ANOTHER STORY ANOTHER TIME

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN * TRY FORGIVENESS

Stiles stood at the edge of the cliff, trying to figure out how to find Michael and the General. He had silently feared that something would prevent his happiness. The world cursed him the night he took Scott out to find that body years ago. Scott got everything he wanted. Stiles should have known if he took Allison away from Scott, then Scott with the universe's help, would get even, and it did... Scott got Malia. Now the happy couple are going to get married.

 He could sense a presence but ignored it, he deserved whatever he had coming to him.

"Stiles" Stiles slowly turned the older man walked over to him and looked him in the eyes. The man had known him long enough to realize Stiles was in inner turmoil. "Come here." He extended his arm and Stiles turned and threw himself into Derek's hold. Stiles was a tad confused, 

"When did you get back?" Derek smiled

 "We got back last night, but I needed to catch up on some sleep, we thought we'd surprise you at dinner today but as usual this is Beacon Hill." Stiles was happy, he needed this help to calm him down and steady him, he stood there a few moments accepting the balance to the turmoil that Derek was giving him. Derek had always been able to help Stiles, Derek's body warmed his own, he hadn't realized he was cold till he felt Derek's body heat. 

"Derek, why am I never allowed too just be happy?" His tears were adding wet marks on his shirt, Derek snuggled up to Stiles a bit to close, but his inner wolf needed it. Stiles continued, "I Do all I can for everyone around me, I have tried to make up for the world of hurt I caused years ago." Derek slightly pushed him forwards just to look into his eye's. He placed his fingers under Stiles's ear, that way he could softly wipe the tears falling from his eyes away with his thumbs. 

"Stiles you can't keep punishing yourself for what happened, you have told me that hundreds of times, now I'm telling you, stop, you were being possessed by an evil entity." Stiles pushed away a bit further.

 "I was weak, I let him, he controlled my every move, my every word. I allowed him to hurt my friends, he killed my friends, and because of me Scott lost Allison. Ethan and Lydia lost Aiden, should I go on?" Derek stood there and pulled Stiles back in and held him tightly. 

"Stiles no more, there will be no more talk of this, everyone has forgiven you, and now you must forgive yourself. I will help you find Sergeant Lasko and his Father."

Stiles started to have a panic attack. The mere mentioning of Michael, set his emotions in turmoil again. All he could think about was Michael, every time they would get happy something would happen. His inner body started shaking he couldn't focus he couldn't concentrate on anything that was going on around him. Derek tried to get Stiles's attention but failed. At that moment Maxwell walked up to the two men. Stiles was breathing heavy and fell to the ground grabbing his throat. Derek kneeled to help as Maxwell got on both of his knees and made Stiles sit on his, 

"Okay buddy you need to come back to me." Stiles concentrated and looked at Maxwell. Placing Stiles hand on the back of his head, he placed his on Stiles. He then placed their foreheads together and he concentrated on calm soothing sounds, Stiles breathing slowed and within a few minutes he was breathing normal, then it happened, it wasn't as strong as it was with Michael, but a spark lit, and they felt a bond that was created, right then and there that neither man could break. The two men collapsed onto each other.

Derek was a bit stunned; He hadn't seen this type of calming ability. Stiles sat on his knees a moment, He was trying to understand what just happened with himself and Max. Max stood there looking at Stiles then Derek then the ground, his emotions were so messed up at that moment, he was literally scared. He started to walk away and passed out. Stiles slowly stood up, he walked over to Max, kneeling next to Derek who had already went to the man's side. 

"Stiles this guy is the spitting image of Sergeant Lasko." Stiles really couldn't see it, they were similar, but Max was scrawnier, and his eyes were quite sunken in. 

"I don't see it Derek, kinda, but I know my guy well." Max at this point was slowly waking up but was able to comprehend the situation. 

"Stiles I'm sorry, this is my fault, I let that monster manipulate me." Derek's looked right into Stiles eyes. Stiles knew what the look was for, he realized what he was about to say, was the truth and advice he needed to follow as well.

 "Max, this isn't your fault, even stronger guys than us, like Derek here, can be manipulated into doing all sorts of things." So, In one sentence Stiles forgave Max, Derek and himself. Max stood up, Stiles got next to him to help him walk back to the boathouse, Derek quietly walked with them. Derek looked at Max closely, in many ways, Max was like Stiles when he met him, now he knew how Max would look if he bulked up a bit. His mind wondered into that future.

Derek slowed, Stiles sensed it to, but before they could go beta mode, Liam and Alec came up the hill in front of them. 

"Fellas what's going on?" Stiles asked politely. "The two of us were thinking," Derek snickered out loud. 

This should be good." For some reason Max put his hand on Derek's shoulder long enough to quiet the werewolf. 

"Anyway, the key to their plan, meaning this entity and the General..." This time Max interrupted,  

"The General has nothing to do with it, it's our Grandmother Fiona, she believes this thing will give her power once he has ours." Liam grab the spotlight this time, 

"Their plan relies on Stiles and the rest of believing that Max here is Michael... okay let's do that, plus I found something while, well to be blunt, sniffing your room. It's a faux credit card, the transmitter is missing, but if I can figure out its frequency, I can find it." Stiles looked at Max, then Derek, then he spoke 

"Okay then folks here is what we are going to do. We need to proceed with today's events, even though I am madder than hell, it's the only way to stall, and find time to find Michael and the General." Everyone stood there in agreement,

 "I'll take Liam and go to the S.I.U. office to find out the frequency of that card, and you guys go get Thanksgiving ready." the group split up and proceeded with their plan.