Don't Give Up on Me

01

Ania drove to the station and parked her car just in time to see her father walking to a squad car.

"Dad?" she called.

"Oh good, you're here. I thought you didn't get the call."

"I did, but obviously I'm not ready for my shift."

"Doesn't matter. I'll give the sheriff's daughter a free pass."

"Only because I am your daughter. So where are we going?"

"The Preserve. Something about a body found in the woods."

"All right, let's go. Mind if I ride with you?"

"'Course not."

MCCALL HOUSE

Scott was getting ready for bed. As he laced up his lacrosse stick, he heard an odd sound. He grabbed a wooden bat and made his way outside.

Stiles Stilinski dangled from the roof, causing Scott to scream.

"Stiles, what the hell are you doing?!" Scott cried.

"You weren't answering your phone, and I have no idea where Tabitha is," Stiles replied. "Why do you have a bat?"

"I thought you were a predator."

"A pre -- I -- wha -- look, I know it's late, but you gotta hear this. I saw my dad leave 20 minutes ago. Dispatch called. They're bringing in every officer from the Beacon Department, and even State Police."

"For what?"

"Two joggers found a body in the woods."

"A dead body?"

"No, a body of water. Yes, dumbass, a dead body."

"You mean like murdered?"

"Nobody knows yes. Just that it was a girl, probably in her late 20s."

"Hold on, if they found the body, then what are they looking for?"

"That's the best part. They only found half. We're going."

---

Scott let out an annoyed sigh as they reached the Beacon Hills Preserve. "We're seriously doing this?"

"You're the one always bitching that nothing ever happens in this town," Stiles shot back.

"I was trying to get a good night's sleep before practice tomorrow," Scott said.

"Right, 'cause sitting on the bed is such a grueling effort," Stiles replied sarcastically.

"No, because I'm playing this year. In fact, I'm making first line."

"Hey, that's the spirit. Everyone should have a dream, even a pathetically unrealistic one."

"Just out of curiosity, which half of the body are we looking for?"

"Huh! I didn't even think about that."

"And, uh, what if whoever killed the body is still out there?"

"Also something I didn't think about."

"It's comforting to know you've planned this out with your usual attention to detail."

"I know."

"Maybe the severe asthmatic should be the one holding the flashlight, huh?" Scott suggested, pausing.

"Wait, come on!" Stiles cried as he ran off.

"Stiles! Wait up! Stiles! Stiles!"

"Hold it right there!" a cop demanded.