Chapter Text
"Dad." John's heart seized at the dull tone of his son’s voice and he looked away from his files to Stiles' face. There were dark circles under his eyes and John noticed his shirt fit a little looser than it had two weeks ago when he'd worn it last. For a moment he thought the Nogitsune had somehow returned but there had been no screaming nightmares or sleepwalking incidents, and he liked to think that after last time he was aware enough of his son to pick up on a Japanese demon spirit possessing him. Still, something was very wrong.
"What's going on, son," he asked calmly.
"I-" Stiles seemed unable to speak, a silent battle in his mind about what he could and could not say, and John had to stop that line of thought immediately or Stiles might not say a word.
"Stiles you know you can tell me anything no matter what right? We promised no more secrets." Fuck. John didn't mean to sound so tired but he did and he knew by the way Stiles' shoulders slumped that he'd made him feel guilty. "Hey bud, I didn't mean it like that. I don't want you to be afraid to tell me anything because of my reactions, but I trust you to share with me what you think is important when you think the time is right. You're my priority no matter what."
As John spoke tears started building in Stiles' eyes and when he swayed -dangerously close to falling- while he wiped his eyes John gently guided Stiles into a chair next to him. He slung his arm over Stiles' shoulders and quietly reminded him, "I'm here if you ever need me, and I'm always ready to listen to whatever you have to say." With a new determination Stiles squared his shoulders and looked into John's eyes.
"I killed someone," he said firmly and perfectly clear. John, to his credit, didn't even flinch.
"Okay. It's okay, son, just tell me what happened." John saw pure relief in Stiles' eyes and felt the boy lean into him as he shakily told the story.
"Donovan was this monster chimera thing and he- he bit me, so I ran away, but he chased me and he was saying horrible things about how he was going to kill me and hurt you. There was this scaffolding so I climbed up it and he followed me but he fell and this pole was there and he landed- it went right through him dad and he died and it was all my fault!" His son is sobbing by the end of his story and John doesn't hesitate to pull him into a hug and let him cry on his shoulder. His kid knows enough about the law to understand that he's not a murderer but John knows taking a life can mess with your head in a big way. Still, it feels like there's more to this.
"It's alright, Stiles, we'll figure this all out," he soothes. "Is there anything else?" Stiles goes still in his arms and mumbles into his chest. "What was that, son?" His kid sits up and looks absolutely shattered.
"Scott didn't believe me. He didn't even give me a chance to explain. He just- Theo told him I killed Donovan in cold blood and Scott yelled a little, and made me feel like a monster, and then he just left me... And I am. He's right; I am a monster and a murderer and and-" And John is going to kill McCall. Now he knows why his son can't think right about this whole situation and get himself together. For as smart as Stiles is, he doesn't have a lot of self esteem, but it was always okay because Scott trusted and believed in Stiles above everything and John knows that Scott's dismissal is what's really hurting right now.
After letting Stiles cry himself quiet, the Sheriff tilts his face up to look into his eyes.
"You're not a murderer, Stiles." He can see the argument building but he cuts his son off before he can get a word out. "Donovan was threatening you and chasing you and he fell. At best it's a tragic accident, at worst its self defense. Youre not anywhere close to cold blooded murder, and I'm saying that as an officer of the law, okay?" The Sheriff waits patiently for Stiles to acknowledge what he said. "Now, I'm going to go talk to Scott-"
"No. No, don't. Just stay here with me, okay? I don't want to be alone and Scott didn't believe me or give me a chance to explain or anything. He doesn't deserve an explanation." John considers arguing but in the end just shrugs and guides Stiles up to his bed, sitting with him until he falls asleep. Then, he goes back downstairs to his desk and makes a phone call.
"Derek Hale? This is John Stilinski."
...
Within two weeks the things they want to keep are packed, everything else has been donated, Stiles has been signed out of school, the Sheriff has officially taken an early retirement with full pension and benefits, and they've said goodbye to most of the people they're leaving behind. For John, that was mostly Melissa and his friends down at the station. For Stiles that was Lydia, Malia, a phone call to Kyra, and a few of the other people at school. The only person left that Stiles hadn't said goodbye to was Scott, and he didn't know if he was going to. Scott made the decision for him by showing up in his room through the window, Derek Hale style, on their last night.
"You're leaving? And you weren't even going to say anything to me about it? I thought you were my best friend Stiles, I thought you said it was always going to be you and me!" Scott was angry but Stiles was resignedly calm.
"That's what I thought too, Scotty, but you don't believe me or listen to me and we live in a place where people are dying every day. You don't trust me and it breaks my heart. When the person who I thought would keep me safe won't even give me a chance to explain myself then how can I count on that person to protect me? I can't. If there’s even a chance one of these monsters could hurt my dad then it’s too risky to stay here. I'm sorry Scott but I'm painfully human and breakable, and so is my dad, so we have to go."
"Oh and where are you going to go? Where are you going to run away to," Scott asked with scorn.
"We're moving to a small town in New York. Derek-" Scott scoffed at his name, "said nothing ever happens there and after the last few years I think I'm ready to be somewhere boring." Stiles calmness upset Scott and he lashed out.
"Fine then, go live with Derek, take whoever you want with you to Boring Town, USA but don't come running back to Beacon Hills when you realize it's not interesting enough for you," he spit. Before Stiles could reply the Sheriff was standing in the door.
"Not to worry, Scott, I don't think we'll ever be coming back here. We have an early flight so I think it's time for you to go," John said, pointing at the open window. Suddenly it hit Scott. This was really happening. The Sheriff and Stiles were actually really leaving and not coming back.
"Wait, Sheriff, Stiles I-"
"Just go, Scott," Stiles said quietly. With a quiet whimper Scott turned and climbed out the window, jumping to the ground and taking off into the woods without a look back.