Slightly Consequential (Slightly Awkward Series / Book Five / Teen Wolf)

chapter eleven--THE LAST CHIMERA

Stiles and I had gotten our dad to the hospital, where they were taking him in for surgery. We were standing at the front desk, talking to the receptionist. 

I was freaking out about everything that was going on with Scott, our dad, Theo...

"Stilinski, right?" the receptionist asked. "You said his insurance was with the county? He's a deputy?"

"No," I answered. "He's the sheriff. He's the county sheriff. Okay? He's covered. I mean, he should be covered."

Stiles led me away from the desk. "It's okay."

Melissa walked closer. "I'll take care of it." She walked toward us with a clipboard. "I texted Scott. He's coming as soon as he can. I can call Malia."

"No, no, no," Stiles told her. "Don't--don't call anyone."

"Is there anyone else we need to notify?" the receptionist asked. "A next of kin?"

"No, it's us," Stiles told her. "It's just us."

        °      

I was sitting alone in the waiting room, unable to stop thinking about what could have happened to Scott, or Malia, or my dad... overwhelmed, anxious and devastated, worried and terrified of losing anyone else.

I had spent so long trying to make myself become stronger, learn how to fight, how to defend myself so that I wouldn't feel like a victim ever again.

But I had never felt so helpless than I did in that moment.

        °      

I didn't know when I fell asleep. But I was having this dream. I couldn't see what was happening. All I could hear was my dad's voice saying, "Stacie. You gotta get up."

I felt someone rouse me awake, gasping slightly.

Stiles was next to me. "Hey. He's okay. Melissa's helping Dr. Geyer stitch him up right now."

"Okay, I wanna see him," I told him.

"Yeah, I asked if we could see him before I woke you," Stiles told me. "They said that the anesthesia needs to wear off. It's gonna be at least two hours."

"Okay," I told him. "Yeah, but everything's gonna be okay, though? I mean, he's okay?"

Stiles nodded. "They told me he's gonna be fine."

I felt like I was going to cry, sitting back, putting a hand to my head. "Oh, thank God." I felt a few tears slip down my cheeks, wiping them away. "Oh, God."

"It's okay to be sad, Stace," Stiles told me. "After everything that you've been going through... alone..."

I shook my head. "No. No, no, no. I don't wanna think about that."

Stiles took a moment to respond, nodding. "Yeah. Okay."

I looked at him in confusion. "I--I don't get it. How are you not an emotional mess like me right now?"

"Because I'm mad," Stiles answered. "I'm mad at Theo for trying to kill our dad. I'm mad at Scott for walking out on us... out on you, when you needed him the most."

I shook my head, looking down. "Stiles..."

"He should've been there with us, Stacie," Stiles told me. He gazed off into nothing. "He should've been there."