Thanks for reading! I hope you're liking the story. We have one more chapter to go after this one - it will be up next week.
Chapter 09: Sleeping Stiles
Hours later, Jessica was tucking Stiles into her bed while Derek was in his room changing and taking off his prosthesis. The only reason they'd put Stiles into Jessica's bed was because it was bigger than Derek's. Stiles only stirred slightly as the bed sunk beside him with the weight of Jessica sitting down and kissing the top of his forehead. Derek slowly made his way into Jessica's room after putting on a pair sweats and grabbing his crutches.
"You sure you and Cora can do this alone?" Derek questioned sitting on Jessica's bed and scooting up so that he was at the head of the bed.
"Yeah, we'll be fine," Jessica smiled at him and then looked down at Stiles. "He might wake up for a minute or two and if he does get him to drink something,"
"Not the first time I've had to look after him," Derek said with a shake of his head as Cora and Isaac appeared in the doorway.
"I know, but it's the first time I've had to do that to him," Jessica said leaning over the top of Stiles and giving Derek a kiss on the forehead. "We'll be back soon,"
"Yeah, yeah," Derek nodded, his eyes darting between Isaac and Stiles before he looked at Cora and Jessica.
While Jessica and Cora had dinner with her father, Derek and Isaac stayed as close as they could to Stiles. Derek laying in the bed with him, hoping that when he came to he'd remember everything. Isaac sat on the other side of the bed periodically getting up to check the pizza that he was making. Stiles woke once, with Derek making him drink some water before he snuggled up to Derek's side falling unconscious again.
"He'll be okay, won't he?" Isaac questioned, handing Derek some pizza as he pushed himself into a sitting position.
"Jess thinks so, or at least she hopes," Derek answered, he knew that sometimes they all doubted what she was capable even she doubted herself. "I just want him back,"
"We all do," Isaac smiled at him before having some of the pizza and water.
"You don't understand," Derek mumbled into his pizza as he kept one eye on Stiles and the other focused on his pizza.
"I don't think anyone does, but we all love Stiles maybe not in the way you do but still," Isaac told him letting a yawn escape his lips as he looked at him. Derek let a smile form on his face before it quickly disappeared causing Isaac to laugh.
Meanwhile, Cora and Jessica were sitting at the Stilinski residence with Noah explaining what they'd done to the old First National Bank in more detail than what Chris had told him. Chris had told him that the fire was necessary.
"Okay, kiddo explain to me again why you needed to set fire to the building?" Noah questioned looking between Jessica and Cora and at the burgers and fries on the table.
"Isaac and I found flowers that had been used," Cora told him, she wasn't entirely sure how else to put it so she left it to Jessica.
"They found flowers that were used in the spell that hurt Stiles the last few months...to fix the spell I kind of need to burn the entire area that the flowers were found in..." Jessica grimaced as she waited for her father to say something. Noah rubbed the bridge of his nose before he spoke.
"Girls, and no one was hurt?" Noah wondered as he picked up the burger and took a bite putting back down again.
"No one was hurt, we made sure that it was contained...that's why Chris stuck around," Jessica answered, picking up some of the fries and eating it. "He offered to stick around. Derek and Isaac are with Stiles now,"
"I worry about you kids, you know that right?" Cora and Jessica nodded as they both looked Noah and finished eating in silence. "All of you, not just Stiles and Jess,"
"We know," Cora smiled picking up the can of soda and having a drink.
"Just so long as you do," Noah smiled at the two girls before him. "Jess you make sure your brother is safe,"
"Pops...I can't be the one that always keeps them safe,"
Noah nodded at the two girls before standing up and walking around to behind both girls and wrapping them in his arms. Jessica and Cora hugged him from where they were sitting before they stood up and hugged him. Jessica kissed her father on the cheek and pulled Cora closer to her. Noah sometimes wondered about his kids but they always looked out for one another.
"We promised Isaac and Derek that we wouldn't be long...and pops..." Jessica trailed off she wasn't entirely sure how to tell him that she didn't want anyone visiting for a few days.
"What is it, Jess?" Noah questioned, watching as Cora's attention returned to the food in front of her.
"Come by in a couple of days...Stiles should be okay by then," Jessica spoke quietly she wasn't entire sure how her father was going to take the news that Stiles 'should be okay'. Cora slunk down in her chair as she waited for his reaction.
"Jessica, Cora what do you mean by should be okay?" Noah took a deep breath as he walked back around to his side of the table and sat down.
"The reversal spell...it kind of knocked him out...he's going to be in and out of consciousness for a few days," Jessica explained still quietly and in-between mouthfuls of food while trying to avoid looking at her father. "Was Jordan working tonight?"
"Did you at least warn your brother what would happen?" Noah questioned, Jessica shook her head she hadn't known what was going to happen. "Jessica, you need to learn to warn them," Noah sighed exasperatedly as he looked at his daughter. Jessica nodded, she knew that but she'd never remember to remind him or them. "He is, just don't go bothering him," he knew that the statement would fall on deaf ears and that both girls would go to the station.
"I know...but I can't...I don't always know how its going to turn out," Jessica muttered, Cora let a snicker escape her mouth before quickly covering it with both hands and looking innocently at Noah who just shook his head. "I'm sorry,"
By the time that Jessica and Cora arrived back at the house they had Theo and Jordan in tow, mainly because Jessica had taken Theo in after everything had happened. The four of them walked quietly into the house and found Isaac sitting on the lounge watching Netflix. Theo, Cora and Jordan joined Isaac on the couch with Cora curling up in Isaac's arms.
"Do you really love Jess?" Cora questioned, she had deemed it her prerogative as an honorary little sister to find out everything.
"Yes Cora," Jordan answered sitting at the opposite end of the couch and making room for Jessica. "I wouldn't still be here if I didn't,"
"Yes you would," Cora smirked, she knew that Jordan would be around no matter what. "You're too nice not to,"
"Thanks...I think..." Jordan raised his eyebrow watching as Cora's attention was on Isaac before he noticed that Theo was standing awkwardly by the door. "Theo, you okay?"
"Yeah...just thinking," Theo answered before disappearing into the kitchen and sitting at the counter, sometimes being around the pack still got to him.
Jessica made her way down to her bedroom and climbed onto the bed on the opposite side of Stiles and lay down with Derek. Derek mumbled something that Jessica didn't quite catch so she poked him while kissing the side of Stiles' head. Stiles stirred a little before rolling over and haphazardly throwing his arm around his sister.
"Hey Sti," Jessica spoke quietly before she looked over him and at Derek who looked a little disheartened but knew that it wasn't her fault that Stiles had hugged her. "Derek, you know Sti does this,"
"I know...but it doesn't make me want him any less," Derek mumbled, Jessica laughed a little before manoeuvring Stiles' grip around slightly and motioning for Derek to sit up.
"Come 'ere," Jessica smiled at him wiggling her finger at the same time, Derek half smiled at her before leaning forward only for Jessica to kiss the top of his nose. "You know he loves you,"
"I'm not so sure any more," Derek muttered, looking at Jessica and then down at Stiles in between them.
"Der, that was the spell. He still loves you," Jessica said as she settled back down beside Stiles and wrapped her little brother in her arms. "Don't worry you two can still sleep here, I'm going to stay with Jordan,"
"Don't go," Stiles' voice was quiet and barely audible but both Derek and Jessica heard it as they were laying with him.
"Little brother, it's one night," Jessica told him as she pulled him into her arms for a few minutes to calm him down from the panic attack that was starting. "Shh,"
Stiles mumbled something that Jessica didn't catch as he started to breathe quickly and his eyes widened. Derek stayed where he was not sure what Stiles was going to do, Jessica let go of Stiles and watched as he rolled over and straight into Derek. Jessica smiled at Derek and watched as Stiles curled into him and his breathing got faster.
"Der..." Stiles mumbled, trying to curl further into Derek's chest. "Can't..."
"Shh, Sti, try and breathe with me," Derek rubbed Stiles back as he started to get the younger man to try and copy his breathing. Stiles slowly copied Derek's breathing before he was falling asleep wrapped in his arms.
"See, he still loves you Der. I'll see you in the morning, let me know if anything happens," Jessica smiled at him before she climbed out of her bed and grabbed her pyjamas and spare set of clothes. "Love you Sti, Der," Jessica climbed back onto the bed and kissed both boys, Stiles on the forehead and Derek on the cheek before Derek returned the action.
"Love you too Jess," Derek smiled back at her before Jessica disappeared from her room closing the door behind her.
Jessica walked into the kitchen to see Theo sitting with his arms folded on the counter snoring lightly. Jessica carefully put her hand on his shoulder knowing that if she was too hard on him that he was jumpy and would possibly attack. Theo simply shrugged her hand off his shoulder and mumbled something that sounded like Liam's number causing Jessica to snicker.
"Theo, it's alright. Go take the spare room," Jessica spoke quietly as she put her hand back on his shoulder and gently woke him up. "You know its practically yours anyway,"
Theo nodded standing up groggily before falling back onto the stool. "Should wake up properly first huh?" Theo muttered, Jessica rolled her eyes and held out a hand for him pulling him to his feet and guiding him back to the spare room. "Thanks Jess,"
"No problem, get some sleep," Jessica smiled at him before leaving the room and joining Isaac, Cora and Jordan in the lounge.
"How is he?" Cora's voice was just above a whisper as she looked at Jessica who was curling up in Jordan's lap.
"Sleepy, panic attacks," Jessica answered, that was all she really could say, it was all Derek and Isaac had said as well.
"Told you," Isaac stated with a shrug he'd been waiting for Jessica and Cora to return so that he and Cora could go to bed and leave Derek with Stiles.
"Yeah, but you can be vague as shit," Cora stuck her tongue out at him only for Isaac to pull her closer and plant a kiss on her lips.
"You ready to head off?" Jordan questioned his chin resting against Jessica's shoulder as they sat together. Jessica nodded, she wasn't exactly tired but if they stayed any longer she'd refuse to leave. "You've done everything that you can babe,"
"I know...it's just what if it didn't work?" Jessica muttered, deep down she was hoping that it did work though Cora could see she was doubting herself.
"Jess, go we'll call if anything happens. You know we will," both Isaac and Cora spoke at the same time before saying jinx and laughing.