Somewhere In Time

You asked for more, I deliver! Thanks for the encouragement! I'm writing the end of the story now, but there's still a lot to come, have no fear! Disclaimer: I don't own Fake or anyone as sexy as Dee and Ryo! "Well, good morning sleepy-head!" a cheerful voice greeted Ryo as he opened his eyes to the morning sun. "Diana," he acknowledged softly. His fever had broken in the early morning hours, but he was still very weak. "You gave us all a good scare! You really shouldn't do that to your hostess, you know! It's very impolite!" the woman teased. She was still beaming at having received the good news that Ryo was going to be all right. "I'll have to remember my manners next time," he replied with good-humor, smiling. Diana stepped next to his bed and gently sat down next to him. "I'm glad you're better now," she said sincerely. "I was in good hands," he replied with equal earnest. His smile suddenly fell, "What about Bikky? Is he all right? I thought I saw him come in here, but it might have been the fever." "Yes, he's fine. He did sneak in here for a bit, but I had the doctor talk to him and we found out he did have the mumps when he was very young so he's safe." "Thank God," he sighed, a great weigh lifting from his shoulders. "And thank you, Diana." "There's no need to thank me." "I'll pay the doctor bill-" "Of course you will not!!" she exclaimed. "Well, then, thank you again." Diana could only smile back. It had been touch and go there for a while and she had been truly worried about her friend, to see him well again was a relief beyond words. "I'm just glad you're well," she said. "I must have been very badly off. I think fever must have made me delirious. I thought I saw Dee." "Oh, you did," said Diana still smiling. "What?" "He arrived back yesterday and stayed by your side all night." "He did?" Ryo asked shyly. Leave it to Ryo to look embarrassed over something like that, Diana thought as his face grew pink. It was good to see color in those cheeks again, though. "Yes, he was very worried about you, Ryo." "Really? I was- wait. You called me Ryo," he said, looking up at Diana. "I heard Dee call you that. Is it your Japanese name?" she asked. Ryo didn't want to discuss it, but it seemed he couldn't avoid it now. "Yes," he replied simply. "I like it." "Do you?" "It suits you." "Thank you, but... could you please not mention it to anyone else? You know I'm a private person and it's hard enough dealing with my heritage sometimes." "Say no more, I won't tell a soul. But," she looked at him intently now, "you should never feel you have to hide who you are. Don't be afraid to be yourself." Ryo looked at her, not knowing what to say. He wasn't ashamed of who he was, by any means. He just didn't go about advertising it, either. If he trusted someone, he'd let them know everything about him, but it was hard to know who to trust sometimes. He didn't want to make life for himself, or his son, harder than it already was. When Ryo fell silent, Diana felt she had over-stepped her bounds. "I'm sorry, Randy. You've only just recuperated and here I am talking you to death!" She took his hand in hers, "Forgive me." "Don't worry about it, Diana," he said, smiling up at her. "I'll send for your breakfast," she said, getting up and crossing to the door. "Just one other thing, and you don't have to tell me, but... Why did you only tell Dee your name?" "I-I don't really know," he answered honestly. Diana just grinned and left. It might be too late for her to win her bet, but she was as curious as ever to find out what was going to happen with those two. Looking out the window, Ryo sighed and laid back into the pillows. It felt good to, well, just feel good again. A sudden, heavy weight fell into his lap. "Papa! Are you better now?" Bikky said cheerfully, his arms already hugging his foster father tightly. "Yes, I'm better. Good morning, Carol," Ryo said, seeing the young girl over Bikky's shoulder. "Good morning Mr.Maclean!" she said with a wide smile. It amazed her that even in his condition, Ryo still remembered his manners. She'd been very concerned for Bikky as Ryo tossed and turned with fever. The boy had looked awful and there was little she could do to make him feel any better. But she had also worried for Ryo on her own behalf. She was rather fond of the warm, polite man. Although he didn't have the seductive flair Dee did, there was something more gentle, but no less magnetic, about his personality. And it was all the more alluring because Ryo himself didn't seem to be aware of it. Not that Carol put it that way herself; she just knew she felt very attached to Ryo in a short time. "I see you're recovering," said a rich voice that matched the darkly handsome man walking into the room. "Morning Dee!" called Carol, reaching up to give the man a deep hug. Bikky looked less thrilled. "Carol, don't hang all over him like that!" he cried, jumping from the bed. "I can do what I please!" she yelled back, sticking her tongue out at him. "Ahem," Dee coughed. "Can you two argue somewhere else? Ryo's still recuperating." Dee scooted the two youths out the door as they both continued to bicker. "Don't call him Ryo like you're family or somethin'" shouted Bikky. "Dee can call him what he wants! He stayed with him all night to keep watch!" "ALL NIGHT?! By his BED?!" Bikky turned to accuse Dee, but the door closed before he had the chance. "Carol, you better tell me everything!" demanded Bikky, crossing his arms. "Oh, fine! Come on, let's at least get some breakfast and make sure someone's getting your Papa's breakfast too!" she said, grabbing him and dragging him toward the kitchen. A deep sigh escaped Ryo's throat. "I love that boy, but he can be a bit rambunctious!" he laughed. Uncharacteristically quiet, Dee stepped over to the bed and sat close to Ryo, taking his hand in his own. "Dee... Did you really spend the whole night with me? You needn't have-" "Shhh..." Dee hushed Ryo with a finger over his lips. They both sat there for a moment, looking down at their clasped hands. "I was sick when I was a child. There was a nun at the orphanage who took care of me, but I was bed-ridden for three days and the other children made demands on her time. It- it was so lonely, being sick and not being able to see anyone... and not knowing what would happen." He paused, looking steadily into Ryo's eyes now. "I didn't want you to have to wake up alone in the night and feel that way. I wanted you to know there was someone around who was watching you, who... cares for you." "Dee..." Ryo whispered. It was the only word he could manage to get past his lips. Seeing this typically arrogant man suddenly vulnerable, touched him in a way nothing before ever had. His heart ached with things unsaid. It was as if he were seeing Dee for the first time, his silky hair now hung limp and tussled, hanging over his strained, fatigued face. His normally strong shoulders were slightly hunched forward. And his eyes, Ryo couldn't turn away from them. They burned into him with the intensity behind his words. That was the moment Ryo knew he was really in trouble, that his feelings toward Dee weren't something he could dismiss. But it didn't mean he knew what he was going to do. Conflict gripped him like a vice and his hands clenched Dee's tightly. He didn't want him to leave, but he didn't know what to say, either. Looking intently at Ryo, Dee saw the conflict grow and surface in his face. Sighing, he took the silence and worried expression as a sign of Ryo's rejection. He couldn't press the matter any further. Not now. Not when Ryo had just recovered and still needed rest and a calm mind. "I'll be around if you need me," Dee said simply and stood up to leave. However, Ryo kept his hands clamped about Dee's, not really for him to go yet. "Dee... I..." "You don't have to say anything, Ryo. I understand," Dee said, with resignation and sadness despite his effort to hide it. "No, I-" "Breakfast!" came a bright voice from the maidservant as she swept into the open door. She stopped as she saw the two men grasping hands, staring at each other. "Pardon me, I should've knocked. I can come back-" "No, it's quite all right. Our patient needs his breakfast. He must keep his strength up," Dee said, brushing a finger lightly over Ryo cheek and trying to smile before he exited the room. "Call for me if you are in need of anything." And with that he was gone. "Here we are," said the servant, lowering the tray into Ryo's lap. Earlier, Ryo would have said that nothing could have damped his spirits that day, but the sunshine seemed thin without Dee's bright eyes to comfort him. He had done everything wrong. Sighing, Ryo decided to put any thoughts of Dee on hold until he'd eaten and gotten his strength up. Then he'd go and straighten things out with him. He'd tell him... tell him what exactly? Later, think about it later, he said to himself. Ryo stood on the veranda, staring at the play of light and shadow on the trees. It had been a week since he'd last seen Dee. His body was fully recovered from his illness, but his mind was in turmoil. The rational part of his mind knew he should be grateful for Dee's absence. After all, the brash man didn't exactly fit into the plans for his life. Even so, he couldn't stop thinking of those intense jade eyes, his firm lips. Ryo's heart sank. He'd been so alone since his parent's died and just when he had resigned himself to a life without true companionship, Dee had to stumble his way into his heart. But it could never work, could it? He sat down heavily in a large garden chair and sighed, running his fingers through his led led hair. Through the window of the common room, Diana watched Ryo pace and fidget outside. He'd obviously been having an internal struggle of some kind over the past week and she had a good idea why. Dee was still in the city, but hadn't paid her a visit since the day Ryo had recovered. What was going on with those two? Deciding that they would get nowhere by themselves (especially with Ryo in such a conflicted state of mind), Diana thought it was time for another party. *****Poor Ryo! He's recovered, but will he be able to make up his mind about Dee before it's too late? Next chapter will be up soon, promise!