Clisaac Drabbles
[Drabbles of Claudia Hale and Isaac Lahey]

**Kiss Me in the Rain**

Claudia knew her family knew where she was. But there was also no chance that they'd come for her. Sometimes she needed to be alone. Now was one such time. Cora, Derek and Peter understood that she hated looking weak and that vanishing meant she was fine and would be back. What she hadn't counted on was the rain. Rain in California was a pain sometimes. Tonight was one example. Her hiding place was open to the rain, the cold seeping through the branches above her and into her clothes. The good thing was the rain covered her tears. Curled up into the largest break in the tree, the female beta was hidden by leaves, shadows, and the sound of the rain soaking the ground around her. Her knees pulled as close to her as she could manage, she buried her face in her knees. She paid no mind to the sounds around her, certain no one would find her.

"You know, you can catch your death out here if you aren't careful."

The voice made Claudia jump, losing her balance on the branch and nearly falling off. Had it not been for the nearby branch to catch herself, the beta would have fallen about seventeen feet directly to her ass. Shaking her head and tugging the hood of her jacket back, Claudia tried to glare down at the intruder until she realized who it was standing below her. She could do little but stare for a long time, and then she was adjusting and jumping down. "Isaac, how did you find me?" she asked, trying to seem calm. Inside she was panicking. No one had ever come after her before. It was a kind of unspoken rule. What had gotten into Isaac to make him track her, let alone in the rain? She watched as the other beta shrugged.

"I don't know about a lot of things, but it's never a good idea to be alone in a storm like this." He said, looking down the five or so inches to let his eyes lock on the crystal hue of the female Hale. "So I figured I'd find you so you weren't alone. In case you end up needing help."

Claudia blinked before rolling her eyes. "Isaac, I will be fine."

"I'd rather not take the chance. Derek gets antsy when you're off on your own." Isaac shrugged, his head moving to look around. "Do you have a dry place to hide out at? It's kind of chilly, if you haven't noticed." His words got a droll look and a half laugh from Claudia and she nudged her head backwards a little.

"Follow me," the female replied. Skilled feet carried her down a hidden path, leading Isaac towards the waterfall…the caverns. With a low sigh, she turned around a tree. "It wasn't just Derek, was it?"

"What?"

"Derek isn't the only one worried about me, is he?" Claudia asked as she moved to the right of the fall and into the carved out area. "It's a tad cold in here, but it's out of the rain. And I can make a fire, too." She said, making her way to the back and digging up the kindling to light and add some wood over it. Once the blaze got going good in the little ring, she moved to sit down. "Well come on, Isaac. It's warmer in here and you'll dry some." The younger wolf found his way inside and took a seat beside her.

"No, it's not just Derek," Isaac finally conceded as he sat about a foot from his fellow beta. "It's your uncle. And the others. Even me."

Claudia looked up and tilted her head. "That wasn't expected." Isaac's eyes reflected the flames in front of them as he looked up and gave a curious tilt of his head. "You made sure you were mentioned apart from the others."

Isaac looked back down. "I think I worry a little more than the others."

"Why? I'm nothing special."

"You are special. You're basically our ambassador of peace. You're our alpha's sister, one of the few family members left. Someone we've sworn to protect." He explained. "And you help me a lot with training and all that."

Claudia quirked a brow. "Isaac, I volunteered to help you because you were genuinely interested in what I knew." She replied. She tilted her head. "You're a damn good wolf. And you're loyal beyond most of the others' ability." She knew it was odd to bring up Erica and Boyd leaving, but she saw it as an act of defiance, of fear. Isaac had stayed, helped, defended the territory. "You deserve being in the pack more than anyone."

"I just don't want to cause problems. I know I'm not the ideal beta. I don't even know why Derek picked me."

"Me."

Isaac's thought process halts as that one word registers in his brain. "You?" he asked, watching as the girl's eyes stayed focused on the flames. "What do you mean?"

"I'm the one that gave Derek your name." Claudia replied. "It was easier for me to scout for potentials than Derek. So I looked for people we could help, if they chose to take the bite."

"If we survived."

Claudia's eyes shifted towards Isaac and she nodded once. "Yeah." She let her gaze linger on the other beta before she looked back at the fire. "I can't say you were the first to catch my eye, Isaac, but you were the one that stuck with me. I couldn't get you out of my head. Of all the people the bite would help, you would benefit the most." Reaching out a hand, she let the fire brush lightly against her skin. "And you smelled good. Unlike most humans."

Isaac watched her, a little stunned. This was the longest actual conversation they'd had that hadn't turned to training since he was turned. Running his tongue over his lips, he tried not to think about the space of the cave. "So you knew about my dad?"

Claudia shook her head. "That was a hunch. I just read you." She gave a soft laugh and looked over at him. A soft smile was on her face and she patted the spot beside her. "The wind isn't as bad on this side." She assured. "I don't bite." Gaining a laugh from Isaac made her lips curve up again, and when the male sat beside her, there was an extra warmth, and not just around her. She could feel the warmth inside, and she fought to control the urge of the wolf inside, who was practically begging her for a taste of the turned beta beside her. "I've fallen asleep here several times." She said.

Isaac looked at her curiously. "Alone?"

Claudia nodded idly. "Mhmm. Peter always tracks me down if I'm gone overnight. Carries me home and tucks me in." She gave a light chuckle.

"Do you think he's better?" Isaac asked. The silence made him freeze. Had he said the wrong thing?

Claudia shrugged. "I mean, I think he is, but sometimes I have to pause and wonder. I mean, before Der killed him…he wasn't exactly an ideal alpha. And he kind of abused the power. Even if he was insane." She fiddled with the sleeve of her jacket, which was beginning to dry. She was so focused on the sleeve that it was like she was in a different world.

Isaac didn't know what led him to do it…but he leaned in and adjusted to lay his lips against hers. A few moments later, he pulled back, much to the dismay of the inner wolf, who wanted more than just a brief contact. Unable to stop himself, he bit his lip and looked down. "I should go." He said and stood quickly.

"Isaac-" Claudia started to say it was…what was it? The pause to figure it out gave the younger beta the moment he needed and when she looked up, Isaac was gone. A part of her felt rather deflated. The wolf was clawing at her begging her to chase after him, but Claudia always retorted the same each time she felt it. And say what? Do what? He clearly regrets it. After a long bout of internal arguing, the wolf huffed and quieted, leaving the girl alone with her lips still practically burning from the contact of Isaac's.