Due South and all of its characters belong to Alliance Communications. 

  

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A short story that came to me in the shower again! Enjoy.   JEALOUSY by
Callie 

     

Stanley Raymond Kowalski looked up from his files as Francesca Vecchio
came bouncing in the squad room of the 27th precinct. 

"Guess what?" she beamed sitting down on the edge of his desk. "Guess
what's gonna happen tonight?" 

"I give up," Ray said looking back to his files. 

"Ray," she protested snatching his pen out of his hand. "You gotta try and
guess." 

Ray sighed. "Francesca. If I don't finish up these files, the Lieutenant
is gonna shoot me," he said. "So gimme my pen," he held his hand out to
the smiling woman. 

Francesca frowned. "You are just no fun," she complained remaining seated
on the edge of his desk. "So I'll just tell ya anyway." 

Ray sighed again in exasperation. "Shoot," he said defeated leaning back
in his chair. 

Francesca jumped off the desk a huge grin on her face. "I'm going out with
Benton Fraser tonight. We're gonna have dinner, then go to a movie," she
said excitedly flinging her arms into the air. "At last. He's noticed me.
I am so excited." Not waiting for Ray to reply, she hurried towards her
desk. "Must get my hair and makeup done. Oh and I must buy a new outfit."
She turned back to Ray. "Tell the Lieutenant I went home sick. OK?" 

Ray stared after Francesca as she left the squad room. "OK," he muttered
looking down at the files again. Ray couldn't explain the feelings running
through his thin body. His chest ached so much he thought it was going to
explode. He knew in his heart what the feeling was, but didn't really want
to admit it to himself - it was jealousy plain and simple. He was jealous
that Francesca was going on a date with Fraser. 

Ray had finally admitted to himself that he loved Fraser, and had loved
him for a long time, probably since their first confused meeting. He
valued their friendship too much to destroy it by admitting his love. Ray
knew that he was afraid to love anyone, after Stella, so he had kept his
feelings a secret terrified that Fraser would reject him in disgust. He
was startled out of his reverie by Fraser calling his name. 

"Good afternoon Ray," Fraser said brightly sitting down in his usual
chair, his stetson balancing on his knees. 

"Frase," Ray mumbled looking down at his files avoiding eye contact with
his partner in case Fraser could read the expressions on his face. 

Fraser frowned. "Are you well?" he asked concerned. 

Ray jerked his head up. The feeling of jealousy surged inside of him as he
thought about Fraser and Francesca on a date. "Yeh. Why shouldn't I be?"
he snapped angrily getting to his feet heading towards the break room away
from Fraser. 

Fraser followed his partner finding him slumped in a chair, nursing a mug
of coffee. "Are you sure you're well?" he asked again sitting down
opposite his friend. 

Ray stared at him, his expression one of anger. "I told ya I'm fine," Ray
said. "Now just leave it Frase." 

"Understood," Fraser replied hurt at his partner's angry reaction to his
innocent questions. He sighed; sometimes he didn't understand his volatile
partner's wild mood swings, and he wanted to desperately.  

An awkward silence descended between the two men. Ray was avoiding his
gaze concentrating on the murky coloured coffee so Fraser took the
opportunity to study his partner. Ray fidgeted in his seat, his slender
body in constant motion. Fraser grinned to himself; Ray had obviously been
running his hand through his hair as the blonde spikes stuck up more
wildly than usual. He couldn't see his partner's blue eyes, but he thought
they were beautiful; a window to his partner's soul flashing with humour
and mischief, and at times pain, hurt and anger. Fraser had decided along
time ago that Ray was the most beautiful person he had ever known.  

"What?" Ray demanded startling the Mountie out of his daydreams. "What are
ya staring at?"  

Fraser flushed in embarrassment. "Nothing Ray," he stammered. "I'm sorry."


Ray narrowed his eyes at Fraser. "Gotta get back to the files before the
Lieutenant shoots me," he announced getting to his feet heading back
towards the squad room.  

"Can I be of assistance?" Fraser asked not wanting to leave Ray. "I have
finished my duties at the Consulate for the day." 

"Nah," Ray replied looking over his shoulder. "Ya go get ready for yer hot
date." 

"I beg your pardon," Fraser said. 

Ray turned to face Fraser. "Yer date with Frannie," he said. "Go get
ready. Iron yer serge, or whatever ya Mounties do when ya go on a date,"
he waved his hand in the air. Before Fraser could reply, Ray turned his
back stomping back to his desk. He slumped in his chair ignoring Fraser.  

"So you don't need my help?" Fraser persisted standing in front of Ray's
desk. 

"Nah," Ray replied not looking up. "I got it all in hand. I can manage
without ya." 

"I see," Fraser said picking up his stetson from the desk. "I'll see you
tomorrow then." 

"Yeh maybe," Ray muttered pretending to concentrate on a file. "Have a
good time tonight with Frannie." 

"Thank you kindly," Fraser said as he made his way towards the door. He
looked back; Ray remained looking down concentrating on his files. He
sighed as he walked along the corridor placing his stetson firmly on his
head. 

  ************** 

 Ray was late. He hadn't slept very well spending the night tossing and
turning not being able to get the vision of Francesca and Fraser together
out of his mind. He had given up the idea of sleep in the early hours of
the morning instead pacing the apartment. Exhausted he had eventually
fallen asleep on the couch. He had woken up to find that it was 9.00 a.m.
After a quick shower, he had leapt into the GTO racing towards the
precinct, violating several traffic regulations in his haste to get to
work. 

He ran into the precinct hoping that Lieutenant Welsh hadn't noticed that
he was missing from his desk. He groaned as he ran into the Lieutenant in
the corridor. 

"I am glad you could finally join us Detective," the Lieutenant said. 

Ray dropped his head staring at his boots. "Overslept," he muttered.
"Sorry. It won't happen again." 

"It had better not," Welsh said turning back towards his office. "And I
want your files on my desk by tonight." 

"Yes sir," Ray said as he made a detour to the break room to get himself a
cup of coffee before starting on his paperwork. Taking a sip of his
coffee, he pushed through the doors of the squad room heading towards his
desk. 

Francesca was putting some more files on his desk. He groaned wishing he
could avoid both Francesca and Fraser, not wanting to know about their
date. 

"Morning Ray," Francesca said. "Hot date as well?" 

"Nah," Ray mumbled avoiding her eyes. "Overslept that's all." Cursing
himself silently, but knowing that he had to ask. "How..... how was yer
date?" 

Francesca smiled. "It was OK," she replied simply. 

"Only OK?" Ray said cursing himself again. "I thought ya... ya were really
looking forward to it." 

"Yes I was," Francesca replied. "But he didn't really notice me. Spent all
the evening talking about his adventures with you. Ray this. Ray that. It
got quite boring in the end." She scowled at Ray. "And then the movie was
in French so I had to concentrate on the subtitles." 

"Oh," was all Ray could manage. 

"But next time will be much better," Francesca declared turning to go back
to her desk. "I'm gonna choose the movie. And we are definitely not," she
pointed an accusing finger at Ray. "Gonna talk about you." 

"So there's gonna be a next time?" Ray asked, his heart breaking. 

Francesca grinned. "Oh yeah. The Mountie's ass is mine," she flounced back
to her desk not noticing Ray's distress. "And the Vecchio women always get
their man."   *************** 

  

Fraser called him during the morning to ask if he needed any assistance.
Feeling tired and jealous, Ray had snarled at the Mountie saying that he
didn't need his help hanging up the telephone in a fit of temper. Ray
immediately regretted his actions, but was too ashamed to call Fraser and
apologise. Instead, he tried to concentrate on his files, but his mind
kept wandering to thoughts of Fraser.  

By the middle of the afternoon, he had nearly driven himself crazy with
thoughts of Fraser and Francesca kissing. "Well you've only got yerself to
blame if he hates ya now," Ray chastised himself. "Ya suck big time," he
thought to himself as he jumped to his feet heading towards the break room
for his twentieth cup of coffee of the day. 

He ambled along the corridor lost in his thoughts. He jumped back in
surprise as the stationery cupboard door swung open; Fraser was standing
in the doorway. "Ray. Would you kindly step in here?" Fraser asked
motioning towards the dimly lit cupboard. 

"What?" Ray protested stepping backwards, a look of puzzlement on his
face. 

"Humour me," Fraser said staring at his partner. "Please." 

Ray shrugged stepping into the dim light of the cupboard. Fraser quietly
closed the door behind him. Ray turned to stare directly at Fraser, his
heart pounding loudly in his chest at their closeness. "So," he put his
hands on his hips defiantly, his voice quivering slightly. "What did ya
drag me in here for?" 

"This," Fraser replied advancing on his partner pushing him back trapping
his slim body against the shelves stacked high with paper, pens and
official forms. Fraser took hold of Ray's hands entwining their fingers
together. He dipped his head claiming Ray's lips in a passionate kiss. Ray
struggled momentarily then yielded to the warm loving kiss. He moaned as
Fraser licked at his lips requesting entry to his mouth. Ray didn't
hesitate in opening his mouth; Fraser plunged in exploring with his
tongue. Fraser growled in the back of his throat as their tongues met
duelling and sucking. 

Gasping for breath, Ray managed to wrestle his hands free from Fraser's
grip; he pushed gently at Fraser's chest. Ray looked at Fraser, his lips
curving up into a smile. "Mmmm nice," he murmured.  

"Thank you kindly," Fraser grinned taking Ray into his arms. His
expression changed, mischief glinting in his dark blue eyes. "Would you
like another?" 

Ray nodded smiling turning his face up willingly towards Fraser. The two
men wrapped their arms around each other; leaning into one another, they
pressed their lips together for what seemed like an eternity. Ray
reluctantly broke the kiss drawing in a deep breath.  

Fraser beamed at him. "I have wanted to do that since the first day we
met," he admitted. 

"Ya have?" Ray asked. Fraser nodded shyly. "Me too," Ray confessed
blushing slightly at his admission.  

Fraser ran his hand up and down Ray's face tenderly. "I think I love you,"
he whispered. 

Ray's smile seemed to light up the dim room. "Ya do?" Fraser nodded again.
"Me too," Ray said. Fraser beamed at him lightly kissing the tip of his
nose. Ray's smile turned to a frown. "What about Frannie? Ya asked....
took her.... her out last night," Ray asked.  

Fraser kissed his lips gently. "Yes I did Ray. But I didn't ask her, she
asked me," he replied. "And it seemed impolite to refuse her invitation." 

"She did?" Ray regarded his partner for a moment. Taking a deep breath. "I
was sorta.... sorta jealous," Ray stared down at his boots embarrassed.
"I'm sorry if.... if I was mean to ya." 

"I understand," Fraser said caressing Ray's face. "But I can assure you
Francesca is like a sister to me. Nothing else," he leant forward to kiss
Ray again. "And I have a feeling that I may have spent the entire evening
talking about you." 

Ray chuckled. "Yeh. She did seem kinda.... kinda pissed about that," he
said. "Oh yeah, and she really hated the French film." 

Fraser laughed tightening his hold on Ray. "I promise I won't take you to
any French films." 

"Are yer asking me out on a date?" Ray teased. 

"If you like," Fraser answered stroking Ray's arms making the slender
detective shiver at the gentle touch. "So will you come out with me?"
Fraser smiled.	

Ray cocked his head to one side, mimicking one of Fraser's gestures.
"Promise ya won't take me to a French movie?" 

"Mountie's honour," Fraser saluted. "I intend to only take you to films
where I don't have to concentrate on the subtitles. Just you." 

Ray's reply was muffled as Fraser swooped down capturing his lips once
more in a passionate kiss. Ray moaned as the pleasure spread through his
body towards his cock. "Frase," he murmured rubbing his arousal against
his partner's thigh.  

"I take it that's a yes," Fraser breathed deepening the kiss thrusting his
hardness against his partner.  

"Mmmm," Ray murmured. "But I think we better get outta here before we ...
ya know spoil the stationery." 

"Understood," Frase gave his partner a last kiss, which was full of
promises to come. He cricked his neck from side to side as he straightened
his tunic. "Where are we going?" Fraser asked as Ray opened the door. 

"Yer taking me out on that date," Ray looked over his shoulder grinning
broadly. "Then it's back to my place for.....," he winked mischievously. 

"Understood," Fraser beamed as he followed Ray down the corridor towards
the door. 

   THE END 

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