it's my only defense

Stiles wakes up to Derek pulling him into his lap; arms protectively wrapping around him while softly hushing him. His throat is sore, he’s sucking for air, but he’s not screaming anymore. His heart is racing, the terror still aching heavily in his chest, and he’s clutching the arms holding him on pure instinct.

"You’re awake," Derek tells him, his hot breath curling over the back of Stiles’ neck. "You’re okay. You’re awake."

It takes a moment of further reassuring before Stiles remembers how to breathe again. He goes limp in Derek’s arms and probably would’ve fallen to the floor if it hadn’t been for Derek firmly keeping him in place. Stiles whimpers, wondering if his dad will come running, but figures he would’ve done it already if not thinking Derek could handle it.

"This was a bad idea," Derek sighs into his hair. "I’m not helping."

"You are," Stiles pants out, chest still heaving and fingers still digging into Derek’s arm. He hadn’t been screaming as much this time, and despite the nightmare he has a feeling it’d be twice as horrible if Derek hadn’t been there. "Please, just— Don’t leave."

His plea is barely a whisper, but he knows Derek heard it when he nuzzles his neck and tightens his arms around him.

{Allison frowned feeling as the tears were streaming down her cheek. She didn’t know how it happened. She didn’t know anything. The girl was still in shock. She stopped herself uncertainly, looking at the arrow in her hands. Stilinski without any problem could see the blood on it.}

“I just … I think that Lydia … Something happened in the woods … Stiles,-I …”

{She broke off still staring at the blood.}