A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry for a slow update, Christmas and all :)

Hope you like this chapter, can't wait to read more of your comments!

FYI, Game of Thrones spoilers from the latest season below ;)

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Chapter Sixteen: Grounded

It had been a few days since the attack at the university.

Scott and Isaac had made their way back to Beacon Hills, courtesy of Derek's platinum card, and the Sheriff was on his way back down that afternoon. He couldn't leave without making sure the bruising had gone down enough to convince him that Stiles was really going to be okay.

"Dad, seriously, if you worry any harder you're going to give yourself an ulcer and we both know that your diet is already contributing to that so let's not make it any worse," he said as they sat at breakfast.

"All I said was that you're not as purple as you were yesterday," he said through a mouthful of bacon.

"Between you saying that every time you see me and Scott texting me every morning and night... I also have Derek trying to wrap me up in cotton wool so I don't make anything worse!"

"No harm in caring about how you're doing."

"It's driving me insane, okay? I got a little blown up, is that such a big deal?"

"Yes," Derek said as he walked over to join them at the table.

He put his hand lightly on Stiles' shoulder, kissing his temple as he sat down.

"Thanks, appreciate the back up," he scoffed.

"You are the only person who could think that getting blown up is not a big deal," the sheriff said. "I'll be back."

"If you're going to get more bacon maybe rethink that, your cholesterol is not going to come down at this rate," Stiles said.

"Life is short Stiles," he said sternly. "I'm not going to spend it eating cauliflower hash browns when I have the real thing sitting nicely over there by the bacon."

"It's healthier for you," Stiles said.

"Stop sending me links to webpages for foods made out of vegetables," he said, pointing his finger at him before heading back to the buffet.

"One day the doctor is going to tell him he can't have any of it and I'm going to be stuck trying to force-feed him sweet potato fries."

Derek chuckled, gently sweeping his fingers through the short hair on the side of Stiles' head.

"And you!" he said pulling away from his touch and making Derek raise an eyebrow. "I am not made of glass."

"No but you are a broken record," Derek said.

"Uh, pot? Kettle?" he said. "I miss when you weren't afraid to touch me."

"Will you stop complaining if I promise to stop being gentle with you once those bruises are gone?" he asked in a whisper, lips pressed against his ear.

"They're pretty much gone now," Stiles said.

"Stiles," he said and Stiles bit down on his bottom lip, nodding quickly.

"Yeah okay, I promise," he said. "But you let me tell you if you're holding back."

"Alright," he said.

"Really?"

"Yes really, now eat your breakfast," he kissed him messily on the cheek before he got up to grab some food himself.

Stiles watched him walk away, hard not to notice the smug grin on his lips because he knew Stiles was staring.

"Okay son, I know you love him but pick your chin up off the table would you?" the sheriff said as he sat back down.

"Really dad? That's your third helping of bacon."

The sheriff paused and looked up at him stoically.

"I'm on vacation."

"You... I got blown up, how is that a vacation?" he said.

The sheriff grinned and pointed at him with his knife.

"So you admit it, getting blown up is a big deal."

Stiles just groaned.

**

Allison walked through the seemingly abandoned parking lot on her way to the loft. Her jet lag had finally subsided and she was feeling back to herself.

It had been a while so she buzzed in rather than letting herself up.

The door made the familiar click so she walked through, getting in the lift and heading up. When the doors opened she was taken aback as an unfamiliar girl stood looking back at her with folded arms.

"Oh, uh, hi?" Allison said and the girl just raised her eyebrows. "Am I in the wrong loft because I swear―"

"Allison!" Erica called from the bottom of the stairs with a grin, running over to wrap her arms around her.

"Holy god, I forgot what werewolf hugs felt like," she said breathlessly and Erica laughed, letting her go and blowing her hair off her face.

"You even smell French, new perfume?" she asked.

"I may have picked some up," she said with a glance to the stranger beside her. "Are we ignoring her or am I going crazy?"

Erica looked over and rolled her eyes.

"That is a long story but short version is that this is Cora," she said. "Derek's sister and yes! Before you ask, she did survive the fire and no we do not talk about it."

Cora was still giving her a cautious look that Allison was trying to decipher.

"Okay," she said. "It's weird to meet you."

Cora tentatively took her hand and shook it before turning back to Erica.

"I'm going out, catch you later," she said and walked past them both without another word.

"You'll get used to it," Erica said. "How was your trip? Did you find yourself?"

"I didn't go to 'find myself' I went because it was a free trip to France and a chance to learn about some of my family history," she said. "Plus the drinking age is like sixteen."

"Nice," Erica said. "You get drunk with your dad a lot?"

Allison rolled her eyes.

"Shut up."

"Is it weird that I actually missed you?" Erica said as they walked further inside.

"With the new company you keep I'm not surprised," she said, taking a seat at the kitchen bench. "Is she always so..."

"Brooding and cautious?"

"I was thinking is she always that much like Derek," she said.

"Yeah it's not hard to see the family resemblance, you heard about Stiles, right?"

"Lydia texted me, do we know what happened yet?"

"You know I am almost ready to put it down to actual random attack, feels weird to think that maybe someone wasn't out to get us this time," she said. "Usually when one of us is around and people die it's got 'we're coming for you' written all over it."

Allison started to protest but just rested her chin on her hands.

"I got nothing," she said. "How's everyone else?"

"You mean... how's Scott?"

"Why does everyone think that I am still preoccupied with him? I said everyone didn't I?" she said. "You think I spent six months in France and thought about him every single second?"

"Did I hit a nerve?" Erica said with a grin. "And I take it if you weren't thinking about him there were at least a few moments where you were thinking about someone else?"

Allison's mouth stayed open as she thought of a comeback but just wound up closing it and shaking her head over at Erica.

"I'm not playing your games," she said, the dimples in her cheek coming out.

"I want all the details," she said. "And then I suppose I can tell you a few things about my life."

"You've got something to tell?" Allison teased.

Erica pulled a face at her and took out her phone, doing a quick search before holding it out for her to see.

"Rajanish?" she said with a raised eyebrow.

"Go on, tell me all about your ... travels."

Allison laughed.

"Okay, but only because I want to hear about this," she held up the phone before handing it back and Erica leaned over the counter with a grin.

**

"All I'm saying," Scott shrugged. "Is that Wolverine could totally take on Iron Man, I mean the guy is literally immortal."

"Yeah but you can't really pit them against each other," Isaac said from the couch. "Iron man is all tech and ranged attacks and Wolverine is brute strength and close combat, when would they even have to fight one another?"

"You're missing the point, all I'm saying is that he could, not that he will."

"Wait, have they battled in the comics?" Isaac asked. "Either way, wouldn't be much of a fight. Think, Indiana Jones when that guy comes out with the swords and Indy just shoots him. That's how I imagine that going."

"You are such a nerd," Scott said with a grin.

"You brought it up?" Isaac said.

They both laughed and Scott tapped his fingers against his book with a quick look over to Isaac before turning back to his page.

"So... I was thinking," he started slowly.

"Careful I hear that's bad for you," Isaac said.

"Very funny, seriously though," he said and Isaac looked up. "I was thinking of going home for dinner tonight, mom's cooking and all."

"Alright that's cool," he said.

"Uh, my dad's going to be there," he said and Isaac nodded. "I was thinking you could come over and meet him?"

"We've met, remember?"

"Uh, yeah, you said hi and then we argued and you ran off to Berkeley," he said and Isaac's eyebrows shot up.

"Oh I ran away? Is that what we're calling it?"

"It doesn't matter, you didn't actually meet him and... I think maybe, you should?"

"Is he going to interrogate me? Give me the old 'what are your intentions with my son' shtick?"

"I'm serious Isaac," Scott said.

"Well so am I!" Isaac said. "You really want him back in your life?"

"He's trying," Scott said. "That's more than he's ever done before."

"I don't want to see you get hurt," he said. "I don't want you to put all the faith you have in a guy who didn't bother to stick around for most of your life."

"Yeah well, he's here now," he said. "It could be worse."

"Yeah I know," Isaac said, making Scott feel a little guilty at his words.

"Sorry, I know what happened with your dad must keep you kind of on edge with this stuff," he said.

"He never abandoned me though, that was my mom," he said. "I just don't want you to settle in with the idea that he's here to stay and then have him disappoint you in a week when he decides that his life is more important than his son."

"I know," Scott said, getting up and walking over to him. "I just... I want you to be there with me, doesn't feel right when you're not."

"You know totally giving me no option but to agree, right?" he said with a smile.

"Telling me you were going to say no?" he said.

Isaac smiled and pulled him into his lap, sliding his hands up his thighs and under his shirt so he could caress his sides.

"When was the last time I said no to you?" he whispered, leaning in to kiss his neck and jaw.

"Um yeah, yesterday," Scott said, closing his eyes and leaning into him.

"Not my fault you picked a stupid movie," Isaac said.

"So... that's a yes then?" Scott asked and Isaac tilted his head up to look at him.

"If you want me with you, I'm there," he said.

"Good, because I already told my mom you'd be there," he said with a smile.

"Why am I not surprised?"

**

"You let me know once you find out what's going on, or if you start feeling worse," the sheriff said as they stood at his car later that day. "If you need anything―"

"Yes dad, I know," he said, opening the driver's side door for him. "I will call you if I get so much as a mosquito bite."

"Don't be such a wise-ass," he said, pulling him into a hug.

"I know," he said. "Drive safe, okay?"

He pulled back and gave Stiles a smile, reaching out to give Derek a handshake which Stiles rolled his eyes at. As he climbed into the car Stiles gave him a wave. He complained a lot, but he was already missing his company, it had been nice to spend so much time with him, albeit under less than ideal circumstances.

"So, where is this meeting you have to go to?" Derek asked as his car turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

"It's more of an assembly than a meeting," Stiles said. "And it's in the arts union hall, I think there's a few of them around, just trying to get the word out to all the different faculties."

"Do you know what the word is?" Derek asked.

"I could be so annoying right now..." Stiles said with a grin.

"If you start singing that song I promise you I am driving home tonight," Derek said.

"Seriously though, I'm not sure," he said.

"Well I'll go back to the hotel, call me when it's finished?" he said.

"I will, and you didn't need to buy me a new phone you know, I could have got some second hand iPhone four or something," he said.

Derek leant in and kissed him on the forehead.

"Call me when you're done," he said again.

As Stiles walked through the campus he got a few lingering looks, the bruises were fading but they were still obvious to anyone who knew what they were looking for. And everyone on campus was looking.

He looked over to the entrance of the hall and saw Kyle standing there waiting for him.

"You look better than the last time I saw you," he said.

Stiles shrugged.

"Thanks," he said. "I mean like, thanks."

"Don't worry about it," he said.

"No I mean it, I don't know what kind of shape I'd be in," he said.

"Really, don't mention it," he said as they walked inside.

"We're going to have to sit down for a coffee after this because there are some things... I have a lot of questions," Stiles said.

"I thought you might."

They took a seat up towards the back and waited for the speakers to start. They held a moment of quiet reflection for the people killed, the total standing at just four, but it was still four too many.

"This is a sad day for our school, a day none of us had even considered, let alone had the chance to prepare for," the head of school stood solemnly behind the small podium and looked out on the rest of the students.

Some seemed deep in thought, others looked as though they'd spent the better part of the week crying. Some just seemed anxious to get out.

As Stiles thought about it he suddenly felt more claustrophobic than he had done when they walked in, he could feel the sweat on his forehead and his heart started beating faster.

"The perpetrator of this act, has not yet been found," the man continued. "No individual or group has taken responsibility for this attack on our freedom to learn and be taught and live without fear.

"Many of you have been personally affected by this tragedy, and we have at hand a great number of services who can provide support to anyone who might need it.

"In light of everything, this faculty has decided to postpone its final examinations. We will be sending out formal communication today. It is likely that dates for next semester will be brought forward to offset the earlier break but we feel as though we cannot expect the best from you under the current circumstances."

"So what, essentially no exams?" Stiles whispered.

"They must be incorporating them in next semester," Kyle whispered back.

Stiles had to stop himself from letting a smile reach his lips.

"I can go home..."

Kyle looked over at him, almost looking around him before putting a hand to his shoulder.

"You sound like you might need it," he said.

"I didn't think I cared that much really," he said softly as they read out the names of the four people who died, their photos beaming back at him from the projector screen.

One was a professor, been teaching in the school of sociology for the last five years. Two more were students, celebrating the end of semester with a coffee in the courtyard on a sunny day. The last was a maintenance worker, he'd made it to hospital but there was too much damage, they couldn't bring him back.

"Stiles?" Kyle said, breaking him out of his trance as the rest of the people around them started to move.

"Sorry," he said, sniffing a little and letting out a sigh.

"Let's go and have that talk."

Stiles nodded, not realising how tight his chest was until they were finally out of that room.

He pulled out his phone and sent a quick message to Derek.

Stiles: Just grabbing a bite with Kyle, need to get my head around a few things. Won't be long, promise

As if he had been waiting to hear from him his phone pinged with a reply shortly after.

Derek: Let me know if you need me

They drove a little way out of campus and into a niche café on a corner street. Stiles sat at the table staring into his coffee while Kyle just eyed him carefully.

"You're never this quiet," he said and Stiles shrugged.

"I don't know I guess I spent a few days away from this place and kind of... I don't know, sometimes this kind of thing almost feels normal, what with the whole werewolf pack every other day thing," he said. "There's been a lot of death in the last year or so but it seems different, I mean there were reasons behind that and not saying that makes it better, it doesn't... at all, it just..."

"What?"

"What if I was the target?" he said, looking up from his mug. "I know it seems stupid to think that I am that important that someone would target me, but in my experience there's usually something supernatural involved. And yeah, I might be human, but it wouldn't be the first time I've been targeted. Four people are dead, so many people got injured..."

"You can think like that Stiles," he said. "Take it from me, the more you put on your shoulders the more you realise you have virtually no control over anything outside yourself. Even if you were the target, you didn't detonate those bombs."

"I know," he said with a sigh.

"A few years ago, I spent some time travelling," Kyle said. "Probably could have been backpacking through Europe's landmarks but I was actually making my way through hospitals in South America."

"Wow," Stiles said.

"Not really," he said. "I'd just got good at healing and I wanted to do some good, or try to anyway. I stopped at this little village just outside the Mexican border, in Guatemala. The place was... ravaged by sickness and there was still a lot of conflict. The civil war ended nearly ten years earlier but... not everyone agreed with peace treaties.

"I stayed for a while, treating people whenever I could, I thought I could clean the place up, if I got rid of the disease then I could leave and there wouldn't be this circle of illness after illness. At first things went well."

"At first?" Stiles said, leaning his chin on his hands as he listened.

"They called me 'El Curandero'," he said. "Means 'the Healer'. Word somehow spread and people were coming in from neighbouring villages with their sick, wounded. I started getting injuries worse than I'd ever healed before and... I wasn't ready for them. But, being the overconfident teenager that I was I thought I could fix anything. I guess getting treated like some kind of holy healer only made it worse."

"How old were you?" Stiles asked.

"Nineteen," he said. "They brought me this boy, his legs had been torn up by some farming equipment. It was... he wasn't even conscious when they brought him in. I did what I'd done every time, his legs seemed to repair in front of my eyes, like they always did. They thanked me and took him away.

"I took in more like him, people who were inches from death, bodies torn apart, suddenly there wasn't even a scar, like it never happened. It wasn't until weeks later that I realised... I didn't know as much as I thought I did.

"They brought the boy back in, his feet had turned black and he was in so much pain, the way he was crying I... when I healed him I was trying to heal him as a whole, repair the damage. Problem was to repair his injuries meant cutting off the damage from the rest of his body. His muscles fused in the wrong places as his skin just masked it.

"No blood supply meant no life, septicaemia took hold pretty fast and the degree of damage was too much. He died later that afternoon."

"But you couldn't have known that, you were trying to help," Stiles said.

"And I thought I was this great healer, it never even crossed my mind that something might go wrong. But that boy wasn't the last. They started coming back, different degrees of pain and suffering that I caused and couldn't fix. They started calling me something different.

"I wasn't a healer anymore, I was 'Portador de la Muerte'," he said. "Bringer of Death."

He sighed, looking down at his hands as if remembering the words in their mouths and the sound of it in his ears.

"The girl, in the hall," Stiles said slowly. "You said there are some things you can't heal."

"Some things are best left to doctors, not self-taught arrogant boys," he said. "I've figured out focussed healing since then, but I try not to use it often. Gun-shy I guess you could call it."

"So... I'm guessing you didn't tell me that story for the entertainment value?" Stiles said with a small smile.

"Don't put everything on your shoulders," he said. "You can be trying to do well, or trying to be a hero and still wind up―"

"A harbinger of death?"

"Something like that," he said.

"So... healing aside..."

"You want to know what else I can do?"

"You said something about auras?"

"How much time do you have?" he said with a smile.

"I guess now that finals are off... a hell of a lot more than I thought."

**

Erica and Cora walked into the tree line, Erica dropping her backpack and stretching out. Reluctantly she had agreed to cooperate, letting Cora try and teach her more stealth before Derek came back and berated them all again.

She still wasn't excited about having to work together but she had to at least make an effort.

"Remember, if you start being a bitch then I'm leaving," Erica said with her arms folded.

"Remind me again why you even asked me to come with you?" Cora shrugged, squaring off with her and folding her arms as well.

Erica sighed.

"Because Derek... had a point about us not working together," she said. "And you're pretty good at sneaking around."

"Is that a compliment?" she said with a raised eyebrow.

"Plus if you teach me now I can kick Jackson's ass later," she said.

"So much for working together," Cora said with a smirk.

"Are you going to help me or not?"

"What else has got you so irritated?"

"I'm naturally irritated," Erica said with a roll of her eyes.

Cora shrugged.

"More so today apparently," she said.

"I might be trying to work off some nervous energy," she said. "Raj is taking me to a movie tonight."

"Well, at least you'll probably get a kiss this time," she said and Erica narrowed her eyes.

"Can we start now?" she said.

"Okay, close your eyes," she said.

"Really?"

"Do you want my help or not?"

Erica rolled her eyes again but this time she did as she asked.

"Now... walk, and listen."

"Are you kidding?" Erica said, grumbling as she took a few steps.

"I'll guide you just shut up and do it," Cora said, putting her hands against her back and leading her around the trees. "What do you hear?"

"I don't know Yoda," Erica said sarcastically. "What am I supposed to be listening to?"

"If you shut up for half a second you might figure it out," Cora said. "And if you want me to be Yoda I can climb on your back and you can carry me instead."

"You've seen Star Wars?" Erica said, turning to look at her.

"I wasn't living in the South American jungle," she said. "I had a TV you dipshit."

Erica laughed loudly and the grin stuck on her face.

"Alright I'm listening to... something," she said.

They walked on a little longer and Erica started to listen in to the sounds around them. She could hear the wind rustling in the canopy above them, the birds in the branches, and she could hear her feet crunching in the leaves and twigs under her sneakers.

"What can you hear?" Cora asked as she tapped her right shoulder so she could veer in that direction.

"I hear... my stupid feet," she said. "How are you so quiet?"

"Shut up, focus on trying to be light-footed instead," Cora said. "Just think about the sound of your feet on the ground and make it quieter."

"You're a real Jedi master," she said.

"It's that simple, just focus," she said. "Watch left."

"Let's just run or something, I have way too much pent up energy to be walking through the woods with my eyes closed," Erica said.

"Okay, you run ahead, try and lose me," Cora said. "Make it to the river. See if you can step a little quieter."

"You're on," Erica said with a grin.

She took off quickly, skirting around the trees and exhaling slowly as she tried to tread lightly. She was quick, skidding in the soft dirt as she turned corners.

She could hear the gentle flow of the river not too far up ahead, too bad that by the time she heard Cora's steps she was grabbing her by the arm and pulling her down to the ground.

"Learn to zig zag," she said, holding her hand out to help her up.

"What?" Erica said.

"You either learn to zig zag or you'll end up like Rickon Stark," she said.

"Seriously?" she said.

"All he had to do was change direction once or twice and maybe he would have made it. Double back, retrace your steps. It confuses people scent tracking you, gives them options and you more time."

"Didn't pick you as a Game of Thrones fan," she said as she pulled her hair back and tied it.

"Are you kidding?" Cora said.

"Jon Snow right," Erica said with a grin.

Cora scoffed.

"Sansa Stark is a badass," she said. "Go again, make it a little difficult."

Erica nodded, smirking a moment before kicking Cora's feet out from under her and bolting. This time making a pattern, changing directions and going back on her tracks, but Cora still managed to catch up with her.

She grabbed her by the shirt and shoved her into the side of a tree.

"Little unfair that you had like a sixteen year head start on me with the whole werewolf thing," Erica huffed and Cora actually let out a genuine laugh.

She leant in and Erica froze as she pressed her lips against her mouth, fingertips running along her jaw before she was pulling back with a smirk.

"You know nothing," she said. "Keep up."

She darted off quickly by Erica was still glued to the spot, mouth hanging open in shock.

"What the hell?" she said under her breath.

**

Stiles walked back into the hotel room later in the afternoon. Derek was doing push-ups shirtless on the floor by the bed.

"Do you ever just... watch TV like a normal person?" he said, leaning back against the door as he closed it behind him.

"When I'm with you, yes," he said, grunting through the last of his set.

"Reading while I watch movies does not count," he said.

Derek got up, grabbing a towel and wiping himself down with it.

"I thought you were going to call me when you were done?" he said.

"I just... needed a walk," he said, leaning up so Derek could place a soft kiss on his mouth. "Finally had the chance to chat with Kyle, he's got some interesting stories."

"What you expected?"

"Not really," he said with a shrug. "I guess I don't really know what I expected though."

"What did they say at the assembly?"

Stiles smiled, reaching out to grab the waistband of Derek's pants and pull him in.

"I'm coming home."

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A/N: Let me know what you thought, hope you all had a great holiday season!