Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Time for Healing ❯ This Thing Called Love ( Chapter 24 )

Disclaimer: We do not own FAKE or its characters. They belong to Sanami Matoh, lucky girl! Any original characters belong to either Irish or Wildefyre.
Warnings: Thus far just Shounen AI but then again that's what FAKE is anyway. It may become Yaoi further along. This may have the guys out of Character somewhat, so Gomen for that and we are taking some creative freedom on histories & backgrounds and lives as they are now... Deal with it! ^_~

Ryo watched with much trepidation as Lyn hovered above him. The ladder that was loaned to him was butted right up against the bed. The tall lanky Irishman grunted as he still had to reach above his head to fix whatever it was behind the covering, to the ceiling. Once or twice he swayed a little causing Ryo to groan over the prospect of having him land on him. "Do you think that this is such a good idea? I mean I'm the one who pays for it if you fall." Ryo chuckled nervously. "What is this mystery item anyway?"

Lyn chuckled softly causing him to sway again as he reached to the far side of Ryo's bed. Now perched on just one foot and up on his tiptoes he was right over Ryo. "Just wait and see. Don't worry I won't fall. I promise." Though that promise held little weight. Ryo wasn't sure how he could possibly not fall

"Yeah and I'm the Pope's mother! Listen baka if you fall on me... Dee get over here and sit on this side of the bed." Ryo pointed to the side that didn't have the ladder, grinning up at Lyn who looked down in curiosity as to what Ryo's intentions were.

Dee came over and sat on the edge of Ryo's bed. "If you think that I'm gonna catch him you're crazy. I'm gonna duck out of the way! He's skinny but it's not like he has hollow bones!" Lyn wobbled dangerously as the ladder started to lean forward. Lyn corrected and Ryo was spared being used as a landing pad for the moment.

"Oh but Dee you will catch him because if he falls and hurts me, I may be laid up for a lot longer. A hell of a lot longer." Ryo's voice was soft as he reached over and laid his hand on top of Dee's hand. "Now you wouldn't want that would you? After all you still have to prove to me just how sorry you really are that I'm in this predicament in the first place." Ryo looked up and saw Lyn nod in agreement.

"Oh great even with Ryo flat on his back and in pain, he's still willing to forgive the bozo." Bikky slumped further into his chair as he sat next to Drew. "What's even worse is that Ryo's doing this because he feels sorry for the jerk!" Cal elbowed him in the ribs, a not so gentle reminder to be nice.

"Drew come hold my belt loop would you?" Lyn said in a wobbly voice as the ladder started to tip again. Alarmed Drew hopped up and held Lyn's belt while he finished, keeping him better balanced. Finally Lyn stepped down and everyone let out a sigh of relief. "All right let's show Ryo what we got." Lyn grinned.

"I'm ready. This has me curious as hell now." Ryo giggled. He had been feeling a little weird ever since they had gotten there. "Pain meds... I hate them. I even asked them NOT to give me the shot but that nurse insisted that I take it."

"Bikky would you like the honors?" Bikky nodded eagerly. Lyn picked the preteen up by his hips lifting him high enough to remove the cloth that covered their masterpiece.

Ryo looked up and what he saw immediately brought tears to his eyes. "Guys it's beautiful! Oh my God! Now I can see you all whenever I'm lonely." Getting slightly choked up, Ryo looked at Bikky and held an arm out to him. "You too Cal. Get over here. This has to be your work Lyn. I remember you saying that you were into photography. Thank you."

Lyn set Bikky down and let him run over to Ryo with Cal. He still had something else for Ryo. There was a place for two more pictures there but he hadn't put them up yet. He wanted to give those to Ryo specially. Bikky ran over to his dad, along with Cal and hugged him gently. "Thanks to both of you. This is really a pleasant surprise. Now I can brag to the nurses about my wonderful family." He looked at Lyn and Drew and the girls. "My wonderful extended family."

"We all helped put it together. Even Dee, the jerk." Bikky commented. Ryo smiled warmly as he reached for Dee's hand with his free hand.

"Thanks Dee." Ryo looked up at him. "Bend down here a minute will you? Please?" Ryo waited, smiling and prodding Dee to bend down farther until he was close enough. "Thank you." Ryo said against Dee's cheek and then kissed it softly. Over the past week plus that he had been in the hospital, he and Dee had spent many hours talking about what had happened and why. The talks had helped to mend some of the rift that had developed between them but not all of it.

Ryo had forgiven Dee for his anger and for hurting him but the incident still weighed on his mind. Feeling comfortable with what had transpired between them was going to take time and until then, the two had decided to continue living apart. They still had many issues to deal with and to work through, which meant that they still had a long road ahead of them if they expected to get back to where they once were before all of this had happened.

"You're welcome Ryo." Dee replied returning the kiss by kissing Ryo's cheek. He was just so glad to be that close to Ryo He knew that Ryo was still being quite cautious and he understood fully, he had committed the biggest sin you could in a relationship, he had hurt his partner. That was inexcusable and now he had to prove to Ryo and to his friends just how sorry he truly was for it.

"Gross! After all Bozo has done and Ryo's kissing him!" Bikky complained rolling his eyes to Cal.

Andrew sighed. "All right Cal and Bikky. How would you guys feel if I told you that the cafeteria has good milkshakes?"

"I'd say that that's better then watching Dumb and Dumber!" Bikky grinned.

"Bikky! That's not nice!" Ryo glared slightly. "I know you still don't like Dee all that much especially after what happened but I am trying to forgive him. It would help me if you were supporting my decision. Dee and I are trying to work things out. I want to try... Respect that!" Ryo reached for and held onto Dee's hand, enjoying the warmth that it gave off.

Lyn and Andrew both gave Bikky the 'we've talked about this look' as the youth shuffled under the gaze of so many adults. "I was just kidding around. Come on Cal." He grabbed Cal's hand and hurried out of the room while Andrew simply sighed and shook his head.

"I'll go and make sure that they stay out of trouble." He remarked softly.

"Wait! Drew? Can you come here a sec?" Ryo asked softly. "Would me hugging you make you feel uneasy? I wanted to thank you too you know." Ever since hanging around Lyn, Ryo found himself a whole lot less shy about physical contact with other men in fact he was becoming a bit of a cuddle freak now.

Andrew laughed and went over to Ryo's bed leaning down and hugging him carefully. "Absolutely not."

"You're a great friend Drew. Thanks for being there for Dee... And for me." Ryo smiled softly. "Both you and Lyn have opened my eyes to so many things and I only hope that I can repay you for your kindness someday."

"No thanks necessary. We were glad to help. Despite everything, you guys are really great." Andrew grinned and then straightened up. "You just rest up and heal Ryo. I'm sure that I will be back with the kids later." He smiled again before heading for the door.

"Okay. See ya." Ryo smiled and then turned his attention to Lyn. "Get over here you smart-ass!" Ryo laughed and held out a hand to him. "Lyn this collage is fantastic! Thank you so much! It couldn't have come at a better time."

Lyn grinned moving over and taking Ryo's hand, hugging him carefully as well. "I'm so glad that you like it! But wait there's more." Lyn's eyes glinted mysteriously and he held something in his hand. "These two are for your eyes only."

"Hey what about me!" Dee protested.

"You're blind Mr. Oblivious! I'm not describing them to you!" Lyn smirked.

Dee sat down on the bed next to Ryo and sighed. "Listen Captain Obvious, describe them to me or I'll tell Drew about what JJ saw!"

"Now what did that baka do? Or should I just not ask?" Ryo chuckled, almost dreading what he would hear.

"Apparently you and I were sucking face. You know? Clothes flying, tongues dueling... That sort of thing." Lyn smirked while holding the two pictures to his chest and not revealing their contents to anyone just yet.

"NANI? Oh dear god!" Ryo began blushing fiercely. "That JJ is such an asshole! Dee I hope that you didn't believe him! I mean... Oh God..." Ryo saw the expression change on Dee's face. "No! You didn't? Dee! How could you? Okay does anyone have a rock that I can crawl under?" Ryo sighed in defeat and blushed even more. "Dee! Don't you trust me?"

"Actually I believed it a little at first. I mean considering how close the two of you are. Then coupled with what happened between you and I... Ryo I'm sorry. Lyn set me straight though. Well as straight as I'll ever be anyway." Dee grinned. "The point is, I do trust you and I know that you'd never be unfaithful."

"I know how JJ can be sometimes. Just remember that Lyn and I are nothing more than the best of friends. He's the brother I've always wanted." Ryo looked over at Lyn and smiled as Lyn nodded to him. "Okay Lyn, let's find out what you're hiding there!"

"Gee too bad for Dee that pictures aren't tactile." Lyn smirked and showed Ryo the two pictures.

The first one he showed Ryo was one of Dee sitting at their baby grand piano. He was shirtless with his hands poised over the keys and his hair hanging in his face slightly. Behind him was the set of windows in their living room. They had been open that day and the gauzy curtains wafted gently. Dee's perfect bare chest was visible though it was sort of a profile shot. His long fingers were caught mid-chord. The photo was done in black and white so that Dee's dark hair and black jeans were a stark contrast to the lighter colors of the woodwork and windows.

"Dee...?" Ryo smiled and looked up at the man sitting next to him. "It's gorgeous! You look so handsome Dee. So very handsome." Ryo reached out and ran his hand over Dee's chest, smiling at the shocked look Dee was giving him. "Definitely a drool worthy photo of you." It was the first time since the fight that Ryo had touched him so intimately.

"Drool worthy? Now I am curious! What does the photo show?" Dee sighed over Ryo's feather light touch. He had been shocked at first to feel it, Ryo had avoided all forms of touch but hand holding and even then it was only because Ryo initiated it. This though, him touching his chest was a new step in their forward progress.

Lyn merely grinned. He had been saving what was in his opinion the best for last. He showed it to Ryo and grinned again. It was Dee of course and again he was shirtless. He was standing in front of the large open windows in a patch of sunlight; half turned towards the window with one arm up for the camera had caught him running his hand through his hair. The other hand had its thumb hitched in the waistband of his jeans, revealing an area of skin and the fine trail of hairs just over his groin. The curtains billowed gently around him and a cigarette hung from the corner of his mouth. It was the perfect picture of masculine sexuality and rebellion. Lyn had snapped it the minute before reaming Dee out for smoking in the house. All in all, Dee was absolutely gorgeous in both of them.

"Lyn these are fantastic. My God he looks so sexy." Ryo grinned as his fingers still danced over Dee's chest, stopping every so often to just lay there and feel his heart beating beneath his palm. Ryo smiled wider when he did that for it would produce a small sigh from Dee that was just so sweet.

"You two are so mean! I hope that I'm nude at least!" Dee remarked then frowned. "Wait! If that would be the case... How the hell would you have gotten that sort of picture?"

Lyn chuckled. "You're not nude. You're wearing pants. Though if you want nudity that can be arranged."

Another wide grin had Dee laying his hand over Ryo's and just keeping it there against his chest. "I may just take you up on that Mick."

Ryo smiled over the warmth of having his hand trapped between Dee's chest and hand, sighing softly he looked up at him and his breath seemed to catch in his throat. Dee was so handsome that he couldn't help falling for him time and time again. Quickly turning his attention back to Lyn, Ryo smirked a little. "So Dee says that you and he got a little smashed the other night?"

"Dee got smashed. I got tipsy." Lyn chuckled. "Andrew was NOT pleased but it was good whiskey and good company. We jammed a little, drank and smoked a lot. Talked some things through, discussed what had happened... We're definitely working things. All in all, we had a fairly good time." Lyn looked at Dee and then back at Ryo.

"Yeah... And then we slept together!" Dee winked at Lyn. Dee had decided to pull out all the stops in his efforts to regain the trust of his lover and his friends. He'd do whatever it took, however long it took...

"WHAT!" Ryo glared at Dee. "You had better be joking Dee Latener because if you're not I'm ripping your nuts off! And that's not a threat baby, that's a promise!" Ryo punctuated his point by jabbing Dee's chest lightly.

"Well... Technically we did." Dee smirked.

"Lyn? Care to explain or do you want the same fate?" Ryo looked at his friend.

"We shared the couch since we were too drunk to make it up the stairs." He chuckled choosing to ignore Ryo's little threat. "Dee snores loudly. Did you know that? How do you put up with it?"

"It must have been the booze because he actually has this very soft and calming snore. I always manage to fall asleep listening to it." Ryo sighed and then realized that he was still poking Dee in the chest. "Gomen Dee. I hope that I didn't hurt you too badly." He looked at him with concern.

"It's okay, nothing I can't handle." Dee rubbed his chest, laughing a little to show Ryo that he was indeed okay.

"I am sorry though." Ryo reached up and lightly rubbed Dee's chest to ease some of the discomfort before turning his attention back to Lyn. "How did Drew feel about you two crashing on the couch? I bet that must have been a sight to see!" Ryo laughed and watched the pink flushing Dee's face as he rubbed his chest.

"Drew yelled at me for smoking and drinking actually." He grinned to show that even so, Drew wasn't angry with him for it. "He wasn't too worried though. He knew that Dee and I had issues to deal with and that that was our way of coping, bonding or whatever."

"Lyn I'm sorry if Drew got angry. If you want I can talk to him." Dee frowned.

"It wasn't anything Dee. He just thought that I should be reminded of how he really doesn't care to see me drink or smoke. It was no big deal." Lyn sighed. "Really don't worry about it Dee."

"Well as long as everything is cool between you and Drew." Dee sighed and felt Ryo shift on the bed and then whimper. "What is it Ryo?" Dee grabbed Ryo's hand and felt him squeeze it tightly. "Is it your back? Do you want me to go get a nurse?" His voice filled with concern.

"Kuso! I have that... You know? That tubing in. Jesus I just had it pull on me! Holy shit that hurts!"

Ryo stiffened. "It's bad enough that the nurse from hell yanked on it this morning. Talk about seeing stars? I saw a whole frigging galaxy!" Ryo commented. "She claimed that it was an accident but I'm starting to wonder about that."

"I'd offer to kiss it and make it better but I seriously doubt that you'd be happy with that." Dee frowned. "And if that bitch hurts you again I'll deal with her." Dee hissed in anger, feeling very protective of Ryo at the moment.

"Dee! Oh the heck with it. I give up!" Ryo sighed feeling the tension build again. "See what I mean Lyn? The man doesn't give up!"

"Yes he is quite stubborn. I agree. Besides he's not terribly original either. If he wanted to be sweet and ease your pain he could have done it differently. " Lyn dropped into a chair, lounging in it as he tried to sound bored and look smug, like he knew something that Dee didn't.

"Oh and what's that supposed to mean? Just how would you do things differently smart-ass?" Dee sat there wondering if Lyn would have the courage to answer. "How can I make him feel better?"

Lyn got to his feet and sauntered over to Dee. Deciding that he needed to lighten the mood and make things a little better. He whispered in Dee's ear so that Ryo couldn't hear. "What you need to do is aim for the less obvious. Like real light fingers on his thighs and lower belly. A little TLC in the area without touching the exact place of pain." Lyn leaned back with his hands on his lean hips and smiled as Dee's eyes widened.

"Damn you know you're right! I like that!" Dee grinned.

"Lyn thanks! You're a true friend! I can only imagine what you told him!" Ryo felt Dee's fingers tracing a path up his thigh and then jumping to run across his lower abdomen. At first he had stiffened over the intimate touch but soon his body relaxed. "Oh Jesus!" Dark eyes closed and he sighed. That actually felt good and it made him forget about the pain. "Thanks Dee. That helped."

"Hey that really worked!" Dee smiled at the way Ryo's voice had softened.

Lyn just waggled his eyebrows. "Believe me that's pretty vanilla. I doubt you boys are ready for the rest of it. Take my word on that one. Maybe once you two are back to being all lovey dovey and all... I'll tell ya the rest." Lyn ran his tongue stud over his teeth suggestively, just to get a reaction out of Ryo and show him that he was sorry for bumming him out.

Ryo had opened his eyes just in time to see Lyn with the stud on his tongue and he smiled. "Thanks a lot Lyn! You are such a hentai at times too!" He laughed.

"What did Lyn do now?" Dee asked as he continued to lightly rub Ryo's belly, stopping once in a while to lightly trace the fine line of hairs that ran from his belly button downwards. Ryo's little treasure trail, as Dee referred to it as.

"Y-You don't w-want to k-know." Ryo spit out as Dee continued touching him. He knew that it was going a little too far but damn he had missed those hands touching him. "Uh Dee?" Ryo reached for Dee's hand and pulled it up to his chest. "Gomen but we're not there yet." He reminded him but used his voice to convey that he liked it none the less.

"Baby wait. Once you we get things worked out between us and all there are a lot of things that I can teach you." Dee leaned down and without even thinking, caught Ryo's lips in a soft kiss.

Shocked by the kiss at first, Ryo soon found himself kissing Dee back. Once the kiss ended, Ryo looked over at Lyn and grinned. "Lyn what have you done to Dee? He's worse then before!" Ryo started laughing. "Oh and Dee baby? I bet that I can teach you a thing or two myself! I'm not as naive as you think I am!" He stuck out his tongue and blew raspberries at Dee.

Lyn laughed. "This is not my influence. I swear!" He held up his hand in a swearing in manner. "Don't make me sue for slander!" He laughed harder. "Maybe I really should give you two some time alone. Looks to me like you really could use some alone time."

"You know maybe you should?" Dee sighed and ran his hand up and down Ryo's arm. "What do you think Ryo? Wanna talk a little more? Maybe see if there are other issues that we can deal with and work through?" Dee spoke softly to him.

"I'd like that. I miss the way we used to be." Ryo looked up at Dee and smiled. How could he say no to him? Dee was just too damn desirable to begin with. He also liked the fact that lately Dee had started acting quite romantic, talking softly and holding his hand, without getting sexually suggestive.

"Hmmm? Who knows maybe by the time you're healed and all we'll have worked everything out and find ourselves wanting nothing more then to make out like rabid little bunnies." Dee teased.

"That's a possibility. I like that actually." Ryo's voice softened to an almost seduction like tone.

"You two are worse then horny virgin teenagers after the prom I swear!" Lyn shook his head and laughed.

"Hey what do you expect! We've only done it once! How were you after your first time with Drew? Hmm? I bet that you wanted more as soon as possible too!" Dee shot back, laughing the whole time.

"Actually that's a funny story. Andrew's got me beat hands down in the libido department believe it or not." Lyn's pale skin was now stained with the faint hint of a blush.

"Oh you've got to be joking? Now that I wouldn't have believed. I had you pegged as the horn dog! Damn!" Dee smirked. "Well it seems you and Ryo have another thing in common."

"DEE! THAT'S NOT FUNNY!" Ryo smacked Dee's thigh. "I happen to have a very healthy libido! Thank you!"

"Oh I'm looking forward to experiencing that first hand. Believe me on that one Ryo." Dee snickered.

"I am not commenting on that! God you two are terrible!" Ryo glanced at Dee and then at Lyn.

"Yeah Dee and I really egg each other on don't we?" Lyn looked up as Andrew reappeared. One look at Lyn's body language and Andrew knew the gist of the conversation. He promptly attempted to turn tail and get out. Lyn however had other plans. He winked to Ryo and mouthed 'watch this'.

Ryo snickered and watched. Reaching out to hold Dee's hand. he pulled on Dee's arm, which was his signal for Dee to bend down. "Lyn's putting the moves on Drew." Ryo whispered in Dee's ear.

Andrew knew that he was in trouble. Lyn stood and sauntered over to the door, leaning on the frame so that Andrew's escape was cut off. The expression on his face was innocent. Too innocent actually. "The kids taken care off?" Lyn asked nonchalantly.

"Yes. Do I even want to know what you're up to?"

Lyn grinned. "I don't know... Maybe." Lyn ran his tongue stud suggestively over his teeth again. It was an easy trick that got almost anyone even vaguely attracted to him turned on. On Andrew it was like flipping a light switch. Andrew's eyelids lowered slightly and he licked his lips. Despite knowing exactly what Lyn was doing he couldn't help his reaction to the man.

Lyn ran a hand through his dark hair then let his fingers trail down over his chest while leaning back so that his hips were thrust out a little. His hand trailed sensual over his own chest then lower and for a moment it almost looked like he would touch himself. He then looped his thumb through his belt loop, a suggestive and coy smile played upon his lips. Andrew swallowed hard.

Ryo described in detail what Lyn was doing, whispering it in Dee's ear. Ryo was finding it hard to even want to look away while Dee was finding himself sitting there with a big grin on his face as he pictured what Ryo described, in his mind. "Damn that man is a walking sex machine!" Dee remarked, louder then he had intended.

"And let me tell you, that has advantages in the courtroom." Lyn dropped Andrew a wink and without touching him sauntered over to his chair, letting Andrew get a good look at his ass before flopping down into his chair again with all hint of the overt intense sexuality gone. Dada Lyn was back all of a sudden and judging by the storm in Andrew's gray eyes that switch was as much of a turn on as the blatant come on.

"Damn I've got a lot to learn!" Ryo shook his head and laughed. "Are you okay over there Drew? Maybe you and Lyn would like to borrow this bed for awhile..." He laughed harder, happy to see that for the moment things were about as normal as he could hope for. This is what he needed right now too. For the four of them to be back on friendly terms and close again.

"Could you just see that? What a shock to the nurses." Dee chuckled. "Especially since there's one particular nurse that has a huge crush on Ryo."

"Indeed, and what's not to have a crush on? Ryo's a stud." Lyn laughed as Andrew came over and stood behind him, resting a hand on Lyn's shoulder to which Lyn rested his own hand over. Looking up to Drew he smiled at his blond lover. "Sorry babe." He grinned.

"Sorry isn't gonna solve the strain on my zipper." Andrew laughed. "Good thing the kids are getting into mischief in the cafeteria."

"Hey the bathroom is free. Ryo and I will stand guard. Knock yourselves out!" Dee egged them on even more. "Well I'll stand guard and Ryo will just watch and signal me."

"I will? Listen koibito. Lyn's not the only one who can play the seduction game." Ryo smirked and grabbed Dee's hand. Taking each finger into his mouth, he sucked on them slowly, laughing each time that Dee let out a low moan. Before too long, Dee's cheeks were flushed and his eyes had begun to glaze over. That's when Ryo simply dropped Dee's hand off to the side and pretended that it had never happened. "So Drew how are things going lately?" Ryo giggled a little, returning to normal.

"Oh damn Ryo! I thought that my jeans were tight before? Well they just got unbearable! And then you act like I'm not even here. That's mean!" Dee laughed over the antics and his heart swelled as he started to realize that there was a future for him and Ryo. It was just going to take some work to get there.

Lyn gestured towards the bathroom. "I'm sure that we can request some lotion for you Dee." He laughed, earning an ear tugging from Andrew. "Awww you don't let me have any fun Drew." He pouted.

"Careful there you two! Jeez Lyn! You and Dee are in rare form today!" Ryo smiled, happy to be distracted from the pain that was slowly creeping into his back. Dee on the other hand noticed the way Ryo's whole body seemed to stiffen.

"Baby what's wrong? You need something for the pain?" Dee asked, concerned now. Just then, as if on cue, a young nurse waltzed in and smiled at the group.

"Hello." She said politely as she pulled a syringe from her pocket. "Time for your pain med shot Mr. MacLean. It's been over 4 hours since your last one and I'm sure that you must be hurting by now."

"Hai! I mean yes." Ryo sighed, knowing that as much as he needed that shot to stave off the pain, he hated it for the way it always made him feel.

"Very well then." She readied the shot and smiled. "Okay I just need you to roll your hip over just a little." She helped Ryo to do just that, sticking him in the side of his buttocks. "There that should start taking effect really soon." Smiling again, she made a small notation in his chart before leaving again.

"Damn that smarts!" Ryo growled as he lay there. Dee clutched Ryo's hand allowing his lover to squeeze it if he needed to.

Andrew smiled at the two, happy to see things looking up for them. He then started to massage the nape of Lyn's neck who purred. "Oh wow thanks Andrew." Andrew's smile widened. He knew he wasn't exactly turning Lyn on but Lyn was enjoying it and that's what mattered.

"How much longer are you stuck in here Ryo? "Andrew asked by way of conversation as Lyn more or less went limp in the chair under Andrew's skilled hands.

"Three to five days, is what they are saying. The swelling in the disk went down but not as much as they had hoped. I may find myself returning later for surgery."

"Hey you didn't tell me that." Dee frowned and kissed the back of Ryo's hand.

"Gomen but I didn't want to worry you." Ryo squeezed Dee's hand. "I care about you Dee, I really do but you have got to stop trying to always protect me. I'm a big boy and I am quite capable of taking care of myself."

"I understand Ryo. I'm sorry if sometimes it feels as though I'm smothering you." Dee sighed almost sadly. 'There's still a gap between us.' He thought. "You just take your time healing. If they feel you need to stay in here longer or that they need to do the surgery sooner then maybe you should just let them."

"Dee I'm tired of lying here! I'm tired of being in pain! I'm tired of this stupid tube and the shots and the constant flow of nurses taking care of me! I'm just tired of it! I want to get out of here and get back to a normal routine, that's all." Ryo pounded his fist onto the bed. Dee quickly reached out to still him, trying to comfort him in some way and not sure just what to say or do.

"I know baby and you will get out of here soon enough. Just give it time." Dee slid onto the bed to lie down next to Ryo, talking to him softly and trying to bring whatever comfort to him that he could. Lowering his head, Dee rested it against the man who had come along and changed his world for the better. His Ryo... The man he had fallen deeply in love with, the man he had fought so hard to gain his love from, the man he wanted to spend his life with.

"I'm so tired." Ryo sighed, the pain meds were beginning to kick in now and he could feel the sleepiness hitting him.

"Then you rest baby. I'll stay here with you if you'd like." Dee spoke softly against Ryo's cheek. "I love you Ryo."

"I love you too." Then he laid his hand on Dee's cheek, trying to show him that everything was indeed okay. Dee felt the touch and smiled. Despite Ryo's own pain, despite everything that had transpired between them and despite his weakened state, Ryo was trying to comfort him. In that instant Dee vowed to treat Ryo like a king and to do whatever it took to win back the love that he had so foolishly taken for granted. He didn't care if he had to spend the rest of his life proving to Ryo that his love was real, it was worth it because Ryo was worth it.

"Car eful Ryo. Don't go too fast." Lyn warned him as he helped Ryo out of the car like he was ninety years old. Ryo had gotten the okay to go home and finish his recuperating there. His doctor felt that it might even speed up the healing if he were in more familiar surroundings. Ryo was just happy to be on his feet and out of that hospital bed. They had decided that Lyn would stay with Ryo and help him for a few days before Dee would come in and take over since the two had gotten closer.

"God this is so stupid. I feel like Grandpa Jones and on my last leg at that." Ryo chuckled. The back brace he wore was stiff and tight but it was that way in order to keep his back as straight as possible in order to allow the muscles and disk to heal. Though a return to the hospital was inevitable since the disk would have to be repaired at some point. "I really appreciate all you've done for me and for my family Lyn. Thank you." Dark eyes smiled masking the discomfort. He was warned that he would be in pain for at awhile yet and so surgery to repair the disk was scheduled but that wouldn't occur for another month.

"Really Ryo, Drew and I are glad to help. We really care about you guys. You're our own extended homosexual family now. What more could a guy ask for?" He laughed softly as he guided Ryo into the building and towards the elevator. "Don't worry though, all your plants are alive and well. Except for the eucalyptus. I had that out on your balcony and a stray cat had a little nibble. It's still alive but it looks a little scraggly."

"It was probably Mittens. I always have to be careful about what plants I put out there because of that. She's ruined at least two of my Bonsai trees that way." Ryo chuckled. As the doors to the elevator opened Mrs. Noble stepped off, looking a little worse for wear.

"Detective! Mittens is missing. I haven't seen her for days and I think that she's dead." The elderly woman looked at him sadly and Ryo's heart melted. "T-There's a cat in the Dumpster out back. Mrs. Browinski's husband saw it. I think that it's Mittens but no one will check for me. Will you? I've been trying to reach you all week and just found out from Abbey that your were hurt and in the hospital... My poor Mittens."

"Uh..." Ryo was unsure what to say. His back was too tender to go looking into a Dumpster. "Mrs. Noble I'm sure that it's not..."

"Yes it is! I just know it! I left my door opened again. I'm so sorry. I know that you warned me about it but I forgot and Mittens got out before I could stop her. I'm sorry I didn't listen." Tears stood in the older woman's eyes and Ryo reached out to hug her, wincing as he forced the brace to shift with him.

"Shhh it'll be okay. If you want I'll go look." Ryo couldn't say no to someone needing his help. It wasn't his style. Releasing the women, Ryo turned and slowly headed back outside, glancing at Lyn as he did so.

Lyn nodded and went with Ryo. His hand carefully lay between Ryo's shoulders reminding him to move carefully. "You don't think that it's actually Mittens do you?" Lyn asked sounding greatly upset himself as they made their way slowly to the alleyway.

"I hope not. Sadly we've had someone poisoning the cats that hang out in the alley. That's why I've been so adamant about her keeping her door closed. We think it's one of the vagrants that frequent these dumpsters looking for bottles and cans to turn into money." Ryo sighed as they made their way to the Dumpster.

Lyn lifted the Dumpster lid so that Ryo could look in and It only took a moment for Ryo to identify the cat's body. "I-It's Mittens. I recognize the collar. God what do I tell her? Oh Jesus." Ryo held his hand over his mouth, visibly shaken by what he had seen. He was tired and his back was still tender, all of which were making his emotions a little raw and a little harder to hold in check. But he managed to keep it together anyway.

Lyn gave Ryo shoulders a gentle squeeze. "God. I'm sorry. I saw a cat the other day but I didn't know it was mittens. Shit! Tell her that we'll get her a kitten. It won't be Mittens but it'll be a companion at least. What kind of sick freak hurts an animal I mean really?" Lyn was disturb and disgusted as he led Ryo back towards the building. Ryo shook his head too upset to answer Lyn verbally as they reentered the apartment building.

"Detective was it her? Was it my Mittens?" Mrs. Noble looked at the tears in Ryo's eyes and knew. "Oh Dear... Oh Dear... Mommy's sorry Mittens... Mommy's sorry." She stood there looking even smaller then her 5'1" frame and Ryo brought her into his arms gently, hugging her and allowing her to cry against his chest.

"I'm really sorry." He kissed the top of her head. "If you would like, I'll make sure that she gets a proper burial. Maybe we can find a kitten for you. Not to replace Mittens, mind you, but to keep you company at least. There is one thing though, you have to promise me that you will be careful by keeping the door to your apartment closed and not let your animals run away." He responded making sure that his voice showed her that he was indeed serious.

"I won't. I promise." Mrs. Noble sobbed against Ryo's chest. "I'll get Mr. Peterson to bury her. He has a place that he takes his birds to when they die." She cried and Ryo held her until he was sure that she was okay.

"Do you want me to call him for you?" Ryo asked as he looked at Lyn and winced again. Standing for that long was really testing his back.

The old woman nodded gratefully sniffling as she stepped back and looked at Ryo. "Thank you detective. You are so very kind. Thank you" She pulled out a hanky and dabbed at her eyes. "Most people your age would simply ignore or laugh at an old fool like me but you have always been so nice to me. How can I ever repay you?"

"Thanks Mrs. Noble but that's not necessary. I really need to go okay?" Ryo tried to force a smile but found even that too much of an effort at the moment. Glancing at Lyn, his eyes pleaded for help. The pain in his back was increasing.

"Mrs. Nobel? I'm really sorry but Ryo is a bit worn out. Unfortunately I must steal him from you but I promise that we will have a new kitten for you by the end of the week. I know just the place to get little kittens who need good loving homes." Lyn smiled charmingly to the old woman. "And if you'd like, I can bring my daughters by when we drop off your kitten off. My eldest just loves kittens." Lyn watched as Mrs. Noble started to smile a little.

"Thank you. Oh thank you!" She motioned for Lyn to bend down and then kissed his cheek before looking back at Ryo. "I had heard from Abby that you were in the hospital Detective. I would have come to visit but I haven't been feeling well and my arthritis has been kicking in." She explained and Ryo nodded. "I'll bring some of my homemade Apple Dumplings over for you and your new man. How's that?" She patted Ryo's hand and then turned to Lyn and whispered.

"You're so much nicer then the other one he was seeing. That other one was such a grouch! He'd never go look for Mittens for me. And the way he'd shout at that sweet little boy...? It was horrible! The detective should have a nice man like you looking out for him, not someone like that Oscar the Grouch."

Ryo hid his smile behind his hand, and then found himself leaning a little harder on Lyn as a spasm hit his back. "Uh Mrs. Noble? We have to go now. G-Gomen... I mean sorry." Ryo winced loudly as he held his hand against his back.

Lyn blushed slightly. 'Ryo's new man?' Oh boy Dee wasn't gonna be happy about that one. He guided Ryo to the elevator and helped him in, giving Mrs. Noble a final wave. "I would offer to carry you if I thought that you would accept it." Lyn offered gently, helping Ryo support his weight. "We're almost there." Finally the elevator binged and the door slid open. With one arm around Ryo's waist and the other supporting his arm he helped him to his apartment. Unlocking the door he then helped him straight back to his bedroom where Ryo could finally get some rest.

"Sorry about Mrs. Noble and what she said. Her and Dee have never gotten along. I'll make sure to set her straight on that. I just couldn't do anything back there. The pain... It was making even talking hard." Ryo sat down on the bed, dreading the thought of changing into shorts and a t-shirt because of the pain. Bikky without thinking had brought jeans and a dress shirt to the hospital yesterday for him to change into and he didn't have the heart to tell him that they weren't the best things to wear right now. Instead of requesting something else, Ryo simply wore the items with the idea of changing once he got home.

"Lyn? Could you grab the dark blue sweat shorts from the third drawer and any t-shirt from the fourth drawer? I need to get out of these jeans... Too tight." Ryo asked as he looked around the room and sighed. "Bikky tried and I didn't have the heart to say anything to him."

Lyn nodded and did as he was asked. Finding and then handing the articles to Ryo. "What can I do to help make you more comfortable Ryo?" Lyn asked, concerned for his friend. "Ice? Heat? Tea? Performing all of Shakespeare's King Lear, playing the entire cast myself?" Lyn offered.

Ryo's laugh was soft and sweet as he started unbuttoning his dress shirt. "No I'm fine. I think I'm going to try and rest. Try that is. It may not be so easy. These spasms are horrible. Dr Jacoby thinks that the disk is pinching nerves in my back and causing everything to just weird out. I keep getting this pain that shoots down my back and hip and right into my leg. Then my leg goes numb on me." He spoke as he removed his shirt and then slipped on the t-shirt. "That feels a little better. Now it's just these jeans and I should feel a major difference. That's the plan anyway."

"Sounds like a good one too." Lyn smiled.

"Lyn? Why don't you relax for awhile as well? You've done more then enough. In fact you've gone above and beyond the call of friendship."

"Aww. I was hoping to get to do King Lear." Lyn sighed and feigned disappointment. "Actually that doesn't sound like a bad idea. I'm..." Lyn cut himself off with a yawn. "... Exhausted. Kei's woken up the last two nights at about 3:30 and just won't go back to sleep for anything. I think that I will go crash on Bikky's bed. Just holler if you need anything. Really, don't hesitate. I don't mind a bit."

"I will and if I holler without calling your name? Chances are I'm either in pain or dreaming of Dee." Ryo laughed and winked at Lyn. "I don't believe I just said that! Oh boy you and Drew have had some influence on me." Ryo smiled as we gently stood up. "Now you go and get some sleep. I'm going to finish changing and then do the same."

Lyn nodded stifling another yawn and stepping out of the room. He closed Ryo's door behind him and headed for Bikky's room. Once there Lyn stripped out of his shirt dropping it without preamble to the floor before sitting down on the bed as his socks and shoes followed and joined his shirt. Finally, wearing just his jeans, he stretched out on the bed with his feet dangling off the end by at least six inches. Sighing at the whole thing he thought, 'Oh well without Drew he usually ended up curled in a tight ball anyway.' Doing just that, his eyes drifted shut and much needed sleep overcame him.

Ryo awoke sometime later, the smells of something cooking wafted back into the bedroom despite the closed door. Looking up at the ceiling he continued to lie there with his mind working. He and Dee still had some things to work out but they were slowly getting to where they had been before all hell had broken lose. Dee had been going out of his way to be quite romantic and that had pleased him more then anything. So lost was he, in his thoughts, that he didn't hear the door opening or Lyn striding in.

"As a very nasty Ex used to tell me. Don't think it will give you wrinkles." Lyn said with some laughter as he set the tray on the bedside table. "How's your back feeling? Any better? I made stew and bread. I didn't make the milk though, that I bought." He smirked.

"You mean you don't have a cow hiding somewhere? Now I'm really bummed." Ryo chuckled and tried to sit up. "Uh... This is the hard part. God I hate this brace." He lifted his shirt to look at the thing and growled at it. "To think woman at one point wore corsets just as tight, even tighter, to make themselves look more attractive to men. Yet we men can be balding fat and ugly and that's okay." He shook his head at the whole thought. "Either we're very smart or women are just too blinded by a society that tells them looking sexy is the right way to please men. It's really stupid when you stop and realize that looks don't mean jack shit when it comes to spending your life with someone."

"Actually there's some biology behind that. Men are visually stimulated. Seeing things turns us on. Women... Well lord knows what women want? It's a mystery to me. Apparently it's not visual, which is why straight men are allowed to be ugly. Now you probably don't know this but gay men tend to be held to the same rigorous appearance standards as women for that reason." Biology and Sociology lesson complete Lyn set the tray on Ryo's lap after retrieving his own food and folding himself into an open chair.

"I guess I'm weird then. I never went for girls simply because they looked pretty or were chesty, like my friends had a tendency to do. They had to have something more. The only girl I ever... well slept with wasn't what most would call Barbie doll attractive but to me she was beautiful because she had this wonderfully soft heart and she was smart as hell." Ryo took a few bites of his food and sighed.

Lyn shook his head, stirring his stew absently. "Ryo? Listen I know that you're gonna laugh at this. Coming from me and all but people always do anyway. Looks don't mean jack and they aren't worth jack. I wasted a lot of my life being very conscious of my appearance and you don't even want to know where it got me because it wasn't pretty. What it all boils down to is this, Dee damn near leaves a wet spot in his boxers ever time he thinks of you and that's all that matters."

Ryo looked at Lyn as his jaw snapped shut and his cheeks turned a bright pink. "I-I... Oh boy." Ryo was totally flustered by the comment. "Thanks... I think?" He picked up the photo from the nightstand of Dee and smiled. "It's so weird you know? I found him attractive right from the start yet I just couldn't bring myself to admitting it. But it was more then something physical or visual. Dee had this air about him that totally intrigued me. I became captivated by what was on the inside more then what was on the outside." Setting the photo back down Ryo took a few more bites of his food and then looked at Lyn.

"I'd have no reason to laugh at you Lyn. You are... Well... Uhm... Good looking, intelligent, kind hearted and well... Who wouldn't find that attractive?" Blushing even more, Ryo looked down at his stew. "I know that Drew is just crazy about you. You can tell just by the way he watches you and the way he talks about you."

"Yeah?" Lyn laughed softly. "I know that he does. But what I love even more is that he knows that I have something up here too." Lyn tapped his forehead. "I mean you can only sleep with so many people before you actually have to do a little work to become a practicing lawyer." Lyn nibbled on a piece of his bread. He was being self-depreciating today and he wasn't sure why. Whatever he was giving himself hell about was making it hard to eat.

Ryo listened to Lyn and frowned. Gently he lifted the tray before slowly turning to place it on the nightstand. Fluffing up the pillows and scooting over further, he patted the spot he just vacated. "Get over here and talk to me. I mean really talk to me Lyn. Something's bothering you. I can hear the tone change in your voice." Ryo glanced at him. "Don't worry I'm not like JJ. I won't jump your bones. In fact I let Dee sleep in this bed with me the first day I met him. What possessed me to do such a thing I'll never know but that's beside the point? Get over here! Now move it!" Ryo waited, watching Lyn's body language.

Lyn smiled gently as he set his food aside and moved over to the bed stretching out his legs and leaning against the headboard. "I'm not sure what's wrong. I can't quite put my finger on it but whatever it is it's beating myself esteem into oblivion that's for sure." Lyn twisted one of his rings absently.

"Does it have anything to do with what happened in your past?" Ryo decided to cut to the chase. "Dee told me that you made some mistakes and that you thought very little of yourself at times. Listen don't let yourself be brought down by thoughts like that. I realize that it must have been hard and all but that was then and well things are different now. Look at what Marlo did to Dee but because Dee is the better person he's starting to overcome that. He is not disgusting and neither are you. You are not a bad person Lyn. And you never will be in my eyes, in Dee's and in Drew's! You have been a pillar of strength for us all. Thank you."

After finding himself on so many occasions having Lyn reaching for his hand, Ryo took Lyn's instead. "You have more integrity in this one little finger." Ryo grasped Lyn's pinky. "Then most have in their whole bodies. That goes for intelligence and compassion as well."

"Thanks Ryo." Lyn smiled. "I think... Well... Listen... I..." Lyn frowned stuttering wasn't his style even under pressure but it meant so much to him that Ryo thought so highly of him. "All right, lets try that again... Can I tell you something? Actually a lot of 'some' things? Andrew's the only one who has ever heard all this before. I just feel like I'm misleading you... Sort of tricking you into respecting me or something. I'm about seven miles from being a paragon of virtue."

"I've said many times that if you ever need to talk that I'm here to listen." Ryo smiled softly. "And just to make things easier... It won't change a thing. You are my friend and that's where you'll stay. I won't turn away from you... Not ever." Ryo gave Lyn's hand a squeeze. "Just take your time and start when you feel ready."

Lyn searched for where to start. Trying to figure out if there even was a starting point to his story. "Coming to America was kind of a rush you know? I'm a farm boy and never had even been in a car when I first moved here. But yeah I kind of threw myself into it. I wasn't sure what direction I was going to go career wise. I studied law but I also studied performing and fine arts. In the end I decided to go to law school but I still was acting and dancing whenever I got the chance..."

Lyn paused and swallowed. This was where things got difficult. Lyn's eyes wandered to the window and watched the moon reflecting off the windows across the street. Just letting the image fill his vision.

"There was this guy. His name was James. He was very dominating but I didn't think anything of it. He was real good to me at first. He was a... He was a stage producer for a ballet company." Lyn blushed a little at this. Unless you had your name in lights admitting to being a ballet dancer rarely got you any respect. "Ballet is extremely competitive and vain. James was always telling me to loose more weight and while I've always been damn thin he just kept up with the emotional abuse. Eventually you start to believe things you know? And then eventually with the emotional abuse came the physical abuse. I finally got the balls to leave him but he ah..."

Lyn cleared his throat. "He ah... caught me packing and he kind of lost it. He grabbed a kitchen knife... Like I said before, the tattoo on my back covers it. Straight down my spine and over my hip to right about here." Lyn paused again pointing with a slightly shaking hand to a few inches above his left knee. "Anyway by that time I had an eating disorder then the insomnia set in. I was lucky to sleep two hours a night. I started sleeping around. I slept around a lot. I could sleep if someone else was in the bed with me but I couldn't keep anyone around longer then a few days because then they would realize I didn't eat. So it all became some sort of a downward spiral."

Ryo nodded letting Lyn know that he was listening and with his eyes told Lyn that he understood. Grabbing Lyn's hand he gave it a squeeze as tears stood in his eyes. He knew that that had to be extremely hard for Lyn to confess. Without hesitating he reached over and wrapped his arms around Lyn and pulled him close, hugging him gently. "James was foolish and blind. Not to mention a monster for hurting you. No one deserves that kind of treatment and no one ever asks for their lovers to hurt them." Ryo brushed the hair from Lyn's face. "If you're having any trouble sleeping at night then you're more then welcome to stay in here with me. I trust you and you surely know that my heart belongs to Dee so there shouldn't be a problem in that department. If someone has a problem with that then tough. I don't answer to anyone but myself." Ryo's words came out softly, his heart going out to Lyn.

"Lyn? You are not the bad one in the case, so please don't feel as though you are. You are the victim here and James is the criminal. No matter what anyone else tries to claim. I may not have known you for as long as Drew, but I can tell that in here..." Ryo touched Lyn's chest. "...That you have a heart that is pure and worthy of love. You deserve to be showered with love by Drew and by your friends." Brushing the hair from Lyn's face again, Ryo smiled softly. "As my friend, my best friend if I can say that. I am honored to have met you. You will forever be in my heart. Just like all the other people that I care about and who have touched my life, are."

Lyn smiled and sniffed softly as he hugged Ryo being careful of his back. "Thank you Ryo. That means so much to me." He sniffled again. "You're great Ryo, really. Besides Drew I've never been this close to someone else before and I'd be happy to consider you my best friend."

"You said earlier that you worried about me losing respect for you. Well that hasn't happened. In fact my respect for you has grown tremendously. You're strength is to be commended. You are truly an inspiration to all that have endured abuse at the hands of those they thought loved them." Ryo sighed, blinking back tears. "If I can make it through all of this with Dee, with just half of the integrity that you have then I'll consider myself lucky." Ryo held Lyn, rubbing his arm as he spoke. "I am so glad to have met you and your family. I'm lucky to have friends like you and Drew. All of you have touched my life and my heart in a very special way. Thank you for that."

"We're so glad to have met you Dee and Bikky. It's added something to our lives I don't think that we even knew was missing. You've given me a lot of strength Ryo, really. Just knowing that you and Dee are going through a lot of the same stuff Drew and I did, shows me that we don't live in some isolated little bubble." Lyn sighed Giving Ryo another gentle squeeze. "I'm just glad things are better for you and Dee now."

"They are. Dee and I spent a lot of time talking while I was in the hospital and despite everything that has happened, we realized that there was one thing that never changed... Our hearts and how we feel about each other." Ryo sighed. "It's funny that you mentioned about needing someone next to you when you sleep in order to sleep better. Because I realized in the hospital that that was how I felt. Whenever Dee stayed there while I slept, I slept better then I ever did. It was just that security of knowing that I wasn't alone and that I had someone there whom I trusted and cared about."

Lyn nodded. "It's all about feeling safe." He laughed softly. "Andrew and I... He pursued me for a long time too. It was ironic really. He was the one man I felt that I would be the safest having sex with and for that very reason I wouldn't. Well as you can see it all worked out in the end.'' Lyn took a deep breath. "Thanks for listening Ryo. It really helped."

"Anytime you need me I'm here. Okay?" Ryo smiled at Lyn. "You're like a brother to me now. And my offer still stands. This bed is big enough to accommodate us and I know that neither one of us has to worry about the other... Well you know?" Ryo chuckled. "Boy JJ should be here right about now." That whole thought had Ryo laughing.

Lyn covered his mouth starting to chuckle as well. "Oh Lord! Just imagine the look on JJ's face..."

"I bet that he would go right to Dee and tell him everything! Of course Dee would act like it's no big deal just to ruffle JJ's feathers." Ryo started laughing harder. "You know? I think Drake sort of likes JJ. Maybe if we could get those two together, then JJ would lay off of Dee and the problem would be solved."

"Really? You think Drake has a thing for JJ? He didn't strike me as the type but hey you never know these days." Lyn laughed.

"Never judge a book by its cover. I'm proof of that one." Ryo giggled. "You know? Dee is such a nut a times. When I first met him, he had this message on his answering machine as a sort of shock value thing. It was funny actually!" Ryo tried to still his laughter to describe the message.

"Dee used this very whispery and seductive voice to tape a message that essentially said...Hi you've reached the Latener abode. Sorry but Dee is tied up at the moment. Leave your name number and message at the beep and I may untie him so that he can call you back." Ryo once again lost it and fell into a fit of giggles.

Lyn laughed with him. "Oh man he is such a nut! Drew would just die if I ever did anything like that." Lyn still clutched his sides trying to catch his breath.

"He took it off after Penguin... Err... Mother Lane called him and was furious with him. Dee had gone to see her and she grabbed him by the ear and read him the riot act for being so as she put it, naughty!" Ryo wiped at his eyes, trying to catch his breath and finding it hard to do. He was aware of an intense pain shooting through his back but made an effort to ignore it, not wanting to ruin the moment.

"The nun caught him! Oh no that's terrible!" Lyn looked shocked but was still laughing. "Oh Ryo we better stop or your back will never heal. Still to be caught by a nun over a message like that... I can only imagine a few things that would be worse!"

"She's cool about Dee's sexuality and all but she still lives by the rule of celibate until married. Dee explained to her that men can't marry men and she said that it didn't matter. If he and his man committed to themselves that's all that mattered. She's really sweet and all. She's been good for Dee and I know that Dee respects her tremendously." Ryo went to shift and let out a gasp as pain seared through his back. "Damn! That hurts!" He frowned. Ryo hated how useless he felt at times especially now.

Lyn frowned as well before taking Ryo's hand again and smoothing his hair back from his face. "Sorry Ryo. I guess that we over did it. Do you want some meds?" Lyn offered though he doubted Ryo would accept. He wondered sometimes if it ever bothered Ryo, being so close and touchy feely with him. But Ryo was in truth his best friend and he had grown up holding hands with friends. He walked to school arm and arm with friends and to him it was just a normal thing to do.

"J-Just give me a sec okay. I hate this Lyn. I hate feeling like I can't do anything." Ryo sighed as he squeezed Lyn's hand. "I've never been one for having others do things for me. In fact I'd rather be helping people out." Shutting his eyes, he tried to breathe through the pain. He knew that until he had the surgery this type of pain would be common but the frequency would die down eventually. "It feels like someone is squeezing all of my muscles too tightly. God it hurts."

Lyn held his hand tightly. "We all have to rely on others sometimes Ryo. No man is an island. Talk to me Ryo. Distract yourself. Tell me a memory. A good one." Lyn urged, kneeling next to him and holding Ryo's hand firmly in both of his.

"A-A memory... I find myself going back to the first time that Dee ever kissed me." Ryo opened his eyes, staring into Lyn's as a way to stay focused. "He and Bikky had been kidnapped. I went on this commando raid, calling the police and pretending to be a terrorist. I told them that I had a bomb and that it was set to go off at a certain time." Ryo gasped as more pain shot through his back. "I made this bomb and planted it in the attic of the house where Bikky and Dee were oblivious to the fact that they were in a room right under me." Ryo clenched his teeth tightly as another wave of pain hit.

Lyn's face was a mask of concern as he racked his brain desperately for anything to help his friend. The meds would take at least twenty minutes to work and that was too long. With unsure and shaking hands Lyn reached out pressing a spot on Ryo's neck and another in his hand. He hoped that he had remembered the pressure points right His family had practiced holistic medicine, but he hadn't used this set of pressure points in years.

Ryo found the pain releasing its grip on him almost as soon as Lyn touched him and slowly he began to relax. "It's w-working. Arigato..." He smiled weakly. "Like I. was saying earlier... We had 2 hours to get out of the house. I found Dee and Bikky easily. Dee's arm had been broken yet there he was acting so tough. The bone had punctured the skin. We got out but were cornered by these guys so what does Dee do? He pulls out a damn pen and pretends that it's the bomb's detonator. The baka!" Ryo chuckled a little. "Well to make a long story short, the bomb goes off right on time; we hit the dirt and then hear the sirens coming closer. Bikky stayed behind to talk to the police while Dee and I took off before they got there. Dee and I wound up in this park where we talked a little as we tried to figure out how we were going to cover our asses." Ryo relaxed even more, sighing as the pain started to fade.

"After awhile I went to help Dee get up since I new that he needed to get to a hospital to have his arm looked at. Well Dee grabs my arm, pulls me down and kisses me! I was so shocked that I didn't know what to do!" Looking up at Lyn, Ryo smiled softly. "What's funny is that even though I was angry with him for doing it? Now that I think about it, deep inside I actually liked it. I mean Dee is one hell of a kisser. I have never been kissed like Dee kisses me and I seriously doubt that I'll ever find anyone who is as good."

Lyn smiled softly. "I think that your souls have always known each other." Lyn sighed a little sigh of relief on his own. Slowly he sat back letting go of the pressure points. "Ah Ryo? You might want to consider taking those meds now."

Ryo nodded. "I guess that I have to." Ryo looked away quickly. He hated how the pain meds made him feel and the way he seemed to drift in and out of a drug hazed stupor.

"Of course you need them to stay relaxed so that your back can heal." Lyn leaned back against the headboard once again, holding Ryo's hand as he waited for what his friend to give in and let him get his meds. "Man you guys just can't get a break can you?" Lyn sighed with a shake of his head. "When it rains it pours it seems. You guys are doing really amazing well, all things considered. Now if we could only get you both on your feet at the same time we'll be doing well!"

"I do believe that Dee and I have more then earned a string of good times. Shit we'd better get them!" Ryo smiled even more. "Oh and who says that Dee and I need to be on our feet to be okay? Flat on our backs is fine too as long as we are pain free though." Ryo laughed softly and wiggled his eyebrows.

Chuckling with him Lyn rolled his eyes. "Yeah you guys definitely deserve some quiet hassle free and pain free time. Maybe your back will heal better then expected and faster. Stranger things have been known to happen. Did you want some of the meds the doctor sent you home with? Maybe just half a pill?"

"Yes that would be okay." Ryo looked at Lyn. "I just had a thought. How the hell am I going to get a shower? I mean in the hospital it was those lousy sponge baths from orderlies who were about a gentle as the nurses from hell, as Dee calls them. I need a bon a fide shower. I just don't know if I can handle it right now." Ryo sighed and then smiled.

"Well I'm sure that Dee would be more then happy to give you a sponge bath." Lyn waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "What about just a regular bath? It might not be as bad of a strain on the back?"

"Yeah but getting up and down may be a problem. I can't so it by myself. Damn this is frustrating." Ryo punched the mattress. "I need help doing something so simple as bathing. It's humiliating to say the least. I don't know how Dee stands it? He seems so content with having people doing stuff for him and here I am, hating it with a passion." Ryo's voice was filled with the frustration running through him.

"Yeah well Dee is a bit on the lazy side. Not that there is anything wrong with that mind you." Lyn grinned. "He knows how to relax that's for sure. I'm sure that he was humiliated and frustrated too. He just wrapped himself in a little cocoon of self-pity and justified it to himself by making the rest of us work our tails off. Really Ryo none of us mind helping you. After all look what you've done for the rest of us."

"Thanks that makes it a little easier to take all of this." Ryo gave a half smile. "I just really need to clean up. I feel so grimy. I'm used to taking at least 2 showers a day. I guess I can wait until Dee can help tomorrow. Hopefully he'll behave!" Ryo laughed. Like Dee would behave having him naked and unable to fend off his amorous advances. "Dee always picks on me for being so tidy. He calls me a neat freak. Actually he says that I'm anal repetitive over my need for organization. He teases me about it but working in an environment that is always so chaotic can drive you insane. So I try and keep my home life as organized and tidy as I can." Ryo laughed slightly. "I guess I do get obsessive over it at times."

Lyn chuckled. "Andrew and I both tend to be neat but he's more so then I am. Let me tell you that once you have kids that all goes straight out the window. Even if they didn't just make a mess by the time you have a chance to do much housework you're so damn tired you can barely keep your eyes open. I don't know what I will do when Annie really starts walking on her own. Oh lord." Lyn slumped on the bed laughing.

"You'll need Prozac by then!" Ryo looked at Lyn and started laughing. "It doesn't get any better once they are older. The messes and problems just get bigger that's all! I mean look at Bikky's room and how he is sometimes? And oh God Dee's apartment... Oink, Oink City! Not to mention his sometimes, childlike behavior." Ryo snickered, holding his stomach as he laughed. "He and Bikky are like two peas in a pod, even if they do try and deny it.

"Oh man. At least when they get to that age they aren't wearing diapers. I swear if I never have to change another diaper again it will be too soon. Let me tell you Ryo. That Kei is a right handful. I swear that little angel was put on this planet just to keep Andrew and I on our toes! We thought things would be easier when she got over the colic. Man were we wrong."

"She is an angel though. I still remember that day when she wandered over to me. God when you told me that she was deaf I wanted to cry for her. She's so beautiful, Annie too." Ryo smiled. "I wouldn't mind the craziness. I adore kids. In fact I always imagined myself having a bunch of kids. Of course that's just a dream now." Ryo let out a long heartfelt sigh. "Dee isn't fond of kids and if we are to make a go of any sort of relationship I have to respect that. Anyway... Enough of that. So what happened after the colic?" Ryo changed the subject quickly.

"Well? God... Let me tell you about the colic first. It was terrible. She was only happy if she was being walked. Andrew and I literally had to sleep in shifts. I just walked and walked... Man..." Lyn shook his head, smiling a little. It had damn near put him in the loony bin but boy had he bonded with that tot. "About the time that she started to get over that we found out that she was deaf. So Andrew and I enrolled in ASL classes. We're still trying to make decisions about what to do with that. There is so much..." Lyn looked sad a moment but he shook the feeling off.

"Then she started walking and you know her! Just a holy terror. If it's not the dog food it's the toilet or the nearest thing that will cause the biggest mess." Lyn chuckled. "Annie on the other hand is just the sweetest little thing. Never a peep from her. They are so different so it will be interesting to see what happens when they get a little older."

"I know it's sad to see Kei living in her silent world but she's all ready sending you the strongest message that she can. She's saying 'Hey dad I can do this! I'm a fighter and I will cope.' She's showing you that she can be independent. Keiry is a truly a remarkable little girl. You and Drew ought to be commended for the way that you have raised both of them." Ryo's smile was warm and genuine.

Lyn laughed softly. "I guess we'll see if they feel the same way at Bikky's age about us as Bikky does about you. Then we'll know that we're doing okay." Lyn shook his head. "It's hard to know what's best for her. Doctors I really don't think they know what's best. They fitted her for hearing aids at five months." Lyn actually started getting misty eyed just thinking about it. "This little perfect child. She was so tiny. I could hold her in one arm. She was barely holding her head up on her own and they put these big bulky, behind the ear, hearing aids on her. They were bigger then her little hands. I didn't even ask Drew about it. After a week I said no way! No way in hell! She's perfect just the way she is."

Ryo grabbed Lyn's hand and gave it a knowing squeeze. "Follow your heart Lyn. It won't let you down. The hell with what the doctors want. If Keiry is happy as is then why mess with perfection ne?" Sighing softly Ryo looked over at Lyn. "After my parents were murdered many different people tried to determine what was best for me. Yet they never bothered to ask me what I wanted. My Aunt Elena was the only one. She cared more about my needs and wants then what people tried to say were best for me. Some only wanted me to live with them because they knew that I would be getting an inheritance along with some property! Elena never cared about any of that and it made a world of difference. That money went into an account that I used to go to college and then to the police academy. It kept me going until I had a steady job. I doubt that I would have been able to do any of that had certain people taken me in. What the hell they didn't care about me! In fact they looked at me as the son of criminals. It took me ten years to redeem my parents and gave them back their good name." Ryo sighed.

"I'm getting off track here. What I'm trying to say is this... I'm sure that Keiry will grow up thanking you for not interfering with what nature gave her and for allowing her the chance to prove herself without the help of artificial measures." Ryo hoped that some of what he said was helping. He wasn't as schooled in the world of the deaf as Lyn and Andrew were.

Lyn took a deep breath and nodded. "I can only hope so. It will make it harder if she ever wishes to speak. It will be harder for her to learn to read. They think that they can fix it with a type of surgery called a Cohlclear implant but they aren't sure. And if they do it they say that she isn't allowed to sign any more that it would only delay her language development. She has a tough road ahead of her. You would think that having two dads would be enough for one kid. Sometimes it makes me wonder about the powers that be ya know?"

"I know but talk to Dee and he'll tell you that those powers that be work in ways we aren't expected to understand. We just have to take it at face value and have faith in the belief that he knows what he's doing." Ryo spoke of Dee's Catholic faith. "I guess what you need to do is weigh the pros and cons of the implants and come to your own conclusions. Don't do it because somebody says it should be done. Being deaf doesn't have to be a curse. Many people grow up with problems that they learn to live with and then adapt, in order to overcome the obstacles. They do it because of the support group that they have around them. Give her your love your heart and your help. I get this feeling that she'll surprise us all with what she can do with just those things." Ryo gave Lyn's hand another squeeze while smiling over at him.

Another deep breath and Lyn nodded. "Yes I know. Andrew and I have had this discussion a million times but it's just so hard to ever feel like you're doing the right thing. We decided against the Cohlclear implants fairly quickly after meeting other children with them. We were unimpressed. Their speech was no better then that of most deaf kids who had speech training and residual hearing. Anyway I'm sure that I'm boring you with all the medical details. It's really extraordinary actually. Did you know that kids sign months before they learn to talk as babies?"

"No I didn't but I can see how that would be true. I bet that signing also helps develop their small motor skills faster as well. They need dexterity for signing and that thumb and forefinger movement." Ryo stifled a yawn, covering his mouth quickly with his hand. "Maybe you and Drew should give her the ways and means to live as she is and then allow her to make her own decisions about her life once she's old enough to do so." Ryo took a deep breath and turned slightly. He knew that he shouldn't but he wanted to face Lyn. "What I'm trying to say is... Stop worrying! Keiry appears to be a happy well-rounded child. That's what's important in the end."

Lyn laughed. "Yes well rounded that's a word for it. Though I prefer hell on wheels." Lyn grinned. "I know and I will stop worrying one of these days. You're tired Ryo. I'll let you get to sleep and I'll go take care of the dishes."

"Lyn? Don't worry. Keiry loves you and Drew and I know that she will grow up to be a wonderful young lady someday." Ryo smiled as he went to sit up. "Shit! Can I ask a favor? Can you kind of help me get off this damn bed? I sort of need to use the bathroom... Well actually I do need to use it not just sort of. God I am a mess!" Ryo laughed, shaking his head at the predicament that he was in.

Lyn laughed as well not wanting Ryo to be embarrassed. "Of course." Getting up carefully so as not to jostle Ryo too much he helped him to sit up and then very carefully helped him to his feet. With a hand resting between his shoulder blades to steady him Lyn looked at Ryo. "Doing all right so far?"

"Yeah but I feel like I'm a hundred years old. I'm hanging in there." Ryo started taking small easy steps and once he reached the door he looked at Lyn. "I'll be okay from here. What the heck I may even make it back to the bed on my own. Now that would be a feat in itself!" He laughed, jumping when the phone rang. "That always happens. I swear people must have sonar or something! Blip, blip... Oh MacLean is about to use the potty... Call him now and really mess with his mind!" Ryo chuckled.

"Could you get it for me? Please? You can answer the one over on the nightstand. I am going this way and not stopping until I reach my destination. If it's a telemarketer tell them to take a hike!" Ryo snickered then motioned towards the phone before heading into the bathroom while Lyn laughed and went over to answer the phone.

Lyn got the feeling that with his up beat attitude, Ryo was destined to make it through this latest crisis and come out a victor in the end.

Wildefyre: Okay admit it! You know you want to! Ryo and Lyn cuddling and laughing have got to be the cutest thing! They are like my ultimate fantasy couple at the moment too! Anyway, enjoy and I'll see ya next chapter... I hope.

Irish: Hehe they are very Kawaii together. Also for those of you who don't know, chapter 5 of "Standing Outside the Fire" is up.