Hunger

Chapter Eleven

Derek

I carefully scooped Stiles up into my arms, trying not to hurt him. I had to find a car. He needed a hospital. He was not going to die. I refused to let him. Stiles wasn't supposed to get hurt like this. I'd trade places with him if I could. Why couldn't it have been me?

"Is he alright?" Will whispered, gently lifting Stiles's shirt to reveal the bloody wound. It wasn't okay. "Oh." Will looked concerned. "I have a car just around the corner. We can get him to the hospital. Follow me."

I nodded and wiped the few tears that managed to slip out. I didn't usually cry, but all I could think about right now is how I didn't want Stiles to die. He was unconscious now, but I tried to keep listening closely to his breathing, just to make sure he was still with me. I also put pressure on his wound, trying to help so he didn't bleed out.

It took two minutes to get to Will's car. I counted, just so I could clear my mind of thoughts about Stiles dying. I couldn't take it anymore. "I'm going to sit back here with him," I said quietly as I laid him down in the back. I carefully lifted his head and let it fall back to my lap. "I have to keep pressure on the wound."

"Alright," Will agreed, jumping into the driver's side. He quickly started the car and sped off towards the hospital.

I anxiously stared at Stiles, biting my lip without noticing. I only stopped when I tasted blood. This was killing me. Imagine if Stiles ever did die. I'd go crazy. I'd go absolutely mad without him. I thought at the beginning of this trip that I was going to hate him, but no. Stiles was amazing. I'd spent a few days with him and I could already feel a connection. He was different. I liked it. A lot. And I really didn't want to lose him after I just realized how much Stiles means to me.

"We're almost there," Will informed me. "Just a few more blocks."

I nodded in reply and kept my mouth shut, unable to take my eyes off of Stiles. He looked peaceful right now, but I knew he was in pain. He started to mumble in his sleep, but the only thing I could make out was my name. It made sense, considering he was laying on me.

We finally made it to the hospital. I immediately picked up Stiles and ran him inside, Will close behind me. "Help! He's dying!" I yelled frantically. A few nurses saw me and started making phone calls. Within a few minutes, there were doctors taking Stiles from my arms and pushing me away as they rolled him off.

I followed them as far as they would let me go, but then I had to trudge all the way back to the waiting room with Will. I slumped down in my seat, trying to keep my mind off of Stiles. It wasn't working. None of this was working. I tried thinking about literally anything else, but it always came right back to Stiles. The way we smiles. How he looks when he's angry. Everything about him. I couldn't stand it if he died. It'd be my fault. I put him in danger. Me.

"Hey, Derek?" Will asked, nudging my shoulder. "He's gonna be alright."

I shook my head and stared at my hands. "What if he's not? What if they can't save him? This is all my fault. I shouldn't have brought him with me. I should've saved him.."

"You can't protect him from everything, Derek. Sometimes people you love are going to get hurt and there's nothing you can do about it except be there for them. You just have to be there for Stiles. That's all you can do. Don't blame yourself for this, because you couldn't have prevented it." Will smiled as he patted my hand. He was right. I knew he was, but I still found that it was my fault. I was the one who brought him on this trip. All of those people keep coming after me, and Stiles just happens to be in the middle of it all. They torture him because of me.