Linked

One year

Stiles watched as Scott trudged through the corridor, head drooping, shoulders hunched. He noticed the way Scott just shrugged girls off, when usually he gave them a decent explanation, saying his girlfriend was away for a while. He took note of the permanent frown situated on his best friend's face, and felt pain, knowing he couldn't do anything about it. One year.  One year since he'd seen his friend at his happiest. One year since he'd heard Scott laugh. One year since he'd seen his best friend taking part in some serious PDA. Maybe he didn't miss that part. But he knew that he had to do something about it. So, after school, Stiles shoved Scott into his Jeep, and drove to the Hale house. Pulling up outside, he glanced up at the top window. "Looks like Braeden's back" he commented, seeing the black SUV parked next to Derek's car. Scott looked at Stiles "What are we doing here? I have homework to be doing." Stiles rolled his eyes and dragged Scott out of the car. He walked up the steps holding Scott's jacket by the shoulder. Scott stumbled and nearly tripped, but Stiles jerked him up. "Derek! Derek I know you're here. Derek!" Stiles yelled up at the house. Scott hung his head and tried to turn around. Stiles dragged him back to the door and waited impatiently. When the door eventually opened, a dishevelled Braeden opened the door. Stiles looked taken aback, and stuttered "I-is D-d-Derek here?" glancing behind Braeden. She opened the door further, indicating they should go in. They found Derek pulling a shirt over his head coming down the stairs. He didn't look particularly happy, but when he saw Scott, he perked up a bit. " Hey McCall, what's up?" Scott looked up and attempted to smile. Derek instantly sensed that something was up. Stiles spoke. "He's broken. Fix him!" He walked up to Scott, but as he reached him, Scott dropped to the floor. Derek caught him before his head hit the floor, and looked at Stiles, awaiting an explanation. Stiles shrugged and bent down to his unconscious friend. He shook him gently, and Scott woke with a start. He looked around, and put his head back on the floor. No one noticed Derek sliding his hand behind Scott's head, claws at the ready...

When Scott woke up again, there was a throbbing pain in the back of his neck. he looked at Derek accusingly, but was met with a troubled, pale face, rather than the usual cocky grin. He sat up properly, wondering what the matter was. Derek eventually rubbed his face and looked Scott in the eye. Scott looked worried, seeing three of his close friends look near to tears. " Scott. Why didn't you tell us?" Scott looked away quickly then looked confused. " Tell you what?" he asked, playing innocent. Stiles sniffed and sat beside Scott. "We could've helped you, taken care of you, helped you get through this together." He was in tears by this time, and Scott knew there was no point trying to lie. He looked at his hands, and shrugged. " I thought you would try and stop me." Stiles laughed. "Of course we would stop you!" He yelled. " But, we could have helped you, supported you." His voice was softer now, a little more sincere. Scott looked stiles in the eye and smiled weakly. "Look, I didn't mean any harm. I just wanted it all to go away, the pain, the nightmares, the longing, the not knowing. It's agony, torture even!" Everyone looked at the despairing teenager on the floor, confused as to what he was talking about. Scott looked at them expectantly and was taken aback to find quizzical faces and the smell of anxiety in the air. He looked back at the floor and felt a hand on his shoulder. "What are you talking about Scott? We have no idea what nightmares and stuff you're talking about. We just thought you were poisoning yourself." Scott looked at his friends and knew he had to tell them. " Every night, for the past year, I've not slept. And when I do, it's not sleep. It's my own personal living hell. All I can see is her in pain, I feel it, I try to take it but there's too much of it. It nearly kills me, until I have to let go. And then, it floods back into her, and she starts screaming again. I don't know what to do, this is impossible..." Stiles and Braeden looked at each other, bewildered. They were going to say something, but Derek cut them off. He spoke quietly. "Kira. I saw her. I thought it was just an image of Scott after the yellow wolfs bane, but it was her. Her screaming. Scott, it's been tormenting you for months! Why didn't you say something?" Derek as beside Scott now. Scott muttered something. "You didn't want us to worry? Scott, we could have helped you. we could have-" He was cut off by the sound of the door being hammered on. Standing up, he looked at Scott one more time, pitying him. He ruffled the young alpha's hair and answered the door. "Lydia, hey we were jus-" Lydia ran past him, and sat next to Scott. She whispered something in his ear, and he stood up. "Stiles,  let's go." And with that, he walked out the door, Stiles still processing what had just happened. He suddenly felt a hand on his jacket and was pulled backwards. "Ok, ok. I'm coming!"