The Care Bear

“You are. You definitely are.” Scott assures the other, giving her a small smile. “They talk about you a lot, and say a lot of good things. You’re family, no doubt about it.” He gives her one final smile before getting into the car.

“I’m glad they do Scott I just wish I felt it.” The teenager spoke softly as she whimpered softly in pain, opening the car to get in. “I like to feel like family, it’s just hard, I am not related to anyone, I just try to feel included but it is hard when disabled Scott. Let’s just go see my dad.” 

“I know the feeling, being scared, I tried making people scared of me, and it backfired straight in my face.” The blonde knew just how much both of them were scared, how they both were able to understand each others pain, and suffering. All their loss, and their gain. “I do. I always see the real you Erica. It’s not fair on you when people don’t. They never will figure out a way. I’m always forever going to be in pain Erica. I’ll never be fixed.” 

“I guess I don’t see our scars as disabilities.” She shrugged and helped be the crutch for Caroline if she needed her. “I mean, people still look at me like I’m going to crumble because my parents died. Just like people are waiting to see if you cringe in pain.” She continued to walk as she was speaking. “I think we’re stronger than people think, but we still have our weak moments.”

“I think mine truly are however, but I do  like that philosophy Elena.” Holding onto her best friend, she winced and stood up straight still holding onto her while they walked into the hospital so Caroline could finally see her step-dad.  “They don’t have to wait long, I am usually cringing in pain. I don’t think I’m that strong Elena, but you, you’re the strongest person I know.” 

“Yeah I think justice was served Erica, I am thankful you have settled down now, I found a good friend out of it all.” Understanding the way Erica felt, the new girl crossed her legs as she looked towards the blonde, her talking about the bite, about the fear. “Of course I see the real you Erica, it probably helps that for majority of my day I am sitting in here with a small amount of food and water cause I can’t get my own and thinking about everything. I think I can understand your side. There are some drugs but pain killers only do so much. There is a fifty fifty surgery on my back, but I don’t trust it. My brain is damaged forever though.” 

“I got you.” Elena stated as she was out of the car and to the passenger side, opening the door and holding her arms out for the other girl to grab onto. “And by the way, it’s what friends do. Sticking by each other. You’d do the same for me. I want you to be healthy and happy, I can’t fix your injuries but I can make you happy despite the pain right? That is all that matters.”

“Thanks.” Speaking gently before gripping onto  her best friends arms, standing up slowly in  front of the hospital where her father was. “Of  course I’d do the same for you ‘Lena, you do  make me happy, you help me forget that I am  permanently injured for the rest of my life. I  may not be healthy but I am happy. Now, I  just need to see my dad, I need to know he is okay.”

“That makes him a douchebag. If I told my dad what I was, I don’t think he’d handle it all too well. I’m afraid for him to find out because then I’ll have no dad.”

“And that’s okay, my father found out, took off my ring that protects me from the sun, and burnt me, torture me and started to allow my body to desiccate, allow your father to know you as Malia. Not a were-coyote.” 

“You don’t need to thank me so much, Care.” Elena chuckled as she pulled into the parking lot. “It’s what friends do. Sneak each other out and give rides. We wouldn’t be completely friends if I didn’t get you into trouble sometimes right?” She teased and found a parking spot, pulling in and shutting off the car. “So are you ready? I can help you out of the car if you need me to.”

“No, Elena, I do need to thank you, you’ve stuck by me through everything, you are my best friend and I do need to thank you. For everything.” Caroline was always honest, even before her accident, she was as honest as it got. Feeling the car come to the  stop, her head nodded as her friend offered to help her out of the car, staying in one upright position to the next was hard for the injured girl. “Yeah, I’m ready, and I wouldn’t mind the help here ‘Lena.” 

“I was his daughter when it was convenient for him. When he wanted me to kill Scott for him, claiming i needed to stop him.”

“That’s what happens with sperm donors Malia, he isn’t a true father, neither is my own biological father. When I was human he thought I was his daughter, I turned and then I was a monster.” 

“That and Caroline Stilinski kind of sounds dumb. Forbes-Stilinski is even worse. But that’s not– That plan? It’s…worth a shot… 

“Yeah it doesn’t suit like Caroline Forbes now does it? I think I can try Stiles but that’s the most I can promise.” 

“Saying things doesn’t always mean anything. Like Peter is my father but you know what? He’s not. I don’t claim him. Mr. Tate is my father.”

“Mr. Tate is your father, he raised you, took you as his own. Peter isn’t your dad, he is just a sperm donor to your mother, not your mom. There is a difference.” 

“I miss him too. He wasn’t perfect but he was my dad and that’s all that matters to me. He loved me and  Jer and that’s the important part.” Elena gave a smile. “I know he will be there, I just don’t want to burden him you know? I just feel bad about it.” She admitted. “He did. He started training more and the muscle just kept popping up. I train and I just stay slim.” She cleared her throat. “About 2 minutes? if this slow person will get out of my way of course. I’m trying to be patient but it’s not too easy.”

“That’s exactly right, he was your father and I  wish for your sake they were both still here Elena,  they loved you so much and I’m sure they still  do.” Caroline nodded as she adjusted herself in  her seat and looked out the window at the passing buildings and lights as her best friend drove.  “He will never see you as a burden ‘Lena, dad  and mom are always happy to see you.” The blonde smiled as soon as she started to see the hospital,  all she wanted was to see her step-dad.  “Thank you for driving me here Elena.” 

“I think you scared a lot of people, you went from weak to strong in a matter of minutes and I accept your apology, however it isn’t needed Erica, but thank you.” The younger blonde thought carefully, and she knew she was still going to stick by her decision to not take the bite from anyone, no matter what kind of bite it is. “You are the real you and that’s the Erica I like.” She chuckled as Erica complained about the Forbes girl being a martyr. “I feel like I have to Erica, I know I could have taken the bite, Scott offered it, Elena offered it, hell the vampire that abused me offered it, but I wasn’t going to become a creature of any kind of night, I like being human, even if that means I have to suffer. Scott said the offer is always there if I really wanted it anyway.” 

“They shaved part of her head. I- I can only think of one reason why they’d do that… It– Really? Do you think that’d actually work?”

“It might Stiles, it’s the only true perk for not completely taking your last name like mom did. I hope they don’t, Lydia doesn’t deserve it at all.”

“I’m not sure that’s really the case…” Scott admits, looking at the floor for a moment before deciding to make their move and lead them off and outside. “They’ll both be glad to see you though.”

“I hope it isn’t, I don’t even know if I’d be considered family just yet.” Caroline sighed gently as she looked up at Scott before moving towards the car. “I do hope so. I just want to be with my family.”

“Will you allow me to sing along?”

“Only if you allow me too.”