"Derek, we saw the Alpha!" Stiles blurted.

Derek ran his hand through his hair and sighed, the rush of his first date with Darcy replaced by the cold dread that she could be in danger. "Tell me everything."

"Well, Scott wanted to go spy on you and Darcy for some reason. I told him it was weird, but he wouldn't listen, so me being the bumbling sidekick, I just went along…" Scott elbowed Stiles in the ribs. Stiles coughed. "Anyway…after you guys left the park, we noticed there was this guy who had been watching you guys. He noticed us and he jumped on my Jeep and so we lost him and we came here."

Derek fought the urge to knock the two idiots' heads together. "So…" Derek began, but lost his thoughts. Darcy's heart rate had increased suddenly. He felt cold. He never should have let her out of his sight.

Derek grabbed the two teenagers by the shirts as he started to follow the sound of Darcy's panicked heart. They followed after him.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Darcy felt the cold metal against her stomach through the material of her dress. She gasped and bit back a scream of terror, somehow remaining calm enough to know that making a lot of noise might put her in danger.

"Come with me," the man behind her said. "Act natural."

To anyone in the store, they looked like any young couple who couldn't keep their hands off each other. His jacket hid the gun in his hand that was pressed her pregnant belly.

"What do you want?" she asked shakily.

"Shut up," her attacker hissed in her ear as he led her to an abandoned corner of the already fairly empty parking lot.

Darcy was fighting not to panic, but it was difficult and she wished that he would get the gun away from where her unborn children were growing. She would rather he held the gun to her head. At least then, she knew that if things went wrong she would die with them. As it was, if he shot through her stomach, she might survive but her babies probably wouldn't. The thought of harm coming to them scared her more than anything else.

She tried to keep her breathing under control. Derek was just inside the store with Stiles and Scott. Surely they would be looking for her. They'd see her abandoned purchase. They'd come outside. Maybe they would notice her and the gunman. Probably not though. The security lamp was out. It was much too dark for anyone to see them.

"Why are you doing this?" Darcy asked, her voice hoarse and her entire body shaking with fear.

The gunman didn't respond.

"Don't you…don't you want me to know why? What good will it do to hurt me if I don't know why?"

"Shut up, bitch. I should just put a bullet through you."

He pressed the gun harder against her skin and she squeaked with fear. "I'm having twins. If you hurt me, you'll hurt them too. They didn't do anything wrong. There are other ways…"

"Shut up!"

Darcy clamped her lips shut. All those episodes of Criminal Minds she'd given up sleep for were doing her no good. She didn't know what she could do to negotiate herself out of this situation.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Derek moved quickly and stealthily. "Get your Jeep," Derek ordered Stiles. "Scott, come with me."

The two werewolves approached Darcy and her attacker. Derek assessed the situation. The assailant had a gun pressed to the side of her stomach. Her heart was beating fast, but she was taking slow, steady breaths to try to control it.

The gunman looked up at Derek's approach, a sick smile crossed his face. "What's this? A Hale?"

Derek grimaced. The gunman smelled like a werewolf, but tainted somehow. Insane. "Let the girl go."

"I won't be doing that. You have to pay…"

"What do I have to pay for?"

"My pack…my pack…you Hales took it. Now I'll take yours. I'll take your pack. You will know how it feels…" His finger twitched on the trigger, but did not pull it.

"She's pregnant because of you. She's carrying part of your pack."

"You stole them from me! Hale, you stole them!" The deranged werewolf started to wave the gun around. Darcy ducked down to avoid his flailing hand. The werewolf shoved her forward. She landed hard on her knees, the smell of her blood filled the air. Her assailant started to laugh. "Now I recognize her. On her knees. I'll make her mine again. I'm taking them back. My pack."

Darcy lunged toward the gun, sinking her teeth into the forearm of her attacker. He was shocked, probably more at her acts than the pain. The gun dropped from his hand and his eyes flashed green and he shifted. Darcy started to crawl away, but she was too slow. The werewolf caught her by the throat.

Derek growled and shifted, lunging forward, pulling Darcy away from him and pushing her back into Scott's arms. Derek growled again and pounced at the werewolf who had attacked Darcy. He slashed his claws across the other wolf's face.

He felt claws dig into his side but ignored the pain. All he knew was the need for vengeance. There was the werewolf who had used Darcy as nothing more than a tool in his sick ambitions and then tried to hurt her. Had caused her heart to beat fast in fear. Pushed her down.

Derek's teeth tore into the pale, tender flesh of the other beta's throat. Blood poured out onto the asphalt of the parking lot. The smell sent Derek into a frenzy. This was right. This was vengeance.

The sound of a Jeep approaching brought Derek back to reality. He shifted, dropping the bloody, unconscious body like a rag doll.

He approached Darcy, wanting to hold her, to be sure she was safe. She clutched Scott's arm for support. He reached out for her. She flinched and moved away.

The blood on his hands and mouth felt cold and condemning. She was afraid of him.

Tears were on her cheeks as she continued to back away, Scott stumbling alongside her to keep her upright. Stiles leapt out of his Jeep and rushed to her side. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her weight on him.

Stiles took one look at the blood that covered Derek and made no comment, turning his attention back to Darcy. "Are you alright?"

"What's going on?" she demanded weakly.

"We need to get you home and calmed down. Are you sure you're OK? Are you feeling any pain?" Stiles rubbed small circles on Darcy's back, doing his best to calm her down.

"No I'm…I'm just…so tired."

Stiles and Scott supported Darcy between them and helped her to the Jeep. Derek followed closely behind, desperate to at least touch Darcy's arm. He needed to know that she was alright.

Once she was in the passenger seat, Derek wedged his way past Scott. "Darcy…" he said.

She groaned slightly and moved away from his touch. "Don't…not with blood…"

Derek felt ashamed again and tried to wipe the blood on his jeans. "I can explain it all…I swear I can," he said.

"Not right now, Derek." She sounded exhausted.

"Darcy, I'm sorry. I need to know that you don't hate me…"

Darcy sighed. She was shaking, but trying to calm herself down. "You saved me…I'm pretty sure for the second time." She closed her eyes.

Derek nodded. "Yes."

There was a period of silence. "We can talk tomorrow." She rested her hands on her belly and sank against the seat.

Derek stood back as Scott closed the door to the Jeep. He still felt a bit empty because he hadn't gotten the reassuring feel of her touch, but her words were comforting. She was still willing to see him.