Derek walks in to Isaac, Paul, and Kyle's room. Initially concerned when he doesn't see them in the bed he relaxes when he notices the two curled amongst one another in the corner of the room. Isaac turns and looks at Derek as he approaches. "OK?" He whispers. Isaac nods yes lovingly stroking his thumb on Paul's shoulder. "He's not…..completely back." Derek says crouching down next to the two his eyes glowing red faintly at the still heavy scent of drugs, chemicals, fear, and pain lingering on Paul. Isaac turns to Derek, a question on his expression. "He has some gaps in his memory. He doesn't remember Kyle…..at all." Isaac's eyes widen and he looks down at Paul who is sleeping soundly and deeply. "Deaton and Melissa both think it would be a good idea to just let thing settle for a day or two." "We have to tell him. Kyle is his mate!" Isaac says fiercely. "Isaac… The condition he was in when we found him. He barely recognized me. He fought us every step of the way. He jumped out of a moving van to get away from us. I finally had to go in and bring him out of it." Derek says holding his hand out with his claws extended. Isaac reaches behind Paul's neck and feels the bandages covering the wounds on his neck from the claws. "The things they did….." Derek shakes his head making an angry scowl. It took a long time for me to coax him back to the surface. Even then he was very withdrawn. More instinct than anything else. It wasn't until just a few hours ago that he would let anyone other than me close to him. It's a miracle he's come back this far, this fast. We can't risk sending him back to where he was. It's best that he remember on his own. Stiles and Kyle are going to stay away for a couple of days. We're not going to draw this out. If he doesn't start to remember on his own we'll try something else. For right now though, he thinks you're his only mate." Isaac looks down at Paul and resumes tenderly stroking his forehead. "I get it. You're right. Where is my phone?" Derek rises and looks around. "I don't know you haven't used it in a long time." Derek looks over at the desk and sees the device. He steps over to the desk unplugging the phone from the charger then handing it to Isaac. He turns to leave and says "If you need anything let us know. I'll leave the door open." Derek is nearly to the door when Isaac speaks. "Thank you….Derek….For bringing him home." You're welcome pup." Derek replies. Looking over his shoulder he sees Isaac embracing Paul tightly eyes closed.
Isaac turns slightly so that Paul's face is illuminated by one of the small lights in the room and snaps a picture then sends a message.
To Kyle: Derek told me about Paul's memory. I'm sorry you can't be here.
After several moments there has been no reply.
To Kyle: I'm sorry I haven't been here for you. I owe you so much for staying with me during this. I understand if you're mad at me. Just know that I'll do everything I can to get Paul's memory back. I love you.
A few seconds later his phone peeps softly with a new message.
From Stiles: Kyle's not mad at you pup. The picture and hearing from you after so long has made him emotional. Give him a few minutes. Love you.
Several hours later Paul stirs and opens his eyes. He is greeted by his mate looking down at him smiling tenderly. "Good Morning beautiful." Isaac says softly. "Morning gorgeous." Paul replies he lifts his head to kiss Isaac and winces in pain. The pain instantly flutters away as Isaac drains it grunting at the effort. "Stop that." Paul says. "You need to rest and get better. It's just a crick in my neck." "Are you hungry?" Isaac asks. His voice rough from lack of use. "Yes." Paul replies pulling Isaac down so their lips meet. Isaac helps Paul to his feet. "Let's get cleaned up first." Paul says limping slowly towards the bathroom. He steps in the large shower and turns the water on before stepping back and disrobing. Isaac comes in a moment later with two sweaters and sweatpants. Paul doesn't miss noticing that it's all Isaac's clothes. He smirks at the wolf and takes his hand and leads him to the shower after helping him out of the shorts he's been sleeping in. He pauses before they step in the shower when he catches sight of them in the mirror. Both men are unhealthily thin. Isaac's hair long and unmanageable. Paul's body is covered in bruises, cuts, scratches and burn marks all in various states of healing. "We won." Isaac says. Paul looks up at him as Isaac pulls the shorter man around in front of him. Paul reaches up and kisses Isaac tenderly. "They put us through hell, they did their worst and here we are. Alive and together." "They won't get away with what they did to you." Isaac says darkly. "Right now our focus is going to be on getting better. It's an effort getting up the stairs I don't think either of us will be going on a rampage any time soon." Paul says laying another kiss on Isaac's lips before pulling him in the shower.
A short time later Isaac and Paul help each other down the stairs. Isaac pushes open the door to the kitchen and ushers Paul in. "Guys!" Scott exclaims jumping happily from his seat. He rushes over to them pulling Isaac in to a tight hug. "Missed you buddy." Scott says warmly. "Missed you too." Isaac says softly his face going scarlet. Scott looks at Paul who looks back somewhat uneasily before holding his arms out. Scott beams pulling Paul gently against his chest. "I can't tell you how much we've missed you." Scott whispers against Paul's ear rubbing his hands around on his frail pack mates back.. "I'm not completely back yet but…" Paul says squeezing Scott then opening his eyes and looking at the rest of the pack at the large table. "Please be patient with me. With us." "Scott you're squeezing him to death let him sit down and eat." Peter says standing and moving over a seat so that the two chairs closest to Paul and Isaac are open. Scott rubs his cheek against Paul's scent marking him him a bit before standing back with a smile.
Isaac takes Paul's plate and piles it high with food before handing it back. Paul looks at the mountain of food then up at Isaac. "You're sharing this with me. I was only fed every 3rd day my stomach is probably the size of an olive at the moment." Paul says with a humorless chuckle. The rest of the wolves go still and stone faced. Peter looks at Derek his eyes taking on a slight blue tint. Derek looks back and tries to calm his uncle over the bond. "Did you sleep well?" Scott asks trying to break the tension. "Yeah we didn't even make it to the bed but it was the best sleep I've had in a long time. I was never allowed to sleep for more than 30 minutes at a time. They used loud music to keep me awake. Then the drugs and…" Paul trails off staring at the food on his plate. Isaac and Peter both place their hands on his shoulders offering comfort. "Guys." Paul says realizing the mood has changed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. Can we just have breakfast? I know there is a lot of stuff." Paul trails off as Isaac and Peter squeeze Paul's shoulders. "I...I just want to spend some time with Isaac and….." Paul's face pinches as he stumbles over his words and looks confused. "Isaac and…..Isaac." Paul says shrugging and taking a bite of the scrambled eggs Isaac had piled high. After chewing a moment he looks over at Isaac who is looking at him blankly. Paul pulls Isaac's plate over and transfers some food over. "You need to eat too fancy face." He says quietly. Peter asks Derek about something and gradually conversation returns to the table. The wolves all trading worried glances with Isaac.
"What did you have planned for today?" Danny asks after Paul has given up trying to eat any more. "Honestly? I'd like to sleep some more." Paul ducks his head then turns and looks up at Isaac. "Is that OK? You don't have to if you don't want to." Isaac smirks. "I'm with you whatever you want to do." Paul stands up and moves to take his plate to the sink but is stopped by Scott. "No way. No house work for you for at least a month." Scott says jumping up and taking Paul's plate. "Both of you." Scott says pointing at the ceiling. "To bed. Let me know if you need anything." Scott shoo's Paul towards the door also taking Isaac's plate. "Would you be interested…" Scott starts to say then stops when Danny chuckles. "In what?" Paul says turning back to the table. "Puppy pile?" Danny says. Scott smiles widely and nods his head. "It would help you heal." Scott says. "Can we tomorrow? Please. Don't take this the wrong way. All I dreamed about so many nights was my mates." Paul stops brow furrowing in confusion. "Mate...holding my mate." Paul turns and looks up at Isaac who has a look of concern on his face. "Can we do it tomorrow? Please?" "Absolutely." Derek says. "Thanks guys. I love you." Paul says as he is lead limping slowly out of the room by Isaac. .
Back in their room Paul closes and locks the door. Isaac watches as he also checks the windows and balcony doors to ensure they are locked as well. Paul then strips dropping his clothes to the floor as he climbs in bed. Isaac joins him crowding up behind his mate. "How are you?" Isaac asks quietly. "Better than I was?" Paul says his tone sounding more like a question than a statement. "Anything I can do?" Isaac asks slipping both arms around Paul and holding him firmly. Instead of answering Paul shrugs. "How about you?" He asks turning over so he can look at Isaac. "The past couple years just seems like a blur. Things went from bad to worse not too long after you were taken. Now that you're back though, I'm better. Much better. Just weak." "I'm sorry you had to go through that." Paul says caressing Isaac's face. "I think you had it a bit worse than I did." Isaac says with a shake of his head. "I miss you." Paul says after they stare at each other in silence for a bit. "What do you mean?" Isaac asks with a shake of his head. "Up here." Paul says tapping his temple. "I miss having you up here. I think that was worst of all. Before, you were always there. It made me feel safe. Once that was gone. I was lost. I hope to get that back some day." "It's kind of funny. The one thing they wanted the most, to understand the bond was broken almost from day one." Paul says shaking his head. "They had me so tightly controlled with drugs that the bond just vanished. They were never able to get close to what they were after." "What was it they wanted?" Isaac asks. "They wanted to understand how it worked so that they could give hunters access to it. They were convinced that they could determine the…frequency for lack of a better term of the bond. Once they had that they felt they would be able to tap into that aspect of all wolves. Use it to track them down and finish them off." Paul pauses as a look of confusion over takes him. "What is it?" Isaac asks pulling Paul a little closer. "Fuzzy. It's like some things are clear as day, other things they did or tried….just….I dunno it's like I can't focus on them."
"Will probably take some time." Isaac says pressing on Paul so that he lays back down. Paul slips both arms around him. "They told me you were all dead." Paul says pressing his face against Isaac's neck. "Over a period of time they'd tell me, got Stiles a couple days ago. Peter put up a fight but we took him and Danny out the same day. Shit like that." Isaac says nothing but starts caressing Paul tenderly. "I gave up eventually. I mean, why not what did I have to fight for any more? My pack was dead my mate was dead. I tried to escape several times but never made it far." Paul goes stiff as a partially buried memory resurfaces. Isaac pulls back at the immediate flood of dread and fear in Paul's scent. "Let's not talk about it anymore." Isaac says leaning forward and kissing Paul softly on the forehead. Paul lets out the breath he'd been holding and looks at Isaac's lips then up to his eyes. "Thanks." Isaac turns Paul on his side and puts his arm around him. Paul instinctively reaches over to the empty side of the bed and lifts his head to lay it some place not there. His eyes snap open as he pats the empty space. Something's missing. Isaac misses this and kisses Paul on the back of the neck. "It's OK baby relax. You're safe here." Paul relaxes but continues to stare at the empty spot in the bed.