seven times six is forty-two

Where Stiles and Derek knew each other before the fire, and when Derek returns seven years later Stiles realizes that Derek never really forgot about him quite at all. The seats in the visitor lounge had lumpy cushions, they made Stiles squirm. Derek never seemed to mind. “Seven times six is forty-two,” Derek said, pointing at question number four as he leaned over Stiles' shoulder, hands braced on the back of Stiles’ chair. The hospital floor was always so quiet, empty halls busied by only the occasional nurse checking in on patients. Heart monitors would keep time, beeping away the minutes to midnight. “Do you think my dad might get off early tonight?” Stiles asked, hated how he always sounded so young, wished that he could have strong set eyes like Derek. “We'll see,” is what Derek would say.