Losing my Mind

Chapter 6: Questions

Stiles hadn't been able to fall asleep for the rest of the night (well, early morning), so at 6:20am he finally got up out of bed, had a shower to ease his tense body, got ready and then went downstairs to make some breakfast.

He was still in a lot of pain and discomfort but he had to go to school, remember: show no weakness, and besides he was sure that if his dad was anything like last night he would force him to go to school anyway, or just let him stay home to beat the shit out of him again, if he decided to stay off work that is, he hoped his dad wasn't in the same mood, he wasn't too keen on another beating.

Maybe it was a one time thing? A moment that will fade away with the bruises.

He put some toast in the toaster just as his dad made his way down the stairs, smiling.

"Stiles" he said making Stiles jump, he turned around and backed himself up against the counter.

"Dad" Stiles croaked before averting his eyes from his dad, fear coursing through his veins like a knife tracing his bones.

"Stiles...wha-what happened to you?" His dad asked, looking extremely panicked, he walked up to him too quickly and ended up backing away as soon as he saw Stiles flinch.

"You really don't remember?" Stiles asked paralyzed by fear and confusion, still keeping his gaze fixed on the floor.

"Wait... did-did I do this? To you?" His dad asked fearfully. Stiles couldn't speak, mostly because of the fear, so in response he just nodded, all the while dodging his father's gaze.

"I thought-I thought it was just a really, really bad nightmare" His dad said sadly, tears forming heavily in his eyes and rolling down his face.

"Dad-it's fine...you... you didn't know what you were doing" Stiles whispered, it pained him to see his dad cry, even in a situation like that.

"It's not fine, Stiles! I-I hurt you...I-I'm so.. so sorry " He cried out, covering his face with his bruised hands, proof of the beating written all over his knuckles.

"Dad... it's fine, seriously, I'm still the same Stiles" Stiles smirked, trying to comfort his dad, while resting his hands on each of his dads shoulders.

"You're not the 'same Stiles', you're hurt, look at you! You're hurt, and it's all my fault!" His dad cried even louder.

Stiles just stared, mouth agape, unable to find a voice, unable to speak..

"How can I ever make it up to you?" His dad asked desperately, searching his son's eyes for a clue.

"Just take care of yourself, okay?" Stiles said, pulling his dad in for a hug, tensing up a little once his dad recipricated the hug, placing his arms around Stiles.

"I-I'll try..." He replied quietly.

"If it makes you feel any better, if anyone asks about it, I'll say I got in a fight" Stiles said trying to come up with some sort of excuse, "I won't say anything else"

"That doesn't make me feel any better, I hurt you, people should know that, I should be punished" His dad replied full of guilt.

"Dad, this isn't for you, it's for me. I forgive you, okay? I forgive you because you weren't yourself and I'm sticking with my story.... for us" Stiles smiled but regretted it slightly as his lip, cheek and eye started to ache.

"Thank you, son...thank you so much... I-I don't deserve you..." Stiles smiled at his dads comment but also felt extremely sad that his dad would say something like that.

"You're the best dad in the world, and I wouldn't change you for anyone else... now go to work before you're late, you are the sheriff after all, gotta keep up appearances" Stiles smiled agan, pain shooting through his pale skin like a bullet through a sheet.