"Lucid dreaming?" Paul asks cocking an eyebrow up. "Yes." Deaton replies. "It wasn't a dream though. Isaac was there." Paul says gesturing at his tall mate. "So was Stiles and Scott." "I think what he means." Kyle starts nudging Paul's shoe with his own "Is that the same techniques you can use for lucid dreaming would help you to have greater control and access to wolf state? Dream state?" Kyle looks from Isaac to Deaton. "Never really thought about what it was called." Isaac says. "So this happens every time you sleep?" Paul asks. "Yeah pretty much." Isaac says. "It requires proximity though." "You guys never said anything about it." Paul says with a touch of jealousy in his voice. Isaac quickly takes his hand. "It wasn't a secret it just happens." "It's almost subconscious." Kyle says nodding to Deaton as he leaves the room to check on the sound of the front door opening. "Yeah." Isaac says tugging Paul towards the back door of the clinic. "Probably not 100% accurate to say it's only our wolves but honestly when we are in that state we are asleep. We are aware of each other but only on a more primal level."
As they load in to Isaac's Wrangler Paul is silent for a moment. "So you mean you're not all having a dreamscape wolf party sharing wolf secrets?" The two wolfs laugh. "Wolf secrets?" Kyle asks with a laugh from the back seat. Paul shrugs his shoulders. "I dunno, I'm just happy I'm able to join the party. What do you think the purpose is of it?" "Bonding maybe?" Kyle suggests reaching back and resting his hand on Paul's shin. "That makes about as much sense as anything else." Isaac says as they pull out into traffic. "It's an aspect of wolves I've never heard discussed much."
"Makes sense." Paul says grunting as the Jeep jolts through a pothole as Isaac pulls in to a gas station. "I need donuts." Paul says looking through the window at the display. "Mmmmm Gas station donuts the healthiest, freshest choice." Kyle says with a laugh. Isaac rolls his eyes as he climbs out and pulls the gas nozzle from the pump. Kyle gets out and pulls the seat forward helping Paul climb from the back. "Thanks beautiful." Paul says giving Kyle a kiss on the cheek. Kyle smiles warmly closing the door and following his mate into the station.
Paul goes to the donut display picking through the selection with the provided tongs and filling a bag. Kyle runs his hand up and down Paul's back staring down an older woman who looks at his mild display of affection with disapproval. Unaware of the other shoppers disdain paul turns from the display his selection complete. "Did you need anything?" He asks Kyle. "Hmm?" Kyle asks when the woman walks away from his stare down. "No I'm fine." Kyle says. Standing in the narrow aisle by the cash register waiting their turn to pay Paul grimaces as a cold breeze blows in as another customer enters the station. Kyle and Paul move to the side allowing him to pass. The man, large and disheveled coughs and sneezes doing nothing to contain himself as he passes the two. Kyle gives the man a look of disdain turning to share a look with Paul. Paul shakes his head then turns his focus to the cashier as the person in front of them finishes and moves away.
Fresh and healthy donuts paid for Paul and Kyle exit the station and head back to the Jeep where Isaac is sitting with the engine idling. Paul pulls the passenger door open and moves the seat up before climbing in receiving a swat on the backside from Kyle. "What was that for?" Paul grouses once he is seated. "Being gorgeous." Kyle says moving the seat back and climbing in. "You do look really nice today." Isaac says pulling out of the station. "I like those jeans." He continues looking at Paul in the rear view mirror with a smile.
Back at home the three enter the kitchen from the garage to find Derek, Stiles and Scott cleaning the kitchen. "Oh donuts." Stiles says instantly at Paul's side. Paul takes one out of the bag before handing the bag to Stiles. "My apology for missing dinner." "No need to apologize dude." Stiles says taking a bite out of a chocolate covered donut. "But much appreciated." Turning back to the sink Stiles holds the bag out to Scott whose face lights up. "So what did Deaton have to say?" Derek asks shaking his head no when Stiles offers him a donut. "Not much." Paul says taking a seat at the table. 'He suggested that I study up on lucid dreaming techniques if I want to have more control." "It's not a dream though how would that help?" Scott asks fishing another donut out of the sack. "I'm not sure, maybe just being more disciplined and able to…..comprehend?...interact?..will allow me to join you guys more often."
"Did you feel rested when you woke up?" Derek asks. Paul purses his lips a moment. "I guess? I don't really remember. I was more excited about what had just happened than anything else." "Are you thinking this could interfere with REM sleep?" Stiles asks closing the dishwasher and digging out another donut. "I'm certainly not an expert. I've just always heard how not getting enough REM sleep could lead to issues eventually." "Spending sleep time playing with wolves when you should be sleep sleeping could be a bad idea." Stiles says offering a donut to Paul who accepts. "I'll keep an eye on it. Although I'm not sure what choice I'll have if it happens again. Not like I did anything to make it happen this time." "No time like the present." Isaac says looking over at the time on the microwave. He reaches for Paul's hand and tugs him towards the door. "Night everyone." Paul says as Isaac leads him out of the kitchen with Kyle close behind.
Once secured in their room Isaac grins warmly at Paul's deep sigh as the security of their room relaxes him. Stepping over to the desk Paul empties his pockets and plugs his phone in to charge before slipping out of his clothes. Kyle exits the closet having already removed his clothes and brushes against Paul as he passes. In minutes the trios nightly routines are complete and they have settled in to bed. "See you in a bit." Kyle says softly kissing Paul on the cheek. "Maybe." Isaac says. "We don't know what triggered it this time. It may be a while before it happens again." "True." Paul says. "Either way." Paul continues pausing to yawn slowly. "Everything is perfect as it is right now. I'm not going to complain. Right here…...this…. Me, my mates, healthy pack….. Perfection."
Isaac and Kyle both nod silently. The memory of Paul's absence from the pack still a raw unpleasant memory.
"Night boys." Paul says drifting towards sleep.
"How'd it go last night?" Scott asks as Isaac sleep walks into the kitchen two mornings later. Isaac yawn big and slow as he pours himself a cup of coffee. "He popped in for a bit and then just..wasn't there." "Yeah thought I felt him at one point but wasn't sure." "Still pretty early." Isaac says sitting down next to his pack mate. "He's still looking through lucid dreaming books trying to pick up on the techniques. It's very possible it will just be random." "Yeah." Scott says nodding his head. " When he showed that night you guys went to talk to Deaton I kinda hoped that was a sign we'd get to see him more often." "May not be a good thing if he does start to show up every night." Kyle says entering the room and taking a seat next to Isaac after grabbing an apple. "Like Derek said if he's not getting his proper human required sleep patterns it could cause problems for him." Just then there is a wave of unease over the pack bond followed by a thud from above. The three wolves look up at the ceiling before racing from the table upstairs.
The three charge into the bedroom expecting to see Paul in bed. Instead the sound of retching draws them to the bathroom. Paul is on the floor by the commode. He draws back and collapses pale and shaking. "Paul!" Isaac says dropping to the floor next to the pale human. "Something is wrong with me." Paul says shakilly as Kyle and Scott drop to the floor next to him. "Scott get him some water." Kyle says jumping to his feet and running out of the room. Scott hurries to the sink filling a glass and also soaking a washcloth. Returning to Paul's side he hands the glass to Paul. "Thanks." Paul says taking a drink before convulsing dropping the glass as he tries and fails to direct his sick into the commode.
"Deaton is on his way." Kyle says rejoining them. "Come on baby." Isaac says lifting Paul and carrying him to the shower. Scott turns the water on and directs the shower heads in such a way as to keep Paul from being blasted in the face. Every few moments Paul convulses again before retching. Quickly he runs out of stomach contents and just shakes painfully. "How could this have happened?" Isaac says. "Someone has to have poisoned him." Kyle says helping Scott and Isaac clean Paul off with wash cloths. "Has he been alone outside of the house?" Scott asks grimacing with worry as Paul chokes and writhes on the floor of the shower. Isaac begins examining Paul's skin looking for puncture wounds. "I can't believe someone was able to get to him." Scott says. "Who would want to poison him." Isaac snorts. "Take your pick!"
"Gentlemen." Deatons calm voice startles the wolves. "That was fast." Scott says. "I was just up the road." Deaton says kneeling to examine Paul who continues to shiver and dry heave. "He's been poisoned." Isaac says. "I can smell it on him." "What does he smell like?" Deaton asks placing his hand on Paul's forehead. "Like sickness." Kyle says holding one of Paul's hands desperately trying to comfort his mate. "And that…" Deaton says standing. "Is what it is. He has the flu." "Wait." Scott says. Isaac who had been on his knees next to Paul drops to a seated position. "The flu?" "So, not poisoned." Kyle says with a chuckle shaking his head. "Still pretty fucking sick." Paul manages to say smacking weakly at Kyle before launching into a fit of coughing.
"Yes he has the flu." Deaton says picking his bag up off the floor and setting it on the sink. "Can you do anything?" Scott asks squeezing Paul's hand comfortingly. "I can give him something to help with the symptoms and strengthen his immune system which will accelerate things. Also the closer he stays in proximity to pack will help speed things along as well."
A short while later Paul is sitting up in bed flanked on either side by Isaac and Kyle. Scott, Danny, Derek and Stiles are standing around the bed. "The flu huh?" Stiles says. "Not sure if it's funny or sad that our lives are such that you immediately thought he'd been poisoned." Danny says sitting on the bed and patting Paul on the leg. "It was a little funny." Paul says weakly. Voice hoarse from the harsh coughing. "The gas station." Kyle says everyone looks at Kyle, Paul nods his head. "Yeah probably." Paul says turning and coughing into his arm softly. At the packs questioning glances Kyle continues. "We stopped at the gas station on the way back from Deatons. This guy came in sneezing and coughing, not covering his mouth or anything."
"Let's give them some space so Paul can sleep. Really the best thing for you right now." Stiles says ushering everyone else out of the room. "Let us know if you need anything." Derek says. "Night." Paul says as the door closes. "Sorry for making a mess in the bathroom." Paul says. "Not your fault." Isaac says turning the lights in the room off and pulling his clothes off. "It's that gross jerk at the gas station that coughed and sneezed all over us who should be apologizing." Kyle says with disgust stripping down and slipping under the covers next to his mate. "Good luck with that." Paul says softly moving his head to its usual place on Kyle's shoulder and sighing with comfort as Isaac slips in behind him and kisses him on the back of the neck. "I do feel better." Paul says quietly pausing to cough softly. "Whatever he gave me took the edge off it. Now I just feel like I'm sick instead of feeling like I'm about to turn myself inside out."
"Well all we need is some time and you'll be back to 100%" Kyle says sliping Paul's hand into his. "Yep all we need is time." Isaac says giving Paul a gentle squeeze.
"Guys…" Paul starts uncomfortably "What's wrong?" Kyle asks, turning so he can look directly at Paul. "I really hate to do this but… I need to pee."
Kyle chuckles, "Time and maybe a bedpan." "How about a catheter?" Isaac asks dryly. "How about I just pee on both of you?" Paul says with exasperation.
Floating comfortably….Paul realizes he's back in the pack dream space. Wrapped tightly around him are Kyle and Isaac. The love, commitment and ownership from the two filling him with a great sense of ease and comfort. Eventually the others arrive crowding around. Their feelings for Paul and each other filling him with a profound sense of contentment.
Paul pauses as thoughts of all the hardships from the previous years cycle through his mind. As if sensing his unease the pack curls tighter around him. Paul grins, sad thoughts fading.
So long as I have my mates and my pack I can make it through anything….Even the flu.
The End