A Very Palpable Hit
-------------------------

Ray Vecchio and Benton Fraser were having an argument.

"Benny, I know you don't like talking about her.  But we need to talk
about - about what happened - if we're ever gonna put it behind us,"
stated Vecchio.

"Ray, why must we talk about it? It's over. Victoria is gone. It's in
the past."

"Benny, I almost lost my job and my house because of that bitch.
Diefenbaker could have died.  She framed you for murder.  I really would
like to know why after all that happened, you were still going to go
with her."

"I loved her, Ray. And she became what she did because of me. She kept
me alive at Fortitude Pass. I should have let her go. I should have looked
the other way and allowed her to escape. Then she might have had a chance
to redeem herself. Instead, she went to prison. Prison made her what
she is, Ray. If she hadn't gone to prison ... it was my fault. I should
never have taken her in."

"Benny," sighed Ray. "What she did was not your fault. She broke the
law, she suffered the consequences. She used you - used your guilt, your
sense of honour, even your body. She used her sexuality as a way to
control
you. In that way, she was no better than a whore."

CRACK! Fraser's fist connected with Ray's jaw. The detective stumbled
back a few steps and stared at his partner in shock. "Benny - ?"

Ben looked at his hand, slightly sore from the impact. He opened and
closed his fingers. He couldn't believe what he had just done. He'd just
struck his best friend, the man that he loved. He turned and fled out
the door of the Vecchio home.

After the shock had worn off, Ray ran after the Mountie, but Fraser was
already gone. He swore and jumped into the Riviera and headed in the
general direction of Benny's apartment, assuming he was on his way home.
But when he got there, it was empty. The wolf wasn't even there. So Ray
began to drive around the neighbourhood in search of his Canadian friend.

Finally, when it was getting dark, he gave up. He decided he'd just go
to Benny's place and wait for him there - he had to go home eventually.

When he arrived at the apartment on West Racine, he discovered his partner
was already there.  Somehow he'd made it home without being spotted.
//Some detective I make if I can't track a guy in a bright red uniform//
Ray thought to himself. He approached Fraser, who was sitting in the
dark, staring out of the window into the night. "Benny?"

Fraser turned to look at him. "Oh, hello, Ray. What are you doing here?"

"I came to see if you were okay," the Italian replied.

"I should be asking that of you. After all, I am the one who struck you."

Ray rubbed his jaw. "I'm not likely to forget that, Benny! But you ran
outta my house so fast I got worried. I'm okay. Are you?"

"I don't know," mused Benton. "I am sorry, Ray. I never meant to hurt
you."

"It's all right, Benny. Apology accepted. My jaw's a little sore but
I'm sure it'll be fine by tomorrow."

"I don't mean just for hitting you, Ray. I never meant to hurt you when
Victoria was here. I know that what I did was inexcusable. I betrayed
you, and for that I am very, very sorry."

Feeling a bit uncomfortable because of this sudden display of emotion,
Ray tried to keep his tone light. "You're not the only man who ever did
stupid things for a woman, Benny."

Ben rose from his chair and approached Ray. "Do you think, Ray," he said,
"that men ever do stupid things for other men?"

"Like what, Benny?" asked his friend, though he had a feeling he knew.

"Like this, Ray," the Mountie replied, taking his partner's face in his
hands, gently, and kissing him.

"I don't think that's stupid at all, Benny," replied Ray a few moments
later. He kissed the other man, increasing the intensity.

For the rest of the night the two simply kissed and caressed each other,
their feelings too raw, too battered to do much more. There would be
plenty of time for that, later.

As the dawn broke, and Ray reluctantly got up to leave for work, Fraser
said, "Ray, I am sorry for everything that happened because of Victoria.
I could never intentionally hurt you. I love you."

Ray put his arms around his partner. "I know that, Benny. I love you,
too. The only way you could ever hurt me would be if you stopped loving
me." 

"You need not fear that, Ray. Ever."

END