Decided you guys deserved another chapter.

Chapter Three: Washing More Than Red Coats

"He found a kid?" Scott asked.

"How?" Stiles butted in. "He didn't kidnap anybody did he?"

Isaac shook his head.

"So, what do we need to do again?" Stiles asked.

"Derek wants to know where she came from. He doesn't trust the cops very much."

Stiles tilted his head to the side and smiled sarcastically, "Way to flatter yourself into it, Isaac."

Isaac rolled his eyes and said, "Will you just look up the name Ruby Stark."

"Maybe she's related to Tony Stark!" Stiles piped up. "Iron Man."

This time, even Scott rolled his eyes.

"Okay, then." Stiles comfirmed. "Ruby Stark. Missing kids, right?"

"Right." Isaac said.

"So what is she? Like, six?" Scott asked. "What was she doing in the woods? By Derek?"

"I don't know. She's...vague. She hates me or something. She only talks to Derek."

"Usually no one wants to talk to Derek," Stiles teased.

"Maybe that's why he likes her so much," Isaac said.

"Make sure he doesn't hurt her." Scott warned.

"Why would Derek hurt a six-year-old?" Isaac asked, seemingly offended.

Scott had to remember if Derek wasn't his alpha, he was Isaac's. He always thought that Derek was a version of a good father-figure to Isaac and that's why he defended him. Though, he wasn't entirely sure and knew enough not to ask Isaac.

"Okay," Stiles said, "I'll look after school."

"Thanks," Isaac murmured just as the bell rang.

They began to their separate classes with a sigh.

.

Lydia sat in algebra, dozing off from the lesson.

When would they learn something harder?

Allison sat on the other side of the room, staring at the board with concentration. Lydia worried about her sometimes.

Allison had become distant over the summer and had hardly spoken to anyone at school. Classes and home were her main schedule.

When the bell rang, Lydia got up and clicked her way to Allison on her pointy heels. Because, Lydia knew, heels flattered her calves.

She flipped her strawberry-blonde hair over her shoulder and walked next to the brunette.

"We should go shopping," Lydia said.

Allison knew it wasn't a request, but a simple order. But she shook her head.

"I can't." She told her friend quietly.

Lydia pursed her lips, "Allison, you haven't been out in months and let's face it, you owe me."

Allison looked over to Lydia, who was giving her best 'You-know-I'm-right' smile. She sighed.

"Lydia, I can't." Allison told her. "I have lessons with my dad."

Lydia rolled her eyes at the 'family' excuse again.

Alison needed to wash herself clean of last year. Lydia had been doing better since Jackson had gone.

"You should ask Stiles," Allison said. She gave Lydia a small smile and left.

Lydia could tell when someone was having guilt issues.

And Allison's levels of guilt were pessimal.

.

Derek led Ruby into the laundromat and took out two quarters. He tossed the red coat in one of the exiguous washers.

"How long will this take?" Ruby asked, sitting on one of the chairs.

"I don't know," Derek admitted. He'd always lost track of time. He'd just sat there until the clothes were done.

Ruby nodded and sank into the chair. She looked at the magazines and newspapers, though she couldn't read. After staring at the pictures for a few minutes, she asked, "Can we go get ice cream?"

"Ice cream?" Derek asked. He'd been enjoying his peace.

Ruby nodded. "My mommy always got me ice cream when we came to the clothes-washer shop."

She gave him the magical puppy-dog eyes again and he sighed.

"Fine."

Ruby's eyes lit up and she jumped into Derek's lap, wrapping her arms around him like a python.

Derek groaned when she landed on his lap roughly and he gingerly patted her back.

She crawled off his lap and grabbed his hand again. She let him lead her out the door and down to the Camaro.

"Do I have to sit in back again?" She asked, not quite in a whining matter.

"Unless you want to get pulled over." Derek answered, unlocking the doors.

Ruby sighed loudly and slinked into the backseat, buckling in and sitting with her hands in her lap.

The short ride to the Dairy Queen was quiet until they ordered.

"Strawberry!" Was Ruby's quick reply.

"Vanilla," Derek mumbled, setting down the money.

Derek watched and was very amused by the way she got ice cream all over her chin.

"Here," he slid over a couple of napkins and she dragged the napkin over her face, hardly getting anything off.

When she finished, Derek sighed when he saw even more ice cream on her face.

He wet the napkin in the restroom and started to get the leftovers off her mouth.

Derek pulled back when he realized what he was doing. He was getting to close. Too involved. She wasn't his kid and she'd be leaving soon anyways.

He would try and spare himself the pity.

"Ruby?" He asked. "Where are your parents?"

Ruby's lip jut out and her eyes got big and watery.

"They said my mommy's with the angels," she blubbered.

Derek sighed and grabbed her hand again. "Let's go get your coat."

It was quiet for a while after Ruby put on her coat. She'd grinned at Derek and said it was warm and fluffy.

Ruby had begun to doze off in the backseat again. But before she fell asleep she'd mumbled, "Thank you for the ice cream."

She saw a little smile in the rearview mirror before she fell asleep.