A/N – Usual disclaimers apply, I do not own anything and if I did then M7 and Sentinel would still be going.
Poor Ezra and Chris I'm abusing them again hehehe. Any reviews are greatly appreciated.
Sentinel Legend:
Chris sat bolt upright in bed growling, he was surrounded by his pack. His green eyes flashed dangerously as he continued to snarl angrily. Buck put his hand on Chris shoulder and he flinched at the anger raging through his closest friend and leader of their pack.
"Big dog what's going on?" Buck pushed against Chris attempting to link, the Alpha turned blazing green eyes on his second in command.
"Ezra." Chris snarled he pulled Buck to him and showed the man what he had witnessed in the spirit plane.
Buck felt anger fill him as he witnessed the red wolf's pain, he heard the laughing from afar, and it sounded like a pack of hyenas. Buck saw Chris nod to confirm that thought.
"We need to get to him Buck." Chris got out the bed, he still felt exhausted but his red pack mate needed him.
"Where?" Nathan looked to Chris.
"Atlanta." Chris headed to the bathroom.
"Right." Josiah left the bedroom he picked up the phone and began to make requests.
Ezra Standish looked around what was essentially his prison, he had been released from hospital after the bust had gone wrong to find a security detail from the Atlanta Sentinel and Guide Foundation waiting to take him to the large sprawling Foundation compound found half and hour from Atlanta, he was told that he was under investigation for actions detrimental to the Sentinel and Guide code, and that his supervisor within the FBI had suspended him pending a internal investigation into his actions.
Ezra had limped after the four security guards, his arm was immobilised against his chest as his shoulder had been dislocated, the bullet had luckily just grazed him, the doctor had wanted to keep him longer but the Sentinel who had led the security team told the doctor that the medical staff at the Foundation would look after the injured man.
Ezra kept quiet as the four young men led him to the large four by four, he had a bad feeling about the men, he knew of them as they where friends of the son of the sentinel who was Alpha and leader of the Atlanta pride. The door of the car opened and Ezra saw to his dismay the young man grinning at him.
"Well well guide get in." The leering sentinel laughed at the injured guide.
Ezra bolstered his shields as he felt the excitement and anticipation build in the man leering at him, he laughing companions bundled him into the car and the driver sped off.
Ezra struggled against the numerous hands touching his body and battering against his weakening shield, he could hear the young sentinels laughing as they ripped at his mental barriers. Ezra knew that the Morgan Coltrane the Atlanta Alpha Sentinel allowed his son to intimidate those sentinels and guides weaker than him and his cronies, the young sentinel seemed to think that it was his right to dominate others. Ezra rarely got involved with the pride but it seemed like he would be here until he could make his escape.
The car pulled into the grounds of the Foundation building situated outside of Atlanta, the young sentinels exited the car's laughing and joking, they pulled the injured man with them. Alpha Morgan Coltrane stood watching his oldest son, he smiled as the handsome youngster pushed the guide in front of his father. His guide and wife looked down her nose at the dishevelled guide who stood shaking and pale in front of the Alpha pair.
"Guide Standish you're a disgrace." Alpha Alice Coltrane sneered at the sickly looking man. "You have brought this institute into disrupt because of you immoral actions."
Ezra just shivered his barriers completely gone, he felt the Alpha distain for him, he flinched as the driver gently took his arm, and he was surprised by the lack of animosity or ill will coming from the small man.
"Take Standish to be assess by the doctor then he is to be placed in a private secure room until we decide what is to be done with him." Alpha Sentinel Coltrane ordered, he turned back to his wife and guide.
"I'm sorry." The smaller man gently guided the injured man further into the Foundation building, passing the curious stares and whispers of Atlanta pride members and mundane who had business at the Sentinel and Guide Foundation. Ezra kept his head down as he felt all the emotions buffeting him. He was soon in the medical centre being examined by a mundane doctor who tutted at his injuries and then Ezra knew no more as he allowed the welcoming darkness to embrace him.
"Chris if where going to Atlanta then you need to eat and then go lie down again." Nathan handed the blond a bottle of water.
"I'm not hungry." Chris hated that his missing pack member was suffering.
Josiah walked back to the other men he had good news and bad news, he heard his guide telling the Alpha that he wanted the man to eat.
"Josiah?" Buck looked at the profiler.
"Alpha Bryce has put the Boston Foundation private jet at our disposal, but there has been a bomb threat alert at the airport so they are not sure when flights will resume." Josiah could see the disappointment on his pack mates faces. "As soon as we can be fitted in someone will let us know, but we could be talking either much later tonight or tomorrow morning."
Buck looked at the clock he could see that it was only just after nine o'clock in the morning.
"That settles it then." Nathan was determined he would win this battle. " Chris you'll eat and then rest."
Chris glared at the well meaning man, he could see it was having no effect as the taller man simply folded his arms across his chest and returned the glare.
"Come on Big Dog." Buck cajoled he could see that Chris was still exhausted. Although JD and Vin looked a lot better than before, they could still do with some rest.
"Fine if it makes you happy I'll eat something." Chris stomped over to where the food had been laid out, he starred at the items, and he had turned down his sense of smell as the idea of eating was not really appealing to him.
"It won't bite you Cowboy." Vin stood at the other man's elbow.
"Don't call me Cowboy." Chris picked up a cup and poured himself some coffee, he picked up some toast and then sat down beside Buck who quirked his eyebrow at the toast. "Its food isn't it."
Buck smiled at the glare being shot his way, he heard JD laugh nervously from his seat next to the long haired Texan.
"Don't worry JD Chris don't mean to be so grumpy." Buck laughed as Chris shot him the finger.
Nathan watched as Chris slowly ate the toast and drank the coffee, the blond coughed but he managed to eat two whole slices before he gave up.
"I think you should lie down now." Nathan could see the stubborn tilt to Chris head.
"Hey Big Dog I'll give you a massage to relax you." Buck cracked his knuckles.
"I ain't one of your women Buck." Chris replied.
"Come on." Buck pulled the thin man up right and pushed him towards the bedroom, he pushed him onto the bed. "You need to relax and this will help."
Chris bounced on the bed from where Buck had pushed him. Buck stood grinning at him, he glared at the jovial man, and Buck went into the bathroom he returned with a bottle of massage oil.
"Buck." Chris started.
"Chris it'll help you to relax that's all." Buck did not know what the problem was he nudged Chris and the man rolled onto his stomach, Chris rested his head on his arms he was still tense.
Buck hummed as he poured oil onto his hands he began to rub at the rigid shoulders, working on the knotted muscles he found, he was gentle keenly aware of the bruises that covered the silent mans body. Buck straddled the other man and he smiled as he felt Chris drop his shields and link with him. Buck finally felt Chris relax and he smiled as the Alpha began to rumble approvingly as Buck's large hands soothed his tired muscles.
Buck leant forward and began to instinctively imprint his Alpha, he began to purr as he sniffed and stroke the thin man, he moved his hand gently down Chris's body, he grumbled as he encountered clothes, Chris snorted as Buck stripped him and carried on with his imprinting. Buck tugged gently and Chris rolled onto his back, Chris tilted his head as Buck sniffed his neck, the link hummed with life between them, Buck rested his head over Chris's heart, mesmerised by the strong steady beat. Chris struggled not to cough and disturb the other sentinel, but he could not help himself as he coughed harshly, Buck waited for the coughing fit to end and then he continued with his imprint. Chris closed his eyes as he felt the other man's desire to protect him, and pass on his strength; Chris yawned and blinked sleepily at Buck whose eyes burned brightly as the power arced between them.
Buck made to move away, but his hand was caught he was pulled next to Chris as the blond scented him; Buck kept still as the long fingers stroked his face. He waited to see what Chris would do next, looking down on Chris he saw that the man was now completely relaxed and he seemed to be asleep. Buck crawled off the bed and made to leave the room.
"You ok Buck?" JD asked he was shocked when the large sentinel plucked him from the chair and began to snuffle him, JD felt the man gently pushing at his shield he immediately dropped them, Buck gently stroked JD's back as he felt the guide's fear.
"He won't hurt you JD." Vin could see that Buck was moving on instinct now, the moustached man wanted to do a partial imprint of the new members of his Alpha's pack.
"I have never been with a sentinel before." JD stammered.
"He just wants to make sure you're ok." Vin again spoke to reassure the guide as Buck looked over to the long haired sentinel who waited patiently, he purred as he gently stroked the young guide who basked in the attention he was receiving.
Buck released JD and moved to where Vin sat he snuffled the other sentinel and was scented in return, he nipped the younger man who snorted in response. JD found himself sandwiched between Josiah and Nathan as he was hugged and scented, he was invited to link with the other men, he jumped in with both feet.
Kojay smiled as he watched the pack bonding, he looked towards the darkened bedroom, and he made out the green eyes watching in approval at the actions of the pack.
Matt Coltrane smirked as he looked down on the guide who writhed in pain on the bed; he was going to have such fun with the man. The young sentinel knew that his father thought that guides should be made to bond with sentinel's as soon as they came online and where adults, as he believed that guides where there to support sentinels. Matt just liked the thought of having a guide at his mercy, he and his friends would mock bond with this guide and if they hurt him then that would just be the weak man's fault.
Ezra struggled not to whimper, he had been given some drugs to lower his barriers as the Atlanta Alpha pair wanted to interrogate him before the senior members of the pride for supposed bringing the pride into disrepute. He should have run when he had the chance, and now he could feel the young sentinel's intentions to have some twisted kind of fun with him. He suddenly realised that the other members of the young sentinel's gang had quietly entered the room, one of them locked the door, and they crowded round the bed.
"Let's have some fun boys." Matt chuckled as he pulled the guide upright ignoring the mans cry of pain.
Chris curled up into the foetal position, blocking the other members of his pack he focused on the traumatised guide. Chris bit his lip as he concentrated on the other man.
Ezra fought the gang of men; his body screamed at him to just give in an let the men do what they wanted with him, he felt their enjoyment of his pain as they pushed into his mind.
Ezra spotted the silver wolf, he held his hand out to it, suddenly Ezra felt a powerful presence in his mind, he heard a howl of rage and suddenly the unwanted hands touching him pulled away. He felt a shield settle over his traumatised psyche, he shuddered and then allowed himself to pass out.
"What the hell was that?" Matt Coltrane yelled as he held his hand close to his body, he and his friends had received what could only be described as an electric shock from the now unconscious guide.
"No idea." His cousin Martin replied he gave the guide and evil glare, he jumped back as a huge silver wolf with fiery green eyes straddled the now sleeping guide, the animal was snarling at them.
"Do you see that?" The youngest of the sentinels asked he began to back away as the wolf growled angrily at them.
"It's him he's making us see things." Matt snapped he went towards the wolf, he would show them he was not afraid.
Teeth snapped at the hand he held out to touch the huge animal, Matt shrieked, he had felt the snap so close to his fingers that he was surprised he had not been bitten.
"I'm getting out of here before it attacks us." Martin was soon followed by all the others, Matt headed straight to see his father.
Chris panted as the pain threatened to overwhelm him, he simply thrust it to the back of his mind as he focused on rebuilding the now sleeping guides barriers, he would not leave the man undefended, especially when there was going to be a delay in getting to the other man to rescue him and bring him into the pack.
Buck's head tilted he realised that he was not getting anything from the sleeping man, he could not hear Chris's breathing or heartbeat, and that scared the big man, he stood up and rushed to the bedroom, the others sensing his distress rushed after him.
Chris groaned as he finally rebuilt the damaged shields, he slowly pulled back from the other man.
Buck could see Chris's body arch as he began to convulse, Nathan rushed passed the stunned man to aide his Alpha.
Nathan saw the convulsion end and Chris's body sag, he realised that the thin blond was not breathing he immediately began to resuscitate him, Josiah moved to help.
"OH God." Buck could not believe what was happening.
"Cowboy." Vin watched in horror as the men fought to make the man breath.
Buck felt JD put a hesitant hand on his shoulder he pulled the young guide close. JD immediately returned the larger mans hug. They both watched silently as Nathan and Josiah fought to bring the still man back.
"No don't you dare do this Chris." Buck almost yelled. "Not when I've just got you back."
Nathan felt the sick man take a breath and then another, he sagged in relief, Chris sat up, the man turned an interesting shade of green, he struggled off the bed and stumbled into the bathroom, dropping to his knees Chris began to vomit into the toilet. Nathan and the others stood stunned for all of two seconds before they charged after the other man.
Chris rested his head against the toilet he felt Nathan rubbing his back, he saw Josiah hand the dark healer a glass full of water, Nathan offered this to Chris who gratefully took it and rinsed his mouth out.
"What the hell happened Chris?" Buck demanded an answer as he watched Nathan help the naked man to his feet.
"Nothing Buck." Chris did not look at the other man.
Buck knew that Chris was lying to him; he followed the wavering Chris who was being helped by Nathan back into the bedroom. Buck growled angrily, he would not allow the sick man to endanger himself, he decided that he would not let Chris shut him out. Decision made Buck waited for Nathan to release Chris before he pounced, he pushed the blond against the wall, using his larger frame he pinned Chris against the wall, he ignored the other men and pushed against the shield stopping him from linking with his Alpha, he felt the man resist and Buck growled, he felt Chris struggle, but Buck was not to be swayed he bit down on Chris neck marking his Alpha.
Chris panicked as he felt himself pinned unable to move, in his weakened state he could not move the stronger larger man off him, and he felt Buck push against his shield, Chris eyes nearly rolled back in his head as pain engulfed him. His shield failed as his closest friend marked him and the two men linked, Chris was unable to stop Buck from seeing everything that had occurred with him protecting the Atlanta guide.
Buck's hold changed as soon as he felt Chris allow him to link, his arms went round the other man as Chris went limp in his arms. Buck learnt everything he needed to about what happened in Atlanta. He could feel Chris panting and whining in pain, Buck began soothing the man's overworked pathways, and he gently ran his hands over the other man as he scented his Alpha.
"I'm sorry." Chris groaned, he rested his head on Buck's broad shoulder.
Nathan wanted to hit Buck, the man had obviously hurt Chris with his rough treatment, but why was Chris apologising to the taller sentinel.
Vin had been stunned by the previously jovial mans actions but he had not interfered.
JD was hugging himself he was confused by the friendly sentinel's actions towards the injured Alpha.
Josiah sighed he new that Buck was angry with Chris but he had been like the others shocked by the attack on the sick man.
Buck's head lifted he looked at the others he took one of his hands off Chris and held it out to Nathan who slowly took his hand, Josiah placed his hand on Nathan's shoulder as Buck linked with the two men, Josiah held his hand out to Vin and JD, Vin did not hesitate to take the large hand in his, he looked to JD and smiled holding out his hand the youngster placed his hand in his.
Buck allowed the men to link with him and in turn the exhausted Alpha, the men gasped as they learnt what their Alpha had done to protect their missing pack brother.
"How can he do these things?" Nathan whispered to himself.
"Who knows how but I'm so glad he can." JD shyly answered the other guide.
"Buck you hurt him." Vin could see his words hit Buck like a savage punch.
"I'm fine." Chris tiredly defended his closest friend. "I should not have tried to lie to you."
Green eyes met blue and Buck nodded he helped Chris to the bed.
"Any news on when we can go to Ezra?" Chris wanted to leave as soon as possible.
"I'll go check." Josiah moved to the other room to phone downstairs for information.
"Chris I want to examine you." Nathan went to get his bag; he would not be put off.
"JD are you alright." JD looked at Chris who smiled tiredly at him.
"I'm fine." JD glared at Buck who had chuckled at his response.
"Buck didn't hurt me son, I trust him." Chris could tell the young guide had been frightened by Buck's aggression.
"He bit you." JD looked at the bruise forming on the pale neck; he was surprised that Chris was still allowing the taller sentinel to hold him.
"Don't worry about it JD, Buck was doing what's best for the pack." Chris looked at the other man.
"But he's not supposed to hurt you like that." JD stubbornly insisted.
"JD come here." Chris patted the bed next to him; JD huffed as he climbed onto the bed next to the pale exhausted looking man.
Chris waited for JD to get close, he pulled the younger man against him, he gently encouraged JD to link with him, Chris then proceeded to show JD some of the memories he had of Buck, and he felt the object of his memories settle on the bed behind him.
Buck smiled as he saw what Chris was showing the guide, he frowned when Nathan began to examine Chris, he could see that the healer was not happy with what he was getting from the coughing Alpha.
JD felt tears fill his eyes as he watched the birth of Chris son, with Buck being actively involved by rushing the expectant parents to the hospital and keeping Chris calm when the birth did not go as planned. JD saw how Buck was an integral part of the Larabee family life.
JD held Chris tightly as he felt a muffled sob from the other man as the scene changed to one of devastation; he witnessed how Buck supported the other man as they stood in the mortuary looking down on the bodies of Sarah and Adam Larabee. JD could only watch in dismay as Chris pushed the big hearted rogue away, and how eventually Chris had succeeded. JD watched intently as Buck came back into Chris's life after the kidnapping he felt Chris's happiness as his friendship was renewed with the other sentinel, he saw the events in Denver and it dawned on JD that Chris was not whole without Buck by his side.
Buck could feel the heartbreaking sobs wracking the too thin frame; JD brown eyes looked deeply into his own sorrow filled ones, as their Alpha keened in deeply felt despair.
Nathan did not like the readings he was getting from the distraught Alpha, the sick man's temperature was much higher than normal, he was shaking as he sobbed, struggling to draw a complete breath into his lungs.
JD withdrew from Chris's mind as the keening man turned and buried his head against his best friend. Buck looked as upset as Chris, but he was managing to hold it together to try to help Chris who seemed to have completely broken down after seeing his own memories played back to him.
Josiah stood watching the scene, he had made arrangements for the men to travel to Atlanta, and he would tell the others of his plans once Chris was himself again.
"It was all my fault." Chris's despair was clear to all the men. "I should have died instead."
"No Chris it wasn't your fault." Buck felt the other man cling desperately to him
"I should have killed myself when I had the chance." Chris quiet words impacted on all the men gathered around him.
"No Chris." Buck felt Chris's panting breaths against his throat; he looked to Nathan for help. "You have a pack that needs you, I need you, don't leave me."
"Chris you need to calm down." Nathan could hear the man's panicked breaths as he struggled with his despair.
"I killed them." Chris groaned his chest hurt as he coughed.
"No some murdering scum bag did." Buck felt Nathan attempting to link with Chris, he wondered what the doctor planned.
"Let me help you Chris." Nathan felt the other man allow him to link, Nathan immediately began to try to help the sentinel slow his breathing and calm.
Buck also linked with the two men and he began to breathe in time with Nathan, he felt immense pride as the other men also linked and also began to help their Alpha.
Chris felt the pain lesson as his pack surrounded him; he relaxed against the larger man.
Nathan pulled back from the bond, he noted that the others looked more relaxed, he could still hear the blond man breathing but at least now it was slow and steady, even if it was interspersed with bouts of harsh coughing.
"Brothers they can not give me any definite time for when the airport will be reopened and flights will resume." Josiah quietly told the men.
"We need to get to Atlanta." Chris knew Josiah had more to tell them.
"I believe that we should drive to Atlanta." Josiah could see that Nathan was not happy. "The Boston Alpha has offered a sentinel friendly RV and it should take less that twenty four hours to drive to Atlanta, if we swap drivers regularly."
"Chris isn't well enough." Nathan began.
"When can we leave?" Chris ignore Nathan's protest/
"The RV is being readied as we speak." Josiah could see the glare Nathan was directing his way.
"Great everybody get ready." Chris ordered, he struggled to sit up.
"There are some conditions to this plan." Nathan was a doctor and he would have his say regarding the health and well being of his pack.
"Nathan." Chris began.
"No Chris I am a doctor a guide and a member of this pack and you will listen to what I have to say." Nathan fairly growled his answer.
Chris hid a smile at Nathan's demand to be heard.
"Fine." Chris meekly muttered.
"Right." Nathan looked surprised at how quickly the other man had given in; he waited for the other man to say something else. "Well then."
"Yes Nathan?" Chris tilted his head listening intently.
"You, Vin and JD will get as much rest as you can, eat and drink as much as you can." Nathan scowled at the calm looking Alpha. "Chris I want to set up a drip as you're extremely dehydrated and also you're fighting a chest infection we need to get on top of."
"Can it wait until where on the road?" Chris could feel Buck's surprise, he nudged the other man.
"What was that for Big Dog?" Buck smirked at the other man who glared back at him.
"You know what." Chris turned his attention back to Nathan.
"OK." Nathan was just glad Chris was not fighting him on his recommendations.
"What are we waiting for?" Chris was stopped from moving by Buck.
"We all need to pack and get dressed first Chris." Buck chuckled Chris snorted.
"Me and JD don't have any clothes." Vin drawled.
"That's been taken care of." Josiah smiled at the two men.
"Oh alright." JD saw the sentinel's look towards the door, where a knock sounded.
"That should be the clothes now." Josiah went to open the door, he allowed the men carrying the various boxes etc to enter. "JD, Vin I had some t-shirts and jeans as well as some shoes brought here for you to select."
JD and Vin went to Josiah's side; the two men encouraged by both Josiah and Kojay selected some clothes that fit.
"I will send on your belongings when you and your pack settle in Denver." Kojay promised his young friend.
"Thank you." Vin smiled at Kojay whose kind eyes look fondly at him.
"You can accompany us if you want." Chris offered the older man.
"No this path is for you to travel as a pack." Kojay felt that his time with Vin was coming to an end, he would see the man again but it was time to separate from the pack.
"Will I see you again?" Vin felt saddened by Kojay's refusing to come with them.
"Of course you will my son." Kojay embraced the young sentinel; he smiled to himself as he was snuffled.
Vin released the small native American man who had been the closest thing to a father the young Tanner had ever known.
A short time later the men where waiting dressed and packed for their Alpha to come out of the bedroom. The man appeared dressed from head to toe in black, he strode towards them and refused to give in to his pain and exhaustion, his missing pack mate needed him and he would get to Atlanta no matter the cost to himself.
The black RV stood waiting for the men, Josiah got behind the wheel he waited for the others to sit down, and as soon as they did he headed out into the Boston traffic.
Nathan moved to where Chris sat looking out of one of the large windows.
"Chris I want you to come lie down and let me start an IV." Nathan wanted his Alpha as strong as possible for whatever awaited them in Atlanta.
"I'm fine Nathan." Chris watched the scenery pass.
"No Chris you're not and I am the pack healer so please listen to me." Nathan grabbed his Alpha's hand and pulled the man to his feet.
"Don't make him bring out the big needles." Buck grinned at the twin glares he received from both men.
"Yeah Chris you could end up as Nathan's pin cushion." JD sniggered at his own joke; he hid behind Buck as Chris glared at him.
"Get him in the butt Nathan." Vin also his behind Buck, his blue eyes happily laughing at the glaring Alpha.
"Sit down brothers." Josiah boomed as he watched the men in his mirror.
"Sure Josiah." Buck joined the men in sniggering as Chris pouted and stomped his way to the large couch.
"I'm Alpha and I get no respect." Chris grumbled as he threw himself on the couch, bouncing he glared as the other men laughed at him. "Shoot ya all."
Vin patted the prone mans shoulder as Nathan set up the fluids and other medications he wanted to give the sick Larabee. Nathan used an alcohol wipe to clean the area he was going to put the needle in. Vin snorted as he found himself pulled onto the couch next to Chris as the blond scented him, he relaxed in the sick man's hold snuffling Chris in return.
Nathan rubbed the thin back as he listened to Chris snuffle at the Texan sentinel's neck.
Vin hated the smell of sickness that was coming off the rumbling blond, he hope that Chris recovered soon, but he had the feeling that things where going to get worse before they got better.
Vin felt Chris's begin to cough harshly; the coughing seemed to rattle the man's very bones. Vin helped the man sit up, and rubbed the thin back as the man struggled through the severe coughing fit. Nathan moved to sit next to Chris and he joined Vin in offering what comfort he could to the sick man.
Chris was really sick of the cough now, his chest hurt and he felt like he was going to throw up. He could feel both Vin and Nathan rubbing his back and now his sense of touch was beginning to spike, the men offering comfort where now causing him pain, but he could not tell them this as he was still overcome with coughing.
Buck and JD where sat on the opposite couch, Buck was frowning as Chris coughed, he looked closely at the blond man he could see that the coughing was causing tears to leak from his tightly closed eyes. Buck was sure that the man was becoming even paler and Buck had not thought that was possible. He could only sit, wait and watch as his friend suffered, but Buck thought he was missing something.
JD looked closely at Chris, the tightly closed eyes and the clenched fists baffled him, he cringed each time Chris coughed as the noise was very disconcerting as it had to be hurting the sick man.
Chris could not escape the pain, he could not tell the others what he was feeling as he was struggling to get enough oxygen not to pass out, in fact Chris thought that passing out would be a great option. Every well meaning stroke of the two men's hands on his back felt like they where clawing and stabbing at him. Chris moaned, but the torture continued.
"You're hurting him."