Fake Fan Fiction ❯ FAKE in Love: Act XIV, Family and Forgiveness ❯ Chapter 2

Warnings and Disclaimers: Not Sanami Matoh. Not making a damn dime here. Yaoi involved kids. Set in the FAKE in Love Timeline…as if that wasn't obvious by now.

 

Ryo yawned as they entered the precinct, his body clock still trying to adjust as they switched from days to nights. It was always a hassle to have to go through it, but at least it wasn't summer anymore. God knew it was impossible to sleep through the day when Bikky was at home with them. Ryo chuckled quietly and Dee glanced over.

“What?”

“Just thinking about Bikky,” Ryo said. “He asked for a trip to California for Christmas.”

“Did he?” Dee said with a grin.

“Yeah,” Ryo answered and poured them each a cup of coffee. “I'm still waiting to hear what the real present is.”

Dee laughed loudly and took the cup Ryo held out.

“A new computer,” Dee said. “Which probably won't live up to his expectations.”

“I thought you were an eternal optimist,” Ryo said.

Dee shrugged. “I've decided to be a realist from now on.”

“Laytner! MacLean!”

The Chief's voice carried well and the man knew it. A bellow from him could be heard practically anywhere in the precinct, and he was getting full use of his vocal chords today. Dee scowled but trailed after Ryo as they headed for the big man's office.

“Yes sir?” Ryo asked politely as he stepped inside.

“I've got a case for you and the idiot,” the Chief grumbled.

“That's abuse, you walrus bastard,” Dee snapped.

“Get over it,” the old man answered flatly. “It's not pretty.”

He pushed the file to Ryo who flipped it open and winced at the picture on the top of the stack. It might have been human at one point, but now it was impossible to be sure.

“Jesus,” Dee whispered softly.

“Guy's a serial,” Chief Smith said quietly. “He's been working his way around the Northeast. Seems he finally made his way into New York. You'll have an FBI liaison on this one, and Rose'll probably start breathing down your necks tomorrow. The prick is actually trying to get our precinct in the paper more. I give him three more years before he cuts loose from here and runs for some public office.”

“Maybe we should screw this up just to spite the bastard,” Dee said.

Smith chuckled quietly and shook his head.

“Don't do me any favors,” he said. “God knows we'll miss him when he goes. The man brings more private funding into our building than any other organization. We're also the only precinct that has managed to actually have our budget increased for the last three years.”

“Well shit,” Dee said. “Considering the pittance we had before that's not surprising. If you start at zero it's hard to go down.”

Smith laughed again. “He is a rat bastard, isn't he?”

“Through and through.”

“An arrogant self-righteous piece of shit.”

“Absolutely,” Dee said chipperly.

Smith's eyes glinted. “Are we talking about him or you?”

“For the last goddamn time,” Dee roared. “We're nothing alike!”

 

“I'll give you three guesses who our liaison is going to end up being,” Dee grumbled as they walked back towards their office. “We're going to get that psychopathic nut job, Diana, I just know it.”

Ryo laughed. “Is that your realism kicking in?”

“I do believe it is.”

He opened the door and froze, Claire staring back at him. Ryo peered over his shoulder and frowned slightly when he spotted the strange woman. Dee's mouth thinned angrily, but he quickly swallowed it and turned to give Ryo a strained smile.

“Hey, could you give us a minute? It won't take long, I swear. You can…well, go talk to Drake or something, right?”

Ryo stared at Dee, his frown darkening a little but he shrugged.

“Alright, I'll meet you in the conference room.”

“Thanks,” Dee said and stepped into the office, the door shutting firmly behind him.

Ryo sighed heavily and headed down the hall, boredly flipping through their case file as he walked. God he hated serial killers, why did so many people raise such psychos? He scratched the back of his head as his mind drifted to the woman currently with Dee in their office. His frown returned as he wondered who she was and why Dee was so agitated whenever she showed up.

Probably an ex, Ryo thought distantly and knocked on Drake and JJ's door.

 

“What the fuck are you doing?” Dee practically hissed.

“I'm not giving up,” Claire said, her chin jutting out in a challenging way.

“What?” Dee said with disbelief.

“I'm not giving up,” she repeated. “I'm not going anywhere and I'm not backing off until you agree to talk to me. Look, you don't know me, but I've got a stubborn streak a mile wide, and I'm not backing down. I'm just going to keep showing up until you break down and talk to me.”

Dee's eyes flashed angrily.

“You're not the only stubborn one here,” he yelled. “And I don't break down for anyone!”

Claire smiled suddenly and Dee scowled.

“What?”

“I just learned something about you,” she said triumphantly. “I'd say that makes today a good day.”

Dee's hands shook with annoyance as he glared at her.

“Then call this a red-letter day,” he bellowed sarcastically. “Let me tell you something else about me, I don't do well with threats!”

“I'll see you tomorrow,” she said simply and strolled out of the office.

She paused in the doorway and glanced back with one of her small sad smiles.

“I just want to know you,” she said. “I don't know why that makes you so angry, you're my brother. Don't you want to know me?”

The door shut and Dee gritted his teeth and shook his head angrily, his hands clenching into fists as he forced himself to calm down. Damn that woman. Damn her to hell.

 

Erin Richardson blinked and stared at the tall woman leaving Dee and Ryo's office.

“Brother?” he said softly.

How interesting.

 

“I thought you were a librarian,” Dee said skeptically as Tim stared at them across the small conference table.

“I've been put back into active field placement,” Tim said. “Temporarily, I assure you. Hopefully just for this case, which motivates me quite strongly towards getting it solved. I assume you haven't had time to go over the file yet?”

“No,” Ryo said. “We just got it this evening.”

Tim nodded. “We'll meet again tomorrow night to discuss everything. I'm looking forward to hearing your insights. Good evening gentlemen.”

The conference room door closed behind him and Dee shook his head.

“Well, he's more polite than Diana,” he said. “And he didn't send me for coffee, that's always a plus.”

“He's lulling you into a false sense of security,” Ryo said as he handed Dee half the file. “Here you go.”

“Great,” Dee said. “This is just how I wanted to spend my night.”

“Trapped in a small confining space with notes on a serial killer and a bored partner?” Ryo asked.

“Exactly,” Dee answered with a grin.

They read in silence for a moment and then Ryo set his file down. He patted his pockets and scowled irritably; he had forgotten his glasses, or more accurately, he had never actually made it into their office to get his glasses. Dee chuckled softly and pulled them out of his pocket.

“Here you go,” he said warmly. “I thought you might need them.”

“Thanks,” Ryo murmured, an embarrassed flash darting across his cheeks.

Dee watched a little hungrily as Ryo slid them on, his mind again teasing him with wonderful plans to steal a kiss from Sexy. He sighed heavily and forced himself to turn his attention back to the file in front of him.

“Hey Dee,” Ryo said, his voice suddenly a little hesitant, and Dee tensed; he knew just what Ryo was getting ready to ask.

“Yeah?” he answered as nonchalantly as he could.

“Who was that woman?”

“No one,” Dee said with a small shrug. “Just…”

An old friend? A classmate? An orphan he grew up with? An ex-girlfriend?

“Just…Claire Klarks,” he finished lamely.

Ryo was staring at him openly now, but Dee refused to look up.

“Oh,” Ryo said. “Is she a friend of yours?”

Dee snorted softly. “No.”

“Is--”

Ryo's next question was cut off as the door blew open and JJ bounced into the room. He glanced around and sighed heavily.

“Tim already left, didn't he?”

“What?” Dee asked with a grin. “Didn't he say goodbye?”

“No,” JJ answered loudly. “I'll get him for this. It's not fair, how come you two get to work on a case with my Tim? Why can't Drake and I have it? Come on Mr. Sexy, talk to the Chief!”

JJ leapt across the room and sprawled across the table, one hand tangling in Dee's tie.

“Dammit JJ! Get off!”

“Pleeeeeaaaaaaaase?” JJ said was he grinned at Dee. “Just swap cases with me, you stud.”

“Er, Jemmy?”

JJ glanced over his shoulder and brightened happily as he spotted Tim in the doorway, a slight frown on the tall man's face.

“Tim!” JJ yelled and sprang back across the room. “I thought you'd left already.”

“Uh, no.”

“Good,” JJ said. “I can take you out to dinner then. Bye Ryo, bye Dee-senpai!”

“See you JJ,” Ryo said with a soft chuckle.

“Get lost you psychopath,” Dee grumbled.

“They seem to be getting along,” Ryo said with a smile.

“Thank God,” Dee said and burrowed back into his paperwork.

 

She was there the next day and Dee gritted his teeth angrily as he watched her walk purposely towards him across the large precinct lobby. Ryo glanced between the two, a curious light in his eyes as Claire stepped boldly into Dee's path.

“Good evening,” she said firmly.

Dee glared at her.

Go away, he screamed at her. Stop fucking bothering me!

“Hello again,” Ryo answered brightly. “You're Claire Klarks?”

“Ryo, I'll meet you upstairs,” Dee said flatly.

“Huh?” Ryo glanced over at Dee, but Dee was staring daggers into Claire.

She was staring resolutely back.

“Just give me a minute,” Dee said.

“Okay,” Ryo said. “I'll see you in a few.”

Dee waited until Ryo was out of earshot and then shook his head angrily at Claire.

“Stop it.”

“I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner tonight.”

“No.”

“Tomorrow?”

“No.”

“Pick a day, Dee.”

“Detective Laytner,” he said flatly.

“Fine,” she sighed. “Any day you want Detective Laytner.”

“No.”

“You really are stubborn aren't you?”

“Why are you so stuck on this?” Dee asked angrily. “Why can't you just leave me alone?”

“I've spent years looking for you,” she answered softly. “I'm not giving up.”

“Even if I don't want this?” Dee snapped. “You keep talking about us being a family, so shouldn't you care about what I want at all?”

Claire was silent a moment and then sighed quietly.

“I'll see you tomorrow.”

 

Erin Richardson smiled happily as he leaned against the wall. So this was a perk of being stuck on front desk duty.

 

“Are you okay Dee?”

Dee glanced up from his desk into Ryo's worried eyes and he felt a horrible guilt run through him.

“Fine,” he answered with a tired smile. “Just not sleeping well.”

Unfortunately the explanation seemed to worry Ryo even more. He frowned slightly and pressed his hand to Dee's forehead.

“No fever.”

“I'm not sick,” Dee said and laughed a little. “Just tired, that's all.”

Ryo stared at him intently but Dee just smiled blankly back. At last Ryo sighed and returned to his desk and paperwork. Dee watched him for a moment, his headache slowly loosening and deep peace running through him. God he loved that man.

And that made it all the more painful to lie to him.

Dee wasn't fine. Besides the fact that their case was getting nowhere and dead ends always put him on edge, now he had to deal with the constant stalking of Claire Klarks. She had been waiting for him the last two days, and it was getting harder and harder to duck out on Ryo to get rid of her. He just didn't want to see her, and she just didn't get that.

Dee closed his eyes lightly. Hell, he didn't get it. He didn't understand why her presence made him so angry or why he felt like running away every time he saw her. He just knew that's how he felt, and it was fucking pissing him off that she kept backing him into a goddamned corner. Sooner or later one of them was going to have to break, and with Ryo so close, Dee couldn't help but worry that it was going to have to be him.

And he really wasn't sleeping well.

His thoughts were interrupted by a quick knock at the door and Erin Richardson grinned at them as he stepped inside. Dee scowled back.

“Hi guys,” he said brightly and then leaned against Ryo's desk, his eyes sparking quietly as he pressed in close. “Hi Ryo, how've you been?”

“Er, fine,” Ryo said as he leaned back and Erin chuckled quietly.

“You look good today,” Erin said confidently. “Not like your partner. Why don't we go out tomorrow and let him get some sleep?”

“What the hell?” Dee roared.

Erin chuckled again.

“Well, I figure he told you everything that happened on Halloween, so why bother pretending that I don't like your partner?”

“I thought you said you didn't remember what happened,” Ryo said flatly.

Erin glanced back into his dark eyes and grinned again.

“Did I? Oops.”

“What the hell do you want?” Dee snapped.

“Oh right,” Erin chuckled and shook his head. “I almost forgot. Dee, your sister's waiting downstairs.”

Dee froze, his eyes widening a little as he stared at Erin. Erin grinned back, a devious glint in his gaze.

“Your sister?” Ryo said softly.

Dee's eyes whipped to him and his heart suddenly hurt. Ryo was staring back with such wide eyed surprise, disbelief and open hurt in his dark eyes. Dee suddenly wanted nothing more than to hold Ryo--after he beat the life out of Erin Richardson.

“Is that who she is?” Ryo asked.

“Ryo, I--”

He was interrupted by another knock at their door before Rose looked inside. He scowled at Erin and then frowned darkly as he looked at Ryo.

“Ryo, I need to see you for a moment.”

Ryo was silent and Rose's frown deepened.

“Ryo?”

“Yes sir,” Ryo said quietly.

“Wait,” Dee called weakly, but Ryo didn't pause as he trailed out after Rose, never even looking back before the door shut.

Erin chuckled again.

“You son of a bitch,” Dee hissed as he leapt up from his desk and across the room.

Erin just grinned as Dee grabbed his shirt collar and slammed him into the door.

“What?” Erin asked innocently. “Something wrong? Something you didn't tell him?”

“Why are you doing this?” Dee growled between clenched teeth. “Why are you doing this?”

Erin's smile grew small and cold.

“People fall in and out of love everyday, Dee,” he said softly.

 

“What happened Ryo?” Rose asked as they walked down the busy hallway.

“Nothing sir,” Ryo answered distantly.

Rose sighed and led the way to his office. “I've got some files that you signed off on that I need some clarification on.”

“Yes sir,” Ryo said.

The door clicked shut and the Commissioner handed Ryo the folders, the dark eyes dropping numbly to them. He skimmed through them, answering Rose's questions with complete detachment. At last Rose sighed and took them back, nodding a little as he dropped his notes onto the desk.

“What happened Ryo?” he asked again, his voice gentler this time.

Ryo shook his head. “I don't know.”

“Richardson?”

Ryo shook his head again. “No.”

Rose's mouth thinned and he sighed.

“I'm here Ryo, if you need to talk. Just let me know.”

Ryo nodded slightly. “Thank you Berkeley.”

Rose couldn't help but smile a little at that. He rested his hand on Ryo's shoulder.

“I'm sure it will be fine.”

Ryo nodded again. “Yes sir.”

 

Dee glared down at Claire and shook his head angrily.

“What now?”

“How about dinner tonight?” she asked.

“No,” he snarled back.

He was practically frantic to get rid of her and find Ryo. He didn't know what he was going to say, but he had to tell Ryo something, and at least that he was sorry. Claire frowned slightly.

“Is something wrong?” she asked gently.

“Yes,” Dee snapped. “And it's all your fault. Stop coming here.”

With that he spun on his heel and stormed back down the hall, the dark haired woman staring silently after him a moment longer. At last she sighed and left.

 

Ryo moved slowly down the hall, hesitating as long as possible before he headed back to their office. He just didn't feel like facing Dee right now.

His sister…

That would explain why Dee had been acting so strange lately, but not why Dee hadn't said anything. He sighed heavily and stared up at the ceiling. Dee had done this before. He just would `forget' to mention things like that. Good God Ryo had known him for months before Dee mentioned that he was an orphan, and then like it was no big deal. Ryo paused and ran his hand through his hair.

Was he really any better?

He had certainly kept his share of secrets from his lover, but that had all been in the past. Since they had been together he hadn't hidden…Ryo sighed again and slumped as he headed towards their office at last.

“Detective MacLean.”

Ryo turned as Tim appeared, looking just as pressed and stern as ever.

“Hello Agent,” Ryo answered.

“I have a witness to interview,” Tim said. “I was wondering if you and your partner would like to accompany me.”

Ryo's eyes slid over Tim's shoulder to their office door and he shrugged.

“I'll go, I don't think Dee's around right now.”

“Should we--”

“Let's just go,” Ryo said, effectively cutting him off.