Eric comes to with a start. Looking around he sees he is in a bedroom. Sitting in a chair next to the bed he sees the younger guy he remembers as Isaac looking at him grinning. "How do you feel?" He asks softly moving over to sit on the edge of the bed. "I feel like absolute hell, but I have a feeling I should feel much worse." Eric replies looking down at his bandage covered chest and arms. Trying to sit up is a bad idea as pain shoots through his body. "No no not yet, it's only been a few hours. You're still in pretty bad shape. Your transition has been…. Different." Isaac hesitantly reaches over and brushes some hair out of Eric's eyes. "What do you mean different?" Eric asks looking up in to Isaacs blue eyes. "Well for one thing you should still be asleep." Derek's voice from the door draws both their attention. "You are a little bit of a mystery Eric. Typically a newly bitten person will sleep a full 24 hours before waking. Also, all existing wounds are usually gone within the first couple of hours. However about half of your wounds started closing as soon as we got you back to the house but then nothing else has happened. Anything you'd like to tell us?" Eric looks from Derek to Isaac and stammers "I…I don't know what you mean." "He means are you some kind of supernatural freak of nature with ulterior motives." Blurts out Stiles shoving past Derek and in to the room. Derek growls at Stiles and continues. "You either die or you turn when you're bitten. Cases of anything else happening are extremely rare. I should be able to sense your wolf by now both as your Alpha but also by scent. As far as I can tell you're still human." "Well that's just my luck. I never get to have nice things." Eric says flatly. The three pack mates in the room share a look. "Look Derek. I don't know what to tell you. I don't know anything about the supernatural apart from what I've seen in the movies or on TV. I had a job interview today at JMH. I mentioned to the guy interviewing me how nice it was to see actual forest. He said I should take a walk on one of the trails in the preserve. I did, I was attacked, now I'm here." Derek's eyes narrow and he says nothing for a moment. Then he and Isaac both looked towards the window. Their enhanced hearing allowing them to hear the car coming up the road towards the house. He looks at Isaac "Will you bring him up here?" "Yes." Isaac pats Eric gently on the arm and walks out of the room. Missing how Stiles eye brows raise in surprise as he glances at Derek.
Eric is staring at Derek when a moment later Isaac returns with a new arrival. "I understand we have a bit of a mystery on our hands. How long ago was he bitten?" "Five hours ago." Answers Derek still staring at Eric. "Interesting, Mr?" Deaton looks at Eric. "Anderson, Eric Anderson." "Mr. Anderson what are you feeling right now physically." "Incredibly sore, throbbing, I feel like I have fire in my blood, whatever happened here." Eric gestures to the wound on his hip from Derek "Hurts the worst. It's burning" Eric winces as he touches the bandage. "Why didn't you say something?!" Isaac asks alarmed. "I never had the chance I woke up then Mr. Frowny there." Eric points at Derek while Stiles nearly falls out of his chair. "Came in and started interrogating me like I would know why his magic bite hasn't worked." Derek's eyes flash red as he clenches his jaw. "I was trying to determine if you're a danger to my pack!" Stiles puts one hand on Derek's arm while he rubs his other arm up and down Derek's back. "Let's let Deaton work his magic before you blow out your frown muscles. We'll get to the bottom of this." He says softly. To everyone's amazement in the room Derek closes his eyes and exhales forcefully. Most of the tension leaving his shoulders.
Deaton clears his throat. "There may be a very simple explanation. Mr. Anderson are you on any medication?" Eric gets a guarded look "Why?" "Yes." Isaac and Derek answer in unison. Eric looks sharply at Isaac. "Sorry but it's pretty obvious, you kind of reek of it." "How do you know?" Eric asks shocked. Derek taps his nose "One of the benefits of being a wolf. You can smell much more than a human." "What kinds of medications are you on it could explain a great many things. I could ask them to leave the room if you'd like" Offers Deaton gently. With a shrug Eric returns his gaze to Deaton. "Yes I'm on a couple of things. I have a mild heart condition that requires medication. I have nerve damage in my left arm and hip from a traffic accident that causes constant pain, and a couple of things for depression." Eric says the last bit softly refusing to meet anyone's eyes in the room. "As I suspected. I won't know until I can do some tests but I have a feeling that your medication is interfering with the transition. It is not unheard of but is very rare. Can you tell me the names of the medications you're on? I'll need to do some tests. I'll also need some of your blood." Over the next few minutes the doctor draws some of Eric's blood and writes down the names of the medication Eric has in his system. Before he leaves he fixes Eric with a look. "Mr. Anderson there is no need to feel shame, we all of us have our burdens to bear."
"So I guess it's the difference between TV and reality but I don't feel all that supernatural." Eric says to no one in particular. "Well not sure if you noticed or not, but you can't tell where the needle was." Isaac points out with a grin gesturing at Eric's arm. "Hmmm that's interesting maybe the change has just been slowed down?" Stiles comes over and looks closer. "It's really hard to say dude. You're showing some signs but you're still pretty much human like me." So you don't feel anything? Uh mentally? Like another presence or emotions which you're not used to?" he asks. Eric doesn't say anything for a moment and appears to concentrate for a bit. "No not really. The only thing out of the norm is the pain." "What hurts?" asks Isaac sitting on the side of the bed. "Pretty much everywhere, this one on my waist burns quite a bit. It's nothing unbearable but it's quite a bit more pain than I have dealt with before. I feel hot like my blood is much hotter than usual. When I first woke up it was barely tolerable. Either I've gotten used to it or it has died down." "The one on your side is where Derek bit you. The hot blood is probably the wolf venom." Supplies Stiles. "I can help with the pain if you'd let me." Isaac asks almost shyly. "How does that work?" asks Eric. "Wolves are able to pull the pain out. It doesn't make it go away permanently but it's faster than pills." Isaac reaches over for Eric's hand while he is speaking. Stopping and looking at Eric with a raised eye brow waiting permission. Eric nods and Isaac gently takes Eric's hand in his and closes his eyes. After a few seconds black veins start to appear on Isaacs's wrist and slowly move up his arm. Eric gasps and then slowly settles deeper in the bed as his body relaxes for the first time since waking. "That's incredible thanks." He says sleepily. Isaac gifts him with a smile that lights up the room. "Are you hungry do you want anything? You look pretty sleepy maybe you should sleep some?" Eric smiles up at Isaac "I'm just going... to..." Eric's eyes blink a few times and then he's asleep. Isaac reaches out and smooth's Eric's out of control hair a bit and pulls the blanket up further. Smirking Stiles tugs on Isaac's hand. "Come on lover boy let's go see what Mr. Frowny is up to." Isaac nods and follows Stiles out of the room and down stairs where Derek was just closing the front door. "Think we need to keep an eye on him?" Stiles asks slinging himself on the couch. Derek frowns and takes his chair and looks at Isaac who is staring out the window. "Isaac." He calls to get the young betas attention. When Isaac continues to look out the window Derek repeats himself. "Isaac!" Started out of his reverie Isaac turns to look at Derek with a sheepish look on his face. He takes a seat by Stiles and looks at the slightly annoyed Alpha. "Do you think he is your mate?" Derek asks. Isaacs and Stiles's eyes both go wide. "What? No of course not! Why would you? I don't even know him! I... maybe..." Stiles snorts at the uncharacteristic rant from the normally unflappable Isaac. "I don't know." He admits and sinks lower in the couch chin on his chest. "Well dude you know you've been unusually…nice to him." Stiles offers. Isaac doesn't look up. "I can't be nice to someone without wanting to mount them is that it? You know I'm not like that anymore…." Derek smirks. "Isaac." He says softly. "You ripped the Omega in half. I've never seen or felt such fury from you before. Plus the desire and want that was rolling off you up there was almost stifling. I've never seen this type of reaction out of you to anyone else. You typically are pretty untrusting of strangers and you never touch them." Looking up and slumping further back in to the couch Isaac shakes his head. "I don't know what exactly it is I feel for him. It's like… Derek it's like he's my LIFE. I've had crushes before. This is nothing like that it's like I.. I don't know it's so confusing. I've never felt like this before. I've never felt this way about another man either. My wolf wants nothing more than to wrap around him right now and protect him." "But?" Stiles prods. "I don't know I have conflicting emotions about it. Shouldn't I feel something from him" the young beta asks looking at Derek. "Mates can be confusing. This is hardly a normal situation. His body is resisting the Bite. We don't know anything about him, and he's essentially been unconscious or in extreme pain since we met him. Give it some time let's get to know him and see what happens. You don't want to rush in to anything." Isaac nods while staring at the floor "yeah... yeah." "Once he heals up and gets out of bed maybe you can a better read on him." Stiles offers helpfully. "He has been kind of out of it from the very beginning." Isaac says with a hint of hopefulness. "Plus I don't like the idea of springing this on him oh HEY I'm your destined mate by the way it's you and me forever like it or not. I want him to like me for me." Derek is silent for a moment then comes to a decision. "I want someone to be with him at all times. Not only is he injured but we don't know anything about him." "Get him better, find out his story and then figure out where to go from there. No problem." says Stiles standing up to stretch. "So you think it's what Deaton said?" He grunts out while stretching languidly and rolling his neck. "It's just something to do with medication?" "I don't know. I have never heard of medicine blocking the transition." Derek replies glaring out the window. He stiffens suddenly and turns looking up the stairs. "What?" Isaac asks standing up and preparing to race up the stairs. "I... I felt him for a moment over the pack bond." Derek is still for a moment. "There it is again stronger." "I felt it too that time." Isaac adds moving quickly up the stairs to check on Eric. "Soooooo does that mean he's turning now?" asks Stiles as he follows Derek and Isaac up the stairs. Upon reaching the bedroom they find Eric still asleep. Grimacing slightly and squirming a little. "Still smells human." Derek adds after taking a subtle whiff over the bed. "And very medicated." Isaac adds reaching for Eric's hand quietly pulling the pain out of him. After a few moments Eric sighs softly and settles a little deeper in the mound of pillows and blankets. As they are all making their way back downstairs Stiles's phone rings. "Scotty boy what's up?" Stiles answers cheerfully. "You felt that too? Yeah he's ok we're still not sure what's going on. Maybe he's just transitioning very slowly?" Stiles says shrugging and looking at Derek. "I'll text you if anything else happens ok? Bye." "He probably has a car at the preserve parking area. We should get that and bring it here. We need to find out what hotel he's staying at and get his things brought here as well." Stiles says making a mental check list.
Just then they hear a thud up stairs. Isaac is off the couch and up the stairs in a flash. Eric had awoke and desperately needed to use the bathroom. Forcing his damaged body out of bed he'd set out across the floor on wobbly legs. He made it all of 5 steps before fainting and crumpling to the floor.
Seconds later the bedroom door nearly flies off its hinges as its slammed open by Isaac. "Eric!" he yells rushing to the unconscious form on the floor. "Eric what happened? Eric!?" "What's happened?" says Derek and Stiles rushing in. There's a whimper from Eric as Isaac carefully turns him over. "He's unconscious and bleeding." Isaac growls angrily shifting partially and looking around the room for threats. "Let's get him back to bed and redress those wounds." Stiles says softly looking around the room as well. Derek sniffs the air "No one else has been in here." Isaac gently picks Eric up and carries him back to the bed laying him down eliciting a few pained whimpers from Eric. Stiles comes back from the bathroom with the first aid kid and offers it to Derek who begins replace the bandages. Isaac grabs Eric's hand and closes his eyes as he starts leaching the pain away. After a few moments Eric's breathing smooth's out and he seems to relax slightly. Having shifted back Isaac grabs a chair from the corner and sits it next to the bed. Noticing Derek's look Isaac shakes his head. "I.. I can't leave him alone again Derek I just can't. My wolf… he's freaking out." Derek sighs pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Stiles, stay and watch Eric I need to talk to Isaac." Stiles nods and sits in the chair that Isaac had moved. "Come on Isaac we need to talk." Derek motions with his head towards the door. The beta hesitates for a moment then nods and walks out casting a quick worried glance over his shoulder at Eric. Derek shares a look with Stiles briefly before he follows Isaac out closing the door behind him. They return to the living room and Isaac perches on the edge of the couch nervously. Derek stares at his beta a moment. Derek takes in the uncertainty and anxiety emanating from him before he sits on the edge of the coffee table putting a hand on Isaac's knee. "Isaac I'm not mad, you're not in trouble. I'm concerned for your safety." Isaac looks up "My safety? I'm not the one that's been slashed to within an inch of his life and possibly rejecting the bite." Derek frowns slightly and says "We don't know anything about him. Where he came from, what his intentions are, who might have sent him….." "I know." Isaac says locking eyes with his Alpha. "Derek I know. I just.. I can't the instinct is so strong. He has to be my Mate he has to be. It's the only explanation for how I feel. I've never even been in to guys before why else would I suddenly have these feelings for one?" Derek pats Isaac on the shoulder and stands up. "Gender doesn't matter when it comes to mates. Labels like gay or straight are pretty much for humans. Your wolf will like who ever your wolf likes. That said though you have to be careful. Take your time. Get to know him. There is no need to rush in to anything. He's been through a lot, I agree with you it would be bad to tell him about this right now." "What if he's straight? How does that work?" asks Isaac. "If he is your mate then he should feel the same way. It may take a while for him to realize. You remember what it was like when you were first turned. Your emotions were all over the place. It's going to take him a while to sort things out."
"Guys?" Stiles's whisper comes from upstairs. "Figured we need to get started on finding out who this guy is. I've looked through his wallet. " Isaac frowns slightly at the invasion of his mate's privacy but says nothing. Derek nods and listens to Stiles's whisper. "Eric Miles Anderson. 1711 Denver Euless Texas. I'll ask Danny to see what he can come up with. Nothing out of the ordinary in the wallet. Credit cards some money nothing else. His phone seems pretty innocent enough. Lots of random pictures, he's got a couple of email accounts set up and they are all pretty devoid of anything. He's received a few text messages and IM's from a few different people." By now Isaac and Derek had joined Stiles in the bedroom. Stiles gestures to the hallway and leads them both out. He's got a voice mail from who I assume is his recruiter. He's been offered the job at JMH. Something doesn't feel right though." "What is it? Derek asks taking the phone and looking through it. "It all seems very….. impersonal." "He's not a teenager Stiles maybe he prefers function over form?" Derek says scrolling through the pictures." I guess." Stiles sighs "It's just an awfully nice phone to not have it loaded up with games." Derek and Isaac both roll their eyes. "I want you to get that information to Danny right away and see what he is able to find out. I want to know everything." Derek hands the phone back to Stiles and heads down stairs. "What do you really think Stiles?" Isaac asks softly. "On the surface, if he is what he appears to be, we've got a 30s something guy a long way from home with few friends and little to no family. All the pictures? None of them had people in them. It is strange though. Why look for work so far from home? I'm sure there are far more jobs where he is from that in Beacon Hills." "I hate Texas" comes from the bedroom. Stiles and Isaac share a shocked look before stepping back in the bedroom to find Eric slowly trying to get out of bed. "You need to rest!" Isaac hisses rushing to Eric's side. "I'm about to wet this bed in 5 seconds if I don't get to the bathroom." Eric says. "Oh! Well let me help you." Isaac says as he helps Eric to his feet and they slowly move across the floor. "To answer your question. I hate Texas. It's hot, flat, boring," he grits his teeth in pain for a moment before continuing. "I wanted to start over someplace else." Once Isaac and Eric disappear into the bathroom Stiles slips the phone and wallet back in to Eric's shredded pants that are lying on the dresser.
"I can probably take it from here." Eric gestures nervously around the bathroom. Isaac opens his mouth to protest then closes it blushing slightly. "Ok then call me when you're done and I'll help you back to bed." Isaac pauses at the door and looks back at Eric uncertainly before closing the door and walking over to sit on the bed. Eric lets out a deep breath and stares at himself in the mirror. He's adorable and sweet like a puppy. A tall gorgeous puppy that turns in to a werewolf. Smiling he limps over to the toilet and relieves himself. Eric braces his arm against the wall to maintain his balance. Once he is finished he hobbles back over to the sink taking in his battered appearance. How am I going to explain all this at work? Everyone's going to think I got mugged or something. He notes the bruising starting to show around both eyes. Not even remembering when his face had been struck during the attack. Sighing loudly he washes his hands and shakes his head So much for Derek's magic bite. The thought had occurred to him that this was some kind of elaborate ruse. However the wounds were quite real. The attack had been violent and nearly fatal. The pain was definitely real as was the burning in his veins. It seemed to be getting worse. In fact much worse. Eric grabs the edge of the counter and gasps in pain. Instantly there is a pounding on the door which suddenly flies open. Isaac rushes and latches on to Eric immediately leaching the pain from him. "shhh shhh its OK give it a minute" Eric whimpers though clenched teeth. "It burns!" Derek is suddenly there also pulling pain out of Eric. "Hold on Eric we'll help try and breathe." Isaac looks at Derek concern etched on his face. After a few seconds Eric lets out a cross between a sigh and a sob and collapses slowly into Derek and Isaacs arms. Derek helps Isaac gather Eric up in his arms and Isaac carries him back to the bed. "How long will I be like this? Am I going to die?" Eric asks quietly looking out the window. Isaac looks to Derek for guidance. "We don't know how long, but no you're not going to die. You're stable but something is blocking the change. If it is your medication it will have to work its way out of your system before you will turn." Derek says pulling the blanket up to cover Eric's bandaged torso. "He's correct I'm afraid." Everyone turns to see Stiles and Deaton walking in the bedroom. "I ran the tests and did some research. What you're going through is very similar to some other accounts that I've come across. Certain medications in certain dosages act almost as a shield against the Alpha venom. Until that medication is completely expelled from your system you will not turn. The venom is meant to be absorbed and to facilitate the transition. Not remain in your blood stream long term. The medications you are on are quite potent the combination also allows them to play off each other if you will. Essentially it'll probably take a week or two before they are diminished enough for the venom to take full effect. You'll likely have unpredictable surges in pain and bouts of weakness. It may get worse the closer you get to turning." Eric shivers miserably in the bed. Deaton shifts a little bit and continues "If I can add one bit of good news. The full moon is in 2 weeks. That will likely help things along." "Eric shakes his head. "I can't stay here two weeks I have to get back to Texas. I have a job there and I'm pretty much out of vacation time. What am I going to do?" He looks helplessly at Deaton. "The first thing we need to do is get you healed up. I brought some salve with me that should help accelerate the healing of those wounds. Derek and the pack should be able to help speed your healing as well." Deaton looks pointedly at Derek. Derek looks blankly at Deaton for a moment "Will that uh.. Will that even work without him being a wolf yet?" "It should to what degree I'm not sure, however he is a member of your pack." Deaton sets to work applying the salve while Derek and Stiles leave the room. Isaac stays nearby watching Deaton uneasily. "So… puppy pile tonight?" Stiles says seriously as he and Derek go down the stair case. Rolling his eyes Derek sighs "yes text Jackson and Scott. Tell them pack meeting at seven. I want them to come get Eric's keys and go get his car. We can worry about his hotel tomorrow."
A few moments later Deaton comes out and takes his leave of them. Stiles looks in the room and grins when he sees Isaac on the bed curled protectively around a sleeping Eric gently stroking his hair. "We should introduce him to the others when they show up if he wakes up again. Will you ask him?" Isaac nods his head yes without saying anything. Stiles closes the door gently and follow Derek back down stairs.