Fake Fan Fiction ❯ FAKE In Love: Act XV, Fires and Distance ❯ Chapter 3

Warnings and Disclaimers: Not Sanami Matoh. Not making any money here. Poor, poor, poor.

 

 

Ryo rested the rifle easily against his shoulder and sighted down at his target. It felt nice to get out to the range and he smiled slightly as he pulled the trigger. Bulls eye.

Dee had been called to the Chief's office to explain some notes he had made on a case. The clarification was probably needed thanks to Dee's less than legible handwriting. Another smile curled Ryo's lips; he prided himself on being able to scan Dee's scribbles and translate them perfectly. The rest of the station didn't seem to have the same skills. Fortunately Dee had a perfect memory and would be able to pull up every necessary detail, even if it wasn't already included in his reports.

Another shot rang out and Ryo adjusted slightly as he continued to fire. He supposed some people would find it strange, but shooting was soothing to him.

And he had the feeling that he was going to need to have his nerves soothed a lot soon.

The policemen's ball wasn't exactly the star-studded dining gala that most movies and cop shows made it out to be. It was a fundraiser, and, while Rose was correct about how successful it was, it was a damn boring one. The first year he had transferred into the 27th he had attended, and found himself being steered to dozens of little swarms of `concerned' citizens who wanted to hear stories about the gritty streets. Most had seemed disappointed when he had informed them that he hadn't ever killed a suspect. Dee had been conspicuously absent, and Ryo had been steadily overwhelmed by the need to smile and nod and do his best not to offend. It was exhausting, and he had ended the night by vowing never to go again.

After that, he and Dee had always conspired to see that they were always busy when the event rolled around. Last year had been damn close. They had actually been walking up the steps towards the yawning maw of overdressed socialites and bored yuppies when Ryo's cell phone rang. Both men had practically sprinted back to the car and had been grinning like maniacs when they pulled up to the scene.

Ryo sighed slightly. It didn't look like things were going to work out so well this year. Maybe he should feign illness. He'd been saving his sick days, he could call in three days before it started and hide out until two days after it and still have time to spare. That could work. Ryo chuckled. Dee didn't have any sick time, he abused it whenever he didn't feel like coming into work and his partner would definitely kill him if he abandoned Dee to his fate.

“Nice shooting.”

Ryo jumped slightly and looked up, his face dropping to instant annoyance. Erin Richardson smiled at him, the young detective leaning in entirely too close.

“It's been a while since it's been just you and me,” Erin said silkily.

Ryo shook his head, half in disgust and half in open disbelief. He was holding a loaded gun for God's sake.

“Hello Erin,” he said finally as he took a step away. “You come to practice?”

Erin grinned and held up his gun, a ripple of pride escaping him as he caressed over the weapon.

“She's new,” Erin said. “I've got to set all the sights and get used to her. Isn't she a beaut'?”

Ryo set down his own rifle and carefully accepted the weapon that Richardson handed to him. He inspected it with professional ease and nodded slightly as he raised it to his shoulder and sighted down the range.

“Nice,” Ryo agreed.

“The department's testing them out,” Erin said. “They'll probably call you in next week to have a go at one. Assuming it handles fine in my clumsy hands.”

Ryo smiled in spite of himself and handed the rifle back.

“Be careful with setting the sight,” Ryo said. “It feels a little off balance.”

Richardson frowned and hefted the gun.

“How do you mean?”

Ryo sighed and held his hand out.

“Let me show you.”

 

Damn Ryo MacLean was a sexy man. Erin was grinning inside as he leaned over Ryo's shoulder to watch the detective make a slight adjustment to the gun. His face was a mask of careful study and he nodded when Ryo explained what he was doing. Erin barely heard three words.

He had heard stories about Detective MacLean, about his arrival at the 27th and the years that his partner had spent pursuing him. The rumor mill had also turned out a pretty healthy volume of stories linking Rose into the love triangle. And the involvement of JJ Adams seemed to throw the whole thing into a new and exciting geometry.

But of course all that was in the past. The blue haired sharpshooter was now hopelessly head over heels for some stiff from the FBI. He jabbered about him constantly, and had even sacrificed pouncing on Laytner in order to appease his new lover. And as for Rose…

Erin's mouth thinned slightly and his eyes sparked with light. Rose was now nothing more than a dreaded “friend.” Yes, he had Ryo's trust and could see the sexy detective whenever he wanted, but Erin couldn't imagine surrendering to the terms Rose had accepted. He didn't want Ryo to be his friend, hell he didn't care if he never learned Ryo's middle name. He wanted Ryo MacLean, pure and simple, and he'd do anything he could to get him.

His eyes slid over Ryo's face as the detective raised the gun and nodded slightly as he checked the sight. God, how couldn't he want this man? Dark eyes filled with a beautiful innocence and naiveté, thick brown hair that just begged to be touched, skin that screamed for licks, lips that were made to be kissed…Erin stifled a groan as his gaze drifted over the sleek curves of Ryo's body. And it was all wasted on that idiotic Laytner.

“You see?” Ryo asked.

“Huh? Oh, right,” Erin gave Ryo one of his thousand watt smiles, a grin that had parted more legs than he could modestly admit.

“Good,” Ryo replied, completely oblivious to Erin's charm.

“What are you guys up to?”

Erin felt a growl deep in his brain. Speak of the devil. Laytner had arrived. Sometimes it seemed like the two were joined at the hip; wherever one went, the other was bound to follow. His eyes swiveled to take in Dee and for a moment Erin tried to understand what Ryo saw in him. He was more angular than Ryo, strong cuts to his features and body that hinted at strength and agility. Dark hair that hung in just the perfect way to make him look playful and mysterious, deep green eyes that seemed to pierce down to everything, and a grace that belied absolute surety and confidence. Erin scowled inwardly; who would want someone like that?

“Just checking out Erin's new gun,” Ryo said and glanced at the clock. “Sorry. I guess I lost track of time.”

“No problem,” Dee said as he grabbed Ryo's rifle case and flipped it open. “This way I can help you clean up.”

Ryo chuckled fondly and absently handed Erin's gun back. Erin's mouth thinned irritably. Damn that Laytner, there was no way to keep Ryo's attention when he was around.

“I remember the last time you helped,” Ryo teased.

“That wasn't my fault,” Dee said as he shook his head. “You should have screwed the cap on tighter.”

Ryo smiled and drug his fingers around the edge of a large stain in the case. He shook his head and chuckled.

“God you made a mess.”

“Anal retentive freak,” Dee grumbled as he pulled out the cleaning gear and waited for Ryo to begin disassembling the gun.

What a charming pet name. Erin wanted to bash his gun over Laytner's head. He wondered if Ryo would turn around and help him fix whatever broke on it. Erin sighed and resigned himself to finishing the sighting on his own. He couldn't help the aggravated snarl that curled his lip when he finally fired for the first time.

“Looks good,” Ryo said, a warm body suddenly pressed close to his as Ryo looked down the range.

“Yeah,” Erin said, his irritation completely gone as he drifted back into fantasy. “It's good.”

Ryo smiled at him again and then clapped him on the shoulder.

“See you tomorrow.”

Erin blinked in surprise and then glanced back to see Dee waiting impatiently at the range door. His eyes slid back to Ryo and the detective just smiled again.

“Yeah,” Erin said. “Tomorrow.”

Damn that Laytner anyway.

 

“You want to just pick dinner up?” Dee asked.

“Definitely,” Ryo said as he signed his rifle back into weapons storage. “Italian?”

Dee shrugged. “Mexican?”

“No,” Ryo frowned. “Indian?”

“No, I still think I got food poisoning from the last time we had that.”

“You all but ate the cartons,” Ryo said dismissively. “That would make anyone sick.”

The office door clicked shut behind them as Ryo reached for his coat. He heard the blinds rattle closed and started to pull the thick jacket on when Dee's hands rested at his waist. Ryo froze.

“Then how about,” Dee's breath was warm and tempting on his neck. “Vietnamese?”

Ryo shivered.

It was their code. Going for Vietnamese food in any form guaranteed a night that wouldn't be spent sleeping. Just thinking about the first time he and Dee had gone to a Vietnamese restaurant and the events that had followed made Ryo want to cling to his desk to stay on his feet. Dee blew a long slow breath over his neck and Ryo closed his eyes.

“Absolutely,” he murmured.

Dee grinned and lightly squeezed Ryo's waist before he released him to grab his own coat.

“Then let's get going.”

They stepped back out into the hallway and Dee practically plowed his way through the office, Ryo drifting stunned in his wake.

“Where's the damn fire?” Ted snapped as Dee all but threw him out of the way.

“We're going to dinner,” Dee answered without looking back.

“You're pretty damn eager to eat,” Ted yelled after them.

Dee turned to give Ryo an almost malicious grin and Ryo felt his face burn hotly.

“Should I say anything?” Dee whispered as he smirked happily.

“No,” Ryo muttered. “Let's just go.”

“Sounds like you're eager too.”

“I'm going to kill you,” Ryo said flatly. “I'm going to take out my gun and shoot you in the head.”

“There's that violence again,” Dee said as he shook his head, the cold blast of air from the street sputtering over them. “Damn. We should have parked in the garage.”

“It was full,” Ryo said as he jammed his hands in his pockets. “Hurry up.”

“Should we eat in or take out?” Dee asked.

“Bikky's at--”

Ryo's words were cut off as the world was suddenly thrown on its side by a brilliant blast of light and sound. The sidewalk was hard and cold as both were tossed to the ground, the snow fluttering around them before heat burned against their faces. Dee moaned and his hands fumbled over the pavement like injured animals. His head was screaming and there was a low rumbling in his ears.

“Ryo?” he murmured. “Ryo?”

Ryo groaned loudly and his hand somehow managed to close around Dee's.

“I'm alright,” he whispered, his voice strained and raspy.

The night was alive with the sounds of sirens now, voices yelling loudly over them as a few pairs of feet darted through their vision. Ryo blinked thickly and tried to clear the fog from his brain. What had just happened?

“Dee! Ryo!”

Dee shook his head a little as JJ knelt next to them, his eyes wide and body shaking; he hadn't pulled on a coat when he had burst out into the street.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

Ryo nodded and sat up, one hand still gripping Dee's tightly as the world threatened to spin away from him. Dee sat up slower and winced as he pressed his fingers lightly to his forehead.

“What happened?” he asked. “What hit us?”

“Explosion,” JJ answered, his arms wrapping around his body as he shivered. “Just down the street. Department store.”

“Oh shit,” Dee murmured and tried to get up, halfway pulling Ryo with him. “Are we on scene?”

“Dee sit down!” JJ said with open alarm. “You're bleeding!”

“What?” Dee asked distantly as he stared JJ.

“You're bleeding,” JJ repeated, his voice firm now, despite his chattering teeth. “Sit down and wait for the ambulance.”

“Dee…”

Ryo's voice was groggy and distant and Dee blinked thickly as he turned to look down the street. His hand tightened around Ryo's as he stared at the flames now filling the night.

“Jesus,” he whispered softly. “What happened? Is she alright?”

“Dee…” Ryo repeated.

Dee pulled his eyes away and they drifted down to Ryo.

“Sit down,” Ryo commanded, his voice still almost drugged sounding. “Tell JJ to go inside and get a coat and sit here with me until the ambulance comes.”

Their eyes locked and Dee blinked away a little of the fog that filled his brain. He nodded and his gaze slid back to JJ.

“Go get a coat,” Dee muttered and sat down, his other hand now joining the one that already held Ryo's.

JJ glanced between the two of them warily and then shivered as another burst of wind ripped through him.

“You stay put,” he warned. “Both of you.”

Ryo nodded distantly. JJ disappeared and Ryo gently turned Dee to face him.

“You are bleeding,” Ryo said softly.

Dee frowned and his mouth slid half open. He stared at Ryo and then shook his head.

“Sorry,” he murmured softly. “I just…I thought for a minute…Mother…”

Dee shook his head again and then shrugged.

“I think I went down hard,” he said with a shaky laugh. “It's kind of hard to think.”

“Concussion maybe,” Ryo said softly and gently turned Dee's face with one pale hand. “It looks like it's just a cut.”

“Where are your gloves?” Dee asked.

Ryo smiled slightly. “In my pocket.”

“Put them on.”

Ryo couldn't help but laugh softly. It seemed strange to him. Everything felt disconnected from them. The street was alive with running figures and commands. The night was loud with them, but it didn't seem to reach them. Ryo closed his eyes for a moment. Maybe he was the one with the concussion. He'd been knocked down before, hell, he'd been knocked down by an exploding building before, so why was it so hard to get up now. Dee was squeezing his hand, softly muttering as he kept Ryo close.

“Officers?”

Ryo and Dee both looked up at the medic standing over them; he looked impossibly young.

“I'm here to give you a ride down to the hospital,” he said. “Your commissioner's orders.”

Ryo nodded absently but Dee suddenly looked up with narrowed eyes.

“Which hospital?”