Author's note: The re-post continues. I hope people haven't wandered away! Thanks, Dyna for letting me know about my settings – I've changed it so I can now accept anonymous reviews. After this chapter, it all starts kicking off as the angst wagon rolls into town! For anyone who has come straight into this fic and is scratching their heads about Dee and Ryo's British friends, then 'Crash and Burn: So Far Away' will answer your questions. -Swordy

Somewhere in Between

Chapter 6 – Baby Blues.

"Dee? Have you got the tickets?"

"Yup, just like I did the last time you asked."

Ryo made a face as Dee rolled his eyes. Cal giggled, all of them having been on the receiving end of Ryo's constant organising at one time or another. They stood by the front door of their apartment, a large bag and a suitcase packed and ready to go. Tyler, Bicky and Bright were also in attendance, listening to Ryo's seemingly endless list of dos, don'ts and definitely nots.

"Take it easy, baby," Dee said, trying to spare the kids any more lectures as well as get Ryo to the airport before their plane took off. He squatted down to fuss Bright for a bit, the dog obviously pleased by the attention.

"Okay, okay, I get the message," Ryo said, knowing anything else he said was likely to fall on deaf ears. "You've got the number of our hotel. Ring if there's anything…"

"Ryo! Tyler's here to keep an eye on things so stop with the worrying, okay?" Dee said in frustration, hefting the suitcase easily with one hand, while opening the door with the other.

Ryo smiled at the young woman who had proved to be a welcome addition to their already colourful household in the month that she had been staying with them. She never seemed to tire of helping him and he felt better knowing she would be around while they were in England for the next five days.

"Okay, I know I'm fussing but someone's got to, right?" he said, reaching for the remaining bag. "Well, see you next week and thanks again, Tyler."

The girl waved off his thanks. "No problem. You just go and have a great time. Oh, and Dee?" she added as they were about to leave. "Don't drop the baby."

They all chuckled with the exception of Dee, who looked horrified when it dawned on him that as a godparent, he would be expected to hold Danny's baby son at some point.

"Oh great, way to put a curse on me…" he muttered as he headed towards the elevator at the end of the hall, waving over his shoulder with his free hand. "Later, all."

Ryo grinned as he prepared to follow his husband down to the waiting cab. "Take care, guys. We'll see you soon."

The three young people watched them go before Tyler closed the door behind them. She smiled at the teenagers, before she turned and walked towards the kitchen. Only then did Bicky's smile slip. For the most part, Tyler seemed okay. She could be good fun and had defended him when Dee was teasing him relentlessly, but there were little things that wouldn't sit with him, no matter how hard he tried to disregard them.

"Hey," Cal said, locking her fingers with his and pulling gently on his arm to shake him from his reverie. "What's up?"

The blond teen shrugged before his mouth twitched upwards into a mischievous smile. "Just thinking about what we can get up to while they're gone." He winked at his girlfriend, just as Tyler's head reappeared around the doorframe.

"I don't think so," the girl said, the comment clearly meant as a joke, but Bicky couldn't help but think that she meant it.

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Ryo noticed Dee had grown quiet as they neared Manchester. As the landscape whizzed past beyond the cab's window, he had fallen into quiet reflection, giving Ryo no indication as to how he felt to be back in the city. Although the outcome of the PTSD programme had been good, Ryo knew from the anguished late-night phone calls Dee had made that it had been a hard-fought battle.

"Dee?" he said eventually. "You okay?"

 Dee turned suddenly, his surprise confirming Ryo's suspicion that he had been firmly entrenched in his own thoughts. "Yeah, just daydreaming I guess." He didn't elaborate and Ryo had learned not to push.

"Did you call Danny?"

Dee nodded, giving the outside world one last glance before he turned his body round to give Ryo his attention. "Yeah. I told him we'd landed and were on our way to the hotel. He's booked us a table at a restaurant in China Town but he said he'd understand if we were too jet-lagged to meet up with him and Lisa tonight."

"I feel fine," Ryo said. "What about you?"

Dee smiled. "Nothing a shower wouldn't fix." He frowned as Ryo chuckled. "What's so funny?"

"I thought you were going to say something else then," Ryo teased.

Dee caught the twinkle in his dark eyes and grinned. "Well, I wouldn't say 'no' if you're offering…"

Ryo laughed, glad that Dee didn't appear to be too unsettled, despite his previous silence. "We'll see."

They arrived at their hotel, situated on the outskirts of the city centre. Dee had thought highly of the facilities at the Metropolitan but actually staying there again felt like he would be dredging up the past. He was here under different circumstances; it only felt right that they should stay somewhere different. After unpacking their belongings for the short stay, they showered together and dressed before heading down to the reception. The girl on the desk called them a cab, which arrived a mere five minutes after it was ordered. The driver knew the restaurant and took them straight there, making friendly conversation with the two Americans as he navigated his car through the busy streets.

The restaurant staff, dressed in authentic Chinese garb, showed them through to the bar area to get a drink while they waited for their table to be prepared. Danny and Lisa hadn't arrived, and the two men found themselves watching the door as they chatted. Ryo spotted them first, having received a brief physical description of Danny from his husband. Dee spun around, his face breaking into an enormous grin. Danny looked good and Lisa was just as he'd imagined from Danny's own description.

"Well, frig me, if it isn't Dee Latener!" Danny exclaimed loudly, his own expression identical to Dee's.

Dee laughed as he wrapped his arms around the other man and hugged him tightly. "Actually, you're wrong, my friend. The name's McLain now!"

"Oh yeah," Danny chuckled. "I forgot you're a married man now."

"Indeed I am," Dee replied proudly, taking the cue to introduce Ryo. "Danny, this is my husband, Ryo, Ryo this is Danny."

"Pleased to meet you," the two men said simultaneously as they shook hands. As they parted, Danny slid his arm around Lisa's waist to draw her forward. "Dee, Ryo, this is Lisa, my fiancée."

Dee picked up on the subtle change of status. "You got engaged? Congratulations." Ryo echoed his sentiment as Lisa greeted them shyly.

A waiter came over and informed them their table was ready. The three men and one woman followed him across the restaurant before settling into their seats at a round table.

"So who's looking after David tonight?" Ryo asked, noting how Lisa's face lit up at the mention of her baby son.

"My parents," she replied. "We're never stuck for babysitters. If it's not my mum and dad then it's Danny's mum. We're lucky if we can get him back!"

The two men laughed. "You should count yourself lucky," Dee grinned, toying with his chopsticks. "We can't give Bicky away."

"Hey," Ryo admonished lightly. "He's not that bad."

"How is he?" Danny asked, nodding his thanks as the waiter handed him a menu.

Ryo smiled. "He's doing really well. He turned fourteen at the end of last year and he really seems to be growing up. His schoolwork is still variable but generally, I think he's calming down. Cal is definitely a good influence on him. That's Bicky's girlfriend," Ryo explained, in response to Lisa's inquisitive expression. "She's always around at our place."

"Wow. Sounds like it's always busy at yours," she replied with a smile.

"Is it!" Ryo agreed. "What with Dee's dog and now we've got another houseguest."

"Tyler," Dee clarified. "I grew up with her in the orphanage but she went missing about ten years ago. A few months back, she just turned up out of the blue."

"Just like that?" Danny asked in surprise.

"Yeah. Isn't it crazy?"

"I'd say so," Danny agreed. "You should consider opening up a hotel."

The two men laughed as the waiter returned to see if they were ready to order. They settled for a banquet, sharing the many courses between them as they chatted about life and family. The wine flowed with the conversation. Ryo could see why Dee had found a friend in Danny; the two men were very alike and he felt a strong sense of camaraderie with Lisa, who was clearly the calm voice of reason to her headstrong other.  The evening passed quickly and all were reluctant for it to end. Still not affected by jet-lag, the American visitors agreed when Danny invited them back to their house for some late-night drinks.

At the couple's terraced house in Denton, they were introduced to Lisa's parents who greeted the newcomers warmly, having heard much about Dee in particular from their future son-in-law.

"David's been as good as gold," Marion, Lisa's mum, gushed warmly as the conversation turned to the couple's baby. "He went down about three hours ago and we haven't heard a peep out of him since."

"Thanks," Lisa said, kissing each of her parents in turn as she showed them to the door.

"See you at the Christening," Marion called out to the men in the other room.

Once they'd gone, Lisa set about finding them drinks. When the baby monitor flared to life, transmitting the hungry cries of their son, Danny offered to go and see to him. When he hurried upstairs, Ryo also excused himself, leaving her alone in the kitchen with Dee. They'd been chatting amicably when Lisa's expression suddenly turned serious and she neglected the drinks she had made for a moment.

"I've never had a chance to thank you up 'til now, Dee," she said quietly, looking up at the handsome man solemnly. "Danny and I did a lot of talking when he came home. I never knew how much he'd been hurting." She looked away, feeling guilty that she hadn't done enough.

"He was trying to protect you," Dee replied quietly. "He hid it well."

Lisa nodded, recalling what Danny had told her. "That's Danny all over, always wanting to sort things out on his own." She smiled wistfully as she switched the kettle on. When she turned back around, Dee was listening to the conversation coming from upstairs. Danny was obviously introducing Ryo to his baby son.

"And how are you, Dee?"

At the question, the dark haired man turned to see Lisa watching him closely. He didn't know how much Danny had told her – he doubted she knew everything – but the fact that he'd been on the programme in the first place meant she knew that he'd been having his own problems.

"Things are good, great even," he replied honestly, his smile reflecting his sincerity. "I got there in the end, and like Danny, it was the support I had from those I loved that made the difference."

He looked straight at her, checking she had understood. She smiled in return, taking the compliment graciously.

"You look really happy," she commented while pouring four cups of coffee. "You and Ryo make a nice couple."

"Thanks," Dee replied as a creak on the stairs told him someone was coming down.

"Dee, come and see." The delight in Ryo's voice brought him out of the kitchen, just as Ryo and Danny appeared, the latter carrying his baby son in his arms. Ryo was clearly smitten.

"Dee, this is David, your godson." Danny grinned as he carefully transferred the sleeping infant into the taller man's arms. Dee looked petrified for a brief moment before awe set in as he gazed down at the child's delicate features.

"Isn't he gorgeous?" Ryo remarked, leaning in and stroking the tiny fingers curled into a loose fist.

"Uh oh, someone's broody," Danny chuckled before Lisa's frown made him stop. "Oh hey, sorry… I didn't think."

Ryo smiled. "It's okay. We've got Bicky… we just bypassed the nappy stage."

Dee looked up from the mesmerising sight of his godson and rolled his eyes. "Amen to that!"

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Later on, Dee sat at the open window of their hotel room, smoking a cigarette and watching the ebb and flow of the traffic down below. It was after one am but, like New York, the city looked nowhere near ready to call it a night. Ryo was sitting up in bed reading, studying a guide of the area to see where they could visit the following day.

"Ryo?"

The blond man looked up as the silence was broken, lowering his book to show Dee that he had his full attention.

"You know… you know what Danny said earlier?" Dee began, crushing his cigarette into the ashtray. "Does it bother you?"

Sensing he would be answering a question that clearly Dee had been contemplating ever since the remark was made, Ryo took off his reading glasses and looked straight at his husband.

"I'll admit, I always assumed I'd father a child one day," he said, knowing he needed to choose his words carefully, "But I don't regret that my life took a different path to the one I imagined as a boy." He smiled warmly, wanting to convey his sincerity. "Besides, I am a father. Bicky may not be my own flesh and blood, but I am still his dad."

"Yeah, I know," Dee replied quietly as he closed the window and placed the ashtray back on the table. "I'd just hate to think you gave up on your dreams because of me."

Ryo looked saddened that Dee could feel that way, despite all his reassurances. They'd had a similar conversation back when Ryo's cousin Carrie had phoned to tell them she was pregnant. Dee had become reticent at the news and it had taken a while before Ryo was able to coax the reason from him.

"Dee… I haven't given up on my dreams," he said, throwing back the covers and climbing out of bed to stand in front of his lover. "I have new dreams now, of watching Bicky graduate and go off to college, get married and have his own children." He smiled and draped his arms around Dee's bare shoulders. "Of you and me growing old together, retiring somewhere peaceful, mixing up each other's false teeth."

Dee laughed and shook his head, his raven locks tickling Ryo's face.

"I like the sound of that," he agreed. "With the exception of the teeth thing."

"Come to bed, love," Ryo said, his arms sliding down to take Dee's hands in his.

Dee nodded, allowing Ryo to pull him forward onto the bed. A kiss greeted him as they lay down together, skin on skin.

"You're beautiful," Dee whispered as he studied Ryo's well-proportioned face. "And I'll always love you."

Ryo returned the affection with a succession of delicate kisses across his lover's face. He ran his thumb across the shiny patch of scar tissue near Dee's left eye; a product of his lover's ordeal last year and a constant reminder that they should take nothing for granted and leave nothing unsaid.

"I love you too."

Dee smiled before he kissed Ryo again, more intensely this time. When they broke for air, the smile had become a full-blown grin, his eyes twinkling with barely-repressed excitement.

"Do we have to get up early tomorrow?" he asked, running his fingers through his lover's hair as he lay across him on the bed.

Ryo cocked his head and smiled. "No, why?"

"Because, I intend to keep you up very, very late tonight."

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"Bicky, dinner's ready," Cal called from the kitchen as she plated the spaghetti she had cooked. She smiled at the sound of running feet, Bicky entering the room with Bright hot on his heels.

"Did you finish your homework?" she asked, setting the plate down in front of him. The boy looked up, making a face.

"You sound like Ryo," he grumbled, shovelling some of the steaming pasta into his mouth as he rolled his eyes. "Or Tyler. She's been like friggin' Hitler lately."

"Now stop it," Cal scolded, having heard Bicky's complaints about the house sitter since the two detectives had left for England three days previously. "She's only following Ryo's instructions."

"Yeah sure," he muttered, as the sound of the front door opening greeted them. "Speak of the devil…"

Cal giggled behind her hand as Tyler entered the apartment.

"Hey, guys," the older girl said, dumping her bags on the counter before taking a seat at the table. "Cool… spaghetti."

"There's plenty in the pan," Cal said sweetly, gesturing to the cooker. "I always make too much."

"Thanks."

The two teens watched as she helped herself to a plate of pasta before rejoining them at the table. Over the past few days, her tolerance for the boy in particular had started to wane and she knew her irritation was beginning to show. Being apart from Randy wasn't helping matters either, but she knew she needed to make amends to keep him onside for the sake of her pretence.

"Hey, don't tell Randy but I rented us some PS2 games."

Bicky looked up from his food. "Cool, what did you get?"

"Um, Mafia and Manhunt."

Bicky grinned, knowing they were games Ryo definitely wouldn't have approved of. "Excellent!"

Idiot. You're like a dog; throw you a fucking bone and you're anybody's. "Look, Bicky. I guess it's my way of saying sorry for being a miserable bitch recently." She toyed with her spaghetti for a moment. "I've been having freaky dreams about that guy that attacked me and I think the lack of sleep's getting to me."

Bicky and Cal exchanged surprised glances at the admission from the normally tough-talking girl.

"Hey, it's no big deal," Bicky assured, "When Dee came home from hospital last year, he used to have nightmares all the time. They must have been pretty bad to make him yell so loud…" he stopped at the look Cal gave him. "Yeah, well, thanks for the games."

Laura smiled broadly. "No problem."

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They played video games late into the night. Laura chatted with Cal while Bicky lay on the floor with Bright next to him, mercilessly pounding on the control pad.

"Shit," he swore as he died for the forty-seventh time that evening. "Even Dee wouldn't be able to do this level." He paused his game and disappeared briefly into the kitchen, before returning with a can of soda and a dog biscuit, which he threw to Bright, who caught it deftly in his mouth.

"It's really great that you're cool about Dee and Randy," Laura remarked suddenly, her chin resting on her knees as she sat on the couch. She wanted to test the water; find out if their absence would allow Bicky to share any discomfort he felt at living with two gay men. The boy looked around as Bright began to chew happily on the hem of his t-shirt. "What d'you mean?"

"With them… you know, being together. I'd have freaked at your age." Tyler smiled, wanting him to take the comment as a compliment since he clearly wasn't going to talk.

Bicky shrugged with typical teenage nonchalance. "It's no big deal. I never give it much thought anymore."

"Yeah, well," she replied, stretching languidly. "I'm glad you're cool with it. Dee deserves a good life."

"You really care about him, don't you?" Cal commented, smiling.

"Sure I do; he's like my big brother."

Done stretching, she stood and picked up the empty coffee mug she had balanced on the arm of the chair. "Well, g'night guys. Don't stay up too late and remember, not a word about the games to Dee or Randy. They'd have my head if they knew."

"No probs," Bicky replied, resuming his game with new-found enthusiasm. "Night, Tyler."

When she'd gone, silence descended as Bicky played and Cal browsed idly through a magazine. Tiring of the publication some twenty minutes later, Cal set about distracting Bicky by poking him with her feet until he gave up and paused the game. "Hey!" he complained as she giggled. "You'll wake Tyler!"

Cal leaned in conspiratorially. "Don't you mean Hitler?"

"She's okay, I guess," he answered, pulling his girlfriend in for a quick kiss. "She just needs to loosen up and a few days with the Bickmeister is just the ticket!"

Cal laughed, unaware that on the other side of Bicky's bedroom door, Laura was also smiling. Satisfied that she had the troublesome teen back on her side, she climbed into bed and allowed herself to relax.

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Dee and Ryo arrived home late that Friday night. Drake picked them up from the airport and was subjected to endless chatter, mostly from Dee, about what a great time they'd had. Typically, it was Ryo who asked about work first.

"Trust me, you chose a great time to get away," Drake grumbled half-heartedly. "Me and JJ got landed with a bitch of a case."

"Unlucky there, pal," Dee chuckled, patting Drake on the shoulder from the back seat as the other man accelerated along the freeway.

"What are the details?" Ryo asked, ignoring his husband's delight that they had avoided a difficult case.

"It's actually a case that's been reopened. You remember we wrapped up the Anderson Stalker murders last month? Well, the chief has asked us to look into some similar unsolved cases from the eighties and nineties. Day after day down in that stinkin' old basement ain't what I need, let me tell you."

Ryo made a sympathetic face, having experienced the musty, archaic storage facilities for himself. "Well, if we're not given a case the second we walk in the door then me and Dee can always give you a hand, right Dee?"

"Sure," the other man replied dubiously. He looked at Drake and rolled his eyes. "See what happens when you marry a saint?"

Drake laughed. "Well, I appreciate the offer, guys, but I think we'll be okay. We've got most of the case files out now."

Ryo nodded as the car came to a stop outside their apartment block. "Do you want to come in for a drink?"

"I'll pass," Drake replied, glancing at the car's clock as they climbed out and began to unload the bags from the trunk. "Early start in the morning. When are you back in?"

"Day after tomorrow," Dee answered, his expression indicating that he'd rather not be reminded.

"Awww, you know he doesn't mean it," Ryo grinned, slipping an arm around his husband's shoulder before ruffling his already unruly hair affectionately.

"See you then," Drake chuckled, slipping back behind the wheel.

"Thanks for the ride, Parker," Dee said gratefully, patting the roof of the car as the other man drove away, waving to them through the open window.

When the car had gone, Dee picked up the remaining bag and followed Ryo into the lobby of their apartment block.

"It's good to be back," Ryo remarked with a smile as they rode in the elevator up to their floor.

"Don't speak too soon," Dee warned ominously, "We haven't seen what chaos Bicky's caused yet."

"I'm sure it'll be okay; Tyler was watching him, after all."

Dee grinned suddenly. "Can't wait to see my little guy."

"I know you're not talking about Bicky now," Ryo replied, one eyebrow quirked to compliment his frown.

Dee laughed as he gestured for Ryo to go first when the elevator doors opened at the landing.

"Guys? We're home!" Ryo called out as they entered the apartment and deposited the bags by the door.

"Hey, welcome back."

Tyler was first to appear, coming out of the kitchen, a broad smile on her face. Bicky and Bright weren't far behind, emerging from the boy's bedroom at the sound of voices. The dog, on seeing his master had returned, bounded towards Dee and leapt at him excitedly.

"Hey there, you handsome son of a bitch!" he teased as he grappled with the writhing, wriggling mass of canine. "Literally!" he added, thinking about his choice of phrase and chuckling.

Ryo rolled his eyes before turning to the other people in the room. "So how are things?"

Tyler smiled. "Everything's fine. Right, Bicky?"

The boy nodded enthusiastically, having been on the receiving end of Laura's favourable treatment for the last few days. The good food, other treats and lack of nagging had helped cloud the boy's niggling doubts about their houseguest.

"The apartment looks great," Ryo remarked, genuinely impressed. "Doesn't it, Dee?"

"Uh, yeah," his lover replied, finally managing to prise Bright off him. "Thanks, Tyler."

"Don't thank me," she told him, looking at Bicky's indignant expression. "It was a joint effort."

"Well, it's really nice to be home," Ryo said happily, looking around at the assembled members of his family.

"It's good to have you back," Tyler responded as she studied him hungrily, aiming that comment at one person and one person alone.

TBC…