We all know what it feels like after a season finale of any show and you turn to fanfiction to tide you over until the show returns. I'm such Stydia trash, so here you go.

The song for this fic/first chapter is Matthew Mayfield – Take What I Can Get

LYDIA'S POV:

With the passing of three months since everything that happened with the Dread Doctors, Theo, and The Beast, things had calmed down a bit. We had a chance to focus on our senior year, those of us that were graduating this semester. Not that I brought it up to Scott, but I was nervous for Kira. We hadn't heard from her in two months. We didn't know when or if she was coming back. Scott rarely liked to talk about it. I loved Kira like a sister, but if she kept stringing Scott along I'd have to have a stern talking with her.

The pack was doing alright. Malia still dealt with her mom issues, with the help of Braeden and Stiles. Liam and Hayden were madly in love, reminding me so much of Scott and Allison. Mason and Cory were taking things slow, what with Mason still recovering from being The Beast. Mason was still his lovable self, he just had to get used to life after being body-snatched. Scott was focusing on finishing senior year. He had worked more with Deaton lately when he wasn't practicing Lacrosse with Liam and Stiles.

And Stiles…Stiles was calling me.

"Stiles," I answered quickly, with my heart in my throat. "Are you okay?"

He let out a relieved sigh. "Yeah. Yeah, I was checking on you. Scott said he found something suspicious with Deaton. I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

A smile tugged at my lips.

"You're okay, aren't you?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. What about you?"

He laughed his calming laugh. "You already asked me that."

My lips pursed. "Oh."

Someone cleared their throat.

I glanced over at Jordan. Shit. I totally zoned out on the movie we were watching and completely forgot where I was. My reddened cheeks sobered me up from Stiles' affect. He didn't look happy with me.

"Hey, I'm at Jordan's right now. I'll call you later or something. Or you can call me. Whatever." I stuttered.

He paused for a few seconds, then cleared his throat. "Okay. Be safe."

My heart clenched at our pending goodbye. I didn't want to stop talking to him. Ever.

"You, too." I hung up. When I turned back to Jordan he had his arms folded across his chest with a clenched jaw. "Sorry about that. Scott and Deaton think there might be paranormal activity roaming around town. What else is new?" I asked rhetorically.

He ignored me and stared at the flat screen mounted to his bedroom wall.

I huffed. "Look, I've just had a lot on my mind lately. Especially with this being my senior year. I'm sorry I wasn't watching the movie." I planted a kiss on his cheek. "It won't happen again."

He turned to me. "What's the deal with you and Stiles? I know I'm running the risk of sounding like a jealous boyfriend, but I have to ask." His eyes worried.

My head shook. "Nothing." I gave a reassuring grin. "We're just friends."

"Just friends? That's it?"

"Yes."

Technically, I wasn't lying. Stiles and I were just friends. Jordan didn't need to know about Stiles' life long crush on me or my beading interest in the honey eyed hottie. Stiles had moved on. He'd always be worried about me. We were best friends. We were family.

It wasn't that I didn't know on some level that Stiles would always love me. Or that I was so heartless to play games with Jordan and Stiles. Or that I didn't acknowledge how I felt about Stiles. I just…couldn't go there with him.

This was our senior year, the start of our second semester to be exact. I had wasted so much time ignoring Stiles and what I felt for him. Now that we're all close to moving in different directions it seemed like a bad idea to even pursue it. And I wanted to, believe me, but this just wasn't our time. Nor was it fair to tell Stiles all of this and mess with his head when he was so close to being happy on his own. He had a lot to offer to this world and I didn't want to hold him back.

A bittersweet grin found my mouth.

"I admit, Stiles and I aren't just friends. We're more than that. We're each other's emotional tethers, that's something that's never going to go away."

Jordan nodded. "So I don't have any reason to be worried?"

My head shook. "Not until summer."

We both agreed that what we had was nice and while we cared about each other we knew that this wasn't going to make it long distance. I'm sure if we really tried it could work, but this wasn't a love of my life situation. Because I wasn't in love with Jordan Parrish. Not like how I was with Stiles Stilinski. That love I felt deep in my heat, in my dreams, and in my bones.

I left after that. Staying over any longer felt wrong. When I got to my house I just sat in my parked car for a while. Our winter break would be ending soon and we'd be one step closer to graduation. I didn't like the idea of us all splitting up, but it was bound to happen sometime. That didn't mean I was ready for it.

My phone dinged. I reached into the console to pick up only to read a group message from Scott. He wanted to hold a pack meeting at his house. Great. I just wanted to curl up by myself. Times like these I really missed Allison. No matter how much I loved Kira and Malia they could never replace her.

When I arrived at Scott's everyone was already there, which was to be expected considering I spent thirty minutes preparing myself mentally to see Stiles.

My heart hammered as I walked up the path. Most of everyone in there could hear it if they were listening, they knew it was me. I felt like everyone but Stiles knew how I felt about him at this point. It wasn't hard to guess; Stiles was just oblivious.

I grasped the doorknob and pushed it open. I couldn't get like this every time I saw Stiles, but I couldn't help it. He was my tether. My heart dipped as I went to the kitchen where everyone stood.

"This isn't even a serious threat. We don't even know who it is. Or what it is." Liam voiced with Hayden by his side.

"Yeah, but we don't know what really happened to Theo." Scott said. "He could still be alive. He could be coming for us again."

My eyes immediately found Stiles leaning with his elbows on the isle. Malia and Braeden were sharing a concerned look while Mason stared at Jordan in a curious way.

"So how do your clothes not burn off when you go all Hellhound?" Mason asked.

Corey laughed.

Stiles' eyes landed on me. "Thank God, you're here." He announced.

Everyone looked at me.

"I was beginning to get worried."

I shrugged as if I hadn't spent a big chunk of time thinking about him, about us. "I needed to stop by my house." Which wasn't a total lie.

I stayed my distance and nodded at Jordan.

He grinned, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Braeden stepped forward. "Instead of arguing about whether it's a real threat, why don't we just go check it out ourselves?"

"And go looking for a fight?" Hayden asked.

Braeden shrugged. "If it comes to that. There's ten of us, excluding Kira."

Scott ducked his head for a second to compose himself.

"I think we can handle it." Braeden smirked.

"She's right." Malia added. Her hair had grown to a longer bob, which I really loved on her. "Going to check it out before it becomes a threat isn't a bad idea. Cut it off at the knees."

Scott nodded as we all looked to him. He glanced at each of us. "You guys up for that?"

"We'll do what has to be done." Stiles stood up straight, looking every part of handsome and brave. "We don't all have to go. Lydia can stay behind."

I shot him a look. "Hey,"

He grinned. "You have to go to an interview tomorrow. You need to be well rested."

Hayden chuckled.

My eyes rolled. "If you're going then I'm going." My arms folded across my chest.

Everyone looked between us.

Stiles cleared his throat, his gaze wary.

Embarrassment colored my cheeks. "I mean, if you're all going I'm going, too. We're pack. We do these things together."

I felt Jordan's gaze on me, but I couldn't look at him right now.

"She's right." Scott insisted. "We'll need every resource we can get if something goes wrong. Lydia's just as powerful as any one of us."

I tried not to beam at the compliment, but failed. "Thanks, Scott."

He grinned at me with a nod.

Stiles rolled his eyes. "Alright, then can we get a move on it cuz I'm hungry."

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. He was always hungry.

"Alright." Scott said. "Let's pair up. If anything comes up just howl." He glanced at me. "Or scream. We'll hear it and come running."

We all nodded.

I was about to go with Jordan when Scott called, "Parrish, I need you with me."

He nodded, then leaned down to kiss me.

No matter how much Stiles was over me I still felt weird about PDA with Jordon in front of him. Not that he cares. When I pulled away Stiles chatted with Malia and Braeden.

My lips pursed. That left me solo. Well, I could handle myself pretty well. Jordan taught me how to fight. Meredith taught me how to control my powers. Allison taught me how to be brave. In theory, I was an unstoppable force.

I was almost to the door when a hand grabbed the back of my shirt and pulled me back.

"Where do you think you're going?" Stiles asked, his honey eyes expectant.

I shrugged. "It looked like you were going with Malia and Braeden. I was just going to go by myself."

He shook his head. "Careless." He walked past me.

"What? I am not. I can handle myself." I repeated the mantra that Allison always said. Look where that got her.

As if he had been thinking the same thing he nodded. "Even so, we don't know what's out there. I'm not letting you go by yourself."

My eyes rolled as I followed him. "Thanks dad."

He shot me a look as he headed for his jeep. "Ha ha."

I laughed at his sarcasm. "Come on, you know I could never see you as my dad."

He held the passenger door open for me and waited until I hopped in. "Good, I was almost insulted for a second." He noticed the insensitivity of his comment a little too late and his forehead creased. "Lyds, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

"I know." I waved it off.

He jumped in after a few seconds and we were off down the road.

The ride to the woods was fairly quiet. We had this weird air between us a lot lately when we were alone. Maybe it was my imagination. Maybe Stiles had realized how I felt about him and didn't want to hurt my feelings by leading me on. Maybe I was just an idiot. I'll go with the latter.

I looked to him. His long hair sticking up in multiple directions. His moles scattered across his skin. His cinnamon eyes that saw through me. His sarcastic mouth that was quick as a whip. His long fingers drummed on the wheel, which produced unchaste thoughts in my mind. His flannel shirts covered his lean and athletic body that I knew he had from Lacrosse, which was going to get him a scholarship to play somewhere, I was sure. Beautiful. He didn't even have to try.

He felt my gaze and looked over. "What?"

"Nothing." I broke my eyes away from him to stare out the window.

"Lydia, spit it out." He demanded.

A streak of arousal flashed through me at his authoritative tone. My legs crossed.

"It's just that this may be one of the last times we'll get to do this. Just you and me, I mean." I hesitantly looked at him.

He glanced at me, then stopped the jeep. Without another look my way he got out of the car.

I followed suit with a huff.

He leaned against the bumper, his arms folded across his chest, and those muscles bulged in his shirt. Had he been lifting weights?

"Lydia," He looked down at me. "I'm not sure what the future holds for us, but I do know that I'm only a call away whenever you need me." His golden eyes burned into mine. "To open a jar, to pick you up from a club, to beat up a jerk boyfriend."

A laugh bubbled from me. I was sure there wouldn't be any. At least, not any time soon.

"Same. Although, I'll take no prisoners if I have to get into a cat fight for you."

He grinned. "That'll be the day."

Little did he know.

"So, is everything okay with you and Parrish? He seemed a bit off tonight. Is he upset about something?"

I made a noncommittal noise. "I don't know. He's just worried, I guess."

"Come on, I'm sure you guys can handle long distance."

I bit my lip. "I'm sure we could if we were going to stay together after I graduate."

His brow furrowed. "You're not planning on staying together after senior year?"

Great. Now he was judging me.

He bumped my shoulder. "No judgement, Lyds. Just wondering why you're with him if you don't see it lasting."

The easy answer: It beats being alone while I pine for you.

"I do care about him, Stiles. I just…"

"Don't love him." He said it as more of a fact than a question.

For someone who saw me so clearly he sure was dimwitted not to see how I felt about him.

A huff left me as I stared forward. "Ever since Jackson left and Allison and Aiden died, it hasn't been easy to love someone again." Besides You. Loving you has been incredibly easy.

His hand grabbed mine and squeezed. "You won't feel like this forever, I promise."

Tears pricked my eyes, but I blinked them away.

"One day you're going to find the right person and they'll make you forget all the pain. And you'll be really happy. I'll have to make sure they're not a lizard person or a bad werewolf first,"

I laughed and he joined in. Our faces incredibly close.

"But I'll be there to tell you I told you so."

My fingers interlaced with his. "You promise?"

He leaned his forehead down to mine. "I promise."

My heart did jumping jacks on pre-workout. I let out a shocked breath, but didn't move a muscle. His hand came up to caress my cheek, sending firings straight to my funhouse.

"We're going to be fine."

I instinctively leaned into his warm and safe touch. No one could ever make me feel like Stiles as long as I lived. He was in my veins. He was the best guy I knew and his mouth was right there for me to take. What the hell, right? On impulse I moved an inch only to have him press a kiss on my forehead.

My eyes widened in shock as my mouth hung open. Thank God he couldn't see me. Rejection coursed through me. Okay, well…A pint of ice cream had my name on it when I got home.

He let me go. "You ready?"

I nodded.

He reached into Roscoe and pulled out an aluminum bat. "Let's do this."

I refrained from laughter. It was time to get serious. We had to keep our eyes peeled.

It was maybe ten minutes before we heard a ruffling. Stiles pulled me to him. We looked around as the noise came again.

"Who's there?" I yelled.

"Lydia, really?"

"What? It could be one of us and we're worried about nothing." I retorted.

A growl came to our ears. One of our own wouldn't growl at us in response, knowing we couldn't growl back.

"What the hell was that?" I muttered.

Just then a dark coated creature came from the brush. My heart stopped in my chest as I stood stock still.

"Stiles." I whispered. "Don't move."

Of course, he ignored me to see the threat.

"Shit."

How the hell did a black jaguar get to North America, let alone California?

Stiles shoved me behind him protectively.

The jaguar licked its teeth as it stalked us with hunger in its green eyes.

"Stiles, no!"

"Lydia, stay behind me!" He demanded.

The jaguar was to pounce any second. It would no doubt kill Stiles first. I couldn't let that happen.

I yanked Stiles to the ground as I rushed forward. "NO!" I screamed at it.

Stiles cried out behind me.

The predator flew back into the air and hit a tree from the impact of my scream. With much power, the jaguar got to its feet and ran off into the night.

"Lydia?"

I turned back to Stiles. My heart stopped in my chest.

"No." I begged.

He had fell into a trap, he leg lodged into it. Blood dripped down his jeans as pain etched on his beautiful face.

I rushed to him. "Shit, Stiles. I'm so sorry." Tears filled my eyes.

"It's not your fault."

I begged to disagree, I pushed him back into the damn trap.

"Call Scott."

My hands fumbled for my phone in my cardigan pocket. I dialed the number and put it on speaker.

"Hey, I heard you scream. What happened?"

For the life of me I couldn't form words and I wasn't sure why. All I could do was look at the trap on his leg.

"Scott, there's a black jaguar on the loose. It tried to hurt us, but Lydia drove it away. But there was an accident, my leg's in an animal trap. Just come get it off and Lydia will drive me to the hospital." He groaned. "See you in a few." He hung up.

Tears fell down my face. I tried to help and I ended up hurting the one person I never wanted to feel pain.

"Lydia, it's okay. It was an accident." He squeezed my shoulder in comfort.

Example A of why I loved Stiles; he always put my needs in front of his own. Here he was in desperate pain and he was making sure I was okay.

I wiped my tears away with purpose. I had to get it off of him.

Before he could figure out what I was doing my hands were pulling on the trap. He screamed in agony. I refrained from crying out. The claws were digging into my hands, my blood mixed with his.

"No, just leave it alone. Scott will get it."

My eyes met his. "I can't just wait until Scott gets here." Desperation clear in my voice.

I tried with all my might to get the claws out of his leg, but I only ended up hurting him more. Anger filled me. This was just one instance of many where Stiles got hurt trying to protect me. He deserved better than that.

"Lydia, it's okay." He insisted, a bead of sweat on his pale skin.

My head shook. I didn't accept that.

"Stiles!" Scott called from the distance. "Lydia!"

"We're over here!" Stiles called back.

The shuffle of multiple pairs of feet came closer.

I could do this! I needed to do this! To prove that his love for me didn't always result in suffering.

"Lydia, what are you doing?" Scott asked.

A new strength found me as I yelled in pain the claws started to budge. A few seconds later they started to collapse again. My eyes went to Stiles. He had passed out from the pain.

"Ahh!" I screamed as I pulled the claws apart.

Scott rushed to lift his leg out of the trap. Jordan and Liam held the claw apart while I pulled my bloodied and crushed hands out of the way.

"What were you thinking?" Jordan demanded, worry in his voice. "Your hands Lydia."

I didn't care about my stupid hands. I wiped them on my dress before going to Stiles.

"Lydia, how did you do that?" Hayden asked.

I shrugged. "Is he going to be okay, Scott?"

From the worried look on his face I'd say we better get a move on it.

"Let's get him to the hospital." Jordan said. "He's losing a lot of blood."

Scott nodded, frozen in place.

"Help me get him to the car, Liam." Jordan asked.

Scott stood there, fear in his eyes. "He'll be okay."

Hayden hugged me to her side. "You can ride with me and Liam. We have to get you bandaged up."

My head shook. "No, I'm not leaving him like that." I grabbed Stiles' bat, then walked forward and jumped into the back of the jeep where they laid Stiles down. I put his head in my lap, careful not move him too much.

Jordan put the pedal to the metal as we sped to the hospital. Liam handed me tissue from the passenger seat.

Was I still crying? I checked my face and it was slick with tears, but I wasn't crying anymore.

"To stop the blood." He insisted.

I deadpanned. "With a fucking tissue?" I pulled off my cardigan.

"Geez lady."

My eyes rolled as I wrapped my cardigan around his leg. I wasn't sure it would do much, but it was better than a tissue. Stiles looked so peaceful despite his current state. I couldn't stop my bleeding hands from caressing his face.

"You're going to be okay." I muttered more to myself than him.

"Shit." Jordan cursed.

"What's wr-" I looked up to see the massive traffic jam before us. Car horns blared. People shouted at one another to move.

Stiles muttered something under his breath, but I couldn't make it out. He started to squirm.

"Is he okay?" Jordan asked.

A frothing came from his mouth. My heart raced in my chest. He wasn't squirming. He was seizing.