| Innervation |

"We'll be back tonight, sweetheart," Pamela said, hugging her son tightly.

"Just let me know when you're on your way," Liam said. "We've got a thing tonight and possibly tomorrow."

"Okay. Please look after yourselves."

"Of course, mom," Liam said, trading cheek kisses with her as she pulled away.

Mark stepped in for his own hug. "Thank you for telling us. I expect to hear more about what's really been going on when we get back."

"I...okay."

Jayna opened the bathroom door and stepped out. "You...I expect you in one piece when I get back." She kissed Liam's forehead and looked at Theo, pointing at him just as threateningly as she had at her nephew. "And you, I expect you to look after him."

"Always," Theo said, smiling when she swatted at his cheek.

"Hey, dad?" Liam started, causing him to stop with the screen door pushed against him. "If anything changes...or happens…"

"You'll be my first call," Dr. Geyer said. "But he'll be fine," he said, offering a warm smile.

Liam nodded and the three resident adults took their leave to the car. Liam watched from the screen as they piled in the car. Theo walked up behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist, resting his chin on his shoulder. "Will you be here when I tell them about Monroe?"

"You know I will." Theo watched as the car backed out of the driveway before taking off down the road. "We should talk first, though."

"About?" Liam said, taking the front door in hand and closing it. He walked over to the couch and fell into it with his full body.

Theo took a seat on the coffee table. "Brett." Liam gave him a daring glare. "We don't have to do it now, but I suspect you've never talked to anyone about it." Liam looked away, gazing over toward the stairs with glowing blue eyes. "Alright. I'm gonna' make some lunch." He stood up, bent over, kissed Liam's lips, and walked into the kitchen. "We can get your car after," he called out, opening the refrigerator.

/ | * | * | \

"I know it's under crap conditions, but I'm glad you came to see me," Noah Stilinski said, patting Stiles' shoulder. "Parrish has started bringing me...salads. I needed this."

"Good," Stiles said, eyebrows high and face aglow, "I asked him to."

"You did what?" the sheriff said, loud enough to force the woman in front of them to turn and give them the side glance. Lydia, however, stared right back.

"Barbeque and...everything isn't good for you. We've talked about this."

"Why're you trying to ruin my life?"

"Save, dad, I think you mean save."

"I'm ordering my own lunch."

"Mm hmm...sure."

"Stiles."

"Technically, I outrank you now," Stiles said.

"Ah, let me see your badge real quick," his father said. Stiles dug out the leather and handed it to him. The sheriff opened it, glanced at the ID card and the shiny metal opposite it. He quickly stuffed it in his pocket. "Now I'm ordering my own lunch."

Stiles frowned. He turned around to look back at Lydia, only to see a familiar face several people behind in the line. Oliver Rooney was looking down at his feet, listening to a significantly shorter woman talking to him with a frustrated expression, a man taller than Oliver behind them making a face. Stiles looked for longer than intended and his former roommate looked up. Stiles attempted a smile, even a wave, and Oliver's face went white. Stiles' expression diminished into confusion and it was then that Oliver screamed. Before the entire restaurant could turn and look, he was out the door and before Stiles could reach the metal passage chasing after him it happened. A crash, a thud, a skid of tires. Stiles came to a halt on the walkway leading into the building. He, like the man that was presumably Oliver's father, was staring at the still body in the road some ten feet in front of the construction truck.

/ | * | * | \

Theo made the familiar turns to the old firehouse. Liam hadn't said a word since his parents left and being next to him in the truck was no different. The chimera kept his radio off, unsure of how to approach the firecracker next to him. When they came upon the abandoned building, the werewolf's car was the only one near its vicinity. Theo parked the truck behind him and Liam immediately unbuckled before grabbing at the door handle.

"So that's how we're doing this?" Theo said, pushing back against his seat. They exchanged a look before Liam continued to get out. Theo looked away out his window waited for the door to close. When it did, the older boy felt that rise within him. He got out of the truck and stepped in front of Liam before he could successfully cross between the vehicles towards his car.

"I'll see you at the festival," Liam said, "We need to go."

"That's it? After more than an hour?"

"We can talk later, after I kill him." Liam pushed by him, tapping at the auto unlock. The werewolf opened the driver's door, only for a hand to slam it close. He reared on Theo, only to find himself pushed hard against the car and a pair of lips crushed to his. The pain was shared between them, their teeth digging into the soft flesh between the force. Theo brought his hand into Liam's hair, raking through it before pulling away completely.

"Fine," Theo said, glaring back at the slightly shorter boy before getting back into his truck. Liam's eyes followed Theo until the door slammed closed. He looked away, pushed off, and punched the top of the frame before getting into his car. Theo could see the second punch at the steering wheel. There was a pause. He could sense the rage dip. The car in front of him started up and Theo followed.

/ | * | * | \

Jordan pushed the pen through the spiral before shoving the notepad in his pocket. "Officially, we would follow up with Eichen House to see if Oliver ever filed any complaints against you."

"And unofficially?" Lydia said, arms around a face cradling Stiles.

"We know there isn't even if he did make a complaint. Eichen House has been purged of anything supernatural, even any records of occurrences."

"Including when I...he attacked him?" Stiles said into his hands.

"Even that." Jordan looked over at the sheriff, taking the truck driver's statement while another deputy attended to the Rooneys' statement. "Look, Stiles, I have to ask. What the hell is going on? First Scott…"

"We're still trying to figure that out," Lydia said, squeezing at the back of her boyfriend's neck. "We need to go."

"Where?" Jordan said.

"To see if there's a pattern," Stiles said. "Are we good?"

"Yeah." Stiles took out his keys. "Good to see you, Lydia."

"You too." The couple started walking towards the car. Lydia took the keys from him and got in the driver's seat. Stiles dug out his phone as he clambered in, typing out a message to his father. "I was hoping we'd never have to go back there."

Stiles clicked 'Send' and looked up at the redhead. He took her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed the back of it. "We'll be fine. We just need some answers"

Lydia started them down the road, away from the accident, from the restaurant, from downtown Beacon Hills. When they found themselves at the familiar eerie building, they exchanged a silent look. Stiles grabbed Lydia's hand as they started their way in, not letting go of it even when they walked up to the front desk. "Name?" the young attendant said in that familiar apathetic drawl.

"Special Agent Stilinski," Stiles said, flashing his badge he got back from his father. "Would you let Ms. Morrell know we're here to see her."

/ | * | * | \

Liam and Theo continued to walk silently down the sidewalk, the density of people increasing with every step. The barrage of chemo signals was too much for them, forcing them to block the inputs. The smell of cigarettes and joints dominated the air around them, followed all too closely by the smell of sweat that had already begun to perspire despite the festival not even being underway. After rounding a corner, the duo set their sights on Mason, Corey, and Hayden up ahead.

"Hey," Mason said, bumping fists with Liam.

"Stiles only gave you three tickets?" Corey said. Liam simply nodded, digging into wallet for them. "Well there's five of us, so…"

"You and Hayden are gonna' patrol the perimeter," the werewolf said, shoving his fingers into the pouch and making a face as he'd yet to locate them.

"I don't know how much good I'll be in there," Mason said.

"This is Gerard's man, not Monroe's," Liam said, finally pulling them and looking seriously up at his friends. "I need a spy and muscle out here in case there's more hunters. This could be a trap. Mason, you're gonna' park yourself somewhere. Act like you're on the phone. Theo and I are gonna' keep our hearing tuned so you call what you see. Anomalies. Hunters."

"Harper," Mason affirmed, earning a nod from Liam.

"I resent not being considered 'muscle,'" Corey grumbled.

"Follow in after us," Liam said, handing his best friend a ticket. "We ready?"

With the pack set, Liam and Theo got in line. Mason kissed his boyfriend before getting behind a number of people that had already joined the line. He looked ahead at Liam and Theo. He sensed it when they first walked up and he definitely sensed it now. Their body language. Their expressions. This isn't going to go well, he thought.

/ | * | * | \

"In what capacity are you here today, Stiles?" Morrell said, leaned back in her office chair. "As the special agent or the patient?"

"I would say the emissary, but—"

"You don't exactly know what that entails," she offered.

"I was going to say it would be rude, but maybe that's what we'll go with as I'm all out of my usual charm today."

"Stiles," Lydia warned.

"What can I do for you?" Morrell said, seemingly unphased.

"Oliver Rooney just committed suicide," Stiles said.

"I've heard."

"I'd like to see his file and anything you can share about him."

"Now you see why I asked the question."

"I'm not...I'm asking on behalf of the Bureau," he said, taking out his badge and placing it face down on the desk. "I'm asking on behalf of Scott."

"Do you have a theory?"

"A working one. I need more of the pieces. What was Oliver being treated for?"

"You never discussed it while you were here?"

"We never discussed it."

"He was—"

Ring, ring.

"Good afternoon," Morrell said after bringing the phone to her ear.

…

"It's no trouble, Mr. Allen. Tell Jasper that I hope he feels better and I'll see him next week."

"Jasper?" Stiles' face went white, his eyes widening. "When was the last time Oliver was in Eichen House?" he said as the former emissary hang up.

"He never stopped," Morrell said.

Stiles stood, the chair scraping backward. Lydia followed him, Morrell not much further behind them.

/ | * | * | \

Liam and Theo stopped near the side of the strip of food vendors. Liam spotted Mason get into the line furthest from them, looking intent on getting a drink. The werewolf tore his eyes away to look around. He surveyed the main gathering within the grounds, how it funneled people towards some of the smaller areas reserved for food, shopping, and bathrooms, each away from the large corridor towards the stage. A band was already playing, some ska opening-act Liam didn't recognize. He looked over toward it, their elevated vantage giving him more access to see clearer. In the process, though, he saw Theo was only looking at him. He looked away, even pushing off the wall he was leaning against to get those few feet closer to the crowd.

"I'm sorry," Theo said, walking up behind him.

Liam quickly looked at him, aghast. "Did you hit your head?"

The chimera frowned. "Like you said, I'm trying."

The werewolf looked his face over. He reached out his hand and took Theo's into his own. "You...I'm actually the one that's sorry. Brett's a touchy subject for me." The lights around the venue suddenly turned on, the sky darkening by the minute, the sun just under the horizon.

"I know," Theo said, rubbing at his jaw with his free hand, a smirk on his lips.

"Yeah, you do," Liam said, smirking back. He looked down at their links hand, smile fading.

"It's why I'm apologizing. You know this whole socializing-communication-relationship shit is foreign to me. I'm destined to trip over a lot of wires if this is gonna' work."

"Relationship?" Liam said, looking back up at Theo's face with a grin.

"Something like that," Theo said, grinning back and taking a step closer.

"Only something?" Liam said before kissing him. Theo deepened it, grabbing hold of the shorter boy's waist and prodding his lips with his tongue. Liam let out a huff of air through his nose as he granted the older boy entrance. Theo let out a noise, subtle save for Liam's ears. When the werewolf breathed in, however, he picked it up. That familiar scent. Through the thick haze of smells that loitered and churned, through the arousal and lust emanating between them, he could sense him.

Liam pulled back. Theo expected a look of lust, pleasure at least; instead he saw the anger just before he felt the rise. Heard his heartbeat jump in pace. Liam was looking around and Theo followed. And then Liam was walking. The chimera naturally followed, a moment passing before he spotted the werewolf's prey. Harper Graham was walking through a thick of people, making for one of the side alleys. They stalked him to a men's restroom building, far secluded from the crowds.

"How do you want to do this?" Theo whispered.

/ | * | * | \

Stiles burst into his old room and found it unoccupied. He glanced around in a frenzy. He moved over to Oliver's old bed, looking under it, under the mattress, under the pillow, feeling the sheets. He moved to repeat the same inspection on his own former bed. "Stiles?" Lydia said, stopping in the doorway, Morrell right behind her. "Stiles!"

"Something's wrong," Stiles said, finished looking over the bed before turning to the blinds-covered windows. He pulled them up and, finding nothing, gazed out across the courtyard and into the near-darkened sky. "I can feel it, I just...fuck!" He started to rub at the tension formed just above his eyes.

Lydia walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Scott's gonna' wake up."

"You don't know that."

"Tell me your theory, Stiles," Morrell said, walking into the room and closing the door.

"Monroe kidnapped Jasper, brainwashed him. He came back to the States after he was rescued, came home. He started coming here. He met Oliver. Told him his plan...something. Oliver freaked and…" He paused and let out an exasperated sigh. "It's on the tip of my tongue, this piece, I just…"

"Maybe this is what you're looking for," Morrell said. Stiles and Lydia turned to look at her as she stepped to the side, away from blocking view of the inside of the door. Stiles and Lydia both went pale as they looked upon the vandalized wood.

Bzz, bzz.

Stiles jammed his hand in his pocket, finding his cellphone. He looked at the text message. "No...no, no, no." He dug out another phone, his own phone, and tapped at it, finding Liam's name under contacts. He tapped to call him, bringing the phone to his ear. "Fuck!" He switched to the messenger when Liam didn't answer. His fingers moved urgently.

/ ABORT /

Liam walked into the bathroom to find that it was empty. He looked around, eyes aglow and hunting. He spotted the pathway into a second room of stalls and the second entrance/exit. He pursued, ignoring the hissed wait behind him. He rounded the corner immediately gasped.

"I almost had you that night," the older hunter said before taking his hand from the handle of the dagger embedded in the werewolf's abdomen and thrusting at the hilt. Liam tripped over his feet as he fell backward. Harper took a quick step back, simultaneously drawing a revolver from under his shirt. "It's Theo, isn't it? I can see the yellow glow reflecting off the wall."

Theo stepped out into the open, fully transformed, teeth bared. "I'm gonna' kill you," Liam said, trying his best to stand.

The chimera glanced back at the younger boy. He looked at the glistening dagger. He saw how deep it was. He could smell the potency of the aconite. He felt the rise. Embraced it. "Sorry, Li." Theo whipped around and evaded. The bullet grazed his shoulder. His claw was in Harper's chest. He was on top of him. The gun was out of their reach. He felt the surge in his jaw, making his mouth water. He struck at Harper's face. Then his chest. His neck. His shoulder. His collar. His neck. His face. His neck. His neck. His neck. His neck. He felt the light movement of air around them. He felt the sensation of drops of cold on his face. He felt the blood. He looked at his hands, his claws and the carmine warmth covering them. He looked back down at the lifeless body under him, at his face. His nose pulsed. He snarled. He roared. It was good. It was sweet. It was good.

The lights around the festival grounds suddenly shut off. Gunshots followed on cue near the stage. Automatic fire. "Liam?" Theo said, looking back toward his wounded partner.

"I was hoping I'd meet the real you," said a voice in the darkness, his words articulated through a pair of fangs.

Theo pushed himself back up to his feet, the infrared still revealing no one. "Show yourself." He glanced down at Liam, his heart skipping as he saw the boy was still only a few feet away.

"This game involves two worthy generals," the voice said. "We'll see if you're a worthy opponent like they say. I hope you are. I've never lost this one."

Theo looked around frantically, his ears still finding nothing until he saw the spark. He focused and saw that it was the end of a severed power cord on the ground. He tried looking back towards Liam, only to feel the full might of the missing end whipped across his chest. His whole body flew across the grass until he hit the perimeter wall. All the red became black.