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"It was a set-up. Probably right from the beginning," Derek reported. John, Jordan, and Derek were sitting around the Stilinksi dining room table. It was after midnight, and coffee mugs and pastry crumbs littered the table. "Some Hunters tracked Stiles into the Preserve. Luckily, he and Peter already had a contingency plan in place."
John sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Stiles thought as much, the last time we talked. He just hoped it wouldn't turn out that way. Dammit, Scott. What have you done?"
"Stiles and Peter have left town," Derek said gently. "I know it's hard but it's safer for them to get out of here."
"I know that. Stiles figured that was going to be what he'd have to do," John admitted. "Just... I have this need to know that he's safe."
"Peter will take care of him," Jordan put in. "We all know that."
"Stiles will always be my kid," John said. "That will never change."
"Now what?" Derek asked.
John went to a kitchen drawer and pulled out a set of keys. "I'm assuming he left the Jeep behind somewhere?"
Derek nodded.
John tossed Derek the keys. "When you can, bring it home. He loves that Jeep too much to leave it wherever it is now. And there's a house key on there, too."
"It's in the Preserve," Derek said. "It's off the main road a bit but only kinda hidden."
"It should be okay for a bit," Jordan said thoughtfully. "Someone may watch it, to see if Stiles comes back for it."
"I'll get it later tonight," Derek said. "I can make sure no one is around to see me take it. I'll put it in the garage under the loft, in a back corner that won't be visible unless someone goes looking for it. It'll be safer there."
"And if it's not here at the house, maybe they'll think we don't know what's going on," John nodded.
"Maybe. But anyone that knows you will know you're likely to be in contact with Stiles," Jordan was doubtful. "Like you said, your kid."
John gave a wry grin.
"And Scott has to be involved, so he's going to be giving information to whomever he called in, whether he's thought that through or not," Jordan pointed out. "You'll be at the top of his list."
"What next?" John asked.
John was amused as he watched Derek and Jordan silently have the you tell him -- no, you tell him conversation.
"Come on. I know something is up," John said patiently. "Out with it."
"Peter thinks you're a target," Jordan said.
John grinned to himself. Derek's eyebrows must have won that conversation.
"And.."
"And we're supposed to move in here with you," Jordan said.
"Huh. Okay. I'll have to get another house key made."
Derek looked surprised. "We thought you'd fight that."
"Well, I'm not happy about it," John admitted. "Nothing against you guys personally. But I know I'm a weak spot for Stiles. Or appear to be one."
Jordan nodded. "We know you know how to take care of yourself. But what none of us know -- yet -- is who is behind this. Scott, well we assume Deaton, has called someone in to help them. And until we know what we're up against, we have to assume we're out manned and out gunned."
"Which is the only reason I'm not protesting," John admitted. "I'm assuming Peter left plans?"
Derek laughed. "Did he!"
"So what's next?" John asked.
'We protect Beacon Hills," Jordan said.
"You don't have to work until the morning," Derek said. "Jordan is on the same shift, so he'll stay here tonight. I'll take care of Roscoe and be back in the morning."
"After tomorrow, Jordan and I are on different shifts," John pointed out.
"And I'll be with you when he can't," Derek said firmly.
John pointed a finger at Derek. "I'm signing you up as a consultant, to allow you access to the station. That's to cover us legally, in case there are any questions."
Derek sighed, then nodded. "I understand."
"And, you're putting in an application to the police academy in Redding, to support that consultant position," John said. "The next session won't be for another three months and I hope this is settled before then. I really hope you'll go."
Derek's eyes went wide.
"You'll do fine," Jordan assured him. "I'll dig out my training manuals and you can study them ahead of time."
"You'll easily ace the fitness part," John said. "The rest we can work with you on. You shouldn't have that much trouble with it."
Jordan snickered. "Although we all should work on that fitness bit, to help Derek to keep within human parameters when he does go to the academy."
John groaned. "You're going to make me go jogging. I hate jogging!"
"Need to do it," Jordan grinned. "If we're going to do this, we need to do it right."
"Anyone that really knows Derek, knows he doesn't have to do this," John added.
"We are going for plausible deniability," Jordan said firmly.
"We'll go easy on you, old man," Derek teased.
John was somewhat pleased that Derek felt comfortable enough to tease him that way. It would make the next few weeks -- weeks, not longer, he thought firmly -- that Derek and Jordan would be in the house easier.
"Hey! It's not like I'm decades older than either of you!" John protested.
"I just want to keep you around for a while," Jordan said. "I've seen the paperwork you do, and I have no intention of having to do that."
"You get used to it," John replied. "Okay, I don't know about you two, but I'm calling it a night. You can flip a coin to see who gets Stiles' bed and who gets the couch."
"You take the bed," Derek said immediately to Jordan. "I'll be going out to get the Jeep and I'll catch a couple of hours at the loft before I come back here for breakfast. And I can nap while you both are working."
"We'll work something out for when you're both here, then," John said. "There's no sense in being uncomfortable. It's going to be more than a few days, even I know that."
"I'll just have another bed delivered," Derek shrugged. "That's not hard."
"There's a third bedroom upstairs that needs to be cleaned up," John said. "Claudia used it as a craft room and, well, it's probably dusty and should be aired out."
"I wouldn't want to..." Derek started to protest.
"It's fine," John said seriously. "Stiles would want you to use that space. It's family. You're family."
Derek nodded abruptly. "Okay."
"Good," John replied. He knew both Derek and Jordan were surprised to be included in a warm hug as John went off to bed. "See you in the morning!"