| Isolate |

Author's Note: The first of four to kick off my 5x09 countdown. I hope you all like this Sceo fic—Theo is such a lovable tool.

They began as blurs. Incremental and abrupt. The second-to-last one Scott was able to hang on for half a minute before losing consciousness again. He was in a dark room, maybe a basement? When he was finally able to hang on, he heard a noise. He looked over, noticing he was in chair when he actually felt his muscles again. In the far room, separated only by an arch, he saw unfamiliar equipment but not persons. He closed his eyes to listen for any heartbeats, but when he did, the memories came flashing back.

They were all dead.

Hayden. Mason. Malia. Kira was gone. And Stiles…Scott's lungs seized him out of the memory. That terrifying though that threatened to be real. He looked down, trying to assess how to get out of the unfamiliar location. He's definitely in a chair—solid, maybe even metal. His torso is strapped, binding his chest and arms to it; his feet are just the same. He tries to extend his claws but they don't want to cooperate. Then he hears it again: a clatter.

"Scott?"

It's Theo's voice. Thank god. "Theo?" Scott whispers. "Help, I'm stuck."

Theo comes into view and his body language should have been the clue. "Sorry, Scott, can't this time."

Scott immediately frowns into confusion. "What do you—"

"They're not gonna' hurt you, I promise."

"Theo? Please, tell me you're not—" But Scott cut himself off; the answer was obvious. "Please, don't."

"It's okay. I promise," Theo said now only a foot away. "They only want a sample, and then it's over."

"Why are you doing this?"

"It's hard to explain. Scott for the longest time I've just…here, lemme' show you." Theo stepped forward and kissed him. Scott immediately turned away, his eyes wider than they were seconds ago. "It's okay," Theo said, grabbing the far side of Scott's face to force their lips back together. Scott turned the other way Theo was suddenly on top of him, forcing his lips on him and their foreheads together, moving rather desperately. "God, I've wanted you for long," he breathed, holding onto Scott's face, his eyes closed. "Ever since I met you, really met you. It was in the nurse's office. That day…you made everything okay."

"Theo, stop—mmph."

Theo kissed him harder this time, even trying to get Scott to open his mouth. And the alpha did, allowing Theo in as a diversion before—mustering as much strength as he could into one arm—breaking his arm free of the strap and driving his claws into Theo. His aim, although meant to be into his back or shoulder, led him into the back of the blonde's neck. In one swift motion, he was in Theo's mind. His memories. Incoherent memories that skipped and jumped through time without any sense of time or chronology. But through all of them, there wasn't pain. No anguish or despair. Not when his sister died in the creek. Not when he killed his parents. Not when he killed his otherwise pack mates—Scott's friends. Most of them were just flat, but now and then there were traces of desire…to see more suffering in others.

Scott lurched back into the present, his claw releasing the blonde before Theo fell back. He fell hard onto the cement, knocking his head amongst other parts. Scott froze for a minute, paralyzed by the memories that weren't his own. By Theo letting his sister die. Killing his parents. Killing Stiles…oh, god, it was real! Scott turned to tear the straps away and spun in the chair to land on his feet. He ran. Ran hard. Into the other room with the stasis tank and surgical tools. Towards the stairs that only led up.

"Scott, wait…" he heard weakly. He paused. He shouldn't have but he paused, the 'true' nature in him still empathizing with his betrayer. He turned to see Theo in a daze, a little blood under the boy's head. But then the air buzzed, accompanied by that sound. Particles cracking and space being shifted. Scott stepped forward to run, finding instantly that the door at the top of the stairs opening. There they were. The Dread Doctors. Descending upon him, the cane wielding Surgeon at the fore.

The alpha in Scott surged, his eyes blazing harder than they had in a long time. His more wolfish features extended fully, even threatening to morph all the way into their killer's appearance seen only once before (against the assassin team). He leaped at them, ready to war for his freedom and avenge them all. At first the Pathologist fell, Scott landing a perfect blow to the right tubes feeding into his mask. The Geneticist fought hard but Scott's power he'd mustered against Peter returned and he was able to push her back hard, opening a window to handle to Surgeon alone.

It didn't last.

The Surgeon drew forth his thin sword from its sheath and attacked. Scott could only evade, finding the strange doctor's speed increasing to supernatural levels. And then Geneticist was back, striking Scott in his kidney with a metal-covered fist. Another blow to his shoulder, and then a punch to his face from the Surgeon left the alpha on the floor face down. In his defeat he was able to watch, watch as the Doctors circled him, watch as Theo rose from his stun. And then Scott was being lifted by his shirt before two hands dragged him over to the chair again, discarding him face down on top of it.

Theo's face came into view, clearly not hurt by Scott's reaction. "Don't let them do this," Scott pleaded with a dry tongue.

Theo smiled, more endearing than dickish. He reached forward and pet his hair, feeling the brunette strands roll over his fingers before leaning over and kissing the alpha's temple. "It'll be over soon," he started, breathing against Scott's ear. "And then we can be together." And then the Pathologist was towering over Scott, his fingertips electrifying blue, angled for the back of Scott's neck.