23. Wishing on a two-way radio

[voluntaryapnea]

[Video]

[He almost doesn't log on when he realizes what's going on. Almost. But he's never been good about refraining from doing things when it comes to finding out what's going on. And he's just hoping like hell that his dad really is okay like Liam told him, that Melissa's doing well, that things in Beacon Hills aren't as screwed up as they usually are. He hopes.]

So, anyone out there from Beacon Hills listening on this thing?

[Private to Jean]

I have a question for you. [Actually it's more like a possible request. He's not entirely sure yet.]

Comments

Private

[fireincarnate]

[Jean's smile comes warm and easy.]

Shoot.

Private

[voluntaryapnea]

[He relaxes a little at her familiar smile and he offers one back.]

Have you interacted much with Dean? I mean, the one who's here now.

Private

[fireincarnate]

No, I haven't. [The smile fades; she just looks sad, now. She didn't know the old Dean that well, but she liked him. He had the sort of rugged, resilient joy that made everything seem brighter, even - or especially - when it was all going to pot.

This one - they haven't talked, but it's not hard to see that the spark has gone out.]

He's your Inmate, right?

Private

[voluntaryapnea]

[He nods a little, both at her confirmation that she hasn't had much interaction with Dean and in agreement that he's Stiles' inmate.]

Yeah, he's my inmate. [He chews his lower lip looking uncertain. He's not sure if Dean not really knowing Jean will work for or against his idea, really. With Dean it's a toss up.]

I was thinking about maybe sending him your way.

Re: Private

[fireincarnate]

...Really? [It's a pleasant sort of surprise, but - ] Do you think he'd be...receptive to that?

[Video]

[howdoyoudefineit]

[When his phone goes off with the video message, Al barely misses a beat as he answers, cell phone in hand as he finishes filling out the tail end of a report on his desk, speaking without looking up.]

If you're in Mexico again, had another "practice accident" with Liam, or reverse aged Scott, I'm selling the Jeep and withholding pizza again, kid.

[Video]

[voluntaryapnea]

[Stiles has never been to Mexico, and he's going to have to get Liam to explain what his dad's talking about with that. He purses his lips at the reverse aged Scott comment, though. It wasn't long ago that flood actually happened. But he pushes all that away and just grins, because it's good to see his face. It's good to see he's alive. And apparently recovered, if that's happened for this version of his dad.]

Nope, I'm definitely not in Mexico, and there's not been any more accidents with Liam. And Scott's still the age he's supposed to be.

[He's just in a coma.]

You wouldn't sell Roscoe.

[Video]

[howdoyoudefineit]

Try me. I dare you.

[Al finally sets his pen down, turning to his phone as he leans forward, resting a forearm along the edge of his desk with a lopsided...but totally serious smile.]

Or you would just, for once this year, fling a nice, average, non-werewolf related problem at me. Like, oh...an 'F' on some test? I could handle a bad grade. Be a nice change...you'd be no less grounded, but I'd still allow visitors. And by visitors, I mean Scott.

[Not girl-shaped visitors, Stiles. Definitely not girl-shaped visitors.]

[Video]

[voluntaryapnea]

[He grimaces. He still doubts his dad would sell his beloved jeep, but then again he doesn't know what the current version of himself at home is putting his dad through, so he'd rather not take chances.]

If you really want, I can shoot for a B- in chemistry, but Lydia's mom kinda likes me so I don't know how realistic of a goal it is.

[He says this mostly with a straight face. Mostly.]

Seriously, Dad. I actually don't have any bad news right now, okay? I just wanted to say hi. I'm bored. You know how I get when I'm bored.

[video]

[mcpackmama]

[She's on her break, at the hospital, when she gets the call. And it doesn't sit well.]

Where else would you be calling, Stiles? [And then she steps into one of the empty rooms, because this can't be good. It's never good.]

What are you kids getting into now?

[video]

[voluntaryapnea]

[He feels so much better having seen that both his dad and Melissa are alive and looking well. Like a weight's been lifted. He leans back against Scott's headboard, carefully angling the camera away from Scott's unconscious form and keeping it trained on his own face.]

Heeey, it's fine. We're not in trouble. [Mostly they're not in trouble. Kind of. Scott being in a coma is kind of trouble. But he's not about to tell her about that.]

Just regular every day teenage shenanigans.

[video]

[mcpackmama]

[She recognizes the room, and it's a big relief. At least he's inside. And Scott is probably with him.

Melissa lets out a deep breath, trying to relax for the time being.]

You two haven't been involved in "regular, every day teenage shenanigans" for a long time. [Really, she'd be almost relieved to get a call about underage drinking at this point.]

Are you sure you're not in trouble?

[video]

[voluntaryapnea]

[He can see the skepticism on her face and it's not like he can blame her. He and Scott are perpetually getting into trouble. But he holds his hands up and nods.]

Promise. No trouble here.

[ Warden!Dean ]

[surfaceshine]

What, Beacon Hills is all you care about now?

Private

[voluntaryapnea]

[He grins when he sees Dean smiling and he knows immediately this is the first Dean he'd met. He switches the feed to private without hesitation.]

Dude. Of course not. But I definitely wanted to make sure my dad was okay. How are you?

Private

[surfaceshine]

[Dean, who has clung to his familiar 2007 technology and his flip phone despite routinely hopping a century and a half into the future and flying around on spaceships (typically much to his dismay), does not notice the switch and possibly wouldn't even if he could because he's too busy heaving the most dramatic long-suffering sigh possible.]

I get it, I understand. I know I can never come first in your life.

[Then he drops it and grins back, because he is pretty stoked to get to talk to the Barge again and the people on it at all.]

I'm awesome. You find your dad? He good? You? [Because actually, he totally gets that.]

Private

[voluntaryapnea]

[Stiles smirks at the sigh. So over-dramatic, Dean.]

Yeah, he answered. And Scott's mom, too. They seem to be okay, thankfully. How are you? How are things going?

[Video]

[smilingbluff]

No. Sorry. I'm from Dessert Bluffs. It's a very nice place. But, I'm sure Beacon Hills is too.

[Video]

[voluntaryapnea]

Where's Desert Bluffs?

[Video]

[smilingbluff]

America, of course!

Oh, but it's such a small community, I really can't be too surprised if you've never heard of it. Just a nice little town in the dessert, that's us.

[Video]

[voluntaryapnea]

Oh yeah? How small are we talking?

[ video ]

[notsoneedy]

Well, yeah. I guess there is. Now.

[Beat, as she smiles, bright but a touch uncertainly nervous.]

Hey Stiles.

[ video ]

[voluntaryapnea]

[His expression lights up when he sees her face and he grins just as brightly. But he's not nervous.]

Needy! [He sounds delighted. Because he is.]

How've you been? How are you liking Beacon Hills?

[ video ]

[notsoneedy]

I've been...really good, actually. I'm glad I picked this place to come, after. Turns out I was right, I fit right in.

What about you? How are, uh, things?

[ video ]

[voluntaryapnea]

Of course you do!

[There was never any doubt in his mind. But at her question, he grimaces a little and switches the feed to private. Then he shifts the camera to reveal the sleeping Scott beside him.]

Scott's been in a coma. Over two weeks now.