Simon swore as Red suddenly went limp and caught the redhead before he could hit the ground. Ignoring the sound of Shane and Aden subduing Bob, he laid Red flat and gently moved back to tugging his pants back up. He blushed as his gaze reached Red’s crotch area and a part of his mind noted that the red was indeed natural even as he forced his more logical side to note that Red was soft- they hadn’t been interrupting a particularly rough tryst; it had been rape.

Studiously raising his eyes, he snapped and zipped the pants up by feel. A loud groan sounded and Simon turned with a rather malicious smile in time to see Bob crumple.

Shane sighed and let the teenager fall. Surprisingly, Aden allowed the rough treatment. “Is he okay?”

Simon shrugged. “I don’t know. He passed out.”

Aden sighed. “He needs a hospital and a rape kit.” There was a moment of silence. “He was being raped, right?”

Simon nodded. “No doubt about it. The other day in my classroom…” He blushed at the memory of walking in on the two. “It may not have been consensual then. Bob was on top and had him pinned down.” Bile rose in his throat. “If he was almost raped then…”

Aden patted him on the back. “Don‘t beat yourself up over it. We couldn‘t have known.”

Shane snorted. “Both of you need to realize that. Bunch of bleeding hearts. Come on, call the police.”

Aden pulled out his phone and flicked it open.

Simon hesitated. “Are you sure we should call?”

Aden stared at him.

Simon flushed and quickly began to try and explain. “I told you what happened yesterday and today. I told you everything he told me today. He needs someone to take care of him, but do we really need to go to the police? I think he’s right. I think it might completely ruin his life. He won’t be able to go back to Silver Dragon, might have to go back to his dad…”

Aden sighed. “I see your point, but he needs a doctor.”

Shane spoke up tentatively. “Jake will do it. He’ll be discreet.”

Aden blinked. “Jake? I didn’t even think of him. You’re positive?”

Shane rolled his eyes. “How do I know your employees better than you?”

Aden bristled but it was Simon who spoke up. “He works. You hang around pretending to do ‘research.’”

Shane rolled his eyes. “Well, whatever. He’ll keep quiet.”

“Fine. What do we do with Bob?”

Simon glared at the boy. “Expel him and give him over to the cops.”

“We can’t do that without telling them who he raped.”

“Excuse me,” a soft voice said.

Everyone’s head turned towards the door, towards a slender women standing in the door.

“I’m Karen, Damian’s neighbor,” she said softly, voice whispery.

“Damian?” Simon asked blankly.

Karen waved a hand at Red vaguely. “Damian. Red’s a nickname.” She pointed at Bob now. “He has more than one lover. I know of at least two others. I don’t think he’s any better to them than he is to Damian. I talk to one of them and know she is, at least, fed up. She’ll probably go to the police with a little convincing. Bob won‘t mention him. He won‘t want to get pounded for more even if it would mean Damian hurting.”

Simon gaped at her. Aden beamed. “Thank you, Karen. Can we get the numbers of both?”

“I only know Selen’s number. Mark’s is probably in Bob’s phone though. What are you going to do with Damian?”

Simon sighed and glanced up to Aden. “I’ll take him home with me. His cats too. It’s not a permanent solution, but it’ll work.”

“And Bob?” Shane asked.

Aden sighed. “What can we do? Let him go, expel him for flunking grades and acting out and get this girl, Selen, to the police.”

Karen nodded. “I’ll go get her number.”

She disappeared around the corner. Shane sighed and looked down at Bob. “I say we dump him outside.”

Aden nodded. “We have to. Simon, can you get Re- Damian?”

Simon nodded and circled Red with his arms, picking him up slowly. Red shifted and let out a small groan.

“Hey,” Simon said softly.

Green eyes fluttered open. “Mr. Taylor?”

“Hey Red, you okay?”

Red nodded without thinking about it. “What happened?”

Simon flushed slightly. “I showed up with Ad- Mr. Vixah and Dr. Torah. Bob was about to rape you, but we stopped him.”

Red flushed, his head ducking. “Thank you.” His voice was nearly inaudible.

Simon nodded. “We’re going to get him into jail, okay? You’ll be coming-”

“What? No! I won’t-”

“You won‘t be,” Simon said gently. “You’re not going to be brought into it at all. Now relax. We’re going to get you to a doctor- not a hospital- and then you’re coming home with me, okay? We’ll take your cats too, even the demonic one.”

Red’s eyes filled with tears, but he only ducked his head and nodded.

Simon sighed and gathered him up as Shane did the same to Bob, although considerably less gently. He dumped him in the stairwell on a wide landing. “We’ll stop by Jake’s house. He’ll probably be home right now.”

Simon sighed. “Damn, its not even noon,” he mumbled, checking his watch.

Aden sighed. “Seems like longer, doesn’t it?”

Simon readjusted his hold on Red. The stairs were giving him difficulty.

“I can walk.”

Instead of arguing, Simon put him down, keeping a supporting arm around his waist. Surprisingly, Red could walk, although the limp was slightly more pronounced than earlier. He could feel Aden and Shane’s eyes on his back, but stubbornly ignored them and pulled Red tight to his side, making sure there was no chance of his falling.

They piled into Simon’s car. Aden called Jake on the way and they were on the man‘s doorstep in a matter of moments.