There was no nightmare. No waking up drenched in sweat or crying from fear. There was no dark stranger drooling into his ear or a damp, cold room around him. Stiles, for the first time in years, had a peaceful night's sleep. When he woke, he was dazed, surprised to have casually pulled himself out of sleep. He noted the warm arms wrapped tightly around him, one looped over his torso and the other tucked under his head like a pillow. Derek was behind him, nuzzled into the back of his neck.

It was warm.

That sounds like a stupid way of describing it, but Stiles hadn't woken up warm in ages. He was always freezing from the breeze cooling off his sweat, or because he'd toss and turn and push any blankets off himself, but he was warm. The blankets stayed over his body and the heat radiating off of Derek was so comfortable. Realizing just how much he enjoyed it, Stiles let himself close his eyes once more, and relax his muscles.

It was so comfortable.

He would have dozed off again if the loud knocking on his door hadn't jolted him away from sleep. "Stiles." his father yelled from the opposite side, "You awake yet? It's nearly noon. Aren't you going to work?"

Stiles pushed at the arm over his side and sat up, "I-I'm awake."

"Alright. If you're ready in ten I'll give you a ride."

Derek was stirring now, and looked up at Stiles; still a little sleep drowsy. In a bit of panic, Stiles started dressing, "Okay!" he replied, pulling off the clothes he'd fallen asleep in. There wasn't time to shower, so Derek watched him amusedly as he 'brushed his teeth' by scraping off the plac with his shirt and popping in a minty piece of gum. His T-shirt was wrinkled, and he found himself cold after leaving the warm bed, so he slipped into a sweatshirt and zipped up the front.

"You don't have to rush you know." Stillinski assured from the other side of the door, "I don't have to go in today."

Stiles was still rumbling around trying to get his shoes on now, and tossing a shirt to Derek, who evidently had lost his in the night. Stiles eyed the bandage over Derek's torso suspiciously. What was it from? A faint feeling of Deja vu pushed at him, but he was distracted by Derek and his shirt. Stiles had given up trying to find Derek's shirt and simply tossed him one of the shirts in his drawer. When he slipped it on however, it turned out to be a few sizes too small, and while Stiles held a hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh, Derek let out a warning growl, and threw it back. The shirt knocked some pencils off the side of his desk, which fell to the floor in scattered clunks, "Are you alright in there son?"

"Fine dad!"

Stiles held a finger to his lips in a sort of "shut up Derek" kind of way.

"Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine!" he repeated, pushing Derek and a new shirt towards the window. He'd come in that way, there shouldn't be a reason that he couldn't leave the same.

"I'm coming in."

The door opened just as Derek tumbled over the edge and the window shut.

"Welcome, anything I can help you with sugar?"

Stiles gave Jane a sideways glance and slung his backpack off his shoulder. She grinned mischievously, "Still not very talkative with me huh? You sure said a lot to that sourpuss that came in earlier." She ducked behind the counter and pulled out a small plastic bowl, swinging the scooper in her opposite hand. "You should be careful though, I think he's into you." she warned; Stiles trying not to chuckle at the dramatic irony of it, "The guy came in here yesterday and left the second he realized you weren't here. That's creepy."

A faint smile crept up to Stiles' lips. Jane kept talking to herself about it as she scooped some Chocolate Peanut Butter into the bowl and slid it along the counter to him. When he looked up at her, she smiled, "On my paycheck. You've been pretty out of it lately, and I know it's your favorite."

"Th-thanks." he muttered, thumbing the side of the colorful plastic, absent mindedly.

"You know.." she started, pulling at a strand of her hair, "I notice a lot of things."

Stiles popped a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth before passing her a confused look. She looked tired, he realized. She was always thin, but she never looked as tired as she did. Maybe something at home was bothering her, not that a drunk dad and the weight of caring for kids on her shoulders wouldn't be a bother. Jane continued to pull and play with a stray bit of hair as her eyes flickered bath and forth from the abandoned scooper to his ice cream countless times.

"What I mean is..." she stuttered, "I notice a lot of things about you."

What? Stiles thought maybe he'd heard wrong, or maybe Jane slipped something into his ice cream, but what he'd heard couldn't have been right. Stiles was snapped out of his thoughts by a painful laugh, Jane smiled at him, "I'm just kidding you sap." she teased, ruffling his hair, "and you can sweep the back room since you were late." She turned, and it would have seemed okay, but... the smile didn't really reach her eyes.

"I-"

The bell jingled over the door and Jane offered the new customer a plastic grin, "Welcome!"

Awkwardly, Stiles made his way to the back and pulled out the broom. He swept the floor, possibly more thoroughly than he needed to. After that he wiped down the table they used for lunch breaks, and pushed in the chairs. He checked on the extra stock and made sure nothing was expired, swept again, and sat himself down at the table. He wanted to go home. He felt uncomfortable. The unpleasant feeling was something he associated with bad, and... it was all just too complicated. Gave him a headache that just bugged him more. He was about to try and sneak out the back when Jane popped her head through the door, "Hey." she called, "Sourpuss is back. He's lookin' for ya. Should I tell him to scram?"

"N-no!" Stiles stuttered, "He's.. here to pick me up."

"Oh." she blinked, "Didn't know you swung that way."

"I-"

"I'll let him know you're coming then." she grinned, sticking out her tongue before pulling back to the counter.

Stiles let out a long sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose for a few seconds, trying to will away what he was sure was an oncoming migraine. He forced himself up and into the front, only to be greeted by a cheeky looking Derek. He had his elbows over the top of the counter by the cash register, smiling at him. "Hey." he offered, drawing back and shoving his hands into his pockets.

Stiles immediately grabbed his bag, hoping Derek would get the memo that he was ready to leave, and nodded. Derek watched carefully, and when he rounded the counter, reverted back to that faux expression Stiles had seen him wear with the women he originally brought into the shop, "Ready to go?"

Jane was eyeing them awkwardly, and looking a little too involved in scrubbing the part of the counter they used to mix the ice cream with the toppings. "Yeah.." he muttered, hesitating to offer Jane one last glance before following Derek out of the shop.

He couldn't get a break. He'd said it jokingly before, but it was like some unseen force of the universe was literally trying to ruin his life. Not that his co-worker and only friend liking him was the end of the world, but it didn't do him any favors. Jane was an awesome girl but she was more like the sister he never had than a potential love interest. He climbed into the passenger seat of Derek's car and gripped the material of his jeans. He couldn't get a break.