Sick

Chapter 3

This can't be happening – Part 1 / 2–

Ryo woke with the sun blaring in through the semi-open blinds on the window, while water dripped from a running tape. Realizing that he was still on the floor, he got up, slowly, while gripping his head to ward off the expected dizzy spell. He groggily made his way towards the bathroom, catching himself in the mirror he noticed with joy that his rash – which had been covering more then half his body the night prior – was reduced to just covering the back of his hand, deciding that he was feeling well enough, he was going to take a breather, and get out of the stuffy apartment. Taking a long and steamy-hot shower, he dried and dressed, picking his cell phone and keys in his pocket, he decided to take a walk through the park, to clear his mind, and get fresh air.

The warm air felt, well, warm against his cold skin, and refreshing in his lungs, that had become accustomed to breathing in recycled room air. The sun was high in the sky, indicating that he had slept well passed noon, as children ran and played on the park equipment.

Sitting down on one of the many benches, Ryo laid his head back and was more then happy to allow sleep to over come him, what with the suns warm rays dancing about him, when he felt the presence of someone sit down beside him, and place a friendly hand on his shoulder. Opening his eyes, Ryo rolled his head up right and smiled a tired, yet warm smile.

"G'afternoon, Ryo. Looks like you're feeling better, what to be out in the park and all. When do you think you'll be back at the precinct?"

"Good afternoon, Drake. Yeah, I feel better; I'll probably be back to work, in a few days. Just to make sure I am good to go."

"Yeah, we all miss you at work, and when I say all, I mean… almost all. JJ does too, as much as he won't admit it, but it's obvious. Berkeley does too, and complains, loudly about it. Damien doesn't say much, but his face tells that he's concerned, and Dee … well …"

"What's up with Dee?"

Drake sighed and was about to spill the long and very boring tale, when Ryo's cell phone gave a load BEEP, reaching down into his pocket, Ryo pulled out his phone, the little envelope symbol blinked, indicating that he had a new text message, with a raised eyebrow he looked to Drake, who in return, shrugged.

Flipping open the phone to read the message, he almost dropped the thing on the ground.

Hey Ryo, it's Dee. I was just wondering how you where making out, I would come and visit you, but, I am a little preoccupied at the moment. See the thing is … how should I put this … we're through, over, finished, concluded, done, terminated, take your pick. Anyway, now that that's off my chest, I am going to end this message now.

See you at work.

After gaining some sense back into his confused mind, he reread the message over and over again, trying to make it click, that something was missing, Dee wouldn't just break up with him ... not with out a reason ... would he? No, he wouldn't, Dee was not that kind of person, yet… here on his cell phone, was a clear indication that he was.

Ryo was so caught up in his mind that he didn't notice that Drake was still sitting beside him, and was shaking him.

"Ryo man, snap out of it. Talk dude, say something."

"Huh? Oh, sorry Drake, guess I zoned out."

"Guess so, anyway I was about to tell you that Dee-"

"Don't bother, Drake," Ryo interrupted, "I think I am going to head back home, get something to eat and-"

Drake pointed his arm out and Ryo followed his finger, there only a few yards away from them was Dee, fawning over another guy, groping his ass like if he stopped it was going to disappear. Ryo turned to walk off when he made eye contact with Dee, who in return winked at him, and proceeded to wildly make out with the nameless man, in the middle of the park, in the middle of the afternoon. Nobody seemed to care, nobody seemed to even notice, not even Drake who had pointed the new couple out in the first place, no – only Ryo noticed and it tore him apart. He, who had no idea why Dee had ended the fragile, but stable relationship that they had, it seemed that none of it had mattered to him, as Ryo turned his head and walked towards his apartment.

When he arrived home, there was a note on his door, it was from Drake, all that was on it was a date, and a place,

Wednesday, April 23, 2006,

Indigo Knights

A date and the name of the most popular club in all of NYC, it was obviously where and when Dee had met his new man. Not that Ryo was upset or anything, oh no, confused yes, upset no, he had made it a point, when he had first met JJ that he wasn't going to concern him self with how many lovers Dee chose to have. Although he had felt cheated then, and even more so now. He shook his head, not wanting to contemplate Dees' actions anymore then he already was. Finally coming back from his thoughts, he unlocked the door and entered the apartment.

What he saw was, at first glance, adorable, Bikky and Carol where curled up under a blanket while a movie played on T.V. Ryo left it at that, not thinking about it, and went to the kitchen, passing the couch he noticed the big red splotch in the middle of the blanket, and that the kids, eyes where staring blankly at the screen, unblinking.

Panic struck and his heart sank, checking for any form of vital sign, finding a small but visible one on Carol, and a barley noticeable one on Bikky, Ryo sighed a momentarily relief, before calling for an ambulance.

A minute turned into ten, which turned into thirty, which grew to an hour, two hours, the ambulance never came, and what little life signs the kids had shown where gone. Ryo didn't know what to do. This afternoon had gone from horrible to … down right absolute horrid. Ryo moved to go into his room, but movement from the couch caught his eye, turning around, he was half expecting … hoping, that the kids would jump up and shout, surprise, we got you good man, oh you should have seen the look on your face and then fall into a fit of laughter, instead he was greeted by the sound of a gun shot and a flash of white teeth … Dee …

Eyes flashed open and a body bolted upright into a sitting position on the living room floor, hands clammy, body sweaty, breathing short and quick, heart racing at the speed of light. Closing his eyes and placing his hand on his chest in a sad attempt to calm his racing heart. It was all just a dream … a dream … that felt so real, like I was awake … he left it be, not willing to bother himself with the details of the nightmare. Getting up off the floor, he was greeted by the familiar wave of nausea and made a dash for the bathroom. Faintly he could hear a noise in the background, a knock. Trudging over to the door, he unlocked it, greeted by the forum of, Drake.

Ryo moved to allow the man in, who was holding a basket almost as big as he was. The basket was wrapped in yellow-almost green- gift-wrap and was holding many different sorts of fruits and candies.

"Just a … little … gift from us guys at the precinct."

"…little? Isn't that kind of misleading?"

"Yeah, well … who knows? Anyway, just wanted to let you know that we're all worried about you."

Ryo nodded, and moved so that Drake could take off his shoes and jacket, and sit on the couch, bringing the basket into the kitchen Ryo poked his head around the corner,

"Tea, coffee, beer, juice, water?"

"Coffee please."

As he set about making two cups of coffee, there was another knock at the door, "Drake, could you get that please?"

"Sure thing man," getting up Drake walked over to the door and opened it, he was a little shocked to see JJ and Berkeley there in the doorway, and JJ holding a basket, that compared to the one on the table, was about as big as an ant.

Drake moved to let the two of them in, and Ryo set about to make another cup of coffee for JJ and tea for Berkeley.

"So, what brings the two of you here?" he asked once everyone had settled into the living room, music slowly flittering in from down the hall outside,

"Just came by to visit you, why are we not aloud?" Berkeley replied with a ghost of a smirk on his face, Ryo shook his head, and went about drinking his coffee.

They conversed and laughed, talking about old times, new times, now times, but not once was Dee mentioned, finally Ryo voiced the question,

"How's Dee doing?" and the room fell quite, not a word was uttered from another, they sat in the uncomfortable silence for five long minutes, before the pulsing sound of the telephone brought all of them from there thoughts.

"Hello, Randy speaking," he had to remember that with telemarketers and bill agencies, that it was always best to answer with the given name, not your Japanese name, he found that out the hard way once,

"Hey Ryo- its Dee."

"Oh, hey Dee," the chatter that had once again picked up ended and curious and well knowing ears listened into the conversation, "what's up?"

"Nothing really, I just wanted to let you in on some new information concerning you and me."

"Oh … what's that … do I really want to know?"

"Probably not, but better I tell you know, then finding out later. I have been seeing someone else, someone you puts in there fair share of the relationship and doesn't just sit back and enjoy the ride," Ryo almost dropped the phone, Dee had been sleeping with someone else, instantly his mind went to his dream, where in the park, Dee was shamelessly fawning over another man, he was probed from his thoughts when Dees' voice reached his ears again, "So yeah we're obviously over, but you're an understanding and very attractive person, I am sure that you'll find someone that will be able to put up with you."

Unable to do anything, Ryo just nodded into the phone, although he knew that Dee couldn't see him, and then just as the phone was clicking to end the call, the loudest moan that Ryo had ever heard, drifted over the phone line and flooded the apartment, Ryo hung up the phone and sighed, he turned around to face his company, but they had all left.

On the table in the kitchen, where the two fruit baskets, deciding to go with the smaller one first, he opened in and took the card, it was completely blank, save for a date and place, in JJs' writing,

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Indigo Knights,

Ryo stared blankly at the page, it was the same note from his dream, the same date, the same address, if he was to put two and two together, he would have a better chance at work, the next day.

Taking a grape out of the basket he plopped it in his mouth, and swallowed it, and choking on it in the processes, he was seeing spots, and was about to pass out when.

He woke up …

Heh there you go, chapter three is finally up! I know, I took awhile, but I had an odd case of writers block. I'd get an idea, but then when I sat down to write it, I'd loose it. Ah well, it's here, and as I was writing it I was writing down ideas for the next four chapters, so hopfully it will be less then a month before they are up. However school starts back up again in 5 days, so my updates might ether become slower or faster, depends on how much class time I get to write P
Well Ja ne see you in chapter 4