Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ To Serve and Protect ❯ Chapter 5

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

To Serve 5

Thank you to all the people who were kind enough to review for me. Koalared, gourry-
gabriev610, Beysie, Ems, Kungfu4203, Enchantress10, crosshunt-s, Jessi, Scarab Dynasty,
QAHLuver, Ishizu Isis Ishtar, Evil Kitty of Doom, Sparklythings, Flame Swordswoman Rachel,
Sirius-Black-is-dead, Yariko-chan, and sleepingzombie, jpg. You make all my efforts worth
while.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xx

The next few days were spent in reviewing the jackets provided by the police department via
Tanaka-san. Torrance proved to be clean as a Singapore street and while Patrick's credentials
were somewhat shaky he was clean too.

Joey snarled and threw the files at the wall.

"Fuck me sideways. This shit is killin' me. Where is that ass hole. I'm gonna dig that bastard out
if it's the last thing I do. Son of a bitch."

Seto's secretary flinched slightly. She was just a bit intimidated by Joey. Seto was intense but he
didn't have a reputation for violence Joey on the other hand had a reputation as a volatile and
violent man with a hair trigger temper and a habit of throwing things.

"Ayami-san. Would you get me some coffee please? I really need some."

Seto had looked up from his desk when Joey tossed the file and now intervened in Ayami's
behalf. "Wheeler ,if you can't contain your temper maybe we should do something to burn off
some of your ire."

"Be nice. You've done nothing but sit behind that desk for the last four days. I'm not use to this."
Joey turned to Ayami. "Ayami angel, I'm sorry. I don't mean to be an ass. I'm just restless and
bored and, frankly, pissed. That bomb has me all on edge. This building makes me crazy. Please.
Forgive me?" his smile was old Joey; quick, gentle and full. He bowed low and kept his eyes
down.

"Oh yes. I'm sorry I'm such a bother to you. I try not to annoy you. Please forgive me." Poor
Miss Ayami couldn't get it through her head that she wasn't responsible for Joey's bad humor.

Joey sighed. Miss Ayami. "You don't annoy me. It's not your fault. Please."

Miss Ayami started for the door and only turned back because Seto called her.

"Miss Ayami! Please don't bring Wheeler any more coffee. He's on caffeine overload now. Call
Yamaha and see if you can't get me some time."

"Yes sir. I'll call right away. I'm sure I can get you at least two hours. Will that be enough?"

"More than. Thank you."

Joey had no idea what was going on. He just knew that Seto was giving him a smirk that boded
no good for someone.

"Wheeler, your bike is in the garage right next to mine. I'm asking if it's all right for my man to
trailer it to Yamaha's facility outside the city. I don't have the skills to drive in traffic, in fact I've
only ridden twice before. I've made arrangements with Yamaha to use their race track. I'm going
to hone my riding skills and I thought you might like to use it too. You can shake the cobwebs
out."

Joey felt something in his chest expand Seto was asking if he wanted to take his bike out on one
of the best shake down tracks in Japan [hell yeah]. He was treating him like a person instead of
an annoyance. After four days of tiptoeing around each other things were looking up again.

"That would be real nice. A guy can only do so much gym work before he starts to get stale. And
I'm way beyond that. Let's go get our leathers."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xx

Seto watched as Joey examined not only the pit area but the bikes and eyed the pit crew with a
jaundiced eye. He was sure that the Letter Man couldn't get into Yamaha's private race track but
he still couldn't help being paranoid

"Wheeler. Come on. I want to try out this new ride. I'm getting real impatient."

Joey nodded to the pit crew chief and took his bike out. He was going to run the track first to see
how it was. Then he'd follow Seto and watch him. After a couple of laps he intended to take Seto
into the pits and talk him through his mistakes.

Seto turned to the pit chief apologizing gracefully for Joey's attitude.

"Don't worry Mr. Kaiba. We aren't offended. Lots of racers are paranoid about strange pit crews.
I don't recognize him but if he's running that bike on the streets he's got to be good or he'd have
wrecked it by now."

Seto grimaced, Joey's paranoia was annoying, but after the bomb he was doing his best to
accommodate it. He was even more scared now than he'd been before. If Ayami had opened that
box, or Mokuba. Mokuba loved presents of any kind and Seto had always let him open things
because he enjoyed it so much. That thought made him shiver, even in the hot sun.

"Hey! Holy hell . . . look at the monitor. He shouldn't be going that fast on his first lap. He'll lose
it on the second curve. Damnit! Get the medics out."

Seto went to look at the big screen tv they were using for a monitor. The entire track was lined
with cameras and the computer controlled switching routine kept Joey centered on the screen. He
was running at a hundred miles an hour according to the readout on the bottom of the screen.
Next to the speedometer was a small map of the track with a dot showing Joey's location.

"Shit! Shit! Shit! . . .Oh, hell on a stick look at that. He's a freak! He's in the fourth curve. He's
going one oh five! He's gonna . . . Danmit . . . he's inhuman!" the pit chief's running
commentary kept Seto aware of exactly how crazy Joey was.

The loud talking attracted the attention of two of Yamaha's test drivers who came over to see
what was going on. They spent the rest of the lap swearing and exclaiming over Joey's reckless
driving.

"He's either very good or very crazy. Or both. I wouldn't go into that turn at over ninety and I've
been riding that track for the last two years."

Seto heard that voice and turned to see its owner, Tristan Taylor. Tristan had stayed with him
several times over the last four years and he knew that he was a test driver here. He and Yugi
Muto both stayed with him while they were in Tokyo. Seto considered them friends after four
years of Mokuba's prodding and their patient acceptance.

Joey pulled into the pits and started taking off his helmet. He just registered Tristan before he
came up to him in a rush. When he got his helmet all the way off, he put it on the handlebars and
turned to Tristan. "Hi, Tris' long time no see. How you . . ." Joey caught the fist headed for his
face in one hand and held it. "You wanna punch my face, wait until I'm off my bike. I'll fight ya
then. Not before." Joey's face had frozen into a stoney mask to hide the hurt. He' known this
would happen sooner or later.

"Damn you, Joey. You don't write, you don't call. I thought you might even be dead. Then you
show up driving like a maniac and all you've got to say for yourself is 'hi, tris'? I . . . we . . .
Yugi told me you cut him cold the last time he saw you. How could you treat him that way? He
loves you like a brother and you don't get in touch with him at all for over six months. You're a
real shit, Wheeler."

"Yeah, I know. But I cut him because I was with an Okishira. I didn't want him to meet the guy.
You know Yugi, he'd take up with Jack the Ripper."

Tristan didn't see Seto come up behind him but Joey did and shook his head. "It's ok, Boss. Tris'
couldn't beat me when we were kids. He sure can't do it now."

Tristan turned around to see Seto, he nodded to him and turned back to Joey. "What kind of mess
did you get yourself into. The last I heard you were headed for the Police Academy. What the hell
happened."

"Real life happened. "Joey cringed, trust Tristan to be up on all the gossip. He knew or knew of
almost everyone in police circles. His father was connected through his work Joey tried to cut
him short by holding up his hand showing his tattoo. "I got the wrong kind of connections. Shut
up about it. Ok? You wanna fight or what."

The pit chief got into the middle of it before Tristan could do more to blow Joey's cover. He
broke up the conversation and threatened to report Tristan unless he got away from Joey at once.
Tristan left but his backward look promised that this wasn't over yet.

"You're taking this way too calmly." Seto had seen the hurt before Joey could completely shut it
behind his stoney mask."You better let loose of some of that or you're gonna explode."

"Can't . . . I . . . if I let go . . . damnit! Seto . . . just let me be." Joey wished not for the first
time for a cigarette. Or a drink. Or something to punch. He hoped Seto hadn't caught the
reference to the academy. He wanted to catch up to Tristan and talk to him. He wanted a million
dollars and a new sports car, the chances of any of them were slim and none, as far as he could
see.

"Ok Joey I'll let it be for now but sooner or later you're going to have to deal. Sooner would be
better."

"Yeah. I'm takin' another lap." Joey motioned to the pit chief, who had come back after having a
quick talk with Tristan. He looked like he'd bitten into something rotten. "Look" Joey rubbed his
face already emotionally exhausted. "I don't know what Taylor told you and I don't care. All you
need to know is, I got a second chance. What I really want from you is for you to go over that
bike with Seto, headlight to tail light, and tell him everything he needs to know about it. Fuel, oil.
. . you get the picture. I'm taking another lap, then I'll be in to follow him around the track and
watch him."

"All right. I'll do what you ask and take what Tris' told me with a grain of salt. I don't like half
of it. And I'm seriously considering telling Kaiba all I know."

"You do that. I'm on the track."

Joey put his helmet back on and took the bike back onto the track. If they'd thought he was crazy
before, he was really crazy now. Curves he'd taken at ninety, he now took at a hundred. Straight
away's he red lined the bike, pushing himself and his machine beyond their limits. Neither one
failed.

When he pulled in again, he was snatched off the bike and literally shaken. Seto shoved his face
into Joey's and snarled. "If you want to commit suicide why don't you just shoot yourself. I've
never seen anyone take chances like that before. You even scared the test drivers! Joey . . . "

Joey shook Seto off and pulled off his helmet. He looked at Seto's white face and didn't have the
heart to be mad at him.

"Well, be still my heart! Maybe you've got a soul after all. Don't sweat it. I know what I'm
doing. I've been driving like that all my life. One of my bosses made good money out of it." He
jumped, startled as Tristan grabbed him from behind and started dragging him off. "Hey! Lemme
go. What's your malfunction?"

Tristan snarled at Seto "I'm taking him out back. Don't worry he can whip my ass, so I'm not
starting anything. I just want to talk to him . . . privately."

Seto nodded and watched as Joey meekly followed Tristan away from the pits and into the
surrounding buildings.

Joey didn't resist as Tristan slammed him up against a wall and started to snarl in his face. He
leaned back against the building and just let him. After Tristan wound down, he sighed, pushed
Tristan away gently and slid down the wall, seating himself on the ground.

"Cigarette?" Tristan slid down beside him and offered Joey a rather crushed pack. "Sorry, they're
old. I quit."

"Me too. Seto hates the smell. We got a deal. You pelted me with a lot of questions. You want to
backup and ask again one at a time?"

"Yeah. Just . . . hell, Joey. What happened? You were doing so well. Then . . . just . . . back to
the Mako's. You're just lucky you didn't get picked up in that big bust. Some . . . mole . . .
infiltrated." Tristan put his head in his hands and groaned "an unknown under cover officer had
enough information that most of the Mako's went to prison. Damnit Joey, how long?"

"Four very long years. I went to the academy on that In Field Education Program especially to
break up the Mako's. You know Hirutani always wanted me back. So I went. I missed graduation
because I had to be under before the fifteenth of the month. His speciality was mugging
pensioners."

"And you stiffed Yugi because . . . " that was what had always really burned Tristan

"That man I was with liked boys and wasn't above kidnaping and rape. You know Yugi wouldn't
have understood anything like that. He's too sweet, the worst he really understands is naughty. I
didn't want that bastard getting a good look at him."

"Liked boys . . . hell Wheeler, what kind of people were you mixed up with." Tristan made a
disgusted face.

"Yakuza. And drug dealers and whores and pimps and you name it. I'm really lucky that all I got
was a tattoo and a whipping."

Tristan shuddered. "Joey, you sound so calm. I'd be flipping out all over the place."

"I have to stay calm. If I loose it, I may never get it back."

"Joey, if you don't let go of some of that, soon. You really won't be coming back."

Tristan leaned back against the wall, resting his head against it and wondering what he could do
to help Joey. He sounded like he'd not only reached the end of his rope but he'd tied a knot and
his grip was slipping.

The soft sob was choked off in the middle but it was followed by another and then another.
Tristan could only reach out, pull Joey to his chest and hold him as he struggled to contain the
racking sobs that were suddenly shaking him like an earthquake.

Joey struggled to cut them off, but Tristan patted his shoulders and grumbled softly. "Better let it
all out now. You'll feel better . . . Let it go, pal . . . just let it all go. I've got you and I'm not
gonna let go again."

Finally Joey pulled away and searched his pockets for a handkerchief. He dried his eyes and blew
his nose, sniffing to clear his head.

"Damnit, Tris', you know I'm no bawl baby. But I've been undercover so long I think I've gone
crazy. I've had to shut down on stuff that'd make a maggot puke. I've got a list of guys I'm
gonna get, sooner or later. And it's gotten longer than I like. When I get Seto lined out, I'm
taking all the leave time I've got, or I'm quittin'. One or the other."

Tristan sighed. Joey looked so tired and very young.

"Come on Buddy. We better get back before my boss comes looking for us. We'll sneak around
back and get you some ice. Your eyes are kinda red." As they walked around to the back way into
the pits, Tristan asked one more question. "Kaiba doesn't know? No, I'm sure he doesn't or he
wouldn't treat you like he does. So why not?"

"He's got a mole. The Letter Man knows way too much about corporation security. He's been in
Seto's office at least once before and he's left several letters in offices around the building, not to
mention the bomb." Tristan flinched. [Bomb!] "If Seto knew about me, he'd bust me in a second.
You know every thing he thinks shows up on his face. How he ever conducts business is beyond
me."

"He doesn't show very much. You just read him like a book. You always could. He and Yugi
both have stone faces you just . . . I really can't explain it other than to say you just seem to
know." Tristan shrugged, shaking his head.

"Yeah? Well you're no stone face either." Joey sneered genially.

"Yes I am. You ask around. You'll find that you're the only one who could ever read me when I
didn't want to be read. Here" Tristan soaked a paper towel in cold water and gave it to Joey to
put over his eyes.

"Thanks. You really think Seto could keep from bustin' Me? It sure would make my life easier."

"Joey you haven't seen him in negotiations of any kind have you. He's really the great stone face.
I swear. Ask around."

When Joey and Tristan judged that Joey's eyes looked no more blood shot than could be excused
by the 'something in my eyes' dodge. They headed back for the pits. Seto jumped Joey
immediately and started asking questions about the track, the bike and anything he could think
of.

He and Tristan spent the rest of the two hours alternately following Seto around the track and
critiquing his riding. They wound up sitting on the wall watching the next group unload bikes
and set up comparing bikes and deciding that their bikes had to be better.

"Yeah . . . they are better than that." Joey ended smugly

"How so?"

"Because they belong to us. And we're better than anyone."

Seto smirked arrogantly and Tristan groaned.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx

After a stop at a restaurant for a, to Seto, relaxing meal that nearly had Joey in a straightjacket.
They went back to the apartment Seto didn't object to Joey's starting the elevator alone or even
protest waiting while Joey checked the apartment out room by room before letting Seto past the
elevator.

"Joey. Lock the elevators and calm down. You look like you're about to self-destruct. I'm going
to write some letters, so I'll be in my room. Relax."

Joey went through his nightly routine, locking the elevators and the patio doors, then checking
every window in the apartment. Once he was sure everything was locked he could relax, only he
never really did. He was so wound up that he felt like one more thing would have him shattering
like over stressed glass.

"Fuck. I can't smoke. I can't fight. If I don't let off some more steam, I'm gonna explode. Maybe
there's some good booze in here."

Joey opened the wet bar and started rummaging around in its innards. He found bottles of every
conceivable liquid refreshment; scotch, vodka, gin, liqueurs, whisky. He settled for a plain
Canadian whisky made in America. There were four bottles of it. He took all of them to his
favorite seat and settled himself to admire the Tokyo sky line and get roaring drunk.

He twisted the top off the first one and started sipping slowly, he wasn't about to bolt the bottle
and make himself sick. He worked steadily on the bottle until he had finished it. He sat and
waited for a while, then opened the next bottle and threw the top at the book case. The soft click
seemed so loud in the silence.

"Need music. Find something. Yeah" Joey turned the stereo onto something on Tokyo pop oldies
American suited his mood. He started dancing but gave it up after a few songs he didn't feel like
dancing alone. "Alone . . . that's me. No girl friend. Hell, no friends. Except Tris' yup, yup, Tris'
was always a good friend . . . kept me out of a lot of trouble. Too bad I didn't run this puppy by
him first. Save the world. Hell! I'll be lucky if I save myself." By the time he was finished with
these musing and more just like them, he had finished the second bottle and was sitting back in
his chair contemplating the third bottle with a slightly bemused expression on his face.

"Wheeler! Joey. I didn't know you drank." Seto stopped short as he saw the two empty bottles on
the floor. "Shit! You already guzzled that much and you're still standing?"

"Yeah. I got a head like a rock and digestion to go along with it. I can drink most anyone under
the table. Used to get . . . un . . . Seto? Why don't you go away an' let me get plastered in peace?
I'm not in the mood to tell war stories. Most of them aren't fit for anyone. Go to bed."

"I'm not going to bed without you." Joey gave him an odd look. Or as odd as he could manage in
his drunken state. "Damnit you know that's not what I meant. I don't make passes at my
employees. Male or female. I want you to go to bed. If you wake up with a hangover you won't
be worth a shit in the morning and I have a meeting."

"Contract negotiations. Yeah, I remember. Don't worry, Boss, I'll be fine. You should have
tasted some of the hooch we got in the pen. Ha! Some old geezer 'stilled it out of potato peelings
and stuff. Take the fillings out of your teeth. Tasted like shit, but . . ."

Joey eyed the bottle again and started to open it. Seto stopped him with a cold, "Wheeler, if you
open that bottle, you can pack. I won't tolerate a drunk."

Joey carefully put the bottle down, turned around and headed for the hall. He had to pass Seto to
get to his room and as he passed him, he heard a soft, "Thank you, Joey."

"Ok, Boss. Wake me half an hour early. I'll need a shower and plenty of coffee."

Joey went to bed and fell asleep immediately. When Seto checked on him half an hour later he
was sprawled across the bed, the faint light of the moon shining in the window made him look
seventeen again. The faint shadow of gold along his chin and cheeks spoiled the illusion slightly,
but Seto still had a pang for the boy who was gone, and the man who might have been.

Seto noticed that Joey was shivering slightly, at first he thought it might be a nightmare, but
when he touched Joey he realized that he was cold. Unfolding a blanket he took from the chest at
the foot of the bed he tugged the sheets up around Joey and tucked him under the blanket. Joey
blinked at him for a second then mumbled "Thanks Seto-chan."

"Don't get any ideas Wheeler. I'm not your mother."

"Humm. I know, she never tucked me in."

Seto watched stunned as Joey turned over and fell back to sleep. He wondered if Joey even knew
it was real instead of some drunken dream.

Next morning Seto got up before Joey and made a big pot of coffee. He listened for odd noises,
but all he heard was the shower running and Joey banging drawers and doors with his usual
vigor. He poured coffee into a mug and set it on the table.

"Uummm Coffee; water of life."

"I thought that was whiskey." Seto watched as Joey sipped at the coffee and feinted left, then
right, to fake Seto away from the sweet rolls. Seto allowed himself to be faked.

"No, whiskey is the water of truth; usquebah is the water of life."

"That's Gaelic for whiskey. " Seto rolled his eyes and smirked."Drink that coffee, eat the roll and
get ready to go. I've got that meeting at 9:30 a.m.. You'd better get going. I'm never late."

"Ok Boss, I'm ready. All I need to do is get my jacket. Umm . . . Boss? " Seto turned to look at
him, one eyebrow raised. "Thanks for the blanket . . . and the tuck in." Joey ducked his head
and let his bangs droop over his eyes, flicking them back and forth from Seto to his wrist, he
admitted. "I never had one before."

"Stop picking at that callous! You'll make it bleed. Un . . . you're welcome."

Joey followed Seto to the door and picked up his jacket and boots from the closet. He checked
his weapons one last time and they headed for the meeting. Thankfully it was being held on the
tenth floor of Kaiba Towers in a meeting room designed by Gozaburo to intimidate and impress
the military mind. It usually worked quite well on ordinary businessmen.

Joey checked with Roland and glanced around the room. Something wasn't right, but he wasn't
sure quite what it was.

"Roland, check around again. Something is making my skin crawl. "

Joey and Seto both watched as Roland himself poked behind the curtains and under tables. He
didn't find anything out of the ordinary so they went ahead with the meeting.

Set sat at the head of the massive table with files in front of him. The men he was meeting with
seated themselves on one side of the table, two members of his legal staff and the heads of the
three departments involved sat on the other. Joey placed himself behind and to one side of Seto.
He could see him quite well in the mirrored back of the room.

As the bargaining continued Joey found that what was obvious to him was hidden to the others
in the room. Seto was quite annoyed right now and the tiny quirk at the left corner of his mouth
showed it quite clearly. Joey felt his stomach clench. Tristan was right. He could read Seto like a
book, but now that he studied them, he could see that the others in the room had no idea what
Seto was thinking

Like the man immediately to his left; the first lawyer on this case. He kept pecking his pen on the
table. Noises like that had always bothered Seto and now he kept flicking his eyes to the man.
just a quick glance, but to Joey it almost screamed 'quit that.' The next annoyance was from the
last of the department heads, he was a compulsive note taker and the scratch of his cheap
fountain pen was irritating, but not as much as the way he turned pages. The quick flip-smack of
the pad made both Joey and Seto flinch.

And then the big one; the one that made Seto raise his eyebrow in clear annoyance. It was only a
fraction of an inch, but it screamed to Joey. This idiot from the bidding company had the most
annoying habit of making a whiney eeeeer sound when he was talking. Every time he needed to
think, he'd make it.

Joey watched Seto as he finally decided to call for a break. Thankfully he'd managed not to
erupt, just yet.

"Coffee, tea, sodas and water are available on request. We'll be taking a fifteen minute break.
Thank you, Gentlemen."

Seto stood up and motioned to Joey. He followed Seto out of the room like a good dog and found
that Seto was steaming.

"Joey, loan me a gun."

Joey replied with a brilliant "Huh?"

"I'm gonna shoot that whining bastard. he's about to drive me out of my mind. If he can't think
quietly, I'm gonna plug him, I swear."

"You really want him dead, I'll arrange it . . . later. So no one will know who did it."

Seto eyed Joey, who took a small step back, hands up, palm out and grinned. "Just kidding, Boss.
Just kidding. He's really annoying, but that doesn't merit a bullet. We could do something, but
I'm not sure just what."

Seto smirked slightly, to Joey it was nearly a grimace. "I'll take care of him . . . Joey? Something
wrong?"

"No Boss, something's finally right." Joey ducked his head slightly and let the corner of his
mouth tilt up slightly. The sideways look he gave Seto wouldn't have been noticed by anyone
else.

"What the hell are you grinning at?"

"Am I? Do you think anyone else would even notice?"

Seto gave Joey a poleaxed look. What? He'd always found Joey completely transparent, this last
meeting being the exception. Since he'd come back from prison, he'd been almost impossible to
read.

"Huh. Probably not. I always . . . found . . . your . . ." Seto stopped cold. "Wheeler, how do you
always seem to know exactly what I'm thinking?"

"Seto, odd as it seems, I can read you like a book. Everyone else says you're blank as a stone
slab. I've never thought so."

The sudden opening of the door made Seto jump. The man who had opened the door nearly
pissed himself. Joey had pinned him with a flat, cold glare, and a 9mm Taurus; both absolutely
guaranteed to scare the life out of him.

"Excuse m-m-m-me t-the . . . meeting is about to reconvene. If it's convenient for you, of
course."

He with drew his head and leaned against the wall, shaking and sweating. [I'm turning in notice
tomorrow.]

"You ok . . . Joey? " Seto watched as Joey reholstered his weapon without a tremor.

"Fine Boss. We better not keep them waiting. Don't look good."

They went back into the room and Seto continued to guide them throughout the convolutions of a
contract from hell.

"E-e-e-e-e-r-r-r It seems e-e-e-e-r-r-r that we have e-e-e-e-e-e-r-r-r-r reached an u-u-u-u-u-m-m-
m . . . "

Seto finally snapped, he was completely worn out with the man. he couldn't think first, then talk.
He had to interrupt the proceedings and then try to think his idea through. He nodded to Joey.

"Since Mr. Toshiba doesn't seem to be able to find a finished thought, would you please escort
him somewhere he can think . . . in silence. Thank you."

Joey reached out and took Mr. Toshiba by the arm and tugged him out of his chair.

"E-e-e-e-e-r-r-r you can't do this. Uu-u-u-u-u-m-m-m-m that is to say."

"Say it outside. You're annoying Mr Kaiba."

Mr. Toshiba got a good look at Joey's hand and shut up. Joey whispered in his ear, "That's right
little man. I'm a very bad boy. Come along. Don't give me any trouble."

The rest of the negotiation team had the good sense to let Joey escort the man out without
objection, or perhaps with relief.

When they finally finished all the changes and emendations Seto offered a Buffett and circulated,
visiting with his own people, and the opposing business men. Joey stayed by his shoulder
watching and listening. Seto spread oil and sarcasm in equal quantities. He ate and drank
moderately and allowed everyone to pin him for a short gripe session.

Finally, after nearly six hours, Seto touched Joey's arm. A quick jerk of his head signified he was
ready to leave. Joey stayed right by his shoulder and, when one of the men reached for Seto, he
was right there. The man backed up with a slight whimper. Faced with twin looks of cold,
implacable indifference, he stepped aside. Later he told a friend 'it was like they didn't care if I
got out of the way or they walked right over me.'

Joey walked Seto to the bank of elevators and watched as he sighed, slumped, and moved his
shoulders trying to ease the stiffness out. When the car arrived, Joey stood between the doors and
Seto. The man who stepped off nodded to them and hurried away, never knowing how close he'd
come to getting stabbed. The stapler he held looked like a hand grenade at first glance.

"Seto, I got to get out of here. That guy nearly got it. That stapler . . . damnit."

"Easy Joey. I know you're tired, I am too. We'll go back to the apartment and just lay around for
a while. There's a good movie on later. It's only three, the movie starts at four. You could make
something for a late lunch. I don't think those snacks quite agreed with me, I'm feeling kind of
queasy."

Joey shrugged, he hadn't liked the look of any of them and hadn't eaten any. He wouldn't have
eaten anyway. Body guards didn't distract themselves with snacks and such.

When they got to the apartment, Joey rummaged around in the fridge for something to eat and
Seto went to change clothes. When he came back, Joey gave him careful instructions to keep
their lunch from being ruined, then he went to change his own clothes.

Seto had dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. His bare feet left him looking young and carefree. Joey
returned dressed in sweats. Seto kept it just a bit too cool in the apartment for him, so he tended
to stick to them.

Seto sat down and waited for Joey to serve up. He stayed out of the way for this part of
preparation, his few attempts to help had led to spills. The soup looked good and the freshly
baked rolls smelled nice. The salad was the only thing Joey had let him do. All he had to do was
tear lettuce and open a bottle of dressing.

Seto picked at the salad and dipped a piece of roll in the soup, but nothing seemed to settle his
stomach. In fact it was getting worse.

Joey noticed that Seto wasn't eating. "What's wrong? I thought you liked this kind of soup. The
bread's fresh. " Joey eyed Seto and didn't like what he saw. "Seto you ok? You don't look so
good. You're kinda pale and startin to sweat."

Just as Joey finished talking, Seto surged to his feet and barely made it to the sink. He threw up
into the sink. Thankfully on the disposal side. After heaving up everything in his stomach, he
kept trying to vomit.

"This ain't good. Seto, easy. Here. "Joey pulled a chair over and helped Seto sit down. " What
the fuck. Seto, if you're sick, you shouldn't have eaten that soup. And especially not salad."

"I was just queasy, so I thought, if I ate some real food I'd feel better. Those snacks didn't hit the
spot. I don't really care for them either."

"Shit. You think it was the snacks?"

Seto stuck his head in the sink again. When he was done, he nodded his head and groaned.

"What else could it be. It's the only thing I ate that you didn't." Seto vomited for the third time
and Joey winced, he was spasming frantically but not much was coming up. This was very bad.

"Seto, you need to eat this." Joey handed Seto a rice cracker and a glass of water. "Try to get
some of that water down too."

"Joey, I don't think it'll stay down" Seto obediently nibbled on the cracker.

"Don't make any difference. Dry heaves are a bitch. Believe me, I know."

Seto struggled to hold the cracker and few sips of water down, but it came back up and he felt
dizzy. When he told Joey he was feeling sicker, Joey pulled him to his feet and helped him to his
room.

Joey tucked Seto in and smiled.

"What the hell are you smiling at, Wheeler."

"Sorry . . . just . . . turn about's fair play. I just didn't expect it quite so soon. Here, let me get
that . . ."

Joey reached out and got Seto the spare pillow from the foot of the bed. He shoved it behind
Seto's back and pulled the blanket up.

"As soon as you feel up to it, I'll help you off with those jeans . . . Seto . . . I'm going into the
other room so I won't disturb you. You need me, holler."

Joey went into the main room and called Roland. When he told him what was going on Roland
offered to call a doctor. Joey refused saying that if it got to that point, he'd call one.

"I want a sample of everything on that Buffett analyzed to find out what it is that's making Seto
sick. Also, call around and see who else is affected and inform everyone about the disease." Joey
listened for a moment. "No. I don't think it's the flu. He felt just fine until about thirty minutes
ago."

Joey hung up the phone and wondered if this was more than a coincidence. Seto hadn't eaten
anything touched by human hands other than Joeys for five days, the first time he did, he got
sick.

He immediately punched in another number.

"Tanaka-san, Seto's really sick. Send Dr. Auckland, please. It's some form of food poisoning. At
least I think it is. Tell him to bring the mini-lab, there's no facilities here . . . no, I'm not. I'm not
sure it's natural. No hospital, unless it's necessary. . . . Ok. Ten minutes? Fine. Just tell him no
gory details."

Joey sighed, his cover was going down the tubes quickly, but he was beginning to think it
wouldn't matter. Seto was a lot more unreadable than he'd thought. Watching the business men
struggle with Seto's poker face had been enlightening.

Joey went back to the bedroom to see an empty bed and hear sounds of misery that made him
wince.

"Damn it Seto. That's got to be yesterdays breakfast. Here, let me help you back to bed."

"No. Joey I'll just stay here. I'm getting too weak to make it back and forth."

"Seto, damnit. Here." Joey went back to the bed room and got the blanket. He returned to the
bathroom and settled himself behind Seto. He wrapped the blanket around Seto then pulled him
between his legs and against his chest. He rubbed his hands up and down Seto's arms. Feeling
him shivering, Joey pulled him closer and rested his chin on his back.

"It'll be ok. Just take it easy. I got a doc on the way. He'll know what to do."

Joey sighed into Seto's back. This was getting too personal, too quickly. He felt exposed and
vulnerable, that made him uneasy, which made him angry? Scared? Unsure of his feelings, he
shut down, protecting himself as best he could.

"Seto, I'm going to the main room so I won't miss the door bell. You need me yell ok?"

Seto nodded miserably. He'd felt Joey stiffen but he wasn't sure why he'd suddenly drawn away.
He couldn't believe that his sickness was that disgusting to Joey. But what else could it be?

"I'll be ok. Who's coming? I don't want to see anyone."

"You'll see the doctor and you'll cooperate with him. I don't have the patience to nurse you if
you want to argue with everything." Joey knew he was over reacting but he couldn't seem to stop
himself. He snarled wordlessly and stomped out.

Exactly ten minutes later the elevator call dinged. Joey checked the newly installed monitor and
saw Dr. Donald Auckland. He was actually a forensic pathologist, but he could handle a case of
food poisoning and find the source. He let him in the elevator and waited by the door for him to
come up.

"Hey, Ducky. I'm glad to see you without a dead body involved."

Doctor Auckland smiled at Joey. He had been the one to collect the bodies Joey was supposed to
dispose of. They'd met in some really nasty places, so he looked around in pleasure at the
beautiful apartment and smiled.

"Wow, veeeery niiice. Sixties Swedish modern. Very classy. Kind of cold for me. Too much
glass and steel, but dramatic as hell."

"Yeah. It's a lot more comfortable than it looks. My room is really nice, but you better come on.
I don't want to leave Seto alone too long. I'm afraid he's really sick"

As they headed for Seto's room, Joey gave Doctor Auckland a run down on Seto's symptoms and
the foods he'd eaten recently.

The Doctor asked some questions then opened the door to see a sweat soaked, shivering Seto
curled around himself on the floor.

"Shit. Seto damnit. I swear. Ducky, he's worse now. Lots worse."

Ducky and Joey got Seto onto the toilet, as it was the only available place to sit. Joey adjusted the
blanket around Seto's shoulders and turned him over to the Doctor, who poked and prodded,
took vitals and made Doctor noises. Seto endured it all with a stoic demeanor , he felt too sick to
object and way too sick to get sarcastic.

Joey helped Seto back to bed and put a waste basked lined with a trash bag next to him.

"Do not get out of that bed. Got me? You'll fall or something and I don't want you getting any
more chilled. Damnit Kaiba, stop arguing with me. If you don't do what it say, I'll tie you to the
bed." Joey knew he was getting way too nasty with Seto but he couldn't seem to get his anger
under control. "Ducky, now!"

Ducky just followed Joey into the other room. Seto's sitting room was comfortable, light, and
airy. But Joey's mood darkened even that bright place.

Joey slammed into the desk chair and flipped the resident lap top open. "Ok what's the what?"

Doctor Auckland sighed, Joey was showing all the symptoms of burn out. He decided not to
comment on it, Joey didn't need the added stress, but he resolved to turn in a report advising that
Joey not be given any more cases until he decompressed.

"Well he's definitely got some form of food poisoning. I'd need a sample." Joey handed over the
sample he'd collected the second time Seto was sick. "Thank you. You always come through for
me. I'll set up my microscope and we'll see if we can't identify this critter."

After preparing the slide, Ducky examined the bacteria and grumbled. "Hhhmmm don't like it.
It's Cereus poisoning."

"I know it's serious. What bug is it? We need to know, so I can treat it, or take him to the
hospital."

"Joey . . . C. E. R. E. U. S. " Ducky spelled it for him. "It's pretty common in oriental countries.
It's carried by rice mostly. Not deadly, as long as the patient avoids dehydration. Shouldn't last
more that twelve hours at most. But they'll be a miserable twelve. Keep him warm, hydrated and
see if he can't keep down some form of nourishment. Miso, tofu. Something like that. And no
sports drinks. Too much sugar. Try green tea or ginger ale. Go heavy on the tea if he'll tolerate
it." Ducky started packing up his stuff but Joey stopped him for a few moments while he
examined the bacteria for himself.

"Ducky, I've never known you to miss anything. Take another look at this and . . . well, just
look"

Ducky looked into the microscope again and said softly. "This was no accident. That bacillus is
tagged. It's from a lab somewhere."

Joey picked up a book and threw it at the wall. The book knocked over a statuette and then hit the
wall. It flopped to the floor; spine broken, pages disheveled. The savage look on Joeys face
startled the Doctor

"Fuck . . . Ducky? Find out where that came from. The tag should be on file. Son of a bitch. He
got in under my radar. I'm such a fuck up. This. . . " Joey kicked the desk and snarled some
more. "Ducky, tell Tanaka-sama he better find someone else to do this. I'm screwin' it up."

"Joey, you made a mistake . . . no. you didn't. You've been guarding him against attacks. I know
you have read every letter that is even vaguely pertinent. You can't be a food taster too. It doesn't
work; so stop with the wheels. I can see them turning from here. Food tasting doesn't work.
Here. This should help with the vomiting."He scribbled on a prescription pad and tore the page
off. Joey took it and examined it.

"Thanks. I'll look in the bathroom. I think I saw some of this in there. Over the counter strength
but . . . it'll do, won't it?"

"Yes. Just give him twice the recommended dose every three hours. I'll be in touch as soon as I
find out something about our unfriendly little bug . . . Joey, you're doing a great job under less
than optimal conditions. Kaiba is the most difficult man in Japan if you've managed to convince
him to let you guard him at all you've managed more than even Roland has."

Yeah and lied to him to do it. I'm still undercover, he thinks my record is real. I couldn't take the
chance of our Letter Man figuring out who I really am. I was afraid he'd escalate his attacks. So
. . . I'm a charity case. It's harder in some ways but Seto thinks I'm released from jail into his
custody. He's determined to keep me out of trouble by chaining me to him. It's drivin' me up a
wall. I can't do anything without him hovering over my shoulder. Now I know how some of my
patrons felt. But that's how I managed to convince him to keep me close. Otherwise Mr. 'I can
take care of myself' wouldn't have a body guard at all. He's been handling me with kid gloves
on. Mokuba put the squeeze on him in my behalf, so he won't dig at me."

Joey swung the chair around and banged it against the wall standing up with a jerk . "Need . . .
out. I need to not be responsible for anything but myself. I'm getting so tired I'm making stupid
mistakes. I knew something was wrong, my spider sense was tingling. " Ducky grinned, comic
book references had always been one of their private jokes. "Don't grin, this time it wasn't funny.
I should have listened to my 'self.' That Buffett was set up too early. I should have checked it
out. Damnit. I screw up and someone else suffers for it. I'd rather take a bullet."

Ducky made a mental note to speak personally to Tanaka, never mind a report.

"Ok Joey. I'll see if I can't identify that tag. But . . . don't take any unnecessary chances. You
can't do anything for him with a bullet in you. And while I'm at it, where's your vest?"

"Don't have one. No knee breaker has one. It'll raise suspicions."

Ducky gave Joey a gentile smile and a soft sigh. "Joey. You're guarding one of the richest men in
the world. Surely he . . . don't you think he would make sure you had a vest if you wanted one. I
don't think it'd give you away."

Joey froze with a funny look on his face. If he was anyone in the know, he'd expect Seto Kaiba's
body guard to have the best of everything, including a top of the line vest. Roland was going to
get a call asap.

After calling Roland and giving him all the information on the bacillus and it's probable source,
he told Roland to get him a vest. Roland informed him that he already had one. He'd gotten
measurements from the tailor and had it made. It had just come in this morning.

"Roland, you're a peach. Thanks. I got a bad feeling about this. Oh, and tell Torrance to come
up. I want to meet him. This hiding in the shadows, so to speak, is gonna stop. He can bring up
my vest."

"Yes sir. Um. . . he's really shy. I've never seen him myself. He always calls me on the phone for
instructions."

"I see him or he's fired. Simple. I better get back to Seto. He's really sick. So . . . tell Torrance to
get this stuff before he comes up." Joey read off a list of things and hung up.

Joey checked on Seto and found he'd fallen into a restless sleep. He tucked the blankets around
him again and smoothed the sweat soaked bangs off his forehead. He was flushed and slightly
feverish. [Damn Seto. I'm so sorry. I should have raised a fuss. But I couldn't figure out what
was wrong]

Seto's eyes fluttered open, Joey grunted and levered himself up from where he was sitting on the
floor with his chin on the edge of the bed. He leaned over as Seto tried to sit up but flopped back
onto the bed.

"Joey? I really feel punk. I don't think I'm gonna hurl again, but my stomach hurts something
awful."

"Yeah Seto, I know. It's a combination of belly ache and strained muscles. I'm sorry. I should
have . . . "

"Shut up. How were you supposed to know the food was off?"

"I just should. That Buffett shouldn't have been set up yet. I knew that. Seto, someone spiked it.
You were poisoned. It was a bacillus but it was tagged. You go back to sleep, get some rest. I'm
meeting Torrance in a few. If you need me, I'll hear you. I wish . . . "

Seto nuzzled into his pillow and drifted off mumbling 'intercom . . . turn on. . . ."

Joey fished around on the bedside table and found what looked like a baby monitor except it was
black. He took the 'mother' unit with him after making sure the other set was turned on.

[Trust Seto to have thought of every thing. I bet that thing drove Mokuba nuts.]

The elevator dinged and Joey headed for the main room again. He felt strangely on guard so he
was defensive when the elevator opened and that saved him from making a fool of himself and
embarrassing Mr. Torrance.

Mr. Torrance stepped hesitantly from the elevator and keeping his face half averted, carried an
arm full of packages into the kitchen. Joey followed him and managed to get a fair look at him in
the mirrored door of the pantry. He'd been burned badly, half his face was scared terribly. [No
wonder he doesn't want anyone to see him. This job must have seemed like a godsend.]

Mr. Torrance, I need to sit down with you and ask a few questions . . . oh, and do you have my
vest wit you?

Torrance kept his face turned away slightly but handed Joey a package.

"This is your vest. Why don't you take it and try it on while I get this put away. I'll be out of your
way as soon as I can."

Joey caught the man by the wrist gently. "I'll try on the vest in a little while. I need to talk to you.
You got a problem with me? Maybe my record?"

Torrance flashed Joey a quick look. "No Sir . . . I just . . . most . . . "

"If you're referring to your face don't. Christ. You act like I'm on the verge of turnin' you out"

"Aren't you, Sir?"

"Yeah, kind a' but not because of that." Joey waived his hand at the scars."I couldn't figure out
why you were avoiding me. It made me suspicious. And I want to pick your brain. You know a
lot more than Roland thinks you do or I miss my guess."

"My . . . excuse me? I . . .I'm just the valet. What could I possibly know?"

"Lots of things. Things maybe you don't even know you know Just because you're half melted
doesn't mean you're all incompetent. Just get over me. I'm more interested in your skills than
your looks."

Mr. Torrance watched as Joey dismissed his face without a flinch. A very unusual young man in
his estimation. Most people couldn't see past his scars.

"If I can help you in any way, I'll surely try. What do you need?"

Joey started to make a large pot of tea. Torrance waved him away and took over preparations. He
reached for oolong but Joey told him about the Doctor's orders so he made green instead.

When they got settled with their tea Joey interviewed Torrance, using all the skills he'd
developed in the academy and in the field. He'd always been shrewd, his years on the streets
Before and After and his time in training had sharpened it to a fine point. The man wasn't the
Letter Man but he had some ideas that Joey was quite willing to consider.

"It's not a business rival. They have their own ways and those don't include this kind of violence.
Financial violence, yes; physical, no. I also don't think it's anyone he fired." Joey nodded, this
kind of thing didn't fit the profile. Walking through the building shooting everything that moved
was more in that line . "So it's either a frustrated stalker or there's something else going on. But I
can't for the life of me think of what. It's annoying."

Torrance sipped his tea and thought. Joey sat with him, just letting his mind wander, trying to
relax. Suddenly the monitor started to blink.

"Shit. Seto. I better go look in on him. You don't run off. I still want to pick your brain."

Seto was up in the bathroom again, but he wasn't sick. He was drinking a glass of water, and still
shivering. Joey fussed at him and got him back to bed.

When Seto answered 'yes' to Joey's suggestion of tea he brought him a covered cup and tucked
him back in with the order. "Do not get out of bed again without me here all we need is for you
to fall and crack that hard head."

Seto grumbled but nodded, he felt weak and sore. He wasn't too thrilled with the idea of a
concussion on top of everything else.

So, while Joey went back to finish speaking to Torrance, Seto fumed. He felt like he'd been run
over and left in a ditch. He also had a foul taste in his mouth that he couldn't get rid of. And Joey
had withdrawn again. He'd been so careful not to harp at Joey, hoping to get him to confide in
him and now Joey was pulling away. Going back to the way he'd been that first day.

Ok Mr. Torrance I'd like your take on this whole thing I'm up a creek without a paddle. Anything
at all no matter how outrageous it seems. Please.

Torrance bit his lip. "You know that Mr. Kaiba has many banquets and cocktail parties." Joey
blinked shaking his head. "He had some trouble with a caterer and now that I think of it, it was
before the Letter Man began his campaign. The caterer left some food out on the counter over
night, even though Mr. Mokuba told him about it. People got sick. Very sick."

"And this has something to do with Seto's stalker . . . how?" Joey was trying to put all the
threads of Mr. Torrace's story together, but he was having trouble.

"Well some of the letters complain that Mr Kaiba took away something 'important' from him. I
feel it's a man. Although I couldn't say why."

"Ok, so far, so good. But how would the Letter Man get back into the building."

"That is what has me completely stumped and what about the computers. That really has me
nervous."

Joey huffed in disgust. He had a hand full of threads but he couldn't seem to produce any whole
cloth.

"Crap. There's something missing. All the clue's are here. I'm just not seeing how they connect."
Joey finished his tea and wished for coffee instead. "Well . . . thank you. If you think of anything
. . . anything at all." Joey rubbed his neck he was getting a headache.

Mr. Torrance placed two white tablets and a glass of water near Joeys hand and patted him on the
shoulder.

"If I think of anything, I'll leave you a message. Should I leave a note or send you an e-mail."

Joey snickered softly. "Leave me a note. I don't trust the e-mail. If the Letter Man spooked the
data base, what's he done to the e-mail files."

"Leaving a note is funny?" Torrance felt he was missing something.

"Private joke between me and Seto. You're very discrete. I'd like a face-to-face with you at least
once every two weeks. And please, will you do my laundry. I'm running out of shirts and stuff . .
. I'd do it myself but I'm gonna be nursing Seto for the next day or so."

"Certainly sir. I'll go now. There's no time to start laundry today but I'll come back tomorrow
and pick up all the laundry. There's some silk shirts in there. Do you want them washed or dry
cleaned?"

Joey shrugged. "Read the labels, whatever they say. But I need some shirts soon, I'm wearin' the
cleanest dirty now."

Torrance laughed softly and left. Joey waited until he was out of the elevator, then locked it for
the night. There were only two ways to unlock it, with a key or by remote from the main security
station.

Joey poked his head into Seto's room to check on him. He wasn't in the bed again. Joey hurried
into the bathroom and there Seto was, huddled into a miserable ball on the floor.

"Seto! You sick again? Fuck. You're gonna get pneumonia laying on that cold tile floor like
that." Joey started to tug Seto to his feet. "Come on. Let me get you back to bed. You're shiverin'
like a dog shittin' peach pits."

"No! Every time I go back to bed it starts up again. I hate using a . . . whatever that is. I'm fine
here. I'm not cold."

"Yeah, your teeth are just chattering like castanets because you think it's fun." Joey decided that
Seto was right, he wasn't going to stay in that bed, [hard headed stubborn . . .] "Ok, ok. I'm not
gonna argue with you. It's a waste of breath. Let's get you set up so you don't freeze to death."

Joey rummaged in the linen closet, finally finding what he wanted he spread several bath sheets
on the floor, making a thick pad. Then he wrapped Seto in another and settled himself behind the
still shivering magnate.

"Come here, Darlin'"

Seto grumbled. "Stupid movie references. That's Harrison Ford and Gene Wilder. I can't think of
the name just now."

Joey wrapped his arms around Seto. "I can't either, but it seemed appropo some how." Joey
pulled Seto onto his chest, putting his body between Seto and the cold floor as best he could.
Seto's torso rested on his chest with his head on one shoulder. Their legs entwined comfortably.

Seto mumbled something grumpy, Joey just stroked his back gently until he fell completely
asleep.


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx

notes:
Cereus pinioning:
Bacillus cereus is found in soil and dust. It is frequently found in rice dishes, occasionally pasta,
meat or vegetable dishes, dairy products, soups, sauces and sweet pastry products where these
have not been cooled quickly and effectively after cooking and during storage.

Illness may be caused by a small number of bacteria, so cross-contamination can lead to illness.
The bacteria can form spores; they are not easily destroyed by heat and will survive cooking of
food. If food is cooled slowly or kept warm for some time before serving, the spores will
germinate and produce bacteria. Bacteria can multiply rapidly at these temperatures and produce
a very heat resistant toxin which will not be destroyed by subsequent reheating.

Bacillus cereus can cause two distinct types of illness - a diarrhoeal form (diarrhoea and
abdominal pain) with an incubation period of 8 to 16 hours and an emetic form (primarily
vomiting, possibly with diarrhoea) with an incubation period of 1 to 5 hours. In both types the
illness usually lasts less than 24 hours after onset.
Very nasty, and real. You'd be surprised what a little research will come up with.

Frisco Kid is the movie.