Author: Joan Z and Neichen
Summary: Xander has been rescued from his kidnappers, but an overdose of a memory-erasing drug has destroyed part of the mental pathways he used as a guide. The four men struggle to make the cross bonding work while trying to heal Xander.
The group suspects that Xander is still in danger from who ever shot down the
General’s plane.
Warnings: Group sex, a four-way relationship, Hurt/comfort, explicit M/M sex
Acknowledgments: Thanks to my beta Kerensa and to Neichen for her encouragement.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. I am only keeping the fandom alive in our hearts.
Chapter 12
“It was a formal challenge issued in front of my men,” Peter said. “I had no choice, I had to accept.”
“I didn’t give my permission for this,” Graham sighed. “Rohgah wouldn’t listen, he’s convinced he’ll win, and he doesn’t care that he will have to kill you to do it.”
“Technically he doesn’t need your permission. Even telling you about it was a courtesy. As far as winning…he doesn’t have a prayer. I was one of his sparing partners while he was preparing for the games. He may have had an even chance before Spike made me his childe, but now…” Peter shook his head, his eyes full of regret. “I know he’s an ass, but that doesn’t help. I’ll have to kill him.”
Wesley went to his sentinel and wrapped his arms around him. “It’s not your fault. It was bound to happen with him, sooner or later. He wants a promotion and he’s unwilling to wait. If it weren’t you he would have challenged some other Sentinel Prime, one that wouldn’t have had a chance against him.”
“Still,” Peter sighed, “Maybe it was a mistake wearing Graham’s scent to the Agency. Maybe we should have kept that part private and just filed the papers.”
“No,” Graham said. “I’m not the type to pussyfoot around. Either they accept us as we truly are or we take the challenges until they do accept us.”
Peter broke away from Wesley’s hug. “We?” Peter said, with a sarcastic laugh. He took a step and leaned forward on the captain’s desk with both hands. “I’m the one that has to kill a fellow sentinel,” he said, his eyes glaring as they locked with Graham’s.
Graham glared back. “You’re a pack member, my second and my guide. What happens to you happens to all of us.”
Wesley stepped over to Peter and began rubbing his arm. “Peter, I think we need to bond. We didn’t do that this morning; I think it could be affecting you. Let me wear your scent; let the other sentinels know that I still belong to you.”
Peter straightened up and turned to his guide. “Oh, my love,” he said, pulling Wesley into a hug. “You didn’t think I gave you up, did you?”
“No,” Wesley said stroking Peter’s face. “It would take more than the fires of hell to make you give me up. We did what needed to be done this morning; it’s been half a day, all the sentinels know that I’ve cross-bonded with Graham. It’s time to let them know I still carry your scent too.”
“Wesley’s right,” Graham said. “Half a day is long enough. You need to let the sentinels know that Wesley is still under your protection. It could quiet some of the rumors that are sure to be spreading.”
***
“That was Peter on the phone,” Spike said, as he paced back and forth and ran his fingers through his hair. “He’s been challenged. Both Wesley and Peter wore Graham’s scent to The Agency today. Some asshole said he has given up his Alpha status by letting another Alpha claim him and his guide. He wants Peter stripped of his rank and to take it for his own.”
“Jesus,” Jim said, “That didn’t take long. Did he say who challenged him?”
“James Rohgah,” Spike said.
“Rohgah,” Blair said. “Isn’t that the sentinel that won the gold medal in hand to hand combat in the last Sentinel Games?”
“That’s the one,” Jim said.
Spike walked over to the computer and sat down.
“What are you doing?” Xander asked, as he gave calming strokes to Spike’s arm.
“I’m going to find this guy’s address,” Spike said. “And than go over there and talk some sense into the idiot.”
“No,” Xander said in his strongest Alpha Guide voice. “This is Peter’s fight. I know he’s your childe and I know what that means to you, but he would rather be dead than marked a coward that hides behind his sire’s apron strings.”
“Xan, no one knows about Peter’s and my relationship except the hive members, and it’s not Peter I’m protecting here, it’s Rohgah. He may as well be spitting into a hurricane. It’s murder to let this happen.”
“Xander’s right,” Blair said as he sat down with his back against the door. “You’ll have to go through me to get out of here.”
“Me too,” Xander said as he sat down beside Blair.
Spike looked at Jim. “What about you,” Spike asked. “Are you going to join them on the floor?”
“No,” Jim said. “They can keep you here without me, I’d just be overkill. I’m going to call Graham and find out why he hasn’t put a stop to this.”
***
Jim scowled as he hung up the phone. “Graham’s already tried to stop this. He even ordered Rohgah to get his affairs in order and make sure his will is up to date. It seems that Peter was his sparing partner before the games, so he is sure that he can win. Rohgah made the challenge in front of Peter’s men. It’s a matter of sentinel pride now. There is nothing that we can do to stop it.”
Spike sighed. “If anyone finds out about Peter’s new abilities…he’ll be a target too.”
“When the new laws pass,” Jim said, “we’ll all be targets anyway.”
***
Jim and Spike walked into The Agency gym where the challenge fight was to take place. Spike had already talked to Peter and warned him to make the fight look “good” so that no one would notice his new abilities. They walked to the center of the gym to take their places around the challenge circle. A very big, young sentinel, wearing an Agency uniform came over to them and addressed Jim. “Sir, this is a challenge fight, sentinel business, you’ll have to ask your guide to leave.”
Jim smiled at the man. “My guide is not present, Sentinel, I know better then to bring him to one of these events.”
“I’m talking about the man standing to your right, sir.”
Jim looked over at Spike who stood with an amused look on his face. Jim scowled and looked back at the young sentinel. “That is Sentinel Spikeman, brother sentinel to Peter Wall. I don’t think you’re going to get him to leave.”
“A bit small for a sentinel isn’t he?” the young man asked.
“Are you calling me a liar?” Jim growled.
“It’s my job to make sure only interested sentinel’s are present,” the young man growled back.
All heads in the gym turned to look at the argument just as Graham entered the gym and hurried over to the group. “What’s going on here, Bob?” Graham asked.
“This sentinel claims that the man to his right is also a sentinel.”
“This is Sentinel James Ellison and his second, Sentinel William Spikeman, both are sentinel brothers of mine and Sentinel Wall’s. They are interested parties and were personally invited here by Sentinel Wall.”
“Yes, sir,” the young man said. He gave Spike a disdainful look before turning and walking away.
“I think this whole thing has everyone on edge,” Graham said. “I’ll have to talk to him about respect for other sentinels tomorrow.”
“It would seem it’s not only Peter they’ve lost respect for,” Jim said. “He didn’t apologize, for calling us a liar, before leaving.”
“Shit,” Graham muttered under his breath. “Either of you are within your right to challenge him.”
Everyone’s head turned to the sound of Bob’s voice. “It seems Peter picks weaklings and cowards to brother with,” he said in a voice that was purposely modulated louder than needed for a sentinel’s hearing.
“Excuse me,” Spike said. “I think it’s better if I take care of this.” Spike swaggered across the fighting circle, a sign he was willing to make or receive a challenge. Bob was laughing with his friends and didn’t see the predator coming until he stood in front of him. “I believe you owe my first and I an apology,” he said.
“Go away, guide,” Bob said and spit at Spike’s feet.
Spike grabbed the much larger sentinel by the shoulders and dropped to the floor, tossing Bob over him as he dropped. Bob scrambled to his feet but when he got up he found Spike ready and waiting for him.
“Care to make that apology now?” Spike asked.
“Fuck you,” Bob said and charged Spike.
Spike sidestepped at the last moment and tripped Bob and then he quickly stepped on his neck and picked up his arm twisting it into an uncomfortable position.”
“How about now?” Spike asked.
“Go to hell,” Bob said and tried to buck Spike off of him.
Spike pulled on Bob’s shoulder and every sentinel in the gym heard the pop as Bob’s shoulder dislocated. “Been there, done that,” Spike said as he stepped back and waited for the big man to get back to his feet.
When Bob got up he was nauseous and sweaty with pain, he cradled his right arm against his chest. For the first time he looked at Spike, really looked at him, for the first time he saw the predator and he shivered. “I apologize,” he whispered, with his head hung, and then began to stagger from the circle.
Spike blocked his way. “I prefer a formal apology,” he said in a tone that let Bob know the topic was not open for negotiation.
Bob stood up as straight as he could. “I, Sentinel Robert Stevens,” he said, in a loud but obviously pain filled voice, “formally apologize to Sentinel James Ellison and Sentinel William Spikeman for my unfounded accusations as to their character.”
“Apology accepted,” Spike said and then walked back to Jim and Graham.
Graham looked at Spike. “That was damn impressive, you dislocated his arm with no more difficulty then pulling a candle out of a birthday cake.”
“Yeah,” Spike agreed in a bitter tone. “It’s always the same, if you aren’t big there’s always some guy that will make the wrong assumption. Just like Sentinel Stevens. Well,
They’ll respect us now,” Spike said. “And isn’t that what sentinels are all about, the power to protect our guides and the respect that comes with it?”
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An: If you have not read Runaway Guide 1 or you missed any chapters, you can read it on WWOMB.
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