A/N: Here's another chapter of inaccurate medical jargon.

Enjoy.

They wait until the doctor's left and shut the door behind him before Noah answers. "I called Scott and Derek as soon as I'd gotten word that you were here. They'd been asking sources in Arizona at the time about your whereabouts. They wanted to come with me but I made them stay, telling them I'd call them as soon as I got here. Well, after that I told them very little except that you needed to stay here and that they needed to wait for us to get back."

"They ok?"

"Yeah, they're fine, just worried. I don't actually think they listened when I told them not to come though because I've heard people talking about glowing colored contacts a few times over the last couple of weeks. I'm not sure whether to go looking for them or just leave them here when we go back home." He gives a light chuckle that helps lift the anxiety weighing heavily on Stiles' breastbone.

"Want pack."

Noah's face flickers. "Are you sure? You don't want to heal up more first?"

Stiles lowers his eyes. "I'm ugly, sorry."

Noah is quick to backtrack, "No, no, no! Stiles, bud, you're not ugly, you're hurt and that's completely understandable. The pack will understand too and if they don't, Jackson, I'll get Scott or Derek to kick them out. You have nothing to be sorry about Stiles, absolutely nothing. None of this is your fault. If you want, I can still let them inside to see you, you're not considered critical anymore."

It takes a second but finally Stiles nods. He needs to see that his actions, his words, his weakness didn't damage more than just him. He has to see that his friends, the people he loves, are alright.

"Ok son, I'll go see if I can find them lurking about. I'll be right back, alright? Do you want the doctor to stay with you until I get back?"

Stiles nods again. He thinks he'll go crazy if he's left alone in his head. His father pats his shoulder where there aren't any bandages and gets up.

"I'll be right back." He promises and opens the door, asking the doctor to stay with him until he gets back and to expect a few extra people.

The doctor makes his way in to his bedside.

"Well, I can tell you that you're healing very well, Mr. Stilinski. Most of the breaks are well set and in probably a few more weeks you'll be able to get the metal rods and plating removed. Are you sure that you don't want to stay?"

Stiles shakes his head but doesn't say anything. He doesn't trust anyone who's not family or loved ones. The doctor nods and they lapse into silence that's only interrupted by the machines he's connected to. Stiles is actually a little relieved with the silence, he doesn't have to answer anything or do anything, he just has to keep breathing.

Finally, after what feels like an hour, the door opens again and a gently smiling Sheriff Stilinski makes his way through the door.

"Doctor, can we have some privacy again, please?"

The doctor nods but gives his father a solid look, "Please remember that he shouldn't be pushed to answer anything and that if he seems distressed at all you'll allow him some space and call for a doctor or nurse."

His father gives him a nod, glances behind him, nods again, and allows the doctor to leave before he makes his way inside.

"Ok Stiles, you've got five very concerned people waiting for you but I convinced three of them to wait in the waiting room so we don't overwhelm you. You ready for this?"

Stiles takes a deep breath, his heart kicking up a little, but he nods.

"Alright. I've already told them to be gentle."

Stiles keeps his eye fixed on the doorway and from the hallway walks three large bodies and his heart kicks up faster. When all three are inside they seem to pause and Stiles can hear each of them draw in huge breaths of air, one louder than the others and so familiar that Stiles aches at hearing it.

"Stiles." Scott breathes and shuffles a little closer, leaving the other two just barely inside the room. He clears his throat but Stiles can still hear the pain and emotion when he says, "Dude, I'm so glad to see you. You have no idea how much I missed you."

Stiles opens his mouth, his heart beating wildly, "Scott."

Each of them flinch harshly at the sound of his ruined voice and he shuts his mouth again, ashamed.

"Yeah bro, it's me, the one and only."

Scott, bless his heart, is doing his best to sound normal but Stiles can hear how his breaths are turning to hiccups and his nose is stuffing up.

"Derek and Isaac are here too." His dad speaks up, though he also sounds like he's on the verge of tears.

Stiles turns his only seeing eye to the others, their dark shapes hard to distinguish in the dim light of the room and through the damage. He can't tell if they actually flinch as his gaze lands on them or if it's just because he can't see very well.

"Uh, hey Stiles, long time no see." Isaac manages to croak from slightly behind Derek and Stiles gives him a nod.

"We, uh, we wanted to, ya know, come on by and make sure you were alright."

"Even though I told them to stay home." His father supplies.

"We couldn't just not come! We've been looking for seven months and then you suddenly find him, my best friend and brother. Stiles, buddy, we never stopped looking, I'd have continued searching even if it meant it would take forever. I would've found you dude."

"We would have found you." Derek finally pipes up, correcting Scott.

"Yeah, we."

Stiles wants to smile, wants to talk to them, wants to hug them and laugh and cry with relief, but he can't. There's a part of him that feels dead, the part that seemed to enjoy things feels like it's missing. Instead he lifts his hand towards them, finger twitching as he wants to make sure they're real.

Scott immediately darts forward but the sudden movement makes Stiles flinch, his heartbeat going faster in fear even though he knows logically that it's just Scott. So, he closes his eyes and just holds out his trembling hand. Scott had frozen when Stiles had flinched but now Stiles can hear him move hesitantly, slowly towards him until he feels a gentle touch on his. He lets out a sigh of relief and relaxes into the touch. Scott's hand cradles his and all of a sudden that bone deep ache drains from him, replaced by a perplexing feeling of…normalcy? Calm, maybe numbness, definitely relief.

"Dude." Scott's voice is strained and Stiles flinches, going to take his hand back but Scott doesn't let him go. "No dude, I'm not letting you go. I just got you back. You have no idea how happy I am to see you."

"T's awful." He manages to whistle out.

"Yeah, gotta admit, you look like shit, but then again, who wouldn't? Even I, a werewolf Alpha, wouldn't be able to just walk away from this. You're still breathing dude, you're awake, and you're going to get better, I promise."

Stiles can't help the disbelief that courses through him. Scott can't promise something like that.

"You're strong, Stiles." Derek startles him by saying but before he can react his father is standing, the sound of rustling clothes making him flinch.

"Ok guys, let's let him rest. I'm going to have him transferred back to Beacon Hills as soon as I can. Scott, I need you to contact your mom and have her make preparations for his arrival at the hospital. I'm going to talk to the doctor and get the names of those professionals he was talking about earlier."

Scott goes to let go but Stiles manages a curl of his fingers, "Scott."

"Yeah buddy, I'm here, right here."

"St-aaaay." His voice fades out and he's not really sure he managed to get the whole word out but Scott seems to get it.

"Sir, I'm going to stay with Stiles. I don't want to leave him alone. Can Derek use my phone instead?"

His father blows out a breath but concedes and Stiles can feel the movement as Scott hands over his phone to Derek whose footfalls are heavy as they cross the floor. The door opens and three sets of footsteps leave and Scott takes a seat in the chair his father vacated.

"Dude, school's been a dump without you. Lydia's always complaining that there's no one to compete with for top grade and has been demanding that we find you in that way that she likes to think is strong but it's really just shaky and concerned. Even Jackson missed you, man. He's out in the waiting room right now. Boyd and Erica are here too. The only reason Lydia isn't here is because she said that someone had to stay behind to collect all the homework while we were gone so that we'd all be able to graduate at the same time."

Scott continues his rambling, talking about lacrosse and the ridiculousness of Coach as he continues to ask for him every day even though he knows Stiles isn't there. He talks about his mom and the progress they've been making on the burnt-out Hale house and the plans Derek has to make it into a pack house. He keeps going and the words eventually lull Stiles into a comforted sleep.

A/N: I'll be posting soonish. I hope everyone's enjoying everything so far, I know that I'm really enjoying writing it. Thanks.

~hearts~