Human is Just a Word 61/?
Chapter 61
Stiles let Derek handle the pack business, which sounded way too clinical for comforting and taking in the shattered pieces of Laura's pack, while he went to take care of the more practical things.
First Stiles went to the nurse station to inform them that Mark would leave the hospital with them.
Of course there was protest, they were not used to letting patients with third degree burns just walk out the next morning and they were not familiar enough with werewolf healing to just take his word that Mark would be fine. But they couldn't do much if the patient wanted to leave, and it was rather convincing that the patient in question was able to tell them that much, so in the end they put together the forms Mark had to sign to release himself from the hospital.
With that taken care of Stiles went to the pediatric station to see what he could do about the kids. Since they where human and smoke inhalation could cause some serious issues he was more willing to listen to their doctor.
"The O2 levels look fine." The doctor flipped through the files. "And there hasn't been any complications over night. I would like to have them here for another day, just to make sure, but I get that you want to leave." By now the whole hospital knew that they were in the middle of a pack war and Stiles wasn't sure if they just wanted to get rid of them before the hospital too became a war zone.
"We're not leaving if they are in any danger." Stiles emphasized. Peter could stick his ultimatum where the sun don't shine, there was no way he would endanger the kids.
"They are fine." The doctor assured him. "But keep an eye on them over the next few days, if one of them shows any sign of breathing problems bring them to the nearest ER."
Stiles promised to keep an eye on them and then headed back to where he felt his pack. Minutes ago a new pack bond had formed in his mind and he was guessing Stephen. Now there were only Becky, Jeremy and Stacy left. Stephen had mentioned earlier that Stacy would need an alpha as well and with that he had unknowingly solved that mystery for Stiles.
The humans would become pack by association and Stiles wasn't sure if he would be able to feel them immediately or if that would come over time when the bond grew stronger.
"Guess I'm about to find out." He mumbled to himself, mentally making a list of what else he needed to do before they could finally leave. A lot of stuff they would have to deal with over the phone over the next few days like the funerals and insurance stuff and things like that but Stiles put that off for later. Right now he needed to get his pack on the road before Peter decided to wipe them out for good.
"Excuse me?" Somebody stopped him and when Stiles glanced up he saw a man in uniform blocking his way. It wasn't the officer who had given them a ride and Stiles wasn't sure if he had seen this man at the house or not.
"Officer?" Stiles asked politely but all he wanted to do was to brush past him and get back to Derek.
"Just a few questions, if you don't mind."
Stiles did mind but he plastered a fake smile on his face. No need to get on the police's bad side as well.
"What's your name?"
"Stiles Stilinski." Stiles answered and waited patiently for the officer to check something on his notepad.
"You're not part of Laura Hale's pack." He finally said. "Care to explain what you were doing at the house last night?"
"I'm part of Derek Hale's pack." Stiles explained with all the patience he could master. He was tired and exhausted and he had other things on his plate than talking to this officer. He took a deep breath.
"I was visiting my father in Beacon Hills when Peter Hale murdered Laura." He started, gaining speed fast. "He claims that she challenged him but I call bullshit on that one, we have witnesses who say he right up murdered her. Of course Peter then annexed her territory and told her pack to leave within 48 hours. We offered her pack refuge in Derek's pack and I came with a pack member and two of Laura's wolves as fast as we could to help the pack to get out of dodge. I'm guessing Peter didn't want Derek to gain more power with a bigger pack so he said fuck it to his ultimatum and set the house on fire. I bet he finds it poetic or something like that, history repeating itself, but Laura and six of her pack members are dead, we have a bunch of kids who have lost their alpha, a parent and half their pack in one day and Peter has every right to kill us on the spot for being in his territory." His voice had risen with every word until he was basically yelling the last part.
The officer just stared at him and Stiles would have wondered when he'd lost him if he actually cared.
"My dad is the sheriff in Beacon Hills." Stiles added with a sigh. "He's working on Laura's murder, talk to him."
That said Stiles wanted to move on but the officer wasn't done with him. He had to admit that it sounded rather suspicious that he just happened to be in Beacon Hills at the time Laura had been murdered and then showed up at her pack's house, both locations on other alpha's territories.
It didn't help that the officer had a rather basic grasp of werewolves and pack politics. He didn't get that they had to leave. Now. There was not time for coming to the station for statements later. Hell, they didn't have time to mourn their losses.
It took him almost fifteen minutes to get rid of the officer and by that time Stiles was ready to punch someone.
When his phone rang he didn't even check the name on the display and just barked a "What?" into the mouthpiece.
"Stiles, are you alright?" His father asked and something in his tone got Stiles attention.
"I'm fine, dad." Stiles ran a hand through his hair which reminded him that he was in dire need of a shower.
"What's happening over there?" He asked. "And why do I have to hear on the news that there had been a fire? They're talking about casualties."
"It's on the news?" Stiles didn't know why that surprised him, of course it was on the news.
"Stiles, focus." His dad pulled him back on track. "Is Isaac okay? What's with Stephen and Ellen? And Derek, did he arrive? I sent him after you."
"We're okay, a bit shaken but okay." Stiles took a breath. He still tasted smoke in the back of his throat. "Five, no, six of Laura's pack didn't make it." Stiles closed his eyes and leaned against the wall. His whole body was shaking. Six people were dead. At the house he hadn't seen much aside of a body bag but he had seen Loreen.
"Stiles, breathe." He heard his dad over the phone and he just wished the man were here with him. He would know what to do. "Stiles!"
Black dots were dancing in front of his eyes and his vision was grayed around the edges. Stiles braced his free hand on his knee and clutched the phone with his other one like a lifeline.
He didn't have time for a panic attack, dammit.
Suddenly there were hands on him.
"Stiles." Derek said gently and put a hand on the nape of his neck. "I'm here, just breathe."
Stiles just launched himself at his mate, his ear pressed against his chest to hear his heart-beat. Derek just hugged him closer.
His dad must have said something Stiles hadn't heard because Derek pried the phone out of his hand and started talking. The blood was rushing in his ear and his other one was still pressed against Derek's chest so Stiles didn't really hear what he was saying but for the moment he was fine with his mate taking over.
"We should go back to the others." Derek eventually said. "Think you can do that? You can sit down for a moment?"
Sitting had never sounded that promising ever before.
When they came back they found only Ellen and Charles with the kids in the room they shared. Ellen with her twins at her side, Becky even in her human form, and Charles with his granddaughter in his lap. Megan had Jeremy clinging to her and Stacy in her arm and when Stiles and Derek entered, everybody turned to look at them.
"Stephen, Isaac and Lydia went back to the house to see if anything is salvageable and to get more cars." Derek explained and went over to Ellen first. He nuzzled her neck and put a gentle hand first on Becky's and then on Benny's head.
Ellen said something too low for Stiles to catch but at her words Derek crouched down in front of Becky.
"Becky." He asked in a serious tone. "Do you want to be part of my pack?"
She inched closer to her mother and glanced at her for guidance.
"Benny too?" Becky finally whispered. Her eyes were rimmed red and she was still sniffing, Stiles guessed that Ellen had told her that her father wouldn't come home either.
"Benny too." Derek assured her.
Without another word she bared her neck for the bite. As far as Stiles could tell Derek bit her as carefully as he could but he had to draw blood.
A second later a new light came to live in Stiles' mind and instantly Becky looked more relieved.
Next was Benny but since he was human there was only a symbolic bite but Stiles still felt something shift in his mind when Derek accepted him.
"Alpha Derek Hale." Charles spoke up formally. He stood with his chin high and Gina pressed to his leg. "I'm asking for a place in your pack for me and my granddaughter."
Stiles hadn't been sure if Charles wanted to stay after what had happened with Loreen and he felt the relief washing over the other pack members through the bonds when Derek accepted him and Gina.
Then Derek stepped over to where Megan was sitting on the bed with Stacy and Jeremy. With Miranda's death the little ones had become orphans but there was no question that they would be pack.
Derek sat down next to them on the bed. Carefully he picked up Stacy and let Jeremy climb in his lap and when he bit them, he barely scratched the skin. Both children were snuggling into his chest before the small wounds had even healed.
And then there was Megan. All the time she hadn't said a word and had barely glanced in Derek's direction. They were sitting next to each other on the bed but there was a palpable rift between them.
Stiles didn't have time to talk to Derek about Megan and now he was biting his lip, silently begging his mate to do the right thing. Of course Derek would accept her in his pack, Stiles didn't doubt that for a second, but the how was what was important here.
"Megan?" Derek asked, ignoring the room full of people and the two kids in his arms, his focus was solely on her.
She was desperately not looking at him and her whole body was tense, clearly waiting for a rejection.
"Megan." Derek repeated and eased down Jeremy to have his hand free. He reached out to her but she flinched back as if she was expecting to get hit by him. He stilled for a moment but then he put his hand firmly on her shoulder.
"I want you in my pack." He said. "Please?"
Stiles was pretty sure that it was the please that broke the levee. Megan flung herself at Derek, her body shaking with sobs.
Derek held her close while Jeremy slung his arms around her as well. Even Stacy reached out for her with her plumb hands.
Stiles stepped closer and joined the group hug.
"Told you." He whispered in Megan's ear.
Chapter 62
Masterpost