I Didn't Mean It (sequel to It Was an Accident)

17

Derek

Spending the night on Stiles' couch was not the plan when he had showed up the day before. Originally, it was to talk, but then Derek realized he didn't want to talk, so instead they just hung out, which Derek appreciated. When he woke up the next morning, Stiles was under his arm and clinging to his side. Carefully, Derek eased himself out from under his small frame and let his head rest gently on the cushion. He found his shoes and his keys and started towards the door to slip out before Stiles could wake up. He'd come back later, but he needed to go home, to make sure his mom didn't think he was dead. 

As he was leaving, Noah was walking up to the front door, which was awkward already. "Derek, you slept over?" he asked, confused. He probably had just finished a shift, but Derek wasn't interested in sticking around to ask. 

"We fell asleep watching a movie," Derek admitted, trying not to look him in the face. "It was unintentional." 

Derek caught a glimpse of Noah's smile and he found the courage to look at him. "Do you have a minute to talk, son?" Derek wanted to say no, that he had to get home right away, but this was Stiles' dad, and Derek loved Noah, so he couldn't tell him no. Instead, he nodded and followed Noah back into the house. Derek sat at the table and Noah started a pot of coffee before sitting opposite of him. "How's it going?" he asked, casually. 

Derek hesitated because he wasn't sure if Noah knew about everything yet. "Well, it's been kind of hard. . . I guess you noticed I haven't been around in awhile. Did Stiles tell you everything?"

"No," he answered, leaning back in his chair. He seemed comfortable, like he knew Derek was innocent, yet he knew nothing. That was a reason Derek loved him, because he wasn't quick to judge. "I can see that Stiles has completely forgiven you, even though he hasn't seen you in months, so obviously something new has surfaced. And I just want you to know, I can help, if need be."

Derek understood now why he wanted to talk. He had figured it out, even without being told. "Things have been taken care of, I hope," Derek answered, his voice quivering. "The guy who. . . who took advantage of me, well he apologized. He turned himself in, so I guess, that's all that can be done. Now I just have to heal." It wasn't easy to talk about, even after so many months of prying himself out of his shell to rejoin the real world. There were still so many layers he had yet to get through before he was his full self again. 

"Okay," Noah whispered. "I was worried about you." He smiled in a fatherly way and stood up. Derek stood too, letting him drag Derek closer for a hug. It was a short hug, but it meant a lot. "Just don't be afraid to talk to me if you need to, okay? I'm here, either as your future father in law, or the sheriff. Whatever you need, Derek. You hear me, son?"

Derek smiled, gratefully. "I hear you," he answered. "Thank you." 

"Okay, you should let your mom know you're alive," he teased, giving Derek a small, playful shove towards the door. "I'll let Stiles know where you went." Derek nodded and smiled again before walking out the door. 

+++

As soon as Derek stepped foot in the door, Cora was throwing her arms around him, squeezing him as hard as her little arms could squeeze. Usually, this kind of gesture from her would be denied by Derek shoving her away, but this time, he hugged her back. Usually, she was hugging him because she wanted something, like a ride to the movies, or for him to buy her something that their parents wouldn't, but this time he knew it wasn't like that. She was being a supportive little sister. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, her head resting on his chest.