"I need to see Stiles," Derek said, matter-of-factly.

The Sheriff shook his head. "Absolutely not."

"I'm not asking for permission," Derek said through clenched teeth.

"You can't just come in here and demand to see my son. I am his father and if I say you can't see him, you can't see him," replied Sheriff Stilinski, standing his ground.

"If you don't let me go in that room right now, something bad will happen to Stiles," Derek's voice was harsh, but his eyes were pleading.

Sheriff Stilinski got up, marching up to Derek. "Are you threatening my son? I am the Sheriff. I will have you arrested and thrown in jail."

This wasn't working, and it was urgent that Derek be with Stiles. He decided to take a different approach. "Please, sir. I mean Stiles no harm. On the contrary, I have to protect him. Believe me, I would never do anything to hurt your son." His eyes were raw with emotion, his voice strangely soft.

John looked suspicious. One minute this kid was being hostile and demanding to see Stiles, the next he looked like a sad soul mourning for a lost love.

"If he's in any danger, I will be the one to protect him. I don't plan on leaving this place until my son is discharged," John informed Derek.

Derek didn't say anything. He looked like he was having an internal battle with himself. "I'm sorry Sheriff," he muttered, pushing against John and running into Stiles' room. He was too late. Stiles was long gone.

"Where is my son? What did you do to him you bastard?" Sheriff Stilinski reached for Derek, but Derek was too fast for him.

"He was taken by the person doing all the sacrificing," Derek said, his jaw tightening. "I warned you, but you didn't listen."

"I didn't believe," John whispered, staring at the empty bed that held his son just moments ago.

Derek didn't bother replying. His only thought was to save Stiles, and in order to do that, he would have to talk to Lydia.

"Hello. May I speak to Lydia please?" Derek said politely, faking a smile.

"I'm sorry. Lydia is resting. I gave her sleeping pills to help her sleep," Mrs. Martin explained.

"Okay, thank you ma'am."

Lydia was his only hope. How was he going to find Stiles now?

He decided to sneak into her room through the window. Maybe he would find something in her room.

Upon entering her room, he saw that she was wide awake. Not wanting to frighten her, he approached her bed slowly.

"Lydia," he whispered.

She turned to look at him. "I told you to Stay with Stiles," she hissed, looking angry.

"The Sheriff got in my way and I was too late. The Darach took him," Derek had a pained expression on his face.

Lydia sighed. "You're lucky I spit out those damn sleeping pills, otherwise I wouldn't be able to help you." She made eye contact with him. "I know what Stiles means to you. He's in danger because of you. You love him, and she loves you. She's jealous."

Derek looked momentarily confused before it dawned on him. "Jennifer," he said, a look of disgust on his face.

Lydia nodded. "Now, go. Save him."

"Where do I go?" he questioned, looking at Lydia for answers. She was sketching a tree, when her notebook fell off the bed and landed upside down. When he bent down to pick it up, he saw that what they had originally assumed to be was a tree with branches was actually the roots of a tree.

"The root cellar," he mumbled, giving Lydia the notebook before running out. He was going to save Stiles Stilinski if it was the last thing he did.

"I need you to help me find an old root cellar," Derek begged.

"I'll ask around. Give me a minute." Derek heard muffled voices in the background. He waited impatiently, knowing that any second wasted could cost Stiles his life.

"Allison's dad knows where it is," Scott told Derek, his voice rushed. "He'll take you. We're coming with, though."

"No. This is between me and the Darach," Derek said firmly.

"He's my best friend, Derek. You can't expect me to sit back and watch as he gets ritually sacrificed," Scott replied stubbornly.

"Scott, please. This is personal. I need to do it alone," Derek started. They were wasting time talking, so he finally gave up. "I'll meet you guys at the hospital."

They all piled into the Argent van. No one spoke. The atmosphere was tense. Finally, Scott spoke up, looking right at Derek.

"We're all going to help save Stiles, no matter what you say."

Derek said nothing. He was debating whether or not to tell them the truth. He knew it was the only way to get them to understand, so he took a deep breath and decided to tell them everything.

"The Darach is Jennifer Blake. She didn't take Stiles to sacrifice him, just to kill him. She's jealous because…because we are, or were, dating and I fell for Stiles and she noticed." Derek could feel a blush creeping up his cheeks. "That's why I need to go alone. I need to face her alone because this is personal. I understand that you all want to help but this is something I need to do alone."

No one said anything for a while. It was an unexpected confession. Isaac was the one to break the silence.

"Well it's about time someone likes Stiles," he joked.

Scott punched him and Derek gave him a death glare.

"Here we are," Chris announced, parking as close as he could.

Derek got out silently. Nobody else followed, everyone respecting that this was something they couldn't help with.

"Good luck, man. Bring Stiles back safe and sound, all right?" Scott smiled at him and everyone else muttered "good luck" before driving away and leaving Derek alone to face the problem he created.

"Jennifer," Derek spoke softly.

She turned around and faced him. She looked conflicted. "What are you doing here Derek?"

"You know the answer to that." His eyes were cold. "You've been using me."

She sighed. "No. I was afraid you would think that."

She was interrupted by Stiles moaning quietly. Derek looked over, seeing him for the first time. There was blood on his lip, his arms were tied above his head, and his lips were a bluish hue. He was covered in sweat, and he looked more dead than alive.

Without hesitation, Derek went over to him and took out his claws. He was going to cut the ropes so Stiles could be more comfortable.

"I wouldn't do that if I was you," Jennifer warned.

"Shut up," Derek responded harshly. He carefully sliced the ropes, resting Stiles' arms against the pole he was tied to. He immediately began clawing at his own face, screaming in anguish.

"I told you," Jennifer said smugly.

Derek pinned Stiles' arms against his sides. "What did you do to him?"

"Me?" Jennifer asked innocently. "I didn't do this. You did this. You forced me to hurt him. You were falling for him. You were going to leave me. I couldn't let that happen. Don't you see, Derek? You saved me. We're meant to be."

He looked disgusted. "You're delusional."

"Am I? You killed page right here Derek. You brought magic back to the nemeton, which saved me right from beneath death's grip." She walked up to him, lightly kissing his lips. "Join me, we can destroy the Alpha pack and get our revenge."

Derek scoffed, pushing her away. "You think I would join you after everything you've done? You killed innocent people. You're just as bad as them," he spit out, feeling rage building up within him.

"You don't get it Derek. They tried to kill me." She was pulling the pity card now.

"So now you're doing the same to Stiles? What has he ever done to you?"

She laughed bitterly. "He was taking the best thing in my life from me. That was enough to convince me to kill him."

Derek shook his head. "You don't get it. Killing him won't change anything. I still won't love you, I'll hate you even more."

Jennifer shrugged. "I'm still going to kill him."

"Over my dead body," Derek answered, using his body to protect Stiles.

Jennifer rolled her eyes. "How cliché."

Derek didn't care. He'd die before letting any harm come to the pale, hyperactive boy who'd stolen his heart.