Sterek

Chapter 2

It was the next day that I noticed Scott acting weird and deduced that he was turning into a werewolf, I was joking at the time of course, only it didn't turn out to be a joke, which I discovered when we bumped into Derek in the woods.
Scott was talking about his inhaler when I saw it again, the flash of blue that I now associated with him. 'Derek', I called out waiting for him to appear as he had before.
'You do know that this is private property, right?' He asked, the ghost of a smile on his face.
'Keep your shirt on Sourwolf. We only came out here to look for something. And I thought you said you didn't live in the woods?' I was smirking now.
'I don't.' At this point he glanced at Scott and his eyes widened marginally, and I saw him sniff the air a little, if I hadn't been watching him closely I would have missed it. He threw Scott his inhaler and then moved his eyes back to me.
'Scott you need to go to work, I'm gonna stay here for a bit. I'll see you tomorrow.' I never once took my eyes off of Derek.
'Stiles.' Scott protested but then wisely shut his mouth a second later before heading out of the woods.
'Stiles...', Derek trailed off when I held up my hand. I thought about it. The body, the woods, Derek, glowing blue eyes, Scott, the bite, he said he saw red eyes, his heightened senses and now Derek's heightened senses too. I pulled together threads and ideas and made connections, I pulled myself out of my head before I got in too deep. His head tilted to the side as he watched me curiously, like a pup.
'It isn't a joke. Werewolves. Bloody werewolves. I mean, why not? It almost makes sense too. Heightened senses, glowing eyes and the woods. It's almost obvious.' I was talking to myself at this point. I looked up and met his eyes. 'I'm right though, aren't I? You're a werewolf. And Scott's turning. Friday's the full moon, which means I have until then to figure this out and convince Scott which will be almost impossible...' I trailed off, about to slip back into my mind.
'Stiles.' I snapped my head back up. 'How do you even come to these conclusions? I mean you're right but... most wouldn't even consider the supernatural as a possibility, let alone choose it as the most likely answer. What else can you do?' He looked at me in awe.
'I'm sure you'll find I have lots of talents.' I said absently, quoting him from the night before. I wasn't paying so much attention but rather getting lost in my mind again. This revelation caused many questions to come to the surface and I skimmed through them as I spiraled further into my head. I vaguely heard Derek choke with a startled laugh. Knowing I was going too far down the rabbit hole I pinched my leg, hard. The pain sent me back to the present. And allowed me to catch the curious look Derek was sending my way.
'Um, my ADD means I sometimes get caught up in my head, lose touch with reality. The pain helps keep me grounded. It's worse when I can't get myself out and people who don't know me, they can't get me out. Really it's only Scott and my dad who can. Oh and Melissa, who's practically a second mom.' I keep rambling today. But I felt completely at ease telling him this.
'Who are you?' His question was rhetorical. 'Wait, you said that my eyes flashed blue?' I nodded. 'That shouldn't be happening. Why... unless... no. It can't be.' He seemed to shake himself out of his thoughts then. 'I'm sure you have millions of questions. But our focus should be on Scott. Come on let's discuss this elsewhere.' He walked towards where my jeep was and got in the passenger side. I followed suit, getting into the driver's side.
'Where to, Sourwolf?' I questioned with a grin on my face.
'Your place.' He answered quietly. 'Mines isn't exactly... visitor friendly at the moment.' He looked almost embarrassed by this fact.
'My place it is then.' I started up the jeep and off we went.
*
We were researching for hours. Derek was good about it all, answering my questions without much complaint- aside from an eye roll here or there. It wasn't until later that it got a little... dark.
'Can we jump back to the body? I know that you didn't kill her, you're no killer.' His eyes grew sad. 'Derek? You knew her.' I wasn't really asking, I already knew the answer.
'Laura. Her name was Laura.' His voice sounded a little choked and I had to fight against every fibre of my being to stay still instead of taking him in my arms and protecting him from the world.
'Your sister. Oh Derek I am so sorry. It was another werewolf that killed her, the one who bit Scott? Then we'll get him. He'll pay for what he did Derek. To Laura, to Scott and to you.' There was a fierce determination and anger lacing through my words as I spoke. He looked up at me and I could almost see the gratitude shining from his eyes.
'We will. But not today. You have school tomorrow and I'm sure your dad will be back soon. I should probably go.' He sounded almost reluctant.
'Yes to school but no to my dad. He'll be at work all night, he always is, and now he has a murder to solve.' I know I sounded bitter, it's my fault my dad works so much anyway, my meds aren't cheap and he's still paying off mom's medical bills. But I miss having a dad, one who's around. I know I'm not an easy child, of that I have no illusions, I wish I didn't stress my dad out so much.
'Stiles.' He said sharply. 'Where'd you go?' He looked concerned.
'Sorry. You're right, I should sleep. But you can stay or go your choice. Doesn't make a difference to me. You strike me as a lonely guy. And I know that your natural disposition is to seek out a pack so... until you find one, I can be your pack. Scott too, once we convince him. Everybody needs somebody Derek. Think about it.' I left the room and headed to the bathroom.
When I returned Derek was lying on the floor with a blanket and a pillow he had taken from my bed. I smiled a little and then got into bed.
Moments before I fell asleep I could've sworn I heard him say; 'Thank you, Stiles.'