Honey Glayzed 21

Mad Men: Part 1

Count D could not fathom the depths of his heart that were attached to his home, this pet shop. He walked the halls trailing his hand on the panels, the drapes, even the walls. Closing his eyes, Count D inhaled the scents. Incense and life. Life from his family, their pets friends. Many meals made and shared. "Hey D," Christopher was almost hesitant to disturb him. "I can't find my homework. It's all done, but..."

"Oh," Count D smiled and Chris could not believe just how beautiful the creature before him was. He was uncomfortable thinking of him in those terms, but the further he went into his studies the more he understood what Count D truly was. "I think your brother packed it away in his portfolio to keep it safe during our travels. I will get it for you."

"It's good to be home," Chris smiled at Count D. No matter what the problem was, Count D could take care of it.

"Yes," It was a simple word, but the accompanying sense of peace, it said so much more.

Break

Ryo sat in his chair sipping his tea with a grin on his face as Dee had entered the man's office without an invitation and the chief was not inclined to ask him to leave. "Sir," Officer Monty poked his head in, saw Ryo and Dee and stammered. "H...H...He's here, sir." Though he spoke with respect to the chief, his eyes never left the high caliber detectives.

"He?" Ryo raised a well sculpted brow. "You have yet to tell me why you asked me here sir." Dee grunted from the pinch Ryo gave him when he would have spoken. "We do have cases that we would like to get back to."

"This case is taking priority," The chief chewed on his cigar. He only lit if after lunch, but it was in his mouth all day, a soggy mess that made Ryo want to gag every time it wiggled when the man spoke to him. Not to mention the man's breath smelled like stale... Well, Ryo would not allow his mind to linger in such vulgar terms, but it was true. "The Commissioner already signed his agreement."

The Chief was smiling when a knock sounded. "Come on in."

When Ryo and Dee turned around in their chairs it was to see Officer Monty showing a ruddy faced, stocky man with dark hair into the office. He wore a power suit that probably costs as much as Ryo's boxers, or so Dee thought from what he knew of Ryo's taste. "What has the commissioner agreed to?" Dee said before Ryo could. The Chief frowned as Dee ignored the man in the office.

"I understand that you detectives have hectic lives," Their chief began with a tight-lipped smile that looked more like a grimace around the saliva soaked cigar. Ryo swallowed bile and looked away from the wobbling object. "But I thought that you would at least be polite to a high powered television executive." Dee turned a small smile to the stranger that fell short of actually polite inquiry. "He works for a show called Hell's Kitchen, featuring Chef Gordon Ramsey."

Ryo saw the executive puff up with pride at the mention of his show. He did not want to tell them that he had no clue who they were talking about. "The name is familiar..." Ryo offered a conciliatory smile to the executive as he shook his hand. "I am detective Randy MacLean," The man's eyes widened at the firm, yet gentle shake of the younger man.

"I am Robert Gabriell," He moved on to shake Dee's hand. "I have seen and heard of you." The smile was pleasant.

"You seem a bit tired," Ryo moved aside. "Please, have a seat." Dee did not move from his chair after Robert sat down but pulled until Ryo fell onto his knee. "Dee..." Ryo tried to stand, but Dee held him. "We are at work."

"Tell me if anyone here doesn't know we're lovers...Married in fact... Twice."Dee let go of Ryo when he felt a ferocious pinch.

Ryo was on his feet giving Dee a vile glare. "That is beside the point." Ryo pushed his hair back then folded his arms over his chest. "But I have explained to you, many times in fact, that I do not like to be pawed in public."

"Just in private," Dee's grin was unrepentant. Ryo wanted to be angry, but Dee's smile was so sensual and so full of secrets. Secrets about him, his body, their passion. Blushing, Ryo turned back to the chief. Dee sipped his coffee to keep from laughing and further annoying his uptight love.

"You have the letters," Robert asked the chief after several moments of painful silence.

"Yes, here," The Chief handed them to Ryo. Ryo placed his glasses on his face before he opened the folder. His brows went up higher at each successive missive. As he read the last one, he handed it down to Dee. "As you can see, someone here is out for blood."

"Yes," Ryo blinked at the understatement. There was even pictures of the high powered chef with what smelled like cow's blood. Ryo would not explain how he could tell what animal it was, but the dragon in him was getting hungry for a burger. "The notes all have the same general theme. It seems the chef ruined the career of another chef and they want vengeance. So how many chef's has he offended? That should narrow down the list."

"Umm... let's just say he's offended a fair few," said Robert.

"You really have no clue who he is?" The chief's voice held a note of amazement.

"Well the nature of the television show is to find the best chef to win the prize at the end," Robert began to explain. "Chef Ramsey's methods may seem unorthodox to some, militaristic to others, but if you can't take the heat then stay out of Hell's Kitchen. The truth is detectives," Robert looked into his cup of coffee. One sip was enough to make him wish he never picked the cup up. He had noted the detectives carrying cups into the office that looked purchased, or otherwise, not from here. "I would say a lot of Chef's have left the show, many of them swearing to harm him. Not to mention the other chefs on his various other shows that he has pissed off over the years. But, this one actually plans it. He say's he will get him the way Chef embarrassed him. On national television." Robert paused then pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his perspiring brow. "Of course Chef Ramsey is unconcerned, he is used to getting vile notes, complaints, and threats."

"So why are you so concerned?" Dee asked closing the file and sitting it back on the chief's desk. "If he is not worried then why are you?"

"This man seems more than just disgruntled, he seems unbalanced," Robert shivered at the thought of some of the letters. "And there's more." Ryo raised a brow. "This guy seems to have an insider helping him. These notes were found in places only security should have access to. Chef Ramsey laughs it off, but the other executives are worried, so I came here."

"Why do you think it is a man?" Ryo did lean into Dee as he looked again at the folder of evidence. "A man might send these, to someone he loved, maybe too much, maybe stalking. But this is hatred. Pure hatred, a woman would feel it is only polite to warn you before eviscerating you. It is an unconscious method, but men are too direct for this." Not to mention he could smell Jasmine flowers, the kind used in expensive perfume. Ryo held that knowledge to himself as well.

"Told you he would be perfect," The Chief nodded unable to hide the pride in the detectives in his precinct. Their private lives was nothing more than that, private. In the office they were the best. "Detective Orcot and Laytner will be your liaisons outside, you will be on the inside, a barrier to him. Should anything happen you will be there to protect."

"Inside?" Ryo frowned. "You want me to guard Hell's Kitchen," Ryo had heard of the restaurant, he nodded.

"No," The Chief smiled. "We need to draw the suspect out, if Ramsey has a noticeable guard, they'll just wait us out then get him later." The chief smiled at Ryo. "I want you on the show as a contestant."

Break

"Yo!" Bikky paused in the act of putting his backpack in his locker. "Bikky, Rain, welcome back." Erick clapped Bikky hard on the back. He nodded to Rain not willing to touch the other boy.

"Hey guys," Rain waved with a grin. "Peter," Rain shook the astounded boys hand then pulled him into a slight, one armed embrace. Peter looked down to see the major height difference. Rain came up to his nose. "Nice to see you again. Happy to see the arm working."

"Yeah, the cast came off last week," Peter was blushing, but happy, if a bit stunned. "Erick came with me and my mom to the doctor to get it off." Peter showed his hand and Rain noted the ring glinting there. It was not the first time he had seen it. "Very nice," Rain pulled a large apple from his locker.

"Dude," Erick frowned. "We just had breakfast, you brought leftover waffles from home, it was a lot. You're still eating."

"He could eat even if there was a war of ancients going on around him," Rain bit his apple despite his brother's teasing. While the other boys were laughing, Ryan looked away. He clearly recalled sitting through a meal while Vlad Dracula and his son, Mihnea the Evil had yelled at Radu the Handsome. All creatures that were supposed to have died centuries ago. Ryan looked between Rain and Bikky. How could they be alright? He feared he was permanently scarred by the entire kingdom of Arcadia. First the trip from hell, then the mad king and his entire court of ferocious beast, that could possibly digest him. "Hey," Ryan nearly leaped from his skin when Bikky passed a hand near him. He moved before the hand could connect. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, jet lag," Ryan swallowed then swiped a hand over his pale brow. "I think I need to see the nurse and go home. You guys are used to globe trotting. I'm wiped." Bikky nodded his head then shook it as his friend walked off. He had told Dee last night that he feared that Ryan was not adjusting well to Arcadia. Dee said to just let him be, to act normal and maybe he would settle down. Bikky sure hoped so, the alternative was unthinkable.

"It seems like you guys were gone forever," Erick complained after they started down the hall.

"We were only gone two weeks," Rain said around his mouthful of apple.

"Yeah, but Mrs. Kinnu went on maternity leave, Her replacements is this young guy the girls all pant for."Erick went on. "He's a real hard ass too. And the new history teacher is a pain."

"And we got new students," Peter wrinkled his nose. "One of them is a snob, oh speak of the uppity snot now." Peter said the rest under his nose.

"Hey Rain," Rain paused at the familiar greeting when he had never met this person in his life. "I'm Anthony."

"Nice to meet you," Rain smiled then moved to go to his class before the bell rang. "See you around."

"You're just going to walk away?" Anthony paused his bright blue eyes flashing his ire as he fluffed his deep blond hair. "Do you know who I am?" Anthony walked over as if to touch Rain but having gained Rain's cold attention he paused. Rain's heavy, khol-lined eyes narrowed. He looked down at the hand reaching out to him. Anthony brought his hand back. He straitened his jacket almost as if it had been his original intent. "My father knows your king. He met him once, visits the consulate often. He is the affairs handler for the states. I came to this school to meet you."

"So you've met me," Rain shouldered his backpack. "It was nice to meet you." Rain offered the smile he reserved for his fans worldwide. "Now, I am afraid I must get to class, the last thing I need is detention. If I don't get my homework done when I get home tonight, I will have to do it tomorrow and then I will be late for rehearsal and Daphy will have a fit."

"You call high prince Daphnus, Daphy?" Anthony paused, his awe taking over his attitude. His father had told of his encounter with the high prince. The man had left his father unnerved and babbling.

"Only when he is stealing the high princesses cookie dough," Rain muttered to which Bikky laughed clapping him on the back. Anthony was left staring after the boys. They reached their class just as the bell rang.

Break

"Contestant?" Ryo frowned then looked at Robert. "For a television cooking show."

"It's perfect," The chief nodded proud of his plan. "I have heard on many occasions that you are a cook to be reckoned with."

"My baby's the best," Dee nodded with a satisfied smile.

"Dee," Ryo turned a slight shade of pink. "How long will the taping be, a week, two."

"A month," Robert informed him pulling another envelope from his pocket. "We will have to make a video of you, submit it. I can get you so far as the final selection, ultimately it will be Ramsey's choice, we can hint, or strongly suggest. I can get you in, but you have to survive on your own."

"In... so I report in for taping every day for a month?" Ryo shook his head. "I understand about this case taking priority. I don't mind preventing new homicides, but we have other things to consider."

"No, you will be moved to the dorms, if you make it," Robert explained Ryo looked down at the package that he had been given.

"Dorms?" Ryo paled his dark eyes going wide. He was almost afraid to open it, but peeled it back to see the documents for entry into the contest.

"So he comes home when?" Dee asked not liking the sound of this.

"When...If he is eliminated," Robert said wiping his brow. He could not explain it, but the room seemed to be getting hotter. Dee placed his hand on Ryo's wrist almost wincing at the heat emanating from his lover. "You understand the nature of this type of reality show?"

Feeling Dee's touch Ryo mentally cooled down. "I am flattered that you thought of me for such a case," Ryo was shaking his head. "My family..."

"Many of the contestants leave their family for the duration, it's only a month, you'll be fine," The chief waved away Ryo's denial. "As I said, the commissioner already signed on it. See you in a month from next Friday."

"The Hell You Say!" Dee leaped to his feet and thundered from the office. Vaguely he heard Rose's secretary telling him that the commissioner was having lunch with a friend, but the words meant nothing to him. With Ryo's arm in a tight grip he barreled through the door. "Damn you Rose, this is..." Dee paused as they crashed into the room. He looked around searching for his intended victim. He heard the zipper sound but it did not enter his enraged mind. "This is uncalled for."

"Would you rather wait until Ramsey is dead then solve the case and figure out who did it?" Rose stood behind his desk with his fist planted on the shiny surface. Ryo gasped when Jeremy stood from behind the desk. "I thought you liked cases where you had the opportunity to prevent homicides."

"Don't mistake the complaint," Ryo said to the commissioner while silently he handed Jeremy his handkerchief and motioned with his finger to the side of his mouth. "We would love to be of some use to Chef Ramsey, but this is a risky venture not to us, but to him."

"How?" Rose asked. "With you there, no one will be able to get near him."

"Our boys will eat you alive if you tell them that Ryo has go away for a month." Dee shook his head not looking forward to this family conversation.

"I'm not telling them anything," Rose huffed. "Their your boys, you do it."

"Coward," Dee fumed slamming from the office. Ryo stood still for a moment looking at Rose, then Jeremy. He looked after Dee then shook his head. Though his eyes stung he would not weep, not here, not in front of them all. With his head held high Ryo stalked from the office. In his own office down the hall, the chief of police adjusted the thermometer. Was the AC broken or something? He would swear the whole precinct went up to at least a hundred degrees.

Break

Rain placed his books on his desk then leaned against it. The second to last class of the day always felt the longest. He munched a bag of chips while the rest of the class milled around waiting for the teacher. He had been warned that the new history teacher was obnoxious. Feeling eyes on him Rain looked down at what must have been one of the new students. The young man had gray eyes that were widening as he noticed that Rain was looking at him. Dark brown hair fell in thick, strait locks over his shoulder. "Hi," Rain said with a smile. "I'm Rain." Rain stared at the piece of paper the boy placed on the edge of his own desk. It was the assignment for the day. "Casey?" Rain looked up then smiled. "Your name is Casey."

Casey nodded shocked that Rain would speak to him. Most of the other students made fun of him, or called him stupid. "Class, to your seats." Rain looked up when the teacher walked in. He was a tall man, thin with a mustache that reminded Rain of a caterpillar. He wore a pressed white shirt. Over the shirt was a sweater vest with a mixture of mustard yellow and pea green diamonds. The teachers pants were a cream color. Glancing at his watch, Rain saw that it was still three minutes to the bell ringing. "Seats..." He bustled to his desk setting his leather case down and unrolling a large map. He wheezed a breath in. When he exhaled, Rain could smell the taint of tobacco. But it had something else. Something he recognized, Rain frowned and dropped into his seat. He was calling class early, but Rain hoped that the man would not punish those that came in with the bell. If so, Bikky was not going to make a good first impression.

Bikky came tumbling into the room with his backpack and headphones just as the bell was sounding. He sat in his seat next to Rain and inclined his head. "New guy?"

"No," Rain shook his head with a smirk. "You just forgot him."

Thinking hard Bikky gazed at Rain. "Seriously?" Bikky looked up at the teacher. When Rain laughed he wadded up his gum into a piece of paper and bounced it off his head.

"I see new faces, so I will introduce myself again," At the sound of his voice, Bikky's eyes went to the teacher. The dragon latent in his blood reared his head. Bikky frowned then looked at Rain. Rain nodded to let Bikky know that he felt it as well. Something was not right here. "I am Mr. Howards, I am not here as a cool dude that you would want to hang out with. I am here to teach you about history. Can either of you tell me why it is important to learn about history?"

Rain raised his hand at the same time that Bikky did. Bikky raised his hand offering Rain the opportunity to speak first. "Well Mr. Howard."

"Howards, with an s." Mr. Howards sniffed.

"Howards, with an s," Rain offered his 'fan-service' smile. -'you look like you are in pain,-' Bikky's voice entered his mind. Rain flipped his hair to the side after giving a glare to his brother. "The first reason to learn history is because it is a way to check the advancements that have been made."

"And different battle strategies, for landscapes," Bikky tossed in. "It makes sense to see what has worked in the past and what can work in the future."

"With a few modern tweaks of course," Rain laughed thinking back to the battle at the Arcadian Palace. "It also helps when you are reading literature, or listening to songs. It is good to know what was going on at the time the song, or story was written, it will give you some clue as to what was in the writer's mind at the time and the minds of the intended audience."

"And it helps to know the truth about a scenario when one author destroys the reputation of a national hero for fictional purposes." Bikky nodded thinking of Vlad and his family.

"Well," Mr. Howards sniffed. "I had heard that Rain MacLean was quite the history scholar. Enough with the dissertation. I must teach the rest of the class who needs it."

-'I think he might be in pain,-' Rain thought the words to Bikky glad of the increasing use of telepathy that they had learned from Nestoir and Laton had begun teaching them.

"We are currently learning all about the discovery of America," Mr. Howards smiled as he pointed to a map. "Can anyone tell me the significance of Europe's conquest of this savage land with its equally savage people?" Mr. Howards smiled at Rain. Under the desk Bikky clenched his fists, while the dragon inside, roared.

Break

Ryo sat back at the table with a pensive frown. Angel tip-tapped about, his heels clicking on the shiny floor of the garden boutique. "Well you boys, and girls, look so gloomy." Angel pouted, "You'll ruin the atmosphere in here."

"Collins can cook," Ryo grumbled bringing a fork to his mouth with his chicken Caesar salad on it.

"But Collins can't protect him like you can," Dee sighed. "The chief made the right choice, even if it grates to admit it."

Ryo looked again at the packet that Robert had given him. "Says here I could be eliminated if I don't meet chef's high standards. So I could be home earlier."

"I know you," Dee shook his head. "You won't give less than your best. And that's a hell of a lot better than anyone I know." Ryo blushed a bit, then leaned into Dee's kiss.

"Can I take these with me." Ryo licked the lips then looked away. Sometimes his own boldness shocked him.

"Baby, if I could pack myself into your suitcase, you can be damned sure I would," Dee stroked the baby fine hair at the nape of Ryo's neck. "But someone has to make sure that the boys don't burn the house down."

"So you really have to go?" Leon asked biting his roast beef and veggie wrap.

"Looks like it," Ryo grumbled. "I don't know how obnoxious this Chef Ramsey guy is, but..."

"Shut up!" Angel sat down right in Ryo's lap. "Chef Ramsey is like Satan in the kitchen. That's why it's called Hell's Kitchen. The guy needs horns, I swear it. If Andy saw him, she would probably pull her sword. Collins thought about going on the show, I said no Baby, no. That guy is loco."

"Loco?" Ryo's eyes went wide.

"Swearing, throwing things, spitting out food, he's horrid," Ryo gulped when Angel finished his fingers went around Angel's waist and lifted the small Hispanic man from his lap.

Ryo inched closer to Dee. "If he's that bad, no wonder someone wants to kill him," Dee held Ryo close.

"So that's why you have to go on the show," Angel walked away shaking his head and muttering in Spanish.

"Every year," Ryo shook his head. "The month of March just sucks," Ryo lowered his head to the table. Dee moved his plate aside just in time to avoid disaster.

"So," Jill finished off her chicken sandwich. "How are going to tell your boys?"

Break

Rain handed in his paper to the teacher with a big smile. "Here's my report Mr. Howards with an s." Rain had detailed as much and as accurate as he could. He told it not from the native, perspective, or the white. He listed off events in history. No bias, just facts.

"Funny boy," Mr. Howards looked up at Rain. He was a bit enthralled by the pretty boy and his smile. Before he could say more Bikky was shoving his paper in front of him. Mr. Howards looked after as Bikky placed his hand on Rain's back escorting him from the room. Mr. Howards sat for a moment more then picked up the reports from the students. He already knew what he was giving them, he did not even have to read it. But if he did this, then the boy's parents would have to come up here. Mr. Howards smiled as he thought of Dee Laytner, he had finally found him again.

Break

Count D sat his tea cup down when Leon entered the shop. "You are unhappy." Count D spoke the words after glancing at his husband.

"Perturbed is more like it." Leon sat next to D. Without needing to be asked, Count D began to prepare a cup of tea for Leon. "The Chief and the Commissioner have both decided that Ryo should play the hero and sacrifice a month of his life to protect some obnoxious television personality chef."

"Sacrifice?" Count D raised a brow. "But the lives of detectives are a testimony of sacrifice and duty, dedication with very little reward." Leon stared for long moments at the dark painted nails of his D. The nails slid along delicate porcelain of his teacup. Leon could not have stopped his eyes following the movement than he could stop the air from entering his lungs. "Leon," Count D's voice seemed to break into Leon's thoughts forcing his eyes up into the mis-matched jewels reposing on the beautiful canvas of D's face. "Have you ever thought of not being a detective?"

Leon sat for a while, his mind going back over the years of his life, of their life together. As was his custom, Count D waited in silence. The day he graduated from the police academy, his aunt and uncle had been there, along with his mom. It was one of the last times he saw his mother alive. Chris was so young, he did not even remember his mother. Now he was a strong young man. When he had first met D, he had been trying to arrest him, now he loved him beyond all measure of anything resembling sanity. He was detective when he became involved with Arcadia, a detective when he found out the man he hated, he actually loved, when he became a knight, a father, when he became nearly immortal. "If I weren't a detective, who would I be?" Leon asked instead of answering.

Count D shifted to his feet, his weight seeming to move the world around his frame so full of grace. He wished he could answer the questions for Leon, he wished he could show him the truth of his life. Count D could do no more than lower his head until their lips touched. Leon accepted the touch of the warm lips into his own. Their sweetness was enough to wash away any sourness left by the world outside of the heavily scented pet shop. For a moment more, Leon promised his heart. For a moment more he would linger. For a moment more, the rest of the world did not exist. Leon pulled D into his arms. "I'm going to make love to you." Count D smiled. If that was what his Leon needed, he would gladly offer his body as a buffer to the disruption to his life for the sake of the world he fought so hard daily to protect.

To Be Continued

Author's Notes; We Are On Time!!!!!