Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters end up in. Everything else belongs to someone else, and that's the way of it.

Start Up A Conversation

It was about three in the afternoon when Merlin got the call from his mate giving him permission to come and speak to the Miss. Morton about what had happened the night before. Rachel had barred everyone from going near her patient if they weren't immediate family, and the woman's word was law. Even the Alpha knew better than to cross her. Though word had gotten around that he had tried to push Merlin's mate on the issue, arguing that Percival and Lancelot's daughter might have valuable information about their possible enemy. But Miss. Morton had been in and out of consciousness when they'd brought her in as it was, and then Rachel had put her into a healing sleep as there had been damage to her ribs as well as her skull. Rachel was the only one who could bring her out of healing sleep, and she wasn't doing that until she was good and ready.

Harry did love the woman.

He of course had all but haunted Merlin's office all day in anticipation of the fact that the other man would be the first outside the Morton family to know when Miss. Morton was up to being questioned about the oh so intriguing guest he was very much looking forward to meeting in person.

Because thus far the mysterious lad seemed a study in contradictions. He'd managed to escape and hide his trail like a seasoned dominant, and yet didn't know how to hunt worth a damn. According to the trackers they'd found the remains of two rabbits the unknown wolf had killed and eaten, and both men had said the boy had made a complete mess of it. Not to mention the trackers had reported back that they'd found signs that the boy had been all over the place, getting into everything from the looks of his tracks and where he'd left his scent. Acting like a pupp was how Benson had put it.

The trackers had also gone over that part of their territory and discovered that the sentries assigned to that area had been slacking. Big time. They'd reported back that there would have been nothing to warn the boy he was trespassing on claimed land until he was a mile or so from the obstacle course.

Not that Harry anticipated that stopping King from ordering the lad's death just on principle.

"Did Rachel say what Miss. Morton knew about the boy?"

"Not that she passed along to me. We'll know soon enough. And then the real trouble begins." Shaking his head, Merlin's eyes were tired behind his glasses. "This is a clusterfuck, Harry."

"We can't let him kill him. Not unless it's deserved."

"And you think he's going to listen to us? Especially if Lancelot and Percival are calling for his blood as well? The lass took a hard hit."

Since they didn't know what had happened, Harry didn't trust for a moment Hesketh's account, he couldn't exactly argue in the boy's defense there. Or that King had even been wrong to send the trainees after the intruder. Hell, the fact that the five of them had failed so epically was just sad.

Like he'd read Harry's mind Merlin muttered that he couldn't believe not one of them had come close to catching the little bugger.

As he was in total agreement Harry didn't argue with that, either. And so they spent the rest of the walk to the infirmary in resigned silence.

Miss. Morton was the only packmate currently making use of one of the infirmary beds when they entered, both her parents present and standing on either side of her bed with expressions that made it quite clear they'd go for Merlin and Harry's throats if they upset or strained their little girl in the slightest. The mortified look their daughter was wearing made it clear she was aware of that and was embarrassed as hell.

Giving her a sympathetic look Harry stated that it was good to see her awake.

"Thank you, Sir. It was really-I'm fine."

"The competition won't continue until you're back on your feet and Rachel's cleared you." Merlin stated in his no nonsense tone. "Are you up to telling us what happened and what you know about the intruder?"

Nodding and then wincing right afterwards as she was painfully reminded that head movements weren't her friend at the moment, Miss Morton sat up a little straighter to compensate. "I don't think he meant to trespass on our land, Sir. Or at least that's what he said, and he sounded sincere. I believed him. I told him to stop but he was afraid of what we'd do to him if he did, and it wasn't like I could give him my word no harm would come to him. Charlie slammed into me before I could make my move."

She hid it well, but Harry was willing to bet inside Miss. Morton was seething over that fact. And who could blame her?

"He slammed into you?" Merlin's brows furrowed.

"He meant to body slam the intruder, I think, and would have taken me with him if he'd succeeded. But Charlie's body language must have betrayed his intent somehow. The intruder dug his claws in and hit the ground so that Charlie went right over him."

All four men shook their head over that bit of stupidity, though there were definite hints of fury in her parents' eyes as well. They were all thinking that Hesketh had probably seen this as a chance to kill two birds with one stone. Take down the intruder AND possibly injure his biggest competition in the process.

"So he didn't give you a name or any hint what pack he might belong to?"

"No pack. Or at least I don't think so. It was hard because his scent…was wrong. Not in a sick or rabid sort of way, but wrong. And he definitely isn't getting enough to eat." The look on the girl's face could only be called sympathy. "He's about my age, I think. He sounded young. He apologized just before he ducked."

"English?"

Her gaze immediately dropped down to her lap. His fingers laced together and her knuckles white.

"Roxanne." Percival's voice was gentle but firm.

"Yes. From…I'd look for him at the council estates."

"The estates? No wolf would willingly live there. There'd be no…" Trailing off Merlin turned his head and met Harry's gaze.

"Fuck."

He'd made it clear seventeen years ago that Michelle Unwin was to contact him if her and Lee's son showed signs of being wolf. Had told her stories of what had happened to other wolves that hadn't had pack around at First Change or to teach them to become one with their wolves. She'd promised him that she understood.

She hadn't contacted him once.

But the age and gender were right, and it was fact that Lee's wife had grown up in council estate housing, and had been living in one of their buildings when last they'd spoken. She and Eggsy had had to move back there after Lee's death.

"You know who he is?" Miss. Morton asked, breaking the silence that had descended on the room.

Percival and Lancelot both shoot them questioning looks too.

Lancelot owed Lee Unwin his life, and Percival the life of his mate. And both were good men, men Harry trusted, but not enough in this case. Not enough to risk the boy.

"Possibly. I'll go look into it."

Merlin nodded. "Go."

Inclining his head in the direction of the other three Harry spun on his heels and took off, leaving Merlin to deal with the questions being hurled in his direction.

)

Fuck it was pouring out. And he couldn't even enjoy it, Eggsy thought bitterly, as he did his best to keep his highly agitated wolf under control. No easy thing when both sides of him were expecting other fucking wolves to show up any minute and drag him off somewhere ta see to it that he ended up very dead. Daisy possibly with him, which was a thought that had him seeing red and scared the fuck out of him.

Looking down at the baby currently crying her little eyes out within the confines of his partially open jacket, Eggsy cursed the fact that there was fuck all he could do for her at the moment. Poor mite was teething something awful, which was why Dean had kicked them both out for the night. Bastard.

Thank Christ his body was always hotter than most people's, so she was at least warm enough where she was. But that didn't fucking change the fact that they was outside, shoved back in the corner made by two concrete slabs that acted as railing. And made it more difficult for people to do themselves in when life round here got to be too much.

Not that Eggsy was thinkin of doin himself in or none, but one tended ta think dark when their lives were as far up shit creek as his was. Not to mention the fact that it would be a more humane death than being torn apart by wolves.

Leaning his head back while absently humming a tune that didn't soothe Daisy or his poor ears in the slightest, Eggsy wished with all his heart to be somewhere else. Anywhere else.

And that Daisy's teeth would hurry the fuck up and come in already.

Exhausted, stressed, and so fucking hungry his stomach would be growling louder than her cryin if being hungry weren't his normal state of being at this point, Eggsy gave up singing and tried to concentrate on his breathing, hoping that the rain at least had washed away some of the worst smells clinging to this old dump. That's why he liked rain. Which was a good thing since really, it was a wonder British people hadn't developed webbed feet at this point.

Snorting at the idea of a web footed wolf, Eggsy tried to imagine it, entertaining himself with it right up until the knowing shiver ran up his spine. The one that said a new predator had entered his territory.

Getting to his feet, his left arm remaining curled across his stomach to keep Daisy in place, Eggsy got to his feet and turned to face the length of the building. And saw him.

Sexy. Wolf. Dangerous.

Those were the first three thoughts that crossed Eggsy mind, followed by the obvious conclusion that this posh wolf was here for him. And that spelt death for him.

His usual escape routes would be slippery with the rain. And while he'd risk his own neck in a bid to save it he'd never risk Daisy's. And the man had at least a couple decades on him but Eggsy wasn't about to assume he could take the other wolf. Nor could he be sure his sister wouldn't be used against him if they were to fight. And this man knew where he lived. Would be able to follow Eggsy's scent right to the right door. There was no point in running.

So he did the only thing he could do. He unzipped his jacket more and retrieved his whimpering sister from the makeshift pouch he'd made for her. "She's only a baby. Let me take her in ta our mum and then I'll go with you. On my word."

Still walking towards him like he had all the time in the fucking world, the older man smiled softly at him. "I have no intention of harming either of you, Eggsy. Is she alright? I could hear her the whole way up here."

"You know my name." Fuck. That wasn't good.

"I do. We even know each other, as it happens, though it's been quite some time since then. Your mother remarried then?"

"No. Dean ain't the marryin sort. He'll move on eventually." He hoped. "How would I know ya? I ain't exactly spent much time in your neck of the woods. Well cept for last night, and that was an accident. Not that you're likely ta believe it."

"Actually, I do. And I'll explain the rest after you tell me what's wrong with the baby. Something is, and it's rubbing my wolf's fur the wrong way. I'm a maternal dominant."

"A wot?"

"Eggsy."

Rolling his eyes, though he rather liked the sound of his name on this bloke's lips, Eggsy stated that she was teething.

"Ah. No, fun, that. And to answer your other questions I'm going to come closer so that we're actually close enough to have a proper conversation. Some topics aren't meant to be public knowledge after all."

Eggsy nodded, but stated with dead seriousness that he wasn't to make a move towards Daisy or he'd rip his throat out.

"I'm sure you'd try." Was the amused response he got.

The man moved in closer with no hint of hesitation or aggression, and Eggsy couldn't help but smirk a little over the three piece suit, fancy looking umbrella, and the sheer nerve of the man to come round here looking like that. Though since he was a wolf Eggsy didn't doubt he could handle himself. His car if he'd driven here on the other hand…

Once he was close enough the man held out his hand to Eggsy. "I'm Harry Hart."

Taking it after a moment Eggsy shook it. "That name don't mean nothin ta me."

"Sadly that's no surprise. Though you of course remain the only Eggsy I've ever met." The smile that crossed Harry's face was rather adorable, even though Eggsy's felt stupid thinking it. "And as for your questions, the last time we met you were only a child. About five. And a maternal dominant is a wolf who is both dominant and capable of bearing children. Miss. Morton from last night is also a maternal dominant, while Mr. Hesketh is simply referred to as a dominant."

"Oh." Eggsy didn't know what to say to that. Well…not that would be polite to say or ask, anyway.

And then he was tempted to smack himself upside the head as the obvious occurred to him. "If we met before…did you know my dad? Is that why you're here? You was a mate of his or…does the land I was on belong to his pack? I didn't think before, cause the wolves were all posh and my dad wasn't, but mum's never told me nothing bout his. She didn't even tell me he was a wolf till I changed meself."

The look on the man's face, well cold fury was the best description for it. Scary as hell, even if instincts said that anger wasn't aimed towards him.

"I'm so very sorry you went through all that without a pack, Eggsy. Your mother…well I suppose I should have anticipated her refusing to contact us even when your nature became apparent. She blamed us, and rightly so, for your father's death. I should have ignored her wishes and come by to check on you when the time came. I can't apologize enough."

For years he'd been asking how his father had died, and his mother had always refused to tell him. "How did he die? Tell me."

)

This wasn't just a clusterfuck, it was a FUBAR of epic proportions. Not only had it been Lee's son they'd caught running around their territory last night, but now that he'd gotten a look at the boy he knew exactly who Lee biological father was. The boy was the spitting image of the man. A fact that had definite pros and cons, but either way this was the worst possible time for it to be discovered that Lee's son was in fact a wolf as well.

"You ain't gonna tell me neither?" The boy glared at him.

"Sorry. It's just…not important. Well important, but not…you want to know how your father died." And didn't that say something about the situation they were in, that he'd rather think about that then the trouble they'd soon be in. "He was applying to become a Kingsman. It's the highest ranking position one can achieve in our pack aside from becoming Alpha. The trainees you saw last night are doing the same thing."

"Them? Seriously? I mean the bird seemed alright, but the rest…a little too much inbreeding, Bruv, if that's the best of the litter?"

"I wish I could argue with you about that. And don't call me Bruv. Harry is fine."

That earned him a small smile.

"It was down to two choices. Your father and Miss. Morton's maternal, actually. There was a situation with another pack, an intruder on our lands, ironically enough, and they were both brought it to observe and learn a thing or two. No one realized the bastard had an explosive device on him. No one but your father. He sacrificed himself to save the rest of us."

Quiet as the boy considered this.

"He died a hero then."

"He did. You can be very proud of him."

Ducking his head the boy looked away, the grip he had on his little sister apparently tightening, as she squawked in protest. And she looked at him with her tear stained face and badly swollen cheeks, so obviously miserable that Harry couldn't help himself anymore and after hooking his umbrella on his arm neatly pulled her out of her brother's arms to press her against his own chest.

And brought up his other hand to catch the punch Eggsy threw at him in response.

"I'm not going to hurt her. What I am going to do is take the two of you home with me. It's not safe for you here, Eggsy. I'm assuming she's going where you are at the moment." Not to mention she needed care, which she obviously wasn't getting enough of here. "Along the way I'll call a friend of mine who's a doctor. She'll be able to contact a chemist for me or at least give me some idea of what we can get Daisy to help her with her gums. And you need to be fed."

"Look, Harry, I-"

"Eggsy. Come."

Leaving it at that Harry let go of Eggsy's hand, pushing enough that Eggsy stumbled back a little. And then he turned around and started walking back the way he'd come with Daisy still in his arms, knowing that Eggsy would of course follow.