Dead in the Water

Authors Note: This being my very first Teen Wolf Fanfiction, if anyone has any constructive criticisms or encouragements they would be greatly appreciated. I will forever ship Stydia, this will be a Stydia story. However, no characters shall be put on the backburner. This takes place after the events of the first episode of season four. SPOILER ALERT.

Chapter 1: Not Myself

Lydia

The drive from the cave was sufficiently uncomfortable. Besides being jam-packed between Malia and a sixteen-year-old Derek, nobody wanted to bring up the fact that we would have to return to Araya. I was sure as hell not excited for that. I want to be the bigger person in this situation and let go of the fact that the woman had nearly killed Scott, and he was alright with that fate simply because it meant she wouldn't kill me. Screw being the bigger person, she almost killed my friend. I'm mad. However, considering we won't return home unless we deal with her first I'm sure we're all willing to overlook it for now.

"What happens now?" Malia asked, directing the question at Stiles. Stiles glanced over at Scott.

"Ask to the alpha, I have no clue." He replied, "But if I may quickly ask one thing, can we not go back to the psycho werewolf killers."

"We have to." Scott insisted.

"Okay." Stiles sounded like a teenager who was just told he was grounded. Which reminded me of the very disoriented sixteen-year-old boy who was actually Derek.

The poor guy was staring straight ahead like he was fighting carsickness. It was very clear that everyone wanted to say something to him but didn't know what. Did he remember anything from sixteen onwards or did he think total strangers were saving him?

"Are we there yet?" Kira asks after twenty minutes of total, slightly uncomfortable silence.

"Yeah, pretty soon." Stiles answered.

Thank God, I'm so ready to jump out of this jeep. Hormones are in the air, it is very clear that there is some weird thing happening between Malia and Stiles. The glances, the fact that it's been months and she only feels loyalty to him. It's an improvement and that is great, it just makes me nervous that if plans go south then what will she do? She wouldn't just leave Kira or Scott or Derek behind right? I'm fairly sure she'd leave me. That's understandable. I'm not very useful past the whole screaming-when-death-is-neigh thing.

Whatever is going on, despite this weird tinge of jealousy that I am not validated to have in any sense, I hope no one gets hurt.

We finally pull up in front of the well-hidden club and Scott gets out of the jeep. Stiles is about to go with him but Scott holds his arm out.

"I've got this." He said.

"You can't go in there by yourself, Scott." Stiles objected.

"He won't, Malia and I will go with him. Plan B and all that." Kira says while sliding out of the extremely packed back seat.

"You guys can watch Derek, if we're not out in twenty minutes leave and we'll meet up with you at the motel." Scott decided.

There are so many things that could go wrong with this plan.

"What if they capture you guys again? How are we supposed to get you out?" I ask. Beside me, Derek is looking distressed and more so confused.

"We won't. Just keep Derek safe." With that they're walking away. Leaving Stiles and I alone with a very teenaged Derek.

"So Derek," Stiles exclaimed, "Have you ever played Call of Duty?"

It was going to be a long twenty minutes.

I looked at my cell phone for the umpteenth time, it had only been fifteen minutes and I was getting seriously nervous. Stiles looked exhausted and Derek had finally given into his own need for sleep.

Then that feeling hit, but it wasn't quite the same. It felt as though a scream was caught in my throat and then the burning sensation came on. Not only was the scream caught but so was my oxygen, I was choking on a scream.

"Lydia, what's wrong?" Stiles asked, "What's happening?"

I grasped for the door handle, fumbling for it and when I finally got it I stumbled out of the jeep. Right before hitting the dirt I hear Stiles jumps out of jeep and run over. He puts one hand on my back as I'm still searching for air and then it hits me.

I'm not outside the jeep with my hands and knees in the dirt, Stiles isn't there anymore. I'm not even there. What I do see is Kira holding Malia. She looks like she's been shot by something and it must still be in her if she's in pain like that.

Is she even breathing?

"Scott!" Kira's screaming, "Scott! I can't feel anything!"

It's over and when I open my eyes I'm staring at the sky.

"Lydia? Lydia can you hear me?" Stiles sounds like he's been freaking out.

I'm about to take a breath and it hurts, it hurts so much but nausea soon takes over. Stiles sees my expression and flips me over. And, like a proper lady, I empty the contents of my stomach on the ground.

"Holy, Lydia what the hell was that? Are you okay?" Stiles stammers.

"I need to get in there." My voice sounds quiet but somehow I find the speed to get up and run towards the building. Stiles is screaming at me to stop and come back, right before I shut the door behind me he says something about woman being impossible.

I can't focus on that, or on how poorly my decision to enter this may be.

Because I cannot knowingly let Malia die.