Panic Room • Stiles Stilinski [1]

[11] Formality

"Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us."

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Stiles drives Isabel round to the McCall house the next morning, and the two find Scott frantically searching around his room. He tells the two that he lost his phone and Stiles helps search as Isabel rings Scott's number. No ringtone can be heard in the house, and Scott lets out a frustrated groan.

"Call it again." He demands.

"It's not here." Isabel sighs, before taking a seat. Scott shakes his head but remains silent. Stiles huffs.

"Okay, so you lost your phone. Why don't you just get a new one?" Stiles shrugs before taking a seat next to Isabel.

"I can't afford a new one. And I can't do this alone. We have to find Derek." Scott explains frantically before continuing to rush around the room, pulling things off of his shelves to look behind them.

"Well, "A", you're not alone. You have us. And "B", didn't you say Derek walked into gunfire? He sounds pretty dead." Stiles concluded as Isabel gives a sad look at his words.

"Argent's plan was to use him to get to the Alpha - they're not gonna kill him." Scott determines, and Stiles rolls his eyes.

"All right, so then just let them do what they're planning, you know? They use Derek to get Peter - problem solved."

"Not if Peter's going after Allison to find Derek! I can't protect her on my own. Which means we either find Derek first - just - just help me!" Scott begs, and Isabel stands to help him search around the room. Stiles doesn't move.

"You know, you probably lost it when you two were fighting. You remember that when he was trying to kill you after you interrupted him trying to kill Jackson? Are you starting to see a pattern of violent behavior here?" Stiles exclaims. Scott turns to Stiles frustrated.

"He wasn't going to kill anyone. And I'm not letting him die." Scott reasons, his decision final.

"Could you at least think about letting him die? For me?" Isabel turns and throws one of Scott's shoes at Stiles. "What?!" Scott shushes the two.

"My mom just got home from work."

"Is she okay? What's she doing?" Isabel asks, moving closer to Scott. Scott closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

"Crying." He answers, sadly. Isabel gives him a sympathetic look, placing a comforting hand on his arm.

"Scott, you can't protect everyone." Stiles speaks quietly. Scott shakes his head looking between the two.

"I have to."

♰ ♰ ♰

Allison and Isabel stand at her locker, and both jump as a sweaty Jackson pops up beside them. Allison gives a small laugh as Isabel looks at him in shock.