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Chapter Five: Fever-The Black Keys

"June, you have to get his fever down." Deaton directed over the phone as I clung to Derek, trying anything I could to soothe him. "Take all of the blankets off of him and his cloths too. Go to the bathroom and run some cold water in the bathtub. You have to submerse him, June."

"Deaton, he's shaking so bad. It's like he's trying to ward off a change and he's unresponsive to me!" I wailed as I clung tighter to him; trying to hold his body still. Beneath me, I could feel the shifting of his bones as unconsciousness held him under.

"Do it now, June! You have to bring the fever down. It's what's causing him to change." Deaton ordered and finally it dawned on me as I started stripping off the layers of Derek's cloths; tossing them aside before running to the bathroom upstairs and running ice water in the tub. "I'll be there in five minutes, June" and with that he hung up. Layla screamed from her crib in the bedroom; having missed her diaper change and feeding-and adding to my already frazzled nerves.

"In a minute, Layla!" I tried soothing through sobs as I worked to get Derek out of the bed and drug him into the hallway. Please Derek. Please wake up! I prayed as I began my climb up the stairs; dragging his lifeless form with all of my strength. Please Derek. Please. Wake up! I need you, please. Heaving him over the side of the tub I plopped back into the cold water with him as I submersed his body except for his head. Damn it! Where is he?!

"June!" Deaton's voice sounded.

"Up here!" Tears streamed down my face and my body shook from the cold as I prayed to God for Derek.

"Good-Good." Deaton praised as he knelt down beside the tub; one hand grasping Derek's wrist as he took his pulse. "Now, I'm going to give him a dose of Epinephrine to keep his heart rate up and to help his body gain the control it needs to fight back. Right now, his body is trying to morph to fight off the fever the only way it knows how. But we don't want him to do that. It'll only do more harm than good in his weak state. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes." I said as I stroked my mates' cheek.

"Good. Now you're going to have to hold him down while I administer the shot. And right after, I need to get an IV in as quick as possible so that his body can absorb it better." Deaton assured. "It's also very important that you open up your strength to him, June. Anything you can muster will help him through this." With the syringe in hand, he gave me an encouraging nod as I moved around to hold Derek; wrapping my legs around his waist while I secured his arms. "Ready?" With a deep breath, I forced myself to stop crying as I thought about anything that would piss me off; my mom and her nagging, Allie, Stiles and Scott leaving the toilet seat up-anything. But all I could think about was Derek. Burying my face in the back of his neck I focused on his heartbeat. The one thing I knew for certain that could always give me strength. With a nod, I tuned the rest of the world out as the slow thrumming beat synced up with mine and sent all the love I had when suddenly Derek's body jerked. "Hold him, June! I need to get the IV in!" Deaton directed as I struggled to hold Derek's flailing form.

"What did you do to him?!" I screeched as the tears fell freely again.

"It's the normal reaction! Just hold him!" Deaton ordered; struggling to hold Derek's arm out to place the IV when suddenly he went flying backwards-a raged roar filling the room as Derek broke free from my grip and shoved me back against the tub causing my head to hit with a powerful thump. Water spilled onto the floor as Derek hunched forward; his claws white-knuckled to the tub with blood dripping into the water from where the needle still stuck from his arm. His breathing was ragged like he couldn't get enough air and I could hear the sound of his ramp it heartbeat. "Derek?" Deaton whispered; eyes wide with fear as Derek rose from the water-his naked body shivering and tense. "Derek…it's me. Deaton. I'm here to help you." Deaton tried to soothe as Derek turned on him with his teeth bared.

"Is this normal?" I asked around the lump in my throat; fear grasping at my insides as I took in the crazed look of my mate.

"Can't say…but let's just go with no." Deaton's voice trembled lightly; not once looking away from Derek's burning gaze. "June, talk to him."

Rising from the tub I felt like my body had gained 30 pounds and the room seemed slightly off kilter; but I pushed forth none the less. "Derek." I whispered; going to step from the tub but lost my balance as the world slipped from beneath me. I braced myself for the sure impact of the floor but none came.

"June…June. Oh God June! I'm sorry….fuck I'm sorry."

"Derek."

"Stay still."

I felt confusion setting in as I was being lowered to the floor; the strong embrace of Derek cradling my body to his chest as something soft was being pressed to the back of my head.

"She'll be alright. She's already healing." Deaton's voice assured above me with a reassuring smile. "Hold her head and stick out your arm. I still need to get the IV going while your body is responding to the Epinephrine."

"I'm not worried…"

"June will skin the both of us. You for being stubborn and me for not trying. Now hold out your arm so that your body has a fighting chance." Deaton directed and I smiled wearily-rather in tune with the weird crawling feeling happening in the back of my skull as it healed.

'You better listen to him.' I warned half-heartedly; smoothing a hand over the dark stubble of Derek's jaw and relishing the sight of my mate-smiling for the first time in what felt like ages.

"And we're done. Unfortunately though you're going to have to sit here until I get back to my truck with the IV pole. I have the bag mounted on a towel hook. June, how are you doing?" Deaton kneeled down to inspect the back of my head.

"I feel better." Especially now that Derek was doing better.

"Your head is pretty much healed which is good. You think you can stand up?" He asked and I nodded.

"She just recovered…" Derek started to protest when Deaton held up a hand.

"I just need her to be able to replace the drip if it begins to run out before I get back. My truck is buried in a snow bank a mile or so back. And by the sounds of the wind howling outside, it may be a while before I get back."

"Crap. Are you alright?" I asked with a rush of guilt.

"Fine. Now do you know how to replace the drip?" Deaton asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, I've helped my Dad out job=shadowing him. I can replace these." I said confidently as I sat on the toilet and rubbed the back of my head; Derek's hand snaking out to grasp mine as he stared past my façade.

"You're not fine." He whispered; the look of guilt swirling heavily in his eyes.

"I am. It just feels funny, healing. I'm alright." I assured before turning to Deaton who was already replacing the dry drip with another. "I have something that can help you out."

"I'm all ears."

Standing in the garage with Layla balanced on one hip I proceeded to educate Deaton on the nifty snow machines that Monica and my Dad used every year for their annual mountain resort get-a-way. Though they really hadn't been used that much since Layla was born. "Take my Dad's. His has the sled attachment."

"Good ole' Dillon. He's a fan of the dramatics." Deaton smiled in familiarity with my Dad's obsession with the 'Alaska Frontier'. A show that shows the hardships of the last real frontier.

"It drives my Mom up a wall when they go on vacation because he rides around with his bag and survival kit in the back." I laughed as I thought about the times when I was a kid and Dad would put me on the sled like I was a rescue; scaring Monica to death. After that, she had somewhat deemed the Mountain Get-A-Away vacation for adults only. I was allowed back when I could admire the resort for its true beauty and when I was old enough to really enjoy the full experience. At the time I hadn't been too dishearten because it meant I got to spend more time with the Hales; which basically beat family vacation by a long shot. Now looking back I realized just how messed up my family and I really were; even from a young age. Layla wrapped a curl around her fist a little too tight and I winced; grabbing the back of my head to sooth the sting.

"Still hurts?" Deaton asked worried as he examined the back of my head again.

"Just tender I guess." I assured as I shifted Layla to the other hip.

"It shouldn't hurt still."

"Layla's used to playing with my hair and she can get a little carried away. It's just the combination of the fresh injury and Layla. No biggie."

"Uh-huh." He nodded disbelievingly. "Well, I'll examine you closer when I get back. Now, I believe I have the gist of it, let's see if we can get this bad boy out of here."

Another drip bag replaced, two cups of coffee, and a little bit of ingenuity, (plus a lot of elbow grease) later and Deaton and I finally had the snow machine the garage door froze and not to mention the near ten inches of snow stacked against it, Deaton and I had resorted to a much more inventive way of getting the machine outside. Just short of covering it in KY we wiggled, wrapped, slipped, and bubble wrapped it through the hall way of the house, out the back door and slid it down the porch steps. Nothing to it. Providing Deaton with a helmet and some other snow machining material, he hooked the sled and started the haul to his truck.

I on the other hand felt like I'd just gone ten rounds of the most intense training of my life. My head was throbbing and I was plum pooped as I slid my parka and boots off before grabbing Layla from her play pen and trudging up the stairs.

"June, you look exhausted. I'm sorry…" Derek begun to apologize as soon as I stepped into the bathroom when I held my hand up to silence him.

"You don't need to apologize." I said tiredly, checking the drip, before sliding down the side of the tub to sit with him and almost immediately Layla and I were enveloped in his embrace. I soaked up the flutter of kisses that Derek placed all over my face.

"I'm sorry I hurt you. Let me make it better." He offered tenderly; placing the palm of his hand to the back of my head. I felt the sudden ease of my headache as he took it away.

"Derek, you can't…you're still too weak." I argued and he chuckled.

"I'll do as I damn well please. Sick or not, I did this to you and it's my job to take care of you. Now stop fussing." He ordered; that hint of the Derek I knew and loved shining a bit brighter as he assumed his role back as head alpha. I could already tell that the fluids were helping by the look in his eyes. The vibrant green had started to return and his cheeks weren't so hollowed. The dark circles beneath his eyes were slowly diminishing and he held tight to his chest with more force than he had in weeks.

"How's the drip? Do I need to replace it yet?" I asked as my eyes begun to shut with exhaustion.

"Not yet." He replied smoothly as he begun to stroke my hair.

"Are you lying to me?"

"No." He chuckled. I felt Layla squirming in my grasp; having enough of being ignored as she crawled her way up my chest to sit on my breasts so that Derek could pay her more attention. "And how's my other girl?" He cooed; pulling her head into his chest. "You've grown." He tisked and she laughed.

I couldn't help but to smile as my little family felt complete again.

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