AWAKENING

He couldn't figure out where he was it was so dark. He had so many questions, but his head hurt and he felt like someone was sitting on his chest, he moved just a little and pain course through him causing him to gasp and cry. He hated that he was crying. He hadn't done much since his mom died even during his panic attacks he didn't cry. But he was in so much pain. He heard some movement in the room, a warm hand stroking his brow, while the other seemed to be resting on his bare stomach; how it was bare he had no idea. He was shivering now, which caused even more pain to course through him. He cracked his eyes open just a little, the light was so intense, he could make out dark short, spiky hair, chiseled jaw and those eyebrows that were so very expressive.

"Der…Derek what are you doing? What happened?"Stiles asked a bit panicked.

"Stiles calm down, you are in the hospital and I'm trying to take some of the pain away. " He whispered answering stiles questions but not really explain much. He said all this while touching Stiles stomach gently trying to take away his pain.

Stiles wasn't sure how to react, he liked how Derek's touch felt. How he seemed to care. He wasn't sure what to make of all of this. Derek always seemed so distant and Stiles always thought that Derek didn't want anything to do with him. So having him all up close and in his personal space was disconcerting at the very least. This was a new heady experience; one Stiles hoped could be repeated in the near future.

He felt the pain recede, to a more bearable degree at least. Once the pain became less he opened his eyes a bit wider to look at Derek. He noticed how his brow seemed to be furrowed in confusion or concern, he wasn't sure which one.

"Thank you Derek, You didn't have to do that in fact, I don't understand why you are here." He mumbled not daring to look at Derek. He didn't want to betray how he felt. He knew logically that Derek could probably tell something was wrong but that didn't mean Stiles was ready to tell him either. He didn't want to be hurt and he thought for sure if he said anything he would be.

Derek watched him, noticing that he still seemed to be in some sort of pain. He didn't understand why Stiles seemed to be feeling anguish. As far as he knew there wasn't anything that could cause him to feel that way.

"Stiles what's wrong?" He asked hesitantly

Stiles wouldn't look at him. He tried to calm the ache in his heart, he didn't want to tell Derek and be rejected. He wasn't sure he could handle that. Especially not right now.

"Nothing Der, Why don't you just go home you don't need to stay here. I will be fine." He said looking out the window.

"Stiles I'm not leaving, talk to me I know something is bothering you. You can't hide that from me. So please just talk to me. Do you know how scared I was when…. When you weren't breathing when we pulled you out of the water, I can't go through that again. I need you. Please will you at least look at me?" He said sadly trying to get Stiles to understand.

Derek was never good at showing his feeling with anyone. Especially since the fire, but with Stiles he was finding it more and easier to open up to those around him. At first he didn't understand why this was. Peter (crazy uncle peter) opened his eyes to what was really going on.

"Pup, you need to tell him. It's obvious to anyone with eyes how you feel for him. You need to let him know. You never know what will happen. Don't let something bad like this happen again without telling him your true feelings. It's very obvious that he has some for you has well but is not doing or saying anything about it because he is scared you will reject him. Get your head out of your ass before you lose the best thing that has ever happened to you or this pack. They love him and would do anything for him, Even if half the time they don't act like it. They would be lost if something happened to him. Man up!"

Derek remembered this conversation vividly. He shuddered at how close to his true feelings Peter seemed to be. But he was still so scared to tell Stiles. He rubbed his face and started pacing, really wanting to pull this stubborn boy into his arms, make sure he was ok, and never let go. His wolf was in turmoil over what he could feel rolling off of Stiles all the pain and anguish was making him want to go out and howl in pain with him. He wanted to make it all stop for Stiles.

"Stiles, Dammit talk to me. I can't stand this I can feel your pain. Why are you hurting? What is hurting you? Please let me help you. "He said has he stopped in front of Stiles trying to draw his attention away from the window. What he saw when he looked at his face was tears slowly coursing down his cheeks.

Derek leaned forward and cupping Stiles face he gently wiped off the tears falling down his cheeks. He hated seeing Stiles like this. He was always so strong, Never seemed to let anything get him down; until now.

Stiles leaned into his touch, enjoying the warmth of his hands and the gentleness of his touch.

"Derek I don't really know what's going on with me all I know is I couldn't see you die, I couldn't let you go. I'm not sure how…. How you feel but I know that seeing you go under like that I couldn't take it. I need you in my life. In whatever way I can have you. I know that the feeling isn't mutual, you made that painfully obvious with the telling me you didn't trust me. But the thing is Derek I … I trust you. "He said softly trying to avoid those green eyes. He pulled away. "Please, Derek just leave, for right now I…. I can't handle this I need time to think. "He whispered looking down at the bed, tears still falling from his eyes.

Derek pulls away at the request. He wanted so much to talk to him. But it was clear that at this moment Stiles wasn't ready and wasn't sure of his feelings. He wasn't going to push and if him staying away is what Stiles wanted he would do that.

"Stiles, if you need anything please call or let one of the others know. Someone is going to be here all the time though, but I will leave you alone, until you're ready to talk, if you ever are." He said mumbling the last part too himself. He walked out of the room shoulders slumped, sadness seeping from him. He passed Boyd in the hall who could feel the sadness rolling off his Alpha, It made all of the wolves feel the need to go out and howl in anguish at what the Alpha was feeling.

"Boss don't worry I will keep an eye on him. Try and get some sleep." He said has he laid a gentle hand on Derek's shoulder. Derek stood there absorbing the closeness of his Beta before continuing out of the hospital to run the forest, hoping to get rid of this pain around his heart.