Hey all, (waves and grins). Here is chapter nine. I am very pleased with the support for going plot-less. Since I don't have the slightest idea what's going to happen next, that means a lot. About all the cliffhangers, I figured out why I've been doing them. It's sort of a prompt to get me to write. They're dots I have to connect. Oh, Another State of Mind also got added to a community, which is super cool! That's never happened to one of my stories before. Many thanks for that! I would also like to thank the reviewers. (There were a lot of you guys this time which is mega awesome!) Comic fan- When I read your review I get a smile so big that my lip curls up like an orangutan's! Thanks so much for the Derek's POV complement. I want to frame your review and hang it on my wall. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story! Yuu13- Thanks so much for the review! Colorful-POP- Here you go! - Thanks for the review! XMissXSpunkyX- I really appreciate your review and support! I'm very happy you found my story too! Rosejonna- Thanks for the review. Unfortunately we're going to have to wait a bit longer to see how everything's going with Derek in Stiles.
Chapter Nine: When it Rains
I closed the car door too quickly and caught my jacket in it. Cursing, I pulled myself free. Somehow I managed to trip over the non-existent curb and my feet before reaching the hospital entrance. Apparently, being in Derek's body doesn't cure the inherent clumsiness that is anxious Stiles.
As I pushed through the door, I almost ran smack into Scott. "How is he?"
Relief surfaced in his eyes briefly, but got shoved back under by worry. He shook his head, "we need to talk." Scott pushed my shoulder towards the long hallway, away from most of the hospital rooms.
I noticed the morgue entrance, "Did he die?! I got a text a couple of minutes ago, and unless-"
"He's not dead." Scott gestured to a visitor's bench.
I sat down quickly and watched Scott join me. He was biting his lip, looking downwards. Trying to find the right words to say what he had to. A couple of times he looked like he was about to speak. He'd glance at me quickly and then shake his head. My stomach seemed to have a lack of interest and started playing cat's cradle with itself.
"Damn it, Scott, spit it out!"
He sighed, "You're a werewolf, Stiles."
I raised my eyebrows, "and-?"
"And, you're a werewolf." He annunciated slowly.
I was still waiting for the punch line. "Wait, is that 'Stiles you're a werewolf coma', or 'Stiles you're a werewolf exclamation mark'?"
Scott groaned in frustration, "Stiles, you, the REAL you, is a werewolf."
Suddenly it all clicked, "So Derek me is…. Oh dear L-rd." Derek's body seemed to deflate. I guess that officially ended the whole werewolf debate I'd been having with myself. That was it. From now on, no matter whose body I was occupying, I wouldn't be human. I stared at the black and white floor tiles until they blurred and ran together.
"You've talked to him?" I asked.
"They won't let me see him," Scott muttered, "But I knew you changed from what your dad said over the phone. "
"What'd he say?"
"That you vomited up black blood. I haven't seen him either. They've got the room Derek's in all sealed off. It's bad."
I hunched forward and ran my fingers through Derek's hair. "Do you think they know?"
He shook his head and sighed, "I have no idea. When your dad called me he was asking about experimental drugs and all kinds of crazy stuff. I'm pretty sure they know something's up."
My pocket vibrated. I fished my phone out and looked at the screen.
"What?" Scott leaned over to see.
"It's a text from Derek: 'Your pain threshold isn't nearly high enough,' Man, that doesn't sound good." Another note popped up, 'why don't you come in here so that I can break both your arms and spread the love?' I blinked at Scott.
"He must be on some pretty strong medication."
A pushed my head back against the wall, "ugh, I wish we knew what was going on in there! You know all the situations and circumstances I thought up about becoming a wolf not one of them had me in a different body?! I guess it's just another one of life's little surprises, you know that whole man plans G-d laughs thing." I expected Scott to say something a little comforting, when he didn't say anything I turned to see him with his eyes shut. "Scott?"
"Shhh," he cautioned.
Oh right, the whole werewolf hearing thing. Well, since that was going to be one of my new abilities, I might as well figure out how it works. I closed my eyes and concentrated on what I could hear. Somebody was pushing something with squeaky wheels in the opposite direction. I tried to follow the sound. A door opened and shut. Feet tapped against the floor. There were mumbled voices, I focused on those. I envisioned a volume control bar and pushed it up. That helped.
"…the matter with that Stilinski kid?"
"The doctor's not sure yet. They've done a lot of tests. I've heard a specialist is getting flown in from out of state."
"That serious, hu?'
"Yeah, the Sheriff's really beside himself. Hey, did you happen to catch that new episode of America's Top Ostrich Framer last night? It was crazy! When that bird pecked-"
I let my hearing slip back to normal. "There's seriously a show called America's Top Ostrich Farmer?"
"What?" Scott frowned at me.
"Never mind," I waved it off, "did you hear anything? What's going on?"
"I didn't get much." He confessed, "Nothing from Derek's room. I overheard a few people talking though. A specialist is getting flown in from Washington DC."
"Really? Makes sense I heard he was from out of state." My attempt to nonchalantly bring up my new ability was lost on Scott.
"It's not just any specialist either." He continued, "This guy works with weird things."
"Weird things? What like aliens and stuff?"
Scott shrugged, "not sure, but I bet if they did ever happen to catch E.T., this guy would be the one they'd call."
"Just what we need, another cryptozoology expert, you'd think we had enough of those." I sighed, "When it rains it pours." I mumbled. G-d I seemed to be full of words of wisdom this afternoon. I rubbed my face, and then rested my chin on my folded hands.
"Scott, what are you doing here?" We both turned to see Mrs. MCcall standing at the end of the hallway.
My friend leaped to his feet. "We heard about Stiles, how is he?"
His mother sighed and pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "The test results aren't back yet, it looks to me like he's suffering from an allergic reaction to a sedative the doctor had him take."
"Do you think we could see him?" I asked, standing up.
"I don't think he's up to seeing visitors just yet." She replied, scrutinizing me.
"I'm Derek Hale, " I supplied, "I'm-"
She nodded, "you're the one who drove off that mountain lion that attacked Stiles. I heard all about it from the night shift. I think the sheriff wants to talk to you." It was clear from her expression that she found the whole mountain lion story fishy.
"Sure," I replied, trying to give a puzzled frown.
Mrs. MCcall wasn't buying it. "He's in the doctor's office," she told me as we started off, before turning to Scott, "you stay here."
"But-"
"I'll get you the second you can see Stiles." I could tell she didn't want him anywhere near me. Derek just exhumed a not so friendly aura. He didn't exactly dress like a law abiding citizen, and never smiling didn't help. Still it was kind of annoying how people could just judge you by that. I mean, it wasn't even really Derek anymore. It was me, but no one could believe that.
I tried out a grin as I walked towards the doctor's office. It seemed to take more effort than needed. Derek's face was very unyielding. Obviously his mouth wasn't used to sitting any way that wasn't a scowl or a bared teeth snarl.
"How do you know Scott?" Mrs. MCcall asked out of the blue.
"I just met him," Keep it simple.
She didn't seem too satisfied, "really?"
"Yeah really," I replied, "What did you think? That he's one of the guys I'm selling meth to?"
From her wide eyed look she obviously did.
"Just a joke," I countered quickly, "albeit one made in very poor taste." I tried an apologetic smile.
We'd reached the glass fronted door by then. Before knocking she drew herself up to her full height and scowled sternly at me. "I'd advise you to lose the wisecracks before you get questioned by Sheriff Stilinski. He's not likely to appreciate them any more than I do."
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind," I muttered. I could hear voices inside the room and they didn't sound happy.
"..All I want to know is what's happening to my son!" Dad boomed, "And until you can give me a straight answer you're not going to push anymore pills on him. He almost died today because of that stuff you prescribed, so my faith in you is just about non-existent. In fact, if I could get another doctor right now I wouldn't be even having this conversation with you."
Youch, I felt sorry for the doctor. Dad was mother grizzly with her cubs in danger angry.
Mrs. MCcall rapped on the door and then opened it a crack. "Sheriff, I got someone here you'll probably want to talk to." She widened the gap.
Dad had both his hands on the front of the desk and he was leaning across it. His face was the reddest I'd seen it in a while. The balding doctor from earlier looked like he was trying to slither under his desk. When my father looked over his shoulder at me, the doctor took the opportunity to rally.
"Yes, I would like very much to talk to Mister Hale," His tone was carefully flat. "Why don't you step in here for a minute, Derek?"
I walked in cautiously, rubbing one shoulder.
"Would you give us a moment, Doctor?"
With a nod, the deflated man got up and practically ran to the door. Dad watched him go. Once the door shut, he faced me, his eyes blazing.
"Take a seat, Derek." He shoved one of the chairs at me.
I did as he asked and suddenly had a flash back to when I was five and broke my mom's porcelain goose. Only this time I knew it would be a lot worse. Because for one thing, I wasn't a five year old kid with big eyes who cried too easily and two, because he had no idea I was Stiles. I was about to have the full grizzly fury unleashed upon me. Sufficed to say, I was not looking forward to it.
