Calm and the Black-Stained Sky by Sage, NC-17

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

I've got particular weaknesses for plotty case-fic, post-COTW fics where Ray Kowalski and Benton Fraser are living in the north and Ray is an essential part of his community, and established relationship stories. This long story from last summer's batch of Slowest Big Bang stories has all of that, and more- the case around which the story is organized is as involving and important as anything I've read in fandom.

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Ray Kowalski/Benton Fraser
Length: 30,000 words
Author on LJ: sageness
Author Website: Sage's Fictional Pages
Why this must be read: Because one of the most important ways that Due South differs from too much of pop culture is its awareness of social injustice and the responsibility of individuals to resist those injustices, and this story expresses that awareness in the form of a ripping good yarn, in the spirit of the original.

Excerpt: He didn't want this to escalate, because then Fraser would sulk and half the folks in town would give Ray the stink-eye—like it was his fault that he had his own life, too. Finally, he turned his head to look at Fraser, who was staring uneasily into his heavy ceramic teacup.

"Look," Ray said, trying for easy "Charlie asked, I said yes, and I want to do this. It's as simple as that."

"I understand that, but—"

"Nobody wants some campfire gone wrong to burn down the whole Yukon, right? They need help. And hey," Ray said, barely pausing, "you have to go check out the scenes too, so maybe you could try seeing this as a chance for us to work together again, you know? As a duet, like we were."

"Are," Fraser said emphatically.

Ray ducked his head, because sure, at home—no problem. But there were only so many tune-ups he could give a snowmobile; only so much time he could spend at Wilson's Outfitter's, even though Red had a close-target range in an old barn down the valley; only so long he could sit and jaw at Tom's Café over coffee. Having nothing productive to do all day was driving him nuts and Fraser damned well knew it.

"Are," Fraser repeated softly, and slid his fingers into Ray's hand, warm skin caressing his palm until finding a grip and holding fast. "Going into a fire is—Ray, if anything were to happen to you—"

Ray made a face, but after a moment he gripped Fraser's hand hard. "Right back atcha," he said softly.



Calm and the Black-Stained Sky

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Comments

[nwhepcat.livejournal.com]

I am only two episodes from being impossible to spoil, then I can't wait to dig into the fics, especially podfics!

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

Cool! There is so very much good writing in this fandom, and so many ways to take off from the end (or, you know,explore pre-series stuff).

All of the crack_van recs are organized on this delicious thread (http://delicious.com/due_south_crack_van) by the indispensible akamine_chan, which is a great way to read by pairingor author.

Julia, now if you are tempted to write in this fandomas well, that would be an excellent bit of luck for all us readers

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

Calm and the Black-Stained Sky at Ao3 (http://archiveofourown.org/works/13406?view_adult=true)