I'm pushing the rating up now as things get a little steamy in Lydia's dreams for a while, until the main event with Peter. Enjoy!

He reached for her in the dark; his large hands running themselves slowly down bare arms leaving a trail of fire in their wake, brushing over her skin and past the place she desperately wished for their touch, sliding along her legs, tugging at the ankles to pull her closer. His body covers hers completely as though to blanket and protect her or to possess her, either one left a dark thrill inside that bloomed in her stomach and flowed into her veins. Her hands pushed onto his shoulders and down his back as she pulled him closer still, never enough but to feel his skin upon hers as he trailed scorching kisses down her neck and into the crook where he nibbled at the skin, murmuring her name.

Pushing her leg up and positioning himself between her thighs, he chuckled deeply at her keen of need and his amusement was infuriating.

He pressed himself flat against her entrance to tease her with the base of his cock and rubbing it along the clit, she dug her nails hard into his skin and begged for him to give her what she wanted. His hands grasped hard at her hips as he continued his ministrations for a while longer driving her wild with total desire for the man above.

"Please …" It sounded like a throaty whine and not at all like herself and somehow she felt angry and out of control, but her words spurred him to finally give in and she forgot herself completely as he pressed his hard penis against her core and drove himself to the hilt so deliciously that she came.

Lydia woke up with a shudder as her heart thrummed in her chest as though she'd just ran a marathon, the place between her legs throbbing. 'What the hell was that?' She thought, staring at the ceiling in total shock. It wasn't the first sex dream Lydia had ever experienced and she was sure it wouldn't be the last either; however the man had been faceless and in total control something that was entirely new to her. Lydia never let a man be in control and she never ever dreamed of someone without a face before. She turned to stare at the clock on the side and it said 9.05am.

With a loud groan of frustration Lydia rolled out of bed and stretched, ignoring the dull ache still between her legs as she refused to think about her newest dream man. She decided to get ready for the day ahead instead, even if she hadn't gotten her usual lazy Sunday morning. Pulling the curtains open she was greeted with dark grey skies and the first signs of rain with put her mood even gloomier than before. With a resigned sigh Lydia pulled the curtains closed once more and went about her morning, letting Prada out before eating the usual breakfast and then taking a nice long shower. She yawned as she came out of the bathroom with the towel wrapped nicely around her figure, sitting down to fix her hair and look presentable. Today she would visit Meredith.

Eichen House was pretty closed off but they had visiting hours between three and six in the afternoon which gave her a small window. She'd called ahead and they had said so long as she didn't bring anything harmful and Meredith was up to seeing people, she would be allowed in. Lydia knew exactly the kind of power a good front was however so she planned to look amazing. She straightened her hair and brushed it to perfection before opting for the sweet and innocent look for her makeup today. She chose to wear a white skirt and pale pink button cardigan from one of her favorite stores in L.A. She finished the look with light pink stockings and white Mary jane heeled shoes. Lydia added a finishing touch to a small silver pendant; the one Allison had given her, for luck. Then she added some silver and pink wrist bangles two on her right arm and one on her left for a nice and even balance. "Looking gorgeous as always!" Lydia winked and blew a kiss at her reflection, then strutted out the door to go downstairs and wait around for a bit.

Just as she walked into the kitchen for a drink she found her mother at the counter with a large mug of coffee and fashion mag, obviously still waking up and not yet dressed. She stared at the clock and saw that it was almost twelve in the afternoon

"Morning sweetie, did you sleep well?" Her mother didn't even glance up from her magazine to look at her daughter, and Lydia shrugged, as if to defy her mother's lack of attention somehow.

"I guess."

"Well that's good then. Have you had breakfast?" She asked absently turning a page completely absorbed in whatever article she had found.

"Yeah." Lydia didn't feel like answering with any more words than she had to, wasting breath on long replies were pointless when her mother was involved in her gossip or fashion magazines.

"Oh poo I was going to make pancakes." She pouted.

Lydia rolled her eyes, her mother never made breakfast but every now and again she acted as though she'd spoiled her plans by already eating. "Mom it's almost lunchtime."

"Nothing wrong with pancakes for lunch Lydia, don't be a spoil sport." Her mother looked up finally and stared at her daughter. "You look nice, going anywhere fun?"

"Just the nut house."

She looked confused for a few seconds as though actually trying to process her daughters words and then began to laugh "oh that's funny, the nut house. I thought you were being serious. Well don't stay out too long sweetie you know its back to school tomorrow." Mrs. Martin sighed deeply with that revelation and pulled a pack of cigarettes out of her bag "back to school, back to school." She sang morosely.

"Mom you know you can't smoke in the house." Lydia was starting to get rather annoyed now and wanted to get out of the kitchen. She moved to the fridge and opened it up to see what she wanted to eat. There wasn't a lot to choose from and it looked like they needed a good grocery shop, so Lydia pulled out raspberry yoghurt and set about making some mushroom soup. It didn't take her long to finish cooking and when she was done she sat down on the counter, her mother returned from outside and joined her there.

"That looks good" she said peeking at her lunch "you're such a resourceful child. I don't know who you inherited that from, certainly not your father."

Lydia rolled her eyes and took a sip of her food "well we both know I got your looks." She said before her mother even had a chance to go on a tirade about genes and her dad's lack of usefulness "are you getting dressed today?"

"Mmm no not today, its my day off I'm going to spend it relaxing." She smiled at Lydia and winked "shame you don't feel like joining me."

"Maybe next time." Lydia loved her mother a lot but lately she felt even more removed from their old life and how things used to be. Now that she knew about werewolves and kanima's and banshees she didn't have time to sit around with her mother and not worry about what was out there. Suddenly she felt guilty about that and she felt uncomfortable knowing her mother probably missed their time together. "Sorry." She mumbled around a spoon of mushrooms.

"That's okay sweetie I know you're a teenage girl you have plenty to do. I was worried when your little friend was killed that you wouldn't leave the house, but I'm just glad you're still being social." The way Mrs. Martin said things didn't always sound very respectful and Lydia could say with no doubt she definitely inherited that side of her.

"Thanks." No use arguing about Allison's name. Soon as she'd finished the soup she put the bowl in the sink and rinsed it out, then grabbed her yoghurt and spoon "I'm going to eat this in the other room." And she walked out to leave her mother and her fashion magazine in peace.

Lydia stood at the front of Eichen House and looked up at its imposing exterior. She had been here before but it really didn't get any less intimidating and she wondered for the people who lived there, a cold shudder made its way down her back. It was still raining hard and she wore a raincoat and clutched an umbrella tightly in her hands to keep herself dry but it didn't seem to be helping much as the day was muggy and humid even with the rain pounding away against the earth. Lydia pulled on her vast array of courage and walked the rest of the way to the building her shoes splashing water from the puddles.

The lobby was quiet and lit with a weak yellow light that didn't quite fill the room and as Lydia entered and hung her umbrella on the rack supplied, the bulb above began to flicker. 'Drats not again.' She looked over to the person who was working at the counter and found a young and impressionable man around her age, probably working the weekend for extra money. Lydia smirked to herself at just how easy this was going to be. Flicking her hair into place and pulling her raincoat off to hang with the umbrella, she undid the first two buttons of her cardigan and applied ample amounts of lip gloss before striding confidently up to the counter.

"Excuse me." Lydia used her best seductive purr.

He looked up and his eyes widened slightly before straitening his posture, wiping his brow and saying "good day miss how can I help you?"

"Hey cutie. I'm here to visit a friend she should be expecting me, her name is Meredith Walker, she's a resident here." Lydia fluttered her eyes slightly and tried to look as innocent and naïve as possible.

"Of course." He coughed "let me check our records, I won't be a moment."

Lydia turned and leaned back against the counter with her elbows as she waited for him to return. The bulb flickered again several times and she glared up at it wishing that whatever it was that kept up this annoying light problem would just leave or at least tell her what was going on. A door banged open loudly causing Lydia to jump and turn around as an orderly walked through the lobby eyeing her suspiciously. 'Ugh, I already hate this place.'

"Sorry to keep you waiting." The boy had returned with some paperwork. "I need you to fill this in, hand over any keys or sharp objects." He eyed her "Those earrings and necklace for instance."

"You're kidding me."

"Afraid not. I can't let you in until you do, then you'll get a sticker with your name on that says Visitor." He handed her a sheet of Visitor stickers and a black marker pen. Well she needed to speak to this person so she may as well comply with his request, so Lydia signed the sheet and checked the boxes with information about herself and then she took off her jewelry and pulled out her keys to the house and car from her bag. He handed over a tray in which she placed the items. "Do you have a cell phone?"

Lydia eyed him incredulously. "Yes."

"Hand it over please, you'll get everything back at the end of your visit… I promise." He blushed "I know this isn't what you'd probably have expected but we have to remove anything that could harm anyone or the patient could use to harm themselves or escape."

"It's fine." She sighed, having never been to a psychiatric hospital before this was new, but she filed all the information away like she did everything else and handed over the rest of her things. Once the sticker was firmly in place he led her over to a guarded double door with thick glass and even thicker plastic edges, there wasn't a single hint of metal or nails and hinges. The doors were opened on the other end by a guard who punched in a keypad and they hissed with pressure being let out, Lydia was told that Meredith would be waiting on the 5th floor.

As she made her way there guided by one of the people who worked in the unit she felt as though she was being taken into a prison, how could anyone stand being here? Lydia felt sorry for Meredith and the somber life she had in this place, and she hadn't even met the girl yet.

Once they reached the correct floor she was taken into a massive room with couches and chairs, a table in the middle. Others seemed to be visiting family or friends.

"Meredith is over in the corner waiting for you, you have an hour." The orderly walked off leaving Lydia alone to make her way, and she looked around the room to see that the place was being guarded and watched by men. Not very many women were in this room; she supposed they had other jobs. Lydia turned again to try and find Meredith, Stiles had said she was rather skinny with short hair but that seemed to be a common face in the room, they probably didn't eat much being locked away. She found her though when she looked to the corner in the right, she knew who it was as Meredith was staring straight at her. Lydia walked over quietly and sat down in front of the other girl, she didn't know how to start.

"You're Meredith aren't you. I'm-"

"Lydia." Meredith finished for her, blinking slowly.

She stared at her sticker that had her name and then back up to Meredith "right."

"You came to see me. Your friends… the skinny boy, he was desperate to find you." Meredith looked into Lydia's eyes as though they were familiar to her; it was a weird sensation.

"Stiles. He found me, thanks to you. You're like me, aren't you?" She tried to keep her voice low so that no one would hear, and it helped to steady her own voice.

"Like you."

"A…" She paused. "a Banshee."

"Banshee?" Meredith looked slightly confused. Maybe she didn't know about the supernatural world after all which Lydia felt was a rather disappointing moment as she'd hoped for help and to learn.

"Right, you get messages about the dead or people who're going to die?" Lydia supplied hopefully "you see or hear things, sometimes they're clear and other times they're confusing as hell."

Meredith tilted her head to the side and thought, "Yes. I see or hear things, things that aren't there."

"I need your help. I need to learn how to understand what I'm seeing." Lydia's heart sped up slightly, this was it… the only person who she thought would know and if Meredith couldn't help then what was left to her?

There was a long period of silence and Lydia thought that maybe she didn't understand what she wanted from her; she sat back in the chair and glanced at one of the guards. He had his hand at his hip and looked like he was clutching a Taser as if he were a cop clutching at the gun in its holster. The sound of Meredith's voice snapped her back to the present like a splash of cold water.

"You are too busy listening to the world and not listening to the Other."

She made no sense at all and it was starting to really frustrate Lydia, how could she possibly follow this person? "The Other?"

"The Other, where the messages come from. It's trying to knock on your door but you're not listening because you're too busy." Well that made so much sense; it was no wonder that she was in here. The words were confusing, like a riddle that needed to be deciphered and Lydia didn't have time to wade through them. She wanted straight up answers but really, what had she expected from this young woman in a mental institute.

Taking a deep breath she chose her next phrase carefully, "Okay so I need to uh, listen?"

"Your mind isn't attuned yet, you block out the message because your mind is clouded by everything else." Meredith looked like she was trying to find the right words to make it clearer, it was painful to watch "they want to talk to you all you have to do is open the door."

"Right…" Lydia could feel a headache coming on, this sounded like new age stuff where she would have to take yoga and meditate. "Can you show me? I'm a fast learner don't worry."

Meredith hummed thoughtfully and tilted her body left and right, then she crossed her legs and sat up straight on her big chair surprising Lydia who sat back to watch the other girl carefully. Meredith closed her eyes and spoke "clear your mind of any thoughts or sounds, don't listen to the world around you but the one inside speaking to you. It shouts your name and it wants to be heard so that you will know."

'Okay I can do this.' She closed her eyes but then she had a thought "What about the scream?"

"You're thinking. Stop thinking. The scream is to clear everything else away and sometimes it helps but only if you can't focus. Learn to focus." Meredith opened her eyes. "The scream… you scream."

Lydia watched her and she suddenly felt scared, there was a deep weight in those eyes as if she wanted to convey so much but couldn't articulate it. She guessed that they had her drugged up on something that was the only real explanation she could come up with, it was an uncomfortable knowledge.

"Focus." She said once more, and then closed her eyes again.

Following her lead Lydia closed her eyes and tried to focus on what was being told to her. From what she knew about meditation it was about clearing her head of everything else completely; and to be honest that was not a notion Lydia was familiar with at all. Her head was awash with information, thoughts, processing stimuli and body awareness. Taking a deep breath she tried to clear it as best she could, letting go of each inane idea that passed by and trying not to think about the frustration in her neck and shoulders.

The minutes ticked by slowly as Lydia slipped further and further into her mind until she felt it… no she heard it. Whispering. Only it wasn't really a whisper more like… a scream. All of a sudden there were pictures playing behind her eyes like a movie except more confusing, she tried to follow them and listen to what was happening but it was just a jumble of colors and shouts. Then there was a loud bang and she saw what was being shown to her over the last few days. The lights were flickering and there was blood, so much blood, and Derek had been shot. He was dying. Lydia didn't know how she knew, but she knew this was happening now; she was going to be too late.

She jumped up suddenly and her heart was racing in her chest "I have to go." She grabbed her bag and made to move.

"Wait!" Meredith had clutched at her arms now desperately but Lydia was too panicked to wait any longer, she had to help Derek now!

"I can't stay my friend's in trouble!" She wanted to scream so badly but she didn't need the attention, she had to stay calm.

"You have to listen."

"I did listen, you helped me and thank you but I have to go." Lydia did not want to get physical if she didn't have to, not with someone so obviously vulnerable.

"No. Listen!" Meredith would be sheet white if her skin weren't already a nice tan color and she was shaking uncontrollably. "It will drive you mad if you don't listen…"

Lydia's heart stopped cold. "What?"

"It will drive you mad…" Meredith's eyes were utterly wild now, and scared for…Lydia had no clue what she was scared for but she was also terrified.

Her arms hurt from the iron grip that Meredith had on her, but before she could say anything one of the guards were already there and they were prying her off Lydia. "We don't assault the visitors!" He said, pulling her arms roughly against her chest in restraint. Meredith began screaming and flailing around trying to get free, Lydia backed up not knowing what to say or do anymore, she wasn't used to dealing with this kind of thing. Was that going to be her? Would she go crazy too? Is that what Meredith had meant…

"I'm sorry!" Lydia turned and walked quickly to the exit, she didn't have time for this when Derek was most likely dead. She could hear Meredith screaming her name as she walked down the halls and it scared her, she was terrified. The orderly walked her out and then down to the first flaw where she arrived, and as she left the final set of closed doors she ran to the counter. "I need my things please, now."

"Alright hey calm down, are you okay miss?" The kid was just trying to be helpful she knew but Lydia didn't have time for helpful she needed her cell.

"I need my things, please." He nodded and handed them all over to her in a plastic bag, Lydia didn't even wait to open it she just took the bag and left the building without her coat and umbrella. Lydia pulled the phone out of the zip lock bag and turned it on, the wait for a signal was agonizing. She tapped her foot on the curb impatiently and watched the screen like a hawk until she saw it confirm that she had a signal for calling. Opening the contacts menu she typed in Peter's name and then dialed his number, her heart thumping loudly in her ears. "C'mon c'mon, answer the damn phone you ass- Peter!"

"Not so loud Lydia I'm not deaf." He sounded grumpy, but she didn't have time for asking him why.

"Peter it's Derek you have to go to his now!"

"What, did you see something?" His voice took on a worried edge now, as though realizing this was not a prank call.

"Yes! Please just go there, you have to or he'll die. He's been shot." She panted down the phone and Peter could hear how distressed she was.

"Okay calm down I'm on my way, call the twins and get them to meet me. I may need backup." He put the phone down without saying anything else.

Lydia stared at her phone her hands shaking; she took a deep breath and then dialed in for Aiden's number. Then she waited again for him to answer this time, praying he would pick up. She hadn't called or spoken to him for a while.

"Lydia? I wasn't expecting to hear from you." He said in surprise.

"Aiden. You need to get to Derek's loft now and help Peter they need you. You and Ethan." She said. "I'm getting in my car now, I'll meet you there." She put the phone down herself without even thinking to say goodbye or I'm sorry or… anything, and she walked as fast as she could to the car in this weather, entirely forgetting about her things that were still sitting on the rack inside.