The Brat and the Bodyguard
Part One

by Ranger and Rolf





"Val, please listen to what I'm saying. I think you-"

"I don't give a damn what you think! That party sounds smashing! It is given by a FRIEND of mine! A FRIEND!! Nothing will happen to me. I'm going, and that's that!"

"I'm sorry, I have to pu-"

"Put your foot down? Is that it? Well, fine, but that foot can be put down OUTSIDE of my room. YOU'RE FIRED!!" Val spat, angry as a wet cat.

Mr. Jonathon Edwards sighed and headed out of Mr. Quentin's room. He'd had enough of that brat today. More than enough. He quietly closed the door behind him and proceeded down the hall.

Val still had a lot of pent-up anger. He had wanted a scene and Jonathon had not given him that opportunity. He yanked open the door and screeched at the top of his lungs "AND DON'T COME BACK EVER!!!" slamming the door hard enough as to sound almost as loud as a gunshot in the usually silent and calm hotel.

Jonathon jumped, but the slamming of the door had been no surprise. He'd been Mr. Quentin's personal bodyguard and head of security for about six months. "It's a wonder I haven't gone completely gray" he thought, waiting for the elevator.

Val Quentin was the up and coming newest teen pop sensation. He was currently touring in and around London, serving as the opening act for some of the biggest groups currently on tour. His agent and the rest of the "company" as Val referred to them, had been working feverishly to get Val the star status that was so desired. A record deal had been signed, and now the first tour was set to begin in just a few short weeks, Val the star of the show in his own right.

Jonathon got into his vehicle and lit a cigarette. He knew Val would go to the party. There was no arguing with him, so instead he was just going to follow quietly. Sure enough, 30 minutes later the boy voted *the* hottest bod in rock and roll by one of the leading music magazines slipped behind the wheel of his fire engine red BMW Roadster and screeched out of the hotel parking garage. Jonathon followed along behind him.

Jonathon was rudely awakened at 6 am the next morning by an outraged Mr. Quentin, senior.

"Have you seen the paper? HAVE YOU? He's front page news!!"

Mr. Edwards rubbed the sleep from his eyes, trying to focus on the clock and figure out where he was. "No, sir, I ju-"

"GET THE PAPER YOU IMBECILE, and explain to me why he's there!"

"Yes, sir, just a moment." Jonathon put the phone down, still a little disoriented. He stumbled over to the door, opened it up and picked up the paper. He unrolled it, the picture on the front sending shock waves though his body. There in all it's glory was the BMW Roadster, no longer recognizable as a car, the only thing triggering the fear was the license plate clearly visible on the hunk of twisted metal. Next to that was a picture of Val. He stumbled over to the phone, nearly gagging on the fear.

"Is he alright? HOW IS HE?!?!"

"He's fine. He wasn't in the vehicle, but then how would you know that? You weren't watching, were you? YOU'RE FIRED!" The elder Mr. Quentin slammed the phone down.

Mr. Thomas (Storm) Quentin sat back in his chair. Val had called before he left for the party informing him that he had fired Mr. Edwards that afternoon. Thomas hadn't said anything at the time, intending to talk to Val about the unreasonableness of that decision. He quickly decided he'd just let Val think it was his words that caused the departure of Mr. Edwards, easier to handle Val that way. He quickly dialed another number, one he remembered from years back.

The voice at the other end was deep and quiet. "Yep?"

"Still no idea how to answer a phone McNeil?"

"Sir?" The voice abruptly came to life. "Where are you?"

"London." Quentin got up to stand and look out of the window. "Are you working at present?"

"On and off." Luke said dryly. Quentin paid no attention.

"Turn the job in. I need you in London by six pm tonight."

It said a lot for both men that the answer he received was simply, "Yes sir."



The Quentins were aware from hard experience that their invitations to Val were now the least favoured amongst piles of invitations. Over the last eight months, they'd seen less and less of him. For that reason, Quentin senior didn't ask, or warn his son before he entered the hotel at seven PM that evening. Val, on the run with a reception to get to, came out of the shower to find his father seated on the bed and a tall, dark man with his arms firmly crossed over his chest, standing at the window with his lips pursed as though he didn't think much of the view before him. Quentin senior took in the look of open irritation on his son's face and rose to his feet.

"Val. This is Luke McNeil."

"Is it?" Val dropped the towel and collected his clothes. "Do you mind if I get dressed? I'm running late."

"I'm amazed you're going anywhere at all after that fiasco last night." Quentin said acidly. Val's eyes rolled skywards.

"I knew you'd find out about that."

"It was splashed over every tabloid, Val! I don't need to be told what you're doing, I just pick up the papers!"

"Then the publicity's working." Val carried his clothes back towards the bathroom. Quentin made himself resume his seat and control his temper. Over the last few months he had found it harder and harder to speak civilly to his son. This immaculately dressed, sun-glassed creation of the record company bore very little relation to the lively teenager who had been living at home just a year ago. Val was rapidly becoming a stranger and surrounded by the personnel of the company that owned him, it was becoming harder and harder to get to him. McNeil met his eyes, face unchanging.

Luke had been assigned to Mr. Quentin's company upon his arrival in the military and looking back at it now, it seemed as if fate had known that Storm was the only one who could even begin to tame the wild man Luke used to be. Luke was in complete shock at seeing his no nonsense, totally in control commander reduced to an abused bystander by his very own son. These thoughts churned in the back of his head, but his face and eyes remained steady and unwavering.

"I can't be here where I seem to be needed the most. He is becoming increasingly impossible to deal with. I need someone I can trust with his life. I'll make whatever arrangements that need to be made for your transfer here."

Luke wasn't sure he wanted to be a babysitter to the world's newest teen idol, but Storm was impossible to refuse.

Val returned from the bathroom dressed in leather pants that seemed to Luke to have been painted on. Mr. Quentin stood up, intent on introducing Val to his new bodyguard and head of security. Val had absolutely no intention of stopping.

"Hi." he said without enthusiasm to his father. "Hi." he added with less interest to McNeil, "And now I'm late. Leave a message at the desk-"

Luke's hand snaked out and caught a slight upper arm. Val jerked to a halt and looked around in surprise. The dark man with his father didn't move or respond. Val had one try at yanking his arm free and sustained only bruises.

"Ow! Who the hell are you! What do you think you're doing?"

"Luke." Quentin said clearly. "Luke McNeil. This man is your bodyguard, he is your security manager, he's signed a contract with me-"

"With YOU-"

"You're not yet twenty one Val. I'm still your legal trustee, your contract with Orion Records is still valid only on my signature."

It was a threat that held very little water- Val's life was full now of sharks who would be only too happy to take over the right of guardian. Which was partly why Quentin was so desperate to leave McNeil here.

"McNeil, he's all yours." he said to his ex subaltern. "I'm holding you personally responsible."

Val stared in shocked outrage at the retreating back of his father. How dare he leave him in the grip of this...this gorilla! He tried again to jerk his arm free, but the iron grip remained solidly in place. So he did the next thing that came to mind. He kicked Luke solidly in the shins. Luke's reply to that outrage was one large hand connecting solidly and soundly with the tightly clad rear of Val.

"OOOOWWWW! You son of a bitch! LET GO! You can't do this to me! LET me GO!" Val was trying with all the strength he could muster to get out of that grip, but Luke didn't budge an inch.

Luke didn't let go, nor did he say a word. He looked impassively at Val, waiting for him to calm down.

Val realized quickly that Luke wasn't going to let go. And the stare he was getting from him was making him distinctly uncomfortable. There was no anger in the eyes, only what could be described as... purpose. He stopped struggling and turned to stare directly into Luke's eyes. "Will you let go of my arm?" Val asked, trying very hard to keep his voice from wavering.

The man didn't move. Val twisted, considering another kick- and then deciding against it.

"Mc- whatever your name is- will you PLEASE let go of my Goddamned arm!"

The man released him. Val rubbed the marks resentfully.

"Now listen you. I don't know who you are or what my father thinks he's doing, but believe me mate you are not going to hang around here and if you ever lay hands on me again I'll call security."

The man gave him a faint and sardonic smile. "Kiddo, I AM security."

"Not once I talk to Max you're not." Val swiped his jacket up off the sofa. "Well Mr. Mcwhatever, have a nice evening. Go home. Someone from Orion will contact you and deal with this mistake."

Luke let the young man stride out ahead of him. Then quietly followed him down the hall.



The reception was large, over filled and over rich with alcohol and photographers. Luke melted into the walls of the foyer and watched his young charge circulate with the ease of the very attractive and the very convinced of being very attractive. About twenty years old. Dark, with soft eyes that belied a determined chin and a very ready pout. Long eyelashes. A body that showed hard work- probably at the instigation of the Orion company- but which before muscles were added, had been slight and almost delicate. The boy radiated a charm that lit up group after group of those he spoke to. Obviously he could be very engaging. When he wished to be. Luke watched him for some time, still reflecting on the job description and orders issued from Orion. This young man attracted a lot of media and public attention, he was the biggest crowd raiser in the Orion stable. He was to provide for Val's personal safety at all times, only handing him over to the rest of the security team during the daylight hours of rehearsal times. He was to ensure the security of all functions Val attended. Not a difficult job for an ex paratrooper. Even four years out of Ireland, Luke still automatically made sure of his escape routes when he entered any building. He drifted for nearly two hours, watching the party progress. It was nearly midnight when trouble struck.

Luke heard a loud crash and saw Val alone by a table now totally engulfed in flames. Val was staring in complete shock, his face white and drawn. Flashbulbs were popping at an alarming rate, making it seem as if they were in a dance club. Luke made a lightening quick assessment of the situation, catching a fleeing figure escaping out a side door out of the corner of his eye as he reached Val.

Val remained motionless, his eyes lost in the flames. It felt like a freight train hit him and the breath was knocked from his body. He quickly found himself staring at the floor, wondering how in the world he had gotten in that position. He grabbed for coat tails to steady himself and raised his head up to look. His vision was obscured from the bright flashes of light as the cameras continued clicking. A moment later a door was slammed shut between him and the chaos.

Luke set Val down on his feet.

"Are you alright?" Luke asked, looking Val up and down, making sure he wasn't on fire or injured in any way.

"HOW COULD YOU?!! Mr...McFucking whatever! You do NOT throw me over your shoulder like some bag of...of grain! I told you that Orion would contact you about this...this OUTRAGE! You are NOT employed by me, I will NOT be followed by you, you WILL not touch me again you... you...GORILLA!!!" Val was furious at his supposed mistreatment and stood there shaking with the adrenaline rush.

"McNeil. It's Mr. McNeil. Glad you got that out of your system. Now lets get back to the hotel before the reporters find us here." Luke went to grab Val to steer him towards the exit.

"I SAID don't touch me, or I'll call security!"

"I AM security, now let's go!"

Val stomped his feet in frustration. "NO!" And then he tried to head back the way they had come. One LARGE problem with that. Luke was between him and the door. He found himself again against his will tossed over that strong shoulder and bodily carried out. He screamed in frustration and beat his fists against Luke's back.

Luke completely ignored the punches raining down on his back, and tried to shut his ears from the screeching that Val was making. To have such a wonderful singing voice, the screeching he made was horrendous and irritating as hell. Luke deposited a flailing Val into the front seat of his truck and shut the door. He went around to the driver's side and jumped in.

Val tried in desperation to jump back out of the truck. The door wouldn't open, even after he gave a shot at unlocking it. "LET ME OUT! Let me out of this damned truck! HELP!! I'm being abducted! HELP!"

Luke watched in amused silence as Val tossed one hell of a temper tantrum, getting increasingly frustrated with the door not opening. He choked back a satisfied smile, knowing the child safety locks were exactly the right thing to have engaged. He figured Val would calm down after a few tries at escaping.

Val didn't calm down. Instead he got increasingly upset and began beating on the window with hands AND head.

Luke jumped back out of the truck and opened the door, grabbing a handful of Val's shirt and dragging him out and roughly pushing him against the side of the truck. He got right up in Val's face, forcing their eyes to meet. "You WILL calm down. We ARE going to the hotel, and you WILL sit quietly and not touch anything in my truck. You make ONE sound, touch ONE thing, you will be the sorriest boy on this planet, is... that... perfectly... clear?"

Val looked into eyes that were literally on fire. He was shocked into silence, his hands falling at his sides. No one had ever spoken to him like that before.

"I'm waiting on your answer young man!"

Val blinked back to consciousness and answered in a tiny voice "Yes."

Luke let go of the shirt and backed away. Val climbed back into the truck and let Luke close the door. The drive to the hotel was done in silence. Fire on one side, ice on the other. Resolve on both sides, one to protect, one to rebel. The cast was set.



Luke awoke the next morning at the usual 5:45 AM, even after having gone to bed at 2. He never needed an alarm. He went first for the paper outside his hotel room door. He took a seat at the table and opened the paper to find that he and Val had made the front cover. "Sexy Stranger Saves Teen Idol" That was not what he wanted to see. The picture showed his back, with Val over the shoulder, looking up in surprise at the cameraman as the picture was being taken. Luke's head was in profile as he searched for the exit. He wondered what temper Val would be in upon awakening and seeing himself on the front page.

Val's immediate response was expressive and articulate. Never an early riser, he woke up to a breakfast tray, his personal assistant and the morning tabloids. Luke, having ascertained his charge was asleep, safe and had no intention of being anywhere else until at least ten AM, returned to his adjoining room. He left it in a hurry at three minutes past nine in response to an almighty crash of china next door and a scream that made him jump.

Diana, Val's personal assistant, collided with him in the doorway, her handbag shielding her head. Val, wearing only sheer silk pyjamas, was reducing the hotel room to a bombsite. Furniture was being overturned, anything within reach was being thrown, Val was producing sounds that resembled pigs being castrated and the breakfast tray was leaking coffee and orange juice into the bed. Luke held onto the door frame, mildly staggered. The five foot seven whirlwind didn't so much as notice him. Luke moved to let Diana flee, shut the door behind her and caught Val by one sheer silked wrist. Val immediately turned the force of his tantrum on him, without even seeing who was there. Luke grabbed for and held his second flailing wrist, struggled for a minute, then swept Val over his shoulder and carried him through the connecting doors into his own room. Val, dumped without ceremony on the bed, stopped screaming in sheer surprise. The pyjamas were designer wear and would make most men look either ridiculous or illegal. They made Val look like a small boy, sitting bare foot and tousle haired on the quilt, his eyes round with shock.

"What on earth," Luke said quietly and sharply, "was all that about?" Val swallowed and summoned up his breath for another scream. "Have you SEEN-"

"Yes." Luke said shortly, cutting him off. "Forget it. It'll be around someone's cod and chips tomorrow."

"FORGET!?!" Val went to stand up, ready to fight more but was brought up short by the sternest voice he had yet to hear.

"SIT DOWN!"

Val fell back on the bed and looked up in complete shock. The face he looked into was one of barely controlled fury.

"Don't move, and don't make a sound." Luke turned on his heel and went to find the day's itinerary.

Val sat on the bed only as he was still in complete shock at the... monster that he had just been attacked by.

Luke found the itinerary and perused the day's events. One talk show at 3:00, and a request by Val to attend another late night party at a downtown bar. Luke had already decided Val wasn't going to the party that night as the security issues were too dangerous. It was not the formal parties that Val was used to attending, instead being an all night music fest put on by a few friends of Val's and anyone was able to buy tickets to attend. He had yet to tell Mr. Quentin of his decision, knowing it was going to be a tantrum inducing argument and he had only known Val now for less than 24 hours!

Luke made his first executive decision. He had not planned on rocking the boat this soon, but Storm had entrusted him with his son's safety and security, and extended the duties to include guardian. It was time he and Val had a talk, and he knew it wasn't going to be pleasant. It was going to start with a proper introduction and end with Mr. Quentin apologizing to Diane and cleaning up the godawful mess in the other room. In between that he was going to make sure Val knew that he was the final authority on ALL things considered, and that the party this evening was NOT an option.

He called Diane and told her to cancel the talk show for today, that Val wasn't feeling well enough to attend. Then he went in to confront his charge. He found Val where he left him. He grabbed a chair from the desk and sat down.

"Right. First things first, kiddo-"

"Don't you call me-"

"I said I didn't want to hear a word from you!" Luke thundered, making Val jump. "Sit there, keep your mouth closed and listen! I cancelled the talk show with Diane, you're going to be busy today-"

"Wh-" Val caught Luke's eye and changed his mind, fuming. He had a few things he intended to say to Max and to his father as soon as he escaped this gorilla.

"Secondly, there is no way you are going near that fiasco tonight. It's a security nightmare."

That broke past any sense of self preservation Val had. He was on his feet and outraged.

"You can't make decisions like that!"

"Watch me." Luke said dryly. Val's voice rose several notches.

"I'll go where ever I fucking well choose and there is nothing you can do about it!"

Luke was again shocked at the behavior of this young man. He was completely out of control! Luke stood up, towering over the youngster. He said in what he thought was a voice brooking no argument "SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!!!"

"FUCK YOU!" Val replied at the top of his lungs, intent on running past Luke and leaving the room, finding Max and getting rid of this man.

Luke was almost as surprised as Val was when he found himself seated on the bed, Val across his knees. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

Val was furiously kicking and flopping around, trying everything he could think of to get out of this compromised situation he found himself in, screaming and cursing at the top of his lungs the entire time. Luke had him anchored too tightly. Then, wonder of all wonders, the gorilla actually started spanking him! The first few spanks completely shut Val up as he was in complete shock at this treatment. Then with renewed determination borne from complete indignation at this treatment, he began screaming again.

If Luke heard him, and he gave no sign of having done so, he was completely unimpressed. His hand fell like a machine again and again across the seat of Val's sheer pyjama bottoms with a force that quickly altered the pitch and tone of Val's howls.

Luke was aware of no small sense of satisfaction as he heard the kid start to wail, the shrieks of temper rapidly being replaced by something a lot more plaintive. He was venting no little of his own exasperation in the steady and hard smacks he rained down on Val's tightly curved little butt. However he made himself stop after twenty or thirty such smacks and jerked Val to his feet. The boy was outraged.

"You HIT me!"

"I didn't hit you, I spanked you. BIG difference. Trust me kiddo, if I hit you, you'd be picking yourself up off the floor. Now, can we get on with our conversation?"

"You son of -"

"I wouldn't say that if you know what's good for you. Calm down, sit down, and listen." Luke spoke slowly and clearly.

Val looked at Luke's face and saw that same no nonsense look. He decided that he couldn't beat the gorilla so he would just pretend to do as he was asked until the opportunity arose to run out. He plopped back down on the bed, forgetting about the pain of his freshly spanked bottom. He winced but stayed put.

"This relationship has started out on the wrong foot. We've been thrown together with hardly the proper introduction. I'm Luke McNeil and I'm pleased to meet you." Luke held out his hand towards Val.

Val just continued looking at the floor not interested in the least with what Mr. Gorilla had to say.

Luke didn't appreciate the continued cold shoulder but went ahead and moved on. This wasn't the time to be picky. "Fine, don't shake my hand." He sat back down in the chair. "I'm your new security manager and bodyguard. Your father hired me to help protect you from your fans, the maniacs and anyone else that may purposely or accidentally hurt you. I take my job very seriously, and will do whatever I must to ensure your safety AT ALL TIMES."

Val snorted. "I need security to protect me from you."

Luke continued on as if Val hadn't said anything. "We don't have to like each other, though that would make the job easier. But we DO have to work together. I will treat you with respect, and I expect to be treated with the same respect."

"Yeah, respect this." Val said under his breath.

Luke's tone sharpened. "And if you don't moderate your language a bit, kiddo, you are going to regret it. I don't like being spoken to in that way."

"So?" Val taunted, still fairly quietly. Luke resisted the urge to break the kid's neck. How on earth Storm Quentin had ever allowed a kid this age and size to turn into such a monster was beyond his comprehension.

The only way NOT to let this turn into an even uglier situation was to just leave for a few minutes.

"Think about what I said. We ARE working together. And your attitude WILL change. I'm going outside for a few minutes. You will either sit there until you can speak civilly to me, or begin picking up your room. You are NOT leaving until it is done." Luke had gotten up and grabbed his cell phone and closed the door on the last word.

Val exploded as the door shut, ripping the phone off the bedside table and chucking it at the door. He waited a moment to see if Luke opened the door again, but it remained closed. He then decided to immediately call his father, this man was NOT going to treat him this way. He dialed the phone in the other bedroom, but the line was busy. It took ten minutes before the line was free.

"Father, you have got to fire that ape of a bodyguard. Things just aren't going to work. He HIT me, dad, he hit me."

Mr. Quentin wanted to hear his son's side of the story. "Val, what happened? Where... why did he hit you?"

Val decided a few minutes of embarrassment would be better than having to live with the ape 24 hours a day. "He... he spanked me, like I was five years old. He didn't like what I said, and he spanked me. Dad, he's an employee for god's sake, and he hit me! What more do you need to know? You have GOT to get rid of him! He's holding me hostage too! Are you going to fire him, or should I?"

He was becoming increasingly upset.

"Val, he is not about to be fired."

"WHAT?!?! He hits me and you won't fire him?!?"

"Son, I trusted him with my life years ago, and I'd do the same now. And I trust him with YOUR life. He is there to stay, and knowing him the way I do, I'd advise you to follow his instructions. I think that spanking was way overdue, and I'd have no problems whatsoever should he feel the need to do it again. Listen to him. Trust him. Obey him. And you'd better learn to love him, as he is there to stay." With that, Mr. Quentin hung up the phone.

Val stared at the phone in disbelief, moving beyond outrage now. Who did these people think they were? How OLD did he look for crying out loud? Furious, Val ripped the wardrobe open and rapidly sorted out clothes. He dressed while he surveyed the window and the balcony. Val Quentin this year was a rapidly rising teen media star. Val Quentin of two years ago was an unquenchable climber with experience, a lot of energy and a good proportion of simple disinterest in risk. He opened the window softly, hooked one trainered foot over the balcony rail and leaned to slide the window shut again before he began the climb down to the ground. For an agile boy it was no problem. Balcony led to balcony down and down the side of the hotel until he reached a simple eight foot drop to the pavement. Val landed on his feet, brushed his hands off and gave the doorman a bow in response to the look of shock. Then he fastened his jacket and headed for the nearest taxi rank. If the gorilla thought he was going to gaff this particular show, he had another think coming.



Luke was pacing the hotel hallway, working off his energy in movement. He hadn't heard anything in the room since the phone slammed against the door. He was wondering whether Val was still sitting on the bed or if he had actually gotten up to clean anything. Finally, he had had enough pacing and decided to see where his charge was. He opened the door and walked in. He picked up the phone and set it on the table. It was rather quiet in the room. Too quiet. He walked into Val's room and the first thing he noticed was the pyjamas tossed in a heap on the floor and the wardrobe standing open, clothes across the bed. He ran over to the window finding it closed but unlocked. He opened it and leaned out, looking at the incredible drop of four floors to the pavement below. There was no flattened Val on the pavement. He looked down the street and saw his charge getting into a taxi.

What he said was neither legal nor anatomically possible.