Note: this is part 2 of my rewrite of 6x15 and some of what I think the aftermath might have looked like. I haven't written the next part yet, but I hope to have another update within the week.
Liam
He hated the deal Scott had taken—in exchange for leaving the station safely with the last of Satomi's pack, Scott had agreed that the McCall pack would leave Beacon Hills. He couldn't stop thinking back on the moment that Jiang and Tierney had turned around to thank Scott and the rest of them before getting in the FBI van. He couldn't shake the feeling taking root in his gut that something was off about it. That sending them off with the FBI hadn't been the right move, but Scott trusted his father, so Liam had to trust him, too.
After establishing a plan, Theo drove Liam home—where his mom and stepdad were waiting in the living room.
"Where the hell have you been?" his mother demanded.
It'd been a long day, but it was about to get longer. He should've told them a long time ago what he was, but he'd been too afraid of what they might think of him. But things were different now. He'd considered sneaking out after they were asleep and leaving a note, but he couldn't do that to them. The least he could do was give them an explanation.
"We've been worried sick about you," his step-dad said, eyes flicking to Theo briefly. "First, you ditch school, and then you don't show up until almost 1 in the morning. What is going on with you?"
"I'm really sorry," Liam said. "I shouldn't have skipped school, and I should've been home sooner, but I promise I have a really good explanation."
His step-dad shrugged. "Oh, I can't wait to hear this."
"Remember the kids that died in the hit and run the other night?" Liam asked, going straight for the gut punch. Their expressions sobered, but they nodded. "It wasn't an accident. They were murdered... hunted because they were different."
"Different how?" his mom asked.
Liam took a deep breath, not sure he'd ever be ready to say the next words, but knowing that he had to. Distantly, he sensed Theo stepping closer. "They were werewolves. Like me. And Scott, and Malia." Technically Malia was a were-coyote, but Liam didn't feel like specifics were going to help his cause here.
They laughed. "Werewolves," his step dad said in disbelief. "You expect us to believe you're a werewolf?"
Liam chewed his lip. He was going to have to show them. This was the part he'd been dreading most. He didn't want to risk changing and losing control, especially after everything that'd happened today. If it hadn't been for that creature that caused fear digging under his skin all day, he would've done it without a second thought.
"Would it help if you saw one of us change?" Theo asked at Liam's shoulder.
"You?" his step asked. "You're one of them too?"
"Sort of," Theo whispered, and then he was shifting, his clothes left in a pile beneath a black wolf. Liam's mom shrieked, and his step dad flung out a protective arm, pulling her away from the wolf.
In wolf form, Theo stretched and eyed Liam with his glowing, golden eyes. He brushed against his parents' legs and padded into the kitchen gracefully before shifting back. The island covered the important bits, but Liam still couldn't help the blush that crept up his cheeks as he tossed Theo his pants.
An hour passed by the time his parents had calmed down. It took a good bit of explaining about the pack and that Liam couldn't fully transform the way Theo could. When they finally accepted it, Liam explained about the hunters and why they had to leave.
"It's not safe for either of you if I stay here," Liam said. "I don't know how long I'll be gone, but I'll be back. I promise."
His mom had tears in her eyes as she hugged him. Liam let his head drop to her shoulder and his step dad wrapped his arms around them both. All things considered, that had gone much better than he'd ever hoped for.
Liam packed every piece of clothing that would fit in his back pack. He ducked into the bathroom, grabbing the essentials—deodorant, toothbrush, shower gels—and paused at the toilet. He checked behind it, where an envelope was taped to the back of it.
All $85.63 cents were accounted for. Theo had noted the cash but hadn't actually taken any of it. Liam ran his hands through his hair, unsure what to make of it. Unsure what to make of Theo in general.
"Ready to go?" Theo asked quietly from the doorway. Thankfully fully dressed again. Liam merely held up the envelope in response. "Ah, yeah. That. Couldn't have you thinking I was nice enough to actually buy you breakfast."
"You wouldn't have had to if you hadn't taken a bite of my bagel," Liam protested.
Theo smirked, adjusting the strap of his duffle around his shoulder. "McDonalds was better and you know it. C'mon, I've got to get you back to Scott and the others."
After another round of hugs, they threw their things in the back seat of Theo's truck.
"What about you?" he asked, hoping in the passenger seat.
"What about me?" Theo asked as he started the engine. Scott had called Derek and secured the safe house. Usually, he rented it to werewolves passing through Beacon Hills on airbnb, but with all the hunter activity lately, it'd been vacant for weeks. He'd sent the address to the pack group chat. The rest of the town hadto think that they'd left for good.
"Where will you go?" Liam asked.
Theo shrugged. "I'll figure something out. I always do."
The thought of Theo sleeping in his truck with nowhere to go, no one to look out for him, left a hollow sensation in Liam's gut.
"You could stay," Liam said, quickly adding, "with the pack."
"They're your pack, not mine," Theo said. "I'd have to watch my back every five seconds if I stayed."
"I think Malia has bigger things to worry about than you."
"I meant from you, dumbass," Theo said, but Liam shook his head.
"We already called a truce," Liam said, but it was more than that. Theo saw him, understood him, in a way that no one else did. Not that Scott didn't understand him, but he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. And controlling his anger came naturally to Scott in a way it never had for Liam. Just because Scott was good at it didn't mean he could teach it. The way this was war with the hunters was going, Liam needed someone like Theo in his corner.
"I know what you did in the station," Liam said quietly. "You were just trying to give me an outlet for my anger."
Theo studied him in the dark cab before turning his attention back to the road. "No need to thank me."
"Wasn't going to," Liam said flatly. "I just, I think you should stay."
"Why?"
Because Liam wanted him to. Because, after everything, he might be starting to trust Theo.
"Because the pack needs you." He watched as Theo swallowed and shifted in his seat. Following the GPS, he turned down a dirt road. When he still didn't say anything, Liam continued, "If you stay with us, you have to fight with us."
"Scott's never going to accept me," Theo said in such a low voice that Liam almost didn't catch it.
"He's starting to," Liam said. "He let you help today. If you stay and help, he might start to see how much you've changed."
After a long ride up a winding road, they came to a stop outside a two-story house buried deep in the woods. Liam would've given anything to know what was going on in Theo's head.
"Okay," Theo said finally. "I'll stay. But the second Malia tries—"
"Shut it," Liam said, jumping out of the truck with more energy than he'd had a minute ago. They grabbed their bags from the back seat, and Theo shut the truck door without something essential. Liam snatched the old blanket and tossed it at Theo. "Don't forget your blankie."
Theo stuffed the blanket in his duffel and shoved him toward the house, but Liam didn't miss the smile that played on his lips.
Theo
Lydia had picked up a few pizzas for them all to share—not that Theo got to enjoy much of it. Since the talk with Liam's parents had taken a while, there were only a few slices left and Liam took a bite out of every single one.
"You realize you've eaten the equivalent of three slices of pizza by taking a bite of each piece," Theo said. As much as he wanted to turn down the free food, he didn't exactly have that luxury. The McDonalds had been the first thing he'd eaten in days and that was only because he'd found a few bucks under the matt in his truck that morning.
With a pointed glare at Liam, who was grinning like a fiend, Theo ate the slices. Liam's bite marks included.
Scott tapped Liam on the shoulder, and he followed his alpha down the hall. Theo knew he shouldn't, but he perked his ear in that direction anyway. "Something you wanna tell me?"
"Sorry, I know," Liam said in a rush, "I should've called you first to make sure it was okay that Theo stays—"
"What? Oh," Scott said, "not that. I don't trust him, but I trust you. And the two of you clearly have a connection."
"We don't—" Liam started, but even Theo could hear the lie.
"It's okay, Liam," Scott said, insistent but gentle. "That's not what this is about. I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"What? Why?"
"I had to hear about what happened with Nolan and Gabe from Corey, and I know you've been working really hard on control and managing your anger. Today it looked like you were struggling a little. I'm sorry I didn't see it soon—"
"Theo," Malia snapped.
"Huh?" he asked, pretending he'd been lost in thought.
"Did you hear any of what we just said?" Lydia asked.
Theo shook his head.
"We already picked rooms," Lydia told them. "Malia and I are sharing the master, and Scott and Corey took the first bedroom. That leaves you and Liam in the last one on the right."
"Got it," Theo said. He didn't have to wonder why they'd picked rooms that way when Corey was eyed him like a feral dog that might snap at any moment. He supposed he shouldn't complain. If he'd been in a room with anyone else, he'd have to keep one eye open all night.
He waited until Liam and Scott returned before taking his duffle to the room. One bed and a futon. He threw his bag down and went to the bathroom to splash cold water on his face, brush his teeth, and change into sweats.
It was nearing 3 in the morning, and Theo wished he had a cup of coffee. Exhaustion weighed on his limbs, but he pried his eyes open for fear of what he might see when he closed them.
Liam wasn't far behind him. "I'll take the futon if you want," he said, even though Theo was currently sitting on it with his legs tucked beneath him.
"And why would you do that, Liam?" Theo asked, rubbing his face.
"When was the last time you slept in real bed?" Liam countered.
"Last night."
"Okay, aside from that, when—"
Theo sighed, wanting to tell Liam that it didn't matter because he wouldn't be sleeping anyway, but Liam tugged at the futon until something clicked and Theo was catapulted backward as the thing flattened to become a bed.
Theo was going to wring his neck. Except that Liam's laugh thawed the heart in his chest ever so slightly.
"Fine," he said and moved to the bed, only pausing to grab the blanket from his duffle. He couldn't help but notice that the futon was right by the door. Almost like Liam wanted Theo to feel safe sleeping in a house with his pack that may or may not want his head on a spike.
Theo sprawled out on the thick mattress, spreading the blanket over his legs, and his body melted into it. He threw an arm behind his head and listened as Liam made himself at home—plugging in his phone, patting the pillows, getting the blanket just right. Such a princess.
"You gonna be able to actually sleep?" Liam whispered across the dark room.
"Probably," Theo answered.
"Night, Theo."
"Night, Liam."
Despite his best efforts, he was too tired to ward off sleep for long.
Theo was trapped in darkness. The pungent stench of rotting flesh and dirt seared the inside of his nostrils. It was too dark to even see his hand in front of his face. Reaching out, his hand met the rough canvas of a bag. He was inside a bag.
A black body bag.
He fumbled for the zipper, frantic to break free. Frantic for a breath of clean air.
"Let me out!" he screamed. "Someone let me out!"
He thrashed, his claws ripping at the material, but it was no use. They couldn't cut the bag. He was trapped—
The zipper started to open, and Theo grabbed at the newly formed opening, yanking it until his head was free, and sucked in fresh air. He was so relieved to be free that it took him a second to realize who had let him out.
Tara, her black hair falling over her eyes and covering her pale face, towered over him.
"You're not real," he whispered. "This isn't happening."
Theo knew what was about to happen. He knew and he couldn't stop it. Tara's hand plunged into his chest, shattering bone and slicing through his skin. Her fingers wrapped around her heart and ripped upward.
Theo would've screamed if all the air hadn't whooshed out of his lungs.
Liam
The sound of whimpering drew Liam of out his dream. The scent of fear was overwhelming. Theo was struggling, fighting invisible enemies, in his sleep.
Liam couldn't help but wonder what the chimera had seen in hell that gave him nightmares this bad.
"Theo?" Liam asked, but Theo didn't wake. He called his name again, dragging himself out of bed and over to the bed.
The boy yelped, his claws slashing at thin air. Liam shook his shoulder.
"Theo, wake up," he whispered.
Instead of opening his eyes, Theo roared and leapt out of bed. His claws wrapped around Liam's throat, slamming him against the wall hard enough that the wall began to bend behind him. Liam could barely draw breath, but he didn't fight back even as his feet lifted from the ground. He just braced his hands against Theo's shoulders.
"Theo," Liam croaked. "It's me. It's Liam."
His only answer was to dig his claws deeper.
"Theo," he whispered, "You're dreaming! Wake up!"
The chimera's eyes snapped open then, glowing yellow and brimming with tears. They focused on Liam, on the hand around his throat, and Theo's hold softened. His claws retracted, his eyes returning to their usual green.
"Liam?" he asked in a voice that nearly shattered Liam's heart. He squeezed Theo's shoulders.
"You're okay, it was just a dream."
Theo released him completely, pushing away from Liam and not stopping until his back hit the opposite wall.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't—fuck, you're bleeding. Liam, I'm so sorry," Theo whispered, a frantic to his voice. He slid to the floor with wide eyes as he stared at his hands. "I didn't mean to—"
Liam crossed the room to Theo and crouched in front of him. The marks on his neck were already almost gone.
"Theo," he whispered, just loudly enough to shut him up. "Look at me." Theo shook his head, ducking his face to keep it hidden, so Liam said it again. "Look at me, Theo."
The chimera swung his gaze up to Liam's, tears tracking down his cheeks. "You didn't hurt me. It was just a dream, okay?"
Theo nodded, but his fists were balled tightly now and blood dripped from them. Liam took both of his hands, unfurling them with just enough force for Theo to let him.
"It was my sister. Tara," he breathed. "Every time I close my eyes, I'm right back in hell." He paused, swallowing hard, and Liam waited. "And she's there. She's always there, lurking in the dark. Waiting to take her heart back. To rip it from my chest."
Liam couldn't breathe. No wonder Theo was so shaken. His sister haunted his dreams, and he probably hadn't rested, really rested, in the months since he'd been back.
"Is that... is that what hell was for you?" Liam asked.
Theo nodded, another tear escaping. Blood coated their joined hands. Liam didn't know how to comfort the boy who never let anyone see the vulnerable pieces of his soul, but he was damn sure going to try.
He drew one of his hands from Theo's and covered the other boy's heart. Tried to, at least. Theo flinched but eventually let Liam's palm lay flat against his chest.
"You hear that?" he asked. "That's your heart. That's your blood pumping through it. Even if it belonged to someone else before, you can't change the past. It's yours now."
"But I stole it," he said, voice cracking. "I killed my own—"
"You were just a kid, Theo," Liam whispered. "You didn't ask for the Dread Doctors. You didn't ask to be a chimera. You didn't ask to be brain washed."
The terror in the room was dissipating slowly but surely. Theo swiped at his fallen tears.
"So, what," Theo asked flatly. "It still happened."
"Yeah," Liam whispered. "It did, but it doesn't have to keep happening to you. You're not in hell anymore. You don't have to keep suffering. I let you out."
Theo's eyes softened at that. "Yeah, you did."
"No need to thank me," Liam whispered, echoing the same words that Theo had spoken to him earlier that night.
Theo huffed a laugh and let Liam pull him to his feet and direct him toward the bed.
"Stay here, I'll be right back." Liam ducked into the hall bathroom and soaked a wash cloth. He scrubbed at the blood around his throat before it could dry there.
Through the walls, Liam heard Scott's voice, "You guys good?"
"Yeah, just a bad dream," Liam whispered and grabbed a glass of water before returning to the room.
Theo was staring out the window and jolted when Liam touched his arm. He handed Theo the glass of water.
Gently, he took his hands one at a time and cleaned the blood from them. He swore under his breath. The marks in his palms were so much deeper than the ones he'd given Liam. They'd take more than a few minutes to heal.
"You gonna be able to sleep, or do I have to knock you out?" Liam asked.
Theo's terrified expression immediately made him regret his words. The fact that he didn't even have a comeback for that made Liam's heart ache.
Liam wasn't sure how to help Theo get back to sleep, but he'd had a lot of nightmares after his mother divorced his biological father for being an abusive prick.
Only one thing had helped him move past them.
"Scrap that, let's try something else," Liam said. Theo eyed him suspiciously as Liam stretched out diagonally across the bed. "Don't look at me like that, I'm trying to help you."
"I have no clue why."
"Maybe because there's one way I like to be choked in the middle of the night, and that was not it."
Theo clapped a hand over his mouth, and his shoulders shook with laughter. "Didn't realize you had a kinky streak."
"There's a lot of things you don't realize about me." The words were out before Liam could stop them. "Just, lay down."
To his surprise, Theo did. Tentatively, he laid his head on Liam's chest, and Liam ran his fingers through Theo's tangled but soft hair.
"What are you doing," Theo asked. He didn't sound mad, just curious.
"My mom used to do it when I was little. I used to have nightmares about my father abusing her, and she would do this until I fell asleep. She promised to stay with me and wake me up if I started having another nightmare."
Theo turned his head, his ear resting against Liam's sternum, and their eyes met.
"I could hurt you."
Scott's words had been cycling through his mind—that Liam and Theo had a connection. Maybe they did. He'd watched Theo's rapid-fire emotions after waking up, and Theo had been horrified at the thought that he might have accidentally hurt him. Theo might act tough. He might act like he was the most important son of a bitch out there and that he hated everyone else, but the person he hated the most was himself.
"You could, but you won't," Liam whispered, wondering how Theo would react if he let one of his hands rest of his chest, and thought better of it. "Just try and relax. I'll wake you up if you start having another nightmare."
Some of the tension seemed to leave Theo's shoulders.
"Promise?" Theo asked.
"Promise."
For a while, the only sound in the room was their synchronized breathing. It was so quiet that Liam wondered if he'd started to drift off.
"Liam?" Theo's voice was impossibly soft.
"Hmm?"
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"Not letting me rot in hell."
"That's what friends are for."
"Friends?" Theo asked, cracking an eye open.
"Yes, Theo," he whispered. "Friends. Get some sleep."
The ghost of a smile danced on Theo's lips, and Liam kept his fingers buried in Theo's hair, stroking along his scalp. When Theo shifted onto his stomach, burying his nose into Liam's rib cage, Liam dared to trace circles down Theo's back until the chimera's breath softened and sleep claimed him again.
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