The Beast Within

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Jaxon Valeska

Nyssa rolled over in her bed and laid on a warm hard chest moving up and down, she smiled and snuggled closer to him, he wrapped an arm around her back and stroked the back of her head "morning doll" his raspier voice groaned "morning honey" he pulled her knees to sit under her so she was straddling his waist "how do you manage to look so beautiful even in the mornings?" "you trying to flatter me Mr Valeska?" "maybe, is it working Mrs Valeska?" "maybe" he grinned and flipped them over, suddenly one of Jerome's men burst through the door, he and Nyssa grabbed their guns and pointed them "you have five seconds to explain why you're in my bedroom and house Tony" he growled.

Tony gulped and stepped back "my apologies boss, but I have urgent news, it's about your son Jaxon" Jerome felt his chest tighten, he didn't want to prepare himself for bad news but he knew he had to "he's not-?" "no sir, he's not dead-" "then spit it out already!" "we've found him-" Jerome jumped off the bed before Tony could even finish his sentence "where is he?" "a facility, a black site, for kids in training to be soldiers, it's a pretty brutal place" "get me every bit of information on this place and leave it on my desk, then tell the men to prepare themselves, we're taking this place down.. tonight" Tony nodded and quickly walked out shutting the door behind him, Jerome sighed and sat back on the bed, Nyssa sat on her knees behind him massaging his shoulders "you did it honey, you found him, why aren't you happy?" "what if he hates me? what if he thinks I abandoned him, what if he's too damaged already?" "never, you're an amazing father and he'll see that you've done everything to save him" "I'm gonna be at the office all day" "I wouldn't expect you to be anywhere else, go bring our son home" "I will baby, I promise you I will" he gave her a quick kiss and left the room.

The whole day Nyssa tried keep herself occupied with the kids and she finally put the kids to bed after their dinner and she sat up on the couch waiting. Jerome finished his cigarette and flicked the butt onto the concrete, he banged on the side of the van full of his men and the doors immediately flew open and his men all jumped out armed and ready to fight anyone "don't touch any kids, anyone else is fair game, let's blow this pop-stand" he said with a sadistic grin on his scarred face, his men blew the doors to the facility down and they were instantly greeted with men with machine guns, Jerome fired wildly as he cackled maniacally, once all the men were dead he heard an alarm blare and the lights turned to a flashing, it reminded him of Jeremiah's old bunker and his anger flared even more at the thought of his brother that father's his wife's children, he growled and started blindly firing at a glass cell in front of him, the glass shattered like a waterfall and he stepped over the shards down to a corridor, the thought of his son being trapped and abused in this place made him want to kill everyone with his bare hands.

Jaxon was huddled under his desk in his cell with some other kids and one of his instructors was beside them "everyone stay quiet or you'll be thrown out to defend yourself" she snapped harshly, Jaxon watched one of his friends Daniel shed light tears and try to keep his wailing in "shut up" the lady instructor snapped again but Daniel's fear was too much for him to handle and he began sniffling.

Jerome stopped and turned to find where the sound came from, he kicked Jaxon's cell door down and saw a pair of women's feet just visible from where he was, he reached around and dragged the lady out not seeing the two frightened boys, he raised his gun to her temple with a growl "you have once chance, and one only, where is Jaxon Al Ghul" Jaxon's eyes widened and he knew they were there for him, he knew the only reason men with guns would come after him would be to kill him, he peered around the corner and saw Jerome distracted and he took his chance, he quietly sneaked out of the room and ran down the hall into a storage office, he barricaded the door in terror and tried to keep his breathing quiet.

Jerome watched the woman shake in fear as she slowly spoke "h-he's hiding behind the desk" he let her go and her weak body thumped to the ground and pushed the desk away, Daniel eyed the man and backed into the wall as far as he could "what's your name?" Jerome was almost positive this boy wasn't his son but with no proof of what he looked like he had to check "D-Daniel s-sir" he stuttered out "Jaxon, where is he?" "h-he ran" Jerome groaned and stood up in frustration.

Jaxon sat by the door listening for footsteps but none came, he celebrated a quiet victory but knew he had to get away before they found him "number six, what are you doing here?" a familiar voice snapped from behind him, it was the warden of the facility "sir, they have guns" "I'm well aware and I know who they're here for, you will surrender yourself as a sacrifice to save the rest of us" Jaxon felt his blood run cold, he knew none of them cared but they wanted him to get killed "no" he said boldly "bad time to be defiant boy" the warden stood up and stood over the boy.

Jerome heard a loud crash and walked over to the room it came from, he tried to push the door open but couldn't "boys, get the door open, now" his men nodded and bashed the door until it swung open, Jaxon and the warden began to shove each other, the warden pushed into the cabinet blocking the door "you will sacrifice yourself" "never!" Jaxon refused, suddenly the door flung open and the warden took the opportunity to take the young boy into a headlock, Jerome's fury burned through the man holding his son in such a way "Jax!" Daniel called from behind Jerome "take your fucking hands off of my son" Jerome growled.

The warden's eyes widened the same as Jaxon's did "y-you're Jer-" before the warden could finish a shot rang out through the air and the man thumped to the ground "I warned you" he finished and placed his gun in his belt "Jaxon Al Ghul?" he question the young boy, he looked exactly like Jason but with brunette hair "y-yeah" Jaxon responded, Jerome dropped to his knees and pulled Jaxon into his embrace "my boy, I finally found you" Jaxon cautiously wrapped his arms around Jerome, he couldn't explain it, but it felt right, natural, like he knew him already "you're my father?" "that's right" Jerome stood up and took in his sons appearance, he noticed small scars and bruises and the branding "I'm taking you away from this place" Jaxon knew from that moment that he was saved, his savior had come.

Nyssa anxiously watched the clock in anticipation hoping to see her husband and son walk through the door, and by some miracle the door burst open and Jerome was cradling a sleeping boy in his arms "welcome home honey" Jerome sent her a small smile and laid Jaxon's sleeping form down onto the couch, he pulled Nyssa into his arms and buried his face in the crook of her neck "he's not okay Nyss, that place was a fucking horror show" "he's safe now, you brought him home" "and he's never leaving again, he's a Valeska and he belongs here with his family" "Jaxon Valeska sounds perfect" Jerome's scarred lips tipped up into a genuine sweet smile that made Nyssa's heart melt, she pulled him close and ran her nails across his cheek "come on handsome, let's go to bed" "you go ahead, I'm gonna stay out here with him" Nyssa quickly walked away and came back with blankets and pillows "if you're staying out here, then so am I, for better or worse right?" he grinned and pulled her back into his arms "right" he peppered her lips in kisses as she giggled.