RATED NC17
The clock down the street struck 6:00 as Benny exited the Consulate. He smiled as he saw the Riviera waiting at the curb. He hurried over to the car and opened the passenger door. After placing his Stetson on the dashboard, he slipped into his seat and closed the door. “Hello, Ray.”
“Hey, Benny.” Ray turned to him and took the seatbelt from Benny’s hands as he started to fasten it, pulling him into a kiss.
Benny sighed and leaned into his lover, then pulled away with a gasp. “Ray!” He exclaimed, looking out the window at the sidewalks around them.
“Relax, Benny. This area is a ghost town after 5:00. And I haven’t had the chance to spend time alone with you this week, so I’m going to grab every opportunity I can.”
An exhibit of Inuit artifacts was touring America; and Benny’s friend Eric was touring with it as an advisor and consultant. The exhibit was in Chicago for a week, and Eric was staying with Benny.
Benny was happy to have Eric there, and was enjoying their visit; but it did severely cut into his private time with Ray.
Benny smiled at his lover. “Eric will be leaving tomorrow, Ray; and I promise we will make up for lost time.”
Ray smiled back. “Oh yeah? How exactly are you planning to do that?”
“It will go something like this,” Benny said, and pulled Ray into another kiss. He ran his hand over Ray’s hip, then around his waist to his chest, where he undid a couple of buttons on Ray’s shirt and caressed Ray’s chest through his t-shirt.
Ray pulled away, breathing harshly. “Benny,” he gasped. “I think we’d better stop now.”
“Why?” Benny smiled. “It’s a ghost town here after 5:00, remember?”
“Yes,” Ray said, buttoning his shirt with all the dignity he could muster. “But it’s best not to take unnecessary risks.”
Benny grinned at him. “You sound like me.”
Ray groaned and let his head fall to the steering wheel. “Lord help me.”
When they got to Racine street, Ray and Benny noticed white smoking billowing out the open window of Benny’s apartment.
“Another sweat lodge?” Ray sighed.
Benny was smiling happily. “So it would appear.”
He got out of the car and headed quickly inside the building; Ray following after him at a more leisurely pace, shaking his head.
They entered the apartment to find Eric standing next to the sweat lodge, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.
“Whoa!” Ray said, quickly looking away.
Diefenbaker trotted up to Ben, his tail wagging happily.
Ben smiled at his wolf, scratching his ears. “Did you and Eric have a good time today?”
Diefenbaker yelped, and Benny smiled. “Good. I appreciate you being such a good host to him while I’m at work.”
“I don’t believe this,” Ray muttered, and headed into the kitchen.
“Well, mostly he just walks around the museum with me all day, but he’s been a big hit,” Eric said.
“I’m sure he has been.”
Dief headed after Ray into the kitchen, head and tail held high.
“How about it, Mountie? You up for a sweat?”
“Yes I am. It’s been far too long.”
“How about you, Ray?” Eric called.
“No thanks. I think I’ll just get dinner started,” Ray answered.
“Suit yourself.”
Benny quickly took off and hung up his uniform, then entered the sweat lodge clad in just his boxer shorts. Eric followed him inside and closed the flap of the tent.
“So, what answers are you looking for this time?” Eric asked.
Benny shook his head and shrugged. “I’m not seeking a particular answer.”
“That’s okay,” Eric said. “Just sit back and relax and let the vision come to you.” He poured some water over the hot rocks, and steam immediately filled the small tent.
Benny took a deep breath and let it out slowly, closing his eyes. He let his mind drift, focusing on nothing in particular. Suddenly he smiled as his thoughts found a focal point. Ray.
Eric and the tent and everything else around him seemed to fade from reality as he focused on Ray…
He was walking down a street with Ray, everything silent around them. Even though there were pedestrians on the sidewalk and traffic in the streets, all Ben could hear was the click of his and Ray’s shoes on the pavement, loud and echoing.
“Ray?” he said.
Ray turned to him and smiled, but didn’t answer. Instead he led Benny to an alley and started down it.
As they entered the alley, a feeling of ominous fear settled heavily over Benny. He looked around him at the graffiti sprayed on the walls, the big brown dumpster about halfway down the alley, and the oily puddles on the ground.
He didn’t know where they were or why they were there, he only knew he wanted to leave this place.
Suddenly, Ray stopped. “Look, Benny,” he said, pointing to the roof of the building opposite them.
Benny looked where Ray was pointing, and froze. On top of the building was a large blackbird. Benny tried to speak, to say his lover’s name, but his voice wouldn’t work.
Ray kept staring up at the bird, even as it took flight, heading towards them.
Benny noticed with a growing sense of horror that the bird was heading right towards Ray. He tried frantically to speak again or to move, to knock his lover out of the way; but he could do neither. He could only stand and watch helplessly as the blackbird moved closer and closer to his lover, the blackness filling his vision...
Benny blinked his eyes open and looked around in confusion. He was lying on his bed, a cold cloth on his forehead. Eric was sitting at the foot of the bed, looking at him in confusion and concern.
Turning his head, he saw Ray sitting next to him, watching him worriedly. Benny gasped as his vision came back to him in a rush. “Ray!” He sat up and grabbed him and pulled Ray to him, shaking uncontrollably.
Ray’s arms wrapped around him tightly, and he rocked Benny back and forth, stroking his back gently. “It’s okay, Benny. Everything is all right,” he said softly. He continued holding Benny until the shaking stopped, then pulled away gently.
Benny picked up the washcloth that was now lying next to him on the bed and twisted it in his hands, unable to meet either Eric’s or Ray’s eyes.
“What happened, Ben?” Eric asked.
Benny shook his head, but didn’t look up or answer. He could feel Ray and Eric exchanging a look over his head.
“Are you okay?” Eric asked.
“Yes, I’ll be fine,” Benny answered.
“Okay. Well, if you’re sure, I think I’m going to take off for awhile.”
Benny finally looked at him, staring in surprise.
“I’ve been in Chicago all week, and I’m leaving tomorrow. I haven’t had a real chance to see the city, so I’m going to take a walking tour. There’s a lot of things I want to see; so I probably won’t be back ’til around midnight.”
“Thank you,” Ray said quietly.
Eric gave Benny a light slap on the leg. “Feel better, Mountie.”
Benny nodded, and Ray got up and walked Eric to the door. Diefenbaker jumped up from his spot in the kitchen and slipped out the door with Eric.
“I guess I’m taking the wolf with me,” Eric smiled.
“Be careful,” Ray said.
“I can take care of myself,” Eric assured him.
Ray nodded. “Okay.” He closed the door behind Eric and Dief, then went into the kitchen and filled a glass with cold water. Taking the glass over to Benny, he sat next to him on the bed.
Benny took the glass and drank about half the water, then set the glass on the floor.
“What happened back there?” Ray asked.
“It was the heat,” Benny said. “I haven’t been in a sweat lodge in a long time, and I’m not used to it anymore.”
“Bullshit, Benny.”
Benny looked at him in surprise.
“I’ve been there when you’ve been standing guard duty in your serge in the worst of a Chicago summer, and it never made you pass out.”
“Ray...”
“And being over-heated doesn’t make you shake so hard it scares me, or make your heart beat so hard and so fast I can feel it more than my own.”
Benny looked back down at his hands, which were twisting the washcloth again.
“You saw something, Benny. You had a vision or a dream or whatever, and you saw something that obviously scared the hell out of you.”
Benny raised his eyes to meet Ray’s troubled gaze.
“I don’t think any less of you for being afraid, Benny,” Ray said softly.
Benny took Ray’s hand, squeezing it. “It’s not that, Ray.”
“What is it, then?”
Benny took a deep breath. “I did have a vision. In the vision, you and I were in an alley, and we saw a blackbird on top of the building next to us.” Ben paused, taking another breath.
Ray shook his head. “So you saw a blackbird. I don’t get it.”
“Ray, a blackbird represents death.”
Ray blinked. “Oh.”
“And... And it was headed ri-” Benny’s voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. “It was headed directly towards you.”
Sudden understanding hit Ray. “You had a vision that I died?”
Benny nodded.
Ray squeezed Benny’s hand tighter. “That didn’t necessarily mean death, Benny. I mean, most things in dreams and visions represent more than one thing, right?”
“Well yes, Ray. But the most common association for a blackbird is…” Benny trailed off, unable to say the word.
“Well, even if that’s true, Benny; death doesn’t always mean death in dreams. It can mean change, a re-birth, something new.”
Benny looked at him in surprise.
“What? I read books too, you know.”
Benny gave him a small smile.
“And also Benny, it could have just been your fears coming to haunt you. It wasn’t necessarily real.”
“But it seemed real, Ray. It felt so real.” Benny shivered as the sensations from his vision swept over him again.
“Come here,” Ray said softly, and pulled Benny into his arms. “I’m not dying, Benny. You’re not going to lose me.”
He pulled back and gave Benny a kiss, and Benny’s arms went around him like a vise, his mouth plundering Ray’s. Ray pulled away slightly. “Hey, Benny, it’s okay.”
Benny pulled him back again, one hand going to the back of Ray’s head and the other unbuttoning Ray’s shirt.
“Okay Baby, it’s okay,” Ray murmured. He helped unbutton his shirt and tossed it and his undershirt aside, then unfastened his belt and kicked off his shoes and socks.
He stood up to pull down his pants and grinned down at Benny. “You’re way ahead of me, that’s not fair.”
Without taking his eyes off Ray, Benny pulled off his boxer shorts and dropped them onto the floor. A naked Ray sat down next to Benny again, and Benny pulled him into another kiss, lying back on the bed and pulling Ray down on top of him.
Benny’s mouth and tongue were consuming Ray, and his hands were wandering over Ray’s body, pulling him closer and caressing him. Benny started bucking his hips, thrusting against Ray and gasping harshly.
Ray broke the kiss and gently stroked one hand up and down Benny’s ribs. “Benny, it’s okay, I’m right here,” he whispered.
Benny continued moving urgently against him, and Ray responded, rubbing his cock against Benny’s. After just a couple moments Benny gasped harshly and cried out, spilling his seed over Ray.
Ray’s orgasm followed shortly after Benny’s, and the two men lay in a tangled heap, breathing heavily.
Benny lay with his eyes closed, his arms wrapped around Ray. After a few minutes, he started gently stroking Ray’s back. Ray placed a kiss on Benny’s cheek and slowly disentangled himself, getting out of the bed.
Benny made a noise of protest, grabbing Ray’s arm.
“It’s okay, Baby, I’ll be right back,” Ray assured him.
Benny watched Ray walk into the bathroom, then let his eyes drift closed as he listened to the sound of running water. After a few minutes, Ray was back, sitting down on the bed next to Benny.
Benny sighed as he felt a warm washcloth move gently over his stomach, then move lower, washing him. The movements of the cloth were gentle, almost a caress.
Ray always made him feel this way- cherished, safe, loved. He opened his eyes and smiled up at Ray.
Ray smiled back down at him. “You always look so beautiful after we’ve made love,” he said.
Benny reached up and cupped Ray’s face in his hand.
Ray took the hand and placed a kiss against the back of it, then kissed Benny on the lips. “I’m going to finish getting dinner ready. You just stay here and relax, okay?”
Benny just nodded, and watched as Ray went into the bathroom and rinsed out the washcloth, then pulled his t-shirt and boxer shorts on and moved into the kitchen. Benny let his eyes drift closed again and lay half-asleep, listening to the familiar, comforting sounds of Ray making dinner.
After a while he forced his eyes open and got out of bed. Stretching and yawning, he pulled on his t-shirt and underwear and moved into the kitchen. Stepping up behind Ray as he was chopping vegetables, Benny dropped a kiss onto his shoulder.
Ray turned with a smile, but as he looked at Benny, the smile faded. “Benny,” he said, “I am not dying, okay? Unless that vision was a premonition from when I’m 99 years old. Because that’s the earliest I’m going, I promise you.”
“Ray...”
“Don’t argue with me, Benny,” Ray smiled. He pulled Benny into his arms, and Benny let his head rest on Ray’s shoulder for a minute, then pulled away.
“I’ll set the table,” Benny said, moving to the cupboards.
The two men ate a quiet meal together, then cleared the table. When they were done putting the dishes away, Ray turned and studied Benny closely. “Are you feeling okay?” He asked.
“Yes, Ray,” Benny nodded.
“Good.” A mischievous smile spread over Ray’s face. “Because according to my watch we have almost four hours until Eric gets back, and I have definite ideas on how I want to spend that time.” Taking Benny’s hand, Ray led him over to the bed.
Benny sat up in bed with a harsh gasp, a sheen of sweat covering his body. Taking a deep, shaky breath, he drew his legs up to his chest and rested his head on his knees.
It had been four days since he had his horrible vision, and he had had the same nightmare every night since. Essentially it was his vision all over again, except the feelings were more intense. The growing fear and panic, the desperate need to warn Ray and save his life, the complete inability to do so.
Benny remained bent over with his head on his knees until the pounding of his heart slowed, then sat up and looked down at Ray, who was sleeping peacefully next to him.
He traced a finger lightly over his lover’s face, then gently stroked the close-cropped hair. Ray was so beautiful. So good and loving, so wonderful to him. Ray was the best thing that had ever happened to Benny, and he couldn’t lose him. He wouldn’t lose him. He simply would not let that happen.
The only problem was, he had no idea how to prevent what he had seen. Ray could scoff all he wanted, but the vision had been very real. There was a threat out there to Ray’s life, Benny knew it. He could feel it in his soul and in his bones.
He just wished he knew where the threat was coming from, or when it was going to happen. He wished he had something more to go on than the knowledge that something bad was going to happen to Ray, somewhere, sometime.
He had to save Ray, and not just for Ray and for himself. Ray had a family who loved and needed him. And he had friends who cared about him and would be deeply affected by his loss. And he also had a lot to offer the city of Chicago, as much as Ray might scoff at that notion, too.
Ray was a good police officer. A damn good one, and because of him, the streets of Chicago were that much safer. Benny heaved a deep sigh. Surely the fates owed it to Ray to keep him safe, as well.
“Benny?”
Ben started at the sound of the sleepy voice.
“What are you doing?” Ray asked.
Benny opened his mouth to answer, but just sighed and shook his head.
“Lie down,” Ray said, tugging gently on his arm.
Benny complied, lying down next to Ray, and Ray pulled him into his arms, resting Benny’s head on his chest. “Go back to sleep, Baby,” Ray whispered.
Benny nodded and closed his eyes, and allowed himself to be lulled to sleep by the sound of Ray’s heartbeat under his ear.
Ray heaved a sigh and rolled his eyes in exasperation as his phone rang.
In the two weeks since Benny had his vision, he had turned into some kind of psycho body guard; being with Ray as much as possible, and calling him almost constantly when he couldn’t be with him.
At first it had been amusing and a little bit touching, but as the days went on it was getting more and more annoying, and it set Ray’s nerves on edge. No matter how much he tried to tell Benny that he could look after and take care of himself, the damn Mountie insisted on being an extra pair of ears and eyes for him.
Ray was trying to cut him some slack. He knew the vision had been very real to Benny, and that he was still upset, and honestly worried about Ray. And if Ray had some kind of dream like that about Benny, he’d probably be reluctant to let him out of his sight, too.
Ray sighed again as he picked up the phone. At least Benny hadn’t decided to leave Diefenbaker with him full-time. Yet. “Hey, Benny.”
“How did you know it was me?” Benny sounded surprised.
Ray grinned. “Because it’s been almost two hours since your last call.”
“Oh.” Benny sounded embarrassed. “How is your afternoon going?” He finished weakly.
Ray laughed. “It’s been great. Interviews, paperwork, bad coffee. All the reasons I became a police officer.”
“So you’ll be done at a normal hour?”
“Yup. I’ll be there to pick you up at 6:00.”
“All right. I’ll buy you dinner, how does that sound?”
“That sounds perfect.”
True to his word, Benny bought Ray dinner at their favorite Mexican restaurant. It took very little persuasion for Ray to agree to spend the night. When they got back to Benny’s they made love, then went to bed early.
After what seemed like a very short time, Ray was awakened by the sound of Benny moaning and crying out softly in the bed next to him. He rolled over and gently shook Benny awake.
Benny sat up with a loud cry, and Ray sat up next to him, pulling Benny into his arms. “It’s okay, Benny. It’s all right, I’m right here.”
Benny wrapped his arms around Ray’s waist and rested his head on Ray’s shoulder. “Please Ray,” he whispered, “please don’t...”
“Benny it’s okay, I’m right here,” Ray repeated. He held Benny tighter, running a hand gently up and down Benny’s arm. He lay back down, pulling Benny down to lie against his chest. “I wish you could stop having those nightmares,” Ray sighed.
“So do I,” Benny said.
Ray stroked Benny’s face gently. “Well, I’m obviously here and alive and well now; so why don’t we start with you not having any more nightmares tonight?”
“Deal,” Benny nodded.
“Deal?” Ray grinned. “Do you want to shake my hand on it?”
“No.” Benny shook his head, then lifted his head to give Ray a kiss. “That should suffice, don’t you think?”
“Oh, that more than suffices,” Ray said.
“Good,” Benny said. He laid his head back on Ray’s chest, and was asleep within just a few minutes.
Ray lay awake for a while, holding Benny and gently stroking his back. “Oh Benny, what am I going to do with you?” He whispered.
Benny and Ray exited the Riv and headed across the parking lot behind the police station. Ray had picked Benny up for lunch and now they were back at the 27th, where Benny was to “pick up some files,” which actually meant he was going to help Ray with his paperwork and in general spend as much time at the precinct with Ray as he could.
The parking lot was busy, with other officers and detectives going to and coming from lunch. Ray turned to Benny and started to ask him something, when there was a sudden loud popping noise.
“RAY!” Benny grabbed Ray and threw them both to the ground, covering Ray’s body with his own.
There was a moment of complete silence, then Ray shoved Benny off of him and sat up, glaring at his lover. “Fraser, that was a car backfiring. What the hell is wrong with you?”
Benny looked around, noticing all the other cops in the parking lot had stopped and were staring at him and Ray.
Some of the cops were looking at Benny and Ray as if they had never seen them before, and many more of the cops were laughing.
“Oh,” Benny said quietly, embarrassed. He climbed to his feet and held a hand out to Ray; but Ray ignored it, scrambling to his feet by himself and stalking towards the building.
Benny quickly followed after him, ignoring the other police officers as best as he could.
As they headed up the stairs to the door, Detective Barnes, who was still laughing, said to Ray, “Be careful, Vecchio! Those stairs can be really dangerous. You’d better have the Mountie help you.”
“Cram it, Barnes,” Ray snarled.
Huey held the door open for them, but stopped Fraser with a hand on his shoulder. “Now Fraser, when this door closes, it will make a slamming sound. That’s perfectly normal, and you don’t need to tackle anyone to the ground.”
Benny didn’t say anything, just followed Ray into the building, keeping his head down.
When they got upstairs Ray grabbed Benny’s arm and pulled him into one of the interrogation rooms, slamming the door behind them. He whirled around to face Benny. “What was that?”
“I’m sorry Ray, I just...”
“Oh God, not your vision again! Did that vision show me dying of embarrassment? Because that’s what you’re going to do to me, Benny.”
“Ray...”
“No Benny, I’ve had enough! I know what you saw seemed real, but it wasn’t, okay? It was just a vision, a nightmare. Not real.
“And even if it was real, I’m a grown man, Benny; and a cop. I’m capable of looking out for myself, of taking care of and protecting myself.
“You’re making me the laughingstock of the precinct, following me around like some over-protective puppy dog! I already have a mother, Fraser; I don’t need another one.”
Benny had been feeling embarrassed and guilty, but now he was starting to feel a bit angry, as well. “Perhaps I should just leave.”
“There’s no perhaps about it,” Ray snapped.
Without another word, Benny turned and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Benny sat at the table in his apartment, his head in his hands, a cup of untouched tea cooling in front of him.
His day had not gotten any better after leaving the precinct. He had gone back to his office and tried to concentrate on his paperwork, but his mind had kept wandering. To Ray, to his vision, to the way he was handling the situation so very badly.
He didn’t know what to do. He knew he was driving Ray crazy with his recent actions, upsetting and provoking his lover; but he seemed helpless to stop himself.
Every night he would vow to himself that the next day he was going to relax and back off and ease up, and then he would have a nightmare, or he would be at the Consulate the next day, and the thought of Ray on the street all by himself would fill him with fresh fear, verging on panic.
He didn’t mean to embarrass or anger Ray by his constant attentions, but he felt as though his vision had been a warning, that he had been given a chance to save Ray’s life.
But all he seemed to be doing was driving a wedge between himself and Ray. The list thing he wanted was for Ray to feel that Fraser didn’t trust him and his abilities and talents, or his ability to take care of himself. But his vision still haunted him, and he was finding it very difficult to let go of his protective instincts towards Ray.
He wished he could find a way to tell Ray all of this without sounding unbalanced; but when he even thought of the situation, his calmness and logic fled. Besides, Ray didn’t even want to talk to him right now, and Benny didn’t blame Ray for that one bit.
Benny sighed deeply and rubbed his eyes, then started as he heard the door to his apartment open. He looked over and saw Ray step inside and close the door behind him.
Ray looked over at him with a tiny smile; but he looked sheepish, and as embarrassed as Benny was feeling right now.
“Hi Benny.”
“Ray.” Benny stood up and hurried over to his lover.
“Benny, I’m sorry.”
“No Ray, don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one who should be apologizing.”
Ray took his hands and squeezed them. “No Benny, you didn’t do anything wrong, either. Not really.”
“But like you said Ray, I embarrassed you in front of the entire precinct.”
“Hell, Benny, I do that all the time on my own; it was nice to have somebody to share the burden for once.”
“Ray, that’s not true,” Benny said.
Ray smiled at him. “Defending me always, eh, Benny? Look, I know you have really strong psycho mother-hen tendencies right now, but maybe you could try to ease up a little? Like not calling me twenty times a day; and only stopping by the precinct when it’s necessary?”
Benny gave an embarrassed little smile and nodded. “You don’t know how many times I’ve promised myself I would do just that. But try as I might, I can’t let go of the vision. I know you don’t really believe in it, Ray, but it was very real.
“And I know it’s irrational, but I feel that if I’m with you, I can somehow keep watch over you and protect you. And the moment you’re out of my sight, I start worrying, and I feel scared and helpless.”
“Oh Benny,” Ray said, squeezing his hands harder. “I know you’re upset and worried, but like I said before, I really am pretty damn good at taking care of myself.”
“I know you are, Ray. And I’m sorry if I’ve implied otherwise, that was never my intention.” He took a deep breath. “I promise you I’ll try to do my best to stop worrying about you.”
“I didn’t say you had to go that far,” Ray said with a grin. “I like that you care about me. How about we go back to how much you worried about me before this whole thing started?”
Benny nodded. “All right, I’ll try.”
“Good,” Ray said. “Because quite frankly, I’m really starting to worry about you.”
Benny looked at him in surprise. “Me?”
“Yes, you. You know that expression ‘worry yourself sick’? You’re trying your best to live that, Benny. You’re not getting nearly enough sleep, and I’d bet my Riv you’re not eating right either.”
“Ray...”
“Sush.” Ray pulled Benny into his arms and ran his hands up and down Benny’s back. “God Baby, you’re really tense.”
“Maybe you can find a way to help me relax.” He kissed Ray, and Ray opened his mouth, meeting Benny’s tongue with his own.
Ray ran his hands slowly down Benny’s back to cup his ass and pull him closer, and the two men started shuffling over to the bed. Once there they quickly undressed each other and Benny pushed Ray onto the bed, then knelt above him.
Ray smiled up at him and ran his hands over Benny’s chest, gently tweaking his nipples. Benny gasped, then took Ray’s hands into his, kissing each finger and placing a kiss in each palm.
He then intertwined Ray’s fingers with his own and leaned down to capture Ray’s mouth in another kiss. Ray freed his hands and wrapped his arms around Benny’s waist, pulling gently but insistently.
Benny lay carefully down on Ray, and began slowly moving his hips, creating a gentle, delicious friction between himself and Ray.
Ray ran his hands down Benny’s back, kneading and massaging as he went, then squeezed Benny’s ass firmly, pulling him even closer.
Benny gasped and began thrusting harder and harder, and Ray answered, lifting his hips off of the bed to meet each of Benny’s thrusts. The two men came at almost the same moment, their gasps overlapping. Benny collapsed forward to lie on Ray, and Ray’s arms came up to weakly embrace his lover. After a few minutes Benny gave Ray a gentle kiss, then went into the bathroom and washed himself off.
He returned to the bed with a warm washcloth and thoroughly and lovingly washed Ray. He then lay down next to Ray, resting his head on Ray’s shoulder.
“Hmmmm,” Ray sighed contently, snaking an arm around Benny’s shoulders.
They lay quietly together for nearly half an hour, then Ray stirred himself and got out of bed, slipping into his underwear. “I’ll make us dinner, Benny,” he said.
Benny nodded. “Okay.”
Ray picked his suit jacket up off the floor and pulled his cell phone from the pocket. “Chinese or pizza?”
Benny came awake slowly, stretching in the bed. He rolled over and looked at the clock, then sat up with a gasp. “Ray?”
Ray was sitting at the kitchen table, reading the morning paper. “Good morning, Benny,” he smiled.
Benny jumped out of bed, searching for his clothes. “Why did you let me sleep so late?”
“First of all,” Ray replied calmly, “it’s not ‘so late’ it’s only 9:30, Benny. Secondly, you obviously needed the sleep. Thirdly, we don’t have to be anywhere for the next two days. We both have the weekend off, remember?”
“Oh, that’s right,” Benny said, with an apologetic smile. “So, what do you want to do today?”
Ray’s answer was interrupted by a flash of lightning and a loud clap of thunder.
Benny glanced towards the windows in surprise. Sure enough, the skies were dark and cloudy, and as he looked out the window, rain began pounding down. The lack of sunlight streaming in the windows also helped explain why he had slept so late.
“We’ll just have to think of something we can do indoors,” Ray said with an exaggerated leer.
Benny laughed. “I’m sure between the two of us we’ll be able to come up with something.” He moved into the kitchen to claim his first kiss of the day.
Benny and Ray spent a relaxing weekend together. The storms continued off and on all weekend, so they spent most of their time in the apartment. On Sunday afternoon they went to the local market for dinner supplies, and Benny insisted on walking. “We’ll bring an umbrella in case it starts raining,” he said.
Benny looked so eager, and more relaxed than he had in weeks, and Ray was unable to refuse him.
So they walked to the market and picked out their dinner items, then headed back to Benny’s. They had gone only a block when it started to rain, so Benny opened the umbrella. The rest of the way back to the apartment he held the umbrella in one hand and Ray’s hand in the other.
Back at the apartment they made dinner and ate together, then cleaned up and spent the rest of the night playing cards and making love.
The next afternoon Benny reminisced about the weekend to help him get through sentry duty, and he had a hard time not smiling. He had an especially hard time fighting back a smile when he heard a very familiar-sounding car pull up to the curb. A few minutes later the clock bells rang, and Benny broke his stance and headed towards the Riv.
“Hey Benny,” Ray said as Fraser got in the car. “How was your day?”
“It was fine, Ray. And yours?”
“Great, Benny. Just great. Do we need to pick up Dief?”
“No, Willie is taking him to Maggie’s and he’s going to spend the night there.”
“Good. Some alone time.”
Benny smiled, then tensed as he noticed a young man running down the street, a purse clutched in his hands.
“Ray,” he said, gesturing towards the man.
“Benny...”
“Ray!”
With a sigh, Ray pulled the Riv to the curb and he and Benny jumped from the car and gave chase.
The man noticed he was being chased and sped up, ducking into an alley.
Benny and Ray quickly closed the distance and entered the alley shortly behind the man.
As they ran through the alley Benny’s steps slowed as an eerie feeling came over him. As he looked around, he felt the blood chill in his veins. This alley looked familiar. Far too familiar.
The brown dumpster, the graffiti, the puddles... Turning quickly, Benny looked at the building opposite them, and saw the glare of sunlight glinting off the metal of a gun.
Just like in his vision, and in his nightmares, Benny couldn’t speak past the fear. But he could move. He could definitely move. With a burst of speed he ran up to Ray, who had passed him, grabbed him, and threw them both to the ground.
As he hit the pavement he heard the sound of a gun shot, and a cry from Ray. He tried moving again, to roll over to see if Ray was all right, but he was suddenly unable to move.
All he could do was lie there helplessly as he heard another shot ring out, and the alley seemed to fade out around him…
Benny looked around in confusion. He was in a room he didn’t recognize. But while the room didn’t look familiar, it felt very familiar.
He was sitting on the middle cushion of a sofa, and he ran his hand over the fabric slowly, curiously. He looked around at the pictures hanging on the walls, and they looked familiar, yet very strange somehow at the same time. He looked at the cushion next to him and was not at all surprised to see a cane leaning against it.
He looked towards the door as someone entered the room, and he smiled. Ray. It was Ray. Ray looked different, too. He was at least 30 years older, and about 20 pounds heavier. But the weight looked good on him.
His hair was completely gone, and as Ray moved closer, Benny could see the wrinkles lining his face. Ray was moving more slowly, too; but the same lithe grace was still there.
Looking at Ray, Benny could see that his eyes were still the same, as well; the usual life and energy showing clearly in them. Ray stopped in front of the sofa and smiled at Benny, and the smile was the same too, full of affection and humor and love.
“You ready to go, you old fart?”
Benny nodded, and Ray held out his hand.
Benny took Ray’s hand with one hand and the cane with the other, and let Ray help him to his feet.
Ray’s smile deepened, and he turned to lead Benny from the room. “Come on, Benny.”
“Come on, Benny.”
Benny’s head swam dizzily as he tried to focus. That was Ray’s voice, wasn’t it? Why did he sound so upset?
“Benny, please. Come on, Baby. Open your eyes.”
Benny tried to figure out where he was. He had been… on a sofa? That couldn’t possibly be right, could it? But now it felt like he was being held in someone’s arms. Ray. It had to be Ray who was holding him.
He could hear Ray’s heartbeat in his ear, and it sounded wrong. Ray’s heart was beating much too fast.
“Benny. Benny, come on.”
With an effort, Benny forced his eyes open and looked up at Ray, who looked very scared.
“Benny!”
Benny blinked up at him. “Ray?” Reality came rushing back, and he sat up with a gasp. “Ray! Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, Benny. What about you?”
Benny didn’t answer, running his hands over Ray and pulling his suit jacket open to search for any signs of harm. “Are you all right?” He repeated insistently.
“Benny, I’m perfectly fine.”
“What about the shooter?”
“Dead,” Ray said grimly.
“Oh.” Benny looked over and saw a man who appeared to be in his early 40s lying sprawled on the pavement in a growing pool of blood. Benny drew in a quick, ragged breath, and started shaking uncontrollably.
“Benny, are you-” Ray broke off suddenly and looked around the alley. “Your vision?”
Benny nodded. Ray had suddenly gone very pale. “Oh my God,” he whispered.
He pulled Benny into his arms and the two men embraced tightly. After a couple of minutes Benny was able to stop shaking, and he pulled back to look into Ray’s face. “Are you sure you’re all right?” He asked.
Ray nodded. “I’m fine, Benny.”
The two men helped each other to their feet. “Who is that?” Benny asked, glancing at the dead body, then quickly looking away again.
Ray shook his head. “I have no idea. I’ve never seen him before. Probably just some crackpot out to take random shots at people.”
Benny nodded.
“Oh, and the purse snatcher got away,” Ray said.
“For once, I don’t care about that,” Benny answered.
Ray tried to smile, but only made it about half way. “Is everything okay now?”
Benny tried to remember what he had just seen or dreamt, but it was already faded from his memory. Maybe that was a good sign. What he did have was the feelings the vision had instilled- calmness, happiness, a sense of well-being.
He took a deep breath and smiled. “Yes Ray, everything is just fine.”
“Good.” He looked at his lover, and Ray was shaking a little bit himself. “You saved my life, Benny.”
“I saved my life,” Benny whispered, cupping Ray’s face in his hand.
Ray grabbed Benny and pulled him into a kiss, and they only separated when they heard the sound of approaching sirens.
“The cavalry’s here, Benny,” Ray sighed.
Benny nodded, a tiny wry smile crossing his face.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Ray asked, stroking his face.
“Yes Ray, I’m fine.”
“Good. Because right now we have to go the station and give formal statements and go through all kinds of questioning, but do you know what’s going to happen after that?”
Benny shook his head mutely.
“After that I’m going to take you back to your apartment, strip you naked, lay you down on your bed, and make love to you until the sun comes up.”
“Okay,” Benny breathed.
Ray laughed softly and gave him a quick kiss; and the two men turned and walked side by side towards the entrance of the alley.
THE END
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