- If you want to see Jay's breakdown, it happens in the story Side Problems: in the Pack. Chapter: Please. It shows Mal's pre-hospitalization and Jay's reaction to her almost dying. It really hit me the first time I reread it, but not so much the second time. The idea is Jay would still care about and grieve for Mal, but he does it differently. But you know what they say, everyone grieves differently. I really wanted to put emphasis on that I don't think Jay's ever said please before, saying it in desperateness, but I'm not sure if that got across.

Pardon

(Wednesday Night, August 13th)

"So, you think Jay's going to try to kill me?" Ben analyses.

"Promise me you will get out of there, until we make it back," Evie continues.

"We?" Ben notices.

She hesitates, "I got worried after Jay left. I kind of slipped it to Belle." He stays quiet, and she comments, "I'm sorry, but she said she wouldn't say anything."

"That kind of ruins my plans," Ben notes.

"It doesn't have to," Evie starts.

Ben interrupts, "Is Mal better?" and she fails to answer. "Evie?"

"This isn't your fault," she reassures.

"But," his hearts speeds up, "she's still alive?"

"Alive?" Evie's pitches raises, "Yeah. She's alive."

"Evie," Ben emphasizes. "What's wrong with Mal?"

"Her temperature's really low." Evie perkily replies, "But they gave her a heat lamp and an electric blanket."

Ben points out, "Then why isn't she better?"

"She's in a coma," Evie informs. "The doctors want to check her brain activity."

"They think she's braindead," he realizes.

"No," she reassures. "She has these wires connected to her that say her brain activity and body temperature and stuff. She's not braindead."

"But you said they wanted to check her brain," he reminds her.

"They want to check the part that regulates body temperature," she revises.

"Mal's a dragon," he frowns. "That part of her brain might not even exist."

"It's the same part of the brain that controls sexual response and hormones that create love and happiness," Evie informs. "It's likely it was working at least a little." Ben thinks of when he told Mal he loved her, and she never said it back. "Ben. You have to get out of there."

"I'm going," Ben evenly expresses, before he puts the phone back into his pocket, walks out of the room, and heads down the hall. He crosses into the West Wing, goes into Mal's room, and finds the bathroom in the state his mother and Lonnie had left it. Mal's clearly not getting the happy hormone, and her temperature's never been great. She told him once that she didn't know what love felt like. Maybe that's because she never had the ability. Even if Evie's right about that part of the brain partly working, it would still be a lot harder for Mal to return his feelings for him. His parents were right. He can't expect Mal to act like humans, but he told her he would teach her what love felt like and it's worked. After all, if Jay can care about Mal, then Mal can care about him. She still loves him—and Evie. It's just going to feel different for her. He eyes over the filled bath and the empty wine bottles. If the part of Mal's brain that produces happiness isn't working right, then she's more likely to react like this. He knew she has a history or depression. He should have been accommodating her, but his hunger got the best of him. Why did he even do it? He just couldn't get past his own wants, but the results are this. The results are always like this, and he always feels bad after. So, why does he still do it?

"Criminals always return to the scene of the crime," Jay announces himself, and Ben turns around. "You want to tell me what you did to upset Mal this time?"

Ben's mouth opens, before he diminishes, "I asked if I could drink from her."

"With her temperature issues?" Jay infuriates. "Blood loss would lower it even more."

Ben's eyes shift, "I didn't think about that."

"Because, all you think about is yourself."

He notices the knife unfold from Jay's fist, "I know. I'm sorry."

"You killed Mal," Jay steps towards him.

His frown deepens, "She's getting help."

"Let's get one thing straight," he points the knife out and walks towards him. "You don't have to kill Mal to be responsible for her death." He grits his teeth, "She died when you made her question who she is, made her depend on you, and broke her self-esteem."

Ben backs against the wall, "I didn't mean to do that."

"And now you won't do it again." Jay steps towards him, raises the knife, and aims for Ben's chest; however, a larger form steps in front of the blade. "What?" Jay lets go of the handle, steps back, and watches Adam scratchily roar as he pulls the blade from his stomach.

Adam turns towards Ben, "Looks like I found you." before he falls to his knees. He presses his hand tighter against the wound, as he opens the hand with the knife and flattens it against the floor. "Ben. Call ES." He feels the dizziness overtake him, before he looks back up at him, "Ben. Stop staring and call them." He continues to stare, and Adam grabs his pants, "Ben!" Ben picks up the knife, and he lets go of him. "Ben?"

Ben faces Jay, "Go."

Jay takes a minute; however, once he leaves, Adam relaxes, "Okay. He's gone. Call ES."

He emotionlessly looks at him, "What's wrong? Not used to stomach pain?"

"Ben," he deeply breathes. "Stop this insolence and help me."

"Why?"

He sinks to the ground and turns onto his side, before he sternly expresses, "I just saved your life."

"And how many times did I almost die because of you?" he irritably responds.

"I'd never hurt you," Adam insists, and Ben shakes his head before walking away. Adam groans in pain, Ben slowly walks out of the room, and he turns into the hall.

"Ben?"

He turns his head up, "Mother?" before he eyes to the left. "Evie."

Evie makes a face, "Is that a knife?"

Ben holds up the knife to look at it, "Oh. Um."

Belle notices it, "That's blood."

"That?" He awkwardly smiles, "I don't know where that came from."

"Belle." Ben's smile slips, as his father yells, "Belle. I need you."

Belle eyes over Ben in horror, before she passes him and runs into the room. Ben glances at Evie, before he walks by her. "Hey." He faces her, and she questions, "Where're you going?"

"I can't hear her cry," Ben confesses.

She eyes from the knife to Ben, "What happened?"

Ben wets his lips, "I stabbed my father."

"No." She points out, "That's Jay's knife."

"Yeah." Ben frowns at her, "I took it, so he couldn't kill me."

She takes a moment, "I can't read you."

"Because I'm telling the truth."

"No." She puts a hand to his chest, "How you feel. I don't feel anything from you."

"There's not a lot to feel," Ben dismisses. "My father can't even admit I was in the hospital because of him. He almost killed me dozens of times. I'm allowed to try to kill him at least once."

"Ben," Belle steps out of the room, and he faces her. "Where's Jay?"

"Why?" he questions.

"Your father said Jay stabbed him." She reasons, "He can't get away with it."

Ben frown deepens, "I'm responsible."

"You're responsible," she repeats.

"He was angry, and I got scared," he explains.

"And you did what?" she disbelieves. "Just walked away?"

"That's exactly what I did." She stares at him, and he excuses, "I'm obviously still depressed and don't care enough about anything."

"If you're going to tell me your father is just covering for himself—" she starts.

"Or maybe it's easier for him to send a sociopath to the Isle than his sole heir." Ben reminds her, "I committed treason. I would get sent to the Isle, a place without any real medicine, where I would surely die from my various medical conditions."

"So, this is just another way for you to kill yourself," she sums. Ben lifts a shoulder, and she takes a deep breath, "Get rid of the knife. I'll think of something." She glances over her shoulder and gapes, "Oh, God." before running back into the room.

When Ben steps in front of the room, he sees his father vomiting blood. Evie asks, "Do you think he's going to be okay?"

Ben turns from the screen, "I have to get rid of the knife."

"Hand it to me," Evie offers. "I can get it back to Jay."

"Really?" Ben unsurely says. "I was just going to throw it, it being proof of all this."

"That knife's important to Jay," Evie seriously says. "He needs it back."

Ben opens his mouth, "How's a knife important?"

"It's the knife his father used to kill his mother," Evie discloses, and Ben blankly stares. "He needs that knife back," she enforces.

He scratches the back of his head, "Okay. I'll give it back."

"No." Evie shakes her head, "I'll give it back."

"I'm not afraid of him," Ben unenthusiastically replies.

"Then you're an idiot." She nods to Mal's room, "Your father needs you. You're the only one who's going to match his blood type." He glances back, and she outstretches her hand, "Give the knife to me. I'll get rid of it."

"Okay," Ben breathes, before he hands it to her.

"Patient's name is King Adam Beast," the paramedic introduces. "Six-four-foot, Caucasian male. He was stabbed in the abdominal region and has started vomiting blood. History of high blood pressure, high heart rate. Currently untreated."

The doctor instructs the others, "Get him to the OR."

"Wait," Ben interrupts. "What blood are you going to use?"

He looks at the tablet, "His chart says he's type O, so he's in luck."

"I bet his chart doesn't say he's a carnivore," Ben divulges, and the surgeon's smile slips. "The curse changed his DNA. I'm the only match you're going to find."

"Doctor?" a woman inquires.

"Get him prepped," he whispers to them, but they fail to leave. "Now!"

After they leave, he turns towards Ben, "You can't donate."

"I had to deal with this a few weeks ago," Ben informs. "The blood could kill him."

"I'm sorry," he solemnly addresses, "but you're too underweight to donate."

Ben awkwardly smiles, "I'm not that underweight."

Belle intrudes the silence, "What will be of Adam?"

"Well, if he's smart," the doctor addresses, "then he's already donated to himself. A king wouldn't leave himself without options, would he?"

"I would," Ben mutters, and his mother places a hand on his shoulder.

When the doctor faces Belle, she excuses, "He's having a really hard time—with his girlfriend in a coma, and now his father."

"If King Beast was anything, it was careful," the doctor reassures, before he swipes the tablet. "And it looks like he has been donating to himself." He grins, "If everything goes to plan, he should be just fine."

After the doctor leaves, Ben notices everyone staring at him, "I want to go home."

"You got your father into this," she sternly whispers. "The least you can do is act like you're not responsible for this. It's a stab wound. The police will want our statements."

"And you want me," Ben points to himself, "to lie to them."

"You aren't very good at that," she recalls.

"And look around," Ben encourages. "If I stay here any longer, I'll be committed."

She sighs, "Alright. You can go."

"Not quite yet." Two officers walk up to them, "We're looking into the attempted murder of King Beast."

Ben frowns, "You need to tell us your names and unit."

"Homicide," the blond informs. "I'm Detective Zimmerman, and this is my partner Detective Robin."

The brunette woman asks, "Can either of you tell us what happened tonight?"

"One of the Isle kids, Jay, stabbed him," Belle cooperates.

Ben gapes at her, "I told you he didn't."

"Then who did?" Robin inquires.

Ben faces her, "I did."

Zimmerman chuckles, "You're not even a quarter of King Beast's weight."

Ben takes a moment, "He was surprised too."

"So, you took him by surprise?" Robin analyzes.

"Are we going to have to do this whole thing in English?" Ben irritably replies, before he points between the two. "Do you speak French at all?"

"Sign Language," Robin informs.

"German," Zimmerman supplies. "Why?"

Ben sighs, "I can just see this getting real tired real fast."

"Tiring," his mother corrects.

He narrows his eyes at her, "That's what I said."

"I assure you, it's not," she smiles.

Ben faces the detectives, "Anyway, if we could just get this over with so that I can get sent to the Isle and die, that would be great."

Zimmerman bypasses, "I'm afraid we're going to have to investigate the crime scene first, make sure you really did it."

"If you did," Robin adds, "then you won't have any problem reenacting it for us."

Ben widens his eyes, "Stress me anymore, and I will bite."

"Pardon him." Belle excuses, "He hasn't been eating right."

"I eat just fine," Ben defends, before he faces her. "I'm just tired of speaking a language I don't understand. English is the most stupid language I had to learn. Sorry—relearn."

Zimmerman interrupts, "You don't know English?"

Ben brows furrow, "You try speaking your second language after breaking your head on the stone floor." before he looks at his mother. "It's too bad Father donated to himself. If he died from wrong blood, then that would be perfect for what I had to go through last month."

"Your father's in the hospital," she fiercely whispers. "Don't talk about him like that."

"Why?" Ben reminds her, "I was hospitalized half my life, and that didn't stop him from talking shit about me."

The male detective whispers, "That's what we call motive."

"Yes," Robin agrees. "I know." She speaks up, "King Ben. We were asking if you could take us to where this happened and then show us how it happened."

Ben faces them, "And then I get to go to the Isle, right?"

"He doesn't need the Isle," Belle discourages. "What he needs is council. He's clearly not well. He needs treatment. The Isle is supposed to be a last resort."

Detective Robin mentions, "That's really up to the judge to decide."

"So, where did this crime take place?" Zimmerman prompts.

Ben walks into Mal's room, moves towards the wall, and turns around, "I was standing here when my father came in. He was mad. I got scared, he came over, and I stabbed him." Ben gestures the underhand motion, "And that's how it happened."

"And you just so happened to have a knife on you?" Zimmerman doubts.

Ben evenly answers, "I thought I should have one after I was hospitalized last month."

"And where is it now?"

Ben looks at Belle, "My mother told me to… not have it."

Robin raises her eyebrows at her, "You told him to get rid of evidence?"

"He's ill, and this is a family matter," she excuses.

"It's starting to sound more like a social services matter," Zimmerman opinionates.

Belle strains a smile, "I reassure you, they've already investigated us and came up short of nothing."

"I'm sure they did," Robin insinuates. "You look like the kind to clean up well."

"Just not well enough." He looks at Ben, "Where did you put the knife?"

"Um," Ben's eyes shift.

"What's going on?" Jay frustrates, as he comes in. "Get out of Mal's room."

"Jay," Ben urges, "get out of here."

He walks up to them, "Who are these people?"

They turn towards him, "I'm Detective Zimmerman, and this is Detective Robin. We're looking into the attempted murder of King Adam Beast."

"Detective," another man speaks up from the doorway.

"And that's our forensics' analyst," Zimmerman smiles, before he walks over to him.

Ben faces Jay, "Go."

"Yeah?" Jay raises an eyebrow. "With what door?"

"No one's going anywhere," Robin announces.

Detective Zimmerman walks back to them, "We have a problem." before he looks at Ben. "The knife was angled downward, not upward."

"Which means?" Ben prompts.

"It's unlikely King Beast was taken by surprise," Robin answers, before she faces Jay. "There's another person in the hospital. Mal."

"Robin?" Zimmerman inquires.

"What's your relationship with her?" she finishes.

He stares at her, "She's my sister."

"They grew up together," Belle clarifies.

"And that upsets you, doesn't it?" she examines.

"What's your point?" Jay angers.

"I think you blame someone," she declares. "Perhaps, someone who has a history of violent rage and a background you couldn't compete with."

"Adam didn't put Mal in the hospital." Jay points to Ben, "He did. His father just got in the way."

"Jay," Ben whispers. "What are you doing?"

"You're nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing," Jay judges. "You might think you're royal, but you're really a monster—just like your father."

"That's enough," Zimmerman steps between them.

"Do you really think Mal would love you, if you didn't take her from her home and bring her to a place where she can't even fend for herself?" Ben's expression falls, and Jay asserts, "She loves you, because that's how she survives here. And now, look. She's going to die."

"She's going to wake up," Ben evenly expresses, "and she's going to need you there when she does."

"Don't you get it?" Jay yells, "She's not waking up. She's going to die, and it's because of you. Why can't you see that?"

"Because, you're right," Ben forcefully responds. "She's my girlfriend, and I knew she had emotional problems."

"And then you made her feel like she was just another one of Hook's sluts," Jay adds, and Ben stares. "She did it, you know, sold her body for heat at his brothel. She probably didn't mention that between the selling ecstasy and getting raped."

"Shut up," Ben warns.

"And then she starts dating the—quote—hottest guy she's ever known, and you don't even want her," Jay grins in disgust.

"It's not like that," Ben disagrees.

"Oh, really?" Jay steps forward, and the detective pushes him back. "Is this the part where you tell me you're the only guy on Earth who doesn't like sex? Or maybe you just don't like sex with girls. You think you'd have a better time if your good ol' friend Chad Charming were behind you?"

"I said shut up," he roars, and the detectives look at him. Ben brings a hand to his throat, clearing it, before he whispers, "I'm going to pardon him. You can probably go."

The forensics' guy intrudes, "So, am I taking samples or…"

Detective Robin frowns at Jay, "Are you willing to sign the confession?"

Jay eyes Ben, "You're seriously going to pardon me?"

"I have to believe Mal's going to wake up," Ben solemnly says, "and when she does, she's going to hate me if I don't keep you here. She could go back. Everyone could. And then no one from the Isle would be given a second chance ever again."

Jay faces the detectives, "I'll sign or whatever."

"After you sign," Robin informs, "you will be held in jail for processing. If the king announces your pardon before your hearing, then you won't have to go to prison."

"You mean, the Isle," Jay corrects.

"For treason," Zimmerman answers, "yes."

"Alright," Jay nods. "I'm cool with that." He points, "There's food, right?"

"And a TV," he confirms, as he guides Jay out of the room. "So, you get to listen to every report that comes in before His Highness pardons you." Zimmerman turns towards Ben, "You do know pardons need to be done in the country's language, right?"

"Sorry, Jay," Ben apologizes. "It might be a couple days."

"Don't sweat it," Jay smirks. "I'll come up with a list of demands."

"Demands?" Belle disbelieves. They leave into the hall, and she steps in front of Ben, "You're pardoning him?"

"Are you upset, because he tried to kill me or Father's in the hospital?"

"It's not like pardons are unlimited," she reminds him, "and you're biased in this matter."

"So, it is about Father," Ben concludes.

"I can't believe you would just walk away and let him die," she sidetracks.

"You were ready to believe I tried to kill him a minute ago," he disagrees.

She furiously whispers, "I was ready to believe you felt the need to defend yourself. There's a difference."

Ben shakes his head before walking away, "I'm tired of this."

"Hey," she shouts. "Where are you going?"

"I have a speech to write," Ben yells back, before he walks away.

Ben taps his pencil and then again, glancing at the door, before he pulls out his phone. It rings and rings, and the lawyer answers, "King Ben? Is something wrong?"

"Wrong?" Ben inquires, before he notices the time on his watch. "Sorry. I didn't realize how late it was."

"Well, you have me now," he deeply breathes. "How may I assist you?"

"If anything happens to me, I want to make sure Mal and them still have a chance here," he explains. "Is there a way to do that?"

"We can put a time constraint on it," he thinks. "Give them five or ten years' trail."

Ben nods, "Sounds good. When can we draft that?"