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

[cunningwolf]

Peter leaned against the table, listening intently as one eyebrow slowly rose.

"Do you remember what she said in that moment?"

[impetere]

"At first, no. And then she said 'This all has to be good for something, now go.' And the last word was when I definitely felt something." Cora hadn't, too distracted in the moment to be paying attention, but Talia's been at this game a long time.

[cunningwolf]

Peter played the words over in his head. Words were his game - they held a lot of power, and the right words and order of them could reveal more secrets than anything else.

"She was talking to someone. She's been struggling with understanding her powers and not letting it drive her insane - so something in this was to her, a way to start finding a purpose for it. Something she could hold onto to give her solace in that she could do more than just see death..."

He looked out the window, still thinking before turning to her. "Do you think she was talking to Stiles in the time he was dead?"

[impetere]

"Oh, I think she did more than talk to him." Talia drums her fingers against the table for a moment, before grimacing slightly. "I think she pushed him back."

[cunningwolf]

Peter closed his eyes, thinking of all the research he had done on banshees since Cora had some to him with the information that her friend was one. Something in that sounded almost familiar.

"So while her scream signaled his death, her words sparked back his life..." Give him a moment. "All the myths on banshees have it that they predict death, and some have them as messengers for the dead. But the only thing that talked about healing the sick is the story of Clíodhna, who is considered the Queen of the Banshees the Tuatha Dé Danann. The stories say she had these three birds whose songs could heal the sick."

His fingers tapped on the counter. "I'll have to look further, but it's the only reference I know of so far that talks about healing. And if she is responsible for somehow keeping Stiles from walking into the light... that is an amazing gift with unknown potential."

[impetere]

She nods for a moment. "You might want to speak with Lydia more about this, find out exactly what it is she saw."

[cunningwolf]

"I will. Probably will want to talk to Stiles too when he's a bit more cognizant to see if there's anything he feels or remembers. See if it will link to the event."

[impetere]

"Let me know what you figure out. If there's a way to make this something good for her, I want to be able to help if I can."

[cunningwolf]

"Well, hopefully she won't be dealing with the near death of her friends again in the next, few years."

[impetere]

"We can only hope." Talia sighs heavily. "I could do with a few years of quiet again personally."

[cunningwolf]

Peter chuckled, reaching over to rub her shoulder. "That's the problem with kids. Once you have them, you sacrifice that quite for the sound of their laughter and tears."

[impetere]

"I'd prefer more of the laughter. Less of the tears."

[cunningwolf]

"Have the grandkids over more. That will help."

[impetere]

"A solid tactic," she nods in agreement. "I'll see if I can have that arranged." She then pushes away from the table with a nod to his plans. "I should let you get back to work."

[cunningwolf]

He licked his lips a moment, debating on saying something, but he wasn't sure if it was too soon to talk about it. Not that anything was in the actual works yet, but it was something he had been wanting to tell her since Christmas... his eyes for a moment spoke of good news he wanted to tell her, but no.

No, it could wait. He just nodded and reached for the plans. "Let me know if you need help with anything else. I'll tell you what Lydia and I figure out."

[impetere]

She nods in agreement, noting his wanting to say something else, but leaving it alone for now. "I will. Thank you, Peter, for helping with this."

[cunningwolf]

"You're welcome. Any time."