Just Breathe

Chapter 12

"Hey how was it?" Emma asked as Stiles and Scott walked out of the police station, heads hung in defeat. Melissa McCall dragged Scott away, Scott sending them a parting glance. Stiles sighed heavily, sticking his hands in his pocket as the two began walking towards his jeep. It had been a day since Emma had woken up in the loft.  As soon as Jackson was back to himself, he had called the police and sure enough, ratted out Scott and Stiles.

"Not good. Jackson now has a restraining order on us. Well not you,  just Scott and I" Stiles informed her with tired eyes. He bit his lip, shaking his head. "You should've seen the way my father looked at me. It's like he-he wished I wasn't his son" Stiles agonized, his voice cracking.

"Hey, I'm sure that's not true. He loves you Stiles" Emma comforted, linking her arm with his. Stiles sighed, shaking his head. "You are doing this to save people. Not to be funny or impress people. To save lives" Emma stopped walking, placing her hands on Stiles' cheeks as she forced him to look her in the eyes. "You're not a disappointment Stiles. You're a hero" she told him, Stiles nodding although he just couldn't believe what she was saying. 

He took her hands away from his face, instead holding them as they continued to walk towards his car. "Have we figured out what we are going to do yet?" Stiles asked, trying to change the subject. Emma shrugged, pursing her lips.

"I'm thinking about a meet and greet at Lydia's birthday party. Everyone is going to be there so I'll just search around until I find our guy. Unless anyone comes up with a better plan" she explained, Stiles sighing in agreement. "I think I'm going to head back to the loft. I'm exhausted" Emma breathed, looking to her car. "Are you going to be okay?" Emma asked, staring at him with worried eyes.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine" Stiles nodded, forcing a convincing smile on his face. No need for her to worry more. "I'll see you at school tomorrow" Stiles kissed her, squeezing her shoulders. "Love you"

"Love you too" she smiled, watching with concern as he got into his jeep, driving away. With that there was nothing left for her here and she got into her car, heading home with a readiness to get into her bed and fall asleep.

+

Emma's door creaked open, her eyes snapping open. She glanced at her clock, the electric red number reading one in the morning. She looked back to the door, watching as a tall frame appeared. Isaac shuffled into the room, standing there awkwardly, like a lost puppy. "Isaac?" Emma groaned her voice scratchy from sleep. Isaac shifted from foot to foot, gnawing his lip. "What's up?" she asked, propping herself up on her elbows.

"I-uh had a nightmare and I was-um- wondering if I could sleep in here" Isaac spoke softly, Emma  recognizing the shyness in his voice. She sighed, sitting up before patting the bed next to her. Isaac smiled, shuffling over before plopping down next to her.

"Give me your hand" Emma held out hers, Isaac staring at it with hesitant eyes. He wasn't really ready for anyone to see his mind. It was an ugly place that even he hated to look at.

"I don't know if thats a good idea-" Isaac began, Emma cutting him off with a sleeping sigh. She knew it was going to happen eventually and if anything Isaac needed someone to share this with. 

"Just do it, please" Emma asked, Isaac nodding in agreement. Isaac put his hands in Emma's, her fingers wrapping around his hand. Emma let out a deep breath as her eyes began to glow green, illuminating the dark room. Emma began to shake as image after image blinded her. 

The memories seemed to shift into nightmares. She saw Isaac trapped in an ice box, screaming and trying to scratch his way out. Not once but multiple times. Almost weekly. She saw Isaac's now deceased father, throwing things at him: glasses, books, rocks. Emma saw years of abuse fly through her vision. Years of pain and loneliness that only lead to insanity. The pain became heavier when his brother passed away in combat. There was a small light in Isaac's mind when he became a werewolf and gained a pack and a family. The light was soon put out when she saw the nightmares and panic attacks that Isaac suffered. 

Emma finally snapped back into reality, her breathing ragged as she slowly calmed down. She left her hands grasping onto his. Isaac watched for her reaction, a pang  in his heart as he watched a tear slip from her eye. Isaac began to tear up too, his lip trembling. "I'm so sorry" Emma whispered, Isaac nodding slowly.

Emma took Isaac in her arms, hugging him tightly. Isaac was taken back at first due to the fact that he hadn't been hugged in years. But soon he hugged back, breaking into tears. He let the years of the abuse and loneliness leave him, Emma's presence helping to remove it. After a few minutes of crying Isaac sat back up with a sniffle. "You can sleep in here" Emma told him, laying back down. Isaac laid down next to her, their backs pressed together. In minutes, Isaac fell asleep. Emma smiled to herself, deciding she would help her pack member get through the nightmares and the panic attacks and return to normal.

+

The alarm clock startled Emma out of her sleep. She sat up, rubbing her eyes with a yawn. She looked over at Isaac who had slept through the alarm. "Isaac" Emma cooed, trying to wake him. He replied with a snore. She shook his shoulders, trying a different approach. "Isaac!" she shouted, his eyes snapping open as he sprung up. He looked around, slightly disoriented. Emma laughed as he looked like a puppy, his hair matted down on one side, extra curly on the other. "How'd you sleep?" Emma asked once he was fully awake.

"Good. No nightmares" Isaac informed Emma with a grin. "Thank you by the way" he smiled at her with an embarrassed blush.

"Any time" Emma smiled back, squeezing his hand. "Now, go get dressed for school" Emma ordered, playfully pushing him off the bed. Isaac groaned before staggering to his feet, stumbling out of the room. Emma got up out of bed, stretching before shuffling towards the kitchen. She shivered, chilled as she wore her pajama tank top and plaid pajama pants. She froze at the doorway, picking up on Stiles' voice. Emma pressed her self against the wall, closing her eyes as she listened in.

"You're telling me that Emma and Isaac slept in the same bed!" Stiles raged, Derek responding with a chuckle. "What the fuck!" Stiles bellowed, not seeing how this was funny. Emma remained quiet, curious as to how this would play out.

"Alright, alright, settle down" Derek soothed, shaking his head. "I'll let you in on something to soothe your nerves" Derek said, Stiles sighing heavily. "Isaac and Emma have a different relationship: motherly almost. Emma gives of a vibe of comfort, something that Isaac needs. Wolves can smell emotions and I smelt no lust or anything. It was just Emma making sure Isaac was okay" Derek finished, Stiles going quiet. "Still mad?" Derek asked.

"No. No, I'm not" he sighed. "Now I'm just jealous" Stiles joked, Emma imagining Derek's sly smile that always occurred when Stiles joked.

"Plus, they would never be a couple. He isn't her mate, like you are" Derek blurted out, a shallow gasp coming from Stiles. Emma took in a breath, shock radiating through her. Mates? She hadn't expected that. But now that she thought about it, she loved Stiles so much and couldn't imagine living without him. It just made sense.

She chose that moment of silence to walk into the room. "Good morning boys" Emma strolled in, moving to the counter as she began to pour herself a of coffee. Derek smirked, Stiles instantly picking up on it.

"You heard all of that, didn't you?" Stiles questioned, Emma winking in response.