Paul was headed towards the camp site. Humming along to Ke$ha and wondering what it feels like to wake up feeling like p-diddy…Probably sticky and overly smug. He concludes. Coming around a corner his chest clenches when he sees the car parked in his lane with people standing in the other lane. "Oh Jesus fuck!" He yells slamming on the brakes and swerving to the right. Fighting the steering wheel viciously he just manages to miss the first tree only losing the mirror on the driver's door. Clipping another tree the SUV starts to spin sideways then begins to roll down the steep embankment. Paul's head cracks painfully on the window in his door knocking him unconscious. The battered Toyota finally comes to rest at the bottom of the hill in a stream. Paul hangs limply in his seat belt face and hands covered in blood. The sound of a car speeding away barely audible over the sound of the hissing of the engine's shattered radiator.
Stiles hangs up with his father and looks back at Isaac's text.
From Isaac: Paul never showed up something feels wrong.
To puppies: Get to the hospital now.
Stiles grabs Peter's hand and hauls him out of the restaurant.
Isaac and Derek show up first.
"Where is he?!" Isaac yells as soon as he sees Stiles talking to his step mom.
"Isaac you have to calm down." Melissa says rushing forward. Isaac is frantic tears streaking down his face. "What happened?" You have to let me see him please!" "You can't go in until the doctor is finished he was in an accident his car went off the road." Isaac's breath catches and he clenches his eyes closed as he starts shaking. Stiles and Derek both pull him in to a tight hug. "He's alive Isaac he's alive." Stiles says trying to calm his distraught pack mate. "How bad is it?" Derek asks looking at Melissa. "I don't know yet he was unconscious when they brought him in. I'll be back shortly." She says before hurrying through a set of double doors. Moments later Sherif Stilinski comes walking in. "Dad." Stiles says. The sheriff pulls his son in to a quick hug. "Some hikers found him. He ran off the road and rolled down the hill. They saw the steam from where his engine had landed in the water. It's a good thing they did where he went off the road it might have been days before anyone noticed." Isaac whimpers and pulls Derek closer hiding his face in his Alpha's chest. "Paul is Isaac's mate." John's eyes widen for a moment. He knew what had happened with Neal and how upset Isaac had been. Having been in the know about the supernatural goings on in his town for the better part of a decade the Sheriff knows all too well the significance of his son's statement. "They have only recently met, Paul…doesn't know yet, about anything." Stiles says quietly looking around to make sure no one was within ear shot.
Just then Danny and Scott come running in to the hospital. Stiles and the Sheriff greet them and get them up to speed while Derek walks a trembling Isaac over and sets him down on a small couch. Scott and Danny soon join them both pressing close to Isaac offering their support. Isaac's breath is coming in sharp jagged huffs while he sobs quietly hands fisted in Derek's shirt. After a couple incredibly long hours Melissa comes back through the double doors looking relieved. She kneels in front of Isaac and takes his hand. "He's going to be OK sweet heart. He's being moved to a private room right now. He is asleep but you can see him once they have him settled. He's got a concussion some bad lacerations on his face and hands from being bounced around and a sprained ankle. Aside from that he's going to be OK. Isaac's relief flooding the bond makes all the wolves sigh. "Will you let me know when I can go in?" Isaac asks rubbing the tears from his face. "Of course. It'll probably be about 10 more minutes I'll come get you then OK?" Isaac nods eyes closed as he breathes deeply. John nods at his wife before she walks away before saying to Stiles. "I have to get back to the station keep me in the loop huh?" Stiles smiles at his Dad walking with him over to the door. "Always, thanks for sitting with us." "Don't mention it. Not sure when it happened." John says looking over at the pack as they continue to comfort Isaac. "But this is family. Family always comes first." Hearing this Derek looks up and nods at the Sheriff who clamps Stiles on the shoulder before walking out of the hospital.
Stiles and Isaac are the only ones allowed in to the small room. Knowing pack Melissa had told them all they could go in but only two at a time to keep the rest of the staff from complaining about the abuse of the rules. Upon seeing his mates battered face Isaac sucks in his breath and whimpers softly. He rushes to the bed side and takes Paul's left hand in his before stroking his face. Stiles puts his hand on Isaac's back "It's OK pup he's going to be fine. Just some bumps and cuts." Isaac nods his head yes but continues to keen softly while gently stroking his mate's hair.
After a while Stiles leaves so the rest of the pack could come in one at a time. The thought of Isaac leaving the room never crossing anyone's mind. Melissa comes in when it's Isaac and Derek in the room. "I know how this goes so I'm not going to even ask you to leave. I've already told the next shift that you're to be allowed to stay. I've told them you're his fiancé and the closest he has to any family so if they ask stick to the story." Isaac nods his head gratefully. "Thank you Melissa." Derek says before she leaves. "One of us will be outside in the waiting room at all times. If you need anything just speak up OK?" Derek says softly standing close to Isaac. "Thanks Derek. Do….Do you think this wasn't an accident?" Isaac asks worry heavy in his voice." Derek shrugs his shoulders. "Not sure we'll know more once he wakes up and we can talk to him. I'm not taking any chances by leaving him or you alone right now." Just then Isaac's stomach growls and Derek smirks. "I'll bring you something to eat." At that the Alpha squeezes Isaac on the arm and leaves him and Paul alone. Isaac pulls the one chair in the room over next to the bed and sits down.
Several hours later Paul slowly starts to wake up. He can feel a hand in his and a comforting presence he somehow knows to be Isaac. Struggling to open his eyes he sees Isaac sitting in an uncomfortable looking chair next to the bed with his head on the mattress. A frown is marring his handsome face. Paul reaches unsteadily with his right hand still semi immobile with Deaton's splint and stokes it through Isaac's hair. Isaac's eyes snap open and focus on Paul's. A bright relieved smile crosses his face. "Paul." He says. So much being said in just one word. "Hi beautiful." Paul says softly. "Are you in any pain can I get you anything?" Isaac says. Paul shrugs and makes a so/so gesture with his hands. Isaac's face clouds and he looks down at Paul's injured hand. "Is it OK that I'm here? Do you want me to leave?" "Will you ever hurt me?" Paul asks quietly. "Never." Isaac says with conviction. "Paul I'm so so sor…" Paul nods his head no and holds up his hand. "I'll share with you if you'll share with me…. later. OK?" Paul manages to rasp out. Isaac nods his head "Say you're sorry then get up here and kiss me." "I'm sorry Paul it'll never happen again." Paul blinks slowly and nods his head yes before tugging on Isaac's hand until he stands leaning over him. Isaac leans down and gently kisses his injured mate. It's very soft but deep and meaningful. When he pulls back Paul is smiling. "Water please?" he whispers hoarsely. Isaac pours some from the pitcher the nurse had brought in during her last check.
Paul drinks the water slowly making a satisfied sound in his chest. He then starts to struggle and move some. "What are you doing?" Isaac asks alarmed. "Making room for you." Paul says sounding a little more like his normal self. "Not going to leave you in that chair." Isaac helps Paul slide over some then climbs in the bed next to him wrapping his arms around the smaller man. Sighing as the sense of safety and comfort floods his system Paul says "That feels so good. Thanks for being here." Blinking slowly and starting to fell back to sleep. "Will you please tell Danny what happened not gonna make it to work." "No need." Isaac says "The whole pack has already been here. They have been in and out most of the night." "Pack?" Paul says softly squeezing Isaac's hand and pressing back in to his warmth before falling back to sleep. Isaac lays there wide eyed heart pounding for a moment. Cursing himself for the slip of the tongue he pulls Paul a little closer and allows himself to be soothed by Paul's easy breathing and heartbeat.
When Paul wakes again he is back in the middle of the bed and Isaac is in the chair next to the bed holding his hand. The doctor a nurse and Sheriff Stilinski are talking quietly at the foot of the bed. Paul clears his throat "Good Morning." The nurse and doctor both look at him. "Actually its good evening. You've been asleep for quite a while Mr. Brace." The doctor says airily as Isaac squeezes his hand gently. Paul places his other hand on top of Isaac's and returns the squeeze. No one in the room misses the sour look on the doctor's face or the look he gives Isaac. "Still pretty sleepy." Paul says turning to look at Isaac and smiling at the warm look Isaac gives him. After frowning for a moment the doctor clears his throat and continues. "That's normal. You had a pretty serious accident. Fortunately you were wearing your seat belt and hikers found you. Do you remember what happened?" John pulls out a small note book to take notes and looks at Paul expectantly. Paul's eyes lose focus as he tries to remember. "I was going to pick up Isaac… There was a car…..people in the road. I swerved. That's pretty much it. Some flashes of stuff after that. I woke up last night I guess and Isaac was here." John makes a few notes. "Well after you went off the road you rolled quite a few times and ended up in a stream. The steam from your engine hitting the water caught the attention of some hikers and they found you and called 911. Paul the doctor and the Sheriff continue to talk for a few minutes until it becomes obvious Paul's too tired to continue. "If you need anything have Isaac call me OK?" John says before nodding to Isaac and following the doctor out of the room.
"I don't like it here." Paul says quietly turning on his side with some effort. "I'm sorry." Isaac says running his fingers through Paul's hair. "I don't guess I could be transferred to Deaton's." Paul says softly. Isaac chuckles before asking "Why don't you like it here?" " The only time I've ever been in hospitals is when someone is dying. Or after…." Paul trails off as Isaac reaches up and caresses his face. "I was in the hospital for a long time. They were in jail but talked one of their friends in to coming after me." Isaac gasps pulling back "They came after you in the hospital?" Paul frowns tugging his hospital gown down and pointing to a scar over his collar bone. "That's from his knife. I woke up just as he tried to cut my throat. Thankfully real life isn't like the movies and the hospital wasn't deserted. We both made enough noise that nurses came running in and he was caught. They seemed to think if I was dead there would be no charges. They didn't realize that by that point it wasn't up to me if they would be charged or not. Kidnapping, aggravated assault, and torture are not things that the police are going to let people get away with regardless if the victim presses charges or not."
Paul shivers and looks around "I feel vulnerable here like you're the only thing keeping me safe. I'm truly grateful you're here Isaac." Isaac's wolf preens at the unintended compliment. "Well provided everything goes OK you can leave tomorrow." "I can?" Paul says sleepily. "Yeah weren't you listening?" Isaac says with a smirk. Paul smiles up at him. "I may have zoned out a few times…." Paul looks over to the other door in the room. "Is that a restroom?" "Yes need to go?" Isaac says. "Could you help me up? Just get me to the door." Paul says straining to get up. Isaac lifts Paul out of the bed with ease and sets him on his feet providing plenty of support. "Man I wish I was as strong as you are." Paul says leaning against Isaac's chest. "Everything is possible." Isaac says imagining how glorious his beautiful mate would be as a wolf. Providing steady support he helps Paul walk across the small room.
A few moments later Paul slowly comes out of the restroom. "Sure wish I could take a shower. Feel so gross." He says. "Ummm I could.." Isaac starts "No." Paul says chuckling. "I really like you Isaac but I think that'd be rushing things a bit." Isaac blushes a bright red. "How about I help you wash your hair?" He says after a moment. Paul's face lights up. "That would be great!" Paul blushes a bit then looks up in to Isaac's blue eyes. "Could I have a kiss first?" He asks quietly. Isaac beams happily at him and gently pulls him close before tenderly kissing him. Isaac leans down kissing the side of Paul's neck and silently sniffs. The concentrated scent of his mate intoxicates Isaac momentarily as he leans closer and breathes deeper. Paul slides his arms around Isaac's back and holds him resting his head on Isaac's shoulder. "I was so scared." Isaac whispers rubbing his face on Paul's neck in a way that seems familiar to the human. "I'm OK though I'm right here." Paul says squeezing Isaac gently. "I'm never going to let you go. Whatever it takes whatever you want. I'm going to prove you that I'm the one." Isaac pulls back and looks down in to Paul's shocked eyes. "Anything." Isaac says before gently brushing his lips against Paul's. "Come on." Isaac says tenderly. "Let's get that beautiful hair clean."