Witching Hour (Stiles Stilinski)

Forget Everything but This

Electricity was still flying by the time Theo had returned his face back to human. It provided a backdrop to the tension that was cracking beneath their feet. Stiles remained glued to his spot in fear and panic.

"I know what happened to Donovan," Theo admitted. Could this be the other person who knew? Stiles' mind was racing, was Theo the one taking the bodies? "I know everything-"

It was enough to snap Stiles out of his reverie. Suddenly, fear, anger, and utter loathing blinded Stiles' vision to white as he surged forward. Not even caring that the fence might still be racing with electricity, he gripped Theo's collar tightly and shoved him back into the fence on the hospital rooftop, pinning him there. Theo looked up at him in surprise.

"You don't know anything," Stiles rasped, his body still attempting to catch up to his mind.

Theo, out of anger himself, quickly maneuvered Stiles to where he was the one pushed up against the fence and Theo was the one in control. "I know everything!" He repeated with more veracity than Stiles liked. "I was there. I was at the library. Malia found the book, she was texting us to see where you were.  She said she left you at the library. I told her I was close, and when I got there, I heard the scaffolding come down."

Stiles narrowed his eyes, "You saw him?"

"Just the body," Theo confirmed. Stiles closed his eyes in resignation, letting Theo go. Theo continued, "I watched you come out. I was gonna say something, but then I saw the cop car. And the body was gone. I don't know who took him."

Stiles searched Theo's face for any trace of a lie. Ultimately, he came up short, for Theo looked just as confused and at a loss as Stiles felt in regards to who took the body.

"I only saw what you saw," Stiles was really wishing that he was anywhere else than on that rooftop talking to Theo. Hell, he'd even take the memory of his mother not recognizing him and attacking him over this. "And I didn't say anything because you didn't."

Stiles bit back any sort of retort, because frankly he had no idea what to say in that situation. Fortunately or unfortunately, he never had to say anything, for they both heard the sounds of a siren wailing from down below.

"That's not an ambulance, is it?" Theo asked Stiles, who shook his head. He headed for the dead chimera, whose blood posed a potential risk of staining the concrete. "We should get out of here."

Stiles stopped, staring at the boy, "We can't just leave him."

"Fine," Theo acknowledged, "Alright, let's take him. Someone's stealing the bodies anyway, right? Here's our chance to find out who." Stiles stared at the exceptionally long claws of the chimera, feeling like something wasn't right. "Stiles, come on. We've gotta do something."

"You killed him," Stiles' voice was hardly there.

"In self-defense," Whether he was trying to convince Stiles or himself, Theo's voice wavered. "He was gonna kill you and me. If we stay, we're either gonna have to tell the truth or we're gonna need a pretty convincing story. It's your choice. I'm not gonna ask you to lie to your dad."

Stiles shook his head, "Don't worry, I've had plenty of practice."

*****

"Lydia... hey, Lydia..." Lydia's hearing was in and out of focus when suddenly her upper arm flared up in pain.

"Ow! Jesus - Malia?"

"What are you doing?" Together, they were both standing in the operating room, the emergency lights flickering where they stood. Malia had an outstretched fist to snap Lydia out of whatever trance kept her standing stock still in the middle of that room. Lydia rubbed at her arm soothingly.