Spun Sugar 29

WildFyre Part 2

It was a somber procession that made their way to Nana's house in the chilled November evening. After the jubilation of birth, the harrowing ordeal of death lay heavy among them. Sofu had assured them that Nana lived and yet, he had also promised that she would not see the sun's grace upon another day. Sunrise was not that far away. JJ sniffled, wiped at his eyes as he prepared to enter Nana's bedroom. They were greeted by a frantic Jeremy. "JJ! We did all we were told, the machine… Everything, but…"

"I know," JJ patted Jeremy's shoulder hoping to calm his distraught cousin. Lord D had sobbed the entire way home. "We know." He could not say more as he looked in on his grandmother. She lay with an oxygen mask over her face gasping painfully. Nana turned her head and her once vibrant blue eyes took a moment to focus on the pair that entered. "Nana," JJ whispered as he hurried forward to clasp her frail hands in his own. "We got here as soon as traffic and the laws of gravity would allow." Nana's eyes crinkled as merriment danced about her gaunt features.

"NaaNaa," Lord D gasped as he fell to his knees at the side of Nana's bed.

"Oh, D, child," Nana inhaled his cold, wild scent. "You should be rejoicing." Lord D choked on a sob. "You gave an old woman a little more time. I got to see my great-grandchildren. I never thought to see great-grandchildren from JJ yet thanks to you…" Nana paused coughing. Tears fell as Jeremy listened to his grandmother wheeze out the last of her energy. "I thank you." Nana managed to lightly hold on to Lord D's hand. "Jerry, I am happy that you have found someone to love, someone who loves you. I enjoy seeing you accept who and what you are. Can…" Nana paused coughs wracked her thin frame. Lord D reached out a hand to her but Q-Chan made an indignant squeak pulling his hair. Lord D sighed feeling the tug on his ponytail.

"Father please…" Lord D begged feeling hopeless as Nana struggled for breath.

"No little one, just… Just let me see them once more." Lord D nodded rushing from the room to fetch his children. Nana gave a weary smile to her gtreat-grandchildren. "So beautiful," Nana sighed; she struggled to raise a hand. Touching their silky hair she let her hand fall back to the bed.

Berkeley pulled Jeremy against his chest allowing his body to absorb the shock of the smaller man's sobs. "Never… I mean," Jeremy began. "Never has there been a day in my life that did not have Nana in it. I can not even think that the sun will rise tomorrow and…" Berkeley held his lover tight as he lost his battle with his grief. He collapsed against Berkeley holding on as if the world were going too fast for him.

"Don't be sad," Nana attempted to smile at Lord D and JJ. "Ok," Nana said not speaking to any one visible in the room. "I'm ready now. Take care of them…" Nana heaved a heavy sigh and breathed no more.

Lord D shook his head loosening the silken tresses. They flew wildly about his head as he sobbed. "No… No… Father why wouldn't you let me…" Lord D leaned heavily on the bed clasping Nana's slack hand.

Sofu stepped into the room after Q-Chan had flown out. Sofu clasped his son in his arms holding his trembling body. "I am sorry my child I have yet again failed you." Sofu stroked Lord D's hair. "When I noticed that you were starting to care for Nana, I should have taken over as her physician." Sofu placed his hand to Lord D's chest to slow his racing heart. "I thought that you were capable of letting go. But a Kami does not give his affections lightly. I should have known that you would fight for her, just as I fought for you. I had to forbid it my son, or I would have lost you." Sofu's attempt at reasoning with his son's sense of failure soon ran dry. All that was left to do was hold him. JJ reached for his lover and Sofu was loath to release his son.

JJ sniffled loudly as he pressed kisses along Lord D's brow. "Thank you Darling. Thank you for all that you have done. You helped Nana more than you can ever know. She was so happy to see the kids, she was…" JJ choked as he tried to force words past the egg in his throat. "She knew that she was supposed to be gone a long time ago, but you were her miracle. Thank you for being her miracle." Lord D melted into JJ's embrace. Sofu went beside the bed closing Nana's eyes as he sent her on her final rest.

Break

Leon wanted to go home. He sat at his desk with his forehead pressed against his palms. "We've been busting our asses on this case and I think I may have figured out the why, if not the how." Leon stared dismal at the coffee that steamed at his elbow. It was thick and strong enough to peel the varnish off his desk if he dared spill a drop. "I should be home falling into my baby right now, but instead, it is almost two in the morning and I am here looking at you."

"Cut the crap Leon, what have you figured out?" Dee's words were less than enthusiastic. Though his lover sat beside him at the computer he may as well have been in the next county for all the good it did his burning desire at this moment in time.

"Victim one and victim three were lovers, so were victims two and four," Leon said as he looked over the files. "I made the connection when I was questioning the wife of the first victim. She said it was too bad about Charles; they must have been together when they were attacked. Now why would they be together?"

"Maybe they were golf buddies," Ryo muttered as he picked up his coffee. "Damn that's like tire sludge." He stuck his tongue out in distaste. "Just because we need it to be strong does it have to disgusting as well?"

"And thick, I could probably re-plaster our garage with this stuff." Dee nodded as he sipped from Ryo's mug.

"Seriously, guys. I am going to follow up on this, as for right now. I am going to go home and make love to Little D." Leon stood to his feet gathering his files. "See you later." Ryo tried to smile but all he could do was lean back against Dee. He would allow his partners strength to hold him up, if only for a moment.

"Come on Baby, let's go home." Dee whispered as he placed a kiss on the smooth skin behind Ryo's ear. Ryo was silent as Dee took his hand and lead him from the department. "Little D said we could pick the boys up tomorrow. They've already done their homework too."

Ryo nodded glad to be able to go home. "Not tonight Dee, I am beat." Ryo muttered as they entered their bedroom. He saw the heated glint in Dee's eyes and decided to stop him before he got carried away. Dee smiled, crawled into bed with Ryo and held him.

Break

Jeremy could not believe it. There it was shining in the horizon. Didn't it know? How could it be so insensitive? How could the sun shine so beautiful on the day his Nana died? Not two hours ago she had ceased to breathe and here it was shining for all to see. Berkeley sat beside him waiting, he knew that soon the outrage would fade, the anger would melt away leaving nothing but a broken heart. It wasn't right. Jeremy could not help but fume at the unfairness of life. He looked at the glorious garden that sat beaming in the sun under the attentive care of Lord D. JJ had carried his lover out there, leaving him there explaining that it would sooth him. Jeremy would not even bother to ask why the beautiful man had lay right down among the flowers. His silk, violet robes were barely visible so deep had he sank into the blooms.

"You need to get some sleep. The coroner will be here in about an hour to take Nana to the…Hospital." Berkeley said unwilling to say 'morgue.' He knew Jeremy was not ready to think in terms of internment and final farewells. "Come to bed, they will take care of everything." JJ nodded as Berkeley led Jeremy to their spare bedroom. JJ sighed, he would have to call in today there was no way he could go into the office today. No way he could deal with death and murder when his own Nana lay cold in her bed.

Break

Leon hung up the telephone then stared. At what, he was not sure, but he sat for a long time staring at it. "Leon?" Count D stood next to Leon with a hand on his shoulder. Leon looked down at the well-manicured maroon nails. "Is something wrong?"

Count D waited for an answer, Leon sat, his eyes watered, and then he looked up. "That was JJ," Leon said. He heaved a deep sigh. "Nana…Nana died this morning." Count D felt the air leave his lungs. So that explained it. He felt a heavy grief in his heart, in the place his father occupied. Even with the parental constraints removed, Lord D was still very much connected to his son. "I'll get the car ready, you get the kids. I'll take you to him." Leon got to his feet. He passed Bikky and Chris in the hallway and explained the situation. "Where's Rain?" Leon wondered as he looked down the hallway.

"Same place he has been since Ryo and Dee dropped us off," Bikky said laughing. "I'll go get him." Bikky and Chris ran off down the hall towards Count D's garden.

Leon stood for a long time watching Count D glide down the hall. He resembled nothing so much as a shimmering dusting of snow blowing in graceful winds. "Who died?" Leon was startled for a moment, before he turned to Angel. He blinked, after Count D's pristine appearance, Angels lime green and orange outfit was startling. "He wore all white to the funeral of Mother, so I just wondered," Angel explained as Leon continued to gawk at him.

Angel paused as Count D leveled a beautiful smile that was heartbreaking in its sadness. "Nana, JJ's grandmother has left us for better place."

"I am sorry to hear that. Please send my condolences." Angel inclined his head to Count D and Leon as they gathered the boys. "If you need, I mean, they can stay here. I know you fear them being underfoot here, but it is more their home than ours. If they wish to stay." Bikky and Chris both nodded their heads in agreement. Rain said nothing, but he aimed a longing look at Count D's garden. Leon shook his head before looking to D. With a nod, he left the boys in the shop. T-Chan snarled at them to leave him be. He was disgruntled because Count D had not left Aoi behind. She lay in her papa's arms sleeping soundly swathed in white.

They arrived to find Lord D still lying in his garden. Leon took his daughter heading inside leaving D to his father. "ChiChiUe," Count D knelt beside Lord D. One glass-bright amethyst eye opened, blinked. Lord D brought up a slime hand to wipe away the tear. The other eye opened and more tears came cascading down. Count D said no more; he placed a hand on his father's violet robe. With a thought it was pristine white. Lord D sat up wrapping his arms around D still sobbing. Q-Chan squeaked as she perched on her grandson's shoulder. In this form the sunlight would not bother her. Her age alone made the sun less deadly, but it was still unpleasant.

Sofu stood on the porch watching his family. He thought of Nana and felt an unfamiliar sensation. Bringing a hand to his face he caught the glistening saline solution the leaked impudently from his eyes. He should be happy, but he sighed, he would miss the kindly woman. They had such great times discussing their children and their mutual grandchildren. He had seen it, a long time ago, the shadow of the white angel that had come for her. It was a lengthy tug of war that Casiuel had fought with his foolish son, but a worthy battle it had been. Lord D had not given up, not even unto the end when his life would have been forfeit as well. Sofu had never been more proud.

Break

Dee sat his cell phone on the dashboard a deep sigh clawing its way through his body. "Dee?" Ryo asked as they prepared to enter the physicians immediate care office that the deaths centered around. "What's wrong?"

"When we get this done we have to get some flowers…" Dee paused. At Ryo's questioning look he continued. "Nana died this morning." Ryo gasped tears stinging his eyes. "Leon said it was coming a long time now, she is at peace."

"I hope so." Ryo whispered. He swallowed hard past the lump in his throat. Blinking rapidly to clear the moisture from his eyes, Ryo squared his shoulders. They had work to do. Case now, weep later. Ryo was suspicious of the desk assistant as soon as they showed their badges. The woman's eyes had darted between them. She hid her fear well, but the slight tremble of her hands was not missed.

"I already told the other detective that came by here with his questions, they came here, they got tested they left. You know one of them was even wearing a ring and had his kid with him." The lady had broken off with a disgusted huff. Her once pretty features twisted into an ugly mask of hatred. Dee stepped back leaving Ryo to smile at her. She warmed to his pretty features. "Are there any questions that Detective Jameson forgot?" She winked at Ryo.

"Yes actually," Ryo aimed his most charming look at her. "Darlene, do you mind if I call you that?" Ryo asked watching as she shifted one of her deep blond curls. She batted her eyes as she nodded. "What did they all get tested for?"

"Aids, they come in every six months," Darlene said her cold blue eyes leaving shivers to trace up and down Ryo's spine. "The women too."

"Thanks, that's all I needed," Ryo stood up when the doctor came into the waiting room. He looked over at Ryo with Dee standing near.

"Miss Petshce, do we have another test couple?" The Doctor looked at the familiar way that Dee's hand hovered near Ryo's hip. Almost, but not quite touching, he frowned.

"Oh no Dr. Almon," Darlene was quick to slip back into a professional manner. "These two…"

"Are monogamous," Dee interrupted. "Thanks again Ms. Petshce, for your time. We have to go pick up our kids." Darlene stared as they left the office.

"You stupid girl, what did you tell them," Dr. Almon whispered furious in her ear.

"No…Nothing Dr. Almon, I swear it. They just wanted to know what test they took."

Dr. Almon nodded curtly. He patted Darlene on the head. "That's a good girl. You have served the cause." Darlene beamed under the praise before she happily went back to her work.

"They are both involved, somehow, someway, they are both in this." Dee ground out.

"Leon was right." Ryo buckled in, he felt a cold shiver of someone watching them. Looking back, all he saw was the curtain in the widow of the doctor's office shifting. It could have been a wind, but Ryo knew it was not. "Did you see the way she looked when you mentioned that we have kids?" Ryo would have said more but something cold and metal hit the window. He turned his head to face the barrel of a gun.

To-Be Continued.

Author's note: Things sure have a way of sneaking up on you. One minute it was the day after thanksgiving, then it was two days before Christmas, all I can say is that I am sorry and that the Christmas spectacular will be… Spectacular.

Ja Ne