Rose sat in her new rented office space, it wasn't ideal, but the new place for "The Elite" was coming along, no thanks to that stupid raid. If Jericho hadn't warned her, she would have lost a lot more than she did. When she got the word of the raid, she grabbed as many workers as she could; all were there for three years or longer. They lost their newbies, but it was better this way. She removed her glasses and looked across to the older male in front of her. "So we should be back up and running within the month."

Jericho sighed as he pets the head of his favored pet (who just finished giving him an incredible blowjob). "Good," he replied slowly. He was still reeling over the fact that River dared to touch his daughter that way. His friendship with River went back nearly two decades, but there was no way he'd ever forgive him.

Rose glanced at him; she could see the scowl on his face. "River hasn't surfaced. I think he knows you will kill him if he does... I do feel I should tell you something." She didn't want to tell him, but she felt she had to. "When you told us about the raid, I had a few guys come and clean out the offices. We found some disturbing things there, but most of all are these." She pulled out a manila folder. "There are photos of your daughter. From when she was a teen up to now."

Jericho's blood began to boil again; he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I will kill him if I see him again."

Rose shook her head. "Look, just don't do anything stupid he's a bastard, and he is nowhere near her anymore." Rose sighed. "I think for a while we should not grab other people to work for us...we don't know who we can trust, and I don't want another raid on my hands."

Jericho nodded in agreement. "Exactly. There's too much at risk." He returned his hand to gently play with the man's hair that sat happily next to him.

Rose sighed. "Can I ask, how is your daughter? I saw the video of what was done to her; she is going to need to talk to someone... we have seen the toll that kind of stuff could do, to people not used to it."

"We have her going to therapy," he replied simply. He didn't want to go into detail about what was going on with her daughter and Sam. Mercedes could do far better than Sam Evans, but she made her decision, and nothing he could do would change her mind.

She nodded. "That's good." She handed him another file. "So here is a list of who we saved. And all the clients who are still with us. We only lost about 50; they were the loyal to River ones, so we don't really need them."

Jericho nodded and looked down at the file. "We don't need people not loyal to us."

Rose nodded. "I think we still may have a few on his side; it's another reason I think we should stay legit for a while. I don't want any backlash. I have also removed him from all the accounts and moved them, so if he did try to seize them, he isn't able to. "

"Thank you," Jericho sighed. He knew he hadn't spent enough time with the Elite, but he was struggling with Mercedes and trying to keep her away from Sam.

"That is what I am here for. I was thinking, though, we do need to bring someone else in, is there anyone you trust enough to take River's place?" She asked softly.

Jericho shook his head. "I can't think of anyone off the top of my head."

Rose sighed. "He really screwed us over, didn't he?" she exhaled.

Jericho nodded. "Yes."

"Have you given any thought to bringing Sylvie in?"

He sighed. "I don't know..." he replied slowly. "I don't want her back in here."

Rose nodded; she could understand that. She worked her way up from the floor, "I get that, but we need someone we can trust who can help us fix what was broken."

"I trust her with my life, Rose," he sighed. "But she still won't talk much about this place."

Rose nodded. "Oh... I know how you feel about her, and I know how she feels about this place. I guess we just keep looking until we can find someone, maybe bring in someone from across the way. "

Jericho nodded. "We argue about it," he sighed. He looked down at the boy sitting at his side. The young man seemed genuinely happy to sit there until he was needed.

Rose sighed. "What kind of arguments?"

"She doesn't like my pets..."

Rose looked down to the man at Jericho's side. "I can understand that. But have you ever offered her, her own?"

He hesitated for a moment. "She never asked."

Rose shrugged. "Maybe she doesn't think she can?"

"I... never thought of that." He returned his hand to the man's hair, petting it gently. This one (Jericho called him Jeremy) was one of his two favored pets, one of four to ever bear his mark. He was obedient but also knew how to challenge Jericho's mind and patience at times.

Rose laughed. "See, that is why you pay me the big bucks. Plus, you are a man; you don't know how women think."

Jericho laughed. "I do not," he replied quickly.

"Exactly, so go talk to her and see what she says. The worst thing she can say is no. And honestly, opening up about it could help your relationship."

"Fine," he sighed, knowing it was a conversation he wasn't really looking forward to.

She smiled. "Good. Now that that is settle, is there anything else we should discuss?"

"I can't think of anything."

She nodded. "Well, I will keep you posted. But did you want me to keep a tail on River or call the man off?"

"Keep the tail on him," he replied. "I don't trust him.

"I will tell him to stay the course, but as of now, River is laying low. I don't think you have to worry about him.

Jericho nodded and continued to toy with Jeremy's hair, falling silent.

"Okay, well, I will keep you posted, and we can take it from there. "She stood from her desk and sighed. "I thought we could trust him. I really am sorry, Jer."

"It's fine, Rose," he replied softly. "He was my friend."

"I know, but that doesn't make it any easier."

"It truly doesn't."

"And it's not your fault...what happened to Mercedes, I know you might think it was, but it wasn't."

Jericho let out a low growl, causing the man on his knees to flinch away.

She shook her head. "I know you, that's your baby girl; even if she went to River on her own, you trusted him to turn her away, and instead, he abused her. But that's on him, not you."

Jericho exhaled slowly, trying to force his anger away. "You're right."

"But you still will blame yourself, won't you?"

"Of course. That's what a father does."

Rose laughed bitterly, "I wish I had a father like you. One who would kill for me. Mines would rather ignore me and pretend I didn't exist."

"You don't want a father like me."

"You care; who wouldn't want a father like that?"

"I suppose."

She shook her head. "You may not be the best dad, but you have others beat by miles."

"Thank you for that... vote of confidence."

"Just stating the facts. Both your girls are lucky to have you." She moved back to her desk. "Well, I should get back to work, that raid may have taken us back a step, but we will recover. We always do."

He nodded and slowly stood. With a simple hand motion, Jeremy stood as well. "You know where to find me."

"That I do." Said with a smile. Going back to her desk, she sighed. River better hope Jericho never finds him. She doubted anyone would find the body if he did.

Joey stared at Brax with a small smile. So much had changed in the last few months. He gained a whole new life, and he owed it all to Brax and Mercedes and Sam's family, of course. But now, the entire thing was a bit bittersweet. He got the chance to know Brax better, but he was worried about his best friend. Sam had gone into Cap mode a few times before; only then did he not really have a name. But Scum, that was new even for Joey, and it scared him.

Brax spent a good deal of time working from home. He was slowly falling harder and harder for Joey and felt the need to protect him more than he ever thought he would. He still slept on the floor because Joey had yet to ask him to join him in the bed. It wasn't even that anything would happen (as nothing past kissing had happened).

Joey glanced down at the practice GED book Mary had gotten him. "I can't focus...all I keep wondering is if Sam is okay..."

Brax looked over at Joey and offered him a sad smile. "I know," he sighed. "But we have to keep going; we can't stop because Sam did."

"He didn't stop!" Joey said, protective of Sam. "You don't understand the torment, the pain, you have to disconnect to be there, and Sam was there for ten years. So when he felt broken after Mercedes left, he reverted back..."

Brax held up his hands. "Sorry," he sighed. "I don't understand; I know I don't." He was glad he didn't. "I didn't know what other word to use."

Joey nodded. "I'm sorry, it's hard to understand when you never experienced it...but he's not doing this by choice...he never remembers it."

"I know, Joey," he sighed. "I... I'm sorry."

Joey sighed. "I know...and I get it you aren't happy with how things are. You have to live here and stuff."

Brax turned and frowned. "I never said that..."

"It turned your life upside down. Why wouldn't you?

"Because I care about you, and I care about Mercy and Sam. That's what friends do."

Joey sighed. "I just keep thinking that I like you so much, but ever since we met, I have turned your life upside down."

Brax closed his laptop for a moment to look and focus solely on Joey. "This is true, but that doesn't mean I'm upset."

Joey nodded. 'But I would understand if you were."

He shook his head. "Come here...*

Joey hesitated for a moment but then moved to him.

Brax wrapped his arms around Joey, keeping eye contact. "I'm not upset. Things change, and you have to evolve with the changes. And I'm happy that I found you."

Joey smiled. "I'm happy I found you too, so much so. But in truth, I am so scared I am not good enough."

Brax furrowed his brow. "Why would you think that?"

"You're a Lawyer...and I am a high school dropout."

"That doesn't matter to me. I see your potential, not your past."

Joey frowned, looking down at his hands. "I'm not smart, I'm not... I mean Brax, you are you, and I am not; I barely passed 10th grade."

Brax sighed quietly. "I wouldn't want you to be me," he whispered. "You have such potential."

"You are amazing." He said, leaning in and kissing him.

Brax smiled into the kiss. "You... you kissed me..."

Joey froze, looking at him. "I'm sorry..."

Brax was smiling. "Why are you sorry? That's amazing!"

Joey chewed his bottom lip. "I wanted to do that; I needed to do that." He said softly. "I needed to break past my fears."

He smiled and his hand up and down Joey's back. "Good, it's a step in the right direction."

Joey nodded. "Umm, I have a confession to make..."

Brax looked at him, a bit of worry running through him. "What's up?"

"I don't want you to go. I have wanted you to sleep with me...not sexually, but you know, but I don't want to get used to it, and then you turn around and leave when Sam gets better..."

Brax looked at him for a few moments. "Okay," he replied slowly. "I'm good with that. I've wanted that too. I'm not going anywhere, Joey."

"So if Sam comes back to normal, you aren't going to go home? I know living here, giving up your space isn't ideal. And I feel selfish. "

"If that happens, you can move in with me... if you're comfortable with that by then." He ran a hand through his hair. "If not... we'll work something out."

Joey frowned... "I can't...not because I don't want to, I do. But I have spent my entire life alone, and then when I got to the Elite, it was with Sam. Being here, having a family, I am not ready to give that up" He leaned in and kissed Brax softly. "But I'm not ready to give you up either."

Brax closed his eyes for a moment to allow himself to process everything. "You can have both..."

Joey shook his head. "Not if you leave..." He said softly. "Can't you stay here until I am ready to go in the future...though probably distant...you said that you didn't have a family, but you do now."

Brax was torn. He wanted Joey, but he needed his space too. This was all very exhausting for him. "You're right."

Joey moved closer to him. "It's scary...and stressful."

Brax rested his head against Joey, sighing quietly. "I can't even imagine what you're going through."

"You make it better..."

"That's all I can hope for."

Joey smiled softly, leaned in, a kissed Brax again.

Brax liked when Joey kissed him. He honestly loved him.

Joey smiled, leaning into him, resting his hands on his chest.

Brax smiled and took a deep breath. "I like this."

"Like what?"

"Being close to you.*

"You've been really patient, and I appreciate you for that. It's new territory for me...knowing what I like or don't like or feel comfortable with."

He nodded. "Partners should be patient... and that's what I want to be.*

Joey smiled. "There is something I want to do..."

He smiled in return. "Yeah?"

Joey nodded... "I feel silly asking this."

"Don't... please. I won't judge."

"Can we...make out?"

"You wanna make out with me?" he asked with a smile. "I'd quite enjoy that."

Joey nodded. "I do; I just really want to try it...try making out."

He nodded. "You've never done it before?"

"You are actually the first person I have kissed willingly...and I really like kissing you...so I want to try."

His heart melted a bit as he nodded. "Of course. Let me take my lunch."

Joey smiled. "You sure? I don't want to interrupt."

"No... we can make out *

Joey nodded, moving back to his bed, and waited for Brax to join him.

Brax clocked out and climbed into bed. "You wanna be on top?"

"On top?" He asked nervously.

"Yeah... wanna straddle me?"

"Oh...ye-yeah." He moved slowly on top of Brax's lap. "Like this?"

Brax nodded and rested his hands on Joey's hips. "You feel okay?"

"I feel amazing." He let out before realizing it.

That made Brax grin. "Oh good," he teased playfully.

Joey smirked, leaning down and kissing Brax, wrapping his arms around him as he did.

Brax kissed him gently, allowing Joey to take the lead, even though it was horribly difficult for him.

Joey had no idea what he was doing, so he continued to kiss Brax, enjoying the feeling.

Brax slowly depends on the kiss, holding him closer.

Joey let Brax pull him closer, feeling the urge to move and moan but unsure if that was appropriate.

Brax let out a soft moan as he kissed Joey.

"C-can I move? Is that allowed? "He asked against his lips.

"Do whatever feels natural, Joey. Just go with it."

Joey nodded, closing his eyes and just being in the moment with Brax. Grinding himself against Brax and moaning out at the feel.

Brax let out a groan as well, pulling Joey close in a deep kiss.

This was so different and overwhelming, and...he didn't know what else, but he liked it as much as he feared it. He let Brax deepen the kiss, feeling himself grow needy with want. The neediness came with Jericho's voice telling him he was always a needy slut. He stopped pulling away from Brax, breathing hard.

Brax smiled up at him, catching his breath. "You're so wonderful."

His eyes opened, and he stared into Brax's kind eyes and smiled softly. "That's you." He said, feeling himself grounding.

He smiled. "You are wonderful too."

"This is really hot, but I am getting like really worked up... it's a weird feeling doing it because I want to and not because I am being forced.

He rested his hands on Joey's hips. "Is it a good weird?"

Joey smiled, moving his hips, a groan leaving his lips. "Oh, it's an amazing weird."

He smiled and pulled Joey back down for more kisses.

Joey kissed him back, opening his mouth and grinding his hips slightly faster; he needed to get past this fear of being too needy.

He didn't think Joey was needy. "Love this..."

Joey shuttered hungrily, attacking his lips. "God, you feel so good."

Brax smiled into his hungry kisses. "You taste good."

Joey smiled. "You do too."

Brax laughed into his kisses.

Joey began to move faster, his smile turning into a moan as his head fell to Brax's shoulder.

"You good?" he teased, playfully kissing at his neck.

Joey nodded. "Yes, I just... I want more, and I feel... I dunno." he said honestly.

Brax smiled and pulled him in for another kiss.

Joey laughed. "That's not making me want to stop... it's making me want more..."

Brax pulled away. "What do you want?"

Joey looked away, blushing.

"You can tell me..."

Joey nodded. "I want you to touch me..."

"Touch you?" he asked, pausing for a moment. "I need you to be really specific, Joey."

Joey shook his head. "God, Brax, I have wanted your hands all over me for weeks, and I just I don't know." He blurted out.

That caught Brax entirely off guard. He took a deep breath. "Okay, okay," he replied. "I just want to make sure you're comfortable, is all.

Joey breathed, looking over to Brax. "I have been talking to Megan, and I need to rework my brain and thoughts. Touches aren't bad when wanted. And I want to work on all of this with you. I don't know what's going to happen, but I think I can be okay as long as I am working through it with you."

Brax smiled and nodded, running his thumb across Joey's cheek for a moment in a gentle yet intimate touch. "You can tell me to stop, okay? Just say so, and we will. You're very safe. I won't let anything ever happen to you.

"I trust you,"

His heart fluttered with those words. That's all he ever wanted was for Joey to trust him. Trust was the first step to a good relationship. "Kiss me?"

Joey did what he asked, kissing Brax.

Brax grinned and deepened the kiss.

Joey couldn't believe this was happening, and yet it felt so good and so real.

Brax loved kissing Joey. He ran his hands up and down his back.

Joey did his best to keep his mind from roaming, but that fear crept up, telling him he was being used. Then Jericho's face popped in his head, and he pulled back fearfully.

Brax immediately stopped. "I'm here, Joey..." he whispered, moving his hands off of Joey ultimately.

Joey felt himself spiral into a panic attack, Jericho's voice playing out in his mind, telling him he was no good. Just a whore, a worthless whole who no one wanted.

Brax pulled Joey off his lap and wrapped his arms around him. "I got you, sweetie. You're safe with me."

Joey cowered, shaking his head. "I'm his pet...his whore of a pet."

"You're not his pet, and you're not a whore. You're my boyfriend, and I'm gonna take care of you."

Joey frowned. "I'm worthless. I can't even make out right..."

"Shhhh... you're worth the world to me."

He shook his head, rocking back and forth.

Brax rocked with him. "You're worth the world, Joey. Take some deep breaths. Breathe with me."

Joey closed his eyes, trying to breathe out without struggling.

"That's good. Deep breaths .."

Joey slammed his fist against his head. "He's still in there."

Brax grabbed his hand. "Then focus on my voice. He's not here, but I am."

Joey looked at Brax with tears in his eyes, I'm sorry."

Brax shook his head. "Focus on me. You don't have to apologize."

Joey laid his head on Brax's shoulder.

Brax held him, kissing the side of his head every now and again.

After a few moments, he calmed. "I'm sorry. "

"Never apologize for this," Brax insisted softly. "When we agreed to do this... I agreed to all of you."

"But I am not normal...this is not normal."

"And I agreed to that. I'm here to help you."

He nodded, closing his eyes. "Okay."

He held him a little tighter. "I got you."

"I know this got all messed up, but I ... I meant what I said...I want you to lay with me...is that okay?"

He nodded. "Whatever you want."

"I think I want to check on Sam...is that okay?" Joey needed his best friend, and even if it was just Scum or Cap, he just needed someone who understood.

Brax nodded. He needed to get back to work anyways. "Of course."

"You are really great, Brax. I don't know what I would do without you,"

He nodded slowly. "It's because of you."

Joey sighed. "But I haven't done anything..."

"You have. You don't realize it, but you have."

Joey looked at him for a long moment. "I guess eventually I will see it."

Brax smiled. "You will."

Joey hesitated for a moment but then kissed Brax on the cheek. "Go ahead and deflate that air mattress. You won't need it anymore, and it will make more room for you at the desk... I'll be back."

Brax smiled and nodded. "Thank you."

Joey nodded and left. He felt so bad about what just happened; something was seriously wrong with him.