Risen

78

A relieved breath emitted from Nova as Derek ran up to her as soon as it was safe for him to. The shield of fire fading from around her as he gently cupped her face in his hands, checking her for any injuries. The only thing he could see was blood that began at the upper right corner of her forehead, but there was no wound, indicating that it had healed. He released her, running around the chain-link and undoing the wires the bound her, understanding why she didn't try to break them in risk of hurting herself. Tears quickly formed in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks, moving away from the fence as soon as she was freed, Derek running to her in an instant, gathering her in his arms and holding her close. Her body trembled,

"I was back there" she whispered "I was back there"

"You're here" Derek assured "with me. You're here"

"I don't want to go back there" sobbing into his chest

∆

". . So, when did you get there?" Rafael asked as he looked at the five teens

They sat in the office that belonged to Sheriff Stilinski, the man sitting in his chair behind his desk, Rafael leaning back against the desk with the five teens sat across from the adults. Stiles sat in one chair, Nova was next to him, leaning against the arm of the sofa as she looked at the floor with trembling hands, Scott sat next to the redhead, Kira sat next to him and Lydia sat at the end. Irina waited outside of the office with Deucalion, both of them worried for the redhead due to her increased heart beat, but there was nothing they could do until the questioning was finished.

"At the same time" Stiles answered

"At the same time as who?" He questioned

"At the same time as me" Scott answered

"By coincidence?" looking at him

"What do you mean coincidence?" Stiles asked

"That's what I'm asking you" he replied "the two of you arrived at the same time. Was that coincidence?"

"Are you asking me?" Scott asked

"I think he's asking me" Stiles said

"I think he's asking both of you" Lydia commented

"Okay, let me answer the questions" Rafael said

A small smirk formed on Nova's lips, one forming on Sheriff Stilinski's as well, hidden by his hand, but the redhead didn't bother to hide hers.

"Let me ask the questions" correcting himself "just so I have this absolutely clear" looking down at his notes "Barrow was hiding in the chemistry closet at the school. Someone left him a coded message on the blackboard, telling him to kill Nova and Kira. Then Barrow took Nova and Kira to a power substation and tied them up with the intent of electrocuting them, which blacked out the entire town"

"Sounds about right" Stiles said

"How'd you know he'd take them to a power station?" he asked

"Well, 'cause he was an electrical engineer" shrugging slightly "so where else would he take them?"

"That's one hell of a deduction there, Stiles" looking at him

"Yeah, what can I say?" heavy sarcasm in his voice "I take after my pops. He's in law enforcement"

A snort emitted from Sheriff Stilinski, quickly covering his laughter with coughs as Rafael looked back at him,

"Stiles, just, uh . ." clearing his throat "just answer the man"

"We made a good guess" Stiles replied

"What were the three of you doing?" Rafael asked, looking at the three on the sofa

"Eating sushi/eating pizza" Kira and Scott said in unison "eating pizza/eating sushi . ." closing their eyes for a moment ". . Eating sushi and pizza"

"You believe this?" looking at Sheriff Stilinski

"To be honest, I haven't believed a word Stiles has said since he learned how to speak" he replied "but I think these kids found themselves in the right place at the right time and those girls sitting there, are very lucky for it"

"Kira, Nova, is that how you remember it?" The FBI agent looking at the two girls on the sofa

Scott, Stiles and Lydia leaned forward slightly, wanting to hear their answer,

"Yes" Kira said, giving him a small nod

"Nova?" looking at her

The redhead had yet to say a word since they arrived at the police station, Rafael pushing himself off the desk, kneeling down in front of her and gently touching her hand. She instantly snapped it away from him, not wanting him to touch her,

"I wouldn't do that" Stiles warned, looking at Rafael as the spastic teen grasped her other hand

It didn't really matter at the moment if Derek would kill Stiles, he felt the tremble in her hands, and he knew she needed some kind of comfort, which he didn't mind providing until they left.

". . That's exactly how it happened" Nova muttered

"Is there something you're not telling me?" looking at her "you have to tell me, Nova"

". . Yeah" raising her gaze, glaring at him "when I came to, I found myself in a similar position I was in last year. So, please, excuse-the-hell-out-of-me for having a little bit of PTSD"

He looked at her for a moment longer, understanding her words and giving her a small nod, standing straight, Kira looking at her in confusion as tears formed in Nova's eyes, sniffling slightly as she looked back down at the floor. Stiles gently squeezed her hand, silently letting her know that he was there, Scott placing a comforting hand on her knee, the three of them knowing it would take some time before Nova fully got over what happened. A tear fell from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks, which caused her to quickly wipe them away,

"Can I get my phone back, now?" Kira asked, looking at Agent McCall

"Sorry, but no" he replied

He took her phone from the desk, the device being bagged as evidence as he opened the door, Scott removing his hand from Nova's knee, Stiles releasing her hand, the teens standing up from their seats and walking out behind him, Rafael handing it over to another officer. Nova instantly walked over to Irina and Deucalion, the older phoenix wrapping her arms around her granddaughter. Deucalion placed a gentle hand on her head, comforting her in his own way.

"You don't have to go to school tomorrow if you don't want to, sweetheart" Irina said gently "you can stay home, we'll understand"

"There's a test I have to take" Nova replied "it counts for half of my grade and the teacher won't let us retake it if we're absent"

"Then let's get you home, little one" Deucalion said gently

". . I want to stay with Derek, tonight" she said, lightly pulling back from Irina's embrace

"That's perfectly fine, sweetheart" Irina assured "come on, we'll walk you to your car. Derek's waiting for you there"