Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Time for Healing ❯ These Wounds ( Chapter 21 )

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 waited as Lyn grabbed the mail from the mailbox and checked through it. Watching him shake his head over the vast amount of junk mail that always seemed to fill the box. "Think of all the trees that have died just for this credit card offer." Lyn commented, which had Ryo laughing only to nearly jump out of his skin when the door flew open.

Cal stood there with a crying Annie in her arms and looking quite frightened while Bikky stood behind her looking just as bewildered. "Cal what's wrong?" Ryo picked up on their fear immediately and he started to get worried as well. "Calm down princess and tell me what's wrong." He reached for her arm to try and comfort her.

"Hurry Ryo! Dee's totally freaked out! He's upstairs with Drew and it sounds bad!" She stepped aside as Ryo raced into the house to be met with the sounds of objects hitting walls and strings of cuss words that would have had shocked a sailor.

"Dammit!" Ryo cursed when he heard Dee's voice. "Lyn! The girls! Send Bikky and Cal out with them!" Ryo shouted as he raced up the stairs and toward the noise coming from the study. From the sound of it, the room was not faring very well. Just as Ryo stepped in he saw Drew trying to grab Dee in order to prevent anymore damage and then Dee's fist connecting with Drew's face. "SHIT! DREW!" Ryo's heart was racing as anger pierced his dark eyes. "Dammit Dee! What the hell are you doing?"

Andrew stumbled backwards. All ready his cheekbone was starting to discolor and swell as blood started to pour from his nose. Hearing Ryo's voice Dee reeled on him. "YOU SON OF A BITCH! What the fuck happened to your witness? They let her go! That's what! All charges have been FUCKING dropped! Do you know what that fucking means Ryo? Do you have any fucking CLUE?" Dee raked an arm across one of the many bookshelves sending books and photo frames crashing to the floor.

"Dee I'm sorry but there was nothing I could do! The DA could have issued a subpoena to force Rentschler to testify even as a hostile witness but he chose not to! Had he done that then Rentschler wouldn't have left the state!" Ryo grabbed Drew and checked him. "Can you make it out of here?" Just as quickly as the anger flashed in Ryo's eyes, they softened long enough to speak with Drew.

Andrew nodded. "I'm fine but I'm not leaving you alone with him Ryo." Andrew's voice was quiet and slightly muffled from the hand over his face as he tried to stem the flow of blood from his nose. "He's dangerous."

"He's upset but I can handle him" Ryo sat Drew in a chair and started to walk towards Dee. "Dee I know that you're upset but that gives you no right to hurt Drew or destroy this room!" Ryo stopped, keeping some distance between himself and Dee. "Calm down and we'll go take a walk or something and talk about this."

"FUCK OFF RYO! You fucked up and now I'm paying for it! DAMN YOU!" Dee stumbled into the freestanding chessboard, grabbing it he winged it across the room, breaking a handful of shelves and shattering their contents. Adding to the chaos, Duke's previously faint background barking had grown to an intolerable din. The large Great Dane leapt into the room, dragging Lyn after him in his frantic urge to protect his masters and home. "SHUT THAT FUCKING DOG UP!" Dee shouted as his anger raged on violently.

"Dee you need to calm down..." Lyn trailed off as he caught sight of Andrew and the blood dripping from between his fingers. "An? My God what happened?"

"DEE! STOP THIS! This solves nothing! I'm sorry that things didn't go well today but now we'll collect enough evidence to make sure that Marlo goes to prison for the rest of her life. It's just going to take a little more time but we will get her!" Ryo ducked several items that flew past him though he did feel something graze against his cheek and then he felt the warmth of blood trickle from a gash that appeared. "SHIMATTA!" He cursed but still he ignored it and concentrated on Dee. "Please Dee I love you and this is hurting me just as much... Please calm down koibito." He had to try and calm Dee down before anyone else got hurt.

"I am not your GODDAMNED koibito! I never was! FUCK OFF RYO AND LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!" A fairly weighty legal tomb sailed through the air narrowly missing Lyn. Duke went frantic snarling like a dog possessed and Lyn was barely able to restrain him. "Why don't all of you just FUCK OFF! Why the hell wasn't it one of you? Why? How can this possibly fucking hurt you as much as it hurts me?" Dee was advancing on Ryo, tripping over the clutter and destruction in his path. "You don't know jack shit Ryo! You're a FUCK UP detective and an even worse... A FUCK UP lover. You can go to hell you son of a bitch!"

"That's enough Dee! Just stop it before you say something that you'll regret later!" Ryo was seeing red now and his fists clenched into tight balls though his heart was shattering over the sting of Dee's words. Ryo refused to back up though. He was standing his ground regardless of the consequences.

"What I really regret is wanting you and then actually having you!" Dee stopped within a foot of Ryo, growling in his face. "You were the lousiest lay I have ever had. LOUSY! Ryo! You were the fucking lousiest and most pitiful lover I have even been stupid enough to sleep with!"

That hurt... God how that hurt. Ryo stood there for a moment as the statement sunk in and anger swelled. "YOU FUCKING BASTARD! Why are you doing this? What have I done to you? No matter what you have said or done to me I have continued to love you! I have never done anything but love you!" Ryo found that his composure was slipping and he knew that this whole fiasco had to end soon. Reaching out, Ryo grabbed Dee by the shoulders in a final attempt at calming the man before him. "I know that you don't mean what you said. You're hurt and angry. You said that to get back at me. Well it won't work! I love you Dee! Get that? I love you! We'll get through this just like we've gotten through all the other obstacles!" Ryo softened his voice, hoping to get through to him.

Dee growled with rage. "Well I don't love you! You were just a fucking lay! A lousy fucking lay at that!" Ryo didn't even realize what had happened until he was flat on his back. Pain was searing through his back where he had crashed through a coffee table and on his face where Dee had backhanded him full force. "SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU PANSY ASS LIMP WRIST OF A MAN! You're a fucking wimp! A looser! A good for nothing piece of shit! I was a fucking fool to ever want you!" Dee roared as he straddled Ryo, rearing back to take another shot at him. Andrew was on his feet in a moment. Lyn still restrained Duke only out of honest fear that the dog might actually rip out Dee's throat.

"You FUCKING BASTARD!" Lyn's voice carried over the melee. "Did that make you feel like a big man? Did that get you hard Dee? Huh? You goddamn pussy prick! You wanna fight then hit someone who's expecting it!"

Ryo lay there, shocked with the wind knocked out of him. Dark eyes stared into emerald green ones that couldn't see back as a fist came down again. This time Ryo saw it coming and managed to move his head slightly, taking just a graze of a punch to his all ready wounded cheek. "Dee I have had it! You hear me? This has gone far enough!" In one swift motion Ryo managed to flip Dee off of him, crying out as pain shot through his back. The cut on his cheek from earlier was now bigger and blood seeped from the gash. Ryo got Dee into a prone position on his stomach with his right arm bent behind his back while Ryo placed his knee between Dee's legs.

Leaning down, Ryo hissed, the anger oozing with each syllable. "If you EVER hit me again I swear on my parent's graves that I will press charges! Do I make myself clear?" Ryo watched as his blood dripped onto Dee's check. "I am NOT your fucking whore! I am NOT yours and I am NOT Berkley's either! Both of you may find that pissing me off comes with a heavy price. I won't be pushed around by either one of you anymore! If anyone is a lousy piece of shit, it's you Dee Latener!" Dee struggled in vain to get free, his anger coming out in a series of curses that would have a left a Scottish Pirate blushing.

Ryo felt a hand on his shoulder and heard the low rumble of Duke's intense growl in his ear. "Come on Ryo let's get the hell out of Dodge." Lyn's gently helped him to his feet. "One move Dee and I won't hold Duke back."

When Ryo tried to stand he cried out as his back went into a spasm, sending him down to one knee. "Shit! My back!" He looked at Dee who remained motionless on the floor. The things he had said about him being a lousy lover began hitting him hard. His heart started shattering as he turned his head away only to come face to face with Lyn and he quickly fought to keep his tears from falling.

Lyn's voice was gentle as his arm came around Ryo's waist, mostly lifting him and half carrying him out of the room while dragging the half-mad Dane after him. He had conferred with Andrew through a series of glances and Andrew wanted Dee left to him. Careful of Ryo's back Lyn helped him to the master bedroom and over to the large four poster bed. "Lay down however you're the most comfortable."

Ryo found that lying flat was the only thing that felt even remotely comfortable but he opted to sit upright and as straight as he could. His hand gently touched his cheek only to come away bloodied. "I guess that I screwed that up." Ryo commented and then winced as another spasm hit his back. "The things he... He said... I'm not sure if... If he meant it... Or not. Maybe he did... After all he's... Avoided me... Ever since that night..." Ryo closed his eyes, trying to stave off the tears.

Lyn slid some pillows behind Ryo to help prop him up. "Don't worry about that right now Ryo." Lyn gave him a very tender look, brushing Ryo's hair from his face in a soothing fatherly manner. "Let's just see if you need to go to a doctor or not first..."

"I'll pay for the damages that Dee has done. That's the least that I can do." Ryo sighed as Lyn checked the gash on his cheek. "I'm just sorry that you and Drew have had to endure this. I don't know what's gotten into him and I don't know how to help him anymore." Ryo had been exhausted prior to this and now was even more so.

"Ryo this isn't your responsibility. I'm sorry that I didn't see this coming and stop him." Lyn dabbed at the gash on Ryo's cheek with a damp cloth. Duke, now calm, hopped up on the bed next to Ryo whining softly and licking his hand. "How's your back feel? What kind of pain is it?"

"It feels like all the muscles have gone into one big spasm. It hurts like hell Lyn. There's pain shooting down the length of my spine and a slight numbness down my leg." Ryo reached out gently to pet the dog. "What did you mean by 'not seeing this coming'?" Ryo gasped as more pain hit.

Lyn shrugged, he wasn't about to mention at the moment that his words that day in the hospital weren't just idle conjecture. "I mean seeing that he was about to hit you. I was just afraid that if I let go of Duke that he might actually maul Dee. He thinks you're family now." Lyn smiled slightly. "This cut is pretty boarder line for needing stitches and some muscle relaxants might help with your back. Just rest a bit and then we'll get you to the doctor. Okay?"

"O-Okay." Ryo looked away feeling embarrassed that he was lying in Drew and Lyn's bed. "Are the kids okay? The girls? How much of it did Annie hear? God Lyn I'm so sorry." Ryo kept his eyes trained on Duke, ashamed of the scene that had only moments ago broken out.

"Annie's not even one. She only heard loud voices. I will talk to Cal and Bikky when they get back." Lyn shook his head, biting back his anger as it threatened to flare. "Ryo please don't be embarrassed. None of this was your fault."

"I feel like it is Lyn. If I had just done my job. If I had only..." Ryo bowed his head. "God I screwed up and I failed Dee."

"You did your job. And even if by some impossible twist of fate you hadn't, Dee still had no right to touch you in anger. That's just wrong no matter how you slice it. You are a damn good cop Ryo. Don't for a second let him make you think otherwise." Lyn explained. "Can you sit up and take off your shirt? I just want to check for any bruising."

Ryo nodded, blushing slightly as he undid his tie and then his shirt, sliding it down off his shoulders and shivering as the cool air hit his skin. As he sat forward another spasm hit, causing him to bit his lip. "Dee's a good man Lyn. I know it. He's hurting though. And yes he needs help probably more then I can give him now."

"No doubt about that last bit." Lyn looked over Ryo's back for anything out of place. "But good men don't hit their partners." Gently he ran his fingers over Ryo's spine with only the faintest touch. "Does that hurt?"

"Yes right there." Ryo winced as Lyn hit a tender spot. "It feels like the pain is all radiating from there and then again down over my spine." Lyn's fingers continued their gentle exploration of Ryo's spine. "Y-You sound like you have experience with this though and I'm sure it wasn't with Drew. An ex-lover? You don't have to answer if I'm being too personal..." Ryo trailed off, biting his lip and grunting as Lyn's fingers found another sore spot.

"Aye it was an ex-lover." Lyn accent got thicker as he spoke. "He put me in the hospital for a couple of weeks. The Celtic knot on my back hides the scar." Lyn swallowed, looking at a space somewhere about five feet to the right of Ryo.

"I'm sorry Lyn. I see stuff like that in my job all the time. Mostly just the end result though. No one should have to go through that. No one." Without thinking Ryo reached out and took Lyn's hand. "You've been a really great friend through all of this Lyn. Thank you so much. It means the world to me."

Lyn smiled softly. "Hey don't worry about it. You Bikky, and god help me, Dee, are family now."

Ryo snickered. "Yeah we're the relatives from hell!"

"No Andrew's Aunt and Uncle are the relatives from hell. They've sued for custody of the girls twice now. You guys are just insane but hey Andrew and I needed a little excitement in our lives. Just let me know when you're ready to try those stairs. I would offer to carry you but I don't think that would help matters."

Ryo snickered. "Besides what would the neighbors think ne?"

Lyn snickered with him. "They would think 'hey at last they have clothes on this time'. " Lyn helped Ryo carefully get to his feet, one hand around his waist the other gripping his forearm trying to take as much of his weight as possible. "Slow and steady now." Lyn encouraged as they made their way into hall.

Ryo paused. He could see Dee through the open study door. There was complete and total misery in his face and it cut him deeply. "Dee..." He sighed and took a misstep, crying out softly as his whole back seized up.

"Careful Ryo. Come on." Lyn urged guiding him more insistently to the stairs. "This is 'worry about Ryo' time not 'worry about Dee' time. We need to get you to the doctor. Lyn managed to get Ryo down the stairs and out to the car. "Front or back?"

"Front I think. It will be easier to get in and out of."

"Ryo!" Bikky and Cal came running up with the girls in their arms. "Ryo what happened? What's wrong?" Lyn said nothing. Looking to Ryo he would let him field this. Unsure about how much he wanted Bikky to know.

"I hurt my back trying to get Dee to calm down." Ryo said trying to reassure the kids with a weak smile. He decided that there was no need to tell them everything especially with the thin ice that Dee all ready walked on when it came to Bikky.

"O-Okay. Just be careful and please be okay." Bikky responded nervously, watching Ryo grimace as he sat down.

"We'll call as soon as we know anything." Lyn said offering a weak smile. He bent and kissed each of the girls on the head, and Cal on the cheek, giving Bikky a quick one-armed hug. "We'll call." Lyn slipped in to the driver's seat and turned the key in the ignition. Ryo tried to get comfortable in the seat knowing he was in for a long and painful ride with New York City traffic the way it was.

"You know Bikky is going to find out the truth Ryo. And if he asks me I won't lie to him." Lyn remarked as he drove on. "When you love someone you don't hit them, no matter how angry you get. He was abusive and that's all I can say."

"Dee's not like that Lyn, honestly. He's not abusive. The Dee you and Drew have seen is not the true man." Ryo lowered his head. "I just wish that you two could have known him before all of this happened. He's got a good heart Lyn. I love him and... It's killing me to see this happening to him." Ryo brought his one hand up to cover his eyes, trying to hold back any tears.

"Understood Ryo but you must know that I can never condone that sort of behavior. What Dee did was wrong, no matter how you justify it." Lyn tried not to let his anger show but too many memories of his own came flooding back.

Just as Ryo opened his mouth to speak again, he threw his head back and cried out... "OH Jesus!" The pain shooting through his back was incredible and all he could do was ride it out.

Lyn gritted his teeth, frustrated with traffic. He reached across the seat and took Ryo's hand to give the man something to hold onto. "We're almost there Ryo. Slow deep breaths. In through your nose out through your mouth." Lyn coached trying to keep his voice calm and soothing.

Ryo tightened his grip on Lyn's hand as the pain shot through his back. "Dammit! This is the worse pain I think I have ever experienced!" Ryo managed to spat out, sighing almost pitifully when he saw that they were just a few blocks from the hospital. "All I did was fall onto that table... God!" Ryo shut his eyes, trying to breathe evenly.

Lyn pulled up to the emergency ward stopping the car in one of the bays. "I'll be right back. You gonna be okay for a minute?" Ryo nodded and watched as Lyn disappeared into the building. Alone he finally allowed himself to feel the hurt again caused to his heart by Dee. Shutting his eyes, he waited, pain searing through his back and through his heart, unsure as to which was the worse of the two.

Andr ew had lowered himself to the floor, one of Lyn's handkerchiefs, once a crisp pristine white now stained a brilliant red as he tried to stop the bleeding on his cheek. He sat across from Dee in the demilitarized zone that had once been their study. Many pieces of furniture he had hewn with his own hands were now destroyed. Many pieces of pottery made by Lyn's hands now just broken shards on the floor. Andrew just remained silent. Fearing that if he spoke first it would be a long stream of very impious things that Andrew's Buddhist tongue refused to utter.

"So are you going to just sit there and stare at me or slug me?" Dee asked after awhile, sighing, as any remaining anger seemed to flitter out of his body, leaving him exhausted, weary and sore. "Hello? Anyone there? I mean I hear you breathing and unless you're practicing to make obscene phone calls..." Dee cocked his head to one side and waited.

"Dee I'm a Buddhist and anything I could find to say to you right now would violate more then a few basic tenements of my faith. I'm sorely tempted to say them anyway." Drew finally spoke keeping his voice as monotone as he could.

"Then say them dammit! Anything is better then getting the silent treatment." Dee was still shaking. After Ryo had left the room he had touched upon whatever it was that had dripped onto his cheek and found it to be blood. Ryo's blood, he was certain of that and that had hurt his heart more then he could have ever imagined. When Ryo cried out in pain, it had all but broken his soul. What had he done? How much more could Ryo possibly take before he'd just give up on him altogether? How on earth could he fix things now? "Please Drew. Talk to me. I need to talk."

"I can cope with being struck. Guy's hit each other all the time. Ryo is your partner and lover and you demeaned him in damn near everyway possible. You just messed up the best thing that you had going for you." That part was all perfectly civil. Andrew swallowed and held his tongue again. Anything more would just be a verbal whipping.

"I know. God I know." Tears slipped out of Dee's unseeing eyes and down over his cheeks. "Drew I didn't mean to hurt him. I swear to god!" He paused, trying to keep it together. "How badly was he hurt? Could you tell?" Dee asked, forgetting all about the verbal pain he had inflicted on Ryo, at least for the moment. It was that cry of pain that Ryo had made that was haunting Dee's thoughts. It was a cry he never heard from his lover and that scared him.

"I'm not sure. He had a gash on his cheek and his back hurt pretty badly that's all I know. He was leaning on Lyn pretty heavily." Andrew's voice was completely stoic no good humor or empathy in it at all.

"Damn! When Ryo was in the Academy he injured his back. He said it had him spending 2 weeks in bed, flat on his back and unable to even get up and go to the bathroom. Jesus!" Dee hung his head. "Drew I'll pay for the damages. And if you want I'll leave as well." Dee didn't want to fight anymore. All he did want to do was cry. "Where's Ryo now?"

"Lyn took him to the hospital. And you can't pay for the damages. Most of it was handmade." Andrew wasn't sure if he planned on asking Dee to leave or not yet.

"I see. I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say." Dee went to stand up. "I'll make arrangements and be out of here within the hour." Dee gave up fighting the pain and just allowed it free roam of his heart. "I hope that you're okay and Ryo too. He's always kept himself in good shape, despite the prior back injury. He should bounce back in no time." Dee went to move and almost tripped. Without his cane he was lost.

Andrew sighed heavily and got up. "Come on. You don't have a chance in hell of maneuvering this, even with your cane." He moved over to Dee and took his elbow with his other hand resting on his back as he guided him through the debris. "Besides I'm not letting you get off that easy you can help me build the new stuff and we'll call it even."

That did it. That simple act of kindness was all it took and Dee found himself standing there as the tears fell. He was beyond feeling embarrassed over his show of emotions anymore. "I hurt him. What I said to him... Drew... I hurt him so badly."

"Yeah you really did." Andrew was a firm believer in the idea that friends did not bullshit each other. "You cut him pretty deep with your words. Even if he does forgive you trust isn't easily won back." Despite Dee's tears Andrew guided him out of the study worried that if Dee totally lost it and collapsed on him, he would cut himself on glass or pottery shards. With comforting hands he led Dee into the open airy room that had been serving as his bedroom.

"I didn't mean any of it Drew. I-I was so angry that I lashed out. To tell him that... The things I said! How could I do that? How on earth could I be so heartless and tell him that he was a lousy lay? I don't deserve him. I don't!" Dee collapsed to his knees in tears. Just then the phone began ringing and Bikky's voice shouting up the stairs.

"Drew! It's for you. It's Lyn I think." Dee's head shot up quickly in that moment holding his breath and hoping for good news.

Andrew nudged Dee onto his air mattress not wanting to add damaged knees to the growing list of things to be fixed. He picked up the phone. "Hey baby. Is everything okay?"

"Not really. Ryo has a slipped disk." Lyn's voice was weary laden. "He'll have to spend two weeks flat on his back. Not getting up for anything. Tell Dee thanks! The guy gets knocked down by his lover physically and verbally and now he can add this to his loss of dignity."

"Shit. All right just hang in there. Ryo too and give him my best." Andrew rubbed the bridge of his nose as he spoke into the phone. "....Yup love you too.... Okay.... Bye." Andrew turned to watch Dee. Again biting back his own anger and his tongue.

"How bad is it?" Dee cringed with real fear now. He could sense the tension returning in Drew and knew that it wasn't good. "Drew please tell me! How bad is he hurt?" When he got no answer again he started to panic. "Dammit Drew what's going on? What's happened with Ryo?" Dee was really beginning to get worried the longer Drew stayed silent.

"Slipped a disk in his back... He's gonna be laid out for two weeks." Drew finally said.

"NO! Oh SHIT! Ryo told me how he hated that the last time it had happened. He wasn't allowed to move for any reason. Drew... This will devastate him and the worst thing is that I did this to him! Son of a bitch! I'm the reason that he's hurt." Dee sat on the air mattress and cried softly.

Andrew carefully lowered himself to the mattress next to Dee, putting an arm around his shoulders. "Yeah you are. But sitting here crying over it all won't make it better. What are you going to do to show Ryo that you do love him? And that you are more or less the sorriest you've ever been in your life?"

"I don't know Drew. I'm not even sure that he'll want me around anymore. Between what I said to him and now this? Do you know what this will do to his dignity, which I all ready shot to hell with what I said to him?" Dee wiped at his eyes.

"I know how it feels to have a nurse come in and shove a bedpan under your ass and check catheter tubing! Not exactly the most gracious of things. With Ryo being on the shy side all ready... Dammit! I fucked up big time!" Dee turned his head towards Drew. "What can I possibly do to make up for all of that? There isn't anything! I failed him! All he's ever done is love me and look what I do to him? My GOD!"

"Well you can't make it up. It's not possible but trying at least in some way, shows him that you still care. I won't fool you. He's damn likely to tell you to fuck off. I sure as hell would. But I would think that if you truly loved him you would be willing to try anything. Anything to make him see you in a different light." Andrew glanced over to Duke whom had followed them to Dee's room, tense lips pulled back from his teeth, ready to snarl the moment he thought that Dee stepped out of line.

"Even the dog hates me now." Dee sniffled. "I want to go see him Drew please? I need to know if I still have a place in his heart or not." Dee swallowed hard, sadness taking over his very soul.

"Duke isn't just a bundle of roly-poly puppy fun. He's a well-trained defense dog. And no I won't take you to see him until I have his permission. It would be unfair to him." Andrew gave his blond ponytail a tug. "Relax Duke. It's okay now." Andrew assured the tense dog with his arm still around Dee.

Dee didn't have a response. It hurt not being with the one he loved. "Bikky... He should be told. He'll probably hate me as well. Not that I can blame him. I've screwed up at every turn Drew. That night when Ryo and I made love was like a dream come true for me." Dee hiccupped. "Do you know that he spent the whole time that we made love with his eyes closed just so that he could experience it the same way that I was experiencing it? I've never known anyone with so much compassion. That simple act touched me in a way that I could never describe even if I had to. He did that for me because he loved me that much and how do I repay him? I throw his love back in his face as though it meant nothing to me!"

Well compassion certainly wasn't Dee's strong suit. "I don't know Dee. Listen; chill out for a while. Maybe take a shower or something and compose yourself. I will go and talk to Bikky and then call Lyn back." Andrew gave Dee's shoulders a squeeze and got up. Limping to the door, he paused with one foot in the hallway. "You're going to have to work for this Dee. And work very hard. There won't be room for self-pity, none at all."

"I know... Thanks Drew. You don't have to be nice to me and yet you do. Thank you." Dee sighed and got up. His body still trembled over the whole thing. He pictured Ryo in his mind with pain flashing on his angelic face and it tore him apart. Walking into the bathroom, Dee started the water and stripped. Maybe a shower would be a good thing. Maybe it was time to wash away the old demons and start over. He just hoped that Ryo would want to. "I love you so much Ryo. Please come back to me. My life is nothing without you." He spoke out loud as he stepped under the heated stream of water, wanting it to wash away his pain and the shame he brought upon himself.

Andrew limped down the stairs to find the kids. Hoping that they hadn't heard too much. This was going to be tough enough to explain. There were no excuses to make for Dee... none. Dee was going to have to work very hard to have even a chance of winning Ryo and Bikky's heart back. "Bik? Cal?"

"Drew any word on Ryo?" Bright blue eyes looked up at him from his seat on the couch. "He was in a lot of pain... Is he going to be okay?" Cal sat beside Bikky with her head down, it was obvious that she had been crying and that Bikky had been trying to console her.

Andrew shook his head at the whole mess as he sat down next to Cal. "Hey little lady. I know that I'm not as hot as Lyn but do you want a hug from me anyway?"

Cal nodded her head and pressed her face into his chest, her small sobs shaking her body. "Why is this happening to them? I-I thought that they loved each other?" Her voice was muffled, yet her meaning rang loud and clear. "The way Ryo looked... So much pain. He hurt not just on his body but his heart too... You could see it in his eyes."

One of Drew's arms went around Cal while the other reached past her and around Bikky's shoulders. "I don't know. There is no excuse for what went on. I'm not sure even what to tell you. It sounds like Ryo will be fine but he slipped a disk which means that he's going to have to stay in the hospital on bed rest for a couple weeks." Andrew sighed, already trying to think of what was the best thing to do with Bikky.

"I knew it! That jerk hurt him!" Bikky stood up, anger now replacing his worry. "I told ya Cal! Dee did that to him! Well I'm not going to let him get away with it! Enough is enough!" He looked at Drew. "I bet that he's up there feeling sorry for himself and not even giving a damn about Ryo and how he feels!"

"That's not true Bikky. Dee feels absolutely sick over what happened. He is very worried about Ryo. It's not an excuse for what he did. But he realizes just how wrong it was." Andrew felt like he was going through a field of mines blindfolded. He had no idea what Ryo would choose about Dee after this but he didn't want to accidentally further hinder things between Bikky and Dee if Ryo chose to keep Dee around.

"Well he'd better be! Man if Ryo forgives him this time he oughta have his head examined!" Bikky sat back down in a huff. "The worst thing is... Dee got what he wanted all along! He took Ryo's virginity and now look what he does? Man!"

"H-He did? You didn't tell me that?" Cal sat up and looked at Bikky. "Then if they do split up... Oh man it's going to break Ryo to pieces. He's going to feel used by Dee!" She sighed and rested her head on Drew's shoulder. "Love is too darn complicated!"

He couldn't help but smile at that. "You have no idea. Lyn and I had our own set of problems. Listen Bik would you be comfortable staying here with Dee and us while Ryo is in the hospital or would you rather stay at your apartment with Lyn or I spending the night there?"

"I guess that I could stay here. I can help with things then. I'm done with day camp for a few weeks until that weekend basketball camp. I can't wait either. Some NBA players are going to be there. Don't know who yet but it oughta be awesome!" Bikky seemed to cheer up as he spoke about his favorite sport.

Andrew raised his eyebrows impressed. "Wow! Really? That's super cool." He gave Cal's shoulders a squeeze. "You okay pretty lady?"

"I guess so. Will we be able to visit Ryo?" She looked up into his eyes, her own still red and puffy from crying. "He's been so good to me. Especially after my dad died and all. I live with my Aunt but I spend so much time at Ryo's that I feel like I live there." Trying her best to smile she sighed softly.

Andrew nodded. "It's up to Ryo of course but I'm sure that he will be very happy to see you and you are as welcome here as you are at Ryo's." He offered a smile to the tearful girl. "It will be okay you guys. I don't know how to tell you to treat Dee though but please remember how I feel about being respectful."

"Thanks Drew." Cal threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. "Oh and you're just as hot as Lyn so you know." She giggled softly.

"Oh jeez! Now that's 4 guys that I have to compete with! Dee Ryo, Lyn and now Drew!" Bikky rolled his eyes. "I'll try and be nice to Dee but I sure as hell won't go out of my way to do it. He wasn't respectful to Ryo now was he?" Bikky looked at Drew, defiant as ever.

"No he wasn't. Nor was he very respectful to Lyn or myself." Andrew unconsciously touched the bruise forming on the right side of his face. "But you let me worry about Dee. Okay sport?"

"Fine. That frees me up." Bikky smirked.

"Oh Drew! You're hurt!" Cal looked at the bruise and then lightly kissed it. "Can I get you something for it? Ice maybe? It looks swollen and you're limping more then normal so you tell me what you need and I'll get it. Bikky can help too." Cal looked at her friend who shot his head up and glared at her.

"You're just trying to find an excuse to cling to him! He's married Cal!" Bikky stuck his tongue out at Cal.

"I'm fine but thank you Cal." He tipped a wink to Bikky. "How are the girls? They weren't too much for you to handle were they? Kei can be a little monster sometimes."

"Hey you're talking to the guy who wrote the book on being a monster! She was no problem." Bikky laughed. "I know all the tricks and she didn't away with any of them."

Drew smiled and chuckled. "Good. Well then let me try giving Lyn a call so that we can get some more detailed information and then we will get you set up with a room. Sound good sport?"

"Gotcha!" Bikky grinned. "Uh I just hope that I do not have to share with Dee... He's a snoring gas releasing bed hog!"

"BIKKY! That wasn't nice!" Cal turned to him, shocked by his comment. Both kids stared at each other for a moment longer before reducing themselves to fits of laughter.

Lyn sprawled over the small hospital chair, gangly limbs sticking out at odd angles. Bikky and Cal were supposed to stop by some time and Ryo was having another set of x-rays done. It had been a long two days already. Ryo had thus far refused Dee's phone calls and Andrew and Lyn were up to their eyeballs with the addition of Bikky and for the most part Cal to their household, not to mention the beginnings of the reconstruction of the study. Lyn had been spending most of his time at the hospital, avoiding Dee like a mosquito to a citronella candle, speaking to him only when he answered the phone in Ryo's room.

It was Bikky who walked through the door first, holding it open for Cal and the surprise of the day... Dee. "Hey where is he?" Bikky remarked feeling slightly concerned and then noticed Lyn. "W-Where's Ryo?"

Lyn sat up so fast that he almost fell out of the confining chair. "Holy Mary Mother of God! Jeez Bikky! What are you? The Stealth Ninja or something." He smiled to the boy with his hand held over his racing heart. His eyes narrowed when he saw Dee. "I thought Ryo made it pretty clear that he didn't want to see you."

"Well then get the hospital to change their rules! They wouldn't let these two onto this floor without an adult accompanying them and Drew is down in the lobby with the girls. They are too young to be on this floor. That left me. I have to stay with the little rug rats and escort them down again." Dee explained. "I won't say anything to Ryo. In fact I'll stand over in the corner if I can find it and let you guys have your visit." Just then the door opened again and a nurse and orderly wheeled Ryo in on a gurney. His face was pale and it was obvious that he was in a great deal of pain.

Lyn shot Dee another glare that he couldn't see. He had been ready to tell him that there was no reason that he couldn't head on out and leave the kids with him and that he would bring them down later but Ryo's obvious pain drew his attention. "Hey Ryo." Lyn greeted softly. "Hanging in there?"

"Just as long as they don't jolt me again." Ryo glared at the orderly.

"Sorry about that Mr. MacLean." The orderly frowned. "Okay just like before. You let us do the work and you just relax. On the count of three. One... Two... Three." With the nurse on one side of the bed and the orderly on the other they grabbed the sheet under Ryo and pulled.

"KUSO!" Ryo cried out as he landed on the bed a little harder then they had wanted. Tears were automatically streaking down the side of his face. "Dammit!"

"Mr. MacLean try and calm down. I'll go get your pain meds." The nurse said quickly and rushed out along with the orderly leaving Ryo there shaking and hurting.

Lyn went to Ryo's side taking his hand gently, remaining silent for the moment as Bikky came running over and took Ryo's other hand. "Ryo! Are you going to be okay!"

"H-Hai! I will. Gomen for the outburst. That jolt hurt a little." Ryo tried to smile but the pain searing through his back caused him to bite down on his bottom lip. "That really smarts." He remarked. That's when he saw Dee and his grip on Lyn's hand tightened.

Lyn held Ryo's hand in both of his as he whispered audible only to Ryo and Bikky. "I told him you did not want to see him but he gave me some song and dance number about hospital police that could easily have been sidestepped." Lyn was frowning but not about to make a scene with Ryo in so much pain. "If you want him to leave I will escort him out."

"No that's okay. He's here and I have to face this sooner or later anyways." Ryo sighed. When he glanced over at Dee he couldn't help but tremble, the memories still so fresh in his mind. "How are you Dee?" Ryo's voice was soft but the pain he was in was quite apparent.

"I'm... I'm surviving. God Ryo I'm so sorry. I know that doesn't make it any better..." Dee kept a firm hold on his cane forcing himself to stand in place a ways off though he desperately wanted to go to Ryo's side. Andrew had told him to bide his time and he wasn't about to press his luck by pushing too soon.

"No it doesn't Dee. I have to spend the next two weeks flat on my back and have my dignity stripped from me. As though it wasn't all ready considering the things you had said. You were unconscious when they put a frigging catheter in you... I wasn't!" Ryo started shaking and Bikky reached down to lay a hand on his shoulder. "Unlike you though I plan to do everything that I can to get out of here as soon as I can." Ryo shut his eyes, fighting back his anger.

Lyn gave Ryo's hand a gentle squeeze while eyes still narrowed in Dee's direction. He wasn't about to cut the man any slack. "God Ryo. I'm sorry. I'll go." Gritting his teeth, Dee tried to keep his composure, knowing his eyes were glassy with tears as his cane tapped gently over the hard floor towards the door.

Ryo saw the movement, unsure if Dee was actually leaving or advancing and he flinched. "Sure Dee. Run like the coward that you are! At least I never abandoned you!" Ryo spat through clenched teeth, the pain making him feel as though he was going to pass out.

Dee stopped. "What do you want from me Ryo?" His voice was ragged with emotion. "I don't know if I should go or stay. God I can hear how much pain you're in and I know I caused it and I want to help but I can't blame you for not wanting me around either. Just tell me what to do and I will do it. Anything Ryo. I love you. I know that doesn't mean much right now... I'll do anything you ask." Dee wiped away tears that were trailing down his cheek, hating to be so emotional with the brat in the room but there it was.

"Stop burying your head in the sand and pretending that problems don't exist or that someone else will fix them for you! I know that you love me but when you say and do the things you did, it causes me to lose my trust in you." Ryo closed his eyes, tears slipping down the sides of his face, wetting his hair. He was tensing up so hard that it was causing his back to go into a spasm, making him bite his lip hard enough to draw blood.

Ryo could hear Dee move closer as Lyn's hand slipped from his and a moment later it was Dee leaning over him. Dee's hand fumbled for his and clasped it gently. "I don't want to run baby. I've been a stupid selfish ass... Give me a chance to fix it."

Ryo flinched again. The memory of Dee striking him was a little too fresh in his memory but he tried not to let it get to him. "Then stop being such an ass! Stop playing with my heart! Stop playing with my love! Accept what happens and try to deal with it rather then lashing out at those who love you!" Ryo stared at Dee, angry and hurt over what had occurred yet understanding the pain that lay behind sightless emerald pools. "We all get angry Dee. But you and I need to find more positive outlets for that anger! If we don't... Well it's something I'd rather not think of."

Lyn, silent and foreboding was a clear presence even to the sightless Dee. Ready to twist his arm off if he so much as breathed wrong. Slowly Dee relinquished Ryo's hand. "Yeah, I guess I have screwed up and played with your heart and for that I am truly sorry." Dee took a few steps back and it broke his heart. "I'm sorry Ryo. You need your rest and all I'm doing is upsetting you even further."

"I do love you Dee it's just that right now I don't know what I want to do about us. That doesn't mean that you can't visit me okay? After all it gets kind of boring laying here and staring at the ceiling all day." Part of Ryo wanted to just forgive Dee outright while the other knew that this wasn't something you just forgive and forget that easily. "They won't even let me have a TV in here, fearing that I'll move around too much. Please don't hate me Dee... But I just need some time?" Ryo looked at his lover and sighed as he grabbed his hand again.

"Hate you? Never Ryo... Never. You and I need to talk but you just rest for now. Take all the time you need. I won't force you into anything you are not ready for. I am sorry and I know it's going to take sometime for you to trust me again. Please give me that chance? Please?" Dee raised Ryo's hand to his lips and kissed it.

"I know that you're sorry Dee and yes... I will give you another chance. I have to... I love you." Ryo blinked back the tears. "You need time too Dee. And yes we do need to talk."

"Thank you Ryo. Now get some rest and I'll see you again soon." Dee let Ryo's hand go again, stepping back as he looked over at Bikky. "Come on Bikky, let's go grab some grub in the cafeteria and let Ryo rest a while."

"Okay." Bikky leaned down and kissed Ryo's cheek. "Get well soon. I miss you."

"I miss you too Bikky." Ryo's eyes misted up.

Bikky walked up to Lyn and sighed, whispering softly. "Make sure that he really is okay. Okay?" Bikky gave Lyn a hug before looking over at Dee. "Come on tuna breath. Let's see if I can get you lost."

Lyn hugged Bikky back with a small smile at the childish insult to Dee before returning to Ryo's side and taking his hand once again. "You okay Ryo?"

"I don't know. I don't know if I can trust him anymore Lyn." Ryo shut his eyes tightly. "I keep seeing his hand coming down... I keep hearing those things he said to me... I feel so ashamed and humiliated."

Lyn sat carefully on the edge of the bed so as not to disturb the mattress any. "You have every right to feel that way about not trusting him. What he said to you... Well I'm impressed that you aren't hiring someone to take a crowbar to his... Well you get the idea." He gave Ryo's hand a comforting squeeze. "Hell there have been times when I've even shied away from Andrew if he's come at me from the wrong direction. It's only natural to feel the way you do after everything that Dee has said to you. You are not at fault though. There's no reason for you to be ashamed."

"So you never really got over it?" Ryo looked up at him, sweating and trying to block out the pain. "I've never been afraid of Dee before... I know that what he did to me wasn't something you do to a person and I know that he's sorry. Yet I feel this anger inside of me every time I look at him. I can't forget the things he said. That hurts more then the physical part."

Lyn shrugged. He hated talking about this but he grinned and bore it. "I guess I never really have... But my... Ah situation was a wee bit different. Like I said. You have every right in the world to be angry with him. I guess getting over that anger is called forgiveness. I wouldn't really know." Lyn's voice was quiet and unyielding and a little toneless despite a currently thick accent.

"Sometimes talking about what hurts makes the pain easier to bear. If you ever want to talk Lyn I'm here for you. I don't mind bearing some of that pain for you." Ryo gave him a crooked smile. He could sense the sadness Lyn gave off and it saddened him as well. "You and Drew have been pillars of strength for me Dee and Bikky and I want to give some of that strength back if I can. I want to be there for you, just as you have been there for me and my family."

"Believe me you don't want to hear my sordid secrets and skeletons. It would shock and appall you." Lyn forced a small laugh. "Not exactly good bedtime stories you know?"

"You'd be surprised at what I have seen and heard in my line of work." Ryo retorted. "Just a few years ago we had a case in which this man was cutting off young girl's hands as souvenirs of sorts. He had even kidnapped Cal. Thank God we got to her in time." Ryo spoke with sadness in his voice over that memory. "Then there was the case... Uh... Never mind. That one is even too grisly for me to recall." Ryo shook his head. "What I'm trying to say is, don't think that I'm going to turn my back on you because of your past. That's not how I treat my friends. Like I said, I'm here if you ever feel the need to talk." Ryo gave Lyn's hand a squeeze and smiled at him.

Lyn shuddered. "All right never mind. Maybe you won't be shocked. Man people are sick...." Another shudder at the mental images and phantom pains that thought had created. "Thanks Ryo. I will keep that in mind. It would probably be good for me to talk about all that I guess. In my village we had a phrase... You know like when someone told you something but you really didn't know what to say because you really felt their pain? 'May you heal in the sharing'..." Lyn trailed off loosing himself in thought.

"That's sweet actually. I can remember my mom always saying that Talking eases the pain and releases the heart. Whenever I was upset she would make hot chocolate and we'd sit and talk for a long time. My mother always had this soft and calming voice. She'd sit there and sometimes just hold me and let me cry it out. Before I'd know it, I was feeling good again." Ryo sighed sadly. "I miss that most of all."

"I can empathize. I was an only kid too and am really close to both of my mothers. Of course mine are still alive but the only contact I've had with them for years is through letters." Lyn smiled gently. "But your mother's tradition is one you can pass on to Bikky. He's really just begging for a confidant..."

"Well don't waste any time Lyn. You should make plans to go visit them. As hard as it is to say... You never know when fate is going to tear those you love away from you. I realized that when I came home one day and was told that there had been an accident and that my parents were at the hospital. They were both dead. Shot literally over and over again. I could barely recognize my dad when I was asked to ID the bodies." Ryo shivered over the memories. "Your moms deserve to see those precious little girls. I wish that I could have shown Bikky off to my folks but I never can." Looking away for a minute, Ryo sighed, gritting his teeth as the pain hit again.

Lyn's grip firmed in response to Ryo's pain and he kept talking. A tactic he had quickly picked up to distract Ryo. "Well... It's not like we can just hop on a plane and fly to Ireland..." He paused a moment, a wistful smile forming on his face. "You fly into Dublin then take a bus a little West of Cork County and then another bus for another two hours west. Then from there you try and thumb rides. The last 5 miles or so you generally have to hike. It's really rural. My mothers' house doesn't even have reliable electricity. Horses and the ocean... my two fondest memories."

"It sounds beautiful. I guess with Drew still hurting that trip is on hold." Ryo sighed, wishing that he could find a way to make his friend's dream come true. At least he would have something to think about other then his current problems. "I came from your standard All-American home with a Japanese flare of course. The white picket fence, Colonial type house, two well educated and traveled parents... The whole nine yards. My mother was of Japanese decent.

My Aunt Elena is my father's younger sister. She and her husband, Rick took me in after my folks were killed. Their murders was the reason I decided to go into law enforcement. I studied criminal law in college and then went right into the academy after graduation. I would have been done with it all earlier but I took 2 years off between high school and college, due to the deaths." Ryo smiled a little. Talking was helping for he had now skipped 2 doses of pain meds and was shooting for a third.

Lyn settled in a little more, leaning back against the wall. "At least you took the time you needed... Well... I suppose that two years didn't even come close to covering that but... Japanese flare huh?" Lyn chuckled at that. "Poor Annie and Kei. They are gonna be damn confused kids. Japanese and Irish traditions... Buddhism and Paganism, ASL, English and Gaelic, two dads... What else can I do to make their lives more complicated?" Lyn was still laughing softly and shaking his head.

"Have two half-witted detectives as friends?" Ryo arched an eyebrow and started laughing, quickly stopping when pain shot through his back. "Ouch! That was not a smart move... Dang that hurt." Ryo smiled and then looked when Drew stuck his head in the door. "Hey Drew come on in!" Ryo smiled.

"We were just talking about how confused Kei and Annie are gonna be." Lyn laughed. Andrew grinned moving over closer to the bed.

"Yeah we're taking multicultural to a whole new level." Drew chuckled. "How are you feeling Ryo? Anything I can get you?"

"Yeah a nurse and orderly who know what the heck they're doing." Ryo smiled through his pain. "Also a lover who isn't being such a god damned asshole. A boss that doesn't try and hit on me... How's that for starters?" Ryo looked at Lyn and snickered a little.

Lyn smiled and Andrew shifted the combined weight of the girls. It was a little much for him and Lyn reached over lifting Keiry from his back as Drew spoke. "Hmmm? I'll see what I can do? How do you feel about mail order grooms from Russia? Maybe I can find one that's a competent orderly and kill two birds with one stone?"

Ryo's eyes widened. "Uh... I think that I'll pass on that for now. I'm not even sure what's going to come of Dee and I." He looked away for a moment. "I guess time will tell the tale." Sighing and regaining his composure, he looked back at Drew. "How are you though? I know that Dee nailed you pretty hard. Are you okay?" He looked at the girls and seemed to go deep in thought.

"I'm gonna look like I got in a bar fight for a while but no lasting damage... Getting nailed by a good friend is a far cry from getting nailed by your lover." Andrew exchanged a glance with Lyn who shrugged.

"Hey Ryo, Kei's about zonked out. If you wanted I could lay her next to you?" Lyn offered knowing how much Ryo enjoyed the girls and how they always did wonders for his mood. "If you don't that's fine. She's good where she's at too."

"Sure go ahead. Just that if she wakes up, grab her quick or I may find myself crying... err screaming for mercy." Ryo watched the exchange between the two. They had a bond that was simply amazing to see. It was something he always dreamt of having with someone special. "I'm surprised that you're not ready to slug me. I mean here I am, always keeping your koi from you. Gomen for that." Ryo allowed Keiry to snuggle against him and his heart melted. "Sleep tight little one." He stroked her cheek and smiled.

Andrew smiled. His spare arm came around Lyn's waist and pulled him close. "It's okay. It makes me appreciate how much he does. I don't know how you carry both kids around all day koibito. They weight a ton!"

"Actually around fifty pounds total." Lyn responded with a grin. "And believe me I feel ever one of those pounds by the end of the day." Lyn tilted his head back and to the side to steal a quick kiss from Andrew.

"Don't worry about it, really Ryo. We miss each other but we're glad to help anyway that we can. You guys are our family now."

Lyn groaned. "Our poor daughters! Surrounded by men!"

Ryo quickly looked away. Seeing Lyn and Drew like they were had him missing Dee more and more. "Well thanks and I hope that one day I can return the favor." Closing his eyes he fought back the sadness now filling his heart. "I'm just sorry that my screw up in the Marlo case caused Dee to go on a rampage at your expense."

"You made no mistake Ryo. He was wrong to blame you. There was nothing you could have done." Lyn frowned. "Even if the other guy had been put on the stand as a hostile witness. There is nothing different that you could have done." Lyn consoled, pulling a baby blanket from the diaper bag and covering Keiry who was nuzzled warmly against Ryo's side.

"I can't help it Lyn. I do blame myself. I should have done more. Even Berkley said it." Ryo saw the look Lyn gave him. "While you went home to shower and change this morning Berkley stopped in. He is enforcing the interoffice relationship policy. So if Dee and I stay together and his eyesight returns we may wind up being split up as partners, even as co-workers. They would transfer one of us out of the precinct."

Lyn immediately went into legal mode. "Well first off then let's bust his ass for sexual harassment. Secondly... How long has this policy been in place?"

"I don't know what I should do and... Not sure on the second." Ryo responded. "The latter has never been enforced. Even Taicho our chief tolerates Dee... and myself." Ryo sighed.

"Well... This is underhanded but a tried and true legal trick. If you file for sexual harassment and actually..." Lyn's eyes started to gleam as he found a series of loopholes and red tape. "I bet that you could even file for a restraining order and if you successfully get both a restraining order and a sexual harassment suit it would most likely mean his badge. I mean every one in the precinct knew about it. You told him no, in front of witnesses, more then once and no one, the chief included tried to stop it. Hell if we really tried we could get him for stalking as well. Basically we could hang him out to dry in a big way." Lyn was starting to grin, really getting into it. He loved a challenge, seeking loopholes and obscure precedents that no one else had filed away in their memory. "Now... we drop all the paperwork for all this on his desk and then tell him that we'll drop the charges as long as you and Dee are allowed to remain as partners and co-workers."

Ryo's smile grew. "It's sneaky... I like it!" He shook his head. "Now I'm really starting to sound like Dee. What's next? If I start jumping myself I am so checking into the nearest loony bin!" Keiry moved slightly, her small hand coming to rest on Ryo's chest and he held it there, sighing softly. There were just so many things to think about... So many decisions to be made. His mind was on overdrive and feeling quite over leaded. "Lyn or Drew... Would one of you find a nurse? I really need something for my back. I've wanted to scream for almost 20 minutes now. It's starting to hurt really badly." Ryo closed his eyes, trying to hold on and not lose it. He didn't want to scare Keiry by moving or flinching from the spasm now hitting his back but it was getting harder.

Drew nodded and limped off to find the nurse. "If you want me to take her back, just let me know." Lyn offered. "I shouldn't be stressing you with all these legal details. Just keep in mind that you do have legal options. Well... At least with me as a friend you do. When we did courtroom simulations people would groan with the obscure laws and precedents that I would cite." Lyn grinned, proud of his geekiness.

"So you were one of those huh? Dee thinks I'm a dork because I placed 2nd in the regionals with chess and that I played flute in my high school marching band... Thank God I didn't tell him that I even studied classical piano. That would have earned me the bon-a-fide geek award." Ryo grinned.

Lyn chook his head. "No way! I've got you topped! I placed in regionals in both chess and debate in college. I studied piano harp and most other string instruments and not only did I take ballet I enjoyed it! And for a very short while preformed professionally... On very small stages mind you but still, I wore the tights." Lyn grinned.

"Well I did take dance lessons but it was ballroom dancing. My Aunt Elena needed a partner and so I got volunteered." Ryo blushed. "Please don't tell Dee! He'll laugh me right under a table." He smiled despite his pain. "Maybe we'll have to find a piece that we can perform together, either with piano and flute or piano and harp."

Lyn nodded. "That would be cool. I also play cello and violin both of which would go with piano." Lyn opened his mouth to speak but closed it as the nurse entered with a syringe.

"All right now Mr. McLean this will only hurt for a moment." She said in a brisk professional manner as though she were talking to a cardboard cutout. She prompted him onto his side a little then pricked him and injected the medication quickly, bustling right back out as quickly as she had come in.

"No wonder Dee calls them the nurses from hell... Ouch!" Ryo rubbed his backside. He knew that the meds worked quickly and so he spoke up. "I know that I'm going to zone out really soon but did you notice that the nurse said nothing about the girls being here? I thought that Dee said something about them not being allowed?"

"It may have been selective perception. If she was busy, she may not have wanted to stop and take the time. I doubt that Dee was outright lying to you." Lyn offered with a shrug.

"That's just it Lyn. I can't believe anything he says anymore. He tells me one thing and then as soon as he gets angry he tells me another. I can't keep playing his game." Ryo felt the numbing effects of the pain meds kicking in. Like being drunk, he quickly earned loose lips. "First he says that the night that we made love was incredible. That I was as incredible and then he gets angry and soon I'm a lousy lay. That hurt Lyn... That really hurt."

"I know it did and well..." Lyn smirked a little. "I wasn't there so I cant say for sure but it really takes effort to be truly bad in the bedroom if you're the ah.... Receptive party. If everyone got off at worse it was only orgasmic as opposed to earth shattering..." Lyn paused clearing his throat, actually blushing as Drew entered. "Did he seem to be enjoying it at the time?"

"I uhm... I thought that he was... Shit he was moaning just as loud." Ryo smirked then snickered. "I mean it's not like he could fake it or anything. That's where women got us beat." Laughing now he watched Drew who was standing there wide eyed. "I mean Dee was ready to explode and I barely touched him."

Lyn gently clamped a hand over Ryo's mouth. "All right buddy those pain meds are going straight to your head. Remind me to never get you drunk." Lyn smirked. "But all that said then you were probably the best lay that he had. I wouldn't worry about that. Besides if you really want to test the theory..." Lyn's eyes darted about the room, waggling his eyebrows to Andrew before leaning in as if to share a state secret with Ryo. "Tease him... Get him all revved up and then let him hang. Make him beg for it. If you can get him to beg for it then he liked it."

Ryo started giggling. "That's good... Maybe I'll start that tomorrow. I mean after all I can tease right now but I can't please... Not for two weeks anyway." He giggled again. "By that time Mount Latener should be ready to blow big time!" Slapping his own hand over his mouth he giggled more, looking up at Drew and Lyn, dark eyes glassy from the meds.

"And... On that note I think that it's time to leave Ryo to his happy little narcotic filled world. Say hi to the pink bunnies for me." Andrew said with a grin as Lyn picked up Keiry then leaned down to give Ryo a very gentle and very awkward hug.

"We'll be back later."

"I bet I know what you two are going to do when you get home!" Ryo's wide eyes stared at them as he started the giggling all over again. "Have fun!" Ryo watched them leave before giggling himself into a fitful slumber.

"Man was I that bad when I was drugged out?" Andrew asked shaking his head as he and Lyn headed for the elevator to retrieve Bikky and Dee.

"You were a different kind of bad. You were big on staring off into space and watching dust bunnies and the like..." Lyn said balancing Kei on his hip.

"How are you holding up koi? Don't try and tell me this isn't bringing up a whole lot of memories."

Lyn shrugged. "Yeah but..." He sighed heavily. "It's not like I can run away from myself."

Andrew's arm slipped around Lyn's waist as the elevator doors closed. "No you can't. You're really brave baby." Andrew kissed his temple. "Ryo's approximately the second luckiest man on earth to have a friend like you.

"And who's the first?" Lyn asked with a grin, already knowing what the answer would be.

"Me koibito, me." Another soft kiss this time on Lyn's neck. "Well let's round up the herd and go home. We'll order out so that no one has to cook. Sound good?"

"That depends."

"On what?"

Lyn grinned. "If I can have you for an appetizer?"

"Okay now that was just cor..." Andrew was cut off by Lyn's mouth. The next thing Andrew was aware of other then Lyn was the very aghast old woman clutching her handbag.

"Well! I never!" She huffed, pressing against the far wall as far as she could go.

"Well I have lady and you don't know what you're missing!" Giggling like schoolboys they left the straight-laced granny to her shock and went in search of Dee and Bikky.

W ildefyre: Oh no! Poor Dee... Poor Ryo! What are we doing to our boys? Be good and leave some reviews and MAYBE we'll try and fix things between Dee and Ryo...

Irish: Wooha! Another chapter done. If anyone has an issue with the events of this chapter, please feel free to contact us. We realize abuse is a very sensitive issue and hard to deal with. Am more then willing to explain our reasoning and what not. Also, if you are a victim of abuse and need help, please call 1-800-799-SAFE.