Chapter 6

Six

CALLUM

" M arcus!" I yelled as Mouse went limp in my arms.

Oh, my sweet little Mouse. What have you done?

I felt physically ill looking at his bloodied face and shoulder. I should have gotten here faster.

What if I hadn't gotten here? What if Rhys hadn't spoken up?

My blood ran cold at the possible outcomes. I held Mouse tighter, my hand trembling as I ran my fingers through his tangled hair.

"Marcus!" I bellowed again, before I started crooning soft, nonsense words to Mouse as I cradled him close.

Marcus's bald head appeared around the door, concern etched on his broad features. I glanced over to where that piece of shit, Ziggy, lay. He was backed up against the wall, glaring. The little fucker could glare all he wanted. He'd gotten off lucky with only a broken nose. If he knew what was good for him, he'd stay put .

"Jesus. Is he okay?" Marcus asked, and then flinched at the glare I shot him. "Shit, sorry, of course he's not."

"Find me a blanket, something soft. I need to get him out of here." I was going to have to carry Mouse out to the car, and I regretted that I was going to cause him extra pain, but there was no other option.

Marcus was back in minutes, a soft, black blanket in his hands. Mouse was in and out of it, dark eyes fluttering open, then shutting.

"Do we need to get him to a hospital and get him checked over?" Marcus knelt alongside me, carefully helping me wrap Mouse in the blanket. His face blanched when he saw Mouse's injuries. For even a hard-bitten old Sadist like Marcus, the state of Mouse's back was gut-churning.

"Mouse doesn't deal well with hospitals. I know someone who can help, but I want to get him home first." I looked over at the door I'd kicked in, and the gathered patrons. How many of them were new to the scene, and thought the way this place ran was how it was done? "Marcus, something needs to be done about this place."

"I agree, but I don't think involving councils or authorities is going to help." Marcus reached out a steadying hand as I went to stand.

Holding Mouse around the waist with one arm, and my other looped under his legs, I glanced over at Ziggy. "Take that piece of shit's photo and make sure every club from Leeds to London has it. It's up to Mouse if he wants to press charges or take things further."

Marcus nodded at Mouse in my arms. "Get your boy home safely. I'll call you tomorrow. "

It was pointless to try and correct Marcus. Besides, by the looks he was giving me, any argument I had would be ignored.

Mouse's hand slipped out from under the blanket to touch my chest. Looking down at him, I saw he was a little more aware of his surroundings.

"Cal?" Mouse moved in my arms and hissed in pain. His arms snaked up around my neck and he shifted until his chin rested on my shoulder.

"Wrap your legs around me, little Mouse." With a little wiggling, Mouse wrapped his legs around me like Alice would when I carried her. Mouse didn't weigh all that much more.

He moved against my shoulder, and Marcus barked out a laugh. Catching sight of our reflection in a mirror that ran the length of one wall, I saw Mouse sticking his fingers up at Ziggy as Marcus dragged the man out of the room.

"You're a brat." I said fondly, carrying Mouse out of the room and towards the front doors of the club.

Mouse snuggled against my shoulder, letting out a soft sigh. "You say the sweetest things." He lifted his head and pressed a quick kiss against my cheek. "Thank you."

Mouse wasn't going to thank me when we got home and I read him the riot act. Right now though, I needed to get him home and for Doc to check him over, and hopefully by then my blood pressure would be back to normal, and this dangerous urge I had to spank Mouse's arse until he couldn't sit for a week would have passed.

W ith Mouse still clinging to me like a sloth, I managed to lay the blanket Marcus had found out on the back seat of the car. It would have to do. The trip home wasn't going to be a comfortable one for Mouse. I didn't even bother with the safety belt. There was no way he could sit up for the drive back home, and I'd rather get a bloody fine than put Mouse through any more discomfort than I had to.

I made a call to Doc and prayed he hadn't hit the booze too hard tonight. He answered on the third ring, sounding sober as a monk. "Did you find him?"

"Yeah. Look, can you head to mine without Rhys and Simon?" I asked, glancing back at Mouse. His eyes were shut and his breathing even. Asleep and not passed out, I hoped. Worry churned in my gut. I just wanted to get him home safely.

"Yes of course. I've been doing the taxi run for the last of the partygoers."

I slumped in my seat, running a hand through my hair. "Shit. Sorry, Cullen. I was supposed to do that."

"Pfft, don't worry about it. You had a more important job. Do I need to bring my bag?"

"I've got some basic supplies at home, but yeah, bring what you can." I lowered my voice. "The bastard did a number on him. He used a heavy bullwhip that wasn't broken in by the looks of it, and the fucker bit Mouse hard enough to draw blood."

Cullen hissed out a breath as I gave him a hurried rundown of the injuries I had seen. "I'll pick up my kit and head straight to yours. Is the spare key in the usual spot? I guess trying to convince you to take Mouse to A&E isn't going to work."

"You know what would happen. Mouse would lose his shit if he woke up in A&E. He hasn't set foot in a hospital since his mum."

Cullen sighed, knowing this as well as I did. "No, you're right. I'll get to yours as soon as I can." Cullen hung up then and I tipped my head back, gazing up at the roof of the car. If I were a praying man, I'd be thanking whatever god watches over us for friends like Cullen.

T he trip home took longer than the drive to The Pit. With Mouse now safely in the car, I was taking the road slower, not wanting the trip to be any more painful for Mouse than it had to be. Trying to stay focused on the dark roads and not constantly checking on him was a trial, and I blew out a relieved breath at the sight of the thatched roof of my house as I rounded the last bend.

Mouse began to stir in the back seat as I pulled into the driveway, the gravel making the familiar crunching sounds as I pulled into the annex where his bike sat.

Mouse was sitting up by the time I got out and opened the back door. His eyes were more focused, but he hadn't lost the wounded pup look. I wanted to hug him tight and not let the damn foolish man out of my sight.

The time for denying those feelings I'd refused to give credence to was long past. After this, I was going to have to sit down with Mouse and talk.

Doc's little BMW was parked nearby, and I could see lights on in the house already. I hoped he'd gotten around to lighting the fire. I didn't want Mouse walking into a cold house.

I reached into the car to give Mouse a hand, expecting it to be slapped away with his usual surliness, but instead he grabbed it, using his other hand to pull the blanket around himself a bit tighter.

"I can't seem to get warm." His teeth were chattering, and his pallor pasty.

"Come on, little Mouse. Doc's waiting for us, and neither of us need to get on his bad side." I gently pulled Mouse from the car. "Can you make it inside, or do you want a piggyback?" I smiled at him, hoping to take his mind off the events of tonight.

"You called Doc?" His voice was subdued, and I didn't like it. The lack of his usual fire and challenge in his voice worried me.

"Had to. I knew you'd do your nut if I tried to take you to A&E." Mouse stiffened slightly as I placed my hand on his lower back, before he let out a slow breath and relaxed.

"I guess Rhys broke and told you guys." There was no heat in his words, just a sad sort of resignation.

"Don't be too hard on him. He had a head of steam and read me the riot act for having my head stuck up my arse," I said, as I guided him through the unlocked door.

Mouse shook his head, his dark hair coming loose from the already messy bun. "I'm not mad. I suppose I should be, but I'm glad he told you. Doesn't mean I'm not going to make him sweat over it for a few days."

"Would you really be that mean to Rhys?" I guided him to the kitchen where Doc stood waiting for us. Instead of getting him to sit on one of the kitchen chairs, I led Mouse to the tall stools that sat around the kitchen counter.

It said something for the pain he was in, that he didn't fight me when I helped him up onto the stool, only shooting me a thankful, tired smile.

"Let me be mad at him for a couple of days," he muttered, dropping his head down against the counter with a defeated moan.

"I can keep him and Simon off your back for a few days. Be a good lad and let Doc see to your injuries, and I might even make it a week."

I moved around him to the bench that ran the length of the back wall. The window that normally showed the garden and the moorlands beyond was dark.

"Deal." Mouse let out a quiet huff before lifting his head from the counter. "Where's Squirt? I don't want her to see me like this."

"She's with Mum for the rest of the weekend so you don't have to worry about that, and when she gets home, I'll be telling her to go easy on the piggybacks because you hurt your back, okay?" I turned to switch the kettle on, then moved back over towards the breakfast bar. Doc had his bag open, and he'd fished out a couple of my stainless steel bowls.

"A touch of honey in mine," Doc said, not looking away from Mouse's face as he began checking the bruises and cuts.

"Do you want a brew, Mouse?"

Mouse shook his head slightly—well, as much as he could with Cullen holding his chin firmly.

I went back to the counter and opened the overhead cupboard and pulled out a tin. I wiggled it, getting Mouse's attention. A slight uptick of his lips told me I had struck gold.

The hot chocolate was a special blend that Mum had brought back from Amsterdam on her last trip. Personally, I couldn't stand it—way too rich for my tastes—but Mouse and Alice swore it was the best thing ever.

I poured the tea and set the milk to heating, keeping one eye on Doc as he worked on Mouse. I trusted the grumpy bastard with my life, but seeing Mouse in the state he was when I'd busted in that door, I could honestly say my protective instincts had kicked into high gear.

"Callum, stop glaring at me and pour the milk. Then come give me a hand." Doc's voice was all business and gruff. I knew better than to take offence at his tone. He was in doctor mode, and that made him even more snarky and brusque than normal—if that were possible.

Mouse even gave a small smirk at Doc's tone. I made the brews and Mouse's hot chocolate and brought them to the counter, out of the way of Doc's supplies.

"I'm going to rinse these welts out and then put some of this salve I have on the smaller welts. The one up on your shoulder, I'm afraid, will need stitches." Doc held up a glass jar filled with yellow paste. The label had dancing bees in leather and harnesses on it.

"Is that what I think it is?" I took the jar while Doc grabbed a bag of saline.

"It sure is. I made sure to grab a few jars when they brought it to the club last visit." Doc answered absently as he snipped open the bottle of saline and started to rinse Mouse's wounds .

Mouse let out a pained whimper and moved away from Doc's ministrations.

"Hold still, little Mouse. Let Doc clean your back up." I brought the jar close to Mouse. "See this?"

Mouse lifted his head to look at the jar I was holding.

"A couple of clever subs from the Crimson got together and made this stuff. It has honey and all these other things that Doc would know more about, but it's amazing."

Mouse reached out a slender hand and took the jar. A faint smile touched his face when he read the label.

Bee's Knees Booty Balm .

Doc reached out a gloved hand and Mouse passed the jar back. "I can attest to it working."

"Did Master William paddle your arse again?" Doc set the jar down again and pulled out sterile packs that held suture kits.

"I may have expressed some opinions, and William may have thought I was being a brat," Doc said airily as he started to inject anaesthetic into the edges of the worst wound. Mouse flinched slightly but then settled back, resting his head on his arms, stretched out so Doc could work. Seeing his tolerance for pain firsthand, the boy had balls of steel. Even with the anaesthetic, it had to be damn uncomfortable as Doc worked.

The back and forth between Doc and myself seemed to have had the desired effect on Mouse. He held still, listening, and seemed to focus more on our voices than on what Doc was doing. I could see each time his skin flinched in reaction to Doc's touch. Reaching out, I stroked his hair.

He turned his head from where it was resting in the cradle of his crossed arms and looked at me .

"‘I may have expressed some opinions' is Doc speak for ‘I was an absolute brat and I finally pushed Master William's buttons too far,'" I said, rolling my eyes.

Mouse gave a small smile in return.

"I object to the insinuation," Doc muttered, but grinned at me when our eyes met. He motioned with his gloved hand to the bite mark on Mouse's shoulder, and then to Mouse's hair, which had lost its battle with the bun it had been in and now fell around his shoulders. I got the hint.

As I gathered Mouse's hair up so it no longer fell over his shoulders, I continued with the banter.

"You know it's not an insinuation when it's true, right?" I reached into the basket that sat on the counter and pulled out one of Alice's ladybug banana hair clip things and slipped it into Mouse's hair, pulling it out of Doc's way so he could work.

"Are you a brat?" Mouse's voice was so soft we nearly missed it. There seemed to be something behind the question, though I couldn't work it out. It was more than just asking the obvious.

"Yes, I can be. It's a relief to let go of Doctor Cullen and be a naughty boy from time to time. Especially when I know I have good Doms around me." Doc paused to place a gentle hand on Mouse's shoulder. "You should never be ashamed of what you need."

Doc finished working on Mouse as I rested my hand on the nape of Mouse's neck, hoping the contact would help him relax.

Mouse had been so quiet we both thought he'd fallen asleep, exhausted after all that had happened tonight. So I was a little startled when Mouse spoke.

"What if you don't know what you want? Or thought you knew, but got it wrong?"

"Are you talking about what happened tonight? Or life in general?" I kept my hand resting on his neck, rubbing my thumb along the pale side of his throat.

Mouse lifted his shoulders to shrug, but let out a soft hiss when the torn skin of his back pulled. "Don't know." He sounded so lost and despondent, I didn't know how to react. Doc chose that moment to clear his throat, his medical bag in hand.

"I've done what I can, but now I need you to rest, and do exactly what Cal tells you to do." Doc levelled a stern look at Mouse.

"Cross my heart," Mouse mumbled into his arms, not looking up.

"You're going to have to sleep on your stomach for a few days, and you might want to ice your nose and cheek. Neither look to be broken but the bruises are going to be rather garish, I'm afraid." Doc moved closer, touching Mouse's shoulder. "Mouse, you are a dear friend, and I mean this with all the love in my heart, but please, for the love of gods, look after yourself. Seeing you like this—" Doc blinked rapidly for a few moments. "I'm a doctor. My job is to do no harm. But if I got my hands on Ziggy…"

Mouse reached out slowly, fumbling to touch Doc's arm. He looked up for a moment, catching Doc's eye. Doc seemed to relax at whatever he saw in Mouse's gaze.

"Keep a close watch on him tonight, especially when he goes to the lavatory. Those bruises around his kidneys are vicious. Tomorrow when you wake up, Mouse, I want to see you at the surgery." Doc looked at me and I nodded. I'd make sure he was there.

"I'll walk you out, then get this one settled for the night." Mouse had dropped his head against his arms again.

I saw Doc out to his car and dragged him into a protesting hug. He huffed and muttered like an annoyed bantam chicken but accepted my embrace, returning the hug with one of his own.

"Look after him."

"I will." And I didn't just mean for now. Everything I'd tried not to think and feel about Mouse was at the forefront of my brain. I needed to show him a better way. To teach him he was worth more than he thought.