I wanted to focus a story around Derek Hale and a possible human love interest. How he would act, if he would accept her? The story is basically set in the beginning of season 2. Gerard has arrived in Beacon Hills, and there's a Kanima. I don't think I can tailor this story around the show any further, since the focus is between Derek and OC.

VALERIE

So there I am, driving my car back from the grocery store in the new town I just moved to called Beacon Hills, singing along with the radio. The road is basically deserted, as this town is fairly small and unknown, and it winds back and forth through a thick forest.

Then I notice it: roadkill. Ewww. Although this creature is huge, and not like the standard deer I would expect. It's dark and the blood looks fresh. I frown, squinting at it. What is it? From this angle, it looks like a...

I slam on my brakes and pull the car over before I reach it. That's a person. A guy is lying on the side of the road, bleeding. I jump out of the car and rush to his side. His chest is moving, so he's breathing, but his eyes are closed and he's awfully pale. There's a lot of blood on the ground. Swallowing hard, I grip his shoulder and shake him gently.

"Hey! Hey, can you hear me?"

The guy groans, but he doesn't open his eyes.

My heart is racing. What on earth happened? A hit and run? His leather jacket is dusty and torn, his jeans in a similar state. His short dark hair is mussed. Oh man, I've got to get this guy to a hospital. His injuries look severe.

"I'm going to take you to the hospital," I tell him, despite his lack of response earlier. I wrap his arm around my shoulders, clutch him around his waist, and stagger to my feet. This guy is heavy. He's taller than my 5'9", probably about 6', and from what I felt of his shoulder, he's incredibly built. All that muscle is hard for me to lift. He's dazed, but he's stumbling with me towards my car, so I think it's progress. I manage to open the passenger door with one hand and guide him in the seat. His eyes flutter and I see a flash of beautiful gray green eyes under his thick, dark lashes.

I dash back to the driver's side and hop in, starting the car.

"Now where's the hospital? I think it's over on Green, which I think is back that way..." I shift the car into drive and start to pull onto the road when a hand closes over my wrist in a painfully tight grip. I gasp and look over at my injured passenger. He's staring at me so intensely that I feel like I should be melting. His hair, his eyebrows, the stubble growing in on his cheeks is dark, dangerously dark, and those eyes are so bright within their dark surroundings.

"Don't... don't take me to the... hospital," he manages. His voice is smoky, but there's an edge behind those words.

I'm shocked that he doesn't want to go to the hospital. After a moment of surprised silence, during which I stare open-mouthed at him, I finally splutter, "Well, where do you want to go? You're hurt, you need help!"

His eyes close briefly. "Where... do you live?"

"Not far. I think." He frowns at me, and I rush to explain. "I just moved here a few days ago. Still trying to figure out where everything is."

"Take me there."

"Take you... to my house? Why not your place? I don't often invite over strangers I just met."

He cries out in pain, then presses his lips together firmly. He has closed his eyes and his head is turned away from me. My heart twists to hear him in pain, and I wonder again why he's refusing the hospital.

"Fine, we'll go to my house." I pull the car back on the road and continue on to my house. "What have I gotten myself into this time?" I mutter under my breath. He twitches, but says nothing.

After a short moment of silence, I glance over at him. His breathing is shallow and his eyes are still closed. "Hey, you awake?" He doesn't answer, so I reach over and touch his shoulder again, nudging. He starts and his eyes snap open. For a second I think he's about to bite my hand off.

"You should probably not sleep with those injuries."

"I don't think this is... that kind of injury."

"Well, to be honest, your injuries are kind of freaking me out. And I'm afraid of what might happen if you sleep, okay?"

I think I see the corners of his mouth move up, but when I look at him, his face is serious. "Then talk to me. That will keep me awake."

"Okay... well, I'm Valerie Peters, and like I said, I just moved here for my job. I'm an astronomer, and I figured it would be easier to study the sky in a smaller town."

"Good observation."

"But that type of work doesn't really have a steady cash flow, so I'm also looking for a waitressing job on the side. What's your name?"

"Derek. Derek Hale. Did you move far to come here?"

"Not too far. I'm from a small town in southern Oregon, very close to the border of California. So a few hours."

"Your family there?"

"Some, yeah. I have an older sister who moved to Florida because she didn't like the cold in Oregon. Even though it's not that bad. What about you? Is your family here?"

He's quiet a moment. "Most of them are dead."

There's a moment of silence during which my innards turn to ice and I kick myself internally. Ugh, this is one of those moments I wish I'd been tongue tied. "Oh my gosh. I'm sorry."

"You didn't know."

We're both quiet the rest of the short drive. I have no idea how to respond to his last statement, so I keep my mouth shut. He's wincing, his face in a grimace, so I assume his pain is too great to think of something to say. I lose myself in my thoughts, mostly wondering what on earth possessed me to pick up this stranger, put him in my car, and take him to my house. I debate whether I should just force him out, but he seems genuinely injured and I'm not getting the con artist vibe from him.

I pull up to my tiny house and put the car in park. "We're here," I announce. He replies with a grunt. I help him out of the car and guide him to the house. He leans heavily on me, and I catch a whiff of a musky, sexy scent coming off him. My gosh, he smells amazing. Aside from the fresh blood, of course. I try not to pant as I support him to my couch.

He collapses there and inhales sharply. "I need you to... bind the wounds. Do you have... old sheets to use... as binding?"

"Yeah, I'll grab them." I turn and start to head to my closet, where the box of unpacked bathroom and bedroom items are.

"Valerie."

I look back and find his eyes on me. "You'll need to... clean them as well."