CHAPTER 4. OWNERSHIP
Moran lost the test subjects, he could always round up more but what he was truly angry over, was the fact John was taken from him. Stolen really and by a lesser Alpha, that skinny curly haired Holmes.
This was not going to be alright, and to top it off, there were other males circling, the ones that hired Holmes in the first place. Why did they care so much, did they think that John would choose them?
Moriarty gave John to Moran, he promised that John would give in after they developed the serum, the synthetic bonding agent. He wound never be able to say no to Moran. It needed to happen and it had to happen before his heat, and before he bonded with another Alpha. James promised that John wouldn't say no, he would never be able to say no, not like Corey had.
No, John was stronger, and their children would be beautiful golden haired babies with the bluest eyes and fairest complexion. He needed John back, before the lesser males staked their claims, although it wouldn't be hard to kill one of those idiots and then take back what he worked so hard to make his own.
Moriarty being the genius he was already had a plan in action. One that would allow Moran to walk right up to his John and legally take claim. Afterwards, just as he promised Moran would get the new recruits for James.
The army was full of the unwanted Omegas and the juvenile system was flooded with the little cockroaches. First thing first, he wanted to find his John, once the Doctor was properly broken in, the little Omega could help with the medical side of research.
~0~
Sherlock watched from behind the observation glass. Major Hill had entered looking stoic and solemn, as most military men did. Except this Military man's bonded lifemate was one of the four that was shot in cold blood out in the desert. Most cases, and the bondmates' of the other three proving no different, ended with suicide of the surviving bondmate.
It was Higher in Omegas but not surprising in Alphas. The only one who stood now despite the statistics was Major Benjamin Hill. His Omega had been a medic, Private Jessica Hill.
The man had pull with the military and when he discovered this operation and then discovered that Captain Watson was indeed alive. The Major volunteered his men and services for the rescue mission and then he wanted to meet the young surviving doctor.
Now Sherlock watched as the two men had their heads bent in discussion, John's mannerisms weren't at all nervous, as they had been when Sherlock had tried to explain. Instead the Major was lifting the young Doctor's military green hospital top, which looked similar to a nurses scrub top. This action put Sherlock on instant alert, the Major was too close to John too close and too familiar.
Mycroft watched with rising curiosity, his brother had an inner struggle whenever anyone came within touching distance of the Omega Doctor. Sherlock never showed any kind of interest in any Omegas, mummy had given up completely on grandchildren. Mycroft as the head of the family was a busy man, too busy. He could settle for a handpicked bondmate, one that would produce children, travel social circles and deliver the correct amount of children, but he didn't wish to be like his father. The older Holmes refused to be a father that only interacted with his children on holiday's or when social edict dictated.
Watching Sherlock's reactions did give him a spark of hope, perhaps his brother could continue the name. Mycroft wouldn't have to dirty his hands with it. This Omega wasn't socially well known, mummy and father wouldn't be too happy with the choice, but still. Perhaps if Sherlock bonded with it before father or mother could interfere or become aware of the situation.
Sherlock would be an abysmal father, and even worse bondmate, but-Mycroft thought as he watched the young army doctor place a consoling hand on the Major's arm. Perhaps one nurturing parent was enough. A deep growl from beside Mycroft brought his gray gaze back to the dark haired younger Holmes.
"Easy brother. You really should get your hormones in check. Perhaps visiting one of those brothels you look down your nose so much on. Maybe I could arrange to have a young Omega female or no I think Male is more your type. Little matter, I can have one delivered to uh-keep you occupied. Possibly relieve some of that tension. You're experiencing."
"I have no urge to take on your filthy idea of entertainment; my only concern is for the already emotionally fragile doctor's state of mind." Sherlock hissed.
~0~
"They did this to you?" Major Hill cringed, his fingers lightly tracing the deep incisions that crossed the doctor's stoat chest. John nodded catching his breath. He hadn't allowed anyone let alone an Alpha touch him like this, since Moran. He couldn't say what convinced him to allow the Major this intimate of an intrusion. Perhaps the fact that the Major seemed so vulnerable and lost, wanting answers, any answers to help fuel him in his quest to find Jessica's killers.
John couldn't hold back, not for any of his brothers in arms(Sisters) left for dead out in that desert. So he allowed the Major to lean into the small cot John had been calling a bed. Very much aware that their knees were touching, John tried to keep himself from rising panic, luckily the older Alpha had yet to notice.
"I'll find them John. Every last one of those sons of bitches. I will find them and they will pay." The Major had a cold edge to his voice his palm over John's now rapidly beating heart and his other resting on John's knees. John remained stiff not wanting to offend the Major, he tried to think of words that may help the man find peace. John placed a hand over the Major's, squeezing the wrist that rested just above his left nipple.
"Revenge isn't what she would want for you Major Hill. Jessica wasn't like that. She was-"
"A breath of fresh air in the middle of an inferno. She was life-" The Major felt his voice break.
John nodded, wishing he had someone that loved him with such a force it would break them when he was gone. John knew he would never have this kind of bondmate, or a bondmate at all. Jessica was very lucky and perhaps the Major would find another to fill the void although no one could take the medics place. It was almost sad they didn't have any children, he had heard someone say once that children made loss of a bondmate almost bearable.
Having the support of children to surround you and offer their shared love for the lost individual. Having someone to share the burden of pain. John felt his heart breaking for the Major. He recalled Jessica's worried glance back, even to the end she was more worried for others than herself.
The Major nodded realizing his palm was over John's torn and bandaged flesh, and for reasons beyond him he loathed to move. Wanting to feel more of the strong heart that beat beneath. Wishing Jessica had made it, wishing that Jessica was here having this discussion.
"Excuse me." The Major smiled sadly, pulling away just as the door opened. Causing the young Doctor to flinch from the Major's non-threatening touch. Major Hill caught how John was on edge almost immediately, and something in him didn't quite care for it. He moved closer to the Doctor in response, ready to defend the younger unbounded Omega.
"Doctor Watson-" Sherlock entered the room, very aware of how the younger man was pulling his shirt front down and moving back from the Major, eyes averted.
"Alright Watson?" The Major curiously looked the younger man's face over. A hand petting the soft blond strands of John's hair. The young Doctor nodded, quickly not wishing to cause an incident or any more tension. John couldn't help how the gray eyed Alpha made him feel as if he'd just been caught doing something inappropriate. He also was exactly comfortable with the familiarity that the Major was taking with him, the interruption was somewhat of a relief.
"Major Hill, I apologize for the disruption but the Doctor has been through quite the ordeal and he does need medical attention." Sherlock despised how he came off sounding like a jealous boyfriend but it was true. It had been two days and the young Doctor was barely getting his strength back. That and Sherlock knew how Doctor Watson became jumpy in the presence of Alphas. Sherlock loathed the sudden urge to posture whenever John was concerned. It was fascinating and distracting.
"Thank you for visiting Major Hill. I must get back to the remainder of the children as well." John moved slowly to stand, not wishing to be the only one in the room sitting.
"Children?" The Major questioned, as if this horror had no end he was updated over the last four children made ready to be integrated into the foster programs. Their identities had to be completely altered and names changed. Not that it was difficult these children came from no where, they had been black market bought and sold to the research facility by over run foster homes. Foster Homes that were now being shut down and those in charge harshly punished. The Doctor's had yet to find any kind of testing done on these children and group, there had been other secret facilities discovered with less favorable results.
Those test subjects were irreversibly damaged and put down, but no one knew if that end conclusion. Well no one but Mycroft Holmes and the Alphas in his circle of politicians, and now Major Benjamin Hill.
Hill watched John read a story to one of the younger Omega's the little one called Mya, he couldn't imagine someone lobotomizing a child for some sick scientific study.
Major Hill found himself speaking to the youngest Omega Mya and he thought almost immediately of is dear Jessica, the resemblance almost hurt. Brody was a nervous young lad that kept Mya close, Major Hill thought he was her older brother.
John wondered back to his own room where he wished to lay down. The day had been physically draining. That and his bandages were in a need of redressing; though the Major had been gentle John could still feel the wounds starting to leak through the white bandages.
~0~
"Are you alright John?" The silver eyed Alpha was kneeling in front of John as the medical staff had come in to change the bandages on his chest. John leaned away from the hand that moved to rest on his shoulder.
"I'm fine." John hated the fact he felt drawn into the clear silver of those eyes and at the same time it frightened him. He didn't want to be trapped, to be forced under someone's thumb to be submissive and more.
He couldn't read cruelty there in the taller man. However there was something else there, John could see it in the way he demanded obedience and for others to fall in line. John was an army man but he knew the kind of obedience that the Alphas wanted in their Omegas. Hadn't Moran demonstrated some of that, that cruelty? John's father had said John was cursed to it, brutality would be his bondmates one tool. John Watson brought it out of any self-respected Alpha, because of John's natural disobedience.
Father's words; "You make me do this boy because you don't listen! If you would fall in line! This wouldn't be so difficult." John caught his breath, the biting fingers of Moran, pushing his head into the cold tub of water."Just fall in line Johnny boy. This doesn't have to hurt so much."
"John, you don't have to be afraid of me." Sherlock tried explain calmly.
He read distress in the shorter man, but didn't understand where it came from. Sherlock had heard that Omegas were intuitive in reading the intentions of an Alpha. Why couldn't John see that he meant no harm? Every time Sherlock neared, the doctor backed off as if ready for some attack.
"I'm not afraid." John lied, trying to push the memories of home and Moran out of his mind.
"Very well Doctor Hull will be in to check you over. I will be just outside if you need-" John frowned his blue eyes meeting the gray, a pink tongue nervously coming out to lick his dried lips. Sherlock expected the man to speak but instead he didn't, only nodded. Sherlock left the room feeling frustrated, as the old army Doctor Hull with his near balding head entered. Sherlock could see John's tension once more, and it took everything in him to fight the urge to go back in and take John's hand to rub his own scent over the injured Omega. Just in case any unbound Alpha caught John's scent they would too catch Sherlock's, and know the Omega was good as claimed.
~0~
"The Doctor has cleared you. Oh, I almost forgot you do have two more visitors." Sherlock hadn't really forgotten he'd hated the thought more of John's friends were coming to greet him. More friends that were unbonded Alphas, this disgusted and fascinated him all at once.
Murry and Stamford entered into John's room with more than open welcome. Murry even had lifted John up off his feet, causing the smaller man to flinch but he didn't push away. Sherlock took his leave discreetly, not wishing to be around the strong scents seeping off both males. They were aware of John on a level that Sherlock was not. The younger Holmes felt like a voyeur moving to stand discreetly behind the one sided glass.
"Ah! You are alive mate! And in one piece! Here you are! I cant believe it! When we saw Sawyer and heard the stories we didn't have much hope. You helped her and several others escape, good man! Cant keep you down can they!? So of course Stamford wouldn't let it go and how could I?" John was on his feet gently taking a deep breath excited and relieved to see two very familiar faces.
"You-" John tried to find his words. "You hired someone. To-"
"Yeah. He was the best, came well known. Major Hill gave us most of the funding but when we tried to offer it to the mad detective he declined. Said the case was interesting enough. Have you met him?" Murry asked leaning against the door.
John only nodded, it was unreal seeing his friends, but now he would be heading back home to his drunk father and drunk sister.
"I heard they retired you." Murry frowned.
"Yeah, shite outcome if you ask me. After this whole mess." Stamford shook his head.
"What will you do?" Murry plopped down next to John on his cot, Stamford was adjusting his hair in the mirror.
"I'll be going home. Released into the custody of my family." John sighed, suddenly looking so much younger than his twenty five years.
"What?"
"Why?" both men were confused.
John only shrugged. "It's protocol-"
"That's an ancient modus operandi. Surely they don't expect you to go back to your old man. Not after-" Stamford cleared his throat. "Not after all this time."
Sherlock frowned observing very easily that these two 'friends' of John's were unhappy with the idea of John being sent back into the waiting arms of his family. The younger Holmes turned demanding a file on the young Doctor and his background cursing himself for not looking into it earlier. It was a mistake to assume that John was an orphan just because it was his friends that wanted the Doctor recovered and not a family. Sherlock read John's personal file skipping over military and training, reading over the first few pages of John's childhood caused the dark haired Holmes to pause, John's father would be coming to claim the young Doctor in fact was on his way. Sherlock had to think of some way to stop such an exchange.