Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets ❯ Chapter 1

Title: Secrets: Chapter 1

Author: Ladymynx
Fandom: FAKE

Rating: PG13 to R

Disclaimer: I don't own FAKE -- that's Ms. Matoh - although if I did I'd make it into an anime series.
Spoilers: Through Like, Like, Love
Warnings: Profanity, violence.

Characters/Pairings: Drake x JJ, Dee, Ryo
Notes: More of a serious Drake and JJ ficlet.

 

 

 

 

 

“Parker.”

 

“D-drake?”

 

“JJ?”

 

“I—Drake--,”

 

“JJ, it sounds like you're outside. Where are you?

 

“D-downstairs - foyer--,”

 

“Why do you sound so strange?” Drake wondered why JJ just didn't come up and use his key. “Come on up.”

 

“I-I can't—I can't—please help--,”

 

Drake was out the door before JJ uttered the last word, taking the steps at a run he leapt the last flight and burst through the fire door to find--,

 

He was slumped against the wall, his face down, his chin resting on his chest, the shadows hiding his smooth features. Drake saw when he knelt in front of him and took in his shirt ripped to shreds, the bruises on his face and body, eye swollen shut.

 

“Son of a bitch!” Drake growled. “Oh JJ - damn it! I'm getting you a hospital.”

 

JJ seemed to come alive at Drake's words, “N-no!” His hand fisted with surprising strength around Drake's T-shirt. “I - just--,”

 

“JJ--,” Fuck, Drake never thought it possible to hurt so much. Seeing JJ like that caused his gut to twist in knots. A red haze of anger filled his vision for a moment. JJ's voice brought him out of it.

 

“Please Drake?”

 

Drake hadn't cried since he was a teenager but he wanted to now. He swallowed the stone lodged in his throat and said in a hoarse whisper, “Can you stand if I support you?”

 

“I-I think so--,”

 

Drake draped his arms under JJ's shoulders and slowly came to his feet allowing JJ time to adjust. Drake realized after the fact that the foyer was empty and for that he was grateful. It was a bad night. Rain drenched the city in an angry torrent, the storm causing the lights to flicker at one point as lightening spilt the sky.

 

Drake maneuvered JJ into the elevator and slammed the button leaving a bloody smear. “Christ, JJ we should--,”

 

“Please Drake,” JJ said. “Let me--,”

 

“All right,” Drake sighed in a defeated voice. It took them awhile to make their way down the hall. Drake's door was ajar and he dimly recalled that in his haste he hadn't bothered to see if it were properly locked. Once they were inside Drake kicked the door closed and led JJ into the kitchen.

 

In the harsh fluorescent light, JJ's wounds looked even worse. Drake had to swallow his rage at the sight of his lover so badly abused. But JJ needed him now and he had to keep it together, so despite wanting to leave JJ here and track down the bastard who'd done this to him, Drake said, “Wait here, I'll get some things from the bathroom.”

 

When he returned, JJ was slumped in the chair as exhaustion claimed him. He came awake with a start when Drake touched him. “It's just me, sweetheart.” Now where the hell had that come from?

 

The endearment seemed to please JJ and he smiled slightly. It was more a grimace though with a busted lip. He sat quietly as Drake examined him. There didn't appear to be any broken ribs and for that little miracle Drake was grateful. JJ remained still as Drake cleaned and bandaged his wounds and got an ice pack for his eye. He then retrieved some medicine - a prescription he'd used when he'd broken his arm chasing a perp. He knew he shouldn't be giving it to JJ but there would be no resting for him without it.

 

Then Drake did something he'd never thought he'd do - he kissed JJ on the forehead lingering there.

“JJ--,”

 

He heard JJ sigh. It was a sound of utter defeat and it broke Drake's heart.

 

“Who did this to you?”

 

He felt JJ tense beneath him and when he didn't answer immediately Drake was certain of one thing—

 

JJ knew his assailant.

 

His fears were further confirmed when Drake said, “I'll file the report--,”

 

“No!” There was as much force in that single word as JJ was capable of, Drake knew. Afterwards, his energy seemed to drain and he rested his head against Drake's chest.

 

“JJ,” Drake said carefully, “you're a cop. You were assaulted. You can't let some psycho son of a bitch run loose on the streets of New York--,”

 

“I wish it were that--,” JJ halted.

 

“Shit, JJ you do know who it was don't you?”

 

That time JJ took Drake's shirt in both hands, “Drake, I love you.”

 

Oh hell! JJ please don't do this now!”

 

“JJ--,”

 

“I'm sorry.”

 

“What?”

 

“I'm sorry, Drake.”

 

“Why the hell are you sorry?” Drake didn't understand this at all. “You didn't do anything wrong!”

 

JJ snorted. The sound caused a cold dread in the pit of Drake's stomach, “JJ - it wasn't an old boyfriend was it?”

 

At that JJ laughed with derision, “No - it wasn't boyfriend, old or otherwise.” He sighed again, “Can I go to bed now Drakie-poo?”

 

“Yes,” Drake said quietly. Again he helped JJ to his feet. When they got to his bedroom, Drake helped him undress and found a pair of the pajama bottoms JJ had left the last time he'd stayed over. Drake had washed and ironed them, not something he'd normally do but he knew how meticulous JJ was.

 

Drake stayed with him, gently brushing back the silvery locks from off JJ's forehead until his lover fell asleep.

 

Drake moved from the room, leaving the door open just to be safe. His cell phone was where he'd dropped it. He realized he hadn't seen JJ's cell but that was the only way JJ could have called him. Drake returned to the foyer and found it behind the door. He was already making a call when the elevator doors opened at his floor.

 

“Yo.”

 

“Dee?”

 

“Drake? What's up?”

 

“JJ—was beaten tonight--,”

 

“What the fuck--? Are you serious? Who?”

 

“I -I don't know—he won't tell me.”

 

“Is he there?”

 

“Yes, he's sleeping now but--,”

 

“We'll be right over.”

 

“Thanks Dee,” he wasn't sure what his best friend could do right now but - well Drake just needed someone there to help him make sense of all of this.

 

Drake lit a cigarette and paced the length of his living room as he madly drew the nicotine into his body. All right - so it was someone JJ knew, so that ruled out a random hate crime. Not an old boyfriend, thanks for small favors. A perp? Possibly but why would JJ hide that? Of all the perps they encountered if they weren't taking a dirt nap (and a few of them were courtesy of JJ's skills) any others that he knew of offhand were either in jail or - well what reason would they have? It wasn't their first arrest and certainly wouldn't be their last. JJ would just be another cop in a long line of cops who would bust them. They'd not had any major cases in weeks involving anyone who could orchestrate an attack like that. And besides he'd been with JJ for all of them and how would a perp know where he or JJ lived?

 

And JJ wouldn't just let a perp get away with something like that. He was a true cop from head to toe.

 

Unless--,

 

“Fuck, JJ,” Drake muttered around the cigarette, “You didn't take a beating from a perp for me did you?”

 

Aw hell - you stupid little--, Drake's throat tightened again.

 

But JJ didn't think Drake could handle himself?

 

Of course he did. So what did that mean? Damn it, Drake you're getting off track.

 

Drake lit another cigarette and continued his pacing. He went back to the fact that a perp wouldn't know where either of them lived - then again -

 

With what had happened - his anger and frustration at his lover being hurt and his not being there to help him, Drake had completely overlooked a simple fact -- JJ had gotten to his place, even after being beaten - JJ hadn't driven - he couldn't have. That would mean he'd been out somewhere nearby and with someone? Not necessarily - what if JJ had been on his way to see him? JJ often surprised him late at night, bringing him food or a bottle of wine. JJ was on second shift but what if he'd gotten off early and was on his way to see him?

 

 

So it wasn't random. It was someone JJ knew, someone who he'd either run into or had been surprised by. It wasn't a perp so that left friends and relatives. That would be logical and certainly would explain why he didn't want to go to the hospital or report it except for one thing -- JJ's family had known he was gay for years and were cool with it and most of his friends were gay or bi themselves and those that weren't adored JJ.

 

The second cigarette was down to a stub. Drake went to light a third.

 

The doorbell rang.

 

“Oh shit no--,” the cigarette fell from between Drake's lips. He stood motionless in the middle of the living room.

 

There was a knock, “Drake? You there?”

 

Dee and Ryo. The knock became insistent. Drake realized they'd wake JJ. Still it was a moment before he started for the door, his movements automatic.

 

“Drake?” Ryo looking concerned as always.

 

Drake stepped aside and Dee and Ryo walked in. “Man you look like hell,” Dee said. “You need a drink?”

 

“Yeah,” Drake said. “I need more than that.”

 

Ryo planted his hands on Drake's shoulders, pushed him over to the couch and sat him down. As succinct as always. “Why didn't you go to the hospital?”

 

“What?”

 

Dee returned with a glass of whiskey straight. Drake grabbed the glass and downed it quickly, hoping it would burn away the sudden disgust he felt.

 

“Drake?” Ryo said.

 

Drake looked at his friends and fellow officers and with his voice deadly quiet said, “I know.”

 

“What?” Dee said.

 

I'm sorry, Drake. I'm sorry.

 

Drake could barely form the words. “I know who assaulted JJ.”