Shadows & Light I: The Coming of Shadows "Shadows & Light I: The Coming of Shadows" A New Due South Story By Red Skye ======================= RATINGS [A.R] [A.U] [R] [X.S] M/F & M/M pairings, sex of the gratuitous kind, the romantic kind, consensual and otherwise. Also for violent incidents. Notes: This is an ALTERNATE UNIVERSE STORY. It was inspired by a line in another story I'm working on in which someone asks Ray, "What would you do if you couldn't be a cop?" At least one character will be out of character, but the reasons for that will be obvious along the way. This story comes with a Vicious Vicky warning - yes, Victoria. If you think Vicky's a good girl at heart - stay away. And last not least, this explores the possibility of Victoria's secret having a very different ending, because Ray wasn't there to stop her succeeding. Imagine most events occurred as they did in that episode, minus Ray being involved and you'll be on the right wave length. For an explanation of my ratings and more stories try my Due South fanfic archive for all my available finished works http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/9377/02index.html *---==================(*)==================---* CHAPTER ONE :---=====(*)=====---: Ray's career came to an end in a way he would never have imagined it would. As a favor he'd agreed to take part in a stake out Huey and Gardino were carrying out. It lasted longer than they had expected it to. Due to this fact, and the fact they couldn't give up on it when they were so close to success they had needed to find someone else to assist. So they could take turns to go to court to testify at a trail. They were able to get the prosecutor to get permission for them to testify on different days. Ray took Huey's place when he had to leave to testify. He returned when it was Gardino who had to go to court to testify. Somehow, they never found out how, the man they were staking out found them out, Ray wondered why it was taking him so long to enter his apartment after entering the building it was contained in. He assumed he may have met someone in the building corridors, and might be chatting with them, and checked his watch again. He muttered to Huey that if the man didn't show up at his apartment within the next minute he'd slip out and investigate it. The man showed up, but it was not at the apartment across the way that they had under surveillance. It was at the apartment they were staked out in. The man's arrival was announced by a hard kick that sent the door flying open. That act was followed by a stream of hot lead sent their way. Huey was able to dive for what little cover the room had, its card table, which he flipped over and returned fire from behind. He heard the glass of the windows shattering and assumed it was smashed by a bullet, he was wrong. One of his shots took out the miscreant, after he went down, Huey moved in fast to kick his gun away, and see if he was alive, which he wasn't. After assuring himself the man was no longer a threat Huey looked around for Ray. A chill cavorted up and down his spine when he saw that Ray was no where in sight. The reason was obvious, instead of a bullet hole or two in the glass of the window, there was nothing left in the window except slivers of glass and a broken frame. He ran to the window and looked out. Ray was there, sprawled in a heap on the fire escape his body awkwardly jammed between a side rail and the mesh base. Blood stained his shirt, spreading rapidly at his shoulder, and blood ran down the side of his face in a crimson stream. His face had a distinctly bluish tinge and his lips were starting to turn grey. With an oath, Huey scrambled out of the smashed window and onto the fire escape, irrespective of the risk involved, he moved Ray into a far more comfortable position. He put his ear to Ray's mouth but couldn't hear him take a breath. How much time had passed, when did he stop breathing, it seemed like an eternity had passed to Huey. Huey tried his pulse but couldn't find one. He realized the blood wasn't running down Ray's face, it was congealing there and pulled out his phone and hit the speed dial resting it awkwardly onto his shoulder and repositioned Ray as best he could. "Officer Down," he blurted when it was answered and out came the details as fast as he could relay them. He tilted the Ray's head, clearing his air way then the phone went down and he started mouth to mouth, and alternated between breathing air into Ray's lungs with CPR. Huey had continued working over Ray with mouth to mouth and heart massage until the paramedics arrived to take over. Huey had almost needed a little recus himself, holding his breath waiting to hear that first ragged breath Ray had drawn in as they worked over him. His knees had gone weak with relief when he heard one triumphantly state that they had a weak thready pulse :---=====(*)=====---: They would never learn if Ray had thrown himself out the window to escape the gun fire, he'd known the fire escape was there. Yet there was an equal chance he'd hit the window when he was shot and kept going through it to hit the fire escape. It was a moot point, along with the bullet in his shoulder he'd sustained two head wounds. Legacy of his head hitting the side rail of the fire escape. The worst wound was a skull fracture the other was a nasty looking gash on his head that required 16 stitches to close. Ray was comatose for near on a month before he began his slow return to consciousness. It began with little twitches, of fingers and toes. The nurses who performed his bed baths noticed it happening when he was bathed. The movements he began making progressed gradually from little twitches to limb movement and incoherent mumbling. That was the point when the staff tending to his needs cleaned his eyes and waited for them to open. Ray's eye lids fluttered first, then opened a fraction, before he uttered his first coherent words, which confused the hell out of the medical staff. "It was the real estate guy," Then he slipped into a deep sleep. His family for the most part were confused when they were informed of his return to consciousness and first words. It was Frannie who worked it out and she laughed making them look at her to ask what she was laughing about. She recovered the bag she took with her to the hospital when it was her turn to sit by Ray's bedside, and pulled out a book. A mystery/thriller novel. "Fraser and I have been taking turns at reading this to him. One of the characters runs a real estate agency," Frannie informed them, then she opened it and looked through the last few pages and chuckled. "What do you know, he's right, it was the real estate agent." Fraser was contacted to be told the good news and the family celebrated Ray's return to the land of the living, and the fact that he'd been able to deduce who the bad guy in the story he'd been read - before Fraser and Frannie had read more than half of it to him - was even more reason to celebrate. Or so they thought. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray tired easily and managed to sleep through every visitation he'd had over the next three days. Then his mother timed her next visit to be there at a time the doctor told her Ray usually awoke at. She was there beside the bed in the visitor's chair when he opened his eyes and looked around. She smiled down at him, touching his arm, uttering the usual spiel people utter at a time like that. He silenced her with a question, "Who are you?" He reacted the same way to every visitor who came, his sisters, his brother in law, Fraser, even Welsh. Family, friends and associates, he was indiscriminate, he'd no idea who any of them were. He could put a name to three of them, Francesca, Maria and Benton, but only because he'd heard others talking to them and refer to them by their names, but he did not know *who* they were until someone told him Francesca and Maria were his sisters. When Ray was asked who he was, he was able to answer, Raimondo Vecchio - but it was not so much a case of remembering that was his name. It was more a case of hearing numerous staff referring to him as Mr Vecchio. "I'm just going to do this, Mr Vecchio, I'm just going to do that, Mr Vecchio," He'd heard it while he was lying on his hospital bed, unable to find the strength to move or even open his eyes. That and other visitors who called him Ray or Raimondo lead him to deduce his name was Raimondo Vecchio, Ray for short. He did not know what his middle name was, when had been born, where he lived, who his family were, if he was single, married, divorced or otherwise, straight or gay - or that there was a difference. He knew only what he'd been told and had been able to deduce from conversations over heard, and things he'd noticed. He wondered about the tall, pale, blue eyed visitor he remembered had been among his regular visitors while he'd been comatose. He remembered the man's voice, the little things he talked about. He knew his name was Benton, he'd heard several people mention his name, and heard him respond to it. He deduced they were friends, possibly more, after all he was the only non family member who had been a regular at his bed side. Now he was no longer a visitor. He'd come by twice after realizing Ray no longer knew who he was and had stopped coming. Ray made up his mind to find out more about the man. The man with no past, had a middle name and it was curiosity. :---=====(*)=====---: As Ray's strength returned, he was released into his family's care to return home. By the end of his first day back home he was starting to wish he'd stayed at the hospital. The way they looked when he failed to recognize things around the house, the way the little tykes of the family (his nephews and nieces) reacted when they realized he had no idea who they were, the way they kept trying to bring a few memories back, with food, photos and various items all got to him. He was extremely grateful when the woman he'd been told was his mother announced that was enough for one day and showed him up to the room he was told was his to sleep. He was asleep within a few minutes of settling down on the bed. But his body clock had become used to the hospital's schedule, the times the staff tended to him, when trolley's rattled past and people visited him. He was awake in the early morning before anyone else. He crept through the house trying not to wake anyone, hoping to put off their well meaning attempts to help him remember his life. He found the toilet and bathroom and tended to his needs before he made his way back to his room. The next thing he did was to open his wardrobe and dressers to investigate what was on offer. He assumed he was some kind of office worker, or maybe even a writer, of mysteries, the way his mind worked seemed to indicate it. Then he found something tucked away in the back of his wardrobe encased in a garment bag that set him straight. It was a police uniform. That on its own was not enough to set him straight, it could be a costume, there were a few of them tucked away, but he also found the hat to go with the uniform, the accruements he assumed a real cop had, handcuffs, a night stick, a draw contained a badge, a license, and police ID He smiled faintly when he saw that and discovered he was a detective. That explained the way his mind worked, the uniform and other accruements of a police officer he'd found. It also inspired him to keep searching his room to find out more about the man he'd been. His mother found him sitting on his bed, with some of his storage containers, paper scattered around the bed, along with nick knack's of all kinds. There was a case with a medal, open on the bed, along with a small jewelry case, containing a wedding ring among other things. He found it all interesting and was gradually building a profile of the man he'd been in his head. He was not sure whether or not he liked it. And what he did not like about it was that he could not understand how a police detective could afford to own a home like the one the title deeds he found said was his. Added to that there were the papers for two cars, one a Mercedes Benz, magazines he'd read at the hospital told him it was a prestige car, and prestige cars came with high price tags. Other papers he found told him how much he earned in a year. And he'd read enough magazines to know the clothes in his wardrobe were designer clothes and did not come cheap. Then there was the little matter of an ex-wife he apparently paid alimony too on top of that. He assumed his father was either dead or had walked out on the family because he'd yet to meet the man, which probably meant he supported his mother as well. His fears were compounded when he heard his mother walk in and looked up to see the look on her face. She did not look happy. In fact she looked worried. "Raimondo, you have visitors." :---=====(*)=====---: His visitors turned out to be from the Internal Affairs department, and his mother had apparently made a phone call, and forbade them entry until she was ready to let them in. Her call yielded results in the form of Lieutenant Welsh arriving with a lawyer in tow. Only when they arrived did Mrs Vecchio allow the I.A agents to enter accompanied by Welsh and the Lawyer. The interview took place around the dining table, and it turned into a very short one. They wanted to talk to him about Constable Fraser, or as one of them put it, the Mountie. "Mountie? I thought this was Chicago." "It is," Welsh told him. "So why are they asking me about a Mountie? What's a Mountie doing in Chicago?" "They mean your friend Benton, you remember him, from the hospital, don't you?" "Oh. Do you mean the tall blue eyed guy that made the nurses become ever so helpful whenever he was around?" "That would be Benton, he has that affect on women." "Enough of the games." "Games, you want to play a game, try playing who am I? What I know about this Mountie is limited to what he looks like, the fact he has no trouble with big words, because he would read to me at the hospital, and that he's a babe magnet. If you have questions about him, ask someone else, because I can't answer them." "I'm sure you were informed Detective Vecchio suffered a head injury which is why he's on medical leave, he's suffering near total amnesia," Welsh said, "His memories consist of memories of what's happened since he came to his senses in the hospital and no further." "How convenient," one of the I.A officers sneered. Mrs Vecchio who had been eavesdropping until that moment stopped eavesdropping, and returned to give the I.A officers a piece of her mind. They were left with no doubts that there was nothing convenient about it. That she hoped they found out how devastating it was to loose your past, to consider your whole family and everyone you once knew strangers. To not even remember the layout of the home you had lived in all your life. On and on she went, until they departed with her on their heels, continuing to rant at them till she slammed the door on their heels. Curiosity being his new middle name, Ray asked Welsh why they wanted to interrogate him about Benton, and if he really was a Mountie? "Yes, he was. He came to Chicago on the trail of his father's killer and ended up as the deputy liaison officer at the Canadian consulate here. You helped him to find his father's killer, and the man who hired him to kill his father and you became friends in the process." "Uh-hu. And what do those Internal Affairs people want? I mean why would they be asking questions about a Mountie, unless they're Canadian internal affairs?" "They're not. Before I tell you more... It would help if you tell me what he talked about when he visited you at the hospital." "I don't think it would help much. Most of the time he just read something to me, a book, a magazine or a newspaper, he stopped coming after he found out.. I didn't remember anything about him. I mean, at first he didn't realize it, 'cause I knew his name, but then he found out it was just because I'd heard people mention his name and heard him respond to it, just like I did with Francesca." Then he leaned toward Welsh. "Do you know why she always looks like she's going to cry when I call her Francesca?" "You called her Frannie." "Oh.. I'll have to remember to call her that.. It's really terrible, them being so nice and all to me, and me not knowing the right things to do or say. And it's all the little things they get upset about. If I ask them why they're upset, it just makes them more upset. I learned my lesson with Benton.. He stopped coming when he worked it out." "They're your family, Ray. They're not going to wash their hands of you because you have trouble remembering things." "But the police department will." "Amnesia doesn't have to be permanent. The doctor's said we just had to take things one day at a time. Your memory will return." "But what if it doesn't? I heard one of the doctors talking about me. They said I stopped breathing for a while, that I was clinically dead for a time.. That it could be brain damage resulting from that, not amnesia." Welsh stared at him. "Who said that? Did the doctor *tell* you that's what it was?" "I heard them.. out in the corridor.. they were talking about me. I know what Brain Damage is.. I was reading all about it in one of those magazines people brought for me to read and learn things about the world. Brain Damage means I'm never going to get better. Brain Damage means it's permanent, not temporary. What if I never remember anything.. What if.." "You listen to me, the Doctor I spoke to. The one who was assigned your case, the one who knew all you're details, and not just someone who only knew some of the facts, told me it was Amnesia, not brain damage. Amnesia. You wouldn't remember how to do anything let alone be able to have an intelligent conversation with us if it was brain damage. Do you understand?" Ray nodded slowly. "Your memory *will* return. It's a matter of when *not* if. When your family thinks your ready, we'll take you back, if your memory hasn't returned, we'll try to help it along, retrain you. The doctor said you can never tell what will trigger recall. And speaking of recall, I want you to recall the visits Benton made you at the Hospital. Did he say anything at all about what was going on in his own life?" Ray thought about it for some time sorting through the memories he could access. "Yeah, the last time I saw him, it was a really short visit, he looked pretty bad, like he hadn't slept in a while, he said someone shot someone called Diefenbaker. When I asked him who that was, he sighed, and told me it didn't matter. Oh, and the time before that, he was almost glowing, he was really happy, when I asked him what he was so cheerful about, he said, he'd been given a second chance with a woman called... Victoria." Welsh's note book came out and he made a note of that. "Did he tell you anything else about her?" "He said he met her about ten years ago... That it didn't work out back then.. Then he changed the subject." Welsh jotted that down. "He didn't mention her again?" "No. Those were the only times he ever mentioned what was going on in his life..." Ray nodded. "Did you ever see her?" "Nooo.. I don't think so.. But I remember.. The last time he came, I heard a woman saying I'll wait here while you talk to your friend. And when I looked around, he was walking in. I didn't see the woman though, just a shadow in the hall, through the door way. "Ah.. Do you recall if the shadow stayed there the whole time he was with you, and if it disappeared after he left?" Ray nodded and made a so-so gesture he'd seen people make. "I'm not sure if it disappeared when he walked out, because a nurse came and said he'd to leave because the Doctor wanted to examine me and would be arriving any minute.. I was a little distracted.. I remember the next time I looked in that direction, after he left that it was gone.. I *think* I'm not to sure.. That I heard them talking in the hall, but like I said, I was distracted.. It might have been someone else out there." "What do you remember hearing? It could be important, if it was them." Ray thought hard about it, but shook his head. "The nurse was making noise.. I couldn't make it out. Why is it so important? Why are Internal Investigations asking about him?" Benton is the main suspect in a murder investigation." "What?!" "It involves a man who took part in a robbery over ten years ago, who escaped from jail recently. It seems they never recovered the stolen cash. And Benton captured and arrested one of the people involved. Now it turns out that the RCMP found a substantial amount of cash at his cabin in Canada when they were investigating a fire that broke out there. The serial numbers match the serial numbers of the stolen cash, more money with serial numbers that are a match for the list of serial numbers of the stolen cash has also been turning up around Chicago. And it seems he was the one spending it. It even turned up at the hospital. The day after the murder, around the time he visited you for the last time." "They think he found and kept the money." Welsh nodded. "But what does that have to do with me?" "They're probably thinking you may have known something about it." "Has he been arrested?" "No. He... vanished." "Was the guy who was shot called Diefenbaker?" "No.. Diefenbaker was Benton's wolf. It was shot three days before the murder, and his apartment was turned upside down. He reported it, and mentioned a woman, Victoria. She was there at the time it happened, he wasn't." "Where was he?" "He left to buy some food, when he got back, she was gone, his apartment had been ransacked, and his wolf had been shot." "Did you find the woman?" Welsh sighed. "There was a woman called Victoria who was involved in the bank robbery. She was the one he captured and arrested. She was killed in a car accident sometime ago, *before* he claims to have met the woman .." "The robbery was ten years ago." Welsh nodded. "That's when he met her. That's what he said, he said he met her ten years ago, and it didn't work out..." "I noticed." "If I were you, I'd find out how the woman was supposed to have died, who i-deed the body and if the money started showing up around town *after* he says he ran into her. I don't know all the details, but it already sounds fishy to me." "We can't find a single person who saw that woman with him, entering or leaving his apartment, or the building it's in. That's why Internal Affair's is in on it. You and Benton were.. unofficial partners.. They think he kept the money and that you might know something about it." "Sooo they think I'm dirty.." "They think everyone's dirty.. It's part of the territory. Their always trying to prove people are not on the up and up." Ray didn't mention that he suspected they had good reason to suspect him. "That woman.. *No* one saw her?" "Not that we can find." "I bet that nurse saw her hovering around outside the room. I know her shadow was still out there when I heard the nurse come in and looked around." Welsh's eyes lit up. :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser sat on the bed of the dingy hotel room he'd checked into the day before with Victoria. He hadn't seen her since she'd left to pick up a few things. He was starting to suspect his villainous lover had abandoned him when the door opened and she strolled in looking like the cat that got the canary. "Oh good, you're dressed. Come along we've got a lot to do today." "And what's on the agenda?" "Why giving you a complete new look, first the hair, I've made a booking for you at a good salon." Fraser discovered the salon she was talking about was a beauty salon, and his new look involved a full body dye job. Something Victoria demanded their male attendant take care off. The next step was to have hair extensions added and a fake tan applied, from top to toe. He spent an hour under a sun lamp, and Victoria smiled while all the other women in the waiting area drooled. With a slink Victoria joined Fraser and lead him out of the salon gaining every woman's envy. Their next stop was a second hand clothing store where Victoria pushed him into a change room before wandering through the store selecting clothes and tossing them in. She made him try everything she picked on. Half of it she decided looked horrible on and dumped and the other half she was sold on when the saleswoman drooled. The last thing she sent Fraser's way was a pair of denim pants and a denim coat. He changed into them and announced the pants were a little tight. "Come on out and show me." With a sigh, he did. She did not look at him, she looked at the saleswoman who's eyes went straight to his crotch. "Do you think they're too tight?" Victoria asked the woman. "I think they look wonderful." Victoria looked Fraser up and down, slowly. "We'll definitely take it. He'll wear it out." Fraser had learned early that doing what Victoria wanted without an argument was the best way to avoid pain and trouble. So he simply gathered up his clothes and carried them to the counter to be bagged with the rest of the purchases. Then he followed her down the street, she carrying the bags, he walking along side. Women gave him the eye all the way back to the hotel some subtly others blatantly. Victoria seemed to enjoy it. He opened his mouth to ask why, but never got the chance, she tossed the bags, grabbed the coat and swung him around to shove him off balance. He staggered back and lost his balance falling onto the bed. "Have I told you how ravishing you look right now," She said, before she proceeded to thoroughly ravish him to prove it. As she lay curled up at his side sleeping with a satisfied smile he stared up at the roof and sighed. It was getting harder and harder to satisfy her, he'd lost all desire for his company and the one time his body had failed to respond to her attentions she'd suggested a little game, tied him to the bed, and left him there for an hour. She'd returned with a soft leather cat'o'nine tails whip and lashed him the soles of his feet to his neck. The whip didn't break his skin, but it left bruises and it was quite some time before he could move without twinges of pain. From that point on, there was always a little game she wanted to play, a game that usually involved pain. Whether he was interested or not he found ways to satisfy her, when he didn't slight or bearable pain became something else. He found that fantasies worked best and when they failed, there were other ways he learned to give her what she wanted. His tinted skin flushed - with shame and he recalled the fantasy he'd indulged in while she'd her way with him. He had come so close to crying out a name that was not hers when he'd finally cum, and knew that if he did not get away from her soon he would make a mistake that could prove lethal. :---=====(*)=====---: Many people thought that it was just a matter of time before Ray's memories returned and he returned to work. But as the weeks passed and became months it became apparent the man he'd been had as good as died and a new man was born when he came out of his coma. He started his new life with all the instincts of a detective, and devoured mystery, thriller and crime novels by the score to pass the time. He drifted through his days at first, rarely venturing outside the house, devouring books and magazines his mother and sisters brought for him, and watching lots of T.V learning about the world outside his home. He was polite, always, started using big words, and never raised his voice. When his sisters squabbled at the dinner table, he tried to mediate their arguments. At first this made them stop arguing, due to the fact their mother would give them the evil eye. But as time passed, they started telling him to butt out or ignored his attempts to mediate between them. Life at the Vecchio home started to revert to normal. At least for the rest of the family. For Ray things had changed, considerably. Mrs. Vecchio controlled his life, everything he ate, sometimes what he wore, what he could do. He could not leave the house without her demanding to know where he was going, why he was leaving, and if he said he wanted to get some new books, she told him to watch a little television and she would get one of his sisters to pick up some new books. If he wanted to go for a walk just to get some fresh air, she'd tell him to wait till someone could go with him, so he wouldn't get lost. If he was insistent, she'd make him wait. He couldn't get out unless she let him because she'd changed the locks, so they locked both ways. Only she could open the door. Once she accompanied him to the police station, and told him to wait for her and go nowhere while she spoke to someone. He realized it was the police station he must have been assigned to when people kept approaching him to say hello, how are you doing, good to see you. He didn't know who any of them were and they tended to scuttle off when they realized it. His mother returned with someone he recognized at last, Lieutenant Welsh. Lieutenant Welsh took him into the squad room and introduced him to a woman called Elaine. Ray gave her a polite smile and a how do you do. She showed him to the desk that used to be his, made him sit and introduced him to another part of his life he'd no memory of. He spent the day at the station, learning mainly by observing the ebb and flow of activity in the room, listening to the people. When Elaine was not otherwise occupied by requests for assistance she'd show him things, forms, papers, files, records, explain what people were doing. She gave him a tour of the station, told him what each of the rooms were and let him observe what went on in those rooms when he expressed an interest. A man who Elaine introduced him to, Detective Jack Huey took over mid way, and after a few false starts learned to answer Ray's questions with detailed answers or demonstrations, or to let him watch or see things. He also clucked, asking frequently if Ray wanted to sit down, to eat something, have a cup of coffee, etc. Ray politely said no, unless the questions were asked at times he was thirsty. His mother returned mid way through the day to make him take his medication, had another chat with Welsh, then departed. Ray's re-familiarization with the station ended with a trip to the shooting range, and a reintroduction to how to use and maintain a gun. :---=====(*)=====---: "Shadows & Light I: The Coming of Shadows" A New Due South Story By Red Skye ======================= This is an ALTERNATE UNIVERSE STORY. Warnings etc in Chapter One. *---==================(*)==================---* CHAPTER TWO :---=====(*)=====---: His family never gave up hope that his memories would return, and had hoped the delivery of Fraser's wolf, Diefenbaker, after the vet released him from care, would jog a memory or two. It failed. Ray was non-plussed as to why the Wolf had been brought to his home. But the animal seemed to like him, and had little trouble settling in with the family. It spent all its nights curled up on a rug by Ray's bed, or on it and on the rare times he ventured out, it followed him. He grew used to its company and accepted the fact he'd become its master by default. It also sparked his curiosity about the Wolf's former master again. All his ventures out of the house were to visit the precinct, to re-familiarise himself with that part of his life. He went through the tour again and again, until he was able to identify most of the rooms and say what they were used for, or what went on in them. Pleasing Elaine with his correct answers. Huey would take over at the end of each tour to take him back down to the shooting range for his lessons in how to use a gun until he learned to put a bullet where he was told to put it, to take a gun apart and clean it. To load and reload it at a speed Huey seemed pleased with. The first thing he would do when he returned home each time would be go to the bathroom fill the sink with hot water and soak his hands up past the wrists and complain about the recoil of the gun. He was glad when the next time he was taken to the station by his mother he was left alone to reacquaint himself. They permitted him to wander around without an escort, though Huey and Elaine kept a discrete eye on him when they could. Ray managed to find the personnel files and get into them and make a copy of his own file and wrapped it in a cloth he brought along and tucked it under his shirt. Then he wandered around a little before wandering back to his desk to sit and watch what went on in the squad room with interest. He sat up straighter when Welsh stopped by his desk. "How are you feeling?" "Fine, sir." "Bring back any memories?" "Er.. No.. I don't think so." Welsh handed him a glass of water and his pills and Ray took them thinking Mother strikes again. "Why don't you try reading a few files?" Welsh suggested waving at the files on his desk. Ray looked at them. "Can I do that?" "This is *your* desk, Vecchio. Your files and records, Everything was left the way you left it before the incident. Go over them. There's a note pad, pens that work, make notes, anything that comes to mind while you go through them. Elaine's just over there, if you have any questions or need any help, just call her." "Thank-you, sir." Welsh gave him a weak little smile and wandered off, and Ray saw him shudder as he did. Something that he noticed quite a few people seemed to do after talking to him. Ray went over all the files on the desk. Most were case records for former cases he'd worked on and he guessed that they were put there to jog a memory or two. Some were for still unsolved cases, and Ray poured over those reading every word. He covered several pages on his note pad with notes and questions. Every time he looked up to see if Elaine was busy, she was, so he made more notes, writing down all his questions. A man with curly hair approached moving to the desk across the way, and watched him for a while. Ray was almost pathetically grateful when he came to his desk and asked if he needed some help. He introduced himself as Louis Gardino, Detective, Huey's partner. Ray started bombarding him with questions. Gardino answered some then yelled for Elaine. Elaine hurried over and Gardino dumped it in her lap and disappeared. Elaine was very helpful answering all the questions she could, finding information and records, and with her help he soon covered a few more pages with notes. The next time she had to leave him to fend for himself while she assisted someone else Ray gathered up a file and his notes and approached Welsh's office to knock a little hesitantly on the door. Welsh looked up and called him in. Ray stepped in closing the door then approached the desk. "This was one of the cases on my desk.. I went over it as you told me to.. And Elaine helped me to make sense of it." He handed the folder to Welsh. "I made notes like you told me to." Welsh opened the file found the notes and set them aside and reacquainted himself with the facts of the case, then he looked over Ray's notes. Ray watched him give another little shudder, and crossed his arms. Welsh kept reading till he finished the set the notes down and looked up with a weak little smile. "This is very good, Vecchio, now what happens?" "Er.. You send someone around to arrest him?" "Uh-hu.. and.." "Er..." And so it went, with Welsh making him describe every step that had to be taken, making little notes of his own. That was followed by an interrogation about how and why Ray came to the conclusions he did, during which time three people came to the door making Welsh yell - "Can't you see I'm busy, Come back later" each time. Welsh covered quite a few pages of his legal pad with notes before he dismissed Ray to re-familiarise himself with the station and how things were done. Ray left with a list of things to ask Elaine to explain to him. He returned to his desk when he saw she was busy. Sitting, he unfolded the list to look it over. The next time Welsh stepped out, he looked around to see Elaine speaking with another detective and Ray no where in sight. He approached Elaine, and the other detective scuttled off. Welsh questioned Elaine and discovered Ray had not approached her with his list. He checked the desk and found a lone peice of garbage in the bin, the list screwed up into a little ball. Huey approached and Welsh told him to drop everything and find Ray. The station was searched and then the search was extended beyond its perimeter when someone at the desk remembered seeing him walk out during a particularly busy time of the afternoon. Several phone calls to the Vecchio residence followed. Mrs Vecchio response to the question of wether Ray had returned grew more frantic each time it was asked. Night fell, and a APB on Ray was put out. He was eventually found in the wee small hours of the morning, by a sharp eyed beat cop who noticed a flash of white in the shadows and investigated. He found Ray in a battered state, huddled up hidden in the shadows, between a dumpster and a wall, minus his suit and shoes, his shirt torn and covered in filth and blood most of which seemed to be his. He was quickly collected and transported to the hospital and examined. His cuts and bruises were tended to and he cleaned up and given an ice pack for his nose before being settled into a bed behind a screen to rest. Two police officers tried to question him, one being Welsh, he feigned sleep to avoid it. The next time he heard someone approach, he heard the nurse refer to Mrs Vecchio, and stopped feigning sleep. For once he was happy to see his mother and let her cluck. He asked her to take him home, in no time at all she was doing just that. There was food she made him eat, with a strange after taste, and after he started feeling tired, he realised the after taste was medication, she had crushed up his tablets and added them to his food. He was helped into his pyjamas and put to bed, tucked in and fussed over till he fell into a deep sleep. Bit by bit over the next day she got the story out of him, how he'd left the station and tried to go home, but could not remember the way. He'd wandered through the streets looking for familiar territory, trying to find his way. Asking people for directions, most people ignored him, those who listened couldn't help him. Hopelessly lost he'd wandered into the wrong part of town, and found trouble, twice over, first some punk thought he looked like a good target to rob. But all he had was his watch which was taken. He'd lost track of the time after that. He didn't know how long he'd wandered around trying to find his way home, or back to the station, completely lost. He'd wandered into the wrong territory and been set upon by a gang who taunted him, before they beat him up and stole his suit and shoes and left him battered, bleeding and dazed in the alley way where the beat cop had found him. She tried several times to find out why he'd left the station, after she had told him to stay until she or his sister came to collect him and take him home, but he wouldn't tell her. He lied, saying he'd just wanted to go for a walk for some fresh air. She passed everything onto Welsh, who knew Ray was lying about why he left. The screwed up list in the bin and the fact he hadn't discussed it with Elaine was evidence of that. He had goofed, he knew it. Ray had been offended, or frustrated, possibly both and being too polite to take his grievance to Welsh he had left the station in a snit. :---=====(*)=====---: The next day Ray leaned against the wall on the porch arms crossed, trying to keep calm. His mother was driving him right up a wall clucking over him. He had almost had a fight with her over Diefenbaker. He had done some reading, he knew what was considered a healthy diet for the Wolf, but his mother seemed hell bent on ignoring his instructions. Then he showed her the note from Benton the Vet had passed on, or part of the letter. It contained instructions on how to release Diefenbaker back into the wild (if possible) he announced that he wanted to do it and that had set his mother off ranting about the dangers, and how she expressly forbid it, how Dief had been domesticated, etcetera etcetera. He'd stomped off and been forced to climb through a window to get out of the house to cool off. He was frustrated and angry. He felt like a prisoner in a fancy cage. Mrs Vecchio was not his mother, she was his prison guard and warden all rolled into one. "Hello, Ray." Ray jumped startled from his thoughts and looked around to see Elaine standing at the bottom of the steps, dressed in casual clothes. He saw her wince when she got a good look at his bruised and puffy face with its scattering of butterfly clips and strips of gauze held down with bandaids. "Miss Bresbris, what are you doing here?" "Elaine, Ray, I told you to call me Elaine." "I'm sorry - Elaine." "I heard about what happened." He looked down at his feet, just what he needed to make his day complete. "I just wanted to make sure you were O.K." "I'm fine," he said in a grouchy tone. "Lieutenant Welsh is kicking himself about what happened. You don't have to.. be embarrassed, we understand, he was the one who made the mistake. Not you." He glanced up. "What?" "We all keep hoping you'll remember things, but you don't, you only know what we teach you." "*Yes*.. How am I supposed to know things if no one tells me how to do those things the right way." "He worked that out, but he handled it wrong. That case you reviewed, he was very pleased with the work you did." "He was?" "He gave it to Huey to follow it up. You were right, it was a insurance scam. For someone who doesn't remember much, you seem to have a real knack for.." "I read a lot of books. Mysteries, thrillers.. crime novels." "Oh." "You're horribly disappointed now, aren't you, because it doesn't mean *Detective Vecchio* is coming back, it's just me applying the things I learned from books and listening to what goes on in the squad room to jump to educated guesses." "Ray..." "Why don't you people just accept it, He's dead! He isn't coming back. I'm not Detective Vecchio, it was well and truly rubbed in my face the other day. I'm just a moron who can't do anything without a baby sitter to hold his hand and explain everything ever so carefully." She sighed. "What a pity that street gang or mugger didn't kill me and solve the whole damn problem." Elaine climbed the stairs and reached out to touch his arm. "Don't say things like that." "It's true. The only way you people will accept the truth is if I *physically* die. I am not that man, he's dead, he's not coming back, but I don't have a choice, I have to live his damned life, wether or not it's what I want to do. I have to do what I'm told and have my face rubbed in the fact I don't measure up to that cretin." "Ray!" Elaine began backing away as all the frustration, anger and resentment came spewing forth in a torrent of angry words, aggressive body language and finally the act of kicking and pounding at the wall - with him expressing his opinion of the way his mother controlled his life, loudly. Elaine fled while he was engaged in that activity. His mother came out and made him want to scream when her only response to it all was - "You didn't taken your medication, like you were supposed to, did you." and to take hold of his ear, twist it and drag him into the house by that painful hold on his ear. He was made to take his medication, and locked into his bedroom to calm down. He threw the temper tantrum to end all temper tantrums trashing his room before he worked it out of his system, then he sank to the floor amongst the mess and curled up into a little ball of misery and cried himself to sleep. When he awoke he found himself in his bed, his room spick and span minus the things he had smashed or broken during his tantrum. He also discovered the window was nailed shut, on the outside and that there were screws driven into the frame to make it impossible for him to open. His door he discovered had been fitted with a new lock, and locked. He grumpily prowled his room, then started searching it for the documents he'd found his first day home. He found his cel phone along the way. By the time his mother opened the door, he'd hatched a plan. :---=====(*)=====---: Lieutenant Welsh was happy to see that Ray returned, escorted by his mother again, and seemed eager to begin his re-education. Elaine had told him how miserable Ray was, but it seemed he had worked it out of his system and was now ready to get serious about rebuilding his life. He spent one day a week at his desk pouring over old records, and convinced Welsh and his mother to let him come more often. His mother would bring him into work, and either she or one of his sisters would come at the end of the day to take him home. Ray never tried to wander off again, he had learned his lesson. What no one noticed is that Ray was concealing maps behind files he was reading, and memorising details about the city. He was also getting ideas, from his books, and data from the files that helped him put his plan into action. He started being helpful, offering to run errands around the station for other people in the squad room, and soon people got used to him flitting around the station, not realising he was looking for ways out of the station other than the main doors. His mother didn't notice when he filched a little money from her purse, or the tiny bulge under his coat where his documents were concealed. No one noticed when he slipped out of the station and caught a taxi to start taking the first steps in setting up his new identity, and he needed money to do that. His first trip out unescorted since that disastrous day was brief and profitable. He withdrew a thousand dollars from his savings and returned to the station before anyone missed him. Later in the day he made another trip out to get a post office box and returned to the bank to get all his bank statements sent there and open a cheque account. He was back at the station before anyone missed him, and compliantly returned home to with his sister, to eat with the family before going up to his room. Fifteen minutes after he had his shower, Dief raised his head, looked at the door and gave a little whine. Ray heard the click of the lock and gave the door the finger, before patting the bed. The wolf jumped up and settled down to nap at his side while he went through the photo copies of records he'd made and concealed during the day and began making notes about getting the ball rolling. Each day he visited the bank, withdrawing a little more out of his account. Then he went to another bank to open an account there. At the end of the month he checked his bank statements and found that the department was depositing money in his main account each week, he arranged to have that automatically transferred to his new account. And two weeks later slipped out to mortgage the house to the hilt. At the end of the week, he tracked down a devious criminal who had been caught helping people create fake I.D papers more than once. He gave the man a return ticket to New York and a considerable amount of money taking the first step toward creating his new identity. A week later, he visited his post office box and smiled when he found a small parcel and a thick envelope. It contained a birth certificate, bank account, credit cards, a cheque book, lease for an apartment, even a licence and car registration papers, every thing he needed to set up a new life. There were pictures of his apartment, the ATV, maps with routes marked out, papers for a post office box and keys too. There was also a note, demanding another $5000 - cash, or else. Ray opened the parcel next and found a set of license parts and engine plates. He smiled. He had picked the right man for the job alright. The man got the $5000 he demanded, with an extra $500 for doing such a good job. Ray got a shock the next day he returned to the station. He discovered the man had been killed the night he returned, mugged for the money he had, and shot by his mugger when he resisted. He shuddered when he heard one of the cops discussing it say it could not have happened to a more deserving son of a bitch. He was shocked at their attitude, the attitude that he quickly came to realise most of the people around the station, and even the city had. Murder, aggravated assault, rape, it all was just another part of life and they only got excited about it when the media made a big fuss or if it happened to a cop. He was despondent too - at the loss of this contact, he'd needed the man, arranged to get his help to set up the next part of his plan. Now he needed to revise it and find another way to accomplish it. It came to him one night, after being locked into his room. He was reading yet another of his books when he came across the perfect plan, he just needed to adapt it to his needs. Which he spent two days doing. After that, he slipped out of the station as often as possible, catching cabs and visiting second hand clothing stores all over the city. Super stores, camping stores, and shoe shops. Everything he brought was packed, wrapped and mailed off to his new identity's post office box. He also talked his mother into helping him learn to drive again. She escorted him to and from a driving school on the days he was not at the station. He took out an insurance policy that would cover paying out the mortgage and then started withdrawing as much as he could, leaving just enough to cover the loan repayments. Everything else went into his new identity's bank account. He also started tentatively exploring his world first the streets around the station, then in increasing circles, and made sure he had a gun and stole a kevlar vest. He wore the vest under his clothes, and carried the gun everywhere he went. He was not going to be the victim of another mugging if he had anything to say about it. During his explorations he discovered a collection of burnt out wrecks and was overjoyed to discover one was of a car the exact model as his. He was not so overjoyed to discover a derelict's corpse inside it. He fought his instincts and stripped it to exam the corpse for signs of foul play and came to the conclusion he had died of natural causes. He should have reported it, but he didn't. He investigated to see if anyone knew about the site and found out while it was known about no one had really investigated the wrecks. Elaine wondered why he had a smile on his face for the rest of the day, and when she expressed her curiosity he clapped her arms and said, it's because it's a beautiful day to be alive. She wandered off, and gave a little nod to a fellow officer who'd heard and seen and made he's screwy motions. He smiled a lot the next time he returned to the station as well, for much the same reason. "Don't tell me, it's a beautiful day to be alive," Elaine said. Ray pulled out his licence and waved it at her. "I passed my driving test yesterday. I can drive now." "That's wonderful news." "Well it would be, if my mother would let me drive." She laughed. "Tell her to let you drive the car to work." Ray did, and for the next week, he drove to work, with her accompanying him watching him drive, then driving the car home. She returned for him in the evening and let him drive home. He was chomping at the bit to be allowed to drive without a chaperon and had to fight to contain his glee when she set the car and house keys by his breakfast bowl and told him he could drive himself to work that morning. *Without* a chaperon. He got the house keys copied and tested them that night and found out the key worked on the lock of his room as well as the back and front doors. He crept back up to his room and hugged Dief. "We're home free now, Diefenbaker. I just need a few more days to set everything up.. and we're flying this coop." Dief licked his face and seemed pleased to hear it. Ray went on to go through the room collecting all the books he wanted to keep, along with the dozen or so note pads he covered with idea's for stories he had written down. He intended to be a writer when he set up his new life, it was the perfect career, he had learned enough at the station to write the sort of books he had in mind. And he intended to set his new life up in New York, where he was sure he had find a publisher in no time. All his things were tucked into suit case, and he crept through the house and out to put it in the trunk of the car. The next day, the contents of the suitcase were transferred to mail boxes and forward onto his New York post box. His last sly trip was to a vet to get sedatives for Dief. He didn't think he could get the wolf out of the house without him giving the game away any other way. The next time he managed to slip away, he returned home with foam padding taped around the trunk, and pillows lining it. The very next day, he made a big show of finding his pills and called his mother to the bathroom to watch him flush them. "That's the last time I take any pills." "But Raimondo, you need your medication." "No I don't, I'm better now." "You still have a long way to go." "I'll do it without the pills." :---=====(*)=====---: The next day at the station, he complained about a headache half the day, then started weaving about and pulled a very convincing faint, after which he was taken to the infirmary to "recover" before being driven home by Huey. The ever so polite, eager and helpful Ray vanished after that. He was surly, growled, and threw tantrums, he cleared his desk with a sweep of his arm and threw a tantrum, before stomping off, to weave around and "faint" again. His mother wailed about it being the result of his refusal to take his medication. She got more, he flushed it too. He had to repeat his performance at the station least half a dozen times before he was put through the tests he'd been waiting for. He failed tests that he should passed, was totally honest at the psych test, and lied during his physical. Two days later Welsh escorted him to his office, sat him down and regretfully informed him that the department had decided to give him a medical discharge. "It's no reflection on you, Raymond." "What?! What am I supposed to do?! I've done everything I was supposed to do! I've been studying, learning all the things I have to know! I.." Welsh raised his hands. "Calm down Raymond, you got your head injury in the line of duty, you're being retired, on medical grounds, with *full* benefits." Ray blinked away at him taking that in. "I know you've tried, but.. Unless you go through the academy again, and work your way back up through the ranks, you will never know enough to fulfil the duties you used to." "But.. I.. " "And you have trouble controlling your temper since you decided to live without your medication. You suffer from migraines, so serious you've fainted. The doctor thinks that unless you retire and reduce the amount of stress you're under, you'll have a stroke, and after your head injury, that could be lethal. We don't want to loose you that way. Take the discharge." "But I've got a mortgage." "What?" "On the house. How am I supposed to pay it off?" "I didn't know you had a mortgage." "You do now. How do you think I kept myself and my family in the style they like to be kept in?" "I can.. make arrangements for a lump sum payment, but, there won't be any more money after that. You'll have to make arrangements with an accountant, find a way to invest a portion, to get an income." Grumbling, Ray accepted it, and begged Welsh not to tell his family. He told Welsh that he was only allowed to leave the house to go to work, that if they knew he was without work, he'd become a prisoner around the clock. For that reason Welsh agreed to keep it quiet, and Ray didn't tell them either. It would spoil all his plans if his mother found out. As soon as the money came through, a chunk went into the bank account his mortgage and insurance payments were automatically deducted from, enough to meet the payments for two years. More than enough he thought. The rest went into his new identities bank account. He brought a box of jelly doughnuts on his way home and put them in the ice box. In the wee small hours of the morning he crept down to find one solitary doughnut left and thanked god. He cut it half open and quietly crushed up the pill the vet had given him it was mixed in with the jelly filling and then he cleaned up and returned to the bedroom to feed the wolf the treat. Dief actually sat there on the bed, just staring at him, instead of snatching it to gobble it down. "Now is not the time to decide to fight your junk food addiction, Diefenbaker," he hissed. He set it down on a bed side cabinet and snatched up a pad to write a note. Dief snatched up the doughnut and wolfed it down while Ray's back was turned, then returned to the position he'd been in. Ray ripped the page off, folded it and set it on his pillow then reached for the doughnut to find it gone and looked at the wolf and shook a finger at him. The wolf gave him one of his patented "Who me???" looks and Ray reached out to ruffle his fur. "I hope you enjoyed that, it's the last peice of junk food you'll be eating." Within fifteen minuets Dief was out cold and Ray wrapped him up in a blanket and crept through the house carrying the sedated animal. He had a moment of heart stopping fear as he heard a bedroom door open while he was on the stairs, and ducked. He listened, holding his breath, to feet moving down the hall, and another door opening, the bathroom door. When it closed, he made his way down the rest of the stair case as fast and quietly as possible and slipped through the house, out the back, and stayed there, ear to the wall. Soon enough he heard the plumbing kick in and that's when he carried the wolf to the car and settled it in the trunk on the pillows he had laid in the day before. "There you go, sleep tight," he said softly uncovering Dief's head. He double checked the foam he had taped to the trunk's lid and walls and it was all stuck fast. As quietly as possible he closed it, applying pressure till he heard the click of the lock, then he crept through the yard and back into the house. He made it to the stairs and heard the shower turn off and bolted down the hall, making it to his room to close and lock the door again, just in time. He leaned on the door, heart thudding and heard the bathroom door open and his mother moving down the corridor. He heard the key in the lock, then heard and felt her knock. "Time to rise and shine, Raimondo, Breakfast in fifteen minutes." :---=====(*)=====---: His mother wondered where Dief was, he told her he'd already fed him and that he was sleeping on his bed, that satisfied her and she followed him out to the back. As per usual, when he walked to his car, the Mercedes, she asked him if he was sure he wanted to drive that one to work. "Why don't you drive the Riv?" "Why would I want to drive that heap of junk around?" His mother sighed, as she always did and looked up, making a silent prayer. Then she kissed his check and told him to drive carefully, and gave him the standard instructions. He'd felt a little guilty as he drove away, to see her, through the rear view mirror, standing on the street watching him drive away. He took the turn that he normally would, and once out of sight, pulled the car over and planned his escape route from the city. His first stop was the bank, to withdraw every cent from his secret account and close it. Then he headed for the bridge, where the wrecks were. He changed his clothes, and dressed the derelict's corpse in the ones he'd left the house in, then put his crucifix around its neck and his watch around its wrist. He even remembered to put his shoes and socks on the corpse, then a little squeamishly he pulled out the gun he'd brought and used it to put a bullet through the back of the corpses skull. That done he raced to the water, hurling the gun away to sink without a trace and threw up. It was at least fifteen minutes before he felt steady enough to go through with the rest of plan. He returned to the car to switch the plates on the Mercedes, both the engine plates and licence plates, putting the Mercedes plates on the burnt out wreck. He replaced them with the ones he had received in the post, and then he emptied his wallet of its money and credit cards and hurled it away. His next step was painful, but he felt necessary. He cut his hand open, deeply, and dripped blood all over the back of the corpses head and the seat making sure it got on the clothes, and splattered around. Next he covered the wreck in petrol, filled the tank, and then left a trail of petrol soaked rags along the ground. Then he pulled on a wig, and used a hand mirror he'd brought with it, to attach a fake moustache an goatee beard, and pop in contacts to change the colour of his eyes. The last thing he did was to set the chain of rags on fire before he drove off. He cleared the area and went over the bridge, tossing the gun over the bridge rail as he went. At the other end of the bridge he checked the cars clock, right on time there was fire ball that lit up the area. "Bye Bye Raymond Vecchio." :---=====(*)=====---: "Bye Bye, Lover," Victoria's mocking voice called out as her car speed away. Fraser rolled over to watch it go for a very brief time, 2 seconds to be exact. He kept rolling around, for quite some time, cursing Victoria in every language he knew in his head. He had good reason to do it. She'd bound and gagged him with duct tape while he'd been out cold from the Mickey Finn she'd slipped him. Then she'd driven, possibly through the night, to this god forsaken waste land, and dumped him right beside an ants nest and passed the time till he awoke by dripping all sorts of tasty temptations over his body, to draw out the ants. Fraser came to his senses to the discover his predicament, and she'd been waiting to snap a polaroid of the, for her, sweet moment as he'd realised what she'd done. "That's the last time you'll ever make *that* mistake," she'd taunted. Then she'd sauntered off waving the photo around to climb into her stolen vehicle and leave him there, to die, one way or another. If the ants did not devour him alive, the sun would broil him and dehydration would do the job for her. His only hope lay in being able to crush all the ants swarming over his body while rolling far enough from the nest to avoid acquiring a new swarm while he gathered his strength. It took half an hour and his body was bruised and bleeding from dozens of cuts he'd picked up rolling over sharp stones and half buried twigs. One lone ant was all that remained. He lay on the ground staring at it, cross eyed as it sat on his nose waggling its tiny antenna around. He watched it check out a grain on his nose, then carry it off. He felt it move over his face, then his ear and tipped his head. Then it was gone. He wiggled around feeling a sharp stone under his shoulder. Much wiggling and a jagged cut that ran from his shoulder to mid back later he was able to start sawing away at his bonds with it. 3 hours later, he staggered onto a road and looked both ways. He heaved a sigh, it was going to be a loooooong walk to civilization. He looked down at his bare feet then up at the sky for a while. With a deep breath, he picked a direction at random and started walking down the road. As the sun set he stopped walking to sway looking down at band of dirt that ran along side the asphalt. There were distinct skid marks all over it. He looked back, then ahead and followed the marks, off the road, through unchecked foliage to a tree which the car that had made the marks was now wrapped around. He looked inside and felt his stomach lurch. The driver was dead, he was completely and utterly unrecognisable in a way far too horrible to describe. Fraser dropped to sit by the car and deep breathed till he could control the urge to throw up. With a deep fortifying breath Fraser steeled himself. Rising he proceeded to search the car and the remains. He was able to recover a back pack full of clothes, a hat just like his old Mountie hat, boots, a pair of sneakers and the only thing he really cared about at first, three bottles of mineral water, two cans of soft drift, and a bag full snacks. He drank a whole bottle of water, slowly, then devoured a bag of snacks. He wanted to do more, but he didn't know how long it would take to get to a town and set the rest aside. He searched the bag, pulling out a sweat suit and pulled it on. It was soft, loose and the only thing in the bag that would not irritate his blistered skin. He pulled on three pairs of socks then the sneakers. He packed the food into the back pack and searched the car one last time. He needed to find something to pry open the glove box and found that it was stuffed full of envelopes large and small. He was about to look at them, when he heard a car engine in the distance. He ran for the backpack and snatched it up. He stuffed the envelopes into it as he ran for the road. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray, or as he now called himself, George Fiorella, drove to a secluded place to get Dief out of the trunk and into the open air and waited for him to come around from the sedation. Once Dief was awake and recovered from the effects of the drug, Ray fed and watered him, before getting him into the car and driving off. He drove all night, though he had to stop often, to let Dief out to attend the call of nature and make sure he got plenty of water. Not to mention attend nature's call himself and buy lots of coffee. Half of which he thought should be called sludge instead. He gave up on the coffee at a truck stop, and asked a truck driver what he used to stay awake on the road. The driver offered him some pills. Ray decided to try a few others. Finally he found one who didn't use uppers to do it. He suggested a certain soft drink, which Ray found the stop stocked and brought half a dozen bottles of it. The soft drink worked fine, the only problem was, he had to stop more often to take a leak. During one stop Dief woke up and decided he wanted to sit in the passenger seat up front and Ray let him, and arranged the seat belt around him. "Going to keep me company are we?" Dief remained awake through the rest of the night, and Ray nattered away to the dog telling him about all his wonderful plans. "First stop Brooklyn, I've got to get my stuff from the post office and set up my apartment. Then I'm going to find a nice safe place I can set you loose in the wild, just the way Benton wanted me too. Don't worry, I'll pick a place where they have regulations against hunting so you'll be safe. Some national park, where you can creep up on unsuspecting campers and snitch their junk food." Dief didn't know what he was talking about, and he wasn't completely deaf, Ray's tone was sufficient, and he moved around, wagged his tail and licked Ray's face. "Hey, not while I'm driving." Dief settled down when Ray tossed him a sandwich he'd picked up at one of his stops. "Now Benton said I had to do it right, stay with you, to find out if you can fend for yourself in the wild, don't you worry, if you can't do it, I'll keep you.. But you'll have to put up with living in an apartment in Brooklyn for a while. That's where I'm going to be living at first. I'm going to get myself a good computer, and printer and every book I can find on writing, and enrol in one of those courses.. I know, I know, I've already started writing but that was just for something to do and to see if I could do it. I can, so that's what I'm going to do. I've got enough money to live on till I can establish myself. I've been reading a lot, I know what sells. Most of it, is soooo serious, but, those ones Frannie brought, you know the ones with the lurid covers, really thin, really old, those I liked. I'm going to write in that style. Take the mickey right out of those oh so serious writers. What do you think? Good Idea?" Dief gave a bark. "I thought so. Life is supposed to be fun, I'd rather read a book than makes me laugh any day. That's what I'm going to write, something that makes people laugh, I know that's not enough, it's got to make them want to keep reading, have a really strong plot.. That's why I was copying all those records. I've got records of a hundred and one real life crimes I can use as the basis for stories. And I took lots of notes at the station about how they do things, and the terminology they use and that sort of stuff. And I brought books, law books, scientific books, dictionaries and stuff.. It's all waiting at the post office. Just you wait I'm going to write a book that everyone will rave about. And sell the rights to a movie studio to make a movie about... And then I'll buy a biiiig property near a national park, where you can roam around and get all the fresh air you need and maybe meet a lady wolf and start a little family." *Woof* "Yeah, I thought you'd like that idea. And here's another one you'll like.. While I was being ever so helpful, I lifted the file on Benton.. And copied everything.. Once I get settled I'm going to pay some detective to investigate - find out about that Victoria woman.. It's soooo easy to fake your death, I bet she did it and set your Master up to get her revenge, probably killed him too.. And I'll prove it, and clear his name. Just you wait. That witch won't get away with it, I'll make sure of that." :---=====(*)=====---: "Dear lord," The doctor at the small community hospital said when Fraser was stripped and he got his first look at his injuries. Then Fraser was rolled onto his side so they could see his back. "That's going to need stitches. But first, prepare an antiseptic bath with a good measure of Lisoborin." :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser came to his sense several hours later, lying on his stomach, blissfully free of pain. He looked at his arms, then touched his face. "Welcome back to the land of the living Ranger Pinset." Fraser looked around and a pretty nurse smiled at him. "I'm Meghan, my husband brought you in. How are you feeling?" "Much better.." "You'll have to stay for the next three days, minimum, those bites will drive you insane without a Lisoborin bath every four hours." "May I ask what my condition is?" "Stable," she said then smiled, "You've got thirty two stitches across your back, and fifty more scattered all over. That's quite an assortment of cuts and grazes you had. Did you dive out of a speeding car?" "Yes." "And those bites?" "I came around far too close to an ants nest for comfort." "Ouch." "That is an understatement." "Don't you worry, the Lisoborin will take care of that." "Would you please give your husband my thanks." "You can do it yourself in the morning, he's the Sheriff and he'll have a few questions for you." =*sigh*= :---=====(*)=====---: Ray sold the car interstate and found a dog hotel. It cost a pretty penny, but it was worth every cent as he felt safe leaving Dief there while he travelled on by plane to New York, and then made his way to Brooklyn. A cab deposited him outside his apartment block, a graffiti covered, rat infested five story block, but it was solid and had good walls, and thank god, the land lord didn't care about pets so long as they were house trained and quiet. And the neighbours seemed to be decent people. He ventured out to find somewhere he could buy what he needed to clean up his apartment then spent the rest of the day and all night cleaning up the apartment. Over the next week, he explored the neighbourhood and got to know his local store staff and owners, found a few places to buy good quality second hand furniture and collected all his parcels. By weeks end the apartment was a home, with a big double bed, sofa, and all the usual accruements. Ray even found a desk that would fit nicely in the corner with a matching file cabinet and shelves. He filled the shelves immediately and had to buy a second set of shelves for the rest of the books he already had. He spent the next week upgrading the security on his apartment, with the landlords permission. The door was ripped out, the frame replaced with a steel one sunk into the walls with long bolts, the door was replaced with a steel one painted up to look like all the other doors. The interior door was covered with an assortment of locks, and an alarm. He had bars put in the windows and alarms rigged on all of them. Then he put in a safe in an interesting place and unpacked and took photos of everything and took out insurance. The photo and insurance papers were stored in the safe before he concealed it. Then he went looking for his land lord. He made the man a happy one by paying him six months rent in advance. "I wish I had more tenants like you." "I'm going to be away for a while, that's why I made sure the place was secure, could you keep an eye on it?" "Sure thing." Ray handed him the keys and told him about the alarm and returned, land lord in tow. The land lord approved of the way he'd cleaned up the place and the new security. "Yup, you're definitely my favourite kind of tenant. You know, if you want to negotiate a new *long term* lease, we can come a good deal." "What sort of deal?" "Ten year lease, same rent, no changes." "What's the catch?" "You can do whatever you like to improve the place, only *you* pay for any improvement you make, and you don't hit me with the bill." Ray could live with that to get the rent frozen for ten years. He gave the man a tentative agreement, telling him he'd seriously consider it while he was away and give him his answer when he returned, then showed the man how to turn off and reset the alarm if he needed too. "No Electrical stuff???" "Not yet, I've got a little more travelling to do before I settle down again, I'll be shopping for the electricals when I return." "We got rats around here, The damned creatures devour the bait I lay down and laugh, those books won't be safe if.." "I ripped up all the base boards and put down a strip of stainless steel coated in something rats hate before I put that back on. I put sheets of it down in the kitchen and the bathroom too and plugged up every gap I could find. That ought to keep em down while I'm gone. And I'll have my dog, who's a great mouser, when I get back." "Suit your self, but my advice is get yourself some metal chests and store your books and linen in them *before* you leave. Better to be safe than sorry." The next day, Ray took his advice, and went a step further. He returned to his apartment with half a dozen chests and packed his linen and books up, locking each chest and stacking them away in his built in closet. Then he covered the mattress completely in plastic and sprayed it liberally with a substance he was assured would make any rodent look elsewhere for something to nibble on. The couch and chairs got the treatment next, and he ventured out to by more of the spray returning to coat all the walls and floors of the apartment with it. He had just enough to spray out the kitchen cupboards and drawers when he was done. He was tossing the empty cans in the trash when there was a knock on the door. He opened it to find a representative of the security company he'd contacted. He lead the man through the apartment and within the next few hours another alarm system was installed, a silent back to base alarm. Two security cameras were also hidden in the room, and clever triggers that would make them start recording were set. "You won't regret doing business with us, Mr Fiorella, we have the best people in the state, not to mention the best equipment." "Well, if you can keep my apartment from being robbed while I'm out travelling, I'll be happy to continue using your service when I get back." "A word of advice, your mail.." "Is automatically redirected to a post office box, they hold my mail while I'm travelling." "Good, it doesn't hurt to keep your utilities on, and set up timer switches, to turn the lights off and on." "I didn't think of that." Money passed hands and timer switches were installed before Ray escorted him out and locked up, to spend the rest of the night in a hotel, the last thing he did before heading for the airport was to find how to register a dog, then registered Dief, under a new name and as a Mongrel half Husky, half GKW.# By lunch time, George Fiorella was on a plane out of state and planning the next stage of his new life. Following the plan the man who'd set up his identity had suggested. (#=God Know's What) :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser, or as he was now known Ranger Allen Pinset, stood on the porch of Ranger station W-4 and listened to the ranger who'd escorted him there with half an ear as he looked around. "He'll be back in around 3 days, it take quite a while to patrol the area properly. So you'll have plenty of time to make yourself familiar with the station, and read all that literature." Fraser looked to the Ranger. "What happened to the Ranger I'm replacing? They just asked for a volunteer to replace him without stating why." "Bear." "Fatal?" "No. Debilitating, yes, he'll probably end up behind a desk, away from the public." Fraser looked around again. "I think I'm going to like it here." "That's what we like to hear. Now, remember if you need anything Channel 3 is for Emergencies, Channel 5 for everything else. That's your call sign," the Ranger said, pointing to the plate by the door." "What about transport?" "You have a choice, Bike, Horse or ATV." "Horse." "Great, all the ATV's are spoken for anyway. Someone will be around by the end of the week with some horses to chose from, I think there are four that haven't been claimed yet, a word of advice, forget the Grey one, it's as stubborn as a mule. And the Mare that looks like a racer - can't be ridden but they'll suggest it anyway, just to get a laugh out of watching her throw you when you try it." Fraser smiled faintly. "Anything else?" "No.. I think you've covered everything." "Good. I've got a date with a pretty little camper over at E-3.. Oh, almost forget, if you happen to see a pure black stallion about seventeen hands high with something draped over its back, call it in on Channel 3." "I'll keep an eye out for it." "It's a ghost horse.. It always shows up just before a major firestorm." Fraser's eyes widened. "They say it's the ghost of the William's woman's stallion, it died during a firestorm about 5 and half years ago.. The ghost horse wasn't sighted until after that fire. And every time it does..." "There's a fire storm." "The exception to the rule being if you see it while you happen to be over at borderline creek between the Lucifer Tree and the stone cross.." "It appears there?" "We've had half a dozen tourists reporting sightings already this year.. The record is 20." "Why does it appear there?" "No body knows." "What's draped over its back?" "No one's ever gotten close enough to it to see," The Ranger said, turning to skip down the stairs. Fraser watched him hurry back to his ATV and ignored his father's spirit when he appeared. He watched the Ranger drive away, then looked at his father. "Go away." "Don't you want to know about the horse?" "What do you know about the horse?" "It's over there." Fraser looked around and saw a glossy jet black seventeen hands high stallion with something draped over it's back and his eyes widened. "Don't worry son, you don't have to call this sighting in." "He said..." "It's been waiting for you." Fraser looked at the horse again, it swished its tail and he slowly descended the porch and approached. It didn't back away and as he got closer he saw that steam rising off its back, or possibly smoke, then he saw the banket swathed figure draped over its back and neck. As he got closer he saw ropes tying it down on the horse's back. He stretched out a hand toward it and it vanished. Fraser jumped back, then spun and looked at his father. "Who was that? On its back?" "When you work that out, it'll stop appearing?" "Why was it waiting for me?" His father shrugged. "It just was." "Are you sure there won't be a fire storm?" "Yes." "Did.. Mum every have any relatives called Allen?" His father thought about it. "Yes.. I think she did. An Uncle. He died a long time ago. Why?" Fraser picked up his back pack and rustled around, then pulled out an envelope and from that he pulled out a sheath of aged papers. He rifled through it and pulled a page out to hold it before his father's face. His father's brows shot up. "His grandson." "He'd be almost the same age as you," Fraser Snr remarked. "He was.. orphaned.. And looking for relatives," Fraser told him as he stuffed the papers back into the envelope. "He was killed in a car accident the other day. I found the wreck.. it's off the road behind cover.. No one knows it's there yet. He was coming here.. To replace one of the Rangers." "Ah.. I see.. You've taken his identity." "I had his papers.. They all think I'm him," Fraser said running a hand through his hair, "Thank's to Victoria making me go blonde." "Looks good on you." "He has relatives in this area.. On his mother's side." "You're worried about them." Fraser gave a nod. "He volunteered to replace the ranger who died to find his relatives here." "What do you know about them?" "That he had an Aunt who came here, married and had a son. His aunt is dead, but her son, his cousin is still alive, and lost his father very early in life, he apparently has started searching for relatives too... With the help of a private detective." "Aha.. You're worried he knows more about Allen Pinset than you do." Fraser nodded. "It would.. look strange if I didn't try to make contact with him.. He knows about the detective he hired.. to find relations." "I'd assume people he knew, knew about his search, why don't you use what you have, and find out more about him, and tell people the truth, you're a relation who wants to find out more about him." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray's first stop after he returned to the town where he'd left Dief was to get a motel room, then go shopping, he brought new sturdy clothes, boots, a good quilt and pillows, that he rolled up into a bedroll, and a back pack to pack his things in. He also brought a seeing eye dog's lead, cane and glasses. He left everything at the hotel, then took a trip to the train station, in disguise. There he brought tickets for a train trip across the state. He made sure he told the ticket seller that they were for his brother, who was a blind man with a seeing eye dog and the ticket seller promised to make sure his brother was taken care of once Ray greased his palm a little. Dief was overjoyed to see Ray again and to get out of the hotel. While he'd liked the food and the attention, he was itching to get out. Ray took him for a long walk on a leash, changed his collar and hurled the old one in a bin before taking him back to the hotel to collect his gear and head for the train station by foot. :---=====(*)=====---: For the next six months, Ray and Dief travelled around the country by train. Visiting every state. Ray collected pamphlets and information on each states national parks and wildlife reserves, if they had one. The blind man's disguise was left in his hotel at each stop and he played tourist with Dief, getting lots of pictures taken by helpful people. Though two people were more interested in helping themselves, to his camera. Dief caught both and Ray recovered his camera and gave them both a severe lecture while Dief covered them growling and snarling. He brought post cards everywhere, humorous and otherwise and mailed them to himself from each state along with his photos when he could get them developed. He picked up things for his apartment along the way. Nick knacks, rugs, woven blankets, a painting or two, they were all mailed on, along with his growing collection of pamphlets, information sheets, and stories he'd written along with character bios he'd created, based on the people he met in his travels. He broke his trip, to spend a week at a motel on the edge of a national park. The pamphlets he'd picked up suggested it was the best one for his needs and he wanted to check out the area. He hired a car to explore, visited the park and the reserves either side of it. When he visited the nearest town, he arrived in time to attend an art festival. He fell in love with quite a few items on display, one was a gorgeous rug with a price he could not believe - he expected it to be priced considerably higher. It must have been obvious, because a rather tall and handsome man, in bright clothing stepped up close. "She has no idea how much city slickers would pay for work like that," the man said in a low voice and Ray jumped, spinning. The man smiled. "Dean Alexander, one of the local artists." "You don't sound like a local." "Neither do you." "I'm from Brooklyn." "You don't sound like someone from Brooklyn." "I travel, a lot. I lost my accent." "And picked up a new one." Ray gave a weak smile. "Nice .. Wolf." Ray's smile wobbled. "He's a Husky." "Trust me, that animal has wolf blood in him. Well trained too, except for one little thing. I noticed he snitches every bit of junk food someone sets down within sniffing distance. The moment they turn their back. He's there, and it's not." Ray gave a nervous little laugh. "It's a terrible habit I've been trying to break him of. It's not good for him, I won't feed it to him." "So he steals it." "When he thinks he can get away with it, yes." "So long as he doesn't steal anything from a child, I think the locals will ignore it." Ray was relieved. "They're used to animals stealing food around here." "I've been visiting the parks, it seems like a wonderful area for an animal lover to be." "I have my own reserve." "Really? Which one?" "Oh, it's not on any of the official tourist maps. I don't like tourists, they're distracting. Animals on the other hand can be inspirational, artistically speaking." "Sooo.. Which one of these exhibits is yours?" Dean pointed across the room. To the far wall, where Ray saw a table set under a painting, a huge painting of an eagle soaring over a landscape that was recognisably part of the national park. A part Ray had seen when he visited it. "Did you paint that?" Dean nodded, and Ray moved closer to get a better look, Dean followed him closely. "It's all mine." "The sculpture too?" Ray asked, looking at the statute of an eagle in flight on the table. The eagle was surrounded by small works in wood and stone, miniature animals, some no bigger than a match box, some as big as a person's head. The eagle was the largest. He glanced at Dean as he reached toward one of the small pieces, and Dean gave him a nod. Picking up the small stone Ray examined it and was impressed, very impressed. It was a very accurate of representation of the animal in question. As were all the works on the table. Some were painted, most were not. "This.. is.. brilliant." "You think so?" "Is it for sale?" "I don't sell my work." "Oh." Ray was disappointed, he loved it, and thought that painting on the wall was the perfect thing to hide the ugly stains that no amount of cleaning and scrubbing could remove from the feature wall of his apartment. Not because it was huge, but because he didn't think he would ever get sick of seeing that picture. "But I have been known to give pieces away.. Now and then." Ray looked at him. "In return for a favour," Dean continued in a tone that hinted he'd be willing to make a deal with Ray. "What sort of favour?" "Visit my property, bring your.. Husky, wander around to your hearts content, and that painting's yours." "That's a favour???" "I'll be following you around with a camera," Dean said, and turned, framing Dief snitching someone's snack with his fingers. "I want to capture that creature frolicking around on my land." Ray was tempted to tell him Dief didn't frolic but he wanted that painting and kept his silence. Dean turned back to him with a hopeful look. "So.. Do you want that painting enough to let me photograph your gorgeous creature on my land?" "I'd need a map, and it would depend on how far from the Motel it is." "Ah, forget the motel, I've got a big place, you can sleep over, if you like that rug, and that painting you'll love my place. By the way.. Buy the rug, trust me, you'll kick yourself if you don't." Then he wandered off. Ray spent the next hour trying to discretely find out about the man, but discrete is not what anyone he asked about Dean was, they were ready to start gossiping at the drop of a hat. He learned that Dean was considered an eccentric but brilliant artist, who owned a huge property with a huge house, with a private gallery and studio that every artist in town would give their eye teeth to visit. He brought the rug and the craftswoman who made it was a fountain of information. "Dean told you to buy it, didn't he, he's the best salesman around, I made some rugs for his house." "Have you seen it?" "He gave me the grand tour, it's magnificent, breathtaking, he built it, himself, not that he would admit it, he used to be an architect." "Really." "Yes, but he left the rat race behind to pursue his artistic urges." "Ah. Does he have a problem with people knowing he's an architect?" "Once someone who's seen his house finds out, they start badgering him about designing a house for them," She said, and grinned, "I traded all the rugs his little heart desired to design my place." "Oh.." "I definitely got the better half of the deal." "What did his wife think?" She laughed. "He's not married." "Oh, divorced." "No, single and fancy free." "I see." "But looking for company," she said with a sly smile. It went right over Ray's head and he went on his way to see what other works of art were on offer that would make his apartment a home he could happily enjoy for the next ten years. Dean wandered up to hand him a map and reiterate his offer, by which time Ray had decided to take him up on it, and said so. He made arrangements to follow Dean to his property later that evening. :---=====(*)=====---: All Ray could say when he walked into Dean's house, which was built into the side of a large rock formation was ohmigod, over and over as Dean gave him the grand tour. Dief plopped down on a rug in front of the fire place and contentedly napped while Ray was shown around. When the tour was complete they returned to the lounge and Dean made Ray a cup of coffee and asked what he really thought making Ray laugh. "You already know what I think. I can't believe this place.. It's.. Magnificent." "Why thank-you, I designed and built it." "So I heard." "Mehgan told you no doubt." Ray looked blankly at him. "The woman who made the rugs." "Oh, yes, she mentioned it." Dean dropped down on the couch near Ray and looked at Dief before the fire. "Well, he looks content." "He does, doesn't he.. He's going to hate returning to the city after I go back." "Why go back? You're obviously a man of.. independent means, an animal like that needs open spaces to roam, not rat infested, garbage strewn streets and filthy air." "I know.. One of my plans for the future is to find a place like this, and settle down there." Dean smiled. "A man after my own heart, so tell me what do you do when you're not travelling?" "I.. Write." "Journalist?" "No.. Just stories." "Oh, have you had any published?" "No.. Not yet. It's.. a hobby." "I see." "I meet such interesting people when I'm travelling," Ray said, and told Dean all about how he was collecting profiles of people he'd met to use as the basis for character creation in the future. And maps - for reference, along with tourist brochures, and recipe books. "Recipe books?" "If I'm lucky enough, a lot of women's associations publish recipe books that they compile of local recipes, so if I wanted to say, write a book set in Louisiana, I'd get my notes on people I met there, my maps, and recipe books to give it a more authentic ring." "Ah, I see.. Obviously, writing is more than a hobby for you.. You put a lot of thought into it. Travelling around is just a way to gather research." "Well.. I plan to take some courses, learn all the ins and out of writing and publishing when I settle down. I'm hoping I can make a living out of it.. and maybe enough to achieve a few goals." "Such as buying a property like this?" "Exactly." "An excellent goal," Dean said, his fingers stretching out to brush the back of Ray's neck. Ray jumped, then jumped up to move to the rug by Dief and settled there stroking and ruffling Dief's fur. Dief's tail was soon beating a tattoo on the rug. "I suppose a place like this would cost a fortune," Ray said, without looking at Dean. He didn't see the look of disappointment on Dean's face. "Not the house," Ray said. Dean slid over to Ray's former place on the couch. "The land... If I was going to buy a property like it, it would cost a fortune." "You don't think my place cost a fortune to build?" "It depends." "On what?" "How much of the materials that went into it were salvaged from the land. I'm sure it cost considerably less than most people think." A faint smile touched Dean's lips. "Probably less than it would cost to build the average house. But then again, you were willing to barter your skills and work for others. You designed that incredible house in town. I guess that's Meghan's place." Dean nodded when Ray glanced around. "You think it's incredible?" "Puts every other house, no, building, in town to shame. With the exception of that clinic." "I designed that too. For my mother, it was hers." "What I don't understand though is why you did it. Mehgan's place that is." "What do you mean?" "I can understand being willing to do a trade, but that kind.. It doesn't make sense.. Unless you *want* work as an architect in the area - in which case, that place is a just one big incredible example of your work." "Why does a mountain climber climb a mountain?" "Because he doesn't have an ounce of sense." Dean laughed. "But what your saying when you use that as a response is that you did it, to either see if you could, or just to prove that you could." "Exactly." "One or the other." "Perhaps, both." "You built this place." "To the people I worked with before I retired that would prove nothing. I was the head the of Interior Design department of my firm, beautiful interiors were my bread and butter." "So?" "I beg your pardon?" "This place is.. magnificent whatever way you look at it, inside and *out*. If you wanted proof that you could build a beautiful place from the ground up, you did it when you built this place. And it's utterly perfect, for the land. Instead of destroying a natural feature, you used it and picked the best place to do it." "You haven't seen the river yet. The old house used to be by it." "I've seen this property from the air. I took a joy flight over the park, and the pilot flew over all the reserves too, which your place is. This is the best place on the property to build on. A huge probably natural clearing. If there was a fire, it wouldn't burn this place to the ground, the roof's covered with what I bet is rock salvaged from the formation when you were excavating it. Probably an inch or two thick." "It is." "That would protect it from sparks and embers that would going flying during a fire storm.. You probably treated all the exposed wood with fire retardants.. and the size of the clearing would probably keep the heat from making the place burst into flames." "You're not a architect are you?" Ray chuckled. "No.. I just read a lot and use my brain... I remember a book I read.. Where a killer was caught out because he tried to cover up his tracks by starting a fire in a place he didn't know had been treated with fire retardants because the owner had lost a place to fire before. I saw the ruin's of a place down by the river.. All that's left is a few stone walls and a fire place. And I remember the pilot saying something about the worst fire in a century turning this whole area into an inferno." Dean gave a little nod, looking away out a window. "You learned a lesson from it.. I remember the pilot saying they wish the parks other neighbours had learned it too." "Some lessons are harder to learn than others." "That's some fire break you built around your property. He said it was the biggest privately built and maintained one in the county. I bet if a fire started in the park it wouldn't jump that break and torch this place.." "That's the general idea." "When I buy my place.. I'm going to make sure it's got a big fire break around it... just like this place." "That's not enough. To stop a fire taking out a place like this.. The property not the house I mean.. That firestorm would never have happened if the land had been managed properly. A few land holders lost their land because of that fire.. " "The fire hit your property too.. At least half of it." Dean looked at him. "There's a lot more old growth in the direction of the town, than there is toward the park.." "They realised the wind was pushing it out of the park, and they couldn't get enough fire teams in to stop it in the park.. It was threatening to take out the county seat as well as quite a few scattered little town ships and communities off the beaten track. They used to talk about building a new highway from one end of the state to the other.. One that would cut through this area.. Until then the county said, thanks but no thanks.. Keep your highway.. When that fire threatened to burn the whole county, they said we changed our minds.. Send us the equipment *now* and we'll build it.. The military, rangers, fire teams from three states and every able bodied person in this county and neighbouring ones worked to build the fire break that is now that long straight stretch of highway out there..." Ray remembered driving along it, at one point it seemed to stretch into infinity and had branches that lead to the town and cut straight through Dean's property and into the park. "You mean the section that looks like it goes on forever?" "That's it." "That's why it cuts through your property." "I can put up with it... It ends in the park.. It'll be another twenty years before they finish building it from the other side. That stretch was cleared fast in pure desperation. I have no idea how many people ended up working on it.. But the general population over the areas involved in the effort is something like 50 000, if you subtract the elderly and children, and take out the ones who were incapable of working on it.. Probably half of them were out there working on it. There are a hundred plus rangers, who work in the park.. Then there were the fire teams, 400 in all.. And the military sent all the available people from bases close enough to ship people out here in time to help.. Then there were the construction people.. It wasn't just government crews out here, with the heavy duty prime movers.. I called every firm I knew that had equipment.. The military sent choppers that could airlift the small ones, the big heavy duty ones came out in convoy's.. Visit county hall some time, or the visitors centre in the park.. They've got pictures.. More than one news team was out there.." "How did they get it soo.. straight?" "A helicopter went over, marked out the break, and there were rangers out there on horses and bikes, driving flags into the ground every twenty meters or so to mark it out. There were six separate groups, one started in the park, another at the end of that stretch, with the other four scattered between them, working outward till they all met. Then they'd move on to the next section that needed workers and equipment.. And the copters would bomb the area either side of the break with water and fire retardants.. Which is why there's a lot of old growth on this side of the break. It worked.." Ray shifted about and then sprawled on his stomach. "What about the wildlife?" "A lot of animals died.. They couldn't even begin to calculate how many died. But the rangers did what they could, trapped and transported as many of the smaller animals as they could. And military sharpshooters were sent out to tranq every animal they could find. Or so I heard... The visitors centre has this film.. One of the news crews shot.. Of some area that was just ringed with fire and you could see military copters flying over it, winching up all sorts of animals. And lots of cages with bundles of fur of all types you couldn't tell what was in them, they just went for everything that moved and loaded them in to get them out before the fire got them all. That's why we've got a ban on hunting in this area. Sure they saved quite a few animals.. But they lost more than they could save. If it weren't for kids like Robbie Bernstien there'd be a lot less birds around here." "What did he do?" "His father was a bird watcher, and so was he, his father was working the breaks, and Robbie went out with his maps, and a band of his little friends and rescued off every birds nest they could find in the area ahead of the break. Turns out they may have prevented one species from extinction.. They only exist here, and their nesting ground was on the wrong side of the break. But Robbie and his friends carried of over a dozen of their nests, and they were all sent to zoos with bird breeding programmes. And they shipped adult birds back to repopulate the area after the reforestation programme went into full swing." "I noticed that Chow Hound got a bit of attention from the rangers.. Even you noticed him.." "That's because wolves got hit hard.. I think their territory was completely burned out. They were only able to save five, a mother and her litter. And it's not a good idea to have litter mates breeding if you want to repopulate. They kept the females and found a zoo with some male pups to make a trade for. Found another adult male for Mama wolf. But he was shot by someone." "I thought there was a ban on." "That was before they realised they had to actively enforce the ban and the county made it a prosecutable offence. They've got information on that at the visitors centre." Ray remembered all the pamphlets he'd picked up and mailed back to Brooklyn and made a mental note to give the ones on the parks rules his close attention. "Has anyone ever written a book about what happened?" Dean was surprised. "I mean you said there was plenty of information, and media coverage." "You know I don't believe anyone ever covered it to that extent." "It would make a good book. I'm sure there are lots of people with stories to tell. Reader's Digest always has stories like that. I bet someone could put a book together of stories people have about it." "Well I'm sure there are plenty of people who'd be happy to tell their stories to an enterprising writer," Dean said rising. "Coffee?" "Oh no thank's I've had enough." "I usually hit the sack about this time, you're free to do what you want. Don't throw any more wood on the fire, there's enough there to keep the place warm for the rest of the night. I'll leave a few things out in the kitchen if you want to make yourself a drink or a snack. I'm up at the crack of dawn, I've got some work to do, if you want to roam around, try to wait until at least 10.. I should be finished by then and I can give you the grand tour." Ray gave a little nod and watched him depart then he looked at Dief and ruffled his fur. "I bet he has an interesting story of his own about that fire." :---=====(*)=====---: The next day Ray wandered through the property with Dief happily bounding around. Dean followed with a Camera a back pack and pair of army pants covered with bulging pockets. Ray discovered half of them were filled with film for the camera, the other half attachments, like different lens and filters. Dean would snap photos of anything and everything. He snapped off at least three full rolls of film of Dief exploring the place until Dief bounded out of sight to explore on his own. And though Ray was not aware of it Dean shot a roll's worth of pictures of him. They had a late lunch by the river in a secluded part of the property, thanks to the contents of Dean's pack. And Ray took a little nap and woke to the sound of splashing in the river. He looked around to discover Dean's clothes neatly piled up on a rock at the river bank along with a towel. The imp in him made him find Dean's camera and he studied it working out how to change the focus and take the picture. When he worked it out he crept off to the river bank finding Dean and snapped off half a roll's worth of film before Dean rose up from the water. His eyes widened when Dean turned giving him a full frontal view of him. Then a cloud moved on and the light through the trees hit Dean in a way that made all the water, both around Dean and the water that beaded and streamed down his body sparkle in the light. Ray snapped off a few more photos then slithered away and crept back to the blanket to set the camera back where he had found it and settled down to pretend he was still napping. When Dean returned he stood over Ray leaning forward and let his hair drip over him until Ray sat up looking at him. "Your hair's wet." "I took a dip in the river, this is the second best swimming place on the property." "Oh why only second best?" "There's a lot more swimmable river at the other spot." "Ah." Dean picked up his camera. "There are a few things I want to catch a picture of while I'm out this way," he said and wandered off. Ray waited a few minutes and wandered down to the river and found Dean had left his towel there, blowing in the wind pegged over a tree branch. The water looked inviting enough and it was a warm day and Dean had certainly looked like he'd been enjoying his dip, so Ray stripped down and found a place to enter the river. It was chilly at first but once he got used to it he enjoyed his dip and floated around looking up at the clouds floating past. He watched an eagle soaring through the sky until it vanished, then he decided he'd been in the water long enough and waded out. He found Dean sitting on the blanket reloading his camera when he returned. "Get any good pictures?" "Some.. I must have miscalculated how much film I had in the camera.. I ran out of film." "I saw an eagle up there." "I saw it.. I ran out of film before it came in range of my lens," Dean said, then went on to describe a certain kind of bird and ask Ray to tell him if he saw one. "You want a picture of it?" "Bernstien would love some. It's supposed to be extinct, but I'm sure I've seen a few around here. If I can get some pictures of some it'll prove there a still some nesting in this area and really make his day." "That's a pretty fancy camera, do you make your living doing photographic work now?" "No. I use it for much the same reason you travel around and collect information. Research for art." "Photography can be an art form, I remember a Gallery I visited, they had photos everywhere." "Mostly or all black and white, am I right?" Ray nodded. "I hate black and white photography, the world isn't black and white. It's a riot of colours." "That doesn't mean you couldn't be artistic photographically," Ray said thinking of the photo he'd taken of Dean water sparkling in the light as it ran over his body. "I've taken lots of pictures on my travels, though my camera's just a point and shoot thing. I'm getting a lot better with it. I used to chop peoples heads off and loose half the picture I was after." Dean looked at him, then patted the blanket beside him. Ray moved to sit beside him and Dean explained how to use all the features of his camera, all the attachments and lenses he had. Then he gave it to Ray and told him to snap away to his hearts content. "I've got my own dark room, we can develop them back at the studio and see how good or bad you are with a pro camera." Ray used up the rest of his film as they wandered back to the house by a round about route and with a little smile caught a few pictures of the bird Dean told him to keep an eye out for while Dean was off rummaging around collecting bits and pieces. He was smiling when Dean returned with some large stones and showed them to him. "This is perfecting for sculpting in see the colours," Dean said and spent the next half hour telling Ray about the ways an artist could use the things he scavenged. They stopped along a rocky area which had spectacular views for a rest and afternoon tea and Ray used up the last of the film taking pictures of the vista with Dean hanging over his shoulder pointing out things to shot pictures off, what to use the zoom, wide angle and panoramic features for. Ray announced he wasn't feeling well as he handed the Camera back to Dean to pack up and Dean touched his face. "You do look a bit flushed.. How do you feel?" Ray had never felt the way he felt before and had trouble describing it, but did the best he could. Dean stared at him then shifted about turning around to pack things up. "I don't think its anything serious." Ray looked down at himself and touched his face, he was definitely feeling hot as far as he was concerned he was sick. Dean helped him up and shook out the blanket, tying it up to his pack before he slung it in place and marched off. Ray followed and tried to keep up, but Dean set a fast pace and he soon lagged behind grumbling about it. Dean stopped ahead of him, looking back and told him to pick up the pace. With a little grumble Ray did until his foot found a tree root to hook on and he went down and cried out in pain. Dean came hurrying back as he rolled around on the ground grabbing his ankle. He ended up being carried the rest of the way, and was glad of it, the symptoms he had felt earlier came back with a vengeance and he was sure he had caught some bug and was just starting to feel the first symptoms. He was put to bed by Dean who had to cut off his jeans to get them off after his ankle swelled up. His ankle was wrapped in ice packs and towels and he was given a herbal drink Dean promised would dull the pain. It did more than that, Ray drifted off to sleep. He thought he had woken at sun set when he saw the red sky and the sun on the edge of the magnificent view from his bedroom window. Then Dean came in with a breakfast tray and announced he'd slept the night away. Ray devoured the food he had brought while Dean told him the doctor had been and gone. His ankle had been wrapped and declared a sprain. He handed Ray a letter from the doctor with advice to follow. "Oh no.. I've got to stay off it.." "That's normally the case with a sprain." "But this says it could be weeks before I can walk on it without pain." "I'm sure it screws up your travel plans but you should be able to make a few calls and get your tickets refunded or .." "I don't have any tickets for advance travel.." "Oh, well what are you worried about then?" "I can't drive... I don't have enough money to cover a hotel room for that long... That'd take me over my credit limit on my cards.." Dean told him he was welcome to stay until his ankle healed. "But I was sick.. I have to stay in town so I can see the doctor again." "It was nothing just a little too much fresh air and exertion. Don't worry, the doctor gave you an exam and took some blood. He'll ring - or come back if the tests show you need medication for some bug. But he thinks you're fine, apart from a sprained ankle. As for the car, who'd you hire it from?" Ray told him who and where he'd hired it at. Dean gave a little nod. "I know the company. If I get it into town they'll send someone from the company come round and collect it and all it will take will be a phone call to get them bring a new one round when you're ready to leave." "But how will you get back?" "Well if I leave within the hour.. I can get to town in time to catch one of the tour buses. The drivers know me, they can drop me off on the way through, and I'll hike back along the road, I do it all the time." "Oh." "Of course I'll be gone at least half the day. But that's no problem, lucky for you I have smooth floors all the way." And with that he helped Ray dress in a warm shirt and a very baggy pair of overalls, then carried him out to the lounge. There Dean set Ray down in a wheel chair that had been covered with a colourful thick and soft quilt. Ray ran his hand over the panel that Dean spread over his legs. "Did the doctor bring this?" "No, it was in storage. In that room I didn't show you, there's quite a bit of ever so useful junk in there. Now I've rolled up all the rugs and tossed them in there, so you'll have a clear run from the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, gallery and office. You'll find a pile of pads, pens and typing paper there, help yourself if you want to do some writing. I also developed those pictures you took and left them there for you to go through." Ray smiled at that. "They're quite good. You got the hang of using that camera very quickly. And there's a few double exposures in the collection from the times you forget to wind the film on. I developed them anyway.. I'll let you be the judge of those." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray whiled the day away in Dean's office, going first through the photos of which all the decent ones were A-5 size. The ones he'd messed up were the usual size his pictures came in. The double exposures had turned out some interesting pictures artistically speaking. One Ray liked a lot and set aside before going through the rest of the pile. He blushed deeply when he found the ones he had taken of Dean, then frowned. He went through all the photos twice. But could not find the last few he had taken. Had he run out of film and not been aware of it and where were the ones he had taken of that bird? They weren't there either. After going through the pile a third time he realised there were at least a dozen pictures he clearly remembered taking that were not included. Had he messed them up so badly Dean had not wasted material printing them? It was a question only Dean could answer so he set them aside and rolled off to the kitchen to make himself some coffee. He spent the rest of the day typing on Dean's typewriter between trips back and forth to the kitchen and bathroom. For the first time he appreciated what he had thought were artistic features of the bathroom. He discovered otherwise. The phone rang twice during the day, he'd been in the bathroom and unable to answer the first time, but it rang again half an hour later and he was able to reach it in time and answered, ready to take a message for Dean, to find it was Dean. "How are you going?" "Just fine, did you design that bathroom with an invalid in mind or something?" Dean gave a little chuckle. "I thought I'd let you discover it for yourself." "I did. I can even take a shower without getting my bandage wet in that shower." "Did you?" "Yes." "No trouble?" "None at all.. Thank you for setting up that little table on wheels in the kitchen. It's just the right height." "It's supposed to be.. Another piece of useful junk from the storage room. I just rang to say I've run into one of the Rangers here on his day out, he'll give me a lift and drop me off at the door but I won't be back until late this evening. Now if you think you need anything.." "There is something.." "What?" "Someone to find Chow Hound.. He hasn't been back." "Oh, yes he has. He wandered back last night, I fed him and he spent the night on the rug in front of the fire, then bounded out again this morning. Just keep your ears open for the sound of scratching on the door." "Oh, great." "Does he have any particular special diet?" Ray told him what to buy and promised to reimburse him when he got back. Then Dean prodded him a little asking about his favourite foods, they along with a few note books, a big box of milk duds and his favourite coffee were added to Dean's shopping list. "Now, since I won't be back till late, I've asked someone to come around and let the horse out so it can get some exercise and forage around. So don't be surprised when he shows up, he's one of the Ranger's rides a bike. You'll hear it coming. If anyone else shows up, don't open the door and just stay inside. Though I don't expect anyone to show up.. But you never know with the tourists or what kind they'll be." "I've got a gun and I know how to use it." "I'd prefer it if you didn't have to." "So would I. Should I expect this Ranger to come knocking?" "Yes. Offer him something to eat and drink, it's a long ride over. And if there's anything you need out of reach, get him to get it down for you." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray was in bed and pretending to sleep when Dean returned, and was subdued for the next three days, which Dean didn't notice. Beside from helping Ray into and out of his chair each day, and sharing meals with him, Dean kept much to himself, busy with his own private projects. Then Dean noticed he hadn't even touched any of the new stationary equipment he'd brought for him. Dean had left it in the office for George, and none of the other equipment, outside what he'd noticed George had used the first day had been touched. After he'd noticed this, Dean announced the next morning that he'd be in the studio for the rest of the day and crept in the back way to spy on George. He watched George roll the chair to the bathroom where he spent 3 quarters of an hour, before he went back to his bedroom. Dean watched the door for some time and crept off to climb the rock. He peeked into the room below through the glass roof panels and saw George lying on the bed, facing the picture window curled up around a pillow and staring out at the view. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray was surprised when he rolled out at dinner time to find they had a visitor. The County Sheriff. Jerome William's. Ray was not all that surprised when Dean announced he had some work to do in his office and left them to chat. The Sheriff waited till he heard the office door close and got straight to the point, interrogating Ray about what happened the day Dean had gone to town. :---=====(*)=====---: Dean held up the former chunk of tree branch he'd whittled and studied it. A little sanding, some paint and it would be perfect. He heard a little knock on the door and hastily swept everything into a draw and blew away sawdust. He opened the door to find William's there and invited him in. "Did he talk to you?" "Eventually." "Unexpected visitor." William's shook his head. "Nothing happened worth laying charges over. I'd pick your friends a little more carefully in the future and I'm not talking about your guest. I'll be inviting Ryan round for dinner to have a little chat with him, give him a chance to take care of things without causing a stir." "I appreciate that." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray continued to mope for a day or two, then took over Dean's office again. Dean stopped working in his studio as he heard noises over the intercom and then the clacking of the type writers key. He shut the intercom down and resumed his work. Ray was distracted from his typing seeing Dean's head passing back and forth in the window over and over again, but he couldn't get close enough to the window to peer out. He wondered what Dean was up to that required so many trips back and forth. He laughed when after an attempt to stand using the furniture blocking the way he knocked something against the window which attracted Dean's attention. The next time he went past he held up a little sign on a stick "Artist at Work." Ray gave up trying to see what he was up to and went back to his typing and hit a writers block. He dropped the page he'd typed on the pile and collected it to roll off to his bedroom and slip it into an envelope one of the many that would be sent on its way when he was finished. :---=====(*)=====---: The same thing happened the next day, and the day after, and Ray's curiosity drove him to pester Dean about it at meal times. His response was always the same, "Just some work I've been meaning to do around the place." Ray found out what that work was around the afternoon of the next day. Dean walked into the office dressed in very dusty clothing a sweaty singlet plastered to his chest, hands behind his back. Ray's mouth went dry and he recognised his "sickness" for what it was. The Ranger who'd visited had taught him what his "symptom's" were. "I'm all done, are you busy?" Ray shook his head not trusting himself to speak. "I've got something for you. I noticed your birth date on your licence." Then Dean presented him with a wrapped box which Ray took and demolished the paper on. He laughed when he pulled out an intricate carved wooden cane, with a wolf's head for a hand grip. "Hold it under the head and just around the fourth carving and twist in two directions." Ray did and discovered it twisted apart. "It comes apart." "You can take it apart and store it in your bag." "Thank you." "Everyone should be remembered on their birthday." Ray gave a little smile and nodded and with Dean's help got to his feet and tested out his cane. He couldn't walk with it, but he could stay upright. Dean left him balancing with it and came back with a crutch padded at the top and hand grip with lambswool. Ray happily switched the cane to his other hand and using the crutch and cane was able to move around without the chair. Dean lead him to the door to the outside world, the back door, and opened it with a little "Viola". Ray looked out and laughed. "You paved all the pathways." "I've been meaning to do it, but something always distracts me." Ray noticed there was now a ramp up to the raised doorway of the studio and the house. "You put in a ramp, for the chair." "There were originally ramps there, in wood, but they were demolished and replaced with stairs. Something I regreted doing every time I had to shift something heavy in from the studio. I lost a statue trying to move it from the studio to the Gallery trying to get the trolley I was moving it on up those stairs once, and I've been meaning to rebuild the ramps since. But artistic endevours always win hands down over manual labour when it comes to what I'd rather be doing." Ray chuckled. "The fact you couldn't get out of the house to get some sun and fresh air unless I got on with the job was the motivation I needed to get on with the job. Now you can leave the house, and enjoy the fresh air, either with the cane and crutch or the chair. I suggest the chair, the crutch starts to hurt after a while if you use it for long periods." Ray gave a little nod and hobbled down the ramp after Dean. Dean showed him how he'd put in three paths, one to the studio, one to the stable and one to nowhere. Though there were little stakes with ropes driven into the ground. "I want to put a gazebo in here someday.. I thought I should lay the path while I was in the mood." Ray stood at the end of it admiring the view from that point. "I think it's an excellent place to put one. The view's spectacular. You can see over the park from here," then he waved at a point in the distance. "And there's the river." "No, that's a ravine in the park. The river used to flow along that way, but a rock slide changed the course of it more years ago than I can remember." "Oh." "On the wrong side of it, more's the pity.. On that side, the river marks the boundary.." "You lost land?" "No. Gained some." "What's the problem?" "I'd love to get some of the rock from that ravine for sculpting with, but it's on the park's land now." Ray laughed and noticed Dean watching him in a way that made his mouth go dry and his heart beat a little faster. He looked away over the view again. Dean left him there announcing he had some more work to do, and Ray didn't know wether to be disappointed or thankful. He hobbled over to the grass and carefully lowered himself down on it. The Ranger who had come to release the horse for Dean had told him in no uncertain terms that Dean was Gay and left Ray with no doubts that he meant that in the colloquial sense. He'd made a very heavy pass at Ray which had thankfully not ended the way it could have when the man had realised that Ray was an innocent at matters sexual. Thanks to his Amnesia, Ray was an innocent, he could not remember having a sex life, what it was like, and until the attempt on the Rangers part to bed him, he'd been without inhibitions. The Ranger had outright stated there was only one reason Dean ever invited people to his place, *men* were only invited as sexual company and the Ranger had hinted that Dean was seriously kinky but left Ray completely ignorant as to what kinky meant in Dean's case. Ray knew kinky meant a person had strange sexual tastes or behaviour and that didn't help. What made things worse was that until the Ranger's pass he wouldn't have really cared if Dean had made a pass at him and probably would have responded to it. Now he knew a little more about the activity it made him nervous. He remembered seeing Dean naked as the day he'd been born, and his extremely generous proportions. It kept popping into his head and he'd woken up with a raging erection one morning and knew that was nothing to how generous Dean's proportions could get. He gave a little shiver and banished those thoughts. Dean hadn't made so much as a single pass at him. Unless he counted the time his fingers had brushed his neck, but Dean hadn't done anything else beyond that. The anticipation and nerves about it were killing him, he just wished the man would do it and get it over with. :---=====(*)=====---: That night after dinner at which Dean had presented him with one of his favourite meals and another gift, this time in a big box. The gift turned out to be a professional camera, just like Dean's, with a tripod, a bag, loaded with film and all the lenses Dean's had. The gift had perfect, Ray was more than pleased with it and that was he he decided to take matters into his own hands and get it over with. He used his cane and crutch to get himself over to the couch and sank down on it while Dean stoked the fire. And Dean was surprised to find him there. "Not going to bed?" "Not tired." He patted the couch after a moments hesitation Dean joined him there. "Why did you buy me that? It's so expensive." "I think you have a talent for it. You have a real eye for things. And I'm looking forward to helping you learn more about the art of photography." "I thought you didn't consider it an art." "Well it is when something with an eye like yours is behind the camera." They chatted about photography, Dean's plans to teach him process his own pictures, maybe even how to frame pictures so he could frame his favourites. Then the conversation drifted to inconsequential things and the anticipation was killing Ray. Finally Dean stretched and left his arms across the back of the couch and the next time his fingers brushed Ray's neck, he didn't jump. He waited, his pulse starting to race, for Dean to make the next move. There were little strokes and touches and when he didn't bolt, Dean took it as an invitation to go further, going in for the kill. Ray's heart started pounding wildly and he wondered if he was going to pass out from lack of air as Dean kissed him, first tentatively, then passionately. His stomach fluttered and his body came alive as Dean's hands roamed. He moaned and wondered if that sound had come from his own throat as Dean's mouth travelled to his throat. Then Dean's long fingers were slowly stripping his shirt away, so his mouth could travel down Ray's body. Ray was putty in his talented hands as his brain turned to complete mush and his body cried, YESSSS PLEASE. He almost whimpered when Dean stopped and slid his body up his to hover over him, his hot breath fanning his face. "Tell me something." "Anything." "Are you a virgin?" "Yesss." "Did he... touch you?" Ray gave a tiny nod. "Did he..." "He didn't rape me." "Thank-god." "Don't stop... Please.." Dean smiled and murmured thank god again against his skin. "That feels so good." Ray's hands finally found something to do, rising up to tangle in Dean's hair as the artist fanned the flames of desire he'd sparked for Ray. After some serious making out, Dean rose and looked down at Ray flushed, panting and very aroused. He leaned over him smiling and taking his hands. "This is your last chance to scuttle off, because, I want to make love to you - All night." "What a way to celebrate my birthday." Dean drew him up to his feet. "Are you sure? "Now - Yes." Dean gave him a radiant smile and lead him to the master bedroom and spent the next two hours worshipping Ray's body from head to foot. His voice rang out, crying with pleasure, until Dean utterly exhausted him and he fell into a deep sleep with a smile on his face. He was not aware of Dean snapping photographs of him as slept sprawled naked on that huge bed. He drifted in blissful innocence, and dreamed of another man, one with blue eyes. :---=====(*)=====---: Dean had little trouble convincing Ray to extend his stay at his property, he did it deviously, asking Ray to do it while he was busy worshipping Ray from head to toe. Ray would've agreed to just about anything at the time. Dean photographed him and Diefenbaker, both candidly and openly. He even seduced Ray into letting him openly take photographs of him naked and flushed with passion. And arranged for a Ranger who could be trusted to deliver a very large parcel. Ray opened it to find all the information he could wish for to get a start on the book he'd been thinking about and after the Ranger departed had given Dean a very passionate thank you. He lay in his lover's bed later that night enjoying his light caresses and wondering what he'd done to deserve such a lucky break. Dean asked what he was smiling about and Ray told him. Dean smiled and kissed him and one thing lead to another and almost lead to another thing till Ray realised Dean was as stiff and unwelcoming as he'd been to the Ranger. "I'm s..sorry." Dean gave him a kiss showing him it was o.k then rolled over to get something from his drawer, then he rolled and pounced on Ray getting playful. Ray's favourite part was when he'd slipped a sheath over his sex and smeared something over it driving him wild. He expected Dean to continue on and use his clever mouth and hands to take him to orgasm, instead Dean just got more affectionately playful and a little bit of bed wrestling and tickling went on. Then Ray got the upper hand, though he suspected Dean let him. Dean yielded and declared Ray the victor, and to the Victor go the spoils. Ray enjoyed some necking and kissing till he slid down Dean's body to lavish some attention to his chest. Dean wiggled and squirmed around making Ray moan against his chest at the stimulation he got from it. He rose to his knees and declared he wanted his spoils to please him. Dean smiled up at him, then slid up the bed until he could kneel before Ray. The sheath was stripped away making Ray why he'd bothered with it in the first place, then Dean pulled him into his arms to kiss him passionately and down they went onto the bed together. He was aware of only one of Dean's hand and heard the other one moving about then Dean started nibbling on his ear, and that hand started touching him just the way he liked to be touched. "You like that, don't you?" "Oh, yes... Don't.. stop," Ray panted. Dean's hand went further and Ray's eyes widened and his body stiffened as one of Deans finger's slid inside him. Dean nuzzled and kissed his neck murmuring that it was O.K. Over and over. "I would never do anything to hurt you.. Relax... I want to teach you something that will please you a lot." It took a lot of effort on Ray's part to relax, the Ranger had touched him like that and he hadn't liked it, but Dean's touch was more intimate, gentle and nothing like the Ranger's had been. When Ray relaxed Dean slowly introduced him to another form of pleasure making Ray's eyes widen in pleasure and his voice rise in ecstasy as Dean took him to the peak of pleasure in what was for Ray a new and extremely pleasurable way. "Did you like that?" Dean asked when the smiling Ray came back from down from his pleasure high. "You have to ask." "Well, yes." Ray pulled his head down and kissed him, then rubbed noses with him. "I more than liked it." "Would you do something special to please me now?" A little nervously Ray gave a nod and kissed him, rolling over to cover his body with own. Dean's eyes rolled and he gave a little moan, his hands clamping hard around Ray's arms as Ray rubbed started rubbing against his sex. He couldn't get a coherent word out as Ray moved over him but his grip kept Ray from doing what he was attempting, what he thought Dean wanted. It was also bruising him and Ray's hands moved to tickle him. "Stop it," Dean panted. "Let me go.. You're hurting me." "Not.. Until.. You stop." Ray stopped. Dean's hand slid up his arms and pulled him down kissing him deeply then rolled, till he was straddling Ray. The kissing continued until Ray thought he would pass out from lack of air. He was half aware that Dean's hand was searching for something between his long deep and passionate kisses, then he apparently found it. Dean rose to his knees over him, looking down at him. Ray drew his legs up, holding them and waited, eyes closing, anticipating his next move. Dean touched him, expertly and tenderly drawing another erection out of him, before he touched him the other way. The anticipation was heightening things for Ray then he got a surprise and a half and Dean sent him into screaming ecstasy, which was followed by a swift plunge into sleep. :---=====(*)=====---: Dean wasn't there when he woke, and Ray wandered out to shower before he wandered through the house to find Dean in the kitchen. He crept up behind him to hug and kiss his lover on the neck. "Morning love, I was going to bring you breakfast in bed," Dean responded to it. "I would have preferred you in the bed," Ray almost purred. Dean turned in his arms to hug him back and kiss him, then nuzzled at his neck. "We won't share a bed again, unless you make me a promise." "Anything." "Never.. try to do or ask for what you did last night." Ray thought about it, thought it strange, considering how pleasurable it was but nodded. "Say it." "I promise." "Good... I never want to hurt you... And that could happen... I'm only human... and you, love, press every button I've got." Ray smiled and turned his head to nip Dean's ear. "You press all mine too." Dean's hands slid down his back, to caress his buns then pull him close. A deep kiss was followed by a husky declaration of love and another kiss and they ended up making love there in the kitchen. Ray loved it when the kinky Dean covered him in food, nibbling and licking him clean. He didn't need any encouragement to return the favour. :---=====(*)=====---: Dean kept his promise to teach Ray the art of developing and showed him how to use his dark room. After a few false starts Ray got the hang of it and he was soon moving onto his next lesson, enlarging photographs. His shining Dean was the first, he blew it up to letter size first, then at Dean's suggestion A3 size. He got his first lesson in framing from Dean when it was ready to be framed after a coat of a special protective spray. Dean showed him a collection of hand made frames, the right size to frame such a print and told Ray to chose one. Ray picked one. Dean shook his head. "Yes, it's nice, but is it *right* for your picture?" Ray thought about it, studied his picture and then studied the frames again, more carefully this time, looking for just the right one. The next time he pointed, Dean smiled and nodded. "Perfect." He pulled it out and found a backing panel, then lead Ray to a pile of sheets of framing boards, telling him to chose two. Ray learned fast and studied his picture before he chose two. The next step involved cutting them to size for the frame and picture. And then fitting glass and putting it all in the frame. It was sealed up and a hanging line added then presented to Ray with a flourish. "You're first piece of Art, Mr Fiorella." Ray looked down at it and smiled. "Who sez photographs have to be black and white to be arty," Ray crowed very pleased with the final product. "What are you going to do with it?" Dean asked. Ray shrugged. It ended up on the wall of his room even though Ray didn't occupy it any more. It was soon joined by my more as Dean encouraged him to select pictures he liked for framing. :---=====(*)=====---: In the days that followed as Ray became more and more mobile Dean taught him how to indulge in self pleasuring and to do it for him. Ray found it added to the pleasure to watch Dean getting so turned on watching him. And watching Dean do it to himself taught him a few things too. After that it wasn't long before Dean talked him into letting him take pictures while he did it. The passionate interlude came to an end after Dean talked him into skinny dipping in the river at the edge of his property. Dean stood on the bank, camera in hand snapping photos and directing George to do this and that, promising all sorts of naughty little treats. He verbally seduced and turned Ray on to get the pictures he wanted, and then convinced him to please himself, while he took pictures. Ray did so, closing his eyes imagining his dream lover while he did so, and after he came down from his pleasant self induced high and opened his eyes, he saw movement in the bushes. He almost jumped half out of his skin and Dean saw it through the lens, snapping another photograph at the time. "What's wrong?" Ray pointed. "There's something over there, in the bushes." Dean looked around and trained his camera on the bushes, zooming in. They both heard and saw the bushes rustling then Ray jumped up and dived into the water, swimming back to the place where his clothes lay. He dressed faster than he'd ever dressed in his life and grabbed Dean to drag him away. "Whatever that is, it's big." Dean let him drag him off into the denser forest of his property, then stopped him. "Wait.." Then he used the zoom on his camera to spy on the river bank. "That's no animal." "What?!" Ray squeaked. "It's a man... One of the Rangers from the park," Dean informed him, snapping off a few pictures. "And a new one at that... I think I'm in love. Come to Papa sweet thang. Ohhh yes, that's perfect, god, what I wouldn't give to see you naked my little beauty." Ray's romantic little dreams bit the dust. "Ooooh, yessss, there is a god, that's it my little American dream boat.. Take it all off." Ray slipped away, and hurried back to the house. By the time Dean returned, he and Dief were gone. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray returned to his travels, pretending to be a blind man again, this time, he pre booked his journeys so he never stayed at any place for longer than a day. He stopped over just long enough to get pamphlets and the like and mail them on. He collected notes about towns, maps, recipe books and started collecting the books published by local historical societies. He took photos as always, but with the camera he'd started out with, not with the expensive profressional camera Dean had given him for a birthday gift. Every time he looked at it or saw one like it he was reminded of Dean and burned with shame and humilation at being so easily seduced by the shameless Lorathio. It wasn't as if he'd been ignorant of it either. The Ranger had told him Dean was always inviting men into his home for sexual interludes. Ray had deluded himself into thinking Dean meant it when he said he loved him and that when he asked him to stay meant share my life. He'd been a romantic fool and wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Dief often whined and was restless and Ray constantly apologised to the wolf and ending up breaking his golden rule. He tried to make up for the hard travelling and very short breaks by feeding the wolf as much junk food as his little heart desired. Dief learned very fast how to get Ray to go to the buffet car to buy a snack and milked it for all it was worth. The staff of each train Ray travelled on were forewarned and word travelled through the train grape vine about the blind man "seeing" the country via the train network, with the gorgeous, friendly husky as his seeing eye dog. Dief got plenty of attention, and Ray got photographs, more than one attendant asked if he minded if they took a picture, of and with them. The hardest thing for Ray to do was resist the urge to buy a book and read it to the pass the time. But Dief attracted talkative company and that helped him pass the time. As he drew near the end of his travels, heading back for Brooklyn he blew his blind man cover on the last half of the journey. It happened when a gang of not so bright sparks decided to rob the passengers in his carriage, and thought the blind man with a dog was an easy target. He never went anywhere without his gun, and palmed it. When one of the gang threatened him, Dief leapt for his arm, and Ray let him go for it. He rose and as the man's fellow gang members started spinning at his screams, Ray started firing. Ray's target practice and Huey's efforts to turn him into a near marksman paid off. Passengers through out the carriage went to the floor. Screams filled the air, and not all of them came from frightened passengers. The gang members went down, three with bullets in their shoulders, one with a bullet in his leg and arm, and the last was put down by Dief. Ray moved fast to make sure they all lost their weapons, and then called for help, belts, ties and scarves were passed along. The miscreants were bound and make shift pressure bandages were applied. There was no point pretending to be blind after that, and Ray poked the one who'd threatened him with a foot. "What do you know, I only said I was blind to be able to travel with my dog, sucker." His fellow passengers laughed at that easing the tension in the carriage. They were all forced to leave the train at the next stop, where the police interrogated everyone and took the would be train robbers into custody. Ray gave his statement, and put his new identity as George Fiorella to the test, had his hand shaken, and his back slapped by more than one person, photos taken, by fellow travellers, one of whom he didn't know was a journalist. Dief also enjoyed some attention and gorged himself on all the treats he received from grateful passengers. The railway were so grateful, that Ray got first class passage and treatment for the rest of his trip and no one said a word about his "dog." Well, other than, "What a beautiful dog, what sort is it?" "A Chow Hound." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray climbed out of his taxi, Dief on his heels, and inhaled the not so fresh air of Brooklyn. "Ah... Home at last," he said, trying not to cough, after all the fresh air he'd enjoyed, the city air was *quite* pungent. The cabbie pulled his back pack out of trunk and handed it over, and Ray paid him off. The man hovered. "Are you George Fiorella?" "Yeeesss.." Out came an autograph book. "Would you sign this?" It was something Ray got used to over the next week as he discovered the journalist on the train had sold the story of the attempted robbery and its dramatic ending to several papers including a national one. He also discovered, the journalist had snapped off photos *during* the event. He'd left a nobody and returned a hero to the world at large and everyone loves a hero. All his neighbours introduced themselves, bringing food, inviting him over for little informal parties, poker parties and the like. He attended one, to find it anything but little, and begged off the rest. The security company sent their rep around, with a T.V, Video and a pile of tapes to show Ray. Ray watched the tapes, seeing his land lord regularly enter his apartment and wander around. He often wondered out of camera range, and Ray heard windows and doors open, and later close. Twice the alarm went off, and his land lord deactivated and reset it. Another tape showed the security company's men arriving to check things out. He also saw his landlord carry off every chest containing his things. That was what the security rep wanted him to see. Ray smiled and waved at his apartment. "Do you see all those books?" "Yes???" "They were in one of those trunks, along with my linen and clothes. He returned all the trunks when I got back." "Oh." "He put them in a storage locker, for safe keeping." "Oh, well, that's not on any of the tapes." "Neither is a shot of whoever tried to break in." "No one got past your security measures, those bars are a deterrent, they'll try some place easier nine times out of ten, and the ones who think they can get past those were scared off by your alarms." Then he smiled faintly. "Though I doubt you'll have to worry about security now, the whole city knows about the way you took on that gang on the train. No thief in his right mind would risk breaking into your place, there's too high a chance of being shot if you happen to be in. And then there's your Chow Hound to take into account too." "I guess I won't be needing your services after this." "Why, Mr Fiorella, you'll be needing them more than ever, thieves are the least of your concerns. I'm sure once the media find out you're home they'll descend in a hoard to get your story out of you." "Oh..." "And then there are the autograph hunters, who'll sniff out your address and come to pester you to sign their clippings. All you have to do is to continue using our service, hit the alarm and our men will come and send them on their way." "Can I hire you on a month by month basis?" "Certainly." Ray signed up for another month of service and the rep left taking his equipment with him, but leaving the tapes behind. Ray tucked them into his book case and threw himself on his bed, and looked down at Dief on the floor. "Well Chow Hound, let's hope he's wrong about the Media. Autograph hunters I can handle. More media attention of the close up camera and Television kind I don't want." Dief gave a little bark of agreement. "What do you say we go to the post office and get all my mail tomorrow?" Dief agreed. Ray patted the bed and Dief jumped up. Ray rose and wandered into the shower while Dief made himself comfortable on the bed. Ray was ready to head for bed when there was a knock on the door. With a little grumble he pulled on a robe, found his gun and went to answer it, peeping through the peep hole before opening the door to let his land lord in. The land lord gave a weak smile when he saw Ray's gun, then held up a contract. "My lawyer finished drawing this up yesterday. It's the new lease I discussed with you before you left to do your cross country tour." "Oh." "You said you'd give me an answer when you returned." "Yes, well, I was seriously considering it.. Before I got back and found out some reporter had splashed my face all over the newspapers." "Ooooh," The landlord said, he knew what was coming. "I really need to see what the effect will be.. I don't want to get locked into a ten year lease and then find out I have to move because I'm being pestered." The landlord ripped it up with a sigh. "I'm really sorry about that." "Can't be helped. "If I move, I'll be leaving the things I installed behind, if that that's any consolation." "I suppose I could hike up the rent with security like yours." "People are always willing to pay a little extra for security," Ray agreed. "Oh, by the way, I may be going for another trip soon, I'll let you know before I take off." "Where are you going next?" "Oh, I don't know yet. I'll only be gone for a few weeks max. Drop by tomorrow night, and I'll pay you up to the end of the lease period." The land lord left happy. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray was in for a surprise when he went to the post office, apart from the mail he sent himself, there were also three huge packages and 3 slightly smaller but still large ones he couldn't place. There was too much for him to take home in a cab and he had to find a courier to deliver it all. Dief curled up on the lounge watching Ray open his parcels and wagged his tail when Ray laughed at finding his rug. "I forget all about this... Where do you think I should put it? The wall or the floor?" Dief looked at the floor. "Floor it is." He rolled it out and moved furniture around. The next parcel was a huge surprise. A portrait of himself, that was anything but standard. He was standing in Dean's main room, window at his back showing the view as he held a plate up in the air and laughed while Dief sat at his feet looking up hopefully. The goatee beard and mustache that had started as fakes, and he'd cultivated the growth of were there, and so was the hair people expected George Fiorella to have. That surprised Ray, it was a wig and he hadn't worn it around Dean's place after Dean had taken him to his bed. The portrait was of a very real event, he remembered Dean taking the picture, and he clearly remembered he hadn't been wearing the wig. But there he was with it in the painting. Then as he studied it more closely he realised it wasn't the wig. That was straight, dead black and always kept in a pony tail. The hair in the painting had shades of brown, auburn and waves. Ray realised Dean had used creative licence when painting it and liked the end result. He turned the portrait around for Dief to see. "Look at this Dief." Dief jumped off the lounge to give it a closer inspection. Then watched Ray hang it on the wall. "I bet Dean asked Meghan where I asked her to send the rug." Dief gave a little whine at the mention of Dean. Ray looked around. "I know what sort of deafness you suffer, it's called selective deafness." Dief went down and his paws went to his ears. Ray laughed. He swooped down to ruffle the wolf's fur on his way past. Dief climbed to his feet and helped him open the next parcel by scratching at the paper that Ray tore away. Ray's face lit up when he saw the painting of the eagle he'd admired so much. "He remembered." The painting was hung exactly where had pictured hanging it and he spent a few minutes admiring it. Then he went onto a largish crate to find the statue of the Eagle that had been on display before the painting. Ray made a mental note to get a pedestal made up for it and emptied the crate out, turning it upside down below the painting and set the statue on it. Dief looked at it, and let out a sigh and curled up on the rug. Ray looked around. "Don't worry Diefenbaker, I'm going to keep my promise, once I find all those pamphlets again, I'll find the best place to let you loose in the wild, and you can enjoy the wide open spaces again." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray found the smaller parcels were his framed pictures and they were hung around the apartment. His artistic full nude of Dean went up in the lounge because Ray did not want it in his bedroom giving him ideas. As he checked the mail he found more than pamphlets, post cards, and personal mail. He found one mail sack contained "fan mail" letter after letter of people congratulating him for showing those punks a thing or two. There were also letters from magazines and papers requesting interviews, one was from a magazine who wanted to do an article on him, and mentioned they'd heard he was a writer and were interested in seeing some work and possibly create a column - Travels with George. He set that one aside. It could be his first step toward reaching his goal to become a profressional writer. :---=====(*)=====---: He spent the next month finding out everything he could about the countries national parks, private reserves and wildlife reserves. It was with a sigh he realised the park Dean's property bordered really was the best place. The closest town was full of animal lovers. Hunting was banned in the entire county and it extended into the national park. Hunters who broke the ban were hit with stiff fines and banned for life, Hunters who shot what in the park were endangered species were hit with terms in the county jail, along with fines and a life time ban which kept most out. It had other features which eventually sold Ray on the idea. He didn't look forward to seeing Dean again but Dief's future health and happiness was more important than avoiding the man. He doubted he could avoid Dean for long if he returned there. Dean wrote to him constantly. Long lavacious love letters. They practically steamed up the paper. Ray would get hot and bothered just reading them and had to keep fighting the impulse to write back. Letter after letter asked him to come back, to share Dean's home and life. Dean had obviously forgotten or never realised Ray had heard the way he reacted to the sight of the luscious Ranger who'd spied on them at the river. Just the thought of that was enough to cool Ray's ardour every time, it worked better than a cold shower. The very idea of roaming around that park and running into Rangers made him break into a cold sweat. He had no idea which Ranger it was, wether it was one who shared Dean's tastes and come on way too hot and heavy, or the kind Dean had warned him about who would beat up anyone with tastes like that if they thought they could get away with it. He'd been completely innocent about that part of life, but Dean had educated him, warning him about the dangers of being Gay in the city which was one of the reasons Dean had left city life behind. He'd admitted that it still happened out in the country, but it was usually a tourist behind it. Though there was one Ranger who Dean didn't trust one little bit, a real Redneck. In his opinion, it was a damned shame he was such a brilliant Ranger, because he'd use his connections to get the man fired and sent on his way if he hadn't been. Then Ray recalled that Dean had said that it was the *new* Ranger, that meant it wasn't the Redneck, Dean knew the Redneck very well, he'd never seen the Ranger he'd spotted at the river before. So the man was an unknown. Dief made Ray stop dithering. He started throwing up. Ray rushed him to a vet, and Dief's stomach was pumped after the vet took a sniff of his breath. "He's been poisoned," The vet announced after Ray waited in the waiting room for several anxious hours. "What?!" "But not deliberately. He ate a rat that ate some rat poison, lucky for him, it was the sort that makes dogs start throwing up as soon as their system start to digest it. I'll have to keep him in for a while and keep an eye on him. Cross your fingers, he didn't digest enough of it to kill him." Ray did, and for the first time in a long time, found a church and did some praying. His prayers were answered in more ways than one. The next day, the vet rang to tell him Dief was improving and had definitely been brought in soon enough to act. Which made Ray thank God. He received yet another letter from Dean which made him do it again, Dean hadn't forgotten the incident at the river. He mentioned it, apologised for it, told Ray it was purely a physical thing, the man was the archetypical American dream boat, blonde, blue eyed and built. He was also straight, and horribly shy, Dean knew because he'd made it his business to find out everything he could about the Ranger. He promised Ray the Ranger wouldn't be any trouble, or tell anyone what he'd seen. And last but by no means least, Dean mentioned that the man was his long lost cousin. Ray took it as another sign from God and started packing his back pack with the camping equipment he'd brought when he'd first started hatching his scheme. He didn't intend to stay with Dean, he intended to follow Benton's instructions on the way to reintroduce Dief to the wild to the letter. That meant camping out in the wild. Not living it up in Dean's breath taking home. The next "Sign" came in another envelope, from the magazine he'd responded to. He'd brought a few issues studied their content and style, and written up three mock column's describing part of his travels including some photos and post cards. They responded with a nice cheque and a contract for him to sign. He was almost bounding with joy when he read it. But his happiness at achieving one of his goals was short lived when he realised there was no one to share his wonderful news with. Later in the evening he took a cab to the vets, sat by Dief's cage and read the letter from the editor to the wolf, who's ears pricked up. His tail gave a little wag, and Ray reached through the bars to pet him. "They still want to do an article, I said yes, but they'd have to wait until you were better. They want pictures of both of us, to put in the article. How about one of us sitting on the couch under that portrait Dean painted, what do you think?" Dief gave another little wag of his tail. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray ran into the land lord on the stairs, and told the curious man the reason he hadn't seen him walking Chow Hound lately was because he'd eaten a baited rat and was recovering at a veterinary clinic. The land lord had continued on his way in a very sombre state. A week later, Ray opened his door to the land lord and Dief trotted in surprising him. The land lord held out a piece of paper from the vet and Ray took it and got another surprise. "Someone paid his vet bill." "I did." "What?!" "I should have realised he might eat the rats he caught and stopped putting bait down. I accept full responsibility. I called every vet in the book till I found out where he was, and got them to let me know when he was ready to come home, collected him and paid the bill." "You didn't have to. It never crossed my mind." "I might be a cheap skinflint, but I'm an honest one," The landlord said before he departed. Ray tossed the bill to the table by the door, closed and locked it then hunted down Dief, who'd made himself right at home on his bed. The wolf enjoyed all the attention Ray gave him after that. :---=====(*)=====---: The Vecchio house hold was in an uproar, which was normal, but this was not the normal uproar, Frannie bounded through the house shrieking and waving a magazine around, till her mother, sister and brother in law joined her. "It's Ray! He's alive! He's in this magazine!" "Show me," her mother demanded snatching it, to be shown the three page article on George Fiorella and Chow Hound, Brooklyn's latest Hero, and the Magazines new columnist. Mrs Vecchio devoured the article and looked at the pictures, then patted Frannie's cheek sadly. "I know, he looks like our Raimondo, but that man is not your brother.." "But Ma, look at his dog, that's Diefenbaker." "Read the article, Frannie, it's just a coincidence. That man is from Brooklyn, and a writer, you know your brother, he would get grouchy about having to right up reports, can you imagine him being a writer?" Frannie had to admit it was difficult to imagine. Her sister and brother-in-law looked the magazine over and agreed with her that the man looked just like Ray, and his dog like Dief. Then Frannie carried it off to her room to read the article and hunt for the first column to read that too. After giggling her way through it, she had to agree with her mother. It was just a co-incidence. George Fiorella had a sense of humour. Ray had lost his after "The Incident". She flipped back to the article and looked at the full page picture of George at home, studying it. O.K, so he looked enough like Ray to be his twin, if Ray had hair like that. And the Dog looked like Diefenbaker, but that's where it ended. The article contained pictures of his apartment and souvenirs of his travels. One wall was covered in cork board covered in photos and post cards. She couldn't image Ray doing that. Then there was the decor, the apartment was obviously freshly painted, to match the colours of the incredible hand crafted rug on his lounge room floor. The furniture was not the sort of thing Ray liked, the couch looked incredibly comfortable, the chairs the sort of thing a writer would curl up and dream up new stories on. The nick knacks that covered his shelves, along with all the books weren't the sort of things her brother would collect either. Though she wasn't sure about the books. He *had* started amassing quite a collection before he'd disappeared. And half of it had disappeared with him and Dief. She looked at the photo of George on the train, facing down one of the gang member's gun in hand, the clothes he wore. Ray wouldn't be caught dead in clothes like that. And after "The Incident" he'd complained about having to deal with a gun, muttering about the recoil, and there was that time he'd gotten lost and been beaten up by a gang of toughs. The old Ray would have fought back and given as good as he got, the new Ray was a wimp and she seriously doubted he could shoot like this Hero of the moment could. And then there was the picture of his work area, there above the desk was a framed arty photograph of a naked man, or she assumed he was naked. There was a tiny censored patch across the relevant portions of the sparkling Adonis's body. Ray would never own a picture like that, unless it happened to be an arty naked woman and he wouldn't hang it on his wall, it would be hidden in his wardrobe. She reviewed the article and pictures again, and found what she was looking for and gave a little snort. "What else would he drive *but* an All Terrain Vehicle." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray hung the last framed copy of his article and column and then stepped back to admire them, while Dief watched. "Ah, don't worry, Dief, I won't be framing any more, I only framed that because it's special. My first feature article and column. I'm now a legitimate writer. I bet I won't have any trouble finding an agent after this." *Woof* "And I can write *anywhere*." Dief cocked his head and Ray squatted down before him. "Dean wants me to come back and stay with him, live there. I've been thinking about it. If you can adapt to living in the wild again, I'll be all alone.. Maybe... I should take up his offer. I love that place of his, but who wouldn't. And I would be close to you... You could visit any time you wanted. And I wouldn't need bars, alarms and a security company on call to feel safe and secure like I do here." *Woof* "I think I'll drop in and see him after I've set you up in your new home at the park.. You like that place, it's got everything you need, lots of fresh air, open spaces, fresh water, and no dangerous food. Like that rat you ate. Once you get used to living in the open again, you'll wonder how you ever endured living in the big city." *Woof* "So it's agreed. We'll head out that way, tomorrow. I hope you don't mind taking another long trip. This time we're going by ATV. That nice career criminal that helped me set up my new identity found me a nice second hand one. I had a mechanic look it over, and he says it's in great shape. All I need to do is get some tires cause the ones it had were rotten. Once I take care of that we'll get supplies and we can be on our way." :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser stepped out of the Ranger station that was also his home and stretched taking in a deep breath of the fresh air, and then froze as a familiar sound reached his ears. He looked around and almost had a heart attack when Dief came bounding out of the forest with blood and filth all over his fur. "Diefenbaker!" he squeaked. Without thinking he went into a crouch and the wolf came straight for him, gave him a quick sniff and a lick, then started running back and forth. Fraser caught his snout the next time he raced back. "Is Ray here? Is that his blood on your fur?" Dief barked, pulled free and raced off again. Fraser spun on his heel and returned to the station to grab and load his rifle, rousing his partner. Word around the park was that some fool had broken the no hunting rule and shot a bear, without killing it. The weren't sure if it was the same bear that had savaged the Ranger he'd replaced, it may have survived, and gone into hibernation. Since spring thaw three people had been attacked by the infuriated creature, and each victim's injuries were worse than the last. Fraser didn't want to think about Ray being one of those victims or what his injuries would be. But he had to think about it to be prepared for it. While his partner dressed hurriedly, Fraser slung his rifle over his shoulder and packed a first aid kit, then raced out, to circle the building to the stable out back. By the time his partner stepped onto the porch he had his horse saddled and was moving around the building. His partner saw Dief moving around and around, waiting impatiently and gaped. "It's someone pet, a well trained one." "It looks like a wolf." "It's got a collar and dog tag, I'd say it's a husky. And it's covered in blood." "That damned bear." "I'm going to follow it." "Leave a trail, and I'll be right on your tail." Fraser nodded, and sent the horse after Dief. It was nervous about it at first, but soon settled down. After several hours hard riding following the fast moving wolf, Fraser finally brought the horse to a halt near a ravine. Dief was on the edge of it, and looking down. As he climbed off the horse, the wolf suddenly raised his head and howled. It was with dread Fraser tied the horse's reigns off to a branch and approached the edge of the ravine. As he neared Dief he saw blood on the ground, and lots of it. His trained eye picked up other clues, bear tracks, hiking boot imprints, a stride that suggested the wearer of the boots had been running, till he reached the ravine. There he'd been trapped, a bear right on his heels, a jump that even with his horse Fraser couldn't make, let alone a man alone, even if he was highly motivated. As he neared the edge Fraser went to his knees scanning the ground, he could see more bear prints, and a new set of foot prints. Looking over the edge, he found another surprise. The bear was there, or its carcass was. It was a long way down, and the bear had fallen on it's back. It now lay sprawled below. Fraser used his binoculars to get a better look and noticed the bear's throat had been torn open. Dief nudged him and Fraser turned to hug and pet him. "Good boy." Dief whined and looked around at the biggest patch of blood on the ground. Fraser backed up then rose and went to investigate it. Yes, the other set of boot prints were all around it so were unusual tracks he was very familiar with. When Dief joined him and nudged him again, Fraser cupped his snout and petted him. "Ray was here and that bear came after him.. You tried to defend him, and killed the bear didn't you?" Dief barked. "And went looking for help because Ray was hurt." Dief barked again. "While you were gone someone else found him, Dief, see the tracks.." He pointed and Dief looked at the tracks, then at Fraser, "Those are Dean Alexander's tracks. He often rescues people in distress and has good first aid skills, he *will* take good care of Ray." The sound of a motor bike intruded and Dief yipped. "That's my partner," Fraser said in a tone that made Dief look around. "He's a red neck in a uniform. Buuut.. I have to put up with him. And so will you... He's a good man if you ignore his.. unsavoury habits and traits." The bike came into view and Fraser's partner joined him shortly after. Fraser pointed out the blood and tracks. "Williams." "He must have been out on one of his patrols and seen what happened." "Obviously the pooch didn't see him." "I'm sure if it had, it would stayed with its master." "I still say it looks like a wolf." "The bear's in the ravine." His partner went to the edge and looked down. "Now that's a loyal dog, taking on a grizzly to protect its master." "It probably has injuries.. We should take it to the vet station to be examined and cleaned up." His partner nodded and pulled out his radio set to call in a report. Fraser bowed his head as if examining the site to hide a faint smile as he heard the ranger on the other end announce they'd just had word, Alexander had called for a chopper to come to his helipad and airlift the victim of a bear attack he'd rescued in their vicinity. It was confirmation of his suspicions and he borrowed the radio to report Dief's existence and his plans to take him to the vet for an examination. He also stated his intentions to look after the animal until his master recovered, which would cover his request to be kept notified of the victims status. :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser was quite surprised to discover the victim of the bear attack was a man called George Fiorella, from Brooklyn, not Raymond Vecchio of Chicago. He was absolutely certain the wolf was Dief, even if the registration tag wasn't Dief's. He called the number on that, and got the information on its registered owner and the "dog". "So what did you find out about the pooch?" his partner, Petersham asked. "He's apparently infamous, his master is George Fiorella from Brooklyn, a man who travelled around America on train's pretending to be blind so his dog could come along in the carriage, not in a cage. He single handedly stopped a gang of thugs from robbing the passengers of his carriage at the end of his journey, with a little assistance for his dog, who he calls the Chow Hound." "Good name for the beast," his partner growled, thinking of the way Dief had managed to filch his food several times already. "Fiorella is apparently a writer for a magazine, his first column appeared in it last week, the person I spoke to suggested I get a copy of it to find out more about them." "You know if the media finds out that this so called Hero got mauled in our park by a bear they'll have a field day." "No one in the area knows who he is. I don't think they'll find out." "If he's a columnist for some magazine, they're going to start wondering where he is soon enough, then it'll come out. And don't forget that damned reporter.." "Mz Eckles?" "Yeah, the damned woman has a cousin at the hospital who always tips her off. If she does her research you can bet that'll be start of a media blitz." "There have been three attacks, the only mention she made of it in the paper was to warn people some Redneck wounded a bear that attacked anyone who's path it crossed and to stay out of the park till we dealt with it. That hardly sounds like the Media having a field day to me." "Mark my words, once that woman finds out it attacked a "Hero" and super pooch, she'll milk it for all it's worth." Fraser sincerely hoped he was wrong. :---=====(*)=====---: Via discrete means Fraser hired a private detective and discovered Ray - and Dief - had vanished from Chicago. His family were said to be extremely distressed and Fraser didn't blame him when he found out that Ray had been medically discharged from the force shortly before he vanished. The detective also found out he'd mortgaged his house to the hilt, and left the force with a very big lump sum payment, only a fraction of which was left in his bank account, which hadn't been touched since, except for automatic deductions arranged before he vanished. There was no money trail the detective could find, but he did find an interesting pattern of withdrawals from Ray's old bank accounts which had been inactive since his disappearance. Fraser began to suspect the truth, paid off the detective and hired another, this one from New York. The detective on that end discovered many interesting things about George Fiorella, but not what Fraser expected. He paid him off and pondered the situation. George Fiorella was apparently a Brooklyn native, with a checkable background, school records, and a history as a bit of a drifter. Who tended to travel around, working here and there, at odd jobs most of them the cash in hand sort that didn't leave many records. And yes, he did have a husky called the Chow Hound and was infamous for his trip across America with the dog which had ended in a blaze of publicity and put him on a new career path as a columnist. And the man had been in Brooklyn, for a month after his long journey, before heading off again, he'd informed his land lord he'd be gone for a few weeks and intended to do a bit of camping. The only heartening news for Fraser was that there was no need to worry about the Magazine finding out their new columnist had been attacked when they went looking for him. He'd apparently already written enough advanced copy for the magazine to run his column for 3 months. They knew he intended to go bush for a while and wouldn't get concerned if he didn't show up or get in touch for some time. That meant that as long as Mz Eckles didn't live up to his partners expectations, there'd be no media attention to worry about. :---=====(*)=====---: "There you go, love, comfy?" Dean asked after he settled Ray on the couch before the fire and wrapped a quilt around him. Ray gave a little wiggle and settled back, giving the tiniest of nods. He freed his left hand and gave Dean the thumbs up. Dean took his hand and kissed it, then wandered away heading for the kitchen. "I'll get dinner started. Tonight it's Chicken soup." Ray made a little squeak of disgust. He was heartily sick of chicken soup. In fact he was sick of soup period, once he'd come off the I.V it was all he ever got at the hospital, that and soft mushy deserts, like custard and ice cream. Everything he ate was either liquid, or soft mushy and didn't need chewing. "I know, I know, you're probably sick of it, but you haven't tried my chicken soup yet. Besides, the Doctor said you couldn't go onto solid food yet. You have to stay on the diet he gave me, until he examines you again and changes it." Ray gave a little noise of ill grace. "Don't be such a baby, you should be feeling grateful, you could have been killed. You came damn close to dying from the shock and blood loss alone. I know you're still in a lot of pain, but don't you worry I know a few herbal recipes for pain relief. And as soon as the doctor thinks your ready for it, I'll sell a few paintings and hire a physiotherapist to help you through your rehab." Ray wished he could move his head without it sending pain lancing through his head and body. He wished he could talk, to ask Dean to repeat that. He wasn't sure he heard it right. Did the man who said he *never* sold his work just say he'd *sell* some of his paintings? "And when you're fit enough we'll go back to the big bad city, and find a plastic surgeon who can do something about those scars. Oh, don't worry about the expense, love, I've got hundreds of paintings.. I'll sell as many as it takes to cover them." Ray felt his heart skip. Nothing Dean said could convince him more than that statement of the truth of his words when he declared his love for him. He knew Dean never sold his work. Sometimes he traded it, sometimes he gave it away, but everything he traded or gave away was either something he did just for the recipient, or something he felt was perfect for the recipient. He *never* sold work. When Dean returned, Ray made a come here gesture and cupped his face, letting him know he appreciated it. Dean smiled and kissed his hand. "Not so grumpy now?" Ray gave a tiny shake of his head. "Good. If there's one thing I can't stand it's a grump," Dean declared then leant over Ray to put a kiss on his forehead. "And I was delighted to find out you are a man with a very nice sense of humour." Ray raised a brow. "Your column.. I do read that magazine." Ray's cheeks turned pink, then he suddenly blanched. "What's wrong my love?" It took a frustrating half hour of making signs before Dean thought of picking Ray up and carrying Ray into the office and settle him down in the chair there. He pulled the type writer within easy reach after setting up some paper in it. Ray started typing as soon as it was in reach. ~"What's the date?"~ Dean told him and Ray made a squeak. ~"Shit."~ "What?" ~"I gave them enough advance copy to last three months. I told them and my land lord I'd be back before then. They're going to start wondering where I am any day now,"~ Ray laboriously typed out. "Not to worry." ~"I don't want reporters descending on me when they find out what happened.~ "They won't find out. I'll get a nurse in to look after you. The Rangers found your ATV, I'll get it and go to Brooklyn, get all your things and buy you a lap top, so you can you can write up new articles and send them off and they won't ask questions." Ray hit the caps lock and covered half the sheet with XXXX's and OOOOO's. Dean chuckled and kissed his head. "And you thought I was just a pretty face." ~"The rest of you's not bad either."~ Ray got another peck on the head for that. ~"Chow Hound?"~ "Is fine, one of the Ranger's has been taking good care of him. When you're up to it, I'll make arrangements to get him delivered here." Ray covered the rest of the sheet of paper with XXXX's and OOOOO's. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray's recovery was slow, his diet wasn't the most nourishing one in the world and he was dependant on Dean to for every little thing. He couldn't walk around or move about without crippling pain, he couldn't sleep without one of Dean's Herbal remedies to relax him and take away the pain, he couldn't even go to the bathroom, with out help from Dean. They tried the wheel chair, but Ray couldn't get up and down and it went around in circles a lot, bumping into things while he tried to steer and move around with one hand. He got so frustrated he just sat in it and sulked and Dean moved him from room to room in it. Once he found a nurse he trusted and who could handle all of Ray's needs, Dean kept his promise, going to Brooklyn to get Ray's things, *Everything*. He'd returned with a removalist truck, and stored most of Ray's things in a room in his studio. Ray's books were transferred to Dean's library, a room which had been near to bare of books, until then. It was also a room Ray didn't remember seeing the first time he'd stayed at the house. Dean presented him with a laptop, with a lot of fanfare, and a tiny little synth keyboard. They developed a code, using the keyboard, different sounds meant different things, their pitch told Dean if he wanted it urgently, if it could wait, or if it was just a thought. A month after Dean's return from Brooklyn, he took Ray outside for the first time, blindfolded. Ray felt himself go from the warm environment of the house, to the chill of the outside world, to another warm environment, before he was set down on a familiar comfortable chair. The blind fold came off and Ray squeaked with delight. His new environment was an almost perfect copy of his apartment's main room. "I thought you might feel more.. at home and creative here. I've been working on it ever since I got back. You know me and my camera. I took lots of pictures so I could copy your look." Ray took his hand, squeezed it and got a smile. "You like?" Ray gave a tiny nod. "Should I move all your books here?" Ray gave a little shake of his head, then made a so-so gesture. Dean scuttled off and returned with his lap top. ~Just the things I need for my research.~ "You'll have to type up a list.~ ~I'm curious~ "You once said it's your middle name, so I'm not surprised." ~I don't remember seeing a library the first time I had a tour of your house~ "There wasn't one. I built it for you. Writers are usually book worms, with lots of books. So I built a room to hold all your books." ~How arrogant - You assumed I'd come back after what you did.~ "It was wishful thinking... I was going to send you pictures when I finished. I put the finishing touches to it while you were hospitalized." ~You don't give up easily do you?"~ Dean settled himself on the arm of Ray's chair. "I told you once that one of the reasons I left the rat race behind was because of how some people make it their business to harass, intimidate and assault people with our tastes." ~I remember.~ "There was another reason.. I spent a year in the city, in a hospital.." Ray's eyes widened. "I had cancer. My Doctor's went after it aggressively and all I did was get weaker and weaker. I was a frail shadow of myself with a year to live in their opinion when Mother brought me here, this was her land, she thought the fresh air would do me good, not to mention a big change in my life style. She was a herbalist a damn good one. She developed an alternative treatment for me. She helped me get my health back, and as soon as I was fit enough, I left, returned to the big city. She nagged me for a year after I went back. She didn't give up till I left it behind to return here for good. So.. If I'm a stubborn man, who doesn't give up, you can blame it on her, I take after her. She taught me more than how to whip a few herbal remedies, she taught me to never give up." ~She's dead?~ "Yes. She died 10 years ago. I've lived here alone since then, till you came along. You were the first person I asked to stay for more than a night." ~Don't tell me it was love at first sight, I won't believe a word of it~ "I didn't intend to fall in love you with you I was after a little company, a one night stand. Finding out you were a virgin and at your age made me look at you in a whole new light," Dean said reaching out to stroke Ray's ear with a light touch. "And I worked it out the day you sprained your ankle, which is why I didn't make a move on you.. Until I was reasonably sure you wanted me too." ~The anticipation was killing me.~ Dean smile faintly. "I almost didn't accept the invitation you were giving me." ~Oh why?~ "I've never bedded a virgin before. But I do remember my first experience... It wasn't very... pleasant." Ray remembered the mauling he got from the Ranger and knew the difference between making love and sex. All the Ranger had been after was sex. ~It was beautiful.~ Dean dropped a kiss on his head, then stroked the soft Fuzz growing back. Ray's head had been shaved at the hospital. "I'm not the only man you were attracted to am I?" Ray wasn't sure if he should answer that question. "Sometimes you would murmur someone elses name in your sleep. Dream about being with someone else... Someone called Benton." ~He's dead. He was murdered.~ Dean stroked his head again. ~There was a man ... the only one before you that I even considered the possibility of sharing my life with... He's the one who taught me the difference between sex and making love... A very special man. He encouraged me to explore my creative side, outside of work. My mother used to say it's about time and he's the one you should settle down with. He was murdered too." ~Did they catch his killer?~ "Killers.. and yes.. 3 months later. They attacked us because we were gay and .. almost killed me too.. And sometimes I used to wish I'd died too. Particularly during the time it took me to recover. So I do know how you feel love." ~That wheel chair used to be yours.~ "Yes. And I know how frustrating it is trying to steer and move in it with one hand. I hear they have better ones now that you can do it in.. I'm looking into getting one, but I won't get it unless the doctor say's you'll never walk again." ~I can't even move my leg without wanting to pass out.~ "I know." "Did he say I could walk again?" "He said that as things stand, no, but with further surgery you may get your mobility back. He's looking for another Doctor, a surgeon good enough to give you that chance.. But it won't come easy." ~Nothing ever does.~ "You could have to spend months in hospital and it won't be just one operation, there could be dozen's.. On your face arm and leg." ~Face? They can fix my face?~ "Perhaps. You have to understand, the state you were in, you wouldn't have survived a long complicated bout of surgery, and that your injuries were so severe none of the doctors could give you the level of treatment you needed. They did their best to save your life and your limbs. The rest.. is up to you now. You have to eat more even if you don't like being feed mushy food all the time. You can't go through more surgery till you satisfy him you're ready to undergo all the surgery you'll be up for. And you have to convince the Doctor we get that it won't be a waste of time. You have to be willing to accept set backs, pain, and a lot of frustration." He stroked Ray's head again. "Learning to walk again, even if the price is a lot of pain is worth it. I know.. I've got more pins than a pin cushion in my legs." ~Do you still feel pain?~ "Every day, love. But I learned to live with pain, I've forgotten what it was like to live without it.. And there are ways to control it, when it's intolerable. I've used some of my tried and true methods on you already." ~Like your special muffins~ Dean gave a little grin. "I know you do." Ray's mouth twisted into a painful looking smile for a moment and pain clouded his eyes. "Something else you have to do before you go into hospital is write enough advance columns to cover your stay." Ray gave a little nod. ~How long?~ "Six months minimum. It would take that long for all the major surgery and rehabilitation. Now.. get back to work, you've got another column to write and I've got some work of my own to do." ~Yes, Master.~ :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser lurked in the dense fringe of forest that ringed Dean's house and studio. Though his binoculars he watched Ray, who was sitting out in the sun, on one of Dean's latest creations, an ergonomic lounger, covered with a bright blanket, typing away on his lap top. As Ray lifted his head, tilting it as he thought about something, Fraser shuddered. The right hand side of Ray's face was a mess from the cheek clear to the jaw, his neck, what Fraser could see of it, was covered in scars too, red, livid and ugly. He known, intellectually, that George had been savagely mauled before his "dog" drove the bear away and to its death. He'd seen the report on the incident which had described George's ordeal. It was much as he'd pictured it. The poor man had been minding his own business, watching his "dog" chase some kind of lizard around when the bear crossed his path and came at him. He'd done the smart thing, ran for his life without a moments hesitation. Unfortunately he'd run out of places to flee when he reached the ravine. The drop was far enough to kill, it was too wide to jump, and the bear had caught up with him before he could chose another direction to go. His right arm had been slashed open to the bone in the bears first strike, as George had thrown his arm up to protect his face. The bear had broken several ribs, slashing open his side, and George went down curling up into a ball. The bear continued to maul him, until the "Dog" had caught up and gone for the bear, driving it back before going for its throat. The last thing George had seen before he passed out from the shock was the bear swiping Chow Hound away, before it fell over the edge of the ravine in its death throes. The injuries George sustained were mainly to the right hand side of his body, his arm, and leg were both slashed clear through to the bone, in more than one place. The Doctor's at the hospital he'd been airlifted too had done their best to save the limbs and repair the damage to his muscle and tissue. If George had the will power, and strength to get past the pain he'd be able to use them again, if not, he'd be crippled for life. Now, seeing him for the first time since the attack by the bear Fraser could image how horrific the scars he couldn't see were. It gave Fraser goose bumps to watch this man, so alike to his Ray. To see him so horribly scarred. He remembered him as he'd been the first time he'd seen him, frolicking in the river while Dean snapped away with his camera inducing him to pose in more and more provocative poses, until he'd got him onto a rock, glistening as the sun hit the water that beaded over and streamed down his body. Fraser had watched as he'd followed Dean's seductive instructions, touching himself, hands moving over his body, bringing himself to the peak of pleasure. Watching it had left Fraser with a raging hard on and a puddle of drool at his feet, then the man had opened his eyes and spotted him watching. He'd been less than quiet as he took off. And found a new place to hide, to watch him swim to the other side of the river, dress and flee taking Dean with him. Once they were gone he'd gone to the river bank, and after assuring himself there was no one else around, stripped and taken a cold dip to take care of the erection his unintentional voyeurism had left him with. He'd admitted for the first time that night that he had fallen in love Raymond Vecchio. He'd been fighting it for a long time, let Victoria turn his life upside and destroy it in an effort to deny his feelings and yes lust for his friend. Ray was straight, very very straight, and catholic, and he knew about the catholic view of that sort of thing. He'd accepted what Victoria had done to him as a punishment he deserved for his depraved desires for his best friend and soaked his pillow with his tears remembering Ray as he'd been the last time he'd seen him. Shaved bald, pale, thin, and so happy to see him. Victoria had seen it too. She'd been waiting for him to show up, knowing he would. She'd followed him through the hospital corridors, helped him pick flowers and a stuffed toy to buy to brighten up his room and hovered in the door watching him. She'd comforted him when he'd broke down after the visit, first Dief almost being killed, and then the confirmation Ray's memory was really gone when he'd ask who Diefenbaker was, not how he was. And when her trap had snapped tight around him, she'd made threats, saying how easy it would be to dress like a nurse, slip in while Ray was sleeping and inject poison into his I.V line to force him to do her bidding, and draw the noose that so much tighter. He'd gone with her when she'd fled the city with her diamonds, because he wanted to make sure she got away, to make sure she couldn't carry out her threat to kill Ray. That was when he found out about Jolly's murder, how she'd used his gun to do it. Of course she called it self defence, but he called it premeditated murder, she pointed out everyone thought she was dead, and he alone would be the prime suspect since she'd made it look like Jolly had trashed his apartment, looking for the money she'd slipped him to spread around town. He knew he could never return to Chicago, or Canada either. She'd been meticulous in her revenge. That was why he'd taken his relative's identity. He'd wondered if it was fate, that Victoria left him to die so near the place where the real Allen Pinset had died. George turned his head looking around at something and once again Fraser was struck by how much he looked like Ray. Fate was capacious, giving him a new life, just to taunt him with this reminder of the one he'd left behind. Then he saw George shove the lap top aside, face screwing up in pain as he pushed up and rolled off the lounge, rising up to his knees, arms going up, as Dief bounded up to him. He couldn't understand it. The dog was Dief, there was no doubt about it. Just as that man was George Fiorella, but the Private Detective he'd hired had proved that George and Ray were two separate people. George Fiorella wasn't a person who'd only begun to exist after Ray disappeared. It was still a puzzle he had yet to find all the pieces of. He slipped away, more determined to find the answers to those puzzling questions. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray sat before the window of the expensive private hospital Dean had booked him into for some cosmetic surgery. He'd already undergone several operations. And the Doctor had given him good news, and hope, but there was bad news too, and Ray dreaded the reaction Dean would have to that news. He sighed when he heard a little knock on the door, and looked around as it opened, just enough for Dean to peek in. "You're up." He slipped into the room with the biggest teddy bear Ray had ever seen in his life. "I brought you a little something to cuddle up to while you're here." "S'not little." Dean's smile widened and he left the bear on the bed and moved on to the chair to squat before Ray. "You spoke, you can talk." "Hurt.." "It doesn't hurt now?" "Still hurts.. Not as bad.." Dean patted his leg, the good one. "I'm sure by the time the Doctor's finished with you, that you'll be as good as new." Ray mentally sighed, he wouldn't be as good as new. Some of the scars went too deep and he'd have to live with them for the rest of his life. "I've got great news for you too." "What?" "I went back to my old firm to see some old friends. And Old Anderson, the Head of the Firm came to my hotel just to ask me to come back.. He wants me to work on a special project. There's a competition going on for a big contract, Every firm in the state wants it. And he thinks with me back on the team they can win it. He said if can come up with the winning design, I can name my price. And guess what it's for." Ray gave a tiny shrug and winced, not that Dean noticed it, with his face swathed in bandages. "A Museum of Modern Art. Some seriously wealthy art loving billionaire left a huge fortune to the city to build and run it and the budget is huge. Anderson says all it would take would be a tour of my place to convince them to award the contract to the firm, so we're setting it up now." "Once they see your Gallery you'll be a shoe in." "I'm kind of hoping that myself. If I can win the contract for the firm, it will solve all our problems. I won't have to start selling my works to pay your medical bills. And this time it won't just be a big fancy lobby I design, he's going to give me a shot at designing the whole damned thing," Dean said, with a big smile, "And if I pull it off he'll make me a senior partner in the firm... I almost worked myself to death to become a junior partner, and now he's virtually handing me a senior partnership on a silver platter." He kissed Ray's hand. "I'll be as rich as everyone thinks I am when I get that partnership." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray gritted his teeth and clung to the rails while his physiotherapist encouraged him to move. With a hiss he bent his leg and took his first step. The brace around his leg took his weight as he took another and he gritted his teeth and forced himself to go past the pain and get to the other end of the frame. His physiotherapist watched him achieve that feat and was moving in with his chair when Ray turned and started making his slow way back to the other end, surprising him. He hadn't expected Ray to make it all the way across in the first place. He wondered what was motivating him, the pain he was in must have been incredible, yet he was pushing it aside to walk again. He clapped and made Ray return to his chair covering his sweat soaked torso with a towel. "That was better than I expected." "I was motivated." "Aha. And what's your motive?" "To get out of here." The physiotherapist laughed at that. :---=====(*)=====---: With the aide of a brace and a cane, Ray limped through the incredible lobby of the office building that contained the office's of the Architectural firm Dean was working for. He kept turning in little circles, awed by the sheer size and beauty of it. Then his eyes were attracted to a collection of six huge paintings of buildings and spot lighted models either side of the huge grand staircase that lead to the first floor. He limped over to study one of the models close up and smiled when he saw Dean's name as concept artist on the little tag in the case. Then he turned and looked up the painting that towered over it, it had Dean's mark in a corner. A chuckle behind him made him jump and he almost lost his balance, caught it just in time and looked around to find a well dressed yuppie watching him. "Looking for the Architectural firm are we?" Ray gave a nod and looked at the painting again, then waved. "Are these examples of their work." "They're concept sketches of some of their projects. The company lost a lot of work when Alexander bailed out, he was the best concept artist in the business." "Don't you mean Architect." The yuppie snickered. "You've been reading the social pages haven't you." Ray looked at him. "He's an interior decorator and concept artist, not an architect. He couldn't design a *building* if his life depended on it. Though.. I must admit, he was one hell of an interior decorator," The yuppy said with a glance around. "He decorated this lobby." Ray looked around again. "Yup, that's what Anderson and Partners does best, "The best Lobbies in town.. Or at least, that's what they used to do.. Now, I'm amazed they can afford offices here..." "What do you mean?" "Everyone knows that companies on the verge of bankruptcy, they haven't had a decent contract since they lost Alexander. He knew how to dress up a building with all the nice little decorative touches." Ray didn't like the yuppy one little bit and suspected there was a reason for his malicious gossip. He looked at one of the paintings. "I thought this design was quite impressive, I saw the building down town." "That was built ten years ago." "I'm also quite impressed with this building." The yuppie snickered again. "They lost that contract, when they lost Alexander." "Oh, really, then why did he design the lobby?" "That was the only part of the design they came up with that the Board of Directors liked. They kept that and gave the contract to another firm, and told them to design something that would do it justice. Did a good job to if I don't say so myself," then he smirked a little, "Though I'm biased, I work for that firm. And if you think these are impressive wait till you see the concept designs for the Art Museum we've got." "Funny, I heard Alexander was back on board here." The yuppy snorted again. "He's a washed up has been. Hasn't worked since he stomped on by that gang who liked stomping *Gay* men. I guess that say's a lot about his tastes. So does the fact they sacked him after it.. Old man Anderson didn't want no Gay boys on his team." "This lobby says something about his tastes too." "He hasn't worked in almost ten years. And I heard you needed to *prove* you could build a structure like the design you submit for the competition." "So?" "Well, Anderson and Partners has never built anything but Skyscrapers and apartment blocks. Where as my firm has 15 years of experience at building malls and shopping complexes, sprawling complexes - Now, I maybe wrong, but if I was on the board I'd chose a firm that knows how to build something like that over a firm who builds scrapers any day." "Well, if I were on the board, I'd take on look at this lobby and ..." "Ah, but we built the lobby, Alexander decorated it when we were finished, the work was ours. And they don't have Alexander any more." "Obviously you don't read the social pages." The yuppy laughed. "I know what you're talking about, I read that report too, and do you know what it was based on, it was based on the fact that social snoop saw Alexander dropping in at the offices here. He was just dropping by to say hi to his old friends. There's not an ounce of truth in the rumours." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray sat before the window of his hospital room, staring out it, listening to Dean babble on as he fussed with the flowers he'd brought by the bed. "And we'll be heading out that way this weekend." Ray looked around. "Can I come too?" Dean froze for a few seconds, then resumed fussing but Ray didn't miss the tremor in his arms. "There won't be enough room for you love. They'll be sleeping over. As it is I'm going to have to head out tomorrow and turn your room in the studio into a bedroom to handle it." "But I don't need a room of my own, I can sleep with you." "No!" Ray looked out the window again. "Oh, don't take it like that love, you can't.. I might hug you or something in my sleep and that would just hurt you," Dean said moving in on Ray. "I can't touch you again till the Doctor's finished." "The Doctor has *finished* he's done all he can, the only reason I'm still here is to go through physiotherapy and to learn to live with the pain now." He ripped off the pressure mask that had covered his and face turning and clawing the medicated bandages over the scars that still marked it, the skin graft over his cheek and brow. "Take a good look Dean, he's *finished* This is what I'm going to look like for the rest of my life." He saw Dean recoiling. He didn't blame him, he'd recoiled the first time they'd taken off the bandages and seen it in the mirror. It looked almost as bad as it had in the early days. His face was still puffy and bruised from the delicate micro-surgery he'd undergone to reconnect severed muscle tissue. He'd never be able to smile again without it looking like a Billy Idol sneer. His arm and leg were indications of how his face would look after it heeled. Giving him his mobility back had been the doctor's first priority, he'd worked on them first, they were healed, and they still bore ugly scars. He ripped open his shirt, to show the ones on his side - which were no where near as bad. "Good as new," He spat, "Because they are new scars, in the place of the old ones. I'm never going to be good as new. I'm going to be scarred for life!" Dean's mouth moved but nothing came out of it at first. "I'll have enough money soon to pay for the best cosmetic surgeon's around, to get rid of them." "They can't! They're too deep, they're for life! And pain is just something I have to learn to live with, if I want to talk to you, or smile or laugh, or even turn my head. Pain is the price I have to pay if I want to move and be mobile again." Tears of pain ran down his face, it was costing him greatly and there was nothing hiding his face to mask it this time. "You should have left me there, you should have let me die - but nooooo. You had to play hero, so I'd be indebted to you." "No." "Get out, I don't need your pity! I don't need you!" The door flew open and a nurse stepped, his shouting could be heard in the hall. "George... Calm down.. Listen to me." "Get out of here!" "I'm sorry, Mr Alexander you'll have to leave now, you're upsetting Mr Fiorella, and his shouting is disturbing other patients," The nurse said reaching out to take Dean's arm as she reached his side. Dean didn't even fight it he let her lead him from the room and Ray sank back down onto his chair his hands flying to his face feeling hot sticky liquid against his skin. He looked at his hand and new tears poured down his face to mix with the blood streaming from his torn graft. :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser sat on Clover's back scanning the area through his binocular's and did a double take as he saw a black horse on the other side of the River. He looked about then realised he was in the place he'd been told about. Over to the left there was a cross made of stones, and to the right an ugly looking tree stump that he was sure was the Lucifer Tree he'd been told about. When he looked through the binoculars again, he saw the horse grazing at the edge of the fire break. Then he frowned, it wasn't the same horse. This one had a bridle and a saddle. Its reigns were tied around its saddle peg. The horse he'd seen had been free of such things. He scanned the area around the horse, finally training the binoculars on the river bank and gave a little "Ah." Dean was sitting on a rock, staring into the water. He studied the man and frowned. The binoculars went down and he climbed off his horse to tie its reigns to a tree branch. Dean looked up as he heard someone jumping rocks near by and he saw Fraser standing on a rock arms flailing to catch his balance and the rock rocked. He went into the water, as the rock tumbled out of place before he could jump for the next. Dean almost snickered. He'd fixed those rocks so they would fall out of place if a person didn't know just the right place to jump on them. He didn't want tourists crossing over the river to roam around his land. Fraser's head came up and he shook water out of his long tresses and looked at the rock. He disappeared again, and the next time Dean saw him, he was past the rocks, and heading his way. It wasn't long before Fraser was climbing up the bank to approach, soaked clean through, dripping with every step he took. "Nice day for it," Dean said as Fraser lowered himself down to a rock to sit near him. "The water's deeper than it looks over there." "That it is." "I thought you went back to the city, with George." "I did. I'm back." "How's George?" Dean gave a shrug. =Ahhh... That explains it.= "He's gone." "Gone where?" Dean shrugged again. "He was in a bad mood the last time I saw him.. He found out he was going to be scarred for life.. Said I should have left him out there to die and told me to get out.. I had to leave, he was so.. distressed he didn't even notice when his skin graft tore open and blood started pouring down his face." Fraser gave a little shudder. "I thought.. He just needed a little time.. It looked terrible, but the Doctor did his best to make it possible for him to hide the scars, he was just suffering from post op bruising.. That always makes things look worse than they are." Fraser gave a little nod. "The Doctor told me to stay away until it healed, that he'd be less fiery when he saw that it wasn't as bad as he thought. So.. I came back here with some guests for the weekend. Thinking he'd cool down and be by the time I got back, when I got back, I waited, and waited for the doctor to tell me it was safe to visit him again, and when I got sick of waiting, I went there, and he was gone. He checked himself out of the hospital. Paid off the bill while I was out of town for the weekend. He knew I wouldn't be there... I told him. He couldn't have said I don't want your pity any clearer than that." "Pity??? Why would he think you pitied him? I thought you'd been together for quite some time.." "Not really... I asked him to stay after we first met, which was around the time you and I first met. But I messed up and he left. I found out where he lived and kept sending him letters asking him to come back... And what happens when he finally does, that bloody bear attacked him." "Oh.." "It's my fault... I should have just accepted it and let him go." "Why didn't you?" "You wouldn't understand." "Try me." "I left Hicksville USA because I was gay. Back then people just looked the other way if you beat up on someone who was gay. Or tossed them jail just for being gay. I went from city to city state to state. Till I finally settled down in one quite a long way from home. I had lovers, handsome and otherwise, gorgeous and plain. Smart and complete airheads." "But he's different." "He was so.. innocent. Even though he'd obviously seen the rough side of life. He was a virgin, though very passionate and quick to learn." Fraser nodded. "He loved my place, and he wasn't just talking about my house, he loved the land too." "That would be important for a potential live in lover." "Yes, it's very important. He said one of his goals was to buy a place like mine." "Are you sure it wasn't.. an act? That he wasn't pretending to be innocent, in *all* ways." "Absolutely, most of all about the fact he was a virgin, he didn't know what to do when I made a move on him. He has no idea what we got up to wasn't.. sex. So in a technical sense, he's still one." "You didn't sleep with him??? I thought." "Oh I slept with him.. I taught him things I wish my first lover had been experienced enough to teach me.. It can be messy..and painful if you don't know what you're doing in the heat of passion. And once I fully matured I wasn't exactly what you'd call average in the family jewels department. They used to call me the Stallion at college after someone got a peek in the showers. I got offered a *lot* of roles in Porno flicks. And for the construction of my mother's clinic in town accepting some." "You were involved in the pornography business?!" "Well, Dean William's was. I was pretty stupid back then, I got involved with the wrong people, and ended up testifying against them and being placed in the Witness Protection Program." Fraser was very surprised. "So Dean Alexander is just another identity that they created for you." "It's the name and identity I was born with. My name changed to William's after my mother married my stepfather. I took back my name - my birth name when I found my niche in life." "Ah. Didn't that threaten your place in the programme." "I lost that when they caught the last member of the ring who escaped the round-up. And no one in the ring knew where my tastes lay. I haven't had sex, straight or otherwise since my first experience - which was before I fully matured." Fraser idly wondered just how well endowed he was. "I found other way's to get my satisfaction. One of my faults is that I'm a terrible voyeur. A legacy of my day's in the Porn business. There was a girl, a young woman who was head over heels in love with me." "Who they thought was your lover." "Exactly. I wasn't looking for anything but friendship at that time, and spent a great deal of time with her before I got in deep with the ring. And discovered voyeurism. Something not too many of my lovers have complained about. You can learn a lot about how to please a lover if you can convince them to relax and please themselves in front of you. And my George, he didn't even know how to do that till I woke up his sexuality.. He was perfect.. Someone who didn't know what sex was, but who had a raw and passionate nature.. And wasn't afraid to explore it - free of any expectations or taboos. And a romantic to boot." "How do you know he was a romantic?" "Little things. He wrote a poem for me. He's a writer. I've been reading his stories.. I usually end up laughing so hard I either wet myself or hyper-ventilate, even if I'm not in the mood to laugh.. That's a rare talent. He writes mysteries, thriller and crime stories.. Something that should be serious, but even when he's being serious it's hysterically funny.. He made me laugh, I like that. I loved that. I love a man with a sense of humour." "So all in all he was the man you've been waiting your life to meet." "Yes, that's it, you've hit the nail on the head there. I'll never meet anyone like him again." "You're not that old, Dean, you'll find someone who wants to share your life and home who you'd..." "I'm dying - now." Fraser trailed off his eyes widening. "Aids?" "Cancer." "Inoperable?" "I've already been through it once.. The doctor's went after it aggressively.. I damn near died." "They missed something." "Just as I got my health back, returned to work, and found the lover who was the best damn one I ever had.. My whole world came crashing down.. Six months.. For six months I had everything I wanted.. Well almost.. But I was on my way to achieving my goals, and very happy with my lover, till a gang of thugs who thought it was their business to teach us the error of our ways followed us.. And .. well.. I barely survived their "lesson." The cancer started where when one of them stomped on me with his boot, breaking bones and causing internal injuries. I lost a kidney I have one left.. I've lived the healthy life, stress free up here, good diet, good exercise air.. The doctor said, I wouldn't have lasted as long as I have if I'd stayed in the city in a stressful job. Even if I stay here, living my healthy life.. I'll be dead within two years." "And they're nothing then can do." "There's a 75% chance I'd die undergoing treatment. A 25% chance I'd survive, and no guarantee it would be a cure, there's a high chance it would just reoccur... And I could end up needing organ transplants. Heart, lung and kidney." "You decided to live with it." "I've been through it before, their idea of a cure was worse than the disease. I would rather.. die with dignity, doing what I love, having achieved my goals, all of them, than going through that again.. I couldn't work, I couldn't sleep, eat, it took my mother six months to nurse me back to semi- fitness, and she looked after me, the way I cared for George." "May I ask what happened to your lover you said he was with you." "He didn't survive." Fraser reached out to give him a sympathetic pat. "They caught them... 3 months later.. And they didn't even try to conceal their motives.. I lost everything. As soon as the head of the firm I worked for and had been promised a partnership in found out I was gay, I was sacked. No one else would hire me, until one company sent a head hunter and told me they had snatched a project away from my old firm and wanted me on their team.. I was sacked the day after I completed supervising the construction of the element I designed.. The lobby.. It was.. a labour of love, from start to finish - and when it was finished so was I.. They added insult to injury, by listing me as their "Interior Decorator." "Oh dear." "They didn't just sack me.. I was called in to see the head, and he savaged my work, my standing, he said I had no business calling myself an architect.. When all I ever did was design Boot-e-full interiors for offices and skyscrapers. That they'd only hired me because the board of the company who gave them the contract - and originally awarded it to my old firm, wanted my lobby. They scrapped the original designs, months of work by the team, threw everything but my concept sketches of interiors and model of the lobby in the trash. They gave my sketches and model to the firm that hired me and told them it was their contract if they designed a building that would compliment that... It's usually the other way around." Fraser chuckled. "They only reason my old firm got it was... the office I did concept sketches and models for, Anderson, the head of the Firm told us all to design a new office.. He selected my interior designs, and made me the head of the Interior design depart... One step away from a junior partnership.. I had to put in five years as a head of a department and prove I could run it smoothly and work with a team, and not grandstand and ego trip.. They sacked me a week before I would made it." "And you wanted it." "So bad I could taste it. A junior partner can oversee any project they bring to the company. I *won* that contract for the firm, it was my work entirely.. I showed them my designs and models and they expected me to oversee it to design something that fit their brief. They're very big art sponsors, and they had money, it was the biggest contract that firm had ever been awarded. They lost it, when the sacked me." "And the other firm knew it which is why they hired you and used the fact to get the contract." "They knew I couldn't resist the chance to thumb my nose at my old firm... I fell for it.. While I resent what Anderson did, I can respect him, it was a moral and political decision. He's old fashioned, and told me, honestly it was no a reflection on my work, that he thought I had more talent than any of the senior partners, but he could not keep me at the firm. He gave me a more than generous severance package. It paid for my house." "You can't say the same for the second firm." "There were deceitful from the start, they said it they'd take me on for a trial period. If it didn't work out, no hard feelings, no severance, just adios. They never intended to keep me on once that project was completed. I could have lived with that, just to work on it... It was the best thing I'd done to go out with a bang and not a whimper is the way to go if you know what I mean?" "I understand." "But they had to stick the knife in twist it. And I would so love to be able to turn the tables.." he said, and sighed "But I can't." "But weren't you offered work, you told me about your important visitors and a wonderful project, an art Gallery." "Museum. Biggest project going in my old stomping grounds." "Why don't you take it?" "It's not up for tender. The contract will be awarded by a panel of judges, they set a budget, it's up to the person who gets the contract to bring it in, on budget, and oh what a budget. Anderson offered me a senior partnership *full* control and design privileges to rejoin the firm and come up with an entry for that competition. And they're desperate to win it, the company's on the verge of bankruptcy because of a dirty tricks campaign by guess who.." "The company who hired you after Anderson's firm sacked you." "Right. They want to stomp them into the ground," he said and sighed, "and they will, Anderson arranged to have two of the judges come here to see my place and the designs for the Art Gallery I want to build for the county." "I've seen the designs at the county hall, breathtaking, and very very impressive." "Anderson came up, of course, and after they'd seen the models and designs and stayed at my place one asked me to show him around the property, just so he could have a little chat with me.. He told me that there'd been twenty entries Anderson's and Stomp'em were the only big name firms who haven't entered it yet. He told me none of the designs met the design criteria, which they didn't publicly announce. He told me - I don't need to tell you what it is, you live in designed, built, and live in a house that fits the criteria.. You would win the contract no competition *if* you were with a firm that met the condition's of entry.. Stomp'em does, Anderson's doesn't." "Oh dear. The only way to get it, is to go back to the firm you'd rather die than work for." "Literally. I could die happy if I could just find a way to make Anderson's company eligible to be in the race, to snatch it out of Stomp'em's grasp." "That's not really their name?" "No. But it's what a lot of people call them. Anderson got the last laugh at the Hayden Building, Stomp'em built it, but Anderson got the 1st floor for their new offices.. And you can only reach it by walking through that lobby," He smiled faintly, "And they ripped up Stomp'em's idea of a good interior design for that floor and used the one that got me made head of Interior design.. I was actually quite surprised and that's what made me listen to Anderson when he found out I was there and came to make his pitch. He really meant it, he loved my work.. It hurt his firm, but he stood by his principals. Now things have changed and not just the firms standing and fortunes. He said, I'm an old man, who built it from the ground up, and I'm too old to change, it needs a young visionary to take it into the 21st century.. He was hinting that he'd do more than make me a senior partner.. I didn't have the heart to tell him he'd probably out live me." "You're sure it's not just a ploy to get you for the art museum." "I knew it when I saw their new offices. Anderson always praised my work.. And a firm like that is only as good as its leading architect - he said that.. He said, I was grooming you for that role.. You are a visionary.. art and architectural masterpieces go hand in glove and you understand that. No one else in the firm does. He's watching the firm he built die, he wants to keep it alive and he's willing to do what it takes, he's not going to stab me in the back.. Like Stomp'em. He even gave me a contract... It's water tight. Even if I don't win the contract for them - I get everything he promised, and full design control over *any* project I bring to the firm. I wanted that.. But it's not worth it.. If I returned there, and took it up.. I'd be dead with 12 months.. It'd be worth it to build the museum and leave something magnificent behind to say I was here and this is my masterpiece." "Your master piece is that house." "I have no one to leave it too.. I have to leave it to a blood relative.. Or my spouse.. That's why I tried to find a relative. I spent a fortune trying to find the one member of the female sex I slept with.. before I worked out I was gay. In the hope she might have had a child.." "No luck." "What so ever. I'd leave it to you.. But my lawyer pointed out, it was my father's blood line it referred to, not my mothers. Though I could and did draw up a will..along the lines of I leave my property yadda yadda yadda to my spouse, should I die without a spouse, I leave it to my only *known* living relative, Allen Pinset. Should he precede me, to any of his children, and should he have none it shall revert to the county." "Dean.. I couldn't take your property, I love it, but.. people would do nothing but talk..." "I wrote it before we met. And my lawyer would make sure that was made known if I didn't get married first." "Oh." "Now I've met you I feel better about it.. You appreciate the land.. I'm sure you'd be very happy here," he gave Fraser a nudge, "And you could move off the station and live here, and get away from Ranger Redneck." "I think Redneck is too harsh." "You do???" "He doesn't drink, loves animals, and is closest book worm." Dean laughed. "O.k.. So he has a mouth like a sewer pit, and a mind like one two, and the only thing on it 98% of the time is sex, either pursuing it, or gossiping about other peoples sex lives." "That's him alright.. Are you sure he doesn't drink." "He said, Al, booze and a filthy mind like mine don't mix." "Hmmmm." "He said something about finding that out the hard way and learning his lesson early." "He's still a Redneck in my book." "To each his own opinion." "Does it annoy when he calls you Al?" "Sometimes." "Call him Shamrock." "Why?" "His name is Petersham - that's his *first* name. They used to call him, Pete, Petey and Shamrock at school. It would drive him nuts when people called him Shamrock.. Because he heard some girls giggling about how it meant Block head." "Ooooh... I'll have to remember that one. and one favour deserves another.. I take it you turned down Anderson's offer?" "I told him he couldn't win the contract, and that it was the only thing that could convince me to return to the city." "So you're free to pursue other projects?" "Yes." "The visitors centre at the main entrance burned down while you were away. They're looking for someone to design and build a new one, The Super gave me a big hint that they'd like to hire a *local* architect.. And you're the only Architect in the area who can call himself a local." Dean grabbed him kissed him, then jumped to his feet and bounded away to his horse with a definite spring in his step. Fraser watched him go slightly stunned. "Well... And to think Meghan said I'd have to twist his arm off to get him to agree to it." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray laughed, as his would be mugger backed up, then spun and run away. His laughter had an edge of madness to it, and it was that which had justifiably scared the young mugger. "Come back, don't you want to kill me, go ahead, punk, do me a favour." The mugger fast pace increased, he wanted nothing to do with the madman. The volume of Ray's laughter increased as he walked on. He resented the fact the younger would be mugger hadn't taken him up on it, his new life was over. He'd lost everything, Dief, his vehicle, his notes and stories. All the money he'd started off with and earned. There'd be no more money for his column. They'd already paid him and he'd left all the materials he could use for future ones at Dean's place. He couldn't go back there, he didn't have enough money to catch a cab downtown, let alone to travel halfway across the country. He'd been a fool to let his pride get in the way. He hadn't realised how expensive the surgery and his stay at the hospital would be. He'd left there with barely enough money left pay for the room at a down town flea pit he'd been reduced to staying in while he waited for his skin grafts to heal. He only ate once a day, at a soup kitchen. He didn't have the money to spare for meals and only ate soup and food he didn't need to chew again. He cursed the fact the only clothes he had was the suit he'd been wearing when he arrived at the hospital, and the sweat suit Dean had brought him to wear instead of the drafty hospital gown. Now the sweat suit were his pyjamas's and he was forced to wash his suit, shirt and underwear every night in the rooms tiny basin, to dry them on coathangers. Even though he'd had a temporary abode, he hadn't had the option of going on welfare, all his I.D had been left behind at Dean's. And work, that was for able bodied, fresh faced people, not scarred, rail thin and half crippled people like him. No work, no money, no money, no room, which is how he ended up on the street. It would have been a kindness if that mugger had killed him. Now all he had were the clothes on his back and a face not even a mother could love. He sunk down on the sheltered steps of on apartment block thinking of his mother and family. Hot salty tears filled his eyes as he thought about the way he'd so callously faked his death to escape them. They'd only been trying to do what was best for him. His mother had been right to react the way she had. She'd been right about releasing Dief into the wild as being too dangerous. Look at where ignoring her warnings had left him. Even if he wanted too, he couldn't return to them, he'd never be able to explain the body, he'd be up for insurance fraud on top of that. He bashed his head against the wall for being such a fool. He should have just taken the money and run, but no, he had to show them all, he had to kill Raymond Vecchio, bury him once and for all to be free of him. Now that he needed his family desperately to get back up on his feet, he was caught neatly in his own little web of deceit. His only other option, to face Dean and ask for his things, was out. He didn't have the money for a phone call, and Dean had left the city after learning he'd left the hospital. Otherwise, he'd swallow his damned pride and trek across the city to face Dean and beg if he had to, to get his things back. "You know, the only thing that'll get you is a head ache," a familiar voice said. Ray started and looked around to see a woman in the shadows. She was standing in the entry door way to the building looking down at him, even from the shadows she looked familiar. No, that wasn't true, her voice was what was familiar. He'd heard it somewhere. Then she stepped forward and he saw her face framed by long and lustrous black curls. It didn't ring a single bell. She stepped closer looking down at him and he turned his face so she wouldn't see the scars. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her smile. "You're Ray Vecchio, aren't you, Benton's Friend?" Benton, the Mountie, that voice, that's where he'd heard it, at the hospital. "I'll wait here while you talk to your friend," she'd said, the last time he'd seen Benton. He hadn't seen her, that's why the voice but not the face was familiar. She was the woman who'd framed and probably murdered his friend. Her hand was on his arm, drawing him up to his feet. Her eyes widened a fraction as she saw his face, but that was all. "How did that happen?" He didn't answer, just stared at her memorising every inch of her face. She touched his face, her fingers running over the prickly growth of stubble growing in and her eyes raked him over, assessing every inch of him. "Come with me, my apartment's nice and warm, and it's cold out here." He let her lead him into the building and wondered if he'd live to see the dawn, maybe god was answering his wish to die. :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser smiled as he watched the construction board declaring the site of the soon to be new visitors centre go up. The firm awarded the contract was Anderson & Partners, and the name of the Senior Architect for the job emblazoned on the board in much bigger letters was Dean Alexander. He looked around to watch Dean take a step away from Anderson as the man tried to pat his back. Then Dean turned away to approach Fraser who found it very interesting. "Thank's for all your help." "You didn't need any. The job was yours if you wanted it the moment the old centre burned down." Dean gave a faint little smile. "I had the feeling they would have said yes to any design we tendered." "They probably would have. All you had to do was take the first step." "Here's hoping that this is just the first step toward bigger and better things." Fraser looked at Anderson watching them. "I'm confused, I thought you said you rejected his offer." "There was one condition of the entry requirements Anderson's firm couldn't meet, *proof* they could design and build anything remotely like the project up for grabs. I checked with the judges, it just squeaks in. If we can get this centre designed and built - on budget before the closing date for the competition, and get a design in for the museum, we're a shoe in." "You'll be quite busy then." "As a beaver.. For a change.. You know, this is better than the art gallery it will be bigger, more people will see it, and it'll be something I can leave behind here.. at home." Anderson walked up and thrust his hand at Fraser. "How do you do." "Mr Anderson." "You have me at an advantage." "Allen Pinset." "He's my cousin, you don't need to suck up." "Cousin.. I don't see any resemblance." "On my mother's side. His mother was my aunt." "I take after my father's side of the family," Fraser said, which was true for Allen Pinset. "Ah... I see you're a ranger... Dean's had some... Ideas about building materials which would help us bring this baby in under budget... Maybe you can tell me wether or not those ideas will be met with a good or bad reception." Dean rolled his eyes. "I can't speak for my superiors sir," Fraser said neatly side stepping the question. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray looked at his face in the mirror and the same face that had looked back at him the day before looked back, it wasn't the same face that he was used to seeing yet. Victoria had run her finger over his stubbled face and mused that if he'd let it grow out, his beard would probably hide his scars. Six weeks later, he was still alive, and she'd been proved right, it did hide his scars, that and a turtle neck shirt under the clothes she'd help him get. He never spoke to her pointing to the scars on his throat, and she'd assumed he couldn't speak. He expected that night she'd found him on the steps to be his last, instead, she put a roof over his head, fed him and helped him to find the local charity for the homeless. They'd given him a bed and clothes to wear that hid more than his suit. They gave him a chance to earn his keep too. At first it was by helping out in the office as a typist. He got the very minimum wage, but he got food and board on top of that, the clothes, well, he could pick and chose from the large collection they had on offer, but everything went back into the collection at the end of the day. Later as he learned the way the office worked he was put in charge of booking in other men who came through the homeless shelter. That was the hardest part of his job, getting them to give their details, to judge wether or not it was safe to accept them or to send them on to another shelter. Men and women came to this centre, children too. They did more than fed, shelter and clothe their ever shifting residents, they helped them get back on their feet. So they were picky about who they took and it gave him an ego boost to be chosen and elevated to the ranks of the staff. With their help he saved his wages, he'd told them how all his belongings had been left behind interstate. They'd offered to pay for his bus ticket, then found out how much that would cost, this way was much better. Their budget would stretch to a new staff member, and he saved hard to earn the money for his ticket. And it wasn't going to be a one way ticket. After the first week, he'd been told his job was secure *as long* as he wanted it. He intended to go back to get his things and return. He had no where to put it, but his wage would be enough to pay to keep it in storage till he got back up on his feet. In the meantime, the boss lady had given him permission to use the computer for typing up his stories - so long as he did it after hours. He planned to find an agent and take his next step toward his goals. He felt hot breath against his neck as a hand reached out and tapped the save key. His sex stirred and he looked up and around gave a crooked smile to his co-worker, Lily, and at the confirmation that she was the one who'd breathed on his neck, his groin started to throb. "What are you typing?" He switched off the screen and waited for the disk drive to stop whirring. "Just another one of my stories." "I love hearing all your stories." The throbbing in his groin increased. "You can tell me all about it over dinner." He stabbed the power button and shut off the computer and shivered as he felt her breath on his neck again. "I ate with the rest of the guys earlier." She moved away, to shut and lock the door. He turned in his chair as her hand moved to turn off the lights, leaving only the glow of the desk lamp to light the room. He gave a little gulp. She'd been flirting with him for a while and getting more and more obvious each day. She made it blatantly obvious a moment latter shucking off the coat she wore, to reveal nothing but some racy and very scanty underwear. "Uh.." She stalked back across the room and he reached out to turn off the desk lamp. He felt her move to sit on his lap, and her breasts pushing against his chest as she reached for it again, but he caught her hand and brought it to his mouth to kiss her palm. "No." Lily wiggled on his lap and thrust down. "Is that a no to the light or a no to this, because, unless I'm mistaken, part of you is saying yes," Lily said. "Part of me doesn't really know any better." "Oh really," Lily purred giving another wiggled and running a hand down his shirt to find a nipple through the shirt and start teasing it. The throbbing became a pounding. "Can.. I keep my clothes on?" He asked. "Oh, kinky." "Uh..hu." "Maybe," she said, letting her hand travel down to his belt, "But this will have to go." He let Lily remove it, then she undid his button and slid his zipper down before rising up on her knees to brush his face with her lace incased breasts. He wasn't exactly sure how to go about it with a woman, but he figured it couldn't be all that different to doing it with a man and reached up to find her bra's clasp and undo it. "Uh... You'll.. have to.. tell me.. if I do something wrong.. I don't have.. much experience.. with women." "How much have you had..?" "None," he admitted. "You are single aren't you?" "Yes." "Well, if you're a fast learner, you won't be for long." He gave a crooked smile, Lily had virtually proposed to him on the third day. He wasn't sure if she was serious or not, and found that he didn't care. Her hand was moving over him in the most distracting way. Then it stopped. "You didn't answer my question.." "Yes I did.." "The other one.. If you want me to leave you alone, I will." He answered her by nuzzling at her breast till he found a nipple and latched onto it. She gave a pleased little sigh and started stroking him again. He discovered quite a few things he'd learned at Dean's hands worked for a woman too and her enthusiastic response was all the stimulation he needed. She panted praise and encouragement in his ear and then freed his rampant sex to touch it again. He waited for her to do as Dean had done and came half off the chair when she thrust down on him taking him inside. His breath caught in his throat, his heart thudded and he dropped back as she wiggled and moved over him, warm, moist and pulsing. "Hold out your arms," She panted. He would have blown out his brains if she asked him to just to continue. She took hold of his arms and started sliding back making little thrusts against him as she went drawing little moans of delight out of him. Then her legs moved, wrapping around him and he wondered what to do next. She told him and he readily obliged her. Every breathless instruction she gave him, he followed. He pulled her back and hugged her tight, and had his shoulder bitten as she climaxed bringing him to his own. He stroked her back and held till his body stopped shaking and looked into her almost luminescent eyes. "Is.. it always's like that?" Lily smiled and kissed the tip of his nose. "No... For a novice you are a great lover." He almost told her he had a good teacher, but remembered Dean's warning about how some people in the city reacted and thought better of it. "I feel.. horribly guilty about that now." "Oh, why?" "Open my shirt. Lily slid back enough so she could unbutton his shirt. "Touch me. Slide your hands over me." She did and she felt them stop for a moment, then her finger tips started tracing scars. "They're not just on your face." "There are.. scars from my head to my toe along that side of my body." "What gave them to you?" "A bear. I curled up into a ball and it got nasty.. My... dog drove it away.. and saved my life." Lily slid back further and won his heart by covering a scar in tiny kisses. "You don't care?" "It wasn't your looks that attracted me," Lily said as she followed a scar line up his throat then nipped his ear. "What did?" "You make me laugh. That turns me on," she said and pushed his shirt off and found a new line of scar to kiss. "Well what you're doing is turning me on." "Did you say they go from head to toe?" He nodded and she pulled his shirt back up and buttoned it while she kissed him. He returned the kiss with passion when Lily's hands moved over his sex again, but she didn't have another session in mind, tidying up his clothes and setting them to rights before she stood and found her under wear and coat pulling them on. He was disappointed. "Back door, fifteen minutes, make sure you lock it behind you.. I'll be waiting with my car," Lily said as she moved back to lean over him to kiss him again. "And when I get you back to my place, I'm going to kiss every scar from your head to your toe and see how fast a learner you are." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray lay on Lily's bed content to be snuggled up to and have his scars traced by a soft gentle finger tip as the morning sun tinted her room pink. "Can I ask you a question?" Lily asked. "Anything," the contented Ray responded. "About that woman, the one who brought you to the shelter and called you Raymond." Ray was silent for a time then nodded. "Why didn't you tell her who you were? Why did you let her think you couldn't talk? Why didn't you talk for three days? Why..." "That's four questions already." "Answer them." "She thinks I'm someone else. And I was cold, hungry and desperate enough to play dumb so she wouldn't realise I wasn't the person she thinks I am." "But.. You told us who you are. After you settled in. Why do we have to call you Ray around her and pretend you can't talk?" "I can't tell you that... I have a suspicion about her but I'm still waiting for some kind of confirmation... I don't want to make a mistake... " "There's nothing going on between you and her?" "Absolutely nothing. She makes my blood run cold." "Good... Because I want you all to myself." Ray smiled. "You got me." Lily's hand wandered again. "Would you do something for me?" Ray asked. "Anything." "Jump off a bridge." Lily giggled. "But seriously.. I want you to do me a favour.. If I ever go to lunch with her and *don't* get back at the normal time I want you to go to my locker... There's a letter there.. It'll explain everything. It's insurance... Please don't pry unless I don't come back from a lunch with her. She's so.. nice.. and friendly.. I'd hate to discover I'm right about her, and hate it even more if I were wrong and you insulted and offended her because you read it on the sly." She planted a kiss on his chest. "Only the boss lady has the spare keys. I can't get into your locker unless she gives it to me." "Good." Her mouth roamed lower. "I know this will sound strange.. But you're better than Dean's muffins." She giggled. "They were herbal ones... To take my pain away... They always worked and made me feel wonderful." Her body slid over his and she kissed his nose. "And you think I'm better?" "Absolutely." "Who's Dean?" "He nursed me back to health after the bear got me." "And he has all your things." "That's right." "Can't you just call him and ask him to return them?" "I don't know how... I just know his place is half way across the country. I'd have to go there, personally to get it back. If he's even there." "You don't know?" "He could be in the city again.. But then he could have been lying to me... Someone I talked to told me things about him I didn't want to believe.. So I did some research and found out that man was telling the truth. Now I don't know what to believe about Dean any more.." "I could give you the money you need." "What?" "So you can get your things.. and all your papers.." "It's a lot of money.. I'd have to..." "You'll need those papers." He sensed she was leading up to something. Something important. "I'm not rich, but I'm not poor either, I can support a husband until he can afford to support me." He digested and translated that. "Is that a proposal?" "How many times do I have to ask?" "Just once." "O.K. Will you marry me?" He smiled cupping her head and kissed her. "I thought you'd never ask." She gave him a pinch and he laughed. "Yes." She kissed him and proceeded to thoroughly make love to him. :---=====(*)=====---: "Ray." Ray looked up then realised what he'd been called and saved the document he'd been working on. He turned away as the smiling Lily lead Victoria into the room, Victoria looked a little irritated. "Look who's here, your friend." "Hello, Ray." He gave her a little nod. "Go on, go to lunch - but don't be gone too long." Ray gave a little nod and followed Victoria. She took him to a Mc Donald's and chattered away about Benton and he listened, scoffing down his fries, seething and keeping his eyes down so she wouldn't see it in them. She asked him to excuse her while she went to the toilet and while she was gone he palmed the vial he'd been keeping in his pocket waiting for her to visit and take him out to lunch again. He popped the lid off the stopper and then pretended to snitch one of her fries while he was pouring it over them, he knocked them to the tray and then brushed them back into the pack, thoroughly coated with the fine powder indistinguishable from the salt on the fries. Someone walked up to ask if he had the time and he pulled back his sleeve and held his arm up so the person could see the watch that was his engagement present from Lily. "I can't read those sort of watches, can you tell me what time it is?" The last thing Ray wanted was for Victoria to walk out and see him talking to someone. He thought fast and flipped his place mat over and then dipped his finger into his drink over and over and used the liquid to write the time in big numerals on the back of the mat. "Oh.. Thank's." The person wandered off and he wiped his hand on his pants then accidentally on purpose knocked his drink over the edge of the table. The last thing he wanted to do was drink it, some of the powder might have mixed with the drink and he was sure Victoria would wonder why he wasn't touching his drink. A staff member hurried over while he was trying ineffectually to mop it up with his lone serviette. Victoria returned and after the staffer departed offered him some of hers. He took one sip and shook his head and mimed being thin enough. She laughed. "Yes.. You certainly are." She offered him her chips but he waved her off and held up his burger and she shrugged and started munching on chips between natterings, while he ate his burger and silently gloated to himself, remembering to keep his eyes down. When she finished her chips and her drink she rose and he took the tray to take care of it while she went to the counter. When he rejoined her at the door she handed him another drink and he gave a smile and dropped his eyes as she let her fingers brush over his as she handed it over. She gave a little smile and pushed the door open for him, following him out and they wandered through the streets, her leading him an arm wrapped around his, as she talked about this and that. He was less than surprised when he found himself being lead up the stairs to her apartment, he'd been expecting it, she'd been carrying out a subtle seduction the last few times she'd invited him to lunch. He wondered just how long it would take for the sedative he'd sprinkled all over her chips to finally kick in and if he could stomach her switching from subtle to overt seduction. He didn't think he was in any particular danger, other than the danger of losing his lunch, too many people had seen him with her, she was anything but stupid, and he doubted she'd try anything. His guess was that she'd probably try to get him to agree to sneak out of the shelter and met her somewhere secluded. He didn't intend to fall into her trap. He followed her into her apartment and she threw subtle right out the window, as soon as the door closed behind him. She was all over him. He reacted on his first instinct rejecting it but she just laughed, calling him shy, saying how Benton told her he'd suffered total amnesia.. Calling him a virtual virgin, and much as Dean had, saying that it would be a pleasure to teach him what he was missing out on. She chased him around the apartment, cornering him again and again, to kiss and fondle him. He ended up pinned against the bedroom door, panting and wide eyed as she left her mark on his neck as her hand moved over his sex teasing him, skilfully drawing a response he hated his body for having. She gave a pleased little growl, opened the door and quickly shoved him into the room beyond while he was off balance. He wasn't given a chance to recover his lost balance. Victoria followed him in and with little shoves steered him through the room to shove him down onto the bed. He tried one last time to escape her clutches, and apart from screaming no, couldn't have made it any clearer he wasn't interested. She just gave him that smile that always sent a chill down his spine pinning him down on the bed straddling him, to rub herself against him. "You know you want it. You just don't know what to do about it, but don't you worry my little mouse, I'll teach you things you couldn't imagine in your wildest dreams," she virtually purred as she yanked an arm up and then he found his wrist suddenly encased in a cuff and looked up to find it attached to a scarf that was tied to the bed post. It was short work for her to encase his other hand as he lacked the strength to fight. The pain was almost enough to make him want to pass out. Once his arms were bound she went to her bed side drawer and pulled out a roll of duct tape and used it first on his mouth. "You may not be able to talk but you can make sounds.. I wouldn't want the neighbours to get the wrong idea," Victoria said ripping off another piece with her teeth. The last thing he saw was her hand coming down with the tape, then she covered first one eye then the next with tape. "Benton liked this game. I just know you will too," she purred moving away again. =Oh no I won't= :---=====(*)=====---: Back at the shelter, Lily did what Ray had asked her to do if he didn't return within an hour after leaving with Victoria. After coming up with a good excuse, she got the spare key from the boss lady and went to the locker that contained Ray's pitifully few personal effects and opened it. Finding a letter with her name on it she opened it, read it and her eyes widened, then she spun and bolted back to the office to snatch up the phone. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray had passed out during Victoria's "game" and when he came to his senses, he was lying on the bed, fully on the bed this time, his arms still bound, but the distance between them was no longer so great. He gave an experimental little tug and found the bindings just as taunt. He felt a warmth at his side, over his waist, and leg. He raised his head, blinking. He could see again, the tape was gone from his eyes. And what he saw was Victoria curled up at his side her hair spread over his chest, which she was using as her pillow, her arm was draped around his waist, and her leg was over his. =Great time for the sedative to work... Now I'm stuck.= he grouched to himself. He looked around and felt sick when he saw something he hadn't noticed earlier. There was a video camera in the room on a tripod and thinking about the angle he realised the damned bitch had taped the whole thing. =You are *sick, sick, sick= he raged. He tugged hard at his bindings. She didn't stir when it made the bed shake. =Hmmm.. O.k, so it's better late than never= She was worried about her neighbours hearing him so he'd give them an earful. He started fighting the bonds and slid his body around till his leg reached the edge and went over. He began stomping on the floor, hard. Between the stomping and the noise he was creating with the bed he soon got some attention. Someone bashed on the roof, possibly with a broom and yelled for them to keep it quiet. He thumped even harder. There was another thumping on the ceiling below and the person behind it threatened to call the police if they didn't quit it. Under his duct tap gag he gave an evil smile and did his best to drive the neighbour below into carrying out that threat. He almost had a heart attack when less than a few seconds later he heard the front door being kicked in. It was only a short time before the bedroom door was kicked open and two what he assumed were plain clothes police officers burst in guns at the ready. They looked around the room, and at the bed. His head came up and he looked at them, looking right at him. One holstered his gun and moved in on the left side while the other moved to the right and kept Ray covered. "Mhhhhmmmrrrghph." The weaponless one reached out and ripped the gag off of Ray's mouth and he screamed. The officer's hand went down fast over his mouth and tears ran down Ray's face. =God! Now *that* hurt= "Sorry, you have the right to remain silent," the detective said. "Goovrumph." The officer continued to read him his Miranda rights and showed him a badge, and only moved his hand when he finished. "Don't tell me that, tell her!" The two cops shared looks, then looked down at Ray. "We've been keeping her under surveillance, we know you're.." "You don't know anything," Ray cut him off. The second cop nudged Victoria but she didn't move. "She's sedated, I laced her chips with sedatives." They both looked at him. "I was getting sick of waiting for some action. I thought the damned thing would knock her out a lot faster than it did, so I could tie her up and call *you* people and tell you that I'd gifted wrapped a murderess for you." The cops shared looks again, then looked down at him, the second finally holstering his gun. "Alright, Mister, what's your name?" "Fiorella, George Fiorella." "Like that columnist in the .." "I am that bloody columnist!" Ray growled and yanked on a cuff. "And I'm the one who sent the Anonymous note to the CPD tipping them off about where they could find this bitch. Now would you *please* get me loose, this is killing me." "In a minute.. How did you know she was wanted by..." "Hey! I toured every state in this country, I'm famous for it, don't you know," he said snidely. "You want to be cut loose or what?" Ray took a deep breath and launched into the story he'd dreamed up to cover this moment. "Alright," he said calmer, "I was in Chicago, minding my own business, walking through the station, the train station, when someone grabbed my arm and yanked me into the men's toilet, clapped a hand over my mouth, and hissed that he was a cop at me. Then he flashed a badge, not that I really noticed, I was too busy gaping.. The guy looked just like me, only he had less hair, and was clean shaven." "Uh-hu." "He peeped out the crack in the door then told me to peek and take a good look at a woman." "The one in the bed right now?" "Yes." "Go on." "After she stomped out of the area he let me go and told me to get the hell out of Chicago - pronto, and if I ever saw her again to run for my life. Because she was a murderess who had already killed one person, and he suspected her of killing a second man, and figured he was next on her hit list." "Did he explain why?" "He said she framed a cop, that no body believed him, cause she was real sneaky like when she was with him.. Everyone thought he was lying to cover up his own crimes by inventing another person with opportunity and motive. But he saw her, with that cop, he knew she was real.. That the cop she framed hadn't made her up." "Uh-Hu.." "Then Chow Hound whined behind us and I saw him, and the cop looked at him, then me, and handed me his leash, told him to go with me, and asked me to please get him out of there, because that woman had already put a bullet in him once, and that he'd track me down to get him back after he put her away, if she didn't put him six feet under first. He gave me a card with a post office address said it was his told me to write with my address and he'd send me money to look after him.." "What was the address he gave you?" Ray pretended to wrack his memory and slowly gave it, correcting himself twice before he announced that he was sure that was it. "Alright, go on.." the detective said. "She followed me thinking I was him. I left the Chow Hound with a friend, cause I wasn't sure my landlord would let me have a dog, and went back to Brooklyn, but I saw her there, out on the street. Watching my apartment. I sent him a letter and turned my place into a mini fortress while I waited. He told me to get out of there.. To find some way to get out, in disguise, and stay away until she gave up. I managed to give her the slip, went back to pick up Chow Hound and started travelling around pretending to be a blind man. When I got back I found another letter from him. Telling me that if he didn't contact me by a certain date, to take Chow Hound and release him in the wild cause he was a Wolf, and that's where he belonged.." "So.. you did that and .." "I ran in to some really wild life.. That's where I got the scars and ended.. up going broke paying for all the medical bills... I was at rock bottom, when I ran into her again." "And ended up at the shelter over at Hudson Street." Ray nodded as one of them found his pants and tossed them at him. He pulled them on grimacing in pain. "I let her think I couldn't talk.. I was kinda in shock when I first ran into her, and got to thinking, as long as she thinks I can't talk.. I'm safe... That lasted until today." "We've seen you.. Having lunch with her." "Ever see me talking with her?" They had to admit they hadn't. "She talked to me.. Thinking I was that cop.. Pretending to be such a good "friend" of his buddy.. She kept talking about Benton... I remember the first time I ran into her.. On the stairs, she told me she was a friend of Benton Fraser's.. Said, he told her about me - meaning him." They nodded and searched the room finding something to dress Victoria in before they cuffed her hands behind her back. "I remember that cop .. saying.. She framed Benton.. He was a cop... That's who she was talking about.. She killed him, and probably killed that cop too." "Do you remember his name?" "Ray Echo.. No..Vecko..or something like that." "Vecchio?" "That's it. How'd you know?" "The CPD sent us three pictures.. One of her, one of the man you were talking about, Benton Fraser, and the other was of a former Cop, Raymond Vecchio both he and Fraser vanished. And you do look a lot like him. If you scribble a beard on his picture. We told them we thought we had him in the net too.. They told us to wait and see if Fraser showed up or not. Then the word to stop waiting, kick the door in and take you down now." "Oh god... Do you know what the Media is going to do when they find out about this? You arrest me and ..." "Woah, hold on there... I always read Fiorella's column, so I'm going to give you a chance to prove you're who you say you are. If you are, we'll drop you back off at the shelter and the Media won't find out." Ray gave a little nod and the officer asked him dozens of questions about his column. Ray answered them all easily. "And I can even tell you what next weeks will be if you can tell me what this weeks one was.. I don't get to see the magazine any more. You can ring the magazine and ask them... No... On second thoughts, they'd want to know why the police want to know what next weeks column is about.. God.. I hate this.." "That's alright, Mr Fiorella, I believe you're who you say you are," The detective said, then handed Ray his note book and pen. "Could I get your autograph, my wife would kill me if I didn't, she loves your column." Ray rolled his eyes and autographed the note book the detective studied the signature and smiled giving his partner the nod. "That's his signature alright." Ray watched him flip the book closed without touching the cover and wished him luck at lifting his prints from it, seeing as how he'd only touched the edges of it. He rose on shaky legs and wobbled over to the video camera to rip out the cassette. "That's evidence." "Only if I press charges. And if she wiggles off the hook, I will and you'll get it back. If they take her down for killing that cop I'll burn it." "I'm afraid.." "You know, the media would love hearing about how you were sitting out there, probably gossiping in your car, watching this place, while she raped me and taped it for posterity. The two shared looks. "We'll be in touch." "You know where to find me.. I can't see my situation changing in a hurry," he said ripping Victoria's wardrobe open. He pulled out a pullover and an over coat and walked out, tucking the tape in the coat pocket before he pulled the pull over and coat on. The detectives watched him limping heavily and shared looks. One signalled the other who went after Ray. "I'll take you back to the shelter." Ray stopped and looked back. "I've been studying all sorts of things so I can become a crime writer, my brush with that cop set me off on that tangent.. And I mightn't know all that much about the way things are done, but I know this much, Neither of you are women, one leaves, she wakes up and realises she's alone with him, she'll scream rape later and get let off on a technicality." The detective stopped and stared at Ray. "In fact she'd probably scream it any way, unless you get her out of here before she comes around, or you get a lady cop to watch her. It's one or the other or that cop killing bitch will get away with it." Then he spun and limped away leaving and they didn't try to stop or follow him. One moved to the window and watched the street till he limped down it. "What do you think?" "I think he's Fiorella, and I think he's probably damned lucky she didn't kill him." "Oh, come off it, what would a famous columnist like him be doing living in a homeless shelter." "You saw the scars, I believed him when he said he blew all his money paying his medical bills. Every cent he gets off his column is probably spent on them, it's a sure bet he's going to be spending a lot of time in and out of the hospital getting all those scars removed. Besides which, I think I saw him, a while back, had his face in pressure bandages, in a good suit, walked with a cane.. It wouldn't take much to find out if was the same man and back track him." "Where did you see him?" "At the Hayden Building, in the lobby talking to that Yuppie Architect I was tailing.. It wouldn't take much to run a check on the hospital's and see if he was a patient at any around that time - and if their description matches, he's off the hook. And if not, we know where to find him." "If he's Vecchio, he'll just vanish." "I would have suggested he come down to the station and taken his prints if I hadn't been positive he was Fiorella. And I wasn't joking about my wife. If she heard I falsely arrested her favourite columnist she'd have my hide." "What's so great about him, so he travelled round the country, big deal, people do that all the time." "I'll loan you a copy of the first issue his column appeared in - then you can find out how it made him famous." :---=====(*)=====---: Lily pounced and fussed over Ray when he returned to the shelter. He asked if he'd done what he asked, which she confirmed, and he kissed her cheek. "You may have saved my life." "Why didn't you say anything!" "I just wanted to keep her from taking off.. Before they could move in and arrest her.. If she'd been the slightest bit suspicious she would have disappeared again." "She could have killed you." "She didn't, thanks to you calling the police like I asked you to in that message. I won't forget it." She looked him over. "You look terrible... You're wearing her coat.. What happened to your shoes..." Ray sighed. "I've already been interrogated once tonight, all I want now is a long soak in the bath before I go to bed.." She hustled him down the hall. "You realise that when the boss lady finds out about this, you are going to be in deep shit.." "I don't think the police are going to be coming around. Unless you tell her, she won't find out." "Tell me what happened." "Ah, black mail." "Call it whatever you like and tell me what happened." He opened the door to the bathroom and didn't stop her from following him in, then he closed the door. He spun and pressed her up against the door kissing her. She was startled but soon started kissing him back. He didn't break lip contact as he began stripping. They parted only for the time it took for him to rip Victoria's pullover off and hurl it away. The he was kissing her again, bringing her hands to his chest encouraging her to touch him. She broke the kiss off. "Not here." "Now.. Here.. I need it.. I need you to make love to me, in the worst way," he said as he went for her throat kissing every inch he could reach and tugging at her clothes. "George... If we were caught." "I don't care." "You should.." "Do you *want* me to stop? Not you think we should, or that you know we should.. Do you *want* me to stop?" "No.. But.." "No buts," he said and rapidly skimmed her top off to go for her bra next. She sighed and he nuzzled at her shoulders till he got it off while she pushed her skirt off and kicked off her shoes. He skimmed her panties down and then drew her with him into the shower and set it to a comfortable temperature. "Wash me." She got the soap and wash cloth and he leaned against the wall letting her soap him down from head to foot and turned when she told him too. Then she stepped close and hugged him, kissing the back of his neck. "You didn't tell her... That we were engaged.. Did you? To warn her off?" Ray asked. "You said there was nothing going on." "Did you tell her, yes or no?" "Yes." He heaved a deep sigh. He know understood the point of the video. "Do you remember.. How you offered to give me the money to go to Dean's place and get my things?" "Yes." "I told you.. I'd rather save it up myself.. It was because of that witch.. Because I couldn't leave town till I knew she'd been arrested.. Now... If the offer's still open I'll take it." "George.. Look at me." He turned slowly. "Did you kill that woman?" He looked her dead in the eye. "No." "Did the police arrest her?" "Yes." "You're not in any trouble are you?" "I will be if I stay.. after she's extradited.. She'll start causing trouble. She'll lie through her teeth, no doubt about it, and there are people back there who would jump at any excuse to lock me away. But if I'm not here, when they come, trouble will be avoided. They wouldn't expect me to come back, or think she lied.. It'll take over a week and a half to get to Dean's place, by bus. Another week and a half to get back, time for everything to settled down.. And when I get back, I'll have my papers... And we can get a marriage licence.." "Then, you get the boss lady to give you the time off, and I'll get the tickets for you." "I can..." "I'm not sure if that's wise.. The police here probably won't like it, if they need you to testify or make a statement. They'd expect you to stay until everything's settled. No matter how long it takes. I they find out your buying bus tickets to get out of town, you won't." He sighed and nodded. "You're right... I should stay... But I ... *need* to get away... I'd like you to come with me." "There is no way the boss lady would approve of that." "Did you tell her we're engaged?" "I told you she wouldn't approve of that either. One or both of us would be out of a job if she found out." "So... What about us getting married?" "We don't have to tell her. Simple." "And you said you could support me till I got back on my feet." "Why George, are you only looking for a sugar Mama?" "Are you just looking for a sugar daddy.. Me Famous writer, me must be rich?" She swatted him. "You're not that George Fiorella. You wouldn't be homeless and out on the streets without a dime to your name if you were." He didn't tell her why he was and let her think what she liked. He'd already explained that, if she didn't believe it that was fine with him. It would be a big surprise for her later and it meant he didn't have to worry about her looking for a rich and famous man to latch onto either. "I'm just wondering why it has to be a big secret." "I've got money but it wouldn't last if I lost my job, and I like working with you. And she'd get grumpy if you weren't there when she needed a man around. That's the real reason she hired you - no men on the staff, and half the beds are reserved for men. No male staff, no men in the beds. That Victoria woman, she said you'd work for your keep, so the Boss Lady let you in and watched you and decided to give you a trial. You passed. And we could open the doors to men again... If she was going to fire anyone.. It would probably be me.. In which case you my dear would have to take over all the work in the office *and* deal with the men when they come and size them up. Do you really want that to happen?" "Noooo." "I didn't think so." "I still don't understand why she would fire us over it." "Fraternization amongst the staff can lead to Fraternization among the residents, that's to be avoided at all costs. So if you fraternize, and you get caught, you lose your job. End of story." "Has she ..?" "4 people since I've been here. Instant dismissal. But look at the bright side." "What bright side?" "It adds some spice to your life." He gave a weak chuckle and kissed her. :---=====(*)=====---: "Hey, Al!" Fraser stopped his grooming and looked over the back of his horse to watch Petersham bring his bike to a skidding stop by the corral fence. "You remember how you said you were looking for relatives." Fraser nodded. "I found one for you." Fraser almost laughed. "Don't tell me, let me guess, Dean." "What?" =Opps= "You don't mean Alexander?" "He's my cousin." "Well, guess what, you have another one," Petersham said and pulled a folded up paper from his bike jacket and hurled it at Fraser. Fraser snatched it out of the air. "Page 3." Fraser unfolded it and went to page three to see a picture of himself and when he started reading he didn't know wether to laugh or cry. "Seem's your Cuz got himself into a bit of a pickle." Fraser just nodded not trusting his voice at that moment after he finished reading he took a deep breath and looked up. "Do you mind if I.." "Keep it, no, I want the rest back. I haven't finished reading it." Fraser pulled the page out and refolded the paper and hurled it back at Petersham. "I hope they find him - alive." "Why?" Fraser asked. "Well, he's your family, isn't he? Family's important when you don't have any. Him and Dean are probably the only family you have. Though I don't know if I'd want Dean for family if you know what I mean." "No, I don't." "He's a faggot. A shirt chasing gay boy. Him and that writer were probably *real* cozy..." "If you're referring to Mr Fiorella, you're forgetting, he was almost killed by that bear." "So, he moved in with Dean after he got out of the hospital." "He couldn't even walk, Dean had to carry him around, wash and bath him, cook for him, shave him, dress and tend to his other needs." "And probably tended to his own *needs* while he was at it." "Have I ever told you, you have a mind like a sewer pit?" Petersham laughed and started his bike up again. "All the time, Al, and you wouldn't have me any other way," he declared before he road off spitting gravel and dust in his wake. Fraser looked at the page he'd spread on the back of the horse. "Now... I don't really need to put up with you any more," he muttered to himself. He forget all about his partner as he read the article, blanching, feeling like he'd been slugged in the gut as he read about Victoria being charged with Ray's murder after they'd found his car a burned out wreck, with his remains inside burnt beyond recognition. He'd only been identified by his crucifix and the fact his wallet had been found near by, that and the fact he'd last been seen driving that particular car left them with no doubt the remains, what there were of them, were Ray's. He'd been cleared after Victoria was charged with Ray's murder, along with his own. Victoria confessed that she'd framed him and destroyed his life to make him come with her when she left Chicago. She'd taken a lie detector test to try and avoid the murder rap. She claimed to have seen Ray in another state not long before they arrested her, told them where they could find him. But an investigation proved it was simply a man who resembled him. It didn't negate the results of the polygraph test either, she'd been telling truth, as she knew it, Fraser had been cleared in the process and they were left with a mystery on their hands, if she hadn't murdered Ray, who had? Too much time had gone by for the murder site to yield any clues to the murderer's identity and it pained Fraser to think of Ray's murder becoming just another unsolved case in the CPD's files. He folded up the page and tucked it into his pocket to go on grooming his horse while his mind worked furiously. His name had been cleared, he could return home, well, to Chicago anyway. Ray's murder would not go unsolved if he could help it, but first, he had to make sure he didn't end up in prison for impersonating his cousin. That meant he had to plan carefully and he had an opening Ceremony to attend. It would look highly strange indeed if he left before that. :---=====(*)=====---: "And I declare this visitors centre open for business," The County's Beauty Queen breathlessly announced as she cut the ribbon then posed for the Cameras. Fraser almost laughed when he noticed Dean's was not the only camera that stayed down. Mz Ekles didn't even bother to snap a picture and muttered "Airhead," under her breath, but it was Dean's soft, "Amen," to that, that almost made Fraser laugh. Fraser backed up when she sashayed his way, with a predatory smile. "Why don't you show me around, Ranger." He was saved when Petersham moved in to gallantly offer her his arm. "Why it would be a pleasure, Miss." She gave him a glare but accepted it to avoid humilation and let him lead her inside. Mz Ekles and Dean both snickered. "Not your type?" Mr Ekles asked. "I prefer.. someone with a brain in their head." "Wouldn't we all." Fraser rejoined Dean and Mz Ekles. "I'd prefer to be shown around by the Architect," Mz Ekles declared. "I'm gay," Dean said. "So am I," she said with a sweet smile, surprising him. Fraser suddenly realised why his partner disliked her so much and chuckled to himself. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray stood in the phone booth watching buses arrive and depart while he waited for Lily to answer the phone at the shelter. "Hi, it's me George... Yes, yes, I made the connection, I haven't been mugged yet, and anyone stupid enough to try will get what those fools on the train got... No.. But I've been mugged three times, twice before I got the gun, I swore what happened the second time would never happen to me again... That's right.. I do know how to use it.. No.. I'd go for a shoulder or a leg.. Like I did on the train..." He checked his watch. "My next bus is due any minute, How's Sid.. Uh-hu.. Damn, tell him I'll send him a post card," Ray said and smiled at the response, "You betcha.. Oh, almost forget, you better keep a close eye on that guy who came in the day before I left... Oh.. Damn.. It went right outta my head, I was going to tell you to keep an eye on him on the way out.. I didn't wanna say anything where someone might overhear, just in case I was wrong... Oh, there's my bus, it's the last one. I'll give you a call when I hit town to let you know I arrived safe." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray couldn't believe it when he couldn't find a single public telephone that was working. In one booth he raised the hand set to find the cord had been detached, in another the set was glued to its holder. And in another a synthetic laugh issued from the phone every time he raised it from the hook. He found the last phone booth and was reaching for the handset when he heard a voice. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." He froze for a moment and then stretched his hand out for it. "I really wouldn't do that." His hand touched it. "Pick it up and you'll regret it, sonny," the voice said. He dropped his hand and looked around and was surprised to find a little old lady watching him. "What's wrong with this phone?" "The last person who tried to use it got covered with ink.. It just squirted out of the phone - the main part, not the hand set." "Oh.. What happened to all the phones around here? They all seem to have been vandalised or tampered with." "Well, there was a comedy festival on and some comedians travelling to it stopped over here.. After they left all the phones were like that.. You be the judge." "I see... Are there any public phones that haven't been done?" "Sorry, sonny, but they got all of them." "Great.. Just great.. I'm supposed to make a phone call and call a cab..." "I can't help with the phone call, don't have one myself, but I can help with the cab." "You can?" She nodded. "Great, I can make the call when I get to where I'm going." "Just keep going up this road, two blocks up, take a left, next block a right, half way up there's a bar. There's always a cab out the front of it." "Thanks." She pulled a magazine out of her bag and rustled up a pen with a hopeful look. He gave her a crooked smile. "Let me guess, you want an autograph." She nodded. "I always read your column." Ray found the page with his column and leaned it on the booth to sign it. "How'd you recognise me?" "I saw you the last time you came to town, heard 'bout that bear two.. Guess you grew that beard to hide the scars." He gave a little nod and handed her magazine and pen back. "You come back for your Wolf that the Ranger's been taking care of." "Among other things." "It's a beautiful animal, just beautiful.. Though it seems to be getting famous on its own, as the junk food phantom." Ray chuckled, bid her good day and walked away. She followed after him. To try convince him to come to meeting of her writers group while he was in town and followed him all the way to the bar and didn't give up till a cab pulled up and he quickly jumped in the back and told the driver to get him out of there. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray stomped around the studio while the driver of the cab he'd hired lit up another cigarette and checked his watch. "I can't wait all day, Mister." "Ha, the meter's ticking over, what are you complaining about?" "My wife'd kill me if I was back late for dinner and my shift ended half an hour ago. It's going to take me hours to get home." Ray stomped over and looked at the meter. "Shut that thing off." The man leaned in and shut it off and told Ray he had to pay double, because of the distance involved on the return trip, grumbling, Ray paid him. "Pleasure doing business with ya," the driver said, then climbed in and slammed his door. Ray stomped over to the house as the driver crunched the car into reverse spinning it around before speeding off. With a frustrated sigh Ray stomped away in the direction of the stable. If nothing else that would be open, and he wouldn't have to wait in the cold for Dean to return. He had a sinking feeling in his gut that he'd have to wait a long time when he found the stable was locked too. He returned to the house, walking around to the side of the rock formation and grimacing and hissing all the way, Ray climbed up the side of it to get onto the roof. From there he clambered over to the glass roof panels that made up the roof of the Gallery. He looked down into the room below and that sinking feeling became a certainty. The Gallery was empty. Ray clambered back to the rock and perched himself there and looked over the property to watch from his new vantage point as the Cab became a dust trailing speck in the distance. "How do I get myself into these things?" he muttered to himself. He might have spent some time up there stewing over it, but the sun was rapidly setting and he had to climb down before it was too dark to see. He didn't want to add a broken bone to his troubles. Blowing on his grazed hands he marched around the house, and tried to decide which it was going to be, the house or the stable. He decided to try the stable, since it also doubled as the Garage. Maybe he'd get lucky and find his ATV there. He shot the padlock off, glad he hadn't sold his gun when he'd gotten desperate, and pulled the door open. He sighed as the last of the day's light showed him the stable was completely empty. Not so much as a stray piece of hay to blow in the wind was left. It had been cleaned out. He'd hoped that if his ATV wasn't there, he'd at least be able to make a bed for the night out of the hay, but that wasn't to be. :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser threw the last of his things into the back of George's ATV. "Well, that's the last of it Dief. Hop in." Dief jumped into the bag and made himself comfortable. Fraser closed the back door, moved around the vehicle and opened the driver's door. The door of the station that had been his home opened and his now ex-partner stepped out. "Al... Two things, Good luck at your new post, and swing past your cousin's place and check it out on your way out." "Why?" "That alarm he installed before he left just went off. Just got the call to send you over if you hadn't already left." "I'll check it out." "The Sheriff will be over soon's he can, but you'll get there long before he does." Fraser nodded and climbed into the ATV. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray huddled in front of the fire place wishing he'd had more time to find wood before the sun went down. He couldn't stay in the stable, or light a fire then and had blown off the lock on one of the house's doors. He cursed Dean for clearing the place out of everything but the furniture. It would have been bearable if he'd covered it with cloth dust covers but no, he'd covered it all with plastic and plastic sheets wouldn't keep him warm as the night temperature plummeted. He'd had to walk quite a distance from the house just to find something to start a fire with and all he'd had to show for his efforts was a coat full of twigs and it wasn't enough to warm up the big lounge. He wondered just how cold it could get and then banished the thought. He didn't want to know all he wanted was to get his hands around Dean's neck. No car, no food, no way to keep warm and no functioning electricity or phone either. He couldn't stay in this place, he'd have to do something that the very thought of doing terrified him, hike through the property and head for the nearest ranger station on the other side. It was either that or hike to town, and with his bum leg that could take days. He knew that if he pushed himself he could reach a ranger station before nightfall if he left at first light. He jumped, startled out of his thoughts by the sound of claws on the polished floor boards and spun around to see Dief bounding toward him. He grinned and held out his arms to embrace and stroke the Wolf as it expressed its happiness at seeing him again with a few licks. "Yeah, I'm happy to see you too, How did you get inside? I thought I.." He trailed off as he looked up at the door to see a figure standing in the door way. "Uh-oh... Please tell me you're the Ranger who was taking care of Chow Hound for me." The figure moved, crossing its arms and nodding. "I.. thought Dean came back here, I came back to get my stuff... I left it all behind... It took me a while to get enough money to come back to collect it." "You missed him, by about a day," Fraser said making no effort to disguise his voice. He watched Ray move, rearing back at his voice, then moved toward Ray, until the light of the pitiful fire let Ray see his face. He watched Ray's eyes widen, then look him up and down. "It is you, you really are Ray," Fraser said softly. "Ohmigod! Benton!" Fraser nodded. "I thought you were.." "Dead?" Ray nodded. "Yes, I thought that bitch, Victoria killed you." "Oh, she tried, she left me to die in the most sadistic way she could think of. But I survived and stumbled into a new identity by accident and made a new life for myself here." "I found her." "What??? You never even met her." "I remembered her voice... I met her and I sent a letter to the boys back in Chicago telling them where they could find her if they moved fast enough." "So you're the one behind that." Ray gave a crooked little smile. "It's rather ironic.. I hit rock bottom and she took me into her place, fed me, put me up for the night, and took me to the shelter where I found a place to stay and work.. It's not much of a job, but it's enough to keep me going." "Did she... visit?" "Quite a lot before she was arrested, took me out to lunch all the time." "What was your impression of her?" "I never trusted her an inch. I didn't expect to survive the night she took me in, but I did.. She gave me the creeps.. The way she.. watched me.. She always seemed to have this little smile on her face." "Then your instinct to report her served you well, she was probably planning something, which would end with either you in prison, or dead." "She's where she belongs now, Benton, behind bars, and she'll stay there for a very long time for murdering that Jolley guy." "I know. I read an article in the paper.." "Then you know.. Your name was cleared?" Fraser nodded. "I was.. going to return home, to Canada, and go via Chicago, to see your family. You should come with me." Ray shook his head violently, winced and rubbed his throat. "No." "Your family.." "I can't go back." "Why not?" "I... Faked my death, Benton, I took out a big insurance policy, set everything up so.. " "There would be enough money to pay out the mortgage you took out to get the money to fund your new life as George Fiorella." Ray nodded. "How did you do it?" "Oh, I found out all sorts of interesting things when my mother forced me to return to the station and try to live his life. Like where I could find someone who specialised in helping crims set up new identities.. He set up my new one." "He must have been quite good. Your background story checks out." "George Fiorella really did exist. I put an identicat picture of me thought the computer and came up with half a dozen people who look just like me. Only one of em was a dead guy, George Fiorella from Brooklyn, my specialist went to New York and erased the death records... He got me everything I needed to take over his identity... I ran a check later and it all panned out, he even found some way to substitute my finger prints for Fiorella's in the records. That guy was the best in the business." "And your death, how did you fake that? Or did you leave it up to him?" "Noo.. Though it was part of the deal.. He was mugged and killed just after he returned from New York. A little later I had a stroke of luck I found the burned out shell of a car like mine in a car graveyard and there was this derelict who died of natural causes there." "You used his body." Ray nodded. "And I set everything up perfectly, made it look like I'd been forced to drive there and killed... Switched plates and everything.. Before I torched it again. So the body'd be unrecognizable.. I even made sure he was wearing that cross my mother made me wear." =So that's how he did it, well it saves me a lot of wasted time searching for a non existent murderer... Though now I've contacted them I'll have to go through with my plans for the sake of it.= "I burned all my bridges behind me when I left." "Why did you have to do that? Why couldn't you have just disappeared..." "I regret it now, I really do.. But at the time... I was desperate, I had to escape. I didn't want them trying to find me and I... didn't want cost them their home in the process. That's why I took out the insurance policy and made it look like... murder. They don't pay out if it's suicide." Fraser sighed and watched the fire behind Ray start to die. "I'll get some more wood, don't go anywhere." "I'd prefer a lift back into town, I got enough money for a motel room... I'll head back to..." "You're not going anywhere," Fraser cut in. "I got a job it's not much of a job, it doesn't pay much but it's the only job.." "Forget about it, Victoria knew who you were and where you went, she could blow everything if they try to pin your death on her. So you're staying right here. Is that clear?" Ray slowly nodded. "Stay put. I'll be back with enough wood to keep the fire going all night." "I.. don't suppose you could come up with a blanket or two.. and some food, Dean cleaned the place out, all he left was some of the furniture." "I'll be right back." Fraser walked out and was rewarded with a smile when he returned to present Ray with a patchwork quilt, several blankets and a sleeping bag. "You're a life saver.. I thought I'd freeze to death here." "That was a possibility the temperature can drop quite sharply at night at this time of the year, I was told they expect it to start snowing any day now," Fraser said squatting down to make a bed before the dying fire with the things. "Now, you curl up here." Ray didn't have to be told twice. Fraser gave Dief the signal and he crawled under the blankets Fraser held up and snuggled up next to Ray. Fraser tucked them around Ray and the wolf, making sure there was an air space for Dief. "There, that should keep you warm enough till I get back." "Food?" "When I get back," Fraser promised and walked off. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray could live with an empty stomach, the warmth and company of the wolf he'd gotten used too and missed were enough to send him to sleep. He was sleeping with a crooked little smile on his face when Fraser returned. Fraser quietly got the first started again, first with twigs adding more and more till it was roaring away, then adding thick dead branches he'd found and broken up. He piled enough wood on to keep the fire going for a few hours and left Ray sleeping to go out and scout for more. He chose to search for it along the road way, taking the ATV out beyond the property's boundary. He scouted around with his torch, rugged up in the coat he'd brought for the cold season, and filled the back seat with wood, both of the twig and semi log variety. Some of it was chilly and slightly damp, but if set before the fire he'd got started, it would dry out before it was tossed on to keep it going. The wood pile started tumbling to the floor and built up to the level of the seat and Fraser emptied a bag out and went hunting for pine needles and scented leaves. He filled the bag and emptied another filling it too before the Sheriff's ATV came slowed to a crawl and stopped by the ATV. Fraser returned with an armful of pine cones that he tossed in the back under the Sheriff's curious eye. "Whatcha doing?" "Gathering fire supplies. Before the snow sets in." "A fine idea, but I'm kind of curious about why? Weren't you supposed to be heading out?" "I was.. I found out who set off the alarm at Dean's place." "So it was a break in and not just some animal." "It was someone with a legitimate reason to be there." "That'd be Fiorella, Meghan told me she saw him in town." "You know about him." "It's my business to know these things. That's his Vehicle you've got there." Fraser looked at it in surprise. "It is???" "Dean's just like his mother. Doesn't own a car, he prefers a horse." "I've seen him driving a car.. He.." "When he needs to go a fair distance he just calls the hire company, they send one out, and he drives the rep back." "Oh." "He started driving that around after that bear decided to say Howdy to Fiorella and it was re-registered laugh month... In Fiorella's name, even if Dean paid for it. In the eyes of the law the ATV still belongs to Fiorella." "I was going to meet Dean in the city, leave it with him and continue on by plane." "Why don't you just drive on back, and I'll follow you in. You off load and I'll drive you into town. Meghan will find someone who can take you out to the airport in the morning." "Thank's for the offer, but he's tired out and sleeping. I was planning to stay the night and take care of him. Dean took everything when he left, including his belongings.. So I might as well continue my journey with him and see if I can get him and my cousin to patch things up." "Ah, well.. Sounds sensible to me. But I'm also thinking it's a waste of time trying to get them to patch up. I know what Dean thinks, but he's wrong." "About what?" "What Fiorella came back for, and it wasn't to shack up with him. It was that wolf you adopted.. He came to set it free in the wild." "How do you know that?" "Told me so himself.. When I helped him change a flat he got on that same stretch of road I found you on. That was before the bear got him." "Oh." "My guess is he only stayed as long as he did cause he ain't got no folks, and no one to take care of him when he needed someone to do it. Dean was ready, willing and able and what happens? Soon's he's able, Fiorella goes and walks on Dean, and I don't rightly blame him." "Oh??? Why?" "Well, Dean's got a roving eye that's why, he even had a picture of you buck naked in his gallery." Fraser's eyes widened. "What?!" "Bathing in the river. Now I ain't gay so I can't say for a certainty how things work for people who are, but if it was me, I wouldn't put up with it. And after what that bear did to Fiorella.. Well, it's a sure thing he doesn't have what it takes to keep Dean's eyes from wandering. And when the eyes wander, the rest soon follows. I'd say the only reason Fiorella came back was because he was looking for the things he left behind. Like his ATV." "Well... You're probably right, but the least I can do is help him get his things back." "You do that," the sheriff said and started back for his car. "And drop by on your way out.. Meghan's got a little going away present for you." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray woke slowly, cosy, warm and very comfortable. He peeked under the blankets and found a wolf on one side and Fraser on the other. Then something else registered, Fraser had an erection that was throbbing against his thigh and it registered because Fraser was making little movements in his sleep. Ray flushed imagining Fraser was thinking about that woman, Victoria, dreaming about her. He remembered the things she'd done to him before he'd passed out and shuddered. Fraser made a little murmur and shifted. The next thing Ray knew Fraser's hands were roaming and he was being nuzzled. That was nice. Dief moved away when Fraser's roaming hands started to strip him and Ray rolled onto his back. Fraser followed and his mouth followed the path his hands took. His body arched, hands clawing at the sleeping bag that was their mattress, as Fraser's mouth closed over his sex and first one then two fingers slipped inside him to find then stimulate that special place inside. He babbled with pleasure, and cried out in ecstasy as Fraser brought him to orgasm. Then while he was still blissed out, Fraser slid up his body to ravish his throat. Ray's cry echoed through the house when Fraser hot sex impaled him, hard and passionately as his body moved over and inside him, following his instincts, to bury himself inside his lover. Tear's rolled down Ray's face as Fraser followed his instincts, and the mouth ravishing his throat moved to an ear to growl words of love so passionately in it before returning to its previous activities. Ray's hand's flew to Fraser's back, his short nails raking it, as Fraser's hands moved making him change position again and again. Ray arched and cried out as Fraser found the right position to thrust so hard and deep that Ray thought they'd be joined together for the rest of the lives. He felt a frisson of pleasure as Fraser moved against him then he was thrusting back against him, three times before he shuddered over him, his teeth sinking hard into his skin as he spilled his seed deep within Ray. Then he rolled away and lay panting, an arm over Ray, snuggling up to his side, to murmur words of love in his ear before he slipped back into a deep satiated sleep with a smile on his face. Ray stared at the ceiling not moving till he was sure Fraser wouldn't rouse then he slipped free and gathered up his clothes and limped away. Fraser wasn't all that surprised to wake up alone and went in search of the bathroom. He was expecting a cold shower and surprised when he got a warm one. After he'd cleaned up he looked through the house, but it wasn't till he stepped out that he found Ray. Ray was leaning against the side of the house, wearing Fraser's winter coat, watching Dief chase a butterfly around. Ray glanced around Fraser as approached. "Sleep well?" Ray asked. "I had... pleasant dreams." =I bet= "I wish I'd found out you were who you reminded me of before Victoria was arrested.. I would have stayed here... I... Want to stay... But.. I've already made contact with people... I read about your "murder" and.. they're expecting me to return and help them find your killer," Fraser said in a faintly apologetic tone. Ray gave a snicker at that. "They'll think it strange if I don't.." Fraser continued. Ray nodded. "I can't stay here, they can't find out I took my cousin's place." "You took your cousin's place?!" blurted the surprised Ray. "He.. died.. everyone here was expecting him, and I looked so much like his picture that they thought I was my cousin. I took advantage of it and used his identity. I thought long and hard about taking my own identity back.. Before I made the first steps.. If you'd returned before I took those steps, I wouldn't have given up his identity, I would have kept it to remain with you." "Can't be helped." "I will come back, R... George. But I'll come back as Benton Fraser, not Allen Pinset.. And.. It will take time.. There's so much I have to do.." "Why come back?" Fraser looked down then around at Dief. "I won't be here." "You have too.." "Stay... No I don't. I have a fiancee back in the big smoke.. I'm going to get married... Maybe even... Start a family." =Fiancee!= "You need to stay here for a time R... George. Victoria told them she saw you *alive*. Before she was arrested." "I expected as much.. She probably told them where to go, but the people there know me as George Fiorella. Not Ray." "If you did *anything* at all that convinced her otherwise of that she will keep insisting that it's you. They may send someone who knows you well out to watch you - thinking you were aware of the similarities and told people you're Fiorella.. You have to stay here, give me time to... find a way to undo the damage .. one way or another." "I don't have enough money too.." "I will talk to Dean and..." "No!" Fraser's hands touched him "George, just hear me out.." "All I want out of him is my stuff back." "George... Listen to me..." "No, you listen to me, the man is a liar, he'd say anything, do anything, take advantage of anything that would get him what he wants." "As far as he's concerned Ray, when you left that hospital, you left him, he asked me to help find you... So he could return your things. He's worried about you. He knows you have no money. Everything you own you left behind... He will give me your things, I can get money.." "I don't want his money." "I have money - me Benton Fraser.. It's not much but it will keep you going while I try to sort this mess out, don't," he touched Ray's lips to stop him rejecting the offer, "object. Victoria has put your new identity in danger.. Unless I can sort the mess out it could be blown and you could be charged with insurance fraud at the very least, and possibly murder." Ray shivered. "Stay here.. Please, give me time." Ray looked around at Dief again. "Stay... I'll contact Dean for you and make all the arrangements so that you can stay here... Don't worry, Dean has moved back to the city he won't come back... You won't have to worry about him returning. He'll be happy knowing your safe and well, while he works on the project he returned to the city to work on. Trust me.. " "I don't trust him." "Why?" "He's a liar." "What makes you think that.." "He lied to me at the hospital.. here.. Said he retired he didn't." "Because he was sacked for being Gay." "You know?!" "He told me about it.. It happened after he and his lover were attacked. His partner didn't survive.. He almost didn't." "I know that much is true." "Did he tell you that he was taken back in by his old firm." Ray nodded. "It was a lie." "No it's not. I've seen Mr Anderson, they need Dean, and he needs them to achieve a goal he never thought he'd be able to do. They built the new visitors centre at the park after the old one burned down. He returned to build an art museum, after the Judges of a competition for its contract came to see the centre and virtually awarded it the contract to him on the spot." "What?!" "He was over the moon about it. The only real rival they had was a firm called.." "Casim & Associates?" "Yes how did.." "I met one of them.. He thought I was someone else, told me Dean.." "Was nothing but an interior decorator." "Yes." "That he wasn't an architect.. Dean told me he worked for them for a time. After he lost his place at Anderson's firm. They *used* him to snatch a contract from that firm, and sacked him once he'd served his purpose, they savaged his work, degenerated it and him. That's why he returned.. He felt his career was over, finished, that everyone felt the same way." "He wasn't.. lying.. He really does have a job with Anderson..?" Fraser nodded. "And he is a respected Architect.. I talked to Anderson without Dean around.. He said Dean was one of the most talented architects he'd ever worked with, probably *The Most Talented*. He's changed his views.. He had too.. He found out his own son is Gay and had to come to terms with it. If he'd known where Dean was, he would have come to ask him to return before now. He's glad he found him.. He wants to retire.. He could bail out now and let the firm collapse. But he wants to save it and pass it on... And the person he wants to hand the reigns over to is Dean." "Why not his son?" "He died.. Of Aids. A year ago." "Oh." "Anderson has no one to leave it to when he retires. He doesn't want to let what he spent a life time building just die with a whimper.. Thanks to the efforts of that firm who savaged Dean's work." "Why did Dean go back if Anderson sacked him for being Gay?" "Anderson never degenerated his work, and he can respect him and he wants revenge.. Getting that contract building the best damned Art Museum ever built will be his revenge, show all the people who degenerated his work and called him an Interior Decorator how wrong they were. He wants to put Casim & Associates in their place. And he can do it." "Makes sense to me." "That architect you talked to was the liar.. Not Dean." "There were.. other reasons.. I left.." "What?" Ray sighed. "You wouldn't understand." "Why not?" "Because your straight." =Victoria put me off women, for life.= "I thought I was.. once. Now I'm not sure what I am. Maybe I'm Bi.. Maybe I'm Gay.. I don't know. I know.. The idea of having a male lover isn't totally repungent to me." Ray's eyes widened then narrowed with suspicion. "Did you and Dean..." "Nooo.. Well yes and no." Ray glared at him. "He kissed me once, when he was excited." Ray rolled his eyes. "I liked it... And.. I talked to him... About my... sexuality... And... he preformed an experiment with me... Blindfold me... Told me to think about the person I thought I was in love with." "It wasn't him." "No... It was another man." "And.." "The end result of the experiment was that he said I was either Gay and hadn't worked it out, or Bi." "Did you like.. what he did with you?" Fraser nodded. =And you were his lover.. I'd like it a lot more with you.= "Did you have sex?" Fraser stared at him for a few moments. "Do you even know what sex is? He told me.." "I've had sex with my Fiancee. I know what it is." "Oh." "Sooo.. Did you have sex with him?" Fraser blushed. "You did." With a little sigh, Fraser nodded. "Did it hurt?" Fraser stared at him. "When he.. you know.." "Why George... Are you asking because you're having second thoughts?" Ray's cheeks turned pink. "No... My Fiancee's good in bed. I'm just curious, Dean would never do it with me." "He didn't do it to me either.. He's highly well endowed.." "Uh-hu... So he let you do it to him.." Fraser blushed again. "I was.. Rather deep in my fantasy... And he *is* as you know.. an incredible lover." Ray smirked. "Pushed every button you had." "Yes.. Including a few I didn't know I had." Ray chuckled at that. "He's good at that.. You know.. if things don't work out for you with this guy... when you go back... You could do worse than Dean." "No. Dean made it clear it was a once off event. Before and after." "Oh.. Well.. I'm sure if you courted him." "It wouldn't make a difference.. We were both thinking of another man while were with each other." =The same one= "Oh.." "And you can guess who he was thinking of." "Yeah, the old pre-bear attack me." Fraser decided not to waste his breath trying to convince Ray otherwise. He had a fiancee after all. "You were wrong about him once, maybe you were wrong about that too.. I do know that he loves you, and probably always will. And he would want you to be happy... If your fiancee makes you happy he will be happy for you... And if I ask.. He will help keep you safe till I can sort things out. So please... Stay and give me a chance to do that." Ray nodded. "I'll leave Dief here, with you... He's at home here and he'll protect you." "I know he will." "I'll leave the blankets, you'll need wood and food to keep you going till I can get things arranged for you.. I'll go into town, and bring you some food back.. And all the wood I can collect on my way back." "It took forever to get that fire started last night rubbing twigs together. Do you think you can get some matches and fire starters too.." Fraser nodded. "I'll see if I can get the electricity and phone reconnected too. You apparently have hot water." "Solar panels, up on roof." "Ah." "It's a long way to town." Fraser gave a little nod and Ray pulled out a small pile of bills. "Here.. Get me some clothes too, Something more.. suitable for the weather." Fraser looked at the money calculating how much was there and tucked it into his pocket with a nod. "You can keep that coat, I'll get myself another one," Fraser said before he turned and walked away. Ray resumed watching Dief chasing his butterfly until the ATV was just a speck in the distance. Then he returned indoors and threw the quilt and blankets aside to pick up the sleeping bag and carry it to the bathroom to scrub it clean before he filled the bath with boiling water and let it soak till it cooled. After he wrung the bag out he hung it over the rail over the fire place to dry and walked out taking a blanket with him. Back and forth into the grounds he went collecting every twig worth tossing on a fire he could find. He filled one of the wood bins at the side of the house with those, and listened to his stomach growl. He went to the garden and investigated it. Finding a less than appetizing bunch of carrots but he was so hungry he didn't care and took them back to the house to wash them and warm himself in front of the fire while he devoured them. When his belly stopped growling he returned to the outside world, recovering the blanket and went hunting for pine cones and large patches of dry fallen needles. He filled the second wood bin with those before he went hunting again, this time without the blanket. It was tiring work, dragging home the biggest fallen branches he could find, painful too. Especially when he had to stomp on thick branches to break them up before they went into the wood box, it jarred his leg and sent pain shooting up it but he didn't stop till he had all six boxes filled. Though it was the last thing he felt like, Ray laughed when he walked inside and found Dief curled up on the blankets and a dead rabbit lying on the fire lintel. "Is this for me?" He asked picking it up by the ears and pointing to him self. Dief gave a little bark and Ray stretched out to ruffle his fur. "It's a lovely thought Dief, but I can't do anything with it. I don't have a knife to skin it with. You can have it for your own dinner. Though I suppose you found plenty out there to fill your belly with before you brought this one back for me." He carried it off to the kitchen then returned to shoo Dief off the blankets and carried them off to his bedroom to make the bed. The sleeping bag he pulled off the rail and rolled up leaving it by the door. Then he dragged the couch as close as he dared to the fire, tossed some more wood on and stretched out on the couch. Once he was settled Dief jumped up and curled up beside him and got a pat before Ray let himself drift off to have a well deserved nap. He was sleeping when Fraser returned and didn't wake as Fraser crept through the house. Food was left in the kitchen along with a few basic essential items. He saw the rabbit and saved Ray the trouble of dealing with by skinning and gutting it over the sink, then he went to work turning half of it into a stew and the other half went into the dish he'd brought for Dief. He left it on the bench where Ray would find it and then returned to the ATV to deal with the rest of his purchases. Towels, soap and shampoo were left in the bathroom along with a liquid detergent and fabric softener as he knew Ray liked his towels soft and fluffy. He dropped another quilt on the bed along with some pillows and sheets preferring not to spend a second more in the room than he had too. It gave him idea's about making love to Ray who'd had already made it clear that he wasn't willing to indulge himself again. He returned to the ATV to collect his going away present and last bag. Those he left in the lounge for Ray to find along with a box he left by the door when he collected his sleeping bag. He discovered how Ray had kept himself busy when he went to the wood boxes and smiled to himself. It would mean another trip to the house, but he wasn't complaining. He took the ATV around to the stable and backed it and the trailer he'd hired to fill with a load of wood into the stable. He stacked the wood where it was least likely to get wet and saved a few armfuls for the house. He returned to the house one last time to stack the wood by the fire place and left a note where Ray would find it, letting him know where the wood was and his rifle by the door with ammunition. Dief watched him moving about and Fraser stopped by the couch to give him a pet. "Take good care of him Dief," he said softly. The wolf gave a little whine. "I'll be back.. when it's safe." Then he leaned over Ray to press a kiss to his brow. "Stay out of trouble," he said softly in Ray's ear. Ray flipped over and snuggled down with an incoherent mumble that Fraser could only understand part of, "I'm not a baby any more." He gave a faint smile and stroked Ray's hair before taking a deep breath and striding out, locking the door behind himself and driving away. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray was glad to find Fraser had come and gone while he'd slept. He'd been dreading facing him again. He felt a little guilty when he saw everything Fraser had brought back for him. He packed away the food that would last him a month if he could supplement his diet off the land. Fraser had even thought of supplying the sort of knives he'd need to skin and dress any game he caught. He discovered the Fraser had taken care of the rabbit and how and felt another stab of guilt, but his rumbling stomach didn't care so he carried the pot over to the fire place. He left it on the mantle and went out to find some large rocks that he used to ring the embers and set the pot on it balancing it carefully. Dief watched it all from the couch and hoped he'd get some. He decided to make do with the bowl of rabbit bits Ray set down for him instead. "I'm going to have to learn to do that for myself if you keep bringing Rabbits back. Hello.. What's that?" He wandered away to find Meghan's good bye present, one of her hand crafted rugs. He dragged the couch back and rolled the rug out a safe distance from the fire. Then he went back to explore the bag and found clothes, three pairs of thermal underwear, gloves, pairs of thick socks, two beanies, a balaclava, several of Fraser's favourite kind of undershirt, four thick flannel shirts, three fleecy lined sweat suits two pairs of jeans at least a size too big, two belts, half a dozen big chunky knit pull overs and what was probably the most expensive items of all a pair of knee high sheep skin boots and a sheep skin lined coat, an over coat to be exact. Ray's guilt levels rose. They rose a notch higher when he spied the box and found a first kid, with everything he could possibly need, stationary including writing pads and pencils. There was also half a dozen puzzle books, with a post note saying, to pass the time, and the very latest novels from his favourite thriller and crime writers. At the very bottom of the box he even found a box of chocolates and half a dozen blocks of chocolate under that. Ray ripped the cellophane off the box and opened it. Dief was at his ankles in a flash looking up hopefully. Ray gave him a teasing smile and popped one in his mouth savouring it. It had been a long time since he'd been able to indulge his sweet tooth. Dief gave the same impression, pawing his leg and giving a little whine. Ray finally dropped one down for him. "There you go." Dief gobbled it up and looked up again hopefully to watch Ray close the box and cover it with the blocks from the box. His little eyes gleamed, he knew a chocolate block when he saw it. He followed Ray through the house and thought uncharitable thoughts when he saw Ray store them somewhere high out of his reach. "A piece a day, and no more, you chow hound." :---=====(*)=====---: It started snowing two days after Fraser left and Dief stayed indoors keeping Ray company. More than once he woke Ray up from his dreams. For which Ray was glad. They were horrible dreams of people fighting over him, his mother, his fiancee, Dean and Fraser. And Victoria, laughing at him, announcing she had a little game to play. Those were the worst dreams. A week and a half after Fraser left, the electricity was restored. The next day, the phone rang. He debated wether to answer it, then working on the assumption it was Fraser answered it. It was Fraser. "George.. It's me." "Thanks.. I was starting to wonder if the electricity would ever be restored." "I had to talk to Dean about that. He told me he took care of it yesterday. I said I'd bring your things back, but.. Dean is sending more. A truck will arrive in about a week and a half.. The sheriff will come out with the removalists." "He knows I'm here." "Dean told him. It's probably better if he knows." "I suppose.. But it kind of defeats the purpose of hiding out." "He'll bring food and supplies when he comes, Dean's arranging everything." "Then he's definitely o.k with it." "Oh, yes, he's glad to have someone there. He didn't feel secure about leaving the place unoccupied while he was away. He said the last time he was away for an extended period, a tourist who stumbled on to it broke in and carried off quite a few things. He got it back when the man tried to sell some of the art he stole." Ray gave an evil snicker. "I bet." "Are you warm enough?" "I've got plenty of wood, and the fire place warms up the whole house." "Is Dief.." "He's fine, he's come inside now it's started snowing. He keeps me company and lounges in front of the fire all day." "He loves the snow, he must be doing it to keep an eye on you." "It's because it's freezing out there and nice and warm in here, that's what it is." There was a beep on the line. "That was the last of my coins.. Ray tell me where to find your Fiancee.. I'll talk to her and.." "I'll ring her now the phones working again." "No.. No one here can know where you are.. Dean can be trusted." "I trust her." "Did you tell her who you are?" "Yes but she never believed me and... I never went out of my way to prove it." "Then you didn't trust her enough. Now please, tell me where to find her and I'll talk to her." "How do you know Dean can be trusted?" "I told him who I was and why I became Allen. That's how much I trust him. I explained the woman responsible has put you into danger.. He will not say anything to anyone." "He told the sheriff." "The Sheriff is his step brother." "What?!" "Apparently his father married Dean's mother when Dean was ten, and the Sheriff was 13. From that point on they were raised together till Dean was 16. His brother used to watch out for him and take care of anyone who tried to beat up on his brother. He'll take care of you too, because Dean told him too." "Oh-kay." "Now, his Aunt will arrive some time with Dean's horse, she's had it since he left. She'll bring everything it needs and show you how to take care of it. It'll give you something to do." "Uh-hu." "And give you transport if you just want to get out." "I can't ride a horse." "There's nothing to it.. You'll get the hang of it soon enough.. Ask her to give you a lesson or two before the snow really sets in. She's a horse breeder she knows all about training people to ride." "If you say so." "Now.. Tell me about your Fiancee." Ray did, warning Fraser not to let anyone else know or it could cost her, her job. He also asked him to clear things up so he still had one when he returned. Fraser promised to do so. "Oh.. I almost forget. You might get a visit occasionally from a ranger, my old partner, I talked to him, as Allen Pinset and told him to keep an eye on you because you're a friend of the Cousin he helped me find. I'm setting things up so I can return." "Gotcha." "He's a bit of a loud mouth, with a mouth like a sewer pit, but you have similar tastes in reading matter. I think you'll get along.. Oh, he's straight, very straight.. Dean said I should mention that." "Thanks." "He'll probably be a little..." The dial tone cut in and Ray sighed. Benton would run out of coins before he finished. He hung up and returned to the fire to throw a little more wood on. If it was important Benton would ring back when he had more change. :---=====(*)=====---: "Well?" Dean asked as he let Fraser in. "I got her name and details out of him," Fraser said handing over a sheet of paper. "I visited her work place to get more details. I tried to talk to her employer, but she'd left. Apparently she had a family emergency to attend so I couldn't ask her about the woman, or... help George keep his job." "Did you find out if this Victoria woman has been stirring up trouble?" "Yes. They've already had one visit from the police looking for him. They were very annoyed that he'd left town and they weren't able to talk to him personally." "Obviously he knew she'd be trouble." "I talked to his fiance and she said he had trouble with Victoria and that he left town to avoid more. She loaned him the money to do it.." "What are your impressions of the woman?" "Hire the detective." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray heard the pounding on the door and assumed it was the Ranger Fraser told him to expect. He got the surprise of his life when he opened the door and the Boss Lady from the shelter staggered in, covered in snow, all chattering teeth and shivering badly. He quickly closed the door and got her over to the fire, finding a chair for her to sit on while she thawed out. She looked up at him as she did and he walked away to make coffee. "What are you doing here?" He asked when he returned and handed her a cup. She sipped at the coffee first and waited till her teeth stopped chattering. "My car broke down on the highway. I saw the smoke from your fire place and headed for it.." "What are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere?" "I was looking for you." "Well you broke down in the right place to do it." She looked around. "So this is where you live." "For the moment." "You never intended to come back, did you?" "I didn't come here intending to stay this long. I do intend to return.. It's just not safe right now." "Who are you? The police came asking questions about you... And that woman.. " "Her name's Victoria Meltcafe." "She used another name when she stayed there... We helped her get back on her feet... Now I find out she's wanted for murder in Chicago... And they're saying .." "I'm someone else. I explained that to the police when I helped them catch her. Obviously the detectives involved decided to do me a favour and not mention my involvement." "Who are you?" "I'm who I told you was.. I am George Fiorella.. The travel columnist and I can prove it.. If you know anything about ..." "I know all about him. I ran a background check before I offered you a job. What I learned seemed to match your story." "But now you doubt it." "They showed me a picture of the man they were looking for, Raymond Vecchio - the name that woman booked you in under. You could be twins.. Well if you didn't have the scars." "I know," he said, "Just wait here and warm up, I'll be right back." He was, with Dief, she stared at him. "Meet Chow Hound." "I thought you said you released him in the wild." "A ranger was looking after him. He's been domesticated too long to go back to the wild." Dief moved in to sniff her. "He's friendly don't worry." She held out her hand and Dief sniffed it, and then decided she was safe enough and curled up on the rug watching her. "There was another reason I came... I had a call from the Sheriff the day after you arrived back, he said a woman who claimed to be your fiancee gave him our number to call if he saw you." "Did he say who it was?" he asked warily. She nodded. "Is it true? Don't lie... It's important that I know." Ray looked into the fire crossing his arms. "George.. Listen to me... This is going to hurt... Lily ran the back ground check, she knows you're who you say you are." Ray bowed his head. "She has latched onto formerly rich and famous men who passed through our doors when they were hard on their luck in the past. Self made millionaires and people who are famous through their work, not just for being someone are the ones she latches onto. Those are the ones who have the most chance of getting back on their feet and rebuilding their old lives. She wants to be rich. The only thing she loves about you is your fame, and the riches she thinks it will bring." "Why do you keep her on, if she does that?" he asked his voice rough. "I know what Lily's like and keep an eye on her, I warned all the men she latched onto... I didn't know she'd latched onto you. I didn't think she would... I thought... you were involved with that other woman and that there was no reason to worry about it in your case." He sighed. "Why... do you keep her on?" "She'd never get work outside the shelter, apart from working the streets. And that's what Lily used to do.. She used to sell her body to get money for the drugs she was addicted too. She was busted and put through rehabilitation but she had no where to go and kept ending back on the street, hooked again. The police officer who kept trying to get Lily off the streets brought her to me as a last resort... She'd be back on the streets selling her self the minute she ran out of money if I gave her the sack for what she does.." "You won't." "No. I won't. I'm sorry... But I'm going to have to ask you not to return... If you still need a job when you're ready to return I will put you up - at my house, find you an agent, and keep a roof over your head till he can get a publisher for your work." He wiped his face on his sleeve and drew in a deep shuddering breath before he looked at her. "Don't worry... The man I told you about owns this place... He'd take care of me as long as I need help. I didn't know how to contact him... But someone who did has..." "The called this the William's place... Told me if I missed the turn off to go on till I hit the park, that the Sheriff was there.. He said his name was William's.. Is this his place?" "No. It's Dean's. The man I told you about." "Dean Alexander." He nodded. "The Architect?" He nodded. She looked around again, then looked up at him. "There's something you should know about him... If he's the same Dean Alexander who built that magnificent gallery in the Hayden Building." Ray nodded. "He's Gay, George. He was outed in the worst way quite a few years ago." "I know." "Oh.. Well... I thought... " "Just because he's gay doesn't mean he leaps on any man around." "I didn't.." "No, you just inferred it when you just felt you had to warn me." "George.. I didn't mean it that way... I used to know him." That silenced Ray. "He came through the shelter... In a wheel chair..." "I know what happened to him." "A former resident who works in a hotel found him, in his hotel room, in the bath, he slashed his wrists. At that point, he just wanted to die. To join his lover who died. We took him in... Watched him around the clock until someone came to offer him work. He oversaw the work on that gallery in the Hayden Building from his wheel chair. It gave him back the spark he lost, he designed it before... his lover died... His lover encouraged him to put his heart and soul into it. " "It's breath taking." "You've seen it." Ray nodded. "He was fired the day they completed it. And he returned to us... He was completely shattered. He didn't try to actively kill himself, he just didn't care if he lived or died any more. Then his brother came and brought him home. We didn't hear a word for two years, then we received a huge parcel, 6 huge paintings... If you saw the Hayden Gallery you saw them... He told us to invite Mr Anderson to view them, then make him pay through the nose to buy them... Which he did. The next year it was the models which we sold to Anderson as well. Every year since we've received art to auction. Dean is one of our benefactors. His art sells for very high prices." "Why are you telling me this?" "He's wealthy or people think he is. I'm not really sure, he's a benefactor to a number of charities that I know of.." "And the point?" "I'm getting to it.. He sends all of them art, not cheques, art. To do with what they will. Most sell it, one, the wildlife organisation uses it and makes money selling prints. Though I've never heard of him personally selling his work. People know about Dean Alexander the Architect and the artist.. They know he's gay because of what happened. Wether you are or not people will assume it because you are under his wing." "Do you think I am?" "Well if you fell for Lily's con game you're not... But that means nothing... She and others like her, who want to make money - who think you or Dean have it - will try to use it to extort money out of you, on the threat of exposing your relationship with him. He'd probably pay out anyone who tried it on him... To protect you from the fall out he suffered. And there are others... Gay people who'd approach you to come out for the benefit of all Gays, you're a hero, and a famous name now. Others militant gays would just out you - wether or not you are having a relationship for the same reason. Just because you are under Dean's wing... If you accept his help, his shelter, you should know what the price could be." Ray nodded slowly. "Thanks for the warning." "No one will hear about it from me." He gave her a weak little smile. She opened her mouth to say more when the both heard a vehiCle approaching and looked around. Ray walked over to a window to look out. The vehicle tripped the hidden sensors and lights came on. Ray relaxed when he saw it was the Sheriff's vehicle and moved to open the door. The sheriff was soon at the fire, telling them he saw the car and followed the foot prints till he saw where they were headed. "Thought I'd check and see if some help was needed." "Well, this woman will need a lift into town. And her car towed." The sheriff nodded. "I'd invite you to stay," Ray told her, "But there's only enough bedding for one, and only one bed.. Dean took most of his bedroom furniture with him." "If you need a place to stay, I can put you up at my place for the night, Ma'am." "Thank-you." "You know what I'd like right now," Williams said to Ray. "Coffee," Ray said. The Sheriff nodded and Ray headed for the kitchen with the Sheriff on his heels. Once there Ray told him he knew Dean had contacted him and the plans he'd made. "Good, good.. I was intending to drop in on my way back to town to get a list off you anyway... Of anything you need. Dean put some money in the bank to cover expenses. He told me there's a woman causing you trouble.. That ain't her is it?" "Oh, no, she came out here to warn me about a sweet talking gold digger." "Wouldn't be your fiancee would it?" "Ex as of the minute I make the phone call." "Ah.. A woman rang saying she was your fiancee.. I didn't believe it for a second.. Made a call.. The woman I spoke to didn't know what I was talking about.. I figured it was a reporter trying to track you down at first. Till I talked to Dean, then I thought it was this other woman." "That would have been my fiancee for sure, I was supposed to ring her when I got to town but I couldn't find a phone that worked." "Those comedians that hit town a while back had some phone with all the public phones.. They don't think its so funny now they're cooling their heels in a cell." "Oh, you caught them." "Nope, passed a message on to a few towns along their route.. They were caught in the act of doing it in another town." "Good." "Not so good is the reason I was out this way.. The local beauty queen went missing.. They found her.. In the park." "Dead?" He nodded. "8th body we found that way.. 3rd one we've found in the park. That woman out there's lucky she broke down in walking distance of this place.. 4 of them were women who's cars broke down along the highway." "Sounds to me like you've got an opportunistic serial killer on your hands." "No doubt about it," Williams said with a nod. "The other women?" "We haven't been able to identify.. The way they were buried made it hard for the coroner to tell how long they'd been there. We've been finding bodies for two years now, but at least one had been there for much longer than that." "Any suspects?" "A local.. Possibly one of the Rangers.. A woman alone on a deserted stretch of road would trust one and he definitely knows the park like the back of his hand. I'd take it kindly if you reported seeing any up to anything strange, digging or alone with women out on the highway." Ray nodded. "Which reminds me.. The one who molested you.." "You got rid of him." "Uh-no.. See it seems the one Dean asked could be trusted, but he couldn't make it so he asked, or more rightly told someone else to drop over and take care of it, but they had their hands busy and asked someone else.. And well.. I damn near went through every man there.. Seems like they were all asked to take care of it and none of them will admit to being the one who came out here and no one knows who did." Ray rolled his eyes as the kettle boiled and started making coffee. "So I have to watch out for him." "I'd say if he ever drops by this way again, not to open the door and call me. Then go lock yourself in the store room." "Where is that?" "I'll show you after I have some of that coffee. I'm half frozen." Ray handed him a cup of it, he sipped and smiled. "Perfect... Now, as I was saying, I'll call Ryan, he's the Head Ranger, and he'll send someone out immediately. By the time I'd arrive, he could be long gone." Ray nodded. "Now I'm telling you this because who ever's carving up these women is one sick man, no telling what he could get up to." "I doubt it's the same man, he did leave me alone. Once he realised he had the wrong idea completely." "Still.. I'd like to get my hands on him... A pity your description matches half the Rangers in the park..." "I thought you said.." "It's not worth a trial - that'd be worse for you than what he did to you in the first place, and the media would be all over it. I talked to Ryan, if I find out who it was, he'll be dismissed and I'll be showing him the way to the county line." Ray smiled faintly. "If I don't throw him in a cell for suspicion of murder that is... Now I hope you don't mind if I ask you to tell me what he did, and this time be.. graphic.. Every little bit helps. Don't worry, you don't have to tell me tonight.. I'll take care of the lady... You just get it clear in your head, and write it up for me.It'll probably be easier that way. You can give it to me when I drop back round to get that list." :---=====(*)=====---: Two more vehicles arrived after the Sheriff departed taking his surprise visitor. Both Ranger ATV's, the first was a lone Ranger who Ray recognised from his visit to the park, he was friendly and mentioned seeing the car. Ray told him the Sheriff had taken care of the driver and was going to arrange to have it towed away. The Ranger gave a nod and bid him goodnight to drive away. Another one showed up less than 20 minutes later. This time it was two Rangers. Same reason. They looked near frozen and Ray let them in, dragging the couch closer to the fire so they could sit to thaw out by the fire and gave them a hot drink. They were chatty and Ray discovered they were partners, in more ways than one. On their way back to the park after attending a social event for the County's gay community. They noticed his reaction and hastened to assure him it wasn't what he thought. "Dean started it, not long before he left.. Him and that reporter Mz Ekles. So we could get to meet others, trade information, particularly about people who are homophobic. The last thing we want is to find out someone's a homophobe after they find out we're gay." "Ah.." "The meetings are held at the Sheriff's house, so no one would dare bother us. We got a real surprise when someone we thought was a raving phobe showed up... Turns out he just comes across that way with people less'n he know's they're gay or neutral." "Ah." "Can't wait to tell Dean about him, he'd probably faint." "Why? If he doesn't pretend with people he knows.." "Dean's the only one around here with the guts to come out about it, but then, his big brother's the Sheriff and would come down hard on anyone who tried to show him the errors of his ways as it were. And most people assume if you're a male friend of Dean's, you've probably slept with him, wether it's true or not just because he's out." "Uh-ha.. I was warned about that." He enjoyed watching them both blush as they realised they may have made the wrong assumption about him and Ray didn't put them out of their misery. "I'm neutral." They relaxed, neutral was good. The chattier of the pair waffled on while his partner fell asleep beside him. When he noticed that, he gave him a poke. Ray gave a faint smile. "Come on sleepy head, we've got a ways to go before you.." "There's a spare bed you can crash on. If you happen to have sleeping bags or a blanket that is." "We've got blankets in the back... One of us usually naps while the other drives. And it was so cold out, we tossed a pile in." "Why don't you go get them while I take care of the room." The Ranger did settling his partner down on the couch to go to the ATV while Ray stripped the spare bed of its plastic covering. He'd been lying about Dean taking the bedroom furniture, he simply hadn't wanted that woman to stay the night. That would have meant talking further with her which he had been glad to escape. He took the bedding from the Ranger and suggested he park his ATV in the stable, as there was plenty of room and it would be more likely to start in the morning if it were kept there. The Ranger went back out into the cold to follow his suggestion while Ray made up the bed for them, then he went back to the lounge to get the sleepy one up to his feet and headed in the right direction, telling him where to find the bathroom and toilet as well as the bedroom. He let the other Ranger in through the back door and directed him to the bedroom and bathroom as he had with the first, then went out to throw some more wood on the fire and clean up the cups. He stretched out by the fire, Dief curling up beside him on the lounge, and basked in the heat. He was wide awake now and his mind was busy mulling over the day's events and discoveries. He realised that discovering his Fiancee was a clever gold digger wasn't that hard to believe. The things he learned about her made sense to him. He briefly toyed with the idea of going through with it any way, then dismissed the idea. Just like Victoria that woman used sex as a weapon. And he didn't love her, never had, he'd just been lonely and didn't want to stay that way. It was a nice little fantasy while it lasted, but reality had reared its head, twice over, first Benton, then his revelations about Dean. Ray wasn't even sure if he knew what love was. He thought he'd loved Benton, he'd wanted what happened till had crossed the line that Dean would never cross with him. Yes it had hurt, but to be honest, it was more to do with surprise and his leg being touched and moved in ways that made the pain flare up. And there had been some pleasure in it. He was sure that under the right circumstances it could be a lot better. Then there was Dean, he did care for the man, he felt more pain when he'd drooled over the Ranger at the river than he'd felt at learning the truth about his Fiancee. And Dean was a wonderful lover who made his body come alive every time he touched him. He'd bet Dean would be so careful and gentle that he'd never have to worry about pain spoiling things. That reminded him of his fiance. Pain had never spoiled things with her. Did that mean what happened with Benton was different. He pondered the question and realised, it had been, very little foreplay, no intention to get into it, and Benton was still a novice in that particular area. Where as Dean and his Fiancee were both highly experienced in their own ways. He didn't think Dean would let him do what Benton had, and he wondered, if it would feel as wonderful as it had with his fiancee. So wrapped up was he in his thoughts that he didn't hear the third vehicle to pull up. He didn't miss the banging on the door though and rose with a sigh to answer it. How many more people were going to see that car and come to investigate he wondered. He did a double take and back stepped instinctively when he found his molester on the door step. His molester did a double take, then smiled. Before Ray could gather his scattered wits the man walked in. "Well hello there, I thought you'd left town." "I did, now I'm back." "There's a car up there, just off the side of the highway. I noticed the smoke and figured whoever owned it broke in here to wait till morning in comfort. I couldn't trouble you for a cup of coffee could I. I've been on my bike for hours and I'm frozen." Ray would have liked nothing better than to have turfed him out on his ear, but he was in now, and he remembered the other two rangers he'd invited to crash in the spare bed. Just let him try something, if Dief didn't go for him, he'd make enough noise to rouse them and they'd take care of him. He spun on his heel heading for the kitchen expecting the Ranger to head for the fire place. No sooner had he set the kettle to boil than the man's arms wrapped around him from behind. Ray spun but before he could do much more he was pinned to the bench and the man's mouth covered his. Revulsion filled him and he shoved with all his might, ignoring the pain it cost him. The amorous Ranger just bent him back over the bench. Pain ripped up his spine as he was forced up hard against the edge. It paralysed him for a moment made him cry out in pain and his stomach churned as the Ranger took advantage to start plundering his mouth. Then one of the man's arms moved and he was being fondled, it reminded him of Victoria. He remembered the pain he'd suffered resisting her, he didn't want to go through that again. He wondered why Dief wasn't attacking the man, as he stopped fighting and passively took it. Once he stopped fighting it, the Ranger eased up a little and the pain that had almost paralysed him faded. It was just like the last time, with two differences, this time his body didn't respond to the rough passion of the Ranger. And the Ranger obviously liked things rougher than he'd first appeared too and didn't like Ray's passive resistance. He whimpered and cried out in pain, at the roughness he was handled with and realised the man definitely liked dishing out pain. He was getting turned on - the Ranger, not Ray. All of Ray's cries were muffled, not loud enough to attract attention. When the man's mouth wasn't plundering his, his hand was over it. His hot breath on his ear, panting and saying much what Victoria had. He wondered if that was standard. Wondered what it would take to make Dief attack him, if the wolf was asleep. He was forced down to his knees and told he had a choice, neither of which appealed to him. His head was rammed into the cupboard and he saw stars. That was when he heard Dief growl. =Thank-you god= He was released and slumped to the floor dazed. His head hit the polished floor boards and he knew no more. :---=====(*)=====---: "And you're absolutely sure it was the same man?" Ray nodded, and wished he hadn't it made his headache worse. Meghan told her husband to stop pestering the poor soul already and bustled him out before returning the side of the spare bed Ray now occupied. She fussed around and told him to lie down already, which he was glad to do. "How did I get here?" "Those Ranger's you invited to use the spare room heard your Wolf making a racket and when they investigated, they found the front door open, heard someone speeding away and found you on the kitchen floor out cold. One stayed to watch the house, in case that animal came back - and I'm not talking about your wolf, and the other one brought you here." She tucked him in, sympathised and told him he should really look into self defence lessons. "Then you could fight back." "Tried that... Hurt so much.." "Let me give you your first lesson.. You watch me.. Are you watching.. Good.." She brought her knee up swiftly. "Do that, and go for the family jewels, hard as you can.. That'll put him down and when he is.. Either run, or find something to whack him over the head with, not too hard mind, you can crack a persons skull and kill them." =I cracked my own skull and killed myself= :---=====(*)=====---: Ray slept the day away and woke late in the evening to be driven out to the airfield by the Sheriff. He was bundled into a small planed with Dief, and sent on his way. The plane took him to a larger airport where he was directed to a passenger plane. His reputation served him well, George Fiorella and Chow Hound were allowed to fly together. Dief on the seat beside him. He was met at the other end by a chauffeur and bundled into a limo, driven through the city to a sky scraper, and met by the door man who showed him up to the penthouse. There he collapsed on the bed and Dief curled up at his side. :---=====(*)=====---: When he next opened his eyes it was to find Fraser hovering over him with a smile. He was still half asleep, still recovering, jumbled memories flittered past his minds eye and he cried out - striking out. Fraser staggered back, a hand to his face, Ray scrambled back over the bed and tumbled off the edge and Dief jumped to his feet, not knowing who to "defend." After a moment or two's thought about he decided Ray needed defending more than Fraser did and moved to stand where he could protect Ray and growled at Fraser. Fraser backed up hands up. "It's ok Dief, I'm not going to touch him," he said and he backed toward the door. Ray only rose up when Fraser closed the door on his way out. Then Ray threw his arms around Dief hugging and stroking him. "Good boy.." Dief licked his face and Ray had a chance to get his scattered wits together. "Why couldn't you have done that with that Ranger?" Dief gave a little whine. Ray wouldn't understand. The poor wolf didn't understand what had been going on, but it knew what violence was when it saw it and had acted when he'd seen it. It had learned a lesson and wouldn't let anyone else hurt Ray. Ray ruffled Dief's fur burying his face in it for a moment, thinking of how the Wolf had been Benton's and chosen to defend him against the man when he'd been so obviously frightened. He made sure the wolf could see his face. "It's alright... Thank-you. I don't know what I'd do without you." Dief licked his face. He needed him alright, look at all the trouble he got into. Maybe now he'd show his appreciation more often the way he used to do. :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser was working in the kitchen off the dining area. If you stood at the right place you could get a view of the dining area and the lounge beyond. Fraser heard a door open and shortly there after voices, Ray's, excited, babbling and Dean's soothing. Fraser moved to the place with a view and saw Dean near the couch, Ray wrapped around him, while Dean stroked his back and head telling him everything was going to be alright. He saw Dief in the doorway to the room Ray had occupied watching them with an eye of suspicion. It pained him to see the wolf so wary of such things. But it set his mind at rest, he'd told Dief to protect Ray. He was doing that. Had done or so it had been reported, and shown he was willing to defend Ray against anyone Ray viewed as a threat including him. He remained in the kitchen finishing his work there and cleaning up till he heard the door open and close. He checked, they were gone. Fraser crept through the penthouse to get his things. He couldn't put off his return to Chicago any longer, and he knew Ray was now in good hands and would be protected. He left a note before he left, and stopped by the kitchen setting down a bowl of meat for Dief with a side dish, covered in milk duds. :---=====(*)=====---: On arrival at O'Hare Fraser was met by both Mrs Vecchio and Francessca who both hugged him and babbled about how good it was to see him alive. Mrs Vecchio told him he was going to come home with her, to stay with the family and wouldn't take no for answer. He hadn't intended to refuse if the offer was extended. But the two women weren't the only ones waiting, there was Lieutenant Welsh and a woman in a suit watching. The woman gave him a chilly reception and Fraser realised why when Welsh introduced him to Inspector Thatcher of the RCMP who'd replaced his superior. They both had questions. Fraser chose to go with Welsh, who promised the Vecchio women he would drop him at their place when he was finished. :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser truthfully told Welsh what happened with Victoria up to the point where he parted ways with her. When Welsh closed his office blinds, Fraser removed his coat, shirt and undershirt to show Welsh the scars that were the legacy of that event. Welsh moved around examining them. "I didn't know where I was... I found a road and collapsed. Someone took me to a hospital where I received treatment. I left as soon as possible.. And I lived off the land till I ran into someone who I'd rather not identify. He made sure I had supplies, told me where I could find shelter, when I needed it. And when he found out I'd been cleared he tracked me down and showed me the article in the paper he was reading which revealed I'd been cleared. And that Ray had been murdered." "That's when you made your way back to civilisation and contacted us." Fraser nodded. "I rescued a man out there, who told me if I ever needed a favour to call.. He gave me a business card. I remembered his details, and the person who took care of me couldn't afford to send me all this way, but he did help me reach that man, who did repay the favour, gave me some decent clothes, and a ticket back here." "Unless you can tell us where she tried to kill you we can't act on that." "I.. could tell you were I was... If I could contact the person who helped me, it could cost that person his job if it came out. I was still wanted at the time." "This person who helped you.." "He was a relative.. He'd been trying to find one for a long time. He was orphaned very young. I told him everything, and he helped me, made sure I had the supplies I needed. It would be poor gratitude if he lost everything because I revealed his identity just to have my revenge against Victoria." Welsh gave a slow nod "If she goes down for killing Jolley, I'll let it drop. He did say that if she got off the hook he'd come forward to help." "But he'd rather not take the risk." Fraser nodded. "Understandable." "Now I've told you everything. I want to know all about Ray, what happened to him, have you got any leads on his murder, do you have any..." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray watched Dean leaning on the penthouse's balcony rail looking out at the city below while he sat, warm and snug on the couch inside, on the phone, listening to Fraser. "So they suspect I faked my death." "That's the bad news.. There's more. The insurance company was about to pay out your policy when Victoria told the police you were alive and now they're waiting for the investigation to be concluded before they pay out. You're account's been frozen, and your family is in danger of loosing their home. You're whole elaborate set up is falling apart, Ray. All because of Victoria." "Ohgod." "But, there is some good news.." "There is?" "Though I've lost my position.. Your mother has offered me shelter at your home, your sisters have both found work, and between them their hoping they can convince the bank to let them take over the mortgage - so they maybe able to keep the house." "That is good news." "And if the insurance company doesn't pay out you can't be charged with fraud.. And there is a possibility that you might, just might escape conviction for setting things up the way you did. If I can prove you used the corpse of that derelict in your set up. Lt Welsh supplied me with a defence to use. He told me what you were like, before and after you stopped taking your medication." Ray almost chuckled - that had been an act. "A good defence lawyer could use that call it temporary insanity, get you off using that defence." "Assuming I even wanted to return to Chicago." "Ray.." "I told you - he's dead, they wouldn't accept that, they forced me into taking that line to make them accept it so I could get on with my life.. O.K, so I made a huge mess of it. But... That doesn't mean I'm going to go crawling back like a whipped pup with my tail between my legs to beg forgiveness and let them take control of my life again." Fraser sighed. He really didn't blame Ray. He now lived in Ray's bedroom, had seen the lock on the door, the way the window was secured. Talked to people, Elaine included and new Ray had good reason to feel trapped. He was hoping he could convince Ray to return and face the consequences and use it in his defence to get him off the hook. To give him a chance to live his life without it hanging over his head like the sword of Damocles. "And there's the little matter of my taking a dead man's identity - even you don't want the fact you did it to come out, well I became famous, it would come out - I'd loose everything again, wether or not I got off the hook, find another way." "I'll try.. I have to go now, take care." :---=====(*)=====---: "What do you think love?" Dean asked showing him his final model and concept designs for the museum. "I think you're a glutton for compliments, that's what I think." Dean chuckled. "It's incredible, but you already know that, and I'm sure you've heard it a hundred and one times already." "My we're grumpy today." Ray didn't mention the fact he'd get a lot grumpier if they continued living in separate rooms. He saw no one except his martial arts coach (Dean arranged it) and Dean, day in, day out. He never left the penthouse Anderson had put Dean up in for his stay. Dean worked hard, spending long hours at the office, he'd leave early in the morning and return late in the evening. They had breakfast together, Dean made a point of it, and he always made a point to spend a little time with Ray in the evenings if he was awake when he returned. Fraser's calls had slowed to a trickle and stopped altogether. He rarely had anything new to say and his attempts to convince Ray to return to Chicago to face the music only resulted in tension. Now his only human contact was Dean and his coach. He wanted more contact than he was getting, but he was afraid to push his luck. He couldn't leave, couldn't risk ruining everything. Couldn't get an agent, even though he'd filled his days writing and come up with enough material to fill a shelf on the book shelf with his own work. Dean made a big deal out of getting him everything he needed to print out his stories and bind them. One shelf was full of bound stories, another with manuscripts in envelopes. His column was about to die. He'd covered all he could for it and made a little more money. He'd sent it to Benton to give to his mother, to put toward the mortgage. It wasn't much, but it was enough to cover a few months mortgage payments. He felt useless and trapped again. It was little wonder he was grumpy. But he'd messed things up once, twice, he wasn't going to mess things up again. He learned his lesson though it didn't make it easier to take. "I know how to put a smile back on your face," Dean declared. "How?" "Now I've finished the plans, and the Council approved them, I can take a short break before construction starts. Anderson will over see the start of the project. He told me I could have six weeks off, and I have made plans for those six weeks, love.. Plans I hope you approve of." Ray sat up straighter. Six weeks, six weeks that Dean wouldn't be hard at work, six weeks of his company, of Dean's undivided attention being his. O.k so he wouldn't get the attention he wanted, craved, but he'd be happy just to spend quality time with him. Dean produced airline tickets and hotel booking slips from his briefcase with a flourish and handed them to Ray. Ray looked them over and his eyes widened. "Hawaii!" It was the only state of America he hadn't visited yet. "Well, it's the only place you haven't visited yet. All I had to do was mention your name and the people at the Hawaiian tourist office were falling over themselves to help me plan the best holiday possible." Ray chuckled and Dean smiled and pulled something else out of the briefcase and sat by Ray. "It gave me ideas." "What kind of ideas?" "You're a travel writer, now you're famous, tourism companies would fall over themselves to sponsor you on jaunts. I made a few inquires, over the phone, during lulls at the office, there are four countries you could visit, and have all your expenses paid - courtesy of their tourism ministers, in return for doing what you do best. And hopefully inspiring people to visit their country." "Oh." "I know you're going stir crazy here.. I'm trying to do something about it.. I really am.. I just need more time to arrange everything." "Dean.. You know I love you but.." "Woah, back up.. Say that again.." Ray thought about it, then shyly repeated the statement. Dean hugged him to plant a passionate kiss on the top of his head. "To hear you say that makes it worth everything, love." Ray wrapped his arms around Dean and tentatively kissed his neck nuzzling it and said I love you over and over till Dean cupped his face and gently kissed him. That was all Ray needed. With a little growl he pushed Dean back on the couch and got passionate about it. Kissing, caressing, nuzzling and lavishing attention on every inch of Dean's body he could get to. When he paused to give Dean a chance to escape if he wanted to, Dean just smiled at him then got the upper hand, to scoop him off and carry him to the master bedroom, nuzzling his Ray's throat. "God.. I've been waiting for you to make a move.." "I've been waiting for you," Ray said tangling fingers in Dean's hair. "I couldn't... I had to wait for you to make it after what happened.. Till you showed me.. It was what you wanted." "I didn't think.. You'd want me that way again." "I'll never stop wanting you love.. I'll love you and lust for you till the day I die." "You're such a romantic." :---=====(*)=====---: After a night of gentle, on Dean's part, Passionate, on Ray's part, love play, Ray's mood improved dramatically. Dean had to leave in the morning, one last time, to return his work to the office. Ray paced the apartment waiting for his return anxiously. Now he was assured of Dean's undying love, he was ready to lay down a few ground rules. He spent two hours rehearsing what he was going to say and almost forgot it all when Dean returned with a huge bunch of red roses and gifts. "I did a little shopping, for you." "You shouldn't have." "And there's more, I visited a few embassies and consulates and." "Woah... we need to talk - now." Dean trailed off. Ray took his flowers and gifts and set them aside, then made Dean sit while he paced around before the couch. "I love you - you know that, I know you love me, and I know you want to spoil me, and protect me from the big bad world. And I know how bad it can be. But.. Unless you can give me your word, to *not* start dictating what I should do with my life from now on... I will leave you Dean." Dean's eyes widened. "I have.. my own plans, I know you only want to do what's best for me, and help me, and protect me. But.. So did the last person who took over my life.. I couldn't stand it, even though I know they meant well.. They drove me insane." "I'm sorry love.. I didn't mean to take over.. I just wanted to help." Ray moved to sit beside him. "I know you do, that's why I love you. You do it.. In a different way. But it still.. makes me feel like.. Chow Hound on a leash, I just want to get off.." "I'm sorry." "I want to stay with you, I really do, but I want to have a life as well. I've made mistakes, I've learned from them, and.. what I want is for you to work with me to help me, not.. to decide things for me and put plans into motion without consulting me." Dean nodded. "I'll cancel the tickets and bookings." "There you go, making plans without consulting me again." Dean looked confused. "It's not the trip to Hawaii, Dean, I'll go there with you happily." Dean relaxed. "It's everything else.. Everyone has been telling me what to do, I have my own plans my own goals.. And things keep going wrong, you encourage me to follow my goals, and I know you can help me achieve them, and my damned pride got in the way and cost me everything. Now I'm ready to face the world again, whatever the price is.. I need you... Not for your financial support, but for the other kind." Dean reached up to stroke his hand. "I understand. Tell me how I can help." "I want to get an agent for one thing.. I want to do something with all that work I've been doing." "I'll work on it, as soon as we get back from Hawaii..." "It's not important.. What I need now, more than anything is to feel.. Like I'm achieving something. Even if I get an agent tomorrow it could take months for results.. I need to do something that has faster results.. And you gave me the idea." "What?" "How many embassies and consulates do you think you can call? How many sponsors do you think we could find, to try and get around the world in Eighty days?" Dean laughed and gave him a kiss on the head. "And do you think you could get your boss to give you Eighty days.. To come with me?" :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser collapsed into a chair and pulled his boots off to rub his sore feet. He'd thought getting himself licensed to become a private detective was the solution to his problems, financially, he'd joined a reputable agency, but it caused more problems. He was so busy carrying out the assignments they gave him, he had little time to work on the Ray problem. The only bright note in the whole mess was that Victoria hadn't been able to wiggle off the hook for Jolley's murder. Her confession to avoid being charged for his and Ray's murders had sealed her fate. The prosecutor had driven the point home that she had systematically destroyed Fraser's life after taking her sisters identity, suggested she'd lured Jolley to Chicago to use in her plan and insure he never bothered her again - she knew what she was doing and intended to kill him from the start. She knew he was supposed to have been in prison, if she'd been in real fear, she would have told the police where to find him, helped them capture him to send him back to prison where he'd belonged. But her revenge wouldn't be complete if she couldn't use Jolley - frame Fraser for his murder, to punish the Mountie for capturing her and sending her to prison. She was sentenced to life, with no possibility of parole for at least 20 years. Fraser was satisfied. Now if only he could solve the problems Victoria had raised with her arrest. The Chicago police would love to talk to George Fiorella, but he'd as good as disappeared, thanks in no small part to Dean. The investigation the police had undertaken left them scratching their heads. They'd run into the same puzzle Fraser had. How could Ray and George Fiorella be the same man? How could they be anything else? They kept going around in circles. By use of information they didn't have and dogged determination Fraser began to put together a clear picture of Ray's activities and even worked out how Ray had done it. A certain career criminal, infamous for his work at helping the criminal element set up new lives had died shortly before Ray vanished, Fraser checked his activities out in the weeks proceeding his death and eventually found what he was looking for. Ray had used the man's services before he'd been killed. He'd been forced to fake his own death when the man had been killed, or he'd have set it up for Ray in a way that wouldn't fall apart. Fraser had lucked out on an assignment which sent him to New York and visited Brooklyn finding the apartment block where Ray had lived, questioned the land lord and learned more about Ray's first steps. He'd shown up without Dief at first, so what had happened to the Wolf during that time? How did he acquire it? Did it matter? Yes, it might. He heard Frannie and Maria talking and looked around as they entered with a magazine. They saw him and soon he was being shown the article they were discussing and looked at it in shock. Ray and Dean - more accurately George and Dean had gotten *married*. There were pictures, a three page article just covered with them, in which they talked about their relationship. He couldn't believe it, how could Ray go public like that. He didn't have a chance to read it. He saw the pictures and the banner before Frannie and Maria walked off fighting over it. The magazine was Frannie's, and she told Maria to buy her own. Fraser pulled his boots on with a wince and walked out to do just that, buy his own copy. :---=====(*)=====---: Dean had talked with Anderson, cancelled his holiday in return for his permission to take the trip with Ray when Dean told him of his plans to marry Ray along the way. Construction of the Museum started while Ray worked to arrange his grand plan. Dean found an agent for George Fiorella who assisted in the arrangements and suggested George start by telling the magazine he was Gay and about to get married. The magazine dumped him so fast there was an uproar when his column vanished from fans. The Agent made deals left, right and centre, now George was free to do what he wanted, his column reappeared, in papers all over the country and a Gay magazine. He also found sponsors for his round the world in Eighty days tour and his column appeared in one of his sponsors in flight magazine. Another deal George's agent didn't mention was the deal he made with a magazine for coverage of his forthcoming wedding. Dean hadn't proposed, though he told the agent he intended to and to marry Ray in Hawaii. The agent sewed up a very nice deal with a big pay cheque for the exclusive rights and George Fiorella went from being destitute to comfortably well off in a short period, and celebrated this fact with Dean the day before the trip was due to start. He'd almost choked on his champagne when he found a ring in his glass. And accepted the nervous Dean's proposal on the spot. Their agent followed them to Hawaii, along with Dean's Step brother, sister in law, Step-Aunt and a number of friends from back home. Even old Anderson showed up at their wedding with his wife, who cried through the whole ceremony. It was all photographed courtesy of the magazine who gave the agent copies of everything. And they spent two weeks in Hawaii and saw the article. Ray had been upset at first, but got over it very fast when Dean told him he'd already paid off one extortionist who threatened to expose his Gay relationship. Now their relationship was out in the open, there would be no more trouble from that end. Ray was able to finally relax and enjoy himself for the first time since his life had been turned upside down. Their world tour almost went off without a hitch. That hitch was a psycho terrorist taking over the plane during one leg of the tour. A plane full of tourists. This time George became an international hero - by accident. He'd been in the toilets up near the pilots cabin when the terrorist took over. He'd stopped out in time to be grabbed and used as a hostage. The American contingent on the plane had snickered and muttered amongst themselves. The moment the terrorist swung his weapon away to threaten them with it, Ray had acted. All the lessons in self defence he'd gotten from the martial arts coach paid off. Half the passengers had cameras of both the photographic and video kind and more than one had produced them and used them during the incident. Including Dean. There were plenty of photographs of the event and at least three tapes one of which was snapped up by the media and appeared on the news with a trailer showing Ray being carried off the plane by his Significant Other, and carried to a waiting ambulance. He'd spent the night in the hospital zonked on pain killers before being given a grand tour of the place with a police escort, arranged by a grateful airline. Every where he and Dean went after that, the Media were waiting. Back home people counted the days off and Fraser and the CPD were among them. Victoria had seen the news, and told everyone who'd listen that he was the cop she'd been accused of murdering. :---=====(*)=====---: The detectives from Chicago were doomed to disappointment, when they arrived at the airport George and spouse were due to arrive back in the states at. There was a very large crowd that they didn't realise until too late, were there to welcome back their home grown hero. When they tried to move in - they were blocked by crowds clamouring for autographs, pictures and a chance to talk to their hero. Airport security kept everyone at a distance, and rushed them out to a waiting limo that sped off leaving the detectives rushing for their car. By the time they were able to follow, it was too late. The limo was long gone and they lost the scent thanks to Mr Anderson. :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser didn't have any problems catching up with Ray. He got time off from work to fly out and went straight to the penthouse to wait. He attached himself to them in the lobby and followed them up for an awkward reunion. Dean knew that his George had been in love with Fraser and vice versa and Dean felt a little guilty about taking advantage of Fraser's absence to woo and win his hearts desire away from him. Ray expected another lecture about returning to face the music, and Fraser wasn't sure what sort of reception he'd get. Fraser put Dean's fears to rest when Ray left them alone while he attended the call of nature. "I read about your wedding, congratulations. I'm sure you'll be very happy together." "You.. don't mind?" "Why should I?" "Well... You said there was a man that you were in love with from your past... He told me about you and I assumed..." Fraser forced a laugh out. "There was never anything but friendship between us." "Well, I know that, he was a virgin, I just thought..." "It's not George." Dean relaxed, he felt so much better. "But I need to talk to him, in private, asap. The police from Chicago are here... I need to speak with him, before they can track him down." "Well... I need to speak to Anderson and collect Chow Hound, I'll just do it sooner rather than later." He told Ray he was off to speak to his boss and departed leaving them alone. Ray wanted to go with him, he didn't want to be alone with Fraser. Naughty thoughts kept flitting through his mind. And he resented the way Fraser kept trying to make him give up his new life to return to the old. "If you're going to get stuck into me again about going back to Chicago." "No." "You're not???" "No." "Why not?" "Right now, that would be a bad idea. I'm a private detective there now. I've been investigating what you did. I can prove you faked your death, even tell you how you did it. The Police though haven't been able to do it, though they have gathered enough evidence that points toward it, they can't prove it yet." "Oh." Fraser named the criminal who'd set up his new identity. "That's him." "If they found out about him, that you'd been to him in light of the evidence they've got, someone could make a case against you for his murder. They never caught the person who killed him." "Uh-hu." "And I know that if they looked in the right places they could find proof that you went to him to set up your new identity. I found it. They could use the argument you killed him to protect your new identity once he'd set it up." "Rrright." "And you're family knows about your wedding." "They do!" "Well, George Fiorella's. Your sisters - or at least Frannie has compiled what is now a large collection of articles on George Fiorella. She started it after the first article came out in that magazine that used to print your column. She collects everything she can find about you." "How nice." "She told me *after* the wedding article, that until then she always had a suspicion that you were her brother using a new identity. Even if you were nothing like him - except in looks." "What tipped her off?" "Dief." "Uh-hu. I suppose she stopped collecting stuff after that wedding spread." "Oh no. That just convinced her she was wrong about you being Ray, because he was so straight, and you're Gay. It didn't stop her collecting things. Her collection just got bigger and more expensive after that, but people were always giving her copies of articles, she trades with other fans to get new ones. She is the head of your Chicago fan club, and she was at the airport when you arrived." Ray looked at him wide eyed. "And she's determined to meet you and collected enough information to be able to track you down. I thought you should be made aware of it. You have to decide wether or not to lie to her face, or try to explain things and pray she understands and keeps your secret." "Why is she so determined to meet me if she doesn't think I'm her brother any more?" "You're fan club. Being the person who runs the Chicago branch has brought her lots of new friends, helped her meet new people, decent people. She is determined to meet you to talk to you about running your official fan club." "I don't have one." "That's why she wants to meet you *now* - to get in before someone else sets it up and starts running it." "Oh." "And she thinks she talked me into coming here to help her track you down so she can do it. I came to warn you." "Do you think you can send her off on a few wild goose chases? I mean her funds must be pretty limited, she can't quit her job, because she needs it to cover the mortgage, and they wouldn't give her too much time off. If you can keep her looking in the wrong places until her money or time runs out, I won't have to worry about meeting her again, will I?" :---=====(*)=====---: "There you are! Where were you at the airport?! I could have used your help," Frannie grouched at Fraser when she returned to the suite she shared with him to find him there. It had two bedrooms and it helped them save money. "I tried to follow him, I knew you wanted to meet him and there was no chance of getting through that crowd, so I went out and hired a cab and waited." "Were you able to follow that Limo to his place?" "Unfortunately no. We lost them in the traffic." "Damn, damn, damn." "But I think I have a lead..." "You do?! What?" "Now before you get too excited, I have to warn you, it could be a false lead. The cab driver *claimed* to know where he lived, and gave me an address in exchange for 20 dollars. We can investigate that lead tomorrow." "Tonight." "Frannie... It's been a long day, all I want to do is get some rest, you should too... You look terrible, don't you want to look your best when you meet him?" "He's gay, what would he care." "Well... Gay men usually have lots of women friends, and we're talking about the potential manager of his fan club. Who do you think he'd prefer, a well kept one or an unkempt one?" She took the hint. :---=====(*)=====---: Frannie was all excitement when the lead, lead to the homeless shelter and she found out George *had* lived there, once, and worked there. But that was all she found out. The staff refused to talk about him, and the Boss Lady asked them to depart and stop harassing her staff and residents. The threat of calling the police to throw them out if they didn't leave worked. Fraser didn't miss the hire car parked on the curb that pulled out and followed their cab as they departed, he'd seen it earlier, parked outside their hotel. He guessed the Chicago detectives were following him and Frannie around in the hopes that they'd lead them straight to George/Ray. Fraser lead both the Detectives and Frannie in a wild goose chase across the city, and did it so well neither of them realised it was just that, a wild goose chase. "George" became more social, attending events with Dean, but they never confirmed that they would be attending events in advance, they simply showed up at the events they chose to attend. Fraser was able to learn what events Ray would attend, and mention a new lead when it was too late for Frannie to meet him. She kept finding out she'd missed him by a whisker and praised Fraser for his work. "I just know we'll find him, with you on his tail. We've been so close." "Frannie.. I know what this means to you, but.. If we can't find him *tonight* we have to return, your job." "Oh hang the job, I'll have a new one, running his fan club." "We don't have enough money." "I've got enough, everyone back home wants me to do it. As head of his fan club I can get autographs, arrange meetings and all sorts of things. They all put money in the kitty for me to do this... I can keep it up for a month if I have to." =*Siiiigh*= "I have a job, Frannie, I can't spend a month chasing this man around, I have to go back, even if you don't. Do you think you can do it without me?" "Benton! You wouldn't abandon me now! We're so close." "My job.." "They'll kill me if I don't go back with the job of running his official fan club sewn up after they all chipped in to pay for this trip." =*Siiiigh*= She started trying to wheedle him into it, pouring on all her considerable charm. "Frannie.. I thought you agreed not to do that to me any more." "Ma told me not to do it, but she's not here, is she." "Frannie.. Victoria put me off women - *for life*.. I'm sorry but throwing yourself at me is a waste of time.. Can't you throw yourself at one of those decent men you've met setting up the fan club." She laughed. "What's so funny about that suggestion?" "They're all *gay* Fraser. He is a gay icon, a gay hero. Someone gay men can look up to and hope to emulate." "Oh." "Did you know that there have been fifty percent *more* gay weddings in Hawaii since their wedding article was printed. The office of tourism was flooded with enquiries after that. The place they got married at is booked out solid for the next three months, and so is the hotel where they stayed for their honeymoon." "Really how fascinating. How did you know that?" "Research, Benton, research. I want to impress him, by being able to spout all sorts of facts and figures to convince him to hire me to run his fan club." =I need to talk to Ray.= "But first I have to find him." "I can't stay, but you could always use Huey and Gardino to lead you to him." "What????" "They're here.. They've been following us around hoping we'll lead them to George." "What?! Why.. Oh don't tell me they think he's Ray." Fraser nodded and she burst into laughter. :---=====(*)=====---: Ray gave Fraser a warm welcome to the apartment, and listened to Fraser report on Frannie's progress and his predicament. "Never mind. I've got a solution." With a flourish he gave Fraser a scratch and win lottery ticket, but this was not for any official lottery. It had been printed up especially for him. "Give this to Frannie to cheer her up tonight. It should solve everything." "Why?" "It's a lottery ticket, the prize is more than enough money to cover paying out the mortgage on the house. You give it to her, and she'll scratch up that money and rush off there to cash it - they'll give her a bank cheque for the amount that can't be traced to me. Don't forget to remind her about the mortgage, so she doesn't go on a big shopping spree." "How do you know it will win?" "Because I set it up with the charity running the lottery, only one ticket has a prize that big, they got half a dozen of Dean's paintings to auction and the cheque and a few thousand dollars, to pay off to ticket buyers. It was set up *just* so I could get this money to Frannie.. Dean set it up. The charity gets money out of it, and people will get a chance to win some money if they buy tickets, and one has one of his large paintings up for grabs as a prize. The prize on this ticket isn't advertised, so no one can scream foul. So it's all nice and semi- legal." Fraser nodded. "So give it to her, make sure she gets the money and get her back home. O.K.." Fraser nodded. "That takes care of her, but not Huey and Gardino." "I've been looking for a certain pair of cops, when I find them, I'll take care of Huey and Gardino and solve all my troubles." Fraser looked at the ticket again. "I hope this money isn't all the money you've made." Ray smiled. "No.. Though it's a huge chunk of it, it is *my money*. Not Dean's. And my agent has a huge stack of manuscripts he's working his way through. He says he's already fielding offers from publishers for my *unwritten* Around The World In Eighty Days, travelogue, and sending manuscripts off left right and centre, trying to get a publishing contract for me. That it's only a matter of time before he sews one up. And what he's being offered for my travelogue would cover that." "You'll have to do something about a fan club. Once Frannie gets over the excitement of winning all that money, she'll start the whole thing over again." "Well, my agent actually brought up opening a fan club, I told him to arrange it, but to make sure whoever runs it isn't someone who's just out to latch onto me. Frannie isn't the first person to get the idea.. I've been approached by two others. Pounced on is more like it. One was just after a chance to be able to run it to become a personal secretary to me, the other was talking about the money side of it. My agent said he'd find some who's capable of running it who won't pester me." :---=====(*)=====---: "Maaaaaa! Mariaaaaa!" "Francesca! You're back." Her mother came bustling over wiping hands on her apron smelling of delicious food, and her sister was soon hanging over the stair rail to find out what her mother was so excited about. Fraser smiled up at her. "Your sister won a large prize in a lottery." Maria ran down the stairs to be shown the precious bank cheque and shrieked and there were hugs, tears and kisses all round when Frannie announced with a glance at Fraser that she was going to use it to pay off the mortgage. He'd used a subtle guilt campaign on her, when she'd started shrieking about all the things she could do with the money - paying the mortgage was not high on that list. But her hearts desire was Fraser and after realising he wouldn't respect her at all if she blew it, she'd announced she was going to pay out the mortgage and was rewarded for it with a sunny smile and a kiss on the cheek that made her day. The excitement Frannie's announcement generated died off when her mother remembered their guest and grabbed Fraser's arm. "Benton, there's a man here to see you, he arrived this morning, he flew a long way to find you. He said he's got something important to discuss with you about a family member." Fraser left them to their celebrations, and went to the lounge where he was less than surprised to see Sheriff Williams. Williams stood and offered his hand introducing himself and showing Fraser a newspaper clipping, the same article that had lead to his discovering his name had been cleared. "What is this about?" "My step brother spent quite a few years trying to find blood relatives. And discovered one on his mother's side, a cousin, Allen Pinset." Fraser's eyes widened. "He lived and worked in our community for a time till he discovered your existence through that article, you look a lot like him. He investigated and learned it wasn't a coincidence, you were related. He left, intending to come here, to Chicago, in the hope you'd return after you found out your name had been cleared. So he could meet you. He got side tracked.. Hired a car outta town and came back... I'm afraid he... had an accident on the Highway. A fatal one... We found what was left of the car, wrapped around a tree... The coroner says he probably died instantaneously." Fraser sat fast, putting on a good act. The Sheriff told him what a good man Allen was and how their community would miss him. And passed on a pitifully small bag of belongings they'd recovered. And mentioned a larger personal possession Mrs Vecchio had carried up to his room. "He loaned it to a... friend. I recovered it and brought it with me. My brother said, you probably appreciate it more." "I appreciate your coming all this way to tell me." "I was coming this way on business anyway... Seem's there's some Chicago cops causing a little trouble for my brother in law. I came to take care of it." "Oh." "Well, I can hear the ladies, so I guess I'm intruding on some celebration.. I'll be going now.." "I... met Allen." The Sheriff stopped and looked at him. "And I did know him... We ran into each other, before he became a Ranger in your county. He helped me, when that was what I needed.. " "When you were on the run?" Fraser nodded. "Has a funeral been held?" "His cousin, my step brother will be paying for the funeral. It will be held a week from now." "I'll be there. Thank-you, for coming to deliver the news personally." "Like I said, I'm here on business anyway." Fraser showed him out and went up to his room to find the rug he'd left at Dean's for Ray to use, Meghan's good bye gift to "Allen Pinset." Now if only they could get the Chicago Police of George's tail, he could leave, and carry out his plan. He now had a reason to return to the county, he was sure he could turn it into an opportunity to settle up there, and be there for Ray when he needed him. :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser was preparing to leave for work a few days later when he opened the door just as Lieutenant Welsh was about to knock. Lieutenant Welsh asked him to fetch Mrs Vecchio and stay if possible. He called his boss and made his excuses then brought Mrs Vecchio in. With great tact, Lieutenant Welsh told her that the hope they'd find Ray alive had died. Two different sources confirmed it. A pair of detectives Huey and Gardino had run into while trying to talk to the man they believed Ray was impersonating, who'd learned the two men had met. "He met Fiorella at the station, gave Dief to that man, intending to get him back. We're not sure of the timing but it seems about right... Ray told him about Victoria... Identified her to him, that's how he knew enough to tip us off." "You're not talking about George Fiorella are you?" "I am." "So it was Dief in those pictures." "These days he goes by the name Chow Hound." "How appropriate." "He's well cared for or so I'm told... The second source was the Sheriff of the County Mr Fiorella has made his official residence. He confirmed the man Victoria claimed was Ray was really Mr Fiorella, you see Mr Fiorella was horribly scarred in an incident, and we were able to establish the man we thought was Ray has the same scars... The lead was a dead end... We found your son... When we found his car." Mrs Vecchio took the news with composure, she'd already mourned for Ray when the body had been found, the faint hope they'd given her was just that, a faint hope. She didn't trust Victoria's statement, and had said at the start she was just causing more trouble. "Now can we put him to rest?" Lieutenant Welsh nodded. "There is just one last thing... There were enough bone fragments left to get a DNA sample... We could positively identify the remains if.." "Leftenant haven't the family been put through enough already, those tests take time, you've wasted enough hounding a man who's only crime was to look like Ray thanks to Victoria's mischief. Ray died before he was *physically* murdered. He said it himself, to Elaine on one occasion." "Yes... I'm aware of it... but the evidence..." "Is inconclusive. I've kept up to date on it, through Elaine, I know you can't prove a thing one way or the other. I've tried, and come to the same dead end. Victoria started it, it's causing his family nothing but pain, let it end now." "Benton is right. That woman will get no more enjoyment out of making us suffer. I want to bury my boy... I don't want to wait weeks to find out what we already know. That he is dead. If he were alive, don't you think he would have returned, once he learned she was gone, that Benton had been cleared." "He didn't remember him." "Benton visited him in hospital. My son asked about him after he vanished, till you told him about Victoria and how he disappeared. Then he didn't talk about Benton any more, but I know he didn't give up on Benton. Benton and my Francesca were the only people he responded well too because they were there at his bed side, while he was comatose, reading to him, he knew their voices, they brought him back.. He wanted to find that woman to make her pay for taking away the only friend he felt he had... I heard him talking to Diefenbaker.. Promising to find him - his body if he was dead, her, to pay for it." "Do you know how he knew she was alive?" "I think I can answer that question, Leftenant." Welsh looked to Fraser. "She was with me the last time I went to the hospital, she knew I was visiting him. I found her there after she shot Dief, trashed my apartment and went into hiding to make it look like Jolley was behind it." "Ah... Yes... I remember you said you met her at the hospital after that." "He either saw her, or heard her at the door... She didn't come into the room... I thought it was odd. I wanted to introduce her to him... I realised why she was doing it after you told me she was supposed to be dead and she told me no one would believe me that I'd seen her because of how careful she'd been to never be seen with me." "Yes that would explain it. He was very good at recognising voices, in the hospital. If she talked in his hearing he would remember her voice. Remember where he heard it, that she was with Benton when he visited." Welsh looked at Fraser. "There's just one other question I have - for you. And it is just between us." Fraser nodded slowly. "The man you said you rescued, who helped you get back to Chicago wasn't either George Fiorella or Dean Alexander was it.." Fraser gave a weak smile. "They saw me with him." "It was George." Mrs Vecchio looked at Fraser wide eyed. "You know this man and you never admitted it." "I didn't want Frannie to find out." "So you lead her, and by default, Huey and Gardino on a wild goose chase.." "They were there???" "Don't act innocent, I know that you know they were tailing you, you're too good to have missed it. They worked out you knew when you managed to keep giving them the slip." "Why didn't you introduce her to him, you knew how much she wanted to meet him, Benton, you could have arranged that." "I... thought it was better for them not to meet. And... I knew as the Leftenant said, that we were being tailed. I did investigate Mr Fiorella's history... I knew it was just a coincidence... There are six other men in this country who could pass as Ray's twin, I used the resources I have to investigate their back grounds too." "No luck." "I believe you found Ray when you found those remains in his car. Victoria managed to convince us otherwise, now we know how he knew who she was, there is no reason to think it was anyone else." "I just doesn't make sense... She passed a polygraph test, she didn't kill him... Suicide would make sense... Faking his death, would make sense... No one outside Victoria had a reason to murder him." "I can think of one.. I believe Ray intended to leave.. He talked about releasing Dief in the wild to his mother." She nodded. "He told Fiorella to do it if he didn't get in touch by a certain time." "He must have been at the station, intending to leave by train when he heard her, recognised the voice... Seen her following him.." "That fits what we know." "It does?" Welsh nodded. "We also know Victoria didn't kill him." "No... But he withdrew a lot of money from the bank... Over $200,000 all up. Someone who saw him do so may have followed him... from the bank... I investigated. There is no money trail I could find, the money just vanished. Perhaps, because he was killed for it. Around here, people have been killed for considerably less." Welsh nodded and rose. "We'll start hunting for someone who was flashing a lot of cash at the time he vanished... Perhaps we'll get somewhere, we haven't on any other angle we've investigated." "I want to put him to rest," Mrs Vecchio reminded him. "I'll make the arrangements to have his remains released to the family by morning Mrs Vecchio." :---=====(*)=====---: Ray Vecchio was finally buried three days later. Fraser had attended his funeral and resigned from the detective agency who were sorry to see him go. He asked for and got a good reference, before he departed. Frannie was heart broken when he announced he was leaving town, she'd still had hopes. He told her he meant what he said, about Victoria putting him off women for life. But told her, if things had been different he might have eventually come around. She kissed his cheek called him a liar, and wished him luck. Ray's mother wondered why he didn't stay to find Ray's killer. "Opportunists are the hardest criminals to catch, if he can be found, the police will do it, now they're on the right track." She made him promise to stay in touch, and presented him with some of Ray's things as a parting gift. One of those things was the rest of Ray's book collection because she knew he would have wanted Fraser to have it. He took a taxi to the airport, and was highly surprised when Frannie raced across the terminal to latch onto him all excitement with wonderful news that had come in after he left. :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser stood among the mourners in black at his cousin's funeral, being glanced at a lot. Quite a number of people witnessed his alleged first meeting with Dean and heard him invite Fraser to stay at his place for as long as he was in the area. Fraser accepted and left with Dean and Ray. He spent the whole trip out wanting to talk to Ray, but unable too. It was the same once they reached the house. Ray went straight to bed. Dean stayed up to talk to Fraser about his plans and how to go about them. Fraser had to wait for two whole days to get Ray alone to talk to him. :---=====(*)=====---: "What?!" "She told me at the airport." "Of all the people he could chose, why did he have to chose her?!" Ray raged. "Because she agreed to the terms. And I believe one was that she not pester you - and her location may have been a deciding factor as well. She lives in Chicago - she can't pester you from there unless he gives her your number." "I'll make sure he doesn't." "I also have good news. The police in Chicago have finally decided the remains they found were yours, they wanted your family to provide DNA samples for matching, to positively establish it, but I was able to get them release the remains without it. Raymond Vecchio has been put to rest." "So.. Was it a nice funeral?" "Yes." "Spare me the details.. It's kind of morbid talking about your own funeral." Fraser gave a faint smile. "Your mother gave me some of your things, she thought I might like them.. I'm having them shipped out. I got the rest of your books." "Hey great... I tried to find some I left behind but they're out of print." "Getting the Sheriff to make the police in Chicago stop trying to interview you was a good move." "It was his own idea, or Dean's.. I don't know who's." "Does Dean know who you were?" Ray shook his head. "I may have physically been him, but the person I am is the person he knows, loves and married. I don't want him finding out who I was... because that man is dead... Let him stay that way." Fraser nodded. "Now tell me about Benton Fraser.. What are his plans for the future?" "I like this place.. The people.. The land... I've still got my land in Canada.. I was thinking of selling it, and settling here." "Why not go back to Canada? Don't you have friends there?" "The cabin was burned down to the ground.. All I have left is the land.. And what they could salvage.. All my bridges burned.. Victoria saw to that.. And I don't think... I could go back to the life I once had. I had to adapt to the life I came to live... I don't think I want to return to the lonely existence I had. I can start off fresh here." "What will you do?" Fraser shrugged. "I've got some money.. I thought I'd take some time and think about it. There are a number of options open to me. If Dean would let me stay here, I could roam the park, make friends with all the rangers again. Perhaps set up a business running guided tours..." "Sounds like a good idea to me." "Or I could join a private detective agency.. use my skills in that area." "Lean pickings." "Perhaps.." "Ever consider modelling?" "What?" "Dean's got some pictures of you. You're photogenic.. And my writing carer's going no where." "What?!" "Oh, I'm still making money with my column, and I'm writing that book about my world trip. But the publishers just aren't interested in buying anything else I've written. I was depressed about that, till Dean made me look at the picture I took of him. The arty one.. He suggested I try photography. I've got all the equipment... He gave it to me for my birthday back a while. I decided to give my agent till the end of the year to get me a writing deal, outside of the travel writing. If it falls through, I'll see about the photography. Dean made enquiries.. I could make a living out of it.. If I had a good model, did an exhibition and my agent went after the right companies.." "Why do you have to make a living out of it? Dean can support you while you explore artistic photography." "I don't want him to have to support me, I want to be able to stand on my own two feet. He knows how I feel and encourages me to do it. He wants me to do some more travelling once the work on the Museum goes into full swing. He says he'll be so busy he won't have time for me... It would be the best time for it... While my world trips still fresh in peoples minds. I won't have any trouble finding sponsors." "You're still newly weds, you should spend more time together." "That's what I said. I've still got that book to write, I'm saving it for when he's so busy with his work he doesn't have any time for me. It'll help me pass the time. I thought I'd mess around with a little photography in the mean time. Find a studio in the city... Visit some galleries... Buy some books.. And there's house hunting." "House hunting?" "The penthouse is Anderson's. Unless Dean has plans to build a house of his own when the museums done, we'll need to find a place of our own. Some place just outside the city with room for Dief to run around in." "Maybe you should ask Dean what his plans are before you start house hunting." "I think I'll ask him tonight." :---=====(*)=====---: Fraser winced as he heard raised voices, followed by a door slamming. Ray stomped through the house, and out. He almost followed but then thought better of it. He could guess what they'd argued about. =Not Ray - George. Ray is dead and buried, you must learn to think of him as George or risk calling him Ray by accident when that could lead to nothing but trouble.= It was hard, to keep Dean's secret from George. But that was the way Dean wanted it. Dean would keep George oblivious to it as long as he possibly could. Fraser chose to avoid a conversation that could lead to him saying the wrong thing or blurting the truth out. All married couples argued sometime. So this was Dean and George's first real fight. They'd patch things up on their own without his interference. He was sure of that. Just as he was sure they loved each other. It wasn't hard for Fraser to see why George had fallen for Dean, he was the perfect man for George. The innocent taking his first stumbling steps in life. Like a young man leaving home for the first time, he thought he knew everything and found that he really knew very little, but he was learning and growing and his experiences were shaping his life. Much as Fraser's banishment to Chicago had reshaped his. He had to let Ray - George live that life without interfering in it. Settling here would give him a chance to start a new life, and be ready to be there for George when Dean passed away. Till then he'd keep in touch and hope one day Ray would turn to him as he turned to George. That hope would keep Fraser going through the rough patches that were sure to follow. *---==================(*)==================---* The End of "The Coming of Shadows" *----------=====(*)=====----------* Return to Due South Fiction Archive