I Guess We're Lucky

The Worst May Be Over

     Everyone sat together in the ER waiting room in silence. They had been waiting for Stiles to be settled into a room in the ICU, but had been in recovery for quite a while now. There sheriff wished more than anything that he could just go in a and check on his son, but no one was allowed in recovery. Not even parents, or apparently, the sheriff. 

     It had been hours since they had brought Stiles in, and there were so many people in the waiting room waiting to hear news about him. Most of the lacrosse team was there including coach, even parents of some of their friends who were not in the inner circle. Even the old man who runs the ice cream shop was there.

     All these people were there for Stiles because when it came down to it, everyone loved him. From the parents who had invited a young hyper Stiles to their son's grade school bowling birthday parties, or the lacrosse team who had watched Stiles somehow go from a terrible athlete to a good lacrosse player, to the ancient man who runs the ice cream shop that watched the kids in the town grow up. They all knew Stiles and the sheriff, and sent them casseroles and flowers after Claudia died. The town gathered there to show the support to the Stilinkis once again. 

     Everyone was enraged and in disbelief that someone could do this to Stiles of all people. They all wanted the criminal to pay.

     After what seemed like forever a nurse came out to speak with the sheriff. Everyone perked up at the possibility of some news. Noah quickly stood up to talk to nurse.

     "Hello sheriff", she said tiredly "If you could follow me I will take you to your son." 

     "Thank you", he said following behind her.

     "His main doctor will be in to speak with you momentarily, and we also have a bit more paperwork for you to fill out but it's not too important, also only family is allowed in, no exceptions. And sheriff", she said stopping outside the sliding glass doors that lead to the ICU, "This is where my help with Stiles ends now that he is out of recovery. I wish you luck." 

     With that the nurse stepped through the doors and headed to the far corner of the room where the sheriff could see Stiles laying down on a bed with two nurses fluttering about messing with the machines around him.

     As the sheriff approached him the whole world was a blur and nothing else but  his son mattered. He stopped by the bed to take in the sight of his son. There were two thin blankets pulled up to his waist to allow easy access to his injured stomach and chest. His right hand was laying by his side and the other was laying on his stomach. The head of the bed was slightly adjusted to sit up diagonally with several pillows propping his head up correctly to allow the tube down his throat to enter at the correct angle. 

     Noah knelt down and took Stiles right hand in his own and caressed the side of his face, brushing his thumb over a cut on his brow with a couple stitches over it. His hair was still covered by a blue hair net to keep it out of the way, though the tape taping his eyelids shut was gone. He looked so a pale and translucent, his eyelashes dark against his pale and bruised cheeks and the blue bruising under his eyes. He leaned forward and kissed his forehead where there was not a cut or bruise. Then he quietly whispered, "You're okay now, I've got you and I'm not letting anyone hurt you again."

    Behind him someone cleared there throats. "Um sh-sheriff? I-I'm sorry to interrupt, I really am but I'm supposed to debrief you before the doctor gets here." 

     The sheriff turned around to look at small nurse, who looked truly sad to see the man and his son in such a heartbreaking situation. "Yes yes of course", the sheriff replied. 

     "Okay, if you will look here, this machine is what is keeping him breathing while is lung is repairing and healing. It's called a ventilator and it's what the tube down his throat is. As he learns to breath on his own we will gradually take him off of it." She looked up at the sheriff and he nodded to let he know he was listening. He looked at the tube and the white strap that tied around his head to keep it in place.