▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 ━︎━︎ 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐍 the library with Kira, Scott, and Malia, her homework laid out in front of her. She had no clue where Stiles had gone and when Scott asked she just sighed and shrugged before going back to her homework. She glanced up when someone was fastly approaching, turning her head just in time for Stiles to slam two pieces of paper down in front of Scott.

Scott pulled the papers closer. "So you found something?"

Stiles nodded. "Another signature." He pointed at one paper. "This is Theo's dads signature on a speeding ticket from eight years ago." He pointed at the other. And this is his dads signature on a transfer form to Beacon Hills high School from just a few days ago."

Kira frowned. "How did you get his transfer form?"

"Did you break into the administration office?" Scott asked.

Stiles closed his eyes. "No I did not break into the administration office." Elaine rose a brow and he sighed. "Okay, I might have broken into the administration office. Can we just focus on the signatures, please?"

The four of them looked at the two signatures. Malia said, "They're sort of different."

"They're completely different. Come on. Look." Stiles began pointing out the differences. "The garlands don't match, the undulations of the sinuous stroke are totally off. And look, look at this." He pointed to a specific cursive. "Perfect example of the Criminal Tremor."

"So now, Theo is Theo, but his parents aren't his parents?" Kira asked, squinting her eyes as her brows furrowed.

"Someone's not someone." Stiles answered. "And when I figure out who that someone really is, someone's in big trouble."

"That was a lot of someone's in one sentence." Elaine mumbled. Stiles gave her an exasperated look.

Scott frowned. "But no one's done anything wrong."

"Yet." Stiles hissed. "If Theo's parents are both psychotic killers then obviously, we should not trust him, right?" Elaine winced at his words.

"My parents are Peter Hale and the Desert Wolf." Malia said and Elaine closed her eyes, sighing through her nose.

"Okay. . ." Stiles sighed, rubbing his forehead. "It's fine. You know what?" He grabbed the papers. "I'll just figure it out myself. Right? I don't need you, or you, or you." He pointed at Scott, Kira, and Malia and when he got to Elaine he hesitate before firmly nodding to himself. "Or you. I don't need anyone!" He walked away.

Elaine pursed her lips. "I should. . . I should probably go after him." She looked at Scott who nodded. "Yeah, I'm gonna go after him." She quickly grabbed her things and walked out of the school only to sigh when she saw Stiles pulling away. She frowned, cocking her head to the side. "Was that. . . was that Liam in his car?"

She sighed as she pulled out her phone, dialing his number. It rang three times before he answered. "What?"

"Where are you going?"

"To figure this out since none of you believe me."

Elaine rolled her eyes. "Stiles, I never said I didn't believe you. Why is Liam with you?"

"Don't ask."

She scoffed. "Okay, well, whatever you're doing, I'm coming with you."

"Really, Laney, I got this."

She bit the inside of her cheek. "Are you sure? Because I will come with you."

"I've got this one." He assured, his tone much softer.

Elaine nodded. "Okay. Alright, fine. Just. . . just promise me you won't do anything stupid, okay? And if you get into trouble and you need me, call me and I'll come running."

"I will, I promise."

"And when you come home, you'll tell me everything, right?"

"Everything," Stiles agreed. "Even if it's bad and you don't believe me."

"I'll believe you." Elaine softly said. "I'll always believe you."

"I'll see you tonight."

She nodded. "Yeah." She hung up the phone.

As night fell, Elaine sat in Stiles' bedroom with her Biology book in her lap, taking notes of certain pages before a knock came at the front door. She frowned. She was the only one there with Noah being at work and Stiles currently investigating. She got up and made her way downstairs, pulling the front door open to reveal Scott. "Hey, Scotty."

"Hey." He held a helmet out towards her. "I need you to come with me."

She frowned, grabbing the helmet. "Where?"

"To talk to Stiles."

"Scott, just let him do this." Elaine softly said. "He's fine."

"Just come with me." Scott begged and Elaine sighed before nodding. They got on his bike, making their way to where Stiles was and parking beside his empty Jeep. Elaine sat on the seat of the bike as Scott leaned against it and they waited, watching as Stiles and Liam approached.

Stiles and Liam came to a stop as Scott gave a small nod. "Find anything?"

"Nope." Stiles answered, opening the door to his jeep.

Liam smiled. "I fell in a hole."

Elaine cocked her head to the side. "How did you manage that?"

"Didn't see it." Liam answered and she hummed.

Scott walked up to Stiles' car. "It was the bridge where his sister died, wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was. Very embarrassing. So we are gonna leave now." Stiles answered, turning the key in the ignition only for it to stutter and not turn on. He closed his eyes as he sighed. "Son of a. . . Liam, just do me a favor, get in the car and turn the ignition when I say." He climbed out of the car, walking to the hood and opening it as Liam jumped in the drivers seat.

Scott followed him and Elaine walked up to his side. "Stiles?"

"Be with you in a sec." Stiles muttered. He messed with a few things before calling out, "Try it." Liam did and still it didn't start.

Scott tried again. "Stiles."

Stiles placed his head between his arms for a moment before looking up again. "Yes. Okay, we followed him out here. What do you want me to say? That I'm a stalker, huh? That I'm crazy, totally paranoid? None of this is new information." He went back to trying to fix his car.

"Now you're gonna try to at least give him the benefit of the doubt?" Scott asked.

Stiles paused. "I give people the benefit of the doubt. I've given a lot of benefit to a lot of people."

Scott said nothing for a moment. "Like Derek? Kira? Liam?"

"I was right about Peter. Try it again!" Liam listened but the car still wouldn't crank.

Stiles placed his hands up and Elaine frowned, watching the exhaustion flood his face. "You know, I bet you still think that there's something about him that can be saved."

"Maybe," Scott agreed.

Stiles hit his hand against the rim of the Jeep before going back to try and fix it. "Try it again!" Liam listened. Nothing.

"Why can't you trust anyone?" Scott gently asked.

"Because you trust everyone!" Stiles yelled, punching the engine of the Jeep and clenching his jaw as he forced himself to look away.

"Stiles," Elaine softly whispered. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You could've broken it." Scott tried.

"It's not broken."

"Let me see it." Elaine whispered, taking a step closer to him.

"I'm fine."

She grew closer to him. "Let me see it," she repeated, holding out a hand. Stiles looked at her before moving his hand to hover over hers. She examined it for a moment before placing both hands onto his, gently squeezing it and watching as the black veins ran up her arm as she took his pain. She removed her hands, watching as he closed his hand into a fist before opening it again and looking at her. The Jeep sprang to life. "Come on, let's just go home, okay?" Stiles nodded.

Scott took Liam and Elaine and Stiles went back to Stiles' house. She sat on his bed, watching as he pulled out his suspect board, writing Theo's name on it. Elaine focused back on her Biology only to look up again when Noah's voice filled the room. "Usually, we wait until they do something wrong before we declare them guilty."

"Well, he's guilty of something." Stiles replied.

"Accusations require proof. And proof always trumps instinct. It has to."

Stiles nodded. "I know, Dad."

"Let it go, Stiles. Get some sleep." Noah looked at Elaine. "Night, Elaine."

Elaine sent him a small smile. "Goodnight."

Noah went to walk away but Stiles quickly walked around his board. "Hey, Dad."

"Mhm?" Noah grabbed the door frame in order to pull himself a step back and look at his son.

"Uh, I got it. There's something different. I know what it is."

Noah gave him a slight smile. "Okay."

"You're not wearing your wedding ring anymore." Stiles said.

Noah's smile fell, glancing at his hand. Quickly, he changed the topic. "You're sure this kids guilty?"

Without hesitating Stiles shook his head, "Absolutely."

"Then all you gotta do is wait. If they're really guilty, eventually, they make a mistake. They always make a mistake." Noah gave him a small nod before walking away.

Stiles sighed, closing the door. Elaine followed him with her eyes as he walked around the board, taking a moment to stare at Theo's name written in white marker. She closed her biology book, placing it in her bag and on the ground. Stiles turned to her and she watched him with a small smile. He made his way over to her, sitting on the edge of the bed. Elaine placed her hand on his knee and he reached forwards, interlacing their fingers. "I'm sorry."

Elaine shook her head. "Don't apologize. I get it, Stiles. I do. It is strange that he's come back when he's been gone for years. Hey." She reached out her other head, placing it against his cheek and rubbing her thumb across it. "I believe you, okay? And I'll help you figure this thing out together. We're partners in crime, remember?" She gave him a soft smile. "You're not alone in this."

"Thanks, Laney." He leaned into her touch, his eyes closing as his shoulder relaxed. He opened his eyes to meet her gaze. "I love you."

She smiled, leaning forwards and giving him a soft kiss before pulling away and meeting his eyes again. "I love you too." She pulled away, running a hand through his hair. "Let's get some sleep, okay?" He nodded, crawling under the covers with her and wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her close and burying his face into the crook of her neck.