Hey! The last chapter was shorter... than I thought... it was going to be... The AN was longer than the chapter... So... *cough cough* Haha. Here, have another...
~.~

Stiles tried to control his breathing, and contain his fear. He fittled with the control pad by the door just aside from the kitchen in mock confusion, to support the lie he was planning to cover his ass with. God this was bad. He was practically shaking already. Chris came back in, gun not visible now, but soaking wet and seething. Stiles pretended to jump in shock before Chris started in on him.

"Do you have any idea what you just did?!" Stiles played dumb well, suppressing his instinct to flinch.

"Shit, I'm so sorry, I-I thought it was an intercom- I- I had no idea- what was going on out there? Was it the mountain lion everyone's been talking about? Shit, are you okay? Is it gone? Did it come at you? Shit, I'm so so sorry, Mr. Argent, I had no idea, I'm so sorry." Chris was still pissed, but he gave a sigh. Falling for the lie, Stiles hoped.

"Stiles, it's fine..." Stiles shook his head, electing to play it up.

"No, it's not! I almost got you killed by some rabid over grown cat! How could that possible be-" Chris shouted, though keeping his voice hushed.

"Stiles! What did you need?" Stiles stuttered in barely feigned panic.

"I-I-I couldn't find the bathroom..." Chris huffed, leading Stiles to the one upstairs. Stiles relaxed in relief that his plan had actually worked. He gave a shakey smile as Chris stopped outside the door around the corner, across the upper floor from Allison's room. "Thanks, Mr. Argent. Again, sorry about-" Chris sighed, apparently having calmed down a bit.

"It's alright Stiles, you didn't know... I'll just have to take care of it if I see it again." Stiles nodded, quickly entering the bathroom and closing the door as Chris headed back downstairs. He locked it and pulled out his phone once he was sure Chris was down the stairs. It rang a full three times before it picked up.

"Fuck, please tell me you're okay..." Derek was breathing almost as hard as him.

"Are you? You're practically hyperventilating Stiles..." Stiles shook his head.

"I'm fine, it doesn't matter. Are you Okay?" Derek huffed a breath into the phone before his breathing went quieter, more effortless.

"I'm okay, he missed..." Stiles was quick to switch his tone.

"Damn it, what the hell were you thinking?! Derek, gun beats werewolf, like almost always! Why didn't you run?" Derek shook his head on the other end of the line, and Stiles could hear his hair brush on the phone.

"I know I just... He texted me from your phone to lure me there... When I got there, I don't know I just froze..." Stiles sighed, leaning over the sink, cursing himself for leaving his phone unattended.

"I'm so sorry..." Derek paused.

"Stiles, it wasn't your fault." Stiles wanted to believe that- that he was just over thinking it- but he felt so guilty.

"I left my phone-" Derek interrupted insistently.

"Stiles, listen to me, unwittingly giving someone an opportunity does not make their actions your fault." Stiles nodded, trying to wrap his reeling head around that. "Are you having a panic attack?" Stiles shut his eyes tightly.

"I'm fine, just- He was so pissed, for a second I almost thought he was gonna hit me." Derek paused and Stiles ate at himself about how that sounded.

"I'm sorry I put you in that situation, Stiles." Stiles shook his head.

"I'd have done it for anyone, I'm just a hell of a lot happier you're okay..." Derek huffed a breathy laugh.

"I'm glad you're okay too... How is your slumber party going? Scott-" Stiles waited as Derek took another deep breath. "Scott wanted to know if you'd dumped me for what's her name yet." Stiles' nose scrunched as he laughed.

"Uh, no, no, not yet, but she is actively trying to dismantle My Look." Stiles could practically heard Derek raise his eyebrow.

"Is your look that thing where you wear clothes that are way too big for you because you're small?" Stiles scoffed.

"What? No!" Derek didn't respond as if waiting on Stiles. "... Yes."

"Good, please let her." Stiles gaped at his phone.

"Excuse you! I am adorable!" Derek laughed.

"He agreed with me, didn't he?!" Lydia said through the door, making Stiles jump a tad.

"That's her?" Stiles sighed.

"Yes, it is, and you're both evil." Stiles smiled despite himself.

"D'you wanna go then?" Derek asked him softly, and that smiled warmed and grew.

"Want is a strong term, but I feel like after a while they'll drag me out of here..." Stiles could have sworn he heard a breath of a laugh before Derek spoke.

"Right, I'll let you go then. Do you wanna let Scott know you're fine, or should I?" Stiles shrugged.

"I'll give him a call. Missing you already, Big guy. Talk to you later. Probably tomorrow. I wanna say tomorrow. I'll-" Derek interrupted understandingly.

"Tomorrow, I got it. Missing you too. Hey, deep breaths..." Stiles smiled again, a sigh of contentment draining from his lips.

"Thanks. You're a babe. An awesome babe. A supremely-"

"Stiles, I'm gonna hang up on you now." Stiles laughed, and gave a nod.

"Got it." He put his phone back to the home page before pulling up his contacts again as he headed back with the girls.