Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Photographs ❯ Chapter 2

Photographs - CHAPTER 2

PG 13 for Profanity and violence.

 

Ryo continues to reminisce on his life with Dee.

 

 

 

 

 

Ryo - Age 40

 

 

 

A round of applause met Ryo as he walked into the meeting room. Despite his best efforts, he felt the flush darkening his cheeks.

 

“Told you he'd blush,” Dee's declaration was followed by more good-natured laughter.

 

“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen,” Ryo went into a casual stance leaning against a nearby table. “I hope I can be as good as Chief Smith was.”

 

“Yeah, I'll bet the lucky badger is enjoying Hawaii,” Dee muttered.

 

“That we paid for,” Drake chimed in.

 

“I'm gonna miss the old guy,” J.J. leaned back in his chair and narrowly avoided an empty Styrofoam cup thrown at him by Dee.

 

Ryo let the good-natured banter go on for a moment before clearing his throat. “If we could get down to business?”

 

“Before that, Ryo - I mean Chief MacLean I--,” Dee stood and tugged at his collar, “that is - well, we wanted to say congratulations and that no one deserves this more than you do.”

 

“Here, here,” the applause started anew.

 

“Thank you, Detective Laytner,” although his voice held an air of formality, Ryo's eyes told Dee what he really wished he could say. Thank you, Dee. Thank you for supporting me. I'm going to miss working with you. When we get home tonight--

 

As always Dee seemed to sense his moods and winked while giving him a cocky grin, which caused his blush to deepen. “First order of business,” Ryo had to pause. He wished things didn't have to be this way but he had been told, despite the fact that his relationship with Dee was pretty much accepted, that it would not do for the captain of the precinct and one of his subordinates. “Everyone is invited to the farewell party in honor of Detective Laytner, who will be transferring to the Bronx Station.”

 

Goodbyes and teasing followed this. Again Ryo gave them a few moments. “Dee will finish out the month here and I've already determined who will be assigned our cases. I will, however, continue to personally handle the Hurst case.”

 

Ryo went on to introduce their newest member of the CI team who really wasn't all that new. Janet grinned and matched the good-natured jibes word for word. When the meeting was finished, Ryo watched them all file out, perhaps not totally relaxed, but at least reasonably so. Ryo felt a twinge of loneliness. He could never be a part of the group again- he wasn't `one of the boys' anymore.

 

He wasn't aware that Dee was still with him until he closed the door. “Hey.”

 

Ryo tried to smile reassuringly; more for himself than anything but even he knew he wasn't quite pulling it off. “Hey.”

 

“So chief, you okay with all of this?”

 

“I'm going to miss you,” Ryo blurted.

 

“You sound like I'm going off to the military or something,” Dee wrapped his arms around him and nuzzled his ear, “You'll see me every night at home. You'll get sick of the sight of me after awhile.”

 

“Never,” Ryo breathed, his eyes closing as the heat from Dee's touch surged through him.

 

“Ryo,” Dee said, “have I told you how proud I am of you?”

 

“About fifty times,” Ryo smiled.

 

“So what's next?” Dee pulled back and grinned at him, “You going to unseat Mayor Rose?”

 

“No way,” Ryo said. “He can have all of the bullshit that goes with politics. It's his natural habitat anyway. Besides, I prefer it down here in the trenches.”

 

“The chief over at Bronx told me they're in an ongoing investigation into City Hall,” Dee turned serious unexpectedly; “My new partner was working on it before her old partner was killed. I only hope I can do my part and live up to his reputation.”

 

“You will, Dee,” Ryo pulled him close again. “You're not the only one that's proud.”

 

***

 

Ryo turned away from the chaos at the crime scene when his cell phone rang, “Chief MacLean.”

 

“Ryo? Where are you?”

 

“Dee? I'm out on the streets at a crime scene, what is it?”

 

The urgency in Dee's voice made his stomach drop, “Ryo - Jenn was shot.”

 

“Oh no,” Ryo grasped onto the phone. “Is she --?”

 

“She's in surgery,” Dee said, his voice breaking.

 

“Where are you? I'll be right there.”

 

“Please hurry.”

 

***

 

The double doors swung open as Ryo strode into the ICU. He was relieved when he caught sight of Dee standing outside of one of the waiting rooms, clutching a bulging padded envelope under his arm.

 

“Ryo,” Dee rushed to him and grabbed him in a fierce embrace. “Oh damn.”

 

Ryo held onto Dee's trembling body, allowing his partner to get control over his emotions.

 

“Dee, what happened?”

 

Dee shook his head as though to clear it. “It was a set up. I couldn't get to her in time

- I --,”

 

“Dee--,” Ryo framed his face with his hands. “Don't you dare blame yourself for this!” Ryo could see in his eyes that was just what he was doing.

 

“They won't tell me anything because I'm not her family,” Dee said in an agonized voice. “Her husband and kids are on the way.”

 

Ryo had met Jenn's husband, an Assistant DA on the East Side. He was a nice, decent guy. Ryo couldn't imagine how much this would devastate him.

 

“Come on, sit. There's nothing we can do right now but pray,” Ryo led him over to one of the hard plastic hairs. He drew Dee against him and guided Dee's head to lie on his shoulder.

 

After a time, ADA Carter Green arrived with his two daughters and his sister. Green spoke to Dee for a moment as the two tried to reassure each other. Green told Dee he didn't blame him for what happened, which gave Ryo a measure of relief. While Green went to talk with the doctors, his sister ushered the children to the waiting room.

 

“I need a smoke,” Dee muttered after a time. He shifted the envelope to his other arm.

 

“What's this?” Ryo nodded to the package. He'd forgotten to ask before.

 

Dee seemed to notice it for the first time. “This is it, Ryo. Two years and six months of work.” Something changed in his eyes; a look of cold steel. “Let's go some place private.”

 

The two found their way up onto the hospital roof. Dee handed the envelope to him and lit up a cigarette, taking a long drag before speaking, “I know I haven't been able to tell you much about the case but I guess it doesn't matter now. Jenn and I found the evidence we needed to link several key officials in City Hall to the corruption.”

 

“Shit,” Ryo muttered.

 

“It's all in here,” Dee tapped the envelope with his finger. “We just needed one more key piece of evidence. Jenn and I were meeting with our contact in City Hall but apparently they got to him and --,”

 

Ryo stepped close to him and laid his hand on Dee's shoulder. He could see his partner struggling to get the words out.

 

“We got separated. A couple of the men they sent after us were ex-cops,” Dee took a violent drag. “Ex-cops, Ryo!”

 

Ryo embraced him, “Aw, babe.”

 

“That's not all,” Dee said. “One of the names mentioned at least of couple of times was that of our illustrious mayor.”

 

Ryo was certain he'd heard wrong. He drew back and gaped in disbelief, “Berkeley Rose?”

 

“Why are you looking so surprised?” Dee said. “You've known him long enough.”

 

“I know but this - Diana - his son --,”

 

“Although we can't prove direct involvement,” there was bitterness in Dee's voice that disturbed Ryo, “his name does appear. It's enough to throw a bad light on him, the stupid idiot.”

 

“Rose, you moron, what have you done?” Ryo shook his head, muttering to himself.

 

“Ryo, I've made several copies of this evidence and sent it to various people and organizations,” Dee continued grimly. “One is coming to you. I need someone I know I can trust in case--,”

 

He didn't finish the thought.

 

***

 

Jennifer Green died later that day.

 

Ryo was forced to watch as their carefully constructed case crumbled around them. Two and a half years of work first by Jenn and her old partner, and then by Jenn and Dee had been destroyed. Over the next few weeks despite the evidence which Ryo had seen, nothing ever came of it. Dee was advised by his captain that the mayor's office was conducting their own investigation and that all of the evidence that Jenn and Dee had collected would be immediately turned over to them and the Bronx precinct would move onto other things. A commendation from the mayor's office for Jenn Green was given but in Dee's eyes, it was blood money.

 

It didn't take a genius to figure out who had been behind the whole thing.

 

Ryo was worried about Dee. He spent his nights brooding in front of the TV, going through several packs of cigarettes at a time. He'd called in sick for days (“There's nothing for me to do until I get a new partner, so what's the point?”) and spent his time wandering the city.

 

It came to a head on the day Ryo got a frantic call from a friend of his at City Hall.

 

“You'd better get over here,” he said. “Dee just came storming through. I think he's going for Rose.”

 

“Dee!” Ryo hoped Dee sensed his anxiety, hoped his lover didn't do anything to get himself thrown in jail. Fortunately, Ryo wasn't far from City Hall when he got the call. He pulled up in front of the building, parking illegally and not caring about the fine, and took the steps to the building at a mad dash.

 

He forewent the elevator and ran up the stairs until his chest was tight and his side ached, “Please, please, don't do anything stupid, Dee!”

 

The place was in chaos. The mayor's office was directly in his line of sight and Ryo saw Dee standing over Rose's desk, screaming and cursing at him, calling Rose every type of dirty word imaginable. Rose merely stood facing him, his jaw tight, his hands fisted. The mayor didn't speak but Ryo could see even from where he stood that an explosion was coming. He crossed the room quickly and stepped over the threshold just as Dee lunged for Rose.

 

“Don't!” Ryo grabbed Dee and threaded his arms under Dee's shoulders, locking his fingers at the back of Dee's neck. Dee struggled in his grasp and because he was much heavier, Ryo fought to control the dark-haired man.

 

“Get the fuck off me, Ryo!” Dee threw his body from side to side.

 

“Stop, damn it!” Ryo snarled just as two security guards stepped through the door. “Dee, it's not worth it!”

 

It was still a few moments before his lover calmed down. Ryo's rapidly beating heart slowed to normal. For a moment he'd thought he wouldn't be able to stop Dee from making the biggest mistake of his life.

 

“Your Honor?” One of the guards inquired.

 

“It's all right,” Rose nodded. “Please wait outside.”

 

“Ryo, why did you stop me?” Dee demanded when Ryo released him.

 

“Why do you think, you moron! What did you think you were going to do?”

 

“He did this!” Dee motioned wildly at Rose. “He had them cover it all up! Jenn is dead, because of him, damn it!”

 

“I'd watch those accusations, Detective Laytner.” Rose said.

 

“Fuck you!” Dee turned and strode from the office.

 

“Dee--,” Ryo reached out as though to stop him even though he was gone.

 

“Ryo--,”

 

Ryo turned violently on him. “Don't call me that!” He had only truly hated one person in his lifetime, and that was the man who'd killed his parents but Berkeley Rose - at that moment Ryo truly despised him. “How could you do this to him, you son of a bitch!”

 

“I'd watch your tone with me, Chief MacLean. Or you could lose that shiny little badge of yours.”

 

“Don't threaten me, Berkie,” Ryo forced the words through clenched teeth, “Just because I stopped Dee from kicking your sorry ass doesn't mean I won't do it.”

 

He turned.

 

“I always thought you had a lion's bite.”

 

Ryo froze.

 

“It was one of the reasons why I was so attracted to you.” Rose said.

 

Years ago the remark would have brought a blush to his face, now it just annoyed him. Ryo kept his back to Rose, and crossed his arms in a defensive gesture. “Forgive me if I'm not flattered.”

 

“You don't understand--,”

 

“Oh and just what don't I understand?” Ryo turned back to him.

 

Rose walked around his desk and closed the door, “As I was trying to tell Mr. Laytner, I had nothing to do with what was going on here but we are conducting our own investigation. It was necessary for Dee to cease his - those involved weren't just looking to silence Dee and Jenn Green. This was necessary, do you understand now? I can't say more.”

 

Ryo just looked at him, “Don't try to say you were protecting us. You destroyed him. I don't think I'll ever forgive you for that.”

 

Ryo turned, walked out and didn't look back.

 

***

 

Ryo entered the house, which was completely dark. He frowned. The air was heavy with cigarette smoke so he knew Dee was around. He'd often scolded Dee about smoking in the house, but Ryo decided to just let it go this time. Moving carefully about he found Dee on the deck, stretched out in one of the chairs.

 

“I've been looking all over for you,” Ryo said, “When you didn't answer your cell--,”

 

“I've been here,” Dee reached beside him and lifted a bottle to his lips.

 

“Don't, Dee,” Ryo snatched it from his hands.

 

“Damn it! You're not letting me do anything tonight, are you?”

 

Ryo held his temper in check, “What did you think was going to happen if you'd hit Rose? Would it change things? Would it bring Jenn back? No, you'd be in jail and I'd be - without you.”

 

A look of misery crossed Dee's face as he realized the pain he could have caused Ryo. He slumped back into the chair and buried his face in his hands. “When I got back to the station the chief tore me a new one.”

 

“I stopped there. One of your co-workers told me what happened and where you were.”

 

“So you know what I did?” Dee gave him a false smile. “I quit.”

 

“Oh no- Dee, you didn't!”

 

“Well - actually I put in for early retirement,” Dee said. “I figured I should get something from them.”

 

Ryo gently lowered himself into Dee's lap. “You idiot- you love being a cop. You can't quit.”

 

“Ryo, I couldn't work there anymore even if I wanted to,” Dee said, “My partner is gone and my own chief wouldn't back me up. My reputation there is toast.” Dee buried his face in Ryo's hair. “The badger wouldn't have screwed me around like that - you wouldn't have either.”

 

It was true. Ryo would have stood behind Dee; pounded Rose into a bloody pulp if he'd had to.

 

“Come back to the 27th,” Ryo said, desperation in his voice. “The guys would be glad to see you and you know I'd love working with you again. We can work things out--,”

 

“Ryo,” Dee kissed him on the temple. “I love you so much. But you know we can't. They had enough of a bitch-fest about you being gay.”

 

“Dee--,” Ryo sighed in defeat. “What will you do?”

 

“I don't know,” Dee said. “I'm tired. I just want a break.”

 

“Okay,” Ryo said, “Dee, I just wish I could make it all go away.”

 

And Ryo realized that for a little while he could. “Let's go inside.”

 

***

 

Ryo -- Age 75

 

 

 

 

 

“You weren't the same after that,” Ryo said, “at least not for awhile.”

 

Ryo set the book aside. “I tried to think of something.” He pressed his hand to his forehead. “I was so frustrated that I couldn't fix things. But we weren't the only ones with problems, were we? The whole incident put a strain on Diana and Berkeley's marriage. I don't know if Diana ever quite believed that Berkeley didn't have something to do with the corruption and cover-up.”

 

Ryo picked up another album, newer than the rest. “But since everything came out eventually - not that that was any consolation to you.”

 

He opened the album to the first page to see a photo of a grinning Dee. “I was so happy to see your smile again.” Ryo mused. “You'd been sad for so long- but I knew you'd bounce back, love. You always bounce back.”

 

***

 

Ryo - Age 41

 

 

 

 

 

“Bikky! Carol!”

 

“Hey, Dad!” Bikky grabbed him in a tight embrace.

 

“Oof! Go easy on the old man.”

 

“You're not old, gramps,” Jessica hugged him.

 

“Well thank you, sweetheart,” Ryo tugged at one of her braids. “And how is my favorite lawyer slash daughter-in-law?”

 

“Doing very well,” Carol kissed him on the cheek, “And I am your only lawyer slash daughter-in-law.”

 

“Well, come inside you three and get settled. Dee will be back soon and then we'll all go out to dinner.”

 

As they were getting the younger couple settled in their room, Bikky asked, “How's Dee doing?”

 

“A little better,” Ryo said, “Carol, I don't know if I've thanked you.”

 

“About fifty times,” Carol smiled lovingly. “It was my pleasure. Besides, with the confidential nature of my cases I knew I could trust Dee to do the investigative work and it kept me from being on a plane back and forth across the country for weeks at a time.”

 

“Which is always good,” Bikky chimed in as he hugged his wife from behind.

 

They paused when they heard the front door slam, “Anybody home?”

 

“Guestroom, Dee.”

 

When his love stepped into the room his eyes lit up, “Hey you three, you made it!” Dee seemed happy but Ryo could see the underlying sadness in his eyes. For the first few months after retiring from the force, Dee sank into a depression that frightened Ryo. Nothing anyone said could bring him around. Finally, when Ryo was about to suggest therapy Carol came up with what turned out to be the perfect solution. She had been working on a very difficult case that required her to travel to New York on several occasions. Finally, she'd asked Dee for help in her investigation. That first request suddenly became many more and Ryo was relieved when he saw a little bit of the old Dee return. His family knew Dee would just need some time to figure out what he was going to do.

 

***

 

The sports bar was crowded that hot summer night and it was some time before they got to sit down, since Bikky was almost immediately recognized and spent a good half hour signing autographs (much to Carol's displeasure). At least women no longer threw themselves at Bikky while she was standing there- one look from Carol usually stopped that.

 

Dee was uncharacteristically silent during the drive. He would answer questions and make half-hearted comments but he seemed distracted. It caused Ryo a twinge of worry. He seemed to be improving, but now--,

 

Bikky was in the middle of complaining about a coach (who in his opinion, didn't know a good play if it bit him in the ass) when Dee unexpectedly announced, “I'm going to open a security and investigations firm.”

 

All conversation ceased. They looked at him.

 

“Sure, okay love.”

 

“All right Dee.”

 

“No problem.”

 

Dee looked thoroughly confused. “What's this all about? You don't seem too surprised.”

 

“Of course we aren't,” Ryo said. “We knew you'd get things together.”

 

“Yeah, we were waiting for you to get your head out of your ass and do something,” Bikky said.

 

“Bite me, monkey brat.”

 

“I'm not your type, perv.”

 

“And that's the round,” Carol defused the volatile situation. “That's perfect for you, Dee.”

 

A broad grin spread over his face and Ryo saw the last of the sadness fall away. The old gleam of life returned to his eyes. “You really think it's a good idea?”

 

“Yes,” they said in unison.

 

“Well, all right,” Dee said. “This calls for some champagne, don't you think? The monkey brat can pay for it.”

 

Dee and Bikky went back and forth with their usual banter. Ryo was just happy to have his old Dee back.

 

***

 

Ryo - Age 75

 

 

 

 

 

“And so Laytner Investigations was born,” Ryo grinned to himself. “Did you think it would work out so well? Probably. I was just glad to see you back to your old self again.”

 

Ryo turned the page smiled at the photo of Dee cutting the ribbon in front of his new office. They'd even gotten a small write up in the human-interest column in the paper. It was in a reasonably nice neighborhood, and thanks to all his connections and the financial backing he received, Dee already had clients lined up. Dee had teased Ryo, saying that he would try and lure some of the 27th's finest away and Ryo always had the perfect threat to keep Dee from even considering it.

 

Dee had started out small, but eventually his company grew with offices spanning the tri-state area. Ryo continued to turn the pages. His fingers brushed over photos of the main offices in Philadelphia, Baltimore and D.C. Other pictures showed Dee with local politicians, celebrities, and media. Fortune 500 companies had hired him to make certain their files and documents were secure and that their own security services were up to speed.

 

“So of course, you being a private investigator and me being a cop we were bound to clash,” but that thought brought a smile to Ryo's face. Some memories could not be captured in photos.