Filler Episode - Chapter 6

The edge of the blizzard hit Beacon Hills around midnight. Over a foot of snow had accumulated by the time Scott woke up at seven. School was canceled. Possibly for the rest of the week. Plow trucks were being brought in out of state, any sort of shovel sold out, and the handy residents sprinkled their driveways with kitty litter. The strong scent of cinnamon mingled with something like the smell of tart tree sap and worn leather. Isaac sat at the kitchen table with a spoon halfway to his mouth and his eyes barely open. His lids drooped slowly as he started to lean forward. Scott caught him by the shoulder. He easily lifted Isaac off his feet and slung him over his shoulder. Scott waddled back up the stairs. Isaac drifted off at some point and didn't wake up even when Scott dropped him onto the bed harder than he meant to. He tucked in the sleeping puppy before he left.

Derek knocked on the back door. Scott waved him in. The brooding beta shook off the dusting of snow that covered him from the short walk from the garage to the house.

"We shoveled the driveway, but it isn't going to last long," Derek leaned against the kitchen counter. "How's Isaac?"

"Sleeping," Scott started to make himself breakfast. "He was up before me, but I put him back to bed."

"You put him to bed?" Derek asked, there was something that sounded like a smile in his voice, but that was impossible.

"Carried him upstairs and tucked him in," Scott searched the cupboards for a bowl.

Derek nodded. The sound of clinking glass filled the room as the conversation paused.

"You did a good thing by bringing him into the pack," Derek said finally.

"Thank you," Scott turned to look at Derek.

Derek shrugged. Silence fought to overtake the sound of cereal being poured into a bowl.

"This storm isn't natural," Derek stated.

"The cinnamon gave it away," Scott chuckled. "That and it's October."

"I've patrolled the preserve the last two nights," Derek didn't seem to mind the interruption. "Peter was with me last night. He wants you to take Isaac with you for a run. It will be good for him to get a look at the preserve, and you can get a patrol in. I'll do another pass once you get back."

Scott sat at the table. He nodded. Derek joined him a moment later.

"Have you had breakfast?"

"I had a protein bar when I got in," Derek said the words as though it was a proper meal.

"My mom would ground me if I didn't make you eat something," Scott stood up. "Do you want the healthy stuff, or the cereal that actually tastes good?"

"Healthy stuff," Derek crossed his arms.

"Fruity Pebbles it is," Scott poured him a bowl and put it down on the table.

"This is the healthy stuff?" Derek looked at the multi-colored flakes.

"It has Fruit in the name," Scott smiled. "This is what you really wanted."

Derek scowled at him. He took a bite. His eyes closed.

"This should not taste so good," he said around a mouth full of food.

Scott perked up, "Stiles is here."

Stiles burst through the front door a moment later. He was covered in snow and had a huge grin on his face.

"What did you do?" Derek scowled at him.

"I may have started a street-wide snowball fight," Stiles put his back to the door. He slid down into a crouch. "She might be a grandma of five, but that Missus Everette has a mean arm."

"And you led them to my house?" Scott tried to sound angry. His wide smile didn't help.

"Four werewolves and me against the street?" Stiles looked to Derek. "Sure, I'll be carrying the team, but we can make it work."

"What makes you think that Peter would join in this?" Derek asked. "Or me?"

"Peter is currently constructing a wall in the front yard," Stiles nodded to the window. "You, you'll join because you have to."

Derek scowled.

"Or because the kid from two houses down pegged your car a few times," Stiles stood up and opened the door. "Shall we?"

"The redhead?" Derek draped his leather jacket on the chair.

"He's got a green hat on with a white fluff-ball," Stiles gave a thumbs up as he looked at Scott.

"He's mine," Derek growled as he stalked outside.

Stiles closed the door.

"The kid two houses down?" Scott asked.

Stiles shook his head. He pointed to himself as he bounced on the balls of his feet.

"Let's go, Scotty, onward to Snowpocalyse!" Stiles stopped. "Where's Isaac?"

"Sleeping."

"He can rest for now," Stiles stood ramrod straight. "Soon we shall need him, and he will heed the call."

"And I'm dragging you down to my nerd depths?" Scott laughed as he followed his friend outside.

~

"Reinforce the left flank," Peter yelled. "Hewitt quartet inbound."

"We need more ammo," Stiles yelled as he tried to pack more snowballs.

"There's snow all around us," Derek growled. "Make some."

"Why didn't I think of that?" Stiles yelled back. "Oh yeah, it's because we had to retreat to the porch, and we've cleared it!"

"Isaac," Peter turned to the newest member of the pack. "Cut through the house, grab the biggest pot you can, and fill it with snow from the back," Peter grasped his shoulder. "We're counting on you."

Isaac nodded and slipped into the house.

"You're all mopping after this," Melissa called as Isaac stomped by. She had pulled a comfy chair from the living room over to the front window to watch. The blizzard hadn't let up. There was now a little over two feet on the ground. Most of the town had shut down. Only the hospital and sheriff's office were still operating. Melissa had made it home just in time to see Isaac dive in front of Peter to take a snowball for him. She had make a pot of coffee and set up a spot to watch once she made it inside.

"Yes, ma'am," Peter gave a firm nod. "Where's Scott?"

"Missus Everette and the kids from Sixth Street have him pinned down by the tree," Stiles ducked a snowball. "He's on his own."

"We don't leave a man behind," Peter ran across the deck and dove into the snow-covered yard.

Isaac came running along the side of the house. He carried a large stew pot full of snow. A snowball took him high on the chest and he faltered a step. His long legs carried him up to the side of the deck before he fell. Derek helped him up and dumped the fresh powder next between him and Stiles.

"Three more," Derek handed the pot back to him. "One for each of us."

Isaac nodded. He shielded his face with the pot as he slowly waded into the front yard.

"Reinforcements," he yelled as Allison pulled up the drive in her dads' jeep.

She ducked as four snowballs headed in her direction as she got out.

"I never agreed to this," she dipped and dodged toward the porch.

"Too late," Stiles called. "You're part of this now. Stand with us sister!"

She slid behind Isaac. He handed her the pot of snow.

"Why do I have a pot?" She asked.

"We're out of snow on the deck," he ducked out the way of a snowball. "This is a resupply."

"You're hopeless," she sighed. "Take it. I'll cover you."

She scooped a handful of snow and pelted one of the neighbors. Her hands moved in a practiced fluidity that created a steady stream. Allison hit more than she missed. Isaac watched in awe.

"Go," she spared him a quick glance. "I've got this."

He scooped another load into the pot as he trudged back to the deck.

"Allison is holding the right," he dumped the next load of snow. "I'm going back to her."

Derek looked at Stiles who shrugged. A hard packed ball smacked him in the jaw. Stiles plopped onto the deck.

"Avenge me," he whispered.

Derek sighed and went back to the matter at hand. He could hear Stiles crawling along the deck toward the door. It opened with a click, and he slipped inside. Scott vaulted the railing and landed on the deck. Peter followed a moment later. They were both covered in snow and had thick bumps where they had been hit.

"When did Allison get here?" Scott slid over to deck and started packing snow into balls. "Where's Stiles?"

"He went inside" Derek replied with a grunt. "Allison got here a minute ago. She and Isaac are holding the right side of the yard."

"You'd think we'd be better at this," Scott laughed.

"This is an important team-building exercise," Peter ducked a shot without a look. "And it's fun, not life threatening. Now grab some powder. Missus Everette is pushing in on the left and we can't let her meet up with the Hewitt family."

"We could get them to fight each other," Scott caught a snowball and tossed it back. "I'll slip behind the Hewitt's, toss some snow at Missus Everette and let them battle it out."

"I like it," Peter smiled. "Derek, pour it on the left."

Derek started a barrage as Peter and Scott pushed back into the yard. They stopped by the wall of carefully constructed snow bricks that had originally been their front line. It stretched along the entire length of the yard, but not the driveway. A pile of unused ammo sat untouched at the base of the barricade. Scott slipped headfirst into the snow and began to tunnel toward his target. The thick flakes covered his progress. Peter shifted his aim to the center line once Scott was clear. Allison and Isaac worked their way to the right edge of the wall.

"Glad you could join us," Peter bobbed his head out of an incoming shot.

"A block-wide snowball battle?" Allison laughed. "How could I refuse?"

"You should call Lydia," Isaac offered.

"This isn't a Lydia thing," Allison scoffed.

"Yeah, but she'd bring Jackson, who would bring Danny, who has a thing for Derek," Isaac grinned.

"Or I could just call Danny," Allison offered.

"That works," Isaac smiled at her.

"Cover me," she pulled out her cellphone. Her fingers flew across the screen as she sent off a couple of texts.

Peter looked at Isaac while she was distracted.

[silent wolf-speak of body language, facial expressions, and knowing looks]

You like her. Peter inclined his head.

Yeah, but... Isaac shrugged.

Scott. Peter nodded.

Yeah. Isaac sighed.

Their silent conversation ended when a snowball took Isaac above the ear. He grabbed a packed sphere in each hand, popped up over the wall, and tossed them with pinpoint accuracy. Mister White, the optometrist from a street over, got both of them in the stomach. He let out an audible 'woof' and went down. Allison arced an eyebrow at Isaac.

"Ear shots hurt," Isaac rubbed the arc of his red ear. "Everyone knows that."

"Poor puppy," Allison scratched under his chin. "Danny has been itching for a snowball fight since this started. He's on his way, but it will be slow going with the roads and he's picking up Lydia on the way."

"Really?" Isaac snapped out of the moment of bliss.

"She's tired of Jackson being 'too cool' for all the fun, but I don't think she'll join in," Allison looked over to the deck. "Scott's mom is going to have some company. Hey, is that Stiles?"

Isaac turned to see Stiles sitting in a chair beside Melissa McCall. He had a cup of steaming hot chocolate in his hands.

"Remind me to dump snow down his shirt," Peter shook his head.

"I will," Allison narrowed her eyes at Stiles. She made sure he was watching as she packed a tight snowball.

Scott burst from the snow beside Derek. He was coated in powder with only his eyes and mouth untouched. The pair made their way to the wall to the left of Peter. Derek lobbed shots as they went.

"She took the bait," Scott brushed his face off. "Missus Everette and the Hewitts are busy for now. Who do we have left?"

His gaze swept over Peter, Isaac, and Allison. Isaac shifted under the look. He scooted a little away from Allison. Isaac leaned around the wall to toss a few and escape the look. Allison looked at Scott and shrugged. This was not lost on Peter.

"Stiles is drinking hot cocoa," Peter motioned to the house. "Isaac took White out of the fight. All we have left is the group from Sixth Street. They're too spread out for you to bait them into attacking each other."

"There were some people along the side road," Isaac added. "I wasn't sure if they were part of this, but they're getting closer. They're whispering about how to make a good snowball."

 "We're about to be rushed," Peter cut in. "The Sixth Street group aren't trying anymore. They're throwing enough to keep us invested, but not actually trying to hit us. Allison and I will hold the center. Scott, Isaac, take the right. Derek, hold the left until Danny gets here."

"Danny is coming?" Scott asked.

"Lydia too," Allison added.

"Enough chatter," Peter cut in. "Let's move before Stiles drinks all the hot cocoa."

Danny and Lydia showed up five minutes later. Peter directed the latest addition to support Derek. Lydia kicked Stiles out of his chair to join Melissa. He rejoined the battle shortly after.

"Isaac," Scott pushed the snow into a pile to make an impromptu cover. "What's going on?"

"Uh," Isaac suddenly became very invested in packing snowballs. "What do you mean?"

"You're acting like I caught you trying to sneak a cookie," Scott sat with his back to the hill. "Is this about Allison?"

"No."

"You're a horrible liar," Scott laughed. "It's fine, Isaac."

"What?"

"We talked," Scott shrugged. "We both agreed that things had changed. You obviously like her."

"Why would you say that?"

"Werewolf," Scott tapped his nose. "That and your heart starts to beat faster when she's around."

"Oh," Isaac blushed.

"You have my blessing," Scott patted him on the shoulder.

• NOTE:
  Apologies for the Filler chapters. RL is a bit chaotic and writing time is rough. I don't want to leave you all hanging for content.