crack_van | Mangy Dog By: Speranza (PG-13)

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Length: 65K
Author on LJ: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]
Author Website: Speranza's dS Fiction
Why this must be read: I think that this must be read for two reason. One it's more of a Dief and Fraser story more then anything else. It starts with right after they meet and goes on from there. Two 'Mangy Dog' is wonderfully written, the voices are spot on and the author is very good at keeping the character in character. Also the story manages to make the reader laugh and worry at the same time. This is a flashback story.

Dief stared at Ray for another moment, then looked back at Fraser.

"Yes," Fraser said; he felt strangled. "Please hurry."

Diefenbaker instantly bolted, his legs blurring as he ran across the plain back toward camp. Fraser watched him go, then carefully pulled Ray's torso into his lap—he had to get something between Ray's body and the snow, and at the moment, he himself was the best, warmest choice. Ray panted with pain as Fraser moved him, but thankfully his breathing evened out once he was sprawled in Fraser's arms and lying still.

Ray let his head fall awkwardly against Fraser's chest and closed his eyes. "I'm...okay, Fraser, really..."

"Yes," Fraser agreed quickly. "Of course."

"Everything's gonna be fine..."

Fraser rested his cheek against the top of Ray's wool hat and pressed his hand against Ray's side. "No doubt."

"The wolf is on it," Ray murmured, and Fraser could hear amusement, and pain, and maybe a little hypothermia in his voice. "Go, wolf...yay, wolf...rah, wolf...wolf-o-rama..."

"He won't let you down, Ray," Fraser assured him.

Beneath him, Ray's head bobbed in agreement. "I know that, Fraser. I know that deep in here." Ray slowly moved his arm across his chest and tapped his left armpit.

Fraser knew exactly what he meant. Diefenbaker was deeply ensconced in his own left armpit as well.

Mangy Dog