To Life Immortal: 1 - Secrets, Admissions, Consequences

By Claudia Aranda.

Crossover: Due South/War of the Worlds/Highlander: The Series

Rating: PG

Warnings/Categories: AU

Main characters: Ray Vecchio and Paul Ironhorse.

Disclaimer: These characters don't belong to me and I don't intend to make any money with them. There are no intentions to infringe the rights of the legal owners.

Notes: To those familiar with Due South, the Ray Vecchio in this story is the Real Ray.

To those familiar with War of the Worlds, this story is placed in the present, approximately ten years after Ironhorse's death.

This saga DOESN'T adhere to the tv shows in which was based, therefore, all the contradictions in it are MY fault and the larger parts of them were premeditated.

As always, this story hadn't been possible without Birgitt and Connie. Gracias Ladies of The Sith.

By Claudia Aranda.

Note: This series started because: 1º I wanted Colonel Ironhorse back. He was the best of War of the Worlds. 2º I couldn't believe that Due South producers had thought, even for a moment, that the real Ray Vecchio could be replaced.

Ray Vecchio left his car, furious; he couldn't risk to keep on driving, he was so upset that he would going to end up crashing against a tree. Luckily the night was warm and he could clear up his mind with a little walk.

Fraser... always Fraser... making his life impossible.

It was not enough to embarrass him in front of their colleagues, put his life in danger or destroy his car. No, and now has to come out with this. And he expects him to understand it!

Ray stood still for a second, incredulous. Fraser had really shownn himself hurt by his reaction. Ray hadn't been sure of what to do, at first he had thought about joking, but Fraser's expression had been very serious.

Then Ray got angry.

How could that damn Canadian dare to tell him those things? Even worse, how he dared to think....? Well... Those things!

He had tried to calm down and understand, but when Fraser had tried to... Ray couldn't believe it... Surely Fraser hadn't intented to be nasty after all he is Canadian, well-mannered, well-intentioned, neat... one moment. Scratch that!... What Fraser had tried was not hygienic. It had been disgusting! Fraser had tried to... Damn. That made him angry again!

Ray stopped dead, for a terrifying moment thought that maybe he had done something that Fraser could have misunderstood. Something that leads him to believe that... But no, Ray let go a laugh. It was ridiculous, he never... Because... He never... Right?... He was so confused, instead he should be furious. And he was! But he was so confused.

Ray breathed a sigh and rose a little pray, "God. Why do these things happen to me?"

*-----*

Fraser was trembling slightly, Ray had gone furious. He thought the things were going to result better, but when had told Ray what was happening, Ray didn't take it very well. First he had laughed, convinced that Fraser was joking, when he had realized that Fraser was serious, he had gotten angry and had shouted at him that he was a damn pervert and an insufferable Canadian and that he was crazy, after that babbled something about... His car?!... What had that to do with this?!

Fraser knew that no matter how he would say it, possibly Ray would be angry all the same and he had waited too long to do it already, he wasn't going to repent it now.

Fraser had been back from his vacations ready to confess it all, to apologize for his past actions and to explain his behavoir. But he had found Ray in an undercover mission and Stan pretending that he was Vecchio, his apartment and the consulate burned, his father's journals lost forever... All his life in Chicago had vanished.

He remembered that his Inuit Master had told him that his new life will change continously and that it would be painful, but Fraser had believed that he had just talked about the new level of perception in which he was.

Fraser felt exhausted, the discussion with Ray had left him feeling depressed and lonely. He had to accept that possibly it had been a mistake to try to... Well, there was nothing he could do about it, just hope that Ray would assimilate it the best way possible. He understood that for Ray all he had related to him was impossible to accept, but once he had done it, then it would be easier to continue with the rest. There still remained a lot of things to explain, but Fraser couldn't say anything until those things came up, the hardest of all could happen any moment. Fraser wished it would be soon, it was selfish, but he had so many hopes...

Since he knew that Ray was working in a dangerous undercover mission, Fraser was scared. He wanted to be with Ray when all of it would happen: to explain him, comfort him, and assure him that all would be fine, that he had been through this as well, that it was not so bad really. He spent several nights without sleep, thinking, praying that Ray came back alive so he could escort him during the transition. The other way he could lose him forever. His prayer had been heard, Ray had come back safe and sound.

Fraser tried to relax a little. When Ray would accept the news (because Fraser knew that Ray would end up accepting it, although he wouldn't like it), it would come to the really hard part and he would have to be ready and be strong for both of them. With a sigh he decided go to sleep, there was nothing to worry about for the rest of this night, Ray was in Chicago and no matter what would happen, he would be within his reach.

*-----*

Paul Ironhorse heard the commotion at the other end of the room and went to investigate, one of the models had fainted. Paul walked away, upset, this kind of stupid distraction could put a mission in danger. He stood still for a second and admonished himself, "Easy Paul, this is not a mission, just a job". He smiled relaxed and let his subordinates take care of it all.

*-----*

Ray knew that that it was no use being upset over all the things Fraser had stirred. He was a damn Canadian and everybody knew they were not completely normal, Ray himself had told it to Fraser once... Well a couple of times... All right a lot of times! The best was to go home and try to sleep a little.

Ray had been walking at random and, suddenly, he realized that it was late and the park was very lonely. Ray felt that something was bad, in the next moment he turned around and understood what it was. In front of him one of his old mob fellows smiled to him.

"Armando, you look so good for a dead guy."

Ray felt a cold sweat covering him. There was no sense trying to deny or escape. The men of the Iguana Family had him surrounded already.

To be continued...