Chapter 9

Stiles fell on the floor in an ungraceful heap. Every bone in his body was screaming for him to stop, he was sore; tired, sweating. But this was the best he had felt in a very long time. "Up. Come on." Derek was standing over him, his grey sweat pants hanging teasingly low on his hips. When Stiles had first saw him he had instantly felt a little intimidated. Derek looked strong and well Stiles wasn't ashamed to say he thought Derek looked bloody hot in the sweat pants, and he himself looked scrawny and stupid in his baggy shorts and lacrosse tee. Derek hadn't commented on what he was wearing why should he? but maybe Stiles might have saw a small smile as he walked into Derek's loft.

Stiles took the hand that was there for him and pulled himself out. His breath was coming out in pants and he knew he probably stunk, but really he didn't care. "Want to go again? You're getting better." Derek said softly.

"I suck." Stiles breathed. "This is harder than I thought it would be." He said honestly.

"It's okay. You're body is still recuperating, so is your mind. You're not as strong as you used to be, and that's because of what is in here." He reached forward and tapped on his head. "That's what's stopping you."

"I don't know what you mean." Stiles frowned, he tried not to think about was his stomach was doing as Derek touched his face, his fingers resting gently on his temple.

"You're blocking yourself from moving on. And you like the feeling that your body is getting when you get pushed down. You think that's what you deserve…"

"It…"

"Don't even say it." Derek said, knowing the young boy was going to put himself down. "Come on, punching bag." Derek led him over to the punching bag in the far corner of the room.

"Can we have a break after?" Stiles asked, they had been doing this for almost three hours with no break and Stiles didn't think he could do anything else. He was envious of Derek's wolfish stamina.

"Depends how good you are." Derek winked and Stiles blushed. There was that feeling in his stomach again.

Stiles nodded. As Derek was showing him the correct stance, how to punch without hurting his knuckles and all of this ducking and weaving, Stiles couldn't help but want to be able to do this for Derek. To prove to Derek that he wanted this, that he wanted to get better, but mostly to thank him for everything that he was doing for him. Yes his dad was there unconditionally for him, and he was so grateful for that, and yes, Scott was texting him every day asking if there was anything he needed if he wanted to come over. But really they were his family so they should be doing that; but Derek...He wasn't really even his friend but now he felt as though he could confide in him more than anyone.

"Okay...We can take a break." Derek said another hour later. He grabbed a bottle of water and threw it to him, Stiles caught it clumsily and sat down against the wall. His body was burning but he wasn't complaining. He wanted to hold onto this feeling.

"Hey Derek…" Stiles breathed a few minutes later. He finally felt as though his heart was beating at a normal rate.

"Yeah?" Derek asked turning his head and looking at him. His face as calm and beautiful as ever.

"Why are you helping me so much?" Stiles asked. He had asked the question before, but right now he really needed to hear the answer again.

"Because you really don't deserve anything you've been through. And you're a good person." Derek said softly. "I know we've never really been close, but that doesn't mean that I've ever disliked you. I just didn't know how to be around you." Derek said honestly.

"I don't understand." Stiles frowned.

"I put up with Scott because of what Peter did to him...I felt bad for him. But you...I felt almost worse for...You were just this innocent kid who had been sucked into this world that probably terrified you and I don't blame you for that. You could have ran and hide, you could have disowned Scott...But you stuck by him. You… You were loyal. As Alpha that's what you look for in your pack and I was jealous of that."

"I still…"

"I've never felt that loyalty that you had with Scott...I've not felt that with anyone." He sighed. "Then with everything that happened...I was pissed...You were broken and you...You didn't deserve it and if i could do anything to help you pick yourself up, to get that sarcastic loyal kid back...I would."

Stiles stared at him open mouthed, he really hadn't expected that. That feeling was back in his stomach making his hands tremble and his heart beat faster. He leaned forward and his lips pressed so gently against Derek's cheek. "Thank you." He whispered.

Derek didn't know why he had been so brutally honest with him like that. Sure he had been thinking about it for a very long time now, he had questioned himself over and over why he was trying so hard to help the young boy. Nothing had ever made him want to stop though. That's why when Stiles kissed his cheek, he turned and caught the young boy by surprise and kissed him on the lips.