Sick

Week one

Monday

It was clear and wet, if you could possibly imagine, the sun was finally gracing the citizens of New York City with its kind and gentle face, even while it was still hidden to most of the state. After all, the whole region had just been induced to a minor flash flood, it had been raining for four weeks straight, the water level had risen four feet, and most of the back streets sewers had backed up and flooded the thankfully non-used, ally-ways and parking-lots.

However, the new set in pace of weather, also meant that the bad guys could get back out on the streets, and those that had braved the weather could take a break and hide, while the just-returning-to-work cops of the 27th Precinct Investigations Division, and the rest of the building as well, who had their hands full with running amongst the damage, not only cause by crooks, but Mother Nature as well…oh and we can't forget the upcoming company banquet.

"Hey Ryo, the Chief said that he wanted to speak to you ASAP."

"Sure thing Drake," the blonde cop said, standing up and walking over to the chief's office, he knocked on the door and entered once inside he closed the door, "What did you want to see me for, sir?"
The chief took a drag from his cigar and motioned for Ryo to sit, once he had done so, he placed the cigar in the ashtray and spoke, his voice low and serious, "Ryo, as I am sure you are aware of the upcoming banquet, correct?"

"Yes sir, it's the only thing anyone has been talking about, besides fixing up the damage from the storm."

"Well then, I shouldn't have to go into elaborate details on why exactly I need your full cooperation on this."

"I have a feeling that even if I said that I have other plans that night, I'd still have to help"

"It's important that you show up. There are going to be important people from the higher ups that come in and this is a way to..."

"Suck up?"

"For lack of a better term, and as much as I hate to admit it … yes. That's why I need your help."

"Why do you need my help, in sucking up, to your bosses' boss?"

"I don't, I just need you to keep an extra good eye on Dee. I don't need his… attitude towards the higher ups ruining this."

Ryo nodded as he looked out the office window, into the main lobby, where he saw the man in question, acting like a lunatic, "I understand completely sir, and I will be there to make sure my partner doesn't do anything that would…make you, or the rest of us here at the Precinct look bad."

"Thank you for your understanding of the situation, now on to other business, how is the Smyth case coming along?"

"Slow sir, however we have a good idea of how he gets to his victims, the way that he does."

"How so?"

"Their food sir. The results from the labs show that each person had eaten the same substance within the same amount of time of coming in contact with Smyth."

"It's truly amazing how snooping around in some ones stomach could produce somewhat useful information… are you taking up and following this lead to some restaurant or food ordering system?"

"Yes chief, we're going to start that soon as we can. We are trying to figure out if Smyth worked through another business or if he was a privet sales man."

"Good, try to find out before I make the food order, I don't want to be killing my bosses boss, with out realizing it."

"You probably wont have much to worry about sir, not unless you tend to serve kuro-ame as a main dish. Remember he did target children."

The chief gave out a laugh and light another cigar, leaning back in his chair he sighed, "You're right Ryo, ether way, get back to work. And remember, you better be at the banquet with Dee, or you'll both in trouble."

"Aye, sir"

Ryo left the office and made his way towards the central work station where he was sure that he had left his jacket, however when he reached said spot, his jacket wasn't there.

"Now…where the heck could I have left it?"

"Talking to your self? Gee Ryo; you never seize to amaze me."

The blond officer turned around to see the red head man that he worked with on more then one occasion, when Dee had switched shifts, or just didn't bother to show up, Ryo tried to be friendly with him, but there was something about this man that just made his blood boil and his hair stand on end,
"Oh, Damien, no I am not talking to my self, just thinking out aloud, that's all."

"I see. .. so, what are you looking for?"

"My jacket, it's not on my chair, where I am positive I left it."

Damien took long and slow deliberate steps around the desk, causally checking the work schedule on the wall as he did so, and today was his lucky break, nether Dee, JJ, nor Berkeley where in the office today.

"Say Ryo," he tossed into the air almost a little to casual, "how about we go grab a bite to eat after work, I mean just maybe at the café the street, just a meaningless cup of coffee between part-time-partners."

Ryo looked at the clock, they where going to get off work for the day in ten minutes anyway, and really if he got to know the rookie better, then maybe he wouldn't set him so off edge all the time. Ryo nodded as he picked up the once lost jacket from the chair on the other side of the desk,

"Sure thing Damien, sounds like a plan. Just let me go hand this file over to Drake, and we can go."

"Sounds good, I'll go get the car, and meet you out front in five?"

"Yup, I'll be there in five."

Damien turned around and walked out the door, he couldn't believe just how easy it was to get Ryo to go out with someone. Ether he was incredibly out of it like everyone says he is, to naïve and nice for his own good, or both. Preferably Damien hoped for the last choice.

True to his word, Damien was out and had the car by the front doors just as Ryo was walking out, as Ryo got in, Damien gave a halfhearted laugh,

"Sorry about the mess, I haven't really had time to clean her out, sense all that's been going on, what with the storm, and the crooks that took advantage of it."

"It's alright, we're just going down the street, besides, Dee's whole house is messier then the car."

The drive to the café was only three minutes, not even, yet it seemed to take forever, well to Ryo at least. There was something about Damien that he just didn't truest, some hidden part of him that was ever so slowly leaking into the front, but was still hidden, and just waiting for the right time to jump out and attack. However when the car came to a halt out side the shop, it was all Ryo could do to not jump out of the car.

As they entered, Damien looked around for any of the three 'Space-Invaders' fortunate enough nether of them could be seen, as the two of them took a seat by the window. When the waitress stopped at their table, they ordered a coffee, and once it had been served they started to talk about various things, ranging from childhood misshapes to work related events,

"So, are you and Dee married or something?"

Ryo chocked on his coffee, after the five second spasm, he looked up, "No, we're not married; we're not even dating… what on earth gave you that idea?"

"Well," Damien twirled the spoon in his cup, "it just seemed like that, cause you two are always together, and act towards each other in a, 'more then partners on a case' sort of way…not to mention Dee's always talking about you like your God's gift to mankind and he's lucky enough to be the one to claim you first."

Ryo's eyebrow twitched, "Does he now?"

Damien just nodded his head and took a sip of coffee, watching how Ryo was taking all this new information in, Looks like he hasn't been informed about the rumors of their relationship, oh well, guess that means that there's just that much more luck for me. Damien sighed as he started at Ryo then at his up and the swirling hot liquid and then back at Ryo, taking in every feature, until he was startled by the sound of a certain brunt's voice,

"Ryo, what are you doing here, I thought you had to work late tonight?"

Damien turned around and then cursed Lady Luck for dragging Mister Misfortune's ass out of bed so that he could work his unwavering magic. There, now standing at their table was the one reason why he could never talk with Ryo for more then three seconds. Dee Laytner.

"Well, they had more then enough people in our department, so the chief said that I could leave early."

"Well then let's go, I found out something interesting about the Smyth case."

Ryo stood and placed money on the table, to cover for his half of the bill, "Sorry about this Damien, maybe we can finish that conversation another time?"

"Absolutely, I'll tell you everything I hear from his big mouth."

"Sounds like a plan. Later kiddo"

"Later."

No sooner had they entered Ryo's apartment, had Dee started firing questions at him, like he was silently accusing him of something that they both knew he didn't do.

"It was just a cup of coffee Dee; it's not like a wedding proposal or something like that."

"On any case, what are you doing Saturday?"

"The company banquet, that we're both going to attend."

"Do we have to?"

"Chief's orders and I am going to be held responsible if you make an ass out of the whole thing."

"That blows big fucking chunks, you know that? All that high class food and bitter-sweet wine, not to mention the chief sucking up to every one in a better tux then his, really it's a waste of time."

"Maybe, but we still needed to go."

"Yeah I guess you're right …what's that a rash?" Dee asked, pointing at a red mark on Ryo's wrist, Ryo inspected the offending mark, and sighed,

"Looks like an allergic reaction, must have been the casserole that I had for lunch."

"Alright, but you should put some cream on it anyway…"

"I will, don't worry. See you tomorrow."

Tuesday

Sunlight poured in though the half open blinds of the apartment. Sounds of footsteps running back and forth, water streaming out of what seemed like every possible exit, phone ringing, T.V. blaring…wasn't exactly a peaceful start to any day. But for Ryo this became the norm, about three weeks after he had first taken in the misfit, Bikky.

Crawling out of bed and into the main stream of life, Ryo walked from the bedroom to the bathroom, carrying his cloths in one hand and a towel in the other. After his twenty minute shower, and ten minute after shower, he exited the bath and entered the kitchen to find Bikky wearing a pink frilled apron, standing in front of the stove, cooking.

"I never thought I'd live to see the day that you of all people wore a pink frilled apron."

"Take a picture, it will last longer…besides, I couldn't find the other one." He grumbled as he slapped something that didn't look to healthy on two plates, he took the apron off and handed a plate to Ryo and sat down with the other one, and took a bite, seeming pleased with him self he ate the rest.

When Bikky hadn't collapsed of food poising due to his lack of a cooking ability, Ryo decided that it wouldn't hurt to try, taking a bite he noted that the…whatever it was, tasted a lot better then it looked, tasted like a Spanish omelet, even though it looked like…anything except what it was supposed to be,

"Bikky," he said, while the other washed what he had used to make the food…substance…"I am going to be late tonight, we're going to be getting ready for the banquet on…" he stopped his sentence short and made a mad dash for the bathroom as he was overcome with a huge wave of nausea,

"Are you alright?" he faintly heard Bikky call from outside the door, Ryo gave a light sigh and splashed his face with cold water, drying off he opened the door and patted Bikky on the head,

"Yeah, I am fine. As I was saying, I am going to be late tonight because I am helping set up for the banquet Saturday."

"Alright, me and Carol are going to a movie anyway."

"Okay, but make sure you come straight home after brining Carol home."

"I know."

Ryo sat in the office, listening, but not at the same time, to Drake drone on about some new murder that was hot off the press. Now normally this would interest him, but he wasn't feeling the greatest, between the growing rash that had moved from his wrist to his upper arm, and the spontaneous and heavy waves of nausea, he wasn't the happiest camper in the woods.

"-hey man, are you even listening to me?"

"What, oh sorry Drake, what did you say?"

"Nothing man, you just answered my question, are you feeling alright?"

"Not really no, I might leave soon…hoping the chief lets me, although if I feel this bad, I don't think he'll mind. After all, I am supposed to be in charge of the food this afternoon."

"Yeah, wouldn't want you giving what ever it is you have to the guests and what not. Wouldn't be a good thing for anyone."

Ryo nodded and slowly rose, so as to not welcome another wave; he slowly made his way towards the chief's office and explained his situation. The chief agreed that it would be best, but he better get his ass feeling well again so that he could come in and check on the food, until then he told Ryo that he would find someone else to do it.

There ends the new chapter one! Chapter two is in the making, with only a few more paragraphs to go! I am so sorry I made you guys wait so long, but I promise you that, now that I don't have school and I don't start working until the middle of August, I should be able to update more on a regular basis