Massive cumulous clouds dotted the sapphire sky. A gentle breeze took a touch of the heat out of the summer air. Ray Kowalski scanned the horizon one last time while staring over the top of his coffee cup, relaxing on the porch of the cabin owned by his partner. Well, he guessed after all this time, it was his cabin as well. At least that's what Fraser kept telling him. Fraser… the man he had fallen in love with while trying not to drown on a ghost ship.
Ray thought back to his first meeting with Fraser. He laughed at the memory of how nervous he was before he met Fraser for the first time. He had been so worried about how weird it was going to be, working with a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted police, in Chicago of all places. But then Benton Fraser, RCMP, walked in through the double swinging doors of the 2-7, duffle slung over his shoulder, wolf on his heels, dressed in his bright red serge and Ray knew his life had just taken a dramatic turn. It would forever be different. He had partners before, but none of them were anything like Fraser. Not one of them risked his life on a regular basis, not one of them did he fall in love with, not one of them trusted him like Fraser did.
Some days Ray still found it hard to believe that not only had he fallen in love with Fraser, but Fraser... Ben had fallen in love with him. Unconditionally. He smiled, still amazed at his good luck, and returned to watching the scenery, thinking of his lover.
It took a lot of convincing, but Ray finally managed to talk Fraser into a small vacation up north at the cabin, their cabin. The Ice Queen was less than thrilled to approve the time off. But, after the last year and everything that had happened with Jimmy Akers and what he had put both Ray and Fraser through, she wasn't about to risk denying Fraser the time off. Kowalski had her number and she knew it. He just had to make sure that his relationship with Fraser didn't interfere with the Mountie's duties to Canada or the Ice Queen.
"Penny for your thoughts," came the husky voice from behind him.
"You got a penny, Frase?" Ray could feel the warmth coming off the Mountie.
"Of course. I picked one up off the floor in the diner yesterday." Fraser's lips turned up into a crooked smile. He breathed in the aroma of the fresh outdoors mixed with Ray's sugar laced coffee. It was good to be away from the smoke and smog of the city. The dirty trash smell that occupied every alley they chased criminals down was thousands of miles away and Fraser couldn't be happier.
"Oh yeah?" Ray's own husky voice broke through, bringing Fraser back to the present. "Why would you want to pick one up? Sounds kind of gross to me, picking up spare change off the floor of a diner. Any good reason behind that us Americans should know about?" Ray's voice held a teasing tone.
"Well you see... some incredibly good looking blond guy…"
Ray cut his partner off mid-sentence. "Incredibly good looking, huh? Do I know him?" He placed his coffee mug on the porch and turned in his Adirondack chair to face Ben, his own smirk lingering on his lips, curiosity filling his voice, eagerness brightening his eyes.
Fraser shook his head and forced an upside down grin to appear. "I don't believe so, no… however, this good looking blond told me once, if you pick up a penny… it will bring you good luck."
"So, you think you're going to get lucky, huh?" Ray picked up his mug casually and turned back in his chair to face the horizon before him, fighting hard to suppress the growing smile behind his coffee mug. "Seems kind of corny to me." He took a long swallow of coffee and could sense Fraser moving in closer behind him.
"Oh I don't think, Ray… I know." Fraser draped his arms over his partner's shoulders and whispered smugly into his ear. "And as for corny, well, let's just say the blond guy was right because the first time I picked up a penny… well, I think you know what happened that night. I would hardly call that experience corny." Placing a sensual kiss behind Ray's right ear, then his left, Fraser tightened his grip around his lover's chest, his hands working their way towards his partner's taut stomach, stopping at his navel to explore the slight dip under the soft shirt. His strong fingers danced around the button to Ray's jeans and hesitated for a brief moment before popping the button loose.
Ray's breathing quickened, his grip tightening on his coffee mug. He turned his face to steal a kiss when the strong hands quickly released him and the intense heat behind him was suddenly gone. Fraser dropped himself into the matching Adirondack chair beside Ray, his blue eyes darkened with arousal.
"But if you think it's all corny… we can sit here and watch the clouds form instead. They are quite impressive today. Don't you think?" Fraser set his gaze straight ahead, daring not to meet his partner's intense stare boring into the side of his head. He heard the shuffling of arms and legs as Kowalski attempted to dislodge himself from his own chair and within seconds, his view of the horizon was obscured with that of a tall, slender blond guy with experimental hair.
"Ray, you're blocking my view of the clouds and the landscape." Fraser stretched his arms out and attempted to push Ray's lean frame to the side.
"Screw the clouds and screw the landscape." Ray slid a slim leg over Fraser's thighs and settled onto his lap. He placed both arms over his partner's broad shoulders and leaned in for a kiss. Fraser's lips were on his before he closed half the distance between them. "How much time we got before we're supposed to fly out?" he asked between fierce kisses.
Fraser didn't bother looking at his watch. "As much time as we need. We don't fly out until tomorrow. I took the liberty of changing our flight. I had a hunch…"
"I like your hunches. Good thing you listened to that blond guy." Ray twisted his fingers around the back of Fraser's neck and pulled him closer. His timbre dropping slightly, he asked his partner, "You want to get lucky out here…" Ray dropped a kiss to Fraser's lips and caught the escaping pink tongue between his own lips as it was sneaking out. "Or you want to take this indoors?" Sliding down Fraser's lap, he could feel his partner's arousal meeting his own.
"I think we just started out here. I am very much in favor of the view before me." Running his hands down his partner's chest, Fraser could feel the outline of toned muscles hiding under the cotton fabric of Ray's t-shirt. Ray may be slender, but he could easily hold his own with someone that out-massed him.
"Freak…"
The playful twinkle in Ray's eyes was all it took for Fraser to lose himself. In one swift motion, he picked up his partner, Ray's legs falling off his lap, his bare feet hitting the freshly water-proofed porch, their lips pressed firmly together. Kissing Ray ravenously, Fraser pushed him backwards towards the open cabin door. Ray took charge and spun their positions, grinding their hips together. Too much momentum, sent them into the doorjamb, jarring Fraser's left shoulder. Ben grunted in pain and suppressed a curse, momentarily letting go of Ray to rub away the discomfort.
"Oh God, Ben, I'm sorry." Ray stepped forward and gently rubbed the abused shoulder.
"I'm okay," Fraser tried to reassure his lover. "Just caught me by surprise."
Ray pulled his partner close and pulled on the hem of Ben's shirt, lifting it over his head. He leaned forward and placed butterfly kisses across Fraser's left collarbone and out towards his shoulder and down to the faint scar standing out against his tan skin. Ben held his breath for a brief moment when Ray's lips brushed across the scar. Memories came flooding to the surface and Ben closed his eyes tightly against the onslaught of images. A new home, a car wreck, losing his memory, and Jimmy Akers.
"Breathe, Ben…" Ray whispered into his ear. "I've got you."
When he opened his eyes again, he was safe. Safe in the arms of the person he loved most.
Nimble fingers moved to the zipper of Ray's jeans as slender fingers danced in Ben's hair and across his face. Ray pressed him against the doorjamb and covered Ben's solid body with his own, trying to become one with his partner. He moved him to the side, their bodies still joined at the hips and backed them into the cabin, kicking the door shut. In the quiet of the cabin, the two men explored each other's bodies and gave into their longing for each other.
The gentle dip in the mattress woke Fraser from his sex-induced slumber. Ray was pressed firmly up against his back, one arm wrapped around his left side, fingers rubbing circular patterns on his chest. He could feel the steady heartbeat paired with the simultaneous breaths of his lover against his back and at the base of his neck. He leaned into the embrace and sighed. There was no better to wake up, than wrapped in the arms of Ray Kowalski.
"Ben," came the quiet voice from behind. Ray found his hand and laced their fingers together. Fraser automatically pulled their joined hands towards his own beating heart. "You awake?" Ray's voice held a slight tremor. He was thankful for the ceiling fan he talked Fraser into letting him install above their bed earlier in the week. It displaced the warm air in the room and showered the couple with coolness. The quiet hum of the fan helped take away some of the edginess he had been experiencing.
"Not quite," he murmured, still half asleep. "I could use some persuading." He began to move their joined hands lower under the sheets, but Ray resisted temptation and moved their hands back over Fraser's heart.
"Ray?" Fraser questioned as he turned in the embrace and faced his partner. He hooked a leg over Ray's and wound their feet together. "What's wrong?"
Ray couldn't ever tell where his leg ended and Fraser's began when they were entwined in such a way. He felt completely connected to Fraser in moments like this. Closing his eyes and letting out a long sigh, Ray finally worked up the courage to speak. "I have a bit of a confession to make." When he opened his eyes, confused blue eyes were staring back at him. "This whole trip…"
"Was an excellent idea, Ray. We needed a break from the city." Fraser ran his fingers over Ray's dry lips and kissed some moisture into them.
Ray pulled back and licked his lips, savoring Fraser's taste. He shook his head and closed his eyes again, burying his head into his pillow. "I'm such a heel. I should have told you before we came up here, but I didn't want it to spoil the trip."
Fraser pulled back and sat up on his elbow as Ray sat up against the headboard and ran fingers through his flattened hair.
"Didn't want 'what' to spoil the trip? The trip was your idea, Ray." Ben ran his hand down Ray's thigh, encouraging him to continue.
"Welsh approached me a few weeks ago." Ray hesitated as Fraser settled against the headboard next to him. He took Ben's hands into his own and studied their interlocked palms.
"And?" Fraser questioned, confusion written on his face.
"And he needs me to go undercover." Ray couldn't meet Fraser's eyes.
The silence built between them as Ben pondered this revelation. "But you're already undercover. How does that work?"
"Part of Vecchio's job was to do small undercover assignments." He squeezed Fraser's hand to assure him. "Listen, I don't like this idea any more than you do."
It was Fraser's turn not to meet the blue eyes staring at him. His thoughts racing back to a phone call from his friend, the real Ray Vecchio. A simple postcard was the last he had heard from the man.
"Ben," Ray's soft fingers turned his face towards his own. "This is nothing like Vecchio's undercover gig. Nothing to be worried about. I will be home in a few weeks."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want it to ruin our trip." Ray confessed.
Fraser huffed beside him, disappointment clouding his eyes. "I'm not a child, Ray. You should have told me."
"No you're not. But I knew you wouldn't relax if you knew I was leaving. Just a few weeks, Ben. You won't even miss me." Ray ran his hand down Fraser's cheek and smoothed his thumb over his lips.
Ben pulled away and moved to the side of the bed. "How can you even say that?" he threw over his shoulder. "Of course I'll miss you. And I'll worry about you…" anger seeped into his words.
The mattress shifted as Ray slid behind Fraser dropping his chin on his right shoulder. He lowered his voice "I'm just saying… it won't be long. I know you'll miss me."
"And if it goes longer?" Fraser's voice trembled. "Then what?"
"I'll quit. Just like that."
"Don't be absurd, Ray. Your sense of justice wouldn't allow it."
"Why ask the question then if you already know the answer?" Ray's own voice held steady. Truth was he was nervous leaving Fraser behind. They had been inseparable since their first meeting. This assignment was going to be difficult on them both. Just the thought of the separation was driving Ray mad.
"Where will you be? Or am I not allowed to know any details again?" Fraser didn't mean for the sarcasm to come through his voice but he couldn't contain it either.
"I don't know yet. Welsh said something about Indiana."
Fraser shook his head and scrubbed a palm over his face. It was happening again, except this time he was being given a heads up. It was still no comfort knowing that he was being left alone, partnerless… again. Although that fear took a backseat to his anxiety over Ray's safety.
"When we get back, he's going to sit us both down and tell us about the whole assignment. You will know every last detail." Ray placed a comforting kiss to the back of Fraser's neck. "I promise, Ben… this isn't like Vecchio's assignment."
"Can you promise me you're coming back?" Fraser leaned into the comfort of his partner's arms stretched around him. He intertwined his fingers with Ray's and pulled them to his mouth. Without looking, he couldn't tell which fingers were his own.
"I will be back home in a few weeks, I promise."
"When are you supposed to leave?"
Fraser felt the damp forehead settle against the back of his neck and the long breath exhaled chilled his skin. He body shivered against the conflicting temperatures surrounding him.
"This coming weekend," came the quiet reply.
"Ray…"
"I know… I know, not a lot of notice. I'm sorry. Welsh said it had to be this way."
"Then I think we should leave today and get you as prepared as we can."
"The sooner I take this assignment Fraser, the quicker I can get back home." Ray turned Fraser's head and met his lips for a kiss. "Back home… together."
