Rated R for m/m premise and sexual activity.

Disclaimer: I just get possessed by these characters, I don't own them. No point in suing me, blah blah, rand/dollar exchange rate...

This story came about because I was listening to Pulp's song "Underwear" while thinking of Due South. Then I got this vision of what Fraser would look like in his underwear, and, well, this story is the result. The song doesn't really fit the story, but I've put the relevant lyrics here anyway.

UNDERWEAR

By T'Mar

        Why don't you shut the door and close the curtains 
        Cause you're not going anywhere
        He's coming up the stairs and in a moment
        He'll want to see your underwear

        I couldn't stop it now, there's no way to get out
        He's standing far too near how the hell did you get here
        Standing naked in somebody else's room

        I'd give my whole life to see it, and just you stood there 
        Only in your underwear

        If you could close your eyes and just remember
        That this is what you wanted last night
        So why is it so hard for you to touch him...

This was odd. Benny *never* took personal days, and he never took time off unless he'd been stabbed, shot or beaten up.

He knocked; there was no answer. He opened the door cautiously, peering in. Benny was there all right; standing at the kitchen window clad only in a pair of boxer shorts.

Ray walked towards him. "Benny? Didn't you hear me knocking?"

"I heard you, Ray."

"Why didn't you answer the door? Are you sick?"

"No."

"Then what is it? Benny?" Ray advanced on his friend, worried. This wasn't like him at all. "Do you realise you're standing at the window wearing your underwear?"

Fraser didn't look at him. "Yes, Ray."

"Benny, talk to me!"

Fraser's shoulders slumped slightly. "I... It's been a year since... since Victoria left."

Oh G-d. Ray swallowed hard. Victoria, that bitch. She'd hurt Benny and he *had* tried to kill her, only... "You mean it's been a year since I shot you," he said. The scar was clearly visible on Fraser's naked back.

"No, Ray. I wasn't thinking about that, I... I was going to leave with her. That's what I was thinking of."

"What, you're wishing you'd made it, gone with her?"

"No, I..." Fraser found it hard to talk. "I'm glad I didn't go. I know it would never have worked. But... it's hard to convince my heart of that sometimes. And then I wonder why I stayed."

"Because I shot you, that's why." Ray wasn't sure he could ever forgive himself for that, even though Benny had managed to shoot him as well. He touched the scar carefully with his fingertips.

Fraser jerked as though someone had shot electricity through him. "Ray..."

"I know it, Benny. If I'd missed, you'd have been gone with her. It would have been a mistake."

"No..." Fraser said, very softly, in a whisper, almost.

"Yes, it would have, Benny. You said so."

"No, not that." Fraser wasn't sure he could say it, but if he didn't... "Ray..."

"What, Benny?"

"Don't stop."

Ray felt as if he'd been slammed into a wall. Sure, he was touching Benny, but it was just a comforting touch... wasn't it? And if that was so, why was he enjoying it so much? He'd often wondered what it would be like to just touch Benny for no reason except to touch him... but he hadn't dwelt on those thoughts. They were just random thoughts, he'd figured. He took his hand away despite having to force himself to remove it. "Benny..." What the hell was going on with the two of them?

Fraser turned around, then, and grabbed his hand, placing it on his chest, just resting there. Ray looked at his hand on Benny as though he had never seen it before. Then he looked into those determined blue eyes. He had never in his life thought that he would ever touch Benny like this. His mouth was suddenly dry as he absorbed the sensation of Benny's skin under his hand. He wanted to say something, anything, to tell Fraser... what, exactly? He didn't know. And finally, all he could get out was, "Why?"

Fraser looked embarrassed and stepped away so that Ray had to remove his hand. "I just needed that connection, just for a minute, Ray... So I could remember why I stayed."

"Okay." Ray sighed with relief... and something else. "And did you?"

"Yes."

"And why did you stay? Aside from the fact that I shot you, I mean."

"For you, Ray."

"For me?" Ray repeated it as if he didn't understand.

"Yes. Because I love you." Fraser said it; it was out in the open now. And he realised this might be the end of their friendship. But sometimes, some things had to be said.

"WHAT?!" asked Ray, almost yelling. He had never acknowledged that he had any feelings for Benny, but touching him this way... It had almost been like opening a floodgate. Ray felt his blood coursing through his veins; he felt like he was in another dimension. He couldn't believe this.

Fraser only said, "You heard me, Ray."

"Yeah, but..." Ray stepped back, looking into Fraser's face. "Whaddaya mean, you love me?"

"I just do."

"Benny, I don't understand." But that wasn't the truth - he *did* understand; he understood only too well. But maybe this was just... just the trauma of remembering that night at the train station. And if he let something happen now, if he *admitted* it now, they might both regret it tomorrow.

"I know you don't." Fraser stepped forward, closer to him. "I'll make it clear, Ray." He leaned in and kissed Ray, right on the mouth, right there in the kitchen.

When Benny's lips touched his, Ray nearly fainted with shock. He wanted nothing more than to kiss Benny right back, to taste him and be tasted... But he forced himself to keep his mouth closed, not to lead Benny on. And when Fraser ended it and stepped away Ray only whispered, "Oh." He whispered it because he knew that his voice would be very shaky if he spoke aloud.

"'Oh', Ray? Is that all?" Fraser was thinking that he couldn't really hope for anything more; he'd never really realised before just why he'd stayed, why Victoria's leaving hadn't hurt him as much as he'd expected it to, though it *had* hurt. He certainly didn't dream that Ray could feel that way about him. He'd never seen one indication of it. But then he'd never provided any indications of his own, either.

Ray just stood there looking at him, not wanting his friend to do something he might regret. Benny's friendship meant more to him than anything else. So he only said, "I dunno what else to say, Benny. You made it clear what you meant, that you love me. But this doesn't have to affect our friendship. You're my best friend, Benny, and..." He trailed off, not quite sure what he was trying to say. He couldn't tell Benny the truth... could he?

"And what? Shall we pretend I never said anything, that I never kissed you?"

"That'd be my first choice, yeah."

"Even though I love you?"

Ray looked down - anything to avoid those piercing, blue eyes. But then he saw... Oh G-d. Fraser was only wearing boxer shorts, and they didn't hide the truth. He swallowed. This was going to be difficult. He knew he was having the same reaction; luckily he was wearing a coat. "I..."

Fraser just stood there, thinking he'd made a huge mistake. They could go back to what had been, he knew they could. This... feeling... only overwhelmed him at certain times, like the anniversary of Ray shooting him. It was always there, he realised, but only now had he felt the need to let it out, to say it to Ray. "We can go back, if you want to," he finally said. "You're my best friend."

And when Fraser said that, Ray suddenly knew that Fraser really *did* love him. Because true love was like that - all you wanted was for the person you loved to be happy. And if he told him the truth - that he did return those feelings - then what? And suddenly Ray didn't care what. He just wanted to tell Benny, wanted to kiss Benny, wanted... He did want to make love to Benny, he realised. He did. But first he had to get something else out of the way. "Benny... you know I shot you by accident, don't you?"

"Of course, Ray."

"It was *her* I was trying to shoot, you know that, too, huh?"

"Yes. But you were only doing your duty, Ray. She *was* a criminal..."

"No, Benny. I wanted to stop her from taking you away from me. I would have killed her to stop her." He paused, closing his eyes briefly. "But I shot you instead. And I guess it worked, because you're still here."

"What are you saying?" Fraser asked him. It sounded... hopeful, from his point of view.

"I... Ah, geez, Benny. I couldn't let her do that, take you away. I had to protect you. I always feel like I have to protect you, even when I know you'd survive much better than me out in the Yukon or somewhere."

"This isn't the Yukon, Ray," Fraser pointed out.

"Yeah, I know, and I tell myself that all the time. This is Chicago, you need me."

"I do need you," Fraser whispered softly.

"And, see, Benny, I need you to need me. I like it that I take you places and stuff." Ray paused and took a deep breath. Now he could tell the truth. "I love you, Benny. I've loved you for a long time. But... I never thought about it, not until now. And it's a little scary."

"Why?"

"You think people would accept us... as a couple? I doubt it. I don't want people to insult you because of me."

"Nothing anybody could say would ever hurt me, Ray. Nothing. As long as you're with me, I can deal with anything. You must have noticed that."

"I guess I have." Ray stepped closer to the Mountie, and *really* kissed him this time, feeling Benny's tongue tentatively touch his own, and then Benny dived right in and tasted Ray's mouth, and Ray tasted his, too. Both men could feel their breathing accelerate, and then Ray needed more than just a kiss. He moved right against Benny, wrapping his arms around him, grinding his own pelvis against Benny's, feeling Benny's hardness, letting Benny feel his.

Fraser, in turn, put his arms around Ray and held on, feeling safe and secure, feeling... fulfilled. His heart was full; if lightning struck him now, he could die happy. And then Ray's hand sneaked into his boxer shorts and touched his erection, and Fraser froze.

"Benny?" Ray opened his eyes and looked at him in concern.

"I... I don't think I was prepared for... that," he whispered, his breathing still ragged.

"Okay." Ray let him go and took off his coat. Then his suit, his shirt, his undershirt... Fraser stared. When Ray was down to only his underwear, Fraser suddenly said, "Ray!"

Ray was grinning his most self-satisfied grin. "Yeah, Benny?"

"Don't."

"You wanna stand around in our underwear?"

"I..."

"You don't want this?" Ray tried not to let disappointment into his voice.

"I do want it, Ray, I just... this is all new to me. I need... a little time."

Ray was confused all of a sudden. Benny *didn't* want this? But Benny had been the one who started it! Ray then took a second to think about things. He knew he was one for rushing in where angels fear to tread. When he made a decision, he went into it full-speed. But Benny... maybe he needed to do things more slowly. "Okay. Come and sit down on the bed." He started in that direction, Benny's hand clutched in his. But Fraser pulled away. "No!"

Ray felt the beginnings of disappointment. He didn't *want* to go slowly, to stop and think, not now. If he did, he might change his mind about all this. But, oh G-d, he wanted Benny so much! "Well, whaddaya want, then, Fraser?" His tone was one of slight belligerence.

"I want you, Ray, but..."

"Yeah?"

"That... I..." Here was something he didn't have a euphemism or Inuit story for.

"The sex scares you, is that it?" Ray let him off the hook.

Fraser didn't look at him. "Yes."

"Benny, I know you're not a virgin. Surely you've..." He stopped. What could he say? "I mean, surely you must have done... you know, other things."

"No, Ray."

"You've never had a woman do it... you know... orally?" he finally said. 'Great Vecchio, make things real easy!' he thought. Ray knew he wasn't the most sexually experienced man under the sun, but even his wife had wanted a change once in a while. Change was good, it was healthy.

"No, Ray."

Ray was stunned. "What, never? Victoria, she didn't..." Victoria struck him as the kind of woman who was into whips and chains, actually, but he didn't say that to Benny.

Fraser shook his head. "She..." He faltered. "She tried, once, and..."

"You wouldn't let her."

Benny nodded this time. "I thought it was... demeaning to her, somehow. I wanted us to... share each other."

Ray just smiled. He *loved* Benny so much! And this was typical Benny: always thinking of the other person. "Benny, you should learn to relax, let other people do things for you."

"Not that, Ray. What... what would they get out of it?"

"Maybe they want to do something nice for someone, Benny. You do that all the time. Sometimes people don't even thank you. But do you stop? No. This is the same thing, okay?" And Ray deliberately put his hand back into Fraser's underwear, touching him. "Don't move, Benny."

"Ray..."

Ray looked at him very seriously. "Don't move."

All the tension and fear seemed to drain from the Mountie. "Understood." And then Ray yanked the shorts down, until they landed around Benny's feet on the floor. Ray knelt down. He was too scared to suggest the bed again; it might make Fraser bolt. So he just knelt down right where he was. "You gotta let people do things for you, Benny. You deserve it." And he touched his mouth to his friend's erection, just tasting at first, then licking, then...

Fraser balanced precariously on some undefined edge, managing to stay upright by sheer force of will. The tasting was good, the slow, sensuous licks were better... but when he felt a sudden suction, it was all over. Fraser let out a harsh cry, the orgasm so powerful that he couldn't remain standing any longer, and ended up on the floor next to Ray, who promptly took him into his arms while he waited for Fraser's breathing to steady. "You see, Benny?" he finally said when it did, "sometimes it can be good to let people do things for you."

Benny moved away then, and looked into Ray's deep, dark eyes. "I... Ray..."

"What, Benny?"

"Why?"

"Because I love you, okay?" And as far as Ray was concerned, that was all that needed to be said.

Fraser still wasn't too happy. "I don't know if I can..." He trailed off.

But Ray was sympathetic. "You don't have to, Benny. Really."

"I..." What could he say? 'Gee, thanks for doing that, but I'm not going to do the same for you.'?? Tears came to his eyes and he shut them. "I..." Nothing would come out. Fraser, like his father, never spoke about things like this. Not feelings, not sex, nothing.

"We can do something else," Ray said, quietly.

Now Fraser opened his eyes again, fearful. "I... I don't think..."

"Not that, Benny." He knew that if oral sex frightened Benny, then the idea of anal sex probably scared the hell out of him.

"What, then?"

"Stand up."

This time Fraser obeyed first time, and Ray made him step out of his underwear, taking his own off at the same time. "Bed, Benny." He could see Benny wanted it, and wanted it badly, but he could also see that he was still afraid of the experience.

Fraser did lie on the bed, though, and he looked at Ray, desire and apprehension warring in those clear blue eyes. Ray lay down on top of him, pressing himself against Benny, making sure their erections were touching, loving the feel of Benny's most intimate parts pressed against his own. He squirmed slightly, fitting himself against Benny as best he could, to get the best effect. "How about this?" he finally asked, seeing that the Mountie was breathing heavily again, obviously enjoying this as well.

"Oh, G-d, Ray!" Fraser looked up at him, wishing they could just blend together.

"You okay with this, Benny?"

"Y... yes." When Ray didn't move he was forced to say more. "Please, Ray..."

"Yeah, what?" It was hard to control himself, hard *not* to move against Benny, but Ray forced himself to be still. He was going to make Fraser *ask*. If they had any hope of being a couple, of enjoying this to the full, he had to get rid of Fraser's inhibitions.

"I... I want you. Please."

"Please what, Benny?"

Then Fraser realised what Ray wanted. He wanted them both to let go, to forget about society, to forget about the constraints they imposed on themselves. "Please move, Ray. I need... I need to feel you." Ray smiled, then, and kissed him. It was the first time they'd kissed since Ray had knelt on the floor and made love to Benny with his mouth. Fraser tasted himself there, and wondered...

Coherent thought suddenly fled as Ray did move, and Ray's body against his felt like the most wonderful thing in the world. It *was*, for them. Fraser moved upwards in a slight counterpoint to Ray's rhythm, lifting both himself and Ray partly off the bed, having to roll to the side to prevent Ray falling. Now there was more freedom of movement, and they took full advantage of it, moving against each other, faster, faster...

"Benny!"

"Oh! Ray!"

They woke at roughly the same time a little later, still face to face. "Hey, Benny," smiled Ray.

"Ray." Fraser still looked a little uncertain. "I... I liked that."

"Well, good."

"I think... I'd like to try... something else."

"Yeah? What?"

"This." He pushed Ray onto his back and leaned over him, kissing and licking his way down Ray's body, trying to imprint each taste and smell on his senses forever. His mouth finally reached its destination, and he sniffed first, then licked once, experimentally.

Ray arched off the bed. "G-d! Benny!"

"Should I..." No, this wasn't the time for questions of that nature. Don't ask, do. If he likes it you'll know.

He licked again, then once more, and by the look on Ray's face he was doing something right. Now he could ask. "Do you like that, Ray?"

"Oh, yeah, Benny. Whatever you do, don't stop."

"All right." He captured the detective's erection with his mouth, letting his tongue still do some of the work, and then applying suction in the same way Ray had earlier. He guessed Ray had done that because that was what he liked. And he was right. He'd hardly started sucking when Ray arched almost completely off the bed, and came right into his mouth.

Not knowing what else to do, Fraser swallowed. Strange taste, he mused as he did so, frowning in concentration. As he looked up, he saw Ray watching him with passion still in his eyes. "What, Ray?"

"That's just as arousing, Benny."

"What?"

"Seeing you swallow. I didn't think you'd do that."

"I..." He couldn't lie, not to Ray. "I didn't know where... I didn't know what else to do." He ducked his head.

"I know, Benny. It was still great to see." He smiled. "So... you still think the person gets nothing out of it?"

"No, Ray." Fraser had found that to cause such feelings in Ray made him feel wonderful; loved.

Ray just looked at him oddly. "No?"

"I mean, no, I don't think... Yes, you were right... Ray," Fraser finally

said in a stern tone. He'd just realised Ray was teasing him.

"I really love you, Benny."

"And I love you."

"I don't ever wanna be parted again, Benny. Never. But I don't know how you'll feel... once it becomes reality. People *will* say stuff... and maybe they'll do more than just talk, too."

"I told you, Ray. I can handle it if you're with me. We don't have to tell anybody, not if you don't want to."

"Okay, then we won't. But we'd better go get documents made up that if something happens to one of us... you know what I'm saying, Benny?"

"Yes, and I agree, it's a sensible precaution."

"You wanna move in together?" Ray looked hopefully into Fraser's eyes.

Fraser looked uncertainly around his apartment. "I thought you didn't like my apartment, Ray."

Ray grinned. "I hate it, Benny. But we can get our own."

"What about your house? I mean, it is yours."

"My family lives there. I wanna be with you, just the two of us. So whaddaya say, Benny?"

"Yes, Ray." Fraser smiled and kissed him, their tongues duelling happily for a moment. Then he pulled away. "What will we tell people?"

"That I got sick of living with my sisters!"

"Is that it?"

"I dunno. We'll think of something later." Ray put his arms around Fraser then, and felt Fraser's arms go around him. They snuggled up together, feeling whole and complete. Ray's last thought before falling asleep was that in the morning he'd know it wasn't a dream. In fact, it would be hard for anyone to mistake what had gone on... not with two pairs of underwear lying conspicuously in the middle of the room.

THE END