Summary: So happily this story is finally how it should be. I'm back with Chapter three and I hope no one was too worried. Thanks for all the people who've been reading and loving this story and if you don't like it, well you can't please all the people all the time. Hope you like this chapter and see you soon.

Disclaimer: Of course I don't own it. I didn't even know this existed until a year ago.


Chapter Two


The hours seemed to drag by as Dee and Katherine waited in the hospital room to receive news about Joshua's current condition. After Ryo left Dee was able to find a machine that dispensed tea and happily made a cup for Katherine while he made himself some coffee. Both of them were all ready on their fifth cup. Finally, after hours of silence, the two began light conversation.

"So Dee, how long have been a detective?"

"About six years now." he replied, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Did you always want to be a police officer?"

"Not always but I decided when I was fifteen that I wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement. It was either that or become a criminal."

This made Katherine laugh. "Well I'm glad you decided to become a cop. We have enough criminals in the world."

"What about you? What do you do for a living."

"I own an art gallery, the one of Fifty-six and Lennix."

"Immersion. I've been there before."

Her eyes wondered in amazement. "You like art."

Dee shrugged. "I can't tell you what it means most of the time but I like it. What did you do before you owned your gallery?"

"I painted, drew, sculpted; just about everything there was to do I did it. Finally I became successful enough that I could help others like me get a jumpstart in their career." Katherine smiled as she stared into her tea. "Do you draw Detective Laytner?"

"Please, call me Dee and yes I dabble, mostly with paint but I haven't done it in a while because of my hectic work schedule. Besides, I don't think I'm that good."

"You shouldn't say that about yourself. You don't know how many artist I get that swear their work isn't any good but turns out to be a huge success. Maybe one day you could show me your work and let me judge your talent."

Dee laughed and finished off the rest of his coffee. He couldn't believe how easy it was talking to Katherine about his painting. Painting was something he used to do when he was younger to relieve stress. Not to many people knew about his love for it and he wasn't one to brag about it. Like he told Katherine he didn't believe he was that good.

"I'll think about." Dee finally replied as he got up to throw his cup away. In that very moment a bald man ran into the room and into Katherine's arms.

"David!"

"I got here as soon as I could. Shelia told me about your phone call after I came out of surgery, a triple bypass." David quickly began to explain only to have Katherine cover his lips with her finger.

"David it's all right. I'm just glad you're here."

"How's Estelle and Joshua."

"Estelle's fine, she just got a few sore ribs and a mild concussion but Joshua's in surgery."

"Surgery."

Katherine nodded. "They said there was pressure and swelling on his brain and they had to relieve it before it became worse. I'm waiting to hear back from the surgeon."

David didn't say anything, he just continued hugging his wife when he finally noticed the gorgeous man standing near the trashcan. "Who are you?" David asked sternly.

"Honey this is Detective Laytner. He's the one who pulled Joshua and Estelle out of the car."

The frown quickly faded from his face as he continued staring at the young man. "Oh." he replied, moving out of his wife's embrace and over to the detective. He held out his hand for Dee to take. "Dr. David Myers. Thank you for saving my son."

He happily shook David's hand. "Like I told Katherine I was just doing my job."

"Well still, I feel like I owe you one."

"No, you don't."

"Excuse me Mr. and Mrs. Myers."

They all turned around to the surgeon standing behind him. This time it was an Indian man who was up in age.

"That's us." Katherine answered, walking over to the doctor. "How's Joshua."

"I'm Dr. Kabul and I'm pleased that your son's surgery was a success."

"Really."

"Yes," the doctor smiled. "Everything went great and Joshua is recovering in ICU. He's suspected to make a full recovery."

Everyone grinned happily at the news, each one celebrating silently. Dee was grateful that Joshua pulled through but now realized that he would have to return to work soon.

Katherine seemed to exactly what was bothering Dee as she looked back at him. "Thank-you for staying."

"No problem." Dee smiled back. "But I think I should get going now. If I don't the Chief's gonna bite my head off." He started to leave the room when Katherine called out to him.

"Dee wait."

"Yes."

"Maybe when Joshua's better you could come over for dinner. It's the least we could do for what you done for us and if you're wondering I'm a pretty good cook."

"Katherine you don't have too-"

Katherine interrupted him. "I know I don't but I want to. Please say you'll think about it and you can even bring your partner if you like."

David twisted his face in disgust. "Partner."

"Work partner." Dee quickly replied. He could tell by the frown on David's face that the word partner made his stomach twist in knots. It was enough to tell him that Katherine's husband was slightly homophobic. "We work together at the precinct."

"Still, the two of you should come. I'm sure Joshua would love if you came to see him."

Dee inhaled deeply as he thought about Katherine's offer. It wasn't everyday someone was offering dinner for simply doing his job. He was unsure of what to do but eventually decided to do it. Dee was sure he could get Ryo to come and maybe, he thought, it wouldn't turn out so bad. "Okay fine, I'll come." Dee replied as he pulled out his business card and handed it to her. "Just call me and let me know when and I'll see what I can do."

Katherine took the card and smiled. "I will."

He waved and walked out of the room, leaving David and Katherine alone. Katherine didn't say anything out loud but there was another reason she wanted Dee to come over for dinner. For some reason she wanted to get to know the man better and maybe find out why she felt a connection to him. Dinner together would probably give her the answers she needed.


Ryo desperately wanted Dee to hurry back to the office. It was late in the afternoon and Dee had yet to return. He tried to keep his occupied with work but every so often his thoughts would drift back to his partner. He knew that Dee was okay and not in any trouble but he still couldn't help but worry. Dee seemed to be a magnetic for getting hurt but never sustaining any serious injuries. Ryo thought about calling Dee but quickly remembered the man's phone was dead.

He let out a sigh as he put the paperwork down and leaned back in his chair. His mind drifted from Dee and over to Katherine. He'd only known the woman for a few hours but couldn't shake the feeling that he'd seen her somewhere before. Ryo racked his brain as he tried to figure it out but nothing seemed to come to him. She was never in police custody or a witness for anything. He couldn't remember seeing her in a grocery story or even out on the street. No, Katherine Myers was a complete stranger and yet he knew her.

"What's shaking partner?"

Ryo fell forward at the sound of Dee coming through the door with a paper bag in his hand. He stopped himself from jumping up out of the chair and pulling the man into a hug. Instead he smiled widely. "Dee, you're here."

"Yeah I am. Did you doubt I would be?"

"Of course I did." smirked Ryo. "You do whatever you can to get out of work."

Dee pouted and walked over to his desk before throwing the bag to Ryo. "I can't believe that you said that to me after I brought you lunch."

"Well I've all ready eaten so I guess I'm off the hook."

"Fine, don't eat. Maybe Drake will want it." Dee shrugged. "Where is everyone anyway?"

"Drake and JJ got a break in their Manchester case so they're out. Ted's off and Marty is somewhere around here."

"And the Chief."

"He's in his office, pissed that you didn't come in like you were supposed to but understanding why you didn't. I told him the truth in case you're wondering."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you." smiled Dee as he grabbed one of the folders from Ryo's desk. "So partner, what are we working on?"

"I'll tell you after you tell me about the hospital. How's Joshua?" Ryo asked concerned.

"He's fine. Surgery went well and they're expecting a full recovery."

Ryo smiled. "That's good, that's really good. I'm glad."

"And that's not the best part. Katherine wants us over for dinner."

"Both of us."

"Yep." Dee grinned, opening the folder before closing it again. "She said that she wanted to do something to thank me for what I did. When I started to say no she told me I could invite you along."

"I think that sounds nice."

"Except for the fact that her husband is a complete homophobe. I swear Ryo you should have seen the look on his face when she said I could invite my partner along. I thought he was gonna shit in pants."

Ryo began shifting in his seat a little bit after Ryo's statement. "Really."

"But don't worry I told them that you were just my work partner."

He knew he should have let out a sigh of relief but for some reason he suddenly felt ashamed. It'd been four months since that night on the bridge and yet Ryo still hadn't been able to publicly declare his feelings for Dee. It was if he was forcing Dee back into the closet after years of proudly being out. After the scare at the hospital he knew that he loved Dee more than anything. Wasn't it time he showed the entire world just how much. Ryo decided that maybe it was time that he started that very thing. "Do you wanna go?" he asked his partner.

Dee shook his head. "Not if you're gonna be uncomfortable I don't but then again there's something about Katherine I like. All the same I wouldn't make you do something you didn't want to do."

"I want to go with you; that is, if you decide to go."

"Really."

"Really." smiled Ryo. "And I'll even go as more than your work partner if you want me too."

It was a comment that Dee was sure if had been drinking something he would have spit it out. Ryo actually wanted to come with him as his date no less. The mere suggestion alone made his heart swell with joy. "Ryo you don't have to do that."

"I know but I want to. I think it's time that I show the world just how important you are to me."

"Still Katherine and David are strangers and you shouldn't do something like that in front of them. How about we start off small?"

"Small."

"Yeah." Dee shrugged. "Like maybe holding hands in public so you can get comfortable with PDA. After that we can move up until we're ready to tell our friends and so forth." He leaned forward in his chair and grabbed Ryo's hand. All the love he felt for the man flowed out of his heart and into the Ryo. "Look I know this is still difficult for you, admitting that you're actually in love with me and I'm okay with that. If you need more time coming to terms with it then that's okay with me. I'm not going anywhere I swear."

Ryo smiled as he lifted up one of Dee's hands and kissed it. "Thank-you."

"For what?"

"For being you."

Dee didn't responded. Instead, he leaned all the way forward to give his lover a kiss but was met by something other than lips. He opened his eyes to see a manila folder between him and Ryo. "What the-"

"Paperwork now, kissing later."

"And hopefully some other stuff." asked Dee hopefully.

"Maybe." Ryo replied sternly to Dee. "But only if we finish all our work and I do mean all of it."

"Jeesh, you don't have to be so demanding." Dee sighed as he grabbed the folder.

Ryo simply rolled his eyes and grabbed the folder he'd been working on before Dee could say something else. Smiling to himself he wondered if he could convince the Chief to let them off early so he and Dee could engage in other stuff.


Katherine Myers sat beside her son's bed listening to all the monitors while her husband sat on the other side watching her. Their daughter Elizabeth, Joshua's twin sister, sat at the foot of the bed with all her attention in her PSP. She had only been there for forty-five minutes after being dropped off piano lessons. Elizabeth wasn't worried about Joshua like her parents because she knew her brother would be fine. That brought some reassurance to Katherine who still feared for the worse.

It was late in the evening and Joshua had awoke only once before falling back asleep. The doctors explained to her that the medicine would make him sleepy for a long period of time. David tried to convince her to go home and rest for a bit but the mother refused, wanting to be there when her son woke up again.

"Kat I was wondering-"

"What?"

"When you asked that detective to dinner did you mean it or was it something nice you said to make him feel better."

"I meant it." Katherine replied as she gave her husband a hard stare. "How can you ask me that after what he did for Joshua."

David rolled his eyes. "All he did was pull Joshua out, it's not like he performed surgery on him."

"He saved his life."

"He did his job." David retorted. "He said so himself. He doesn't want praise for doing his job."

Katherine couldn't believe her husband was being so cynical. It wasn't like him to act that way towards people he didn't know. "What is your problem David?"

"I don't have a problem Kat, there's just something about that man I don't like."

Now it was Katherine's turn to roll her eyes. "Please, you're not fooling anyone. I saw the face you made when I mentioned the word partner."

"What-"

"You thought he was gay."

"It doesn't matter, he said he wasn't."

"And what if he was."

"Then he wouldn't be welcomed in my home."

Katherine immediately frowned. "Correction David it's our home and if Dee was gay I would still have him over for dinner."

David scowled. "Even against my wishes."

"Yes I would. Dee is a lovely man that I would love to get to know more."

"I don't get it Kat." David hissed, shaking his head. "Why are you so determined to have that man in our house."

Katherine looked down at her unconscious child and somehow thought of Dee. His hair, his eyes, even his smile reminded her of someone she knew a long time ago. "I don't know David I just have too." There was a connection there, she knew it and now all she had to was prove it.

David remained silent, letting Katherine's words sink into his head. He knew that nothing he said could change his wife's mind. Once it was made up it was over. Still, he wasn't sure how comfortable he would be having two strange men in his home. He sighed and leaned back in his chair secretly hoping that Katherine's kindness would dissipate and all thoughts of Detective Laytner would disappear.


If you're starting to hate this David character you should because he's only going to get worse. Until next time Peace