72- Hitting A Rut

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Scott roared.

His blood was rushing in his ears. After he sent the first guy flying, he threw the second to the floor. He shouldn't have left his Ryan alone, no matter the circumstances. This was his fault, as much as the accident was his fault. If he had taken charge and been a REAL alpha, none of this would have happened! He could have marked his Ryan by force MONTHS ago, and none of this would have happened! There were nervous murmurs from the onlookers. Why hadn't any of them tried to help HIS Ryan?

Security came in shortly after, demanding to know what was going on. Scott was ready to blow up at them too, for not coming sooner. Weren't they supposed to keep shit like this from happening? Before he even had a chance to open his mouth, he felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned quickly, ready to beat as much ass as he needed to, to find that it was Ryan trying to get his attention. His Ryan. His sweet Ryan with the beautiful long fingers and wonderfully soft curly hair and gorgeously beautiful melting brown eyes…

He was on his knees in an instant, thoroughly inspecting his fiance for any sign of injury.

Scott's words came in a rush. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you? Why didn't you call for me? I'm so sorry! This is all my fault! I'm so sorry!"

The security guard turned to the bystanders to try and get an idea on what happened, while the punks were flipping out over their leader who had apparently been knocked unconscious.

"I'm okay. I promise I'm okay. They were just trying to scare me, I think. I'm okay…" Ryan assured him. "Scott…? I think your hand's bleeding…"

Sure enough, red was starting to bloom on Scott's knuckles. He quickly fished a mini pack of tissues from a side pocket in the bag on Ryan's chair. He dabbed at his injury absentmindedly as he continued to bombard Ryan with questions consisting of various ways to ask, "Are you sure you're okay?"

As Scott fussed, one of the more brave witnesses started answering the security guard's questions. The unconscious guy's friends were vehemently denying the accusations against them, but the guard pinned them with a look, and pointed up at the black dome in the ceiling that housed the security camera, promising to "Let the tapes do the talking."

Protocol was followed. An ambulance was called to assess injuries, and the police were called to take statements. The guy who'd been knocked out woke up after a few minutes, and ended up being taken to the hospital to monitor for concussion. His friends were threatening lawsuits until the police came back from viewing the tapes and placed them under arrest for assaulting a disabled person. As soon as their leader was released from the hospital, he could consider himself under arrest as well.

Scott didn't get out of it clean either. It was determined he'd cut his knuckles on the other guy's teeth, and would need a tetanus shot. Luckily, the paramedics were able to administer it as well as patch up his wound. He strongly insisted they give Ryan a once-over, despite Ryan protesting that he was indeed unharmed.

Scott was almost shaking the whole time. Once the paramedics had determined that there were indeed no additional injuries to his Ryan, all he wanted to do was go home. He wanted to take HIS Ryan home and curl up in bed with him and forget that today ever happened. What was he thinking? Today was a horrible idea! He should have listened to Ryan in the first place! His father could have picked up the ring for them. He could have mail ordered the game systems. He could have gotten lunch delivered again. He was sure he could have even found a way to do the cemetery flowers without leaving the house. What was he thinking?

"Scott, are you sure YOU'RE okay?" Ryan asked as paramedics and police alike packed up and left, leaving them alone with the security guard and a small gaggle of curious onlookers.

"I don't know." Scott admitted, running his unbandaged hand through his hair. "I just- I don't know. I'm sorry. This is all my fault."

"But it's not! I was having fun today!"

Ryan was hoping to be the one to return the favor and bring up Scott's mood, not wanting their outing to end on such a sour note. He really did have fun today once things got going. Scott was right. It did them some good to get out of the house. Sure, what just happened was awful, and completely and absolutely terrifying, and Ryan was honestly surprised he wasn't more shook than he was, but part of that might be that he sensed how much Scott needed his comfort right now.

"I'm sorry… Can we just-" Scott sighed. "I know I said we'd get your hair cut, but I just- I want to go home."

"I'm okay with going home if that's what you want to do." Ryan gave Scott a gentle, understanding smile.

Scott released a small fraction of the tension he was holding. He reminded himself: His Ryan was okay. He himself was the only one of them injured. This wasn't the end of the world. If anything, it was just one more thing to notify the lawyers about.

The security guard offered to give them an escort to the door, which Scott accepted graciously. There was no telling if the lowlifes who attacked his Ryan were working alone or in a much larger group. They were escorted all the way back to their vehicle, and the guy politely wished Scott a good rest of his day after Ryan had been loaded back in the car.

"I know that was scary, but I really was having fun today." Ryan was still trying to soothe Scott as they pulled out of the parking spot and got caught up in the traffic of people trying to leave the mall.

"I'm sorry. I feel like I could have prevented that somehow. I really messed up." Scott gripped the steering wheel tightly. The line of cars they were trapped in wasn't moving very fast.

"I love you, Cuddle Bug." Ryan wasn't sure what else he could say.

"I love you too, Hot Stuff."

Once they finally got out on the main road, Ryan noticed something he wasn't sure if he should comment on or not. He felt like Scott's smell was getting stronger. It had to be his mind playing tricks on him, right? They were both coming down from an adrenaline rush, so he definitely had to just be imagining things, right? Scott was probably just sweating a lot. He did have the heat turned up in the car. Besides, it was a comforting smell. Scott's smell always put him more at ease. He was probably just imagining it was getting stronger or something.

If Scott had to bet money, he'd say that his heart rate hadn't changed since he saw Ryan being attacked. There was no way his blood pressure wasn't through the roof right now. His Ryan was attacked. Again. He had a death grip on the steering wheel. He just had to get them home. He needed to get his Ryan home.

Only, Ryan wasn't his, was he?

Sure, Ryan had a ring, but they weren't mated yet. They were supposed to be. Ryan was supposed to be his already. Scott could practically feel his heart banging against his ribcage. He could make Ryan his. He could show everyone, the whole world, just who Ryan belonged to. People wouldn't dare mess with a mated omega. People wouldn't dare mess with HIS omega. His clothes were starting to constrict him. It was too warm.

"Scott, I don't think you're okay. Maybe we should pull over. You're starting to breathe weird." Ryan sounded concerned.

Scott grunted assent and pulled into the nearest parking lot. His pants were uncomfortably tight. It was much too warm.

"Should we call your parents?" Ryan asked.

Scott looked over at his Ryan. Not HIS Ryan. Not yet. Ryan's safety collar caught his attention. He knew how to undo those lacings. It would be easy. If he got that damned collar off, it would be so easy. Ryan couldn't fight him in the state he was in. He would MAKE Ryan his! He NEEDED this! It would be so, so easy!

"Scott, you're scaring me…"

Ryan's timid voice woke him up enough to realize he'd already undone his seat belt and had started to crawl over the center console. Shit! What was he doing? How did he not recognize the symptoms? Shit!

Scott flung himself back against the driver's side door and wrenched it open. He had to get the car aired out. He was panting in his need, but he couldn't hurt Ryan! He'd never forgive himself if he hurt his Ryan! He practically tumbled out of the car. He opened every door BUT Ryan's. He needed the wind to be strong enough to blow his pheromones away. He couldn't risk making Ryan go into heat.

He just couldn't believe he hadn't realized this whole thing had triggered his rut!

Scott grabbed for their backpack in desperation, flinging the contents all across the back seat as he hunted for his suppressant. He knew it was in there! It had to be in there! He needed to find it before he lost all reason! There! At the bottom of everything, right next to Ryan's was his emergency alpha suppressant. He readied it quickly, wincing at the needle prick as he injected it through his clothing.

He slumped against the back seat, half in and half out of the car as the medicine took effect almost immediately. Whereas omega suppressants were mostly hormonal, an alpha suppressant was mostly tranquilizer. They had to be. An alpha in rut was a dangerous thing. As his mind started to fog, he told Ryan to call his father to come get them. There was no way he could drive now. He was still too warm… He stripped his jacket, then his shirt, grateful for the cold winter air. So much for today ending on any kind of a high note.

"Scott? You have my phone…"

Ryan realized fairly quickly what was going on when Scott started opening up the doors. He KNEW Scott's smell was getting stronger. It's not like he could have done anything to prevent Scott trying to go into rut, but he felt bad for him all the same. He wasn't in any condition to be of any help. Why did things have to go south so quickly…?

Scott almost fumbled Ryan's phone onto the ground in the process of trying to get it out of his pocket, but somehow successfully managed to pass it up to Ryan in the front seat. While Ryan made the call, Scott heaved himself into the car the rest of the way, managing an almost seated position. There wasn't any room to sit normally with the wheelchair taking up most of the space in the back seat. At least the wind was blowing a little. He didn't think enough of his pheromones were going to accumulate to make this situation worse than it already was. It was cold enough to see his breath, but he still felt like he was too hot. He was even sweating a little.

When Ryan finished the call with his now very alarmed soon to be father-in-law, Scott caught him shivering. They'd taken Ryan's jacket off at the mall, and hadn't bothered putting it back on him. Scott located it easily where it had been flung against the wheelchair, and slumped against the front seat as he clumsily draped it over Ryan's front, tucking it around his shoulders. Then for good measure, He took his own jacket and repeated his action. He couldn't have his Ryan getting too cold.

"Thanks, Cuddle Bug. Are you okay now?" Ryan asked.

"Probably…" Scott sighed and slumped back against the back seat. "Do me a favor…? Talk to me… help me stay awake… 'til my dad gets here…?"