Sorry for the delay! I got knocked down by a wicked stomach bug and it didn't allow me to get to my computer at all. Just a note - things may seem like they're going a certain canon route but things are going to get mixed up as we go, trust me! Hope you enjoy!

I do not own Teen Wolf.


Stiles rolled over, his side cramping, no position he lied in seeming to work. His body was tired, but his mind was wide awake, thrumming with life, and no matter what he did, he couldn't seem to get to sleep at a decent hour.

He had tried drinking warm milk before bed, herbal tea, and even doing some yoga-like stretches, but nothing seemed to work. He tried having a fan blowing for some white noise, tried listening to soft music, but his mind always wandered. He was always left awake, counting down the minutes until he had to rejoin society.

He knew he was stressed out, that his anxiety wasn't helping his case any, but he didn't know what to do to fix it. He knew there was something wrong with him, but he wasn't sure what to do about it. He couldn't really be a murdering amnesiac psychopath, could he?

His phone beeped, and he welcomed the distraction, brows furrowing as he noticed the time.

You awake?

Lydia. Why was she still awake?

Yeah, can't sleep. What are you doing up?

Can't sleep either. Restless. Something on your mind?

Too many somethings.

Talk to me.

Stiles sighed, propping himself up on his elbow, chewing on his tongue as he contemplated telling her what had been going on. How scared he was growing of his own mind.

I've been sleepwalking again.

Her response was delayed.

How bad? Far?

No, just around the house so far. But it's only a matter of time.

Does your dad know?

I haven't told him, but he's been putting in extra locks and has turned the camera in my room on again, so I figure he must have caught me at some point.

He's just worried about you.

Maybe he should be.

Lydia was calling him before he could say anything more.

"Hey." he said quietly as a way of greeting, relaxing back in his pillows.

"Hi." her smooth voice came over the line, only a hint of worry present. "Texting wasn't working for me. What's going on, Stiles? You've been acting off for weeks, and I know the Nemeton stuff was bad, the nightmares and that, but that's over, right?"

Stiles opened his mouth and then closed it. He didn't really know.

"I'm not having vivid daydreams or nightmares where I have to scream myself awake, so that's good. Most of my sleep is completely dreamless, just black nothingness. But I'm still blacking out during the day, and it makes me wonder if I'm blacking out at night too, just going out and coming back so my body doesn't really know. I don't know how to explain it, Lydia, but something feels wrong. I… I might try to see a doctor tomorrow. Figure out if it's physiological and not psychosomatic."

Lydia swallowed, audibly enough that Stiles heard it in his quiet room.

"What?"

"I don't think it would hurt to get checked out. I just…"

"You just what?"

"You know that foreboding feeling I've been getting?"

"Yeah?"

"It's getting stronger. I'm sort of scared for you to go."

Stiles was silent. He didn't know how to tell her that she should be afraid of him, not for him.

He very well might be going crazy.

"Stiles? Stiles, what is it?" Lydia asked softly, warm and concerned but full of fear.

"Nothing. I'm just scared of what might happen if I don't go."

"What do you mean?"

He swallowed. "There's just a lot going on right now, everyone is stressed. The last thing anyone needs is me having a full mental breakdown. I've been losing my mind this whole time. Maybe it's going to go past the point of no return soon. I want to stop it before it does. And if I can't stop it, I want to eliminate who gets hurt because of it."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

He shook his head, though she couldn't see him. "It's okay. I'll call in the morning and see if I can get an appointment. I may have to cut school, and you really shouldn't miss classes. Plus then who will catch me up?"

"Okay." She was smiling slightly; her usual bashful one, he could tell just by the sound of her voice. "Well, try to get some sleep, okay?"

"I'll try." he promised, although it felt pointless. "You should try too."

"Okay. Good night, Stiles."

"Night, Lydia."

He hung up the phone, sighing as he relaxed back into the blankets, tossing his phone to the other side of the bed.

It was going to be another long night.


Stiles pulled into the hospital parking lot, rubbing his hands over his eyes. They stung from lack of sleep, but he knew going home like Scott suggested wouldn't help anything.

Stiles had texted him to meet at Beacon Hills High before school started. Scott, confused but intrigued, followed his lead to the chemistry closet as Stiles relayed what he had figured out the other night.

But when Stiles tried to prove it, tried to find the key that had been there just this morning, but there was nothing there. Nothing on the board either.

Scott's words still rung in his head. "I don't want to sound like I'm trying to tell you that you're wrong, but I don't think you're trying to kill people either."

"It was here. It was all here." Stiles couldn't help repeating as he stared at the vacant board, no doubt a custodian or someone removing the scrawl once the police cleared the evidence.

After that, Scott suggested he take a sick day, get some sleep, probably getting to the point of questioning his best friend's competency.

Stiles had tried to get in at his usual doctor's office, but nothing was available, so he figured his best bet was the ER. He knew he wasn't exactly an emergent case, but seeing as he wasn't entirely sure he wasn't assisting murderers around town, he didn't want to risk waiting.

He didn't want to worry his dad, so he hadn't said anything even though his dad was well aware of his sleeping issues, but he knew once he ran into Melissa, he'd find out soon enough.

Before he could check in at the front desk, a familiar figure stepped in front of him, a wry smile on his face.

Stiles resisted the urge to sigh.

"Well, look who it is."

Stiles simply grunted, trying to mask his irritation and failing pretty miserably.

"You're not looking so good, Stiles. Not sleeping well? Your guilt keeping you up at night?" Rafael McCall asked, smirking.

Stiles nearly blanched, thinking he had discovered something, but then remembered how adamant he had been that he and the others had been lying about what happened with Barrow. They hadn't really, besides leaving out major details.

He rolled his eyes without meaning to. "Really cute, picking on teenagers. No wonder you and Scott are so close."

"Don't talk to me about my son."

"Why not? It should be the one thing we have in common. Except I know how to make him a priority, and you don't. He's the most important person in the world to me, but what's he to you? You haven't been here. You haven't seen all he's been through, seen all he's overcome. You don't know who he is, but I do. I know every last thing about him there is to know, and you can't tell me more than tidbits of trivia about his early life, can you? So don't stand there and scold me for bringing up your hurt feelings when you're the reason you're in the predicament you are! You know where to find him, and you're still here!"

Stiles didn't even realize he had raised his voice until he found himself needing to catch his breath.

He tried to calm his voice. "How about you stick to what you're good at? You know, coming up empty on cases around here and blaming it all on my dad."

The older man's jaw set. "We got called in for a reason, Stiles. Your dad has a role in this town—"

"But that's not what it's really about, is it?" Stiles said, voice lowering, adrenaline spiking in his veins, his chest hot. They had only been talking for a few minutes and he felt bottled anger crawling up from his toes. "You can dress it up to all the professional disapproval that you want. But I know the real reason you don't like him."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. Because he knows something you don't want him to know." He stepped closer. "And guess what? I know it too. And I know it kills you to know that he's with Melissa, that the two of them got closer and fell deeper in love than she ever loved you. That he makes her happy when you only made her miserable. That—"

"That's enough, Stiles." Rafael scolded dangerously, eyes narrow.

Stiles felt a strange power flooding his system, feeling more alive than he had in weeks. He wanted to fight. Wanted to scream. Wanted to rip things off the wall and watch the panic build in Scott's dad's eyes.

"Stiles."

Another voice joined the mix, and Stiles looked up to see Melissa coming towards them.

"Agent." Stiles said in fake-courtesy, walking away from him to greet her.

"What was that about?" she asked with raised eyebrows, arms crossed. It was clear she hadn't missed the fire dancing in Stiles' eyes.

Now that he had moved away from it, the exhaustion settled back in his bones like wet clothes dragging him down.

What had just come over him? He wasn't a fan of Scott's dad, obviously, but he had never had a craving to be so… aggressive with somebody. What was happening to him?

"Stiles?" Melissa repeated.

He swallowed. "N-nothing. Um, is Dr. Gardner here? I… I was hoping to see a doctor."

Her face morphed into concern, her eyes watching him carefully. "Dr. Gardner's not back until next week. Do you want to try waiting for one of the urgent care doctors or…?"

Next week… he couldn't wait until next week. How many people might he be responsible for killing by then? Maybe he was overreacting, but what if he underreacted? But would a doctor who had never seen him before lock him up? Was that what was best? Should he just stay away from everyone for good?

Dr. Gardner had been the doctor he had been familiar with—he had seen him for a multitude of things over the years – broken arm, lacrosse injuries, and of course that one time he had overdosed on his Adderall and thought he was going to die since his heart was racing out of his chest and he couldn't catch his breath. He knew him, would know whether Stiles' ADHD was playing a part in what was going on with him, or if it had to do with his genetics. He had been the main person involved in his mother's care, knew how her condition manifested. He should see him, really, it made the most sense, but how could he wait that long? What if he really did have what his mother had?

He backed up without realizing, breaths coming in short spurts. He could feel the panic attack coming on like an ominous wave.

"Stiles. Are you all right?" Melissa moved closer, grabbing his arm.

His breathing was becoming more difficult. He felt traitorous tears spring into his eyes. Was he all right? Or was he a monster?

"I-I don't know. I guess… I guess not really?"

"Okay, kiddo. All right. Come with me. It's okay."

Stiles focused on her soothing voice and let her lead him down the hall to one of the empty rooms. He was lucky it was a quiet day in the ER.

He was grateful that she was working that day. At least if he did end up getting locked up, he'd be able to see at least one person he loved before he was taken away.


Lydia entered Scott's house later that afternoon, Allison and Kira leading the way, Scott and Isaac bringing up the rear.

"Have you heard from Stiles at all?" Lydia couldn't help but ask Scott quietly as they made their way to the living room.

He pulled out his phone again, as she had seen him do several times on their way over. "No. He needs the sleep though, so hopefully he's home catching up on that."

Lydia nodded but couldn't help feeling worried. She had texted him a few times with no response. Maybe he did get some sleep, but she couldn't imagine him going home and sleeping a full night's worth of rest without interruptions after not being able to get more than a couple hours here and there for days. It just didn't make sense.

She had to trust that he was okay. Maybe he just needed some space. It was clear he had been through a lot. But she couldn't help but wonder if he had gone to see a doctor, if they hadn't given him a favorable outcome.

"So what's the plan?" Allison asked, her fingers interlaced with Scott's now.

"We can only assume they're coming again tonight. They didn't get Kira last time, but we don't want to give them a chance. Hopefully your dad and Derek will get some information that can help before they get here."

"It's getting dark quickly, Scott. I think we need to plan around that."

"Wait, where is your dad?" Isaac asked, having missed that part of the plan that also involved his old alpha.

"They're talking to Katashi, the man my dad talked about the other night. He managed to track him down. Apparently he's been in the country for a while. He and Derek have gone to talk to him and try to find out more about what happened that night, what the warriors were doing and what the kumicho was. Derek's going to pose as a professional gun seller so that my dad can sneak in. That way, if things go south, at least he has someone with some firepower with him."

"How is he so sure Katashi will talk?" Kira piped up.

"He brought the broken mask. Said Katashi will remember that. Hopefully he knows more about how to stop them that doesn't involve spending every night waiting for the sun to come up."

"So what about us? What are we going to do?" Lydia asked.

"Deaton installed a security system here but I need my mom to arm it. She should be home any minute."

"I hope so, because the sun's going down."

Lydia checked her phone once more. Still no messages.

"Who's Deaton?" she couldn't help but ask.

"My boss."

"Don't you work at a vet clinic?"

"Yeah, he's a veterinarian." Seeing her confused face, Scott chuckled. "He also knows a lot about the supernatural. He works unofficially with our pack, assisting us when he can."

Another time, she'd inquire more, ask if he had any ideas as far as knowing what she was. But tonight, they had bigger things to worry about.

She didn't want to admit it, especially because it was stupid, but she wished Stiles was there. He made her feel safe, even though those she was with were all more equipped to keep her safe. Even Allison had her archery skills.

She pushed the intrusive thought aside.

A key in the lock sounded from the back door and Scott headed in that direction. "Mom's home."

But he stopped dead in his tracks in the doorway of the kitchen, it clearly not being his mother, and the rest headed over quickly to see who the new visitor was.

"Scott."

"Why do you still have a key?" Scott demanded, bypassing a greeting.

Lydia recognized him as the FBI agent from the other night – Scott's father.

"That's not important. I came to talk to you."

"Well, as usual, your timing sucks. So you can leave."

"Scott, you can't talk to me like that. Just because I haven't been around doesn't mean I'm not still your father—"

"Actually, that's exactly what it means. You're a gene donor. I got my hair colour from you, and that's all I got so you can't come in here and play tough dad with me."

"You've been spending too much time with Stiles. You're starting to sound like him. He said almost the same thing to me earlier."

"When did you see Stiles?" Scott asked, anger forgotten.

"At the hospital when I was following up on a case."

Lydia sharply inhaled a breath. He had gone there this morning? And still hadn't updated them? Something must have happened.

Scott seemed just as surprised. He clearly hadn't known Stiles was even planning on seeking medical help.

Rafael smiled amusedly. "He didn't tell you? Guess he's not as good of a friend as he claims to be. Said he knows how to make you his priority yet he fails to tell you when he's in trouble."

"Leave him out of this. You want to talk to me yet you're going to stand there and bash my best friend? You already treat his father like shit for no reason. I have nothing to say to you. Get out of my damn house."

"What's going on in here?"

Melissa came through the open back door, looking between the two men and then at the rest of the group standing further behind Scott.

"I came to talk to Scott."

"He let himself in." Scott cut in. "And I already told him now wasn't the time."

Melissa met his eyes and nodded understandingly. She was well aware of the plan that was taking place that night.

"He's right. You should leave."

"Scott…" Kira whispered, and he looked around to notice that, in the heat of the fight, the darkness had descended much quicker. They were coming.

"Who the hell is this?" Rafael said, advancing past the others crowded in the corner.

One of the dark warriors stood in the middle of the living room.

"Dad, no!" Scott shouted.

Too late, the steel sword stabbed straight through his shoulder, causing Kira to scream.

Melissa rushed to his side as he collapsed, immediately setting to work as the others got prepared to fight.

Allison pushed Lydia behind her. "Stay with me."

Melissa pulled her ex-husband away from the chaos, into the hidden stretch of hallway next to the staircase as Isaac and Scott transformed.

Kira pulled out her katana, irises fiery in colour, and Allison prepared her bow.

"Now! Get them outside the doors!" Scott shouted, advancing on the nearest one and swiping with clawed hands and a menacing growl.

Lydia tried to keep her eyes everywhere, watching Allison's back as well as fearfully checking on her friends. They all were fighting like it was something common, kicks and flips out of the way and ducking at the retaliation. It reminded Lydia of how many battles they fought before, all that she had missed, and that no matter what she was, she was lucky that she had found them to take care of her.

One of the warriors came from the kitchen side and Lydia grabbed the first thing she could find and hit it with all her might. The figure crashed through the window.

Allison chuckled as she looked back at her, Lydia frozen in shock at what she just witnessed. She hadn't seen anything so up close. The supernatural world was a strange place and still didn't feel quite real. And she had never done anything so violent before.

"Nice weapon choice."

Lydia looked at the wooden baseball bat in her hands. "What's so funny? It was the only thing I could find!"

Allison grinned. "I'll tell you later." And then she went back to battle.

It took some time, to force them out of the doorways, and once they were outside, Melissa ran to throw the jar of mountain ash at the doorway. A black line appeared as the scattered glass dispersed over the wood.

Lydia didn't get it until one of the ninjas tried to move through the opening, only to get pushed backwards by some invisible force. There was a protection shield around the whole house. They were safe for now.

Scott went to check on his parents, Melissa making a beeline for Scott's dad right after she threw the jar.

"How is he?"

"He needs a hospital. Based on the way his shoulder is rotated, the tendon must be torn which means he very well could be on his way to a collapsed lung."

"Mom… they're not going to leave until the sun comes up."

"Based on the way he's bleeding out, he's not going to make it that long."

"Should we call John?"

She shook her head, looking torn. "Is that just going to get more people hurt?"

"Maybe. I don't think guns work on them."

"Well, what does?"

Scott shrugged one shoulder. "We're still waiting to hear back from Argent. But otherwise, we'll have to figure something out."

Scott headed back to the others, but they all had overheard. It was clear none of them really knew what kind of words to offer. Getting Scott's dad out of there safely was virtually impossible, not without getting hurt more, but they couldn't very well let him die there either.

Allison's phone rang and she eagerly dug it out of her pocket. "Dad? Please tell me you have something. They're here."

She listened intently, nodding.

"Does he know anything?!" Isaac asked impatiently.

She covered the mouth piece. "They're called Oni. They're Japanese demons. Katashi says they're unstoppable."

Not exactly inspiring words.

She listened further before repeating the action. "They're looking for one that is no longer themselves. That's why Isaac and Lydia were marked with the Kanji symbol for 'self'. It means they're clean."

"What do you mean 'no longer themselves'?" Scott asked in confusion.

"One that is possessed by a dark spirit." she explained.

Lydia felt the eyes draw to her. She understood. After all, they all hadn't known what she was, it came out of nowhere, and her powers were really whacky. But she had already been tested and came out clean. What did that mean? One of the others was possessed?

"They know you're supernatural. They will check anyone they sense that in. Once they know you're not a dark kitsune, they won't hurt you."

"It is me, isn't it?" Kira said fearfully.

Scott shook his head, reaching out to touch her arm. "They're looking for a dark spirit. I know that's not you. What I see around you? Is not evil."

"Scott, kitsunes are trickster spirits. How do you know that what you can see isn't a trick?"

"Because I've seen the bad guys, and you're not one of them."

Lydia couldn't help but smile at Scott's argument. She could understand why he was the alpha of the group.

Allison said goodbye to her dad and hung up the phone, turning to the group. "He said one more thing—that the nogitsune, a dark kitsune, gains its power from pain, chaos and strife. Katashi said if there is a nogitsune among us, we need to let the Oni destroy it. He told my dad that even if it was me, he needs to let the Oni kill it."

"Well it's not you either." Scott said seriously. "Let them in."

"Is he serious?" Isaac asked incredulously.

Lydia swallowed and took the steps towards the front door, all firefly-like eyes focused on her, the buzzing rattling coming from somewhere inside their chests. Maybe they were trying to talk amongst themselves, but whatever they were doing, it wasn't helping her nerves any.

She placed one foot on the ash line and swiped back to break it.

"Get out of the way, Lydia!" Allison shouted.

Lydia tucked out of the way as all of the Oni came parading in.

"Don't do anything." Scott commanded, standing strongly from his spot in the middle of the room. "Let them check you, Kira."

She nodded, but was clearly terrified.

"Trust me." Scott told her quietly, reaching out for her hand and keeping it locked in his.

The dark warriors stepped in front of them, reaching a hand up to cup their faces as their eyes bored into theirs. Both teenagers seized up like the breath was stolen from their lungs, their backs arching, before they collapsed on the floor.

"Scott!" Allison cried out, by his side instantly. The Oni paid no mind to her as they turned and retreated out of the house.

Isaac and Lydia tended to Kira, who came around after a minute. Lydia wrapped her in a blanket that was laying over the couch.

"It wasn't me?"

Lydia smiled at her. "It wasn't you."

"So who is it?"


Stiles woke up a little groggily in the hospital, the sedation still slightly present in his veins. He could feel the difference in his body though. Melissa had been right. He needed sleep badly. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt like this, so in control of his own body parts.

He moved out of the bed, slipping his shoes on before making his way out into the hall, looking for Melissa. He wasn't really sure where to go from here, if he had to sign something or give her an updated report or what.

It didn't take long for his exploration to get off course. He wasn't sure what made him walk towards the empty OR, slipping between the revolving double doors. Ironic that just moments before he had felt so in control of himself.

It was strangely dark in the hospital. Too dark.

A rattling buzz came from behind him, and he turned to see the dark warriors that had attacked the other day swarming him.

The fear set in instantly, freezing him in place as one approached slowly.

Before it could touch his face, his own hand jolted upwards and plunged straight into its chest. Stiles watched it in terror, not having consciously moved a muscle. How had he done that? Why had he done that?

A menacing glare settled on his face against his will as he ripped his hand back from the black chest, causing the warrior to dispense into black smoke.

He unfurled his fingers, Stiles fighting to control them to keep them closed. All it did was cause them to tremble as his fist revealed the dying firefly in his palm.

The other two warriors behind the first advanced forward, but he simply smiled sinisterly as he prepared to fight.

Stiles was completely lost, feeling like a prisoner in his own mind, as he watched his body push away the smoky figures like they were nothingness. He couldn't control any of his body parts. He was paralyzed, stuck following the motions of whatever was controlling him. He would've cried, devastation clawing at his chest, but his eyes didn't form tears. It was like he wasn't connected to his body anymore.

You're possessed. Stiles mind echoed, reminding him of every scary movie he had seen. They all were the same—they just wore the person's face. He'd have to find a way to break out of it. This couldn't really be happening.

"Stiles?"

Scott! Scott would know what to do.

"You okay?"

Stiles' body turned to face him and he smiled slightly. "Yeah. What's been going on?" he asked, hand reaching up to touch his shoulder as they walked out of the room.

The dead firefly lay on the floor unnoticed behind them as Stiles screamed in anguish inside his own head, nothing but silence answering back to him.