Chapter 3

5/26/2054

On the way to the Maplewood General Hospital, the officer noticed Ben staring blankly out of his window.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I'm fine," he lied. Ben knew that lying to an officer of the law was wrong, but he had so many emotions running through him that he wasn't sure what to feel. They both remained quiet for the rest of the drive to the hospital.

"A friend of mine, who is a social worker, will meet us here," Officer Jenkins said as he parked the car.

Ben's mouth turned dry, and his heart raced. The word "social worker" scared him more than his father's wrath.

"Maybe this was a bad idea," Ben said, opening the door of the car.

"Son, I know that you're scared," the man said. Soft footsteps approached them. The officer turned his head and noticed a redheaded woman with emerald green eyes standing in front of them. "Hi Nancy," he said.

"Hello, Kyle," she said. "Rescuing lost souls again?" she asked. Ben hid behind the door, eyeing them.

Kyle stepped over beside the boy. "Nancy, this is Ben Johnson," he said. "He needs our help," Kyle said. As they entered the hospital, he explained what had happened and what Ben had told him.

"Wait here with my friend while I check you in," Kyle said, turning to face Ben. Ben sat down and lowered his gaze to the floor.

"They'll call us up in a few moments," Kyle said, sitting down beside them.

"Ben Johnson," a female nurse said, entering the waiting room.

"You two go ahead," Nancy said. "Come and get me when you're ready," she said.

Ben followed Kyle as they followed the nurse into a small room. "I need to check your weight and blood pressure," she said. Ben glanced at the nurse and then back at the officer.

"It's alright," Kyle assured him. Ben walked over to the scale and stood on it. The nurse glanced down and wrote down her findings.

"Okay, sit in that chair," she said, pointing to a chair in the corner of the room. He did as he was told and sat down. "I need you to relax your arm," she said.

"If it helps you to relax, visualize something or someone," Kyle suggested.

KS from the chatroom popped into his head even though he'd never seen him in person. Ben asked himself, "How do I explain everything to someone I just met online?" while his blood pressure was being taken. "He doesn't even know my real name," he thought to himself.

"Please follow me," the nurse said. They followed her to an exam room. Ben sat on the exam

The nurse scribbled notes on the clipboard and then stood up. "The doctor will see you in a few minutes," she said. There was a soft knock.

"How are things going?" Nancy asked, walking inside.

"We're waiting for the doctor," Kyle said.

"I need to go for now, but I'll find a place for you to stay," she said.

"Thanks for your help," Kyle said.

The doctor entered the exam room shortly after the social worker had left. "Hello, my name is Dr. Doug Quinn," the tall brunette said. "So, what's the reason for this visit?" he asked.

"It's just a checkup," the officer said. "He's been taken from a bad living situation," he said.

"Oh, I see," the doctor said. "Let's get this examination started," he said. Ben felt uncomfortable being poked and prodded, but he sat still and endured it. "I take it that you're an omega," the doctor said.

"Yes, sir," Ben said, nodding his head.

"When was your last heat cycle?" he asked.

"It was my first, which ended yesterday," Ben said.

Dr. Quinn read over Ben's chart and glanced up after a couple of moments. "You are a few pounds underweight for your height," he said. Ben glanced away, ashamed of himself. "With proper meals, it can be fixed," he said. "It says here that you don't take any medication for your heat cycle," he said.

"Well, I never got any," Ben stammered.

"I'll write up prescriptions for suppressants and birth control pills," the doctor said.

"Excuse me, I don't have money or insurance," Ben said. "I can't pay for them," he said.

"Don't worry," Kyle said. "Social services will help," he said.

The doctor left the exam room to prepare everything for them. Ben scooted off the bed and stretched his arms.

"Will it take your friend long to find me a place to stay?" Ben asked.

"It depends how things go," Kyle said. "Usually, it takes her a week," he said.

"I can stay at my house until then," Ben said.

"It's unwise to be alone there," Kyle said. "We'll figure out something," he said.

"Mr. Jenkins, will my father understand?" Ben asked.

"Don't worry about what your father thinks," Kyle said. "Focus on your wants and needs," he said.

Kyle checked his phone when it vibrated in his pants pocket. "It's from the social worker," he said.

"What did she say?" Ben asked.

"She won't have a place until the first," he said.

"I guess I'll be going back home," Ben said, lowering his eyes.

"No," Kyle said. "If you want, you can stay with me," he said. Ben stood there and stared at him.

"I'm a stranger to you," Ben said.

"You're someone who needs a second chance," Kyle said. Ben wiped a tear from his eye and said, "Thank you."

The exam room door opened, and the doctor returned with two small, white bottles and two pieces of paper.

"I got you a week's worth of heat suppressants and birth control pills," he said, setting them on the table. "I wrote up prescriptions for each of them," the doctor said, placing the papers next to the bottles.

"Thank you, doctor," Kyle said, shaking his hand.

"I want to see you in a month to see how things are going," he said.

They thanked the doctor, exited the room, and headed to the receptionist. "I need to make an appointment with Dr. Quinn for next month," Kyle said.

"Let me check the calendar," the receptionist said, facing her computer. "Do you want a morning or afternoon appointment?" she asked.

"Morning will be fine, but not too early," the officer said. The blonde woman clacked at the keyboard, entering the information.

"Okay, your appointment will be at nine on the twenty-sixth," she said, handing them the card.

They walked out the automated doors and headed to the car. "Let's get these filled," Kyle said, as he started the engine. "Are you hungry?" he asked.

"Yes, sir, I am," he said.

"Enough with the sir," Kyle said. "You can call me Mr. Jenkins," he said.

"Okay, I'm sorry," Ben said. They stopped at a supermarket that had a pharmacy and went inside.

"How about we pick up some groceries while we wait?" Kyle said. "Is there anything you like to eat?" he asked.

"Anything except for beans," Ben said. Kyle chuckled and said, "Okay,"

After the prescriptions were dropped off, they grabbed a cart and walked down the aisles, seeing what they wanted.

"If you see anything you like, put it in the cart," he said.

"Anything?" Ben asked, glancing at Kyle in shock.

"Yes, whatever you like," Kyle said, nodding his head. "You're my guest after all," he said. Once done, they had food for a week.

After the medications were picked up and the groceries were paid for, they headed home. Ben carried his bag inside the house while Kyle brought in the groceries.

"Sounds like someone's hungry," Kyle said, chuckling at Ben's grumbling tummy.

"You've got to be hungry too," Ben said. "Just show me where everything is, and I'll cook for you," Ben said. There was a concerned look on Kyle's face.

"Is that how you were treated?" he asked. Ben glanced down at his lap and nodded his head. "In my house, you are a guest." "Not a servant," he said. For the first time in his life, Ben felt like someone cared.