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Jackson arrives at the hospital’s ER just as a nurse is putting a sticking plaster on Stiles’ forehead.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Stiles says as soon as he sees Jackson.
“I called him,” Zach says, “my brother’s train arrives sooner than I expected and I have to pick him up, so I thought your husband wouldn’t mind picking you up.”
“God, you’re evil…” Stiles says dramatically.
“He did the right thing, I was on my way home—”
“Sure, you’re not here so that you can tell me ‘here you are again’”
“No, Zach said you’re okay, so this time I just came to bring you home.”
“Sure… You’re saving it for when we get home… even better,” Stiles shrugs.
“Am I happy that you’re here again? No.” Jackson shakes his head. “I’m not, obviously. Do I want to know what happened? Yes, I do. You can tell me here, or you can tell me later. If you’re okay, that’s all I need to know right now.”
“Okay, guys, I do have to go. Dinner is still on for tomorrow, right?” Kane asks.
“Yeah, of course, see you tomorrow,” Jackson nods.
“Bye, but you owe me one for this…” Stiles says, pointing at Jackson. “You know that, right?”
“Yeah, not a chance,” Zach shakes his head, smiling, before turning around, heading towards the exit.
“It’s a couple of stitches and some bruises, you know? I’m perfectly fine.”
“Good to know,” Jackson says, crossing his arms.
“We arrested a couple of guys and one of them wasn’t too excited to come with us, so he tried to get away. He pushed me and I stumbled and fell over the door of the car… but Zach got him before he ran away, so yeah, the only thing wounded here has been my pride.”
Jackson shakes his head, trying not to smile. “Well, it seems like you’ve been to war,” Jackson says caressing Stiles’s cheek. “Your two kids will think you’re a hero, as usual, so I think your pride won’t suffer that much… don’t worry. Plus, you look kinda hot, those bruises only make me want to take care of you…” Jackson adds, running his hand through Stiles’s hair, before kissing him softly.
“Let’s go home,” Jackson says, grabbing Stiles’s jacket.
“Yeah, but hold on, here’s something I wanted to tell you and since now you seem to be feeling sorry for me—”
“I’m not feeling sorry for you…” Jackson smiles.
“Whatever…” Stiles gestures with his arms, “but I want to tell him, Zach—I mean. I want to tell Zach.”
“Tell him what?” Jackson frowns.
“What do you think? What’s the only thing he doesn’t know?”
Stiles can see it perfectly all over Jackson’s features. That moment when realization sets in.
“You can’t be serious,” Jackson furrows his brow.
“But I am. I’m perfectly serious. He deserves to know.”
“Stiles—”
“Jackson, please, listen to me because I’m very serious about this,” Stiles says firmly.
Jackson crosses his arms but stays silent.
“Firstly, we’ve known him for almost two years and we know we can trust him. Every time I’ve—We’ve needed him, he’s always been there for us... He’s loyal and honest. And he’s your friend too… I mean, he’s not just my partner, he’s our friend and it’s not right that we keep lying to him. It’s not fair.”
“Stiles—” Jackson attempts to answer.
“I’m not finished…” Stiles interrupts him.
“God, you’ve actually rehearsed this...” Jackson raises his eyebrows.
“Secondly,” Stiles continues, dismissing Jackson’s comment. “We work together and if he knew everything, I think it could be really beneficial for the pack—And I actually think he should be pack. Obviously, we have to—”
“Hold on…” Jackson interrupts him, “You said you want him to be pack?”
“Why not if we tell him? What do you think he’s gonna believe? That you and your son are the only two wolves in this town? How are you gonna explain where yours comes from? He’s not stupid.” Stiles opens his arms wide.
“I know that, but that’s not your choice. You can’t… I mean—”
“That’s Derek’s decision, I know… I’m just saying that I’d like him to be a part of it. And whether he is or not, I want to tell him about you… and Daniel… that’s all. I don’t want to keep lying to him.”
“Stiles, we’re not lying—” At least he tries really hard not to see it that way so that he can live with it. It’s what he’s always done.
“Right, we’re just omitting essential information about our family, isn’t that what you were going to say?”
“Sort of… yeah… but it’s the truth,” Jackson nods.
“No, it’s the truth you tell yourself to feel better about it. But he’s our friend, he cares about our kids, about us, and he’d be the first one to offer his help if you needed him. He thinks he knows you…” Stiles snorts, shaking his head. “And he has no idea what you are… your past… our real past. If that’s not lying, I don’t know what it is. Really, don’t you think he’s earned the right to know? Hell, you told Danny without asking Derek first. You just did what you wanted!”
“I told him because I was gonna lose him and you know that! There was nothing else I could do!”
“Yeah, but you wanted to tell him, so he gave you the excuse to do it. But I don’t have an excuse, except the knowledge that it’s the right thing to do, and that should be good enough.” Stiles gestures with his arms. “God, Since we got together, I’ve never asked this before because I knew what you or Derek were going to say… but mostly, because it didn’t feel as it does in this case.”
“Why didn’t you say anything before?”
“Why? Why do you think?” Stiles raises his eyebrows. “Because I didn’t want to argue with you.”
Jackson licks his lips. “This is a discussion, not an argument. We’re talking about it, in a hospital of all places. And you know what, if Derek is okay with it, I’m actually okay with it too.”
“Really?” Stiles frowns.
“Yeah,” Jackson nods. “Don’t look so surprised. He… yeah, I agree that he deserves to know. I think my first reaction is always to hide it, no matter who it is because it’s always been that way… but this is important to you and I can see why.”
“You can?”
“Now, you’re surprised?” Jackson raises his eyebrows. “Of course, I can.” The bond they have works both ways and feeling what the other is feeling is always there if you want to see it.
“I know you can feel it, but do you get it? If you’re saying it just because—”
“I can feel it and I can see it. Do you think it’s been easy for me not to tell him anything? If you had mentioned it before, I wouldn’t have been so surprised.” Jackson licks his lips.
“But ultimately, this is Derek’s decision… so...” Jackson adds, opening in arms.
“I know.” Stiles nods. “I’ll call him tonight but I’m pretty sure he’ll agree.”
Jackson snorts. “I wouldn’t declare victory too soon.”
“I’m not. He likes Zach and he hasn’t added anybody to the pack in a thousand years… Well, our kids excluded, and Scott’s, of course.”
“Maybe that should be your first clue, don’t you think?” Jackson offers.
“His problem is that he doesn’t trust humans… or anybody for that matter... But he knows he can trust him… he knows he’s smart and honest... hell, he’s a good guy... so yeah, just leave it to me.”
“Oh, by all means, he’s all yours. But yeah, if he requests my wise opinion, I’ll support you. Now let’s go, my mother was expecting us home fifteen minutes ago. She said something about having to go to the supermarket but maybe she was lying and she’s just tired of babysitting.”
“Yep, lying runs in this family after all, not that I’d blame her anyway,” Stiles nods, smiling as he gets up. “Let’s go home.”
