I really don't know why I've been so set on angsting this pairing lately, I swear it's not intentional! But this does end well, so at least there's that.

This is from a tumblr prompt: "Just leave me ALONE."

Set in s5, taking liberties with who the Doctors are and what they can do.

Not again. Never again.

His mental mantra did nothing though, the injection coursing through his veins was too much for him to fight against, no matter how hard he tried. He could feel the all too familiar darkness enveloping him again, a feeling he thought, hoped, he would never feel again.

Hello, Stiles. Long time no see…

He couldn't help the shiver that ran through his body as he heard that voice again, the one he thought he was free from, the one he only heard in his nightmares. Until now.

No, you're not real! This is just some sort of hallucination!

The voice chuckled darkly, causing the hairs to stand up all over Stiles' body as his head began to throb.

Tell yourself what you like, it doesn't change anything. Did you really think you could get rid of me so easily? That a mere bite could stop me?

More maniacal laughter rang through his head as Stiles threw up his hands, gripping his ears in an attempt to silence it. He fell to his knees on the floor, mind racing as he tried to force the voice from his mind, to tell himself it wasn't real, that it wasn't happening all over again.

That his nightmares weren't coming true.

"Stiles? Are you okay?"

His head shot up at the hesitant voice. Lydia. He had forgotten she was locked in the room with him. Suddenly the reality of their situation crashed down on him; the danger.

No, he couldn't do that to her, not again. Not like last time.

"Lydia, stay back! You can't- it's not safe for you to be around me!"

Ooh, I remember her! The banshee… I believe we have some unfinished business.

"No! Leave her alone!" he shouted, clutching his head once more, not realizing he had spoken aloud.

"Stiles?" Lydia questioned, taking a step towards him.

"No! Don't!" he cried, eyes wide and wild as he stood up only to slam himself back against the wall.

You think you can stop me? You couldn't before, what makes you think you can now? You're weak, Stiles. You always have been. You can't save her.

"I will stop you!"

Lydia stared at him with a worried expression, eyes searching his face for an explanation. She knew the Doctors had done something to him, put something in that syringe, but what she didn't know. All she knew was that she had to help him.

"Stiles, please, tell me what's wrong. Let me help you."

Yes, tell her! Let her remember me. Let me see that lovely fear on her face again!

"No! Just leave me ALONE." he yelled, unsure himself if he was directing his words to just him or her as well. "You're not real! You're gone! Not real, not real…"

She watched him fall in a crumpled mess on the floor, folding in on himself, sweat drenching his skin. Lydia furrowed her brows, a familiar determined look crossing her features before she strode forward, all hesitation gone.

He flinched as she knelt beside him, trying to move away to no avail. He let out a whimper as he found himself pulled into a strong embrace, stiffening as he realized how close she really was.

"No, Lydia, it's not safe-"

"Shut up Stiles."

He turned surprised eyes up to her. "Lydia?"

The strawberry blonde rolled her eyes even as she tightened her grip around him. "Don't be an idiot. What makes you think I'd ever leave you?"

"But- He's back, I can't-"

"It's not real, Stiles!" she insisted, leaning her head down so her forehead rested against his. "And even if it was, I wouldn't leave you, not even then."

He was speechless at this, too surprised to notice the throbbing in his head fading away.

"You're not him, Stiles. I never thought you were," she said quietly, sighing when she felt his arms wrap around her, returning the comforting embrace.

"…Thanks, Lyds."

"We'll get through this, just like we always do," she assured him.

Her fingers absentmindedly stroked through his hair as she held him while he calmed down and Stiles couldn't help but believe her, pushing away the thoughts of him and focusing on the sound of the off-key humming of the girl who could chase away his fears.