21. Oh brother I can't, I can't get through

[voluntaryapnea]

[Video -- Private to Dean]

[Stiles looks tired, like he hasn't slept in awhile. He hasn't. If Dean's ever seen the inside of Scott's cabin, he might recognize it as being where his warden is currently. He's sitting on the bed right beside his unconscious best friend, in fact, even if the feed focuses mostly on his face and the wall behind him.]

Scott's in a coma. [He figures Dean may have heard the announcement from Abigail the night before, but he isn't sure, either.]

So if you need me for something I'm in his cabin. [Not that Dean will need him for anything. Dean pretty much never asks for anything from him. But still. He wants to make sure Dean knows in case something comes up.]

[Video -- Clementine]

[As soon as he's done talking to Dean, he starts the feed once more, this time with Scott's inmate. He draws in a breath, arching his eyebrows and lifts his hand in a wave.]

Hey. I'm sure you probably heard about Scott by now. Hopefully he's not gonna play Sleeping Beauty for long, but uh -- until he wakes up, if you need something. Or want to talk or anything. I'm staying with him. You can just come find me or...you know, call on this thing. I mean obviously there are other options if you don't want to talk to me or whatever, but just -- putting that out there.

[Spam -- Open]

Over the next few days, Stiles can mostly be found only in Scott's cabin. Even with the rest of the pack coming in and visiting, offering to stay for as long as necessary, even with Isaac occasionally living in the other room, Stiles has a difficult time leaving his best friend's side. He feels more anxious than usual, like the end of a fraying wire. For as long as he can actually remember, Scott McCall has been his solid ground. And sure, he's physically fine. He even looks peaceful. These things don't keep him from feeling Scott's forehead regularly to make sure he's not running a fever or anything. He isn't. But he's in a coma and no part of Stiles is okay with that. He knows it happens all the time. He hadn't liked it when it was Dean, either, but this is still worse. This is his brother. And his unresponsiveness makes Stiles feel like he's constantly on the edge of having a panic attack. The only way he could have felt anymore anxious about the scenario is if someone had insisted Scott be in the infirmary while he's out. Hospital settings make nothing better.

So like he had when his inmate was comatized, he spends a great deal of the time reading Harry Potter to Scott. Occasionally he works on his laptop, which he's brought to Scott's for the duration of the time. Making himself right at home here isn't an issue. The McCall house has been his second home since he was four.

But he leaves the door open just a bit in case someone wants to visit, because Scott is a friendly kind of guy who doesn't turn down company and so Stiles isn't going to turn down people who want to visit unless he thinks they're going to be a danger.

Comments

[Spam]

[lydiascreams]

[Lydia would have been spending a lot of time with Scott regardless. She'd been checking on Andrew for the past few weeks when he was in a coma, so it became part of her routine already. But with Stiles spending pretty much all his time there, she's been spending even more time in his room.

Whenever she's not in the art room, with Andrew, or patrolling, she's there.

Right now, she's just been to the dining hall, picked up food for both of them, and headed over to Scott's room so they could have dinner together. For now, she left Prada in her room so he wouldn't go crazy over the food, but if she decides to come back later to spend the night, she'll definitely stop by and pick him up so he's not alone all night.

Since the door is open, she doesn't knock, just nudges it out of the way with her foot and steps in, smiling when she sees Stiles with Harry Potter on his lap. It's his favorite book and she wouldn't be surprised if Scott's never read it before.]

Hey. Pause for food.

[Spam]

[voluntaryapnea]

[He sees the door move before he hears her voice and he looks up, pausing mid-sentence and smiling a little at the sight of her. He's pretty sure that if it wasn't for Lydia, he'd probably have already lost his mind, even though Scott's only been in a coma for twenty-four hours. For as much as he's not ever really been a people person, Stiles has always been a certain people person. Lydia is definitely one of those certain people.

Always has been.

He sniffs the air, arching his eyebrows curiously as he tries to see what's on the trays she's brought. Whatever it is smells good.]

Did I mention you're the best girlfriend ever yet? Because you're definitely the best girlfriend ever.

[lydiascreams]

I don't think you've said it today. [She grins softly at him as she carefully sets the tray over Scott's cluttered desk. Which-- she'll more than likely be organizing before he wakes up.

As for Stiles, he probably wouldn't think that, exactly, if he knew what she brought him. It's not so much the food that's the problem.]

I've got spaghetti and meatballs and bread for you. [And coke. But she took the time to pour the contents of the can into a glass with ice because she got him a caffeine-free one. He needs to sleep some, at least. And she'll make sure of that.]

[voluntaryapnea]

Then it was due anyway. [He grins back at her, stomach growling at the smell of the Italian cuisine. God he loved Italian food. He marked his page in the book and set it down, hesitating and then feeling Scott's forehead again. Still no fever. Check.

He climbs off the bed and stretches, yawning involuntarily.]

Oh thank god. Caffeine. [He hadn't slept the night before and frankly he was kind of nervous about falling asleep. If Scott got sick or something in the middle of the night, he might not wake up to be able to help him. He moves over to where she's standing and he presses a kiss to her temple, reaching out and taking the glass of coke from her and taking a long drink.]

Seriously. The best.

[spam]

[theresalwayshope]

[First her boyfriend is comatose, then her Alpha...Allison is really starting to hate this.

She leaves after the initial hand in getting Scott situated in his room, but when she does come to make her first visit, she's prepared: there's a blanket and a pillow tucked under one arm, Duchess in her bag along with any necessities she might require, and a bag of candy harvested from her Christmas haul clutched in one fist.

She sets down everything in one corner, save for her bunny purse, then without hesitation she comes up behind Stiles, wraps her arms around his shoulders, and presses her face against his neck, snuffling a little before she settles into just plain hugging him as hard as she dares.

As much as she hopes her human packmates will benefit from a hug...selfishly, she wants nothing more than to snuggle up against the nearest person to comfort herself above all else.]

Hi, Stiles. [Her voice is muffed by her face still pressed comfortably against his neck so she can breathe him in.]

[spam]

[voluntaryapnea]

[Stiles has taken to pacing the floor of Scott's room as he reads, and while he's left the door cracked open, he doesn't actually hear her enter the room. He has no idea she's there until he finds arms wound around him from behind and a face buried in his neck. He smiles a little, relaxing the same second that he tenses from surprise.

Allison.

He lets out a breath, marking his place in the book and setting it down on Scott's desk.]

Hey. [He reaches up and pats her hand gently.]

[spam]

[theresalwayshope]

[She responds by burrowing closer, the line of her body pressed totally against his back as she noses his neck, then lifts her head to plant her chin on his shoulder as she manages a small smile.]

Hey...you okay?

[Because this she's good at. Taking care of her pack, making sure her people are safe and not afraid...it's a slice of human familiarity, and she's hoping she can use it to cling to control instead of giving in to the anguish she can feel over the absence of her Alpha.]

[spam]

[voluntaryapnea]

[It's a loaded question. He's not. Not really. Sure, physically he's fine. But mentally he's anxious (hyper-vigilant, according to the high school guidance counselor slash alpha pack emissary slash mysterious therapist lady who threatened to put him to sleep like a dog in Eichen House when he was possessed) and restless and stressed. He'd worried about Allison when Isaac was in a coma, worried about Dean when Dean was in a coma, and comforted Lydia when Jackson was. But when it comes to Scott being in a coma and Stiles having nothing to do but wait? He's not good at waiting. Not for things like this.]

Not really.

[He leans his head against hers almost involuntarily. He's not a werewolf, but it doesn't mean he doesn't crave the closeness and comfort of touch as much as the rest. He's always been tactile -- something he got from his mom.]

Are you?

private/video

[visetvires]

[She waits until he finishes rambling. She's - disappointed, honestly, that Scott's asleep. She isn't sure why, but she'd just. Prefer that he was here, being his obnoxious self where the rest of them can see it. It's become sort of a reassurance, a touchstone.]

[Stiles she still doesn't know what to make of.]

He's in the infirmary? [And more importantly:] What are you thinking we'd talk about?

private/video

[voluntaryapnea]

[He shakes his head a little at that.]

No, not the infirmary. He's in his room. Which is also where I am. If you need something.

[He pauses, looking a little uncertain, too.]

Anything I guess? I mean, if you've got stuff on your mind. I mean, I'm definitely not Scott, but uh, I can still listen or whatever. Until he wakes up. [And he'll wake up. He has to wake up. He has to.]

private/video

[visetvires]

Right. If I need something.

[She wonders what she could possibly need from Stiles Stilinski, then dismisses the thought. He obviously thinks they're going to have some heart to hearts that she doesn't intend. It's sweet, kind of. It'd be sweeter if he wasn't doing it out of duty to Scott rather than any perceived duty to her.]

Most of my current quandaries have to do with the fact that I'm stuck here, and I don't think you can solve that problem.

private/video

[voluntaryapnea]

[He reads into that a dismissal. That she won't come to him if she need anything, and it's not like he's familiar with the idea of trying to help someone who A) doesn't want to be helped and B) won't ask for help even if they do want it. He purses his lips.]

Is here really so bad? [His voice is quiet. It can always be worse. It's a conversation he's had with Dean on more than one occasion, something he's pretty sure the two of them actually do agree on completely.

Things can always be worse.]

[surfaceshine]

[Actually, Dean doesn't answer the message at all. He did see the announcement from Abigail, and this one from Stiles surprises him not in the least. He doesn't need anything, and he doesn't think about asking for anything, so he doesn't bother responding.

However, a little after dinner, there's a solid knock on the door. Dean has leftovers from his shift, and a milkshake; he smells like liquor under the varied kitchen scents still clinging, but his eyes and hands are steady, and his speech is clear.]

You climbin' the walls yet?

[voluntaryapnea]

[He's not surprised when Dean doesn't respond to the message. He is surprised, however, when Dean shows up at Scott's cabin door. With food and a milkshake, no less. He glances up from where he's working on his laptop. He's taken a short break from reading to Scott, mostly because he's been doing it most of the day other than when people have come to visit, and even he's sick of hearing his own voice now.

He smiles faintly and shuts the laptop before rising from the bed where he's been leaning against the headboard beside Scott.]

Not far from it. Still can't do Peter Parker's cool tricks and hang from the ceiling though.

[surfaceshine]

Yeah, well, who wants to? Blood pressure is a silent killer.

[Dean does not smile back, and his humor is thin and dry - apparently completely unaware of its own irony - as he glances around, invites himself in without much preamble. This is weird. This feels weird, but it's a much simpler, much milder weird than Dean is accustomed to, so mostly it's the novelty of it. The food and the milkshake are deposited unceremoniously on the nearest flat surface to Stiles, the hunter himself stepping back and folding his arms.]

How long you plannin' on camping out here?

[voluntaryapnea]

[He stretches his arms above his head, glancing from Dean to where he's deposited the food and milkshake, blinking a couple times. He's kind of surprised by the gesture, because even though he and Dean don't usually see eye to eye on a lot of things and they get along okay most of the time, he hadn't been expecting Dean to bring him food and a milkshake. Though maybe it's just a gesture of returned sentiment from when Stiles had done the same thing for him. Either way, he's grateful for it, and he picks up the milkshake first, taking a drink.]

Until he wakes up, probably. [He glances back at Scott, expression more tired than usual.] I can't leave him. [He looks back at Dean once more.] I have to look out for him.

spam

[imfollowinghim]

[Bucky counts himself lucky that he's never had to deal with an unresponsive Steve like this. Maybe comas aren't really something to worry about - people wake up from them all the time, after all, and it's not like they're hurt or anything while they're happening - but it's still unsettling to watch someone you care about just sleep and sleep and sleep.

So while he's not as anxious as Stiles is, and probably wouldn't be if it was Steve who was down for the count, he still feels a little restless with Helena and a couple other people he cares about in comas, and thus has been doing a lot of wandering around, trying to keep himself occupied. Of course, there aren't really many places to go on this ship, so at some point, he wanders by Scott's partially open door and hears Stiles talking- no, reading. He peeks in the door first, checking to make sure this is okay before stepping into the room.]

What are you reading?

spam

[voluntaryapnea]

[He startles at the voice and relaxes when he sees who it is, offering Bucky a faint smile as he marks his place in the book and holds up the cover for Bucky to see.]

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. [He shrugs a bit.] Guilty pleasure, I guess.

spam

[whatthefoxsay]

[Kira comes without fail, every single day. She generally urges Stiles to take some kind of break while she sits with Scott for a while, but she's willing enough to keep him company while they both sit vigil over Scott. She doesn't understand how routine can be both sad and comforting, and yet somehow it is.]


Hey. You want to take a break?

[Her katana is leaned against the nearest surface within easy reach for defence of the sleeping teenage boy, as it is on each visit.]

Go see Lydia, or go to the bathroom, get some food, take a walk in the deck. [These are gentle suggestions rather than pushy orders.] Or I'll keep you both company, if you want.

spam

[voluntaryapnea]

[He glances up when he hears her voice. He lets out a breath, and sets down Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, keeping it open so his page is marked. He doesn't want to leave Scott's side for any length of time, but he knows he should at least go take a shower. And he knows his best friend is safe with Kira.]

I could use a quick shower. But then I'll come back and we can keep each other company since Sleeping Beauty's still...you know. Sleeping. [He grimaces a little, glancing at Scott with worry.]

[whatthefoxsay]

[Kira's expression turns a little rueful as she casts a glance at the slumbering Alpha. Sleeping Beauty. If it was that simple she'd have kissed him days ago. Stiles gets a sympathetic look and a faint smile.]

Lydia would probably appreciate it if you showered, yeah.

[Softly,] He'll be okay, Stiles. He'll wake up, and everything will be okay.

[She looks over at Scott again.] In a way, this vigil is as much for us as it is for him, you know?

[voluntaryapnea]

[He manages a small wry smile at his comment about Lydia. That definitely solidifies his desire to shower. He bites his lip at the rest of her words, though, and nods in agreement. This isn't just about Scott, she's right. It's about them, too. He remembers Cora telling him that losing a pack member is like losing a limb, and he'd felt sick and horrified when Allison had died. But even this is different. Scott's there, but they can't reach him. It's too familiar, too much like other memories he has that he doesn't really want to think about.]

Yeah. It is. [He reaches out and rests a hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly.] And you're right. It'll be okay when he wakes up. Until then we'll just...keep on keeping on, right?

[americasdirtiest]

[Mickey's not a threat, but he's also not a friend anymore, not really. Still, on his way back from the dining hall one afternoon he hesitates by the open door, then finds himself pushing it open. He's not really sure why; he's not even really sure how he feels about Scott right now, who Isaac and Allison look up to so much, who totally failed to do as Mickey asked and keep Chris and Cassel safe.

And then, well, there's Stiles. Mickey shoots him a glance as he comes inside, then looks back towards the bed, expression murky and hard to read, voice curt.]

Hey.

[voluntaryapnea]

[Stiles is mid-sentence in his reading when he catches sight of movement by the door. He's sprawled out on the bed next to Scott -- whom he's nicknamed Sleeping Beauty for the duration of this coma crap. He pauses in his reading, startled at first to see Mickey. He purses his lips and lowers the book, eying the other man warily.

They haven't spoken since right after the mirror barge. Stiles has deliberately avoided him. He doesn't forgive and forget easily. Especially not someone he wasn't already really close with. And they might have been on the verge of being friends, but it had all come to a screeching halt when Mickey murdered Dean.

But this is Scott's room, and studies show that people in comas can hear what's going on around them. So there's a strict no fighting rule in place.]

Come to see Scott?

[americasdirtiest]

I guess.

[Has he? Apparently. It's not like there's any other reason to be here. He hasn't exactly avoided Stiles, any more than he's purposefully avoided Dean, but he certainly hasn't done anything to seek either of them out since his last confrontation with Stiles' inmate. He folds his arms uncomfortably now, debates the merits of trying to smoke in here, staring at the prone body on the bed.]

How long's he been down for?