Chapter 03

Jimmy woke up sitting in an arm chair. Tim and Tony sitting on either side of him. Gibbs and his brother across from him. He stood to leave and four hands pulled him back into the chair and made him sit back down. A hand on each shoulder remained holding him in the chair. He glared furiously at Tim and Tony until they removed their hands off his shoulders. Then he moved his glare to his brother.

"James I believe I gave you an order. And instead of obeying me you ran. What do you have to say for yourself?" Clark said calmly.

Jimmy glared at him but didn't respond.

"You're only making it harder on yourself James. I know you don't want this but you don't have a choice. I am your Alpha and you will do as I say. Answer me what do you have to say for yourself." Clark said bringing a soft growl into his words as he spoke.

Jimmy's eyes shifted to green then back to blue as he remained quiet. But his glare intensified and his jaw hardened as he crossed his arms.

"Dam-it why do you have to be so stubborn? I'm not asking you to offer yourself to the new pack as anything but kin. Just join and let them look out for you as they help you find a mate. Aren't they already your friends and like your family? Would it be so hard to join there pack?" Clark said flabbergasted.

"I will never be in a pack or bow to another Alpha again. I don't answer to anyone but myself. Your my brother not my Alpha. I left that life behind me years ago." Jimmy said harshly his tone as close to growling as possible without actually growling.

Clark shook his head sadly at his younger brother. As Gibbs, Tony and Tim looked at the brother's in shock. They'd never heard Jimmy talk to anyone like that before. He was usually soft spoken and nervous as he spouted factoids and made uncomfortable comments. They never heard him so angry before.

Clark finally said with a sigh. "Jimmy I'm sorry but it doesn't work that way and you know it. When you left you were hurting and suffering in ways I couldn't even imagine. I didn't want to make it worse by forcing you to stay. So I didn't try to stop you and stopped anyone else from going after you. Several wanted you brought back and punished for leaving. Then force you to take your place in the pack, mate and all. I told them no you were to be left alone, until you turned 30. I was hoping you'd heal enough. So one day you could find your way back or find a pack that would accept you and you would accept them. When you found Gibbs I thought you had succeeded. Gibbs is a good Alpha that takes good care of his people. That's why I spoke to him about you joining his pack. You know our ways. If by 30 you have no mate one is found for you by your Alpha. If you don't joined a pack by then you know you have to return to us James."

"So things haven't changed since Uncle died? The Alpha still hides behind the old ways as he has his minions do his dirty work." Jimmy looked from Tony to Tim and sneered. "The guards may have changed but the message stayed the same. Your mine and I will do as I like with you and you will obey me. If I have to force you the pleasure will be mine, the pain all yours. So my lovely cub how much blood will you shed before you submit. When do the beatings and rapes start Clark? After all what else good am I as an unmated Submissive. So what did Alpha Gibbs give you for his new toy?"

Clark ignored the gasps and said angrily. "Dominates and Submissive alike are never forced to do anything they don't want to in my pack. Even if a mate has to be found for you. You will not be forced to mate until we find a good match for you and one you agree on. I am not our Uncle and love our pack. But keeping our pack safe and healthy is always priority. Because of that some of the old ways can't be ignored, you know this James. You also know I will never lay a hand on you other than to give you a hug, cuff your head or spank you James. The same things that I hear from speaking with Alpha Gibbs and his pack members. That he both agrees with and does as well with his own pack. You've known Alpha Gibbs and his people for three years have they ever harmed you? Forced you to do anything against your will?"

Jimmy looked away.

Clark nodded and continued. "By your lack of answer. I'll take that as a no. To answer your other baseless but insulting question. Alpha Gibbs gave me nothing and neither of us will buy or sell you or anyone. We are not pimps or the pack members we love and cherish property up for sale to the highest bidder. Stop this James you are being insulting to both me and Gibbs both as Alpha's and to Gibbs pack members that care about you. You need to agree to join Gibbs pack now."

Jimmy said firmly. "No. You are not my Alpha and I will not bow to another Alpha or join another pack."

Gibbs for the first time spoke softly. "Why? You've been a member of our extended family for three years. Why not make it official?"

Jimmy closed his eyes the last thing he wanted was to hurt any of them but he couldn't. He said brokenly. "I can't Agent Gibbs. It's not that I don't care about you all I do. I just can't."

"Can't or won't Palmer. I want an explanation. I think I deserve one after all. Hell the pack that took you in as one of us deserves one. You've been on my team and worked with my people for three years and told no one you were a shifter. Which in its self was dangerous. Then on top of that I get a call one night from your brother asking me to accept you into our pack. Then the next day when the pack wanted to talk to you about it, you just disappear. No explanation just gone. Ducky appearing upstairs asking where you are. Do you have any idea how worried he's been? How worried we've all been about you? The least you can do is answer. It is a simple question James. Why can't you join the pack your already a part of?" Gibbs ordered a growl in his voice as he spoke.

Jimmy glared and again his eyes shifted from blue to green but this time they stayed green as he fought the order. He gave a small whimper as he fought to not answer and keep silent. Sweat breaking out as he closed his eyes and fought harder.

Clark gasped and he said pleased putting a growl in his voice with more power. "You've already accepted Gibbs as your Alpha and his pack as your own haven't you?"

Jimmy clenched his teeth and said. "No. I have No Alpha, No Pack."

"Then why are you struggling against his order to answer him? You almost completely ignore me. Although I admit your eyes did shifted for a second. But now with Gibbs your eyes shifted and you're sweating James. You must have accept him on some level. But then wh…" Clark said and stopped as his eyes widened. He turned to Gibbs and said. "Cancel it. Be gentle and use his given name James. Now before he hurts himself and tell him to relax."

Gibbs frowned not happy at being ordered. He looked over at Jimmy. He was sweating a lot now and shaking. He said gently. "James relax you don't have to answer."

Jimmy against his will sagged into the chair and relaxed. He whimpered as he curled up in the chair.

"What was that Clark?" Gibbs demanded.

"In a minute. Jimmy who is it?" Clark asked gently.

Jimmy curled more in on himself and shook his head.

Gibbs glared at Clark and said. "What the hell is going on?"

Clark sighed and turned to Gibbs and said. "James before he realized you were shifters must have seen you as the head of your family. The father figure if you will. Somehow he found out you were shifters and he realized you were the Alpha. So he started fighting it and distancing himself from you and the pack."

Gibbs nodded as did Tony and Tim.

Gibbs asked. "How did he find out?"

Clark looked over to see Jimmy shaking his head. He said. "I have to James. They need to know and we both know you won't tell them."

Jimmy whimpered and shook his head rapidly.

Clark got up to comfort Jimmy. But sighed when his brother flinched and moved as far back in the chair as he could. He sighed again when saw the three men glaring at him. He sat back down not wanting to make things worse. Clark looking sadly at his brother said. "I think he realized his mate is a member of your pack. It makes sense he can fight me with little to no effort. But you Gibbs it takes an effort for Jimmy to ignore your orders. Since you haven't officially made him a pack member. Jimmy should be able to choose to obey you or not. Even if he feels the need to obey. He should be able to choose not to and not suffer at the choice. Which means he would still follow my orders as I am still technically his Alpha. That is until you accept him into your pack. The only way that would change is if his mate see's you as his Alpha. With James's mate being the Dominate and James the Submissive. James would feel an echo of his mates bond with the Alpha of his pack. They're not mated so he's fighting both instinct to go to his mate and accepting his mates Alpha as his own. Until James accepts both he can refuse your orders but it costs him. I'm not sure about his mate though. I think as his dominate he will have to follow his orders mated or not. I honestly am not sure. I've never had a submissive refuse to mate with his dominate before. So this is unfamiliar territory for me."

Gibbs closed his eyes as Jimmy whimpered. He reopened them and said quietly and gently in a normal voice. "Jimmy who is it?"

Jimmy shook his head.

Clark said. "How many in your pack are unmated?"

Gibbs glared and said. "We're a small pack and most of us are unmated. I've never enforced the old ways of mating. I myself am unmated. Only two of our pack are mated and they have cubs."

"Alright so we test it. Since you three are unmated let's start with you three." Clark said.

Jimmy lifted his head and snarled. "Neither of you are my Alpha to demand I do this."

Clark sighed and said. "Fine you don't to want to acknowledge ether of us as your Alpha. We can play it that way. As an unmated submissive I can as both the Head of the Palmer Family and the oldest Dominate order you to do as I say. You agreeing one way or the other doesn't matter. I don't have to be your Alpha to give you orders James. I just never have knowing you would resent it after. I don't want to force this but be stubborn and I will. Finding out if one of them is your mate that can protect you is worth that resentment later."

Jimmy gulped and tried his best to hide the fact he was shaking. He said quietly trying and failing to hide the fear in his voice. "What do I have to do?"

Clark let out the breath he hadn't even been aware he was holding that he wasn't fighting him. He hated that his little brother was now scared of him but they could work that out later. He said gently. "It is very simple. Have each of them give you a simple order. Fight it if you can. But if you follow it. Then it's a simple test before you bond with them. After you're bonded you'll join Gibbs pack with your mate. However if you don't follow any orders or pass out fighting them. Then we keep trying until the entire pack has tried. If nothing happens with any of them your free to do as you chose. That is until your birthday five months from now. I'm sorry Jimmy that I can't change. I hope you won't make me search for you but I have a feeling you will."

Jimmy glared and said. "I haven't slept in two days and ate very little when I finally was able to get into my own house. Due to no sleep and very little food. My defenses are down it won't be a fair test."

Clark smirked and nodded he said. "That's fair if you give your word you'll stay here. I can return in the morning so you can rest and eat properly. I don't think it will make a difference but I want to be fair."

Jimmy looked at Gibbs and said. "And you three?"

"Are not leaving pass or fail. Mate or not you're one of mine. Although I admit you having a mate among us will make it easier." Gibbs said.

Jimmy sighed and curled up in the chair his head on his knees and said. "We might as well do the test now so you all can leave. Because when nothing happens there is no reason for any of you to stay."

Clark clapped his hands together ignoring what Jimmy said and said cheerfully. "Ok on with the test that. Gentlemen if you three will move clear away from James and each other. Feel free to take a chair with you. No need to be uncomfortable as you wait your turn."

Gibb sat at the dinner table on the far wall. Tony chose to sit in front of the fireplace and sat on a chair already there. Tim frowned not seeing many choices left before sitting on the last step leading upstairs.

Clark grinned approving the choices the men made. The three were as far from each other as they could be and still be in the same room. He said. "Good now that everyone is all set. Now on with what you each need to do. Each of you with your normal human voices loud or soft doesn't matter but leave your wolves out of it. Each of you will give James here a simple order. You will need to give him the order separately. Remember to keep it a simple order and something that can be seen if he chooses to refuse it. Also although you will be using your normal voice I must insist you use his given name James. We will wait five minutes and have you cancel it. No need to harm him. We'll also give him a few minutes in between to collect himself we want it to be fair after all. Nothing embarrassing please. As I call your name. Gibbs please go first."

"James go upstairs and pack your gear." Gibbs said.

Jimmy's eyes flashed from the blue they had gone back to, to green. He lifted his head from his knees but other than that and shaking he didn't move.

After Five minutes Clark had Gibbs cancel the order and Jimmy relaxed his eyes going back to Blue. He before anyone could stop him went into the kitchen and stayed gone a few minutes. Returning with a large sandwich and a double shot Starbucks mocha coffee drink. Clark smirked but said nothing until he finished his food. When Jimmy was done Clark said. "Tony."

"James go get me one of the coffee drinks."

The minute the words left Tony. Jimmy's eyes flashed green and he growled deep in his throat for the entire five minutes glaring in challenge at Tony. Clark instructed Tony to cancel the order after 5 minutes. Tony raised an eyebrow at Jimmy for the reaction but did as asked. Jimmy continued growling until he eyes changed back then he stopped looking at Tony and looked at Tim waiting.

After giving him a few minutes to regroup Clark nodded to Tim.

Softly Tim said. "James stay in the chair and shift."

Jimmy went wide eyed. He closed his eyes as they shifted to green and his teeth grew as he started to growl and whimper. He fought it every step of the way which made it very painful but he shifted and try as he might he stayed in the chair. When the shift was complete he heard movement above him. He kept his eyes closed as he lay panting in the chair. Not wanting to move or even breath to hard he just hurt too badly. When he felt a gentle hand lay on his side. Jimmy tried to force himself to growl or move away but didn't have the energy to. He heard soft words of comfort which he ignored as he whimpered and finally managed a weak growl. The person sighed and gave a soft order. Unable to fight it he started shifting back by the time he was human again he had passed out.