When Gabriel has left, the others are watching me.

"Of course he's upset. That could have been worse?" Christian is uncertain.

"He's in shock. There's no saying right now how he might react later," I'm pensive.

"I'll go to him," Chase suggests to me, but uncertain about my response, "I won't get close, just sit by the door, make sure he's okay."

"Alright," I nod, it's not a bad idea, plus I'm interested to see how long he sticks out for, whether this thing he believes he's feeling is real.

When Chase has gone to relieve Mrs M I pour myself and Christian a stiff drink. Noah says no, his shift starts in a couple hours.

"It's very kind of you, Noah, to come and check on Gabriel," Christian says, and I notice he's watching Noah's reaction quite intently.

"It's nothing, Sir, really," I spot Christian's reaction to Noah's honorific, a pleased but unsurprised smile, and he moves a little closer.

I hear the door open and go out to greet Amir.

"No Owen?" I ask, an embarrassed flush on my cheeks, which I'm hoping he doesn't spot on my olive skin.

"No, I took him to work."

"You two are getting on well then?"

I don't like the look he gives me. He's always been perceptive.

"Are you alright, Gray?" he asks instead of responding. "You seem to have taken this whole Sawyer thing quite personally. Are you sure you're the right person to be looking after Gabriel?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Gray, the boy is incredibly fragile. If you look after him, you know he will see you as his savior. It's only natural when he's in such a vulnerable position. For someone else, that might not be a problem. But we both know that you won't cope with taking someone on who would be that reliant on you. Unless that's what you're looking for now? Did you decide that Liam was too independent, and that it might not have happened if he'd been more in need of you?"

Christ, now I know how my friends feel when I wear my therapist hat around them. It makes me think though. I don't want Gabriel in that way, regardless of how utterly beautiful he is. I want strong and confident submissives, not fragile and delicate ones. And what Amir says might be true – if Gabriel really is as broken as he seems, though I haven't been able to work out yet if he is.

Besides, it's my suspicion that Liam wasn't as independent as I'd thought, and that is where the problem was, not the other way around. I wasn't giving him what he needed as my submissive. All the more reason for me to not to make that mistake again.

* * * * *

Christian doesn't get too close to Noah when Gray leaves to greet Amir, but he's watching him, examining the way his bright, blue eyes explore the walls of the den, glancing at the pictures that adorn the walls with appreciation. Suddenly he runs his fingers through his short brown hair, leaving it in adorable random spikes and Christian catches his breath.

"So," he begins, abnormally careful, "it was very good of you to come and check on Gabriel."

"It was an easy choice," Noah shrugs, "although I probably didn't need to, it would seem he has plenty of people looking out for him."

Which made the young doctor's decision even more sweet. And interesting. Christian had realized at the hospital that Landon knew the pretty man, but he didn't think, now, that whatever connection they had had anything to do with why Noah was here now.

Christian yawns, widely, overtaken before he realizes.

"You look tired, Sir," Noah says, "you should get some rest. Gabriel is overwhelmed, I imagine he'll sleep for a while."

"You're right, thank you for your concern. It was a late night, I should go home and have an early night. May I drive you to work?"

Christian takes himself aback by his offer, which is out of his mouth before he's even had time to think. Is it because the boy had called him Sir again? It certainly speaks to his desires. He loves hearing subservience falling from the lips of beautiful boys, and sweet Doctor Noah is certainly that.

Though he must be at least in his mid-twenties, if he's a hospital resident, the boy doesn't look older than twenty-one or two, a fresh-faced innocence to him, with his slightly rosy cheeks and soft pink lips that hold a slight smile, apparently at all times. He is just Christian's type though; perhaps a little taller than many submissives – and Christian is quite certain that's what he is – with clear toned structure under his slim-fit white t-shirt.

Christian likes it when he can stand face-to-face with his submissive, when they are bound and vulnerable, when he can look straight into their eyes, when those eyes hold trust and desire and perhaps the smallest amount of nervousness. When he can monitor the reactions he's creating.

Christian is becoming hard at the thought of Noah in that position, and he doesn't try to hide it. He's a man who says what he's thinking, and has no shame or fear in what others think of him. He knows he can be blunt to the point of rudeness, or at least societally-considered rudeness, although he is fundamentally kind, and would never go out of his way to hurt anyone.

"Thank you, Sir. If it isn't out of your way I would appreciate a ride."

It is out of Christian's way, but he feels no need to mention it. He offered after all, and finds himself eager to spend a little more time with Noah.

After a brief goodbye to Gray, they are settled in Christian's comfortable car, that still smells of fresh leather despite being several years old. Christian is a rich man, an incredibly successful sculptor, actually famous to those who follow such things, but he is not wasteful. He will spend thousands to have things the way he wants them, but feels no need to upgrade his car every few months like some of his friends do. Instead, he looks after what's important to him.

Noah doesn't say anything for a while, which Christian appreciates as he isn't a man for mindless chatter. In the end, it's his own curiosity that gets the better of him.

"So, Noah, how do you find working at the hospital?" it's a little inane, but for some reason he wants to tread more carefully than he usually would bother with.

"I enjoy it a great deal, Sir, but it is very tiring. I only get a few hours between shifts."

"You must make sure you get enough rest. Did you sleep today?" Christian wonders whether he's asking such pointless questions to hear Noah say Sir to him – it certainly garners a reaction, blood flowing to his cock every time.

"Yes, thank you Sir, I managed a few hours."

"Did you manage to eat, too?"

"I had breakfast when I helped drop Gabriel off at Gray's home. But I will eat something at the hospital before my shift starts, Sir."

Christian wonders whether there is something in that – he hadn't known that Noah had gone home with Gray...had they...? But, no. He called him Gray without hesitation, so it seems unlikely. Unlike many of his other friends, Christian appreciates that, for all his relaxed mannerisms, Gray is a pure Dom – they've been friends since college, he knows him well. If he'd been with Noah, Noah would not be casually throwing out his name like that in front of another Dom, particularly one showing clear interest in him, which Christian knows he is.

"Noah, that doesn't sound acceptable to me. Hospital cafeteria food is not as nutritious as you need to stay healthy, particularly if you aren't getting enough sleep and self-care in other areas. May I take you for an early dinner? Would you have time?"

"Oh, Sir, uh, yes, I would appreciate that. I still have an hour until work, though I won't be able to delay. There is a vegan restaurant close to the hospital where the service is quick and the food is very healthy, if that would suit, Sir?"

That would suit very well. Christian isn't vegan, and doesn't think Noah is either, but he does look after his health and consider what goes into his body. When they arrive, their orders are taken quickly, and arrive soon afterwards, huge portions of delicious grain-based salads, full of flavor.

They chat over their food, and Christian enjoys how Noah continues to call him Sir, not an ounce of self-consciousness about them being in public. Noah is a breath of fresh air and Christian feels himself relaxing even further around him.

When they arrive in the hospital parking lot, a huge multi-storied concrete block, dim and dripping inside, Christian parks, turning to Noah.

"Let me walk you in, Noah."

"There's no need, Sir. It's not a nice space, there's no reason for you to be in it."

"I appreciate your concern, Noah, but that's the reason I would like to walk you in. It doesn't feel particularly safe."

"I'm afraid it isn't, Sir. I'm thankful I normally get the subway and am rarely in here. I know, over the years, quite a lot of attacks have happened in here – rapes and physical attacks from angry patients or families. The hospital always manages to avoid putting in improved surveillance, somehow."

Noah has turned to face Christian, who is distracted by his clear blue eyes.

"You really are very beautiful, Noah."

He blushes, his eyes dropping down.

"Thank you, Sir. I appreciate your words."

"Do you know...what I do?"

"If you mean that you're a Dominant, like Master Landon and Master Gray, yes. I guessed as much from your behavior."

"And it doesn't bother you?"

"No, Sir. I was in the lifestyle myself, some time ago. I had been wondering whether to come back."

"Will you come to the club, with me? At the weekend perhaps? Or your next day off?"

"I finish my night shifts on Thursday. I am free on Friday, Sir, if the offer stands."

Christian is always certain about things, and the fact that he definitely wants to see this pretty boy again is no different. But he wants more, if he can have it, recognizes a look in Noah's eye, a desire to please.

"I don't want to get you into trouble for being late, Noah, but will you be a good boy and take your cock out?"

The simple instruction couched as a request would likely make many balk in these circumstances, but Noah quickly unbuttons his jeans, revealing his smooth pale cock, already half hard.

Christian licks his straight lips, leaning back slightly to ensure he can see as much of Noah as possible.

"Stroke yourself, Noah. Show me what you do when you're alone."

Noah takes himself in hand, stroking a few times. He pauses, licking his palm with a surprisingly long tongue before returning to it with a moan, pushing his head against the headrest, turning to the side so he can watch Christian's reaction, which is fixed, staring with longing at the movement of Noah's hand.

Christian watches as the movement becomes more rapid, and rough, which he likes, noticing how Noah's other hand reaches up under his t-shirt, grasping at a nipple hard enough to make himself gasp. Christian himself is hard as stone in his pants, which are feeling much too tight now, but he holds onto the feeling, gazing as Noah brings himself to completion with an aroused whimper, catching his release.

Christian passes Noah a few tissues but, to his joy, Noah brings his hand to his mouth, lapping the creamy concoction from his palm instead.

"Until Friday, Master Christian," Noah purrs, sliding elegantly from the car and walking rapidly to the heavy, gray-painted door before disappearing inside the hospital.

* * * * *