Chapter Text
Noah sat at his desk and groaned because not again. Why was Peter Hale here? He could see the man striding towards him, in a fuck off expensive suit that Noah damn well knew the man wore in an attempt to intimidate. Ooh, I am so rich I can wear a suit that costs as much as a car down payment. My watch would cover the first year of Stiles' college - out of state even. My shoes were made by magic elves. It was really damned obnoxious.
But that was the story of Peter Hale.
At least when he dealt with Talia, she tended to be in her gardening clothes and they talked about marigolds as well as the threats to the supernatural community. Peter was just blunt — if you find a body in the eastern part of the preserve, no you didn't.
What a trip it was to become sheriff and learn that the monster under the bed was real. He tried to tell the Hales that they shouldn't have told him that information, that they would come to regret it. Talia told him that the sheriff had to know and she understood he was scared but really the supernatural world was not scary and he had nothing to fear. She had been reassuring and he had just repeated, she owed him a coffee and a fancy donut when she realized the mistake she had made.
Six months later the coffee and donut were sitting on her desk and she had that haunted look on her face as she returned Stiles to him for the dozenth time of his visits to the Hale house with 'okay, but seriously, what if' questions.
On the plus side Stiles had managed to nab a half dozen books from over that time from their library and it had answered a lot of questions for Noah. He and Stiles had built a dossier together of everything they learned.
And that had been the first time Peter had walked into his office, all sharp edges, fancy suit, silk tie. "I believe your whelp borrowed a few things from the family. We were indulgent and didn't object when he did it, but we would prefer them back now. And ideally without jam or peanut butter stains, I have a feeling he is a sticky child."
"I would advise against calling my son a whelp."
"Give me the four books back now."
Noah grinned. "Stiles stole six. Don't all of you have super senses, and you missed how much a ten year old with adhd stole from you? Maybe have to revisit the Hales are the best of the best thinking." Peter's eyes had flashed and there was a bit of fang. Noah ignored it and handed over the ancient grocery tote bag. "Make sure you bring that bag back, still has some life in it."
He did enjoy Peter looking at it in horror and gingerly taking it, before storming out. He had never gotten it back. Rather rude really.
Which honestly was typical for Peter. Rude, demanding, Stiles had once called him a cunt. Kid had gotten grounded for three days for using that word. And the deputy who had taught him that word got dog park duty. He wasn't wrong though. Noah had asked Talia about it once, and Talia had replied with a classic, 'there is one in every family' and brought him carrots from her garden.
It was spring, not quite summer, but you could feel the change in the air. He had a night shift and Stiles was sleeping over at Melissa's. Stiles was mad that he couldn't sleep over at the Hales. Derek had been home from his first year of college, two whole days now, and Stiles should be allowed to hang with his second best friend.
No one told Stiles that Derek had been his babysitter, because Talia had given up on delivering Stiles back home. Derek had offered to hang with him, and they had formed a fast and slightly confusing friendship. And Derek had watched Stiles on many a late shift. Somehow his quiet was a good balance to Stiles' loud. But Noah had promised Talia a few days of her son to herself before Stiles stole Derek away.
Noah was staring at paperwork and decided he needed a decent coffee. He told them he'd be back in twenty, and actually it would be an hour because might as well patrol a bit. Noah was ruthless about not being on a phone when driving, but he had set everyone to a different ring tone, to let him know if he should pull over. It was a noise he hadn't heard before, but had programmed. The road was empty and he didn't bother pulling over, just braked and threw on the lights.
It was Peter, he just said, 'home, help,' and the line cut off. Noah put the car into drive and kept the lights on. He had never driven this fast in town. If Peter sounded scared, reached out to Noah of all people, some awful shit was happening. He got there in about half the time it usually took, and his headlights illuminated a group of people standing there grinning and drinking fucking Bud Light as the Hale house smoldered, ready for that fire to fully catch. Noah could hear screams. He didn't think, ran out of the car, and fired rounds enough to get them distracted, before he ran low and into the house.
Noah scraped his foot along some line surrounding the house, some weird dirt or ash that some kids must have been playing with, and he followed screams to a basement where, fuck, all the Hales had been locked up. The smoke was heavy and made him choke. When people saw him, there was shouting, and he looked because why hadn't they broken out? But adults were wrapped around children, and he could guess that kids had been threatened. The locks on the cages had been filled with foam, but foam vs bullet, the winner was easy.
He shot them and opened the doors, which scraped more of that dirt line and he was knocked back as werewolves exploded out, some people running with children to safety, and some with murder in their eyes. He felt a hand pull him up, and stared at Peter.
"You came," Peter said watching him as the smoke got heavy and flames started to burn through.
"Go," Noah had replied, and he found himself hauled up. Outside the people with the Bud Light were not laughing anymore as they were surrounded. Talia facing them.
"Sheriff," a man called, "you don't understand, these are monsters. We are protecting and serving. Just like you."
There were growls around him, and Peter started to move forward. Noah put a hand on him, and the snarl he got back, he had no problems admitting scared him.
He glanced over and there was a child, tear streaks dried on their faces, a thumb in their mouth. "Monsters indeed," Noah said. "Get the children into the woods away from this." He looked and saw Derek, Talia's middle shaking, with rage or horror or something. But he was looking at the woman in the group. With fear and heartbreak. "Derek go to my car, call in an electrical fire on the cb."
Derek nodded, ran over to the cruiser.
"Some of you try to contain the fire if you can. Move!" Noah shouted. He wanted as many people away as possible from what he was pretty sure Talia and Peter would be doing.
People got busy until it was just Talia, her husband, Peter, and a couple others left with the humans.
"Sheriff, don't you understand what is going on here?" The old man said. "We are just protecting the world from monsters. Do you know how many that one has killed?" A finger was pointed at Peter.
"Not really. Since I have been sheriff I think it is seven?" He glanced at Peter, "that about right?"
"Not bad," Peter agreed. "They put wolfsbane in the fire, we are not healing as quickly as we should."
"I am," Talia said, "and they tried to destroy my pack." Noah damn well understood what Talia was implying.
"Sheriff," the woman began to cry, "Derek raped me. He seduced me, was so suave and swore he loved me, but it was all just a trick, to hurt me."
The sheriff looked at her and snorted. "Damn lady, bet you think you are a good liar too."
That got everyone frozen and looking at him. Peter had a head tilt even. Noah shrugged, "you expect me to believe that a first year history major whose big life ambition is work in a bookstore or archives away from people, managed to get enough game to seduce a woman what fifteen years older than him? Derek only has game on the court and nowhere else. I am betting it is the other way around." He glanced over to his car and Derek was standing there, and yeah he was reading that one right. "You seduced him, to make this happen."
Noah saw them working on the fire and they had about ten minutes before more cops and firemen showed up. He put his gun away. "Talia, Peter," he said calmly, "I'm going to help put out that fire."
He turned away. There was cursing and the idiots who started this, clearly reaching for weapons. He didn't flinch just began to walk. When shots were fired, they didn't touch him. He went to help the fire control and heard screams and then silence.
"Don't aim at the top, aim at the ground," he told the person with the garden hose.
It wouldn't stop a blaze like this, but maybe they could contain it. Derek was next to him. "I didn't hurt her," he said quietly. There was a bullet would oozing. "This is my fault."
"No it isn't. Now hold that hose," he ordered. It was passed to Derek, and the person went where there was a line of people using their speed to get buckets from the river. "Just like that," he guided hands on top of Derek's. "I know it can feel like your fault, but it wasn't son."
"I had never been that far from pack, and it hurt so much, and -" Derek stopped talking. He was crying. "It hurts."
"Emotions are a kick in the teeth. Betrayal even more so."
"I meant the bullet I took for you."
"Oh, yeah that too, how do we fix that?"
"Pull the bullet out and cleanse the area with fire since we don't know what strain of wolfsbane it was."
Christ, didn't he just love knowing about the supernatural world? He managed to dig the bullet out and he pulled out a lighter but didn't think that would cut it. Noah felt sick, but luckily Talia was there and he ignored the blood covering her.
"My boy," she said softly.
"Don't," Derek begged.
"Very well, but we need to deal with the bullet."
"I need to fix this," Derek insisted. "This is my fault, so I need to fix it. When Stiles breaks something, the sheriff always makes him make it right. I need to make it right."
Noah saw Talia tilt her head. "I'll just go wait over there, give them the breakdown." They could all hear the sirens of the fire truck. He went over the cruiser and Peter was on the radio and looking actually frazzled. Noah took it out of his hand. "Stiles, get off official channels," he ordered.
"Dad, is Derek okay? I can be out there in like forty minutes if I pedal real fast."
"He is going to be okay. And you will not be pedaling out here in the dark. You will stay at Melissa's house or rather I should say, you will go back to Melissa's house, because I know she doesn't have a police scanner."
"Okay, so I can explain later. But right now, I can help. Can I help?"
"You can help tomorrow. I have a plan. Tomorrow you will be a key player, probably even let you skip school, so long as you head back to Melissa's and stay there."
"Fine, ugh, but tomorrow. Tomorrow it is going to be tomorrow and I'm helping." There was a stubbornness in his voice. "See, Peter, I can help. I can help Derek good. Better than you."
There was a shadow on Peter's face, and he thought about those cages. "Mieczyslaw," he snapped, "you have no idea what happened tonight, and you will not accidentally hurt people more than they are already hurting."
"My wo —" Noah cleared his throat because this was a goddamn open channel, "My friends are hurting?"
"They are, but we are going to make it better. Tomorrow," he said.
"Okay. Are you okay?"
"I am. Now off the line, I love you Stiles."
"Love you too," was said and he was gone.
"Sorry about him," Noah said. He could see the fire truck approaching. He glanced over and the field was only Hales, the people who started the fire gone. The bags of gear as well. "Evidence?"
"Being dealt with."
Noah nodded, "I'll need a better explanation of who they were and how this happened later. And I will want their bullets. I want bullets that can actually hurt werewolves."
"No," Peter snapped. "I will not trust you with that."
Noah glared at him. Waved to the field where he let stone cold executions happen. "I think that buys me a bit of trust."
"You'll shoot me."
"Of course I will," Noah replied, "you are a pain in the ass, and need to be taken down a peg or two. But I want them as back up because as good as you are at your job, you can't control everything be there every time and I want back up to keep my kid and my town safe."
"Was that a compliment in there?"
"Give me the bullets, or I'll tell Stiles he can sleep over for a week."
"In what house, you know we're losing it."
"He'll drag a sleeping bag and his pillow to wherever Derek is, and I will make sure that is with you." It was a credible threat.
"One box, and of a strain I know, so we can be healed easily."
"Agreed. Now electrical fire?"
"Easiest, mice got into the basement, chewed the lines."
Noah went over to the firetruck as it pulled over and told them that. They had brought the water truck, but a brief talk with the captain said they were basically there to make sure it didn't spread to the preserve.
It was a long night but the fire died, and most of the house was lost. Faces were haunted, but Talia was rallying her pack.
"Okay, so the motel on Lake Street for tonight," Noah said. "I already called them and they are expecting you. I put word out to dispatch, and they are organizing a drive so that people can donate clothes, toys for the little ones. Insurance will cover some, but we can —"
Talia's hand was on his face and there was a kiss to his brow. "The best thing Beacon Hills has ever done was elect you sheriff. What a heart you have. The hotel and donations will be fine. We do not need more than that."
"I know you have resources, but —"
"What my sister is too genteel to say is we have more money than the city's five year budget. We'll be fine."
Noah nodded, "small town and you are an important family. People will want to help. You might not need it, but the show of it will help your cover story. Let the town feel like they are supporting you. More of those hunters show up, the town will be on it and they will be monitored closely."
"How very devious," Peter was smirking at him.
Noah ignored that. "I can fit a bunch into the cruiser. I feel like Cora would enjoy riding in the back, especially if I pretend she is a prisoner." Her and Stiles played interesting games sometimes that made him scared for their teenage years.
"She would," Talia agreed.
"Can I ride with you?" Derek asked.
Noah nodded. Soon people were in cars and there were a block of rooms waiting at the motel. Derek didn't get out of the car though. He stayed even as Talia gestured, and when she started to move forward, Peter's hand on her arm, stopped her. Noah saw the faint nod from Peter, and Noah took Derek home. "Guest room, or Stiles' room?"
"Isn't it weird if I sleep in his room?"
"Wolves need scent and comfort. He is your second best friend."
"I'm his second best friend. He's my best friend." Derek looked helpless. "I'm such a loser a ten year old is my best friend."
Noah instantly understood that Derek wasn't just spending the night, he was going to be there for a while. "You aren't a loser. And tell you what, I'll be your best friend. So that Stiles can be your second best friend."
He saw Derek start to cry, and leaned over, hugged the kid. Derek leaned against him, nose pressed to Noah's neck. They were gulping sobs, just a steady stream as the night caught up to him. Noah let him be for a few minutes, but then nudged and they were out of the car and into the house.
Once inside, Derek was immediately attached to him again and Noah managed to get them to the couch where he found himself tackled and squished into the space. Derek's last growth spurt and clear working out while at college made him heavy, but it was clear he needed comfort, so Noah just held him, rubbed a soothing hand up and down the poor kid's back.
"She was nice. I tried to make friends, tried to join the basketball team. Made it, but freshmen don't exactly get playtime or treated the best. And not having anchors around, was not…I couldn't. At least I wasn't in the dorms, because that much scent and noise would have caused migraines, but also not being in the dorms, meant I missed bonding with people. Got called the rich kid who was too good for people."
"Was the library at least good?"
There was a nod against his throat.
"You spent a lot of time there, and then one day she just happened to run into you, maybe spilled something on you?"
"How'd you know?"
"Guess I'm psychic," Noah said. The answer was that it was common. For good reasons and sometimes for bad ones. "She was a bit shy, but not too shy, offered to pay to clean your clothes. You said no it was fine and she said, maybe I could buy you dinner to make up for it." There was a nod against his neck. "It was good and she was nice, and flirty but not too flirty, because a lot of seventeen and eighteen year old girls had been really aggressive about it, because you are pretty and they are out on their own for the first time."
Derek gave him a look, almost a pout. "I'm not pretty."
"Okay," Noah laughed a bit. "Rugged and dashingly handsome." That got a bit of a blush. "Manly in all the best ways, a hunk."
"Who says hunk?" Derek managed to sit up, which let Noah sit up too. "Stiles is right, you are a complete dork."
A complete dork, who had Derek relaxing a bit. Derek pulled a blanket around himself. "She was nice and it made it less lonely. I missed the pack so much. Why did Mom send me away?"
"To grow, to see the world, Laura went out east and loved it. They just wanted you to have that chance too. Stiles insists he is joining the department, and maybe he will, but you best believe I want him out of here for college, to make sure it is what he really wants." Noah looked at him. "This is not your fault, Derek. You were targeted and manipulated."
That got no response, but he didn't expect it to. "Now where do you want to sleep tonight?"
"Stiles' room," Derek said.
"Of course, and once he is home, we'll set you up in the guest room. Get a better bed in there, paint it a colour that you like."
"I'm only staying a night or two, until Mom says which property in town we'll be staying at while we rebuild."
"Really?" Noah gave him a look. "Son, we both know the guilt is going to mess you up and you need a little space to grieve and get okay with it all. You'd spend three nights with them, then run away to the woods or Mexico or something. Then I'd have to help Peter track you down. I do not want to spend that much time with Peter, he's an asshole." That got an almost smile. "Move in for the summer."
"I like blue," Derek said. "Superman blue."
"We'll hit the hardware store tomorrow," Noah promised. He thought that would be a godawful bright colour for a room, but if it would help Derek, you can always paint over paint. "I'll get you some of my sweats. You go shower, you don't want that smell on you." Derek went and when he heard the shower running, Noah called Peter.
He had been prepared to leave a voicemail because he was convinced that Peter was the type to screen his calls, but it was answered. "Is he okay?"
"No, and won't be for awhile."
"He needs pack, it will be too easy for him to slip into being an omega," Peter said. He sounded tired, "this is my fault."
Noah didn't have time for an asshole breakdown, he was too busy with emo teenager breakdown. "Shut the fuck up, you aren't a god, you aren't as clever as you insist and sometimes fucked up shit happens. Deal with it. What matters now is moving forward. And he has pack, small and human but he does. We'll keep him safe and sane. It will be worse if he is with the family in a hotel or temporary house. Every time one of you smells sad, he'll blame himself. He needs neutral. We're keeping him."
There was a growl through the phone and he could hear pacing. "Fine, but we get to check on him."
"You can help repaint the guestroom for him."
"I will hire people to take care of it."
"Uh-huh, I know you won't sleep tonight standing guard over everyone, but when dawn comes, try to rest."
"I don't like you." Peter hung up.
Noah rolled his eyes at all the drama and grabbed those sweats for Derek. He passed them into the room, and Derek came out and smelled better at least. Was going to be a long time before that haunted look left his eyes. "Into bed with you," he ordered and pull Derek to Stiles' room. He tucked the teen in, just like he would Stiles. "You made it through the day, I'm proud of you." He kissed Derek's head. Put the blankets up high. "Sleep. You need sleep to be able to do impossible things tomorrow." It was exactly what he would say for Stiles.
And just like for Stiles, he ran in and held tightly when the nightmare hit. There was a reason a ten year old had a queen bed, the amount of times Noah had crashed in there after nightmares warranted it.
They fell asleep together, and Noah wasn't surprised when he felt a finger poke his eyeball.
Stiles was there, looking scared. "Dad, what happened?" He was trying to whisper, but Stiles never had the best volume control.
Noah got up and gestured so that they went downstairs, let Derek sleep a bit more. He made himself coffee, and put enough of it in to cover the bottom of the mug for Stiles topped to the brim with milk. Stiles grinned though, because he was having coffee with his dad, like real men did.
"I know you love to ask questions, and I love how you refuse to settle for answers that are because I said so. But this time, when I give you details, you gotta not push. Because if you push, he might break."
Stiles' eyes were huge. "Daddy?"
Noah felt his heart ache because it had been a couple years since Stiles had actually called him that. Noah told him about the fire, and that it seemed to be people who deliberately hunted werewolves. Stiles got that stubborn look in his eyes.
"They went after my wolves?" was said, like somehow the Hale pack belonged to a tiny human kid. "Those are my wolves! I'll kill them!" Stiles paused, and remembered all the lessons Noah had given him, "That is of course just a metaphor for my feelings of rage, and not a declaration of intent or confession to anything I have done, or potentially will do. I am formally requesting that I receive legal representation immediately."
Noah smiled, absurdly proud of his kid. "It gets worse. It seems these hunters deliberately targeted and manipulated Derek while he was away at school in order to be able to do this. He is feeling guilty that his family was minorly harmed, and the house lost. He is convinced it is his fault."
"I need to fix this," Stiles said and stood up. Noah caught him before he could run to Derek. "Dad, I can fix this. He didn't do it, he never does anything bad. He won't even let me watch a pg-13 movie until I'm twelve!" There was a struggle, but Noah held tight.
"You can't fix this like how you think. But you can help," Noah promised. "Derek is moving in here, and we are going to be his pack. You and me, we're going to look out for him. Said I'd be his best friend, and you already had second best friend on lock."
"Just until I'm old enough, and we get married. But I think you stay best friends when you get married right?"
"You do," Noah promised and didn't dismiss or joke about it, because that was his kid's heart and it was fragile enough as it was. "You love Derek very many suns and moons huh?" It was how Claudia had described love to Stiles before she got sick. There was a lot of nodding. "My plan is we paint the guestroom for him. Lots of board games, and he comes along on the camping trip next month."
"And I still get my reward?"
"If you finish the school year without making your teacher cry, we will go to Six Flags at the end of the camping trip."
"And if she weeps with joy at being done with me?"
"You get three souvenirs," Noah sighed at how he had lost that particular negotiation. "And unlimited churros until such time we leave the park or you puke."
Stiles gave a nod. "We are saving Derek, who is saving everyone else?"
"Talia has it covered, and Peter will be helping." Stiles gave him a look. "Okay Peter will help Peter, but that will likely benefit a few people." Noah held out his pinkie. "I need that promise to only push the right amount."
A small pinkie hooked around his. "We got this."
They heard noise and soon Derek stumbled downstairs, still looking exhausted but when Stiles leapt, he was easily caught.
"You are moving in!" Stiles cheered. "I get to keep you now, not just in the future. In summer I get to stay up an extra hour. It's only a month away. And we're going camping together. You're a werewolf so like you are used to shitting in the woods, and dad can do it. My poop is shy though, so we stay somewhere with bathrooms in walking distance. I can pee in the woods, just not poop. There is a river where we camp and they let you rent tubes. We'll go tubing and also to Six Flags, do you like Six Flags?"
"I've never been."
Noah watched Stiles' eyes go huge. "Really? But I had a growth spurt, I will likely get on some of the medium coasters this year. It will be awesome."
"I don't want to impose on family time."
"Stiles sometimes brings Scott along on the trip. Your turn this year," Noah lied easily and Derek was watching him, but Noah was a damned good liar, had to be raising Stiles and dealing with a mayor who liked to slash budgets, and honestly dealing with Peter had taught him a lot as well. "Sometimes a man gets to bring his best friend along, instead of the kid."
"It's stupid, you don't have to say that."
Noah poured Derek a cup of coffee, "son, we're going to help you. We are your pack, okay? You are stuck with me and Stiles until you go back to school, or until you manage to tell Talia you aren't going back, and we figure out what is next for you."
"I don't deserve a pack."
That got an absurdly loud gasp from Stiles. "Excuse you?" Stiles was there, poking Derek in the chest. "I have wanted a pack for forever."
"You mean since you found out about us last summer?"
"In kid years that is forever!" Stiles flailed a bit. "And Dad told me, this summer we aren't just family, we're pack. And I get to have that because it's awesome, and it makes me awesome."
"You are awesome," Derek's voice was soft, and he was tousling Stiles' hair. "You are the awesomest."
"You, Dad, and Scott are the only ones who think that," Stiles answered and it hurt Noah that Stiles didn't have more friends at school, but he couldn't make people understand Stiles. "But I deserve pack, don't I?"
"You do," Derek swore and Noah watched Derek run his nose along Stiles' jaw. "Okay, the three of us an offshoot pack, under the aegis of Talia Hale." Derek choked a bit on his mom's name. "Do you think she hates me?"
"No," Noah said firmly. "She loves you so much, and this is not your fault. We will say it again and again until you believe it."
"I can't see her yet. Or my dad, or my sisters."
"What about Peter?"
"What about him?" Derek paused, "do you think Mom will have him deal with me?"
Stiles ran and that confused the two of them, until he came with the baseball bat from the hall closet. "Don't worry, Derek, I'll protect you."
Fuck, Derek started crying a bit at that and Stiles hugged him, bat sort of whapping Derek in the head.
Noah took his coffee out to the front porch to give the poor kid some privacy. It was going to be easier for Derek to have feelings in front of Stiles, as Stiles was just all feeling, but zero expectation or weight. Noah took his phone out, and hit Peter's number again.
"You told me to sleep."
"Like you were going to listen to anything I said," Noah replied. He was quiet.
"How bad?"
"The kid is a wreck, has made it clear no immediate family. I suggested you, and he assumed Talia was going to order you to kill him for betraying the pack."
"Fuck," Peter cursed, "Fucking cunt, bitch shitstain fake blonde, should have ripped those fake tits out of her chest, and fucking fed them to her."
"Graphic, and of course completely hypothetical," Noah said. "They will stay dead right? Like no zombies out for revenge."
"Zombies aren't real, and those bodies were very thoroughly taken care of." Peter sighed, "He fucked up. He should have scented the deceit on that hunter bitch. He shouldn't have told her family secrets. Even as Talia's son, that will lead to some punishment. That is pack law."
"He's punishing himself enough, and if you come for him, you don't have to worry about me. You'll have to deal with Stiles."
There was a laugh. "Yes, your child has me shivering in my boots."
"He's decided to learn magic after reading that green and gilded book from your library."
"Oh fuck no," Peter snapped, "you stop that right now."
Now Peter sounded nice and scared. Excellent. "I haven't been able to stop Stiles from doing shit, like ever. I was always the soft touch, Claudia the one who could contain him. And you know, I don't think I will stop this. He's human, how much magic could he actually learn from what he copied out of that book?" Noah was fishing a bit, curious what the answer would be. He knew that Peter would interpret that as hand copied a couple interesting pages, not that he had found Stiles at the station's photocopier, after he had finished copying ninety percent of the thing, and yes he had let Stiles finish because leaving it at that point seemed stupid.
"Doesn't matter, it will just be theoretical knowledge until he hits puberty. Magic is generally tied to life force. And it's Stiles, he'll get bored in a week when nothing happens." Peter sounded more like he was trying to reassure himself than anything else.
Noah glanced in the window and saw Stiles on Derek's back, hugging the guy, grip also still on the baseball bat.
Great, his kid was going to be learning magic, and breaking all the rules of the supernatural world to keep his second best friend, and maybe future husband safe. "Uh-huh," was what he said to Peter. "You, and you, alone are allowed to check on Derek. Before punishment is given, you will discuss it with me. And I expect those bullets, please and thank you." Noah hung up and honestly really enjoyed cutting Peter off like that.
He went inside and Stiles gave him a look. Noah sighed and called the school, explained that Stiles was out of adderall and the pharmacy wouldn't get any in until Monday. The he is excused for the rest of the week came faster than a fourteen year old touching their cock for the first time.
Oh god, he was going to have to have a sex ed talk with Stiles at some point. That was too much for his brain to process and he looked at the two of them. "Your job today, is to sit on the couch and watch stupid movies. You may have junk food for lunch. Peter will be stopping by to check on you, Stiles will protect you from Peter, won't you bud?"
"He'll never see death coming for him," Stiles swore.
That got an actual almost smile from Derek. Because look Noah had so much faith is Stiles, but stealth was not in his stats block. "Right. I need to go to the station, there will be a lot after last night. Order pizza for yourselves, okay? I'll call when I can. And Stiles? Just because you have a day off of school —underwear and socks still get changed." Noah had learned you had to spell those kinds of things out.
He got an eye roll, but also a hug and left them be.
The station was in an uproar, an old guy standing there screaming at people about his daughter. Noah went over, "Sir, please, we can't help you if you don't calm down."
"My daughter came to this shithole town, to chase after a kid who seduced her, and she didn't check in like she promised."
"If she is under eighteen we can of course —"
"You bastard, you know, don't you?"
Noah kept his face calm, lifted his hands. "Sir, I'm the sheriff here, and I know a lot of things, but there is a whole lot more in this world I don't know. How about you come to my office, and we'll get started on the missing child report."
"She's thirty," was said through gritted teeth.
"Well that changes things, but still, a recent picture, do you know what hotel she was staying at? The name of this boy?"
"He belonged to the Hale family."
"Now, if you are just here because of your daughter being with a guy, why do you know who his family is? They suffered a bit of a tragedy last night," Noah made sure his officers who were clearly listening in could hear. "Electrical fire out at their house."
There was a look of triumph in the old man's face. Well then, this changed things a bit. "Such a shame, and out that far, I would imagine the damage and loss of life was incredible. A tragedy for this town."
"It was," Noah agreed and he signalled behind his back, trusted his team to understand. "The house is completely gone, but at least the fire didn't spread to the preserve."
The old man looked almost gleeful before he managed to go back to angry and stoic. "Well, they probably had it coming to them."
"That sounded a lot like a confession to me, because I had just said it was an electrical fire. Is there something you would like to share with us?"
"You are putting words in my mouth, I just said that awful family had it coming. That boy hurt my daughter."
"I would love to know how a barely eighteen year old kid, could hurt a thirty year old woman," Noah crossed his arms. "A kid that tells a very different story. Would you like to hear it? I am sure of course that Talia and Peter Hale would join him when he gave that story. In an official capacity."
"They survived?" The man did not like that.
"Property is destroyed, but they called it in, everyone lived, thank the lord jesus." That got a snort from a deputy because everyone knew that Noah was only religious when his team was in the world series, or his mama was calling. "Now, how about you join me in an interview room, and I ask you a few questions about this missing daughter of yours?" Noah took a step forward and leaned into the man, whispered, "Peter took a particular interest in her."
That got a wild punch thrown at him, and Noah happily took the hit. Deputies grabbed the man and he was arrested for assaulting an officer. They'd let him cool off for a few hours, and then see what was next. He called Talia and let her know the situation, and he could feel even through the phone that her calm was hanging on by a thread.
She said she would be stopping by the station; Noah advised against that but she had already hung up. Oh great, she was going to kill this guy and out all the supernatural to the whole damn world and he had to figure out how to stop it.
Noah sat at his desk and ran through as many scenarios as he could. None were good, most were bad. When there was a knock on his door, he was relieved when he was told it was the lawyer for the old man. He stood and took one look at the guy, closed the door.
"Right, like hell you are a lawyer," he said. "I can smell lawyers a mile away, and you are not one."
"Chris Argent, the man you arrested for assault is my father. I am here to represent him."
"Have a seat. We have a few minutes before Talia Hale gets here, and we have a mess on our hands."
"My father was under a great deal of stress, my sister came to this town, chasing after a man who hurt her —"
"Really we call eighteen year olds men now? Ones who had never been away from home before and barely can talk to people who aren't on basketball teams, or have opinions about Tolstoy?" Noah leaned back in his chair. "Your sister deliberately targeted the kid, for who his family was. She wanted them to hurt. The kid is a mess right now."
He watched the man's jaw tighten. "I don't think you understand the world that you have stepped into."
Okay, this guy knew, that made it easier. Noah leaned forward. "Cards on the table, nothing recorded, completely off the record."
"Agreed," the man also leaned forward. They stared at each other, waited for the other to flinch. To say it out loud.
Noah lived with Stiles he could handle anyone.
"How do you feel about the full moon, Sheriff?"
"I haven't ever had a single problem with it."
"Peter Hale has many problems with it."
"Man, your group sure to like to harp on him. Has given him an inflated ego and sense of self. Let me tell you, I blame you for his arrogance. He hasn't done anything that is inside my particular jurisdiction. But you know what is? A group of people who trapped the most important family in the town in their basement and lit the house on fire. Children almost died, Mr. Argent. Children who had done nothing wrong. And your sister —I'm assuming that's who the blonde was —stood there with a few others drinking fucking Bud Light and laughing as they waited for children to burn."
Chris flinched at bit at that, "we follow a code, my sister wouldn't do that."
"Wouldn't she?" Noah pressed. "Because I was the one there, I saw her face when the building went up, and I saw her face when I freed everyone locked in the basement. I can take you there, show you where foam filled the cage locks. Actually wait, maybe you can answer, around the house, and around the cages, there was a line of black dirt. Know what that is about?"
"Mountain ash, it traps wolves." The man aged about five years in just that sentence. "There is a code, we only hunt those who hurt others. Peter Hale for example."
"So to take out Peter, your sister black widowed a kid, and was willing to burn ten other people to death? And also, Peter Hale has never killed, maimed, harmed, a human in my jurisdiction. Does anything in your information say differently?"
"No," the man grudgingly agreed. "But it is a matter of time. He has a taste for killing and that only grows in werewolves. They are a threat that needs to be handled carefully."
"They are no more a threat than the guy who gets lit at the bar on Saturday night and decides to drive their car." Noah looked at Chris. "Your sister and her goons tried to kill the whole Hale family. You know what that means."
"I do," Chris looked haunted, but resigned, "and that is just according to the code. If you have proof."
"I will give you testimony and we'll have Derek Hale give it as well."
"Agreed." The man looked away. "I have a daughter. She's eleven."
"My son is ten," Noah offered, "and a giant pain in the ass."
"Allison," the man said, "she is incredible. My father has been talking about training her, wanting her to be just like Kate."
"I have to say, not a desire I would get behind as a parent." The man nodded. Noah waited, but there was nothing. "Assaulting me, will get him a fine at the end of it. Unless you know things that could help me keep him in jail. Officers of the law, often get anonymous tips that can really help them build a case."
"I just want my little girl to be safe and happy, and not all of this."
"A man wants nothing more than to see his kid have better than he did," Noah agreed. "I barely graduated high school. Already have a college fund going for my son."
"I'm a fully licensed arms and security dealer," Chris said. "I took over the business from my father last year. I found perhaps some interesting records."
"You know, interesting records took Capone down." Noah looked at Chris. "I can hold him for twenty four hours."
"I'll get you what you need in six."
Noah reached out to shake the man's hand, when his door was flung open and Talia was there, crackling with energy. "No," he said as he pointed at her. "I am making things happen, and you won't get in the middle of it. Sit there and we'll talk in a minute."
Talia glared, but did as he asked.
Chris stared at him with huge eyes. "I did not expect that. Alphas don't listen to anyone."
Noah rolled his eyes a bit, "okay, but seriously if werewolves were as bad as you suggested then the world would actually know about the supernatural because you can only have so much unexplained death and mayhem."
Chris opened his mouth and closed it again. "You may have a point. But also most towns that have a pack as strong as the Hales have a hunter present for balance."
"So you move here, close enough to some big cities, but you want a smaller town to raise your daughter in. You don't seem like a complete idiot —you and I can work together." He glanced over. "Talia?"
"Hunters just tried to kill my whole family. One of them harmed my son to do so in a way that will take years for him to get over. And you want me to be okay with this?" Her eyes flared red. "I fail to see your through line here, Noah."
"My through line is this. Argent here has agreed, if I provide proof to ignore what was done last night. That means that no one comes seeking revenge for the justice you enacted. He has also agreed to sell out his father, a man who is clearly trouble for your pack. The balance for all that is this guy moving here to show the world you are being watched. One guy versus an army. It's the best you are going to get."
"We have upheld the balance and protected this territory for generations. We haven't needed watching," Talia said, words bitten off. "Do you not trust us, Sheriff?"
"Yeah, I trust you," Noah said, "but guess what, the world wouldn't. And if one guy living here, and mostly ignoring everything means we keep out the ones like that bitch who has Derek crying and broken in my house —I'll take it." Noah glanced at Argent. "You do not get to bait Peter Hale to try to get him to fuck up and then say see we were right."
"Is he that easily baited?"
"No, but he'd be in my office filing so many complaints against you. His law degree is in petty."
"It's actually in contract law," Talia said after a moment. "They came after my babies, Noah."
"I know, and you dealt with it," Noah went over and knelt in front of Talia, "a garden needs blood to grow. You've given it that. But it can't grow on that alone."
"You really are the worst at metaphors," Talia laughed and pack scented him. "Alright. Him, and just him."
Noah stood. "Argent, thoughts?"
"I believe in watching the supernatural, protecting people. But also I know who my father is, how he raised me and Kate. And I want to break that cycle for my daughter. We'll move here, I'll keep an eye, but that eye is my second priority to my family."
"Sounds reasonable to me."
The three of them shook hands, and Chris left promising an email shortly with damning evidence. Noah sighed and rubbed a hand down his face. "Peter won't take this well, he has guarded this territory a long ass time, and will view this as stepping on his toes."
"Then he'll move his toes out of the way," Talia said. Noah sat next to her on the couch, and she leaned against him. "How is he?"
"Stiles is looking after him."
That got a small laugh, "he is in good hands then."
Noah wrapped an arm around her. "I know you are going to blame yourself for sending him away to school, but it isn't your fault."
"He wanted to go to the local college. I pushed."
"You did, but it was a reasonable push, he was only a couple hours away. He needed a bit of space. He was never going to be Laura wanting to travel, see the world, but also kids need to leave the nest even if just to know for sure staying put is the right call for them."
Talia sighed, "a hunter will be living in our territory."
"Better an enemy we can see."
"I agree." His hand was gripped tightly and he was staring at eyes Alpha red, and more intense than he had seen before. Talia's voice grew thick with promise. "Sheriff Noah Stilinski, I entrust my son to you. I claim you as unbitten pack. I claim you as mine, a Hale in spirit though not in name. Your trials are my trials, and your word is my word. Your son is my son, god save us all."
Noah laughed at that bit of ad lib to what were clearly sacred vows. "I will protect the pack with my life," Noah promised winging stuff he thought would sound good, "I will protect your son as if he was my own. And I will honour this land as the Hales have always done." They felt like good words and when she nuzzled at his throat, when teeth scraped against his skin, he felt something. And he had to add one more thing, "and when Stiles figures out magic and gets really scary, it will always serve in protection and trust, and only a reasonable amount of chaos."
"That's about as good as we are going to get on that one," Talia agreed.
"Does Peter actually have to punish Derek?"
"He does," Talia agreed, "and honestly I cannot be apart of it. It is pack law. Derek even though manipulated gave up pack secrets. The left hand has to deal with it. And you, as unbitten pack, cannot interfere."
"I understand." Noah swore. He couldn't do shit, but that didn't means Stiles couldn't, and he was fairly certain Peter was just a little scared of Stiles. "Now then let's go out front." Noah directed her to the main desk and Marcie hugged Talia, which Talia clearly did not expect.
"We already put together a fund Mrs. Hale, and donations are pouring in. It's being brought together at the community centre, priority is the little ones in the family. Tons of books, toys, and clothes already arrived and the Ralph's on fifth has said your first round of groceries is on them. A phone tree has begun and casseroles are getting made left and right to make sure you are all fed."
Noah watched Talia soften at the news. "Everyone is far too kind."
"We darn well know where all those anonymous donations from around town come from," Marcie nodded furiously. "You take good care of the town, now we'll take care of you."
"Every time we face horror in this world, we are reminded that there is good too. I hope my son Derek will remember that."
Marcie looked confused and Noah leaned forward, "Kid was a kid, home from college and just sleeping and playing video games. Talia asked him to put mouse traps out, and he did the standard I'll do it in a minute."
Marcie gasped, "Oh that poor boy is going to be blaming himself."
"I should have reminded him," Talia shook her head, and then had to endure another Marcie hug. "Thank you."
"Life happens, accidents happen, but your family is resilient and they are just things. All of you are a-okay and that is what matters."
"You are correct. Sheriff, I'll be in touch tonight."
"Sounds good," Noah agreed and watched Talia leave. "Derek is staying with us for the summer, guilt would eat him alive if he was with the family."
"And that will be handy for Stiles, summer you tend to pull a lot of double shifts covering everyone's vacations. Which we've all agreed needs to be addressed."
"Hey I'm the first vacation, taking Stiles camping and to Six Flags. Only fair everyone else gets covered."
"Hmm," Marcie said. "We'll just see."
"I have paperwork to do," Noah replied mostly to escape.
He went to his office and got some work done, and midday an anonymous email came in with all sorts of information. Enough he was calling the F.B.I., which meant fucking McCall because that's just how life seemed to be this week.
They kept it professional, and at the end, as they were clearly done, Rafe was quiet. "How are they?"
"Holding on," was what Noah said, because Scott was not taking it well, and Noah didn't one hundred percent agree with how Melissa was handling it all, but parent code meant he was keeping his mouth shut on that one. "He misses you."
"He shouldn't," Rafe said, and hung up without another word.
All of this was just too fucking much emotion for him, and god only knew what he was going home to. He finished up nothing, which was about normal, but got it all as far as he could and then headed home. Noah told the front desk to get him if the old man caused any problems overnight and they agreed.
Noah drove home and sighed at the car in his driveway. Guess Peter Hale couldn't wait to punish Derek. Fine, Talia would have to deal with being down one brother. Noah pulled out his service weapon and walked into his house ready to shoot. He knew one bullet couldn't take a werewolf down, but a full chamber unloaded would distract enough he could then get real thorough about seeing how the healing process worked.
He could hear noise and followed it to the living room. Noah took one look at the scene and just nodded. He had a minute or five. He went upstairs, locked the gun away and changed into sweats. To the kitchen where he grabbed a beer, and finally returned to the living room, where the standoff had not really changed much.
Stiles was in front of Derek, and every time Derek began to move around him, Stiles moved too. And Derek could just pick up Stiles he weighed nothing, but also when picked up from behind, Stiles got freaked out and limbs flailed a lot, you tended to get a foot to the balls, and Derek even with werewolf healing had learned that still fucking hurt.
The bat was beside the couch though, abandoned for a better weapon. One that had Peter at a standstill.
"Evening," Noah said casually, well aimed for casual, it came out a bit tense. "I am not allowed to interfere in this," he said, "I've been declared unbitten pack, and thus have to accept that you must punish Derek."
That got him stunned looks from all three of them. But the first to really react was Derek. "You are officially pack?"
"Unbitten, specifically a pack for you, Derek. Your mom loves you so much, wants you to be okay and will move heaven and earth for it. Guess you are stuck with me."
And there were more puppy eyes, which made Noah ache to hug the kid, but also he was not getting in the middle of all that stand off. He went over to his chair and sat. "Keep at it, boys," he said with a wave of his beer in their direction.
"If you are not allowed to interfere, you should be moving your son."
"Nah, see Talia explicitly said, I couldn't do shit. She forgot about specifying Stiles. So you know, get around the ten year old, oh dangerous Left Hand." Noah smirked as he took a pull of the beer, waited but Peter wasn't moving forward. "Problem?"
That got him a snarl even though Peter didn't look over. Never took his eyes off his enemy, which was hilarious considering the enemy in question was in goddamn footie pajamas because the kid still liked to be all covered up.
But his kid was clever, a baseball bat wouldn't stop Peter, but holding a lighter and what was clearly a book from the Hale library would.
"Tell him to behave, and follow the rules," Peter's words were pushed through clenched fang.
"Must be a real important book, then, huh?" Noah grinned. "No offense to Hales, but tell me who runs a town, the richest, most powerful supernatural family around, or the broke as hell, son of immigrants, public servant and kid who can get them to behave?"
"What did you do, Dad?" Stiles asked, but also never took his eyes off Peter.
"Got Talia to agree to one permanent hunter in town. Brother of the bitch who hurt Derek." Noah winced because that got Peter's eyes to move and oh did they flare. "He agreed it was just, and in fact is making sure their father stays in federal prison. He just wants to raise his daughter in peace. Expect you to help her out at school, kid."
"Sure," Stiles agreed.
"I brought hunters to town," Derek whispered.
"None of that," Noah said firmly. He got up, moved around the combatants and hugged Derek tightly. "You are just a kid who got abused and manipulated, and this is not his fault."
"Will you shut up with that?" Peter roared. "Yes it is!"
That got a whine from Derek and Noah barred his teeth, wolf-like and he didn't care. "Light it up, kid," he ordered and lighter flicked on.
"Just listen for one fucking minute," Peter snarled, "I know a lot about guilt. More than any of you comprehend, and saying it wasn't his fault doesn't help. Because he knows he shouldn't have told her the things he did. Yes, she abused and manipulated him, and he is blameless for that, but he needs to own that he opened his mouth. The answer to some of this isn't dismissal, it is punishment and forgiveness."
Noah felt Derek shaking in his arms, and he understood. He thought about the six months he climbed into a bottle after Claudia died, and how if someone had told him that wasn't his fault, he'd punch them. He let go of Derek, took the lighter from Stiles and just met Stiles' gaze.
Stiles eventually nodded, moved out of the way.
They stood to the side and Noah get a tight grip on Stiles' shoulder, to stop him from leaping into the fray. "Head up, Derek, we're here with you. Your pack," Noah promised.
Derek took a few breaths and then looked at Peter. "I'm ready," he said.
"Derek Hale, son of Alpha Talia Hale, the crime you have commit against the pack is severe. You gave up secrets to a human, without pack permission, you brought the pack to the brink of death. The person who almost caused that death has been removed from the world, as is just. Do you accept your role in this?"
"I do," there was a crack in Derek's voice as he said it, he repeated the words.
"Do you offer any defense?"
It was odd to see Peter like this, the more formal ritual of a left hand, that isn't just the murder Noah had turned away from, fuck just last night. There was more compassion in his voice than Noah expected.
"No, I stand before the left hand and accept judgement."
At this Stiles wriggled and jumped forward, wrapped his arms around Derek, "as his best friend, this is my fault too, and I stand and accept punishment. I should have called him more, checked on him. It's just Scott's dad felt guilty about leaving and sent a whole console and games and I didn't mean to get that distracted, but have you played Mario Kart, it's sick. But I should have been a better friend and stayed up passed bedtime to call Derek." There was a formidable glare, "but also going to point out, his family wasn't exactly visiting or checking on him either. Not enough. Just saying."
It was honestly a fair point, and he saw that it landed on Peter.
"I accept both your guilt and your point. What punishment would you visit on me, Em -" Peter cut himself off, but what was he about to say? Whatever it was, Derek had understood and his eyes were huge, arms went protectively around Stiles. "Mischief," Peter said softly, the nickname no one had uttered in a long time, not since Stiles had screamed at her grave that no one got to call him that again. "I accept my punishment."
"You gotta teach me all the words I don't understand in the green book."
Noah bit back a laugh at the sheer look of horror on Peter's face. That was one hell of a punishment. After the horror there was almost pride on Peter's face. "I rather dislike you, as I do most children, but also I do appreciate how very clever and evil you are Stiles."
"Hey," Noah frowned, his kid wasn't evil.
There was a huff, "I appreciate how clever and chaotic you are."
"Better," Noah muttered and frowned. "Wait, that means Peter is going to be hanging out here. Why am I being punished?"
"Deal with it," Peter said. "I accept. And in return, young Stilinski, your punishment is to learn all those words that you don't understand." Noah could tell that Stiles didn't understand how that was a punishment, but Noah could feel the be careful what you wish for energy just pouring off of Peter. But then Peter's focus lasered onto Derek, who eased away from Stiles, stood ready to be executed. "Derek Hale, your punishment is this. For bringing almost death to the pack, when you are of age, you will be responsible for its life."
"I don't understand?" Derek was frowning and honestly Noah was too, because this was confusing.
Peter looked solemn. "Derek, when you are ready to return to the family, you will begin your training. When Talia's time is done, you, not Laura will be made the alpha of the pack."
Noah stared in awe at Peter. He understood in that moment just how terrifying a left hand was, because there was so much worse than violence and death at times. He hadn't thought Peter understood that, but it was clear he did.
"You can't do that!" Derek shouted, "I can't, you can't. Peter, please."
"It is declared, it is done," Peter said formally. "Noah, do you stand witness to this punishment?"
"I do," Noah said. "I declare it appropriate, and will help see it through."
"Stiles, may I approach Derek?" Sure Derek had made Stiles let go, but the kid was still hovering and ready to murder.
"Are you gonna hurt him?"
"I have hurt him enough. I would like to hug him."
Stiles looked up. "Derek, are you okay with him hugging you? I can kick him in the junk real hard if you want. Like super hard."
Derek looked shell shocked. "I have no idea what just happened. How can you trust me like that?"
"Because someone who did what you did, is who you are, will now move heaven and earth for the pack in a way no one else could. Laura would be a good alpha, but this? This trauma, this mistake, in time will make you magnificent, especially with your pack supporting you." There was a glance to Stiles and Noah understood that Peter was envisioning Stiles having a pack role for Alpha Derek. Noah didn't love it, but also didn't think there was any way he could stop it. He'd let that be a problem for future him.
"Okay, you can hug him," Stiles said. "But I'm watching you. I'm always going to be watching you and you better behave. Or else."
"I am properly warned," Peter said.
Noah watched as Peter approached slowly. Derek flinched as the arms closed around him, but then he clung. Noah went over, tugged Stiles away and they went to the kitchen.
"Are we really pack?" Stiles asked.
"We are," Noah agreed. They sat at the table. "This is going to change everything Stiles."
"Not really? I mean, it was on my list of potential happenings for the future, just a different timeline. That's fine. I can make new charts. I did want to live in a super big city for awhile to see what it was like, but if Derek is going to be pack alpha that means living here. That's fine, I'll go away to college in a city before settling back here. Easy switch."
Noah kissed Stiles' head. "No plans right now, just living, okay?"
"Okay. Do you mind that Peter is going to be coming over and tutoring me in the big magic words?"
Fuck yes, he minded, "Nah, better you learn them from him than try to figure it out on your own, that's how I get my house blown up." He knew that there was some sort of magic position tied to the pack, but they mostly kept the name secret to protect them.
But since Talia swung by the vet's a lot with no pet in tow, it was kind of obvious. But he wouldn't say anything, unless there was a reason to say something. Stiles rambled about the things he wanted to learn from the book, and how Derek was going to be the best alpha and Noah made noises of agreement where appropriate. He hoped.
Noah heard the front door open and close and then Derek was in the doorway. "I'm scared," Derek admitted. "I shouldn't be alpha." He sat at the table, and immediately Stiles was there, clinging like some sort of clingy animal —Noah's brain was too exhausted to remember words and metaphors.
Stiles was swearing up and down how awesome Derek would be, how incredible they would be together once Derek was alpha and Stiles had super cool magic and it would all be awesome and super cool.
Eventually Derek laughed and agreed it would be good, but Noah knew that was mostly to placate Stiles. "You two, how about breakfast for dinner?" There was a chorus of agreement and he told them to get stuff started while he grabbed something from the car that he had forgotten.
Noah went outside, and he had been correct that he hadn't heard a car start up. Peter was leaned against it. There was a smile on his face. "Well then," Peter said.
"Well then," Noah agreed. "You sure about that call?"
"Time will tell. But hey, I get to go to a shitty motel and tell Talia and the pack this news. You get to stay here and deal with Stiles being very excited about all of this. Which of us has it worse?"
"I have no damn clue. I will have rules about what exactly you teach Stiles from that book."
"I will ignore them. Derek's future emissary will be well trained."
Noah moved closer and looked at Peter. "I will have him stay safe, Peter."
"You know better than anyone how unsafe this world is," Peter countered, "and a mind and thirst like his, is only going to grow."
"I'm not asking for bubble wrap, I'm asking for a helmet." Noah glared at him, and ignored the flash of eyes. "You don't scare me," he snapped, "put it away."
"You are an incredibly annoying man."
"If you hate me that much, why was I the phone call you made?"
Peter looked at him. Didn't say anything else, just got in his car and drove to tell the pack the news of Derek's punishment. Back inside there was the smell of toast, eggs, bacon. Most of it was even edible. A decent dinner and the three of them settled in with Stiles' cartoons, until it was time for Stiles to go to bed.
Once tucked in, and returned to the bed a couple times, Noah sat down with Derek. "You don't want this, the three of us hit the road, run. You can be Miguel, Stiles has always wanted to be named something from Star wars. I'll be John or something."
"I can't do this."
"For what its worth, I think you can. And also gonna point out, you don't have to actually worry about this for a couple of decades?" Noah gave him a shoulder squeeze. "Your mom isn't going anywhere. You'll learn. And you'll have your best friend, to help you. And your second best friend."
"Stiles is going to be terrifying."
"Yup, yup he is, and we're going to have to deal with it." Noah was honestly scared, but they'd cope. "Let's put a game on." He flicked on the t.v.
After watching in silence a bit, Derek looked over, "why aren't you scared of Peter?"
"My dad beat the shit out of me," Noah said after a moment. "He was a complete and total fucking asshole. I have so many damn scars because of him. At night I could hear him raping my ma and there was nothing I could do about it, because I was keeping my siblings safe." Derek had had the worst of himself exposed to Noah over the last day, and Noah met his gaze square. "He had an accident. I was holding the bottom of the ladder, and he told me to fetch something. I tried to warn him the ladder wasn't stable, but well, he slipped and broke his neck. Died instantly. I really should have been more careful to put the ladder on level ground."
"Sir?"
"I understand Peter," Noah said. "I believe in the law, and no one is above it, but justice is blind for a reason. He doesn't scare me, because I get what a left hand is. More than most."
Derek nodded a bit. "Tubing on a river sounds fun. We mostly run in the woods."
"It will be," Noah promised, "and not going to lie, looking forward to you being the one to take Stiles on the coasters at Six Flags. They don't make me puke, but I do not see what is fun about hurtling towards death."
"Sir?"
"Son, none of that. Call me Noah."
"No," Derek snorted, "that's not happening. But…can you lie and tell me it is going to be okay?"
Noah pulled the poor kid close, "listen to my heart, because I don't even need to lie. One day, not today or tomorrow, or maybe even next year, but one day - it's going to be okay. Because if nothing else, Stiles will beat the ever loving shit out of fate to make it okay."
Arms squeezed him a bit too tightly, and that night when Derek had a nightmare, Noah didn't go running, because he could hear Stiles tear into the room, threatening to disembowel the monsters under the bed.
Painters came and the room was an obnoxious blue.
Tubing was fun.
Stiles puked all over Derek at Six Flags, and Noah bought them all matching t-shirts.
Talia reassured Noah that they were all fine with Derek sometimes calling Noah dad.
And in late August, Noah and Stiles stood there, with Derek, when he finally felt strong enough to see his alpha again.
"He's still ours though, right?" Stiles asked.
"I think because we are unbitten pack, we are theirs?" Noah glanced over and watched where Peter was standing at the car, not watching Talia and Derek, but watching he and Stiles. The summer lessons had been a bit…frought between Stiles and Peter. But he also knew Peter was pleased with how much Stiles was absorbing.
"No," Stiles said firmly. "They are my wolves. I'm in charge, I just let them think they are."
Noah could see all the werewolves stifle smiles, having easily heard that declaration. But they didn't argue.
"The rebuild is almost done," Talia said softly. "Would you like to come home when it is? Perhaps enroll in community college?"
"I want to be a fire fighter," Derek blurted out.
Everything in Talia softened. "I think that sounds wonderful," she agreed. She met Noah's gaze and Noah gave her a nod. Noah watched them pack scent each other, watched Derek cling and start to heads to okay.
"We should go inside, give them a moment," he suggested to Stiles.
Stiles ignored him, so he picked up his kid, brought him into the house. "Hey," was protested.
"Let him have this."
"Ugh, fine," Stiles pouted and threw himself on the couch. "He's going to move out."
"He is," Noah agreed.
"It's going to be lonely again."
"You've still got me," Noah promised him. "And school will be starting. You'll be over at the Hale house a lot. It will be quiet but we'll manage. And I bet he sleeps over sometimes. Best friends do that right? Look at you and Scott."
There was a bit of a stubborn expression on Stiles' face. "But we saved him, we get to keep him."
"We do." Noah kissed Stiles' head. "You saved someone this summer, kiddo, that's pretty damn impressive." Because Stiles had held Derek through countless nightmares, had never shut up about how awesome an alpha Derek was going to be, had just been there for the guy.
Noah liked to think he had helped too, at least a bit. Conversations over morning coffee, seemed to help. He tried.
Peter walked in, "I'm here to get some of his stuff. They've gone ahead to the house."
"He didn't say goodbye!" Stiles stood up, and there was almost a crackle of energy around him. "Oh hell, no." He was clearly ready to get his bike and go after them.
"He couldn't," Peter sounded almost kind. "This was a lot today, and he couldn't add saying goodbye to the two of you on top of that. So I am saying it for him. Talia also wants you both at the house this weekend for a family dinner. It seems you will be at every Friday dinner now. That's what pack does."
"We'll be there," Noah promised. "Let me help you."
They went upstairs and packed the couple gym bags that Noah had on hand, the rest could be grabbed another time. "I'm keeping my eye on the pack, on him. And if he isn't okay, I'm coming in and getting him. And you don't have to worry about me, you -"
"Have to worry about Stiles, yes I know the standard threat at this point." Peter looked, "oh I am not carrying those, you can."
Noah rolled his eyes and brought the bags downstairs. He let Stiles threaten Peter a bunch and Peter threatened Stiles right back. Noah saw their mutual smiles before they went back to scowling at each other.
Noah put the bags in Peter's car, and stood there awkwardly. He grew even more awkward when Peter was right there, scenting him. He stayed very still as that nose dragged along his jawline.
"Pack, I will keep you and your son safe, in gratitude for your protection of my nephew this summer."
"Okay?" was all Noah could come up with, "but remember, sheriff? Pretty sure I can keep myself safe."
"Hmm," was all that was said. Peter left without another word.
That night the quiet got to Stiles and he slept in Noah's bed. About two am, there was noise and Noah scooted a bit over, pulled Stiles with him, as Derek slid into the bed too.
"Thanks, Dad," Derek whispered to not wake up Stiles. But Stiles felt the presence of his second best friend, and rolled threw his arms around Derek, muttered in his sleep about murder the monsters.
"Not a problem, son," Noah said. "It's going to be okay."
"I think I believe you."
"Good, I'm always right," Noah yawned. "Get some shut eye. Tomorrow will be busy, with something, and you need sleep to be able to do impossible things."
"I am aiming for possible things for tomorrow."
"Then we'll do that too," Noah reassured and ran a hand over both his kids' heads. He laughed as even in his sleep Stiles swatted him away from Derek, with a my wolf.
The small pack, fell asleep together, to be ready to face what the next day would hold.