Kurt was woken around two hours later by Jeff, crouched on the floor and moaning in pain. He'd clearly gotten up and managed two steps before the pain was too much. Kurt instantly shook Blaine awake. The man woke up instantly and rushed up from the bed. He kneeled beside Jeff and put a hand on his chest.

"Jeff, I need you to stay still and breathe slow and deep." The teenager nodded and choked as he tried to get air in, he was crying too much to calm down just yet.

Blaine kept his hand on his chest and just let him know that he was there for him. Once his breathing had evened, Blaine picked him up and laid him back on the bed. "Why did you try to get up? Do you need to go to the bathroom?" he asked softly.
Jeff nodded. "A-And I've had m-my two hours of sleep. I was going to get the c-cleaning started."
Kurt laid a soothing hand on Blaine's arm. Yes, the boy had broken Blaine's order by getting up, but these were orders Thad had beaten into him over six months, it was going to be hard for him to get out of the habit.

Blaine swallowed his tears away. "You're not with him anymore, remember?" he said as calmly as he could. "You need rest."

Nodding weakly, Jeff turned his broken eyes to Blaine. "Please may I go to the bathroom, Master?" he whispered.

"All you have to do is ask us to help you. When you're better, you can go anytime you want." Blaine was totally heartbroken, looking at the 16 year old boy on the floor.
Jeff’s eyes were huge at the idea of being allowed to do something, even something as simple as going to the bathroom, whenever he wanted. "Please will you help me?" he asked softly.

"Of course," Blaine smiled and thought about just steadying him, but ended up carrying him into the bathroom. While he helped Jeff, he spoke to him as well. "You didn't notice because you were asleep then, but there's another guy who's like me. His name is Wes and he's a doctor. He's also in a relationship with his sub and they are very happy. He helped you. Without him, I think you might have been dead by now."

Jeff frowned, leaning heavily against Blaine. "There are... More of you, Sir?" He sounded surprised. "I always thought Nick was the only one..."

"There's Nick, me and Wes. And probably more Doms out there like us. I'll find Nick for you, don't worry." He smiled reassuringly. Honestly, he wasn't sure if he would find him, but dammit, he would try his hardest for this boy.

"Technically..." Jeff forced out weakly. "N-Nick is the only one with any claim to me, Sir." His voice was thin and he sounded ill. "See..." He held out his left hand and swirling around the middle finger was a small tattoo of a vine. A promise mark.
Subs could be promised to Doms from as early as four years old, although they wouldn't be able to claim them until their eighteenth birthday. The young sub would have to stay with their parents until then, just as the young Dom would stay with their own. But they were legally the Dom’s property from that moment. Jeff had never actually been Thad's and should Thad have tried to claim him, Jeff would likely have died. A promised sub was destined to belong to their promised Dom and no one else.

Blaine's breath caught in his throat as he saw the mark. He had to find Nick, he just had to. Jeff would never be truly happy without him. "I'll find him," Blaine said, more firmly. "I swear, I'll find him."

Jeff nodded shakily. "I n-need him," he whispered as he washed his hands, still being held up by Blaine.

"I know you do. Let's just go back to bed now, okay? I'll start searching in the morning." Blaine kissed Jeff's cheek caringly and helped him back to the bedroom and onto the bed.

"I get to sleep more, Sir?" Jeff asked, shocked.
"Of course you do," Kurt yawned. "Two hours isn't enough sleep for anyone. Even at the school we got more than that."

"I'd say I’ll force you to sleep at least ten hours every night when you're still this badly injured, but I don't know if your body would be able to adjust to that." Blaine laid down between the two subs, to give them both safety.

Kurt instantly curled into Blaine's chest, but Jeff hesitated, unsure as to whether he was allowed to cuddle with Blaine too.

Blaine smiled and pulled Jeff in, as well. "Until we find Nick for you, you need someone. I'm here for you, okay?"

"R-Really?" Jeff's heart longed to be loved and protected.

"Really," Blaine confirmed. "You matter, Jeff. I just wish everyone could see that."

The small blonde sniffled and buried his face in Blaine's shoulder as Kurt rested his head on his Master’s chest, drawing light circles over it with his finger. Blaine was dead tired, but he still kept himself awake until the two boys were asleep. He knew, deep down that he would do anything to keep them safe, absolutely anything.

:)

Jeff had been awake for five hours when Kurt and Blaine stirred to life the next morning.
"Hey, Jeff,” Kurt smiled gently. "How are you feeling?"

"H-Hurts," Jeff whimpered. The painkillers from last night had stopped working hours ago and the pain had woken him.

Blaine understood and ran off to get some more pills and a glass of water. "Try to soothe him," he said quickly to Kurt before rushing out the door.

Kurt nodded and gritted his teeth against his own pain, choosing not to mention it. He curled close to Jeff, holding him gently and stroking his hands through the matted blonde hair.

"Hush, it's okay... I promise it is... You'll be okay..."

Blaine came back with a box of painkillers and two glasses of water. He gave one of them to Kurt, along with a pill, and helped Jeff with his. "You'll both feel better any minute," he said gently, stroking Jeff's hair and Kurt's knuckles.

"I'm okay," Kurt whispered, putting his painkillers to one side. "I don't need them." Jeff needed attention right now, not him.

"Kurt," Blaine said, looking him in the eye. "I know you're in pain. Take them, it's an order."
Kurt considered refusing, but he didn't think he could take a punishment right now on top of the pain he was already in, so he quietly took the pills. "I was okay..."

"No, you weren't, I could see it in your eyes. I'm disappointed in you, Kurt. Honesty, remember?" Blaine looked generally hurt. He really thought Kurt would tell him the truth.

Kurt flinched as Blaine said he was disappointed. He got up and limped to the bathroom, wishing the subs bathroom had a lock as he sat on the edge of the bath and tried hard not to cry.

Blaine hadn’t been joking when he said he was disappointed. Kurt didn't care enough for himself. And now he had also broken Blaine's only rule by going up from the bed. He couldn't get up to follow Kurt though, no matter how much he wanted to. Jeff needed him the most right now, at least until the painkillers kicked in.

Kurt climbed into the bath and pulled the curtain around him, pulling his knees up to his chest with a slight cry of pain and sobbing.

Twenty minutes later, Jeff had fallen asleep again and Blaine tip-toed into the sub bathroom, trying to make as little noise as possible. He found Kurt in the bathtub, crying. Blaine didn't feel guilty about it, Kurt had broken his rules after all. "Kneel," Blaine said.

Kurt met Blaine's eyes and hesitated, before scrambling out of the bath tub and dropping to his knees in front of Blaine, his head bowed.

"You've broken two of my very few rules in the past half hour. Which ones did you break?" Blaine asked. His dominant side was still buzzing inside of him, but he wouldn't let it take over, not like before.

"I wasn't honest and I got out of bed but-"
"No buts, Kurt. You broke my rules and even though I love you, this is not okay. I am still your Master. I won't punish you right now because I don't think your body would be able to handle it. Once you've healed, you will get that punishment. And if you disobey me more, the punishment will be worse." Blaine looked firmly at Kurt. He wasn't exactly angry, but Kurt needed to know that he still couldn't disobey his Master.

Kurt nodded unhappily, hoping he'd be given a chance to explain himself. "Yes, Sir..."

"Good. Now, let's get you back to bed. I need you to stay there for one more day. You haven't healed up quite enough yet," Blaine decided and took Kurt in his arms to carry him back to bed. He set him down and kissed him on the forehead.

Kurt was pouting when Blaine put him down again. "Can I at least explain why I did it?"

"Fine," Blaine sighed and sat down on the bed. "Why did you do it?"
Kurt looked down at his legs, picking at the scab on a bite mark. "I-It's hard. I... I like Jeff, but it's hard having another sub in the house. And I'm trying not to be jealous and I know he needs more attention than me so I-I didn't want to admit that I was in pain because I didn't want your attention to get drawn off him. And then... then you said you were disappointed in me and I knew I was going to cry and I didn't want to worry Jeff or keep him awake when he should be sleeping." Kurt had picked at the scab enough that blood was running down his leg.

"Oh, sweetie," Blaine said, pulling Kurt onto his lap. "I was disappointed in you because you made a promise to me to always obey me and you didn't. The problem is... you care too much." He smiled sweetly. "You care so much about everyone that you don't even have time to care about yourself. And I'm sorry that Jeff is getting the attention right now, I understand that it's hard. But he's like our child now, it's our duty to take care of him, just like it's my duty to take care of you. If you're ever in pain or if you feel like crying or anything, talk to me instead. Don't keep it inside." Blaine hugged Kurt closer and breathed him in. "You're still my everything."

Kurt nodded miserably, gripping tightly to Blaine's shoulder as he hugged him, tears still flowing.

"Are you still tired, sweetheart?" he asked softly.

"No..." Kurt whispered. "I can't sleep any longer than this."

"That's okay," Blaine said. "Do you want a book or anything while I make you some breakfast?"

Kurt's eyes lit up. "Can I?"

"Of course." Blaine hesitated. "Do you know how to read? Did they teach you?"

"I know basics," Kurt shrugged. "My Dad didn't die until I was twelve, but he didn't teach me much, a sub doesn't need it," he mumbled a little bitterly.

Blaine leaned in and kissed him. "When you've eaten, I can help you read. I'll teach you." Honestly, teaching had always been Blaine's dream. He knew he was a teacher deep inside and to teach English and music, that was his true passion.

Kurt's eyes lit up. "You'll really teach me?" he asked in awe. "Will you... Could you teach me how to swim top?" he asked hesitantly. He hadn't had chance to explore the house yet, but it wouldn't surprise him if there was a pool in it. If there wasn't, then Kurt could never learn since Blaine would never be able to teach him in public.

"I can teach you anything you want to learn," Blaine smiled. "Absolutely anything. When I get back, you can tell me what else you'd like to learn." Blaine kissed him again. "You deserve everything."

Kurt's smile was huge. "Thank you!"

Blaine smiled back and then disappeared out the room to make breakfast, trusting Kurt to look after Jeff.

Kurt lay back, closing his eyes and just listening to Jeff's breathing to make sure he was okay.

Fifteen minutes later, Blaine was back with a tray full of thin pancakes that smelled like heaven. "We can't wake Jeff... Let's just save him some food."

"Okay," Kurt nodded, smiling slightly as he pushed himself into a sitting position, wincing a little.

Blaine helped Kurt up and steadied him. He sat down next to him on the bed and placed one plate on Kurt's lap and one on his own, filling them with pancakes. "God, I'm hungry," Blaine moaned softly.

Kurt smiled softly. "I'm not... but I'm used to getting one meal a day."

"I know, but you need more than that. Now, eat." Blaine smiled and started on his own pancakes.

Kurt managed to eat about half the plat before looking at Blaine pleadingly. "Do I have to finish?"

Blaine sighed. He had just finished his whole plate. "I guess it's fine. You ate a little at least."

Kurt smiled. "Thank you. But Blaine, Jeff probably won't even be able to eat that much."

"I know," said Blaine. "Oh, I have to try and find Nick! I should- Hold on..." Blaine went up from the bed and walked over to the desk to get his laptop. He opened Google and began searching.

"Do you think you'll manage it? What will you do if you don't?" Kurt asked softly, curling into Blaine's side, sighing as he couldn't understand anything on the screen.

"I'll just have to try until I succeed. I have to find him, I just have to." So Blaine started searching through all kinds of different websites. His fingers could soon type out "Nick Duval" in less than two seconds. After about one hour, he got something. There was a phone number under the name "Nick Duval" and a company's name. Blaine reached for his phone and dialed the number with shaking fingers. He laced his fingers on his left hand with Kurt's and let out a shaky breath when it started calling.

"Hello?" A woman's voice answered. "Can I help?"
"Eh... Does Nick Duval live with you?" he asked nervously.

"Mr. Duval is in his office. You called the reception desk, Sir. Would you like me to patch you through?"

"Oh, yes please." Blaine's heart was starting to beat faster. He glanced over at Kurt for support.

Kurt shuffled painfully so that he was between Blaine's legs, his back against his chest and his ear close enough to the phone so that he could hear what was happening.
"Nicholas Duval. Who am I speaking to?" The voice was warm and young, he was obviously around Kurt's age.

"I-Uh," Blaine stuttered, this had to be the right person. "Do you know Jeff... Sterling?"

There was complete silence on the end of the phone and when Nick spoke again, his voice was lower and a little cooler than it had been previously. "Who wants to know?"

Blaine took a deep breath to steady his voice. "My name is Blaine Anderson. I am a Dom, but I have recently... come to understand that we can't treat subs like animals. I bought Jeff from Thad. He was almost dead after staying there for half a year. We have taken care of him and he's stable now, but he needs you." Blaine had tears in his eyes when he finished. He wiped them away quickly.

There was a sharp intake of breath. "I didn't... I..." He cleared his throat. "Where do you live? Can we talk before you tell him that you've gotten a hold of me? Can I come now?"

"He's asleep right now, but you can come anytime. He needs you more than anything.” Blaine gave him his address. "We can talk outside for a moment before you go in and see him."

"I'm on my way. I'll be twenty minutes." Nick hung up the phone quickly.

As promised, there was a loud knock on the door twenty minutes later. Blaine had carried Jeff to another room and set him down on the bed there. He knew that Nick and Jeff would want some time alone. When he opened the door, he was faced with a brown haired man who looked older than Kurt, though Blaine knew they were around the same age. Blaine walked out the door and closed it behind him.

"He's very hurt," said Blaine calmly. "When I bought him, I thought he was really going to die, but he's stronger than that. He's alive."

Nick snarled. "He was promised to me. I loved him and then his father, his fucking alcoholic father went behind my back and sold him. He was only fifteen, it was illegal. If his father had waited a month, I'd have bought him and looked after him. But I didn't even know who he sold him to."

"His name is Thad," Blaine sighed. "He used to be my friend. Used to," he added quickly. "Thad abused him… a lot." Blaine realized that there was no point in hiding things, so he told Nick everything. Every single thing he knew about how Thad had treated Jeff. When he was finished, he almost felt sick again.

Nick's head was bowed and a single tear was making its way down his cheek, his fists clenched. "I'll kill him," he bit out through gritted teeth. "I'll fucking kill him."

Blaine put a calming hand on Nick's shoulder. "We're going to take this to court. He wasn't legally allowed to do these things to Jeff. If you're calm enough, you can come up and see him."

Taking a few deep breaths, Nick nodded. "So how does this work? He's yours now. Where does that leave me?"

"I guess you can buy him from me. Just give me a dollar or something for the deal's sake. He was always yours, you know," he said softly.

Nick rubbed at the vine mark around his finger. "Yeah... I thought I'd never see him again." He pulled a dollar out of his pocket and handed it to Blaine. "I-I'm not rich. I can't afford to take the son of a bitch to court."

"I'll pay for it." Blaine waved it off. "Come on, let's go see him."

"I can't ask you to do that," Nick whispered, following Blaine.

"I'm doing it anyway. Not just for you, but for me as well. I can't see him do this to another sub." They reached the door to the bedroom where Jeff was placed. "He's still badly beaten," Blaine said softly. "And he might be asleep. Tell me if you need anything. I'll be in the room next door."

Nick nodded slowly, pushing open the door and letting out a choked sob. Jeff was asleep and he looked so small, so broken.

When Nick sat down on the bed next to him, Jeff stirred slightly. "Master?" he asked weakly, not opening his eyes.

Nick closed his eyes. "It's me, Jeffie, it's Nick. I bought you, you're mine now. You're finally mine, it's all going to be okay,” he whispered, kissing the blonde's forehead.

Jeff's eyes opened quickly and he tried to turn his head, but winced in pain instead. "N-Nick," he breathed. "It h-hurts..."

"I know, baby," Nick said softly. "Don't move, okay? You're going to be fine, I'm here now, I'm not going anywhere." He leant over and placed a painstakingly gentle kiss to Jeff's lips.

Jeff seemed to get a little strength from the kiss. He turned his head so he could see Nick properly. Once he saw the boy he loved, he started crying violently. The sobs were hurting his body, but he couldn't stop them.

"Jeffy, please calm down," Nick begged, climbing into bed and wrapping his arms around the boy. "Please, you're hurting yourself..."

"I c-can't," Nick sobbed. "You- You're here and I-" He broke down again, his whole body shaking.
"Jeff, Jeff stop!" Nick ordered, drawing him close and kissing him passionately, giving him the energy to calm down.

Jeff was taken aback by the order, but quickly got himself together. "I'm sorry, Sir," he whispered.

"No... No baby..." Nick whispered. "You don't need to call me 'Sir', not ever, not even when you're in trouble, which you're not right now."

Jeff looked up at him with big eyes. "Then what should I call you? Master?" he questioned carefully, his voice small.

"Nick, baby. Just like you always did, Nicky even if you want. You'll just have to call me Sir in public. You're my boyfriend Jeff, my husband as far as I'm concerned, you're not my slave."

Jeff let out a strangled sob. "I have forgotten," he whispered. "I have forgotten everything that happened before..." Jeff could barely say the words. "And he broke me to pieces. I don't know who I am anymore, Nick..."

"It's okay baby." Nick tightened his arms around him. "I'm here now. You're mine forever, I'll fix you, I'll look after you. He'll never get to you again."

"I thought about you every night," he whispered. "I thought about you and hoped that you would come and get me. But I knew you couldn't. Everything was just so... hopeless. Even when you weren't there, you were my only comfort. I missed you so much..."

"I missed you too. I'm so sorry that I couldn't save you. Your dad wouldn't tell me who he sold you to, I tried to find you, I tried so hard, but it was like you dropped off the earth."

"I believe you," Jeff whispered, curling into Nick's chest. "I'm just so glad you're here."

"I'm not going anywhere," he promised. "And I'm getting Thad," he spat out the name. "Thrown in jail, where he belongs."

Jeff shook his head violently. "N-No! He'll know it-it's me and h-he'll ki-kill me!"

"He's not getting anywhere near you." He turned his head. "Blaine!" he called towards the room next door.

Blaine let go of Kurt where he was lying on the bed. He walked back to the other room. "Nick?" he asked. "Is everything okay?"

"He won't calm down," Nick cried desperately. "He went mad when I told him we were taking Thad to court, he thinks he'll kill him, I don't know what to do!"

"He's still your sub," Blaine said. "Tell him. He can't disobey you if you're really strict with him. Sometimes, you just have to do that."

Nick bit his lip. "Jeffrey Sterling you listen to me right now! That's an order!" Jeff instantly stilled in Nick's arms. "I love you,” he continued roughly. "I love you so much and I won't let him hurt you again. I mean it. He needs to go to jail, he needs to pay. You don't want him to do this to other subs do you?"
"H-He w-wouldn't.... It's j-just me..."

Nick frowned. "What do you mean 'it's just you'?" Blaine was also frowning, sitting down on the edge of the bed and listening.

"He s-said he's w-wanted me since I was t-twelve," Jeff sobbed. "He... He s-said it was j-just me he h-had to treat like that b-because I was pathetic and w-weak and I... I deserved it."

"Oh, sweetheart," Nick breathed and pulled Jeff close to him. "We need to do it though," he said quietly. "He can't get away with this."

"W-What if he hurts me?"

"He won't," Nick decided. "No one will ever touch you again, ever. Trust me."