You can tell it's the end of the semester and I have a lot of assignments due because all I want to do is write. I hope you enjoy the fruits of my procrastination. Let me know if you do!

"Isaac, you're a fugitive now," Derek said in an increasingly frustrated tone. "You can't go home."

"Well, Derek, I have to sleep somewhere," Isaac replied. "Plus, I don't smell so great. I really need a shower and some clean clothes." He wasn't sure why he was pushing his Alpha the way he was. Derek could easily snap his neck. Maybe it was just because he wanted to know his boundaries. After all, he'd spent so long living in fear of his father and he really didn't have any idea what to do now that the fear was gone.

Derek let out an annoyed groan.

"I suppose now isn't the time to mention I haven't eaten all day," Isaac said.

Isaac had found the line. Derek grabbed his collar and roughly pulled him forward. "Figure it out, but if you get arrested again you're on your own."

Derek walked away and it really hit Isaac that he was actually alone. Derek wasn't going to help him. Isaac suddenly felt so young and immature. He had no one he could turn to. No one really cared about him. Except for maybe Kat, but he had no idea if she really felt that way about him or if he just wished she did. Either way, she'd always been nice to him at school and he had no other options. At least, that's what he told himself. Maybe he just really wanted to see her.

::::::::::::

"No, no, no," Kat whispered into the mirror as she lightly touched the bruise on her swollen cheek. She had no idea how she was going to cover it up. She wasn't that good with make-up. She would just have to come up with a good lie.

Suddenly, she felt like the wind had been knocked out of her and she sat down on the floor of her room. Why was she protecting Mike? He'd hurt her. He'd punched her in the face all because she'd gotten a text message from a male classmate she'd been assigned to work on a project with. Kat wasn't going to lie for him anymore. It was going to end.

There was a bang on her bedroom window and Kat spun around, half expecting it to be Mike there to murder her. Her heart was pounding and she choked back a scream when she realized it was Isaac. Of course, according to the rumors he could be there to murder her too, but she went to the window anyway.

"Sorry I scared you," Isaac said as soon as she'd opened it. "Are you alright?"

"I'll get back to you as soon as I know," she replied breathlessly in an attempt at a joke.

His thumb caressed her cheek below the bruise. "Who did this?" he asked softly.

"Isaac, my dad could be home any minute."

Isaac shook his head. "No, he's at my house cataloging evidence. There's a lot of stuff for him to go through, it'll take hours. Now, tell me. Please, Kat."

Kat sighed. She wanted to tell him, but she didn't even know how to say it. She felt so pathetic. What would he think of her for staying with someone who hit her? "Do you want to come in?"

She stepped back to allow Isaac room to climb through the window. He moved gracefully and quickly. As soon as he was through, his arms were around her. "Just tell me who did it," he whispered into her hair.

"My boyfriend," she squeaked.

For a moment, he just held her. She hadn't even realized she was crying until she noticed the dampness forming on his T-shirt. He seemed almost reluctant as he released her from his embrace in order to look her in the eye. "He's not going to do this again," Isaac declared.

"I just…I don't know."

"Kat, you don't deserve this," he said.

She nodded. "I guess I should break up with him."

Isaac didn't say anything one way or the other. She wondered what the best way to do it would be. There was no way she would be able to do it in person. As much as she didn't like it, a text message seemed like her best option. She knew if she called him, he would find some way to manipulate her out of it.

Kat reached for her phone and sighed as she found Mike's number in her contacts. She stared at the flashing icon on her screen, waiting for her to type her message. Isaac gave her space and she appreciated that. She figured she needed to be as short and direct as possible. We're done, she typed. I can't take this anymore. It's over. She read the message a few times over and then looked up at Isaac. "Promise you'll stay with me?"

"I'll stay as long as I can," he quickly affirmed.

She pressed 'send'. It didn't take longer than a minute for her phone to start buzzing wildly. Mike was alternating between texting and calling. She turned her phone off and dropped it in her desk drawer.

"Are you okay?" Isaac asked.

"Yeah, I think," Kat said. "I just need to keep my mind off of things…Isaac, what is going on with you?"

"My dad died," he said, his voice shaking a bit.

"I heard about that," Kat replied. She didn't want to bring up the rumors or that everyone in town believed them. She was sure he knew that.

"He used to beat me and lock me up in a freezer in the basement," Isaac confessed. "But I still love him and…I miss him."

"Isaac, I know you didn't do it," she said, taking his hand and squeezing it gently.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"Do you need anything?" Kat said.

"A shower would be nice." His stomach rumbled loudly. "And maybe some food, but I don't want to be a burden. Plus, your mom could wake up."

Kat shook her head. "She passed out on pills hours ago. She's not going to notice anything until tomorrow afternoon at least. You can shower, I'll grab you some food and see if I can find any of my brother's old clothes."

Kat rushed away, thankful to have Isaac there with her. She honestly didn't know if she would have been able to break up with Mike if it weren't for him. Of course, she would be lying if she said it wasn't also because she had a little crush on him, but a new relationship was the last thing she needed to worry about. For the moment, she was just glad to have a friend.

::::::::::::

Isaac had managed to keep his cool when Kat was around, but as soon as she left the wolf fought its way out. His eyes flashed and he growled, imagining himself maiming Kat's now ex-boyfriend. If the bastard ever laid a hand on her again, Isaac would end him.

It took a moment, but he finally managed to calm himself down. It was the past now and while he still wanted to make the asshole pay, all that mattered was that he was there for Kat. He went into the bathroom, feeling a bit strange being in there. It had been so long since his mother had passed away, he'd forgotten about how different women could be. The scattered, half-used bottles of products on the counter were fascinating in a way, but he felt like he was invading her privacy, so he showered quickly and really tried not to think about the fact that she'd been naked in there.

"Clothes are by the door," Kat called from her bedroom. "I'll be downstairs."

Isaac waited until he heard her feet on the stairs before opening the door and grabbing the pile. Everything looked like it would fit and it felt pretty great to put on something clean. It wasn't what he would have picked for himself, but maybe it was time for a change. Isaac wasn't the same person anymore.

The smell of grilled cheese caught his attention and he all but salivated when Kat handed him the plate. He swallowed it down quickly and didn't feel embarrassed until he noticed her watching with an amused look on her face. Mortified, he turned around and set the plate on the desk.

She smiled reassuringly, but her expression quickly went to sadness. "Do you have a place to sleep?" she asked.

"I do," Isaac said. If you could call the hard floor of a rusted out, abandoned subway car a place to sleep, then definitely.

"How did you escape?" Kat asked.

"I guess the door wasn't locked properly," he lied. Well, it was only a half lie. The door was locked properly for a human, but not a werewolf.

"We could talk to my dad," she said. "I know he doesn't really believe that it was you. All they really have to go on is that a witness said you were arguing that night. We could try to prove you didn't do it."

He liked having someone that believed in him. He'd never had to deny being a murderer; she just had that faith in him. Isaac wanted to hug her, but he knew that he wouldn't want to stop there and he didn't want to seem like he was taking advantage of the fact that she'd just broken up with her abusive boyfriend.

"Thanks so much for everything," he said.

She sighed. "You have to go, don't you?"

He shrugged. "Fugitive, remember?"

"Just give me a few minutes to grab you some things to take with you."

Isaac agreed and she returned with a duffel bag. The zipper was straining to contain all the things she'd packed for him and it made it harder for him to leave. He wasn't used to having someone care so much. "Thanks again," he said.

"Be careful out there, Isaac," she said, handing him a folded up leather jacket. "I know they'll find a way to clear your name."

He dropped the jacket and duffel bag for a moment and bent down so that his forehead pressed against hers. "You be careful too. Don't let your ex get you alone. Make sure that people know what he did to you. Stay safe." He kissed the top of her head, breathing in deeply, trying to absorb as much of her scent as he could.

"Will you come by again?" she asked. "You know…so I can know you're alright."

"If I can," he said. "Take care of yourself." He wrapped his arms around her one last time and then reluctantly pulled away. "Goodbye, Kat."

:::::::::::

Isaac wanted to run back to Kat the moment he finished unpacking the duffel bag she'd given him. Thanks to her, his abandoned subway car was almost looking like a home. Well, that was a bit of a stretch, but he now had a pillow and blanket, as well as fresh, clean clothes.

Derek jerked the door of the subway car open. He glanced at Isaac's new possessions, but didn't comment on them. "Come on," he ordered.

Isaac put on the jacket that Kat had given him and followed after Derek. A gorgeous blonde teen was waiting for them and it took Isaac a while to recognize her as Erica Reyes. He'd never really spoken to her that much at school, but he could tell that she was completely different just by the way she stood.

Derek led the way and his pack followed. Isaac wondered where they were going, but knew that Derek probably wouldn't answer if he asked. He was confused when they ended up at the skating rink. He was glad that he'd put on the jacket because it was freezing cold. The place was empty aside from the lone Zamboni driver.

Derek stepped onto the ice and Erica followed him diligently. Isaac trailed behind a bit, worried that it was some sort of pack murder, blood-in-blood-out affair. He was relieved when Derek started talking and it turned out he was just recruiting a new member to the pack. Once again, it was someone he recognized from school. Boyd was always quiet and alone. No one really talked to him and he didn't talk to anyone either.

Isaac had to admit that Derek was very convincing and it was no surprise that Boyd agreed to be part of the pack. What was a surprise was Scott McCall busting in after Boyd had been bitten. Boyd was up on the Zamboni again, intending to finish his shift. Isaac stood beside Erica and watched as Scott tried to convince Boyd that Derek's way was bad news.

There was a brief back and forth and then they were fighting. Isaac really had no idea what to do. He'd never really fought anyone before and this was different than during the full moon. Scott was much faster than he and Erica were and they were both taken down quickly. Isaac groaned quietly as his wounds started to heal.

He looked up and saw that Derek had intervened in the situation. Isaac couldn't help but be impressed by it and he hoped that soon Derek would teach him how to fight.