Disclaimer: - I don't own any of the characters of The Shield, they all belong to Shawn Ryan and FX.
Predator Chapter 5.
Okay that had been completely surreal. Dutch briefly wondered just when it was that his life had turned into an episode of "The Twilight Zone". He reached up and pushed his hair back off his forehead with a tired sigh. "Christ," he thought, "why does my life always have to be such a fuck up?" Turning his head he glanced at his alarm clock, the glowing, red display read 2:30. Great he was back on the dayshift tomorrow, and so he had to be up in three hours to get ready for work. Instead of getting any sleep he knew he would spend the next three hours just as he had the last three, sitting up in his bed trying to figure out what he was going to do. Tomorrow morning he was going to have to go into work and act normally. Then he frowned slightly and wondered just what was considered "normal" behaviour towards a colleague who'd come on to you the night before?
At first everything had seemed perfectly normal. Nick had asked him for a ride home, and Dutch had been only too happy to oblige. He liked Nick. The guy was a good detective; he was funny and considerate. Dutch had been pleased when he'd asked his advise a few times, when he respected his theories and methods. He'd been happy that Nick had obviously wanted to be his friend. Dutch frowned at that thought and wondered if perhaps it hadn't all been as it had seemed. Maybe Nick had had an ulterior motive all along? Dutch thoughtfully worried his lower lip between his teeth as he turned that idea over in his mind before he dismissed it, refusing to give in to his paranoia, and returned to his analysis of the previous night's events.
The drive to Nick's apartment had been pretty uneventful. Now that he looked back on it Dutch realised that Nick had been unusually quiet during the journey, seemingly content to let him do most of the talking. It had just been shop talk. Nick's theory that the Diaz shooting might not be an isolated crime prompting him to tell Nick about a serial case that had just broken along the coast at Oxnard. Nick hadn't said much, just the odd grunt or snort of disbelief, whichever had been appropriate for the conversation at the time. Although, Dutch thought wryly, perhaps "conversation" was something of a misnomer.
When they'd reached Nick's apartment complex he'd naturally offered to help Nick up to his place with his boxes of files. Once again a little niggle of suspicion crept into Dutch's mind. Things were starting to add up, and a good detective never ignored the evidence. The conveniently broken down car, the missed lift home, the heavy boxes that Nick had needed help with. Maybe his paranoia wasn't misplaced this time Dutch mused? He frowned unhappily at the thought that he might have been manipulated, set up, by someone he considered a friend --- not that it would be the first time that had happened.
Dutch remembered his first impression of Nick's home had been that it was rather spartan, austere even, but immaculately clean. He could remember putting that down to Nick's time in the military. He supposed that Nick's former career in the marines had instilled a certain pragmatic, methodical approach to life in him. He'd followed Nick's example by depositing the box he was carrying on the floor in the living room.
He hadn't wanted to stay. He'd been tired, and he'd also known that the shift change over tomorrow, "today" he corrected himself in his mind, meant he had to be at his desk again by seven the next morning. However, just as he'd been about to stammer out his excuses and leave, Nick had appeared with two large glasses of whiskey. It was from this point that events began to become disconcerting.
"Thanks for the ride and the hand up with those files… Here have a drink, I want to pick your brain about the Diaz case." Nick said with a smile, holding out one of the glasses towards him.
Dutch smiled back apologetically at Nick, and shook his head,
"Um…no thanks Nick. Look it's late and I'm kinda tired so…"
Dutch began to turn towards the door, but then stopped, feeling a little guilty, when he saw the crestfallen expression on Nick's face. Nick lowered the proffered glass, placing both of them on the side table and said,
"Oh yeah…of course you ah…said you were tired…It's just…" Nick paused and sighed before carrying on, "oh never mind…I'll… ah see you tomorrow Dutch."
Dutch felt completely selfish. The poor guy was probably a little lonely, and just wanted someone to talk to for an hour. God knows Dutch knew how he felt sometimes. So, with a little inward sigh of his own, Dutch cranked up his smile several notches,
"Hey, no it's fine. It'll be good to unwind a little before I head home." Although he did have to add, after eyeing the very generous amount of whiskey in the glasses, "but ah…well I'm driving so I don't think the whiskey's a good idea. Maybe a coffee though?"
When he'd said he was going to stay Dutch noticed Nick's spirits seemed to lift, but his smile had dimmed a little when he'd had to turn down the whiskey.
"I'm right out of coffee…sorry, but I've got a couple of cold beers in the fridge. I mean one beer won't hurt will it?"
Dutch shrugged, promising himself just to take a couple of sips.
"Sure, thanks that'd be great."
"I won't be long. Make yourself at home, sit down." Nick beamed back at him as he disappeared into what Dutch assumed must be the kitchen.
Sitting down on a slightly faded, slightly saggy brown couch Dutch let his eyes wander aimlessly around the room, while he waited, trying very hard not to glance at his watch as he did so.
It was only a couple of minutes later that Nick reappeared with the promised two bottles of beer. He handed one to Dutch, and then rather to Dutch's surprise, instead of sitting in one of the armchairs, or even at the far end of the couch, he sat right next to him, making him feel a little crowded. Dutch shifted sideways slightly in his seat, trying not to be too obvious about it, and resisting the urge to jump up and sit somewhere else. By contrast to his tense posture, Nick seemed perfectly at ease. Leaning back in the seat he took a long pull of his beer, smacking his lips in satisfaction when he pulled the bottle away again, half-empty.
Despite this inauspicious beginning the next hour actually flew by rather quickly and enjoyably. Dutch found Nick's easy going, relaxed manner rubbing off on him, and he finally began to unwind too. He was a little surprised to find that despite his earlier resolve to just have a sip or two to be sociable, he rapidly drained his own bottle. Although he'd protested when Nick fetched a second bottle, that was soon half-empty too.
It had been good to spend some free time relaxing, and chatting and Dutch wasn't sure when the last time had been that he'd laughed so much. It was only as he leant forward to pick up his beer from the floor to finish it up, that Dutch realised that maybe he should be calling it a night. As he leant forward his head swam and he felt a little dizzy. It was then that he remembered he hadn't had anything to eat since lunchtime, and that, combined with his tiredness, was making him a little more susceptible to the alcohol than usual. Deciding to leave the half-finished bottle where it was Dutch sat back letting out a little puff of breath.
"Are you okay?" Nick asked from beside him.
"Yeah…yeah just a little tired. I think I should be heading home actually. It's been fun, but ah…well we both have to be up early, right?" Dutch said as he carefully stood up.
He had to take a couple of steps back when Nick quickly stood up as well.
"It's still early yet, and you haven't finished your beer." He said.
Dutch shook his head slightly.
"I've had enough, remember I'm driving."
He stepped forward to move past Nick, but faltered to a stop when Nick sidestepped in front of him. Nick smiled at him and said,
"I was hoping you could stay for a bit longer Dutch…I wanted to talk to you."
Dutch was exhausted, and the beer was making his head buzz a little, all he wanted was some fresh air and his bed. He tried to keep the impatience from his voice as he replied,
"Honestly Nick I'm feeling pretty wiped out. We'll talk tomorrow."
Not waiting for a reply he moved past Nick towards the door. He was taken by surprise when Nick swiftly moved around the couch from the other side, and reaching out grabbed his arm stopping him. Frowning Dutch turned and was a little taken aback by the flash of anger he thought he saw on Nick's face. It wasn't there for long though as Nick's expression quickly reverted to its usual good natured half smile.
"No Dutch I really need to talk to you now. I…I like you Dutch…a lot."
Inwardly Dutch groaned, suspecting that maybe Nick was a little drunk himself, despite appearances to the contrary, and that he was going to turn out to be one of those people who insisted on telling you how much they like you, what a good friend you are, etcetera, when they were a little "merry".
So trying to be reassuring he reached out and patted Nick's shoulder,
"I like you too Nick…" before Dutch could carry on to say that however much he liked Nick he really had to be making tracks, Nick interrupted,
"I know Dutch. That's why I think it's time we took our relationship to the next level."
Nick was staring at Dutch quite intently, and Dutch felt rather embarrassed because for a moment he had no idea what he was talking about. Then he let out the breath he'd been holding when understanding dawned on him. He felt kind of flattered and smiled warmly at Nick as he told him,
"That's really nice of you Nick, but you know I'm partnered with Claudette, and we have this whole rapport, unspoken communication kinda thing going on, so I'm really not looking for a new partner."
Nick laughed softly shaking his head,
"No Dutch I'm not talking about work. I meant our personal relationship."
Dutch was pretty sure he probably looked as confused as he felt by now,
"I'm sorry, I don't understand."
He was a little taken aback when Nick moved closer,
"Oh come on Dutch I know you like me as much as I like you…It's okay…I know you're probably new to all this, but that's alright…I'll take my time…" reaching out Nick's hand came to rest on the side of Dutch's face, "…be gentle."
For several seconds Dutch didn't move. He knew what he'd heard, but his mind was refusing to believe it could be true, and was desperately casting about for a different interpretation of Nick's words. Better still he hoped Nick would suddenly burst out laughing, and make jokes about how stunned he probably looked right about now. All the while he could feel Nick's hand resting against his cheek, and suddenly it seemed that he could feel the heat of the other man's body as he stood uncomfortably close to him. His uncertainty didn't last for long as Nick began to lean forward towards him, his eyes boring into Dutch's. Dutch felt Nick's breath on his lips just before Nick's mouth was about to close on his for a kiss. Feeling himself flush red with embarrassment Dutch suddenly snapped back to himself, and rapidly backed up a few steps. Needing to put some space between them. Continuing to move slowly towards the door, but never taking his eyes from Nick he began to stammer out his slightly panicked response,
"I'm…ah…I'm flattered Nick…but um…I'm not, I'm not…um that way…um…If I did something…said something that made it seem that I ah…" At this point he nearly stumbled over the boxes of files that they'd put on the floor earlier, "…I'm sorry Nick, but um…I think it's best if I go…I'll see you tomorrow."
Relieved to find himself at the door Dutch opened it and practically fell over himself in his eagerness to escape.
Rubbing his hands over his tired face Dutch winced as he remembered his reaction to Nick's come on. Jesus he'd behaved like a flustered teenager, instead of a grown man. There again when his mind once more considered the list of circumstances that Nick had seemed to have contrived just so he could proposition him he felt a little miffed. Then when he thought back to the very generous glass of neat whiskey he'd been offered, no doubt to make him more "pliable", he felt his annoyance grow a little keener.
Of course he still hadn't figured out how to react to Nick tomorrow. Maybe he should just behave as if nothing happened. He snorted softly, as if he'd manage to pull that off, he'd probably start blushing every time he saw him. Maybe he should just hide in the utility closet every time Nick came near him --- "Oh yeah real mature Wagenbach." He said to himself. Then added a heartfelt, "shit why do these things have to happen to me?"
