(Type a title for your page here)	 Disclaimer:  Not mine, not yours,
and not the author's.  No harm, no foul, 
 no profit, no suit.
 
 Rating: R
 
 Title: "Minute to Midnight"
 
 Mail: caffre19@hotmail.com
 
 Notes. What can I say? I love the comic element of Due South and
sometimes I can't help myself. Thanks to Mary for the swift beta before
viewing for the ANON challenge over at The Closet. 
 
 
 
 "Good evening, this is the Canadian consulate, Constable Turnbull
speaking, 
 how may I assist you?"
 
 "Is Fraser about, Turnbull?"
 
 "Ahhh, Detective Vecchio."  Ray could almost hear the frown of 
 concentration on Turnbull's face.  "About in what sense, sir?"
 
 Ray kept the sarcasm limited to his face.  "In the sense of maybe being
there?"
 
 "No, Constable Fraser left some moments ago.  May I be of some 
 assistance?  As a member of Her Majesty's Royal Canadian Mounted Police I

 am, therefore, more than capable of..."
 
 Ray hung his head.  Visions of Turnbull doing to him what he wanted
Fraser 
 to do to floated into range.
 
 "No no, it's ok.  See ya."
 
 "Goodbye, Detect..." Ray hung up the phone, not exactly wanting to hear 
 Turnbull go on and on.
 
 Sighing, Ray threw himself into his paper work again, hoping that Fraser 
 wasn't coming here.  A guilty glance over at his Far Side desk calendar 
 told him that today was the day. Today was the day he had chosen to tell 
 Fraser, if the Mountie hadn't already told him first.  Just thinking
about 
 it these last couple of days had sent the butterflies in his stomach into
a 
 whirlwind. If he turned up before midnight then he'd have little choice
but 
 to go through with it.  He'd sworn on the hood of his GTO that he would.
 
 This thought perked him up a little.  Yeah, if he could just avoid Fraser

 then he wouldn't have to tell him.  And if he could stay out of his way 
 until midnight, then all bets were off.  The deal would be null and void.
 
 "Hey Fraser."
 
 Head jerking up at that, he heard rather than saw Frannie catching Fraser

 out in the hall.
 
 "Damn!"
 
 Jumping to his feet, Ray was about to bolt when Welsh caught him.
 
 "Ahh, Detective Vecchio."  Welsh looked at him as he had just grabbed his

 coat off the back of his chair.  "I hope that you're not feeling too cold

 out here?"
 
 Ray was lost.
 
 "Cold, sir?"
 
 "Yes, Detective.  Cold.  For I can only assume, seeing as you are
scheduled 
 to meet with Internal Affairs, that the putting on of a coat implies that

 you're cold rather than you are about to leave the building."
 
 Ray shivered, covering up his near mistake.  "Cold for the time of year 
 Lieut, ain't it?  I mean, you gotta wear a coat inside when it gets this 
 cold.  Saves on heating bills."  Oh, just great Kowalski.  Great 
 tactic.  Convince your boss you're a moron why don't you.
 
 Welsh gave him about all of the smile he could muster before 
 replying.  "Yeah, all of this I.A. frost could really freeze your balls
off."
 
 Glancing back Ray could see Dief coming into the room.
 
 "Understood, Lieutenant."  He gave him a cheery little salute as Welsh 
 turned and went back into his office before running off in the direction
of 
 the lunchroom.
 
 * * * * *
 
 Fraser watched as Francesca gave a small pout of annoyance.  "He's in 
 there, Fraser."
 
 "Thank you kindly."
 
 Following Dief into the bullpen, Fraser looked and saw no sign of Ray.
 
 "Constable?"
 
 "Ah, Lieutenant.  How are you this evening?"
 
 "I've had better, Fraser.  You seen Vecchio?"
 
 Fraser gave a small smile. "No, sir.  In fact, I was just about to
enquire 
 of you as to where he might have gone?"
 
 Welsh sighed and rubbed his eyes.
 
 "He'd better be in this building, Constable, 'cause I.A. are looking for
him."
 
 This immediately caught his attention.  "Is there something wrong, sir? 
I 
 know Ray would never..."
 
 Welsh cut him off.  "No, no, it's nothing like that.  Some partner of
Ray's 
 from before was caught taking money from the mob.  Kowalski needs to give
a 
 statement.  That's it.  But from what happened last time, I want him here

 when they arrive.  I do not want a repeat performance of last time with 
 this department appearing like it can't keep track of its Detectives 
 again.  So if I were you, Constable, I'd find your friend and make sure 
 he's seated right there," he pointed at Ray's chair just for good
measure. 
 "When they come callin'.  Clear?"
 
 "As mud, sir.  Don't worry, if he's in the building, I'll find him."
 
 Fraser watched as Welsh went back into his office.  A smile tugged at the

 corners of his mouth.  If anyone had actually seen it would have spoke 
 volumes for just how much Fraser was going to enjoy this.  The Mountie
set 
 out to get his man.
 
 * * * * *
 
 Ray had gone straight from the lunchroom with his coffee to Interview
room 
 one.  The late shift was quiet tonight, and no one was using it.  He 
 figured if Fraser came looking for him, he wouldn't find him here and
just 
 go home. But just in case...
 
 * * * * *
 
 Fraser knelt down beside his companion Diefenbaker and took hold of his 
 snout, making the wolf look at him.  "Dief, go find Ray."
 
 Fraser smiled.  This was going to be no challenge at all.
 
 He followed Dief until he was standing outside the closet.  Smiling
Fraser 
 opened the door.
 
 "You know Ray..."
 
 Whatever he had been going to say was cut short by the fact that Ray's
coat 
 lay on the ground, on top of which sat several donuts.
 
 Donuts, which Dief was soon happily eating.
 
 He shook his head, sighing.  "You are so easily bought, 
 Diefenbaker."  Giving the wolf a glare and receiving plain and clear just

 how little that meant to him in the face of donuts with jam, Fraser left 
 the wolf to it.
 
 Standing, Fraser gave the air a sniff and then licked his finger before 
 holding it up into the air.  He knew people where watching him and he
knew 
 that they knew he was looking for Ray.  He didn't want people thinking
that 
 Ray could so easily outwit him.  Smiling again, he began a systematic 
 search of the entire station, starting with the front desk.
 
 * * * * *
 
 Dewey watched as Fraser set off for the front desk.
 
 "Hey, ya think Fraser'll find him?"
 
 "Find Ray?  Sure.  I guess.  I mean, he's a Mountie right?  He's got all 
 those tracking skills."
 
 "Yeah, but this is the urban environment.  Ray's home ground.  I think
Ray 
 can take him."
 
 Huey looked at him.  "You think?"
 
 Dewey looked back.  "Yeah."
 
 "Wanna make a bet of it?"
 
 "Yeah.  Ok.  I bet that Fraser doesn't find Ray.  How much?"
 
 "Oh no.  This isn't about money.  If I win, you get the spare steering 
 wheel for a month.  Agreed?"
 
 Dewey smiled and stuck out his hand.  "Agreed."
 
 * * * * *
 
 Ray was pacing the room within 10 minutes when Dewey came into the room.
 
 "Somethin' I can help you with?"
 
 Dewey shrugged, leaning against the wall.  "Nah, but I have something
that 
 might interest you."
 
 Ray eyed the detective more carefully.  "Yeah, like what?"
 
 "Information.  Welsh has set Fraser onto you.  In fact..." Dewey leaned 
 back and looked out the door.  "I'd say he's gonna be here any minute."
 
 Dewey watched as Ray pushed past him a little and looked out into the 
 hall.  He didn't know why the Detective was avoiding Fraser but he was 
 having way too much fun with it to care.
 
 Ray could see Dief's backend and tail poking out of the closet.  He
smiled 
 at that.  So far his plan had worked.  Now, if only Fraser would go home 
 like a good little Mountie, Ray wouldn't feel obliged to tell him 'the 
 secret' and face losing him for good.
 
 "Why's he so keen to get me anyways?"
 
 "Oh, Welsh just wanted to make sure you stay inside.  Now, from what I 
 hear, if you hadn't've run off on your own little personal crusade last 
 time I.A. were in town, he'd probably have just relied on your pager to
get 
 you here."
 
 Ray pulled back to look at him.
 
 "What's this got to do with you anyways?"
 
 Dewey threw up his hands.  "Hey, if a guy can't help out another guy in 
 times of trouble, then what the hell is the world comin' to huh?"
 
 "Keep spinning it, Dewey."  He double checked the hall way again and made
a 
 break for it.  He had to find somewhere else to hide.
 
 
 * * * * *
 
 Fraser made his way to the interrogation rooms, just in time to see Dewey

 come out with a large smile on his face.
 
 "Ah, Detective Dewey.  You wouldn't have by any chance..."
 
 "Sorry, Fraser, nope, haven't seen Ray all day."
 
 Fraser watched in puzzlement as he walked back into the bullpen.
 
 Stepping into the room, Fraser saw the empty cup of coffee still sitting
on 
 the table.  Lifting it, it still felt warm.  Next, he sniffed the air; 
 Ray's favorite cologne still hung heavy in the room.  Fraser allowed 
 himself a smile, as no one else was present.  He loved the way Ray
smelled, 
 all aftershave with a hint of the musk that was pure Ray.
 
 Abruptly, he shook his head.  This was getting him nowhere while trying
to 
 give him a hard on.  Pulling back a little from the brink that was Ray,
he 
 set off in pursuit again.  He had his scent now.
 
 * * * * *
 
 Ray's hand froze on the handle of the door.  God, but he hated this 
 place.  Dead people gave him the willies.  Still, he figured that since 
 Fraser knew that he wouldn't even think of looking in here, so he would
be 
 safe for a while.  He glanced at his watch.  Only fifteen minutes to go.
 
 "I can do this.  I can do this."
 
 Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door, his heart telling him he
was 
 a real coward for not opening up to Fraser.  That this was the easy way 
 out.  But he didn't care.  He couldn't risk telling Fraser he loved 
 him.  Fraser would be all polite, maybe quote how many people in Chicago 
 were gay, compare it to the Yukon, then tell him he was straight and then

 add misery to misery by saying that it wouldn't change anything.  But it 
 would.  It would be the end to Ray's fantasy where he and Fraser lived 
 happily ever after while having mind-blowing sex on a daily basis.  And 
 right now that fantasy was all he had and he wasn't about to have Fraser 
 put an end to it for him with the truth.
 
 He stepped inside and turned on the lights, finding all the guests had at

 least been put away for the night.  Sighing, he sat down at the desk and 
 found an old newspaper.  He couldn't help but look behind him every once
in 
 a while, certain that someone was watching.  Someone dead.  He 
 shivered.  With nothing better to do, and hoping it would take his mind
off 
 his location he opened up the paper till he found the cross word and 
 started in on it.  But not before he had another look at his watch.
 
 Thirteen minutes and counting.
 
 * * * * *
 
 Fraser stopped outside the men's toilets.  "This is getting ridiculous,
its 
 almost as if..."
 
 He stopped.  Ray was avoiding him on purpose.  A sudden blush started to 
 rise on his face.  Maybe he hadn't gotten away with it after all.
 
 * * * * * FLASHBACK * * * * *
 
 "You good, Frase?"
 
 "Just a little sore from when the cow fell on me Ray, but I'm fine now, 
 thank you."
 
 Ray shook his head.  "You don't look fine."  Normally, Fraser would have 
 seen a move like that coming, but Ray's hand was suddenly on his face, 
 feeling the area where Norton had hit him.  They'd been investigating the

 death of a vet in downtown Chicago and in true Fraser fashion it had led
to 
 an unexpected and unusual adventure.  Ray was seated beside him in the
car, 
 and was currently examining a tender spot on Fraser's face.
 
 Unfortunately, another tender spot suddenly got a lot more so, and Fraser

 while momentarily stunned (you've seen the look, the one just before the 
 rabbit goes 'splat!') had leaned into the touch, letting sensation blind 
 him to reality.
 
 Then he'd pulled away, the thought running through his head of that time 
 Ray had let him drive the GTO, that not only had he managed to walk
within 
 a car, he'd also just accomplished running.
 
 "Could you take me back to the consulate, Ray?  I'm feeling a little
tired."
 
 The expression on Ray's face puzzled Fraser for a second, but then it was

 gone, and Ray took him home.
 
 * * * * *
 
 He pulled at the collar of his uniform.  If Ray had seen how aroused he'd

 become from his touch yesterday then it was no wonder he was avoiding him

 right now.  A thought came into his mind.  He needed Ray, that much was 
 pretty evident even to him, but if he couldn't have him as a partner,
then 
 he would have to make do with having him as a colleague.
 
 He thought for a second.  Where would be the last place Ray would go, but

 without leaving the station?  Having the answer within seconds, Fraser
got 
 to his feet and took a deep breath.  To save his friendship, he was going

 to lie.
 
 * * * * *
 
 Ray heard footsteps approach the morgue and with nothing better to do, he

 got up and looked thought the glass.  Red.  Red was heading his way.
 
 "Shit!"
 
 Without even thinking Ray ran over to one of the empty tables and threw 
 himself on it, covering himself with one of those horrible green 
 blankets.  He forced himself to calm down.  Fraser could hear a specific 
 pin drop in a deluge of pins dropping.  He had to be quiet.
 
 * * * * *
 
 Fraser pushed open the door and immediately, despite the usual smells
that 
 went with the place, smelled Ray's cologne.
 
 Eyes fell on the slab, the soft light making it hard, but not impossible
to 
 see the gentle rise and fall of someone breathing underneath it.
 
 Another deep breath to steel himself, Fraser went over, pulling back the
cover.
 
 "Hello, Ray."
 
 Fraser saw Ray colour.  "Fraser!  Hey, how's it hang...Emmm.  What ya
doin'?"
 
 "I could ask the same of you.  Its not often I find you in the mortuary, 
 and on a slab no less."
 
 "Yeah, well..."
 
 "It's all right, Ray.  I know you're avoiding me, it's my fault
entirely."
 
 Ray sat up.
 
 "It is?  How do you figure that one out huh?"  Ray looked at his watch. 
23:55.
 
 "Well," Fraser could feel his cheeks start to colour again, his throat 
 closing.  "Its...I, well..."
 
 Ray shook his head, forgetting his earlier attempts to stay clear of his 
 friend.  Just looking at him now, lost for words, reminded him of just
why 
 he loved him.
 
 "Just spit it out, Fraser."  He put a hand on his arm, trying to steady
his 
 friend.
 
 "Well, after what happened yesterday, I wanted to apologize."
 
 "Fraser, it wasn't your fault that the cow fell off that roof, if
anything 
 it was suicide...
 
 His friend cut him off.  "No, Ray, not that."  He jerked his head to the 
 left a little for a couple of nods.  "What happened in the car..?"
 
 Ray nodded at that as if he understood.  Then he shook it in complete 
 bewilderment.  "What happened in the car, Fraser?"
 
 Fraser gulped, the words rushing out before he could think properly.  "My

 unfortunate timing.  I assure you it was not directed at you, but was 
 rather a result of the adrenaline that had flooded my system..."
 
 Ray looked at him.  Fraser was lying.  As to what he didn't have a 
 clue.  He closed his eyes briefly, thinking back.  He still couldn't 
 believe he'd touched him like that, then Fraser had pulled back, and he
had 
 thought it was because of him.
 
 Now though, Fraser seemed to think it was about something else.  "Not 
 directed at me...?"
 
 His eyes widened as he realized what he was talking about.
 
 "Oh my God."
 
 Suddenly, Ray's cell phone rang.  Hands ransacked his pockets looking for

 it, fumbling it until he had answered it, his eyes never moving from
Fraser's.
 
 "Vecchio.  Yeah.  Right.  Ok, Lieutenant.  Thanks."  He snapped the phone

 shut.  "I.A. no longer needs me.  Stalker admitted to everything."
 
 Fraser nodded.  "It's good to see your ex-partner admit to the truth."
 
 Ray swung his feet off the table.  "And what about my current one?  Hell,

 what about me?  The truth shall set you free."  He looked up at 
 Fraser.  "Ain't that the way it goes?"
 
 "I suppose so, yes Ray."
 
 "Right."  He looked at his watch.  One minute to midnight.
 
 "Fraser, I love you."
 
 "And I you, Ray."
 
 The Chicago cop shook his head.
 
 "No, I mean it Fraser.  I love you.  Your know, as in, a kinda romantic
way 
 sorta thing."
 
 Fraser smiled, and Ray could tell that this was the right thing, the best

 thing he could ever have done.
 
 Fraser reached over, mimicking the same action that Ray had done
yesterday 
 to him.  Only this time, there was no backing off.
 
 Leaning into the touch was so much more than anything Ray had ever 
 imagined.  Eyes locked.
 
 "Can I kiss you, Fraser?"
 
 The answer was given when Fraser took a step forward, pressing his lips 
 against his.
 
 Soft.  The only word that could form in Ray's mind was 'soft'.  "God,
Ben, 
 you taste so..."
 
 Fraser's hand was pulling at Rays belt, pulling him off the table,
getting 
 him to his feet and closer to him.
 
 "I want you.  I have wanted you for so..."
 
 "I know, Fraser.  Me, too."
 
 Fraser stumbled backwards a little, Ray moving with him, his hands no 
 longer under his control, as they tried to be everywhere on Fraser's body

 at once, their tongues exploring each other, tasting the taste that was 
 unique to each of them, the other finding it as erotic as they had each 
 known it would be.
 
 Ray pulled back a little, breathless and happy.
 
 "You need to loose that red, Fraser.  Now."
 
 Fraser looked at the door.  "But, Ray..."
 
 Ray was about to complain, when a smile on Fraser's face stopped him.
 
 "What?"
 
 "Well, who said that I had to be the one to lose the clothes?  In
fact..."
 
 Ray's eyes widened as Fraser's hand went to his zip, then to his buttons 
 and soon his trousers where down and around his ankles and Fraser was 
 kneeling in front of him.
 
 "Fraser, I've wanted this for so long, but here...?"
 
 Fraser managed to drag his eyes away from the enlarged cock that was in 
 front of him to look at Ray.  "I don't think they mind, Ray."
 
 "Yeah, but...Ohhhh, dear God!"
 
 Fraser's soft wet mouth had covered the slightly weeping head, one hand 
 taking the base, the other cupping his balls as he gently massaged them.
 
 Rays hands tried to run through Fraser's hair, but the sensation building

 up through him was something he'd been denied for so long that all he
could 
 do was place them on his head.
 
 He could barely contain himself, but he hardly heard his own voice, 
 pleasure after pleasure filling him.
 
 Too long since anything but his own hand ensured that Ray wasn't long in 
 coming.
 
 "Fraser!  Oh, Jesus!  Ben!"
 
 Ray's head went back, hitting the wall, but he never noticed.  All he
could 
 feel was Fraser's hands and mouth, and suddenly he called out Fraser's
name 
 as he shot straight into his mouth.
 
 Slowly he came back down to earth, Fraser taking every last drop he had
to 
 give.
 
 "Ray?"
 
 "Hmmm?"
 
 Fraser smiled at that.
 
 "Ray!"
 
 "What?"
 
 "Someone's coming."
 
 Ray smiled.
 
 "No, someone just came and it was...wow...maybe lickin' stuff has its 
 upside after all.  You must get a lot of practice with that tongue,
Frase, 
 cause that was...wow."
 
 "Ray, someone is actually....Ahh, Detective Dewey, Detective Huey.  How 
 nice to see you."
 
 Ray jumped slightly, looking down to find his clothes had been pulled
back 
 up on him.  He smiled at the two Detectives.
 
 "Need something?"
 
 Huey looked like the cat that had got the cream.  "Nah, just wanted to
make 
 sure Fraser found you."  He grinned at Dewey, and held out his hand.
 
 Dewey looked annoyed as he fished in his pockets and produced a set of
car 
 keys handing them to Huey.
 
 "Catch you guys tomorrow."
 
 Ray held the door open for them, and then followed them out with Fraser 
 into the hall.
 
 "Not if I can help it.  Late shift tonight, day off tomorrow.  I plan to 
 lie in bed all day."  He turned to Fraser.  "It's your day off tomorrow 
 too, right?"
 
 Dewey and Huey walked off, arguing between themselves.  Fraser waited
until 
 he could no longer hear them before replying, leaning in close.
 
 "So it is, Ray."  He yawned, and then, much to Ray's surprise he licked
his 
 lips.  "I was planning on eating more of a new delicacy I just discovered

 tonight.  It was very...enjoyable, but I too am also feeling very tired. 
I 
 was thinking of having a day of rest myself."
 
 Ray leaned closer, running a hand over Fraser's chest, pausing long
enough 
 to attempt to rub at one of his nipples through all the layers of
clothing 
 and thick woolen serge.
 
 "It's alright to eat in bed, you know.  In fact, food sometimes tastes 
 better there."
 
 "Is that so?"
 
 Ray grinned, then quickly stepped over, licking Fraser on the lips.
 
 "Hmmm, you don't taste so bad yourself there, Frase.  Wanna see me get
the 
 full flavor, so to speak?"
 
 Fraser smiled.  "Absolutely, Ray."
 
 Saying that, Fraser walked off, Ray watching him for a second before 
 shaking his head in wonder.  "God, but I love Canadian food.  Hold up 
 there, Frase.  I'm coming."
 
 The End