crack_van | Down East by byob (NC-17)

bluebrocade here. I'll be your Due South driver for May. My recs will be heavily Fraser/Kowalski, but I've also got a few Turnbull- and Frannie-centric fics to share with you. Enjoy!

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Fraser/Kowalski
Author on LJ:

byob_kenobi
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read: In this post-CotW fic, Fraser's back in Chicago working with Ray. Ray's been in a crappy mood since their return from Canada. He complains constantly and is generally unpleasant to be around. Fraser's grown weary of his behavior and has just about reached the breaking point when a case involving tainted blueberries necessitates a trip to Maine together to investigate. Ray uses the semi-vacation as an opportunity to figure out why he's so unhappy and do something about it. When Ray meets and goes on a date with a beautiful, sassy woman who's clearly interested in him, Fraser realizes it's time to go home to Canada.

Fraser easily could have walked to the main house for his dinner, but that would mean seeing Ray and Kate, so he (rather shamefully) called the restaurant for delivery to the cabin. He had never felt comfortable with the concept of "room service"-it was unbearably slothful-but his distress was too acute this time.

It was strange being in such a large house, particularly without Diefenbaker there to comfort him. Dief's brand of comfort usually involved haranguing and smart comments, but Fraser still missed him dreadfully. He walked out onto the cabin's porch and breathed in the cooling night air. Pine, lake water, smoke. Smells that reminded him of home. He felt at home here. Even the airport had signs and announcements in French, thanks to the large population of Quebecois tourists. It made his homesickness better and worse at the same time, and the decision ahead of him clearer.

It was time to go home.

Ray was quite obviously moving on with his life, and Fraser was sure he could no longer handle being merely his friend. The urge to seize him, kiss him, and physically restrain him from walking out the door had been far too strong. He wanted Ray to be happy, and he wanted to find some small measure of happiness for himself. At least at home in the Territories, with nobody but Dief at his side, fully involved with the RCMP as he had been before, he could find contentment. Not true happiness, but chasing rainbows was a foolish pursuit, better suited to dreamers and younger men. He needed to make the best of his situation. At least he had Maggie for companionship, which was more than he had ever hoped for.

Will they figure out who's poisoning the blueberries? Will Fraser return to Canada, leaving Ray to live happily ever after with his "blonde, wiseass hiker"? Will they ever get out of Maine?

Down East