ANOTHER STORY ANOTHER TIME

CHAPTER TWO * ETHAN

It was a very quiet drive from the forest reserve. Stiles was happy that he was able to purchase that property. Peering over to his friend, he started feeling like things might actually come together.

Stiles knew that this was going to be the hardest part of the trip for Ethan. He also knew he was strong. Stiles was able to help him feel that there was more to being a soldier, than just killing. Being a soldier gave you a bigger family, you had brothers and sisters that would always have your back no matter what. It was like a wolf pack but a large-scale pack.

Ethan had told him that he considered him his brother, not a replacement one, but an additional one, he felt the same way towards Ethan, and told him so as well. Stiles believed in the power of the pack bond now. He loved and cared for Ethan; he compared the bond they now shared to the bond he used to have with Scott. Now that friendship with Scott was nonexistent. The two men hadn't talked since Stiles left for basic training.

Stiles could have sworn a strange scent had come from his friend but passed it off as his own anxiety. The Jeep pulled into the parking lot of their old High School Beacon Hills. Stiles looked trying to find a familiar face. Stiles then realized it had been five years since he had been at the school plus it was summer school, there were not going to be any familiar faces, except maybe the teaching staff.

Ethan slowly looked up for the first time during the drive from the reserve. His eyes were drooping like someone who hadn't had any sleep in days. He glanced at the lacrosse field, he knew to get to the field, he would have to go through the under path. Stiles turned off the ignition, glanced at Ethan, retreated from the car quickly to get to the passenger door where his friend sat in a trance. "You sure you're ready for this?" He asked Ethan, whose eyes are glazed over. Stiles smiled at him, "Ethan I'm not a wolf but Bud, I can honestly swear, That I can smell your fear!"

"No I'm not ready, but I need to do it before I can be comfortable in this town again."

Ethan closed his eyes. "You don't have to do this, we can find another way to fix what's going on inside that crazy head of yours." Stiles whispered. Ethan looked at the field again, there was a new eerie feeling coming over him.

"DON'T LISTEN TO HIM!" An unfamiliar voice whispered. Ethan looked at Stiles.

"What?" Stiles inquired. Ethan looked confused and mumbled,

"Nothing, I thought you said something." Stiles reached to his friends' sunglasses, he slowly pulled them off and revealed Ethan's teared up eyes.

"Ethan just relax, I'm here for you." Stiles placed his hand on the back of Ethan's head, both men had learned this calming technique from a Tribal Mother in a camp they stayed in when they were in the desert of Africa looking for Michael. Stiles looked into Ethan's eyes; Ethan knew to do the same to Stiles. Their foreheads tilted in till they touched and both men closed their eyes. They both closed their minds off to the rest of the world. This personal contact was to give Ethan the calming ability he lacked. Stiles knew it would also give Ethan the mental strength to proceed with his task. All of this was due to the strength of their bond. Neither man had realized how long it had taken, but the school was now completely empty, and the sun had settled onto the ocean a few miles away. Twilight was upon them as they slowly separated from each other. Stiles looked at Ethan,

"I'm ready Stiles." Ethan said with a strong look of determination in his eyes. Stiles gave him a crooked grin.

"I'll be right behind you all the way." As they reached the steps that led to the under path, Stiles started down them and was at the bottom before he realized this place held a few bad memories for him as well, but not to the extent of losing a brother like Ethan had, Stiles was here and dumped by Lydia two days prior to him leaving for Basic Training, this was also the same spot when Stiles first realized he was being erased by the HUNT, and watching his minion fight and kill Aiden when Stiles was the Nogitsune. Stiles shook the pain off and glanced back up at Ethan who was still standing at the top of the steps.