Two updates in two days... Whew! This is for not updating for a week :p
To all the readers, you know what you are, but I'll tell you anyways. You're amazingly awesome and I thank you for reading my stories.
To the reviewers, you too know the drill, but I don't care, I'm going to go through it one more time. You are all remarkable, humbling, incredible people who brighten my day.
This is set during the Reckoning when Derek is changing back in the Edison Group lab and his discussion with Simon afterwards.
Disclaimer: If I were Kelley Armstrong, it wouldn't have taken me four tries to write this.
Brotherly advice
DPOV
My whole body spasmed, all four legs shooting out, a back claw nicking Simon and a front paw swatting Tori. Oh god, I thought to myself, why does this have to be happening now?
"I think that's a no." Simon said, referring to his previously asked question of whether or not it could wait. If it could, this would definitely not be happening-I wouldn't even let it be happening if I had any say in the matter.
"We need to clear out. As you can tell, this requires room. And it might not be something you want to see." Chloe said professionally. She shooed them out and then turned to me, saying softly, "You've done this alone now, so I guess you don't need-" she stopped when I caught her jeans in between my teeth, pulling gently, eyes asking her to stay. I knew it was selfish and dangerous and that I should just let her go, give her a chance to get away with the others if it came down to that.
But I couldn't.
It had been so painful and so terrifying to go through it alone, without Chloe at my side to comfort me, to support me. I wanted her here, I needed her here as a reminder of what I was fighting for. I needed to feel her body beside mine and to see her safe beside me.
She told the others she was staying and that if there was any sigh of the SWAT team, they were to get out, to save themselves. For once, I agreed with her.
"We aren't leaving you two." Simon said stubbornly. I growled, telling him not to fight because he didn't have a choice. Simon wasn't going to die because he was waiting for me. Plus it would be easier to protect Chloe if I didn't have the others to watch out for and worry about too.
"He's agreeing with me. For once. You have to go. With any luck, they'll presume that means Derek and I are someplace else." Chloe reasoned.
Simon didn't like it, but he resigned and grumbled for me to hurry up.
Lauren stayed behind after they'd gone, her jaw set and her eyes worried, yet narrowed when she looked at me.
"If anything happens, you're coming with us, Chloe. Derek can look after-"
Chloe cut her off sharply, "No, he can't. Not like this. He needs me."
"I don't care." Her aunt said bluntly. At least she wasn't bullshitting, pretending to like me for Chloe's sake. Even though she had just admitted to being completely unconcerned for my well being, I respected how she said it.
"I do. He needs me. So I stay." Chloe said with finality. They locked gazes for a minute and I knew Chloe wasn't going to back down, not only because she was stubborn, but also because she cared. About me. It was then that I realized that Chloe wasn't going anywhere and that allowed me to look at her in a whole new light and care for her that much more.
A look passed through her aunt's eyes, one that expressed the look of a parent who realized that their kid had grown up and didn't need them in the same way anymore. She sighed softly and looked away. Chloe walked over to her and hugged her, saying, "I'm fine."
"I know." Lauren replied. The only thing that betrayed her was the tight, fierce hug she gave Chloe, obviously not believing what she had just said.
She left and the body spasms began their field day.
The change had come faster, and without vomiting. I fell onto my side, panting, shaking and shivering. And even though the Change was something I wouldn't wish on anyone, it was so much easier than the last, all because Chloe was here with me. She really did make the pain almost bearable and was a source of so much consolation.
I reached for her hand, holding it tight and entwining our fingers, needing that physical reassurance that everything, for the moment, was all right. She moved closer, brushing my hair away from my face.
I was enjoying our moment of closeness when Simon burst through the door, making us both jump.
"Whoa. You really need to get dressed before you start that."
"I'm not starting anything." I really needed to inform him that his incessant verbal commentary wasn't always necessary or very appreciated.
"Still…" he said uncomfortably, holding out the pile of fabric in his hands. "Dr. Fellows dug up some hospital greens for you. Get dressed and then… whatever."
"We weren't-" Chloe began.
"Have you still got my note?" Simon asked abruptly. She nodded.
"Give it to him." he instructed. Chloe pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket, and then turned away, most likely wanting to avoid having to confront my nakedness.
Completely illogically, I decided to first examine the paper, curiosity winning over modesty and still too hot to put on clothes. I unfolded the paper and was touched, stunned: it was a drawing. Chloe was kneeling beside a large, black wolf, her arms around its neck while it regarded her intensely.
The message behind it reverberated within me because not only did it convey that he knew about Chloe and I and accepted it, but he also understood what it was, how it was between us and what it meant.
Simon's drawings were never just drawings. They weren't just lines and colours and renditions of things he had seen. They were able to capture feeling and truth.
Simon had managed to encapsulate just how I felt about, just how deep I was in and how much she seemed to care too.
I was, for a couple of seconds, rendered uncharacteristically speechless.
"We good?" he asked.
"Yeah." I replied, lowering my voice.
He turned to go, but I couldn't let him. Not yet. I wanted to apologize for not telling him sooner, for not trusting him and misjudging his reaction. And I wanted to thank him for being so mature and understanding about it. I called him, grunting with effort as I rose from the floor, and padded over to him.
He turned back, questions dancing in his eyes.
"Simon, first I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I should have-" He held up his hand, cutting me off.
"Are you happy?" he asked.
"What?" I asked, unprepared for the sudden turn in conversation.
"Does she make you happy?" he asked slowly, pronouncing each word carefully, as if he were explaining differential algebra to a five year old.
"Yes." I said without hesitation and completely honestly, realizing it for the first time.
Chloe made me feel a lot of things, but I always had trouble coming up with a word that encompassed it all. I finally realized that happiness was the word I had been searching for. Above all else, Chloe made me unquestionably, irreversibly happy whenever we were together, even when we were fighting-despite how twisted that sounds. Because even when we fought and she was irritating me or being stubborn or not listening to what I was saying, it still didn't take away from the fact that she would fight with me.
"Then that's all that matters. I'd be a shitty brother if I wanted you to apologize for being happy. And I don't because-as cliché as this sounds-I'm happy that you're happy. Besides, she's perfect for you; you're perfect for each other. So go over there and start enjoying what most people only dream of finding."
Swallowing my pride, throwing my stubbornness out the window, I admitted grudgingly, yet sheepishly, "I don't know what to do." I knew what I wanted to do, but I didn't know if there were guidelines or a protocol for this type of situation.
Simon looked suddenly elated and rather smug.
"What? I'm sorry, but I don't think I heard you right. Did you just, in Derek-speak, ask me for help, admit to not knowing something. What's the date? Do have a pen? I need to record this." he said teasingly.
He got a look for that.
"Simon…" I growled. "I just… I want… Will you-" He cut me off, interrupting my miserable attempt at asking for help.
"You want my advice." he stated matter-of-factly. "Give me a minute to gloat, to revel in the fact, and then I'll help." He sighed theatrically, raising his chin in the air, as if basking in the glory of being asked for help.
"Are you done being stupid?" I asked irritatedly.
He grinned cheekily. "Yep. Now, down to business. You want my advice? Go over there and kiss her. Kiss her long and hard until she knows exactly how you feel, until there's no more room for confusion."
My heart sped up at the thought, both in anticipation and in nervousness. Kissing wasn't exactly something I had a lot of experience in. Actually, that was the understatement of the year. I had absolutely no idea what to do.
But if this kiss were to be even one third of what the last one was, the one that engulfed every nerve in my body in flames, then… then I'd be damned lucky.
I squared my shoulders and nodded. Simon clapped me on the back, as if to pump me up and wish me good luck.
He left and I dressed quickly, walking over to Chloe when I was done.
I touched her waist then, lightly, tentatively, to tell her I was there. She turned and her face was right there, right below mine, her pink lips deliciously inviting. I slid my arms around her, tightening my hold, as if intending to never let go-which I never wanted to. She tilted her face upwards and-
"What the-?" Tori stood in the doorway, Simon behind her, grabbing her arm.
"I told you not to-" he began.
"Yeah, but you didn't say why. I sure didn't expect…" she trailed off, shaking her head. "Am I the last one to know everything around here?"
Chloe cut them off and said, "Derek's ready. We need to move."
I swallowed the urge to say that they needed to move. Back in time, more specifically. I swear to God, those two should be related with their uncanny ability to interrupt everything.
Thoroughly irritated, I sighed to myself and led the way out.
I realize that this wasn't a "short, murmured conversation" like it was in the book, but, this is what came to me. Please Review :)