Ray and Ben's Day Off	Warning this is a relatively tame m/m story. Hope
you enjoy it. RAY AND BEN'S DAY OFF At the knock on his door, Benton
Fraser answered it eagerly, knowing that his good friend Ray Vecchio would
be on the other side. Before moving here to Chicago, he hadn't really had
anyone he truly considered a close friend. He hadn't had anyone at all.
All the members of his family were dead. And even when they were alive
they were distant from him either physically or emotionally or both. He'd
been on his own for so long - he used to think that he preferred it that
way. People couldn't hurt you as much when they left, if they weren't
there to begin with. Besides back then he didn't realize quite what he was
missing anyway. Now this man, who once had the solitude and wide open
spaces of the Northwest Territories as his backyard, didn't ever want to
leave the overcrowded tumultuous big city that was his new home. The main
reason for this was standing on the other side of his door. Ray was
smiling as he opened the door. He really liked his friend's smile. He was
beginning to be quite good at interpreting the different variations of it.
This particular one was one of his favorites. He'd seen it a couple of
times before. This was the one that said I-did-something- you're-
not-gonna-believe-but-you're-gonna-love-me-for- it... trust-me. Whatever
it was Ray had planned for them on their day off, he knew he'd be rewarded
in the end. He was willing to go along for the ride, whatever it was, in
order to get that reward. "Hello Ray. As you can see I've dressed warmly
as you suggested. I'm rather curious to know where it is we're going?"
"Its a surprise. But I will tell you that where we're going; you're gonna
get paid back." "Can I bring Diefenbaker?" He knew despite Ray's comments
to the contrary he liked Dief, but he also knew that the wolf could annoy
him as well and maybe where they were going the wolf may not be allowed.
"Sure. Why not. You'll need all the help you can get." At this last part
Ray looked about to burst, especially when he saw the wheels spinning in
his friend's mind, from his adding this piece to the puzzle. When he felt
he was out of view of any prying eyes in the hallway, he placed a quick
kiss on his friend's lips as he said "Trust me." "You know I do." was the
reply, as the trio headed out of the apartment complex and drove off in
Ray's Riv. It had been a very cold week in Chicago. A couple of snowstorms
had come through and settled in the city and the areas surrounding it with
a thick coat of white. Ben noticed they were headed outside of the city,
towards the suburbs and countryside. Houses were getting farther apart
from each other and fields and trees were becoming more abundant. The ride
was quite pleasant and the company even more so. In his lifetime before,
he couldn't recall ever laughing or joking around as much or just enjoying
life as much as when Ray was around. A shadow crossed his face as his
secret insecure fear of abandonment started to creep forward. He didn't
ever want to go back to a life without Ray in it. Ray noticed the
momentary change in his friend's mood and reached over to grab one hand in
his. "Hey Benny, you ok?" "Yes Ray. Just thinking about the past." Ray
spared an affectionate glance at the one person he never could have
imagined himself romantically involved with just a few months earlier.
"Well the past is a good place to start. That's part of the reason we're
out here. We're almost there." Ray pulled off of the main route and onto a
side road and eventually turned onto a little used road that led to an
isolated frozen pond. "Here we are." Puzzled by this turn of events, "Ray,
this is the middle of nowhere." "Yup. Ain't it nice?" Ray was already out
of the car and opening the trunk of the Riv as Fraser and Dief got out. He
pulled out a box and handed it to Fraser and then took out a large gym
equipment bag for himself to carry. Ray began walking towards a large
fallen log near the edge of the frozen pond. He looked over his shoulder
and called out to his perplexed friend, "Well come on. You're not gonna
deny me my grudge match are you?", he said with a mischievous playful look
in his eyes. Fraser started to follow, still not entirely sure what was
going on yet, "Grudge match? I didn't know you were harboring a grudge
against me?" Ray placed the large bag he was carrying next to the log,
then brushed away snow, before sitting down. He patted the spot right next
to him as an invitation to his friend to join him. As Ben put the box down
and sat, Ray reached over to open it. There were a number of items inside,
but the first thing to come out were a pair of skates which he handed over
to his now beaming partner. The look of pure joy on Fraser's face when Ray
handed them over was something he'd always treasure. All his planning was
worth it just for that alone. Ray mirrored his smile and said with a mock
provoking tone to his voice "Well are you gonna sit there smiling like the
Cheshire Cat all day or are you gonna play some hockey? I'm not kiddin'. I
want a rematch. Its a matter of National pride with me buddy." Fraser
looked him straight in the eyes, "You're on." Then leaned over and kissed
his thoughtful friend thoroughly. When they pulled away and Ray caught his
breath "I'm beginning to like this 'contact' sport already. But don't
start thinking that's gonna make me go easy on you." Fraser was quickly
laced up and raring to go. He was like a kid in his eagerness to play on
the ice, but he tried to wait patiently as Ray finished lacing up his
skates. Fraser knew from the last time they skated together, that Ray
wasn't a confident experienced skater. But that didn't matter. It was
seemingly simple gestures like this one that showed him yet again, just
how good- hearted Ray truly was and how much he cared for him. Besides, he
figured it would be fun to teach Ray some moves. And not just the kind you
do skating. As they got on the ice, "I think we should warm up first."
Fraser placed his arm around an unprotesting Ray's waist and pulled him
close, to help steady him and get him used to the ice. "Yeah, I'm feeling
warmer already." Ray suggestively replied. When Ben felt Ray was safely
ready he released his waist and grabbed his hands into his own. They faced
each other now, with Fraser skating backwards slowly and Ray forward.
Periodically Fraser would let Ray glide into him for a quick kiss then
would pull away backwards, hands still clasped, to regain their pace
around the pond. They floated, well Ben floated and Ray kind of
spluttered, around the pond for a little while. At times Ray would stumble
threatening to wipe out totally, but due to the heroic efforts of his
skating companion somehow managed to stay on his own 2 skated feet. They
had been on the ice now for about 15 minutes. Fraser could be heard giving
out skating advice and support to his not as skilled skating companion.
"That's good. You're doing much better than the last time Ray." "Yeah,
well to this day I'm still haunted by the bruises I got all over from that
so- called "friendly" game of Americans versus Canadians. I think I've
warmed up enough for now. Its time to go solo for a while and play some
hockey." "Ray, are you sure about this?". Fraser was concerned that his
friend could get hurt. The last game they played, Ray had spent more time
literally 'on the ice' than skating on it. And Ray had been the goalie
then. This time he would have to skate much more. He decided he'd go real
easy on him. With a playful voice, "You probably thought I was going to
forget about the grudge match, didn't you? But I'm onto you. You're one
tricky Cannuck. Tried to sweet talk and seduce me to give up. Do they
teach you that in the Canadian hockey handbook?" With that said he skated
away from his friend and went to get the hockey sticks and puck. While he
did that, Fraser set up the goal posts. Ray skated over to him with hockey
stick outstretched and handed it to his hockey 'foe'. And they faced off
to start the game. Fraser didn't know what shocked him most - his having
lost the puck so fast to Ray or Ray's skating skill as he whizzed by him
to score a goal. "He shoots. He scores!" was all he could hear ringing in
his ears and then Ray was back in front of him with a huge grin on his
face. Fraser was still gape-jawed, spluttering "Ray, either you've been
holding out on me or you're just very lucky." "Well, let's just say I've
been practicing since the last time. You and your buddy Smithbauer shamed
me into it. I've been wanting to get even ever since. When you thought I
was working out at the gym, I was actually at the rink a couple o' times a
week. Smithbauer recommended a hockey instructor friend of his. But his
warm up moves are alot different than your's", at that last remark he
laughed and skated expertly away... with the puck. Fraser skated after in
hot pursuit, "Hey, wait a minute, is this someone I should be worried
about?" "No. Just be worried about my next move" as he slapped the puck
and it went again through Fraser's goalposts. "Come on Benny, are you
letting me win? This is much too easy." The puck was retrieved by a
frollicking wolf and plunked down in front of Fraser. "Thanks Dief. Ok,
Ray. You asked for it... as a representative of the Canadian government...
this is officially war. No one beats us at our own game." he jokingly
stated. They faced off again. Fraser all serious and stern looking that
Ray couldn't help but make a face of his own. He licked his cold lips
seductively and mouthed a suggestive comment at his friend. It had the
effect he desired, "No fair distracting the opposition, Ray." "Nice to see
you're wolf isn't the only one who can read lips. Haven't you
heard...all's fair in love and war Benny." They continued to play for
quite a while longer. Fraser caught up with the goals Ray had scored
earlier and they were hardpressed to score any others off of each other
after that. Neither minded the cold, because they weren't feeling it. At
one point they crashed into each other and wiped out on the ice. Landing
in a tangled heap. Fraser with his back to the ice and Ray partly lying on
top of him. They didn't get up right away. Because as Ray made motions to
do so, 2 hands reached out to pull him back down. Ray's gloved hands
gently moved up along Fraser's entire body finally ending up cupping his
face. "I didn't feel anything broken. But I think this calls for mouth to
mouth resuscitation. I'm certified ya know." As Ray lay on top of him as
they kissed, Fraser's hands were fondling his thighs and buttocks, at one
point, "I can definitely tell you've been working out Ray. You did this
for me?" he asked slyly. With that they were consumed with a passion that
couldn't be fully realized then, but later they promised themselves they'd
take up where they left off. Before they finally reluctantly got up from
the ice, Fraser whispered seductively in Ray's ear a multi-layered
"Thank-you kindly Ray." as he pressed a gentle kiss against his ear. A
pleasurable shiver went through him and he knew that all his efforts to
make this day special for Ben - and in return himself too - was the
smartest thing he'd done in a long time. Noticing the shiver, Fraser
suggested they consider the game a tie, get off the ice and out of the
cold. Dief was waiting for them at the fallen log. Ray had thought of
everything. From the box which had originally held their skates, he pulled
out a thermos of hot chocolate, some snacks - which he eventually shared
with the wolf too - and a warm wool blanket. He handed a still warm cup of
the brew to his friend and wrapped the blanket around both of their
shoulders, forcing his companion to move closer to him; to share body heat
as well. The sun was starting to set and they watched it in companionable
silence. A little while later, with the light from the moon, which was
almost but not quite full, shedding a light glow on the pond and the snow
and ice on the trees, the skaters reluctantly packed up their gear and
left. As the Riv headed for home and their unspoken promised pleasures
from earlier, Fraser finally voiced what he'd been afraid to say for so
long. He feared that if he said it out loud, it would result in another
person he loved jinxed into leaving him. He faced that fear and banished
it with the words, "I love you Ray." "I know. I love you too Benny. But
now you're stuck with me. I don't ever leave those I love without a
fight." THE END   Return to the Due South Fiction Archive