He still had no idea how he managed to convince himself to leave the house at all. He had been lying on his bed, considering googling "how to tell your asshole maybe-friend that you want to do dirty things to him and maybe hold his hand and get him to smile for once in his life" (which, for the record, had not yielded any relevant results), when he sat bolt upright, raising his hands to the ceiling.

"FINE! I'll do it!" he shouted to a poster on his wall, which had been eyeing him judgmentally.

"What?" came a yell from his father downstairs.

Stiles grabbed his keys, and took the stairs two at a time until he reached his father in the kitchen.

"I'mgoingtogovisitDerekI'llbebacksoonloveyoubye!" Stiles shouted out in a breath, planting a kiss on his father's cheek and sprinting out of the front door to his jeep.

The entire ride to Derek's was spent as a continuation of Stiles' last few hours' deliberation of what to say. He had thought that waiting a few hours would make finding the right words easier, but he had been trying to think of what he might say to Derek all day, and all he had come up with was "I forgot my phone."

He reached Derek's house and he still hadn't gotten any closer. He got out of his car, running a hand over his head and mumbling "shitshitshit…" There was no going back now.

He saw Derek through the window, still sitting on the couch. Jesus, had he been there all day?

Stiles stopped at the door and knocked lightly.

"Derek? It's me, uh. It's Stiles, I-"

Derek opened the door, eyes connecting with Stiles'.

"I, uh. I forgot my phone."

Derek's hand extended toward Stiles. He looked down. Stiles' phone.

"Oh. Thanks." Stiles grabbed the phone, flinching when his fingertips touched Derek's. Dammit, Stiles, pull yourself together. "Derek, I need to tell you-"

Stiles paused, sniffing at the air. He knew that scent.

"GET DOWN!" Stiles yelled, pushing Derek to the floor as a shot rang out. The scent of blood filled the air. Stiles turned, allowing his inner wolf to bubble to the surface. He tongued at the sharp incisors that filled in the familiar space in his mouth, and cracked his neck, feeling his shape change, bones reforming, fur sprouting all over his body. He let out a resounding roar and hurled toward where he knew the hunters were, he could smell them, smell their fear…

He pounced at the first sight of one, teeth attaching themselves to its ankles as it let out a piteous scream. He twisted until he heard a bone cracking, then he stopped himself.

"You're not a killer, you're not a killer, this isn't you…" Stiles chanted in his head, transforming back to his beta wolf form.

He growled deeply and watched the three men quiver, their guns lying at their sides. They were new. This must have been a training exercise.

"If you leave now, I will not kill you. If you come back, I will have no choice." The men scampered off, the injured man being half-dragged by the two unharmed.

Stiles looked down at his naked body. He was certain he hadn't been shot, but the scent of blood had been so strong-

Derek. They got Derek.

Stiles sprinted faster than he had known he could, occasionally dropping to all fours, breathing heavily. Each exhale heralded a "Derek…" from Stiles' lips.

Derek was laying in his doorway, spluttering up blood. There was a pool of red beneath him, blossomed out on his grey t-shirt. He had been shot. In the stomach. By a bullet that had been intended for Stiles.

Tears stinging at his eyes, Stiles dropped to his knees and pressed his hands against the bloody wound, nakedness forgotten.

"Derek, Derek, listen. I need you to tell me it's okay, I need you to tell me it's okay for me to give you the bite. It's the- the only way I can save you, Derek. Please tell me it's okay. I need you, Derek, please."

Stiles stared at Derek, waiting for a confirmation, but he was too far gone. His breath was getting shallower, his heartbeat weaker.

Leaning into him, pressing a kiss against his cheek, Stiles whispered, "I'm sorry, Derek, I'm so sorry."

Stiles lowered his mouth to Derek's neck and bit down.


AN: ... ;)

Next chapter is the last.