“You look pretty hot in plaid" this could go both ways w sterek i think, like derek complimenting stiles on his daily outfits or stiles seeing derek in plaid for the first time
@dylanlovesthemets i almost listened but it kind of got away from me :D
“Move, Scott,” Derek grumbles,irritated and tired and protective.
Stiles is limp in Derek’s armsafter being struck by the monster of the week. Scott had once again failed toaccount for Stiles’ fragility and left him without so much as a bat to defendhimself.
Derek had seen it happen, seenthe big scaly tail knock Stiles off his feet and into a tree. And he’s donewhat he could to hear if Stiles was hurt worse than a concussion and so farhasn’t been able to hear anything out of the ordinary. Heartbeat still in anormal rhythm, no bones creaking or scraping against each other as Derek rolledStiles onto his back to check him over.
He’s got Stiles bridal style inhis arms and is walking back to the cars now that the thing has been taken careof. But Scott is hovering.
“We should take him to seeDeaton, or at least have my mom look at him,” Scott is saying, still trailingbehind Derek, gripping at Derek’s shoulder and Derek bites back a growl ofirritation. He just doesn’t want anyone in his space right now.
“I’m taking him to my apartment.His dad is working tomorrow and through the weekend and Stiles is going to needsomeone to wake him up every couple hours if he does have a concussion. A testwhich I am well equipped to do, Scott, since I am an EMT,” Derek impatientlyexplains as they come up to the cars all parked together in a clearing.
“I know, I know,” Scott is quickto answer but he’s still hesitant. Derek knows they trust each other butapparently that trust doesn’t extend to trusting Derek with Stiles.
Once Stiles is laid comfortably,but still unconscious in the back of Derek’s Toyota he turns to face Scott’sworried face.
“He’s going to be fine and ifhe’s not, you’re the first person I call,” Derek says and it’s true. If Stileswakes up in more pain than a concussion warrants or he stops breathing orsomething, Scott would be the first person Derek would contact…along withMelissa and John in the group text.
But the reassurance is enoughfor Scott who nods and steps away. Derek talks quickly to Isaac, Erica andBoyd, making sure they’re all still in one piece after the small tussle in thewoods. But they’re fine and he gets an eye roll from Erica so they’re really okay if they’re able to sasstheir alpha at 3am.
Now he just has to get Stilesback to his apartment and make sure he wakes up in a reasonable amount of time.
Derek is pacing slowly in theapartment. He’s not overly anxious, Stiles has been awake since they got in andconfirmed only a headache before swallowing some advil and going back to sleep.Derek is still concerned there might be other aches and pains that Stiles iswaving off that should be addressed.
For now, he’s on concussionwatch though so he’s trying to keep himself awake for the next hour until it’stime to wake Stiles again. He’d sleep himself but the couch isn’t appealingtonight and he knows when he falls asleep it’s going to be hellish to draghimself out of it. He’d rather get another check in with Stiles before he losesconsciousness for the next few hours.
The pacing is to keep his mindfocused on something, one foot in front of the other, eight steps, turn, eight again.He can hear Stiles’ steady, shallow, sleeping breathing as he does and hethinks he’s pretty calm despite the circumstances. He’s more surprised thathe’s surprised than actually startled when the door opens and Stiles isstanding there, leaning against the door jam. His eyes are droopy but Derek canstill hear his heart beating exactly how it’s supposed to.
“You look pretty hot in plaid,”Stiles says, his clear voice showing that despite his sleepy expression, he’scompletely alert.
Derek looks down at his pajamapants before looking up at Stiles with a soft smile.
“You’ve said that before,” Derekreplies, tracing his own steps as he walks over towards where Stiles is waveringon his feet now that he’s no longer leaning against the door frame.
He settles his hands on Stiles’warm waist and relishes the small smile he gets at the welcome touch.
“It’s worth repeating,” Stilessays and tilts his head back, Derek is all too happy to oblige and press aquick dry kiss on his lips.
This thing between them is new,not so new that Derek questions the kiss but it is still something they’ve keptjust between them. And it’s something they haven’t taken much further thankissing. Derek had been set and ready to tell Stiles he needed to wait beforethings got physical in their relationship. But Stiles had been the one who putlimits on things.
The pack doesn’t know. And Scottdoesn’t know. But the Sheriff knows and that’s enough for them right now. It’swhy Derek was so determined to get Stiles to his apartment. The sheriff reallywill be at work for the better part of the next few days and they both would wantsomeone with Stiles while he’s concussed. The fact that Derek has his EMT licensenow only furthered the Sheriff’s approval of him dating his son. He’s beendoing more to get his life together, to be a contributing member of society.
“How are you feeling,” Derekasks quietly and pushes Stiles’ hair off his face gently.
“Like I got my head smashed intothe ground,” he murmurs as his eyes close again and he leans into Derek’schest.
“Thanks for bringing me here,” hesays into Derek’s chest and Derek brings his arms up to rub Stiles’ backcomfortingly.
“Of course,” Derek says gentlyand starts to walk them back into the bedroom.
“Don’t know if I’ve said thisbut, I feel safe here. With you. Your space. You make me feel safe, Der,”Stiles says softly and Derek tries to keep from letting the excitement thosewords incited from leaking out.
“I-“ Derek clears the emotionfrom his throat, “I’m really happy to hear that Stiles. How are you doing forpainkillers? Do you need me to get more advil? More pain drain?” Derek offersbut Stiles shakes his head.
“No, just you. Come lay downwith me?” he requests as he crawls into the bed with Derek holding the coversup for him to settle beneath them.
Those sleepy eyes, the softfluffy hair and the circumstances have Derek capitulating without muchresistance.
“Let me just grab you some waterand I’ll be right back,” Derek explains as he tucks the covers around Stiles.
Stiles nods into his pillow andDerek dashes quickly back to the outer rooms. He checks the door again, fillsup a large glass with water and snags the bottle of Advil – just in case. He makesquick work of putting both down on the nightstand next to Stiles. He crosses tothe other side of the queen size bed and gently lifts the covers, stealingbeneath and wrapping Stiles close in his arms.
After a few minutes of slow steadybreathing Stiles snuffles into Derek’s chest.
“Thanks, Der,” he mumbles andDerek’s arms squeeze gently in a closer embrace.
“Anytime,” he says and iscompletely unsurprised that he means it. That he means something more,something they haven’t said to each other yet. But, Derek thinks, maybe theysay it in other ways.
i'm not going on anon lol but anyways hi my opinion of you is that you are incredible. like absolutely incredible. and you're one of the best writers and writing is hard and the fact that you write so well is so inspiring to me. also you're just so kind hearted and nice and are always willing to listen to me ramble about nothing and you just deserve all the best things because you're a star charlie
ALSO it always breaks my heart seeing you deal with some difficult stuff because there are some things you're dealing with that i'll never experience, and therefore never fully understand just how hard it can be. but just seeing how you deal with it all and the fact that you're still standing just shows how resilient you are and how strong you are and i'm proud of you
surina, you’re too good and too kind to me omg this honestly made me tear up. i love you so much, pal ;; <3
“If I die, I’m going to haunt your ass.” this is 3000000% something danny says to steve
@dylanlovesthemets this was so McDanno omg it was perfect :D Hope you like it!
Steve blinks himself awake, alittle fuzzy, but after a quick shake of his head it all comes rushing back tohim. He and the team had been out for drinks, which is typical after theysuccessfully close a case. Chin had begged off first, going home to Maliabefore it got too late. Kono had left second after making eyes at the waitressfor most of the evening. Which had left Danny and Steve to their conversation.They were more than a few beers in and Steve had said something that made Dannylaugh.
Steve had been more than alittle distracted by the twinkle in Danny’s eyes, the way he looked with hishead thrown back laughing. He shouldhave noticed they were being watched. When they’d gotten up to leave it wasraining, and they’d argued. Steve didn’t care about running to the car becausethey could change when they got home. Danny didn’t want to get the seats wet.
The men had come out of nowhere.One moment he was getting Danny all riled up and the next he’d been hit upsidethe head and everything went black.
So he’s not completely surprisedthat he’s waking up on a cold floor. He’s not even alarmed by the fact that hiseyelashes on his right eye are sticky with blood.
What is concerning is theunmoving body of his partner across the room. Steve takes stock of himselfquickly. No shoes, pockets emptied, aching head and a sore neck. He can feel noother injuries but that hardly matters right now.
Because he’s in a barredcell, with nothing to pick the lock and his partner is unconscious and bleeding10 feet away from him.
Steve can see a red stain onDanny’s side, and it’s slowly growing the longer Steve watches. Ignoring hisheadache, he yells towards the open door, where he can see their captorssitting and watching TV.
“Danny! Danny!” he tries, hopingto rouse his partner but when it doesn’t work the panic starts to overtake him.“Hey! Hey! Someone needs to check on my partner. None of you want to be a copkiller! Get in here and make sure he’s still breathing!”
He shouts and shouts hoping toannoy one of them to come into the room and at least roll Danny over so Stevecan see that he’s breathing. But instead the guy just slams the door shutbetween them. And Steve is pretty close to losing it. He’s never truly beenconfronted with his partner dying. Not since the sarin poisoning last year. Buthe’s pretty sure Danny is dead on the floor over there and there’s nothing hecan do about.
Danny is not dead.
Steve might kill him once hefinds out that Danny waited so long to let him in on that knowledge but Dannyhas a plan. He needed Steve to yell enough that the door between them and thecaptors has been closed.
Danny’s pretty sure his lifeflashed before his eyes when he saw Steve crumple to the ground outside thebar. And Danny has been in fights, both on the job and off, but he’s neverfought like he did against the men that had watched them in the bar andambushed them as they waited to leave. But three against one, when the one isunder 6 foot, didn’t go too well. He’s a little bruised, a little perforated buthe doesn’t think he’s in any danger of dying today. He is a little tiredthough, he just needs another minute.
“Danny,” Steve is still saying,but his voice is broken, Danny has never heard him like this before, ever. Shithe’s really scaring Steve he needs to move at least a little. Give a groan.Come on Daniel. Do. Something.
He’s not sure how long he laysthere gathering the strength to move but Steve has sniffed twice and is stillcalling out Danny’s name, croaky and cracked.
But Danny knows he’s going tohave to make his move all at once. Which means he has to get up, get his walletout of his front pocket, get the lock pick set out, get it to Steve and thenfind Steve’s boots.
What is Superman without hiscape and stocking foot?
Steve has sniffled twice morewhile Danny solidified his plan and Danny is in for a world of teasing whenthey get out of this. Because there is no maybe, after Danny played dead, theircaptors didn’t even empty his pockets which means that, oh yes, he still has aworking cell phone and the aforementioned lock pick set.
He counts down in his head from10 and on 1 he rolls over with a groan and slowly staggers to his feet, keepingmost of his weight on his good knee as much as possible. Danny is ignoringSteve’s face and relieved voice because it makes him weak in the knees andagain, they don’t have time for Danny to fall.
“Danny, Danny,” Steve keepssaying, “You’re alive, you asshole I thought you were dead!”
“Not dead,” Danny says quietly,handing the whole wallet to Steve knowing with the way his own hands areshaking that he’s not going to be much use in getting Steve out of the cell. “Lockpicks are in there,” he says and turns away. He ignores the tear tracks onSteve’s face, ignores the way his heart constricts in his chest because they’regoing to have their moment when this is done. They’ve been pushed too far; theuniverse has won the battle in getting them together. Danny doesn’t think hecould keep it all to himself anymore and Steve looking as wrecked as he doesright now is only going to lead to one outcome.
Danny is already tired ofemotions.
He walks away from Steve,focusing on the next step of his plan. He fishes his phone out of his pocketand dials Chin Ho. He’s groaning into the phone when Chin picks up because he’sfound Steve’s boots on the floor and bending over to retrieve them was a poordecision. The muscles in his back are screaming at him and his knee did notappreciate the movement at all.
“Daniel you have three secondsto say something before I hang up on you for butt dialing me while having sexwith someone,” Chin is saying into the phone and Danny is breathing heavily ashe stands having retrieved Superman’s boots.
“Not- having sex,” he huffsbetween breaths. “Steve and I were taken. GPS my phone. Send EMS.”
It’s quick and short and notvery descriptive but then Steve is there taking the phone and the boots andDanny is going to return to the floor again because he’s used up all of hisenergy. He manages to go gently down instead of collapsing but it’s stillunpleasant. God, his fingers hurt. He wants a nap and a shower and medicalattention in some order. He’s not sure that he even cares which comes first.
Danny is easing himself to thefloor after Steve takes the phone from him. He clears his throat, trying to ridhis voice of the emotion that’s been pouring out of him for the last 20 minuteswatching Danny lie motionless on the floor.
“Chin,” he says, voice stillrough but since Chin can’t see his face he should be able to pass it off for areason other than he’s been crying.
“Boss, what’s happening?” heasks and Steve can hear him typing on a laptop in the background.
“Danny and I were ambushedoutside the bar,” he explains quietly, tucking the phone between his ear andhis shoulder as he looks down and sees Danny fighting to keep his eyes open.“Unknown number of people guarding us and no idea who is involved.”
“Alright I have your locationfrom the GPS in Danny’s phone,” Chin says quickly. “You’re in an old bunker inPearl City, first responders can be there in 10 minutes, SWAT will be 15.”
“10-4. We’re in a,” Steve looksup and sees a tiny window at the top of the wall, “room on the north end of thebuilding. I’m going to lock us back into the cell instead of trying to make ourway out. Danny’s hurt and I don’t want to move him more than necessary.”
“Okay, I’ll let SWAT know you’llboth still be in the building when they breach.”
“Thanks, Chin,” Steve says andthen hangs up. He and Danny haven’t exactly been quiet throughout the last 10minutes. He doesn’t want to risk anymore talking in case their captors decideto come check on them.
Another quick look around andSteve spots a roll of duct tape on a shelf. Perfect. He grabs the roll, tossesit towards the cell door and then returns to Danny’s side. His hands findDanny’s face, and he has some relief when Danny’s eyes flutter open again.
“Don’t you die, Daniel,” Stevesays harshly and Danny’s lips quirk up at the edges.
“If I die, I’m going to hauntyour ass,” Danny croaks out and then raises his hand to clumsily pat at Steve’sface. “Don’t worry. Not dying today. I am gonna pass out though,” he slurs andthen does indeed fall unconscious.
Steve huffs and shifts around tolift Danny, getting his arms under Danny’s armpits and dragging Danny back intothe cell. It’s the best defensible position in the room. And with the duct tapehe can keep the door from locking which would be an advantage if their captorsdecide to come check on them, Steve could easily get out to defend himself andDanny. He settles in to wait, staying near enough to Danny to monitor hisbreathing and near enough to the door to hear if someone is coming in.
Even though Steve spends thetake-down crouching protectively over Danny in their cell instead of running ithe still thinks it goes rather smoothly. SWAT does what they’re best at andtheir captors don’t have an opportunity to bust into the room to do more damageto either Steve or Danny. When the door to the room they’ve been stashed inopens, Steve relaxes a fraction at the SWAT member’s appearance.
“All good, Commander?” afamiliar voice asks and Steve stands out of his crouch and relaxes a fraction.
“That you Bryan?” Steve asks tomake sure he’s talking to who he thinks he is. With only a few exceptions, whenthe SWAT guys are all geared up, it’s hard to tell them all apart.
“I you should have a punch card,’10 SWAT rescues and you owe me steak dinner,” is the response and Steve rollshis eyes. It’s Bryan. It’s also the same thing he says every time Steveacquiesces to Danny’s wishes and calls for backup support.
“Yeah, yeah,” Steve says andwaves a hand at the smug officer as he turns back to Danny. His breathing issteady but shallow and Steve needs to reassure himself once again that Danny’spulse is a strong beat. “Are we clear for the EMT’s to come in here or yougonna help me carry Detective Williams out to the bus?” Steve asks and Bryan’seyes have laughter in them.
“We’ll get the EMT’s in hereSTAT, brah,” he responds and Steve nods. If Bryan is relaxed enough to laugh atSteve’s suggestion, then all is taken care of and he is going to focus hisenergy on his partner and not further freaking out.
He’d wiped his face on his shirtafter getting Danny’s unconscious form into the cell with him but he feels likehe needs to scrub away the traces of tears left on his skin. He doesn’t wantanyone but Danny to know he’d lost control at the knowledge of his partner beingdead. His team would maybe understand the emotional upheaval but Steve doesn’twant to share that. He doesn’t want to share anything about him and Danny untilthey’ve had a chance to talk this out.
Steve used to wonder when they’dreach their breaking point before they confronted what’s between them. He knewit would be something intense; it’s just not in the cards for him to have asoft and sweet declaration from someone. It’s fine, he’s resigned himself tothe rough and fiery type of emotional outpouring. And he’d expected nothingless from the man who has ranted angrily about wheatgrass smoothies.
Now that he’s reached his limitof leaving what’s between him and Danny unnamed, he feels relief and panickedall at once. How is he supposed to bring it up?
He’s not leaving Danny’s side,he thinks as the EMT’s rush in with a gurney, not until he knows a doctor isattending to him and knows right where to wait while Danny gets assigned aroom. Steve’s not even sure he’s up for leaving the hospital until Danny is readyto, he thinks as he climbs in the back of the ambulance with Danny and the EMT.Those are decisions for later though, right now all that matters is the limphand in his and the breath fogging the oxygen mask every three seconds thatmeans Danny is still with him.
The look on Steve’s face whenDanny wakes up confuses him for a moment. Steve is relaxed in his chair, stillwearing the same rumpled clothes as the last time Danny saw him but the small smileon Steve’s face tells Danny something. It takes him a minute to parse out whatthat something is but when he shifts on the bed and feels no pain he figures itout.
“This isn’t the first time I’vewoken up, is it?” he asks and Steve’s smile quirks up at the edges.
“Nope,” he confirms and Dannypushes away the cobwebs at the edges of his mind that are making it hard tothink.
“What kind of pain meds am I on?”Danny asks when he catches sight of his bad knee propped up on pillows andsecure in a brace.
“Really good ones,” Steveanswers and Danny nods.
He’s not bothered so much aboutwaking up in a hospital this time. He’s actually relieved he wasn’t consciousany longer than necessary to get himself and Steve rescued. Everything hurt thelast time he was awake. Not in the near death kind of way but in the “I got theshit beat out of me” kind of way that requires a stiff drink and 12 hours ofsleep. When Danny yawns it sparks another question.
“How long have I been asleep?”he asks, wondering how long Steve has been obviously sitting at his bedsideattentively.
“Not that long,” Steve answers,leaning forward and putting his hand around Danny’s, “Four hours?” he guessesand Danny nods again.
“So what’s the damage?” Dannyinquires and Steve’s smile fades.
“Your knee is torn again, you’vegot a bruised kidney and bruised ribs. There’s a hairline fracture in your handand you likely have a concussion.”
Yikes.
“Please tell me my recovery willbe spent resting on your lanai,” Danny says, eyes closing and head falling backonto the pillow.
There’s a sparkle in Steve’seyes when that wide goofy grin spreads across his face.
“Think you’re someone special toget that kind of treatment?”
“Babe, I am the special-ist,wait,” Danny stops before he further embarrasses himself because Steve islaughing and damn these pain meds are affecting his ability to banter.
“I don’t plan on letting you outof my sight, Danno, so yes, your R&R is going to happen at my house,” Steveexplains, squeezing Danny’s hand as he does which only serves to remind Dannythat they’re holding hands.
And Steve is awful close. Thatmakes him think.
“Did we have our moment while I washigh on pain killers?” he asks, panic starting to creep in. If he and Steve hadThe Talk he damn sure wants to remember it.
“Our moment? Is this a chickflick?” Steve asks, that twinkle still present in his eyes as he leans closer. “No,Danno we haven’t talked about us at all. Mostly we talked about Grace and howyou secretly think Harrison Ford is dreamy.”
“Well, that I’ll stand by,”Danny says, panic fading knowing that he didn’t blather on about Steve at leastand can’t remember it.
“We could have our moment now,”Steve offers after his laughter has faded into a soft smile.
He looks so earnest and excitedthat Danny can’t possibly think to say no.
“What needs to be said that wehaven’t said before,” Danny says slowly, “You know I love you, you’re my bestfriend. I just think I’m starting to love you even more than that.”
Steve’s free hand comes up torest on Danny’s thigh as his other squeezes Danny’s hand again.
“I feel the same,” he sayssoftly and Danny smiles brightly.
“Those are the best four words Ithink you’ve ever said to me.”
Steve only smiles again andstands up to lean over Danny and get real close. Danny holds his breath and waits;Steve obviously has a plan.
Steve looks his fill, searchingDanny’s face for something before he leans in closer, their lips almosttouching, brushing when he speaks again.
