Somewhere In Time

There\'s a bit more drama in this chapter and if some of my facts are wrong, please over-look them for the sake of fiction! Well, enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don\'t own Fake... sadly.


He wasn\'t bored, Ryo told himself over and over again as he continued to play cards into the evening. Nope, not bored, perfectly happy just playing poker... sitting round... without Dee... without thosmnabmnable, penetrating eyes raking over every inch... Stop it! he mentally slapped himself. It had been a week since Dee had left and it would surely be many more days before he would be back again. Not that it mattered to Ryo, or at least that\'s what he kept telling himself.
\"I fold,\" Ryo said, finally giving up on cards for the evening. He\'d been loosing all night and knew his mind wasn\'t on the game from the beginning. Why did he feel this way? He didn\'t even know Dee that well and he certainly didn\'t like the things he did to him. It was all so undignified. And yet, he couldn\'t get the man off his mind. But he had to admit there was a bond between them, for whatever reason.
\"Randy, join me for a drink on the balcony?\" said a smooth voice like black velvet. Ryo almost jumped at the proximity of it and was instantly reminded once again of Dee. When he looked up, however, he saw Berkely Rose\'s face close to his. He guessed the man was speaking close to him so as not to disturb the other players still intent on the poker game.
\"Yes, thank you I will,\" he said politely. Maybe the fresh air would do him good. As he walked out the doors, he missed the apprehensive look on Diana\'s face. Rose saw it though, and glanced back at Diana with an evil wink.
What a cad! she thought. He has to flaunt his dalliances right in front of me! Hmph. He\'ll see. Ryo\'s not as much of a pushover as he looks.
Like most others, Diana had underestimated Ryo at first, but she knew he had a will as hard as steel. Especially since he had resisted Dee\'s renowned charms. So far.
\"It\'s a lovely evening,\" said Ryo, oblivious to Berkely\'s hungry stare. He stepped toward Ryo and replied knowingly, \"Yes, lovely.\"
For some reason he couldn\'t pinpoint, Ryo felt like blushing. What was it about this place that made him feel like a schoolboy again? He could only suppose it was the fact that everything was so new to him in New York.
And then there were Dee\'s overt flirtations. He vividly remembered the way some of the older boys at his boarding school had looked at him. Sometimes he wished he could\'ve stayed in the girl\'s wing, sometimes it felt safer. There was one boy in particular who had restlessly sought after him. Everywhere Ryo went he seemed to feel his eyes on him. He was different from JJ, however. He was less open and more predatory. At night it was the worst, he slept only two beds down from Ryo.
One night, when Ryo was laying half-asleep in bed, the older schoolmate had slipped under the covers with him. Ryo woke up to find a pair of warm, demanding lips over his own- hands roving over his body. Shocked at first, he hesitated, not knowing what to do. Despite what he had been conditioned to believe, it was very arousing. All the same, it wasn\'t what he wanted, and he had began shoving and struggling against the young man. It was then that Timothy had woken up, grabbing the boy by the hair, and pulled him off Ryo. It was Timothy that Ryo had wanted, but could never admit.
\"Don\'t touch him!\" Timothy had growled, backhanding the boy. Ryo could scarcely believe he had come to his aid. It felt as if he had stepped into a wonderful dream. The next evening he\'d approached Timothy when he was alone and, walking quietly up to him, placed a chaste kiss over his lips. The dream shattered as he felt a hard slap across his face.
\"What are you doing?!\" Timothy had cried, venom in his voice.
\"I-I-\" Ryo couldn\'t seem to speak.
\"I helped you last night and now I find out you\'re just the same as that pervert!\" he stood up and walked away from a shaking Ryo.
\"You\'re disgusting,\" he said over his shoulder, not even bothering to look Ryo in the face. He had been crushed and, swallowing his tears, vowed to never again let himself be hurt like that again. Boys liking boys was wrong and he\'d paid the price for it.
\"I don\'t usually care for port, but this is a very good bottle, wouldn\'t you say?\" Berkely\'s voice snapped Rack ack to the present.
\"Yes, very good,\" he said absentmindedly.
\"Randy-\" Berkely began, looking intently at Ryo.
\"You boys really should come inside,\" a voice said from the doorway, \"it\'s getting chilly out there.\"
Ryo looked up to see Diana leaning against the French doors. \"Yes, I suppose it is,\" he said, stepping back inside. Berkely followed, giving Diana a sour look.
\"Why did you have to spoil my fun?\" he asked quietly, pushing his spectacles back into place.
\"Dear Berkely. It\'s always about you isn\'t it?\"
\"Yes,\" he replied arrogantly. Diana sighed, why was it that she liked this man again? The next moment Rose had slipped an arm around her waist and whispered suggestively in her ear, \"Although, I could make it about us for this evening...\" Out of sight of the rest of the room, his head drifted down her neck, his heated breath causing a chill down her spine. He nipped at her shoulder seductively. Oh yes, she thought, that\'s why.
\"What do you say, Diana? Let\'s work out our frustrations together.\"
\"I shouldn\'t,\" she teased.
\"Why not?\"
\"You can\'t be trusted.\"
\"Don\'t complicate simple things like pleasure,\" his mouth sucked briefly on the tender flesh behind her ear, \"and lust.\"
Diana excused herself early that evening.

Throughout the next week, the days and nights dragged by in much the same way. Until one night it turned unexpectedly cold. Diana had her usual crowd over that evening, but Ryo hadn\'t felt much like joining them. Instead, he stayed with Bikky and Carol in his own quarters.
\"Why don\'t you go join the grown-ups, Papa?\" Bikky finally said when he noticed his father was slightly distracted.
\"Wha-? No, I want to spend time with my son, is that all right?\" Ryo teased, ruffling his son\'s hair. Normally, Bikky wouldn\'t have minded this show of affection, but it embarrassed him now that Carol was there.
\"Cut it out!\" he said curtly.
\"Sorry, maybe I should join the others. It just feels a bit dull sometimes.\"
\"At what times, Mr. Maclean?\" Carol asked. Although she asked politely, Bikky shot the girl a dirty look. He knew what she was getting at and he didn\'t like it.
\"Carol...\" he growled warningly. Neither Ryo nor Carol seemed to notice, though.
\"I don\'t know. Just the past couple weeks. Maybe I\'m beginning to miss home.\"
\"Well I don\'t!\" muttered Bikky. He\'d been thrilled when Ryo decided to take a short trip somewhere, anywhere, as long as he was able to get away from the constant taunting of the neighbors\' children. Also, he really was beginning to like Carol and he didn\'t feel like leaving her anytime soon.
\"Hmmm, let\'s see,\" Carol began thoughtfully, \"two weeks, that\'s about how long Mr. Laytner\'s been gone.\"
\"Has it?\" Ryo asked, blushing despite himself. As young as she was, Carol was very insightful for her age- sometimes too much so.
\"I know that I miss him when he\'s away,\" Carol said.
\"You do?\" Bikky asked with surprise and more than a hint of jealousy.
\"Why, yes! He\'s always so much fun to be around. Things are never dull. And, of course, he\'s very handsome. Don\'t you think so, Mr. Maclean?\" she asked with mock innocence.
\"W-well-,\" Ryo stumbled.
\"Of course he doesn\'t!\" burst Bikky.
\"Bikky don\'t shout! It\'s rude!\" said Carol, not noticing how shrill her own voice was.
\"Don\'t act like you\'re so much more mature than I am!\"
\"Well I AM older than you!\"
\"By ONE year!\"
\"Quiet!\" Ryo finally yelled, exasperated. \"Bikky, it\'s time for bed.\"
\"But, Papa!\" he whined.
\"Now.\" His voice was quiet but very stern and Bikky knew it was no use arguing with him. With slumped shoulders Bikky stood up and walked toward his bedroom.
\"Good night, Carol,\" he muttered dejectedly as he passed her.
\"Good night, Bikky,\" she replied. \"Good night Mr. Maclean.\"
\"Good night, Carol,\" replied Ryo.
Closing the door behind her, Carol sighed in frustration. She\'d been so close to finding out what was going on between Ryo and Dee and then Bikky had to go and spoil it! Oh, well!
After putting Bikky to bed, Ryo did decide to join Diana and company in the card room. However, he found he couldn\'t quite sit still. Again and again he\'d sit down only to become uncomfortable and return to standing.
\"Randy, are you feeling well?\" Diana asked after noting his restlessness.
\"Oh, I\'m fine. It\'s just the cold I suppose. I feel a bit chill.\" Several of the guests exchanged glances. Although it was cool outside, it wasn\'t enough to give one a chill.
\"Perhaps I should call one of the servants to start a fire?\"
\"No, don\'t bother. I think I\'ll just retire to the study for a bit. There\'s a fire started in there already isn\'t there?\"
\"Yes, but Randy, it\'s no trouble-\"
\"Don\'t worry about me, Diana. I\'ll be back shortly, after I warm up a bit.\"
\"I\'ll send some tea to you in the study.\"
\"Very well,\" said Ryo, excusing himself. Diana watched him leave with concern. He looked pale. She also saw Berkely slip out of the door behind Ryo. Ah, well, let him do as he pleases. After all, Rose had pleased her enough the other evening...

\"Tea, sir?\" a deep voice said from the doorway as Ryo sat facing the fire.
\"Yes, thank you- Berkely!?\" Ryo said with surprise, seeing the tall blond man holding the tray of tea. Why hadn\'t he let the servant deliver it?
\"I hope you don\'t mind me joining you. You looked fatigued, I wanted to make sure you weren\'t feeling ill.\" Ryo had the distinct impression that Berkely was interested in more than his health at the moment. He quickly pushed the feeling aside; he had no reason to think Berkely had ulterior motives.
\"No, I don\'t mind. Please, sit down,\" Ryo motioned to a chair across the room. Berkely sat in another one, closer to Ryo.
\"Have you found any promising properties yet?\" inquired Berkely.
\"A few. I haven\'t decided on anything yet, though.\"
\"I think you\'ll like it here, Randy,\" Rose said, leaning slightly toward Ryo.
\"I-I hope so,\" he stammered. Was it the heat of the fire, or was it the sudden nerves that clutched at him, that was making Ryo suddenly sweat? He stood up, looking out the window, trying to clear his head. \"For Bikky\'s sake, I hope so.\"
\"Ah, yes, your foster son,\" replied Berkely, taking Ryo\'s jumpiness as a sign he was having an effect on the attractive, lithe-bodied man before him. He stood up and followed him to the window.
\"He\'s been through a lot,\" Ryo said, wiping his brow. First cold, now hot, what was wrong with him?
\"So have you, from what I\'ve been told,\" the tall man lifted his hand and turned Ryo\'s face toward him so he could look him in the eye. \"I\'m sure we\'ll all make you feel right at home, Randy.\" His voice was soft, inviting.
Ryo began to feel dizzy as Berkely\'s mouth closed over his and then...
\"Randy?\" Berkely whispered, the man in his arms suddenly limp. He\'d never had anyone react quite that way from a simple kiss before. Why did he look so pale?
\"Randy!?\"

Diana looked up at the sudden loud knock against the door only to see Berkely carrying Ryo\'s limp body. Gently he placed him on one of the large sofas.
\"Randy! What happened?!\" she cried.
\"Get some blankets!\" Berkely shouted. \"And call a doctor!\" Drake raced out of the room.
\"Berkely, tell me!\" Diana yelled.
\"He fainted. He\'s covered in sweat and he\'s burning up.\"
\"Oh God!\" she said, her brow furrowed with worry as she looked down at her friend. \"I hope he\'s going to be ok...\'
hourhour later the doctor had come and gone and the news wasn\'t good. It was a particularly bad case of the mumps. It usually struck in childhood and could be very serious. However, as an adult, Ryo had a better chance of fighting it.
The news hit Bikky hard, especially since he wasn\'t allowed to even see his father for fear he\'d catch the virus. No one was sure if he\'d had mumps in the past, so they had no idea if it was safe for him to be in contact with Ryo. Diana watched as the boy sat miserably on the couch and fought against his tears. At least Carol was there with him, to help comfort him, she thought.
The night passed, and the next day drew to a close and still there was no sign of change. As the evening wore on, Diana\'s butler approached her as she sat with her head in her hands outside of Ryo\'s room.
\"My. Laytner has arrived back in town, M\'am. He\'s at the door. Shall I ask him to come by some other time?\"
\"No, let him come in. It\'s all right. Thank you, Nathan,\" she said, looking gratefully at the older man who had served her since she was a child.
\"Very well.\"
Dee swept into the room a few seconds later. \"What\'s going on here? Nathan left me waiting at the front door! I never-\" he stopped mid-sentence at the look on Diana\'s face. \"What happened?\" he asked softly, his demeanor changing in an instant.
\"I-It\'s Randy,\" she began, sniffling. \"He\'s been ill since yesterday evening with the mumps.\"
\"Oh dear,\" Dee murmured, the color draining from his face. Quickly he stood up and walked toward Ryo\'s room.
\"Dee! Don\'t you could catch-\"
\"I had mumps when I was a child, so don\'t worry. Besides,\" he looked Diana in the eye, \"Nothing could keep me from going to him right now.\" Diana could only stare at the door as Dee closed it behind him. The depth of emotion in his words shocked her. She had known Dee fancied Ryo, but she hadn\'t imagined his feelings were so strong. Dee was very much like Rose when it came to matters of love. (Although neither of them would ever admit it.) They both were consummate lovers of both men and women, but neither had met anyone who captured their interest for more than a few weeks. Certainly neither had ever fallen in love. They liked to think of themselves as immune to it- an unnecessary complication of sex they never wanted to be entangled in. However, Dee had just he he would\'ve gone to Ryo\'s side even if it meant exposing himself to a virus that could possibly kill him. All this for a man he\'d known less than a month!
Walking quietly so as not to disturb the patient, Dee stepped slowly to Ryo\'s bedside. He sat down carefully next to him and took his hand. It was wet with sweat.
\"Ryo,\" he whispered as a lump caught in his throat. Try as he might to deny it, Dee had fallen hard for this Japanese-American man. His sandy-blond hair and warm smile, his beautiful, dark eyes filled with innocent joy. How had the man crept into his heart so deeply in so short a time? Dee had been able to think of nothing else the entire time he was away from him. And now that he was back, his love sat withering in a fever, perhaps dying.
\"Papa...\" a small voice mumbled from the other side of the bed. Dee\'s head jerked around to the sound and he saw a small boy curled up next to Ryo. He had a shock of blond hair that stood out against his dark complexion. His son, thought Dee with sympathy. Then he realized the danger of the situation. As quietly and quickly as he could, he lifted the sleepy form out of the bed and into his arms.
\"Diana,\" Dee whispered. She looked up to see him carrying Bikky out of Ryo\'s room.
\"Oh no! How did he get in there?! We told him to stay away! I thought he\'d been put to bed hours ago!\" she said, angry at herself for not being vig vigilant.
After seeing the boy taken care of, Dee returned to Ryo\'s bedside. He sat back down next to the him and brushed the sweat-soaked hair away from the man\'s forehead.
\"Don\'t you die on me, Ryo,\" he whispered, his hand over Ryo\'s as he drifted to sleep late in the night.


****OK, now, I really don\'t know much about mumps, but it seemed to fit the best, so that\'s the illness I used. Sorry if it\'s inaccurate!
Anyway, hope you enjoyed it and wait to see is if Ryo will recover!