Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf.
CHAPTER 13: Resurrection
It was mid afternoon when Lydia and Parrish returned from town with everything Morrell asked for along with sandwiches, two large packs of bottled water, some camping gear, a pillow, and blankets. They had passed by the animal clinic but didn't find Deaton.
Morrell and Rose ate while Parrish covered Derek's cold body and Lydia poured mountain ash around the Nemeton for protection.
"What if it won't work?" Rose asked aloud to no one in particular. It was a question that kept haunting her as the hours passed by with no response from Derek. All her life she had feared failure - failing auditions for the school play, failing pharmacy school, failing at her job. This was one failure that couldn't happen. She couldn't lose Derek like this after they had finally reconciled.
"It will," Parrish said confidently, stepping away from the Nemeton so that he wouldn't get trapped in the mountain ash barrier Lydia was creating.
"You have to have faith," Morrell said. "The more positive energy that flows through here, the better his chances are of coming back. Remember, this is a place of supernatural energy. If we believe the medicine will work, the Nemeton will use that energy to heal Derek."
"But isn't the Nemeton a beacon for malevolent energy? This was where the nogitsune came from," Lydia said.
"No, the nogitsune didn't come from the Nemeton, it was only contained by it," Morrell explained. "The Nemeton's energy can be good or bad - the choice is influenced by those who inhabit this space. For example, when Jennifer Blake used the Nemeton for her rituals, she created negative energy. She used the Nemeton to carry out her revenge."
"So the Nemeton is like a living entity with both light and darkness," Parrish said.
"Like a human," Rose added, "And we choose which side wins." She looked at Derek laying peacefully on the Nemeton and wondered if Laura looked as peaceful in death. Then she remembered that Peter had cut her in half and a picture of Laura severed into two pieces like a broken doll manifested in her mind. She pushed the disgusting thought away, focusing on Derek. If they were going to pull this off, she needed to trust that her blood and the Nemeton would be enough.
Scott and the others soon found them. Braeden rushed to Derek's side, unable to stop her tears at the sight of his lifeless body.
Rose gave Scott a big hug, not wanting to let go. "Thank God you're alright!" she said. Lydia had told them that they were all okay after her conversation with Stiles, but Rose was glad to see him unharmed with her own eyes. "Does your mom know where you are?"
Scott assured her Melissa thought he was at lacrosse practice and he asked about Derek.
"We're still giving him medicine," Rose answered. "We have about three hours before Marin says we'll lose him."
"What about you? You look really pale," Scott said, noticing the dullness of her skin which was usually a rich, tan color.
"I'm just tired," Rose said dismissively. "It's been a long day."
Scott knew it was more than that, sensing that her health was slowly deteriorating, but dropped the subject. He followed her to the tree stump where Derek's body laid. Rose unsealed the mountain ash barrier to let him inside. He stooped down beside Derek, not believing his eyes. Over the past year, Derek had become a good friend and mentor. He knew he wouldn't have been able to get this far as a werewolf without him. Derek had taught him so much. He didn't want to say goodbye yet.
Kira, Stiles, Malia, and Liam gathered around the body with Scott.
"Derek, you have to come back," Stiles said. "We still need you."
Scott touched the body with a hesitant hand. He was cold and stiff. It was barely a day since he was talking to Derek, returning Garrett's money and asking if he could borrow the loft for his date with Kira. So much had happened since then.
Rose looked warily at Malia. So this is Peter's daughter.
"What?" Malia asked, noticing Rose looking at her.
"So you're Derek's cousin," Rose said, altering her thoughts.
"And you're Scott's cousin. And sister apparently," Malia fired back. "What are you doing to him? Are you sure it's actually helping?"
"Relax Malia," Stiles said beside her, his hand squeezing her shoulder comfortingly. "They're doing everything they can. I'm sure whatever medicine they're giving him is working."
"Yeah, Rose and Morrell have it under control," Scott reassured. "Rose graduated at the top of her class and Morrell is a good emissary. Even Deucalion wanted her help."
"But why isn't he waking up?" Malia complained, not masking her impatience. "Shouldn't it have worked by now? What if they can't save him?"
"We will," Rose said simply. She rubbed Derek's cheek with her thumb and looked at him with an expression that Scott couldn't quite name. "He'll make it."
Rose and Morrell prepared the medicine inside the camping tent Parrish brought so that the others wouldn't see. Morrell sprayed a solution in the air that would keep the werewolves from smelling Rose's blood. Several moments passed after they injected the medicine in Derek's chest when Scott detected the faintest sound of a heartbeat. "You hear that?" he asked Malia and Liam.
"His heart!" Malia exclaimed.
Morrell hurried to the tree stump and placed her hand on Derek's bare chest, waiting for a heartbeat. To her relief, she barely detected a pulse. "He's alive!"
Rose joined her. "The medicine worked?"
Morrell took Rose's hand and placed it over Derek's chest. Tears sprang into Rose's eyes as she felt the weak beating of his heart. Morrell checked her watch. It had been approximately eleven hours and eleven minutes.
"Derek, can you hear me?" Rose said softly. "You have to get better. You have to wake up. I promised your mother. You still have to get married and have lots of little werewolf babies. You have to rebuild the Hale Family."
"And you still have a lot to teach me," Malia added. "Wake up Derek."
Morrell pulled Rose aside.
"I'll keep a close eye on him. For now, why don't you go home and take a break? The hard part is over. We can administer his doses every four hours," Morrell said. "Are you okay to help now? That way you can rest uninterrupted."
"No, I can't leave him now. I wanna be here when he wakes up," Rose said. "And I thought you needed the medicine to be fresh?" She understood the message Morrell was discreetly asking her - if she could take her blood now so she could use it later without Rose being present.
"It won't be as potent but it'll still help," Morrell said. "I don't think Derek will need it as strong since he's already been revived. Go and get some rest."
"She's right, Rose," Scott jumped in. "You're tired and you're getting sick. Stiles and I will bring you home."
"But - " Rose started to argue but Parrish pulled her towards the tent. Morrell followed closely behind. The emissary took as much blood as she thought was safe and kept it in a large glass bottle. She put the bottle inside a small styrofoam cooler with dry ice to preserve it.
"Are you sure you have enough?" Rose asked. "You can have some more just in case."
"It'll be enough. Just take care of yourself," Morrell said. She was concerned that they were getting too much blood from her too fast.
"Go and rest," Parrish told Rose. "We'll call you if anything happens. And after all this is over, I'll buy you a big dinner with the best steak in town."
"But what about you guys? You've been here all day too," Rose said.
"We'll take turns," Parrish said. "Now go rest before you pass out."
Scott instructed the others to go home as well. Morrell, Braeden, and Parrish were left to stay with Derek and monitor his recovery.
Rose felt too weak to make the trip back on her own so she rode on Scott's back. They were joined by Stiles, Malia, Kira, and Liam who were happy that Derek was alive.
"I can't believe you actually brought Derek back to life," Liam said in awe. "How'd you do it?"
"It was all Marin," Rose said. "She created the medicine. That's why I couldn't go to Mexico. She called me and said she needed my help."
"So now you're a pharmacist for werewolves?" Stiles joked.
"We're not in the clear though," Rose said seriously. "He may be alive but he's comatose and we don't know how long it'll take before he wakes up."
"I'm sure he'll wake up soon," Kira said positively. "Now that he's alive, his werewolf healing should be working, right?"
"I hope so," Malia said. "You think he got his powers back?"
"Marin said the medicine should restore him back to his old self," Rose said.
Stiles drove Rose's car and dropped Liam off while Lydia drove Malia and Kira home. When they got back to the lofts, Scott carried a sleeping Rose up to her apartment.
"She looks awful," Stiles said as Scott tucked her into bed. "She looks like me after the nogitsune left my body. What's wrong with her?"
"I don't know, but she's weak," Scott said. "You should go find your dad. He's probably worried."
"Hey, what's this?" Stiles asked, picking up a framed photo beside the bed. He studied the three people in the picture. It was two teenage girls and a teenage boy in the woods. "That's Derek."
Scott leaned over to take a look. "Yeah and there's Rose." He pointed at the third person, a beautiful girl with fair skin and long brown hair that lay straight past her shoulders. "That must be Derek's sister, Laura. They look happy."
"What did Rose do to you?" Stiles asked the teenage Laura Hale. "And why did you make her forget?"
Stiles put the photo back on the nightstand and left. A few minutes later, Lydia arrived.
"What are you doing here?" Scott asked. "You should be home with your mom. You've been through a lot today."
"I know Rose is sick. She's been pale ever since I saw her this morning. I brought some food for her," Lydia said, holding up a plastic bag. "Kira said this was the best ramen in town."
"The noodles in the cup?"
"This is authentic ramen from an authentic Japanese place," Lydia corrected him patiently. "Besides, I can't let you handle this on your own."
Scott thanked her and they walked up the spiral staircase to Rose's bedroom to wake her up.
Deaton examined Derek's body. "His condition is stable," he said to Morrell, Braeden, and Parrish. "You did a good job, Marin. Now we just have to wait."
"When will he wake up?" Braeden asked.
"It's hard to tell," Deaton replied. "This is out of my scope of knowledge. It could take hours or it could take days. Where's Rose?"
"She's resting at home. She's not feeling well," Parrish said.
Deaton nodded in understanding. He knew the treatment had probably taken a toll on her. "I'll go check on her. For now, keep monitoring Derek. I have an idea that may help speed up his healing. After that, we'll move him to the clinic for the rest of his recovery if we need to. I have IV's there."
"Okay, so let's do it now," Braeden said, relieved there was a plan other than waiting. She wasn't used to taking the passive road.
"We should wait for Rose," Deaton said.
"Why?" Braeden asked.
"Doctor Deaton, Argent called me earlier and said he and the Calaveras are tracking Kate. They think she'll head back to Beacon Hills for Scott," Parrish said, changing the subject.
"We'll keep alert for any signs of her. Make sure the mountain ash is sealed at all times. She won't be able to get through as long as the barrier is here."
Scott and Lydia sat on either side of Rose's bed. Deaton had arrived and was checking her pulse and other vital signs.
"Thank you for coming," Scott said. "I rather have you look at her than my mom. She would have asked too many questions and I don't want her finding out about Mexico. How's my sister?"
Lydia looked at him in surprise. It was the first time Scott had called her that. Scott met her eyes. On the long drive home, he thought about his family situation. Rose was his sister and he needed to accept it. He even decided that, despite the awkward circumstance with his father, mother, and aunt, he was glad Rose was his sibling.
"She's still weak but she's taken some pills and ate, which is helping her regain her strength," Deaton said.
"What's wrong with her? Why is she like this?" Lydia asked.
Rose stirred and her eyelids fluttered open. "Derek?"
"He's still at the Nemeton," Deaton said. "It's Dr. Deaton. You're here in your house with Scott and Lydia."
"What about Derek?" Rose asked. "Is he okay now? Did he wake up? I have to go see him." She tried to sit up but Scott pushed her gently back down.
"He's still in a coma," Scott said. "But he's alive Rose. That's what matters."
She smiled weakly. Deaton excused himself and went downstairs. Scott held Rose's hand.
"Don't try to take my pain away," Rose said. "I feel fine, so you'd be wasting your energy for nothing."
Scott found her assumption odd. "Okay, I won't. I'm glad you're okay. What happened to you? You had me worried."
When Rose closed her eyes and didn't answer, he decided to drop it, not wanting her to strain herself. Deaton came back upstairs with a teapot and a mug. He set them down on the nightstand next to the bed and poured the tea.
"Drink this," he said, giving the mug to Rose. "It's green tea infused with a plant that will help you feel better. I've added honey to sweeten it."
He helped her sit upright and Rose took the mug. She blew on the hot liquid and took a sip. Her face grimaced at the bitter taste. She swirled the mug and took another sip and this time, the taste of the honey was more prominent, allowing her to tolerate the bitterness of the tea. She drank a few gulps more and felt better, her hunger subsiding a little.
"How is it?" Lydia asked.
"I think it's helping," Rose said. She had a feeling the plant was blue wolfsbane. "Thank you," she told the vet.
"I'll get going," Deaton said. "Drink all of the tea. I've left some herbs in the kitchen so you can make some more later if you need it. Keep taking your pills and eat. When you're ready, go back to the Nemeton. I have a plan."
She nodded and Scott walked Deaton to the door.
"Make sure she drinks all of the tea," Deaton said.
"I will."
"And be careful, Scott. Kate might be on her way to Beacon Hills to finish what she started."
Several hours later, Scott and Rose rode on Scott's motorcycle back to the Nemeton. Rose had insisted that she see Derek. Although she still felt weak, she needed to be with him. She had eaten a large meal to appease her seemingly constant hunger, showered, and applied makeup to add life back to her face. When they arrived, Deaton, Morrell, Braeden, and Stiles were guarding Derek. Night had fallen and lanterns were hung on the hooks of the tent. Someone had built a fire, its flames casting eerie shadows.
Derek was visibly breathing and Braeden reported that his wound was almost fully healed. Scott touched Derek's face and felt some warmth in the flesh. He was glad his condition was improving.
"How are you feeling?" Morrell asked Rose.
"Much better," Rose said. "How's Derek?"
"He's healing," Morrell answered. "Let's talk. Scott? Can you and Stiles gather some more wood for the fire please?"
Scott and Stiles walked away from the group each carrying a flashlight.
"Do you get the feeling they're trying to get rid of us?" Scott asked Stiles, picking up a broken tree branch.
"There's something they're not telling us," Stiles said. "And I think it has something to do with Rose. She and Morrell keep disappearing into that tent. Lydia noticed it too, but all she said was that's where they kept the medicine. What are they up to and why don't they want us to know?"
"You know, I'm starting to think this has something to do with Rose's supernatural ability. Maybe she's some kind of healer," Scott said. "I heard her telling Morrell that she 'can have more.' Like Rose was giving her something."
Stiles stopped walking. "Like energy? Maybe she's not a succubus. Maybe she's the opposite of it and she gives energy to sick people. That's why she's all sick - she's exchanging her health for Derek's."
Scott agreed that it was a sound argument. He pictured Rose's unusually pale face resting on her pillow as she slept in her room. There were bags under her eyes and her lips had lost its natural redness. It was no coincidence that as she got sicker, Derek was healing.
Stiles took out his phone and called Lydia. "Lydia, hi. You're looking at the bestiary to find what Parrish is, right? Can you also look up healers?"
"Why healers?" Lydia asked on the other line.
"Scott and I think Rose is some kind of healer. It would explain why Meredith said 'She'll make the Alpha strong.' Also, see if there's an opposite counterpart of a succubus."
"I'll see what I can find," Lydia said.
Scott used his enhanced hearing to figure out what Rose and Morrell were saying. "I can't hear them talking." He heard the faint sound of fingers hitting a screen. "I think they're typing on their phones."
Back at the Nemeton, Morrell finished typing out her and Deaton's plan on her phone for Rose to read. She didn't want Scott to eavesdrop on them. Rose nodded, showing she understood. They prepared the medicine once more with Rose's fresh blood, hoping it would be the last time.
Scott and Stiles returned and dropped the pieces of wood they gathered into the fire. Rose and Morrell unzipped the tent and got out. Morrell carried the medicine in a test tube with a cork plugged into the opening. Scott carefully studied the liquid inside the glass.
It was dark red and smelled funny. It was like a whole bunch of strong scents mushed together into one strange smell and he could no longer make out each individual scent.
Deaton stood by Derek. "We need a catalyst to speed Derek's recovery," he told the others. "We'll burn Derek."
"What?" Braeden asked, clearly against the idea.
"He'll be fine," Deaton said. "It'll only be for a little bit, just enough to jumpstart his healing."
"Can't we break his arm or something?" Stiles asked.
"I'm afraid it'll be too big of an injury for him to handle at this state. He's still weak," Deaton said. He pulled on a thick glove on his right arm to protect himself. He took the test tube from his sister and held it over the fire. Once it was hot enough, Rose drew the liquid into a syringe and attached the needle for injecting. Scott thought she looked very medical as she worked confidently with skilled, gloved hands. She hovered over Derek and inserted the needle strategically into his chest, just as Morrell had done, and slowly pushed the plunger down. Her blood gradually entered his heart.
Once she was done, Deaton took a tree branch, lit it on fire, and swayed the branch from side to side on Derek's skin.
The group waited for a reaction but Derek stayed still. Scott and Stiles exchanged a glance. Scott knew Stiles was wondering the same thing he was - was Derek ever going to wake up?
"Let's take him back to the clinic," Deaton instructed. As they packed everything up, Scott sensed Derek's heart rate increasing rapidly.
"Deaton! Something's happening to Derek!" he yelled out.
Rose and Braeden ran to Derek's side. His eyes opened slowly.
"Derek!" they said together. Braeden announced that he was awake and embraced him.
Scott sensed that something was wrong. "Get away from him!" he yelled at the girls.
Derek's eyes glowed bright blue and Rose and Braeden jumped back, avoiding him. He rolled off the Nemeton with surprising speed. He clumsily freed himself from the blanket that Parrish had covered him with. Derek hunched over, yelling as if he was in pain, and stumbled towards the woods.
"Derek!" Scott yelled. He approached his friend carefully, but Derek took off in a run. Where he got all this energy from was anyone's guess. Scott chased after him, followed by the others.
Derek and Scott raced ahead, leaving everyone else behind. Derek finally stopped when he reached the edge of the lake. He bent over with the palm of his hands resting on his knees and breathed in and out heavily.
"Derek, it's me, Scott. What's wrong?" Scott asked from a safe distance.
With a loud yell, Derek fell onto his hands and knees. He lifted his head to the night sky, his eyes glowing, and began to transform. His bare back arched forward and began to expand. A mass of thick, black fur covered his whole back then spread to his chest. The cracking of bones as his body began to change sent shivers down Scott's back. Scott watched in amazement as Derek shifted into a full wolf, complete with four legs and a black bushy tail.
Scott heard his friends approaching behind him and turned around to stop them. "He's okay," he said, his arms outstretched with his palms facing them, signaling them to not come closer. "He transformed."
Rose, Stiles, Braeden, Morrell, and Deaton stood beside Scott, looking at the wolf in awe. Derek trotted towards them and showed them his glowing blue eyes. Although he looked like a wild beast, Scott could see the humanity behind his eyes, just as he did when he first found Malia in the woods. This was Derek Hale, his friend and mentor. Alive and a full wolf.
"He evolved," Deaton breathed. "I've only heard of this happening, but I've never seen it for myself. He looks just like Talia."
Derek raised his head up and howled at the moon.
"How is this possible?" Stiles asked, completely dumbfounded.
Scott turned to Rose. "You didn't just bring him back. You made him stronger."
Rose stared at Derek's new body, at the pointed ears, the slender legs. Her blood had done this and she was as curious as ever. "I can't believe it."
Read on for the Epilogue...