Chapter 4 - Police Talks
October 22, 2010
After his freak out about not being owned and his question about decisions, I got curious. I spoke with Dr. Fuentes and she felt it was a concern, so we both tested him some.
He would let them draw blood, even if I was in the bathroom or out of the room in the hallway. He knew I wouldn't care which arm as long as it was drawn. Because I'd already expressed that wish before.
If they gave him a food choice he would choose the one he felt I would go with, the healthier option. Even if he didn't like the item being offered. If he was unsure and I was in the room he would choose, but always look to me to confirm the choice.
The same applied to television programs. He wouldn't complain about anything I put it on and if given the choice would choose those types of programs as well.
It was going to be a big problem because he needed the ability to make those choices on his own. It bothered Ellen as well and she wanted Dr. Fuentes to speak to him. The one time she came in, he hid behind me. He wouldn't even say hi. She did observe the times we gave him the choice and she agreed that Castiel's assessment was correct. But without talking to him, she couldn't recommend anything.
It was something we would have to work on along with physical rehab.
Jody had been super patient as well. She needed to interview Cas about what he went through before we arrived. Usually those were done right away but Ellen had stopped her. Ellen cleared him though and Jody was coming today after lunch. Castiel had been informed and agreed to meet with her and Benny.
The morning was spent being lazy for the most part. He did have physical therapy to help with strengthening his legs, arms and core a bit and a nap that was before lunch. His diet was still more soft foods still but they were putting a bit more solids in the mix as well.
Once the lunch trays were removed I sat down on the bed.
"Jody Mills and Officer Lafitte should be here soon. I cannot answer for you nor can I guide you. The one thing I ask is that you be honest with them. I know you're afraid of these bad people but don't let that stop you."
He nodded. "Is there anything I shouldn't say?"
"No. Tell them the truth and nothing less. This helps us get these bad people off the streets and behind bars."
"Okay, Alpha."
They arrived at ten after one and I could tell he tensed up right away. But I knew neither Jody nor Benny had ever been to that warehouse. It was most likely because both were alphas. They greeted him warmly though and sat down at the foot of the bed in the provided chairs. I remained by the bedside on his left side.
Benny looked at him first, his smile warm and genuine. "How do you feel, Mr. Novak?"
Cas shrugged. "I'm okay."
"Do you think you can answer some questions for us?"
"Yes, sir."
"Benny is fine. I'm going to start with the obvious, but we need to ask. Were you at that warehouse of your own free will?"
He shook his head. "No."
"How long were you there? An approximation is okay."
He picked at the end of the blanket. "Maybe six months? I'm not completely sure."
"That's okay. Once at the warehouse, what happened?"
His hands had found a string that they were constantly wrapping and unwrapping from his finger. "Master first did his inspection, he wanted to make sure I would look okay to clients. He..."
The string was wrapped tightly around his finger so I leaned up and laid my hand over his. "It's okay. Tell them what happened. Remember, be honest. Don't be afraid of them."
His hand turned and grasped mine. I saw both Jody and Benny raise a brow, but I didn't care. He nodded and then turned back to them.
The words flowed more freely about how 'master' had inspected him. There were the obvious things that someone buying would look for. Bruises, scars, deformities, or anything that might lower the value. Apparently they also made sure he would slick, and in his words, could take a knot.
Alastair made me rage before, but hearing how he treated him was making it worse. But I worked hard to maintain a neutral scent, something that wouldn't make Cas think I was angry at him.
"Was that the only time Mr. Wainwright knotted you?" Jody asked.
"Yes. He...wasn't into that type of pleasure."
"What do you mean?" She asked.
His hand tightened and I could feel a tremble as well. "He liked...belts. Knives. But he didn't come to me often. He said I couldn't be marked."
"Was it him that hit you the day we got you?" Benny asked
"Yes. He was mad."
"What about?" Jody asked.
His eyes shifted to me briefly but then moved back to them. "The customer wasn't happy, he had to use an artificial slick and complained that I was too... quiet. He said that was my fault."
Jody looked at me sternly and I was pretty sure that while my scent remained neutral my eyes were showing red. I could even see the light red around their eyes as well.
"Castiel, do you have any pups out there that we need to find?"
I had asked the same question numerous times to numerous victims. Yet, when she asked, I dreaded the answer. I had to focus hard on maintaining control. The very thought he may have pups and that they had ripped them away was too much
"No. I don't. There was a scare but nothing happened."
"Do you remember the client's you had at the warehouse? Anyone besides the nurses?" Benny asked.
"I was always strapped down. I knew their scents because most don't care about that but they don't want me to see them."
That made sense and it also meant he could probably tell I was raging mad right now.
"I assume Mr. Wainwright was not your first master?" Jody asked.
Castiel shook his head. "He wasn't."
"In your six months or so with him, did he give you any illegal drugs such as cocaine?"
"No. I think he gave me a sedative a few times and maybe birth control. I wasn't sure about them."
Benny looked to me and then back to him. "Did you, at any point, consent to anything Mr. Wainwright did or had done to you?"
"No. He told me what to do. It didn't matter if I didn't want to."
Jody observed her notes for several minutes and I wondered if she was doing so on purpose. Giving us time to calm down.
"You mentioned Michael the other day. You sounded like you believed he was your... master. Who is he?" Jody asked.
Castiel's hand tightened on mine and even with a hard grip I could feel a slight tremble. I squeezed gently. "It's okay. Remember, you're safe."
"Master Michael didn't sell me to Master Wainwright. Being with him was punishment."
Benny's brows knitted in confusion at that. "Punishment for what?"
Castiel's head dropped and while he said something, none of us could hear him and I think he knew by the silence that followed. He finally looked at Jody.
"I didn't have a heat. He said I couldn't have his pups if I wasn't having them. He was mad because he paid a lot of money."
"How long were you with him?" I asked.
There was a weirdness in his reaction versus this story.
"A few years, Alpha."
"What happened right after you were taken from your parents?" Benny asked.
"Taken? What do you mean? I wasn't taken. I was sold."
I blinked. Sold?! His parents sold him?! But that didn't line up with what happened to them!
"Castiel, are you sure?"
"Yes. I hadn't presented yet but they were sure I would be an alpha. But the man didn't care, he said I would sell high either way."
"They were killed in your presence." Benny said.
His eyes went down and his hand tightened. "They lied to the man. The sale occurred a few days before. He had me tested for something and I was negative. I never understood what it was. They refused to give him his money back so he killed them. I told Alpha they weren't traditional."
Jody looked at me. "He did say that. I assumed he meant that his family were against that type of practice. When you said your parents owned you, you meant that literally?"
"They always told me that."
"Okay, do you remember anything about that man?"
"He told me to only address him as sir. We weren't allowed to talk much, only when our handlers approved it. I was the last one sold off. It wasn't until after my first heat."
"And this guy, did you get names?" Benny asked.
"Master was his name. But he was somehow related to Master Michael. It is how he saw me. I was with my Master about a year beforehand. He wanted me as a breeder but said I was still too young. Master Michael offered him money and he took it. I then moved in with him and the others."
"What others?" Jody asked.
"He had a few betas who did housework and three other omegas. They seemed... free?"
"Free? Like they left and returned?" Jody asked.
"Yes."
"Was he the first one to knot you?"
I saw him swallow and squeezed his hand gently.
"Yes. Do I... I mean.."
"No. Not right now. We'll assume it was non-consensual," Jody said.
"Hurt..."
The acidic smell was getting deeper and I glanced at Jody, she could sense it too.
"I think we have everything right now. Castiel, I want you to know that anything you tell Dean, can be kept between the two of you. He is here more for you than because I told him to be."
He just nodded but he was definitely shutting down on us. Jody and Benny took their leave and left us alone.
"Cas? Are you okay? Do you need anything?"
"I..."
I got up and sat down beside him, moved my arm behind him and pulled him close. I honestly wasn't sure what to say to him, what would make it better or worse. So I kept quiet and he eventually relaxed against me and even fell asleep.
The revelation that his parents had sold him, had pretty much raised him for that purpose made me sick. For once, I was glad they were gone.
But it would make recovery harder for him. Because he believed he was owned his whole life. He had been sold multiple times and in his mind Michael still owned him. It was still unclear on his reason for sending him to Alastair and why he would then sell him to me, knowing he wasn't to be sold. Unless Michael approved it somehow.
I got my phone from my pocket and brought up Jody's name and sent a text message. Was there any indication in the Wainwright papers that Michael gave permission to sell Castiel? Any indication of who he is?
I have Charlie looking now. We also requested more information about the murder of the parents. Charlie did find birth records and they were his legal parents.
That is fucked up. Did you check the other murdered parents too? In case the same is true.
Yes. We requested that too. How is he?
I glanced down at the sleeping form beside me. He's asleep. He got right beside me after you guys left.
Has his scent improved at all?
To me, a little. It's not as bad as it was. I also sometimes get whiffs of something sweeter. But I can't pinpoint the smell yet.
Okay. Maybe that will improve over time. Getting back to it. Keep him safe, Dean.
You know I will.
I laid the phone down for a moment before I hit Charlie's name. Are you absolutely sure he wasn't kidnapped?!
It took twenty minutes before my phone buzzed.
I wish he was. Sadly, those assholes were his birth parents. Dean... has he mentioned any siblings?
Nope. He said there was no other family. Why?
I found another birth certificate with their names on it, male pup born 10 years before Castiel. The name listed is Jimmy Novak and he's a ghost Dean. His social number has never been used.
I frowned. Could he have died? Or been killed?
Maybe. I'm digging deeper and maybe if we can backtrack to the guy who bought him first we'll get answers too. How is he? Better?
He is. While you're digging, can you find me anything on how to help someone who believes they are owned?
I'll try. Gotta go. Bye bitch!
I rolled my eyes and laid the phone down. When Ellen came in around five he was still snuggled up asleep. She changed out the bags of fluids.
"I need vitals but he looks too comfortable there."
"He really is. Ellen, would it be okay to have him put on pants or something? Or is there a need for him to be fully nude under this gown?"
She reviewed the chart. "He's had x-rays which were clear. So I don't see why not. No metal though just in case."
"I'll have Benny stop by a store. I know everything I own would swallow him whole."
"For now, he'll gain weight. And on that note...I need to warn you."
"About?"
"Heats. He said the other day when I asked that they were irregular, and always had been. That is most likely due to drugs given to him and weight. We don't have him on those and there is a chance once his body reaches optimal weight it'll trigger one. You need to know his preferences and consent."
I hadn't even considered that. "Will do."
She smiled and then headed out. He woke up just before six and blinked.
"Alpha?"
"You were comfortable and no one bothered you. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes."
He sat there waking up some more before he went to the bathroom. By the time he was settled back down dinner arrived. I noticed they were the same plates this time so he must have graduated to regular foods. However, Ellen still told him to chew well and eat slowly.
When Ellen came in to collect the trays and let us know the nurse was taking over she handed me a bag. "I sent Benny a message and he supplied it."
"Thanks."
He looked at the bag quizzically until I laid it on the bed and took out a pair of pajama pants. "Would you like to put these on under the gown?"
"You want me in clothes, Alpha?"
"Yes. If you want them on."
He blinked and clearly wearing clothes was a novel concept for him. But then again, he hadn't been dressed at the warehouse.
"How about a nice hot shower and then you get to put on something that will be comfortable and we'll find a movie."
"Okay."
"I'm going to step out to find Nurse Greenley so she can bandage that IV and get some fresh gowns and supplies. I'll be right back."
He nodded and I stepped out into the hallway. People were wandering around like normal and I had to go to the nurses station to find her. She was just getting in.
"The only rush is the IV hand. I've got a clean gown already in the room. But if you want to send someone to change the sheets it would be ideal."
"I can't come for sheets right away, but I have someone I can send. Just you come out of the bathroom first to make sure she's done. Would that be okay?"
"Yes. That would be...what's wrong?"
Her face had scrunched up looking at the monitor, the clear look of concern on her face.
"Castiel's heart rate just spiked. Is there anyone in the room with him?"
"No. He's alone."
Both of us headed to the room, I made it before she did and found him curled up tightly in the middle of the bed. His eyes were wide and he was clutching the pillow I'd been leaning on tightly.
"Cas?"
"He... He's... he was... Alpha."
"He who? Who is he, Castiel?"
"Michael."
"Michael was here? You saw him?"
"He was... he was outside the window."
Nurse Greenley called for security and I moved to him. Reassured him he was safe. She spoke to security and they agreed to pull any video footage for us. She closed the blinds to the window and sat down at the foot of the bed.
"Do you still want that shower?"
I nodded. "How about giving us an hour? Go ahead and get your rounds done and then we should be ready."
"Gotcha."
She stepped out and I felt when he began to calm down, the shaking not as bad.
"You okay? Did he say or do anything?"
"I am and no. I'm not sure he knew I was here."
But odds are he was looking for him. We settled for an hour and when she came back she covered the IV, and left clean gowns, and fresh bandages. She had fresh bedding too but waited until he was in the shower to do that.
I waited on the toilet while he had his chair in the shower. Once the water was off and I had him dried off I helped him into the pants.
"Feels weird..."
"The material?"
"No, they are very soft. I just can't remember the last time an alpha wanted me in clothes."
"How long has it been?"
His eyes wandered down to the floor. "Since before I was taken. My parents preferred some coverings. Masters preferred none."
"Well, clothing is essential to be outside or around others. I'm not saying you have to wear clothes, but it is preferred."
His head tilted some and damn that was adorable. "Do you not like me, Alpha?"
I blinked. Clearly he hadn't gotten the message that I don't own him. That was fine for now. I smiled at him.
"I do, Castiel. But, I am not like your previous masters. I do not believe in owning another person, or using them for any purpose for which they don't consent. Legally, you do not have an owner beyond yourself. The law wouldn't recognize me, or even Michael, as your owner."
He just kinda stared at me and I wish I could have found him sooner. He nodded slightly and slipped the gown on. Once back in the room we handled the fresh bandages and got him comfortable again. I figured when the door opened it would be Nurse Greenley. I didn't expect to see Jody.
"Commander?" I asked.
"Cas, may I please speak to Dean alone? I can put him right in front of the window so you know he's not far."
He nodded but even as I moved toward the door I could tell he was nervous. I cracked the blinds before stepping out and made sure he could see me.
"Why are you here?"
"Security called me. We have a problem."
"Michael?"
"Yes. We have a photo of Wainwrights associates and one match. Michael Williams. He's a CEO of a construction company that is doing pretty well. Family money also helps him. They saw him outside the room earlier tonight, when Cas said he was here. But, they went back and it's not the first time he's been here. He also knows that is his room; he's been spotted at the desk checking the chart wearing scrubs."
"You're shitting me, right?"
She shook her head. "I'm going to talk to Ellen tomorrow morning about discharging him. In the meantime, I have stationed Officer McNamara here for tonight as back up. Garth is his relief in the morning."
"Okay. I'll stay with him and keep the blinds closed."
"Good idea. Is something else bothering you?"
"He isn't used to clothes or alphas wanting him covered. I'm sure he still believes I bought him. I don't know how to handle that. He asked if I liked him, because I got him clothes. He thinks I don't like him because I want him covered."
I could tell by the softness of her face that she didn't know the proper answer but her warm smile was comforting nonetheless.
"Dean, you heard him. His parents essentially raised him to be sold. He's always been told he's property to others. It'll take time and therapy for him to move past that. He trusts you. He clearly likes your scent."
"He said I smelled like home. I wish I knew what his scent was. I've gotten faint whiffs of something sweet but that deeper acidic scent is still present."
"Home? He used that word?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Home is usually what you call a mate."
"I know. I need to get back, it's late. Let me know what Ellen says and tell McNamara if he sees anything to call me."
"Will do."
I slipped back into the room and he looked up. "Was it him?"
"Yes. They confirmed it. There will be another police officer in the hallway and these will stay closed."
I closed the blinds and then moved to the bed. He'd already scooted over to the side with the IV, and there was no point in denying that I felt better when I could be that close. I went to the bathroom first and then settled in beside him.
Finding a movie took a few moments but he relaxed beside me and eventually fell asleep.