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

[beanchaointe]

"Who says numbers can't be fun?" She says, raising her eyebrows slightly in a challenge. Lydia likes her numbers, Stiles. She still has a Field's medal to win. That being said, she crosses her legs in front of her. "I've been taking the time. Mostly seeing Caroline and Tyler - unless I want to drive to Palo Alto, they're the ones with the most distance from, well - " You. Sorry, Stiles.

"And unless you want endless care packages and someone else trying to mother you to death, you don't want me to drive to Palo Alto."

Because Elena absolutely would. Lydia knows this from experience after her banshee abilities were triggered.

[fadingspark]

"I already have an entire pack of werewolves trying to mother me to death. She would have heavy competition." He gave her a smile, but nodded, understanding in a way. "And hey, I deal with code all day. Numbers can be just as much fun as code is."

[beanchaointe]

"I'm sure they can be."

She nods quietly for a moment, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt for a moment, before looking up at him again. She isn't really sure what she's supposed to say, but she should probably say something.

"Cora said you wanted to see me while you were in the hospital." She pauses for a moment, before swallowing. "I ... I know I should have, but ... I wasn't really sure what to tell you. I'm still not sure what to tell you."

[fadingspark]

Stiles licked his lips at that because that had been awhile ago now. He hadn't forgotten though, and he could see Lydia was nervous so he didn't want to upset her. He kept his voice low to not wake Cora or Dina as they talked.

"Um... well I don't know if Cora told you but um... when that first time I woke up in the hospital and was barely awake an hour from what they told me... I had a ringing in my ears. and, um, so when i woke up again, Cora told me you had screamed and the more I keep thinking on it... the more I think that the ringing sounded like your voice. Screaming."

[beanchaointe]

She exhales slowly, her lips drawing to one side as she tries to figure out where to start. It's always hard to figure out when an episode starts and what triggers it, but she can try.

"I'm not even sure how I got to the hospital. One minute I was at school and the next I was there, but I've found that to be par for the course for he most part - at least when I'm not trying to find the dead body. It was keys jangling in my ear at first, but when I got to the hospital it was a heart rate monitor. It was steady at first, then started to get erratic ... and when it flatlined was when I screamed."

There's a pause as she tries to figure out where to go next. "If you don't want to know, I won't ... I mean, you don't remember. Maybe it's better that way."

[fadingspark]

Stiles nods to himself. "Yeah, I was playing with my keys because Lyle wanted me to focus on this stupid code, and I was late already." Which just confirmed it was him. He shook his head though.

"I don't remember, but I mean... you should have someone to talk to about it. I um... no told me about that." That he had flat-lined. But it explained why everyone was hovering now. Being shot was one thing - if they all knew he had died for a few minutes... he can't blame them for the over-protectiveness. For Cora not leaving his side.

[beanchaointe]

"We didn't know until your dad confirmed it after."

And it's different, talking to an abstract "someone" versus talking to the person you think you may have brought back from the dead. It's something with this power that she's not very used to, but actually wants to pursue learning more about. What was it about Stiles that made things different?

Other than, of course, it being Stiles.

"Anyway, we were waiting for word, and you were suddenly ... there. I was the only one who could see you and ... " Her voice breaks off. She glances over to Cora, because she hadn't even told her this, and she wants to make sure she was asleep before she continued. " ... You were trying to say goodbye."

There's another pause, fingers curling into her skirt and gripping tightly. "And I wouldn't let you. In fact, I was screaming at you in the hallway, and you seemed surprised that I could see you, though you really shouldn't have been." Because she's a banshee. That's how they work. "And while I was yelling at you I felt ... something. I'm pretty sure you felt it too. You told me to stop, and I wouldn't and I told you to go, and then ... just like that you were gone. About an hour later, the sheriff came downstairs and said you were going to be fine."

There's a pause.

"I'm pretty sure that your coworkers think I'm nuttier than a bag of cats, but ... that's what happened."

[fadingspark]

He had put his phone down to focus on her, and at one point started to nibble on his thumbnail as he tried to think about what it all meant.

"So um..." Wow. okay that was a lot to take in. "Um, you uh, So do you think whatever it was you felt was some kind of banshee power to put me back in my body or something?"

[beanchaointe]

She gives a bit of a helpless shrug. She has no idea what it means. "It could have been. Or ... it could have just been a very fortunate coincidence. I ... I don't know."

Her head falls slightly, pinching the bridge of her nose as she exhales slowly. "Peter says he read about a banshee that used birds to heal people or something. He's looking into it, but he's just about as clueless as I am."

[fadingspark]

He thinks a moment, and then reached out with that free hand to put his hand on her free one. Waiting until she looked up at him again... "Well, if that's what happened... um... I don't even know how to thank you."

[beanchaointe]

She smiles softly at that before squeezing his hand gently. "No thanks needed. I'm just glad whatever it is worked."

[fadingspark]

"Totally naming my next child after you." Completely serious. Mostly.

[impetere]

There's an "mmmmph" from one of the sleeping bodies next to Stiles, before one hand comes up to rub at Cora's eyes lightly.

"Don't I get a say in that?"

Because obviously his next child is going to be with her. That was the only part of the conversation she heard, however, and Lydia just glances back at her, amused.

"I think it's a terrible idea."

[fadingspark]

Stiles just blinked because wow... um... how to answer that? "Um, yeah, I mean of course, but um..." Going from thanking Lydia for him being alive to OMG Cora wants to have kids with him puts him through a loop and he has no idea what to say.

[impetere]

Cora smirks a bit as she watches him because yes, she totally wants to have kids with him. When they get there. And they're ready. "I agree. Too many Lydias."

"Unless I have a tragically young death, in which case yes. Name your first born after me. By all means."

[fadingspark]

Stiles is trying not to smile like an idiot. Because yes, totally wants to have those hypothetical kids with her when they are ready. "Hey, no tragic young deaths for any of us, alright? we're just stopping this whole getting hurt thing right now. Last time - once I'm healed, happy times for everyone. Good?"

[impetere]

"Fine by me."

"No complaints here." Lydia holds up her hands as she gets to her feet, then turning back to Cora. "Your mom wanted me to tell you that dinner's in a half an hour. I'm sure she'll bring in something for you - " She gestures to Stiles. " - but I think you and Dina are expected to eat at the table like civilized people."

Cora nods in agreement, before slowly shifting up into a sitting position, trying not to disturb Dina. "I'll be right out."

[fadingspark]

He wanted to complain about being able to sit at the table too, but he knew it was pointless. At least he wasn't in the hospital and he could work with the compromise - for now.

"Thanks Lydia." For you know, everything.

[impetere]

Lydia nods, before turning and heading back into the kitchen.

Cora lets one hand drop to the top of Dina's head, before glancing over at Stiles curiously. "How long was I out for?"

[fadingspark]

"A few hours. You obviously needed it."

[impetere]

She nods a bit in agreement - she can acknowledge that she was tired - before glancing down at Dina again, her hand continuing to brush over the little girl's hair. "I guess I should probably get her up."

[fadingspark]

Remembering the conversation he had with Dina before she fell asleep - and very grateful she slept through the talk of the theoretical next child name - he just nodded. "I think she'd like that."

[impetere]

Cora nods a bit in return before leaning closer and shaking Dina's shoulder gently. "Dina, sweetie? It's going to be time for dinner soon."

[fadingspark]

Dina whimpered and curled up a bit more in her sleep. "No mommy, still sleepy..." she muttered, eyes still closed.

[impetere]

Cora freezes for a moment, surprised by what Dina called her more than anything else. Part of her just melts at the idea, while the other is wondering if she really realized who she was talking to. She's half asleep, she could have easily mistaken Cora for her actual mother.

Her eyes glance up to Stiles, unsure of what to do.