Searching For You (TW/TMR Fusion)

Chapter 2

The Sheriff had always been very protective of his son. Stiles was all he had left after he lost his wife.

He had never been so terrified as he had been when he realised, after emerging from drowning his sorrows in the bottle, that he had neglected his son, and now there was a yawing chasm between them. He was afraid he might never reach Stiles, and he had despaired.

But, he wasn't a Stilinski and a Sheriff to boot, for nothing, and he would have been damned before he let his son slip through his fingers.

When father and son had finally reunited, their bond was stronger than ever before, as they finally acknowledged that in the place of three, there was now two, and that each drew strength from the other.

So, it was obvious that the Sheriff would worry when Stiles started to lie, and evade answering, especially when it all started when Derek Hale entered the picture. But he was patient, trusting that Stiles would tell him everything when he was ready.

There was never any question that Stiles wouldn't tell him anything, because even before Scott, it was only them against the world. And though Scott and Stiles were brothers in all but blood, the Sheriff knew that it (all they had was each other) won't be changing any time soon, if ever.

When Stiles was falling into depression, slipping away again, the Sheriff tried but failed to reach him. Stiles didn’t want to talk due to some misplaced notion of self-sacrificial protectiveness. And all his father could do was soothe him when he found himself in the throes of a panic attack, mumbling, "They don't want me, they don't want me, I'll be better oh god please don't shut me out please please please."

And every time this happened, watching his kid's suffering, it felt like a red-hot iron fist had clenched around his heart.

After seeing Stiles in a catatonic state for over a week, the Sheriff had finally put his foot down. Because he wasn't going to just stand by, doing nothing, while Stiles withers away.

And the truth came out.

The Sheriff kept all his instincts, which were screaming at him to just take his gun and put a bullet through every single person who hurt Stiles, under control. Right now, the caring father was needed. There'll be time later to let out his homicidal tendencies.

And, Derek Hale was the one who bore the brunt of his anger, rage how DARE he hurt Stiles he deserves to burn want to rip his eyes out for what he did. And it wouldn't be enough, definitely not, but his blood-lust was satisfied a tiny bit.

His very soul ached as he watched Stiles leave Beacon Hills in his beloved Jeep. He hoped his son can find himself and become the confident person he was before. And if anyone hurt him ever again, he will be there with his trusty gun. And to make sure it hurts the werewolves, he will be making a visit to Chris Argent very soon.

…

It didn't take long, but longer than he would have liked, till Scott came around enquiring why Stiles wasn't coming to school, and his Jeep isn't in its place and is he alright? I was worried since I haven't seen him in a while.

Of everyone, it was Scott whose behaviour had most disappointed the Sheriff. He wasn't impressed with how he had dropped his son as soon as he got a girl.

The Sheriff got a vindictive pleasure as Scott blanched when he was informed that Stiles had left to visit his aunt for a month.

"But...but he didn't tell me!" Scott said, plaintively.

"Why should he?" was the sharp reply.

Scott winced. Looking into Papa Stilinski's wrathful eyes, he knew that the Sheriff knew everything.
His attempts at apologies and awkward explanations were cut short when the Sheriff said, "I am not the one you should be apologising to. It's my son whom I almost lost to depression because of what you, all of you, did."

His voice was harsh, with barely suppresed rage. Scott flinched, and then paled drastically when he understood the words.

"Depression!? Stiles was depressed?"

"Goodbye Scott," said the Sheriff.

As he closed the door behind a horror-stricken Scott, he felt a small doubt that maybe he shouldn't have said anything about the depression, but then it was squashed without mercy. He knew that the whole pack would know of what had transpired soon enough.

'Let them know of what they had done, the suffering they caused.'

He knew that they'll analyse the past days of Stiles' behaviour till the truth slaps them in the face.

From then on, every few days, for the whole month, someone from the pack would come around either to the Stilinski home or the Station to ask if Stiles had said anything, and if he was fine. Every time the Sheriff and Stiles talk, Stiles would be informed of all that has happened, but not once would there be a message to the pack, not of acknowledgement nor of forgiveness.

And every time, the Sheriff would be filled with pity for them as their faces become drawn with sadness, when he shakes his head no, he didn't give any message for you all. But then, he'll remember the cries that Stiles emitted during his nightmares and that pity will be crushed and distributed into oblivion.

…

It was a normal day. The Sheriff knew that Stiles would be on his way home. He had spoken with him only the other night, when he had taken a room in a motel by the roadside.

It was calm and peaceful in Beacon Hills.

The peace would soon be shattered by a phone call.

"Sheriff Stilinski? There's been an incident. Your son is missing. It appears as though there's been a struggle in his motel room. We'd like you to come down here, sir."

***
A/N:

What do you think?

I wanted to explore the dynamics between father and son, and to set the foundation for their relationship in this story. I hope it was acceptable.

Reviews are appreciated!