Fic: A Little Bear and His Wolf
Part 2
That night he was out again through the back door of his house. The sky was clear and it wasn’t too cold outside. Jared slowly stripped off his shirt, pants, and his boxer briefs, shuddering a little at the sudden gust of wind against his skin. He stretched and felt soft hair begin to sprout from the pores at his back, chest, neck, and limbs, and soon he was no longer cold.
He was no longer home, either. His four legs had brought him way into the woods in the direction of Jensen's house. It was as if he wasn't thinking or looking at the paths he took. Jared dashed, swerved, jumped over the bushes, ducked under low branches, and swam across some small streams he met along the way. Until suddenly he halted, lifted his nose high, and sniffed the air, letting out a soft keen and then a more threatening growl. He wasn't alone. Someone, or something, lurked in the dark, waiting for the right time to pounce on him. Jared crawled slowly toward a big tree, pressed back against it, eyes ever watchful in the dark, tracing every movement among the trees and behind the bushes, his nostrils quivering as the scent smelled sharper. His heart pounded. He didn't know a wolf living nearby. There was only Trent but he was gone. Jared wondered if there were other shifters out there.
Rustling sounds sent him on alert and a dark shadow suddenly bounced across the path. Jared stood erect as every single sense of his was alarmed. It wasn't a wolf. It was a bear and Jared had no idea if it was a shifter or not. There was only one way to find out.
Jared tip-toed, keeping his distance from the bear. It was a young bear, Jared could tell, a brown one that would turn big someday. Jared didn't sense danger from it so far but that might be because it hadn't realized Jared's presence. The bear's swift movement was suddenly interrupted. Jared heard the sound, too, and he froze in place. A groaning sound. Another bear? Since when had this place been swamped by bears?
Jared had no time to think. The young bear suddenly turned around and saw him right away. It roared and charged at him. Jared felt like he was nailed to the ground. The bear might be young and smaller than fully grown bears, but it was still bigger than him. Jared growled back, flaunting his fangs and the menacing look he knew he had. If he was lucky, the bear might fear him and leave him alone.
But it didn't. It attacked him still and looked ready to pounce at him. It jumped when it was about ten feet from Jared, looming high over him. Jared shook his head frantically. There was no other way. He didn't want to hurt anybody, including the animals out there. But if it was his own life on the line...
He leaped, too, readied his paws, and closed his eyes as he slashed into what he thought was the bear's chest. There was a splat sound but other than that, nothing. Jared held his breath, waiting for an attack coming his way. But what came next was a thudding sound, followed by a soft whimper.
What the hell?
Jared opened his eyes slowly, and his breath caught. The sight greeting him wasn’t one of a bear crumpled on the ground. Rather, it was of a naked boy. A very naked boy who was curled up in the fetal position. It was dark in the woods and that was all Jared could make out in the dimmed light of the moon. His heart thundered as realization dawned on him. This wasn’t a mere bear. It was a shifter, and Jared had hurt him.
Without thinking, Jared turned to his human form, totally aware he was as bare as a newborn baby, too, but there was nothing he could do. Jared squatted behind the bear shifter and squeezed his shoulder gently.
“Hey, are you hurt badly? Let me help you.”
The skin he touched was damp and the body shook slightly before it went tense and still.
“Please go.” The shifter flinched, not turning back to face him.
“I can’t. I hurt you. I have to see if you’re all right.” Jared winced at his own words. Being slashed open by a wolf’s sharp nails, how all right could you be? He pressed a hand at the small of the boy’s back and to his alarm, the kid grunted as if in pain. Jared yanked his hand back.
“Is something wrong down here?”
Instead of answering, the boy shifted further from Jared and crawled up to his feet.
“P-please leave me alone.” But then he cried out and Jared couldn’t take it anymore. He helped the boy up, as gently as he could, and turned him around. He couldn’t hold back a gasp at the bleeding open gashes across the boy’s chest. They were raw and deep and definitely needed quite a lot of stitches. They reminded Jared of the welts on his own chest left by Trent, his boyfriend. The mental pain still crippled him sometimes.
“M-Mr. Padalecki?”
Wait, this wasn't his classroom, right? Those were tree trunks and branches that lined his sight instead of the walls with students' posters, and he stood in the weak moonlight and not the bright florescent lamps from the ceiling. It felt surreal to Jared to hear his name called like that, and to recall the state of undress they were both in... Jared raised his face slowly to Jensen's stunned expression.
"Jensen?" His voice choked. "Oh my God." He didn't know what to do first, attempting to cover himself for his dignity or saying something in effect of an apology for having hurt his own student, or worse, getting the hell away from that place. As a result, he did none of the above and just stood there. Jared clenched and unclenched his fists in the rhythm of the hard beating of his heart.
"Mr. Padalecki, I... You..."
At that time, Jared heard rustling sounds so close to them and Jensen seemed to hear it, too. Without thinking, Jared grabbed Jensen's shoulder and dragged him down toward the nearest bushes. Jensen whimpered.
"Sorry, sorry," Jared whispered. But they had no time for gentleness. They must hide.
Jared pressed Jensen down to the ground before enveloping himself around him.
"Be quiet," he hissed. He knew being quiet would be useless. Whatever was out there could still sniff them if he was close enough.
Jared breathed slowly, too aware of Jensen's smooth back against his skin, the remaining scent of a bear, and to Jared's dismay, Jensen’s cold skin. He wrapped himself tighter and practically hugged Jensen in an attempt to warm him up. They stayed like that quietly, skin to skin. Jared felt Jensen's chest moved up and down as he breathed softly, and Jared followed him without realizing it. They listened to steps several feet away from them and instead of coming their way, those steps turned in a different direction. Jared took a deep breath but he waited for a while before he dared to move.
"Uh." Jared detached himself from Jensen and peeked above the bush. "I can't see it anymore. I think we can move now."
"Okay," Jensen replied softly but he didn't turn back. Jared scratched his head. The boy's shyness was understandable. He might've never seen another man's naked body before. Jared wondered what they should do now.
"Um, do you know who that was?" He hoped talking would make things between them less awkward.
Jensen hugged his legs tight to his chest, sitting up with his back to Jared, and mumbled something.
"What?"
"It was my stepdad," Jensen repeated in a louder voice.
Jared lifted an eyebrow. "So he's a bear shifter, too?"
Jensen nodded wordlessly.
"So how do you..." Jared waved a hand in Jensen's direction. "How are you connected? You said he was your stepdad. Was your mom a bear, too?"
Jensen shrugged. "I guess so."
"What do you mean? You're not sure? She was your own mother."
"I don't know, okay?" Jensen lashed out as he jumped up and whirled around. "I don't know if she was a shifter or a human. She never showed that part of her life to me if there was even one-aah!" He swayed. Jared caught him at once.
“Jensen, I’ve got to take you to the hospital now. You lost too much blood.”
“I don’t feel great.” Jensen swallowed. He looked ashen. Jared gripped him tighter as Jensen seemed to melt in his arms.
“Can you walk?”
“I-I don’t know.”
Without thinking, Jared lifted him up and began to carry him. Jensen yelped.
“I’m sorry. Does your back hurt? I’ll be gentle but let me take you. Just hold on.”
Jensen circled his arms around Jared’s neck and rested his head on Jared’s shoulder. Soon his breathing turned soft and Jared smiled to himself as he realized that the boy had fallen asleep.
Jared walked on. Jensen wasn't a small boy but he weighed next to nothing to him. They had to go a bit far to get to Jared's house and Jared realized with chagrin it was much better to cover the vast area between Jensen's house and his when he was in a wolf's form. To make things worse, he was barefooted. Still Jared couldn't help the elated feeling soaring in his heart. Not only had he managed to find out Jensen's situation, he'd succeeded in saving the boy from his mean stepfather. He wouldn't forgive himself if the wounds he inflicted upon the boy turned worse. It was self-defense but he couldn't blame Jensen.
The path began to ascend as they were nearing the edge of the woods. Jared stepped up carefully with Jensen still passed out in his arms. He held him tighter while Jensen snuggled closer to him, burying his face in Jared's neck, a gesture he might not even realize making. Jared didn't mind a bit though their physical closeness and nakedness screwed with his mind a little bit’. Jensen's scent attacked his nostrils in a way he would never mind getting. Jared's breath turned heavy and that wasn't just because of the climbing path. Jared huffed and panted as he jumped over the railing on the side of the asphalt road. He looked back and forth, making sure no one was around and no car passed by. It was quiet that night. Too quiet, like time froze. Jared ran across the road and never stopped until he reached home. He circled his house to the back door. He remembered not locking up when he left earlier that night. Jared lowered Jensen down on an armchair on that back porch. The kid stirred and shivered.
"Are you cold?"
Still with eyes closed, Jensen nodded. "I am now."
A freezing breeze wafted against Jared's skin and he realized that he was cold, too, now that he no longer held Jensen.
He moved as fast as he could. He grabbed the pants he dropped before he left home, put them on, opened the door, and turned to get Jensen again.
"Come on. Let's get you cleaned up and clothed before we go to the hospital."
"No hospital." Jensen's voice shook as he practically melted again against Jared's skin. The boy clung to his neck as if he'd never want to let go.
"Oh no. Your wound can get infected. It has to be treated." Jared recalled his own wound. He was relieved Trent treated it well so it wasn't infected, but he didn't want to risk it for Jensen.
Jared brought Jensen straight to his bedroom, and laid him down on the comforter in his bed, not caring about the blood and mud on the kid's body.
Jared ran to the bathroom and wet a hand towel. When he went back to the bed, he saw Jensen curl up in a fetal position, seemingly his default position tonight. Jared smiled a little before the stark difference of dark bruises against the paleness of Jensen’s skin on his lower back stared at him in the brightness of the room. Jared bit his fist to stop himself from screaming in rage. The fuck? He counted to ten and walked to the head of the bed.
Jared sat next to him and smoothed Jensen's hair back before he could stop himself. The boy's eyes fluttered open and Jared bashed in their glimmering grey.
"Mr. Padalecki, I'm sorry," Jensen said softly.
"What? What for?"
"My first day in your class. I was being disrespectful."
Jared had forgotten about it. "Don't worry about it. I wish I could tell right away if a student had a problem."
Jensen didn't say anything and Jared pretended to let it go. He nodded.
"Lie on your back."
Jensen complied and Jared began to wipe the blood on his wound that had begun to dry. Jared stared at him. There was no trace of that bratty student back in the class. Jared wanted to pull Jensen up and wrap him in his arms.
"Did he hurt you...bad?" There was a burning question in Jared's head but he just couldn't say the word.
Jensen looked away. "He-he beat me up."
"Jesus. Is that why you didn't come to school for the past few days?"
"I didn’t know it was already several days. He locked me up in my room. I have no clue how many days it was."
Still the boy didn't say anything about what scared Jared the most. He wasn't sure if it didn't happen or Jensen was too afraid to talk about it. Jared decided to ask the question.
"Jensen, did he--rape you?"
Jensen gaped at him, seeming too stunned to answer right away. "No!" he shouted then, but the intensity of his anger made Jared wonder, still, especially when his face suddenly went still.
No. Jared's heart sank. "Jensen, what is it? Come on. You can tell me."
Jensen sank into his pillow and squeezed his eyes shut. "It was nothing."
"Beating your back to a pulp wasn't nothing."
Jensen shook his head a little.
"What, there were more?"
Jensen sounded close to tears when he replied and he wouldn't look at Jared. "It was not that bad, really. He just... he just touched me back there and I was naked. He rubbed something to heal the welts."
"Jesus Christ, Jensen. He shouldn't have done that without your consent. Besides, you're underage. He was supposed to protect you, not to take advantage of you.”
“I was dreaming,” Jensen said. Jared wondered why he suddenly sounded sheepish. “In my dream, it was … you who cleaned me up.” Jensen suddenly turned his back on Jared and hogged the blanket. “Please, can I have something to wear?” he murmured.
Jared had to lean forward so he’d be able to hear. He slapped himself inwardly.
“My God, I’m sorry, Jensen. I’ll go find a t-shirt and a pair of sweats for you. Then we’ll go to the hospital.”
Jensen didn’t answer. Jared could just see his shoulders going up and down. So the boy had dreamed of him-who would’ve thought? Jensen had been stunned when they were face-to-face for the first time in class and Jared knew he himself was enthralled by the kid’s gorgeousness, but now he had to watch himself. Jensen was a minor and to make things worse, he was his student.
Jared returned from his closet with a t-shirt and sweatpants. The t-shirt was relatively new but Jared had to look for his older pants. Jensen wasn’t exactly small but he was still shorter than Jared. He didn’t want the kid to drown in his clothes. Jared climbed up his bed and tapped Jensen’s back.
“You’re still awake? Here are some clothes for you.”
Jensen shifted and sniffled-had he been crying? He pulled the blanket up over his body as he clambered back to a sitting position, and took the clothes from Jared’s hand.
“Thank you,” he murmured and pressed the tee and sweats to his chest. Jared swore Jensen sniffed at them, and his heart fluttered.
“No need. Look. Are you going to be all right? I’ll be in the kitchen. Come on down when you’re ready.”
“Okay.”
Jared nodded and turned around, closing the door quietly behind him.
****
Jensen's heart thundered as he sat there in Mr. Padalecki's bed with Mr. Padalecki's t-shirt and sweatpants in his hands. He almost couldn't fathom any of these. He was in his hot teacher, Jared's bedroom. He’d lain on his bed, and now he was about to wear his clothes. In other words, he'd have the man's scent in the vicinity of his nostrils all day.
It almost escaped his mind the fact that he finally managed to get away from his stepdad, as if the result of his herculean effort had been eclipsed by everything Mr. Padalecki that had happened to him. Jensen didn't realize his hand had been shaking as he brought the t-shirt to his nose, closed his eyes, and breathed in Jared's smell deep and long. Mr. Padalecki, he chanted the name silently over and over. Jared.
His other hand pressed on his arousal down there. Jensen thought he'd go crazy with want. And how could he forget how Jared had carried him all the way back from the woods with both of them naked! Jeez. Behind his closed lids, Jensen could still see himself clinging to Jared's neck. Their bare skin rubbed against each other and it felt like heaven. Jensen sighed. It'd felt soft, warm, everything Jensen had imagined since the first time he captured Jared in his heart, but most of all he'd felt safe.
With a light heart, Jensen opened his eyes and slipped the t-shirt over his head. He hissed when the fabric scratched against his wound. It'd begun to dry but Jared still wanted it checked. He himself thought it would be okay now that Jared had cleaned it up. Jensen understood how he felt, though. Jared was responsible for the wound. Still, Jensen would take that over another day spent with the demonic stepfather. He wondered if the man was enraged right now. There was no question about it. Jensen just wished that Ted decided to leave town after the incident for he would never go back to him even if he got a court order to get Jensen back. He'd just escape again. Thank God he was almost eighteen. An adult and responsible for his own life.
Shame rushed into him. He wasn't small and he was seventeen. How could he let Ted do that to him now? Years after his mom was gone, why did he never stand up to the man? Ted was bigger than him but it shouldn't have been an excuse.
Jensen stared at Jared's pants lying in his lap and was startled when a big teardrop splashed down, making that part of the fabric darkened with wetness.
"Is anything all right here?"
Jensen jerked his head up. He didn't know how long Jared had been standing at the door. He wiped his face frantically.
"Y-yeah. Everything's okay."
"Are you sure?"
Jensen gulped. Jared walked slowly into the room and suddenly Jensen was reminded of a big wolf who stalked carefully toward his prey with those sharp, watchful eyes. Jensen couldn't help but recoil a little and looked at his lap when Jared sat next to him.
"Hey, are you afraid of me?"
Jensen shook his head but he kept his head down. His heart gave a little flutter when Jared's fingers curled under his chin and tipped it up. The brown green eyes that met his were curious and gentle and Jensen felt like drowning.
"Uh..."
"You can trust me, you know that, right? And it's not because I'm your teacher. I might be a wolf but I won't hurt you ... again." Jared's gaze flitted down at Jensen's chest before it went back up.
"I'm not afraid," Jensen said softly.
"Then what?"
"I'm ashamed of myself."
"What? Why?"
"Look at me. I'm not a little kid. I'm big. Yet, I couldn't fight back. I let Ted do those things to me. I’m so weak.”
“You were not weak when you ran away from him.”
Jensen hesitated before he spoke again. “That was the first time I tried to do that.”
Jared shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. You’ve been living how long with the man-two or three years?”
“Since I was a kid.” Jensen looked down. “But things got worse since my mom died. Ted changed so much.”
“Did he adopt you?”
“I-I don’t know. It’s between him and mom. They never told me.”
“That’s strange that they never told you something as important as that. How about your father?”
“He left,” Jensen said shortly, not wanting to elaborate it further.
“See? You don’t know anyone else. It would be so hard for you to leave even though your stepfather did some awful things to you. You shouldn’t blame yourself, Jensen.”
Jensen squeezed Jared sweatpants as his breath shuddered out. “No?”
“Absolutely not.” Jared grabbed his hands. “Come on. Finish getting dressed. It’s been too long. We should go to the hospital right now.”
“Okay.”
“Are you sure? The last time I left you, you broke into tears.”
Jensen smiled, feeling sheepish. “I won’t this time.”
“All right then.” Jared rose and ruffled his hair. “I’ll be downstairs. You’d better be really fine this time, kid.”
“Yeah.”
****
Jared grabbed a jacket from his closet and gave it to Jensen. "Here. You can wear this." He caught Jensen speechless and his eyes turned glassy. "Hey, that's okay. I can't let you out of the house in only a t-shirt."
"Thank you, Mr. Padalecki. You've given me so much."
"Hey, I just do what I can. And it's Jared, remember?"
Jensen ducked his head and blushed. Jared thought he looked so cute.
Jared grabbed his cell phone and car keys and let Jensen out first as he had to lock the door. Jensen climbed up into the passenger seat once Jared beeped the doors open.
"How's your wound?"
"Uh, it's drying already. I think it's not too deep."
"Yeah, but still we have to check it out for infection and all. Not to mention rabies."
Jensen shuddered.
"Hey, I'm just kidding. I don't have rabies." Jared smiled when Jensen chuckled weakly. "Look, when we get to the hospital, I'm going to call Mr. Randolph..."
"The principal? No." Jensen's relaxed stance earlier dissipated. He was all as tense as a bow now.
"Hey, it's okay. He knows everything I've done to try to get you."
"He does? Why?" Jensen blanched.
"Let’s just say this is not the first time I saw signs of a problem, okay?" Jared looked straight ahead, not wanting to elaborate further, not that Jensen seemed to want to ask more about it. He looked troubled in his own mind already.
"Are-are they going to arrest my dad?"
"If we report it to the police, yes. Abuse to a minor shouldn't be taken lightly." Jared didn't hear anything from Jensen and he turned sideways. "Hey, that's a good thing, right? You're going to be safe now."
After some time, a soft, "Yeah, I guess," came from the boy.
"All right." Jared tousled Jensen's hair, an action that drew no reaction from the kid at all, not even a loud protest of being treated like a small child. Jared frowned. Jensen looked out of it. Jared wondered what was playing in his mind.
The rest of their journey to the hospital went silently with Jensen mostly looking out the window on his side. Jared didn't say anything for fear of saying the wrong words again. Well, had he said the wrong words? He couldn't tell. He kept replaying their conversation in his mind and wondered if it was the thing about Mr. Randolph or the fact that they would have Jensen's father arrested that had upset the kid. Jared opened his mouth but the light coming from the hospital building suddenly caught his sight and he changed his mind. Later. They'd have time to talk later. Now getting Jensen to a doctor was more urgent.
Jared found a spot on the parking lot close to the ER.
"Let's go," he said when he saw reluctance on Jensen's face. "I'll talk to the doctor. Don't worry. But just so you know, I'm going to tell them about the bruises on your body, too."
Terror flashed across Jensen's face. "No, please," he pleaded. He should have known Jared wouldn't budge.
"Sorry, kid. Doctor's reports will be one of the first things the police will consider in this kind of situation."
Jensen pressed back against the car door and looked as if he wished he'd sink into it. Jared sighed.
"Look, kid. I really don't want to push you to do something you don't want to do. Okay, let's just have your wound seen to and we'll go from there."
Jensen looked hesitant before he nodded and opened the door. Jared jumped out of the car and rushed to Jensen's side but he refused Jared's offer to guide him.
"I'm fine," he muttered.
Jared nodded and followed him slightly behind. He took out his cell phone and searched for Randolph's number. His boss answered at the first ring.
"What's up, Padalecki?"
"I got Jensen. We're at the hospital now."
"Ah, good job. But why the hospital? Is anything wrong? Is he okay?"
Jared never told anyone who he really was and he wasn't ready to talk now, especially with Jensen in tow.
"Uh, yes. He's all right. I found him in the woods and he was attacked by a wild dog." Jared half cringed at his own story.
"What? Is it serious?"
"No, it's not deadly or anything like that. Look, I have to go. The doctor's here. I promised Jensen I'd be the one to talk. But Randolph?"
"Yes?"
"Listen, it's not about the attack but this is much more serious. Can you come over? We're in the ER, at General Hospital."
Jared could imagine the concern on the principal's face. He liked the man and believed Randolph would do anything that needed to be done.
"I'll come right over. Don't worry about it."
"Thanks." He hung up.
He repeated the story he told Randolph to the doctor.
"Hm, it's been cleaned well and it's not too deep. You've been lucky, kid."
Jensen grimaced and looked up at Jared, who stood at the foot of the bed in the emergency room. Jared nodded at him.
"Does he need stitches, Doc?"
"A few, for the worst scratches. For the rest, I'll just dab some alcohol and ointment before closing them up with butterfly band aids."
"Okay."
"I'll prescribe some antibiotics in case there's an infection."
"Sure, Doc."
"All right. So when I'm done with you, you'll be feeling like new." The doctor patted Jensen's bare shoulder, making him blush.
"Uh, and we can go after that?" Jared asked as the doctor started treating Jensen's wound.
"Of course."
"You won't need him for, err, further observation, maybe?"
Two pairs of eyes turned sharply to him with contrasting expressions. The doctor sent him a curious glance while Jensen burned him with his fiery glares.
"No, I don't think so. He'll be just fine, won't you, Jensen?" The doctor switched his attention to the boy.
"Y-yes, I think so."
Jared heaved a sigh. He'd promised after all. But at least the doctor thought something might be wrong, from the way he looked at Jensen. Where was Randolph?
"Or is there a particular reason why--"
"No!" Jensen snapped and clamped his mouth with his hand at once. The doctor practically jumped out of his skin. "I'm so sorry, but I'm all right, really."
Jared exchanged gazes with the doctor. No words were spoken but Jared knew he conveyed enough when the doctor nodded, subtly but clearly enough for Jared.
Jared watched on as the doctor patched Jensen up, and suddenly his cell phone beeped in his pocket. It was like a needle dropped in this quiet room. It startled everybody.
"Sorry," Jared mumbled and gestured outside. "Excuse me."
It was Randolph.
"Hey, where are you?"
"In the parking lot. Are you both in the ER?"
"Yes."
"I'll meet you there."
Jared hung up and he walked back and forth in the hall until his boss came. The double-paneled glass door slammed open and in came Randolph. He was in his mid-fifties but slow was never a word Jared would use to describe him, especially when it came to his students.
"How is Jensen?"
"He's okay. He's in there and the doctor is patching him up."
"He needs stitches?"
Jared nodded.
"How bad is it?"
"Not too bad, only some scratches are quite deep. The problem is." Jared exhaled.
"What?"
"He doesn't want me to tell the doctor about his bruises, let alone talk about them himself. He freaked out just now."
"But we still go to the police, right? We can't let him fall into the man's hands again."
"That's the problem."
"What's that?"
Jared realized he'd been murmuring.
"I mean, we haven't talked about it again. I'm not sure what Jensen wants right now."
Randolph's brow furrowed. "It doesn't matter what he wants right now."
"You can't do that."
"Look. He decided what he wanted when he ran away from home, all right? He can't stop now or he'd be in grave danger."
"Then you tell him that."
"I will. And I think I'll talk to the doctor. I'm the principal of his school. I'm responsible for the wellbeing of the kids in my school."
Jared sent a silent prayer of relief. He should've been able to do the same as Jensen's teacher, but somehow it wasn't that easy for him.
"Shall we go in?" Randolph asked. "I want to see him."
"Sure," Jared replied and led him inside.
****
The doctor was careful with his thread and needle and Jensen only felt a tugging sensation after a shot given to him to numb the pain. This was nothing compared to what Ted did to him.
Thinking about Ted reminded him of Jared and his promise not to talk to the doctor. Jensen had been thinking and his mind told him he should just get away from his teacher after this. No police. He could imagine what would happen to him if they went there. He was still underage although he'd be eighteen in a few months. They'd send him to social services and he'd end up in a group home or with some foster parents. Jensen didn't want to go there. He wanted to be with Jared, but it was just impossible that he'd be sent there. They wouldn't send him to a young man, still single, and not a parent at all. Not to mention that he could not even be sure if Jared would be willing to accept him in his house. He'd brought Jensen there tonight just because he accidentally hurt him. The way he insisted that they go to the police? That must be because he wanted to get rid of Jensen as soon as he could.
"Okay, we're almost done here. I'll put on some band aids and that's it. You can go home with your brother."
"I don't have a home," he muttered. "And he's not my brother."
"What?" The doctor frowned. Jensen shook his head quickly.
"Nothing."
"Listen, you can talk to me if you're in trouble. You're safe here."
The doctor's voice was as gentle as Jared's. Suddenly Jensen felt like crying. It wasn't Jared's face that crossed his mind for the person that caused him pain--how could he?--but of course the doctor didn't know that.
"Hey, hey. Did that man hurt you? He caused all this? I'll call the cop..."
"No, don't call the cops," Jensen cut him out at once.
"Like I said, you don't have to be afraid. I can contact security from this room and have him removed."
Jensen's head swam. "No, you don't understand..." He couldn't tell the man the truth because then he'd have to talk about the person who really hurt him. But if he didn't speak at all, the doctor would stick to his own conclusion. Jensen pressed the heel of his hand against his brow. The stinging pain from the stitches began to throb. He desperately needed painkillers now.
"Okay. You just stay right here. Let me take care of it." The doctor took off his plastic gloves and tossed them in his stainless steel container and closed the lid. Right that time, the door opened and Jared stepped in. He wasn't alone. Jensen's eyes widened as he saw who it was. Mr. Randolph, the school principal.
"Excuse me, gentlemen, Mr. Padalecki." The doctor nodded as he ushered Jared and Mr. Randolph back out of the room.
"What's going on here?" Jared looked up at Jensen over the doctor's shoulder. "Jensen, are you okay?"
"He's fine. It's you I want to talk to."
"What?"
"And who are you?" the doctor switched his glance to Mr. Randolph.
"I'm Jensen's school principal, Gary Randolph." He offered a hand. "How is he, Doc?"
Jensen could see the surprise on the doctor's face as he looked back at him. Jensen looked away.
"I see," the doctor said slowly as he shook Mr. Randolph's hand. "Well, it's getting interesting."
"What's interesting?" Jared asked, looking impatient.
"And you're ... who is Jensen to you, Mr. Padalecki?"
Jared sighed. "He's my student. I teach him math. Jensen, care to tell us what's wrong?"
Jensen shook his head frantically. He wouldn't look at any of the men. This was so frustrating. The three adults would talk and he'd end up in a foster parents' house somewhere. Well, as long as it wasn't with Ted. Feeling resigned, Jensen shrugged.
"Fine. I give up. Do what you want to do to me. Call the cops. Call social services. I don't know what to do anymore."
The three men exchanged glances and Jared looked at the doctor.
"We have to talk."
****
The doctor, who Jared learned later on was named Maxwell, instructed the nurses and interns there to watch Jensen closely and not to let him go anywhere. Then he took Jared and Randolph to his office.
"Please, take a seat." He gestured at the two chairs in front of a long and sturdy mahogany table, while he himself took the high-backed chair behind it. "So, what can you tell me about the situation? Jensen told me he has no place to go home to and you're not his family."
"No one said we're family," Jared said. "We're just concerned."
Dr. Maxwell turned to Randolph as if checking what Jared said was right.
"He doesn't know for sure," Jared said quickly. "I only told him about my suspicion and what I saw on Jensen."
Dr. Maxwell folded his arms on the table and leaned forward, his interest clearly piqued. "What you saw on Jensen? What do you mean?"
Jared glanced at Randolph. "Well, first of all, let me tell you that Jensen might not like me saying this to you all. But you saw how he broke earlier. I guess this is just for the best. All right. So tonight I found him in the woods. He was running away from his stepdad. He hasn't told me everything but he's been locked up since the last time I saw him at school. Yes, the day he was supposed to meet us at your office." Jared turned to Randolph after he saw the man seem to ask something. "I went to his house that day to check if something was wrong because he didn't show up. I didn't meet him, only Mr. Summer, his stepfather. He said that Jensen was sick and he couldn't go out. And that's it. He didn't come to school the following day or the next several days after that."
Jared told them how he watched the house ever since but never managed to spot Jensen. He talked about the days he'd spent out in the woods not far from Jensen's house but completely left out the fact that he was in his wolf form during that time. Jared was also vague about finding Jensen tonight. He wasn't sure how Jensen had been attacked. He just found the boy lying somewhere in the middle of the forest but he didn't see the wild dog that attacked him. No mention of bears, of course.
From there Jared talked about how Jensen told him of running away from home. Jared was sure, however, that Jensen wouldn't have told him about what his stepfather had done to him if he hadn't seen it for himself the marks and bruises on the kid's lower back.
Dr. Maxwell looked taken aback. "He spanked Jensen?"
"I'm sure he did, and not too lightly, I believe. It looked very bad even when it wasn't new. I don't know how long it's happened."
"We'll report it to the police and have the father arrested," said Randolph.
"And I have to check on the boy. Do you think he's okay?"
Jared stared at the doctor.
"What do you mean?" he asked, but deep down he knew where Dr. Maxwell's question led.
The man returned his gaze with the calmness only professional possessed.
"Any sign of violation against the boy?"
"You mean, sexually?" Jared turned to Randolph, who looked back at him.
"That's right."
Jared's heart clenched as his mind went to Jensen. "I-I don't think so. I asked him and he said no. I hope he was telling the truth."
"All right." Dr. Maxwell reached out for the telephone.
"You're calling the cops?" Jared asked.
"I am. I will do the check up on Jensen under their order."
Right, Jared thought. There was nothing Jensen could say to stop them. Jared couldn't agree more with the doctor, though.
"But are you going to give him the kit if the police order it? He's going to lose it."
"We have to make sure, right... Hello? Yes, I'd like to report a domestic abuse case... Sure. My name is Tony Maxwell and I'm a resident at the General Hospital." He stopped talking as if waiting. He glanced at Jared and Randolph before talking again to the mouthpiece. "I'm going to meet with Detective Montgomery from Family Violence Unit? Okay, I'll be waiting." He hung up and folded his arms on the table. "Looks like it's going to take a while. Do you want to go see Jensen?" Maxwell asked Jared. "I'm sure he needs a familiar face to accompany him. It's not going to be easy for him."
Jared felt relief awash over him. "Can I be with him during the police investigation? I don't want him to face that alone."
"We'll see." Maxwell stood up. "So, go ahead. I'm going to wait for the detective here."
"Yes. Thank you." Jared turned to his boss. "Are you coming, or do you want to leave? I'm totally fine if you do. It's a bit late now. I'm really grateful you'd come here, though, Mr. Randolph."
"What? You can't get rid of me that easily, son. Jensen is my responsibility as are any of the other students in my school. Not that I don't believe you, but I have to make sure he's all right myself."
Jared knew Randolph was going to say that. He smiled and nodded a little.
"Sure. Let's go then."
They walked out of the doctor's office and went to the ER where they found Jensen curled up on his side with his back facing the door.
“Is he sleeping?” Jared whispered to Randolph, who whispered back.
“I think so.”
“Guys, you don’t have to whisper. I’m awake.” Jensen turned around. His eyes were red. Jared wondered if it was because he’d just woken up from his sleep or if the boy had been crying. He hoped it wasn’t the latter.
"Jensen, how do you feel?" The boy wouldn't look at him.
"I'm fine, I guess."
"Some detective from the family violence unit will come to ask you questions and I think Dr. Maxwell will give you more checkups."
Jensen didn't say anything. He tightened the blanket around his body. Randolph went to stand beside him.
"You're going to be all right, Jensen. You've been very brave to get away like that. This cop won't do anything to you. Even better, he's going to make sure that your stepfather is arrested."
"Can they do that?" Jensen asked with a small voice.
"They have to. He's committed a crime attacking someone he's supposed to protect."
"I should've gone a long time ago. He's not responsible for my life."
"And then how were you going to live? You're a minor. If he couldn’t take care of you, he should've reported to social services."
Jared watched the conversation and wished it was between him and Jensen. He had to admit though that Randolph looked and sounded wiser and more convincing talking to the boy like that.
"Social services..." Jensen was close to whimpering.
"They'd do the best to assure your well-being."
"I don't want to go to some foster parents I don't even know." He squeezed his eyes shut and Jared wondered what was running through his mind.
"I hate to ask this, Jensen, but I really want to know why you don't want it," Jared said.
Jensen's eyes flew open and they pierced into Jared so intensely Jared shivered a little.
"They're strangers. They don't know me. Ted knows me, yet he... he..."
No.
"You think they're going to abuse you, too? Jensen, they're good people. Social services doesn’t just pick a couple and make them foster parents. You've got to believe that they--"
Jensen shook his head vehemently.
"No! I don't want them. I don't want to go with social services or anyone else."
"Hey, hey. Take it easy." Jensen was so upset Jared needed some time to calm him down. He grabbed Jensen's shoulders but dared not press him too hard. "Calm down, kid. Come on. No one's going to make you do something you don't want, okay?"
Jensen breathed hard but to Jared's relief, he began to relax.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. We talked about it, remember?"
"You promise?"
The kid looked lost. Jared knew if Randolph wasn't around, he would've pulled Jensen into his arms. As it was now, Jared took his hands off Jensen's shoulders and withdrew with great reluctance.
"I promise, Jensen," he said quietly.
"Even if tell you that I want to stay with you?"
Jensen's words didn't surprise Jared but for the second time he wished they didn't have Randolph's curious ears with them at this time. Jared reached out and squeezed Jensen's upper arm.
"We'll see what the police have to say, all right? Just so you know I'll watch out for you." Jared glanced at Randolph and noticed the slight crease in his brow and the pensive look on his face. Jared opened his mouth, about to say something, when the door opened and Dr. Maxwell and a man in a dark suit entered.
"Mr. Randolph, Mr. Padalecki, this is Detective Montgomery from the police department," Dr. Maxwell introduced them and they shook hands.
"Mr. Randolph, Mr. Padalecki." The detective nodded at them.
"Glad to meet you, Detective," said Randolph. "And this is my student, Jensen Ackles." He shifted a little so Montgomery had a clear look at Jensen.
"Hi, Jensen," he greeted. His voice was soft. Jared watched as the thirty-something, dark-sandy-haired man advanced toward Jensen's bedside.
"Hi," Jensen replied.
Jared felt relieved that he showed no instant rejection. It was a good sign that at least Jensen gave the detective, and himself, a chance to talk. Jared found himself taken by Montgomery's voice, too, and he hoped he wasn't mistakenly judging the detective.
"Are you tired right now?"
Jensen looked confused by the question. "What do you mean?"
Montgomery sat next to him on the bed. "I would love to talk to you, Jensen, but it might take some time, can be hours. It'll be fine with me if you get some rest first, sleep as long as you need, and talk to me tomorrow."
Jensen sought Jared, and he nodded at the boy. He should do whatever he wanted, Jared meant to say. He hoped Jensen got it.
"If I talk now, will it help you get my stepdad faster?"
Montgomery shrugged a little. "It might or it might not, we don't know. But some extra hours would definitely count."
A heartbeat passed and Jensen nodded, looking resolute.
"All right. I'll answer your questions now."
"You're a good kid, Jensen." Montgomery didn't doubt Jensen's decision by asking him if he was sure, or use exaggerated praise, and it was perfect in Jared's book. Jensen needed to feel that he was in control. Montgomery turned back and nodded to Jared and Randolph.
"I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave the room."
"Uh, sure." Jared hesitated, staring at Jensen. But Jensen didn't even look back. His attention was fully on Detective Montgomery. "Yes, of course. It's a police matter. We can't interfere. We'll wait outside." Jared took Randolph by the elbow and when he turned to the shorter man, he saw Randolph look at him funny. Jared only shrugged and let go of him at once, wandering out of the room without saying anything.
****
Jensen had expected to dread the cop who was coming to talk to him. But looking at this man, Jensen found that not only did he feel totally comfortable with him, but he felt like telling him everything he had in his head. Jensen wasn't even disturbed by Dr. Maxwell's presence.
"Hi, Jensen? Do you mind if I take off my suit coat?"
Jensen could only stare when the detective shrugged off his dark suit coat and draped it over the foot of the bed. His shirt was tight across his chest. His firm but lean muscles screamed three times a week visits to the gym.
"I'll take it that it's okay."
Jensen felt his face burn. "Oh, yeah, of course. Whatever." He ducked but he didn't hear a reply from the detective. Jensen looked up as Montgomery fixed a recorder on the side table.
"You don't mind, do you?" asked the detective.
Jensen froze briefly before he shook his head.
"No, that's okay."
"That's great." Detective Montgomery pushed the record button. "Okay. Why don't you start with your name."
****
Jensen had no clue how long they talked but it completely drained him. Still he had a burning question of his own. He gazed up at the detective, who nodded at him.
"Sure, you can ask anything."
"Are you going to send me to social services?"
"That's the procedure, Jensen."
"But I don't want to go to some foster parents."
Detective Montgomery's brow knitted. "You're a minor, Jensen. You can't live on your own. We require some adults to be some kind of guardians."
"I'll be eighteen in a few months. Please. You'll just waste your time and energy looking for people who'll take me in. I-I want to stay with someone. He's an adult." Jensen looked at his lap. He smiled more to himself, feeling sheepish.
"You have someone to stay with? Like an uncle? It will be better if it's a family."
"No," he said so softly Detective Montgomery had to lean close. The scent of his cologne, a mix of cedar wood and citrus, attacked his nostrils. Jensen savored it, closing his eyes involuntarily. He sighed and opened his eyes. The detective had straightened up, to his dismay.
"No, I don't have family left. It's Jared. I mean Mr. Padalecki, my teacher."
"Your teacher, huh?" Detective Montgomery looked pensive. "Have you known him for long? You said you were a new student here."
"I-I am. Is it okay?"
Detective Montgomery turned off the recorder and put it in his pants' pocket.
"I'll talk about it with my boss. We still have to contact social services and if Mr. Padalecki is qualified for it, why not? Only several months until you're an adult yourself and you can be responsible for your own life."
Jensen almost couldn't believe his ears. He'd been so scared before. He should've agreed to talk to the cop earlier.
"Thank you, Detective."
"No problem. Now, are you ready for Dr. Maxwell? I'll go get him if you are"
Jensen had been too immersed in his conversation with the detective. He didn't realize Dr. Maxwell had left the room sometime during the conversation.
"Yeah, okay."
"Don't be afraid. He's a good doctor. He'll be careful."
At the door, Detective Montgomery stopped and talked briefly with Dr. Maxwell. Jensen wondered what they were talking about. They didn't glance at him even once. Detective Montgomery only turned back at him afterward.
"Take care, Jensen. You've done a great job. I'm sure your mother would be proud of you. I'll do my best about your request." He waved at Jensen.
"Thank you." Jensen waved back. He steeled himself for one more prodding. The thing with social services could take time. He just wished they'd allow him to go back to Jared's place tonight. Jensen felt so tired he wanted to sleep for days.
****
Part 3
