Helloo!

Thank you for all the followers and the fav, still missing your reviews, but at least I know you care.

To the Story.

#$

I worked all Saturday on the Alpha Packs project and came up with some very cool ideas. By Sunday I decided I was most definitely going to chill, and obviously that entitled that I would spend part of my morning cyber stalking Derek, all over again.

I was now already confortable with the idea that I had developed a small crush, ok obsession, with the guy; but hey, as long as I didn't act on it or made a fool out of myself I was ok.

On the afternoon I went to visit Scott and Allison and played a bit with Melanie, Scott and Allison's first daughter. She was five, so you could say her and I were very much alike, maturely wise.

By Monday morning I was sitting at my desk, Muse playing as back ground, looking at a layout of Alphas: Revenge of the Betas. We were trying to do an Xbox game. I wasn't really that happy on the idea of venturing on console games but Scott was enthusiastic about it, and I trusted Scott, especially his instincts.

Suddenly my music was shut off and Erica was standing next to my desk, a finger on the mute button of my speakers.

"Sorry" a not sorry at all expression "I kept talking and you were just not responding."

We had settled into a nice relationship where she learned that I was not as geeky as I looked and I that she was not as bitchy as she wanted people to believe.

"It's ok. Next time I'll just chop your hand off. What can I do for you? And why do you smell like food?"

She lifted her hands showing she was grabbing a large brown paper bag.

"These are actually for you. Some guy from the Hale floor, an intern or something, brought them."

"Oh?" I took the bag from her hand and opened it taking out the content. The smell was mouthwatering. They kind of smelled like

"Fries! Curly fries!" I opened the box quickly and proceeded to put a couple in my mouth. "God. These are orgasmic." I said with my mouth open.

"You're disgusting. Here," she said handing me a note "he also gave me this."

I wiped my hands on my jeans and proceeded to open the note, stopping myself just to look at Erica.

"Ok, ok I'll leave you to your damn note. See if I care."

"Love you too, Erica."

"Fuck off" a smile on her face leaving the office.

Rapidly I proceeded to open the note:

Apparently these are the best Curly fries of the state.

As a bribe for my lack of tact.

The note wasn't even signed. I didn't even know if he wrote it himself, but at least I knew it was from him.

I popped a couple more fries in and I have to admit I was making some really nasty sounds.

"Please don't tell me you're masturbating in the office Stiles? We have an open door policy, dude!" Scott had a hand covering his eyes.

"No, you idiot" at least I tried to say. I had like 10 fries in my mouth.

"What are you eating? OH, curly fries! Can I have some?" he was making his was to my desk and I quickly snatched the fries away.

"No! Mine!"

"Possessive much?"

"Yes"

At that same moment Lydia came storming in.

"AHA, It was you! I knew it was you! That little fucker, he wouldn't tell me who or from whom they were for, but I knew! It was you!" she had a perfectly manicured finger pointing at me. I, on the other hand, was stuffing more fries in my mouth. Scott was so no getting any of my fries.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Scott pleading to Lydia.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me!?" Lydia again looking madly at me.

"I just got them" I tried to say, I don't know how many fries were in my mouth by now. Lost count. Can one choke on curly fries?

"I know you just got them you idiot, but when did you tell him you liked them?"

"At the elevator" again, tried to say.

"You met him again!?" wow, she really got that?

"Uhm yeah, every day since Monday" she opened her mouth to yell some more and I interrupted adding "but but wait wait, it was only the minute ride in the elevator, I swear!" I had eaten the fries I had in my mouth and was carefully protecting the remaining ones still in the brown bag.

"What the hell is going on!?" Scott yelled.

#$

"So he likes you?"

We were sitting at the small lounge in my office. Scott and Lydia were sitting on the sofa and I was on the chair facing them. It felt like I was being judged.

"Of course not. He was just being nice cause he acted like a sourwolf." I said putting my feet on the coffee table in front of me.

"You're using Alpha Packs quotes to describe him now?" Scott asked with raised brows.

"Hey! It's going to stick! I created that word. I mean a lot of people use Alpha Packs quotes now, search the web, you'd be amazed."

"Don't change the subject Stiles, I know you. Do you like him?"

I was still trying to wipe the grease out of my hands. Scott still giving me hated looks for not sharing. They were my fries! He could go eat his zucchinis and cherry tomatoes, but he was not having my fries.

"Come on Lydia," knowing it was futile to even try and lie "you knew I liked him the first moment I saw him. Doesn't mean he's going to like me back or anything. We've only talked like in elevators, and I'm constantly feeling like I need to have my elevator speech ready every day at 8:30PM. Oh, and no pressure at all but, this speech needs to be interesting enough that he won't grunt or captivating enough to spark a conversation."

"I think he likes you. I mean it's the buzz in the office, that he apparently likes someone. Recently he talks to people more, and he said hi to one of the janitors."

"Randy?"

"Yes Randy! See, how do you know that? And he's leaving at 8:30! He doesn't leave at 8:30 he leaves at 10 or 12, sometimes at 1 am. Not at 8:30. And now I get it's all to see you!" She had that AHA look.

"Well I don't know. He barely says two words to me. So I don't know. I mean, don't get my hopes up, please. Ok. Cause. It's not healthy. He's like this perfect guy, hot guy, who's got the world at his feet. I mean, why would he take an interest on me when he can have anyone in the world, and I mean anyone?"

"Stiles, stop the lack of self-esteem bitchiness my ears are bleeding. Enjoy the fact that someone may like you" Scott interrupted my emo-monologue. "If he doesn't, then he's horse shit. Actually he's still horse shit, even if he likes you or he will be up until he has proven that he can make you happy." Scott replied.

"Are you suddenly gay too, Scott? or are the pregnancy hormones kicking in?"

He just gave me the finger. Mature. This was the father of a five years old and a, soon to be, baby boy.

"Did you know he's coming back?" Lyds started

"Tomorrow, I know." I interrupted

"You know what? I'm not even going to ask how you know that." Putting her hands up in surrender "Anyways, he never comes twice in a month, ever. Like never. So man up and ask him out."

"I can't do that Lyds. What if he's not gay, have you seen him with anyone? No. So, there. And what if he only sees me like a friend? Maybe he needs a friend. He had pretty shitty stuff happen in his life."

"So did you." added Lydia

"Yeah but I had you guys. Who did this guy have, his crazy uncle Peter?"

At this both of them went silent.

"Well, then ask him out as a friend. We could all go, if you like. It'd be like a group thing." I think that's the best idea Scott has had in a while.

"Yeah, I mean, I could to that, right?"

"Yes."

"Totally."

#$

By Tuesday I had decided to wear my red hoodie again. This thing was what got everything started so this could help end everything or start something new.

I was pacing the elevator since 7:15pm. Barely got any work done today. My palms sweaty, my heart racing a mile a minute, I felt like a teen all over again. I mean, I know I behaved immaturely sometime, but I was still a man. I could ask someone out, I've done it before, thousands of time, ok not thousand, maybe dozens, ok a couple of time. Shit my love life was pathetic.

Scott and Lydia had decided the best place to 'hang' was a small pub not very far away from Hale building. It was a great place, small enough to be discrete; not many people went there, mostly old dudes; and, since it was close enough, if he felt uncomfortable he could just say he had to get back or if he said no at the beginning he was a short distant to swing by if he changed his mind. We were 'going to go' Thursday so he would have plenty of time to think it over.

I had rehearsed this one minute or less speech on how I was going to break it to him like a million times. I knew how each word connected with the other and I knew every face I was supposed to make, but the moment the elevator doors opened it totally flu out of my head.

Derek was a mess. His nose was all red, his eyes were small and, was that a handkerchief on his hand?

"Are you ok?" I stepped into the elevator, close enough that I was invading his personal space.

"Got a cold." He said, putting his handkerchief over his mouth to talk.

"I can see that. Do you have a fever or something?" instinctively I reach out to touch his forehead. He was really hot, literally. "You have a fever" I looked at his eyes and they were huge, surprise written all over them. That's when I noticed that I was nearly caging him to the wall.

"Sorry about that." Taking two steps back "Are you taking something? Did you drink something for the fever? How's your stomach?"

He closed his eyes and took a couple of calming breaths.

"Too much work, I forgot." His hand massaging his closed eyes.

"Dude, you're kidding? You look like hell" and he did, ok maybe not. I mean, him looking all shitty like he did now was still not even me after whole new wardrobe change and extreme makeover.

"It's Derek."

"What?" not really understanding. I mean, I already knew his name.

"Not dude, Derek."

"Oh, sorry. Nasty habit. So you want me to get something for you. There's a drug store nearby. Did you eat something?"

"No, couldn't hold anything in." He said to a spot on the door, his face confused. This was a face I've never seen on him. Angry, unemotional, with a frown? sure, but confused? Never.

"Ok, so we'll get you food, maybe a soup or something; oh, and something for your fever and your runny nose." I turned around and noticed that we had been on my floor for the whole conversation. So I pressed the lobby button.

We made it to the lobby not saying much. He sneezed a couple of times and I said bless you, but that was it. He kept looking at the spot on the door. His cheeks were flaming red, but that was probably from the fever.

We made it to the lobby and walked side by side. We had never done this before. Usually one of us would walk faster, the town car always waiting for him outside.

This time was no different, as we walked outside the town car was already there, the door already open and held by the driver.

He looked at me questioningly.

"My car is that way; do you want to take your car? I mean I can always drive you. Or you can just tell me where you live and I'll drop the things at the lobby or something. Or maybe you just prefer for your driver to get you the things; I can tell him where, although he probably knows where to get soup and medicine and stuff. I mean I don't want to intrude or anything I just" he lifted a hand signaling for me to stop talking, so I did.

He walked to his driver, who was still waiting for him with the car door open.

My heart was on my mouth. Was he getting in without even telling me off or anything? Fuck, I had overdone it. I knew it. Fuck.

He stopped in front of his driver, saying something I didn't get and then he turned around and started walking towards me, his driver shutting the door without him.

"Let's go get my soup."

#$

30 minutes later we had his soup, a sandwich for me, Nyquil, Dayquil, some honey and cinnamon tea and some Tylenol. I had also bought a thermometer, as I was fairly sure he did not have one. We didn't talk much, he kept sneezing and I kept saying bless you. I was feeling bad for the guy, he truly looked like a mess.

We arrived at his huge apartment building and we were parking my Prius in one of his parking spots. Yeah, I was a millionaire with a Prius, sue me, I liked this car, it was a smart car.

Derek, on the other hand, hated my car. He had complained on how small the car was, that he couldn't even move and how I should get a bigger one. I totally shut him off with my "Don't worry sourwolf, next time we go out we'll take your gas and space consuming limo; I'm sure there's plenty of space to move and do stuff" winking at him.

Ok, so I might have overstepped my boundaries a little with that one but yeah, he was being a jerk, and I liked my car.

The ride on the elevator was fairly quiet. I knew I was going to start developing a weird kink for elevators.

He opened his apartment door without even inserting a key. I've read of this sensor palm thing before, but I think I haven't been rich long enough to actually seen it.

His apartment was out of this world, it was enormous. I mean, my place was pretty big and all, but this place, wow. He kept walking to what I later found out to be the kitchen, not even giving me time to snoop around. The decoration was minimalistic, furniture and wall either black or white, everything perfectly in place. In my brief, sheriff son, ninja style, millisecond inspection I notice there were no pictures, just weird abstract paintings here and there.

"Dude!" one nasty look "I mean, Derek! I love your kitchen. It's amazing!"

He totally ignored me and went to get a glass of water.

"You want something?" with that I snapped back to reality.

"No, I'm good. You're the one that looks like shit. Just sit down." Placing the bags I was carrying on the center island. I took the glass from his hand and moved him to sit on one of the stools "Here, start eating this soup, I'll start the tea."

He indicated with one finger where I could find a pot to boil the water. Minutes later the tea was ready and I was sitting on the stool in front of him watching him drink the tea, having already devoured my sandwich.

"So what was your plan exactly, die?" my elbow resting on the top of the table my hand supporting my chin.

"Uhm?"

"Why didn't you just leave early or something, if you didn't feel well? I mean what's the point of being the boss if you can't really leave."

At this his cheeks turned red. Was he blushing? Oh my God, was he waiting for 8:30, for me?

"You could have just texted me or something." I said putting my hands on my knees, my mouth going completely dry.

"I didn't have your number." He put the cup down, looking at it and then turning it in its little plate. "Not legally, anyways" this he whispered to himself, I still heard it.

So he had done a bit of snooping. Is ok, I mean I hacked a couple of pages to find info about him, so it was fair game.

"Give me your phone, I'll add it." He looked at me with a neutral face and handed me his phone.

I entered the numbers and took a funny picture of myself. Then I pressed the call button and my phone started ringing. I noticed he was frowning up until he realized I was calling myself from his own phone.

"Ok, I know you look like shit, but try and smile for this photo, ok?" pointing my camera at him.

"I don't do pictures and I don't do smiles."

"Do it for Stiles" a goofy smile on my face. Still no smile. "Oh come on! That totally rhymed, you were supposed to smile. Ok, whatever. I'll just leave it like that. Faceless Derek. I'll probably mix you up with Derek our sandwich boy from down the block." I pretended to put away my phone.

"Just make it quick." A frown on his face.

"Yey! Come on, say: Stiles makes me happy!" stretching the 'y' in happy; at this Derek finally chuckled a bit and I took the picture. He was sick, he had a runny nose and a fever and still the picture looked like an add for Armani. I kept looking at the picture not really believing it was there.

"Was it that bad?" he was now a mirror of my previous position: his hand supporting his chin.

"You, bad? In a picture? I don't think those words go together." I had already said it when my brain finally caught hold of my mouth, fuck. He was grinning.

"Ok, mister let's take your temperature. Put this on" taking the thermometer out of the bag.

He left my hand hanging, got up from his stool and started walking somewhere out of the kitchen. When he saw I wasn't following him he turned around.

"Aren't you coming?"

"Where?"

"My room. I need to get out of these clothes."

I nearly fell of the stool but composed myself quickly and followed him to his room. 'I'm only helping a sick friend, I'm only helping a sick friend' my mantra at the moment.

We walked into his room and I was stunned, this bedroom was incredible.

"I'll go change" indicating with his hand to a door that I assumed was a walk-in closet.

"This room is amazing."

His room was a picture straight out of a magazine. A dark gray color on the walls, dark wooden floors, a chimney (yeah, a fucking chimney inside his bedroom) was burning on the back, fire crackling from time to time. Dark drapes covered one wall completely, hanging from sealing to floor, opened just to let the city lights come in and a small view of Chicago's sky view. One of the walls was covered by a gigantic bookshelf, filled with what I assumed were all first editions. His bed, oh his bed. Urmm lets go back to the books.

A couple minutes later I was still snooping around, my hands in my pockets just to prevent me from opening any drawers. I had found what seemed to be the only picture in the apartment. It was a family picture, carefully placed in a small stand on the wall, almost like an altar. I instantly recognized Derek; he looked to be no more than 13 or 14.

"My family, 2 years before the fire."

I jumped as I felt his breath on my neck. "Holy fuck" grabbing my jumping heart.

He immediately looked tense and took 3 steps back.

"Sorry, I just, you startle me."

He had changed into a silk black pants and a black t-shirt that seemed to be painted on his oh so wonderful body, again looking pulled from a magazine. A couple of water drops still on his neck. Had he taken a shower? How long have I been snooping around?

I took a step towards him and he took another step back. I tried again, with the same results, he would just step back, like he was cautious (afraid?) of me.

"Dude chill, I'm just going to take your temperature." He frowned "Derek, I mean Derek I'm just going to take your temperature, ok?" I said in what I hope sounded like a soft and soothing voice. It felt like I was approaching a wild animal.

I took a couple of steps forward and this time he didn't step back.

"Open up."

He looked straight to me with his piercing eyes, licked his lips before opening his mouth, and I swear to god I almost dropped the damn thermometer. Trying to keep my hand as steady as possible I placed the thermometer under his tongue and then took a step back, just to make sure I didn't jump him or something.

"Ok, let's get you to bed." I started pushing him to the bed, him humoring me by walking. I then took the covers off and he got in.

"So you got a bit of a fever, but not much" I said a couple of minutes later, taking out the thermometer and inspecting it "let's give you a couple of Tylenols for that, it'll help. Do you need the Nyquil to sleep? or are you feeling better after the tea and soup?" by now I was sitting on the bed next to him, his eyes fixed on mine.

"I feel better, breathing better too." Still looking intensively at me.

"Ok" I took a deep breath, my eyes still fixed on his. I needed to get out of here, this guy was killing me. There is only so much my nerdy body can take. I started to get up the bed when he grabbed my wrist, my heart skipping a beat.

"Are you leaving?" his eyes, that were normally very stoic, were panicking.

"I'm just going to get you some water for the Tylenol. I'll be right back." Placing my hand over his.

He let go of my wrist.

#$

"Here, drink this." The two pills on my hand and a glass of water on the other.

Swallowing the pills he placed the glass of water on the table next to his bed and snuggled back in bed. He looked so vulnerable, so childish, relaxed; contrasting with his day to day appearance. How many people have seen him like this? He was always so strong, so tense. It made me feel kind of important that he would let me see him like this and I was really containing myself not run my hand through his hair and snuggle right in.

"I should probably go. You need to rest, and it's late." Looking at my phone "it's almost 11, you must be tired."

"I don't want you to go" he said looking at me intensively a bit of hunger in his eyes. I swallowed loudly.

Was he actually saying what I think he was saying? Or was my overly enthusiastic imagination kicking in?

At that, he sneezed and it completely broke whatever spell was casted. He looked mad at himself. Or maybe I was again just imagining the whole thing. I truly needed to see my shrink on those anti-hallucinatory drugs.

I smiled and, succumbing to my emotions, ran my hand through his hair. He closed his eyes.

"Just rest, ok. We'll talk tomorrow." He nodded and well, I left with a smile that lasted the whole night.

#$%%

What do you think?

Much Love.

Seida.