43. Riddled

After Isaac and I were done we both were tired so Isaac went to sleep right away, and as I was also about to go to sleep, I remembered that I forgot to check the messages that Melissa had sent. I grabbed my phone from the nightside and opened her contact. After reading her texts I quickly got up and started to get dressed, Isaac also woke up from my movement and asked what had happened, "I just saw texts Melissa had sent me earlier, Stiles was in the hospital. He had been having some panic attacks lately and he has also started sleepwalking again. Melissa gave him a sedative as she said he was sleep deprived but now he's home I'm going check on him." After that, I left my room and went for Stiles. 

I knocked several times but he didn't respond so I opened his door but he wasn't there, though his room was a mess. I called him but his phone went straight to voice mail. I grew worried with every minute, then I called Scott. "Scott, is Stiles with you?" I asked. 

"No, I was just about to call you. I got a very panicked call from Stiles saying he might have sleepwalked and now he doesn't know where he is. He says his leg is stuck in something and is bleeding. I am coming over in a few minutes." 

I felt everything go black as Scott completed but I pulled myself together and said, "Dad's still at the Station, he would send the whole force to find him." 

"No. Please no. Stiles begged me not to tell him Ruth. He cried and literally begged. I promised him I wouldn't. Tell Isaac to get up as I'm going to need his help." 

After that, he ended the call and I ran back to my room while yelling. "Isaac! Get up!" 

"Hey, is everything okay?" 

He asked as he walked out of my room and I told him everything. Scott got to our place within minutes and as we were leaving, his phone rang and it was Stiles. As Scott picked up Stiles asked him if he told Dad and by the sound of his voice I could tell that he was crying for a long time. Scott told him that he just told Isaac and me, as I found his room empty. Then I took the phone from his hand. "Sty, we're coming to find you okay? Now I need you to do something for me, look around and tell me if you can see any object or anything which would help us track your location."

"It's a basement. I don't know some kind of basement. It looks bigger like industrial. I think there's a furnace, but it's cold. It's freezing down here. I gotta turn the... I gotta turn the phone off. It's going to die." 

Stiles said in a shaky voice. Then Scott stopped him and asked him why he was whispering and he told us that he thought someone was there with him and after that, he ended the call. "Sty wait. Please, wait. Don't go." I yelled at the phone. Then the bell rang and hoping it was Stiles I ran towards the door but it was Aiden and Lydia, they came to help find Stiles. 

"What happened? Did he call you too?" 

Scott asked but Lydia shook her head as she came inside and hugged me and told us that she heard him. Then she moved towards Stiles room and Aiden also came inside surprisingly hugging me and reassuring me that Stiles would be alright. Then we all went to Stiles room and everyone was confused as red string from Stiles murder board was tied around the handle of a pair of scissors that were plunged into the center of his bed. "He uses red for unsolved cases." Lydia and I both said together then Aiden said that maybe Stiles thinks he's part of an unsolved case, or was an unsolved case. Then Lydia asked us if he was still out. 

"He said he is in an industrial basement somewhere. We were just going out." 

Scott told Lydia. Then she asked what else Stiles said, "He said something's wrong with his leg. It's bleeding. And he's freezing." I told her as tears streamed down my face. Aiden wrapped his arm around me and reminded us that it was the coldest night of the year. Isaac quickly came to my side and yanked Aiden's arms away from me and replaced it by his own, I glared at him by Lydia chose to ignore this and asked what Dad said about all this and Scott informed her that we hadn't told him yet. 

"You're brother is bleeding and freezing and you didn't call your Dad?" 

She asked me. "He begged us to promise him that we won't call Dad. Scott and Isaac reassured me that they can find him by his scent. And he was sleepwalking he couldn't have gone that far." I said wiping my face. 

"You didn't notice his Jeep is gone, did you?" 

Aiden asked and I quickly rushed to the window and noticed the driveway was empty. 

"Rue's is clearly in no condition to make any decision right now, and you promised you wouldn't call Sheriff. I didn't." 

She said as she took out her phone and dialed Dad's number but then Scott stopped her saying he could get more help, he could call, Derek, Allison. But then Lydia stopped him saying that it was a great idea calling everyone except for the cops. Then Aiden stated a fact that I was trying to ignore ever since Lydia came here, that she only got this feeling when someone's about to die. Scott then said that she didn't have to call Dad as Station was only five minutes from here, then all of us started to move but Lydia didn't and she stopped Aiden as well saying they will catch up later as there was something in his room. Then Isaac said that the only thing there was evidence of insanity. My eyes threw daggers at him, but I knew in my heart that he was not wrong, Stiles really has gone off rails this time. Then Scott said that we would figure out later what's wrong with Stiles once we save him form freezing to death. After that Isaac, Scott and I left the house. 

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As we reached the station I saw Dad talking to one of his deputy and without any warning I launched myself on him. He was startled but when he saw it was me he hugged me back and I started crying. He was very confused but then he saw Isaac and Scott come in and he understood something was wrong. He cupped my face and wiped my cheeks while asking what happened and while crying I explained everything to him. By the time I finished he pulled me in for a tighter hug and I could feel that he was also breathing heavily but then he pulled back, 

"If his Jeep is gone, that's where we start. Parrish, let's get an APB out on a blue 1980 CJ-5 Jeep. Cordova, I want a list of any kind of industrial basement or sub-level of any building that he could've gotten into while sleepwalking. It's the coldest night of the year so far, so if he's out barefoot, in just a T-shirt, he could already be hypothermic. Let's move fast. Sweetie you come with me, and you two also." 

He ordered everyone and Scott, Isaac and I followed him to his office. Then he asked us if there is anything that we needed to tell him that he can't tell anyone else. "Lydia knew he was missing." I told him and then he asked if she could help and Isaac told him that she was working on it, and then Scott told him that he called Derek and Allison for help. Then suddenly Deputy Parrish entered the office and informed Dad that they found the Jeep. 

The Jeep was outside the Beacon hills Memorial Hospital. Dad inspected it and told us that it was dead as Stiles may have left the lights open. "But why would he come here?" I asked. Dad said that we need to find that out. Inside we saw Melissa and she told Dad that security is already sweeping the whole hospital. Then she told Dad to follow her down the basement. As Dad was going down, Isaac told me Derek just got here and he was on the roof, so I went with Scott and Isaac to the roof. 

"I'm sorry kid, but he's not here. Not anymore." 

Derek said hugging me. I hid my face in Derek's chest and started crying again. Derek hugged me tighter and kissed my head. After a while I pulled back but then Isaac pulled me in and told Scott that we will go and inform Dad about this. Scott nodded and then requested us to see if we could find Allison as she was not picking up her phone. Soon Scott also came to the parking lot and three of us again left with Dad.  

As we sat in the car Lydia called me to tell that Stiles was in Eichen House and she was getting there as well. As we got out of the car, Lydia and Aiden were standing outside the gate.

"Lydia, I don't want to say, 'Are you sure about this' but..." 

Dad started but Lydia confirmed that he was here and then we went inside. While other officer took a sweep of the place, Scott, Lydia, Isaac, Aiden and I went with Dad to the reception where Dad asked for the access to all basement rooms. After getting the access Lydia lead us to a room in the basement saying Stiles was right there. "Stiles, are you here?" I yelled as we opened the gate and went inside. We searched the whole room but there was no sign of Stiles, so we all looked at Lydia. 

"I don't get it. This has to be it." 

Lydia said still looking around. 

"Then where is he, huh? Where is he?" 

Dad yelled at Lydia as she flinched. I pulled Dad back, "We are going to find him, Dad." I said trying to calm him down. "Why don't you go out and see if somebody found something, and we'll meet you at parking." Dad nodded and started to go out but as he was on last stair he turned and apologized to Lydia and then went away. After that Lydia came to me saying she was sure he has to be here. "Lydia, stop. Please." After saying that I also walked out and everyone else followed shortly. 

As we were on our way back to the Station Dad got a call form Agent McCall saying he and Melissa found Stiles in the coyote den and now there were talking him to the hospital. After that I called Derek as well so that he could also stop looking. When we arrived at hospital Derek was standing near Stiles Jeep with some tools. "So, you're a mechanic now?" I asked as we approached him. 

"Well, I know a thing or two about cars. Why don't you go see him while I fix it." 

Derek said smiling, I smiled back and then hugged him. Then as we started going inside Aiden insisted on staying with Derek. While other waited in the lobby Dad and I ran inside Stiles room. Doctors told us that he was fine now but have given him sedatives and also if we were even a minute late to bring him he could have been a lot serious. We then went by his side, and I leaned and hugged him while crying a little and soon Dad also joined us and three of us cried. Then Dad asked him if he remembered anything, and he told us that it was all like a dream to him. After that his sedative started to kick in so we left so that he could rest. 

As we went in the lobby everyone stood up after seeing us and asked how Stiles was. Dad explained the whole thing to everyone and then thanked Scott's Dad. But being himself he said that it was the repellent they sprayed in the coyote den to keep other animals out. He couldn't go neat it without his eyes watering. Then Dad again thanked him saying it was more than that, but he still argued with Dad so I removed Isaac's arm from my shoulder and stood in front of him, "Can you shut up please, and accept our sincerest gratitude." He laughed a little and patted my head and then shook hands with Dad. Then Melissa turned to us and reminded us that we had school in less than six hours and we should go and get some rest. I fought to stay at the hospital but Dad didn't agree and told me to go home and then he requested Isaac if he could stay with me as he was going to stay at the hospital all night. It kind of surprised me but as we were going out I turned and looked towards Dad and he just winked at me, to which I smiled and left. 

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At school everything was going as normal as it could have been given how last night was. I was doing anything I could to distract myself from bailing school and going to hospital. Isaac had been a great help at distracting me as anytime I had a thought to go he would stop me by taking me to library or by simply talking to me. 

Currently we were sitting in the library, I was reading Thorn of Glass by Sarah J. Mass, which Isaac had gifted me, after I once mentioned she was one of my favorite author. Isaac was sitting across me doing his Chemistry homework. After school ended, Scott and I directly went to hospital as Stiles had to go through MRI. On the way Scott told me that he had offered Lydia to come with us but she refused and she also behaved kind of differently, I felt bad after hearing that so I decided to apologize for mine and Dad's behavior yesterday. 

As we reached there Melissa took us in the room where Stiles was being prepared for MRI. Dad was already in the room talking to Stiles when we got there. Soon doctor also got there so Dad went to talk to doctor while Scott and I stood with Stiles. Seeing him like that made me want to cry but I controlled my emotions for his sake and put a fake smile on while talking to him. Soon the doctor returned to talk to him. He told Stiles how the MRI worked, he said  that it'll be super loud and offered him some earplugs but Stiles refused. Then Dad reassured him that we would just be on the other side, then he smiled and him, Melissa and doctor walked out of the room and as Scott and I were also going Stiles grabbed our hands stopping us. 

"You both know what they're looking for, right?" 

Stiles asked but I just shook my head as Dad hadn't kept me in loop about Stiles condition. Stiles then again grabbed my hand and made me sit beside him. 

"It's called frontotemporal dementia. Areas of your brain start to shrink. It's what mom had and it's the only form of dementia that can hit teenagers and there's no cure." 

By the time Stiles finished I had tears running down my face. "No. You're joking, like you always joke. This can't be it." I said refusing to believe that I'll loose yet another person close to me to this disease. Stiles tightened the grip of his hand and then started caressing my cheek from the other. Scott then wiped tears from his face and said, 

"Stiles if you have it, we'll do something. I'll do something." 

"No, we'll do something. Together. I can't loose you." I said and then Stiles pulled Scott and me for a tight hug and three of us just cried for some good minutes. Then finally our hug broke when doctor called us out as they needed to started the procedure. Scott and I started walking out but then I once again turned and went and gave Stiles a quick little hug and kissed him on the cheek while assuring him that we'll be with him, no matter what. 

After we came in the observation room Stiles was instructed to lay down in the machine, while doctor gave him rest of the instruction. As the process started Scott told me Derek was here and wanted to talk to us, so we both went to lobby. As we sat down Scott and Derek got emotional and started to talk about how much they both have taught each other about being a werewolf. Then Scott asked him if he was teaching him again and Derek said that it will be more like sharing a few trade secrets. Then he looked at me and told us that he took Cora to South America, where she spent most of her time after fire. After hearing her name a small smile appeared on face as no matter what Cora was a dear friend and the only reason Isaac and I were together. But Derek told us that it was not the only reason he left, he said that he wanted to talk to his mother. "Your dead mother?" I asked shocked. He nodded,

"She told me something that changed my perspective on lot of things. She said that my family didn't just live in Beacon Hills, they protected it. This town needs someone to protect it. Someone like you guys." 

Then Scott nodded and said, 

"And someone like you to teach me, or all of us, a few trade secrets." 

Then three of us smiled but then Scott suddenly stood up and said that Stiles was protecting us. I also stood up, "Scott, what are you talking about? Stiles is protecting from whom?" I asked completely confused. 

"From Himself."

Derek said as he also got up. Then Scott ran towards roof and Derek and I followed him. As we got up there Derek asked what we were looking for. 

"I'm not sure, but I think Stiles wasn't just up here struggling with himself. I think he was struggling to not do something." 

Scott said, as we got near the power grid. Then Scott found a duffle bag stashed away with a lot of tools and wires in it. As Derek and Scott were looking at the bag I noticed a partially-cut electrical wire with sparks still flying from it. Before I could tell Scott and Derek about that, the wire suddenly exploded and the sparks flew everywhere, Derek and Scott pulled me behind them and soon the wires caught fire and one of the wire widely hanging from the edge of the roof, and soon that wire fell of the roof.