Stay With Me
- Forever -
By: Lil' Amethyst Angel
Warnings: Slight swearing, shounen-ai, and violence (weapons).
BANG!
The bullet whizzed through his target's head.
"Drake!"
Drake lowered the gun and turned to find Ted pointed at his watch.
"You're late, man. Didn't you say you had that date at seven?"
Drake let out a curse and rushed to put away the equipment he was using at the range.
BANG!
There was a clink of metal hitting the floor and then silence. Everyone in the small apartment stilled. After what seemed like an eternity Sean dropped to his knees, holding his arm tightly, as blood gushed between his fingers. The gun lay a few feet away. Dee, the first to return to reality, rushed forward and scooped up the discarded gun. Soon Ryo snapped from his daze as well, lowering his gun.
"I'm dead. I'm so dead." Drake groaned, slamming his fist into the car corn as a rickety old truck swerved in front of him. "Nice driving, asshole!"
Drake cast a quick glance to the digital clock of his car.
"6:58! There's no way I'll make it home in the next two minutes." Drake let out a frustrated growl. As he was forced to pull to a stop in front of a red light, he raised his eyes to the sky. "Why, God? Why do you hate me so?"
JJ stared at the fallen figure of the man he once loved. His face was blank. He watched as the blood began to seep into the carpet, staining it. How many times had the carpets of this apartment been dirtied? How many times had the walls been tainted with red? How many pieces of furniture in this home had served to soak up tears and crimson?
Drake was still frozen, staring at Sean in incomprehension. The events of what had just passed started to filter into his mind. He remembered to breath finally and stumbled towards JJ. His JJ, he wasn't dead. Ryo had shot Sean.
JJ was okay.
Drake looked into JJ's far-away eyes.
No, he wasn't okay.
Drake glared at the clock as if it were the cause of all his problems. It innocently read 7:11 pm. When he realized his intimidation tactics weren't working and that the clock wasn't about to go backwards anytime soon, he turned his attention back to the seemingly never-ending lanes of cars in front of him.
"JJ?" Drake whispered.
JJ didn't answer. He didn't even blink.
Drake's eyes filled with sadness and he felt a familiar lump in his throat. He gently pulled JJ to him, engulfing his partner in a warm hug. JJ didn't raise his arms to return the hug, but he leaned in, seeking the protection his lover's arms provided.
After a few moments, Drake stepped away slightly, keeping one arm around JJ's waist, supporting him.
"I'm gonna take JJ home now before the guys show up." Drake said, seeing that Ryo was calling for backup and the paramedics. Dee nodded, gazing at JJ, and then looking at Drake questioningly. In response, Drake just shook his head sadly and left, half dragging JJ to the car.
Drake anxiously paced the elevator as he waited to arrive at his floor. It was almost seven thirty. Drake knew he was going to get an ear-full when he finally did arrive at his apartment. A 'ding' signaled that he had reached the desired floor and he exited the elevator, rushing down the hall. He stopped in front of his door, took a moment to calm down, and opened the door.
"You bastard!"
Drake cringed. 'It's nice to see you too,' he thought sarcastically.
"I spend the day cooking, while you're out messing around at the range. Not only do you not want to spend the day with me on our anniversary," His lover stressed the word. "But after promising to be home on time you come home late! This is the thanks I get for slaving all day over a stove?" Drake didn't bother to point out that the other man had not, in fact, been 'slaving over a stove' all day, but ordered take-out and just put it on the plates.
"Look, I'm really sorry. I-" Drake was interrupted by his fuming boyfriend.
"Don't you sorry me! Our anniversary. ANNIVERSARY! You were late for a date on our anniversary!" He was practically screeching.
Drake knew better than to even try to smooth things over until his partner calmed down a bit. After a few minutes Drake thought it safe to speak.
"I am sorry, really sorry. I lost track of time. You know I want to be with you. I love you." He stepped forward and ran his fingers through his lover's hair. "I love you." He whispered again, seeing that the other man was starting to soften.
Drake brought JJ back to their apartment. By the time they reached the bedroom JJ was practically asleep, and the minute Drake laid him down on the bed he was oblivious to the world around him as his dreams claimed him.
Drake stared down at his slumbering partner, sitting on the edge of the bed next to him. Silky lavender streamed across the pillow. It's true what they say about people looking innocent when they sleep. In Drake's eyes JJ looked just like an angel, untouched by the harshness of life. But that's wasn't true; reality had already damaged JJ. Sean had hurt him beyond belief. Drake's eyes clouded. Sean… He had never really confronted JJ about why he kept going back to Sean. Sean had left and JJ began to move on; he hadn't thought he needed to confront him. He just wanted to let the past rest, and that's what he thought JJ wanted too. Now, he wasn't so sure. JJ had gone back to Sean. Drake didn't want to jump to any conclusions, but he couldn't help worrying that maybe JJ was all too willing to leave him to return to Sean. Maybe Sean's hold was more powerful than what he and JJ shared. With those thoughts on his mind, Drake followed his partner into unconsciousness.
When Drake next awoke a few hours later, JJ was already up, watching him with a contented smile.
"Hey." JJ said in greeting. He grinned slightly, "You know, you're not supposed to leave the scene of a crime like that."
Drake smiled at the light teasing. "I'll let the chief chew me out tomorrow." He stopped and was quiet for a moment, before speaking in such a quiet voice that JJ barely heard, "I was worried about you."
"I know." JJ sighed. "I'm sorry, Drake."
Drake didn't really know what he was apologizing for. Was it for making him worry? Was it for going to see Sean in the first place? Or was it because he decided that he didn't really love Drake anymore? JJ didn't offer an explanation and Drake didn't dare to ask for one.
"How did you know where I was?" JJ asked.
"I saw the e-mail." Drake answered,
JJ let out a hushed, "Oh."
Silence permeated the room.
Eventually, Drake hesitantly asked what he had been wondering all the night. "Why did you go back to him?" JJ bit his lip at hearing the sadness in his lover's voice.
"I didn't go back to him. You have to believe me, Drake. It wasn't like that." JJ said desperately. "I needed to confront him."
Drake still didn't feel reassured. "Why didn't you bring me, or even Dee or Ryo?"
JJ looked down at his lap. "As clichéd as it sounds, it was something that I had to do alone." The younger man brought up his head and looked Drake in the eye pleadingly. "Can you understand that?"
"Yes." Drake nodded, telling JJ he understood. Though he didn't understand, not really. How could he? But he didn't blame JJ.
JJ looked unsure.
"You know I love you, right? You and only you. You're so important to me, Drake." JJ cupped Drake's cheek lovingly. Drake smiled.
"I love you too, JJ, more than anything."
"You're an ass, you know that? Using all those lines to wear me down, just to get your butt out of trouble."
Drake grinned at his partner's joking words.
"They're not lines. You know I love you, JJ." Drake said sweetly, with a triumphant smirk. He had already won, and he knew it.
"Oh, shut up." JJ huffed. He scowled at Drake slightly before starting to pout. Drake grinned at the cute sight JJ presented, with his lips puffed out in a small frown. Unable to resist, Drake moved forward and placed a light kiss on the lustrous lips. He moved back for a moment, only to lean in again. He felt JJ's lips turn upwards in a smile under his.
Later that morning Dee called Drake, saying that he and JJ had to come down to the station to make a statement. Drake wasn't sure if the lavender-haired man was well enough (emotionally) to go, but JJ insisted. They arrived at the precinct just before noon.
JJ and Drake both filled out their reports quickly and made their statements. They decided to take the rest of the day off. Last night was still fresh on their minds and they needed some time to relax. On their way out Drake stopped to talk to Samantha.
"Hey, Sam. How's it going?" Drake asked, leaning on her desk.
"Oh, I'm good. Did you guys hear they arrested that Trenton guy you were asking me about a while back? He pulled a gun on the cop, but Dee and Ryo are in charge of the case and keeping it really quiet. Do you guys know anything about it?"
JJ looked uncomfortable. Drake wasn't sure what to say, but was saved the trouble when JJ answered.
"Actually, he pulled the gun on me and Drake. We, uh, used to go out, and when he found out I was with Drake he flipped." Samantha looked shocked.
"Oh my god! Are you guys okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine." JJ replied. He was about to say something when he realized what Samantha had said a moment ago. "Wait a minute. Drake, you were checking up on Sean? When was this?"
Sam realized she may have said something she was supposed to, and looked apologetically at Drake.
"Well, um, before, a few months ago, when you two were …you know. I just didn't like him. He gave me this bad feeling, so I asked Sam to check him out. I just wanted to know if he had a record." Drake stuttered. JJ raised an eyebrow. "Honestly. I was just…worried." JJ gave him a look. "Okay, maybe I was kind of jealous…" JJ smirked in satisfaction. Sam laughed at the couple's antics.
"Actually, it turns out he was charged with two cases of assault, once with a weapon. He did a bit of jail time, but it was nothing major. But this time I have a feeling he won't get off the hook so easily." Samantha added.
Just as she finished speaking, the sound of yelling was heard coming from around the corner. Two officers were dragging a struggling Sean out of the interrogation room and into a holding cell. As they neared, Sean caught sight of JJ.
"JJ! C'mon, tell them it was just a misunderstanding! Tell them! I love you! You gotta help me! You love me too, I know it!" Sean screeched angrily.
JJ shot a disgusted look at Sean.
"I love Drake, not you. And I'm not going to help you. You deserve everything you get. This is it, Sean. Don't you ever try to contact me again. We're over. Got that? You're part of my past, just a bad memory." JJ said with a strong voice. Casting one last appalled glance at Sean, he turned away, dismissing him.
Drake smiled, proud of JJ. He took JJ's hand into his and squeezed it reassuringly. He knew JJ had meant what he said- Sean is his past, and now he can actually start to forget.
Drake guided JJ over to the couch and pulled him down into his lap. He entwined their fingers, and they both sat there, completely contented in each other's presence. The both reflected on their relationship. Sure, things hadn't been perfect, but then again, they would never have wanted it to be. The problems that they'd faced had only strengthened their bond. JJ leaned his head on Drake's shoulder.
"Stay with me?" JJ asked quietly.
Drake smiled.
"Forever."
The End
Author's Note: Ugh, I'm drowning in sap. I had a really hard time with this chapter. It was the only one that was not planned; I just winged it as I went along, but I think it turned out okay for the most part. I can't believe it's finished, I didn't think it ever would be. Thank so much to my reviewers, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I really appreciate all of your comments! Thanks to all for reading!
DeeRyoLover27- Thanks for pointing out that I never wrote about the results of Samantha's background check. I added her conversation in to tie that up.
Shirubaa Kitsune- True, Ryo and JJ do have the best shots. And of course I couldn't let JJ die…so enter Ryo. ;)