Content Warning: This chapter contains discussion of sexual exploitation of a minor.

***

“So now the other worries," Alex continued. “The shelter situation is semi-easy to fix. We’ve worked with a fantastic nonprofit before. They steer underaged TBVA* victims in the foster care system to foster parents who have experience caring for TBVA survivors. A lot of the fosters are survivors themselves and they’ve all received specialized training. It’s a great program.”

“That would be amazing.” Gabriel felt an enormous bubble of hope expand in his chest. The nonprofit was an excellent resource. He couldn’t wait to find out more about it.

“If we need to, we can call and get Jaiden on their radar.” Alex took a swig of coffee and swirled the cup, briefly staring at its contents. “…But I think it may be worth trying again with the father. Did Jaiden say whether the father was abusive or neglectful?”

Gabriel shook his head and sighed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his very tasty caffeinated chocolate milk held in both hands.

“No. From the way he described it, I think the dad has had a hard time raising an Omega on his own. He works second shift at the sugar factory. Their schedules don’t line up and they don’t see a lot of each other. I’m sure he feels angry that his son was taken advantage of, feels angry that his son was hiding things from him, and may have some religious stuff or Alphan honor-of-the-household bullshit going on, too.”

Alex nodded in agreement. “Very likely.”

“I think Jaiden wants to go home, I just didn’t have any luck when I tried to fix things. As soon as Dad heard the word “Legal,” it was over. Lesson learned. Not going to lead with that again.”

Alex leaned forward, too. “Well, you’re right that we don’t need the father’s consent for treatment, but getting dad on board would facilitate any treatment Jaiden chose. Would you mind if I tried to call Dad? Maybe I can science him, or maybe I can guilt him, or maybe I can just charm him. We’ll see how it goes. While I work on the dad, you can work on Jaiden.”

Gabriel nodded. He thought he had a pretty good chance of getting through to Jaiden.

Alex rubbed his lower lip thoughtfully with a thumb. "Life is long, and he may not want to wear this guy’s mark next month, let alone for the rest of his life. The way Maryland law treats these barely post-pubescent Omegan teens as adults is obscene — teens having sex with each other is one thing, a permanent claim from a twenty-seven-year-old is another."

Gabriel made a disgusted face. “Believe me, that massive legal lapse is on my list. Do you want to give me your number? I’ll text you the dad’s name and number when I get to the office in the morning.”

Alex dug into his pocket, unlocked his phone, and handed it over. “Sure. Text yourself. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

Gabriel handed him back his phone and grabbed his own to save Alex as a contact. “Perfect. I’ll let you know if I make any progress with Jaiden tomorrow, too.”

He beamed at Alex, almost overwhelmed with gratitude. “Alex, seriously. Thank you so much for helping me with this. That was a legal ‘thank you,’ by the way, because it was on Jaiden’s behalf.” 

Gabriel worked on acclimating to The Face while they chatted for a while about the clinic and his first week at work. It felt like half an hour had passed when Gabriel checked the time on his phone and saw that it was after 10:30. “Oh man, I lost track of time. I gotta get going. I biked to work today.”

Alex looked at him with consternation. “Did you? Well, let me drive you home. It's too late to be out there on a bike. I trail ride sometimes, so I’ve got a rack on the back of my car.”

Gabriel considered the offer. He was exhausted. To bike back home, he would need to go back to his office and change clothes first, making it even later before he started off. He’d taken a lot of self-defense and martial arts classes in the past four years, but he knew it still wasn’t a great idea to wander around Baltimore late at night. 

On the other hand, there was the car ride back to his place to worry about. While he’d worked hard to get comfortable around Alphas again, he still preferred to not to be alone with them in enclosed spaces. Alex Anderson, though, should probably be an exception. Gabriel could easily need to be alone with him in cars or offices for work reasons, and he didn’t want it to become a big issue. Besides, he couldn’t think of another Alpha who’d done more than Alex to demonstrate his trustworthiness to Omegan-kind. 

Gabriel tilted his head. “You really don’t mind?”

Alex stood. “It’s no trouble at all. Come on. Where’s your bike?”  

Gabriel pointed through the window at his office building. “It’s in the storage closet at the office. We’ll have to walk back over.”

Alex opened the coffee shop door and held it for him. “That’s fine. That’s where I’m parked, anyway.”

They returned to the office building, and Gabriel grabbed his bike. While Alex loaded it onto the rack, Gabriel ran up to his office to grab his messenger bag and jacket and then locked up.

He headed for the passenger side of the car, but Alex beat him there, opening the door for Gabriel and closing it after he was inside. As Alex slid into the driver’s seat, Gabriel shook his head and smiled. “You’re very chivalrous.”

“Let’s just say that etiquette was not optional in my family. I know it’s old-fashioned, but please try to tolerate it, for my sake. I break out in hives if I forget to stand when an Omega or female rises at a table. The rules are in the bone at this point.” He lifted one corner of his mouth in a self-mocking half-smile.

The drive to Gabriel’s took about five minutes, and most of the conversation was just Gabriel providing directions. At no point in those five minutes did he cease being conscious of Alex’s scent, concentrated in the SUV’s interior. 

More rain than ozone, Gabriel decided. The scent was actually making him a little lightheaded, even though it was both faint and pleasant. Alex wasn’t spilling scent, not a considerate Alpha like him, but a space like a car was bound to smell like its owner.

What’s with the weird feeling? Is it just anxiety? Am I over-tired? 

They pulled up in front of his apartment building before Gabriel could figure out why he was reacting so oddly. 

Alex got out and hurried around to open his door for him, and then unloaded his bike. “I’ll walk you to the front door. I want to make sure you get in okay," he said, wheeling the bike along. “I can’t risk a case of hives.”

“No, absolutely don’t do that,” Gabriel chuckled. He unlocked the heavy front door of the building and Alex held it so he could wheel the bike in. “Thanks so much for the ride, and for the help with Jaiden! Can’t wait to hear how it goes with the dad.”

“I’ll let you know, I promise.”

“Perfect. Have a good night," Gabriel said over his shoulder.

Alex gave him a smile. “No problem.” He paused and then said into the dim lobby, “Hey, Gabriel?”

Gabriel stopped and turned towards him again. “Yes?”

“You look tired. Don’t study tonight. Go to bed.”

Gabriel yawned hugely, right on cue. “Honestly, I probably will. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends since I got here. You’ve taken a couple of things off of my to-do list for tomorrow, so I should be able to leave work on time. I’ll probably go to bed now and study a little extra tomorrow.”

“Gabriel?”

“Hmm?” 

“I know it’s weird to ask, but I’m kind of a worrier. Would you shoot me a text when you’ve made it into your apartment?” Alex's tone was slightly apologetic.

Gabriel laughed at him. “Sure. As long as seventy-year-old Mrs. Nowak next door doesn’t shank me in the hallway, I will send you a proof of life text.”

“Thanks. Listen, it was really nice to meet you... Again... under much better circumstances. Thanks for all you're doing for the Foundation. Don’t forget to send me that phone number.”

“I won’t, I promise.”

“Sleep well.” Alex closed the front door, slowly.

“You too,” Gabriel called out. He turned and crossed the perilous fifteen feet of smooth floor between himself and the elevator. When he got into his apartment and leaned the bike against the wall, he reached into his pocket for his phone.

<Gabriel> 10:52 pm It was touch and go, but I made it in. 

<Alex> 10:53 pm Ok, thanks, heading out then. Talk tomorrow.

<Gabriel>10:53 pm 👍

Gabriel looked down at his phone, bemused. He waited to leave until he heard from me? 

He felt a little touched. Shrugging, he shook his head to clear the brief whisper of infatuation that had drifted through his mind. He was just tired. No one could fight The Face when they were tired, or get completely used to it in one night. As Teneisha would say, it would be a marathon, not a sprint.

He'd feel better in the morning.

***

*TBVA stands for “trait-based violence and abuse,” violence inspired by the victim's and/or assailant's traits.