To Life Immortal: 4 - Farewell

By Claudia Aranda.

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

Rating: PG

Warnings/Categories: AU - Angst

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.

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

By Claudia Aranda.

"OK, let's go!"

"Don't we dispose of the body?"

"No, the Boss said that he wants him to be found. It will be a warning to others who try to fool the Iguana Family."

After this short discussion, the men made their way to their cars and left.

It was 02:00 AM. The corpse wouldn't be found until several hours later. Nobody had made any a fuss about the shooting. After all, what importance should have some more shots in a park?

If Ray Vecchio had known the real reasons for his death, he would had been very upset. But not even his executioners knew them.

*-----*

As was to be expected, once the first strollers had invaded the park, the dead body of Ray Vecchio was found and the park's guards were called. They in turn informed the police that another corpse had been found in the park. This wasn't unusual, and the case was assigned to Huey and Dewey.

When the detectives arrived at the park, they made their way immediately to the scene of the crime, crowded with on-lookers by now, which a policeman tried to disperse. Dewey approached an officer to do some questioning and Huey went to inspect the corpse.

The deceased was lying on his back, with the face turned to one side and his chest soaked in blood, due to the several bullet wounds. Nobody had covered him yet and when Huey started to approach, he felt a weird sensation. When he got near to the dead body, with tears filling his eyes, he knelt down beside it and whispered to him, as if he didn't want to disturb him, "Ray...?"

Dewey heard a strange noise and turned around to his partner. The people around them stood staring like they were made of stone and in the silence Dewey believed he had heard Jack... crying? Dewey became scared and approached him, asking, "Jack..? What's happen...?"

Jack just pointed at the body and whispered, "Vecchio."

*-----*

Lieutenant Welsh received the call, and gave himself a couple of minutes to process the information.

Vecchio had come back from a dangerous undercover mission, had done a great job and received a promotion. He had even managed to stay out of trouble for a whole week and he had built up a wonderful relationship with Stan, his new partner.

Where, in all this idyllic image, Welsh would include, "Lieutenant, Vecchio was killed. It seems a mob hit."

It was completely unreal, he had to see it with his own eyes. Through the office window looking out into the bullpen he saw Stan and Francesca, fighting, talking and working, far away from the tragedy. Welsh hadn't the courage to tell them anything yet, not while he himself didn't believe it. He put his jacket and left his office, his voice incredibly calm when he told Francesca, "Francesca, I'm going out for a moment. It won't be long."

Stan and Francesca looked at Welsh in surprise. He looked calm but there was something more, something that they couldn't identify. Welsh didn't like leaving his office, and the rumour was that when he had done it before, it was solely because Ray was continously getting into trouble. Stan and Francesca assumed that something important had happened, but they couldn't imagine what. Not, it had to be nothing. "You really need a life," both admonished themselves mentally and continued with their work.

*-----*

When Lieutenant Welsh arrived at the crime scene, Jack was seated on a bench a feet away, drinking coffee with Dewey. Surprised to see Welsh arriving, Dewey left Jack and approached his superior. "Sir...?" Without answering, Welsh walked to the body, still lying there. Dewey followed him and informed him, "Detective Huey has made a positive identification, sir. We believe that Vecchio was murdered early this morning."

Welsh had knelt down beside the body and had lifted the sheet that covered him. It was Ray without doubt. Every time that Welsh had called him to his office, Ray had given him the same terrified gaze. Welsh closed his eyes for a moment, "It's OK, Detective, I just had to make sure by myself." Welsh's throat was dry and tight. He rose to his feet and, with his back to Dewey, ordered, "Return with Detective Huey to the Precinct. Others will be assigned to this investigation."

"But sir, the call was for us..."

Becoming furious, Welsh turned around to face Dewey and didn't let him continue with his complaint. "Detective Huey has lost two great friends in too short a time, Detective Dewey, and I will not force him to investigate this case. If you want to be part of it, Detective Dewey, I could arrange for you to be on the investigative team. I do hope you make the correct choice."

Dewey blushed furiously, "I'm sorry sir. That is not necessary. I will escort Jack to the Precinct."

"Good!" Welsh was glad for this moment of fury. He needed to forget who had died, because he had an difficult mission ahead of himself, informing the friends and family of Vecchio that Ray had died.

*-----*

At 11:00 AM, the news about Ray Vecchio's death was known by almost all his colleages, friends and relatives. Many of them congregated in the Vecchio house, to offer their condolences. But in other places, some people suffered in silence.

*-----*

Angie knew that she hadn't the courage to look Mama Vecchio in the eye and offer condolences, and less ever to accept condolences from other people. The place that Ray had occupied in her soul felt cold and empty; Angie's heart was broken. The coming years seemed cursed with solitude and sadness.

Nobody could replace Ray.

*-----*

When Louise St. Laurent heard the news about Ray's death she stood still perplexed. It was incredible that this irritating, sarcastic and contradictory man was dead. Ray Vecchio was one of the most vital and vigorous people who had ever existed. His abrasive exterior hid a sweet and affecionate man. Someone with whom Louise had dreamed of sharing something she'd never believed possible in her life... Love.

For the first time in her life, Louise allowed herself a moment to be alone. She left her office calmly and returned to her apartment. But when she entered it, she broke down. Louise cried like she had never done it before, not just for Ray, also for herself. In the moment he had gone away, Ray had taken with him all the joy that life had to offer. Louise had only emptiness inside, and it would remain that way forever.

To be continued...