Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Time for Healing ❯ Save Me from the Dark ( Chapter 27 )

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 at any given time. 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 padded out of the bedroom to find Lyn sitting on the couch amongst a sea of papers. Smiling he walked over and gingerly sat in the chair nearby. "Looks like the mess I usually deal with after a case and after Dee decides that I should write up the reports since my handwriting is neater than his is." Ryo chuckled softly and poured himself some tea from the pot setting on the coffee table.

Lyn rolled his eyes, nudging his glasses back up. "Legal paperwork. Let me tell you, and believe me, cops with good handwriting are a godsend. You would be amazed at the reports that get handed to me. Sometimes I wonder if they are used as napkins first. Though that's one nice thing about legal aid. Now it's all just footwork and paperwork. I love litigation but I just don't have that kind of time to dedicate to work. Litigation practice takes like 70 hours a week. And that's on a down week."

"I can sympathize there. My work weeks average about 60 plus and that's what I call a good week. Some nights I'll get home, eat and go right to bed because I have to be up in 6 to 8 hours to go back to work." Ryo sighed as he sat back. Just as he was about to say something else, a loud rapping came at his door and Ryo groaned. "That has to be JJ. I called into the station to see if I could get some files. I want to look over Marlo's case a little more. See if we're missing something." Ryo sighed softly. "I know that I'm not supposed to and all since I am officially off the case but as long as I don't act on anything I can get away with looking at the reports."

"Does it have to be JJ though? Can't we hope for a sexy cabana boy with a pizza?" Lyn asked hopefully as he disentangled himself from his papers and went to answer the door. Ryo started laughing, his dark eyes sparkling with a renewed life that hadn't been there in weeks. When Lyn opened the door JJ stood there and his jaw dropped immediately.

"Oh great if it isn't Hans! Is Franz here too or are you taking liberties with my Dee Senpai's man? Not that I can understand why anyone would want Ryo... He's just too naive for his own good." JJ commented as he casually waltzed past Lyn like a Lording King.

"Franz is with the children and who wouldn't want Ryo." Lyn pretended to look JJ up and down. "Besides, Ryo's ass is way nicer." Lyn ran a hand through his hair before dropping back down onto the couch gazing forlornly at the field of papers spread about on almost every side of him.

Ryo covered his mouth to suppress his giggles, blushing over Lyn's comment. "Okay JJ what have you got for me?" Ryo asked, as he stood and then sat on the couch next to Lyn.

"Hey I've seen Ryo's ass... It's nothing to brag about." JJ glared over at Lyn. "What exactly do you see in that Neanderthal?" JJ cocked his head to one side as he looked back at Ryo.

"JJ!" Ryo shifted, tension causing his back to go into a spasm. "I really don't have the patience for this right now. Now did you bring over those files like I requested?"

"Drink your tea." Lyn chided Ryo indicating the cup of tea near Ryo. "It has some herbs that should help." He turned to JJ. "So what do you want? Other then Dee?"

"Oh yeah... I forgot." JJ sighed. "Yeah I have your files but keep in mind that I could get into a whole slew of trouble by giving these to you. So you owe me!" JJ paused.

"Fair enough, now hand them over." Ryo's held out his hand and waited.

"Hold your pants on... Though from what I have heard, you like to have them off."

"JJ! Just give me the damn files!"

Lyn's brow furrowed as his arm came around Ryo's shoulders. "Ryo, drink your tea it will help your back." Lyn reminded him yet again, as he slipped his glasses off his face and folded them carefully on the end table. Ryo looked at Lyn, nodding as he sipped his tea and then smiled softly at his friend.

JJ watched at how Lyn and Ryo were looking at each other and frowned. "If you two kiss I am reporting that to Dee sempai!"

Lyn laughed and shook his head leaning back against the couch. "We wouldn't give you the pleasure of watching." Lyn was wearing his most comfortable clothes, ripped blue jeans faded almost to white, a gray t-shirt with the words 'Fighting Irish' printed across his chest. "Did you ever think that your Dee Senpai might be in on it...? That it's one big poly amorous situation?" Lyn smirked.

"Not Dee! He'd never go for that! Though MacLean here... Well you never know? They always say that it's the quiet ones that you have to watch out for. Ryo you should be ashamed of yourself! How could you do this to Dee-Senpai?" JJ looked at him, wanting to just throttle Ryo.

Finally having enough of JJ's remarks, Ryo decided to just play along. "What can I say JJ?" Ryo grabbed Lyn's hands. "This man just stole my heart. He's sweet, kind and... Oh damn that tongue stud just drives me insane with desire." Holding Lyn's hands against his cheek, Ryo sighed dreamily.

"OH MY GOD!" JJ's eyes went wide with shock at what he was witnessing and Ryo had all he could do not to burst into uncontrollable laughter.

Lyn sighed as though irritated. "Ryo, how many times do I have to tell you that I don't love you? I just like fucking you on the side. You're so dramatic." Lyn rolled his eyes trying his best to look exasperated without laughing.

"What is it with me? That's all Dee wants from me as well..." Ryo looked like he was about to cry. "Why can't anybody love me? Why?" Ryo lowered his head, resting it on Lyn's shoulder, pretending to cry. "That's all I ever wanted..." He was slowly losing his battle with keeping a straight face.

"You two are pulling my leg aren't you? You must think that I'm stupid!" JJ sat down in the chair and smirked. "Okay. If you two actually have a thing going then let me see you kiss Ryo!" JJ smirked at Lyn, knowing he finally had them both. "Well Hans? Lose your balls or something?"

"Nope, they are right here." Lyn grabbed himself briefly before turning to Ryo. Kissing was going a bit far and so he watched Ryo to see what his call was.

"Okay JJ fun and games are over. Let me see those reports." Ryo was blushing furiously and trying to act casual.

"Like I said, letting you have these files could get me into a whole lotta trouble. Besides it could also compromise the case." JJ shook his head, his eyes watching the two.

"God JJ. I won't tell anyone that you gave them to me! Now hand over those damn files!" Ryo jerked forward.

Lyn gently pressed a hand against Ryo's chest so that he would lean back and not hurt himself. "JJ give us the damn files, don't make me come up with reasons to prosecute you." Lyn sighed, glaring at the man and ready to tackle him to take the files if he had to.

"I all ready told you... I really shouldn't. Ryo has screwed up once with this case. I was just going to show him out of mutual respect for a fellow officer but I've changed my mind. I don't like doing things that go against department policy and Ryo knows that!"

"This is bullshit! All I want is a chance to see if something has been overlooked!" Ryo shot up out of the chair in anger. "Shimatta!" Ryo grabbed the chair as pain shot through his back.

"Christ Ryo." Lyn caught his arm. "Careful. Can you make it back to the couch so that I can see what I can do?"

"The pain is shooting through my back. I wrenched it a little. It hurts but I'll manage." Ryo clenched his teeth as he stood there, waiting for it to pass.

"Hey Ryo? You okay?" JJ stood, now concerned as well. He may not have liked Ryo a whole lot but when he saw a fellow officer hurting, then it became a whole new ballgame. "Can I help in anyway?"

"I have a bad disk in my spine that's pinching a nerve JJ. Sometimes it causes pain to shoot through my back and down my leg if I move the wrong way." Ryo slowly made his way over to the couch, sitting down as gently as he could.

"Christ... I have didn't realize that it could cause that much pain. Ryo I'm sorry." Concern was genuine in JJ's voice now.

"All right Ryo, just try and hold still." Lyn crouched next to him on the couch, his fingers again finding the right place on Ryo's neck and wrist, and applying pressure. "That helping any?"

"No... Not this time..." Ryo threw his head back, squeezing one of Lyn's thighs as another spasm hit. "Try pressing at my lower back. This happened this morning and Dee applied pressure there and it seemed to help." Lyn moved his hands lower pressing near the small of Ryo's back, massaging gently and biting his lip. If this didn't work they were in a world of trouble.

"T-That's helping a little." Ryo panted out with his sweat-dampened bangs plastered to his forehead. Ryo started relaxing, the tension being drawn out of him along with the pain. "That's much better now."

"I'll go get a heating pad." JJ announced. "You do have one don't you?"

"Hai... Uh yes... Bedroom closet, top shelf, to the right." Ryo managed to get out. "Lyn it's working... The pain's subsiding." Ryo sighed. "Thank you once again."

Lyn continued to rub his back gently. "You need to move more slowly Ryo." He handed him the mug of tea that he had prompted him several times now to drink. "The herbs I used will help relax your muscles. The heating pad will help a lot too."

"Thanks." Ryo leaned back against Lyn, looking up at him and smiling a little as he sipped the tea. "You've rescued me more times then I can count. I'll be in debt to you for a lifetime. I guess that you'll want my first born now?" Ryo chuckled a little; feeling exhausted all of a sudden. The pain though was easing up making him feel a little better.

"Dear lord no! Two is enough! Please for the love of god keep your children!" Lyn laughed, before turning his mismatched eyes on JJ. "So where are those files? We won't tell you showed, we promise."

"They're in my car. I hesitated bringing them up with me. I'll go get them if you can find the brain cells required to plug this in. I assume that's not too difficult a task for you?" JJ smirked as he handed Lyn the heating pad.

"Uh JJ? Lyn's IQ is higher then yours. And... He's cuter!" Ryo started laughing as JJ shook his head and walked out the door.

Lyn snickered. "Little do you know that I'm a card carrying member of MENSA." He leaned down plugging in the heating pad and then situated it against Ryo's back with a pillow. "There that should make a world of difference. Are you comfortable..? I mean other then being in pain?"

"That's feeling better all ready. Thanks." Ryo sighed and closed his eyes, allowing the heat to help ease the muscles in his back, into a more relaxed state. Ryo started sweating as a small spasm throbbed in his back.

"Still hurting? Can you lean forward a little? If it hurts don't do it, but I think some massage might help at least a little." Lyn offered folding his legs under him on the couch. "Want me to put a video in or something... Or JJ in a grass skirt and get him to hula?"

Ryo laughed wincing as he did so. "Stretch your legs out Lyn. I don't mind. This sofa is wide enough." Ryo said, "plus your knees are kind of bony and are poking me in my back." Looking up as JJ came back into the apartment, Ryo thanked him as JJ handed him the files and then waited until JJ left before picking up the first file and glancing at it. "Okay let's see what we have here? Ted's handwriting, that's for sure. God I swear him and Dee took a course called Chicken Scratch 101!" Ryo started reading through the files, while Lyn read over his shoulder.

Lyn slipped on his glasses and poured over the documents as he unfolded himself. "Damn are you sure this is English?" He muttered as his eyes scanned over the file.

"Yeah it is." Ryo smiled as he felt Lyn's hands on the small of his back, easing out the tension. Grabbing his glasses and slipping them on, Ryo began reading. "The victims were all drugged and then beaten with a baseball bat before having the word 'fag' spray painted on their stomachs and chests. Same MO in all cases. All died with the exception of two. The witness that refused to testify and of course Dee." Ryo trembled remembering all too well Dee's state when he had found him. "They all have children either that were from a previous marriage, relationship or recent adoption."

"This is one sick bitch." Lyn muttered, following along as he gently massaged Ryo's back. "Do you have any clue as to why she's doing this? Any rap sheet or something useful like that?"

Ryo scanned down the page, sighing. "Not in here... Let me check this other file. Maybe that will tell us something." Ryo read over it, trembling even more as he read through it. "Marlo has had one prior arrest for assault. Apparently she attacked her ex-husband and his... Lover, a male by the name of Wendell Cummings. Her ex, John Wylie and her had a son and when her husband left her for another man he somehow managed to get custody of him. The son was only 15 months old." Ryo read further and his blood ran cold at what he found.

"Oh Shit!" Ryo shuddered. "Damn this bites. The husband's lover was arrested himself three months later for the death of the infant. They called it Shaken Baby Syndrome. Looks like Mr. Cummings had a short fuse and the infant was crying so he shook him to shut him up." Ryo felt a chill run down his spine. "My god...! How could anyone...? A child... No wonder she's bitter!"

Lyn frowned deeply. "That's just sick...."

"I-It takes all kinds I guess." Ryo shivered even more. "I can handle a lot of things but when it comes to cases involving kids I have trouble with them." Sighing, Ryo pinched the bridge of his nose. "I remember this one case, the Dalker case. It was one of the first child killing cases Dee and I worked on together." Ryo leaned back into Lyn, needing some form of comfort all of a sudden. "Two children, ages two and five... a girl and boy. A neighborhood drug addict killed the parents then raped the kids before slitting their throats. I don't think I'll ever get those images out of my head for as long as I live. When we caught the perp Dee almost went ballistic on him. Can't say that I blame him though. He was one sick bastard!"

Lyn shuddered, slipping an arm around Ryo. "Kind of makes you wanna lock your kids in a tower until they're thirty." Lyn suddenly want to affirm his own children's safety very badly, but reassured himself that they were fine with An and Dee. "When I was a prosecutor, working litigation, I did a lot of work with family law in addition to criminal law... Prosecuted a lot of abusers... Some of these people were just sick.... I tried one case of Munchausens by proxy. That's where the mother intentionally makes the child ill... or kills them, for the attention the mother gets..." Lyn shuddered again. "Man some people are seriously fucked up."

Ryo held onto Lyn's arm. Stuff like this always got to him. "W-Why do people have to hurt children? Why? They are the innocent ones. It's adults who taint them. Not all adults but ones who don't care... Whenever we get a case involving kids it makes me so sick. I wind up not being able to sleep or eat for days sometimes." Moisture wetted Ryo's eyes the more he thought about it. "They don't deserve our anger... They need our love instead."

"I know..." Lyn shook his head. "Even more now that I have my own..." He cleared his throat, not wanting to dwell on such horrible thoughts. "Do we have anything else on her? Anything to help us find her?"

"That's what I was just looking for." Ryo scanned over the documents and then frowned. "There seems to be two different addresses here for Marlo. That I don't understand. Usually if she has a prior the addresses are updated." Ryo frowned. "Unless... Oh damn! Two apartments! If that's the case... Shit someone needs to check into this!"

"Two apartments? Oh shit! That is not good." Lyn sat back and let the Ryo do his work as Ryo reached for his cell phone and dialed into the station.

"Yeah patch me into Rose! Tell him that it's detective MacLean and that it's a matter of urgency." Ryo explained as he waited to be connected to Rose.

"Yeah? What's it now MacLean?" Rose sounded a little miffed.

"Marlo Wylie may be retaining two separate apartments. According to the files only the one in here in the City was check but she has another or did have another in Manhattan, Upper East Side." Ryo explained. "Can it be verified if the apartment is current?"

"And just what are you doing with those file? You are off this case Ryo!" Rose shot back.

"Listen if someone had been doing their job there'd be no cause to bitch but obviously that's not the case! Now can this Manhattan address be verified?"

"Give the second address to me and I'll have it checked out. If it's current I'll obtain a search warrant and have men sent over to have a look around." Rose too felt that something was amiss with the whole thing.

Ryo gave Rose the necessary information, insisting that he be kept informed about the progress. Once he was satisfied that the second apartment would be checked out, Ryo laid the phone on the couch next to his thigh. "Rose is having Drake check into it. If they find out that it is current they are going to get a warrant to check it out. They'll let us know what's happening. All we can do now is wait."

Lyn just sighed; there wasn't much they could do until they had more information. "Should we call Dee and Drew or wait until we know more?" Lyn wasn't sure which would be best at the moment either; he didn't want to worry Drew unnecessarily.

Looking back at Lyn Ryo tried to smile, not wishing to see Lyn worry. "We'll wait. They'll be okay Lyn. I won't let anything happen to them I promise." Ryo shifted a little and got comfortable in Lyn's arms, he truly did feet comfortable enough with Lyn to do this, which surprised him but Lyn was as much of a cuddle slut as he was.

Lyn let Ryo settle back against him with a sigh, waiting as patiently as he could manage for the call to come, only able to guess at how anxious Ryo must be at the moment.

"Lyn when was the last time that you ate?" Ryo asked, finally breaking the silence since he was concerned about Lyn's hypoglycemia. "I can make us sandwiches or something, if you want?"

"I think there is some leftover stew still in the fridge that's fine for me. Thanks but maybe I should make it so you can rest your back." Lyn responded.

"Actually I had to get up to use the bathroom so as long as I'm up I may as well grab us some grub." Ryo smiled and slowly stood. "Two bowls of stew coming right up." Ryo smiled as he headed first to the bathroom before heading into the kitchen. For now it was business as usual.

With their appetites sated, Ryo and Lyn watched a little TV as they huddled together on couch, still waiting for any news concerning the latest findings about Marlo. Ryo found himself fascinated with Lyn's ring as he grabbed Lyn's hand and held it up to inspect it further. "It's beautiful. I never really took notice of it until now. Very unique style and so you too." Looking back over his shoulder, Ryo smiled at Lyn.

"Oh thanks it was my fathers. It's a Claddagh." He chuckled softly "Steeped in Irish history and lore; they are pretty popular here in America now too. But this is the real McCoy."

"I couldn't imagine Dee ever going for anything like that. He's too macho for it..." Ryo stopped and blushed. "Not that you and Drew aren't macho. It's just that Dee... Oh Boy!" Ryo blushed even more. "Step one: open mouth... Step two: insert foot."

Lyn chuckled. "Yeah that was pretty bad Ryo... I think what you mean is he's not romantic enough to think it's a great idea." Lyn absently spun the ring on his finger. "Well, you never know, he might agree to it."

"I'm sorry Lyn. I really didn't mean it the way it sounded." Ryo looked at Lyn. "Forgive me?" He gave him a big grin.

"Gee I don't know..." Lyn teased. "Aww who can say no to those big puppy dog eyes? I suppose I can forgive you." Lyn laughed.

"Thank you much!" Ryo laughed as well.

By the time the movie ended, both men had started dozing off on the couch and only the shrill of the phone kept them from falling asleep all the way. "Let's hope for the best." Ryo commented as he picked it up. "Hello? MacLean here."

"Rose here. Seems that your suspicions were right on the money. There was indeed a second apartment and it was indeed current."

"Is someone going over to check it out?" Ryo asked, grabbing Lyn's arm and holding it against him for some sort of comfort.

"Ted, Drake and JJ are on their way over there now. They just picked up the warrant. They'll be calling you directly with their findings." Rose explained. "I'm allowing that. You are not to act on anything they tell you! Got that?"

"Yes sir I got that."

"Good because you are officially off the case and on medical leave. If I find out that you do anything Ryo I will file a report with IA! Don't test me!" Rose reprimanded and hung up, leaving Ryo sitting there with more questions then answers.

"Okay we do more waiting. They are checking out the second apartment as we speak. Ted is supposed to call with any information." Ryo sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I just hope like hell that Dee and Drew will be okay. I don't want to scare you but I'm getting a bad feeling about this." Lyn merely sighed, until they knew more all he would do was sit there and like Ryo, hope for the best.

It was at least another hour before Ryo's cell phone went off and both men jumped. Quickly grabbing it, Ryo clicked it on. "Yeah? MacLean here?"

"Hey Ryo, it's Ted."

"What have you got for me?" Ryo cut right to the chase, his heart hammering in his chest.

"You won't like it." Ted began. "First of all the second apartment is in shambles. There are photos lying around that have been slashed to smithereens." Ted sighed before continuing. "Sorry man... I know that this is going to upset you but almost all of the photos are of Dee or you or both of you. They must be from the box of photos stolen from Dee's apartment."

"There are photos of Dee and I lying around? Shredded up?" Ryo's hands were starting to shake as he clutched the phone.

"Ryo, that's not all... We found a pad of paper with an address scrawled on it. It appears to be Lyn and Drew's home address."

"Nani? A-Are you sure?" Ryo's eyes went wide and he grabbed Lyn's arm to gain his attention. Signing, 'Call Drew and make sure they are okay. Tell them to not open the door for anyone and make sure all doors and windows are locked.'

"Ryo we're heading over there now. Don't worry okay? Dee and everyone else will be okay." Ted tried to assure him.

"Okay just keep me informed." Ryo hung up the phone and looked at Lyn. "They found your address at Marlo's apartment."

Lyn's eyes widened and he dialed his number immediately, with shaking hands, just praying that he managed to get the number on the first try. Biting his lip as the phone rang.... And rang... and rang.... "Hello you have reached Lyn, Andrew and the girls, leave a message after the tone."

"An...? An are you there baby?" Lyn waited a hopeful minute then continued, his voice shaking as he sat down on the couch, legs no longer able to hold him up. "An if you guys are just in the basement or whatever, call me as soon as you get this message, love you." Lyn hung up, and immediately dialed Andrew's cell phone, and got his voice mail on which he left a similar message. "T-That's not normal... he always has his cell phone on..."

"That's it!" Ryo stood up and grabbed his car keys from the table and looked at Lyn. "We're going over there. I just need to get my gun." Ryo, forgetting about his back, hurried as well as he could, back to the bedroom to retrieve his gun, coming out a moment later as he strapped on the holster. "Come on Lyn... I am not sitting around here and waiting any longer."

Lyn needed no further prompting and moved swiftly after Ryo making sure that his cell phone was on. "Let me drive Ryo. Your back has got to be killing you." But it was perfunctory concern, Lyn's normally china skin had gone translucent, his hands shaking as he grabbed at the keys that Ryo held.

Ryo grabbed Lyn's wrist. "This is one of those payback times. You try and calm down. I'll drive and you keep trying to reach them. I-I can't let Dee go through this a second time Lyn... and I can't risk Drew going through it either." Grabbing Lyn's hand, Ryo raced for the stairs, knowing they'd be faster than the elevator. Both men knew that if Marlo was indeed heading there, they didn't have much time...

'Dear god... Not again... Please don't do this to us again...' Ryo prayed as he raced down the stairs knowing full well that Dee or Drew probably wouldn't survive another attack.

W ildefyre: Nya nya! We stopped it there just to irritate you! Seriously though, we wanted to get all of the next scene/events into one chapter so that's why this is a short chapter. Gomen... Don't hurt us! *laughs* Want the next chapter? Then leave a review or you'll never find out if Ryo and Lyn save the day or if Dee and Drew bite the dust... Yeah that's mean. So call Lyn and sue me! *snickers*

Irish: Okay I am choosing to do something a little different with the music for this chapter, generally I do my best to pick a piece that sort of sums up the chapter, has meaning and reverence to the whole chapter. In this case it was hard because it went from just sort of a Lyn and Ryo hanging out thing to "OH MY GOD" thing. So this song is meant to be sort of a tension builder... I hope you guys understand what I am getting at. Hehehe see you next time.