Brother || Teen Wolf

Chapter 11 - Drugs. Work. Morgue.

Melissa McCall was ready to get to work. Before going, she knocked on her son's bedroom door before entering. Scott was lying on his bed, looking tired.

"Hey," Melissa started, "Late shift again for me. But I'm taking Saturday off to see your first game!"

"Oh, Mom, you can't," Scott groaned, his face still half buried in a pillow.

"Oh no, I can and I will," Melissa chuckled, "Come on, one shift isn't gonna break us... completely."

Scott's mother then squinted her eyes, trying to get a good look at the teen's face, "Hey, what's wrong with your eyes?" she inquired. "You look like you haven't slept in days!"

"Nothing, it's just stress," Scott dismissed.

"Just stress? That's it? Nothing else?"

Hearing those words, Scott tensed. Had his Mom noticed something? Did she suspect anything? Scott felt like a deer caught in headlights so he answered the first thing that came to his mind, "Homework."

"I mean, it's not like you're on drugs or anything?"

Melissa had noticed something different with Scott lately, he didn't talk as much as he used to. She knew he was growing up and that he didn't tell her everything but she couldn't help but want him to share whatever was on his mind. Even if it involved drugs.

"Right now?" Scott asked, his eyes meeting his mother's gaze.

"'Right now'? I'm sorry, what do you mean, 'right now'?" Melissa questioned, rather alarmed. "Have you ever taken drugs?"

"Have you?" Scott asked, curious.

Melissa chuckled before escaping the room, "Get some sleep, Scott."

Still chuckling, Melissa left the house and drove to the hospital. She entered the main hall and saw Jamie at his desk. The nurse frowned when she saw him. He had concern written on his face and he looked even more tired than usual. Melissa couldn't help but wonder how stressful high school had become for the teens to all look so exhausted. That simply was not how she remembered her high school years. Pushing the thoughts out of her head, she greeted Jamie and asked what had him looking so down.

"Hey, Melissa," he greeted with a small smile before explaining, "Well, a certain patient was admitted a bit earlier and he's been complaining non-stop ever since."

He retrieved a chart from his desk, handing it to Melissa. She quickly scanned over the paper.

"Jackson Whittemore, huh?" she read. The name seemed familiar to her. "Wait, isn't he that lacrosse captain you and Scott don't like?"

Jamie stifled a laugh at her words, "Precisely."

"Oh, I see. May I offer a piece of advice?" Melissa started. Jamie nodded so she continued, "Whenever I'm dealing with a patient who's... unpleasant, I just try to stay calm and apologize for whatever they are angry about. Even if it's not my fault."

Jamie pondered her words before a pleading look settled on his face. "Are you willing to try that out with Jackson? Seriously, he comes to my desk every two seconds, I can't take it anymore. I don't even know how he finds so many things to complain about!"

Melissa raised her eyebrows but decided to accept the challenge. Also, tending to patients was in her job description. "Okay, sure. I'll do my best."

"Try not to punch him in the face!" Jamie added before she disappeared down the corridor. He rubbed his eyes again and checked his phone for new messages. He had received multiple texts from Stiles, explaining what happened during practice and asking about Jackson. Jamie decided it would be quicker to call his friend -- he hated typing long texts.