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Derek sat in the hardbacked chair and watched Stiles pace back and forth, one thumb to his lips as he chewed the nail down to the quick. Derek could smell blood in the air, and he stood to pull Stiles’ hand away. Holding Stiles’ wrist, Derek leaned in to press their foreheads together.
“Breathe,” he said, keeping his voice low and even, trying to press calm through to Stiles. “In.” Stiles shook his head. “In.”
“Der-”
“In,” Derek repeated. After a short huff, Stiles rolled his eyes and breathed in. “One, two, three. Hold. One, two, three. Out. One, two, three.” They repeated it until Stiles’ heart slowed to something closer to a normal rhythm. “Okay, now talk to me.”
“Derek,” Stiles whined, and Derek’s heart broke a little at the amount of pain in that one small sound. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before pressing his eyes closed, tears escaping and sliding down his cheek. The muffled sobs were enough to bring tears to Derek’s eyes.
“Listen to me, Stiles.” He waited a moment, fully expecting a protest. When one didn’t come, he continued speaking. “He is fine. This surgery is commonplace these days.”
“It’s my dad, Derek,” Stiles pointed out needlessly. “It’s my dad’s heart . The thing that keeps him alive. I can’t lose him.”
“You’re not going to lose him,” Derek assured him. “Your dad is one of the strongest humans I know. This will just make him stronger.”
“Or it’ll kill him, and I’ll be an orphan,” Stiles said, immediately bursting into tears. “Oh my God, I’m sorry! I’m such an idiot. I’m going to lose my dad and my boyfriend on the same day.”
“Stiles,” Derek said, trying to keep his voice kind while still putting strength behind it to get Stiles’ attention before he devolved into another panic attack. He opened his mouth to give more assurances when he heard a familiar voice from down the hall. “Melissa’s coming.”
Stiles turned to face the door they had wheeled his father through five hours earlier. The doors opened with a whoosh less than a minute later, and Melissa came through, looking around the room. Her eyes landed on Stiles, and her face broke into a huge smile.
“Oh, thank God,” Stiles sobbed.
Derek barely managed to catch him as Stiles’ knees gave out. A moment later, Melissa was there, her arms around both of them as they all lowered to the floor. Derek kept his nose pressed to Stiles’ temple, whispering soothingly while Melissa gave Stiles updates about the surgery through her own happy tears.
“Can I…can we see him?” Stiles asked.
“Not until he wakes up,” Melissa said, and Stiles frowned, his tears welling up again. “I can move you to a private waiting area that is closer to the room, where someone will be able to monitor his heart and keep you updated.”
“Thank you,” Derek said, standing and wrapping an arm around Stiles’ waist to follow Melissa through the doors.
Melissa led them to a small office with an empty desk and two chairs. She gestured to someone in the hall who entered carrying a cafeteria tray with coffees, sodas, and a couple of sandwiches. “Eat while you wait,” Melissa said. “You’re no good to your dad if you pass out from starvation. I’ll check back on you shortly.”
Derek repeated their thanks and hugged her before she left. Turning to Stiles, Derek saw him leaning on the desk, his eyes darting around the room. “Which direction is he?”
Derek tilted his head and listened. He heard different heart monitors but then he heard Melissa speaking. “John, your son and future son-in-law want to see you, so you better wake up soon. If you don’t, Stiles might break a few laws to get in here, and I doubt Derek will stop him.”
Derek pointed at the wall opposite the door. He smiled at Melissa’s words. The wedding planning had been put on hold when John had his last heart attack. Hopefully, they’d get back on track soon, but that wasn’t as important as John’s health.
Stiles moved to the wall and slid down it to sit on the floor. He laid his head back against it. “He’s alive,” Stiles whispered.
“He’s alive,” Derek repeated, taking the tray and moving to sit next to Stiles.
“Thank you for being here,” Stiles said.
“You and your dad are my family,” Derek told him. “I will be wherever you need me to be, whenever you need me to be.”
Stiles blinked back tears and laid his head on Derek’s shoulder, moving his hand to cover Derek’s chest. His fingers tapped in the rhythm of Derek’s heart. Derek took his own hand, laid it over Stiles, and began tapping.
“What’s that?” Stiles asked, his hands stilling as he focused on Derek’s fingers.
“Your father’s heartbeat,” Derek explained. “It’s strong. He’s going to be fine.”
“Don’t stop,” Stiles whispered, and Derek didn’t know if he was talking to him or his father, but it didn’t matter.
“Never,” Derek told him before kissing the top of his head and keeping up his fingers tapping.