After the Nogitsune, Stiles acted as if he were okay. The first two weeks of recovery were tough, he was weak and depressed, but as soon as he showed signs of health again, he acted as if nothing was wrong. Everyone was waiting for him to fall apart, to breakdown, but it never came. If Scott were honest with about the situation he would admit to distancing himself from his best friend. He knew none of what happened was his fault, but he could not bear to look at him sometimes without remembering Allison dying in his arms. If Scott had been paying attention he would have noticed that Stiles was only pretending that he was okay. On the inside he was struggling.

When Scott did pay attention to Stiles, he noticed him falter in just the slightest of ways. He would smell the fear and anxiety, but then Stiles would seem okay. He would notice when the nightmares kept him awake, or when his medication was not strong enough. What he did not notice was how much pain Stiles was still in. On one day in particular, Stiles did not show up at school. This was odd since he had missed so much during his possession, Scott knew Stiles could not afford to miss much more.

Scott decided it was time to put aside his own worries. He had been a lousy friend, and it was time to step up and help in any way he could. As soon as school ended he headed to Stiles' house. If Stiles was not feeling well he did not want to make him come all the way downstairs to open the door, so he just walked in. Stiles had a key to his house after all, so it was not like he had never done that. Scott went upstairs to Stiles' room and knocked on the door.

"Stiles, it's Scott."

He heard Stiles at his desk shuffling around. His heartbeat sped up. Scott decided to go on in.

"Hey."

Stiles looked like he had not slept. "Oh, hey Scott."

Something was off. "You weren't at school today, wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Yeah, just not feeling good." Stiles faked a smile.

Scott nodded, but then something caught his attention and he sniffed the air.

Stiles noticed. "What?"

"Blood." Scott looked at his friend. "Are you bleeding?"

Stiles looked like he was caught off guard. "N-no."

Scott could hear the lie. He reached for his arm, but Stiles backed away.

"Just drop it Scott, I'm fine."

"You're not thought, are you?"

Stiles turned, but Scott grabbed his shoulder and flinched at the touch.

"You're still in pain."

"I'm fine."

"I can help." Scott reached again, but Stiles swatted his hand away.

"Scott, no. I don't need your help." He tried making as much space as possible between them.

"Stiles." Scott grabbed Stiles' upper arm and the boy winced. "Let me see."

Tears peeked in Stiles' eyes. "Scott, please."

Scott ignored him and lifted up his sleeve. That was where the blood had come from. Angry marks covered Stiles' upper arm. Some cuts, some little dots as if he stabbed his skin with something. Scott could only stare in horror.

"Stiles, why didn't you say anything?"

He could not look Scott in the face. "I just…sometimes I feel like I'm slipping. I just needed something I was in control of."

"Stiles, you can't do that to yourself. The Nogitsune is gone, it can't hurt you anymore."

"The memories aren't, or the nightmares. The pain." Stiles looked up.

"Then let me help you." Scott looked desperate. He did not know what else to do.

Stiles shook his head. "I don't deserve it."

Scott never realized how bad it was for Stiles. "It wasn't your fault."

"I let it take me. I stopped resisting. Scott, I liked feeling strong."

"That doesn't matter, it wasn't you. A demon possessed you."

Stiles huffed. "A demon that got Allison killed."

Scott shook his head. "Don't do that. Don't try to make me blame you for that. I never blamed you for what happened. You weren't being weak, it may have worn your face, but that thing was not you. Stiles if you died, I don't know what I'd do. I need you. Let me help. You're pack, you're family. You're in so much pain you couldn't even leave the house today. So please…" He held out his hand.

Stiles blinked away tears, and thought for a moment before holding out his hand. Scott grabbed his hand and took Stiles' pain away. Scott could tell he was only helping a fraction, but it was making a small difference. Stiles began to feel clearer headed than he had since the whole thing started. The pain had subsided, and he took a deep breath before sitting down.

"Thanks."

Scott sat down next to him. "Don't mention it. Just tell me when you feel like that man. I don't wanna see you like this."

Stiles nodded. "I'm sorry."

Scott stayed over until he was sure Stiles was alright.

"Scott you don't have to worry about me. You can go home."

"I know, you just scared me a lot okay." Scott sighed.

"Yeah, I know, sorry. You weren't supposed to find out." Stiles stared at the ground.

"And that scared me more. Stiles we used to talk, it's always easier when people know what's going on."

"You're right. Just with everything going on, I didn't want to bring my problems to you. You have enough to deal with, I thought I could handle this on my own." Stiles rubbed his upper arm.

Scott nodded at Stiles arm. "That is no way to deal with this."

Stiles said nothing, but he nodded his head in agreement. Scott stayed a little longer, but soon left feeling like Stiles would be okay.

The next day Scott was at his locker when Stiles ran up to him. "Scott! You aren't going to believe this!"

Scott shut his locker. "You're looking better."

Stiles flailed a little. "That's just it. I feel amazing, better than I have in weeks." He pulled him along until they were out of ear distance of the other students. "The pain is completely gone, the nightmares practically none existent, Scott…" He looked over his shoulder and then back at Scott. He lifted up his sleeve revealing smooth skin. The cuts were gone.

Scott stared in shock at the unscarred flesh. "But, how?"

Stiles rolled his sleeve down. "Scott you healed me."

"But, I can't heal. I can only take the pain away, temporarily." Scott was dumbfounded.

"I know, I know, but somehow you did. Scott you healed me."

Scott was happy, but confused. "We should probably go to Deaton's after school."

Stiles agreed.

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AN: Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed the chapter!