They spent the next two days pretty much the same way as the first. Derek ordered food and they watched TV. Wash, rinse, repeat. There weren't anymore heart to hearts or meltdowns, which was fine by Derek. The less drama, the better.

He got to a point where he felt comfortable enough to venture away from the room for a little while, so he could do some laundry in the rickety old machines a few doors down. It helped that he went while Isaac was asleep and had latched onto the sound of his barely audible snuffles. He had gotten so in tune with Isaac's sounds that Derek knew when he was going to wake up before his own body did. It didn't mean they were bonding though.

It felt like Christmas morning when Derek found an old deck of cards discarded next to the pop machine in front of the motel office. They finally had something else to break up the monotony of the day. Derek still wasn't sure what their next move should be, but they were going to have to leave the motel eventually. For now, they were staying put.

Derek taught Isaac how to play poker, since that was something everyone should know how to do. He obviously had an unfair advantage, since he could listen to Isaac's heartbeat and know if he was bluffing. Isaac was absolutely terrible regardless, but the first time Isaac won a hand, Derek couldn't help but feel a little bit of pride. It was pretty meaningless in the long run, but it was still something.

"You sure you've ordered from this place before?" Isaac asked, peering into his half empty carton of chow mein. After pizza for every meal, Derek decided to switch things up with some Chinese. The options were limited in a town like Beacon Hills, especially when it came to places that would deliver.

"Not to your standard?" Derek scoffed. He'd watched the boy gnawing on dried out pizza crusts in the middle of the night. Isaac didn't seem like the type to be picky.

"It has a smell."

"Everything in this motel has a smell. Including you."

"It's not my fault I only have one change of clothes. Just one of the pitfalls of kidnapping someone," Isaac sighed, twirling another bite of noodles around his fork and popping it into his mouth.

"Are we back to that again?"

"Did we ever leave it?" Isaac asked around his mouthful.

"Just eat your food," Derek grumbled.

"Yes, Alpha," Isaac smirked, diving back into his lunch. Derek definitely did not feel anything in response to being referred to as Alpha. Although it was the first time someone had, at least in that way. He could really get used to it.

Isaac took a nap after he finished eating and Derek attempted to read the lone book in the room. It could barely keep his attention and he still hadn't made it through the first chapter. Maybe it wouldn't be terrible if they left this motel soon. They could be in a new town where no one knew them within an hour and then they wouldn't have to hide like this. Derek was itching to run and Isaac probably needed some fresh air after all these days.

Derek ended up giving up on the book again and playing solitaire instead, but he was still bored out of his mind. He had a slight temptation to wake Isaac up to distract himself, but thought better of it. It wasn't like they were friends.

Isaac was currently sprawled out on his back with his limbs splayed out. It was a lot different from the boy who tried to take up the least amount of space possible, even while sleeping. Derek wasn't the type to psychoanalyze, but maybe that meant that Isaac was more comfortable with him now. And maybe he'd be more open to accepting his offer to join the pack.

Isaac woke up after an hour and headed straight into the bathroom. Derek turned on the television for both of their sakes. Werewolf hearing could really be a bitch sometimes. The channels were transitioning from court shows to local news by this point, which didn't help his boredom. Not enough things were happening in Beacon Hills to keep things interesting, especially since the "animal attacks" had stopped. Good thing they had extra time to devote to an upcoming city council meeting that no one cared about.

"You okay?" Derek asked casually as soon as Isaac came out of the bathroom. He was rubbing his stomach a little, but looked fine besides that.

"Monitoring my bathroom habits now?" Isaac snorted, walking over and sitting back down on his bed. "You are so weird."

"Whatever," Derek scoffed, clicking through more channels just to give himself something to do. The attempt was made and that was all he could do. He stared blankly at the screen as he flipped from channel to channel, aching for something interesting. Would it kill them to put some sort of movie on?

"Go back!" Isaac demanded suddenly, scooting to the end of the bed. He looked like he'd seen a ghost.

"Go back to what?"

"Just go back!" Isaac snapped. Derek was stunned enough to listen, flipping slowly through the channels to try to figure out what had Isaac acting like this. He knew immediately when he got to the right channel. "Oh my God."

"If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of this young man, please contact the Sheriff's station. We will be working out of there until this case is resolved," a man in a suit said, addressing the camera directly. "Mr. Lahey's father would now like to say a few words." Isaac watched in shock as his father stepped up to the center of the screen, holding up what looked like a school photo of him.

"My son, Isaac, is a good kid. He makes decent grades, he has a part time job working with me at the cemetery, and he's never gotten into any trouble. It's just him and I now and him being gone these last few days has been torture. We're all each other has," Mr. Lahey said, pausing to swipe at the corner of his eye. "If something has happened to him, I'm not sure what I'd do." The man from earlier stepped forward again, setting a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Is there anything you'd like to say to your son, in case he's watching?"

"Isaac, I love you. If you're able to, please come home. And if someone is holding you against your will, we won't stop until we find you. You will be safe at home with me again soon." The man in the suit started rattling off phone numbers as Isaac's dad stood solemnly with his photo in front of his chest. Derek could see Sheriff Stilinski standing off to the side in the background, but he didn't look happy.

"That was bullshit. That was bullshit!" Isaac shouted, jumping up from his bed in anger. "How dare he go on television and pretend to give a damn about me?"

"Isaac, calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down! He hasn't told me he loved me in years and now he's going to say it in front of everyone for sympathy?" Isaac hissed, running his hand through his hair as he paced the length of the room. "And that crap about being safe at home with him. I haven't been safe since Cam died."

"You're safe now. It doesn't matter what he says," Derek insisted, although this did complicate things a bit. He'd kind of assumed that Isaac's dad wouldn't care that his son was gone and just move on with his life. It didn't mean he was going to boot Isaac and run, but they were going to have to stay very careful.

"This can't be happening. He doesn't get to do this," Isaac panted, breathing heavily as he stood at the end of the bed. Derek could see his hands shaking from where he was sitting.

"Isaac-" Derek's next words were interrupted by Isaac darting past him and back into the bathroom. He fell to his knees in front of the toilet and stuck his head over the bowl, heaving up all the food he'd eaten for lunch. Derek hovered in the doorway, not knowing what to do as Isaac's body strained in response to his stomach's revolt. He didn't know how to take care of someone who was sick. Werewolves didn't get sick, at least not naturally.

Derek grabbed a wad of toilet paper and tossed it in Isaac's direction, looking away as the boy wiped the tears off his face with it. This was just the stress of seeing his father on TV and once he relaxed a little, he would be fine. There was nothing to worry about.

"Listen up guys. We've got another missing student. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Isaac Lahey, let me or another teacher know," Coach Finstock announced as everyone was getting ready for lacrosse practice.

"Who's Isaac Lahey?" Stiles asked in confusion as he tied his shoes.

"I don't know," Scott mumbled, frowning as he tried to recall why the name sounded vaguely familiar.

"He's 14," Danny said, testing the tightness of the strings on his lacrosse stick.

"Oh, he's a freshman? Probably why I don't know him," Stiles shrugged.

"No, he's number 14, as in his jersey number," Danny scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Why do you know that? Are you guys friends? I can barely remember my own number half the time."

"I'm a goalie. Part of the gig is paying attention," Danny replied, as if it was obvious. "And I don't know him, besides the fact that we've all gone to school together for years. And that he lives across the street from Jackson."

"Well, don't you have all the answers," Stiles smirked, leaning closer to him. "Can you hook me up for Harris' next quiz?"

"You're on your own," Danny chuckled, leaving them to follow Jackson who was beckoning him from the door. Scott took his time, listening to hear when everyone else had left the locker room.

"You ready?" Stiles asked.

"Do you think something is happening again?" Scott whispered, glancing around the room in case someone else popped up out of nowhere. "People disappearing?"

"Peter's gone, you know that. And Allison would've found out from her dad if there was something weird going on around town."

"I guess, but I don't know. We haven't had a chance to talk as much recently."

"Spending your time doing other things?" Stiles asked, wagging his eyebrows.

"Gross."

"If you think it's gross, you probably aren't doing it right."

"Stiles."

"Although I wouldn't know, would I?"

"We've just been laying low more, now that her grandpa is in town. And she's been spending time with Lydia, to make sure she's okay after everything."

"That should be me," Stiles moaned, flopping back onto the bench he was sitting on. "I'm the one who stayed at the hospital all night while she was there. And the one who led the search party."

"At least she isn't back with Jackson," Scott offered, trying to make him feel better.

"For now. But they're more off and on than a light switch. Jackson's probably already sniffing around her again."

"Well, that's a problem for another time. What about Isaac?"

"Who?"

"The missing student!" Scott exclaimed, throwing his hands up. "Stiles."

"And why is that our problem? Can't we let the police handle it?" Stiles groaned. "Now that I think about it, that's probably what my dad's been so stressed out about."

"What did he say?"

"He hasn't said anything. He's just been putting in more hours and only comes home to sleep."

"What if it's another werewolf? Has Derek said anything?" Scott asked.

"How the hell would I know? You think I just casually chat with Derek?" Stiles asked incredulously.

"I don't know!"

"Well, I don't. I haven't seen him since the whole-" Stiles acted out Derek slashing Peter's throat.

"We should find him. If there is another werewolf in town attacking people, he should know."

"Ah yes, because he's always so helpful," Stiles snorted.

"Maybe this time he will be."

"Or maybe this time it's him who's responsible. What if he's murdering teenagers?"

"He's not."

"How do you know?"

"Because he'd start with you."

"That tracks," Stiles acquiesced. "Well, have fun with your little chat. Send Derek my love."

"You're not coming?" Scott asked in surprise.

"Nope."

"Stiles."

"Scott."

"Come on."

"No thanks."

"Since when do you not want to be involved in the action? That's your thing."

"Perhaps I'm in the market for a new thing. One less likely to get me killed. You ever think of that?"

"No."

"Ugh, you're right. I'll drive," Stiles grumbled, stomping out of the locker room. Scott was relieved to have his best friend by his side. It made all the wolf stuff feel a lot easier to deal with. Hopefully this would all be a misunderstanding and Isaac would be found safe and sound soon, but what could it hurt to check?