No Matter What

Part 6

Xxx

And when you're weak I'll be strong

Stumbling the last few steps to the Jeep, Derek caught your arm keeping you from face planting onto the ground, and narrowed his eyes at you in concern. "Are you okay?"

Your breathing had become heavy, and an urge to shift was rolling around under your skin, but you felt too exhausted at the same time to act on it even if you wanted to. "Yeah. I'm fine." Looking up to him, shrugging his hand off gently, you averted your gaze. "I'm fine."

A branch snapping several yards behind the two of you caused you both to snap your heads in that direction, and you fought hard to stay upright when the world began to spin with the movement.

"Uh, guys?" Stiles' voice at your back caused you to cast him a weary glance over your shoulder. "Even I heard that. Me, the one with no super hearing. Maybe you should get in the car. Like, now."

"He's got a point," you said, sending Derek a quick glance before looking back into the woods again, backing up slowly toward the waiting open door of the Jeep.

"I know," Derek sighed, scanning the span of woods in front of you. "And I hate it when that happens."

"Hey!" Stiles objected, glaring Derek's direction. It quickly melted into a look you could only compare to a puppy. "Wait. You always hate me, so, is that your way of saying I'm always right?"

"Don't push it," Derek growled.

"I think you're onto something, Stiles," you said playfully, bracing your arms behind you on the back seat of the Jeep and hopping up with a hefty push against the seat. "Very astute observation," you wiggled side to side to scoot further back in the seat until you could plant your feet and push until your back pressed against the opposite back door, and you sunk into it with a sigh. "I'm impressed."

"Thank you. Now will you close the back door? Please?"

You groaned. All movement was becoming painful, but you reached out your extended leg, hooking your heel into the handle and pulling it shut with a single movement. Just as you slumped back against the door behind you, it swung open, Derek catching you before you tumbled all the way backwards. Staring down at you, he cocked his head sideways with a little grin while you glared up at him.

"Sorry. Did I scare you?"

"Gee, smartass, I wonder, I mean, it's not like I only scream like that under extreme circumstances, or anything...."

Hopping in behind you, making you bend your legs to accommodate his presence in the back seat, the back door slamming shut after he settled made you flinch, the sound louder than it should be. His face was back to concerned as he looked down to where you rested your head on his lap, your grimace growing as the car lurched with the gears shifting, then rolling forward as Stiles pressed the accelerator.

Letting out a groan, you screwed your eyes shut, trying to block out all the extra stimulus suddenly bombarding your senses.

"Y/N...." Derek's voice sounded far away, muffled, like he was underwater. Then it was too loud. "Open your eyes."

You obliged, your eyelids feeling heavy, and your head feeling dusty with drowsiness.

"Why are they glowing?" You heard Stiles ask, his voice echoing like he was in a cavern and several miles away.

Derek took in a sharp breath. "Shit, they must have laced the ties with wolfsbane. It's in your system." Raising your arms up to his face, he yanked down on the arm of your leather jacket to expose your wrist, showing the marks from restraints that hadn't healed yet.