When they got to the hospital they had to take Derek to get his stitches, meaning he had to promise Thomas and Cora that everything would be okay, and he'd be back soon. He ended up getting a total of 23 stitches, a mix from his shoulder and a few on his forehead that he doesn't even remember injuring. Additionally, because he lost a lot of blood-which he was sure was a lie only to get him to rest-he had to end up getting a sedative to help him catch up on some sleep.
Which is why an hour later he was extremely pissed off when he woke up, not entirely happy with how his siblings were kept away from him that entire time.
"Derek, I understand you're worried, but I need to ask some questions" the sheriff told him, obviously only wanting to do his job. Derek nodded subtly, giving him the go ahead on the interrogation is what he'd call it "Was this the first time your father ever did something like this?"
"He's been abusing me for 6 years, my mother and older brother for much longer than me" Derek rushed out in one quick breath.
"Older brother? I don't recall seeing him" Noah said getting ready to write down on his notepad.
"That's because he'd dead, Michael killed him" Derek told him, with a grimace.
"Your father killed...and he's not in prison" Noah questioned, confused whether or not he's getting the full story.
"He's worked in the NYPD for years, he knows how to cover his tracks" Derek was sick to his stomach with the amount the man could get up to.
"A year ago, we tried to do the same thing, leave New York, but we got caught, Jacob didn't even make it into the car" Derek closed his eyes at the memory, forcing the tears not to escape.
"And today, you fought, you survived" Noah reassured him he's safe, he's never going to touch them again.
"I shot him...I mean, I think I did, but it was self defence" Derek told him, he had to make him understand that he didn't mean to.
"Derek, it's okay, you're not in trouble" Noah promised him "Look, I can question you more later, how about we bring your family in here, huh?" a smile appeared on Derek's face as soon as he heard that, it's what he's been begging for since he woke up. The sheriff left to go get them, and he assumed gave them some privacy as he didn't return.
"Hey doofus" Thomas called out, running up to the side of the bed.
"Hey dumb-ass" Derek replied, ruffling Thomas' hair as they laughed.
"Don't forget about me" Cora's voice came trailing behind, her head barely perched above the bed with how small she was.
"How could we ever forget about you" Derek reached over to pick her up, letting her lean into him when she sat down comfortably "So what'd you do whilst I was here?" hoping their answers wouldn't be worrying about him.
"Whilst you were being lazy sleeping, we talked with Stiles" Thomas informed him, climbing onto the bed, to sit by Derek's feet.
"What the hell is a stiles?" Derek questioned, what on earth have they been doing whilst he was gone that 1 hour.
"That would be uh me" a guys voice rang as he appeared by the end of the bed.
He couldn't believe the boy stood in front of him, he was so handsome, unlike anyone he's ever seen before, he must still be sleeping. He was tall, his hair was in spikes pointing in different directions, like he'd just been in a fight with a tree or something. And those big, brown eyes, he's sure they'd be even more beautiful up close, oh and his moles casting over his skin like stars.
"You okay dude, you blacked out for a second?" Stiles questioned, was he worried?
"No, no I'm fine" Derek said slightly embarrassed that he'd just been caught staring at this guy he'd just met "I'm Derek, it's nice to meet you" he introduced himself as he held out his hand.
"Stiles Stilinski, that's a firm handshake you got there" Stiles smiled when Derek gripped his hand.
"Thanks, you too??" Derek laughed, unsure if that was a compliment or not "I just um...thanks I guess for keeping an eye on these two whilst I was out"
"No worries, we had fun" Stiles said looking at the two kids and winked, causing Cora to giggle.
"We sure did" Thomas said, giving him a fist bump.
"Stiles!!" the sheriff called, causing Stiles to turn around quickly "Why aren't you in school?"
"Uh..." he muttered, scratching the back of his head nervously "Gas leak in the chemistry lab, totally sudden, came out of nowhere, had to send everyone home, you know?" Stiles answered with a new form of innocence he's never even heard Cora use.
"Fine, but if I find out it had anything to do with you and your usual partner in crime" Stiles rested his hands on his hips and shook his head, indicating how his father could even accuse him of such a thing. "How you feeling kid?" he turned his attention to Derek, which he noticed Stiles was more than relived about and he couldn't help but smile at the boy.
"Like I've just been stabbed" Derek conveyed, which is in turn a good thing since it actually happened "How's mom doing? Have you heard anything?"
"They should be sending you a doctor to fill you in on everything" the sheriff told him, just as he said that a woman came in.
"Are you the doctor? How's our mom?" Thomas took the lead this time, obviously just as worried as Derek.
"I'm Melissa McCall, I'm one of the nurses helping care for your mother" she told them, looking over Derek's chart to see if he required any service.
"And is she being taken care of?" Derek questioned, his face all sorts of serious, Stiles should not be finding it extremely hot.
"Her vitals are good, her heart beat is steady" she took a pause, a dramatic one they do in movies, but this is real life and it is not needed right now.
"But?" Derek inquired her to move on.
"During her surgery her heart stopped for a few seconds but we were able to get her back, but unfortunately after we were done we couldn't do anything to stop what came next. I'm afraid to say she slipped into a comatose state, there's no telling how long it will last, it could take days, weeks. She took a very hard hit to the head so if she wakes-"
"When she wakes up" Derek interrupted her.
"I'm sorry. When she wakes up there's no telling what condition she'll be in, there are signs of swelling in the brain, and when she wakes up she might have no memory of the world around her, she might have to learn everything all over again, but as I said there's no telling her condition at this point. All we can do is hope for a speedy recovery, and that all will be okay"
"Where are we gonna stay?" Thomas asked turning to Derek, and for once Derek was unsure, he'd planned for every situation, but each one always involved having him mom there.
"Because of your injuries you'll be able to stay a night, and the sheriff here has convinced me to pull some strings to allow your siblings to stay the night too" Melissa went quiet again, like she didn't want to say the next thing "However, if your mother doesn't wake up soon, you'll all be sent to a group home"
"What about the baby? Our mom was 8 months pregnant" Derek questioned, suddenly remembering back to the house, and how aggressive she was handled.
"Fortunately we were able to save your brother" the siblings looked at each other when they heard that, their mom wanted a surprise reveal until the baby arrived "However, the last month in the womb is a crucial time in order for a baby to grow, so with him being a month early, along with the complications your mother went through there's no doubt he will struggle"
"He's gonna be fine, Hale's are fighters" Thomas reassured them, climbing over towards Derek, resting into his side like Cora.
"I was hoping for a sister" from Cora sent them into a cry of laughter.
"Melissa, you okay?" Noah gently held her arms when she left the room, making her turn around to face him.
"You'd think this job would get easier over time" she answered honestly, wiping a stray tear away before anyone saw "What happens if their mother doesn't wake up, I've been in this long enough to know what's gonna happen to them"
"Melissa, look at me...they're going to be fine, you saw them" Noah reassured her, resting his hands gently on either side of her arms.
"Derek's 16, he'll be leaving foster care in 2 years, and 4 years later Thomas would be leaving, and that sweet little girl is going to be on her own for 6 years before she leaves, they don't deserve that, oh and that innocent baby boy..."
"Hey, it's okay" Noah pulled in for a hug, rubbing circles into her back.
"She's right dad" Stiles stepped forward "Tomorrow they'll be sent to foster care, and who knows if they'll get split up, we got to help them" he didn't care if this ended up in an argument about boundaries, and respecting privacy, he knew he had to do something to help.
"You're right" which is the opposite of what he expected to hear.
"Yes, yes I am" Stiles said proudly, finally saying something that his dad agreed with, without any convincing whatsoever.
"Yes" Noah patted his son on the shoulder "You got any ideas in that brain of yours"
"Well I might have an idea" he looked between his father and Melissa, and plastered on a smile, this plan however is definitely going to require some convincing.
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Published~ October 1, 2018
Re-edited: November 4, 2020