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

[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?

[whatthefoxsay]

[There's a soft smile.] That's exactly it. We're going to take care of him the way he'd take care of us, and we're going to keep doing the things we need to do, because he wouldn't want us to stop.

Go shower, and when you come back I'll tell you about who I got deck patrol duty with. It's the coolest.

[voluntaryapnea]

You got everything you need while you're here? Want me to grab some DVDs from my room while I'm there? We could watch some movies or something. Or I could start reading comic books to both of you. [His words are light and teasing at the mention of reading comic books to her.]

[whatthefoxsay]

She's unable to resist her sudden smile. "I gotta admit, you make the best older bro." She's unable to resist laughing, either. "Though I kinda thuoght Lydia was going to stick my head in a toilet. DVDs sound good. I trust your taste." Because it's so similar to her own.

[voluntaryapnea]

He grins at that. "I wouldn't have let her," he assures her. He gives her shoulder a gentle squeeze before making his way to the door. "I'll be back with plenty of entertainment."