Chapter Thirty-Seven

Not Again

We found him, in Malia's coyote den, sleeping.

Mr. McCall, Melissa, and I began to walk out to the preserve. He said he had a theory that the clod and the horrible smell might be from the coyote den. I don't know what to think but, as long as it leads to us finding my brother I'm fine.

I could feel my heart drop when Mr. McCall pulled him out of the den, his voice was hoarse and broken as he screamed. "Wait! No! WAIT!" I pulled him into my chest, falling to the ground with him in my lap. "Stiles! It's me Stiles!"

"Wait!" He screamed before looking up at me with tear soaked cheeks. I just continued to hold him tightly to myself. "Stiles! You're okay.... you're okay. I've got you, Stiles... I've got you."

The fear in his voice and the way he screamed... it was worse than his nightmares when he'd wake me up screaming. It was bone chilling and fractured me to the core. I haven't left his side since we found him, and I don't intend on it.

Melissa made sure to give Stiles a room with an extra bed for me, she most likely knew I wouldn't leave no matter what. They gave him a sedative to make him sleep, which is good, he needs his sleep more than anything right now.

His eyes are sunken in and so tired. I hate to say it but, it reminds me of my visions. The hate in his voice... the anger. I shook the thoughts from my head, moving over to Stiles' bed to hold his hand.

I brought his hand to my lips and I gave him a kiss. "I'm never leaving you again," I whispered. "You and dad have caused me to have some serious separation anxiety..." I let out a sigh before leaning back in the chair, still holding his hand in mine.

Scott and Lydia were in here earlier, saying to call them in anything changed. I told them I would and then they left. Not before Scott said he'd bring me my stuff in a little while along with some food.

Outside the door, I could see Mr. McCall and my dad talking, their voices faintly flowed into the room. "He's sleeping now... and he's just fine. He doesn't remember much. It's a bit like a dream to him. Thank you."

"It was that repellent we sprayed in the coyote den to keep the other animals out. I couldn't go near it without my eyes watering. It's just a good thing he mentioned it over the phone." I watched my dad shake his head, "Not, it was more than that. Thank you."

Mr. McCall shrugged, shaking his head, "it was a lucky connection." My dad sighed, "McCall, can you shut up please and accempt my sincerest gratitude?" Mr. McCall smiled, which was a weird sight on him. "Accepted."

The two shook hands before my dad came back into the room, an exhausted smile on his face. I looked up to him, "I'm not leaving here tonight. I had Melissa get another bed for me." My dad nodded, sitting in the chair on the other side of Stiles. "I'm not leaving either."

I nodded, smiling at my dad. "You two boys have seriously messed me up, you know." I watched as he raised an eyebrow, "how so?" I felt my eyes water slightly, but I wan't crying, it was like excess emotions were hitting me with the reality of this situation.

"Well, I'll probably never let either of you leave my sight again since I can't leave you two without one of you going missing. And I'll probably be the same way with my kids, they're going to hate me." I frowned.

My dad sighed before moving his chair over to my side of the bed, sitting so he was facing both me and Stiles. "We're not going to leave you again, Victoria. Not if we can help it." He grabbed my free hand squeezing it.

"And those kids won't hate you. If they're anything like you and your brother, then they'll like their parents." I nodded, moving to lean my head on my dad's shoulder. "I'm scared, dad," I whispered out, my voice water and broken.

He wrapped an arm around me, letting go of my hand, pulling me into him. "I know. So am I. But, we'll figure it out." I nodded before burying my face into his jacket, crying into the cloth as everything that had been happening finally overwhelmed me.

My brother was sick.

"Thank you for bringing me my clothes last night, sorry I was asleep already," I spoke over the line while brushing my hair in Stiles' bathroom at the hospital. I had slept here last night and let me tell you, hospital beds are so uncomfortable.

Scott sighed over the line, "it's okay, I get it. How is he this morning?" I looked through the door to see Stiles sitting up in bed. He was awake, finally. I sent my brother a smile, which he returned half-heartedly. "Well, he just woke up. But, he slept through the night. I think they're going to run some tests today... you should be here." I mumbled out the last part while looking at my reflection.

My hair was grown out slightly, now passed my shoulders and landing on my collarbone. My eyes looked tired and my lips were chapped. I needed water. My face was breaking out bad too, god, all this stress was not doing me any favors.

"Okay, tell me when and I'll be there." I smiled, looking away from the mirror and turning back to Stiles' room. "Okay. I love you." "I love you too." I hung up the phone, tossing it on the spare bed with my other things, and sat down at the foot of Stiles' bed.

I looked him over. He looked slightly more rested than yesterday, the bags under his eyes weren't as purple as before. "Good morning, little brother." I watched at Stiles rose a brow, shaking his head. "Two minutes, Victoria." He reminded.

"They're gonna run tests today..." I trailed off, watching his face to gauge his reaction to the news. Unsurprised. Stiles shrugged with a nod. "I figured." I shook my head, "I need you to be okay, Stiles." I whispered, my eyes falling to the blanket as I began picking at the thin sheet.

I took a deep breath, "I was so scared yesterday, I thought... I thought you were gone forever, Stiles, and... I just, I can't lose you." Stiles' hand grabbed mine, forcing me to stop picking at the blankets and to look up at him.

"You're not going to lose me. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out like we always do." I nodded, my eyes watery. I went to say something else when Dad walked in with Melissa behind him, she wasn't wearing scrubs though, she was wearing her day to day clothes. . I sighed, moving from the bed to the seat beside Stiles, still holding his hand tightly.

It was time.

We were all standing in the CT room with Stiles. Melissa, Dad, and Scott were all there with him. Each one of us had equal worry. I still hadn't let go of Stiles' hand, I refused to. The doctor walked in not long after we got there. He was looking down at the paper with furrowed brows. "I'm not sure I know how to pronounce this... or if it's not actually a misspelling..."

I rolled my eyes, "we call him Stiles." Scott put a hand on my shoulder, probably sensing my impatience. I sighed into his touch, trying to calm down. "Okay. Stiles, just to warn you, you're going to hear a lot of noise during the MRI. It's due to pulses of electricity going through metal couils inside the machine. Uh, if you want, we can get you earplugs or headphones..."

Stiles shook his head and I squeezed his hand tighter. This was really happening. Here we are, actually scanning his brain to see if there's something really wrong with him. "Oh, no. No, I don't need anything."

The Doctor nodded before moving to the other side of the wall with glass windows. Melissa and dad went up to Stiles. Melissa held one of her smiles that told you it'd all be okay, even when everything was going wrong.

I don't know how she can do that. "Hey, we're just on the other side of that window, okay?" Stiles nodded and then her and dad left the room. I bit my lip while turning back to Stiles. He looked to Scott with a sigh. "You know what they're looking for, right?"

Scott shook his head. "It's called frontotemporal dementia. Areas of your brain start to shrink. It's what my mother had. It's the only form of dementia that can hit teenagers... and there's no cure."

I let go of Stiles' hand, "I'm gonna go. I'll see you after the scan." I fled the room quickly, unable to process it. I couldn't breathe in that room, it was too much. Entering the other room, I moved right out to the hallway.

My breathing was ragged and I felt like my world was crumbling. What was happening? This shouldn't be happening. Not to Stiles. Not again. I can't do this again. I can't.... I let out a strangled yell, I wasn't crying but, I was frustrated. I wanted to scream.

I could feel Scott's familiar arms wrap around me from behind, forcing me to his chest. "If he has it, I'll give him the bite Victoria." I turned around with a shake of my head. "I can't do it again, Scott. It's like mom all over again and I... I can't do it."

Scott held me in his arms, pressing a kiss to my head. "I know. I know it's hard but, he needs you right now, Victoria. He needs all of us. We have to... we have to be strong. For him." I wiped at my cheeks, trying to calm down my breathing. "You're right. I have to be strong... I can, I can do that."

And I could. Probably.

I was waiting in the hall for them to tell me the news. His scans could show any number of things. He could be completely fine. He had to be fine. I have to trust that he'll be fine. I let out a breath before rubbing over my stomach.

"It'll be okay," I whispered to myself. Scott and Derek went off somewhere to look for.... something. I really don't know. A loud crackling sound echoed through the hospital, the power shut off for a moment before flickering back on.

What was that? I stood up, going back to the room to check on my dad and Stiles. As I got closer to the room, I heard my dad's yell. "Where's my son?!" Oh god. Not again... I walked into the room, looking through the glass to see Stiles wasn't there.

"Where's Stiles?" I asked, panicked. It was happening again. My brother was gone... again. I can't do this again. I just... I can't. My dad ran out to the hall, immediately calling in another missing persons. I looked to Melissa with wide eyes.

She grabbed my arms with a serious look in her eye. "Victoria, you need to calm down. You've been too stressed lately and it's not good for your babies. You have to calm down and breathe. We will find Stiles, you need to go home and calm down."

I nodded, furrowing my brows. "Okay, I, I'll call Scott." Melissa nodded, quickly giving me a tight hug before leaving in pursuit of my father. My hands shook as I grabbed my phone, hitting the 2 to call Scott. 1 was for Stiles and 3 was for my dad. I only had three numbers on speed dial. "Pick up, pick up..."

"Victoria, hey, are you okay? The power..." I shook my head, "no. Stiles is gone again and I need, I need you to take me home. I need to go home now." I could hear Scott breathing and then saying something to, who I assume is, Derek. "Okay, where are you?"

I told him where I was and it wasn't long before he was with me. We quickly grabbed my things and then began to make our way to the parking lot. The hospital was hectic with people running around.

It was crazy but I didn't care. My brother was gone again and I couldn't do anything about it. I couldn't find him. I couldn't protect him. Hell, I couldn't even get a vision in order to see if he'd make it out okay.

I couldn't do anything for Stiles and that's what hurt the most because, he's always done so much for me and I couldn't help him when he was in need.

What kind of sister am I?

A/N: Another chapter woohoo! I hope ya'll like it. I'm already working on the next one. Please vote and comment, I love it when you guys comment!

Until later--XO