"Peeled the skin off his hand. It was so gnarly. I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or throw up."
"You did all three," Isaac mumbled, opening his eyes to figure out where he was. He was in a bedroom he didn't recognize, surrounded by most of the pack. And it was daytime, which was a little unsettling. How long had he been out?
"Dude, you're awake!" Stiles exclaimed, bouncing onto the bed next to him. Isaac braced for the pain he was expecting, but none came. The wolf must've done a good job. "How do you feel?"
"Alright, I guess. What happened?" Isaac asked.
"After you did your mini shift thing, you basically spaced out while you started to heal. I don't blame you. I think I heard your bones snapping back into place. Not something either of us need to experience again. Then you kind of just passed out, but Deaton said you were okay. I made a few phone calls, then he helped me bring you here," Stiles explained.
"And where's here?" Isaac wondered. It definitely wasn't Derek's loft and he didn't think being at Stiles' house was a good idea, with his father still in the dark about all things supernatural.
"You're at my house," Scott said, sliding up from where he'd been standing off to the side.
"When did you get back?" Isaac asked, not having remembered that Scott was supposed to be out of town.
"Stiles called me from Deaton's last night. After me and my mom heard what happened, she finished up early with the cousins and we came back," Scott answered, sitting down on his other side.
"Why? I'm sorry, you shouldn't have had to do that. Not for me," Isaac scoffed, thoroughly confused. No one had ever rushed to be by his side. Isaac's appendix burst a few years ago because his father refused to get off work early to take him to the doctor. But Scott and his mom had driven miles for him, even after the danger was over?
"Of course I did. You're my friend," Scott laughed, pushing at his shoulder a little. He said it like it was the most normal thing in the world. Like everyone had people who would do stuff like that for them. How did Isaac become one of those people?
"You're really gonna push on the shoulder of the guy with two injured shoulders?" Stiles questioned, chuckling at the immediate look of horror that flashed over Scott's face.
"Oh man, I'm so sorry! I totally forgot!" Scott cried, raising his hands in surrender.
"It's fine. I'm fine, see," Isaac said, raising his formerly broken hand and wiggling his fingers. Stiles snatched it out of the air, turning it over to inspect it.
"Glad to see this thing looking back to normal," Stiles said, rubbing at his wrists. Isaac didn't even have the urge to pull it back. "Did I mention he peeled the skin off his hand?"
"Yes you did, and it's called avulsion, or degloving, for obvious reasons," Lydia said, looking at her own nails casually.
"It has a name?" Stiles yelled, bringing Isaac's hand protectively to his chest.
"Everything has a name," Lydia scoffed, going back to chatting quietly with Allison in the corner. Isaac wasn't really sure why either of the girls would want to be here right now, but he wasn't going to say anything. They probably just wanted to be wherever Scott and Stiles were.
"I should probably get going," Isaac said, slowly easing his hand away from Stiles. "You guys probably have stuff to do today."
"Where are you gonna go?" Scott asked, trying to sound casual. Scott always did have a terrible poker face. And Stiles just so happened to be looking away right now too.
"You told him?" Isaac hissed, crossing his arms over his chest. He didn't think it was fair for something he said while he was being tortured to be made public. It was no one else's business.
"I'm sorry! I couldn't stand the thought of you being alone after everything. And you shouldn't have even been alone in the first place," Stiles defended, refusing to look guilty.
"I can take care of myself," Isaac insisted. If he could survive his father, he could survive on his own.
"You shouldn't have to," Scott said quietly, patting him on the knee.
"I don't really have any other options," Isaac mumbled, picking at the edge of the blanket. He really didn't want to see the pity in their eyes. Poor orphan Isaac was homeless now too.
"Yeah, you do," Scott persisted.
"Did you get a hold of Derek?" Isaac asked hopefully, peeking back up at Scott.
"I called him a bunch of times, but he never answered," Stiles snorted, shaking his head in disgust.
"I meant me," Scott said, setting his hand down much more carefully on his shoulder. "You can always come to me if you need help."
"Why?" Isaac asked. Why would anyone want a random kid on their doorstep?
"Because you're my friend and I want you to be okay," Scott said seriously. "Friends help each other, remember? I know you didn't want to go with Stiles yesterday, but you did it because I asked you to. And then the stuff you did to keep Stiles safe, the sacrifices you made? You don't think you even deserve a place to stay?" Why did Scott have to sound so earnest?
"It's just my issue to deal with, you know?" Isaac brushed off. He wasn't used to this kind of attention. He could admit that it felt nice for people to care about him, but he didn't want to start to depend on it just to have it taken away again. Isaac thought the Alpha/Beta relationship would be forever, and look where he was now.
"It doesn't have to be, not anymore," Scott insisted. "I was talking to my mom on the drive back and she said it would be okay if you wanted to stay here, with us. No one is using this room, so it wouldn't be that big of a deal."
"What?" Isaac spluttered, shocked at the offer. No one wanted to be saddled with an extra teenager. Especially one as messed up as him.
"I don't want to force you or anything, but my door is always open, for all of you," Scott said, squeezing his shoulder before pushing at Stiles good naturedly. "You're probably a better houseguest than this guy. He's always breaking something."
"It's not always!" Stiles gasped, looking offended. "And your mom thinks it's charming."
"She just doesn't want to hurt your feelings," Scott laughed, leaning forward to mock whisper to him. "My mom puts away all the nice stuff when she knows Stiles is coming over." Isaac couldn't help but smile a little at that, even though his mind was swirling from the offer he'd gotten. How could Scott be so casual about opening his home to him? His own father groaned about being stuck taking care of him until he could legally kick him out, and now Scott and his mom were volunteering for the job? It just didn't make sense.
"I don't know," Isaac mumbled, feeling his cheeks burn in embarrassment and maybe something else.
"That's okay, you don't have to decide now. But I do think it's a good idea for you to at least stay the night. Stiles is insisting on having a comic book movie marathon tonight and I need backup in case he goes overboard," Scott laughed.
"I used to read comic books," Isaac said softly, remembering when his brother would bring him home copies sometimes after he'd go out with friends.
"Dude! You've been holding out on me!" Stiles exclaimed, turning to face him fully on the bed. "Which were your favorites?"
The conversation picked up from there, Stiles and him discussing different genres while Scott piped up every now and then. It was nice. He hadn't really had many conversations with any of them that didn't involve werewolf business or lacrosse. They actually had other things in common.
"What the hell is going on?"
Everyone's heads snapped up to face the newcomer, varying looks of surprise on all their faces. Two werewolves in the room and they didn't even hear anyone coming.
"What're you doing here?" Scott asked, standing up to face the new guest.
"Stiles left like 20 voicemails on my phone last night, talking about how he and Isaac almost died," Derek said, glancing over toward the bed. Isaac looked away before they could make eye contact. This was the first time he'd seen Derek since he'd been kicked out of the loft and it was harder than he thought it would be. He just kept seeing that glass flying toward his head and it made him feel sick.
"I'm so glad you're finally here," Stiles said, sliding off the bed to walk over toward Derek. "There's something I've been wanting to tell you." If Isaac had been expecting anything, it definitely wasn't the punch to Derek's jaw. Isaac and Scott sprang into action, rushing to keep the two of them apart. Scott pretty much tackled Derek into the wall and Isaac scooped up Stiles and dropped him on the other side of the bed. He grabbed Stiles again around his middle when the boy made to lunge again, keeping his hold on him just in case.
"What the hell?" Derek spat, angry instead of injured.
"Me what the hell? You what the hell! What the hell were you thinking kicking Isaac out of the loft with nowhere to go?" Stiles shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Derek.
"That's pack business and so none of yours," Derek grumbled, shrugging off Scott's grip. Scott stayed ready though, in case anyone lost their temper.
"Who cares about your bullshit pack? It doesn't change the fact that you turned away a teenage boy who you're supposed to be taking care of without making sure he had a place to go!" Stiles snapped, vibrating in Isaac's arms with anger.
"Isaac can take care of himself," Derek scoffed, crossing his arms to exude his natural confidence. "I did at his age."
"And look how great you turned out," Stiles mocked. Isaac gave him a little squeeze around his middle, trying to warn him off stooping so low.
"He seems fine to me," Derek said, waving over toward him.
"Yeah well, you weren't there to see the dozen broken bones, gunshot wound to the chest, or wolfsbane poisoning," Stiles muttered, looking away at the mention of their ordeal.
"What?" Derek gasped, the first bits of concern leaking through his cool demeanor. "What are you talking about?"
"Didn't Stiles tell you in the voicemails he left?" Scott asked, looking between Derek and Stiles.
"He said they almost died, but I figured that was just his normal over exaggeration," Derek defended, taking another step further into the room. "What happened?"
"Isaac almost died from getting tortured for information about you," Stiles growled, making another move toward the older man.
"Are you okay Isaac?" Derek asked, glancing over the parts of him that were visible.
"Of course," Isaac insisted, trying to put on some of that false bravado he'd attempted after the bite. Although it probably wasn't working, with him in this weird hug from behind situation he was in with Stiles at the moment.
"He almost wasn't. He almost died protecting you, me, and this whole pack! Would you have even cared?" Stiles yelled, making another wild move for Derek. Isaac just held him even tighter, letting Stiles' loose limbs flail freely. Everyone in this room could probably kill Stiles, but he didn't let that stop him. It was pretty admirable.
"Who was it? What happened Isaac?" Derek asked, ignoring Stiles. The boy was about to pipe up again, but Isaac silenced him with a little shake. He felt like he needed to tell this part.
"It was this pair of hunters. They wanted to know where you and Peter were to get revenge for something that happened with their friend Kate. When we didn't answer, they took it out on me," Isaac explained, noticing Derek's eyes flicking over to Allison when the name Kate was mentioned. He really needed to get the whole story.
"Took it out on you how?" Derek questioned, his anger building back up.
"Doesn't matter," Isaac brushed off. He wasn't planning on going through a play by play of every single thing they did, although he was pretty sure Stiles already had with everyone else. It was different with Derek. He didn't want his Alpha looking down on him after hearing what he'd let be done to him.
"Where are they?" Derek growled, his claws sliding out.
"Dead," Isaac whispered, glancing down at the floor. He could feel Derek rear back a little in surprise.
"Look at me," Derek demanded softly, stepping up to the other side of the bed. Isaac knew what he meant, so he let his eyes shift briefly and flashed them up at his Alpha. Derek looked relieved when he saw they were still gold, as if he hadn't previously sent him out on murder missions. "Stiles?"
"No, I didn't kill them either, if that's what you're asking. They kind of killed themselves? With some assistance? It's complicated," Stiles babbled.
"Where are the bodies?" Derek asked, reverting back to his normal, cool demeanor.
"Deaton said he'd take care of it. That he knew some people," Stiles said, patting his arm to let him know it was safe to let go. Isaac did, but still stayed close, in case tempers flared again. And because he just felt better having the support.
"Where've you been? Have you been back to the loft?" Scott asked, walking over to stand on the side of the bed with him and Stiles. Now everyone was on one side and Derek the other. Seemed a little symbolic, if Isaac took notice of such things.
"No, why?" Derek asked, twitching one of his strong eyebrows.
"One of them mentioned going by your loft to try to find you. She found some of my stuff and thought I lived there. Thought I'd know where you were to tell them," Isaac answered quietly, rubbing at the back of his neck. This was the first time he'd really put together the fact that Derek's choice to kick him out and disappear without a word could've killed him. It wasn't like he'd ever give the man up to save himself, but he'd never even had the option.
"Yeah, so strange we were all under the same assumption that Isaac lived with you," Stiles sneered, balling up his fists again. Isaac eyed him, ready to break up the fight that may be brewing. "After all the time you spent trying to get Scott to join your merry band of misfits, you just toss Isaac aside like he doesn't matter? Like he isn't a person?"
"Isaac is still in the pack. Him being in the loft just wasn't working out," Derek snapped, bristling at being lectured by someone he considered beneath him.
"Do you even know where he's been staying? Do you care?" Stiles questioned.
"Guys, it's fine," Isaac interjected weakly. It was weird for people to be fighting about him, like he wasn't even in the room. He didn't need anyone to take care of him or fight his battles.
"And where's Boyd? Don't you remember what happens when you don't keep tabs on people?" Stiles spat. That might've been a step too far, because Derek's hand shot out at lightning speed, headed right for Stiles' throat. No claws out, but Derek didn't need them to do damage. Isaac grabbed Stiles' arm at the last second, pulling the boy behind him protectively like he had so many times the day before in the warehouse. Isaac felt a little growl of warning rumble out of his throat before he could stop it, a clear signal to his Alpha. Derek seemed a little surprised, maybe the barest hint of pride flashing too, but Isaac was probably imagining it.
"I think maybe you should go," Scott said, gently easing Derek toward the door in a way only he seemed to be able to do. "This conversation is going nowhere and none of us need more violence right now." Derek huffed out a breath, shooting Stiles one last glare before he turned to leave the room. He paused before he turned the corner, looking back over his shoulder at him.
"I never meant to-" Derek started, pausing his words to come up with something better. "You can come back to the loft." Isaac hated how he could feel butterflies fluttering in his stomach after hearing those words. Even the somewhat forced decision felt as good as a proud declaration shouted out from the rooftops. He hated how he still craved that paternal whatever he'd never really gotten. And he hated how he knew that if this offer had come just a day earlier he would've jumped at it, spilling reassurances from his lips about this time being better. But now, looking over at Scott who had an annoyingly understanding look on his face, he finally felt like he didn't have to settle for the only option presented to him. He finally had a choice.
"I was thinking of staying with Scott actually. He and his mom offered me a room and I think it would be a good place for me right now," Isaac said, trying his hardest to maintain eye contact with his Alpha. He could see Scott beaming at him from the corner of his eye and he felt Stiles pat his back in support. Derek stared at him for a few more moments, before giving him a little nod and breezing out of the room. Isaac let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, looking around to everyone in the room.
"Welcome home!" Scott grinned, squeezing his shoulder. Isaac smiled back, instead of crying like he felt the sudden urge to do. When had he ever heard those words before? And with real happiness instead of the threat of violence. Stiles darted out from behind him, flopping around on the bed like a dead fish.
"It's a pretty comfortable bed. Guess I'll have to bunk back up with Scott when I stay over," Stiles moaned, spreading out his limbs like a starfish.
"Not sleeping like that. You'll take the floor," Scott laughed, toeing at one of Stiles' outstretched legs. Stiles grabbed his foot with surprising speed, flipping Scott onto the bed and pinning him down in a wrestling move. Scott quickly got the upper hand and they continued rolling around in a casual wrestle.
"We're gonna go," Allison said, scooting Lydia along in front of her toward the door. She paused before she left, setting a gentle hand on Isaac's forearm. "I'm glad you're okay." Isaac watched her walk out, wondering how so much had changed in just a day. Just last afternoon, he'd been sitting in a gutted train, dreading the upcoming sleepless night. Now he had his own bed in a house that he could see slowly morphing to feel like home. Isaac knew it wasn't going to be perfectly smooth sailing, but he felt like he could trust Scott in a way he hadn't with anyone in a long time. There were much worse places to end up.
"I think we should start with Spiderman with Tobey Maguire. Ease you into things a little bit," Stiles suggested from his spot under Scott's leg.
"We should probably go pick up Isaac's stuff first. He'd probably be more comfortable in clothes that actually fit him," Scott giggled, pointing at the inches of bare ankle protruding from the bottom of the too short lounge pants he just realized he was wearing.
"I can go grab it myself," Isaac brushed off, smoothing down his also borrowed shirt. At least that was long enough.
"I got my jeep though. We can swing somewhere and get some food too. My treat," Stiles offered.
"Yeah, where we headed?" Scott asked, grabbing his jacket as if them going was a done deal. They were all so stubborn that it pretty much was. Isaac sighed, knowing this was going to set Stiles off again.
"Abandoned train depot," Isaac mumbled. True to form, Stiles sprang up from the bed, yelling out incoherent words about killing Derek. Isaac scooped him up, throwing him over his shoulder to stop him from running off and trying to make good on his promise.
"I could take him, right guys? I may be small, but I am mighty!" Stiles declared, half heartedly pounding on Isaac's back. Isaac just shook his head fondly, carrying the boy out of the room and toward the front door. Scott followed along, laughing at Stiles and egging him on. For the first time in a while, Isaac felt good. He felt like he had after he'd gotten the bite, like a whole new world of possibilities was opened up to him. And it kind of was again, just less world domination and more normal happiness. But as he listened to Stiles and Scott laugh and have fun with each other, he figured this was better than anything he could've asked for.
