My Brother's Keeper

Hello again !

This story is a oneshot separate from the Drake/JJ
timeline that started with KISS.

I often wondered if any attraction existed between
Berkeley and JJ, though canon does not show any
from what I can see.Still, it would be interesting to
see Dee's reaction if there was...

This is set around the John Hale incident, when
Berkeley was still a bit of a bastard, and JJ
still a bit of a child .

Dee and Ryo are not a couple yet.


Enjoy !

Moon




Berkeley Rose didn’t waste any time seducing his way through the twenty-seventh precinct when he arrived as commissioner. He was a careful, calculating hunter, always choosing willing prey, and never abusing his position of power. Thank God his charms had so far failed to work on Ryo, Dee thought. That level of competition he did not need. That his protective instincts were raised regarding his sweet natured partner was understandable. He was surprised, however, when the same feeling was triggered concerning JJ.

That Rose would sooner or later bed the younger man was a given in Dee’s mind. The commissioner was handsome, powerful, older and charming-- all the things Dee knew JJ craved in a man. JJ was young, pretty and naïve- not unlike most of the women Rose had selected, then casually discarded once his attention span grew thin. That raised the warning flag in Dee’s mind. He knew that Rose would see this as a casual fling, where JJ would not .

Why did that bother him so ?

“Must be nice to see the target on someone else’s back for a change, “ Ted chuckled. He eyed the closed door to Rose’s office. JJ had disappeared behind it to get a signature forty-five minutes ago, and had not yet returned.

Dee frowned. “Yeah, “ he agreed distractedly. “ Must be nice…”

A day later he was leaving the parking garage when he saw them together. The watery half-light of the overheads couldn’t hide the scene; JJ pressed against the outside of Rose’s Mercedes by the larger man’s body. They were melded together seamlessly from head to toe; mouth to mouth, chest to chest, groin to groin. JJ had raised up nearly on tip-toe, arms wound around Rose’s neck, eyes screwed tightly shut as they kissed. Rose had his arms around the younger man’s waist , hands slowly caressing. He shifted, a thigh slowly pressing between JJ’s legs, spreading them apart. Even at several car length’s distance, Dee could hear the sensual moan come from the back of JJ’s throat.

The image lasted an instant. Dee turned, shoving his shaking hands in his coat pockets, furiously striding away.


Rose returned from a budget meeting later that week to find Dee waiting for him in his office.

“To what do I owe the pleasure, Laytner ? “ he asked, sarcastic emphasis on the word pleasure.

“What, my presence alone isn’t pleasure enough ? Sir ? “ Dee replied, his tone just as nasty on the final word.

Rose steadfastly ignored him , moving to his chair and logging on to his computer .

“Save it , Detective. I don’t have time for your attitude right now. In fact, I don’t have time for you at all.”

“I’ll get right to the point, then .” Dee leaned both hands on Rose’s desk in a confrontational pose. He lowered his voice.” Stay away from JJ.”

Rose didn’t even blink. His expression bored, he flicked a glance at Dee before looking back at his computer screen.” Get out .”

“ I mean it , Rose . Don’t fuck with him--”

The commissioner paused. He smiled, leaning back lazily in his expansive chair. “ It’s a little late for that ,”he purred silkily.

Dee saw red, and actually counted to ten before he responded. “ Are you in love with him ? Or just playing another one of your games ? “

Rose toyed with a pen . “ That’s not really any of your business, is it ? "

Dee opened his mouth to retort, but Rose’s upright hand silenced him.

“I’m willing to let this go ,” Rose went on, “ because I realize you must be jealous -”

“You son of a bitch ! Is that what this is about ? ! You couldn’t have Ryo, so you took JJ instead ? ! “

Rose smiled, showing teeth. “Interesting, how this has upset you so .” He watched Dee fume for a moment in silence."You could have had them both , you know ," He said quietly . “ Adams could be keeping your bed quiet warm while you wait for Ryo to unthaw. He’s very , " his expression turned Dee’s stomach, “ eager to please .”

Dee shook with rage. His intended confrontation of the smug commissioner had been artfully used against him. Again .“ I’ll be sure to tell JJ you think so ,” he ground out.

“Don’t bother , “Rose replied. “ I already have .”

“You’re in a good mood today ,” Drake remarked, smiling down at his partner’s glowing face ."What’d you do , get lucky or something ?"

Dee was passing their office and halted in his tracks. He hated himself for the eavesdropper he’d become, but found himself unable to stop.

“Now now , senpai,” the smile in JJ’s voice carried out into the hallway ."You know I’m not one to kiss and tell.”

“Oh ho ! So you have been kissing someone ! Come on, spill! I want all the juicy details.”

“Drake - !" JJ giggled . “ I have to have some secrets , don’t I ?”

“ Ah , I’m a detective , bud. I’ll find out sooner or later . Say ,does Dee know ?”

Yeah , Dee thought grimly , stalking away from their door . Dee knows…


Dee was a detective too. He watched JJ float around the office on cloud nine over the next few weeks , blissfully in love . His teammates secretly congratulated him on his new found freedom from JJ’s advances. Even Ryo seemed more relaxed, and receptive , now that the competition had waned.

So why did Dee feel so angry ?


Was he so used to JJ’s fawning that he begrudged the other man his new romance ? No ,his instincts whispered. He smelled a rat ; one wearing expensive cologne and designer frames . He’d told no one what he’d seen in the garage that day . Despite Ted’s observations ,no one else seemed to be aware that Rose and JJ were having an affair right under their very noses .Maybe no one else cared . Drake teased his partner for information occasionally ,but a new girlfriend of his own occupied his time otherwise.

Time. It was grinding on ,and Dee grew more tense. He was never good at waiting, preferring action instead. For the action he wanted to take , however, evidence was needed.

But confession came first.


Dee arrived at work thirty minutes earlier the next day. The gambit paid off; JJ was alone at his desk, studying a file from the crime lab. He looked up and smiled as the door clicked shut behind Dee.

“Good morning, senpai ! “ he greeted cheerfully. “ You’re in early today . Coffee’s fresh , if you want some .”

“Thanks ," Dee smiled back . He strolled to the Mr. Coffee across the room, helping himself to a cup. "You look good today , JJ . Is that a new jacket ?”

JJ beamed under the unexpected attention. "Thank you , senpai ," he blushed . He fingered the butter-soft caramel suede. “Yes, it’s new . I just got it last week .”

“Hmmm," Dee sipped his coffee, leaning against Drake’s unoccupied desk . “ Looks expensive .”

JJ shrugged slightly. “ I wouldn’t know . It was a gift ."

“ From Rose ?”

JJ’s face colored guiltily; he’d said too much . “ From- who ? I-I don’t know what you’re talking about , senpai .”

“ I asked you if it was from Commissioner Rose. Is he buying you expensive presents , now that he’s fucking you ?”

JJ’s face flamed scarlet . Bingo , Dee thought darkly.

“ What’s the matter ,JJ ?”Dee pressed on ,hating himself . “ Did he tell you to keep it quiet ? ‘Don’t let anyone know at the precinct; we could both lose our jobs’, some B.S. like that ? Are you only good enough behind closed doors, but not in public -- ?"

“Stop it !" JJ cried , face contorted in anger and hurt . “ Why are you being so cruel ? !"

“Oh ,come on, JJ !" Dee exclaimed . He set his cup down with a thud . “ He’s using you , can’t you see it ?! He’s screwed his way through half the station, and now he’s worked his way down to you--”

JJ sucked in a sharp breath , as if he’d been slapped. Dee hastily cut off the rest of his speech . Even for him ,that had been unnecessarily harsh . He watched as JJ’s beautiful blue eyes filled with tears.

“ Just because you’re not interested in me ,”he said thickly , “ is it so hard to believe someone else might be ?”

He fled the room before Dee could reply , brushing past Drake without a hello.

Drake turned to Dee with a frown . “ What are you doing in my office ,” he demanded , hands on his hips , "yelling at my partner first thing in the morning? Christ , Dee , what’d he do that was so bad this time ? Did you have to make him cry ?”

Dee matched his glare , the beginnings of a migraine locking his neck and jaw in a vise .

“ Yeah , I had to make him cry ,” he shot back . “ because I’m the only one around here without his head up his ass ,who sees what’s going on !"

He stomped out , in search of Tylenol, leaving a bewildered Drake behind.


JJ had provided the confession. Now Rose provided the evidence, without even knowing.


A week later Dee saw the commissioner in the familiar heated clinch ,arms wrapped around a nubile male body . It was at the tail end of second shift , in one of the interview rooms where the monitors had been left unattended. Dee felt bile rise in his throat as he watched the two men kiss. He leaned over to the recorder, hit ‘save’ , and walked out .

He left a note on JJ’s desk the next day. It was late that night before JJ replied.

“You wanted to see me ,senpai ?"

Dee looked up at the query. The look of innocent expectation on JJ’s face nearly crumbled his resolve. They’d coolly avoided each other after their blow up the week before. JJ’s ingrained manners had caused him to forgive his precious Dee readily , however. Dee had been banking on that.

He hadn’t seen JJ much today , probably because JJ and Drake had been up to their eyeballs in work . The partner’s had spent nearly all day in the lab , reviewing the autopsy on the sixteen year old victim in their current rape/murder case. JJ looked exhausted. Dee felt like the worst sort of prick for what he was about to do .

“Take a look at this recording," Dee gestured to the monitor before he could change his mind . He set the disc he’d made the night before into the tray. “ I need another opinion on this .”

JJ shut the door and stepped forward, bringing the monitor into his line of vision. Dee locked his eyes on the side of the younger man’s face as JJ watched the action onscreen. For an instant, JJ looked confused , mouth gaping and a blush staining his cheeks. A second later, realization kicked in, and his complexion turned white with horror. His reaction was predictable, and immediate.

“ Bastard ! You bastard !" he shrieked , rounding on Dee , hands clenched at his sides . "You did this on purpose !"

He flew at Dee with tears and fists, screaming obscenities. Dee caught him by the wrists after allowing him a few unguarded blows. He deserved it , he knew .

“Why ? ! Why ?" JJ sobbed , fighting in vain . Dee reached past him to hit ‘delete’ and erase the damning evidence , allowing JJ to collapse against him. He leaned against the table as JJ leaned against him, holding him as he cried bitterly into his chest.

“Why did you have to show me ?" JJ’s shoulder’s heaved with racking sobs . “Why ?”

“ Would you rather not have known ?" Dee asked gruffly, face pressed against JJ’s hair.

“Yes !" JJ bawled . "I hate you ! I hate you so much right now !"

Dee caressed him with strong hands , stroking up and down his skinny, shaking back . JJ sobbed until his eyes were swollen and his breathing turned to shaky hiccups. He lay spent and limp against Dee’s body , nestled between his legs , face pressed against the cotton of his shirt .

“How long have you known ?" JJ whispered at last .

“ About you two , or this other guy ?”

JJ sniffed . “ All of it .”

Dee sighed . “ A while . Does it matter , JJ ?”

“ No ," JJ said in a small voice . He drew in s shaky breath . “ What am I going to do ?"

Dee was quiet a long time . “ Dump him,” he said finally. “ Before he can do it to you.”

JJ cried anew after that grim advice . Dee shifted them into a more comfortable position , tucking JJ’s face against the warm crook of his neck . He buried his hands into the smaller man’s silky hair . He felt sick , and empty , like he’d taken a baby bird from it’s nest and crushed it in his fist . No one gets to hurt you but me , he thought bitterly. Is that what this has come down to ? Or is it that you won’t listen to anyone else ?

JJ pulled away and looked at Dee’s face . How long had he dreamed of being held like this , by this man ?It meant nothing now .

“ Aren’t you going to tell me you’re sorry ?" he sniffled .

Dee shook his head slowly. “ No . Because I’m not .”

JJ lowered his lashes over his bloodshot eyes . “ I didn’t think so ," he said softly.

Dee leaned forward and pressed his lips to JJ’s forehead , and JJ leaned up and pressed instead against his mouth . Familiar heat spread through Dee ; the intimacy of the embrace , the feel of a tongue in his mouth when he hadn’t felt one in so long …Resisting JJ had never been easy , although he’d never admit it. His libido was on overdrive most days . The promise of sex , with a beautiful, willing lover , was almost more than he could withstand .

Beautiful . Ryo …

Dee pulled away with a gasp.

“ Please ," JJ begged , kissing him over and over again . “ Please , oh please , Dee . I’ll do anything you want.”

Dee shuddered and physically held JJ at arm’s length . “ We have to stop ,” he panted .

And to his surprise, JJ did . His arms dropped from Dee’s body to hug himself instead . He looked miserable , and broken . A plaything tossed aside by a bored, fickle child.

“ I know ," he murmured in resignation . “ Because you don’t love me .”

Dee opened his mouth , but JJ’s hand flew up to press it closed ."No ,don’t say it ,”he pleaded. He smiled sadly . "I already know . And , I suppose, I already knew Berkeley never really loved me either . Not enough to be exclusive , at least.”

He straightened , righting his clothing and wiping his face . “I’m going home now .I’m going home to sleep , and tomorrow , I’m calling in sick . And then , I’m going to dinner with Berkeley on Friday , just like we planned ."

Dee started to protest , but JJ just smiled . “ I’m going to eat first . And then, I’m going to order the most expensive meal , and the finest bottle of wine . And after dinner , I’m going to break it off with him . Before he takes me to bed.”

Dee smiled . “ Wish I could be a fly on the wall for that one ," he said .

JJ gave a watery little chuckle , and nodded . “ Good night , Dee ."

Dee’s voice stopped him at the door . “ Aren’t you going to thank me for warning you ?”

JJ turned back to look at him. “ For breaking my heart , you mean ?” Slowly ,he shook his head . “ No , senpai …”

Dee gave a sad , lopsided smile as the door closed quietly in his face .

“ Yeah ," he agreed , “ I didn’t expect you to…”