Not even a Lannisters Send their Regards

[fadingspark]

The thing about winter is that the sun still sets early, leaving a person to leave their job in darkness. The parking lot outside of Stilinski Designs was lit only by one street lamp. Stiles, having worked later than normal, was jiggling his keys as he stood with Bill and Lyle for 20 minutes, working out a coding problem they were having before he finally left the office for his car.

"Of course the day we have code issues is the first Monday of the year," he muttered, shaking his keys as he tried to find the right one for the jeep. Just as he finds it, there is a shadow from the light that falls over him, making him look up.

Someone stood there, all in black down to the mouth-less ski mask. The gun aimed at him made Stiles gulp, and he went to raise his hands. "Okay, just take it easy... I'm not going to..."

The gunshot rang out, and Stiles shut his eyes a moment before he felt the impact in his stomach. Time seemed to slow down as his keys slipped from his fingers, and then he fell to his knees He looked back up at the masked person, and they just watched a moment.

"What... not witty line?" Not even a Lannisters send their regards. The masked person just walked away moments before the door to the building opened and Billy and Lyle came running out. Stiles tried to call to them, but he instead looked down at where one of his hands had gone to touch the sore part of his stomach and it came back red.

"Stiles?" Billy took a few steps forward, looking to see if there was anyone else there but the parking lot was now empty. "Stiles!" At that, they both ran to him, and Billy pulled Stiles into him as they knelt beside him, hands going to press into the bleeding wound. "Come on, buddy, stay with us."

Lyle was calling 911, and then while he was talking to them on headset, his fingers were playing on his phone and he knelt down to show Billy the wiki-how on treating gunshot wounds. Billy nodded, going through the checklist and doing his best to keep Stiles conscious and talking to him.

But as the pain started to overcome him, even as he heard the sirens approaching, Stiles gripped Billy's arm. "Tell Dina... and Cora..."

"Nuh uh, you're going to tell them anything themselves," Billy said as he nodded for Lyle to wave the ambulance down. "Just hang on, Stiles."

"Tell them... I love them..." he said, and then he just passed out to the pain.

-------------

Once they were at the hospital, Billy and Lyle were on their phones calling the others. But first, they make the calls to the emergency contacts: Sheriff Stilinski, and Talia Hale. They are both told the same thing: Stiles was shot. Stomach. Didn't see who did it. He's in surgery. Doctors won't tell them anything more. Santa Clarita Midtown Hospital. The cops are coming to talk to them, so they will wait.

And the two will wait, shaken to their bones as they wait for someone to arrive who can get more news.

They had all thought this was over. Was it? Or was it just Stiles being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Comments

[impetere]

She stoops to pick up the bag from the machine before shrugging. "I guess I just don't want him to wake up alone."

[fadingspark]

He nods a moment, and then his ears caught the noise of a tiny child squealing down the hall. "I think we may need to rescue him from his daughter..."

[impetere]

She smirks a bit at that before nodding. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."

[fadingspark]

By the time they get back to the room, they find Dina having climbed into her father's arms with a book and they were reading, and she was making hand motions and laughing at Stiles' attempts at voices. Her legs were carefully draped over his side to not be on his stomach, but every now and then she would bounce and he was doing his best not to wince.

Yeah, Scott forgot his job was to keep Dina reeled in. Sorry Stiles. "Hey Dina, I got you a grape soda that I'm sure your dad doesn't want you to have..."

Storytime was forgotten as she wiggled herself free and hopped off the bed to hug her uncle and get the soda. Stiles leaned back against his pillows, taking a long breath. "Hey, you're the one who has to deal with the caffeine high later, not me."

[impetere]

Cora moves around them, moving to the edge of the bed and giving his hand a soft squeeze. "You okay?"

[fadingspark]

He wasn't, to be honest. The morphine drip had been reduced and Dina's bouncing had put some strain on the stitches that made for a hurting Stiles. But he tried to smile and shrug it off. "Yeah, totally fine."

[impetere]

There's a soft look as her fingers tighten their hold just slightly, taking some of his pain to give his body a chance to recover.

[fadingspark]

As she took the pain, he just gave a small groan and closed his eyes with a smile. "Thank you," he said softly.

[impetere]

"Of course," she say softly, pressing a kiss to the back of his hand as she does. "Anytime."

[fadingspark]

Scott looked over, seeing the sign of Cora taking the pain and nodded.

"Well, Dina, I think it's your daddy's nap time."

"Nooooooooooooo." The little girl pouted in return.

"I think it's also coming close to Dina's naptime too," Stiles pointed out, opening his eyes to look at the clock on the wall. "But uncle Scott can bring you over again tomorrow, okay?"

Dina was still pouting, but she nodded. "Okay Daddy. Tomorrow maybe we can play?"

"We'll see what the doctors say."

Scott grinned and lifted Dina up into the air, her pout gone with a squeal as he held her over Stiles' head, then lowered her to be able to kiss her father goodbye. "I'll check on you tomorrow too. Maybe smuggle in your tablet."

"Thanks, Scott." He kissed Dina back, and then watched Scott put Dina on his shoulders and off they went. He signed, then looked back at Cora. "I think I'm going to take a hit of the morphine and pass out for awhile. You can go if you have things to do."

[impetere]

She does. She should probably swing by the high school and pick up any grading she has to do. The sub's been able to follow her lesson plans for the most part, so the kids are moving right along. But that can wait until he's asleep, and won't take her long - grading she can do here.

"I'll stay till you sleep."

[fadingspark]

He shifted to look over at her, gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand. His other hand hit the morphine button to up the dose, and it wasn't much later that he felt it start to work. "I love you," he said softly as he drifted off.

[impetere]

She squeezes his hand again, listening to his heartbeat as he drifts off to sleep. "I love you too."

[fadingspark]

Stiles smiled in his sleep before he was out cold to the drugs again, his fingers slackening around hers as he fell into a steady rhythm of breathing.