The first thing Donald noticed when he awoke was pain, lots of pain, it took a moment but he remembered the cause of the stinging in his abdomen. He'd been shot. Finally Don opened his eyes and was shocked to find himself in what looked like a luxury hotel room, the bedroom was larger than any he had ever seen before with white-silver painted walls and a carpet that looked like a cross between light grey and blue. There was a shiny black door to his left and a large widow that ran the length of the room on his right, he didn't really recognise where he was, certainly not in Dublin, from the expensive room and the tall buildings he could see Donald guessed he was in Columbus. At least I think its Columbus.

Don thought for a moment and remembered the white man in a suit leaning over him before he passed out. It must have been him, I think he was trying to help me. Don tried to remember but his head felt like he had an axe buried in it. It couldn't have been anyone else he told himself as he sat up in the soft bed. It was king-sized and made up with crisp white sheets and a silver comforter, Don felt like he could just sink into it and stay there forever after so long sleeping on just a mattress the bed was heaven. The fourteen year old tried to take in more of his surroundings and looked to his right, between his bed and the window was a cream armchair lined in a rich blue, it looked just as comfortable as the bed especially with the little matching foot stool in front of it. Either side of his bed was a night stand made from a dark almost black wood and topped with a simple but elegant lamp. The other side of the room had a wall mounted television that looked to be about half the size of the bed, Don couldn't remember the last time he had watched television even when he was still with his father he hadn't watched much, not that Rick Ressler would have let him. He noticed another shiny black door on the left like the other but this one was closer to the television than his bed, the two doors were separated by a large charcoal black wardrobe and Don couldn't help but wonder if it was filled with suits.

Just as Donald began to get his bearings the door closest to him opened and the suit clad man entered carrying a crystal glass of water and a small bottle of pills, he paused when his blue eyes met Donald's own.

"You're awake." He said stating the obvious. "Good, that's good."

The man moved to sit himself in the cream chair by Donald's bed and held the glass out. Don was a little weak but with the older man's help he managed to drink most of the cool liquid.

"Thanks." He muttered.

"You're welcome. Here take these, they'll help with the pain."

The older man tipped two of the pills out the little bottle and handed them to Donald who popped them in his mouth and then accepted the last little bit of water from the glass.

"Who are you?" Donald asked as soon as he swallowed the tablets.

"Oh, how rude." He set the glass down on the night stand. "I'm Raymond Reddington."

"The Concierge Of Crime?"

"You've heard of me?"

"I think most people have."

"Well you know my name, may I know yours?"

The criminal seemed rather animated when he spoke and a little flamboyant, it wasn't really what really what Don had expected of a modern-day Moriarty.

"Its Donald Ressler, Mister Reddington."

"Well its very nice to meet you, and you can call me Red. Most people do."

Don gave a soft smile and pushed the covers down ever so slightly because he was too hot to find he didn't have a shirt on, Red saw the slight panic in his face and moved to reassure the teenager.

"Its alright. The doctor's had to cut your shirt off to get at your wound. When we brought you here your pants were covered in blood, in fact your boxers are, I think, the only thing that didn't get covered in blood. The car was ruined."

"I'm sorry."

Don didn't know why he apologised, he couldn't help bleeding out it just seemed rude not to say sorry.

"Don't be." Red announced with a chuckle. "It wasn't my car. Now, do you want to eat first or have a bath?"

"A what?!" Donald's eyes widened.

"We need your wound to stay clean, you have to have a bath. It may be better to have one before you eat."

Is the criminal I literally just met asking if he can bathe me? He can't be serious. Donald looked at Red for a moment. No, he's serious. Yeah, serious. A bath would be nice though. He hadn't gone near water since Iwan and Audrey died, well no more than would fit in a glass.

"Okay."

Don consented, he figured if Red was going to use him like his father had he wouldn't have waited until he was awake and then lure him into the bathroom.

"Excellent. Let me help you to the bathroom."

Red did as he said and rolled the covers back and helped a shaky and weak Donald up onto his feet. The carpet was soft, if the blonde had more strength he would have rubbed his toes into the fibres. Alas he had to settle for the older man, who he was almost the same height as, sliding a strong arm around his thin waist and helping to guide him towards the second black door by the television. Their movements were slow and Red was very patient, thankfully Don didn't notice the looks Red was giving him.

He's so thin, what the hell happened to this kid? Why isn't he at home with someone to take care of him? Red mentally shook himself and concentrated on getting the young blonde over to the bathroom. When they entered the large marble white tiles froze Donald's feet, there was a large claw foot milk white bath opposite the door and a big ovular mirror above a skin on his left, the right held towels that looked soft and fluffy enough to sleep on. Red set the teen down on the toilet while he set about filling the bath with warm water, the room heated up quickly and Don took the opportunity to look down at his wound. There was a large square bandage tapped to his abdomens left side, crimson blood stained it and Don suddenly thought of just how luck he was to be alive, Red had actually given enough of a shit to help him. That made the blonde smile.

"Come on, boxers off." Said Red softly.

He'd rolled his white shirt sleeves up since Don had last looked at him and set his berry red tie down by the sink loosening his collar button as well.

"What?"

"Well you can't sit in the bath with them on, now can you?" Red smiled. "Look, we're both men and I won't look."

"I can do it myself."

"You couldn't walk from the bed to here on your own, I'm not leaving you to fall and crack your head on something."

Donald knew Red was right, if he stood he was sure he'd just fall over two seconds later and so he nodded and let Red help him to stand and walk over to the bath where Don pushed his boxers down and let Red moved him into the bath. The water was warm and instantly started to ease his sore muscles.

"There that wasn't so hard was it?" Reddington grinned at him again and then lifted a cloth and soaped it up. "Here, lean forwards a little."

Donald found himself doing as the criminal told him before he had time to process that the older man had even spoken. Red washed his back with such soft touches, he hadn't ever been touched with such care and concern before and he found himself enjoying it. Donald had always known the name Raymond Reddington used with criminal, murderer and fugitive but there in that bathroom all Donald saw was kindness, compassion and care. It was refreshing.

"So, Donald. I take it you were living on the streets, but my question is why?"

The older man spoke softly like he could startle the blonde into bolting, not that he would get very far what with a gunshot wound and no clothes.

"Didn't want to be at home."

It was a truthful answer but at the same time gave the criminal only there bare minimum.

"Ahh, I see. Bad relationship with the parents."

"Not parents, just my father. My mother died."

"I'm sorry." Red spoke like he actually meant it. "How long since you ran away?"

"A little over a year, I'd just turned thirteen when I left."

Don didn't know why he was answering all of the criminals questions, he guessed it was just nice to be able to talk to someone without judgement and Red seemed like judging was the last thing he would do to the teen. Reddington pushed Donald's shoulder back a little so as the teen leaned against the bath and Red could wash his chest, being extra careful around the wound. Don looked down to the water that had turned a dark grey color, it seemed he was filthier than he thought and it slightly embarrassed him but if Reddington noticed he didn't say anything for which he was grateful.

"I think you can manage the lower half, don't you?"

It was only when Red spoke that the blonde realised he had zoned out and was just enjoying someone touching him with care. Reddington had washed all of Donald's torso and arms, there was a thin line separating the washed from unwashed skin; he really had no idea he was that dirty. Don took the offered cloth and watched as Red stood and straitened out his waistcoat then spoke again.

"I'll leave you to wash. When I come back I'll wash your hair for you."

Donald didn't get chance to say anything in response.

XXXX

Red walked down the hall of the penthouse hotel room he had settled into for the week and over towards the little kitchen. He'd sent Dembe out to get the boy lunch and some clothes that would actually fit him rather than the filthy threadbare things he had been wearing before. He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat at the breakfast bar waiting long enough to return to Donald. No, he didn't like Donald and Don didn't seem right either, Donny it is then Reddington told himself. He knew that Donny would be wary of him but the blonde seemed brave and Red had to respect that. The boy seemed so damaged and Red wanted to help him, which didn't happen very often, he couldn't just glue him back together like a cup, it would take time. First Red had to find out if the boy wanted help picking up the pieces.

As if on cue Dembe entered the hotel room with several bags of items. The tall black man set them down on the coffee table and then moved to the kitchen to set a paper bag on the breakfast bar next to Red.

"I think the clothes will fit, Raymond. There is just the basics, I don't think he's ready for you getting him tailored suits just yet."

Raymond smiled.

"I think you may be right. What did you get for lunch? It smells divine."

"I thought it would be wise to stay simple, so I went to that deli you've fallen in love with."

"Oh, excellent. Dembe I can always rely on you." Red patted the younger man on the back lightly.

"Is the kid awake?"

"Yes, he's in the bath and I should probably get back to him." Red stood and finished the last swig of his coffee before walking back to Donald. Just as Raymond was about to disappear from Dembe's sight he stopped and said. "Oh, his name is Donny."

XXXX

It took a while but eventually Donny was clean, dry, dressed, re-bandaged and sat at Red's dining table with a bowl of tomato soup and the best roast beef sandwich he had ever had. He ate slowly, Donald hadn't eaten so much since he left home. Red and the man he now knew as Dembe ate as well but far faster, Dembe finished first and told Red he was going to get a new car. Once he'd left Raymond spoke.

"So, why did you leave home?"

"Does it matter?" Ressler hated talking about his father.

"Well, your father may miss you."

Donald burst out laughing, it hurt his wound and for a moment he thought he may bring his soup back up but he couldn't help his hysterics.

"My father only misses his fuck toy..."

Everything fell silent, Donny hadn't meant to say that and he would have traded anything for Red not to have heard it.

"His what?"

Reddington's voice became very serious and deep, there was anger there but it didn't seem directed at Donald.

"Nothing." The blonde desperately wanted Raymond to just drop it.

"No. Tell me, Donny. Did he rape you?"

He knew he had no choice but to answer, Donald refused to meet the older man's eyes but he could tell that the criminal was staring at him waiting for an answer.

"Yes."

The word was just a whisper, he hadn't even told Iwan and Audrey what his so-called father had done to him. He felt a little like a weight had been lifted but at the same time he felt like some kind of slut, he didn't want Red to think of him like that.

"You don't have to tell me what happened, not now anyway." Donny was beyond grateful for that. "I was going to ask you this after you ate and got some more sleep but I think now is a good time." Red tilted Donald's head up to face him. "You can't go back to the streets, I won't let you. So I'll give you a choice. I can get you an apartment here in Columbus, you can go back to school, try to have a life and you'll never have to see me again."

Donny didn't like that idea, Red made him feel cared for and protected.

"Or?" He asked softly causing Reddington to smile.

"Or you come with me back to DC. I saw you take down Akio..." Donny gave a puzzled expression. "...the bodyguard." He explained. "You know how to protect yourself, so if you don't want to stay here you can come with me. Act as a bodyguard, you protect me and I'll protect you."

Donny thought for a moment, all he had in Ohio was bad memories and lost friends. Maybe Iwan and Audrey hadn't been the start but the key, to a new life. One with Raymond Reddington. There was nothing to keep him in Ohio and he'd always wanted to see more of the country.

"I'd like that."