Thorny Rose

Chapter Six: A Close Call

By: Ree

Pairing: Ryo/Dee, Berkley/Ryo

Rating: R

Ages: Thank you to one of my reviewers! Now I can say that Ryo is around 27-28, Dee is 26-27, and Berkley is in his mid-30's. Thank you very much for that review, it's really helped.

Summary: Berkley Rose is used to getting what he wants. What he wants is Ryo and he's bound and determined to get him no matter what the cost. Taking advantage of Dee's leave of absence, he begins his carefully planned seduction of the naïve man. What will Dee think when he comes back?

Disclaimer: I do not own Fake. The series is Sanami Matoh's, so don't sue me because ya won't get anything.

Author's Notes: It took a lot of thinking, a lot of debating, and a lot of asking other people for their opinions, but I finally reached a verdict! Inspiration hit me when I was talking with my friend Jateshi. Thanks to her, I am able to write this chapter. Thank you to J-chan and all of my reviewers!

As soon as Ryo had returned home, he had told Bikky and Carole that they would be expecting a dinner guest. Carole was very excited, but the young teen boy didn't think too much of it. Still, he trusted Ryo's judgement and helped as best he could. It was only two hours since he had come home when Ryo began to wonder where Berkley was. A knock sounded on the door and Ryo sent Bikky to answer it. When he saw who was there, he looked confused. Ryo was in the kitchen with Carole, setting the table and laughing at something she'd said. Looking up, Ryo wiped his hands on a towel as he came out to the entryway.

"Who's there, Bikky?" he asked, coming up behind the blonde-haired boy. "Oh, hello Commissioner, here, let me help you with that. Bikky, could you help him with his things please?"

"Sure...no problem Ryo..." Bikky trailed off as he accepted the coat Berkley handed him and hung it up.

Ryo brought the pizza and spaghetti into the kitchen where Carole was setting out milk, parmesan cheese, spices, and bread. Beaming, the auburn- haired girl sat down in her seat as Bikky joined her. His blue eyes were curious as he glanced at Berkley, who was chatting with Ryo.

"Ryo, he's not staying is he? Isn't he the guy that Dee always tells you to stay away from?"

"Bikky please, mind your manners. Commissioner Rose here was nice enough to pick us up some dinner, even paid for it himself. The least you could do is be a little more appreciative."

"Sure, no problem, Ryo, I'll be appreciative," Bikky mumbled as he stuck a piece of bread in his mouth.

"Would you like to join us, Commissioner?" Ryo asked as he sat down and began to dish out the pizza and pour the drinks.

"I wouldn't want to intrude," he replied with a smile. "Oh, I forgot, I got you some tea Ryo, but I left it in the car. I'll be right back, just a moment. Please, feel free to start without me."

"No problem, it's not like you're staying," Bikky snorted as he began to dig into his pizza with gusto.

"Bikky!" Carole admonished.

Ryo laughed a little as Berkley headed back down to his car, fingering the little vial in his pocket. When he reached his car, he pulled out the cup of tea and opened the plastic lid. Taking out the vial, he read the words, "GHB" and tipped a drop or two into the drink. If he drinks this...which I'm sure he will...he'll be all mine. Dee will be out of the picture in no time. Heading back upstairs, Berkley swirled the drink a little bit before going back into the apartment and sitting down at the table. Apologizing for the delay, he began to enjoy the meal and engaged in conversation with both Carole and Ryo. He tried to talk to Bikky, but he wouldn't have anything to do with the Commissioner. It was a pleasant evening...until Ryo began to feel dizzy and his limbs heavy.

"Ryo, are you all right?" Carole asked, looking concerned.

"Oh yes...I'm fine. I probably just need to lie down for a little while," he reassured her. "Bikky, could you and Carole clean up please? Berkley, thank you for bringing dinner, have a good evening."

"Here, let me help you to your room Ryo. You don't look so well," Berkley said and got to his feet.

"It's quite all right Berkley, I can get there by myself just fine," he insisted, moving through the kitchen and tried to grasp the countertop for support. "Then again...perhaps I could use the help."

"Carole, Bikky, could you be so kind?" Berkley gave them a warm smile and began to help Ryo to his room.

Bikky frowned as he watched Berkley help Ryo to his room. "I don't trust that guy. He just rubs me the wrong way. Did you see that creepy look of his...and why did Ryo all of a sudden get so tired?"

"I don't know..." Carole answered, glancing at the room. "There's just something about the Commissioner that I like though. He seemed really nice to me. And he did bring us dinner after all."

"Still, I just don't like him."

"Oh come on, you don't like anyone that Ryo brings home. You don't even like Dee and they've been together for over a year now. When are you going to lay off of Dee anyway?"

The two of them started to get into an argument as Berkley closed the door behind Ryo and helped him to the bed. Carefully laying the young man down on his bed, the elder placed his hand on Ryo's forehead. Leaning over, he made sure to look at Ryo's eyes and smiled. Hmm, it appears the GHB has taken effect...he's going to be like this for a while now...he thought and leaned over to place a kiss on Ryo's lips. Groaning, Ryo felt as though his head was swimming. It feels so much like Dee's kiss, Ryo realized. Did Dee come home early? Trying to get his eyes into focus, he felt a tongue invading his mouth. Obediently parting his lips, Ryo wondered why Dee would come home early from his vacation. Oh God, I feel so horrible...like that time on New Year's Eve when Dee and I had too much to drink. Wait a second, he tried to focus his thoughts, but found that difficult.

"You're not Dee...Berkley...stop..." he whispered, trying to push his body up, but felt his arms give out.

"Oh dear, you seem weak Ryo. Don't worry though; your drink just had a little something special in it. It isn't anything deadly, so don't worry," Berkley purred, starting to unbutton Ryo's shirt.

"No..." Ryo croaked, feeling as though his head had been stuffed full of cotton and groaned.

"Don't worry Ryo, you'll enjoy it, I promise. I can show you things that Dee never could show you," the elder man purred as he began to run his hands over the slighter man's chest.

Trying to get up, Ryo's vision began to blur. No...this can't be happening...I was such an idiot! He drugged me and I could have stopped it! Cursing himself, he struggled to move, do something to get Berkley off of him, but the elder man continued to pin Ryo's hips to the bed and began to work his way down. Trailing his lips down the chestnut-haired man's abdomen, Berkley slipped his hands into Ryo's pants and began to unbutton them. Struggling, Ryo knew there was only one chance to get Berkley off of him...and it was in the kitchen. I have to get Bikky...with my body like like this, I can't throw him off! Coming to his senses enough to feel a breeze across his lower area, Ryo's eyes widened as he attempted to struggle, the date rape drug doing its work and making him completely immobile.

"Ryo, why are you fighting it?" Berkley whispered as he moved his hand to fondle and stroke the younger man. "Just trust me, things will be a lot better if you lay back and don't fight the drug."

Damnit, I have to stop Rose NOW! Ryo mentally screamed and willed himself to focus, but found himself slipping in and out of consciousness. Trust a cop to mess up with a drug dosage, he thought and would have rolled his eyes if he could. Hoping that Bikky or Carole would come to see what was taking Berkley so long, Ryo fell into darkness. Smirking, Berkley leaned over and began to lick and bite at Ryo's neck.

"You're all mine now, Ryo...and there's nothing you can do about it," he purred and began to unbutton his own jeans.

He removed his glasses and pocketed them before sliding down his pants and boxers, parting Ryo's legs. Presented with the opportunity he'd been waiting for ever since he met the young man, Berkley Rose smirked. I'm a man who always gets what he wants. As he admired the prize he was about to take, he completely forgot that he'd forgotten to lock the door...

"What are you saying Bikky?" Carole asked as she examined the cup Ryo had been drinking from.

"I'm saying that this cup was drugged! It wasn't just any drug, it was GHB...I'd recognize it anywhere," the blonde-haired preteen answered, taking a taste of the leftover tea.

"Oh no...that means..."

"Ryo!" they both shouted and ran to the room.

Kicking open the door, Bikky and Carole gasped at what they saw. Ryo was sweating and unconscious, head turned to the side and his limbs hanging limply on the bed. On top of him was Berkley, poised and ready to take exactly what he wanted from the unconscious man. It only took a split-second before Bikky charged at the Commissioner. Letting out a scream, he tackled the elder as hard as he could, with the help of Carole. The two of them managed to knock Berkley to the ground and off of Ryo. The blonde haired youth grabbed a handful of the other man's collar and began to drag him out of the room. Carole screamed at Berkley and kicked him repeatedly until they dumped him into the hall.

"Damn you, you'd better not go near Ryo again! If you do, then you'll regret it!" Bikky threatened and slammed the door closed before locking it behind him. "Carole, go check on Ryo!"

She dashed to Ryo's room and sat down next to the young man. Oh man, this is terrible! I should have listened to Bikky! I know Ryo can be naïve sometimes, but this! Getting to her feet, she walked into the kitchen to get a bowl of cold water and a washcloth and found Bikky on the phone.

"Who are you calling, Bikky?"

"I'm calling Dee...Ryo's not going to tell him about this, so I'm going to have to. I know that Ryo felt like he could handle this on his own, but this time it's gone too far, don't you think?"

"Maybe you're being too hasty..."

"Don't worry; I'm sure that Dee would want to know about this. Come on Carole, back me up here!"

"No, we're not calling Dee!" Carole insisted as she made Bikky hang up the phone. "I think we have to let Ryo handle this on his own. If I find out you called Dee, you'll regret it!"

"But, but, you can't do that!"

Carole gave him a dirty look when there was a knock on the door. Glaring at him, she went to answer it. On the step stood a teenager with messy blonde hair and a bag dangling over his shoulder.

"Oh my gosh, are you all right?" she gasped.

"Please...I need to see...Detective McLean. My name is Jason Matthews...I need his help..." he croaked, collapsing to his knees and coughing, his hand scratched and covered in dirt and blood.

Carole helped the boy to his feet and led him to the couch where she and Bikky sat him down.

"What happened, kid?" Bikky demanded.

"Please, I have to see Detective McLean. This guy, named Ed...he killed my parents because they didn't give me to him. Now they're coming after me...please, you've got to help me," he explained.

"Ed? A tall black guy with black dreadlocks, usually dresses in suits?" Bikky wondered, curiously.

"Bikky, now's not the time for that!" Carole snapped and gave him a dirty look. "Can't you see he's hurt?"

"Yes, that's the guy," Jason replied. "Do you know him?"

"He was the one responsible for all of those girls who were murdered. Remember, their fingernails were pulled off, and their lips were cut off. Diana was kidnapped by him," Bikky told her.

"You mean that's the same guy?" she cried, shock written all over her face. "Oh no! First Ryo, now this!"

"What happened to him?" Jason inquired, looking concerned. "Is Detective McLean all right?"

"Let's just say, it's a long story. Speaking of Ryo, Carole, you should go see if he's all right. Jason, you can bunk in my room tonight with me and Carole," Bikky spoke up, taking charge of the situation.

As Carole went to see about Ryo, Bikky pointed Jason in the direction of his room. As soon as those two were gone, he turned to the phone and picked up the receiver. He really didn't want to do what he was about to do...but Bikky knew that if he didn't do it, no one else would.

"Dee deserves to know. So he can help me kill that bastard..." Bikky muttered. "Hello, Diana? Is Dee there? Hey Dee, it's Bikky. Listen, something happened tonight I think you should know about..."

After much deliberation and wondering whether or not I should have had Berkley have his way with Ryo, I finally decided on this. I also think it brings out how much Bikky's matured and how much he cares about Ryo (also, that he really likes Dee, no matter how much he denies it).

I know that Ryo fell for the biggest trick in the book, but I do have a reason: Ryo is all about giving people second chances, and so I figured I'd not only bring out his intelligent side, but also his caring side. And for those of you who don't know, GHB is known as a "date rape" drug. Please let me know what you think!

Ree