The long drive home was what Forth needed. He mulled over the things he learned that night. Glancing at the sleeping boy in his rearview mirror. Forth felt a stinging pain in his chest. Beam looked so small and so broken.

Beam was indeed the oldest of the group, seventeen years old. An orphan that was supposed to be taken in by foster parents until he turns of legal age. But those foster parents turned out to be posers and sold Beam to the human traffickers. Beam was held captive by Big Papa for almost six months. The children come and go, sold to different clients, but Beam was Big Papa's favorite so he kept the boy.

Most of the rescued children were those that were reported as missing. Their parents were contacted immediately. Some kids are from the same orphanage as Beam. This orphanage sounds really shady, so Forth assigned a team to investigate the organization. None of the kids want to go back there, so the Social Welfare team took over and promised to find legit and suitable foster parents for them. For now, they will stay at the rehabilitation center until they find matches.

However, Beam's case was different. He is almost of age, and the chance of finding foster parents is very slim. Foster parents prefer younger children, and even younger for those considering adoption. What Beam needs now is a legal guardian who would provide shelter for him for the meantime. It's only six months to go till he turns eighteen. All intel available was already exhausted, and they can't seem to trace any of Beam's relatives. He was left at the orphanage as a baby with only a note containing his name. Beam Baramee.

Forth is at a loss. He can't leave the kid somewhere at this time. He needs somewhere to stay for the night, the police station is out of the question and his fellow officers are either with family or have roommates. That leaves Forth as the only option. A bachelor, living in an apartment, alone. Well, Forth is not actually against the idea, so he called in for the night and greeted his team a good job and asked them to go home as well.

Beam moaned softly which broke Forth out of his musings. He stopped by a 24-hour convenience store to buy something to eat for Beam.

Then they arrived at Forth's apartment. Forth sat Beam down in his kitchen table and prepared the food. He watched the boy eat slowly and silently. He observed Beam in the kitchen light. He was still wrapped in a blanket, he was not really dirty but his wounds needed cleaning and his bruises needed to be attended as well. When Beam finished eating he just sat still with his head down. Forth reached out for the blanket and Beam flinched.

"You can relax Beam, you are safe now." Forth squeezed his arm. Trying to be as gentle and as non-threatening as possible.

"Both you and I need to rest, it's already late. But you need to take a bath first and then we will clean your wounds." Forth explained.

Forth slowly clutched at the blanket until Beam's body is exposed, again now only in his boxers. He can't help but glance at the boy's naked torso.

"The bathroom is over there. I will prepare fresh clothes." Forth motioned his head towards the door beside the countertop.

But Beam is not moving a muscle.

"It hurts..." Beam just whimpered.

"What?...Where?..." But Beam is not answering and his head still lowered.

Forth examined Beam's body one more time, looking for signs of a broken bone. He understands, some bruises looked fresh, and the cuts on Beam's wounds looked painful. But it was then when Forth's eyes travelled down to Beam's boxer shorts... He saw blood. Patches of blood. Some looked like they already dried, while some still looked damp.

"Fuck!!!" Forth could only swear. "Shit! Is this why you can't walk or stand?" He held Beam's chin urging him to look at him.

Beam lifted his head, and looked at Forth. Beam's eyes seems to tell Forth everything he feels. Shame, emptiness, humiliation, sadness.

Forth clenched his fist. He really wants to punch someone, something.

"Those fucking bastards..." Forth said it quietly, but the feeling of anger and remorse is so strong.

Forth took a few minutes to calm down. And then he proceeded to carry Beam to the bathroom.

He laid him gently to the tub and ran the warm water. Beam went rigid and retreated when Forth tried to pull off Beam's boxer.

"Beam... I won't hurt you." Forth said with all the gentleness he could muster.

"Trust me." Forth looked at him. His eyes conveying kindness and understanding.

Beam looked at him and hesitated for moment, and then he relaxed. Forth carefully took off the boxers and started washing Beam.

He washed Beam's hair with shampoo. Forth can't help but marvel at his hair's softness. He gently massaged his scalp, and then his ears, nape, and neck. In all of Forth's life, he has never bathed another person before. He did not expect it to feel so... natural. And surprisingly, Beam just let him. As if the boy had completely given him his trust.

Forth ran his hands on a soap bar, made foam on his hands, and then paid attention to Beam's face. This boy is very handsome, not manly handsome but beautiful handsome. The proportions are perfect, Forth can't help but look and appreciate. Beam also looked back at him. For a moment, they have a staring contest, trying to figure out what was on each other's mind. Words seem to be scarce inside this little room. Both are silent, not really knowing what to say, both lost at their own contemplations.

As if asking for permission, Forth cupped Beam's face. Beam just continued staring. Thinking it's a yes, Forth slowly washed his face, grazing his knuckles over the boy's cheeks. Then he ran both of his fingers on Beam forehead. Beam closed his eyes as Forth traced his knotted eyebrows, lightly pressing them as if to get rid of the sadness. Then he gently pinched Beam's nose, which parted Beam's mouth as a response. As if in a spell, Forth diverted his attention to Beam's lips. He softly caressed the plump lower lip with his thumb. Forth unconsciously parts his own mouth. He is really curious how those lips would feel against his.

Wait... Forth is not sure what is happening, but this person is doing something unexplainable to him. He is feeling something bubbling inside him, it's that feeling in the pit of your stomach. It's that feeling when your throat tightens. It's that feeling in your chest when their pumping too much blood. It's indescribable.

A soft whimper came from those lips which startled Forth and snapped him out of his preoccupied thoughts. Beam got soap in his eyes, so Forth hurriedly washed them and made sure to get rid of them.

Forth decided to move on before he ends up doing something else to the beautiful boy. Using a bath sponge, he washed Beam's body thoroughly from head to toe. Stopping to inspect each bruise and wounds. Forth can't help but puff soft blows on them and whisper gentle words every time Beam flinched. He can't imagine what Beam has been through, the pain and the abuse.

Beam has been silent all this time. But Forth didn't seem to notice the silent tears running in Beam's cheeks.

Without malice Forth checked Beam's member and balls, they look okay except for the occasional marks on his inner thighs. Some motherfucker was having fun doing this. Forth is now starting to get angry.

Still not noticing Beam's silent weeping, Forth turned Beam and bent him slightly to check his backside. Looking at Beam's buttcheeks, he checked the whip marks, and silently prayed they won't scar later on. He slowly parted the cheeks.

"Fucking shitheads!!!" Forth half shouted at what he is seeing. Beam just bit his lower lip while flinching. Beam's asshole is swollen and it looked like it really hurt. Now Forth can understand why Beam can't walk properly.

"Fuck them dickheads!" Forth curses, "Fuckers!" as he gently washes off the dried blood and semen on Beam's taint. "I'm gonna kill all those bastards."

"I'm gonna make sure they all pay for this Beam." Forth says with anguish in his voice.

Beam is still silent, but his body is trembling. That's when Forth noticed. Beam's soft sobs are now audible. Forth hugged Beam tightly. Not caring if he is also getting wet.

"I will get them Beam. I will get your revenge." Forth's resolve resounds with finality. "I will make them regret what they've done."

Beam's body is now shaking violently and he finally let it out. He bawled and cried his heart out. Beam's loud sobs echoed through the bathroom walls. Forth just let him and made his embrace tighter.

Beam's cries gripped painfully at Forth's heart. Forth didn't even notice his own tears. He can feel Beam's pain, aching, suffering. Forth never experienced such grief and agony, until now.

They stay like that for a long time until the heaving calmed down.

After a while, Forth carried Beam out of the bathroom and wiped him dry. He applied ointment and tended to Beam's wounds before dressing him with a comfortable shirt and cotton boxers. He carried the still sobbing boy to the bed.

Forth went back to the bathroom to take his own bath. When he went back to the bedroom, Beam is still crying but softly now. Forth laid down and embraced Beam, rubbing his back and patting his head occasionally.

"It's okay now..." Forth said reassuringly. "I will protect you, you are safe now." Forth could only hope his words can remove Beam's doubts and fears.

Forth has decided. He meant every words he told Beam. He held Beam tightly, sharing his warmth, until the younger fell asleep from exhaustion.

He wiped Beam's tears and kissed his hair. He can only sigh at this deep inexplicable feeling he is experiencing right now.

"Goodnight, Beam." Forth is also exhausted and immediately fell asleep after closing his eyes.

They stay like that, safe in each other arms. Till the morning comes.

***

A/N: Sorry, I never meant for this chapter to be so angsty. 😢