(BL)Alpha Made-Chapter 282: He’s not in danger

The ding of the elevator arriving stirred Andrew slightly from his trance.

He raised his head from where he had been staring at the ground. He was still in his winter coat. Andrew looked as if he was leaving for the day instead of arriving. He hadn’t even dropped off his jacket, gotten ready, nothing. Andrew stepped out of the elevator, his gaze already searching around the lobby to see if he could find Ford.

He wasn’t hard to spot. Ford was hovering around the front desk, anxiety in every inch of his face. His grey eyes looked terrified, his hair a mess. He was wearing the outfit he normally wore when he was working on plants. Over the years Andrew had referred to it as his hobby outfit, since he looked more like an explorer then someone who was working on his hobby, but who was he to judge?

It was a long sleeve shirt, usually black that had a vest layered overtop. The vest was covered in pockets. Andrew knew for a fact that the one nearest to his heart normally had a few snacks in it, while everything else was full of things he’d need. Twine, scissors, sticks, etc. Ford usually wore shorts, but it was clear he’d pulled on pants before he rushed out of the house.

Andrew’s face turned up into a tense smile, his expression tight as he locked onto Ford’s gaze. Ford rushed towards him, and Andrew wouldn’t lie and say he didn’t either.

"What happened? May wouldn’t say anything after she received the text from Maxy." Ford’s hands landed on Andrew’s biceps, his grip firm. Andrew would have winced, but he couldn’t blame the man. This was a terrifying situation.

Andrew glanced around the space, thinking more about Richard’s professional career than anything else at this moment. He was a private person, and he didn’t want to reveal anything without his consent.

"Let’s head to the elevator first. I don’t want to reveal his secrets here, Ford." Ford nodded, swallowing thickly. Andrew gently pried one of his hands off of his arm so that he could turn and they both headed to the elevator Andrew had just left, Ford’s death second death grip remaining in place.

"Is he okay at least?" Ford asked, insistent, and Andrew wasn’t sure how to answer it. Had he been okay when he’d first manifested? He’d answer no. He was only okay because of the illusion that Maxwell had created for him. He hadn’t even been aware of how bad it had been until he’d nearly died.

"I...don’t know." Andrew muttered, not wanting to lie to him. Ford’s grip tightened. The man had strong hands because of his hobby, and his professional career. Andrew should have remembered that, but had forgotten it in the rush of everything else. He’d have to explain the handprints to Maxwell later. He’d forgive him, easily.

"You don’t...know?" Ford repeated, and that’s when the tears started. They slowly rolled down his cheeks as he let Andrew’s words wash over him. Andrew felt like shit, but he wasn’t going to lie to him. Not after what he’d experienced, and how overwhelming and hellish it had been.

Andrew wanted to comfort him, wanted to tell him that they had it handled, everything was going to be fine. But if he said that, he would be a liar, and he didn’t want that.

The elevator doors finally opened and Andrew let out a breath. Ford followed him in numbly, still crying, and Andrew gladly pressed the button for the seventh floor. As soon as the doors closed, Andrew turned to Ford.

"Richard...manifested." Andrew told him and Ford’s watery grey gaze widened.

"What? H-How?" He asked, confused. Andrew’s jaw tightened.

"He’s had a fever for about two weeks, brushed me off when I noticed it at our dinner before Max and I secluded ourselves. I walked into the office today and was smacked in the face by the scent of a-" Andrew cut off. He closed his eyes, taking a few deep breaths.

"Of a what, Andrew?" Ford asked, his voice trembling, but strong. Andrew opened his gaze, meeting Ford’s.

"He’s an omega, Ford." Ford swayed. He knew it wasn’t because they had a biased against omegas, it was just a lot to take in. Andrew still couldn’t believe it either.

"An omega? Oh, my boy." Ford whispered. "No wonder May sent me. I should have known. Oh Richard." Ford sounded devastated and Andrew just let him mutter to himself for a minute. Then, they arrived. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

When the doors opened, Andrew half expected the level to be in complete disarray. It was almost disappointing that it was so calm, so collected. It felt like no one knew how one man’s world had been completely upended. How one life had been changed, forever.

Ford gulped loud enough that Andrew could hear it, and using his free hand, he wiped his eyes with his sleeve. Andrew said nothing, letting the other man compose himself before they stepped out of the elevator as a team.

Andrew, admittedly, didn’t know where Dr. Liu’s office was specifically, at least, he couldn’t quite recall it. He did have one advantage, even if it freaked himself out a little bit. He could remember what she smelled like, and he just followed the trail she left, hoping it brought him to the right place.

Thankfully, the bloodhound that Andrew was finding out that he was, was correct. Dr. Liu was indeed at the end of the scent trail he was tracing. She was in an office-like space, but the only strange thing about it was like their office, it had a window room. Unlike their window room, inside was a heavily monitored Richard. He was hooked up to a bunch of machines and he seemed to be asleep.

Andrew was surprised by how hard that hit him, and about the panic that filled him.

A surge of fear hit him and Andrew stuttered in his steps. The slight smile on Dr. Liu’s face turned into a frown as she realised how pale Andrew had gone.

"Dr. Nice? What’s wrong?" She asked and Andrew stuttered in his steps. He felt like a hand had wrapped around his throat, choking him. He needed to get Richard out of there. He needed to make sure he was safe. He needed-

"Andy? What’s wrong?" Ford’s caring, worried voice broke through the panic laced fear and Andrew sucked in air.

"I can’t-" Andrew spun, pulling Ford’s hand off of him and rushed out of the room, out into the hallway. Andrew sucked big lungfuls of air into his body, shaking. Shivering. He felt ill, like he wanted to throw up, and his hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

He tried to focus on breathing but the urge to get Richard out of that room, off of those machines, was pounding against his ribs. Every part of him was fighting against logic and reason. He just needed to make sure Richard didn’t go through what he did.

Andrew was honestly surprised he was having such a violent reaction. He didn’t expect it. But how could he? It wasn’t like manifesting was a common thing, and it was a damn miracle he had been around when Richard had manifested. If he had done it only yesterday, he wouldn’t have been here. Hell, he could have manifested yesterday, but no one else noticed. Even as Richard came in through the lobby. He usually came early.

Andrew was trying to talk himself down, talk himself out of his odd behaviour, but he couldn’t fight himself. He was gasping and panting like he was the one who was in pain. Like he was the one who was going through it all again. Damn it. He thought he was better than this.

"Andy? Where’s Maxy right now?" Ford’s gentle voice filled his ears and Andrew just shook his head.

"He’s in a meeting. I don’t-"

"Then where is the little fabric thing that you have of his scent?" Ford asked and Andrew fumbled with the buttons on his jacket. Ford stepped in, helping him as Andrew reached into his pocket after his jacket was open and pulled out his lifeline. Andrew pressed the fabric against his nose with shaking hands as Ford’s fingers, strong, hardened, kind, stroked his hair.

"It’s okay. Richard is fine, Andrew. He’s not in danger." Ford’s soft whisper filled his ears but Andrew just couldn’t believe him. He knew, deep down, he was probably right, but everything inside of him was screaming that he wasn’t. Andrew needed to save him. He needed to protect him.

"Is Dr. Nice okay?" Dr. Liu asked. "He isn’t reacting to Dr. Gates pheromones, is he?" She was worried about him and Andrew wanted to respond but his tongue felt swollen in his mouth and he still couldn’t breathe quite right. Ford answered for him.

"Andy has some trauma, Doctor. Unfortunately, Richard’s situation has triggered it. He’ll be fine eventually. Oh, if only Maxy wasn’t in a meeting." Ford said forlornly, his fingers stroking through Andrew’s hair. "Do cellphones work down here?" Ford asked and Dr. Liu chuckled.

"Of course. It’s just the elevators where the signal is usually lost." Dr. Liu confirmed. "Should he be out in the hallway?" Dr. Liu asked.

"If he goes inside, it’ll only be worse." Ford told her grimly. "Hello May. I’m here. Ricky’s okay. They’re taking good care of him. Andy’s having a reaction to him though." A pause. "No, not like that. I think it’s related to how Andy manifested." Another pause. "I’ll tell him that." Ford turned towards Andrew, tugging on his hair gently to get his attention. Andrew looked up at Ford, his grey eyes kind. "May says that it’s okay to cry, Andy. Richard’s in good hands, not those s.o.b. that took care of you." It sounded very much like May.

Andrew nodded, sucking in Maxwell’s scent. Ford’s expression softened.

"Hmm? Maxy’s in a meeting. I doubt he knows how Andy is doing. Ah. Well, if you do it, I can’t get yelled at by his people, can I?" Andrew didn’t know what Ford was saying, the words not making sense in his head while Dr. Liu chuckled.

"I now understand where some of Dr. Gates’ sneaky traits come from." She said, humour filling her tone. "Well, if you have this handled, Mr. Gates, I’ll leave you to it. Don’t be afraid to ask for anything. I’ll be inside the room until something more urgent comes up." Dr. Liu told not just Ford, but Andrew as well.

He wished he could respond, but with the lack of control he had over his body, he just remained silent. Semi collapsed against the wall as he inhaled Maxwell’s scent from a piece of fabric.

"Thank you, Doctor. I’ll see you inside in a few minutes to discuss Richard." Ford told her, before turning back to his other son. "Andy, May just sent me a text telling me he’ll be here soon. What floor are we on?"