Sawyer's outfit:

+ Lacrosse Uniform

▪︎ 🖤 🏳️‍🌈🕯▪︎

Chapter Twenty-Three
🦎 Battlefield 🦎

"Your brother told me some things about drowning earlier." Ms. Morrell said as Sawyer and Anakin sat in front of her in her office at the school. "Let me guess, he talked about how you won't open your mouth until you feel like your head is about to explode. And when you finally do, it stops hurting. It's no longer scary, it's peaceful." Sawyer said.

"Do you hope Matt felt some peace in his last moments?" Morrell asked, making Sawyer raise her eyebrows, "He held a gun to my head, tried to suffocate my brother and knocked my dad out. I hope his last moments were painful. And if it was, I don't feel sorry for him." Sawyer said.

"Can you feel sorry for the nine-year-old Matt who drowned?" Morrell asked and Sawyer scoffed lightly and shook her head, "What happened to him was traumatic but that doesn't really give him the right to go off killing them one by one in more traumatic ways." Sawyer said as she mindlessly kept adjusting and re-adjusting the length of Anakin's leash before looking up at Morrell.

"Also, my dad told me that they found a bunch of pictures of Allison on Matt's computer. And not just of her, though. I mean, he literally photoshopped himself into these pictures- stuff like them holding hands, and kissing... You know, like, he had built this whole fake relationship. So, yeah, sure, drowning when he was nine years old was what sent him off the rails, but the dude was clinically insane." She said and Morrell smiled slightly.

"Your brother told me that one positive thing came out of this, though... Right?" Morrell asked and Sawyer sighed and nodded, 'Yeah... Yeah, our dad got his job back..." Sawyer said before shaking her head slightly. "But I still feel like there's something wrong between us. I don't know. It's just, like, tension when we talk. It's the same thing with Scott." Sawyer said and Morrell raised her eyebrows.

"Have you talked to him since that night?" Morrell asked and Sawyer shook her head slightly, "No, not really. I guess the only person I've really been talking to is my brother. But, Scott's got his own problems to deal with. I don't think he's talked to Allison, either... But that might be more her choice, you know? Her mom's death hit her hard. But, I guess it brought her and her dad closer so that's something." Sawyer said.

"And Jackson?" Morrell asked and Sawyer shrugged slightly, "Jackson hasn't really been himself lately... Actually, it's kind of funny, as of right now, Lydia is the one who seems the most normal... My brother, he's- well he's just been a bit more mellowed out, not as hyperactive like normal, but I mean- who would be?" Sawyer said and Morrell raised her eyebrows slightly.

"And what about you, Sawyer? Feeling some anxiety about that championship game tomorrow?" Morrell asked, making Sawyer look up at her with raised eyebrows. "Why would you ask me that?" She asked before glancing down at her bouncing leg that Anakin had his head on, "Oh." She mumbled as she stopped bouncing her leg.

"Uh- I mean, yes and no. I- I don't actually make any goals, ironically I play sports because they distract me from any panic attacks but the crowd gives me anxiety... I- I mainly just pass the ball. But since one of my teammates is dead, and another one's missing, who knows what I'll have to do." Sawyer said and Morrell nodded slightly, "You mean, Isaac- one of the three runaways. You haven't heard from any of them, have you?" Morrell asked and Sawyer was quiet for a moment.

"I haven't actually talked or seen any of them, especially Erica since-" Sawyer started to say before cutting herself off as she shook her head, "Wh- Why am I even here? I have an actual therapist that I've been going to since I was a kid." Sawyer said and Morrell looked at her in amusement.

"Well, unlike actual therapy sessions, this is free." Morrell said, making Sawyer nod slightly before squinting at the councilor. "How come you're not taking any notes on this?" Sawyer asked, "I do my notes after the session." Morrell said, making Sawyer hum slightly and raise her eyebrows.

"Your memory's that good?" She asked and Morrell smiled at her, "How about we get back to you." Morrell said and Sawyer just glanced down as she petted the top of Anakin's head. "Sawyer?" Morrell said and Sawyer shrugged slightly, "I'm fine." She said and nodded to herself.

"Well, aside from my new found insomnia, the borderline PTSD, the anxiety that comes with the constant feeling that sooner or later everything bad that could possibly happen, will happen." Sawyer said and Morrell nodded.

"It's called 'hypervigilance'. The persistent feeling of being under threat." Morrell said and Sawyer shook her head slightly, "It's more than that, though... It's like it's a panic attack all day long. Like I can't even breathe." Sawyer said. "Like you're drowning?" Morrell asked and Sawyer chuckled slightly, "Funny enough that's how I used to describe panic attacks, it feels like you're drowning, that you can't breathe and you know you can't." Sawyer said.

"So, if you're drowning, and you're trying to keep your mouth closed until that very last moment... What if you choose to not open your mouth? To not let the water in?" Morrell asked and Sawyer shrugged and shook her head, "You do anyway. It's a reflex." She said.

"But, if you hold off until that reflex kicks in, you have more time, right?" Morrell asked, and Sawyer shrugged, "Well yeah, bit it's not much time." She said. "But more time to fight your way to the surface?" Morrell asked and Sawyer sighed softly, "I guess..." She said.

"More time to be rescued?" Morrell asked and Sawyer raised her eyebrows, "More time to be in agonizing pain. I mean, didn't Stiles and I both talk about the part where you feel like your head's exploding?" Sawyer asked. "If it's about survival, isn't a little agony worth it?" Morrell asked and Sawyer shook her head, "Not if it just gets worse. What if it's agony now, and then- and it's just hell later on?" Sawyer asked.

"Then think about something Winston Churchill once said... 'If you're going through hell, keep going'." Morrell said and Sawyer stared at her for a moment before looking down at Anakin.

🦎

Melissa awkwardly walked into the boy's locker room before sighing in relief slightly when she saw Sawyer leaning against some lockers next to Anakin. Sawyer looked up and smiled at Melissa as the woman walked over to her with raised eyebrows.

"You don't change in here, do you?" Melissa asked, glancing down at Sawyer's lacrosse uniform, "I change in the girl's locker room and then hang out in here, for some reason they guys take forever to change. And Coach doesn't mind me hanging out in here since I'm gay." Sawyer said and Melissa hummed and nodded slightly.

"Good morning." Coach said into a megaphone, making them look over at him, "In less than an hour, aircraft from here will be joining others from around the world... and you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind." Coach said, making Melissa furrow her brows and glance around in confusion.

"What?"

"Mankind- that word should have new meaning for all of us today." Coach said and Melissa leaned towards Sawyer as Stiles walied over to stand next to them, "What the hell is he talking about?" She asked. "He does this every year." Sawyer said with a slight shrug, "Seriously?" Melissa asked and the twins sighed and nodded.

"Yeah..." They both said before looking back over at Coach, "We are fighting for our right to live!" Coach said, making a bunch of guys cheer. "Wait, is this..." Melissa trailed off slightly while the twins nodded, "Yeah. It's the speech in Independence Day." Stiles said.

"But, as the day the world declared in one voice." Coach said, as Sawyer looked at Melissa, "It's Coach's favorite movie." She said. "We will not go quietly into the night!" Coach said, "He doesn't know any sports speeches?" Melissa asked and the twins shook their heads, "I don't think he cares." They both said.

"Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!" Coach said, making most of the team cheer while Sawyer chuckled until Gerard walked up behind Coach. Melissa took a deep breath as well as a step back, making Sawyer comfortingly rest her hand on Melissa's shoulder, knowing about the whole Kanima choking thing Gerard did to her.

"Well spoken, Coach. I might have chosen something with a little more historical value, but there's no denying your passion. And, while I haven't been here long, there's no denying my pride in having a winning team for this school. I know you'll all be brilliant tonight, even with only one co-captain leading you." Gerard said, making Scott's eyes widen.

"Now, I'm your principal, but I'm also a fan... So, don't think I'll be content to watch you merely beat this team. Get out there and murder them." Gerard said, making Sawyer and Stiles glance at each other fearfully.

"You heard the man! Asses on the field!" Coach yelled, making a bunch of guys cheer before grabbing their stuff and walking out the locker room. "Coach, are you benching me?" Scott asked and Coach looked away from him slightly, "It's not my decision." He said.

"But I have to play." Scott said and Coach looked at him, "McCall, you're failing three classes. Academics come first." He said in a tone that sounded like he clearly didn't agree with it. "Coach, you don't get it- you have to let me play." Scott said and Coach sighed, "McCall, no. Not tonight. Tonight, you're on the bench."

🦎

"Your dad coming?" Scott asked as he, Stiles and Sawyer sat on the bench, "Yeah, he's already here." Stiles said, glancing back at where Stilinski sat on the bleachers with Melissa and Anakin. "You seen Allison?" Scott asked and Sawyer shook her head, "No. You seen Lydia?" She asked.

"Not yet." Scott said, "You know what's going on?" Stiles asked and Scott sighed.
"Not yet." He said and Sawyer raised her eyebrows and took a deep breath, "It's gonna be bad, isn't it? Like, people screaming, running for their lives, blood, killing, maiming-kind of bad?" Sawyer asked and Scott was quiet for a moment as he looked at them.

"Looks like it." Scott said and Stiles sighed, "Scott... The other night, seeing Matt hold a gun to my sister's hand and watching my dad get hit over the head by Matt, you know, while I'm just lying there and I can't even move, it's just... I want to help, you know? But I can't do the things that you can do. I can't..." Stiles said, making Sawyer grab his shoulder while Scott turned to him.

"It's okay." Scott said and Sawyer sighed and shook her head slightly, "We're losing, dude." She said before Coach walked up to them. "The hell are you talking about??? The game hasn't even started! Now, put your helmet on and get out there. You're in for Greenberg." Coach said, looking for Stiles, making their eyes widen.

"What? What happened to Greenberg?" Stiles asked and Coach scoffed, "What happened to Greenberg? He sucks! You suck slightly less." Coach said and Stiles looked at Scott and Sawyer in shock. "I'm playing??? On the field??? With the team???" Stiles asked, as Sawyer smiled and excitedly shook his arm.

"Yes, unless you'd rather play with yourself." Coach said and Stiles shook his head slightly, "I already did that today- twice." Stiles said, making Sawyer cringe. "Gross." She said, "Get the hell out there!" Coach yelled, making the twins quickly grab their gear and run off to the field while Sawyer laughed in excitement.

"Oh, no... Why is my son running out to the field with my daughter?" Stilinski asked as he watched his kids run over to their positions, "Because he's on the team with her?" Melissa said and realization started to cross over Stilinski's features.

"He is..." He said and Melissa hummed and nodded, "He's on the team with her... He's- he's on the field..." He said as he started to stand up. "My kids are on the field!" He yelled excitedly, making people look at him weird, hell even Anakin was kinda looking at him weird.

"Oh, dear God..." Stiles mumbled to himself while Sawyer glanced around at the crowd before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

"Scott, can you hear me?" Scott heard Gerard say, making his smile fall as he slowly looked up. "Ah, you can. Good. Then listen closely, because the game is about to get interesting... Let's put a real clock on this game, Scott. I'll give you until the last thirty seconds. When that scoreboard clock begins counting down from thirty, if you haven't given me Derek, then Jackson is gonna kill someone. So, you tell me, Scott- who's gonna die tonight?

"Should it be your mother, who so bravely came out to support you? Or the Sheriff, your best friends' father? Or, how about the pretty little redhead who managed to survive the bite of an Alpha?" Gerard asked as Lydia awkwardly walked up the bleachers and sat down next to Stilinski and Melissa, smiling when Anakin instantly moved over to her, making her pet him since he wasn't in his service dog vest.

"Or maybe one of these innocent teenagers with their whole lives ahead of them?" Gerard said as Sawyer glanced at the crowd again before noticing Lydia, making her eyes widen. "Okay, okay... You got this. You got this, Sawyer. You've played games in front of her before..." Sawyer mumbled to herself as she took a deep breath.

"Or should I do everyone a favor and kill that ridiculous coach? It's up to you, Scott. But, you are going to help me take Derek down... because if you don't, I'll have Jackson rip someone's head off right in the middle of the field and drench everyone you love and care about in blood." Gerard said before the referee blew the whistle.

Jackson and the other team's player fought for the ball for a moment and the ball got tossed around before Stiles managed to catch it. But he spent too long being at awe, before an opposing player tackled him, making Sawyer sigh and facepalm. "He's probably just warming up." Melissa said and Lydia nodded in agreement.

As the team got back into position, Stiles managed to accidentally hit Sawyer with his stick making her smack the back of his helmet. The two twins started to slightly argue with each other as they both got back into position, making their father sigh. "They've never actually played a game together..." Lydia said, making the parents nod slightly.

A little while later, the ball landed near Stiles, making him run over to it. "Oooh! I got it, I got it, I got it, I got it. I got it, I got it." He said as he struggled to pick up the ball before getting tackled by two players.

"Oh, he's just a little nervous. Plenty of time to turn it around." Lydia said as the parents both brought their hands to their faces while cringing. A minute later, Sawyer caught the ball before running off, "Stiles!" She called out making her brother look at her before she tossed the ball to him.

But instead of catching it, the ball just hit him in the face, it was a good thing that he had a helmet on. Sawyer dropped her stick as she put her head in her hands, "Why did I even pass to him?" She mumbled to herself as she shook her head slightly.

Scott stood up and was about to run out to the field but Coach quickly grabbed his shoulder and pushed him down. "Sit down, McCall." He said, "But Coach, we're dying out there!" Scott said, making Coach look at him. "Oh, I'm aware of that! Now sit." Coach said before walking away making Scott sigh.

A second later, Isaac walked over, dressed in his Lacrosse gear, before sitting down next to Scott. "You came to help." Scott said and Isaac smirked, "I came to win." He said before they looked over at Gerard as he looked at them before his eyes widened slightly when he saw that Isaac's joined.

"You got a plan yet?" Isaac asked and Scott shook his head, "No... Right now, it's pretty much just keep Jackson from killing anyone." He said. "Well, that might be easier if you're actually in the game. We have to make it so Coach has no choice but to play you." Isaac said, "How do we do that? He's got a bench full of guys he can use before he ever puts me on the field." Scott said as they glanced at the guys on the other bench before Scott looked back at Isaac.

"Can you do it without putting anyone in the hospital?" Scott asked and Isaac shrugged slightly, "I can try." He said before putting on his helmet and running out to the field.

Isaac paused slightly as he walked past Jackson to take his position and Jackson turned an icy gaze on him. Isaac just smirked at him, eliciting a curious look from Jackson. The whistle blows and the ball drops. In the crash of players, Isaac knocks into a fellow Beacon Hills teammate and sends him crashing to the dirt.

"Lahey!" Coach yelled as the crowd groaned, "Ramirez! You're in." Coach yelled and a player from the bench quickly ran out to the field while the injured teammate was helped past Scott. "Isaac!" Sawyer called out, making him look at her as she pointed at him with her stick, "You tackle me and I'll smack the shit out of you!" She said and he just chuckled and shook his head slightly.

With another whistle blow and another brutal crash, a second teammate comes rolling toward Coach's feet. "Murphy. You're in." Coach said and another player ran out to the field. Another whistle blew and Isaac knocked two more players down making the crowd groan. "Lahey, what the hell's your problem!" Isaac glances back at Coach and holds his hands up in apology.

A couple minutes later bodies crash into each other and among several downed players, Isaac also hits the ground. Standing to his feet, Jackson pulled off his helmet, his lips pulled together in a devious smile before Scott ran over to Isaac.

"It's not broken. But I can't move it. I think Jackson nicked me. I can feel it spreading." Isaac said as a couple EMTs ran over and Scott glanced over at Gerard.

"You want to play chess, Scott? Then you better be willing to sacrifice your own pawns."

"One, two, three..." One of the EMTs said before they lifted Isaac up onto a stretcher as Coach ran over. "McCall... Either you're in, or we forfeit." Coach said, smacking a helmet against Scott's chest before holding out a stick, making Scott grab it. Coach walked away while Melissa ran over to Scott.

"Hey, something's happening, isn't it? Something more than a lacrosse game?" Melissa asked, making Scott look at her, "You should go." Scott said and Melissa shook her head. "Oh, I'm not going anywhere. And everything I said before? Forget it. All of it. Okay? If you can do something to help, then you do it. You have to." Melissa said and Scott nodded, "I will."

A little while later, Scott ran down the field with the ball in his stick before an opposing player ran at him pushing him to the ground. A moment later, Stiles managed to get the ball and an opposing player immediately pushed him down.

"Don't you know what you're really bargaining for, Scott?" Gerard said, making Scott glance around only to find Gerard nowhere in sight, "Haven't you guessed what the real offer on the table is? It's Allison. It's always been Allison. You give me Derek, and I'll let you have Allison." Gerard said and Scott glanced at the scoreboard before getting up.

A little while later, Sawyer stood off to the side before the ball rolled up to her while all the players were glancing around for it. She quickly picked it up before looking over at her brother to see that he had a clear shot to the goal. Sawyer smiled slightly before she quickly took off running, "Stiles!" She yelled, making him look at her before she tossed the ball at him and he caught it.

"Go, go!" She yelled, making Stiles quickly start running for the goal, glancing back to see all the players running towards him. Sawyer stopped and laughed, watching Stiles scream in panic as he ran towards the goal. He got a good length away from the goal before stopping and glancing back.

"Stiles!" Sawyer yelled, making Stiles' eyes widen slightly before he quickly turned around, launching the ball into the goal. "Yes!" Sawyer yelled excitedly as she ran over to her brother, "I scored a goal!" Stiles yelled as he wrapped his arms around his sister, making her laugh.

After that, both twins seemed to have gotten a new found confidence as play after play, Sawyer would pass Stiles the ball and he would score until the game was tied.

A moment later, Sawyer glanced around for the ball until she heard her brother call her name, making her look at him. And this time, it was him passing her the ball as she had an open shot. Sawyer's eyes widened slightly before she quickly ran towards the goal, all the players running after her.

People on the bleachers stood up in anticipation, including Lydia, as Sawyer froze for a moment in front of the goal. She breathed heavily, anxiety coursing through her from not only everyone watching her but also knowing this would be the shot to break the score.

"Sawyer! Shoot it!" She heard Lydia yell, making Sawyer's eyes widen slightly before she quickly shot the ball into the goal. She froze slightly in shock as the crowd cheered and her teammates ran over to her. "You made your first goal!" Stiles said in excitement as he grabbed his sister's shoulders and shook her shoulders while teammates patted her back and jumped around.

Sawyer laughed, still slightly stunned as people in the crowd, teammates and Coach cheered, even Anakin seemed excited. The excited smile seemed to never leave Sawyer's face as she looked out at the crowd. Her eyes connected with Lydia's, as she looked at Sawyer with a soft, proud smile while clapping, which only seemed to make Sawyer smile more.

Scott ran out onto the field, glancing around as everyone still cheered, before noticing Jackson, who was looking at him with a dark look. The ref blew his whistle as the scoreboard buzzer went off, making everyone cheer louder. "We did it! We won!" Coach yelled as Stiles grabbed Sawyer's shoulder in excitement. "Your first goal was the winning shot!" He yelled, making her look at him with wide eyes as she laughed.

She pulled away from the team to calm her breathing and looked out at the crowd to see Lydia looking at her again with a smile making her smile back. But seconds later Sawyer's smile slowly faced as her vision started to change and her eyes clouded over.

She was no longer seeing the lacrosse field and the crowd of people, now she was seeing flashes of her in some basement. Boyd and Erica with their hands tied above them, yelling something through duct taped covered mouths as she goes to untie them only to get shocked.

Right as Sawyer's vision went back to normal she only saw a glimpse of the happy crowd before all of the sudden, all the lights around the field turned off, making people scream.

"Scott! Scott, where are you? Scott!" Melissa yelled as everyone ran around, some people tripping on the grass, some even falling down the bleachers. "Mom! Mom, Mom, Mom, are you okay?" Scott said as he grabbed Melissa's arm, "Yeah, I'm fine, but somebody is hurt. Somebody is down on the field." Melissa said before all the lights started to turn back on.

Looking around people start to notice a body laying in the middle of the field making everyone run over to see Jackson's body lying there almost lifeless. Scott, Isaac, Stiles pushed past people as Lydia hurtles past, pushing aside lacrosse players twice her size. "Jackson? What's happened to Jackson? Jackson! Jackson! Jackson, what's happening?" Lydia panicked.

"Can we get a medic over here? We're gonna need a medic!" Coach yelled and Melissa pushed past people and instantly dropped down next to Jackson. "He's not breathing. No pulse." Melissa said, making Lydia let out a small whimper as tears clouded her eyes.

"Nothing?"

"Nothing."

"Oh, my God. There's blood. There's blood!" Lydia cried and Scott tapped Isaac and Stiles' arms. "Look." He said making them follow Scott's eyes to see blood on the tips of Jackson's fingers, perfectly matching the puncture wounds. "He did it to himself?" Isaac said in a questioning tone as the three of them looked at each other.

Sirens rising in the distance, Melissa begins CPR chest compressions before glancing up at Lydia. "Get down here. Get down here and hold his head. Tilt it up." Lydia nods and gently puts her hands under Jackson's head. His mouth lies open, still not breathing as Melissa tries to get his heart started.

A few feet away, Stilinski with Anakin by his side turned away from the scene, glancing through the crowd. "Sawyer! Where's Sawyer?!" Stilinski asked, instantly catching Stiles's attention, making him spin around to look at his dad with wide eyes, "Where- Where's my daughter? Where's Sawyer?"

Stiles fearfully looked around, not being able to see his eyes anywhere, "Oh no. No, no, no." He panicked as Scott and Isaac glanced around as well.

"Where's Sawyer!? Where the hell is my daughter?!"