How Severus Spends His Summer Hols

Richard looked down at the men on the floor then back at Doctor Wolffe, shaking his head in disbelief. "I can't believe I didn't see it sooner. I feel so stupid." He dug in his pockets and pulled out his cell phone, paging through it's phone book looking for a contact.

"It's basic biology, circle of life, whatever you want to call it. The abnormally high hormone levels weren't first stage menopause but the body trying to call for its mate. It knew something wasn't right but it kept trying. Merlin, it was all there in black and white!" He found the number he was looking for and held the phone to his ear as he waited for it to connect.

Looking at Doctor Wolffe, Richard smiled. "We just need to test him to make certain he's still viable with a testicular biopsy then reverse Mister Wolffe's vasectomy. If all goes well, then that should solve your problems."

Grant stared down in horror at his husband and then back up at Richard. "What if he can't be fixed?" he asked haltingly, almost afraid of the answer.

Richard frowned as his phone call netted him an answering service. He left a message then hung the phone up. "I don't think it's going to be a problem really. Even though a vasectomy prevents sperm from being released, the body still produces it; it's just reabsorbed into the body. The biopsy is just a formality to be certain. I think the display we just witnessed was more than proof that his testosterone is still strong." He looked at Grant. "That's what you've been missing. All Fleymann's carriers are sterile and need the testosterone from their partner to balance out the hormone influx. His hormone levels are probably off the charts as well. When a Fleymann's carrier goes into cycle, they exude a pheromone that lets their bonded mate know they need the enzyme."

He stopped to take a breath then continued. "Extra testosterone is produced by the non-carrier to help balance out the Fleymann's carrier. If the time is right then fertilization occurs. If the carrier is already pregnant or using a contraception device then the enzyme is absorbed. Levels are balanced for both men throughout the cycle afterwards."

Grant's eyes narrowed as he listened to the man speak. "I've never seen any of this in the journals. Where has it been published? Who did the studies? I don't want Damon to be a guinea pig," he said protectively of his husband, pulling the man's head to rest in his lap.

Richard's jaw dropped as he stared at Grant. He shook his head then sighed and moved to sit down on the bed. "The sterility factor has been published. It was one of the first things I researched. In fact, if you don't believe me, we can test your ejaculate before we do anything to him but I'm telling you, Mister Wolffe is the one that sent your cycles into overdrive by cutting off your supply of testosterone."

He spread his hands. "I don't experiment on people, Doctor Wolffe, unless they know exactly what they are getting into. Vasectomy reversal has proven successful to help couples have children, but in this case I don't think that can happen. The success rate after fifteen years lessens the chances of becoming pregnant. Since in your case we aren't trying for fertility but just providing the enzyme in his sperm, I think the operation would be completely successful."

"Why can't I just take testosterone injections?" Grant demanded, looking up to see if Severus was in agreement with him. "That would give me what I needed and keep Damon from being cut open, wouldn't it?"

Richard shrugged. "I suppose that is an option, but there are side effects with the artificial hormones that you wouldn't have if Mister Wolffe were to have the procedure. The other option would be to have a donor to provide a sample each cycle." He looked at Grant and arched an eyebrow. "I suppose it all depends on Mister Wolffe's decision, doesn't it? I think he should have the chance to know what his options are, now that we know what the problem is."

Gritting his teeth, Grant nodded, knowing that Montgomery was right. It was ultimately Damon's decision. "What about me having surgery? That would be an option, wouldn't it?" he asked, one last chance at being defiant before Damon woke up from being stunned.

Richard shook his head. "What good would that do? I just told you that you were missing a vital hormone. Removing the secondary sex organs would basically turn you into a eunuch. Instead of being in overdrive, you would have no drive at all."

Severus sighed and finally spoke up. "Grant, I think you should listen to him. He is the expert after all."

Grant sighed and looked back down at Damon. "Fine. Wake him up and I'll tell him. When can you do this? You can do it, right?"

Richard shook his head. "No, I can't do it. While vasectomy reversals have become a fairly common procedure over the past twenty years, it takes a special and precise surgeon to reconnect the tissues properly to ensure that everything is essentially watertight. I do know someone that could do it though and he's one of the best, in my opinion."

"Where do we have to go?" Grant asked tiredly, quickly growing weary
of dealing with all of this and pondering the merits of being a eunuch. "Go on, wake him up. I'm sure he'll be overjoyed that some yutz is going to stick his nut sack in a Cuisinart."

At that, Jason lost it and began to laugh loudly, both at the words and the look of total resignation on Grant's face.

Richard glared at Jason. "Jason, please, if you don't mind. Why don't you and Davy take Gregory home before Mister Wolffe is brought around? I'd like to avoid World War III if at all possible."

"What? It was funny," Jason said with a shake of his head. "Fine, I'll go with them, but maybe we can do something when you are finished?" The young man looked at the Texan, a half expectant and half frightened look on his face, as if he couldn't believe what he'd just said. It had sounded too domestic for comfort.

Richard looked at Jason, his face softening as he stood and walked over to the smaller man. He reached out and ran a hand over his cheek, smiling down at him. "I need to see to the Wolffes first but I promise I'll make time for you." He bent and pressed a kiss to Jason's forehead and stepped back. "If I give you some money, will you go to the store and buy something?"

Jason looked at him quizzically. "What do you want me to pick up?" he asked, wiping at his face and grimacing at the feel of the dry skin.

Richard dug out his wallet and pulled out several bills, handing them to Jason. "I'm not certain how long this will take but I want you to be able to find me if you need something. Go buy one of them prepaid cellular phones. Davy and Gregory have my number and this way you can get in touch with me any time you need me. I have mine on me all the time and I always answer it. All right?"

Jason stared at the money for a long moment and shook his head. "I...," he began when Grant interrupted him.

"Take it Jason. You need a phone and he's trying to take care of you. Either he does it or we will. They have them at the hardware store, so go get it," Grant said with a sigh as he got to his feet, taking the money from Richard and tucking it into Jason's hand.

Richard stared at Grant for a moment then nodded at him and turned back to Jason. He wrapped his hands around Jason's and looked him in the eyes. "For me and the babies, Jason. I told you I wasn't going anywhere and I meant it. When I get a chance, I'll get a more permanent one but for now this will have to do. You call me as soon as it's charged, and if I can, I'll come and get you from Greg's. We'll spend the rest of the day together."

Jason bit his lip and nodded. "I'll get it. I had one before, but it fell down in the well a couple months ago, so I can figure it out pretty quickly," he said as he stuck the money in his pocket and smiled at both men. "I won't bug you too much with calling."

"I want you to call me." Richard smiled at him and shook his head. "We'll talk about this later." He leaned in a kissed Jason softly on the mouth, moaning softly as he did it again then reluctantly pulled away. Stroking his cheek, Richard straightened and cleared his throat. "Take care of yourself and I'll be waiting on your call."

"Bye Rich. Doctor Wolffe, I hope everything is fixed soon," Jason said as he turned to give Grant a small smile before leaving the bedroom to go find Davy.

Davy returned shortly, none to happy to be back in the bedroom and drew his wand, levitating his husband up from the floor. He nodded at Severus and the others then left the room, towing the unconscious man behind him.

Jason leaned back in and mouthed one more goodbye to Richard then left, following after Davy and Gregory.

Grant smiled at the boy and gave him a little wave before turning his attention back to Damon. "Wake him up Sev, I need to talk to him."

Severus watched Jason go then turned back to his father. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Grant. "Are you certain we shouldn't tie him up first?"

Grant shook his head. "No, don't tie him, he's not an animal," he said softly as he knelt back down next to his husband.

Severus shrugged. "I just don't want anyone going to Casualty when he comes up swinging. Please move back Grant before I do this." he took aim and waited.

Grant shifted back a few inches, but refused to leave his husband's side, knowing that Damon may be disoriented upon reviving. "Just do it Sev, he'll be alright," he said softly, reaching out to take Damon's hand, holding it loosely.

Severus shook his head but nodded, "Ennervate!"

Damon groaned, reaching up to touch his forehead. He opened his eyes and glared up at Severus and Montgomery, wriggling slightly and trying to sit up. "Where is that little bastard? I'm gonna kick his ass from here to kingdom come."

"Davy and Jason took him home Damon. He's gone," Grant said as he put his bad arm behind the man's shoulders to help him up.

"It's a damned good thing then. What the fuck was his problem?" Damon grunted as he pushed at Grant. "Don't, you're going to hurt yourself and I'm not taking you back to the hospital.

Richard and Severus leaned down to help, each offering a hand to the other man. They helped him to his feet then settled him on the bed. Severus bent down again to help Grant up as well.

Letting the man help him to his feet, Grant sat down next to Damon and leaned against him "He was acting like that in response to me Damon, not because he wanted to," Grant said, trying to chose the right words to tell the man he'd need an operation. "Montgomery says he knows what the problem is and how to fix it."

Damon grunted and wrapped an arm around Grant, rubbing his hand up and down Grant's arm. He looked up at Montgomery and Severus then nodded. "Well, let's do it then. I think Grant's suffered enough. If you can fix it, what's stopping you from getting on with the solution?"

"They have to operate on you," Grant said with a soft sigh. "You need to have the vasectomy reversed."

Severus gave sort of an embarrassed shrug and nodded. "He's not getting something your body is supposed to be providing him."

"Excuse me? I am not depriving him of anything." Damon stared at Montgomery then looked at Grant. "Am I?"

Richard took a deep breath. "Doctor Wolffe needs one of the enzymes in your semen. I feel that the procedure would be your best option, in my opinion. However, there are others, if you would like to hear them but there are more side effects to the others than there are to this one."

Grant bit his lip and looked at Damon. "I can take testosterone in some other form, use a donor, or have a hysterectomy," he said, laying it out for his husband. "The decision is yours as to what I do."

Damon stared at Grant horrified and reached up to touch his face. "No one is cutting on you or touching you," he said softly. "Those options are not available to us."

He looked up at Montgomery. "Tell me about the testosterone stuff."

Richard nodded. "It is one option, though it's rarely done. I don't know what the effects of full strength, full time artificial testosterone injections would do to him. When the natural hormone comes from you it's diluted with other things and in it's natural form so it's gentler on the body."

"Side effects of testosterone injections or the patch can include excess body hair, balding, deepening voice, thickening of the body, and other things," Grant said, thinking back to a few patients he'd counselled for gender reassignment. "Oh, and way increased aggression."

Damon frowned and shook his head. "And the operation for me? What all does that entail?" He looked at Grant. "Be honest with me. I want what's best for you but I don't want to lose you."

"The reversal itself is fairly simple as long as there isn't too much scar tissue to contend with, maybe forty-five minutes," Richard said to answer the first question and then began on the second. "However you will have to have a small procedure at least once a day to retrieve enough sperm to dose your husband."

"The procedure is a fairly simple one. A needle will be inserted through your scrotal sac, into the spermatic cord and into the testes themselves to extract the unadulterated sperm. Then a small catheter will be inserted into the seminal vesicles and then possibly the prostate, if necessary, to extract enough semen to round out the donations chemical makeup," Richard explained. "As to how often, at least once a day, perhaps up to five times daily in order to set your husband's body chemistry right."

Damon paled and blinked as he listened then stared at Montgomery, mouth open with shock. He ran a hand over his face and blew out a breath. "Someone wanna tell me that in English now? Because I thought you just said you were going to stick a needle in my balls." He looked over at Grant for confirmation. "Is this happening before or after you reverse my vasectomy?" He looked over at Montgomery then back at Grant again. "You are going to be knocking my ass out when you do this right?"

Grant winced for his husband and looked down at his feet with a shake of his head. "I'm sorry Damon."

"It's going to happen before and after Mister Wolffe, at least for the next week," Richard said, making a wavering motion with his hand. "That will all depend on how your husband reacts. If you wish to be sedated, then you'll need to declare who you wish to administer the sample to your husband."

Damon pursed his lips and reached over, taking Grant's hand. "It's not your fault. This was my decision and I'm dealing with the consequences." He leaned in and pressed a kiss to Grant's cheek then looked at Montgomery. "Nobody but me is touching him if it's going to cause that freaking reaction. I'll stay awake but I want some kind of pain killers." He looked pointedly at Severus.

Richard nodded. "I agree, not only could it cause a reaction in the one applying it, but Doctor Wolffe may respond to the person whether he wishes to or not," he said, rather glad Damon had decided to do it himself.

Severus nodded, he could come up with something to keep Damon out of the majority of pain, but still keep him lucid enough to deal with Grant. Inside his head, he made a vow to Harry to never put him in this sort of situation. Ever.

"Sure Da, I'm certain there's something at the shop we can use."

Damon nodded and blew out another breath, pulling Grant into his lap and wrapping his arms around the smaller man. He nuzzled his neck and breathed in his scent, trying to remain calm as he squeezed Grant to him. "When and where is all this taking place? I want to get started on it as soon as possible. Remember what I told you Montgomery, nothing else matters but his safety," he said softly.

"I've contacted a colleague of mine in Baltimore and he can be here within the hour if you'd like to proceed today. The procedure can be done in an office setting under local anaesthesia with your husband in attendance if you'd like. We just need a space," Richard said, excitement evident in his voice as he anticipated the hopefully rapid changes in Doctor Wolffe's demeanour.

Damon nodded and looked at Grant, running a hand over his hair. "Get him here. We'll open up one of the offices downtown." He pressed a kiss to Grant's cheek. "You have anymore questions, Pet?"

Grant looked up at Richard. "This is going to fix it, right? I mean, he's not going through this for nothing, is he? If there's a chance that I'm not going to respond then I don't want anyone cutting into him, it's not worth it," he said, running his good hand over Damon's arm, knowing how much the man hated medical procedures.

Richard took a deep breath. "Doctor Wolffe, you know that nothing in the medicine is for certain without testing. I can tell you that there is at least a seventy percent chance that this will solve your problems just based on what I know of your medical history, what Mister Wolffe has volunteered and the reactions I've seen today. I have never come across this problem before in all my years of practice but I have also never seen a Fleymann's carrier as young as you with menopause. I have read a few accounts of this being used in Europe with success." He let out the breath and spread his hands. "I honestly and truly believe it's the lack of the enzyme that has thrown off the entire sympathetic balance between the two of you, which could also explain why there are so many different medical problems listed in your file."

Grant took a deep breath and stared past the man for a moment. "This sample you're collecting from Damon, how am I getting it?" he asked, needing to know the ins and outs of things even if the drugs were still clouding his logic. Few times did he allow his clinical facade show at home, time at home just being himself was sacred, but now, Doctor Wolffe was asking questions.

"It can be delivered vaginally, anally, orally or topically. I'll leave that up to you and Mister Wolffe. For best results though, mucus membranes will absorb it quickest and I think that should be the way to test it first. It would provide us with the fastest possible reaction as to whether or not this treatment is going to work. You should feel better immediately, if my suppositions are correct." Richard ticked off the examples on his fingers. "You'll have to do it manually I'm afraid as Mister Wolffe won't be up to any physical activity."

"Great, let me get the turkey baster," Grant muttered darkly, pursing his lips together as he shifted on Damon's lap.

Severus looked up as Grant spoke, biting back a laugh at the small man's words. "I'm sure it won't be quite that bad. Damon won't be completely bagged after all."

Damon snorted and squeezed Grant to him. "That's enough, you two." He tugged on Grant's hair. "If you're going to be like that then we'll just get you a chaser and have it over and done with shortly. Truth be told, ain't neither one of us up to much physical contact." He sighed and looked at Montgomery and back at Grant, running his hand over Grant's hair once again, hoping the gesture was as soothing to his husband as it was to him. "Is there anything else important we need to know?"

Immediately Grant laid his head on Damon's shoulder and closed his eyes, sighing at the contact with the man. The truth of the matter was that he didn't want to do it alone, he'd be fine if Damon were with him, maybe even holding him while he did what needed to be done, he just wanted the closeness of the other man.

Richard looked at the couple and raised his hands. "Not really Mister Wolffe. As your husband said, the procedure will take a relatively short time and we'll keep you awake during," he said and then stopped as his cell phone began to beep. "One moment please."

Excusing himself, Richard turned and answered his phone, speaking with his colleague for several minutes and giving the name of the town to him, pausing for a moment to look at Damon. "Is there a Floo hook-up at the clinic?"

Damon wrapped his arms around Grant and nodded as he looked up at Montgomery. "There's a Floo connection in Grant's old office. It's still closed and locked up so we'll have to meet him up there though since the building is warded. But he's welcome to use the connection."

After giving his permission, Damon tuned them out. He rubbed Grant's back, holding onto him and touching him as much possible and as politely as he could in mixed company as if to reaffirm that Grant was his own. Once they were alone though, all bets were off and he was once again making certain that Grant knew where he belonged and to whom exactly he belonged to.

"I'll keep Grant company while the healers are seeing you, Da," Severus said softly as he reached a hand out to the small man. "It shouldn't take us very long to have the fireplace going once we all get there."

Damon looked up and nearly growled when he saw a hand reaching out for Grant. He barely restrained himself then loosened his grip on Grant, realizing that it was Severus and had spoken to him. Montgomery was also waiting on him as well. "Um… fine."

Grant groaned as he got to his feet. He had about seven big potted plants setting in and in front of the fireplace in his office at the practice. He never used the Floo connection and had decorated to keep the office pretty. "I'll get my keys, I think they're in the pocket of my dress coat."

Damon nodded and stood. He looked over at Montgomery. "Tell him we'll be there in about an hour, Montgomery. That'll give us time to get everything ready. Is there anything else this person needs?"

Richard thought for a moment and nodded. "Not so much that he'll need, but you'll want to bring along a pair of tight supportive pants. I assume we can get ice packs there for you?"

Damon walked over to the dresser and pulled out a pair of underwear and tossed them on the bed. He looked over at Grant and shrugged. "I guess so. It's an entire building full of doctor's offices. I have no clue what's in them."

"There will be ice packs and supplies for in-office surgery there. We have the keys to everything in the building. I suppose I really should get dressed, huh?" Grant said as he forgot about getting his set of keys and headed to his side of the dresser instead.

Damon grabbed Grant and motioned Severus to him. "Take Montgomery over to the building and get my potion ready please. We'll meet you all there."

Stepping forward, Severus obeyed Damon's gesture. "Alright, I'll warm the floor the clinic is on as well so neither of you get chilled."

Damon nodded and dug in his pocket, handing Severus a ring of keys. "Thanks, son. We'll be up there shortly. Be careful now."

He turned and looked at Montgomery as he held Grant close, rubbing his back gently. "Thank you."

"You're welcome Mister Wolffe, I'm just sorry that no one had picked up on the problem before now, it would have saved you both a great deal of suffering," Richard said as he looked at both men solemnly. "Jacob Meyer will be able to sort you out. I've worked with him before and he's a good man."

@@@@@@@@

Davy folded Gregory into the car and then helped Jason into the back seat before getting behind the wheel. He started the car and carefully backed out of the Wolffe's drive, swallowing hard. He looked over at his husband then eyed Jason in the back seat as he stopped at the end of the drive.

"Jason... first off I'd like to apologize to you for Gregory's behaviour. I don't know what came over him."

Jason looked at Davy and shook his head. "Why are you apologizing for him? If it were me, I'd dump his ass in the ditch for being such a dick."

Davy looked down and shook his head, snorting softly. "I still might, Jason, you never know." He looked back up at Jason as he drew his wand. I just wanted to apologize because I'm going to wake him up and I don't know how he's going to be so just try to ignore him, all right? Let me deal with him."

Jason made a face and stared out the window. "Good luck Davy, don't worry about me, I've been treated like crap before," he said softly, steeling himself for whatever may come.

Davy swallowed and sighed, "Ennervate!"

Gregory jerked to life, sitting up straight in the seat and looking around. "Where the fuck am I?" he sputtered as he stared at Davy.

Davy pulled out on to the road. "In the car, Master. We're on our way home," he said softly.

"Why are we going home? I need to take care of Grant. Don't you fucking listen?" Gregory snapped angrily as he reached over to take the wheel. "Merlin, Damon's right, you don't ever listen, do you?"

Davy slammed on the brakes so Gregory didn't pull them off the road into the ditch. "Grant's being taken care of by his husband, Sir. Richard is taking care of it."

Gregory grabbed the gear stick and shoved the small car into park. "Get out, I'm driving," he snapped as he opened his door. "Move it."

"Yes Sir." Davy took a deep breath and looked up in the mirror. "Jason, put your seat belt on if you can get it around you," he said softly and opened his door, getting out of the car.

Biting his lip, Jason struggled with the seat belt, groaning as he tried to get it fastened.

Getting out of the car, Gregory roughed pulled Davy out of the driver's seat, shoving him around the back of the car. "Don't you ever make me look bad again, do you hear me?" he hissed, still seething with testosterone driven rage.

Davy nodded, "Yes Master." He rubbed his arms and he hurried around the car, sliding into the seat and buckling his seat belt. He bowed his head and hoped Jason was able to get his own done before Gregory killed them all. Perhaps he should have waited, and wondered if he would be fast enough to stun Gregory again.

Scowling, Gregory put the car in gear and stepped on the gas.

Having watched the couple's behaviour, Jason leaned forward in the back seat and put a hand on Davy's shoulder. "Are you alright?" he asked softly.

Davy nodded, not looking at Jason. "Just sit back, Jason. We'll be back to the apartment in a moment."

It seemed as though the further he drove from the Wolffe farm and the more time passed, Gregory's head cleared and sanity began to regain hold over him. By the time he pulled into their parking spot, he wasn't exactly certain why he'd been so angry with Davy, but when he glanced over at the other man, the hurt on his face was painful to see.

"Come on, let's go in," Gregory murmured as he shut the car off and opened his door, not sure of what to say to either man.

Davy nodded and opened the door then helped Jason out of the backseat. "Careful, it's slippery."

"Yeah, I got it," Jason murmured as he took a careful step. "You be careful too."

Gregory came around the car and took Davy's elbow, holding tight to make sure he made it safely to their door. "Come on Davy."

Davy took a deep breath, forcing himself not to jerk his arm from Gregory. As it was, he stiffened then tried to relax as he held on to Jason. "We'll hang on to each other."

Jason shook his head and pulled his hand from Davy's. "No, you go on ahead. If I go down, I don't want to take anyone with me," he said grimly as he concentrated on his footing as well as trying not to tell the doctor he was a royal ass.

Davy looked at him for a moment and held out his hand to him. "Please, Jason, I'm stronger than I look. I really don't want to go to the ER if you fall and have those kids on the sidewalk."

Sighing in exasperation, Gregory let go of Davy's arm and went around taking Jason's. "Come on, let's get you in out of the cold," he said quietly and then looked over at Davy. "You stay put and I'll come back for you."

Jason pulled his arm away from Gregory. "Look, no thanks, especially from you. As I told Davy, I can do it myself."

Gregory narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath, willing himself not to say something he'd regret. "Fine," he snapped, turning on his heel and stomping to the door alone, entering the duplex and slamming the door behind him.

Jason rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Sorry Davy," he mumbled as he kept walking slowly. "I'll get my things together and get out of y'all's hair."

Davy put a hand on Jason's arm and shook his head. "Don't leave Jason. I know he's being an ass right now. If you want to leave tomorrow, I'll help Richard make certain your place is safe to go back to but it's been closed up for three days so it's probably freezing in there. At least wait until Richard comes back and get that phone he wants you to have first."

"I just don't want to overstay my welcome. I know you and the doctor were pressed into having me and I don't want to be any more of a burden," Jason said as he reached the bottom of the porch steps and paused. "I'll go home tomorrow and I'll stay in the bedroom so you and he can talk."

Heaving his bulk up the steps, Jason entered the duplex and went straight to the bedroom he'd been sharing with Richard, not paying any attention to Gregory who was sitting on the sofa staring at the door.

Davy hung his head for a moment then followed Jason into the apartment. He slid his jacket from his shoulders and hung it up the stood and looked at Gregory, taking a deep breath and asking softly "May I retrieve anything for Master?"

"Come here Davy and tell me why you're acting like a little brat," Gregory said quietly as he snapped his fingers and pointed to the floor in front of him, the need to assert his dominance over his husband strong in him for some reason.
Davy dropped to his knees and bowed his head. "May I speak freely Master?"

"Stay respectful Davy," Gregory warned as he leaned back against the cushions and regarded his husband with a stare.

Davy licked his lips and looked up at Gregory. "Master, right now, I think that is impossible. But, I suppose, the most respectful thing I can say is that if you didn't own me, I would no longer be here. I might be a submissive but I am not a doormat. You taught me that and I never thought I'd ever be treated the way you treated me today again." He swallowed hard but made certain to keep looking up at Gregory. "What you said made me feel like I wasn't good enough to be your boy. Damon's words hurt but he's not mine. You are."

Gregory's heart was crushed as he recalled the things he'd said and the way he'd acted only a short time ago. "Oh David... I'm so sorry. I can't explain why I was behaving like that; I know that doesn't help, but the things I said... I never meant them," he said softly. "If you no longer wish to be here, then I won't make you stay for any reason. You owe nothing to me for your papers, they are in my desk, you know where they are."

"Am I that easy to get rid of?" Davy asked softly, looking down and shaking his head. "Just because something happened and now it's hard for you to deal with you're going to get rid of me after all this time?" He looked up at Gregory, tears of anger threatening to fall. He got to his feet and looked down at Gregory. "You're such a shit, Greg. Merlin, I thought we'd gotten past all you're petty, poor little rich boy bullshit." He took a deep breath and shook his head again. "Gods, I am so angry with you and I can't even bring myself to do something about it."

"No!" Gregory all but shouted and then hung his head. "You just had someone else keeping you when you didn't want to be there and I didn't want to do that to you as well. Merlin knows I've fucked up your life enough David, I was only trying to not be like Paul and make you feel like an object that had no rights."

Davy clenched his fists at his sides. "Then be a man about it, Greg, and deal with what you did. Face it head on and live with the consequences. Don't run and hide behind Frank." He fumbled with his shirt and pulled at the collar welded around his neck. "You see this. It's a privilege that I gave to you. Something we agreed upon so I wouldn't ever be treated like that again. Only you can make me feel like I have no rights and you just did by trying to give me my papers."

Standing up quickly, Gregory wrapped a hand around the thin silver band and clenched his fist tight, pulling Davy to him.

"Then you of all people should know that I will only accept the best in my life and that since you are a permanent part of it, that you are priceless," Gregory growled, shoving his face into Davy's, fist still clenched around the silver band. "I fucked up, David. I don't know why I did it, but I did and I'm sorry."

Davy stared into Gregory's wild blue eyes and swallowed hard. He loved his husband, he really did, but Gregory had to understand why he was so upset and that sorry just wasn't going to soothe the ache this time. He had to know, had to be reassured after everything that had happened, that Gregory still wanted him. "If that's so, then does it mean I'm no longer the best? You were asking me if I wanted to walk out of your perfect life, so where does that leave me? You were fighting so hard to get at Grant and then you were so willing to let me go afterwards. If I'm that priceless, then I don't know where I stand anymore."

"I don't know why I wanted Grant, Davy!" Gregory yelled, pulling his hand from the collar and shaking his husband by his shoulders. "I thought you didn't want to be here any more, that's what you said, isn't it?" Gregory stared hard at Davy, wanting to somehow pound it into the man how much he meant to him. "I can't imagine life without you in it, it would destroy me."

Davy shook his head and pulled away. "No! You're too busy wallowing in your own self pity to listen to what I've got to say. Your actions told me you didn't want me here, Gregory. What was I supposed to think while Damon was running me into the ground and you did nothing but fight over his husband with him?" He sighed and hung his head for a moment. "I'll admit I did go against his wishes but only because I was concerned about them." He looked up at Gregory. "You taught me that, otherwise I'd have never even thought twice about it."

Gregory stared at Davy for a moment and shook his head. Reaching out, he grabbed Davy by the arms and pulled him to him and then forced him to his knees.

"David, you are perfect to me. You did the exact right thing, everything you've been trained to do as a doctor's husband. You are a good boy, don't let the fact I was an idiot ruin that," he said levelly, looking down into his submissive's face, the urge to throw him over the sofa and claim him as his own running high in him.

Davy nodded slowly, breathing hard and fast through his nose. "Yes Sir," he said softly, bowing his head and closing his eyes. "I... I just..." He ran a hand over his face and shook his head. "It was so hard to watch you... even though I know... you wouldn't... And after Max..." he shook his head and bit his lip.

"I know David, but never forget that you are mine," Gregory said, bending down to put his face in his husband's, his voice low and soft. "No matter what I may do, you are mine and you are the only one that will sleep beside me. Do you understand that?" He ached to kiss away Davy's tears, but he needed the man to understand that he was safe.

Davy moaned softly and sucked in a breath. "I'm yours, Master. Gregory's boy." He opened his eyes and looked up into Gregory's eyes, almost daring him to do something.

"Where do you belong, Davy?" Gregory growled softly, his hand on the back of Davy's neck, fingers tight along his nape. "Tell me where you belong."

Davy continued to meet Gregory's eyes, licking his lips slowly. "At my Master's feet, Sir." His eyes fluttered shut and he bowed his head, bending down to rest his forehead on Gregory's boot. "At my Master's feet, Sir," he repeated softly as he pressed a soft kiss to the toe of Gregory's boot then wrapped one hand around his ankle, curling his fingers into Gregory's jeans.

"That's right baby, at my feet," Gregory breathed gently as he ran his fingers through Davy's unruly hair. "At my feet, at my side, and in my bed, never forget that. You are a good boy David, a very good boy."

Davy groaned and wrapped his other hand around Gregory's ankle, turning and resting his face on Gregory's boot. He sucked in a breath and swallowed hard as he clung to Gregory, arching up into his fingers. "Thank you, Master."

Gently, Gregory lifted Davy back up to a kneeling position and pressed his mouth to his husband's. Stepping back, he sat down on the sofa and patted his knee. "Come here baby."

Mewling softly, Davy crawled the few feet over to the sofa then pulled himself up into Gregory's lap, for once not complaining about being too large to sit in the man's lap. He sat up straight on Gregory's knee, waiting for the next instruction even though he longed to curl up against Gregory and just cuddle against him.

Pulling Davy to lean against him, Gregory stroked the man's back and pressed a kiss to his temple. "Grant doesn't hold a candle to my boy," he murmured, his lips against Davy's ear before biting on the lobe.

"Thank you Master," Davy hissed as he was bitten and clung to Gregory's shirt. "But I don't want to be compared to anyone. I just need to know I'm Yours and Yours alone."

"Only mine Davy, no one else is ever going to lay a finger on you," Gregory murmured, sucking and licking the side of his husband's neck. "No one will ever touch you but me."

Davy swallowed, leaning his head to the side and moaning, long and low. "Thank you, Master. And I'm not just a piece of ass for You, but Your David, in everything," he murmured quietly, wondering how much he could push Gregory before he was reigned in again.

Gregory nodded as he listened to his husband's words. "Yes, you are my beautiful David," he said gently, reaching up a hand to stroke the other man's face and then to tug at his hair. "My partner in life."

Davy leaned into Gregory's fingers then went limp on his lap as his hair was tugged. He closed his eyes and breathed in Gregory's scent, rubbing his face across his chest as he wrapped his arms around Gregory's throat and pressed a kiss to his Adam's apple. "Thank you, Greg."

Gregory sighed softly as he thought about what almost slipped through his fingers just then, a shiver running along his back as he rocked Davy slowly. "Will you let me show you how loved you are?" he whispered, turning his head to nuzzle at Davy's ear.

Davy mewled against Gregory's throat and licked his skin, sliding his fingers into Gregory's sandy hair. He tightened his hands and held tight to the strands. "I think you'd better. And you'd best cast several Muffling charms this time because I don't want Jason interrupting us." He sank his teeth into Gregory's shoulder.

Gregory chuckled as he got to his feet, hefting Davy up in his arms. "Forget the charms, I'm going to gag you," he teased, nearly purring as he felt his hair being pulled.

Davy grinned as he let go of Gregory's skin, wrapping his legs around Gregory's middle and squeezing him tightly. He looked up at Gregory and grinned. "Oh yes, please Master! Clamps, toys, and You too?"

"You aren't going to walk right for days brat," Gregory promised as he walked them to the bedroom, not bothering to say anything to Jason before kicking the door shut behind them.

Jason rolled his eyes and put down his wand and the small lamp he'd picked up from the bedside table. He didn't know what the two men were going to get up to when they had started shouting but fucking certainly hadn't been high on his list of possibilities.

He rubbed his stomach and grabbed his jacket, not wanting to be in the apartment when the 'festivities' started. It wasn't all that far to Clangman's and he was starting to get hungry. Besides he'd promised Richard he'd get that damned cell phone. Might as well do that now. He only hoped he didn't run into his sister at the hardware store.

@@@@@@

Harry looked up from the display of salad dressings in the number seven aisle of Clangman's, list in one hand as the other rested on the push bar of his buggy. "Severus?" he said aloud, wondering just exactly his husband had got off to. "Husband?"

Severus stood at the front window, staring across the street at the back of the building that housed the practice and his shop. Grant had banished him to check on Harry while Meyer and Montgomery were operating on Damon and commanded him not to return until the surgery was over. It didn't stop him from worrying though. He knew Harry was trying to distract him by having him come and do the marketing with him.

Severus thought he heard his name and hummed. "Over here Harry," not taking his eyes from the tip of the roof sticking up about the rest of the buildings as if he could see through the walls.

Pushing the buggy to where his husband stood, Harry slipped one hand into Severus' and leaned against him. "They are going to be alright. Jason said Richard is very smart and knows what he's about. Grant would call if he needed you there," he said softly. "Do you want to just take me home?"

"I know, I spoke with the man about the procedure at length before he went in to join the other practitioner." Severus squeezed Harry's hand and shook his head. "I apologize. Let's finish your marketing." He bent and pressed a kiss to Harry's forehead.

Harry looked down at his list and then smiled up at Severus. "I can finish on my own Husband, I was only asking to see what sort of salad dressing you would like. Why don't you pick me up in a little while and go see how they are faring?" he offered.

Severus smiled and took Harry's list, scribbling down a few ingredients on it. "Pick up these items and I will show you how to make Mother Wolffe's Green dressing tonight. It's my favourite." He bent and pressed his mouth to Harry's then cupped his face, stroking his thumbs across Harry's cheeks. "Thank you, Harry. Call me as soon as you are finished."

Smiling broadly, Harry nodded. "Yes Husband. I thought I might look through the re-sell shop next door if you didn't mind waiting a bit longer," he said as he took his list back and glanced at the added items. "I've enough, don't I, or is this going on our bill?"

"Place everything on our charge account. I settled up the account recently, so we're all right with Clangman and you may use the cash money in the re-sell shop if you wish, little one."

"Thank you Severus. I'll call shortly. Please be careful driving," Harry said as he once again leaned against his tall husband and sighed at the contentment he recieved from just the man's touch. "Love you."

Severus smiled and nodded. "Love you too, Brat. Be careful outside." He pressed a kiss to Harry's forehead and straightened. "You've your cell phone, correct?" He rubbed Harry's arms gently and looked out the window then back down at Harry.

"Yes Husband," Harry murmured as he fished the small flip phone from his coat pocket and showed it to the other man. "Is there anything in particular you'd like me to get?"

Severus nodded again and shook his head. "No, Harry. Just the items on the list are fine. You can even have it all delivered to the house if you like. I think Robert will take it out there and it's cold enough that nothing will spoil if it's left on the porch."

Harry grinned. "Thank you Severus, I think I will have it delivered and then simply walk over to the shop, alright?"

Severus grinned. "All right, little one. Have fun and I'll see you shortly then." He leaned down and softly kissed Harry once more then ran his hand down to Harry's stomach, caressing his daughter through Harry's stomach. "You too, my little angel."

Biting his lip and smiling, Harry watched as Severus left the store before he turned back to finish up their shopping. Idly rubbing his hand over the robed swell of his belly, he stopped by the display of pears to inspect them while trying to decide if they'd taste good or not.

@@@@@@@@@

Max whistled as he mixed the batter for the waffles and looked down at Sarah, grinning as he flicked a little bit of flour at her. "Ready Sarah bear?"

"Daddy!" Sarah ducked the dust, smiling back at him and nodding as she handed him the the bag of frozen blueberries. "I'm tellin' on you!"

Max arched an eyebrow and dumped some of the berries in the batter. "Oh really? Then no waffles for you little miss." He chuckled and opened the waffle iron, getting ready to pour the batter, frowning as the phone rang shrilly.

Grant held the phone to his ear, waiting for Max to pick up and hoping that he wasn't waking the children. "Hello?"

"Hello? Grant, that you?" Max tucked the phone between his ear and his shuolder and went back to the iron, ladling up the batter and closing the lid.

He shushed Sarah's shouts to talk to Nonnie and sent her into the living room to watch cartoons so he could hear. "Everything all right?"

"Damon and I are up here at the practice. Jacob Meyer is operating on Damon in a few minutes and I'm scared," Grant said, it all coming out in a rush as he sat down in the chair behind the desk in Max's empty office.

Max frowned. "What? Why? Where's Severus?" He reached over and unpluged the waffle iron so it didn't burn and sat down at the table. "Who is Jacob Meyer and what's wrong with Damon?"

"Meyer is a colleague of Montgomery's. Montgomery said that because Damon had his vasectomy that it screwed up my chemistry and Damon was going to kill Greg," Grant said quickly, flustered by all that had been going on around him.

"Do what?! Is everyone all right?" Max nearly shouted, visions of bloody body parts all over his office flashing through his head. "Where's Severus? Do you need me to come down there?" He stood and walked into the living room to wake Ali if Sarah hadn't already done so.

"Sev went to get Harry and he's not back. Yeah, I need you here Max, I'm sorry if it's a problem with the kids," Grant said softly, rubbing at his face and closing his eyes. "I need you to tell me it's going to be okay."

Max took a deep breath as he saw Ali sitting up and watching cartoons with Sarah and little Max. He smiled at Ali as she looked up at him and smiled at him. His kids were fine and he could see to the rest of his family. He held up at hand to her as she opened her mouth. "I'll be there shortly, Grant, everything's going to be all right. Montgomery's a good man and a good doctor, if he says this is necessary then I'm going to back him on it."

"Okay. I tried to tell him to just fix me," Grant said miserably as the thoughts of his husband going under the knife filled his mind.

Max sighed. "Oh, Grant. Just calm down, all right? I'll be there in a few minutes and you can tell me everything he said. Damon's going to be just fine, I promise. People have Vasovasectomy all the time and the procedure is very simple."

"I know people have it done all the time, they aren't Damon," Grant spat almost angrily and then bit his lip. "I'm sorry Max, I shouldn't have lashed out at you, I just worry about him. Be careful driving and I'll see you in a few minutes. Kiss those babies for me."

Max shook his head and arched an eyebrow, knowing how Grant reacted to having Damon out of touch. Grant was going to need a firm hand to keep him grounded. "Don't take that tone with me, Grant. I know you're upset and I appreciate your apology. I want you to go sit in your office until I get there do you understand me?"

"I... I understand," Grant said softly. "You won't be long, will you? I'm in your office now; I wanted to at least stay on the same floor as Damon."

"Does Montgomery know where you are? If he does, then don't move." Max asked not wanting to move Grant in case something did happen. "I shouldn't be more than about fifteen minutes at the most. Ali's already here with the kids."

"I think he does. I'll stay put Max. Allie's not upset about you coming, is she?" Grant asked hesitantly, pushing his hair back from his face.

Max shook his head, "That's good, Grant. I'll explain it to her all right? I need to get dressed then I'll be right there."

"Alright," Grant said and hung up, leaning back in the chair and staring at the wall as he waited for either Montgomery to come in to talk to him or Max to get there.

Max hung up and sighed, looking at Ali and the kids. "I need to go up to the office to see to Damon and Grant for a bit. Can you stay with Sarah and Max for awhile? I know we were supposed to have breakfast and then go over there for dinner tonight but it looks like something has come up with them."

"They're at the practice?" Allie asked as she put little Max over her shoulder and rubbed his back. "I don't mind staying Max, it's alright. Are they alright?" She was curious about what was happening with the older couple, but didn't know what Max was free to tell her.

Max nodded. "Thanks. I'm not all certain what's going on but Damon's having some minor surgery." He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Sarah's head then kissed Ali's cheek from habit. He flushed as he pulled away and swallowed. "Sorry," he murmured softly and bit his lip as he straightened.

"Don't be sorry Max, you don't have to be sorry to me," Allie said softly as she reached out and ran her fingers over his hip. "Call me later and let me know that they are alright. If Grant needs anything, let me know."

Max smiled at her and leaned back down again, softly kissing her cheek again and running a hand over little Max's head. "Thank you," he whispered and cleared his throat. "I'll... uh... let you know whatever I can when I can."

He looked down at Sarah. "Be good for your mama, Sarah bear and I'll be back later."

Allie nodded and watched her husband walk out of the room and smiled as Sarah ran to the picture window to wave at her daddy as he drove away.

"Come on Sarah, let's see what we should make that Daddy for supper tonight," she said as she got to her feet with the baby in her arms.

@@@@@

Grant sat still in the office, staring alternately between the wall and the door, wondering why no one had come to tell him anything yet.

Max exited the elevator and walked down the hall to his office to check on Grant first. While he was worried about Damon, he did trust Montgomery. The man had helped him unknowingly over the years and he knew Damon was in good hands if the man doing the surgery was an associate of Montgomery's. What bothered him the most was why Grant had not called Severus in to sit with him. He waved at his friend and pushed his way into his office, looking at Grant and shaking his head. Grant didn't look any better than he had a few moths ago when he'd had his break down. "Hey Grant," Max said softly and walked toward the other man.

Grant started to stand and then stayed put, swallowing hard as he looked up at Max. "Hey. I don't know how he is, no one has said anything to me."

Max looked up at the clock then back at Grant, opening his arms to the little man. "Come on over here. What time did they take him in and what are they doing to him?"

Grant got to his feet and moved into Max's embrace, hugging him briefly before moving back to his chair. "He's having his vasectomy reversed and they're drawing samples from him for me to take. I don't exactly understand everything Montgomery said, but the gist is that I'm not getting a chemical I'm supposed to be from Damon because of the vasectomy."

Max groaned and closed his eyes. He vaguely remembered reading one of Montgomery's articles about Fleymann's carriers being sterile and then suddenly several things that Montgomery had asked him about Grant's behaviour made sense. It wouldn't be too much of a leap to realize that with Grant's hormones being off, he'd made things worse by putting him on HRT therapy. "Oh Grant, I'm so, so sorry."

Grant reached out and patted Max's arm. "You don't have anything to be sorry for Max, do you hear me?" he sternly. The last thing the older couple wanted, was for their friend and healer to feel as though he'd done them wrong. "No one knows much about people like me so I don't want you blaming yourself."

Max sighed and shook his head, opening his eyes to look at Grant. "He does though, Grant, you know that. I could have called him in for a consult, before I even put you on that medicine." He reached out and touched Grant's face. "You and Damon have gone through so much with this and I made it worse."

Grant pulled back from the man's touch, a look of something odd on his face, not wanting another to touch him. "Max, you know as well as I do that if you had called him, I would have scalped you. Besides, we don't know if the hormones have done anything or not and we don't know if this will help."

Max frowned, eyeing Grant for a moment. "If Montgomery says this'll work then it will. He hasn't been wrong yet, Grant." He rubbed his face then sighed. "You want me to sit here with you or go check on Damon and see if I can't find out anything." He looked back up at the clock. "They should be almost done."

"Check on Damon, please? I don't think they'd let me in there. Montgomery brought in Jacob Meyer from Baltimore to do the surgery," Grant said, raising his hands in a hopeless gesture. "Max... what if this doesn't work?"

Max pulled Grant back into his arms and ran his hands up and down his back. " Shhh, calm down, Grant. One thing at a time, all right? Let's get him through the surgery first." He pressed a gentle kiss to Grant's hair then stepped back. "Let me scrub up and see what I can find out for you."

Grant shuddered as he fought to not push his way out of Max's arms. He couldn't explain it, but he didn't really want another man to touch him right now. "Thanks Max, I'll wait here. Sev went to go check on Harry, I told him I'd call," he said as he sat back down and picked at the small bowl of paper clips on Max's desk. "Ask them how long before I can see him."

Max nodded as he looked at Grant again before turning to the sink. "Sev's outside, Grant. I saw him on my way in if you want to go out and sit with him." He flipped on the water and waited for it to warm as he studied Grant. "Are you all right?"
Grant gave the man an apologetic smile and shrugged. "Damon was going to rip Greg apart for getting close to me and it feels odd when you or anyone but Damon touches me right now," he said, hoping it made sense to Max. "I'll go out and wait in the waiting room with Sev. I'll be fine Max, don't worry."

Max scrubbed his hands, not answering Grant as he thought about what was said. "But Damon didn't actually hurt Gregory or vice versa right? I don't need to go patch Gregory up, do I?" He looked over his shoulder at Grant and smiled. "I can worry if I want to, Grant. You don't corner the market on it."

"No, they never exchanged blows. Sev stunned them both before it got that far," Grant said with a sigh. "I haven't seen Damon act like that in years Max, not in years."

Max froze at the sink as he shook his hands off. "You know, you're right. I think the last time he actually butt heads with someone was with Sev." He looked up at Grant. "When was that?"

Grant ran a hand through his hair and blew his breath out sharply as he tried to recall. "I think it was Sev's second year with us."

Max nodded and dried his hands. "Yeah, I think you're right. It was some weird shit, whatever it was." He tossed the towels into the trash and looked at Grant. "Go sit with Sev, Grant. It'll be all right."

Grant nodded and left the room quietly, going to the waiting room and settling into one of the chairs to wait with Severus.

@@@@@@@@

Harry walked outside the grocery store, making certain that his cloak was fastened tightly as he made his way carefully along the sidewalk past the hardware store. Looking up, he smiled as he spotted Jason standing in its doorway.

"Hey Jason, what are you doing?" he asked as he paused, stepping into the doorway as well to get out of the wind.

Jason looked up from the new cell phone, startled. He tucked it away and slid his hands in his pockets, flushing slightly. "Oh hi, Harry. What are you doing?"

"I was getting some stuff at the market, I was thinking about going over to the resell shop. What have you got?" Harry asked curiously, trying to see what it was the other young man had put away.

Jason nodded and looked down at the ground. "Nothing important." He looked up at Harry again. "Is the Professor with you? Do you know anything about Mister Wolffe?"

Harry shook his head. "No, he went back to be with them. I have no idea what's going on, do you?" he asked curiously. "How did you know something was going on?"

Jason nodded. "I was there this morning when Rich finally figured out what all was going on." He eyed Harry. "Didn't the Professor tell you Mister Wolffe was having surgery?"

Frowning, Harry looked out onto the quiet street for a moment, a little perturbed that Severus hadn't told him what was going on. "He said he was seeing a doctor but not what was going on. I thought it was Grant that was having a problem."

Jason bit his lip, wondering whether or not to tell Harry everything that went on. Harry was the Wolffes' family and deserved to know. "Um, no. Doctor Wolffe is actually fine or is going to be once Richard is finished with Mister Wolffe." he looked around then back at Harry. "Look, I don't want to talk about this in the open where anyone could hear us. You want to walk with me over to the store. I want to meet up with Richard."

"Alright, I'll walk with you then call Sev to pick us up so we don't have to walk," Harry said as he stuffed his hands down in his pockets and prepared to go back into the biting wind.

Jason frowned. "Harry... I was planning on walking to the building where the apothecary is. You don't have to bother the Professor."

"Oh, well, I'll walk with you then," Harry said with a shrug. It wasn't all that far after all, only a few blocks. "Ready?"

Jason shrugged and nodded. "If you want to, Harry. I'm used to this. You don't have to walk with me if you don't want and I know you wanted to go shopping." He ran a hand over his stomach, groaning softly as a loud grumble was issued from its general direction.

"Jason, I was only killing time to give Severus time with his parents. Besides, I'm hungry too, want to have a sandwich?" Harry asked as he looked over to his co-worker.

Jason sighed and pulled out his phone to check the time. He had no idea when Richard had gotten started but he still had a bit of a wait until his phone was active. He tucked it away and shook his head. "I guess. Richard didn't eat much for breakfast this morning and I can take him something too."

Harry nodded, he knew Severus would most likely be hungry as well. "Let's go get some food for everyone then," he said as he hurried on to the small cafe whose open sign beckoned them in from the cold. "I want something with hot peppers in it."

Jason followed Harry into the shop and shivered. "Hot peppers? Man, no thanks. I want to have a stomach left after this." he rubbed his stomach. "Seems like the twins get more active if I eat something spicy."

"Really? It seems like it calms Reganne down, but if I have a soda all bets are off and she's bouncing around like a Bludger," Harry said with a laugh as he walked up to the counter and looked up at the menu board. "Do you think we should get for everyone?"

Jason thought about the money he had in his pocket and hoped Richard wouldn't mind if he spent it. "I think so. I don't think Mister and Doctor Wolffe ate this morning. We were there pretty early. So, at least six meals?" He looked up at the menu. "As cold out as it is, I think I want some chili or some soup."

"Oh, that does sound good," Harry said as he turned to the woman behind the counter. "Our order will be going on the tab for The Mortar and Pestle, alright?"

Looking back up at the menu board, he began to order. "Two ham and cheese on rye, one roast beef with cheese and peppers on wheat, a house salad, six orders of chili. Umm... a dozen cookies and a hoagie," he said as he turned to Jason. "I have no idea what you and Doctor Montgomery want, but I ordered the chili."

Jason blinked and stared at Harry. "Was all that for just you and the Professor?" He looked up at the menu, trying to decide what to order, and then looked back at Harry again.

"No, I ordered for Damon and Grant too," Harry said with a laugh.

Jason nodded and took a deep breath, turning to look back at the menu. "I'll have a grilled cheese with tomato soup, and a turkey and cheese on white with an order of chili. Two walnut brownies for dessert too." He grinned and looked at Harry. "Shall we get drinks too? How are we going to carry all this stuff?"

"Are you eating the cheese sandwich and soup? I thought you said you were hungry," Harry said as he looked at his friend.

Jason nodded, not looking at Harry. "I am but I can't eat too much at one time. I'll eat more after a while."

Harry narrowed his eyes for a moment, knowing he'd seen Jason eat three times that much since he'd been home from England. "Bollocks Jason," he snorted and looked to the woman behind the counter. "Would you mind adding two more turkey and cheese sandwiches?"

Jason glared at Harry. "What are you doing?" he hissed and shook his head at the woman behind the counter. "I don't want those sandwiches."

"Someone will eat them," Harry said and then ordered bottles of soda and water for everyone before taking the ticket and signing for the order.

"Let's sit down and I'll call Severus to come get us, because we're not carrying all that."

Jason followed Harry to a table and jerked on a chair, still glaring at Harry. He pulled out his phone and scowled at it. "Why is it no one in this town listens to what I have to say?"

"What's with the mobile?" Harry asked as he took a seat as well and ignored Jason's comment. "When did you get one?"

Jason sighed, he was getting used to this. "Richard asked me to get one and Doc Wolffe told me to get it or he was going to do it, so I got it."

Harry nodded. "It's a good idea Jason. Is it working yet? Would you like to use mine to call Doctor Montgomery?" he offered as he pulled his mobile from his pocket and handed it over to the other man. "Look, don't be angry about the food. Someone else will eat it if you don't. I don't want you to think you can't eat."

Jason sighed. "I'm not angry, Harry. It's just that I've found out that if I eat smaller meals several times a day I don't get indigestion as much than if I eat a lot at one time. No one listens to me when I try to say anything about my decisions though." He pushed Harry's phone back at him. Rich told me to call him with the new phone when it was ready so he'd have the number and I still have a few minutes left to wait but thanks anyway."

Harry looked down for a moment, chastened by his friend. "I'm sorry Jason. I know what it is to do without and I don't like to see anyone I care about go through it," he said softly as he pushed the button to call his husband and waited for the man to answer.

Jason eyed his friend for a moment thinking about what Harry said then looked away, not wanting to listen to Harry's conversation.

Severus jumped as his phone rang and pulled it from his pocket. "Snape."

"Hello Husband," Harry said softly, turning away slightly from Jason. "Is Damon alright?"

"Hello Harry," Severus breathed softly and looked toward the room where the others were operating on Damon. "I'm hoping he is well, little one. They should be finishing up with him soon."

"Oh. I ran into Jason and we decided to get lunch for everyone," Harry said, scrunching up his face as hearing Severus' voice made him want to be close to the man. "We're at the sandwich shop."

"That was very thoughtful of you, Harry, thank you." Even as he said the words his stomach rumbled and Severus smiled, missing his small husband something fierce. "Is that a hint that I need to retrieve you and Jason?" he chuckled and looked up at the clock.

"Please if it wouldn't be a bother," Harry said softly, playing with the edge of the sleeve of his robe.

Severus stood and looked around for Grant to let him know he would be back shortly. Not seeing the other man he made his way downstairs. "Stay indoors with Jason until I arrive, Harry, and I'll be there shortly. I want you both to be warm."

"Yes Sir," Harry said and ended the call before turning back to Jason. "He's on his way to pick us up. Have they called our order yet?"

Jason turned and looked at Harry. "Not yet and thanks for calling him, Harry. I think it's getting colder."

"He said to stay indoors and he'd best find us warm."

Jason arched an eyebrow and snorted. "Like we want to stand outside and become meat popsicles. I know that's high on my list of things to do one day." He looked up as the number of their order was called. "Besides the food would get cold then what good would the soup and chili do for anyone?" He scooted the chair out and began the process of trying to lever himself out and up.

Harry bit his lip and thought of another man that had had no issue with putting him in the cold for hours on end. "I'll get it Jason," he murmured as he pushed himself to his feet.

Jason finally made it to his feet and waddled along to the counter beside Harry. "You can't carry all this by yourself, Harry." He eyed the other man as the woman began to set bag after bag on the counter.

"Thank you Jason," Harry said softly as he began to take the bags and boxes of soup to the table closest to the door, leaving only a couple for the other man.

Jason blew out a breath and picked up the remaining bags, following Harry to the table and pulling out a chair for him. "Sit down and it's not a problem." He looked out the window for the Professor's big truck then sat down.

Sitting down in the chair closest the door, Harry began to organize the bags on the table. "He should be here soon," he said as he chewed his lip, remembering things that had happened in the past.

Jason watched Harry, eyeing him for a moment then looking back out the window. "Yeah. You okay, Harry?"

Harry looked towards Jason, his brilliant green eyes going distant. "Yes, thank you for asking," he breathed as he clutched his hands together in his lap.

Jason waved his hand in front of Harry's face, "Harry. Harry?" He looked up as he heard the deep rumbling of the Professor's big truck. He heaved himself out of the chair and turned to look out the window, motioning frantically at the Professor.
Severus pulled the big truck into a parking space in front of the sandwich shop, smiling to himself as he saw both young men sitting up front. Good, Harry had listened and stayed indoors.

Jason looked back at Harry then to the Professor, a frown pulling his mouth down. He pushed open the door, waddled as fast as he could up to the truck and knocked on the window. "There's something wrong with Harry."

Getting out of the truck quickly, Severus took Jason by the elbow and steered him back to the cafe. "What do you mean?"

Jason tugged at his arm but tried to hurry along at the Professor's pace. "I don't know he just got real quiet all of the sudden. Professor please... let me go," he panted.

"My apologies Jason," Severus murmured as he slowed just a bit to allow the other man to catch up. "Can't have you falling. What occurred before he began to act odd?"

Jason took a deep breath and opened the door. "We were just talking about nothing in particular, just eating and the weather." He shook his head and looked up at the Professor as they stopped at the table. "Is he going to be all right?"

Severus looked down into his husband's blank face and sighed. "He'll be fine Jason."

Harry looked up at the sound of his husband's voice and immediately got to his feet, grabbing at bags to carry to the truck. "It will only be a moment Sir and this will be done," he mumbled, clutching several bags to his chest.

Jason stared at them confused. "What?"

Severus looked back to Jason, not wanting to tell him about Harry's episodes, but not knowing what to say. "He's remembering bad periods of his life Jason."

Jason looked at Harry then back at the Professor and nodded. "From the Wizarding war like a vet? My granddad had that sometimes. You can help him out of it, right? All we got to do is make certain he don't hurt himself." He reached out to take the rest of the food. "If you'll get those bags from him, I can take the food and you can help him."

"Something like that Jason and thank you. The truck is running if you'd like to go on out and get in. Do you need help?" Severus asked, reluctant to leave Harry who had begun to sway back and forth on his feet.

Jason shook his head then eyed Harry. "I'll be right back for the rest. Do you need me to call someone else?"

"Nevermind the bags Jason," Severus said, pulling his wand and quickly sending the bags and boxes to be nestled on the floorboards of the truck. "I think I have him, thank you for offering."

Harry looked at his now empty hands and whimpered softly. "It was bad," he whispered, holding his hands out for punishment.

Jason nodded and looked at Harry. "Is... is he going to be all right Professor?"

Severus gave the man a nod and then reached out for Harry. "Yes Jason, I just need to get him out of here," he said softly, not wanting to frighten or startle Harry.

Jason looked up at the Professor then at Harry. "All right, I'll hold the door for you." He waddled over to the door and pushed it open, looking back at his friend and the Professor.

Harry whimpered again as Severus wrapped one arm around his slender shoulders and began to lead him from the shop.

Severus gave Jason a tight smile as he tried to figure out how he was going to handle Harry along with everything else that was going on and wondered what had set him off.

"Did the two of you have words?" he asked Jason as he got Harry out onto the sidewalk and moving to the truck.

Jason shook his head, opening the door to the truck for the Professor. He looked up at him then at Harry. "I don't think so. We ordered the food, talked about pregnancy woes, and then he called you." He thought for a moment. "We talked some more, got up to get the food, sat back down again and that's when I noticed him acting funny." He opened the other set of doors. "Weren't long after you drove up," he grunted as he tried to climb up into the back seat.

"Here, allow me," Severus said as he turned Harry loose long enough to offer a hand to Jason. Inwardly he sighed; there was no telling what had triggered the episode.

As soon as he had Jason safely in the back seat, Severus turned to Harry and carefully picked him up, placing him in the front seat before belting him in.

In response, Harry rocked silently, his hands clutched in his lap as he stared straight ahead. Severus slid behind the wheel, thankful at least that this wasn't one of the fits that would have had Harry pulling his clothing off or injuring himself.

As they pulled into the parking lot of the practice, Harry shuddered and looked around, blinking widely. "Severus... what happened?" he asked, licking his lips and looking back to where Jason was sitting.

Severus parked the truck and turned in the seat to look at Harry, debating on how to phrase his answer in front of Jason. He picked up one of Harry's hands, rubbing his palm trying to chase away the clammy feeling of his skin. "I came to pick you and Jason up, Harry. Can you tell me what the last thing you remember is?

Harry blinked, trying to remember. "You said to stay warm," he said and cocked his head wanting to remember more.

Severus nodded and pulled Harry closer to him, rubbing his back gently. "Yes, I did, and you and Jason were warm inside the shop when I got there. Thank you for staying inside and being safe, Harry," he murmured softly and pressed a kiss to Harry's hair.

Jason flushed as he watched the two men and looked away, wanting to get out of the truck but he couldn't until Harry's door was opened first.

"Okay," Harry murmured, still uncertain of what had happened, but ready to get on with things. Turning around in his seat, he grinned at Jason.

"I don't know about you, but I'm starved. Let's get this food upstairs so we can eat," Harry said as he opened his door and undid his seat belt.

Jason opened then closed his mouth and shook his head as he looked at Harry. He unbuckled his seat belt and opened his door, sliding from his seat and deciding he didn't want to know.

Severus closed his eyes for a moment, regretting the fact Jason had witnessed what he did, knowing that he would have to take the young man to the side and speak to him.

Harry's face fell as he watched his friend, embarrassment running through him since he couldn't remember what he'd done and hoped it hadn't been too terrible.

Climbing down, Harry moved to the back and began to take the bags from the floorboard, not looking at either man.

Severus watched Harry for a moment and then looked to where Jason was standing. "Mister Summers, I'd like a word with you," he murmured as he walked over to stand next to him.

"Harry, leave it, I'll send it upstairs. Why don't you go on up," he suggested to his husband as he waved his wand and the food disappeared to reappear on Max's desk.

"Yes Sir," Harry murmured as he shut the truck door and made his way carefully past the two men, his head down as he walked into the building.

Jason bit his lip and nodded, watching Harry go inside and wondering if his job was on the line now. He looked up at the Professor and took a deep breath, "Yeah, Professor?"

"I regret that you had to see Harry like that as I am certain he regrets it as well. I would like to assure you that he is well," Severus said and then shook his head. "He's had a rough go Jason."

Jason arched an eyebrow and looked up at the Professor. "Sir, no disrespect intended, but we studied him in school too. I know about the war over there and would be surprised if he walked away from it without some kind of after effects." He looked down at his feet then back up at the Professor. "We just don't talk about things like that where I'm from, so I didn't know what to say to him."

Severus nodded. "I understand, perhaps it would be for the best if you didn't treat him any differently than you've been. Don't handle him with kid gloves if possible," he said as he smiled at his employee. "Thank you for looking out for him when it happened. If it happens again and I am not present, if you can please get him out of the public eye. He's generally quite docile."

Jason eyed the Professor for a moment then nodded and took a chance. "Perhaps you might take your own advice as well, Professor. Harry may surprise you. He has me," he finished softly.

"Thank you for your opinion Jason," Severus said, a tight smile on his lips, not liking to be told how to handle his husband. "Shall we join the others?"

Jason grinned at the thought of seeing Richard and nodded. "Yes. After all that, I ready to get out of the cold and eat something."

"The operation should be over by now, one would think," Severus said as he held the door for Jason and followed him in. "We'll take the elevator Jason, you don't need to be on the stairs."

Walking down the short hallway brought them to the small elevator that had been built into an unused closet space to transport patients to the various floors of the building. "After you," Severus said as he held the metal gate of the lift open.

@@@@@@@@

Damon groaned and ran one hand over his face, licking his lips and swallowing hard. His entire body felt numb and throbbed at the same time. He blinked and looked up at the man standing over him. "Is tha it? 'S'over now and I's can sees Gr'nt?"
Jacob Meyer smiled down at the groggy man. "Yes Mister Wolffe, the reversal went well and the first two samples were drawn. Would you like us to bring your husband in now?" he asked as he left Richard to clean the man's genitals up from the surgery.

Damon blinked and nodded slowly. "Yesh, prease. Can I's has water?" He licked his lips again. "Want my Gr'nt."

Richard paused in what he was doing to look up. Max raised a hand. "I got it." He brought Damon a cup of water with a flexible straw.

"Just sip at it Mister Wolffe and I'll bring your husband right in," Richard said as he went to the door, opening it and motioning to the small man who had been pacing restlessly in the hallway since Max had gone in to check on Damon.

"Doctor Wolffe, your husband is awake and asking for you," Richard said, holding the door open for the small man and ushering him in. "I'm still cleaning him up and he's a bit groggy."

Grant paid little attention to the man as he hurried to Damon's side, brushing man's hair from his forehead with his fingers. "Damon, I'm right here," he murmured softly, biting his lip worriedly. "How are you feeling?"

Damon hummed around the straw and let it fall from his mouth. "My Gr'nt." He reached up to pat at Grant's stomach and missed. "Mey'r says fixed."

Grasping Damon's hand, Grant looked to Meyer, Max and then Montgomery, a question in his eyes.

"He's fine, Doctor Wolffe. Surprisingly, there was very little scar tissue considering the procedure had been performed by the Muggle military," Meyer said, finishing drying his hands. "He'll need to recuperate for five to seven days before he should attempt relations, but the sperm sampling won't have any affect on his healing time. Rich or Doctor Sorens can take care of that for you, it'll be easier than coming to my office several times a day."

"Gonna fix my Gr'nt now?" Damon slurred and reached out to pet Grant's side. "Give 'im the spunk."

"Shhhh Damon, we'll do that in a moment. I want to be certain you're alright, that's all that matters to me," Grant murmured, leaning into the man's touch as he watched Richard finish cleaning him up.

Biting his lip, Grant eyed the small plastic phial that was setting on the instrument tray next to the exam table. "Um..." he began, his face colouring as he fought to find the words. "Where do I need to go do this at?"

Richard moved away from the gurney and washed his hands at the sink. "Here, or if there is another room where you and Mister Wolffe might be more comfortable then I can wheel him in there." He dried his hands then moved back over to the gurney and checked Mister Wolffe's bandages. Retrieving an ice pack from the stores and wrapping it in a towel, he covered Damon's groin then laid the ice pack on him.

Damon groaned softly. "Tha's cold."

Disturbed by seeing Damon out of sorts, Grant licked his lips and thought for a moment. "My office, we can use my office. There are two comfortable sofas," he said as he patted Damon's shoulder.

Taking a deep breath and shaking his head as he stared at the sample that had been drawn not long ago from Damon, Grant mumbled. "Follow me, we can use the elevator since I don't think he's going to be able to do the stairs." Walking out of the exam room, Grant waited for a moment in the hallway, carefully not looking at Severus, Harry or Meyer.

Severus stepped up to Grant and laid a hand on his shoulder. "How is he?"

Richard wheeled Damon out behind Grant stopping up short and waiting for the next direction as he looked around at the others waiting. He waved at Jason then looked back at Doctor Wolffe.

"He's alright, just a little groggy," Grant replied, reaching up to pat his hand over Severus'. "I need to go with him now."

Grant looked over to the waiting men and gave them a small smile as he turned his attention back to Damon and Richard. "I don't know how long this is going to take, is it alright if we just rest a little too?"

Richard nodded. "Take as long as you need but get one sample in you. The other needs to be refrigerated as soon as possible."

Damon grunted and reached a hand out. "Where's my Gr'nt?"

Grant nodded, taking the specimen from Richard and then bending down to brush a kiss over Damon's cheek. "I'm right here. We're going to go rest in my office for awhile, okay?" he said as he gestured the way to Richard, not taking his eyes from Damon. "I thought maybe we could transfigure one of the sofas and rest. How does that sound?"

Hearing Grant's words, Severus pushed himself from the wall he'd been leaning against and walked ahead to the small man's office to get everything ready for them. Taking out his wand, he quickly had a cheery fire blazing in the grate and one of the soft leather sofas transfigured into a bed complete with thick comforters and mounds of pillows.

Damon hummed and nodded, reaching out for Grant again. "Mmm 'k, my Gr'nt. Fix y'u now?"

Richard pushed the gurney forward, easing him into the office, nodding at Severus as he passed. "You can fix him now, Mister Wolffe. Just take it easy and listen to your husband." He rested a hand on Damon's shoulder and looked at Grant. "No intercourse yet though."

Max followed them out, stopping to speak with Meyer for just a moment before following the others to Grant's office.

"I understand. Is he in much pain?" Grant asked softly as he noted the bed with approval.

Severus raised an eyebrow at Grant. "You should know better than that. I made those potions he's imbibed but just in case." He reached into his jacket and pulled out another phial holding it out to Grant.

Richard nodded at Grant. "He shouldn't be right now, but that will work for any discomfort he might have. Keep the ice on him for the next forty eight hours, the scrotal supporter and bed rest for at least a week. No strenuous activity, such as lifting of any kind for several weeks but he can sit up and shower in forty-eight hours. Any sign of fever or swelling and call me or Doctor Sorens immediately."

Grant took the offered potion and slipped it into his pocket. "Thank you Doctor, I don't know what else to say, but as I offered before, you may study me all you like," he said softly before turning to Severus.

"Severus... thank you. If you don't mind, I think we'll lie down for awhile. If you want to go home, go on, I'll call you in a few hours. I don't want you to sit here and wait for us to wake up."

Severus nodded and leaned down to press a kiss to Grant's cheek. "Anytime, Mum. I've put the food for you and Damon in the staff fried in the lounge, if you become hungry." He chuckled softly and ran his hand over Grant's back then moved to Damon and pressed a kiss to his forehead as well. "Rest easy, Da."

Damon grunted and waved a hand in the air at Severus. "Tanks, Sev'rus."

Severus squeezed Damon's hand and left the room, waving at Montgomery on his way out. Max slipped in and stood to the side, waiting until Montgomery was finished to add in the things he and Montgomery had discussed while Meyer was operating on Damon.

Richard watched Snape leave then looked at Grant and sighed. "Doctor Wolffe, I'll accept your thanks after we are certain this works. Studying you was never my intention; it's been a pleasure to help you though."

Grant nodded, unsure of what to say to the man. "Would you mind helping me get him to the bed? It's alright if he lies there, isn't it? I'm not sure, surgery of any sort isn't my area and I just want him to be alright," he babbled and then shut up quickly. He didn't have to voice the fact he was worried about his husband and nervous that the man may have just gone through all of this for nothing. "How soon will I feel something?"

Richard nodded and drew his wand, carefully levitating Damon over to the bed. He pulled back the comforters and settled him down, then checked to make certain he'd not disturbed the supporter or the ice. Nodding to himself that everything on Mister Wolffe still looked well, he pulled the blankets over him.

Turning to Grant, he smiled at him and reached out to gently squeeze his shoulder. "Mister Wolffe is going to be just fine. Lying down is the best thing for him actually and you being next to him will help him heal as well. You remember that I told you the Fleymann's carrier and their partner bond to help one another? Well, the tests were positive that his semen is viable and once it is applied you should feel the results immediately, if my suppositions are correct."

Max pushed off the wall and stood next to Montgomery. "Grant, Montgomery and I feel it's best if you stop using the sedatives. We think that if this is the solution, that they will be unnecessary from here on out."

Grant nodded and bit his lip. "What about the hormones? Do I stop them as well?"

Richard nodded. "The hormones are not needed either. That's why we did the surgery and the draw. You've got two samples there for immediate use and Doctor Sorens has been shown how to draw the next. You'll need to make an appointment for that but we can do that once Mister Wolffe is a little more coherent. For now just relax and let's see how this goes."

"Okay," Grant whispered, looking down at the phial in his hand and then to the door. "I'd like to spend some time with him now, if that's alright."

@@@@@@@

In the staff break room, Harry was setting out the food while Severus was helping Grant with Damon. He'd not had a chance to really speak to either Severus or Jason about what had happened and was trying not to feel self-conscious.

Harry looked up as Jason came through the doorway. "Hey, is Doctor Montgomery ready to eat?" he asked as he set the bowls of chili onto the table.

Jason shrugged as he pulled out a chair and settled himself down, propping his feet up and sighing. "He's still in with Mister Wolffe." He eyed Harry for a moment. "You eat yet?"

Harry nodded. "I had some chili," he replied and looked at Jason. "I apologize for what happened earlier." He sat down in one of the other chairs and closed his eyes tiredly.

Jason pulled one of the bags toward him looking for his soup and sandwich. "What you apologizing for? You can't help it." He opened the container of soup and inhaled the scent then drank right from the bowl, licking the orange soup ring from his lips. "It's just something that happens."

Harry opened his eyes and stared in disbelief at Jason. Finally, someone that didn't act as though the end of the world was happening when he blanked out. "You're right, I can't," he said softly. "Thanks for understanding. I didn't do anything stupid, did I?"

Jason shook his head and slurped his soup again. "No. Scared me for a minute but then the Professor showed up and we got you in the truck." He reached for his sandwich and wrapped it, dipping one corner of it into the soup and munching on it. He waved the sandwich as he chewed. "My granddaddy is scary when he has flashbacks from the war. Screaming and hollering, pretending like he's shooting a gun." he shook his head and took another bit of his sandwich.

"Oh, yeah, the war," Harry said, his voice distant as he realized that Jason thought he was having flashbacks of fighting Voldemort. Snorting softly to himself, he wondered what Jason would think if he told him the truth; that he never thought of Voldemort or the war. He was over it for now, like a page in a book that had been turned.

"Your grandfather fought Grindelwald?"

Jason eyed Harry for a moment as he finished off his sandwich and reached for the other half, looking down at his soup. "Un huh, World War Two. He fought with the Muggles at Normandy." He bit his lip and looked at Harry. "We don't have to talk about this if you think it'll upset you again."

Harry nodded and shrugged. "That won't bother me Jason, but thank you. I don't know if any of my family fought with the Muggles or not, but I'd think they have. I think some of Severus' family did."

Jason nodded and slurped his soup. "My dad served too for a while but neither me nor my brother did. My sister wanted to go into the Navy but my dad put a stop to it." He stopped as if realizing that he was talking too much and shoved the sandwich in his mouth. He looked up at the clock, wishing Richard would hurry.

Harry looked away and took a risk. "Do your parents know where you are?" he asked softly.

"I don't want to talk about that, Harry. Please," Jason said quietly, not looking at Harry.

"Alright Jason, my family sucks too," Harry said as he leaned forward and picked up a sandwich, unwrapping it and starting to pick at it.

"Thanks." Jason shuddered out a breath and swallowed, looking up at Harry for a long moment. "The Wolffes and the Professor are cool, so I guess we don't need our other family."

Harry grinned. "Yeah, Grant is mum enough for everyone, isn't he?" he asked with a laugh as he pulled the peppers from his sandwich and ate them with relish. "I hope everything turns out well for them."

Jason snorted and shook his head as he watched Harry eat. "Yeah, he is pretty fussy and prissy sometimes, isn't he? But they are good people. I'm glad Rich was able to help them."

"I am too," Harry said and sighed. "Honestly, I was afraid that this was something that I was going to have to go through, you know?"

Jason looked up at Harry, shrugging. "I guess, I didn't know what all was going on with him, but I knew something was wrong with Doc Wolffe when he tried to attack Rich. He's usually so nice to everybody." He chuckled slightly. "Well, everyone except Missus Farnsworth."

"I don't think I ever knew anyone with this, but it's in your family, yeah?" Harry asked as he broke bread off of his sandwich and stuffed it in his mouth. "Grant was the first other person I knew with it, so I didn't know if this is normal."

Jason nodded. "Yeah, it's in my family but there's not much else I can tell you about it. I never saw my granddaddy act like Doc Wolffe did either." He drank down the last of his soup and licked his lips. "Rich might talk to us though if we ask him when he comes out if he's not too tired."

@@@@@@@@

Severus wiped a hand over his face and blew his breath out slowly as the door shut behind Grant and Damon. "Thank you Doctor Montgomery for everything you've done."

Richard looked up at the man and smiled gently. "Not a problem, Mister Snape. It's my job and I was glad to help out anyway I could." He frowned slightly. "It's terrible how men with Fleymann's are mistreated..." He looked up at Snape, blinking rapidly. "Not that Sorens was doing anything wrong, don't misunderstand that. Doctor Wolffe strikes me as a ... special case."

"He's a pain in the arse," Severus said with a rueful chuckle. "I've been making his potions for ten years now, and he still complains about something. Getting information from him is a trial."

Richard sighed and smiled tiredly. "It sounds as if you truly care for them and I'm glad to see that. He and Mister Wolffe will need the support as they both adjust to the coming changes. I hope everything works as I predicted."

"They are my parents, Doctor Montgomery, perhaps not by birth, but by choice," Severus said with a smile as he turned to go back to where Jason and Harry were waiting. "They've been through hell, there is really only one way to go, isn't there?"

Richard nodded as he followed Snape through the hallways. "I suppose you're right. I am glad it was caught early and resolved with a fairly simple set of procedures."

Severus looked askance at Richard. "Early? Excuse me, but hasn't this been going on since the 1960's?" he asked curiously. "You mean to say it could have been worse?"

Richard looked at Severus, choosing his words carefully. "Mister Snape, the Wolffes could have easily loved one another to death if this had gone on many more years."