Chapter 9! Thanks so much for the continued support! It really makes my day!

I only own my ideas

Warnings: Usual

ENJOY!

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Malcolm took the stairs two at a time, deciding to sneak behind his charge. He came into the room via the en-suite to see Jones forcefully slamming his head into the door. "Alright, enough now." The older Merlyn sighed, crouching down to the young man's level. Ianto stopped and waited for other instructions, perhaps a better or a faster way to kill himself. Jones waited the moment almost stretched between them till his angel spoke. "I don't even know what to call you…" Malcolm murmured as he played with a few stray curls of his charge's hair.

"Freak?" Ianto answered shyly, that was what the guards had called him. He sat waiting, hoping the answer was helpful. Since he had woken to find this room, all he'd wanted was to go back. As horrible as it was, he knew it, things made sense there. He wanted to repay this man however, his rescuer didn't seem to want sex though, he was obviously attracted to the young man, and there was no other way then, than trying to help. So he'd stopped bashing his head into the door, when he'd been told to stop.

Malcolm shook his head, "no, no one should call you that. Nor Subject 83 whatever…you are human, you have a name."

Jones just looked confused. "Don't…" Was all he could think of to say.

"Well we'll have to fix that then. What should we call you hmm? You look like a...Jimmy?"

Ianto actually gave him a glare and rolled his eyes.

The older Merlyn knew he was getting a glimpse, however small, of the real young man. Well hidden behind layers of trauma and despite everything he wanted to know this remarkable man, even more."That's a no then…ok…" Malcolm chuckled. He hadn't heard the other 3 walk up.

"I'd say he's more of a John….John Merlyn? I mean it's just for now and he is staying here right?" Laurel offered, not knowing how right she was.

Jones seemed to approve and even smiled, though, it was a small and short lived. He didn't look like he minded Laurel's presence, but when he spotted Tommy and Oliver the whole vibe in the room changed. Ianto, now known by his American name, cowered then ducked down, holding his wrists out, like he expected them to be restrained.

Heartbroken at the pitiful whimper, Malcolm rushed to reassure him. "John, no one here is going to hurt you, this is my home, that's my son not your guard. You are safe."

"Safe?" It was a word Ianto/John hadn't heard,much less felt in a while. "Don't understand." Jones whispered, he pointed to himself, "freak."

"No." The older Merlyn jabbed the young man lightly, "John." Then he pointed to himself and around the room. "Malcolm, Tommy, Oliver, and Laurel."

"That's right I'm Laurel…Say, you must be pretty hungry."

He couldn't help it, Ianto/John's eye's widened to saucers and his stomach voiced its opinion. Jones looked horrified, the guards had killed him for less. "S-sorry." He backed to the door and cowered.

Malcolm just reached in and pulled him up, "yep, starving I'd say, how about my super stuffed omelette du fromage."

"The favors, I haven't…I can…" Ianto/John protested, "Please, I can, I'll cooperate…"

The older Merlyn stopped and pulled his whimpering and shaking charge in close. The other 3 hovered behind him, but Malcolm didn't care, he placed a soft kiss in Jones hair. "I'll say it as much as I need to, you will get food, drink, a warm bed, you will be free, because you are a person and you deserve it."

~AICHM~

Malcolm noticed his son and crew following in route to the kitchen. "You can go on home now, you know. I can care for John here just fine." The older Merlyn sighed.

"Oh come on, my dad is going to cook, 'my dad'…'mine', like really, I am not missing this!" Tommy crowed and Malcolm smacked the back of his head, lightly.

"I can cook, we had to eat without a chef before the millions rolled in you know." Malcolm huffed, helping Ianto/John into a chair at the island counter.

"I think Laurel and I are just hungry and hoping someone will feed us…" Oliver admitted. Everyone, but Ianto/John, laughed. The young man was to entranced by the pots hanging above his head to notice.

At some point his rescuer had put a glass of juice in front of him and Ianto/John looked wearily at it. They almost never gave him more than water and slop. Unless they were poisoning him, then it was supposed to be a treat. This was juice, all those promises and they were still going to kill him. It was ok though, he deserved it, tears rolled unchecked down his cheeks. Poisonings always hurt, but they had seemed so kind, maybe they were just drugging him, why all the fuss then? He'd complacently if not happily swallow the pills or take the injection if you told him to.

"John? John its ok, look nothing's in it, watch." The older Merlyn assured, taking a drink from the glass and setting it back in front of his charge. Then reaching out with a tissue, he cleaned the tears from Jones's face and went back to preparing the meal he was making, like nothing had happened.

Ianto/John ate and drank like the house was burning down around him. Had he even tasted the food? All of which Tommy had begrudgingly agreed, was pretty good. Something else they would have to coax Jones out of. They made the strangest group of people. Malcolm obviously in charge, but Tommy, Oliver, and even Laurel it seemed was now invested in the young man's care.

AICHMAICHMAICHMAICHMAICHMAICHMAICHMAICHMAICHM

Over the next few days they formed a sort of routine, allowing them to never leave Ianto/John alone, which they were told was important. It was heartbreaking and hard going, Jones was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Meanwhile the older Merlyn started rebuilding the personnel in his lab, hopefully assuring, things like this wouldn't happen again. The therapist he'd contacted had assured him they were doing the right thing. It was hard, but he always needed to be in human site. Ianto/John's biggest fear was abandonment and until they could convince him otherwise, leaving their charge alone was a no go. Thank God Tommy felt so bad about what happened that first day. He agreed to be the young man's chaperon when Malcolm had meetings.

Jones still didn't talk much, he liked puzzles, math problems, and games. Laurel would often spend time with him doing any number of random DIY projects. He allowed Oliver to be in his presence, but he still wouldn't look at him. Perhaps because you could still see the evidence of their scuffle. Malcolm wasn't sure what to do on that front.

…

I'm torn with how to portray Thea (love Willa, but I never really liked Thea) I'm thinking she comes around, but is a bit of a b**** at first.

As always, any ideas, let me know.

Heart Y'alls