** Only one chapter after this left. I can't believe i actually finished this whole story. Next chapter up as well. Enjoy. **

SONG: Give me a reason to believe that you're goneI see your shadow so I know they're all wrongMoonlight on the soft brown earth…I will stay forever here with you, my loveThe softly spoken words you gave meEven in death our love goes onAnd I can't love you, any more than I do ~ Even In Death by Evanescence

Chapter 29

Lydia:

Time passed slowly once we got to the hospital, after the initial chaos of unloading Scott and getting him inside. Dr. Geyer had the room prepped and allowed Ms. McCall to go into the OR with him, though she wasn't allowed to assist. Allison and Stiles forced me into an exam room so I could be checked out. Allison cuddled with me on the bed while Stiles paced. My feet were badly scratched up and he had to pick a few pieces of debris out of them before applying ointment and wrapping them and gave me hospital socks to wear since I had no shoes. Blood was taken to see if they could figure out what was given to me, but he declared me well enough to not need to be admitted.

I requested a toothbrush, mouthwash, soap, and washcloth, needing to wash Greenberg off me. Back in the waiting room everyone was still there. Stiles continued pacing and I cuddled with Allison in the corner praying to any deity there was to make him okay.

"Lydia."

My head snapped up and I saw my mother rushing in. I ran to her and hugged her tight, more tears falling.

"Oh baby. Stiles called me. Are you okay?" I could hear the tears in her voice as she clutched me tighter.

"I'm okay, but mom… Scott…"

"What happened? Is he okay?" Her worry palpable and sincere.

I shook my head choking on a sob.

"NO!" a scream breakthrough from down the hall.

"He's flatlining. Get the paddles." Dr Geyer's shouted. My legs gave away and I was just barely caught by my mom.

"Damn it. Go again."

"No." I breathed my heartbeat tripling.

"Come on Scott, come on. Again."

The door opened and someone was pulling Ms. McCall out as she screamed and cried.

"No, no, no, no." I gripped my hair. Blood rushing through my ears.

"Get her outside." Someone said. I was picked up and felt cool air against my skin.

Scott.

Scott.

Scott.

I felt twisting in my chest, an excruciating pain that felt like someone was squeezing my heart, tighter and tighter and tighter until I couldn't breathe. My mind shut down, only replaying the same thing over and over again. Scott shot. Scott bleeding out. Please Scott, you can't die… So much blood.

The squeezing feeling stopped almost instantly. The pain was gone but something felt off and wrong. My chest felt hollow and empty as if there was nothing there. Even my heartbeat seemed to be absent. Like it had left me. my heart had disappeared. I started to tremble, knowing what that meant. Everything around me faded away. I knew what that meant.

"SCOTT!" I screamed with every bit of energy I had left in me. All of it directed to him.

Stiles:

I'm not even sure half of us knew why we were covering our ears just that we needed too. The shifters looked to be in pain, falling to knees and crying out. others in the waiting room also seemed to feel the effects, along with staff. Lights flickered and a few blew. The thick glass panes showed cracks and chips, even the mechanical doors got stuck on open.

Though I couldn't hear it I knew what it was. This was the most powerful her scream had ever been, and it was all in anguish, that's the only conclusion. I made my way over to Malia and wrapped my hands around hers, over her ears. I winced, still not able to hear it myself but for some reason it still hurt. Malia tried to bury her head in my chest. Looking around I could see Mason tried to cover Liam who was curled up on the floor, screaming.

Slowly the pain receded until there was just an echoing ringing left behind. But it was just as rattling. I looked around to see staff and other patients shocked and wondering what happened there were a few people that had a bit of blood streaming from their ears.

"Isaac! Lydia!" Allison tried to shout, but it came out muffled still we understood. Jumping up she ran out, the rest of us followed. Both Lydia and Isaac were crumpled to the ground, but Isaac was coming around. Allison rushed to his side.

"I'm okay, I was just too close to her when it happened." He said, standing shakily.

I ran to Lydia, her nose was bleeding, but her eyes were open, staring unseeingly straight ahead.

"Lydia, can you hear me? Lydia?" I turned her head to look at me, but she just looked right through me saying nothing. "We have to get her inside."

I started to gather her up but was moved, surprisingly, by Peter who picked her up and carried her inside.

"We need some help here." I called out and three nurses came running, one of them grabbing a gurney on the way. Peter placed Lydia on it, and they took her away, her mother following them. Allison brought Isaac back in and sat him down. He insisted he was fine and was starting to feel better.

It was in that moment that I realized what happened. I had heard the shouting from the OR but hadn't comprehended it yet. But looking down the hall, watching Argent hold a crumpled Melissa on the ground, panic set in. Dr. Geyer called for the paddles. Scott. My best friend. My brother. The one that has been with me through everything. I staggered backwards falling on my ass. Arms wrapped around me from behind and I clung to them. Tears slipped out as she whispered soothingly in my ear.

Someone stepped in front of my crouching down.

"Dad." I croaked. "Scott… He…"

His eyes shone as he nodded. Picking me up from the floor he brought me in, like he did when mom died. I grabbed hold of Malia and brought her in too. I needed her there just as much as I needed my dad… and Scott. But…

"I know Stiles. It's okay… you still got me." he said, something else he said after we lost mom. Malia wrapped an arm around my waist, sniffling into my shoulder.

Argent carried Melissa back to us, her crying into his neck. Allison and Isaac were holding each other. Liam was curled in a chair with Mason's arm around him. Derek sat numb staring at nothing with Braeden holding his hand next to him and even Peter looked shocked as he had a grip on his shoulder.

"Wait." A door burst open, and Dr. Geyer ran up to us.

"He's alive." He said hurriedly. "Scott's alive."

We all stared at him, and I could see his lips move but I couldn't focus on whatever else he was saying. Scott's alive. Scott's alive. Scott's a-. Realization hit me and I pushed away from my dad, grabbed Malia's hand, and ran us down the hall.

"Stiles, what are you doing?" She asked, letting me drag her from room to room looking in windows until I found that familiar red hair.

"She has to know." I told her.

"He's alive. Scott's alive." I yelled, startling the doctor and Ms. Martin as I opened the door.

"Young man, we are performing an exam. You need to go back to the waiting room." The doctor said.

"No, you don't understand. She has t-."

'Stiles." Ms. Martin started.

"Natalie, if you want your daughter to be okay, let him talk to her." Melissa said, coming into the room followed by Dr. Geyer.

"Dr. Stanson, step aside." He told him. Ms. Martin and the doctor both looked confused, and I bypassed them both to get to Lydia.

"Lydia, I know you can hear me. He's alive. Scott's alive." I whispered. "But he is going to need you. You must snap out of this. He's alive. Do you hear me, he's still breathing."

Lydia:

"Lydia…"

"Lydia…"

I heard him. I know I did, but I can't find him. it was too foggy, and it was coming from everywhere.

"Can you hear me…"

"Scott. Where are you?" I called looking all around me but only seeing more fog everywhere I looked. "Scott, please…"

"Need you…" he appeared in front of me. I reached for him, but he drifted away as if a wisp or a dream.

"NO!" I screamed reaching again for where he was. I fell to my knees, feeling like I could break apart. I ached for Scott. I need to feel his arms around me. I need to hear his voice, his laugh. I needed his touch. I needed him.

"Lydia…" he called again but sounded a bit different. I searched again seeing nothing.

"Can hear me… He's alive… need you…he's alive." Stiles?

"Come on Lydia… Scott needs you… he's still breathing… but he needs you…"

Scott's still alive. Stiles wouldn't lie about that. He's still alive, and he needs me. I have to...

I shot up with a gasp, pulling in oxygen sharply. I grabbed Stiles.

"He's alive?"

"Yes. He's alive. You brought him back when you screamed. You saved him." Stiles said.

"I have to see him." I said, scrambling off the bed.

"Honey-,"

"No mom. I NEED to see him." I turned to Dr. Geyer. "I have too."

He nodded and guided me out the room and down to where Scott was, no questions asked.

The door opened and a nurse turned, "Dr. Geyer, we can't get the bleeding to stop."

"Everyone, clear the room please." Dr. Geyer directed. They all looked confused but soon exited. Moving to Scott's side, he was still pale and clammy. The wounds were still seeping.

"He's not healing." I said.

"We got the bullets out and his tox screen is clean for the most part. Whatever you did with that scream seemed to have restarted his heart. His pulse is still lower than we would like. But with his metabolism and immune system he should be awake and healing by now. I was hoping one of you knew what we else we could do." Dr. Geyer said.

"He would heal a bit better if he was awake." Stiles said. "Shifting helps him heal faster."

"Scott, can you hear me? I need you to wake up. You have to shift to heal." I whispered to him gripping his hand. "Please, you have to wake up. I can't lose you."

"Lydia, kiss him." Peter said. I turned and saw that everyone was crowded into the room. This has to be against hospital protocol. But that wasn't important right now.

"What?"

"You're his mate, his anchor. Right now, you are his only reason to fight. Kiss him."

Just a kiss, I thought as I pressed my lips to his. I felt… something. Like I was giving my energy to him. A warm sizzle in my veins pulling from me and flowing to him. I wasn't healing him or taking his pain. I shared every emotion I held for him with him, all the love I had for him. His hand twitched in mine and then his lips were moving against mine. his hands reached up to caress my face. I pulled away and his eyes slowly opened.

"Lydia." He breathed.

"Scott, you're not healing. you have to shift. I need you to shift and roar, okay?"

He nodded and I let go stepping back. Scott closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. Bright red eyes opened, and he roared. We all watched, wolves covering their ears, as the wounds slowly stopped bleeding and the wounds, not closing completely but looking older than they were. When he quieted, I went back to him. He looked at me and smiled.

"You're okay."

"I'm okay. I'm safe and I love you." I told him.

"Love you."

Scott:

My eyes slowly opened, beeping of machines and sunlight greeting me. But it was the hand in mine, that was held against a beating heart that I smiled at. Lydia was in the other hospital bed; it had been shoved right up against mine so that we could stay in contact. Pulling her hand to me I placed a kiss across her knuckles. She sighed and opened her eyes.

"Hey girlfriend."

"Hey boyfriend." She smiled. I pulled on her hand, and she scooted over closer, laying her head on my chest.

"You're okay." I sighed.

"You saved me."

"And you saved me."

I tilted her chin up for a real kiss, relishing the feel of her lips. I moved my other arm to pull her in closer but winced. Still not completely healed it appeared. She pulled back and looked me over then tried to pull away completely.

"Don't. I'm okay. Just sore. Stay right here, I need to hold you." I told her, letting go of her hand and wrapping around her waist.

"You're still healing."

"And you're helping. As long as you are near me, I will continue to heal." I told her. her eyes shone.

"I almost lost you. I thought I had."

"I thought the same. You mean everything to me Lydia. Getting shot, the wolfsbane, all of it. I would do it all over again if it meant that I could get to you. You are my life now." I said. She jerked.

"Did you… just quote Twilight?"

"I did." I chuckled.

"Did you read Twilight?"

"Yeah, it wasn't my idea. It was a dare from Stiles. I read the whole series."

"Oh, my, God."

"Regardless of where I got it from, the meaning still applies. I can't lose you, ever."

"Me either."

More kissing.

"Okay, now that I know is against hospital protocol."

Lydia giggled and I rolled my eyes turning to see my best friend walk through the door holding hands with Malia.

"It probably is." I admitted adjusting my position and practically pulling Lydia into my bed.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Better."

"Good, cause Scott, I swear if you ever do that to me again…" he gave me a gentle quick hug. "I almost lost my mind."

"He really did." Malia said, giving me a sweet but awkward pat on the shoulder. "It took a lot to calm him down after we left."

"Really. How did you do that?" I asked, watching Stiles turn red.

"Oh-." she started but Stiles slapped a hand over her mouth.

"Remember what we talked about, about not answering every question with details. This would be one of those times." He told her and Lydia snickered into my shoulder, and I bit my tongue. She nodded and he released her.

"I'm glad you're okay. Do you want me to go kill Greenberg because I can. I know where he is." Malia offered.

"Uh, thanks for the offer, but maybe just let the police handle it from here." I told her.

"Okay, but my offer stands. well until they transfer him."

"They're transferring him?" I asked.

"Yeah, my dad will be by to talk to you sometime today and explain it all." Stiles took a seat in one of the two empty chairs and pulled Malia onto his lap. I was happy to see him with her and knew that we had a long talk in our near future coming.

"Damn, they beat us here." Isaac groaned from the doorway. Allison attached to his side.

"Well maybe you should have been faster. Or were you doing something that required you to take your time." Stiles grinned.

"Dude, shut up!" Isaac whisper yelled moving just as Argent came in the door.

"that's a good question. Why did you arrive after Stiles if you left my home over an hour ago?" he asked, looking at Isaac.

"Uh… studying." Allison answered though the red creeping up her cheeks proved that was a lie.

"Yeah, anatomy." Stiles muttered and Isaac smacked him in the chest.

"Biology test coming up and I had a… uh… question." Isaac stammered as Argent's gaze didn't relent.

"So, Scott, how are you doing? You look better." Allison said diverting the attention.

"He's going to poison me one day; I just know it." Isaac murmured. I snorted then grimaced.

"I'm doing good, I think. It doesn't hurt as bad as it did last night."

"Last night? Scott, its Monday. You've been out for over 24 hours." Stiles informed me. I stared at him.

"It's Monday?"

Everyone nodded.

"But the full moon is in another day."

"Do you think you will have issues, this time?" Argent asked.

"No, but Liam-."

"Will be fine. We found a replacement." Derek said entering with Braeden and followed in by Liam and Mason.

"Who?"

"Peter." He answered.

"Peter?" I asked. He nodded. "Hale?"

"Do you know another?" he quirked an eyebrow.

"I can search the internet. I'm sure I will find one, somewhere in the world."

"Relaxed." He chuckled. "He promised to be on his best behavior…and Braeden will still be there." He added on when I started to object. Peter on his best behavior still wasn't the best.

"I promise to threaten him if you want." Braeden said smiling brightly.

"Hourly?" I asked her. she nodded happily even as Derek rolled his eyes and sighed.

"So, I have to go through the shift with Peter watching me?" Liam asked nervously.

"No," Lydia jumped in to answer before I could. "Derek and Isaac with Liam and Peter, Stiles and Braeden with Malia."

I turned to look at her.

"Are you sure?" I whispered in her ear.

"Trust me."

Nodding I kissed her head and confirmed what she said. Though confused everyone agreed.

"We just wanted to check on you, make sure you were doing okay. And I can see, you're doing just fine." He smirked at me and Lydia trying to melt into each other. We'll talk later, oh and when you are better, you're helping me replace the floors."

"Sorry about that."

"No worries."

"Bye Scott, glad you're doing better. And Lydia, you lucky girl. We should have a conversation one day soon." Braeden said with a salacious grin. I groaned and Allison giggled again. Derek pulled Braeden from the room.

"Uh, I think I missed some things." Lydia said, looking around the room and then up at me. shook my head slapping a hand over my face.

"It's not important." I muttered. Just as Malia decided to lose her filter again.

"She saw Scott naked on Saturday and thinks your very lucky." She supplied.

"I'm sorry, what? Why were you naked?" Lydia asked trying to pull away, but I held her tight.

"It's not anything you're thinking. I wolfed out Saturday after you were taken, and my clothes didn't survive the shift." I explained.

"Wolfed out? Dude, you went completely true alpha Saturday." Isaac said.

"I think we may need another name for what you did. I mean you literally almost shook the building down." Stiles added.

"I heard the roar and I thought that was you. But you mean you lost complete control?" she asked.

"I think we should fill in some details on Saturday." Argent said and everyone started their retelling of what happened from the phone call to me getting shot. Mason had the brains to take a picture of my in true alpha form and even I was shocked at how big I had gotten.

"Guys, we talked about this. you can't all be in here at once." My mother said entering with Dr. Geyer behind her.

"We didn't all arrive at the same time, it just kind of ended up this way." Stiles said.

"Uh huh." She said to him then turned back to us. "We moved those beds together so you two can be together without actually occupying the same space."

"She's helping me heal." I shrugged or tried too.

"Right, back to your bed." She directed Lydia who scooted back to her own bed.

"So how are you feeling Scott?" Dr. Geyer asked.

"Better, sore and achy but not too bad." I told him. He moved a bandage and checked. Pressing softly on the area and repeating the same thing with the other two.

"Well, the wounds have closed. I am no expert on werewolf healing but I'm guessing that its mostly internal now. I think one more night and if you are up to it, we can release you tomorrow. But no school the rest of this week. Home and bed, those are the conditions."

"Got it. Thanks."

"Thank you." He said looking back at Liam who was leaning against the wall staring at his shoes. He was quieter than usual.

"Okay, everyone out. He needs rest. You can all visit later, two at a time. No more." My mother said, ushering everyone out.

"Liam, hang back for a second." I told him. Stiles gave a salute and promised to take me home tomorrow. Everyone waved as they left. Dr. Geyer gave Liam a squeeze before following.

"Can you give us a minute?" I asked Lydia.

"Sure, I'll go call my mom." She slid off the bed and left, closing the door behind her. I adjusted my position again and looked at my beta. He looked every bit the 15-year-old he was.

"How are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm okay." He shrugged. I stared at him, and he sagged. "I can't stop picturing it. Him with the gun. You, getting shot. You, almost dying. Why did you do it?"

"I wasn't going to let him hurt you or Stiles. I would never let that happen if I can help it."

"But Lydia-."

"Lydia is the most important person in my world. She always will be, but you are important to me as well. So is Stiles… and Isaac, and Allison, Derek, Malia, Braeden, our parents. Hell, even Peter to an extent." I told him. He chuckled and nodded.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that. I had hoped to never have you in a situation like that ever."

"I don't feel like I helped at all. If I hadn't come out when I did, he wouldn't have…" he shrugged.

"He wouldn't have shot me? Liam, he was always going to shoot me. he wanted to. In his mind I stood between him and Lydia being together. That's not your fault. and you helped a lot. It was you who scented him out first. Who knows what would have happened if you hadn't found that. We may have gone the completely wrong way and ended up further from her and it could have been too late."

He nodded.

"Hey," I called making him look up. "You did nothing wrong. I should thank you for pointing us in the right direction. For a new wolf you are doing an amazing job. I know it was scary having him point that gun at you."

"Were you scared?"

"Terrified, but I knew what I had to do to make sure you all were okay."

"I don't know if I could do what you did."

"Not yet. I hope you never have to but you're stronger than you give yourself credit for. One day you may have to make difficult choices like that, and I have all the faith that you will do the right thing, whatever that is, regardless of fear."

"Thanks." He smiled and I could see he didn't look as downcast as he had before. "I'm gonna go. Stiles said he had an idea to help me with my control."

"Don't let him throw balls at you." I told him. He laughed and waved as he left. Lydia slipped back in and curled up next to me again.

"Is he okay?" she askes snuggling in closer.

"Yeah, just shaken from what happened. He'll get through it."

"Good. I hate that he was faced with that."

"Me too, but like I told him, he's stronger than he thinks."

"He is. He didn't even wolf out. He trusted you to handle things."

I hummed laying my head on top of hers.

"Thank you, for not killing him." She said and I knew she was talking about Greenberg.

"I wanted to. I really wanted to. But I knew that's not what you wanted."

"For you, not for him?"

"I know. But apparently the offer for his death is still on the table."

"True. I think Stiles will have his hands full with her." She laughed.

"Definitely." I sighed, closing my eyes.

"I was thinking…" she started.

"About what?"

"Homecoming is coming up soon. You still want to go right?"

"Absolutely. I have to show off the prettiest girl in school and let them see she is mine." I growled playfully into her ear. She giggled.

"Beyond a shadow of a doubt. But I was thinking. My mom is coming to help me get ready but she's heading back that same night."

"Okay…"

"I still have my key to the house…"

My eyes popped open, and I looked down at her. she gave me this shy little smile and I growled attacking her, screw the pain.

"Don't make me separate you two." My mother opened the door to tell us. We pulled apart and went back to lying next to each other. She gave us one more stern look before closing the door.

"Suddenly I can't wait for homecoming." I sighed. She laughed again.