as we pass through arrangements of shadows

[shreds]

Comments

[matriarchate]

Maybe, when we're settled, we can try to reach out. See if he takes our call, offer our support. If he's close to Kansas, drop in on him and give him tough love.

( All of the above. )

[beanchaointe]

[She nods.]

That sounds like a good idea.

[And she's due for an attempt at a friendly phone call anyway.]

Better than sitting around worrying him about him.

[matriarchate]

While we're good at worrying, we're better at friendship. ( And, tough love. ) Any advice for meeting the parents? You've known the sheriff all your life and Melissa was -- well, she made it easy.

( While she liked Scott's mom before, she likes her more now, as a stepmom. She's there if she just needs to talk. She misses her own mom, she always will. But her dad deserves happiness. )

[beanchaointe]

[She tips her head to the side as she considers.]

Be polite and follow Sam's lead. I think he'll let you know how casual or formal you have to be.

[matriarchate]

I've never been good at being formal. Even at formal.

( High school. Shudder. )

But, I can do that. Take Sam's lead. I missed you, Lydia.

[beanchaointe]

I missed you too.

[It's nice, the two of them being together again. Even if everything else is on fire, at least it's the kind of on fire where she gets quality best friend time.]

And I've got your back, no matter what Mary Winchester throws your way.

[matriarchate]

I'm a gymnast. Anything she throws, I'll dodge.

( Or, take like a big girl. )

Should we grab our key from the boys and get some sleep?

[beanchaointe]

[She nods, finishing off her drink before getting to her feet.]

Let's do it. We have a long drive tomorrow and I could use my beauty sleep.

[And with that, off they go to crash for the night. But once Allison is asleep, she will reach for her phone and call Stiles, just to see if he'll answer.]

[phonetically]

( And he answers, despite it being maybe an hour later. )

Lydia? Is everything okay?

[beanchaointe]

Yeah, we're good. We stopped at a hotel for the night, but we're going to head the rest of the way to the Winchesters bunker. Apparently we're going to meet Sam and Dean's mom.

[It's weirdly domestic, even if they're running for their lives.]

How're things on your end?

[phonetically]

( Sam and Dean's mom. Who spawned Sam and Dean. He... doesn't want to know, especially with what he is, now. Which, if she's asking, he does have a better handle. The pressure from Caroline, from his friends, from Cora, it pressed down on him. Putting space between them lifted a weight he hadn't known he had been carrying, a weight he worried he inherited from his father.

Something he might actually go into with Sweets. )

Just trying to make sure all my friends aren't gunned down my hunters. I don't recommend it.

( He pauses. )

I'm back with the FBI.

[beanchaointe]

I figured.

[If he was looking for space and normalcy, going back to work makes the most sense.]

Is it helping?

[phonetically]

Yeah. Enough. Until this. I found out about it in couple's therapy with my newly assigned partner.

( It's Lydia, he has no reason to be cagey with her. )

Which, neither my partner nor the FBI's psychologist even blinked. If I could write Yelp reviews on doctor-patient confidentiality...

[beanchaointe]

[She laughs.]

I guess there are way more people out there that know about the supernatural than we think.

[Which, in some ways, is oddly comforting. If Stiles has found a therapist that he doesn't have to lie to, maybe he'll be able to get the help he needs.]

[phonetically]

Including practically the entire town of Beacon Hills.

( Especially after senior year. )

Look, I'm sorry for skipping out. Losing control was not what I wanted to do and I know what it looked like there for a minute.

[beanchaointe]

It's okay, Stiles. I'm just glad you're doing better.

[She shifts to look out the window.]

Do you want me to pass that along to everyone else?

[phonetically]

Please tell them I didn't go on a mass murdering spree.

( He's half joking. )

I tried Cora, but she didn't answer.

[beanchaointe]

I wouldn't take it personally, or necessarily worry.

[She's saying this both to be reassuring and because it's true.]

You know that in a crisis, the first thing a Hale is going to lose is their phone.

[phonetically]

Unless you're Derek, then you just don't use your phone.

( Except to snark, dryly. )

Even if it is personal, I deserve it.

[beanchaointe]

[She doesn't necessarily disagree with that, but she's not going to judge him verbally either.]

Derek's been hanging out with Hayley - it's possible that they just went further into the bayou. Want me to reach out to our contacts there and see what I can find out?

[phonetically]

The stalker that likes to know where our team is at all times says yes, but the friend that fucked up is going to let her keep her privacy. When she resurfaces, I'll be there. Maybe not how I thought I could be, but -- I'll be there.

( And maybe that's enough. )

[beanchaointe]

Okay.

[She's going to reach out anyway, just for her own peace of mind, but she'll respect his wishes.]

Just be careful, Stiles. And keep me posted on what you find out on your new supernatural friends at work.

[She's curious and it gives them something with less pressure to talk about.]

[phonetically]

Yeah, I will. Let yet another crisis pass first. You be careful, too. You're with the Winchesters.

( He knows their reputation and remembers the threats they made. Well, Dean. )

[beanchaointe]

Yeah, I know. If they start to get shady, I'll scream Dean's head off.

[She'll try not to maim Sam, Allison is attached.]

[phonetically]

I guess Sam's not so bad.

( Or as bad. )