Don't own the FAKE boys.

"Ohh, Dee, did you and Ryo get into a catfight?" Drake looked up when Dee passed his desk.

"I was injured in the line of duty. Where the hell were you?" He wasn't really in the mood to get into this. He hoped that would brush Drake off.

"Hey, Dee, the chief wants to see you in his office," JJ called as he approached them. "What happened to your face, Dee? Was it that evil rapist murderer? You poor thing! Want me to kiss it and make it better? Oh, what if you're scarred for life? Noooo..."

Drake and Dee made a point of ignoring JJ when he got in this state. But Drake was interested in what he'd said.

"You mean you caught the guy?"

"Me and Diana just brought him in," Dee said. He really wasn't in the mood to talk about it. He felt like he needed to wash off Benny's filth.

"Does Ryo know yet?" This time it was JJ asking. Dee didn't bother to answer him.

"I've got some paperwork to start on. I'll see you two later."

"Dee, the chief-"

He waved over his shoulder at them, brushing off the reminder. He already knew what the chief wanted, and was in no big hurry to go see the old badger about it. But he'd eventually have to, and it beat the idea of actually going to fill out papers, especially when Ryo would be sitting at his desk a few feet away.

"Laytner!" Dee counted the veins popping out of the chief's head. Five. He didn't see what he was so mad about. Benny deserved a lot worse than what Dee had given him. His first victim had probably done the same thing and picked up on his ironic homophobia. Poor guy.

"What the hell makes you think you're so Goddamned special that you can beat the crap out of any suspect you run across?"

"I didn't see any suspects, chief, just the perp. And look what he did to my face." Dee pointed out the cut on his lip, which had already scabbed and would probably be gone in a few days. If he'd really wanted to impress him, he'd have rolled up his sleeves and pulled down his pants, though the bruises probably looked a lot worse than they felt. Judging by the victim, Dee hadn't given Benny a chance to get started.

"I'd say you deserve it for going in alone. Damn it, Laytner." The chief wouldn't admit it, but he was just happy that Dee made it back in one piece, and that Benny was behind bars. "Get the hell out of my office. You'd better get started on that paperwork. Since you didn't let him in on the action, don't expect your partner to help bail you out. I'll make sure it doesn't happen this time."

He didn't tell Dee that Ryo had been in earlier, an absolute wreck because he couldn't find him or Diana and he knew exactly where they were. If the two were having problems, it sure as hell wasn't any of his business.

Dee didn't take the chief's advice and get started filing reports. Instead, he headed for the bathroom where he could examine himself in relative privacy and at least get his hands washed.

There were a few rookie cops lounging around whom he told to get lost, and they ran to obey. After that he was alone. It was a little unnerving to be back in a bathroom with the memory of his last bathroom experience still fresh in his mind. He took his gun out of his shirt and tucked it back into its holster. He suddenly felt much better.

His hand was still on the holster when the door behind him opened. He drew it again before he saw that it was his partner entering. Even then, it took a second before he decided he didn't need it and put it back into its holster a final time.

He soaped up his hands and turned all of his attention to scrubbing them vigorously, not even looking at Ryo.

"Dee." He didn't answer him.

"Dee, would you stop acting like a child and turn around?" He did, slinging water everywhere with his wet hands. He looked Ryo dead in the eye. Even now, that prude was trying to patronize him. He wasn't going to take it.

"The case is solved Ryo. We just brought the guy in. I don't think there's anything to talk about that can't wait until I'm back in the office." He didn't mention that he hadn't planned to return to their office that day.

"I think that the fact that it was solved without so much as my input on the plan- which was idiotically reckless- means we have a lot to talk about right now."

Dee didn't see it. He also didn't want to admit that, even now, his biggest reason for not bringing Ryo was that he didn't want him anywhere near Benny again.

"He'd have recognized you," he said simply. He went back to washing his hands. He splashed some water on his face.

"And maybe it has something to do with earlier, too." Ryo's voice didn't sound too apologetic if he was looking for forgiveness for what they both knew he'd been about to say.

"It's nothing personal. You're only my partner. That's it. He would have recognized you." Ryo was smart enough to get it without Dee having to spell it out.

If Ryo wanted to be ashamed of himself, he could do it alone. People like him, like Benny, didn't deserve their happiness if they didn't have the guts to admit what made them happy in the first place.

And if Dee didn't make Ryo happy, then there was no point in continuing to fool themselves. Hell, he didn't even know if he partner was really gay or was just indulging in some fantasy for a while.

"I'm sorry," Ryo whispered. "I'm sorry for lying to you for so long, Dee. I'm sorry for lying to myself. It's over."

That moment would stay in both their minds forever.

It's over.

I think what Ryo said just about covers it. After the next chapter, this story is over. So come back, now!