Derek watches them go and grabs Stiles' arm when he hears the policemen approach outside, fumbling to pull open the door to a coat closet and hauling him inside. It's dark, and quiet, and Derek presses Stiles up against the wall and covers his mouth with his hand to stop his inevitable protest. They stay like that, pressed together head to toe with Derek's hand over Stiles' mouth, as Derek listens to the cops enter the hotel lobby, holding his breath until they leave again.

He lets out the air in his lungs in a soft gust, chuckling darkly and pulling his hand away from Stiles' mouth, looking down at him in the dim light and talking softly. "You okay?"

They haven't had a moment alone since this started, and he's relieved for the momentary reprieve. Tensions are running high and he wants a quiet moment before they reconvene, hopefully all on the same side.