Title: Safehouse

Author: Kayla

Chapter Rating: PG-13

Pairings: DrakexJJ, BerkeleyxDiana,DeexRyo,TedxOC

"Berkeley you are an idiot," she said it with such strength that it almost felt like a physical blow. It was six thirty in the morning and Berkeley Rose and Diana Spacey were at odds with one another over what she called his masculine stubbornness. "I never knew your immaturity could keep you from doing the right thing. I always thought you were good at what you did."

"Diana, you're being ridiculous," he turned, and walked into his office, where he sat down, throwing his hands up. She followed him, sitting on top of his desk and glaring down at him like a frustrated bird, unable to obtain prey.

"Berkeley, one of your detectives was critically wounded," she snapped. "You have a mentally ill man out to take you down, one by one, and you're going to be a stubborn fool?"

"It's not that big of a deal," he muttered bitterly, picking up a folder from his desk. "Jensen will get caught and Parker will recover. It's simple."

"It is not," she objected, pounding the desk at her side. "He is a lunatic Berkeley and your men worked for months on his brother's case, only to end up killing the man. You know that his sister Lily Jensen has testified of his plans to take out you all. All of this, and you're too inflexible to go into protection with the rest of them – so you're not murdered?"

"Don't worry," he assured her, leaning back and tossing the file next to her. "I am needed here."

"You're a smart man," she said, leaping off of the desk. "You know what you need to do. Now I'm here to do some talking with Fred A. Robinson, the Los Angeles Detective who created the program. He's a friend. I'll go wait for him in the front. He'll say the same."

She turned around, and upon leaving Diana slammed the door. Berkeley sighed, reaching for the file again. Jensen's of course. He had been staring at it for hours, trying to figure out if what Diana said was true. Was he in any danger? Obviously they all were. The investigation had lasted months, and he knew which men were targets.

Of course, there was no way Diana would ever admit it, but she was so fussy when it came to safety issues. He knew that she was willing to do anything to help him out, and had even come from Los Angeles to make sure her friend F.A Robinson did his job right. Maybe Berkeley would be better of just listening to her; after all he could use the isolation anyway.

It was a lot of worry anyway. The station's chief had made him responsible for maintaining the safety of the Criminal Investigations unit. It was a large task for a man who felt irresponsible. The Jensen case had been very poorly planned, and much of it came from the personal instincts of the men involved. He breathed slowly, trying to get a perspective of things. As long as everyone remained away from this man who worked as a crazed sniper, they'd be all right.

"Berk, can you get yourself in here?" Diana called from the end of the door. "Be a stubborn jerk for all I care, but Adams is here, and I think some wise words would be in order. I'm talking to my man, okay?"

He walked in, not because he wanted to, but because she said so. Hurt by the words, he had no choice. She was standing there with a distinguished looking man with gray hair. "My friend arrived, Berkeley," she said icily. "We need to talk and poor little JJ is in his office, looking all… how should I put it – depressed, which makes him suspicious. Make with the friendliness, okay?"

He looked at her, ready to answer, but it was dissolved in an instant. Shaking his head, he obeyed her orders. He walked down the hall to the office that Drake and JJ shared. He knocked on the door causing it to shake. "Can I come in?" he asked harshly, but then calmed himself. He was not going to be rude. "Ada…JJ? Will you please let me in?"

The door opened to him, and JJ stared. "Sorry Commissioner," he said slowly, blinking. "I didn't mean to lock the door. I just sort of did. It's really a habit, I guess. I'm sorry." He stopped, knowing that he just rambling. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Let me in?" Berkeley asked, and JJ nodded rapidly, moving to the side so that he could walk in. JJ closed the door after him, making a soft, somber sound. Once in, Berkeley sat down, looking for JJ to do the same.

He did, but with an expression that immaturely displayed his dissatisfaction. "What do you need, sir?" he asked politely, sitting down.

"I just wanted to make sure you were all right," was the strained reply.

"Perfectly fine sir," JJ said in reply, looking away. "I know I'm too…early, but I thought I could take care of some things or something."

Berkeley tried to shrug casually. "It's no problem," he said slowly. "I know the incident was quite a strain on you, and I just needed…"

"Fine." JJ tried to be firm with his superior because he hated being looked at that way. The pitying way, where there was nothing they could do to help, yet still they stared at you like you were the lowest creature possible. "Sir I'm just fine, don't worry."

"You know," Berkeley tried to balance between cautious and casual, "what happened to your partner was in no way your fault."

"Sorry sir but I didn't see anyone else with a gun in their hands," JJ said, looking away. He did not want to be confiding this, and not to this man. "Nobody else in our unit had to pull the trigger and watch him fall while little kids screamed."

"True." One word from the man, and it was 'true.' JJ waited for the continuation of the though, knowing it was coming. When it did, he had to look away so his bitterness was not detected.

"True but could anyone else have successfully taken Jensen down and saved that six year old girl's life?"

JJ sighed. This was going to be one of those things that went on forever.

"Your distance and angle were quiet impressive," Berkeley said standing up. "I can't think of another man on the force who could do it. You had no choice." He turned to leave the room but didn't quite make it.

"Going to be okay?" he asked.

"Sure," JJ said wearily, sick of being told what a great shot he was. It made no difference to the situation. "Later, then?"

"Uh-huh."

JJ sighed when the man left the room. He couldn't help being thankful for the sudden quietness. Couldn't they just let him worry about his best friend, and feel responsible while he was at it?

Drake was his best friend. It was something he'd always wanted to have when he was a kid. A best friend—someone who wouldn't judge him no matter what choices he made. Right before Drake was shot, they hadn't spent one week without several nights spent together. They had been becoming close friends…and now all JJ had to lose was everything.

It was only getting worse thinking about it.

He stepped out of his office, trying to see what he could do. He saw a little activity going on between Commissioner Rose and two others. He didn't care. Some officers from another unit were speaking about a case. He really, really didn't care. Then, Dee and Ryo arrived, and suddenly he couldn't help but look at them.

He didn't want to be alone. They were here. It was a dilemma easily solved, especially since Dee did not seem to look at him with that look.

"Hi," JJ said blankly, approaching them at lightning speed. Dee looked him over, while Ryo just seemed confused. "I'm glad you're here, I was pretty alone."

"How long have you been here?" Ryo asked softly.

"An hour, maybe?"

Ryo seemed to look away, and Dee shook his head. "Worried?" Dee asked bluntly. "'Cause its not a problem if you're not."

"A little," JJ shrugged. "Worried about Drake, really worried..."

"Who's that guy they're talking to over there?" Dee pointed to Diana and Berkeley.

JJ shrugged in reply. "I think he's…" He stopped, knowing that they already figured it out for themselves. What were they if not detectives, right?

"How are you?" JJ asked; the question specific to Ryo. Dee was all right; Dee was always all right. Even though JJ wasn't in love with him anymore – he still regarded Dee as a source of perfection. "I know it must be…hard."

Ryo nodded, and JJ noticed the tiny squeeze Dee gave from behind. He really did seem fearful. "It's hard," he said slowly, not wishing to speak more than necessary, for precaution. "The normal is hard to steer away from, isn't it?"

"Wouldn't know," JJ responded, bluntly. Over his shoulder, he caught the eye of Berkeley Rose, who seemed intent on getting his attention. His mouth formed words, words that JJ could just barely make out.

'Now. Just you.'

JJ understood. Ted had just arrived and the mystery man was intent on getting them out of the precinct building in an unnoticeable fashion. "I have to go," he said to Dee and Ryo. Both men instantly looked at the group of people and nodded slowly to themselves. JJ stepped away from them lightheadedly, and walked towards the gray haired man.

"F.A. Robinson." The man introduced himself casually, holding out a stiff hand. JJ shook it, and followed him to a car. The man offered for him to sit down, so he did. What else was there to do?

"I've been running this program for six years," the man assured quietly, probably seeing JJ's intense fear. "It has never failed in the past, and it will not fail involving your group. When I was a young police Detective, I never believed that there was not a program for police department officials whose lives were in significant danger!"

"Every minute sir," JJ whispered. "Every minute."

"Don't I know it," Anderson said with a tender smile. JJ felt that the man understood the life of a police detective, yet couldn't quite connect to the individual feelings. It was frustrating. "It was your partner who was shot, wasn't it?"

JJ jumped at the question, but answered. "Yes, it was."

The man shook his head and breathed deeply. "No pain is worse than that," he said, letting one hand leave the steering wheel to touch JJ's shoulder. JJ almost moved away from him. "It's like, having a family member hurt, isn't it? I've worked with so many police detectives in my life, and that's a strong, strong bond."

"Of course it is," JJ said blankly. Except for the fact that Drake wasn't just a family member to him, he was more than that. It was something much bigger than family ties.

Just so you know you'll be finding everything downstairs. Good luck. ." They were Anderson's only words when he left JJ in the front room of what appeared to be an old apartment building. The only things that graced the room were a single table, a few chairs, and a fireplace.

JJ wandered downstairs. He found bedrooms, a small kitchen, and a little room with a table and more chairs. It was like a little demented apartment for the lost and confused officers. Just perfect for the chaos they were going through.