Moh Mear!	

 Well, 'Out is In' or so they say, so here's one not submitted under an
alias. 
 
 Story inspired by Mitch Hudson who once wrote me, 'Hey, if you want Benny
tied
 up, *you* tie him up.' OK, I did and this is the result. Well at least a
 bound Benny is now *out* of my system ... Nah!
 
 As always, my deepest thanks to my beta-reader, Dsrvbf.
 
 And as always, comments, pro and con, welcome at Werethere @ AOL.com but
 entreaties for psychological help will be ignored.
 
 
 NC-17 for:
 Graphic M/M kinky sexual hi-jinks ...
 wincy, cringy medical parts ...
 a very unusual situation ...
 foul language ...
 angsty H/C ...
 bad taste ...
 
 
 "Moh Mear!"
 by Karen Rossi
 
 "Mayonnaise products."
 
 The moist, ticklish tongue was flicking in and out of his ear and wet
 fingertips were pinching his nipples making him squirm and moan. In
addition,
 the movement of his wrists and ankles against the soft silk neckties that
 bound him to the bed caused the most delightful sensation. Added to that,
Ray
 was laying on top of him, kissing and sucking, their swollen, sensitive
groins
 rubbing against one another adding to the heat in his groin and sending
 tingling electrical pulses shooting down his legs so it was entirely
 conceivable that he had misunderstood the words.
 
 Trying to control his breathing, getting his dazed mind to formulate a
 response and then having his mouth say the words his mind had just
formulated
 was proving most difficult. The delicious sensations were assailing him
and he
 just wanted to moan and surrender again but he just had to know.
 
 Surfacing, his mind and mouth finally able to work, Fraser said, "Ah,
Ray? Did
 you say 'mayonnaise products'?"
 
 "Yep". Ray had returned to sucking the firm bicep that was bulging from
 Fraser's upraised arm. Done with that, Ray's kisses now trailed across
Benny's
 brow and eyes. 
 
 *Curious.*
 
 "Ray?" 
 
 Ray was busy kissing Fraser's midriff while his fingernails raked down
his
 sides making the Mountie arch and moan.
 
 "Hmm?", was the only sound Ray offered, unwilling to remove his mouth
from
 Benny's nipple.
 
 "Why did you say 'mayonnaise products'?"
 
 "Because that's what comes to mind when I think of you."
 
 "Really?"
 
 "Yep."
 
 "Why?"
 
 Easy question; stupid answer. The drive to and from some tiny burb in
 Wisconsin for a deposition was supposed to be easy. All Ray wanted to do
was
 to drive and imagine Benny naked while squirming and moaning underneath
him.
 That's all. Easy enough. But the lawyer who had accompanied Ray on said
 deposition had a passion for cooking and would not shut up. He had
brought
 recipe books along to help pass the time and read aloud. The recipes for
 seafood, potato, shrimp, and macaroni salad were read with orgasmic
pleasure.
 Images of Benny moaning and writhing in ecstacy while Ray heard about
shrimp
 salad became hopelessly tangled in his mind. Before he realized it,
erotic
 Benny and mayonnaise products had become one. Ray knew this was just your
 typical ring-the-bell-watch-the-dog-drool type of thing because when he
and
 the lawyer stopped for lunch and the waitress said 'today's special' was
 shrimp salad, he came right then and there.
 
 *'Today's special' indeed.*
 
 Fraser's eyes were wide with amusement. "Really?"
 
 "No kidding." Ray was now straddling Fraser's thighs while stroking his
chest
 and midriff. "As a matter of fact, Little Ray was rock solid and
throbbing
 when I bought some shrimp salad from the deli counter today. Which
reminds me
 ..." Ray lifted his leg over Fraser's thighs and rolled off the bed.
Kissing
 his lover he whispered, "Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back." 
 
 Fraser gave a small tug to the ties that bound him. "I don't imagine I'll
be
 going anywhere soon, Ray. You have a captive audience."
 
 Ray leaned over and flicked his tongue in his lover's navel making the
Mountie
 arch and his abdomen contract. "Good. Just the way I like it."
 
 Ray crossed the small apartment and headed towards the refrigerator. He
had to
 mightily control himself since both the shrimp salad and his Mountie were
 occupying the same place. Alone, either one could fill him with crazed
 passion. Now finally together, Ray was in serious danger of dying from
heart
 failure. His trembling hands reached in the refrigerator and touched the
 smooth, cool plastic containers of shrimp salad. He hoped that he had
enough
 to cover a 6 foot, 180 pound man. *Not something you can ask the deli
counter
 person. I'll start with one container.*
 
 Fraser smiled as he watched Ray across the room, thankful that he had
such a
 thoughtful, inventive lover. Although always a very willing participant
in the
 games that Ray thought of, he was very much aware that his own
imagination was
 not his strong point. Thank goodness that Ray had enough for them both.
To
 this day, the memories of the game 'Roman Ship Captain and the Galley
Slave'
 could bring a smile and other certainly pleasant stirrings to him. 
 
 Ray turned to see his beautiful lover wiggling suggestively in the bed
against
 his bonds, blue eyes looking hungrily at him from between upraised arms.
 Fraser's chest was heaving and he was glistening with sweat. 
 
 *Oh no!*, Ray thought as he held onto the shrimp salad for dear life.
 
 Fraser moaned and closed his eyes. 
 
 Ray frantically made mental efforts to calm Little Ray. He closed his
eyes and
 took several deep breaths. *Hold on there, big fella. Just give me a few
more
 minutes.*
 
 Composed once again, Ray dashed over to the bedside and straddled
Fraser's
 thighs once more. With a smile he popped open the container of shrimp
salad.
 He dug his hand deep into the container and came up with a generous
handful
 which he plopped in the center of the Mountie's chest. Fraser's eyes
widened
 and he nearly screamed when the cold hit his chest. But it warmed up
quickly
 when Ray's hands spread the mayonnaise, crustaceans, and spices around
his
 torso, groin, and thighs. The sensations caused by the bits of shrimp and
 celery rolling around on his skin under Ray's palms was erotic. Moaning,
 Fraser arched his back and pressed his face into his upper arm. 
 
 Ray sat back, smiling as he admired the view. His Mountie stretched out
below
 him covered shoulder to thigh in sweet, juicy shrimp. 
 
 *Oh man! This is such a good idea!* 
 
 Ray leaned forward and began to chase shrimp around Benny's nipple. As he
 scooted a little more down Benny's legs, Ray was delighted that his
fantasy
 idea had gone over so well. He eyed the Mountie's groin hungrily. Not
that he
 ever needed any incentive to take Benny's cock into his mouth but it was
a
 bonus when it was covered in delicious shrimp. 
 
 Unable to resist any longer, Ray bent forward over Fraser's legs and
began to
 tease and caress the Mountie's opening with a gentle fingertip, and then
 carefully inserted a wiggling finger into his lover. He took his lover
deeply
 into his mouth and swirled his clever tongue around his shaft. Fraser was
 gasping, his head pressed against the pillow and he moved it side to side
 between his upraised arms while his fluid hips bucked wildly into Ray's
warm
 mouth. His eyes were closed and he moaned continuously while his lover
brought
 him to orgasm. Even when Fraser's convulsing had stopped, Ray kept the
penis
 in his mouth as he happily chased shrimp around the softening organ.
 
 Fraser was tingly and still delirious with pleasure as Ray continued his
 ministrations. As he sucked and twirled Fraser's foreskin around his
tongue,
 Ray wondered how he would have Fraser pleasure him. 
 
 *Should I let Benny do this to me? Nah. Been there. Another time maybe.* 
 
 What they were going to do with the remaining four pounds of shrimp salad
was
 beyond him. 
 
 Ray peeked up at Fraser as he continued to twirl the foreskin. Fraser
showed
 no signs of surfacing yet as he was still moaning and writhing under
Ray's
 mouth. 
 
 *I could do this forever! Maybe I'll just climb on top of him and
masturbate
 into his groin. That's always good. Nah.*
 
 Fraser finally opened his eyes and was gasping. Ray twirled the foreskin
like
 it was spaghetti. 
 
 *Untie his legs, spreadeagle him, re-tie his legs and fuck him thoroughly
 while I'm curled against his heaving chest.*
 
 Little Ray throbbed happily at the thought.
 
 *Bingo! Looks like we have a winner!*
 
 "Ray!", Fraser screamed nearly arching off the bed and pulling at his
bonds. 
 
 Alarmed, Ray tired to pull his head up but something held him firmly near
 Benny's groin.
 
 "Ray! For God's sake please don't move!"
 
 "Menny! Mhat's mrong?"
 
 "My foreskin ... it's stuck somehow, I think."
 
 Ray lifted his head. "Mhat?"
 
 "Argh! Ray don't pull it!"
 
 Ray carefully felt around the inside of his mouth with his tongue.
Benny's
 assessment and his own fears were confirmed; Benny's twirled foreskin was
 wrapped around and stuck in Ray's dental work.
 
 "Moh mear!"
 
 Ray brought a hand up to his mouth. Carefully, he inserted his fingers to
try
 to release the foreskin. But his tongue and Benny's cock left little room
for
 Ray to maneuver his fingers. Ray gagged, the foreskin pulled, and Benny
 screamed.
 
 Grimacing against the pain, Fraser gasped out, "Ray, perhaps if we
changed our
 positions to something less awkward, maybe we could remedy this."
 
 "Merhaps. Mhat mo moo mummest?"
 
 "Let's try standing."
 
 "Menny, mour mied mup!"
 
 "Well, no need to worry. A few good pulls ...", Fraser began to sharply
tug at
 his wrists, "... and I should be free."
 
 "Just a few good pulls ...", Fraser said in a hopeful voice as the silk
 tightened around his wrists.
 
 "... few good pulls ...", the slack the silk ties previously had was now
gone,
 "... and I am tied up tighter than ever."
 
 Fraser reconsidered the situation. "Excellent knots, Ray."
 
 "Manks, Menny."
 
 "Maybe if you tried to free it with your fingers ..."
 
 Ray rolled his eyes and sighed.
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 Ray's back, neck, and jaw ached. He didn't know how much time had passed
but
 enough did so he was absolutely certain he would not be embarrassed at
being
 found naked, straddling his lover, oh who by the way was tied to the bed
 beneath him, his cock in his mouth. With the aches and pains he was
having, no
 way this would be humiliating. It would be a relief. He just had to
convince
 his lover that they needed help.
 
 In the time that had passed, Fraser had offered many suggestions. "Ray
move
 this way ... maybe move that way ... use your fingers like a fulcrum
...", all
 to no avail. Ray could tell from all the tugging that Fraser's penis was
 beginning to swell and not in a good way. However, time was with Ray as
Fraser
 became white with strain and a cold sweat covered his body. And now he
was
 telling Ray to "... just pull the thing out." 
 
 "Menny, me meed mo mall mine-mun-mun."
 
 "I'd rather not, Ray."
 
 "Me meed melp!"
 
 "Ray, I can stand the pain. If you would just please pull it out."
 
 Ray had enough. He gave a vindictive tug to the swollen penis and Fraser
 arched painfully.
 
 "Menny, mall mine-mun-mun."
 
 "This is so humiliating."
 
 "Mell me're min mit momether."
 
 In his overwhelming Benny-lust, Ray had just discarded his coat on the
floor.
 He was thankful that he had done it, because now his cell phone was
mercifully
 close.
 
 "Must murn mome, Menny."
 
 Tied as he was, Fraser could only roll the barest of inches but it was
enough
 that, straining, Ray could reach over and finger the jacket tossed on the
 floor beside the bed. He teased the material with his fingertips until he
 could grasp a handful and hauled the coat onto the bed. Being careful not
to
 move his head too much, Ray felt the folds of his coat for his cellphone.
He
 found the phone, dialed 911, and then held the phone up to Fraser's mouth
and
 ear.
 
 "911."
 
 "Yes. Good evening, ma'am. I, uh, I mean we, uh, need the assistance of
 Paramedics."
 
 "What is the nature of your emergency, sir?"
 
 "Well, I wouldn't call it an emergency really. Just a, uh, a situation
where
 we will need medical assistance for a brief period." 
 
 Ray rolled his eyes. *Jesus! This could go on all night!* 
 
 "Maser! Mell mer!"
 
 "Sir, I need to know the nature of your emergency."
 
 "Well, it's ... a well, uh, rather difficult thing to describe ..." At
 Fraser's babbling, Ray gave another small tug at the swollen foreskin
that had
 the Mountie arching with tears in his eyes. 
 
 "...I think it would be best described as a freak dental accident..."
 
 "A freak dental accident?"
 
 "Yes, ma'am."
 
 *We are getting nowhere with this! Well sometimes you gotta be cruel to
be
 kind.* With that thought, Ray gave a tug that had Fraser screaming.
 
 "Tell me where you are, sir, and I'll have someone over right away." In a
 voice that was several octaves higher, Fraser gave his address.
 
 When the call was completed, Ray shut the phone and slipped his jacket
on. 
 
 "Mon't morry. Mun may me'll maugh mbout mis, Menny."
 
 "Oh I don't think so, Ray."
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 They could hear the Paramedics thudding down the hallway, their heavy
medical
 kits banging along the walls as they walked. The pounding on the flimsy
door
 and the yell of, "Anyone call 911 in there?", echoed throughout the
apartment
 house. 
 
 "Oh dear."
 
 Ray sighed. *So much for discretion.*
 
 "Yes. Please come in. The door's unlocked."
 
 The two young Paramedics stepped into the room and their eyes widened and
and
 their eyebrows raised at the site before them. 
 
 "Foreskin caught in the dental work", the older looking Paramedic said
wisely,
 assessing the situation. The second nodded in agreement.
 
 "Yes. Can I ask how do you know that?"
 
 "Seen it before", "It happens", the two answered simultaneously.
 
 "Mesus! Menough mhit-mhat!"
 
 "Joey, close the door, will ya?"
 
 "Mank moo!"
 
 "Joey, you release patient number two here while I try to see what's
going on
 here."
 
 "Will do, Kenny."
 
 Kenny, the older Paramedic, leaned in close and Ray could feel his breath
on
 his face. He pulled out a pen light and flashed it around Ray's mouth.
Ray
 tilted his head slightly to accommodate the Paramedic. 
 
 "OK. Let's see what trouble you've done. Mind me askin' how long you boys
been
 like this?"
 
 "I'm not certain. About an hour and a half give or take."
 
 Joey tried unsuccessfully to undo the knots. "Jesus! Good knots." He
pulled
 out his bandage scissors. "Mind if I just cut these, boys?"
 
 "Mo mroblem."
 
 With the aid of the scissors, Fraser's wrists and then ankles were
quickly
 freed. He rubbed his sore and tingly wrists trying to restore
circulation.
 
 "Thank you."
 
 The Paramedic was finally able to glimpse the sight. "Whoo-wee! Yes, sir.
 There's plenty of damage alright. OK. Game plan. Let's make this as quick
and
 as painless as possible. I'll coat the area with a jelly that is numbing.
When
 it takes affect, we'll ease that boy out. But there is plenty of damage,
so
 you'll have to go to the hospital with us and get checked out. Alright?"
 
 "Understood", Fraser said. Ray grunted.
 
 Ray gagged when the Paramedic coated the area with the medicinal jelly.
"OK,
 Joey. When we're through, you take patient number two and get a pressure
 dressing and cold packs to the area. I'll take patient number one and
check
 his teeth and mouth. Feel numb yet?", he asked Fraser.
 
 "Yes. I think so."
 
 It was over in a few minutes. Ray gagged and felt as if he were choking.
From
 a distance, he heard Fraser yell, and in another moment he was standing
beside
 Kenny who was looking at him, worried. 
 
 "You OK, buddy? You're pretty pale there. You better sit down", the
Paramedic
 said as he guided Ray to a chair.
 
 The room was spinning and had finally begun to slow. The only thing he
was
 aware of was that his jaw ached. Confusion swamped him and he eventually
 realized that he was sitting in a chair with the Paramedic standing over
him,
 flashing a light around the inside of his mouth. 
 
 "I think you'll be OK, but I'd get that dental work fixed. You stay put."
 
 "Fine", Ray managed to say.
 
 "I'll be right back. I'm just going over to help your buddy."
 
 Full memory flooded him and Ray quickly looked over to the bed where
Fraser
 lay. He saw the Paramedics working over his lover who was pale and
staring
 expressionless at the ceiling. The sight made him gasp aloud and on
unsteady
 legs he rushed to Fraser's side. The Mountie was coated with a cold sweat
and
 he looked as if he was barely breathing. 
 
 "Benny?", he said as he reached out and grabbed Fraser's hand. "Is he
 alright?", Ray anxiously asked the Paramedics.
 
 "He'll be fine. He just passed out and is a little shocky. That's all.
We'll
 be going to the hospital shortly. How 'bout getting dressed?"
 
 When they left to get the stretcher from the ambulance, Ray quickly
dressed
 and Fraser had revived a little. He gave a squeeze to Ray's hand.
 
 "It's OK, Benny. We'll get you checked out at the hospital. This will all
be
 over soon."
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 In the ambulance, Fraser had curled into the fetal position and kept his
hands
 reflexively cupped around his groin. He shook as if he had a chill and
between
 chattering teeth he whispered to Ray, "This is so humiliating."
 
 "Benny, I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen", Ray said as he
 stroked Fraser's hair. He put his fingertip to two tiny tears that had
 gathered in the corners of the Mountie's eyes. 
 
 "What's the matter, Benny? Does it hurt that bad?"
 
 "Yes. This really is quite painful. But that's not why I'm upset. I'm
worried
 about you."
 
 "About me?"
 
 "I'm afraid you'll feel guilty and think that this is your fault somehow.
And
 it's not. You just apologized and there is nothing for you to be sorry
for.
 Capisce?"
 
 The use of Italian had been unexpected and caught Ray by surprise.
"Capisce?
 You been hanging around my family way too much, Benny. Capisco...I
 understand."
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 The Paramedics gave information to the attending doctor about the patient
they
 had just wheeled into the Emergency Room. Ray helped Fraser to straighten
out
 a little and held his hand while he groaned as the doctor gently pulled
away
 the cold packs and dressings. Afraid if he glimpsed the sight that he'd
be
 shocked into celibacy, Ray concentrated on running his fingers through
 Fraser's hair.
 
 "This is gonna have to come off", the doctor said after assessing the
area.
 
 "What?", Ray screamed.
 
 The doctor laughed lightly. "Sorry. I didn't phrase that correctly.
You'll
 need to have a circumcision tonight. The area is very swollen and the
torn
 foreskin is acting like a tourniquet. I'll notify the surgical team at
and
 it'll take a few minutes to get everyone assembled. I'll just step out to
make
 the calls and get the paperwork started. I'll be back shortly."
 
 The doctor pulled back the curtain to the cubicle and disappeared in a
swish
 of material.
 
 "This is so humiliating."
 
 The curtain swished back again and the Paramedic, Kenny, was there. "Ah
...
 excuse me. I'm just completing the paper work on the transport and I
already
 have your address, I just need your name and insurance information."
 
 "Ah, yes. My name is Ben ..."
 
 "Ben Cartwright", Ray helpfully supplied. 
 
 Kenny wrote the information on his clip board. "And your insurance?"
 
 "There is none. This will be all self pay", Ray added.
 
 Kenny could not contain the surprise on his face. "Really? And you admit
it?
 Most folks don't. Well that's all I need. Good luck to you." He smiled to
them
 as he left.
 
 "Ray! Why did you say that? I'm not sure but I think it's safe to say
that
 it's illegal to give an alias on health care and insurance information."
 
 "Benny! Don't worry about it. Jeez! Most people I arrest don't give their
 right name. Besides you want Thatcher and Ottawa finding out about this?"
 
 "Excuse me ... sorry to bother you again", Kenny said as poked his head
 through the curtain. "But I'm not sure how to spell your last name."
 
 "C-A-R-T-W-R-I-G-H-T", Fraser spelled for him.
 
 "Gotcha. Thanks again." Kenny held the curtain for a nurse who wanted to
enter
 the cubicle.
 
 When the nurse entered, Ray was told to leave. She had to get Fraser
ready for
 the OR, do paperwork, teach him, start an IV, and give him pain
medication and
 antibiotics. Ray started to protest but the nurse would hear none of it,
 suggesting that Ray would be of better use at the Registration Desk
giving
 health and insurance information rather than being under foot.
 
 Ray paced at the Registration desk. His hands were deep in his coat
pockets
 and he jangled the keys and coins in his pockets as he walked. Fraser was
the
 only patient in the ER at this time. In the empty waiting room, just
behind
 the Registration Desk, the TV was blaring 'Gilligan's Island'. As soon as
Ray
 told the Unit Secretary that there was no insurance and that this
 hospitalization would be self pay, she could not contain her surprise.
 
 "Really? And you admit it? Jeez, most folks don't."
 
 Ray could feel his blood pressure rising as the secretary now searched
through
 little used and unfamiliar computer screens to find the 'Self Pay' forms.
Her
 apologizing did not help to contain Ray's agitation. Also the fact that
the
 tune from 'Gilligan's Island' kept circling endlessly in his head didn't
help
 either. 
 
 "I'm sorry, sir. I can't find the screens I need. Just give me half a
moment
 and I'll call Jen. She knows everything about these computers."
 
 *Just sit right back and hear a tale ... a tale of a fateful trip ...*
 
 Ray kept his eyes fixed on the Treatment Area, afraid that he'd be stuck
at
 the Registration Desk, answering goofy questions, humming 'Gilligan's
Island',
 and miss Fraser being taken to the OR. 
 
 *... that started from this tropic port aboard this tiny ship ...*
 
 "Yeah, please. Call Jen."
 
 Ray paced and drummed out the tune of 'Gilligan's Island' against his
thighs
 while the secretary searched and, with Jen's help, eventually found the
 correct screens.
 
 *... the Mate was a mighty sailin' man ... the Skipper brave and sure ...
five
 passengers set sail that day for a three hour tour ... a three hour tour
...*
 
 "OK ... I got them. Thanks, Jen", the secretary said as she hung up the
phone.
 "Your name, sir?"
 
 *... the weather started getting rough ... the tiny ship was tossed ...*
 
 The question caught Ray unprepared. He stared wide-eyed and silent at the
Unit
 Secretary.
 
 *... if not for the courage of the fearless crew ... the Minnow would be
lost
 ... the Minnow would be lost ...* 
 
 "Your name, sir?"
 
 *... the ship's a-ground on the shore of this uncharted deserted isle ...
with
 Gilligan, the Skipper too ...*
 
 Ray's throat clenched and in a squeaky voice said, "Skipper ..."
 
 "Skipper? Is that your first name or last name?"
 
 *... the millionaire and his wife ...*
 
 "Sir? Mr. Skipper?"
 
 Ray swallowed hard and beads of sweat began to gather at his neck. 
 
 "Thurston ..."
 
 The Unit Secretary was confused. "Is that Skipper Thurston or Thurston
 Skipper?"
 
 *... the Professor and Mary Ann ...*
 
 The perspiration began to roll down his back. "Professor ..... Professor
 Skipper Thurston. Yes, that's me ..... Professor Skipper Thurston." And
in a
 valiant attempt to lend credence to his alias, he added, "I ..... teach."

 
 *... here on Gilligan's Isle! ...*
 
 Ray took the handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed the beads of sweat
on his
 forehead. To his surprise, the hardest question was his name; the rest
were
 much easier. Before he knew it, they were done and he was permitted to
return
 to Benny's side.
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 As soon as he entered the cubicle, Ray knew Fraser had been given some
pain
 medication. He was uncurled a little and was sleeping. His hands rested
on his
 chest and Ray noticed that an IV was started in the back of his left
hand. Ray
 approached him quietly and gently picked up his right arm. He held the
lax
 hand to his chest and then brought the hand up and kissed ... a shrimp.
 
 Alarmed, Ray's head snapped back. *Oh, Jesus Christ! I forgot all about
that!*
 
 Benny was still wearing the 'Chicagoland Ambulance' gown that the
Paramedics
 had put on him. He pulled the sheet down that covered his sleeping lover
and
 lifted the gown and peeked under it. Benny's groin was once again covered
in
 dressings and cold packs; Ray looked past the dressings to his lover's
chest
 as it rose quietly and regularly with deep respirations, and saw nearly
two
 pounds of dried shrimp salad adhered to it.
 
 *Oh my God!*
 
 He could even clearly see the trails his tongue left through the shrimp
 coating Benny's chest. 
 
 *Jesus!*
 
 Panicked, Ray ran around the small cubicle flinging open the cupboards
looking
 for washcloths and soap while Fraser slept, blessedly unaware of the
potential
 added humiliation. Finally finding what he needed, he threw a few dry
 washcloths towards Fraser which landed on his legs and then went to the
sink
 and turned the taps on full force. The others he tossed into the sink and
 squirted some soap over them. When they were sufficiently soapy and warm,
he
 turned off the taps and squeezed out the excess water. With the
washcloths in
 his hands, he dashed over to his sleeping lover and gently lifted the
sheet
 and pulled it down to Fraser's knees. He then lifted the patient gown
high and
 tucked it under Benny's chin. 
 
 When the warm washcloths were placed on his chest, Fraser finally
stirred, his
 glassy eyes opened and he smiled sleepily up at Ray. Pain free and
floating in
 a narcotic haze, Fraser closed his eyes and began to moan and thrust as
Ray
 slid the washcloths around his chest. 
 
 "Shh, Benny. I gotta get this shrimp off you."
 
 Ray listened to Fraser's content moans and felt him as he wriggled under
his
 hands. He watched fascinated as the water and bubbles trickled and
slipped
 around his lover's chest and abdomen, making his nipples harden and his
chest
 glisten. 
 
 *Oh man!* 
 
 Ray realized he was enjoying this a little too much and returned to a
more
 clinical way of washing. 
 
 Fraser groaned and opened his eyes, disappointed that Ray's sensuous
 attentions had stopped. 
 
 "We'll do this another time, believe me, Benny", Ray said with a smile as
he
 dried his Mountie.
 
 Fraser sighed. "Thank you, Ray."
 
 "Benny, not that you'll remember this, but call me Skipper."
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 Fraser was puzzled as he watched the walls of the OR finally slow down
and
 stop spinning. As he was not wholly unfamiliar with the effects of
controlled
 substances, he knew that, technically, the IV narcotic given to him by
the
 nurse in the ER should have had an onset of one to three minutes with
peak
 influence occuring in fifteen to twenty minutes lasting for fourty
minutes to
 an hour. Analgesia and the accompanying solmenence should last one to two
 hours but forces stronger than the narcotic had converged to make him
wide
 awake. 
 
 First, it was hearing the OR attendants as they made their way through
the ER
 asking if Mr. Cartwright was ready for surgery. The thin curtain which
served
 as a door for the cubicle provided little privacy. Acutely aware that
society
 had deemed their love unacceptable, they held one another. Whispered
 endearments and gentle kisses had to be hurried in these last private
moments
 as neither man would subject the other to the painful ignorant comments
or
 hateful stares that a public display of their affection would cause. Only
when
 the footsteps were just outside the curtain, did they part. 
 
 Second, it was seeing the devastation on Ray's face as they parted at the
OR. 
 
 And now, as he was being transferred from the stretcher to the OR table,
a
 sharp pull at his groin sent a ripping sensation through him that had him
 sitting up on the OR table, cupping his groin, trying to control his
scream. 
 
 The anesthesiologist gave him something through his IV line. It took a
few
 minutes to take effect and eventually they were able to settle him back
on the
 table. One of the nurses asked him to turn a little and she untied the
back of
 his gown. He was flanked on both sides as the nurses slipped the gown off
his
 shoulders, down his lax arms and left it lying crumpled across his chest.

 
 Oh yes. This he knew. After the Victoria fiasco and his subsequent back
 injury, for weeks he lay in the hospital in various states of
consciousness.
 The bed baths he was given had always started just this way. The two
nurses
 floated above him and he rushed to reassure them. 
 
 "Oh no. You don't have to do that. Ray already washed me."
 
 *Oh dear.* 
 
 He'd made a mistake. Fraser closed his eyes and bit his lip. 
 
 *Ray wanted to be called ..... something ..... something ..... Skipper
was it?
 Is this another game? The one where he had to yell, "Skipper! Come play
with
 my little buddy!"* 
 
 He was jarred awake. *Oh dear. Did I say that out loud?* 
 
 Embarrassed, he glanced around the room. If he did, the OR personnel
showed no
 reaction to his perceived outburst. 
 
 *Thank goodness. Just in my head probably.*
 
 Fraser looked around the room. Whatever the anesthesiologist had given
him was
 beginning to have an effect. He closed his eyes as he heard the
unmistakable
 sound of velcro being pulled apart and then his arms felt light as they
were
 lifted from his sides and positioned on arm boards. The velcro straps
were
 placed around his forearms and then his thighs, restraining him to the
table
 just as the anesthesiologist was placing the cardiac leads on his chest,
 accidently brushing against his nipple, making it pucker and harden. 
 
 Waves of desire ran through him. Ray was here now, tying him up, teasing
his
 nipples. 
 
 *Oh Ray!*
 
 He smiled sleepily and opened his eyes to see his beloved. 
 
 The cardiac monitor registered Fraser's heartbeat as his rate suddenly
 increased, setting off alarms, startling the OR personnel causing them to
 first glance at the machine and then their patient. 
 
 Fraser opened his eyes fully expecting to see his Ray, not the figure in
Red
 Serge and Stetson, shaking his head in disdain, coming up to stand behind
the
 green robed OR members. 
 
 "You're ashamed, son. And you should be. In my fifty-seven years of being
 alive and my three years of being dead, I never got my fella caught in
 anything. Not even a zipper. Never once. It's a good thing your
grandmother's
 already dead. This would kill her."
 
 "Will you please leave."
 
 The green robed nurse gave Fraser's hand a gentle squeeze and spoke in a
 soothing voice. "I'm sorry, Mr. Cartwright. I can't leave. I'm the
circulating
 nurse ... I'm needed here to help with your surgery." 
 
 "I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean you. I meant him."
 
 "Oh. He can't leave either. He's the anesthesiologist."
 
 "I saw the show you and the Yank were putting on. Now there's something
you
 don't see everyday. And who's this Cartwright?"
 
 "So you watched. And it's a long story, but ... I'm Cartwright."
 
 The medications were confusing her patient. *Best to offer a little
reality
 orientation*, thought the nurse. "Yes! Of course you're, Mr. Cartwright!
Did
 you want me to watch something?"
 
 "I most certainly did not watch. I covered my eyes. It was embarrassing
and
 most likely illegal in most states. And if it's not, it should be. A
waste of
 perfectly good shrimp salad if you ask me ..."
 
 "No one's asking you."
 
 "Asking me what, Mr. Cartwright?"
 
 Fraser glanced at the elderly nurse, embarrassed. "I'm sorry. It's
nothing."
 
 "I'm not going to watch now either. I couldn't stomach it. 'Mangled' was
the
 term that comes to mind. I'll just stay until you nod off."
 
 "Mangled? You have not seen my penis."
 
 "Yes, you're right Mr. Cartwright. I haven't seen your penis", the nurse
 rushed to reassure him. 
 
 "Oh dear. Please forgive me. I wasn't speaking to you. I was talking to
him."
 
 The anesthesiologist looked up surprised and spoke to the nurse. "He's
telling
 the truth. I've never seen his penis."
 
 "That's a moot point, son. In a few minutes, I suspect they'll all have
seen
 it."
 
 Dr. Hamill, the anesthesiologist, waved irritably to the nurse to leave
 Fraser's side. Moving to stand behind Fraser, they watched fascinated as
their
 patient carried on a conversation with thin air. 
 
 Fraser glared at his father. "Do you see the problems you're causing?"
 
 "Me? I haven't caused one problem. It was you and that Yank. If you would
only
 start to behave yourself none of this would have happenend. Anyway, I'm
here
 for an important reason. We have to talk about your penis, son."
 
 "We most certainly do not."
 
 Fraser Sr. proceeded undeterred. "For the purposes of adequate sexual
 identification, a son should resemble his father. If you should have a
son,
 son, you'll need to have him circumsized. But given recent events and
your
 embarrassing attraction to the Yank, I really don't see how ..."
 
 "It is not an 'embarrassing attraction'. I love Ra .... ah, I mean, ....
 Skipper."
 
 "He's having hallucinations", Dr. Hamill whispered to the nurse. Actions
 followed his words and he quickly injected a medication into Fraser's IV
line
 to reverse the sedative he had administered. *There, that should do it*,
the
 doctor thought hopefully.
 
 "Skipper? Who's Skipper? Does the Yank know about this?" Fraser Sr.
adopted a
 thoughtful pose. "I can't remember the Yank's name right now but I'm sure
it's
 not Skipper. Give me half a moment ... it's on the tip of my tongue ..." 
 
 "For reasons I don't quite understand, Ray wants to be called Skipper.
And I'm
 sure it's a very good reason. So Skipper is Ray. But that's not the
point.
 The point is don't you have anything better to do? Can't you see I'm a
little
 indisposed at present?"
 
 Dr. Hamill continued to watch Fraser argue with the air. *Hmm. Maybe not.
 Well, let me just get him under. He can have a neuro-psychiatric consult
if
 necessary.* He chose the medications and injected them slowly into the
IV. 
 
 "Benton, if I were you, I'd try to go to sleep right now. That's the
third
 medication he's given you."
 
 "I can't sleep when you're arguing with me."
 
 Fraser Sr. eyed the doctor suspiciously. "He's too young. I'd ask for
someone
 else. I don't trust him."
 
 "I trust him completely."
 
 "Now there's the fourth medication he's given you. At least pretend to be
 asleep. Maybe then he'll stop."
 
 "I have no intention of pretending to sleep."
 
 "You know you get daffy when you take medications."
 
 "I do not get 'daffy'."
 
 "Oh yes you do, son. Ask your Yank friend. He's seen you enough times
like
 that." Fraser Sr. considered the situation. "Hmm ... perhaps if you
counted
 backwards. That seems to help most people."
 
 "Perhaps if you left."
 
 Fraser suddenly felt as if he were floating. His limbs felt light and his
head
 began to swim. His hands, that until now were clutching the armboard,
relaxed
 and he felt his fingers curling palmward. His eyelids felt leaden and
sleep
 began to overwhelm him. 
 
 "Good. You're falling asleep. I can tell. You got that goofy look on your
 face. Don't stop now or he'll give you more medication. Count with me,
son.
 One hundred, ninety-nine, ninety-eight ..."
 
 "... tee ...... zeffen ..."
 
 Fraser watched as a black mask hovered above his face and was placed over
his
 mouth and nose. He felt it tighten as it was held firmly in place.
 
 "OK, Mr. Cartwright ... just take some good deep breaths ...", was the
last
 thing Fraser heard. 
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 He knew it! He just knew it! 
 
 Tiger-like, Ray paced the Waiting Room, circling endlessly while running
his
 fingers through his hair. 
 
 He knew it! He knew that they were all in there, laughing at Fraser. He
just
 knew it! But to be honest, he hadn't seen the glint of laughter in
anyone's
 eyes; just fatigue and the stress from overwork. But no laughter, really.

 
 Didn't matter. As soon as they were done in surgery, and he was with
Fraser
 again, he'd never leave his side. At least if they were being laughed at
or
 whispered about, Benny wouldn't suffer alone, they'd be in it together. 
 
 "Professor Thurston?"
 
 Ray stopped his pacing and whirled around as two doctors approached him. 
 
 Dr. Patton, the surgeon, smiled at him. "The surgery went very well and
Mr.
 Cartwright has just been admitted to the Recovery Room."
 
 Ray heaved a sigh of relief. 
 
 "Because of the swelling and trauma to the area, we'll have to keep him
here
 for a few days. Although the surgery went well, Dr. Hamill has some
concerns
 about Mr. Cartwright's reaction to the anesthesia."
 
 Ray's heart stood still.
 
 The anesthesiologist took up the narrative. "When he was being
administered
 the anesthesia, Mr. Cartwright seemed to be having some vivid visual and
 auditory hallucinations. It is just a side effect and not an adverse
effect
 that some people experience. We'll monitor him but I suspect that there
won't
 be a problem when the anesthesia is fully out of his system." 
 
 "He's just being settled in the Recovery Room now and you can have a
brief
 visit. The nurse will come and get you when he can be seen."
 
 Ray shook both their hands and thanked them.
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 Fifteen minutes later, Ray followed the nurse through the labyrinth of
 hallways that was the Recovery Room. At midnight, there was little sound
to be
 heard except for their echoing footfalls. Ray stepped into the large
darkened
 room and tucked away in a far corner, he saw an island of light that
 illuminated Fraser laying sprawled on a bed. He dashed over to the light
and
 grabbed the plastic siderail of the bed to steady himself as he stared
down at
 his lover. 
 
 Fraser lay pale with is arms flung wide, his mouth parted. His eyes were
half
 open with some of the blue barely visible. He seemed to be hardly
breathing
 and a cannula, placed just under his nose, delivered oxygen to help
reverse
 the anesthesia. To Ray, he looked dead. The only noise came from all the
 monitors that were attached to him.
 
 "Is he alright?"
 
 The nurse smiled and spoke softly. "He's doing fine. His vital signs are
 stable and he's coming out of the anesthesia nicely.You can talk to him.
He's
 arousable."
 
 Ray leaned in close and spoke softly into the Mountie's ear while putting
his
 hand to Fraser's chest. 
 
 "Benny?"
 
 Fraser's eyes suddenly widened and he stared up at Ray with empty glazed
eyes.
 
 *Ray.* 
 
 He tried to smile, tried to say his name, but couldn't. After a few
seconds,
 Fraser's eyes rolled back up into his head and he returned to his open
eyed
 sleep.
 
 "Oh Benny."
 
 At his anguished look, the nurse reassured him. "It's OK. He just needs a
 little more time on the oxygen, that's all. It was a twenty minute
procedure
 and he has forty minutes worth of anesthesia in him."
 
 After his brief visit which did nothing to comfort him, Ray was once
again
 relegated to pacing in the OR waiting room. 
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 Within the hour, Fraser was taken to his room. Following the nurse
through the
 dimly lit hallways, Ray was once again led to Fraser's side. Although
still
 deeply asleep and barely arousable, Ray could tell that some of the
anesthesia
 had worked its way out of Fraser's system because now the Mountie lay
composed
 in his sleep, eyes and mouth closed, hands resting on his chest, as
usual. 
 
 He pulled a chair to the bedside and watched Fraser sleep, like he would
often
 do after their lovemaking. They were opposites; where Ray got active and
 hungry after sex, Fraser would sleep. He pulled the chair closer and
putting
 his hands through the siderails, his left hand stroking Fraser's hair
while
 his right hand rested on the Mountie's forearm. 
 
 As the night wore on, Benny remained quiet and asleep and Ray eventually
 dozed. He had dreams of fixing Fraser's apartment, painting the walls,
 repairing and varnishing the wood. He dreamt of trying to repair the
damage.
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 The sudden violent movements and groans had Ray awake instantly. Fraser
no
 longer lay silent but was covered in cold sweat, thrashing in bed,
clutching
 his abdomen. Alarmed, Ray pressed the call light for the nurse. 
 
 "Benny."
 
 >From a distance, he heard Ray calling him. With an effort, he found that
he
 could open his eyes. Ray and a woman floated above him. His lover looked
 apprehensive; the woman, concerned.
 
 "I'm going to throw up", he told them.
 
 Simultaneously, their hands shot out across his body. Ray grabbed him by
the
 shoulder and waist, the woman by the hip and knee and together they
turned
 him onto his right side. The motion set the room spinning and added ten
fold
 to his nausea. Something was pressed against the side of his face as he
began
 to retch. The heaving caused his groin to pull and doubled him over with
pain.
 
 When the violent retching subsided, he was aware of voices speaking above
him
 as a cup was pressed to his lips. He pulled his head away.
 
 "No, thank you. I don't want anything to drink."
 
 But the hand was insistent and the cup was returned to his lips. The
voice,
 sounding as if it were speaking to him underwater, kept repeating, 'swish
and
 spit'. The liquid in the cup tasted like mint and his dazed mind
recognized it
 as mouthwash. He did as the voice urged grateful that the vile taste in
his
 throat had lessened as he pushed the mouthwash out with his tongue and
mouth. 
 
 He looked up to the owner of the voice and saw Ray lean close and wipe
the
 side of his face with tissues. 
 
 He watched as Ray spoke to someone and something white was placed into
Ray's
 hand. Ray took the cool washcloth and unrolled it, placing it across his
brow.
 
 The whimper of indignity that he gave as he felt the covers being pulled
down
 and his patient gown being opened, gave way to a small cry of pain when
he
 felt the needle sink deep into his hip and then again as the burning
 medication was pushed into the muscle. 
 
 The voices were back. Curled on his side, he watched as Ray's hand went
into
 the tangle of sheets and patient gown and brought up his left hand with
the
 IV. His chest was heaving and he watched silently as the rubber port was
 cleansed with an alcohol pad. And then a needle pierced the tubing. 
 
 *Oh no. They're giving me something.*
 
 The medication was slowly injected into his vein and he felt the effects
 instantly, becoming sleepy but not pain free. He felt Ray gently replace
his
 hand on the bed and his tired eyes searched for his lover. 
 
 "Please, Ray. I don't want to be here. Please take me home", he begged.
 
 Ray leaned over him and he felt the covers being pulled up and tucked
along
 his back. Ray was making a shushing sound as he pressed the cool
washcloth to
 his head and stroked his upper back.
 
 "Hmm."
 
 He angled his face so it was resting against his lover's silk shirt and
he
 could breathe his scent. He brought his hand up and clutched Ray's arm.
He
 fell asleep holding his beloved tight.
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 Ray didn't know how long he stood over Benny, stroking his back, while he
 slept. But as the sky began to lighten, with a few incoherent mumbles and
a
 sigh, Benny rolled out of his arms and onto his back, and once again
composed
 himself in sleep with his hands lying on his chest. Ray took the
opportunity
 to straighten the patient gown, sheets, and urinary catheter that all had
 somehow become tangled on Fraser's right side. 
 
 He also took the now dry washcloth from his brow, refreshed it with cool
 water, and replaced it, molding it to Fraser's brow. The Mountie did not
stir
 and Ray wondered if it did any good. Certainly Fraser was not nauseated
now,
 but he was following an impulse to try to do something, do anything, to
ease
 his lover's suffering. As he watched Fraser sleep, he realized how
helpless he
 felt and the washcloth was a futile gesture. 
 
 Ray slowly paced around the room, his hands pushing on his lower back,
trying
 to work out the kinks. 
 
 *Although pleasant, being hunched over Benny does have drawbacks.* 
 
 He heard the muffled noises in the hallway increase as the night nursing
staff
 prepared to hand over the care of the patients to the oncoming day staff.
A
 sudden thought made him forget the pain in his back.
 
 *Day Shift! Gotta call Welsh and Thatcher.*
 
 He'd tell them at the station that he'd gotten the flu. *That will buy me
a
 few days at least.* 
 
 The first call to sympathetic Desk Sergeant Wolinsky at the 27th had him
being
 given a list of Grandmother Wolinsky's tried and true recipes to cure
whatever
 ails you. 
 
 The Consulate call was a another matter, cool and efficient, so different
from
 Wolinsky and the 27th. After the taped greeting and then, just for the
hell of
 it, pushing 'two' to hear the message in French, he left a message for
 Thatcher saying that Fraser was hurt in a game of touch football. In a
brutal
 and illegal tackle, he had popped a hernia which later strangulated. Ray
gave
 her the bedside phone number and the hospital room number to prevent her
from
 calling Patient Information and asking for a Constable Fraser, only to
find
 none.
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 Hospital activity was in full bloom. Ray felt achy and fatigued, seated
 slumped in a chair by the bedside. The events of last night plagued him
and he
 wondered if Fraser would ever forgive him. His head was pounding as
memories
 whirled and collided through his head.
 
 He knew that he was imaginative in his love making and Fraser always
seemed to
 enjoy it. So did Angie, until she eventually tired of the toys and games.
But
 Benny was different. He not only was keeping up with Ray, but every now
and
 again, he'd suggest games of his own. Ray caught himself smiling as he
 remembered the especially fun and lively game of 'Rodeo' that Fraser had
 suggested. That night was going well too until their yells of 'Yee-Haw!'
and
 'Ride me, Cowboy!' became so loud that it caused Mr. Mustafi to knock at
the
 door. 
 
 *Even that wasn't so bad ..... but if only Fraser hadn't answered the
door
 wearing the underwear on his head .....* 
 
 Fraser valiantly tried to explain the briefs on his head to his neighbor.
Ray
 never really believed that Mr. Mustafi brought the 'celebrating a
Canadian
 holiday' excuse. 
 
 The memory caused him to cringe. He looked over to his sleeping lover. He
had
 lost Angie; he prayed he wasn't going to lose Benny too. 
 
 The sound of the breakfast trays being served took him momentarily away
from
 these thoughts and he slowly became aware that he needed ... 
 
 *... Coffee ... several cups ... or maybe I could beg the nurses for a
 sedative ...*
 He looked over to Fraser who still slept soundly, only tossing and
muttering
 occasionally. He went over and placed a tiny kiss on his lips and spoke
to his
 sleeping lover.
 
 "I'll be right back, Benny. I'm just going to get some coffee." 
 
 Fraser slept, oblivious. 
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 The phone was ringing insistently. Telephone etiquette demanded that the
phone
 be answered within six to eight rings. And although it was hard to tell,
it
 seemed as if the phone had been .....
 
 *Ah, what was that expression? .... Oh, yes .... 'ringing off the hook'
....*
 
 And when the consular staff was on duty, Inspector Thatcher demanded that
the
 phone be answered within two rings. Absolutely no more. Any
transgressions
 were dealt with promptly and usually severely. Why he remembered the time
when
 .....
 
 Another ring interrupted his thought. For some reason he couldn't quite
name,
 he wasn't feeling his best right now.
 
 *Best to avoid a stint of Guard Duty.*
 
 The phone continued to clamor at the bedside and laboriously, he reached
over.
 Eventually he managed to get the phone after quite a few more rings. 
 
 *Inspector Thatcher will not be pleased.* 
 
 "Good morning, Canadian Consulate. Constable Fraser speaking." 
 
 "No. You're wrong on both counts, Constable", a congested and irritated
female
 voice told him. 
 
 He opened his eyes and realized that the irritated female was entirely
 correct. 
 
 *This isn't the Consulate ....* 
 
 "....and then I checked the answering machine to find a message from
Detective
 Vecchio saying that my Deputy has been hospitalized...."
 
 *Who's hospitalized? ....*
 
 Startled, he called out to the empty room. "Ray?" 
 
 "... hence this is not shaping up to be a 'Good Morning' , so you are
wrong on
 both counts, Constable."
 
 *This is all too confusing ....*
 
 In a gesture of self comfort, he raised his left hand to run his thumb
along
 his eyebrow. It was then that he noticed the IV implanted into the back
of his
 left hand and he stared at it, perplexed. 
 
 ".... and now, when I'm ill with the flu, I have to man the Consulate
when I
 should be joining you in bed .... no, wait. What I meant to say was, like
you,
 I should ...."
 
 *Joined in bed ..... joined in bed ..... why does that seem so oddly
 familiar?*
 
 Memory was quickly searched by his dazed mind and provided only the
barest of
 trickles of recall.
 
 Fraser stared at his father who appeared at the bedside with a napkin
tucked
 into collar of his Red Serge. 
 
 "Now there's a a lovely woman, son. I'm sure she's skilled in the art of
...
 ahem. I'm confident that you wouldn't have been caught with your pants
down if
 she was pleasuring you ... that way. Ah, well ... water under the bridge
or
 something ..."
 
 Full memory flooded back and Fraser fell against the pillow with a groan.

 
 "You know, I have to blame you for this", Fraser Sr. said as he held up a
 styrofoam cup and a plastic fork. "I have the worst craving for shrimp
salad.
 It's impossible to find decent seafood in the afterlife. And let's not
even
 talk about the lack of deli items. What I wouldn't give for good roast
beef
 ..." 
 
 Fraser whacked himself on the head with the phone. 
 
 "Good thinking, son. Knock some sense into that head of your's. You know
this
 comes from your mother's side. Rod Pinsent, her second cousin twice
removed,
 always dressed like Little Bo Peep at Halloween ... later we came to find
out
 that was what he wore daily, not just on special occasions ..." 
 
 The congested female continued to drone into his right ear. "You know,
there's
 nothing to be embarrassed about, Constable. My brother suffered the same
type
 of injury."
 
 "Really?"
 
 "Yes. It's quite common."
 
 Fraser heaved a sigh of relief. "Well to be honest, the Paramedics were
 entirely nonplussed. They too said they had seen this previously. I have
to
 admit I've never heard of anything like this. I imagine it had to be a
sight!
 At all my physicals, the doctors had warned me about my foreskin .....
but I
 never remember them mentioning anything about dental accidents. I'm
almost
 certain, no positive, that I would have remembered ..."
 
 The shrieks were simultaneous. One crackling and muffled as it came
through
 the phone line; the other loud and clear and it was yelled at the
bedside. 
 
 "Fraser, what are you saying!?"
 
 Fraser watched as a horrified looking Ray dashed towards the bedside,
stood
 beside his father, and grabbed the phone out of his hand.
 
 "Uh, I was just, ah ... talking, I think ..."
 
 Exhausted, Fraser sank back into the pillow. *Nevermind ... let Ray talk
to
 the irritated female.* 
 
 "And poor Rod ... well, what can you say ... he just didn't have the legs
for
 it ... his full beard didn't help either. Anyway, I'm glad you're off the
 phone son. Let's talk about your penis and circumcision for your son",
Fraser
 Sr. said between mouthfuls of shrimp salad. 
 
 Fraser closed his eyes and did his best to ignore the ghost. 
 
 "Good morning, Inspector", Ray said with false cheer. Ray rolled his eyes
and
 shook his head. "... well, I suppose you're right ... it's not such a
good
 morning after all ... Benny? He's still pretty much out of it. He's not
used
 to taking any medications and the anesthesia kinda threw him, you know?
As a
 matter of fact, they said that when they were putting him under, he was
having
 hallucinations ... What? No. They said it was a side effect and not an
adverse
 effect ..." A smile appeared on Ray's face and then widened. "... I'm
sorry to
 hear that and that you won't be able to visit, Inspector ... Yes, you're
right
 ... sick people shouldn't come to the hospital ... Yeah, I will ... And
you
 too, Inspector ... Rest and drink plenty of fluids ... Will do ... good
bye."
 
 Ray hung up the phone with an audible sigh. *There's one potential
disaster
 averted. Thank God Thatcher won't be visiting.* 
 
 "Skipper?"
 
 Ray turned to the soft voice and saw Fraser, pale and as ill-looking as
he had
 ever seen him. He stroked Fraser's hair. 
 
 "Yeah, Benny?" 
 
 "Tell him to leave, he won't go away. He keeps wanting to talk about my
 penis." 
 
 Forever trusting his partner, Ray looked around the room and only saw a
 styrofoam cup, plastic fork, and napkin on the bedside table. He picked
it up
 and looked inside the cup and saw the remnants of shrimp salad. Anger
surged
 through him. 
 
 *Ah ha! Proof! Those bastards are laughing at him!*
 
 "Benny, if you see this jerk again, let me know and I'll slap him upside
the
 head." 
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 Fraser's hospitalization lasted four days. Four long days in which he had
 difficulty urinating due to the pain and swelling.
 
 After an especially difficult afternoon for the Mountie, Ray dried the
sweat
 that coated Fraser's body. Taking a small container of baby powder from
the
 hospital admission kit, he dusted Fraser's back with the powder and gave
him a
 massage, relaxing him. 
 
 Ray had only wanted to make him laugh.
 
 "Benny, you've got a new penis. It's like having a new car. How come you
don't
 want to take it for a spin?" 
 
 As soon as the comment was out of his mouth, the body under his hands
tensed.
 He never meant for it to be hurtful, he was only trying to be playful and
make
 his sad lover smile. But Benny just looked at him, shuddered, and turned
away.
 
 Despite his pleading and apologizing, Fraser kept his face turned away
and
 coldly asked Ray to leave. 
 
 Ray gathered up his coat, and after giving Fraser a small kiss to the
back of
 his head, he left. It was the only day he left early.
 
 *Just as well*, he thought. 
 
 The nurse had given him a list of the medical supplies that would be
necessary
 when Fraser was discharged: antibiotic ointment, sterile gauze, and cold
 packs. He had been leaving so late at night, the pharmacies were closed
at
 that hour. It was early still and he could make the required purchases.
They'd
 be ready for whenever Fraser came home. He could do some shopping too. 
 
 *Get some decent food in the apartment. Just as well he told me to leave.
Just
 as well.* 
 
 ~~~~~~ 
 
 "Are you sure there's enough room?"
 
 "Yes."
 
 Ray was on his knees eyeing Fraser's crotch, staring at the material
intensely
 as if he had x-ray vision and could see through the Mountie's long johns
to
 the dressings underneath. He lifted his hand and pinched the material,
giving
 it a tug to see how loose it was. 
 
 "I don't know, Benny", he said doubtfully. 
 
 "There is plenty of room! But if you keep kneeling there and touching me
like
 that, there won't be."
 
 "I just wanted to make sure it wasn't, you know, too constrictive or
 anything."
 
 "It's not. It's perfectly fine. So. Please. Stop. Touching. Me. There."
 
 "Alright! Alright!", Ray yelled and after pulling up the covers to
Fraser's
 waist, retreated back to his chair at the table.
 
 One week. Just one week after the 'incident' and Benny had been out of
the
 hospital for three days. Ray had moved into Fraser's tiny apartment to
help
 him as the Mountie still had considerable swelling and pain and couldn't
spend
 much time sitting or standing. So Ray tended to him while he lay sleepy,
 georgeous, and worst of all, untouchable in his red long johns. 
 
 Ray thought he was slowly but surely losing his mind.
 
 Utterly miserable, he sat in the chair as he watched Fraser struggle and
 eventually surrender to the effect of the narcotics. He watched as Fraser
 sighed softly and his eyes fluttered closed. He always thought of Fraser
as
 stoic, he never thought that Fraser was inclined to be a pill popper, but
 Benny had been hitting the narcotics with a frequency that surprised him.
 
 *Good thing they gave him plenty of refills.* 
 
 As always, his vision was drawn to his sleeping lover like a magnet. As
he
 focused on the sleeping form, he thought about their first few days home,
 after being discharged. 
 
 He was eager and very curious. He was dying to see what Fraser looked
like
 without his foreskin. But Fraser was embarrassed and would not let Ray
look.
 Upon discharge, they had been warned by the surgeon that Fraser need
'pelvic
 rest' for six weeks, at the minimum, and that he probably wouldn't feel
like
 having sexual relations for at least eight weeks as the sensitive penile
 tissue would be painful in response to an erection. 
 
 "At any rate", Dr. Patton cautioned, "let the stitches absorb."
 
 *Ohmigod! Stitches!* He had never thought about stitches. When Ray heard
that,
 he winced in sympathy, felt the room spin, and nearly fainted. 
 
 Two hours later, Fraser did just that as he attempted a dressing change.
 Embarrassed, he argued loudly with his lover as he gathered the materials
that
 he would need. Fraser was adamant. He would not let Ray help him, he
could
 manage perfectly fine on his own. Ray helped him to the bathroom and the
 argument concluded when Fraser firmly shut the bathroom door. Ray waited
 patiently outside, occassionally calling out to check on Fraser's
progress. He
 thought things were going well until he heard the thud. 
 
 Ray let out a frustrated sigh, knowing all too well what had just
happened. He
 quickly opened the door to find Fraser, between the sink and the commode,
 convulsing and groaning softly in a faint. 
 
 Wedged as he was between the fixtures, Ray was unable to move him and
could
 only put his hands on Fraser's shoulder and chest and wait for his lover
to
 revive. Ray glanced down and saw that Fraser had completed the dressing
change
 and had pulled his boxers up before succumbing to the baser needs of his
mind
 and body. 
 
 Relief flooded Ray, thankful that at least the dressing change was done
 because now he wasn't too sure he wanted to see the area. If he did, he
might
 be joining Benny on the floor.
 
 Ever so slowly, Fraser became aware as he heard Ray softly calling to
him.
 Dazed eyes blinked open and as his mind began to register information, a
look
 of confusion came to his expressive face as he realized he had never seen
his
 washroom from this angle before. 
 
 With Ray's gentle voice coaxing him back, Fraser remembered what had
happened
 and he let his head roll against Ray's knee with a moan.
 
 "It looks horrible, Ray."
 
 The words echoed through Ray and brought him back to the present. Guilt
surged
 through him, ashamed to be the one to despoil such beauty. Not for the
first
 time, he wondered if Benny would ever forgive him. 
 
 Ray was pulled out of his musings by a sigh and a moan from the bed.
Fraser,
 in his pain-killer induced sleep, began to toss and mumble.
Unconsciously, his
 hand went to the top few buttons on his long johns and undid them. 
 
 Ray stared wide eyed at his lover's chest, torn between guilt and lust.
 
 Little Ray was vocal, trying to give Ray instructions on how to handle
this.
 And as usual, his penis was not giving him the best advice. **Just take
him
 ... take him now! He wants you ... he needs you! And best of all, he'll
 understand and forgive you ...**
 
 Ray was aghast. *What? Just jump on him and hump him? No way!*
 
 Little Ray spoke softly, **But look at him! Look at him! ... He's so
pretty!
 ... Just look at him, laying there ...**
 
 Ray had to admit his penis had a point. Shyly, he looked over to where
Fraser
 was dozing in his long johns. The curling, thick black hair was in
disarray
 and the beautiful eyes were closed as the dark lashes rested on pale
cheeks.
 His lips were parted and Ray heard a soft sigh escape them. His broad
chest
 was rising slowly under the red wool, as two hardened nipples beckoned
him.
 Against his will, Ray stood and slowly approached the bed. 
 
 Little Ray whispered, **Couldn't you just reach out and tweak them? ...
Go on!
 He won't know! ... If you touch them, I bet he'll moan! One of his soft,
 sleepy moans! And you know how much we both love that ... Go on! It won't
hurt
 ... Just a tiny touch ...** 
 
 Little Ray was interrupted by a soft moan from Fraser and he throbbed
happily.
 
 Fraser's left hand undid two more buttons, making the 'V' down his front
widen
 and Ray saw the smooth pearl pink flesh underneath as well as the
hardened
 nipples that were tormenting him. 
 
 Ray's mouth went dry. 
 
 Shifting again in his sleep, Fraser's right hand pushed the blanket down
past
 his waist. 
 
 Little Ray was merciless. **He knows what he's doing! ... He's doing this
on
 purpose! ... He wants you to touch him! ... Touch him! ...** 
 
 Ray took a step forward and extended a trembling hand.
 
 Little Ray was yelling now. **Yes! That's it! ... Run your finger around
his
 nipple! ... Press down on it! ... He'll arch! ... And moan! ... Touch
him!
 ...** 
 
 Ray stood above Benny watching him sleep with his chest exposed,
glistening
 with sweat. With a sigh, Fraser's head turned a little and he woke
slightly.
 Sleepy blue eyes turned towards Ray and he gave him a sweet smile. 
 
 **Yes! ... Do it!**
 
 Entranced, Ray reached out and touched ... a cold pack. He snapped it
quickly,
 activating it, and held it against his groin.
 
 Little Ray's scream was almost audible. **You bastard! This is the thanks
I
 get?! I get you the best piece of ass you ever had ...**
 
 Ray pressed the ice pack to his groin to drown out the cries of his
shrieking
 penis. 
 
 **And they call me a prick!**
 
 "Benny?"
 
 Fraser woke up suddenly, bewildered. "Hmm? Wha...?"
 
 "Benny, you've undone your long johns." Ray reached down touching only
the
 plastic buttons and wool. "Let's get you buttoned up. You've been through
 alot. I don't want you catching a cold on top of everything else." 
 
 Drugged and barely able to assimilate what Ray had said, Fraser let Ray
button
 the long johns and pull the blanket back up to his chest. 
 
 "Hmm. Thank you, Ray."
 
 Ray leaned over and kissed his temple. "You're welcome, Benny. Go back to
 sleep."
 
 The detective walked away from his lover and ran his fingers through his
short
 hair. *A minimum of six weeks, maybe more before Benny would want to make
 love. Yep. No doubt about it. I'm gonna lose my mind.* 
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 Ray was losing his mind. Springtime went and summertime settled over
Chicago.
 Ray could stand the oppressive heat, the total lack of any air that
actally
 moved, the smell of the hot asphalt that was everywhere, permeating
 everything. What was bringing Ray Vecchio to his knees was a Mountie that
he
 loved, but could not touch. 
 
 Oh, yes. There had been that episode three weeks after Fraser's injury
where
 Fraser tried to pleasure Ray orally. Ray growled at the memory.
 
 Fraser was still very sensitive and could not be touched. Although Benny
could
 not have sex, there was no reason why Ray couldn't. Or so said the
Mountie who
 was torturing him. 
 
 It had started out beautifully, Fraser lay on the bed and Ray stood over
him,
 while the Mountie undid his belt buckle and zipper and slid his pants to
his
 knees. Ray had been desperate for Benny's touch and when Fraser wrapped
his
 mouth and flicked his tongue at Ray's engorged cock, Ray thought he was
as
 close to heaven as he had ever been. 
 
 Fraser massaged and rolled his balls and Ray began thrusting down Benny's
 throat. 
 
 It hadn't been long when Fraser's faultless technique began to waiver.
His
 talented tongue kept stopping during its ministrations and he kept taking
 shuddering breaths.
 
 Soaring as he was, Ray hadn't noticed immediately. He only noticed when
he
 wasn't building towards an orgasm. When he finally looked down at his
lover,
 Fraser was crying. 
 
 Immediately impotent, he fell to his knees beside Benny. 
 
 Ray was alarmed. "Benny! What's wrong?" 
 
 "Oh, Ray. I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. But touching
you,
 I'm getting aroused myself and it's quite painful. I'm so sorry." 
 
 That was the end of it. Ray had given Benny a few pain pills, a cold
pack, and
 watched over him until he fell asleep. 
 
 It had been four weeks now. He had not brought up the subject of sex nor
would
 he. Benny, embarrassed that he should have done such a thing to Ray,
hadn't
 mentioned it again either. Now Ray sat on a park bench basking in misery,
 while Benny jogged in shorts and t-shirt. His beautiful Mountie who he
loved
 and could not touch. Oh, yes. No doubt about it. 
 
 *I'm gonna lose my mind.*
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 In a dream, transfixed, he stood before the door of the sex shop. His
heart
 was pounding as he thought of the delights within. After a moments
hesitation,
 the door to the sex shop opened slowly and the man behind the counter
smiled
 at him and waved him in. 
 
 He slowly walked up to the display counter and his eyes widened as he
looked
 at all the toys and games. 
 
 Little Ray throbbed, delighted.
 
 "Take him for a spin", the man behind the counter said slowly. 
 
 The objects on display under the glass fascinated him. 
 
 "You'll want two of these and one of these and one of these", the man
said.
 
 Ray thanked the man and dug deep into his coat pocket and paid the man
with
 fistfuls of shrimp. 
 
 Grasping his purchases, he turned and found himself standing in front of
 Benny's door. Wisps of steam were coming from the bottom so he knew that
 Fraser must have been in the shower. 
 
 He opened the door and Fraser stood there, enveloped in steam, damp and
 glowing from his bath, holding a towel in front of his groin. Fraser
smiled as
 Ray approached. 
 
 "I need a ride", he said.
 
 "I'll take you anywhere you want to go, Benny."
 
 With trembling hands, he reached out and, after taking the towel from
Fraser's
 hands, touched the Mountie's chest. The skin was dewy and soft under his
 fingertips. Fraser closed his eyes and his lips parted as his face tilted
 upwards. 
 
 "Take me, Ray", he whispered. 
 
 Gentle fingertips started at Fraser's collarbone and Ray watched
fascinated as
 drops of water slowly slid down the Mountie's chest. His hands slowly
worked
 their way over to Benny's shoulders and then down his arms, caressing as
they
 went, chasing the occassional droplet of water. 
 
 With his fingers, he encircled Fraser's wrists and lifted his arms away
from
 his body. 
 
 Ray's nails raked up Fraser's thighs, midriff, and belly making the
Mountie
 moan and his abdomen contract. He rolled the nipples between his
fingertips
 and when they hardened, he took them into his mouth. Fraser swayed
forward,
 panting, leaning on Ray. Sucking gently on the nipple with his tongue and
 scraping it with his teeth, Ray's hands moved slowly down the Mountie's
 slender hips and moved forward around to massage Fraser's cock and balls.
 Slowly, the Mountie began to thrust into Ray's hand. But this is not what
Ray
 craved. 
 
 "Turn around, Benny."
 
 Fraser did as he was told and Ray took him into his arms, holding him
tight
 against his body. Ray's left hand played with Benny's chest and abdomen
while
 his right hand travelled low to once again finger the Mountie's balls and
 occasionally stroke the swollen cock. Fraser's head lay heavily on Ray's
 shoulder and he could feel the wet hair against his cheek. 
 
 Ray remembered his purchases and suddenly had the red silk sash in his
hand.
 Grasping both ends, he slid it back and forth slowly up the Mountie's
body.
 Starting low at Benny's thighs, the red sash teased and tickled him up
over
 his groin, up across his belly and chest, lingered across the tender
nipples,
 up over his throat, his parted lips, and then stopped briefly over his
eyes.
 The red sash then slithered back down his face and then to his shoulder
where
 it made it's way down his muscular arm and stopped at his wrist. 
 
 The sash was slipped in a loose knot around the wrist and Ray brought
Benny's
 other arm down and tied both wrists together behind the Mountie's back. 
 
 Moving around to stand in front of the Mountie again, Ray looked at his
 helpless, and oh so beautiful captive. 
 
 Ray put his hands to either side of Fraser's face and kissed him deeply,
 tenderly. "Kneel, Benny."
 
 Fraser went to his knees before his captor. He smiled and looked up to
Ray
 with hunger in his eyes. 
 
 In his hand, Ray grasped the second purchase, the black silk blindfold.
He
 held it in the middle and let the fringed ends dance on Benny's throbbing
 cock. He then slowly trailed the tickling fringe up Benny's abdomen,
chest,
 and then face. He ran the silken ends across Fraser's parted lips,
cheeks, and
 eyes. 
 
 He bent down and while kissing and sucking Ben's throat, bound the
beautiful
 eyes while Fraser moaned. 
 
 Ray frantically worked the buckle of his belt and then the zipper of his
 pants. He freed his aching cock and touched the swollen tip to Fraser's
cheek.
 Blindly, Fraser turned towards the treasure. Finding the weeping cockhead
with
 his tongue, Fraser sucked and nibbled it gently. 
 
 Warmth and electrical pulses shot up from Ray's groin to his head.
Looking
 down, seeing Fraser's beautiful lips and tongue wrapped around his
erection,
 slowly licking and tasting, Ray had to keep himself from thrusting deep
into
 the Mountie's throat. Sweat covered his body. Oh yes. How he wanted this.
But
 it had been so very long and it was complete surrender and possession for
 which his soul cried. 
 
 With difficulty, he pulled away from Benny and turned him around and
eased him
 forward, guiding the descent of his torso to the bed. With his upper body
 laying upon the mattress, thighs along side of it, and his knees on the
wooden
 floor, caused Fraser's beautiful ass and puckered opening to be easily
 accessible to Ray and the third purchase. 
 
 The six gel filled anal love beads, beaded together by a thin silk
strand,
 trembled in Ray's hand. 
 
 Fraser lay moaning and writhing on the bed. Ray could hear his panting
breath.
 "I need a ride. Please take me", he repeated over and over. 
 
 Ray slid a finger in the cleft between Fraser's ass cheeks and teased the
 opening. He then knelt behind Fraser, mouth and tongue replaced his
finger. At
 the first touch of Ray's flicking tongue Fraser screamed and arched up
off the
 bed. Taking the love beads in his left hand, Ray slowly began to insert
the
 anal beads one by one. Fraser's balls were peeking out between his thighs
and
 Ray's mouth captured and then sucked the swaying globes. Ray's right hand
came
 up and began to stroke Fraser's throbbing erection. Alternately pushing
back
 against Ray's face, grinding his pelvis into the bed, and thrusting into
his
 lover's hand, Fraser was battered and delirious with pleasure. Moaning
 continously, the Mountie suddenly arched and came into Ray's hand with a
 scream. 
 
 When Fraser's convulsing stopped, Ray slowly withdrew the love beads.
Then he
 helped his lover to turn and lay face up on the bed. The fourth purchase
felt
 heavy and cold in Ray's hand and he let the soft metal glide around his
 fingertips. He held the toy above Fraser's skin and let the cold ends
trail
 across the Mountie's chest to touch the nipples. Fraser arched. 
 
 "It's a nipple clip, Benny. Can I put it on you?"
 
 "Oh, yes", came the breathless gasp. 
 
 Ray bent forward to lean over his lover. His warm tongue flicked at
Benny's
 nipples. He took the pink bud into his mouth and rolled his tongue around
it.
 He then removed his mouth and just a scant millimeter away, began to blow
warm
 air on it in gentle puffs. 
 
 Benny pushed his chest forward.
 
 Ray slid open the bead on the nipple clip and placed the opening over the
taut
 nipple. He then slid the bead up, catching the erect nipple between the
metal.
 Benny's face was thrown back, lips were parted and he was gasping. Ray
 carefully watched his lover's expression as he tightened the bead,
wanting
 only to cause pleasure, not pain. 
 
 When Fraser's chest began to heave and he began to groan his delight, Ray
 stopped. After teasing and then applying the clip to the other nipple,
Ray
 gave the chain that was suspended between the two clips a tiny tug. 
 
 Fraser cried out softly. 
 
 Ray lifted his lover's long legs and angled his shins and pelvis. After
all
 these months, Fraser was now his. 
 
 "Please take me, Ray."
 
 Ray just stood there, looking down at his beautiful, helpless lover
stretched
 out before him. His hand slithered up his chest and wrapped a fingertip
 around the metal chain and gave it another tug. He parted Benny's ass
cheeks
 and placed his aching cock against the Mountie's puckered opening. 
 
 "I need a ride, Ray. You said you would take me to Aunt Lucia's", he
heard his
 lover say.
 
 Ray was taut with readiness, his head was spinning and sweat coated his
body.
 He began to push.
 
 Fraser bolted up and was staring at Ray. "Ray, please. I need a ride to
Aunt
 Lucia's. You said you would take me", Fraser said in his mother's voice.
 
 "Jesus! I'll take you! I just wanna fuc ..."
 
 "Raymondo!"
 
 Ray was jolted awake and opened his eyes to find his mother staring at
him. 
 
 "Raymondo! How could you say such things! Now, please. Get up and get
ready. I
 need to go to Aunt Lucia's and you said you would take me." 
 
 Little Ray was screaming the word 'Damn' in French as he shrivelled. Ray
 stared at his mother dumbly and at the same time was surprised to find
that
 his penis was bilingual. Maturity prevented him from doing what he really
 wanted to do, which was pounding the mattress with his fists and
screaming in
 frustration at the top of his lungs. 
 
 Unshed tears of frustration gathered in his throat. "OK, Ma. Give me a
few
 minutes. Let me get ready", Ray said in a husky voice. 
 
 "Good. I've already fixed breakfast for you. Eggs, biscuits, and some
Canadian
 bacon. I know how much you love Canadian bacon", she said in a sweet
motherly
 tone as she stroked Ray's hair. 
 
 When she left, Ray turned in the bed and screamed into his pillow. When
he was
 hoarse from yelling, he stood up. The memory of the vivid dream was fresh
and
 Little Ray was throbbing, begging for release, begging to be taken into
Ray's
 hand. Normally, any other day, Ray would have taken Little Ray's advice.
But
 today was not just any other day. Oh no. Today, instead of masturbating
like a
 sixteen year old, Ray Vecchio was going to let his frustration and his
aching
 cock be his guide. It had been ten weeks, ten long lonely weeks, since he
had
 last touched Benny. Mountie's always get their man and tonight a certain
 Mountie was going to get his. 
 
 *No more Mister Nice Guy.* 
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 
 The three hour drive to and from Aunt Lucia's was made in record time of
one
 hour and forty minutes. The time even included a twenty minute visit with
his
 aged aunt and a cup of coffee. Ray carried his mother's bags to the guest
 room, kissed his mother and Aunt Lucia goodbye and promised to drive
safely
 home. 
 
 At 8AM, Ray glimpsed the towers of downtown Chicago gleaming in the
distance
 as the morning sun burned off the night time mist that had enveloped the
city.
 Ray Vecchio was a man with a mission. He sped towards the city as
frustration
 and lust drove his heel. People to see, places to go, things to do, a
Mountie
 to entice. 
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 If his mother or any of his aunts had tasted the meal he had prepared,
they
 would have slapped him in the head, then taken the pots from the stove
and
 dumped the food into the trash all the while shrieking in Italian. 
 
 Ray tasted the spaghetti sauce and cringed. His educated palate told him
there
 was far too much alcohol in the Tomato Vodka Cream Sauce. 
 
 And Benny's favorite dessert, Zabaglione, was cooling in the
refrigerator. Ray
 took a tiny taste and in the back of his mind he could hear his
collective
 aunts yelling about the excessive amount of Marsala wine he had used. 
 
 Ray smiled evilly. *They're perfect*, he thought. 
 
 The Mountie's tiny dining room table was tastefully decorated with the
Vecchio
 family linen and fine china. Two wine goblets, filled with Valpolicella,
were
 waiting at each plate. Ray knew the meal called for a much lighter wine,
but
 the hearty Valpolicella was, well, perfect for his needs.
 
 It was after five now and Benny would be home any minute. Ray checked
himself
 over in the bathroom mirror. Trimed, manicured, and scented and
immaculate in
 a hunter green silk shirt and tan linen pants, he looked delicious. He
smiled
 at his reflection.
 
 *Oh, yeah. Benny's eating Italian tonight.* 
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 Weary footsteps sounded in the hallway and Ray's heart began to pound.
The
 door opened and the wolf entered first and bounded towards Ray. Ray was
 petting Dief when he heard Fraser's voice filled with joy. 
 
 "Ray! What a pleasure it is to see you here! I trust the trip to Aunt
Lucia's
 went well?"
 
 "Oh, yeah. It was fine. I made real good time. I made dinner for us." 
 
 Ray tried not to stare at Fraser who was glowing pink from his walk home
in
 his red serge in the oppressive heat. Fraser tried not to stare at Ray
who
 looked cool and elegant in his beautiful shirt. 
 
 "It looks absolutely delicious", Fraser said in a quiet voice. 
 
 "Listen, I'll just finish up here while you go and shower. You can change
and
 we'll relax a little, then eat."
 
 Fraser stood at the door, his back ramrod straight. Ray thought he saw a
 slightly horrified look cross the Mountie's face. 
 
 "Why, yes. Excellent suggestion, Ray. I'll wash while you, ah, relax
here.
 I'll just get the things I need ...", Fraser said quickly as he hurried
around
 the small room gathering items. 
 
 "Benny? Are you OK? You seem a little weird."
 
 "Perfectly fine, Ray. Just getting the things I know I'll need ...",
Fraser
 said in a muffled voice as he was rifling through the closet.
 
 Ray watched open mouthed as his Mountie frantically searched the closet.
Ray
 listened closely and thought he heard a sigh of relief. He tried to see
over
 Fraser's shoulder, but to his surprise, Fraser stood up and turned
suddenly
 and now they were face to face. 
 
 Several unidentifiable items were balled up in Fraser's hand. "I just,
ah, had
 to get my, ah, shoes", the Mountie stammered. 
 
 Ray nodded. Perhaps one day he would tell Benny that when he would try to
lie,
 he would use the exclaimation 'ah' two or more times in a sentence. One
day he
 would tell him. Not yet though. It was still very useful knowledge.
 
 "OK, Benny. Wash up and hurry back."
 
 Only after the Mountie bolted from the room still wearing his dress reds
and
 he heard the water in the shower down the hallway go on, Ray searched the
 closet. The only odd thing he found was that Fraser hung up his
underwear. 
 
 *As if starching and ironing them isn't enough*
 
 Ray went back to finishing dinner while puzzling over his friend's
behavior. 
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 Lust took over and while finishing dinner, Ray was hoping that Fraser
would
 call him down to the bathroom and ask him to wash his back while Little
Ray
 only wanted to see Fraser come back into the apartment with a towel
wrapped
 around his waist.
 
 Ray was briefly disappointed when Benny returned. No mutual shower.
Little Ray
 was thrilled, however, although fully dressed, Fraser was barefoot and
wearing
 dungarees and a worn grey t-shirt that was stretched tight across his
chest
 and arms. 
 
 Ray's mouth went dry. His beautiful Mountie, buffed up from his summer of
 jogging. He was paler now, the flush had left his cheeks as he was cooled
down
 from the shower. His wet hair, curling and tousled, became even more
 disheveled when he ran his hand through it again. He carefully hung up
his
 uniform and smiled sweetly at Ray. He was much more relaxed and the
frantic
 edge that he had when he first fled the room was gone. 
 
 "Let's eat."
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 *Oh, boy. The Valpolicella worked really well.*
 
 Fraser stood in the dining room, crying, singing 'O Canada' lustily.
 
 Miserable, Ray let out a sigh. He shook his head as he watched his lover,
 unsteady on his feet with goblet in hand, warbling in French.
 
 **Well, you wanted him drunk**, Little Ray pointedly reminded him. 
 
 *Not drunk! Relaxed! I wanted him relaxed!* 
 
 Ray closed his eyes and pressed the palms of his hands to his forehead.
*Well,
 it started out OK...* 
 
 Ray knew that the only time Fraser would use alcohol would be the
obligatory
 drink to toast the Queen's health. Thus prepared, when they sat down to
the
 table, Ray proposed a toast.
 
 Fraser was shocked and pleasantly surprised. 
 
 "A toast to the Queen, Ray? Why?"
 
 "Well, when I was taking Ma to Aunt Lucia's today, she was telling me she
 watched a biography on Queen Elizabeth. She said that during the Second
World
 War, she never left London and drove an ambulance. That's pretty cool."
 
 "That's very true, Ray." 
 
 Fraser said a few fitting words and they both drank some wine to the
Queen's
 health. 
 
 Ray eyed Fraser's glass noting that the Mountie had only taken a mouthful
or
 two of the wine. 
 
 *He's gonna have to do better than that.*
 
 "Another toast", Ray said. "To Queen Elizabeth. Because if it wasn't for
her,
 Canadians would just be snowbound Americans." 
 
 Fraser was confused. "What are you saying, Ray?"
 
 "Well, those ties to England and all, that's what makes you different.
It's
 just that we kicked them out and you kept them. Taxation without
 representation and all that. But taxation with representation still sucks
if
 you ask me. Point is, you're different from us and you're different from
them
 and that difference is good. That difference is ... Canada." 
 
 What Ray had just said was quite confusing and difficult to work out, but
for
 some reason, Fraser got chills and suddenly felt very proud. He raised
his
 glass again and said a few fitting words and drank to the Queen's health
for
 making Canada different.
 
 Ray was pleased. His Canada speech had gone over very well and Fraser had
 downed a quarter of the wine. But now he had hit a wall. He knew of no
more
 Queen Elizabeth trivia or facts. He was despairing when inspiration
struck. 
 
 "A toast ... to the Dominion of Canada", Ray said in a booming voice. 
 
 "To Canada", Fraser said reverently as he drank at least another quarter
cup
 of wine, in Ray's estimation. 
 
 And things had rapidly deteriorated after that.
 
 Toast after toast had followed: to the United States, the United Kingdom,
 Italy, Scotland, Chicago, and Tuktoyaktuk. Fraser had relaxed and happily
gave
 Ray a world tour along with facts and informational tidbits about their
 ancestral homes and native lands. Ray had smiled benignly and nodded,
 encouraging Fraser's lecture with undue patience and, more importantly,
the
 occasional toast. It was when Fraser was babbling about the Crusades and
its
 ramifications on the Middle Ages that Ray realized his lover was sloshed.

 
 And now Fraser announced, that starting in alphabetical order to show
 absolutely no favoritism, he would sing the national anthems of the said
 countries. 
 
 Ray thought he heard Fraser's voice thicken and occasionally break into
small
 sobs during the English version, but now, heartily singing in French,
Fraser
 had finally broken down into drunken tears.
 
 His closest chance for lovemaking in ten weeks had crashed and burned. 
 
 Just as he was about to go over and hug his friend and put him to bed,
there
 was a knock at the door.
 
 Ray opened the door slowly and Mr. Mustafi, who looked at the end of his
 patience, glared at him silently.
 
 "Sorry, Mr. Mustafi. Fraser's just celebrating a Canadian holiday and
..." 
 
 "The underwear on the head one?", the old Arab interrupted, a twinge of
horror
 in his voice. 
 
 "Nah. That's only celebrated once a year. This one is for ... good sled
dogs.
 It's kinda like the Fourth of July and Christmas all rolled up into one",
Ray
 said with a smile. 
 
 Mr. Mustafi looked into the room and saw Fraser swaying slightly and
singing.
 "Well, just try and keep the festivities down, will you?"
 
 "Don't worry. The party's almost over", Ray said to Mr. Mustafi's
retreating
 back. 
 
 As he closed the door, Ray realized that the apartment was remarkably
silent.
 He turned to see Fraser still standing beside the table, holding his
hands
 over his eyes. 
 
 Ray touched his back and slid his arms around to Fraser's chest. "Benny?"
 
 Startled, the Mountie dropped his hands and turned around into Ray's
arms. 
 
 "I'm sorry, Ray. It's just that it's such a magnificent song and it gets
me
 ... rather homesick when I hear it."
 
 Ray held him tightly as he stroked the broad, firm back covered by the
cotton
 t-shirt. "Don't apologize, Benny. It's OK. I understand."
 
 "Oh, Ray", Benny slurred in a husky whisper, the ticklish words fanning
across
 Ray's neck. "You are so beautiful. It's been so long. It's so good to
touch
 you, to feel you. I need ... I want ... so badly ... to touch you."
 
 Benny's words came in gasps and with each puff, Ray could smell the
alcohol on
 his breath. His own desires and needs were strong and aching, but ...
 
 "Benny, you've been drinking. Alot. I don't think this is the best or
right
 thing to do."
 
 Fraser clutched Ray desperately. Slowly, he began to feel Benny's full
weight
 in his arms. Ray quickly changed his grip on the slipping Mountie and his
own
 stance so he could support both their weight.
 
 "I'm falling, Ray", Fraser said weakly.
 
 "Let's get you into bed, Benny", Ray said quickly as they hobbled towards
the
 bed. 
 
 Once there, he eased Fraser to a sitting position on the side of the bed.
The
 Mountie sat there with his head in his hands.
 
 "My head is throbbing."
 
 "Well, you've been drinking on an empty stomach."
 
 "Oh, Ray! Your wonderful dinner ... "
 
 Ray smiled and let out a sigh as he thought about the alcohol-laden food.
 "That's alright, Benny. Another time. Let's get you comfortable and you
lay
 down while I clean up."
 
 With Ray's steadying hand on his elbow, Fraser stood and undid the button
and
 zipper to his dungarees and then shucked them down to his knees. As he
did, a
 Ray saw something fall and heard a soft, small thud on the floor. It was
an
 ice pack. Picking it up, he noticed that it was still slightly cold.
 Uncomprehending, he stared at the blue gel.
 
 Ray snapped out of his mesmorized state as Fraser began to groan and
sway. He
 grabbed his lover and eased him back down to the bed, first guiding his
torso
 and then his legs into the bed. The dungarees, tangled around Fraser's
knees,
 were pulled off in one quick motion. 
 
 After he had gotten the Mountie settled, Ray fell to his knees beside the
bed
 and his expressive green eyes looked to Fraser's and asked the question
that
 he could not phrase. Benny's eyes filled with tears and he looked quickly
 away.
 
 "It still hurts a bit, Ray. But not all the time. Just ... when I'm with
...
 or think about ... you."
 
 "Benny! Why didn't you say anything?"
 
 "I didn't want you to stay away. I was afraid that you might not come
around
 anymore. I couldn't bear it ..."
 
 "Oh my sweet Benny! I would never stay away! I just wish you told me."
Ray
 held up the ice pack. "Is that what you were hunting for in the closet?"
 
 Fraser gave a tiny nod. "I've been buying them in bulk. I've been having
 dreams."
 
 "You too, huh?", Ray said as he dried the tiny tears from the corners of
 Fraser's eyes. 
 
 "Ray, I'm so sorry for doing this to us."
 
 "Benny, you aren't doing anything to us. It was just another stupid
accident."
 
 Fraser gave a tiny laugh. "We seem to have alot of them, don't we?"
 
 Ray smiled. "Yeah ... and that one was pretty humiliating too."
 
 "Do you remember the look on the Paramedics' faces?"
 
 "Nope, sorry. I didn't have such a good view of the door if you
remember."
 
 Fraser laughed. "Oh yes. I don't think I'll ever forget that."
 
 Ray sighed as he smiled and shook his head. "Jesus! And of all things,
this is
 one that you'd really want to forget."
 
 Fraser sighed philosophically. "Well, Ray. That's life. Sometimes you're
the
 windshield; sometimes you're the bug."
 
 Ray laughed and stared at his lover increduously. "What?! No Inuit
story?!
 You're giving me car parts and insects to explain this?! You been in
Chicago
 way too long!"
 
 Fraser nodded, smiling. "We were the bugs."
 
 Ray stroked his lover's hair and smiled. "Yeah, Benny. That time we were
the
 bugs. Definitely."
 
 Ray kissed Fraser's forehead and as he stood, he pulled the sheet up to
cover
 his lover. 
 
 The Mountie was blinking furiously as he tried to stay awake. 
 
 "Sleep, my love. I'll clean up."
 
 "Thank you, Ray", Fraser said as he closed his eyes.
 
 "Hey, Benny?"
 
 "Yes, Ray?" Fraser said in a far away voice, unable to open his eyes.
 
 "Next time, we're the windshield."
 
 Fraser smiled in his near sleep. "Promise?"
 
 "Promise."
 
 ~~~~~~ 
 
 The sun had crested below the horizon and one by one, distant stars began
to
 appear and dot the sky. Ray heard the quiet noises in the other
apartments of
 loved ones returning home from work, dinners being prepared and
televisions
 turned on to the evening news and game shows. Except for the quiet
breathing
 of Fraser, who was sleeping off the unaccustomed alcohol in his system
and
 Dief who occasionally 'woofed' in his dreams, apartment 3J was silent.
Ray sat
 alone at the beautifully set table, despairing. 
 
 It had only take him a short ride to Wisconsin to equate Fraser with
 mayonnaise. It had been ten weeks. 
 
 *Does Fraser equate me with pain?*
 
 He stared off into the deepening night. He had lost Angie and now hurt
Fraser.
 He wondered when he would have the honor of touching Benny again. 
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 It was the silence that startled Ray out of his musings. The noises in
the
 other apartments were gone. He held his watch up to see the time in the
 reflected street lights that colored the room.
 
 *Midnight! I've been sitting here for six hours!*
 
 He glanced over to Fraser who had begun to toss lightly in his sleep.
 
 Ray stood up and stretched. He began to pack away the fine china and
linens
 and to wash the only dirty dinner ware, the crystal wine goblets. He
walked
 slowly and sadly around the room unaware that his every move was watched
by a
 pair of starving blue eyes. 
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 Unhappiness governed his actions and the tasks that should have taken no
more
 than ten minutes took almost an hour. 
 
 Everything was packed and stacked neatly by the door. As he approached
his
 lover to say good-bye, Fraser suddenly threw the sheet down his body and
lay
 gloriously nude before him. During his dismal thoughts, Fraser had
wiggled
 unnoticed out of his t-shirt and underwear. The street lights danced
across
 his body and Ray saw the Mountie's throbbing erection. As difficult as it
was,
 he drew his eyes away from Fraser's body and looked to his lover's face.
 Fraser was smiling at him, his face showing only desire, not discomfort. 
 
 Ray's heart pounded in his chest. "Benny?"
 
 Fraser arched an eyebrow and smiled wider. "Want to go for a spin, Ray?"
 
 He nearly flung himself on his lover.
 
 Kissing, laughing, and crying they clung to one another.
 
 The feel of his lover beneath him, above him, his scent, his warmth, his
 desire, his love, was intoxicating. Their passions soared. But there was
a
 question that had to be asked.
 
 With difficulty, Ray pulled back. "Benny, I thought you said ... "
 
 "It does, a tiny bit." Fraser looked thoughtful as he searched for the
right
 words. "It's different, not bad, just different. It tingles", he added
 breathlessly with a tiny laugh.
 
 "Are you sure, Benny? I don't want to hurt you."
 
 "You never will. It hurts more not to be with you, Ray."
 
 Their conversation ended as they kissed. Ray stood and bending low over
the
 bed so as not to break away from the kiss, started to remove his pants
while
 Fraser unbuttoned his shirt. It had been so long and they both had
dreamed of
 this moment, while dreading that it would be. They moved together, slowly
and
 tenderly, to make the moment last.
 
 After his clothes were removed, Ray straightened and Fraser ran his hands
over
 Ray's body that glowed in the apartment light, revelling in the feel of
Ray's
 wiry muscles and chest. 
 
 Ray reached down and turned a small light on at the bedside. "I want to
see
 what you look like, Benny."
 
 Laying on his back, Fraser lifted his legs and bent his knees, the soles
of
 his feet resting on the mattress. Ray parted his lover's legs and sat
between
 them, and looked down at Benny's cock. It was erect and throbbing, and
the
 cockhead, suffused with blood, looked like a pink rosebud. He held the
pale
 flesh gently in the palm of his hand. 
 
 "Benny, it's so beautiful. Can I kiss it and make it better?"
 
 "I never thought you'd ask."
 
 Ray bent low between Fraser's thighs and trailed tiny kisses up the shaft
of
 Benny's cock. Reaching the trembling tip, he kissed it and then swirled
his
 mouth around it, probing the slit with his tongue. 
 
 At Ray's first touch, Fraser bit back a scream of pleasure and arched up
off
 the bed, moaning. Gasping, he deliberately lowered himself back down on
the
 bed. Tingling electrical pulses raced around his body. The heat that
centered
 in his groin came in throbbing waves. He wanted to arch, wanted to go
with the
 pull that was so strong, but it had been so very long and he wanted this
to
 last. Against every drive, every desire that was screaming in his body to
let
 go, Fraser pressed his body to the bed and grabbed fistfuls of sheets. He
 wouldn't let go. He was going to enjoy it. Ray was taking him for a ride.

 
 The scent of Benny's groin, the heat and feel of his erection, the taste
of
 the salty sweat on his skin were overpowering. But one sense demanded to
be
 indulged. All this time he had wondered what his lover looked like
without his
 foreskin. Ray needed to see Benny's cock; it's newness, it's beauty.
 
 "I want to look at you. Mind if I stroke you, Benny?"
 
 Fraser's body was taut, his toes curling and uncurling. His eyes opened
at the
 question and he gasped that he didn't mind at all. 
 
 The baby powder from Fraser's hospital admission kit sat on the bedside
table.
 Ray reached over and powdered his hands. 
 
 The smooth frictionless glide of Ray's hands on his aching cock was
silken.
 The intense pulsing and heat increased in his groin and had spread, and
was
 now dancing all over his body. His head began to swim. He pressed his
hips
 into the mattress and his head rolled from side to side on the pillow. He
was
 moaning uncontrollably, unwilling to give himself up to the needs of his
body.
 
 Ray's left hand went low and began to roll his balls. His fingertip found
his
 lover's opening, and making a tiny circular motion, teased the sensitive
area.
 
 The sensations battered him and when the pull became too great, Fraser
 screamed as he convulsed with orgasm. Each stroke of Ray's magical hands
made
 his body arch and his soul fly. Again and again he thrust upwards,
moaning,
 pushing into Ray's hand as his seed splattered over Ray's fingers and his
 belly. 
 
 Drained, Fraser fell back onto the bed with a moan and enjoyed the
spinning
 sensation in his head. Gasping for breath, he slowly became aware of Ray
 crawling up his sweat soaked body. Ray kissed his closed eyes, sucked his
lips
 and his neck. With the last of his strength, Fraser put his hands under
his
 thighs, lifted them, and angled his pelvis. 
 
 Ray raised himself on his hands and looked down at his dazed and
trembling
 lover. After coating his erection with Benny's juices, he placed his
cockhead
 against Benny's hole and began to push. Fraser's arms and thighs
encircled him
 and held him tightly. Ray lay against his lover's heaving chest, attached
his
 mouth to the bud of a nipple, and fucked his Mountie long, slow, and
 thoroughly. 
 
 ~~~~~~
 
 The exquiste lovemaking had ended an hour ago. Overjoyed, Ray could not
sleep
 and just held his sleeping lover in his arms, rocking him. Occassionally,
he
 would reach down and kiss whatever bit of Fraser's flesh was closest to
his
 lips. Benny would smile and shift slighty in his sleep. 
 
 Ray was disappointed that Fraser had fallen asleep after just one
session.
 Little Ray was throbbing and was good to go shortly afterward. But he
realized
 that in all these weeks, while he had been masturbating like a teenager,
 feeling release but no satisfaction, Benny had the same desires and was
unable
 to do anything about them. The explosive orgasm had ripped all the juices
and
 pent up tension from him and left him exhausted. 
 
 Ray held the still body and smiled into Fraser's hair. Didn't matter.
Whenever
 Fraser was ready, he'd be there. 
 
 Summer was ending and the first cool breeze of fall drifted into the
 apartment. Ray reached down and pulled the sheet up over Fraser's body.
He
 watched fascinated as the colored lights from the Pool Hall and the Strip
Club
 across the street filtered into the darkened room and danced over
Fraser's
 prone form. The colored lights made a pattern across the Mountie's body:
his
 right hand would color blue; the left hand, red; the right foot yellow. 
 
 Ray watched the repeating colors and would say them to himself just
before
 they would appear.
 
 *Right hand, blue!*
 
 *Left hand, red!*
 
 *Right foot, yellow!* 
 
 He kissed Fraser again, rocked his body gently and smiled as he called
out the
 colors.
 
 *Right hand, blue!*
 
 *Left hand, red!*
 
 *Right foot, yellow!* 
 
 Cradling his sleeping lover in his arms, he wondered how they would
pleasure
 each other in the morning. *Oops! Almost missed a sequence there.*
 
 *Right hand, blue!*
 
 *Left hand, red!*
 
 *Right foot, yellow!* 
 
 *Hmm. What should we do?* 
 
 **Twister!**, Little Ray screamed. **Play Naked Twister!** 
 
 *Yes! Naked Twister! Kiss the body part nearest you!*
 
 **No! No! Food! Slather food on the body part nearest you! Whipped cream
could
 be yellow, strawberries in syrup could be blue.**
 
 *And red? What could red be?*
 
 **Shrimp salad!**, Little Ray suggested as he throbbed happily. 
 
 *Yes!*
 
 Smiling, Ray held his Mountie tight. He resolved to go the toy store at
first
 light and buy the game, Twister. And then off to the deli! 
 
 *Oh, man! This is such a good idea!*
 
 
 ~~~ The End ~~~ 
 
 Standard Disclaimers. No copyright infringement intended on Due South,
 Bonanza, Gilligan's Island, shrimp salad, or Milton Bradley's Twister. 
 
 
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