TEN

After Malia found the book, sent a pic of the cover to the whole pack telling that "these are the guys!", she was so mesmerized by it that she sat on Tracy's bed dialing Stiles' number a few times before getting deep into the story and when she realized it, it already was late and she was starting chapter five, so she took the bus downtown, ordered a pizza with her nose still on the book and was paying when her phone buzzed.

Are you coming home tonight? – Stiles

On my way. – Malia

From downtown to the Stilinski home was a fast ride and once the bus passed she got there in ten minutes (she could walk, but she really wanted to read that book and figure out what those guys – Doctors? – were) and found the Sheriff in the kitchen with his head in the fridge.

"Diner?" the girl offered and he stopped everything he was doing to peek inside the mega box she brought.

"Yes, please. The refrigerator is so empty is depressing." He said sitting down and fixed himself a slice.

Malia frowned, making a mental note to help fill the fridge and then found a paper plate where she separated two slices of pizza.

"Where's Stiles?"

"His room. This case is taking every minute of our time to get solved."

"And I might have found a clue." She said, dumping the book on tome of the pizza box. "These are the guys I saw killing Tracy, I found the book in her room." She continued as the sheriff picked up the book and analyzed the cover. She took a bite of her slice and then pilled the plate with two more just in case.

"Science fiction, Malia, for real?" the sheriff asked, frowning.

They chatted and theorized for some time and then Malia went up to check on Stiles, leaving his father with the book. She could smell the anxiety and curiosity emanating from him and that was a new combination somehow.

Stiles was sitting on his bed going through his journal filled with notes, but when Malia stepped inside and put the plate on the table, he looked up and faster than one would've though got up and embraced her, hiding his face on the curve of her neck.

"Are you alright?" he asked, although she was the one who wanted to make that question. Instead, she held him back, one arm tightly around him, the other hand going through his hair slowly and caring. Stiles didn't look up, just stayed that way as if that was all he could do to keep it together and yes, she could smell the blood and the confusion, but they were battling there and God knew how many chances she'd have to hold him like that again.

So she let him.

"I'm alright." Malia answered, her voice so calm no one could tell she was reading a horror book just minutes before. "I found the book-"

"Shhh." He cut her and for longer than expected they were silent before he spoke again. "I saw it, but we can talk about it later."

Only then Stiles looked up, his embrace loosening a bit. There was something in his eyes, something like a secret, but she knew he'd tell her – she was sure he would. He just needed to get over it first, to be able to put it into words, like her PSTD while driving. It was part of the deal.

He was tired and restless and he needed her. Same way she needed him. And they had each other.

"You brought pizza?" he suddenly asked and Malia smiled.

"Peperoni, we deserve it."

And even though he didn't eat as much as one slice as she devoured the other two, and even though he only slept when he was in her arms as she tried to read, and even though she wasn't exactly comfortable and couldn't put the book down until she was finished…

It was a good night. It really was.

a/n: I think I found my pitch again, you guises!

Also, can I get a review?

Thank you all for everything, I love you guys.