Scribbles and Drabbles

Notebook Drabble 3

"May I talk to him?"

Giles shook his head looking scared again, his nails digging into Aries's skin through his clothes. Aries sighed. "He can hear you," he offered, "Doesn't want to talk to you at the moment."

"Give him the phone, please," Baiaror said firmly, the politeness clearly masking the very firm order.

"Here," Aries said, offering Giles the phone. He shook his head and refused to take it. Aries held it here patiently.

"Giles," Baiaror said firmly, only to sigh. Giles was looking about to cry again. Aries started to feel concern swell up in his chest. From what Giles had told him, the punishments at the compound had been serious. Giles wasn't making friends there either. Was there a reason? Giles did look in good condition. Nothing suspicious but not all abuse was obvious. "Giles, are you ok?" Baiaror finally asked.

"I'm ok?" Giles offered hesitantly, his voice soft.

"Good. You're not hurt?" Baiaror asked.

"No," Giles whispered.

"Dr Aries?" Baiaror called. Not trusting Giles to tell the truth. Giles hunched over on himself slightly, pulling his knees close to his chest and hiding his face. Aries lifted an eyebrow. He knew that behaviour. It leaned back to the idea that Baiaror was right to be concerned. 

"I'm fine," Giles whined.

"I haven't had a chance to give him a proper look over but he doesn't seem injured in any way. Waterlogged, yes. A little bruised but not hurt," Aries said, watching how Giles was acting carefully. It was less fear and more embarrassment he was reading from his posture. "You been avoiding telling people when you've hurt again, Giles?" he asked, remembering how the man used to act when they first met.

Giles muttered something into his knees and Baiaror snorted. "He avoids going to the medic often. Is that an old trait then?" the man asked curiously.

"Something like that," Aries exhaled. "This is not the time, however. Giles, you sure you're not hiding anything?" he asked seriously, letting his medic voice slip in. Giles flinched, looking up at him warily. Aries was not his team medic anymore but something was learned.

"I am fine," Giles shrugged. "I hurt my hand punching the wall but I was able to climb the wall to your window so it must be fine. My ribs are stinging too but they have been hurting for a couple of days now since Fini..." he trailed off. "My ankle twinged when I landed off the roof but again I was able to climb so..."

"We need to check your definition of fine," Aries said dryly. "Now, who is Fini and why are your ribs hurting because of him?" he asked taking Giles' hand and looking it over, dropping the phone on the bed. 

-x-

By the time Aries remembered the phone, Giles was asleep. His ribs were cracked and his ankle was twisted slightly. Aries wondered if the pain reducers hadn't been removed when they had de-aged Giles. Normal people wouldn't be climbing walls in that state. He had wrapped up the boy's hand and given him a painkiller to put him to sleep. It worked and within moments, Giles was flat out. There was no denying that the boy looked exhausted rather than peaceful. It tugged on Aries heartstrings. There was nothing he could do either. 

Exhaling, he picked up the phone again. He was only slightly surprised to discover it was still connected. "Giles is asleep," Aries offered, trying not to let anger into his voice. Baiaror was not someone to anger as much as Aries wanted to yell abuse at him. At least, Baiaror was not the one doing the damage. 

"Dr Aries. You have my thanks for taking care of him," Baiaror murmured gently. "I have already started inquiries into what has been happening. The reports suggested Giles was just quiet. Withdrawn is a common feature among the Adams."

"I imagine. I get regular talks about such behaviour and not to indulge in them," Aries acknowledged. "Sir, if this was anyone else, I would be reporting it. Your organisation is technically a secret one but you do have duties to protect small ones in your care. Even Adams," he challenged. "I think it would be best for Giles to remain with me tomorrow. I'll get a friend to check him over properly at the clinic."

"That would be appreciated. I'll make sure you receive no problems with having Giles with you," Baiaror said. "I'll use tomorrow to work out what to do about this situation. Giles was a talented fighter from the reports, I'd like for him to grow up happy with us and join the order willingly but this..." There was hesitation as the man struggled to find the word. 

"This is wrong," Aries offered darkly. "I'll look after Giles tomorrow. Maybe take him to the theatre after the clinic. There's a film about animals he'll like.  Sir, I would also like to request that you have any other Adams you are looking after checked over. It may just be Giles, he is a quiet one but the Adams aren't going to go to you or your medic if they are being bullied by their peers. 

"I'll take it under advisement," Baiaror said before cutting the line. Aries looked at the phone and sighed. There really was nothing he could do really. He saved the number and put his phone back on charge. Tomorrow was going to be fun. 

Future Plans: In the world, there was a war between natural-born humans and clones. The natural-borns won and reverted the clones to their 'true' ages. Aries was considered old at seventeen years old but now is young and most of his former teammates are now under ten years old. So the story would be Aries learning to cope with this new world, re-earning his prestige and looking out for his now young teammates. Not to mention fall in love with a natural-born.