voluntaryapnea | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

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

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