Not Quite The Same (Hiatus)

Chapter Nine

Scott was still in shock but quickly snapped out of it.

He rushed forward and kneeled over Stiles. He flipped him over and checked him over. Another wave of shock passed through him. Stiles was badly bruised and bloody, he had scars scattering his face and on what other places of skin he could see. Scott then noticed the hole in his hoodie. He gently placed his hand on the hole and felt an intense pain as black lines trailed up his arm. The pain was building up and up and up and finally, he had to let go.

He quickly turned to face the others and said, "Guys... It's him."

The response was immediate: They all rushed forward and kneeled down next to Scott, though Aiden, Ethan and Derek stayed standing. The smell of concern, confusion and astoundment filled the air. "Oh, my god." Lydia exclaimed quietly. Scott knew how she felt as they stared at the boy who had the been missing for 8 years.

"We have to get him to a hospital." Scott said.

"But how'd he get here? Is he even okay? What happened to him? Where'd he go? What--" Lydia rushed out in a panic but was cut off my Scott.

"Lydia, please, focus." he begged, a certain desperation in his voice that snapped her out of it.

"Derek," he then started, gaining his attention. "Go start your car. I'll go with you with Stiles, the rest: follow us."

They all nodded and carried out the demand. Derek ran over to his car, got in, and started it up while the others got into each other's cars. Allison with Malia and Kira and Lydia with the twins. Scott positioned his hands underneath Stiles and picked him up, though did a double check as the surprising change in weight. He seemed to have gotten lighter but at the same time heavier, almost like some sort of balancing act of weight.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts then went as fast as he could to Derek's car. He put Stiles in the back seat then sat next to him. "Floor it." Scott ordered, keeping his attention on Stiles. Derek nodded and slammed his foot down onto the accelerator.

They took off as the others followed them close behind. Scott studied his best friend's face and noticed how different he looked. He tried to ignore how many cuts and bruises Stiles had on his face, how much more muscular and lean he looked, and how lifeless his face looked. Though his eyes were closed, Scott knew that once he opened them, they were hold a sad story. The lights in the car illuminated the boy's angular features, jaw line prominent, and his face wasn't as round as Scott remembered. His hair was much longer than Scott had last seen it. Stiles looked nothing like Scott had last seen him.

And that's what hurt the most. What the hell had happened since Scott had last seen his best friend--his brother? What had Stiles been through? Was he even still himself?

Scott dismissed the thought immediately. Of course Stiles was still himself. Of course Stiles was still Stiles. Scott knew he'd be different but it'd still be Stiles. And for that, he was grateful. He had his brother back, his anchor, and if he was broken or damaged, Scott would do everything in his power to fix him.

~*~*~

Soon, they all arrived at the hospital. Scott and Derek quickly got out after parking. The rest of the pack parked and got out, rushing over to them. Scott opened the back seat door and pulled out Stiles, carrying Stiles the same way he had before. Again, he did a double take at the weight difference. He then ran as fast as he could towards the hospital, Isaac running to the door to hold it open and Lydia running in to alert the nurses and doctors. "Help! Please, help! Our friend's hurt badly!" she called, gaining the attention of everyone in the lobby.

Scott came in just as his mother entered the room. She gaped at him but snapped out of her daze quickly. She barked out an order and soon after, a couple of nurses and doctors came out with a gurney. Scott placed Stiles down gently onto the bed and quickly followed after them as they wheeled him away. The entire pack followed them as they checked his vitals and his wounds. A nurse used scissors to cut off Stiles' shirt. The wounds there were worse.