Chapter Six: I Need You
One month later
July was almost over, and everyone knew about Scott being sick. He had lost a lot of weight, and his hair had fallen out. Scott went around with a bandanna tied on his head, despite Stiles telling him he didn't have to cover up. Scott was at home by himself, Stiles had gone to the grocery store, and Melissa was at work. Stiles didn't like to leave Scott alone by himself these days, in case he needed help, but Scott had told him he most likely wasn't going to get out of bed. And even if he did it would just be to go to the bathroom.
Scott yawned, he was laying in bed, he'd been reading. He had been listening to music on his phone, and his eyes were starting to slip closed. He'd been reading a novel, Stephen King. He had picked up one to take to chemo a couple of weeks ago and had gotten hooked. Scott put his bookmark in and was going to surrender himself to sleep, when he heard Stiles' voice downstairs. Scott was glad he was back. "Upstairs, baby!" He called down, as he moved to get up, he wanted to help Stiles if he could, although he knew he couldn't really.
"Don't come down, baby, I can handle the groceries." Stiles called up, and headed into the kitchen with some of the bags. He didn't want Scott to come down the stairs if he didn't have to. Stiles only had a few more bags to grab anyway. When he came out to get the rest of the bags though, he saw Scott halfway down the stairs. "Scott James." Stiles said, but he moved to help his husband down the rest of the stairs. Stiles said, "You aren't going to help me with the groceries." He didn't want Scott to think he was going to overexert himself.
Stiles didn't know what he was going to do with Scott, he was so stubborn. Stiles didn't want to have to deal with Scott trying to overexert himself. Stiles helped Scott to the couch, and tucked a blanket around him. Scott wasn't wearing warm enough clothes to suit Stiles. "You have to start wearing more layers, baby. You get too cold." Stiles admonished, making sure the blanket was tucked around him tightly.
Scott smiled as he watched Stiles fuss over him. "You're so cute, Stiles." He honestly didn't know what he would do without him. It was something he knew he'd never have to find out. Scott brushed his hand over his bandanna, a small pang in his heart when he remembered again that all of his hair had fallen out. There was a ring at the doorbell. "I'd go get it, but you'd stop me halfway through." Scott said, looking up at Stiles with a sheepish expression. It was true, he'd tackle Scott if he thought he could stop him, or if it wouldn't hurt him.
"Oh shut up." Stiles said, rolling his eyes. He looked at Scott again, he looked so pale. "Did you throw up while I was gone?" Stiles asked, eyeing him sharply as the doorbell rang again. "Hold on!" Stiles yelled out, as he waited for Scott to answer him. When Scott shook his head no, Stiles looked at him skeptically, but he headed to the door anyway. When he opened it, it was Kira. "Hey, Kira." Stiles said, stepping back to let her in. He didn't know why she was here, but he hoped it was for something good. They needed some good news.
"Scotty's in the living room." Stiles said. "I have some more groceries to bring in, but you can go on in." He told her, as she nodded and headed into the living room. Stiles turned to watch her, she leaned to kiss Scott's cheek. He had to admit, he was feeling very grateful for her right now. So many people thought Scott was contagious, and while he really thought that was an incredible statement about the American school system, he was glad that Kira knew he wasn't and treated him the same as she always had. Stiles watched them a moment longer as Kira sat in the armchair by the couch, and then he went outside.
Once Stiles was outside, Kira looked at Scott. "So, how are you? I know you don't tend to tell the truth when Stiles is in the room." She knew it was because he was trying to spare Stiles how sick he really was, and she wasn't sure that she blamed him. For the record though she wished he would tell him, Stiles could only help if he knew everything. Kira didn't want to see Scott suffer when she knew he could feel at least a little bit better. Kira watched him carefully, and she knew that he was thinking about what to tell her. Scott could be really cagey when he wanted to be, but it wasn't often. Kira knew that he was the most honest person she knew.
Scott sighed. Kira knew him better than he'd like to admit. "I'm not…" He stopped. He wasn't sure he wanted to tell her exactly how badly he felt. Scott sighed again and he said, "He just asked me if I threw up today… and I did." Scott had thrown up a lot of the day, actually. Thankfully Stiles had either been at the grocery store or asleep. Scott had had chemo the day before, and that was always draining. Scott didn't blame Stiles for not sleeping when he saw Scott so sick after chemo. Scott had to admit, he didn't like seeing Stiles seeing him sick. Scott wished he could change things, so Stiles didn't have to see this.
"I just, Kira, he's seeing me go through all of this…. It's hard on him too. I can't do this to him. He's my husband, and I love him. I hate that he has to deal with this. We're supposed to go to college in a month. We're going to be stuck here, I can't travel." Scott hated what this was doing. He really did. What was he supposed to do? Scott had so been looking forward to UCLA. He was going to be a vet, like Deaton. Scott loved animals.
Kira saw Stiles coming in, so she waited until he was in the kitchen with the groceries, before she replied. "Scott, he can only help you if you tell him what's going on." She said. "You have to be honest with him." Kira had to admit, she didn't like how sick and pale Scott looked. She was worried for him. Kira didn't like this. She didn't know how to deal with it. She and Scott had kissed during spin the bottle once, and she had to admit, she'd dreamed about that kiss a million times. She'd known that there was never any chance for them, but it hadn't stopped her. It also didn't help that he was incredibly gorgeous and totally in love with Stiles. That made him a bit irresistible to some people.
It didn't help that he knew she was right. "I know you're right, Kira." He said, as he heard Stiles putting things away in the kitchen. Scott wondered how long he could keep Stiles from seeing how sick he was getting. He didn't want to do it forever, but at least a little while longer. "Stiles, baby, can you bring me a ginger ale?" He called out, hating to ask him, but he really needed one, and he didn't want to throw up in front of Stiles if he could help it. Ginger ale seemed to really help him, more than he wanted to admit.
When Stiles came in, bringing him a glass of ginger ale and some saltines, Scott looked at him a bit nervously. Stiles wasn't stupid, Scott knew he might know more than he was letting on. "Thanks, baby." Scott said, taking a sip of the ginger ale, but leaving the crackers on the table. He met Stiles' brown eyes fearlessly, and he said, "I need to let my stomach settle a little, but I swear, I'll eat them." It was true, he'd try. But he didn't know that they'd stay down. It was more than he wanted to admit to Stiles, especially with Kira sitting right there.
Scrutinizing his husband, Stiles wondered how true that was. "I want you to at least try, Scott James McCall-Stilinski." He said, and Scott was doing his best not to roll his eyes, he always did that when Stiles full named him. "I mean it." Stiles said, keeping his gaze on Scott longer than Scott might have wanted him to. He wanted him to know he was serious. Stiles was taking the taking care of Scott thing seriously. He knew that Scott appreciated it, he could tell by the way Scott tried to do whatever he could so Stiles didn't have to do as much. Stiles knew that Scott was sicker than he was saying, too. Scott thought he was so slick sometimes. It was kind of cute. Stiles kept Scott's gaze until Scott had given him a small nod, meaning he would try and eat the saltines.
Going back into the kitchen, Stiles felt the whole weight of it hit him at once, and his knees almost buckled. Stiles grabbed a hold of the counter, and he felt tears rushing to his eyes. He didn't want to Scott to see how upset he was. Stiles was doing his best to hide his feelings from Scott. The scared, he might not make it ones. Stiles closed his eyes, tears falling off his chin. He could feel a panic attack coming on, he'd used to get them when his mom was sick. Stiles waited, counting to ten, trying to calm himself down. They weren't dangerous, but if he didn't get to calm down, he could pass out. That had happened before. Stiles kept his eyes closed tight, and he was gripping the counter so hard his knuckles were turning white.
That was when there was a knock at the back door, and Deaton stuck his head in the doorway. "Stiles?" He asked, and came into the kitchen. "Are you alright?" Deaton didn't know what he could do, and as soon as he stepped in the kitchen, Stiles had his arms around him, hugging him. Deacon knew he was dealing with a lot, almost as much as Scott was, and he understood how much harder it must have been for him, because he didn't feel he could talk to anyone. Deacon hugged him back, and he said, "It's going to be okay, Stiles. Just breathe, focus on my voice."
When Stiles had seen Deaton, he hadn't even hesitated. He'd hugged him tightly. Stiles didn't know what he was going to do, he couldn't lose Scott. He held onto him until he thought he'd calmed down, and pulled back. Stiles sniffled, but he was mostly calmed down. "I'm sorry, Alan." He said, he didn't like to lean on people, he didn't like people to see what was really inside. There was a scratching at the back door, and Stiles looked at Deaton. "Alan, what's that?" He asked, a bit sternly. It sounded like a dog. Stiles wasn't sure he had the energy for a dog, although he knew that Scott would love a dog. He was so all about animals, especially dogs.
Deaton gave him a sheepish grin, he knew that Stiles didn't want to talk about what had just happened. He opened the back door, and a puppy, a golden lab, came trotting in, and as soon as the puppy saw Scott, he took off for the living room happily. Deaton went back outside and came in with some puppy food, a squeaky toy, and a bowl for the food to go in. "I couldn't resist, I was reading up that dogs are really good for cancer patients. "His name is Steve." He knew how much Scott loved Captain America. And honestly, Deaton really thought that Scott could be a superhero if he really wanted to be.
"I thought he might help, you know how much Scott loves dogs."
There was an excited yell from the living room, and then Scott's laugh. Stiles actually welled up again when he heard it, it had been a long time since he'd heard Scott laugh. Stiles was quiet for a moment, trying to compose himself. "Alan, if I hadn't heard my husband laugh for the first time in weeks, I'd be kicking your ass right now." Stiles told him, he watched Scott and Kira interact with the puppy, who was looking like he was in doggie heaven, licking Scott all over his face, tail wagging. He obviously knew who the alpha was around here. Stiles brushed tears out of his eyes and grabbed some food to put away. Honestly, he knew that that puppy was going to do wonders for Scott, and he hated that he had to admit that to himself.
It wasn't that he didn't like dogs, but he didn't know that he had it in him to take care of Scott and the puppy. But he also knew that he couldn't refuse Scott anything, no matter what he did. Stiles couldn't tell him they couldn't have the dog. Stiles moved back to the counter, tears brushing his eyes again, Scott was still laughing, and talking to the puppy in a baby voice. Stiles had to admit, that was a huge thing for him, to see Scott interact with a puppy. His whole face lit up, and it was like it was Christmas morning when you were seven years old and you knew Santa had come. Scott loved animals, almost as much as he loved Stiles.
"Seriously, Deaton, I could kill you."
Alan looked at him, wondering if he should acknowledge what had just happened, even if he knew that Stiles didn't want to talk about it. He glanced in the living room, watching Scott interact with Steve. Alan knew that this had been the right thing as soon as he saw Scott's pale and too thin face light up when the puppy crawled around him on the couch. Deaton loved him like a son. He hated that Scott was going through this, and he wanted to do whatever he could to help. "I know, you're skeptical. But you know you can't tell him he can't have the puppy."
This was true, Deaton knew without a doubt. Stiles shot him a glare, and Deaton couldn't help but smile to himself a bit. He knew he was right. "I'm sorry, Stiles, I just… I want him to get better." This was when Deaton's voice broke a little, and they shared a look. Deaton was quiet for awhile before he spoke again. "Scott needs something that he can turn to for those moments when you aren't there. He needs someone else to love him unconditionally. He needs to feel like he's still useful, like he's not just the guy with cancer." His voice broke again, but he kept going. "That dog will do that for him. None of us can know what Scott's feeling or thinking, but he can talk to Steve. He can tell it all to him, and Steve will listen. He won't be able to commiserate, but that won't matter. Scott will have gotten it out."
Whether Stiles wanted to admit it or not, the man was right. "I hate when you're right, old man." Stiles sighed, as he put the last of the groceries away. "Do you want to stay for dinner? I'm doing burgers on the grill, Scott said he wanted to try and eat one, it's been a few days since he had more than saltines and ginger ale." Stiles didn't think he'd be able to hold one down, since chemo had been the day before, but again, he couldn't refuse Scott anything.
He led them into the living room, and Stiles leaned down to kiss Scott softly. "I told Deaton I was going to kill him." Stiles said, brushing his hand across Scott's pale cheek. "I can't take that puppy away from you." Stiles' voice wasn't as strong as he'd like it to be, but he knew that Scott wouldn't comment on it. Not with Deaton and Kira in the room. Stiles couldn't even tell him what it meant to him to hear Scott laughing, to hear Scott happy. Stiles kept his watery gaze on Scott, waiting till he calmed to look at anyone else. "I asked Deaton if he wanted to stay for dinner, he's not given me an answer yet. Kira, you want to stay too?" Stiles asked, he knew they'd both come to check up on Scott, and he was touched that they had. With Lydia and Allison already in LA, they didn't have their old gang around. Malia was still in town, but Stiles hadn't heard from her and no one else had, either. He knew she was at least okay, from the scuttlebutt in town. Beacon Hills was too small to not hear stuff like something happened to someone.
"What's his name, Deaton?" Scott asked, and he smiled when Deaton told him it was Steve. Scott knew why he was named that. Scott reached to pet Steve, who was happily crawling all over the couch around Scott, crawling on him, he was currently in Scott's lap, trying to lick at his face. Scott grinned and laughed as Steve's tail brushed Stiles' leg as he licked Scott's face. Scott met Stiles' eye, and he knew that his husband was holding back the emotion. "Can you guys give us a minute?" Scott asked. "Go get something to drink, I think Ma's got some beers in the fridge, Deaton." He said, and watched them go.
As soon as they were gone, Scott tugged Stiles next to him on the couch, and brushed some of the tears off Stiles' face. "It's okay, Stiles." Scott said, meeting his brown eyes. They reminded Scott of melted chocolate. He wasn't able to keep the small smile off his face as Steve poked his head in between them, eager to get to Stiles too. Scott watched as Steve licked Stiles' face, and he couldn't help the smile. "I know you think we can't handle this. But we can, Stiles. You know how much I've always wanted a puppy."
While that was true, Stiles didn't like to admit it. He reached out, cupping Scott's chin, it was thinner than he wanted it to be. "Scott, you know I can't refuse you anything. But…" His voice wobbled, and he kept talking. "But when you… when you saw that puppy, you laughed. Your entire face lit up like Christmas morning. I can't take that puppy away from you." Stiles watched as the puppy moved to Scott, settling in his lap, tail wagging against Scott's thin side. Stiles sighed. At least he had a collar, which meant he had papers and he was registered. Deaton had really gone the extra mile.
"You laughed, Scott. Do you know how long it's been since I heard you laugh? I'm just… I'm overjoyed to see you happy about something." Stiles said, watching Steve, he was looking up at Scott with his puppy eyes, his tail sticking out of his mouth in that way dogs had of breathing, and his tail was still wagging. "You need this. As much as I hate to admit it, because you know I hate to admit when Alan's right," they both smiled and Stiles laughed a little, "You need this puppy. You need this puppy for when…." Stiles cleared his throat, his tears were filling his eyes again. "For when you can't talk to me. And I know there's times you can't talk to me."
"Hey, no." Scott said, wiping tears off Stiles' cheeks. "I can always talk to you, baby. I love you. I love you more than anything in this world. I don't want you to ever think that I can't talk to you." Scott said, he hated how perceptive Stiles was sometimes. He knew that he had to make him believe that that wasn't true, though, even if it was sometimes. But it was only because Scott was trying to spare Stiles pain that he couldn't talk to him. It wasn't because he didn't trust him or anything like that. Scott couldn't bear to hurt him. Scott's hand moved over Steve, petting him softly, and Steve let him, laying his head on his paws.
Scott looked down at the puppy in his lap, and reaching out with his other hand, he took Stiles' hand in his, lacing his fingers tightly with his husband's. "Stiles… I wasn't honest with you. I did throw up today. I was throwing up most of the morning and part of the afternoon." He was quiet as he sorted through his thoughts. "I didn't want you to know.. But only because I don't want you to have to worry about me 24/7. I know you do anyway, but I don't want to be the one to add to it." His voice was soft, and he couldn't look Stiles in the eye. He felt awful for what he'd done, even if he would do it all over again, to save Stiles the hurt.
At that, Stiles reached out with his free hand and tilted Scott's chin up. He looked into his brown eyes, the only thing in Scott's face that had stayed the same since this whole cancer thing. "Scott James, I know why you did lie to me. You're trying to spare me what you think hurts me. I don't want you to ever do that. If I'm going to take care of you, I need to know it all. Even the stuff you don't want to tell me." Stiles wiped some tears that had fallen out of Scott's eyes off his cheek. Leaning out, he kissed him, tasting the salt of both of their tears on his lips. When he'd pulled back to breathe, he looked Scott in the eyes. "I love you, I will always love you. No matter what you tell me. I'm always going to worry about you, healthy or well. I need you to promise me, that no matter how sick you are, you tell me."
After a pause, Stiles continued. "I want you to tell me everything. I know that you're trying to save me the hurt. I know that. And I love you so much for that. I didn't think I could love you more, but I do. I love you more for that. You're the one going through this, Scott. I want you to worry about you, not me. You never put yourself first. It's okay to with this. If I'm going to take care of you, I have to have all the information. Okay? Please, promise me you won't keep anything from me, no matter what it is. No matter how much you think it might hurt me. Because even if it does, I need to know. It kills me to see you like this, Scotty, and I need to do what I can to stop it." He was crying by the time he was done with that speech.
Brushing tears off Stiles' cheeks, Scott said, "I promise, I'll tell you." He wondered if he really did mean that. He wasn't sure that he did. He wanted to mean it. Scott was always going to be the one who was trying to save Stiles from being hurt. It had been like that their whole lives. He knew that's why he hadn't told him about what Rafe had done to him till they were teenagers. He hadn't wanted Stiles to worry about him. He hadn't wanted to ruin Stiles' karma by making Stiles want to kill Rafe. Scott had only told him because he'd asked about the scars. Scott hadn't been able to lie to him. Even though every fiber of his being had wanted to. Because once you knew something like that, you couldn't unlearn it. He knew that, and as much as it hurt him, Scott hadn't been able to bring him into that until he had to.
"Stiles, I know you know how much I love you. I would die for you." Scott knew that was so much scarier right now, what with what he was going through, but it was true. "You… you're the best thing in my life. I will never ever regret being with you. Even if…" Scott stopped, his voice thick as tears slid down his face. "Even if I don't make it. You need to know that I have loved you my entire life, and I wouldn't take any of it back. I don't have any regrets when it comes to you." Scott sniffled, tears falling off his chin and onto Steve. He leaned up, licking Scott's face. It was as if he could tell Scott was sad. "I will never ever regret you. You are the single most important thing to me. I know that I did right in this world, because I loved you. Because you loved me."
Tears were falling off both of their faces by now. Scott reached out and touched Stiles' chest, right where his heart was. "I can go knowing that I lived the best life I could live, because this heart in here is mine. And even if it's my time to go, I know that you will always love me, even if you move on and find someone else."
Stiles brushed some tears off Scott's face, he was crying so hard he wasn't sure he could even see him. "No, Scott James. You aren't going anywhere." Stiles managed to choke out, reaching up and brushing more tears from Scott's face. He kept his eyes on those brown pools of melting chocolate, his hand tightening in Scott's. "You are going to make it through this. And there will never be anyone… even if you… don't. I know that you're it for me. If I…." He stopped, his chin trembling. "Even if I lose you to this, I will never be with anyone ever again. You are it. You're my person. Death cannot stop true love. It can only delay it for awhile." He said, quoting their favorite movie, even it had come out several years before they were born.
"You are my Buttercup, Scott. You are my entire life. I will be devastated if you don't make it, but I know that you will." Stiles said, shaking his head, and brushing more tears off Scott's chin. "You are the best thing that I've ever had in my life. You loved me, you were there when my mom died. When everyone was treating me like I was glass that was going to break, you treated me like you always have. You knew that's what I needed. You didn't even hesitate. I can't…" Stiles sniffled, a sob getting stuck in his throat. Scott leaned out and kissed him, and Stiles cupped the back of his head.
"You aren't going anywhere, you hear me, Scott James? You don't get to leave me. You don't get to go off to heaven and leave me here without you."
Sobbing, Scott reached for a tissue, and he wiped Stiles' face with it, and then he kissed him, drawing him closer, Steve barking a bit but still burrowed deeper into Scott's lap. "I won't, okay? You don't have to worry, I promise, I'm not going anywhere." Scott said. It wasn't something that he believed, necessarily, because he knew how bad it was. But he knew that Stiles needed to hear it. He would say whatever he had to to make Stiles feel better. He reached up, his fingers moving through Stiles' hair, rewarded with Stiles' eyes sliding shut briefly. "I promise, I won't go up to heaven and leave you here."
It was a hard thing to promise. But Scott knew that he'd do whatever he had to do keep it. Scott leaned and rested his head in Stiles' neck, letting out a breath, trying to calm down. They had already been together for five and a half years, and Scott knew if he made it through this, they'd be together for the rest of their lives, however long that might be. Scott mumbled, "I love you, Stiles McCall-Stilinski." He didn't know who he'd made happy at some point to get Stiles, but he knew that he'd never take him for granted. Scott didn't think he could even imagine a world where Stiles didn't exist. Let alone one where Stiles wasn't his.
Stiles held him, and then he said, "I'm going to go and start the burgers. You stay in here, rest. You need your rest if you were throwing up all day." Stiles tilted Scott's head up, and he kissed him, softly and tenderly, and when he pulled away, he held Scott's gaze. "You've still got me." He told him, it was a private joke between the two of them. Scott nodded, and Stiles wiped his eyes with a tissue. "You will always have me." Stiles told him, and stood, going to the bathroom to splash water on his face. He heard Deaton and Kira go back in the living room and join Scott, and soon there was laughter and barks ringing out.
On his way back to the kitchen, Stiles stopped to watch them, Scott was laughing as Kira was telling a story, and Steve was curled up in Scott's lap contentedly, squeaking the squeak toy Deaton had brought with him. Stiles knew that this could all end tomorrow, but he couldn't let himself think that way. Scott had to make it. "I love you so much, Scott." Stiles said under his breath, and he knew that it didn't matter if Scott couldn't hear him. Because he knew Scott knew. They didn't have to tell each other, it was something that they just inherently knew. Stiles knew that if he never said it out loud to Scott again, he knew that Scott would always know. Stiles watched them a bit longer, watching Scott's face light up with a smile as he told Deaton and Kira a story.
"He's mine. Forever." Stiles whispered to himself, and went into the kitchen to get out the beef patties.
Later that evening, Deaton and Kira had left, and Scott was asleep on one end of the couch, Steve on the floor beside him, chewing on his toy. Stiles was awake, Scott's head in his lap, and he was running his hand along Scott's side as he watched The Princess Bride. Scott had made it twenty minutes in, and he had passed out. Honestly, Stiles hadn't been surprised. He was drinking a beer, knowing that if Melissa did happen to get home she wouldn't bitch at him about it. To be honest, he'd already had some Jack and Coke, and he was feeling pretty good.
Speaking of Melissa, she came in, closing the door softly behind her, even though it was only ten o'clock. And speaking of drunk, she seemed to be herself, as she tripped over the coat rack. Stiles cursed under his breath, not because Melissa had let loose, but he didn't want Scott to wake up. Even though he knew that Scott would sleep through the apocalypse, he could sleep through just about anything. Stiles, getting up a little unsteadily, moving Scott's head carefully, got up and walked slowly into the foyer, and took in Melissa. She was definitely drunk, and she wasn't alone. Argent was with her. Stiles gave him a look. "Argent." He said, the reproach in his tone was evident, he knew that Argent would hear it.
Then he looked into Melissa's brown eyes, so much like Scott's. She was Latina, and Rafe had been Italian. It had made Scott some beautiful skin. Whenever Stiles looked at Melissa's skin he thanked God for her having Scott. He knew that it wasn't fair that Scott had ended up with a dad like Rafe, but he knew that Melissa would never regret having Scott. "Ma, you're plastered. Are you okay?"
Melissa knew she'd gotten too drunk. She hadn't meant for Chris to have to come home with her. She still hadn't told the boys yet. Melissa brushed her hand through her black hair, and stumbled a bit, Chris catching her. "I'm fine, Stiles." She said, her words slurring. "Chris made sure I got home." She told him, his car was back at the restaurant. She couldn't believe how much she'd drank. She reached to put her keys on the table by the door, they kept them in a bowl there, just a bit out of sight of the door. Melissa was so unsteady on her feet, she leaned into Chris some more.
"Is Scott okay? I didn't wake him, did I?" She asked, as Chris tried to hold her steady, her knees were buckling a bit. Melissa had to admit, she thought she deserved to at least drink into a stupor, her son was dying. Melissa knew how hard it was for him, she was a nurse. Melissa kicked off her heels, and she lost three inches. She watched as Stiles, who was a neat freak, move them to their spot by the stairs. Melissa sized up Stiles, he seemed like he was drunk, too. But she didn't blame him, he had been so terrific and on the ball since Scott had gotten diagnosed, and she knew that he had to let loose some steam too, Scott was his husband.
Stiles met Argent's eyes, and then he looked back at Melissa. "I promise, you didn't wake him up. He's been in there sleeping away for at least an hour." Stiles said, knowing that she could probably tell that he was half in the bag himself, but he wasn't worried she was going to speak up about it. "Why don't you let Chris take you up to bed? Sleep it off, Ma." Stiles didn't blame her a bit for letting loose. She worked way too hard, and she'd been holding everything about Scott inside. He knew it had to be killing her. He knew it had to be, because it was killing him. "Okay, Ma?" He asked, wondering if she'd even heard him.
When she nodded at him, and patted his cheek, Stiles met Argent's eyes again, and there seemed to be something unspoken between them that they'd never tell Scott about this. Stiles at least could admit that that was decent of him. Stiles said, "And then Chris is going to go sleep on the couch, after I get Scott upstairs, aren't you, Argent?" Stiles knew that he was most likely stuck here, he could leave in Melissa's car, but he knew that Argent would never do that. He'd just call for a ride or have Melissa take him back to his car in the morning. Stiles stared at him, as if daring Argent to contradict him. Stiles didn't want Scott to know about this, it was bad enough that Argent was going to be there in the morning. Although with luck, Scott would sleep through to the next day, at least till mid morning, and Argent would have gone home by then.
Chris met his eyes, and he nodded. It was unspoken that Scott wouldn't know about this. He tightened his grip on Melissa. "Come on, Lissa, I'll take you upstairs." Chris said, he didn't know what to say to Stiles, he knew that the boy was drunk. Chris didn't think that it was the best idea, but he didn't know how to tell him that it wasn't. Chris had lost a spouse to an illness, he knew how hard it was, and Stiles was still just an 18 year old kid. Most kids his age were gearing up to go to college, and he was dealing with chemo, watching his husband waste away in front of him, and not being able to do a thing about it but be there for him. Make him comfortable.
"I'll make sure she gets in bed, then you let me know when you've got Scott in bed." Chris said, his eyes meeting Stiles'. Chris moved away then to help Melissa up the stairs. Chris hadn't drank a drop, he'd watched Melissa get sloppy drunk, and she at least ate her meal. He had taken her to dinner in the next town, lots of gossips in Beacon Hills. Chris was fine with going public, but he knew that Melissa wasn't it. A part of him was wondering if she had feelings for Noah, and that's why she'd been dragging her feet when it came to them. Chris didn't know if he really wanted to know the answer to that question though, in case his suspicions were right.
When he'd seen them reach the top of the stairs, Stiles moved back to the living room, and knelt in front of the couch, reaching out and stroking Scott's cheek. Then he turned off the television, and nudged Scott, not gently, but not hard, either. He was too thin for that. When Scott opened his eyes, Stiles said, "Come on, baby, let's get you upstairs, okay? It's time for your bedtime meds anyway." Stiles let himself smile when Scott groaned and protested, but he let Stiles help him up and go upstairs. Stiles helped Scott to the bed, making sure that the blankets covered him, and as Scott started to close his eyes, Stiles said, "Not yet, let me go and get your meds."
They were in the bathroom vanity, and he moved to get them out. There were so many. Stiles took them out of the bottles one by one, gathered them in the tiny cup they kept for the purpose, and then filled the small Iron Man cup by the faucet up with water and went back into the bedroom. It struck him as he went to the bed to roust Scott to take his meds that this was going to be his life for the foreseeable future. How was that fair? He handed the cups to Scott, and he took them, handing the cups back, and then laying back, his eyes slipping shut immediately, and he began snoring. Watching him for a moment, Stiles fought back the tears, he didn't want Scott to not wake up. He knew it was a possibility every time he fell asleep, and it was something that kept him from getting to sleep, every night.
He put the cups away, and then went back to the bedroom. He knew he had to tell Argent the couch was free. Stiles stood there for a moment though, listening to Scott breathing. He couldn't stop himself from thinking that every breath might be his last. Nothing had been making the cancer cells shrink, nothing. The only good thing was that he wasn't getting worse. Stiles closed his eyes, listening to those breaths, each one was precious. When he'd had his fill of listening, he left the room to go and tell Argent.
It was a race against the clock, and Stiles knew that time could be running out. And time was all he had.
I don't need a lot of things,
I can get by with nothing
Of all the blessings life can bring
I've always needed something
But I've got all I want
When it comes to loving you
You're my only reason,
You're my only truth
I need you like water
Like breath, like rain
I need you
like mercy from heaven's gate
There's a freedom in your arms
That carries me through
I need you
You're the hope that moves me
To courage again, oh yeah
You're the love that rescues me
When the cold winds rage
And it's so amazing, cause that's just how you are
And I can't turn back now,
'Cause you've brought me too far
Author's note: So, I hope ya'll liked. I am sorry it's so angsty, but I warned this fic was getting dark. I didn't plan any of that, it just happened. I tend to not plan too much before writing a fic, I just take the idea and run with it. It always turns out better than I ever expected that way. I know how much easier it would be if Scott was a werewolf, but that's not going to happen in this fic. It's AU for a reason. Just want to reiterate that. I love canon, sometimes, depending on the fandom, but I love AU more, I like tossing the characters into situations they haven't been through in canon and see what they do. So, if that's not your thing, now is the time to turn back. No hard feelings if you do. I am mostly writing this for me, and to celebrate Sciles. I wanted to share it with ya'll cause who doesn't need more Sciles in their life? Review away!