Chapter 12: Getting us somewhere

Danny tosses and turns in bed, sleep eluding him. He plays with the ring in his hand, tossing it between his fingers, never actually sliding it on. He's exhausted, and his body wants nothing more than to rest, but his mind won't let him. He tries to clear his head, to steady his breathing, and nothing works. His mind keeps drifting back to Derek, to everything that happened within the last 24 hours. It all happened so fast, so anarchically and without a break that it almost feels like none of it was real. That it was all just a dream.

Derek is still in the house, down in the living room, so close but so far away. He can feel Derek's presence, a feeling so funny and unlike anything he ever experienced that it can't be missed; an ability he has also accepted by now. What he hasn't wrapped his head around though is the fact that he's in fact, not human. Not entirely, at least. He draws in a deep breath and ignores the painful need to go downstairs and hold Derek in his arms, ignores the ache in his chest that tells him to just stop resisting and give in. He doesn't know exactly why he's so adamant on resisting Derek now, when he was so desperate on being with the latter earlier. He looks at the ring, remembering the effect it had on him earlier in the woods when he put it on. The lost connection to Derek, the void he felt in his heart; it had all happened when he put on that ring. According to what his mother said, this little piece of jewelry has the power to—somehow repress his werewolf state. The logical conclusion Danny draws from that piece of information is that his attraction to Derek was only supernatural. Manufactured. Not real. If only it could be that simple, that easy. As far as Danny knows, he was wearing his ring when he first met Derek. He was wearing his ring when he saw Derek last Friday night. And at the time, he was still enamored with the man. There is more to it, alas, more than Danny wants to think about.

He suddenly hears the distinct beeping of his parents' pagers, and springs to his feet, going out of his room to see his parents dressing up hurriedly in the hallway.

"Go back to bed, sweetie, we have an emergency at the hospital," his mom tells him as she slips on a blouse, his father already dressed in khakis and finishing to button his shirt up.

"What happened?" Danny inquires, always curious to know what's stealing his parents away from home.

"Don't know, we'll see you later, okay? You should get some rest, skip school tomorrow, all right?" His dad says and pats him in the back and goes down the stairs, his mother on his tail.

"Sweet dreams, baby," his mother kisses him on the cheek before following her husband down the stairs. Danny pads over to the railing by the stairs, watching his parents down in the hall basically telling Derek to leave the house by offering the latter a ride. Danny locks eyes with Derek briefly, his heart jumping in his chest when Derek nods at whatever his parents are saying, his gaze never leaving Danny. A second later, they're all gone, leaving Danny on his own. He's better off this way, Danny tells himself. With no Derek around, he should be able to rest more easily.

Taking some time apart from the man might be good for him, in the end. The last 48 hours have been insane. Danny needs his life to get back on track; he needs things to get back to normal. He gets back inside his room and grabs the ring from his bed, holding it in his fist tightly, feeling the cold and smooth material warming up against his skin. He ponders what to do, pacing back and forth at the foot of his bed. He remembers vividly well how it felt, losing the connection to Derek. How painful and emptying it was. Making up his mind, Danny bites down on his bottom lip and slides the ring back on his finger. He slips back under the covers, breathing in slowly through his nose as he feels his chest grow hollow once again, as though the contents of his heart were being sucked by black hole. He squeezes his eyes shut, and tries to clear his head to finally get the rest he needs. It's past one in the morning, so if by some miracle he does manage to fall asleep, he'll barely get five hours of rest until tomorrow—well, technically later in the morning, but still. He hates going to school with less than six hours of sleep. Besides, he probably earned a day off, considering what happened to him, but he needs the routine to forget. He needs classes, classmates, lacrosse. No Derek, no crazy people abducting him every hour. And sleep.

Derek takes off in his car, Danny's parents right behind him to make sure he actually leaves their son alone. The Mahealanis —if the name Derek saw on their mailbox was any indication—made it perfectly clear they didn't want to see him around their Danny again, which Derek understood, in a way. It wasn't that simple though, he just couldn't stay away. Derek waits for their car to take another direction and disappear from his rear view mirror, to make a U-turn and go back the way he came from, back to Danny. He knows better than to park his Camaro in the Mahealanis' driveway, and parks it in a secluded place before pursuing on foot.

Once he gets there, Derek finds his way up to the rooftop again, with a clear view inside Danny's room. Danny's pacing, a frown marring his face as his eyes are fixed on something he holds between his fingers. Derek feels a bit like a creep, watching Danny like this, but he tells himself he's just keeping an eye on Danny, making sure he's safe. It's a good thing he got a chance to rest a bit back at Danny's house, his many healing wounds taking a lot out of him. He has been healing faster though, and he still has a hard time believing that such a fit is possible. He still has a hard time believing that he and Danny are destined mates.

Derek sits down on the rooftop, looking up at the dark clear sky, breathing in the fresh night air. His shoulders relax, and exhaustion takes hold of him again, rendering his eyelids heavy. He shuts his eyes, focuses on the steady sound of Danny's heartbeat, and draws in the faint scent of Danny transported by a light breeze coming from Danny's room. Focusing his senses on Danny is particularly soothing, and it makes Derek crave the feel of Danny's body against his. It's all he's missing right now.

His eyes snap open when he loses that unspoken and invisible link to Danny, the pain in his heart. He rushes to Danny's window, adrenaline coursing through his vessels, and slides in the room with ease. His heart settles down when his gaze finds Danny, the latter safe and sound in bed.

"What the—Derek? What are you doing here?" Danny demands, sitting up in bed and looking at him expectantly. Derek's at a loss, wondering where that odd feeling came from. Danny's still here, safe and sound, and yet Derek can't feel him. Not as clearly as he could only a couple minutes ago. He gets closer to the bed, his hands aching to touch Danny as the latter stands up before him.

"I…" Derek trails off, not knowing what he could possibly say under Danny's inquisitive look. Their bodies are attracted to one another like magnets, as their feet seem to move on their own to close the gap separating them. "I couldn't sense you," Derek adds in a whisper.

He feels almost stupid voicing this out loud, but he's surprised to see recognition light up in Danny's eyes, as though he understood what Derek meant. After all, it wouldn't be completely farfetched to think Danny could sense this connection between them as well.

"It's the ring," Danny explains, holding his hand up where said artifact is adorning his ring finger. "Since it sort of inhibits my…God, I can't believe I'm saying this, my 'wolf' half, I figured it would also inhibit this weird link between you and I."

Everything Danny just said makes sense, and it pains him to see Danny pushing him away again. Derek's confused; for once again Danny's actions and words are being contradictory. Danny wanted him to stay earlier, had even defied his own parents to make it happen. Derek thought it meant something, he thought Danny wanted him—at least, as much as Derek wanted Danny. But now Danny tries to deny this bond between them, tries to shove it away with this magic ring, and it unnerves Derek, to say the least.

"You're saying you wore it knowing what it would do? You wore it for that purpose?" Derek asks as he grasps Danny's hand to examine the ring.

"Y—Yes," Danny stammers, diverting his gaze away from Derek's face. Derek closes his eyes, lets go of Danny's hand and inhales deeply, crushed and furious at the same time.

"All right," Derek mutters, and takes a step back from Danny. He doesn't think he could've made his intentions toward Danny any clearer, and doesn't have it in him to take more rejection. "So you are aware of this…this link between us, and you chose to…to shove it away."

"Yes, I did," Danny confirms, still refusing to look Derek in the eye. Derek tries to push down the pain surging through him and takes a step back, drawing in a deep breath to calm down. He wants to get away so he can collect himself, so Danny can get what he wants; be rid of Derek.

"Derek, wait," Danny grabs Derek's hand, stopping him before he can go any further away. The simple touch sends sparks through Derek, lighting up his whole body and making him more alert. His gaze seeks Danny's, wondering if the latter felt that too. "We should talk."

"Fine, let's talk," Derek can barely contain the resentment in his voice, and he crosses his arms over his chest. He searches for Danny's eyes, trying to figure out what the teenager's feeling at the moment, but all he can get out of Danny is confusion. They wait in silence for the other to speak up, or perhaps they both are thinking about what to say in this situation.

"I really am a werewolf, aren't I?" Danny mumbles at last, the question taking Derek aback. There's no point in lying, Derek figures, considering Danny already knows. Danny just wants confirmation, Derek realizes. Learning you're a supernatural creature the way Danny did must be a tough piece of news to process. Derek never had that problem, seeing as he grew up knowing he was a werewolf his entire life.

"Yes," Derek answers, following Danny to the bed where they sit next to each other. "I mean, not a full on werewolf, you heard that, right?"

"Yeah," Danny snorts, shaking his head. "Can't believe I've been lied to my whole life."

"But you know why they lied to you," Derek points out and moves until his arm touches Danny's, unable to keep himself from getting closer to the latter.

"Yeah, wouldn't have changed anything anyway if they'd told me, I guess," Danny says, fiddling with ring around his finger. Derek puts his hand over Danny's, giving it a light squeeze, prompting Danny to glance up at him. Another long silence falls between them, and Derek thinks of the best way to broach the subject that's been eating away at him.

"What do you want, Danny?" Derek asks eventually, his thumb tracing circles on the back of Danny's hand. "I'm at a loss here, I keep getting mixed signals from you."

"Derek, we've known each other for barely two days," Danny starts to say, heaving a long sigh. "Have you ever stopped for a second and wondered just what the hell is going on between us?"

"No—"

"I mean, you have to admit that this is thing between us is not normal. Even for you. You jumped on me the first time we met. And I haven't been able to get you off my mind ever since, I've been obsessed with you, actually, with this need to be with you, to protect you."

"So have I," is all Derek says, because really, what more could he say? From Danny's point of view, everything the latter's just said is sound. Danny does raise valid points. But Derek doesn't question what he feels for Danny, part of the reason why being that he knows better. Knows why he's so attached to Danny. Even if it's pure instinct, Derek doesn't mind. It doesn't lessen the truth or validity of his feelings for Danny. Derek's world has never been logic, it never made much sense to begin with, and he's learned to live with it.

"And it doesn't bother you?" Danny inquires, his tone surprised, his eyes wide as they settle on Derek. "It doesn't bother you that you met me two days ago, that I don't know you, that you don't know me and that we still—two days ago, Derek. Two days is nothing!"

"So what?" Derek counters, squeezing Danny's hands in his as he holds Danny's gaze. "So what if we met two days ago? Why can't you believe that this—us—that this is real? Is it so strange to think two people can fall for one another in two days?"

"Of course it is!" Danny raised his voice, taking his hands back from Derek. "This can't be real, and this," he holds up his hand, pointing at the ring, "is the very proof of it. I put this on, I repress the wolf, and I repress the link between us. It's…it's like what I feel for you is manufactured. It's…it's supernatural, there's no logic in this."

"And since when is there logic in love?" Derek retorts, frowning at Danny. He gets up from the bed and kneels in front of Danny, cupping the latter's face. Before he starts to lose himself in the depths of Danny's bright brown eyes, Derek brings their lips together in a slow and tender kiss, his heart speeding up at the contact. Even if the connection between them is inhibited or whatever, Derek still feels goose bumps on his skin from the kiss, he still feels a chill running down his spine, and his heart going erratic. He still feels his chest getting light as air and filled with pure joy.

"You can't tell me this didn't make you feel anything," Derek mutters as they pull away, resting his forehead against Danny's. "Ring or no ring, this is real. I trust my instincts, I always have. And they tell me that I want you, that I need you."

"So you admit that this is nothing but basic instincts. You don't actually want me for me, you want me because something inside you tells you so," Danny shoots back, turning his head to the side. Derek can sense some discomfort coming from Danny in those last words, and he can tell Danny's trying to be careful, as though he's been burned before.

"I want you because you cared," Derek starts, bringing his hands down to Danny's neck, his thumbs brushing the underline of Danny's jaw. "You cared for me in a way that no one has for a while. And you're right, I don't know you all that well, but it doesn't mean that I don't want to—it's quite the opposite actually."

Derek holds his breath as he waits for Danny to say something, anything, his heartbeat the only sound he hears along with Danny's. They remain in an eerie silence that starts to get on Derek's nerves as worry washes over him.

"I don't know what to think, Derek," Danny whispers at last, and Derek takes this as a good sign. A sign that Danny's last barriers are falling down, and that Derek just has to take what's his.

"Then don't," Derek suggests, leaning in for another kiss and moaning softly when Danny gives in. He can't get enough of this, of the physical contact with Danny. He loses himself in the kiss, and wraps his arms around Danny's back, taking both their bodies down on the bed until Danny lies on his back with Derek resting on top of him. He realizes now just how much he's wanted this, how much he's craved Danny. His hands travel down Danny's front until they reach the hem of Danny's tee shirt, and they slide underneath it, making contact with Danny's soft skin.

Danny responds with a light moan, their lips never parting from each other and Derek feels like he's won him over, at last. He feels like this is it, Danny's finally his. Having Danny's entire body lined up against his, their legs intertwined, their hips and chests pressed together; it feels like heaven.

"Wait," Danny says and pushes Derek away, panting as he looks up at Derek. "I…We can't do this."

"Why not?" Derek asks, moving his lips down to Danny's jaw and then Danny's neck, nipping at the tender skin. His hands slide Danny's shirt further up, revealing more bare skin for Derek to stroke. "You want this as much as I do, don't you, Danny?"

"Y—Yes," Danny sounds hesitant but Derek still takes this as one more victory. He stands on his knees on either side of Danny's hips to take his shirt off, grinning when he sees Danny's eyes roaming over his torso. He leans in to kiss Danny's neck again when he feels hands pushing his shoulders.

"No, Derek," Danny protests and sits up, forcing Derek to sit back. Derek refrains from groaning in frustration, barely able to control his need to take Danny right here and now.

"I don't want to do this, not under these circumstances," Danny adds and gets out of bed, turning his back to Derek.

"What do you mean?" Derek demands and follows Danny, standing right behind the latter. He tentatively puts his hands on Danny's shoulders, relieved when Danny welcomes the touch.

"I just don't want to sleep with you not knowing what we are, where we stand, what you really want," Danny replies, turning around to face Derek. "What if we wake up one day and these feelings we have for each other are gone? I'm not sure I'm willing to take that risk. You might trust your instincts, but I don't."

"I told you, I want you—"

"Hold on, just let me finish," Danny cuts Derek off, putting his hands on Derek's bare chest for a second before he takes them back, the brief and warm contact lingering on Derek's skin. Derek grabs both Danny's hands in his, and locks eyes with him, hoping he can win Danny over with his most earnest gaze. He's getting tired of this, tired of Danny changing his mind every God damn second, and he's this close to go out of his mind. Danny's right in front of him, and yet Derek still can't have him, because Danny's brain just won't shut off for a second and has to get in the way. Under other circumstances, Derek would appreciate the fact that Danny is such a smart guy. Namely, if this particular trait didn't make Danny overthink things and cock block Derek. Still, Derek listens to what Danny has to say, because he really does cares for Danny, and he will do what it takes to convince Danny he's worth taking a chance on.

"Derek, I'm a teenager, I'm still in high school and you're…you know, I don't even know how old you are—"

"I'm 22—"

"22!" Danny scoffs, shaking his head and taking his hands back from Derek. "Derek, I like you beyond reason, you can probably tell that, even though I barely know you. And since I met you, I almost got killed not once, but twice! I can't live a life like this. I want to have a normal life, a life where I don't have to worry about my safety, or my family's. I'm sorry for jerking you around like this, but I'm just trying to make sense of things."

"So what are you saying?" Derek's voice trembles ever so slightly as his jaw clenches, his heart beating so hard and fast he can hardly comprehend what Danny's just told him.

"I'm saying that I need time," Danny answers him and takes a step back. "Can you do that? Give me time? I need to settle back into my routine, think back on everything."

Derek is speechless for the longest time. He opens his mouth several times to speak but his words fail him. Danny's eyes are pleading him, and he can't resist that look, even if his heart screams at him that he could lose Danny if he said yes. But Danny's right. He can't put his life in danger because of Derek. If Derek leaves Danny alone for now, he and his uncle could take care of the Argents. That way he can be with Danny freely.

"Derek?" Danny calls him, still waiting for an answer.

"Yeah," Derek says at last, swallowing the lump in his throat. He lets out a long breath, eyes shut. "I can do that," he adds and forces a light smile. Danny responds with a nod, looking away from Derek.

"But just so you know," Derek says as he puts his shirt back on, getting Danny's attention back. "You and I? We're not over, will never be," he finishes, stepping closer to give a peck on Danny's cheek. And on that note, Derek leaves through the window he came in earlier.

Derek doesn't go far, since he can't bring himself to leave Danny alone and defenseless. So he settles on the roof right above Danny's room. Lying on his back, hands tucked under his head, he gazes upon the stars above him. He's still healing from his wounds, the lingering pain slowly fading away. His watch indicates it's 1 a.m. when Derek succumbs to sleep once again, soothed by the sound of Danny's steady breathing and the cool night air.

Derek startles awake when he hears a scream, recognizing the voice as Danny's. He jolts right up on his feet and within seconds he's inside Danny's room again. Danny's still asleep, his face is contorted in pain, his chest heaving quickly as he keeps muttering Derek's name. Derek rushes to his side, pained to see Danny so agitated, to hear Danny shouting his name so desperately.

"Danny, hey," Derek sits on the bed, shaking Danny's shoulder lightly. "I'm right here."

Danny's skin is burning, and his entire body's covered in cold sweat. Derek gets up from the bed and opens the windows wide to let a cool breeze in before he ventures in the adjacent bathroom. He grabs a towel and runs it under cold water, going back in the room to wipe the sweat off of Danny's face and neck. He can feel the temperature drop a little in the room, and runs a hand through Danny's hair.

Danny latches onto Derek all of a sudden, arms snaking around Derek's middle, head pressed against Derek's chest. Derek tentatively puts his own arms securely around Danny, kissing the top of Danny's head.

"Derek…" Danny murmurs, pain and need laced in his voice. Danny seems to be asleep still, so Derek maneuvers their bodies down on the bed, getting his shoes off while doing so, until they're lying on their side, facing each other. Danny holds onto him for dear life, and Derek can't hide the joy he gets from being needed like this. He's surprised to see the alarm clock on Danny's nightstand reading 5:13 am, surprised that he managed to sleep for that long on the hard tiled-roof above.

As the minutes go by, Danny calms down in Derek's arms, the frown fading from his beautiful face and his breathing slowing down to a steady one. Derek rolls on his back and settles Danny's head on his chest. He tangles their legs together, loving the feel of Danny's body intertwined with his. Derek feels at home, holding Danny in his embrace like this, and doesn't doubt for a moment that this is where he belongs. If only Danny could see it. Derek just has to show Danny that a relationship between them isn't doomed, that he can get them somewhere. Derek falls back into a deep sleep shortly after, a smile gracing his lips as he tightens his hold around Danny.

tbc...

No, I did not abandon this story! Expect to see more of this. I hope you enjoy this chapter, (if anyone's still reading this), as usual, let me know what you think! What you've liked or didn't, reviews are my life source.