He tucked himself into a tighter ball, trying to deflect the drunken blows. He felt a rib crack, and then another, as the violent kicking slammed into him repeatedly. Joey whimpered as the pain intensified, then vanished. Raising his head cautiously Joey winced as the movement cost him his breath.
"You stupid brat, you should just die." His father's slurred voice made its way through Joey's pain filled brain.
Through the haze of pain he saw his father raise an empty bottle of booze, and smash it against the wall. Struggling to his feet Joey realized that the situation he'd landed himself in had gone from bad to worse, fast. As his father came closer Joey saw the gleam of the jagged bottle in his hand.
Now scrambling for all haste Joey slipped, and a searing pain in his side told him that the broken bottle had just ripped through his skin. Kicking out with his left leg, Joey managed to knock his father off balance just long enough he could get out of harm's way.
"That's right, get out and don't you come back you fucking little brat." His father deteriorated into a stream of cuss words as Joey ran off into the dark winter night.
Kaiba had just turned the corner when he noticed a familiar blonde figure stumbling towards him. As the blonde came closer he realized it was none other than that annoying mutt Wheeler. Snorting in disgust, about to turn away, Kaiba's eyes grew wide when he saw the blood stained white shirt, and the already forming bruises on Joey's arms.
"Mutt, what happened?" Kaiba cried out as he rushed forward to catch the blonde as he pitched forward unconscious.
Catching Joey in his arms Kaiba forced the bile to stay down, the blood poring out of Joey's side and the sight of his near broken body stirred unexpected reactions from the normally impassive young man.
Who the hell did this to the mutt? And why on earth do I care so personally?
A moan brought Kaiba back from his thoughts, realizing he needed medical help Kaiba laid Joey down as gently as possible onto the cold concrete. Pulling out his cell phone Kaiba dialed his emergency medical team, "Its Seto Kaiba, I need an ambulance immediately."
"Yes sir, we'll get an ambulance to you immediately." Snapping his phone shut Kaiba watched Joey shiver for a moment before taking off his coat and placing gingerly on top of the blonde.
If I find out who did this I'm gonna kill them, slowly, with dental floss, for hurting my puppy. Wait, what? Did I seriously just call him my puppy?
Shaking his head to clear his distracting thoughts Kaiba focused on Joey's breathing, which was extremely shallow.
Damn, he might not make it…. No he has to make it.
Not two minutes had passed before the ambulance, sirens blaring, pulled up at Kaiba's location. Not more than three minutes later the paramedics were wheeling Wheeler into the hospital.
Bright lights spun and danced above him, where am I? He tried to sit up, to look around and see where he was at but gentle hands pushed him back, restraining him. Focusing his eyes Joey recognized a familiar face above him. "Kaiba?" his voice seemed weak and distant.
"Joey, you need to rest." The brunette seemed worried, actually concerned for a change, "Go back to sleep, you're safe here."
"Mm, ok..." Joey closed his eyes to tired and sore to try to understand what was going on. He drifted back off into a deep sleep.
Kaiba was furious the doctor had informed him that not only did Joey have two cracked ribs, and four broken ones; he had a deep slash running from his hip to his shoulder on his left side. Plus a multitude of bruises, old and brand-new, the older ones faded to a dark yellow, the newer a livid purple-blue.
Sitting at Joey's bedside Kaiba silently vowed never to let anyone hurt his pup again, even if he had to kill to keep that promise. The blonde's hair flopped over his eyes as Joey began thrashing, deep in the grip of a nightmare.
The dream seemed to end just a fast as it had come, and soon the only sounds in the room were the beeping machines and the now steady breathing from Joey's sleeping form. Glancing at the wristwatch on his arm Kaiba realized Mokuba was waiting for him at home.
Rats, I can't believe I forgot Mokuba. At least I know Wheeler will be safe for now.
With one last glance at the blonde, Kaiba left the room leaving strict instructions; Wheeler was not allowed to leave until Kaiba came back to get him personally.
Once he was satisfied that his orders would be obeyed to the letter Kaiba went home.
A/N I know, everyone and their brother has done this story a hundred times over and I know this chapter is really short, but I promise you this one is gonna be different. I would really appreciate some reviews, thanks.