Lydia was nothing if not tenacious and perseverant. She excelled in all her classes and took pride in her appearance. When a problem arises, she would have a solution. There were no other possible outcomes. She did not fail. Ever. The only time she felt completely and utterly helpless involved a certain evil alpha who will remain nameless who attacked her in the football field almost a year ago. She vowed never to feel that helpless ever again.

Allison told her the situation earlier this morning. She immediately tried to find a solution. Printing article after article and searching through drug trial after drug trial, she experienced something she never felt before. She felt disheartened and worried. She might fail. This wasn't a werewolf they could battle or an evil witch. This was Stiles. And cancer. Growing up, she always thought Stiles kept the bald look because he was trying to get her attention. She never thought it was because of cancer. He was always the annoying bald kid who was hopeless in love with her, well, more like borderline stalker-obsessed with her during some points of her life. He was funny and smart, but he lacked true motivation to succeed. She also trumped that up to his ADHD and mommy issues.

Lydia knew exactly four things about Stiles. The first fact she knew about him was his mom died years ago and it was a tough spot in his life. He never talks about her. The second fact was that Stiles was in love her. But now he is with Derek? Third, she knew this pack would not be here together without him. His unending positive outlook on life kept the alpha pack from destroying them. His humanity saved them on many occasions. Mountain Ash was his way of protecting Erica and Boyd. The fourth and final fact she knew about Stiles was he made her a better person. He challenged her academically, the only way he ever bested Jackson. Without Stiles, there was no telling what could and would happen to the pack. She needed to find a cure. She knew in her heart the pack would push for a werewolf bite. Why wouldn't they? It healed Erica's epilepsy and freed Isaac from his abusive home. Boyd found companionship and his voice.

Lydia shook her head slightly as she looked over the papers spread out in front on the food court tables. She was waiting for everyone to finish lunch before she sprung everything on them. With Isaac's demeanor, she decided one-on-one would be better to convince Stiles to try a medical approach. The difficulty was trying to get him alone. Why was Derek so interested in Stiles all of a sudden? The man was so much older and way too broody. Anytime Stiles moved, the werewolf tracked him with his eyes. Was he overly caring because of Stiles' situation? Did he really care? Lydia was almost jealous of the attention Stiles equally paid Derek. Almost. Until she remember her task at hand.

Lydia was optimistic the cancer could be cured as long as they had enough money and could get Stiles into any one of the dozen drug trials. She shuffled through the packets. The only problem she found with the trials were the requirements that would allow him to be admitted or accepted. Each drug trial had a specific criterion to meet. Due to his age, Stiles did not qualify for the "children with cancer" trials, even with having it years ago. Also, he was not old enough for the other half of the trials as he was under the age of 18. Either he had to become a lot younger or a couple of years older to get into one of these.

Lydia cried out in frustration as she slammed her hand on the table. There had to be something she could do. She was a banshee and an incredibly intelligent young woman. Her family had money and connections. Surely, there was something they could do to get Stiles onto one of the trials. Looking at the cost of cancer drugs infuriated her. 600 dollars for a two weeks dosage for one drug. Over a thousand for a different pill. Capitalism at its finest. Cruelty like this drove her to be a scientist or a doctor. A doctor! Well, she knew of a supernatural type of doctor. Maybe…

Perhaps she could do it a different way? She quickly shot off a text before packing up all the paperwork. She knew what she had to do. If there was anyone who could help, it was him. Lydia quickly scanned the area in search of Stiles. She thought she saw him go into Hot Topic. It did not take long for her to find him in the back of the room wrapped around Isaac. Rolling her eyes over the sentimentality, she grabbed Stiles' arm and pulled.

"I'm sorry, Isaac, but I need to borrow Stiles. I promise to return him to you relatively unharmed later," she stated casually to the werewolf. Isaac looked as if he was going to argue but came to his senses. You simply do not argue with Lydia. She smirked as she led the confused teenage boy out of the store. She didn't stop walking, regardless of the questions coming from Stiles, until they were outside by her car. She opened the passenger door and manhandled him into the seat. Nonchalantly, she walked around the car and got into the driver's side.

"Lydia, this is kidnapping," Stiles stated matter-of-factly as he buckled his seatbelt.

"I do not hear you resisting," she smirked. She put on her sunglasses and buckled herself in. She checked her phone before starting the car. "We have somewhere we need to be." She tossed her bag at his feet and pulled out of the parking lot.

Stiles reached down to rearrange the bag off his toes when he stopped. He pulled out the top layer of papers and began to read silently. During the fifteen-minute drive, Stiles silently read over paper after paper. The statistics and scientific facts almost went over his head, so he started scanning them to see if he qualified.. He stopped reading each paper when he found the prerequisites each candidate had to meet in order to be submitted into the trial.

"None of these will work, and I certainly cannot afford the drugs anyway," Stiles muttered as he shoved the last trial back into her bag.

"Duh," Lydia stated. She rolled her eyes at Stiles. "If they would have, I would have led with that."

"Why are you helping me?"

Lydia scoffed. "Really? After everything we have been through, you have the audacity to ask that of me?"

"I mean, yeah," Stiles started.

"When did you and Derek become an item?" She tried to distract the boy. Her plan worked.

Stiles shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He instinctively covered a hickey on his neck with his hand. He was not ready to have this conversation with someone. "Recently." Just keep your answers short and truthful, Stiles told himself. Do not give her anything she can use against you. His phone chimed. A text from Derek.

"You left me alone with a bunch of teenagers!. They want to know DETAILS. Where are you?!"

Stiles let out a laugh. "Where are we going?"

Lydia rhetorically questioned, "You don't trust me?"

"You and I both know that you aren't taking me on a field trip. I'd like to let my, ahem, well, my boyfriend know where I am. I don't want to worry him," Stiles tried to play off coolly.

Lydia rolled her eyes before answering, "There's a doctor who can help. And not in a medical way."

Stiles jerked in his seat. "NO. Absolutely not. I am not going to some voodoo doctor!"

Lydia reached over and smacked him in the back of the head.

"Ouch! Rude! You can't just go hitting cancer patients!"

"Oh hush. You may have cancer, Stiles, but it will not protect you from a good smack to the head. You and I both know I am the only person in our group who can see things objectively. You need me. Even if you have replaced me in your heart," Lydia teased.

Stiles dramatically rubbed the back of his head while he tried not to look guilty. Was it really only a few days since she was the focus of his attention? He sighed as he observed their destination. Lydia double parked outside of the vet clinic. "I know you want to cure me and all, but I am not a puppy," Stiles chastised.

"I know that, Stiles," Lydia huffed as she exited the car. She grabbed her bag from Stiles and slammed the door shut. He quickly joined her by the door to the building. She paused and seemed to be gathering her thoughts. She could do this. The drug trials were a bust and he couldn't take the bite. This was the last option. If this didn't work, she would fail for the first time in her life. She would fail Stiles. She couldn't imagine losing him in any way. He was one of the best people she knew. Who would push her to be a better person? Who would make her smile when her whole world imploded? This boy next to her meant so much more than she ever thought he would. And he was giving up. He didn't know what to do.

"Lyds?"

Lydia sniffed and rubbed her face. "Shut up, Stiles. I'm just preparing myself," she whispered. She glanced at him and shook her head. "I'm an objective person and like to look at the facts. You cannot take the werewolf bite, no matter how much you may want to. It will change who you are, not just your appearance. You won't be Stiles anymore. You'll be a completely different person driven by animalistic instincts and be hunted for the rest of your life. Your father cannot take that. He needs you. The pack needs you. Derek needs you." She turned fully to face him and let a tear finally escape her right eye. "I need you. I love you and don't want you to die." Several more tears fell.

Stiles was floored. Lydia didn't cry. And she certainly didn't say she loved anyone. He reached gently over and touched her shoulder. "Hey, it'll be okay. Somehow," Stiles whispered.

Lydia shook off his hand and wiped her face. She flipped her hair over her shoulders and straightened her posture. Emotion was pointless right now. She inhaled deeply before gesturing to the door. "Well, it's not going to open itself."

The door opened by itself.