More Than You Know, by BethH (PG? PG-13?)

[the-star-fish.livejournal.com]

Fandom: due South
Pairing: Fraser/Kowalski
Author's Website: Madwoman in the Basement
Author on LJ: bethbethbeth

Why this must be read: 'Cos I said so? No? Okay, well ...

It felt like one of those rare, perfect fall mornings Ray Kowalski could still remember with almost perfect clarity from his childhood. Sun just rising into a cloudless sky that was already so blue and bright that it almost hurt to look at it for more than a moment. Ground lightly carpeted by the first of the red-orange-yellow leaves to fall from the surrounding maple trees. Crisp, clean air with just the faintest scent of woodsmoke beneath . . . and an even fainter scent below which hinted at the promise of snow.

Ray sat on one of the thick fallen branches that he and Fraser had hauled back to their makeshift campsite the afternoon before. He squinted into the fire he'd started earlier that morning, listening carefully for the first telltale sounds of water boiling in the tin kettle he'd hung on the metal hook that was suspended over the flames.

After five years of living on the southern edge of the Northwest Territories, Ray had come to love the land almost as much as Fraser did himself, but he still clung tenaciously to some of the familiar comforts of the urban world in which he'd spent most of his life, and starting the day off with a cup of strong, sweet coffee was one of those things he didn't think he'd ever learn - or want - to do without.

This story does not progress in the usual linear fashion, but the pieces are tied together so beautifully it all makes perfect sense by the time you get to the end. My only complaint is that it's too short, but I've said that about every story I've ever read, so ....

More Than You Know

Comments

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

This is one of the first stories I read of Due South slash, and it gave me a holy crap! moment in which I reflected on how much better the slash writing was than the het in this fandom. It was kind of a snap judgement, I admit, but when I went on to read more of Beth's work, and then Resonant's, and then Speranza's, and then....well, you get the idea. Suffice to say I still subscribe to the theory. But this story has a special place in my heart, not only for the good writing, but the clever premise and the adroit way it all goes together.

[raveninthewind.livejournal.com]

DAng! That was a good story. Love the playing with time/place...

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

It opens up like a series of Mamushka dolls. I've just adored this story for the longest time.