• 1-Predator
• 2-Predator Chapter 2
• 3-Predator Chapter 3
• 4-Predator Chapter 4
• 5-Predator Chapter 5
• 6-Predator Chapter 6
• 7-Predator Chapter 7

Disclaimer: - I don’t own any of the characters of The Shield, they all belong to Shawn Ryan and FX.

Predator Chapter 5.

Okay that had been completely surreal. Dutch briefly wondered just when it was that his life had turned into an episode of "The Twilight Zone". He reached up and pushed his hair back off his forehead with a tired sigh. "Christ," he thought, "why does my life always have to be such a fuck up?" Turning his head he glanced at his alarm clock, the glowing, red display read 2:30. Great he was back on the dayshift tomorrow, and so he had to be up in three hours to get ready for work. Instead of getting any sleep he knew he would spend the next three hours just as he had the last three, sitting up in his bed trying to figuut wut what he was going to do. Tomorrow morning he was going to have to go into work and act normally. Then he frowned slightly and wondered just what was considered "normal" behaviour towards a colleague who’d come on to you the night before?

At first everything had seemed perfectly normal. Nick had asked him for a ride home, and Dutch had been only too happy to oblige. He liked Nick. The guy was a good detective; he was funny and considerate. Dutch had been pleased when he’d asked his advise a few times, when he respected his theories and methods. He’d been happy that Nick had obviously wanted to be his friend. Dutch frowned at that thought and wondered if perhaps it hadn’t all been as it had seemed. Maybe Nick had had an ulterior motive all along? Dutch thoughtfully worried his lower lip between his teeth as he turned that idea over in his mind before he dismissed it, refusing to give in to his paranoia, and returned to his analysis of the previous night’s events.

The drive to Nick’s apartment had been pretty uneventful. Now that he looked back on it Dutch realised that Nick had been unusually quiet during the journey, seemingly content to let him do most of the talking. It had just been shop talk. Nick’s theory that the Diaz shooting might not be an isolated crime prompting him to tell Nick about a serial case that had just broken along the coast at Oxnard. Nick hadn’t said much, just the odd grunt or snort of disbelief, whichever had been appropriate for the conversation at the time. Although, Dutch thought wryly, perhaps "conversation" was something of a misnomer.

When they’d reached Nick’s apartment complex he’d naturally offered to help Nick up to his place with his boxes of files. Once again a little niggle of suspicion crept into Dutch’s mind. Things were starting to add up, and a good detective never ignored the evidence. The conveniently broken down car, the missed lift home, the heavy boxes that Nick had needed help with. Maybe his paranoia wasn’t misplaced this time Dutch mused? He frowned unhappily at the thought that he might have been manipulated, set up, by someone he considered a friend --- not that it would be the first time that had happened.

Dutch remembered his first impression of Nick’s home had been that it was rather spartan, austere even, but immaculately clean. He could remember putting that down to Nick’s time in the military. He supposed that Nick’s former career in the marines had instilled a certain pragmatic, methodical approach to life in him. He’d followed Nick’s example by depositing the box he was carrying on the floor in the living room.

He hadn’t wanted to stay. He’d been tired, and he’d also known that the shift change over tomorrow, "today" he corrected himself in his mind, meant he had to be at his desk again by seven the next morning. However, just as he’d been about to stammer out his excuses and leave, Nick had appeared with two large glasses of whiskey. It was from this point that events began to become disconcerting.

*

"Thanks for the ride and the hand up with those files… Here have a drink, I want to pick your brain about the Diaz case." Nick said with a smile, holding out one of the glasses towards him.

Dutch smiled back apologetically at Nick, and shook his head,

"Um…no thanks Nick. Look it’s late and I’m kinda tired so…"

"Oh come on Dutch I know you like me as much as I like you…It’s okay…I know you’re probably new to all this, but that’s alright…I’ll take my time…" reaching out Nick’s hand came to rest on the side of Dutch’s face, "…be gentle."

For several seconds Dutch didn’t move. He knew what he’d heard, but his mind was refusing to believe it could be true, and was desperately casting about for a different interpretation of Nick’s words. Better still he hoped Nick would suddenly burst out laughing, and make jokes about how stunned he probably looked right about now. All the while he could feel Nick’s hand resting against his cheek, and suddenly it seemed that he could feel the heat of the other man’s body as he stood uncomfortably close to him. His uncertainty didn’t last for long as Nick began to lean forward towards him, his eyes boring into Dutch’s. Dutch felt Nick’s breath on his lips just before Nick’s mouth was about to close on his for a kiss. Feeling himself flush red with embarrassment Dutch suddenly snapped back to himself, and rapidly backed up a few steps. Needing to put some space between them. Continuing to move slowly towards the door, but never taking his eyes from Nick he began to stammer out his slightly panicked response,

"I’m…ah…I’m flattered Nick…but um…I’m not, I’m not…um that way…um…If I did something…said something that made it seem that I ah…" At this point he nearly stumbled over the boxes of files that they’d put on the floor earlier, "…I’m sorry Nick, but um…I think it’s best if I go…I’ll see you tomorrow."

Relieved to find himself at the door Dutch opened it and practically fell over himself in his eagerness to escape.

*

Rubbing his hands over his tired face Dutch winced as he remembered his reaction to Nick’s come on. Jesus he’d behaved like a flustered teenager, instead of a grown man. There again when his mind once more considered the list of circumstances that Nick had seemed to have contrived just so he could proposition him he felt a little miffed. Then when he thought back to the very generous glass of neat whiskey he’d been offered, no doubt to make him more "pliable", he felt his annoyance grow a little keener.

Of course he still hadn’t figured out how to react to Nick tomorrow. Maybe he should just behave as if nothing happened. He snorted softly, as if he’d manage to pull that off, he’d probably start blushing every time he saw him. Maybe he should just hide in the utility closet every time Nick came near him --- "Oh yeah real mature Wagenbach." He said to himself. Then added a heartfelt, "shit why do these things have to happen to me?"