Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Three Times A Charm ❯ Chapter 18

Title: Three Times A Charm

Fandom: Fake

Rating: X

Warnings: violence

Timeline: follows on directly from the end of Vol 7

Summary: What happens when what you want is taken from you?

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this, apart from Detective John Patton, they belong to the creators of `Fake', nor am I making any profits from it.

 

 

Chapter 18

 

 

Ryo entered his office and tossed his jacket carelessly over the back of his chair with a sigh. He had really wanted to see Dee today, it had been so disappointing to find he wasn't there. Ryo sighed again. He was being ridiculous, he knew. Dee had work to do just like the rest of them so, of course, there would have been every chance that he would not have been available when Ryo arrived. He should have called before he had gone rushing off. Just what had he been thinking! He glanced at his watch, it showed he still had nearly an hour of shift to go. He really didn't want to be here.

 

He sighed once more as he slumped in his chair. He had been feeling so happy all day, so excited, in anticipation of seeing Dee, but now he felt quite….flat. He twirled a pen in his hand, absently watching it spin. Perhaps he could try again a bit later? Dee might be back by then. Perhaps he could go round after work? Or better still, invite Dee over for dinner? He could cook all Dee's favourite things, really make it a special night for them. They deserved that after all of this!

 

“So there you are,” a voice called from behind, startling him. He turned to see Ted standing there leaning on the door frame. “Where did you sneak off to?”

 

“Uhm,” Ryo hesitated. Damn, he had hoped that no-one would have noticed he had left!

 

“Aw, don't worry, dude. I won't tell. I wouldn't have known if JJ hadn't been trying to find you.”

 

“Why? Did he want something?”

 

Ted shrugged, “Don't know. He didn't say. So where did you go?”

 

“Oh, just out for a bit. I had something I wanted to do.”

 

“Okay, keep your secrets. Anyway, it's a good thing you got back at this time. The Commissioner's just called a staff meeting.”

 

Ryo stood and joined Ted. “What's it for?”

 

“No idea.”

 

They walked past three offices before arriving at the meeting room. As they entered they saw that JJ and Commissioner Rose were already there. JJ threw a glare towards Ryo and then turned his head away with a little flick to toss his hair out of his eyes, and short sniff.

 

“What's got his knickers in a knot?” Ted asked in a stage whisper. Ryo just shook his head as he pulled a chair out to sit. What was JJ pissed off with him for? As far as he knew he hadn't done anything at all to the man to upset him.

 

“Okay, now we're all finally here, let's get started,” Rose stated, picking up some papers.

 

Ryo cast a quick glance towards the door. `Ah, sir, aren't we waiting for Drake?”

 

“He left early today. He was owed some time and this came up later. He can pick up the rest when he comes in tomorrow, and Laytner can catch up when he returns.”

 

Ryo nodded and pulled out his notebook and pen. It seemed a pitiful little group with both Drake and Dee missing. He tried to concentrate on what the Commissioner was saying and managed to take down some intelligent notes, but his mind was only half there. The rest of it was still thinking of Dee and how would he be able to arrange to see him later on. He didn't want to wait another two days to talk to him when he returned to their precinct.

 

“Well, that's it for now. Any questions?” There was only silence in response so he said, “Okay. Dismissed.”

 

There was the loud scraping of chairs pushing back as they all stood, whilst Rose collected the papers together. Ted went over to the large pinup board to read some of the details there relating to this new case they had just been discussing.

 

A loud sigh disturbed them all. “It will be so good to have Dee finally back,” JJ said, perching on the edge of a desk as the others turned towards him. “It's been so boring and I miss him sooo much!”

 

Rose just raised an eyebrow at his comment whilst Ted grinned at the dejected expression on the young man's face. “You missing your Dee-cuddle-pie?” he said with a chuckle, deliberately trying to get a rise out of the man - and succeeding.

 

JJ glared at him, arms crossed firmly across his chest, “Dee's everything to me! Don't you make fun of him!”

 

“You just miss mashing him up against walls!” Ted poked back at him.

 

“Hmm,” JJ's expression grew a little dreamy. “He feels so good when I can get my hands on him; strong, tight, firm in all the right places…”

 

“Too much information!” Ted cried out in mock horror, clapping his hands over his ears. “I really don't want to hear about your perverted fantasies of Dee!” He gave a mock shudder, screwing up his face in pretend distaste. “I won't be able to look at him over a bottle of beer without that gross image!”

 

“You're just jealous of what you're missing out on.” JJ smirked, then pouted, “He's been gone for just so long, so we have to show him that he's been missed. So I'm going to make a big `Welcome Back' sign and put streamers about his office and lots of big bunches of roses on his desk.” JJ paused for a moment. “Perhaps scatter rose petals over the floor, or do you think that might be a little too much?”

 

“Think it's a little overboard, JJ,” Ted said dryly. “Just remember that Ryo has to work in that office too! He's hardly going to be able to do so if he has to fight his way through a florist shop!”

 

“But roses are all about love!” JJ declared passionately, “I want to show Dee how much I love him!”

 

“You'll give him damn hay-fever if you do that much!” Ted responded, “Or make him smell like a frigging gigilo!”

 

JJ smirked slyly, “Don't you think Dee would smell lovely then? If it's that strong he might just have to rub it off on someone else. And the best way to get rid of those aromas is to make the body sweat. A lot.”

 

Ted shook his head in disbelief at JJ's thoughts. Talk about a one track mind! “I can live without the perverted details, thanks,” he said, rolling his eyes as he turned away.

 

“Ah, come on, Ted!” JJ continued to pout “Haven't you missed Dee at all? You should be appreciative of your workmates!”

 

“Oh, I have, I have,” Ted assured him, waving a hand. “I haven't had anyone I could go out with after shift and get completely pissed with. Not to mention have a good laugh at all the failed attempts Dee would have in trying to pick someone up! Though then again,” and he rubbed his chin a little thoughtfully, “Dee used to have to fend of quite a few passes made at him!”

 

“See, that just goes to show that other people appreciate Dee so you should too!” JJ said with a flick of his hair.

 

“Hey, I'll appreciate Dee in my own way. You can appreciate him in yours. I really don't need all the extra details about your fantasies to fill in the gaps!”

 

“I don't even have much to fill in!” JJ said a little morosely, “Ryo would know more about Dee than I would now. More's the pity.” He threw another glare at Ryo leaning quietly against one of the desks. “He just won't share!”

 

“I'm sure he'd be happy to give Dee to you,” Ted said with a chuckle. “Along with all the unfinished paperwork! I wonder how long your adoration of him would last once you had to complete all of that every case! I think your ardour would wane rapidly!”

 

“I wouldn't mind that!” JJ claimed stoutly. “I wouldn't be so mean as to make him do it all anyway!”

 

“And that would just make him lazy.” Ted said firmly, wagging a finger in JJ's direction. “Lazier,” he amended. “You've got to take a harder line with Dee, and give him a hard kick when he needs it or he'll walk all over you. Ryo's got the right idea. Make the man work for his wage like the rest of us.”

 

JJ shook his head violently. “No, no, no! Dee should be protected and coddled and put on a pedestal to be admired for the god he is!”

 

“I think I'm going to barf!” Ted said with a grimace, turning away to leave. “That's just plain stupid!” he stated. “Dee's no god, and you know it. He's got a big enough ego as it is without you inflating it further! Just remember that the rest of us have to try and work with him and he's just down-right impossible when he's got a fat head!”

 

“I don't care!” JJ said with pent up desire. “I love him! He's absolutely perfect in everyway. If only he would let me show him just how I feel about him. I would do everything for him! I could help him relax after a hard days work, make him glad to come home. I would bathe him, rub him down in massage oils, even peel him grapes..”

 

All this time Ryo had been listening to the conversation quietly, letting it flow over him, and felt himself slowly getting angrier at every one of JJ's declarations of love for Dee, and all his fantasies. Ryo felt like JJ was pawing all over Dee, and he didn't like that image one bit. The thought that JJ was undressing Dee in his mind, envisaging that naked body, even thinking about touching him in ways that Ryo had, just put his teeth on edge and made his hands clench in fists.

 

Finally he could take it no more and all that anger burst out as he snapped, “Will. You. Shut. Up!” he yelled.

 

The silence that settled over the room could have been cut with a knife. Each head turned in his direction as he stood there; face red, breathing hard, trembling with suppressed rage. He lifted his head fully and glared at JJ.

 

“Will you just shut up once and for all about your pathetic, useless fantasies of Dee! For gods sake, you're a grown man! Try acting your age instead of like a sex starved adolescent!”

 

He saw JJ open his mouth to say something and cut him off before he could, “Just accept that you are not going to get Dee. You will never have Dee! Ever! Accept it and get over it!”

 

“How do you know that?!” JJ shouted back, stung into replying, on his feet now. “I won't give up until there's no chance at all!”

 

“There is no chance!” Ryo emphasized the negative. “Get it through that thick skull of yours, and get a life!”

 

“Who do you think you are to tell me that?!” JJ was yelling just as loudly as Ryo now, and no-one tried to intervene between the two.

 

“I'm Dee's lover, so keep your fucking paws off him or I'll kick your butt so hard you'll be in orbit! So back off!” Ryo was panting from his tirade and his harsh breathes resounded loudly in the deathly silence.

 

Oh shit, Ryo thought, as he suddenly realized what he had just said, face paling. Oh shit! He felt panic now as his anger subsided. What were they going to do?! Shit, even Rose was still there and had heard! Oh, fucking shit!

 

Slowly JJ raised his hands before him. Here it comes, Ryo thought. The guys going to clock me one. He tensed, getting ready to fend off the blow he felt sure was coming.

 

Instead JJ began to clap slowly, rhythmically. Ryo gaped at him and then at Ted who joined in. JJ walked slowly towards him, still clapping, then stopped when he was directly in front of Ryo to thrust out his hand. Ryo looked at it completely dumfounded, then automatically placed his own in the clasp. JJ shook it whilst Ted grinned from the side.

 

“It's about time you admitted it,” JJ said. Ryo couldn't reply, his voice completely gone with the shock he was feeling. JJ continued, “I thought something had gone on, but you and Dee have always been so damn hard to read that I wasn't completely sure. Everyone's been dodging around the topic for months now, it's been like trying to walk on egg shells around you! Thank goodness that's all over now!”

 

Ryo looked over JJ's shoulder at the still grinning Ted who just nodded. “Yep. I had wondered to.”

 

“You....it doesn't bother you guys?”

 

Ted just shrugged. “Nah. Hell, I've known Dee swung both ways for years and he's been chasing you hard from day one. I've never seen him so hung up on someone before. It was quite a difference to his usual attitude. Anyway, it's about time he settled down and stopped acting like a bitch in heat all the time. There was a time when he seemed to chase anything in a skirt or trousers! Randy bugger!” He took a look at Ryo's face and had the decency to blush. “Oops, that might have been a bit out of line. Look, all I'm trying to say is that since he teamed up with you he's been a lot more steady, more stable. You've been a good influence on him in all ways. So I don't think it's bad. You've both made a damn good team.”

 

JJ sat down in a chair with a sigh. “Yeah, you have,” he said softly. Ryo glanced down at the younger man. “I've noticed how he's been around you. I had never seen him like that before either. I guess I was just hoping that perhaps I was wrong or it was just a passing fancy for him.” He looked up at Ryo with a small sad smile. Ryo almost felt sorry for him. “I guess I didn't want to believe that maybe he had finally found his special someone, and that it wasn't me.” With a sudden change of mood he stood up again. “Oh well, that's all done and over with now. Guess we'll have to close the book!”

 

“Book?” Ryo was confused now. Just what were they talking about?

 

“Yeah,” JJ said, “Didn't you know?”

 

“Know what?”

 

“We opened a betting book on whether you two would finally get together and how long it would take.” Ted told him.

 

Ryo felt his face growing redder with embarrassment. What the..? The whole precinct had been wondering such things about him? He wished the floor would just open up and swallow him to hide his shame.

 

“It was opened as a bit of laugh on the first day you arrived,” Ted continued, “More for a laugh, just because we knew what Dee was like and he's just the type of guy who just can't help but flirt. So we thought it might be a bit of fun.”

 

“Then, when we saw just how serious Dee was getting over it, the betting took on a little more serious note also.” JJ put in. “We were all getting the idea of how Dee was feeling but you were the real enigma. You seemed to get along really great with Dee and there seemed to be something there, but you just never DID anything!”

 

Ryo continued to blush, he couldn't do anything else. “So…” he finally managed to get out past his dry throat. “who won?”

 

Ted scratched his head. “Don't know. We'll have to check it out. It's been going for so long now that I've lost track of who was in the lead. Most people thought you would cave in the first couple of months to Dee's pressure. We all know what he's like and how pushy he could be. We were sure he'd get you pissed one night and just have his way with you. He probably could have done it in such a way as to make sure you were so drunk that you wouldn't even remember it the next morning either! He's a crafty bugger!”

 

Ryo blushed harder at the thought of Dee doing just that. Would it have solved a lot of heartache for them if Dee had been that forward? Only he wouldn't have not wanted to be able to remember it the next morning. The memories were the best part - second only to the act itself!

 

“Oh, well,” JJ said, stretching his arms up with a loud exhalation. “That's that. Guess we'll have to find something else to bet on now.”

 

“Well, there's still your book,” Ted said with a grin to him.

 

JJ stuck his tongue out at him, but didn't bother to reply. Everyone knew about the betting book for how many times JJ would be able to ambush and attack Dee. That one was a daily winnings for who ever was the closest by the end of shift.

 

“I hate to break up this lovely little tête-à-tête, ladies,” a dry voice interspersed and they all looked over to where Commissioner Rose was standing, glasses perched delicately on the bridge of the nose.

 

Oh, gods, Ryo felt like he was going to die! Rose had been there through all of this, including the conversation about the betting! What was he going to say about that?!

 

“I know you are all so dedicated to your work, but it is now end of shift so get out of here. Oh, and, Ryo,” Ryo swallowed nervously, waiting to hear what would be said, “I would suggest you get over to the 22nd and drag that good-for-nothing Laytner's butt back here. They're not going to miss him I'm sure if it's one day early. I'll clear it with his boss.”

 

Ryo felt a smile begin to spread on his face. He was actually getting permission to get Dee instead of having to sneak off. Dee would be coming back to them now!

 

Rose walked to the door, opening it and turned again to address them over his shoulder, “Oh, and by the way, I do believe I might be the winner of the bet, if you check your records carefully.” And with that last comment he walked out and closed the door behind.

 

They all stood there for a moment longer just staring at the closed door in stunned amazement.

 

“Sheesh!” JJ finally said, breaking the silence. “You know, he's probably right too! What's the bet he has won the pot?!”

 

Ted grimaced and sighed, “Wouldn't surprise me in the least. He's a sneaky bastard.”

 

“Well,” JJ turned towards Ryo. “you had better get going or you won't catch Dee before he leaves for the day. Knowing him, he's behind in his paperwork so he will be having to stay behind to try and catch up.”

 

“At least he's predictable,” Ted put in making his way out of the door. “Say `hi' to him and tell him he better be up to an all-nighter damn soon. We've got catching up to do! And I'm only talking about drinking!” the last was said with a leer to Ryo who blushed at the innuendo.

 

“Ah, don't mind him,” JJ said, following in Ted's wake, and slipping an arm around the other man's waist, “I'll keep him occupied so you and Dee can be uninterrupted.”

 

“Awk!! Get off me, you pervert!” Ted squirmed away and fled down the corridor, followed by a laughing JJ calling out in a silly seductive voice, “Oh, lover!!” which echoed around the entire precinct.

 

Ryo just shook his head at the antics. There was a never a dull moment around here. Not with this bunch of idiots! He took a deep breath, feeling the warmth again at the thought of seeing Dee. Soon, as he hurried back to his office to grab his jacket and keys. So soon!

 

**************

 

John watched in horror from where he stood at the other end of the boat, as Dee toppled over the side, falling to the dark waters below. As soon as he had turned and seen the shooter aiming at his partner, he had begun running and yelled out; hoping to give Dee enough warning to save himself, or distract the shooter from his target. Neither had worked and he could do nothing as he heard the sharp sound of shots fired and saw Dee's body jerk from the impact before disappearing over the side.

 

He reached the spot where Dee had fallen from, ignoring all thoughts of the assassin as he was long gone, however he did manage to get a clear glimpse of the shooter's face as he shimmied back down the overhead hoist and fled from the scene. Catching him was not his main priority now.

 

John looked down into the waters flowing swiftly below him. It was strong at this time of the year, and with the almost constant passing of water traffic, the wash from those vessels made the waters eddy and swirl. One saving grace was that Dee had not fallen from the side closest to the pier where there would have been the real danger of his being crushed immediately.

 

He searched the waters, not seeing a sign of Dee anywhere. With the water being as churned up as it was Dee could have been dragged under quickly, with the current then taking him further. He had hoped that Dee would be still floating on the surface, within easy reach.

 

John stripped off his jacket, kicking off his shoes at the same time and jumped into the cold waters. Diving in would have been stupid when you don't know what might be just below the surface. He ducked down where he thought Dee had landed and began to search. It was almost impossible with the water murky, making it difficult to see more than a few feet before him. Where the hell was Dee?

 

He came up for air for the third time, his lungs beginning to ache from the effort of constantly holding his breath. He heard the sound of sirens and looking over to the pier saw two police cars arrive with a squeal of tyres and flashing lights. He felt a flood of relief. Reinforcements, now perhaps they could find Dee. The other officers piled out of the cars, heading for the fallen gunmen that still lay on the pier, and not far behind their arrival, an ambulance also turned up.

 

John called out them, waving to get their attention. He noticed his Chief was amongst the people there, and as he looked the man motioned him to come over. He was reluctant to do so but he obeyed, swimming to the side of the pier and climbing with difficulty up the slick wood ladder.

 

He stood there before his boss, dripping wet and feeling chilled to the bone as the wind cut through him.

 

“What happened?” the Chief asked him, not wasting any time.

 

John felt a blanket tossed across his shoulders, glancing to one side to the paramedic to nod his thanks for the gesture. “Dee was shot and ended up in the water. I haven't been able to find him.”

 

The Chief reached into the car they were standing beside and put a call through to the precinct. John listened as a call went out for a scuba team as well as for more personnel, including forensics, to deal with a more thorough search of the boat.

 

A cup of steaming coffee was held before John's nose, and he automatically reached out, cradling the warmth. He sipped it, although his stomach was churning with worry at the delay. He didn't have long to wait when he heard the sound of a siren, not coming from the road leading to the pier, but from behind him - on the water.

 

Turning his head he saw three water police boats cutting through the water. Finally they were here! He left his half finished coffee resting on the hood of the car and strode down to the edge of the pier to meet them as a dinghy pulled up. He succinctly told the divers as much as he could in pinpointing where Dee had fallen into the water and just how long ago it had been so they could take into account how far the current may have carried him. They quickly left him and he watched as he saw the splashes of sleek black bodies slip into the water and disappear below.

 

A hand fell on his shoulder and he turned his head to see the Chief standing behind him. “Go home,” he said.

 

Jim opened his mouth to argue but was cut off, “Go home. That's an order. You can't do anything more here and you're soaked to the bone. Get yourself home before you make yourself sick.”

 

John knew he was right, but was still loathe to leave, feeling as though he would be abandoning his partner if he didn't remain. The Chief just continued to look at him, and finally he nodded in acquiescence.

 

John opened the front door to his home to be greeted with the happy shouts of his children and the pleasant aromas of a roast baking. He closed the door, feeling strange to suddenly be surrounded by this normalcy, as though he had stepped into an alternate world to the one of the other side of the door. Usually this difference calmed him, giving him a chance to relax and remind him again of what he was working for. Now though, these happy, normal sounds only served to pain him.

 

“Honey, is that you?” a bright voice called out from the direction of the kitchen, and the dark head belonging to his wife peered around the corner. “I wasn't expecting you so soon!”

 

He saw the cheerful expression fade from her face as she took in his damp, bedraggled appearance. She hurried across to him, wiping her hands on a towel, worry etched on her features. “What's happened?” she asked quietly as she stood close to him, reaching out to take his hand.

 

He looked down at her, almost eye to eye, feeling a lump grow in his throat. “Dee..” he began, swallowing hard. He saw her eyes cloud with worry, her fingers tighten around his hand. She had met Dee on a couple of occasions, even having him over for tea and they had seemed to get along well. “Dee's missing. He fell in the river. They're looking for him now.” He couldn't say anything more.

 

Her eyes filled with concern and sympathy. “Go and get out of those wet clothes,” she finally said, pushing him in the direction of the bathroom. “You'll catch a cold if you don't.”

 

He obeyed her silently, bypassing the lounge where his children were playing noisily, not stopping today to greet them as he normally would. He let the warm water wash over him, getting the chill out of his limbs, but inside he still felt cold. As soon as he had redressed he called the precinct to gain an update. The report was not good. There was still no sign of Dee.

 

John sat on the edge of the bed, cradling the phone in his hand. What could he do? He felt so helpless. For the first time in his life there was just nothing he could do. He stood and went downstairs. His wife was still in the kitchen but she turned as he entered.

 

“I probably won't be home for tea,” he said, “Don't wait up for me.”

 

She nodded, “Okay.” She moved across to him and reached up to pull him into a tight embrace. “Be careful.”

 

He returned the hug, “I will.”, then turned and left the house.

 

It was cold back on the pier. The wind had picked up, bringing a chill to the evening air. The sun had almost set and darkness was coming in fast. He could see the boats and divers still out on the water and waved as he saw a head turn in his direction. He waited as it chugged its way over to him. He carefully climbed down, jumping the last few feet onto the deck.

 

“We're heading a little further downstream,” the pilot told him as the boat turned around. “The current is strong at this time of year and you'd be surprised at how far it can carry things.” As they moved along the water, the man continued to talk. “It's not easy working under these conditions. The current and activity keeps the sediment pretty stirred up most of the time which reduces visibility. Even with lights it can be pretty difficult. Although the river is generally safe for boating, there is plenty of debris down there that can snag things. The body may have got caught up there, or it may have got caught up under one of the piers as well.” John felt himself grow colder at this clinical assessment. “For all we know this current may have taken it much further away so it could be some time before it turns up. If it does.”

 

It was then that John realized that they are all taking it as a given that Dee is dead. He hadn't wanted to consider that. He hadn't wanted to believe that this could be happening, although deep down he had known that the longer the search took, the less chance there was. It had probably been too late right from the start for all he knew. He knew that Dee had been hit by at least one of those shots. He might have already been dead before he hit the water.

 

John felt his eyes burning from unshed tears. He might have lost his partner right at the moment. Even if Dee hadn't been dead outright, he would have been losing blood and was probably unconscious as well. And now, after being this long in these cold waters there was no way he could be alive, no matter how much John prayed otherwise.

 

He sat there as the darkness of night cloaked the world around him, broken only by the searchlights from the boats still sweeping the surface, whilst beneath the waters the odd eerie gleam indicated the corresponding searchlights being used by the divers.

 

It was hopeless, he thought as the coldness froze his heart. Who was he kidding? He had lost him. He hadn't been able to protect his partner. It was his fault.

 

************

 

Ryo kept looking at his watch as he was caught up once more in traffic. Come on, come on! He cursed to himself. If he didn't get there soon he would miss Dee. Yes, Dee was probably trying to catch up on some of his paperwork but he still didn't stay there forever! He would get bored with it soon enough and just leave. Ryo wanted to see him now!

 

Finally he was on the move once more and was soon pulling up out the front of the 22nd's doors. He hurried inside, a smile on his face at the thought of how surprised Dee would be to see him here, and the bigger surprise to find out he was to return to the 29th pronto! Ryo could just imagine he would have to almost drag a stupefied Dee out of place - not that he would mind doing so! Oh, yes, he could hardly wait to see Dee's face!

 

He entered the main reception area to find the place in full uproar. Something was obviously going on from the number of worried looks, hurrying people, and constant calls going backwards and forwards over the two ways and phones.

 

I wonder what has happened, he thought, making his way directly to the front desk.

 

“Excuse me,” he said, drawing the attention of the desk sergeant away from whatever they had been doing. “Can you tell me if Detective Laytner is in?”

 

The officer frowned at him in such a way that Ryo wondered what he had wrong to offend the man. “Who are you?”

 

Ryo was a little taken aback by the abrupt question, but pulled out his ID to show as he replied, “I'm from the 29th. I'm here to see Detective Laytner about his return.”

 

The man's demeanour changed then, going from abrupt and unfriendly to, more unnervingly, pity. Ryo felt a wave of coldness sweep over him, like a warning. What was going on?

 

“I'm sorry to have to tell you like this, but you'll find out soon enough anyway. This afternoon Detective Laytner was in an incident.”

 

The coldness grew. “Incident?” Ryo asked, his voice cracking a little.

 

The officer nodded, “He fell into the river. They're searching for him now.”

 

Ryo couldn't speak. The man didn't need to say anything more. It was exactly what the man was not saying that told Ryo everything. Something had happened. People don't just fall into the river - not in their line of work. There wouldn't be this sort of commotion if it was something simple. No, something had gone done and Dee had been caught up in it. He had probably been hurt which is how he had ended up in the water.

 

And they also hadn't found him yet. Which meant….Ryo didn't want to continue the thought but it did anyway. Which meant that there was every chance that Dee was…dead.

 

He blindly turned away from the desk and stumbled back out the door, mind completely blank, eyes filled with tears that threatened to fall. He didn't remember getting into his car, he didn't remember driving home or entering his apartment. He didn't remember anything.

 

Dee was gone. His mind those words at him, over and over. He clapped his hands over his ears but that couldn't drown out the noise inside his head.

 

No. No. NO!, he wouldn't believe it! He couldn't believe it! Dee wouldn't leave him! Not like this! This isn't what was supposed to happened! They were supposed to be together again. That is how this was supposed to end! Together, Dee and he, always. He was going to tell Dee that he loved him - that is supposed to be how this ended. Not this!! How could he go on? What was he supposed to do without Dee here? It's not fair!!

 

His entire body shook violently as the tears coursed down his face, and heaving gulping sobs ripped through him. This wasn't right! How dare anyone take Dee from him! Dee was his, always, forever and no-one was allowed to touch him! He would make them pay to ever daring to touch Dee! He would make them rue the day they even thought about touching him!

 

The expression on Ryo's face as he raised it from where it had been clasped in his hands was not one many people had seen. It was a cold expression, not just bland, but cold. His eyes, that usually held such warmth, were dead, flat.

 

He stood and walked towards the front door, grabbing his coat up as he passed. There were things he had to do and he needed to start doing it now. And he knew exactly where to go to find what he needed.

 

He locked the door carefully behind him and strode out into the night, leaving his car where it was parked. No traces could be left behind so he would not be using his vehicle. He carefully pulled on his gloves, new ones, barely worn so there would be less traces on them. They fitted snugly - good.

 

The night wrapped around him, dark, dangerous, reflecting his inner thoughts. He would make them all pay dearly.