Somewhere I Belong

Bob and Pete were sat in the kitchen, drinking tea and talking quietly amongst themselves.

"So Monday then."

"Yep."

"Aren't you worried?"

"About Frank?...of course I am Pete."

"No, I mean about how he'll be when he gets here...and how Patrick will be. You know how fucked up he was when he came back from Master Saporta's"

"I remember."

"So I think we need to be extra nice to both of them, and you need to lay off Frank if he cleans your space."

Bob huffed, then sighed, nodding.

"You're right Pete, I'll try."

***Time Stamp: Monday***

"Welcome back Frankie."

Grant stepped aside and let the boy in along with Gabriel.

"I trust your stay with Master Saporta was pleasant?"

"Yes Master Grant."

Frank answered quietly, his head down, hands behind his back.

"He was an excellent student."

Gabriel still had his hand on Frank's neck. Still wanting to be in control, Grant did not miss this.

"Good, his master will be pleased."

At this Gabriel twitched slightly.

"And where in the young master?"

Frank stood passively, listening to the conversation but only to the extent that he would know if he was being spoken to, rather than about.

He understood now that his Master had found him lacking, and that was why he was sent away...he knew that his Master didn't find him attractive, or he would've taken him already.

He would do what he was told and be a good slave like Master Saporta taught him...but he understood that this wouldn't change how worthless he was.

"Gee! Gee! Frankie's back!"

Patrick ran in and found Gerard curled up with Mikey as he had been for the past few weeks.

"What?"

"Frankie is back!"

Gerard sat up.

"How is he?"

Mikey asked cautiously, sitting up and squeezing Gerard's hand.

"Haven't seen him yet. Master Saporta is still down there."

"I'll go."

Gerard stood up.

"I'll come with you."

Mikey started to stand with his brother.

"No...I can do this."

Gerard stood up and held his head high as he left the bedroom. He walked down the hall to the stairs. There in the living room he saw his Master, Master Saporta and...

"Frankie."

Frank was on his knees on the floor like a good slave, next to the sofa. His arms were behind his back and his head was down, but he looked up slightly at his Master's voice, before dropping his head again without a word...he hadn't actually been spoken to. It took everything to not run down the stairs and scoop the boy into his arms. Gerard descended the stairs and stepped up to the two Masters.

"Ah Gerard, Gabriel has brought your pet back."

"Thank you Master Saporta, I trust all went well."

"Well master Way, you tell me."

Gabriel reached out and grabbed Frank's neck.

"Speak."

Frank gasped slightly at the pain but controlled himself enough to not cry out.

"Good morning Master."

Gerard held in a shudder. This was not the boy that arrived here almost three months ago.

"I am pleased. Frankie, please go to the room and change into your uniform."

"Yes Master."

Frank waited until Master Saporta released his bruised neck, then crawled from the room into the hallway. Once out of sight, he got shakily to his feet and started up the stairs. Again Gerard fought to not turn and leave. he knew he was required to stay and talk with the other Master. He knew that Mikey and the other pets would take care of Frankie. They would fix him...right?

Frank walked quietly from the top of the stairs all the way to the pets' bedroom. The door was open, he walked in.

"Frankie..."

Mikey said gently when he saw him. He stood up from where he and the others were sat on the big bed together and walked over to the younger boy.

"Come and sit with us."

Frank looked up with slightly glazed eyes and nodded, letting himself be led over to the bed and pulled gently up onto it.

"Are you ok Frankie?"

Frank nodded to Pete, not meeting anyone's eyes. No one knew what to say...it was clear that this wasn't their Frankie anymore.

"Slave."

Everyone looked at Patrick.

"That's what Master Saporta calls us. That's what he thinks he is."

Mikey looked at the boy knelt silently beside him, he looked so broken.

"Frankie?..."

Frank looked up at Mikey.

"You're not a slave Frankie, you're a pet. Do you remember that?..."

Frank just tilted his head slightly and blinked at Mikey.

"Maybe we should wait for Gerard."

The other pets all nodded in agreement.

After what seemed forever Gerard appeared. He was trembling and they all understood. Gerard walked over to where Mikey was and knelt on the ground beside the bed.

"Frankie?"

Frank silently looked up at his Master through his lashes...he hadn't been told he could speak.

"Frankie?"

"Gee, he's not a pet right now..."

"You know what all of us came back from training with that man were...slaves Gee...that's what he thinks he is."

"No."

It was quiet at first. Soft, but then Gerard jumped up screaming.

"NO NO NO NO!"

Suddenly Gerard lost control and began to trash the room. The other pets moved quickly onto the floor out of the way, taking Frank with them.

"THAT FUCKER! HE WAS MINE NOT HIS! HE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD HIM! I SHOULD HAVE PROTECTED HIM! IT’S MY FAULT!"

Gerard flipped Master's chair and tore the bed apart. He threw anything he could get his hands on. Frank crawled into the corner, curling up in a ball with Pete, Patrick and Bob quickly huddling around him as Mikey took a breath then tried to calm his brother.

"Gee...Gerard please, you have to calm down..."

Mikey reached for him with shaking hands.

"You're scaring him Gee...you're scaring Frankie...and me."

"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!"

Gerard continued to break whatever he could. The room looked like a tornado hit it.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!"

Grant walked in bellowing at the destruction. Frank cowered down more, trying to hide himself behind the other pets...who all let him. Mikey froze, wanting to help Gerard, but knowing that right now he could do nothing. Grant walked in and slapped Gerard. Gerard crumbled to the ground.

"Patrick help me."

Patrick got up and helped carry a sobbing Gerard out of the room with Grant following.

"No one leaves the room."

His word was final as he closed the door. Silence fell over the room except for the sound of Frank's panicked breathing. Mikey stood staring at the door his brother had been taken through for a moment then joined the others on the floor.

"Frankie?"

He tried tentatively. The smaller boy curled up more, trying to squeeze himself behind a chest of drawers with no success.

"Frankie, you can't fit back there honey..."

Pete cooed, gently moving Bob away to get closer to the boy.

"Come sit with me for a bit."

Pete sat crosslegged with his back against the wall and gently pulled Frank's hand, carefully encouraging him to crawl into his lap. Frank did as he was told, crawling forward and curling up in the older boy's lap. Pete wrapped his arms gently around Frank and rocked him softly. He looked over at the other two who were now distracting themselves by putting the room back together...giving them some space.

"Frankie, has anyone told you about when Patrick was sent for his training?..."

He didn't get a reply, but he knew Frank was listening so he continued.

"It was a couple of months after I got here and I didn't understand the big deal at the time. I had been bought with Bob, so I was already close to him, then there was Gerard, Mikey and Patrick in like their own little group. Gerard being the oldest, was very protective of Patrick. He told him everything would be ok, but of course, it wasn't..."

Pete took a breath to gather his thoughts, glancing at the others across the room, then down at the boy in his lap who looked back at him with wide, unblinking eyes. Pete swallowed and gave him a reassuring smile, then continued again.

"When Patrick got back...he wasn't the same as before he went. He was quiet and jittery and frightened of his own shadow and...and Gerard blamed himself for not protecting him. But it wasn't Gerard's fault then, just like it's not his fault what happened to you..."

He sighed, stroking his fingers through Frank's hair.

"That bastard tricked Gerard...Gee was upset and worried because he thought you were hurt and that monster took advantage of that...of him. Master Saporta is a nasty, manipulative man and I know he convinced you of all sorts of bullshit..."

He shook his head.

"...but it's not true Frankie. You are a pet, not a slave, and you need to remember that. You need to remember that Gerard never wanted you to be sent away, and he's been a state since you've been gone. He's barely ate or slept and all he's talked about is you and how he wants you back so please Frankie, please forgive him and don't be scared...he would never hurt you and it most definitely wasn't you that he was angry at before."

"Pete's right..."

Mikey said softly, coming to kneel next to them on the floor and gently stroking Frank's arm...Bob perched on the edge of the bed, watching them.

"Gee was angry at himself for being duped by that shithead, and at the shithead for what he's put you through...but he wasn't mad at you Frankie. He's my brother, and I know that for a fact."

Frank swallowed, tears on his face that he hadn't even noticed were there. He looked between the three pets and opened his mouth a little to speak, then closed it again, unsure if he was allowed. Pete and Mikey both smiled and nodded encouragingly at him and Frank tried again, his voice coming out small and scratchy.

"He...he doesn't h-hate me?"

"No Frankie, he definitely doesn't hate you."

Frank nodded slightly then yawned.

"You sleepy Frankie?"

Pete asked softly. Frank nodded a little and Pete struggled up onto his feet, picking Frank up with him. Frank gasped, but didn't protest.

"Would you like one of us to lay with you, or all of us?"

Frank looked at the three boys, they made him feel safe...even more than Ryan and the others had at Master Saporta's house. He yawned again then whispered timidly.

"A-all of you?"

Pete nodded with a smile and all the boy's climbed onto the big bed, wrapping themselves protectively around Frank as he relaxed and finally slipped off to sleep.

*

*

*

Patrick walked into the room exhausted. He had never seen their Master have to handle Gerard like that. He wanted to leave, but he didn't. He stayed for the whole...punishment, session, not sure what it was. Even though he wasn't the subject, he was still exhausted from it all. He stumbled into his bed rubbing his eyes and mewing softly. After a minute, Bob climbed off of the big bed and walked over to Patrick. He scooped him up without a word and carried him over to the big bed, climbing on and rejoining the puppy pile. Patrick was still mewing and shaking a bit.

"It's ok Patty."

Pete cooed, moving an arm to pull the boy closer into the group. Everyone cuddled up for comfort

"He had to sedate him."

"Really?..."

Mikey stuck his head up to see the other boy, his lip quivering.

"Did he...inject him?"

Patrick nodded.

"Gerard's eyes were wide and he backed himself in the corner. He was screaming and and and..."

Mikey nodded, moving around the pile to cuddle up to Patrick.

"He would..."

He whispered, wrapping himself around the other boy like an bony octopus. He felt Bob shift and their hands linked...everyone was holding onto or touching everyone else in some way now.

"Are you okay Patty?"

"He's my best friend. The only one that never demanded anything from me or ever took anything."

Patrick looked at Mikey.

"I love him."

Mikey smiled and nodded, pressing a kiss to Patrick's forehead.

"I know Patty, and he loves you too."

Frank shifted, yawning quietly. He was listening to everything and was starting to realise that these pets were all a lot closer to each other than he thought they were.

"Does he..."

He fell silent, still nervous to speak.

"Does he what Frankie?"

Frank swallowed, looking at Pete who was now looking back at him with a smile, then looking at Patrick.

"Does he love all of you?"

Patrick smiled.

"Well Mikey for sure, but...see, the three of us have all done something with each other. Mikey and Grant are the only ones that get to do anything with Gerard...well and you too now Frankie."

Frank's eyes widened.

"Me?..."

He squeaked, then shook his head.

"He doesn't want me."

"Why do you say that?"

Frank frowned slightly.

"He...he doesn't want a pet, so he clearly doesn't want me and...and he..."

He blushed, looking down.

"...he's never even t-touched me."

"Frankie...he's afraid to. Ask Mikey."

Frank looked at Mikey quizzicaly.

"Mikey?"

Mikey nodded.

"It's true. He knows you've never...I mean that you're..."

He sighed.

"He didn't want to force you into doing anything before you're ready, and he's scared to hurt you."

Frank looked down and sniffed slightly.

"But, but what if I wanted to d-do something?...with him?"

Mikey was at a loss.

"Do you?"

Pete asked. Frank nodded, and everyone fell silent.

"Did you ever tell him that?"

Frank looked at Patrick like he'd asked if Frank ever stuck a carrot up his ass.

"No...I couldn't tell him that."

Patrick looked at Mikey.

"Tell him."

Frank looked between the two pets.

"Tell me what?"

Mikey frowned slightly at Patrick.

"Why do I have to tell him?"

"Mikey..."

Patrick whined.

"You know Gee better than any of us. Tell Frankie what he needs to do."

Mikey sighed, rolling his eyes at Patrick before turning to Frank.

"Frankie, Gee called you "my Frankie" when you were gone. He wants you like he has me...whether he says it or not."

Frank's eyes went wide.

"He does?"

Mikey nodded.

"Yep."

"See I told you. Why don't you go see him."

Frank looked at Patrick.

"Would I be allowed?"

"If you can explain his reaction."

Everyone looked up from the puppy pile and saw Grant in the doorway. Frank flinched back, curling into Pete's side. Mikey spoke for him.

"Master, Gerard was angry because Master Saporta made Frankie believe he was a slave, instead of a pet...and Gerard was mad at himself too, I think."

"I suppose that was partly my fault as well, but I never saw him react like that before. Not even about you Michael."

Mikey smiled and looked over at Frank, then back at his Master.

"No, but I think Frankie might be kinda special."

"Well come follow me Frankie. You may see him."

Frankie nodded shakily and untangled himself from the pile before sliding off the bed and following Master Grant from the room.

"We don’t have to go alone if you don’t want Frankie."

Frank looked up.

"Can...can Pete come please M-Master Grant?"

Grant was rather surprised that the pet did not ask for Mikey.

"Of course, Pete, please come with us."

Pete nodded as he got off the bed.

"Yes Master."

He trotted over to them and took Frank's hand in his. Frank smiled gratefully at him. They followed Grant down the hallway.

"He should be awake by now."

Grant led them to...the basement. Frank clung to Pete's hand, shaking more with each step they took.

"Go on down."

Grant unlocked the door and opened it. Frank looked at Pete and Pete gave him a reassuring smile and hand squeeze. They both nodded to Grant then walked down the stairs.

*groan*

Gerard hurt, everything hurt. He could barely open his eyes. He heard the door close.

"M-M-Master."

"No Gerard...it's us."

Pete said quietly, pulling Frank forward and down onto the floor next to Gerard.

"U-Us?"

Gerard tried to open his eyes wider.

"Yeah Gee, Pete and Frankie."

"M-My Frankie?"

Frank swallowed and shuffled closer on his knees.

"I'm here Mast...Gerard."

Frank corrected himself, brushing Gerard's damp hair from his face.

"F-Frankie?"

Gerard pushed into the hand on him and sighed. It felt good on his warm face. Frank glanced at Pete then looked back at Gerard.

"It's okay Gerard, you're okay, I've got you."

"Frankie, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to and I didn't fight for you and I should have and I am a horrible Master to you and I don't deserve you and..."

Frank put his hand over Gerard's mouth.

"Hush Gee. You did nothing wrong."

"But I abandoned you. I let that...that monster have you and break you and he... he..."

Gerard didn't even want to think about that man touching Frank.

"He d-didn't touch me Gerard...I'm s-still me."

"He didn't? Oh thank God."

Gerard began to cry.

Frank leaned forward and wrapped his arms gently around Gerard.

"I'm yours Gerard...no one else's."

He whispered into the older boy's ear.

"Peter you may release Gerard."

Grant was standing at the bottom of the stairs.

Pete nodded.

"Yes Master."

He undid the manacles that held Gerard to the wall. He softly kissed Gerard's head, then Frank's, then stood and left. Gerard collapsed into Frank's arms. He hugged him tightly.

"Frankie. Frankie. Frankie."

"Shhh Gerard, it's okay...I'm here now."

Frank cooed, holding Gerard close, but not tight enough to hurt him.

"I missed you Frankie. I was so worried about you."

Frank hummed into Gerard's hair as he rocked him softly...just like Pete had done for him in the bedroom.

"I...I missed you too."

Grant watched as the two pets made up with each other. He had a feeling that things were going to be different from now on.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks, how's you?

So Frankie's home and things are going to be ok now...right?
.........I wouldn't put money on it.

Until next time...PLEASE COMMENT, and peace out babies!
<3