"Take a seat, Dee," Buck offered as he walked into the hotel room. "We'll be ready in a moment."
The door to the bathroom opened, and Dee almost choked on his tongue at the sight of the man stepping out. Not as tall as Buck, but equally as slim and well-built, with short dark blond hair still damp from the shower he had obviously just taken and sharp eyes as blue as a mountain lake.
"Hi. You must be Dee Latener," the man said, stretching out a hand.
"Dee, that's my partner, Vin Tanner," Buck introduced them.
"Nice to meet you," he said, letting his gaze run over the handsome body.
Partner, huh? Dee wondered for a second how deep this partnership really was. They were sharing the same room, Vin had just come out of the bathroom… Watching closely, he noticed an addition to his former lover's hand; the silver ring he had seen there earlier today. Tanner wore an equal one.
"We're married, if that's what you're asking yourself," Buck cut into his musings. "Well, as much as we can be…"
Shit, the man was still a mind reader. It was exactly what he had been wondering about. Two men, one room, rings… Married?!
"I don't believe it – someone finally tamed Buck Wilmington," he laughed.
Blue eyes danced as Tanner grinned at him, and Dee had to admit he really liked the man.
"Wasn't easy," he chuckled. "Needed something to knock some sense into this hard head of his. And a friend."
Buck smiled affectionately at his lover – no, significant other, Dee corrected himself.
"Never took you for the commitment kinda guy," he teased.
"Was waiting for Mr. Right. Speaking of which, are we ready? Where's McLane?"
"Ryo will meet us at the Hoop. "
"Okay. Let's roll then, ladies. I'm in the mood for a big steak and a good-sized barrel of beer."
Dee chuckled. "Car's in the parking lot. Let's go."
The Hoop was a bar frequented by law enforcement and associated other
departments. Most of the guys knew each other and greetings were called
all the way round when someone new came in. The food was good and plenty,
with even prices and free snacks. The beer and other drinks ranged from
normal to high prized, depending on what classy drink or cocktail someone
fancied. Dee usually had a beer or two, sometimes a Coke or something equally
non-alcoholic.
He waved at a few fellow peacekeepers from another precinct, spotted
Ted and Drake in a corner chatting with a pair of pretty girls, and finally
managed to get to the table Ryo had kept free. Introductions were made
with Tanner, then the four men ordered their drinks and food from Madison,
one of the regular waitresses.
She flirted with Buck, who gave as good as he got. Dee kept an eye
on Tanner. Buck's partner just watched it all with a tolerant smile, raising
his eyebrows when the red-head had gone back to the kitchen to place the
order.
"Just giving her a good time," Wilmington smiled.
"Any more good time and I'd get the two of you a room," Vin teased.
"How about you get the room and we'll leave Madison outside?"
"Now you're talking."
Ryo ducked his head a little at the open conversation and Dee smiled
slightly. Sometimes his partner could be embarrassed by the oddest things.
He would kiss him in near-public and not care about it, but this rattled
him. Dee knew he would never cease to be amazed by this man.
When the food came, conversation drifted off into the early years of
Dee, the Academy, his partnership with Buck, tales of the rookie, and some
private bits. Vin and Ryo finally fled from the 'gory details' and secured
themselves a pool table, while Buck swapped memories with Dee.
Buck looked at the man sitting at his side, nursing his beer, and frowned
slightly. Time had been good with one Dee Latener – extremely so, given
the way his sinewy figure was displayed under tight jeans and shirt. Years
ago the man had been just a rookie cop with ambitions, and Buck had fallen
into those green pools that were his eyes instantaneously, but not allowing
himself to act on it, until – well, until said rookie cop had grabbed him
and kissed him into next week.
It had been nice while it had lasted, but then Dee had applied for
transfer and Buck had gotten an offer he just couldn't resist. They
hadn't see each other ever since.
Time had changed his ex-lover, too, Buck noticed.
Something was bothering Dee, deeply from the looks of this man. And
from the looks he was shooting toward the pool table where Vin was having
some fun -- and talk, Buck was sure -- with their local ally, Dee
didn't seem to like it a single bit.
Wilmington and Tanner had come to New York on semi-official business.
Official only because it concerned an investigation that was currently
running in Salt Lake, but not so official as Dee would think because it
was a paranormal matter. Paranormal as in 'magic', 'vampires' and whatever
else was normally considered a myth, legend or fairy tale. No one knew
that there really was something like magic and those concerned did everything
to hide the facts.
The Branch, a sub-division of the CSI, was handling the matter, not
the normal crime scene units. The Branch only dealt with the unexplained,
but few knew how unexplained these cases were.
A few dead witches had popped up and while there had been no apparent
discrepancies, it had been enough to raise Chris Larabee's interest. Orrin
Travis had transferred the case from the CSI to The Branch since the other
criminalists were running into dead ends, and after some digging, they
had sniffed out a trail. Literally.
The trail had led to New York and they had contacted their ally in
these parts of the States. The name that had come up had been Detective
Randy McLane. He was classified as a first level ally, someone with an
incredible knowledge of the paranormal, and since he had been involved
in a similar murder spree five years ago, Buck and Vin had come here. Allies
were people without paranormal abilities but who knew that the paranormal
existed, and who assisted those who needed their help. Some of them had
paranormal parents, mostly magic-users since vampires and werewolves became
sterile the moment the 'sickness' broke through. Others had simply slid
into this strange and fascinating world, and they helped where they could.
Without allies, the paranormals would face a lot of trouble. There would
be more 'X-Files' than the movie industry claimed there were, and many
would have been uncovered, maybe even killed.
Ryo, like all allies, was a valuable member of this different world.
His work was highly important and Buck knew that the younger man took it
quite seriously.
That he would also meet an old friend and colleague, a former lover,
had been a surprise to Wilmington. A pleasant one. He hadn't thought of
Dee for a while and it was great to see him again.
So Dee and McLane were partners. Close partners. And Dee wanted to
be even closer. Something about the man told Buck that Dee wasn't using
his usual method of conquering the object of his affection and taking what
he wanted. He had seen the looks, the expressions whenever Dee looked at
his partner, and he knew this was a lot different. This ran very, very
deep. Maybe this was 'it'.
Well, he hoped it was. Dee deserved someone like Ryo, who he had gotten
to know throughout their business talk. He was a nice, devent guy, and
Buck could see where the attraction lay. And it wasn't just the physical
aspect.
"He won't take him from you, you know," Buck said conversationally,
while taking a large swig from his beer, noticing the little flinch his
casual words had caused.
Gotcha!
"There's nothing to take," Dee mumbled.
"Oh?"
"No."
"Then why are you so tense?"
"I'm not tense."
"You sure are. And know what? I bet a month's salary that you're in
love with your colleague. I knew you once, Dee. You never made a fuss like
that."
"I don't make a fuss," was the snorted answer, and Buck simply cocked
one eyebrow.
"Okay, so I'm making a fuss. What's the big deal?"
"Does he know?" Buck answered softly.
He remembered only too well what it had felt like, drooling over a
colleague, not knowing what to do, not knowing if there was anything to
do at all. But fate had dealt him an ace in that department in the form
of one Chris Larabee, who had not only seen and known, but also intervened.
He and Vin had been together for a while now, were actually married in
a sense of the word, and he loved him very much.
Must remember to thank Chris, Buck mused while watching his old friend
drowning his misery.
"I don't know."
"Wait a sec – you love that guy. You're in love with that guy for
how long now?"
"Two years."
Buck whistled through his teeth. Boy, but Dee obviously had it bad.
"And you didn't try?"
A snort.
"Of course I did. Do I look like I got past first base?" he exclaimed.
"What happened?"
Dee ran a hand through his black hair. "Every time I come close… every
time he lets me come close, next thing I know I run into a wall. No, Dee,
wrong time. Sorry, Dee, I can't. Dee, I have to be somewhere… sheesh, but
it's frustrating."
Buck shot the other man a hard look. "What do you want, Dee?"
"I want him," Dee answered after a long minute of silence.
"And what does Ryo want?"
Dee blinked. And stayed silent.
"You know," Buck muttered, "sometimes I think love is egotistic. It's
all about oneself. I love you, I want you, I need you, I want to make you
happy. But what about the other one? What if I'm not the one to make him
happy? What if I'm not what he wants, what he needs? Could I just step
back and watch? Think about it, Dee. What does Ryo want? What does he need?
And are you the one who can give it to him?"
Dee stared at the man he had known so many years ago, the man he had
been with in the past and who had been a lot of fun back then. The words
echoed in his mind and he looked over at Ryo, who was laughing at something
Vin had said. The two men looked completely at ease with each other.
"When have you gotten so wise, Wilmington?" he almost whispered.
The way the other man glanced over at the pool table, the warmth that
blossomed in the blue eyes when he looked at his partner said it all.
"He's more than just your partner in crime." Dee stated.
The CSI nodded. "We've been through so much shit together it still
gives me nightmares."
Dee noticed the absentminded way Buck rubbed his right forearm. He
had seen some faint white lines peeking out from under the long sleeve
of his shirt – seemingly they belonged to this "shit" Buck was referring
to.
"But we've been through it, and we're still here, alive and kicking
and stronger than ever. That's one secret of a successful relationship
– a history together. And of course," a smile graced his lips, "I love
that aggravating son of a gun. I'd die for him."
"That serious?"
"That serious. As I said, I'd die for him. But he forced me to make
a much harder decision. He made me live for him. Think, Dee. You know you're
welcome."
Dee could only nod.
"He loves him a lot," Vin mused as the two men walked down the street,
back to their hotel.
"Yeah."
"And you're surprised?"
Buck shot his partner a look, then shrugged. "Kinda. Dee was never
the committing guy. He loved the challenge of a relationship, but he was
also quickly out of it. He's really serious about McLane. Serious enough
that nothing's happened for almost two years."
Vin nodded thoughtfully. "I talked to Randy. He likes Dee, but he's
confused as to what to think and feel. I believe he wants to let himself
go, but he's scared that no one catches him if he falls."
"Dee would," was the quiet reply. "He would follow him anywhere, do
anything. It's like an obsession for him, without the dangerous craze to
it."
The two men silently walked past the lit up shops, the various restaurants
and bars, and weaved through traffic. Even at this time of the night it
was still a busy street.
"I think his main problem is that he's an ally," Vin finally said.
"Dee has no clue about the paranormal world and Randy is keeping one hell
of a secret. Committing himself to Dee would mean endangering us."
Buck frowned a little but didn't say anything.
"If Randy decided to tell his partner… how do you think Dee would take
it?"
Wilmington chuckled. "He'd call him crazy."
"Like any sane person would."
They had arrived at their hotel and walked inside, taking the elevator
to their floor.
"I trust Dee. Despite his outer brashness, he's good and he keeps his
word," Buck added, closing the door behind him. "It's just a whole lot
to digest. Vampires, werewolves, magic…"
"Yeah. Randy loves him. Dee loves Randy with a passion. I think something
has to give," Vin mused. "Soon. Or they'll destroy themselves."
"Think we should help?"
"At least we should talk to McLane. Tell him that he has the choice.
It's up to him. And Dee would probably make one heck of an ally." Vin smiled.
Buck chuckled. "Uh-huh. You like him, hm?"
"He's a nice guy. Ryo's taken by him, but he has these reservations
that have controlled all his life. He's been dependent on no one but himself
for too long. He trusts Dee with everything but that big part of his life
that is the paranormal."
"We can talk to him. Everything else is up to him," Buck decided.
Ryo sat in one of his favorite cafes, turning a tall order of Latte
Macchiato in his hands. His gaze strayed out of the window where people
hurried by on this early Winter day. There had been snow warnings already,
but nothing had made it to the city yet. The temperatures had dropped and
everyone was bundled up, awaiting the first flakes and the annual chaos
on the streets.
The warmth of the coffee seeped through his skin and into his system,
but he couldn't enjoy it as usual. Too much was on his mind, and every
thought seemed to revolve around Dee. He felt a lot for the man. He loved
him, he had realized a long time ago, but he was also afraid of those feelings.
Dee was a hurricane, a storm, a tidal wave. He surged over him, blew him
away, and he left Ryo flailing for a hold. His kisses made his knees grow
weak, his touches were like fire, and his presence… Ryo felt a hot shiver
course through him and it had nothing to do with the Macchiato.
He loved Dee.
But he was afraid of letting his last shields down, let the other man
see into his soul, know his deepest secrets. Ryo was an ally and with it
he had a job no one but those who needed him knew about. He aided the paranormal
element. He was working behind the scenes, manipulated evidence, did illegal
things… and he didn't want to hide from Dee should he ever take the last
step.
I love him and I want him. I want to feel him. I want more than the
kisses or the very intimate touches. Like the night they had driven home
from the Hoop. Dee had dropped him off, had even accompanied him to the
apartment, and then there had been the kiss. That intense, mind-blowing
kiss. And the touches again. He had fought them, had half-heartedly protested
the fingers slipping along his ribs, down his hips…
They had ended up on the couch. Ryo couldn't remember when that had
happened, only that Bikky hadn't been home.
Suddenly his pants had been open, Dee had been so close, so overwhelmingly
powerful, such an intense presence…
Ryo shivered as he felt Dee's lips on his own again, hungrily devouring
his mouth, coaxing him into replying, into feeling so much. Dee had kissed
him many times before and much to his own surprise he had responded to
him, though he hadn't had any experience with men before. But there was
something about Dee, about the way those intense green eyes looked at him
as if they were able to look right into his soul… and this look – in addition
to a very intense kiss - made his knees go week every time, made him lose
his reservations; every time a little more.
Yet he had been afraid, still was.
Dee's lips had wandered to his neck and Ryo shuddered with the powerful
sensations that was causing, tilting his head involuntarily. Dee had unbuttoned
his shirt, fingertips were wandering over his bare skin, and Ryo sighed
silently as he felt himself harden under the tender touch. If only… if
only Dee could keep this up, not throw him into a bucket of ice water with
the power of his passion, that overwhelmed Ryo every time.
And he loved Dee.
Now where had that come from?
Love? He had feelings for the other man, but would he go so far as
to call them love? Suddenly Ryo was aware of the fact those teasing fingers
had stopped, those hot lips were no longer placed on his skin. Dee looked
down at him, a question in his eyes.
"Ryo? You okay?"
Was he? Was he okay with this? With loving Dee? Loving another man…
loving Dee.
"Yes. I'm okay," Ryo heard himself whisper, surprising himself and
his lover when he reached into those raven black hair and pulled Dee down
into a kiss that was much more than he was used to.
And then he slipped his hands under Dee's shirt, touched his warm skin
for the first time, hearing the other man gasp in surprise, then moan into
his mouth, before he broke the kiss. Ryo had to swallow inwardly at the
heat he saw in the beloved green eyes, mixed with lots of different emotions.
"Ryo… please tell me you're not playing with me here… " Dee whispered
roughly.
I'm not, Dee. Come here… "
And then Dee's lips were back on his own, on his neck, trailing a hot
path down his body.
A hot flush colored his features at the memories and he felt something
stir with the recollection. It had been the first time he had let himself
fall and Dee had caught him, had shown him such incredible pleasure… and
he had simply taken it. For a moment he had given in. They hadn't ventured
far, but for Ryo, it had been like crossing the Rockies in one stride.
Ever since then he had wanted more, wanted more of Dee, of this feeling,
of this satisfaction he felt when the other man was with him. But every
time he had faltered, a part of him had sharply reminded him that there
would be consequences.
Oh Gawd… Ryo groaned silently. What should I do?
'You love him.' Vin's words came back to him. 'Then trust him.'
The two men had flown back to Salt Lake this morning and Ryo had been
left alone with his decision. Of course, they couldn't make it for him.
It was his alone.
I trust him as my partner. I trust him as my friend. I want him as
my lover, but what if he freaks? What if he can't accept the truth?
Ryo shivered.
What if I lose him over this?
tbc...