notes/disclaimers
Ray Kowalski sorted case files on Vecchio's desk, sorting out the cases
that were his from the ones Vecchio could resume. He felt pained and
sorrowful at the same time. He'd known this partnership would only be
until Vecchio returned from his undercover work. He'd known that.
He'd known everything would end when Vecchio returned.
A voice behind him froze him in his tracks.
"You fucked him, didn't you."
Vecchio. As matter-of-fact as if he'd said "Fraser bugged you, didn't
he."
Fraser and Vecchio had not been seen for two days. Anyone who knew about
their relationship would be a complete idiot not to know what they'd been
doing for two days. Fraser had to have told Vecchio...
Kowalski went hot and cold in stages. Ray Vecchio was already pissed at
Kowalski for trying to hang on to Fraser -- he considered Benton Fraser
his personal property. This would...
Stanley straightened, turned, and looked Vecchio in the eyes.
"You did," Vecchio said before Kowalski could utter a word, eyes
unreadable. "You fucked Benny while I was gone."
"Benny" again. Oh, he was dead.
"Yeah," Kowalski said bluntly. "Yeah, we did."
Vecchio gave a small nod, his eyes still unreadable. "Thanks." He came
over and began looking through the case files.
Kowalski stared at Vecchio's bent back, only belatedly remembering to
close his mouth. "That's it?"
"If you're looking for pain find someone else to beat the crap out of you,
Kowalski," Ray said.
"That's not it, Vecchio," Ray snapped. "What about you?"
"What about me?"
Ray returned to picking up papers and straightening out reports on
Vecchio's desk. "It's just...I knew you and Fraser were, y'know, an item.
I thought you'd go postal when you found out."
"Fraser made the first move, and you followed up." Again, Vecchio spoke
with that matter-of-fact tone. "That's how it went down."
"Yeah," Ray Kowalski said, stunned and wondering if he was dreaming.
"That's how it went."
Those nights in his apartment; holding Fraser close in the tangled sheets,
locked to the shaking man, knowing that cry of "Ray" wasn't his name...
And too many times afterward, holding a shaking man and drying his eyes
with the corner of a sheet.
Vecchio faced Kowalski, and something terrible burned in those big green
eyes of his. "This has been a shitty year for both of us. We were
separated from the ones we loved most. Both of us found comfort in
pleasure when we could not be happy.
"Benny was luckier than me. He had a friend he could sleep with. And for
that, I thank you."
Kowalski stared a long time, before belatedly helping Vecchio sort through
their upcoming work.
***
"Vegas Showblooms, may I help you?" the clerk said on the phone.
"Yes, please," Benton Fraser said, putting the phone card away. "I would
like a dozen yellow roses to be sent to a Miss Dawn Ardent -- D-A-W-N --
care of Losco's Escort Services. I'm afraid I only have a phone number,
but I'm sure someone will be able to come by and pick up the order.
"The card? 'In gratitude for the comfort you gave a friend.' No
signature. Thank you kindly."