Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Teen Wolf.
Chapter 3: Episode 9 (The Girl Who Knew Too Much)
Mackenzie and Derek stood outside, waiting for Jennifer. Derek had an arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders, and she couldn't help snuggling into his side.
She had been pleasantly surprised when Derek continued to act like an overprotective father, even after they got back to Beacon Hills. He hovered over her, terrified of losing another family member.
They continued to grow close. They confessed things to each other, reassured each other, and cheered each other up.
She confessed that she felt like her and Jennifer just played the roles of mother and daughter, but they didn't really connect. They didn't love each other. They just seemed to say the lines and play the part.
He confessed that it seemed like Jennifer did the same with him, but he wasn't willing to accept the idea of another woman betraying him, so he ignored it.
She felt like he would leave her because she was so mature in some ways, and childish in others, and she felt like a freak show.
He was worried she would be scared of his inner wolf.
They both turned their attention to the stairs as Jennifer rushed down the steps, and spotted them.
She rushed over to hug Mackenzie, and Mackenzie autimatically hugged her back. But now that Derek knew what to look for, the scene played out differently to him. What would have seemed like a heartfelt reunion to others, seemed like an awkward habit. It was insincere... just like the way Jennifer acted towards him.
He didn't have time to think about it, because Mackenzie was tapping his arm impatiently. He turned towards her, and when he saw her raise her hand towards him, he met her halfway.
She explained that she was going to go inside and ask Boyd and Cora to take her home, and she would grab something to eat from the bag Jennifer left her in her classroom.
He smiled and ruffled her hair to show he was fine with it, and laughed as she stuck her tongue out at him and skipped off. His attention was quickly turned to Jennifer when she pulled him into a kiss.
Cora and Boyd were ready to attack Aiden, but froze when they spotted Mackenzie staring at them, confused.
They quickly ran to her, not wanting to scare her by starting a fight in front of her, and tried to subtly lead her away from the Alpha while welcoming her back.
"What are you doing at the school? Are you hurt?" Boyd asked, worried for her, and worrying Cora in the process.
"I'm fine. I just thought that mom and Derek would want some alone time. Plus, I missed you guys." She told them shyly. Cora cooed while Boyd simple sent Mackenzie a reassuring smile.
"We missed you, too." Cora told her gently. "So, do you want to get something to eat?" she asked as the all got into Boyd's truck.
"No, thank you" Mackenzie said as she buckled in. "My mom already left me food. I'm full."
They three of them met Stiles at his house to help him convince his father that werewolves were real.
Mr. Stilinski wasn't convinced and left when he was fed up with Stile's' story. But Stiles convinced him to wait, and watch Cora and Boyd shift. But before they could, Mackenzie's eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed.
Derek sat next to Mackenzie's hospital bed, both his hands clasping one of her small ones, as he stared at the wall with tears in his eyes.
He shouldn't have let her go alone.
He should have been there.
She's dying.
He can't lose her.
Oh, God. She's dying.
"Der?" He heard a voice croak out. He quickly turned his attention to Mackenzie. Cora, who had been sitting on her other side, rose from her seat at the same time Derek did, snd they both hvered over her. Boyd, who had been standing behind Cora's chair, stepped closer, but let her have some breathing room.
"Hey." He whispered as he looked her over, taking in her pale skin, and axhausted expression. "Hey, I'm here. So is Boyd, and Cora." He told her.
She studied him for a minute. "What's happening to me?" She asked, her voice small and scared.
He shook his head as he answered."I don't know." He looked into her eyes as he spoke. "But I'm not leaving, okay? Not again." He said softly. She looked into his eyes for a second, before nodding.
Her eyes drifted shut as Derek pressed a kiss to her forehead, and Cora and Boyd each placed a reassuring hand on her arm.
Derek, Boyd, and Cora all snapped their heads towards the window when they heard an ear splitting shriek, that they quickly recognised as Lydia.
Minutes later, they got a call from Scott and Stiles, telling them that they had a showdown with the Darach, and they tried to kill Lydia, before kidnapping Sheriff Stilinski. They waited for Peter to get there, before going to meet the boys.