Work in Progress

by JenNova

Sterek
“What are you trying to do?” Lydia asks finally.

“Fix Derek,” Stiles says, not bothering to dissemble – Lydia's been lied to enough. “You know, before someone or something else tries to use him.”
Words:7856 complete

Genres: Fan Fiction, M M Romance, Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Werewolves

24 pages, ebook

First published August 21, 2013

About the author

Fanfic author aka: taurenova

Reviews

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, oh my, oh my!! The only thing wrong with this one is that it isn't LONGER!! That is all I am saying because nothing should be shared, it should just be read.

[Jenni Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The feels are strong with this one.

Loved!

[Rosa, really · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, hurty goodness.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Canon divergence somewhere in the last few episodes of season 3A. (And probably best appreciated by someone who has watched through season 3A. Spoilers for show:It has been revealed that Jennifer was the Darach and has been deceiving Derek, but Derek and Cora don't leave like they did in 3A and Derek seems to still be an Alpha, so I guess Cora cured herself?. Derek has withdrawn into himself and is resisting being touched in the normal casual sense - like if Cora brushes up against him or a pat on the back - just "regular touch" he shies away from or freezes ... expect when it is Stiles. Stiles realizes he is the only one who seems to be tolerated in Derek's personal space. So he hatches a plan based on his guess that Derek is touch deprived (and hence why when he finally craves human (person to person) contact, he goes head over heels and is easily manipulated). Basically Stiles will make a point of casually touching Derek, just to get him accustomed to it.

First off - I love this fic. I found it on the Humor and Fluff list - and settled in for a Sterek that would bring a smile to my face or make me giggle ... half an hour later I am gripping my tablet and nearly in tears. Clearly I really don't see it as either - maybe "melancholic fluff"? It is sweet in a manner - I will give it that, and not bittersweet, but there is some saddness packed into this. I found it emotional and intimate. There is no epic romance here, but there is this intimacy that lingers throughout it. It is a quick read, but it is a touching one. I even started to tear up at the conversation the boys have at the end about how they are angry at the ones they have lost and feel guilty over the anger.

What I also liked was that it touched on many aspects of 3A that just didn't make sense and/ or stood out to me. Which actually gave me a bit of a new perspective on the season - honestly I still think 3A was one of the worst of the show's seasons - especially for the character of Derek Hale - and this quick fic helped I guess ease some of that. So be prepared for the following season 3A ramblings (spoilers for the tv show):

Stiles has a memory of gripping Derek's shoulder after Boyd and he does it again, trailing his fingers down the side of Derek's arm because he can.

1. This author paid attention during the show and zeroed in on these little details and moments in canon and then takes them and expounds on them. I really like this in TW fanfiction - extrapolating from canon and keeping the story wholly compliant with little deviations for the ship. Kudos to the author on that.

Scott as well, if his meltdown over Derek's apparent death is anything to judge by. He thinks they might have grown as people or something. It's awful.

2. Season 3A, Episode 6, Motel California - This to me, is one of the best episodes of Teen Wolf and oddly enough it is namely because of Scott (though also because of Stiles, literally saving EVERYONE). But Scott's reaction to believing Derek was dead and what he says right before his suicide attempt (under the duress of the Darach) had more depth than anything previous or subsequent that Davis has written. More so I thought it was pretty profound that Stiles steps into the puddle of gasoline with Scott to save him by forcing his hand. At any rate I felt this episode was the shining moment of season 3A and this fic touches on it - at least acknowledges those moments and how much they showed the cast growing in them.

Derek lies down against him again, this time chest to chest, and Stiles is getting the impression that born werewolves have more in common with actual wolves than he thought. Like the emotional comfort from touch thing. Horribly enough it explains why Derek fell so hard and quick for the first person who showed him a caring hand - despite the trust issues.

3. Horribly enough it explains why ... - that is exactly what this fic does in a manner. The whirlwind relationship and drama lama with Jennifer Blake never (and still really doesn't) make ANY sense. I can't stress how many times watching 3A I went, "WTF is going on?" - not in the sense it was over dramatic (which it is), but in the sense I didn't know what the fuck was going on - Why does Derek have sex with Jennifer Blake? Why does having sex with Jennifer Blake literally heal the wounds the Alphas inflicted? Where the fuck has Cora been for the last six years? Why aren't the words, "Where the fuck have you been Cora and how did you survive the fire?" not the first words out of Derek's mouth when he saw her? How does everyone except the main cast know where the Nemeton is? And why can't they just ask? Question after question. Plot hole after plot hole. 3A is a hot mess! Luckily 3B did make up for it.

This fic at least touches on a number of details I noticed while watching the show and weaves them into the story so that maybe we don't get all of the answers, but the fic makes sense and it kind of helps 3A along with some reasoning to make a bit more sense.

I also really liked the Sheriff's very small, but packed with so much understanding, gesture in this fic.

Yeah, so what I am saying is that I really like this fic.

[Meags · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

The feels are strong with this one (and so are the Star Wars and Princess Bride references--winning!)

Set after Season 3A, this story focuses on Stiles' efforts to "fix" Derek through perceptible touch.

There are some truly beautiful moments between Derek and Stiles in this story; sharing of painful memories and subsequent comfort hugs galore. It's ridiculously sweet.

JenNova is definitely an fic author I will have to explore further, because she seems to capture the sea of tangible emotions that run under the surface of Derek's being.

Loved it.

[Bitchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set somewhere in season 3 (not sure where, exactly, haven't finished s3 yet), Stiles is trying to fix Derek after the Jenn thing. He notices how Derek shies away from any touch, but for some reason, not from Stiles, so Stiles starts just...touching him. Random brushes of shoulders, a hand on his back, just little things, that eventually grow into more. This was just a really sweet, easy going fic, that felt very natural. Short, no outside plots or dangers to get into the way, just the guys gradually becoming more.

[Valerie ❈M/M Romance Junkie❈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

After all that he has gone through, Derek shies away from physical contact with anyone but Stiles. Stiles decides to help Derek get over his wariness. In turn, they build a bond that was very nice to watch unfold.

[Trisha Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, sweet fic.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Sweet hurt/comfort Sterek that just leaves you with a goofy grin.

[The_Paperback_Peruser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh! So many feels for this one!

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** 3.5 Stars ***

Oh my, that was cute!

[Maygirl7 · Rating 4 out of 5]

:)

[Trix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and short. It's Derek being sad and touch-starved (as mentioned in the story). And Stiles is just the person to overcome that. Both characters have suffered the loss of someone dear so they understand each other in that respect

And it just so happens that Stiles's therapy evolves to touching, to kissing. And the story ends, leaving you with a smile on your face, feeling happy for them.

[Nepreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, achy short, with Stiles (hints of self-sacrifice, hooray) fixing Derek by offering touch and comfort, and winning everything.

[Louan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any story with a Princess Bride reference gets 5 ⭐️ from me :D

[Julesmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some Favorite Quotes:
Derek apologized for being a dick about Peter and Lydia promised to give him warning when she decides to finish Peter off for good.
(Stiles will be right beside her, holding her purse for her.)

Stiles knew that (logically) Derek couldn't have sprung to life as a punishingly hot ball of werewolf angst

because his weird feelings for Derek aren't so weird if Derek maybe feels the same way about him.

[Tailtiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5*

[Ornella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was SO SWEET! :)

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

a solid fluffy pick me up

[jules0623 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Mj · Rating 4 out of 5]

just lovely

[Aaron G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigh. Very nice.
Time to blot the tears off my face.

[Gwendolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really need to start reading the tags. I spent most of the story waiting for the sexing to start.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

OooooooohMYGod the feelz! This is just so nice!