A/N: HAHAHAHA! Wow. Sorry to the few readers who read my fic the day after it came out and were wondering "Who the hell is this Justin person? And why is this suddenly a threesome?" I was writing a scene for someone else to put in their fic that involved QAF's characters of Brian and Justin. Hehe. I wrote them both at the same time and apparently, did not distinguish.
So no worries! Drake kisses JJ, JJ kisses Drake. And that's all.
Although a crossover would be fun... -ponders-
Whatever, on to Chapter 9!
Warning: This is a lot of drama. I suck at drama. You have been warned.
xoxoxo
Shigatsu87: OOO! Thank you for reviewing! That is so exciting to have new readers! I always thought that JJ was a little flighty and got distracted easily. Hehe. Had to throw that in SOMEWHERE. Hope you like this chapter as much as the last!
Neko-Rinny: Much thanks for the compliment. I know people wanted a fast update and I let them down. To make up for it I plan to write almost everyday now. HAHA! You caught my mistake too! Like I said, I was writing a scene for a friend where Brian makes out with Justin in the loft at the exact same time I was writing my own fic. Ooops. I'm surprised my beta didn't pick up on that though! And I sway between Justin and Hunter as my favorite characters. It really depends on the episode. –laugh-
MoonstarSR: Yup. I'm updating as much as I can now. Sorry to leave you all hanging!
Ladybard96: I used to be really upset with authors who only updated one a month and then fell into the trap myself. So, it's allright to get flamed for that. I would definitely understand. I've been trying to perfect my lemons. I still need to come up with more description before I actually post one though.
xoxoxo
Chapter 9:
"You're sure this is the right place?" Drake asked as he tilted his head slightly to the right and raised an eyebrow. The clean white brick and sturdy iron wrought gate gave off the impression of subtle class. Even the flower beds in the front of the house seemed inhumanly perfect with all the plants evenly spaced and angled in strict rows. Of all places that Drake expected an addict to live, this was certainly not high on the list.
"Sure it is," JJ shrugged as he trekked up the cemented pathway, lined with knee high hedges, "Why wouldn't it be?"
Drake glanced around to the left and right, taking in the simple decency of the layout, "Because... it's so... so..."
"Rich?" suggested JJ with a small smile, "Yes, that's why I'm positive this is the right place. Why does everyone think that wealth equals morality? It's the bored, well-off children that really have the time and money to spend on... extracurricular activities. Not everyone mind you, just some."
"Ah, well, guess you'd know that better than I do," sighed Drake as he gently pulled on a thin metal chain, then heard the following tune of the doorbell.
They waited patiently, but received no answer. JJ leaned back against the wall adjacent to the wooden door, while Drake tried the doorbell once more. A minute or so went by, as Drake rocked on the balls of his feet, clasping both hands behind his back. If no one was home, then that was all they could do without a warrant. Deciding to give up and try another day, JJ pushed himself off the brick wall and began to lead his partner away with one arm around his waist. They hadn't taken more than a couple steps of the doorstep before...
"Can I help you?"
JJ's hands immediately snapped to his sides and both of them turned to see a medium built, middle aged lady. She was wearing what appeared to be a burgundy bathrobe and was staring at both of them curiously. JJ was given the impression that they had caught her at a bad time because her hair was frazzled and she had huge purple bags under her eyes. That's odd... usually the upper class cleans up a tad bit better before answering the door.
"Uh, yes, ma'am we'd like to ask you a few questions about Robert Wallis?" Drake chimed in when he noticed that JJ was too busy looking her over.
The woman's eyes bulged and her thin fingers clutched at the doorframe, "What do you want to know? I've already told the police everything I knew."
"Well, we are the police, and we have a few more specifics that we'd like to address if you don't mind," replied JJ, pulling his badge out to show her from the inside of his jacket.
From the look that was now resting on the woman's face, Drake thought it was highly doubtful that they were going to be able to step inside for questioning. She had unconsciously moved her body behind her open door, so that only her head could be seen around it. The way she chewed on her bottom lip, as if to stop the flow of tears, was not encouraging in the slightest.
"Mrs... Wallis I presume?" Drake queried, receiving a quick nod, "We don't mean to upset you or bring up memories of the past. We just need five minutes of your time."
"Yes," agreed JJ, "After we ask these brief questions, you won't be hearing from us again."
Hoping that they sounded sincere enough, they waiting as silence hung in the air. The woman looked as if she was sizing up her options and figuring out which one will remove them the quickest from her property. "All right, but just a few minutes," she ceded as she opened her door a little wider for the two officers to squeeze through.
If the outside of the estate had been impressive, it was nothing like the interior. A white marble staircase stood before them intimidatingly as the sheer openness of the front hall took his breath away. To Drake's left there was a family portrait of three smiling figures, not the type taken with a camera, but a painting with oils and canvas. The same middle aged woman that answered the door was sitting gracefully in a high back chair with, who Drake thought, were her husband and son each holding one of her shoulders. It was the perfect vision of what family was supposed to be. A respectable entrepreneur, his loving wife, and their successful son, groomed to take over the family business. Drake was pulled out of reverie when JJ called for him to follow them into the living room.
"Just take a seat there," Mrs. Wallis barked as she gestured to a black leather couch. Drake and JJ took a seat, making sure to space themselves a foot or two apart for modesty. Usually they would cuddle up thigh-to-thigh, but both of them doubted that now would be appropriate moment for that.
JJ flipped open his petite journal to a blank page and looked up into cold, disapproving eyes, "Mrs. Wallis, have you ever heard of a man named John Webber?"
The ruffled woman flinched from her seat on the facing armchair but answered, "No."
Undeterred, JJ pressed on, "Did you know that your son was buying illegal substances from his school?"
The woman's eyes narrowed into hard slits, "I obviously found out didn't I? That became quite clear from the autopsy report."
"So you had no idea that your son was taking ecstasy?"
"No! I didn't! And I don't see how any of this is relevant at all!"
"Now Mrs. Wallis, please calm down," Drake soothed as he scooted forward slightly, "We're just trying to get a few facts straight, that's all."
The graying head of the woman drooped to rest with her chin on her chest. She took two deep breaths, audibly inhaling and exhaling, before raising her eyes to meet them again. "I'm sorry, it's all been so hard on me. Robbie was everything to me... my whole world. All my hopes rested on him and his future..."
JJ's heart went out to the person who was now dabbing at the corners of her eyelids with the hem of her robe. He could only imagine the kind of pain that any parent would go through if their child had died from something that could have been prevented. There was just no way to measure the kind of guilt that would be internalized from that type of trauma. It's a shame that I have to open wounds that were probably on there way to healing...
"Just a few more questions, then," proceeded JJ, "What did Robert do after school ended? Did he come straight home? Or was he involved in any outside of school activities?"
"I... I really don't know," Mrs. Wallis admitted, "I never came home until around nine, and my husband was always away on business. I assumed that he came straight home."
"I see," nodded JJ as he jotted this news down. Well, that doesn't help. Webber could have sold the boy the drugs from four o'clock on. Talk about being out of touch with the family. This is turning out to be useless, the kid could have even bought it from some else besides Webber...
"Where you there in the morning to see him off to school?" was JJ's next question.
The woman rubbed her temple with the tips of her fingers, still distressed at the bombardment of personal inquiries, "Sometimes... mostly he was still in bed when I left for work. Once in awhile I drive him to Oxfield. Not often."
JJ scribbled the last of her comment down. What a complete waste of time ,maybe I should have just let Drake have his way. Last time, I follow my gut instinct.
Drake reached into his pocket then pulled a Polaroid out to have Mrs. Wallis look at it, "So you have never seen this man before? Not even in passing?"
The woman flinched at the sight of the dead body lying on the wooden floor, bloody but still identifiable, "No. Like I said, I've never heard of Webber."
Drake took the photo back and replaced it in his pocket, ready to get up and leave, but JJ shot him a 'something's wrong' look. Drake knew from experience that when the smaller man sent him that gaze of warning, he had better sit down follow along. He had caught something that the less observant man had not. Like Drake had guessed, a tiny red flag had flew up in JJ's mind when the woman was looking at Webber's body shot.
How did she know that this was the body of John Webber, because she said that she'd never heard of him before? She must have known of him and even caught a glimpse of his face, to match the name and picture together. Somewhere in her story had been lying, but JJ had no idea to what extent her truth was stretched.
"I'll ask you again, ma'am, did you know John Webber?"
Mrs. Wallis stiffened at the more demanding tone in which the detective had asked his last question. She pulled her robe tighter around herself by reflex and stared determinedly back, "I told you. I don't know anything."
"Tell the truth Mrs. Wallis. You don't have anyone to protect," JJ declared back evenly.
Drake was starting to catch on to what had occurred just minutes before. Of course! She's got to know who Webber is. Not just know, she must have seen him! Damn, JJ is the quick one. But why on earth would she not admit it? Her son's already dead...
"Then how did you know the picture that Officer Parker showed you was John Webber?" JJ put forward.
"I guessed! That was the only name you've mentioned before! But whoever he is, he has nothing to do with my son," the woman stated in a higher pitched voice, louder than her previous denial.
"You'd be willing to testify to that in court?" Drake pressured.
"Yes! Now I think it's time for you to leave," Mrs. Wallis said upon rising out of her chair, "have you no respect? My son died five months ago and now you're accusing ME of knowing his supposed dealer?"
"I never said that Webber was his drug dealer," JJ uttered softly, glancing at Drake to make sure he was on the defensive as well. She's digging herself a hole... she's let too much slip.
"Get out!" the fuming woman yelled from the living room doorway, "I have nothing more to say to you! Having the gall to harass me about my son! The only thing I had left to hang onto! Get out!"
Drake stepped closer to JJ to stand shoulder-to-shoulder, he was beyond concerned now and had moved right along to accusing. Clearly, the woman knew much more than she was letting on, and the difficulty in which she denied JJ's questions was coming back to haunt her. Maybe she knew about Webber all along, maybe her son was a dealer as well, but why would she care? They're both dead... perhaps she doesn't want Webber's murderer brought to justice because of what happened. That's who she's protecting, his killer.
As if JJ had read Drake's thoughts, his hand made it's way to the back of his belt where he pulled out a pair of handcuffs. "Mrs. Wallis, we're going to take you in for questioning..."
"No!" she screamed from the open doorway, "I haven't done anything! This is uncalled-for! I let you ask me questions and this is how you treat me?"
"The more you keep yelling, Mrs. Wallis, the more it seems like you have something to hide," retorted Drake before taking the handcuffs from JJ and slowly approaching the confounded woman.
"Don't come near me! This is outrageous! You're trying to trick me by twisting my words! You're just using me because you know I can pay the bail money!"
"Your money has nothing to do with it," Drake answered, "And we're not arresting you, we just want to bring you back to the precinct to formally ask you a few more questions."
"This is preposterous! Leave right now! I demand you get out of my house!" Mrs. Wallis continued to screech. Her hands clutched either side of the doorway, her fingernails biting into the wooden frame.
"We're leaving, yes. But you're coming with us," Drake said while taking another step forward.
"No! I'm not going!" she screamed, and then flung herself to a nearby writing desk, flinging the top drawer open.
JJ saw her move and quickly guessed what she was going to do. With the speed that only a sharpshooter would have, he reached under his armpit and dragged out his firearm, just as the woman leveled her own revolver at Drake.
"Put the gun down, now!" JJ yelled, aiming for the region right between her eyes.
"You think I care?!" Mrs. Wallis cackled, "You think I honestly give a fuck?!"
"Just put it down and we can talk about this," JJ rattled off desperately. If she shot Drake now, at point blank range, with no body armor, he would be dead for sure. No second chances. Adrenaline rushed through JJ's veins as he tried to control his thoughts. He didn't care what he had to say or promise, as long as Drake came out of this safely and in one piece.
"I knew you'd come for me!" she grinned menacingly, now gripping the trigger with two hands, "I wondered how long it would take."
What the fuck is she talking about? Drake contemplated, still looking at the barrel of her unfriendly gun.
What's she mean? thought JJ wildly. What's this about coming for her?
Oh fuck! It must mean...
That she is...
The one...
We've been looking for.
"Why did you shoot him Wallis?" JJ demanded. Drake was thinking the exact same thought, but wasn't about to ask anything with a loaded gun two feet away, pointing at him.
"Why else would I shoot him?" she panted as her hand shook a bit, "He killed my son! He killed him!"
"No, he didn't," Drake said timidly, "Your son overdosed on drugs, he had a choice."
"SHUT UP! He tricked him! He made him take it! My son was a good boy, my son would never do that willingly!"
"Yes, your son was tricked by that dirty bastard," JJ nodded. I'll get more with honey than vinegar. "You're absolutely right. But how did you find out about Webber? How did you know it was him?"
"I asked his friends, I asked around school, I waited so someone could point him out to me, it took such a long time... but I finally found him!" Mrs. Wallis cried triumphantly, "And what were you doing huh? Sitting on your fat asses doing nothing about it, I bet. I had to get revenge because YOU didn't DO anything!"
"That's not true," JJ retorted, "We were working hard to track him down."
"And ME a fifty year old mother found him first," she sneered, "How fucking sad!"
At this point the gun was trembling and not only her hands that gripped it. Surely the gun might go off from the mere amount of rapid vibrations, JJ worried. Get the gun out of the picture, have her lower the weapon...
"Using your own brand of justice is not how this country works," JJ shouted, "NOW PUT THE GUN DOWN!"
"You've never had anyone close to you die have you?! You've no idea how bad it feels!"
Just put the gun down, just put the gun...
"No, I've never lost anyone close."
"Well you're about FUCKING DUE THEN!" Mrs. Wallis yelled and took the gun off Drake to shake it in JJ's direction.
This was the only moment that Drake needed to throw himself at the woman and tackle her to the ground. She was so light from apparently not eating, that it was no trouble to keep her flattened on her stomach while he handcuffed her hands behind her back.
JJ almost fainted with relief when he had witnessed what happened. The next few moments were just a blur to him as he tried to recall them later. Drake escorting her, bathrobe and all, out to the squad car while he recited the Miranda rights, JJ calling in for backup to search the household for any relevant evidence, Rose's pleased voice over the radio, and Mrs. Wallis's shrieks all the way to the station.
"He killed my son! He killed my son! I had a right! I had the right!"
oOoOoOoOoOo
"You did a good job Drake!" Ryo complimented as he and Dee walked into the office an hour or two later, "Rose just told us you nabbed the bad guy. Complete confession and everything."
Drake snorted indignantly, "The bad guy was the mother of a dead boy, wearing a bathrobe."
"Oh," answered Ryo, shrugging a little at his inappropriate accusation, "Why'd she do it, hmm?"
Drake finished off his last sentence before closing the file folder and turning his swivel chair to face the other two officers. "Webber was dealing to her son after school. He eventually became so dependent on it that he took one too many one night and suffered a stroke. Eventually, the grief just got to his mother. She went digging around for who sold him the goods, showed up, and shot them. Kallie only survived because the woman didn't have it in her to shoot a baby, who obviously had nothing to do with her son's death."
Dee shook his head in dismay, "That's just fucking depressing. In some ways, you've got to pity her."
"Yes," Ryo breathed softly, "It's never fair that children so young have to die."
"She'll still receive a life sentence. Two homicides isn't looked favorably on in any instance," pointed out Drake, "Thing is, she doesn't care. Without her husband and son, she doesn't see the point in living in her mansion or as someone's cell bitch. They're both the same to her."
"What's the world coming to," huffed Dee as he lifted his feet to rest them on his desk, "A mother killing drug dealers and their girlfriends... seventeen years suffering strokes..."
Ryo smiled gently at the comment, "That's why we're here Dee. We make a difference."
"I know you're right," murmured Dee, "But it's the one unjust case out of a hundred, that just gets ya down, right Drake?"
Drake didn't answer, but simply chewed the end of his pencil in contemplation. There were always slight imperfections with the justice system in New York City. That was to be expected. There was just too much crime to be dealt with flawlessly in each case, so why had this particular assignment struck so close to home? There had dealt with other numerous sad story situations, this should be no different. Should be.
"You want me to go get you something Drake?" Dee offered causally, even though Drake could tell that he was sincerely concerned.
"No, it's all right," he responded, "I've got someone to go look for."
oOoOoOoOoOo
Drake climbed the familiar rickety stair way to the roof of the police station. His heart knew that was where he was going to find his sensitive lover. The tops of buildings is just where he tended to gravitate to when he felt upset, even though Drake had know idea why. So, it was no big surprise when he found a silver haired man leaning over a well-known railing, facing away from the stairwell. He appeared to be lost in thought, since he didn't even turn around to see who had come to join him.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Drake chuckled half heartedly before assuming the same position as the man beside him.
JJ finally blinked and turned his head to the side, eyes bloated and puffy, evidently he had just stopped crying before anyone came up. "Did we do the right thing Drake?"
Taken aback, the blond couldn't think of anything to say. He had not been expecting such a broad question so he was unsure as how to answer. "What... what do you mean?"
"It's just..."JJ mumbled before releasing a strangled breath of air, "What would we have done, if we were in her position? Her son was pressured into his habit... she didn't mean for it to happen."
Drake pulled JJ into a reassuring one armed hug, "No one means for their kid to become addicted to drugs. It just happens..."
"No! It doesn't just happen," JJ cried forcefully, "Kids get forced into all sorts of corners. Many times they make the wrong decisions, but there had to have been coercion behind it."
"Hey, hey, just calm down okay?" Drake cooed as he squeezed the distressed man's shoulder, "Yeah, it was horrible that Webber may have gotten the kid hooked, but his mom blew it way out of proportion..."
"And what would you have done Drake?" JJ asked quietly, "What if someone came and shot Kallima? How would you feel?"
"Stop, JJ, just stop. This has nothing to do with Kallie. Overdosing and getting shot are not even on the same playing field. And Kallie will never get shot."
"The end is the same though right? And I bet Mrs. Wallis never thought her kid would do drugs, just like we're so sure that nothing will happen to..."
"JJ! Snap out of it. Don't even think shit like that. You're getting too worked up over this."
"I'll tell you what, Drake," JJ responded, grabbing both of Drake's forearms to face him completely, "If I knew that someone, somewhere, helped to cause Kallie's death, or even yours for that matter, I wouldn't blink twice at finding the mother fucker and putting a pound of lead in his brain! I'd never be the same if I lost you! Ever! And I know what she must have felt like, because I would feel the same way!"
Drake stood rooted to the spot, shocked at his partner's confession. Not that he didn't feel the same way, but the amount of passion that rose up in his words struck a chord inside him. JJ slumped slightly against the other man's taller frame, resting is head against his chest, still clutching his arms. Neither of them spoke for a long time, they just stayed there in that uncomfortable position, waiting for the other to say something first.
"It's... it's getting late," Drake awkwardly muttered to break the silence, "We should go before Mrs. Henderson calls to wonder why we haven't picked up Kallima or October."
JJ nodded into the detective's jacket, "Yeah, I know. Just, hold me a second. Please?"
Feeling the apprehension behind this simple request, Drake shifted his arms so that they were wrapped snuggly around JJ's waist, holding him to his body and lightly kissing the top of his head. "I love you JJ. I'm not going anywhere. Just settle down okay? It's gonna be fine, relax."
JJ heaved a long sigh, before replying with a weary voice, "I'm okay. At least I will be."
It was another fifteen minutes, before JJ reached up to peck Drake on the lips, then lead him back down the stairway to the car park.
A/N: Wow. Heavy chapter. Well, now you know part of the mystery! You still don't know why Kallie is "dead".
To be revealed later! Dun dun DUNNN!