Fic : Two Slaves 17/?
Title: Two Slaves 17/?
Words: Approx 5065
Rating : R
Characters : House/Wilson, Foreman/Cuddy
Contains : Slavery AU, corporal punishment of various kinds, some Master/slave non-con (not explicit). Dark! versions of all characters except House & Wilson.
Summary : Greg has been owned by Doctor Cuddy for a long time, he's settled into a routine but his world is disrupted by the arrival of Doctor Foreman, and his new slave - Jimmy. With their masters working closely together on redesigning the hospital the two slaves find themselves thrown together as well.
Previous part
James laid back against the cold wall of his small cell and sighed. It had been three days since he'd seen another human being. At least, he thought it had been three days; the cell was lit only with an artificial light that never went out. He'd slept fitfully on the bare concrete floor and lost track of time.
Once the adrenaline of his fight with Vogler had worn off he'd been terrified. He'd been shoved in here, with a small supply of food and water, and the door slammed shut behind him.
The chain and cuffs had been removed at least. He'd sat huddled on the floor until he'd heard footsteps in the corridor outside. When the other cell door had been opened and slammed shut he knew that it was Greg. Greg hadn't done anything wrong; he shouldn't have been brought down here. When he'd heard Greg knocking on the wall he'd answered him, wishing they had some sort of code they could use to communicate. He could have probably been heard if he yelled, but that wouldn't have been wise - he wasn't sure how these cells were monitored, if they were monitored at all.
They'd come for Greg a few hours later and there had been no more knocking. He was relieved that Greg hadn't been detained for long, but felt his absence keenly. Just knowing that he was there, on the other side of the wall had helped keep his fear at bay.
He hadn't been alone like this since he'd woken up in the Slave Training Facility with an empty mind. Every minute of his time had been allocated since that day; he'd had work to do, and people supervising him constantly. The only time he got alone for the most part was when he was sleeping, and he was usually too exhausted by the long days to do anything but stumble into bed and fall instantly asleep.
Now this was hours and hours of time in isolation, with no-one to talk to, or see, no-one to give him orders, and no work to do. It should have been paradise but instead he found himself going crazy with the lack of activity and the quiet. Over everything hung the fear of what was going to happen when Foreman, or Cuddy, had him released from here. He would probably be whipped, and he might be given to Vogler. He might be separated from Greg forever. His impetuous actions must have revealed to Cuddy and Foreman just how close they were. One of the first things he’d learned in his new life was that a slave should never have close association with another slave. Cuddy and Foreman must be aware of that prohibition as well. Foreman had made it clear to James several times that he regarded Greg as a bad influence on him. His actions in defending Greg in Cuddy’s office must have confirmed all Foreman’s fears.
As time passed he wondered if they just intended to leave him here forever, to rot in this small cell. His food supply was running out, although he'd rationed it carefully, his water was half gone. The bucket with his waste in was making the whole cell stink. He found himself straining for a sound, any sound at all, from outside his cell, but there was nothing.
He was alone, and forgotten.
________________________________________
"I can't keep him locked up in that cell, forever," Foreman said as they ate lunch three days after the 'incident'. They were alone in Cuddy's office, Greg having been sent to get his own lunch.
Foreman had taken Cuddy's advice and seen a lawyer about what had happened, one who specialised in slave law. The lawyer's opinion had been that Vogler had a valid claim over Jimmy - that was standard on the rare occasions that a slave assaulted a free man. Several issues muddied the water, including Vogler's attack on a slave who belonged to Cuddy - who was Foreman's partner, and Vogler's current status as an owner who'd had his slaves confiscated for cause. The lawyer had suggested that they get together with Vogler and his lawyer to reach a settlement. In the meantime, he'd advised, no formal disciplinary action which would result in physical harm should be taken against Jimmy - as Vogler had levied a claim over the slave. The lawyer also pointed out that a whipping would diminish the slave's value due to the scars it would leave, and the whipping being entered on his record. So Foreman had left Jimmy to stew in the hospital's cell while they tried to negotiate a deal with Vogler.
The problem was that Vogler hadn't been seen since he left the hospital with Tritter. They'd waited for him to come back to the hospital, demanding custody of his slave, but he hadn't been seen for the remainder of that day, or the next. Any efforts to contact him since then had failed, he wasn't answering his cell, or the phone at his home.
Greg had been all but useless at home, his injuries from the beating had him shuffling around in pain, and he seemed to have lost any motivation he'd had to do his duties. Cuddy was concerned about what he was going to be like if Foreman sold Jimmy, or worse, if he had to be surrendered to Vogler. Luckily he didn't have a case at the moment, but this state of affairs couldn't be allowed to continue.
"If Vogler doesn't show by the end of the day get him released. He might as well work as sit on his ass in a cell all day long." Cuddy said.
"He'll think he's gotten away with something if I don't punish him." Foreman said with a scowl.
"He's spent three days in a cell. And he was only defending Greg from Vogler. I don't think he's going to turn into a serial killer. Besides, there are other ways of punishing a slave than by whipping him. Take away the privileges you've given him to start with." Cuddy ate some more of her salad as she contemplated the situation. "Whatever deal you end up making with Vogler will be sure to include some sort of punishment for Jimmy."
"If Vogler ever shows up." Foreman said. "It's been three days and he's disappeared off the face of the earth."
________________________________________
Greg was filing some papers in Cuddy's office when Foreman came in, James trailing behind him. Greg nearly dropped the papers in surprise; he hadn’t known that Foreman was planning to release James, although he was relieved. Three days in that cell was three days too long. James looked like hell, he'd been in the same clothes since he was taken down there, and he looked like he'd barely slept. Foreman normally had him dressed immaculately, and he was always scrubbed, and clean-shaven. Now he had a layer of stubble on his chin and upper lip, and his clothes were wrinkled and dirty. He quickly glanced at Greg when he came into the office but his gaze dropped to the ground again and he sunk to his knees without being told, every inch the dutiful slave.
"Time to call it quits for the day," Foreman said to Cuddy, ignoring both Greg and his own slave. "The paperwork will wait until tomorrow."
"There'll be more of it then," Cuddy sighed but she started packing up her desk and Greg picked up her bag and coat. He eyed the kneeling James, he hoped they'd have time to talk for a while when they got home.
Cuddy also looked at Jimmy where he was kneeling at Foreman's feet. "Nothing from Vogler?"
Foreman shook his head and Greg's interest was piqued. He'd been expecting to see Vogler around a lot the last three days, and had been dreading it. Vogler had made a claim on James, and according to Greg's research on the subject, he had a good case, despite his attack on Greg. The law didn't provide a lot of protection against slaves being attacked, but there were severe laws against a slave attacking a free man. When Vogler hadn't appeared he'd been as puzzled as both Cuddy and Foreman. Vogler's non-appearance could only be good news for James but it was an anomaly, a puzzle.
He and James trailed behind Cuddy and Foreman as they walked out of the hospital. James moved closer so that his arm was brushing Greg's as they walked. He looked up and gave Greg a quick smile, a moment of reassurance that he was okay. Greg smiled back, resisting the urge to grab him and never let go.
________________________________________
"Did Foreman talk to you about anything?" Greg asked quietly as he helped James cook the dinner.
James shook his head. "No, I was escorted up to his office, he frowned at me a bit, and then we went straight to Cuddy's office." He started chopping up some carrots. "I was expecting something a bit more dramatic. I thought I might never see you again."
Greg swallowed hard, he'd had the same thoughts himself, and he hadn't been the one locked up in isolation for three days.
"Vogler hasn't been back. Nobody has seen or heard from him since that day. Which is good luck for you. What the fuck were you thinking with that bone-headed move?" Fear made his tone harsh.
"Oh, I was thinking that Vogler was kicking you while you were down and none of them were making a move to help you." James expression darkened. "He hurt you." He reached for Greg and put a gentle finger on the bruising around his nose. "Is it broken?"
Greg took a step back, breaking the contact, and looked towards the doorway. "Be careful, they already think we're 'too close'."
James cracked a small smile. "Well, we are, aren't we?"
Greg thought about that night, the last time James had come to his room. His own face broke into a smile. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. But they don't need to have any more ammunition; you're in enough trouble already."
James nodded and got back to his vegetable preparation. "So, if Vogler hasn't been around what is going to happen to me?”
"You're going to be a good slave, and keep your head down. Don't draw attention to yourself at all."
"You think Foreman is going to forget I hit Vogler?"
"I think Foreman wishes he could have got in a few hard hits with the cane himself. He doesn't give a fuck that you hit Vogler, but you did embarrass him by not being the perfectly trained slave that he thinks makes him look good. Expect him to crack down on you, give you more 'training'. Just be what he wants for a while."
"If Vogler comes back, he'll claim me?"
"He'll try. I think Foreman will fight him on it." Cuddy and Foreman hadn't talked much about the situation, at least not while Greg was in earshot.
James put the dinner in to cook and then started to wipe down the surfaces. After a few moments of silence he turned to face Greg.
"You made me sick rather than let Vogler have me for a night - what did you think he was going to do to me?"
"He's not going to have you."
"But..."
"No, it's not going to happen. Foreman won't let that happen to you." Greg didn't believe it, he didn't think Foreman cared about what happened to James but Greg wouldn't let Vogler have James. He could kill Vogler if it came to that, and then James would be safe. He knew how to do it, and Vogler thought he was harmless - he wouldn’t see it coming.
Once the dinner was ready they took it through to the living room where Cuddy and Foreman were sitting on the couch watching television. As they placed the food down and poured wine the news came on and Greg heard a familiar name. He turned to look at the screen. Edward Vogler was shown being arrested and hustled into a police car.
"Billionaire Edward Vogler was today arrested on unspecified charges, but they are believes to result from his alleged involvement in organised crime, including money laundering. Today's arrest is apparently the culmination of several months of investigation by a specially formed task force. It is believed that the turning point of the investigation was the seizure of Vogler's slaves three days ago due to allegations of cruelty. There is a rumour that the slaves have provided crucial evidence to the police."
The reporter on the screen kept talking, detailing Vogler's rise to fame and fortune, and his recent Board position at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, but Greg didn't listen. He stopped what he was doing and stared at James. James looked equally stunned, his eyes wide as he met Greg's gaze.
"Well, now we know why we haven't seen him." Foreman said.
"Organised crime, and that's where he got the money he's put into my hospital." Cuddy said, her phone already in her hand. "We need to get ahead of this. We'll have reporters calling, donors, the rest of the Board and who knows who else."
Foreman was getting his phone out too, and then he glanced at Greg and James who were still looking at the television.
"Why are you two standing around? Go and clean up. You have your list of chores Jimmy, get moving on those after you clean up - you're three days behind. I'll be inspecting your work later. Greg, help Jimmy clean the kitchen and then go to your room and work on that paper."
They hurried out of the room, to the kitchen. They could just hear both Cuddy and Foreman on their phones. Greg took the chance to steal a quick kiss from James, putting his arms around him and bringing him into an embrace. Then he quickly released him. They couldn't take any chance of being caught. Not now, with everything so uncertain.
"Well, I guess Vogler won't be getting me," James said, a happy grin on his face. "I can stay with you."
Maybe. Greg knew how things worked. Both Cuddy and Foreman would have realised that James only did a reckless thing like attacking Vogler because he cared for Greg. Greg suspected that, with or without Vogler, they intended doing something to separate them. It was possible that James hadn't been physically punished because they were concerned about Vogler's claim over him. Now, presumably, that wouldn't exist. When they had the immediate concerns resolved would Foreman decide to have Jimmy whipped, or worse, sell him?
"You still need to lie low for a while," Greg told him. "They can't know about our... relationship. No midnights visits. No physical contact when there's any chance of being seen."
" You just kissed me ," James pointed out.
Greg ran a hand through his hair. James was going to make it thin faster than it already was. "That's because you're just so damned cute, I couldn't help it," he growled. "Stop doing that pouty thing with your lips and I'll stop kissing you."
James laughed quietly and peered out into the hallway. No sign of anyone. He gave Greg a quick peck on the lips and then went over to the sink to start dutifully doing the dishes.
________________________________________
Foreman didn't even have time to think about disciplining his slave for the next few days. Cuddy called an emergency Board meeting the morning after the arrest and Vogler was voted out unanimously. That didn't stop reporters from poking around the hospital fishing for information. Cuddy held a press conference, and put as much distance as she could between the hospital and Vogler. They then spent a solid two days on fielding questions from worried staff who were concerned about the withdrawal of Vogler's money. A lot of the money had already been spent, committed to the expansion plans of the hospital, and Foreman suspected that Vogler would be too busy with his own legal troubles to try and recoup any of it when he learned that he had been ousted from the Board. The various clinical trials Vogler had insisted on were put on hold and they both tried to present a calm and professional front of 'business as usual'.
They worked right through Saturday and finally had things under control enough to spend Sunday at home. Their slaves cooked them a lavish Sunday breakfast and after eating that Foreman called for Jimmy to come to him.
He frowned down at the kneeling slave. Jimmy had behaved immaculately since his stint in the cells at the hospital. Over a week had passed since his initial offence of striking Vogler, and Foreman hadn't physically punished him. Now that Vogler was incarcerated, and by all accounts was looking at life in prison - if he wasn't enslaved himself - Foreman was free to do whatever he wanted to Jimmy. Except... he didn't feel like handing out harsh punishment as this late stage. Jimmy knew that he shouldn't have attacked Vogler, but it wasn't behaviour that was likely to be repeated without similar circumstances. He could, and probably should, sell him, but he’d spent so long training him to be as he wanted that he was reluctant to start over with another slave if this one could be salvaged.
What Foreman had to do was ensure that Jimmy was totally focused on his orders, and doing whatever he could to make Foreman's life easier - as he was supposed to. Whatever this thing he had with Greg was, it had to be stopped. Tight discipline, and having every minute of his day scheduled, was the way to do that. Jimmy had been granted some freedoms since Foreman moved in with Cuddy, it was time for that to change.
He told Jimmy to follow him and went up to his room on the first floor. Then he had Jimmy remove the bed, and the small amount of furniture, taking it all down to the garage storage area. Once Jimmy returned to the room for the last time, panting from the exertion, Foreman had him kneel in the doorway. The room was empty of everything but a closet with Jimmy's clothes in it, his spare pair of shoes sat neatly in the bottom of the closet. There was one folded up blanket and a thin pillow in one corner of the room.
"You'll sleep on the floor. The door will be left open at all times. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good." Foreman left him kneeling there and went into the room. He'd inspected the furniture as it went out of the room, making sure that Jimmy had nothing hidden in there. It had all been clean. Now he went to the closet and searched it and the clothes thoroughly. There was nothing there either. He looked at Jimmy, frowning. It wasn't that he had expected to find much contraband, but he had thought that there would be something . All the slave training books he'd read had said that slaves tended to try and hoard a few small objects. The books had speculated that this was because the slave otherwise had nothing they could call their own.
There was only one place he hadn't looked.
"Take off your clothes," he ordered. "All of them, including your shoes."
He examined Jimmy’s clothing first, it was clean. Then he picked up the shoes. There it was, a couple of pieces of paper hidden in each shoe. He examined the paper, every inch of it was covered in tiny writing. The writing included a list of the bones of a human hand, a labelled diagram of a brain, several medical school mnemonics and cramped descriptions of some common medical conditions.
"Who gave you this?" he asked.
"I wrote it myself, sir," Jimmy said, his eyes wide.
"You, a slave, are trying to learn medicine?"
"I could help you better if I had some medical knowledge, sir."
"Like Greg?" Foreman said sceptically.
"Yes, sir." Jimmy kept looking at him earnestly, but his body was tense and Foreman suspected that there was more here than a slave trying to be of more use to his master.
"So, if you wrote this, who gave you the information?"
Jimmy just stared at him mutely and Foreman sighed. It didn't take a genius to work out where Jimmy had come across this knowledge.
"Get dressed." Foreman ordered. "We're going downstairs. This situation can't continue."
________________________________________
When Foreman went downstairs, with Jimmy in tow, he found Cuddy going over some notes, and Greg standing next to her. Greg had been working on a paper for the last diagnostics case, so that Chase could present at a conference in Chicago next week.
Foreman handed the paper he had found over to Cuddy. "Jimmy was hiding these."
Cuddy took them, quickly scanning them. She looked up at Jimmy and then across to Greg.
"You've been teaching him?"
Greg shot a quick look at Jimmy and then turned his attention back to her, he shrugged, his attitude casual.
"It seemed like he'd be more use around the hospital if he could at least tell the difference between a heart and a kidney. You said I should help him get settled in and find his way around."
"Find his way around the hospital , Greg. Not the human body. It's not your place to teach Doctor Foreman's slave anything but what you were told to do. You know that." She gave the papers back to Foreman. "Do whatever you want with those, and with Jimmy. I'll deal with Greg."
Foreman folded his arms across his chest. "That's all well and good, but we need..." he glanced at the slaves, this conversation would be better held in private. He opened his mouth, intending to suggest just that to Cuddy when the doorbell rang.
"Go and get the door, Jimmy," he ordered - frustrated at the interruption. He needed to discuss this situation with Cuddy. It was beginning to look like his only option would be to sell Jimmy and look around for a slave of comparable value to him, and this time he would keep his slave well away from Greg.
________________________________________
James was relieved that the conversation had been interrupted, but he was sure the reprieve wouldn't last long. He shouldn't have kept his notes around, but he'd liked pulling them out and reading them after a difficult day, it was like they connected him to Greg, and to his old life, even if he didn't remember it. He'd been close to blurting out to Foreman that he used to be a doctor. If he did that, if Foreman found out that he knew about his former life - well, James wasn't sure what the consequences would be, but he wasn't going to take that risk. Being mind-wiped once was bad enough.
The doorbell rang again just as he got there to answer it. He quickly pulled it open and stared at their visitors.
Detective Tritter was standing there, with two uniformed officers.
"Doctor Foreman lives here?" Tritter asked, already moving inside.
"Yes, sir."
"Take me to him."
James led the way back to the living room, his mind racing. Had Tritter come to arrest him because he hit Vogler? He hadn't seemed bothered at the time, and from what James understood that was a civil matter, not a criminal one. Maybe he was wrong and Vogler had made a complaint.
Cuddy stood up as Tritter entered and Foreman went to her side. James stood quietly to one side, as close to Greg as he could.
"Detective Tritter, this is a surprise. What can we do for you? Is it about Vogler?"
"The Vogler investigation isn't my responsibility, I deal with slave matters."
"You confiscated Vogler's slaves so that the task force investigating Vogler would be able to interview them, and maybe search his house." Cuddy said, and James felt the picture fall into place. Of course, Tritter hadn't been concerned about Jake, or his death, or the treatment of his slaves. His part of the investigation had been a means to an end.
Tritter smirked with satisfaction. "Al Capone was brought down on tax evasion charges. Sometimes the cleverest criminals make dumb mistakes - Vogler's weakness was his fondness for abusing his slaves. That slave's suicide was just the catalyst we needed."
"Glad my hospital could be of some use," Cuddy said drily. "So if this isn't about Vogler what can we do for you?"
"Well, it's Doctor Foreman I came to see. You have a slave, registration number J453667?"
James heart sunk and he looked at Greg, who had tensed up next to him. They were going to take him away.
"Jimmy, yes." Foreman waved a hand towards James.
Tritter handed Foreman an official form. "I have authorisation to take the slave with me. He was made a slave after a murder conviction, and that conviction has been overturned - due to new information that came to light after our investigation into Vogler's organised crime syndicate.
Tritter's words took a few seconds to sink in. James remembered Greg telling him that the man he was accused of murdering was suspected of being in the mob. Tritter was still talking and Foreman was saying something but James couldn't hear them. He looked up at Greg who was staring at him, his eyes wide, shocked.
He wasn't a murderer. He was innocent. He shouldn't have been imprisoned and he shouldn't have been mind-wiped. He had lost everything for no reason.
"... As I said Doctor Foreman, you will be compensated for his value. Surely you don't think he should continue to be a slave when he was enslaved because of a false accusation? Doctor James Wilson is an innocent man - he deserves to go free."
"Doctor? He was a doctor?" Foreman asked, his voice incredulous. "Jimmy?"
"James," he heard himself saying. His throat was dry and he cleared it and tried again. "My name is James, not Jimmy." He met Foreman's gaze squarely, ignoring the scowl on the other's man face.
"Come on, James. I'm sure you want to get out of here," Tritter said, his jaws still working on the gum in his mouth. "Is there anything you need to take with you?"
James stared at him, still not taking everything in. Both Cuddy and Foreman seemed dumbstruck and Greg was looking at him with a stunned expression. He shook his head, he didn't have anything but the clothes on his back, and they weren't really his. Oh, there was something. He put his hand out.
"I'd like to take my notes." Foreman was still holding them, those precious pieces of paper that had tied him to the past.
"Give him those, get his registration papers and we'll be going," Tritter said. Foreman handed them over reluctantly and went to get the registration papers. James looked at Greg again. Greg. He would have to leave Greg behind when he went.
"I can't... “he said, then stopped, so used to hiding his feelings for the other man that he couldn't continue.
"You're going," Greg said, "if I have to kick your butt out of here myself. You can be free , James - nothing is worth more than that."
You are, James thought to himself, you're worth my freedom . He shook his head, trying to think. He wanted Greg to come with him, to share his new life. Greg couldn't come. Greg was still a slave.
He stepped up to him, closing the distance between them, ignoring everybody else in the room. Putting his arms around him he drew him into a fierce hug. He could feel their hearts beating together. He leaned up and whispered in Greg's ear, for him alone to hear. " Hold on . I'll come back for you, just hold on. Promise me." He felt a tiny nod against his cheek and stepped back, wiping tears away from his eyes. "Goodbye, Greg."
He thought about saying something to Cuddy, asking her not to take any of this out on Greg, and to treat him well, but it was pointless - she would do what she wanted - he just hoped that his value to her would ensure at least a measure of fair treatment.
"I'm ready," he said to Tritter. Tritter put a hand on his shoulder and started to steer him out of the room.
Foreman got in his way, standing awkwardly in front of him. "I had no way of knowing that you used to be a doctor," he said defensively. "Or that you were innocent."
James curled one fist into a ball by his side, the other hand still held his medical notes. One punch, to Foreman's arrogant face, just one punch, that’s all he wanted. He thought of Greg and relaxed his hand. He would do nothing to jeopardise the other man.
"You knew I was a human being," he said mildly.
"You were a slave."
James shook his head. There was no point trying to get Foreman to understand.
"Please get out of my way, sir ."
Foreman took a step to one side and James went past him.
They reached the front door and James looked back. The others had all come out into the hallway and his eyes briefly met Greg's for the last time and then Greg turned away. James left the house, breathing a sigh as the door shut behind him. He looked out at the street, basked in sunlight.
"So, I'm free now?"
"Technically not until we take your paperwork to the station and get you processed, so in about an hour's time." Tritter replied, his eyes already on his phone and his next case.
"Thank you," James said.
Tritter glanced up briefly. "We didn't expect this; we had no idea about Vogler's involvement in the Canadian scene. You lucked out, son. Play your cards right and you should get some nice compensation out of this - a lifetime of memories has to be worth something. Enjoy your freedom." He said it ironically, as if it meant nothing. He was wrong.
They got in the car, James in the back. As they drove away he looked back at the house.
"I'll be back, Greg," he promised.
Words: Approx 5065
Rating : R
Characters : House/Wilson, Foreman/Cuddy
Contains : Slavery AU, corporal punishment of various kinds, some Master/slave non-con (not explicit). Dark! versions of all characters except House & Wilson.
Summary : Greg has been owned by Doctor Cuddy for a long time, he's settled into a routine but his world is disrupted by the arrival of Doctor Foreman, and his new slave - Jimmy. With their masters working closely together on redesigning the hospital the two slaves find themselves thrown together as well.
Previous part
James laid back against the cold wall of his small cell and sighed. It had been three days since he'd seen another human being. At least, he thought it had been three days; the cell was lit only with an artificial light that never went out. He'd slept fitfully on the bare concrete floor and lost track of time.
Once the adrenaline of his fight with Vogler had worn off he'd been terrified. He'd been shoved in here, with a small supply of food and water, and the door slammed shut behind him.
The chain and cuffs had been removed at least. He'd sat huddled on the floor until he'd heard footsteps in the corridor outside. When the other cell door had been opened and slammed shut he knew that it was Greg. Greg hadn't done anything wrong; he shouldn't have been brought down here. When he'd heard Greg knocking on the wall he'd answered him, wishing they had some sort of code they could use to communicate. He could have probably been heard if he yelled, but that wouldn't have been wise - he wasn't sure how these cells were monitored, if they were monitored at all.
They'd come for Greg a few hours later and there had been no more knocking. He was relieved that Greg hadn't been detained for long, but felt his absence keenly. Just knowing that he was there, on the other side of the wall had helped keep his fear at bay.
He hadn't been alone like this since he'd woken up in the Slave Training Facility with an empty mind. Every minute of his time had been allocated since that day; he'd had work to do, and people supervising him constantly. The only time he got alone for the most part was when he was sleeping, and he was usually too exhausted by the long days to do anything but stumble into bed and fall instantly asleep.
Now this was hours and hours of time in isolation, with no-one to talk to, or see, no-one to give him orders, and no work to do. It should have been paradise but instead he found himself going crazy with the lack of activity and the quiet. Over everything hung the fear of what was going to happen when Foreman, or Cuddy, had him released from here. He would probably be whipped, and he might be given to Vogler. He might be separated from Greg forever. His impetuous actions must have revealed to Cuddy and Foreman just how close they were. One of the first things he’d learned in his new life was that a slave should never have close association with another slave. Cuddy and Foreman must be aware of that prohibition as well. Foreman had made it clear to James several times that he regarded Greg as a bad influence on him. His actions in defending Greg in Cuddy’s office must have confirmed all Foreman’s fears.
As time passed he wondered if they just intended to leave him here forever, to rot in this small cell. His food supply was running out, although he'd rationed it carefully, his water was half gone. The bucket with his waste in was making the whole cell stink. He found himself straining for a sound, any sound at all, from outside his cell, but there was nothing.
He was alone, and forgotten.
________________________________________
"I can't keep him locked up in that cell, forever," Foreman said as they ate lunch three days after the 'incident'. They were alone in Cuddy's office, Greg having been sent to get his own lunch.
Foreman had taken Cuddy's advice and seen a lawyer about what had happened, one who specialised in slave law. The lawyer's opinion had been that Vogler had a valid claim over Jimmy - that was standard on the rare occasions that a slave assaulted a free man. Several issues muddied the water, including Vogler's attack on a slave who belonged to Cuddy - who was Foreman's partner, and Vogler's current status as an owner who'd had his slaves confiscated for cause. The lawyer had suggested that they get together with Vogler and his lawyer to reach a settlement. In the meantime, he'd advised, no formal disciplinary action which would result in physical harm should be taken against Jimmy - as Vogler had levied a claim over the slave. The lawyer also pointed out that a whipping would diminish the slave's value due to the scars it would leave, and the whipping being entered on his record. So Foreman had left Jimmy to stew in the hospital's cell while they tried to negotiate a deal with Vogler.
The problem was that Vogler hadn't been seen since he left the hospital with Tritter. They'd waited for him to come back to the hospital, demanding custody of his slave, but he hadn't been seen for the remainder of that day, or the next. Any efforts to contact him since then had failed, he wasn't answering his cell, or the phone at his home.
Greg had been all but useless at home, his injuries from the beating had him shuffling around in pain, and he seemed to have lost any motivation he'd had to do his duties. Cuddy was concerned about what he was going to be like if Foreman sold Jimmy, or worse, if he had to be surrendered to Vogler. Luckily he didn't have a case at the moment, but this state of affairs couldn't be allowed to continue.
"If Vogler doesn't show by the end of the day get him released. He might as well work as sit on his ass in a cell all day long." Cuddy said.
"He'll think he's gotten away with something if I don't punish him." Foreman said with a scowl.
"He's spent three days in a cell. And he was only defending Greg from Vogler. I don't think he's going to turn into a serial killer. Besides, there are other ways of punishing a slave than by whipping him. Take away the privileges you've given him to start with." Cuddy ate some more of her salad as she contemplated the situation. "Whatever deal you end up making with Vogler will be sure to include some sort of punishment for Jimmy."
"If Vogler ever shows up." Foreman said. "It's been three days and he's disappeared off the face of the earth."
________________________________________
Greg was filing some papers in Cuddy's office when Foreman came in, James trailing behind him. Greg nearly dropped the papers in surprise; he hadn’t known that Foreman was planning to release James, although he was relieved. Three days in that cell was three days too long. James looked like hell, he'd been in the same clothes since he was taken down there, and he looked like he'd barely slept. Foreman normally had him dressed immaculately, and he was always scrubbed, and clean-shaven. Now he had a layer of stubble on his chin and upper lip, and his clothes were wrinkled and dirty. He quickly glanced at Greg when he came into the office but his gaze dropped to the ground again and he sunk to his knees without being told, every inch the dutiful slave.
"Time to call it quits for the day," Foreman said to Cuddy, ignoring both Greg and his own slave. "The paperwork will wait until tomorrow."
"There'll be more of it then," Cuddy sighed but she started packing up her desk and Greg picked up her bag and coat. He eyed the kneeling James, he hoped they'd have time to talk for a while when they got home.
Cuddy also looked at Jimmy where he was kneeling at Foreman's feet. "Nothing from Vogler?"
Foreman shook his head and Greg's interest was piqued. He'd been expecting to see Vogler around a lot the last three days, and had been dreading it. Vogler had made a claim on James, and according to Greg's research on the subject, he had a good case, despite his attack on Greg. The law didn't provide a lot of protection against slaves being attacked, but there were severe laws against a slave attacking a free man. When Vogler hadn't appeared he'd been as puzzled as both Cuddy and Foreman. Vogler's non-appearance could only be good news for James but it was an anomaly, a puzzle.
He and James trailed behind Cuddy and Foreman as they walked out of the hospital. James moved closer so that his arm was brushing Greg's as they walked. He looked up and gave Greg a quick smile, a moment of reassurance that he was okay. Greg smiled back, resisting the urge to grab him and never let go.
________________________________________
"Did Foreman talk to you about anything?" Greg asked quietly as he helped James cook the dinner.
James shook his head. "No, I was escorted up to his office, he frowned at me a bit, and then we went straight to Cuddy's office." He started chopping up some carrots. "I was expecting something a bit more dramatic. I thought I might never see you again."
Greg swallowed hard, he'd had the same thoughts himself, and he hadn't been the one locked up in isolation for three days.
"Vogler hasn't been back. Nobody has seen or heard from him since that day. Which is good luck for you. What the fuck were you thinking with that bone-headed move?" Fear made his tone harsh.
"Oh, I was thinking that Vogler was kicking you while you were down and none of them were making a move to help you." James expression darkened. "He hurt you." He reached for Greg and put a gentle finger on the bruising around his nose. "Is it broken?"
Greg took a step back, breaking the contact, and looked towards the doorway. "Be careful, they already think we're 'too close'."
James cracked a small smile. "Well, we are, aren't we?"
Greg thought about that night, the last time James had come to his room. His own face broke into a smile. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. But they don't need to have any more ammunition; you're in enough trouble already."
James nodded and got back to his vegetable preparation. "So, if Vogler hasn't been around what is going to happen to me?”
"You're going to be a good slave, and keep your head down. Don't draw attention to yourself at all."
"You think Foreman is going to forget I hit Vogler?"
"I think Foreman wishes he could have got in a few hard hits with the cane himself. He doesn't give a fuck that you hit Vogler, but you did embarrass him by not being the perfectly trained slave that he thinks makes him look good. Expect him to crack down on you, give you more 'training'. Just be what he wants for a while."
"If Vogler comes back, he'll claim me?"
"He'll try. I think Foreman will fight him on it." Cuddy and Foreman hadn't talked much about the situation, at least not while Greg was in earshot.
James put the dinner in to cook and then started to wipe down the surfaces. After a few moments of silence he turned to face Greg.
"You made me sick rather than let Vogler have me for a night - what did you think he was going to do to me?"
"He's not going to have you."
"But..."
"No, it's not going to happen. Foreman won't let that happen to you." Greg didn't believe it, he didn't think Foreman cared about what happened to James but Greg wouldn't let Vogler have James. He could kill Vogler if it came to that, and then James would be safe. He knew how to do it, and Vogler thought he was harmless - he wouldn’t see it coming.
Once the dinner was ready they took it through to the living room where Cuddy and Foreman were sitting on the couch watching television. As they placed the food down and poured wine the news came on and Greg heard a familiar name. He turned to look at the screen. Edward Vogler was shown being arrested and hustled into a police car.
"Billionaire Edward Vogler was today arrested on unspecified charges, but they are believes to result from his alleged involvement in organised crime, including money laundering. Today's arrest is apparently the culmination of several months of investigation by a specially formed task force. It is believed that the turning point of the investigation was the seizure of Vogler's slaves three days ago due to allegations of cruelty. There is a rumour that the slaves have provided crucial evidence to the police."
The reporter on the screen kept talking, detailing Vogler's rise to fame and fortune, and his recent Board position at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, but Greg didn't listen. He stopped what he was doing and stared at James. James looked equally stunned, his eyes wide as he met Greg's gaze.
"Well, now we know why we haven't seen him." Foreman said.
"Organised crime, and that's where he got the money he's put into my hospital." Cuddy said, her phone already in her hand. "We need to get ahead of this. We'll have reporters calling, donors, the rest of the Board and who knows who else."
Foreman was getting his phone out too, and then he glanced at Greg and James who were still looking at the television.
"Why are you two standing around? Go and clean up. You have your list of chores Jimmy, get moving on those after you clean up - you're three days behind. I'll be inspecting your work later. Greg, help Jimmy clean the kitchen and then go to your room and work on that paper."
They hurried out of the room, to the kitchen. They could just hear both Cuddy and Foreman on their phones. Greg took the chance to steal a quick kiss from James, putting his arms around him and bringing him into an embrace. Then he quickly released him. They couldn't take any chance of being caught. Not now, with everything so uncertain.
"Well, I guess Vogler won't be getting me," James said, a happy grin on his face. "I can stay with you."
Maybe. Greg knew how things worked. Both Cuddy and Foreman would have realised that James only did a reckless thing like attacking Vogler because he cared for Greg. Greg suspected that, with or without Vogler, they intended doing something to separate them. It was possible that James hadn't been physically punished because they were concerned about Vogler's claim over him. Now, presumably, that wouldn't exist. When they had the immediate concerns resolved would Foreman decide to have Jimmy whipped, or worse, sell him?
"You still need to lie low for a while," Greg told him. "They can't know about our... relationship. No midnights visits. No physical contact when there's any chance of being seen."
" You just kissed me ," James pointed out.
Greg ran a hand through his hair. James was going to make it thin faster than it already was. "That's because you're just so damned cute, I couldn't help it," he growled. "Stop doing that pouty thing with your lips and I'll stop kissing you."
James laughed quietly and peered out into the hallway. No sign of anyone. He gave Greg a quick peck on the lips and then went over to the sink to start dutifully doing the dishes.
________________________________________
Foreman didn't even have time to think about disciplining his slave for the next few days. Cuddy called an emergency Board meeting the morning after the arrest and Vogler was voted out unanimously. That didn't stop reporters from poking around the hospital fishing for information. Cuddy held a press conference, and put as much distance as she could between the hospital and Vogler. They then spent a solid two days on fielding questions from worried staff who were concerned about the withdrawal of Vogler's money. A lot of the money had already been spent, committed to the expansion plans of the hospital, and Foreman suspected that Vogler would be too busy with his own legal troubles to try and recoup any of it when he learned that he had been ousted from the Board. The various clinical trials Vogler had insisted on were put on hold and they both tried to present a calm and professional front of 'business as usual'.
They worked right through Saturday and finally had things under control enough to spend Sunday at home. Their slaves cooked them a lavish Sunday breakfast and after eating that Foreman called for Jimmy to come to him.
He frowned down at the kneeling slave. Jimmy had behaved immaculately since his stint in the cells at the hospital. Over a week had passed since his initial offence of striking Vogler, and Foreman hadn't physically punished him. Now that Vogler was incarcerated, and by all accounts was looking at life in prison - if he wasn't enslaved himself - Foreman was free to do whatever he wanted to Jimmy. Except... he didn't feel like handing out harsh punishment as this late stage. Jimmy knew that he shouldn't have attacked Vogler, but it wasn't behaviour that was likely to be repeated without similar circumstances. He could, and probably should, sell him, but he’d spent so long training him to be as he wanted that he was reluctant to start over with another slave if this one could be salvaged.
What Foreman had to do was ensure that Jimmy was totally focused on his orders, and doing whatever he could to make Foreman's life easier - as he was supposed to. Whatever this thing he had with Greg was, it had to be stopped. Tight discipline, and having every minute of his day scheduled, was the way to do that. Jimmy had been granted some freedoms since Foreman moved in with Cuddy, it was time for that to change.
He told Jimmy to follow him and went up to his room on the first floor. Then he had Jimmy remove the bed, and the small amount of furniture, taking it all down to the garage storage area. Once Jimmy returned to the room for the last time, panting from the exertion, Foreman had him kneel in the doorway. The room was empty of everything but a closet with Jimmy's clothes in it, his spare pair of shoes sat neatly in the bottom of the closet. There was one folded up blanket and a thin pillow in one corner of the room.
"You'll sleep on the floor. The door will be left open at all times. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good." Foreman left him kneeling there and went into the room. He'd inspected the furniture as it went out of the room, making sure that Jimmy had nothing hidden in there. It had all been clean. Now he went to the closet and searched it and the clothes thoroughly. There was nothing there either. He looked at Jimmy, frowning. It wasn't that he had expected to find much contraband, but he had thought that there would be something . All the slave training books he'd read had said that slaves tended to try and hoard a few small objects. The books had speculated that this was because the slave otherwise had nothing they could call their own.
There was only one place he hadn't looked.
"Take off your clothes," he ordered. "All of them, including your shoes."
He examined Jimmy’s clothing first, it was clean. Then he picked up the shoes. There it was, a couple of pieces of paper hidden in each shoe. He examined the paper, every inch of it was covered in tiny writing. The writing included a list of the bones of a human hand, a labelled diagram of a brain, several medical school mnemonics and cramped descriptions of some common medical conditions.
"Who gave you this?" he asked.
"I wrote it myself, sir," Jimmy said, his eyes wide.
"You, a slave, are trying to learn medicine?"
"I could help you better if I had some medical knowledge, sir."
"Like Greg?" Foreman said sceptically.
"Yes, sir." Jimmy kept looking at him earnestly, but his body was tense and Foreman suspected that there was more here than a slave trying to be of more use to his master.
"So, if you wrote this, who gave you the information?"
Jimmy just stared at him mutely and Foreman sighed. It didn't take a genius to work out where Jimmy had come across this knowledge.
"Get dressed." Foreman ordered. "We're going downstairs. This situation can't continue."
________________________________________
When Foreman went downstairs, with Jimmy in tow, he found Cuddy going over some notes, and Greg standing next to her. Greg had been working on a paper for the last diagnostics case, so that Chase could present at a conference in Chicago next week.
Foreman handed the paper he had found over to Cuddy. "Jimmy was hiding these."
Cuddy took them, quickly scanning them. She looked up at Jimmy and then across to Greg.
"You've been teaching him?"
Greg shot a quick look at Jimmy and then turned his attention back to her, he shrugged, his attitude casual.
"It seemed like he'd be more use around the hospital if he could at least tell the difference between a heart and a kidney. You said I should help him get settled in and find his way around."
"Find his way around the hospital , Greg. Not the human body. It's not your place to teach Doctor Foreman's slave anything but what you were told to do. You know that." She gave the papers back to Foreman. "Do whatever you want with those, and with Jimmy. I'll deal with Greg."
Foreman folded his arms across his chest. "That's all well and good, but we need..." he glanced at the slaves, this conversation would be better held in private. He opened his mouth, intending to suggest just that to Cuddy when the doorbell rang.
"Go and get the door, Jimmy," he ordered - frustrated at the interruption. He needed to discuss this situation with Cuddy. It was beginning to look like his only option would be to sell Jimmy and look around for a slave of comparable value to him, and this time he would keep his slave well away from Greg.
________________________________________
James was relieved that the conversation had been interrupted, but he was sure the reprieve wouldn't last long. He shouldn't have kept his notes around, but he'd liked pulling them out and reading them after a difficult day, it was like they connected him to Greg, and to his old life, even if he didn't remember it. He'd been close to blurting out to Foreman that he used to be a doctor. If he did that, if Foreman found out that he knew about his former life - well, James wasn't sure what the consequences would be, but he wasn't going to take that risk. Being mind-wiped once was bad enough.
The doorbell rang again just as he got there to answer it. He quickly pulled it open and stared at their visitors.
Detective Tritter was standing there, with two uniformed officers.
"Doctor Foreman lives here?" Tritter asked, already moving inside.
"Yes, sir."
"Take me to him."
James led the way back to the living room, his mind racing. Had Tritter come to arrest him because he hit Vogler? He hadn't seemed bothered at the time, and from what James understood that was a civil matter, not a criminal one. Maybe he was wrong and Vogler had made a complaint.
Cuddy stood up as Tritter entered and Foreman went to her side. James stood quietly to one side, as close to Greg as he could.
"Detective Tritter, this is a surprise. What can we do for you? Is it about Vogler?"
"The Vogler investigation isn't my responsibility, I deal with slave matters."
"You confiscated Vogler's slaves so that the task force investigating Vogler would be able to interview them, and maybe search his house." Cuddy said, and James felt the picture fall into place. Of course, Tritter hadn't been concerned about Jake, or his death, or the treatment of his slaves. His part of the investigation had been a means to an end.
Tritter smirked with satisfaction. "Al Capone was brought down on tax evasion charges. Sometimes the cleverest criminals make dumb mistakes - Vogler's weakness was his fondness for abusing his slaves. That slave's suicide was just the catalyst we needed."
"Glad my hospital could be of some use," Cuddy said drily. "So if this isn't about Vogler what can we do for you?"
"Well, it's Doctor Foreman I came to see. You have a slave, registration number J453667?"
James heart sunk and he looked at Greg, who had tensed up next to him. They were going to take him away.
"Jimmy, yes." Foreman waved a hand towards James.
Tritter handed Foreman an official form. "I have authorisation to take the slave with me. He was made a slave after a murder conviction, and that conviction has been overturned - due to new information that came to light after our investigation into Vogler's organised crime syndicate.
Tritter's words took a few seconds to sink in. James remembered Greg telling him that the man he was accused of murdering was suspected of being in the mob. Tritter was still talking and Foreman was saying something but James couldn't hear them. He looked up at Greg who was staring at him, his eyes wide, shocked.
He wasn't a murderer. He was innocent. He shouldn't have been imprisoned and he shouldn't have been mind-wiped. He had lost everything for no reason.
"... As I said Doctor Foreman, you will be compensated for his value. Surely you don't think he should continue to be a slave when he was enslaved because of a false accusation? Doctor James Wilson is an innocent man - he deserves to go free."
"Doctor? He was a doctor?" Foreman asked, his voice incredulous. "Jimmy?"
"James," he heard himself saying. His throat was dry and he cleared it and tried again. "My name is James, not Jimmy." He met Foreman's gaze squarely, ignoring the scowl on the other's man face.
"Come on, James. I'm sure you want to get out of here," Tritter said, his jaws still working on the gum in his mouth. "Is there anything you need to take with you?"
James stared at him, still not taking everything in. Both Cuddy and Foreman seemed dumbstruck and Greg was looking at him with a stunned expression. He shook his head, he didn't have anything but the clothes on his back, and they weren't really his. Oh, there was something. He put his hand out.
"I'd like to take my notes." Foreman was still holding them, those precious pieces of paper that had tied him to the past.
"Give him those, get his registration papers and we'll be going," Tritter said. Foreman handed them over reluctantly and went to get the registration papers. James looked at Greg again. Greg. He would have to leave Greg behind when he went.
"I can't... “he said, then stopped, so used to hiding his feelings for the other man that he couldn't continue.
"You're going," Greg said, "if I have to kick your butt out of here myself. You can be free , James - nothing is worth more than that."
You are, James thought to himself, you're worth my freedom . He shook his head, trying to think. He wanted Greg to come with him, to share his new life. Greg couldn't come. Greg was still a slave.
He stepped up to him, closing the distance between them, ignoring everybody else in the room. Putting his arms around him he drew him into a fierce hug. He could feel their hearts beating together. He leaned up and whispered in Greg's ear, for him alone to hear. " Hold on . I'll come back for you, just hold on. Promise me." He felt a tiny nod against his cheek and stepped back, wiping tears away from his eyes. "Goodbye, Greg."
He thought about saying something to Cuddy, asking her not to take any of this out on Greg, and to treat him well, but it was pointless - she would do what she wanted - he just hoped that his value to her would ensure at least a measure of fair treatment.
"I'm ready," he said to Tritter. Tritter put a hand on his shoulder and started to steer him out of the room.
Foreman got in his way, standing awkwardly in front of him. "I had no way of knowing that you used to be a doctor," he said defensively. "Or that you were innocent."
James curled one fist into a ball by his side, the other hand still held his medical notes. One punch, to Foreman's arrogant face, just one punch, that’s all he wanted. He thought of Greg and relaxed his hand. He would do nothing to jeopardise the other man.
"You knew I was a human being," he said mildly.
"You were a slave."
James shook his head. There was no point trying to get Foreman to understand.
"Please get out of my way, sir ."
Foreman took a step to one side and James went past him.
They reached the front door and James looked back. The others had all come out into the hallway and his eyes briefly met Greg's for the last time and then Greg turned away. James left the house, breathing a sigh as the door shut behind him. He looked out at the street, basked in sunlight.
"So, I'm free now?"
"Technically not until we take your paperwork to the station and get you processed, so in about an hour's time." Tritter replied, his eyes already on his phone and his next case.
"Thank you," James said.
Tritter glanced up briefly. "We didn't expect this; we had no idea about Vogler's involvement in the Canadian scene. You lucked out, son. Play your cards right and you should get some nice compensation out of this - a lifetime of memories has to be worth something. Enjoy your freedom." He said it ironically, as if it meant nothing. He was wrong.
They got in the car, James in the back. As they drove away he looked back at the house.
"I'll be back, Greg," he promised.