Derek pulled Jennifer to her feet with a sigh, and for a moment they stood there, her fingers loose in his, but it was she who wrapped herself around him, not caring of the blood on his body, or the cuts and bruises on his skin. 'I thought I told you to stay in Brooklyn?' Derek said into her hair, he wasn't angry or upset he sounded more defeated than anything else. His arms were tight, his face felt damp against her.
'I got restless,' Jennifer said pressing her face into his neck and taking a deep breath. 'I Googled the news here, got to looking around and next thing I know I've found a job, and thought what the hell,' Jennifer said.
'It's not safe here,' Derek said. Now that Jennifer had him in her arms she didn't want to let him go.
'No, but you're here, and that's what matters,' Jennifer said hooking her fingers into his belt loops. 'Besides, I missed you, quite a lot actually, and I think you needed me.' Derek puffed a small laugh against her, pulled her tighter to him. He was always complaining to her that she was a busybody, telling him what he needed when he knew his own mind, but it was just teasing, she knew.
'So Mrs Hale is the new English teacher?' Derek asked her hair. 'None of the kids mentioned a Mrs Hale; it would have definitely been something they complained about.'
'Actually, I kept my maiden name, I'm Ms Blake.' Jennifer said.
'Sexy,' Derek practically slurred. He was exhausted; she could feel it in the weight of his body against hers as he held her.
'We should go home.' Jennifer said.
'I almost lost you,' Derek's voice was so quiet she barely heard it. 'We almost killed you. I've lost so much, and if you-'
'Shush, easy, I can take care of myself,' Jennifer said but Derek was shaking his head, his lips moving, no sound audible. 'Derek,' she pulled back and looked into his face, her hands framing his face, 'baby, I'm right here, I'm flesh and blood and alive, so come on, let's go, let's head home so we can both get some much needed rest. You're exhausted sweetheart,' she said.
Derek gave in, stepping away from the shelves full of stationary and letting her lead him outside by the hand. Everybody was away; evidently they hadn't stuck around to check they were okay. Jennifer ignored the blood, her husband's blood, as they left the boiler room. Her car was in the parking lot, and a quick stop grabbed her purse from her classroom before she pressed him into the passenger seat of her car.
Derek was almost asleep by the time she pulled into her driveway, but she tugged him inside and he followed like a lamb, and helped him remove his boots and shirt. He stopped long enough to glare at Moggy the cat, who glared right back from her spot in the middle of the bed, before she pushed him into the shower.
'Cora's alive,' Derek mumbled as she washed his chest carefully, her hair plastered to her back. Jennifer paused and looked up, wondered if he was hallucinating, but she didn't believe he was. 'Cora's alive and Erica's dead.'
'Darling, it wasn't your fault.' Jennifer said.
'Yes, yes it was. If I hadn't have turned her, if I hadn't have-'
'No! You turned her because you were weak, you needed a pack, and they didn't understand that, they couldn't. You didn't tell Scott and his pals for a reason Derek, so don't blame yourself for securing your survival. You stayed to help a boy you barely knew, you stayed and left me alone without you, you stayed and got hurt and betrayed and I'm sick of that, I'm here for you now, and I won't hurt you, I won't betray you, I promise. I love you Derek, and together were going to get through this, we're going to make sure our pack grows big and strong, and we're going to deal with whatever comes our way and I'm going to help, I'm taking part now, so you don't blame yourself, and you don't blame anyone else. If you keep looking into the past you won't see the future.'
'You sound like Laura,' Derek said softly. Jennifer laughed and kissed the tip of his chin.
'Well she did chant that at you all of the time.' Jennifer said.
'I'm sorry,' Derek whispered.
'I'm sorry too,' Jennifer said back. Jennifer reached around him and switched off the shower water, led him out and dried them both quickly.
He fell asleep almost right away, naked in her bed, his face pressed into her pillow. Jennifer pulled on clean clothes and grabbed a quick coffee. She had a day of classes ahead of her and Derek had a day of healing. They would have a proper reunion later, but for now they both needed time to process, and she needed to get through a day trying to keep her eyes open.