The next day, Lydia rings Stiles for their daily conversation, whilst she's aimlessly wandering around her house, and he tells her that Barry mentioned that he'd seen her.

"Oh?" Lydia says, trying not to sound too interested.

"Yeah, he said you seemed nice," Stiles said. "And then he asked if we were dating."

Lydia laughs at that. The number of times she and Stiles have been mistaken for a couple is monumental. "He seemed pretty nice, too. Also, he had a totally bad crush on that girl he was with- Iris."

"Iris is dating Eddie," Stiles explains. "He's this really buff blonde guy on the force. You'd like him, he's totally your type."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Lydia demands.

Stiles immediately sounds apologetic. "Nothing. Just that... nothing. He's nice is all I was saying."

"It better be, Stilinksi," she says hotly, making her way to her fridge so she can grab her Ben and Jerry's. It's a night in for her. "I have to go, now. I have a date with my ice cream."

"Bye," Stiles says and hastily ends the call, while Lydia cackles at his pain.

Three weeks later and she gets a phone call, again from Central City, but this time it isn't from Stiles. She's just got in after work and is about to kick back and relax, when her mobile starts belting out its default ringtone; a sure sign that it's from an unknown number.

"Hello?" she answers once she decides to pick it up.

"Is this Miss Lydia Martin?" an unfamiliar voice asks and she is immediately on alert.

"Yes?"

"I'm afraid I'm calling from Central City Hospital. Your friend, Mr Stilinski, has been involved in an accident."

Lydia feels like her throat's constricting and she can't breathe properly. "What kind of accident," she manages to squeak out.

"A drunk-driver was going to fast and knocked him over while he was walking home from work," the voice explains sympathetically. "I'm afraid you'll have to come over here if you want any more information."

"I'll... I'll be right there," she stutters, ends the call and immediately rings the Sheriff. Answerphone. Next she dials Scott.

"Lydia? Is everything-?"

"Stiles has been in an accident," she relays as she storms out of her house. "I'm going over to the hospital now, but you're going to need to tell his Dad and then bring him over."

"What kind of-?"

"Nothing supernatural," she soothes, climbing into her car. "At least, I don't think so. I'll find out once I'm there. Just get his Dad. I'll call you when I know more."

She hangs up before he can say anything else and slams her foot on her accelerator. It takes her about an hour to get there- it should have taken her longer, but she's going over the limit most of the way- and when she bursts into the hospital, she's told to calm down and people try to make her sit and wait. And then Barry appears at the end of the corridor, grabs her arm and shuffles her through to Stiles's room, flashing his police badge at anyone who tries to stop them.

Stiles is led on the bed, not at all conscious, with a bruised face, and Lydia finds it hard to not cry as soon as she spots him. Barry gently lets go of her arm, and she turns to him.

"What happened?"

"Stiles was walking home when a drunk driver careered into him," Barry says, avoiding her eyes as though he feels guilty somehow.

"Do you know who the driver was?" Lydia asks, and Barry winces as though he is afraid of the answer.

"Once he knocked Stiles over, the driver lost control altogether and crashed into the wall," Barry explains. "He died on impact."

Lydia looks back to Stiles and subconsciously rubs her arms. "Do you know who they were?"

Barry looks around, to make sure they're alone, and then brings a picture out of his pocket. "Do you recognise him?"

Lydia breathes a sigh of relief. "No. So it was all just an accident?"

Barry shrugs. "I suppose. Does Stiles have anyone who'd want to hurt him?"

Lydia almost laughs. There is a list almost as large as Lydia herself of people who would willingly want to hurt Stiles. But Barry can't know. "Not that I know of. I mean, Stiles is a decent guy who mostly keeps to himself," she says instead, and Barry nods in understanding.

They're interrupted, then, by raised voices and they go out to see Scott and the Sheriff in the corridor, both arguing about being allowed to see Stiles. Barry flashes his badge at the doctors and they're let through. Scott runs to Lydia and hugs her tightly. She nearly cries then- Scott has this super power where he puts so much emotion into everything he does- but holds herself together for the Sheriff, who immediately runs past them to Stiles.

Barry relates exactly what happened to Sheriff Stilinksi, who then turns on his detective mode and questions the poor guy. Lydia and Scott look on.

"Think it was anything supernatural?" Scott asks, and Lydia hesitates before shaking her head.

"It sounds like just a regular accident," she says honestly. "But..."

"But it's us, right?" Scott laughs halfheartedly. "It could only be supernatural."

The Sheriff leaves the room and speaks to them both. "I'm going to go and find someone who'll know a little more. Do you mind staying with him?"

Scott and Lydia agree and the Sheriff moves out. Scott goes to Stiles and sits in the chair next to his bed. Lydia stands in the doorway, not wanting to impose on their moment. Although Lydia has become amazing friends with both of the boys, they still have this unspoken bond; more like brothers than friends. It's uncomfortable to be a witness to.

Barry seems to notice this, and offers to take her to get some coffee. Lydia suspects it's just so that he can see Iris, but she agrees. She lets Scott know where they're going and then she leaves them to it.