25. Release me from this curse I'm in/I've been trying to maintain/But I'm struggling

[voluntaryapnea]

[Open Spam]

[Hours after being returned to the Barge, Stiles is still trying to pull his thoughts together and struggling to do so. Physically he feels fine. But every now and then he catches a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. Any time he turns to look and see who or what it is, it vanishes quickly. He wants to chalk it up to the lack of sleep at the port.

Truthfully he's worried. Fleeting as it is, he's familiar with this sensation. This things aren't quite right feeling that's settled into his chest as he goes to check on Lydia in the infirmary, and then Dean at his room.

He checks in with Kira on the network, thankful she's now awake, and then goes to check in on the still coma'd Allison. Goes to check in on Scott and Liam. He makes his rounds on the Barge, rubbing tiredly at his eyes.

The feeling doesn't leave him as he grabs food from the cafeteria, sitting alone at a table because he doesn't feel like looking for someone to sit with.

Something isn't right.]

Comments

[lydiascreams]

[She shakes her head slightly, pressing her face against his neck.]

I'm okay. It was just that book. [She sighs softly and pulls back to look at him again.]

We can go.

[voluntaryapnea]

[He wants to believe her, but it doesn't make sense. He can understand it making her ears bleed, and he's concerned because that hasn't stopped either. He reaches up and lightly touches the gauze on her right ear, worry in his eyes. But he's more worried about the other part. He meets her eyes, searches them for a long moment.]

Maybe you should stay here awhile longer.

[lydiascreams]

[She shakes her head slightly, looking up at him with wide eyes.]

I don't want to. Stiles-- [She lowers her voice, and the fear is very clear.]

I'm scared.

[voluntaryapnea]

[Stiles hesitates before lifting a hand to her cheek.]

Scared of what? [He lowers his voice, too.]

[lydiascreams]

[She covers his hand with hers and takes a deep, shaky breath.]

Of getting lost. [In her own head, in this place.]

[voluntaryapnea]

[His eyes tear up at her admission and wordlessly, he leans in and presses his lips to her forehead, then wraps his arms around her, resting his hand on the back of her head.]

I won't let you.

[I can't.]

[lydiascreams]

[She leans into him, her own tears running down her cheek as she closes her eyes.]

Don't get hurt. [She whispers to him, hugging him tightly for a moment, and then relaxing, her expression growing calmer again.]

[voluntaryapnea]

[He closes his eyes, not sure what to make of her words. Any other time he might be kind of alarmed by them, but right now she's not exactly making a lot of sense. Or any, for that matter. He has no idea what the hell is going on.

But whatever it is? Isn't good.]

I won't.

[lydiascreams]

[For the longest time, she doesn't move. And then, when she does, she pulls away from him and smiles.]

Let's go to bed. [She reaches for his hand and starts back to the hospital bed. Although for her, this seems normal, like they're in her room.]

[voluntaryapnea]

[He lets her tug him back toward the bed, even though he's intensely worried and wants to go find Scott and try to figure out what's happening. He won't leave her, though. He waits until she's settled herself in the bed and then slides in behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pressing a tender kiss to the back of her head.]

Rest.

[His voice is barely a whisper and he swallows hard, ignoring the anxiety in his chest.

Something is terribly wrong.]