Fake Fan Fiction ❯ FAKE in Love: Act XVII, Murder and Mayhem ❯ Chapter 1

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Warnings and Disclaimers: I'm not Sanami Matoh. I'm not making any money off of this. This story contains adult situations and language as well as some `chicka-chicka-bow-wow' moments between men. This is set in the “FAKE in Love” time line, so if you haven't read the other posts, you might be a wee bit confused. And please review if you have time. Rat bastards.
 
It had been over seventy-two hours.
Dee stared up at the clock with a slight growl, his hair disheveled and tie lost somewhere around hour fifty-one. What little good humor he had left was fast fading. They'd been working on a high profile murder case, one that had the mayor breathing down Rose's neck and Rose down the Chief, and the Chief screaming at them. In a stroke of amazing luck that all involved parties would chalk up to brilliant police work, they had actually succeeded in pinning down the killer with what Dee was praying would be an airtight confession.
Dee sighed and his eyes strayed to his partner, his gaze immediately softening.
Ryo was at his desk, his arms folded and head resting upon them as he slept. He looked tense, even now, and Dee closed his eyes for a moment as he thanked God for such a great partner. Ryo was intelligent, quick, hard working, and he knew just how to take control of a situation to get things organized and done. Dee had no doubt that one of these days he'd be answering to Chief MacLean.
He'd told Ryo that once and his partner had just laughed and shook his head.
Now Dee slowly got to his feet and clicked the lock shut on their door and closed the blinds tightly. He flicked off the light and made his way back through the semi-gloom until he was standing behind his sleeping partner. He sighed as he brushed his hands through Ryo's hair, his lover shifting a little and murmuring quietly. Dee smiled and knelt next to him, his lips soft on Ryo's cheek.
“Hey,” Dee whispered. “Come on…”
He tugged at Ryo a little and the man mumbled quietly as he sat up, his fingers rubbing lightly at his eyes. He blinked in their dark office, that adorable sleepy look on his face that just made Dee want to wrap around him and never let go.
“What?” Ryo muttered. “Can we go home now?”
Dee chuckled softly and framed Ryo's face in his hands, his partner still groggily trying to blink his eyes clear. He leaned forward for a soft sweet kiss, Ryo sighing quietly as he leaned into Dee's gentle touch. Dee pulled back slowly, still smiling, and saw that a little of the daze in Ryo's eyes had started to clear.
“You're going to be sore if you sleep like that too long,” Dee told him as he took a deep breath.
Ryo smelled good. Even after hours of being basically trapped at the station his partner still smelled so clean and good. Dee leaned forward to nuzzle against Ryo's neck, a long yawn escaping his partner. His tongue slid out to tease over Ryo's pulse and he felt Ryo's head tilt just a little to give him more skin. Dee smiled and began to drop slow kisses up and down Ryo's throat.
“I don't think we should do this here,” Ryo murmured.
“We were off the clock at least thirty-six hours ago,” Dee told him as his lips drifted down to the collar of Ryo's shirt. “I think we're due.”
“You always think that,” Ryo mumbled.
“Maybe it's always true,” Dee told him with a grin.
It was like he had never left. Most of the time Dee couldn't help but think of everything that happened as something over and done with, or something that had happened to someone else. He was back at work, and doing a damn fine job, and that was all that mattered. There were moments when he faltered, instances when he was suddenly painfully reminded of everything that had happened. It snuck up on him, catching him completely off guard, and sometimes he wondered what in the hell he was doing. His eyes brushed across Ryo and he smiled again; now was not one of those moments.
Ryo yawned again and one arm hooked up around Dee's neck.
“Are we going to sleep here again?” Ryo asked his voice still heavy and groggy sounding.
“I don't think we need to,” Dee said. “We can if you want to.”
Ryo sighed and tightened his arm a little.
“I don't think I can take another night sleeping on that old couch,” Ryo said.
“Then let's pick up some dinner, curl up at home, and then sleep for a week in our own bed.”
“That sounds great,” Ryo mumbled. “It feels like it's been forever.”
“You're exaggerating a little,” Dee said with a chuckle.
Ryo smiled and closed his eyes again.
“Let's go before I fall asleep again.”
 
“Yeah, whatever,” Bikky scoffed as he clumped down the hallway, Carol trailing after him with a loud laugh. “You're just pissed that I won. On crutches.”
“Maybe I let you win,” she teased with a mischievous grin.
Bikky shot her a dark glare.
“You'd better just be messing around,” he growled.
Carol giggled.
“You sound like Dee when you do that.”
Bikky made a disgusted face and shook his head.
“What is with you and picking on me?”
“If I didn't torture you, you'd think you were dying,” Carol said lightly. “Give me your keys, I'll get the door.”
“Great,” Bikky muttered and tossed her his key ring.
“Is there any food left in your house?” Carol asked as she fit the key into the lock.
“Nah,” Bikky answered boredly. “Dad and the moron still haven't been back.”
“So that's why you're out and about again,” she said with a sly smirk. “Ryo thinks you're dutifully studying at home, you know.”
“And he had better keep thinking that,” Bikky said. “Unless you don't want to spend anymore time with me.”
Carol rolled her eyes and opened the door.
“Don't be so dramatic,” she told him as she tossed him the keys.
“BENJAMIN RICHARD MACLEAN! Get in here now!”
Bikky froze, Carol's face dropping as Ryo's voice echoed out through the hallway. Bikky winced then, his shoulders slumping as he shook his head.
“You'd better go,” he said glumly. “No reason for you to get caught up in this too.”
Carol bit her lip a moment and then nodded, quickly squeezing Bikky's shoulder as she passed him.
“I'll see you at school tomorrow,” she whispered.
“As long as they don't kill me,” Bikky grumbled.
He crutched inside, one foot kicking back absently to shut the door. Bikky moved as slow as he could now, stretching out every action to gain every possible second. All three names. Not a good sign. Not a good sign at all.
He sighed as he came into the living room, his face a blank mask; only his eyes showed any of the worry that was starting to pump through his veins. Dee and Ryo were sitting on the couch, the remains of a pizza spread out on the coffee table. Ryo's eyes were narrowed and angry, and Bikky couldn't help but notice the faint smile that tugged at the edges of Dee's mouth. Vibrant green eyes flashed at him.
You are in SO much trouble.
Bikky glared back.
I fucking know.
Dee didn't seem to pick up the message and continued to quietly smirk as Bikky made his way to stand before them. It was like being on trial.
“So,” he said carefully. “Finish your case?”
“Where were you?” Ryo asked slowly, his voice tense and almost menacing.
Bikky shrugged a little.
“Around.”
He watched Ryo's mouth thin and could almost feel his dad tensing up with irritation. Bikky took a deep breath.
“I was out with Carol,” he said. “We went to the arcade for a while after school.”
“And where were you supposed to be after school?” Ryo bit out.
Bikky sighed loudly.
“Here,” he answered dully.
“Oh so you did remember,” Ryo said. “Do you also happen to remember why you're supposed to come home straight after school?”
“I'm grounded,” Bikky said flatly.
“You remember that too,” Ryo said, the volume of his voice rising a little. “Well guess what? You've got two more weeks to remember now.”
“What?” Bikky snapped. “That's not fair. It was only a couple of hours!”
“I don't care,” Ryo told him. “You were grounded and you went out anyway. Should we talk about the rest of the week? How many of those days when Dee and I weren't here to meet you did you actually come home?”
Bikky's lips pursed and a faint blush fanned across his cheeks. Ryo scowled and shook his head.
“That's what I thought,” he said darkly. “Now go to your room and bring me all your cables and all your handheld stuff.”
“Dad!”
“You want to go for three weeks?” Ryo challenged.
Bikky's eyes darkened and he glared at the both of them as he clomped loudly through the apartment. He deliberately clattered loudly in his room, scattering everything he could as noisily as possible. Dee shook his head as he listened to Bikky trash his room.
“He's not taking this very well.”
Ryo's eyes slid to him and Dee held his hands out.
“Hey, don't look at me like that,” Dee said. “I think he deserves worse. Maybe we should shift our schedules around a little so one of us is here when he's supposed to be home.”
“What?!”
Both glanced over their shoulders as Bikky emerged from his room, a tangled mass of cables and electronic devices clutched in his hand as he leaned on his crutches. He threw the cords to the floor and stomped angrily back to them.
“I don't need a babysitter,” he snapped.
“Could have fooled me,” Dee answered lazily as he leaned back into the couch and lit a cigarette.
“Shut up,” Bikky bit out. “I don't need to hear it from you, asshole.”
“Bikky,” Ryo said sharply. “That's enough. Go to your room and I don't want to hear a sound for the rest of the night, are we clear?”
“Yeah, fine,” Bikky said angrily. “God, I wish I still lived on the fucking streets! I hate this place!”
He stared back at Ryo's blank face in angry triumph and then slammed his door shut. The apartment quieted immediately. Ryo blinked slowly and slumped down into the couch. Silence stretched between them and Dee gently squeezed his partner's shoulder.
“He didn't mean that,” Dee said softly.
“I know,” Ryo answered in the same quiet voice. “He's just at that age.”
“Oh that age is just beginning,” Dee said tiredly and regretfully ground out his cigarette. “You ready for bed?”
“Yeah, sure,” Ryo said distantly.
Dee frowned slightly and gently poked Ryo in the chest.
“What?” he asked, a little concern in his voice.
Ryo blinked and then sighed softly as he shook his head.
“Just thinking,” he said and smiled a little.
Dee waited but Ryo didn't say anymore.
“About what?” he finally pressed, his own smile pulling at his features.
“The things I used to say to my parents,” Ryo said and shrugged.
Dee couldn't help the small snort that escaped him.
“What? Like `gee, sorry Mom and Dad, I was only fifteen minutes early today because I had to stop and help an old lady cross the street. It'd be real keen if you could forgive me.' That kind of thing?”
Ryo smacked him sharply on the shoulder and shook his head, but he was smiling now. He pulled Dee to lean comfortably against him and slowly ran his fingers through soft dark hair.
“Just what kind of kid do you think I was?” Ryo murmured.
“The overachieving kind,” Dee answered without hesitation.
Ryo laughed and Dee smiled; he liked the feel of the sound running through Ryo's chest.
“Really?” Ryo asked and lightly massaged at Dee's neck.
“Oh yeah,” Dee said and turned to nuzzle against Ryo's chest. “Once a Sandra Dee, always a Sandra Dee.”
He earned himself another playful slap, but this time on a much lower extremity.
“You are quite the disciplinarian tonight,” Dee purred.
Ryo laughed again and lightly hugged Dee. Both smiled and leaned back into the couch, a comfortable moment of silence passing between them. Dee chuckled softly and turned to slowly nibble at the buttons on Ryo's shirt.
“I do believe I was planning to take you to bed tonight,” Dee murmured and then deftly opened one button using nothing but his lips.
Ryo laughed and his fingers again moved to brush through Dee's hair.
“I think you did make that offer,” he agreed.
Dee chuckled and nudged the fabric apart enough to bare a small patch of smooth soft skin. He rubbed his lips against it, a smile on his face as he slowly dropped a long kiss on Ryo's chest.
“Just how far do you think I can get before we're interrupted?” Dee teased.
“You and your sunny outlook,” Ryo answered.
Dee chuckled again and turned back to open another button and nuzzle closer.
The phone rang.
Dee slumped against Ryo, an annoyed grunt escaping him as he shook his head.
“I swear to God I'm going to rip that thing out of the wall one of these days,” he said lowly. “Are you ready to start pretending we're not home yet?”
Ryo rubbed at Dee's neck until his partner lifted his head to meet Ryo's eyes.
“No,” Ryo answered simply. “Get up. You get the phone and I'll get the rest of dinner put away.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Dee muttered as he rolled off of his partner and onto his feet.
Dee disappeared into the bedroom, Ryo absently piling the rest of their pizza into one box and heading towards the kitchen. He paused then, a small frown on his face and instead headed to Bikky's door. Ryo hesitated there, uncertain of just what he wanted to say to his adopted son, and then knocked softly. There was no answer.
Ryo opened the door a crack and peered inside, a little hurt on his face when he spotted Bikky stretched out on the bed and deliberately ignoring him. Ryo sighed quietly as he watched Bikky pretend to sleep and then shook his head.
“Good night Bikky,” he whispered.
Ryo shut the door and ran a hand through his hair as he tossed the rest of the pizza in the fridge. What was he doing? What did he know about being a dad? He shook his head again and headed for the living room.
“Ryo,” Dee called quietly from the bedroom door, his face dark and phone still pressed to his ear. “It's Rose.”
Ryo frowned.
“Rose?”
He held his hand out and Dee gave him the phone, his partner's hand moving to lightly rest at the back of his neck. Ryo gave him a confused look and lifted the phone to his ear.
“Sir?”
“Ryo, I've got some news.”
Ryo glanced at Dee again, his frown darkening as Dee continued to stare worriedly.
“Yes sir?”
“It's Derrick Marsh. He's up for parole.”
Ryo froze.
For a minute he wished that the name meant nothing. He wished that he didn't know what Rose was talking about. He wished he could frown and pretend that Derrick Marsh hadn't left a very dark memory in his past, but he wasn't strong enough to do that. Memories flooded through his mind in the blink of his eyes, the feel of a knife against his skin, of soft words laughingly spoken, of being drugged and beaten, of panic, of survival.
“That's…that's impossible,” Ryo managed finally. “Sir, that's not possible.”
“It's happening,” Rose said with a long sigh. “He's a model prisoner and he's been…prison life doesn't suit him too well. Jeff Taylor wants you to go to the hearing, just to be a presence even if they don't ask you to testify. Can you make it?”
“When?” Ryo asked distantly.
How long had it been? How long had it really been? Marsh was a convicted murderer who had enjoyed torturing his victims by slowly cutting them to pieces. He had carved a trail of bloodshed across the country and been the focus of one of the FBI's most intrusive manhunts. It was…unbelievable that he could even be considered for any kind of parole.
“Next week,” Rose said. “I'll get you the information tomorrow. I just thought you should hear it from me before you saw it anywhere else.”
“Yes, thank you sir.”
“Are you okay Ryo?”
“Fine, sir.”
Ryo sighed quietly; he could almost feel Rose's eyes narrow at that statement.
A moment of silence stretched out and then the Commissioner sighed heavily.
“Put Laytner back on.”
Ryo held the phone back out to Dee.
“He wants to talk to you.”
Dee took the phone back and frowned a little as Ryo pulled away from his hand and absently headed into the bedroom. The door clicked shut and Dee shook his head.
“Yeah?” he said finally.
“Does he look fine to you?” Rose asked flatly.
“What the hell kind of question is that?” Dee asked and glared at the ashtray and half-smoked cigarette that now filled it. “You just told him a guy that tried to kill him could be back out on the streets soon. How did you think he'd be with it?”
“Shut it detective,” Rose snapped. “Now I need to ask you something and you aren't going to like hearing it, but I want you to just remind yourself that it's in Ryo's best interests that you answer me honestly.”
Dee's mouth thinned to a pale line.
“What?”
“Can you handle this?”
Confusion darted through Dee and irritated rage quickly followed. Could he handle this? What the hell kind of question was that?
“I'm fine,” he practically snarled into the phone. “You didn't seem so concerned when you had us locked up at the station for three days in a row.”
“That wasn't personal,” Rose said.
“This--”
“Don't you even try and tell me that you won't make this into something personal,” Rose warned. “I know you Laytner.”
Dee growled low in his throat and shook his head.
“Look, I'll be fine, I've got Ryo. We'll take care of each other.”
Rose was silent a moment and then a long sigh brushed over Dee.
“I'll get you both cleared to attend.”
“Good,” Dee grunted and then grimaced a little. “Thank you…sir.”
Rose chuckled in his ear.
“I'll bet that just about killed you.”
“You have no idea.”
“Have a good night, Detective.”
“Good night,” Dee answered and hung up.
He boredly fiddled with the phone a little as he headed into the bedroom, his eyes half lidded and worried. The room was dark now, Ryo an indistinguishable lump in the bed.
“Hey,” Dee said softly as he tossed the phone on the bedside table and sat down next to Ryo.
“Hmm?”
Dee chuckled and shook his head.
“Don't even try that with me,” Dee said and lightly brushed his fingers through Ryo's hair. “I can always tell when you're faking at something.”
Ryo was silent and Dee calmly stretched out on the bed next to him, his arms sliding out to wrap around Ryo and pull him close. He nuzzled down into his partner, Ryo fitting perfectly against him.
“Rose is going to set it all up,” Dee said softly. “We'll both go.”
“Yeah,” Ryo answered.
They were both silent then and Dee untangled himself long enough to strip down to his boxers and climb under the blankets. He tugged at Ryo until his partner was spooned up around him, Ryo's heart beating softly against his back. Dee smiled and lightly squeezed Ryo's arms where they crossed around him. He felt Ryo lean in closer, his partner's breath warm on his neck as Ryo buried his face in dark hair.
“What are you thinking?” Dee asked.
Ryo sighed then.
“You don't know?”
“Ryo…”
“I was thinking about how long it's been since Marsh,” Ryo said.
Dee snorted.
“Don't get me started, I can't believe anyone would think he's done enough time to--”
“That's not what I meant,” Ryo said. “It hasn't been long for him, but for us…”
He tightened his arms around Dee and dropped a light kiss against the back of his partner's head.
“So much has happened,” Ryo said softly. “And there's still so much.”
Dee smiled and again squeezed Ryo's arms.
“Say it Ryo,” he whispered.
Ryo's eyes closed and he molded his body perfectly to Dee's.
“I love you,” he said softly. “More than anything.”