A/N: I'm afraid that due to unforeseen circumstances, I've lost my computer and am currently having to use a relative's, this means updates might not be as regular as usual, I'm sorry. But I swear, I'm not abandoning this story.

Harbour Lights

"What happened?" Derek demanded, hurrying over to the closet door, Stiles right on his heels.

"Someone locked him in." Scott said breathlessly, eyes flickering between the alpha, Stiles and the door. The worry clearly written on his face, "The desk was in front of it when I got here."

Stiles looked to Harris's large desk, which had been violently shoved aside, the corner creating a crack in the classroom wall beneath the blackboard. The teacher was not going to be happy. "Why didn't he just…" Stiles trailed off, his attention caught by the inside of the closet door. Inhaling sharply at the array of scratches scarring the polished wood, frantic and deep. "Oh god." He gapped, his own worry increasing.

The alpha stepped cautiously over the threshold, his body low as he approached, "Isaac? – Isaac, it's Derek, it's okay. You're okay." He said in a calm reassuring voice.

Stiles peered around the corner of the door and stared at Derek. When Isaac looked up to regard the alpha, Stiles could see just how far the teenager had lost control. His features were twisted into his werewolf form, the brow pronounced and his fangs extended. His eyes were glowing gold brightly, the rims red from crying.

"It's okay, I'm here now." Derek whispered, stepping a little closer, his hands outstretched in a show of peace, "You're safe now, Isaac."

"I…" the beta growled, eyes flickering desperate and fearful before landing on Stiles and Scott, hovering in the doorway watching him. Instantly he turned away, burying his face into his shoulder and folding his body further into the corner.

"You need to leave." Derek ordered turning to look at the pair.

Scott opened his mouth to argue but Stiles grabbed his arm, "We'll be by the car." Stiles said cutting over his ex-best friend, already dragging him forcefully away from the door and leaving Derek alone with his troubled beta.

(_*_*_)

Derek waited for them to leave, listening after them until he was sure they'd left not only the classroom but the corridor, before turning his full attention back to Isaac, "They're gone, Isaac. It's just me now."

The teenager listed his eyes and turned to stare at the alpha, "I – I couldn't get – out," he said shakily, "I – I couldn't get…." He shook his head, fresh tears springing to life in his golden eyes, "I tried. I tried and tried but I couldn't get out," he repeated frantically, "He wouldn't let me out."

Derek took a deep breath, his stomach twisting at the strong scent of fear in the small room, anger bubbling to the surface, "Who? Who wouldn't let you out? Harris?"

"Dad." Isaac whispered, as if saying his name any louder would summon him back, "I heard him. He…"

Derek got down to his knees and shuffled a little closer, being sure not to make any sudden movements, "Isaac, your father's dead," he reassured, "He's gone. He can't hurt you anymore."

Isaac shook his head, disbelieving, his gaze flickering over Derek's shoulder to fearfully stare at the now wide open door, before heaving a deep sigh and burying his head in his hands, shoulders shaking.

Derek shuffled over to Isaac's side, not touching him, just allowing his presence to calm the beta. He remembered how Doctor Rhodes had dealt with him the first time he'd broken down during a session. The advice she's given to Laura when she'd come to collect him, "You're okay, Isaac, just breathe. That's it, you're safe."

"I tried to hold on," the boy muttered brokenly, shaking his lowered head, his voice rough from tears and fear, "I tried to…but it slipped away."

"Hold on to what Isaac?" Derek frowned, watching the boy trembled but holding back from touching him.

"The anger." Isaac stated matter-of-factly, lifting his gaze to meet Derek's, "I couldn't keep hold of the anger." He sounded guilty and ashamed, as if he'd somehow let Derek down, and it twisted like a knife in the alpha's gut.

Derek inhaled sharply, his spine stiffening at the memory of Isaac's first full moon. How he'd told him he used the anger as an anchor. God, he'd been so stupid. "It's fine, Isaac." He reassured, careful not to make it sound like he was scolding him, or belittling the teenager, "Everyone has to find their own anchor," he calcified quietly, "Something that brings them peace and comfort. Anger was mine, it doesn't have to be yours."

"What e-else is there?" Isaac said, his features smoothing back into those of a regular human, though his eyes still glowed.

"You have the pack." Derek said encouragingly.

Isaac shook his head, "The pack's gone. Erica and Boyd are gone. You only keep me around for the power I can give you. You've only ever wanted the power." His voice broke as anger battled with sorrow, "There is no pack!" he growled.

Derek stared at him, brows pinched tightly together, his heart beginning to race, "Who told you that?" as if he didn't know.

Isaac glanced up, sinking back against the shelves, fear once again lighting his eyes. Derek swallowed hard and forced himself to calm down.

"Isaac, I didn't give you the bite for power," at the doubtful look in the teenagers face, Derek took another calming breath, silently counting to ten, "Okay," he started again, turning his head to stare at the opposite wall and hopefully allowing Isaac to relax. "It's so much more complicated than Scott knows." The uptick of Isaac's heart told Derek he was right in his assumption. "Yes, there was an element of need that came from becoming alpha, an almost overpowering desire to build a pack, but it goes so much deeper than that." He shook his head, "I never expected to become alpha, I wasn't prepared for it, just as I never expected to find myself alone in the world, with no one. So yes, I wanted a pack, but it had nothing to do with power. I don't care about power, I never have. I care about…family."

Derek took a breath, drawing his legs up and resting his forearms across his knees, "Power was Peter's need. It was all he ever cared about. My mother, she cared solely for protecting those around her, the family, the town."

"So it's like with Jackson becoming the kanima. It's a reflection of the person." Isaac said shyly.

Derek looked at him, smiling proudly, "Yes, exactly. The kind of alpha a werewolf is reflects the kind of person they are, and the things they hold important. Me? Well, I'm a fuck up," he scoffed, "which is why I fuck it up 90% of the time, but the one thing that had always been important to me, is pack. I've made a lot of mistakes though, and those mistakes cost me one pack, I don't want them to cost me another." He met Isaac's gaze, silently asking for forgiveness.

The beta dropped his head, staring down at his hands, "Scott said…" he licked his lips, "…you chose me because I was vulnerable and desperate."

Derek breathed and counted again, "Is that what you believe? That you were weak? That I somehow took advantage of that?" he fought to keep his tone calm, as if they were discussing what to have for dinner, "I didn't. You, Erica and Boyd, you're all strong. You are survivors, just like me. – I didn't offer you the bite because I needed you, or because you happened to be there. Isaac I offered it to you because you deserved it." He twisted around to better see the teenager, "I've told Scott before, the bite, it's a gift not a curse."

Isaac stared at him, searching for the lie he'd never hear.

"I know Scott thinks I was wrong to give you the bite, but that's rooted in his own issues. He wasn't given the choice like you and the others. Peter forced it on him, and in doing so it has made him mistrustful and angry, and he's aiming all that in my direction, for whatever reason." He couldn't keep the anger out of his voice as he spoke, but thankfully Isaac didn't shy away from him again, "That doesn't mean he's right though."

Turning his head, Isaac sighed, pulling his knees tighter against his chest and resting his chin on them, "Scott's my friend." He stated, though it sounded more like he was trying to reassure himself of the fact than defend the other teenager.

"Isaac," Derek said more calmly, reaching out to touch the boy. He waited, hand hovering, for Isaac to give him a small sign of consent before pressing his palm to the back of the teenager's neck. "I'm not going to tell you who you can and can't be friends with, that's not my place. – But I'm going to ask you not to let Scott twist the facts or make you doubt yourself or your decision. Doubt is dangerous."

"Doubt leads to the dark side." Isaac muttered, and Derek grinned.

"You could say that. – I'm going to ask you to consider what is behind all Scott says to you. Think about what you've seen and heard before taking anything Scott says to heart again."

"Are you saying he's using me?" Isaac gapped, eyes glistening with hurt.

"No," Derek shook his head, hoping he was telling the truth. "I don't even think Scott is aware of it. I think he genuinely sees me as being no different to Peter, either because I'm a werewolf or because I'm a Hale. I confess, I didn't exactly earn his trust when I lied about the cure, and no doubt my opinion on his relationship with Allison didn't help matters." Derek sighed, squeezing the beta's neck gently, "But only you can judge if your friendship with Scott is real." He pulled his hand back and smiled, "Either way, I need you to know I'll do better in future. We'll find Erica and Boyd; I swear we will. Until then, you have me," he insisted firmly, a promise in each word, "and Jackson and Stiles. We're pack."

Isaac met Derek's gaze, his eyes finally returning back to his natural blue, "And Scott?"

Derek exhaled, "That's down to him. – Like I said to Jackson, if Scott needs me, us, we're here for him. – He may hate me, but I have no intention of leaving him to fend for himself." No matter how angry he is at him. He'll not become the monster Scott clearly believes he is.

The pair fell silent, sitting in the messy closet just listening to one another's breathing and allowing their minds to wander. Eventually Derek got to his feet, brushing off his jeans and holding out a hand to his beta, "Let's go home."

Isaac stared at the outstretched hand for a moment before finally taking it, pulling himself to his feet, his eyes drifting around the chaotic room, then to the door. "Shit, Harris is…"

Derek looked around, too, seeing the mess, "I'll deal with Harris,"

Isaac looked at him worriedly, "I don't want trouble, it just makes things worse." He muttered shakily.

Derek stared at him, fingers curling at his sides. He shifted his hand behind his back so Isaac wouldn't see the sign of his growing anger. "What do you want to do?"

Isaac looked around, "Can we just clear this up, and then go home."

"Of course," Derek nodded, relaxing his fingers.

It didn't take them long to get the room back to normal and the desk set in place. There was nothing they could do about the door, but Derek reassured Isaac that Harris would be too confused to do anything about it.

"Why were you in detention in the first place?" Derek asked, as they finally left the classroom.

Isaac sighed, "The twins set me up."

Derek looked at him, brows knitted, "Meaning?"

Isaac stared down as he walked, "They ambushed me in the corridor when I went to the bathroom. They started fighting,"

"One another?" Derek asked, confused.

"Yes. Aiden beat the hell out of Ethan and then ran away when Harris came out to see what the noise was. He saw me standing over Ethan. The asshole told him I'd done it because he was gay, and…" Isaac gestured back to the classroom.

Derek gritted his teeth, his hands buried in the pockets of his jeans to hide his claws. "And what happened in there?" he nodded to the room.

"I don't know," Isaac began shaking his head, "I was in there, the door open. I always leave it open. The corridor was empty, I made sure to listen out for any one, and then…" he paused inhaling sharply.

"It's okay, we'll…"

"Then the door just slammed closed and I – I couldn't get it open, no matter how hard I tried. I swear Derek, I tried, it wouldn't move."

"I believe you." He replied.

"Do you think it was the twins?" Isaac asked as they reached the exit.

"Can't be sure, but…they're the top of my suspect list."

Isaac chuckled, "You've been hanging with Stiles too long, you're beginning to sound like him."

Derek glowered over at the teenager, but the corner of his mouth turned up.

They burst out into the warm early evening sunlight, summer continuing to cling on for a little while longer. Squinting, Derek looked over to where he'd haphazardly parked the Toyota in a hurry to get to Isaac. The door was open and Stiles sat in the passenger seat, head down as he thumbed through his phone, chewing on his lower lip. Even from the distance, Derek could smell the scent of cooked meat and bread, and he smiled at himself. Obviously Stiles had grabbed his burger on their way out of the diner.

They'd been doing that almost daily the last week and a half, heading to the diner after school to grab something to eat and talk. More often than not, they kept the conversations light, discussing movies, music, high school, but sometimes they delved into one or the other's pasts.

Derek watched Stiles from the top of the school steps for a moment, the teenager looking up as if sensing his gaze and smiled, a smile Derek easily returned.

Over the last couple of months, he'd found himself smiling more and more, with increasing ease. The tight reign he'd had on his emotions for years, slipping away with each passing day. He knew it meant trouble, he was fully aware nothing good would come of letting Stiles in the way he was, and yet he continued to walk down that path because for all the pain and humiliation that would come, he couldn't live in the shadows any longer. Stiles, for all his youth and infuriating manner, for all that it was wrong, had become something of a harbour for Derek. A place to rest and rebuild. His place of safety in a sea of troubles.

Turning his head away from him reluctantly, he sort out Scott, who was sat on his bike at the opposite end of the parking lot. He watched the teenager leap of the machine and begin to make his way over to meet them.

Together he and Isaac jogged down the steps, Scott meeting them at the bottom with a smile for his fellow teen, "Are you okay?" Scott asked, looking him up and down.

"I'm fine, thanks." Isaac said quietly, his eyes flickering from Derek to the car parked across the lot, "And thanks for calling Derek."

Scott looked at the alpha, gaze once more filled with mistrust, "Technically I called Stiles." He clarified coldly.

There was a resounding sigh and Isaac gave him a tight smile, moving to leave, "I'll call you later." He muttered, stepping around the other boy and walking off towards the car, just as Stiles was heading over to them.

Scott watched him go before turning back to Derek, eyes narrow and angry, "What did you say to him? You told him not to hang out with me, is that it? You took Stiles and now you're taking Isaac."

Derek growled, stepping into the teenager's personal space, eyes flashing red for a brief moment to reinforce his alpha status. "I can't take something that never belonged to you," he seethed, "and as for telling Isaac not to hang out with you, I haven't said a word. Unlike some I respect people's choices, and don't go around whispering in people's ears, trying to turn them against their family."

"You're not his family!" Scott spat back, eyes flashing defiantly.

"Pack is family, Scott." Voice low with warning, "And this time, I'll protect my family."

Scott growled, lowering his head and looking up at the alpha through his lashes, "You only want him for the power he can give you."

Derek took another step closer, the toes of his trainers brushing against those of Scott's sneakers, "You talk like you care," he said in a low voice only the werewolf can hear, "and yet you're undermining Isaac's choices, not to mention Stiles'."

"How dare you, I care about them more than you…"

"Oh really?" Derek scoffed, "Which is why you've made Isaac feel like a victim, again. Making him believe he was completely incapable of making choices for himself. That he didn't know what he was doing, or what he wanted." He shook his head, disgusted at the teenager. "Funny how when I tried to warn you about Allison, your argument was you knew exactly what you were doing, but Isaac, no he'd didn't understand. Why is that Scott? Is it because you think you're better than him, than all of us?"

Scott flushed, his heart beginning to race almost out of control. Derek watched as the teenager flicked his fingers, releasing his claws.

"And as for Stiles," Derek scoffed, sneering at Scott's attempt to intimidate him, "If you care so much about him, where were you when he needed you, and why can't he trust you enough to…"

"Woah, woah, woah!" Stiles said hurriedly, stepping in between them again, "Alright, I think we all need to calm down before things are said that can't be unsaid." He shot Derek an angry glare and gave his chest a shove, putting more space between the werewolves, before turning back to Scott, "I think you should go home Scott."

The teenager gave him that familiar look of betrayal, glancing briefly at the back of the Toyota, then turned marching furiously away, swearing up a storm under his breath, fully aware Derek could hear him.

Closing his eyes, Derek inhaled deeply to calm himself and got an overpowering scent of anger and…Stiles, snapping his eyes open he stared down into almost murderous brown eyes, and swallowed thickly.

"What was that?" Stiles demanded loudly, giving Derek's chest another rough shove.

"What?" Derek deadpanned, despite the blood rushing through his every vein and the hammering of his heart.

"What? What, he says. You trying to bait Scott, that's what."

Derek grunted angrily, "I wasn't baiting him, he was baiting me."

Stiles shook his head, dragging his fingers through his hair as he turned in a wide circle and staring up at the sky. "Lord give me strength!" he prayed, turning back to Derek, "You're as bad as each other. You baiting him to make him look bad in front of Isaac, Scott baiting you so you look bad in front of him and me. It's like a fucking werewolf pissing contest,"

"You don't know what he's been saying to Isaac." Derek snapped defensively.

"Yes," Stiles replied matching his tone, "I do, because he's likely said the same thing to me." He rolled his eyes, "And losing your temper and throwing shit in his face like that isn't going to convince him otherwise, - And talking of shit."

"Ow!" Derek gasped, flinching from the hard punch Stiles landed on his shoulder,

"Don't use me or my…stuff to score points again. I'm not your fucking weapon Derek!" Stiles yelled angrily, "I'm no one's weapon!" with that he turned, marching back to the car.

Derek stared after him, guiltily. "I'm sorry." He whispered, knowing Stiles would hear him despite the growing distance between them.

Stiles stopped in the middle of the lot, shoulders slumping.

"I shouldn't have done that," Derek said, strolling up behind Stiles and resting his hand on the teenager's shoulders, "It was wrong and a betrayal of your trust." He added softly, "Sometimes I forget I'm a grown up."

Stiles let out a dry laugh and shook his head, "Fine," he sighed, "You're forgiven, this time." He said turning his head to look up at the alpha, who smiled shyly.

"Thank you."

They stood like that for a few moments before Stiles stepped out from under Derek's hands and hurried the rest of the way to the car. Derek inhaled deeply, letting it out with a sigh of relief before following. Stiles just reached the open passenger door when a female voice caught both their attention.

Derek turned at the sound of his name, eyes widening as Jennifer Blake, his date from the previous week made her way towards him. He'd forgotten she was a teacher at the high school, and he felt his stomach sink.

"I thought it was you?" Jennifer smiled, looking from Derek to Stiles and back again, "What are you doing here?"

There was something in her voice that made his defence go up, "I was just collecting my ward."

"Your ward?" she frowned, looking over to Stiles, "I…"

"Not me, Ms Blake. Isaac." Stiles thumbed behind him and as if on cue, the other teenager stuck his head out of the window.

"Oh." Jennifer flushed, dropping her gaze with a guilty smile, "Of course." she nodded, as if remembering something.

"Derek just offered to give me a ride home too, as my car is still a right off from the accident." Stiles rambled on. "He's a good friend like that."

Derek stared over at him, bemused. Stiles grinned, gave him a thumbs up and climbed into the car, pulling the door shut as if to give him and the teacher privacy. Derek ground his teeth, and glowered over at him.

"Derek?"

"Sorry what?" He said, turning back to the woman.

"I said I had a lovely time Friday."

"Yeah, it was…great." He didn't even sound convincing to his own ears, however if Jennifer heard the lie, she didn't show it, smiling brightly at him. "We should do it again." He heard himself say and wished he could rip his own throat out.

Jennifer beamed, "That would be wonderful. Friday?"

"Uh," he stammered, scrambling around for an excuse, staring at the woman dumbfounded. Why the hell had he said he wanted a third date, what was wrong with him? "I'm afraid I can't do Friday, family night." He lied once more, growing suddenly desperate.

"Oh, of course." Jennifer muttered, dropping her gaze shyly and chewing on her lip.

Derek kicked himself. Here was a good looking, smart woman who wanted to actually date him and he was fighting it, why? Because he had an unrequited and very much illegal crush on a teenager. God, he had to start behaving like a grown up. "Saturday," he said suddenly, resolved to try.

Jennifer lifted her brown eyes, looking at him through her lashes before fully raising her head, "Saturday would be perfect." She beamed, "Same time?"

"I'll pick you up." He said, feigning confidence.

"Lovely." She grinned, cheeks pink with excitement, "Well, I should get home, papers to mark, lesson plans to put together."

Derek nodded, "Yeah. Good night."

"Goodnight Derek. I'll see you Saturday."

Derek smiled, watching her stroll back to her car, a spring in her step, while his stomach twisted into frantic anxious knots.

With a sigh, he turned, heading for the car door. He didn't glance over again, too afraid she'd been waiting for him to look and wave. Instead he yanked open the door and climbed inside, ignoring the eyes on him as he started the engine.

"You got another date." Isaac stated, as if it needed clarifying.

Derek shrugged, pulling the car out of the parking spot and heading for the exit as quick as he could. As if he could out run his own stupid decision.

"What was that about family night?" Stiles asked with a smirk a minute later.

Relaxing in the seat and glad not to be bombarded with questions about Jennifer, especially not from Stiles, "I figured we could have a pizza and movie night. Maybe make it a regular thing." He could feel Stiles eyes on him again, burning into the side of his face, but he didn't dare turn to look.

"You sure?" Stiles said gently.

There was a long moment of silence before Derek nodded, "Yeah" he whispered, giving the teenager a sidelong look and a reassuring smile, "It's time. – Mom would want it."

Stiles nodded in agreement. "Well count me in."

Derek grinned, the tightness in his gut and chest finally easing.

A/N: I always felt Isaac was seriously hard done by on this show. His trauma was never really dealt with, unless it was to make Scott look good. Also considering how Davis kept trying to push people away from Sterek and toward Sciaac, he didn't actually do much with them. I wonder if he only wanted Isaac because Isaac didn't have the same fan appeal as Stiles and therefore wouldn't be a distraction from his Mary-Sue: Scott. I mean let's face it, while Scott and Isaac had some nice scenes together, Isaac was never really fleshed out as a character. He was either a replacement for Stiles in many scenes, or as a replacement for Scott in the sexy scenes that Allison and Scott's breakup took away from the show.

Also, bonus points if you've figured out that each chapter is named after an episode of Dark Angel. Kudos.

Sorry for the rant. See you again soon. :D