Disclaimer: I don't own them or make any money off of them. I just love them! :)
Warning: Violence, Language, Danger, guys smooching guys, sex, maybe, who knows! Graphic. Angst.
Dee crept around the corner of the dilapidated warehouse. Cobwebs caught him in the face. He batted wildly at them with one hand, skin crawling, as he tried to keep his gun trained on the stacks of abandoned machinery all around him.
The bad guys could be anywhere, Dee thought, Ryo could be anywhere. Where was backup?! How long had it been since he had called for it?
Dee wiped the dripping sweat from his forehead, blinking through his tangle of dark hair. They had driven out to the boondocks to investigate a drug ring, not realizing that they had stumbled onto a drug deal in progress until the surprised dealers had opened fire and scattered. Now they were in a very dangerous situation. The bad guys were on home turf. Dee and Ryo didn't have any idea what the lay of the warehouse, or the surrounding area was, and they had been separated. If they weren't careful, the bad guys were going to win in the worst way.
Dee left his cover to sprint for a large, rusting, hulk of metal, but then went sprawling over another body crouching there. Hitting the concrete hard, Dee rolled and sat up, gun leveling at the person who was leveling his gun at him. Dee's finger froze on the trigger and he exploded in a harsh whisper, "Dammit, Ryo! Where have you been?"
Ryo's handsome face was dirty, a smudge of black on forehead and cheek. "Are you all right, Dee?" he asked softly as he lowered his gun.
"Yeah, you?"
Ryo shrugged and winced. Dee scooted closer to examine his partner. He found a hole in Ryo's coat and the man's right sleeve was dripping blood onto the floor, thick and dark. Dee didn't panic. Ryo was still using the arm, cradling his gun in both hands. Not bad then, Dee thought in relief. It could wait until later to be treated.
"I called for backup on the cell phone," they both said at the same time and then grinned tensely at each other.
Dee went into a half crouch and looked around their cover. "Now, if we can just survive long enough for it to come."
"And keep the drug dealers from leaving," Ryo added.
Dee looked back at his partner briefly, startled. Ryo was so dedicated, Dee thought, even when his life was in danger. Dee himself had scrubbed any notion of arresting anyone. There had been seven men, well armed. It was likely that they were gone already.
Dee couldn't help hoping that they WERE gone. He didn't relish a shootout. Outnumbered, Dee didn't have to guess how it would end.
Something clattered over to their right. Dee jerked towards the sound. Backup or the bad guys? He didn't call out. He felt Ryo lightly touch his hand, an unspoken communication of worry and hope.
"They're here. I know they are!" a rough voice shouted. "Keep looking!" There was a muffled argument with someone else and then the voice snapped. "No! I want them dead. They saw too much!"
Not backup then. Dee felt sweat trickle down into his collar. He looked at Ryo.
"Separate?" Dee whispered.
Ryo began to nod, but then there were more noises as the other drug dealers started narrowing the search. Ryo listened to the sounds carefully and then he went pale as he figured out their positions. "Trapped," he replied and Dee had to agree with him.
"Options?" Dee asked.
Ryo looked in pain. His arm was weakening. He had the gun in one hand now. "None," he replied, knowing he would be useless in a fight of any kind. "Follow procedure. Stay low. Wait. Defend our position."
Dee shook his head. That wasn't an option either. They were about to be discovered. He reached out and touched the side of Ryo's face. He smiled warmly into Ryo's dark eyes. "I'll cover you," he ordered. "Run."
"No!" Ryo ground out. He grabbed Dee by the lapel of his jacket with the same hand that held his gun. That double grip made Dee nervous, but the intense look Ryo gave him made him even more nervous. That look held determination, a willingness to die with Dee if he had to.
"You have to take care of Bicky," Dee countered, knowing how to touch Ryo's heart to the quick.
Ryo frowned, blinking tears. "You can do that too."
Dee smiled sadly now, but couldn't help a spark of irreverence. "No, I can't. I hate him, remember?"
"Hey! There's a trail of blood over here!" Someone shouted very close by.
Ryo gripped Dee's arm, swearing under his breath.
Dee leaned forward and suddenly kissed Ryo, deep and hard. It caught his partner by surprise. When Dee broke the kiss he said, "I love you, Ryo, now, run like Hell!" and then he was flinging himself out of hiding and shooting as quickly as he could. He scrambled across an open space towards another pile of rusting machinery, hoping against hope that the drug dealers would follow him and allow Ryo to escape.
"Everyone freeze!" Voices shouted as bullets started to fly towards Dee. Backup had arrived... too late?
Dee rolled and came up, scrambling on all fours as the bullets zipped over his head and plowed into the old machinery. He was safe! He was crowing it in his head, insanely happy and relieved, when he came face to face with the barrel of a gun. A panting young punk in gang clothes was facing Dee, fury etched on his face as he began to squeeze the trigger.
"Die pi-!"
The man stopped in mid word. His face disappeared in blood as a bullet hit him square between the eyes. A perfect shot. A sharpshooter' skill without a doubt. The drug dealer crumbled to the ground, very dead.
Dee sat down heavily, head spinning with reaction. He had come THAT close. It was hard to get his head around. He needed a moment... maybe more than a moment to recover from it. He hoped that none of the other officers would come close just yet and see him shaking like a baby.
It was Ryo who kneeled in front of Dee, leaning a little to look into Dee's face with worry and an hint of anger. The light from some crack in the ceiling was flashing downward and striking directly on Ryo. He seemed an angel just then, honey colored hair glowing and pale skin almost translucent. He was more handsome than any man had a right to be and just his presence was calming Dee down. If only he didn't ruin it by-
"How could you do that?!" Ryo fumed. "What procedure were you following? We would have had more of a chance splitting up and trying to get out quietly. Dee...," Ryo choked suddenly and Dee saw him trying his best to hold back tears. "Don't you ever try to die for me again!"
"Okay," was all Dee could manage in reply.
"We're detectives!" Ryo continued. "You have to think with your head not with your... not with your heart," he finished softly so that no one else could hear. "We'll both die if you do. I-I ran after you. I wasn't going to let you die alone."
"Okay," Dee breathed again, trying to stop his shaking, trying to pull the vestiges of his manhood back together, and now trying to come to terms with the fact that he had almost killed Ryo too.
"Somebody hurt?" A voice behind them asked.
"Dee?" Ryo asked, forgetting anger and replacing it with worry.
"Scratches," Dee replied gruffly. "You're the one with the bullet hole, remember?"
The paramedic motioned Ryo to sit on the floor as he kneeled with his medical case. Dee watched dazedly as Ryo took off his coat and then gingerly rolled up a sleeve black with blood. The paramedic probed gently. Ryo bit back an exclamation.
"Just a shallow flesh wound, but you might have a doctor check it out. A few stitches might be in order." the paramedic said and then began treating the wound with the same matter of factness a person gave to a bad paper cut. "Keep it clean and bandaged. Shots up to date?" Ryo nodded. The paramedic smiled. "Good boy," he grinned jokingly. "Handsome and smart."
Ryo blushed. Dee blinked stupidly from Ryo to the paramedic. Flaming red hair, a freckled face, and blue eyes that were startling; the man wasn't bad looking himself. He looked strong and capable in his uniform. Just the sort of person Ryo liked, Dee thought sourly, a professional who wasn't a screw up.
"Sign here." The paramedic held out a clipboard to Ryo. Ryo scrawled where he indicated. The man looked at the signature and smiled wider. "Randy McLain. Your phone number, Randy?"
Dee snatched the clipboard from the man suddenly and scowled at the paper. It was a list of some sort, not an official paper at all. He shoved it back into the man's hands. "Thanks. You can go now," Dee bit out.
"Dee!" Ryo protested, but the paramedic was standing and frowning as he hefted his heavy case.
"Maybe later, Randy, when you're not busy," the man suggested and then threw over his shoulder as he walked away. "Name's Mark Finn."
Anger and a sharp jealousy washed away the last of Dee's fear and nerves. He stood up and pulled Ryo up with him with a hand on his elbow. "You were rude," Ryo complained and pulled his elbow away.
"Won't be the last time," Dee growled back under his breath as they made their way over to the milling police officers.
"What the hell hot dog stunt was that?!" The man who spoke was big, burly, and had a flattened nose. "Why didn't you stay low until we arrived?" he demanded in a voice so deep and booming that it made Dee's eardrums rattle.
Dee instinctively interposed his body between the giant and Ryo and snarled back, "You were late! They were getting ready to fill us full of lead and we were trapped."
"So you decided to commit suicide?"
"You're not my chief," Dee retorted. "I don't see why I have to answer to you. I think I'll wait for him to chew me out, okay?"
"If it wasn't for pretty boy here, you'd be dead," The big man pointed out, fists on hips like two giant hams. He gave Ryo an appraising look and said, "That was a great shot and you did it while you were running. Incredible!"
"Uh, th-thank you," Ryo stammered, caught off guard by the praise. "Dee was only trying to divide their fire." A lie. Dee winced. "We thought we would have a better chance coming at them from two sides."
God! He didn't need Ryo lying for him, Dee thought angrily. "Actually," Dee amended, ignoring Ryo's hiss of consternation, "My partner was too wounded to hold his gun. I naturally tried to draw the fire to me, so that I could flush the criminals out of cover."
"And then what?" Another man growled in disbelief. "Bleed all over them as they shot you full of holes?"
"If duty called for it, yes," Dee replied flippantly.
The new man was whip cord thin and he had a hatchet face, all prominent, sharp lines and the hardest line reserved for his mouth. His graying blonde hair was cut short, military style, and he had a definite 'sergeant' attitude about him. He motioned the big man back to his duty. "We still have suspects roaming free. Mind catching them Burger?"
"Huh!" Burger grunted angrily. "Sure thing, boss." He gave Ryo another appraising look. "If you ever want to do a few rounds on the practice range, let me know. Name's Kyle Burger."
"I'm impressed by your bravery," the thin man said to Dee, after Burger had gone, but he wasn't smiling and he added. "It would have looked nice on your obit, but, since you managed to live, thanks to your partner, I'll have to save it and report your gross stupidity instead."
"Hey!" Dee exclaimed angrily. "I don't see what other choice I had! I thought I had a chance and I wasn't wounded like Ryo. If they had followed me, I could have kept them busy and bought us more time."
The thin man suddenly reached forward and put a finger between Dee's eyes. Dee blinked and struck the hand away, taking a step back. "You almost had a bullet right there, Junior," the man said. "You should have held position and waited."
"They were coming to get us!" Dee snarled back, hands clenching. He did not like this man at all! "Waiting wasn't an option!"
was, and you know it," The man replied coldly. "You panicked. I am going to have to report that. Maybe some retraining might be in order to refresh you on procedures. They were tested and approved, Junior. They do work."
The man glanced at Ryo and then he grimaced. He clapped Dee on the shoulder as he turned and walked away, saying, "I know you were concerned for your partner, but you could have killed the both of you instead of saving him. If you're going to be a hero, be a smart hero, Junior."
"Who's he calling 'Junior'?" Dee hissed, furious.
"Baka is more appropriate," Ryo replied tightly. "You were an idiot."
"Are you still mad?!" Dee exclaimed, rounding on him. "I did the right thing!"
"Did you?" Ryo's dark eyes were like a storm ready to break, but he held it in check, used to dealing with Dee's hard headedness. He had never yet won a shouting match with Dee. "I was there, remember? You tried to save me and be a hero, just like that man said. I can't let you do that ever again, Dee. I won't let you chose to save my life instead of your own life. We can't work together any more if you can't see that."
Dee realized he still had his gun in his hand. He holstered it as he turned away from Ryo, intending to join the search. "I don't want to talk about this. I'm too mad, too edgy. I don't want to fight right now, okay?"
Silence. Sometimes it could be worse than an argument and Ryo was good at it.
Dee just wanted to forget the episode all together. It was bad enough to have been embarrassed in front of so many people, but to have Ryo think he was a screw up too.... As Dee walked through the officers trying to coordinate their search, he saw a few men snicker and whisper something derogatory to their neighbor. Dee bristled and glared, but there wasn't much he could do except try and ignore it as he and Ryo joined with the others. Giving as much of a description of the drug dealers as they could, they then began searching the surrounding area in tandem with the other officers. It was hard work and, in the end, they didn't find their men.
Dee leaned against a squad car and ran a hand through his sweaty bangs, exhausted. Everyone was beginning to leave. He listened absently to an officer, replied to a few questions, and then turned to look for Ryo.
Ryo had his head bent as he spoke with the thin man. He was blushing. That was always a warning to Dee. The thin man didn't look the type, but Dee was used to thwarting numerous advances from people who thought that a little sweet talk could steal Ryo away from him. At that point, Dee wasn't so sure that it couldn't. He knew he was being ridiculous, but he couldn't help closing the distance and glaring at the thin man as he said, "Let's get out of here, Ryo. You need to have that arm taken care of."
"Just what I was suggesting," The thin man interjected. "The wound is bleeding again. I think he may need some stitches." He eyed Dee as if he wasn't sure Dee could be trusted as he ordered. "Make sure he gets to the doctor."
"I intend to officer..?"
"Frank Antonio."
"Officer Antonio," Dee said carefully. "Don't worry about Ryo. I know how to take care of him."
"Like you did back there?" Antonio asked, jerking his thumb back at the warehouse and the place of Dee's debacle. Dee flushed, hands turning into fists, but Antonio ignored his angry glare as he added. "If you're asking me to trust you, that hardly inspired confidence."
Ryo felt the mounting explosion. He put a hand on Dee's arm and pulled Dee around. "I do feel a little faint," he said, knowing how best to distract Dee. "Maybe you should take me to the doctor now?"
Dee was hooking an arm around Ryo's waist and holding him instantly, hated police officer Antonio forgotten in the sudden concern for Ryo. "Dizzy? Did you lose that much blood, Ryo? You should have said something! You shouldn't have just spent the last four hours beating the bushes when you didn't feel good. Come on, let's get out of here and get to the doctor!"
"I'll see you later, Ryo McLain," Antonio called after them and smiled to himself.
"You still haven't told me what he meant," Dee prodded for the fifth time as he followed Ryo into their apartment.
"I did tell you," Ryo replied in exasperation. "I don't know."
"You must know!" Dee retorted in disbelief. "If a man says, 'See you later', it must mean-"
"Ryo McLain!" The harried woman's voice cut Dee off and brought both men up short. The woman confronting them was tall and skinny, past middle age, and far past any semblance of patience. "You are three hours late, sir! I am a tutor, not a babysitter!"
Ryo's soft, surprised eyes were weapons. He smiled apologetically, his very handsome face settling into lines of contriteness. "I am so sorry, Ms. Hayden! I was forced to go to the emergency room for stitches. I hurried as much as I could, but bullet wounds have to be cleaned out so carefully-"
"Bullet wound?" The woman melted.
Dee smirked as he passed her by. Throwing himself onto the couch, he put his feet up on the coffee table and settled himself to enjoy the show.
"Mr. McLain!" The woman was all concern now, anger forgotten. "This is terrible! Are you all right? Do you need me to stay longer and-"
"No need!" Ryo replied gently and smiled that incredible smile of his, full of real warmth and sunshine. "Thank you for offering, though, and thank you so much for looking after Bicky. I'm so grateful to you. I can't express-"
"Well, you shouldn't have to worry about your child getting into trouble while you're out endangering your life to make the citizens of New York safe," Ms. Hayden said comfortingly. "It's the least I can do."
"Again, thank you, Ms. Hayden," Ryo replied, glowing under her praise. "Bicky is lucky to have someone like you as a tutor. Same time tomorrow?"
Ms Hayden nodded. "Of course, sir."
Ryo escorted her to the door. When he had closed it firmly behind her, he ignored Dee's short applause and turned to shout, "Bicky!"
Bicky reluctantly came out of his room, blue eyes peering from under his thatch of blonde hair. He replied, with a rough edge of concern, "Did I hear you tell stick lady that you were shot?"
" 'Stick lady', as you call her, is your fourth tutor and the one who has stuck it out the longest," Ryo said angrily. "Don't let me hear you being disrespectful to her."
Bicky scowled, repeating, "You were shot?"
Ryo nodded wearily, "It's just a graze. It's not important. What is important is-"
"Is you getting some rest," Dee said as he levered his own tired body off of the couch. "You sit down. I'll cook dinner."
"Aw, shit!" Bicky exclaimed. "You aren't serious?"
"Watch your mouth, kid!" Dee snapped back as he forced Ryo to sit down. "I cook with the phone. I'm ordering pizza."
Bicky brightened. "Sausage! Not any of that crap pepperoni!" he said as he jammed his head phones over his ears, turned the music up full blast, and retreated back to his room.
"One day, Ryo...," Dee grumbled as he sat beside Ryo on the couch. He let it go and gave him an anxious look. "You are all right, aren't you? I watched the doctor stitch that wound up. It wasn't as superficial as that paramedic said. It was pretty deep."
"Superficial for what he's used to seeing, Dee," Ryo sighed and leaned back into the couch cushions. He closed his eyes for a long moment as if preparing himself. Dee forestalled him.
"I did what I thought I had to. I wasn't wrong."
Ryo opened his eyes and he was angry. "You were. Stop being so pig headed and admit it!"
"No," Dee replied. He clenched his jaw and sat with his hands gripping his knees hard.
"Then we don't have anything to say," Ryo retorted and stood up. He swayed a little, but avoided Dee's quick grab to steady him.
"I'll file a request for a new partner in the morning."
"Ryo!" Dee was shocked, hurt, angry. "That's stupid! I'm not going to change my mind!" He couldn't now. He could imagine Ryo using the same ploy from then on every time Dee did something he didn't like.
"It's not stupid," Ryo replied firmly, drawing himself up and heading for the bedroom. "It's necessary."
Ryo closed the bedroom door behind him. When Dee finally shook off his confusion to follow, he found the door locked against him.
Dee didn't make a scene. He growled low in his throat and went back to the couch. Throwing himself down into the cushions, he lit a cigarette and puffed while he struggled to throttle his anger and keep his anxiety from making him throw himself at the door and tell Ryo he was right, whether he really thought he was or not.
"Be strong," Dee told himself out loud. "You are not wrong!" Deep down, a voice inside of him said something different and wondered if Ryo would really carry out his threat.
Ryo reached his desk, gingerly concentrating on not spilling his tea or dropping his croissant as he threaded his way through the other, milling officers. He began to set them down on his desk in relief, when he noticed a very small arrangement of flowers already there.
Ryo blushed, looked about nervously, and then sat down, placing his drink and breakfast aside. The little arrangement, as big as a cereal bowl, was made up of tiny miniature, yellow roses and sprigs of ivy and baby's breath. It was beautiful.
A small, gold card was tucked among the foliage. Ryo took it out and slowly opened it, sure he knew who the gift was from. He had stayed in the bedroom all night, ignoring Dee's plaintive knocks and calls to be reasonable. Ryo snorted angrily. Dee was clearly in the wrong this time. He had almost killed himself! Ryo wasn't about to let him off the hook because of some flowers. It was too important that they keep a solid working relationship and not let their personal feelings make them perform such hair brained, selfless acts for each other.
In a stylish script, the note read, to my beloved. It wasn't Dee's handwriting, Ryo puzzled, but then shrugged that off. The florist might have written the note for him. Still... Ryo turned the card about in his hands, examining it. Dee didn't call Ryo his 'beloved'. Dee wasn't that eloquent. 'Baby' or 'Lover' would have been more Dee's style. Sometimes, he even used the Japanese 'koi'. Had the florist made up the content of the note as well?
Ryo frowned. The idea of a stranger making up a note and calling him beloved, helped Ryo to become annoyed enough to dismiss the gift more easily and to concentrate again on the seriousness of Dee's offense. Dee's charm and manipulative manner wasn't going to let him get away with this one.
"Nice." Commissioner Rose said from behind Ryo's shoulder. Ryo started and blushed. "They from Dee?" Rose continued as he sat on the edge of Ryo's desk and faced him. "Has he done something wrong or is it an occasion I'm unaware of?"
Ryo stared at the arrangement hard, blushing furiously and unwilling to look at the tall, blonde, blue eyed man hovering over him. Rose had an animal magnetism that always confused Ryo and made him unsure. The man wielded it well, hands flexing powerfully on the edge of the desk, face almost hawkish and keen, and intense eyes directing all of their attention on Ryo's blushing, handsome face, as if Ryo were the only one in the room.
"You read the report, sir, I'm sure," Ryo replied in a small voice. "We didn't exactly handle the situation professionally."
"No, you didn't," Rose replied.
"I suppose...," Ryo swallowed and then dared to look up. "I suppose we shall be put on report or... or shall I file papers to receive a new partner?"
Rose could have said any number of things. He had what he had always wanted, a chance to put Dee out of the way for good, assign him with J.J., Jim, Dreig, anyone other than Ryo. If he chose to, he could bust Dee down to nothing and force him to turn over his gun. His ice blue eyes were windows to those thoughts, each one clear to Ryo as Rose carefully thought through his options.
"You were going to be shot dead," Rose replied at last, a tension leaving him that was replaced by resignation and maybe a little respect. "Holding position until back up arrived might be procedure, but Dee didn't know that backup would arrive in time. He took the chance that he could draw fire away from you and allow you to escape. I think that sort of bravery is commendable. One man alive is better than two dead, don't you agree?"
"I..." Ryo flushed now. "Yes, sir."
Rose stood up and gave the roses a small touch with his fingers. "Doesn't seem like Dee's style, giving someone flowers. He's more a six pack and a football game kind of guy. Maybe they came from someone else? You could have a secret admirer, hm?"
Rose sauntered off, calling and gesturing to another detective as he went. Ryo stared down at the flowers and then rearranged the one that Rose had disturbed. Secret admirer? Of course not! Dee had sent the flowers, he was sure. Ryo froze and then looked after the Commisioner's broad back. Could Rose have sent him the flowers? Was the man still trying to win him over, even after what had happened in the past? The man must have known that Ryo was angry at Dee. Perhaps the flowers were a wedge he hoped to drive between them... but, if that were true, why hadn't he taken the opportunity to put Dee on report and transfer him to another partner? It didn't make sense and Ryo dismissed the possibility.
"Nice," Dee said as he plopped down into his chair. It creaked as he inched up to his desk and put a cup of coffee and a donut on top of the files he hadn't bothered to deal with the day before. He began grabbing sticky notes off of his phone and his computer screen, as he said, "I didn't think taking the subway gave you enough time to stop and buy flowers." His voice was stiff and accusatory.
"I thought... I didn't buy them. They were here when I came in," Ryo said with downcast eyes.
Dee snorted. "I hope you didn't think they were from me? Maybe someone made a mistake, like you are."
Ryo's head came up and his jaw firmed. "Dee Latener, don't you dare try and make me the bad guy here!"
Dee shuffled his notes into a pile and slowly began going through them without speaking. He sipped at his coffee and ate his donut, the station abuzz with movement and sound, but none of it registering on a man so used to it.
"Dee," Ryo growled.
Dee made a note on his note with a pencil and then replied, "The bad guys were in that warehouse yesterday, Ryo."
He was so like Rose, Ryo thought angrily. They were both so stubborn, hanging on like bulldogs to their goals and ideals. Nothing could shake them. It wasn't any wonder that Rose was agreeing with Dee's methods. The man probably would have done the same thing in Dee's position; given his all, given his life to save someone else.
"You shouldn't have walked with your arm like it is," Dee said over the rim of his coffee cup. His green eyes were intense. "How are the stitches?"
"Fine," Ryo grumbled. He put the bowl of flowers on top of his computer screen and replaced them with his tea and croissant. Both, he discovered, were cold. "I walked because I had to think," he confessed.
"About asking for another partner?" Dee retorted, but Ryo could see the hurt in his eyes.
"I don't want to do that, Dee," Ryo replied. "It's the last thing in the world I want to do."
Dee lowered his cup and held it between two hand as if he were trying to keep warm. He stared down into the steaming hot liquid. "I like having you with me all day," he said finally, quietly, not very good at expressing his thoughts with words. "I can keep an eye on you. I don't have to sit and wonder whether you're facing something dangerous alone or whether some other woman or man is watching your back for you."
"I feel the same way about you," Ryo replied, "and there's nothing wrong with that."
"Then what is wrong, Ryo?" Dee wondered in exasperation.
"Nice flowers," J.J. said as he stopped by their desks. The irrepressible detective leaned down to sniff them. He wrinkled his nose. " Pretty, but no scent. You should make them spray them next time with rose perfume, Dee."
Dee glared. "I didn't give them to Ryo. It's probably a mistake."
J.J. raised eyebrows. "No, it's not a mistake. The florist who delivered them asked where Ryo's desk was. I checked them out, of course, just to make sure they weren't going to explode or something, but it was ligit." J.J. seemed suddenly pleased and trying unsuccessfully to hide it. "So, if you didn't send them to Ryo, who did and why?"
Dee felt a sting of jealousy, but he was still wrapped up in the argument. He didn't have time for it. "Ryo's a good looking guy," Dee replied dismissively. "A lot of women fall for him. It's probably from someone in the office."
J.J. smirked. "Yellow flowers? Women don't send yellow flowers, Dee."
Dee suddenly leaned forward, snatched the flowers from Ryo's computer, and tossed them into the garbage, ignoring Ryo's gasp of protest. "There ! End of mystery! See you later, J.J. Ryo and I were talking!"
"Not when you're like this!" Ryo snapped and stood up. "I have a report to look up. I'll be in the records room." Ryo stalked off and Dee was left scowling at his empty chair.
J.J. snorted, hands on hips. "Well! I didn't know Ryo had such a temper!"
Dee sat back in his chair with a sigh, suddenly understanding. "He's not mad," he replied, "He's scared."
"Scared?" J.J. blinked, confused. "Scared of what?"
"Of losing me," Dee replied.
J.J. stood dumbfounded, but then he nodded sourly, stared down at the flowers in the garbage with a sigh, and then left Dee to his thoughts. Dee's thoughts weren't pleasant ones. He had been waiting for the day to come and here it was, staring him in the face. It was the day when one of them realized that the other could die in the line of duty and they were duty bound to allow it, to even abet it if it was necessary. Coping with that knowledge was going to be the hardest test of their relationship.
Dee threw his half eaten donut into the garbage on top of the roses. He glared at them both, jelly oozing over yellow petals and baby's breath. "Who the hell sent Ryo flowers?" he wondered out loud.
Ryo was bent over a low file when Dee entered the records room. The musty smell of decaying paper and mildew from a leak in the roof somewhere permeated the air. Dee wiped at his nose in distaste as he approached his lover with the same caution he would have given to a bomb ready to detonate.
Ryo's pants were drawn tight over his perfect ass. Dee admired the view, trying to think of something to say that would make everything better between them. The tightening in his groin was making that very difficult. In the end, his body took control and opted for seduction.
Dee moved up behind Ryo, ran large hands over Ryo's ass, and then slid them around to wrap his arms around Ryo's waist. As he pulled Ryo back against his chest, he nuzzled his lover's silky, soft neck.
"Dee!" Ryo exclaimed in surprise. "Do shite no! What's wrong with you! Anyone can walk in here!"
"Yeah, so?" Dee breathed into Ryo's ear.
Ryo was stiff and unresponsive, mouth drawn down in a hard line. He trembled when Dee gently licked at his ear lobe.
"Dee, this is serious," Ryo protested.
"My love is serious," Dee replied.
"You're too reckless!"
"I did what I had to do." Dee darted a tongue inside of Ryo's ear and a breath of warm air followed.
Ryo began to melt. He made a little sound deep in his throat and his ass involuntarily pushed back against Dee's obvious excitement.
Dee gave that ear a small nip. Ryo yelped. "Tell the truth."
Ryo flushed warm and red with shame. "Nani?"
Dee's hands slid down Ryo's stomach and slipped into the waist band of his lover's pants. Ryo made a half hearted attempt at escape, but Dee held him. "Tell the truth," Dee insisted.
"I love you, koi, but-!" Ryo gasped and sounded on the edge of tears.
"I know," Dee replied. He settled against Ryo and held very still, face grim and suddenly very serious. "Now tell me the rest of it."
"You went against procedures," Ryo replied. "We- we almost died. If you had waited..."
"For what?" Dee demanded. "You tell me what would have happened, Ryo, if backup hadn't come just then. I know the answer. Why don't you? We had three stinking minutes to live, Ryo, tops. One minute for them to find us. One minute to gloat and let us use up our bullets. One minute to shoot us dead. Tell me again I should have waited."
"I-," Ryo choked. He couldn't go on. He wasn't ready just yet to face it. He broke away from Dee as if Dee were hurting him, shoving and stumbling a few steps. He panted, dark eyes wide with emotion.
Dee felt cold, his arms empty of Ryo's warmth. He rubbed hard at his muscular arms and turned away. He paced to the door, throwing over his shoulder. "You let me know, Ryo, when you're ready to really talk about it, okay?"
Alone in the records room, Ryo leaned his forehead against a file cabinet and sobbed.
Yellow roses and white daffodils. Dee blinked at the expensive arrangement on Ryo's desk. He reached out and snagged the card from among them. Gold foil with a beautiful script spelling out Ryo's name. Dee opened the envelope and found a small card.
To my most beautiful love. Expect the unexpected.
Dee shoved the card back into the flowers, crushing petals in the process.
"Someone's got it bad for Ryo, looks like," J.J. smirked from his desk nearby.
Dee looked over at him. "Who delivered these. The florist again?"
"No," J.J. replied. He seemed too pleased, liking Dee getting jealous, hoping maybe for a split between the two. Dee noted it and was wary as J.J. continued as if trying to recall a hazy face. "Tall guy..."
"Thin and old?" Dee asked, thinking of the police officer he had disliked so much at the warehouse. If the man had a thing for Ryo, then his cryptic farewell and promise to see Ryo again would suddenly make sense.
"Not old," J.J. replied thoughtfully.
"Red hair?" Dee fished, thinking of the flirtatious paramedic. Yeah, him, he thought angrily. He wouldn't put it past a guy like that to make moves so quickly.
J.J. began to reply, but the Chief bellowed for him from his office. J.J. was far too pleased to leave the conversation hanging and Dee seething as he shrugged apologetically.
"Coming, Chief!" J.J. shouted back and said to Dee. "I'll tell you later. Whoever he is, he has good taste, unlike you, Dee!" J.J. chuckled as he hurried to the Chief's office.
Dee scowled blackly. He picked up the flowers, carried them to a larger wastebasket, and shoved them in. He and Ryo had enough problems. They didn't need to deal with a secret admirer too. It was better that Ryo didn't know about the gift. When J.J. returned from the Chiefs office, Dee didn't reopen the conversation. J.J. seemed disappointed, but he didn't try and brave Dee's mood or ask where the flowers had gone too.
Ryo returned to his desk and sat down. He didn't say anything to Dee even though Dee sat back in his own chair and stared at him. Ryo kept all of his attention on a file in front of him.
"Find what you were looking for?" Dee asked, even though it was obvious that Ryo had. It was a way of prodding Ryo to say something.
"Hai," Ryo said without looking up.
The silence stretched and then Dee said loudly in exasperation. "Ryo!"
Ryo started and looked up at last, dark eyes wide and red from crying. "Nani?"
Dee lowered his voice so that no one else could hear. "Stop pretending that you're angry with me. Stop pretending that I've done something wrong! I know what's really wrong. You got cold feet back at that warehouse and you don't want to admit it or face up to it."
Ryo glanced around them and spotted J.J. watching them avidly, hoping for a fight maybe. Ryo felt emotionally raw. He couldn't strip off the last layer of denial in the middle of the station. He wasn't sure how, or if he could, deal with it.
"Just.... Just let me think about it a little longer, Dee," Ryo begged softly, hands gripping the file in front of him until his knuckles were white.
Dee grunted, letting it go. He was used to long waits where Ryo was concerned. "Okay, Baby, but not too long." he stood up and snagged his coat from his chair back. "Let's grab lunch before heading back to the warehouse." He saw Ryo go pale at the thought of going back to the scene of his fear. "The other officers are there as well, for security reasons and investigation. We're not going to run into any trouble this time."
Ryo nodded, clearly ashamed of himself. He replaced his look of apprehension with one of determination. Dee felt some relief at the sight, it told him that Ryo was willing to face up to his fear and maybe get past it. He wasn't the first cop to get jitters. Being lovers had just magnified it.
A janitor was cleaning out the large garbage can as Dee and Ryo began to leave. The man pulled out the bouquet of flowers with a mixture of emotions, top most consternation, maybe at the waste of something so beautiful. J.J. was witness to the discovery. He started and then looked at Dee curiously. Dee glared back, willing J.J. to shut up as he blocked Ryo's view of the janitor and the flowers and hurried him out of the station. He had Ryo going where he wished and, hopefully they would confront Ryo's fear and talk through it at the warehouse. He didn't need the distraction of the flowers just then.
Behind him the janitor smashed the flowers into the garbage bag and closed the lid. A tall, slim man with a hard face, he looked at J.J. sadly. "People shouldn't be so cruel to gifts from the heart."
J.J. sighed and leaned on one fist as he looked longingly after Dee. "I know what you mean, but sometimes the heart has it wrong."
"I knew I'd be seeing you again, Detective McLain, " Antonio said as he dismissed an officer and stepped over to where Dee and Ryo were standing. "You seemed like a thorough man who wouldn't let an incident like last time keep you off of an investigation."
"I'm here too," Dee butted in.
"Yeah, but you're hard headed and don't have any common sense," Antonio pointed out without taking his eyes off of Ryo.
Dee seethed. He had always disliked anyone treating him like a kid and this older officer was doing it purposefully. Dee began to question J.J.'s account of the flowers. Antonio was clearly interested in Ryo. Maybe he had paid someone to deliver the flowers...
"Right, Detective Latener?" Antonio said and raised an eyebrow.
There was an uncomfortable silence in which Dee squirmed. "Uh, sorry, wasn't listening," he replied lamely and then with irritation, "Come on, Ryo, we have a job to do! You can make small talk later."
"Uh, okay, Dee. Excuse us, Officer Antonio," Ryo said, trying to smooth over Dee's rudeness. "We should start our investigation."
"Check with Burger," Antonio suggested. "He'll let you know what we found in securing the area."
"Thank you, sir," Ryo replied, but Dee was already plucking at his sleeve and drawing him away. In exasperation, Ryo complained. "Why do you always have to be so rude, Dee?"
Dee snorted irritably. "He was looking at you like you were something good to eat. You shouldn't have to put up with that sort of thing from people you work with." Ryo stared. "Okay, except from me," Dee added.
They rounded a corner, weaving in and out of hulks of machinery. When Dee stopped suddenly, Ryo was confused. "Dee?" and then he recognized the spot and he stiffened and swallowed hard. His blood was still there, black on the cracked concrete floor, making the trail that had betrayed their position.
Dee crouched. Ryo crouched beside him. They were alone, far from the other officers.
"Talk to me," Dee said simply.
Ryo brushed his honey colored hair out of his eyes and said softly. "I- I don't know what to say."
Dee nodded and then reached out and clasped Ryo's hand in his. Ryo's hand had long fingers and the tips were soft and delicate, not a man's hand at all. Dee's own was broad and calloused, scared from mishaps, and darker than Ryo's. Mismatched, yet comfortable together, just like their relationship.
"Maybe you should listen first," Dee suggested. "I'll make it easier for you."
Ryo looked at Dee anxiously. Not sure what Dee had in mind to say to him.
Dee stared down at their hands as he began to speak, "When I was fresh out of the academy, my first partner was a real good guy, an older man almost ready for retirement. He took me under his wing and showed me the ropes." Dee stopped, waited until the tightness left his throat, and then continued. "He died just walking down the street. Some punks drove up, stuck a gun out of their window, and shot him dead. We found the kids and prosecuted them, but that didn't help my partner. That took the shine off for me, Ryo. You know people die in the line of duty every day, or just walking down the street, but it's different when it's someone you care about."
"It is different," Ryo said and pulled his hand away. "You're partner didn't try to die for you."
"I didn't intend to die," Dee snapped. "I thought I had a slim chance of getting away and making them follow me. You were wounded, Ryo, you couldn't hold your gun or fight. I was the logical choice."
"Regulations-," Ryo began, but Dee cut him off.
"You can't always go by the book in those situations, Ryo! Isn't it better if one man lives than two men die? I had to take the chance to save at least one of us."
"Rose said the same thing," Ryo said as he stood up.
"He did?" Dee was startled as he stood up as well. "When did he tell you that?"
Ryo shrugged, "When he came over to admire the flowers that were sent to me. I asked if he wanted to file a report against us and whether he wanted me to put in for a new partner. He didn't think that either measure was necessary."
"Wonder what his angle is?" Dee wondered suspiciously. "It's not like him to openly agree with my methods."
"His methods aren't exemplary either," Ryo replied with a frown.
Dee frowned back. "Don't get off the subject. We're talking about you."
Ryo shook his head. "I don't know what you want me to say."
Dee ran a hand through his disordered, black hair as he replied, "It's not so much what you have to say, Ryo. It's what you have to believe."
"What?" Ryo asked softly. "What do I have to believe, Dee?"
"You have to believe that this job is worth your life," Dee replied, "and the life of the person you love. If you can't, then we have a problem."
Ryo digested this. It was painful. He looked at Dee, not wanting to ask it, but forced to. He couldn't not know. "Do you believe it?"
Dee swallowed hard. He felt sweat trickle down the back of his neck as he face the beautiful man before him, the man he loved more than anything else in the world, and told the truth. "Yes."
Ryo nodded and then he began to walk away. Dee grabbed his elbow.
"No!" Dee protested. "Don't leave without saying something to me!"
Ryo struggled and then he replied, "I know what the right answer is Dee. I just don't know if I can follow through with it. You're telling me you'll sacrifice me if you have to in the line of duty. I should agree. I should say yes, I'll do the same, but I haven't been in that position. We've had experiences, but I always believed that you or I would be fine in the end. In a real situation, choosing to let you die or die in my place... I don't think I'll know what I'll do until I'm placed in it."
"Then we have a problem," Dee said dejectedly.
"Yes," Ryo agreed and left Dee standing there as he walked away.
"I'm telling you, for the hundredth time. I didn't send McLain flowers!" Antonio fumed. "I've got someone at home, Latener! Sure, Ryo's nice to look at, but I'm not, " he lowered his voice when he saw the other officers looking their way with mixed expressions. "I'm not looking for a romance."
Dee scowled and puffed on his cigarette, hands jammed into his pockets and tie loosened. Investigation done, Ryo had decided to call it a day and let Dee take their findings back to the station. Dee had been ready to protest. It was late, almost quitting time, and he didn't relish the long drive alone, but he could see that Ryo needed space. Ryo had hitched a ride from another officer to the nearest subway station and Dee had let him go, reluctantly.
"Maybe that Burger, guy...," Dee muttered as he let out a long puff of smoke.
Antonio snickered. "Don't ask him, he'll flatten you. He's a straight arrow and proud of it. He's only interested in your partner's shooting ability."
Dee dismissed the mystery again. Sooner or later, if the gifts kept coming, he'd find out. Now, there were more important things. "I'm going back to the station. Need me to take anything?" Dee asked.
Antonio shook his head. "No. We're heading back ourselves. Are you gonna take that other guy with you? He shouldn't hang out here alone after we go."
Dee frowned. "What other guy?"
Antonio blinked and looked around for the man. "He didn't come with you? He was in plain clothes. I thought he was a detective."
Dee looked around as well, but all he saw were the familiar uniforms of the other officers. He felt a sudden chill of apprehension. "He's gone now."
"Looks like it." Antonio didn't look pleased either. "Might have been a reporter."
"Maybe." It seemed a likely explanation. Dee accepted it. Ryo was with another officer and on very public transportation. He was safe. The other officers were all leaving. Nothing could be threatened by one stranger.
"I'll see you later then," Antonio said as he began to leave.
"Why did you say that?" Dee wondered sharply.
Antonio raised eyebrows. "Dunno. Just something I say, I guess. Never really thought about it. Stop being so suspicious, Junior!" the man chuckled. "Though I must admit, if that man was mine, I'd be suspicious of everyone too. He is beautiful!"
"Yeah," Dee replied irritably. "And he's mine."
Antonio snorted. "I hope you're not as much of a screw up in your relationships as you are on the job, or you won't have him for long, Junior."
"Don't worry about that," Dee retorted and crushed his cigarette under foot as he headed out of the warehouse. He stopped and felt a chill again. There were three white lilies resting on the battered hood of his car.
"I'm almost home, Dee. Why?" Ryo cradled his cell phone against his ear as he flipped through a newspaper he had found on the subway seat next to him. The call was fuzzy. He struggled to hear Dee.
"More flowers, Ryo," Dee said in a static filled voice. "White. The kind you put on a grave."
Ryo frowned, trying to understand. "You're breaking up, Dee. Can't we talk about this at home? I know they irritate you, but-"
"No, listen, Ryo!" Dee snapped, cutting him off. "This is different!"
Ryo was almost alone in the subway car. A woman and her daughter sat to his right. A young man in a business suit sat with his briefcase to Ryo's left. There was another man further up with his back turned to Ryo. The man looked tense, hunched over. For some reason he made Ryo suddenly nervous and he couldn't explain why.
"How is it different?" Ryo asked.
A round of static made Ryo wince. He thought he heard 'car' and 'note', but then the line was dead. Ryo tried dialing back. Nothing.
He sighed and put the cell phone back into his pocket. He would have to wait until he was above ground to call Dee back.
White flowers, Ryo mused. The kind you put on a grave? Lilies? Dee was being morbid, Ryo thought. Lilies were pretty. They weren't just for funerals. He blushed, imagining them on his desk at work. Who was sending them? Ryo couldn't help being flattered yet he felt uncomfortable as well about the mystery. The flowers might be from one of the women in the precinct, Ryo had many admirers, or it may have been malicious. J.J. knew Dee was jealous. Ryo didn't put it past the man to want to make trouble between Dee and himself for his own benefit. There was also Rose, but Ryo didn't think the man that subtle. He was too much like Dee.
Dee. Ryo felt depression settle over him like a cloud. He had spent his entire journey trying to argue with his fear, trying to find a core within himself where it didn't reach; a core that would allow him to be hard enough to do his duty despite what doing that duty might mean for Dee. So far he hadn't found it. When Dee had risked his life to save him in the warehouse, the fear of losing him had overwhelmed Ryo. The man had offered him a chance of escape. Ryo had chosen to die with him instead.
Ryo shivered. He looked around him at the people in the subway car. They were supposed to be more important than Dee. They were always supposed to come first. Before Dee, Ryo had always believed, without hesitation, that he would give his life for those people. Was it still true? Ryo searched within himself and found that strength still there. Yes, he would still die to save them. He still felt that determination and commitment that had made him sign up for the force to begin with. But Dee.. Could he give those people his life as well? Ryo didn't know. It was as much a mystery as the flowers.
The subway car began to stop. Ryo stood up to leave. He wasn't the only one. The figure at the back of the car rose as well, but when the doors opened, he didn't turn to face Ryo before Ryo was stepping out onto the platform and striding away towards the stairs.
Ryo pulled out his cell phone and dialed Dee as he tried to hail a cab. He was very tired, emotionally and physically, and he didn't feel like walking the rest of the way to the apartment. As a cab began to pull up to the curb, a hand reached out and took the phone from Ryo.
Ryo turned in surprise. A hard faced man confronted him, dark hair a short, spiked thatch on his head and eyes deep, dark, and very angry. He was wearing a uniform. Ryo noted it and identified it and the man at the same time. "Uh, Walter, isn't it? You're the janitor at the station."
Walter tilted his head and his mouth went bitter. "Then you did notice me after all. I wondered."
Walter had a hand in his pocket. Ryo saw a familiar bulge.
"That's right," Walter said in a voice as hard as his face. "It's a gun. I want you to wave the cab off and come with me. If you don't, I'll shoot you right here and anyone else who gets in my way."
Ryo waved the cab off. He didn't move immediately though, but tried to reason with Walter. "If I've done something to make you angry, I'm sorry, Walter. I didn't mean to. If you want to talk about it-"
"Yeah, let's talk," Walter said with a wild smile. "Let's have a date, the date I was going to ask you for before I found out that you were throwing away all of the flowers I sent you."
"But, I didn't-," Ryo stopped. Dee had thrown away the first bouquet. He must have thrown away other ones as well without telling him about it. "I'm sorry, Walter. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I didn't know who they were from."
"I was trying to be romantic," Walter snapped back. "You didn't give me the chance! I wanted to prove to you that I was better than that obnoxious, crude, jerk you're with now."
"Let's talk," Ryo insisted. "How about that cafe over there? They have some chairs and tables set up outside."
Walter didn't look, didn't give Ryo a chance to get the jump on him as he had wished. Instead, he twitched the gun in his pocket and said, "Okay, you go first."
Ryo nodded and they walked over to the cafe and sat down. Ryo was stiff in his chair, but Walter lounged as if he were relaxed and happy. "Order anything you like," he told Ryo with a fake smile. "You may be a detective, but I know I make more money than you do."
Ryo's returning smile trembled. "I'm sure you do." He struggled to think and be casual. He didn't need to escalate the situation by getting Walter even more upset. "Tea, please," he said.
Walter ordered it for Ryo and ordered some coffee for himself. He stayed silent until it arrived and then he sipped at it, looking over the steaming rim at Ryo. Finally, he put his cup down and said, "I've been watching you for months.... following you... seeing what you liked and what you didn't like. I wanted to know everything about you so that I could treat you right and make you happy. That bastard, Dee, never makes you happy. He's always putting his hands on you and saying crude things. I bet he never leaves you alone at night, does he? No flowers from him, I bet, just screw you and watch the game on T.V., right? Is that how he does it?"
Ryo tried to turn the conversation, feeling a flush of heat scald his face with embarrassment and apprehension. "Uh, Walter... I'm flattered that you took such an interest in me, in my happiness. You're a good man. I wish that I could-"
"Not cut my heart out by telling me you're not interested in a janitor?" Walter cut in viciously. "I already know that! That's why I wanted to romance you and take it slow. I wanted to convince you that I was more than just a person who emptied your wastebasket. I just wanted a chance, but you wouldn't give it to me. You have only yourself to blame for what's going to happen to you now."
Ryo swallowed and then asked tensely, "And what's that?"
Walter grinned and licked his lips in a leering manner. "I'm going to take what I was going to ask for. I'm going to take what you won't give me. Finish your tea. Afterwards, I'm going to find a nice dark ally and you're going to drop those pants of yours for me, just like you do for Dee. I'm going to show you how much better I am than he is. Maybe that will change your mind." His face went hard and his smile dropped. "I can see what you're thinking in your face. Don't try it! I'll shoot everyone here, if you don't do as I say. I'm that desperate to have you, to try and convince you to love me."
"This won't make me love you," Ryo replied in a small voice, desperately trying to think his way out of the situation.
"No? Then maybe you should die too?" Walter stood up. "Forget the tea. Let's get this started. I'm eager to see whether you're willing to die rather than love me."
Ryo slowly stood up. He didn't have a choice. He could see the mad glint in Walter's eyes. He knew the man meant what he said, he would kill the other patrons in the cafe to have what he wanted from Ryo.
"Ryo!" Dee came running up to Ryo and grabbed him by the arm. "What are you doing here?!" he panted. "I've been trying to call you! I saw you when I drove by and I pulled up on the curb over there. Come on before I get a ticket. I have to tell you something about the flowers."
Dee felt the gun barrel in his gut. He started and slowly looked around without turning. "Walter?"
"Yeah, Walter," Walter replied angrily. "Seems I've hit the jack pot today. I get to have some Ryo and dispose of my rival at the same time."
"He sent me the flowers, Dee," Ryo told him.
"Nothing worse than a rejected suitor," Walter snarled. "Now shut the chit chat and let's get moving nice and easy or I'm going to put a bullet hole in everyone here, got that?"
Dee replied calmly, "Don't get excited, Walter. We're going to do what you want. Don't hurt anyone else, okay?" He tried even though he knew he would fail, admitting, "I threw your flowers away, Walter. Ryo wanted to keep them. I was jealous. Your beef is with me. Why don't you let him go. You love him, don't you? You don't want to hurt him."
"I'm not stupid," Walter replied sharply and dug his gun hard into Dee's side, making him wince. "If I don't take care of you both, now, I'm going to jail. I'm going to get what I want from lovely Ryo. Maybe I'll even let you watch so that you can get some pointers. I'm good, Latener, and I'm going to show Ryo just how good!"
Dee looked up at Ryo and met his panicked eyes. He willed Ryo to calmness. Duty first, he said with his eyes. Time to sacrifice for the people around them. Time to be heroes. Time to, maybe, say goodbye.
"Wakatta," Ryo said softly. I understand, he told Dee with his eyes, and I'm not afraid.
A tray dropped. A waiter had seen the gun. He ran shouting in a panic and suddenly the cafe was erupting in panicking, screaming people. Walter raised his gun to Dee's head, eyes wild, knowing he had lost his chance.
He still needed time to kill Dee and Ryo and he was still determined to do it. Ryo saw him notice a man quickly dialing for help on his cell phone. Walter's face twitched. The gun began to leave Dee's head and Ryo knew the man with the cell phone was about to die.
Dee was in the way. The gun was still in line with his head. He was most likely going to be shot either by Ryo, who was clearing his gun from his shoulder harness under his coat, or by Walter in a spasm reaction or sheer vindictiveness. Dee knew it. He closed his eyes and held his breath, waiting.
"Aishite iru, Dee," Ryo whispered and had his answer to Dee's question in a split second of time. He fired with a sharpshooter's skill and his bullet tore into Walter's heart. Ryo WAS willing to sacrifice Dee in the line of duty.
Walter's body jerked and he looked surprised as he died. His hand convulsed and his gun fired. The bullet split the air towards Dee's face and the man pushed back against Walter with all of his strength. The bullet sliced through the top of his nose, leaving a stinging trail of blood and grazed flesh before burying itself into the cafe wall.
Walter spilled onto the ground, eyes open and very dead. Dee stared down at him, touched his bleeding nose, and then looked at Ryo shakily. "Good shooting, partner," he said and then stepped forward to bring Ryo into his arms. Ryo sobbed and collapsed against him. Dee lowered himself into a chair and they sat clinging to one another while patrons still scrambled to flee and management shouted for help.
"It's hard, I know," Dee said softly into Ryo's ear. "I didn't tell you that my first partner was shot because, instead of pushing him out of the way, I saved a kid who was in danger too. Trial by fire. It shows you what you're made of. It shows you whether you're meant for this job or not. I think you passed, Ryo, with flying colors. I'm proud to have you as a partner."
Ryo sniffled and tried to stand up. "I'm crying like a baby. How can you be proud of that?" He was shaking so bad he had to grab the edge of a table to steady himself. Dee wasn't much steadier as he stood as well.
"You care. You're supposed too," Dee replied and slipped an arm around Ryo again. "I'd be hurt if you didn't care whether I almost got shot or not."
Dee kissed Ryo deeply. Ryo touched the wound on his nose. The bullet had come so close... Ryo almost felt the fear again, but, as he and Dee half staggered to meet the approaching police officers, he knew that, faced with the same life or death decision, he would do it again. Dee would too. They were New York City police detectives and they would always be ready and willing to be heroes.
****Owari****
*Sniffles* I don't know about you, but that made me cry! I need some kleenex!