Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets ❯ Chapter 4

Title: Secrets: Chapter 4

Author: Ladymynx
Rating: 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, Berkeley Rose
Notes: More of a serious Drake and JJ ficlet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

JJ was alone when he woke up the second time. His muscles protested as he rolled over on the bed and arduously pushed himself up into a sitting position. He took a moment to gather his strength before squinting blearily around the room. It was a few minutes before he noticed the note on the nightstand.

 

JJ-

 

Stay put. I've already called you out for the week.

Everything's been taken care of.

If you have any problems, I've asked Mrs. B. to look in on you.

Please just relax and I'll see you when I get back tonight.

 

Love,

Drake

 

JJ couldn't help but smile. It was short and to the point and it was his first love letter from Drake. It was as close as his partner had come to admitting he loved him.

 

JJ knew Drake's elderly neighbor, a sweet woman who wrote cozy mysteries for a living. Drake had every one of them on his bookshelf. JJ had read a few and although they weren't really his thing he'd enjoyed them.

 

“Okay, Drake-senpai I'll see what I'm capable of,” He still ached all over but he found he could move about well enough. Drake wasn't a slob but bless his little heart he was the most disorganized person JJ had ever seen.

 

First things first. He was feeling gamy and thought a shower was in order. JJ grimaced at his reflection only making himself look worse. He turned on the shower, then went into the kitchen. Drake had made coffee, so JJ poured himself a cup and took a fortifying sip.

 

Memories from last night played themselves out in his mind, flashing across his vision like a slideshow. JJ closed his eyes and took in a calming breath as he let his body lean against the counter.

 

Why did he have a faint recollection of hearing Dee and Ryo's voices in the night?

 

Nothing to do about it now. JJ carried the cup into the bathroom with him, set it aside and stepped into the warming spray. He wondered how Drake was doing and if he'd figured everything out.

 

***

 

Drake moved at a hurried pace through the busy office of the 27th precinct. His fellow officers stayed out of his way or barely acknowledged him with a muttered greeting. He appreciated the former more than the latter. Of course, they all knew about Frank. Drake barely paid anyone any attention. He needed to see Dee and Ryo before--,

 

“Detective Parker?”

 

Drake flinched at the sound of the cultured voice. “Yes, sir?”

 

“A word with you in my office please.”

 

Drake expelled an exasperated breath but followed Berkeley Rose into his office.

 

“Please have a seat.”

 

Of course this was about Frank. There was no other reason for the commissioner, who normally ignored Drake under the best of circumstances (and Drake preferred it that way) would need to see him. Hell, he wasn't even late this morning.

 

“I understand,” Rose began, “that your brother was brought in on a drunk and disorderly last night by Laytner and Ryo.”

 

That's how it was with Rose. He never called Dee by his first name. Made him too close, Drake supposed. However, Ryo was always Ryo, said in a tone that always made Drake want to go wash up.

 

“So I've been told, sir.”

 

One of those manicured eyebrows rose. And he'd called Ryo prissy last night? “So you weren't present at the time?”

 

Damn - he had wanted to ask Dee what they'd written in their report. Drake wasn't about to air his brother's dirty laundry if he didn't have to. If Rose had seen the report and it said he was there, his ass would be in a sling if he said he wasn't. “I actually was sir.”

 

“I see,” Rose said, “I read the report but is there anything else you want to add to this? Something you might not want to see go into the report?”

 

“No sir.”

 

“Was Adams with you?”

 

“He wasn't,” Drake said warily. What was Rose getting at?

 

“Interesting,” Rose steepled his fingers, “You called him out sick this morning?”

 

“Yes,” Drake said. “He had a family situation to deal with.”

 

“Couldn't call himself could he?”

 

“No.”

 

“And he wasn't there?”

 

“No. Commissioner, what's this all about?”

 

Rose leaned back in his chair, “Your brother was very cooperative last night. From what I was told he broke down and was apologizing to you but no one knew what for.”

 

“This is where I work,” Drake said. “And Dee and Ryo brought him in and he knows they're my friends.”

 

“Come now Detective Parker, we both know there's more to this.”

 

Drake was getting tired of Rose's games. He was finally seeing why Dee thought of him as a rat bastard. “What do you think is going on, sir?”

 

“I'm not entirely sure,” Rose said, “What I do know is that your brother was brought in last night. You were with him, yet you let Dee mess him up. Now suddenly you have to call Adams out sick. And of course there is the matter of your closeness to Adams--,”

 

“With all due respect sir, what the hell is that supposed to mean?”

 

Rose pushed back from his desk and stood. He stretched and turned towards the window. “It means that if my officers are involved in something and someone gets hurt I want to know the truth.” Rose turned back to scrutinize him and Drake found himself squirming under his gaze. “Family considerations aside, as police officers we're here to protect each other and I will see it done by any means in my power, have I made myself clear?”

 

“Crystal, sir,” Drake said coldly.

 

“Good,” Rose said, he returned to his desk. “Now I've arranged for your brother's fine to be lowered.”

 

The abrupt change of subject surprised him somewhat. Still Drake recovered quickly. “I'll pay his fine whatever it is.”

 

“He paid it himself,” Rose said. “But he wanted to stay and wait for you. Go see Laytner and Ryo. They'll fill you in.”

 

“Yes sir,” Drake sighed. “And thank you.” He hated doing it but he owed Rose for cutting Frank a break.

 

“My people work better when they are less distracted,” Rose said. He was already bending over some paperwork in obvious dismissal. Drake was glad to be away.

 

He wondered what the point of it all had been. Why did Rose even care?

 

Dee and Ryo were in their office. Both men looked up when he knocked on the doorframe.

 

“Yo.”

 

“Hey, Drake.”

 

Drake closed the door behind him, “Mister Tight-ass said you guys booked my brother on a drunk and disorderly.”

 

“We figured it was best,” Ryo smiled in sympathy.

 

“Rose didn't ask you about Frank's condition did he?” Dee asked.

 

“He said you took the rap for it.”

 

“Oh good,” Dee said, “Let's just stick with that, okay? It says that in the report.”

 

“Dee, I can't let you do that.”

 

“Why not? I'm already on the rat bastard's shit list.”

 

“Don't worry about it Drake,” Ryo grinned at him.

 

“How was he?”

 

“Actually he was very cooperative,” Ryo said. “We let him sleep it off. He asked if he could stick around until you got here. He's waiting in your office.”

 

“Okay,” Drake gave them a wan smile. “Thanks you guys. I'm serious, for everything.”

 

“Don't get all wussy-boy on us, Parker,” Dee grinned. “We said it was no problem.”

 

The office Drake shared with JJ had more of his partner's feel than his. Drake was satisfied with a desk, chair, phone and computer. JJ had insisted on adding homey touches. He'd bought in some of that fancy art that didn't look like anything Drake could make out. Plants lined the windowsill and a jar of candy had been placed on a nearby bookshelf.

 

Frank was sitting at his desk, holding the picture of himself and Drake that was taken at their last family reunion. Drake remembered that day with the same fond smile that was currently on Frank's face.

 

“Bonnie told me not to eat so much that day,” Frank said, his eyes never leaving the picture. “That heartburn was a killer.”

 

Drake gently closed the office door. He walked across the room to stand and stare out the window. He wasn't really seeing anything. The silence was uncomfortable and it hurt. Drake realized that he would never feel the same way about Frank again.

 

“I guess things will never be the same,” the words were jarringly similar to what Drake had been thinking.

“No,” Drake said. Damn it ached to say that word.

 

“Bonnie's about ready to divorce my sorry ass,” Frank said bitterly.

 

“My commissioner suspects something is up,” Drake said. “He practically said if he found out the truth he'd cut off your balls and serve them to you on a platter.”

 

Frank snorted in derision. He wasn't overly fond of Rose either.

 

“JJ is very well liked here.”

 

“Bonnie wants me to apologize to him, by the way.”

 

Drake released a breath, “Why? Have you changed your mind suddenly concerning gays?”

 

Frank's hesitation told him all he needed to know. “I don't understand it Drake. I mean have you always been this way? Even when we were young?”

 

Drake had to force a swallow. If he was going to have a future with JJ he would have to come to terms with whom and what he was. What he had always been. “Yeah I guess I was.”

 

Frank shook his head. “I'm sorry Drake. I can't accept it.”

 

And there it was. “You do realize this is what JJ was trying to avoid? Why he wouldn't tell who had--,” Drake couldn't even complete the thought.

 

They were silent again. There was really nothing else to say except---

 

“Did you know JJ's a black belt? And that he likes jazz?” Drake said. “He makes a mean curry and no one better even think of talking to him when Monk is on.”

 

“I didn't know any of that, why would I?”

 

“You would if you'd taken the time to get to know him better,” Drake said.

 

Frank scraped back the chair in an angry motion, “I don't want to get to know him better.”

 

The scene of the streets below suddenly blurred in Drake's vision.

 

“Will you bring him by?” Frank asked.

 

“If he wants to come.”

 

“I guess we'll see you both on Sunday for dinner then.”

 

“Yeah, right.”

 

Footsteps and the door closing was the only thing that told him his brother had gone.