Author's note: A slightly revised chapter to comply with NC-17 rule. The uncut scene can be found on other fanfiction sites. I'll continue to repost a chapter a day until I get to the new stuff!

Somewhere in Between

Chapter 5 –  Mi Casa es su Casa.

Dee parked up, not caring that his car was blocking in two other vehicles. He climbed out and locked the door before jogging into the building.

"Hey, Dee," Janet said, surprised to see the dark haired detective. "I thought you were off this weekend?"

"I was," he replied, not stopping as he hurried past her.

"Elevator's out," she called after him.

She heard a muttered invective before he reappeared and started up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He found JJ in their office. The younger man looked up as he entered, offering Dee a small smile of welcome.

"Oh hey, Dee. Ryo just called to say you were on your way."

"Where's Tyler?"

JJ stood quickly. "I'll take you. They were just waiting for a female officer to come back before they interviewed her."

"D'you know what happened?" Dee asked as they took the stairs together.

"I'm not sure exactly. She pitched up at someone's house in a real state. They called the police. When she got here, she asked that someone call you."

Dee nodded, pausing before he asked his next question. "She was robbed, right?"

"Yeah," JJ replied. "Appears she was attacked by some guy but she managed to fight him off."

"Where'd it happen?"

"Down Cedar."

"Cedar? What the hell was she doing round there?"

JJ shrugged, knowing only Tyler could answer that. "She's in here."

"Thanks for ringing me, JJ," Dee said, gratefully laying a hand on his colleague's shoulder.

"No problem," the other replied, giving Dee a reassuring smile as he headed back to his office.

Once JJ had gone, Dee knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in." It was Tyler, her voice subdued.

Dee entered the room, coming face to face with the girl he had loved and protected as a sister throughout his teenage years. She had a bruise on her cheek and her eyes were puffy through crying.

"Hey," he said with a smile. "I came as quick as I could."

Laura sniffed back tears. "Sorry to ruin your weekend," she said before a large salty droplet escaped her eye and slid down her cheek.

"Hey, stop that," Dee admonished gently, hurrying forward and wrapping his arms around the visibly upset girl. She hid her smile in his broad shoulder.

"Oh, Dee. I thought he was going to kill me," she sobbed.

"Shhhh, you're safe," he soothed, rubbing small circles on her back. "And we'll make damn sure we try and get the bastard."

After a minute or so, he let her go. "D'you want to tell me what happened?"

She looked suitably reluctant, even though the story she was about to tell was pure invention. "I met this guy in a diner. We got chatting but when we left the place he got nasty." She let out a strangled sob. "He said he could help me."

Dee cocked his head to one side and frowned. "Help you?"

The girl's expression reflected her supposed embarrassment, and it was a while before she spoke again. Inside, she was perfectly calm. What she was doing was as well-planned as any military operation.

"Oh, Dee. I lied to you when I said I was settled and working. I haven't got a job… and now I haven't got anywhere to live because I got behind with the rent and the landlord kicked me out. This guy said he knew a girlfriend of his who was looking to let out a room in her apartment. I know Cedar's bad, but it was only supposed to be temporary. Just 'til I got back on my feet. He took the last of my money. I've got nothing…" She hid her face in her hands, trying to imagine what his expression was.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he said softly. "You know you can talk to me about anything."

"But you're doing so well for yourself!" she argued. "I knew you'd be disappointed if I told you I was in such a mess."

Dee looked contrite. "Did I really make you feel like that? God, Tyler, I'm so sorry."

She hid her face again, mainly to stop herself from laughing out loud. He's apologising! Man, this is priceless!

"Don't apologise," she said, dragging a hand across her cheek, angrily brushing aside a tear. "It's my fault for being a stupid bitch and making such a mess of my life. I should never have come back, I'm just causing trouble for you."

"Hey! Stop talking like that!" Dee said forcefully. "This isn't your fault, okay? And don't be worrying about somewhere to live. You can come and stay with me and Ryo until you get back on your feet."

"Dee…"

"No arguments. You're coming home with me and that's final."

Laura looked up and gave him a watery smile. "What about Randy? You can't just go inviting people to stay without asking him."

Dee waved off her concern. "He'll be fine. He's a good man – he'd never see anyone in trouble. Trust me, he'd suggest exactly the same thing himself."

Laura's smile broadened; an expression that allowed her to reveal her true feelings at last. "I really appreciate this," she said. And you'll never know how much you'll live to regret it.

Dee stayed with her as she was re-interviewed. Staff in the diner recalled her and her male companion just as she had described, but nobody had paid too much attention since relations had been amicable at that point. Of course, Laura had planned it that way. He was a young man she'd seen begging and she'd offered to buy him a drink. He'd gone willingly and they had parted company without incident. The bruises Laura had caused herself, a discomfort that would ultimately serve a higher purpose. She gave a vague physical description, almost certain that they would never find him – he had talked about heading home to Hempstead so she had given him the money. The last she'd seen of him, he was heading to the station to buy his ticket and if he knew what was good for him, then he would have gone. She didn't really want him to be caught – he was a nice guy and he had served his purpose, allowing her to be seen with a 'suspect'. If he did get caught… well, she would worry about that later.

Her own details were irrelevant, she had Dee to vouch for her and no one was about to question the homicide detective with such a hot-tempered reputation. Eventually, having taken all the information she could give, they had allowed her to leave.

"Doesn't look good, you know," the officer said to Dee once Tyler was out of ear-shot. "There's nothing remarkable in her description and none of the witnesses feel they'd definitely be able to identify him if they saw him again." The man shrugged and closed the file he was holding, the action symbolic of his lack of optimism about finding the suspect. Dee was about to get angry when reality filtered through, and he accepted that the cop was just being honest.

"Well, do your best," he said, looking up and waving as Tyler appeared further down the corridor, having just emerged from the restroom.

They travelled mostly in silence, Dee's occasional questions met by one word answers. Finally he understood how frustrated Ryo must have felt last year when he had been brooding and reticent in the wake of his ordeal, and his lover had been unable to coax him out of it. In the end, he let her be. They parked the car and rode the elevator up the apartment, all the while Tyler clutching anxiously at her bag, supposedly now empty of the only money she had. Aside from that she looked fairly calm, Dee thought to himself, resisting the temptation to ask her again if she was okay.

Ryo let them into the apartment, his anxious expression indicating that he had been waiting for them to return. When he saw Tyler's bruised face he did what came naturally to him and held his arms open to her. He wasn't sure whether she would respond but she did, melting into his embrace as Dee closed the door behind them.

"Do you want something to eat?" Dee asked when she eventually pulled away.

"I could do with a shower," she said, looking suitably downcast.

"Sure, go ahead. I'll make you something to eat for when you're done."

"I'll make something," Ryo interrupted, trying to raise a smile from the girl. "I'm sure Tyler wants something that passes as edible."

His joke worked and she smiled at last. "Thanks, guys," she said as she turned, still clutching her bag, and headed for the bathroom.

When she'd gone, the two men went into the kitchen. Dee bent to stroke Bright, who was curled up in his bed, as Ryo began to search the cupboards.

"I've said Tyler can stay for a while."

Ryo stopped what he was doing and turned around.

"I thought you might," he replied, smiling to indicate that it was okay. "I didn't think you'd want her to go back to her own place and be alone."

"That's the problem. She hasn't got her own place," Dee said quietly as he stood and stretched, Bright looking up at him hopefully. "She lost her job and got kicked out of where she was staying. She went with the bastard that robbed her because he said he knew somewhere she could crash for a while. He waited until they were out of sight before he beat her and took her money."

Ryo's eyes widened as he listened.

"I thought she was more street-smart than that," Dee went on, shaking his head and frowning at his friend's apparent naivety.

Ryo shrugged as he pulled out a can of soup. "Sometimes people do unexpected things when they're desperate," he reasoned, pragmatic as always.

"Yeah," Dee replied, leaning against the counter. "She said she didn't want to ask me for help because I was doing so well for myself and I'd be disappointed in her."

Ryo walked across the kitchen and returned with the can-opener. "Sure, things are good for us now, but things haven't always been so easy," Ryo reminded him. "It's not even twelve months since… well, you know."

Dee nodded grimly, knowing only too well what Ryo was silently referring to. Thoughtful silence lingered as Ryo began to heat the soup, stirring it gently.

"But we came out the other side, and Tyler will too," the blond added reassuringly.

Dee thought about it for a moment before he smiled. "You always say the right thing," he said distracting Ryo temporarily from what he was doing with a kiss. His partner broke the embrace, but as he pulled away and found himself mesmerised by Dee's intense green eyes, he leaned back in for more, unable to escape his own desire. They quickly lost themselves in their actions, only broken by the impatient cough that indicated they were no longer alone.

"Oh, hey," Ryo said blushing slightly as he straightened the front of his shirt that had seconds earlier been fisted in Dee's hungry grip. "Your soup's ready."

Laura forced a smile. Can't you leave him alone, you animal? Randy shouldn't have to put up with you pawing him all the time.

"Thanks, Randy," she said, sinking into one of the chairs at the kitchen table.

"No problem," he replied, setting the soup down in front of her. "I'll fix Bicky's room up for you. He's back tomorrow but I'm sure he won't mind sleeping on the couch while you're with us."

"I don't want to be any trouble…"

"Tyler," Dee said firmly, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "It's no trouble, trust me."

Dee left the room and Ryo found himself under Tyler's watchful gaze. The blond smiled, although he was again struck by the feeling that he had met her before.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The following day, the two men left for work, giving Tyler the firm instruction that she was to make herself at home while they were gone. Dee was pleased Bright had some company, as he hated leaving his loyal companion alone for any length of time. As soon as she saw Dee's car disappear into the early morning traffic, Laura picked up one of Bright's squeaky toys. The dog looked at her excitedly, ready to play, but she had no intention of entertaining the large beast. Instead, she threw the toy into the small room the two men used as a study and quickly closed the door as the dog followed. She heard him crash into the wooden barrier as he turned to bring the toy back to her.

"Stupid mutt," she growled, feeling more relaxed with the dog safely locked away. She rolled her eyes as he started to whimper, a problem she quickly eradicated by turning up the volume on the TV, even though she had no intention of actually watching it. With Dee and Ryo at work and Bicky at school, she intended to make the most of the free run she had been given of their apartment.

First, she went into their bedroom. It was the first time she'd ever been in there, and she was surprised at the tasteful décor. Must be Ryo's doing, she reasoned, unable to believe that Dee could have had a hand in something so pleasing to the eye. She wandered the room, opening the closet doors, carefully making sure that she didn't displace anything that might be noticed. It was hard to tell which clothes belonged to which man, although she correctly guessed that the pile of t-shirts with jokes or slogans on them belonged to Dee. She moved from the closet to the bed.

It was easy to tell who slept where from what she had already learned about the two men. Ryo's bedside table was a picture of order; a book, a pair of reading glasses, and a pitcher of water. Dee's, on the other hand, was pure chaos. An empty cigarette packet sat amongst his spare blood sugar monitor and other general detritus. Laura walked around to Ryo's side.

The book was a John Grisham legal thriller. He had bookmarked his page with a photograph of him and Dee, their arms around each other as they smiled happily for the camera. Laura shut the book quickly. She couldn't resist a peek in his drawer and she opened it slowly so she could mentally record where everything was. At first glance, the contents appeared pretty ordinary and she almost shut the drawer again. Then she spotted the notebook nestled carefully under a book of poetry. She removed it and studied the front cover, her heart racing hopefully. There was nothing written on it to explain the purpose of book, but a glance at the first page confirmed her excited suspicions.

"A diary," she said out loud, her smirk of triumph mutating into a beaming grin as Bright continued to cry in the other room. She closed the drawer and, diary in hand, went to make herself a drink before she sat down to read.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Laura glanced up at the clock and found she had been reading solidly for almost an hour. She had expected to wade through many dull entries before she found anything worth reading, but from the first page, she was intrigued by what Ryo had written. She turned back to that entry and re-read it:

We arrived at the house in Clearwater four days ago. The surroundings are truly magnificent and I'm certain that the peace and tranquillity will aid Dee's recovery. He's been so quiet since we got here. The upheaval's been hard on him, I know. He tries to hide it, but his pain is almost palpable. I hate seeing him like this and I'll be honest, it hurts that he won't talk to me about what's troubling him. He seems to be able to talk to Polly so I guess I have to be grateful that at least he isn't bottling it up, even if it isn't me he confides in. I don't know a lot about PTSD so maybe it's for the best…

Laura sat back and took a long sip of juice. So Dee had been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? It certainly was interesting news. Over the last hour, she had followed the couple's ups and downs through Ryo's words. She learned of their month-long separation while Dee was in England, bitterly wishing that she'd met them sooner so she could have been around Ryo without Dee being present. Her disappointment didn't last long however. The diary had given her such an insight into Dee's state of mind during that period last year that she knew there was ammunition there for her. Certain words leapt out at her, words that would form the foundations of her attack.

Paranoia

Self-doubt

From what she'd seen, Dee possessed neither of those traits anymore, on the surface anyway. That didn't mean to say that they no longer lurked somewhere, in amongst the swirling waters of his strong personality. She smiled. She would find them, bring them forth until they led the possessor down the path of self destruction.

It would be fun.

In the early part of the afternoon, she put into effect another decision she had made as a result of the men's insistent invitation to live with them. Leaving Bright locked in the study, she left the apartment and hurried to hail a cab, not wanting to be out for long in case Dee rang to check on her. Her mortal enemy, Kelly Capland, was on the front desk as Laura stalked into the reception area of her place of employment, the girl looking up and smiling as she approached.

"Feeling better, Laura?" Kelly asked, although her tone of voice conveyed the clear message that she didn't in any way care.

"Totally," came the confident response.

"So are you here to work?" Kelly asked, eyeing up her casual clothes and letting Laura know with the look that she disapproved.

Laura furnished the blonde girl with a superior smirk, eagerly anticipating the girl's reaction. "No, I'm here to quit."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Bicky was first to arrive home. He slung his schoolbag by the front door and headed straight for the kitchen, returning shortly with a carton of juice, which he chugged from as he sank into the armchair.

"Hey, Tyler," he said between gulps, "What's up with Bright?"

"What d'you mean?" Laura feigned a look of concern.

Bicky shrugged. "He's quiet. He normally comes running in when I get home."

Laura looked mystified, even though she knew she was wholly responsible for the dog's cowed state. She had eventually let him out of the study a mere fifteen minutes before the time Bicky was expected home and then chased him into his bed in the kitchen, hitting him with her shoe whenever he got out until he no longer dared leave his sanctuary. "Maybe he's sulking because I haven't played with him much," she reasoned. "I know Dee says he's harmless, but I can't help being nervous because he's so big."

Bicky seemed to accept this, having heard her explanation about being bitten a long time ago. He deposited the juice carton on the coffee table before reaching down to turn on his Playstation, oblivious to Laura's frown.

"Don't you have homework?"

The teen looked up, surprised by the slightly demanding note in her voice. "Well yeah, but…"

"I thought you promised Randy you'd do it if you got that," she said, nodding towards the TV and DVD player, surrounded by one of the set of speakers from the home cinema system.

Bicky paused, his finger hovering close to the power button. "Yeah I know, but Dee was supposed to cut down on cigarettes and he hasn't done that yet."

Why does that not surprise me? "Well why not set him a good example?" she said, her stare so penetrating that the normally indomitable boy felt slightly intimidated. His finger moved away from switching the console on, and instead, he pushed it back under the television cabinet.

"I guess I could do my homework now…" he said doubtfully, suddenly keen to be away from her. He stood and called to Bright, who trotted through into the living room, glancing malevolently at Laura, before following the boy into his bedroom.

She smiled at last. "If you need any help, just ask."

"Whatever." And then he was gone. Half an hour later, the door opened and the two men stepped in, smiling in greeting at the girl reading quietly on the couch.

"Hi," she said, returning the smile. She lifted the paperback she'd found on the bookshelf in the lounge. "I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," Ryo replied as Dee went over to the gun safe and began to key in the combination. "Where's Bicky? Is he not home yet?"

"He's doing his homework," she said, her eyes straying from the page she was reading.

Dee looked round, meeting Ryo's identical expression of disbelief, as he disengaged himself from his shoulder holster. "What? Without the aid of thumb screws?"

"Is it that big a surprise?" Laura asked innocently.

"Well… yes," Ryo replied, handing his own holstered weapon to Dee for him to put away. "But a good one I can assure you."

"I just reminded him that he promised you in exchange for all that equipment."

Ryo glanced sidelong at Dee, who was just in the process of lighting a cigarette. "Yeah… I vaguely recall someone else making promises about that."

Green eyes shot up, Dee's expression like a child caught with his fingers in the cookie jar. "What?" he said, cigarette still clamped between his lips, as the other two stared at him.

Ryo rolled his eyes and gave Tyler a look. Her heart surged in excitement at this shared moment where she and Randy were united against Dee. It may have been brief, and light-hearted on the blond's part but Laura, as usual, read more into it than either man would have believed.

"So how you feeling?" Dee asked, coming to sit beside her on the couch.

She wrinkled her nose at the cigarette smoke, which he duly wafted away from her. "I'm okay," she replied, before she rolled her eyes. "Apart from being homeless and broke, that is."

Dee smiled sympathetically at her. "I've told you, it doesn't matter."

"It does. First thing tomorrow, I'm going looking for a job."

Dee glanced up at Ryo, who had just entered the living room, before he turned his attention back to Tyler. "Are you sure that's a good idea? No offence, hon, but I'm not sure how keen people will be to employ someone who looks like they've been in a punch up."

Laura tentatively touched her cheek. "Point taken. Maybe I should wait a bit."

"And don't worry about money," Ryo said, taking the last vacant spot on the couch beside Dee, his hand instinctively coming to rest on his husband's leg. "We'll give you whatever you need."

She smiled, forcing herself to look away from the blond's unconscious caresses. "You guys… I don't know how I could ever repay you."

"No payment necessary," Dee grinned, rolling his eyes as the phone rang.

"But I want to!" she called out as he leapt up to answer it, leaving Ryo and Tyler in a companionable silence.

"Danny!" Dee said in delight when the caller identified himself. "How's it goin'?" He disappeared into the kitchen to take the call, although his animated conversation could still be heard by the two in the living room.

"Dee's friend from England," Ryo explained.

Laura nodded. There's an opening, push! "What did you think of England?" she asked, knowing full well that Ryo hadn't gone with Dee. "I'd love to go."

Ryo smiled gently. "It's a beautiful place, I'd love to go back."

Damn, that didn't work. He's obviously been before. "So what's Danny like then?"

"I haven't met him," he replied. "When Dee met Danny, he was there on his own."

Laura frowned, keeping up the pretence of innocence. "He went on vacation on his own?"

She watched as he turned towards the kitchen, his expression slightly pained, as if he was betraying Dee by speaking. "It wasn't exactly a vacation."

"No?" The question hung in the air for a moment before she continued. "That's cool, if you can't tell me, I mean."

"No…" Ryo said quickly, "It's not that." He smiled as he ran a hand through his hair, disturbing the dark blond locks. "It's all water under the bridge now anyway. Dee's got nothing to hide. You know about the Goldsmith trial last year, don't you?"

"Vaguely," she replied, putting her book down. "I don't tend to watch the news much. You and Dee were involved, right?"

Ryo nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. Dee was hurt and it knocked his confidence. Not that you'd believe it," he added at the raucous bark of laughter that came from the kitchen. He smiled, the sound warming his heart as his mind thought back to those dark days. "He took a long time to heal, and part of what helped was a therapy programme in England. He was away for a month but it did him so much good, Tyler. It was worth being apart from him for so long."

Before she could reply, Dee ended his call and wandered back into the living room, grinning at the two people seated. He re-joined them on the couch but turned to Laura first.

"You want to repay us?"

Laura looked confused. "Sure."

"Will you house-sit for us for a few days? You'll be living here anyway…"

Ryo mirrored Laura's previous expression. "Dee?"

"The Christening," Dee explained. "It's in four weeks. I told Danny we'd definitely be there."

Ryo looked concerned. "Four weeks? That's pretty short notice…"

"S'okay," the other man assured. "I told the Chief it would be sometime in the next month or two. I just had to let him know the date as soon as I found out."

"Oh… right," Ryo replied. He wondered whether it was just his imagination, but sometimes the Chief seemed to go easier on Dee than the rest of them. Still, if it allowed them to get away on a short vacation without too much hassle then who was he to complain? "Okay, I guess I'll leave it up to you."

Dee grinned, liking it when Ryo didn't start to list potential problems with his plans. "I'm gonna go check out some flights online. Tyler, you okay to house-sit? Unfortunately that means looking after a dog and an obnoxious teenager too."

She smiled as he stood, leaving her and Ryo alone on the couch. "Sure. It'd be my pleasure."

"Great," he beamed, striding over to the study. "Bright! Get your sorry ass in here!" he called out jokingly. The scrape of claws on tiles greeted their ears as the dog raced from the kitchen and skidded to a halt in the living room. He seemed to pause reluctantly as Dee held the study door open for him, his eyes scrutinizing his master to see if he was going to lock him in on his own as the girl had done earlier.

"Come on, bonehead," Dee cajoled, stepping into the room to show the dog what he wanted him to do. Seeing his master was going in there too, Bright obediently followed. Ryo shook his head and smiled, amused by their antics. When he turned back to Tyler, he found that she was watching him.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dee was half asleep when Ryo walked into their bedroom and closed the door. One green eye cracked open as Ryo shed his pyjama jacket in preparation to climb into bed. He'd long since given up trying to sleep fully clothed with Dee around.

"Hey, baby," Dee said sleepily, one arm snaking around Ryo's waist as he sat down on the bed. "Come and get nekkid with me."

"Dee…" Ryo said, resisting his husband's attempt to pull him down onto the mattress. His tone of voice alerted the dark haired man, who opened his other eye and looked at him carefully.

"What's up?"

Ryo sighed. "I'm really sorry, Dee, but I told Tyler a little bit about what happened last year. She was wondering why you were in England on your own. I didn't know how else to explain…"

"Hey," Dee soothed, succeeding at last in drawing his lover into his arms. "It doesn't matter. Tyler's practically family, so don't feel bad."

"I only said you'd been on a therapy programme because you'd lost confidence. I didn't go into any detail."

"Ryo, what did I just say? It's okay, really." The assurance was punctuated by a soft kiss to the blond's jaw line. Ryo sighed at the electric sensations produced by the stimulation to his sensitive flesh, allowing Dee to turn his head so he could receive more. He was greedy when it came to Dee's touch, and now would be no different. He would take as much as his husband would offer. Lying on Dee's chest facing away from him gave the dark haired man full access to his chest, and his nipples that hardened beneath skilled fingers. Ryo gasped as Dee attended to each one in turn, all the while continuing the melting kisses around his throat. He didn't protest when the hand strayed below the waistband of his pyjama pants.

After several minutes of enjoying Dee's touch, he wriggled free, turning over to bring them face to face. They met in a long passionate kiss, lips and tongues vying for dominance, which Ryo eventually won. Dee grinned in defeat, this being one battle he was always happy to lose. He moaned softly as Ryo continued his attack, long fingers stimulating the fine hairs on the back of his neck. He knew just where to target, having carefully memorised all of Dee's erogenous zones ever since their relationship had become intimate. As usual, his touches had the desired effect, and Ryo found himself enveloped by a powerful pair of arms.

"Want you," Dee growled in a deep, half-whispered voice.

"Then have me," came the teasing reply.

Outside their room, Laura stood with the glass of milk she had just gotten from the kitchen. With Bicky sleeping on the couch, she moved almost silently, the lack of sound preventing the men in the bedroom from knowing that not all the household was asleep. Initially the sounds from within had indicated movement, possibly from someone moving restlessly in their sleep. When her ears detected the low murmur of voices, followed by guttural moans of pleasure, she was in no doubt as to the real reason behind the sound of activity this late at night. Shaking with anger, she turned and headed back to her own room.

On the couch, Bicky could only wonder why she had stood there for so long, listening to the barely-audible passion taking place in the other room.

TBC…