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

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

[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.

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[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.]

[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.]

[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.]

Edited 2015-01-22 23:11 (UTC)

[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?

[Allison leans eagerly into the contact as Stiles rests his head against hers, shutting her eyes with a slow sigh as she felt herself relax.]

Not really...but I'm a little better than last time.

[She hesitates, then presses closer a little unconsciously, nudging further underneath Stiles' head.]

As long as I don't think about the fact that Scott's not here to talk me through it this time. Don't worry, though: I'll take care of you until he wakes up.

[She has to, because he's already taking care of her. And Scott would want her to step up with him gone...she has to be a worthy Beta. The desire is never far from her thoughts anymore...that bond they now share. Sometimes it causes her pain, sometimes it pushes her to be better, and sometimes it's no different than the way she loves Scott anyway, but it's always present now and it's always strong.

She will take care of his pack in his absence. She will look after her people, and she will do it right.]

Better is good. [He lifts his head a little so she can move closer. The closeness is comforting to him, too, even if he's not a werewolf.]

Yeah. Yeah, I know that feeling. [Every time he starts to think about how Scott's not awake to talk him through anything, his chest starts to get tight and he can feel panic building around the edges of his nerves and his throat gets so tight that it's hard to swallow. He can't help but smile a little at her vow to take care of him. He kind of figures they'll take care of each other -- all of them. Because it's what they do when things get hard.]

[Pressed close, Allison smells it: the sour hint of fear and rising panic, but it's fleeting. It's enough to make her let go and gently spin him around so she can hug him properly with a soft little noise of distress at his disquiet.

The last of the sour edge to his scent fades...much better.]

We need snacks. [She makes the declaration over his shoulder, content to keep hugging him, chin planted right back on his shoulder. Absently, she can see how Lydia fell in love with him: Stiles gives really good hugs. Like Isaac, only not quite as tall...warm, too.]

I mean...'cause I'm probably not leaving unless I have to, and I know you're not, and I'm on Stiles Maintenance Duty until Lydia arrives to relieve me.

[It's strange. Before the nogitsune, he and Allison had been friends, but not like this. They hadn't been the kind of friends who really hugged or hung out one on one unless some kind of crisis was going on. But now everything is different -- in a good way. He smiles a little and rests his chin atop her head, arms wrapped around her securely.]

Well then I guess that begs the question of whether or not we need snacks other than the massive bag of candy you brought, or whether one of us is gonna have to go and forage for food.

[His voice is light and teasing.]

I mean, it's a lot of candy. I'm pretty sure neither of us will be able to move if we eat it all. Like, maybe not even for a week.

Which is why we should probably procure more substantial snack food, even if it's just some peanut butter.

[Giggling as she speaks, she draws back to smile at him, then lets him go so she can gently tug Duchess out of her bunny purse, lifting her up to greet Stiles.]

And someone should have candy of her own! [She coos at Duchess, who sniffs at her contentedly, then speaks normally for Stiles' benefit.] I can make a quick dining hall run? Including some fresh fruit for Duchess so she can have a calorie fest with the rest of us.

Edited 2015-01-29 21:26 (UTC)

Yeah probably. Maybe with crackers or something. Unless the plan is to just eat the peanut butter out of the jar with spoons like ice cream. And I'm not at all saying I'm opposed to that, for the record.

[He smiles a little at the sight of the rabbit and arches his eyebrows.]

Sounds good to me.

[Allison scoffs at him, rolling her eyes as she cuddles Duchess.] What are you, a caveman? We eat the peanut butter by scooping it out with candy bars. Which are in my Christmas candy stash, so...

[She trails off, watching him watch Duchess for a moment, then holds the bunny out to him.]

You've never played with her. You should...I made Lydia co-bunny mom during the flood when we were all kids? That makes you co-bunny dad. Get to know your furry child.

[To her credit, Duchess twitches her nose, then shows an interest by trying to lean forward so she can sniff at him.]

[He smirks at her, arching his eyebrows.]

Maybe. But peanut butter on candy bars sounds even better.

[His eyes widen a little as she holds the bunny toward him. He's good with snakes, and with dogs. He's never even held a rabbit before.]

Uh. What if she gets nervous?

[He sounds a little bit uncertain about this even as he hesitantly holds his hand out for Duchess to smell.]

[As if to answer his question, Duchess sniffs at Stiles' fingers, then promptly rubs her chin against them, making Allison grin.]

She won't: rabbits do that to mark their territory. You've been claimed.

[Moving a little closer, she gently starts to place Duchess in his hands.]

And if she starts making purring noises, she's happy. If she licks you, you're set for life, rabbits only groom you if they're really feeling affectionate.

[He takes the rabbit from her hesitantly, carefully cradling it to his chest. He's surprised by how soft her fur is and after a moment she settles in his arms and he pets her gently.]

Huh. Okay this is all right. [Not as intimidating as he'd thought.]

[It's more than all right: once she's nestled against his chest, that telltale chittering sound is audible, and vibrates gently against him as Duchess settles in comfortably.

Allison just grins, both pleased and unsurprised.]

Do you want to babysit while I head to the dining hall? I think she'll pout if I try to take you away from her right now.

[He grins when he hears the purring that Allison assured meant that Duchess was happy. Hey, he's a hit. And he is surprised. Pleasantly so. He scratches gently behind the bunny's ears and nods when Allison speaks.]

Yeah, yeah, we're good here. I got this.

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

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