Entering her room Jess nearly screamed seeing a dark figure hovering outside her window until a flash of electric blue told her just who it was lurking outside. Unlocking the window and pushing it open she stepped back to make room for Derek to climb in.
"Why in the world did you come in through the window?" Jess asked reaching over and flicking on the bedside lamp. Seeing that Derek was even more covered with dust then Scott had been and had some blood smeared on his shirt Jess gasped and began to carefully inspect him for injuries. "What happened? Were you and Scott attacked? Are the two of you ok?" Jess asked anxiously slightly relived to find no visible injuries.
Grumbling and showing a flash of enlarged teeth for a moment Derek dropped his jacket on the ground and huffed angrily as a cloud of dust and debris flew up when it hit the ground. "Someone was attacked." Derek growled. "And I'm not sure how OK that idiot Scott is. Hard to believe someone can be that stupid and still manage to remember how to breath." Derek snarled, stripping off his shirt and letting it drop to the ground to join his filthy jacket snarling softly when the shirt caught on the claw like nails that kept extending and disappearing while Derek snarled and growled softly.
Stepping closer to Derek Jess had just settled her hand on his arm when he snarled about Scott's stupidity. "What did that idiot do now?" Jess groaned slowly rubbing her hand up and down Derek's bare arm. "I have had just about enough of the stupidity between you two. I'm going to go get him so we can settle this once and for all!" Turning Jess moved to step away from Derek and was surprised when he instantly caught her hand as it left his arm and he couldn't quite hold in a soft whine from escaping.
Dropping her hand like he had been burned Derek turned his back to Jess and muttered. "Don't bother! I already told him everything tonight after the fight. After, he said some stupid things. No surprise there." Stepping out of his pants so he was left standing in just his boxer Derek paused leaning for a moment against the window sill. Jaw clenched and head hanging down with his shoulders slightly rounded the man was practically radiating pain.
Jess stared at Derek for a moment before remembering some of the things she had read online earlier that evening. Walking past Derek Jess entered the bathroom and flicked on the light. Removing her sling to free her arm Jess tossed the sling and her phone onto the vanity counter. Walking to the bathtub Jess put in the plug and started the water running as hot at it would go. Pulling open a drawer in the vanity Jess pulled out a large bag of Epsom salts that Melissa had bought to add to her baths to help sooth away any aches and pains Jess felt. Pouring a few large handfuls into the water Jess used her hand to swirl the water around to help them dissolve. Putting the bag back into the drawer Jess closed it and opening a second drawer she pulled out a clean cloth and a bar of hypoallergenic scent free soap. Setting the cloth and soap on the edge of the tub Jess looked up to see Derek watching her from where he stood in her bedroom by the window his head tilted to one side looking tired, hurt, and now confused. Checking the waters temperature and adjusting the tap a little Jess glanced back at Derek to see him still standing by the window. Ruthlessly squashing the overwhelming desire to coo loudly at him Jess got to her feet and grabbing a few thick bath towels from the small cupboard she tossed them on the floor beside the tub.
Walking over Jess caught hold of Derek's arm and led him over to the tub. "Come on." Jess said softly, gesturing to the half full tub. "In you go. Let's get you cleaned up." Releasing his arm Jess sat on the edge of the tub and dipping the cloth and soap into the water she started to rub them together to form a lather.
Staring at Jess in suprise Derek looked from her to the slowly filling tub. "Not that I don't appreciate you starting the water for me. But I haven't needed help to wash myself for a very long time." Derek said shifting his weight uneasily from one foot to another.
Setting the cloth and soap down Jess stood and placing her hand on Derek's arm she gently pushed him towards the tub. "I know you don't NEED help. But sometimes it is nice to have someone help even if you don't actually NEED it. Like you said the other day. Wolves groom. So get in the tub. Leave on your boxers if you like or take them off I don't care. Just climb in and let ME take care of YOU a little." Jess said calmly staring up at Derek.
Letting out a slightly shaky breath Derek carefully stepped into the tub and sank down into the hot water. Sitting up straight and tense in the center on the tub with his knees pulled up towards his chest Derek stared down into the water with his arms wrapped around his knees and all his muscles tensed.
Reaching up to turn off the tap Jess picked up the soap and cloth. Kneeling on the pile of towels beside the tub she reached up and started to use the soapy cloth to rub gentle circles along Derek's shoulders and upper back.
Groaning softly Derek slowly lowered his head until he was slumped forwards over his knees groaning softly and leaning slightly towards Jess.
Smiling Jess continued to softly massage all along Derek's back, shoulders, neck and arms until Derek was nearly asleep in the water. Setting down the cloth Jess stood up and heard a soft whimper from the sleepy werewolf. Murmering reassurances Jess turned the water back on and adjusted the temperature. "Shhh, just a minute."
Unhooking the detachable shower head Jess knelt back down and switched it on. Putting a finger under Derek's chin she gently pressed up murmering softly. "Tilt your head back now." Smiling as he instantly obeyed Jess started to run her fingers through Derek's hair while she carefully wet it through. Adding a small dollop of shampoo she kept one hand in his hair gently rubbing in the shampoo as she stretch up and switched off the water. Settling back down beside the tub Jess reached up and used both hands to firmly massage all over Derek's scalp, smiling as he moaned loudly and leaned as close to her as possible. After a LONG scalp massage Jess used one hand to switch the water back on. This time she was anticipating the soft whimper he gave when she started to rinse out his hair. "Shhhh, we aren't done yet. We still need to put in the conditioner."
Finishing rinsing out the shampoo Jess switched off the water and added a small amount of conditioner to Derek's hair. After messaging it in for a few minutes Jess picked up a comb from off the vanity and started to comb the conditioner gently through every strand of his hair continuing to massage and comb Derek's hair even longer with the conditioner then she had with the shampoo. Jess waited until the bath water was beginning to cool and Derek was starting to drowse lightly in the tub before she set down the comb.
Jess turned the water back on and pulled the plug so that the tub could start to drain while she used the shower head and rinsed every bit of soap and conditioner off the drowsing man. Rinsing the last of the soap down the drain Jess turned off the water and grabbing a large towel she wrapped it around Derek's shoulders before grabbing a second towel and starting to gently dry his hair.
Sighing deeply Derek shifted and leaned heavily against Jess as she worked to dry him off. Snuggling against her as much as he could with the edge of the tub between them.
Crooning Jess gently grabbed Derek's arm and started to urge him to stand up and get out of the tub. "Come on baby. Get up and get yourself into some dry boxers and let's get into bed."
Rubbing his face with the edge of the towel hanging around his neck Derek nodded sleepily and slowly got to his feet. Stripping off his boxers he dropped them in the tub and wandered slowly towards the bedroom. Dragging his feet a little he meandered into the bedroom and reaching into his bag he pulled out a pair of boxers and pulled them on. Standing beside the bed in just a pair of boxers with the damp towels still hanging off his shoulders he slowly stretched his arms up over his head and arched his back deeply backwards twisting his spine this way and that yawning. Shrugging off the towels Derek peeled back the blankets and crawled across the bed to collapse in the center. Nuzzling into the pillow he laid there a moment before he turned on his side to stare at Jess eyes blinking heavily. Frowning when he saw her standing just outside the bathroom door holdong her sling and phone he reached one hand out towards her and whined softly.
Grabbing the bike shorts and oversized t-shirt that had become her pajamas of choice Jess quickly changed and climbed into bed setting the sling and her phone on the bed beside her. Propping herself up against the mound of pillows Jess set a pillow in her lap and patted it softly. "Come here puppy." She crooned to the half asleep man. Smiling as he shifted so he was lying in her lap with his arms wrapped around her waist Jess settled back into the mountain of pillows and started to run her fingers through Derek's hair.
"I miss my family." Derek murmered softly into the pillow.
Freezing for a moment Jess looked down in shock. Derek never spoke about his family. Slowly returning to stroking the man's hair Jess quietly responded. "I miss mine too."
"They're all gone, dead and gone. 'Cept for Peter. He's just gone. Might as well be dead. If he was dead at least he would be in peace. Instead he sits rotting in a care facility stinking of anger, anxiety, and panic. He always smells like panic. It hurts to visit him. To know he is suffering, not able to convince the Doctor's. Hate Doctor's. Mom never took us when we were kids. Treated us herself. Only one who ever went to a Doctor was Peter. Look where that got him. I don't want to ever go to a Doctor. " Derek muttered angrily starting to get himself worked up.
"Shh, shh, shh, it's OK. No one is going to take you to a Doctor. I'll look after you." Jess crooned stroking his hair and slowly soothing him until he once again lay quietly, nearly asleep in her lap. It didn't take long for them both to fall asleep.