RATED PG
Ray parked the Riv and headed up the driveway towards his house. He smiled and shook his head. His house. His and Benny's. Even after living there for almost two months, there were still times he couldn't quite believe it was true.
After being lovers for a year and a half, he and Benny had decided that they needed a place of their very own. After briefly considering the idea of renting an apartment together, they had decided instead to buy a house.
That had been much easier decided upon than done. More than once, Benny and Ray had looked at the list of requirements for their home and despaired of ever finding it.
It had to be close to both the Consulate and the 27th Precinct, and close to the Vecchio home, it had to be in a nice neighborhood, it had to have a large kitchen for Ray and a room that could serve as a library for Benny. It also had to have a large yard for Diefenbaker.
Finally, after nearly three months of searching, they had found the perfect home. After that, all the paperwork and financing and packing and moving and settling in had almost seemed like a piece of cake.
Ray entered the house and dropped his keys on the table next to the door. He hung his coat in the closet and sighed. The house seemed very empty and quiet tonight.
The Consulate was due for its annual inspection by the muckety-mucks from Ottawa, and Thatcher was in a frenzy; driving everyone on her staff crazy to get the place absolutely perfect for the inspection.
Benny was keeping such long hours at the Consulate, and Ray was so caught up in his cases, that they had barely seen each other for two weeks.
Ray sighed again. One reason he had decided to live with Benny was so that he could see his lover on a regular basis; and he had seen him less over the past few weeks than he used to when they lived apart.
He heard the soft thwap-twhap of the doggie door in the kitchen and smiled as Diefenbaker came running up to him. "I guess it's just you and me again tonight, Dief," he told the wolf, rubbing his head. "Let's go see what we can make for dinner." He headed to the kitchen, Diefenbaker trotting after him.
After dinner, Ray tried to stay up until Benny got home, but he was worn out himself from the long hours and the pressures of the cases he was trying to close, and he found himself nodding off in front of the TV. At about 10:00 he gave up and went to bed.
Sometime later- it felt like only seconds, but it could have been hours for all Ray knew- he was awakened by the feeling of the covers being pulled back and someone slipping into bed next to him.
"Benny, you're home."
"You're just dreaming, Ray. Go back to sleep," a voice filled with both amusement and affection answered.
"Nice dream," Ray murmured. He felt Benny's arms wrap around him and rolled over next to Benny's warmth and fell back asleep.
Ray grunted softly and opened his eyes. The room was still dark. It must be the middle of the nigh, what had woken him up?
Ben spoke from the darkness. "Ray?"
"What is it, Benny?" Ray mumbled sleepily.
"Ray, I don't feel very well."
Ray was wide awake in an instant, sitting up and turning the lamp on in one motion. He took a close look at Benny. He was even paler than usual, and when Ben turned to face him, Ray noticed his eyes were very bright, almost glazed. Ray frowned. "What's the matter?" He asked quietly.
"I feel achy all over, and my head hurts. I feel really nauseous, too."
"How long have you been feeling like this?"
"The nausea really only started tonight, but I've been feeling tired and achy for a couple of days."
"A couple days? Why didn't you say anything?" Ray's voice had risen slightly.
"I thought I was just tired from working so hard for the inspection. It's happened before; so I didn't see any sense in complaining about it."
"Oh, Benny," Ray said softly. He was torn between feeling sorry for his lover or feeling incredibly annoyed with him for always having to be so damn stoic. He reached out and placed a hand on Ben's forehead, then gasped. "God, Benny, you're burning up!"
"I think I may have the flu, Ray."
Ray tossed back the covers. "I'm going to have the doctor take a look at you."
"I really don't feel like getting dressed and going to the emergency room, Ray."
"It won't be the emergency room, I'm going to call Dr. Emery. He's been the Vecchio family doctor forever."
"Really, Ray, I think it's just the flu. I'd rather stay here in bed."
"You can," Ray smiled. "Dr. Emery makes house calls."
Benny looked surprised. "I thought they only did that in old movies and TV shows."
Ray grinned. "For the most part, yeah. But like I said, Dr. Emery has been taking care of us forever. He won't mind coming over here to take a look at you."
Benny's eyes drifted closed. "All right, Ray."
The fact that Benny was not protesting his calling the doctor scared Ray. He gave him a quick kiss. "I'll be right back, Benny."
Ben nodded.
Ray went out to the kitchen and called Dr. Emery, who didn't seem to mind at all receiving the phone call in the middle of the night. He promised that he would be right over.
Ray went into the bathroom and wet a washcloth with cold water, then went back into the bedroom. He went over and sat down on the edge of the bed next to Benny. Ray bathed Benny's face with the washcloth, then folded it and laid it across his forehead.
Ben opened his eyes and smiled up at him. "That feels nice, Ray."
"Yeah?" Ray smiled at him and began stroking his face.
"That feels even better," Ben said.
"The Doc will be here soon, love," Ray said.
"Okay." Ben lay with his eyes closed for a long time. Suddenly his breathing became more rapid and his eyes opened.
"Benny?" Ray asked, alarmed.
"I'm going to be sick," Ben said. Removing the washcloth and tossing back the covers, he bolted from the room into the bathroom.
Ray sat on the bed with his face buried in his hands, swearing in Italian. In a few minutes Benny was back, and Ray helped him into bed. He noticed that Ben was shivering. "You cold, baby?" Ray asked.
Benny nodded.
"You want another blanket?"
"Please."
Ray got a blanket from the closet and draped it over Benny, who was lying silently with his eyes closed.
Feeling helpless, Ray began stroking Benny's face again, and Benny smiled weakly.
Just a few minutes later the doorbell rang, and Ray went to answer it.
Just the sight of the doctor made Ray feel somewhat calmer. Dr. Emery had been a comforting presence in Ray's life for as long as he could remember. Whenever he had been sick or hurt, Dr. Emery had been there to make it better.
The man was in his sixties now, with silver hair and silver wire-rimmed glasses, and his grandfatherly appearance only added to the comfort factor.
Ray stepped aside to let the him enter the house. "Thanks for coming, Dr. Emery. I'm sorry to get you up in the middle of the night."
Dr. Emery smiled. "That's okay. If I minded things like this, I would have been an accountant. Besides, I owe you. All those house calls to the Vecchios almost single-handedly put my daughters through private school."
Ray grinned.
When they got back to the bedroom, the bed was empty. Ray sighed. "We'll be right back."
He got to the bathroom just as the door opened and Benny stepped through it. "I was sick again," he told Ray, looking slightly embarrassed.
Ray shook his head. Only Benny could possibly be embarrassed about something like that. Wrapping an arm around Benny, he led him back to the bedroom and tucked him into bed.
Benny threw off the top blanket. "I'm so hot," he said.
Ray frowned, worried; and looked over at the doctor. "Dr. Emery, this is your newest patient, and an honorary Vecchio; Benton Fraser. Benny, this is Dr. Emery."
"All right young man, let's see what's going on with you, shall we?" Dr. Emery smiled at him warmly; and Benny nodded.
Dr. Emery gave Ben a quick but thorough exam, asking about his symptoms and general state of health, taking his temperature and checking his vital signs.
When he was done, he smiled at Benny. "Okay, you can lay back down now."
Benny leaned back against the pillows with a grateful sigh.
"Well, Benton, you have yourself a nice case of the flu."
"I thought so," Ben nodded. "How did this happen? I never get sick."
"You mean you didn't used to get sick," Ray said. "But that was back in the Territories where you saw maybe ten people all winter. This is Chicago. Millions of people, millions of germs."
Benny sighed, but said nothing.
"So what do we do for him?" Ray asked Dr. Emery.
"The usual. Give him liquids to keep him from dehydrating. Aspirin to help with the aches and the fever. When he can stomach it, soup and Jell-O, then work up to solid food. You know the drill."
Before Ray could answer, Ben spoke. "Excuse me, please." Throwing back the covers, he ran from the room again. Ray took a deep breath, then followed him, waiting outside the bathroom door. A few minutes later the door opened and Ben stepped through.
"Are you okay?" Ray asked.
"Yes." Benny suddenly pitched forward, and Ray grabbed him.
"Benny!"
"I'm all right," Ben said, even though he was leaning heavily against Ray.
Suddenly Dr. Emery was there, too. "Benton?"
"I'm fine," Ben told both men.
Neither Ray nor Dr. Emery bothered replying to that. They each wrapped an arm around Benny and walked him back to the bed.
Benny lay down and Ray covered him, noticing as he did so that Benny was shivering again. "Do you want the extra blanket?" He asked.
Ben nodded. "I'm so cold again," he whispered.
Ray covered Ben with the blanket and Dr. Emery left the room. He came back with a glass of cola and two aspirin. "Here," he told Ben, "take these."
Ben shook his head. "I don't like taking non-prescription medicines."
"All right then," Dr. Emery said smoothly, "I'm prescribing them."
Ray gave the doctor an admiring grin.
"It will help you with your headache, Benton," Dr. Emery told him. "As well as your other aches. More importantly, it will help cut your fever; if you can keep them down."
Ben nodded reluctantly and took the aspirin.
"I'll be right back," Ray said. Going to the kitchen, he got a bucket from under the sink and ran a little water into the bottom. Carrying it back into the bedroom, he placed it by the head of the bed.
Ben smiled at him in understanding. "Thanks, Ray."
"Try to get some sleep now, Benny," Ray said.
Ben nodded and closed his eyes.
Ray leaned down and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead, then led Dr. Emery from the room. "Thanks again for coming over tonight," he said as the doctor slipped into his jacket.
"No problem at all, Ray." Dr. Emery smiled as he saw the worried expression on Ray's face. "Don't worry, Ray, Benton's going to be just fine. Just follow doctor's orders."
Ray nodded. "I know. It's just hard to see him this way. I've never seen Benny sick before."
"He's going to be fine," Dr. Emery repeated. "I'm leaving him in very good hands."
Ray smiled. "Thanks, Dr Emery." He closed the door behind the other man and stood leaning against the door for a minute, deep in thought. Finally he went to the phone and dialed a number.
"Ma? It's me. I'm sorry to call you so late. No, I'm fine. It's... Ma, it's Benny. Can you come over?"
Ray walked back into the bedroom to find Benny sleeping restlessly. He had tossed off the covers again.
Ray sighed and ran a hand over Benny's cheek. He paused and frowned, feeling Benny's forehead. Was it his imagination, or was it hotter? He was about to go get the thermometer when Benny stirred and woke up.
"Hi," Benny smiled at Ray.
"How are you feeling, sweetheart?"
Benny shrugged slightly. "Okay, I guess. I... oh, God." He sat up abruptly.
Ray grabbed the bucket and held it in place for Benny while he was sick.
Finally Benny was quiet, leaning against Ray with a slight shudder. Ray ran a soothing hand up and down Benny's back and placed a kiss on his cheek. "I'll be right back, love."
Ray went into the bathroom and got a glass of cool water and took it to Benny. Ben rinsed his mouth out and spit into the bucket, then took a small sip of the water.
"Don't you want any more to drink?" Ray asked.
Ben shook his head. "I'm afraid it would just make me sick again."
Ray nodded. "Okay, baby. You just try to get some more sleep now, okay?"
Benny nodded and lay back against the pillows.
Ray went and cleaned out the bucket and re-filled it with water. Going into the bedroom, he placed the bucket by the head of the bed and then sat there, watching Benny toss and turn restlessly.
After about half an hour the doorbell rang, and Ray went to let his mother in. Rosa stepped into the house carrying two grocery bags.
"I would have been here sooner, Caro," she told Ray, "but I had to stop in the kitchen."
Ray looked into the bags and grinned. "You're going to make chicken soup?"
"Of course I am! And I know you boys do not have the proper ingredients on hand."
Ray felt a sudden wave of affection sweep over him and he kissed his Mother on the cheek. "I'm glad you're here, Ma."
"It is good that you called me, Raimondo."
Ray had to agree with that sentiment. He felt a little better already, just having his mother in the house with him.
They went into the kitchen and put away the groceries, then went into the bedroom. When she saw Fraser, Rosa stopped and frowned. She moved to the bed and sat beside him. "Poor bambino," she murmured.
She reached out and felt Fraser's forehead, and looked at Ray in shock. "Raimondo, this boy is burning up with fever!"
"I know, Ma. He took some aspirin, but he threw them right back up."
Rosa sighed. "Go get me the thermometer, please."
Ray went and fetched it from the bathroom.
When he came back into the bedroom, he saw that Rosa had moved the arm chair next to the bed and was sitting next to Fraser, watching over him. Ray gave the thermometer to his Mother, who slipped the device into Benny's ear. Within seconds, she had a reading.
When Ray saw the number, he gasped in shock. "102.3? That's higher than when Dr. Emery was here!"
Before Rosa could answer, Benny moaned and woke up. "Ray?"
"I'm right here, love." Ray hastened to move next to Benny on the bed.
Ben sat up again and Ray grabbed the bucket, cursing silently. Ben leaned over the bucket, but there was nothing left in his stomach, and he retched violently with dry heaves. Finally they stopped and Ben collapsed back against the pillows with a groan.
Looking over, Fraser noticed Mrs. Vecchio for the first time. "Rosa?"
"Hello, Benton. I see that you are not feeling very well."
Ben looked from Rosa to the bucket, then back again; and at last some color came into his face as he blushed vividly. "I'm sorry," he said miserably.
Rosa smiled gently at him and squeezed his arm. "What? You think this is the first time I ever saw one of my children get sick? It is okay, Benton."
Ben smiled weakly at her, but he had tears in his eyes.
Ray retrieved the glass of cola from the dresser and offered it to Ben. "Here, try to drink a little of this, Benny."
Ben shook his head. "I don't think I can, Ray."
"Come on, sweetheart, just a couple sips."
Reluctantly, Benny allowed Ray to help him to a sitting position and he took a few sips of the soda; then he pushed the glass away. "I'm sorry," he whispered, falling back against the pillows.
"That's okay, Benny. You did fine," Ray said softly. "Why don't you try to get some sleep now, okay?"
Ben nodded and closed his eyes. After a few minutes, his breathing deepened and evened out, and Rosa turned to Ray.
"Maybe we should do this in shifts, bambino. One of us will stay up with him, while the other naps on the couch."
Ray nodded. "That sounds good. I'll take the first shift." He saw Rosa was about to protest, and cut her off smoothly. "I'm wide awake now anyhow, Ma. Go on, go get some sleep."
"Since when did you start bossing your Mother around?" Rosa smiled. Giving Ray a kiss on the cheek, she left the room.
Ray sank into the chair she had vacated with a sigh. As he sat watching his lover, Ray felt his eyelids get heavier. Despite what he had told his Mother, he was feeling a little sleepy. Maybe if he just closed his eyes for a few minutes...
Ray jerked awake with a gasp. How long had he been asleep? He cursed himself. Benny was thrashing around in the bed, calling out. Ray quickly moved to the bed, shaking his lover gently and calling out his name.
Ben's eyes flew open, and he sat up with a gasp. "Ray?"
"I'm right here, love."
"Ray? Ray!"
"Benny, I'm right here." He looked closely at Benny. His eyes looked wild and panicked, and they were glazed with fever. Ray's heart started pounding in fear.
"Ray!" Benny looked right into his face, but gave no sign that he recognized Ray at all. "Where is Ray?"
"Benny! Benny, listen to me! It's me. It's Ray. I'm here!"
"No!" Ben grabbed the front of Ray's pajamas in a surprisingly forceful grip. "Where is he? What have you done to him? Ray! Oh, God, Ray!" Suddenly, Benny's eyes rolled back into his head, and he slumped back against the pillows.
"Oh my God!" Ray cried. "Benny! Benny!!" He shook his lover, but got no response. Reaching out with a shaking hand, he felt Ben's forehead. It was hotter than ever.
His heart pounding in fear, Ray ran into the living room and over to the couch where Rosa was asleep. "Ma! Wake up. Mama!"
Rosa woke up, took one look at her son's face; and was on her way to the bedroom. When they got there, Benny was still lying against the pillows, completely motionless.
"Ma, he's delirious. He was awake, looking right at me, and he didn't recognize me. He didn't even know I was there!"
"It's okay, bambino, we'll take care of him," Rosa said in her steady, calming voice. She took Ben's temperature again, and Ray peered over her shoulder to get the reading. It was 104.3.
Ray gasped. "I'm calling an ambulance."
"No, Ray, that isn't necessary yet. We will take care of him."
"Ma! How-"
"Ray, calm down," Rosa said firmly; and the words had their desired effect. Ray nodded and took a deep breath.
"Okay," Rosa smiled at him. "Here is what I want you to do for me. Go into the bathroom and wet five bath towels and one hand towel with cool water and bring them back to me."
Ray nodded and raced off to the bathroom. He grabbed the towels and threw them into the tub and turned on the water. As he wrung out the towels, he noticed that his hands were shaking.
He closed his eyes and offered the closest thing to a prayer that he was able to at that point. "Come on, God, give Benny a break, will ya? He doesn't deserve this. He's one of your better ones, in case you haven't noticed."
Scooping up the towels, he hurried back into the bedroom. As he approached the bed, Benny stirred again, and Ray stopped in his tracks.
Benny's gaze fell on Rosa, and a look of happy surprise came into his eyes. "Mommy? Mommy, is that really you?"
"I'm here," Rosa answered, running a soothing hand over his face.
"Mommy! I thought you went away and left me. I missed you so much!"
"I'm here, Benton," Rosa repeated.
Ben smiled happily at her, a little boy's smile.
"Get some sleep now, my baby," Rosa whispered.
Benny nodded obediently, taking one of Rosa's hands and grasping it firmly between his own. He lay back on the pillows and closed his eyes. A few seconds later, his eyes flew open again. "Don't leave me anymore, Mommy. Okay?"
Rosa smiled at him tenderly. "I will be right here. I won't go away."
Ben smiled happily again, closed his eyes, and was soon asleep.
Ray's heart was thudding painfully in his chest; and he couldn't stop the tears from rolling down his cheeks. Wordlessly he stepped forward and handed the towels to Rosa.
She squeezed his hand briefly. "Thank you, Caro. Okay, first of all, we need to remove Benton's t-shirt and sweat pants."
Ray nodded and pulled back the covers, then pulled Benny into a sitting position. Ray removed Ben's t-shirt as quickly as he could, upset at the feeling of Benny lying limp and motionless against him. He could feel the heat radiating from Benny's body, and he bit his lip.
When he had the t-shirt removed, he lay Benny gently back against the pillows and pulled off his sweatpants.
"Okay," Rosa said, "we are going to use the big towels on his arms and legs and his chest."
Ray nodded and helped his mother lay the towels over Benny. Then Rosa folded the small towel and placed it on Benny's forehead.
"Shouldn't we at least call Dr. Emery?" Ray asked.
Rosa smiled. "If we did, he'd tell us to do just this. If this doesn't bring the fever down, we'll call him."
Ray nodded. "Okay."
Rosa covered Ben with the sheet and one of the blankets. "We don't want him to catch a chill," she smiled.
Ray nodded, fighting back tears. "Oh, Caro mio, come here," Rosa whispered.
Ray knelt before his Mother and buried his face in her lap, crying.
Rosa ran a soothing hand over head. "Sush, Raimondo. It's going to be okay. Benton is going to be just fine. Everything will be all right." She kept repeating the words over and over, and Ray didn't even notice when he fell asleep.
Ray jerked awake with a start, and looked up at his mother in confusion.
"Do you feel better now?" She smiled.
"How long was I asleep?" He asked, a slight note of accusation in his voice.
"Only about an hour," Rosa said calmly.
Before Ray could speak again, there was a faint rustling from the bed. "Ray?" Benny's voice, very weak.
Ray moved to sit next to him on the bed, his heart picking up pace. "Benny, I'm right here," he said, looking carefully into his lover's face. The glazed look was gone from Ben's eyes, and he seemed much calmer than before.
"What time is it?" Ben asked, and Ray felt a grin cross his face. Benny was back.
"Who cares?" He answered.
Ben smiled back faintly.
"How are you feeling, Benton?" Rosa asked, and Ben started and looked at her in confusion.
"Rosa? When did you get here?"
She smiled at him. "A little while ago. Ray called me and said you weren't feeling well, so I came to help."
"Oh, that's nice, but..." At a sharp look from Rosa, he let the sentence trail off. "Thank you."
"Benny, how do you feel?" Ray asked.
"I rather feel like I've been through the wringer," Ben answered.
"Well, you have." Ray smiled slightly. He took Ben's temperature again. "101.6. Much better, Benny."
"He's going to be just fine," Rosa said, smiling. "Benton, would you care for a cup of tea?"
"Actually, that sounds wonderful." Ben was surprised when his stomach didn't protest the idea.
"Ray?" Rosa asked.
Ray shuddered. "Coffee?"
Rosa laughed. "Coffee it is. I'll be back in a few minutes."
The two men watched as she left the room, then Benny noticed something. Pushing off the covers, he peered down at himself. "Ray, what is going on?"
Ray smiled and started removing the towels, tossing them carelessly onto the floor. "You spiked a fever, Benny. We had to bring it down."
"Oh." Benny frowned. "I don't remember that."
"No," said Ray, crossing to the dresser to get a fresh t-shirt for Benny. "I don't imagine you would."
He moved over and sat on the edge of the bed, helping Benny on with the t-shirt. He reached out and cupped Benny's cheek in his hand. "God, Benny, you scared the hell out of me tonight."
"I'm sorry, Ray. I didn't mean to."
Ray smiled. "I know you didn't."
Ben yawned and laid back down. He stared up at Ray, frowning slightly. "Ray, you look very tired."
"I'm okay, Benny."
"Ray, you look so tired. You should get some sleep. I don't want you to catch this flu."
"I had a flu shot at work, Benny. I'm okay."
"You should get some sleep anyway." Benny tugged gently on his arm, and Ray didn't resist at all.
A few minutes later, Rosa entered the room, carrying a tray laden with the tea and coffee. She stopped and smiled at the sight before her.
Benny was sleeping, tucked under the covers; and lying next to him, sprawled out on top of the blankets, Ray was also sound asleep, one arm wrapped firmly around Benny.
Setting the tray down on the dresser, Rosa moved over to the bed and covered Ray with the extra blanket. Then, after placing a kiss on each of her son's cheeks, Rosa took the tray and quietly left the room.
THE END
Return to Home Page