Disclaimer: "I do not own Teen Wolf. The show, the characters, and any quotes from the show belong to Jeff Davis and his amazing team of writers. I only own Nixie, and anything I make her do or say."

And I have another just sort of heads up. So... in the episode, when Lydia is dropped into a hole (if you didn't already know about that... spoiler! Sorry), it doesn't really look like she fell all that far. She obviously couldn't get out, but it wasn't like a ridiculously high fall or anything like that. I mean... she didn't break anything, so it couldn't have been that far... right?

Anyways, my heads up is that, for my story and in this chapter, the hole is exceptionally deeper and more dangerous. You'll see why when you get there (or I hope you will). Anyways, just figured I'd throw that out there.

Okay, sorry for interrupting again. I always do this don't I? :) Enjoy!

Chapter 11: Episode 5x20

On a darker note at the moment, there wasn't much good coming out of all their hope at this current point in time.

Firstly, Mason is gone. Well, mostly. According to Scott, who called her immediately after the beast took off into the woods, Mason's final words had been, "That's not my name."

Yeah. Not exactly encouraging.

A slightly brighter note would be that Jordan was handling himself against the beast much better than he had been when his two halves hadn't been cooperating. Like with Nixie, everything seemed to fall more easily into place after finally having forced both sides to see eye to eye.

And darker note still, is that Scott told her that when the beast finally dissolved and shrank back down into a human… it wasn't Mason.

Gerard had briefly explained, again with some unnecessary dramatic flair, that it was the man of Gevaudan that they were seeing for the first time. Sebastien Valet. Not Mason.

Nixie, amidst pacing the sheriff's office more frantically than ever, still hasn't quite wrapped her head around how the hell Mason's body could just be gone, transformed not just into the beast, but into a completely different person. How the hell does eating his twin in utero explain that?

Scott also told her that Jordan had taken off after Sebastien, so maybe there was a little hope for tracking and catching up with him. But Nixie has a feeling this is far from over. Not that it was close to begin with, but now with Mason's body being non-existent, she suspects they are going to have to seriously stretch their already expanded notions on what is possible here.

She's so caught up in her pacing that she didn't even realize her phone was ringing again. Not until Stiles grabbed it and answered, "Nixie's ever reliant hotline. She is currently in high stress pacing mode. I'll relay the message."

After a moment, he says to Nixie, "Scott needs the files Melissa left about the vanishing twin syndrome. He wants to see if Deaton has any theories. I can drive, but…" Nixie is already turned halfway through her last stride and is grabbing the folder from the office. Grabbing her phone, she says, "I'll meet him at the clinic."

Stiles asks, "So… should I…" Nixie pauses long enough to say, "You can stay here with Lydia. I'll…" "Nixie, we don't need your speed right this second. Sebastien is nowhere to be found currently. Your boyfriend is on the hunt, along with the Argents. But if for some reason that monster comes here and Lydia's still here… I'm useless."

Grabbing the files from her hands, he says, "I'll take them to Deaton. You stay here and try to protect Lydia. And do not let that monster do anything tragic to you either. You're no good to us if you end up in the hospital again." "I don't have insurance anymore, so I can't go to the hospital." "You know what I mean. Stay here."

Nixie grins when he nearly trips on his way out the door. Sighing, she moves back to the office and takes a seat next to Lydia. Glancing over, Nixie asks, "How you holding up?" Lydia shrugs and says, "As well as any of us I guess. I mean… there's nothing for me to do right now. I think that's the worst part. Until we have an idea on how to save Mason from staying Sebastien… I just don't know what to do." "Yeah, I know what you mean."

Lydia turns to look at her and asks, "How's Jordan?" "Chris is keeping me updated. They're following him as best they can, but you know he's a whole lot faster than they are… even if they are in a car. Last I heard, he was still tracking the beast. Oh, and the pike that Marie-Jean used to kill Sebastien the first time? Well, Gerard apparently found it. One of the dread doctors was using it as a cane. Go figure."

Her phone rings again, and upon answering it, Nixie tells Scott, "Stiles is on his way with the files." "I need you there too." "Why?" "Because Liam… he's becoming more worried about having to kill Mason by the second. After we talk to Deaton, I need you to talk some sense into him. Tell him we're not killing his friend." "Well, of course we're not!" "Exactly. Look, just come alright." "What about Lydia?"

Lydia just pushes Nixie's shoulder and says, "Go. Noah's on his way back here. Besides, what are the actual odds of the beast wandering into a police station." "Lydia, please don't question the odds. It tends to bring jinxes." "Well, then we'll be one step closer to finding him." "Lydia, I'm serious…"

Hanging up on Scott and moving in front of Lydia, Nixie says, "Do not let him hurt you." "At the very least I won't let him kill me. I'm stronger than I used to be." "You've always been strong. Make sure he knows that." "I promise." "Good."

Nixie takes off out of the station, shedding her coat and tank top. Bringing out her wings, she shoots into the sky, and doesn't touch down until she's at the backdoor of the clinic.

It takes Stiles another five minutes, to which Nixie says, "I told you I'd be faster." "Why are you even here?! I thought…" "Scott wanted me here. I apparently have to talk to Liam about not killing his own best friend. Now… come on. Let's see what the good doctor has to say."

Inside the clinic, Deaton asks, "Vanishing twin syndrome?" Stiles, fidgeting with his fingers, asks, "This is part of your expertise, right?" "Not particularly, no." Nixie sighs and says, "And we're back to square one." Deaton gently pats her shoulder, knowing she's stressed about all of this. Losing Alison had taken a huge toll on all of them, but Nixie had taken it particularly hard at the time. Of course, knowing that she's the blue dragon now helps explain that a little. Still, he knows that the idea of losing Mason, that he may already be gone, is wearing on her sense of morale.

The doors open behind them, and as they turn around to see Scott coming in, Nixie snarls harshly at the man they're dragging in with them. Scott, panting, says, "He's still alive." Nixie glares at the man... not even sure if 'a man' is the correct thing to call him. Snarling again, she asks, "And why are we happy about that?" Scott gives Nixie a look and says, "Deaton…" The doc nods and says, "Put him on the table."

Laying him out there, Scott asks Deaton, "Can you keep him alive?" Nixie almost wants to snarl again, but in the end she just laughs when Liam replies, "Screw keeping him alive. How do we get him to talk?" While Deaton comments that the dread doctor might not even qualify as alive, Nixie puts an arm around Liam's shoulders and says, "I love this kid. Seriously." He grins at her, and then they look to Stiles when he says, "Well, personally I don't think we utilize torture nearly enough to get bad guys to cooperate."

Nixie nods her approval, but at Scott's glare, she says, "What? It's sarcasm. Do you even know us?" When he raises an eyebrow though, she admits, "Okay, it's only slightly sarcastic. But what did you expect? They played a big role in helping tear this pack apart. He's lucky I'm not already trying to figure out how to rip his stupid helmet off."

Liam ponders for a moment, and then asks, "Why the helmet?" "No reason in particular Liam. Just that I figure it's probably really crucial to keeping him a semi-functioning semi-living creature of the night."

Before Liam can grin at her, they all freeze when they hear a voice saying, "Come. Come to me. To me." Stiles appears to not really hear anything, or Deaton for that matter. But Scott, Liam, and Nixie all hear it. And then they all jump back when the dread doctor on the table suddenly bolts into an upright position.

The high-pitched electrical sounds that follow nearly deafen the whole room, but Nixie looks up when she sees Liam move from next to her. Painful as the sound is, he still tries to go after the dread doctor, to keep him from leaving so they can try to use him and figure out how to save Mason.

Nixie charges after him as Scott shouts, "Liam, wait!"

Nixie can practically feel the electrical pulse preparing to fire from the dread doctor's hand. It's only through her own advanced speed that she manages to get there in time. Wings unfurling, she wraps her arms around Liam from behind, and then snaps her wings shut in front of him.

The blast hits her wings, but it doesn't hurt her. The electricity part of it just sort of skims and sparks on the surface of her wings, not penetrating any deeper. The force of the pulse, however, does send both her and Liam flying back across the room and into one of the shelves in Deaton's backroom.

Groaning as her back finally hits the floor, she releases Liam and asks, "What exactly was the plan kid?" "I don't know! Stop him!" Rising to her feet, Nixie grabs his hand to haul him up, and then says, "Now, you know I usually love simple and straight forward plans. In the future however, do at least try to have a little bit more to work with. K?"

Liam rolls his eyes at her, but blinks when she suddenly vanishes. She's across the room now, shoving Stiles to one side as the metal tables in the room suddenly come up off the floor and attach themselves to the doorway of the room.

Stiles is panting and Nixie can feel him shaking slightly, more from surprise and shock than actual fear though. Releasing him so he's not pinned to the wall, she asks, "You good?" "Yeah, but what the hell was…" Nixie turns and says, "The doctor doesn't want us interfering with his conversation is my guess."

And as Liam and Scott both move to rush the doorway, Deaton shouts, "Stop!" Sparks still fly and come off of the tables in front of them, and Deaton explains, "It's electrified." Nixie steps up hesitantly, bringing the scales out on her skin and then reaching forward to touch a corner of the table.

She's not electrocuted, not really. She can feel the heat all around her body, sort of soaking in through the scales. But it doesn't really hurt. It's not comfortable, like when Jordan uses his heat to warm her up, but it doesn't hurt either.

She tries to pull them out of the way, but her strength doesn't permit that. The heat just gets hotter, until she has to pull away and Stiles takes a towel from nearby and wipes off her forehead. She hadn't even realized she'd started sweating until he did that. Panting, she says, "I get really hot, but at least it doesn't hurt me." Stiles nods and says, "Just listen. What's going on out there?"

So she turns her ears with the others to hear what's going on outside. And sure enough, Sebastien is there, talking to the dread doctor, who is apparently Marcel, the man who had originally tried to save and cover for his friend all those years ago.

Nixie ponders for a moment if it would be appropriate to ask who in the hell resurrected his supposedly dead carcass... but then figures they already have one undead creature to worry about. Adding Marcel to the list wouldn't help. Besides, he would be dead soon enough, if the sound of his voice and labored breathing was any sign to go by.

When Sebastien asks about the pike and Marcel simply says, "The Argents," Nixie looks at Scott when he suddenly says, "The cane." Nixie nods and says, "Chris told me. I thought you knew." "No. Chris has been pretty busy tracking your boyfriend. You have to keep me updated with that." "Right."

Liam looks at her and says, "But they took it. They took the cane." Nixie nods and says, "Chris is with him. He's not going to let Gerard do anything to Sebastien until we figure out how to save Mason. And we will save him Liam. That is not optional. We will."

When the tables finally drop back down from their suspended in the air position, freaky enough in itself, Scott gathers up the folders about Mason again and says, "Maybe there's something in here. Something about how he was a genetic chimera."

Deaton says, "Mason was a vanishing twin." Stiles nods and says, "Now we've got a vanishing Mason." When Nixie doesn't add to his commentary, he turns to see her still standing next to Liam. Her arm is secured around his shoulders, as though if she held on long enough or tight enough, she could better convince him that Mason didn't have to die and wasn't gone forever.

Liam's still seriously agitated though when he asks, "What does that have to do with him turning into a 150-year-old French guy? How does that even happen?" But when Nixie looks over, Deaton actually looks hopeful when he says, "Hold on. Scott might have something."

Nixie stares at him, and then smiles and says, "There's the doc I know and love. Bring it on. What can we do?" Deaton replies, "Mason's twin wasn't entirely gone. That's what made him a genetic chimera."

Nixie doesn't entirely get it, but then her eyes widen and she looks to Scott and says, "The DNA." He nods, picking it up the same time she did. Grinning a little, he says, "It was still there." Deaton nods and says, "Metaphorically speaking, the DNA of Mason could still be inside Sebastien as well."

Stiles squints and asks, "How?" Deaton looks to him and says, "Life is energy. Energy doesn't just disappear. The dread doctors may have found a way to bend the rules of the supernatural world, but there are some rules that simply won't break."

And Nixie feels her own spirits lift when Liam says, more hopeful now than ever, "So Mason can't just be gone?" Deaton nods and says, "Somewhere in Sebastien he has to still exist in some form. A spark of energy, a flicker of memory."

"Hold on…" Nixie turns to Stiles when he speaks up, and then he looks to her and Liam when he says, "Liam, you said Mason said something right before he turned." Liam nods, "He said, 'That's not my name'." Scott looks to Stiles and says, "He finally remembered his name." Nixie nods and adds, "Damnatio Memoriae."

Liam nods and says, "That's what they wanted. They wanted Sebastien to remember his name." And Nixie adds, "That's what the Argents said. But they said that once he remembered, the teenager would be gone." She hates to say that last part, but they need all the information out in the open.

Deaton looks to her though and says, "Not gone. Forgotten. Now Mason has forgotten his name. We have to help him remember it. Scott, you know the myth of what happens when you call a werewolf by its given name?" Scott nods and says, "It turns back to human."

Liam looks at all of them frantically and asks, "What does that mean?" Nixie squeezes his shoulders comfortingly and says, "Calm down Liam. It means we can still save him." "How? Someone can just walk up to the beast, yell Mason's name, and turn him back?" Scott shakes his head and says, "Not someone…"

Nixie turns to Scott when he says that, and then she nods and says, "Lydia." Liam looks to her and asks, "Why Lydia? Why a banshee? Aren't they harbingers of death?" Nixie nods and says, "They predict death, yes, but… Lydia also screams… wails, to connect with those voices that are talking to her, predicting the death. She can hear them and reach them because her voice, her wail extends that far, her ears can handle that volume and pressure."

When Liam still doesn't look like he understands, Nixie says simply, "She's the only one that's going to be able to say his name loud enough for him to hear."

That sticks, and Nixie turns to Stiles and says, "Text your dad. Let him know what's going on. Particularly about Sebastien. He needs to know to be on the lookout. And Lydia should still be with him. He can fill her in." Stiles nods and starts doing as she said. Liam looks to her and asks, "What are we going to do?" "See if we can pick up Sebastien's scent and find him. None of this works if we don't have him."

Scott nods and they all head out into the night, splitting up and heading in separate directions to try and locate the beast, in whichever form he may be in.

"I lost him."

Jordan is kneeling on the ground, trying to catch the scent or see more of the trail that Sebastien had left behind earlier. But there's nothing now.

Damn it.

He turns to look at Chris and Gerard as Chris says, "Sebastien's going to know we have the pike. And if he doesn't, he's going to figure it out soon enough." Jordan nods and asks, "Then what do we do?"

They both look at Gerard when he says, "We stop chasing him. And make him come to us."

Chris tosses Jordan one of the many jackets they had gotten for him, and then opens the back door for him. Once inside, Jordan asks, "How are the others?" Gerard comments, "Oh, I'm sure they're fine, including your precious Nixie." Jordan actually snarls at him now, but before the old man can speak, Chris shuts him up. Then he tosses Jordan's phone back to him and says, "Call her and find out. She's been answering pretty frequently while I've been keeping her updated."

Gerard looks offended by the fact that Chris hadn't told him that he was keeping Nixie in the loop of what they were doing. Chris simply comments, "We're tracking her mate. And I like my head where it is."

Jordan dials her number, and sighs in relief when she answers, "This is Blue Scale Flights. How may I direct your call?" "Hey Nix…" She smiles on the other end and says, "Hey. So, you're not in hellhound mode right now. What's up?" "I lost him. Chris is taking us to the tunnels where we're apparently going to draw him out. We have the cane, as I'm sure you're aware. They're pretty sure he'll come to us." "And then what?" "Then I hold him off for as long as possible, until you guys find a way to save Mason. Is there a plan yet?" "Yes. Well, sort of. We have to get Lydia from the station first. It's a long explanation, but basically if she uses her banshee voice to call Mason's name, we're pretty sure we can get Mason back."

Jordan nods and then asks, "How are you?" "So far, I am unscathed. But the night is young. You or the Argents haven't heard anything from Malia or Braeden have you?" "No, why?" "I called earlier, but she didn't answer. And she hasn't called in. Which either means her phone is dead, which is not good. Or her mom is on the outskirts of the property and they're keeping quiet to avoid having to deal with her, which is not necessarily good, but not bad either. Or her mom is in the house, in which case it's very bad and someone should've called me by now."

He can't help but grin at her rambling, and then he says, "Do you want me to check on them?"

Gerard looks like he might argue, but Chris just shoves him back to facing the front of the car. It doesn't matter anyway. Nixie finally says, "I love you all the more for offering, but no. You need to be in the tunnels to take on Sebastien when he gets there. Hold him there as long as possible." "Alright."

Silence for a moment, and then Nixie says, "Please be careful." Jordan nods and says, "You do the same. I love you." "I love you too."

Hanging up, he asks Chris, "How long before Sebastien gets to us?" "I wouldn't imagine it would take him too long. He needs the pike, to ensure he can't be killed again. He won't rest until he has it." "Good."

He can feel his eyes burning as they head further down the road. Nixie needs the beast held off for as long as possible. She needs to save Mason, and then destroy the creature once and for all. And by God, he would make sure that happened.

Nixie can't believe that the odds actually jinxed Lydia. She'd been joking.

But here she was, lying in a hospital bed, her throat pierced and her voice gone. Not only was Lydia hurt, but their last hope for saving Mason had been taken out with her. Stiles walks in and takes Lyd'a's hand, glancing over at Nixie and asking, "You okay?" "She hasn't woken up since I've been here."

Stiles nods and asks, "Have you tried to…" Nixie frowns and says, "Melissa said I wasn't allowed to try and heal her yet. At least not while she's sleeping. Apparently I need my voice too, even though mine is useless in saving Mason's life." Stiles gives her a small smile and says, "We all need to be able to hear you Nixie. You have no idea how much your voice soothes us, gives us courage, and makes us feel safe. That's why Melissa won't let you this time." Nixie stares at him for a moment, and then sighs and says, "I just wish she'd wake up."

But at the sound of Stiles and Nixie's voices, Lydia stirs. Nixie jumps up and moves to the other side of the bed, taking Lydia's other hand in both of hers while Stiles asks, "Hey. You okay?" Lydia looks to them both, and then just asks, "Did… Did you find something? A solution?"

Her voice sounds so broken that Stiles isn't surprised by the sudden rain that begins hitting against the windows. Lydia turns to Nixie to see a few tears falling down her cheeks. "Nix…" Stiles just shushes Lydia, hoping to conserve her strength, and then says, "Yeah, Lydia. Yeah, we found a solution. It was you." Nixie nods and says with a sad smile, "You just always happen to be the key this time Lydia. First to figure out who he is, then to save Mason. No pressure or anything."

Lydia actually grins up at her, and squeezes her hand tightly. She opens her mouth, but Nixie shakes her head and says, "No. Don't talk. We'll work on it. We'll figure this out. Just rest a little more, alright." Looking up to Stiles, Nixie says, "Stay with her. I'm going to talk to Scott and Liam." He nods and then watches her out the door.

When Lydia squeezes his hand he looks down. Her eyes hold deep concern, and he knows she's worried about Nixie. Shaking his head, he says, "She's not hiding anything. She's just worried. Malia hasn't checked in. Jordan and the Argents are trying to corral the beast. Mason is apparently only barely still in existence. Hayden is AWOL. And Liam keeps mentioning that if Mason has to die, it should be him that does it. And now you're hurt, which I think she kind of blames herself for."

When Lydia makes to speak, Stiles hushes her again and says, "We've already stressed that it's not her fault. If it's anyone's fault, it's yours and Scott's for convincing her to leave you at the station. Did you seriously quote the odds to her? How often are the odds ever in our favor?"

Lydia grins up at him at that, and then closes her eyes. Stiles gently brushes some hair from her face and says, "We'll work it out Lydia. We always do. Plus if we don't, Nixie will probably slip into some severe depression, and you know we can't allow that to happen." She smiles again, and then Stiles lets her rest for a while.

Jordan is pondering dialing Nixie to talk to her again. He's just gotten the text that Lydia had been hurt badly. He knows Nixie's going to be particularly upset about that.

He was just about to press the one on his speed dial, when Chris rounded the corner to find him. Glancing at his phone again, Jordan says, "Lydia's been hurt. Badly." Chris comes up to him, and then they both turn when they hear the roar from further down in the tunnels. Shaking his head, Chris says, "It doesn't change anything." "What if she's dying?"

Chris gives him a look and says, "Nixie wouldn't let that happen." "And what if Nixie ends up dying because she heals Lydia?" "Lydia won't let her do that again, at least not right away. And in any case, if we don't stop Sebastien, or at least hold him off, they both will die. He's not just coming for the pike. He's coming for anything that stands in his way. And right now, that's all of us."

At the sound of more growling and pounding from up the tunnels, Chris moves and sets his gun aside. Jordan stares at him in disbelief and asks, "What are you doing?" "You saved my life once. Now, I'm gonna save yours." "I'm not sure I'm getting the strategy here." "You're the strategy Parrish. You're the one in the fresco; that mural on the wall. Put there as a reminder that the beast isn't unstoppable. And whoever painted it… they didn't see a guy with a gun facing down the beast. They saw a hellhound. They saw you."

Moving behind him, Chris says, "And for all her over protectiveness, and for all the worry she must be feeling about knowing you're down here… Nixie still told you to stay. She told you to hold the beast off for as long as you could. Which means that she knows you can. She believes in you Parrish." Taking the phone out of Jordan's hands, he says, "Prove her right."

And he can't help but grin when Jordan's entire body engulfs in orange flame, ready to go again with the beast.

Liam asks, "Is she okay?"

Scott looks over as Nixie walks back down the hall. She's still not wearing her tank top again, opting for leaving it off so her wings could return at a moment's notice if necessary. Shrugging off his jacket for the time being, he hands it to her and says, "You're getting funny looks." "I don't care."

She shrugs it on anyway, and then zips it up halfway before answering, "She's gonna be fine. But she can't talk, much less scream." Liam's eyes instantly go from hopeful to despairing, and he says, "Then it's over isn't it? There's nothing we can do to save him."

Nixie stares at him hard and says, "You are the beta of an alpha that never quits. Show some gumption." His eyes snap up to hers, and for a moment he looks angry. But then Liam takes in the fact that it's raining, and the tears welling in Nixie's eyes. And as he looks closer, he can tell she's tired and weary and scared.

He wasn't the only one terrified about not getting Mason back. She was too. Even if she wasn't voicing it quite the same way, it was expressed in everything around her. The rain and her lack of sarcasm being just the starting point.

Scott's phone goes off, and he turns away from them to listen to the messages Kira left for him. Nixie moves to sit beside Liam. Putting a hand on his shoulder, she says, "Sorry." "You're stressed." "Doesn't mean I should take it out on you. He's your best friend." Squeezing gently, she says, "We will save him Liam. So don't offer to do it yourself anymore." "But…" "So help me Liam, if I have to kick your ass to make sure we can still save Mason, I will."

He smiles at her, and then they both look up at Scott when he returns and says, "Get up." Nixie smirks as she stands while Liam asks, "Why?" Nixie turns to him and says, "Because we follow an alpha that never quits. And as expected, he has just come up with a plan. Right?" Scott nods and says, "I've got an idea. And this isn't over. Nixie, text Stiles and tell him to get my mom to call me." "I can go get her." "No, I need you with me." "Right."

In the hospital room, after sending Stiles to get Melissa, Nixie is helping Scott sit Lydia up in the bed. "Remember Nixie, take her pain, not the injury. Can you do that?" "Yes, but I don't see why I can't take her injury. My voice isn't going to save Mason." "Maybe not. But yours is the one that keeps us sane more often than not. Just do it, please."

Lydia squeezes her hand and says, "Please…" Nixie gives her a look and says, "Don't talk anymore, and we've got a deal." She nods in response, and then Melissa and Stiles walk back into the room. Coming to Lydia's other side, Melissa says, "Alright… Lydia, this is gonna have to be just between us, since I can get fired for it."

Lydia nods and then smiles and almost laughs when Nixie says, "And it would be a real downer to have our personal supernatural nurse kicked out of the hospital." Melissa nods and then let's Scott explain, "It's a cortisone shot. It's gonna bring the inflammation down."

When it looks like Liam might not exactly understand how that helps, Nixie says more bluntly, "She'll be able to talk again." Lydia nods and then holds out her arm for Melissa.

But Melissa shakes her head and says, "Not there."

As she starts peeling the bandage away from Lydia's neck, Nixie more fully understands why she needs to take Lydia's pain. This is going to hurt like a bitch. Stiles gulps and says, "Oh, yeah, okay, I'm gonna need to leave."

Melissa, calm as ever, says, "You're not going anywhere. Hold her other hand." Nixie gives Stiles a hard look, and he sighs and says, "Okay, fine, I'm not leaving. But I still might faint." Lydia smiles a little, as though wanting to laugh. Her shoulders actually shake a little when Nixie whispers to her, "Don't worry Lydia. He wouldn't dare actually faint on you."

Taking a seat beside Lydia, holding her hand in one of hers and then wrapping her free arm around Lydia, Nixie braces herself to take the pain that is about to come. Melissa holds up the needle and says, "Okay, here we go." Lydia squeezes Nixie's hand tighter, to which Nixie kisses the side of Lydia's head and says, "We've got this Lydia. Same as we always do."

That's when Liam falls on the floor. So much for worrying about Stiles fainting. Scott rushes to help him while Nixie nods to Melissa. Nodding back, Melissa says, "Okay. This is gonna hurt like a bitch."

Nixie almost laughs, because that's exactly what she'd just been thinking. Then Melissa sticks Lydia with the needle, and as soon as the pain enters her neck, Nixie syphons it from her. Lydia feels the brief moment of pain, squeezing Stiles hand tighter in response. But then it's gone, and she can feel Nixie's hands on her tighten.

Stiles watches as Nixie's face goes through a brief morph. Her eyes shine bright silver and her teeth extend. She leans her head back and her neck muscles strain, as though working to not let out a roar herself. He can see faint silver lines in her neck from where she was apparently taking Lydia's pain, but the actual wounds weren't forming on her skin. Nixie was doing as they'd asked. She took the pain but not the injury.

When it was finally finished, Nixie helped Lydia put her clothes back on, and then they headed for the elevators.

Stiles was the first one out the door, and he said, "Okay, I'll get Malia." Nixie says, "She hasn't checked in for a while. You need to be careful." "Sure." "Stiles, I'm serious." "I know. Trust me. And text me when you guys find Parrish."

Scott says, "Hold on." And out of his pocket, he pulls a paper bag. Stiles takes it and asks, "What is this?" "Something me and Nixie have been working on for a while." Nixie nods when Stiles looks at her, and then says, "Make sure she gets it Stiles. It was plan A." Stiles blinks at her and says, "Plan A never works." Scott smiles a little and says, "This one will."

As Stiles takes off down the hall, Nixie's phone goes off. Keeping one arm around Lydia, she answers it and asks, "Yeah?" "It's Hayden." "Where are you? And for the record, during times a great distress, you are supposed to keep me constantly updated about where you are. Like… every thirty minutes you're supposed to let me know if anything's changed." "Sorry."

At Hayden's breathless reply, Nixie asks, "What's wrong?" "I'm hurt. Sebastien… he found me… he made me show him to the tunnels, to where Theo was always camped out. I'm sorry, I didn't have a…" "Hayden, don't worry about it. Is he gone now?" "Yes." "And he hurt you? How badly?" "I'm not healing, and it won't stop bleeding."

Scott and Liam hop on to his bike while Nixie settles Lydia onto the back of hers. Handing Lydia the helmet to put on, Nixie then says, "Hayden, listen to me. You remember the clinic?" "Yeah?" "Go there. Deaton will be there. He can help you. At the very least, he can stop the bleeding. Can you make it there?" "Yes." "I'll find you there later, or I'll at least send Liam when this is over." "And Scott. Send Scott too. Please…" "I will. Just get to Deaton as fast as you can Hayden."

Hanging up and swinging herself onto the bike, Nixie waits for Lydia's arms to wrap around her, and then says, "Hang on tight." And Scott waits for her to peel out first, knowing that she'll drive a whole lot faster than him to get to the tunnels in time to save Mason. Keeping up with her will be dangerous, but with time running out, he knows they can't afford to be that cautious right now.

Of course, and it terrifies Lydia when Nixie takes one hand off the handles… Braeden calls as they're speeding down the road. Nixie pats Lydia's tightening hands on her stomach gently, and then answers, "Yeah?" "She's here."

At Braeden's breathless voice, Nixie asks, "Who, and what's wrong with you?" "I've been shot. And the desert wolf is here. She's in the house with Malia. They're trapped inside together." Nixie grits her teeth, and then gasps and says, "Stiles is on his way there with something he needs to get to Malia. He can't…" "Is it what you and Scott were working on?" "Yes." "I'll find him. You just go kill this beast."

Gritting her teeth again, she finally sighs and says, "Make sure Malia's mom knows that if she hurts any of you again, it won't matter if she gets her power back. I will kill her myself and have my boyfriend send her to the lowest pit that they have in hell." "On it."

When they finally make it to the tunnels, Liam stops them and asks, "Scott? Do you hear that?"

They all listen carefully, and then Lydia says softly, "I heard that." Nixie turns to her and says, "Save your voice, or so help me, I will take the whole injury from you right here and now." Lydia shuts up, but gives Nixie a stern look. Nixie just turns back to Scott and says, "I heard it too."

Suddenly, Liam shoves Lydia and Nixie aside and says, "Get out of the water!"

Nixie shields Lydia with her body as electricity flies and shoots up both Scott and Liam's system through the water they're standing in. Backing away, scales erupting on her body, Nixie reaches out for Liam and tries to drag him out of the water. That's when she hears Theo say, "Sorry Lydia."

Turning and roaring, Nixie sees Theo's smirk just a second before a huge bolt of electricity hits her right in the chest and sends her flying back into the pipes behind her. Landing hard on the ground, she groans just as Lydia screams. But when she looks up, Scott has her, reaching down into the hole Theo had tried to throw Lydia down.

Nixie snarls when Theo claws into Scott's thigh, but when she tries to move her chest and back protest the movement. She still hadn't been electrocuted. But that didn't mean being hit by a huge ass bolt of lightning it in the first place didn't still hurt like a bitch.

"Feel that Scott?" As Theo talks, Nixie manages crawls to where Liam is struggling to move and she puts a hand on his back. Softly, she says in his ear, "Stay down. Help Scott when you can. I've got Lydia." And she turns back to Theo when he says, "Kanima venom. Just let it happen. Let it go. Let everything go." Scott's eyes widen as he feels his grip on Lydia slacking, and he shouts, "No!"

Scott tries, he really does. But with the venom in his system, his hand refuses to hold on any longer. And even as Lydia screams, she knows there's nothing she can do to prevent this.

But just as panic sets in, Lydia feels utter relief when Nixie screams, "Lydia!"

Theo turns to where he'd tossed her, only to be met with a swift punch to the gut that sends him flying all the way down the hall. And before he can get up or register what had just happened, Nixie is gone.

Dropped down into the hole, she dives straight for Lydia's dropping body. As soon as she's got her, Nixie wraps herself around Lydia and draws out her wings as soon as she's sure she won't hit something on the way down.

Luck, if she believed in such a thing, was most certainly on her side at this point. Because she manages to stop their drop to the concrete below literally a mere three feet before they hit the ground.

Jordan, feeling more confident in his abilities than ever, suddenly feels his stomach drop out from under him. Lydia's scream had reached him first, but it was a safe bet that Nixie was with her, so whatever threat was coming would be stopped, or at the very least would be diverted for a moment.

Then he heard Nixie's scream for Lydia, and he jerked his head around, as though he could somehow see what was happening if he did.

That gave Sebastien the upper hand long enough to knock him down to the ground.

As the fire went out, Jordan watches Sebastien turn back into a man, and then take off down the tunnels. Leaning back against the wall behind him, he mutters, "Nixie. What happened?"

He ponders for a moment going the other way, finding Nixie and Lydia, and figuring out if they're safe. Then he could go after the beast again.

But by then, the beast might be gone. The beast might've found Scott and the others, and the pike, and then be headed off for some other part of the country. And if he did that, who knows if they would ever find him to stop him again.

Lighting himself back on fire, he starts marching down the hall after the beast, a new found rage and determination fueling him to stop Sebastien at all costs.

Lydia leans back from Nixie when her feet hit the floor. Above them are pipes and metal beams for miles. It was amazing Nixie had the accuracy to pull out her wings at the last minute and use them to stop their descent. Back to Nixie, Lydia asks, "And what were you going to do if there wasn't room for you to pull out your wings and fly?" "Wrap them around you and brace for impact?"

Lydia gives her a look, but Nixie says, "The wings are tough and can take a beating if they need to. So are my scales. Now come on. We need to find a way out of here. I can't fly out. There aren't any openings above us that would allow my wings to fly high enough. There has to be another way."

Deucalion, Scott, and Liam all round the corner as Theo lies there on the ground, tossed there like a rag doll by the beast. Stupid boy actually thought that he could take the beast's power by simply stabbing his claws into his gut.

Glaring at Deucalion, Theo says, "You lied to me. You and Scott."

Bending down to Theo's level, Deucalion says, "That's right Theo. The whole time." Smiling at Scott, he adds, "It also didn't hurt that Nixie is the one who asked the favor in the first place."

Theo stares at him, confounded once again. Snarling, he asks, "What the hell is so special about her?!" Deucalion turns back to him and says, "Loyalty Theo. Loyalty and a protective streak that makes any other alpha werewolf pale in comparison. Even a true alpha. You would know that, if you hadn't been so obsessed with stealing Scott's and the beast's power this whole time."

Theo glares at them all, and then says sneeringly, "It would've never worked." Deucalion comments offhandedly, "It could've worked. With Belasko's talons. Unfortunately for you, Nixie happened to ask for those back as well."

And before Theo can comment, Deucalion reaches forward and snaps his neck. Shock evident on his face, Theo says, "You broke my neck." Liam can't help but turn to Scott and say, "If Nixie were here, she would be all over that." Scott nods, knowing the sarcastic comments would be flying about how Theo had just stated the obvious, and then says to Liam, "I know."

Deucalion, not nearly as sarcastic as Nixie, simply rises and says, "And good luck with that." Turning to Scott, he says, "There's an access grate that leads to the sublevel. That's where Lydia and Nixie will be." Liam asks, "Why hasn't Nixie just flown her back up?" "Too many beams and pipes hang in the air in the way. If I'm correct, she's only just accessed her wings?"

When Scott and Liam both nod, he says, "Then she's not trained enough to know how to maneuver through narrower gaps with them while flying. That'll come in time. Right now, she'd just crash and fall back down, and she probably knows that. We need to go to them." Liam nods and asks, "And what about Mason?" "We can still save your friend. Surely Nixie has ensured you know that."

Liam smiles a little at that, because Nixie had most certainly made it a clear point that they were saving Mason. The joy is short-lived though as they turn to leave and then Deucalion is shot in the back. Slumping against a wall and falling down, he says, "This just isn't my day."

As he falls, Gerard comes out of the shadows, Chris at his side, and says, "This is a surprising alliance Scott. You and Deucalion? How long have you been planning this clever little double cross?"

"About as long as he and I have been planning this one." Chris tosses the pike to Scott and asks, "Where's Nixie?" "Sublevel." "Go." Then he turns back to his father as the old man asks, "What are you doing?" "I knew when I brought you back, it would never be about saving lives. Only about immortalizing your own."

Turning on his father, gun raising the same time that his does, Chris says, "Scott, go. Now!"

As they round the corner and disappear, Gerard sneers at his son and says, "All this for them? For those we are sworn to hunt?!" "I live by Alison's code. We protect those who can't protect themselves. She knew better. That a person can't be judged by what they've become physically. It's who they are inside that counts."

Smirking, Chris says, "Nixie taught her that, and through Alison, she taught me as well. My daughter may have died, but she died for something she believed in. She died protecting the people she cared about most in this world. She died saving them. That's more than most people can say for themselves. It's more than you'll ever be able to claim."

Gerard scoffs and says, "You are deranged. You claim a dragon, a teenager, taught you honor and sacrifice." "That teenager is the only dragon to have existed for centuries. And even we Argents know how precious a dragon is. The Calaveras know that a dragon is to never be hunted, and they are to be trusted." Cocking his pistol, Chris says, "It's something you'll never be able to do. Because I'm not deranged. You are."

And from deeper in the tunnels, everyone can hear the gunshot ring out loud and clear. Scott and Liam can only hope that it means Chris is alright, and Gerard is finally taken care of again.

"I can't open this damn door!" Nixie comes over to the door Lydia is referring to and gives it a tug, but she can't budge it either. Sighing, she says, "It must have a seriously thick lock on the other side. Maybe I can pick it from this side. Here, give me…"

The blade that shoots through the wall beside them startles them both. Tilting her head, Nixie says, "Well, that's new." Backing up a step, keeping Lydia behind her, they hear a series of clangs and metal clashing with metal on the other side. Then the door just falls into the room.

Staring at it for a moment, Nixie then turns to Lydia and says, "I think we loosened it first." Lydia rolls her eyes even as she laughs, and then they both look to Kira when she says with a smile, "Sorry I'm late."

Rushing forward, Nixie hugs her tight and says, "Late is better than never. I'm so glad you're back." Kira nods and says, "It's not permanent." Freezing, Nixie pulls back and asks, "They're not…" "The skinwalkers aren't forcing me to stay or come back. They fixed the sword as a favor to you. But I promised them that I would come back and work with them. They said they can help me. It's just going to take time. Fortunately, I have lots of it."

Nixie nods, and then says, "We'll have a pity party later about you leaving. Right now, come on. We have to get back to Scott and Liam."

They round the corner just in time to see Sebastien release Scott from his hold around his neck. "Marie-Jeanne?"

Lydia steps forward and says, "Mason." Sebastien turns, eyes glowing, and Nixie steps up in front of Lydia and snarls, eyes glowing silver again. Sebastien tilts his head, and then smirks and says, "Dragon. I must confess, I will miss your little friend's memories when they are gone. They've been most helpful in determining who my enemies are and what they're capable of. But you are no match for me. Not even you."

As he begins to move towards them, Kira says, "Lydia, I think you're gonna need to try it a little louder."

Nixie puts a hand out when Lydia makes to move past her, but Lydia says, "Just have those wings ready." Nixie wraps her arms around Lydia protectively, ready to draw her back out of danger if that proves necessary. Then Nixie turns to Kira and says, "Get down!"

She ducks just in time, before Lydia shouts, "MASON!"

Nixie can actually see the pulses that come from the magnitude of Lydia voice. Ducking her head to avoid bursting her ear drums from the blast, she then peeks over Lydia's shoulder again to see what's happened.

The beast has burst into a shapeless black cloud. And as she narrows her eyes to peer inside, Nixie can see a body form and struggle to escape the mass.

Eyes bursting at the sight of his dark skin and converse sneakers, Nixie turns her head and says, "Corey, grab him!"

Corey has no idea how she knows that he's there, but he doesn't hesitate. He pulls himself off the wall and grabs Mason, drawing him into the protection of his arms.

Lydia can't help but smile, and she turns as Nixie says, "You did it!" She hugs Nixie tight, but then shrieks when Kira says, "Look out!" The black mass, roaring in anger and rage, barrels towards them. Nixie's wings shoot out and then snap shut in front of her, blocking Lydia from being hit. That doesn't stop the mass from trying to engulf her. She keeps a tight hold on Lydia as she's lifted from the ground and shoved into the pipes of a nearby wall.

"Nixie!"

She's pretty sure it was Scott who shouted her name. She's sure that she's in the way now, and that Scott can't kill the beast with the pike until he's sure he won't hit her. And Nixie does try to open her wings again, to shove the mass away and into the open for a clear shot, but the mass is too heavy and strong.

Squeezing Lydia tighter, Nixie's about to just shout for Scott to do it anyway. Her wings were out and her scales were up. And if she did get hit... well, hopefully it wouldn't be fatal for herself. All that mattered right now though, is that the damn beast finally dies. And she's about to tell Scott just that.

That's when the mass is suddenly ripped away from her. Dropping onto the ground, falling to the floor, Nixie opens her wings and Lydia rolls off of her to see what's happened.

Jordan has him, now pinning the beast against the wall of pipes, snarling at the black mass more angrily that Nixie had ever seen him. Jordan then turns and says, "Scott!"

He throws the pike and pierces the beast straight through the heart.

Nixie's not sure why, but she'd expected killing him to involve more of an exploding type of event. With all the chaos he caused, she figures it would've been appropriate, but that doesn't happen. Instead he just sort of dissolves right in Jordan's hands.

With the creatures vanished, Jordan turns off the flames, and immediately spins around to see Lydia and Nixie on the floor. And before Nixie can speak, Lydia says, "I think she's okay. She just couldn't push him away." Nixie nods in confirmation, but she still gasps when Jordan grabs her hand and pulls her quickly up off the floor. She's nearly caught up in his arms, when Scott asks, "Is everyone okay?"

"Not everyone!"

Nixie snarls and reluctantly leaves Jordan's warm and ready arms. Seriously... she's fucking tired now. And Theo is screwing up her being able to celebrate that they killed the beast. Moving to be beside Scott she sees Theo further down the hall. Wings unfurling again, tensing to wrap around Scott, she jumps when Kira steps up beside her and whispers, "I got this."

Nixie gives her a questioning look, but steps back and has her wings fold back down into her back, bumping into Jordan's chest once she's finished. His arms wrap around her waist and hold her securely to him as they watch Theo prepare to use up all his electrical energy to take out their alpha. But as the bolt flies, Kira swings her sword into the way and cuts the bolt off. And with her katana sword being a thing forged by lightning, it absorbs the blow.

Kira then says, "The skinwalkers have a message for you Theo. Your sister wants to see you."

Nixie's eyes widen because… well, that was news. And then Kira stabbed her sword into the ground and a tear went through the earth beneath them, a hole opening up near Theo's feet.

The girl that climbs up out of the ground looks like something you'd see out of a horror movie. Not that the rest of what they've seen isn't horror worthy, but that in particular makes a shiver crawl up Nixie's spine.

She even feels a tiny bit sorry for Theo as he screams, "Scott, help me! No! Scott, help me, Scott! No!" Scott even takes a step forward, as though he might try to help. But that tiny bit of pity Nixie feels does not mean she's going to let Scott save him from whatever punishment this is. So she reaches out and puts a hand on his shoulder to stop him. She doesn't say anything. She just assures that he doesn't move any closer to the evil boy that is disappearing into the ground beneath them.

For a moment after that, with the hole closed up again, everything is completely silent. And it's almost like everyone is afraid to speak, or else they might break the peace they've so rightfully earned out of all of this.

Finally though, Nixie blurts out, "Alright, I need a head count. Firstly, where are Stiles, Malia, and Braeden. Secondly, what happened to Deucalion and Chris. Thirdly, is Hayden still alive?" Liam jerks to look at her at the mention of Hayden, but the rest of the room slumps in relief and laughs at her.

Nixie just looks at them and says, "I don't see why everyone is laughing. I'm quite serious."

Scott turns to her and says, "We know. Give us a minute to make some calls. I'll get a hold of Stiles." Lydia says, "I'll call Argent." And Liam responds, "Why would Hayden be dying?" Nixie just tosses him her phone and says, "Call Deaton. Ask if she's okay."

Once everyone is making calls, Nixie gasps as she's spun around swiftly in Jordan's arms. She tries to look him over, to see if he's hurt, but he doesn't give her enough time. Her back ends up against a wall and his lips are on hers before she can even so much as utter a single word.

Lydia turns to tell her that Deucalion is fine and Chris patched him up and is fine as well, but instead just smirks and turns to see what Scott has to report on Stiles and Malia.

When Jordan finally pulls back, letting Nixie take a breath, he leans over to her ear and says gently, "Hi."

Her burst of laughter makes him smile and relax even further, and as he pulls back and lets her off the wall, he grins as she says, "Yeah, that was some hello. Are we making that a thing? Is that how we greet each other from now on. I'm not complaining, I'd just like to now."

He gives her hand a squeeze, and then turns to Lydia when she says, "Deucalion is healed and fine. He does want to swing by and say 'thanks' to Nixie for believing in him." Nixie points and says, "Scott believed in him too." Lydia just gives Nixie a look, and then turns when Scott says, "Stiles reports that they're okay too. Malia's mom did shoot Malia and Braeden. And he says that he got stabbed with a piece of broken glass, but Malia says that was his own clumsiness that did that."

Nixie says, "If he was being clumsy, then it was the desert wolf's fault. I call dibs on beating her to a pulp." Scott raises an eyebrow and says, "Well, it shouldn't be too hard now. Plan A worked. Malia took the power from her and now the desert wolf has none." Nixie ponders that for a moment, and then sighs and says, "So basically she's already been beaten and I shouldn't go kick her ass?" "I'd appreciate it if you left that to Malia." "Fine, but I'm not happy about it." "Noted."

Corey just looks around at all of them, and then asks, "Is she always like this?" Mason, still in his arms, smirks and says, "You get used to it. It's part of her charm."

And then Mason finds himself held tight in Nixie's arms instead of Corey's. Hugging her back, he says, "Thanks for getting me back." "Thanks for holding on long enough to get back. FYI, I can't lose anymore people. I'll go insane." Chuckling, Mason says, "I'll work on staying safe." "Good."

Leaning back and taking a breath, Nixie then looks to Liam when he says, "Hayden is stable, but he's not sure she'll heal. I'm going to see her at the clinic." Nixie nods and says, "Scott, go with him. I promised I'd send you to her as well once this was all over."

Once they're headed out, Nixie turns to Jordan. Coming up to him, she says, "I need to get Lydia back to the hospital for now. Can I meet you back home?" Nodding down at her, he kisses her one more time, and then says, "Drive safe." To which Lydia comments desperately, "Please!"

Nixie rolls her eyes as she moves to take Lydia's arm. "I only drove fast because we were short on time. I don't drive fast when it isn't necessary." Lydia gives her a look and says, "It was still terrifying!" "We were fine. Geez!"

Corey watches them walk out, and then asks again, "Seriously? All the time?"

Jordan pats his shoulder as he moves to follow the girls out of the tunnels. And as he turns back to Mason, Corey can't help but grin as he says, "Welcome to the club. Or pack, I guess I should say."

Chapter 10! Woohoo! One more chapter to go, and that's the epilogue! It will be posted hastily (as fast as I can), I promise. :)