For You (There's Nothing I Wouldn't Do)

In The Dark

"I will fight your fight

I will hold you tight

And I won't let go."

-Rascal Flatts, "I Won't Let Go"

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"What are you going to do, Lydia?"

Alison had asked her that, eyes wide and misted over with unshed tears. In that dim hospital room with the monitors that slowly beeped and the chairs designed for long vigils, her best friend had met her gaze, clearly about to splinter into a million pieces. It was one thing to be hurt yourself in a fight.

It was another to watch someone you cared about go down. For Alison, seeing Isaac being injured so critically had almost done in her already fragile mental state. And for the strawberry blonde girl that considered herself a member of the pack, there was only one thing that could've made this already awful situation even worse.

Stiles-her sarcastic, caring, adoring Stiles had wrapped one hand around the werewolf's neck and nearly snapped it in half before Scott had gotten the situation in hand. Stiles had fled; the twins in hot pursuit. Isaac had been rushed to the hospital and as Lydia let her eyes glance around the room, she could see most of the pack was here as well. Scott-so old, so burdened; when had he been forced to grow up so quickly?-in the corner, eyes trained on the floor. Kira, by his side, rubbing comforting circles on his back. Derek leaning against the wall, arms folded across his chest, gaze dark and deadly and Mrs. McCall, fluttering in and out whenever she could, desperately wanting to do something.

"Lydia?" Alison's grip had been tight around her hand, almost painful and Lydia knew why. She was afraid to lose someone else she cared about. In their already messed up world with creatures that went bump in the night, they had come to rely upon each other.

They were a family-a messed up, crazy, happy family.

"It's okay," Her voice had come out a whisper, but it did the trick. The soothing tone gave Alison enough comfort to get her to release her friend's hand. Lydia kneeled down to meet the hunter's frightened eyes. "Alison, I promise that it will be okay." She had grinned and she watched with relief as some of the tension left her friend's frame.

"Lydia?" Alison started, clarity suddenly alighting her eyes. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to bring him back."

She didn't have very many memories of third grade.

She hadn't had many friends back then. She'd been the smart one-able to do 5th grade math and read at a 6th grade level-but her mother had her held back in the hopes of preventing her daughter from being a social outcast. Anyways, what Lydia remembered vividly was the day someone stole her Hello Kitty stuffed animal. In hindsight, it probably had been a blessing in disguise as she had grown too attached to it, but at the time, it was the end of the world for the young girl. The teacher checked the lost and found, but to no avail. Placing a hand on the little girl's shoulder, she tried to console her.

"I'm sorry, sweetie. These things happen."

The next day at school, Stiles appeared at her desk and silently handed her new a stuffed animal, the exact same kind as her old one.

"I-I h-heard yours was lost." He mumbled by way of explanation.

"Thank you."

That was the first time Stiles had ever grinned at her.