Chapter 38

"Comrade Williams!" One of the men yelled, looking at the Canadian who was in the midst of a brawl with five officers and was currently winning. "I have a call for you! It's from the Kremlin!" Mattie had heard him but stilled, staring.

"How did you know my name?" He stepped back, narrowed eyes, looking quite like a cornered wild animal. He stepped back, his skin turning blue from the cold, dressed only in a hospital gown.

"The phone..." The man slowly stepped forward, holding out his mic and Mattie took it but scurried back a few feet. He looked at the device, trying to figure it out.

"The button on the side, Comrade." The man stated, holding out his hands and stepping back, letting the other officers know to do the same.

"Hello?" Mattie's voice cracked, his eyes didn't leave the men around him.

"Matvey?!" Ivan gasped out and Mattie's eyes watered in joy just at hearing his voice.

"Ivan?" He asked, his voice gasped out in sudden emotion. "What's happening?"

"We're enroute to retrieve you! You escaped an hour before we were able to reach you. The officers that are with you now, go with them. They'll keep you safe til we're able to get to you. Unfortunately I wasn't able to go, so you'll be back here in about four hours, alright?"

"In four hours?" He asked, staring dazed at the phone. "How do I know you're not an imposter?" Mattie growled and Ivan knew something horrible had happened. Mattie never would have thought this.

"Kumajirou is going to catch us a fish for us to share when we return to Canada. Hidden images lined your house, so it's in the process of being torn down to rebuild with blueprints you created yourself." Ivan stated, wondering if that would work.

"Ivan..." Mattie let out a wounded cry as he slid to the ground, the men rushing forward to get him into the car. One man got him an emergency blanket to wrap him with. "Ivan, I'm... I'm sorry." Mattie cried and Ivan shook his head.

"When you return, when you're alone, we'll speak, alright?"

"Yeah." Mattie sniffed. "Don't leave me yet, alright?"

"I'll stay on the line with you as long as you want, мои возлюбленные." Ivan spoke softly, wondering what kind of hell he'd lived through.

Mattie refused to explain anything that had happened the half hour til the helicopter retrieved them. He had sat and just told him to wait, trying to comfort the frightened man as he was loaded onto the helicopter before the officer regained his mic.

"Thank you for diffusing the situation sir." The officer stated and Ivan frowned.

"It's fine. Thank you for your hard work. I hope none of your officers were injured badly?" Ivan frowned, worry evident in his tone.

"Only a couple of broken bones and bruises. Nothing that should cause any major harm after a couple of weeks." The officer chuckled. "I never would have imagined I'd see a nation up here.

Ivan chuckled as realization hit. "You don't know who you're talking to currently, do you?"

"This is an officer from the SU in Moscow, right?"

"Ivan Braginski. It's a pleasure." Ivan smiled as the man started tripping over his words.

"SIR! It's a pleasure!" He grinned and Ivan laughed. He felt out the spirit behind the voice and was surprised to realize he knew a bit about the man on the other end of the phone.

"You're pretty young to be an officer, are you not?" Ivan asked, listening as the man stuttered. "Only fourteen, but no one has realized it. Do make sure you're careful, alright? It seems like a lot of burden has been laid on your shoulders." Ivan listened as the man stilled.

"Sir?"

"You're taking care of yourself and two younger sisters since your parents were killed in an accident. A police officer is a very dangerous job for someone like that. It seems like you have a bit of training in such things. How would you be interested in a new job, Evgeniy?" Ivan listened as the man stilled.

"What do you need?"

By the time he'd gotten off of the phone Ivan had a new second head to security, and two more children for his castle. The girls would be a good help as maids. They were twelve year old girls, but Ivan knew most of the work would be dusting and gossip, so he didn't think they'd mind it too much. Nikolai would work with Evgeniy while the girls would work with Illyana. He had three maids, two security officers, ten children and a cook. Ivan sighed, realizing he'd need more staff now. All he had to do was wait til the house was finished being built.

"What stage is my house rebuild in?" Ivan wondered out loud and a woman beside him clicked the buttons before tapping him on the shoulder. Ivan glanced down to see the frame and much of the walls already built. He knew the remainder would need to be torn down, so he honestly hadn't expected it to be this far along.

"We have three crews working on it. It should be finished in three days." She spoke softly and Ivan smiled.

"Thank you." He spoke softly. He sat and stared at the screens before him, knowing everyone would be getting here in four days. Evgeniy, Mikhail and Alexi, the children who were still in Germany... "I can't wait." He smiled, gently patting the woman on the head.

Ivan stared at the large spot lot as the helicopter landed. The engine clicked off and the blades slowly came to a stop before the men nearly carried Mattie from the large piece of metal.

"Matvey?!" Ivan ran forward, finding him wrapped in a reflective blanket, shivering and pale. He was brought immediately to the hotel where Alexander was brought as well as the director from the hospital who had seen Mattie before. Alexander and Ivan sat in the next room with Illyana and Nikolai, who were trying to fill Ivan in on how boring it was to sit in a hotel room alone for the longer half of a week.

"I'm sorry, but it's been a bit hectic. Matvey was kidnapped and I kind of forgot to return." He frowned and Illyana gasped, standing quickly.

"He was kidnapped?!"

"We have him back, but I think he's fallen ill." Ivan spoke softly and Illyana sat back down, frowning.

"He'll be fine, Ivan. I know it." She watched as his eyes trailed up to hers, curious and a bit afraid. "Matvey is very strong. You didn't bring home some prissy little girl." She giggled and Ivan smiled, feeling a bit better about the situation.

The knock at the door alerted Ivan that the doctor was done with his initial check and he nearly ran to the door.

"Come with me." He stated with a dark expression.

As Mattie regained consciousness from his ordeal he glanced over to see Ivan looking over him with tears in his eyes. "Ivan?"

"Da, I'm here." Ivan sat beside him and gently ran his hand up Mattie's arm. "Thank you, Doctor." Ivan glanced up and the doctor nodded before leaving. "How do you feel? Is there anything you need?" Ivan asked, worry showing clearly and Mattie stared.

"I feel weak. I don't have any pain anymore." Mattie frowned and Ivan nodded.

"You were given a few pain killers." Ivan explained and Mattie nodded.

"So I'm not over the pain, it's just hidden." Mattie sighed.

"He left a prescription. I didn't want you to be in any pain." Ivan murmured, his hand still tracing up and down the arm of the man beside him.

"I can't-" Mattie swallowed hard. "Ivan, I didn't want to." His composure broke and Ivan watched as tears started trailing down Mattie's cheeks. "I didn't want to. I... please believe me." Mattie cried and Ivan turned, laying down beside the man.

"Of course I believe you. What happened?" Ivan asked, feeling his heart ache at the pain of the one he loved.

"I thought they were just picking. At the first place they kept calling me names, I didn't think about it, but when one of them mentioned being curious about being with a man, the other said to just give it a try. I didn't think they would. They had me chained. I couldn't break free." Mattie cried and Ivan stared, feeling his stomach turn.

"You were raped." He spoke softly. Ivan gently wrapped his arms around the man before him, tears in his own eyes. "Matvey, it wasn't your fault. They were sick. There was nothing you could do." Ivan cried, trying to comfort him as much as possible.

"But I... I didn't enjoy it. I didn't!" Mattie cried, looking up at Ivan's eyes. "I don't know why my body responded like that! I didn't!" He cried and Ivan understood what had happened.

"Matvey, I believe you. I will always believe you. You are safe here, with me, and I love you dearly. Just remember that, alright?" Ivan cooed and Mattie pressed his face against Ivan's chest. He cried himself to sleep. Ivan let him sleep, knowing after the few days he'd had he would need it. He laid there, trying to figure out how to make sure he was as comfortable as possible. He lifted his phone to call.

"Hello?" He heard the grumble after the fourth ring and sighed.

"Alfred, I'm sorry about the time. There's been a bit of a situation. What are the chances that you, Francis, Arthur and Kumajirou could be out here in four days?"

"What happened?"

Mattie had gotten an infection in the hammer wound on his head and ended out spending most of the next few days sleeping. When Ivan got the confirmation the house was finished and furnished, he got Mattie dressed and everyone had packed. The people in the surrounding countries were placed onto flights and limos would be sent to retrieve them. The children would need new clothes, he realized and sighed, knowing that was another thing he'd have to arrange. By the time they made it to the house Ivan stilled.

They hadn't followed the original design of the house. It didn't look bad, but it had more of a castle appearance. He carried Mattie into the bedroom and laid him down on the bed before gently removing his shoes, coat and shirt. Mattie's eyes started to flutter open as the shirt was pulled carefully from him and Ivan looked down with a smile.

"Hello." He spoke softly as he sat, seeing Mattie look around with curiosity. "My house was finished, so I brought you here." He watched as Mattie looked around and nodded.

"It feels different." Mattie's voice was weak and Ivan nodded, looking around.

"For me too. The house isn't like my original one, but I think I can get used to it. It's a three story house now. I have a lot more room." Ivan looked around, seeing all of the empty book shelves and sighed. "I'll have to get more books." He frowned and Mattie couldn't help but chuckle.

"All of the chaos and you're worried about books. We still have to find Alexander." Mattie sat up and Ivan stared, a bit surprised.

"We found him. He's downstairs. The other children and Mikhail should be here in a few hours, and a few more people should be out soon after that." Ivan watched, wondering what he'd been doing for the past few days if he forgot to even explain this much. "You saved Alexi's life, you know."

"I'm glad. She was too young for that torture. Is Alexander sick as well?"

"No, the main reason you're sick is the infection from your head injury." Ivan frowned, but knew it was healing at an alarming rate. He was practically healed up already, but it was the mental damage Ivan was more worried about.

"I think I've been sick long enough." Mattie sat up and Ivan frowned.

"You can rest more if you need. There are comfortable chairs downstairs. Illyana and Nikolai are here as well, so if you need anything at all, let any of us know." Ivan spoke and Mattie looked at him with wide eyes.

"What if all I need right now is you to keep close?" He asked, his hands clasping in his lap and Ivan smiled.

"Nothing would make me happier." Ivan leaned over and carefully kissed him.

Now it was time to try and heal Mattie up psychologically. It was time to try and return him to the brave man he'd fallen in love with.