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𝐒 𝐔 𝐏 𝐄 𝐑 𝐌 𝐎 𝐎 𝐍

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"I'm officially the single friend," Mason complained as he and Dax walked through the hallways.

"You could always ask Corey out," Dax offered.

"He just... just got out of a relationship with some weird scorpion something, and he is a chimera."

"I've dated worse," Dax shrugged, "Besides isn't everyone in doom and gloom mode anyway?"

"Except you..." Mason commented, "Why is that?"

"I don't know... Guess I've had my fair share of the world is ending crises."

"Can I ask a question?"

"Shoot."

"How do you exist? Everything I have read on vampires says they cannot have children... well everything but Twilight."

"Never trust Twilight. They give us a really bad reputation," Dax shuddered, "You know what? Why don't you come stay the night at my house tonight and I'll give you the answer."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I hate being alone, and Brett is doing some pack thing tonight."

"Cool."

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Dax handed Mason a bag of popcorn as he jumped over the back of the couch. Dax was wearing one of Brett's hoodies and some sweatpants. Mason was wearing grey pajama pants and a lighter grey shirt.

"So you get this entire place to yourself?" Mason asked.

"Ever since I came back, yeah," Dax admitted as he bit his lip.

"So was that Uncle a cover story?" Mason asked.

"No," Dax answered before clearing his throat, "He was- He was very real."

"You okay?"

"I'm good," Dax dismissed, "So what'd you want to know about tribrids?"

"I have so, so many questions," Mason looked to him with wide, but curious eyes. Dax chuckled.

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"Why does every human sheriff develop a god-complex," Dax sighed.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Stiles asked.

"I mean nothing by-" Dax cut himself off, "I hear sirens."

Dax and Stiles ran out to see Corey being out into an ambulance. He was covered in black blood and the same mercury-looking substance that had come out of Tracy's mouth. They watched Scott and Theo run off. Dax ran up to Mason.

"Are you okay?" Dax asked.

"He just started bleeding- I don't know," Mason seemed utterly freaked out.

"It's okay," Dax assured him, "Scott'll make sure he's okay," Dax assured Mason.

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"Liam, what the hell were you thinking?"Dax scolded as he marched into Sinema.

"How did you find us?" Liam asked wide-eyed.

"You're really asking me that? Have you learned nothing?" Dax sighed out of exasperation. The lights came on and the movies began to play.

"Oh no, they're here," Hayden said.

"This. This is what happens when you run away from your problems, Liam," Dax sighed as he began to look around. One of the dread doctors walked out, "Now that we've had that little chat, ready to run?"

"Sounds like a great idea," Liam nodded. Dax grabbed Liam and Hayden and zipped them into another part of the club.

"Hey, tough guy!" Dax yelled as he jumped down from some scaffolding grabbing the doctor's attention, "Pick on someone who likes to fight back," Dax roared. The dread doctor pulled the small bomb, "Oh shit."

"Might as well show you what I learned, "Vodux," Dax's hand went to the side, and with it, the dread doctor went flying, "The Gemini coven weren't exactly your friend's now were they."

"Hayden run!" Liam yelled from his spot on the floor. Scott came in and slashed a dread doctor in the face, not that it affected him.

"Got any other cool tricks?" Scott asked as he punched a dread doctor sending him stumbling back.

"Not really," Dax said as he kicked the third one, "I only got so far in the reading."

Liam jumped up and began punching the one Dax had thrown across the club. The dread doctor threw Liam across the room by the arm.

"Vodux," Dax threw the doctor away from Hayden. Before he could do anything else the doctor dropped his smoke bomb-like vervain device. Dax fell to his knees and began coughing as his skin, throat, and lungs began to burn. Dax gasped for air as he tried to crawl out of the room. He grimaced when he heard Liam's yell.

Scott lifted Dax up and supported him. Dax was struggling, "Give her some of my blood," Dax gasped slightly.

"What the hell?" Theo muttered as Dax bit into his arm. Blood poured from his arm since he wasn't healing as quickly due to the vervain.

"Drink up," Dax said weakly, "and quickly."

Hayden looked disgusted but she went to drink the blood from his arm. She was okay, but then her body rejected it and she began throwing up the blood.

"What is happening?" Liam asked the fear leaking into his voice.

"I don't know," Dax rasped out, "I can't help her... I'm sorry," Dax's voice cut in and out showing the extent of the damage whatever the dread doctors had used. His skin still had burns on it and he was healing but at an exponentially slower rate than normal.

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Stiles climbed out of his jeep as he pulled up. Dax was still sat on the back of Scott's motorcycle.  He was still struggling a bit to breathe and they had left the club five minutes ago, but his skin was healed, so at least the rain wasn't murdering the burns that had covered his body a few minutes before.

"Hey, sorry I had trouble starting the jeep again. Thing's barely hanging on," Stiles said as he walked up, "I couldn't get a hold of Lydia or Malia."

"Dax, can you give us a moment?" Scott asked.

"Yeah, yeah totally," Dax said with a glare. His voice was scratchy and hoarse, "I'll just go inside even though I can barely stand!"

"What the hell?" Stiles commented. Scott stared at Stiles not answering him, "Scott?" Scott pulled a wrench from his jacket and held it out, "Where'd you get that?" Stiles asked.

"This is yours?" Scott asked. Dax was beginning to breathe a bit easier but it still hurt like hell, and his arm was very slowly healing from the bite he had given himself in order to heal Hayden. Stiles took the wrench from Scott and looked down at it. The end of it was covered in blood, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was going to," Stiles said without looking up to meet Scott's eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me when it happened?"

"I couldn't," Stiles answered as he looked Scott in the eye.

"You killed him? You killed Donovan?"

"He was going to kill my dad. Was I supposed to just let him?"

"You weren't supposed to do this. None of us are," Scott said as he shook his head.

Stiles looked at him in hurt disbelief, "You think I had a choice?"

"There's always a choice."

"Yeah? Well, I can't do what you can, Scott! I know you wouldn't have done it. You probably would have just figured something out, right?"

"I'd try."

"Yeah because you're Scott McCall! You're the True Alpha! Guess what? Not all of us can be True Alphas! Some of us have to make mistakes! Some of us have to get our hands a little bloody sometimes! Some of us are human!" Stiles yelled. Dax, even in his weakened state, could see that Stiles had been holding onto that for way too long and so once he started he just couldn't stop.

"So you had to kill him?" Scott asked.

Stiles looked at him with disbelief yet again, "Yeah, he was gonna kill my dad."

"The way that it happened... There's a point when it's... It's not self-defense anymore."

"What are you even talking about? I didn't have a choice, Scott!" Stiles tried to convince him before he seemingly gave up. The light behind his eyes dimmed a bit as he frowned even further, "You don't even believe me do you?"

"I want to."

"Okay, great, so believe me," Stiles said as he tried to get Scott's approval, "Scott, say you believe me... Say it," Stiles took a step closer to Scott, "Say you believe me."

Scott stared at the ground as he spoke, "Stiles, we can't kill people that we're trying to save."

Stiles stepped closer to Scott as he backed away, "Say you believe me."

Scott looked down at the wrench as he backed up a little, "We can't kill people. Do you believe that?"

Stiles's lip trembled as he found himself at a loss for words. Stiles looked around as he searched for the words. He finally looked back to Scott and began talking, "What do I do about this? What do you want me to do- Okay. Scott, just tell me how to fix this, alright?... I mean, just tell me. What do you want me to do?"

"Don't worry about Malia or Lydia. We'll find them. Maybe, uh, maybe you should talk to your dad," Scott turned his back on Stiles and went to help Dax off of his bike.

"You are a fucking idiot, McCall," Dax said hoarsely as he pushed Scott off of him. Scott looked at him confused. Dax pushed himself off the bike and stumbled slightly. Scott sighed before walking inside, "You wanna drive a guy home?"

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"Thanks," Dax said. He was still slightly hoarse, but he could breathe a lot easier, "If you want to stay-"

"No I should get going," Stiles answered quickly.

"Stiles, you should know," Dax spoke up before Stiles could leave, "Scott'll come around, and just so you know, I don't give a shit what you have or haven't done. I can guarantee I know someone who has done worse."

"Thanks... I guess," Stiles said as he narrowed his eyes slightly. He walked away.

"What happened to your voice?" Brett asked as he walked up.

"It's a lot to explain and I've still got a sore throat," Dax sighed, "In the morning?"

"I can't stay tonight," Brett said as he joined hands with Dax, "Super moon is tomorrow. I have to help prepare. I was just making sure you were all right."

"Stay for a movie?" Dax asked.

"Of course."

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"How is she doing?" Dax asked as he walked into the clinic. He walked past Scott who was asleep in the chairs at the front.

"Not very good," Melissa answered.

"I could try something. No guarantee it'd work though."

"Please," Liam said as he looked at Dax. Dax nodded.

"This is usually used on objects, and the Dread Doctors seem to be anti-magic," Dax said, "I just don't want anyone to get their hopes up."

"Just try, please," Liam begged. 

Dax nodded. He gave Hayden a small smile as he grabbed her hand. He closed his eyes and began to chant, "Sanguinatum planicium. Sanguinatum planicium," Dax let go of Hayden's hand and placed a hand to his ears as they rang. He pulled his hand back into his vision to see that they had blood on them, "Well that didn't work. No wonder the witches of the twelfth century hated these guys," Dax said as he shook his head. Liam's lips pressed into a firm line as he looked down at Hayden, "I'm sorry."

Hayden grabbed Melissa's hand, "Call Val, my sister," She said weakly, "Valerie."

"She's a deputy," Liam said.

"I think I might know where she is. Theo just texted me about the high school. He said there are cops everywhere. It might be another chimera," Scott said as he came into the room.

"Get my sister," Hayden said as her voice wavered, "I don't want to die without my sister."

"I'll get her," Scott assured her.

"What are you going to tell her?" Liam asked.

"If I have to I'll tell her everything," Scott responded before walking out.

"Liam, I'm sorry I don't know anything else that can help," Dax apologized.

"What about all those old books you have?" Liam asked as his eyes snapped up to Dax.

"Liam, I've poured over those grimoires more times in the last few months than I think anyone should ever have to. I have the things committed to memory at this point," Dax sighed, "The restoration spell was my last option," Liam sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. He held onto Hayden's hand, "But I can go look again."

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"Seven thousandth time has got to be a charm," Dax said as he sat down in the study and opened the first grimoire.

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Dax was in his wolf form when he ran into the library. He couldn't explain it. He just knew he needed to be there. Once he crossed the mountain ash, he transformed back into a human. He felt off after doing so.

"Dax run!" Scott yelled before Liam threw him over a table. Liam jumped onto the table. Dax pulled Liam off of Scott and sent him flying, "Why are you naked?"

"Call it a hunch," Dax shrugged slightly. Liam stood up with a growl, "What are you gonna do, Godzilla? Try to kill me too? Trust me, you'd have a better chance not burning in hell," Dax said as he threw his arms out leaving his chest open for attack.  Liam lept at Dax but Dax hit him in the chest sending him flying back again.

"Can't you put him to sleep?" Scott asked.

"Not in here," Dax answered, "Something to do with the Mountain Ash. It's messing with my witchy parts. Why are you locked in the library anyway?"

"Theo."

"Oh, who coulda seen that one coming?" Dax asked sarcastically, "Oh right, your best friend that you threw away like trash."

Liam roared as he came at Dax again. He clawed across Dax's chest splattering blood, "This would be so much easier if I could just break your neck," Dax grunted as he punched Liam in the chest. Liam roared at Dax as his claws ripped through Dax's chest.

"He's using you, Liam!" Scott said, "He wants you to be alpha because he can't take the power from me; only you can."

Dax hit Liam sending him flying into a bookcase before launching himself up to the balcony where Scott was, "That's what this is about? I am so glad my werewolf ranking system doesn't work like yours."

"But once you do, he'll take it from you. That's why he wants you to kill me."

"That's what you don't get, Scott," Liam's voice came out animalistic as he climbed the stairs, "I wanna kill you."

"Think he'll heal from a tumble down the stairs?" Dax asked, but before Scott could answer he landed a kick to the beta's chest sending him flying down the stairs, "So what exactly is Theo's endgame here?"

"No clue," Scott answered.

"Well, I'm going to keep playing defense so that my best friend doesn't kill you," Dax said.

"I thought you were pissed at me."

"Oh, trust me, I am, but Liam doesn't deserve to have your blood on his hands," Dax said as he jumped down from the balcony and landed a punch to Liam's face sending him staggering back.

He used his speed to dodge most of Liam's attacks, only getting hit a few times with his claws, and once or twice by Liam's fists.

Liam managed to throw Dax into a bookcase where a wooden beam penetrated his stomach. Dax gasped as he screwed his eyes shut. He was on his back and the large chunk of wood was going clean through him. He took a few short rapid breaths before trying to push himself off. He bit his lip as muffled yelling left his mouth.

Dax cursed slightly as he moved. Every breath hurt, but moving was by far worse. Dax looked over to see Scott crash into a bookcase at the bottom of the stairs as Liam lept down. Scott dodged his attack just in time. Dax felt something snap under him, and a small purple cloud came up around him and his skin burned a bit. A muffled pained cry escaped his lips as he bit them.

Dax got his feet under him despite the immense amount of pain it caused. He managed to push himself off of the wooden piece. He took a moment to catch his breath and heal before grabbing Liam by his hoodie and throwing him into the wall.

"Careful!"

"Sorry, my obliterated small intestine can't hear you!" Dax glared at Scott. Before Dax knew it Liam had come back up to him, his claws ripped through his abdomen, and drove a wooden chair leg into his abdomen. He stabbed the piece of wood into a wall pinning Dax to it. Liam had pinned Dax to the wall just high enough where his feet could not reach the floor. Before Dax could pull it out, Liam had put two wooden chair legs into his shoulders. Dax cursed loudly as he cried out in pain.

"He's not the one you want to kill!" Scott said loudly. Liam threw Scott into the stairs. Dax heard Scott's bone crack as he hit the stairs, but he couldn't move very much due to the wood in his arms destroying his rotator cuff and the wood in his abdomen obliterating his stomach.

Liam threw Scott over him and slammed him into a wooden table. Liam began clawing into Scott. Dax and Scott were both yelling for him to stop, but Liam couldn't hear either of them. He continued to tear into Scott as he roared.

"Liam! Liam!" Mason yelled horrified as he ran into the library.

"Get out of here, Mason," Dax said weakly from his spot pinned on the wall. Mason looked over to Dax wide-eyed.

"Liam!" Mason yelled. Liam roared, but he stopped tearing Scott apart and looked back at Mason with his hand raised ready to finish Scott off, "Liam, what are you doing?" Mason asked as his voice wavered.

Liam looked to his hand, "Hayden," He muttered quietly.

"She's gone," Mason panted, "Hayden died a few minutes ago. She's gone."

Liam ran out of the library.

"Sorry to interrupt," Dax said weakly as he panted, "But can someone get these the hell out of me?"

"Why are you naked?"

"Does it really matter right now?"

Mason blinked rapidly as he ran over to Dax. Dax cried out as Mason tried to remove the wood from his