True North

20

Theo put the Jeep right-side-up. The police scanner caught their attention. They heard that Kira was under arrest.

The two rushed to Scott's house and were joined by Malia. Scott appeared moments later.

Stiles turned to Scott. "Hey, is Kira okay? Scott?"

He ignored Stiles and walked past the two. Stiles followed Scott upstairs. By the time he got there, Scott had already inserted his claws into Corey's neck.

"Don't get too close," Lydia warned.

"What is he doing?" Theo asked with a hint of curiosity.

"Tapping into Corey's memories. It's usually something only Alphas do."

There was a dangerous glint in Theo's eyes as he asked, "Is it as dangerous as it looks?"

Stiles glanced at Theo. "Probably more."

"Does anyone know if it's working?" Mason asked.

Corey began repeating no over and over and Scott fell backwards.

Corey's hand found the back of his neck. "What the hell did you do to me?"

"You'll be all right," Scott said.

"There's blood."

"You'll heal."

"Scott..." Lydia began impatiently.

"He'll be fine!" Scott yelled before letting out a sigh. "Listen... I think it worked. I saw something." He grabbed a notepad and began sketching something on paper. "There were tunnels. Pipes along the wall. There were these huge blue pipes at the entrance. Two on both sides."

Stiles leaned in closer to the notepad. "Wait a second. I know this. I've seen this before. That's one of the tunnels I used to skateboard in. Remember my dad caught me one time and told me to never go back?"

"It's the water treatment plant," Lydia realized. "That's where there are. That's where we'll find Liam, Lena and Hayden."

Stiles followed Scott down the stairs. "Scott..." Stiles called. "Scott, slow down. Just think for a second, okay?"

"Mason shouldn't be going," Scott protested.

"Liam's my best friend. I'm going," Mason returned.

Stiles scoffed. "Oh, did you suddenly get super wolf powers? I wasn't aware of that development."

Scott ignored Stiles' sarcasm and said, "Well, if you're not going, I could use the help."

Stiles nodded. "No, I'm coming, just as soon as I talk to my dad. They're moving the body and he wants to make sure that this time no one steals it."

"How exactly does he plan on managing that?"

"I don't know. But whoever took the last one was strong enough to flip my Jeep."

"We can bring Theo," Malia suggested.

Theo shook his head. "Maybe I better stay here. You know, in case the Doctors decide to make a house call for Corey."

Lydia took a step towards the alpha. "Scott, Stiles is right. We need to slow down and think."

"I am thinking..." Scott argued, "...about how Liam, Lena and Hayden could already be dead."

"Don't say that!" Stiles yelled. "Lena is alive! She has to be. She has to."

Lydia glanced back at Corey. "You could have hurt him, Scott. Really hurt him."

Scott ignored her and began walking away, followed by Malia and Corey. "I have to find Liam."

Stiles grabbed Malia's wrist. "Hey, text me. For anything."

Malia nodded. "I got it."

"Anything at all, okay?"

"I promise."

The group made their way to the water treatment plant. They slowly walked down the hallway, surrounded by pipes. Malia kept herself a short distance from the boys and looked around.

"Liam! Lena!" Malia called.

"Can you catch a scent?" Mason asked.

Scott shook his head. "There's too many chemicals."

"Then this might take awhile."

Scott and Mason walked down the hallway.

The teens called out their names over and over.

Scott turned to the others and said in a breathless voice, "Okay, we need to make sure that we're not covering the same area."

"Scott, do you have your inhaler?" Malia asked.

"Quiet," Scott told her. "I think I hear something."

Malia heard the same noise and questioned, "It's the lights, isn't it?"

Scott motioned for the others to follow. "Come on. This way."

Mason let out a loud sigh. "I'm telling you guys, we've been down this one before."

Scott stopped as he stared at the end of the tunnel. "What the hell are we doing? We're running up and down this place. Up and down the tunnels. And there's no way..." He took a moment to catch his breath. "There's no way that we're gonna find..." His breaths became more rapid.

"Scott, you need your inhaler," Malia said. "Scott, use it. Use your inhaler."

He began wheezing and pulled out his inhaler. He took a puff of air and his breath returned to normal. "This is all my fault. We're never going to find them. It's my fault."

"Scott," Mason began as he offered a hand, which Scott accepted. "We should keep looking. We should keep trying."

Scott glanced to Malia for confirmation and she nodded.

Their search proved to be a failure, but Theo had found them. Malia, Scott and Mason were covered in the sweat and dust.

Lena curled into herself on a couch, making herself as small as possible as tears streamed down her cheeks, making lines along the dirt.

Stiles walked up to her and dried her cheeks. "You're okay, Lena. I'm here now. You're safe."

Liam, who was sitting with Hayden, glanced at her and she nodded.

As Liam walked up to the cousins, he said, "I've got this."

Stiles glanced at Lena and she nodded.

Liam sat next to Lena and she cuddled into him, resting her head on his chest while still curled up on the couch. Her eyes began closing and Liam ran a gentle hand up and down her back.

"I know what you're doing," Theo said, walking up to Stiles.

"What are you talking about?" Stiles retorted.

"Lena. You really think she's safe with a werewolf?"

Stiles narrowed his eyes. "She's free to make her own choice."

"Do she and Scott know about what you did? You know it's only a matter of time before they find out."

Stiles voice cracked slightly. "Stop it. You have no idea how they'll react."

Theo sighed. "Enjoy the moments you have now, Stiles. Things are only going to get worse from here on out. Lena's a pretty little thing."

"You tell them, then!" Stiles snapped. "Stop taunting me and leave my cousin alone! Don't you dare talk about her like that!"

"They deserve to know; that's all. And if a pack member is keeping something from his alpha, I think Scott should know. How do you think Lena likes her new abilities?"

His eyes narrowed. "What did you do to her?"

"I only made her better."

"You turned her into a Chimera?! You son of a bitch!" He lunged at Theo, but Theo stepped back and Stiles hit the floor.

"Bye, Stiles." He walked away.

Stiles let out an angry yell before walking back to his sleeping cousin and said, "He won't get away with what he did to you, Lena. I promise."