SONG: I'll be there for youThese five words, I swear to youWhen you breathe, I want to beThe air for youI'll be there for youI'd live and I'd die for youI'd steal the sun from the sky for you ~ I'll Be There For You by Bon Jovi

Chapter 22

Scott:

I was already in the car with Stiles, Liam, and Mason when I got the first call. We had just left the arcade and were going to head to the diner to grab something to eat. Stiles and I were reconnecting, getting back to normal and I invited Liam and Mason to spend the day with us. Arcade, food and going to the lacrosse field to show Liam what his new werewolf grace could do. But plans changed as soon as I heard the fear in Lydia's voice.

I made Stiles turn the jeep around. I know she said to meet her at Allison's but that didn't feel right. I had this overwhelming panic that I couldn't explain but knew it was coming from her. So, we were heading in the direction she was coming from, and I would just meet her halfway. If my fear was unwarranted, then so be it but I had the sudden urge to set eyes on her.

The second call put me over the edge. I heard the horn blast both through the phone and outside. We were close. Stiles pulled out his phone and handed it to Liam directing him to call his dad and tell them where to go and punched the gas, speeding down the road. I heard her scream and the crunch of metal as he hit them. Then the crash.

"Lydia! Lydia!" I called, no answer. And then I heard him.

"I guess we will have to reschedule this date, Lydia. See you soon."

Stiles skid to a stop, and I saw the truck speed off before I could move. I heard the sirens approaching and I jumped out of the car, the guys following me.

"Lydia." I screamed running for the car that was flipped on its side, passenger side down.

"Liam help me." I told him. He came to my side and got his hands underneath. "Put as much power as you can into lifting it, okay. If you have to shift, do it."

He nodded and braced himself.

"1,2,3, lift." With a shout on his side and grunt on mine we were able to lift it turning it back over. I grabbed the door and ripped it off its hinges, tossing it behind me. I heard Stiles open the driver side to help her mother. I ripped the seatbelt from her and pulled her out, sitting with her on the ground. I could hear Liam and Mason in the background trying to get him calmed down again.

There was a stream of blood coming from her head and bruising was starting to form across her chest where the seat belt had been. She was breathing but she wasn't moving.

"Lydia, come on open your eyes. Come on baby, open your eyes. Let me see you. Lydia please, open your eyes." I begged. Her lids fluttered and opened for half a second before closing again. She moaned and then whimpered in pain. "I've got you. You're okay. You're okay." I whispered, holding her as gently as possible, pressing my face into the top of her head.

Sirens were on us now and I heard hurried footsteps head our way. A paramedic approached and I couldn't help but growl at him.

"Scott, let them take her. We need to get her to the hospital quickly." Stilinski said approaching as well. I nodded sharply and the paramedic came over to access her then requested a gurney. He gently pulled her from my arms and him and another paramedic stabilized her on a board before putting her on the gurney.

"Scott." Stiles called and nodded for me to come over to his side of the totaled car. I got up and walked over to him. "Liam says it's the same scent that he and Isaac smelled at Greenberg's house. The same as the locker and the locker room." He whispered to me. I leaned in and took a deep breath. I saw red.

"SON OF A BITCH!" I roared. I was shaking with anger, nearly salivating with the need to find him. "I'm going to rip the bastard into tiny pieces." I snarled.

"Scott, listen to me." Stilinski stood right in front of me. "You are going to let me handle this."

"I can't. you don't understand." I said shaking my head.

"Yes, I do. Stiles explained to me about the alpha pair mating thing." I looked at him and he nodded. "You are going to let me handle this. Because Lydia needs you more than you need vengeance right now. So put the claws away, change your eyes and get in the ambulance. Ride with her to the hospital, hold her hand and let her know you are there. Alright? That is your only job right now. You do yours and I will do mine, okay."

I took a deep breath and my claws receded, red clearing. "Okay."

"Go. I got this."

I nodded and ran to the ambulance, hopping in before they could close the doors. I held her hand and just watched her as the paramedics did the initial assessment. I blocked out what they were saying, concentrating on her.

I hopped out of the back when we arrived and helped unload her then grabbed her hand again, whispering how much I loved her and that she would be okay. We walked in, the paramedic calling out codes as they went.

"Scott?" I heard my mother. "Wha-. Oh God, Lydia."

I was stopped before I follow them into the room.

"Wait here, please." A paramedic said, halting me. I took a step forward anyway, but my mother grabbed me.

"You can't go back there."

"Mom," I started.

"I know honey. But let us take care of her. I'll be in the room with her. Someone will get you when we assess her, okay?"

I nodded and watched her disappear. My world was behind that door, and I was separated from it. It was just supposed to be a day out with her mother. That's all. How did it go so wrong, so fast?

I don't know how long I stood there staring at the closed doors feeling paralyzed but hearing someone call me name. Stiles was in front of me in the next second. He studied my face in that way of his and then pulled me into a hug. It was like a switch flipped and I broke down, hugging him back. Another pair of arms wrapped around me, smaller, Allison and I heard her crying too. Then everyone was there, placing a hand on my arm, a shoulder, my back. Isaac, Mason, Liam and even Argent.

At some point we all made it to the waiting room. But I couldn't sit for long and ended up pacing the waiting room, glancing at the clock often. 1 hour, 2…

"Scott." I turned and saw Derek come through the doors. I walked over and gave him a hug too.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Stiles called me, told me what happened." Another hug. "Do you know anything yet?"

"No, we haven't heard anything and I'm going out of my mind." I admitted.

"What are you feeling? I know it's hard to concentrate right now but you are connected to her. If you focus you can feel her. So, close your eyes and focus. What are you feeling?"

I did as he said, closing my eyes and trying to focus.

"Numb. I just feel numb. But I don't know if that's from me or her. I don't know if that means there is something wrong or not. If it's from her, could it mean she's hurt so badly that she's slipping away?"

"That's not her. that's you. You're numb because your mate is hurt, and you can't help her right now. You have to focus past that. Try to push your feelings aside. Try again."

Nodding I tried again, I pushed past my panic, fear, and anger and tried to focus on only her feelings. It built from a niggling in my mind to full fledge pain and I flinched. Then there was terror and anger and longing for me.

"She's in pain, but she's alive. She's also scared shitless, and she needs me."

"But she's alive. That's the important part. Is your mom with her?"

"Yeah, she said she would let us know what's going on."

"Okay, so we wait. I know that is hard, but we have to give them time. In pain or not just focus on the fact that she's alive."

I sighed and nodded knowing he was right. She was alive that was the important part.

"Come on. let's sit."

"I can't. I've tried and I just can't sit still. My instincts are telling me to go to her. A small part of me is telling me to find the bastard and make him pay. But I can't leave until I see her." I said running a hand through my hair. "I want to kill him, Derek. I have never wanted to kill someone as much as I do him. Not when I thought you died, not when Jennifer had my mom. I want to watch the life drain from his body."

"That's the alpha talking, he wants revenge for his mate, that's not you. Lydia wouldn't want you to kill him. Don't lose yourself to this."

"I don't know how to be… calm about this. He could have killed her."

"But he didn't, and he showed his hand this time. If he was that close to the car there may be prints and we don't know if she might have seen him or not. She could identify him. Don't focus on this right now. Just focus on Lydia. That's all that matters right now."

I nodded.

"Let's sit, try. You need to center yourself. She's going to need you calm and pacing isn't doing that. So, sit, focus, and calm yourself." He instructed. I followed him back into the waiting room and took a seat. Allison sat on my right and grabbed hold of my hand. Stiles on my right, placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Close your eyes Scott and take deep breaths. Clear your mind."

I did as he said, clearing my mind of all thought and felt calm. It was akin to meditating. I don't know how long I sat like that, but it wasn't until Liam spoke that I opened my eyes.

"Dad?"

"Hey Liam." Dr Geyer greeted then turned to me when I stood. "We usually don't give nonfamily medical information, but her mother is awake and coherent enough to give consent. So let me start by saying that Lydia is going to be fine."

I sagged in relief.

"She has a sprained wrist, three cracked ribs, a severe concussion and multiple abrasions and contusions. But there is no internal bleeding and no lasting effects."

"Thank God." Allison breathed.

"The problem we have is that we need her to rest so she can start healing but she won't relax enough for the medication to work. Your mother thinks you can help. I don't know how but if it gets her to do it then that's all that matters. I won't ask question."

"Okay. Of course."

"Okay, we are moving her to a room right now so there is privacy. Someone will get you when she's ready.

"Thank you, so much. You have no idea."

He smiled and walked away.

"She's going to be fine." Derek said. I nodded, finally able to breathe. "I need to get back. I left Braeden alone with Peter and I am sure one of them has tried to kill the other by now."

I chuckled and gave him another hug. "Thanks."

"No problem. Call me if you need me." He gave a wave to the group and was gone.

Thank God." I sighed as I sat heavily back in my chair.

"We are going to go as well, but we'll be back in the morning to check in." Argent said. "Isaac, are you coming home with us?"

"You're going to let me stay?" Isaac asked in surprise.

"Allison needs you right now. But clothes stay on." he responded. Isaac raised both hands but nodded. "Mason, Liam I'll give you a ride home as well."

They nodded in thanks. I got pats from everyone and a kiss on the cheek from Allison before they too left. Stiles took the seat next to me.

"You don't have to stay you know." I told him.

"You think I would leave you here alone. Who knows what you will get into without me around to keep you out of trouble."

I snorted. "I'll be fine Stiles. Besides, I'll be in with her most of the night."

"Probably. I'm fairly sure my main job will be to make sure you don't try to climb in the bed with her."

I chuckled and opened my mouth to object.

"Scott, I'm staying. This is going to be hard for you. I want to be here. Okay?" he told me seriously.

"Thanks." I sighed, thinking I could use the support.

My mother came around the corner and saw us.

"She's ready. Are you coming too, Stiles?" she asked. "What am I saying, of course you are." She rolled her eyes.

"It's like you know me." Stiles smiled brightly at her. She shook her head and waved us on. We followed her down the hall.

Mom opened the door and stepped aside to let us in. I froze in the doorway when I caught sight of her. I felt like someone punched me in the gut. She was pale, too pale making the bruising stand out more covering half her face, her lip was split, and her head bandaged but there was a bit of spotting on the wrapping. Her wrapped hand twitched and she whimpered quietly. My hand went directly to my chest rubbing over my heart. Stiles slid past me into the room and gripped my shoulder.

"Sweetheart, she's going to be fine. Right now, she needs you to hold her hand and help her feel better." My mother said. I nodded and rushed to her side, taking hold of her uninjured hand.

"Need…" she murmured.

"Sshh… I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I love you. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me, but I'm here now." I whispered running my thumb across her swollen cheek, kissing the side of her head. I concentrated and started to take her pain. I saw her visibly relax and go quiet.

"What the…" Dr Geyer gasped. I didn't even hear him come in. I glanced at him to see him staring open mouthed at my hands. He could see me absorbing the pain from her, but he couldn't make sense of it. "How the hell is he doing that?"

"Scotty is magic. You didn't know?" Stiles said.

"wha-."

"No questions, remember." My mother reminded him. He nodded but continued to stare. I sat in the chair next to her bed and continued to absorb as much as I could, placing a kiss on her hand. Stiles pulled a chair up to her other side.

"Well, uh, I guess… you have everything under control here. Page me if there are any issues." Dr Geyer said, still staring before shaking himself out of it and leaving.

"I'll check in later." My mother said, kissing the top of my head.

"Thanks mom."

"Thanks mom." Stiles parroted, smiling widely. My mother chuckled and kissed the top of his head as well before leaving.

Stiles and I sat quietly as I kept a steady stream of pain relief, not enough to drain me. I couldn't take it all but enough so that she was comfortable enough to rest.

"I could have lost her Stiles. He could have taken her from me." I whispered, fear choking me at what could have happened.

"Yeah, but he didn't. She's here and she's safe right now."

"Is she?" I asked, looking at him. "She can't even spend one day with her mother. I wasn't there, Stiles. I wasn't with her. I wasn't protecting her."

"That's not your fault Scott. The twisted bastard was probably waiting for the opportunity. He caught us all off guard."

"Yeah, because I wasn't there. I let this happen."

"You can't be with her 24/7. She has to be able to live her life. You can't keep her locked away and you can't wrap her in bubble wrap. You're here now. That's what matters right now. You are with her right now and you are helping her when she really needs you too. Don't think about him. He doesn't matter right now. We'll catch him I promise."

"Scott…" Lydia murmured.

"Shh, you're okay." I soothed. She sighed and settled back down.

"Did you ever think that this time last year, this is where we would be?" Stiles snorted.

"Not even a little bit. Changing species, supernatural attacks."

"Lydia." He sighed and I looked at him. He shook his head and smiled.

"How are you doing, really?" I asked him.

"I'm doing okay. Really. I'm not just saying that. Once I 'got my head out of ass'." He said with air quotes. "I realized that we were never made for each other. I still care about her but its balanced out. I'm no longer crushing on her. I just want her to be happy and she is with you. She's high on bliss. Its annoyingly sweet." He said rolling his eyes.

I laughed softly.

"And you, I have never seen you as settled and at peace as you are with her. even with Allison. I'm honestly happy for both of you. Really."

"What about you? Do you think you are ready to move on? Find your own 'high on bliss'."

He chuckled nervously scratching the back of his head.

"I uh… have been talking to Malia a lot, lately." He admitted. I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Really?"

"Yeah, since after we found her. I was just checking in on her. you know, making sure she was okay. But we've been calling and seeing each other a lot lately."

"Wow, okay. That's good. How is she doing?"

"she's doing okay. She wants to start going to school with us but she's having some control issues. She wanted me to ask if you could help her."

"Yeah man, of course. Let's set something up."

"Thanks."

"Sure. So, you and Malia?"

"I like her. A lot. She's different from any other girl I met and not because she can turn into a coyote, well maybe it is. She's been living on animal instincts for so long that she's not good with human emotions. But I have been helping her with that. She has this dry sense of humor, and she doesn't seem to mind my over-hyper-ness. She doesn't understand sarcasm, though, at all. Anytime I say something snarky she just gives me this look like I'm speaking a foreign language." He laughed. "But she's fun and smart, not sweet, not even a little. She will call me on my crap quicker than anyone and she does it so bluntly." He grinned, shaking his head.

Well, that's good. You need someone to do that occasionally."

"Right."

"So, are you actually gonna ask her out?"

"I already did. I'm not making the same mistake twice."

"What did she say?"

"She said yeah, but she wants to work on her control first." he grinned widely.

"Dude, why didn't you tell me?"

"Well besides you being in your honeymoon phase, you have had a lot going on with Liam and this stalker business. I didn't want to add to it with my drama."

"You and Lydia, I swear. Stiles, you're my best friend. You can talk to me about anything, anytime."

"Yeah, I know. It just didn't seem like the timing was right to bring it up. Besides, I have been enjoying keeping it to myself for a while and just living in the moments, you know."

"I get that."

"No… don't… please…" Lydia whimpered.

"Shh, it's okay. I've got you." I whispered pretty a kiss against the side of her head. It was killing me that she was going through this.

She settled down squeezing my hand. I gave her a little extra boost to get her back to a restful sleep.

"We'll find him Scott. I swear we will do everything we can to keep her safe." Stiles said. I looked at him and nodded.

"I know."