Just as Kyle steps out of the bathroom Paul grabs him and sweeps him up in to his arms. "Paul!" Kyle squawks. Paul holds Kyle in front of him and walks towards the exit. Leaning down he places a kiss on Kyle's forehead. "Love you ginger wolf." "Paul you're going to hurt yourself put me down." Kyle laughs squirming in Paul's arms. "You know you and Isaac aren't the only ones with muscles boy love." Paul laughs turning sideways to bump the door open with his hip. The rest of the pack having followed them out of the restroom stop and look at Paul as he carries his mate out to the parking lot. "He feels fine." Derek says just as Stiles opens his mouth to ask. "C'mon." Danny says tugging on Isaac's sleeve. "I'll give his stuff to you." Isaac casts a worried glance in the direction Paul and Kyle had gone and then follows Danny towards the elevators.
Outside Paul sets Kyle down gently next to Bumblebee. "Would you drive?" Paul asks taking a few deep breaths. "You OK? I told you you were going to hurt yourself." Kyle says reaching for Paul's arm. "I'm OK just because I'm human doesn't mean I'm weak." Paul says stepping out of Kyle's reach and walking around to the passenger side of the car. Kyle's mouth hangs open for a moment at Paul's unusually flippant comment. "I didn't mean…" He starts only to be cut off my Paul. "I know. I'm sorry. I'm just pissed that once again I wasn't able to defend myself." Paul shakes his head and drops down inside the car. Kyle gets in as well but as soon as his foot is on the brake Paul has reached over and hit the start button for the car then turned the radio up ending any chance of further discussion. Paul reaches for Kyle's hand without looking at him and gives it a reassuring squeeze.
Back at the house Paul is fidgeting looking out the window as Kyle looks through their shared desk for the chain. This catches Kyle's notice and he looks up. "Are you OK?" Paul stills and schools his face to one of calm and turns to face Kyle. "Sure." He says with a believable grin. Kyle smiles back and then pulls open another draw making an "ah ha" sound he pulls out the silver chain. "Here we go." He slips the pendant off the broken chain and slides it on the new one. He then slips it over Paul's head earning a kiss from his mate then the necklace is resting on his skin. "There. My shield is back up. Nothing horrible happened. Everyone can go back to their routines." "You know you can talk to me right? About anything?" Kyle says looking at Paul with concern. "Yup." Paul says. "If I can't confide in my mates who can I?" Kyle tilts his head to the side slightly looking at Paul. The two stare at each other in silence for a moment. Paul is about to say something when they both hear footsteps in the hallway. Isaac walks in carrying Paul's messenger bag and phone. "I brought your stuff." He says setting the bag on the desk and plugging the nearly dead phone in. "Thanks." Paul says simply stepping around Kyle to rub his cheek on Isaac's briefly before stepping out of the room.
"It's just been a weird day guys." Paul says pausing at the doorway. "Just give me a little space I'll be fine OK?" "You're not leaving are you?" Kyle says alarm tainting his tone. "Paul it's not safe." Isaac says taking a step towards him. "I won't go far." Paul says before looking over his shoulder at them and saying in a flat emotionless tone. "I'm with you for life." At that Paul turns and walks out of the room. Isaac turns and looks at the stunned look on Kyle's face. "He's so cold." Kyle whispers. Isaac walks over to Kyle and pulls him in to his side and looks at the door where Paul had just left. "He was with you the whole time? He wasn't alone?" Kyle shakes his head slipping his arm around Isaac's waist. "We were together the whole time came in the house came right up here got the chain and got the pendant back on him." "Any change when you put it back on him?" Isaac asks. "No. I was watching to see if there was since he was already acting strange but nothing." Kyle says leaning heavily in to the taller man. "How's Paul?" Danny asks walking in to the room. "Not his normal self." Isaac says concern heavy in his tone and scent. "Been a rough day for him. Remember getting knocked around isn't all that strange for us but he's a human who is still pretty new to our world."
Kyle frowns. "He feels like Paul on the bond but he's different…. Distant." "Give him some time." Derek says walking in to the room with Stiles. "Just keep an eye on him." Stiles says frowning a little at Derek. The wolves in the room all snap to attention when they hear the muted roar of Bumblebee starting. Isaac moves to race out the door but Derek grabs his arm. "Follow him with the bond."
"He's at Victor Bravo's." Peter says in to his phone. Having sensed Paul's general location Isaac had requested Peter use his ability to mask his presence from his pack mates to get close and see that Paul isn't't in danger. Paul had driven straight to the bar and was seated near the end of the crowded bar. "What is he doing there?" Isaac asks. "Drinking….. Heavily…" Peter says darkly. "Why…" Isaac starts. "I'll call you back if anything changes. Don't worry I'll keep an eye on him." Peter says before ending the call.
"Hey Tex." The familiar voice says. Paul looks up and see's Jeff smiling at him. "Hey Jeff, what's up?" Jeff shakes his head with a grin. "Not much just out for a drink or 4?" Jeff says glancing at the empty glasses the bartender whisks away as she sets a new drink down. Paul shrugs. He turns back to the bar and pats the stool next to him. Jeff slides his leg over the stool and sits down bumping Paul in the side. "What's wrong?" He asks noting Paul's rigid posture. Paul shrugs. "This-n-that." Jeff purses his lips a moment in thought and waves for the bartender. "Same." He says pointing to Paul's drink. Hey I was going to give you this Monday but now works too. I saw your watch on your desk and grabbed it. Didn't't want it to walk away." Jeff says pulling Paul's watch out and handing it to him. Paul blinks a moment some fuzzy mostly buried memory tied to his watch eluding his attempt to remember. "Thanks." He says simply slipping it on his wrist The two sit in silence for a few minutes. During which time Paul downs several drinks. "Everything hurts." Paul says finally. Jeff turns and looks at him. "I'm sore, and tired. I'm so tired of being in pain all the time." Paul says taking a long drink. "Have you seen a doctor?" Jeff asks leaning closer. Paul shrugs. "Not much they can do. I was….injured a few years ago. Things didn't't heal fully. I keep getting hurt. I've been given pain medication." "Does it not work?" Jeff asks scooting his stool a little closer and turning to face Paul. Peter bares his teeth and takes half a step forward when Jeff rests his hand on Paul's thigh. Paul shrugs again. "Taking medication…..There are….complications." "Sucks." Jeff says shaking his head and reaching around and giving Paul a brief hug. Paul hisses in pain. "Paul?" Jeff says in alarm before lifting Paul's shirt. "Holy shit!" Jeff exclaims when he sees all dark purple bruises, scars, and burn marks littering Paul's torso. Paul jerks his shirt down and glares at Jeff. "Paul….." Jeff says. "I know you're going to say this is none of my business but you're too cool a dude to have to go through this. That guy you're with… Did he do this?" He asks after a brief hesitation. "What?" Paul asks bracing himself on the bar and closing his eyes. "The guy your seeing did he hurt you?" Jeff asks firmly. "No. it's not them they'd never hurt me." "Them?" Jeff asks leaning back a bit. "They treat me like I'm made of glass." Paul says slurring his words some and swaying slightly. "You've had a ton to drink. Can I take you home?" Jeff asks as Paul downs another drink. "I probably shouldn't't drive." Paul mumbles as his foot slips off the stool causing him to lurch forward for a moment drawing a critical eye from the bartender. Peter steps out from the shadows with a charming smile on his face. "Paul?" He asks feigning surprise. "Funny meeting you here."
Paul looks up blearily and grins. "Hey Peter. Meet Jeff." "Hi Peter." Jeff says eyeing Peter and offering his hand with a stern look on his face. Peter shakes Jeff's hand his grip just this side of too strong causing Jeff to wince slightly. "I think I should probably take you home hmm?" Peter says placing his hand on Paul's shoulder somewhat possessively and sending a pulse over the bond meant to engender compliance. "I drove here." Paul says slowly his words becoming thick in his mouth as the extreme amount of alcohol he has consumed begins to take its toll. "No worries we'll get cars sorted out later. Very nice to meet you Jeff." Peter says with an air of dismissal. Paul stands obediently albeit slowly. "Bye Jeff I'll see you soon." Paul says heavily smiling. "You sure you'll be OK?" Jeff says eyeing Paul critically as Peter moves to guide his drunken pack mate from the bar. "He'd kill anyone who tried to hurt me." Paul says staggering slightly. Paul's statement draws a surprised look from Jeff. "I'm very protective of my friends." Peter says not bothering to make eye contact with Jeff.
Minutes later the two are in Peter's car headed towards the pack house. "Guess I'm in trouble if they sent you after me." Paul says quietly. He's reclined the seat slightly and has his eyes closed. "Just worried. After what happened today…" "Pull over. Pull over!" Paul yells. Peter swerves to the side of the road and stomps on the brake. Paul falls from the car and retches violently. "Oh god…" Paul moans as another wave hits him. Peter sighs rolling his eyes and puts the car in park before exiting and walking around. "Oh for the love of…" Peter exclaims when he sees Paul passed out in the grass. Thankfully next to and not in his sick. With another heavy sigh Peter hefts Paul and lays him down in the back seat. Back in the car he dials Isaac. "If your mate vomits in my car I'm sending you the cleaning bill." "He drank that much?" Isaac asks sadly. "Everyone needs to get over him smelly funny from taking pain medication. He told Jeff he's in pain all the time." Peter says with a scowl tilting the rear view mirror down so he can keep an eye on Paul. "Jeff was there?" Isaac growls. "You still can't eat him Isaac." Danny says from the back ground. There is the sound of a brief scuffle then Kyles voice comes over the phone. "He's OK though right? He's not hurt? He feels funny on the bond." "Don't worry he's fine." Peter says patiently. "He just had too much to drink. We'll be home soon. If you like I can take you to get your car."
Isaac and Kyle are both standing in front of the house when Peter pulls up. They are at the car and opening the door before Peter has even come to a full stop. Kyle delicately pulls Paul from the car and cradles him in his arms. Isaac wrinkles his nose at the smell of vomit while he runs his hand through Paul's hair soothingly. "Should we try and wake him up and get some water in him?" Kyle asks. "He's going to have a hangover otherwise." "Wouldn't hurt." Isaac says. "You got him?" The tall wolf asks sliding his hand from Paul's hair down to Kyle's arm where he squeezes softly. "Yeah." Kyle says his eyes not leaving Paul's face. "Let's go. Thanks Peter." Kyle says turning and walking slowly back to the house.
Once inside their bedroom Kyle lies Paul gently on the bed while Isaac runs a couple of wash rags under some warm water. Kyle removes Paul's clothes while Isaac cleans the remnants of Paul's sick from his face. Paul squirming and wrinkling his nose during the procedure. "Hey." Isaac says when Paul's left eye opens and focuses on him. "Hey." Paul answers back quietly his other eye opening and taking in the site of his two mates looking down at him. "Please don't look at me like that." Paul says turning over to face the wall. "Like what?" Kyle asks. "Like you don't know what to make of me. I'm still the same person guys. Just been a shit day. I don't always have the best judgement when bad things happen to me. If you guys could get drunk you probably would too sometimes." Paul says wrapping his arms around himself. "Baby." Isaac soothes sitting on the bed and giving Paul's arm a squeeze. Paul jerks up and gets off the bed. With out looking at either of his mates he walks towards the restroom. "I need to brush my teeth and shower." He says as he swings the bathroom door shut. Kyle's head snaps around and he stares at Isaac in dismay when they hear the door lock.