Chapter Three: You Never Walk Alone

Stiles was propped against the door of his Jeep in the high school parking lot. He had a stupid grin on his face that he hadn't been able to shake since last night. It seemed a little inappropriate considering everything that was going on in his life. Dread Doctors were bearing down on them, the chimeras were gunning for them, a desert wolf was circling them and a legendary beast was rampaging through Beacon Hills.

But still he couldn't stop smiling. Malia Tate had told him she loved him last night. Granted she hadn't used words, but Malia often didn't use words. The point was he knew. He had known he was in love with her for a long time now. And up until now he was positive that she cared about him, wanted him even but loved? That had been up in the air. And since he was well versed in unrequited love he hadn't been in a rush to find out what her feelings actually were. But the mix-tape changed everything.

When Stiles had driven her home, neither of them had quite been ready to let go of each other. They were parked outside her house for at least half an hour. After having spent most of the weekend with Stiles, she had promised to have dinner with her dad, and then she and Kira were heading over to Lydia's. While he was supposed to meet up with Scott and Argent at the Animal Clinic. But each time they had agreed to part her eyes would quickly gravitate to his lips. And he cannot be held fully responsible when that happens. They were both late. But Stiles regrets nothing.

Now he was standing in the empty parking lot, an hour early for school, grinning like an idiot. He had been up late with Scott tracking leads. He couldn't wait to tell the rest of the pack what they had found. They might finally have their first big break and everyone was supposed to meet up at the library before school. He was fiddling with the keys in his pocket, his foot jostling when he spotted a familiar Toyota Camry. His foot stopped tapping as his eyes followed it with interest. It circled the Jeep once before pulling up beside him.

Malia slammed the door shut fixing him with predatory eyes. Stiles flashed her a glint of teeth as he pushed off the Jeep, starting towards her. Before he had taken two steps she collided into him, pushing him back against the Jeep. Her lips slanting against his in a hot possessive kiss. His head knocked against the CJ-5 making him groan into her mouth. Malia rubbed the back of his head in apology gentling the pressure of her lips against his own. Stiles cradled the back of her head with one hand while the other was anchored around her middle. He smiled against her mouth pulling away.

"Hmm-I have something to tell you," he said. Malia bit her lip shaking her head, as she leaned back into his space.

"What's that thing you say when we're studying?" she said, wrapping her arms around his neck "Focus…" she said in a teasing voice, while nipping at his lips, "…I need your undivided attention."

He had never said those words with the kind of heat that Malia threw behind them. And now he would never be able to use them again with a straight face. So he settled for what he could do which was to kiss that smug little smile off of her.

Malia flattened her hands on his chest, pulling back from the kiss abruptly, her cheeks flushed. Her face was half turned away from him her head tilting at an odd angle, listening.

"I just caught a scent," she said distractedly. Stiles shook his head entwining their fingers and drawing her back against him.

"Stop smelling other people when I'm kissing you." Stiles grumbled. Malia turned her eyes back on him cocking an eyebrow.

"I can't help it." She explained. "The coyote comes out whenever I'm kissing you. It's like all my senses are heightened."

"Still?" he asked flattered.

"Yeah, like all the time." She told him freely, looking up at him with those caramel coloured eyes. She was so incredibly beautiful. But for Stiles the most seductive thing about her was her raw honesty. She was never shy about her attraction to him. Sometimes the looks she threw his way left him completely unraveled. He felt a primal sort of satisfaction that he could affect her in the same way.

Stiles rocked forward, pressing a lingering kiss to her cheek. When he pulled back from her, Malia quickly cast her eyes over her shoulder again, her eyes searching for something.

"It's Lydia." Malia said over her shoulder, already starting towards her friend. Stiles looked past her catching sight of the strawberry blonde loitering near the high school doors. He jogged to catch up with Malia's swift gait.

"I thought she wasn't cleared for school for another week. Did she say anything about this last night?" Stiles asked under his breath as they crossed the parking lot.

Malia shrugged whispering back, "No. She never said anything about this." Lydia spotted them and smiled warmly at them both. She wore a pleated floral dress accompanied with her signature heels. Lydia self-consciously smoothed the hair covering her left temple, as they approached her. She might look like herself but the gesture only confirmed for him that she was still far from alright.

Stiles held open his arms and Lydia walked straight into them. They hugged each other tightly for a moment before releasing each other.

"It's good to have you back." He said warmly. Lydia nodded in agreement.

"It's good to finally be here." Lydia replied, paying both of them grateful looks before she touched her hair again. Malia read the gesture before shooting him a conspiratorial look. Malia suddenly reached out gathering Lydia's textbooks under her own arm, before pointing her eyes at Lydia's feet.

"Cute shoes," Malia praised. Stiles couldn't help but smirk at Malia's attempt to speak girl.

Lydia being the one who had been coaching Malia in both fashion and girl-speak, only beamed with pride, at her observation.

"The only good therapy. Is retail therapy." Lydia agreed.

Malia gave Lydia's arm a gentle squeeze, "You are wasting a perfectly good opportunity to be free of this place for a few more days." Malia cautioned. "But if you insist on being here, then I get to sit across from you in math."

Lydia's silvery laugh filled the air around them and it lifted a burden off Stiles' chest. He looked at his girlfriend gratefully, then back at Lydia who was already standing taller.

"Of course you're sitting with me." Lydia assured.

The sweet moment between the friends was interrupted by the roar of a motorcycle as Scott and Kira rode up on his bike. Scott pulled off his helmet and jogged over to his friends, his eyes resting worriedly on Lydia.

"Lydia? What are you doing here?" he asked resting a hand on her shoulder. "You're supposed to be resting." Scott insisted. Kira caught up with them and she and Malia shared a meaningful look. "With everything going on. I don't think this is a good idea." Scott said, his voice warm with concern. Lydia cast her eyes downward, her renewed smile faltering. Stiles heard a repressed growl from beside him. Malia scowled at Scott.

"We don't make choices for, Lydia." Malia interrupted, stepping between Scott and the strawberry blonde, "We just make sure she never has to walk alone."

Lydia smiled gratefully at Malia. Then Kira and Malia shared a conspiratorial look before they flanked either side of their friend. Malia instinctively covering Lydia's injured side while Kira took up her right. Then the three of them started for the high school like a force to be reckoned with. The werecoyote, the banshee and the kitsune. Stiles smirked to himself. Girls travel in packs.

Scott and Stiles fell into step trailing after them, "Do you think this is a good idea?" Scott asked.

Stiles smiled at his best friend knowing that his heart was always in the right place. But in this case that Malia was right. What Lydia needed right now was not to be doubted, she needed to know that her friends were with her.

"I think it's a better idea than pissing them off," Stiles said, clapping his friend on the back. Scott watched the girls marching ahead of them, his eyes scouting ahead searching for threats.

So much of the time Scott carried himself like the whole world was resting on his shoulders. As though it was up to him to protect all his friends and everyone else living in Beacon Hills.

"Hey, it's gonna be OK." He said squeezing his friend's shoulder. "You aren't alone either." Stiles reminded him.

Scott bowed his head, "Thanks, Man." He whispered gruffly.

The halls of BHHS were desolate as they made their way to the library. The girls were chatting animatedly as they tapped their key cards against the automated lock. But once the door slammed behind the reunited pack, something in the air shifted. Malia stepped out in front of the group, her eyes sweeping over the library. Scott went rigid and began snarling in his throat.

Theo Raeken stepped out from behind a bookshelf his eyes sweeping over Lydia in a disturbing fashion. Lydia glared at him, clenching her fists until they turned white.

"Hello, Lydia. You're looking well." Theo purred.

"Stiles," Malia growled, flicking out her claws, "Hold my books." She said just before tossing them in the air. Stiles managed to catch them just as Theo was sent crashing through an oak bookshelf.

The textbooks tumbled out of Stiles' arms as he stared through the gaping hole that Theo had just left in the massive bookshelf.

Theo landed hard in a heap of warped metal shelving and splintered wood. While the bookshelf he had just been flung through wobbled on its feet, groaning and shuddering before finally, careening down on top of him. Books, shelves and planks of wood hailing down on him. He vanished under a sea of books and debris.

"Malia. Don't." Scott pleaded.

Malia ignored him glowering down at the wreckage with bared teeth, a low growl resonating from her chest. As the debris shifted she held her ground. Her eyes tracking her prey as he crawled out from beneath the bookshelf and dropped onto the floor near her feet.

"I guess I sort of had that coming," he choked out, "After that shotgun shell." Theo said spitting blood from his mouth.

Malia's eyes widened "You think this is about that?" she asked forcing him back down with her boot on his chest. Theo flashed her a glint of his bloody teeth before trapping Malia's ankle in his steely grip. He held her foot against his chest with unrelenting strength, his eyes tracking over her greedily.

"Oh come on, Malia. I got close. I hurt you. You're telling me this isn't even a little bit about that?" he asked his thumb gliding along her calf, in a sickeningly intimate caress. Malia shuddered, trying to shake him off. But his hands dug in, his eyes locking on hers openly challenging her. Malia rose up to her full height, pressing her weight down on Theo's chest and bared her teeth.

"You think my feelings are hurt?" she spat out scornfully. "You, sent a wendigo after my boyfriend," she snarled. "You hospitalized the sheriff, you wormed your way into Liam's head. You tried to kill Scott and drove Lydia catatonic." she said, as she dug her the heel of her boot a little harder into his chest. Theo wheezed, releasing her ankle. Malia held him down for a moment longer, before finally relenting.

Theo rolled away, gasping and sputtering. Malia circled him, her shoulders rising and falling with her breathing. "You hurt my pack. The people who saved me, and gave me a home…gave me a family."

Theo climbed to his feet, holding his chest. Malia planted her feet facing him square on.

"I won't let you hurt them again." She vowed flashing her eyes.

Theo chuckled darkly, "Nice speech. Very moving. But I think we both know the truth. I got under your skin, didn't I?" Theo rasped.

Malia pointed her clawed finger in his direction, "All I know is that I'm about to get under yours, in a real way." She promised. Theo's eyes flashed and flicked out his own claws. With a roar he charged her. Malia's boot connected with his jaw, in a smooth round kick, snapping his head back.

Scott lunged forward, "I've got to stop this." Stiles shot his arm out forestalling his friend.

"Easy, Scott. I've got a plan." Stiles assured him.

"OK. What do we do?" Scott asked eagerly, his eyes fixed on the fight. He winced as another crash reverberated through the library. "Because she's going to start running out of bookshelves soon." Stiles' eyes were poised on Malia his fingers drumming against his lips, nervously.

Stiles pointed his finger at Malia, "We let her punch him until her arms get tired." He said, turning back to face Scott, "Then we try talking her down."

"THAT'S YOUR PLAN!" Scott yelled.

"Scott, if you get in their right now, you're just gonna get hurt."

"Dude. I'm an alpha." Scott reminded him.

"Scott, you're my best friend and you know I love you. But my girlfriend will fold you five ways if you try and get between her and Theo right now." Stiles warned him.

"We should at least get, Lydia out of here." Scott reasoned.

"Are you kidding me?" Lydia asked, "There is no way in hell I'm missing this."

Theo was pitched over the circulation counter landing hard behind the desk, sending an office chair skidding into the wall. He leaped back over the desk kicking out and catching Malia in the abdomen hard. Malia stumbled back, gasping the wind knocked out of her.

Stiles stiffened as if the blow had hit him instead, clenching his fist.

"C'mon, baby." He muttered, under his breath.

Theo spun driving his elbow hard into the back of her neck. Malia collapsed on her stomach, letting out a low pitched whine. Stiles surged forward, but Scott caught him holding his friend back.

"I got this." Scott assured him. Scott flashed his eyes and launched toward Malia, with Kira at his heels already reaching for her sword-belt.

Theo was towering over Malia, his foot poised above her windpipe, "It didn't have to go this way you know." Theo chided.

Malia grinned dangerously, "There was only ever one way for this to go." She told him just as she slashed a claw through the bottom of his sneaker. Theo roared stumbling backward. Malia forced herself up on her elbows, blood was trickling from her mouth. Scott roared, stepping in front of her. Theo was growling, his hands holding his bloody sneaker. Kira arced her blade out in front of her, her free hand touching Malia's shoulder gently.

"Stay out of this, you two." Malia groaned. "I'm not finished with him yet."

Kira squeezed her friend's shoulder, her eyes glaring at Theo.

"You sure?" Kira asked. Malia nodded, blood dribbling down her chin as she did so. Scott turned finding Kira stepping back, holding her sword at her side. "Scott, get out of her way." She instructed.

Scott looked back and forth between the two girls. His piercing red eyes searched Malia's finding only pure determination reflecting in her eyes. He gave his friend a nod of assent.

"Just don't kill him." Scott cautioned.

Malia grunted in agreement, then digging her fists into the carpet struggled up to her feet, with a groan.

"KICK HIS ASS, MALIA!" Lydia cheered, from the doorway. Malia cast a look back at the entrance, smirking at Lydia. Then her eyes locked with Stiles.

"You got this, baby." Stiles whispered, knowing she could hear him perfectly. Be careful.

Kira and Scott drew back allowing, Theo and Malia to circle each other once more. Theo landed the first punch. Malia staggered back, but recovered swiftly, locking her arm around Theo's leg as it curved through the air towards her. With her free hand she drove her fist up hard against his chin. Malia released his leg and he crumpled backwards.

Malia dropped down kneeling on his chest, fisting a hand in Theo's shirt. She reared back and punched him soundly. She hit him again. And again. When she wound up for a third blow, Scott intervened.

"Malia," Scott said. "He's not worth it." Malia sniffed in distaste, wiping the blood off her nose with the back of her arm, before rising up off of Theo.

Theo chuckled menacingly, even as he lay flattened on the carpet. "I'm a little disappointed, Malia. I thought it would take more than your alpha yanking your chain to call you off." He taunted.

"Scott, is my friend." Malia corrected, "And I respect him more than I want to snap your neck." She pinched the air holding her fingers roughly an inch apart, "But only by about this much." She warned.

Scott smirked crossing over to Malia and wrapping an arm around her shoulder bracing her against him as she limped, "C'mon, we're done here." Scott entreated, starting to steer her away.

Theo rolled onto his shoulder, "You will never really belong with them." he said cruelly, "Werecoyotes don't have packs. It's not in your nature."

Malia started limping toward the exit, leaning heavily against Scott. "What would you know about being in a pack, Theo?" she dismissed hotly.

Stiles met them half way, Malia sliding gratefully into his arms pressing her forehead to his shoulder, slumping against him. Stiles caught her bearing up her weight and holding her carefully against him.

"Easy, Slugger. I gotcha." He whispered against her ear. Malia snorted into his shoulder. "C'mon, let's get you cleaned up." Malia nodded, leaning into him as they walked. Kira and Scott trailing behind them. Lydia was beaming with pride as they staggered over to her. Lydia took up Malia's unguarded left side and offered her arm.

"I don't want to get blood on your dress." Malia protested. Waving off her concern, Lydia grasped Malia's hand squeezing it.

"You Malia Tate are sort of a bad-ass." Lydia praised.

"Don't encourage her." Stiles complained, touching his chin to Malia's forehead. "I'd like her to live a long life."

They were still about ten feet away from the exit when the locking mechanism on the library door flashed a green light and chirped cheerfully. As the door gave way, Malia's eyes widened and she suddenly thrust Stiles and Lydia away from her body and out of the line of fire.

Tracy barreled through the doorway, her reptilian eyes wild, venom weeping from her claws.

She swiped at Malia. But the werecoyote ducked, rolling out of range and rose up planting herself between the kanima and Stiles.

Tracy grinned menacingly as she started towards the pair of them. A blade carved through the air, its edge coming between the kanima and Malia. Kira flashed her fiery eyes at her opponent.

"I'll deal with you later, Fox." Tracy spat her eyes locked on Malia. Malia was holding Stiles behind her, baring her teeth at the vengeful kanima.

"I've been having these rage blackouts." Kira warned her. "So I'd back up unless you want to see what happens when you set me off."

Tracy smirked in response, just before she swung her claws at her. Kira artfully spun out of her range before striking Tracy bluntly with the hilt of her sword. Tracy snarled and kicked out her foot swiping Kira off her feet.

Scott snarled lunging in to protect Kira, when an arm locked around his throat from behind.

"When are you gonna learn that you just don't have what it takes for this, Scott?" Theo asked, crushing Scott's airway.

Scott forced his weight back against the chimera, his eyes piercing red his voice guttural as he replied, "Shut up, Theo!"

Scott broke Theo's hold by driving his elbow hard into the other boy's abdomen. Scott spun towards him punching him square in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. Theo sprung back to his feet, and smirked as he watched one of the wounds on his arm rapidly closing up, leaving only a trail of blood.

Theo gestured toward his arm, "Accelerated healing. A little gift from the dread doctors. One of a thousand reasons why your never gonna beat me, Scott."

Lydia rose up to her feet, groaning as she touched her head gingerly. Squaring her shoulders in Theo's direction she called out to her friends, "Everybody down, and cover your ears!" she ordered.

Stiles and Malia hit the floor shielding each other's ears with their hands.

Scott seeing the glint in Lydia's eyes dove out of the way, and Kira rolled beneath a desk, jamming her fingers in her ears.

"Recover from this, Theo." Lydia said coolly, before a scream came barreling from her throat launching Theo up into air. He flew into the hanging light fixture, the cables ripped from their casings and the light-fixture plummeted with Theo, crashing down into the last of the remaining bookshelves.

Sparks rained down from the ceiling, casting light on Theo's crumpled form, as the bookshelf sunk in around him. Tracy snarled, charging at Lydia from behind. Lydia whirled bringing her hand up toward Tracy. "Bad choice." She scolded, before flinging the kanima across the room with her piercing wail. Tracy landed in a heap on the stairs.

Lydia leaned down offering Scott a hand up, "I totally had him." Scott told her.

Lydia smirked, "I know. My way was just faster." She replied as she pulled him upright.

Kira hopped to her feet, twisting her sword handle the sword slackening back into a belt. She shook her head snickering at Lydia, "Show off," she teased good-naturedly.

"If you've got it. Flaunt it, Yukimura." Lydia quipped.

Stiles straightened up on his knees, unsealing his hands from Malia's ears. He turned her head from side to side checking her ears for bleeding. Malia rested her face in the palm of his hand, sluggishly.

"S'ok. Stiles, my ears are the only part of me that doesn't hurt." She confirmed. Stiles tapped his hand under her chin affectionately.

"Yeah, well you should see the other guy," he said thrusting his head toward the crumpled bookshelf. Malia flashed him a small smile before using his forearms to leverage herself to her feet. She swayed slightly but Stiles caught her around the middle, steadying her.

"My hero," she whispered fondly pressing her forehead to his.

"Says the werecoyote." Stiles teased.

Malia pulled back from him her eyes slightly disoriented, "Something doesn't feel right." She said her voice distant. She was staring at her hand curiously when the library door flew open, thudding against the wall.

Stiles instinctively drew Malia behind him, and Scott roared springing between his pack and the open door.

Parrish stood paralyzed at the threshold of the library his weapon trained ahead of him, he was flanked by Liam and Mason. Parrish lowered his gun upon finding Scott, then his eyes swept over the upturned room, before landing back on Scott, inquisitively.

"So," Liam said slowly, "I guess we missed the meeting?"

"What happened?" Mason asked, his eyes widening as they trailed over the decimated room.

Parrish cocked an eyebrow at the alpha, "Scott?" he prompted.

"Yeah I'm not really sure how to put words to this," Scott admitted.

"Malia, sort of broke the library… on Theo's face." Kira interjected, while clipping on her belt.

"That. Is. Awesome!" Mason exclaimed, enthusiastically.

"Stiles!" Malia cried out, urgently. "My fingers are numb." She chattered, "Tracy must have got a piece of me," she said as she tried to steady her breathing. Her eyes finding the kanima's claw mark on her side. Stiles went to touch her, but Malia drew back. "The venom's probably still on me," she cautioned. Stiles nodded shrugging off his coat and wrapping it around her. He gently scooped Malia up. She hissed in pain.

"I've got to get her out of here," Stiles told Scott. The alpha nodded, looking to Parrish.

Parrish holstered his weapon, "You should all go," he said jutting his chin towards the chimeras, "I'll handle them."

Stiles carried Malia out of the library, with the rest of the pack following after them. Parrish radioed dispatch, reporting a violent altercation at the high school, requesting back-up for two belligerent suspects. As Lydia passed by with her friends she subtly, brushed her fingers down Parrish's hand, hooking two of his fingers in her own and squeezing.

"Thank you, Jordan." She whispered. Parrish watched her with soft eyes, squeezing her fingers in return before dropping his hand and moving into the library.

Stiles was heading for the west exit with Malia, when he heard students in the hallway and had to change course. Pivoting back around the corner, he nearly collided into the rest of the pack.

"There are people in the hallway. We can't make it out, we're gonna have to find a place to lay low for a while." He whispered.

Kira nodded, "I've got a place. Follow me."

She led them through the hallway to a stairwell that led to the School's auditorium. Kira shuttered the pack behind the curtains. "The drama club is on a school trip to New York, nobody will bother us here." Kira assured.

Stiles sunk down against the nearest wall, cradling Malia to his chest. She was shivering hard by this point.

"St-stiles, I c-can't move," she stammered, her eyes wild with fear.

"Shh-shh" he soothed, brushing the hair out of her eyes, "Don't focus on that. Just look at me, OK?"

Stiles reached into his pocket and grasped his keys. "Mason," he said, tossing his keys to him "I need you to go to my Jeep. And bring me the sweater and first aid kit from under the backseat," Stiles explained. Mason nodded hopping off the stage and sprinting down the aisle toward the main hall.

Stiles adjusted his arm wrapping it more securely around Malia shoulders, and drew up his knee pillowing her head against his thigh. Malia's eyes were wide and chillingly blue as they darted back and forth around the room.

"Hey, check in with me." He urged softly.

"C-can't move, can't f-feel anything." She said her voice wound tight, her muscles tensing as she fought against the venom's effects.

For as long as he had known her Malia's greatest fear had always been her body turning against her. Now she was slowly being imprisoned in her own skin left with nothing but her heightened senses. Stiles rubbed his hands along her arm and shoulders, uselessly. Touch had always been a second language between them, something they both easily slipped into. Only now she couldn't even feel the comforting weight of his hands on her skin.

Stiles reached out cradling her face in the palm of his hand, gently urging her to look at him. Malia's feral blue eyes locked with his, her pulse drumming against his palm. Stiles stared right back, caressing her eyes warmly with his own. As they held each other's eyes they carried on their conversation without words. Stiles could read the fear and frustration in her eyes as she looked up at him. I'm scared.

Stiles softened his eyes and brushed the skin beneath her eyelids lightly with the pad of his thumb. It's OK. I've got you.

The tension around Malia's eyes started to fade as she stared up at him, her pulse starting to find its rhythm. After a few seconds her eyes settled back into the richest shade of caramel brown that Stiles had ever seen. He cocked his head smiling as he blinked down at her natural eyes.

"Hi," he whispered.

"Hi," she repeated.

Stiles started rubbing his hand up and down Malia's arm again hoping he could work life into the frozen limb. When he looked up he found Lydia's eyes on him, she wore an inscrutable expression. She must have been watching the whole exchange while she and the rest of the pack gathered around Scott talking in hushed voices.

Mason suddenly burst through the double doors and loped onto the stage, sliding to a knee in front of Stiles and Malia. Malia's eyes cut to Mason and her eyes flashed blue as she snarled at the intruder. Mason's eyes widened and he dropped the sweater and red bag. Stiles shot his arm out warding Mason back.

"It's OK. Just back up." Stiles cautioned him. "She can't protect herself right now, it's bringing her instincts out."

Stiles reached out snagging the sweater and brought it up tucking it around her shoulders and letting it brush against her cheek. Malia's eyes fluttered closed as she inhaled the comforting smell of it.

Stiles thumbed the corner of Malia's split lip, wiping the blood away. "Scott, she still isn't healing," he said

Scott stepped forward crouching down a distance away from the pair of them, careful not to disturb Malia.

Malia eyes were screwed up tightly her nose pressed into the sweater as if she was struggling to block everything else out. Scott tilted his head assessing her.

"It's the venom." Scott said, "She won't heal until it's out of her system. And the more she fights it the longer that's going to take." Scott unzipped the first aid kit and pulled out some gloves, "We need to clean the wound and bandage her up. Do you think you can keep her calm?" he asked. Stiles nodded racking his brain for a way to distract Malia long enough to let that happen.

Malia's eyes shot open and darted fearfully around her. "There's too many of us, here. It's making her nervous." Scott told everyone. "Malia," he asked softly. "Stiles needs some help patching you up. Who do you want to stay with you?"

Scott was giving Malia the control she desperately needed right now. Stiles served him a grateful look. Malia's eyes landed on Scott briefly before she whispered, "Lydia."

Rising up from his haunches Scott handed the gloves to Lydia, giving her a few brief instructions.

Scott gestured for the rest of the pack to follow him. "We'll be right outside if you need us." He assured Stiles, before he ducked under the curtain. Liam, Kira and Mason filed out each of them casting reassuring glances at Stiles and Malia.

Lydia gloved up and went to work setting aside gauze, a bottle of antiseptic and medical tape. Stiles watched as Malia's face started to visibly relax with fewer people in her space overpowering her senses.

Lydia handed him a pair of gloves and he slipped them while he tried to distract Malia.

"You know the leaky faucet on the third floor? The one that drives you nuts when we're in English?" Stiles asked.

Malia wrinkled her nose, "I hate that leak."

"Listen for it. Let me know when you find it." He instructed. Malia looked at him clearly unimpressed and Stiles chuckled. "Just trust me."

Malia huffed at him but did as he asked, closing her eyes and focusing her hearing reaching out for a single sound in a sea of noise. Stiles waited for her to get lost in the search before he nodded to Lydia. Stiles pulled the sweater away from her body and parted the jacket covering her allowing Lydia to work.

Malia's eyes cracked open, "I've got it." she told him.

"Good. Now count the drops as they fall." Stiles instructed.

"Seriously?" she grumbled.

"Yup."

Malia rolled her eyes at him but she closed her eyes and began to count anyway, "One…two… three…four…five…"

Lydia rolled up Malia's shirt finding the deep gash in her side. A shard of talon had broken off in Malia's wound. Lydia dumped out the first aid kit and plucked up a set of tweezers. She carefully worked the talon free from her skin. When it pulled free Lydia grinned to herself, while Stiles grimaced at it motioning towards a plastic bag. Lydia cautiously discarded the talon in it.

Then she doused a wad of gauze with liquid antiseptic and began swabbing at the wound, sopping up the blood and venom. She repeated the process a few times before she cautiously sealed up the bloody gauze in the plastic bag. Lydia tossed Stiles a packaged sterile dressing. Tearing it open he pressed it over the wound as Lydia began securing it with medical tape.

Lydia leaned back from her work and nodded, carefully removing her gloves. Stiles sent her a grateful look, before he straightened Malia's shirt and zipped up the jacket. Lydia helped him out of his gloves, stuffing them in the plastic bag. Malia was still counting.

"…forty-five…forty-six…forty-seven—"

Stiles reached out and tapped her cheek lightly. "—OK. Malia. Open your eyes." Malia's eyes blinked open. Stiles smiled down at her relieved to find her eyes had settled back into a deep caramel brown.

"How do you feel?" he asked, as his fingers brushed down her cheek.

"Better, I think." She replied a little puzzled, "How did you know that would work?"

Stiles winked at her. "I didn't."

The warning bell for first period rang shrilly and Malia's eyes went to Lydia, "Thank you for patching me up."

Lydia smirked at her friend, "You just gave Theo Raeken the beating he deserved." She told her, "Patching you up is the least any of us could do."

Malia smiled back at her, "And sorry if I growled at you, before."

Lydia waved off the apology, "Ah, bygones."

The second bell rang and Malia raised an eyebrow at Lydia, "You should head to class, you don't want to miss your first day back."

Lydia shook her head, "I'm not going to class without you. You never walk alone, remember?"

Malia eyes widened in surprise. Lydia pressed a hand to Malia's shoulder. "I'm gonna go wait with the others. But when you're back on your feet, then we're all walking out of here together."

Malia smiled at her. Lydia rose up and plucked a package from her purse tossing it at Stiles. He caught it in his free hand and inspected it.

"So you can clean up her face and hands." Lydia explained.

"Thanks, Lydia." Stiles said sincerely.

Lydia nodded at him before clicking away in her heels and disappearing behind the curtain. Stiles ripped opened the package and freed a disposable hand towel. He took her hands in his own and gently started cleaning the cuts on her knuckles.

"You don't have to stay." Stiles insisted, "I think a brush with kanima venom earns you a sick day."

Her eyes should be lighting up with the prospect of skipping school but she gave him a pointedly serious look.

"I can't. I promised, Lydia." Stiles sighed judging by the look on her face she wasn't about to budge on this. Knowing how much she loathed school that was saying something. He brought the towel up to her face and gently dabbed at the corner of her mouth. A lump forming in his throat.

"You're a good friend." Stiles replied earnestly.

"Yeah, well I picked that up from you." Malia said in that nonchalant way of hers.

His hand twitched at the corner of her mouth and he sort of stopped breathing. She had this singular talent for unintentionally saying the most romantic things. And it never failed to knock him off balance.

Malia looked up at him quizzically, "Why is your heartbeat doing funny things?"

Stiles wanted nothing more than to tell her he loved her right now. He had to lock his jaw in order to force the words back down. She wasn't ready for them. He knew it wouldn't be fair of him to tell her now when she couldn't even run away from them. So he told her in a different way.

Stiles caught her eyes as he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. He leaned into her space and nudging her nose affectionately, keeping his eyes locked on hers as he pressed a lingering kiss to her lips. When he drew back Malia narrowed her eyes at him, Stiles just smirked pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"No fair," she whined, "I can't even feel my lips."

Stiles chuckled nuzzling her ear, "I'm sure you'll pay me back for it later."

Malia's hand twitched, "Maybe sooner than you think." She replied.

Stiles brought his head up, "Did you feel that?"

Malia's eyes brightened, "Yeah, in my fingers just barely." Stiles took her hand in his own and ran his finger along her palm.

"Can you feel this?" he asked.

Malia blinked and nodded.

"Try squeezing my hand." He said. Malia shut her eyes focusing hard, she managed to curl one of her fingers around his and squeezed it faintly. Stiles smiled.

"You did it. Keep going." Malia managed to unlock each of her fingers in her right hand and curl them around his.

Malia shivered slightly, "You're hands are warm."

Stiles squeezed her right hand before he took her hold of her left and started massaging her fingers, his hands working up her arms and into her shoulders. Eventually she got enough feeling in her upper body to sit up. Stiles worked his hands along her legs and calves until she could wiggle her toes.

Malia turned her upper body bracing her hand on his Stiles' shoulder. "I want to stand." Stiles nodded and helped her to her feet.

Her legs gave out slightly, "Whoa,"Stiles exclaimed catching her around the middle and hugging her to himself, "Easy there." Stiles held her close until her feet became steady. Then he helped her take measured steps until she could stand on her own.

Stiles pushed the curtain out of her way and Malia walked though it on her own speed. Finding their friends sitting around on the stage waiting for them, she grinned. They all jumped up crowding around Stiles and Malia.

"There's our girl." Lydia said fondly, hooking her arm through Malia's.

"C'mon," Malia said tossing her head toward the school doors. "Let's get this over with."

"That's the spirit." Lydia beamed. The pack left the stage and marched out into the hallway together. As the moved toward the closed classroom door some of the joy went out of Malia's step. Her hand hesitated on the doorknob, but the choice was ripped from her when it suddenly swung open revealing a red-faced Coach Finstock.

"Why, am I not surprised at finding all of you together?" he said glowering at them. He stepped out of the doorway and made a sweeping gesture, "No. Please come in you're only half an hour late." He growled.

"I didn't think you taught math, Coach." Stiles said surprised as the group made their way to their cluster of vacant seats.

"Well, you thought wrong, Stilinski! If you and you're friends ever bothered to show up on time you'd know why I'm subbing today."

They sat and flipped their notebooks open. Coach Finstock went back to his board his eyes landing on his first victim.

"Malia, since you obviously think you can afford to be late for class, then you are going to be my first volunteer." Malia sunk a little lower into her chair. From behind her Stiles slipped his foot underneath her desk and brushed his foot softly against hers. You never walk alone.

Malia looked up and around finding herself encircled by her friends, their eyes sympathetic and encouraging.

Malia flipped open her textbook and met Finstock square in the eyes. "OK, Coach. Hit me with your best shot."

-Chapter 3 Complete-

Author's Note: This chapter is dedicated to my best friend and Savior my Lord Jesus Christ. Who taught me that though life is tough I never have to walk alone. Happy Easter my friends and fellow writers MAY YOU NEVER WALK ALONE.