Chapter Four: Magic Bullet

The next morning Stiles and I peppered Scott with questions about what Derek had told him.

"There's an alpha now?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's what Derek said," Scott replied.

"And he's the one who bit you?" Stiles added.

"Yeah," Scott replied.

"Who was it?" I asked.

"I don't know."

"Did the alpha kill the bus driver?" Stiles asked.

"I don't know," Scott said.

"Well does Allison's dad…"

"I don't know," Scott roared. I backed off as I received my test. I had gotten an A. I smiled and sighed in relief. Stiles was still talking.

The bell rang and I headed outside to the jeep. I climbed in and waited for Stiles. He got it and started the old girl up. He pulled out of the parking spot and headed for the parking lot entrance.

Before we could get there Derek walked in front of the car.

"Oh my god," Stiles gasped stomping on the brakes. I watched as Derek collapsed. I jumped out of the car and ran to Derek. He didn't look so good.

"He isn't looking so good," Stiles said. Scott and Derek talked for a little while and Derek started to shift into the middle of the parking lot. I knelt down and grabbed Derek's arm.

"Get up," I snapped in his ear. He shot a scowl at me and Scott and I helped him up. We got him into the jeep and I climbed over him to sit in the backseat.

"I hate you for this," Stiles said.

"So do I," I called. Scott just raced away.

Stiles started the car and we took off.

"Where are we going to take him?" I asked.

"I don't know. I'll figure it out," he replied. I leaned forward and glanced at Derek. He was pale and sweaty and there were dark circles under his eyes.

"He looks dead," I muttered.

"I can hear you," Derek growled.

"Try not to bleed out on my seats. We're almost there," Stiles said staring at the wound on Derek's arm.

"Almost where," Derek replied sharply.

"Your house," Stiles replied. Derek and I both looked at Stiles.

"You can't take him to his house. He can't defend himself," I found myself saying. I snapped my mouth shut wondering where that had come from.

"Well, where else am I supposed to take him?" Stiles retorted.

"Just start the car," Derek ordered rolling up his sleeve. The bullet wound was oozing blood and slime.

"Oh my god, what is that? Is that contagious? You should probably just get out," Stiles said looking disgusted. My chest was starting to feel tight. I could smell the coopery blood and there was something else, a bitter, acrid smell that made my stomach twist.

"Start the car or I'm going to rip your throat out with my teeth," Derek snapped. Stiles and Derek glared at each other for a moment before Stiles gave in and started the jeep.

We drove for a while aimlessly until Stiles called Scott.

"Dude what do I do? Derek is starting to smell," Stiles said. There was a pause.

"Like death," Stiles told Scott firmly. Derek glared at Stiles.

"The vet, you want me to take him to the vet?" Stiles groaned and started the car once more. He hung up as he started the car.

"Has he found the bullet?" Derek panted.

"Not yet," Stiles replied sourly. Derek sighed and bumped his head forcefully against the headrest.

"I need it," he growled.

"Scott will find it," I soothed.

We pulled into the animal clinic and Stiles got a text.

"Does Nordic blue monkshood mean anything to you?" Stiles asked Derek.

"It's a rare form of wolfs bane. I need the bullet."

"Why?" I asked. His eyes were dark as he looked at me.

"Because I'll die without it," he replied. We helped Derek stumble into the main room. He started looking through the drawers.

"If Scott doesn't get here in time I'll die from the infection. I can't let it reach my heart," he turned with a saw in his hand, "So you're going to cut off my arm." Stiles and I panicked.

"I'm so not doing it," I blurted. Stiles and Derek argued. A headache started to build.

"Just do it," Derek snarled.

"Ok, alright," I saw the cold steel touch Derek's arm, "Here we go!" I closed my eyes.

"Stiles," Scott called. I breathed a sigh of relief as he came in with the bullet.

"Oh thanks goodness," Stiles gasped, "You just saved me from a lifetime of nightmares." Scott handed the bullet to Derek who stared at it for a moment.

"What are you going to do?" I asked hesitantly. He began to stutter and I saw his legs give out. He crashed to the ground and the bullet rolled away. Stiles and I ran to Derek while Scott ran for the bolted.

"Derek, wake up," Stiles ordered as we both started to shake him.

"Scott, he's not waking up," I cried. I slapped Derek's cheek a few times then heard a cheer.

"I got it," Scott cried running back over. Stiles and I looked at each other then he nudged me aside.

"Please don't kill me for this," he murmured before punching Derek in the face. Stiles yelped in pain and Derek jolted awake. We helped him back to his feet and back to the table. He popped the top off the bullet and poured out the powder. He grabbed a lighter from his pocket and set it aflame. Stiles, Scott and I jumped back. I grabbed Stiles' arm as Derek scooped up the powder and pressed it into the wound.

His whole body tensed and he collapsed back to the floor writhing and roaring in pain. We watched the blackish purple withdraw from his veins and the wound close.

There was silence for a moment as we all stared.

"That. Was. Awesome!" Stiles cheered. I jumped at his loud voice then hit him in the shoulder. Derek and Scott started to argue and I rested my forehead against Stiles' arm. I was tired and I still had a headache.

"Can we go home?" I whispered. Stiles glanced down at me and nodded. I sighed in relief.

"We're going home," I told Derek and Scott. Scott looked concerned.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

"I'm just tired. It has been a really stressful day," I replied with a pointed look at Derek. He just glared back. I rolled my eyes and Stiles and I headed out.

We got into the jeep and I was asleep before he even started the engine.