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

[fadingspark]

John shut his eyes at the question, then nodded. "When I ran back there, he had just started. It lasted about four minutes before they got him back."

[impetere]

"Huh."

There's a soft sympathetic squeeze on his shoulder - not overly sentimental as Stiles is clearly going to be fine, but for right now the wheels in her head are turning, trying to process what she saw in the hallway of the hospital and the information that's just been given her.

[fadingspark]

John rubbed at his jaw. "But if he woke up and was interacting with everyone, that should alleviate any concerns from the time without oxygen."

[impetere]

"Mmmmm," She glances back to him before shaking her head. "Oh, no, that's not what I'm worried about. Once he's off the drugs, I'm sure he'll have no trouble getting back to normal."

[fadingspark]

He looked up at her, concerned. "What are you worried about then?"

[impetere]

"Lydia."

There's a pause, before she realizes there needs to be more of an explanation than that.

"There's still so much we don't know about banshees. And she was in the middle of an episode when it happened. I'm starting to wonder how much power she really has."

[fadingspark]

Now that he had been at this game for a few years, and Peter having helped advise him often, John was able to put two and two together quickly.

"So you think that the screaming I heard as I ran through the ER was her predicting Stiles..." He took a deep breath. "Wow... is she okay?"

[impetere]

"Hard to say." Lydia is impassive at best, she's hardly one to be emotional. Talia is also still getting to know her, so she isn't as easy to read as Stiles or Scott.

"But I suppose it's just something we'll have to delve into more."

[fadingspark]

"If I can help, let me know. I may not be the best at all this... werewolf stuff... but I'm good at solving things once I understand it."

[impetere]

She nods in agreement. "I will. I'm going to discuss it with Peter when I get home. He's been working with Lydia the most - he will probably understand it the best."

[fadingspark]

John just nodded. "I hope so, for her sake. I don't know if I'd be okay if I saw the death of one of my friends as some vision in my head."

[impetere]

"I don't know if I'd be okay if I saw anyone's death." No one would, really. "But especially not someone I loved."

[fadingspark]

"Neither would I. Not like that."

[impetere]

Talia nods in agreement, before giving him a small smile. "I think I'm going to get some tea. Can I get you anything?"

[fadingspark]

"No, I think I'm just going to sit here until the doctor comes to check him over and get him ready for transfer."

[impetere]

She nods again, giving his shoulder a soft squeeze again as she turns to leave. "I'll be right back." And with that, she'll give him some time alone with his son.