crack_van | Ray from the Material World by Dessert First (PG-13)

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Length: Long (It was written for the first due South/Canadian Six Degree Big Bang)
Author on LJ: dessert_first
Author Website: Dess' due South Fanfic
Why this must be read:

Ok, I'll admit that out of all my recs, this is the self-indulgent one. Simply put: I have a longing to read due South in a sci-fi setting and . . . I know I'm not the only one.

Set many years in the future, when humans can have their minds adapted to spaceships, Ray from the Material World hits ALL of the high points that take a fic from good to great.

dessert_first has built a world that is achingly familiar despite its AU foundations. There's angst as RayK falls for a man he's never met (he's the 'human' counterpart to Fraser's 'integrated' consciousness) and Fraser begins to question whether his decision to focus his life solely on duty was the correct one. It's also achingly sweet as Fraser begins to open up to RayK despite never having seen him with his own eyes.

And there's a nail-bitting action scene and tons of nods to canon characters and events.

A fantastic adventure worthy of reading again and again.

Before

"It's important to remember the consequences to this choice, Constable Fraser," the physical therapist had told him. There was a frown on her pretty face, and she looked down at Fraser soberly as he lay in his stark hospital bed.

"Of course," Fraser had told her, schooling his face into perfect, polite good cheer, though it felt like it took all of his precious few resources to do so. He wouldn’t need to worry about that for long, if his request was approved.

"Your injury is quite serious," Jill continued, her manner brisk and frank. "But you could recover. It would take hard work, dedication, physical therapy and a lot of time in the regen tank, but you could very well walk again. I've seen people recover from worse, given the drive."

Fraser turned his face away. "But it might not work."

"No," she told him. "It might not. And it's not my job to tell you which choice to make, Constable. I'm only here to give you information." She sat on the side of his bed, startling him, and swept a lock of her blond hair behind her ear. "If you go into the Integrated Pilot Program, you'll be physically incapacitated for a span of years. Despite the machinery designed to maintain your body, there is an inevitable amount of muscle and tissue atrophy."

"I understand that—"

"—and if you go in as you are now, that might be the deciding factor in your physical recovery."

"I won't need physical recovery if I am accepted into the Program," he had snapped.

"True. But you might want it some day. And when that day comes, it might no longer be an option."

Ray from the Material World (Link goes to the dS/C6D archive)