So I might make you guys hate me in this one, because it's a serious chapter & stuff. Don't hate me. Also, forgive me if my facts are wrong.

Chapter Eleven: "You're With Me Now"

It was Monday when Ruby started to get sick. Derek had told her to get up three times before she finally did, looking paler than usual with red-rimmed eyes like she'd been bawling.

"You feeling alright?" Derek asked, sitting beside her.

She sniffled and shook her head, saying, "My throat hurts."

"Here," Derek said, sitting beside her and placing his palm on her forehead. He moved it around, sighing, "I think you have a fever."

She nodded and leaned into his palm, "I wanna sleep."

"Just lay down, Ruby." He told her, patting her shoulder as she slid back under the blanket.

Derek changed out of his pajama pants and pulled on some jeans, walking down the steps this time. Ruby was still laying on the couch with the blanket pulled over her head. Derek sat down beside her and pulled the blanket off, she buried her face in the pillow, turning away from him.

"Still not feeling good?" He asked.

Ruby shook her head at him and yawned, turning a color that concerned him. She brought her hand up to her mouth and made a little moaning sound.

Derek groaned, "Oh no," and quickly carried her out to the backyard, where she threw up behind a tree.

The smell was bad and Ruby came up the back porch steps and rubbed her eyes, "It tastes bad."

"Yeah, go brush your teeth and I'll get some medicine." Derek told her, keeping a safe distance but patting her hair.

He looked through the cupboards, finding only a bottle of Advil. Derek, Laura and the other younger ones had never gotten sick, really. Their immune system was always a lot stronger after they had shifted for the first time.

Ruby came back out, wiping her mouth of the extra toothpaste. She tugged at Derek's shirt and leaned into his side, whining, "Daddy."

He rubbed her shoulder and said, "I know."

She sniffled again and he sighed, "Go get your coat, okay? I've gotta go to the drug store and take you with."

Ruby nodded and Derek carried her out to the living room, putting on her coat and shoes. He carried her back out to the car and drove to the drug store.

They pulled up and Ruby climbed out, huddling closer to Derek.

"Come on," he said, picking her up and carrying her inside. She buried her head in his shoulder and he went through the isles, finally finding some flu medicine.

He grabbed Pediacare Flu and made his way to check-out. Ruby sniffled again and mumbled, "Daddy. My arm hurts."

"I know," He told her, rubbing her back with his free hand after putting the medicine on the counter. The woman at the check-out smiled at him gently.

"Flu's been going around again." She said.

Ruby turned to look at her and Derek nodded. She scanned it and said, "Seven forty-nine."

Derek pulled out a ten dollar bill and the woman smiled at Ruby. Ruby turned back into Derek's jacket and tightened her grip, sucking on her arm.

She gave him change and then pulled out a yellow sucker that had the words Honey Pops on them. "Here, it'll help your throat."

Ruby gave a small smile and took the sucker from her, looking up at Derek.

"Can I?"

"Yeah," Derek said, "How much?"

The woman raised her hands and smiled, "On the house."

Derek nodded, "Thank you."

"No problem," the woman said. "Hope she feels better, soon."

Derek nodded again and left the store. He put Ruby in the back again and she had the sucker in her mouth, leaning her head against the window.

Ruby passed out on the couch again after Derek had figured out how much medicine he was supposed to give her. He pulled the blanket back over her and sighed, taking a nap on the chair for lack of sleep the night before.

Isaac had returned home, but steered clear because Derek told him to, since his immune system was still developing from his human state to the wolf. Ruby had slept on the couch for the rest of the day, watching cartoons on Derek's laptop. By Tuesday night, she still hadn't felt better and had woken him up in the middle of the night.

"What?" He asked.

"Daddy, I still hurt." She said.

Derek leaned forward and felt her head again. If anything, the fever had gone up.

"Still have a fever, too." Derek said, running his hands through her hair, trying to get the cowlicks to go down. He pulled the coat over her shoulders and slid on her shoes, carrying her back out to the car.

"Where are we going?" She asked.

"To Deaton's," Derek told her. "I don't think your fever's going down with that medicine."

Ruby buckled up in the middle and layed down in the seat. Derek passed her his jacket and she bunched it up like a pillow, laying it under her head.

He pulled up to the animal clinic and brought Ruby inside. She kept her shoulder glued to his hip and followed him inside as he ignored the closed sign.

"I'm sorry, we're clo-" Deaton stopped as he looked up to see Derek and a pale Ruby standing by him. "Derek, Ruby," he nodded in welcome, "do you need help?"

"She's sick," Derek said, getting to the point. "Medicine isn't working and her fever won't go down."

Deaton nodded, "And you think it's a different sickness?"

"What else is there?" Derek asked, agitation lacing his tone.

Deaton nodded again and held out his hand, "Come on, Ruby."

Ruby went forward and grabbed his hand, following him to the back room. Deaton set her up on the slab and asked, "Do you feel any pain?"

Ruby shrugged, "My throat hurts."

Deaton pulled out a box and took out a thermometer. Derek gave him a look. Deaton gave him a reassuring one and said, "It's brand new. Perfectly sanitary."

When Derek realized he wasn't lying, he let Deaton do his work.

"Well, her fever's high. That's not a good thing and regular medicine won't help." He explained.

"What will?" Derek asked, picking Ruby up again. She layed her head down on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"It sounds like rabies," Deaton said.

"What?" Derek practically yelled. "What do we do? Shots?"

Deaton nodded, "It would certainly help. Her immune system isn't as strong yet since she hasn't shifted."

Derek held her closer, "Will she get better? What'll happen?"

Deaton shook his head, "Take her to the hospital. I advise right away."

Derek leaned his head on hers, his heart clenching. Deaton gave him a sympathetic look.

Ruby looked up to Derek, moaning, "Daddy."

"I know," Derek said. "Come on, we'll go to the hospital."

.

"Ruby, were you ever bitten by an animal?" Mrs. McCall asked. "Any bats? Raccoons?"

Ruby shook her head and sank lower into Derek's lap. He rubbed her shoulders and Mrs. McCall gave him a worried look.

"Well," she began. "There was this bat that couldn't fly and I tried to help him once. He bit me though."

"How long ago was that, sweetie?" She asked.

Ruby shrugged, "Couple months ago, I guess."

Derek leaned his head on hers, biting his lip.

"Did you get any shots?" Mrs. McCall asked.

"I got flu shots," Ruby said softly.

"I mean for the bite, sweetie."

Ruby shook her head.

Mrs. McCall sighed, "All right, come on, honey."

Derek picked her up and followed Mrs. McCall. He followed her to the waiting room and she said, "I'll get you a room."

When he sat down, Ruby had to tilt her head up to even look at him, "I don't feel good."

Derek kissed her head and said, "I know, baby. I know. But you're with me now, and nothing's going to happen to you."