Faunoe o fatuoe (Sterek slash)

Chapter Nine

Stiles had always heard that when you're in a car crash that time slowed down. He had never actually believed it himself until he lost control of his Jeep due to panic attack induced paralysis. To be honest he didn't know what was worse time slowing down so that he memorized every agonizing moment, or the crunch of steel as he hit the tree.

Then there was nothing except darkness until the pain hit. It was the kind of pain that took your breath away, and when Stiles tried to scream nothing but a wet gurgle rose up from his throat. That was not good, there was no way that a human being could make a sound like that and not be bleeding to death. Normally panic would overtake him but he felt like he was floating, seeing the entire event as though from a distance and the only thing he could think of was that his dad would be the first person on the scene.

It felt like he was laying there for hours with his breathing becoming more and more labored, the taste of copper filling his mouth, and the cold seeping into his limbs. Stiles knew he was dying. Hardly anyone ever came down this back road and in all honesty he didn't know what had possessed him to be out here. The sound of running footsteps brought his mind back to the present but he knew already that it was too late for him to be saved.

"Stiles." Scott's voice brought tears to his already burning eyes, and he couldn't help but be pleased that his best friend would be here with him at the end. "Oh God no, no, no."

He felt some of the metal being lifted off of him and a sudden burst of pain made his suck in a breath between his teeth, the air seemed to catch in his throat and he found himself coughing blood all over himself.

"Scotty." His voice was nothing more than a wet gurgle. "I'm sorry man."

"No." Scott shook his head, tears already running down his face and man did that hurt to see. "No you're going to be fine."

Stiles let out a pained groan. "You know I always hated that line in movies."

Scott was outright crying now and it took all of Stiles strength to reach for his hand and clutch it tightly.

"Oh Stiles, a car crash?" whispered Scott. "We kick ass ten times a day and you go and kill yourself in a car crash."

"Tell my dad ..." His eyes drifted closed and he felt his lungs ached all of a sudden.

"No no Stiles." He felt Scott shaking him. "Tell your dad what?"

"Just that I love him." Stiles blinked the blood out of his eyes. "I never said it enough, and make sure he doesn't take up drinking again."

Behind them there was a screech of tyres and the sound of a car door slamming and the next thing Stiles knew Derek was falling heavily to his knees on the other side of him.

"Hey man," he whispered. "I guess this'll break the spell hey?"

When he looked up at the older man he had expected to see his usual impassiveness and in fact had welcomed it, what he hadn't been expecting was the pain and grief on his face. This was Derek Hale for God's sake he wasn't supposed to be all upset just because Stiles Stilinski was bleeding to death in front of him.

"Are you in any pain?" he asked.

"No." Stiles slowly shook his head. "You don't need to do the whole self sacrificing thing."

With that the two werewolves looked at each other and Stiles could just make out Scott shaking his head minutely and Derek growling in response.

"Stiles." Derek pressed the palm of his hand lightly against Stiles' cheek, gently moving his head so he could look into his eyes. "There's a way we can save you."

"No," hissed Scott. "He doesn't want that."

"What?" Stiles' voice was barely more than a whisper now. "Oh of course ... werewolves."

Derek nodded his head and Stiles moved his head so that he was resting entire against the palm of his hand.

"Stiles?"

"Do it," he said. "Just do it."

"Derek do you want ...?" started Scott.

"No," interrupted Derek. "You're his best friend, you're also a true alpha. Let's give it the best chance of taking."

Scott didn't even say anything the just rested his fingers lightly against Stiles' neck where the bruise for Derek's claiming bite was beginning to turn yellow. Then those gentle fingers took a hold of his chin and turned his head the other way.

"Not there," he said. "I'll turn you, though God knows I didn't want this for you man, but I won't break another alpha's claim. Not unless you want me to."

"No." Stiles hated that even now as his last breath loomed on the horizon he still wanted whatever piece of Derek that he could.

"Derek?" asked Scott.

"No ... he's." Thick trembling fingers stroked through his hair. "He's ..."

Scott seemed to find Derek stumbling over his words amusing because he smiled once and then Derek's fingers tightened in his hair and pulled his head back to expose Stiles' throat. The next thing he knew there was pain, a pain that drowned out everything else and distantly he could hear himself screaming.