Chapter Text
Mike had said nothing was going to change between them. In fact, he tried to act the same, if a little dialed down. He went to Parker a few more times for information or questions than Ryan. He wasn't going to cling to the man; he was trying hard not to change anything.
Everyone and everything else changed around him.
Parker didn't, but she was one of the only ones. Two of the alphas that constantly bugged and bullied him toned down their jests. He didn't know why, but he was grateful. Several of the omegas he knew looked at him slightly different. Ryan tried not changing, but his actions still bled through. He was backing him up more than normal, hang over his shoulder or stand by him whenever there was another alpha that would crowd him.
He wasn't sure whether or not it was good. He did admire the guy from the confines of the book he published, and having the backing of the man that caught Joe Carroll the first time bolstered his worth with the people around him. But having an alpha basically lay his claim over him....
This is stupid. He's still in love with Claire; there's nothing more than probably the remaining primal feelings from the alpha part of him that wants to protect the prospective mate. There's nothing there and it'll probably fade over a few weeks.
Then he was kidnapped for Claire's location.
-
Ryan didn't know why he was staying near Mike's bed. He knew he was fine. Bruised and battered, the knife wound wasn't as serious as they thought. Instead, he barely forced himself in going to the detention center to find Joe. When he came back after the murdered women, he found out he had been waking up for short amounts of time. The sketch artist had already been in, so he didn't have to worry about being disturbed.
Mike woke up and was surprised to see Ryan near his bed. If he's truly just acting on remaining primal instincts to protect the mate, then this isn't much of a surprise. Still nice to think about that the man might actually care enough to stay around. He checked around for a glass of water and a pitcher that most people seemed to think was by a patient's bedside. His movements caught the man's attention, who instinctively found what he needed and placed the end of a straw near his mouth. He took a couple of drinks out before waving him off. “What's been happening?” he asked, voice cracking.
“Joe sent out a woman that went around killing those with the name Claire Matthews,” he reported.
“To try and drive her out,” he concluded.
“And to punish me. For loving her.”
Mike got it, and didn't say anything, not knowing what to follow with. At that moment, a nurse had alerted the main doctor watching over Mike's vitals to his waken state. “Hello,” she introduced, walking in. “I'm Doctor Kinning. Just here to check up quickly. Any abnormal pain?”
“No,” he said.
“Problems with vision or hearing? Any headaches?”
“No,” he repeated.
“That's good,” she claimed,“We were worried. There was no damage to the womb....”
He did not hear that. “W-womb?” he asked.
“Yes,” she affirmed. She was being stared at between the two of them. “Oh, you didn't.... Wow, that's embarrassing. You're about two to three weeks pregnant.”
“How? It was my suppressants that failed, not my birth control,” he argued.
“Your suppressants....” she muttered. “Were you on Cyclosup?”
“Yes,” he answered.
“Oh, ummm....” She walked over and told the guards at the door that she was about to go into more confidential items. They probably thought she was crazy. “The company doesn't want this out; they've barely informed us. The batch wasn't faulty; it was sabotaged. The chemical that was supposed to suppress heats was replaced with a similar chemical that neutralized birth control within the patient. They linked it to a couple of alphas that broke into the manufacturing laboratory of the batch.”
No, no, no. “What about Plan B or abortion?” he asked.
“Those that went for Plan B after their unexpected heats have severe reactions. A few are still in the hospital. We're not sure on abortion. There are a lot of alphas that aren't willing to let the omegas try,” she explained.
“Shit,” he whispered. Ryan looked up at the woman, and she left before he could even ask. “I cannot be pregnant.”
“Calm down,” he tried,
“I cannot be pregnant. I already get shit thrown at me for being young and an omega. This is going to get me thrown off the case, if not the FBI,” he worried. “Guess those alphas got what they want. Omegas out of work and back at home.”
“Hey, there is no way you're getting off that easy,” Ryan commented, “Parker would drag your ass back and place you next to Mitchell if you even got a foot out.” Mike laughed, something that Ryan thought helped. “You really think any of those other omegas are giving up their jobs so easily? They're going to fight.” He tried to smile. It fell off within a second. His attempts to console weren't working. Distraction was his next topic. “A few things now make sense.”
Mike puzzled over it for a minute. “The alphas haven't been complete jerks,” he mentioned, “And the omegas knew something.”
“I was thinking more of the fact I've become more protective around you,” he stated, “I think I knew you smelled different. The hormone at the start of pregnancy changes your base scent.”
Great, now I'm a walking beacon to anybody that can smell. Oh God.... Getting off that thought, he said, “I think Parker's going to freak once she finds out about this.”
“Can't wait to see that.”
-
Parker hadn't been able to visit him in the hospital, paperwork and Donovan breathing down their necks. So, the first time he saw her was getting himself released AMA and meeting her at the newly discovered armory. “What are you doing here? You should still be in the hospital,” she fumed, seeing him walk in.
“I'm fine,” he insisted, “I can't stay in the hospital while you guys are out here. I've actually got something to say in private, if there is any place that counts.” She nodded and pulled him down to a small area that had already been processed. “My suppressants didn't just fail. They were sabotaged; a chemical was switched with a birth control neutralizing agent. I'm pregnant,” he announced.
She stood for a few seconds trying to find the words she tried picking out. Then, she realized who the father must have been. “I'm sorry,” she professed.
He nodded, “Thanks. Plan B's out, and I'm not sure about aborting. I don't know what I want to do.” She sat him down on a crate when he started breathing heavy. Her thoughts of pain and anything related to the beating changed when he wiped his eyes. “Damn it, the hormones shouldn't be kicking in already.”
“It's probably not hormones,” she pointed out. “Stress has got to go somewhere.”
“Great,” he complained.
“What are you thinking?”
“That if I go through with the pregnancy, people are going to push me out until I'm basically at home, or somewhere more 'omega' appropriate,” he postulated, “But, this could be the only time I have the chance for a child. At least, one without a jackass of a father.”
She understood where he was coming from. She knew more than a few women that faced the same dilemma when they became unexpectedly pregnant. “When's the cutoff for abortion?” she asked.
“Not for a few more weeks.”
“So talk with someone you trust. Figure out what you want. Don't let anyone pressure you into making a decision you don't want,” she finished, not sure what else she could actually tell him. “We should actually get to work before someone finds out and this spreads.”
He nodded. “Thank you.”
Ryan's primal instincts were telling him to pull Mike out of there and take him someplace safe when he saw him in the armory. He forced them down, fast. There was no way he was going to be allowed to do that. Instead, he tried passing off as before. Mike seemed agitated over something, and both him and Parker were worrying. Catching up, he asked, “He told you?”
“Yep. And don't you dare force him into anything.”
“I wouldn't.”
“That's what they all say.”
He had no more comments on the way to the house. The agitation may have switched to anger as Mike went after Fowler. Ryan kept himself in between the two, then pushed him along when he had to go into the basement. Daniel Monroe seemed cocky at first, but when they mentioned the armory, he realized he was screwed.
Lured out by a sound, Ryan felt a small nagging to get back to Mike. After killing the follower and tripping over Monroe's body, he saw the 'office' was completely dark. Unable to see inside, he flipped the lights back on. He was fearful when he saw Mike tied to the chair Monroe was once in. Then it spiked with anger when he saw Joe come up behind him. “Hello, Ryan,” he greeted, placing a hand on his shoulder. “This is an unexpected surprise.” Enraged, he tried breaking down the door and shot multiple times at the bulletproof glass. Inside, Joe was smug, and Mike looked up at him with a small amount of fear centered in apology. “I guess I don't have to ask who the father is. Though I must admit, Ryan, I thought you were in love with my wife.”
“He's not in love with me and she's not your wife,” a voice dismissed. Surprisingly for Joe, it came from Mike. Slightly annoyed at the small interruption, he dug his fingers into the healing wound on his forehead. He yelled at the blossoming pain and tried to get his head away.
“Hey!” Ryan yelled, slamming on the window.
“Then explain to me why you are carrying Ryan's progeny,” he commanded, letting go for an answer.
Mike wasn't answering, waiting for the pain to lessen. Ryan could see Joe was getting angry, and ready to take it out on him. “You know about the Cyclosup failure?” he inquired, gaining Joe's attention.
He looked up at him. “Yes. The pheromones in the prison were unbearable, along with dozens of omegas going into heat. More than a few were taken that week,” he elaborated. Then connected dots. “Agent Weston was on Cyclosup.” He nodded. “And you helped him out.”
“There were alphas that were trying to break in and rape him,” he mentioned. “I was the only one he trusted.”
“How noble,” he sneered. He looked back down at Mike. “Are you planning on keeping the baby?”
“It's right now a fetus,” he corrected. “And I don't know.”
“Oh, as much as you complain, it's a baby. Your body's already preparing to carry them to term, protecting it, diverting nutrients. It's like the choice has been made for you.”
“Shut up,” he hissed. He did not want to think of it that way.
“Stop, Joe,” Ryan insisted, “He's not the one you want. You were asking about the death of my father. Why aren't you questioning me about that?”
“Because this is a startling new development, Ryan,” he taunted, “The sidekick has become pregnant by the hero, who is still in love with my wife. But you're right, you are right. Let's get back to the death of your father.” Everything after that went relatively quietly, until Jacob came down with Parker. After he chased Joe and Jacob, and couldn't come back with them, he found Parker talking quietly with Mike. She had cut him loose and he had done her.
After seeing Ryan coming back, she went out to try and contact the field office. He walked in to the 'office' and Mike hugged him out of nowhere. Before he could protest, Mike mumbled, “I am fully abusing my status as a pregnant omega. Just don't push me away. Please.” He sighed and dropped his arms around him, patting his shoulder a couple of times. He could feel the younger man calming and settling against him.
He growled when he heard someone walking over and saw Parker standing a few feet away. “Sorry,” he apologized.
“Donovan's here, along with local police and tech. They need to go over the house,” she informed. “You might want to separate.” Reluctantly, Mike pulled away from Ryan and walked a few feet away from him while they headed outside.
-
With all the havoc and death, Mike was barely aware when they arrived to the lighthouse where Joe had taken Claire and Ryan. Within the flurry of people, he caught Ryan standing over Claire while they were talking to Turner. His omega instinct became jealous her, and he had to mentally halt. He's not my alpha. I need to stop thinking like this. He's in love with her. He ignored them for working with a couple of agents over finding the trail of Emma Hill and any other followers they could get evidence on.
Ryan pulled him away to a secluded area that didn't have FBI agents walking past ever minute. “Joe told Claire about the pregnancy. She says congratulations,” he relayed. “I, uh, I told her I couldn't be with her. Not completely, like she needs.”
Great, false hope. “If you're doing this because of....”
“I'm doing it because neither of you deserve anything less than what I can give,” he orated, “And she doesn't deserve an alpha that's worried about a pregnant omega and you don't deserve a man whose trying to love two different people at the same time.” That almost sounded like a love confession, but he's not in love with me. It's the alpha instinct talking. His insecurity was something Ryan picked up on. “Hey, stop it. I'm not doing this because of the alpha instinct or because of the fetus.” I wish I could believe that. He allowed himself a very small percentage to hope for something more, but it didn't expand anymore while they walked back to the chaos of the agents.
Mike was invited back to Ryan's apartment, and after seeing Claire safely into the hands of the marshals, agreed to go with him. They should have expected the guards on the building. Mike figured they didn't want to take any chances with Ryan. Stepping into his apartment, he looked around and saw it modestly furnished. There were a couple pictures of Jenny and some others with two different men. He guessed his brother and father.
He doesn't know if it was the aftereffects of the case or just plain paranoia, but the creak of the floor in another room had Mike walking carefully over with his gun out. Ryan saw his actions and pulled in the guy that handed him the food. The two of them checked around and ended up pulling a woman onto the floor and arresting her. “Molly?” Ryan questioned, seeing her. She kept her mouth shut and was forced out by the officer.
“Who was she?”
“Neighbor, nurse, former girlfriend,” he muttered the last word.
“Joe's plant,” Mike stated. Neither knew what to say, neither wanted to venture into the idea that Joe was still controlling things. Instead, Ryan got into the food and just started separating it so they could eat.