Chapter Text
It had been so fast. One second everyone had been scrambling to find safety, and the next a blast had shaken the police station. Chris was sure he was dead, he and Derek had been sitting right by the wall of windows that had been obliterated by the bomb. The only way Chris knew he wasn’t dead was by the painful ringing in his ears, and the smell of smoke and blood that assaulted his senses. How was he alive?
He shook his head, whipping tears from his eyes that had been caused by all the smoke. He slowly lifted his head, the first person he saw was Derek. The young werewolf staggered to keep his footing as he straightened himself.
“Derek?” Worry filled his voice as he took the young wolf by the shoulders, helping to steady him.
“I’m okay,” he gritted out, stifling a groan as he tried to take a deep breath.
“You saved my life.” Chris said, looking at Derek in confusion. When he didn’t get a response he gently leaned Derek forward, trying to get a better look at the glass and wood embedded in his back.
“How many people are hurt?” Derek asked, his eyes unfocused as he looked around the room. All he saw was confusion and chaos as deputies scrambled around. There were panicked heartbeats all around the room, paired with slow ones, those of the dying deputies that lay scattered across the station.
“I don’t know, but there’s an ambulance on the way.” Chris said, there was no need to explain why that was a bad thing for Derek. There would be no way for him to explain why he’s still alive, let alone conscious and standing, well attempting to stand…
Chris searched the room, trying to find some way out of this. Running would make them look like criminals, but if they didn’t run they stood the chance of people finding out about Derek. He looked over to Sheriff Stiliski who was attending to an injured deputy only a few feet away. Chris caught his attention with a wave. It only took one look at Derek to see the problem.
“Get him out of here.” Stiliski yelled, fishing something from his pocket. He tossed whatever it was to Chris, who caught it with one hand as he held Derek up with the other. The familiar weight and jingle was a relief, Stiliski must have taken his keys when they were escorted in by Agent McCall. He knew one of the officers had driven his car to the station for investigation purposes, he hoped Stiliski would be able to get them out of this. Because he had to admit escaping from a police station and stealing evidence didn’t make them look very innocent.
“I can’t move it,” Derek yelped when Chris tried to maneuver his injured arm over his shoulders to give him some support. Chris nodded, moving around to Derek's less injured side. They hurried out the back door of the police station.
“Back seat,” Chris said when they reached the car, he fumbled to unlock the car door.
“I can get in, go,” Derek said, shoving him away gently after hearing the click of the lock. Chris ran to the drivers side, while Derek managed to crawl into the back seat where he sat half laid over to prevent snagging the glass on anything.
The drive to Chris’ apartment only took about ten minutes but it felt like an hour, every pot hole and crack in the road slammed Derek into the seat, his vision went blurry with pain each time. On Top of that the feeling of flesh being torn open as it tried to heal over glass was excruciating. Some of the glass was deep, deep enough to jab organs each time he tried to move.
“Derek stay awake,” he heard Chris say. There was an unsettling amount of worry in the hunter's voice. Derek looked up, watching the older man through the rearview mirror.
“I’m not a human,” Derek reminded.
“No but you are heavy, and I don’t want to explain why I’m carrying a full grown unconscious man to my apartment.” Chris said as they pulled into a parking spot, he met Derek's gaze through the mirror before turning the car off.
“Your apartment?” Derek asked, trying to look out the window as Chris came around the car to help him out.
“Your place is twenty minutes away. And I doubt you have what I need to help you.” Chris explained as he reached underneath Derek, placing a hand on his chest to help get him out of the car. His arms and back were to damaged to jostile and it seemed like the young wolf was having trouble moving, so the extra help was much needed.
“I can do it myself.” Derek growled, pushing Chris’ hand away, suddenly on edge. Chris took a step back, watching as Derek struggled to get out of the car.
“What’s wrong Derek?” Chris asked, seeing the change in behavior as something to be worried about.
“I don’t trust you.” Derek said, forcing himself to stand, to face Chris.
“You don’t have to trust me. But right now we need to get you inside, before someone see’s you like this. You look like a porcupine.” Chris said in a harsh whisper.
Derek looked as if he was about to say something, but whatever it was disappeared when standing became too much. Chris managed to catch him by the collar of his jacket just before he fell backwards. Derek cried out as the larger pieces of glass and wood caught on the unmoving fabric of his jacket, ripping open deep wounds that burned and soaked his shirt in even more blood.
“Shh, shh,” Chris cooed, placing a hand on the back of Derek's head as the werewolf tried to catch his breath.
“I’ll go with you.” Derek said, his voice strained.
“Come on,” Chris instructed, taking him by his arm to help lead him through the back door of the apartment building.
Despite Derek being dead on his feet he still tried to help walk. Which wasn’t as helpful as he thought it was. But they were almost there and he knew Derek needed to feel like he had some control over the situation. In all honesty he was surprised Derek had allowed him to help at all.
After a short elevator ride they were heading to the door, Chris got out his keys, unlocking the door. He led Derek into the guest bedroom, slowly helping him lay down across the foot of the bed. He wouldn’t be able to get Derek's jacket off until he removed the biggest pieces of shrapnel.
He hurried to the hall closet where he kept a hospital grade first aid bag. He also grabbed some towels and washcloths before taking them back into the room.
“Are you awake?” He asked as he entered, seeing that Derek hadn’t budged from where he had put him.
“I wish I wasn’t.” A weak voice responded, looking over to Chris as he dumped the supplies on a side table before dragging it over to the foot off the bed, lamp and all coming with it. There was a chair in the corner that he moved over as well.
“You and me both.” Chris muttered as he sat down, fishing pliers from the first aid bag.
“Pliers?” Derek asked, looking at Chris in confusion. He sat up on his forearms, seeming more alert than before.
“They have a better grip,” Chris explained. Derek only looked at him, something a bit unreadable on his face. Chris furrowed his brow. Then it hit him.
“Derek I can’t promise that this won’t hurt. But I can promise that I’ll be careful.”
Derek nodded, but Chris could still tell he was unsure. He stayed propped up on his arms, and there was an uncomfortable tension between them as Chris prepared the supplies. Even when he started plucking glass he stayed on edge, despite the pain Chris knew he was in. Derek didn’t trust him and he knew deep down that he couldn’t blame him for that, not after everything that the Argents had done to him. But after today Chris had no choice, he had to fix this. Everytime he looked at Derek he thought about Allison. He couldn’t imagine leaving her alone in this world. She was strong, stronger than she should have to be. But she was still a teenager. And then he thought about Derek, he had been younger than Allison when Kate took his family from him.
“Why did you do it?” Chris asked before he could stop himself.
Derek didn’t look at him, for a moment he didn’t even think he heard him.
“What do you mean?” He asked, his voice a bit frustrated.
“You pushed the cop out of the way, I can understand that, he was innocent. But why me? Why did you risk your life to save mine?”
“Despite what you might think, I don’t like watching people die. Even if that person is you.” Derek stated, growling when Chris had to twist a piece of wood that was lodged between his ribs.
“Sorry,” Chris said with a sigh as he put the pliers on the table, “I’ve got the biggest pieces. I’ll have to cut your jacket and shirt off to get to the rest.”
Derek nodded in acknowledgement, staying quiet as Chris cut through the back of his jacket, he only moved when he slid the sleeves off, pushing the tattered fabric to the floor.
Chris studied the damage. There were places where the glass had healed beneath Derek's skin, what was most disturbing was how much blood he had lost.
“Derek,” Chris said, noticing that Derek hadn’t looked at him in a while. “Look at me,” he instructed firmly. Derek growled at Chris’ tone, challenging his authority, just like he had in the sheriff station.
“We need to take a break.” Chris said, knowing that pushing him wouldn’t help. Derek didn’t protest, in fact he seemed relieved. “Can I get you anything?” Chris asked, noticing Derek seemed more tired than before.
Derek was quiet for a moment. Looking down to the floor before speaking. “Can I have a pillow?” He asked, his voice so quiet Chris almost didn’t hear him.
Chris nodded, standing up to retrieve a pillow from the top of the bed. He handed it to Derek who took it hesitantly.
“Thanks,” he said quietly as he propped himself up on it, keeping it long ways so he could hold it beneath him. Chris studied the sight. It reminds him of the way Allison used to cling to her teddy bear during a thunderstorm. He tried not to think about how young Derek still was. It made him sick to think about what Kate had done to him. She had seduced a teenage boy. She had killed his family, and even after all that she couldn’t just leave him be. And Chris hadn’t been much better. He and Victoria had harassed Derek and all the other werewolves in Beacon Hill, it didn’t matter that they were innocent.
Chris took a deep breath. Hoping Derek wouldnt bite his hand off for what he was about to do. He sat down, slowly reaching out to place his hand on the back of Dereks neck. And sure enough there was a growl, and his body went ridgid. He didn’t move, he didn’t speak, and for a moment it seemed like he wasn’t even breathing.
“I’m not gonna hurt you,” he whispered, letting his fingers move in a gentle circle at the base of Derek's skull. Derek didn’t question him, he didn’t try to stop him either, so Chris kept going, running his hand over the injured werewolfs neck and shoulders, gently letting his fingers card through his short hair. And after a few minutes Derek had visibly relaxed.
“Derek, there’s some fragments left. Some of them are healed over. I’ll have to cut you to get them out.” He explained calmly, letting his hand rest on Dereks shoulder. He could have kicked himself for saying anything when he felt Derek's muscles stiffen, any bit of relaxation Derek had just experienced was chased away in an instant.
“I wish there was another way.” He added in, he was being sincere. He had no wish to hurt Derek, especially after today.
“Please make it quick,” Derek sighed.
“I’ll do my best.” Chris promised, moving to retrieve the scalpel for the first aid kit. He wished there was something he could give Derek for the pain. But the most he had was some extra strength tylenol.
“Are you ready,” he asked, letting the blade hover over Derek's skin. The other pieces had been easy to see, but these were difficult, some of them were barely noticeable.
After getting Derek's approval he got to work, starting with the pieces that were only half healed over. Derek pulled away when the blade touched his skin. There was a hunter behind him with a knife in his hand, and the thought of letting him use that knife, even if it would benefit him, was terrifying. He knew he had to let him, he wouldn’t be able to do it himself. And he doubted he would be able to make it back to his loft before someone saw him, or before he passed out from blood loss, or pain. Because despite the bigger pieces being gone the small ones were worse, it felt like he was being cut open from the inside every time he moved. And paired with the thought of Chris actually cutting him, was making him increasingly nervous.
“Derek relax,” he whispered, trying to sound as non threatening as possible.
“I can’t do this,” Derek said, growling in pain as he tried and failed to push himself up.
“Stop, Derek stop,” Chris said, watching helplessly as Derek struggled. He was hurting himself, as Chris had seen wolves do in the past. Most of them would rather cause irreversible damage to themselves rather than facing a hunter. His point was proven when Derek fell off the bed onto his injured side. This time the pain cry was more like a roar, one that Chris was sure his neighbors heard.
“Damn it,” Chris hissed. He took a step forward, but was met with a snarl, warning him not to come any closer. He put his hands up, showing Derek he wasn’t a threat, despite the fact there was still a scalple in his hand. He very well could have blown his chance at getting the rest of the glass out. At least without restraining him.
“Stay away from me,” Derek growled, his eyes flashing blue as he scrambled away. He ended up in the corner of the room, huddled between the wall and the other nightstand. His back was turned to Chris, and his face was hidden.
“Derek, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Chris said slowly, going against every instinct he had as a retired hunter, he slowly moved forward, kneeling down just behind the scared werewolf. Derek growled again, it was anything but threatening, in fact it passed more as a whimper than a growl.
“I'm not gonna hurt you,” he said gently.
They sat in silence for a long moment. Derek wasn’t fully out of it, he knew what was happening around him, and he knew that Chris wasn’t trying to hurt him. He could feel himself shaking. Something about this situation made him wonder what Chris thought about him now. Derek had always maintained his calm demeanor around Chris. He knew what hunters did to people like him when they perceived their behavior as threatening. So he had made a point to keep a level head, and showing no weakness helped him do that. Now he was huddled in a corner, hiding his face like some kind of coward.
“I’m sorry,” Derek said, looking over to Chris.
There was guilt on the young werewolf’s face. Chris knew Derek wasn’t some mindless animal, he was a hurt kid that did his best to hide how scared he was. Chris and his family were responsible for so much of the pain Derek had gone through, he had no reason to trust Chris, he hadn’t had a reason for saving his life either.
“It’s alright, it’s not your fault.“ Chris said, his voice understanding. He did notice that even while Derek was looking at him, he didn’t attempt to move.
“If you’re more comfortable up there I can sit behind you and take the rest of the glass out.” Chris suggested, but he didn’t dare go to move.
Derek watched him for a moment, as if he was scanning him to ensure he was being serious. He nodded slowly, keeping a close eye on Chris as he pulled over the supplies he needed. His heart was beating faster than normal.
“What’s wrong?” Derek asked, looking over to him, concern on his face.
“Nothings wrong,” Chris lied.
“I may have nearly been blown up, but my hearing is still intact Chris. Don’t lie to me.”
“You're still bleeding,” Chris said, whipping some of the blood away with a cloth. “It’s normal for the healing to be slowed, but the bleeding should have stopped by now.” Chris stated, as he studied the triskelion tattoo between Derek's shoulders.
“It’s alright, when you start cutting the glass out it’ll trigger the healing.” Derek said quietly, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
Chris picked the scalpel back up. Trying to ignore the look of impending doom Derek made before turning his head away.
“Tell me if you need me to stop.” He said, placing a hand on Derek's uninjured shoulder to brace him for what was about to happen.
“Don’t stop, just do it quick.”
“Fine, just try not to roar again. This building doesn’t allow pets.” Chris joked, with a small smile, trying to ease some of the tension.
“Funny,” Derek gritted out, he had moved to sit with his knees pulled up to his chest, his arms rested on top of his knees, and he allowed his head to rest on his arms.
Derek groaned when Chris made the first cut, his back tensing against the blade, it took everything in him not to move.
“Relax,” Chris said, trying to keep Derek calm as he made the second cut. This time he growled, veering away from Chris as he tried to work the glass out with the tip of the scalpel. But Chris kept a firm hold on his shoulder the whole time, only allowing him so much movement before pulling him back.
It took at least thirty minutes to get all of the glass out, Chris had no doubt he could have done it faster, if he had been remorseless that is. But he caught himself stopping ever so often, allowing Derek to rest when he began to get agitated with the pain, or when he got too loud. There had been a few times where Chris had to shoosh him. He wasn’t harsh about it, he just whispered to the young Hale that he was almost done, or that he was doing good. By the end that hadn’t been enough anymore. Derek had started to pull away, even if it was just from anticipation that the blade was coming back.
“Stop doing that,” Chris had said when he noticed Derek clawing at the inside of his hands. It was a trick they used when they were about to lose control, but probably not the best thing for his health at the moment, considering he had already lost too much blood.
“Chris I can’t, it hurts.” Derek said when Chris was cutting out a piece that had been lodged lower in his back, it was a large piece, and it had gone a lot deeper than the others.
“There’s only one left, I promise.” Chris said, cutting deeper. This time Derek screamed, and Chris hated it but he couldn’t have the neighbors hearing him, quickly he clasped a hand over Derek's mouth, letting him struggle a bit before he continued to work. He kept his hand over Derek's mouth, pulling his head back to rest on his shoulder as he used his other hand to fish for the glass. Derek looked up to him with wide eyes, clawed hands grasping his wrist, it was firm but not crushing, Chris hoped it stayed that way.
“Derek, this is gonna hurt a lot. It’s best that I get it out fast.” He said as he forced his fingers into the wound. Another muffled cry came from Derek's throat, as he arched his back away from Chris’ hand. Chris’ could feel the glass, but with Derek struggling it was hard to get a hold on it. But to make it worse Derek managed to pull Chris’ hand away from his mouth.
“Chris please stop,” he begged, his voice full of pain.
“I almost have it,” Chris said, pushing his fingers a bit deeper.
“Please,” Derek cried, trying to pull away. Chris wrapped his arm around the struggling wolfs chest, holding him close as he grabbed the glass, ripping it out with one sudden movement, throwing it on the floor.
“We’re done,” he whispered, allowing Derek to finally pull away. “I’m sorry, I know that was cruel, but the glass was deep and the tweezers wouldn’t have been able to get it.
“It’ll heal,” Derek said, his voice shaky.
“We should probably clean you up and get that bandaged.”
Derek looked over to him, silently begging him not to.
“I promise I’ll be gentle.” He said as he wiped his bloody hand off.
Derek looked down to the floor, giving him a small nod before turning his head back toward the wall. Chris grabbed everything he needed and started cleaning the blood from his back. Derek hissed at the sting of alcohol, but stayed still while Chris worked. After he had gotten all the blood he could off he tossed the cloth in the trash, grabbing the roll of gauze from the first aid kit.
“Derek, I need to be able to wrap this around your chest.” Chris said, feeling bad for making Derek move again.
The werewolf opened his eyes looking at Chris as if he was the most annoying being on the planet. At the moment he supposed he probably was. Derek attempted to scoot backwards, his face twisting in a soft grimace as he did.
“Be careful,” Chris said, hurrying behind him to pull him to where he needed to be.
“I could have done it.” Derek muttered his head louling forward.
“You can’t even hold your head up.” Chris said as he grabbed the roll of bandages. Placing one hand on Derek's chest to hold him up and using the other to wrap the bandage. Which proved to be harder than he expected.
“Almost done,” he said when he heard Derek stifle a groan.
One thing he noticed while he wrapped the bandage was how badly Derek shook beneath his grip. It made him wince. Was he in that much pain? Was he scared? Didn’t know but he wanted to make it stop. He sighed, slowly pulling Derek back against his chest.
“Give me some of your pain.” He instructed, taking hold of Derek's wrists.
He had never done it before. But he knew wolves were capable of giving pain the same as they could take it. Derek shook his head. But he didn’t try to move. The heat radiating from Chris’ body felt good. Especially the heat coming from his hands.
“Derek please, you saved my life, and you’re suffering. I want to help.”
Derek closed his eyes, resenting himself for what he was about to say. “You are helping me,” he said quietly, relaxing more against Chris’ chest.
Chris froze, his eyes wide. He could only imagine what his father would think, what Katherine would have thought about this. A hunter comforting a hurt werewolf, it was poetic in a sense.
“Okay,” Chris said in understanding. Reaching over to grab a throw blanket from the bed. He draped it over Derek's chest hoping it would help hold in heat. And slowly he moved backwards, pulling Derek with him until his back was resting against the side of the bed.
It took a few minutes for Derek to stop shaking. Chris just sat there, running his hands across Derek's chest and shoulders, trying to keep him comfortable. And it seemed to work because after about ten minutes he was sound asleep.
Chris had sat with him for nearly two hours, letting the exhausted wolf sleep. Despite the upright position Derek seemed comfortable, and Chris wouldn’t dare move unless he had to.
“Dad?” He heard being yelled through the house. He hadn’t even heard Allison come in. He didn’t answer, trying not to wake Derek. But it didn’t take her long to find him since the door to the guest bedroom was open. She froze in the doorway upon seeing him. A look of shock on her face
“What the hell are you doing?” She asked, her voice loud.
“Shh,” Chris scolded gently. Not that it mattered, Chris was sure that Derek would sleep through just about anything at this point.
“Why is Derek here?” Allison asked, looking at Chris in confusion.
“There was an incident earlier, at the police station.” Chris whispered, trying to hurry the conversation.
“You mean the explosion?” She asked, concern growing on her face. “Are you alright,” she asked looking at the blood that was all over the duvet.
“Yes,” Chris said, following her gaze. “It’s Dereks blood,” he added.
“Why did you bring him here?” She asked, walking over to sit in the chair he had brought in earlier, she looked down at Derek studying his face before looking back up to Chris.
Chris sighed, “Derek and I were arrested this morning, thanks to the Nogisune. We were cuffed to the bench, right outside of the Sheriff's office. They didn’t know about the bomb until last minute, and by then it was too late. Derek blocked me from the blast, he must have heard it detinate.” Chris leaned back, looking up at the ceiling. “I’d be dead if not for him.”
“So how did this happen?” She asked, seeing how Chris was holding Derek.
“He’s in a lot of pain,” Chris said.
“Can we trust him?”
Chris looked at her in surprise, “what do you mean?”
“Derek isn’t really the best with control dad. He’s impulsive,” Allison said.
“He’s twenty four years old.” Chris snapped, trying to keep his voice as quiet as possible.
“He bit mom, and the moment he became an alpha he turned three teenagers into werewolves.” She argued.
“And today he saved my life.” Chris stated, waiting for Allisons next argument.
“Fine, I’m going out with Lydia for a while. Do you want me to tell the others where he is?” Allison asked, standing from the chair.
“No, he’ll let them know what happened when he’s better.”
Allison just nodded as she exited the room. A few minutes later he heard the front door being shut and locked.
This was going to be a long night.