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Bobby hated the idea of actually being organized but was forced to admit he needed to make a list of what he had to do over the next week. A random thought about 'getting his affairs in order' was fitting, if a bit morbid. And his list likely would all go to hell once Magnus came back from New York. Or wherever he and Alec really were.
He spent the afternoon making sure he had done all the paperwork needed for the start of school next week. Which would be a surprise to the department head since she normally had to chase Bobby for that. There were 'professional activity days' starting tomorrow that he usually bounced in and out of. No one would be surprised if he didn't show up, so those went to the bottom of the list -- he'd go if nothing else was going on.
He also needed check in on the Lacrosse team and planning for practices. Luckily, the practices were a yearly thing and reservations for the field was already in the facilities calendar. And the Northern California Lacrosse Association took care of scheduling the games. All of that had been taken care of before the Hale Pack shit hit.
But there were, as always, more candidates for the team than positions so he needed to spend some time looking at the information he had so that, when they started try-outs, he had some idea of what to look for. Luckily, McCall had failed his second physical and Bobby wouldn't have to listen to the kid whining about not making first line.
Fluffy finally nudged him and Bobby looked at the clock.
"Good call!" Bobby nodded. He leaned over and gave the dog a good rub. "Time for a break and go then for dinner."
Bobby let Fluffy out to the backyard, watching to see if there was anything he'd need to pick up. Bobby knew himself well enough to know that if he didn't keep up with it, the yard would quickly be a disaster.
"Come on," Bobby called. "Stiles has promised dinner."
Damn that dog for understanding more than one would think. Fluffy immediately stopped chasing the butterfly and came over, ready to go.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Bobby teased. "You like them more than me."
A small woof from Fluffy.
"Huh. Maybe it does take a village. Or a Pack house," Bobby mused as he locked up the house and got them both into the car. He wondered if Peter was thinking about a Pack house. Too soon to ask but, well, maybe it would be nice to have people around.
Magnus and Alec appeared just as dinner was finishing.
"We just had a late lunch," Magnus waved off the offer of a meal. Wherever they had been, Magnus was in full 'Warlock' mode with extravagant make-up and jewelry. Alec looked plain, but still deadly, in what Bobby had privately dubbed 'working leathers.'
"Although, I'll take some of whatever that is," Alec admitted when he saw the dessert on the table. "It's been a long couple of days."
When Stiles perked up about to ask for more information, Magnus waved him off. "Alec's day job," he said. "We'll get to that at some point."
"What do we need to do here, then?" Stiles asked.
Magnus looked up and squinted at something Bobby couldn't see.
"Tomorrow's the new moon," Magnus said. "I'd like to do some more training but needs must. You need to claim the Nemeton before Deaton makes a move."
"Wouldn't the full moon be better?" Stiles asked.
"That can be good and bad," Magnus replied, waving a bejeweled hand. "The 'wolves are stronger but the full moon can also be distracting. Peter and Derek, being born 'wolves, will have good control but there is still that concern."
"And the sooner we have control of the Nemeton, the better," Bobby found himself saying. "Umm... I don't know why I said that." He scratched his head.
"Something is making my gut itch, also," Magnus nodded.
"Maybe a stupid question but why can't we just do it?" Stiles asked. "Like tonight? Especially if both of you are all hot and bothered about it."
"Kid's got a point," Bobby said. "The moon is important to the 'wolves but, well, we're more than that." He waved a hand at himself and Stiles.
Magnus looked delighted. "That is an excellent point." He paused. "Will your dad be home tonight? This is not something we should do without his knowledge. And his participation would be good."
Bobby gave Magnus credit for remembering to include John in this discussion.
"He's due soon. He had a dinner meeting with the mayor, budget stuff I guess, but said he'd be home after that," Stiles nodded. "I don't know if he was going to have to go back in at all but we can ask."
"What do we need to do?" Peter asked.
"Stiles will need to do the heavy lifting," Magnus admitted. "While the position of Guardian and of Emissary are usually separate, this will blend them together for the Hale Pack."
"We can clean up here while you do anything you need," Derek volunteered, standing and picking up some of the dishes scattered on the table.
"Sure! I'll help!" Bobby nodded. Maybe he could get seconds on that dessert. "Hey. Can Fluffy come with us tonight?"
"Certainly," Magnus agreed.
Fluffy wagged his tail in delight.
Magnus, Alec and Stiles went into the backyard for some last minute things Magnus wanted to go over with Stiles.
Bobby thought John looked tired as he came in but -- mostly -- hid his dismay at the proposal for Stiles to take over the Nemeton that night. John took a breath.
"You sure?" John asked with a frown.
"Even Magnus has an itch," Bobby admitted. "Sorry."
"No, I get it," John said, shaking his head. "I've barely wrapped my head around all of this but it has kind of careened out of control."
"You're telling me," Bobby nodded. "Never thought any of this would happen. It's... pretty amazing, to be honest."
"If we're going tramping about in the woods, I'm getting changed," John decided, looking down at his uniform. "You need anything?"
"I got hiking boots in my car," Bobby admitted. "I was just going to go out and get them. Figured we'd be going in there sooner or later."
"We'll swing by the station for flashlights and radios," John said. "If I thought we would be going into the Preserve tonight, I would have brought some home."
"Meh," Bobby shrugged. "We could have called."
"Unless it was an emergency, I needed to get to that budget meeting with the mayor," John admitted. "Mostly routine, but necessary. He's up for re-election this year and is getting ready to defend the tax rate."
"Necessary evils," Bobby laughed. "Although if you could do something about my property taxes..."
John snorted. "I can't do anything about mine! So we're all stuck."
"It could be worse," Bobby agreed.
"Too true," John agreed.
"Get changed," Bobby urged. "Not sure how much longer Magnus needs with Stiles but they should be ready to go pretty soon."
"Send Stiles up to see me when he comes in," John said. "I want to talk to him for a moment."
"Sure," Bobby nodded.
Derek and Peter looked curious as John went upstairs but Bobby could only shrug.
Stiles and Magnus came into the house, Stiles looking thoughtful.
"Your dad asked to see you," Bobby said. He held up a hand. "No idea what he wants."
"Okay!" Stiles bounded up the stairs.
"He's good," Peter admitted with a grin. "I can't hear what they are talking about."
Magnus looked proud for a moment.
Alec poked Magnus in the side. "Stop it. Even you admit he's good."
"Too true," Magnus admitted.
"Are we pushing this too hard?" Peter asked. "I mean, I know we have to do this but it seems like it's pretty fast."
Bobby gave Magnus credit for taking the question seriously.
"Stiles is good," Magnus said. "He can do this and I'm concerned that waiting will cause more problems. The biggest is, of course, that Deaton is in the wind. I talked to Stiles about Deaton's history and Stiles knows not to trust the man, if we encounter him."
"What are the chances we get this wrong?" Bobby asked. "If Deaton's as powerful as you say he is..."
"Between us, Alec and I can take him," Magnus nodded. "He's never stayed in one place long enough to be captured. He's escaped by the skin of his teeth several times and we know not to underestimate him."
"How dangerous is all of this?" Peter asked. "For all his is, Stiles is human, as are John and Bobby. I don't want to take unnecessary risks."
"We can assume Deaton knows we are coming," Magnus nodded. "Stiles should be able to protect himself and he's very aware that his dad is his weakness. So that will be you and Derek protecting the two humans."
Peter nodded.
"It's not without risks," Alec added. "But this is something that needs to be done."
"I get that," Bobby nodded. "And I'm willing to hide behind any of you as I need to."
"It shouldn't come to that, but we won't know until we get there," Magnus said.
John and Stiles came down the stairs. Stiles had changed his sneakers for boots and had pulled on a long sleeve plaid shirt over his t-shirt. John had on heavy jeans and a long sleeve shirt.
"I told Bobby but I want to stop by the station for flashlights and radios," John said. "Even with all your magic, there's nothing like being prepared."
"Will radios work near the Nemeton?" Stiles asked.
Magnus shrugged. "We will find out together."
"How are we going to find it?" Derek asked.
"That's part of Stiles' job," Magnus said. "We're going to go to a reasonable starting point and then have to follow Stiles."
"No pressure," Stiles muttered to himself.
"The Hale house," Peter suggested. "It's located where it is for... some reason."
"That works and we can go from there," John agreed.
The Sheriff's Station was on the way to the Hale house and John liberated an oversized flashlight and radio for everyone. He grabbed knapsacks and had Stiles organize filling canteens with water.
Magnus looked delighted to be included in the preparations but Bobby figured that most people assumed Magnus could take care of himself and didn't include the Warlock in their plans the same way.
At the Hale house, they got out of the vehicles and stood facing the forest.
"Stiles. Like we talked. Think of the Nemeton and the ley lines that connect to it."
Stiles faced the forest and Magnus stood in back of him, hands on Stiles' shoulders.
Stiles nodded and started walking into the forest. The rest of them followed.
It took an hour of heavy walking. Bobby was glad for the water along the way. Even with the cool night, he was sweating by the time Stiles stopped.
"There's something here..." Stiles said absently as he pushed his arms against something Bobby couldn't see.
Magnus moved close to Stiles and spoke softly. "Careful. Ground yourself in the Earth."
Stiles dropped his head and took a breath.
Bobby felt a small pop and Stiles panted for a moment. "Okay. Now we can get closer."
Another fifteen minutes brought them through a ticket of brambles -- Bobby had thorns in the palm of one hand and it would be a bitch brushing Fluffy out tomorrow.
"This is it?" Derek asked, looking at the stump of a tree. Admittedly, it was a huge stump but, still... a stump.
"Oh, you poor baby!" Stiles cooed as he placed his hands on the stump. "What did he do to you?"