Summary: It's Thursday which means it's update chapter day. This time I'm on time with it. Hope you didn't mind the wait and I also hope you enjoy this chapter. Shout out to everyone taking the the time out to read and review. You don't know how much that means to me to have you do that. P.S, this chapter takes place during the Christmas season just because.

Disclaimer: I don't have the sheer brilliance to come up with an idea like this but this story is all me, which may or may not be a good thing.

Chapter Twelve

Christmas spirit filled the air as Dee made his way down the busy streets of New York. It was normal Tuesday afternoon and Dee was trying to find get the rest of his holiday shopping down since Christ was only a few weeks away. Usually he would wait until the last minute to get it done but now that he had extra people to shop for he couldn't afford to wait.

He sighed as he continued his way down the street and heavily wished that Ryo was with him but unfortunately for him his partner had to spend the day in court. So that meant all the shopping was left up to him. Suddenly the sound of his phone ringing in his pocket caused him to pause in the middle of the street to answer it. "Laytner speaking."

"Hey Dee, it's me Katherine."

"Hey, what's up."

"Nothing really, I was just wondering if you had any plans for Christmas and if not if you wanted to spend Christmas with us this year." she asked.

"You may not realize it but Christmas is a very busy time for us, well most holidays seemed to be very busy for us."

Dee couldn't see it but the smile she had on her face quickly disappeared as thoughts of spending a holiday with her son for the first time were thrown out of the window. How could she expect him to drop all his plans for her at the last minute. "Oh I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"No I didn't mean it like that." Dee stated quickly when he noticed Katherine's change of tone. Without realizing he'd hurt the woman's feelings. "I meant that there's a probably chance both Ryo and I are working Christmas Eve and day. Sorry."

"That's okay." she giggled into the phone. "I'll just have to remember that my son is a detective for the city and does not get federal holidays off."

"Unfortunately I don't, sorry."

"Not your fault. Maybe it's better this way. I'm pretty sure if you didn't have to work you would want to spend it with your mother and the children from the orphanage."

"Maybe if you're not to tired from the cooking and eating you could come down to the orphanage and meet Mother."

She was speechless for a moment, to shocked to say anything. "You want me to meet the woman who raised you."

"Yeah. I know she's been dying to meet you since she the beginning and what better time for togetherness than Christmas."

"I'd be honored to meet her, I really would."

"Really."

"Yeah."

"Great." Dee smiled. "I'll tell Mother to be expecting you."

"Okay." Katherine replied. She was about to hang up the phone when a thought suddenly popped in her head. "Hey Dee before you hang up how many children live at the orphanage."

"Fourteen children all together, eight boys and six girls. Why?"

"It's a surprise." was all she said before giving the man another bye and hanging up the phone. He didn't know what to expect from the woman he'd known only a month and a few weeks but he knew it was going to be something great. With a smile he hung up his phone, placed it back in his pocket, and resumed his time with shopping. He still had gifts to buy and no clue as to what they were.

Ryo let out a sigh as he looked up at the clock on the wall. It was only one in the afternoon but it always seemed that court days seemed to drag on forever. Especially when you had to testify.

Currently the court was in recess and Ryo was standing in the lobby bored out of his mind. He took his phone out of his pocket and thought about calling Dee to see what his partner was up to but dismissed the thought. He'd just seen the man a few hours ago. Surely he could go a few more hours without talking to him, he wasn't that clingy or desperate.

Just when he was about to give in and call Dee he felt a light tap on his shoulder. Turning around he quickly recognized who the finger belonged too. "Commissioner Rose." he replied with a mixture of curiosity and disgust, remembering their last encounter. "What are you doing here?"

"Believe it or not looking for you Ryo." Rose smirked as he stood there in front of Ryo. As usual the young man looked beautiful in every possible way.

"Me, what for?"

"I'm sorry Ryo but this conversation deserves some privacy. Would you mind coming with me."

Ryo eyes shifted nervously around the room as he tried to think of an excuse. After last time the last thing he wanted was to be alone with Rose. "I don't know. I'm due back in court in a few minutes." he stated honestly as he gave the clock on the wall another glance. "I'm have to testify."

"I know. I promise this won't take long." he replied back. "I just need to talk to you. Like I said it's very important."

"Okay." He knew he should have spoken to the man where he was. That way if his commanding officer tried anything again he would have witness. Still, it didn't stop him from following the commissioner to a secluded corner of the building but Ryo didn't let his guard down either. "What is it you want to talk to me about?"

"Now the show would really begin." Rose thought happily to himself as he and Ryo took a seat on one of the benches. "I would like to apologize for my behavior last week." he said sweetly, giving Ryo his most sincere smile and placing his hand over his heart. "I am your commander officer and I had no right to cross the line the way I did. Do you think you could ever forgive me?"

Ryo stared at Rose and mentally applauded the man's performance. To anyone who didn't know any better they would believe the commissioner's act but Ryo knew better. Sure the man may be sorry but there was something else going on. He could see it in Rose's eyes. "I think I could sir, as long as you promise to keep all comments and thoughts about my relationship with Dee to yourself."

"I will keep that in mind for future references although at this particular time I don't think that is a promise I can keep."

"What-"

The smile on Rose's face disappeared and was replaced by a slight frown. "Ryo as your C.O it is my job to look after the well-being of my detectives and that includes you. That is why it pains me to tell you this when clearly you are very happy with everything in your life."

"Get to the point Commissioner." Ryo hissed, unsure of what was going on. "I'm due back in court soon."

"Perhaps it would be better if I showed you." replied Rose, making sure the frown and the concerned remained. Reaching into the inside of his jacket pocket he pulled out a thick white envelope and handed it to Ryo. "Please, look."

Confusion racked his face as he slowly pulled opened the flap of the envelope to discover it was filled with pictures. With shaking hands he pulled out the stack of pictures and couldn't believe what he saw. They were pictures of Dee, sitting at a restaurant, with a woman. Lorraine.

Most of the pictures were the same. Them sitting across from each other, noticeably having a conversation but there were a few that really caught Ryo's attention. The two of them appearing to be holding hands and one where Lorraine was kissing him. It was, however, on Dee's cheek but it was still enough to make his heart drop to his stomach and a lump to form in his throat.

"Ryo-"

"Where did you get these from?" he asked with a rigid and hoarse voice.

"It seems as though the woman in the picture is Lorraine Harper. She's an adult entertainer and is suspected of being involved in other adult but illegal activities. Anyways, a woman suspected that her husband was cheating on her with Lorraine and hired a private investigator to find out the truth. Turns out the woman's suspicions were correct, her husband was indeed committing adultery with the woman. She then ordered the investigator to follow Lorraine around to uncover more information about the woman. That's when he took these photos."

"I don't see what this has to do with Dee."

"The investigator never showed the wife the pictures. Instead he recognized Dee from the newspapers and the news and thought it would be his civil duty to tell me what a detective of mine was doing in his down time."

"So this is what, blackmail?"

"No." he replied, shaking his head. "Like I said he's nothing more than a man who believes that it's his civic duty to let me know about the company my detectives like to keep."

Rose continued speaking. "I know this is hard for you but you have to realize that it was only a matter of time before Laytner reverted back to his old habits. From the stories I've heard monogamy wasn't one of his strong suits and perhaps it still isn't."

"No, that's not true."

"Isn't it." Rose replied softly as he placed a hand over Ryo's. His heart flipped with joy when he noticed the other man wasn't pulling away. It was then he knew that he had Ryo right where he wanted him. "You have proof right in front of you of what he's been doing when you aren't around. He's using you Ryo and it won't be long before he takes away everything you have and leaves you with nothing."

It was true. Ryo had the pictures, proof that Dee was seeing Lorraine again but he couldn't believe it. His heart wouldn't let him. Especially not after all the things Dee had said and done for him, to him. The two of them had a special connection, so special that he should at least ask Dee about the pictures. He at least owed his lover that much. "I appreciate your concern for me sir but I trust Dee and I know there has to be a reasonable explanation for this."

"Of course there isn't. You know Laytner better than anyone, about his promiscuous past, and you've certainly seen him lie through his teeth. Especially when it's to get something he wants. He's exceptionally good. Who knows what kinda lie he'll concoct to keep you a doll on his marionette strings."

"Dee won't lie to me, he can't."

"Are you sure? Are you sure that Laytner isn't trying to make a fool out of you?"

"Positive." hissed Ryo, shakiness gone and all doubts erased. For all he knew the pictures could have been altered by someone who secretly had a grudge against his partner. Someone exactly like Rose. "I trust him and I know for a fact he wouldn't cheat on me with that woman."

Rose opened his mouth to respond, hoping to convince Ryo to see things his way when a voice spoke out before he could.

"Detective McLean there you are. Court's about to be back in session."

Rose turned around at the same time Ryo looked up to see that it was Paul Adams, the A.D.A prosecuting the case Ryo was supposed to testify for. Ryo looked up at the clock and saw that he'd been with Rose longer than he'd intended to. It was also the same moment he realized that the commissioner's hand was covering his own. As if Rose's hand had caught on fire, he quickly moved his hand away from his C.O's. "Right, sorry." Ryo apologized as he stood up.

"No problem." Paul smiled, watching Ryo gathering what appeared to be pictures and making his way down the hall. He turned his attention back to the commissioner and the scene he'd witnessed just moments before.

"Is there a problem Mr. Adams."

Paul immediately shook his head. "No, no problem at all sir." he replied as he turned around and made his way back to the courtroom. Well, whatever he saw it wasn't his business. He had enough drama in his life and he didn't need anymore. Not if it involved the commissioner having a secret rendezvous with one of his detectives.

Now you know what Rose and Lorraine are up too. As you can see it's not good. Hope you don't mind the Christmas scene. The next chapter will contain a some angst so beware. Until next time.