Chapter Thirty-seven: The Hero's Curse

THE IDENTITY THIEF IN CUSTODY.

That was the first thing that went across every single news platform in Manhattan was that line. The official report would be that police officers rescued a young man, (me) and two girls that were captured by Harris. This was because they didn't want it to be known that I had taken police files and took the law into my own hands to find him. Dad also was placed on suspension for a week because of his actions in which helped me find the Identity Thief. It didn't matter though, there were enough students there at the scene that the truth was out there. The truth was I saved Erica Reyes and Cora Hale from Harris. I fought the Identity Thief and won. That was what people would know come morning.

I figured Dad would be a lot angrier with me over the incident, but he was genuinely happy that I had managed to save the lives of not one, but two people. I got justice for all of Harris' victims. I couldn't lie if I wanted to over how happy I was. Police kept me at the scene to check out my wounds, (thankfully they weren't too extensive because they just patched me up, not realizing how deep the claw marks had been) and also to get my statement. I told them what had happened. That I found out who Harris really was, and came here to see if Erica was here. Called Dad because I was afraid, and then that was when he attacked me. I managed to take him down, and that was when the cops showed up. I couldn't just explain that I had superhuman powers and that I fought a werewolf down in the basement and all that insane stuff. Probably be put into a mental asylum, or I'd get put on a dissecting table. Either way, that wasn't happening.

All I know was, the chaos that surrounded the Identity Thief wasn't over. He might be behind bars, but the chaos of cleaning everything up, was just beginning.

Stiles wasn't sure how long he was outside that house getting patched up, but when he finished he was greeted by Scott who hugged him tightly, a little too tightly if Stiles had to say anything.

"Dude, are you okay?"

"Well, nothing a few weeks won't heal, other than that I'm fine. Sorry I wasn't talking earlier."

Scott nodded, looking at the house. "Was it because of this?"

"Yeah, I didn't want anyone being dragged into this mess... I found out who Harris really was two days ago. That's why I didn't go to school on Thursday." Stiles explained, hoping that Scott wouldn't try to pry too much.

"Stiles, you could have died, you realize that right? We thought you were in trouble and you wouldn't tell us what was going on."

"Scott, I couldn't tell you what was going on. If it leaked out who he was before I found Erica, he would have killed her, I'm sure of it. I didn't want to risk losing her." Stiles sighed, as Scott sat down beside him.

"Oh. You did the right thing then, even if it was stupid on your part. Just, don't shut me out, okay?" Scott smiled, as he watched news vans pull up. Tonight was going to be a long night.

"Okay."

"Is Erica okay?" Scott inquired after a few moments of silence. Stiles nodded, smiling lightly.

"I got here in time. He was about to hurt her again when I got here. I did what I had to do. Fought like hell."

"Am I supposed to believe you fought Harris and overpowered him? Who are you, Battlin' Jack Murdock?" Scott laughed sourly, remembering the famous boxer that had died after a match years ago. Nobody knew who had killed him at the time, but an anonymous tip came through a few years ago, and a gangster was arrested for the murder.

"No, in truth I just caught him by surprise. Broke a couple cabinets in the process. I might have taken it a bit farther than needed to be honest. I'm just glad I found her, Scott. I don't know what I would do if she... you know." Stiles sighed, not wanting to think about that possible outcome.

"Stiles, do you know why Harris took her?"

Stiles didn't want to answer, but figured it was best that he told Scott. He couldn't shut him out completely, but he could hide the part about the werewolves and the super power bit. "Yeah, he wanted to make her turn into something like him..." and so Stiles explained what happened to Harris, and why he took Erica. Stiles explained how he figured it out, and got here to save Erica.

He also explained that he needed to clarify some things, not specifying that he was about to let go of someone he cared about.

They say that heroes never get the girl. Because their lives are too dangerous for that. I guess I figured that out when Lydia was targeted, and now with Erica having nearly died... I guess they were right. I suppose it's a curse I have to live with... I have to let Erica go, to protect her...

Saturday, September 1st

The hospital was always a sore spot for Stiles, it was where he had lost his mother. He didn't like coming here because of that very reason, but he had to see Erica. It had been on his mind ever since she had been taken away in that ambulance. Something had been bothering him from the very beginning. It was something that he told Harris during their confrontation.

As he stepped into her room, he found her awake, laying in bed, looking as beautiful as ever, sure, a little damaged, but beautiful nevertheless.

"Hey you..." Erica smiled at him as he knocked on the wall.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked, sitting down beside her in a chair.

"Sore, scared... nothing a bit of rest and years of therapy won't fix, hopefully."

She's like me in that aspect. No wonder I liked her. Stiles smiled weakly, his smile turning to a frown as he came to the subject he had been focusing on. She grabbed his hand, but Stiles unconsciously pulled away.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I think for the first time in a long time I am. Erica, Harris told me why you broke up with me. It was because you wanted to protect me. I thought it was something to do with me, that I had done something to you, but I was wrong. I just, I just wish you had hinted at what was going on sooner."

"Stiles, I couldn't tell you then. He told me he'd kill you if he even suspected I told you anything."

Stiles nodded, but the words that he was about to say were going to set him on a path, one without her.

"Erica, I don't know what you might be thinking, but... this," he motioned at the two of them. "us, it can't happen. The only reason Harris came after you in the first place was to hurt me. It took me until tonight to see that. I don't want to be the reason you get hurt, or worse, killed."

"Stiles, I..."

"Just, please listen. Guys like me, we make enemies, sometimes powerful enemies. That puts the ones we love in danger. I can't put that on you, I just can't. I don't want you waiting for me to come around."

"I know, how can I compete with Lydia Martin?" she asked with a coy smile, obviously not upset by his words.

"What?" he asked, shocked by her statement.

"Stiles, please... I know you still have feelings for her. I'd be dumb if I didn't see that every time you look at her."

"I can't exactly be with her, either. She has a boyfriend."

"So, does that stop you from telling her how you really feel? Literally everyone but Lydia knows how much you really care about her, Stiles."

"Hmm, kind of like you and Flash?" he laughed, causing a weird look from her. "Oh, so it IS like that."

"Okay, Flash Thompson does not have a crush on me."

"Oh my god, he totally does. Erica, the day you had a seizure in class, he never left your side. In fact he's been extremely protective of you for a long time. He thought that scar on your arm, was from me. That's why he's been at my throat for a while now, is because of that. And, I know it's weird to say, considering it's Flash of all people, but you should give him a chance. Who knows, maybe you'll make a good guy out of him."

"Yeah, who knows..."

"After all, I think he's waited on you a lot longer than either of us know."

"So, we're... we're done?"

"Yeah, we're done Erica." he sighed weakly, leaning forward and kissing her on the forehead. "Now, as much as I'd love to stay and chat, you have some people who want to see you."

"And you've got a redhead to go see, right?" she winked as Stiles just smiled.

"Strawberry blonde..." Stiles said as he left, stopping in the doorway. "Bye, Erica."

"Bye, Stiles."

Stiles left the hospital, feeling a weight lifted off of his chest. He would have went to see Cora, but knowing how Derek was, chances were they already were out of the hospital and home, celebrating Cora's safe return. On his way out, he bumped into Flash, who brought him into a hug, telling him thank you for protecting Erica. It was then that Stiles knew that he cared about Erica in the same way he had.

"Take care of her, Flash."

Flash nodded, and Stiles patted him on the shoulder, before taking his leave.

Lydia heard the knock on her door as she laid back on the couch. She raised her eyebrow, curious as to who would be showing up at two o'clock in the morning. Getting up and strolling to the door, she was surprised to find Stiles standing there with his head lowered slightly. Lydia had heard the news, Scott had called her and let her know what had happened, and before Stiles could even react she was in his arms, hugging him tighter than even Scott had.

"You are certifiably insane, you know that right?" she asked looking up at him. Stiles chuckled, nodding lightly as she pulled him inside.

"I've been told that a few times tonight, yeah."

"What are you doing here?"

"You came to the house the other night, talking about how you didn't understand why you weren't able to sleep right, and I wasn't focused on the conversation because of what was going on with Erica. I didn't want you thinking that I was ignoring your feelings. In fact, it's why I came partially. To see if you wanted to talk, and another because I think my Dad might put me on house arrest for what I did." he explained, sitting down on the couch with Lydia.

"My Mom's in bed, so you can stay here if you want. I was just about to watch a movie." she offered, to which he nodded thankfully.

"What movie?"

"Um..." she trailed off nervously, as Stiles' eyes fell upon the movie stand. He laughed at the sight of only one movie.

"You only own the Notebook?" he asked with surprise, as she blushed out of embarrassment. Jesus... I need to get you hooked up... you're missing out. "It's fine, that's, that's perfect."

He yawned as Lydia started the movie, and grabbed a blanket bringing it back over to him. The adrenaline he had felt the past few days had finally worn off and he felt utterly drained. Lydia sat down beside him, and the moment she did Stiles realized something.

"My pillow..."

"Hmm?" she asked, having not heard his whisper.

"My pillow, I don't have my pillow."

"Oh," she had completely forgotten that Stiles couldn't sleep without the pillow his mother had used before she died. The night his mother died Stiles fell asleep with it and became attached to the pillow. Lydia felt bad for not even thinking about it.

Stiles knew he wasn't going to fall asleep, unless he was knocked out, and that wasn't happening so he just laid back and figured he'd try to stay up until morning when it was safe to go home.

As the movie played, he eventually found that Lydia had fallen asleep. He stood up, pulling the blanket over Lydia to keep her warm. Stiles thought to himself that perhaps Erica was right, that it would be better if he told Lydia how he felt, but then he thought back to how everything that had happened in the past month had led to this moment. The moment he got that spider bite was when everything started going downhill. Lydia had almost died because she was close to him, if he told her, and she actually reciprocated those feelings, he didn't want to take that chance.

However, he just couldn't bring himself to leave the apartment, even with those thoughts running through his head. He owed her an explanation, and while it wouldn't be the one he wanted to give, it would be the one with the least repercussions. So, he sat down on the couch and watched the rest of the movie.

Watching the end, he thought about his mother and tears ran down his face. Lydia's eyes fluttered open as she looked up to see the tears running down Stiles's face. Sitting up, she adjusted herself to where she was leaned back against him, and her head resting on his shoulder. Stiles and Lydia didn't exchange any words as the movie went to credits, but it was safe to say that no words were needed in that moment. Stiles closed his eyes, and even though he didn't have his pillow with him, he fell asleep with Lydia in his arms... Lydia would stay awake for a while, wondering why it felt like they had been in a position similar to this not too long ago.

Laura opened her eyes as Cora laid beside her, having never left her side that night after leaving the hospital to find Derek was gone, and the front door was wide open.

Derek stepped into the parking structure holding a bag of the purple vials containing the Lycan Serum, as a man with green skin stepped out of a van.

"Good work... now, get into the van... we have a big job to do." the green skinned man smiled sincerely as Derek nodded, getting into the van, where a man with frosted hair sat. It was the very same man that had robbed the wrestling event Stiles had entered in.

"Why do you need me for what's coming?" Derek asked, as the man chuckled.

"Because, you never know who might try to play hero."

END OF EPISODE FOUR