Disclaimer: - I don't own any of the characters of The Shield, they all belong to Shawn Ryan and FX.

Predator Chapter 8

"Dutch, you and Nick go and give the upper levels one last look over, make sure we didn't miss anything."

Both men nodded at Captain Aceveda before making their way towards the stairs to the upper level of the abandoned warehouse.

At last, Dutch thought, this was the perfect moment, just the opportunity that he'd been looking for. A chance to speak to Nick on his own in a neutral environment.

The bustle of activity and voices of police officers, and criminals, were left behind as Dutch and Johannson moved through the deserted upper levels of the warehouse. Moving through the corridors, checking inside every empty room neither man spoke. Dutch chided himself, he'd wanted to speak to Nick but now he had the opportunity he didn't have a clue what to say. The only sounds were their footsteps on the wooden floor that echoed dully throughout the empty space.

Dutch took the lead and found himself increasingly aware of Johannson's presence hovering behind him. Dutch could hear his breathing, feel Johannson's eyes on him always following his movements. The longer they were together the more uncomfortable Dutch could feel himself becoming. One part of him felt foolish for letting his nerves get the better of him, he'd wanted time alone to talk with Nick after all. However, a part of Dutch that had been honed through bitter experience was setting off internal alarm bells which were telling him that something was off, something wasn't right.

Having reached the far end of the upper story of the warehouse Dutch was relieved to think that now he could hurry back to the others. What had seemed like such a good idea earlier no longer held any appeal. Screw talking with the guy, Dutch had come to the conclusion that he didn't want to be anywhere near Johannson. He'd feel much more relaxed when they were back downstairs amongst everyone else.

Turning around Dutch was quickly brought up short by Johannson's presence. He was standing so close to Dutch that Dutch had to take a quick couple of steps backwards, almost falling over his own feet in his hurry, to stop himself from walking straight into him. Dutch found himself stepping back into one of the empty rooms they'd already checked. His heart was hammering in his chest, and he became annoyed with himself for showing his nervousness. His annoyance rapidly became directed at Johannson and as he tried to regain his composure he snapped at the other man,

"Christ, have you never heard of personal space!"

Johannson smiled back at him from the doorway and took several steps into the room.

Dutch was still mad at the other man but there was something cold and calculating in that smile that made him become concerned again and he involuntarily backed away from him. Dutch realised too late that all he was doing was backing himself into a corner with Johannson standing between him and the relative freedom of the open doorway.

Dutch forced himself to stand still and pleased that he managed to keep his nervousness from his voice he said,

"Look I don't know what twisted little game you think you're playing here, but I'm fed up with it. If this doesn't stop I'm gonna go to the Captain and file a complaint. I've had enough."

Dutch held his ground despite the fact that Johannson hadn't stopped advancing on him until he stood uncomfortably close again. The smile back on his face Johannson replied,

"You're not the only one who's tired of playing games Dutch. The whole 'hard to get' thing is beginning to get a little boring. So why don't you stop pretending that you don't want me as much as I want you and we can start having some fun."

Dutch frowned and began to wonder if the other man was just supremely arrogant or if he had only the barest of grasps on reality. Shaking his head he asked,

"What's wrong with you? Can't you take 'no' for an answer?" Then speaking slightly louder and with exaggerated enunciation of his words Dutch continued, "I'm not interested in you. I'm not gay. I want you to leave me alone." Pausing for a few seconds to let that sink in he added, "There I only used little words without many syllables surely even you can understand now, or do I have to be really blunt? Fuck off!"

Dutch felt rather pleased with himself when he saw the smile fading from Johannson's face, but he quickly became uneasy at the angry expression that replaced it and he began to wonder if maybe sarcasm hadn't been the best way to try and communicate his feelings. Looking at the other man he couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by Johannson's physical presence. It wasn't often that Dutch found himself having to look up at anybody, but Johannson had a few inches height advantage over him that made it necessary for Dutch to tilt his head up just a little when they were in close proximity with each other, such as he found himself in now. Dutch was also acutely aware that Johannson also had the advantage over him in body mass. While Dutch was tall he was also lean, but Johannson was wide and solid. Dutch had heard stories from the other guys in the breakroom about how well Johannson could handle himself, and remembered that he was also an ex-marine. Realising that things could be heading out of control Dutch decided that discretion really was the better part of valour and it would be best if he put some distance between himself and the other man. Turning away from Johannson, Dutch sidestepped him with the intention of getting past him and out of the room and back downstairs with everyone else. However, it seemed that Johannson had other ideas.

As Dutch went to walk past him Johannson reached out and grabbed his wrist. A quick twist and Dutch felt as if his wrist was on the verge of breaking as the other man pulled it back. Johannson pulled Dutch around and hitting him firmly between the shoulder blades Dutch found himself swiftly maneuvered across the room, his face shoved into the wall and his arm so far up his back he began to worry more about a dislocated shoulder than a broken wrist. Confused and scarred Dutch tried to stop himself from freaking out. If he was going to get out of this situation he'd need to talk his way out, and he wasn't going to be able to do that if his higher brain functions were closed down in panic.

However, his panic only escalated when he felt Johannson press himself up against him hissing in his ear,

"Enough! Don't you speak to me like that, I could snap your arm like a fucking twig."

Just to emphasize his point Johannson twisted Dutch's arm even higher making him gasp and squeeze his eyes shut against the burn of tears that the white hot pain elicited from him.

Gritting his teeth Dutch stammered,

"I'm s…sorry alright. Just…shit…just let me go."

"Oh, I don't know," Johannson replied sounding amused. "I kinda like you like this."

Dutch jumped when he felt Johannson's left hand slide down from his left shoulder and ghost down over his stomach to clutch his hip. He actually thought he was going to puke when Johannson followed that up by leaning in closer and flicking his tongue out over his ear. Dutch knew this was going to escalate if he didn't do something fast. Johannson didn't seem to care that the rooms below them were full of cops and that someone could walk in on them any moment, and while rescue seemed pretty good at the moment Dutch really didn't want anyone else to see him like this. So thinking fast he took a shaky breath and relaxed. Trying his best to sound sultry, and feeling like a bit of a jackass for it, Dutch said,

"You're right Nick it's time I stopped playing. It was just fun having you chase me, but now you've caught me so…"

Dutch held his breath waiting to see how Johannson would react. He had to suppress a self-satisfied grin when he felt Johannson release his arm and step back saying,

"That's more like it."

Dutch paused for a second before turning around. He quickly glanced past Johannson towards the open doorway and freedom, but first he had to get past the other man. Johannson himself solved that problem for Dutch by stepping forward and resting his hands on Dutch's shoulders he leant forward his face moving towards Dutch, mouth opening for a kiss. Dutch steeled himself and moved forward slightly as if to meet Johannson halfway, and then brought his knee up as hard as he could. He even winced in unspoken male sympathy as he felt his knee connecting with Johannson's crotch.

Johannson immediately released his shoulders as he let out a grunt of pain that seemed to originate deep down in his guts. He doubled over, eyes watering, but managed to turn his head and look up at Dutch who took an involuntary step back at the anger that vied with the pain in Johannson's eyes. Quickly gathering himself Dutch said,

" No means no alright asshole."

Without looking back Dutch walked calmly out of the room, and if he quickened his pace and took the stairs two at a time feeling relief when he heard the voices of his colleagues he was very careful not to acknowledge it to himself.