What happened next was a bit of a blur for Baby. The burning pain kept him fading in and out of consciousness. He dimly remembered Miss Blake strapping Lydia to a chair and wrapping a thin wire around her neck. Voices. In and out. Miss Blake talking to Lydia about the meaning of a sacrifice. Lydia murmuring weakly. Pleading. Baby couldn't move. Everything hurt.

Then Lydia was screaming. She was screaming and screaming. It echoed so loudly around them that the volume made Baby pass out again. The scream echoing and echoing. Mixing with the chanting and blood in Baby's mind. It hurt. It hurt.

A roar. Baby blinked and could see the form of Scott just as Miss Blake shoved him and sent him flying. The sheriff was there. His blood dripping onto the floor and his breathing heavily. So many sensations. Baby was drowning in them. Pain. Burning pain. He gasped and wheezed. The sheriff fired his gun and the bang echoed in his head. Too much. It was all too much. It hurt. Someone was crying. Was it Lydia? Sobbing. Dry, gasping, wheezing sobs. It was him. He was crying. Lydia whimpering in her chair. He couldn't move. Only twitch at the burning pain. Someone was shouting. The sheriff groaning in pain.

"Healers. Warriors. Guardians. Virgins". There was the crash of a broken window and feet running.

"Dad!" Stiles called. But it was too late. He and the Darach were gone.

Baby gasped for air. Oh god it hurt. "Baby!" Lydia cried. She fell to her knees at his side. Her neck red from the wire. "Oh my god. Baby!"

Scott and Stiles were there. Baby tried to focus on them as he shuddered. He jerked his hand, fingers grasping and Stiles took them in his. His touch grounding and warm as his scent enveloped them. Baby groaned as he felt Stiles pull him up and steady him against his shoulder. "What the hell happened to him?"

"She threw holy water at him", Lydia coughed, her throat obviously sore.

"We need to get him to Deaton. Quick", Scott stated. Baby felt someone pick him up. The movement made him scream and he passed out again.

——

Baby woke to the familiar ceiling of Deaton's clinic above him. Everything aches and stung. Outside, thunder crashed and rumbled. Lighting illuminating the plaster in bright flashes. He groaned and blinked. The room was empty. He was alone. That stung slightly. He was alone as usual. The ache flared as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. One hand moved to steady him and he knocked something over. It clattered loudly on the floor.

The door opened and Deaton entered. He smiled slightly upon seeing that Baby was awake. "Ah, you gave me quite a scare. It was a nasty concoction that she threw at you. But don't worry, the burns will heal soon enough". He pulled out a torch and flicked it on, the bright light blinding Baby for a moment as Deaton approached to check his bandages. "Theres major storm warnings over beacon hills. The power cut out".

"Where's Stiles and Scott?" Baby slurred. There was still a haziness in his mind.

"They're out looking for Stiles' father", Deaton murmured, occupied by checking the wounds. When satisfied, he picked up a familiar slushie cup and offered it over. Baby took it and drank greedily. The blood filling him with more strength. He drained the cup in seconds. Deaton took it.

"Stay", the vet offered. "Spent the night here. I'll check the bandages in the morning".

Baby nodded and curled back up on the steel table. The metal was hard and cold but he really didn't have the strength to move anywhere else in that moment. The bandages rustled as he curled up. Sleep coming like a truck. As chaos rained through beacon hills, Baby dreamed of fire flies and the roots of a tree.

——

The school was as bright and as cheery as ever. Baby lingered in the corridor, watching drowsily as everyone passed by. He couldn't see Scott or Stiles. Where where they? He wished that he had their phone numbers so that he could call them. He really needs to get them.

"Baby!" A voice called. Lydia was pushing through the crowd, Stiles on her heels. She threw her arms around him in a hug, her weight making him stumble back a step. "Oh my god I was so worried. Are you okay?" She pulled back to check on him. Her hands running over the newly healed skin of his face. Baby grinned and winced as she brushed against the still healing burns on his chest.

"Lydia, Stiles. I'm fine. Deaton healed the burns but there's still some bandages I've got to keep on my chest for the rest of the day", he smiled at them then noticed the dark bruises under Stiles' eyes. "What happened?"

"Jennifer Blake took my dad and Scott's mom", Stiles mumbled. "She's going after Chris argent next and we have no idea where they are. And to top it off, Scott went with Deucalion". He sighed, shoulders slumping. He seemed worn, almost defeated. Baby gave into his instincts and untangled Lydia from his person. He walked over and pulled Stiles into a hug.

"Dude", Stiles sniffed. "You're cold and you smell like a hospital".

"Deal with it and let me hug you", Baby muttered. "I don't hug people very often, you should be honoured".

Stiles chuckled and hugged back. His arms wrapping around Baby's waist as he pressed his face into Baby's shoulder. "Hey. We'll find them", Baby soothed. "Don't worry".

There was a buzz of a vibrating phone and the two boys separated. Stiles pulled his phone out and froze, expression going blank. "What?" Lydia asked. Then she took in Stiles' expression. "Oh god. What is it now?"

"It's from Issac", Stiles choked out. "Jennifer, she has Allison's father, she took him". His breathing was speeding up. Baby could hear it. "She's got all three now". Stiles' hand was shaking as he slipped his phone back into his pocket.

"There's still time", Lydia stated. "There's still time right?"

"Stiles?" Baby reached out cautiously as Stiles began to tremble. "Stiles, what's wrong?"

Stiles took a shuddering breath. "I think I'm having a panic attack". Baby caught Stiles by the shoulders and half supported him, half led him down the corridor in into the lacrosse locker room. He pushed Stiles into a seating position on the floor. Lydia practically panicking herself behind them.

"Try and think of happy things", she suggested. "Good things. Anything else". It was obvious that she had never dealt with a panic attack before.

"Shhh", Baby waved her back. "Stop talking for a sec and give him room". She obediently scooted back as Baby knelt at Stiles' side. The dark haired boy was shaking and panting now. Breath coming in short sharp bursts as his heart rate increased.

He took Stiles' head in his hands and guided it to rest between his knees. "Stiles", he spoke in a slow calm voice. "Stiles listen to me, focus on me and my voice okay? Can you do that? Just nod if you can". Stiles gave a jerky nod. "Okay". Baby ran his fingers through his hair softly. "Does this position help your breathing?" Stiles nodded. "Good. Are you still feeling out of control?" Another nod. Baby paused and listened to Stiles' breathing and heartbeat. Both had slowed but not as much as he liked.

"Stiles", he spoke softly. "I am going to try something to calm you down. Is that okay?" Stiles nodded shakily. "Okay". Baby raised Stiles' head back up so that he was looking at him. Dark eyes meeting silver. "Just look at me okay. Look at me". He brushed Stiles' cheekbones with his thumbs to make sure that Stiles' attention was fully on him. Then he lent in.

Baby kissed Stiles gently, careful of his fangs. Stiles was half frozen under his hands. His pulse slowing down as Baby's lips moved against his. The russet haired boy kissing with a demanding, all-consuming intensity that it drew Stiles in. The dark haired boy was kissing back before he even realised what was happening. A slow dance of lips until his heartbeat returned to it's regular rhythm and Baby pulled away. Stiles left staring in shock as the other boy blinked open his eyes. The irises back to brown.

"Sorry", Baby murmured. "But holding your breath helps panic attacks. I used to get them a lot during my fledgling years and often a shock or holding my breath helps. I thought that would have the combined factor of both and it seems to have worked". He grinned, fangs hidden again. "Your heart has slowed back to normal". Stiles just blinked at him.

"Good job", Lydia remarked with a gleeful smile. "Just the type of effect I'd go for". Baby smiled bashfully at her.

Stiles inhaled and coughed, eyes still wet with tears. "Thanks. That uh, really helped".

"It's cool", Baby smiled, a slight blush to his cheeks. "Though if you want another kiss from me, you'll have to take me on a date". Stiles chuckled.

"We'll see about that".

"Maybe you should see the guidance counsellor", Lydia voiced. "Just in case this happens again".

"If this happens again then you can hold your breath yourself", Baby warned. "The kissing only has the use of surprise a few times before it doesn't work".

Stiles snorted then his eyes lit up. "Wait. Morell. The guidance counsellor. We need to get to her office". He was pushing himself to his feet. Lydia and Baby following him.

Unedited

Yay they finally kissed.