His movements were stiff, his back rigid, suggesting he was in intense pain. He never lifted his head, dark hair shading his eyes.
'Zack?' He jumped at her voice, wincing at the sudden movement.
'Yes, Dr. Brennan?' She raised a hand, taken aback as he recoiled from the movement.
'Are you okay?' He paused for a moment, nodding slowly as if not certain this were the correct answer. A deep red stain spread slowly across the back of his labcoat.
'You're bleeding!' She tugged at the material, exposing his pale blue shirt, now bright crimson.
'It's nothing' He hissed through his teeth as she peeled the blood-soaked material from his flesh.
'Zack, this is most definitely something. Who would do this to you?' The wounds were recent and unbandaged, slowly dripping.
'I slipped' He pulled away, turning to face her.
'You didn't slip. Someone hit you repeatedly with a-' She inspected the oozing wounds before continuing 'a leather strap or a crop? It must have been very painful' He looked guiltily at the floor.
'It was' His voice was barely a whisper.
'These are recent. Did this happen today?' He gave no response, just a blank stare.
'Why didn't you stop them? Why did you let this happen?'
'She told me not to. You wouldn't understand' There was no hint of fear or sadness in his voice, just cool indifference.
'Who did this to you Zack?'
***
She liked the sound of leather against skin. His was pale, free of blemishes except those which she had left to mark her territory. He was splayed across her desk, handcuffed securely, even though he knew better than to struggle. He even cried on command, big fat tears that ran down his face and made him look truly pathetic. It was beautiful really.
'Are you crying bitch?' She raised the crop in her hand, admiring her handy work. It wasn't her preferred form of punishment, but what with the amount of time it was taking his scars to heal it was the least she could do. From the end of her desk came a muffled sob, and she smiled as he cried out when the crop hit bare flesh.
'Yes' He whimpered quietly.
'Yes what?' She gave another sharp slap with the crop, his body shuddering violently in a most pleasing manner. Already several red welts crisscrossed his thighs and she could his arousal straining against the cold metal of her desk.
'Yes Dr. Saroyan' He whimpered, yelping as she delivered another well-timed stroke.
See circled the desk, releasing him from the restraints. He rose into a sitting positiion, his face still shining with tears.
'You love it when I punish you, don't you?' She tugged his face towards hers, kissing him firmly on the mouth, biting his bottom lip until she could taste the copper tang. He smiled contentedly as she pulled away, his lip swollen and bloody. Under the tangled mop of hair his eyes were bright with unshed tears.
'Yes' He whispered happily, dropping to his knees in front of her.