Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Austin ❯ Austin Part I: Tin Man ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

This is an AU Fake songfic. It's a bittersweet JJxDrake story with some angst and violence (Hence it's rating). This is extremely shoonen-ai. If you want lemon you'll have to look elsewhere. <Glances around wildly as half the crowd disappears.> But it's really sweet and has some tender moments. <A few more people join the remaining listeners.> Er...but there's violence too. <Half of the crowd disappears again.> And there's not much Dee and Ryo. <Only two people are left listening and a drip appears on Salmon's head.> Um, there's almost no Dee and Ryo, actually. This is a FAN fic so you don't have to include the main characters if you're not a fan... <j/k> I like Ryo and Dee but I was inspired to do a Drake/JJ. Next time I write a Fake fan fic I'll have more of Ryo and Dee. Promise...

Salmon

Austin Part I Tin Man

It's times like this...I wish I were the tin man.

Then you could hurt me all you want, and I'd never even know.

I'd give anything...just to be the tin man.

Then I wouldn't have a heart and I wouldn't need a soul.




JJ stretched his tense muscles. "Paperwork is the worst." He told his partner.

Drake smiled at JJ for a moment in a rather tolerant manner. Then the smile disappeared an he shook his head in grim amusement. "You're the one who shot the guy."

"I didn't expect him to go and fall out the window." JJ muttered.

"Atleast you were cleared of any possible charges. The investigators stated you were clearly in the rights of your line of duty."

"Thank god for small miracles." JJ replied. "Well, shift's over and I'm finishing this off tomorrow." He stood up.

"Care to grab a bite to eat?" Drake was quick to offer. A little too quick, one might notice. But noone was around to notice, and JJ was used to Drake snatching at any excuse to stay in his company.

He thought about turning down the offer like he did 3/4 of the time. But his empty stomach was hollering at him, no other offers would be forth-coming - especially from the source he'd most like an offer from - and Drake was pleasant enough company. "Sure."

"Really?" Drake was surprised.

"What's the big deal? It's dinnertime."

"You just usually say you're busy...it's no big deal." Drake changed his mind when he caught JJ's sarcastic look. "Shall we?"




The restaurant was a pleasant little place on a side street. The food was good, and JJ was enjoying having company for a change. But halfway through the meal everything changed when a couple entered the restaurant. The couple in question was Ryo McClane and Dee Laytner. JJ noticed them first, when they were being led to a table near theirs. Dee's arm was resting firmly on Ryo's waist, and every now and then he leaned down to whisper in Ryo's ear. At one point Dee whispered something that made Ryo blush, and earned a shove from his companion. Dee only smiled at this and was back at Ryo's side an instant later, his lips brushing his partner's cheek and his arm back around Ryo's waist. JJ couldn't help but stare as something inside of him seemed to rip open, flooding him with pain. Usually he's jump up to go and greet the attractive dark-haired Dee. But something about the playfully loving moment he'd witnessed erased the thought, and replaced it with another - he did not want them to see him. He lowered his head, trying to appear to be studying the food on his plate while Drake chattered on, blissfully ignorant to Dee and Ryo's entrance. If one of the other three cops had lowered their heads to hide their faces chances were good they'd remain unnoticed, but none of the other three cops had silver hair streaked with purple. It took only a moment after Ryo and he were seated for Dee to notice JJ, and guess the identity of who he was seated across from. As much as he'd been looking forward to a private evening with Ryo curiousity got the better of him. "JJ! Drake?" He spoke loud enough for both parties to hear him.

Drake froze at the sound of Dee's voice, and swallowed hard against a bitter wave of disappointment. Did Dee have to show up here tonight? He turned. "Dee, Ryo, how's it going?" He asked cheerfully.

"Just fine...you two come here often?" Dee queried.

A wave of cold fury swept over JJ and he was suddenly quite mad at his partner for taking him to someplace so seclusive. If they'd been at a traffic-heavy restaurant on a main street noone would think twice. But instead he'd taken him to a quiet place on a side road where Dee had obviously taken Ryo for a romantic evening. Suddenly just sitting in the restaurant across from Drake seemed suggestive...and his cheeks colored at Dee's question. He was certain the older officer would adore the thought that Drake and he came to private little restaurants like this one often. And he suddenly had the feeling he and Drake would no doubt be the topic of all the 27th precinct's gossiper's the next day. And he had the terrible, but unjustified, thought that Drake had planned the whole thing. "Drake asked me out for a bite after our shift." JJ stated. "I think I'm rather full suddenly." Dropping some money on the table JJ stood up and grabbed his coat.

Drake turned. "But, JJ, -"

"I'll see you all tomorrow." JJ cut off Drake's sentence and was gone a moment later out the restaurant door.

Drake sat for a long moment, feeling rather cold. His partner's departure had made rather clear to all parties involved that the shared dinner had been innocent. Drake fought back another wave of disappointment. He'd thought he just might have gotten somewhere with JJ tonight. But the coldness in JJ's voice had shut all that out as surely as if he'd slammed a door in Drake's face.

"Maybe you shouldn't have said anything." Ryo stated quietly into the silence that followed JJ's departure.

"Dee never knows when to shut up." Drake found himself snapping out bitterly. "Check, please." He stopped a waitress passing his table.





Tears stung JJ's eyes as he ran up an alley to the main street. The mixture of seeing Dee and Ryo so happy together and the thought that Drake might have WANTED to give people the wrong impression about JJ and himself was too much for one night. Dee and Ryo had practically looked married walking in like they had. Whatever had happened to the Ryo who freaked if Dee looked at him wrong? Ryo had seemed flirtateous, even playful. And Dee had been eating up every moment like someone basking in sunlight. JJ himself had given Dee three times that attention and had gotten no reaction at all, let alone a reaction like that!

And Drake! Had he really WANTED people to think they were...? Oh, sure, he'd been aware of his partner's attraction to him. He couldn't exactly MISS it. Not with Drake popping up every time Dee rejected him, and doing anything he asked as long as he asked with a smile...but, had he really planned on taking him to a quiet, seclusive restaurant just so people would think...? JJ didn't want to believe it. Drake wasn't just his partner, he was his trusted friend. Someone who took everything about him in stride, and more. "Grow up, JJ. Drake's a MAN, remember? If he didn't plan on making rumors he was riding on making out. Or more, planning for you taking him for a ride. Counting on hearing your names linked in the office grapevine the way Dee and Ryo's are. "Did you hear Drake Parker nailed JJ Adams last night?" "No way, I thought I heard he was knocked up by someone." Pig...PIGS... He wiped his tears away.j

"JJ Adams?" A female voice asked.

JJ turned. The petite woman behind him smiled pleasantly. "Casey Jones?"

"Yep, it's me." The woman grinned. "What are you doing in New York?"

"I work here now. I'm in the 27th precinct. You?"

"I'm on vacation. I work at Chicago's 19th." Casey answered.

"Chicago?"

"Yes, I transferred. Best thing I ever did. Cuz guess what."

"What?"

"I'm a married woman." Casey held up her left hand. On it was a silver wedding band.

"No way!" JJ took her hand. "Mark?"

Casey laughed. "No, Mark was a waste of time. I see that now. I married someone I met in Chicago. His name is Thomas, and he's wonderful...what about you? Dee?"

"Dee?" JJ laughed. "Oh, Dee's ancient history......um, we work at the same precinct but he's with someone else. A guy named...Ryo...they've been together for years actually, and Ryo's a...swell guy."

"Oh, I'm sorry..."

"Sorry for what? Oh, I'm not pining over Dee. Not anymore."

"Someone else?"

"No...noone..."

"Are you happy otherwise?"

"To an extent."

"That doesn't sound very positive."

"It isn't." JJ gave her a sad smile.

"Maybe you should transfer. It worked for me." Casey laughed. "I'm meeting my husband for dinner."

"Oh, well you better hurry." JJ grinned.

"I'm going. Maybe I'll see you later, JJ." Casey shook his hand and was gone.

'A transfer...' JJ frowned. 'I only came here because of Dee...now that he's out of the picture...there's nothing to hold me here...'





"A transfer request?" Taicho looked up at JJ.

"Yes, sir. I don't know where exactly. Out of state, maybe. I need a change of scenery. I don't really care where, as long as it's not New York or LA."

"Are you certain about this?"

"Yes. I've given it alot of thought."

"When do you want to leave?"

"As soon as possible."

"I have a case I was hoping you and Drake would take care of. If you'd stay until its completion I'll see about transferring you immediately afterwared." Taicho told him.

"I'll stay on for one more case if you need me." JJ nodded. "Thank-you, sir."

"Here's the case." Taicho handed him a file. "Dismissed."

JJ took the file and left. Taicho looked over the transfer request papers JJ had handed him only a few minutes ago with a serious frown. Berkeley opened the door. "Taicho, I was wondering-"

"Berkeley, just who I wanted to see."

"Something wrong?" Berkeley entered, leaving the door open. Drake entered the hallway, heading toward Taicho's office.

"Look at this."

"It's a transfer request...from JJ?"

Drake froze.

"Just handed it to me this morning. Says he wants transferred out of state."

"Back to LA?"

"No, he specifically requested he not be transferred back to LA. I asked him to stay for one more case, which he agreed to...Any idea where this came from?"

"No, none." Berkeley glanced throught the request.

"I promised him he'd be transferred after the case. See if anyone's short-handed somewhere." Taicho ordered.

"Fine." Berkeley shrugged it off, unaffected.

Drake stood out in the hallway, frozen. A moment later he felt something wet trail down his cheek. He wiped it away, surprised to realize he was crying. He turned away from Taicho's office. How could JJ request a transfer without even telling him? Alright, so they weren't romantically involved, but they were partners! And, he'd thought, friends. Had he planned on telling him at all? Drake found himself turning from being sad to being angry at JJ's apparent uncaring.




"Anyone seen Drake? He's not at his desk." JJ entered the 27th precint's rec room, the case file in hand.

"I think he was looking for you." Someone mentioned as they were leaving. JJ turned to the other two occupants of the room and found himself facing Ryo and Dee. Changing his mind on asking again he walked past them to get some coffee, glancing through the folder.

"What's that?" Ryo asked.

"Drake and my's new case. That's why I was looking for him." JJ expained. "He'll probably show up here." As if on cue Drake entered the room. "Like I said...We've got a new case." Drake raised his eyes to meet JJ's gaze. JJ took a step back involuntarily. The hostility in Drake's eyes was unmistakeable. Without replying he walked over to pour himself a cup of coffee. "What's wrong?"

"Like you care." Drake responded.

"What does that mean?"

"What does that mean?" Drake turned to him, laughing humorlessly. "Why don't you tell me?"

"How should I know what you're talking about or why you're so mad?" JJ queried.

"That's not what I meant..." Drake frowned. Glancing around he stormed over tho the rec room door and closed it. "Tell me." He demanded.

"Tell you what?"

"Why don't you just tell me!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Yah, right...give me our case file." Drake held out his hand. JJ held it away from him.

"No. Not until you tell me what your problem is."

"I have to see that case file if we're going to start this case. And I figure you want us to start it, so we can finish it, so you can leave!"

JJ froze. A cold feeling washing over him. "How do you know about that?"

"I heard it second hand...not the way one particularly cares to hear about their partner's transfer request. Not the way I'd have let you hear about it, if I'd chosen to leave."

"Drake, look, I was going to tell you. But I just handed the request to Taicho this morning, and he asked for us to do this case first, and who knows how long that will take. So I was gonna wait until it was sometime in the forseeable future."

"You were just...gonna wait." Drake repeated. "And why is that?"

"I just thought it'd be better if-"

"You just didn't care." Drake cut him off.

"That's not true."

"Isn't it?"

"Drake, of course I care. You're one of my closest friends..." JJ felt like hitting himself. "Wait, um, Drake...what I mean is-"

"You've said what you mean, don't change it on account of my feelings." Drake turned and exited. A group of people lept back guiltily. Drake walked through, unaffected. JJ saw several gazes turn back to him and he quickly lept forward to shut the door, his cheeks burning.

"I think a bullet would have hurt less." Dee spoke up.

"I know." JJ replied. "I didn't mean to..."

"Shouldn't you go after him?" Ryo asked.

"And say what?" JJ asked him. "Anything I say now will only make things worse." He slumped into a chair.

"I didn't know you knew." Dee mentioned.

"About Drake? Of course I know. What did you think I was? Blind? It would take someone ditzier than even me to miss that..."

"Still, that was a double blow. Poor Drake."

"Can you just drop it?" JJ snapped.

"When did you ask for a transfer?"

"I just put the request on Taicho's desk this morning." JJ answered. "That's why I can't figure out how he found out." He sighed. "Maybe I should request that transfer immediately. I just killed Drake and my professional relationship."

"No, you killed the personal one. The professional one is still up in the air." Dee told him.

"Yah, thanks." JJ stood up. "I better go see if I can salvage it." He exited.






JJ had never really understood what instinct made people go to roofs to mope. He'd never really gone to a roof to mope. He preferred someplace inside. Quiet, dark...like a closet...But Drake was a roof person. And that's where JJ found him. Looking over the side of the building. "Is the view meditative?" He queried, approaching the other man cautiously.

"In a way." Drake replied, seeming alot calmer than before.

"Drake, I'm sorry."

"You have no reason to apologize. You don't have to tell me anything. There's no requirement that a partner should discuss a transfer with his partner before giving it to his superior...I should apologize. I acted badly. And I humiliated you...in front of Dee...and others."

"I'm not the type who's humiliated easily."

"Lucky for me....after the way I behaved. You don't owe me anything, JJ. No explanation. No apology. And you certainly don't have any responsibility for some foolish day dream I might be carrying around."

JJ winced. "Your very important to me, Drake...you're someone I trust. Someone I depend on. Someone I admire. You know that."

Drake turned to JJ with a smile. "And someday I'm going to tell you how I feel for you, Jamie. I'm gonna make you listen and give an answer one way or the other." JJ couldn't meet Drake's eyes. Something inside him stung. Drake was a wonderful person and he was sorry he couldn't - "But not today. Let's have a look at that case, partner."



Salmon 2001