Alone

Trigger warning: Contains mention of physical and sexual abuse towards the end.

AN: I'm back!

I've had a bit of a rollercoaster of a year (maybe more since I've last posted). Brief summary of the cause of my absence. After my boss left my job I got promoted was working 60+ hours a week before I left a few months back. I just moved across the country and started a new job where I'm working a lot fewer hours and in a much better environment. Fortunately, after the move I was without internet for a while. As bad as that sounds, it gave me time to work on this story finally. I have finished writing all of Season 5 and have edited the first half as best I can. If you notice errors let me know, I'm not always the best at editing my own work.

I've also worked on the prequel but haven't updated what's out there as I plan to do a bulk upload once I've completely finished. I have plans for Season 6a and b and will start writing those after I finish the prequel. I plan to publish a chapter every week so that will give me some time to write.

While editing I've updated a few things in the previous chapters. Nothing major really but small details and word choices. If you'd like to feel free to go back and read them. I purposefully did not change too much so you could continue on and pick up the changes as you go if you don't want to spend the time. With that said. There is a bit of a style shift coming up, hopefully it's not too jarring.

If you're new to this story welcome aboard!

I hope you all enjoy, let me know how you feel about it as I upload. I can always revisit the story if there are changes that need to be made.

"So, this book brings back memories that we may have about the Dread Doctors?" Steve asked Lydia flipping through the pages.

"Yes, and we are reading it tonight, at Scott's house. Follow me." Lydia said as she started to walk away, "We could use more eyes." Lydia told him when Steve hesitated.

Steve pulled up to Scott's house behind Lydia and they headed inside. Stiles sat up after seeing Steve walk in.

"I invited him. One more person isn't going to hurt," she told Stiles.

"Or two," Stiles huffed, nodding towards Theo.

Steve started to sense the chemosignals in the room. Everyone was anxious, except Theo, who appeared to be calm. Steve squinted, after last night he would have to investigate Theo on his own.

"My mom's book club usually has more wine," Lydia commented as they were starting at the copies on the table.

"Well, they also probably don't read books that cause violent hallucinations," Stiles replied.

"That's why Malia is here," Scott said.

"So none of us go running into traffic," Kira added.

"Or worse," Scott finished.

"Like what happened to Judy," Malia stated, "Chapter fourteen," she added when she noticed everyone staring at her.

"Oh," Stiles nervously nodded.

"Maybe I should have my mother read it," Lydia said picking up the book, "she won't remember a girl with a tail leaping off the ceiling and attacking everyone."

Steve chuckled softly at her dark joke.

"Right, if it works," Stiles said.

"It has to," she responded.

"What does that mean?" Scott asked

"I think I saw them during my surgery." Everyone in the room tensed a bit and looked at Lydia. "When I look at the cover of the book, it's almost like. . ."

"A memory trying to surface," Theo finished, causing everyone to shift their gaze to him.

"Yeah."

"Isn't that what Valack wanted when he wrote it?" Kira asked. Malia nodded in response.

"It sounds like it will work," Steve added.

Lydia nodded, "If they did something to me, I want to know what it is." She took the book and found a seat.

Everyone reached in for their own copy and got comfortable. Steve began to grow bored after about hour. The book was not well written at all. He glanced around and saw that he wasn't the only one that thought so as everyone was struggling to stay awake. He noticed he was further ahead than everyone except Lydia. He could feel Stiles glancing at him every now and then. There was still a trace of anger coming from him, that grew stronger each time Stiles looked at him. Steve shook his head and returned his focus to reading.

"Anyone feel anything yet?" Scott asked.

"Tired," Kira answered with a tone of resignation.

"Hungry," Lydia replied.

"I think he meant the book," Theo said.

Steve shook his head at the comment. Lydia sighed and returned to her book. Stiles started to massage his shoulder while Malia was getting a round of coffee for everyone.

"What did you do to your shoulder?" she whispered. Steve glanced up from his book and saw Theo was listening as well.

"What're you talking about," Stiles replied.

"I can smell the blood," she told him, "What happened?"

"Jeep died on me again. I had to check the engine and the hood fell on it." Steve heard Stiles's heartbeat accelerate and knew Malia heard it to from her chemosignals. "Hey, how much, uh," Stiles tried to change the subject, "how much do you remember anyway? I mean the accident did it play like a movie in your head or was it like being completely in it again?"

"In it."

"Was it just the crash? Nothing else?"

Malia paused a bit, "Nothing," she said quickly. Steve heard her heartbeat accelerate as well. She turned and caught Steve and Theo listening. Theo turned his head. Steve looked at her with his eyebrows raised, which she returned with a quick glare. He quickly turned to Theo who was looking around at the others. Theo was the furthest behind. Kira bookmarked her spot and lay her head down.

"You're not giving up, are you?" Scott asked.

"I'm just resting my eyes," she told him. Everyone else continued reading. Lydia fell asleep with only a handful of pages left. Kira moved to Scott's bed after waking up with a stiff neck. Scott fell asleep shortly after, followed by Stiles, both about three quarters finished. Steve finished the last chapter before getting some rest and noticed that Theo had barely made it halfway through and was already asleep.

The group awoke the next morning and returned home to prepare for the school day. Steve walked in behind Scott, Stiles and Kira.

"What if you need some kind of trigger?" Scott asked, "Wasn't Malia driving when she remembered the crash?"

"Yeah," Stiles answered, "but how are we supposed to trigger a memory that we don't remember."

"Maybe it's a delayed thing. Maybe you have to wait a couple of hours to see what happens." Scott answered.

"I'm leaning more towards a trigger, we'll just have to watch out for each other," Steve said walking ahead a bit. The group paused as the lights began to flicker.

"It wasn't me," Kira answered as the group turned towards her. "I swear."

"So, we keep an eye on each other today," Scott nodded towards Steve.

"Yeah, and keep an eye out for any other potentially homicidal chimeras," Stiles said.

"And keep an eye out for the Dread Doctors," Kira added.

"Sounds like a fun day," Steve said unenthusiastically

"I'm starting to see the appeal of a third eye," Stiles said and Scott and Kira walked away. Stiles glanced at Steve before walking away.

"They'll be able to watch out for each other" Steve thought, "Now I wish I brought my pack."

"You told us not to come," Charlie's voice sounded, "Besides we can keep an eye on you from here."

"And pull me out of traffic?" Steve joked before heading to his class.

Steve struggle to stay awake in his math class as usual when he became overwhelmed by the scent of fear coming from down the hall and heard Lydia cry out. Steve jumped out of his chair and headed towards the door.

"Where are you going?" His teacher asked. The girl that sat behind him laughed at him again.

"Uh, bathroom," he answered quickly.

"Class is almost over, it can wait."

"Sorry, emergency," Steve said as he ran out of the room towards the scent.

He found Lydia lying on the ground staring blankly ahead while another girl was trying to wake her.

"Step back," he told the girl as he knelt next to her.

"What's going on," the girl asked panicked.

"Seizure," Steve answered quickly.

"Why isn't she moving?"

"It's an absence seizure. Just let her have some room. She'll be okay," Steve tried to comfort the girl.

"I have to find her mom," the girl said running out of the room.

Scott and Theo joined him shortly. Steve held up his hand to stop them from interrupting her.

"Lydia, are you okay?" Scott asked as she began to stir.

Lydia took a moment and was shaky but answered "I'm okay. I'm fine."

"You remembered something," Theo said.

"Not about the Dread Doctors." She sighed, "Nothing about them or the surgery."

"Then what was it?" Scott asked. Steve and Scott helped Lydia to a chair.

"My grandmother," She answered, "At Eichen House."

"Lydia," her mom yelled coming down the hall. "Lydia. Oh my God, what happened? Are you alright?" she said quietly.

"Mom, I'm fine. It was nothing."

"Was it a blackout? Did you faint?"

"Yeah, yeah. I fainted." Lydia answered.

"I thought you said it was a seizure?" the girl from earlier asked.

"I must have been wrong," Steve shrugged,

Lydia's mom glared at Steve. "Mom, I'm fine," Lydia said pulling her mom's attention back to her, "I promise."

"I can take care of her from here," her mom said helping her into the office and looking back again at Steve before closing the door.

The girl took a seat in the room. "You did good," Steve told her. She nodded and the wolves headed out of the room as the bell rang.

Steve was scolded by his teacher when he returned for his things and received a detention. The lights started to flicker again as he started towards his locker.

Steve finished the day without any other interruptions. As the final bell rung he headed towards the doors, but then he stopped when he smelt panic coming from down the hall. "Scott," he thought.

"I think, I think I'm having an asthma attack," he heard Scott wheeze

"Someone get the nurse," the teacher shouted as Steve entered the biology lab and saw Scott collapse to the floor. "Get a nurse," she repeated to Steve.

"Someone's on their way," Steve answered and went to check out Scott. He had to same catatonic look that Lydia had moments ago.

"Scott, look at me. I need to know where your inhaler is. Is it in your locker? Scott!" the teacher tried to get a response out of him. "Go to his locker," she told Steve.

"He doesn't have his inhaler." Steve answered without looking at her. His breaths were becoming weaker. Steve shined his eyes but froze when he remembered the teacher was right next to him.

"One of you find an inhaler, someone has to have one," she shouted to the student in the hall before returning her attention to Scott. "Scott, hang on."

"Where is the damn inhaler," she said after a few minutes.

Steve looked at her surprised when he heard Liam running down the hall. "I've got it, I've got the inhaler," he shouted coming into the room.

Steve stood and pulled the teacher back with him. "Let's give them some room." The teacher nodded in response.

Liam put the inhaler in Scott's hand, but he continued to stare ahead. "Scott," Liam said nudging Scott's shoulder, "Scott, come on." Liam shook Scott harder, but Scott didn't move. Liam leaned in close, flashing his eyes and growling his name. Steve bumped into the teacher to distract her for the moment.

Scott jostled back to reality still unable to breathe before realizing the inhaler was in his hand. He quickly used it and his breathing steadied. "Thanks," he told Liam.

The crowd in the hall began to close in but the teacher stopped them. "Show's over," she said. "Move along. Are you alright?" She asked Scott as the crowd dissipated.

"Yeah," he nodded. "Thanks for the help." Scott got to his feet and started to head out the door. The teacher stopped him and holding the filled out drop form.

"Take a day to think about it," she said giving it to him.

"What did you see?" Steve asked Scott.

"I was in the hospital for an asthma attack. My dog and I had been attacked by another dog, she died."

"How did you have an asthma attack to trigger the memory? You shouldn't have asthma anymore."

"It wasn't that. Roxy was the reason I wanted to become a veterinarian. Ms. Finch and I were talking about me becoming a vet and I guess it triggered the memory." Scott wheezed slightly.

"And it brought back your asthma?"

"I guess." Scott puffed from the inhaler again.

"Where's everyone else?" Liam asked.

"No idea." Scott answered. "I'm going to take a second," Scott said as he ducked into the locker room.

"I'll catch you later," Liam said as he headed out of the school. Steve went into the bathroom to gather himself. He was not looking forward to being in a catatonic state, especially if he was going to be alone.

After he turned off the tap the lights started to flicker and he heard electricity crackle in the basement. He stepped out of the bathroom and ran into Theo and Scott.

"You heard it too?" Theo asked. Steve nodded and the three headed down the to the basement. It was nearly pitch black. Their eyes began to glow are they moved through the hall. They came around the corner and saw wires sparking from the ceiling.

Scott turned back to the other two, his eyes still glowing, as the hall behind him lit up with sparks. Steve felt himself fall backwards, the world going black around him.

Steve woke in a dark room. His hands were tied above his head. He looked over and saw Charlie in the same position, but it was a much younger Charlie. They were both bruised all over their bodies, Charlie was bleeding from his head and unconscious. Lightening flashed in the window past Charlie and Steve saw two men talking near the door.

"They're all yours," the first man said, "I've already had enough fun with them." He chuckled looking back at them.

"You always do find the best kids," the second man said handing over a wad of cash. "It's always worth it to do business with you, and don't worry. I'll make sure they forget about you." The second man looked over at the boys, flashing red eyes as lightening filled the room again.

"Blake?" Steve thought as the world went black again.

"Steve?" he heard Scott say as he shook him. Steve closed his eyes.

"Did you know?" Steve directed the thought towards Charlie. "When did you know?" He roared after sensing Charlie's guilt. Scott and Theo moved away from Steve at the growl.

Charlie appeared in front of Steve in a white void. "I found out the day before you and Blake fought."

"That's why your thoughts were blocked? Why wouldn't you tell me?!" Steve growled.

"What's going on?" Theo asked Scott. Scott shook his head confused.

"Calm down and I'll explain. You're about to lose control. You're speaking out loud already just take a breath," Charlie shouted.

Steve roared in response as he shifted, both in the void and in front of Scott and Theo. His eyes remained closed.

"Get back!" Theo shouted as he pushed Scott away from Steve.

Steve lunged forward and tackled Charlie. His body mirrored his mind and knocked Theo into a wall. He went to claw their faces, but both were able to block the attack.

"You need to calm down and talk with me before you hurt someone!" Charlie roared shifting as well.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Scott threw Steve off of Theo. Steve flew away from Charlie as well.

Charlie rose to his feet. "You didn't know. I didn't want you to remember. I thought Blake had wiped it from your mind completely. I was a bit older, so it didn't work on me. I remembered, all of the pain."

"You let me look up to Blake, after what he did. And you didn't tell me." Steve roared again and prepared to charge, but Theo pinned him to a wall.

"Scott, I think he's trying to kill us. We need to get out of here," Theo stated.

"No, not us, it might be from his memory." Scott thought for a moment before he shifted and roared.

Steve's eyes snapped open, glowing bright red. He could smell the blood from Theo's arm and returned to normal. But his eyes stayed red. Theo released Steve and stepped backwards towards Scott. Steve heard the thoughts of his pack fill his head before he closed off his mind.

"Are you alright," Scott asked Steve approaching cautiously.

"I just need a minute."

"Maybe you should head home for now. We can handle things for a while." Scott said, still being cautious. Steve saw Theo smirking behind him.

"Yeah." Steve headed out of the basement.

On the way home, Steve's phone began to buzz in the cup holder. He looked at it and saw Charliet was calling. He tossed his phone out of the window and watched as it clattered down the road behind him. He flopped onto the couch once he came home. For the first time in years. He was completely alone.