Entering the office Jess found Melissa and the secretary glaring angrily at one another over a sign out book. Glancing up and seeing Jess arrive Melissa turned smugly to the secretary. "See, she's here right on time. My DAUGHTER who I am signing out to go see her doctor." Melissa scowled as she scribbled in the book and turning away from the secretary she threaded her arm through Jess's and dragged her from the office muttering angrily. "Stupid woman trying to correct me and telling me I had misspoke and I must mean I was picking up my son! I know she looks down on me for being a single mother, and being so busy with work all the time, but I am not such a lousy parent that I can't tell the difference between my son and my daughter." Melissa continues to rant not noticing the stunned look Jess was giving her as Melissa dragged her out the doors of the school and over to the parked car. "Get in or we will be late." Melissa said still muttering about know it all secretaries.
Getting into the car and pulling quickly out of the parking lot Melissa finally stopped ranting about the secretary. Taking a deep caimg breath she turned to Jess with a bright smile. "So, how has your morning gone?"
The poor woman was not in any way prepared for Jess to suddenly burst into tears sobbing noisily.
"Oh! Oh what is wrong honey?" Melissa cooed opening the center console she pulled out a neatly folded white hanky and handed it to the sobbing girl. "Did you get into a fight with one of your new friends?" She asked.
Overcome with emotions all Jess could do was shake her head and sob harder thinking about just how wonderful all of her new friends had been to her all day, even Jackson had been nice.
"Well, was a teacher mean to you?" Melissa guessed trying to guess what might have upset a teenage girl who just left a school building.
Shaking her head again Jess thought of the Coach framing and begging her to sign her practice stitches, and the proud and excited Drama teacher praising her ideas and skills.
Frowning Melissa tried again. "Are you scared to go and see the doctor, or scared of the hospital?" Melissa asked tentatively praying that wasn't the reason. The girl needed to see the Doctor's regularly until she was healed or Social Services would throw a fit.
Shaking her head again Jess dug her nails deep into her palm and tried to focus on the sharp pain. Breathing deeply and slowly in and out Jess began to get control of herself finally calming down enough that she could speak. "No, I'm not scared of the hospital or the doctor." Jess said shakily. "That is Derek."
"Well then what...wait did you just say that Derek is scared of doctor's and hospitals?" Melissa asked incredulous forgetting for a moment to ask about the cause of Jess outburst. "You are saying that Mr. Tall, Dark, and Grumpy is scared of doctor's and hospitals?" Melissa said in disbelief.
Still doing breathing exercises to help bring herself fully undercontrol Jess nodded. "Yeah, he absolutely refuses go to a medical professional or a hospital for any sort of treatment or help no matter how badly he is injured." Wiping her face with the hanky Jess continued. "His family were firm believers of using holistic medicines ONLY. None of them would go to a hospital or doctor. Then the fire happened and the only person who survived it was rushed to a hospital awake and screaming in pain. They treated him and he has been in a semi-comatose state every since. It has made the mild fear of them he had as a child a million times worse. I mentioned going to a doctor for help when he was hurt once and he had a full blown panic attack." Jess said seriously. "I was amazed when he visited me in the hospital. And I'm not at all surprised he made plans that would keep him from joining me at my appointments today." Jess finished wiping her face one last time. "And the grumpiness is mostly an act." Jess said pulling out her phone and opening the photo of Derek carrying a tired Anne she passed it to Melissa. "Sorry about the breakdown. I need to make sure to mention them to the doctor. They are happening a lot lately." She mumbled with concern.
Melissa cooed at the adorable picture and smiled softly at the girl. "After what you have been through it is totally normal for your emotions to be unsettled. I am amazed you have been so calm and composed most of the time. I was warned to expect a LOT more breakdowns than you have been having." Melissa said reassuringly, as she set the phone down in the cup holder to free her hands to turn the car into the parking lot and find a parking space.
There were a few appointments scheduled for the afternoon with a lot of waiting between appointments which made Jess curse quietly when she realized that she had forgotten her phone in the car. Seeing a few magazines about cooking Jess quickly became immersed in them and forgot all about being without her phone.
The surgeon who fixed her arm was the first doctor Jess saw. He looked at it, removed most of the stitches, said to keep regularly changing the dressing and using the ointment, and said she could stop the oral antibiotics. Then he told her to check in with the physiotherapist before she went home. The neurosurgeon who had scanned her skull and treated her headwounds asked if she had any new or worsening headaches or dizzy spells and said she should be cautious to avoid any new head injuries but she should be fine to drive again once her arm was sufficiently recovered. When Jess brought up the crying fits he instantly dismissed them as as neurological symptom and seemed amazed that she would question why she was feeling emotional after everything that she had been though recently. And the physiotherapist wanted to get her started on a few VERY light exercises and said she could sleep without the sling and take the sling off if she needed her arm for SHORT stretches of driving but only if she absolutely had no other way of getting around.
Practically skipping as she made her way out of the hospital Jess rushed to the car eager to go get Anne and then get home. Getting to the animal clinic Melissa came inside with her to say hello to Dr. Deaton and what was meant to be a five minute stop to grab the dog quickly stretched into an hour long visit discussing the temperaments of many of the different animals up for adoption and brainstorming some ideas for costumes. Melissa was excited to be able to help in SOME way for a school fundraiser even if it was just being a sounding board.
When the ladies finally made it home Jess saw Stiles jeep and a car she didn't recognize parked in the driveway. As soon as Melissa pulled her car into the driveway the front door burst open and Stiles and Danny ran to the car.
Danny ran to the driver's side and started ranting anxiously to Melissa about Derek showing up at school and being hurt but refusing to go to a Doctor and saying Jess would handle it. Which was crazy. And Scott sending Stiles to take him home instead of to a hospital. And Melissa needed to come inside and make him see reason because a while ago he had locked himself in Jess bathroom after Scott showed up with what he said was medicine and he was no longer making any sense at all. Oh and Danny was here because he promised to come and to help Jess with her laptop and phone upgrades and by the way Melissa had a lovely home.
At the exact same time Stiles was pulling Jess from the car up the driveway and whispering harshly that apparently Derek had been shot by an Argent with a magic poison bullet and needed an antidote which Scott had found while studying at the Argent's house. And he brought it home and Derek took it. Oh and Scott had Stiles wrap where the wound had been since Danny had seen just how gnarly it was and wouldn't understand it disappearing and then Scott had told Stiles that he knew how much of the mixed painkiller and sedative to use.
At this point Stiles paused to take a breath and open the front door and Jess grabbed his shirt and yanking him closer to her she hissed frantically. "STILES! Tell me that you boys did NOT give Derek a shot! For the love of everything holy please tell me you didn't give him the drugs I showed Scott!"
"Well, I can tell you that but I think his erratic behavior might make clear that I am lying." Stiles said nervously pulling out of Jess's grip and glancing back to the car where Melissa was trying to shoo a frantic Danny back from her door so she could get out of her car.
Leaning close Jess hissed to Stiles, "Does Danny know you guys gave him a shot? How the hell did you guys even convince Derek to let you give him those drugs. He knows he reacts badly to them." She asked frantically.
"No, when Danny asked I just said that we had given him medicine and I hid the meds and the syringe." Stiles reassured. Biting his lip and looking nervous Stiles rubbed the backnof his neck awkwardly. "We may not have actually asked Derek before giving him him Scott drugs. Which in hindsight was not our best idea. Scott left to look for you when Derek freaked out and you didn't answer your phone." Stiles muttered.
"You gave him drug's without his permission! You idiot! Text Scott to make sure he knows the cover story. Tell anyone who asks that it was some pills Derek has for anxiety that until now he has refused to try." Jess hissed hurrying up the stairs to her room. Reaching her room Jess started pulling everything out of her pockets and tossing it in a drawer of her desk. Seeing Stiles look of doubt about the backstop Jess snarled angrily. "I already convinced Melissa he is scared of hospitals and doctors and has had panic attacks so it fits the back story. We will say he was prescribed some pills just to try and take next time he needed a doctor and had a panic attack to calm him so he could see a Doctor and he is having a bad reaction to them." Jess explained reasonably while she shucked off her sling and grabbed a heavy blanket from the bed. "Make sure you give Scott the edited story before his mom talks to him." Jess whispered before turning and approaching the bathroom door.
"So we gave him drug's with dubious consent. We thought they would help!" Stiles whispered anxiously trying to excuse his actions.
Jess glared fiercely at Stilea and took a deep breath to keep from screaming. Jess was about to call to Derek through the bathroom door when Danny and Melissa came bursting into the room.
"Get away from there!" Danny cried rushing forward and pulling Jess away from the door. "Whatever the hell meds Stiles gave to him he is acting totally Psycho. The only responses he gives no matter what we say is to call me lover boy and curse at me or to tell Stiles that he is going to rip out his throat WITH HIS TEETH." Danny ranted clearly frightened by the horrific threat.
"Stiles!" Melissa barked looking extremely concerned. "I need to know what kind of injury he has and what sort of medication you boys gave him."
Gulping Stiles shot a desperate look at Jess and stammered out. "Um he had a slight puncture wound on his arm and was having some kind of allergic reaction to whatever punctured it. I put on some antihistamine cream and bandaged it but it was really angry looking so we tried to talk him into going to the hospital and he freaked out big time. I talked to Scott and he mentioned that Derek had told him about some anxiety meds he was prescribed to try next time he had a panic attack because he needed to see a Doctor and so I just gave Derek those. But they just made him panic worse!" Stiles said looking more then a little panicked himself.
"Has he been making a lot of threats towards you?" Melissa asked Stiles, when he nodded Melissa turned sadly to Jess. "I'm sorry honey but if he is saying he will hurt someone then we need to call the police to come and help get him out of here and get him to a hospital." She said pulling out her phone.
Gasping loudly at the thought of his father vs a drugged up vicious Derek Stiles paled and tried to back peddle. "No, no, no, they aren't real threats." Stiles stammered grabbing her arm to stop her from calling the police. "When we first met Derek, Scott and I, I said he looked like the kind of deranged serial killer who would rip out a person's throat with his teeth. It's a joke. He is just angry because I told him the pills were antihistamines. I figured he wouldn't take them if he new what they were. Once he started reacting badly I admitted the switch and that is when he got scared and locked himself in the bathroom." Stiles finished lamely wincing at the look of absolute outrage on the faces of all three of the people facing him.
Gently pulling free from Danny Jess patted his arm softly. "See, he is just scared. He tried to trust someone when hurt which is a huge step for him with his PTSD concerning doctor's and medical stuff and he got tricked." Jess said to both Danny and Melissa. "Just give me some quiet and some space to get him calmed down. This isn't the first time I have dealt with one of his PTSD anxiety attacks. If you feel like you need to stay somewhat close just take the chairs and sit in the hallway with the door open. He won't calm down if he can see you. But that way you can still hear me if I call for help." Grabbing a piece of paper and a pen Jess scribbled out her username and password and handed it to Danny. "You can play with the laptops if you want." Shifting closer to the bathroom door still holding the blanket Jess turned and scowled at Stiles "YOU can head downstairs. If he sees or hears you he is likely to panic again."
Moving slowly Danny grabbed both of the chairs and carried them into the hall placing them just out of sight.
Melissa stepped forwards and placed her hand on Jess's arm. "I am sorry but I can't let you do this alone. I am responsible for you and I am not convinced he isn't a danger to you right now. I won't call the police but I also won't leave you alone in here to deal with him." Grabbing Jess's arm she dragged her towards the door to the room."If he is scared of doctor's my Scrubs will just make things worse. I need to change." Pulling Jess across the hall into Melissa's room she shut the door then began to get changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt. Once she was changed she nodded and let Jess lead her back to the bathroom door.
Hesitating a moment Jess stepped to the bed, grabbed her t-shirt and bike shorts that she normally slept in and quickly got changed. "He is use to this clothes meaning calm, quiet, and sleep." Jess muttered in response to Melissa's confused look. "Once it is clear that he isn't going to hurt me you can leave me alone to deal with him. Having you around is just going to make things harder."
Walking over to the bathroom door Jess knocked softly and tried turning the knob. Finding the door locked Jess pulled open the desk drawer and pulling apart a pen she used the ink tube to trip the lock on the simple push and twist style locking doorknob. As soon as the door began to open the sound of the shower running and a low, snarling erupted from inside the bathroom making Melissa gasp and reach for Jess arm clearly concerned. Taking a deep breath Jess opened the door a little wider and barked sharply. "Hey! That is enough of that nonsense. Stop that right now Derek."
Melissa jumped at the sudden sharp order surprised when the growling stopped as if a switch had been hit.
Taking another deep breath Jess opened the door a little wider. The growling slowly started to begin again. This time Jess cooed softly into the room. "Hey, hey baby, it's OK. It's just me." Jess cooed softly ever so slowly easing the door open. "I'm here now puppy. Everything going to be alight now." Jess sang the words softly in a lilting sing song voice.
Holding her breath expecting snarling or cursing or violence to erupted at any moment the last thing Melissa expected was for a soft whimper followed by a, frightened, broken voice to slur wistfully, so softly it could barely be heard over the noise from the shower. "...Jess, 's 'at you?"
Shaking off Melissa's hold on her arm Jess flicked on the light of the bathroom and slowly eased herself through the door holding the blanket open in front of her. Seeing Derek seated naked in the middle of the bathtub, curled forward over his knees, under a constant barage of water, shivering, Jess rushed forward, switched off the water with one hand and dropped the blanket over him with the other. Crouching down she wrapped the blanket tightly around the shivering figure crooning softly and rubbing briskly to try and warm him up. "Oh you silly, silly, thing! What were you doing that for?" Jess cried using one hand to put the plug in the drain and reaching to start the WARM water running once she felt how cold he was.
Cuddling as close to Jess as he could manage to get Derek buried his face against her neck and started taking deep breaths in through his nose and whimpering softly. "Drugged. Got drugged. Can't think." He slurred desperately suddenly trying to climb out of the slowly filling tub reaching for Jess and whining pitifully when she easily prevented his escape from the tub. "No!" He groaned trying again to get out of the tub. "Warm makes me sleep! Can't sleep! Not safe! Couldn't find you! GOT DRUGGED!" Derek rambled, yelling the last words.
"Shhh, shhh, shhh, your safe now baby. I'm here." Jess cooed using the same now familiar words she used when his sleep was troubled. Hoping their familiarity would help to settle the anxious man. When Derek still wouldn't stop trying to climb out of the tub Jess simply stood up and stepping into the space in the tub behind him she sat down behind him and pulled him back gently to her chest crooning all the time. "I'm here puppy. I got you now."
Turning in her arms so that he was on his side with his face pressed deeply into her neck Derek clung tightly to her shirt whimpering softly as he got as close to her as possible.
Tiptoeing forwards Melissa grabbed a towel and gently laid it over the still shivering, naked man. Waiting until the warm water was nearly overflowing Melissa finally turned it off and stared down at the pair in the tub. "The soup...I know you didn't finish it. But do you think that some of the unfinished broth would help him at all? I could bring some up in a mug..." Melissa offered wanting to do SOMETHING to help.
Nodding Jess said softly. "Cool it so it won't burn, first." Instantly Derek whimpered and cuddled closer to Jess and she flinched. "Don't use the B word for things getting too hot around him right now." Jess said quickly before she started cooing again. "Shhh, you're OK baby, you're OK."
Melissa left and came back a few minutes later with a steaming mug of weak broth with a straw. Kneeling down beside the tub she motioned towards Derek unsure if Jess would demand she hand over the mug and leave or not. "Stiles got a hold of Scott and let him know you are here so he is on his way home now. I am going to strangle those boys!" Melissa groused. Sighing she gazed at the trembling man in Jess's arms. "Do you want ome help with him?"
"He isn't freaking out over you being here. And I could use the help getting him warmed up and dry while he is still so out of it. As he gets more aware we will need some space. I don't want him embarrassed over this later." Jess said firmly shifting Derek slightly so his forehead was against her neck but his mouth was away from it. "Hey sleepy head." She cooed using the same sing song voice she always used when she spoke to him since the entire mess started. "Melissa brought you some nice warm soup to help warm you up. Can you try and drink some of it for me?" Jess cooed motioning with her hand at Melissa.
Startled slightly Melissa quickly brought the straw to Derek's lips but he pouted and turned his face trying to hide it against Jess neck again.
"Please baby?" Jess begged softly lowering her chin to force Derek's face from it's hiding place. "How about this. You drink your soup and then we can both get all dried off and warm and have a proper cuddle where it's more comfy."
Derek gave a deep sigh before he turned toward the mug and opened his mouth.
Slipping the straw between his lips Melissa watched as he sipped slowly at first but quickly drained the mug once he got a taste of the soup. Pulling the straw free she set the mug down and started to gather towels.
Motioning Melissa to step back Jess used her foot to pull the plug from the drain. Jess sat in the slowly draining tub cuddling the poor drugged up man close a moment longer. Shifting the soaked towel and blanket aside Jess started coaxing Derek gently to climb out of the tub. "Come on baby. Let's get all dried off and warmed up." Jess coaxed. Finally tugging away from Derek's hold and climbing out of the tub when Derek refused to climb out on his own, Jess stood dripping outside the tub. Reaching in and gently helping the sluggish man out of the tub Jess wrapped a few towels around him and started gently rubbing him dry.
Looking at the glazed eyes and sluggish behaviour and assuming the poor man wasn't even aware of anything in his surroundings yet Melissa stepped forward to try and help dry off the man. The second her hand joined Jess's hands on his blanketed back Derek flinched violently away from the contact growling softly low in his throat and crowding closer to Jess in a panic.
Catching the frightened man around the waist with her right arm and tugging him close to her chest Jess wrapped her left arm around to rest her hand over his heart. Holding tight Jess kept him from bolting naked out of the bathroom. "Hey, hey, it's OK. It's OK baby. It's just Mama McCall." Jess crooned. "You need to talk to him Mama McCall. You can't just touch him when he doesn't know you are there." Jess instructed softly. "I can finish drying him if you can grab the pair of sweatpants from the bed." Jess said slowly loosening her hold on the man and returning to gently patting him dry. As soon as Melissa left the room Jess yanked off the soggy bandage on his arm and wrapped some self adhesive bandage a few times around his arm using her teeth to cut the sized piece she wanted.
Melissa grabbed the large sweatpants and also stopped to grab some shorts, a bra, and a tank top from Jess's dresser. Entering the bathroom she saw Derek tense slightly and remembering what Jess had said spoke softly. "Hey there honey. You feeling a little better? I brought you some pants. You think you can put them on yourself?" Melissa asked holding them out to the man. "You got his bandage changed already. How did it look?" Melossa asked nodding to the bandaged arm.
"The antihistamine cream did the job. The rash is almost gone and the puncture looks clean." Jess lied easily.
Blinking repeatedly Derek tilted his head and turned to face Melissa looked sleepy and confused.
Smiling softly at him, shaking the pants and holding them open Melissa crouched infront of the man. Holding the pants infront of the man she cooed softly. "Lift your foot up for me honey."
Leaning heavily against Jess, Derek slowly lifted his foot and allowed Melissa to slide the pants up the leg. Once his foot popped through the bottom of the pant leg he set it down and lifted his second foot before Melissa had a chance to ask. As his pants were pulled up getting as far as his knees Derek suddenly reached down and grabbed the waistband and began to pull them up himself still leaning heavily on Jess.
Standing up Melissa offered softly. "Lean on me if you need to lean honey. Let's let Jess get herself into some dry clothes." Seeing Derek tense Melissa reassured him. "We aren't going to leave the room honey. Just lean on me for a minute so Jess can get into dry clothes." Reaching up Melissa gently took hold of Derek's arm and handed Jess her clothes, gently holding Derek back when he tried to reach for Jess.
Stepping away and out of Derek's reach ignoring how he immediately started to whine softly Jess quickly stripped and ran a towel over herself and started pulling on her clothes. Crooning to Derek all the time. "It's OK. It's OK. Just let me get dressed. Just a minute baby. It's OK." The second Jess was dressed she stepped back into Derek's reach and gathered him gently into her arms as Melissa released him. "Shhh puppy, don't cry. You're OK."
Stepping close Melissa laid her hand on Derek's back and rubbed gentle circles as the young man slowly lowered his head and snuggled against Jess's neck trembling softly. "Poor baby. He must feel so awful. All he wants is for you to hold him." Melissa said softly. "I know you don't think he is dangerous but I don't want to leave you alone with him while he is so out of it. I've seen too many people have sudden mood swings when reacting to being drugged this way. Do you think he will be OK if we bring him downstairs? You can sit on the couch and hold him where I can keep an eye on you. You can just sit on the couch and cuddle him and tell us how to finish making the soup." Melissa offered.
Sighing Jess reached up and started carding her fingers through Derek's hair. "Ok. But we need to get a shirt on him first. If he comes out of this suddenly and is downstairs shirtless withoit understanding how he got there he won't be pleased." Jess said waiting while Melissa got a shirt from Derek's bag and brought it back into the bathroom. Taking the shirt Jess started trying to dress the man but he was NOT cooperating wrapping his arms around Jess and snuggling his face more firmly into her neck.
Chuckling softly Melissa took the shirt and gently grabbing one of Derek's wrists she pulled it away from Jess just enough to pull the shirt over it. Pulling the sleeve up his arm she walked around behind him and reaching up she started gently working the shirt down between his face and Jess's neck, cajoling him the whole time. "Lift you head just for a second honey, come on, lift your head."
Giving an annoyed whine Derek lifted his head and stepped back from Jess enough that the two women working together could quickly get his shirt on him. As he tried to step back into Jess's arm she gently stopped him causing him to whine loudly.
Catching Derek's hand Jess started to tug gently leading him out of the bathroom. Steering Derek away from the bed when he tried to aim for it had him whining again. Stepping out of the bedroom Jess smiled to see Danny sitting in the chair working on her laptop. Trying to lead Derek past Danny failed though as Derek stopped short glaring at the teen and pulled his hand away from Jess.
"That's Jess's computer...and her chair..." Derek said slowly pouting and trying to point but not able to manage to actually point in the right direction as he swayed ever so slightly.
Smiling softly at the clearly still VERY drugged up man Danny nodded and leaned slightly forwards. "Yes, Jess let me borrow her chair to sit on while I fix her laptop for her." He said slowly to the gently swaying man.
Gasping Derek turned to Jess in concern. "Someone broke your new laptop? Who did it? Do you need me to go punch them for you?" Turning he squinted at Danny rubbing his fist. "Was it you?" Turning back to Jess he asked brightly. "Do you want me to punch him?"
"NO!" Three voices shouted simultaneously.
Danny leaned back away from him and scrambled to his feet placing the laptop down on the chair and backing away down the hall.
Melissa stepped forward and placed herself between the teen backing up down the hall and the drugged up man protectively.
And Jess reached up and flicked the end of his nose causing him to yelp and cover his nose with his hand and cowering away from her slightly. "We do NOT punch the Danny. Bad puppy." Jess shouted to the shock of Melissa and Danny. Standing glaring at Derek Jess stood in the hall and watched as he slowly stepped back up to her whining softly eyes wide. "We do not punch the Danny." Jess repeated sternly. "Understand?" Jess asked arms crossed across her chest.
Stepping closer and whining softly Derek nodded. "No punching Danny." He promised softly before leaning forward slowly and lying his head down on Jess's shoulder and nuzzling slowly into her neck whimpering over and over again shifting his weight from one leg to another until Jess unfolded her arms and reaching up gently ran her fingers through Derek's hair.
"Ok, OK don't cry baby. I'm not mad anymore. Shhh don't cry puppy." Jess crooned stroking Derek's hair softly until he stopped whimpering and shifting his weight around. Stepping back and taking Derek's hand Jess cooed. "Come downstairs now baby and we can watch some TV and relax." Tugging at his hand Jess guided Derek past Danny and down the stairs. Glancing at Danny as they passed she faced him and said. "I just don't know why he seems to have such a problem with you." Shaking her head in confusion.
Watching the drugged up man following the teen girl quite literally like a lovesick puppy dog Danny rolled his eyes and muttered quietly in response. "Yep, real mystery we have on our hands here." Picking up the laptops and chair he returned the chair to Jess's room and headed downstairs to watch the priceless entertainment that was sure to follow.
Sitting down on the middle cushion on the couch Jess looked up at the pouty werewolf standing infront of her. "Come on baby come sit with me." Jess said trying to guess how he would end up settling. Jess never would have guessed what Derek did next. Stepping forwards he kneeled on the couch straddling her lap and plopped down right into her lap. Laying forwards he wrapped his arm her waist and buried his face against Jess'sneck whimpering softly until Jess reached up and started gently stroking his back.
Hearing a commotion in the kitchen Jess looked up to see Melissa standing with a dish towel and using it to smack Scott and Stiles on the shoulders scolding them for essentially roofying the man. Dropping the towel she grabbed them by the ears and dragged them into the living room to stand infront of the couch. Melissa froze for a moment when she saw the way Derek was sitting and whimpered quietly at the overload of cuteness before pulling herself together. "Jess, just tell them how to finish the soup and they will do it." Melissa said glaring at the boys. "They will also be apologizing to Derek once he is not so..." Melissa trailed off helplessly not even sure how to finish the sentence so it didn't sound awful.
"Drugged out of his mind?" Danny chirped helpfully. Walking into the living room he paused when he saw Derek sitting in Jess's lap like an overgrown toddler. Shaking his head and biting his lip to keep from cooing at the cuteness Danny set the laptop on the side table near the couch. Making a show of stretching his fingers Danny turned to Jess and smiled. "Unlike these two I have actually helped make homemade soup several times. If you like I can strain the broth, skim off the grease, and add spices to taste. And I'll have tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee chop up some carrots, onion, and celery and start it sautéing in a pan with a cup or two of broth." Danny offered.
"That would be a huge help. There is some roated garlic in a small container in the door of the fridge, you can add a spoon of that into the broth when you are salting and flavoring it. There is cooked chicken in the fridge in a container already broken up and ready to just dump into the soup right before serving. And in the door of the fridge is a package of fresh pre-cooked noodles that can be dumped in as well." Jess rambled tiredly all the while stroking her fingers through Derek's hair. "You are my hero Danny boy." Jess said thankfully.
Laughing Melissa wrapped her arm around Danny's shoulder and led him into the kitchen to show him where everything was. "You are a hero to us all Danny. Jess and Derek are the only ones in this household who can cook worth a damn."
Finding a food processor that let them slice all the veggies paper thin in minutes the group in the kitchen managed to get the soup totally finished in about twenty minutes.
Jess requested two mugs of slightly cooled broth saying she didn't want Derek eating anything substantial while still so heavily drugged. When questioned why she was also sticking to broth Jess just stared a moment before pointing out that trying to eat hot soup with a squirmy drugged man in your lap was basically guaranteed to end bady for everyone involved.
After he finished eating Jess called Danny over and he sat on the couch beside Derek's leg slightly warily at first, but when Derek's leg kept jumping and trembling Danny lost his wariness and feeling sorry for the man he reached over and started gently rubbing along Derek's lower leg. Soon anytime he stopped petting and rubbing the drugged man would lift his head and peer confusedly at him and whine softly until Danny started petting again.
Smiling Jess looked down at Derek. "See baby, we like Danny. Danny is so nice. Look how nice he is. Danny is our friend." Jess crooned stroking her fingers in Derek's hair and then scratching her nails gently across his scalp once causing a moan and shiver of delight to shudder through the man's frame. Raising an eyebrow and looking down at the suddenly limp figure whose eyes had glazed slightly and was nudging his head against her hand repeatedly Jess laughed. "Someone liked that." Gently scratching her nails across his scalp again and watching his eyes roll back in his head in pleasure Jess leaned closer and whispered. "We like Danny." Then gave a scratch. "Danny is our friend." Another scratch. "Danny is nice." Another scratch. "We REALLY LIKE Danny." Jess whispered one last time scratching all over his scalp watching his toes literally curling in pleasure before going back to just stroking his hair and letting him settle back down.
Sitting beside them Danny had been watching and trying not to burst out laughing. Looking down at the leg with the pant leg pushed up nearly to the knee Danny smirked, shifting over slightly closer to the pair Danny VERY gently ran his nails down the length of Derek's leg causing Derek to moan and to shift whining softly when Danny stopped. Laughing softly Danny reached up and pushing his hand up under Derek's shirt he started to gently scratch his back smirking as Derek went completely limp in Jess's lap.
When a soft knock sounded on the door Melissa hurried to open it before it could wake the lightly dozing Derek. Opening the door to find a concerned Sheriff worrying because his son was ignoring his texts and calls, Melissa dragged the Sheriff into the living room and pointed angrily to the trio on the couch. "Probably trying to figure out how to explain that!" Melissa snarled quietly.
"Explain what?" The Sheriff asked loudly.
"Shhhh!" Hissed five voices at once startling the Sheriff.
"...don't wake..." Melissa continued
On the couch Derek jolted awake and trying and failing to see what was happening he started to panic, whimpering and struggling weakly against Jess and Danny who had grabbed a hold of him when he tried to stand up. Derek quickly started to settle when Jess and Danny started cooing, crooning and reaching over to scratch their nails along his scalp and back.
"Shhh puppy shhh, you're alright now, you're alright." Jess cooed stroking her fingers through his hair and scratching softly as he whimpered and trembled where he sat in Jess's lap.
On the couch beside them Danny was rubbing up and down Derek's back crooning. "Easy big guy, easy. You're safe. We've got ya. You're going to be ok."
Getting a clear look at the wide blown pupils of the softly whimpering and visibly trembling man on the couch the Sheriff turned to look around the room. "What happened?" The Sheriff asked quietly.
Snorting Danny replied "Scott and Stiles happened." He snapped angrily, before returning to gently soothing the man in Jess's lap.
Turning to where the boys were sitting on the floor staring down at their laps guiltily he asked them. "What did you do? Poor boy looks like he is drugged out of his mind." Turning back to look at Derek with concern as he sat trembling and occasionally whining in Jess's lap as the two teens pet and fussed over him he turned angrily to Melissa. "What is happened here? Why didn't you call me? Why are you all just sitting here?"
Walking over to the couch he held out his hand to Derek. "Come on son. Up you get." He said gently taking hold of Derek's arm.
"Wait. What are YOU doing?" Jess asked worriedly.
Standing up quickly Danny knocked the Sheriff's arm off of Derek's arm. "Hold on a second let us explain. He had a bad reaction to some pills but we're handling it."
"You are a child, you are both children, it is not your responsibility to take care of him and settle him down when he is in this state. I don't know what the hell is going on or why no one seems to want to do anything to take care of this boy properly. But I'm here now and since apparently my son had something to do with causing this state I will take responsibility for looking after him. And I know where he needs to go even if none of you seem to want to take him there. Come on son."
"Sheriff wait! You do NOT want to say what I think you plan to say next." Jess yelled.
"Dad don't say the H word! Listen to them!" Stiles yelled rushing towards his father.
"No!" Danny said firmly stepping between the Sheriff and Derek and physically preventing him from touching the young man again. "We will explain if you just give us a minute. There are sound reasons for why we are handling this how we are handling it."
Glaring at the teen the Sheriff pointed to the side. "Move, unless you want to be arrested."
"For breaking what law? If anyone will be arrested it would be you for attempting to kidnap Derek." Danny growled back.
"Kidnapping? What are you talking about I am trying to get him some help. Just look at him." The Sheriff snapped pointing at the man sitting in Jess's lap clinging to her. "Clearly he should be in the..."
Suddenly Danny had clamped a hand over the Sheriff's mouth and was pushing his backwards a few step away from Derek. "Do not say the H word!" Danny hissed shacking the man slightly. "Do you have a death wish? Several good dishes lost their lives earlier because someone just mentioned the word in conversation on the other end of the room. Promise not to say the name of the place Mrs. McCall works?" Danny said slowly.
Pushing Danny away roughly the Sheriff snarled. "What the hell is wrong with you. Are you all on drugs?"
"Dad!" Stiles snapped. "Would you just stop a minute and let us explain." Taking a deep breath Stiles started to explain things. "It is a long complicated story. But the jist of it is that Derek has SEVERE PTSD about the place Scott's mom works and the professionals who work there. He had pills to try to let him be able to go when needed. Scott and I screwed up and tricked him into taking them thinking they would help him. They did NOT. Jess is able to keep him calm easily, Danny has started helping a bit and Derek is fine with that. He will also let Scott's mom touch him a bit. He won't let me or Scott near him and he will turn violent to defend himself if he thinks you might take him to the place he doesn't like. Scott's mom is keeping a close eye on him and hasn't let him out of her sight the entire time. Since Jess got here he hasn't done anything violent he mostly just cuddles in her lap and whines if something starts bugging him like us trying to watch t.v. or talking too much." Stiles paused and hung his head his voice quavering a little. "I know we screwed up. And Derek is panicked and is suffering because of it. Please don't do something we are all telling you is 100% guaranteed just to panic and scare him more."
Melissa walked over and placed her hand on the Sheriff's arm. "The couch turns into a bed. Stay the night to help monitor him if you are too worried to go home. But I will press charges against you if you try and forcibly remove him from his home because of a slightly bad pill reaction that is already being monitored by a licensed Healthcare professional. He isn't breaking any laws. Technically the only one breaking a law was the two teenage boys who tricked him into taking the pills." Turning to Danny Melissa smiled. "You should go home Danny it is getting late and you don't want to be out after curfew after pissing off the Sheriff." Finishing giving her orders Melissa sank down in an armchair and put her feet up on a footrest.
Sighing the Sheriff sank down into a chair and started massaging his temples. "I'm getting too old for this shit." Pointing at Stiles and Scott he growled. "You are going to explain EVERYTHING to me later on." Scowling at Melissa he added. "You as well. I don't appreciate being left uninformed like this by a fellow parent. It's supposed to be us against them!" He scolded.
Turning to Danny he opened and closed his mouth a few times before huffing out a deep breath and simply muttering. "Thanks for keeping me from upsetting him any worse then he already is. Took guts."
Giving the Sheriff a solemn nod Danny walked over to where Jess was holding a tense and trembling Derek, who seemed aware enough to realize they had been arguing about bringing him to a place he didn't want to go, Danny sat beside them and slowly wrapped the pair in a hug. Lifting his hand and trailing his nails along the back of Derek's head for a moment he smiled as Derek relaxed from the tensly coiled plank he was when Danny started the hug into a big ball of trembling, sleepy, drugged up, adorableness . "You ok to get him upstairs to bed? Or do you want me to help you walk him up?" Danny asked.
"I think if PEOPLE would just leave him to nap on my lap for a few hours he would get over this faster and be fine to go upstairs to bed." Jess growled glaring at the Sheriff. "You go ahead and go home. I will text you if anything major happens." Jess promised. "Thanks again for saving dinner, and for saving Derek from people who think they always know best." Jess growled glaring at the Sheriff again before turning and giving Danny a beaming smile. "I will be fine and will talk to you tomorrow as long as people will let me get this poor puppy to sleep at a decent time."
Standing Danny gave a bow to Jess before picking up the two laptops he had been working on. "I'm nowhere near being able to sleep after all this excitement. So I'll take these home to keep working on them a bit before I go to bed." Turning to Scott and Stiles he just shook his head in disgust. "Idiots!" He snarled before turning to Melissa and smiled. "Mam, thank you for hosting a truly dramatic evening!" He chirped before spinning on his heel and waltzing out of the house whistling softly.
Snuggled in Jess's arms on the couch Derek stared after him and whined softly.
"Really? Really? For a week you growl and snarled at him every time you see him and then threaten to punch him tonight. Then when he finally goes home you pine after him like a lovesick puppy dog?" Jess asked him. "What am I going to do with you?" She asked.
"Sleep" Derek whined rubbing his face with one hand.
"I think an early night is a good idea for everyone." Melissa said. "He isn't getting any worse and he hasn't been violent at all. I think you are right and he just needs to sleep it off. Let's get him upstairs in bed and let him sleep it off. I will just sleep in your computer chair for the night so I can keep an eye on him." Melissa said standing you and slowly stretching. Turning to the Sheriff Melissa told him. "Stiles knows where the extra bedding is. Scott can help you pull the couch out into a bed. I have already given them the first short lecture about how stupid what they did was. You can give them the lecture about how illegal it was and what kind of jail time they could be facing once Derek comes out of this and decides what he want to do about all this." Melissa said glaring at the two boys. "Tomorrow, we can both sit down with Derek and talk to him about all this. Hopefully he won't decide he wants to press charges."
Walking over to the couch Meliss looked down at the pair. "You ready to go to bed honey?" Melissa asked Derek, gently touching his arm and smiling when he lifted his head off Jess's shoulder and nodded slowly. Wrapping her hand around Derek's arm and tugging him gently Melissa helped steady him as he slowly got to his feet. For the first time since Melissa and Jess had gotten him out of the bathtub Derek stood firmly without swaying. "Well, he is doing a little better. Maybe we should try and feed him again.. " Melissa said smiling up at him. "Are you back with us yet?" Melissa asked.
Derek's only response was to blink slowly down at her his head tilting slowly to one side.
Climbing stiffly to her feet Jess stretched this way and that shaking her legs out. "That cuddle was lovely but my legs are a little numb after not moving for so long." Jess said reaching down and rubbing at her thighs. Standing up straight Jess took a gentle hold of Derek's arm and stared up into his face. "You're coming back to me a little now puppy aren't you? Think you can try to eat a little something?"
Squinting down at Jess Derek reached up and rubbed his face with one hand again. "Food?" He asked sluggishly.
Smiling brightly Jess turned and giving a little tug she led Derek into the kitchen and over to a stool at the kitchen island. "Sit." Jess ordered softly pushing down on his shoulder to guide him to sit on the stool. Turning to face Derek she held up both hands. "Stay." As she turned to walk across the kitchen she saw him start to stand. "No! Stay!" This time she gave the command in a firm loud voice and watched him slowly settle back down on on stool. Grabbing a bowl and a spoon Jess quickly served up a large bowl of lukewarm soup from the pot on the stove. Setting the bowl down in front of Derek she set the spoon beside it.
Sitting at the island Derek stared down into the soup seemingly mesmerized by the gently bobbing pieces of noodles, veggies, and chicken.
"The soup is for eating puppy. Eat it up quick and we can go to bed." Jess called over her shoulder as she pulled out a bowl and served herself some soup. Hearing a mix of adult groans and teenage giggles from the door to the living room Jess turned to see that Derek had picked up the spoon and was trying to dip it in the soup but kept missing the bowl. When he finally got the spoon in the bowl of soup he grinned proudly but when he lifted it up he whined finding that he had somehow managed to turn the spoon upside down during his struggle. Pouting angrily he dropped the spoon and lifting the bowl he started drinking the soup in large gulps from the edge of the bowl. Sighing and setting down her own bowl Jess wet a cloth in the sink and placed it on the island beside Derek. "Clean yourself up when your done." Picking up a spoon and her bowl Jess quickly ate her soup while Derek finished his bowl of soup and picking up the cloth started clumsily wiping his face. Taking the cloth Jess made sure his face was clean before tossing the dishes and cloth into the sink. Putting her arm through Derek's and helping him to stand Jess turned to the group gathered in the doorway of the kitchen. "He is coming out of it a bit now. Any danger is passed. Please just let me take him to bed without an audience. He us going to be upset once he comes out of this and embarrassed. He doesn't need an audience for that."
Melissa stared hard at the young man standing beside Jess blinking repeatedly and frowning down at his hands while he clentched and unclentched his fists. "Keep your door unlocked just in case. I will be checking on you regularly and if I find it locked I will get the Sheriff to knock it down!" Melissa threatened. "If you need anything just text or call. Unless we hear from you we will leave you to get him settled for the night. Tomorrow we will see what he wants to do about these idiots." Melissa said pointing at Scott and Stiles.
Putting one hand to his head Derek groaned. Lifting his head suddenly Derek glared at Scott and Stiles. "I'm gonna kick their asses." He growled taking a step towards them.
Pushing the boys back behind him the Sheriff lifted his hand. "Easy there son. I am sure you are upset. And you have every right to be. But violence won't solve anything."
Stopping Derek with her hold on his arm Jess smiled. "There's my Grumpy puppy!" Jess cried happily smiling up at him and pulling him into a hug. Reaching up Jess started carding her fingers through his hair. "Come on baby. It's time for sleep now. We'll deal with them in the morning after everyone has a chance to calm down. The Sheriff is right violence isn't going to make this better."
Burying his face against Jess's neck Derek groaned. "Really? Cause I think that after the night I have had a bit of violence against those two will make me feel a whole lot better."
When everyone chuckled in response Derek looked up confused. "That wasn't a joke. I'm going to kick their asses over this." Derek growled glaring at the suddenly pale boys.
Stepping forward Melissa pointed up the stairs. "Go and sleep it off honey. Tomorrow once you are thinking a little more clearly the Sheriff and I will sit down with you and tall about appropriate punishments for the boys."
Laughing lightly Jess turned and tugged the grumpy man up the stairs. "Come on puppy. You can tell me all about the awful things you want to do with to them." Behind them the teens winced slightly. "And I can help you think up ideas for their punishments." She added brightly. The teens behind them cried out in horror at the idea of the Queen of Drama helping Tall, Dark, and Grumpy think up punishments for them.
Smiling back at the teens with way to many teeth Derek brightened. "I'm actually starting to feel better just thinking about it." He growled disappearing up the stairs behind Jess.
Turning to Scott Stiles gulped loudly. "We...are dead men."
Lying in her bed with Derek beside her, his arms wrapped firmly around her, holding her tightly against his chest with her head resting on his shoulder, Jess smiled as he asked her questions about the crazy night.
"I was naked in the tub under a cold shower when you girl's came in?" He groaned. "How did I get from there to downstairs on the couch?" He asked confused.
"We soaked you in hot water to warm you up then got you dressed and took you downstairs." Jess replied.
Reaching down Derek peeked in the waistband of the sweatpants he wore. "That explains why I'm going commando." He said ruefully.
"You pulled your pants up yourself we just helped you get your feet into the legs of the pants first." Jess told him smiling. "You are lucky I was here. "I think Melissa was about to tuck you into her bed and just cuddle you all night once she saw how cuddly you were once you calmed down. Well after you threatened Danny and I just flicked you nose and told you off and you turned into a contrite puppy."
Groaning Derek reached up with one arm and covered his face which had gone red in embarrassment. "Your killing my street cred. " he groaned. The last question he asked very slowly as if unsure he wanted an answer. "Please tell me I hallucinate the part where Danny, lover boy Danny, saved me from the Sheriff when he was trying to haul me off to a hospital?" He pleaded hopefully.
"Nope, not a hallucination, first he took over making supper, then he saved you from the Sheriff, then he took my laptops home with him to work on them tonight. He is a regular night in shining armor." Jess said happily. "I really think he may be my soul mate." Jess said sighing and snuggling closer to Derek's chest. "I'm so glad that you finally warmed up to him a little tonight. He was the only other person you would really let come near you tonight. I'm glad you two are friends now." Yawning hugely Jess muttered into Derek's chest. "My two best boys."
"Well, I am going to have to murder those two idiots for drugging me like that and leaving me too helpless to take care of you." Derek snarled. "I know you had a soft spot for them. But clearly they are too idiotic to live. You at least had massive blood loss and a massive head injury to explain your bad choices when you drugged me. They were just being idiots because that is what they are."
"But I like it here." Jess said sleepily. "And if you kill them we will have to leave. Even if we got away with it Mama McCall and Papa Stilinsky would be so SAD. I wouldn't be able to stay here and live around them. And I am happy here." Jess said sadly. "Can't you just make them wash your car and clean your place every week for the next year? When you get a place that is." Jess murmered softly falling asleep.
"Damn it." Derek muttered staring down at the sleeping girl. "Guess I am going to have to start to be nice to Lover Boy." Sighing heavily Derek pulled Jess a little closer and resting his head on top of Jess's he drifted off to sleep with her scent filling his nose.