Fic: Annachie Gordon 1/1 Due South
Annachie Gordon
By: Lopaka Tanu
Disclaimer: I do not own Due South.
Couple: Fraser/Kowalski
Category: AUish, Slash, and Angst.
Warning: Slash, may haps some graphics, Violence, Language some other things too.
Spoilers: Call of the Wild and more.
Summary: In the aftermath of Muldoon's capture nothing will ever be the same. A moment of extreme emotions in witness of those who do not approve, leads to an end no one expected, but many will regret.
Author's Note: For Beth, hope you like this, Happy Birthday Sweet Heart.
_________________________________________________________ Harking is bonny and there lives my love My love lies on him and cannot remove It cannot remove for all that I have done And I never will forget my love Annachie
Loreena McKennitt - Annachie Gordon
Ray Kowalski watched in trepidation as Fraser lead Muldoon back to the group of Mounties. The man looked as if he was in his element. More than the usual feelings of dread whenever Fraser took off filled him this time. He knew, for this victory, Fraser would finally be able to go home. Home to Canada and the vast northern forests where he hailed from.
Tears filled his eyes as his lips trembled. Fraser was leaving; his job, his city, his friends, his... him. The Mountie was going to leave him, and he had not yet confessed his feelings. There was no more time, he had to let Fraser know before it was too late. He must seize his chance as the Mounties passed him around in a congratulating circle.
With no thoughts for himself or his actions, Ray grasped Fraser to him as the man came close. He brushed his lips to the taller man's ear. "I love you." When Fraser pulled back to look at him, Ray kissed him full on the lips.
The group went silent as the cop continued his assault. After a moment a throat or two were cleared, and Ray finally ceased. An expectant look crossed his features as he watched Fraser's reaction.
On that he was not to be disappointed. Fraser's face went through an entire gambit of emotions from shock, to outrage, finally settling on an expressionless mask. He backed out of Kowalski's grip, turning as he did. A curt nod of acknowledgement to the rest of the group, and he stalked off to the prisoner transport.
The other Mounties ignored Ray as they escorted the remaining prisoners to the transport. Well all but two Mounties. Margaret Thatcher glared at him then turned to follow her fellow officer. Renfield Turnbull watched with a blank expression as Ray walked a short ways away.
He couldn't help it, the rejection hurt too much, so he let the tears fall. It was over, all he had built since the divorce, all was now gone. This had started the moment they saw Vecchio, he knew it then, there would be no salvation. So in a last desperate act of trying to hold on to what he knew was lost, he had blown what little was left.
Ray sank to his knees in the snow. There would be no coming back from this trip. Hot tears stung his frozen cheeks, the burning the only thing he felt through all the intense void that was consuming him. He was finding it hard to breathe under the weight on his chest. He had nothing, there was nothing.
There were powerful arms surrounding him, lifting him up out of the snow. Ray cared not, out of exhaustion, both emotional and physical, he let them carry him back to the awaiting transport. In a need for human contact, he burrowed down closer to the person. A comforting hand patted his back until he was laid on the cushions of the rear most seat of the van.
From there he fell in to a troubled slumber. Thoughts of what would happen when he returned to the states filled his mind. He knew they would probably find something to get him fired over, and lord knew he gave them enough ammunition. Now what was he to do with no job, no friends, no Fraser?
This was the last thought before darkness captured him. When he next awoke the day had set and he was swaying slightly to the movements of the van. He sat up sleepily to find three Mounties in the front seats. Meg was in the navigation, Turnbull second seat, and Fraser driving. Turnbull turned to look at him over the seat's back and smiled.
"We will be at the air port soon detective." He offered another smile before turning back to the front.
Ray looked from the constantly perky Mountie, to the Ice Queen. She was giving him the evil eye. He flipped her off, not giving a damn what she thought any more. She smiled at him with a look of victory as she turned her eyes toward Fraser. His eyes turned to Fraser.
Fraser was glaring at him in the rear view mirror in between watching the road. Before, Ray didn't think his heart could hurt any more, he had been wrong. Now it felt like he was having a heart attack. Just to be on the safe side he did a check, but all came up clear.
His actions had not gone unnoticed, but went unquestioned. The trip back would be long and no one was willing to talk. So they remained that way, all the way back to Chicago. Once they touched down, Ray was taken into custody by Federal Agents for disturbing an investigation, while Fraser was given his extradition papers to be placed in front of a Tribunal for his actions. Fraser did not acknowledge Ray's existence all through the goings on, not even when the cop had begged his name as he was dragged away in cuffs.
Stella had him out of custody and on his way to collect his things from the station in under an hour. She was a bad wife, but one hell of a lawyer. Then again, it was all for her political gain. She wanted to be District Attorney so bad she could taste it. Having an ex husband with a criminal record was not good for public relations, unless he was abusive and she had him sent away for it. The thought had crossed her mind, but she had decided against it the moment she learned of what had happened.
Having an openly gay ex husband was better for her politically. Especially considering that almost forty-three percent of voters were Gays and Lesbians. The only larger group being seniors at fourty-five percent. She was seeing polls as her mind did the numbers. It was going to be great, 'Ex Wife defends gay husband's rights to be a police officer'.
Ray stared at her and knew exactly what she was thinking as they rode in the back of the limo. He was not going to let her use him like this, it would be their marriage all over again. This time his life was not going to be destroyed by her ambitions. As they pulled up to the station house, he climbed out and slammed the door behind him.
The GTO was in front of the station, much to his pleasure, that would make things easier. As he entered the station there were silent looks of both revulsion and questioning. He was tired of all this, the hiding what he felt, the pretending to actually like most of them. If they didn't care, no skin off his back.
Silence reined in the bullpen as he entered. No one made a move to greet or leave. He stood there for a moment, then shrugged as he walked towards Welsh's office. That was when the whispering started. A gauntlet of sneers and jokes followed him towards Welsh's door. Huey and Dewey were cracking remarks about queers and barstools. Ray flipped them off and entered the office.
Welsh looked grim as he sat behind the desk. More than one sigh passed his lips as he looked up under heavy brows. "I am sorry," he began.
"Please, can we just get on with it?" He stood against the wall looking out the window, arms folded with one hand in a stop sign.
"As you wish, Vecchio... I mean Kowalski." Another sigh. "This isn't easy..."
"You think it was easy throwing my life away, LT?" He turned away from the window and faced his old boss. "One moment I was standing there, celebrating catching that bastard, and the next I was struck with the realization. It was over, all of it. Fraser was going to be back with Vecchio, I was going back to my old unit, my life was officially over. Everything I have worked for after the divorce was gone. I had one shot, I figured take it or else, so I took it. So, no it is not easy." Leaning over the desk, he was turning red in suppressing his emotions.
"I am not the bad guy here, Kowalski!"
He pulled back with a start, turning away to look out the window again. "I know that."
"Look, I know you are under a lot of stress recently, so here is what I am going to do. You are going to go home, and get some rest. You come back on Monday and we will sort this out."
"What about IA?"
"They can go to hell for all I care. You have done nothing wrong and as long as you don't sexually harass any of the guys around here, they can do nothing to you. So why don't you go home, and get some rest?"
For the first time, Ray actually looked at Welsh. The man looked tired, more so than usual, but he also looked like he cared. That was the important thing to Ray in that moment. With misty eyes he nodded, a slight smile crossed his features. "Thanks, LT."
"Yeah don't mention it. Now get out of my office before I have your sorry ass hauled down for loitering."
Ray smiled at that. "See you on Monday." He opened the door and headed out.
"Oh, and Kowalski."
"Yeah?"
"Don't be late!"
"Me, late? Never." Ray strolled out of the office smiling at the muttering going on inside. Outside in the bullpen, however, his smile disappeared. Everyone was staring again. "What the fuck you lookin at, ain't you ever seen a detective before?"
"Hey Kowalski, I heard you and Fraser were fucking like bunnies. Gotta serge fetish too. You must have been in heaven with all those Mounties around."
A dark smirk spread over Ray's face. "Hey Dewey, sorry I missed your and Huey's anniversary. But I hear congratulations are in order, so tell me, when are you due, Tom?"
The room erupted in to laughs and cat calls towards the two as they stood glaring at each other. "Break it up you two. Kowalski, didn't I tell you go home?"
Ray smirked at Dewey then nodded at Welsh. "See ya, LT. By boys, be sure to let me know if it is a girl or boy."
Huey held the fuming Dewey back as he tried to pound the crap out of Ray.
After a few more quick jabs at the duck brothers he stalked out of the 27 and headed for the GTO. On the steps outside he ran into a familiar wall. "Hey watch where you are going."
"Excuse me, I'm... Ray." Benton caught his wrist as he righted them both.
"Ben." He looked at the stone face of the Mountie and pressed his lips together. "You know what, forget about it. Get the hell out of the way." Yanking his arm free, he pushed passed the still rigid man and headed for his car. Just as he reached the door he heard Benton call out his name. "Too late, Frase." Slamming the door, he started the car...
Benton Fraser couldn't believe it, Ray had kissed him. He couldn't figure out why Ray would do such a thing. Anger, he was mad at Kowalski for giving in to such an emotional display to embarrass him in front of his fellow Mounties. Finally he decided that to play the cool, emotionless person he had been accused of being. A nod to his fellows and he was on his way to place Muldoon in the prisoner transport.
Partly from shock, partly from anger he sat stunned in another transport's driver seat. It wasn't until he heard the order given for his teams to move out that he noticed Ray was not among those in any of the transport. He was about to panic and search for the missing detective when Turnbull carried him in to the back of the transport van. A silent look of gratitude went between them and he started the van.
All the drive to the airport he wondered what to do about Ray's actions. Not once did he consider Ray's feelings. It was obvious the man was under a great deal of stress from the recent case and Ray Vecchio's return. He placed it all down to fear of losing his partner. Now because of his actions there might not be a partnership worth salvaging. He made sure Ray knew he did not approve of what he had done every time their eyes met in the mirror.
Once their plane had set down, they were met by American Federal Agents. He was in too much shock to care what they were there for. All he had done and they were going to place him in front of a review board for recent actions. He had caught the man that killed so many and they were going to try and take away his job for it.
Distantly he thought he heard his name being called, but it didn't matter. Meg was leading him towards their reception committee, mainly the only other members of the consulate still around.
"Fraser, you are to have your belongings packed and ready to be shipped back to Canada by tomorrow morning. Do not worry, I am sure you will be posted to the position of your choice." She was holding his hand, a fact until now he had not noticed. Now that he did, he found it rather disconcerting and extracted himself from her grip. Meg was a little put off, but she continued to smile at him.
What was she so happy about, must be glad to get rid of him, they all were. He looked to his left and saw Turnbull's almost pale skin growing even worse as he was looking at him with shock. The constable was always in one jam or another, this was just another one of them. He appreciated the man's concern, but he didn't want it. Climbing in the car, he was sure he heard Renfield mutter something about him and the long eared ass.
The drive back to the consulate was trying for his nerves as he wondered what all they could use against him. Not much in the view of all his successes. However they were still angry at his turning in the traitor. That was a definite point against him.
Reporters were in the Consulate asking to see him for interviews. He cared not for their attention and declined in favor of packing his things. Once safely secured in his office, he started to look at his meager possessions. Memories of each one and how he had got them came to mind. Anything he got while with Kowalski was immediately placed in a box to be given away. It was still a shock to think Ray had kissed him, Ray was Ray, he didn't do things like that.
He was still thinking on this when he got the phone call. The phone rang six times before the machine picked up. On the line was a non descript synthetic voice. "Did you think there would be no repercussions for betrayal? Tell your partner that we kill moles that are caught in our garden." A squeal from the machine let him know the message was through.
Benton had sat silent through the entire ten seconds the message played. It was another two minutes of replaying it over in his head that it made since to him. Ray, his Ray, was in trouble. He had to warn the police that Ray was in trouble.
He tried phoning several times, but the line was always busy. Making a decision, he put on his hat and walked as fast as he could leaving he consulate behind him. His first instinct was to go to the hospital and check on Ray for himself, but there was no time. So instead he altered his direction and speed to head for the 27.
Ignoring all the people who greeted him along the way, he silently prayed he made it to the station on time. Once he made it to the block the station was located on, he noted that the GTO was in front of the station house. That meant Ray, the other Ray, was here. He debated about going inside, but made the decision to warn them.
Climbing the steps in a hurry, he didn't see the blonde storm out before they had collided. He grabbed the wrist of the person in order to steady them and was starting to apologize when he recognized the rough voice. Ray jerked back his hand and pushed passed him as he wondered what was going on.
A flash of the FBI taking the man away in cuffs as he called out his name came to mind. If he had been taken in to custody by the police, why was he here? How had the GTO been parked here when they had left it at the air strip? Ray did not have enough time to get out of custody and get the GTO before coming here. Enough time to do one, but not both.
They had said his partner. Ray Vecchio was his partner. Ray Kowalski was still Ray Vecchio. That would mean... "Ray! Don't Ray!" He turned to face the car, just as the door closed. "Ray!" Not having much time, he ran to the car. Yanking open the door he saw it was too late, Ray was turning the key. "Ray," he breathed.