Safe Harbor - 27

Kurt and the three teens returned to the shelter just as the sun was coming up. None of them looked particularly happy but at least they now knew Bets was holding her own and would live. Beyond that it was still anyone’s guess. She’d been raped, sodomized and then beaten. Only the man finding her moments after she’d been dumped in the pond had saved her life.

Kurt led the way upstairs, stopped in front of one of the counselor’s doors and knocked. When the woman opened the door, only half awake, he asked her politely if she’d mind the two girls bunking down with her for the time being.

"We don’t have to," Jo-Jo started to protest.

"Yes, you do. While we don’t know if it was just bad luck those men found Bets again, we are not taking any chances. They already accosted the three of you. Who knows if they followed Cry and Bets back to your friend’s place before they grabbed her."

The counselor was more awake by then, telling Kurt she had no problem sharing the room with the girls. "Especially since it’s really for whoever has night duty. Come on in, you two. There’s only one bed but plenty of floor space and I’ve got a stash of sleeping bags and blankets in the storage closet."

"As for you…" Kurt turned to Bobby once the girls were in the room and the door closed behind them.

"I’ll sleep in your office again."

Kurt shook his head. "I want you where I can keep an eye on you. And not…" he added seconds later when Bobby grinned, "in that way. I don’t want you going off half-cocked trying to do something on your own. Besides, you’ve spent time with the girls on the street so if the two killers did target Bets because she and the others escaped their clutches they could have an interest in you now, as well. Don’t forget, two of their victims were male."

"As if I could. So I’m crashing on your bedroom floor?"

"For what’s left of the night, or morning at this point, yes. Later we’ll figure out a better arrangement."

"Like me sharing your bed?" Bobby asked hopefully as he trailed Kurt down the hall to his room.

Kurt snorted. "When you see it you’ll know that’s not an option."

Bobby had to agree when they got into the room. He wasn’t even certain there was enough space on the floor for him, though he wasn’t going to mention it and have Kurt foist him off on one of the male counselors.

"The bathroom’s there," Kurt pointed. "Feel free to shower. I’ll be back in a few minutes."

"Umm, sure, okay."