Midnight (Sterek)

Chapter 7: Fairy Tale Nonsense

The next morning sheriff Stilinski came banging ruefully on Derek's loft door. Peter had answered the door instead, while a droopy looking Isaac, who was trying his best to stay awake lingered in the background.

"Good morning sheriff". Peter smiled.

"Yeah good morning where's my son? Where's Stiles?" Noah asked.

"He's asleep". Peter said.

"When was he found?" Noah asked as he barged into the loft.

"I don't know midnight I guess I'm not sure maybe you should ask Derek". Peter said. "I'll go get him for you if you'd just stand right here–

"I'll go ask him myself". Noah breathed as he trudged through the living room.

"You of all people should know barging into someone's house isn't lawful". Derek said as he came into Noah's view. "Especially when you're a cop with no warrant". Derek said as he descended the stairs.

A low "hmph" was all sheriff Noah let escape him as he stood, Derek decided he was at good enough distance at the middle of the stairs, it was enough for him to be able to run to Stiles if he needed him or to walk Noah to and out of the house.

"And while I understand your worried and upset, this is still my house no matter who is and isn't in here", Derek said as he stood his arms loosely folded at his chest. "And as such I would like some respect". He added nearly sincerely.

Noah stood awkwardly with his eyes bulging and mouth agape. He'd thought it over and settled with becoming more respectful as Derek was right it was his house even if Stiles had been here.

"Sorry". Noah said as he fiddled with his shaking hands. "I'm just really worried I spent the last three months trying to find him thinking I'd lost him like I lost Claudia". He said shakily.

"I understand that", Derek told him. "Trust me I do".

Noah didn't have to imagine if the young man before him could possibly understand as he'd known the gruesome history of the Hale family and how they'd burned alive. So he shook his head, still shaking trying to calm his nerves, and politely took a few steps back as though to show Derek some proper respect and openness to being able to talk.

"Is he okay?" Noah asked. "I just want to see my son and let him know I'm here for him...that I love him", Noah said, choking up at the end.

"He's okay", Derek said as he came down the stairs fully now to stand before the sheriff leaving a good distance between them. "And I'll gladly take you to him but I want to tell you the truth of what's going on right under your nose". He added.

"The truth? What do you mean?" Noah questioned.

"Uhh Derek", Peter cautioned. "My dearest nephew do you think it wise to say—

"Of course I do", Derek said cutting Peter off adamantly. "Now if you don't mind I'd like you to follow me Mr. Stilinski". Derek smiled before trudging off to the door and out to his car.

For a good while they drove and drove until finally they had parked a little bit off to the side of the burned Hale house. The ground, to Derek's assessment, had been messed with by whom he had the slightly idea but his spirit would confirm who it was, as it had half covered boot tracks and Reece cup wrappings loitered here and there as well as left behind fragments of silver bullets. They both assessed the place before Noah huffed and turned to Derek.

"What are we doing out here?" He asked him staring at the face of the young man before him.

Derek stood with his jaws clenched eyes closed and fist tightly kept to his sides for a moment then he opened his eyes and spoke.

"I'm here to tell you the history of the Hale family...of me", he answered finally. "I know you may think it doesn't matter or that it doesn't have anything to do with Stiles but it does and until you know you won't full understand nor know how to properly handle or protect Stiles". Derek told him as he walked towards his childhood home.

It was a plot of ruin that once held a sentiment of love and joy. But all do to a series of mistakes of his, his family would come to suffer the consequences and so had he. The house held so many great memories that had now been tainted by memories of sadness; death and grief. For just a moment there Derek could remember how affectionate and caring his mother had been even while being the alpha of his pack, how she'd been loving and sweet but still firm and instructive when he was out of line. He missed the days he'd randomly find himself being hugged and sweetly spoken to by his mother or taught how to build and fix cars by his dad when he'd been free enough to spend time together. He missed when there was a time he and Peter were close and his uncle was as deranged as he is now, or maybe he always was and he never really paid it much attention. All in all his swarm of happy memories began to fade away into bittersweet darkness as the unbearable images of his family all burning alive in the Hale house flooded his mind.

"Then by all means I'm listening," Noah sighed as he sat next to Derek on what was left of the porch of the house.

And for the next hour or two Derek truthfully told Noah about all of the things that had happened over the past few years up until today. He'd even gushed about the situation with Peter and Scott and the wild development of his pack with Isaac, Erica, and Boyd. Many times Noah would interrupt to ask had his son been turned and to his relief he was told no as Stiles oddly refused the bite time and time again, and Noah would comment that that would be all in due to his mother and her furious spirit. Then once all was done Noah sat quietly.

"So that's the truth", Derek said, breaking the silence.

"You know I'm kinda finding it hard to believe that you're a uhh werewolf", Noah replied. "I mean you your uncle yes maybe but a bunch of teenagers? Come on their hormonal jerks with too much drama and way too horny to take on such a daunting responsibility". He said.

"Trust me I know", Derek said.

"And on top of that do you really believe they can handle hunters?" Noah asked. "And I don't believe the argents are an elite group of hunters and that Gerard Argent of all people would be a hunter let alone want to hurt Stiles". He breathed with great disbelief. "I mean look at him he's...old shriveling and balding for Christ's sake". He noted quite loudly.

"You don't believe me?" Derek asked as he began to rise from the steps.

"No I don't not one bit", Noah answered him. "And to be honest I'm sorry about your family and I know you may very well want to believe that some elite family group of hunters did that but it was just a natural and tragic accident that happened Derek". Noah sighed as he too rose up.

"Mhmm", was all Derek hummed.

"So if you don't mind I'd like to get to my son before I have every right to be suspicious of you and your uncle being my son's kidnappers", Noah said hardly noticing the preparations of Derek beside him. "Bringing me here to talk about the truth when all it really was was some fairy tale nonsense!" Noah said as he rounded on Derek to finally look him in his eyes.

When the sheriff had turned to meet Derek's eyes he didn't see his normal green eyes but crimson red eyes and a wolffish face full of black fur and creased eyebrows and a frighteningly towering demeanor.