JASON

Thanks to Goldar, the atmosphere in the kitchen is pretty relaxed. I get the feeling that something Tommy said to him has him understanding the situation better than the rest of us, but whatever it is that he knows he's not telling us - not even Pina if her slight scowls and jabs about him sleeping on the floor are anything to go by. I have to say, for the most part, I'm actually liking who they are now that they aren't evil. Which is good if I'm going to leave my bro in their care.

The door swings open and Zedd and Tommy walk in, or rather Zedd seems to be guiding Tommy in if the hand on his back is any indication. I frown a little. Tommy seems tense, but why? He shoots a nervous look at me when I greet them. "Hey guys. Everything all right now?"

"Hi." Well that was - odd. Tommy's not usually that short with me. Maybe Zedd was wrong and the evil is back?

Zedd rolls his eyes behind Tommy's back. "It's fine, even though he doesn't seem to think it is. I was correct, as I typically am, in that he's not evil." Well that's a definite plus. "He is however being his normal worrisome self so Jason, would you please take Thomas outside and talk to him? If you don't, he's going to drive himself - and the rest of us - insane."

I feel my eyebrows rise, but stand. "Sure. Come on, Tommy."

"You don't have to," he mutters.

Looking at him carefully, I realize that he's indeed worried about something, and in a big way if his body language and tone are anything to go by. I open the back door and tell him, "I know I don't have to. Let's go."

I catch the flicker of amusement on the faces of the others and I realize that I used my 'leader tone'. Fortunately, Tommy heads out the door ahead of me and doesn't see it. We walk away from the castle and around the side. He stays silent until we reach the front of the castle where Dar and I were sparring yesterday. He starts to speak, stops, starts again and stops once more. "What's the matter, Tommy? Spit it out."

"I- Jase- Do you have a problem with Zedd and I being together?"

"Sorry, what now?" I can feel my mouth fall open and I see him flinch. Careful, Jason. For all his progress, he's still not all the way back to himself. Though in fairness of all the things I was expecting that question was not one of them.

He turns away from me and I can see his fists clench at his sides, like he's waiting for someone to hit him. I almost don't hear him repeat his question, it's so soft. "Do you have a problem with Zedd and I being together? Like a couple?"

Okay, now that's just more than a little offensive. I've never had a problem with peoples' sexuality - whatever it may be. Why would he think that I would now? "Are you serious?" He shrugs. "You've got to be kidding me."

He flinches again. "I'm sorry, Jason."

Now I'm confused. "Wait, sorry for what? I'm confused, Tommy."

"I'm sorry I'm not the person you thought I was." Wait, what now? Okay clearly we are not on the same page right now.

"Wait a minute. Stop. Go back to the beginning. I think you lost me somewhere. You asked me if I'd have a problem with you and Zedd being a couple. I don't understand why you'd think that I would. I mean it's not exactly who I pictured you being with, but it's your life Tommy. Just because I always assumed you and Kim would end up back together with two kids and dog, doesn't mean it's what you pictured or want. You have to make your own choices in what will make you happy and if Zedd is what does that, than who am I to argue with you about it or interfere."

"You didn't seem happy about it a minute ago" he states, again almost too softly for me to catch. "You asked if I was serious."

He pauses for a minute and I quickly think back over what's been said. Suddenly, I realize where this went wrong and I can't help but laugh. I stop quickly when he says, hurt in his voice, "Please don't laugh at me."

"I'm not laughing at you, bro" I answer. "I just realized where we got off track. When I asked if you were serious and said that you've got to be kidding me, it had nothing to do with the two of you. I couldn't believe that you thought that I'd have a problem with it. Like I said even if I really couldn't see myself in a relationship like that, it doesn't mean I don't think you have every right to be with whoever makes you happy."

I see him relax a bit at this clarification. "So it's not a problem?"

"Of course not. Although I find it a little insulting that you'd think it would be. Not to mention if Zedd ever, and I do mean ever, hurts you, I will kill him."

I'm surprised at the low level panic in his voice. "You can't do that. With the bond, we don't know what would happen to me." Okay, not the playful arm punch, snort, or 'Zedd would turn you into a toad first' response I was expecting.

"Take it easy, Tommy. I just meant I won't stand for him hurting you, that's all. You're my best friend, my brother, and you know whoever you're with, male or female, I won't let them get away with causing you any pain." Before I can continue, he's right in front of me, hands fisted in my shirt.

"No, please Jase. You can't. Please, promise me you won't kill him, please," he begs, tears gathering in his eyes. I'm too stunned to respond as my mouth falls open. He shakes me slightly, panic climbing as he continues. "Please, don't kill him. Jason, please. I don't care how mad you are at him I don't want him to die. Please, Jason, you have to promise, please."

"Okay, Tommy, okay. Just calm down. I promise. It's just a figure of speech and I don't really think he'll hurt you." Not on purpose anyway. "However if it really upsets you that much I give you my word I won't harm him." At least not unless it becomes needed to keep you safe. He collapses against my chest, sobbing and almost hyperventilating in panic. What the hell has happened? Why is he like this? Is it still from his injury? It can't be though, he beat the hell out of Zedd himself when he was evil and didn't even blink, so what the hell happened between then and now to cause this? Somehow I'm not surprised when I hear Zedd's voice.

"Thomas!" Shit. In a moment, Zedd's beside us and Tommy with more force than I expected shoves me aside and throws himself at him. Zedd wraps his arms protectively around him and growls at me as if I'm not currently the one picking my ass up off the ground. "What did you say? What did you do?" Oh hell no are you turning this around on me.

"What did I do? What the hell did you do? All I said was that if you ever hurt him that I'd kill you and that led to - this" I answer, gesturing to Tommy. "I have no idea what the hell happened! It's not the first time I've said something like that to him, or vice versa where the people I've dated have been concerned. However this is sure as hell the first time I've ever seen him have a panic attack over it."

Pina responds as Zedd calms Tommy down. "Remember, Jason, we told you that their mating would strengthen the bond. I just didn't expect it would affect Tommy so much with him being a human. This is a new level of the bond that he's going to have to learn to deal with - the protectiveness over his mate."

"So any time he feels like his mate is threatened, he's going to be a crying mess?" If that's so, Tommy's going to hate this - and eventually, himself.

"No," Dar says. "Once he gets used to it, his response will be more like Zedd's - fight."

"I'm not normally one to condone violence unless it's absolutely necessary, however I have to agree that would be good. I really don't think he'd be happy like this and unless I'm wrong I don't really think you'd be happy with him like this either" I state giving Zedd a pointed look, and at least slightly appeased when he gives a nod of agreement.

"No, I wouldn't. However as Dar said it won't take long for him to move from distress to the urge to fight. Especially with how quickly he has picked up certain aspects of the bond. I'd wager the first time he actually sees me get hurt, whoever is responsible will be greatly sorry for it once he's done with them." That I think I can deal with. "We just need to work on it a bit. I'm sorry Thomas I didn't realize you would be this affected, but I'll do whatever you need me to do to get you through this as I know Jason's right in you would not be happy with yourself if it were a long term thing."

Tommy's quiet statement spins me around. "No, I won't. Sorry, Jase. I, I don't know what the hell came over me."

"I didn't mean to upset you, bro."

"I know you didn't. I just - lost it." Shaking his head and seeming to have calmed down after the realization of what happened and why it happened is explained, he takes a steadying breath, looking less than happy.

"We'll work on it," Zedd assures him. "It'll be fine." He turns his attention to me. "Now - about what you two came out here to talk about-"

I cut him off. "As I told him before I accidentally sent him into a panic attack, I have no problem with your relationship. As long as he's happy and healthy, why would I?"

Zedd nudges Tommy lightly. "See? I told you."

"Don't really need the 'I told you so' right now, Zedd" he grumps.

"But it just reinforces the fact that I am always correct and that the sooner everyone realizes this, the happier we will all be" Zedd states in what I will assume is a teasing manner if the groans and eye rolls from the others mean anything.

"Let's go back in and eat, before Zedd's ego gets any bigger," Dar suggests. We all turn and head inside.