Morningstar

05

Scott spoke with the twins while Stiles stood at the other end. When Scott joined him, Stiles said, "So then she starts talking about the phosphors and the key having chemicals on it, right? And so that made me think of the chemistry closet and the fact that someone had to let Barrow in... it's gone. Okay, it doesn't matter though. It doesn't matter. I've still got the key." Stiles stuck a hand in his pocket and didn't find anything. "What the hell? I had it. I had it here. I had it here this morning. I swear to God, I had it this morning."

"The key you were talking about last night?" Scott asked.

"Yeah. I showed it to you, right? Didn't I show it to you?"

Scott shook his head. "No, you just told me about it. I never actually saw it."

Stiles started getting more and more agitated and his voice took on a panicked tone. "I was here a couple of hours ago. And the message left to Barrow spelling Kira's name was right there and I had the key to the chemistry closet."

"So you unlocked the chemistry closet so Barrow could hide it from the cops and then you wrote that message to kill Kira?"

Stiles let out a sigh. "I know how it sounds. But look at this. This is the news report that came out about Barrow when they caught him, okay? About the shrapnel bomb that he used. See this? See what he did? He put nuts, bolts, and screws. And then he hid the bomb and the detonator in a box that he wrapped as a birthday present. What does that sound like to you?"

Scott looked at him. "Coach."

Stiles nodded. "The joke we played on Coach. That was my idea. You remember? That was my idea. That's no coincidence. It can't be."

"I don't want to sound like I'm trying to tell you that you're wrong. But I don't think you're trying to kill people either."

Stiles studied the room. "It was here. It was all here."

"You should take it easy. You look exhausted."

He turned away. "I'm fine. I just haven't been sleeping well."

"Take a sick day."

Stiles turned to Scott. "Did you tell him?"

Scott shook his head. "You should get some rest."

Stiles frowned, seeing Luci. "What are you doing here?"

"Whatever's going on with you, you need help. Give me your keys."

"No."

"Stiles, your keys. You shouldn't be driving in your state. Humans are so incredibly fragile."

"You're weird. But fine." He gave her his keys. "Don't crash my Jeep."

"I assure you, Stiles, I'm an excellent driver."

She drove to the hospital and he frowned. "What are we doing here?"

"I told you, you're getting help. A hospital would logically be the best place."

They walked into the hospital and made their way to the front desk and saw Melissa. She looked up. "Stiles? What are you doing here?"

Luci said to Melissa, "Stiles needs to talk to someone. Perhaps you can spare a few minutes?"

Melissa looked at her computer. "Doctor Gardner's not back until next week. Do you want to try waiting at one of the urgent care doctors or... Stiles. Are you all right?"

Luci glanced at him to see that his eyes were widening and his breath was quickening. "I'd recommend you talk to him. Whatever is going on, he needs someone. I'd be a terrible therapist. But you seem competent."