Chapter Text
ONE
Derek sat silently on the bench, staring down at his clasped hands, not even noticing how white his knuckles were. He had come so close to losing everything, so close to letting his stupid rage and angst cost him far more than the loss that had spurred his actions. For all he knew, he still might lose his family over the fact that all of this was his fault. None of them had spoken to him since the Sheriff had come to pick him up in the middle of the night and started saying things like “potential accomplice” and “inside information”. Of course, the truth about where he’d been and what - and who - he’d been doing had all come out after that. If his family had felt any shock, anger, or disappointment at learning that he’d been dating an Argent, Derek didn’t know. As soon as the story had started to unfold, he’d looked down and focused all of his senses on himself, on the stench of guilt and the double-time beating of his heart.
Despite his fear, guilt, and anger, Derek couldn’t help being intensely grateful that at least he was here to be feeling those emotions, and at least his family were still there, even if they hated him after all this. If it weren’t for Mr. Harris - and what a shock that was, that the notoriously hateful Chemistry teacher actually had a conscience - they would likely all be dead. Kate had been found with so much wolfsbane in her possession that even the unaware officers were convinced it must be a drug or poison of some sort. If she’d tossed it into the flames in front of windows and doors, any of them that managed to fight past it would still be killed by that much exposure. And she’d known where all the exits from the house were, thanks to Derek.
Her one mistake had apparently been getting Adrian Harris to advise her on how exactly to get the best blaze started - one that would pass as accidental to a quick examination. According to what he’d told police, she’d caught him at a bar when he was more than a little tipsy and seduced him into giving her the information. It was only when he’d sobered up the next day that he realized that the questions she’d asked were suspiciously specific, and he’d immediately gone to the Sheriff’s department to report what he knew. It was enough to merit a warrant, and the inspection of Kate’s apartment and truck were more than enough to have her arrested. Her apparently mad rambling - mostly true, but certainly not something any of the Sheriff’s officers would believe - was part confession and part her own saviour. She was going to be sent to a mental health institution rather than to prison, provided her lawyer and her family agreed. Derek presumed they would - better that than her being in jail, after all.
Derek would rather she were dead than locked up in any sort of facility. She was a hunter, and now he knew that she was a true one, deadly and merciless through and through. She could and likely would find a way to get out, probably sooner rather than later. When she did, Derek knew she would come back and try to finish the job, likely starting by taking him out. At the moment, he was willing to accept that as his just punishment, but he couldn’t stand the thought that she would go on to murder the rest of his family. He didn’t know how he could stop her, but he knew he had to, even if it meant killing her in front of all of the Sheriff’s department. The only thing restraining him from ripping through the cell she was contained in was the thought that if he killed her, her family would almost certainly come after his in retribution. There was no sense in condemning them to death in order to protect them from the possibility of it. Still, something had to be done about Kate, and preferably before she managed to get herself free.
“Derek?” the Deputy that had sent him to sit on the bench called. He was a little younger than Derek’s father, but he still carried himself with strength and authority that were quite familiar to Derek. “We’re ready for you, son.” Derek stood and followed the man silently, keeping his eyes on the floor for the most part, only flicking them up to ensure that he didn’t walk into anyone. The Deputy led him into an interrogation room, one that was far more warm and friendly than the ones on TV, but unmistakably one nonetheless. Derek took a seat on the side of the table facing the two-way mirror without prompting, clasping his hands on top of the table and staring at them once he was settled. The Deputy took a seat opposite him and the Sheriff joined him after a few minutes. The three of them sat in silence for a long while, nothing interrupting them but the ticking of the clock.
Finally, Derek had enough of the weight of guilt bearing down on him and the silent regard of the two men.
“If you’re going to arrest me, just do it,” he burst out with. “I didn’t know what Kate was going to do, but I didn’t question her when she wanted to know all the details of our house. I’m the one who got her blueprints and I’m the one that told her when we’d all be home. If I hadn’t fallen for her, for her tricks, she probably would have just moved on after a while rather than fixing her sights on us.” He shut his mouth forcibly, immediately regretting everything he’d said. It was all true, of course, but how was he to know if it would help or harm his family. It should show that all of them were innocent, that he was the only one who knew anything at all about Kate, but maybe they would be blamed for not raising him better, for not seeing that he was getting himself into trouble.
The Deputy and the Sheriff exchanged long looks, and the Sheriff stood and left the room, the door shutting the only sound in the room. Derek watched the Deputy warily as the man sat back and waited patiently, his heart perfectly calm. The man’s apparent willingness to wait forever wore away at Derek’s control until he felt like he was about explode with more words again. The door opening was a welcome distraction, but when Derek looked towards it, he was puzzled to see blank space where he’d expected the Sheriff’s face. He scanned down the opening between door and jamb until he caught sight of wide brown eyes in a pale face at a child’s height.
“Stiles?” the Deputy said, his voice warring between surprise and disappointment. “You know that you’re not supposed to bother me while I’m working with someone.” The disappointment seemed to be winning out and Derek watched the young boy pale and then flush.
“Sheriff O’Halloran asked me to bring you a message, Dad,” he said, a flicker of defiance in the otherwise meekly apologetic voice. The boy slipped into the room and stumbled his way to the table, dropping a folded piece of paper in front of his father. The Deputy picked it up and turned slightly so that the overhead light wouldn’t shine through and show the contents of the message. His eyes scanned across the page once and then twice, and then he reached into his breast pocket for a pen and scribbled out a response. He refolded the note and handed it to his son.
“Take this to the Sheriff and then go sit at my desk, OK Stiles? And stay out of trouble and people’s way.” His voice was stern, but there was a softness in his eyes that betrayed the love he had for his son. Derek watched the boy as he scurried out of the room, curiosity and embarrassment combining to make him seem particularly interesting. When he looked back at the Deputy, the man had one eyebrow raised at him, though he seemed more amused than offended. Derek still flushed and ducked his head to look back down at the table top, generally uncomfortable with how the whole situation was proceeding. He’d expected to be arrested immediately, not simply left to wait. Certainly not to be the source of amusement for any of the officers.
It didn’t take long for the Sheriff to return after Stiles was sent on his way with his missive, and this time he entered the room with a soft smile on his lips.
“Well, your story’s been corroborated, though not without more nonsensical ranting on the part of that woman. You didn’t have anything to do with this other than being her access to information she would have found anyway. And she would have - she seems to be obsessed with killing your whole family.” Derek gaped at the Sheriff’s words, not understanding how the man was coming to the conclusion that he was innocent of anything other than intent. His stuttered protests went ignored or unheard, though, and after some formalities, he was returned to the bench to await someone coming to get him. They’d said that his family had been waiting for him and had only left when assured that they would be contacted when a resolution was reached, but Derek couldn’t quite believe it. They had to know by now that it was all his fault that they had been in danger, and that only a chance spark of decency had saved them. Why would they ever want to put themselves out for his sake. Still, he sat silently on the bench, once again staring at his hands, and let the Deputy make his call - or rather, calls, more than likely. When all of his family refused to come for him, he could decide where to go from there.
He was beyond shocked when, fifteen minutes later, he was bookended by his sister and his mother. Laura’s eyes were bright with tears, but Talia looked as unflappable as ever. Derek couldn’t help but lean into her, and he felt a wash of warmth flow over him as she wrapped her arm around his shoulders, pulling him in towards her. Laura nuzzled into his other side, her head tucked into the curve of his shoulder and neck, the sensation of her breaths telling him that she was scenting him, searching out and identifying his feelings. He tried to rouse some sense of offense, but being surrounded by his Alpha and Alpha-to-be was too comforting, especially given the forgiveness and sympathy they were exuding towards him. He still expected that they would realize they should be furious with him once their relief at being alive faded, but for now he was going to enjoy what time he had with them.
Just as they were leaving, his mother’s arm still looped around Derek, Stiles ran up to them and tugged gently on Derek’s sleeve. When Derek turned to look at him, the boy was staring up at the three of them with wide eyes. Derek gave him several long moments before coughing softly to wake him up. Beside him, Talia smiled softly and Laura hid a wider grin behind her free hand.
“Oh!” Stiles blurted out, clearly startled. His eyes got wider, but they turned to focus entirely on Derek. “My Dad said he forgot to give you this.” He held out an evidence bag containing Derek’s phone, wallet, and watch. Derek reached out to take it, giving Stiles the best smile he could manage. Stiles blinked up at him and then gave him a blinding smile in return before flushing slightly and rushing away. Derek gazed after him, feeling a combination of bewilderment and amusement, then turned to look at his sister and mother. Talia smiled kindly at him and tucked her arm into the crook of his.
“Come on then, son,” she said. “Let’s get you home.”