Disclaimer: Not mine. If they were, do you REALLY think that I'd be here writing fic?

AN#1: BDSM ALERT! ANYONE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT SHOULD CLEAR THE HELL OUT!!!

AN#2: Ok, any homophobes, turn back now. This IS slash, and it WILL contain adult situations. Don't like, don't read. Con crit is welcome, and flames should be at least 3ft high. It gets cold in Berwick during the winter. And the heating bill is atrocious.

AN#3: My muse finally decided to help out. Finally. Most likely because I kept kicking her.

AN#4: I'm sorry that my chapters tend to be so short, but between my bugging friends, my friggin Physics homework, and running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to do everything at once, I don't really have time to write the story out in my head, nevermind on paper.


"Thank God it's only a few more blocks," Adam muttered to himself, "Fucking New York..."

It was an hour after Adam had finally managed to get out of the lab, and he was quickly finding his semi-decent day turing into a bad one. First his car had refused to start, then his cab had been caught in a traffic jam caused by an accident, and when he had decided to walk the rest of the way it had decided to rain.

Scratch that.

Pour.

Adam could barely see ten feet in front of him.

He sighed in relief as he jogged up his building's front steps and through the door. A quick check to see if he had any mail and then he was hitting the sack.

They had found a fifth victim yesterday morning, and Adam hadn't been home since then. The newest nic had been like all the others except for one thing. He didn't have a collar.

Adam inserted his key into the mailbox in the wall, twisted it, and opened the box. he gathered up the envelopes and started to close the the box, but something caught his eye. Paling, he dropped his mail, fumbling for his cell phone. He shakily punched in a number.

"C'mon, c'mon, pick up."

"Bonasera."

"Stella. I think my appartment building just became a crime scene."

Sitting in the back of his mailbow was a bloodstained black leather collar.

********************

"Did you touch anything?" Stella asked Adam.

"Just the mail itself," Adam gestured to the scattered mail he had dropped on the floor.

"Okay, then," Stella set her hit down, opened it, and grabbed some gloves and evidence bags. Then she started the process of bagging, tagging, and dusting for prints. "Anyone other than you have a key?"

"Just the Super and the mailman. And maybe someone who lived in my appartment before I did."

"You know you won't be able to stay here," Stell said, closing her kit, and stripping off the latex gloves. "Not with a murdering leaving you gifts in your mailbox."

"Yeah, I know. I'll check into a hotel or something," Adam sighed, "Think you could give me a ride, Stel? My car wouldn't start back at the lab."

"Sure."

"Alright, then. I'll go and pack a bag," Adam started for the elevator.

"Wait a minute, Adam," Stella called, "I'll go up with you. Just in case."

Adam nodded.

********************

It was just as well that Stella had gone up with Adam. Someone had broken into his appartment.

It wasn't really noticeable until you got into the bedroom. On the bed, layed out as if preparation for wear, was a leather collar and four leather cuffs. Nothing else had been touched or taken.

Adam was practically in shock.

"Adam?

"They're not mine, Stel."

"Shit," Stella swore.

Startled, Adam looked over at her. Stella hardly ever swore.

"This means the killer is targeting you, Adam. No way this is a copycat or a hoax. We've been careful not to have leaks," Stella swore again. "Mac's not going to be happy."

"Mac might not be happy, but I'm pissed," Adam snarled.

Stella looked over at him. "Do you have any idea who could be targeting you?"

"No. Like I said before, I don't live the lifestyle anymore."

"At all?"

Adam rolled his eyes. "I'll go out every couple of months to unwind, but that's it."

Stella nodded and sighed, then pulled her cell phone off her belt.

"I'm gonna call Mac. Get him and Danny over here, process your entire appartment."

"Yeah," Adam said to himself as Stella started to talk on her phone, "Great."


Dun-dun-dun....so, what do you thing Adam is in for? Besides Mac pouncing on him and ravishing him?