"C'mon. It your lucky day Derek."
Derek stood from the bench walking over to the bars of the cell. "A farm from the next town over has decided to take you in for your community work" Derek looked up confused but still didn't say anything. The cop that was currently unlocking the door was smiling at him.
"This will be good for you. The owner is an old pal of mine." The officer—with a badge reading 'Parrish'—spoke with a smile. "Sherif Stilinski is a great man. And his wife is such a kind lady."
•
"Cmon Mischief follow me" A woman, Claudia, spoke leading the boy towards the truck. She smiled up at the boy as she attached a horse trailer.
"Mom..? Where are we going?" He was curious not knowing what his mom was up to. She stepped up into the truck, the boy plopping himself in the passenger seat.
She sighed as she started driving. "Stiles. Hun. You remember that horse on the Blake farm? Jennifer is a bad women who does not deserve that horse. And we aren't going to let her keep it." Stiles smiled at his mom she always did what was best for the animals without thinking of any consequences, that's something the boy looked up to in his mom. People always said she had a special way with horses especially.
Stiles nodded eagerly sitting back and relaxing.
Time to save a traumatized horse..
•
Derek was released and was being escorted by officer Parrish to his home.
The second he opened the door he was attacked by Erica. "DEREK HALE." She stood with her arms crossed in front of him with Boyd wide eyed behind her. "You are such an idiot! You can be serious. Your moving away?!" She pushed his chest but he didn't budge just continued to stare and let her hit him.
"Only till my parole is over." He stepped around the fiery blonde.
"That better be right Hale. I don't want to see you in the station again" Parrish joked with his arms crossed leaning on the door. Derek walked towards his room rolling his eyes.
'Great just great. not only am I moving away but i'm moving to a farm with a sheriff.' Derek grumbled to himself as he packed as much stuff that would fit in his duffel bag..
All of a sudden I heard the officers radio go off indicating a crash in between this town and the next one over. It involved a 18-wheeler and a truck..
"Derek I need to head over to this scene. Stay here. Once I return we will be on our way."
•
"Stiles! Go start the truck while I come down this fella'" She pet the horses neck while it was trying to rear and kick. She threw the keys to him, Stiles caught them and immediately ran out to start the truck and get the trailer ready.
As the truck heated, Stiles ran to the back opening up the trailer door, stepping inside, he opened the window for the horse to help it seem less like a jail cell and more open. Just as he stepped out his Claudia ran out holding the horse by the halter. While he seemed more calm then before, he still put up quite a fight.
Claudia got the horse in tying him with a quick release knot then getting out. She ran to the driver door and got in while Stiles threw the trailer door shut locking it well. As he got into the truck a woman started yelling "GET BACK WITH MY HORSE YOU THIEF" But they were already leaving and almost out.
The mother and son celebrated as they drove the horse had calmed, seemingly heavily starved and not enough exercise if Stiles had to guess. "We will call Deaton and Scott in the morning. But we need to make sure black beauty back there doesn't collic." Claudia explained.
Stiles looked back to where he could see the horse with its head down not moving. Just enjoying the freedom and breeze. "Poor thing looks like he hasn't eaten in weeks."
"Probably hasn't" Claudia sneered. "Ms.Blake had no reason to buy this horse other than greed. It was pathetic of her to even think she could treat such an animal as she did." Claudia shook her head, hands tightening on the steering wheel.
As they were driving up a hill, dread sunk in Stiles stomach but he could tell why yet.. It was just an overwhelming feeling. That something horrible was about to happen.
And it did.
But no one knew until it was inescapable.
On each side of the hill two trucks driving up. The other truck on the wrong side of the lane. As soon as they reached the top of the hill. Stiles knew why he felt that way.
Of course...
It was too good to be true
•
Parrishes heart sunk when he saw the crash. And all he could think when he saw the familiar pick up truck was... "Please don't let this be the Stilinski's" But the model was the same... The colour was the same... The plate...was the same.
Parrish jumped out of his car, several other officers, firefighters and paramedics already on scene.
There were three stretchers. Two of them covered and being ignored for the time being.. One being rushed towards the rig. Parrish ran over to the ambulance. "Can I see the victim... Please?" The two paramedics looked to each other unsure, before nodding at the officer. He stepped up into the rig and his head when dead silent.
•
An hour and a half later, Parrish returned to the apartment of Derek Hale. This time the officer wasn't all bright and happy. Instead agitated and worried.
"Let's go Hale." He didnt even wait for the man before starting to walk out. Derek shot a confused look to both his roommates before following the officer.
They sat in silence as they drove. And while Derek should be thankful for this it wasn't a good silence. It was a tense silence. One that would occur when stuck in your head with bad thoughts. Derek should know he's had his fair share.
But this was unlike the officer. No matter how gorey the scene or how much of an asshole a person in custody was, this officer was the one to rely on to keep on joking and stay out of his head.
"Officer Parrish." Derek spoke gruffly. "Uh.. You good?" This wasn't something Derek did. He didn't comfort people. He didn't know how...
The officer stayed quiet for a moment. "Just a rough scene. It involved a friend." The officer spoke. Derek nodded and just looked out the window the rest of the ride, understanding why the officer was like this and letting him have his silence.
They arrived at the farm at 7:30. He expected there to be more people working, but the only person he saw was an older man who seemed to be struggling. But not from it being to much work..
Parrish and Derek stepped out of the cruiser. "Hey.. Noah." Parrish spoke as if they were long term friends who fell apart. Derek stood back for a moment, it seemed Parrish said something because the man's - Noah's - face fell and Parrish pulled him into a hug.
"Well." The officer spoke louder now so Derek could here "Noah. This is your new ranch hand. Put him to hard work." The officer winked playfully towards the man then looked back to Derek. "And you. Don't cause the sheriff any trouble, yeah?" the officer laughed but here was something to it. Still tense.
Parrish and Noah spoke for a bit before the officer got called out again. He sighed, and reluctantly left.
The man that still was holding a pitchfork with shaky hands looked towards Derek.
"All you need to do for the night is carry this pile to the back of the house, give the horses their food, it's already made up and the buckets match the horses rain and snow coats." He mumbled something Derek didn't hear but whatever he said, it made himself smile. A sad smile. "Then once your done that sweep the barn out. You can stay up in the loft.. It's cold in the winter but we will figure that out when it come to it. So you may want to tidy the loft up a bit"
"I'm doing all this myself? Don't you have someone else to help?" Derek spoke with wide eyes. How was he supposed to do all that?"
"I do.. I had two other people to help.." The sherif shook his head. "I have to go pick someone up." And with that he just left, pushing the pitch fork into Dereks hands.
•
After a long 2 hours, Derek finally had everything done. Even the loft. He sat on the uncomfortable bed when he heard a car pull in. 'Of course the help comes right when I finish' Derek shook his head walking down the stairs to go outside and greet the sheriff.
He was met with the sheriff with his coat over a boy with cuts and bruises all over him. But the boy was cute other than that, maybe they made him even cuter. The boy had moles covering his face and he was quite pale.. - Is he always that pale? Or is it just from his injuries.. - His hair seems like it was short and is growing out, he had a bad case of sex hair... Derek doubts that's what it actually was but it's what it looks like, He defiantly looked like he belonged, his clothes were ripped up but it's seemed he was wearing a plaid long sleeve over a black shirt with blue jeans and a pair of boots. Derek was wondering what had happened to this kid.
"Sir. I uhh. finished everything."
"Let me get Stiles settled then i'll give you the rest." Derek's eyes widened.
'The rest?!'
•
Sheriff Stilinski came back out to see the man seated on a hay bale. "No time for the rest of the chores, we will just have to do them in the morning. There's a horse coming soon i'll need you to get a stall ready for him. All you need to do is lay the shavings out, lay some hay in the corner, get a bucket of water and i'll make the food."
Derek nodded just happy he doesn't have a huge list of things to do at least.
•
Once finished Derek went back upstairs to the loft sitting on the bed thinking about the boy he saw earlier, 'What had happened to him? He looked like shit..' But let that be then end of his thoughts and laid back to fall asleep.
•
During that night, Derek awoke to the sound of a rampaged horse being led into the barn.
He looked out the window to see, the old farmer, along with a boy with black hair were leading a beautiful white horse.
The horse put up a fuss with going into the barn, the two fought with the horse for a bit before allowing the horse into the corral.
"Thanks Scott. Stiles would come see you if he could"
The sheriff and the kid smiled at eachother with a sad smile before Derek backed up, feeling weird for ease-dropping.
'Stiles..huh.."
•
In the days following, the boy hadn't come out to help with the chores like the sheriff said was his job, Derek was doing all the chores alone with the older man helping out at times. The boy hadn't even seemed to leave the farm house, but Derek had seen him through the kitchen window once. He seemed to just stare sadly at the wrecked truck and an old blue jeep before walking back to presumably his room.
•
Derek stood staring at the mustang, he didn't realize how long he was there till the sheriff walked over to him.
"Oh! Sorry Mr. Stilinski! Sorry i was just..-" The man shook his head
"Stop that. That makes me feel old." The man elbowed Derek playfully. "Call me Noah." He smiled "Your gonna be working here a while. May as well get comfortable with the people here son." The sheriff, Noah, stared off at the mustang and pat Derek on the back.
"What are you gonna do with this horse..?" Derek looked away from the horse toward the sheriff.
"Me? I'm not doing anything." He said as if it made all the sense in the world. Derek tilted his head at him. "Stiles will help the horse." He spoke with a sad tone "Once he gets over himself and stops blaming himself. These two will be able to help eachother."
Derek couldn't help but chuckle.
"I know. I know. What a cliche.. But it's what I believe" The sheriff spoke with the same sad tone, "His mother always said horses were better therapists than humans." He laughed with adoration in his voice now.
Derek just nodded looking back to the horse.
Stiles horse.
Then the horse freaked out as they were just standing there and Derek scoffed "That horse is fucking crazy.." As he walked into the loft only one thought went through his mind
I hope he knows what he's doing.
•
Finally after a week. The boy came out of the house and stared at the wild horse that was in the corral. Derek was scooping the he shit from in front of the barn into the wheelbarrow sneaking glances at the boy.
He still looked in rough, but not as bad as the first time he saw the boy.
When Derek was finished, Stiles was still stood, the cold fall air nipping at the boy. Stiles had stupidly not worn a coat and was just in his stupidly cute red flannel.
Derek walked over removing his fall coat, placing it on the others shoulders.
"I was told you were gonna fix this horse." Derek mumbled as he wrapped his coat around Stiles.
The boy didn't respond, just humming in acknowledgement.
"Your dad says your mom was all about..that stuff."
"She was big on liberty work." Stiles smiled sadly at the memory, "She believed if you had a connection with the horse on the ground.. You would move more in sync as you ride" the boy laughed but it quickly changed. "I can't help this horse." He looked to Derek.
Derek was mesmerized by the brown eyes, the only way he could truly put the colour of his eyes is to say they were a mix of honey and whisky.
"I think you can.. I also know you have to.."
Stiles watched as the man's eyebrows furrowed, his forest green eyes seemed to be staring into his soul making Stiles heart pick up speed, Thanking every lord above there is that this handsome ranch hand could not hear his heart.
Instead of answering, Stiles glanced at the horse once more before taking the jacket off pushing it into the other man's hands and walking inside.
Stiles immediately regretted not getting the wet dream of a man's name.. He will just have to ask his father.
-
Derek watched as Stiles slinked back inside to the warm farm houses. He shook his head walking into the loft. Derek changed into a pair of track pants and a hoodie. But no matter how cold it was, refused to go to sleep with socks on.
The older Stilinski had gotten extra blankets for Derek and they locked up the window so no wind would go through the cracks.
He fell asleep to the memory of a brunette boy with whisky eyes and moles scattered like constellations.
-
Stiles stood in the kitchen, deciding just to make eggs and toast for dinner, his father was expected home in just a few minutes. Stiles considered inviting the ranch hand for some food. But after their moment they had, he felt too awkward to offer the man food. He will make sure the guy gets breakfast in the morning at least.
"Stiles?"
"I'm in the kitchen! Your just in time" Stiles smiled as he placed two plates of food on the table.
"Did you make Derek a plate?-"
'Derek?.. hmm'
"-I know we haven't eaten together since your accident so you haven't had to cook for him.."
"Dad!" Stiles giggled "I know where I get my rambling from now" he winked at his father before breaking into laughter.
"So you don't mind if Derek starts joining us for food?"
"Of course not dad. I already promised myself i'd make sure he got breakfast. I believe he went to sleep.." While that was half a lie, he wasn't sure if the man was asleep, he just saw him walk into the barn so it was only to be assumed so.
That seemed to satisfy the sheriff as he nodded with a smile and sat to eat.
•
Stiles laid in bed unable to sleep. Usually it's many things keeping him up, but tonight it's just two.
The mysterious ranch hand, Derek, that is sex on legs but showed up out of nowhere.. kind of suspicious someone that good looking would be here.
And the second thing being the horse.
His mother died for that horse.
And while he knew it wasn't it's fault, Stiles will never.. be able to look at the horse without thinking of his mom and the accident.
But at the same time, he feels obligated to help the horse. It's what his mom would want...
•
Derek woke to a horse neighing and whinnying with the sound of hooves clomping in sand. Then to counter the horse there were yells.
Derek wasnt sure how, but he knew right away the voice belonged to Stiles. He had only spoken with the boy once, but the soft yet deep voice was just stuck in the front of his mind.
But his usual joking tone, even if it had a sadness over it, was gone. Now the voice just sounded broken, and if that weren't enough to break a piece of Derek's heart, the things Stiles finally admitted when he was breaking down definitely did. He was sure this was unethical to be listening in on but the broken voice made Derek want to comfort him.
•
Stiles couldn't sleep. He tried. He really did. But every time he closed his eyes, he just saw his mom. The night she died. The fear on her face before that truck crashed into them.
It was his fault.
Stiles stood up quickly, throwing on a pair of sweatpants and a flannel. Then he made it to the front door. Throwing on his hat, a jacket and his boots. He put on a light pair of gloves then headed outside towards the corral.
The horse was pacing back and forth as Stiles walked up with his lasso. Stiles let out a deep sigh before climbing the fence landing opposite of the horse who reared.
Stiles stepped forwards towards the horse putting pressure on the
horses hind to make it move. He swung the lasso near the horses end to encourage it to move into a canter.
"Get, get" Stiles spoke firmly and tsked at the horse.
The horse kept switching up the directions and not listening to Stiles causing him to get frustrated.
"No. Turn around come on"
The horse continued to neigh and keep switching directions. Stiles stopped and just watched the horse for a moment, growing more and more frustrated. He felt tears start to prick in his eyes.
He once again tries, tsking the horse on when it started to freak out.
"WHY WONT YOU LET ME HELP YOU?!"He felt the tears try to break through "YOU STUPID HORSE. I CANT HELP YOU IF YOU DONT LET ME."
Derek heard Stiles yell out in anguish, and his heart broke for the boy. It was clearly eating him up inside, blaming himself for what happened. Derek wished there was something he could do to ease Stiles' suffering.
Without thinking, Derek climbed down from the loft and made his way outside. The scene unfolding in the corral was like a glimpse into Stiles' soul - raw, wounded, and struggling to break free. Derek approached slowly so as not to startle the horse or Stiles.
"Hey, it's okay," Derek said in a low, calming tone. "Why don't you take a break? You can't help anyone if you're worn down."
Stiles looked exhausted, on the verge of tears. Derek continued in a gentle voice. "The horse senses your pain and it's scaring him. You need to let go of the guilt first before you can help him." He stepped closer. "Come on, let's get you inside where it's warm."
Derek reached out slowly, making sure Stiles saw his intentions were only to comfort. "You're not alone in this. I'm here to help however I can." His eyes searched Stiles' earnestly, hoping the boy would let Derek share some of the burden. For now, getting Stiles indoors seemed the priority. The horse would still be there after they both regained their strength.
Stiles stared at Derek with watery eyes, his gaze rippling with an ocean of emotions - grief, guilt, fear, exhaustion. For a long moment he didn't move, as if rooted to the spot. Then suddenly his face crumpled and he began to sob, all the pent up turmoil pouring out of him.
Derek stepped forward and gently folded Stiles into his arms. The boy didn't resist, instead clinging to Derek as his body shook with sobs. Derek held him securely but with care, one hand rubbing soft circles on his back. "Shh, it's okay. Just let it out," he soothed.
After a few minutes, Stiles' weeping began to subside into sporadic hiccups. Derek loosened his hold slightly to look at his face. "Feel a bit better?" he asked softly. Stiles nodded, sniffling.
"Come on, let's get you warmed up." Keeping an arm around Stiles' shoulders, Derek walked with him slowly toward the farmhouse. Stiles leaned into Derek gratefully, seeming too wrung out to protest the support.
Inside, Derek sat Stiles at the kitchen table and set about making tea to soothe his raw nerves. As the kettle boiled, Derek rejoined Stiles, sitting close so their arms touched comfortingly. "I know it doesn't feel like it now, but the pain will fade in time. You just have to be patient and kind with yourself, as your mother would want."
Stiles nodded slightly, still looking haunted but holding on to Derek's words. For now, this quiet moment of care was what Stiles needed most. And Derek was glad to provide the shelter of his strength and understanding until the storm passed.
Over the following days, Derek stayed by Stiles' side, supporting him as he began to work with the horse again. This time, Stiles approached the horse with calmness and patience, letting the horse's nervous energy dissipate before asking for any response.
Derek could see the guilt lifting bit by bit from Stiles' shoulders as he formed a connection with the horse through quiet understanding. One evening, Stiles stayed in the corral as the sun went down, sitting against the horse's side in peaceful silence. Derek watched from the fence, filled with warmth at the sight of healing.
In private moments, Derek and Stiles also grew closer, finding solace in each other's company. Derek came to cherish Stiles' quick wit and the beauty in his smiles, though they were still few. For his part, Stiles drew strength from Derek's solid presence and compassionate words.
However, Sheriff Stilinski began to notice their bond and reacted coolly. As a protective father, he was wary of any potential to hurt his grieving son further. Derek understood yet wished to prove his care and loyalty.
One morning, Derek woke to sounds of joyful laughter coming from the corral. He hurried outside and stopped in awe - Stiles was mounted happily on the horse's back, and they were trotting smoothly around the enclosure. At the fence, Sheriff Stilinski watched with misty eyes, his doubts surely put to rest.
From that day, the horse remained calm in Stiles' care. Derek knew their relationship had healed not just the horse, but Stiles' heart as well. Though challenges surely remained, their bond gave Derek hope that in time, the Sheriff might also accept his care and commitment to his beloved son.