Adult-FanFiction.org : Buffy

Tales From The Badge Series: Under The Shield	By : JINXI Category: AtS AU/AR > Slash - Male/Male > Angel(us)/Spike(William) > Angel(us)/Spike(William) Views: 1851 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Angel: The Series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Tales From The Badge Series: Under The Shield
- 2-Part Two:Conclusion
- 1
- 2
Title:
Tales From The Badge: Under The Shield: Part Two

Author:
Buffywatcher

Feedback:
Constructive comments always welcome: jinxascendant@hotmail.com

Pairing:
S/A

Rating:
Strong R

Spoilers:
None, completely AU

Warnings:
All-Human AU, Violence, M/M relationship, Language, all the good stuff.

Disclaimer:
Just borrowing them for a bit of harmless fun. All characters, recognisable
likenesses are retained by their owner and accredited license holders.

Live Journal:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/jinxwatcher

Personal Websites: The NightWatch: http://www.geocities.com/stormbuffsinc/lockdown.html
&

My Older and Non-Spangel works: http://www.geocities.com/stormbuffsinc/index.html

Work Archived At: The Crypt: http://home.att.net/~lubakmetyk/crypt.htm#buffywatcher

Writer�s Notes: For the purposes of this story some details have been changed. Giles
is in his early to mid 40�s and both Liam and William are in their early to mid
30�s. This story takes place in an AU setting and is loosely based on a
Challenge concept by GF for the Forging_Ghost Anniversary Ficathon. This isn�t
the EXACT idea put forth in the Challenge, but it�s my take on the basic idea
and I hope you like it Stony. Please excuse any minor discrepancies or artist
license. As always thanks are going out to GF, MarieC, Luba, and Mera my most
excellent group of Beta/Editors.

Writer�s Credits: **Salustra and Pet get the kudos for their invaluable
assistance with the LA Times Office Dialogue Sequence, I couldn�t have done it
without them.** This series and story is loosely based on the FGF Anniversary
Challenge #13 by GF for the Forging_Ghost Anniversary Ficathon and it�s
dedicated to GF and his excellent group over at Forging_Ghost. This story will
contain a brief reference to the movie Seven, starring Morgan Freeman and Brad
Pitt. There are a few partial song lyrics used from *In
order* Dio�s Lock up the wolves, Metallicaow mow man�s lyric, and *shudder* an
excerpt from Barry Manilow�s Mandy. There�s also a slightly twisted and
convoluted Quote from Genesis 2:23, King James Version of the Bible.

Writer�s Dedication: For Stony & The Wonder
Twins, Inspiration is the greatest gift of all.

Distribution:
If I�ve already been given permission to archive my work please consider it
yours if you want it. If I haven�t and you would like to archive it please do,
all I ask is that you email me and tell me where it�s going so I can visit.

Series Summary: Detectives Liam O�Shae and Wil Falkner join with their former Mentor, now
a world-renowned criminal profiler, to form the S.C.U., Special Crimes Unit, of
the Los Angeles Police Department. Sometimes being a hero means just doing your
job.

Story Summary:
Can LA�s finest track down a serial killer before he claims one of their own?

****Reader Warning!! This story contains disturbing imagery
and dialogue and deals with several sensitive issues including sexual abuse
*Off-screen* and graphic instances of mental illness and some religious
references so please use caution before reading this story!!****

*Introspective commentary*

Story Summary:
Can LA�s finest track down a serial killer before he claims one of their own?

*Introspective commentary*

Two Days Later: At The Stonehenge
Bar & Grill

Wil isn�t startled by the hand sliding over his leather
rear and into his back pocket. He leans farther forward over the bar and pushes
back against the caressing hand as Liam joins him.

�I thought I�d come help you�carry the drinks back to the
table.� Liam breathes pressing his lips against Wil�s ear and leaning over to
nibble the lobe playfully.

�You�re not fooling me for a minute; you just wanted to
play with your new present.� Wil says with a husky chuckle as Liam�s tongue
toys with the new piercing in his left ear that matches the simple stud now
gracing his scarred brow.

Liam chuckles; silently admitting that maybe that had a little to do with it.

Same Night: A few hours earlier

No one was more surprised than he, when one of their
witnesses happened to work in a small exclusive shop that featured tattooing
and piercing with handmade jewellery. While Wil worked his verbal magic, he
took the chance to take a walk around the shop and found that he was fascinated
by the thought of how intimate it must be; that moment when that foreign bit of
metal is thrust through welcoming flesh.

He tried not to watch as several patrons took their turn in
the chairs to have their piercings done by one of the several professionals
employed by the shop. He told himself it was just simple human curiosity that
had his eyes following some of the customers as they were escorted back behind
a curtained area where tore�ore�personal piercings were done. The occasional
sudden cry of mingled pleasure and pain tickled along his nerves until his skin
felt so tight and sensitive that the brush of a breeze across it set him to
trembling softly. He can only imagine how beautiful Wil must have looked as his
piercing was done�did he arch like a bow under the painful pleasure so
skilfully inflicted? He�s so caught up in his imaginings that he�s startled by
the hand sliding up his armwly wly up to cup his shoulder, signalling Wil�s
return to his side. He follows the line of his gaze and smiles.

�Looking at all the pretty jewellery? Or fancying something
done in ink?� Wil asks quietly, tilting his head just a bit to look up at him
through his lashes a wicked gleam in the depths of his eldritch eyes.

He slides his hand slowly along Liam�s arm, feeling the
muscles contracting and relaxing rhythmically under his caressing palm as he
tries to gauge the larger man�s strange mood. After a moment he smirks faintly
as it occurs to him that maybe he�s not looking with himself in mind. �Something
for me perhaps, Pet?� As he feels Liam�s muscles spasm under his palm and hears
his breath catch, he knows he�s figured it out. �I�ve been meaning to get some
editions done for a while now.� He admits glancing at his watch he notices that
Liam�s shift ended twenty minutes ago and smiles.

He walks over to one of the employees with a currently
empty chair and has a quiet word with them for a few minutes, then comes back
to Liam with a smile and wraps an arm around his waist. Liam�s arm immediately
drops across his shoulders and locks him in place, just as he knew would
happen. He reaches up to purr against his ear. �Show me?� He grins as Liam
reaches across to grab one of the books of available piercings and examples of
work that others have had done. He points to two different pages and Wil calls
the artist over and indicates their choices and allows Liam to choose the
jewellery that will be used himself.

n lan lang=EN-GB
style='color:black'>

Liam was a solidly comforting presence, holding his hand;
his low cries a strange mixture of pleasure and pain a counterpoint to his own
as the metal thrust through flesh. The rush of nervous energy as first his ear
and then his brow received the swift kiss of pain and the rush of endorphins
into his bloodstream until he felt like he was floating, it was almost
orgasmic. Quaking in Liam�s embrace as he held him and smoothed and eased him
down from the rush with gentle hands and lingering kisses, he felt alive and
loved. It was Liam�s embrace that would comfort him as the last step of their
private ritual was completed. A large piece of paper and a pencil and a few
moments of intense sketching and shading and Liam handed it to the employee
with a smile. It took a few minutes as the employee called one of the tattoo
artists over and they consulted quietly and the sketch became a pair of small
stencils in their capable hands. The whole time Liam kept him close, at least
one hand teasing over his sensitive skin at any given moment, unable and very
unwilling to release him and accept their parting.

It would be Liam�s hand in his that leads him towards the
raised table that would take the place of the usual tattooist�s chair, his
hands that tenderly bared his upper body. It was Liam who lifted him onto the
table with an easy strength that made him feel like a child, but the thrill
that ran through him at the display was all adult male. Even as he turned onto
his stomach to bare his back to the tattoo artist, Liam�s hands were there,
dancing over the skin of his shoulder blades like maddening butterflies
fluttering against his flesh.

It was Liam�s voice whispering low and huskily in a ceaseless
flow of seductive praise as the Celtic-styled letters A and W are worked into
the pattern of the Celtic-style cross adorning the small of his back. The
artist is skilled and efficient and the new small additions are quickly
completed and the styles carefully matched and merged, with only the slightly
reddened skin and slightly darker ink of the initials marking them as newly
added. Liam carefully tended the newly altered tattoo himself under the
watchful eye of the tattooist who double checks his work as the bandage is
applied.

As they stop by the register to pay for the work and to buy
the after-care kits, Liam�s presence and handling were constant as he clung to
him as the larger man paid. He�s not sure how they got back to Liam�s car; his
whole world was focused no farther than the possessively protective man
treating him like the finest china.

It seemed like the most natural thing in the world when
Liam pulled him against his side and wrapped an arm around his shoulders to
keep him there as he expertly drove them a few miles down the coast to a
deserted overlook and pulled off to park. The meeting of mouths and bodies felt
like coming home. How long they sat there wrapped around each other for long,
lazy kisses that ended only as another would begin, he can�t say, an hour,
three, a lifetime? All that he knew was the sensual duel of tongues and greedy
hands, the whisper of heavenly touches ghosting lightly over the tender new
piercings. The gentle caress of loving hands whispering over the bandage in the
small of his back, they were all he knew, all he needed to know.

It was only the ringing of first Liam�s cell phone and when
that failed to rouse them to answer it, his own that finally broke the spell of
their hungry mouths and grasping hands. Called back for dinner with their
friends, old and new both, they still found that their world was no larger than
the space they could both occupy. Maybe that�s what being in love is.

Back To The Present: Back At The Bar & Grill

Liam reaches past him to pick up the tray of drinks the
bartender slides over to them and Wil shakes his head in mock exasperation.

�I can handle carrying a tray with a few drinks you know.�
He says, quirking his newly pierced brow up out of habit, hissing lightly as
the new piercing reminds him it�s there.

Liam leans down and treats him to a brief but heated kiss
before straightening. �I know that you can
Wil, you�ll just never have to with me around.� Another kiss and the playful
cheering and teasing jibes of the crowd parts them and sends them hurrying back
to their laughing friends at their table.

Wil melts into his chair with boneless grace. Liam pauses
to set the tray down and hands out the drinks before angling his chair closer
to Wil�s and wrapping an arm around his shoulders and pulling him to rest
against his chest. He�s careful to make sure that he�s not putting any pressure
on the bandage and the tender but precious artwork it�s protecting.

�So�I�m thinking that you left a bit out of your
introduction of Inspector Falkner Liam.� Lindsey drawls in a droll tone as he
rolls his eyes at their obviously more than friends cuddling, not to mention
the public displays of affection they�ve been inflicting on all and sundry all
night.

�You know all there is to know about Wil that concerns you
Lindsey.� Liam says his voice calm but icy.

�And that would mean what exactly?� Lindsey says, leaning
forward in his seat with his eyes narrowing.

�Wil has a PhD�s in criminal justice; he was at the top of
his class at the Academy, served for almost two years as an NYPD Detective
second class. He left the NYPD and returned to England where
he served in the Royal Marines and the S.A.S for four years with multiple
decorations for valour under fire and eventually he joined Interpol in their
Human Trafficking division. Now he�s here helping us. Anything more than that
is none of your concern.� Liam says coolly, shooting an annoyed glance at the
arrogant prick who looks more interested in Wil than he was before.

�So you were a soldier then? Did you see much action?�
Lindsey asks, smiling his most beguiling smile, his eyes flashing briefly with
anger as Wil pointedly yawns and tilts his head to rub his cheek against Liam�s
bicep.

�Oh I�m sorry, did you say something Lindsey?� Wil asks
blinking his eyes in a picture perfect flutter of his lashes that comes off as
guileless and innocent, though he is blatantly anything but that. Liam just
sits back, looking very pleased and proud of his lover.

Silence descends on the table as everyone watches Lindsey
stewing when Charles clears his throat and hurriedly says something to head off
his partner�s bad mood.

�So you were a war hero then?� He says casting uneasy
glances between a smug Liam and a fuming Lindsey.

�It wasn�t anything that grand really Mate.� Wil says
modestly.

�He�s being modest.� Giles says with a chuckle. �The last
time I saw him in uniform he had more decorations than a Christmas tree.� Giles
laughs heartily at the faint blush on Wil�s cheeks. �I believe he was also
invited to a special reception that the Queen herself attended.�

�I was just doing my job.� Wil mutters cursing as he feels
his cheeks heat and knows that they�re flushed once more with embarrassment.

Anya is enchanted by the display of modesty. �What rank
were you?� She asks, genuinely interested.

�A Lt. Colonel at the time I left the service.� Wil says
quietly but several of the men around the table sit up straighter and take
notice at his declaration.

�You�re surprisingly young for such a high rank.� Lorne
says surprised.

�Wil was a regular Rhodes Scholar.� Liam says proudly. �He
was one of the youngest on record.�

�I was just turned fifteen when I was selected.� Wil says
quietly. �I didn�t want to go but my parents liked the idea of having a son
they could show off to friends. I�m sure they would have cleared a special
place on the fireplace mantle for me to sit during their dinner parties.� It�s
clear from Wil�s voice that it�s not a fond memory.

�You don�t sound like you had much fun at all.� Winifred
says sadly.

�My Mum was a good woman; she always tried to do her best
to accept me as I was and to give me time to be a child before I to gto grow
up. After she passed�my Father remarried a lovely trophy of a wife and I became
just one more asset that he could show off to his friends. He was furious with
me for not staying at Oxford but I
chose to come to the States instead. Because my Mum was half American and I was
born almost halfway over the Atlantic Ocean
betwEngland and New
York, '>, I�m lucky enough to have dual citizenship. I
think that he would have even accepted that in time but when I left Harvard to
get my Criminal Justice PhD and joined the NYPD, he disowned me. Not that it
really mattered because most of the family money is from my Mum�s side and I
inherited that when I turned twenty-one. I haven�t seen him or my stepmother or
their children in over ten years.�

�Well aren�t you special?� Lindsey says with a sneer.

�Yes he is, how nice of you to notice.� Anya says sweetly
but her eyes flash dangerously. �And what is the great achievement of your life Detective McDonald? Finding
new ways to shrink your jeans as much as possible? Finding a new way to lounge
that you think makes you look sexy?
Or is it just finding new and improved ways to make it obvious just how much of
a dick you are?�

�Then he must represent the Sin of Greed?� Lindsey says
falteringly, not sure he�s right.

�I�d say that was likely Lindsey as he made his so called
living by stealing the wealth of others to make his own fortune.� Giles says
with a nod of approval.

�The naval officer, Robert McMahn was our sixth victim.�
Wil moves the pointer to his picture.

�He�s simple too; he was in the Navy right so he must be
the Sailor from the rhyme.� Liam states.

�He died in a loosely disguised brothel, so I�d say Lust
was probably the Sin he was meant to represent.� Giles supplies after a moment.

clasclass=MsoNormal>�And our seventh and last victim so far is Councilman
Donald Grant.� Wil pokes his picture with no little disgust at what their
investigation has uncovered about the man�s unsavoury lifestyle.

�He must represent the Rich Man.� Liam says with another
disdainful sniff.

�I think he must have represented the Sin of Gluttony for
our killer given as he was to so much excess in his life.� Lorne says with a
grimace.

�So what do we do with what we know?� Lindsey asks confused
about where any of this has gotten them as far as identifying the murderer.

�There are two omissions left from the pattern. The Soldier
and the Sin of Pride haven�t been used yet.� Giles replies to Lindsey, talking
slowly like one would to a child. �That narrows our list of possible victims
and it�s narrowed still further by the fact that all these men were gay. That
may be why we haven�t gotten a victim as yet. It may be he�s finding it
difficult to find someone to fit all the criteria.�

�So he needs a soldier, a gay soldier, who he can make fit
his idea of what Sin Sin of Pride is?� Lorne asks and Giles nods.

�Is there any significance to the fact he left these for
last?� Liam wonders out loud.

�Excellent question Liam.� Giles says approvingly. �There
could be a reason he left them for last, or it could be that it was simple
necessity. This last victim could be the hardest to find so he went for the
easier ones first.� Giles says as Anya and Winifred walk in chatting animatedly
with Charles following in behind them, carrying a stack of files.

Wil quickly fills them in on what they�ve been able to
piece together and Anya has her own bit of exciting news.

�While we were going through records trying to compile
dossiers on our victims, we came across a link they all have in common.� She
says proudly but the look in her eyes is a troubled one. �We found that each of
them has at some time within the last ten years been involved in s domestic
dispute. There are police reports from each and in each case the dispute was
between our victims and a male companion. No charges were ever filed, so the
connection didn�t come up on a standard record search.�

They all fall silent and glance at each other; this isn�t
welcome news by any means. �So we could be looking at an Officer being our
suspect?� Charles asks reluctant to voice the possibility they�re all thinking
of.

�Well not necessarily, it�s not unknown for people to hack
the police mainframe.� Winifred suggests. �Anya and I cross-referenced the
reports and no one officer was sited as a case officer in common for any of the
reports. We can�t overlook the fact that police records may have helped our
murderer to locate likely victims but it doesn�t necessarily mean that there
was any actual officer involvement in supplying those records. Charles said
that there was no proof that we�re looking at more than one assailant so I�d
guess that we�re dealing with a killer that may be a hacker as well.�

, we
simply cannot run that quote without confirmation. So we�re going to have to go
back and beat it out of him if necessary.�

Petra sighs
and hops up on the desk bringing Kerri between her legs kissing her softly �Baby,
to hell with that; because if we have to get their damn permission. I�m going
to beat them alright, preferably with my fists.� Petra spies Liam coming with a,
well for a lack of a better word, hot ass man and she whispers in Kerri�s ear, �Baby,
our man has a man and when you look, make sure that you hold your breath.�

Kerri turns to look and her breath does indeed catch. She
smiles brilliantly. �Well, hell-looo, Liam. Who is your beautiful and no doubt
charming companion?�

Liam�s steps falter and he makes a small squeaking noise as
his mouth opens and closes, but nothing comes out. Wil chuckles and shakes his
head at his antics and steps away from him to stalk forward to take the hand of
the ladies.

He presses a gentle kiss to the backs of their hands. �The
name�s Wil, Wil Falkner and I�ve been waiting for YEARS to see someone do that
to him.� Wil steps back with a chuckle, returning to Liam�s side.

Liam drops a heavy arm across his shoulders and hauls him
closer, holding on so tightly that he�s almost lifting Wil off his feet, not
that the slender blond seems to mind much. �This is my partner, Wil Falkner.�
Liam finally chokes out after he regains his voice.

Wil chuckles and winks at the ladies. �Yes love, we kind of
covered that already.�

Kerri smiles and chuckles. �I�m
Kerri Saldano and this is my partner-in-crime PetraKerri smiles back. �Oh, definitely.
A double date. We can drive them crazy trying to
figure out who is with whom.�

Wil chuckles and slides his hand over Liam�s perfectly
curved rear and squeezes, chuckling as Liam looks startled for a millisecond,
then growls and jerks him closer to lock him against his side with a possessive
growl.

�I don�t know *how* they�ll every figure that out.� Wil
says with a grin as Liam spins them around and almost carries him to the
elevator.

Wil laughs and turns his head to look over his shoulder and
waves goodbye to the ladies as Liam pulls him into the elevator after him. It�s
the last thing he sees as Liam picks him up and presses him between his body
and the wall of the elevator and his mouth dives into his. Fortunately the
elevator is empty for this trip, but they wouldn�t have cared if it was full as
they get lost in their own world of emotion and sensation once more as the
doors slowly close.

�Let�s make sure the bastard is really dead before we worry
about how easy it was or not.� Liam sighs with fatalistic resignation; he doesn�t
think it�s going to be this easy any more than Wil or Lorne do.

They all go quiet and after a moment Wil leans forward and
turns on the radio and turns up the volume.

There�s no back door to heaven

Just a front door to hell, oh

In this
corner of the world�

Now if you turn your back on the
children

Don�t you feel it getting colder?

In your
corner of the world�

Wil�s eyes pop open wide as Lorne starts to chuckle at the �cheery�
song that just happens to be playing.

�Why don�t I just�?� Wil leans forward and hits the
auto-tuner to find the next station with a chuckle that manages to sound rather
brittle and uneasy.

And I cry, to the alleyway

Confess all to the rain

But I lie, lie straight to the
mirror

Oh, Mandy well,

Kissed me and stopped me from
shaking,

And I need you today. oh, Mandy!

n lan lang=EN-GB
style='color:black'>Lorne makes a horrible sound not unlike a choked off
gurgling moan as he wears a horrified expression that makes it look like he�s
being disembowelled as his hands jerk up to cover his ears.

Similarly distressed, Wil makes a squeaking sound as he
jerks forward and turns off the radio with another uneasy chuckle. �So�anyone
have any plans for the Holidays?� He asks feigning a bright and happy tone as
he endeavours to fill the silence with something other than brooding. He�s
grateful when Lorne jumps on the topic equally grateful for something
non-gloomy to talk about. They both ignore Liam�s rather affronted expression
as Wil intercepts his attempts to turn the radio back on. Liam is the only man
under seventy that they know who willingly listens to Barry Manilow�but they
love him anyway�when he�s not singing along to Barry�s greatest hits.

Chapter Twelve

They pile into the restaurant just as the sky opens up and
dumps the rain it�s been threatening them with all day and the three men share
a look of relief. At least something has gone their way today. They smile and
wave at Stony doing his patented Tom Cruise in Cocktail bartender routine
behind the main bar as the jovial Englishman calls out a greeting and waves
them through to the public lounge.

The three shout their thanks and head through; pausing at
the mountain of flesh that is the bouncer guarding the door that Wil�s
nicknamed funnily enough, Mouse.

�Hey Mate, how�s things Mouse?� Wil says warmly.

�Pretty quiet for a Friday so far Little One.� Mouse says
warmly in a very soft voice that is surprising melodic and gentle. He claps Wil�s
shoulder with a gentle hand and steers him inside after lifting a key off the
peg board behind him to �their� private room.

Liam and Lorne smile at Mouse�s use of his own private
nickname for Wil, and given that it�d probably take three or four of Wil to
make up Mouse�s bulk and height, it�s a fitting one as well. Lorne motions for
Liam and Wil to go ahead to the room, while he diverts to the bar to order some
drinks and appetisers.

He walks back to the room with a tray of drinks and sees
that Liam and Wil have chosen to sit on the bench seating side of the table
this time and are happily snuggled up, talking quietly. Lorne sets the tray
down and strips off his coat hanging it up with a happy sigh, noticing that
Giles, Anya, Winifred, and Lindsey are coming in. He hurries around the table
and slips onto the padded bench on the other side of Wil just as they come
through the doorway. Lorne catches the quiet smile that Wil throws him as he realises
that Lorne must have hurried so that Lindsey wouldn�t have a chance to take the
seat next to him and he smiles back, silently accepting Wil�s thank you.

Lindsey scowls as he notices that all the seats by Wil are
taken. He reluctantly plays the gentleman and helps the ladies and Giles off
with their coats, hanging them neatly on the pegs beside the door before doing
his own and taking a seat next to Giles wheelchair; as Winifred takes the last
seat on the bench side of the table next to Lorne.

Anya turns her chair and catches Eve�s attention and the
petite waitress smiles and nods, motioning with her tray as she walks in and
starts setting down some platters of appetisers and some plates and flatware.
Stony�s place does such a high volume of business that there are always appetisers a plenty, ready to be
plated in a special auxiliary kitchen set aside just for that.

�What can I get you to drink and will you be having dinner
tonight? I can bring back some menus if you�d like to have a peek before you
order. Stony�s got somew row roasted Angus prime rib on special in the kitchen.
He�s serving it with your choice of cream of asparagus or vegetable beef soup
or a garden salad, garlic roasted red potatoes or rice pilaf and the vegetable
of the day is a fresh winter squash medley. Of course the fresh bread is all
you-can-eat. We�ve got some terrific stone-ground wheat or a honey baked white
breads this evening.� Eve says with a smile and she unsurprised when everyone
unanimously elects to order the special plus an extra order for Charles.

Eve glances at Lindsey and smiles boldly. �I�ll be sure
that they make the cuts extra thick. I know how you growing boys eat.� Lindsey
looks at everything and everyone besides Eve, but she doesn�t look offended, as
her smile only gets wider. �What about drinks?�

Liam gestures to the bottle of excellent Whiskey that Lorne�s
already brought for them and himself. �I think I�d like some nice, dark ale
with my prime rib though.� Liam decides.

�I�d kill for a hot cocoa honestly.� Wil admits with a shy
shrug, but smiles as Winifred and Anya quickly agree with the suggestion and
even Lorne orders one.

�I�ll even toss in some of those little marshmallows.� Eve
says with a grin as she takes down the rest of their orders. She�s headed out
as Charles is headed in so she pauses and gets his order and makes sure that
the prime rib special is okay with him, which it is and she continues on her
way as he stomps over to a chair and falls into it.

After a few minutes of quiet as everyone snacks on the appetisers
and sips their drinks and unwinds a bit, Liam asks them what they�ve found out.

�The prints came back as a positive match for Wesley Wyndham-Price.�
Giles states, sounding just a little sceptical. �Frankly I�m rather surprised
that he chose to kill himself, it�s rather against what his psyche profile
would have suggested.� He admits to them.

�I pushed the autopsy through on a rush. The cause of death
was a systemic shock induced massive coronary, brought on by the illegal drugs
he�d injected. The blood work came back as an almost exact match for the
overdose that killed the Councilman. I had them run some additional tests and
while the DNA testing will take a few more days, the serum typing isn�t ruling
him out as being the depositor of the sperm samples we�ve collected. The blood
profile is fairly rare as Price is a type AB Negative and that occurs in
roughly only one percent of the population, I�m fairly confident that we�ve it
will come back as a match. The body had no defensive wounds, in fact no wounds
of any kind were found and that leads me to suspect that we are actually
looking at a suicide situation.� Winifred reports. �There was something fairly
unusual however. He�d eaten only a short time before his death and rather
sizeable meal at that. It�s rather unusual for someone planning to commit
suicide to stop and bother to eat a meal right before hand. Anya and I
discussed it and it�s possible that he could have been enacting some private
ritual.�

�Maybe patterned after the last supper or similar mind set.�
Anya offers.

�Charles, what did you find when you checked his apartment?�
Lorne asks.

�Bare walls.�
Charles says disgusted. �The place was picked so clean they even stole the
mattress off the bed.� He looks furious and more than a little upset. �The
landlord didn�t bother to lock the door after the body had been taken away,
though she had been requested to do so by the officers that arrived with the
coroner. I figure by the time they were a block away that apartment was already
being picked clean. Naturally none of the neighbours claim to have seen or
heard anything amiss. It looked like a routine bag and tag job so the unit didn�t
take any special precautions other than to request that the scene be kept
secure for seventy-two hours as part of our standard procedure in suicide
fatalities.�

�That�s not unusual for that part of town.� Winifred points
out. �They�ll steal the fillings out your teeth down there if they could figure
out how to.�

�Well it looks like we�ve found our killer.� Lorne says
finally.

�Has it?� Wil says quietly, speaking up for the first time
as he exchanges looks with Liam and Giles. His quiet words however have
everyone sitting up and taking notice.

�If Price was our killer, how did he know that we were
closing in on him?� Liam asks, pointing out the flaw in their logic.

�Someone or something must have tipped him off or he�d have
no way of knowing that we�d managed to get his name added to our suspect list.
We only found out ourselves not even five hours ago and most of the department
isn�t even aware of what we�ve found out yet.� Giles agrees.

�Couldn�t he have hacked into the police mainframe again?�
Lindsey asks. �He did it before to erase the record of the allegations made
against him when he was a Bishop.�

�Unless he�s been monitoring our system constantly, and our
security measures would probably have detected him if he had, how would he have
known to pick today of all days to check on our progress?� Lorne points out.

&nbso:p>o:p>

�Perhaps there�s some kind of a data shunt secreted in the
system?� Charles suggests. �It would automatically transfer relevant data
within its flagging perimeters. We may have alerted him by searching for the
very files he deleted.�

�Wow there Charley, you sound like an expert.� Lindsey says
managing to sound both unimpressed and slightly mocking.

�I have several degrees in computer science Linds.� Charles
doesn�t bother to hide his disgust for Lindsey at that moment. Lindsey throws
his hands up in supplication and reaches out intending to pat Charles on the
back, but he�s surprised as Charles quickly moves out of range with a slightly
panicked look on his face. Assuming he�s just one of those non-tactile types, he
just shrugs and goes back to finding the bottom of his beer mug.

Lorne sees the gathering storm clouds betraying the rising
tension in the room and he would really rather avoid any possible storms inside
for the time being, so he hurriedly changes the subject.

�Well it seems that we have our killer and he�s neatly
handed himself to us without the messy entanglement of a trial right?� Lorne
sounds more like he�s trying to convince himself than anyone else.

�There are still some inconsistencies that need to be
addressed.� Giles points out. �Something just doesn�t add up in all of this. We�re
missing something, I just know it.�

Liam�s pulls Wil against his side and the blond�s head is
resting comfortably on his shoulder as they nod in unison. The ladies sigh at
the sight and Giles is quic rea reassure Anya by linking their hands as they
rest on the table. Lorne smiles paternally at Winifred and wraps an arm around
her shoulder companionably as the young woman smiles happily at being noticed.

�Why don�t we all just relax for one night? Price isn�t
going to be hurting anyone else and I think we�ve earned a couple of hours
respite don�t you?� Lorne suggests glancing around at his friends,
not surprised to see everyone agreeing with his sentiments. He lifts his glass
and smiles as everyone raises their own. �To the best damn group of people it�s
ever been my honour to work with.�

Their glasses clinking together make a sound almost like
laughter. �I�ve got a bit of good news that I�ve been saving for the right occasion�which
was going to be after we solved this case, but I think we can all use some good
news right now.� Everyone looks at Lorne expectantly and Wil ducks his head and
presses his face against Liam�s neck as Anya and Giles share a glance and a
quick kiss. �I�ve discussed this with our newest associates and the Governor
and the Mayor and I am proud to announce that our new friends will be staying
on permanently beginning next month.� Lorne says with a huge smile.

Liam gasps and Wil finds himself hauled across his lap for
a kissing session that has everyone at the table reaching for their water
glasses to cool off. Lorne finally grabs Wil and pulls him away from Liam and
back into his own seat, purely out of fear of possible self-immolation if they
got any hotter.

�Be kind to those of us here without their wife would you?�
e tee teases.

�Wil, why didn�t you tell me?� Liam asks stroking his cheek
gently.

clasclass=MsoNormal>

�When Lorne talked to us about it, it wasn�t a sure thing
yet. I knew I was planning to stay if you wanted me to and Anya and Giles told
me that they were happiest here with us and that they would stay too if it was
an option. Once Lorne made good his job offer, it was pretty simple for the
Bureau to just attach their service to the local branch office here in town and
they�ll be working for both Lorne�s new project and for the Bureau. It gave me
the idea to suggest something similar to Interpol. I�ve been officially
attached to the Interpol Liaison office division of the California Department
of Justice up in Sacramento, but I�ll be based here as the Interpol
representative to Lorne�s pet project. Lorne�s managed to through together a
pretty sweet deal for all of us.� Wil explains as he nuzzles Liam�s cheek
happily.

�That�s the second time you�ve mentioned a project�what
project Lorne?� Liam asks looking over at Lorne, a little surpriso seo see that
he�s blushing.

�Well when I saw how well we were all working together and
able to use our various contacts to maximise our efforts here, I had a little
idea. Wil�s overseas contacts have proved invaluable, as have Giles and Anya�s
connections in the FBI and it seems that we�ve all brought a unique perspective
and set of skills to the group that compliment and enhance each other. I
suggested to the Governor and the Mayor that as Los
Angeles is truly inteinternational� city, one of the
crossroads of the world, that it would be beneficial if we were to strengthen
our ties to the international community and with the government.� Lorne
explains.

�It�s a really brilliant idea and I bet other metropolitan
cities will follow the example.� Anya praises.

Lorne flushes brighter and continues. �I received the authorisation
to go ahead with my project idea. I�ve been calling it the SCU, the Special
Crimes Unit, we�ll be officially attached to the LAPD investigative division
but we won�t be lingling typical cases. We�ll be handling cases that ordinary
channels can�t solve or ones that have the potential for extending beyond what
would be our traditional jurisdiction. Due to our arrangements through Interpol
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and their official liaisons in the form
of Wil, Giles, and Anya, our police powers have been extended as have our
resources. Each of us will need to qualify for the FBI and Interpol active
rosters to be �deputised� as it were but I�m told that we�ll do that easily by
virtue of our careers on record.� Lorne reveals.

Winifred smiles a little shyly. �I�ve been asked to head up
a new forensics lab that will be affiliated with the SCU as my degrees and
doctorates qualify me to be much more than just a coroner. My assistant Xander
Harris will be assuming my position as the head coroner of Los
Angeles County.� She
says proudly and it seems that everyone starts talking all at once as the congratulations
start flying fast and furious.

< lan lang=EN-GB
style='color:black'>

�I guess you�ll need to start looking for an apartment Wil.
I happen to know that one of the condos in my building is coming on the market.�
Lindsey says with a sly glance at Wil.

�That�s nice of you to offer Lindsey, but Wil knows that my
home is his home too and that I want him to live with me. IF however he should choose to find a place of his own, I�m sure
that I can help him find somewhere.� Liam growls, not liking the way that
Lindsey is continually trying to get Wil�s attention.

�I�ll be living with Liam, but thank you anyway Lindsey.�
Wil says politely. �I saw a for sale sign on the house behind ours�� Wil says smiling as Liam grins at
his possessive use of the word �our�. ��Liam, I was thinking that if I bought
that one�� Wil leans closer and drops his voice so that he can�t be overheard.
Whatever he�s said when he pulls back they�re both sporting secretive grins
that have everyone dying of curiosity.

�Anya, Giles, I know that you�ll probably want to find a
place of your own like most soon to be newlyweds, but we�d love it if you
stayed with us until you find the perfect place.� Liam offers and the beaming
couple nods happily and congratulations are flying all around the table as Eve,
Stony, and several waiters enter carrying what seems to be an innumerable
amount of trays.

They ohhh and ahhhh over the delicious looking plates,
platters, bowls, and assorted accoutrements of their eagerly awaited meals.
Hearing the congratulations for the happy couples and Lorne�s new project,
Stony announces that dessert will bethe the house and leaves blushing amid a
rousing cheer in his favour.

The next two hours pass in a happy blur of friends and
family as new ties are strengthened and old ones deepened and diversified. At
one point Wil gets up to accept a challenge from Stony to defend his honour as
the reigning Stonehenge Bar & Grill Dart Champion. With his friends
cheering for him from the crowd, Wil retains his crown and Stony consoles the
unfortunate but good-willed challenger with a free drink and a pat on the back
for a well played game.

�It�s not your fault Mate, me boy Wil there�s laid out many
a man and plays the Devil�s own game of darts I�d wager.� Stony says with a
grin. �Of course I�d have expected nothing less from an Englishman!� The crowd
roars its approval and drinks are raised in salute as someone starts a rousing
rendition of God Save The Queen that quickly spreads
to the whole place, much to Stony�s delight.

Wil returns to Liam�s side, walking into his arms for a hug,
but the dark glance he shoots at an innocently grinning Lindsey doesn�t escape
his attention.

�Are you alright Wil?� He asks, noting the tension in the
blond�s body and the twitching muscle in his jaw and he knows that something
has upset him.

�Lindsey�s just being a pain. He keeps pestering me with
questions about my time in the military and making wisecracks about liking a
man in uniform. He�s more tenacious than jock itch.� Wil growls exasperatedly.

�Lindsey�s a jackass to everyone Wil, he�ll calm down when
he realises he doesn�t have a ghost of a chance with you. If he doesn�t, well
we kill him; it seems a win-win situation.� Liam says with a joking expression
and Wil chuckles and relaxes in his embrace. �Lorne wants to stop by the office
and finish the paperwork for the case tonight before we head home, is that
alright?�

�Sure Liam, I only had the one glass of Whiskey so I�m good
for the driving.� Wil says leaning forward and kissing Liam�s nose, causing him
to get a case of the giggles for a second. �Charles also asked if we could drop
him off, apparently he caught a ride over with someone earlier.� Wil grimaces
and looks at the more than slightly tipsy Lindsey. �Looks like Lindsey will
need a ride too.�

Liam glances over at Lindsey, who�s knocking back what must
be his twelfth beer of the evening and winces in sympathy for what his morning
is going to be like. �I�d say that�s a safe bet.�

�Why don�t we all go back to the station and I can take Mr.
Never-Saw-A-Beer-He-Didn�t-Like and Charles home, then come back and pick up
you, Lorne, Anya and Giles? We can drop Lorne off at his car on the way home
like we planned to.� Wil suggests and Liam smiles and nods, pulling him closer
and resting his head on his chest and sighing at the sound of his heartbeat.
Feeling the strain in his lover�s body, Wil steps back and starts to round
everyone up and herds them out to the cars. Fortunately the rain has let up and
the moon�s peeking through the clouds like a shy child playing hide and seek.

Wil quickly has the group split into the two cars with
Winifred�s help and back at the station within half an hour. Wil stops and
drops Lorne and Liam off before continuing on to drop off Charles and Lindsey
while the others all head into the station.

Chapter Thirteen

Liam yawns as he signs off on the last line of the report
and wearily gathers his papers and arranges them neatly into the file before
trudging to the Xerox machine and making three copies of everything. He neatly
stakes them together, making a folder for each and tucking the paperwork neatly
inside. He drops one into the inbox on Lorne�s desk much to his Captain�s
disgust as it joins the veritable mountain of paperwork already there.

�Gee thanks Liam.� He says drolly.

�When you care enough to send the very best.� Liam
snickers as he quotes the greeting card commercial and returns to sweep up
another of the duplicate reports and crosses to his file cabinet and files it
away. He learned a long time ago to keep a copy of all his reports on hand and
it�s saved him a lot of trouble in the past. His brow furrows as he recalls
that it was in fact standard procedure to back up all their computer files with
paper hard copies when he first started with the department. He wonders if
those old files could still be around somewhere and if Price�s case file is
among them. He walks over and sweeps up the last report and heads downstairs to
the records office.

&;Rosenberg.� He
replies as he hands over his report. �I had a question�but I�m afraid you may
be a little young to know the answer.� He says with a wry grin. �Do you have
someone that was working here about ten years ago that I could talk to maybe?�
He says apologetically, shrugging sorrowfully if he�s unintentionally insulted
her.

�Why don�t you try asking your question and we�ll take it
from there?� She suggests with a smile.

�Well I know before we got the new computer filing archive
set up that we used to keep hard copies of the case files. I was trying to find
an old case file from about ten years ago that seems to have disappeared from the
system and I was wondering��

�If we still keep any of those hard copies here, yes we do?�
She completes his sentence for him. �There are rows and rows of old file
cabinets down in the basement still or so my Supervisor was telling me.� The
Sergeant looks over her shoulder and motions to an attractive older woman. �Lieutenant
Calendar, could we speak to you for a moment?� She requests. �We need a bit of
help.�

She comes right over after shooting a frustrated glare at
the computer she was working on. �What can we do for you Detective?� She asks. �If
it�s about a case retrieval I�m afraid that we won�t be able to get to that
tonight until after this diagnostic is complete.� Her voice is harried and just
a touch frantic. �It�s going to take us a week to get this mess straightened
out, even with Charles� help this is just a mess, the whole afternoon was a
bust! I�m sorry Detective, I didn�t mean to rant at you, and it is just that
this lockdown of the system has everyone up in arms. We�ve got report requests
backing up and more still that we can�t enter�this has been a lousy week!�

�It�s alright, I understand. I can only imagine how much
paperwork must come through here every day. I actually had a question about an
old case, twelve or so years back is when it initially happened, but I believe
that the case was closed closer to ten years ago. Apparently a records search
came up missing, but as I recall back then there were hard copy backups made
and stored on the premise?� Liam says with a charming smile that has both of
the records officers sighing.

�Yes, we still have quite a few file cabinets down in the
basement storage area.� The Lieutenant agrees, opening a drawer and pulling out
a large ring of keys. �I�ve been down there since the move, why don�t I give
you a hand looking for what you need? I�m familiar with the filing codes they
used back then, I�m sure that I can help you find what you want more quickly.�

Liam smiles his thanks and follows the Lieutenant down into
the basement, as she leads him to a quiet corner of the cavernous sub-floor and
unlocks a heavy wooden door and enters. Liam stumbles slightly at the sight of row
upon row of old, metal filing cabinets that probably weigh as much as some
Buicks.

The Lieutenant takes pity on him and smiles. �Why don�t you
tell me what we�re looking for?� Liam briefly runs down the details of the case
and she smiles. �Well we�re in luck, if it was a defunct case than they were
filed in either the defunct or cold case files.� She directs Liam to one of the
filing cabinets and quickly explains how to read the coding symbols used back
then, before heading over a few feet to another filing cabinet.

�AHA!� Liam jumps at the Lieutenant�s exclamation of
success and spins around looking startled and looks on as the woman waves a
file triumphantly. �Here you go Detective.� She says with a smile, holding out
the file and laughing as he pounces on it muttering thank you several times.

Liam wraps his arms around the file and clings to it,
sneezing as the dust from it tickles his nose. �Thank you very much Lieutenant.�
He says with a small boy smile as he surreptiously wipes his nose.

�He must have taken Wil; he should have been back by now.
He should have been back by now and I didn�t notice. He always has his phone on him, always answers it if he can.� Liam
cries, pain driving him to his knees and sending Anya hurtling off of Giles lap
to curl her arms around him. �Why would he take my Wil?� Liam asks a tear
wrenching its way from the corner of his eye. �My Wil, Anya, he took my boy.�

Anya rocks him gently, tears falling from her own eyes as
the pain radiates off the tortured man and driving Winifred to join them in
their huddle of comfort. The two women do their best to soothe their tortured
friend and in within a few moments Liam�s regained his composure and thanks them
both huskily for their help.

�Giles, why would he take Wil?� Liam asks worriedly. �What
possible on con could there be?�

Giles looks back from where he�s been studying the crime
boards and the look in his eyes chills them all to the bone. �I think we were
wrong.� He whispers brokenly. �I think we�ve been looking at this from the
wrong angle. I don�t think Price was our murderer.� Giles chokes out. �I think
he was the weapon.�

�Oh god!� Liam cries. �Where would he have
taken him?�

�Liam you have one of those anti-theft devices on your car
don�t you?� Winifred says in a small voice and everyone freezes for a
millisecond.

Liam is on his feet and diving for the phone as Anya sweeps
Winifred up in a tight hug, thanking her over and over for being so clever.
Everyone waits with baited breathe as Liam reports his car as stolen to the
tracking service. He�s hanging up just as Lindsey runs in panting raggedly and
looking like a he crawled the whole way back to the station, slightly unsteady
on his still sobering legs.

�My car�s parked near Zimmer and Russell.� Liam announces
grabbing his coat leadleading the mass exodus from the squad room, catching the
keys that Winifred has tossed to him.

�That�s the warehouse district; we�ll have a lot of ground
to cover.� Lindsey points out and Liam curses heartilyhe rhe realises that he�s
right.

�We�ll have to do a block search, we�ll find the car and
Lorne, Lindsey, Anya, and Winifred and I will each take a direction. Make sure
you all have your phones!� Liam says exploding out into the night and striding
for Winifred�s fortunately very large SUV, sweeping Giles up as he goes and
gently placing him in the front seat. He looks over his shoulder, grateful to
see that Lindsey has swept up the wheelchair and is sliding it straight into
the back and slamming the doors before him and Lorne run for his Firebird.

The others all pile into the SUV and Liam is blasting down
the road before they can all even get their seat belts on. Lindsey honks as the
smaller and faster sports car rockets past them. As Liam pulls the SUV to a
stop, they can see Lorne and Lindsey standing next to Liam�s empty car.
Surprisingly, given the neighbourhood, the car appears untouched. He turns to
look at Giles and Winifred in the back. �If we don�t check in every twenty
minutes, get out of here and call 911.� He orders, he�s pleased to see that
Anya has quietly checked her weapon and has re-holstered it with a sharp nod of
readiness. She�s such a delicately built woman that it�s easy to forget that
she�s also a trained FBI agent and more than comfortable with the thought of
carrying and using a gun. He nods to her and they get out and meet Lorne and
Lindsey, Giles immediately locking the doors after them as Winifred climbs over
the seats to take the driver�s seat.

�It�s been quiet since we got here.� Lindsey says softly,
knowing how far voices can travel among such areas. �We haven�t seen any
movement, but we have to go in suspecting that he may have heard us arrive and
he�ll be expecting us.�

�I�ve checked the doors I could see.� Lorne motions to the
closest two warehouses. �There�s all locked up tight. I didn�t think it would
be wise to force them until we were ready.�

�Unless he�s knocked Wil out, I don�t suspect that he could
restrain him and manage to lock the doors after him. Since Wil isn�t answering
his cell phone and Charles taking it from him would surely have alerted him to
trouble, it�s likely that he�s still got it on him. Since he didn�t answer
however, I�m going to guess that he�s managed to knock Wil out or we�d see more
signs of a struggle as Wil�s not one for giving in easily to anything or
anyone. That means all of these buildings could be possible, we�ll each take a
direction and check every warehouse and building in a straight line. G wil will
be our contact point; I want check-ins every twenty minutes. If you find them,
don�t try to take him yourself if there�s a choice. Call in the others, Charles
is unstable and we don�t want to do anything that could set him off. Does
everyone have their cell phones ailesiles� cell number?�

Everyone holds up their phones and Lorne and Anya nod, but
Lindsey shakes his head. Anya grabs his phone and quickly programmes the number
into the memory and points out the relevant keys for Lindsey and hands it back.

�Lindsey, you take west. Lorne you go South, Anya you take
East, and I�ll go North.� Liam says tersely. �Let�s
find my Wil.� He growls and strides silently into the night.

Chapter Fifteen

The world is Technicolor pain as consciousness returns in pain-filled
spurts to Wil�s limbs. He keeis eis eyes closed and forces his muscles to
remain limp, the longer he can avoid alerting anyone to the fact that he�s
regained consciousness the better. It will give him time to think and plan a
way out of his predicament. He�s upright, that much he knows, but he�s also
aware that he�s not standing on his own as his legs are buckled underneath him.
He can feel the painful burning of his arm and shoulder muscles and a tight
pinching around his wrists and surmises that som somehow hanging from some
sort of restraints locked around his wrists.

He tries to keep his breathing calm and steady, working his
way through the pain gently, embracing it and letting it wash over him and
through him until the pain breaks like a wave on the shore. He thinks back to
the last thing that he remembers.

clasclass=MsoNormal>He remembers stopping in front of Charles� apartment
building and watching the tall, lithe man jogging up the stairs only seconds
before a pained cry sounded out. He jumped out of the car and ran inside, but
the foyer was as black as pitch and the sudden transition from moonlight to
darkness temporarily blinded him and somewhere in those few seconds his world
went dark in more ways than one. He can feel the back of his head throbbing and
the slight rolling feeling of his stomach betrays a possible concussion and it�s
easy to assume that he was knocked out by a well placed blow to the head. That
was all before he regained consciousness, wherever he is now. He peeks through
his lashes carefully, only the merest fractio sca scant that he can barely
perceive the differences between light and shadow and movement.

He can observe a dark form partially hidden by the shadows
cast by some tall boxes nearby, leaning against the wall opposite him. He
resists the urge to open his eyes more fully in order to better assess whether
he is looking at a foe or another prisoner. He remains cautious and uses all
his senses to catalogue his surroundings as best he can but even that small bit
of awareness must have been enough to alert his shadowy watcher that he was
coming around. He instantly closes his eyes and makes sure that he stays limp
until he sees what�s going to happen and waits for his best chance to escape.

Liam cups Wil�s chin and lifts his head until their eyes
meet. �Under this Shield, Wil; vow or no vow, I am still a man of flesh and
bone, your man, and you will always belong to me. That is the only vow that I will never break if it means keeping
you safe Baby. If you�re not with me, safe and loved than nothing else matters.�
Liam leans forward and kisses Wil gently, moaning huskily as he suddenly has a
lap full of love-starved blond energy kissing him like every promise of a
brighter tomorrow is has become the reality of the present.
- 1
- 2
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Tales From The Badge Series: Under The Shield