Chapter Three

Peter walked into the hospital with a conflicted look on his face. Where was his nephew? He'd gotten Scott's call, suddenly glad he and Derek had gotten cell phones. Would his nephew want him here? No, probably not. Peter actually did care about him. They'd taken down the kanima as a team. He told the receptionist who he was. It wasn't long before a nurse came to escort him.

"Mr. Hale, follow me."

Peter walked behind her. Nice ass, but this wasn't the time. She led him into a room, and his eyes fell on Derek hooked up to a bunch of machines. Stiles and Erica were sitting next to the bed. They looked up at him. Peter's eyes had lost their usual amusement. He looked at Derek, feeling a twinge of genuine remorse.

"What happened?" he whispered.

Stiles inhaled and buried his face in his hands, feeling a fresh wave of guilt. How could he explain to Peter what had happened? It was Erica who answered him.

"Derek saved Stiles' life. He was stung by a rare kind of centipede. Probably Gerard's doing. Derek drew the poison out, but it went into him. He's in a coma."

Derek had saved Stiles? Maybe there was still some things for Peter yet to learn about his nephew.

"I'm so sorry," Stiles told Peter, his face fallen. "That should be me, not him."

"Stiles don't blame yourself," Peter said gently. "I think he probably cares about you a lot more than we all realized. I believe he'll pull out of it. Have you tried talking to him?"

"No," Stiles mumbled quietly, looking down.

He honestly wasn't sure he wanted to talk. What would he say? He'd probably end up voicing things he shouldn't, and that would complicate things. The things he was feeling for Derek right now was impossible to put into words.

"You should," Peter told him. "Derek can probably hear all of us right now. He could be trying to pull out of it."

Peter stepped toward the bed, looking down into Derek's face. He should hate his nephew for killing him and taking away his alpha status, yet he couldn't. He thought back to that boy he remembered so well. He'd watched that boy grow up through the years. He felt moisture gather in his eyes.

"Derek," Peter spoke. "I need you to come back. You're all I have left. I know I'm only your uncle, but I care. We're family Derek."

The alpha remained just as still as before. Peter sighed heavily and turned away from them, covering his eyes with his hand. He managed to compose himself, turning back to face Stiles.

"It has to be you," he said. "If anyone can bring him out of it, I believe you can."

"We are talking about the same person here right?" Stiles asked him skeptically. "Derek doesn't even like me."

"You know that's not true Stiles," Peter told him fiercely. "If he didn't like you he'd have let you die. Derek doesn't care much for humans. Human life is nothing to him. He does like you."

"How can I know what to say?" Stiles demanded, his facial expression dejected and anxious. "I'm so confused that I don't know what I'm feeling right now."

"Only you can know what to say," Peter whispered, eying him gently. "Use your heart. Say what it tells you. Come Erica."

Erica looked at Stiles, her question obvious in her expression.

"It'll be alright," he told her. "Go ahead Catwoman. I'll see what I can do."

She smiled a little at the nickname, giving him a supportive hug before following Peter out of the room. Stiles looked at Derek, listening to the silence filled only by the beeping machines. What could he say?

"Derek, its me. I don't know if you can even hear me, but I want you to."

The alpha's peaceful expression went right to his heart.

"I don't know what I'd do without you Sourwolf," he sobbed. "We're a team, ya know? Think about all we've been through. I can lose you. Not now..."

Stiles buried his face in his hands, his body shaking with agony.

"There's so much more I want to tell you Derek, but for that you've got to wake up. I need you in my life Derek. I..."

He looked at the alpha lying there again, knowing what this feeling was.

"I love you. Please Derek, wake up. I can't lose you. I need you in my life. I want you in it everyday. Wake up damn you!"

Derek shifted a little and groaned. Stiles looked at him with wide eyes, his heart rising with hope. The alpha's eyes fluttered, and he turned his face sidelong, taking in Stiles with a considering expression. The teen's cheeks were moist, and his eyes a puffy red. Had he been here the whole time? He felt a new emotion for the boy.

"Stiles," he muttered. "You're alive..."

The boy smiled, his eyes becoming wet again, but this time with happiness.

"Thanks to you Derek," he told him gently. "If it weren't for you I'd be dead."

"I could never let that happen Stiles. I...I do care, you know?"

"I know Derek."

"You're pack," Derek went on. "More than that...you're...you're my..."

"Shhh," Stiles shushed him with a smile. "Don't push yourself."

"I still feel weak. There's something I want...want to give you."

"What is it?" the boy asked.

"Kiss me," Derek whispered.

Stiles looked at him in surprise. This was Derek Hale right? Yet nothing seemed more right in that moment. He stood and leaned over Derek, bending down to press a gentle kiss against those lips. A short kiss, but it carried all the love in his heart. He pulled away and saw Derek smile, his eyes closing peacefully.

"Derek?" Stiles asked, his voice rising in panic.

He heard a gentle intake of breath, and Derek started snoring. Stiles laughed a little, sighing with relief. He'd better call the nurse...