Shrapnel by Sasscat Bu-to-y (NC17)

[lakester.livejournal.com]

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Kowalski/Thatcher
Author on LJ:
Author Website: Author's dS fic and Sasscat's Fanfiction
Why this must be read:

This is a Chicago where American-Canadian relations have deteriorated. From assualts on Canadians, to bomb threats, explosions, war, rations, shelters and sirens. This is a Chicago from which Fraser got out in time - leaving Diefenbaker with Ray and where Thatcher didn't. A Chicago where Frannie's a cop, Huey joins the army and Kowalski hides Meg in the attic of his apartment building.

This story jumps between a fluid 'present' through Ray's past and future. Told from Kowalski's POV, the reader has just enough information to follow - particularly where the reading chronology differs from that of the story's events, adds poignancy to the scenes. Kowalski, Thatcher, even Frannie and Welsh in their brief appearances, are themselves slowly worn down by the war. Thatcher, briefly 'outside' is awkward and painful, as is her reintroduction to Francesca. Kowalski himself references Anne Frank, but for as long as he can - Ray's hiding a Canadian in the attic.

The way the Canadians had disappeared had been like being in high school again, one student at a time slipping out while the teacher wasn't looking. Fraser had been the last to go, getting on an aeroplane with a suitcase of documents Thatcher hadn't been willing to trust to the US Postal Service. She'd actually thought the FBI or CIA might have opened up the boxes and taken copies of everything. The scary part was that Ray hadn't been entirely sure they wouldn't.

So, a couple of weeks after they'd been recalled, Thatcher had been the only one left, closing up the Consulate and getting last minute information about the political climate in Chicago. Huey and Dewey'd reckoned she was a Canadian spy; Ray hadn't thought there was anything worth spying in Chicago.

After the first few bomb threats, there'd been a permanent police presence at the Consulate. Ray had been the only one Thatcher trusted to help her finish up the packing. That had been when she'd told him about how she'd thought the government might have swapped him for the real Ray Vecchio just so he could spy on the Consulate. But Fraser had trusted him. And for some insane reason - her words - she had let herself trust Fraser.

"You won't regret it," Ray had told her.

Shrapnel

Comments

[britduck21.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I love this story. And hate it. It just kills me every time I read it. Ray is written perfectly, as is Meg's mental deterioration as the war continues. The development of the Kowalski-Thatcher relationship reads very genuine and true and always leaves me wondering what would happen if the war ended and Fraser returned to Chicago.

Thanks for reccing - more people should definitely read this.