Well, this chapter is serious, too. But I hope you like it.

Chapter Twelve: Guardians

Ruby laid in the bed, twitching her fingers together in agitation.

One of the signs, Mrs. McCall told him, hyperactivity, agitation, trouble swallowing.

Derek put his hand over hers, "Ruby, stop."

She could hardly move her neck as she looked at him and said, "I can't, Daddy."

He stared at her and wrapped his hand around hers, "Okay."

He must've shown he was falling apart because Ruby told him, "I'm sorry."

Derek pulled his hand away and shook his head, "It's not your fault."

Mrs. McCall came in, holding a clipboard and papers. "We have to do a blood test, now."

"Alright." Derek said.

Mrs. McCall switched the bed into a sitting position and pulled out a needle and a small bag with it.

"I thought it was already diagnosed." Derek said.

She shook her head, "It's very likely, but we still need to double check." She turned to Ruby, who crossed her arms under the blanket.

"I don't like needles," She whined.

Mrs. McCall gently pulled off the blanket, setting the needle on the bed with the cap still on it. "We've gotta take some tests, Ruby, okay? It'll be quick, I promise."

Ruby shook her feebly.

"Tell you what," Mrs. McCall said, "If you let me do this, I'll give you fifty cents."

Mrs. McCall took two quarters from her pocket and held them up, smiling to her. Ruby slowly uncrossed her arms and held one out.

"Good girl," she said, taking the needle off the cap. "Can't flinch, okay?"

Ruby gave a tiny nod and scrunched her eyes together.

Derek looked away and felt his phone vibrate. He took it out and saw Isaac's number.

"Hey," he said, leaving the room and shutting the quietly behind him.

"Derek?" Isaac asked, "Where the hell did you go? We thought the hunters got you."

Derek sighed and rubbed his forehead, "I'm at the hospital. Ruby got sick."

"Sick enough to leave in the middle of the night?" Isaac asked, "What happened?"

"They think she got rabies," Derek said.

"Rabies? How did she get rabies?"

"Some damn bat or something." He told him. He looked back inside to see Mrs. McCall smiling and handing her the quarters. Ruby took them and fiddled with them, her fingers moving in quick motions. "You should come. Still need to keep an eye out."

"I'll be over in a bit," Isaac said, hanging up.

Derek turned and met Mrs. McCall.

"How long will it take?" Derek asked.

Mrs. McCall shook her head, "Shouldn't take too long."

Derek nodded, smelling the bit of blood in the bag. He exhaled shakily, knowing the smell.

"You should see if you can find any family of hers, Derek." Mrs. McCall said. "We can't prescribe any treatments for this without a legal guardian."

"I'm her guardian," he snapped.

"Not legally," Mrs. McCall said. "And we don't have the time to get out adoption papers."

"I have no idea where her family is," Derek seethed. "She's a runaway."

Mrs. McCall shook her head, talking in a hushed tone, "She's like you, isn't she?"

Derek nodded, "Yeah."

"Shouldn't she be healing?" She asked, looking back at the girl in bed.

Derek shook his head sadly, "Her immune system isn't as strong yet."

Mrs. McCall nodded, "I'll see what we can do."

She left with the bag of rancid smelling blood and Derek went to sit beside Ruby again. She rolled on her side, facing him.

"I can't sleep," she said. Derek brushed some hair from her eyes and tucked it behind her ear, wetting his lips.

"Isaac'll come and keep you company, okay?" He told her. She nodded and held his hand, which seemed to be so big compared to hers.

They watched reruns of the Disney channel shows the rest of the night. Isaac fell asleep on the futon by the window.

Derek's eyes were starting to drift shut after a couple of hours.

Shouldn't take too long, my ass, Derek thought, rubbing his eyes. Ruby was still wide awake and holding the little stuffed bear Isaac had gotten on the way there.

Mrs. McCall came back in and quietly called Derek.

Derek patted the space beside Ruby and stood up, walking out into the hall.

"Well, the tests came back positive," She told him, a sympathetic look on her face.

He resented every bit of it, biting his tongue to keep from yelling.

"And you can't do anything about it?" Derek asked.

"Not without a legal guardian," Mrs. McCall told him.

He stood there rigid, not saying a thing while she explained the small chances of survival to him, going over symptoms and IVs and all the crap that made him want to rip somebody's throat out. He simply nodded to the circumstances, stepping back inside.

"Daddy," Ruby said softly, as if straining to get out the word.

Derek sat back in the chair, "You need something?"

Ruby shook her head and held out the teddy bear to him as if he looked like he needed it. He sucked in shaky breath as his throat clenched and his eyes watered.

He hated all of it. All the mixed emotions he hadn't felt for such a long time. Every feeling he'd beaten down inside had come up to the surface when he took the little teddy bear and held it in his hands. He felt the tears pricking his eyes and his heart feeling as if it was shattering, the shrapnel piercing his lungs and making it hard to breathe.

Derek wiped his eyes and listened to Isaac's heartbeat, making sure he was still asleep. When he knew for sure he was, he stroked the teddy bears false fur and handed it back to Ruby.

"You should keep it." He told her, sniffling.

He sighed in frustration, hating every feeling.

There was another smell in the room. A familiar one.

A wolf.

Ruby was looking behind him with wide eyes.

Derek stood up and turned to see a man with black hair standing in the doorway. He looked a few years older than Derek, with masculine features and a tall build.

"You must be Derek," he said in a calming voice, "I'm Ruby's father."