laography | she fell in love in the first place

[She sniffles a little, the tears refusing to subside even as she calms herself, even if it's just the tiniest bit. It's hard to put on a brave face here, but she meets the wolf's gaze and tilts her head slightly, suddenly more curious than afraid. Her hands are still pulling at the seatbelt as she tries to free herself, but she slows in her attempts, distracted now.]

You... you're nice, right?

[There's a wide-open gash on her forehead where she's been hit by glass, and a number of other cuts and bumps, but nothing too serious -- at least nothing that's readily apparent. There's probably a concussion in the works.

She sniffles again, biting at her lower lip.]

Are you here to help me, doggy?

[ With her first question, Derek flicks his ears up towards her in a half-answer, letting her know that he understands her. It shouldn't be long before someone from the pack comes, but he doesn't want to leave her in there for much longer. Not when he doesn't know the state of the engine-- he can't smell smoke or fire, but he won't take any chances-- and if there's any other injuries.

With her second question, he offers her a blatant nod, before lifting a hand-like paw to press against the window. The door seems jammed, so even with attempts at opening it he's probably not going to get anywhere. Rather than fight with it, he uses rough paw pads and claws to clear out the rest of the glass from the broken window, before he moves forward.

His large shoulders press into the top of the frame, bending it further out of place with them and his massive paws. If he can get it open enough to fit him through, he can at least break her free of the seatbelt.

He lets out a soft sound, a reassuring rumble from his chest. ]

[Her attempts to get herself free for the time being, and she watches the wolf try to push his way through the ruined frame with a certain degree of fascination. There's fear there, as well, but awe seems to be keeping it in check. She's gone incredibly still as she watches him, though her small hands still tremble as she clutches at the belt.]

Be careful...

[She doesn't want him getting cut on his way in, after all. Another glance towards the front seat causes the tears to well up again. She's not so young that she doesn't understand the reality of the situation.]

Mama and Daddy...

[ It's sweet, in its way, that she's worried about him hurting himself. He can feel the bite of glass against his pads, but it's brief and a simple sting compared to what she might feel if she was cut on it. With a final push, he slips into the back of the car enough that his upper body can rest on the seat.

Slowly, he swivels his head over towards the front seat again to look at the silent couple in the front. Derek can't help the quiet pain in his chest, something sympathetic for the little girl. He's been there. Looking back to her, he lifts his muzzle and gently noses her cheek, a soft and rumbling whine leaving him. ]

[She calms again as he presses his nose against her cheek, sniffling as she furiously tries to rub her tears away with the back of one hand. It doesn't do much good. They keep coming, but the wolf's touch seems to have been enough to ease her fear completely. Instead of pulling or leaning away, she rests her head against his, grateful, though still in shock.]

I'm stuck.

[Her voice sounds discouraged, lamenting, her tiny voice cracking as she tries to choke back more tears. As if he needed the situation illustrated for him any more clearly.]

[ Ears laying back again as she rests her head against is, Derek sits like that for a bit as he lets her try and wipe her tears away. But as it proves to be ineffective, he moves to gently lick at her cheeks, reassuring and trying to clean them away. But at the same time, he focuses on the contact, starting to draw away some of her pain before he gets to work.

With a soft exhale, almost a wolfish shushing, he bows his head and opens his mouth. Taking the seatbelt in his teeth, he jerks his head quickly to tear into the strap trapping her in place. ]

[She blinks several times, some of the tears clearing as she feels the pain from where she'd hit her head start to recede. Her right arm and shoulder still ache, and there's a burning sensation in her chest, but they've begun to dull.

She watches him with interest as he bites through the seatbelt, fascinated. It's something to focus on. Curiosity, rather than turning her attention back to the horrific scene she's found herself trapped in. When the belt finally snaps, she wiggles free, pulling her arm loose and putting one around the wolf's neck despite the sharp pain that stabs through her chest, though it fades just as quickly. Whatever he'd done to her, it seemed to have work.

Though it's awkward thanks to her size and the small amount of space in the backseat, she hugs him around the neck.]

Thank you.

[ With the seatbelt torn through, and the little girl freed, Derek returns his attention to numbing her pain. It doesn't let her heal, but it makes it far easier to move her without her noticing the hurt. As far as he can tell, she's not injured to the point that she shouldn't be moved, but that might be the shock masking something more serious. He just really, really hopes he's not making a mistake in encouraging her movement.

As she wraps her arms around his neck and thanks him, he chuffs softly and tips his head against her for a brief moment. To him, it doesn't feel like that's any reason for her to thank him-- he's just doing what he thinks is the right thing, and she needs the help.

But they're not quite done yet. Shifting a little, he presses a pawhand to her side gently, tucking his head against her middle and lifting gently so that he can encourage her towards the window he's forced his way through. ]

[Her pain is numbed enough that it's momentarily forgotten, and though it takes her a moment to understand what he's trying to tell her, she begins to move towards the window, leaning against him for support as she moves across the backseat on her knees.

Of course he couldn't just open the door for her. He didn't have hands. It was too bent out of shape, anyway.

Most of the glass had been cleared away by the wolf's paws, but she can still feel the remains bite into her small hands as she takes hold of the door to pull herself through the misshapen window frame. Luckily, being so much smaller than the wolf, it was easy enough for her to fit through the opening he had forced.

She sinks down to one knee once she's out, winded by the effort of climbing out, but looks to the wolf expectantly, waiting for him to join her.]

[ Backing up as she moves across the seat, he moves so that he can make room for her to climb out of the window. It'll take a little effort for him to make his way out of it, considering the shape of his upper body, but at least she can slip out where he's not occupying the opened space. The thought of ripping the door off the frame does come to mind, but considering the state of the car and the girl? Probably not worth the effort, since he doesn't want to risk scaring her more than she already is.

He keeps a close watch on her until she's no longer in his line of sight and out of the car, pushing against the back seat with his claws so he can slowly step backwards on his hind legs. Once he manages to squeeze out, he keeps his balance on two legs before he sinks down to sit on his haunches, a bit more like a bear in his posture than a wolf for a moment.

With a quick shake of his shoulders and head, he makes sure there aren't any errant pieces of glass on him. He doesn't need to cut her any. Soon as he's sure, he bows his head towards her, nose pressed to her temple gently. ]

[She immediately responds by putting her arms around his neck again, letting his nose rest against her temple for a few moments before she buries her face in the fur at the side of his neck and finally begins to let the tears flow freely, hiccups once again surfacing as she sobbed against him. Her tiny shoulders shakes violently, as if being freed from the vehicle was all it took for the shock to begin to numb and the floodgates to open.

None of this was supposed to happen. It couldn't have been real. She wanted to wake up now.

Any minute now, she was going to wake up, wasn't she?]

Edited 2013-04-06 04:26 (UTC)

[By now, Stiles' ears are pretty much trained to the sound of howling. One of his best advantages as the sheriff (job gratefully accepted after his father retired) was his attuning to both the natural and supernaturally inclined, and between him and Derek, they kept Beacon Hills generally safe and free of chaos.

He's sitting with his feet up in his patrol car when he hears it--the low, faint sound, elegant compared to rough, Derek. There's no text message (that usually comes first at Stiles' bequest--please try not to howl at me because I do not, contrary to popular belief, speak wolf) and he bites his lip, pushing forward in the seat and flipping on the siren, pulling out of the parking lot he was sitting in and shooting out down the road.

It doesn't take him long to find Derek, GPS on his phone tracked, and the car skids to a stop by the wreck. He turns off the car and gets out, expression horrified for just a moment before he grimly swallows and strides forward, spotting the hulking shape that he could pick out of anywhere and hurrying towards him.

At first, he doesn't see the little girl--turns towards the wreck and the people inside, checking his watch and going for his radio. It takes a few seconds to report, and he starts out saying no survivors, but stops, taking a glance back at Derek.

There's a little girl in his arms. His voice trails off and he murmurs:]

One survivor. [ Before chucking the radio aside and dropping to his knees in front of them, sharing a meaningful look with the wolf. ]

Hi, sweetie. [ There's a little sadness to his voice, the tinge of helping enough kids who've lost their parents since he took his position, of hearing it from his dad. ] I'm glad Der the Wondewolf here found you. My name's Stiles, what's yours?

[ As Anita starts to cry into his fur, Derek wraps her up and holds her carefully against him, practically curling over her. It's no wonder that Stiles doesn't see her at first, as he simply sits there and rumbles, deep in his chest. There's barely a sound to go with it, more of a comforting, subvocal vibration to try and soothe her a little. But there's not much he can really do, beyond that and taking her pain away for a couple hours.

By then, she'll be in a hospital, and her physical pain will be completely gone. The emotional, however...

His ears flick a little as he hears the approach of the siren, and quiet relief hits him. He could very well locate where he left his things for the patrol of his territory, but he doesn't want to leave the little girl alone for a moment. So having Stiles coming to his call? He probably couldn't have asked for a better packmate to answer him.

Head barely lifting as the sheriff comes down, the alpha sets a pawed hand between the girl's shoulders gently, nosing at her hair and chuffing gently, reassuring her. Only when Stiles approaches them does he look up, red eyes serious and...

Well, maybe a little pleading. She's different, he can tell, and she's alone. ]

[She peeks upwards from her place against the wolf's chest, a bit confused as she studies the new arrival. Der the Wonderwolf? He had a name?

Well, of course he had a name. Everyone did, didn't they?

She sniffles a little, hesitant.]

I-it's Anita. Anita Blake.

[Her tears have mostly subsided, though perhaps it's just that she's run out of them at this point.]

He saved me.

Hi, Anita. He's kind of awesome like that. [ He meets Derek's gaze with a similar one of his own--needless to say they're on the same wavelength. Her parents died, and they'd been talking and-- there was no reason why they couldn't...

Either way. ] I'm glad he's been taking good care of you, and I bet he's glad you're safe. Right, Derek? [ He casts a small smile in his direction, then reaches his hand out, offering it to Anita. ] He's gonna stay with us, I bet. But we have to get you to the hospital, alright?

[ Ears wilting back with Anita's second answer to Stiles, Derek looks down to her, then up from under his brow at Stiles. It's a good thing that they're on the same wavelength, just as much of a relief as being found is. Nevermind that the foster system is a terrifying place for a kid, with or without losing their parents like this, but it's not a place for this kid at all.

He can tell she's different. She's special. She needs that help.

Shifting carefully, he moves his pawhand to the top of her head, encouraging her with a short nod to both her and Stiles. He'll stay, until the ambulance arrives. ]

[She nods stiffly, though her eyes widen at the mention of a hospital. She knows she needs to go, but she's still in shock, to a certain degree, and she's never liked hospitals. The word alone makes her uncomfortable.]

Okay... okay. Thank you.

[She hugs the wolf around the neck again, her face disappearing into his fur once more.]

Does he help a lot? Are you with the police, doggy?

[ Almost immediately, he's reminded of himself in the hospital with his mother--it brings a familiar stab of pain and sympathy to his gut, and he brings up one of his hands to mirror Derek's, resting between her shoulders and fingers coming up to curl gently over the back of her neck, a familiar pressure he'd picked up on from Derek so many years ago. Stiles' voice is measured as he speaks, calm as possible.]

He's with me. [ And his eyes track up to meet Derek's for just a moment. ] You know how people say a dog's man's best friend? Well Derek here's...even more than that. [ Stiles turns his head to smile at her. ] People in the police promise to protect and serve, and he's a great protector--kind of the best one in the world.

Just like me, and just like my dad before me. [ He offers his other hand, outstretched slowly. ] And we're gonna protect you.

[ There's quiet pride in Derek's eyes as Stiles meets his gaze again, expression soft as he takes note of where his hand has settled. Making contact with her, trying to offer her that comforting pressure that any alpha would give to a pup, warms something in him despite his own pain and sympathy towards the little girl.

Briefly, he bows his massive head forward, bumping his forehead into Stiles' as he looks down at Anita tucked against him. His only answer is an agreeable chuff, which is loud enough to almost border on a low bark, as he feels a determination settling in him.

Anita Blake is now lost, alone, and hurting, but Derek will make sure it's not for long. ]

[She fell asleep not long after that, tucked against Derek's chest as they waited for the ambulance.

She lost time then, not knowing how much of it had passed when she woke up. The hospital bed was too white, too sterile. When she comes to and looks around the room, she spots the sheriff there, and another man that feels familiar, but who she doesn't recognize. There's a doctor standing at the end of the bed, and she frowns as she looks to him, forehead creasing with worry.]

Where's the doggy that saved me?

[ Derek, arms crossed as he stands with Stiles and oversees the doctor's assessment, turns his attention to Anita when she comes to. He visibly perks, straightening next to Stiles as clear eyes-- not red like the wolf's, but still with a similar intensity to them-- hone in on the little girl. ]

Doggy? It was just Sheriff Stilinski, sweetheart.

[ The doctor, of course, is completely unaware of the truth of the matter, but smiles sympathetically as if he wants to indulge her in the apparent "hallucination." ]

[ Stiles himself is leaning backwards a little towards Derek, keeping an appraising eye on the situation at hand as the doctor looks her over. He hadn't had a chance to talk with Derek in all actuality yet, but it seemed that they were more or less on the same page--when the doctor nods at him, he puts on his best Official Sheriff Face (learned from getting it about a thousand times from his dad when he did something he wasn't supposed to) and nods. ]

If you don't mind, I just need to ask Miss Anita here a few questions. [ And just like that, the doctor nods and turns, heading out of the room. Stiles drops the face in two seconds and walks over to her side, reaching a hand out and brushing it over her bangs. ]

I'm totally kidding about the questions, I promise. You remember me, and...[ And he hazards a glance to Derek. ] And Derek. Right?

[She looks hesitant for a moment, then nods, not bothering to pull away when he reached out to touch her hair. She wasn't a girl who was terribly shy of adults, even strangers -- though these two didn't fall under that second category, as far as she was concerned. She recognized the sheriff's face. He'd helped her.]

I remember you.

[She says that with certainty, but looks a little less sure as she turns to narrow her dark gaze at the other man in the room, curious. It takes a moment, but when she meets his eyes, there's something familiar there, and her expression brightens as much as it can, given the circumstances.]

You. You're the doggy?

[She sounds awed, looking between the two of them before turning her attention back to Derek. She was grateful to them both, but--]

You saved me.

[Her voice cracks, threatening tears again.]

[ Derek tracks the doctor back out into the hall, before his attention is solely focused on the girl in the bed. Something in him seems to relax a little, softening all around as her own expression brightens. Her reaction warms him, and he can't help but offer her a smile-- especially when her voice cracks, and he has to step forward to her.

He offers her a hand quietly, giving her his most reassuring look as he can before he allows red to bleed through into his eyes. ]

I am. [ His fingers brush hers, briefly. ] And I couldn't have just left you there.

We're not planning on it, either. [ Stiles blurts that out a little quicker than he was expecting to--apparently, in his ten or so years since meeting Derek and getting involved in this supernatural business, the one thing he hadn't learned was tact.

But, because he's Stiles, he continues to soldier on. ] With what happened, I talked it over with Social Services and did a little begging I'm really not proud of, but.

[ Leaning down, he turns his gaze directly on Anita, eye-to-eye. ] If you'd like, you can come and stay with us. Derek and I live here in Beacon Hills, all by ourselves, and we have a huge house, with a big yard, and we're totally gonna get a trampoline even if Derek's kind of a butt about it. And basically, I think the only thing in the whole world we're missing is an awesome kid to share it with.

[ Wow, he's awkward about this. ]

she fell in love in the first place

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threadjacks aw yes

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	For the life of me, I cannot remember What made us think that we were wise And we'd never compromise For the life of me, I cannot believe We'd ever die for these sins We were merely freshmen