Till I See You Again

PART FOUR

Derek's POV:

I looked up and into Stiles's eyes, his brown eyes that were filled with pain and desperation. "D-Derek, please don't leave me." Stiles sobbed as he pressed his hands against my chest, blood soaking his hands.

"It's going to be okay, Stiles." Stiles shook his head as I gasped for air, no one ever wants to die but I also knew if it meant that I had saved Stiles's life then it was worth it. Stiles had already lost his Mom, I knew if he lost me, he would crack but no matter how hard I tried, I knew I wasn't going to survive, in the end.

"N-No, it's not. It's not." I clung to Stiles as I could feel blood pouring out of the wound that was refusing to heal. "I-I can't live without you, okay? So, you need to stay awake. I-If you love me, you won't die." I could feel Stiles's fingers tighten around the wound but it didn't matter. Blood continued to pour out but I didn't feel anything, no pain, no sadness, nothing, only numbness.

"Stiles, just look at me." I looked in his eyes."Promise me-Promise me, you won't blame yourself." The numbness had been replaced with a feeling of peace. I felt like I was at home, I was in the arms of the only person I had ever truly loved. "It doesn't hurt." I mumbled.

He looked at me through his blurred eyes. "What?"

"I-It doesn't hurt." I repeated back to him as I could feel my eyelids tugging down, against my own will.

"Derek!" I fluttered my eyes open for a slight second to see Stiles sobbing as he held me close to him. "I mean it, Derek, stay awake, okay? Keep your eyes awake, you're going to be okay. I promise!" but despite Stiles's protest, they closed, my mind filling with images, like a slideshow of my life. From the first time Stiles and I had met to just before now, when we were laughing and smiling as we talked about our future together. There was no doubt in my mind that I was going to die, there was no room for new memories, no room for things I would never get the chance to experience.

I whispered as I grabbed his hand. "S-Stiles, shhhh, it's okay. I-I promise, it's okay." The last word had set my mind to ease, peaceful and with no way to fight back, I was too weak, too broken and too damaged. I continued to lie on the ground, unable to open my eyes, unable to call for help, to beg for mercy, to plead for one last chance that I had so desperately wanted.

The thought of future kids that Stiles and I wanted, and the promise of happiness and love, of everything I had dreamed of, had suddenly stopped. Open your eyes, Derek, I thought to myself as I used whatever strength was left in my body to open my eyes, only to be met with Stiles's eyes. I gave him a weak smile as his mouth opened slightly as if it had just stopped moving as I realized that everything I ever wanted was sitting right in front of me, Stiles was my perfect future. Stiles was a way to keep me hopeful.

"Shut up, Derek!" Tears escaped my eyes as the sound of Stiles's sobs replaced the silence, I couldn't do anything, not even force a smile because all I could think about was how alone I was about to leave Stiles. Deep down, I didn't know how Stiles would come out of this or if he did at all, but I hoped he did.

"Stiles, don't blame yourself." I looked up at him as I had really hoped he would be okay, so much so I had almost started to believe it, but even when there is no danger, no one could be so naïve. Not when images of death and blood swam through my head.