Today was just one of those days when the pack met at Derek's loft for discussing potential threats and new tactics of training, always deciding to oh-so suddenly settle in for the night. Stiles didn't exactly mind the company, honestly he loved it but Derek always seemed a little against the whole idea of pack-bonding.

Ever since, he and Stiles started living together, like together-together, Derek wanted…no, needed some privacy so he could enjoy some time with his boyfriend and make it a normal relationship- well at least as normal as it could be with him being a were-wolf, but thanks to his so-called family, he didn't even get the chance to tell Stiles that he likes him, that in the two years they had spent together trying to 'figure things out' he had actually fallen in love with him. And…did they have to invade their privacy today out of all days? Especially when Derek had a surprise planned for Stiles? So much for being a family.

Derek's raging thoughts were interrupted when his eyes fell on his boyfriend walking towards the dining table cheerfully, carrying two brimmed trays of lasagna in his hands. His lips pulled into a genuine smile and he couldn't help but adore the innocence on Stiles' face who just shrugged his shoulders and smiled back, looking fondly at the betas before him.
"Here you go! Today's special. Lasagna with extra cheeeese!" He drawled the last word out, crouching down a little and stretching his arm around his abdomen in a 'thank you' gesture.

Without thinking twice, both Isaac and Scott leapt onto the food hungrily, shoving one bite after another, paying no heed to the people around him.

Stiles chuckled and walked towards Derek, bending down to kiss him gently on the cheek. The older wolf glanced once again at the two betas eating with no care in the world and his eyes widened, a small amused smile lingering on his lips for a while before a frown replaced it.

"You're not eating?" Stiles asked, placing both his hands on Derek's shoulders.

Derek scoffed and shook his head, "I'm full. Now that I've seen them gobble up lunch like that..." He trailed off, making failed attempts to look disgusted, even though the part of him that cared about his pack members was amazed, even a little satisfied; the satisfaction that all his pups were not hungry anymore.

Stiles narrowed his eyes and loosely curled his arms around Derek's neck with a knowing smile on his face. He bent down again and caught Derek by surprise by kissing him passionately on the lips, far too gone to care about the rest of the members sitting there. He then pulled away and nuzzled his nose into Derek's neck, "This is why I love you so much." He whispered, standing upright and walking towards the kitchen once more.
"I better get them some more…"

Derek heard the small 'Stupid were-wolf appetite' that Stiles muttered before he exited the dining room and scrunched his own face up in frustration, suddenly reminded of his failed attempts. A low growl bubbled up inside his chest and Isaac glanced up from his food, eyebrow arching upwards with his fork lingering in front of his mouth. The younger wolf tilted his neck in confusion and Derek just shook his head and buried his face in his hands, propping his elbows on his table while letting out a hot puff of air. Why is 'I love you too' so hard for me to say? He asked himself, sighing once again.

As Stiles headed back into the kitchen, grinning to himself like an idiot, he felt a familiar tingling in his stomach. He frowned in confusion at the realization; it was the smell of the lasagna….it just wasn't agreeing with him- something that had never happened before. He had been feeling weak for the past few weeks but being the selfless human he always was, he didn't mention it to anyone. It was most likely a bug, nothing big, he had told himself. Ignoring that feeling again, he carefully picked up the last tray, making sure he didn't inhale and began to walk back to where his pack members were probably clanking their plates again for more. An unexpected lurch of his body stopped him mid-way and he felt his stomach churn erratically. That's not normal. He thought, as a dull ache spiked through his stomach and radiated off to his whole body.

"Okay…" He gritted out, frowning while trying to simultaneously find something to lean against. His eyes weakly rolled back in his head and his attempts became more frantic, feet staggering back to place his hand on the nearby wall to steady himself. He waited desperately for the dizziness to pass, still struggling between handling the situation himself or calling Derek.

His vision began darkening around the corners and colorful spots danced in front of his eyes, disfiguring the world around him. He began to hear voices, voices of the rest of the pack from a considerable distance away and his brows furrowed, his panic quickly masking his confusion-because he really needed the world to stop spinning now.

What started as mild whispers now took a louder turn, the sounds of everyone talking to each other, the banging and clinking of the plates echoing loudly in his sore ears. He felt the headache -that was building for quite a while now-intensify exponentially while he continuously blinked to bring back the world into focus.

As he eventually lost control of his body, the tray- that was barely balanced on his shaky palms-fell off his hands and clattered on the ground, making him wince at the intensity of the sound. His stomach churned once again, another wave of nausea hitting him as his knees buckled and this time he cried out in agony.

"Der…" He tried through clenched teeth but before he could call out for help, his breathing became shallower and his eyes rolled back in his head. The last thing he registered before welcoming darkness was a pair of arms catching him as he fell.

Derek was staring at the betas with his arms crossed over his chest and scowl in place- what, his characteristic frown was losing its influence ever since Stiles officially entered his life and he had to change that. So maybe he did love his pack more than privacy. A smirk appeared on his face and a quick thought passed his mind. Oh no, definitely privacy. He shook his head in disbelief and continued to stare, not giving his mind the chance to wander about in the wrong places again. He didn't want to think about Stiles'….. He mentally smacked himself at the back of his head and schooled his features, trying to control his- ahem- yeah.

Clank.

The sound of metal colliding with the ground reverberated in the silent loft and Derek's head snapped towards the kitchen, glancing at Scott and Isaac in between who were also exchanging worried glances with each other, uncertain as to what they heard actually meant something.

Derek stood up and walked hastily towards the kitchen when a familiar albeit pained groan echoed in his ears.

"That was definitely Stiles." Scott muttered and quickened his pace while simultaneously trying to not let the panic reach his voice. Looking at Derek now, he was worried the older wolf might end up doing something stupid.

Stiles, please be okay. Please be okay.

Derek's eyes were blown wide with panic, body stiff and claws extended in caution as the words repeated inside his head, neck tilted to the side, as if trying to listen in.

He hesitantly turned the last corner- with shaky legs and an escalating heartbeat- and finally found himself in the kitchen. The second he saw his mate- he froze in his place, jaw dropping in shock. It was something he desperately wished he could un-see because the memory was definitely going to haunt him for a long time.

Stiles was standing at a corner, leaning heavily against the wall with beads of sweat shining on his forehead and hair clung to the back of his neck. His mouth was slightly open in pain and his skin had lost all its color- as if the blood had been suddenly drained out of him. He was standing on his wobbly legs but only barely, blinking rapidly while extending his hand forward to get a better grip. One of his arms was wrapped protectively around his stomach while the other was placed on the wall, face contorted in agonizing distress- an exact replica of Derek's.

The older wolf was the first one to come out of the shock as he jumped forward just in time to catch the teen as he fell, clumsily cradling his unnaturally cold body into his arms. He shook Stiles lightly trying to get a reaction but breathed in frustration and fear- well mostly fear- when the teen didn't respond-his eyes half-lidded as he continued to remain in complete oblivion.

Derek's eyes snapped towards Scott when the younger wolf suddenly crouched down beside him, tapping Stiles' cheeks gently- failing to keep his voice steady.

"Stiles…hey, Stiles you okay? Wake up man." He turned towards Derek in helplessness and almost immediately tore his gaze away. The alpha was only making this harder for him.

Derek closed his eyes and ignored the rest of the bustle around him, holding his breath as he listened for a heartbeat. A shaky sigh of relief escaped his lips when he found one and practically slumped forward, nuzzling his face into Stiles' hair. A frown appeared on his forehead as he continued to listen. Stiles' heart was thumping, thankfully but something was off about his scent.

Assuming that he was losing his mind due to the adrenalin rush, he discarded his thoughts away and shakily pulled Stiles' sweatshirt closer to his chest, trying to cover his cold body under the thick cloth. Scott reacted immediately and fumbled with the zip for a while before finally pulling it up, giving it a once over before silently rushing over to the table to grab Stiles' jeep keys.

"Help me pick him up." Derek instructed and slid one of his arms beneath Stiles' knees, the other below his shoulders, slowly lifting Stiles up, bridal style. He stared at his mate's limp form and closed his eyes, trying to control his breathing.

"Where are we taking him?" Scott's voice thankfully pulled him back into reality.

"Hospital."

"Deaton."

Isaac's brow furrowed and he met Scott's confused gaze, tilting his own head. "Derek, why are we taking Stiles to Deaton?" He blurted out, not paying attention to the way Derek was gritting his teeth in anger.

"Just don't ask questions and do what I say." The older wolf unintentionally growled. It was that familiar feeling in his gut; something was just wrong about Stiles' scent; something the other were-wolves had not yet picked up. The two betas shuffled a foot back and their frowns deepened.

Stealing one last glance towards Stiles' unconscious form just threw whatever residual doubts Derek had in his mind and he stiffened, shoving the two betas from his way while snatching the keys from Scott's hands.

The duo breathed a sigh and shared a concerned glance. They weren't going to let Derek drive. Not like this. With defeated sighs, they stormed out of the loft and wordlessly followed their alpha to the jeep.