Fraser suddenly felt like screaming. His world was crumbling into small pieces and he had no way of stopping it from happening. He had to leave, with no promise of returning for anything more than a visit here and there. He was going to have to give up his new home before it really even became a home and he was going to have to leave Ray. His Ray. First, he was banished from his own country for fulfilling his duty as an officer of the law, and now, he was being banished from the man that he was most definitely in love with. Fraser needed air… he needed space. The Consulate walls were closing in on him and he was suffocating.

"Diefenbaker, come." The half- wolf sensed Fraser's sudden tension and obeyed. Fraser changed quickly into his civilian clothes and he and Dief left the Consulate and made their way to their favorite park. Fraser always enjoyed their walks through the park. He contemplated going to the police station and talking to Ray, but he wasn't quite sure what he would say to him once he saw him. 'Hey, I just fell in love with you but now I'm being shipped back to Canada, so see you around. I'm sorry I ever acted on my feelings because now I have to leave you'. Yeah that pretty much summed it up. Fraser let out a long sigh, sat down on a nearby bench and watched Diefenbaker chase the squirrels up the trees. How was he going to tell Ray? It was going to crush him. What about their relationship? It was so new and Fraser wasn't ready to give up on it. He loved Ray… even more than his love for back home? Fraser was torn.

It all seemed suddenly unfair. He had to be back in Canada in two weeks, which gave him all of one week to break the news to Ray. What was the sudden rush? He had been in Chicago for the past four years with the RCMP having no interest in him returning to his duties in Canada. What brought on the sudden change of heart? And why hadn't Inspector Thatcher at least mentioned the possibility to him when she was first presented with it. Fraser was irritated. He needed to speak to Ray… no, he needed to see Ray. He needed to touch him and feel him and kiss him until there was no tomorrow. In one week, there would be no tomorrow.

'The sooner, the better,' he thought to himself. Fraser called to Diefenbaker and decided that he needed to talk with Ray before Inspector Thatcher called Lieutenant Welsh and broke the news herself. He didn't necessarily want to have this conversation with Ray in the break room of the 2-7 or seated at Ray's desk. His duty as an acting liasian officer was about to come to an end and he decided that conversation with Lieutenant Welsh needed to wait until his conversation with Ray, and that needed to be done soon.

Fraser began the walk towards the 2-7 precinct and then changed directions towards his apartment. It was too early in the day to bother Ray now. He would just have to occupy himself until Ray was available. There were plenty of tasks for him to complete in an effort to get ready to return to an actual posting in the Territories. Fraser got busy with the sole intention of keeping his mind from wandering to Ray. It wasn't long before Ray was creeping into his thoughts.


Ray's morning was not off to a good start either. His stack of paperwork was not getting any smaller and he wished that Fraser was liaising with him this morning so he could make use of his freakishly fast typing skills. He was also supposed to interview the other suspect in the salon case that had sent Fraser to the hospital to get stitches. He really wished Fraser was there to help him out. He had an uncanny knack for getting people to confess just by being honest and straight forward with them. Get the guy to sign the confession paper and he could leave but he was getting nowhere.

Suddenly irritated with making no headway on anything that resembled work, Ray picked up his phone and called the Consulate looking for Fraser. Maybe the Ice Queen would spring him early and he could come over and help Ray out. He was told by Constable Turnbull that Fraser had left for the day and wouldn't be back for the remainder of the week. Ray immediately disconnected his call, then called Fraser's apartment. Fraser answered on the third ring.

"Benton Fraser, how may I help you?" Fraser answered the phone.

Ray chuckled to himself. Fraser was always so proper. "Fraser, it's Ray. Why aren't you at work? And what's this about you not being back for the rest of the week? Are you okay? You having problems from the whack to the head?" Ray was going a mile a minute with no intention of slowing down.

Oh god… there it was. Fraser hesitated. He still wasn't prepared with what to say. His wide expanse of a vocabulary was failing him miserably when he needed it the most.

"Fraser?" Ray asked. Still no response. "Ben..." That got Fraser's attention.

"Yes Ray, I'm sorry."

"What's going on? Why aren't you at work? " Ray questioned again.

"It's a long story that I would much rather not discuss over the phone." Fraser replied, hoping to buy himself some more time.

"You're ok though? You're not sick or anything, are you? 'Cause I can leave…" Ray asked concerned.

"No, I'm fine. There is no need for concern. I would, however, like to speak with you later this evening if you were planning on coming over. There are some things I need to tell you and I would rather you hear them from me first." Fraser explained into the phone.

"Ben…" Ray began.

"Ray, please. Not over the phone." Fraser begged into the phone. He wasn't sure he could do this.

"Fine, but listen… if the Ice Queen doesn't need your services today, I could sure as hell use them if you're free." Ray stated hoping the Mountie would come through for him. "Can you come over to the station and help me with some reports?"

"Sure, Ray. Give me about thirty minutes and I will be there." Fraser said good- bye and hung up the phone. He really dreaded breaking the news to Ray about his new posting. This was going to be far more difficult than he imagined. If he was lucky, he could put on his poker face and not let on that anything was bothering him until he was alone with Ray this evening. Then he could let his guard down and the emotions come forward.

Fraser sighed again and pulled on his jacket, grabbed his keys and called for Diefenbaker. He pulled his door closed and clicked the lock. He turned around and ran into the side of a man carrying a box. The oversized box fell to the ground and the man stumbled against the far wall.

"Oh my god! I am so sorry. Please, let me help you with that." Fraser bent over and picked up the large box. He had to juggle it to get a better grip. "Are you just moving in?" Fraser asked as he struggled to get a better hold of the box. 'Didn't people know that smaller boxes were easier to handle?' he thought to himself. "I'm Benton Fraser…" he started to introduce himself and then stopped.

"I know… and yes, I just moved in." Jimmy replied with the grin of a weasel etched on his face. "Thanks for your help with the box. I'm two doors down." Jimmy winked and began to walk towards his new apartment.

Fraser stared after him dumb founded. Shocked would be more like it. "I thought I made myself clear when I asked you not to come back here." Fraser stated, trying to keep calm. Ray was going to hit the roof. He didn't follow Jimmy but remained outside his own door.

Jimmy turned around and stared at Fraser. "Oh, I thought that was merely a suggestion. I told you I would see you around. It is a free country after all. I can live where ever I want to. I'm not breaking any laws."

Jimmy was all smug. He walked back to where Fraser was still holding his oversized box. "I'm sure Ray has told you…" he took the box from Fraser and juggled it himself. "I usually get what I want," he whispered into Fraser's ear. "I know a good man when I see one. It's a pity you're wasting your time on Ray, but I intend to change your thinking." he turned back around and walked the distance to his own doorway. "Don't be afraid to ask for a cup of sugar now and again." Jimmy called over his shoulder as he disappeared into his apartment.

How was he going to tell Ray this news? God his day kept getting worse. Fraser really needed to speak with Ray and it was no longer all about him leaving for Canada. He turned and headed for the police station.


Fraser entered the 27 bullpen with a hint reluctance. He was immediately greated by Francesca Vecchio.

"Good morning. Fraser," Francesca cooed. She gave his arm a gentle squeeze and her face held a beautiful smile.

Fraser was still distracted from his run in with Jimmy. He looked around the bull pen and then to Ray's desk but saw no signs of the blonde with experimental hair. "Ah… good morning to you, Francesca. Have you seen Ray this morning?" He asked her while still scanning the room.

"Not for a while. Lieutenant Welsh talked to him for a while and then he left for records or something. I haven't seen him since." She replied.

"I see. Thank you kindly." Fraser began to walk away but turned around quickly. "I'm so sorry, Francesca. I wanted to thank you for the thoughtful gift you gave me. That was very kind of you."

"You're welcome, Fraser. So… did uh, Ray like the mugs as well? Because one of them was for his coffee. I figured the two of you were spending a lot of time together outside of work and he would appreciate a nice mug to drink coffee from, not that you don't have nice mugs of your own." Francesca blushed.

"Yes, he has adopted the green one as his own. It was a very sweet of you to think of him as well." Fraser leaned forward and kissed her on her cheek. "Would you like to have lunch with Ray and I? That is if I can ever find him."

"I would love to. Just stop by on your way out." Francesca beamed a bright smile and went back to her desk.

"Francesca, do you mind keeping Diefenbaker here with you until we leave for lunch?" Fraser asked.

"No, that's fine. Dief can hang out with me." Francesca rubbed behind Dief's ears and the wolf promptly sat down beside her. "Looks like I have a new friend."

"Thank you kindly." Fraser smiled and left in search of Ray.

Fraser eventually tracked Ray to the records department, where he was supposedly trying to hunt down an old case file belonging to the real Ray Vecchio. When Fraser opened the door and entered, he observed Ray sitting on the floor with his legs crossed, leaning against the dusty shelving. He had a manila file folder opened across his lap and was studying the contents. Fraser stopped and leaned against his own dusty shelf. He watched Ray from a distance and his heart broke. He had so much love for this man. He knew that Ray loved him as well, but could that love survive distance and Jimmy? 'God… why couldn't that man just let him be?' Fraser cringed at the thought of Jimmy living two doors down.

When Ray saw him, he smiled and tucked the file he was reading under his arm. He pulled himself up off the floor and walked over to Fraser.

"Hey, how long have you been standing there starin'?" Ray asked with a crooked grin.

"Just a few minutes. I was enjoying the view." Fraser gave Ray a smile in return. His calm exterior was hiding the hurricane he was feeling inside. He brought his fingers up and dusted a few cobwebs out of Ray's spiky hair. He brought his fingers down Ray's jawline and danced his thumb across Ray's pink lips.

Fraser's internal hurricane finally hit the shoreline and he captured Ray's mouth with his with hurricane force speeds. He twisted his fingers into the back of Ray's hair and pulled him hard against himself for a deep kiss. It was full of need and want and total desperation. Fraser ran his free hand up Ray's back and spun them so Ray was pushed up against the shelving. Fraser's hands were busy pulling Ray's face closer, while his tongue was busy invading Ray's mouth. Fraser's free hand pulled Ray's shirt out of his jeans and quickly undid the belt buckle, the button and the fly to Ray's jeans.

"Oh god, Ben… what are you..." Ray attempted to form a coherent sentence but Fraser silenced him with another fierce and desperate kiss. All he could do was hold on to Fraser's shoulders.

Fraser slipped his hand into Ray's loose jeans and cupped his growing erection. He gave it a firm squeeze and let go just as quickly as he had grabbed. Fraser slowed his kisses and finally came up for air. He leaned his forehead against Ray's and closed his eyes tightly. "I'm sorry Ray…" Fraser panted out. "I… uh… I needed to feel you, to touch you."

"Well, I hope you plan to finish what you started because I'm a little turned on right now and oh my god that was hot." Ray was trying to catch his own breath.

"I will, I promise, just not in the records department." Fraser seemed to have just realized where they were and straightened and detached himself from Ray's embrace. "I don't know what came over me."

"Hey, whatever it was… let it come over you again." Ray replied with a wink.

Fraser stepped close to Ray again. Without a word, he zipped up his fly, buttoned his jeans and fastened Ray's buckle. He placed his hands on either side of Ray's face and pulled him close for a soft kiss. "Whatever happens today, remember I love you. Promise me?" Fraser asked as he stared into Ray's eyes.

"I promise. Do I get an explanation?" Ray asked quietly.

"Later. First, I told Francesca we would take her to lunch. I want to tell her about us." Fraser explained.

"You think she's gonna freak?" Ray questioned.

"I believe she has it all figured out and is just waiting for confirmation. Come on…" Fraser made his way to the door and stopped when Ray wasn't following.

"I may need a couple more minutes to uh… to uh… get my breathing under control." Ray blushed. "I'll meet you in a few minutes."

Fraser left and Ray leaned back against the racks and tried to even out his breathing. 'What the hell was Fraser talking about?' he wondered. He pushed his hand against his groin and adjusted himself in his jeans. Lunch had better be a fast one because he wanted to get Fraser home and naked. With swift steps he left to meet Fraser and Francesca.


Fraser knew where he wanted to take Francesca and Ray for lunch. He and Ray had a favorite Chinese restaurant and Fraser thought that would be a perfect place to share the news of their relationship. They always took a booth towards the back where it was quieter and provided more privacy. Ray slid into the far side of the booth and Frannie slid into the other side. She slid up to the wall and was making room for Fraser to join her, when he slid in next to Ray and faced her. A small smile appeared on her face and she blushed.

A waitress appeared and took their drink orders. She returned quickly and the three friends ordered their meals. The waitress disappeared into the kitchen.

"Frannie…" Ray began. "Fraser and me… we got something to tell you."

"You're together, aren't you?" Francesca asked quietly, not quite able to look either man in the eye.

Ray and Fraser looked at one another. Ray nodded for Fraser to answer.

"Yes we are. And we wanted you to be the first to know. You are our friend and we wanted to make sure that you were ok with our relationship." Fraser explained. "How did you know?"

"I had my suspicions, you know. Right after that whole big missing on the giant boat thing. You two were different around each other. The lingering glances that you didn't think anyone noticed and the way Ray was always touching you, Fraser. It may not be painfully obvious to everyone, but…" Francesca stopped and stared at Fraser. "I just had a feeling. You were looking at Ray the same way I used to look at you." Francesca confessed as she lowered her eyes.

"I'm sorry Francesca. We're not telling you to hurt you." Fraser began to explain.

"No… please Benton. I'm happy for the two of you and I'm fine with the two of you together. I'm just… well, I'm also kind of sad for me at the same time." She explained quietly. "I was just waiting for my own fairytale to take place, but Ray beat me to it."

"I'm sorry Frannie." Ray took Fraser's hand and laced their fingers together. "It just kind of happened one day. We love each other and we were hoping that we could count on your support."

Francesca smiled and wiped a tear from her eye. "Of course you have my support. And I'm really ok with you two being together. Are you going to tell the others?"

"We plan to tell our circle of friends, yes." Ray told her. "Everyone else, it's none of their business."

"Thank you for telling me. I'm honored that you've shared this with me." Francesca smiled at both men.

The waitress brought out their food and Ray and Fraser told Francesca about their journey of discovering each other's love. They enjoyed each other's company for the next two hours when Ray declared that they should probably get back to the station before someone reports them missing.

"Actually Ray, do you think you can take the rest of the afternoon off, if I promise Lieutenant Welsh I will help you with all of your paperwork first thing tomorrow morning?" Fraser asked, hopeful.

"As long as you help me with paperwork, no biggie."

"Francesca, would you like for us to call you a cab to go back to the station. Or we could walk you, if you would like." Fraser asked.

"No, it's okay. I can walk back. It's not too far." Francesca gave each man a hug and a small kiss to the cheek.

Fraser paid their bill and he and Ray parted ways with Francesca.

Ray looked at Fraser. "Your place or mine? You've got some explaining to do, Ben."

Fraser hung his head and sighed. "Yours… I will explain on the way."

Fraser took a long cut through a park so Diefenbaker could run around chasing the squirrels.

Fraser inhaled deeply and let it out slowly. He took Ray's hand in his and squeezed it tightly. He needed some of Ray's strength.

"You're killing me Ben. What gives?" Ray declared, finally tired of the silence.

"I have some news to share with you. You want the bad news or the worse news?" Fraser stared ahead.

Ray pulled him to a stop and forced him to look at him.

"What are you talking about? What's going on?" Ray demanded to know.

"God, Ray… I don't know which is worse." Fraser's whole frame was trembling under Ray's hands.

"Tell me, Ben. Partners, remember… duets. We'll get through it together, whatever it is." Ray tried to soothe Fraser's suddenly frayed nerves.

"Jimmy's moved in two doors down from me at my apartment building." Fraser blurted out.

Ray paled and grew angry and was about to fly off the handle when he stopped his rant before it even began. He closed his eyes and asked, "Is that the bad or the worst?"

"The bad…" Fraser whispered.

Ray opened his eyes and stared hard at Fraser. "What can be worse than that?" He asked dryly.

Fraser blinked and a tear escaped down his cheek. He let out a small laugh and another tear joined the first. "It would figure… I have this wonderful group of people, who I think of as my family, I finally find myself a new home, I allow myself to fall in love with you…" Fraser blinked a few more times, shedding more tears. He had a death grip on both of Ray's hands and his knuckles where turning white. "I have to go back, Ray."

"Back? Back where? You aren't making any sense, Ben." Ray asked, confusion written all over his face.

"Canada… I don't have a choice. I'm to be there in two weeks. Inspector Thatcher informed me this morning." Fraser explained quietly.

Ray completely forgot about Jimmy. "That's what had you all worked up at the station?"

Fraser nodded, unable to speak. Ray pulled Fraser into a tight embrace and held him as he shed his own tears. "We'll figure it out… okay?" Ray whispered into his ear. "Ok… we need to think this through. I need to talk to Welsh, see if he will give me a few days off."

"I'm so sorry Ray… I had no idea this was coming."

Ray silenced him with a kiss. "Duets, Ben… we'll make it work. Let's go back to the station. I will talk to Welsh, while you go to your place and pack a bag and get my car. You can meet me at the station. If I go and get my car and I see Jimmy, I will kill him with my bare hands."

Fraser ran his hand across his eyes to dry them. "I love you, you know that, right? I don't want to leave, but I have no choice unless I quit and even then, I may not be allowed to stay. I'm not a citizen of this country."

"I love you too. We'll figure it out, Ben. Go get my car and pick me up at the station." Ray handed Fraser his car keys and he stared at his key on Ray's ring. Yes, they would figure out a solution to this mess. They parted ways after another long, desperate kiss.

Fraser made his way through the park to his apartment and quickly packed a bag to stay at Ray's. He was thankful he didn't run into Jimmy. 'That was the last thing he needed today' he thought to himself. He closed and locked the door behind him. Once again, he looked at Ray's keys to his prized GTO. Ray really trusted him to just hand over his keys with no second thoughts. 'Yes, they were going to make it work.' Fraser told himself as he slid into the driver's seat and buckled up. Dief had settled in the backseat. He was tired from all the walking they had been doing the last few days ad decided he was ready for a nap.

Ray went to the station and met with Lieutenant Welsh and explained his need for some time off to sort out Fraser's dilemma. He was still speaking with the Lieutenant, silently wondering when Fraser was going to arrive. He hoped that he didn't have another run in with Jimmy. Ray was pacing the floor in his boss's office and was constantly glancing out the window for signs of Fraser.

Francesca knocked and let herself into the office. She was pale. Ray stopped pacing and stared at her.

"There's been an accident."