[ Tate pushes Derek away and there's this-- flash of anger, in him. He wants to fight, and he wants to keep helping - the only reason he doesn't is because he's afraid of being overbearing. He pulls his hands back, leaves them hanging in the air like he's ready to reach out to Tate and grab him again at a moment's notice. He forces himself to listen.

Tate touches the wood. Tries to, at least, and Derek swallows, pressing his lips together. Explaining this is - giving Tate a weapon to use against him. He realizes that. But - but he trusts him. Swore he'd trust him. His gut jolts, tells him to shut up, but he's been getting better and better at ignoring that. ]

This... this is mountain ash. Wood from a rowan tree. It's an old, druidic method of warding away the supernatural. A big keep out sign for people like us.

[ He didn't think. Didn't even realize something like this could happen. Didn't even assume that mountain ash would work on someone like Tate. Derek cautiously looks Tate over, reaching his hand forward again. Tate seems like he needs comfort, Derek isn't sure, but - he hovers his hand above his wrist again, and still wants to touch him, even if he doesn't know if he should. ]