"Again?" Derek groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose as Isaac's gagging started up again. He'd been in the bathroom on and off for hours now. Unfortunately for the both of them, Isaac's issue wasn't just a stress reaction. He was sweaty and pale and it was making his bruises stand out even worse than before.

"I told you those noodles smelled weird," Isaac whined between heaves. Derek was standing just outside of the bathroom, feeling completely out of his depth. He was much better tending to wounds that healed in a matter of minutes. They definitely didn't smell this bad.

"I'm fine."

"Congratulations."

"When is this gonna stop? Haven't you done enough?" How did Isaac have anything left in his body? Derek wasn't even feeding him that much.

"You know, you're right. All better now," Isaac huffed, rolling his eyes. "Why didn't I think of that?"

"I've never been sick like this. The only thing I've ever thrown up is blood. And some black stuff the time I'd been poisoned with wolfsbane."

"Shut up!" Isaac moaned, tipping his head back into the toilet for another round. Maybe bringing that up was a bad idea.

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Just put me out of my misery. Then you can dump my body on my dad's doorstep. That's the only way I'd be safe there."

"That's dramatic."

"I had food poisoning about a year ago. My dad got sick of me and shoved me in the freezer. It's not very fun shitting and puking your guts out in a box," Isaac joked and even Derek had to cringe at the thought of it. He might insist he doesn't care, but that was rough. "My mom used to make me soup when I was sick."

"That's nice." What the hell was he supposed to say?

"I miss her," Isaac whispered, sniffling as his eyes got watery. This time it wasn't from the strain he was putting on his body. "I miss my mom."

"I know you do," Derek mumbled. He missed his as well. She would know what to do.

"He's gonna find me, isn't he?"

"No, he's not going to find you," Derek replied, even though the news story had been an unexpected hurdle. Isaac would just have to remain out of sight for a while longer. And if his dad somehow showed up and tried to take him, he'd have to go through Derek. If he could kill his uncle, this wouldn't even be a blip.

"He will. He always does. No matter what I do, he always finds me," Isaac panted, resting his cheek on the seat of the toilet. Derek didn't even want to think of the other germs Isaac was getting from this motel room. If some bad food had him this wrecked, Isaac had no chance. "I never ran far enough. And I never hid well enough. I'm never going to escape him."

"But you have. You're here, aren't you? No one knows where you are."

The loud knock on the door made them both jump. Isaac's eyes widened and he started hyperventilating, probably assuming his dad was outside. Derek put a finger to his lips, willing Isaac to stay quiet until he could figure out how screwed they were. If it was a motel worker, they could leave a note. If it was anyone else, no one was inside. If it was Isaac's dad, Derek was going to need a shovel.

"Derek?" Scott fucking McCall. Derek groaned, knowing there was no use pretending he wasn't there. Scott would already be able to sense him, if he deigned to pay attention to his werewolf side. Derek gave Isaac another look before closing the bathroom door and walking to the front of the room. This was going to draw too much attention to them.

"Go away, Scott," Derek growled through the door. He could deal with whatever bullshit problem he'd found himself in. Scott had declined Derek's offer to join his pack, so he was on his own.

"We need to talk. Something might be going on in town and we need to figure it out for sure," Scott replied.

"Not my problem." Derek had enough to deal with at the moment.

"But one of our classmates is missing and-" Derek pulled the door open, slapping his hand against Scott's mouth.

"Shut up," Derek hissed, flashing his red eyes at Scott.

"Dude, what the hell?" Stiles squeaked from beside Scott. Of course Stiles was there.

"Get out of here," Derek demanded, trying to keep his voice low.

"But something might be going on! What if it's another Alpha?" Scott argued as soon as he pulled away.

"It's not."

"How do you know? And what are you doing here?" Stiles asked curiously, trying to see around him into the room. "Do you have a girl in there?"

"No."

"A guy?"

"Stiles."

"I don't judge."

"I'm busy!" Derek growled.

"This is important!" Scott insisted. Isaac chose that exact moment to moan in discomfort. And Derek could tell Scott heard immediately. "What was that?"

"Nothing. Go home!"

"No way," Stiles snorted. Scott tried to bulldoze his way in and while Derek was occupied with keeping him out, Stiles squeezed around them like the squirrely bastard he was.

"Stiles!"

"You're acting suspicious!"

"Get out!"

"It came from the bathroom!" Scott called out. He was still pushing against Derek, but he couldn't exactly gut him to get him out of the way without drawing too much attention.

"Don't!" Derek growled, but it was too late. Stiles threw open the door, exposing Isaac who was still wrapped around the toilet.

"Ivan!"

"It's Isaac," Scott corrected.

"Whatever! Derek kidnapped him. Holy shit!"

"Be quiet!" Derek hissed, pulling Scott into the room and locking the door behind him. There was no use in trying to keep them out now.

"What are you doing? Are you picking up where Peter left off?" Scott accused, staring at him in horror.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Hey, what's wrong with him? He doesn't look so good," Stiles said, cringing as Isaac gagged into the toilet again. "Gross."

"What did you do? And why is he here?" Scott demanded.

"Keep your voice down!"

"Hey, you recognize me? It's Stiles, from lacrosse," Stiles said, kneeling down next to the panting teen. "Scott's here too. You know, Scott McCall and Stiles Stilinski?"

"Stilinski? Sheriff Stilinski?" Isaac mumbled, looking blearily up at Stiles.

"Yeah. That's my dad." Isaac's hand shot out, latching onto Stiles' sleeve in a death grip.

"Please don't say anything! He can't know where I am!" Isaac choked out, starting to panic.

"What-"

"You can't tell him where I am! If he finds me, he'll kill me!" Isaac gasped, paling even further as his breath caught in his throat.

"What are you- he wouldn't."

"Please," Isaac whispered, before his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he passed out. Stiles caught him as he slumped forward, before his face could smack the edge of the toilet seat.

"Shit!" Stiles exclaimed, trying to move so he'd have a better hold on Isaac's dead weight. Derek shoved Scott aside, ignoring the smells assaulting his nose as he stooped down next to Isaac. "He's burning up."

"I know!" Derek spat, although he hadn't. Derek hadn't actually touched him since all this started, figuring it was best to give Isaac space. Or maybe that was just him being a shitty person. But there was no denying now that Isaac was hot. And that was saying a lot, coming from a werewolf. They tended to hover a few degrees over what was typical for normal humans.

Derek picked up Isaac off the floor and carried him back over to his bed, laying him on top. He didn't so much as twitch. Part of Derek was glad for the reprieve from all the throwing up, but Isaac being unconscious worried him. Was this normal? Was Derek supposed to be doing something?

"What happened? And what's wrong with him?" Scott demanded, pointing an accusing finger in his direction. "I can't believe you'd do something like this so soon after everything with Peter."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"So explain it to me." Derek didn't know what he should say. Isaac definitely wouldn't want his private business spread around. But what kind of excuse could Derek give that didn't make him sound like a creep or a crazy person? Maybe Isaac's earlier jokes were a little too accurate. None of that would matter if Isaac ended up getting taken out by some bad noodles. At least now Derek had some backup, even if they were the last people he'd choose.

"It's not important. But you're here now, so you're going to help me."