The Unknown Boy // Derek Hale Story *ON HOLD*

The Strange Man

Elijah sat playing on the playground at school the day after the game. All the other kids were off playing a game of tag or playing baseball. Mia was sick and stayed at home today, leaving Elijah alone at recess. The teachers sat on their phones and didn't do anything when the man walked up to Elijah. It wasn't that they didn't notice it was that they didn't care.

Peter Hale walked up to his great-nephew. Of course, Peter knew who his father was. Peter knows everything, but mostly he is a spinning image of Derek when he was younger.

"Hi," Peter said from behind Elijah.

Elijah jumped and held his hand to his rapidly beating heart. He stood up and, said, "Sorry, you scared me, sir." Elijah held out his hand to shake, but he stopped when he saw that half his face was burnt. Instead of shaking Peter's hand, Elijah pulled Peter in for a hug feeling he probably needed it. Well, the hug was more like Elijah hugging Peter's legs and Peter just standing there awkwardly. "What's your name?" Elijah asked the man after he released him from the hug.

"Peter. What's yours?" Peter asked the boy even though he already knew. He didn't want to scare the boy, he needed him. He was a very special boy. he also didn't want to seem creepy that just wasn't his style, even though everyone knows he is.

"Elijah. You wanna help me build a sandcastle? I don't have anyone else to help me," Elijah said with a sad look on his face that even the devil himself couldn't refuse. And the devil couldn't. Peter sat down next to the boy and helped him construct his castle.

"So what's your favorite color?" Elijah asked hoping he could make a new friend.

"Black," Peter replied, simply.

"Why are you at school?"

"I was looking for something," Peter lied, but Elijah didn't pick up on it.

"Have you ever had a puppy? I want a puppy, but Mommy says it's not the best time right now."

"No. I have never had a puppy."

"What about a cat? Do you think they are easier to take care of than a puppy?"

"Do you always ask so many questions?"

"No, I was trying to be your friend. Do you wanna be friends?" Elijah asked.

"Sure," Peter answered and then Peter continued, "but you can't tell anyone about this. Not your mom and especially not your dad."

"I don't even know who my dad is," Elijah replied. He never really wondered before, but Peter bringing it up stirred something in him.

"Well if you ever meet him don't tell him or anyone. Got it?" Peter said in a stern tone.

Elijah didn't think about why this man didn't want him to tell anyone. He was just excited to have another friend. He didn't think that the world would be so cruel to hurt another person, let alone him, so that is why he wanted to be friends with the strange man who walked up to him on the playground and that is why he agreed to not tell anyone about his new friend.

______________________________________________

Riley was in the clinic, examining a dog. She was trying to figure out how she was going to tell Derek about their son. She barely knew the guy. He probably won't even believe her, but she knows he deserves to know. If it were her, she would want to know. She was going to have to tell him soon.

"I'm sorry, sorry," Scott said bursting through the door of the clinic. Riley looked up from the dog and smiled. Deaton, who was unpacking boxes of medicine, looked up and said.

"You are all of two minutes late."

"I just didn't want you to think I'm slacking," Scott said while laying his lacrosse bag down and looking over to Deaton.