Jail's Bait: Time Served (Book 5)

Chapter IV

Lt. Det. Danny Clark and his lover, Ray Smith, had slept past their usual wake up time, preferring to luxuriate in bed instead.  Both had called out sick today, and decided to use the mental health day by seeing just how long they could stay under the covers, barring food and bathroom errands.  As a general precaution, both had shut off their cell phones and decided not to check any emails, just in case an emergency came up at work that they would feel compelled to attend to… and presently both men lay naked in bed together, in spooning fashion, watching television. 

Danny sighed contentedly as the feel of Ray’s arms around him sent a shiver of warmth through his body; in reflex, Ray’s massive 13 inch dick twitched slightly as it lay snugly against Danny's ass-crack.  Danny could feel Ray’s heart beating strongly against his back, and he felt that, at that moment, if there was anytime on earth that could be described as a perfect moment… this was it. 

Three years had strengthened Danny's and Ray's relationship to rock-solid; in truth, Danny was at last so content and comfortable being with Ray he decided after a year had passed to help Ray realize his most passionate dream of being able to help homeless people (as he had been) get off the streets and try to help them in any way possible.  With Joe’s approval the Hill family bought out three abandoned warehouses downtown near Elliott Bay and after construction, re-wiring and land developers had finished, there stood a new rehab center, three new shelters, one for single men, one for single women and one for families, each seven stories high and ready to house at least 250 – 300 people indefinitely; a free 24-hr Laundromat on the campus and extra security to keep the peace.  Danny sent Ray to a 18-month trade business school and three months ago Ray got his BS in corporate management.  Marching out of the trade school with degree in hand, Ray was immediately introduced to his staff at the new Smith-Hill Homeless Shelters, where (surprise) Ray was hired on as the first Director of the entire complex.  At first Danny worried that Ray would be overwhelmed and falter, this being his first supervisory position.  But Ray, focused on the fact that his actions actually helped the homeless find food and a bed, rose to the occasion dramatically.  Within the three months, under his leadership, new and innovative moves were implemented to further increase the shelter complex’s efficiency, and for the first time in decades, the percentage of homeless in Seattle dropped exponentially.  Today was Ray’s first day off since he began as Director, and Danny couldn’t be more proud of how his lover had turned out.  It didn’t even occurred to him that he no longer looked at Ray and saw Trey in his mind’s eye; Ray had become his own man in Danny's mind and heart, and it had absolutely nothing to do with Officer Atreyu Hill. 

Danny, on the other hand, was weeks away from turning 55; a milestone in his life.  Indeed, he had been fortunate; a successful double-career, a happy life with a man he adored, financially blessed, and a son he loved beyond reason.  Three years ago, he had been alone, haunted, depressed, and attacked by his past- namely, his ex-wife Claire and his long-lost older brother, Lionel Jenkins… who claimed that Lamar was HIS son, not Danny’s.  The DNA test that Potters had run at the W&H testing lab had come back as he’d hoped; that Lamar was his son, now and forever.  By general consent Lamar was never to learn of this claim; he was introduced to Lionel as his uncle, learned the back story of how the two brothers were separated at birth, and accepted him without question.  The fact that this was the same man of whom his mother left him to follow kept their relationship at a cool bubble, which secretly couldn’t please Danny any further. 

As far as the other DNA tests run that late spring, it came as a shock finding out that Ray and Michael’s mother Cheyenne had not been baby Jamara’s parents after all; and when Ray allowed the final DNA test to be run, it was proven that he was not the long-lost Hill heir and Trey’s twin brother, as everyone had also suspected.  DNA tests didn’t lie… and proof of the truth was all there in computer ink for all to see. 

But Danny didn’t need those tests anymore to validate his or anyone else’s existence, he observed while nestled in Ray’s naked embrace.  Everyone is where they’re supposed to be… even Lionel; although the two estranged brothers made a point to stay out of each other’s way, Joe had confided to Danny that he and Lionel were enjoying the exclusives that only men can enjoy in the dark with the lights out.  Danny wondered inwardly how much of his Joe’s relationship with his ‘dear’ brother had to do with HIM… 

…And then there was Claire.  He remembered the last time he saw her once-flawless, greedy face… it was the night of the infamous grad party, standing before himself and Lionel, Claire desperately trying to convince her ex-husband that their son WAS theirs, before she fled into the night, right into Leo the lion cub’s maddened, gaping maw.  The beast, crazed by the storm and by the fear he smelled rising from the guests like a thick mist, had lashed out at the first human that collided into him; a rattled Claire.  Shredding the skin on her face and arms to bits, she had to have multiple surgeries to replace so much blood and torn tissue.  Marquis had threatened all of them against having his favored pet removed or worse; everyone gave in and left Leo alone, though Danny wondered whether that wasn’t because everyone felt more loyalty to the lion than to Claire herself… 

Meanwhile the injuries to her face were so severe that the woman once known as Umfana X had to be transferred to Hans-Jakins Medical Center for long-term treatment.  No one from the family had seen her these past three years, since she’d given strict orders for no visitors unless by her authorization- which included her own son… 

…and then there was Lamar himself.  Honest, upright, the original stand-up guy; as giving of his heart as he was handsome, a son any man would be proud of, Danny in particular; seeing his own code of values and moral felicity shining bright from his son’s demeanor.  Lamar was strong, athletic, the guy all girls wanted to be with and all guys wanted to be… Lamar, his wonderful son of whom Danny was proud and still overly protective of, had been diagnosed with HCM, a form of heart-disease that gradually thickens the walls of the heart until the patient can no longer breathe on his own.  The only treatment is to have a heart transplant. If no viable candidate is found in time, however, the time the patient would slow up each day until the time came where they would simply fall asleep one sunset- and never wake up again. 

And yet… Lamar showed such an indomitable strength of character, bearing such a fatal burden without outward complaint.  Danny didn’t believe he would be able to do it, to stand and face such a terrible future without breaking down, and yet his son’s strength overwhelmed and amazed him to endless levels.  He knew that Malik was probably doing all the suffering for Lamar, but he probably never clued Lamar in on it. 

Danny suddenly clenched his fist and smashed it into the nearest wall with all his might, smashing through the plaster; yet not really feeling it, so filled was he by rage and fear for his only son.  If he could only find a way to carry this burden for Lamar, have the surgery for him… but there was no use.  Lamar had forbidden any of his family to even test to see if they could be a donor match.  And yet even if Danny found out that his heart was the perfect donor for Lamar, he knew that his boy would never be able to live with himself, knowing saving his life would take away someone else’s chance to live, for heart donors were not that readily available.  So Lamar chose to die, and die with dignity.   Part of Danny’s heart struggled to be politically correct and accept Lamar’s terrible choice… and the other half wanted to scream and grab Lamar by the shoulders and shake him for doing such an irresponsible thing as refusing to be on the donor list.  To be completely honest with himself, Danny wanted to use the full might and power of the Hill family, or even his firm, WolfRam & Hart, to bribe judges, clear the donor list by killing off the candidates in front of Lamar’s place, or pull a ‘John Q’- hold any and everyone hostage until someone gave up a heart for his son, goddamn it...!  Any and everything possible to save Lamar would he do, legal or no.  Yet he knew that he couldn’t dwell on that attitude; that way lay madness.  Yet Danny wished Lamar would just come to his senses, get on the donor list, take a damn heart and LIKE IT!!!!  He is just being selfish, Danny concluded, finally pulling his hand away from the wall and examining the minute cuts and abrasions made from the hole he just made in the plaster. 

He’s selfish...? scoffed the angelic part of Danny’s conscience; part of you wants to kill off half the donor list just to make sure Lamar gets the next available heart.  Who’s the REAL selfish one here...? 

“Oh, shut up,” Danny ruefully spoke aloud. 

“You say something...?” 

Danny turned around to see Ray standing behind him with an arch look, bathrobe and slippers on, holding a folded newspaper in one hand, coffee mug in the other, and reading glasses firmly perched on his sexy-shaped nose. 

“Oh, morning, baby,” Danny murmured, crossing over and kissing Ray on the lips.  “I was just-” 

“You were just venting,” Ray surmised, nodding pointedly at Danny’s knuckles which had began a bleeding trickle, “it’s allowed, given the circumstances.  Come on to the kitchen, I’ll get something to wrap that up.”  And he turned and left the room. 

Danny stared after his lover.  He knew full well that whatever Danny might be going through, Ray would not once try to push him into sharing.  That is what made Danny love Ray so much- his ability to know when to hold his hand, and also know when to butt out.  Yet now was a great time for his help, for Danny’s knuckles started to sting.

**************************************************************

Five minutes later Danny was watching Ray bandage up his scratched-up hand, cleaning the area, daubing it with alcohol (which stung Danny a bit), and then laying a large cotton layer on his knuckles, wrapping it all up with an ace bandage.  “Don’t you think that’s going a bit overboard,” Danny inquired, mildly amused at the intense way Ray attended to his hand.  “You look like you are performing surgery.” 

Ray looked up from his focus… and grinned sheepishly.  “I haven’t done this since being out on the streets,” he admitted, finally clasping the ace bandage up and patting the knuckles fondly before handing Danny his throbbing hand back.  “Every wound was important; you didn’t want to get an infection on top of all the other misery, so making sure you got the wound as clean as one could living outside became sort of an obsession.” 

“You became something of a jack-of-all-trades then, being homeless,” Danny observed quietly, absently staring at his wrapped fist. 

“There’s a lot I learned on the streets,” Ray replied with a suggestive leer at his lover, . 

“Umhmm,” Danny answered, still staring at his fist.

Ray, noting Danny’s withdrawal, quietly resumed drinking his coffee and reading the paper. 

“I punched the wall because the anger was building up, and I had to let it out somehow,” Danny admitted finally, dropping his eyes. 

“I know,” Ray said, his eyes still focused on the paper.  “I didn’t expect you to keep all that rage in this long; he is your son, after all.” 

Danny turned morbidly to the table.  “I just don’t know what more I can do to get Lamar to change his mind, get him on the donor list before its too late...!” 

“How do you know he’s not on the donor list...?” Ray asked mildly, turning a page. 

Danny stared at Ray.  “H-He would’ve told me if he had come to his senses and allowed himself a fighting chance at life...!” he spluttered.  “My son wouldn’t leave me hanging like this, worried from one day to the next if this is the day he takes his last- his last…” and a great lump in his throat kept any additional words from coming. 

Ray, unmoved, still sat reading the paper.  “What if… the reason why he didn’t tell you about joining the donor list was because he doesn’t KNOW he’s on the donor list...?” he asked shrewdly, his eyes still on the page. 

“Now Ray,” Danny replied in consternation, “how would he not know that he’s on the donor list...?”  

“Well, think about it, Detective,” Ray said with a hint of a grin underneath his solemn gaze towards the newspaper in his hands.  “Put yourself and me in Lamar and Malik’s shoes.  As much as you and I love each other… as much as you and I are strong-willed grown men… If I told you, my lover, that I wanted to ‘die with dignity’, with no objections whatsoever- what would you, as my lover, do...?  Remember that you’re rich and pretty well connected,” he added. 

“Well, if it was you and me, I’d lie to your face and put you on the list anyway, hoping that by the time your turn came you’d see reason and-” Danny stopped then, his eyes growing wide as he stared back at Ray.  “You don’t think- you don’t mean that-” 

“He’s now #4 on the National Registry,” Ray said with a confident swagger.  “I checked it yesterday.” 

Shock rippled through Danny as for the first time since hearing Lamar’s diagnosis he felt… hope.  “My GOD,” Danny exclaimed, jumping to his feet in awe.  “How did you figure it out?” 

“I put myself in Malik’s shoes,” Ray answered calmly, placing the paper and his glasses on the dining table.  “I knew what I would do for the man I loved more than anything on this planet…”  

Tears of pure relief washed over Danny’s face as he walked over and bent down to hug Ray from behind, Ray reaching up from his perch and patting Danny on the arm.  After a minute Danny stood straight again.  “When you found proof, why didn’t you tell me?” Danny asked then in awe, wiping away his tears. 

“I wanted you to stay out of it, actually,” Ray replied then calmly. 

“Stay out of it...?  that’s my son, Ray,” Danny replied with indignation. 

“And he’s a grown man, and he’s got a grown lover, and they have a child of their own,” Ray said then, eyes finally looking over to find Danny’s, piercing them with his gaze.  “Let them be.  You baby Lamar too much; you all do.  But obviously he stands behind his own choices… and even if he really doesn’t know what he’s doing, Malik is right there to pick up the slack.  Malik has already done what you were agonizing over whether you should or shouldn’t do… let them BE,” he finished, getting up from the table and heading to the kitchen.  “You in the mood for breakfast or lunch food...?” 

Danny sat there, open-mouthed, staring at the place where Ray had just sat while telling him off.  How dare he, Danny began inwardly… but then he stopped himself, and realized that Ray was giving him some albeit unasked-for, yet well-needed advice. 

He went into the kitchen to where Ray stood holding a carton of eggs in one hand, a bag of frozen French-fries in the other.  “So is it eggs and bacon, or burgers and fries...?” 

“Neither,” Danny said with a smile, coming over to Ray, taking the food out of his hands.  “Its dickinmyass,” he replied as he placed Ray's hands on his curved booty.  Ray began to smile. 

“You were right,” Danny said, leaning in to kiss Ray on the lips again.  “I do forget sometimes that my son doesn’t need me to raise him anymore, nor can I fight his battles for him… he’s strong, and resilient, and maybe just a bit too noble for my taste, but Malik brings him balance, and together they can accomplish anything.  I really should stop all this obsessive worrying over my son; like you said, he’s a grown man with a family of his own.” 

“Hallelujah,” Ray said softly, cupping Danny’s cheeks into his palms and kissing them each. 

“I have to call Malik, find out when he plans to tell Lamar that his number comes up soon-” but he didn’t get to finish that sentence, for Ray leaned in and kissed him so seductively and so sensually that when the kiss broke off, Danny had pushed the idea of calling Malik completely from his mind… 

They were halfway to the stairwell that led back to their enormous suite of rooms when the phone rang. 

“One second, it might be about the kids,” Danny said- and then caught the reproachful look in Ray’s eyebrow.  “I meant Marquis or Michael, away at school…” Danny dodged.  Ray gave him a knowing look. 

Danny picked up the phone.  “Hello...?” 

“It’s me,” Joe said, trying to talk above what sounded like helicopter blades in the background.  

“I'm on my way to Crimson Crest,” he half-shouted.  “Meet me there.” 

“What’s happened,” Danny called out so that Joe could hear. 

“It’s Smithers, he’s had a heart attack,” Joe said brokenly.  “He might not last the day.” 

“We’ll be right there,” Danny said then, hanging up the phone and turning to Ray’s puzzled expression.  “That was Joe.. its about Smithers.” 

“The Hill family butler?” Ray asked then.  “Isn’t he also sort of related to a few of you guys...? 

“Well, he’s Marquis's great-great-uncle, Robbie’s great-uncle, and… Trey’s biological uncle,” Danny finished. 

“Which means, had I been Trey’s twin by blood and not just by face, he would be my uncle too,” Ray surmised.  He headed for the stairs with a whole new determination in his step.  “Ten minutes- and we should be in the car headed out the driveway by then,” he said, vanishing up the last set of steps.

Danny followed him up, a sense of foreboding running through him.  “If he dies…” They say in families, death comes in threes…