right - this was another chapter that didn't want to get written, actually have two versions, the first one is how it came out naturally - and totally fucked up the rest of the story basically ending it there.

So i re wrote it, and that's what i've posted here. It's not overly long and has a bit of an evil ending but next chapter should be good. and yes there are a lot of legal plot holes here, watch your feet.

I'm going to put the first version at the end of the chapter, only because i want to know what people would think of it. One of the reasons i changed it was that it was getting a bit too close to home for me and i ended up a tad upset - stupid really but it wouldn't have worked with the plot anyway.

So at the bold break you can either skip to the end, leaving a review of course or you can see how it went at first, though i'll probably delete that part when its finished.

Phew long note

Phoe
xxxx

Chapter 11

Ichigo wouldn't open the door. Not after Grimmjow asking, pleading or even demanding Ichigo answer him. All he heard was the sound of Ichigo crying which eventually died off, the boy either asleep or out of the hall. Grimmjow sat in the stairwell between the outer clinic door and the inner house door for the rest of the night, eventually dozing off himself, leaning against the wall and door as he dropped off.

He was woken the next day by the outer door opening with a bang as the girls were brought home, the sight of the large blue haired man sitting in the stairwell making the twins panic and run up, Karin pulling the key out of her pocket. Grimmjow went to follow them into the house but Karin blocked his way, slamming the door in his face before he could get up. "If he didn't want you in the house, I'm not letting you in." The girl's words were final but Grimmjow had caught sight of the boy in question lying out on the floor of the hall, tears staining his sleeping face.

He got up and started banging on the door, calling out Ichigo's name and asking the girls to let him in. Starrk called his name from the foot of the stairs, having witnessed the girls rejection of his step son.

"Grimmjow, what's going on?"

The boy sank to the step again, facing down towards the older man and covering his face with his hands. "I lost my temper."

"Well we both know that isn't an unusual thing for you. But that doesn't explain why you slept in the stairwell." Starrk came up and sat down next to him.

"He's been weird with me for a couple of weeks, not wanting to get close to me. Then this dick at school starts on me saying Ichigo's been cheating on me with everyone so I kicked his ass but Ichigo went mental at me, he hates me treating him like a chick. Anyway Ichigo comes home last night after work and he's in the shower and I see he's got like hickeys on his chest and finger prints on his hips, bruises and stuff. I tried asking him about it but he wouldn't tell me. I asked him if he'd been forced but he didn't say anything. I don't know what happened but he freaked out at me and threw me out. Then he wouldn't let me back in when I'd calmed down, he was just crying in the hall I could hear him. He was still there this morning, I saw him when the girls opened the door, just lying on the floor with tears on his face. If he's been raped why wouldn't he tell me? I don't understand why he'd cheat on me; I thought we were doing alright."

"So basically you shouted at him and upset him even though you knew he might have been raped against his will? I am seriously considering throwing you down the stairs right now." Starrk held the car key out to him. "Go and wait in the car, in the passenger's seat." Grimmjow went to argue but Starrk just raised his eyebrow at him, making him take the key and leave.

Starrk stood up and turned to the door, rapping his knuckles on the wood. "Ichigo, girls can you let me in please?"

The door eventually opened after a moment or so, Karin standing in the doorway with the chain attached so the door couldn't be forced open. "He doesn't want to talk to anyone, including us. Where is he?"

"I sent him out to the car. They had a fight last night and Grimmjow lost his temper. He is sorry now but I just have to talk to Ichigo to make sure he's ok. Can you let me in, I promise I won't upset him."

Karin closed the door and undid the chain so she could open it fully and let the man in. She pointed towards Ichigo's room and headed to the living room herself, joining her twin on the couch. Starrk headed to the room he'd been shown and knocked lightly, opening the door as he slowed.

"Ichigo, it's Starrk. I need to talk to you for a minute." He looked into the room, peering the in low light as the curtains were still drawn. The boy was lying on the bed, clutching a pillow tightly in his arms. He made no move to show he'd seen or heard the brunette at all so Starrk walked up to the bed and crouched down to his eyeline. "Ichigo, I know you had a fight with Grimmjow but he'd not here right now. I just want to make sure you are okay."

"I'm fine. I'm just tired."

Starrk looked the boy over; him still only covered with his towel from the shower hours ago. The marks on his chest were clear even in the dim light but Starrk was struggling to see the bruises on his hips due to the towel's placement. "If you're fine why did you fight? And why are you lying here in a damp towel. Come on kid, come here for a minute." Starrk reached out, feeling the skin cooler than it should be and pulled him upright, ignoring the flinch for a moment. When he was sitting Starrk brushed the hair from his face, trying to get the boy to look at him. He did look tired, his eyes heavy but they were also filled with grief. "Ichigo can you tell me what happened?"

"Why bother? You'll just think I'm a whore like he did."

"I thought we'd cleared that up, you are not a whore and I don't think of you like that. Did someone rape you?" Ichigo just shook his head and turned away, going to lie down again. Starrk would let him and held him upright. "No my lad you need to keep talking to me. Did you and Grimmjow break up?" A shrug was all the answer he got, Ichigo looking at the floor. "Ichigo did you sleep with someone else?" No answer but fresh tears poured down his face. Starrk closed his eyes for a moment before taking a deep breath and wiping the tears away. "Hey, you're still young; you can't know what you want yet. Why didn't you speak to Grimmjow about it, if you wanted someone else." Ichigo just shrugged his hands off, turning away and facing the wall. Starrk got up, realising that was all he'd get out of the boy that night. "Rest, but call him tomorrow at least. If you want someone else break up with him but do it kindly if you can."

Starrk was heading to the door when a quiet voice spoke, stopping him. "I don't want someone else. I never did."

"Then you need to talk to him. If someone has forced you into it then you need to report them, I can only help if you talk to me. I'm going to come back later on and check up on you all alright? Get some sleep." There was no reply and Starrk let himself out, heading to the car knowing he'd be facing an inquisition when he got in. Grimmjow wanted to know what had been said but thankfully it was short report, the boy not having said much.

"Grimmjow, I don't think he cheated on you, not willingly anyway. He doesn't seem to see it as rape but I have my doubts. Give him a bit of space and look out for him until he's ready to talk. If you can keep track of what he says and what you've seen recently it might help later. You need some sleep, let's go home."

Saturday was a bust, Grimmjow sleeping most of it away yet still managing to fall asleep at night. Ichigo hadn't called or text him and he was still to unsure of what to say so he left it for that moment. Starrk went back to his house after the family had dinner but returned later saying he hadn't managed to get any further with the boy and Ichigo hadn't eaten anything all day according to his sisters. Karin had been sitting with him and had choice words about Grimmjow when Starrk came in. Ichigo had hushed her and just said he was fine.

Ichigo didn't reply to any text on the Sunday, Grimmjow going round with Starrk in the afternoon but wasn't allowed in the house, Yuzu was very apologetic but refused them both entry if Grimmjow was there. The blue haired man grudgingly went back to the car so his step dad could check on Ichigo but he wasn't happy. Starrk reported that Ichigo was looking much better, up and dressed and had been eating with his sisters. He also asked that Starrk stopped coming round to check up on him. Starrk had replied that until he'd heard from Grimmjow that they were broken up he had a duty to check as a parent.

That made Monday by the lockers uncomfortable for Grimmjow's friends as the beanie covered boy dragged Grimmjow down a bit and told him to fuck off and to let his dad know.

Woodwork and PE were painful to Grimmjow, trying his best not to look at his ex and Nnoitra was being a good friend, bitching about the other and telling him he was better off without him. Telling him they were going to go on the pull and get some girls, and saying it loudly. More quietly he offered to help take Grimmjow's mind off it more personally, but he'd have to speak to the guy he was seeing.

That sparked Grimmjow's attention. Nnoitra had apparently been seeing Shinji on the side for a week now, only really talking via text after snogging at the dance two weeks ago.

But of course that meant that the more flamboyant male was present at break and lunchtimes, stealing the attention of Grimmjow's best friend. He was a good guy and Grimmjow had time for him but he kinda wanted a bit of male sympathy. That plus the fact that Shinji was friendly with Ichigo made things a bit uneasy. Grimmjow tried to spot Ichigo in the lunch hall but he wasn't sitting with Ulquiorra's crowd that day so he wasn't sure where he'd be, he'd probably not be eating anyway.

Nel wasn't really speaking to Grimmjow either. She was pissed at him for breaking it off with the boy and even though he had insisted on the Sunday that they were still together, he didn't have a leg to stand on come Monday morning. Ichigo had ignored him all PE lesson and had skipped out on a shower at the end, bolting when others were in.

End of the day meant Chemistry and a lab isn't always the best place to lack concentration and when Grimmjow's beaker burst, showering him with boiling liquid and shards of glass, he had sworn loudly, making Mr Ichimaru have to take action, Grimmjow getting send into the joining room to calm down and run his hand under a tap for a while. The bell rang when he was still sitting in a fairly comfortable teachers chair with his hand over the sink. The silver haired man joined him, pulling up his own rolling chair and taking the red hand in his.

"Well this is fun. Isn't your big game in like a week?" He pulled out a pair of long tweezers and started to pull out slivers of glass, dropping them into a bin at his feet. Blood was oozing out of the cuts and running down his wrist.

"Two, but yeah this is shit timing."

"Your language is fun today; did you not sleep this weekend or something? Have a fight with your sister?"

Grimmjow huffed, frowning deeply. "No, I broke up with my boyfriend."

Gin's eyebrows rose, almost opening his eyes. "Boyfriend? Well I didn't realise I'm sorry. Can I ask who it was? What happened between you?"

"It's the new kid, Ichigo Shiba? I think he cheated on me but he won't talk to me."

"Not that it's my business, but if you only think he cheated why are you broken up? Surely you found out either way. Isn't Ichigo the orange haired kid with a black hat and an attitude?"

Grimmjow smirked at the description. "Yeah that's him. He broke up with me this morning. We had a fight on Friday night about it but he wouldn't tell me what was going on. I'm not really sure if he consented to what ever happened but he won't talk to me or my step dad."

"Your step father is Coyote Starrk isn't he? Is he worried about the boy?" Gin seemed to be very interested in this subject, holding the now glass free hand under the water.

"Yeah, Starrk went to see to check up on him but he won't tell him anything either."

"What if I told you I had been worried about that boy as well, even if I didn't know his name properly? He's been going to Sousuke Aizen for some catch-up work on a Friday hasn't he?"

Gin's mind was running quickly through all the information, adding it to his suspicious about the other coming to a horrible conclusion.

"Mr Ichimaru if you know anything you have to tell me." Grimmjow stopped the tap and accepted the towel to press against his hand, hissing in pain at the contact. He turned towards the man more, watching his face.

"Grimmjow I don't know anything for sure. I mean I have wondered what was going on but if you are sure Ichigo has been showing signs of abuse it makes it clearer. Has he said anything about what he does on Friday afternoons, any homework from them or anything?"

"No, he's always pissed, or pale and angry afterwards, and after most physics classes, I thought the teacher was just riding him hard or something cause he was the new kid."

"You don't know how right you are."

BOLD BIT! Beware - extreme plot reworking below. Evil story kidnapping plot bunnies to blame. But it is a bit fluffier and Ichigo gets the support he needs faster. Its the only reason i'm putting it in.

Chapter 11

He dug his phone out knowing there was only one person who could be reasonable at this time.

"You know people bitch at me for being a night owl but yet they still seem to think it's ok to call me in the middle of the night."

"Starrk I need your help."

"And why is that? You need picked up or something? The girls are all sound asleep and I wasn't even working, I might have been asleep."

"Something has happened here and I lost my temper. He's in the house crying and I can't leave him like that but I also don't think I can go back in and keep calm."

"And you need someone to come round and cheer him up? Take you away? I don't quite understand what is going on can you explain a bit more?"

"He's either been cheating on me with someone rough or someone has forced him but I don't know which and he can't seem to tell me. Either way he's a mess and he's not talking to me. I don't think he'd even let me back in now."

"I'll be round as soon as I can. Try and get back into the house and see if you can get him to talk. Don't touch him or grab him and keep your damn temper."

Starrk hung up and Grimmjow hung his head, taking a few more deep breaths before he stood and went to the inside door. He knocked and waited, still hearing Ichigo cry but they didn't get any closer.

"Ichigo, let me back in. I'm sorry I lost my temper. I won't shout at you anymore. I just want to understand." No reply and no sign that the other boy had even heard him in his grief. Grimmjow banged on the door, a yelp of surprise breaking the crying for a second before it started again a little quieter like he was trying to keep it from the other. "Ichigo, please let me in."

"No, just go away." The words were half shouted but the tears in his voice slurred them. Ichigo didn't reply to any other attempt to get him to talk and Grimmjow eventually just sat at the door step, listening to his boyfriend breaking his heart. A firm knock at the outer door had him on his feet and he let his step dad in, the brunette man raising an eyebrow at him as he passed. He made his way up the stairs and knocked on the inner door.

"Ichigo let me in." Starrk's voice was firm and it would be clear to the boy on the other side who the speaker was.

"Please just leave me alone sir."

Starrk glared at his step son over his shoulder as he heard the voice from the other side of the door, the usual smooth baritone laced with grief. He looked around the door, pushing on the door jamb slightly to find the door's weakness before he leaned his body fully against the wall and kicked the door, splinters of wood from the surround fluttering to the floor. Ichigo was huddled on the floor opposite the door leaning against the wall and he looked up in shock as his door opened so violently. His red rimmed eyes were streaming black tinted tears down his face, most of the liner having been already cried off. The two men entered the house and Ichigo crouched smaller and looked away. Starrk gestured for Grimmjow to wait at the door before he crouched down, kneeling one leg on the floor as he tried to get the boy to look at him. "Ichigo I need you to speak to me. Grimmjow is worried about you and so am I. Can you tell me what's been going on?"

"What's the point? You'll just think I'm a whore like he does." Ichigo spared Grimmjow a look as he spoke about him before he looked away again.

Starrk glared back again, letting out a sigh before turning back to the boy. "We've already established that you are not a whore, nor do I think of you as one. Tell me what's been going on; I can see you're clearly unhappy about it. If this was as simple as you wanting someone else I don't think you'd get into this state." Starrk stood for a moment telling Grimmjow to go and get a damp towel for him.

Starrk was sitting in front of Ichigo when Grimmjow appeared and handed him the towel. Starrk thanked him and used it to clean Ichigo's face, the tears having ended for the moment. Ichigo was still not looking at them but didn't protest the care. Starrk finished by folding the cool towel and laying it around the back of Ichigo's neck. "Right that must feel better. It's your turn now Ichigo, help me out. Can you tell me what's been going on?"

"I can't."

"As in you don't know, or you aren't allowed to tell me?" Ichigo's reaction to the second one made it clear which was happening, the boy shrinking into himself more. "Ok, I understand more now, someone has hurt you but for some reason you won't tell me because he has something of yours?" No reaction. "Or does he know something?" A positive response this time. "Good, you are doing so well. It's alright I can help you; you are doing the right thing communicating with me. Have they hurt you because of this secret?" Ichigo actually nodded this time, still looking away. Starrk felt Grimmjow move behind him and snapped his head round, shaking it firmly until Grimmjow sank to the floor on the other side of the room. "Did they rape you Ichigo?" A head shake this time, but it was very slow. "Did you have sex with them?" Nod. "Did you want to?" A shake followed by a new flood of tears. Starrk's hands clenched into fists and Grimmjow saw him tremble in rage. "Well done Ichigo, you did so well." Ichigo looked up at him, tears dripping off his chin as his big brown eyes looked at the man. Grimmjow was behind Starrk and he felt his heart clench at the pain and anguish in the eyes, knowing he had lost his temper far too easily.

"Ichigo, that is rape, if someone forces you to have sex when you don't want to. Using a secret as an excuse to make you do it doesn't change that. Do you understand?" Ichigo didn't respond, just stared at the man as he started to shake lightly. "We should press charges on them, if you know who they are. Would you want that?" Violent shaking combined with Ichigo shaking his head in response to the question. "Okay, it is your decision just now. What do you want?" Ichigo just looked over at Grimmjow, brown eyes meeting the cerulean blue as the tears spilled out. "You want Grimmjow? Do you want him with you?" Ichigo kept staring at Grimmjow as he nodded his head and Grimmjow was up like a flash, arms around his boyfriend as he clutched him close, whispering apologies into this orange hair. Grimmjow was sitting where Ichigo had been and was cross legged with Ichigo between his legs and curled into a ball. Ichigo was clutching his jacket with tight fists as he sobbed into the fabric.

"I'm sorry." Ichigo's voice was barely a whisper but it made Grimmjow hold him tighter.

"Don't apologise to me. I should have let you explain or trusted you more. I am so sorry. Ichigo, what didn't you tell me?" Ichigo just tucked his head more, trembling as he screwed his eyes closed. Grimmjow stopped talking, just held the man he loved tightly and rocked him gently. Starrk got up and found the kitchen on the first try to make them a hot drink and give the boys some privacy.

The cop in Starrk knew Ichigo had to report this, he was a minor still and it was rape but he understood the kid's point of view, he was technically on the run from the police but a missing child case might not be as pressing to the city police when the kids were orphans. There were multiple runaways from the homes in most of the cities and they were never found. Ichigo wouldn't know this of course and would be too scared to hit the official radar in case his sisters were taken from him. Starrk had been thinking about it and had discussed the situation with Sophia and while she wasn't as sure as her husband, she wasn't against the man's idea to help the kids out. A lot of people wondered why they were together, they barely saw one another during the day and seemed to have very little in common but Starrk loved his difficult little wife and knew that her strong will-powered personality was the only kind that could stand up to his over powering aura, unless he really tried. That had been what killed his first marriage, the woman being too overwhelmed but Sophia had been a fire cracker to him since they met. At least with their sleep patterns being reversed there was always one parent available at all times to their children.

Grimmjow had lifted his boyfriend into the living room and the pair were cuddled up on the two seater couch, Starrk taking the nearest seat on the bigger sofa and offering the boys a cup of hot chocolate each. He clutched a mug of coffee, made from the instant Ichigo kept but he'd been drinking office coffee since he was a rookie and had developed a tolerance to all kinds of coffee, his motto was that there was good coffee and bad coffee; there was no such thing as undrinkable coffee.

"Ichigo I'd like you to come home with me tonight, stay at our house this weekend. And I need to know if you need medical treatment, you should get tested for STDs." Starrk watched the boy close his eyes, obviously not wanting to think of that right now. "Grimmjow told me you had bruises but is there anything else? I could take you to see a doctor to get you checked."

"I'm alright, a bit sore but I don't think I need a doctor."

"Maybe we could, just in case though. I've got a friend who is a police doctor and is almost too nice for her own good. She'd take care of you and make sure you'll be alright." Starrk was trying to persuade him for more than just his health, but that was the main reason.

Ichigo agreed to see the doctor and they made a move out of the house. Grimmjow went to pack a few things for his boyfriend as he sat with Starrk.

"When did he do this to you? Has it happened more than once?"

Ichigo looked at the floor. "Today was the last time, it wasn't the first though."

"Can you go and get the clothes you were wearing for me? I know you don't want to press charges but I'm going to make sure that when you are ready, you have everything you need alright?" Ichigo just nodded and got up, grabbing a carrier bag from the dispenser in the kitchen before heading to the laundry basket in the hall. He pulled out what Starrk asked for and shoved it in, not caring about the state of the fabric like he would normally. He tied the handles together and dumped it as the door to pick up on the way out. Grimmjow came up behind him and laid a strong arm across his back to hold him close.

Starrk joined them and they left in the brunette's Volkswagen, Starrk making the phone call with his hands free. The boys just sat in the back, Grimmjow still holding his boyfriend.

They went to the hospital and parked in the police bay, a door clearly marked for police use only opening as the engine was turned off. A tall woman with a kind smile and long dark braided hair waited for them to get out, Grimmjow still not letting go of Ichigo. He sat in front of him as Ichigo was examined and his bruises photographed. He held out a tissue when he started to cry again as the woman had him remove his underwear and lie on his side, pulling his knees up to his chest. He was allowed to get dressed eventually and was asked to sit out in the waiting room for a moment as she brought everything together. Starrk joined her, giving the boys a little alone time.

"Hey how you holding up? That was pretty rough in there." Grimmjow stroked the hair off his face, angling him up to look at his face better. He'd stopped crying and just looked exhausted.

"I don't know what to feel. A bit gross to be honest and sore."

"I am going to rip him apart. I'll fucking kill him."

"You'll do nothing of the sort. You think I can't handle this on my own?" Grimmjow just looked at him sceptically. "You don't even know who it is anyway."

"So the school uniform in the bag in there isn't a good enough clue? The fact you've been leaving his room in a state for weeks doesn't tell me it's that dick Aizen?"

"And if it is, what will happen?"

"Starrk will arrest him and my dad will get him sent down. You aren't alone in this."

So who prefers the second version, i almost do except there isn't much to do with it now. He'll have to recover, starrk will arrest Aizen and the story is pretty much over. The first version, even though Ichigo is a bit adrift at the moment has more to come plus who doesn't love a bit of angst.

Guys? Hello? Anybody? Oh.