AN: Jessica's outfit is up top.

✧

"Scott, can you fucking stop that?" Jessica hissed, "Jesus, you're going to drive me crazy enough to drink."

Scott sighed from across from her, halting his shaking leg and said, "Sorry, I'm just nervous. About everything, really."

"Speaking of which, if Derek isn't the alpha and he's not the one that bit you, then who did?" Stiles added. Jess only gave him an agitated look, "How is this helping right now, Stiles?"

Stiles shrugged, "I'm just saying, it's something that we need to think about."

"I don't know," Scott gulped, anxiety coursing through him making his leg begin to bounce again. Stiles rolled his eyes and sat back in his chair, Jessica huffing as she whispered, "Stiles your attitude isn't fucking helping."

"Did the alpha kill the bus driver?" Stiles suddenly questioned. Jessica turned to her best friends as Scott repeated his answer, "I don't know."

Stiles' eye twitched and Jessica almost burst as he asked another question, "Does Allison's dad know about the alpha?"

"I don't know!" Scott growled, everyone turning toward the trio in the back of the room. Jessica turned when their teacher placed their latest tests on her desk, the man smiling at her while he said, "Great job, Jessica. A plus again."

"Thanks," Jess pursed her lips together, looking down at her lap in embarrassment as she turned a light pink. Stiles tilted his head to the side as the teacher moved on, giving him his paper before he moved onto Scott.

Jess tucked a stray hair behind her ear and met Stiles' eyes, a look of confusion crossing her features as she said, "What?"

"Did you... did you just blush?" Stiles questioned, "Did he make you blush?"

"Oh, gross," Jess gagged, "I blush when I get compliments, Stilinski, you know this. No one ever gives me them so I'm not used to it."

Stiles hummed to himself, turning back forward toward Scott and winced as he saw his friends grade, "Dude, you need to study more."

Scott placed their test down in frustration and Stiles sighed, "That was a joke. Scott, it's one test. You're gonna make it up. Do you want help studying? Hell, Jessica can teach it to you in her sleep since she's a freakin' genius."

"No, I'm studying with Allison after school today," Scott gave her a grim grin, "But thank you."

Jess gave him a knowing look, "Yeah, Scotty, you're going to "study"."

"That's my boy," Stiles chuckled. Scott rolled his eyes, "We're just studying."

"You've always been a shit liar, Scotty."

Stiles nodded, "She's right, no you're not."

"No, I'm not?" Scott asked, not knowing what they meant. Stiles huffed, jerking a bit, "Not if I'm forced to live vicariously through you. If you go to her house today and squander that colossal opportunity, I swear to god I'll have you de-balled."

"God, men are pigs," Jessica groaned, beginning to draw on her test with her green pen. Scott rolled his eyes at Stiles, "Okay, man, just stop with the questions."

"Done," Stiles waved a hand around, "No more questions. No more talk about the alpha or Derek. Especially Derek... who still scares me."

"Fucking whimp."

✧

Jessica sighed from beside Stiles, fixing her black backpack as she said, "Thanks for the ride today. I can't stand hearing Lydia and Jackson talk about having sex one more time while I'm in the back of the car."

"It's fine. I didn't have anything better to do today anyway," Stiles gave her a smile. Jessica rose a brow, "So because you have no plans you feel bad for me?"

"What? No?" Stiles stammered, earning a laugh from Jessica. Stiles couldn't help but grin at her laugh as she said, "I'm just kidding with you, Stilinski. Stop being so serious all the time."

Stiles gave her a knowing look as they got to his car, the pair getting in before he said, "Says the woman who never has fun."

The boy turned to key into the ignition and backed out of his parking spot as Jessica scoffed, pulling on her seat belt while saying, "I too can have fun. Your definition of fun just differs from mine, Stilinski."

He began driving through the parking lot as he laughed, glancing at her briefly, "Your definition of fun consists of staying at home all day and eating Hot Cheetos or going to recharge your crystals in the forest behind your house."

"You say that like that's a bad thing."

Stiles went to respond when Derek suddenly ran out in front of him, the teenager breaking harshly causing Jessica to fly forward. The woman jerked back due to her seat belt and Stiles' arm that went in front of her, stopping her chest from going further.

"Oh, my god!" Stiles yelled, the pair's breathing heavy before he turned to Jessica, "Are you okay, greenie?"

Jessica didn't answer for a moment before she turned to him, saying, "Did you just soccer mom me?"

"Are you okay?" He questioned, ignoring her as he placed his hand on her leg. Jess glanced down at it, heart twinging in her chest as she said, "Yeah, Stilinski, I'm okay."

Cars began honking behind them and Jess turned back forward just in time to see Derek fall to the floor. Stiles groaned, "You've gotta be kidding me. This guy's having-"

Stiles was cut off by another honk and Jessica sighed, "I just wanted one peaceful day."

"What the hell?" Scott's voice flooded their ears, the boy having run up beside the car as he saw Derek fall. Both Jessica and Stiles stepped out of the car, the woman kneeling to the ground as Scott said, "What are you doing here?"

"I was shot," Derek admitted, Jessica noting his visible signs of an infection. Stiles did the same, "He's not looking so good, dude."

Scott nodded, "Why aren't you healing?"

"I can't. It was- it was a different kind of bullet," Derek told the trio of friends. Stiles couldn't help his excitement, "A silver bullet?"

"No, you idiot," Derek hissed, Jessica chuckling to herself. Scott furrowed his brow, "Wait, wait. That's what she meant when she said you had forty-eight hours."

Derek looked to him astonished, "What? Who said forty-eight hours?"

"The one who shot you," Scott told. Confusion crossed Jessica's features, "Um, Scotty, anything you'd like to share with the class?"

Derek suddenly groaned as his eyes glowed blue, Jessica stepping back a bit as Stiles helped her up at the sight of seeing the man turning. Scott's eyes widened as Stiles held Jessica close, the woman deciding not to comment on it as her best friend said, "What are you doing? Stop that!"

Honking was heard once again and Jessica turned toward the line of cars, flipping them off as she yelled, "Fuck off, you shit-for-brains!"

"I'm trying to tell you I can't," Derek panted. Scott began panicking once more, "Derek, get up."

Jessica began noticing people stepping out of their cars, including Jackson and Allison, making her say, "Um, Scott, you may want to get him up quicker than that. Your girlfriend is staring along with douche-bag."

Scott finally got him up and Jess gave him a look, "Get him in the back of the car."

"Jess-" She cut him off with a growl, eyes flashing bright green making him halt, "I said back of the car."

"I'd listen to her, bro, that's her spot," Stiles told. Scott groaned, helping Derek into the back of the car before Jessica got into the passenger seat, shutting the door behind her.

Derek spoke to him through the open window, saying, "I need you to find out what kid of bullet they used."

"How the hell am I supposed to do that?" Scott questioned, scoffing a bit. Derek rolled his eyes, "'Cause she's an Argent. She's with them."

"Why should I help you?"

Derek softened a bit, "Because you need me."

"Fine. I'll try," Scott slapped his hands on his thighs. He looked past Jessica to Stiles, "Get him out of here."

"I hate you for this so much," Stiles growled, clenching his jaw before he hit the gas. They sped through the parking lot in an awkward silence, Jessica nodding to herself as she pursed her lips, saying, "So, are we going to talk about it?"

Derek shook his head despite them all looking forward, not being able to see him, "Nope."

"All right then."

Twenty minutes later, they were still driving throughout Beacon Hills, Stiles not knowing if he should stop since Scott was looking for the bullet.

Jessica groaned as she received a text back from Scott saying that he needed more time, saying, "Well isn't this fucking perfect? Scotty-boy is saying he needs more time but in actuality he's going to lose his virginity. How poetic."

Stiles groaned as he turned back to Derek and said, "Hey, try not to bleed out on my seats, okay? We're almost there?"

"Almost where?"

"Your house," Stiles sighed, frustrated. Derek sat forward a bit, "What? No, you can't take me there."

Stiles' eyes widened as he grew annoyed, "I can't take you to your own house?"

"Not when I can't protect myself," Derek told, as if it was obvious. Stiles chuckled angrily, jerking the car to the side of the road and parking abruptly as he said, "All right. What happens if Scott doesn't find your little magic bullet?"

He whipped around to face him, humming, "Are you dying?"

"Not yet," Derek's breath was heavy, "I have a last resort."

"What do you mean?" Stiles began spazzing, Jessica watching the interaction between the two men, "What last resort?"

Derek pulled up his sleeve and Jessica's eyes widened as she saw blood drip down his arm, a foul odor erupting from it making Stiles gag, "Oh, my god. What is that?"

"A bullet wound, duh," Jessica rolled her eyes, not being fazed by the medical wound. Stiles ignored her, closing his eyes as he began feeling nauseous, "Oh, is that contagious? You know what, you should probably just get out."

"Start the car," Derek demanded, his breath still labored, "Now."

Stiles' eyes opened wide, "I don't think you should be barking orders with the way you look, okay? In fact, I think if I wanted to, I could probably drag your little werewolf ass out into the middle of the road and leave you for dead."

"Start the car, or I'm gonna rip her throat out with my teeth and make you watch before I do the same to yours," Derek told. Stiles only looked to him a minute before gritting his teeth, starting the car in silence before driving away.

Jessica's glare didn't falter toward the werewolf, leaning toward him as he met her eyes. Her eyes were a dark bright green as she lurched a hand forward, clutching onto his shirt and dragging him toward her.

Her tone was ice cold, Derek not letting it get to him as she said, "If you ever threaten me or my friends again, Derek Hale, I will kill you with my bare hands."

"I'm not scared of you," Derek scoffed, "You're only just a little girl."

Jessica darkly chuckled, a shrill of fear actually running down his spine as her eyes turned from green to a deep red, orange around her pupils as her voice went to a whisper, "You should be."

The red-headed woman threw him against the seat as his face dropped, not understanding what just happened to her. Jessica turned back to Stiles, blinking away her anger and Stiles only shook his head, saying, "You know, you're scarier than anything I will ever encounter."

"Good."

✧

Jessica groaned as she banged her head against the door of Stiles' jeep, staring out into the dark of night as Stiles spoke to Scott on the phone.

Stiles sighed, "And by the way, he's starting to smell."

Jessica ripped the phone from Stiles' hand and growled into the phone, "Like death so if you could stop fucking around and get the bullet, it would be greatly appreciated."

"Okay, take him to the animal clinic," Scott told her. Jessica waved a hand at Stiles and he understood her silent demand, starting the car as she said, "What about your boss? What do we tell him about the walking werewolf zombie?"

"He's gone by now. There's a spare key in the box behind the dumpster."

Jessica sighed, "Okay, well, you can talk to your master now. I'm done."

She handed the phone to Derek behind her and the man held it to his ear, taking a deep breath before saying, "Did you find it?"

The woman was stressed as she took her jacket off, laying it beside her and Stiles. She began twisting her hair up into a messy bun while ignoring Derek talking to Scott, her body warming up due to her stress.

Stiles grasped onto her hand when she was done, Jessica turning to meet his eyes as he gave her a grim smile, "Hey, it'll be okay, I promise."

"I know, Stilinski, I'm just over today," She gave him one back. Stiles nodded, "Well, when I take you home, you can do your usual think to relax. Take a bath while you drink lemonade and watch your guilty pleasure television shows."

She furrowed her brows, feeling the boy run his thumb along her knuckles, "How do you know I do that?"

"Because you're my best friend, Jessica Lynne," He turned to her, "I see you, remember?"

Jessica couldn't help the smile that graced her lips as she looked forward, shaking her head as her cheeks reddened in the darkness. Derek gave them a look of disgust as they sped through town, "You two are disgusting."

"Excuse me, we aren't together," Jessica told. Stiles nodded, "Just best friends."

"Yeah, right," Derek's laugh rang throughout the car as Stiles pulled into the parking lot of the animal clinic, it having been close by. Derek continued, "You two are so in puppy love it-"

"-Oh would you look at that, we're here," Stiles slammed his foot on the break, Derek flying forward and hitting his already aching body on the seat in front of him. Jessica laughed as the werewolf glared daggers to the teenager and Stiles only shrugged, saying, "I guess you should have worn your seat beat there, buddy. Safety first."

Jessica jumped out the car along with Stiles, the pair not helping Derek out as they went to the box to find the key. Stiles quickly did so and handed the key-ring to Jessica, the woman unlocking the large grate before going to the door.

Stiles' phone beeped and he turned to Derek, who had gotten out of the car and sat on a palette of dog food, saying, "Does Northern Blue Monkshood mean anything to you?"

"It's a rare form of wolfsbane," Jessica immediately told, the men looking at her in shock. Stile quirked a brow, "How do you know that?"

"Green witch remember, Stilinski? Herbs and plants are my specialty," Jessica rolled her eyes playfully, turning the key in the lock and unlocking the heavy door. She gestured to the door, "Now, shall we boys?"

Derek sighed, "He needs to bring me the bullet."

"Why?" Stiles asked, not understanding. Derek met his eyes, pain radiating throughout his body as he slowly deteriorated, "Because I'm going to die without it."

Stiles immediately turned to text Scott and Jessica continued gesturing to the open door, "Anybody?" She met Derek's eyes, "Dying wolf boy, wanna give it a go?"

"I hope you know," He stood, groaning a bit and walking toward her. He stopped as he came up beside her, "I hate you."

"And I hope you know I hate you too," Jessica sarcastically smiled, "So I guess we're okay."

The trio walked through the Veterinary clinic and Derek groaned, clawing at his shirt as he suddenly grew overheated, a thin sheet of sweat covering his body. He leaned on Stiles as the boy opened the double doors to the main examination room, groaning, "Okay, okay."

Derek ripped off his t-shirt and Jessica's eyes widened, whispering, "He may be broody and arrogant, but holy shit look at those back muscles."

"Seriously, Jess? I thought you said you hated him?" Stiles scoffed in disgust, anger and jealously biting throughout his voice. Jess shrugged, "Doesn't mean I can't appreciate that he's hot."

"Oh, my god."

The pair were taken out of their argument as groaned, veins climbing their way up his arm as his wound continued to ooze. Stiles groaned, wincing a bit in disgust, "You know, that really doesn't look like anything some Echinacea and a good night sleep couldn't take care of?"

"You know about Echinacea?" Jessica questioned, not knowing her best friend knew of the herbaceous flowering plant that helped people who commonly take it to help combat flu and colds. Stiles met her eyes, "Yeah, Jess, you give it to me every time I'm sick. I remember things like that."

Jess gave him a small smile before Derek said, "When the infection reaches my heart, it'll kill me."

His breathing became more heavy as he turned while Stiles said, "Positivity just isn't in your vocabulary, is it?"

"If he doesn't get here with the bullet in time," Derek started, sifting through cabinets throughout the office, "Last resort."

The man pulled something out from a drawer and Stiles rose a brow, "Which is?"

Derek turned to Stiles and Jessica, their eyes widening as they looked to the bone saw in his hand.

"You're gonna cut off my arm."

The pair's reactions were the complete opposite, Stiles groaning in utter disgust as Jessica chuckled, saying, "Sounds fun. Do we really have to wait?"

"What is wrong with you?" Stiles shrieked, "That's freakin' sick!"

"And I think it's cool, your point, Stilinski?" Jessica questioned, crossing her arms over her chest. Stiles shook his head, "You need help."

Jessica rolled her eyes, stepping away from the boy, "Whatever, you're not the first person to tell me that. Thanks for the reminder."

Regret flooded Stiles' veins and he opened his mouth before closing it again, not knowing what to say to the woman as Derek placed the medical tool down on the metal table. Jessica picked it up, examining it before she said, "Doesn't seem so difficult."

"You're going to do into the medical field, huh?" Derek questioned, panting a bit. Jessica nodded, "You bet your werewolf ass I am. Shit like this doesn't bother me and since Mr. Spaz over there can't handle it," She smirked, "It's just you and me, Fido."

Jessica began searching for an tourniquet, letting out a noise of awe when she found one. She wrapped it around Derek's arm tightly, the werewolf growling in pain causing her to smack the side of his head, saying, "Stop being a wuss."

"Wow, you'll make a great doctor one day," Derek sarcastically remarked. Jessica gave him an equally as sarcastic smile and said, "Well aren't you a real charmer."

She snapped gloves on hands and grabbed the bone saw all while Stiles watched, the man jolting forward as he screeched, "Are you two crazy?"

"I prefer the term fun," Jessica told, nodding to herself. Stiles ran a hand down his face, "Oh, my god," He met her eyes once more, "What if he bleeds to death?"

"Well if it works, it'll heal itself. Win, win," Jess shrugged and Derek nodded, saying, "She's right."

Stiles groaned as he looked at the bone saw in Jessica's hand and said, "Look, I don't know if I could watch this."

"Why not?" Derek rolled his eyes. Stiles licked his lips as he stomach flipped, "Well, because of the cutting through the flesh, the sawing of the bone and especially the blood!"

Jessica chuckled to herself as Derek deadpanned, "You faint at the sight of blood?"

"No, but I might at the sight of a chopped-off arm!" Stiles exclaimed. Jessica shrugged, "Haven't you ever seen Deep Blue Sea?"

"Well, yeah, but-" She cut him off, listing more movies, "The Thing, The Evil Dead, Kill Bill, Commando, hell, fucking Captain America: Winter Soldier."

Stiles rolled his eyes, "You know I have, we've watched all of them together. But this is different! This is real! No CGI or fake guts for this one!"

"Okay, either one of you cut off my arm, or I'll cut off your head," Derek panted, clenching his fists at his side. Jess turned to him, pointing the bone saw at him, "Fucking chill or I will cut off your dick while I'm at it."

Derek didn't say anything before he hunched over, heaving up a black substance. Stiles gagged once more as Jessica's eyes widened, saying, "Okay, what the hell is that?"

"It's my body starting to heal itself," Derek told. Stiles winced at the rotten smell, "Well, it's not doing a really good job of it."

Derek turned to Jessica, "Now. You gotta do it now."

Jessica moved to the other side of the table and turned to saw on, taking a long breath before she brought it down close to the man. Before the blade contacted the man's skin, the doors suddenly burst open to reveal Scott, who yelled, "What the hell are you doing?"

"Having some fun," Jessica simply shrugged, "What, am I not allowed to anymore?"'

"Did you get it?" Derek asked him. Scott sifted through his pocket and handed the long bullet to Derek, the man looking at it for a moment.

Stiles gulped at the object, "What are you going to do with it?"

Derek went to say something when his eyes closed, the man losing consciousness causing him to fall to the floor and drop the bullet to the ground. Scott's eyes widened, "No, no, no, no, no, no."

Scott went to grab the bullet when it fell down the air vent, the boy trying his best to reach through the grate. Jessica and Stiles ran to the werewolf, Stiles slapping his pale, clammy cheeks as he said, "Come on, wake up. Scott, what the hell are we going to do?"

"I don't know!" Scott exclaimed. Jessica bit her lip, bringing her fingers down on Derek's neck to feel his pulse while Stiles yelled, "He's not waking up! I think he's dying."

"No shit he's dying!" Jessica scoffed at the same time as Scott screamed at his best friend, "Just hold on!"

After a moment, Scott was able to use his claws to grab onto the bullet, running over as he yelled, "I got it! I got it!"

Stiles sighed as he looked down at Derek's unconscious body, "Please don't kill me for this."

Jessica sat there in shock as Stiles brought his fist down on Derek's cheek, watching as the man woke up from the impact of the hit. She looked to Stiles as he shook his hand in pain, "I can't believe that worked."

Scott helped his friends get Derek up and the trio watched as Derek bit into the bullet, taking a piece from it, allowing all the Northern Blue Monkshood to come out. He took a lighter from his jean's pocket and lit it on fire, Jessica furrowing her brows, "You smoke? Gross."

No one answered her as Derek picked up the burning embers of the herb, clenching his jaw in preparation before he brought it down on his wound. The teenage boys winced as he compacted the herb into his bullet wound, his flesh sizzling as he screamed in burning pain.

Derek fell to the floor as he writhed in agony, his entire body feeling like he was on fire. The trio watched for a moment before the veins protruding up his arm receded, his bullet wound healing itself.

The man was in instant relief and Stiles chuckled, "That was awesome! Yes!"

"Are you okay?" Scott asked Derek as he sat up from the cold, concrete ground. Derek sighed, "Yes, other than the agonizing pain."

"I guess the ability to use sarcasm is a good sign of health," Stiles commented, earning a glare from Derek. Jessica laughed, "Welcome to being your brooding self again, sourpuss."

Derek growled at her and she simply rose a brow, challenging him before Scott interrupted, saying, "Okay, look, we saved your life. Which means you're going to leave us alone, you got that? And if you don't , I'm gonna go back to Allison's dad and I'm gonna tell him everything-"

"-You're going to trust them?" Derek interrupted him, "You think they can help you?"

"Well, why not?" Scott asked, scoffing a bit, "They're a lot freaking nicer than you are."

Derek shook his head, "I can show you exactly nice they are."

"Well, that sounds fun and all, but I think a bubble bath is calling my name. So, I'll pass.

✧

Jessica sighed as Stiles pulled in front of her house, a small smile coming to her lips at the thought of her own space. She grabbed her backpack from the floor of the car, stepping out as Stiles did the same.

He always walked her to the door.

They walked through the back gate of the house in silence, routine taking over them as they passed the still pool. Jessica undid one of her straps on her backpack and grabbed her keys from the small pocket of her bag before putting it through the lock, opening the glass door.

She turned to Stiles who gave her a small smile, his hands in his pockets as looked to her, "So were you really going to saw his arm off?"

"Well, it would have been my big medical experience," Jessica smirked leaning on the other door beside the open one, "Do you doubt my skills?"

"Of you surgically removing someone's arm and not killing them? Yes, sorry, but I do," Stiles chuckled. Jessica playfully rolled her eyes, "No faith in me," She placed a hand on her heart, "That hurts, Stilinski. You wound me."

Stiles laughed, "Well, when you go through school I'll believe in you more, deal?"

"Deal," Jess grinned, sighing a bit before she said, "I guess I better get in. It's getting late."

"Oh, yeah, you do that. A bubble bath is calling your name, right?" Stiles blushed, admittingly not wanting his time spent with the woman to end. Jessica nodded, wringing her hands in front of her, "Yeah. It is."

Stiles nodded and took a step backwards, "Well, goodnight then. I'll pick you up in the morning as I always do."

Jessica waved and stepped into her apartment, "Goodnight, Stilinksi."

"Good night, greenie."

Stiles was almost to the back gate when Jessica stepped back out of her apartment, saying, "Unless you maybe want to stay?"

"You want me to stay?" Stiles questioned, halting in his spot as he turned back to the woman. Jess simply shrugged, "Well, I don't necessarily need to take the bath. Plus it's kind of getting late and you had a long day. I hear that's when people fall asleep at the wheel a lot more," She bit her lip, "That is if you want to."

"Um, yeah. Yeah! That sounds great," Stiles rubbed the back of his neck, "That sounds nice."

Jess chuckled, nodding a bit as she gestured for him to come back, "Then you can stay. I have some of your clothes here that you left when you and Scott slept over. You have your bag of stuff in my bathroom, too."

Stiles made his way back over to Jessica and smiled brightly as he stood in the door frame of the apartment. Jess smirked at him, "I need you to move so I can shut the door, dummy."

"Oh, yeah, that's right," Stiles blushed, stepping all the way into the apartment. Jessica rolled her eyes, laughing a bit to herself, "Goober."

And as the two best friends laughed, getting ready to sleep, Lydia smirked from the upstairs window, having seen everything.

✧

AN: Well, it's been a long time! I am so sorry that I haven't updated this in a hot minute. If any of you follow me, you'll have seen my several announcements regarding my recent cancer diagnosis.

We're still looking for treatment options and I've been so busy with everything hectic going on. But, I hope to be back and updating as much as possible.