John's POV
Monday sets the pattern for the rest of his time in New York.
The days are spent in class or studying the material that is provided for the classes. He never realized there are so many things that can be done with coffee. All it takes is mixing the right things or cooking them in different styles. There is a wide variety of the different types of coffee, espresso, milks, creams, sugars, chocolates, spices, and flavored liqueurs that can be used.
Then there is the management aspects of the classes. Those are almost mind boggling.
The evenings are spent relaxing or wandering around the city with his brother. At night he falls asleep while talking with Jim, often curled up with the alpha. The only other alpha he has felt as safe with is Greg. They both have a comforting quality that he appreciates even though he doesn't understand them. He really doesn't understand how he can feel so safe with his brother when he has noticed the edge of danger that seems to seep from every pore of his brother's body. Jim often remind him of one of the cats he's seen at the zoo, a quiet predator that is well aware of those around him. Despite that, his instincts swear his brother is safe, a very unusual fact considering most alphas are to be avoid, particularly the dangerous ones.
Classes go both faster than expected and slower. He's thankful that the instructors don't seem to mind speaking with him after each on any questions he has, and clarifying concepts he was having a difficult time with.
His last day in New York is spent in the park looking at all the entertainment and acts there. After that they go to broadway where he gets to watch a play before they go to dinner. It's really rather amazing.
The trip to the airport goes quickly the following morning, Jim stays with him until it's time for boarding and then escorts him to the gate.
"Aren't you coming?" he asks curiously.
"Not just yet, my vacation is nearly done, so I need to get back to doing some work and have a few appointments here," Jim answers calmly. "I wrote my contact information on the inside cover of your journal this morning while you were sleeping. It's not coded like the rest of your journal but I figured you would not appreciate me breaking the code."
Shock and anger are his first reactions because how dare his brother go in his journal but they quickly fade when the alpha remarks that he went no further than the beginning, or at least that Jim didn't break the code. He's pretty sure that his brother could if he wanted to.
"Oh," he mutters.
"Call me if you need anything, otherwise," Jim grins at him, head tipping to the side, "I'll see you when I get back to London."
He nods slowly, glancing over at the entrance to the plane. "Okay," he agrees when he meets his brother's dark eyes, "I've really enjoyed the last two weeks."
"Good," his brother hums, "Go home, get settled, I'll be in touch."
Jim lifts his arm in an invitation for a hug, one which he easily accepts, stepping into the slightly taller man's embrace. Instinctively he runs his nose along the alpha's collar the same way he has done to Greg and the rest of the Lestrades countless times since meeting them. It's only after he realizes what he did.
"Sorry," he mumbles, skin heating up as he blushes.
His brother gives him a peculiar look, almost confused before seeming to understand why he is apologizing. "There is nothing wrong with scenting. It's done to increase bonds and reassure."
He just blinks at the alpha, because that's almost the same thing Greg told him the first time he apologized for scenting the cop.
Ducking his head again, he states, "Bye Jim."
"Until later Johnny-boy," his brother nearly sings.
He heads on the plane so he can go home.
Home. It seems like ages ago since his sire abandoned him in the middle of the city so far from the family home. With Greg feels like home. He knows he is wanted as a family member by the alpha and he's safe. If someone was to try something they would immediately discover why that is a bad idea. However he also felt like he was at home while curled up with his half brother. It's definitely something he needs to think about and try to understand.
The flight home is long, but he spends most of it sleeping.
Almost as soon as he gets off the plane, he spots his roommate waiting for him.
Smiling, he makes his way over to the alpha with an easy loop. "Hi Greg!"
"Hullo John," his friend replies, giving him a quick hug.
"Let's get your stuff," Greg suggests, motioning towards the baggage check for his one suitcase.
Nodding in agreement, they quickly fetch it before heading out to the car.
He's trying to consider how to mention he met his half-brother unexpectedly in New York, but he isn't sure how to bring that up.
Greg beats him to it by asking, "Discover some family member you didn't know?"
Laughing nervously, he nods again, "Yeah, sort of, I vaguely knew I might have another sibling because of rumors, but I'd never met them. Then my half-brother ended up being my alpha escort while I was in New York," he's not lying by saying Jim was his alpha escort.
"That was lucky," his friend remarks with a sideways glance at him.
"I don't think luck had anything to do with it." He states with a snicker.
Thankfully his friend doesn't ask him to clarify that statement as they get into the car.
"Going to keep in touch with him?" Greg queries once they are on the road.
"Hopefully, he gave me his number so I can get a hold of him if I want or if something comes up." He replies as he thinks about that question and the fact Jim gave him several methods of communication. He's also pretty sure that his brother will be keeping in touch.
"That's good," his friend remarks, "You're still part of the Lestrade family though."
Laughing, he grins at the alpha, "That's good. I like being a member of the Lestrades. It's nice having a family that actually wants me around."
"That we do," Greg hums with a smile. "So the parents want you to come over this weekend for a welcome back dinner."
"I'd like that," he agrees his grin turning to a shy smile.
The rest of the ride to the flat is quiet. He spends it thinking about what he learned, both about himself and about coffee over the last week.