The next five days continued as John had expected and dreaded. Despite his insides being bruised, the heat had spurred him on. Lin had been more restrained, but he'd had little choice but to see him through the ordeal. John had hated it. Lin had insisted for the first time each day, when John was most aware, that they faced each other. John had memorised each tiny crease in Lin's smooth brow. The exact shade of brown in his deep chocolate eyes. The black of his long eyelashes. The tightness of his thin lips, and the sheen of his ebony hair as it fell across his face. Sometimes he'd run his fingers through those long bangs and move them aside to peer up into both of Lin's intense eyes. He always looked warm that first time. He made sure it was a slow burner. He'd prepare him thoroughly with both fingers and tongue. He'd never say or even acknowledge it, but it was John's favourite part of the experience. The things Lin did with his tongue almost made him harden just thinking about it. He was sure Lin had figured it out too, since the preparation had slowly taken longer and longer. His large hands were extraordinarily gentle, perhaps to make up for their earlier roughness. His fingertips were soft as he stroked his skin and explored his inner warmth. His deep spiced scent was soothing, drawing out his omega and smothering him with affection.

As soon as his heat receded, John returned to normal. He couldn't look Lin in the eye again for the rest of the case. In fact, he couldn't look anyone in the eye. Mai and Takigawa were especially sensitive to it, and made sure they kept him company. They did their best to make him laugh and feel like less of a burden. They were also careful not to mention the basement, though that had been poor timing more than anything else. Luckily, the others had pretty much completed the case while Lin and John had been locked away, so the next day they could leave.

"Let me see you home," Lin murmured as they packed. John paused at his words, unsure whether it was a request or a demand. He was just getting ready to sling his duffle bag over his shoulder and head down to his car. He'd driven there alone while Lin, Naru, and Mai had taken the van. Takigawa had driven Ayako and Masako in his own car. John was almost relieved that Lin was responsible for driving the van, so he had a valid reason for declining. He could hardly leave his own car behind, miles from the city.

"I drove my car, and you're driving the van...I'm fine driving by myself," John insisted in a cheerful tone, watching Lin's jaw tighten a little. He really wasn't keen on John driving alone so soon. He'd only just come out of his heat. He didn't want him to fall asleep at the wheel. What if he got lost? What if he had an accident? What if some other alpha jumped him at a service station? Lin's eyes darkened at the thought. He breathed deeply. It was the overprotective alpha in him. It felt too soon to allow John out of his sight. Alphas and omegas would generally remain close for a few days after their heats. Omegas felt vulnerable. Alphas felt protective. The closeness strengthened their bond. "I don't need to be babied," John almost huffed as he headed downstairs. It was almost as if he could see all the worries flitting through Lin's head.

He left as soon as he could politely excuse himself, avoiding Lin's lingering gaze. The drive back was, thankfully, uneventful and John's month continued as it had begun. He fell back into his own routine of church service, charity work, and avoiding Lin in the SPR office. The difference was that he was slowly forming a plan. He'd marked the exact date that his last heat had ended, and used the internet to guess when his next would begin. He had no intention of being Lin's sex slave. Not for a third time. He couldn't take it. He wouldn't take it.

"How are you feeling?" Lin asked towards the start of the next month. The question made John flinch. Lin's dark eyes were boring into him, assessing him. He was breathing just a little deeper than usual, scenting him. He can sense it...My next cycle must be close. John subtly moved to put the small coffee table between them. He stood somewhat stiffly, feeling defensive. He knew Lin wasn't about to pounce on him. There was little reason to outside of his heat.

"I'm fine," he replied curtly, watching Lin nod once. He clearly had more to say, but he was hesitant. John waited. He couldn't leave, since they had a meeting scheduled. Lin wouldn't back away because he wanted to speak. A heavy silence hung in the room because Mai hadn't arrived yet to fill it. No one else had either. John was suddenly horribly aware of just how alone they were. Lin was hesitant as he licked his lips.

"I was thinking...Your heat is coming soon, so you should...stay with me..." he finally murmured, watching John's brow furrow. He was bristling at the suggestion. Lin sighed as he walked past the table. John instinctively stumbled back into the wall, trying to get away. He could feel his heart racing as Lin stalked towards him. He was almost surprised as Lin laid a gentle hand on his head and stroked his hair. "John...I'm your alpha. It's my job to take care of you when you need it." He could feel John becoming more pliant at his touch. Lin's hand was so gentle and warm, and his touch was full of affection. It felt nice. Soothing.

"Stop doing that!" John grunted finally as he knocked Lin's hand away. He'd only gotten closer so that he could manipulate him with his scent. John raised his arm to cover his mouth and nose, though it did little to block Lin's spice from filling his airways. Lin raised an eyebrow at the silent accusation and stepped back. John was being sharper than usual. His heat was imminent.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, so pack some things." Lin watched John's cheeks flush at his firm tone. He could smell something off about him. Something that set him on edge. Lin was restless throughout the meeting, eyeing John warily. John refused to meet his gaze, which wasn't unusual. What was unusual was his raised heart rate and the hint of fresh sweat. Is he that nervous about coming to my apartment? Or is it something else?

Lin didn't get his answer that night. As soon as the meeting was over, John hurried home and stuffed as many belongings as he needed into his duffle bag. He'd originally planned to slip away a little later than the next day, but Lin's demand had forced him to move things up somewhat. He took the stairs two at a time. He had to put as much distance between himself and Lin as possible. As his alpha, Lin would be able to sniff him out through their bond. Where can I go, though? John was still thinking it over as he tossed his duffle bag on the passenger seat of his car.

First thing's first, get out of Tokyo. He'd definitely have to get further than that to avoid Lin's nose, but it was a start. He started the car. His hands trembled on the wheel as he pulled into the steady stream of early evening traffic. He could feel his heart pounding. He half expected Lin to appear at any moment, tear the door open, and drag him off somewhere. The thought filled him with both fear and excitement. Once I get out, what then? A hotel maybe? Some of them have heat rooms just in case...He followed the flow of traffic nervously, blue eyes darting around constantly. It felt like the cars were crawling along. He looked at his phone as it vibrated.

Lin's details were on the screen. John held his breath as a sense of dread settled in. Heat was beginning to prickle across his skin. He held his breath and counted to ten. He breathed out as the call ended. Not now, not yet! He could already feel the familiar dull ache in his stomach. His heat hadn't started, but it was coming. Sooner than he'd expected. If it begins while I'm still in Tokyo, there's no way Lin won't find me! He saw a message arrive on his phone.

Where are you? The words stared at him, demanding an answer. He bit his lip as he picked up his phone. He held his breath, resisting the urge to answer. He turned it over on the dash. I'm not replying. If I reply, he'll make me...John shook his head as he remembered exactly what Lin could make him do. A small sound escaped his throat. His skin prickled with need. Stop it! I don't want this! I'd rather curl up in a ball and deal with it myself! He was stubborn and relieved as he finally made it onto one of the highways. It would take a while to get out of the city, but he was at least on his way. His phone buzzed again.

John moved the phone to the passenger seat and swallowed the aching lump in his throat. His mouth suddenly felt dry. His omega was going crazy. It wanted its alpha. Lin would be so angry. He was in so much trouble. He was disobeying his alpha. Not my alpha! John's stubbornness continued as he gripped the wheel. On top of his instincts going haywire, he could also feel his temperature rising. Within the next hour, he was panting miserably. His skin felt a little sweaty in the enclosed space of the car. He shook his head to clear it. I'm barely outside Tokyo...I can't stop yet...

He ignored the phone as it buzzed on and off almost continuously. Don't touch it! Don't even look at it! His eyes were drawn to it more and more, despite his urging. He wouldn't look. If he looked, he'd be bound to obey the orders of his alpha. He'd have to return to Lin. He was beginning to feel the horrible weakness and vulnerability that accompanied his heat. The feral part of his mind was beginning to pine for its alpha. It missed Lin's scent. The reassuring sound of his silken voice. The safety of his strong arms.

John's blue eyes widened as a car horn blared. Looking up, he saw a bright set of headlights driving towards him. He swerved the wheel, tyres screeching as he got back into the right lane. His heart pounded and his hands shook as he steadied the car. That was close...He knew he was losing the mental capacity to drive. He screwed his eyes shut as a painful throb pounded behind his eyes. He looked around quickly. There was a turnoff barely a mile ahead. I can hold out until then...He felt fatigued as the heat closed in around him.

He took the turnoff, wondering where he was exactly as he tried to focus on the signs. He was still in Tokyo, but right on the outer edge, heading towards Fujiyama. It's not as far as I'd like. He wondered if he could take a few smaller roads where it would be less busy. It wouldn't be fair to put others at risk. The road gradually grew quieter as he left the motorway. Looking around, it seemed he was in a mostly residential area. John gasped as his whole body shuddered, and groaned in mild disgust as he felt the first warmth of slick. Oh, no...This was the worst thing that could have happened.

John pulled over and locked the doors, leaning his head against the steering wheel. He was in trouble now. He'd hoped to be safely locked away somewhere by the time his heat fully arrived. He covered his mouth as a moan slipped out. His whole body shivering with need. His omega was pawing him, desperate for Lin's touch. He clawed at the neck of his jacket, suddenly feeling it was too tight. I can't breathe! He eyed the button that would roll the window down. Not safe! Even as a mated omega, he couldn't risk it.

Scents hit him like a sledgehammer to the face. There were hundreds of people within a few metres, many of them alphas. His body cried out with need. His phone buzzed again. Hazy, unfocused eyes shifted to stare at it. He reached out hesitantly and turned it over. It was Takigawa. John whimpered as it stopped ringing. He fingered the icons on the screen, scrolling through the missed calls. Lin had called him seventy-three times so far, and Takigawa had called at least twenty times. He had a flood of messages ranging from demanding to worried to frantic.

John, you're not safe alone right now. Please call me. That was his latest message. John bit his lip warily. I can trust Takigawa, right? He wouldn't force me to go with Lin if I didn't want to...would he? His finger hovering above the call icon. His focus was broken by a loud thump on his window. John dropped his phone with a start. His heart pounded as he turned his head to see a young man staring in hungrily. His hands trembled as he stared. The dark-haired man brought both fists down against the window, cracking the glass a little. John whimpered as he turned the key in the ignition and drove forwards. He was terrified as the young alpha somehow latched onto the side of the car.

John swerved, deliberately trying to swing the alpha off. He swerved onto a busier road, whimpering as a horn blared. His whole body shuddered as another car slammed into the passenger side. He gripped the wheel and froze in place, only flinching back as the alpha punched his way into the car. John let out an almost inhuman shriek as a rough hand gripped his blonde locks and tried to pull him out. There were loud voices, and the grip loosened. A smaller, gentler tap sounding on his broken window. The person's scent was sweet, like flowers. It was an omega. Safe.

"Hey there...Will you open the door? I want to see if you're okay," the middle-aged woman coaxed. Her tone suggested she had some experience with scared children. In his vulnerable state, John latched onto her comforting tone. He looked at her like a deer in headlights. Her brown eyes creased warmly as she gave him an assuring nod, brunette locks bouncing around her shoulders. She looked like a good person. She smelled honest enough. John unlocked the door, and the woman slowly pried it open with an unhealthy creak. John remained where he was, shivering in shock. He couldn't release the wheel. "Are you hurt?" the woman asked gently as she crouched beside his chair.

"Nn-" John couldn't speak. He shook his head. The collision had been more of a shock than anything else. There was a dent in the passenger side, but John himself was completely untouched. Seeing him shake his head, the woman reached out and placed her hand ever so gently on John's arm. He flinched a little before relaxing into the comforting touch. He could feel tears starting to well in his eyes.

"You shouldn't be out right now...Can you tell me where you live? I'll help you get home," she offered gently, unsure what to do or say as John shook his head vigorously. He didn't want to go back. He couldn't go back. Not to him. Not to that. John's shoulders started quivering. Tears trickled down his cheeks in hot trails. "Then...maybe I can call someone? Your mate must be worried..." She could smell the mating mark on John's damp throat as his body cried out for his alpha. John flinched, shaking his head again.

"I chased him off, but more will come," a male voice warned from somewhere outside. The woman looked up slowly to give him a nod. It was an alpha, but it was an alpha that carried the comforting scent of the omega woman. It must be her mate. John felt much safer in their presence than he had before. The man was tall and broad, strong too. He leaned down to look inside. He was as handsome as the woman was pretty, and only a few years older than her. He had a few silver streaks forming in his hair, but still looked quite young. They gave off a parental air. "Is his alpha close by?" he asked softly as he looked at his wife.

"I don't know...He's really scared. He doesn't want to go home." Her mate raised an eyebrow at that. Generally, omegas craved their alphas protection during heats, not to mention their bodies. There were few reasons an omega would run away from their alpha. None of them good. "Shall we take him to the hospital? They'll at least be able to keep him in a heat room," the woman suggested. Her mate ultimately agreed that it was likely their best choice if John wouldn't return home.

"Th-thank you...for being so kind," John stammered in a small voice. His hands finally loosened their death grip on the leather steering wheel and fell to his lap. The couple gave him warm, assuring looks. Truthfully, they'd been terrified when his car had appeared out of nowhere. They'd thought he might have been hurt. He looked so young. They weren't honestly sure he was supposed to be driving. He looked like he was in high school, if not middle school. The only reason they thought he could be older was the mating mark he carried. It wasn't unheard of, but it was generally frowned upon for alphas to take omegas so young.

"Come on, your car's in worse shape than ours." The alpha was quietly amazed at how little damage their car had taken. John allowed the man to help him out of his seat. He blushed in shame as the warm touch sent shivers through his smaller body. He whimpered, covering his mouth and looking away, mortified. The man ignored it. He didn't make any mention of his scent, the way he shuddered, or the broken, needy sounds he made. He simply helped him into the back of his car.

"I found his phone on the floor," the woman whispered as she slipped into the passenger seat. She eyed John's exhausted form over her shoulder as she looked at the screen. There was still a message up from earlier. Someone called Houshou Takigawa. She wondered if it was his alpha. The person certainly seemed worried. She saw a flood of missed calls and wondered what John was running away from. People were clearly worried about him, wherever he was from.

"Any obvious names?" her mate asked as he pulled away. Almost everyone kept their parents on speed dial. She shook her head. He was foreign, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had a separate phone for his family overseas. The most recent calls were to something called SPR. Maybe his job? She scrolled through the next most often called. Houshou Takigawa and Mai Taniyama were the top favourites. Considering that Takigawa was worried, she was leaning towards him. She checked on John once more to find him shivering, with his eyes tightly closed. She hit the call button. "Hello? Mr. Takigawa?"