Ivory was fast asleep in my lap, and I was still reeling from the shock of what I had just heard. How is it possible for someone to be so cruel, to cause so much hurt to this innocent little omega. As his story unfolded, Ivory's behavior was explained, and I realized why he acted the way he did. At home he wasn't allowed to speak, or make eye contact, or sleep on a real bed.

I stroked his hair gently, looking down at his sleeping face. I could never imagine hurting him, I am so glad I found him. Of all the millions of people on the earth, this one was made just for me. Destined to love. But I was worried. Worried that he would be too afraid to love, that he would never be ready for an alpha, for me, to take care of him.

Shocking me out of my thoughts, Officer Boone entered the office again. She smiled softly at me, and I tried to return the gesture. "He is beyond lucky to have met you," she said quietly, "if it weren't for your help, he'd still be living in that hell hole." I sighed, "I just wish I had gotten here sooner."

The officer nodded, shrugging as she continued, "But you're here now, and you're doing everything you can to help him. You seem to really care about him." I chuckled at her words, "Care for him? He's my mate." Officer Boone seemed to be stunned for a moment, but quickly regained her composure. "Well then, I'd say you're both lucky to have found each other."

With that, I wrapped my blanket tighter around Ivory, and gently lifted him up into my arms. He stirred, but turned towards my chest and cuddled closer to me without waking up. As we left the office, the police station buzzed lowly with the hum of fluorescent light and the trickle of a coffee machine.

As I was about to open the door to the parking lot, someone tapped me on the shoulder. Turning around, I saw Officer Boone looking seriously up at me. She spoke softly, obviously trying not to wake Ivory, "I know that you have been taking care of the victim at home, but it is my strong recommendation that you take him to the hospital to be cared for by professionals. From what we've just heard, we're looking at years of injuries, and he needs medical treatment. I'll call the hospital and explain the situation so they know you're coming."

This wasn't completely unexpected. As much as I wanted to believe that I had the power to help my omega in whatever way he needed, I knew she was right, he needed serious medical attention. I sighed and nodded to the Officer, carrying Ivory out to my car through the chilly, moonlit parking lot.

After about a fifteen minute drive, I pulled up in front of the hospital, and parked close to the emergency room entrance. With the car turned off, I paused for a moment, resting my head on the steering wheel and breathing heavily. This was all happening so fast, my entire life had been changed in the course of a few days.

Looking over at Ivory, curled up in my blanket, I knew without a doubt that it was worth it. Whatever it took, however long it would be, I would be here for him, always. I closed my eyes and took a final deep breath, before opening my door and crossing to the passenger's side to wake Ivory.

After calling his name gently a few times, my omega's eyes fluttered gently open. He looked scared and confused, clutching onto my fluffy blue blanket and holding it close to his nose. Looking over my shoulder, he must have seen the bright lights in the emergency room because he asked, "Where...where are w-we?" "We're at the hospital, a doctor is going to figure out how to help you feel better."

He seemed to think over what I had said, and his lower lip quivered as he snuggled further into my blanket. "I don't want-don't want anyone to t-touch me." Of course not, I wouldn't let them do anything to him. "I'll make sure you're safe. I need you to be brave for me one more time, then we can go home again." He nodded, and I mentally prayed that everything with the doctors would go quickly and smoothly.

Lifting him gently out of my passenger's seat, I carried Ivory towards the sliding doors to the emergency room. When we entered, he turned his head away from the bright lights and noise, trying to block it out against my chest. I walked up to what looked like the reception desk, and the beta woman sitting behind it smiled up at me.

The woman's smile faltered as she saw me, a very obvious alpha, carrying a small, trembling omega. "May I... may I help you, sir?" She faltered, evidently thrown off, I answered in a low voice, trying not to disturb Ivory, "Yes ma'am, you should have received a call from the sheriff's office, we're here to get treatment for the victim from that case." Recognition dawned across the woman's face, and she started clacking away at her keyboard, "Ah yes, you must be Tyler? We have a room ready for Ivory upstairs where it's more quiet. I've just paged the nurse, she'll take you up in a moment."

I nodded and thanked her, stepping back from the desk to wait for the nurse. I stroked Ivory's dark hair, "Just a minute now love and we'll go somewhere much quieter, there won't be so many people." He nodded into my chest, clearly overwhelmed by the sounds and chaos of the emergency room.

We waited for a minute or two before a short woman with black hair and dark purple scrubs approached us. She was an omega, with a kind smile and twinkling brown eyes. Her voice was soft and calm as she spoke, "Hello, nice to meet you Tyler. My name is Julie, I'm the head nurse for our special consideration unit, I'm going to be taking care of Ivory while he's here with us." I was honestly relieved to meet her, she seemed caring and sweet, just the kind of person Ivory needed.

Julie led us to an elevator down the hallway, and we rode it up to the fifth floor. When the doors opened, she led us down another brightly lit hall, finally stopping at a pair of double doors and turning to face me. "This is the special consideration unit, it's for victims, patients with prior trauma, and other situations like that. Please don't make any loud noises, or look through the windows of any of the rooms we pass."

Nodding, I followed her carefully into the unit, and was immediately grateful that Ivorg would be treated in a place like this. The lights were more dim and warmer than the fluorescents outside. The walls were painted light blue, and the only noise was the gentle tapping of computer keys and a noise maker in the corner set to a waterfall sound. Immediately, Ivory stirred in my arms, lifting his head and blinking shyly at his new environment.

We turned a corner, and Julie opened the door on the right, leading us into Ivory's hospital room. The hospital bed was fitted with pale green sheets, and there was a chair next to the bed. Julie spoke to Ivory, who peaked at her over my elbow, "My name is Julie, I'm going to help you feel better. This is your room, so if you'd like anything changed, just let me know. Is there anything I can get for you before I fetch the doctor?" He shook his head no, and looked curiously around his new room.

"We'll then, I'm off to fetch Doctor Garrett, you two make yourselves at home, I'll be back in a moment." She turned on her heel and marched off down the hallway, leaving Ivory and I alone in the warmly lit room. I walked over to the bed, gently setting him down on top of the soft sheets. As I unwrapped my arms from around his body, he looked cautiously around at the room. "This is... this is for m-me?"

Smiling, I answered him, "Yes, this is your room. You get to decide what happens here." There was a short pause as he pulled my blanket around him again, "But I... I'm not allowed to have-to have my own things." Suddenly there was fear in his eyes, and he cowered away towards the far corner of the bed. "Will I-will I have to e-earn it. I-I don't want, I c-can't, I-I-"

"No, no, no," I hushed him quickly, approaching slowly with my hands outstretched. "You don't have to earn anything here. These people want to help you feel better, no one is going to touch you or make you do anything you don't want to." He peeped out from behind the corner of my blanket he was hiding under, "You'll... you'll be here? You'll stay with me?" "Yes. Always."

Slowly, Ivory unwrapped himself from his ball of fear in the corner of the hospital bed, and let me help him under the covers to get comfortable. I sat down in the chair next to his bed, his hand still holding fast to mine, when the door opened. Julie walked in first, followed by Dr Garrett, who turned out to be a tall blonde beta with a caring smile.

Dr Garrett kept her distance as Ivory watched her carefully from his spot. She spoke softly and slowly, obviously trying to put him at ease, "Hello Ivory, my name is Dr Garrett and I'm going to help you feel better, it's nice to meet you." He nodded slowly, his eyes darting from her face to mine. The doctor followed his eyes over to me, "Can you introduce me to your... friend, Ivory."

"This is-this is Tyler. He's t-taking care of m-me." "Wonderful, I'm so glad to hear you have someone looking out for you." She took a few steps closer to the bed, "The Officer from the police station told me about some things that happened to you, some things that probably hurt a lot. It's my job to make them stop hurting. To do that, I need to take a look at the problem, so I can see what to do about it. Is it okay if I take a look at your injuries?"

Ivory pondered the question in silence, before looking back up at me. "Tyler can stay with you if you'd like." That seemed to convince him, and he nodded again, reaching out for my hand. When I reached out for him, his hand was shaking, and he squeezed my palm tightly as Dr Garrett approached.

The doctor performed a complete exam. She checked over his whole body and scribbled notes about his various injuries. She took his vitals and tested all of his joints and bones, looking for breaks or sprains. Ivory was nervous throughout the whole ordeal, not letting go of my hand for a second, but seemed to be relatively in control of his faculties.

Finishing her exam and stepping away, Dr Garrett addressed Ivory again, "Thank you Ivory, you did so well. Is it okay if I talk to Tyler outside for a moment, I promise he'll come right back." Ivory assented, and she continued, "While we're gone, nurse Julie is going to set an IV for you, she's an expert at it and you'll hardly notice it." He seemed more anxious about this last announcement, but released my hand so I could follow the doctor out of the room.

In the hallway, Dr Garrett turned to face me after closing the door. Her whole demeanor had changed, she looked serious and concerned, and spoke in a low, confident voice, "I'll be honest with you Tyler, things do not look good." She glanced down at her notes, "He's got a sprained Achilles, two ribs that were cracked and never healed properly, a severe concussion from...I'd estimate a week ago. From what I can see from the initial examination, there's also significant malnutrition and I'd say we're looking at about 70% of his current injuries scaring."

I was stunned. All this from the initial examination? My poor, sweet, innocent omega hurt so badly. The doctor continued, "Nurse Julie is getting a blood sample and setting up IV fluids, we'll know more when the lab gets back with those results. And...well, you're his mate aren't you?" I looked down at her with a sad smile, "Yes, I am. I feel so awful about this I can't believe I let-" "No. You didn't 'let' this happen, and it's not your fault. What happened to Ivory is terrible, but it is not you who caused the harm."

With a deep breath I nodded, willing myself to take her words to heart. The most important thing right now was to take care of Ivory, to give him all of the support he needed to feel safe again. With that in mind, I opened the door and walked back into his room. He was lying on the bed, his limbs tangled in my blanket as he shook and cried.

"No, no! Please!" He was begging through his tears as nurse Julie stood next to the bed holding an IV needle and looking unsure. Immediately I knew what was happening. The only times Ivory had been around needles had ended with him in a drugged stupor, of course he would be afraid.

I crossed quickly to the bed and knelt beside him, drawing his attention for the first time since entering the room. As soon as he saw me, he moved closer asking for help as he cowered from the needle. "It's okay, it's okay, I'm here. I know it's scary, I know." I held him close and stroked his back, watching over his shoulder as Dr Garrett explained the situation to nurse Julie in a hushed voice.

Nodding to nurse Julie, the doctor approached the bed, speaking to Ivory in a calm, authoritative voice, "Ivory, this shot is not like ones you've had before. This one is good, it's going to make you feel better. Tyler is going to be with you while we do it, and if anything isn't safe, he'll stop it. Do you trust him to do that?" My omega nodded, and my heart glowed with pride at the trust he put in me.

After some more coaxing and the promise of quiet time and a nap afterwards, Ivory was finally convinced to have the IV set. He squeezed my hand in a death grip, and I did my best to keep him calm. When the needle was set and taped down, Julie and Dr Garrett praised him for his bravery, and left quietly to the rest of the unit.

Ivory looked over at me once we were alone, "I'm...I'm scared. Will y-you hold m-me." "Of course, love. Is it okay if I get on the bed with you?" He nodded, and I climbed under the blanket next to him. I pulled him close to my chest, and he nuzzled into my shirt, settling against me to fall asleep. His breathing evened out as he fell asleep, and I couldn't help but wonder how in the world I got lucky enough to have him.