Part 10


Joey slowly maneuvered his car back down the narrow street; careful he didn’t make them too suspicious. He wrapped his free hand around Lance’s wrist, holding him in place. The young blonde’s head rocked into his groin as he made a turn; Joey groaned. “Jesus,” he whispered. He never thought he would get that hard by a simple touch again.

Joey continued surveying the area as he drove through. Focusing on one narrow alley, his expert eyes caught sight of a large man roaming the street in front of them. He slowed the vehicle down when he noticed the stranger pulling something out from under his jacket. By the time Joey realized what exactly the man was doing the looming figure had fired a shot at them. The noise of the gun startled Lance awake. He tried lifting his head but Joey was quicker, moving his hand up and securing the blonde’s head.

“No,” Joey’s voice screeched. “Stay down.” His words were followed by another round of acute gunfire. The last thing he wanted was Lance getting hit by a bullet coming though one of the windows. He slouched down in his own seat making sure he could still see the street. It was a difficult task to do while being shot at.

The brunette cop pressed the gas pedal hoping he would make it down the street and around the corner before any more damage could be done. He the car passed the large man as the stranger continued firing at them.

Another round was fired from the opposite side of the road. This one pierced the back door of the driver’s side. “Shit,” Joey screamed. “Mother fuckers.” He maneuvered the steering wheel back and forth, trying desperately to keep it under control. “Jesus, what do they think there doing?” He lifted his hand from Lance’s head. The brunette officer looked down at Lance and registered the fear radiating from him. “Don’t move, understand me.” Lance nodded his head. Joey reached for his radio. He fumbled with the hand held speaker trying to make the call. He didn’t realize that the radio had been knocked out by one of the stray bullets, until sparks snapped in their direction. “No fucking way,” Joey huffed throwing the broken radio to the floor. The detective looked back up at the gauntlet they found themselves in. He mentally figured the distance to the corner and quickly determined they’d make it.

Just as Joey was about to make the turn, another man jumped out, spraying the car with automatic gunfire. The bullets riveted the side of his police vehicle.

“Holy shit, Joey,” Lance screamed. He pulled his body into a ball on the front seat. “Who’s shooting at us?”

“Not now kid.” Joey maneuvered the car around the stranger but not around the second man. The brunette closed his eyes as he hit the man sending him up and over the car. Joey glanced in his rear view mirror and was slightly reassured when he noted the man stirring. He thankfully turned the corner and raced his battered car down the street.

Lance cautiously lifted his head from the protection of Joey’s lap and stared behind them. “Who were they?” his small voice asked.

“I’m not sure kid,” he answered. Silently he thought, but I’m sure Lou’s behind this.

**

JC rolled over expecting the warm reassuring feeling of his lover’s body heavy against his own but Justin wasn’t there. The brunette flinched at the loss and forced himself to wake. He slowly became aware of his surroundings. His mind filled with swirling images and colors. Slowly his brain organized everything putting the images into the right place, the right sequence, and he remembered what happened yesterday, all of it. He moaned softly as he placed his fingers on his temple rubbing the tension; his head throbbed from the emotional strain of the day before. He’s day had gone from bad to worse and he couldn’t understand why it happened. Justin knew about his past now and there was nothing he could do about it. A tear ran down his cheek. He covered his hand ashamed of what Justin knew, ashamed about his past. The brunette rocked slightly as he said a small prayer.

JC lightly shook his head and focused on the red numbers across the mattress from him. He squinted barely making out their forms. The brunette huffed. He only had two hours before he had to go into work, before he had to quit the one thing he loved to do. JC rolled onto his back and flopped his arm down out from his body, staring at the ceiling. He wondered silently where Justin had gone and why the blond had left him. The brunette sighed pulling his arm back toward his body and just over his head. Placing his fingers into his matted hair, he gently twirled them.

JC looked at the clock again, batted his eyes and then stared at the ceiling once more. He thought about getting up and figuring out where Justin went. However, his body disagreed as pain ebbed through his side as he tried moving. He was sore and with every move felt a jarring surge of pain. JC whimpered placing his arm over his eyes. He wasn’t going anywhere. Then a tingling sensation coursed through his body canceling out that of his discomfort. His eyes snapped opened and he turned his head in the direction of the bedroom door. “Something’s wrong,” he murmured and forced himself from the bed.

**

Justin looked over at the small alarm clock he had stored in the dark room. It had taken him nearly two hours to complete the development of the crime scene photos. He stood staring at each photo getting a better picture of what happened at the scene in the park. Justin touched one of the pictures. Its focus was the wooden planks left near the scene. He was accosted with a new vision.

“Put the planks down as we walk. It will cover our trail,” a harsh voice commanded. A flash of someone placing the wooden planks down in front of brown leather shoes and then of an undecipherable figure carrying a listless body appeared. “In front of me you fool. Do you want to give them evidence?” A second figure came into view…

The profiler gasped with the new information he had been given. He turned to another picture. It displayed the body on its stomach revealing the burning marks that lashed across its backside. He touched it.

Justin found himself in a dark damp passage that led to a large opening. It appeared to be a cellar of some sort. He ran his hand over the moist walls and pulled it away covered in green gook. The dream blond wiped the offended hand onto his pants and continued moving into the large open space. He heard a whimper and quickly spun around. Justin witnessed a young man laying face down on a picnic table. The figure’s wrists and ankles were tied to the legs, back covered in bruises.

Justin snapped back, head reeling from the experience, but he had to learn more. He moved to the next picture, which focused only on the angry mark. The blonde’s hand traced the burn causing his head to snapped back and another vision.

The body stirred. His head turned in Justin’s directions eyes squeezed shut. Justin was about to move closer and remember the details about the victim when he caught sight of the large man he’d seen before. He stood back.

“Well, it looks like you’re awake again. Good, good.” The large man loomed over his victim, face shadowed. “I’ve got a little something for you sweetheart. Maybe it will help you choose between one or the other. In fact, I know it will.” He waltzed away from the prone helpless man and moved toward the burning fire.

Justin thought, a burning fire, in cellar.

The unidentifiable man stepped away from the flame, brandishing a menacing prod. It was red hot. He walked back toward the victim. When he reached him, the evil man rubbed his hand over the victim’s smooth backside. He squeezed causing the held man to whimper. “To bad you couldn’t decide.” To Justin utter dismay, the man lowered the scolding iron to the man’s backside, singeing the flesh.

It was then Justin saw the victims face clearly. “No,” he whispered. “No, this isn’t happening?”

The man heard Justin’s cries and he turned around, smiling in Justin’s direction.

“How can you see me? What does this mean? Why him?”

The man with the blurry face smiled wider, and then turned serious. He looked back at his victim and reached for him. “Answer me,” Justin yelled and tried moving to help the man he recognized but he couldn’t. He couldn’t move. “No,” he screamed, “Leave him alone.” The man ignored Justin’s cries and spread the victim’s marred burnt flesh apart, shoving the prod into the hole.

The man passed out in agony. The unrecognizable man faced Justin again, approaching him, “He’s next. Back off.”

Justin screamed and was physically forced to sit down by the pressure building in his head. He shook his head from side to side in hopes of escaping the vision he witnessed. The blond wavered a bit in the chair until he leaned over his lap, forcing the blood into his head. The profiler rubbed his temples as he rocked in the chair, worried he would lose consciousness. He needed to remember what he saw, needed to write it down, but his eyes wouldn’t focus and his hands trembled. Justin felt the blackness creep up on him, pulling him down into an abyss. The blond felt himself falling forward, felt the rush of the air pass his face. He never felt the unyielding surface of the floor, but soft comforting arms wrapped around him. “JC,” he murmured eyes wet with unshed tears.

“I’ve got you sugah. I won’t let you fall.” JC knelt beside his boyfriend on the floor and cradling the younger man’s head against chest.

“I’ve got to… I need you to write…write something down, baby.” Justin tried focusing on JC’s soothing voice to keep from passing out. He peered down at his trembling hands and rubbed them against his thighs. “Write something,” he whispered.

“Justin,” JC’s words caressed Justin’s face, “Are you sure you’re up to it?”

“I’ll be okay. Just put me back in the chair.” JC carefully stood up and lifted Justin into the chair and gently laid his boyfriend back. “Owww…” Justin screamed again reaching for his head. “It…it hurts, JC,” Justin whined as the short flashes of information continued plaguing his brain. He winced again when the man with the prod reappeared replaying the horrific scene in his mind. Justin blindly reached out toward JC, “JC…please.”

“Justin,” JC straddled his lover’s knees and pressed Justin’s face into his chest. He placed his fingertips at the base of Justin’s neck and skull and pressed his thumbs into the blonde’s temples, applying a generous amount of pressure to both locations. “Relax, sugah,” JC’s voice soothed. “Relax for me.” He leisurely massaged his fingers along the base of Justin’s skull crawling them back and forth. The brunette rolled his thumbs into the side of Justin’s head soothing and chasing the strain from them. “Close your eyes and just let the tension leave you.”

Justin’s eyes fluttered open allowing him to see one of the pictures hanging from the wire. “Argh,” the blond again screamed. “The pic…the pictures. Take them… take them down.”

JC tipped Justin’s head back so that he could look in his boyfriend’s eyes. “Are you sure? They can’t be dry yet, sugah. You put a lot of work into them.”

“Take them down,” he said with greater force.

JC jerked back at the forcefulness of his lover’s voice. The brunette stared briefly at Justin before drawing his leg over Justin’s lap. He hobbled off the blond man’s lap and gingerly walked toward the pictures. He tugged them down one at a time, trying not to smudge the slowly drying chemicals. The brunette arranged them in a way in which the least amount of damage would take place. Upon completion of his task, he tuned around with watery eyes. He just couldn’t control his emotions anymore. JC wiped his eyes and tried focusing on Justin. The blond seemed to be all right now that the pictures were away from his line of sight.

“I’m sorry Justin.” JC shook visible, lungs erratically taking in air. “I didn’t mean to be so stupid. I should’ve just listened to you instead of questioning you. I’m sorry. Please, don’t be mad at me.”

“JC?” Justin spoke softly with his azure orbs still closed. “Please, come to me. Don’t cry. I didn’t mean to yell.” JC sniffed and rubbed his eyes again. “JC. I need you.” Justin opened his eyes when he didn’t hear JC move toward him. He tilted his aching head to the side and stared at his lover. “What baby?’” he whispered.

“Nothing,” the brunette responded in a hushed voice. JC knew better then to speak loudly when Justin suffered from a migraine. “It’s nothing,” he lied again.

“JC. I can’t see right through that. Please, come here.” Justin reached out a listless hand hoping that JC wouldn’t resist. He closed his eyes and smiled when he felt the warm flesh encompass his hand. The blond pulled gently coaxing the older man to his lap. He opened his eyes and met JC’s powerful steel stare. “Would you ease the ache?” He pointed to his head, “In here.” Justin carefully drew JC into his warm embrace, “And I’ll ease your ache in here,” the blond placed delicate kisses over JC’s chest.

“Yes,” a faint voice answered.

“Thank you baby,” Justin’s voice tugged at JC heart and the brunette repositioned his fingers, gently easing Justin’s pain.

**

“What are we gonna do Joey?” Lance asked as they drove down a deserted road.

“We,” Joey stressed, “ain’t gonna do anything, kid? I’m taking you to my place for the night and then after that you’re on your own.” Joey stared down the street. He desperately tried focusing his attention on anything other than Lance. The brunette detective was afraid of what he might see. He was afraid his heart would give in and do whatever the young blond asked of him. The detective didn’t know when it happened, but he was falling for the young bartender and quickly. He knew Lance was in trouble and it pained him to think about it, but he just wasn’t sure if he could make the commitment of getting him out of it. “I mean,” Joey tried again. “I’ll file a report in the morning, so you’ll need to come down to the station with me. It’ll make it easier if you’re with me and not somewhere else.”

Lance batted his eyes numerous times holding his tears at bay, “Wh…why Joey? What’d I do wrong?” The young bartender stared out the passenger window fiddling with the hem of his tattered shirt. His cheek hurt but Joey’s words hurt even more. The blond couldn’t understand why the words hurt him so deeply; he’d just met Joey. There was just something about the brunette detective, which immediately attracted Lance to him. He thought Joey felt it too, but with the finality of the detective’s words, Lance knew he was wrong. The blond sighed waiting for Joey’s answer.

“You didn’t do anything wrong. I just can’t have you hanging around my place, that’s all.” Joey still didn’t look in his passenger’s direction.

“I don’t understand. If I didn’t do anything wrong then why do you want to get rid of me.”

“Lance I don’t want to ‘get rid’ of you. I just don’t think having you at my apartment for a long period of time is appropriate.”

“Appropriate,” Lance crossed his arms over his chest, peering down at his feet. “It’s not like were sleeping together or anything.”

“You know that and I know that but…”

“What ever,” Lance shrugged hopelessly.

“Lance…” he turned his head. Big mistake. Damn it, he thought as he looked at the pitiful face the bartender was giving him. “Pouting isn’t gonna help you,” Joey smirked.

“It isn’t,” Lance turned his face away, “pouting.” He snuffed, “If you don’t want me staying at your place then fine. I mean it is you’re apartment after all.” Lance looked at the passing road sign hanging above street. “You can drop me off right here,” the blond said with a sneer. “I’ve got some ‘friends’ in the area. They’ll put me up for a few days,” Lance lied rubbing his tired eyes.

“I don’t think so kid. You’re coming with me.”

“Why,” Lance yelled. “I’m not gonna sleep with you, so why do you want me to go home with you tonight, but not any other.”

Joey’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. “I didn’t offer to take you to my place because I wanted to sleep with you, Lance.” The brunette detective cast a glance over his shoulder. “I offered because I didn’t think it was safe for you to be on your own out there,” he nodded his head toward the dark street. “For Christ sakes, they were all over you street and I’m sure they were in your apartment.”

“So, that’s my problem. Isn’t it? Why the fuck do you care?” Lance whispered in a haunting voice.

Joey sighed and loosened his grip and reached for the bruised face of his passenger. “Look,” he began, “I’ll….”

“No Joey,” Lance sneered slapping the hand away. “I’ll stay for one night, then I’m gone. Okay. You don’t have to feel sorry for me.” He turned his body toward the driver, “I won’t guilt you into opening your home to me. Either you want me there or you don’t. Maybe you should just drop me off at the station.”

Joey realized at that moment that he’d lost. There was no way he’d allow Lance to wonder around until Lou and his goons were gone for good. “Now you’re just being ridiculous. I’m not gonna but you in a cell even if its for your own protection.” He reached for the younger man again smirking slightly when Lance allowed him to touch his face. “It’s no big deal. You can stay until we settle this.”

“Evidently, it is a big deal,” Lance pinned Joey with his emerald gaze. “I don’t want to be a bother.”

The brunette slowed the battered car down for a red light. Before Joey knew what was happening, Lance unbuckled his seatbelt, and with lightening speed opened the door jumping gout into the street.

“Shit,” Joey mumbled. “Lance,” he yelled, “Lance god damn it get back here.” Lance continued running as quickly as he could; hindered by the hidden injuries he suffered at the hands of Sunny.

Joey reached across the seat and shut the door. “You’re not getting away that easily.” The detective turned the car down a side street, chasing Lance as best he could. Only when the younger man hobbled down an alley did Joey finally give up using the car. He stopped the car at the curb and threw the transmission into park. Joey flung the door open jumping out of it, and forgetting to close it behind him. The brunette raced after Lance down the dark alley.

He lost sight of him. “Lance,” Joey screamed. “Come on we don’t have time for this.” The eagle eyes of the detective caught sight of a slight movement to his left. Joey pretended it went unseen as he continued slowly moving up the dark passage. When he passed the suspicious area, he glanced over his shoulder catching additional movements and this time a heavy breath. Joey turned back, heading in the direction of the noise. Lance jumped out from the wall and started running back toward the car. “Lance,” Joey chased. The obvious condition of the blond slowed him down considerably and the detective was nearly on him in a matter of seconds. Joey dove. He caught the younger man around the waist, and he wrapped his arms securely around the smaller man. Joey’s face pressed against the small of the back and his knees dragged on the unforgiving concrete. He relaxed his body becoming dead weight eventually dragging Lance’s body down.

Lance cried out as he instinctively placed his hands in front of him hitting the concrete surface, wrists buckling. The blond immediately tucked one of his wrists under his weight while struggling in the older man’s embrace. Lance kicked his legs and wiggled his hips trying to free himself of Joey’s grasp.

Joey roughly flipped the struggling man over, noticing instantaneously the way he was cradling his wrist. “Stop it. Stop it right now.” Joey stared into the side of Lance’s face. “Look at me.” Lance ignored him continuing his struggles, “damn it. I said look at me.” He grabbed a handful of hair and forced Lance’s gaze onto him.

Lance sniffed, wincing at the uncomfortable pain coming from his mid section. He stopped struggling and focused his piercing green eyes on the older man hovering above him. “Get off,” he huffed, tears in his eyes.

“You can glare at me all you fucking want.” The brunette leaned down onto the prone body. “But if you fucking run again on me,” Joey screamed in the youths face, “I’ll break your fucking legs. You got that.” Lance flinched. Joey’s voice softened, “Now,” he leaned back taking his weight off of Lance, “get up.” Lance hesitated. “I said get up. We need to get out of here.” Joey surveyed their surroundings. “I don’t think it’s safe here.”

Lance rolled in an attempted at gaining momentum. He couldn’t get up. He tried again and again he was met with the same painful results. The third time he tried getting up, he keeled over sideways at the numbing pain from his abdomen. His face blanched, hand still cradled against his chest and the solitary light in the alleyway illuminated a sheen of sweat. The blond groaned. “I can’t.”

“What’s wrong?” Joey knelt beside him placing a comforting hand on the blonde’s shoulder.

“I hurt,” the blond whimpered.

“Where?”

“My wrist…my side,” his voice grew soft. “My head hurts a little too,” he peered up at Joey. “Could you… could you help me up?”

“You ain’t gonna run again are you?” The blond shook his head. “All right then.” Joey stood up and gently eased the younger man to his feet. He wrapped a supporting arm around Lance’s mid section and guided one of the blonde’s arms around his own neck. “Is this okay?”

“Yes,” Lance gasped.

“The car isn’t that far,” Joey stated, and then added under his breath, “If its still there.”

**

JC sat on Justin’s lap working his fingers over tense muscles. He felt the blonde’s warm breath against his neck while he worked the trapezoids. The brunette leaned back and peered into Justin’s eyes. “Is that better?”

“Yeah…thank you baby.” Justin wrapped his arms around JC’s slender waist and pulled him closer, leaning his head just under the brunette’s chin. His hands moved up and down the taut muscles of JC’s back, mindful of the potential bruises. They held each other for a few more minutes before Justin finally let JC go. Keeping his hands on the older man’s narrow hips, Justin gently coaxed him backward. “Now,” he looked into JC’s eyes, “What’s got your emotions running, sweetie? What’s wrong?”

JC shrugged his shoulders, “Nothing really.”

“JC. Baby. Do you really expect me to believe that?” he said in a soft voice. “I know you. I can tell when something is bothering you. What is it?”

JC wiped his nose with the sleeve of his shirt. “I’m just sore is all. My body hurts all over and my muscles feel like the whole system is in a knot.”

“JC,” Justin pleaded. “I know that you hurt physically, but I also know you are hurting emotionally. Let me help you.” Justin eased JC onto his lap again and rubbed his hands up and down his back in a loving caress. JC made a small gasping sound that made Justin smile. The blonde’s hands travel further south and he cupped the smooth mounds of JC’s ass.

Instantly a shot of pain pierced Justin’s head as the same vision worked its way into his mind.

“To bad you couldn’t decide.” To Justin utter dismay, the man lowered the scolding iron to the man’s backside, singeing the flesh. The man howled in pain, breaths becoming difficult. He raised his head and arched his back when his captor placed the prod in the cleft of his ass, lowering it to the puckered hole.

“Arrrrgghhhhhh,” he screamed in agony.

Justin squeezed JC’s ass hard causing the brunette to squirm. “No, this can’t be happening. This can’t be true.”

“What? What is it sugah?” JC ignored the nagging ache in his bottom.

“Nnnnoooo,” Justin screamed falling unconscious into JC’s own lap catching the older man off guard. The two tumbled to the floor in a painful heap. Justin on top of JC and the brunette’s head bounced off the floor.

“Jus…Justin,” JC voice quivered. “Baby, wake up.”

**

Joey maneuvered the young blond back to his car, which thankfully was still running with the door wide open. Thank goodness it’s to early for anyone to notice, Joey chuckled to himself. He eased the bartender around the front of the car and reopened the passenger side door, while bracing Lance against the back. The detective helped Lance into the car and wrapped the safety harness around him, latching it on the other side. He leaned back and ruffled the blonde’s hair. “We’re gonna head to my place, okay?” Joey asked.

“Yeah.” Lance turned his head and faced the brunette. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Running like that,” the blond looked passed him for a brief moment before refocusing his stare. “I…I do it a lot… run.”

Joey crouched down placing his hand on Lance’s thigh. “Shhh… you can tell me about it in the morning. Okay.” Lance nodded his head. “Okay, then.” The older man stood up, shut the door carefully and walked around the car. He sat down in the driver’s seat shutting the door behind him. Throwing the gear into drive, he drove the car in silence. Twenty minutes later, they were parking in his garage. “We’re here,” Joey mumbled. He turned his head in Lance’s direction observing the younger man stare out the window, biting his hangnail. “I said we’re here.”

Lance startled by Joey’s voice ripped the hangnail off tearing the tender skin. The blond quickly stuck his finger into his mouth sucking the blood from it. Joey’s groin instantly responded to the blonde’s actions. The brunette bit his bottom lip, “come on.” He held out his hand, “Let’s go inside. Will fix you up and then get a couple of hours of sleep. Does that sound like a plan, kid?” Lance nodded his head and released his finger, grabbing the offered hand with his good hand. “Good, lets just get some sleep.”

Detective Nick Carter sat alone at his desk. His partner, Kevin, was supposed to take him home but when they arrived at the station he received the bad news. The night clerk informed him that he was to work the next shift. That would make sixteen hours of duty and he was already tired from the afternoon’s work, not to mention his nose hurt like hell. He absentmindedly pinched the bridge of his bruised nose, fucking fag, he thought. He carelessly thumbed through some reports Kevin left for him as he rocked in his chair, legs crossed. Nick was nervous. He and two other detectives were on duty and the others were out on a call leaving Nick by himself. The blond raked his fingers through his hair while looking across the office toward Lieutenant Nickelson’s door. He became agitated, and reflexively crumpled the manila folder as he continued staring at the dark room. The ring of the telephone startled him. He instinctively jerked his knee knocking over his bottle of water in the process spilling its contents over his desk.

“Shit.” He dabbed at the puddle of water with a stray napkin from dinner. “Mother fuckin’ unbelievable.” The phone rang again. “Will someone get that?” he yelled. By the third ring, Nick remembered he was the only one in the office and he snatched the phone from the cradle. “Detective Carter speaking, how may I help you?” he huffed irritably.

A nervous voice came across the phone, “Ummm… I…”

“What? Out with it,” Nick mused. “I don’t have all night.”

“Um…he’s missing.”

Nick sat up, “Who’s missing?”

“My…my boyfriend.”

Great, Nick thought, another fucking faggot. “Listen, this isn’t missing persons. You need to call elsewhere.”

“I think…I think he’s dead.”

“Sir, how do you now that. What proof do you have?”

“None, but…but…”

“If you don’t have any proof that he’s dead then you should call missing persons. Now if you don’t mind, I’ll transfer you…” just as the blond detective was about to transfer the caller to the proper office, someone grabbed his wrist halting its actions.

“Carter,” a menacing voice purred. “I suggest you take this call.”

Nick refused to look up. He knew who clutched his wrist painfully; he didn’t need to see. Nick placed the receiver by his ear once more and spoke to the frantic man. “How long?”

“How long?”

“Has he been missing?”

“About five days now.”

“Why did you wait this long before calling?” Nick asked shocked. The lieutenant leaned closer, pressing his body against Nick’s back. The blond moved away.

“I called…before.”

“When…”

“After the second day. I called the precinct. Someone took all my information and said they…they’d get back to me.”

“Do you remember the officers name?” A door behind him shut, startling him.

“I…think it was,” another line picked up the call.

“Hang on…” Nick interrupted and turned around leering at the closed door. “Let me get your name,” Nick said as he stood from his seat and crept toward the office.

“Kip Ziegal.”

The blond snuck a look between the blinds, watching his boss write down the information. “Kip, huh.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Kip, how old are you?” Nick eyes widened when he noticed the Lieutenant reach down into his desk drawer and drag out a manila folder. He watched while the older man flipped through some of the loose-leaf pages.

“I’m 30.”

“When’s your birthday.”

“Is that really important?” The man on the other end was becoming impatient. “Why do you want to know all this information? I’ve already given it to you.”

“Kip,” Nick hesitated knowing what he was about to do could get him in deep with the Lieutenant. “Can I meet you somewhere?” The Lieutenant nearly dropped the phone upon hearing the young detective’s request. Nick observed the man place a piece of paper into the folder and put it away. After replacing the updated file, the lieutenant deftly hung up the phone. The blond hurried back to his desk. He quickly sat down, writing the information on a piece of paper.

“That’d be fine sir. We can meet at the coffee shop I work at.”

“Okay, what’s the name of it?”

“Jemoke’s.”

“All right I’ll meet you there around 1:30. Does that sound good?”

“Yes, thank you Detective Carter.”

Nick pinched the phone between his shoulder and neck while he finished writing down the information. He didn’t hear the door open behind him or the man sneak out and slide in behind him in the cubicle. The blond detective casually hung up the phone and effortlessly slid his chair toward the computer he and Kevin shared. Just as he was about to enter the information, his chair was pulled from the computer.

“Hey, what the hell,” Nick exclaimed. He felt strong hands grab his shoulder, pinching the muscles. The blond shrugged his shoulders up in hopes of relieving the pressure.

“Detective Carter,” the lieutenant sneered. “What are you doing?”

“I’m…” he swallowed with difficulty, “I’m typing in the information from the phone call.”

“What was it about?” Nick wanted to scream you know what it was about, but held his tongue and shut his eyes.

“A missing person.”

“A missing person,” Nickelson repeated. “Why that’s not anything that should concern you? I want you to send the information to the Missing Persons Unit.”

“Ummm… sir I think this may be linked to Detective Fatone’s case. Shouldn’t the information be in our data banks?”

“Are you questioning my authority, Nick?” the lieutenant increased the intensity of his hold.

“No…no sir,” the blond stuttered.

“Then,” he leaned down and snarled into the young man’s ear, “fucking give the information to Missing Persons and forget about it. You understand me you sorry excuse for a detective.” Nick nodded his head and the lieutenant let go of him. The blond detective slid his chair back to his desk and picked up his phone, dialing the extension for Missing Persons. “That’s a good boy.” Nickelson ran his fingers through Nick’s hair and watched as the younger man shuddered. “When your done here meet me in my office, we’ve got some unfinished business to attend to.”

Nick silently nodded his head and squeezed his eyes shut. A voice on the other end of the phone allowed Nick to turn his attention elsewhere. He felt the presence of the other man leave the room and he sighed. “Hello,” a voice answered, “Is anyone there?”

“Yes, sorry.” Nick looked over his shoulder when he heard the quiet click of the second line. The lieutenant was listening again. The detective relayed the message, taking as much time as he could, dreading the end of the call. When he was finished he placed the receiver in the cradle and hung his head. Nick grabbed fistfuls of hair, shaking his head.

“Nick,” he heard the voice call to him “lets go.” Nick slowly rose from his seat and dejectedly walked toward the office. Nickelson held the door for him as he entered. He dreaded the damning sound of the door closing and the click of the lock. He sat down in the chair, hating his life.

**

Justin startled awake. He forced his eyes opened, peering through small slits he took in his surroundings, unclear as to where he might be. The blond determined that he was still in the dark room, however, he was no longer sitting in the chair, nor was he looking at pictures. Justin placed his hands on the floor and started his ascent, stopping abruptly on his forearms when he heard a soft moan. He glanced down and saw his lover lying beneath him with his eyes closed and one hand placed on his chest while the other lay near his head. Justin smiled as he absorbed the sight of the soft peach colored skin of his lover’s chest, the long nimble fingers perched upon it and the delicate way the robe hung just off JC’s shoulders. Justin licked his lips.

The blond detective cursed under his breath when he looked up and spotted the time. “Shit,” he mumbled and gently lifted his uncomfortable weight off his lover. He straddled JC’s narrow waist, sitting on his knees and again stared at the blemished beauty beneath him. Justin positioned one hand next to JC turned head and leaned down, ghosting a kiss on the brunette’s temple. JC stirred and within moments, Justin was greeted with a set of magnificently sculpted cheeks and enchanting steel blue eyes. The blond bent down again and pressed a soft kiss just under JC’s eye, rubbing his lips back and forth over the sharp cheekbone. “Hey,” he whispered.

“Justin?” JC blinked slowly.

“We need to get moving,” he nuzzled his lips against his lover’s temple. “You’re already late and I’m gonna be.” Justin crawled off of his lover and gingerly stood up, helpless as the room spun. He instantly reached a hand to his head and one against the wall, hoping he’d keep his balance this time.

“Are you all right?” the brunette asked, searching Justin’s face with expert eyes.

“Just give me a minute. I still have a migraine and the room doesn’t want to stay still for me.” He squinted at the man on the floor. “You need to get up sweetie. I can’t have you lying on the cold floor.”

JC nodded his head and attempted to roll on his side; he cried out. His arms instantaneously went around his mid-section, curling into the fetal position. Justin knelt beside his boyfriend and eased his arm under JC’s knees while the other snaked under the brunette’s shoulders. The blond smoothly rolled JC up into his arms. He stood, lifting JC’s small frame and carrying him out of the dark room. When Justin finally reached their upstairs bedroom he affectionately nestled JC on the bed. He sat next to the brunette, stroking his fingers through JC’s hair and rubbing his hand up and down an exposed thigh. JC’s eyes fluttered opened and he peered at Justin.

“What happened?”

“It appears you past out while trying to get up from the floor.”

JC tore his gaze away, “I’m sorry I’m such a burden.”

Justin straddled his boyfriend’s thighs and cupped his hands around JC’s face forcing their eyes to meet. “Stop it.” He rocked JC’s head back gently into the pillow. “Stop. I’m tired of it. I’m tired of you apologizing for every little thing.” The blonde’s azure eyes blazed with intensity the brunette had never witnessed before. “It isn’t your fault. None of what happened yesterday is your fault, all right. So stop blaming yourself, stop thinking you’re a burden to me. Just stop okay.”

JC wrapped his delicate fingers skillfully around Justin’s wrists, holding them in place. His sparkling eyes bore a hole deep into the blonde’s soul as he whispered, “Make love to me.”

Justin’s heated gaze simmered upon hearing JC’s words. His eyes fluttered shut as he took a deep breath, bracing himself for the pending look of despair in his lover’s eyes. “I can’t, baby.” Justin felt JC’s hands slip from his wrists and in response opened his eyes.

“Why,” JC whispered.

“JC, my God. You just passed out downstairs from just rolling over and you want me to make love to you.”

JC reached up and gently cupped the side of his face, Justin leaned into it the caress. “Please,” his eyes begged.

“Baby,” Justin pressed his body down onto his lover mindful of the injuries and whispered. “No.”

JC’s eyes filled with tears, looking away from his boyfriend he sobbed. “K,” he croaked biting his bottom lip. “Is it because of what Lou said…that I was a…”

“No…Baby, its not because I don’t want to either. You’ve gotta believe I do. I just don’t want to hurt you. You need to go to the doctor’s and get your injuries looked at first. While we’re there…” Justin paused, “we’ll both get blood tests done.”

JC’s head snapped back, startled by Justin’s last suggestion. “What?” he stuttered, “What did you say?”

Justin pressed closer, fearing the worst. “I think we should get tested for…”

“HIV…” JC yelled forcefully pushing Justin from him. “You bastard.”

“JC, it’s not like that.”

“Fuck you,” JC screamed wrapping his arm around himself the other closing the gaping robe. “I guess all your friends at work were right. I’m a slut… a whore… a gigolo whatever the hell you want to call it…always have been always will be.”

Justin saw the tears streaming down JC’s bruised face and he reached for him wanting to comfort him. The brunette pulled away. “JC,” Justin’s voice pleaded, “that’s not true.”

“Then why?” Justin didn’t answer, “You don’t trust me,” JC said fear oozing from every word, fear that Justin would leave him.

“I…”

“You don’t trust that I’d have enough sense to get tested.” JC shamefully looked at the floor lowering his voice. “I haven’t been with anyone but you for the last two years, Justin.” He turned his heated gaze toward Justin. “I’ve never slept with anyone without protection and I’ve never slept with another male. You’re the only person I’ve ever had unprotected sex with. The only one.” He began rocking, “And every month…every month I endure that fucking needle…I do it every month. I’d never put you in danger Justin…never.”

“JC,” Justin’s voice pleaded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” He again reached for his trembling lover, “Please, let me hold you.” His hand brushed against JC’s arm.

“Don’t touch me,” JC seethed eyes blazing. The brunette slowly maneuvered himself from the bed and walked toward their closet grabbing a pair of pants on the way.

“Baby, what are you doing?”

“I’m getting dressed.”

“We need to take you to the doctor’s office.”

“Don’t be stupid, Justin,” JC nearly laughed. “You think a slut would have insurance…you think they’d have enough money to afford medical treatment? And how long have you been a detective.”

“JC…”

“Your insurance won’t cover me. It doesn’t recognize our relationship.” He peered over his shoulder, “Do you think those monthly visits were cheap? It was one of the reasons I insisted on working. So you’d never now. You’d never know that… that…that I was a…” JC slipped out of the robe, displaying the multicolored bruises that marred his skin.

“Just let me take you, I’ll pay for it,” Justin begged as he took in the damage.

“What? And have you seen with a known male prostitute,” JC scoffed as he stepped into his jeans pulling them up to just below his waist.

“Unbeknownst to me, I’ve been seen with one for the past two years, what’s another day,” Justin sneered.

JC jerked his head up, “Whhh…what?” he whispered. “Did you just call me…call me..” JC couldn’t finish his sentence. His worst fear had come true. Justin knew and now saw him for what he truly was.

Justin closed his eyes, hating himself for the words that had just poured from his mouth like a damning stream of lava. “I didn’t…” The blond watched as JC turned his back on him, searching frantically for a shirt. The brunette grabbed one of Justin’s and pulled it over his head. It clung snuggly around his body. He unconsciously smoothed his hands up and down the material. “JC…?”

JC turned and faced him. His sad eyes skimmed Justin’s face and then darted toward the floor. “I’m going,” he informed his lover.

“Where?”

The brunette wrapped his arms around himself and before JC knew what was happening, Justin lunged toward him wrapping him up into a tight embrace. JC struggled painfully, desperately trying to escape. Justin slid one hand onto the back of JC’s neck pressing the brunette’s head against his chest. “I’m sorry,” he whispered into his lover’s golden tresses.

“Every month,” JC sobbed clutching Justin’s arm. “I’m always negative, but I go anyway.” He peered up, “I go anyway.”

“Shhh…”

JC pulled away from his boyfriend wincing at the effort. He wiped the back of his hand across his nose and backed away from Justin. When he reached the door, he whispered sadly, “Goodbye Justin.” He ran.

“JC…” Justin yelled and chased after his lover. As his hand gripped the banister, his knees buckled and he fell to the ground assailed by another vision. “No,” he breathed. “Not right now.”

Justin ran up the familiar staircase, chanting JC’s name. He watched the dream Justin creep toward their bedroom door. The door was slightly ajar. This worried him, for as long as the two had been together he has never known JC to leave the door open. Justin observed his body tense and trembled in fear at the realization. He noticed when he entered the room that the balcony door was also opened and another bolt of fear coursed through him. JC was nowhere in the room, gone. Justin lifted his weary gaze and tried his best to repress his tears. He noted the room was in shambles and when his gaze lifted he noticed the blood red words: He who laughs last laughs best. He’s next.

Justin woke up alone in the house he shared with his lover.

**

Joey rolled over and stared at the slightly ajar door leading into his bedroom. He’d forgotten just how small his couch was. It was definitely a tight fit for him. The brunette blinked pulling the blanket closer to his chin, and continued staring in the direction of his room. He exhaled deeply, gaze focused and then he closed his eyes, praying for any amount of sleep no matter how small. Even if it was only for twenty minutes, he didn’t care. His prayer would not be answered as images of his apartment guest filtered into his dreams. Images flooding his mind were of the young man’s pleading emerald eyes, careless fluttering of eyelashes and the worst one, images of Lance sucking on his own finger.

“Jesus,” Joey muttered flopping onto his back. “I’m not gonna get any sleep.” Just as the words passed his lips the alarm sounded in his room. Joey threw off the blanket and rushed into the room slamming his hand down on the snooze button. The detective chanced a peek at the sleeping man in his bed. He couldn’t tell if Lance was still sleeping or not, so he walked around the bed to the other side.

“I’m awake,” the blond whispered into the pillow.

“You don’t have to be. Just go to sleep and I’ll come back around lunch time and make sure you eat.” Joey sat at the edge of the bed. “Sound like a plan?”

Lance’s precious eyes focused on Joe’s face, “Did you sleep at all?”

Joey smiled at the concern, “After I called in the shoot out, I caught some shut eye,” he lied. “Now, I’ve gotta take a shower and get ready for work. If you’re hungry…well, I can’t guarantee there’s anything in the fridge…sorry,” Joey shrugged.

“Its fine…whatever you’ve got will be fine.”

“Okay…” Joey paused staring down at Lance. “Right then…I’ll just… just take that shower now.” Lance coyly smiled. “Right.” The nervous brunette moved off of the bed and toward his closet pulling out his brown suit. He walked to the bathroom and hung the suit on the back of the door. Lance watched cautiously. Joey then went to his dresser and grabbed a fresh pair of socks and boxers before turning around and facing Lance again. “Um…I don’t know if anything I have will fit you. I’m a bit big, but help yourself to some of my stuff.”

“Okay.”

“Right.” Joey silently moved across the room and into the bathroom. He closed the door and Lance smiled, cuddling deeper into the plush comforter.

**

Nick was alone again. His eyes red rimmed as his gaze was fixed on the lieutenant’s door. The man had left but not until after making Nick’s night a living nightmare. The blond closed his eyes. He hated the man with every fiber in his being; he hated him. When he opened them again, a small trickle of saline escaped them. He reached up and carelessly wiped it away, intent on holding his emotions in, his anger. Nick peered up at the clock and noted the time. He only had another thirty minutes before the next group would be checking in. The blond would return later on in the day, but he couldn’t quite remember exactly when he needed to be back. Determined to forget what happened, he got up out his chair and gingerly walked the short distance across the office to the list.

“What?” Nick placed his hands on either side of the schedule, “I’m on again.” He looked closer and noted the eraser marks on his original time. Nick placed his forehead on the glass and sighed. “This can’t be happening.” The young detective double checked his partner’s arrival time and sighed in relief when it corresponded with his own.

Justin flew into the precinct in a whirlwind of motions, mad at the world. His jacket tails slapped the air in all different directions as his long powerful legs quickly carried his black mood across the room. A menacing scowl disfigured his usual picturesque face and his eyes were filled with fury’s brand. As the young detective made his way to the elevator, he made no effort in affording the Sergeant on duty any leeway when the older man accidentally stood in his way, running soundly into him. His angry strides carried him up the stairs, carelessly bumping several shoulders on his way toward his office. When he reached his destination, the blond viciously slammed the door closed, entering the homicide detectives’ unit.

Nick flinched pulling his forehead from the wall, when he heard the thunderous noise emanate from the door across the room. He looked up in time to catch Justin exploded across the vacant room and into his own separate office. I wonder what’s up Golden Boy’s ass, Nick thought. The detective stared at Justin’s office door for short second before tearing it away and gazing on the two other detectives entering the room. With a short huff, the young detective walk with difficulty toward his cubicle, settling back into his seat and patiently awaited the arrival of his partner.

**

JC hustled across the busy street and into the small pizza place. He entered quietly, unnoticed by the man at the counter. The brunette walked up to the low counter clearing his throat. “Ahemm.”

The short chubby man turned around. A small wave of greasy hair covered the older man’s forehead as he approached the customer. “May I help you sir,” the man said eyeing the slender brunette.

JC pointed over his shoulder toward the front of the restaurant. “Um… the sign said help wanted,” he mumbled.

“Oh…” the man slowly nodded his head, causing the strand to migrate and stick with the rest of the mass. “You’re here for the job.”

The brunette unconsciously rubbed the back of his neck while avoiding eye contact. “Yeah,” he answered softly.

“Okay then. Why don’t you sit down over there and I’ll be with you in a moment. Our orders don’t start pouring in until after eleven.”

“Um… okay.” JC pointed toward a booth. “Right there?”

“Yeah, that will be fine. Just give me a minute.” The pudgy man whipped off his apron and set it on the back counter as JC maneuvered to the designated booth. The brunette sat down and within minutes the man returned.

JC reached out his hand, “I’m JC.”

The older man reached his out in return, grasping firmly onto the slender fingers. “Rick. This is my restaurant.” The owner paused, “So, I’m just going to ask you a few questions all right JC.”

“Sure,” the brunette sat forward and listened intently to each question as the owner asked them. He answered them to the best of his ability silently hoping that he didn’t sound like a jackass.

“Okay then,” the man said, seemingly satisfied with the answers JC gave him. “I’d love to hire you.”

“Great,” JC exclaimed with excitement swirling in his eyes.

“So, you’ll start out at 4.50 plus mileage.”

“Excuse me,” JC tilted his head sideways, “mileage?”

“Yeah. It’s easy. All you’ve gotta do is keep track of how many miles you put on your car. I’ll pay you 6 cents a mile. I hope your car gets good gas mileage,” he laughed.

JC jovial expression fell from his face as he wrung his hands in front of him. He nervously looked up at Rick. “Umm…” he racked his hands through his hair, “I… I don’t have a car.”

“Oh,” Rick answered, sounding disappointed. “Well, it’s sort of a criteria for the job. This is for a delivery position.”

“I see,” JC replied. He stood up, “I’m sorry for wasting your time, sir.”

“You didn’t waste my time,” the man answered noticing the downtrodden look on JC’s face. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll keep this position open for another week. It should give you enough time to find a car that you can use. After the week though, I’ll have no choice but to repost it.”

JC nodded his head, “Thank you sir.” He turned his disappointed frame away from Rick and slowly made his way toward the door. Upon exiting he stared up into the cloudy sky. I don’t have the money to get a car, he thought. I’ll just keep looking. He walked away from the pizza parlor and continued down the street, searching for other help wanted signs.

**

Kevin Richardson entered the detectives’ room two minutes late. As he moved into the room, he heard yelling coming from the left side of the office. He turned his head in time to witness his partner exiting the lieutenant’s private office. Nick looked exhausted. The auburn haired detective approached his partner desperately trying to figure out what he was still doing there.

“Hey, trouble. Why are you still here?”

Nick’s blood shot blue eyes looked up at caring olive green ones, “He’s making me do another shift,” he murmured.

“What?” Kevin screamed. “That’s fucking crazy. I’m gonna go talk to him, this is insane. You’ve been on for sixteen hours already.” The angry man brushed passed Nick only to be stopped by a weak grip. Kevin glanced down at his forearm and was surprised to see Nick’s hand securely around it. His gaze traveled up his partner’s arm and into troublesome eyes. “What?” Kevin whispered, moving closer, “What is it?”

“Please, don’t go in there. He’ll only make it worse. Just…” he sighed, “just leave it be.”

Kevin looked back and forth between Nick and the door. “Nick, I can’t let him do this.”

Nick pulled his arm, “You don’t have a choice.”

“Fine. I’ll let it go…”

“Good.”

“For now.”

“Kevin…” Nick let go of the brunette’s arm. He painstakingly moved toward his cubicle, limping slightly.

The older detective tilted his head observing the awkward movements of his partner. Kevin covered the distance between them in a matter of seconds, grasping Nick by the shoulder and spinning him around. He pulled him close, “What happened?”

Nick peered up, looking under wet lashes. “Nothing,” he whispered.

“Bull shit.” He grabbed Nick’s arm and led him down a short hall and into a small room. The brunette closed the door, pulling down the shade and catching the lieutenant leave his office in the process. “Tell me.”

Nick dramatically turned around and faced the two-way mirror.

**

Justin glanced over his shoulder at the small clock situated at the back of the office. He wrapped his fingers carelessly on the hard oak desk, remembering what happened the last time he peered at the damning red lights. The blond detective turned away after satisfying his sense of curiosity. It was 11:00 and Joey, his so-called partner, was late. Justin refocused his thoughts and tried remembering exactly what his last vision was telling him. He silently cursed himself for getting sidetracked with JC, but damn he just couldn’t help it sometimes. The blond frowned upon remembering the fight him and his boyfriend had. He couldn’t comprehend why JC was so upset about his suggestion. Justin thought it was a fair thing to ask of him, although JC was getting tested behind his back. Justin’s frowned turned deeper. “How could JC keep something like that from me?” he whispered. The detective picked up another file, skimming through the haphazard handwriting.

His focus faltered again as he read through the report. Justin thought back to the pictures from the crime scene and unconsciously rubbed his temples. He didn’t want to look at them again, didn’t want to see the same horrible vision. The blond began to rock as he thought back upon the vision. He’d seen JC, or someone who looked very much like his lover; he’s twin perhaps. Justin didn’t like that, didn’t like the idea his lover looked like the victim, and could be in potential danger. The blond shook his head, “I must be imagining it. It could just be from all this stress from what’s happened the past few days,” he said to nobody. “Maybe, it’s changing the images and I’m misinterpreting them. JC is not in any danger. I gotta keep my personal life out of it. Otherwise I’m not gonna be able to figure this damn profile out.”

Justin looked at the clock again, “I wonder what he’s doing?” A faint surge of disappointment entered his being and he sighed, knowing somewhere JC was distressed and unhappy. “Stop,” Justin scolded himself. “Focus.” The blond flipped through the file, memorizing the information within it. The file was that of the first victim, Brent Caswell. Justin focused on the man’s photo concentrating on the details of his face, his eyes. Brent did look a lot like JC, almost like JC’s twin. The only main difference was that Brent’s cheekbones where not pronounced. Justin hesitantly touched the picture, half expecting another vision, one that mirrored the vision from this morning or from yesterday. He was surprised when nothing assailed him, no dream, no additional information about his case, nothing. This worried the young detective and he searched the file for more clues. “Something has to match up. What’s the connection here?”

Justin abruptly stood up throwing the file on his desk, snatching his coffee cup from its secure location and thundered into the main office area. He quickly covered the distance between his office and the coffee machine, noticing Joey’s entry. Justin addressed his partner, “Where the fuck have you been?”

“Look Justin it’s been a long fucking night for me. I don’t need you barking at me all right.”

The blond detective approached Joey. “No it ain’t all right.” He moved closer into the brunette’s personal space. “I swear to God Joey, if I weren’t an officer of the law, I’d kill you for even touching JC. If I ever see you near him like that…” Justin paused, “if I ever.”

“Justin, I was wrong okay. I know that. I’m sorry it happened. There’re some things about me you don't know about and I’m not gonna offer it up to you. Just be happy nothing serious happened. Okay.”

Justin’s face turned a deep shade of red and his fists tightened into white knuckled balls. “How fucking dare you?” he screamed. The rest of the office began staring at the two. “You hi…” the blonde’s mouth was quickly covered by a powerful hand.

“Not here boy wonder. Save it for more private surroundings.”

Justin allowed himself to calm down while the smaller man’s arm remained around his waist. Chris slowly removed his hand from Justin’s mouth and rubbed soothing circles on the small of the blonde’s back. “Fine,” he whispered and then stared pointedly at Joey, “but this isn’t finished. You hear me.”

Joey rubbed his chin, “Yeah… I know it.” The younger brunette gave Chris a thankful look. He picked up a Styrofoam cup and quickly poured himself a steaming cup of coffee. Joey turned and faced Justin seeing the other man’s cup resting on the edge of a table. “Here,” he snatched Justin’s coffee mug and filled it as well. Justin accepted the freshly brewed coffee, blowing on and then sipping its contents. Joey watched the fat pursed lips. He gently shook his head trying to get the bartender’s image out of his head.

“So what the hell happened,” Chris asked while leading the other two men back into Justin’s office. “What went down to get you two so worked up?” The blond sat down in his wooden chair pretending he didn’t here Chris’s question. “Hello…” Chris chided. “I’m talkin’ here. What the hell happened?” The forensic examiner threw his hands into the air in an exasperated gesture.

“Well, why don’t you ask Joey? He seems to have been in the thick of it.” Justin set his coffee mug down and picked up Brent Caswell’s file from the top of his desk.

“Shut up Justin.”

“No…no, please tell Chris how you sat behind a couch with a fucking hard on while my boyfriend was getting his ass kicked.”

Joey looked up stunned by Justin’s accurate account, “Wha…t?”

“Joey what the hell is he talking about? A hard on…” he faces Justin, “JC got beat up? By who… what’s going on here?”

“Yes indeed…Joey. Care to enlighten Chris on exactly who worked over my lover.”

“Justin…” Joey warned.

“What?”

Chris stood between the dueling men. “Look, I don’t know what the hell is going on here and I’d really wish one of you morons would tell me. Obviously it has something to do with JC, so Justin why don’t you tell me what happened?”

Justin sat forward at his desk placing the manila folder onto the oak surface. He rested his forehead into the cradle of his hands. “I…we went to Lou’s place last night to watch JC. He called. He sounded distraught and I wanted to know what was going on with him. So we went. Evidently, it wasn’t a good idea. JC was up when we got there and he sang to me…”

Joey interrupted, “He has a beautiful voice.”

Justin looked up and scowled. “Don’t talk about him. I don’t want to hear his name fall from your lips…”

“Justin, finish your story please,” Chris interceded. “Tell me everything that you can remember.”

“Why? What the hell difference does it make?”

“An obvious one. How in the world are you two going to work together when you,” he pointed at Justin, “can’t even stand the sight of him right now. You two have a murder case to solve…but in order for that to occur you have to get rid of whatever it is that stands between you.”

Justin nodded his head and continued his story, “I went back to see him and… and…” Justin’s face blushed a pink hue, “we…um…”

“They spent an enormous amount of time together in the back of the club,” Joey graciously supplied the rest of the sentence. “They were in the back for at least an hour and a half.”

“Shut up,” Justin yelled.

“Justin you’re not helping,” Chris placed a reassuring hand on Justin’s shoulder. “But please do continue.”

“He found us. Lou. He wasn’t very pleased to see me back there with JC. He accused me of being a John and JC of bringing customers back there…again.”

“What do you mean again?”

“Isn’t it obvious,” Joey added.

“I’m so gonna kill you,” Justin threatened remembering the argument he and JC had that morning.

“Anyway, I warned them that the old man was coming and hid behind the couch. All hell broke lose while I was back there.”

Justin face turned violent and he stood up pointing an accusing finger at Joey. “You fucking sat there and let Lou hurt him.” The blond detective closed his eyes fighting back the urge to strike Joey. “… and you did nothing.” He opened his pain filled azure eyes, “You did nothing… nothing.” Justin took a step closer. “I saw you,” he accused. “I saw you. The whole time you were getting off on it weren’t you.” He stalked toward the younger brunette. “You got off on the pain and humiliation of my lover. I won’t forgive you for that. I won’t ever forgive you for that!”

Chris covered his eyes when he heard the last part of Justin’s obviously shorten version of what happened last night. He slowly uncovered them and met haunted auburn eyes. “Joey,” he whispered. “I thought… I thought you were done with that.”

“I am… I just…”

Justin slid even closer, “And then he... I saw him,” he pointed to his temple, “I saw him on top of JC. He was hurting him, hitting him. He only stopped when Lonnie barged in.” Justin shook his curly mane. “I can’t believe you.”

“I can,” Chris murmured. “Justin you need to sit down. Let us explain some things to you.”

“We don’t have time for that Chris. We need to get this case solved.” He looked directly at Justin, “You need to set aside your personal life and figure out this profile.” Joey watched as the blonde’s eyes widened at his comment. “I know you hate me, but I can’t help that right now. I understand it but I can’t help it.”

Justin turned his back on the arburn-eyed man, “Hate you… hate is to calm a word. I despise you. I loathe the air you breath. And if you think for one minute I’m going to forgive you and think nothing of it, then you… you’ve got another thing coming.” Justin forcefully crossed his arms over his chest in a defensive position.

“Justin. You need to be reasonable here.” Chris slowly stalked the younger man. “We need to solve this case and in order for that to happen we need you focused on the killer. Not focused on some bad mistake that Joey is responsible for.” He peered over his shoulder at Joey. “I hate to say this, but I think Joey is right. You need to set aside what occurred between the two of you and work on the case. After which, we can figure out what we’re gonna do about.”

Justin stalked toward his chair and sat back down reaching for the file on Brent. “I don’t get anything from this file anymore. I guess all we’re gonna get is the fact he was falsely arrested by someone wearing a police uniform.”

Chris smiled. He knew Justin would be a professional and fall into his role, completing his part of the case. He again looked over his shoulder when he heard Joey shuffle toward them. Joey sat in the chair across from Justin.

“Yeah, I remember the vision you had in the car. You mentioned that Brent was arrested for soliciting or something. So I guess we assign some plain cloths the job of figuring out wear they can get a hold of police issued items.”

“We can have Nick and Kevin work on that angle. They’re pretty good at getting information.”

“Anything else I should know about before we get started today?” Joey asked.

Justin scratched his head. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to tell the other two what he saw in his last couple of visions. The blond figured that Joey andChris would think him to stressed out about JC. Chris looked intently at him. “Something did happen, didn’t it?” Justin nodded his head. “What…what did you see?”

**

“So, I ask you again,” Kevin said, “What the hell is going on here?”

Nick stared up at Kevin’s olive eyes. “Not here,” he whispered glancing back toward the two-way mirror. “I’ll tell you but not here.” The blond nervously stood up and walked toward the door expecting his partner to let him out. Instead, he felt an iron like grip ensnare his wrist. Kevin pulled his into his chest and the brunette leaned down whispering in Nick’s ear.

“Something is going on between you and the lieutenant. Right,” Kevin accused. “I don’t like it when you keep things from me, Nick. We’re partners. We’re supposed to share everything.”

“Where the hell does it say that?” Nick nearly sneered angry he couldn’t escape the accusing eyes of his partner. “You tell me where it says I’ve gotta tell you every little secret I’ve got. Every little piece of my life, my being does not have to be run by you. So get over your fucking self.”

“Look,” he pulled Nick tighter to him, “I just want to help.” Kevin leaned heavily into the blond, “I’m not stupid Nick.” The blonde’s serene blue eyes looked shocked. Nick quickly looked away when he saw the truth staring back at him. He began to sweat.

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Really? Then why are you limping? You weren’t before I left yesterday. You were perfectly fine, except for your broken nose. What the hell happened after I left yesterday?”

Nick roughly pulled his wrist free from Kevin and threw the door opened. He glanced viciously back over his shoulder, “I fucking already told you, Kevin. Nothing.” The young detective walked away and out of the office silently praying that Kevin would follow him. True to Kevin’s possessiveness and fatherly instincts for the young blond he followed Nick out and to the garage. Upon their departure from the interrogation room, Lieutenant Nickelson exited the adjoining room wearing an evil sneer.

**

By the time the two men reached the garage, Kevin caught up to Nick. He again grappled his partner’s arm forcing him to turn around and face him. What he didn’t expect was for his young partner to collapse against his chest, hanging on with every ounce of strength he had. Kevin felt a warm wetness soak through his thin shirt and he glanced down at Nick. His lashes were wet as tears drained from his eyes. The longhaired brunette wrapped his arms around Nick’s waist and hauled him back onto his feet, steadying him.

“Hey there,” Kevin whispered into the blonde’s temple. He felt Nick shake with deep seeded sobs. The older detective ran one hand up and down Nick’s back while the other pinned the blonde’s head against his chest. “Don’t cry, Nick.” He again was stocked when Nick suddenly drew back.

“You’re right,” he rubbed his eyes staring behind Kevin. Standing on his own, he turned around and walked the short distance to their car.

Kevin shook his head hoping the sharp jarring action would refocus his mind. “Nick,” Kevin asked as he approached the police vehicle. “What the hell was that all about?”

“Nothing. I’m sorry.” Nick looked over the top of the Grand Marquis, “It won’t happen again, I promise.” The blond opened the passenger side and ducked into the car, snapping his seatbelt on.

Kevin calmly slid into the drivers seat and stole a glance in Nick’s direction. “So,” he paused drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. “Where are we going?”

Nick lulled his head toward Kevin’s voice, eyes closed, “Anywhere but here.”

“Okay. Sounds like a plan.” Kevin started the car and slowly backed out. When he passed the elevator he caught a glimpse of someone standing there. He sent a quick look at Nick making sure his eyes were still closed and then focused on the man in the rearview mirror. Kevin continued watching the man as he drove the car away. He was almost positive that he knew the man who was observing them. Lieutenant Nickelson, he thought.

“Listen guys,” the blonde paused unconsciously trying to sort out exactly how he was going to explain his latest mental pictures. “I’ve had some very powerful visions recently. I mean totally vivid, like I’m seeing exactly what happened or is happening.” He picked at the cuff of his shirt. “The problem is…I just don’t know how reliable they are.”

“Why’s that?” Chris asked.

“I don’t know.” Justin stared at the file. “I mean, I do but it’s hard to explain.”

“Try me,” the shorter detective encouraged.

“Well… they seem,” he halted briefly mulling over his words. “They seem to always diverge from the original message, you know. And… and by the end of the sequence, the man is speaking to me and my mind believes that JC is his victim.”

“How can you be sure that the vision isn’t trying to tell you something,” Joey inquired.

“More than likely,” Chris interjected, “His mind is mixing up the situation with JC and the current case.”

“That’s exactly what I thought you’d say,” Justin breathed rubbing his hand up and down the inside of his thigh. He cautiously glanced up, “Besides, I don’t know what it’s trying to tell me and we’d be wasting our time trying to figure it out. Right now it’s more important we figure out this profile so we’ll need to stick to the facts and the case at hand and…”

“And you believe these visions involving what may be your boyfriend has no baring on this case whatsoever?” Joey’s voice interrupted. “It seems pretty weird that he’d be in them. Especially when the dreams are a direct correlation to some of the items related to the case.”

The blonde detective stared at Joey, grinding his teeth. “We need to keep my private live out of it right now.” He shook his head. “Honestly, I think its interfering with my visions. Causing me to mix things up in my mind. I’m not getting clear images,” he lied.

“What you’re saying is these visions involving Josh aren’t important,” Joey persisted.

“Joey, it has nothing to do with whether or not they’re important, just irrelevant.” He closed his azure eyes, “It’s dealing with another part of my life, a part that’s getting very complicated.” The blonde fluttered his eyes open tilting his head toward the other two, “I need the both of you to help me stay focused on the case and not have my mind wondering off. It gets so confusing,” he tapped his right temple.

“You can say that again,” Joey mumbled and then said, “but Justin you just can’t ignore them."

“Justin,” Chris placed a comforting hand on the younger man’s shoulder, “What ever you want to do is fine by me.” The older brunette walked around the desk and sat on the couch darting his dark eyes in Joey’s direction daring the younger man to challenge him.

The younger brunette recognized the tempered message, “Yeah, kid. What ever you want to do?” Joey stared at the folders in front of him toying with the corners. He was hesitant to look the blond in the eyes.

Justin thought for a moment, “Joey, this doesn’t at all excuse you, you know that don’t you,” the blond quipped through clenched teeth.

“Haven’t we already gone over that?” Joey inhaled his cooling coffee, “I know… okay. Can we leave it at that?”

Justin huffed, knowing that he had to let his anger go for now. The room was quite except for the gentle tapping of the folders now clenched in Joey’s hands. The profiler observed the other two for a moment before speaking, “Anyway,” he paused.

Upon the breaking of the silence, Chris jumped in, “So what about the vision you two were talking about a moment ago…something about the Caswell case.”

“Yeah,” Joey replied, “On the ride over to Charlie Paterson’s place Justin had some sort of vision dealing with the abduction of Brent Caswell.” Joey turned his gaze toward the blond. “Do you want to explain?”

Justin hesitated, “Basically I was reading one of the witness accounts and I reacted.” Chris sat up. “The victim appeared to be waiting for someone, maybe his girlfriend. I’m not sure who he was waiting for or where exactly he was. But I do know that it looked like a club of some sort. Someone who appeared to be an armed guard or a police officer approached him. He was handcuffed and lead toward an unmarked vehicle.” Justin paused, refocusing his thoughts. “I remember the man saying something to Brent… something about not soliciting; they argued over it. He started struggling when he realized that the car was not an official vehicle.”

“How do you know that it was a guard or officer?” Chris asked.

“No one tried to interfere. They all just stood there. They ignored what was happening.” The vision began to work its way back into Justin’s weary mind. He still held the Brent’s file, the obvious connection between reality and dream. His eyes were vacant.

Justin watched as the rain spattered in the pale brunette’s eyes as he waited for his lover to exit the club. Brent’s head turned when he heard a voice coming from behind him. The young man, who was leaning against a pole stood straight when the owner of the voice came into view. Justin looked around, watching the reactions of the other patrons. No one made a move to help the victim. No one seemed to notice. The blonde turned his head and observed carefully the night shrouded club entrance trying to read the neon sign. He inched closer, movement stunted by the absence of time. Justin slowly lifted his head clearly reading for the first time the words on the sign. Club Shasta. His head slowly whipped around when he heard the man scream, “Let me go.” He watched as the large ogre struck the struggling brunette man, silencing him. The assailant turned his head and stared into Justin’s gaze. “To late, faggot.” Trying to continue his focus and ignore the man’s words, he studied the car.

Justin jolted awake. “Brown, late model mercury.” His hand instantly moved to cover his throbbing head. He rubbed his temples. “Shit,” he breathed.

“What? What is it?” Joey leaned forward over the top of the desk, gently grabbing Justin’s elbow.

The blonde detectives hazy eyes stared back at Joey forgetting about the color of the vehicle he asked, “Was…was Brent gay?”

“No.” Chris answered.

“No?” Justin thought for a second the answer dawning on him. “Was he bisexual?”

Joey let go of Justin, “Yes,” he whispered. “Yes Justin he was bisexual.” The young brunette closed his eyes mentally making the connection as well, “What else…what else did you see?”

“The club was indeed Club Shasta as was relayed in the file,” he murmured. His blue orbs darted up, “And I think…I think the car was a brown Mercury.”

“You’re kidding me right.”

“No, Chris. Why would I tell you the make of the car in jest?”

“It’s a figure of speech.” Chris turned his head toward the door, placing a finger over his lips in concentration. “If I’m not mistaken I think the report said something about a brown colored car.”

“For the Caswell case,” Joey asked.

“No,” Chris paused. “Our forgotten victim. Tristin…”

“Donahue,” Justin finished.

“The one victim who didn’t seem to fit the victim profile.”

“But now we have a connection.” Joey stood, “The brown car.”

“Justin,” Chris faced the younger man, “is there anything else we should be made aware of?”

Justin shrugged, “It was weird really. When I first had the vision, the sequence started the same as the others but by the time it ran its course the suspect was staring right at me. It was as if…” he paused contemplating his next word, “… as if he could see me.”

“That’s crazy Justin. You see events that could’ve taken place in the past, not the present. There is no way the …”

“Chris.” Justin interrupted. “Don’t pretend that you understand how my visions work. I barely have a clue.”

“I wasn’t insinuating that Justin.”

“Look,” Joey tapped the edge of one of the folders on the oak surface as he sat back down. “The point is…aw hell what is the point.”

Justin leaned back in his chair and studied the picture of Brent Caswell. “I think, just like in regular dreams, certain items mean different things. For instance, if I were to dream about this desk,” he paused, “I wouldn’t be really dreaming about the desk itself but what the desk represents.”

Chris looked puzzled, “So you’re saying that it isn’t the fact he looked at you but what it represents.”

“Yep,” Justin nodded his head. “The desk is used to store things in, so maybe if the desk appeared in the dream it would mean hiding a secret or something.”

“You’re saying that the man represents something and isn’t necessarily identifying the killer.”

“No.” Justin tilted his head and arched an eyebrow. “What I’m saying is, that the man in the vision knows that I can see things.”

“Shit.” Chris stood up. “That would indicate that its someone you know or at least knows you.”

“Exactly.” Justin placed the folder on the desk. “And since the man is a stranger in the dream. I don’t know him. So it’s basically someone who knows me or of me.”

“The preverbal shit hitting the fan here isn’t it.”

“You ain’t kidding Joey,” Chris walked toward the files. “And we haven’t got a lock on this guy yet, or even a semblance of a profile.” The forensic officer picked up one of the folders flipping it open. “Has the man addressed you before, Justin.”

“No. That was the first occurrence.”

“It’s happened since.”

“Yeah, just about every time now he some how acknowledges me.”

Joey interrupted, “Even when we were in the tree house?”

“What tree house?”

“When we went over to interview Charlie Paterson, we noticed a tree house in their backyard. When the two of us went to investigate it Justin seemed to of had a vision.”

“What happened in the sequence, Justin?”

“Basically, I made the realization that the victim, in this case Dominic, was not a random victim. He was stalked.”

“How do you presume to know this?”

“In my mind I could see Dominic and Charlie making love. I could also make out a figure sitting next to me enjoying the show. He looked at me… I don’t remember what he said or if he even spoke to me. I do remember trying to figure out the vantage point.”

“When he came to, he sent me over to the house. He wanted to double check which rooms you could see into,” Joey continued, “Believe it or not… it was the bedroom.”

“So he watched them together.”

“That’s what I think happened. Definitely points to the fact that the Taylor and Paterson were not random. That the killer actually took his time and watched them together before making his move on Dominic.”

“Can we get a profile from this Justin?”

“Well actually,” Joey’s glanced toward Justin, “Boy wonder said something last night about having a basic profile down.”

Chris quickly looked in Justin’s direction. “Why didn’t you say anything before?”

“Please,” Justin sighed. “So much shit has gone down since then I barely remember telling Joey that.”

“Yeah, but you did. Right before went and saw lover boy dance,” Joey smirked watching the anger build up within Chris.

“You went dancing last night instead of working on the case. That’s kind of irresponsible of you don’t you think.”

“It’s kind of none of your business, don’t you think.”

“Guys. Can we at least get the profile going? I don’t want to have to wait for the next victim. We already have three with the possibility of a fourth.” Joey turned his expression toward the pacing brunette. “Any word on that John Doe, yet.”

“The forensic lab isn’t finished yet with the majority of the items we found.” Chris’s eyes traveled to Joey, “I really don’t think this case is related, to sloppy.”

Justin sat up. “How much did you find?”

“I agree with it being sloppy in comparison to the other crime scenes, however, I just get the feeling the cases are related.”

“Hello,” Justin interjected, “What did you find?”

“You wouldn’t know would you,” Chris leaned against the desk. “Where did you go anyway? I mean you were the one who called in the body, yet, you were no where to be found during the investigation.”

“Again, if that was any of your business you would know.”

“I’m sick of this attitude. We’re trying to solve a murder here and I’ve been very patient thus far, but you running off to have sex with your boyfriend needs to stop. You need to get yourself focused and stay that way.”

The blond detective placed both hands on the desks edge and stood up, glaring at the shorter man. “And you need to shut the fuck up. If you remember not more than fifteen minutes ago I said that I needed to become more focused on this case.” Justin shifted his weight, “Besides, I was at the scene. I got what I needed. I don’t need you telling me how to do my job or how to live my life.”

“Jesus. It’s like fucking Romper Room in here.” Joey stood up, “I’m getting another cup of coffee. When I get back I want this straightened out. Whatever this is.”

The profiler glared at Joey, “What gives you the right to dictate our actions?”

“You forget yourself Justin,” Joey smirked, “I’m in charge of this investigation. I dictate what I need from you two.” The brunette opened the door glancing over his shoulder, “work it out.”

**

JC leaned his lanky body against the cool concrete of the building. He wrapped an arm around his ribs giving them needed support. He’d been walking aimlessly around the city for another opportunity of employment but had been unlucky as of yet. The temperature had dropped a bit from the early morning hours and the clouds were building. Knowing the likelihood of rain, the brunette closed his eyes for a moment gaining a small semblance of relaxation before pushing himself from the security of the building dredging forward. He continued down the busy street until an orange and black sign radiating from a storefront window pulled him from his reverie. Justin once told him that those colors were a tell tale sign of employment. He crossed the street.

The brunette looked above the glance entrance pondering the letters but recognizing the small animal shapes. He cautiously opened the door and walked into the pet shop. The brunette canvassed the small shop before resting his curious eyes onto the cashier. He sauntered toward the dark haired woman. Just as he reached the counter an elderly lady cut in front of him placing her articles she wished to purchase on the glass counter top. The slight woman ran the items through her scanning system and rattled off the total. The old woman placed a ten-dollar bill on the counter top and then dumping the contents of her change purse, counting the last three dollars and fifteen cents out in change. JC rolled his head and snapped his neck while patiently waiting for the old woman to finish her business. When she was done and her purchase was placed into a bag she slowly left the store. JC watched her go.

“Excuse me,” he finally caught.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” He turned his bright eyes toward the woman. “Some people, huh.”

“Yeah, some people,” the woman stared at him observing his slight build and tawny colored skin. JC suddenly became self-conscious of his flimsy attire and his unsightly bruises. He absentmindedly rubbed at his sore face before making eye contact again.

“What happened?” the woman tipped her head in his direction. “Those look pretty fresh.”

“Um… I got mugged,” JC quickly covered. “You know how it is here. You can’t go anywhere without someone getting in your way.”

“You did huh.” She smiled ignoring the rest of his comment, “How much?”

“How much? How much what? I’m not selling anything.”

The woman gave JC the aren’t you cute look and smiled, “If you were mugged,” she said slowly, “how much did they get off you?”

“Oh…” JC chuckled, smacking himself internally. “Ummm…not much. I don’t carry much money on me.”

“I see.” The woman leaned over the counter, “What can I do for you?”

“Ummm…well I saw your sign out front.” The brunette fidgeted, “I was wondering if you still needed help.”

“Sure do sweet thing,” she motioned him around the corner and to follow her. “Just come back here and you can fill out the required forms, okay?”

JC became nervous as he walked around the counter. He followed the middle-aged woman into her office and sat down where she indicated. The brunette watched as she pulled out a few sheets of paper and grabbed a pen from her desk. She handed him the articles. He stared at them. The woman observed him a little while longer before it dawned on her as to why he hadn’t started writing his information in. “I’m sorry,” she exclaimed half laughing. She went behind her desk and grabbed a clipboard, “Here use this to write on.” JC smiled taking the clipboard from her hands. She left the room.

JC stared at the jumbled symbols on the paper. He’d hoped that if he looked at them long enough he would understand their meaning. His shoulders slumped when he realized that hell would freeze over long before he could make sense of the smear of ink. JC glanced over his shoulder briefly catching the women out of the corner of his eye. He focused on the blur of words, biting on the end of the pen. The brunette closed his eyes and then quickly opened them again, didn’t work. He again fidgeted.

The slender male sat there for only a few moments longer before he finally gave up on the idea of being able to make sense of the form. He clipped the pen on the board and quickly placed them on the desk. JC stood up soundlessly and peered outside the doorway and into the small space of the store. He noticed that the older woman was helping a customer with her back toward him. Without looking back, JC quietly left the store.

The brunette ventured down the street with his shoulders bowed with defeat. He realized now that he would never get a decent, honest job if he couldn’t read or have a high school diploma. JC slid his hands in his denim pockets and meandered down the street toward the health clinic he frequented. He didn’t really feel up to another visit, but he wanted to obtain copies of his records to ease Justin’s mind, and proof that he would never jeopardize his lover’s health. JC didn’t know how he would pay for the copy of the records but he would figure a way to compensate them. The brunette huffed and quickened his weary pace.

As JC raced acrossed the street a set of headlights flicked on and an engine fired up. The sleek old model Mercury eased out of its parking space and carefully skillfully followed the willowy male. “Now where are we going,” the man in the car whispered. “Fly little birdie, fly.” He laughed.

**

The movement of pillows and comforter were uncoordinated and haphazardly moving in every direction. They were wound up and bunched tight against the frame of the young blond sleeping within them. The combined effort afforded the occupant a sense of security and comfort that he was not use to and he was sated. The blond unconsciously pulled the large plush blanket securely over his shoulder as he maneuvered his body onto his uninjured side. His emerald eyes slowly began to focus as he watched the sun rise over the building directly in front of him. He slowly blinked the weary from his eyes.

Lance sighed. He didn’t want to leave the warmth of the bed nor did he want to relinquish the comfort it gave him. Darting his eyes toward the glaring red numbers, Lance deciphered the time. “Shit,” he said to no one. “It’s that late in the day already.” He sighed again. Lance casually threw the blankets from him and gingerly sat up. He surveyed the bruises that had formed on his torso and determined that he’d go to the clinic later on in the afternoon. The blonde hooked his knees on the edge of the bed and hauled his body off. He glanced around the room looking for his clothes when he remembered that Joey had offered anything within his wardrobe. “This should be fun,” Lance said as he approached the closet. Surprising himself, Lance quickly found a satisfactory outfit.

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