Sorry this took so long to post. Life caught up with me recently and I had to respond to it. But now that school has started again, I may be able to write a bit more. This is mostly for the people who have reviewed. Something to tide them over. (*Crosses fingers* I hope.)

Anyway, I don't own, so don't sue. Warnings still apply.

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{How are you hold up Ken?} Yohji asked from where he stood next to the brunette. To his right stood Aya and to the left of Ken stood Omi. Omi had a notebook and was jotting down different notes that either, he, Aya, or Yohji made about the different people they were observing. The only one that wasn't making observation was Ken, but then again, he had a different job to worry about.

{I'm good. Don't worry about me, you guys just finish your job,} Ken replied in the same manner as Yohji. The brunette's eyes were closed and he had a look of a forced relaxation upon his face. Normally, he didn't have to concentrate as hard as he was on the task that had been assigned to him, however, there was something added to his task that required Ken's intense concentration.

Because of the required concentration, it was taking a lot more out of Ken than the was willing to admit. He not only had to cover himself, he had to concentrate on covering the rest of the team as well. The others were aware of Ken's stubborn nature and the fact that he wouldn't admit that he was in trouble. The last trait was something that all of them shared. So they were trying to do as best of a job that they could do in the shortest amount of time possible. They had already managed, within the last hour, to eliminate more than half the list that they had started out with.

{It shouldn't take too much longer Ken-kun,} Omi said as reassuring as he could. He did his best to shove his worry for the brunette out of his 'voice,' but he had to be the one that was worried about the ex-J League player the most. {Just hold out for a little longer.} Before Ken could get a word in edgewise, someone decided to make that the moment that they had to comment on another person on the list of potentials.

{Cross out number 36,} Aya instructed. {Apparently they're known as the office 'gossip factory' around here. We don't need anyone like that on our team. Too much of a liability.}

{How many are we down to?} Yohji asked, curious. He would have craned his head to look at Omi in the eyes, but the situation wouldn't let him.

{About 15,} Omi estimated, looking down at his notes. {Why?}

{Cause I know how we can get done with this in the next 15 minutes,} Yohji declared. {Aya, let me have your hand.}

{Just what are you planning to do Kudo?} Aya questioned, looking up at the blond and raising an eyebrow.

{Just give me your hand and find out.} Yohji said mysteriously. With a heavy sigh, Aya reluctantly uncrossed his arms and put one of his hands into Yohji's. Yohji gave Aya's hand a quick squeeze and gave the redhead a confident smirk. Aya didn't scowl back, like he would have normally. Instead, he gave the hand he was holding a very slight squeeze back before turning back to stare out at the mass of people moving around them.

{Alright. Brace yourself,} Yohji warned. With that said, he gave both the redhead and himself a second to prepare, then launched himself and Aya into his latest idea.

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"Dee! Hey Dee!" Drake called out to the dark haired officer walking a ways in front of him. Dee turned to face him, an easy expression on his face replacing the scowl that had been there. He stopped walking and waited for Drake to catch up to him.

"Yeah?"

"Heard you just came back from Rose's office. What did he want to talk to you about?" Drake asked. He figured that this would be a safe way to bring up the topic of conversation that Drake really wanted to know about. It was safer for his health, when Ryo wasn't around, to ease Dee into a conversation that would leave him most likely pissed off as hell. That way, he wouldn't just go off and explode all at once and do something he would regret later.

Dee snorted and pulled hard on his tie. "Rose's just being an asshole as usual. So he decided to use me as a scapegoat and yelled at me for no good reason."

"Are you serious?" Drake raised an eyebrow. He knew, as did everybody else in the precinct, that Rose and Dee were at extreme odd with each other, mostly over the topic of Ryo, but even Rose knew better than to step out of line and use his position for his own personal gain. Or at least, Drake thought Rose knew better than that. Maybe he was wrong. "Do you think there's a reason why Rose is acting the way he is?

Dee snorted and ran a hand through his hair to move his bangs away from his face. "Do you want my personal opinion or do you want my professional one?"

Drake shrugged. "Well, unless you've got somewhere to be, why not illuminate me on both? Come on, lets get something to eat and we'll talk."

"Actually, I was planning on meeting Ryo for lunch today, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind chatting for a while," Dee stated. Drake smirked internally as he thought about how Dee used to act and how he acted now. Ever since he and Ryo had gotten together, through the never ending efforts of Dee, there had been changes in the two of them that couldn't be explained in any other way than by the presence of the other man.

For Ryo, the blond haired man had become a bit more sociable, not that he hadn't been in the first place, but there was more of a relaxed comfortable aura around him now, like he knew where he belonged now. There was also one other change real noticeable. The blond may not have noticed it himself, but the others of the precinct did. Ryo had actually become a bit possessive about Dee and the dark haired man's free time. The changes in Dee were a little less noticeable, unless you knew him well enough. For one, Dee was able to hold onto his temper a bit longer than before. He actually thought now, before he did something that he might regret later. Also, the man planned for the future now. He didn't just live paycheck to paycheck, with just a little put away for emergencies. Dee actually had a savings account at the local bank now, if that could be believed.

"Well, if you're going to meet Ryo for lunch, I won't bother you two for very long. I just want to hear what you think's going on."

"Personally, I think that Rose is finally starting to show his true colors, the dirty louse that he is," Dee started off, gesturing with his hand as he talked. "But that's a personal opinion, not reality. Reality's probably that he's nervous about the hotshots that are going to come down here and mess with his turf. It's been over a little over a week since JJ told me and Ryo about them, and still no sign. I'd be nervous as hell if I was in his shoes. He's probably blowing off some steam by yelling at me, his favorite target for ridicule, trying to get his mind off of it."

"Who's trying to get their mind off something?" a familiar voice spoke up. Drake and Dee turned to see Ryo standing in front of the two men with a curious expression on his face. He had his tan, work jacket draped over his arm and was looking at them expectantly. Before Drake could even open his mouth, Dee beat him to the punch.

"We were just discussing what's up Rose's ass and why the hell he feels like picking on me." That, of course, got Ryo started in defending Rose and his actions. As much as the blond-haired man didn't always agree with their superior's actions, he didn't find fault with him for them.

As the couple bantered back and forth about Rose's good points and bad points, the motivations of different people, and eventually where they wanted to eat for lunch that day, Drake observed his two friends while he thought about Dee's words.

It's funny. Even though he hates Rose's guts, Dee's willing to give him the benefit of a doubt. At least, when Ryo isn't concerned. I guess it shows how much I really don't know the guy if I wasn't expecting an answer as unbiased as the one he gave me.

I wonder what Dee thinks of the rumors that are flying all over the place? I know that I wouldn't mind a larger paycheck, but what would a person have to DO? Still, I think I could handle whatever they toss at me. Well, if I'm going to pursue this train of thought, maybe I'd better leave the lovebirds alone, not that they probably even remember that I'm here…

What Drake thought was probably true because Dee, tired of bantering with Ryo, decided to shut the Japanese-American up the best way he knew how. And of course, Ryo had shut up.

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Oh……My aching head… Yohji moaned pitifully. He clutched the ice pack he had been given to his forehead and pressed it hard against his skull as if he was trying to mesh it into his brain. Most likely, he was. The blond felt like there were a million little pins and needles trying to suffocate and crowd into his brain. The only reason he wasn't going mad with the pain right now was because of the contact with a certain red-head. Somehow, Aya's presence and touch were enough to block most of the pain that Yohji suffered. For Aya… Well, if the leader of Weiss ever really suffered from his new abilities, only his sister or Yohji would know.

Serves you right, Aya stated without pity. He had pulled up one of the more comfortable chairs in the house and it didn't look like he would be leaving it until Yohji was up and about again. All of Aya's current actions and choices belittled the words that came out of his mouth, however. The redhead gave a comforting squeeze to the hand he was holding in his own. I could have taken the blow baka. I'm not some kind of fragile doll.

Yohji turned towards his stony companion and gave him a weak grin. I know babe. But if I had let you hold your own, then I wouldn't get to play the wounded hero, who gets to be tended to by the gorgeous nurse.

Baka. It was faint, really only noticeable because of Aya's pale skin, but Aya was definitely blushing at Yohji's words. In return, Aya used a free hand to brush away stray strands of hair with the utmost care. There was a soft look in he eyes as he did so.

Once Yohji is better, are we going to inform our contact here and tell them that we've made our decision? Omi questioned. He was sitting on the loveseat with his laptop on the armrest besides him. Ken's head was resting on his lap and the brunette was sleeping peacefully, recovering from the use of his energy. One of Omi's hands was constantly brushing and petting Ken's hair, as to unconsciously assure himself that Ken was alright.

Once Yohji AND Ken are recovered, we'll tell them. Not until then, Aya amended. We shouldn't report to them at anything but our full strength. It wouldn't be in our best interest to show any weakness to them at this stage in the mission.

Alright then, Omi agreed easily. In truth, he wanted the downtime it would take for both Ken and Yohji to recover to full strength to spend time with Ken and Ken alone; so he wasn't planning on arguing with the red-head anytime soon.

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Alright. I know people will be wanting the two groups to meet up soon. I'm getting to it, I'm getting to it. Possibly in the next chapter. If that's so, it'll be long and it may take a while. Just be patient and send those reviews. It helps me and makes me want to write faster.