Courageous

16

Since Erica had fiddled with Stiles' Jeep, he drove himself and Carter to the mechanic's shop to get it fixed.

The mechanic was a cocky guy. "Hey! Hey? Wh -- what do you think you're doing? All I needed was a starter."

The mechanic gave Stiles a sarcastic nod. "Yeah, but it looks like your whole exhaust system has got to be replaced here."

Stiles shot him a frown. "Why do I get the feeling you're slightly over-estimating the damage?"

"It's probably gonna run you around like $1200 in parts and labor."

Stiles scoffed. "Do you know what a limited differential is?"

"No-"

"Yeah, coming on more like $1500."

"Okay. Just finish. I'll be back here, seething with impotent rage!"

Stiles crossed his arms while Carter went to open the door, then stopped. There was an odd sticky substance on it, and Stiles touched the handle. He gave a look of disgust. "Oh. Nice. It's real sanitary. Quality establishment you're running here."

The mechanic said nothing and Stiles muttered, "Figures."

Stiles fell to the ground. Carter looked at him, then looked up to see a picture of the mechanic in a Beacon Hills lacrosse uniform.

Stiles looked at the mechanic, as best as he could, and tried to get his attention. "No. Hey. Hey! Hey! Uh."

A voice caught their attention. "911, what's your emergency?"

Stiles couldn't speak and Carter said, "We need an ambulance at a nearby mechanic's shop.

A lizard creature appeared at the glass door to the waiting area and hissed at Carter and Stiles before disappearing.

Eventually, the police appeared and the sheriff asked, "What happened?"

Stiles glanced at Carter and he said, "We heard a sound and saw the Jeep fall on the mechanic."

He frowned at him, like he knew he was blatantly lying to him. "I'll ask again. What happened?"

Stiles let out a sigh. "He told you. We just -- we walked in and we saw the Jeep on top of the guy, that's all."

"Did you hear something or did you see the Jeep on that guy? What's wrong with your hands?"

Stiles glanced to Carter before saying, "Nothing. Can we just get out of here now?"

"Look, if there's something you don't think you can tell me-"

Stiles scoffed. "You think we're lying?"

"Your stories don't add up, but no, of course not. I'm just worried about you two. Now, if you two saw someone do this, if you're afraid that maybe they're gonna come back and make sure you don't say anything about it-"

"We didn't see anything. At all. Can we go now please?"

Sheriff Stilinski nodded. "Sure. But not in your Jeep. We're gonna have to impound it. Sorry kid, evidence. I'll see you at home. Make sure you get Carter home."

Stiles let out a defeated sigh. "All right, well, at least make sure they wash it."

While they waited for Scott to pick them up, Stiles asked him, "Are you okay?"

Carter nodded. "Yeah. Are you?"

"Considering everything, yeah, I'm okay."

Scott arrived and asked, "You two okay?"