Authors Note: HEYO! XD So, this is my THREE-quel to When You Were Young and I Won't Give Up

Please tell me what you think; I would love to know XD I own nothing and no one, apart from the following: Chase, Landon.

JUST SO YOU KNOW: like everyone else, I think, I have no idea what Stiles' real name is, so I'm going along with what everyone else puts :) I've made his middle name up XD

Please, please review XD

P.S. I've been really busy with college, so I won't update as regularly as I used to. It's going to be work-work-work, so bear with me, please :)

Chapter 14

Stiles

I spent a few days at home with my dad, the two of us needing that father-son-time. Sure, the Pack would drop by for a couple of hours every day, but other than that it was just dad and I spending some well deserved family time together.

Derek did sneak in through my bedroom window at night though, the both of us finding we slept better with the other there. And, you know, personal blanket. That was always good.

I had a feeling that dad knew about Derek's nightly visits, but the fact he had come into my room to 'check on me' or called me up on the in the morning was proof enough that he trusted me – as well as Derek. And I think Derek knew that too.

"When do you have to go back to work?" I asked one afternoon, dad and I sitting on the couch watching re-runs of random shows.

"Twenty eighth, so I'll be off for your birthday." dad smiled. "Made sure I would be."

I always loved when he had my birthday off... It wasn't as often as either of us would like, but it was always great when it happened.

Before my mom died, he was always off for my birthday... After? Well, the most recent on he was off for was my twelfth. We usually did something before or after the date, while the actual day was spent with Scott and – possibly, if she was off – Melissa.

"How are the bruises today?" he asked, quietly.

Ever since dad came home, he hadn't asked me much about what happened with the hunters. He realised, just like the Pack, that I wasn't in a place to talk about it just yet. The only thing he asked about was the bruises and cuts, asking if they hurt too much or not.

"Not so bad." I shrugged. "I'll survive."

That was my answer all the time, but dad knew me well enough to know when I was faking and in pain. Today, though, it was the truth. The pain had started to die down, the cuts starting to shrink, the bruises only hurting if touched.

Hopefully they would be gone soon.

For now, though, I just relaxed as best I could and enjoyed the company of my dad and our TV.

It was harder to relax at night, before Derek turned up.

Derek showed up when the Pack and my dad were all asleep and, so far, the latest he had been was eleven thirty – everyone had been really tired for the last few days.

However, now we were nearing a week of blessed nothingness, it was twelve forty five and Derek still hadn't shown up.

Now, most would think the worst thing about Derek not being here was that it was harder to fall asleep and relax. While that may be true, it wasn't the worst thing. The worst thing was, once I fell asleep, I had nightmares.

Vivid nightmares, making me think I was still in that underground thing and I was actually dreaming being at home. Of course, I knew I was actually at home, that much I knew... But it was harder to convince myself when I was dreaming.

Tonight was no exception to the nightmares, one forming behind my eyelids as soon as they shut.

It was the same every night.

Fear.

Pain.

Flashes of a sadistic smile.

Echoing voices.

Screams.

Hands reaching and grabbing.

A glint of metal.

The sound of something opening.

Every night, always the same thing. Over and over and over again!

Derek didn't really know about the nightmares, neither did dad... They both thought I was still awake, just trying to get comfortable.

Until tonight.

Screaming, screaming and more screaming. That's all I heard. The sound was flooding my ears, drowning me in the invisible waves rising over me. It was the only thing I could hear as the glint of metal and the flash of the sadistic grin blurred in a circle, going back and forth, in time with the screams.

It was only as a hand jolted me from sleep that I realised the screaming wasn't part of the dream... It was me, as I dreamed.

At first, I tried to fight off whoever had hold of me, still screaming. All I wanted was to get away.

And then I saw my dad. Dad was standing by the door, wide eyed and pale looking. The screams died off, but I still struggled and breathed heavily, whipping my head round to come face to face with Derek trying to get me to stay still.

I realised that I was clinging/clawing at the arm Derek had wrapped around my chest, across my shoulders. As soon as I noticed, I just held on as tight as I could.

Neither asked what the dream was about.

Neither asked how long the dreams had been going on.

They both knew the answers already.

Dad stayed in my room for a while longer, sitting on the bed with me and Derek, both of them just talking with me, a normal conversation, trying to help me forget and to calm down.

It worked to the extent that I no longer wanted to run until I couldn't run any more.

I hated nightmares.

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Thank you all of you guys XD