Fic: Discovery Channel (5/12) Part 2
Part 1
“Seems like you’ve a little infestation here, big brother,” Kate said, swinging her leg over the chair in Chris’ office. He shot her a look, not surprised that she had followed him to the shipping warehouse he worked out of.
“We only knew about the alpha and Hale. We saw no signs of a second beta.”
Kate folded her hands under her chin. “Now why don’t I believe that?”
Chris shrugged. He had nothing to hide from her. There had been a second beta, but since that first full moon they had monitored Derek day and night, and though he would come and go he never met with anyone else. There had been talk in town about him hanging out with a teenage boy, the sheriff’s son, but a visit to the sheriff had only led to the idea that the two shared a common bond of missing family members, and that they hadn’t even met recently, apparently talking out all their emotions or something.
Those weren’t details Kate needed to know, because they weren’t black and white details. Kate rarely saw the grey in issues, so there was no reason trying to mention anything like that.
“Wonder why Derek’s here without his sister,” Kate thought aloud, and again Chris shrugged.
“Who knows how werewolves think sometimes. We try to figure out how they think, but they just surprise us.”
“True. And it’s not like understanding them will make us not kill them.”
Chris gave her a look. “Kate. We don’t kill all of them. As long as Derek isn’t bothering anyone, which last I checked he wasn’t, there is no reason to bother with him. It makes life easier.”
Kate snorted. “If you say so, big brother. It has been my experience that the only surefire way for a werewolf not to bother anyone is to kill it.” She stood up, grinning. “But hey, why are we even worrying that there had been a second? It doesn’t matter now, does it?”
Chris looked her up and down, frowning because of her cockiness. He knew she’d shot the second beta, and it was probably dying a slow and painful death, unless Derek decided to put his pack mate out of his misery, which was just as likely. “This is very true.”
“So now all we have is to deal with the alpha and Hale. No big deal.” Kate grinned, sauntering off to look through his latest shipment.
Chris shook his head. Kate was family but sometimes the way she could switch from ruthless killer to all smiles surprised him. He spent most of his childhood hoping he would never become like that, but it was a shame she had.
***
“Hey McCall! You aren’t thinking about skipping practice today are you?” Jackson asked as Scott put his tray on the table. He was almost fifteen minutes late to lunch. The only reason Jackson had even noticed was because Scott’s off behavior was directly tied to Stiles, and Jackson made it a point to know everything about Stiles to make sure nothing went wrong for Danny.
Scott looked like shit as he glanced around, half picking at his food. “Yeah. I uh. Actually, Allison do you wanna do homework together today?”
Allison gave him a look. “Today? I thought we were going to see Stiles?”
Scott’s eyes went wide and Jackson watched him begin to get panicky. He took a long sip of his milk, waiting with anticipation for what Scott would say.
“We don’t need to see Stiles. He’s like, super sick.”
“So?” Danny asked. “I spent last summer with my grandma cleaning up after her.” He shuddered for effect. “Trust me, not much can faze me.”
Scott flailed and Jackson was amused by the antics. “No. It’s fine. Seriously. He really doesn’t want to see anyone. And besides he has Derek taking care of him.” He shrugged, as if it made him seem casual.
Jackson’s eyes shot over to Danny. He’d had words about Stiles and this mysterious Derek before. Jackson didn’t believe Danny when he said it didn’t bother him, and that he wasn’t concerned, because he had been the one to drive Danny home after the bowling alley when Stiles had just up and left. Danny had tried to distract him from seeing how much that bothered him but Jackson wasn’t stupid when it came to anything regarding Danny. He knew it was bothering Danny, whoever this guy was.
“What so Stilinski doesn’t need his friends coming to see him cause he’s already got someone there?” Jackson asked Scott who just shrugged.
“Just saying what Stiles told me.” Scott looked at Danny with big eyes. “I’m sorry. You can see him tomorrow when he comes back to school.”
Danny smiled faintly. “It’s fine. I’ll text him. And like you said, I’ll see tomorrow.”
Jackson sunk in his seat, his mood dropping as he saw Danny’s drop. He didn’t give two shits about Stiles, but Danny did and that was all that mattered.
***
“Are you sure you don’t want to go practice?” Allison asked Scott for the third time as she drove them to her place, his bike in the backseat of her car.
Scott shot her an overly cheerful smile, his fingers tapping away on his knees. “Yeah, it’s fine. I don’t even start because of my asthma so it’s not like Coach can do much to me.”
“And you’re sure you don’t want to see Stiles?”
“Nope. All good. Derek has him totally, one hundred percent under control.”
Allison looked at him oddly. She was waiting for him to pass out in all honesty, because he looked exhausted. She’d seen him dozing throughout the day only to wake up and check his phone. If she were a worse person she would take his phone to see what was going on but she couldn’t. She had to trust him when he said everything was fine, even though it wasn’t.
No one was home when they pulled in and Allison led them up to her room. She saw Scott looking around, just like he had every other time he had come over.
“Is uh, is anyone else here?” Scott asked, tripping as he got to the top of the stairs.
Allison gave him a look. “Nope. My parents are still at work, and I guess my aunt went out.” She shrugged, but she noticed Scott perk up.
“Your aunt?”
Allison nodded. “Yeah. My Aunt Kate. She’s staying with us for a little bit.”
Scott stared at her. “Oh. And so she’s staying here?”
“Yes?” Allison gave him a funny look because she’d just said that. “I think she took one of the guest rooms.” She made a vague gesture to show how large the house was before heading into her room.
Scott followed her at a much slower pace and she didn’t miss the look he gave her bed. She put down her bag and turned to him, grabbing him by the shoulders, guiding him to the bed. He looked confused as she pushed him down onto the bed, and she folded her arms, looking down at him.
“What?” He asked.
“Take a nap. You look awful, and there is no way you’ll be any help on homework that exhausted.” Scott tried to fight it, but she could see him starting to fade, exhaustion taking over his body. “I’ll get you up in twenty minutes okay?”
She watched as Scott almost immediately fell asleep, muttering something about his phone as he passed out. Allison let out a sigh and took a seat at her desk, opening up her Spanish homework. Usually she went over it with Stiles but he was sick, and a quick look online showed he wasn’t even on his computer. Maybe Scott hadn’t been lying about Stiles being too sick for visitors. And even though it hurt Danny, if Stiles needed someone with him all day it was good he had someone to take care of him.
Allison chewed on the edge of her pen, taking down notes and questions she had so she could share them with her teacher. She was sketching a stick figure with a curly mustache to go along with the story they had to translate when she heard a soft buzz. It was followed by another buzz, and then a third. Allison looked at Scott, eyes locking on his phone. He hadn’t woken up to it, which only showed how tired he must have been, because it had been waking him up all day.
She stood up and crept over to her bed, pushing down any guilt she felt as she picked up his phone. She was just checking to see if it was something important.
have you found it?
scott
scott stiles needs it soon.
Allison frowned at the three messages, sent from a number that Scott didn’t have in his phone yet. She glanced at Scott, still asleep, and gave a quick thumb through Scott’s messages. Her stomach twisted in shame that she was doing this but maybe it was something she could help with. Scott might have forgotten he was supposed to pick up medicine.
Scott had been texting Stiles all day, asking him how he was doing, asking how Derek was treating him, and making sure he wasn’t breaking anything. The texts from the number, Derek because that’s who Scott named in a few of them, were more of the same. Checking in on Stiles, though apparently Derek had been outside the school during lunch to give Scott something. Her eyes glanced at Scott’s backpack and she wondered for a moment if she should look. Derek had said they were pictures of things Stiles needs.
Scott stirred and Allison slammed his phone back into her bed. She looked at his face and couldn’t believe she had just done that. Just because she had been curious, and a little suspicious, didn’t mean she should have looked through his phone. She stood up, feeling weak in the knees.
His phone went off again, but this time Allison ignored it, shaking Scott gently. His eyes snapped open and he sat up, already fumbling for his phone.
“How long did I sleep?” He asked, rubbing one eye as he looked at whatever Derek had sent him.
Allison bit her lip. “Only about fifteen minutes? I heard your phone go off, and figured it might be important?”
Scott nodded absently, sitting up. “Yeah, it’s just Derek giving me an update on Stiles.” He gave her a genuine smile.
“How’s he doing?”
Scott’s smile dropped at that. “Not so good.”
“I won’t be upset if you leave to go see him,” Allison said, swaying on her feet.
“No, no it’s- it’s.” He stood up. “I need to use the bathroom. Okay?” He pushed passed her and Allison frowned, her mind going back to the text Derek had sent Scott.
have you found it?
Scott was looking for something. Something for Stiles. The phrasing was off, and Allison didn’t know Derek but if it was something like medicine wouldn’t have he asked if Scott had bought it?
Allison waited a moment, listening for the bathroom door to shut, just to prove her wrong. She heard nothing.
She closed her eyes, unsure if she really wanted to look, but she was already walking out of her room, treading carefully so she didn’t make a sound. Her mind was chanting the mantra it’s nothing, it’s nothing, please be nothing, but Allison passed the empty bathroom. Scott was nowhere in sight.
Allison sucked in a breath, worried. The horror stories they laughed about during lunch involving Danny’s exes flashed in her mind, as she wondered what Scott could be doing. She moved through the house, looking for him.
She went down the stairs, finally hearing a soft noise. She followed the shuffling to the guest room Kate was staying in. The look in Scott’s face when she had mentioned her aunt came to mind and Allison took a deep breath. She wouldn’t jump to conclusions. She wouldn’t. She would be calm. She would be rational.
Scott was searching through the drawers in Kate’s room.
“What are you doing?” Allison couldn’t stop herself from asking.
Scott jumped, hand over his heart as he turned. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights and his mouth opened and closed a few times before he finally said something. “It’s not what it looks like.”
Allison stared. “What? What does that mean? You’re looking through my family’s house.”
Scott’s arms flailed, and he’d been doing that all day. Allison now saw it for what it was, a tell that he was about to lie. “Listen I can explain.” He flailed some more. “Well actually I can’t. I really, really wish I could. But I can’t.”
“Try,” Allison said harshly. She’d thought she’d breached some trust with checking his phone but this was so far beyond that. Scott was trying to steal from them.
“It’s for Stiles.” Scott said in a rush. “He’s not sick. Well he is, but it’s not a human sickness. It’s not normal. And the thing I’m looking for, your aunt has. And it’s a cure.”
“A cure?” Allison asked disbelieving.
“Yes. Stiles needs it or else,” Scott swallowed, voice breaking. “He needs it. You have to believe me. I wouldn’t do this unless it was absolutely necessary.” He swallowed again. “Life or death.”
Allison didn’t know what to say to that. She could tell that Scott was finally telling at least a half-truth for the first time all day. Whatever he was looking for was to help Stiles, his best friend, and she understood that. She didn’t understand what could make it so serious though.
“Is Stiles in trouble that bad?”
“Yes,” Scott said empathetically, looking close to tears. “Yes, he really is.”
“And this… thing will help him?”
“Yes. I swear he will be back in school tomorrow, laughing and joking and holding hands with Danny.”
Allison stared him down until Scott looked down at his hands, wringing them nervously in front of himself. “Fine.” He looked up with such delight. “But you need to tell me everything you can, and you will let me help you.”
He hesitated for just a moment before nodding, already turning back to searching in the drawer. “I’ve told you everything I can. Stiles got in trouble and your aunt has something that can save him.”
Allison looked around the room, eyes landing on Kate’s bag. It was obvious Scott hadn’t looked in there yet and it made Allison feel slightly better that he was searching through her personal belongings.
“What am I looking for?”
“A bullet,” Scott said, slamming the drawer shut and moving to the other side of the bed.
Allison stopped. “A bullet? That can help Stiles?”
He gave her a pleading look. “Please don’t ask questions. Just. Just trust me?”
She sighed and opened up Kate’s bag. “Do you know how many bullets my family probably has lying around?”
“These will be special. Probably in some kind of box Stiles said.”
Allison kept looking, pushing aside Kate’s underwear and clothes looking for anything that could possibly hold a bullet. She pulled out a large black box from the center of Kate’s bag, and opened it, revealing an artillery.
“Got it.” Allison called, her pulling out a small wooden box with a flower and leaves engraved on the side of it. Scott ran to her side, trying to grab the box from her hand. Allison pulled it away from him, opening it herself. Inside sat two rows of bullets, one already missing. “This is it right?”
Scott nodded. “Yeah. I just need one.”
Allison closed her eyes as she let Scott take one bullet. “Is that it?”
Scott nodded, tucking the bullet in his pocket. “Thank you so much Allison. You don’t know how much I owe you.”
She nodded, putting the box back where she had found it. Scott was standing anxiously by the door, already looking like he wanted to leave, but Allison needed to make sure it didn’t look too suspicious. She grabbed a condom from Kate’s toiletries and when Scott stared at her she just glared.
“She’s going to notice something is missing. Might as well draw her attention with this.” He nodded, following her as she walked out of the room. “I take it you need to leave now?”
Scott nodded, fishing out his phone. “Yeah. I really, really don’t know how to thank you.”
“You could explain what’s going on. That would help.”
“Allison, I can’t. I wish I could but, I really can’t.” He took a deep breath. “And you can’t tell anyone about this either.”
“You think?” She asked, glaring. “What would I say? That you went through my aunt’s room looking for bullets that will save Stiles? What? Because Derek told you to?”
“Exactly! And you can’t, and I mean this Allison, please never tell anyone that Derek and Stiles are friends.”
Allison sucked a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She wanted to ask question. She wanted to demand answers. She needed to know what was going on, because this wasn’t fair. Something was happening and she was just sitting on the side lines and it sucked. She stuck her finger in Scott’s face, glaring. “Fine. I won’t breathe a word of this, but you are telling me everything you can. Everything.” She dropped her finger. “Tell me when Stiles is better.”
She watched as Scott ran up to her room, grabbing his backpack, and then ran outside to go wherever he needed to go, since Allison really wasn’t sure if Stiles was even at his house. He was probably in some underground warehouse, laid out on a beaten up sofa. Allison covered her face with her hands. She had no idea what she had just sent Scott off to. She didn’t know anything about Derek. She couldn’t even begin to fathom what was going on.
She ran back to her aunt’s room and pulled out the bullets again, looking at them, trying to figure out what Stiles could possibly need from one. She studied the bullet, frowning as she spun it around in her fingers until she finally felt it. The seam. She frowned, running her finger over the seam of the bullet, before she gave in and tried to spin it open. Flecks of some kind of plant fell out onto the bed and Allison could only stare and wonder what kind of drug this was.
***
Stiles woke up in pain, and no matter what Derek did he couldn’t take it away fast enough. It hadn’t helped that Stiles had realized what he was doing and made him stop doing it.
“One of us needs to be full strength,” Stiles reminded him, even though that was a straw man because Derek wasn’t being affected by the healing.
“Scott’s not going to practice,” Derek said instead of responding to Stiles’ worry. He curled around Stiles, moving his hand over Stiles’ hip. He couldn’t touch the wound but he could try to calm himself down like this. It was getting to the point where he was the one freaking out the most, Stiles staying calm because he had to. Derek pressed his face in between Stiles’ shoulder blades, taking comfort that the poison hadn’t reached that far up.
Stiles put his hand on top of Derek’s, pushing himself closer. “Good. He’s finally learning priorities.” Derek let out a pained laugh as Stiles continued. “Soon he’ll be back to turning in assignments on time instead of spending every night up on web chat with Allison.”
Derek let himself zone out listening to Stiles talk. It was comforting because even though he sounded pained he was still talking which meant he was okay. Derek was finally letting himself drift into a light doze when Stiles tensed, immediately sending him on high alert.
“What?”
Stiles gasped, trying to sit up and Derek had to forcibly hold him down. “Scott’s mom is outside.”
Derek flew off the bed to the window, trying to see around to the front, but he could hear her getting out of the car. He turned back to Stiles, not sure what to do.
“We need to move,” Derek said, because it was no longer safe here, and Stiles just nodded, reaching for his pants.
“Text Scott. Tell him we are going to his work.”
“The vet’s? But they close at six, and it’s only four,” Derek argued as he took out the phone and texted the message to Scott.
“Not today. Scott said Deaton had some meeting or something so he closed at noon. He’ll be long gone.” Stiles tried to stand up, but his leg gave out, sending him back to the bed.
Derek growled, grabbing Stiles and picking him up. He headed to the window because that was the only way he could get them out of Scott’s house safely. He made sure he had a good grasp on Stiles before he leapt out the window, landing first on the patio roof before dropping down to the ground. He looked around, trying to plot out the best route to the vet’s office where he could be concealed.
Stiles squirmed in his arms but Derek refused to let him down, running while holding him because it would be faster. Stiles could barely stand, let alone run.
There was no one in the parking lot outside the vet’s office and Derek let out a sigh of relief, going to the glass door, intent on smashing it open, but Stiles protested.
“I got this,” he muttered. “I’ve been practicing, figured this would come in handy.” Before Derek could ask Stiles had rolled out of his arms, collapsing onto the ground. He tried to catch him and pull him back up but Stiles was already getting to his knees, moving sluggishly to pull something out of his pants pocket. It was a lock pick. “Got these from one of my dad’s deputies. Had them help me. They thought it was hilarious,” Stiles said, fitting the lock pick into the slot and beginning to work it open.
Derek looked around, glad no one was around this area of town. It was only a moment but it felt like it dragged before the door popped open. There was no alarm and Derek picked Stiles up, taking him inside and to the back.
Or he would have except when he tried to go towards the counter he found he couldn’t. It was like something was stopping him. Stiles dropped from his arms again.
“What’s going on?”
Derek shook his head, trying to walk up to the counter to open the swing door but he couldn’t. Stiles seemed to be having the same problem, struggling to his feet and stopping beside Derek.
“I don’t know.”
Stiles picked himself up and he tried to force his way to the counter. It wasn’t happening and Derek could smell blood from Stiles’ wound.
“Stiles, stop,” he ordered because he couldn’t have him starting to bleed again.
“No. I feel like I’m getting closer,” Stiles’ voice sounded strained, and he was starting to sweat even more. He wasn’t getting any closer.
Derek put a hand on Stiles shoulder, pulling him back to one of the waiting room chairs. “It’s fine. Scott should be here soon. He already texted me telling he found the bullet.”
Stiles groaned as he collapsed in the seat. Derek could see the blood stain on the side of his pants getting darker. He grit his teeth and turned back to the counter, trying to figure out what was stopping him from getting through.
“It’s mountain ash,” someone said from the door and Derek spun around, glaring at the shorter, bald black man standing at the door. The man moved his eyes over to Stiles and frowned. “You look a little worse for wear than normal, Mr. Stilinski.”
Stiles flashed the man a confused smile. “Part of my charm, Doc.”
Deaton walked into the lobby and over to the counter, opening the door and Derek could feel whatever was stopping him from advancing break. Deaton held the door open for them, beckoning them to come through to the back. Derek paused, not trusting him, but Stiles just stood up, stumbling over to go into the back.
Derek grabbed him by the shoulder. “Stiles. I don’t trust him.”
Stiles rolled his eyes, still a little brat even sick. “He’s a vet, and obviously he knows something about this stuff.”
“You know who knows about this stuff? Hunters.”
Stiles froze, tensing under Derek’s hand. “He’s.” He looked towards the back. “No. I never read about mountain ash being used in hunts. Hell, I don’t even know what mountain ash does.”
“Very few people do, Mr. Stilinski,” Deaton said, coming back out into the main lobby with gloves on and a bottle of peroxide. He looked at Derek, frowning. “I am just trying to help. He’s been shot with wolfsbane correct?” Derek refused to answer. Deaton sighed. “I assume you have someone getting another bullet for the cure? I am a very good doctor but even I can’t perform miracles.” He stepped through the door, ushering Stiles back into the seat he was sitting in. “This will probably look very strange to anyone passing by, but if you insist on being stubborn,” Deaton said calmly looking at Stiles. “I need you to pull your pants down so I can clean the wound. It will help your body heal quicker once the toxin is out. However, I would like it if we went in back.”
Stiles looked towards Derek, and grit his teeth, standing back up. “In back.”
Derek growled, not liking this, but he followed Stiles and Deaton into the back room, watching as Stiles sat up on the surgery table. Deaton made quick work of applying peroxide and by the time he was done Scott was bursting through the door, coming to a halt when he saw the three of them.
“The bullet, Scott?” Deaton asked, holding out his hand. Scott fumbled, staring at Stiles on the table and then Derek before he grabbed the bullet.
“Yeah, here.” He handed it over, going to Stiles’ side.
Derek watched Deaton, hands itching to do this part on his own. He didn’t trust someone else to have Stiles’ life in their hands. At the first sign of Deaton not doing what was needed Derek would attack, and do it himself.
Deaton opened the bullet, pouring out the wolfsbane. “A lighter?” He asked, turning to Derek, who haltingly gave him the one he had in his pocket. His eyes kept flicking to Stiles, laid out on the table, pants around his knees to give Deaton easy access to the bullet wound. “This will hurt, Mr. Stilinski, and I am very sorry I can’t do it another way.”
Stiles bit his lower lip, nodding as he looked at Scott. Derek could see they were holding hands, Scott’s knuckles white from his tight grip.
Deaton lit the wolfsbane on fire, and then immediately was sweeping it up and pressing it into the wound.
Stiles screamed and convulsed. Derek was beside his side instantly, cupping Stiles face while trying to hold him down. He couldn’t do anything about Stiles’ hips jolting but he pressed their foreheads together and willed Stiles to ride out the pain. Stiles hissed, trying to hold back tears and Derek shut his eyes. He never wanted to see him in this much pain again.
He smelled the poison burn out of Stiles body and he went still beneath Derek, breath coming out in soft pants.
“Oh god, let’s never do that again,” Stiles gasped, letting out a soft laugh as he reached up and ran his fingers through Derek’s hair. Derek relaxed completely, sinking forward and hugging Stiles, burying his face in his neck to take in the unpoisoned scent.
Scott didn’t leave Stiles’ side and when Derek finally pulled back Scott took his place, hugging Stiles tightly and begging him to never do that ever again.
Stiles returned the hug, sitting up so he could embrace Scott better. “It’s fine. I’m alright.”
Scott took a step back to look at Stiles before embracing him again. “You scared the shit out of me.”
Stiles laughed. “You? I scared the shit out of myself.”
Derek glanced over at Deaton who was cleaning up, putting away the bullet and the left over wolfsbane. He shifted from foot to foot, not sure what to say. Deaton looked at him.
“Don’t mention it, Derek.” Derek frowned as Deaton slipped out of the room, and he hesitated for only a moment before going after him. Scott could look after Stiles for the moment it would take to talk to Deaton.
“How’d you know we were here? There wasn’t any alarm.”
Deaton turned and gave him a patronizing smile. “Just because you can’t hear an alarm doesn’t mean there isn’t one.” He pointed to the walls. “If I know ways to keep werewolves out, wouldn’t you assume I have ways of keeping track of my own shop?” Derek shuffled his feet and Deaton sighed. “Go back to your friend, Derek. You guys need each other. And seriously, don’t mention this.” His face flipped from serious to friendly as he waved. “Tell Scott to lock up and that I’ll see him tomorrow.”
Derek watched him leave, still not sure what had just happened. He stopped thinking about it when Stiles came up behind him, Scott following behind him on his phone.
“He’s texting Allison. Apparently people were worried about me.” Stiles flashed a grin and Derek let out a sigh.
“I wonder why.”
He waited for a joke to come about how worried he had been but Stiles just smiled, nudging him in the stomach. “Come on, it’ll be a nice long walk home.”
***
“You didn’t have to make me dinner,” Stiles called from the couch, not even bothering to look in and see what Derek was doing. He could smell chicken soup and he grinned because he hadn’t had that in a while. “I’m all better now.”
“Stiles. Shut up,” Derek said.
“I’m just saying I would have been totally cool with you just grabbing me something from the diner. Maybe a burger and french fries.” Stiles would have said more but he was cut off by the doorbell ringing. He scrambled to his feet, grinning sheepishly as he opened the door for Danny. “Hey.”
Danny looked him up and down before he came inside. “You’re looking better than I expected.”
Stiles snorted, opening his arms for a hug. “Fever broke. You know how it goes.”
He hugged Danny tight, not wanting to let go once he had him. It felt good that Danny returned the hug, squeezing him just as much. “Glad you’re alright.” He pressed his face into Stiles’ shoulder and it caused him to shudder. “Scott was a wreck without you.”
Stiles laughed. “Yeah, I bet.” He pulled away, taking Danny with him to the couch. “Do you need anything?” Danny shook his head, taking off his backpack.
“Lydia wrote down all your homework,” Danny said, pulling out the two page paper Lydia had written with instructions, as well as a few other notes.
“A woman after my own heart,” Stiles said grumpily, looking over the assignments. He could do most of these, and she seemed to have filled it mostly with comments about their classmates, and how boring it was without him making an idiot of himself. He was touched.
“Yeah, well,” Danny shrugged and then froze.
Stiles looked up, wondering what it was that caused him to freeze. Derek was coming into the room holding two bowls of soup and he placed them down on the table.
“Thanks, Derek,” Stiles said, grinning up at him. Derek shrugged, looking at Danny and then back to Stiles with a raised eyebrow. “Oh. Yeah, shit. Danny, this is Derek. You two kind of already met. Derek, my boyfriend Danny.”
Derek nodded to Danny, who smiled in return. It looked almost forced though, and Stiles couldn’t figure out why.
“I’m glad you took care of Stiles today.”
Derek snorted. “It was nothing. Eat your soup.”
“Are you leaving?” Stiles asked, looking up from where he had already begun to dig into his bowl.
Derek shrugged. “Danny’s with you now. He’ll keep you company until your dad gets home.”
Stiles grinned at Danny, putting down the bowl of soup to the side. “Think you can handle keeping an eye on me?”
Danny gave him a genuine smile at that, nodding as he relaxed back on the couch.
Stiles grabbed Derek by the waist and pulled him into a hug, burying his face in Derek’s stomach. He needed that contact just once more because it calmed him down. He didn’t think there would be long term emotional trauma from being shot, but in the short term there was, and he needed to make sure everyone he cared for was alright, and that he was still alright. He didn’t want to imagine how clingy he would be with his dad.
He felt Derek curl around him, bending down and pressing a kiss to the top of his head. He grinned, nuzzling into Derek’s stomach.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“No problem,” Derek said, taking a step back and untangling himself from Stiles. “You would do the same for me.”
Stiles grimaced, leaning back to lay against Danny, who had started to tense up again. “I really hope I don’t have to. No offense.”
“Me too.” Derek looked at Danny and gave an awkward wave. “It was nice seeing you Danny. Have fun.” He walked away, grabbing his jacket and leaving the house before Danny could really respond.
Stiles looked at Danny, frowning when he saw how tense he still was. “What?”
Danny turned and looked at him, eyes flicking over his face as if he was looking for something. He must have found it before he smiled finally, and kissed Stiles gently. “I’m just glad you’re okay and you have good friends.”
Stiles blushed, leaning in for another kiss. “Yeah well, I’m sort of awesome so I deserve it, right?”
Danny laughed, pulling Stiles against him so they could curl up on the couch. “I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s something like that.”
Stiles relaxed, closing his eyes. He could hear Derek creeping in through his window, and if it were any other day he would have words about that kind of behavior, but right now he understood. Derek needed to make sure he was alive and well as much as he needed to check on all of his friends. He just needed to remember not to let Danny go upstairs. Explaining why Derek was asleep in his bed would be awkward.
Chapter 6
“Seems like you’ve a little infestation here, big brother,” Kate said, swinging her leg over the chair in Chris’ office. He shot her a look, not surprised that she had followed him to the shipping warehouse he worked out of.
“We only knew about the alpha and Hale. We saw no signs of a second beta.”
Kate folded her hands under her chin. “Now why don’t I believe that?”
Chris shrugged. He had nothing to hide from her. There had been a second beta, but since that first full moon they had monitored Derek day and night, and though he would come and go he never met with anyone else. There had been talk in town about him hanging out with a teenage boy, the sheriff’s son, but a visit to the sheriff had only led to the idea that the two shared a common bond of missing family members, and that they hadn’t even met recently, apparently talking out all their emotions or something.
Those weren’t details Kate needed to know, because they weren’t black and white details. Kate rarely saw the grey in issues, so there was no reason trying to mention anything like that.
“Wonder why Derek’s here without his sister,” Kate thought aloud, and again Chris shrugged.
“Who knows how werewolves think sometimes. We try to figure out how they think, but they just surprise us.”
“True. And it’s not like understanding them will make us not kill them.”
Chris gave her a look. “Kate. We don’t kill all of them. As long as Derek isn’t bothering anyone, which last I checked he wasn’t, there is no reason to bother with him. It makes life easier.”
Kate snorted. “If you say so, big brother. It has been my experience that the only surefire way for a werewolf not to bother anyone is to kill it.” She stood up, grinning. “But hey, why are we even worrying that there had been a second? It doesn’t matter now, does it?”
Chris looked her up and down, frowning because of her cockiness. He knew she’d shot the second beta, and it was probably dying a slow and painful death, unless Derek decided to put his pack mate out of his misery, which was just as likely. “This is very true.”
“So now all we have is to deal with the alpha and Hale. No big deal.” Kate grinned, sauntering off to look through his latest shipment.
Chris shook his head. Kate was family but sometimes the way she could switch from ruthless killer to all smiles surprised him. He spent most of his childhood hoping he would never become like that, but it was a shame she had.
***
“Hey McCall! You aren’t thinking about skipping practice today are you?” Jackson asked as Scott put his tray on the table. He was almost fifteen minutes late to lunch. The only reason Jackson had even noticed was because Scott’s off behavior was directly tied to Stiles, and Jackson made it a point to know everything about Stiles to make sure nothing went wrong for Danny.
Scott looked like shit as he glanced around, half picking at his food. “Yeah. I uh. Actually, Allison do you wanna do homework together today?”
Allison gave him a look. “Today? I thought we were going to see Stiles?”
Scott’s eyes went wide and Jackson watched him begin to get panicky. He took a long sip of his milk, waiting with anticipation for what Scott would say.
“We don’t need to see Stiles. He’s like, super sick.”
“So?” Danny asked. “I spent last summer with my grandma cleaning up after her.” He shuddered for effect. “Trust me, not much can faze me.”
Scott flailed and Jackson was amused by the antics. “No. It’s fine. Seriously. He really doesn’t want to see anyone. And besides he has Derek taking care of him.” He shrugged, as if it made him seem casual.
Jackson’s eyes shot over to Danny. He’d had words about Stiles and this mysterious Derek before. Jackson didn’t believe Danny when he said it didn’t bother him, and that he wasn’t concerned, because he had been the one to drive Danny home after the bowling alley when Stiles had just up and left. Danny had tried to distract him from seeing how much that bothered him but Jackson wasn’t stupid when it came to anything regarding Danny. He knew it was bothering Danny, whoever this guy was.
“What so Stilinski doesn’t need his friends coming to see him cause he’s already got someone there?” Jackson asked Scott who just shrugged.
“Just saying what Stiles told me.” Scott looked at Danny with big eyes. “I’m sorry. You can see him tomorrow when he comes back to school.”
Danny smiled faintly. “It’s fine. I’ll text him. And like you said, I’ll see tomorrow.”
Jackson sunk in his seat, his mood dropping as he saw Danny’s drop. He didn’t give two shits about Stiles, but Danny did and that was all that mattered.
***
“Are you sure you don’t want to go practice?” Allison asked Scott for the third time as she drove them to her place, his bike in the backseat of her car.
Scott shot her an overly cheerful smile, his fingers tapping away on his knees. “Yeah, it’s fine. I don’t even start because of my asthma so it’s not like Coach can do much to me.”
“And you’re sure you don’t want to see Stiles?”
“Nope. All good. Derek has him totally, one hundred percent under control.”
Allison looked at him oddly. She was waiting for him to pass out in all honesty, because he looked exhausted. She’d seen him dozing throughout the day only to wake up and check his phone. If she were a worse person she would take his phone to see what was going on but she couldn’t. She had to trust him when he said everything was fine, even though it wasn’t.
No one was home when they pulled in and Allison led them up to her room. She saw Scott looking around, just like he had every other time he had come over.
“Is uh, is anyone else here?” Scott asked, tripping as he got to the top of the stairs.
Allison gave him a look. “Nope. My parents are still at work, and I guess my aunt went out.” She shrugged, but she noticed Scott perk up.
“Your aunt?”
Allison nodded. “Yeah. My Aunt Kate. She’s staying with us for a little bit.”
Scott stared at her. “Oh. And so she’s staying here?”
“Yes?” Allison gave him a funny look because she’d just said that. “I think she took one of the guest rooms.” She made a vague gesture to show how large the house was before heading into her room.
Scott followed her at a much slower pace and she didn’t miss the look he gave her bed. She put down her bag and turned to him, grabbing him by the shoulders, guiding him to the bed. He looked confused as she pushed him down onto the bed, and she folded her arms, looking down at him.
“What?” He asked.
“Take a nap. You look awful, and there is no way you’ll be any help on homework that exhausted.” Scott tried to fight it, but she could see him starting to fade, exhaustion taking over his body. “I’ll get you up in twenty minutes okay?”
She watched as Scott almost immediately fell asleep, muttering something about his phone as he passed out. Allison let out a sigh and took a seat at her desk, opening up her Spanish homework. Usually she went over it with Stiles but he was sick, and a quick look online showed he wasn’t even on his computer. Maybe Scott hadn’t been lying about Stiles being too sick for visitors. And even though it hurt Danny, if Stiles needed someone with him all day it was good he had someone to take care of him.
Allison chewed on the edge of her pen, taking down notes and questions she had so she could share them with her teacher. She was sketching a stick figure with a curly mustache to go along with the story they had to translate when she heard a soft buzz. It was followed by another buzz, and then a third. Allison looked at Scott, eyes locking on his phone. He hadn’t woken up to it, which only showed how tired he must have been, because it had been waking him up all day.
She stood up and crept over to her bed, pushing down any guilt she felt as she picked up his phone. She was just checking to see if it was something important.
have you found it?
scott
scott stiles needs it soon.
Allison frowned at the three messages, sent from a number that Scott didn’t have in his phone yet. She glanced at Scott, still asleep, and gave a quick thumb through Scott’s messages. Her stomach twisted in shame that she was doing this but maybe it was something she could help with. Scott might have forgotten he was supposed to pick up medicine.
Scott had been texting Stiles all day, asking him how he was doing, asking how Derek was treating him, and making sure he wasn’t breaking anything. The texts from the number, Derek because that’s who Scott named in a few of them, were more of the same. Checking in on Stiles, though apparently Derek had been outside the school during lunch to give Scott something. Her eyes glanced at Scott’s backpack and she wondered for a moment if she should look. Derek had said they were pictures of things Stiles needs.
Scott stirred and Allison slammed his phone back into her bed. She looked at his face and couldn’t believe she had just done that. Just because she had been curious, and a little suspicious, didn’t mean she should have looked through his phone. She stood up, feeling weak in the knees.
His phone went off again, but this time Allison ignored it, shaking Scott gently. His eyes snapped open and he sat up, already fumbling for his phone.
“How long did I sleep?” He asked, rubbing one eye as he looked at whatever Derek had sent him.
Allison bit her lip. “Only about fifteen minutes? I heard your phone go off, and figured it might be important?”
Scott nodded absently, sitting up. “Yeah, it’s just Derek giving me an update on Stiles.” He gave her a genuine smile.
“How’s he doing?”
Scott’s smile dropped at that. “Not so good.”
“I won’t be upset if you leave to go see him,” Allison said, swaying on her feet.
“No, no it’s- it’s.” He stood up. “I need to use the bathroom. Okay?” He pushed passed her and Allison frowned, her mind going back to the text Derek had sent Scott.
have you found it?
Scott was looking for something. Something for Stiles. The phrasing was off, and Allison didn’t know Derek but if it was something like medicine wouldn’t have he asked if Scott had bought it?
Allison waited a moment, listening for the bathroom door to shut, just to prove her wrong. She heard nothing.
She closed her eyes, unsure if she really wanted to look, but she was already walking out of her room, treading carefully so she didn’t make a sound. Her mind was chanting the mantra it’s nothing, it’s nothing, please be nothing, but Allison passed the empty bathroom. Scott was nowhere in sight.
Allison sucked in a breath, worried. The horror stories they laughed about during lunch involving Danny’s exes flashed in her mind, as she wondered what Scott could be doing. She moved through the house, looking for him.
She went down the stairs, finally hearing a soft noise. She followed the shuffling to the guest room Kate was staying in. The look in Scott’s face when she had mentioned her aunt came to mind and Allison took a deep breath. She wouldn’t jump to conclusions. She wouldn’t. She would be calm. She would be rational.
Scott was searching through the drawers in Kate’s room.
“What are you doing?” Allison couldn’t stop herself from asking.
Scott jumped, hand over his heart as he turned. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights and his mouth opened and closed a few times before he finally said something. “It’s not what it looks like.”
Allison stared. “What? What does that mean? You’re looking through my family’s house.”
Scott’s arms flailed, and he’d been doing that all day. Allison now saw it for what it was, a tell that he was about to lie. “Listen I can explain.” He flailed some more. “Well actually I can’t. I really, really wish I could. But I can’t.”
“Try,” Allison said harshly. She’d thought she’d breached some trust with checking his phone but this was so far beyond that. Scott was trying to steal from them.
“It’s for Stiles.” Scott said in a rush. “He’s not sick. Well he is, but it’s not a human sickness. It’s not normal. And the thing I’m looking for, your aunt has. And it’s a cure.”
“A cure?” Allison asked disbelieving.
“Yes. Stiles needs it or else,” Scott swallowed, voice breaking. “He needs it. You have to believe me. I wouldn’t do this unless it was absolutely necessary.” He swallowed again. “Life or death.”
Allison didn’t know what to say to that. She could tell that Scott was finally telling at least a half-truth for the first time all day. Whatever he was looking for was to help Stiles, his best friend, and she understood that. She didn’t understand what could make it so serious though.
“Is Stiles in trouble that bad?”
“Yes,” Scott said empathetically, looking close to tears. “Yes, he really is.”
“And this… thing will help him?”
“Yes. I swear he will be back in school tomorrow, laughing and joking and holding hands with Danny.”
Allison stared him down until Scott looked down at his hands, wringing them nervously in front of himself. “Fine.” He looked up with such delight. “But you need to tell me everything you can, and you will let me help you.”
He hesitated for just a moment before nodding, already turning back to searching in the drawer. “I’ve told you everything I can. Stiles got in trouble and your aunt has something that can save him.”
Allison looked around the room, eyes landing on Kate’s bag. It was obvious Scott hadn’t looked in there yet and it made Allison feel slightly better that he was searching through her personal belongings.
“What am I looking for?”
“A bullet,” Scott said, slamming the drawer shut and moving to the other side of the bed.
Allison stopped. “A bullet? That can help Stiles?”
He gave her a pleading look. “Please don’t ask questions. Just. Just trust me?”
She sighed and opened up Kate’s bag. “Do you know how many bullets my family probably has lying around?”
“These will be special. Probably in some kind of box Stiles said.”
Allison kept looking, pushing aside Kate’s underwear and clothes looking for anything that could possibly hold a bullet. She pulled out a large black box from the center of Kate’s bag, and opened it, revealing an artillery.
“Got it.” Allison called, her pulling out a small wooden box with a flower and leaves engraved on the side of it. Scott ran to her side, trying to grab the box from her hand. Allison pulled it away from him, opening it herself. Inside sat two rows of bullets, one already missing. “This is it right?”
Scott nodded. “Yeah. I just need one.”
Allison closed her eyes as she let Scott take one bullet. “Is that it?”
Scott nodded, tucking the bullet in his pocket. “Thank you so much Allison. You don’t know how much I owe you.”
She nodded, putting the box back where she had found it. Scott was standing anxiously by the door, already looking like he wanted to leave, but Allison needed to make sure it didn’t look too suspicious. She grabbed a condom from Kate’s toiletries and when Scott stared at her she just glared.
“She’s going to notice something is missing. Might as well draw her attention with this.” He nodded, following her as she walked out of the room. “I take it you need to leave now?”
Scott nodded, fishing out his phone. “Yeah. I really, really don’t know how to thank you.”
“You could explain what’s going on. That would help.”
“Allison, I can’t. I wish I could but, I really can’t.” He took a deep breath. “And you can’t tell anyone about this either.”
“You think?” She asked, glaring. “What would I say? That you went through my aunt’s room looking for bullets that will save Stiles? What? Because Derek told you to?”
“Exactly! And you can’t, and I mean this Allison, please never tell anyone that Derek and Stiles are friends.”
Allison sucked a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She wanted to ask question. She wanted to demand answers. She needed to know what was going on, because this wasn’t fair. Something was happening and she was just sitting on the side lines and it sucked. She stuck her finger in Scott’s face, glaring. “Fine. I won’t breathe a word of this, but you are telling me everything you can. Everything.” She dropped her finger. “Tell me when Stiles is better.”
She watched as Scott ran up to her room, grabbing his backpack, and then ran outside to go wherever he needed to go, since Allison really wasn’t sure if Stiles was even at his house. He was probably in some underground warehouse, laid out on a beaten up sofa. Allison covered her face with her hands. She had no idea what she had just sent Scott off to. She didn’t know anything about Derek. She couldn’t even begin to fathom what was going on.
She ran back to her aunt’s room and pulled out the bullets again, looking at them, trying to figure out what Stiles could possibly need from one. She studied the bullet, frowning as she spun it around in her fingers until she finally felt it. The seam. She frowned, running her finger over the seam of the bullet, before she gave in and tried to spin it open. Flecks of some kind of plant fell out onto the bed and Allison could only stare and wonder what kind of drug this was.
***
Stiles woke up in pain, and no matter what Derek did he couldn’t take it away fast enough. It hadn’t helped that Stiles had realized what he was doing and made him stop doing it.
“One of us needs to be full strength,” Stiles reminded him, even though that was a straw man because Derek wasn’t being affected by the healing.
“Scott’s not going to practice,” Derek said instead of responding to Stiles’ worry. He curled around Stiles, moving his hand over Stiles’ hip. He couldn’t touch the wound but he could try to calm himself down like this. It was getting to the point where he was the one freaking out the most, Stiles staying calm because he had to. Derek pressed his face in between Stiles’ shoulder blades, taking comfort that the poison hadn’t reached that far up.
Stiles put his hand on top of Derek’s, pushing himself closer. “Good. He’s finally learning priorities.” Derek let out a pained laugh as Stiles continued. “Soon he’ll be back to turning in assignments on time instead of spending every night up on web chat with Allison.”
Derek let himself zone out listening to Stiles talk. It was comforting because even though he sounded pained he was still talking which meant he was okay. Derek was finally letting himself drift into a light doze when Stiles tensed, immediately sending him on high alert.
“What?”
Stiles gasped, trying to sit up and Derek had to forcibly hold him down. “Scott’s mom is outside.”
Derek flew off the bed to the window, trying to see around to the front, but he could hear her getting out of the car. He turned back to Stiles, not sure what to do.
“We need to move,” Derek said, because it was no longer safe here, and Stiles just nodded, reaching for his pants.
“Text Scott. Tell him we are going to his work.”
“The vet’s? But they close at six, and it’s only four,” Derek argued as he took out the phone and texted the message to Scott.
“Not today. Scott said Deaton had some meeting or something so he closed at noon. He’ll be long gone.” Stiles tried to stand up, but his leg gave out, sending him back to the bed.
Derek growled, grabbing Stiles and picking him up. He headed to the window because that was the only way he could get them out of Scott’s house safely. He made sure he had a good grasp on Stiles before he leapt out the window, landing first on the patio roof before dropping down to the ground. He looked around, trying to plot out the best route to the vet’s office where he could be concealed.
Stiles squirmed in his arms but Derek refused to let him down, running while holding him because it would be faster. Stiles could barely stand, let alone run.
There was no one in the parking lot outside the vet’s office and Derek let out a sigh of relief, going to the glass door, intent on smashing it open, but Stiles protested.
“I got this,” he muttered. “I’ve been practicing, figured this would come in handy.” Before Derek could ask Stiles had rolled out of his arms, collapsing onto the ground. He tried to catch him and pull him back up but Stiles was already getting to his knees, moving sluggishly to pull something out of his pants pocket. It was a lock pick. “Got these from one of my dad’s deputies. Had them help me. They thought it was hilarious,” Stiles said, fitting the lock pick into the slot and beginning to work it open.
Derek looked around, glad no one was around this area of town. It was only a moment but it felt like it dragged before the door popped open. There was no alarm and Derek picked Stiles up, taking him inside and to the back.
Or he would have except when he tried to go towards the counter he found he couldn’t. It was like something was stopping him. Stiles dropped from his arms again.
“What’s going on?”
Derek shook his head, trying to walk up to the counter to open the swing door but he couldn’t. Stiles seemed to be having the same problem, struggling to his feet and stopping beside Derek.
“I don’t know.”
Stiles picked himself up and he tried to force his way to the counter. It wasn’t happening and Derek could smell blood from Stiles’ wound.
“Stiles, stop,” he ordered because he couldn’t have him starting to bleed again.
“No. I feel like I’m getting closer,” Stiles’ voice sounded strained, and he was starting to sweat even more. He wasn’t getting any closer.
Derek put a hand on Stiles shoulder, pulling him back to one of the waiting room chairs. “It’s fine. Scott should be here soon. He already texted me telling he found the bullet.”
Stiles groaned as he collapsed in the seat. Derek could see the blood stain on the side of his pants getting darker. He grit his teeth and turned back to the counter, trying to figure out what was stopping him from getting through.
“It’s mountain ash,” someone said from the door and Derek spun around, glaring at the shorter, bald black man standing at the door. The man moved his eyes over to Stiles and frowned. “You look a little worse for wear than normal, Mr. Stilinski.”
Stiles flashed the man a confused smile. “Part of my charm, Doc.”
Deaton walked into the lobby and over to the counter, opening the door and Derek could feel whatever was stopping him from advancing break. Deaton held the door open for them, beckoning them to come through to the back. Derek paused, not trusting him, but Stiles just stood up, stumbling over to go into the back.
Derek grabbed him by the shoulder. “Stiles. I don’t trust him.”
Stiles rolled his eyes, still a little brat even sick. “He’s a vet, and obviously he knows something about this stuff.”
“You know who knows about this stuff? Hunters.”
Stiles froze, tensing under Derek’s hand. “He’s.” He looked towards the back. “No. I never read about mountain ash being used in hunts. Hell, I don’t even know what mountain ash does.”
“Very few people do, Mr. Stilinski,” Deaton said, coming back out into the main lobby with gloves on and a bottle of peroxide. He looked at Derek, frowning. “I am just trying to help. He’s been shot with wolfsbane correct?” Derek refused to answer. Deaton sighed. “I assume you have someone getting another bullet for the cure? I am a very good doctor but even I can’t perform miracles.” He stepped through the door, ushering Stiles back into the seat he was sitting in. “This will probably look very strange to anyone passing by, but if you insist on being stubborn,” Deaton said calmly looking at Stiles. “I need you to pull your pants down so I can clean the wound. It will help your body heal quicker once the toxin is out. However, I would like it if we went in back.”
Stiles looked towards Derek, and grit his teeth, standing back up. “In back.”
Derek growled, not liking this, but he followed Stiles and Deaton into the back room, watching as Stiles sat up on the surgery table. Deaton made quick work of applying peroxide and by the time he was done Scott was bursting through the door, coming to a halt when he saw the three of them.
“The bullet, Scott?” Deaton asked, holding out his hand. Scott fumbled, staring at Stiles on the table and then Derek before he grabbed the bullet.
“Yeah, here.” He handed it over, going to Stiles’ side.
Derek watched Deaton, hands itching to do this part on his own. He didn’t trust someone else to have Stiles’ life in their hands. At the first sign of Deaton not doing what was needed Derek would attack, and do it himself.
Deaton opened the bullet, pouring out the wolfsbane. “A lighter?” He asked, turning to Derek, who haltingly gave him the one he had in his pocket. His eyes kept flicking to Stiles, laid out on the table, pants around his knees to give Deaton easy access to the bullet wound. “This will hurt, Mr. Stilinski, and I am very sorry I can’t do it another way.”
Stiles bit his lower lip, nodding as he looked at Scott. Derek could see they were holding hands, Scott’s knuckles white from his tight grip.
Deaton lit the wolfsbane on fire, and then immediately was sweeping it up and pressing it into the wound.
Stiles screamed and convulsed. Derek was beside his side instantly, cupping Stiles face while trying to hold him down. He couldn’t do anything about Stiles’ hips jolting but he pressed their foreheads together and willed Stiles to ride out the pain. Stiles hissed, trying to hold back tears and Derek shut his eyes. He never wanted to see him in this much pain again.
He smelled the poison burn out of Stiles body and he went still beneath Derek, breath coming out in soft pants.
“Oh god, let’s never do that again,” Stiles gasped, letting out a soft laugh as he reached up and ran his fingers through Derek’s hair. Derek relaxed completely, sinking forward and hugging Stiles, burying his face in his neck to take in the unpoisoned scent.
Scott didn’t leave Stiles’ side and when Derek finally pulled back Scott took his place, hugging Stiles tightly and begging him to never do that ever again.
Stiles returned the hug, sitting up so he could embrace Scott better. “It’s fine. I’m alright.”
Scott took a step back to look at Stiles before embracing him again. “You scared the shit out of me.”
Stiles laughed. “You? I scared the shit out of myself.”
Derek glanced over at Deaton who was cleaning up, putting away the bullet and the left over wolfsbane. He shifted from foot to foot, not sure what to say. Deaton looked at him.
“Don’t mention it, Derek.” Derek frowned as Deaton slipped out of the room, and he hesitated for only a moment before going after him. Scott could look after Stiles for the moment it would take to talk to Deaton.
“How’d you know we were here? There wasn’t any alarm.”
Deaton turned and gave him a patronizing smile. “Just because you can’t hear an alarm doesn’t mean there isn’t one.” He pointed to the walls. “If I know ways to keep werewolves out, wouldn’t you assume I have ways of keeping track of my own shop?” Derek shuffled his feet and Deaton sighed. “Go back to your friend, Derek. You guys need each other. And seriously, don’t mention this.” His face flipped from serious to friendly as he waved. “Tell Scott to lock up and that I’ll see him tomorrow.”
Derek watched him leave, still not sure what had just happened. He stopped thinking about it when Stiles came up behind him, Scott following behind him on his phone.
“He’s texting Allison. Apparently people were worried about me.” Stiles flashed a grin and Derek let out a sigh.
“I wonder why.”
He waited for a joke to come about how worried he had been but Stiles just smiled, nudging him in the stomach. “Come on, it’ll be a nice long walk home.”
***
“You didn’t have to make me dinner,” Stiles called from the couch, not even bothering to look in and see what Derek was doing. He could smell chicken soup and he grinned because he hadn’t had that in a while. “I’m all better now.”
“Stiles. Shut up,” Derek said.
“I’m just saying I would have been totally cool with you just grabbing me something from the diner. Maybe a burger and french fries.” Stiles would have said more but he was cut off by the doorbell ringing. He scrambled to his feet, grinning sheepishly as he opened the door for Danny. “Hey.”
Danny looked him up and down before he came inside. “You’re looking better than I expected.”
Stiles snorted, opening his arms for a hug. “Fever broke. You know how it goes.”
He hugged Danny tight, not wanting to let go once he had him. It felt good that Danny returned the hug, squeezing him just as much. “Glad you’re alright.” He pressed his face into Stiles’ shoulder and it caused him to shudder. “Scott was a wreck without you.”
Stiles laughed. “Yeah, I bet.” He pulled away, taking Danny with him to the couch. “Do you need anything?” Danny shook his head, taking off his backpack.
“Lydia wrote down all your homework,” Danny said, pulling out the two page paper Lydia had written with instructions, as well as a few other notes.
“A woman after my own heart,” Stiles said grumpily, looking over the assignments. He could do most of these, and she seemed to have filled it mostly with comments about their classmates, and how boring it was without him making an idiot of himself. He was touched.
“Yeah, well,” Danny shrugged and then froze.
Stiles looked up, wondering what it was that caused him to freeze. Derek was coming into the room holding two bowls of soup and he placed them down on the table.
“Thanks, Derek,” Stiles said, grinning up at him. Derek shrugged, looking at Danny and then back to Stiles with a raised eyebrow. “Oh. Yeah, shit. Danny, this is Derek. You two kind of already met. Derek, my boyfriend Danny.”
Derek nodded to Danny, who smiled in return. It looked almost forced though, and Stiles couldn’t figure out why.
“I’m glad you took care of Stiles today.”
Derek snorted. “It was nothing. Eat your soup.”
“Are you leaving?” Stiles asked, looking up from where he had already begun to dig into his bowl.
Derek shrugged. “Danny’s with you now. He’ll keep you company until your dad gets home.”
Stiles grinned at Danny, putting down the bowl of soup to the side. “Think you can handle keeping an eye on me?”
Danny gave him a genuine smile at that, nodding as he relaxed back on the couch.
Stiles grabbed Derek by the waist and pulled him into a hug, burying his face in Derek’s stomach. He needed that contact just once more because it calmed him down. He didn’t think there would be long term emotional trauma from being shot, but in the short term there was, and he needed to make sure everyone he cared for was alright, and that he was still alright. He didn’t want to imagine how clingy he would be with his dad.
He felt Derek curl around him, bending down and pressing a kiss to the top of his head. He grinned, nuzzling into Derek’s stomach.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“No problem,” Derek said, taking a step back and untangling himself from Stiles. “You would do the same for me.”
Stiles grimaced, leaning back to lay against Danny, who had started to tense up again. “I really hope I don’t have to. No offense.”
“Me too.” Derek looked at Danny and gave an awkward wave. “It was nice seeing you Danny. Have fun.” He walked away, grabbing his jacket and leaving the house before Danny could really respond.
Stiles looked at Danny, frowning when he saw how tense he still was. “What?”
Danny turned and looked at him, eyes flicking over his face as if he was looking for something. He must have found it before he smiled finally, and kissed Stiles gently. “I’m just glad you’re okay and you have good friends.”
Stiles blushed, leaning in for another kiss. “Yeah well, I’m sort of awesome so I deserve it, right?”
Danny laughed, pulling Stiles against him so they could curl up on the couch. “I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s something like that.”
Stiles relaxed, closing his eyes. He could hear Derek creeping in through his window, and if it were any other day he would have words about that kind of behavior, but right now he understood. Derek needed to make sure he was alive and well as much as he needed to check on all of his friends. He just needed to remember not to let Danny go upstairs. Explaining why Derek was asleep in his bed would be awkward.
Chapter 6