So, this is the last chapter, but I'm writing an epilogue so you can look forward to that.

I hope you guys like.

Chapter Fourteen: Poison

Charles jumped out of the elevator with Derek at his heels. He passed Mrs. McCall and asked, "Where's Ruby?"

"I thought you were in the room with her?" Mrs. McCall said. "Why? What happened?"

Charles turned a corner and Derek went after him, Mrs. McCall staring after them confused.

Derek spun into the dimly lit room, seeing the pharmacist holding a needle over the IV tube. It was filled with black liquid.

"Penny," Charles said, slowly inching his way toward her. "You don't have to do this."

"And you didn't have to butcher my family," Penny accused, a frightening glint in her eyes. "But things happen..."

She stuck the needle into the tube while Ruby stirred slightly at the noise. Her finger hovered over it, ready to press down and release the liquid.

"Don't do this, Penny," Charles begged, "You don't have to dishonor them like this. She's only a child. You have a code."

Penny laughed lightly, petting Ruby's hair. Charles stiffened, terrified.

Derek didn't know what to do. He stood there as Charles spoke to Penny in calming, hushed tones, staring at Ruby. He was as terrified as Charles was.

"That code is so outdated," Penny mused, brushing Ruby's hair behind her ear. Ruby sighed deeply, her eyes opening. She looked up at Penny with wide eyes.

"Daddy," She asked, starting to get up. Penny grabbed her arm and slammed her back on the bed.

"Don't move, you little brat." Penny hissed. Ruby whimpered and shrank back, her wide eyes filling with tears and terror.

Charles was stepping closer as Penny glared at the child.

Penny slammed the plunger down and Charles growled, slamming her into the wall.

Derek went for the IV, trying to pull it out of Ruby's hand without tearing the vein.

"Daddy," She cried. Derek got it out and brought her hand up to his mouth, sucking out the poison like he would a snake bite. Ruby was crying in fear and trying to jerk her hand away.

Penny was up and screaming at the top of her lungs. Charles growled again and threw her to the wall again, her head making a sickening crack.

Mrs. McCall was in there in a second, standing the doorway, yelling, "What's going on?!"

"Call the police!" Charles told her, standing over Penny. "She's still breathing, but get the doctor."

Mrs. McCall nodded and went to get the doctor.

Ruby was shoving away Derek, screaming. He spit out the poison and stepped back as Charles picked her up and held her, whispering, "Daddy's here, I've gotcha."

She cried into his shoulder as Charles kissed her head, gently bouncing in a calming motion. Ruby's cries died down as Charles held her close.

Derek looked down at Penny, who was breathing like a broken bird.

Then he looked at Ruby, who was clinging to Charles and sniffling, "Daddy."

He turned away as Mrs. McCall and the doctor charged in.

.

It was a long night, explaining how the woman, Penny, had an old grudge against Charles and tried to kill his daughter. Sheriff Stilinski let them go, recognizing the man from before.

Penny, who had a cracked skull, would be sent to an asylum when she recovered.

Derek, who was promised one more day, sat with Ruby on his lap, waiting for Charles.

"Will I ever see you again?" She asked, holding Derek's hand and facing him.

Derek sighed, "I don't know."

Ruby hugged him and said, "I don't want to go."

Derek kissed her head, a familiar ache in his chest. "I know, baby. I don't want you to go, either."

Ruby squeezed his hand and he whispered, "I wish you could stay. But you have a family. You need to go with your family."

"But you're my family," Ruby whispered back, looking up at him.

Derek could've fallen apart completely right there and then. But he stayed silent and closed his eyes, breathing shakily.

A car pulled up and Derek held her closer, not wanting to let go.

It wasn't Charles, but Scott who came in. Looking around.

He practically ran into the room, "My mom told me what happened. Did she get hurt?"

Derek shook his head as Ruby turned to look at him, "Everyone's fine."

Scott nodded and sighed in relief, sitting beside them.

"Is she leaving?" Scott asked.

Ruby clung to Derek and whined, "I don't wanna."

Derek rubbed her back, nodding, "Her father's coming."

Scott nodded and sighed. The kid had grown on him in that afternoon.

He could feel Derek's misery, though. The feeling flooded off of him and around the room like a hurricane. It almost made Scott's heart break.

They sat there for a few more minutes like that. Derek clutching Ruby like she was dying, Scott sitting there and letting them have their peace, Ruby had her face buried into Derek's shirt, her arms wrapping around him tightly, but not making it all the way around.

Another car pulled up and Derek buried his face in her hair, kissing her head and sighing shakily, like he would break at any moment.

Ruby climbed off of Derek's lap and held his hand as he led her to the door. Scott stayed behind, eavesdropping.

Derek opened the door to a beautiful afternoon. The sky was blue, the sun shone through a mild drift of clouds, it was a perfect temperature.

But Derek felt like hell.

"Hey, gem." Charles said, "Ready to go?"

Ruby nodded sadly, looking up at Derek.

Charles smiled at her reassuringly.

Ruby hugged Derek tightly and Derek rubbed her back, saying, "Be a good girl."

She nodded and Derek ruffled her hair as Ruby pulled away slowly, trudging away to the car with her The Gap bag in tow. She climbed into the backseat and held her head low.

"Thank you, again." Charles said, "For helping her."

"Where are you taking her," Derek asked, looking up at him.

Charles licked his lips and said, "I have a sister-in-law in Michigan. I called and she's going to take us in. No more betas for quite a while. Promised that."

Derek nodded, "Make sure she's safe."

Charles nodded to him, "I will." He sighed, looking back at Ruby, who was staring out the window at them. She looked back down and Charles said, "We better get going."

"Be careful," Derek said, standing on the porch steps.

As they drove away, Ruby turned and waved back at him. He waved back, smiling at her longingly.

It hurt, he had to admit. Like losing a daughter.

He sat on the steps and watched the car slowly disappear into the trees.

Scott came and sat by him, watching after them with him. Derek quickly wiped his eyes, hoping Scott hadn't seen anything.

They sat there for a while, watching after that car as if hoping it would return.

But it didn't. And Derek sighed, knowing it wouldn't for quite a long time.

Scott breathed in deeply, breaking the silence by asking, "I...I've been thinking. About the pack."

Derek looked at him and saw his gaze staring deep into the woods.

"Do you...do you think there's any more room for another pack member?" He asked quietly, as if dreading the answer.

Derek looked at the path again and almost smiled.

"There's always room."