Stand By Me

47

Peyton waited while Melissa looked over Stiles to make sure he wasn't possessed. As the blonde hoped, he was himself.

After a moment, Stiles asked, "Is she here?"

Melissa nodded and Stiles said, "Okay, let's do this."

Peyton slowly helped Stiles down the stairs and when Mrs. Yukimura saw them, she said to Stiles, "Do you recognize me?"

A door slammed and Kira ran in and said, "Stop."

Stiles looked at her. "It's okay. I'm the one who asked her to come."

Kira narrowed her eyes. "You're the one who's going to get stabbed with swords. Mom, don't do this to him!"

"It's already done," Mrs. Yukimura answered.

The Oni appeared and one stood behind Stiles. They grabbed the back of his head with their gloved hands. Stiles shook and fell to the ground and the Oni disappeared.

"Look behind his ear," Mrs. Yukimura told them.

Kira knelt next to Stiles to see a backwards five on the back of his ear.

"It worked!" Scott cried excitedly.

Peyton smiled softly. "Yeah. I think it did."

Stiles looked relieved as he asked, "So I'm actually me?"

Mrs. Yukimura gave him a small smile. "More you than the Nogitsune."

"Can the Oni find him?" Scott questioned.

She nodded. "Tomorrow night. It's too close to dawn now."

A disturbing thought crossed Peyton's mind and she asked, "Can they kill him?"

"That depends on how strong he is."

"What about Lydia? Why her?"

"He would only take her for an advantage."

Scott frowned. "You mean for her power."

Mrs. Yukimura nodded at his words. "The power of a Banshee."

As soon as everything had been sorted, Scott drove them to the station so Stiles could meet up with his dad.

Stiles glanced at Peyton. "Are you okay?"

Peyton sighed. "No. And I know you're not either."

"Peyton, I'm fine."

"Don't lie, Stiles. Not to me. Please. I can tell you're not fine."

They entered the station and the boys saw Deputy Parrish at the front desk. He smiled at them and the sheriff muttered, "Ah, if I could just find my keys."

"In your coffee cup," Stiles said. "You always drop them in your coffee cup."

Sheriff Stilinski looked to Peyton and Scott for confirmation and they nodded. Stiles ran to his dad and the sheriff threw his arms around his son. "Hey, Dad."

"Is it over?"

Scott shook his head. "Not yet."

Scott and Peyton left the room so father and son could have a moment and Peyton bounced a leg up and down. "We'll save Lydia," Scott reassured.

Peyton shook her head. "How? Stiles is dying and Lydia's missing. I can't lose him, Scott."

"We'll save them both, Peyton."

Sheriff Stilinski and Stiles rejoined the two and the sheriff looked at them as he said, "We got an APB out on Lydia's car. Every unit on the road is looking for her."