Forever, My Puppy

Joey woke late the next afternoon. He stirred and found the bed empty. Sitting in a chair next to the bed was Yami, who seemed to be too awake for the time of day.. or so Joey thought.

"Where is Seto? I figured he'd be here with me."

Yami looked at Joey, his brilliant ruby eyes measuring his friend gently. It would take a while to explain that Seto had recived a urgant call and had to leave, but he'd try.

"Seto had some urgant business to tend to. Apparently he got a call from someone named Miss Masters and had to go to her office."

"Miss Masters? My caseworker. Why the hell is she butting in?"

"Joey, I wasn't told the nature of the call, just that she had to speak to him privately and wanted him to come to her office. He asked me and Yugi to watch over you till he got back."

Joey sank back into the pillows and sighed. Things didn't look very good now. What would happen? The sudden ring of the phone startled him from his thoughts. Yami reached over and answered it, his deep voice resonating in the still room.

"Hello? Yes, he's awake."

Yami appeared to listen for a few minutes, then looked at Joey with alarm in his eyes. His eyes quickly narrowed with anger and his normally calm voice fairly shook with conceled anger.

"He wants him back? That Ra-forsaken bastard there is no way that I will stand for it."

Joey suddenly got it. His dad was up to the old cat and mouse game. Beat him up, kick him out, then beg for him to come home. He knew Catherine had heard it more than once in the past two years. Seto was the one who had contacted the CPS the very first time he'd seen Joey come to school sporting injuries too severe for a simple fight. Seto at that time had hated Joey with so much he'd have rather steped on him than talk to him, but after that; Seto had decided to take the him under his well groomed wing. Yami's voice again pulled him from his thoughts.

"Seriously? She wants him to stay with you? Even though you two are fast forming a relationship? Really? Ah, I see. She knows you have his best interests at heart..OH! I didn't know that, well yes I did, but Yugi didn't tell me the full reason that Joey was there. I do remember that his dad nearly destroyed the shop looking for him. That's why.. Ok.. He's safer on Kaiba property than anywhere else. Yes... do you want me to... oh, Miss Masters will do that. Do you want to talk to him? Here he is."

Yami handed the phone to Joey as he made his way to the bathroom. Joey shot him a dirty look then took the phone.

"Hey.. I'm on my way to the bathroom."

"Do you really think that will stop me from talking to you? Catherine's decided to award the Kaiba estate full guardian ship of you. She realized that when she was going to place you at the Domino Boy's Home that your father would just come and take you." Seto ignored the sounds in the background as he talked to Joey. "But that also means you may have to move into your room. That should only be temporary, till your dad is brought to trial. I have something for you when I get home."

"Move to My room? Shit, why?"

"Catherine thinks that with your injuries that you may be more comfortable, not only that she's not entirely sure you really want a same sex relationship. I told her that you and I had 'experience' together, but she still thinks that you should sleep alone, atleast till your wrist and ribs heal. She was worried about your nose too, till the doctor called her and told her it was just bruised cartilige not a full break."

"Did you tell her that I wouldn't be alone, Mokuba would insist on sleeping with me?"

"Yes... and told her that he's a rougher sleeper than I am. She said that when she visits thrusday that she'd discuss it with you."

"Ah, Well today's what.. Tuesday? She was here yesterday."

"No, Pup, Next Thursday... Next week. But she wants to talk to you before then I think. I'll see you in a hour or so, I have to go in for a report. Don't worry about Yugi... They had the day off from school... Something to do with Senior Skip Day."

"Well I love you and I'll see you when you get back home."

"I love you too Pup" The phone cut off with a short click and Joey sighed. Yami looked up at him then helped him sit back on the bed. Joey sighed deeply again then smiled at his friend.

"Seto said he had a surprise for me when he got home."

Yami grinned wickedly then winked at Joey. He stood and went into the bathroom and began to run a bath. He went back to the bedroom and took the phone from Joey's limp fingers and dialed the Maid's line.

"Yes, Master Kaiba's bedchamber needs some freshening up and a sheet change. He'll be home in an hour or so, so it needs to be done now. I also need a change of clothing for Master Wheeler. Prepair his room too. He'll be moving there within the half hour.."

Shock registered in Joey's eyes at Yami's commands. Then the spirit turned to him and uttered something that made the bottom fall out of Joey's world.

"Joey, Your blood tests were bad when they let you go Yesterday. They released you into Seto's care to protect you. They found high ammounts of drugs and alcohol in your system, plus evidence that your dad took you forcefully..."