Crash and Burn

Chapter 20 – Solutions and their Problems.

Ryo hadn't been up on the roof long before the door tentatively opened and Drake stuck his head out, looking left and right before he spotted the blond detective leaning against the guard rail, his hair blowing gently in the breeze.

"Hey," Drake said, alerting Ryo to his approach as he came to stand next to the other man. "Thought I'd find you here."

"What have I just done, Drake?" Ryo said suddenly, spinning round to face his companion, his face etched in disbelief. "I just couldn't stop myself! I mean, we have to sit there and listen to him tell us what a hard time of it Henry Goldsmith's having because of all the media attention? What about Dee and me? Doesn't that matter?"

Drake placed a supportive hand on Ryo's shoulder. "Of course it matters. Rose is just too stuck up his own ass to see it. Every word of what you said in there was the truth."

"That may be so," Ryo replied as he turned back around and looked down onto the street below. "But I very much doubt Rose appreciated hearing it in front of a room full of his men." He sighed and shook his head at his own recklessness. "What did he say?"

Drake joined him at the guardrail. "He told me to tell you to take the next couple of days off."

Ryo's eyes widened as turned to his companion. Was Rose firing him? Drake obviously read his thoughts as he offered the blond a reassuring smile. "Don't worry; he's not giving you the boot for insubordination or anything. He just made some comment about how he'd obviously underestimated the stress you were under caring for Dee."

Ryo snorted, although he was relieved that he wasn't in serious trouble. "That's big of him," he growled before he shook his head in frustration. "I swear there's something going on, Drake. Rose is getting weirder by the day and Dee still hasn't said anything about him going to see him when he was in hospital."

Drake pushed his hair away from his eyes as the breeze blew the light brown strands back and forth. "Is everything okay between you and Dee? You can tell me to butt out…"

"No, it's okay." Ryo replied, not wanting Drake to feel like he was intruding. He needed someone to talk to and the other man had shown time and time again that he could be relied on. "I think things are okay." He stopped suddenly and looked at Drake squarely. "Do you think Dee loves me?" he asked. "I mean really loves me?"

Drake looked surprised at the question before his face broke into a wide smile. "I think it's safe to say that Dee is well and truly head over heels for you, Ryo." His expression suddenly turned solemn. "No seriously, Ryo, Dee fell in love with you the moment he laid eyes on you. I've known him a long time and I've never known him pursue anyone the way he pursued you. He was crazy about you and still is. Why'd you ask?"

Ryo looked awkward for a moment before he decided to tell Drake everything. "A couple of days ago I asked Dee to marry me."

Drake's eyes widened. "Really? Oh wow, I bet you made his day, I bet…"

"He said no."

"What?" Drake replied, looking genuinely stunned. "Oh… I er…"

"It's okay," Ryo said quickly. "It was stupid of me to ask him. I should have known that Dee wouldn't have wanted to get married."

"Why? What did he say," Drake asked.

"He said there was too much going on for him at the moment."

"And you don't believe him?"

Ryo shrugged as he watched a woman on the street below struggling with several bags worth of shopping. "I don't know…" When the woman turned the corner and disappeared from view he turned to look at Drake. "Why?"

Drake suddenly looked uneasy; as if he was telling tales. "It's just Dee's mentioned wanting commitment before." Ryo looked puzzled so Drake felt obliged to explain. "I just presumed he'd have jumped at the chance to marry you. He's said plenty of times that he wants to spend the rest of his life with you." His dark eyes were sincere. "I think he's telling the truth, Ryo. If all this hadn't happened, I'm sure he'd have married you like a shot. Did he say no and that was the end of it?"

Ryo shook his head. "He told me to ask him again in a few months."

"Well there you go," Drake replied confidently, "You've got to believe him."

Ryo contemplated Drake's words before his expression brightened, a smile splitting his handsome features. "Yeah… I guess you're right. Thanks, Drake."

The other man returned the gesture. "No problem… now get your ass home before Rose changes his mind and makes you work overtime instead."

Ryo chuckled as Drake slung an arm around his shoulders and they both headed back inside.

Rose shut himself inside his office and limped around his desk. The painkillers he'd taken that morning were wearing off and fast, and as a consequence, his mood was slipping into dark territory. He was doubly aching; although he didn't regret going to see Diana, their lovemaking had left him feeling considerably worse for wear. As his thoughts turned to the attractive blond, his eyes strayed to the framed photograph on his desk. In it, he was pictured with a large group of individuals, including Diana. It had been taken as they celebrated the success of a joint investigation with the FBI, hence Diana's presence and the elation on everyone's faces. He himself was sporting a huge grin of satisfaction as his arm was affectionately draped around the female FBI agent's shoulders. At the time, they had just been friends but their proximity to each other on the picture had been a sign of things to come.

Lowering himself carefully into his large leather chair, he picked up the photo and gazed at it for several long moments. Diana was so beautiful. Sure, he liked men too but there was something about the powerful, yet feminine blond that turned his head every time she was around. More so than that, she seemed to understand him like no one else.

Feeling strangely sentimental, he touched her image on the photo and recalled their encounter the previous evening. After he had been beaten as a warning from his so-called friend Henry, he had contemplated where to go. Home had been just as near but for some reason, he had needed to see her. Of course, the way he had treated her the last time she had been in New York, he knew he didn't deserve her time or sympathy but as usual, she had opened her arms to him and offered him advice without being judgmental.

Placing the picture down, he picked up the neatly folded newspaper set in front of him on the desk. He always made a point of checking the papers whether his precinct was making the headlines or not but at the moment, he was spending more and more time pouring over the printed words as the Goldsmith kidnapping saga continued to be the talk of the town. As he unfolded the most recent edition of the New York Enquirer, he was greeted by a large photograph of Henry and his family, accompanied by the banner headline that screamed: 'My Kidnapping Hell' with a smaller paragraph underneath that read 'The truth behind my family's ordeal and how we won't be beaten by these fallacious allegations.'  In the photo, Henry had one arm protectively around his beautiful wife as their two children stood in front of them, both immaculately dressed and wearing expressions that invited sympathy for the nightmare they were continuing to endure.

Seeing the photo was enough to set Rose on edge but as he started to read, he could feel his anger rising. The article was a pathetic, sycophantic piece that heaped praise on the bravery of Henry and his family with no mention of Dee or Ryo and what they had endured. Without realising it, he was scrunching the paper up in his hands as he attempted to swallow the blatant lies before he could take no more, and he forced the offending item into the trash can with a growl of fury. At the same time, he made a snap decision, pressing the intercom on his desk connecting him to his secretary. "Jane, I'm going out. I'll be back later." Almost immediately, the clerk's soft tones came back through the device, sounding slightly bewildered. "Where shall I say you are if anyone calls?"

Rose thought about it for a moment as he hooked his car keys from his desk drawer. "Just out," he replied before he hurried from the office, letting the door slam behind him.

Ryo stepped into the apartment, using the key Ted had given him, and placed his briefcase by the door. "Dee? I'm back," he called, looking around for his lover. He heard the sound of movement before a dark head appeared around the kitchen door.

"You're early," Dee commented, glancing at the clock on the opposite wall.

"Yeah," Ryo replied, stepping away from the door as he loosened his tie. "Rose gave me a couple of days off."

Dee frowned as he worked his way towards the blond on his crutches. "For no reason? Just like that?"

Ryo looked sheepish before he decided to tell Dee the truth. "We had a meeting and I lost my temper. I said… well, a few things that I'm sure Rose didn't really want to hear and stormed out."

"Has he suspended you?" Dee asked, looking worried.

Ryo shook his head as he reached up and tucked some of Dee's unruly hair behind his ear so he could see his face better. "No. Apparently he made some comment about underestimating how much stress I was under, and thought giving me a couple of days off would make amends. He said I could leave straight away."

Dee snorted and nodded his understanding. "Well it's good timing as Polly's just left."

"Yeah?" Ryo replied as he shrugged out of his jacket and took a seat in one of the armchairs as Dee lowered himself onto the couch and discarded his crutches. "How did it go?"

"S'okay," Dee said vaguely. "She's diagnosed me with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Apparently that's why I've been having panic attacks and trouble sleeping."

Ryo's eyes widened as he stood and moved across to the couch, sitting down beside Dee and taking up one of his hands. "So how d'you feel about that?"

 "Now you sound like her." Dee smiled a wry smile before he shrugged in answer to his lover's question. "I dunno, I guess it's helpful to know I'm not going crazy but it doesn't really change anything per se."

"So is there treatment?" Ryo asked and was relieved when Dee nodded. "There are drug therapies but I don't want to go down that route. I've got enough on my plate dealing with my insulin without taking tablets too. The alternative is regular therapy with Polly, much like the stuff we've been doing already. Now that I have a diagnosis she's said the precinct will continue to fund my sessions with her as long as I need them."

"That's good," Ryo replied, nodding thoughtfully before his deliberations turned to the fact that they hadn't been home in almost twenty four hours. He was about to tentatively broach the subject when Dee said suddenly, "Ryo, d'you mind if we go back to our apartment? Not that I'm not grateful to Ted or anything but well, it's a bit weird being in someone else's home. I can't seem to relax."

Ryo smiled; relieved that Dee had suggested what he himself had been reluctant to mention.

After ensuring that the apartment was tidy, they set off in Ryo's car, both anxious to find out whether the masses of reporters camped on their doorstep had got bored waiting and finally gone away. Fortunately they had; and the sound of silence as they let themselves into the apartment was heavenly. As they both crashed onto the couch, Ryo sighed heavily. "Remind me to get Ted a bottle of wine or something to say thank you," he said, glancing at Dee who looked as if he was about to go to sleep.

Before Dee could respond, there was an insistent knock at the door. The two men looked each other; wearing matching frowns since neither were expecting anyone at that time.

"I wonder who that could be," Ryo mused as he went to answer it.

"If it's the DA's office then they're about three hours too early," Dee responded, craning his neck to try and see who it was as Ryo released the catch.

"Commissioner," Ryo said in surprise as he opened the door to reveal Rose stood in the hallway. "You did say I was all right to leave before?" he asked, suddenly worried that Drake may have misinterpreted what Rose had said.

The blond man nodded, although his expression remained grim. "I've come to see Dee. I need to speak with him urgently."

Ryo didn't answer straight away as he did an instant assessment to determine whether he should lie and say Dee was at the hospital. Knowing he was a lousy liar, he nodded and said, "You'd better come in then." Rose detected the slightly hostile tone in the other man's voice and he knew the next part wasn't going to be easy.

"Hello, Dee," he said, stepping into the apartment and seeing the dark haired man on the couch. "I need to talk to you," he said, before quickly glancing at Ryo. "In private."

Just as Rose had predicted, Ryo shook his head vigorously. "Oh no… If you have anything to say to Dee then you can say it in front of me." He looked defiantly at his senior with his hands planted firmly on his hips. Rose turned to Dee; his expression communicating that he would not say what he had to say in front of Ryo.

"Ryo," Dee said eventually, "I'm running low on pain killers and my leg is killing me. Would you go out and get me some, love?" Ryo opened his mouth to speak, knowing Dee's request was nothing more than a ploy to get him out of the way, but his lover continued. "Please," he said, his eyes silently pleading with Ryo not to make a scene. "I'll be okay, really."

Letting his jaw snap shut without voicing his protest, Ryo nodded and moved to the door, collecting up his jacket and checking that his wallet was in the inside pocket. "Okay," he replied, eyeing Rose warningly as he passed. "But I have my cell phone on me so ring me if you want me back straight away."

Dee nodded gratefully as Ryo left the apartment, the door clicking shut behind him. There was a moment of silence as the two remaining men stared at each other before Dee said caustically, "So what do I owe this honour, Commissioner?"

Rose moved to sit in one of the armchairs, wincing as his damaged flesh came into contact with the back of the seat. Dee noticed the pain in his sharp features but didn't say anything as he continued to wonder why Rose was here at all.

"I hear you plan on making your statement today," Rose asked after a pause.

Dee made a face, and went immediately on the defensive. "Look Commissioner, I heard you loud and clear at the hospital so you really don't need to be here giving me this little pep talk. We had a deal didn't we?"

Rose nodded as he clasped his hands together. "Yes we did, but the deal's now off."

"Off? What d'you mean off?"

"I want you to tell the truth," Rose said, fixing Dee with an intense stare. "I want you to tell them what you know about Henry's involvement."

Dee looked stunned and for a while said nothing as he absent-mindedly picked at the top of the plaster cast on his leg. "But why?" he said eventually, "I don't understand…"

"You were right," Rose said simply, "He doesn't deserve to get away with it and I'm truly sorry I ever told you to lie for him in the first place. When the DA's office come to take your statement, make sure you tell them everything."

"Okay," Dee said nodding his agreement; lost in thought as he tried to figure out what might have changed Rose's mind.

"But there will be consequences," Rose said ominously, drawing Dee from his reverie. "Henry will be taken in for questioning as soon the DA's office have your statement. He'll know then that you haven't covered for him. He's a dangerous man, Dee, and he'll stop at nothing to prevent you from testifying. I suggest as soon as you've given your statement, you, Ryo and Bicky pack up some things and we can get you into a safe house until the trial is over."

Dee stared for a moment before he shook his head. "We're staying here," he said firmly. "We're not running away." 

"Think sensibly," Rose snapped, almost shouting. "You have a family to protect," he said, gesturing at the photograph on the coffee table showing Dee, Ryo and Bicky stood together with Cal in happier times. "Do you want them to go through what you did? I promise you, Henry will stop at nothing…" He suddenly felt guilty seeing Dee's haunted expression and tried to make amends. "You're a good man, Dee, and I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, but I know you don't deserve any of this. You can make sure Henry will pay for his crimes but you need to protect yourself at the same time. Take my advice and get to a safe house until the trial starts."

Dee watched as Rose stood gingerly and headed towards the door. "What happened to you?" he asked before the other man could leave. Rose turned and responded with a humourless smile. "Let's just say I walked into a couple of fists, courtesy of my friend Henry." He emitted a short bark of equally humourless laughter. "Stupid man. He actually helped me make my mind up about the whole thing."

"But what about you?" Dee said. "I thought he knew things about you."

Rose looked at him squarely. "Yes he does. They were mistakes I made a long time ago but I can't live with him dangling them over my head every time he wants something. If I lose my job then that's the price I have to pay for being young and foolish once."

Dee nodded, recalling that he too had done things in his past that he wasn't proud of. He actually felt some sympathy towards his senior, knowing how much the other man loved his job and finally appreciating what it would mean to Rose if his position in authority was stripped from him.

"Then I hope it doesn't come to that, " he said honestly as Rose opened the door and was about to step out of the apartment.

"Thank you," Rose said sincerely, "Oh and Dee? I'll destroy that note in Ryo's file. He'll get the job of coordinator of the armed response unit whether I'm commissioner or not."

He was rewarded by a grateful smile, which he acknowledged with a nod before he closed the door, leaving Dee alone in the apartment until Ryo got back.

By the time Ryo did come back, Dee had decided to tell the other man everything. After all; if they were going to have to go to a safe house, then his lover would realise that something was seriously wrong. Although he was nervous, he was also relieved that he no longer had to lie to the man he loved; Rose had released the chains and for that he was grateful to the man that had never previously shown him anything other than dislike and contempt. In a bizarre way, what happened had helped Dee understand more about Berkley Rose and what made him tick. Although he hadn't actually said what it was that Henry knew about him, Dee sensed that perhaps he and his superior weren't all that different after all.

Ryo looked worried as he entered the apartment, even when he was greeted by a reassuring smile from the man he loved. Seeing Rose was no longer there, he hurried into the room and took the seat beside Dee, not sure whether to check the other man was okay or be angry at him for sending him away. Concern however was his overriding instinct and he moved close, his hand coming to rest on Dee's thigh as he gazed into those deep green eyes looking for any sign of pain or fear that their superior's visit might have caused him.

Dee knew the look and leaned in to kiss Ryo gently on the lips. "I'm fine," he said before Ryo could ask the inevitable question, "But we need to talk."

"Sure," Ryo replied, not attempting to hide his apprehension. "What's wrong?"

Dee sat back on the couch and sighed as he rubbed a hand across his face. "The things the suspects are saying about Henry Goldsmith… well they're true. He did plan the kidnapping." Ryo looked surprised, despite having always had the feeling that the millionaire had been involved more deeply than it appeared on the surface.

"How… how d'you know?" he asked, staring at his dark haired lover as he started to speak about things that he'd kept locked up for so long.

"I overheard an incriminating phone call. The suspect that abducted me has already told his brief that I've heard Goldsmith admit his guilt and so I'll be made to testify against him."

Ryo nodded slowly, taking in all of what Dee was saying. "Why didn't you say anything before?" he asked gently.

Dee's reply was preceded by a tight lipped smile. "I was 'asked' not to divulge the information by the commissioner." He watched as Ryo frowned, reading between the lines and realising what his lover was actually saying. "What? Rose told you to lie? On the stand?" He shook his head in disbelief when Dee nodded. "The bastard!" he said angrily, "How dare he think you'd do such a thing!" He stopped as Dee looked up at him, his expression solemn. "Oh Dee, you weren't actually going to do it were you?"

Dee looked away. "There were extenuating circumstances but it doesn't matter now. Rose wants me to tell the truth."

Ryo snorted derisively. "Well that's good of him," he said picturing the subdued commissioner before a thought occurred to him and he frowned. "Wait a minute… Something had happened to him hadn't it? This morning, he was walking like he'd gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson."

His reasoning was rewarded by an affirmative from Dee. "Yes. Rose was being blackmailed by Goldsmith. He has something on Rose that could potentially ruin our commissioner's career. He took a beating last night to remind him what he had to do. Obviously it had the opposite effect." He shrugged, surprising Ryo with his nonchalance.  "You can see why Rose did what he did."

"Surely you're not defending him?"

"Like hell!" Dee snapped. "But like I said, there were extenuating circumstances."

Ryo took a deep breath, sensing an impending row if he didn't take a step back. He trusted Dee when he said there were 'extenuating circumstances' but he still didn't like it. He wasn't sure he'd be able to look Rose in the eye ever again.

"So you're going to testify against Goldsmith," Ryo said eventually. "That should be the end of it, right?"

The nod he received in response was barely noticeable. "Once I've given my statement, Goldsmith will be asked to answer these allegations. He'll know that I've confirmed the suspect's story and therefore gone back on the arrangement that he'd set up with Rose. Rose thinks we'll be in danger once Goldsmith finds out." He looked straight at Ryo to check the other man understood. "Rose says we need to move out to a safe house until the trial's over."

If Ryo didn't realise what Dee had been saying before then he did now. His eyes widened, topped by delicate blond eyebrows that knitted together in concern. "A safe house?" he replied, "Dee, is it really that serious?"

Dee nodded grimly, his eyes sweeping the floor. "Apparently Henry Goldsmith's reach is pretty impressive." He looked up suddenly; anguish swimming within his deep green eyes. "I can't let anything happen to you or Bicky. It'd kill me." His hands went to cover his face but Ryo caught them and held them on his lap.

"Don't worry Dee, I'll sort everything out," he said reassuringly. "I'll arrange to see Bicky's principal, tell him I'm taking him out of school for a couple of weeks. Rose will have to give me time off and we'll have to sort something out with the hospital since you'll not be able to make it to your appointments…" Ever the practical thinker, Ryo had immediately begun to contemplate what this upheaval would mean.

"It'd be easier just to back Goldsmith up and be done with it," Dee said wearily, and although it was just a comment, Ryo knew that the dark haired detective was really seeking his opinion as to whether he should do it or not. Admittedly it would be easier and Ryo was tempted to agree, just to spare his lover any more trauma that would surely be hindering his recovery. However, his strong sense of justice prevailed and he reached up, taking Dee's face gently within his hands and bringing it close to his. "Don't say it Dee, because I know you don't want to do it."

"But you and Bicky wouldn't be in danger then…."

"Shhhhh," Ryo whispered, halting his lover's half-hearted protestations. As Dee closed his eyes, Ryo ran his thumbs gently over the olive lids before he leaned forward and kissed each one gently. "He may not have kidnapped you himself Dee, but Henry Goldsmith is the cause of everything that you've been through recently. He hurt you and he hurt me and Bicky because we love you and hate seeing you suffer. Don't you want to see him pay for what he's done? Rose was his friend and even he wants to see him go down. Sure, lying for him would be the easier option but would you really be happy knowing you'd helped him go free?"

He waited until Dee opened his eyes and shook his head. When he saw the movement Ryo smiled, knowing his lover would make the right decision before he leaned in and claimed Dee's lips, kissing him passionately until they both had to break off for air. "What time are the guys from the DA's office coming?" Ryo asked, sounding slightly breathless.

"Two o'clock," Dee replied, savouring the tempting scent of his lover as they remained intimately close. For a moment he let his mind drift, recalling the first time he'd ever noticed how good Ryo smelled; and how from then on, he'd tried to get close to the other man at every opportunity in order for him to inhale the tantalising aroma that was so uniquely Ryo. A melancholy thought occurred, where he wondered whether life would ever allow him to experience such simple pleasures again without the dark shadow of depression over his shoulder.

Whether it showed on his face or not, Ryo seemed to sense Dee's mood slipping and he decided to halt the decline while he could. He jumped up, and in response to Dee's surprised expression, smiled and said, "Hold on a minute, I'll be right back."

Without another word, he disappeared into their bedroom and was gone for several minutes, leaving Dee to ponder exactly what he was up to now.

TBC…