Sterek one shots

Ephemeral

By: thegirlgrey
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As much as Derek hates hospitals (the smell, the noise, the feel of them) there's no place else he would rather be right now. Stiles had given them all a scare when he started complaining of side pain yesterday evening. The high fever and vomiting had Derek and the Sheriff rushing him to the ER in the early hours of the morning. He was admitted and prepped for surgery within the hour. Derek would like it on record that Melissa McCall is a Gift to the World. She'd kept John and him sane by giving them updates and actually sitting in on the surgery. The completely safe, laparoscopic, minimally invasive surgery. (She had to keep reminding him how safe it was.) It felt like days when it was actually only an hour before Melissa had come out to give them the good news.

"He's out. We're setting him up in his room for an overnight observation. He should be able to go home in the morning."

John and Derek let out a relieved breaths. John finally let go of the death grip he had on Derek's shoulder. Derek didn't mind. It wasn't like he couldn't take it. But Derek kind of wishes John would have kept it there when Melissa starts grinning. Derek's kind of thinking of taking back the whole Gift to the World thing.

"The surgery went fine, but Stiles is having a bit of an adverse reaction to the anesthesia."

The Sheriff looks at her for a heartbeat and then promptly bursts out laughing. Derek has gone from worried to confused. Melissa smiles even wider. Oh, look at that right back to worried.

"He has temporary amnesia. He's fuzzy on the past year or so. He is also high as a kite."

Derek kind of gets the amused face now. John's laughter must mean it's not the first time Stiles has experienced it either. (It's no secret that Stiles has had more than a few trips to the hospital over the years, even before the whole werewolf thing.) Derek's still worried about what kind of effect it will have on him. Melissa must sense his growing fear because she smoothes a hand up and down his arm.

"Don't worry, sweetie. It will wear off before nightfall."

Derek's relieved breath is cut off by the Sheriff's ringing phone (the ringtone is Renegade by Styx courtesy of Stiles.) After a few seconds of conversation, he hangs up and pinches his nose.

"There was an accident at the Iron Works. I need to head out."

He gives Melissa a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Keep me updated and make sure to-"

She cuts him off with a wave of her hand.

"I'm video taping it on my phone as we speak."

Derek arches another eyebrow. John shakes his head ruefully and steps in to give Derek a quick hug.

"Look after my boy."

Derek is already nodding and moving to follow Melissa. He honestly doesn't even need to ask. From the smug smile on his face, Derek thinks John knows that. And holy shit, John is trusting Derek to look after his son. The Sheriff is trusting him to look after his only child. He trusts Derek. Melissa leads him through the entrance of the recovery ward while Derek is still trying to regain his metaphorical footing. If he stumbles a bit, she doesn't mention it. She stops outside of an open door close to the nurses' station.

"This is his room. I've got to go check on a few other patients. I'll be back to set him up for the night as soon as I can."

She hands him a small plate of crackers.

"If he can keep it down, he gets real food. It will help flush the anesthesia out of his system."

She offers him a warm smile and a firm squeeze of his shoulder. He gives her a nod as he steps into the room. He stops to see the phone set up on a medical tray. It's out of the way and is pointed toward Stiles. Stiles looks fine, still a little pale, but smiling up at the ceiling. Derek clears his throat. Stiles' eyes dart to him. His face goes slack and his mouth opens with a soft "oh." Derek smiles down at his feet and takes a step closer to Stiles.