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Uhh...you know. A reason.

[He gives Stiles a flat look.] Well, gee, Stiles, I'm glad you cleared that up for me.

...you're welcome? [Stiles laughs nervously, smiling awkwardly.]

Let's try this again.

Why. Are. You. Here?

[It's basically been him and Cora in the loft on their own since Boyd...yeah. Oh.] Are you here to see Cora?

[He isn't sure that he likes that idea.]

What? No. [Stiles blinked, surprised by the conclusion Derek had drawn.] I'm not. I'm here because...

[Stiles sighed a little, glancing down at his feet.] ...I don't want to go home.

Oh. [He feels like an asshole all at once, and wonders why he cares. So the kids' dad got taken, Derek has other things to worry about. Like his sister who's dying in their loft.] Why didn't you go to Scott's?

[Stiles kind of almost...considered them to be friends. Sort of? They saved each other's lives a couple of times, so it was no surprise that there was mutual concern for the other's well-being on either side. And Stiles did kind of feel ~~really~~ bad about snapping at Derek and shoving the whole murderous-girlfriends thing in his face, but seeing as he'd been on the edge of a panic attack (and subsequently succumbed to one), he managed to not completely drown in his guilt.]

Scott's gone. [Stiles shifts awkwardly.] I...

[He doesn't have anybody left. His dad, Scott - who's been like a brother - and Mrs. McCall, who's been like a mother...they're all missing.]

[Teenagers are going to be the death of him. He stands aside, jerking his head to indicate that Stiles can come into the loft. Further in.] There's food in the fridge. [It's not a lot, and it's been raided through by some werewolf teenagers since he last stocked it, but if Stiles is hungry there's sure to be something there for him to scavenge.

Derek walks back to his bed, sitting on the edge and using a cool, damp cloth to wipe the sweat from Cora's brow. He takes what he can of her pain.]

...thanks. [Stiles says quietly, moving forward, into the loft. His eyes flicker over to Cora, then around the room, letting Derek have a semblance of privacy while he takes away her pain.]

How...how is she? [He finally asks, after waiting an appropriate beat of time.]

Dying. [He's not going to sugar coat it, not for himself and not for others.] She's dying.

But...how? [Stiles asks dumbly, hesitantly moving closer. He doesn't want to encroach on Derek's space, however; this is his family, and Stiles is an outsider to that.] I mean...what got her?

If I knew that, I wouldn't be sitting here doing nothing. [He doesn't know what's wrong with her, just that she's getting weaker. Fading. His little sister, who he just got back.]

[Stiles doesn't say anything to that. He...can't, because if he does he won't be able to shut up, and anyone can see that Derek has enough on his plate.

Finally, though, he asks,] ...where's Peter?

Researching. [At least, he better be researching. Because if Cora dies and Derek finds out he was doing something that wasn't trying to save her, he'll kill him again.

There's a heavy pause, and Derek chances a glance at the teen.] Scott's going to find your dad.

[Stiles nods absently, shifting awkwardly against the wall.] That's...good. [He doesn't know what Peter would be able to find, but.]

[Tensing, Stiles glances away. If he thinks about it, he'll freak out.] Maybe. Probably not.

[He's not a good alpha, and this is why. Stiles came for comfort, and he can't give him any. At least, not adequately. It's what drove them all away. It's what led to Erica dead, and it's what's gotten them into this situation at all.] Stiles...[He isn't sure what to say. What can he say?] He'll be alright. [Wow, he thinks, self-deprecating, That was great, Derek.]

[Well...no, he didn't really come for comfort, persay. At least, not consciously. He didn't have anywhere else to go. Stiles closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.] Don't...don't say that. Please.

[It's not really a promise he can make, is it? It's not like he'll be leaving Cora any time soon to go looking for the guardians himself. He looks away, down at his sister. She's making quietly pained noises in her sleep, and he lays the cloth against her skin to try and pull some of the fever from her. He looks back at Stiles, and amends his statement.] You'll be okay.

Edited 2013-08-16 02:30 (UTC)

[Stiles can't help but laugh a little at that, shaking his head. He still hasn't opened his eyes. Just count to ten.] No, Derek. If he - I won't be long in following him if - yeah.

You would leave Scott? [He knows it's manipulative, but that kind of talk is alarming. It draws his attention away from Cora.]

He already left me. [Stiles points out, clenching and unclenching his fingers as he focuses on relaxing. If he opens his eyes, the world will spin.]

Scott isn't that kind. I would leave. Peter would leave. Scott is doing everything he can to find your parents.

Can we just - not. [Stiles' voice came out soft and tired.] I just...please.

[This is exactly what Stiles had been so afraid of happening if he told his dad the truth. Getting him involved in something so much more dangerous than what a normal cop had to deal with. With forces neither of them could combat. Stiles didn't deal well on his own. Neither did Derek, and maybe that's what had brought him here, to Derek's loft.]

[To be fair, Derek doesn't do well with people, either. He nods, settling his attention back on Cora. She's dripping with sweat, and his heart hurts to look at her, but he can't bring himself to look away.] Get me something frozen from the kitchen.

[It takes Stiles a second, and he wobbles a little as he opens his eyes and heads for the freezer, but the room doesn't spin and he doesn't fall over. Good.'