True North

14

Lena sat on the couch in the sheriff's office listening to Stiles and her uncle. "I know his family left town around the time Theo was nine or ten. His older sister died in an accident when he was eight."

The sheriff let out a sigh. "Please go to school."

"Dad, this kid's a werewolf."

"Your best friend is a werewolf. You are dating a werecoyote. I still don't know what Kira's supposed to be. When the flying monkeys come soaring through this station, you will have my undivided attention. Until then, just go to school."

Lena laughed. "This isn't The Wizard of Oz. I kinda wish it was though. Come on, Stiles. We have school."

The sheriff nodded. "Listen to your cousin."

Sheriff Stilinski sighed and Stiles glanced to him, confusion on his face. "What did you do?"

"What?" he asked, glancing down at his uniform and back up. "What do you mean, "What did I do?"?"

"There's something different about you."

"What are you talking about?"

Stiles began sniffing his dad like a dog. "What is it? What's different?"

Lena pulled him back. "Stop smelling Uncle Noah like a weirdo. We need get to school."

The sheriff let out a groan. "For the love of God, Stiles, just go to school. Your cousin is right."

Stiles pointed to his dad. "I will go if you promise to do a full background check of the Raekens."

"No. You know what? Just because I'm the only law enforcement officer who knows anything about this, does not make it my responsibility to do something every single time you have a minor suspicion."

Parrish entered the room. "And he's not the only one."

Lena turned to Parrish. "Could you please do a background check on the Raekens to satisfy Stiles' annoying curiosity?"

Parrish nodded and smiled.

The sheriff frowned. "Parrish!"

On their way to school, Stiles glanced to Lena. "How come you don't believe that something is off with Theo?"

"Who says I don't?" she replied.

"Because you didn't confirm or deny."

"So?"

"Lena, come on. Speeding ticket signed by Theo's dad eight years ago."

"Implying what exactly?"

"Who speeds?"

"Basically everyone. How many tickets do you have?"

He smirked. "None."

"And how many tickets would you have if Uncle Noah didn't bail you out?"

"Seventeen."

"I don't think any more needs to be said."

The two got to the school and walked to the front doors.

Stiles and Lena shared a look as Malia walked over. "Want me to torture him?"

Stiles frowned at her. "We've talked about this. What have I said?"

"To not do it? Do you two want me to torture him?"

Stiles shook his head. "No, I don't want you to torture him. Lena can speak for herself."

Malia crossed her arms, looking between the two of them. "I'm pretty sure I can take him."

"We should wait to see why he's here. Have a plan, all right? There are steps to doing this right."