Rated: NC-17
Drama
Warning: contains references to pederasty, graphic m/m sex, swearing
and some violence
DUE SOUTH and its characters belong to Alliance and no copyright
infringement is intended

This story did not turn out at all the way I intended. It got serious
real fast and, as my stories often do, ends on a slightly ambiguous note.

CHANGES



Welsh glanced up at the sudden silence in the bullpen, then
closed his eyes briefly. Two uniforms were leading a tall, thin
man in handcuffs. The man looked grim and forbidding, as befit a
man under arrest. The man glanced at Welsh and their eyes
locked. The man gave a very slight smile, a mere upturn of his
lip, but it was enough. Play along, the smile said. Play along
and we'll be okay. Welsh knew the smile and the owner of it.
Ray Vecchio. The real Ray Vecchio, for some reason in Chicago
where he did not belong.

Ray knew he had to keep his mouth shut. Firmly shut,
despite the shocked silence of the precinct. Huey stared at him,
doing a remarkable resemblance to a stunned baboon. Ray filed
the image away for future use. Frannie - his own sister,
actually working - saw him and her mouth opened. Then it shut
again and her chin firmed. Her eyes softened, but she carefully
kept her expression neutral. She knew that to say anything at
all would endanger him.

He saw Welsh and tried to telegraph a message. Play along,
Lieutenant, for God's sake, play along.

He didn't see Fraser, thank God.

****

"What happened, Ray?" Welsh asked quietly. "Why are you
here?"

"The Family had a deal going down here in Chicago. I had to
come down to see it through. No way to avoid it. I tried to
explain that I had some old, unpaid debts in Chicago, but they
got suspicious." Ray replied rapidly. "So I came in to see the
deal through. The feds are gonna love the evidence I picked up,
by the way. The deal went through real easy."

"How'd you get arrested?"

"I got stupid." Ray admitted. "I've been kinda homesick.
I stopped to get a bite at Defino's and an overeager uniform
picked me up."

"Why? What were you doing?"

"Nothing. Last time I checked, there's nothing illegal
about pastrami on rye." Ray said testily. "However, I was
carrying a piece."

"So what happens now? The Family mouthpiece screams false
arrest and you go free?"

"Exactly. No problem, so long as nobody blows the cover."

"I better call Big Red."

"Yeah."

"You want us to cooperate or do you want to stick around for
a bit?"

"It'd look better if you guys are kinda reluctant to let me
go."

"And you'd get a chance to catch up on things. Right. I'll
send Civilian Aid Vecchio in to take your statement." Welsh gave
a half smile.

****

Francesca looked almost shy as she went into the
interrogation room. She checked the door to the observation room
before going in. It was locked and empty.

"Ray." She said softly. Ray rose and wrapped his arms
around his sister, holding her tight. Releasing her, he noted
tears in her eyes.

"I've missed you." Ray said softly. "Life treating you all
right?"

"Yeah. I've got a real job, Ray. And I'm getting good at
it." Frannie said proudly. "Of course, I applied for it
knowing that you'd be gone and Fraser's still hanging around. But
I like getting a real paycheque."

"How's Ma?"

"She's fine. Tony and Maria found this great new place and
Ma likes being there."

"Whoa. Tony and Maria are living in their own place? And
Ma is with them? Who's living in the old house?"

"Oh. I forgot. Ray..." Francesca nibbled at her lip and
fidgeted with a lock of hair.

"What?"

"The house. It burned down a couple of months ago. Not too
long after you left. Arson. Fraser and Ray - the other Ray -
caught the woman."

"The house? It's gone?"

"Yeah. The insurance paid up and the money is sitting in
your account, piling up interest. You still own the land, since
Ma wouldn't hear of selling it without your consent." Francesca
looked carefully at her brother, who looked strangely content.
"You aren't mad?"

"No, not really. I don't have a lot of good memories of
that place, Frannie. It meant something to Ma, but I'm kinda
glad to get rid of it. Later, when I come back for good, I can
build something better for Ma."

"She misses you, y'know." Francesca said softly. "We all
do."

"What? With the other guy here, it's like I'm not even
gone." Ray teased.

"Ray - the other Ray - is kinda weird, y'know?" Francesca
said thoughtfully. "Real edgy, real insecure. Fraser's got him
wrapped around his little finger."

"Fraser?"

"Yeah. I'm not sure how to explain it. Ray - the other Ray
- follows Fraser's lead on everything. He bitches about it, but
he does it. You have your faults, Ray, but you were never a
follower."

"I can't see Fraser bullying anybody."

"I can. He never did it to you 'cause you were oblivious to
it." Francesca stated. "Fraser's changed, Ray. He's still drop
dead gorgeous and I'd let him bully me into anything he wanted to
do, but he has changed."

*****

Kowalski and Fraser burst into the squad room, talking a
mile a minute.

"I tell you, Fraser, I am not imagining things. She is hot
for me, you know what I mean?"

"Oh, Ray, I really don't think so." Fraser said
dismissively. "The Inspector is a very sophisticated woman, a
professional..."

"And she wouldn't be seen with the likes of me, hunh? Let
me tell you something, Fraser." Kowalski stopped as Diefenbaker
gave a short bark and bounded across the room to a thin man in a
frenzy of delight. Fraser looked over.

"Ray?"

"What?!" Kowalski snapped, then looked over. Both of them
stopped dead.

"Get this damned mutt off me." Ray said loudly, pushing at
Diefenbaker.

"Diefenbaker." Fraser said sternly.

"Is this mangy ball of fur yours?" Ray marched up to
Fraser, looking pissed.

"Er.. Yes, he is. He's part wolf."

"I don't give a shit whether he's part giraffe. Get him the
hell off me." Ray said, eyeing his friend up and down. "Who the
hell are you? When did the Chicago PD started hiring Mounties?"

"I first came here on the trail of my father's killers and
for reasons that do not need explaining at this juncture..."

"Cut the crap." Ray said disdainfully. "I wanna have a
word with you about your wolf. In private. I wanna tell you
something about the level of respect I expect..." Ray took
Fraser's arm, none too gently and steered him into Welsh's
office.

"God, Fraser, it's good to see you." Ray said quietly,
after making sure the office was empty and the blinds drawn.

"What are you doing here, Ray?" The words were commonplace,
but the smile was brilliant and welcoming.

"I got arrested." Ray shrugged. "The Family's mouthpiece
will have me out in a day or two and I'll be back to the job."

"Where?"

"I can't tell you that, Fraser." Ray said quietly. "This
is the biggest operation against organised crime the Feds have
ever done. I can't afford to slip up at all. You do not know
me, understand?"

"Of course, Ray." Fraser sounded offended. "I wouldn't do
anything to endanger you."

"I know that, Fraser." Ray soothed, pleased. "I wish we
had time to really talk, Benny, but I only have a few minutes to
be Ray Vecchio."

"Should you be talking to me here at all, Ray?"

"Welsh told me he'd clear things long enough to let
everybody say hello. Then I go back undercover, call the
Family's lawyer and start things rolling. I already spoke to
Frannie and Huey and Welsh and Louise."

"Did Francesca tell you about..."

"The house? Yeah, Benny, she did." Ray smiled. "Thanks for
saving her, by the way. She's a pain in the ass, but she is my
sister."

"You aren't upset about...."

"Nah. The house doesn't matter. I can probably afford to
build a new house once this blows over. A house that's mine, not
Pop's."

"And about your car?"

"I won't get to even look at the Riv. It'd hurt too much."
Ray said mournfully. "Seeing that car, not being able to drive
her. No, Benny, she'd better stay with Kowalski until I get
back."

"No, Ray, your car..."

"Gentlemen, I'm sorry to interrupt." Welsh stuck his head
around the door. "Ray, time to get back into the role."

"Right." Ray nodded. "Benny, I am really, really glad to
see you."

"I'm glad to see you, too, Ray." Fraser replied. Without
thinking, he reached for Ray and embraced him in a warm hug.

****

"Just keep that stupid dog away from me." Ray demanded as
they walked out of the office. "I trust you understand what'll
happen if you don't?"

"Perfectly." Fraser replied neutrally. He glared at Dief,
who was looking mournfully at Ray, not understanding why his junk
food supplier was treating him so coldly. He wasn't even begging
for treats. He just wanted to say hello.

Fraser snapped his fingers and Dief reluctantly began to
follow. As he began to leave the room, he glanced back to Ray,
who was insulting Jack Huey, obviously relishing the role of a
Mafia don. He did not see the person going past him into the
room, but felt him or her brush past him. He also heard the
shots and saw, as if in slow motion, the men in the room dive
behind the desks.

****

"We have your boss in protective custody." Welsh said
grimly. "You can talk to him on the phone, but until these
charges are cleared up, we cannot let anyone near him."

"Lieutenant, I have my doubts that my client approves of
this plan." The lawyer looked like a Wall Street broker, all
grey pinstripes and teeth. "His civil rights are being
violated."

"No, they are not. I appreciate your concerns, but I have
concerns of my own. Somebody from an alternate organization
tried to kill your client this afternoon. Innocent or guilty, I
don't need a dead man in my custody. He's been taken somewhere
safe."

"And what if he stays in your protective custody
permanently?"

"You and your friends will be very upset and I don't need
that either. Too many people know about his arrest. If it'll
make you feel better, I'll arrange a meeting for you tomorrow
morning and you can talk to your client about his wishes. I got
the impression he wants to stay alive."

****

"Well, it looks like we'll be able to talk after all,
Benny." Ray said, looking around the hotel room. "What happened
to the old rat trap? Building got condemned?"

"It burned down, Ray." Fraser replied. "Arson."

"Same job as my house?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact. The arsonist was a fan of the
performance arsonist we arrested two years ago. Remember him?"

"Oh, yeah." Ray grinned. "So she was carrying on his
artistic vision?"

"Something like that. She burned my apartment building,
your house and your..." Fraser stopped suddenly.

"My what?"

"Your car." Fraser mumbled, scratching his left eyebrow
with his thumbnail.

"My what?" Ray asked, ominously quiet.

"Your car, Ray."

"The Riv?" Ray went pale. "You mean to tell me you
destroyed the Riv for the THIRD TIME?"

"Well, no, Ray. You destroyed it the first time. And the
second time was a bomb meant to kill you and ended up killing
Lewis Guardino. This time it was an arsonist..."

"Fraser. I know what happened. Each time, who was
intimately involved with the incidents that led up to the
destruction of my car?"

"Well, you and I and Ian MacDonald, then you and I and Jack
Huey and Lewis Guardino, then Ray Kowalski and I..." Fraser
recited. "Oh, dear. I seem to have been involved each time."

"That's right. It's your fault that I no longer own a 1971
Buick Riveria."

"The insurance did pay up, Ray. You can always buy a new
one."

"Assuming I can find one. Besides, you'd just find a way to
destroy that one, too." Ray sat down on one of the beds tiredly.
"Why do you do this to me?"

"Do what, Ray?" Fraser sat down beside him.

"Fuck up my life." Ray glanced at him. "Then make me feel
like your friendship is actually worth it."

"Thank you, Ray." Fraser said quietly, after a long pause.

"So, what am I like?" Ray asked with a smile.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Ray. The other me."

"Ah."

"Have I ever told you just how much I hate it when you say
that?"

"Repeatedly." Fraser half smiled. "Ray - the other Ray -
doesn't hate it."

"Despite the ID, he isn't me."

"No, Ray, he is not. He calls me a freak."

"Freak?" Ray looked startled. "You're not a freak, Fraser.
You're Canadian. There's a difference."

"Turnbull's Canadian, too, and Ray doesn't call him a
freak."

"Turnbull is too weird for words, Fraser. He likes curling,
whatever the hell that is."

"It's a sport, played on ice. Each team, composed of a
skip, second, third and forth, slides a large flattened ball with
a handle, called a rock, across the ice. The aim is to land the
rock as close to the centre of the ring, while knocking out the
other team's rock. Using a broom, you sweep the ice..."

"Fraser." Ray said sharply.

"Yes, Ray?"

"Did I ask what curling was?"

"Well, no. I assumed you wanted to know."

"No, Fraser. I wanted to know what Kowalski is like. Not
how to play some stupid game that requires freezing your ass
off."

"Well, you don't freeze if you dress warmly enough."

"Fraser!"

"Yes, Ray?" Fraser said innocently, looking up at Ray
through his lashes. Ray glared at him sternly, trying not to
smile. He gave up and laughed.

"I give up, Benny. How's Frannie doing as a Civilian Aide?"

"Well, she's not as efficient as Elaine. She's trying very
hard, though."

"At the job or at getting into your pants now that I'm not
around to protect your virtue?"

"Um.."

"I see. And has she succeeded?"

"No. I'm not interested in her that way, Ray. You know
that."

"No, Benny, I don't know that. Since you act perfectly
clueless, I have no idea what kind of women you like, other than
criminals and Ice Princesses."

"Criminals and Ice Princesses?" Fraser looked puzzled, then
enlightened. "Oh."

"Yeah. Oh. And how is Her Icicleness?"

"The Inspector is fine, Ray. She hasn't tried to fire me
in, oh, three weeks. And that was only because of a minor
misunderstanding involving a fire extinguisher, a staple gun and
the Auditor General of Canada. Nothing really important."

"So there's nothing going on in that department."

"What department?"

"There you go with the clueless act again." Ray rolled his
eyes. "It's not an act, is it, Benny?" He added, in a more
serious tone.

"Yes, it is, Ray." Fraser responded immediately.

"It is?" Ray looked at him in surprise.

"Yes." Fraser confirmed. "I am quite aware that there are
women here who find me attractive and I find it easier to pretend
that I don't understand than to be rude."

"Is that a Canadian thing?"

"Yes, Ray. Politeness is not only a virtue. It can be
protective colouration."

"Why not just tell them to shove off? Seems cruel to me to
leave them hanging."

"I find it difficult to do that, Ray. In Canada, people are
a little more inclined to pick up on subtle clues in a
relationship. I find Americans very puzzling in that respect.
The women here are a little more... forward."

"Forward?" Ray echoed, amused. "You mean you don't get
women throwing their panties at you when you walk down the
streets of Toronto?"

"I've only been to Toronto twice, Ray, but I would assume
that much of the year, it's too cold to remove ones underwear.
Not to mention awkward." Fraser said, speculatively. "Although
it is now legal in Ontario for women to go topless under the same
circumstances that men may go bare chested."

"That must lead to some interesting fender benders." Ray
grinned wolfishly.

"So I'm given to believe." Fraser replied.

****

Room service arrived with dinner, effectively stopping
conversation.

"Benny, how did Welsh arrange for the Deputy Liaison for the
Canadian Consulate to watch over me? I was expecting to be stuck
here with Huey."

"Your lawyer seems to have a longstanding mistrust of the
Chicago police department. Leftenant Welsh offered my services,
with Inspector Thatcher's permission, as a compromise. Your
cover identity isn't under investigation by the Canadian
authorities and Mounties do have a reputation for honesty. I am
to keep you safe and deliver you to your meeting tomorrow with
your lawyer."

"Dudley Do-Right strikes again." Ray teased. Fraser looked
slightly pained.

"I should tease you like that." Ray apologised. "You
aren't used to it anymore."

"Ray, why did you leave?"

"Hunh?"

"Why did you take that assignment?"

"I was partly your fault."

"My fault?"

"Your fault. Okay, I am a dead ringer for Lagostini. But
it wouldn't matter a rat's ass if I was his twin if I didn't have
one of the best arrest records in the country." Ray replied.
"And that, my friend, is your fault. I couldn't turn it down,
Benny. You know how these things go. Turning this down would
have put my career down the toilet. I just wish you hadn't been
on vacation when this thing came down the wire. I couldn't tell
you over the phone; the possibility of being overheard was pretty
good, considering the phone service up where you were."

"I thought I was losing my mind." Fraser said quietly. "I
got back and you weren't there to pick me up. I knew you
wouldn't be, so I tried to get a taxi..."

"And you let everybody butt in front of you and ended up
walking." Ray finished.

"Yes. Diefenbaker was not pleased."

"I can imagine."

"Anyway, I got to Racine and found the building in flames.
All that was left was Diefenbaker's water dish." Fraser
continued sadly. "So I went to the precinct. I was rather
hoping I could stay at your house for a few days until I found a
new place to live."

"And you met up with Welsh and he told you..."

"No. I never got a chance to talk to Welsh. He was being
audited by the IRS." Fraser said calmly.

"So the first you knew about the situation was..."

"Being called "buddy" by a complete stranger." Fraser
finished. "I knew it wasn't you, but everyone, including your
own family, seemed to think it was. I thought I was
hallucinating, having a bad dream. I kept expecting to wake up."

"Oh, geez, Benny, I had no idea that it would screw up that
badly. When did you finally get the full story?"

"After I had measured ...Ray's nose, fingerprinted him and
got a dental cast." Fraser smiled in remembrance. "I figured I
had to prove that this stranger was not you. Then Welsh told me
about the deception."

"I am so sorry, Benny. I didn't know any of this."

"I know you didn't, Ray." Fraser got up and poured more
coffee for Ray. "Still, I resented you for it. And I resented
the whole situation."

"Is that why you changed?"

"Changed?"

"Frannie said you changed. She says you push Kowalski
around."

"Do I?" Fraser thought for a moment. "Yes, I suppose I do,
a little. He makes it very easy to do."

"Benny, I can't say I'm not happy about you getting a little
backbone. If Kowalski lets you do it..." Ray shrugged. "Just
don't try it with me, okay. I know I let you talk me into all
kinds of weird stuff, but I'm not gonna let you push me around."

"Ray, I'd never even try. I owe you too much. I can never
repay what I owe you."

"You don't owe me anything, Benny. We're friends. Friends
don't keep score." Ray said seriously, then grinned. "'Sides,
if they did, I think we're pretty much even. You destroyed my
car, I shot you."

"Even Steven." Fraser said, with a mischievous smile.

****

"Any word on the guy who tried to shoot me, Benny?" Ray
emerged from the shower just as Fraser hung up the phone.

"He wasn't trying to shoot you, Ray." Fraser replied. "At
first, Leftenant Welsh thought that one of the other mob families
was behind the shooting, but it turns out that the suspect is a
drug user, without connections with organised crime. He's in
custody, so you'll be out tomorrow after your lawyer arranges
things."

"He got high on PCP or something and went on a rampage in
the police station?" Ray predicted. "That's a load of crap."

"Welsh seemed convinced."

"Benny, the bullpen is on the second floor. Nobody high on
PCP is gonna pick his targets that carefully. See if you can get
the file on it. Something smells in this." Ray stated. "Who's
on the case?"

"Actually, Ray, you are."

"Me? Am I any good at this sort of thing?"

"Not as good as you used to be, but you do have me to help
you." Fraser replied. Ray looked sharply at him. Fraser had
changed. Ray wasn't sure if it was for the better. Then again,
so had he and definitely not for the better. He unwillingly
recalled a scene that happened just before he left for Chicago.

****

The little girl wasn't more than seven. She was a pretty
girl, though dressed and made up like a model. She seemed
terrified as Guiseppe led her in and left her there with a
knowing grin.

Ray was utterly confused, but nodded briskly, as if this
were an everyday occurrence. It turned out it was, since
Guiseppe nodded.

"I'll see you aren't disturbed, Mr. Lagostini." He said,
closing the doors behind him.

Ray threw down the magazine he was reading. It was obvious
what one of Lagostini's perversions was. He was beginning to
hate Armande Lagostini more and more. He wished the bastard was
still alive, so he could kill him all over again.

The girl was doing a fairly good job hiding her fear, but
she still cowered and trembled, just inside the door. Ray didn't
move from his position, sprawled on the big bed.

"Come here." He said quietly, beckoning the girl with a
gentle smile. She looked more frightened, but came closer to
stand at the foot of the bed. He moved carefully toward her,
without getting up. She flinched, but didn't run away. Her big
blue eyes were filling with tears.

"That stuff must hurt your eyes." Ray said softly, as he
gently touched a tear, coloured black. The girl nodded. Ray
took his handkerchief out of his pocket and gave it to the girl.
She carefully wiped under her eyes, an adult gesture obscene on
someone so young. "Why don't you go into the bathroom and wash
that stuff off your face?"

"Okay..." She whispered, confused. She ran from the
bedroom into the bathroom and he could hear water running. She
emerged half an hour later, her eyes red, but mostly clear of
makeup. She stopped at the doorway, then squared her shoulders
and half ran to the bed, climbing on beside him. She ran her
tiny hands across his chest, her fingers rapidly undoing the
buttons as if to get it over with as soon as possible.

Ray yelped and jumped off the bed.

"What are you doing, kid?"

The girl looked up at him in astonishment. Then her lips
trembled and she started to cry. Ray sat down carefully beside
her.

"I didn't do it right, Mr. Armande?" The girl whispered,
not raising her head, still sobbing. "I'm sorry. I tried,
really I did."

"I know, honey." Ray said gently. "I don't want to play
that game."

"Oh." The girl looked up and backed away. "You want..."
She cried harder, and unwillingly began to untie the sash of her
dress.

"No." Ray practically yelled, then softened his tone. "No,
honey, I just want to talk to you." He grabbed some tissues and
lifted her chin to wipe her eyes and held the tissue so she could
blow her nose.

"What is your name?" Ray asked, watching her carefully.
She was so scared, yet strangely docile.

"Melinda." The girl whispered. She looked up and stared
at him for a long time with solemn blue eyes. "You aren't Mr.
Armande."

"No, honey, I'm not." Ray knew he was blowing cover, but
there was no way in hell he was going to let this little girl
think he was about to jump on her. "I'm pretending to be. You
have to pretend that I am Mr. Armande, too."

"How do I do that?" The girl wondered.

"Okay, Mr. Armande plays... games... with you. You have to
pretend that we did play those games, but we won't, okay?"

"You don't want to play?" Melinda looked at him as if he
had grown an extra head.

"No." Ray shook his head.

****

It took Ray a while to convince Melinda that he didn't want
to hurt her. They ended up watching television together, with
her head on his shoulder. He had talked her into changing out of
the slinky, too adult dress into a small robe he found in the
armoire. Melinda changed out of her clothes unselfconsciously,
glancing over her shoulder to be sure she was safe, as she did
so, Ray carefully kept his eyes averted, afraid of what he'd
see. The presence of the robe told him everything he wanted to
know about Armande Lagostini and he felt sick.

Melinda relaxed as she watched television, falling asleep
near the end of the movie. Ray pulled the comforter over her,
marvelling at how much she trusted him. Then again, he had spent
two hours alone with her and hadn't touched her. That spoke
volumes about what this beautiful little girl's life was like.

Ray took a shower, putting on Lagostini's silk pyjamas and
robe. He wasn't sure if Melinda normally spent the entire night
with him, but he wasn't going to disturb her. He climbed into
bed, under the covers, so she wouldn't touch him accidentally,
and tried to sleep.

****

It was very late when Melinda whimpered in her sleep. Ray
was wide awake instantly.

"What is it, honey?" He asked her softly, propping himself
on his elbow. In the dim of the room, he could see her blue eyes
flutter open.

"I'm scared." She whispered. To his surprise, she pushed
away the comforter and wriggled until she was next to him under
the covers. Automatically, Ray drew her into his arms.

"What are you scared of, Melinda? I won't hurt you."

"I know." She whispered. "He made me promise not to tell.
He hurt me and I broke my promise. I told Mama."

"And what did your Mama say?" Ray didn't like where this
was going.

"She told me I was a bad girl for breaking a promise."
Melinda replied. "She made me go back to Mr. Armande."

Ray said nothing. He had to consciously relax, so as not to
scare Melinda.

"Do you want to know what games Mr. Armande wants to play?"

No, Ray thought. I don't what to know what that animal did
to you.

"Do you want to tell me?"

"Uh-hunh. I'd tell my daddy and he'd fix it, but Mama won't
let me see him. You're like my daddy, so I'll tell you."

In whispers, Melinda told him. She ended up crying bitterly
into his shoulder, no longer a baby seductress, but a horribly
wounded child. Ray waited until she had cried herself to sleep,
then eased his way to the bathroom and threw up until there was
nothing left to expel.

****

Melinda was awake when he woke up. With a laugh, she jumped
on the bed, jolting him out of sleep. He tickled her and she
kissed him on the cheek.

"Good morning, honey." Ray sat up and smiled at her. With
her long blonde hair in tangles around her face, she looked
carefree and happy.

"'Morning." She grinned at him. "I washed behind my ears
and I brushed my teeth."

"Good girl. I'll see if I can get us some breakfast." Ray
replied. Melinda's smile faded and her shoulders drooped.
"What's the matter? Not hungry?"

"Mama will be mad at me." Melinda said sadly. "She told me
I had to..."

"Listen, honey." Ray sat beside her. "There aren't going to
be any more games like that. Your mama and the others think I'm
Mr. Armande. We have to pretend that I am Mr. Armande. That
means you'll come and see me, but instead of playing those games,
we'll watch movies. But you can't tell anybody that I'm not Mr.
Armande or that we don't play those games. If anybody finds out
we're just pretending, they'll hurt both of us. I won't let
anybody hurt you, so long as we keep pretending."

"You want me to pretend that you're Mr. Armande?"

"Yes."

"You won't hurt me?"

"No."

"And Mama won't be mad at me?"

"No. I promise."

Ray was about to say something else, but a discreet knock
came to the door.

"Mr. Lagostini?" It was Guiseppe.

"Melinda, I am not trying to play one of Mr. Armande's
games, but we have to pretend we are. Do you understand?"

Melinda nodded and, with extreme reluctance, he kissed her,
just as Guiseppe came in with a tray. He could feel her tremble,
and shrink in his arms. He lifted his lips from hers, but held
her in his lap as Guiseppe put the tray down.

"Anything else, Mr. Lagostini?" He asked, with a knowing
smirk.

"No." Ray didn't trust himself to say any more.

"Shall I take the little lady home?"

"Not just yet." He held Melinda a little tighter and she
trembled harder.

"Right." Guiseppe's smirk broadened into a grin and he
left. As the door closed behind him, he released Melinda, who
fled into the bathroom.

****

Ray could still see Melinda's scared little face in his
mind's eye. He could still remember how he felt kissing the
girl. Although he knew that Lagostini had done far worse to her
and he had done his best to help her, that kiss was wrong. No
matter the circumstances, he had molested that child. And he
knew he'd do it again in a heartbeat, just to keep her safe.

He looked over at Fraser, who was sitting in bed, reading.
As if feeling Ray's eyes on him, he looked up and smiled. His
blue eyes were exactly the colour of Melinda's, and the innocence in
those eyes, exactly as Melinda's should have had, hurt Ray
horribly.

"Are you all right, Ray?" Fraser was concerned. Ray looked
terrible.

"Benny, you ever been undercover?"

"Yes."
"You ever have to do something really wrong to keep the
cover?"

"Yes.." Fraser hesitated. He had done very few undercover
assignments and those were minor. He had done some things that
violated his ethical standards, but he was sure that Ray wasn't
talking about swearing or littering.

"Lagostini was an animal." Ray stated flatly. "And I'm
starting to be like him."

"No, Ray." Fraser got up and sat on the edge of Ray's bed.
"You aren't anything like Lagostini. Except in looks, of
course."

"How do you know, Benny?" Ray replied fiercely, sitting up.
"How do you know? Did you know Lagostini?"

"No. I know you." Fraser said gently. Ray looked into his
eyes, those beautiful clear blue eyes, and leaned forward.
Without really meaning to, he kissed Fraser.

Fraser, startled, flinched and tried to pull back.

"No, dammit, don't run away from me." Ray said in an
agonized tone. He drew Fraser onto the bed, pushing him onto his
back.

"I'm not, Ray." He said soothingly. He looked up at Ray,
who was leaning over him with deep felt pain in his eyes. They
looked at each other for a long time. Then Fraser slowly brought
his left hand up to the back of Ray's neck and pulled him closer.
Their lips met. Ray shifted without breaking the kiss and Fraser
shifted as well, so that they were lying together, bodies
touching, neither knowing quite why this was happening.

****

Fraser felt Ray's tongue invade his mouth and shivered. He
hadn't known a simple kiss could be quite so erotic. Victoria's
kisses were sensual; Margaret's kiss was hungry, but Ray's kiss
went straight to his groin. He prided himself on his self
control and this kiss had brushed away all vestiges of control in
a tide of erotic longing.

"It's okay, sweet." Ray murmured, moving to nibble softly
on his ear. "I won't hurt you. I promise I won't hurt you."

Fraser didn't answer. He fought down an urge to grab Ray,
fling him down on the bed and fuck him senseless. He forced
himself to relax, to concentrate on Ray. Ray was bestowing
kisses along his jawline, his fingers tweaking his nipples. He
could feel Ray's cock poking out of his pyjama bottoms, hard and
hot against his thigh. He lay quietly for a moment, then moved
to take Ray's cock in hand. Ray shuddered at the first touch,
then started to move his hips, thrusting into Fraser's fist. His
lips descended on Fraser's again, with avid hunger.

Fraser finally broke the kiss and pushed Ray onto his back.
Stripping off Ray's pyjamas with swift, sure fingers, he ran his
hands along Ray's body, none too gently, then bent to take that
hard cock in his mouth.

"Oh, God." Ray groaned, hips lifting off the bed. Nobody,
not Angie, not any of his girlfriends, not even the one guy he'd
fooled around with had ever sucked him like this. Fraser's
prelediction for tasting and licking things certainly gave him
some interesting talents. Fraser continued to taste, lick and
suck, driving him crazy with desire. He felt his balls tighten
and, with a hoarse cry, he came into his friend's mouth.

Fraser, his lip shining with Ray's juices, kissed his way up
his friend's body, finally reaching those full sensual lips. He
kissed Ray, forcing his mouth open, invading with his agile
tongue. He drew back and smiled, his eyes shining.

Ray saw those blue eyes and Melinda flashed into his mind.
She would have done that for him, he knew, out of fear. For a
split second, he didn't see Fraser; he saw a little girl with his
semen making her lips full and shiny in the dim light. He closed
his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Melinda." He murmured very softly. "I'm so
sorry." Then he wrapped his arms and legs around Fraser,
revelling in the big, hard masculinity of his friend, rejoicing
in the hard cock that was pressed into his belly.

"Ray?" Fraser heard him murmur something, but was too intent
on the writhing body beneath him to pay much attention.

"Fuck me, Benny. Give it to me." Ray moaned, slipping his
hand between their bodies and taking the hard shaft into his
hand.

Fraser was only too willing to oblige. With another hard,
tongue filled kiss, he turned Ray onto his side and moved into
position. A bit clumsily, he directed his shaft to the tiny
opening in Ray's body. He tried to be gentle, but it required
considerable force to penetrate the opening. He stopped, just
inside, afraid that he had hurt Ray.

He had, and Ray welcomed the pain. Ray relaxed consciously
and Fraser slowly slipped in. Once fully inside, Fraser stopped.
Ray panted for a moment, then his body accustomed itself to the
intrusion, and the pain lessened.

"Do it, Benny." Ray urged. "Please, love, please."

Once he felt Ray relax around him, Fraser slowly thrust into
his friend. It was hot and tight. He pulled back and thrust
again and, this time heard Ray moan with pleasure. It took all
his tenuous self control to move slowly, not to thrust as hard
and fast as his body wanted him to.

"Oh, God, Benny, harder." Ray begged. There was no pain
now, just an excruciating pleasure as Fraser picked up the pace.
Both of them were bathed in sweat and Fraser's moans mixed with
Ray's as he thrust harder and faster. With a shout that nearly
deafened Ray, Fraser came to a roaring climax, shuddering with
the aftershocks.

It was a full five minutes before either of them could move.
Fraser withdrew and flopped onto his back, utterly spent. Ray
rolled onto his front beside Fraser, laying his head across his
folded arms, also exhausted.

The room stayed silent; neither of them felt like talking.
Fraser had nothing to say. He was trying to figure out why he
had responded so powerfully to Ray's kiss. He had known for a
long time that he found Ray sexually attractive; he had dealt
with his bisexuality long ago. He just never thought that Ray
would be interested in him, or that at the first sign of
attraction, he'd respond like a caribou in heat. The lack of
control disturbed him. He liked slow, seductive sex; had never
wanted raw, animal encounters. Yet at the first sign of
attraction from a man he wanted, he had eschewed tenderness for
sheer physical gratification.

He knew he was lonely. He knew he was lonely for Ray in
particular. Perhaps it was because there was no time for sweet
seduction; Ray would be leaving soon. When Ray got back, there
would be plenty of time for romance. Now that he knew Ray wanted
him, he would prepare a welcome home that Ray would never forget.
As he fell asleep, his mind awhirl with plans, he wondered idly
who Melinda was.

Ray felt the solid warmth of Fraser beside him and felt safe
for the first time in a long time. This was something he wanted
for himself, not something Armande Lagostini took for himself.
He wanted proof that Benny wanted him, that he wasn't ashamed or
disgusted by him; that Benny had forgiven him for leaving. He
loved Benny so much and for so long. It tore him apart to leave
Chicago and what Lagostini did to Melinda widened the hole. He
felt as if the gap in his heart was leaking bits of Ray Vecchio
and letting Armande Lagostini fill in what was missing. Here,
with Benny beside him, with Benny's essence inside him, he felt
whole again. Moving closer, he fell asleep with Fraser's arms holding
him close.

****

Fraser and Ray woke at almost exactly the same time. Ray
looked at Fraser, then gently disengaged himself from the other
man's embrace and went to take a shower. Fraser sat up and ran
his hand through his hair. Then he picked up the telephone and
called Leftenant Welsh about the day's schedule.

Once dressed and finished breakfast, Huey came to pick them
up and that was the last chance they had to be alone together.
Neither of them referred to the events of the night before.

****

The meeting took place in Welsh's office. The shooter was
in custody and it was considered safe for Armande Lagostini to be
there now. Ray was brought into the office in handcuffs, with
Fraser leading him.

"Kevin." Ray nodded to the lawyer, who stood respectfully
at his entrance.

"Mr. Lagostini. Lieutenant Welsh, my client possesses a
valid firearms permit for the state of Illinois. If the police
officer who took the initiative was a little more scrupulous
about proper procedure, this whole incident would not have taken
place."

"You're right. Mr. Lagostini, you're free to go. We
apologize for the inconvenience." Welsh took the handcuff keys
and unlocked the cuffs. He knew, as did Ray, that the ink on the
permit wasn't even dry yet and it lacked verifiable signatures
from the proper sources.

"Mr. Lagostini, I strongly suggest that you consider
pressing charges for false arrest."

"No, Kevin, I've spent far too much time in Chicago as it
is." Ray replied. "Apology accepted. Lieutenant Welsh, what
about the shooting incident?"

"The guy was high on dope, made some wild accusations and
took a few pot shots. It's unavoidable in a downtown precinct."

"How inconvenient." Ray sniffed and turned to leave. What
bullshit, he thought.

****

They were on the way out when a voice screamed out, causing
both Ray and his lawyer to stop in their tracks.

"Fucking pervert. Lagostini, you're a dead man for what you
did to my daughter." A man, followed by Ray Kowalski, Jack Huey
and Tom Dewey, ran up to Ray, panting. "They're saying that I
was on drugs, but I know what you did to my little girl. I got
her back and she told me what you did to her. You fucking child
molester. She's only seven, you bastard."

Ray ignored his lawyer's attempt to get him to keep on
walking and looked around. In a corner, by his old desk, was
Melinda. She looked at her furious father, then at Ray.
Bursting into tears, she ran to Ray. Automatically, he knelt.

"I didn't tell. I didn't." She said to him.

****

"Mr. Lagostini, if you would come this way." Welsh seemed
to be the only one with any presence of mind. Kowalski was
looking at Ray with loathing, Huey looked disgusted and Dewey
looked confused. Fraser looked absolutely blank.

"Lieutenant, my client's rights..."

"Are being protected if you come with us." A hint of
impatience hardened Welsh's voice. They all trooped into one of
the interrogation rooms, Melinda refusing to let go of Ray's
hand.

"All right, what's this all about?" Welsh demanded. "Mr.
Wells, you first."

"That fucking bastard..." Wells stabbed a finger at Ray,
then stopped to take a deep breath. "I picked Melinda up from
school two days ago. My ex wouldn't let me see her, so I got a
court order and she had to let me visit with Melinda. Melinda
told me about the games Mr. Armande would play with her and I
took her to a doctor. She's been... violated. I did some
checking around and found out that Lagostini was in Chicago. I
was going to kill you, you son of a bitch. I want to see you
nailed to the wall for what you did to my daughter."

Fraser's expression grew more impassive. This seven year
old child was Melinda?

"What did he do to you, Melinda?" Welsh asked her gently.

"Nothing. He didn't do anything to me." Melinda answered,
in a whisper. "I swear, daddy, he didn't do anything to me."

Wells' jaw tightened.

"Mr. Lagostini?" Welsh looked to Ray.

"I know Melinda. She's the daughter of one of my
administrative assistants. I let her watch movies on my VCR when
she was waiting for her mother, that's all." Ray replied
carefully. Melinda looked to her father and nodded in agreement.

"Lagostini, everybody knows what you do to little girls."
Wells said venomously.

"Can you provide proof, Mr. Wells?" The lawyer asked
calmly. "Provide witnesses? Melinda herself says that Mr.
Lagostini didn't molest her, so unless you have more solid
evidence, I suggest you desist in these insinuations."

"You tried to cover up my accusations." Wells glared at
Welsh. "And Melinda is too scared to testify against Lagostini.
You know damn well that there aren't any witnesses that aren't in
his pocket. That's why I tried to kill the son of a bitch
instead of filing charges."

"Book him for attempted murder." Welsh said to Huey.

"Lieutenant Welsh, is that necessary?" Ray asked suddenly.
"Mr. Wells won't be bothering me again, will you, Mr. Wells?
After all, you have your hands full caring for that beautiful
daughter of yours, don't you?" Yes, Wells had got the message,
loud and clear.

"Since you're the intended victim, I suppose we can drop any
charges." Welsh sighed. "I trust you'll be leaving Chicago, Mr.
Lagostini?"

"Right away. Come along, Kevin. I've wasted far too much
time already." Ray rose languidly and went over to Melinda. "I
don't think your father will want you to see me anymore.
Goodbye, honey."

"Goodbye." Melinda gave him a fierce hug, then kissed him
on the lips. Ray pushed her away gently and left.

****

"No. My brother would never touch a kid. No way."
Francesca said vehemently. Huey, Elaine, Welsh, Dewey, Fraser
and Kowalski were sitting around Kowalski's living room. The
issue had to be discussed and that was the only place private
enough.

"I agree. Ray could be a real pain in the ass, but a child
molester? No."

"I don't know. If Lagostini was already screwing the kid
and she didn't mind, maybe he's doing it to keep the cover."
Dewey offered his opinion, only to be sharply swatted across the
back of the head by Elaine.

"Lieutenant?" Kowalski asked, taking another swig of beer.

"I don't think Ray would go that far for the sake of a
cover." Welsh said absently. He was thinking hard about how to
cover all this up until the job was done. He had known that
Lagostini liked little girls, but he knew Ray would have refused
the job had he known. He also knew how deeply Ray could go
undercover if he had to. He wasn't sure at all whether Ray had
been with the kid or not. If it had been the only way to protect
the girl, he might have, depending on how closely Lagostini was
watched by his own men. He hoped not, but if Ray had been
fooling around with the girl, he wouldn't physically hurt her.
Melinda's reaction was typical of a victim who was both afraid of
and loved her tormentor. Welsh didn't want to discuss it. He
didn't even want to think about it.

"I don't know the guy." Kowalski began. "But I don't think
Fraser would be close friends with a guy who'd screw a little
kid. So my vote's no."

Fraser sat a little apart from the others. Six months ago,
he would have said no, without question. Ray wasn't a sexual
deviant. He wasn't cruel and he wasn't immoral.

However, he recalled what Ray had said. Ray had hinted that
he had done things for the sake of the cover that he was ashamed
of; things that he wouldn't tell Fraser about. And, while making
love, Ray had murmured "I'm sorry, Melinda, I am so sorry..."

"Benton?" Francesca asked. "Tell the Dew-drip over there
that he's got it all wrong."

"Ray is a decent and caring man." Fraser said carefully.
"I think he's very sorry for what has happened to Melinda. Ray
would never hurt a child in any way and I resent any implication
that he may have done so."

Ray would not have, he thought. But how much of the man I
saw today is Ray Vecchio and how much is Armande Lagostini?



Comments can be sent to: ar895@freenet.carleton.ca



--
Adrienne ar895@freenet.carleton.ca


Return to Due South Fiction Archive