"Chris!" Scott yells. Chris slams on the brakes and all of them jump from the van and race to Paul's naked unmoving form. "He's breathing" Derek says kneeling down and gently checking the unconscious human for additional injuries. "We need to go." Chris says taking note of the gathering crowd of people. Scott gathers Paul up in his arms and they return to the van. "We're going to need another vehicle." Peter says as they speed away. "Yeah no way someone didn't call the police about someone jumping out of a moving van." Scott says running his fingers through Paul's long dirty hair. "We'll be at the airport in 10 minutes." Chris says. "We should be fine." "We can't go through security with him fighting us." Derekt says reaching for Paul's limp hand and holding it. "You need to find out what's going on with him." Peter says to Derek. "Find us some place secure. We're going to need to get him cleaned up and acting somewhat normal."
About ten minutes later Chris drops them off at a motel then heads out to hide the van. Once inside Scott and Derek place a still limp Paul on one of the beds. "You need to bring him back Derek." Scott says wetting one of the wash rags in the sink and then working to clean some of the filth off his emaciated pack mate. Derek sighs. "It's not that simple Scott." "If I may offer a suggestion?" Peter says stepping to the foot of the bed. "Don't take any of his memories. He will be too confused. Just focus on him and his time with the pack. We have no idea what they did to him, or what kind of medication they have him on. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed he's not on the pack bond even though he's right here." Scott grits his teeth but says nothing as he continues to clean Paul's face. Paul's regains consciousness with a gasp. He throws a punch catching Scott in the eye. The unsuspecting wolf is knocked to the floor. "Derek now!" Peter says jumping on the bed and restraining Paul. With a jerk he turns paul on his side. Derek's claws flick out and he jams them in to the back of Paul's neck. The human immediately stills. His unblinking eyes staring blankly at Peter.
Roughly an hour later Derek's eyes blink and he pulls his hand away from Paul's neck. He sighs sitting quickly on the bed behind him. The residual images of Paul's treatment in captivity haunting him. Paul's blinks several times as he looks around the room. "Scott?" He says softly. "Paul!" Scott says reaching to embrace the human but stopping when he sees the fear in his pack mates eyes. Paul sits up crossing his arms over himself protectively as he pushes back until he bumps against the headboard.. Paul gives Peter the same fearful look before looking to his left and catching sight of Derek. In a flash Paul is on the other bed wrapping his arms around Derk. "Derek." Paul cries out. Derek quickly pulls his arms tight around Paul. "They told me you were dead. They told me everyone was dead." Paul says sobbing. "Please tell me… Please tell me Isaac is OK?" Paul says looking up at Derek when he doesn't answer right away. "Why is he not here? He would be here." "Isaac is not well. Your loss has been very difficult for him. His wolf is in pretty bad shape." Derek says. "I need to help….." Paul whispers eyes blinking slowly. Eventually his eyes stay closed and his head slowly drops against Derek's shoulder. Almost immediately he is asleep.
"Much as he needs and deserves rest…" Peter says. "I know." Derek says. "Paul."
"Paul?" He says shaking the human slightly. "You're all still here. I didn't believe.." Paul says looking around slightly dazed. "We need to get you cleaned up so we can fly back to Beacon Hills." Scott says grimacing when Paul cowers and looks at him eyes full of fright and distrust.. Peter pulls his phone and sends a text message. "I'll ask Chris to find something for the hair and some food.." Smelling Paul's fear starting to escalate Derek pulls his focus back to him. "Look at me." Paul does as he is told. "No one is going to hurt you any more. We can't stay here we need to get you home. Isaac needs you. Can you manage in the shower on your own?" Paul wrings his hands looking down at the mattress fear and uncertainty radiating from him in waves. "Come on I'll help." Derek stands while holding Paul then lets his legs drop down. "Can you walk?" Paul looks up at Scott and Peter and freezes. "Let's give them a minute." Peter says opening the door and gesturing to Scott. "We'll be right outside buddy." Scott says making eye contact with Paul. The human cowers trembling slightly. When the door closes Paul takes a few tentative steps then stops turning to look at Derek. "Are you going to leave?" He asks his voice almost a whisper. Derek shakes his head. Instinctively reaching for Paul on the pack bond to offer comfort but finding nothing. "I'm not going anywhere." "How long has it been?" Paul asks. Derek hesitates a moment causing Paul to lift his gaze from the floor and make eye contact.. "Two years eight months." Outside the door Peter grips the railing tightly. Shame and regret heavy in the air as the rusted railing groans in protest. Scott places a hand on the enforcers shoulder. "Not your fault." He says. Having none of it Peter shakes his head in disagreement and walks heavily away.
"Two years….8 months." Paul whispers as his eyes burn for what Isaac must have gone through. Paul limps slowly towards the bathroom gasping and grunting quietly his posture stooped and wary. Eventually they are in the bathroom. Paul stares at the shower unmoving so Derek reaches in and turns the water on. Given the amount of grime, blood, sweat and other scents coming from Paul's body it has obviously been a very long time since he has bathed. Once the temperature is warm but not hot. Derek gestures for Paul to step in. He remains frozen eyes staring blankly at the shower. Derek sighs inwardly struggling to control his fury at what has been done to his pack mate. He quickly strips to his underwear and steps in to the shower. "Paul?" Derek says reaching out and taking his hand.
Paul looks up and lets Derek help him into the shower. His knees buckle when the water hits him but Derek steadies him. The water running down the drain quickly turns foul as dried blood, and other unpleasantness washes away. Derek carefully and methodically cleans Paul starting with his wild knotted and tangled long hair then working his way down his body. He's careful to avoid the newer injuries. As he is rinsing Paul's back his fingers run across something under the skin. Turning Paul around so he can see Derek finds a scar about 4 inches long. Pressing again gently he can feel something under the skin. "Do you know what this is?" Derek asks. "Paul?" Derek asks turning him back around. "They did a lot of…...things." Paul says not making eye contact. Derek shuts off the water and towels Paul off. He places the towel across the lid of the toilet and has Paul sit. "I'm going to get your clothes and something for your hair." Paul's heart rate shoots up and the smell of panic fills the room. "Hey… hey….." Derek says stepping back over to Paul and placing his hand on the trembling shoulder.. "OK change of plans. I'm not leaving you." Knowing he'd be heard Derek turns towards the door and speaks. "Scott will you bring the clippers and Paul's clothes?" Derek walks to the door and opens it Paul whimpering behind him. Scott is there with the clippers Chris had picked up and the clothes Peter had found in the lab. Paul makes eye contact with Scott who smiles sadly. "Hey buddy." Paul quickly looks down staring at his bruised feet. Derek exhales out his nose and clamps his hand on Scott's shoulder before stepping back and closing the door. Derek helps Paul step in to his boxer briefs and then his pants socks and shoes. Leaving his shirt off Derek takes another towel and drapes it over his shoulders. "I'm going to cut some of your hair off OK? It's too tangled and knotted." "I'm not allowed to have a haircut." Paul says softly. "It's OK." Derek says. "This is going to make some noise." He says looking at Paul with concern before turning the clippers on. Paul flinches slightly at the noise but doesn't panic so Derek quickly sets to work removing most of Paul's unkempt blond hair.
When Derek is done he gently rinses the loose hair out in the sink. "Paul, can I have Chris look at the scar on your back?" Paul clutches Derek's hand. "Chris is a friend he helped us rescue you. He may know what it is." Derek slowly coaxes Paul out of the bathroom and has him sit on the corner of the bed with his back facing Chris. "Chris, what do you make of this?" Derek says as Chris approaches and studies the scar. He touches the scar and presses causing Paul to flinch slightly. Chris runs his finger around the foreign object. "Something has been implanted. Could be several things. We need to get it out of him… Now." "He's been through so much do we really need to do it right now?" Scott says. Still out of Paul's line of site Chris looks at Scott and imitates and explosion with his hands. Scott's eyes go wide. "No way of knowing for sure. Could be tracking, could be how they are muting the bond, could be...something else." "Paul?" Derek says feeling helpless every time Paul slips away mentally. Paul's eyes look up and focus on him. "Take it out." Paul says. "Peter." Derek says looking at his uncle. Peter steps forward a claw emerging from his index finger. Derek places his hands on Paul's shoulders ready to drain the pain away and gasps slightly when he focuses on Paul's pain and feels how much Paul is already hurting.. "Is there any chance…" Peter starts to say as he is about to pierce the skin. "They are not that sophisticated if that's what it is it'll be a simple device triggered by remote signal. The building coming down most likely bought us some time but with every passing minute…" "Understood." Peter says as he presses his claw in to Paul's back. Paul moves slightly but doesn't say anything Derek pulling as much pain out of the human has he can. In seconds Peter is handing the device to Chris and stitching the wound closed.
"Interesting." Chris says. It's some type of delivery system. There is a vial with some type of liquid." "Poison?" Scott says stepping closer to take a look. "Well if it is about two thirds has already been administered. Given the looks of the scar I'd say this was in for about 6 to 8 months. This may be what has been blocking the bond. Would have to take very small doses to make any sense implanting it like this." "All finished." Peter says cutting off the extra bit of suture with a claw. Derek slips Paul's shirt on and Paul weakly stands and is guided over to the table where burgers and drinks are sitting. Peter looks at Paul, dressed in the same clothes he was when he was taken only now he's a shadow of his former self. Frail, gaunt, and broken. Peter clenches his fists so tightly his knuckles pop causing Scott, Derek and even Chris to look at him. "You're the one who found him." Chris says. "I'm also the one who lost him." Peter says eyes flaring blue. "Guys." Scott says softly gesturing to Paul who is looking at Peter wide eyed and afraid. "Forgive me." Peter says to Paul. "You have nothing to fear from me. I will protect you with my last breath." A single tear falls from Paul's eye and he looks down. "I'm going for a walk. Make sure we weren't followed." Peter says and leaves the room. Derek hands Paul a hamburger and takes the seat next to him. Paul timidly takes a small bite before taking another larger one. "Is it OK?" Derek asks. "Yes." Paul whispers before taking a drink. Just then Scott's phone rings and he smiles. "It's Kyle I texted them earlier they must have just come back in cellular range." Scott answers the phone the others in the room grinning when they hear Kyle's excited voice practically yelling into the phone. Scott holds the phone towards Paul who looks at him blankly. "Kyle wants to talk to you." Scott says after a moment. Paul looks at the phone then back up at Scott. "Who?"