Save Me (Part 5)
Title: Save Me
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: YunJae
Rating: PG-13
Length: Undetermined
Summary: Kim Jaejoong is on the run from his crazed ex-husband and Lieutenant Jung Yunho is the only one standing between him and an uncertain fate. Will Yunho be his savior...or will his rescue come too late?
Yunho sighed as he slid into the driver’s seat of his car and shut the door, pausing for a moment to lay his forehead on the steering wheel.
He still had half a shift to go and he was already exhausted, although he knew that it was partly due to his emotional state.
When Jaejoong had taken off, he’d been tempted to go after him, had started to, before he remembered that Sonny was still there. His friend had been apologetic, feeling guilty for taunting him, which had led to his denial, but it wasn’t Sonny’s fault. He could’ve been honest with Sonny - when you trusted a man with your life, there was nothing else you couldn’t trust him with - but he’d chosen to lie thus he was culpable for the fallout. So instead of chasing after Jaejoong like he’d been inclined to, he let him go, making a mental promise to go over to his house and talk to him in person after his shift.
After he’d said goodbye to Sonny, he’d returned to the scene he was working on and was now on his way back to the station to file his report. He’d been distracted the entire time, thinking of the look on Jaejoong’s face. It reminded him of the first time he’d seen him: hauntingly beautiful but closed, like a wall had been erected around him and his heart. It was understandable, his not wanting to get hurt, but they’d come so far since then. Or so he’d thought…hoped. It saddened him to think that he’d undone the progress they’d made with one careless slip of the tongue.
Sighing again, he pulled his phone out of his pocket. He wasn’t going to call, still planned to visit after his shift, but he wanted to make sure that they’d made it home safely.
He was just about to start typing a text when the phone rang in his hand. He glanced at the display.
Jaejoong.
Eyes widening in surprise, he answered immediately. “Hello?”
There was a moment of silence before a breathy, “Yunho.”
The hair on the back of Yunho’s neck stood up. “Jaejoong? Jaejoong, what’s wrong?”
Another gripping moment of silence had the oxygen freezing in his chest as he held his breath.
Finally, Jaejoong replied, “He was here. In the house.”
Yunho stuck the key in the ignition, stepping on the accelerator as soon as the engine came to life. He turned on his police siren as he sped through the streets of Seoul, swerving around cars that didn’t get out of his way fast enough.
“Is he still there? Are you and Maya okay?”
“We’re fine. He was gone before I got here.”
“Where are you now?”
“Outside. In the front yard. I couldn’t…” His voice broke and Yunho could imagine how hard it must be for him to hold himself together in the face of the realization that his nightmare was truly starting all over again.
“It’s okay, Jaejoong. It will be okay. I won’t let anything happen to you or Maya. I promise.”
“I know,” Jaejoong said softly and Yunho’s heart flip-flopped in his chest at the simple honesty of the statement.
“Yunho…will you come?”
Yunho’s eyes filled with steely determination, his foot unconsciously pressing harder on the accelerator as he raced against time to get to the one who needed him, and who he needed in return.
“I’m on my way.”
The car was still moving when he threw his door open, barely managing to shift the gear into “park” before he jumped out, the engine still running.
He ran up the slight incline to where Jaejoong and Maya sat next to the lemon tree.
“Are you okay?” he asked, dropping to his knees beside the pair. He took Jaejoong’s face in his hands, his eyes darting all over as he checked for himself, making sure that he was really safe and sound.
Jaejoong smiled slightly. “We’re fine. She went into the house before I even realized that the door was unlocked. Nearly scared me half to death. I wouldn’t be surprised if I find one or two grey hairs tomorrow,” he joked.
Yunho lay a gentle hand on Maya’s back, relaxing considerably when he detected the slow rise and fall of her breathing.
“She fell asleep about half an hour ago,” Jaejoong informed him. “Hasn’t said a word since we came out here. She just curled up on me, hugged me like she wanted to give me comfort instead of the other way around,” he continued softly.
He paused and took a deep shuddering breath before raising tortured eyes to Yunho’s.
“I can’t do this anymore. Not again, not to her. She deserves better than this, Yunho. I hate this so much, so fucking much. This isn’t the life I dreamt of for her. For either of us.”
It was the first time he’d heard Jaejoong use foul language. Not even during their night filled with ecstasy had he even uttered a single swear word. That alone told Yunho that he was at the end of his rope.
He took Jaejoong’s hand in his, squeezed it gently. “It will be okay. You’re not alone this time.”
Jaejooong shook his head. “I don’t want you to get hurt. There’s a real possibility that he’s seen us together, that he will come after you. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you too.”
Yunho smiled, projecting a confidence that he didn’t really feel. “Let me worry about me, okay? As a matter of fact, let me worry about all of us. So long as I’m here, you’re safe, and I’m not going anywhere until this is all over with.”
Maybe not even then.
He wanted to say more, much more, but didn’t think now was the time. The sound of sirens in the distance reaffirmed his decision.
He stood. “That would be backup and the CSIs. Why don’t you take Maya to my car? She can lie down on the backseat.”
Jaejoong’s arms tightened fractionally around his daughter. “We’re fine here, thanks.” The truth was, he didn’t think he could move just yet and he’d been in that position for so long that his joints had locked up on him.
Yunho nodded, unclipping his gun from his holster. He knew that the house was empty but it was procedure.
“I’m just going to do a quick walk through. When the guys arrive, tell them to come on in.”
For the next couple of hours, Jaejoong’s house and yard were swarming with uniformed men toting guns and all manner of equipment. They all looked very efficient and professional.
This, Jaejoong thought, was what it was like to be taken seriously. And he didn’t have to have a busted face to get it. It was a nice change, he had to admit.
After a while of observing the organized chaos, and when Maya had awoken as a result of the accompanying noise, he’d taken his daughter to his neighbour/friend’s house, with Yunho’s permission, and left her in her care until the craziness was over. The long walk gave him some time alone, which helped to clear his head considerably.
Presently, he sat in his kitchen, his hands gripping a cup of tea that Yunho had forced on him, as he watched the man in question discuss something or other with a CSI. They were speaking in low tones so he couldn’t hear what was being said.
His eyes drifted over to the staircase as one particularly tall, husky man stomped up the stairs. Was it really necessary for all of these people to be there just to get some fingerprints or whatever?, he wondered. It seemed a bit like overkill to him. But he’d wanted their help and he was getting it en masse so he wasn’t going to tell them how to do their jobs. He didn’t look forward to the clean-up, though.
“Jaejoong,” Yunho said, catching his attention as he walked over. “We’re about ready to wrap up here.”
So soon?, he thought and barely managed to stop himself from saying it. Quite a contrast to his thoughts from just a second ago.
“Okay.”
“I’ve had an alarm system installed. If it goes off, the station will immediately be alerted by the security company so try not to trigger it unless it’s an emergency.”
Eyes wide with surprise, Jaejoong only nodded.
“I’ve also had all of your locks changed. The keys are on your bed, neatly labeled until you learn which is which. And I’ve posted a car outside. I’d like to have someone here round the clock but I’ll have to pass that by my boss first so it may just be for tonight until we work out some kind of schedule. I just want you to feel safe, okay?”
Jaejoong nodded again.
“I’m just gonna make sure everything’s good to go. I’ll be right back.”
As he walked away, Yunho took a huge gulp of air and released it slowly. He rolled his shoulders, trying to ease the stiffness that had settled between the blades, but to no avail. The steady throbbing in his head wasn’t helping either.
He’d been a homicide cop for ten years, having been recruited into the division straight out of the academy. He’d seen his share of shocking sights over the years, had waded through innocent blood and seen just how cruel human beings could be to each other. He’d thought that nothing could surprise him anymore.
He’d been wrong.
Murder was the most pure, most basic and most simple of crimes and maybe he’d become jaded and complacent over the years because when he’d entered Jaejoong’s bedroom, he’d been shocked.
There was no blood, no murder weapon to be found, no murderer to be hunted, yet he had been more horrified than he remembered being at his very first crime scene. This case was psychological at its core and as a homicide cop, trained to follow tactile evidence, he was neither used to nor equipped to deal with it. But he would. He had no choice. Jaejoong and Maya were depending on him to keep them safe.
He simply didn’t know where to begin. Daniel was an enigma at this point, like mist that swirled around them but that they couldn’t see or touch. He was sick but he was also smart and not knowing everything that he needed to know about him was proving to be a disadvantage. If there was one upside to the break-in, it was that it now gave him enough justification to request the case files from Sweden. His uncle had said something needed to happen and now it had.
Catching Daniel was going to be difficult. He seemed to blend into his surroundings which, considering that as a non-Asian he should have stood out, was completely confusing. How was it possible that no one ever saw him? Not in the post office when he’d questioned the employees both times, not on Jaejoong’s street when they’d done door-to-door interviews that very day. At the rate they were going, unless they caught a break soon, Daniel would be able to continue terrorizing Jaejoong until he decided to take the next step. And his next step might very well be Jaejoong’s last.
“Lieutenant.”
Breaking out of his thoughts, Yunho went over to the officer that had called to him.
Half an hour later, Yunho closed Jaejoong’s front door after the last car had driven off.
Turning, he stopped when he saw Jaejoong standing at the foot of the staircase.
“I have to go get Maya,” he explained. “I don’t want her to worry too much. And I need to make dinner, though I don’t know what I feel like eating. I haven’t even eaten lunch yet, now that I think about it. I…”
“Jaejoong.”
He stopped talking and looked at Yunho, his dark eyes rimmed with red, dark shadows beginning to show beneath them.
“I’ll get Maya. And I’ll take her into town to get something to eat. Why don’t you have a hot bath before she gets back? It’ll give you some time to yourself after having your house invaded by all of these strangers.”
Jaejoong started to shake his head. “I couldn’t. I…”
“Jaejoong. I insist.” Yunho’s words were just forceful enough to tell Jaejoong that it was more of an order than a suggestion. “Please.”
Jaejoong seemed to battle with himself for a moment before he finally nodded.
Yunho grabbed his discarded jacket off a side table and shrugged into it. He opened the front door and stepped outside. “Lock it behind me. I’ll call you when we’re just down the road.”
He waited until Jaejoong locked the door, double-checking to make sure that it wouldn’t budge if someone pulled on it forcefully, before waving goodbye.
Jaejoong turned and made his way upstairs, feeling like the weight of the world was pressing down on his shoulders.
His movements were automatic as he filled the tub and removed his clothes. He’d passed through his bedroom without taking note of the state of things. He supposed he was already resigned to cleaning up whatever mess was left behind so it didn’t really matter how big of a mess there was at this point.
As he soaked, he wondered how Maya was faring. It surprised him that he wasn’t more anxious about his daughter’s welfare but the answer was also quite simple: she was with Yunho. There was probably no one in the world, save his parents, who he trusted more at the moment. And he couldn’t deny that Yunho had been right: he needed some time to himself, to regroup before he became the doting father once more.
Yunho’s thoughtfulness touched him. The man never stopped thinking about what was best for him and Maya. Jaejoong knew without asking that Yunho went above and beyond what was expected of him as an officer of the law, and it wasn’t just because of their mutual attraction. He was just a downright good guy. He didn’t doubt that Yunho would go to any lengths necessary for anyone in Jaejoong’s position because he’d sworn to protect and serve and he would honor that promise, whatever the cost to himself. It honestly scared him a little. He was thankful for Yunho’s help, could never repay him for all that he’d done so far, but he hated the thought that he could possibly cause trouble for Yunho in any way. The last thing he wanted was to jeopardize his career.
On the other hand, he is a grown man and he knows what he’s doing, a little voice reminded him. They’re his choices to make.
Sighing, he sank completely beneath the surface of the water and tried to drown out his thoughts.
Ten minutes later, he was toweling off when his phone rang. He snatched it up quickly and answered.
“Almost there,” Yunho said.
“Okay.”
He’d hoped to have enough time to dress but didn’t want to keep Yunho waiting so he slipped on his robe instead. He blushed slightly, feeling like he was going to greet Yunho buck naked despite his covering. It was a thick, fluffy robe in a deep mahogany and Yunho wouldn’t be able to see a hint of his body but just knowing that he was nude made him self-conscious.
He was just pondering dragging on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt when he heard car doors slam shut.
Too late.
Tightening the ties of his robe, he cast a final glance in the mirror before hurrying out of his bedroom and down the stairs.
“Daddy!” Maya squealed as soon as he opened the door, launching herself at him.
He immediately dropped to his knees, arms wrapped tightly around his daughter. They’d only been apart for a couple of hours but it felt like a lifetime to him. He closed his eyes and breathed in her sweet scent as she patted his back in that soothing way of hers, losing himself in her warmth. For a moment, he even forgot that Yunho was still standing there on his stoop.
Yunho smiled as he took in the scene, feeling a momentary stab of jealousy. He loved the way they loved and needed each other and wished he had that for himself. When he left, he would be going home to an empty apartment. It had been too long since he’d been in a committed relationship, or even casually dated. The night he’d spent with Jaejoong had been the most intimate he’d been with anyone in two long years. His job usually got in the way of his dating life, yet somehow he’d made time for Jaejoong. Perhaps it was just a matter of not meeting the right person, he realized. If he’d met Mr. Right before, he would’ve found the time to be with him the same way he’d found the time to be at Jaejoong’s beck and call. He knew he hadn’t met and missed Mr. Right, though, because he believed he was looking right at him then and there.
As his eyes slid over Jaejoong, his gaze grew heated, his desire igniting when he noticed the way Jaejoong’s robe parted from his knee to halfway up his thigh. He remembered that glorious, pale flesh, remembered stroking and kissing his was up…remembered them wrapped around him… His breath hitched and he forced himself to to calm his thoughts. Jaejoong was right there with his daughter. As much as he might have been tempted to ravage him on the entryway floor, it was not going to happen. At least not tonight.
Clearing his throat, he said, “I wasn’t sure what to get you guys so I asked the lady of the house what she was in the mood for and she said pizza.”
“We got your favorite, Daddy,” Maya gushed as she pulled back to look proudly up at her father. “I ’membered everything.”
Jaejoong smiled, gently stroking her cheek. “Good job. Are you hungry?”
Maya nodded.
Carefully climbing to his feet, Jaejoong closed his hand around the smaller one that automatically slipped into his and turned to face Yunho, his expression sheepish.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to ignore you. I’m just not used to being without her.”
Yunho smiled. “It’s okay. You two are extremely cute to watch.”
Jaejoong blushed, dropped his gaze for a second.
“Well, um, I guess I’d better let you guys eat. It’s been an eventful day for you both so I’m sure you want to get things back in order and go to bed early.”
“Do you want to come in? Stay and eat with us?”
Yes.
“Thanks, but I’d better not. I’ve got to get to the station. I have a couple of reports to write and I’ll be lucky if it’s still today by the time I get home,” he joked.
Jaejoong nodded his understanding. He would’ve liked it if Yunho had stayed a little longer but Yunho had already put his work on the back-burner to be there with him all afternoon and he wouldn’t be so bold as to ask for even more of his time.
“Thank you…for everything.”
“My pleasure.” He handed Jaejoong the box of pizza, smiling down at Maya as he waved goodbye. “Goodbye, Maya.”
A soft “goodbye” resonated from the area of Jaejoong’s hip where her face was pressed into his side.
Yunho laughed, unable to help himself in the face of her adorableness. He’d thoroughly enjoyed his time with her and hoped to spend even more time getting to know her and breaking down her defenses. He planned on sticking around a while so a relationship with Maya was a must.
“Goodnight, Jaejoong.”
“Goodnight, Yunho. Drive carefully.”
He waited while Jaejoong locked the door behind him before strolling down the walk. He checked in with the officer assigned to watch the house before heading to his car.
The drive back to the city was long and quiet. After his short but enjoyable ride with Maya, he felt even more alone in his car. She’s surprised him by talking more than he’d ever thought possible, especially with her father being absent. Random, nonsensical, childish things but just hearing her sweet little voice had been music to his ears. She was so serious and mature most of the time that he often forgot how young she really was. It didn’t bother him that she’s reverted to her usual self once they’d arrived at her house. They’d had their moment and he would cherish it until they made new ones.
The station was busy as usual, despite the lateness. He settled down at his desk, tried his best to block out the noise and write his reports, but after forty-five minutes of staring at a blank sheet of paper, he accepted that the words just weren’t going to come. He couldn’t stop thinking about Jaejoong, and Maya. He wondered if they were doing okay, if they were afraid to sleep. He thought about calling, had his phone in his hand before he realized it, but decided not to. A few hours had already passed since he’d left them and he didn’t want to disturb them, or God forbid, wake them up.
Giving up, he clocked out and made his way back to his car. He’d have a hot shower, or maybe a cold one since he couldn’t get the image of Jaejoong’s thigh out of his head. That little reminder caused a stir down below. Perhaps he’d just have to pay himself some attention. It had been a while, after all. A quick release should ensure a good night’s sleep.
Mind made up, he was slightly more perky as he drove home, fingers tapping on the steering wheel as he kept time with the music drifting out of his speakers. Shortly after, he pulled into the underground parking garage of his apartment building and rode the elevator up to the tenth floor. Humming the song that had been playing in the car, he uncoded his door and let himself in.
Before he even turned on the lights, he felt that something was wrong. Stepping back into the hall, he pulled his gun out of its holster and held it up in front of him.
“Hello?”
He waited a beat but heard and saw nothing in the apartment.
“If there’s someone there, know that I am armed and I will shoot.”
Another beat, no response. Whoever had been in his apartment seemed to be long gone.
Still gripping his gun, he stepped back across the threshold and flipped the switch on the wall.
Chaos.
That was the word that came to mind when he surveyed the devastation that lay before him. Pure and utter chaos.
Dropping his arms to his side, he envisioned a table laden with a tower of reports that reached the ceiling.
“Shit.”
A/N: Sorry for the delay. I started the mpreg and then I got sick. Will update again in a couple of days. We're almost at the finish line!
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: YunJae
Rating: PG-13
Length: Undetermined
Summary: Kim Jaejoong is on the run from his crazed ex-husband and Lieutenant Jung Yunho is the only one standing between him and an uncertain fate. Will Yunho be his savior...or will his rescue come too late?
Yunho sighed as he slid into the driver’s seat of his car and shut the door, pausing for a moment to lay his forehead on the steering wheel.
He still had half a shift to go and he was already exhausted, although he knew that it was partly due to his emotional state.
When Jaejoong had taken off, he’d been tempted to go after him, had started to, before he remembered that Sonny was still there. His friend had been apologetic, feeling guilty for taunting him, which had led to his denial, but it wasn’t Sonny’s fault. He could’ve been honest with Sonny - when you trusted a man with your life, there was nothing else you couldn’t trust him with - but he’d chosen to lie thus he was culpable for the fallout. So instead of chasing after Jaejoong like he’d been inclined to, he let him go, making a mental promise to go over to his house and talk to him in person after his shift.
After he’d said goodbye to Sonny, he’d returned to the scene he was working on and was now on his way back to the station to file his report. He’d been distracted the entire time, thinking of the look on Jaejoong’s face. It reminded him of the first time he’d seen him: hauntingly beautiful but closed, like a wall had been erected around him and his heart. It was understandable, his not wanting to get hurt, but they’d come so far since then. Or so he’d thought…hoped. It saddened him to think that he’d undone the progress they’d made with one careless slip of the tongue.
Sighing again, he pulled his phone out of his pocket. He wasn’t going to call, still planned to visit after his shift, but he wanted to make sure that they’d made it home safely.
He was just about to start typing a text when the phone rang in his hand. He glanced at the display.
Jaejoong.
Eyes widening in surprise, he answered immediately. “Hello?”
There was a moment of silence before a breathy, “Yunho.”
The hair on the back of Yunho’s neck stood up. “Jaejoong? Jaejoong, what’s wrong?”
Another gripping moment of silence had the oxygen freezing in his chest as he held his breath.
Finally, Jaejoong replied, “He was here. In the house.”
Yunho stuck the key in the ignition, stepping on the accelerator as soon as the engine came to life. He turned on his police siren as he sped through the streets of Seoul, swerving around cars that didn’t get out of his way fast enough.
“Is he still there? Are you and Maya okay?”
“We’re fine. He was gone before I got here.”
“Where are you now?”
“Outside. In the front yard. I couldn’t…” His voice broke and Yunho could imagine how hard it must be for him to hold himself together in the face of the realization that his nightmare was truly starting all over again.
“It’s okay, Jaejoong. It will be okay. I won’t let anything happen to you or Maya. I promise.”
“I know,” Jaejoong said softly and Yunho’s heart flip-flopped in his chest at the simple honesty of the statement.
“Yunho…will you come?”
Yunho’s eyes filled with steely determination, his foot unconsciously pressing harder on the accelerator as he raced against time to get to the one who needed him, and who he needed in return.
“I’m on my way.”
The car was still moving when he threw his door open, barely managing to shift the gear into “park” before he jumped out, the engine still running.
He ran up the slight incline to where Jaejoong and Maya sat next to the lemon tree.
“Are you okay?” he asked, dropping to his knees beside the pair. He took Jaejoong’s face in his hands, his eyes darting all over as he checked for himself, making sure that he was really safe and sound.
Jaejoong smiled slightly. “We’re fine. She went into the house before I even realized that the door was unlocked. Nearly scared me half to death. I wouldn’t be surprised if I find one or two grey hairs tomorrow,” he joked.
Yunho lay a gentle hand on Maya’s back, relaxing considerably when he detected the slow rise and fall of her breathing.
“She fell asleep about half an hour ago,” Jaejoong informed him. “Hasn’t said a word since we came out here. She just curled up on me, hugged me like she wanted to give me comfort instead of the other way around,” he continued softly.
He paused and took a deep shuddering breath before raising tortured eyes to Yunho’s.
“I can’t do this anymore. Not again, not to her. She deserves better than this, Yunho. I hate this so much, so fucking much. This isn’t the life I dreamt of for her. For either of us.”
It was the first time he’d heard Jaejoong use foul language. Not even during their night filled with ecstasy had he even uttered a single swear word. That alone told Yunho that he was at the end of his rope.
He took Jaejoong’s hand in his, squeezed it gently. “It will be okay. You’re not alone this time.”
Jaejooong shook his head. “I don’t want you to get hurt. There’s a real possibility that he’s seen us together, that he will come after you. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you too.”
Yunho smiled, projecting a confidence that he didn’t really feel. “Let me worry about me, okay? As a matter of fact, let me worry about all of us. So long as I’m here, you’re safe, and I’m not going anywhere until this is all over with.”
Maybe not even then.
He wanted to say more, much more, but didn’t think now was the time. The sound of sirens in the distance reaffirmed his decision.
He stood. “That would be backup and the CSIs. Why don’t you take Maya to my car? She can lie down on the backseat.”
Jaejoong’s arms tightened fractionally around his daughter. “We’re fine here, thanks.” The truth was, he didn’t think he could move just yet and he’d been in that position for so long that his joints had locked up on him.
Yunho nodded, unclipping his gun from his holster. He knew that the house was empty but it was procedure.
“I’m just going to do a quick walk through. When the guys arrive, tell them to come on in.”
For the next couple of hours, Jaejoong’s house and yard were swarming with uniformed men toting guns and all manner of equipment. They all looked very efficient and professional.
This, Jaejoong thought, was what it was like to be taken seriously. And he didn’t have to have a busted face to get it. It was a nice change, he had to admit.
After a while of observing the organized chaos, and when Maya had awoken as a result of the accompanying noise, he’d taken his daughter to his neighbour/friend’s house, with Yunho’s permission, and left her in her care until the craziness was over. The long walk gave him some time alone, which helped to clear his head considerably.
Presently, he sat in his kitchen, his hands gripping a cup of tea that Yunho had forced on him, as he watched the man in question discuss something or other with a CSI. They were speaking in low tones so he couldn’t hear what was being said.
His eyes drifted over to the staircase as one particularly tall, husky man stomped up the stairs. Was it really necessary for all of these people to be there just to get some fingerprints or whatever?, he wondered. It seemed a bit like overkill to him. But he’d wanted their help and he was getting it en masse so he wasn’t going to tell them how to do their jobs. He didn’t look forward to the clean-up, though.
“Jaejoong,” Yunho said, catching his attention as he walked over. “We’re about ready to wrap up here.”
So soon?, he thought and barely managed to stop himself from saying it. Quite a contrast to his thoughts from just a second ago.
“Okay.”
“I’ve had an alarm system installed. If it goes off, the station will immediately be alerted by the security company so try not to trigger it unless it’s an emergency.”
Eyes wide with surprise, Jaejoong only nodded.
“I’ve also had all of your locks changed. The keys are on your bed, neatly labeled until you learn which is which. And I’ve posted a car outside. I’d like to have someone here round the clock but I’ll have to pass that by my boss first so it may just be for tonight until we work out some kind of schedule. I just want you to feel safe, okay?”
Jaejoong nodded again.
“I’m just gonna make sure everything’s good to go. I’ll be right back.”
As he walked away, Yunho took a huge gulp of air and released it slowly. He rolled his shoulders, trying to ease the stiffness that had settled between the blades, but to no avail. The steady throbbing in his head wasn’t helping either.
He’d been a homicide cop for ten years, having been recruited into the division straight out of the academy. He’d seen his share of shocking sights over the years, had waded through innocent blood and seen just how cruel human beings could be to each other. He’d thought that nothing could surprise him anymore.
He’d been wrong.
Murder was the most pure, most basic and most simple of crimes and maybe he’d become jaded and complacent over the years because when he’d entered Jaejoong’s bedroom, he’d been shocked.
There was no blood, no murder weapon to be found, no murderer to be hunted, yet he had been more horrified than he remembered being at his very first crime scene. This case was psychological at its core and as a homicide cop, trained to follow tactile evidence, he was neither used to nor equipped to deal with it. But he would. He had no choice. Jaejoong and Maya were depending on him to keep them safe.
He simply didn’t know where to begin. Daniel was an enigma at this point, like mist that swirled around them but that they couldn’t see or touch. He was sick but he was also smart and not knowing everything that he needed to know about him was proving to be a disadvantage. If there was one upside to the break-in, it was that it now gave him enough justification to request the case files from Sweden. His uncle had said something needed to happen and now it had.
Catching Daniel was going to be difficult. He seemed to blend into his surroundings which, considering that as a non-Asian he should have stood out, was completely confusing. How was it possible that no one ever saw him? Not in the post office when he’d questioned the employees both times, not on Jaejoong’s street when they’d done door-to-door interviews that very day. At the rate they were going, unless they caught a break soon, Daniel would be able to continue terrorizing Jaejoong until he decided to take the next step. And his next step might very well be Jaejoong’s last.
“Lieutenant.”
Breaking out of his thoughts, Yunho went over to the officer that had called to him.
Half an hour later, Yunho closed Jaejoong’s front door after the last car had driven off.
Turning, he stopped when he saw Jaejoong standing at the foot of the staircase.
“I have to go get Maya,” he explained. “I don’t want her to worry too much. And I need to make dinner, though I don’t know what I feel like eating. I haven’t even eaten lunch yet, now that I think about it. I…”
“Jaejoong.”
He stopped talking and looked at Yunho, his dark eyes rimmed with red, dark shadows beginning to show beneath them.
“I’ll get Maya. And I’ll take her into town to get something to eat. Why don’t you have a hot bath before she gets back? It’ll give you some time to yourself after having your house invaded by all of these strangers.”
Jaejoong started to shake his head. “I couldn’t. I…”
“Jaejoong. I insist.” Yunho’s words were just forceful enough to tell Jaejoong that it was more of an order than a suggestion. “Please.”
Jaejoong seemed to battle with himself for a moment before he finally nodded.
Yunho grabbed his discarded jacket off a side table and shrugged into it. He opened the front door and stepped outside. “Lock it behind me. I’ll call you when we’re just down the road.”
He waited until Jaejoong locked the door, double-checking to make sure that it wouldn’t budge if someone pulled on it forcefully, before waving goodbye.
Jaejoong turned and made his way upstairs, feeling like the weight of the world was pressing down on his shoulders.
His movements were automatic as he filled the tub and removed his clothes. He’d passed through his bedroom without taking note of the state of things. He supposed he was already resigned to cleaning up whatever mess was left behind so it didn’t really matter how big of a mess there was at this point.
As he soaked, he wondered how Maya was faring. It surprised him that he wasn’t more anxious about his daughter’s welfare but the answer was also quite simple: she was with Yunho. There was probably no one in the world, save his parents, who he trusted more at the moment. And he couldn’t deny that Yunho had been right: he needed some time to himself, to regroup before he became the doting father once more.
Yunho’s thoughtfulness touched him. The man never stopped thinking about what was best for him and Maya. Jaejoong knew without asking that Yunho went above and beyond what was expected of him as an officer of the law, and it wasn’t just because of their mutual attraction. He was just a downright good guy. He didn’t doubt that Yunho would go to any lengths necessary for anyone in Jaejoong’s position because he’d sworn to protect and serve and he would honor that promise, whatever the cost to himself. It honestly scared him a little. He was thankful for Yunho’s help, could never repay him for all that he’d done so far, but he hated the thought that he could possibly cause trouble for Yunho in any way. The last thing he wanted was to jeopardize his career.
On the other hand, he is a grown man and he knows what he’s doing, a little voice reminded him. They’re his choices to make.
Sighing, he sank completely beneath the surface of the water and tried to drown out his thoughts.
Ten minutes later, he was toweling off when his phone rang. He snatched it up quickly and answered.
“Almost there,” Yunho said.
“Okay.”
He’d hoped to have enough time to dress but didn’t want to keep Yunho waiting so he slipped on his robe instead. He blushed slightly, feeling like he was going to greet Yunho buck naked despite his covering. It was a thick, fluffy robe in a deep mahogany and Yunho wouldn’t be able to see a hint of his body but just knowing that he was nude made him self-conscious.
He was just pondering dragging on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt when he heard car doors slam shut.
Too late.
Tightening the ties of his robe, he cast a final glance in the mirror before hurrying out of his bedroom and down the stairs.
“Daddy!” Maya squealed as soon as he opened the door, launching herself at him.
He immediately dropped to his knees, arms wrapped tightly around his daughter. They’d only been apart for a couple of hours but it felt like a lifetime to him. He closed his eyes and breathed in her sweet scent as she patted his back in that soothing way of hers, losing himself in her warmth. For a moment, he even forgot that Yunho was still standing there on his stoop.
Yunho smiled as he took in the scene, feeling a momentary stab of jealousy. He loved the way they loved and needed each other and wished he had that for himself. When he left, he would be going home to an empty apartment. It had been too long since he’d been in a committed relationship, or even casually dated. The night he’d spent with Jaejoong had been the most intimate he’d been with anyone in two long years. His job usually got in the way of his dating life, yet somehow he’d made time for Jaejoong. Perhaps it was just a matter of not meeting the right person, he realized. If he’d met Mr. Right before, he would’ve found the time to be with him the same way he’d found the time to be at Jaejoong’s beck and call. He knew he hadn’t met and missed Mr. Right, though, because he believed he was looking right at him then and there.
As his eyes slid over Jaejoong, his gaze grew heated, his desire igniting when he noticed the way Jaejoong’s robe parted from his knee to halfway up his thigh. He remembered that glorious, pale flesh, remembered stroking and kissing his was up…remembered them wrapped around him… His breath hitched and he forced himself to to calm his thoughts. Jaejoong was right there with his daughter. As much as he might have been tempted to ravage him on the entryway floor, it was not going to happen. At least not tonight.
Clearing his throat, he said, “I wasn’t sure what to get you guys so I asked the lady of the house what she was in the mood for and she said pizza.”
“We got your favorite, Daddy,” Maya gushed as she pulled back to look proudly up at her father. “I ’membered everything.”
Jaejoong smiled, gently stroking her cheek. “Good job. Are you hungry?”
Maya nodded.
Carefully climbing to his feet, Jaejoong closed his hand around the smaller one that automatically slipped into his and turned to face Yunho, his expression sheepish.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to ignore you. I’m just not used to being without her.”
Yunho smiled. “It’s okay. You two are extremely cute to watch.”
Jaejoong blushed, dropped his gaze for a second.
“Well, um, I guess I’d better let you guys eat. It’s been an eventful day for you both so I’m sure you want to get things back in order and go to bed early.”
“Do you want to come in? Stay and eat with us?”
Yes.
“Thanks, but I’d better not. I’ve got to get to the station. I have a couple of reports to write and I’ll be lucky if it’s still today by the time I get home,” he joked.
Jaejoong nodded his understanding. He would’ve liked it if Yunho had stayed a little longer but Yunho had already put his work on the back-burner to be there with him all afternoon and he wouldn’t be so bold as to ask for even more of his time.
“Thank you…for everything.”
“My pleasure.” He handed Jaejoong the box of pizza, smiling down at Maya as he waved goodbye. “Goodbye, Maya.”
A soft “goodbye” resonated from the area of Jaejoong’s hip where her face was pressed into his side.
Yunho laughed, unable to help himself in the face of her adorableness. He’d thoroughly enjoyed his time with her and hoped to spend even more time getting to know her and breaking down her defenses. He planned on sticking around a while so a relationship with Maya was a must.
“Goodnight, Jaejoong.”
“Goodnight, Yunho. Drive carefully.”
He waited while Jaejoong locked the door behind him before strolling down the walk. He checked in with the officer assigned to watch the house before heading to his car.
The drive back to the city was long and quiet. After his short but enjoyable ride with Maya, he felt even more alone in his car. She’s surprised him by talking more than he’d ever thought possible, especially with her father being absent. Random, nonsensical, childish things but just hearing her sweet little voice had been music to his ears. She was so serious and mature most of the time that he often forgot how young she really was. It didn’t bother him that she’s reverted to her usual self once they’d arrived at her house. They’d had their moment and he would cherish it until they made new ones.
The station was busy as usual, despite the lateness. He settled down at his desk, tried his best to block out the noise and write his reports, but after forty-five minutes of staring at a blank sheet of paper, he accepted that the words just weren’t going to come. He couldn’t stop thinking about Jaejoong, and Maya. He wondered if they were doing okay, if they were afraid to sleep. He thought about calling, had his phone in his hand before he realized it, but decided not to. A few hours had already passed since he’d left them and he didn’t want to disturb them, or God forbid, wake them up.
Giving up, he clocked out and made his way back to his car. He’d have a hot shower, or maybe a cold one since he couldn’t get the image of Jaejoong’s thigh out of his head. That little reminder caused a stir down below. Perhaps he’d just have to pay himself some attention. It had been a while, after all. A quick release should ensure a good night’s sleep.
Mind made up, he was slightly more perky as he drove home, fingers tapping on the steering wheel as he kept time with the music drifting out of his speakers. Shortly after, he pulled into the underground parking garage of his apartment building and rode the elevator up to the tenth floor. Humming the song that had been playing in the car, he uncoded his door and let himself in.
Before he even turned on the lights, he felt that something was wrong. Stepping back into the hall, he pulled his gun out of its holster and held it up in front of him.
“Hello?”
He waited a beat but heard and saw nothing in the apartment.
“If there’s someone there, know that I am armed and I will shoot.”
Another beat, no response. Whoever had been in his apartment seemed to be long gone.
Still gripping his gun, he stepped back across the threshold and flipped the switch on the wall.
Chaos.
That was the word that came to mind when he surveyed the devastation that lay before him. Pure and utter chaos.
Dropping his arms to his side, he envisioned a table laden with a tower of reports that reached the ceiling.
“Shit.”
A/N: Sorry for the delay. I started the mpreg and then I got sick. Will update again in a couple of days. We're almost at the finish line!