ada leaves months after her brother is bitten by a werewolf without intent to return home, then there's an angry knock at her front door. derek x oc, oneshot

. . .

The apartment was lonely, Ada would admit that much. There was no Issac to follow her around like a lost puppy at times, no pack meeting asap texts coming through. No, her phone had been silent for days since the others realized she wouldn't be answering. It had been six months since her baby brother was bitten and turned, six months of supernatural bullshit that Ada was, in truth, just far too exhausted to keep up with. Issac was a strong kid, and he would be fine without her. Last she heard, he had been staying a lot with Scott since she left.

Of course, some part of Ada did feel guilty. She took half of the remaining money- leaving the rest for Issac, grabbed a duffle bag of clothes, hopped in her silver Camry without a word, and just left. The peace and quiet had been nice at first but now, maybe a part of Ada was starting to regret leaving. Maybe a part of her wished she had in fact, said a goodbye or two before she left. The thought of Issac waking up in the apartment alone worried her, not knowing where his only family had gone too.

Curled up on the couch and only half paying attention to the tv show playing, Ada is about to doze off when there's a sharp knock on the door. Fearing that the supernatural had followed her, Ada holds her breath and waits. There's nothing, except another sharp knock followed by "Open up, Lahey."

"Oh, fuck off." Ada muttered under her breath. She made no notion of getting up to open the door.

"Adelaide." The voice was gruff. Ada already knew exactly who it belonged to. With a grumble, she got up and opened the door to find Derek Hale standing on the other side. Without inviting him in, Ada returned to her spot on the couch. Derek was quick to step in and close the door behind him before angrily crossing his arms. "You want to tell me what you're doing here?"

"It's none of your business, Hale," was Ada's curt reply.

Derek huffed, his nostrils flaring as Ada's attention never left the television. Of course it was his business. When a member of the pack- his pack- leaves without notice, it was his business. He stood by the door still, arms crossed angrily as his green eyes never left Ada. Without realizing he was watching, Ada fluffed the blanket before throwing it back over her legs and turning the volume down on the TV.

"Say what you came to say, Hale."

"The pack needs you." Derek cut straight to the point. "They have been the same since you left. Isaac hasn't been the same since you left."

"Issac hasn't been the same since you bit him!" Ada retorted, angry blue eyes staring Derek down. Derek swallowed, not expecting her to fight back. She had a point. Even though the bite had changed Issac in a lot of ways for the better, it had involved the Lahey's in a storm of supernatural bullshit no one was prepared for. When things with the kanima started to spiral out of control- don't think about it, Ada scolded herself.

"You can't do this to them. Issac needs you."

"Issac is strong. He can do just fine without me." Ada bit back, though a small part of her begin to feel guilty. She did miss her baby brother terribly and more often than not she found herself desperately resisting the urge to pick her cell phone up and text him. Just to check in. Derek crossed the room to stand in front of the TV so that Ada was forced to meet his eyes. Ada swallowed nervously, not knowing how she could fight back against a werewolf if it came down to it. Not that Derek would ever hurt her, but he was pissing her off. "Move, Hale. You're blocking my show."

"You weren't paying attention anyway." Derek said, hearing the tick of her beat grow faster.

Finally giving up, Ada flicked the television off as she pulled the wool blanket to her chest. Tears brimmed her eyes at the thought of Issac, poor Issac, alone and confused at her sudden disappearance. It had always been the two of them together, even when their dad was still alive. The reminder of how she had abandoned him almost made her heart break.

"How did you find me?"

"Stiles."

Ada scoffed, knowing better than to doubt the skills of the only other human in the pack. She hadn't exactly tried to hide her trail by bringing her cell phone with her. Of course Stiles had been able to find her. Blinking back tears, Ada hugged the blanket a little tighter.

"Come home, Ada."

"There's nothing for me in Beacon Hills." She shook her head already knowing it was a lie. Her whole life was in Beacon Hills. Her pack, her little brother, her apartment... Ada was becoming so lost in her thoughts she had hardly noticed when Derek took a seat next to her.

"I can hear you lying."

"Don't do this Hale." Ada warns, turning to meet his eyes. Their hands are only inches away and as if he was aware, Derek slides his left hand closer until their fingertips are touching. "Please leave."

"Not without you."

Ada's mouth opens but the words fail to form. She swallows again, the urge to yell and scream at Derek until he leaves faltering by the minute. His green eyes are begging for her to come with him. She tightens her hand around his, trying to find the will to throw him out of the apartment. "Did anyone come with you?"

"They don't know I'm here."

Ada lets go of his hand, nodding as a couple of tears find their way rolling down her face. She wasn't sure if she could handle seeing anyone else. Especially Issac. It was hard enough to leave the pack and Beacon Hills behind, hard enough to face Derek who had come all this way just to try and convince her to come home. She was honestly surprised to hear no one else had came. It was after all only five in the morning. She could imagine some of the pack snoring as they slept, Issac wide awake with worry for his older sister as he lay in the bed at the spare room in the McCall house. She leans forward and pecks Derek lightly on the lips. "Please, go home."

Derek stands to his feet, pacing the living room and not understanding how Ada can't understand. She can't understand the isolation that Stiles feels being the only human member of the pack. The stress Derek feels having to research everything without Ada's help. The stress Scott feels about not knowing if she's okay or not and Issac... Issac's fear that the supernatural followed her somewhere. Hurt her when no one was there to protect her. Issac was losing his mind with worry.

"You don't get it, do you Ada?"

"Then tell me what I'm not getting!" She yells, rising to her feet as the blanket falls to the floor forgotten. Derek stops his pacing, turning to face her, his face just mere inches from hers. Her heart is beating against her chest at such a rapid pace that Derek could hear it even without his supernatural hearing. The two adults stand there staring each other down until Derek presses his lips against hers. Ada pulls back just a second later.

"I can't return to that town." Ada says tearfully, already knowing it's a lie. And maybe she's just a little embarrassed at how easily she had been able to run away.

"The pack needs you, Ada. I need you." Derek tells her truthfully. Whether she's ready to return or not, Ada knows she has no choice. She can't turn her back on her friends, her family. She's ready to come home.