A/N: Hey guys! Well... I don't have a lot to say for this chapter. It's practically a reflection moment for Al, throughout the entire chapter with of course, a little "accident".
"The End"... Again, I didn't think that the songs I listened to while I'm writing affects me so much but it did. So One Republic's Say (All I Need) played and it just fits perfectly. Al wanting some peace in her life before she's gone and it's a nice tune to listen to before going to bed or just reflecting on life.
Hope you guys would enjoy reading it!
Lot of thank you to everyone who favourites, follows and read Wild Heart!
:)
Side note: I may be using '* * *' to signify a new scene/point of view since the line doesn't work.
Sorry about that!
It's the weekend and as usual, I have been in bed all day. Took one step down the stairs and I was led back to the room by dad. It was probably because of all the white lies I have been telling him at night just so I could pull Liam into the room. It gets frustrating just to know that I'll always be on the watch. Melissa had the morning shift of taking care of me and now Scott's back from hanging out with Kira to take up the night shift. Of course, both of them have been brief by dad before he leaves for work.
Eavesdropping to everything he had to say is quite the same as a jab to my gut. I can no longer be the independent girl from San Francisco. Dad now treats me like a little girl, or to be more specific, a dying girl of a lost cause.
All day I keep on listening to these people's thoughts and what they're saying and it's not making me feel any better. I feel so trapped and if I'm going to die tomorrow, the last thing I'd want to be doing is stuck at home doing nothing. I don't want to feel sorry for myself at the last moments of my life. I want to be stronger than I'm supposed to be, in contrast to whatever anyone has to say about how the disease is consuming me.
Opening the closet, I smile to finally change into something other than another t-shirt or pullover and sweatpants. With great enthusiasm since forever, I change into a muscle tank top paired with Nike running capris and a pair of Nike flex running shoes. It's time I get out of this house and take a breather from thinking.
Sneaking out from Scott's watch is probably one of the best things I've done since I was diagnosed with this disease. I'm not even sorry if he were to get a scolding from dad because honestly, I need this. I owe it to myself and it isn't anyone's fault that I'm in need of fresh air from all the negative thoughts. Half an hour ago, I climbed out of my room through the window and now I'm running at a slow pace in the woods.
My head is at ease right now. The wind is blowing through my dark, tied-up hair. It's a nice feeling to be all alone yet instead of more things polluting my mind, I'm clearing it. All I want to do throughout this run is what it have always help me with – reflecting. This is how I've live my life since I was in San Francisco and I'll continue doing so. I realize not even this disease can stop me from doing what I've been doing all my life.
It's hard to believe that my life actually begins right here in Beacon Hills. I used to live here with my family as a whole. Melissa was being a mum, showering me with love and then I moved for years to reside in San Francisco with dad before making my return back here, unexpectedly.
Chuckling, I remembered exactly walking into class on the very first day and my eyes not only met Scott's but someone whom I've once had a crush on, Stiles. My crush towards him no longer exists though as soon as I answered the phone call one day. The attraction I have for him was purely erased, or so I thought when he continuously tried to defend me. I thought I could love him the same but I couldn't and it's not only because of the phone call but Stiles deserves better. I'm just not good enough for him.
And then there's Liam, the freshman who have grown to be my confidant besides dad. He understands me, he knows me. Liam, out of anyone else, overlook all I ever am or what I've done just so we can still be friends. We obviously have had bumps along the way but we manage to get back together because we're better together. Aside from him, Stiles and Lydia's trust in me leaves me in astonishment too. They didn't judge me without evidence; they genuinely believed that I was innocent – when I really wasn't.
By the end of it all, I realized two things. I'll never be an innocent nor will I ever live in this world forever because of Lymphoma. The people that I loathe especially, Melissa and Scott, tried to save me. They didn't want me to die but they also don't have a sensible point to make me change my mind to stay alive.
At this moment, I drop down on my knees, shedding all the tears I've been hiding to everyone. They keep on crying for me – because of me – and that leaves me questioning whether they will be happier with me alive. I doubt so. There's nothing I can do to make them believe me – ever – and it's all because of one mistake.
"Why are you all alone here?"
Wiping away the tears I've shed, I tilt my head up to look at the person standing metres away. Malia shows herself, stepping out of the shadows.
"It's not a werecoyote's territory so I'm taking a brisk walk."
I retorted, with slightly puffy eyes and the strongest tone I could come out with after crying my eyes out. I don't need Malia to know that I've been crying in the woods. It's none of her business to know anything about her. I'm not even sure as to how she could find me right here in the middle of the woods at this timing.
Malia make her way towards me with a clear intention. With her hand held out, I take a grasp of it to get myself out before taking a step back. I'm not as stupid as she is. I know precisely what's on her mind and I'm not going away without a fight.
"Think again, Hale."
I deliberately mentioned her legitimate last name before taking the chance to lunge at her. I could at least strike on her last nerve before I throw in a few punches to her face. She didn't even try to fight back but pushed me away after I hit her with the fourth punch. I lands a few metres away from her with a bruised elbow before Malia stands before me.
"I'm sorry."
The next second, I look down with jaw drop to see her claws pierced my stomach. A sharp pain surfaces only when she pulls it out and I blacked out almost immediately after a couple of seconds of blurred vision.
* * * As quick as lightning, or not quite, he dashes into the house and run up the stairs to the room which he's familiar with. However, only one thing seems to catch his sight, attention and breathing. There lying on Stiles' bed is Al with her t-shirt soaked with her own blood. He should have known Al and her shield powers are strong but somehow over time, Scott has begun to feel closer to Al. He somewhat felt an unusual sense trickle down his spine each time something happened to her. It all started right after she saved Stiles life, Scott remembered correctly. Blood is thicker than water, he thought.
"SHE'S BLEEDING!" Scott exclaimed in horror.
"Yes Scott, we're perfectly aware of that."
Stiles replied, proving exactly how he never fails in the language of sarcasm. He's clearly hiding his terror better than Al's twin, Malia observed from the corner of the room. Walking forward, the werecoyote stands right next to Scott.
"Bite her."
"WHAT?!"
Both males shouted back in more shock than they already am. Malia couldn't be serious; Scott and Stiles read each other's expression as they turn to look at one another. There she is again, in more pain than she already have been suffering. Scott couldn't bear to see her so ever since that night. The memory is still vivid in his mind when he looked up to see Al scrambling away from him – saving herself from the bite.
She has never looked defenceless in his eyes. Al never fails to give up a fight to anyone who dares to cross her, or change her beliefs. Only now while she's unconscious with her hands covered with blood and wound wide open, he knows there's no way she's fighting back at the exact moment. Scott is indeed turning as pale as his sister is just by watching the amount of blood she's losing with every second passing by.
"The longer you wait, she will die Scott. Just bite her." Malia continues taunting.
"No! Malia, he can't." Stiles spoke in resistance to Malia's demand. "Scott don't."
Without saying a word, the older twin walks over to his sister. He refuses to take a look at the worsening wound and covered it with his second piece of top, a flannel shirt. Not wanting to waste any more time, he carries the lightweight teenager and charges for the door.
"Stiles, we need to get to the hospital now."
"Got it!"
Strongly agreeing with Scott's decision, Stiles reach for his car keys on the desk and rushes to his car. As of now, he cannot deal with Malia. She is his girlfriend but Lyssa is his friend. A childhood friend of his whom have done anything that she could to save his life. Seeing how she's rejecting the help she needed to continue living, Stiles just wants her to be happy and he knows for sure that turning into a werewolf or even getting the bite isn't what she wants.
"I'm sorry."
Those were the last words he said to Malia before running out of the room. It's not just about Lyssa; it's also Scott and his mum. They loved her so much and Stiles actually wants to see them bond more. He couldn't resist to not help to extend her life span than she anticipates.
All he wants is to make up for all the mistakes he have made towards Lyssa before.
* * * "What happened?!"
Rafe drives over to the Beacon Hills Memorial Hospital as soon as he receives a call from Melissa. He couldn't wait any longer and flee from his workplace just when he heard Al's arrival to the hospital – wounded. Getting calls regarding Al getting into fights previously in San Francisco isn't a surprise for him. Well, he was hoping that she would turn over new leaf when in Beacon Hills but he was wrong. Just as he was wrong to trust that it's alright to leave Scott alone with Al despite the previous encounters he have seen between the siblings.
He has taken her into a place where mysteries remain unsolved. God knows what else exists in this town and Rafe sure knows that his son have been keeping something away from him ever since his arrival.
As for Al, she never speaks about everything. Her reservation has been due to the abandonment and Rafe certainly don't want to force her into revealing what she prefers to keep to herself. He just wants his daughter to be happy. He only wants to see her happy with a genuine smile on her face which would last longer than just a day or two.
"Scott?" Melissa questioned him too.
"I don't know. I found her in the woods and, she must have been running."
He blurted out, in panic. Still in horror of the sight of Al, he couldn't think straight. There's not a second goes by when he's not anxious since Al enters the room accompanied by the nurses and a doctor.
It was partially his fault for not realizing that Al fled from the house. They were home alone and he was supposed to take care of her. That was the last thing both of his parents said to him before they left for work. All of them loved Al but they have to continue with their lives while Scott just wants to redeem his mistakes to be a good big brother to his only twin.
The kind of twins he and Al are is different. They don't have the immediate bond just because they're twins. They're fraternal twins, which explains why no one would ever suspect that Scott is related to the new girl on the first day when she entered Beacon Hills High.
"I'll go check on her." Melissa uttered. "You two just breathe okay."
"Melissa, Agent McCall, Scott."
The doctor greeted each of them, with a nod as soon as Melissa turns around. While the three of Al's family members continue to worries, he seem to keep a straight face as though what he's about to say isn't good news. Scott observes him very carefully, fully conscious of the ticking time. Each second counts and while the doctor's heartbeat remains steady, he is driven with anxiety of his parents' including his own beating heart.
"How is she doctor? How's Al?" Scott snapped, impatiently.
"Al is experiencing a severe loss of blood. We need to conduct a blood transfusion and since we are low on Al's type of blood supply,"
"I'll do it."
With no hesitation, Melissa steps forward. The two males have no words to say as they turn to see each other. Rafe would have stepped forward too to save Al's life but it seems like he will have to step on the brakes. Scott is speechless since he has no idea either if his blood type would be compatible to Al's. He stays silent to allow his parents discuss it between themselves.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
"She's my daughter too and I love her just as much as you do. I want a chance to be a part of her life Rafe and I'll do anything for her to forgive me."
He remains frozen for a minute before releasing a sigh and nods. Melissa has a point. While he have been trying to catch up with Scott after years of absence, Rafe realized his ex-wife have been trying to do the same. Although Al is a tougher cookie to impress or ask for forgiveness. She isn't made of cotton candy or sprinkles but a rock and fire that will burn people just as how burnt she is – having to deal without a motherly figure in her life.
Melissa takes a deep breath and turns to see her son. He gives him a tight, warm hug before she leaves to follow the doctor. They barely say another word until she enters the room, where nurses start attending to her. To see Al again alive is the only thing she wants as of now. The teenager have a long life ahead of her and as her mum, Melissa feels as though she can do more than this just to keep Al alive. Anything at all to keep her living, Melissa will do it without faltering.
It didn't take longer than 2 minutes until I realized, I'm still breathing and I'm in one of the wards of Beacon Hills Memorial Hospital. The last time I was conscious, I remember feeling so weak and I was having trouble breathing. I thought I would stop, quit it forever and just die but I didn't. I live through the pain of being stabbed in the stomach by a werecoyote that deserves a piece of ass kicking once I'm out of this bed.
The smell of the hospital reeks, first of all and it's cold. It really is even though I have the bottom half of my body covered with the blanket. Plus everything in the room is white. It's like I'm supposed to die but no, I'm not – just yet. Instead I'm just stuck in a place when babies are born and some others might die. Life is simply full of surprises and surviving what Malia did to me is one of them.
Once I heard the turn of the doorknob, I lie flat on my back – staring straight up to the ceiling. It's not the perfect time for me to talk or even see anyone right now. I'm not ready to talk or do anything as of yet. I just woke up 10 minutes ago, still in question of what had happened and why did it happened, and I already have a visitor. To make it all better, it's Sheriff Stilinski.
"Al Lyssa McCall, how are you doing?"
I stay silent as he takes a seat by the side of my bed. As if time have ran out for me to answer his question, the Sheriff sighs and shifts in his seat. My plan's working. I don't have to say a word to anyone about anything because I'm able to handle the matter on my own. I don't have to wait for karma to happen, I get even and that's precisely how what goes around, comes back around.
"I heard you're doing better after Melissa donated a fair amount of blood. No one except for your family and my son actually thought you'd survive without a blood transfusion. Your condition is," He paused as though he's trying to find an accurate word. "Critical."
He shows a small smile, looking right at me – ignoring him. After learning from Stiles and my dad, the Sheriff should know better that I don't work with people easily unless it's kicking their butts. Well, I certainly have punched his son's face before and surprisingly, this is actually the first time he have approached me personally.
"I really hope you'll get well soon. Seems like everyone out there is confident in seeing you making out of the operating theatre alive. You must be one good kid Al and they're right. You sure are one strong as hell girl."
The Sheriff sighs again receiving no respond from me. He did take a closer look at my skin which are exposed for any signs of attack but catch nothing. The rest of my skin, with the exception of my stomach and covered elbow, is flawless without a scratch. I couldn't bring myself up again after the first try. It stings so bad after the doctor have stitched the wounds.
I even did my counting of the number of stitches before the Sheriff decided to intrude. There were a total of 20 stitches and this is all because of one werecoyote. If I were to reveal it to the Sheriff, what can he do? He'll most probably pat her head and let her get away with it just because he is Stiles' girlfriend and Stiles is his son.
There are so many reasons for my act of silence but I'd rather say nothing. It's between me and Malia and everyone else should stay out of it, particularly Stiles. It's not entirely about him since she have pierced her claws into my stomach which lands me in here. It's definitely about us and how I'll give her a piece of sweet justice as soon as I'm out of here, just as the Sheriff should be by now.
Walking out of the ward, the Sheriff shook his head to the legal guardian of Al. For nearly five minutes he lasted in the room, Al has lasted throughout the time without opening her mouth. He was sure her vocal cord is still working but she intends to keep all the information to herself. Either Rafe or Stiles wouldn't have to warn him about Al's resistance because he'd already guess by how she survived with the loss of blood and on the brim of losing her life at an early period than expected with her disease. He didn't know much about the kid but the Sheriff sure does respect her as a patient of a life threatening disease.
"I could come another time to question her." He suggested.
"No, it's okay. I'll take it from here."
"You're sure?"
The Sheriff seeks confirmation. It was his duty to conduct the interrogation, not an FBI Agent who also happened to be the father of the victim. While he would have love to argue with the fellow Agent McCall for overstepping his boundaries, the Sheriff thought of how Al is closer to her dad rather than anyone else. Besides, she's also the one to save his son's life. For that, he is forever grateful towards Al and will do anything so as to make her think otherwise.
Rafe nods which allows the Sheriff to make his way out of the hospital. He decided to stay. Rafe have to stay to take a good care of his daughter. He loves her so much and he was so close to losing her last night which he fears most. To be frank, living without Al in his life is unimaginable. Her existence means the world to him.
God knows who would have caused this to happen to Al. She's not the most patient or charming girl to be around with but on good days, Al is tolerable and, a lifesaver. There's so many reasons for her to live longer than the doctor have measured but all Rafe wants is for him to know that he makes sure that she goes for the necessary treatment which could potentially extend her life span. At this point, she will have to listen to him because he cares for her – always have, always will – but she needs to understand that and do as he says because it's for her own good too.
Days have passed and I'm eventually home. The stitched wound has fully healed, with Scott's help which was much unneeded. He did so while I was asleep and he sneaks into the ward I was in at 3 in the morning. Before I could stop him, Scott grab hold of my wrist and take the pain away as well as healing the wound completely.
I remembered telling him to stay away but he didn't want to. Scott looked me in the eye and promised directly to me that he'll do anything to keep me safe. It must have been because of dad. He has failed dad's trust of keeping me safe and it's on me. Although one thing I know for sure is, I don't have to apologise for my actions.
"I'm so close to losing you Al. Do you want to know how it feels?" Dad asked, pleadingly.
"No. And I don't want to know about going for radiotherapy."
He should have known. Similar to him, Al doesn't stay down even in her direful conditions. One way or another, she must have found out the news somewhere. Rafe is an idiot to think he can prolong keeping the secret between himself, Melissa and the doctor.
"Radiotherapy helps to cure it darling. Doctor Connor told me that,"
"Radiotherapy or radiation therapy would help in destroying the cancerous cells that have developed in her body as involves directing a carefully focused beam of high-energy X-rays onto Lymphomas."
I completed his sentence, with the precise words. There's nothing left to hide. The initial conversation between the two was heard while they were right outside of my ward. The plan was for the doctor to provide me with the best treatment to prolong my existence. Since there's better treatment just outside of Beacon Hills, dad has agreed to it – without a doubt.
He could have at least talked to me. I know that he did try that once before and I still wouldn't want to go, to be honest. It may be leaving Beacon Hills, even for a short while but dad won't be with me. I'm sure he can't be with the workload he have currently. While he has been spending time to watch over me for the past days in the hospital, his work have been piling up in the office and it's all because of me.
With clenched fists, I listen to whatever he has to say. All the words he's saying to convince me to go. The tone he's using almost sounds as though he's begging. Dad is begging me to go for something which could possibly gain me a little more time living while I'm the one rejecting it with no hesitation. This isn't anything that I'd ever imagine to happen between me and dad, ever.
"Please go, it's not only for you but me and everyone that loves you."
Dad take hold of both of my hands, kneeling right in front of me. He is literally pleading on his knees right now. Nothing could ever break my heart more to have ever done this to dad. I may have disagreed with some of the decisions he have made most of the time but I still love him. He's the only parent I have which have been with me all my life. I couldn't let him plead for anything especially not for this. It's not worth it just because I will die very soon.
"Fine. When do I leave?" I uttered, forcing the words out.
"In three days' time." Dad responded quickly. "A nurse will be with you at all times once you're there."
I nod vaguely and dad releases his hold on my hands only to pull me into a hug. He repeatedly thanked me as though it's his life I'm saving. While I don't want to be saved, all everyone wants to do is keep me alive and go through a messed up treatment which would be a waste of money. I don't necessarily require it anyway.
"I'm glad, very very glad that you're going darling. I love you so much."
I remain silent in dad's gentle embrace. I'm sure he could feel the warmth of my body, the usual feverish that comes with the disease. Each time I want to whine and complain about feeling all of these, I think about my goal. It's what I want and just to get exactly what I want, I'm willing to go through these but dad… I can't simply ignore his request. Only for dad, I'm willing to do this because I know I'll never get well soon no matter how good the treatment is or how qualified the doctor is.
I just wish his hopes aren't as high as I thought because I don't want to see him crumble. Plus he could use some time to learn to let me go while I'm away. I guess, this out-of-town plan he arranged might be of some help after all.
