settled can we get something to eat?” Cora asks. “I’m starving.”
“I can stop and pick something up and bring it to Stiles’ and meet you over there.” Lydia says, looking to Stiles for confirmation.
Before Stiles can say anything, Cora speaks up. “Or I could ride with you.”
“But you drove me here…” Stiles says. He doesn’t want to ruin their moment but he’s also without a car.
Cora rolls her eyes, tossing Stiles her keys, surprised when he actually catches them. “You can drive the rental. Just don’t crash it!”
“Yeah because that was my plan exactly.” Stiles says, smirking as an idea occurs to him. “Actually, why don’t you two pick a place and eat there? Then you can bring me, Derek, and Peter something to eat after.”
“Or I can stay with Lydia and you can cook for yourself.”
“Rude. What if I don’t feel like cooking?”
Lydia rolls her eyes. “We’ll pick something up for you and drop it off if it. If only so I’m sure Derek and Peter are well fed.”
Stiles goes to argue but the Sheriff puts a hand on is shoulder, silencing him. “Best to leave it be son. I do have a job to do and you kids are taking over my office.”
“We can grab you something too Sheriff so you have something when you get home.” Lydia offers.
John sends Lydia a grateful smile as he gently guides them towards the door. “That would be great, Lydia. Thank you.”
Once they’re outside the station Lydia stops Stiles before he can get into the car. “Just so you know, Scott called an emergency pack meeting yesterday.”
“Oh did he?” Stiles asks, barely suppressing the urge to roll his eyes. “And let me guess, it was about me and Derek?”
“It was. He was all concerned that you two were dating. Worried that Derek somehow tricked you into it or something equally as stupid.” Stiles goes to speak put Lydia holds up her hand. “Don’t worry. Erica and I were quick to put him in his place. Anyone with eyes could see that you two have been pining each other for years. When he had to explain how he found out about the two of you Malia punched him when she found out it was because he tried to attack Derek. Even Isaac seemed pissed and you know how close those two are. And Boyd glared and threatened to make it to where Scott can’t have children if he tries to come between you and Derek.”
“I wish I could have seen that.” Stiles grins, giving himself a silent reminder to buy them all thank you presents. “It’s nice to know you guys have our backs even if Scott doesn’t.”
“He’s oblivious. If he actually paid attention he wouldn’t have been so surprised.”
“That’s for sure.” Stiles looks over Lydia’s shoulder to where Cora is waiting by her car. “You should go. You don’t want to keep Cora waiting to go on your date.”
“It’s not a date!”
Stiles shrugs. “It could be. You like her. She likes you. Why not make it a date?”
Lydia glances over her shoulder to where Cora is watching them, or more like watching Lydia, before looking back at Stiles. “Is it really that easy?”
“Sure it’s not always sunshine and rainbows but no one said it had to be hard, Lyds.” Stiles tells her. “And since she can hear everything we’re saying I’d say it’s worth at least mentioning the idea.”
Lydia nods, giving Stiles a small smile before walking over to meet Cora. Stiles smiles when Cora greets her with a kiss on the cheek.
Stiles expects his thoughts to be all over the place on the drive home but his mind is oddly settled, focused on the road and Derek sleeping in the passenger's seat. He just has to get through tomorrow and then the next day Derek and Peter should change back. The next day he’ll have Derek back.