Date: Saturday, January 29, 200011:07 PM
From: Viridian5@aol.com
"The Greatest Show onEarth" By Viridian5 1/29/00
RATING: PG-13; Fraser/Kowalski. Ifm/m interaction bothers you, walk on by.
SPOILERS: "Call of theWild"
SUMMARY: The show must go on.
ARCHIVING/DISTRIBUTION: Serge andHexwood. If some kind person feels that this story is appropriatefor DIEF and/or DSX and wouldn't mind posting it, that would begreat as well. Anywhere else too, as long as you ask me first.
FEEDBACK: Hell, yes. Feedback can besent to
DISCLAIMERS: All things _due South_belong to Alliance no matter how much I want Ray K to belong tome. No infringement intended. Suing me would be a waste of time.Besides, I'd just kick you in the head.
NOTES: Inspiration struck afterwatching _Doctor Who_'s "The Greatest Show in theGalaxy."
=========================== "The Greatest Show on Earth" By Viridian5===========================
The spotlight clicked on to revealRay standing in the center ring. As the expectant audience's eyesfocused on him, he felt like he should have a whip andringmaster's outfit, but he just wore his street clothes.Whatever, the show had to go on, and he'd gotten by on attitudebefore.
"Ladies and gennelmen, boys andgirls, welcome to the greatest show on earth! We are proud topresent... The Amazing Fraser!" The spotlight clicked on tothe second ring, to reveal Fraser wrestling with criminals."He leaps tall buildings in a single bound! Will lick*anything* ya put in front of him and tell ya exactly where it'sbeen! Communicates with a wolfen familiar he claims talks back tohim and who even obeys him sometimes! He's so perfect he doesn'teven sweat, people! Ooh and ah at his astounding feats!"Then all the lights went out, leaving him in the dark. "Hey!Who didn't pay the electric bill?"
When the light flashed back on thecenter ring, hulking men in police uniforms and whiteface clownmakeup held him motionless no matter how hard he fought. RayVecchio smirked at him. "Hey, tough guy, remember me?"
"Where's Fraser?" Rayasked.
"Not too bright, are you? Hewasn't ever yours. Never. You were just a pale replacement forme, and he was too polite to say so. Did you really think heloved you? Well, you learned better at the hotel, didn't you? Nowyou can't use him as your ticket in here, and you can't use myname anymore either. There's only one Raymond Vecchio, and that'sme. You can't trade on anyone else anymore. So you give me onereason why we should let you stay."
"What?" The clownpolicemen forced his head up and into a headlock. Damn, but hehated clowns. They were so creepy.
"You got a talent? *Any*talent?"
"I'm a good shot." WhenVecchio snickered, Ray snarled, "When I have my glasses on.I dance. I can swill bad coffee all day. I--" To his horror,Ray couldn't think of anything else. "I'm a good cop!"he spat.
"Whatever you say. Hey, wait.I've got it." Vecchio smiled widely, playing to theaudience, before he pitched, "Ladies and gentlemen, Ipresent... The Chameleon! Man of a hundred roles! Player ofunderworld figures and cops who are out playing underworldfigures! Yet this enigma has a greater, horrifying mystery withinhim! Can you guess what it is?"
Ray felt his captors' fingers clawat his jawline. He struggled harder, especially when he feltsomething painfully tear away.... They ripped off his face,leaving nothing at all. No eyes, no nose, no mouth. He couldn'teven scream.
"Underneath all those roles,there's nothing at all!" Vecchio's eyes gleamed. "Noone there!" And the audience applauded.
"Ray!" Fraser said.
Ray's eyes opened to a field of coldwhite. And Fraser. He ran his gloved hand over his face and felteverything where it was supposed to be. Dream. Just a dream.
They were in deep in themiddle-of-nowhere Canada on Muldoon's trail. At least Fraser saidthey had the trail, and Ray had to trust in that.
He didn't think he'd survive thehike. And if he did, he didn't think he'd survive Fraser leaving.He knew what his dream meant. No place for him, no one for him,no one to be. Maybe the wilderness would give him a cleaner end.At least he'd go out for a good cause.
"Are you all right, Ray?"Fraser looked so worried, and he already had enough on his mindwithout worrying about his partner.
Ray put on a smile. "I'm fine,Fraser. Up and at 'em. Muldoon isn't gonna catch himself."
*********************THEEND************************
More Viridian5 stories can be foundin The Green Room at http://members.tripod.com/~drovar/viridian/Fandoms represented: due South, X-Files, the Buffy the VampireSlayer movie, Two Guys and a Girl (was Two Guys, a Girl and aPizza Place), Once a Thief, Angel, X-Men, Doctor Who
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