Chapter 2

Rookie again

The sun was too bright, like a burning disc of plasma in the cerulean sky.

"Sir? Sir, your newspaper?"

"Oh, thank you."

"Say, aren't you…"

"Yes. Good day to you."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"Forget it."

I think I was going to be getting ready to these sorts of conversations, but then from the feeling in my gut as I kept my face passive and calm, I don't think I'd ever get used to them. I didn't even bother to look at the front page headline, I knew what it was. I just slipped back between the people busy ignoring me on the street, that was the way I'd rather have it. My car was warm and quiet and I held onto the comforting paradigm that it could shield me from the eyes of the millions of people outside.

Thankfully the traffic wasn't as entirely horrendous as I had thought it would be. I managed to crawl along at an almost steady pace, watching the road with intent interest and ignoring the eyes I knew were turned on me, even if they weren't. I felt like I was on a raft in the middle of a fast moving ocean; when I was outside I felt like I was drowning. Rather severe I know, but then I wasn't used to this and more importantly I didn't want it. Fame, glory, disgrace and hatred; they all went hand in hand, and I had found out the hard way. A nice neat little package designed to make your life hell and leave you no where to turn. On one side well wishers on the other people rife with odium and disgust. Friends and foe mixed and switched, and my head was still spinning with the speed with which my entire world had been turned upside down.

The traffic stopped. Standstill. Might as well I guess, at least see what they had to say about me…I was going to find out sooner or later. Yet it was hard, hard to look at my picture on the front of the dirty white sheets in my hands and watch them quiver as I turned the pages to find the story. As monster or saviour, I would always be known by someone, the particulars of why seemed to be of little consequence; yet…why was I shaking? This was like…some sort of curse. Now it was just about finding how to break it.

The building three blocks down beckoned to me, and I heard its both jeering and welcoming call. How would they receive me? No, better not to care. Better not to feel. No way to be hurt then, no way.

Just keep reading…and don't feel, don't care.

You can get through it that way.

"Dee."

"Mrphh."

"Dee."

"Wha-mrpph?"
"Dee!"

"WHAT!?"

"Get off my leg, I'm getting cramp."

The office was busy that morning, the bustling of voices and phones and footsteps all rampaging past outside the office of Dee Laytner and Ryo McLean. The young chestnut haired man was sitting studiously at his desk, writing out a report on a bank robbery he and Dee had successfully foiled, and was getting rather irritated with the lack of work ethic his partner was showing. Dee was sprawling not so studiously from his repositioned chair beside Ryo and had his black socked feet in his lap. His head had been buried in his arm at the time of questioning, and Ryo was getting a little more than fed up at Dee's murmuring.

"I'm doing this for you, you know," Ryo muttered back to Dee's persistent use of his lap for a footrest, "so the least you could do is let me do it in peace."
"What do you mean you're doing it for me? You always do the reports," Dee said back with a frown, leaning back in his chair with his hands behind his head.

"Yes but that's not the way it's supposed to work you ape," Ryo sighed back, "I just always seem to end up doing them."

"Right, so you're not doing it for me then," Dee grinned back triumphantly.

"Just get your feet off me," Ryo snipped out what was definitely not a question.

"Okay, okay," Dee complied, slipping his feet from Ryo's lap and into his shoes that sat under his chair, "you're grouchy today."

"Well why shouldn't I be?" Ryo said tightly, "Considering someone who didn't have to be on first shift this morning kept me up all night?"

"Well you weren't complaining last night," Dee muttered.

"Dee will you be quiet? I need you to just be quiet okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure," Dee sighed back, "you want me to do anything other than be quiet?"

Dee instantly regretted his words when Ryo's eyes lit up and he smiled at him expectantly. It wasn't for the fact that he had made Ryo smile, always an ace in Dee's hand, but for the fact that it was the look that usually preceded Dee being asked to do something. I mean it wasn't that he was really lazy, but he had been up late last night and, well, he was tired and…

"Well, yeah actually now that you mention it," Ryo's eyes seemed to brighten at the usually-so-hard-to-pull-words from Dee, "that new guy that's coming in today, you could go and met him and bring him here for me."

"Huh, why?" Dee asked, too confused to be stubborn.
"The Chief's been re-assigned Dee, you can't rely on him to take care of all the bureaucratic business now."

Dee nodded a little gruffly, the sight of the Chief's almost sad grin as he drove off still in his mind. It had seemed a little unreal, losing the man who had been there, well, forever. He just always was there, there to heal up the bureaucratic nonsense and the faux pas, ignore the stupid requests of his subordinates, shout the holy shit out of Dee…now there was no one there and it was odd to feel that strange loss of backup. It was like being sent out into a fire fight with only your revolver and no one at your back. Even when he'd been replaced it would still be odd, still have that feeling I guess. Dee shivered and focused back on Ryo.

"We're still waiting on a replacement and Commissioner Rose is out on an urgent call," Ryo noted the slight tightening of Dee's eyes at the mention of Berkely Rose and tried not to laugh at the sight, "so he asked if we could just keep him covered until he gets back."

"And why us exactly?" Dee sighed, already knowing the answer.

"Because…umm, I mean we're…uh," Ryo faltered and then turned hurriedly back to his computer.

"Yeah, that sneaky son of a bitch," Dee growled, "what did he say to you this time?"

"Just that we were the most reliable pair on the force and so he'd like us to handle it," Ryo said with ruffle of his hand through his hair and a shy look.

"Uh huh," Dee said back with a disbelieving smirk, "if I change that to "I think you're the best man for the job Ryo and so why don't you just come have dinner at my place," then I think I might just have it verbatim."

"Dee, he didn't say that," Ryo said back with a smile, Dee's jealousy too humorous to get him into an argument, "So could you? Go and meet him? He should be here in about ten minutes."
"Yeah why not," Dee scrubbed his face with his hand and then ran it up through his hair, "got nothing better to do."

"Thanks," Ryo smiled again, making Dee feel all warm inside but covering it quite neatly.

"Want some coffee while I'm out?"

"Yeah, thanks man."

The office was busier than it sounded and Dee soon found himself apologising and receiving apologies almost every ten steps for some bump or other. He wasn't quite sure why exactly it was so busy, but it just was. There were voices floating and shouting and shooting about all over the place but Dee was in no frame of mind to catch hold of any of the words, never mind the meanings behind them. Fighting his way through to the main desk he scanned the long benches and the people standing at reception for unfamiliar faces.

-Drake, Ted, Thom, Miranda,- Dee scored them off as he went, -Penelope, JJ, Fred…JJ? Shit don't make eye contact!-

Too late.

"DEE!"

It resounded like a tolling bell of doom around the already bustling office, yet no one but Dee took any notice of it; they were all too used to it already. The little streak of brown and grey that was JJ weaved expertly in and out of his co-workers and leaped for Dee with lightning speed. Dee tried to dodge but found himself hemmed in on all sides by people with wads of paper and parcels and other useless items. Resigned to his fate he just let the smaller man barrel into him, his eyes wide with conquest and the need to divulge.

"Did you hear the news?" JJ bubbled.

"What news, dammit JJ get off me!" Dee snapped mid sentence as he broke free from the grip JJ had on his arm.

"You haven't? Where have you been all morning!?"

"Just spit it out will you?" Dee growled, fed up already at being jostled this way and that by the constantly moving crowd around him.

"Derek Halloren, you know him right?" JJ said following Dee as he finally moved off towards the desk once more.

"Yeah sure, president of Halloren and Grawley," Dee waved a hand nonchalantly.

"That's right, well he's dead," JJ said matter-of-factly, "found him this morning on the sidewalk. They're saying he jumped from his office, was dead before he hit the ground from massive heart failure."

"Sheesh," Dee raised his eyebrows at the news, glad that he could finally put his hands on the reception desk and claim some space for himself, "that's pretty rough."
"Yup," JJ replied, completely unaffected as he stared at Dee.

Dee's eye twitched as he smiled at Miranda, the girl behind the desk, watched the clock tick slowly by and tried to ignore JJ watching him out of the corner of his eye. Miranda smiled back and gave a short knowing laugh after looking at the starry eyes of the smaller man. Dee just shut his eyes and sighed predatorily through his nose.

"Haven't you got somewhere to be?" he asked JJ tightly.

"Not really, it's my lunch break."

"Well then why don't you go have lunch with Drake?" Dee snipped.

"Because I was going to ask you if you wanted to come."
"Then why didn't you just ask me then?" Dee frowned in annoyance.

"I just did though," JJ said in innocent confusion.

"Well then, I'll say no," Dee grated out, riveting his eyes back to the clock.

"What are you doing?" JJ continued annoyingly.

"Waiting for someone," Dee replied.

"Who?"
"No of your goddamn business."
"No need to be like that," JJ rolled his eyes and sighed, "well I'm off for lunch then."
"Right," Dee said monotonously.

He didn't look round as he listened blessedly to JJ's retreating footsteps through the din of the office. He hardly even heard the man walk up beside him and ask Miranda in a politely quiet yet distinguishable voice:

"Hello, I'm here to see Commissioner Rose?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm afraid the Commissioner is…" Miranda started, but Dee took his chance and interrupted her.

"Hey Miranda that's okay, I'm here to greet today," he winked at her.

"Oh, okay Dee thanks," she smiled back.

Dee took in the picture of the man before him as he turned, trying to profile him before he introduced himself. The man was tall and slim, though not quite as tall as Dee himself. His hair was a staggeringly vibrant deep red, crimson almost, and was cut in a loose mop with hair falling into his blue eyes. His skin was quite pale but not freckly making his hair all the more striking. His blue eyes were dark, long and tapering, his nose not too long or too short, and his mouth surprisingly tight. He was attractive, but at the same time foreboding. His suit was a dark grey in hue and cut to fit yet not too expensive looking, and his detectives badge which hung loosely from his pocket was the shiniest Dee had ever seen. He didn't even think that his had been that shinny when the chief had handed it too him (albeit unwillingly).

"Hi," Dee said with a small smile, watching the man like a hawk, "I'm Dee Laytner,"

"Kay Braithwaite," the man said back with a nod after the slightest of hesitations, his blue eyes entirely serious.

"Rose won't be back for a while," Dee said with the least hostility he could, "so he's asked me to take care of you until then."

"Alright," Kay nodded back, picking up the box at his feet, "could you tell me where I can put this?"

"Yeah sure, just follow me," Dee nodded back.

Dee thought he was, in a nutshell, too serious on first impression. Dee knew he was young, he could tell by his youthful assets such as no wrinkles and good complexion, but then he looked so much older with that oh-so-severe look on his face and that stiff, straight posture that made him look like he'd never slouched in his entire life. Dee should know, Dee had slouched…a lot.

-Kids these days,- Dee smirked as he turned and led the way, Kay following behind him.

"So, Kay, rookie detective huh? How old are you anyway?" Dee asked, curious but really only trying to make conversation.

"Why?" came the overly suspicious reply.

"Well, uh, just curious I guess," Dee said as he weaved through the crowd, a little taken aback but trying not to show it.

"Twenty five," Kay replied.

"Oh," Dee commented, his need for conversation severely depleted, "that's pretty young.

Silence settled between them even in the midst of the hubbub of noise the office exuded. They weaved their way back through the crowd, a little harder now that there was a box included, and Dee found that there were a lot of people throwing glances and surprised looks at the new guy following him. He tried to ignore the stir but the glances and all out stares themselves were hard not to notice. Some people were eve whispering to their neighbours or pulling on shirt sleeves to point subtly to the redhead.

-Must be the hair,- Dee surmised, trying his best to take in his surroundings and focus on the stir all at the same time, -never have seen it that red naturally…if it is natural I guess.-

He ignored it for the time being, focusing on just making back to the office alive. It wasn't long before they stumbled out the other side, Dee sighing in relief and opening the door for the box laden Kay. Dee was given a nod instead of a thanks but just shrugged as he followed the redhead inside.

"Hey Ryo," he said clearing a space on his desk for the man to put down his box, "I found him. Do I get my biscuit now?"

"Did you bring my coffee?" Ryo asked without turning round as he finished off the report.

"Uhh…look it's really busy out there you know?" Dee argued.

"That's okay," Ryo smiled turning round, "I didn't really, oh!"

Dee frowned at Ryo's startled exclamation and frowned even deeper when he saw his partners eyes settled on the new guy.

"Oh Ryo, this is…" he started congenially, thinking it was better to wait to break the good news to his partner rather than blurt it right out.

"Kay Braithwaite right?" Ryo asked with a slightly wondering look.

Dee looked to the other man who seemed to stiffen even more than his already rigid posture at the recognition, his hands clenching slightly at his sides.

"What of it?" he replied tonelessly.

Now Dee knew that Ryo could sometimes be a complete air head when it came to the most simple of things, like "Ryo that man wants to shoot you" or "Ryo she's trying to kiss you", but he wasn't always so dull witted when it came to the little things. Emotions were one thing that he was usually on the ball about, and dealing with them was his speciality…well, as long as they were someone else's anyway. So at the small reactions from our new guest Ryo didn't push it any further, even if he did look a tiny bit startled by the reply.

"Yeah that's right," Dee said to Ryo in the silence, just to make some noise, adding to Kay a little tightly "so do you want some coffee too?"

"Yes thanks," Kay said with a slight nod, sitting down in one of the chairs beside Dee's desk with a look of complete neutrality.

"Right…I'll get the coffee."

"Well, that wasn't exactly what you could call helpful."

I looked up from the magazine I had been flicking half heartedly through, wondering to myself if it was really worth the fifty dollars for that little tweed jacket or if it was more important to be spending money on food this month…and more importantly worrying about Berkley. So I had been a little harsh this morning, but it had been five in the morning! I mean who gets up at that time, it had been pitch black! But I was over that now, honest, it was ten o'clock and I was feeling better. Two espressos and a fudge doughnut can go a long way to fill my heart with nothing but love. Yet now I felt that all my compassion had to be spared for the tall man standing over me, his look entirely unreadable as always, even if I knew he didn't really want it.

"What happened?" I asked with a small frown and an offering of a chocolate biscuit from the plate in front of me; well, it would have made me feel better.

"Grawley's just the same as always, stubborn and naïve," Berkley sighed as he took the seat opposite from me, "and absolutely no help other than to himself."

"So I take it he, let me guess, "didn't see anything, heard a scream and only walked into the room to see the window open, etc, etc"."

"Bingo."

I nodded back sympathetically. I definitely didn't need anyone telling me how frustrating it is to have your only witness be as unhelpful as the dead man himself. I had come close to either becoming prematurely bald due to hair-ripping or simply shooting the subject between the eyes to make myself feel better. It had never com to that thankfully, dead me tell not tales; or at least, that's how it used to be I suppose. Now thanks to the helpful world of pathology and our ever wonderful crime scene analysts the dead man could sometimes be more helpful than the living. I still would rather that old man Grawley could have had something for Berkley other than condolences though. His old grieving eyes looked a little too bright for my liking and, like I had said to Berkley earlier, there was definitely more to this case than a simple suicide.

The table at which we sat was a small oak one, a little like the one I had at home but more expensive, and it matched the entire décor of the place. This place was like a set out movie set, something that was a mix between an old gangster movie and a modern bank heist. The sprawling ceilings that led your eyes all the way to the top of the huge windows were a little disorientating at first, but after you got used to it the inverse vertigo wore off. Everything screamed grandeur, from the solid mahogany doors to the pure gold banister bollards to the little oak table I really felt like putting my feet up onto.

"Well at least you've brought yourself into the situation," I said to boost him a little, "you have a footing, that's the least you can hope for at this stage."

"I know, you're right Dee Dee," he said back, looking intently at something above my right shoulder as he spoke, "but it doesn't stop it being annoying as hell."

"Yeah," I laughed back weakly, "I know."

Something was wrong. I've known Berkley since we were both kids and I know when something is up with him. I also knew that it wasn't to do with the death of his uncle, that would have been a different sort of behaviour than that which he was showing to me now. Heck, I don't mean to sound like some sort of Berkley obsessed shrink but I do claim to be able to read his ins and outs with little error. It's all down to subtlety with Berk you see, little things like the clenching and unclenching of a hand when he's angry, or the ten million different types of stare he can give you that all mean different things. Even the way he sits and the way he moves and gestures are all intricate signs to his mood. I know what your thinking, that's the same with everyone right? Well yes, I agree, but then with most "normal" people they have other more obvious signs as well. Berkley is only subtle, it's the main offset of the extremity of his rage when he finally looses it; I'm telling you, you don't want to be there. I've only seen him loose it once and it was not pretty, but heck that's another story and I'm off track. Focusing on the present is hard around Berkley, just because there's so much in our past I guess. There's always something to draw me back to days long gone.

"What are you thinking?" that voice brought me back, even though it was the one that haunted my memories.

"Nothing important," I said back with a small smile, thinking quickly to divert my mind from morbid things, "just wondering how on earth you're going to bring Ryo in on this case with you without arousing suspicion."

"Really Diana," he smirked back, taking the bait and suddenly seeming to me much more like his old self, "why ever would you think I would use such a dirty tactic like that?"
"Really Berk, don't try and play me, I know the way you tick," I said wagging a scalding finger and grinning, "Ryo's told me all about your dirty tactics. I think you need to polish them up though, if you're going to get anywhere."

"No, I don't think I'll be pursuing that road any more Dee Dee," Berkley shook his head and smiled, "looks more like a dead end to me."
"Yeah a dead end with "Dee was here" written on it in big black letters," I said with a laugh, "I think you're right to abandon it."

"Yeah, I thought you would be," he said back, again averting his eyes.

I let that comment pass, not entirely sure what he meant. Berkley never really knew about my not so secret helping of Ryo figure himself out and saving his relationship with Dee. I will be the first to say that Dee is the most annoying man I know, he can riel me up in a second flat, but he deserves all the good things in life. He's had a hard time of it, and if Ryo is what he needs to make his life complete then he should be welcome to that release. I know that it's exactly the same for Ryo too, and I'm glad they worked it out. I know that Berkley showed an interest in Ryo but then it was an odd sort of fanciful, fleeting romance; if you can even call it romance. I always felt that his interest in Ryo was an almost calculating one, he seemed too blasé about the brunettes feelings, about how Ryo really felt. I mean heck, I know Dee was the same to an extent, but he, well…he loves Ryo. Berkley never loved him, he saw him as a project, something interesting, he wanted to see how he ticked, and the physical attraction was only half of his want to…posses him. I feel a little guilty in being glad that Berkley didn't steal Ryo from Dee, but that's for a lot of reasons I guess.

"I guess that there's no reason to be hanging around then," Berkley finally sighed, pushing up out of his chair "we've bee here long enough already."

"Yeah you're right," I said back, "I'd better get back to the bureau and write up the preliminary. Do you want me to call you later, in case I find anything I mean?"

"Sure," he said back, his eyes shielded by his thin rimmed glasses, "if you find anything."

I nodded with strained smile, glad that I was in a public place so that I could let my dignity keep my sudden anger in tact. I mean, what the hell sort of answer was that? I meant it in the nicest way, more an offering of comfort than a backup on the case. Trust Berkley to misread all the signs! How much more subtle did the man want me to be? Hell, it was after ten but it was still too early in the morning for this crap. I needed my bed, seriously, and considering I wasn't going to get it I guessed that another coffee would just have to be a good substitute. Berkley was already walking towards to the door as I yawned after him, hitching my skirt down as I stood to catch up with him.

"Today's the big day," he smirked as we walked out of the ultra shinny glass doors and were greeted by the blazing sunshine, "and I'm already late. Hope no one's too unsettled."

"Yeah, or too confused," I shook my head and frowned, "I mean really, was it necessary not to tell Dee?"

"I didn't not tell him, "Berkley countered, "he just happened to miss the bulletin. Anyway, no one knows, I thought it would be better that way. I didn't want them to get their grudges or praises ready for their new Chief, I want it to be a neutral introduction."

"Mh hmm," I said with a look that said he couldn't fool me, "whatever you say Berk. I just wonder if you'll be able to take the distraction from yourself, he's a bit of a hotshot from what I've heard, and that's over and above the local gossip."

"I think I can handle him Diana, thanks," he said back, looking off towards the sun, his glasses flashing and hiding his eyes, "there's no one I can't."

AN: Well, I don't know if I'm entirely happy with this. I wrote the first chapter in relative ease, it seemed to flow, but I don't know if this is being too confusing. Err, right well, I don't know whether or not to bring the story forwards a little quicker or to leave it at this pace. But anyway! This was going to be Beta read but I got a little impatient, he he, so please excuse any mistakes! As always please R&R.