Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

Undertow	By : kattanon Category: S through Z > The Shield Views: 1328 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Shield, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
Title: - I�ve Seen The Dark Side Too
Author: - Katt
E-mail: - kattanon@yahoo.co.uk

Rating: - R
Series: - Undertow Part 10/?
Feedback: - Like it or loathe it let me know
Archive: - Archived at the Shield Fanfiction Archive
Disclaimers: - I don�t own any of the characters of The Shield, they all belong to Shawn Ryan and FX. The song "I�ll Stand By You" is performed by "The Pretenders, and written by Chrissie Hynde, Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg.

I�ve Seen The Dark Side Too � "Dragonchasers"

"Oh, why you look so sad?

Tears are in your eyes

Come on and come to me now

Don�t be ashamed to cry

Let me see you through

�Cause I�ve seen the dark side too

When the night falls on you

You don�t know what to do

Nothing you confess

Could make me love you less
I�ll stand by you

I�ll stand by you

Won�t let nobody hurt you

I�ll stand by you."

Jesus, that had been a day full of ups and downs that was for sure. Vic just needed some air, some space to think, clear his mind. Leaning back against the wall, shrouded by shadows he could watch the comings and goings in the precinct car park without being seen himself.
Having to hand Brian over to Children and Family Services had been one of the toughest things he�d ever done. Connie had been too weak to kick her habit. Preferring the poison she pumped into her veins to her own child. Inside Vic knew he was being unfair to Connie, that she�d given up Brian because she knew it was the right thing to do. Did he really think that keeping her locked in her mom�s apartment while Ronnie made her tea was going to make her clean herself up? Shaking his head Vic knew he wasn�t that naïve. It had been doomed to failure from the start, but he�d had to let her try.
Wiping a tired hand down over his face Vic turned his mind to more pleasant thoughts � Dutch. He�d been aware that Dutch was re-examining the Sally case. The news hadn�t pleased Vic, Dutch had gotten too close to the case the last time, working longer and longer hours trying to find a suspect. Then it had seemed he was off on another wild-goose chase, if the rumours he�d heard were anything to go by. Obsessing over some guy Danny and Julian had caught jerking off. The jokes and sneers from assholes like Jackson annoyed Vic. Yet at the same time a little voice in Vic�s head had been asking why he should care if Dutch made an ass of himself in front of everybody? After all Dutch had turned his back on him, turned his back on the unspoken promise of what could�ve been between them.
Of course that hadn�t stopped Vic from getting drawn into the drama unfolding on the observation room TV. Ignoring Shane�s flippant "Sherlock Holmes here is getting smoked", he�d settled down to watch Dutch work. God knows he�d spent an inordinate amount of time studying Dutch so that he was pretty sure that Shane, Lem and the rest of the guys were in for a surprise.
When Taylor had smirked up at Dutch and said "seventeen", being echoed by a shocked sounding Claudette, the observation room had gone totally quiet except for Shane�s flabbergasted, "Jesus Christ." Dutch had been vindicated, and Vic hadn�t been able to keep the smile from his face. Even now he could remember the swell of pride and pleasure he�d felt for the younger man. Dutch was always something of an outsider, always unsure of himself, seeking validation from others. Well now he had all the validation of his abilities that he needed, single-handedly catching a serial killer and solving twenty-two unsolved disappearances and murders in one day � not bad.
Afterwards when Dutch had emerged to a round of applause, and a growing sense of respect, Vic had been unable to stop himself from reaching out to him as Dutch had walked past. He�d wanted to let Dutch know that he was proud of him, but he�d had an ulterior motive as well. He�d wanted to remind Dutch that he was still there for him, that he still thought about the connection they�d found while working the Sally case together. He�d wanted to remind Dutch of the conversation they�d had in the bathroom that night. Vic had looked straight into Dutch�s eyes as he�d spoken,

"Told you we�d get this guy."
"Yes, you did."
"And here I thought I was gonna have to do all the work."

It had been there then, despite the other people standing around watching them. That tension between them as they�d focused on each other seemingly oblivious to the rest of the world. Dutch�s little half grin as he�d said,

"Right."

The feel of Dutch�s hand in his as Vic had shaken his hand saying,

"Good job."
"Thanks."

The feel of the smooth skin on Dutch�s wrist as Vic had deliberately let his fingertips quickly ghost over the area as their hands had parted. He�d stood watching Dutch walk away then with Claudette, rooted to the spot while everyone else moved on, until they�d disappeared from his sight on the staircase. He�d reminded Dutch of the feelings that lay under the surface for both of them, now all he could do was step back and hope it was enough.

"So if you�re mad, get mad

Don�t hold it all inside

Come on and talk to me now

Hey, what you got to hide?

I get angry too

Well I�m a lot like you

When you�re standing at the crossroads

And don�t know which path to choose

Let me come along

�Cause even if you�re wrong
I�ll stand by you

I�ll stand by you

Won�t let nobody hurt you

I�ll stand by you

Take me in, into your darkest hour

And I�ll never desert you

I�ll stand by you
"And when�

When the night falls on you, baby

You�re feeling all alone

You won�t be on your own."

Vic shivered as the night air chilled him. He�d been so lost in thought that he hadn�t been paying much attention to what was going on around him. Frowning he watched Jackson, Carlson and Lowe climbing out of the back of a police van, all of them looking shaken. He didn�t have any more time to wonder about the unlikely threesome when he saw Dutch leaving The Barn, smiling to acknowledge some more well deserved praise. He hoped this would mean that the other man could finally lay Sally�s ghost to rest.
Vic stepped further back into the shadows waiting for Dutch to leave. Dutch started his engine and then paused before breaking down in tears. Vic took several steps forward before stopping himself. Dutch seemed to pull himself together before loosing it again. Vic was torn wanting to go to him, to comfort him but unsure if that was the best thing to do. He didn�t want Dutch to think he was following him around, stalking him. He was also pretty convinced that Dutch would be mortified if he thought anyone, especially Vic, had seen him.
Vic could understand a lot of what Dutch was probably feeling though. The release of tension when an important case finally broke, and Vic knew that for Dutch this case had been more important then most. Plus Vic knew the pursuit of Taylor had cost Dutch a lot emotionally. The jokes at his expense from the other guys verging on the malicious and nasty. Vic wondered though if maybe there was a more personal dimension to Dutch�s reaction, a deeper hurt that had been brought to the surface?
Whatever the cause it cost Vic a lot to have to stand in the dark and watch Dutch�s pain and not be able to help. As he finally watched the red taillights of Dutch�s car move away into the night he wished he could be the one Dutch turned to. The one who could offer him support, and understanding, and love. For the first time since he�d seen her Vic was actually glad that Dutch was with someone. Vic was relieved that Dutch had someone to go home to that night, that he wouldn�t be alone. Even if it wasn�t in his arms that Dutch sought solace.

"I�ll stand by you

I�ll stand by you

Won�t let nobody hurt you
I�ll stand by you

Take me in, into your darkest hour

And I�ll never desert you

I�ll stand by you

I�ll stand by you

Won�t let nobody hurt you

I�ll stand by you

Won�t let nobody hurt you

I�ll stand by you."
- 12
- 13
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

Undertow