| Condition Obscure |
Theo had no sooner parked when Liam was running toward the emergency room entrance. Once through the double doors he nearly collided with a nurse leading a man with a broken arm from the waiting room. Spotting the front desk, he hurried over. "I'm looking for Scott McCall's room."
"I'll be with you in a minute," the older woman grumbled, tapping at the keyboard and looking back and forth between it and a chart next to it.
"This is kind of urgent."
"Son, if there's a patient here, there's nothing you can do that our team can't."
"Scott McCall. His room. Then I'll be out of your hair," Liam said, glaring right back at her.
"Jesus, Liam," Theo said, walking up behind him. "Those two seconds wouldn't have mattered."
"Looking to be 20 minutes at this rate," Liam sassed.
"Okay, that's gonna' get us nowhere," the chimera said, seeing the nurse's face. "Sorry about him," Theo continued, side stepping the werewolf. "He gets nightmares about hospitals so he's always a bit of an ass the moment he arrives. My dad's a surgeon so I understand how it can be with patients and their family. Scott's his brother and we just drove up from LA. We'd really appreciate it if you could direct us to his room and we'll be on our way; you don't have to spend the next who knows how long with him."
The nurse raised her eyebrow but surprisingly looked back at the screen, clicked a few buttons with the mouse, and tapped at the keyboard. "Names?"
"I'm Theo Raeken and this is Liam Dunbar."
"Follow the signs to the ICU. Room 308. Your names are on the list. There's a security check so have your IDs."
"Thank you so much," Theo said with a warm smile. Turning to Liam, he yanked his head to follow. Liam complied, exchanging a look with the woman.
"She bought your bullshit less than I did," Liam said when they were further down the hall. "Liar."
"And yet we're no longer stuck at the desk are we?" he retorted. They looked at each other, Theo smirking.
"Ass," Liam said, turning the corner and pausing, spotting the tall man down the hall with a blue jacket with big yellow 'FBI' letters on the back.
"You like mine," Theo said, slapping Liam's and passing him, proceeding towards the man. Liam glared at the back of his head as he followed. "We're on the list."
"IDs?" the man said throatily. The pair handed them over and after cross checking the agent handed them back. "His parents are in there now and he's not allowed anymore right now. The rest of your friends or family are in the cafeteria.
Liam and Theo exchanged looks before Theo nodded and dragged the werewolf along with him.
"Liam?" Melissa said, the door having opened.
"Ms. McCall," the boy said, hurrying over to her and embracing her. "How are you?"
She shook her head. When she pulled away, though, she wiped the tears out of her eyes and forced a smile. "Do you wanna' see him real quick?" Liam nodded. She led him inside and there, sitting in a chair on the far side of the bed, was Scott's father. Argent was standing against the corner away from the bed by the window, smiling softly at Liam. And Scott, he looked like he did on the day they tried to catch the Benefactor, only less pale and more burned.
She led him closer and Liam looked down at his alpha, a numbing feeling taking over before rage swelled in him. "It's okay," Argent said and Liam knew his eyes were glowing through his scowl.
He closed them and let the rage dissipate. He looked down at him and reached out, taking his hand. Their veins began to blacken, the dose of pain shooting up from Scott and into his beta. He pulled away and Melissa took his hand. They exchanged a look and he hugged her once again.
Liam found Theo in the hall, leaning against the wall, ankles and arms crossed. "You okay?" he said as he pushed himself up straight.
Liam kept walking, though. He made for where they came, looking for the rest of the pack. "I'm gonna' kill whoever did this."
Theo smiled. "Only if you let me help."
/ | * | * | \
"How do we know it wasn't Monroe?" Liam heard come from inside the cafeteria. Theo pushed open the double doors and Liam followed. "Now he arrives," Brenden said, Liam's rival in the pack as he was Scott's third beta-by-bite.
"Oh give it a rest, B," Jessie said, a werewolf recruited after Alec. Liam surveyed the room and saw that Alec was there with his friends, most of who Liam had only ever had one interaction with. The other recruits were there, too, including Kenny, who was inconsolable despite Chloe's attempts.
"She was on guard," Mason said, looking at Liam looking at his fellow beta. "You good?" Liam nodded, walking over to his best friend, Corey, and Hayden.
"Should he really be here?" Brenden said, eyeing Theo. "It could've been him for all we know."
"Why don't you take a walk," Hayden said, getting up to her feet.
"Bombs aren't really my style," Theo said, having redirected from following Liam to getting close to the abrasive detractor.
"He was with me anyway, so fuck you," Liam said.
"Whatever you say, blue eyes."
Liam was on his feet and rushing. Theo was the first to grab him before Hayden blocked him and Corey caught his other arm. Jessie stepped in front of Brenden, glaring down at the shorter beta. The others had all made moves as well when Kenny looked up at them and yelled. "Just stop it!"
Brenden stormed out, slamming one of the double doors behind him. "I'm gonna' go make sure he doesn't do anything stupid," Jessie said before darting after him. The pack exchanged looks all around, some of them making gestures of fatigue and frustration.
"So what exactly happened?" Theo said, patting Liam's shoulder before turning to look at Mason.
"Scott was meeting his advisor at a bar. Restaurant?"
"Pub," Corey offered.
"Pub. He was there for less than a minute when there was an explosion. Eighteen casualties. Forty-two casualties."
"Did you see anything suspicious?" Liam said, turning to Kerry.
"Just a man. A blond guy," Kerry said through her throatal sobs.
"And you told the cops?" Liam said, receiving a nod. "Did he seem like a hunter?"
"I don't know."
"Liam, we've already been through this," Mason said, looking at the shame Kerry continued to exhibit.
"Hence what we walked in on about Monroe," Theo offered.
"Hey guys," Argent said, walking into the room. "There's too many of you for a motel and Scott...we don't know when he'll wake up. You can all go home, but the hospital did offer up a a waiting room for us all to get some sleep. As long as chairs are alright."
"We'll make do," Hayden said, looking at him gratefully.
/ | * | * | \
Liam woke to being jabbed in the arm. He opened his mouth to argue when he saw Mason jerking his head for him to follow. The duo slipped out of the dark room and started down the hall. "What's wrong?" Liam asked, rubbing his eyes. "Is it Scott?"
"No change. He's still...yeah," Mason said.
"What is it?"
"I…" Mason paused. Liam looked down at his phone, noting that he'd gotten a mere four hours of sleep. "I'm...I'm not trying to be an ass, but where were you tonight?" Liam didn't answer. He simply looked away, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "Liam, you can talk to me. Whatever it is. I know...I know everything with China is still fresh, and that we haven't actually sat down and talked about it, but just know that you can." Liam still didn't answer. "And if...if it's something else...dude, I'm your best friend. I'm here."
"Mason, I…" Liam stopped himself, feeling the numbing feeling return.
"We don't have to right now," Mason offered.
"No. Just...I need a sec." Liam stopped in the middle of a hallway and let himself slide down to the floor, bending his knees up. Mason did the same opposite him, looking down at his hands. "I've been coping. I guess. No more attacks…for now. Jayna took me to the movies today. Finally got around to seeing Deadpool 2."
"Epic, right?" Mason said with a wide grin, earning one from Liam.
The werewolf paused, thinking back at the film. His expression deteriorated, though, as his thoughts wandered back to his feelings. The impetus for the movie. "Mason...something else happened."
"In China?"
Liam shook his head. "Since I've been back." He paused again, looking down.
"Whatever it is you can tell me."
"I know. I've just been struggling with how." Liam looked down the hall, suddenly focused on the nurse leading a shuffling patient with a mobile IV. "I'm...seeing someone," he said, turning back to his friend. "I think."
"Okay..."
"I...it's a guy." Mason's expression didn't change, furthering Liam to look away for the next part. "It's...it's Theo." When an infinite number of seconds passed and Mason didn't respond, Liam glanced up at him. His expression was still the same. "Mase?"
"I'm glad you told me. I guess...I guess I'd considered that was what was going on? I wasn't sure and I only thought about it once." The human looked down at his hands for a few seconds. "I'm happy you came out to me, whatever that means for you. I'm thrilled actually. You're my best friend and I...I want you to be happy. To be yourself." Mason took a deep breath, even closed his eyes. "Liam, have you considered he could be using you to get at Scott again?" he asked, only opening his eyes after finishing his words.
"No. I haven't," the werewolf answered softly.
"Don't you think you should?"
"No, 'cuz I kissed him first."
"Oh."
"You thought he seduced me?" Mason nodded. "He didn't. I mean, I'm almost positive."
Okay." A pause sat between them, neither of them looking at each other. "You really like him don't you?" Liam nodded, sharing in the eye contact. "Fuck," Mason said, looking away. The werewolf waited, hoping the human would explain. His friend turned back to him, letting out a seemingly stressful deep breath. "I'll try then; for you."
Liam only beamed.
"I know it's cliché," Mason started, standing up and the werewolf doing the same, "but if he hurts you—"
"Please don't," Liam said with a sigh.
"I'll sick the pack after him."
"Okay." The beta smiled, urging one from the human before him. Mason held out his fist, to which Liam pounded.
"We should, uh, we should get back to the others. See if there's any updates on Scott."
Liam nodded and they made for the waiting room. After rounding only the first corridor, Charlie, another werewolf recruit, spotted them from the end of the hallway. "Hey, the pack's meeting in the cafeteria again," the shyer boy said.
"Something happen?" Liam asked.
"Lydia's here."
/ | * | * | \
Hayden and Lydia were in the middle of an embrace when Liam and Mason found them. Not all of the pack members had arrived yet—most of Alec's friends were the last to straggle in. Lydia spotted the more familiar duo and smiled at them. "They let you in to see him?" Mason asked as she walked over to them.
The banshee nodded. "His mom asked me to go in."
"Are you okay?" Liam said, looking at her shaken body language.
"I will be. When he wakes up."
"And...he's going to?" Mason said wincingly.
"Yes...um, guys!" she said, turning to the room. "Listen, um, let me try and assuage your fears. I'm here because I got a phone call, not a premonition okay. So just, just be there for him okay. We all need to be." She turned away and found a seat.
"Lydia?" Liam said, crouching in front of her and placing a hand over her's.
"I can't lose another one."
"But you said—" Mason began.
"We don't know if she was too far away," Stiles said, walking into the room, Argent behind him.
"You're back," Alec said.
"I've been allowed on Scott's case on a probationary level. Since I'm too close to the vic—since I'm too close to Scott they want me at command for information purposes only. I'm not to be in the field."
"I guess that's where we come in," Brenden said, smiling devilishly.
"Actually, no," Stiles admitted, earning a lot of murmurs and looks. "As for Scott's attacker, you can't get in the way. At all. But, what you can do is link him to Monroe. Alec, you said you think someone's spying on you in San Camilo?"
"Yeah," the youngest of the recruits began. "Toby found something and Noelle confirmed it."
"Okay," Stiles said. "Go home, see what or who you can smoke out. Take Brenden and Charlie with you."
"Who's gonna' stay here and protect Scott while he's unconscious?" Brenden challenged.
"His dad and Argent for now. Plus, Chloe, Jessie, and Kenny are gonna' stay as well." Brenden glared at Kenny but kept his mouth shut. Stiles turned to the junior pack. "They're letting me see my dad before I need to come back up here. Lydia and I need to run an errand while we're down there. Liam, I need you on point for something."
"What is it?" the first of the betas said.
Stiles handed him three passes for a two-day festival. "Pick who you want to go."
"A festival?"
"We found him. The guy who killed Brett and Lori."