"How did you get my number? And why is it okay for you to have mine but not for me to have yours?"

"Stiles-"

"Well, I have yours now."

"Stiles! Shut up and listen to me! There is something wrong with Isaac!" Derek snapped. He couldn't deal with Stiles being Stiles right now. If he was calling him for help, it should've been a sign of how desperate he was.

"There was something wrong with him when I left. What is it now?"

"He's bleeding!" Derek hissed, checking Isaac's face to make sure nothing else was happening.

"Why is he bleeding? Did you- did you bite him?"

"No!"

"Well, I don't know! You woke me up in the middle of the night and I'm trying to catch up!"

"He's bleeding from his nose."

"Does he get chronic nosebleeds? Maybe it's normal for him."

"I'll ask him. Oh yeah, he won't wake up!" Derek snarled.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Is he breathing?"

"If he wasn't breathing, do you think I'd be focused on a nosebleed?"

"Good point."

"Stiles."

"I just- what is it you want me to do? Come over?"

"I need help." Derek wasn't used to asking anyone for anything. It was in his nature now to grit his teeth and deal with everything alone. In another time, he would've had so many people to turn to. Pack and family ready and waiting to step in for anything. But now, his options were limited. He had no family, no true friends, nothing. All Derek had were a couple of annoying teenagers.

"Okay," Stiles sighed. Derek could hear the sounds of blankets being thrown back and shuffling feet. "Tell me and Dr. Google what you know."

"You already know about the food poisoning. And now the nosebleed," Derek muttered, walking back over to Isaac's side. "He's pale."

"Not all of us can be bronze gods," Stiles mumbled.

"Stiles."

"Alright, I got it. Paler than usual. What else?"

"He won't wake up," Derek said, jostling Isaac's shoulder again. The boy still didn't stir, but the movement shifted his shirt and exposed some of his skin. "What the hell?"

"What? What happened?"

"He's got bruises."

"Okay, don't bite my head off for this one, but wasn't he bruised already?"

"These are new. They weren't there before-" Derek cut off, feeling a sick feeling bubble up in his stomach.

"Before what?" Stiles pressed.

"Before I shook his shoulder."

"Damn Derek, how hard did you shake him? Should I add possible whiplash to his symptoms too?"

"I didn't shake him hard," Derek growled. "But I'll shake the bones out of your body the next time I see you."

"So you're saying that Isaac bruised easily?" Stiles asked, ignoring his threat. He was probably used to Derek not following through with them. He was going to have to hurt Stiles a little soon, so he wouldn't lose that tool.

"Yes."

"And this was recent? You didn't wait a few hours before calling me?"

"A couple minutes at most."

"Not good," Stiles mumbled, typing a few things into his computer. Derek was once again mentally cursing how fragile humans were when Stiles' hesitant voice spoke up. "Hey Derek?"

"What?"

"Promise you won't get mad at this next question?"

"Just ask it."

"Did you notice any blood in Isaac's urine?"

"Stiles!"

"I'm not just asking for kicks!"

"Why would I be looking at his pee? Do you think I was in there with him?"

"I don't know! Maybe you smelled it?"

"Stiles!"

"Who's yelling?"

"Isaac!" Derek exclaimed, almost dropping the phone as he looked down and saw the boy blinking sluggishly. "Are you okay?"

"Hmm?"

"Ask him about his pee."

"Isaac, look at me," Derek demanded. Isaac tried to lift his head, but he barely made it an inch before it flopped back onto the pillow. Derek knelt down, so he was eye level with him. "You have to stay awake."

"Derek?"

"Yeah, it's Derek. Do you know where you are? Do you know what's going on?"

"I think those noodles were bad."

"Is he back to the noodles? I guess we can add disoriented to the list," Stiles muttered.

"Isaac, you have to tell me how you feel." Isaac just moaned and closed his eyes. "Isaac."

"Uh, Derek? I think I might know what's going on," Stiles interjected quietly.

"What is it?"

"Now, take this with a grain of salt. Plugging symptoms into Google isn't always accurate. Telling it you have a stomach ache can lead you to thinking you have some rare disease that was eradicated a century ago and-"

"Just say it!"

"We might be dealing with hemolytic uremic syndrome."

"With what?"

"It's a complication that can develop after an infection. It usually takes longer to show up, but I guess your friend is an overachiever."

"I need real details, Stiles," Derek demanded. Nothing he'd said so far was helpful.

"Look, the main thing is this can mess up his kidneys. I don't know how long it takes for that to happen, but since this came on so quick-"

"He could already be to that point," Derek finished for him, running a hand down his face. How could this have happened? Just a day ago they'd been watching TV and hanging out and now Isaac could be dying. All because of the lunch Derek decided to get for them. It didn't make sense.

"I could be wrong. I- this could be way off base," Stiles said softly. Derek wished that were true, but could he really take that chance? And what if it ended up being something worse. There were only three options that he could see right now and he didn't like any of them.

Derek could keep Isaac where he was and keep trying to nurse him back to health. This could still just be a really bad bout of food poisoning, solved by bed rest and Stiles' stupid Gatorade. Tending to a sick teenager wasn't what Derek signed up for, but he would do it if he had to. But would it be enough?

The second option was to bite Isaac. A werewolf wouldn't be dealing with this. It would take care of any ailment Isaac had. But would his body even be strong enough to accept it? And could he really force that onto someone without their consent? Scott had kind of gotten over being thrust into this life, but he'd never had the option. Isaac had been asked and refused. Would the kid ever forgive him if he took away his choice? Would they ever be able to coexist in a pack?

The third option was the worst. It was the last thing Derek ever wanted to do. But with the way things were looking, it was the most realistic choice. Isaac dying couldn't happen. Derek wasn't going to be another person to hurt him. But he knew once he made this decision, Isaac would never forgive him.

"I need you to come pick him up."

"What? Derek-"

"I need you to take Isaac to the hospital."

"You know what's going to happen if I take him there."

"I know! But I can't let him stay here and get sicker!" Derek snapped. He didn't need Stiles pointing out how shitty the situation was. Derek knew perfectly well that he was putting Isaac right back into the danger he'd tried to save him from. "Just take him, then get your dad to hear his story and do whatever needs to be done."

"It's not that easy. And what am I supposed to say when I drive up with a missing kid in my jeep? That I found him on the side of the road?"

"Yes."

"Derek, be real."

"I am! Now, are you gonna do this or not?" He needed Stiles to agree before he decided to bite Isaac, throw him in the back of his car, then drive until he hit the opposite coast. That's what he should've done already, but he'd waited too long. It was too late.

"Fine! I'm on my way." Derek hung up before Stiles could say more. The longer they talked, the more likely it was that Stiles would say something to make him change his mind. But there wasn't anything else they could do.

"Isaac, come on. You gotta get up. You gotta go," Derek said, shaking Isaac as gently as he could. He didn't want to leave another bruise on him. "Isaac!"

"Stop it," Isaac mumbled, batting weakly at Derek's hand. Derek took the opportunity to sit Isaac up, making sure he was secure against the pillows and didn't flop back down. "What?"

"You can't stay here anymore. You're too sick," Derek said firmly, looking around the room to see if there was anything else of Isaac's there. He knew there wasn't, since he didn't have more than the clothes on his back, but he couldn't stand looking at the confused look on the kid's face.

"What?" Isaac asked, sounding more lucid than he had in a while. Of course he couldn't stay out of it for a little while longer to spare Derek some guilt. "Derek?"

"You have to go."

"Where are we going?"

"We aren't going anywhere. You are going to the hospital." Derek knew he sounded like an uncaring asshole, but he couldn't let Isaac see how he really felt. It was hard enough already.

"What? Derek, I can't!"

"I can't take care of you anymore!" Derek snapped. Isaac flinched away from him in a way he hadn't since the very beginning. Derek felt sick to his stomach, but this had to be done.

"I don't get it. What did I do?" Isaac asked, blinking rapidly as his eyes filled with tears. Derek wanted to tell him he was already dehydrated and couldn't afford to cry, but he didn't. That sounded too harsh, even for him.

"This isn't working out like I thought it would. It'll be better for both of us if we go our separate ways," Derek said flatly.

"Derek, please!" Isaac implored, fully sobbing. Isaac reached for his hand, but Derek pulled away. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to get sick!"

"Isaac," Derek sighed, staring down at the bedspread. "It's not your fault."

"You can bite me. You can do whatever you want. Please don't send me back!" Isaac cried, holding out his wrist. Derek was tempted. But he would just be taking advantage of Isaac's desperation. He couldn't let him make a life changing decision in his condition. The sound of Stiles' jeep pulling up cut off any other thoughts of that.

"Come on. Time to go," Derek declared, pulling Isaac off the bed and hoisting him to his feet. The boy started to struggle, but he was no match for Derek's strength on his best day. "Stiles is going to take you."

"Derek, please don't!" Isaac whimpered, trying to pull away.

"You're going to tell them that Stiles found you wandering on the side of the road."

"I can't go back."

"You'll have to make something up for the days you were with me."

"Derek."

"You can tell them I kidnapped you if you want, but you have to leave Scott and Stiles out of it. They don't deserve to be dragged down with me."

"Derek, he's gonna kill me!"

"If you stick with Scott and Stiles, you'll be fine." He opened the door to the motel, finding Stiles parked right in front with the passenger's door already open. Isaac tried even harder to get away, but his movements were getting more sluggish.

"Really Derek? What the hell?" Stiles hissed. Isaac wrapped his arms around Derek's neck, clinging onto him desperately.

"Please don't do this!" Isaac begged, pressing his face into his shoulder. "I'll do whatever you want."

"I want you to go," Derek said evenly, peeling Isaac away from him carefully. He couldn't even describe the look of betrayal on the boy's face. Derek lifted Isaac into the jeep and buckled him in, making sure he was secure.

"You told me I'd never have to go back. You promised me," Isaac whispered, sounding completely defeated. Derek wanted to tell him that he never should have believed him. Derek couldn't protect anyone, just ask his dead family. Isaac would be better off without him.

"Take care of yourself," Derek mumbled, shutting the car door. He saw Stiles give him a scathing glare before he pulled away, driving Isaac out of his life for good. Derek watched until the jeep turned out of sight, then listened until he couldn't hear the engine anymore. This was the right decision.

Derek walked back into the motel room. At least he wouldn't have to stay in this tiny room anymore. He looked around at the small space. The TV they watched terrible talk shows on. The lumpy beds they could barely get a good night's sleep on. The deck of cards they played countless games with to pass the time. He was happy he'd never have to see any of it again. Derek didn't care.

The sound of the television smashing against the wall was satisfying. Derek stomped on the remains as he moved to the next part of the room, putting his fist through the microwave. The metal cutting into his skin just fueled him. He went around like a tornado, destroying everything in his path. The lamps were shattered, the bedspreads were shredded, and the walls had holes in them. Derek had to ruin something, since he'd just ruined Isaac's life.