Thank you FantasyWriter93 and Jououchi Katsuya for your kind reviews. I'm on my road to the end of the story, but I can't find the ending I want so I decided to come back and work on these parts of the story and get them uploaded.

Warnings: Mention of rape and abuse. Jounouchi and Kaiba are slightly out of character for now.

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Chapter Four

Several hours later and a few trips to the adjoined bathroom to clean the water out, the doctor finally had Jou completely cleaned and bandaged. He glanced at his watch and noted that it was still an hour too early to give Jou another injection. Gathering up everything he used and the now bloody washcloths and towels, he threw everything including Kaiba's jacket into the large plastic medical bag. He placed the samples he took from Jou into the other bag he brought with him. He moved Jou off the sheet and under the blankets. After tucking the unresponsive blond under the covers, the doctor moved everything back to its rightful place in the room. He knew that Kaiba would do it himself, but the doctor had time to waste and didn't want to give Jou his second injection too early.

Taking another look at his watch, he moved out of the room and quietly shut the door. The doctor found the trio in the living room. Kaiba was standing by the fireplace, watching the flames flicker. The two twins were sitting closely on the couch. The shorter one had his head on the other's shoulder. He cleared his throat, attracting everyone's attention. He held one finger up, not liking to be bombarded with questions. "For starters, Kaiba-sama, where is your brother?"

"Sleeping upstairs."

The doctor nodded, noting that it was still in the middle of the night. He didn't want to risk the younger Kaiba walking in while they were discussing the damage done to the blond man. "By all legal rights, I shouldn't be telling any of you this. I should be on the phone with his next of kin informing them about everything that I found, but I know for a fact that Kaiba-sama would never let me out of this house without knowing what happened. All of you need to sit."

The doctor eyed Kaiba who sighed and sat down in the chair closet to Yugi and Atemu. Yugi sat up and kept his eyes on the doctor. He was worried about what the man was about the say. It was never good if the doctor informed you to have a seat before telling you the outcome. The doctor moved to the other chair facing the three. "We'll start with the good news. There is no head trauma or any signs of broken bones. I would suggest getting him x-rayed after he wakes especially if he has trouble moving some part of his body. I took some samples to test when I get back to the lab, but judging by his color, he has a severe case of malnutrition and dehydration. Even though there was a lot of blood on him, he didn't lose enough blood that he would need a blood transfusion. You must have found him right after the incident."

The doctor took a breath and placed his hands in his lap, seeing that they were taking the news so far okay. He knew that it was only going to get worse. "I have him sedated for now, but that will wear off in a few hours, and he'll be able to wake on his own. If by any chance he doesn't wake in twenty-four hours take him immediately to the hospital. He doesn't have any bruises or cuts on his head, but that doesn't mean anything. His wrists were rubbed raw. That's to be expected with anyone who is restrained. He must have fought the entire time judging by how deep the cuts were. I took pictures of all his cuts that I had to stitch and bandage. The soles of his feet as well as his back and buttock were wiped with a belt. He has welts and cuts from the belt buckle. He may have trouble walking for a few days while the swelling goes down."

The doctor paused again. Kaiba could tell there was something that the doctor didn't want to tell them. He bit his lower lip and watched the doctor. "I found traces of semen in the back of his throat and inside his rectum. I'm sorry, but your friend was orally and anally raped. His passage is torn, but not badly enough to need surgery. I have some medication for him to take for that as well as cream that he'll need to rub along his torn passageway to help with the healing. I also found bite marks and nail marks on his penis and inner thighs. My suggestions are to have someone stay with him at all times until he wakes up. I don't want him to damage his feet more by trying to move. When he does wake, don't touch him at first. He'll probably be confused and scared. You might want to schedule him an appointment with a psychologist in order to assess the amount of mental damaged this event had on him. The doctor might want to put him temporarily on some medication for it. But, again, that decision will have to be made once he wakes. It is still his choice."

The older man hid a yawn behind his hand and glanced at his watch. "I'm going to inject him with another pain reliever. All the medication and prescription you'll need are up on the nightstand as well as instructions. If there is nothing else you need from me, I'd like to go home and sleep. I'll be back in two days to check on his progress. I'll also have all the tests results back. If you need anything, call me." Kaiba nodded and watched the doctor leave the room. He knew that the older man would be capable of leaving on his own. He glanced at Yugi who had his head now buried into Atemu's chest. The younger man must have started crying sometime during the explanation.

Atemu's gaze met Kaiba's. "I'll take the first watch," he said before the CEO could volunteer.

"Fine. You both could rest in the bedroom next to Jou's. My bedroom is three doors down from his on the same side. If you need anything or something happens, wake me immediately." Atemu nodded and helped Yugi upstairs to the bedroom Kaiba indicated. It took him several minutes to get Yugi calm enough to fall asleep. He left the room just as Kaiba was coming out of Mokuba's bedroom. He wondered if Kaiba told his brother anything or just went in to check on him. The two met each other's gaze. Atemu nodded and walked into Jou's room to keep watch for a few hours. He knew that he would be able to stay awake the rest of the night if need be, but he assumed that Yugi or Kaiba would take his place long before that happened.

It was mid afternoon by the time the blond awoke. Kaiba was in the room at the time while the other two slept peacefully in the room next door. Jou groaned and stared up at unfamiliar ceiling. He moved his arms quickly noticing not only was he free to move but the pain was intense. Kaiba let him move for a bit to clear any of his confusion. When Jou made to get up, Kaiba finally spoke. "Easy, Jounouchi. You shouldn't get up yet."

Jou jumped to the sudden voice and gasped. The movement caused pain to shot through his body. "W-where am I?" Jou stuttered. His voice was thick and barely a whisper.

"You're at my mansion. Don't move too much. The doctor had to put several stitches in various places of your body. If you move wrong you could split them open again."

Jou buried his head into the soft pillows, staring up at the ceiling. "How did I get here?"

"You left before I could probably thank you for helping me. I don't know what you did, but I'm feeling much better. Usually when I get sick I stay in bed for several days. The next day I was already feeling better. I had a lot of trouble finding you. It was like you didn't exist. Atemu managed to track you magically and that's when we found you in your apartment. Can you tell me what happened?"

Jou hesitated for a few minutes. He chewed on his lower lip, debating on the pros and cons to telling the CEO what truly has been happening in his life. He didn't want someone's pity. He wouldn't mind a little bit of help, but something inside of him screamed that he didn't need anyone. He was strong on his own. Why would he need someone's help? Jou shivered as memories of his father came into his mind. That was the worst his father ever was. He knew that he could defend himself from just his father, and it never seemed to affect him if it was his father beating him, but there was more than his father last time. A tear ran down his cheek. "Am I truly that weak?" the blond whispered, not noticing that he spoke that aloud. He grew angry and scrubbed the tear off his cheek with the blanket.

"Don't say that. A normal person shouldn't have to go through what you went through. Crying and admitting that you can't handle it does not make you weak. It makes you stronger." Kaiba crossed his legs and leaned further back in the chair. It wasn't the most comfortable, but he needed to give the blond his space. "I know you might have trouble talking about what happened, but I want you to know that anyone here is willing to listen."

"Why are you being so nice?"

"Why did you help me home a few days ago?"

Jou frowned. "I didn't want to be responsible for you dying or someone taking advantage of you since you were so sick."

"I believe that as much as I believe my parents are still alive. Tell me the truth. What were you expecting? A night in the mansion? Money?"

The usual fire that was in Jou's honey eyes returned and he glared at him. "That would be taking advantage of you. What do you take me for? I care what happens to you whether you believe me or not. No matter what you did to me or how we fought, I always knew that there was something more buried deep inside of you. I knew that if you could show love and compassion to your brother than there is room in your heart for someone else. You confuse me. I never knew someone as high and powerful as you are to pay attention to someone low and worthless like me. I could laugh and have a good time with my friends but that was all an act. I wanted to get the anger out of me. I was furious that my mother left me with such an asshole. Why did she abandon me? Did she not love me? Why does my father do this to me? Am I such a waste of space? If that's the case, then why did you always pay attention to me? I craved the attention, but when we graduated I knew I could never see you again. Then you showed up at my work. I thought you would start yelling or making fun of me, but all you did was asked if I could talk to you. I couldn't figure out what was going through your head. It's as if you want me in your life, but you're too shy to admit it."

Kaiba smiled listening to ever word of Jou's ramble. He couldn't believe how quickly Jou could change subjects. He loved the fire in his eyes, and the fact that he could truly hear the emotions behind each word. "Maybe I do want you in my life," Kaiba answered, ignoring the rest of Jou's ramble but not forgetting about. Jou had a lot of anger that he needed to get out of his system, and he planned on helping the blond. He wanted Jou to feel strong again.

Jou stopped and stared at him. "What?"

"Maybe you're right. I'm too scared to admit my feelings to anyone. I've lost so much in my life that I'd do anything to protect the only part that is still with me. I don't know how to express emotions like you do because they've been dead for years. How do you teach a person who's never experience joy, happiness, and love to show all those emotions?"

"Do you care for me?"

Kaiba sighed. "I care about what happens to you. I want to see you smile for real. No one should have to go through what you went through. And, if they did, they deserve all the help available to them."

Jou blinked his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"You will not be going back that that place."

"But..."

"Your father will not be able to reach you here. Whatever you need will be provided for you. I will not take no for an answer, Jounouchi. It's time for you to receive all the love, attention, and protection you provided for your friends. You're not a horrible person, and you don't deserve to be forgotten or abused. Is that understood?"

Tears sprang from Jou's eyes. He never thought that someone would care that much for him. He smiled brightly. "Understood," he whispered.

"Good. Now, when you are ready to talk, you can talk to anyone. I realize that you might not trust me enough, but Atemu and Yugi are here. For starters, you should rest more." Kaiba uncrossed his legs and stood.

Jou reached for him. "W-Wait."

Kaiba turned, wrapping his fingers around the hand that held his wrist. He knelt down beside Jou. "What is it?"

"I...I..." Jou frowned. He couldn't say it. He had Kaiba right here, and he couldn't say those words.

"Just spit it out, Jounouchi. Don't be afraid."

Jou took a deep breath. "Please don't leave me alone. I'm afraid of being alone."

"I can stay until you fall asleep and then you can call for me when you wake up. I'll be right down the hall. I'll hear you."

"But..."

"You don't want me to leave?" Jou shook his head. "How about if you let me get some things from my room, and I'll stay with you then?" Jou nodded. "You'll have to let go of my wrist if you want me to do that." Jou looked down at his hand before slowly releasing him. "Thank you. I'll be right back." Kaiba moved swiftly to his room, leaving both doors opened. He figured that Jou would be scared, but he didn't expect the blond to want his protection more than or equal to his friends. Grabbing his laptop and the documents he was working on earlier, Kaiba moved back into the room Jou was in. By the time he got back, Jou was curled under the covers with the blankets held up to his chin. He could barely make out the small fingers holding it tightly. Kaiba set everything down on the desk and plugged his laptop in.

He knelt beside Jou and placed his hand on the bed directly beside the blond. "I'll be right there." Jou nodded and closed his eyes. Seeing the blond relaxed slightly, Kaiba moved over to the desk to start on some of his paperwork.

"Kaiba," Jou whispered after a few minutes. "I can't sleep."

Kaiba twirled in his chair to look at Jou. "Is it too quiet?"

"I don't know."

Kaiba walked over to the large dresser and turned on the radio. He moved it to a station that played more classical music then songs with lyrics. "Try that for a few minutes." Jou nodded as Kaiba walked back over to his desk.

He was halfway through the second document when Jou called his name again. Kaiba sighed and reminded himself to have patience. It was like raising Mokuba all over again. "Still can't sleep?" Kaiba moved over to the bed and knelt beside it. "What is on you mind?" Kaiba could barely see Jou shake his head. Counting slowly to ten to gain his patience back, he moved over to the other side of the bed in order to see Jou better. When he stood directly beside the blond, Jou reached up and pulled the burnet down into the bed. Kaiba wanted to struggle, but he feared that he'd hurt Jou. This confused him more than anything. How could Jou want someone this close to him?

"I don't want to be alone," he whispered.

"You're not. I'm sitting right there." Jou whimpered in response. Kaiba was worried that Jou would start to have a flashback and react badly to Kaiba being held directly above him. The blond was shaking badly enough to rock the bed. "Why would you want me of all people to hold you?"

"I trust you."

"Why?"

"I just do."

"That's not an answer."

Jou growled and stared up at Kaiba. "Because I knew some day you would show up and save me from that hell. I knew it would be you. I wished for it! You plagued my dreams constantly. You were the first person I thought of after my father beat me. My knight in shinning armor just like in those fairytales. Why can't you just hold me? Protect me. Love me!"

Kaiba was shocked speechless. A few long seconds passed before Kaiba softened his facial expression. "I will do all of that for you." He stretched out his legs and pulled Jou into his chest. "And much more," he whispered into the blond's ear. Jou sighed in Kaiba's arms, feeling his body slowly calming. He didn't know why Kaiba was suddenly so nice to him, nor did he care. He got what he wanted; someone that he viewed stronger than him protecting him. Everything seemed like a dream and he prayed that he never woke from it. It didn't take long for Jou to fall asleep, feeling warm and protected in Kaiba's arms. The CEO shifted his body slightly so that most of his weight was on the bed and not on Jou. He glanced over Jou's body, making sure that none of the bandages were bleeding. Once satisfied, Kaiba sighed and buried himself further into the bed. He made sure that he remained on top of the covers while Jou was underneath them. He sighed and glanced over at the paperwork. Another day of not finishing it.

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I hope that was okay. I know Jou is reacting strangely and that last two paragraphs might be confusing but I had to end I there for right now. The next chapter is a small one. I might try to get it uploaded later on today, but I have to stop arguing with myself on where I want the ending to go first LOL. Thank you for reading and please review.

Angel Dove