Title: The Seven Deadly Sins 5

Author: Birgitt Schuknecht

Fandom: due South

Rating: NC17 (slash)

Pairing: Vecchio/Zuko

Category: drama/AU

Disclaimer: The characters used in the following story are not mine. I do not make any money out of this. It's written for fun and for the fans of the show.

Spoilers: None (takes place before the pilot)

By Birgitt Schuknecht.

Night Five (29th of October)

Gula (Gluttony)

Ray relaxed with his back against the church door, breathing hard. Again he wondered if he should have taken the Riv after he had fled from Frankie's house. No, there hadn't been the time. It had been easier for him to disappear in the dark by fleeing on foot. He knew the neighbourhood by heart and it had been easy enough to leave his pursuers behind. He couldn't stay here long, though.

At the sound of a door at the other end of the church he held in his breath. The door closed again and steps could be heard. The next second light flared up and Ray blinked rapidly. As he had adjusted to the brightness he could see a man nearing him.

Father Behan. The priest of St. Michael's. "Raimondo." The man stopped and eyed Ray with astonishment. "What are you doing here?" Ray tried to smile at the priest, failing miserably. "Are you okay?" Father Behan's voice sounded concerned. Ray realised that he probably wasn't looking too good.

"No, I don't think so, Father." He brought up the gun that he had been holding in his right hand all the time since he had made his escape. He dried his sweaty left hand by rubbing it against his thigh. He took the gun into his left now and then dried the right hand. He transferred the weapon to the right hand again.

"What happened, Raimondo?"

"Not much, Father. I'm on the run." Ray smiled humourlessly at the priest's exasperated expression. "Long story. I haven't much time. But then... a confession would be appropriate." Ray had no idea where the urge to talk to the priest came from. All he knew was that he trusted the man with all his heart. And that Father Behan probably knew more about his relationship to Frankie than anyone else.

"Let's sit down, Raimondo. It's still an hour before mass will start." They moved over to the stalls and sat. Ray gazed at the gun in his hand. And then he began...

***

"When I came to about eleven in the morning, I was in Frankie's bed again. Frankie sat in an armchair and smiled at me. He told me that Nico had been taken care of by now. His men would dumb his corpse, get rid of my gun and return. He expected them any minute. I wondered what I could do and I found I didn't have a clue. His men returned, Frankie left the room, locking me in. I considered to flee through the window but decided against it. Somehow I still hoped it was all a trick Frankie played on me."

"But it wasn't?" It was the first time the priest interrupted Ray's story. Ray studied his expression. There was no sign of disbelief.

"No. He kept me waiting for several hours. It was already getting dark outside when he returned. I had dressed by now and was pacing the room. Frankie informed me that everything was prepared. An anonymous call had been made to the precinct. My colleagues knew by now where to find Nico, my gun and myself. Frankie grinned as he told me what a perfect motive I had for killing Nico. He was the murderer who killed my lover's sister and thereby caused Mark's death. He brought out a gun and forced me to leave the room. We were half down the stairs when I turned around, hauled myself at Frankie and grabbed the gun out of his hands. I knocked him down with it and ran out of the house. I still have no idea where Charlie or the other men were at that time. That saved me. I never would have escaped with all his goons around. The timing was exceptional. Just at the moment I left the house, two police cars stopped in front of it. I just ran. Now I'm here."

"They will come for you." The priest merely stated a fact.

Ray nodded. "I will leave soon. God, how did I get myself into this mess." He placed his elbows on the bench in front of him and buried his head in his hands, pressing the gun to the right side of it. It was not a comforting feeling.

"It's Frankie. It's like it was twenty years ago." Ray flinched slightly as Father Behan placed a hand on his back.

"What do you mean?" He lifted his head again and stared at the priest.

"Raimondo, it has always been like that. Remember how often you came to me. How often did you try to leave him, to end your... your... No, it wasn't friendship between you. It was an obsession. You hated yourself for every second you spent with him. Nonetheless it took you years to realise that he was destroying you." The priest placed his hand on the detective's short-cut hair. "Raimondo, you are still obsessed with him. After your lover was killed, there was a void in you and you filled it with Zuko again. You have to free yourself of him. Or you'll end up in a disaster."

"Or in hell. It's already too late, Father. They'll sentence me to life. I won't survive that." Ray's voice nearly broke as he spoke out his worst fears. "And I still cannot hate him. I still... I still... love him." He finally said it. Accepted the truth.

"You have to turn yourself in, Raimondo. This is the only possible way to end this.

"I can't. I'd rather die." Ray voice sounded harsh in his own ears.

"There is more at stake than your life, son." The priest spoke gently now, as if Ray was still a little boy.

"What? More than my life?"

"It's your soul. You have to free yourself from Frankie. By facing the consequences of your actions you can end your... relationship." Ray stared into the priest's dark eyes. He found serenity there. Father Behan meant every word he was saying.

"My soul?"

"Gluttony is a deadly sin."

This was more and more confusing. "Father, I have no idea what you are talking about."

"'Gluttony denotes, not any desire of eating and drinking, but an inordinate desire... leaving the order of reason, wherein the good of moral virtue consists.'" The priest looked at Ray. "You're relationship with Frankie has to end."

Ray jumped up, pacing up and down the church aisle. The priest was right. He had to end this. He had to get rid of this demon. Abruptly he stopped his pacing. "Father. I see you agree with me. Frankie is my problem. I'm gonna fix that." He smiled at the priest.

"How so?" Father Behan asked suspiciously. "Will you call your colleagues now?"

Ray brought the gun level with the priest's eyes. "No need for that. I'll deal with my problem personally. You won't stop me, Father. I think I could need a car. You drive." Father Behan stood and moved out of the stall.

"Raimondo, you wouldn't kill me." The priest slowly stepped back a few paces until he was distant enough to ignore the weapon and stare at the detective.

Ray admired his spirit. "But I would hurt you, if I must. As long as you follow my instructions both alternatives will be of no concern to us, don't you think?" Now that he had made his decision he felt totally relaxed. All would end soon. He had nothing to lose. And he could win so much. He would be free of Frank Zuko. Free of his past. Free to leave or to stay. "Get outside. And don't forget your keys."

***

Ray was out of the car in a flash just at the moment Father Behan stopped. He opened the driver's door and grabbed the priest at his left arm and nearly yanked him out of the vehicle. Without letting go of the priest's arm he hurried towards the Zuko house. He was stunned to see the car of his superior officer parked in front of it. Welsh was still with Frankie. That worsened his odds, but didn't diminish his determination.

Hoping that no one from inside had seen them, he stood with his back against the wall to the left side of the door and motioned with his gun in the direction of the doorbell. Father Behan nodded and pressed it. Inside Ray heard a melodious sound and Ray prepared for action. As the door opened he whirled around and pushed the priest violently inside and Father Behan stumbled forward. The priest tried to keep his balance, thereby grabbing at the man who had opened the door. Zuko's man lost his balance as well and Ray had no difficulty to knock him out with the barrel of his gun. He was glad that the thick carpet muffled the noise considerably.

Dinner time was well over and he would find Frankie in the study. For a second he hesitated what to do with Father Behan. "You come with me," he finally hissed. Ray knew he hadn't much time. If the guard didn't return there would be another one to check what was wrong.

With the priest in tow he moved down the hallway. He peeked around the corner and found the door closed, another guard in front of it. He turned to Father Behan. "Distract him or I have to shoot him." He saw the priest pondering his options.

"Let go off me, Raimondo," he said. Without thinking Ray released his grip.

Father Behan walked around the corner and called over to the guard. "Could you help me, son? I think your colleague at the door isn't feeling well." Ray grinned; the priest turned out to be a valuable asset in his plan.

The guard pulled out his gun and ran towards the priest. "What happened, Father?"

Before Father Behan could answer Ray moved around the corner and hit the man at his left temple. He sagged to the floor, unconscious. Ray didn't wait a second longer. He grabbed the priest again and moved to the door of the study. He knocked once.

"Yes?" came from the inside.

"A visitor, Mr. Zuko. It's the priest from St. Michael's."

"Bring him in."

Ray opened the door and pushed Father Behan inside. Frankie sat behind his desk and jumped up at the sudden intrusion. Ray stood in the doorway, his right arm raised and aimed the gun at Frankie. Out of the corner of his right eye he saw Charlie and another man reaching inside their jackets. "Don't even try." Ray's voice sounded casual, like he was commenting on the weather outside. Both men dropped dead. "Get all behind the desk, where I can see you properly." He nodded to the fourth man, standing to his left. "You too, Lieutenant."

When his instructions had been followed, he entered the study and closed the door behind him. He moved over to the right, so that he would be shielded when the door would open again. Ray settled his gaze on Frankie. "I found a olution for my problems. With the help of a priest. Father Behan made me realise what created my madness. I'm going to end this now. Perhaps you want to say a little prayer? Or make a last confession?"

"Ray, listen to me. This is just a misunderstanding. I never meant any harm. You are my friend. I love you as I would a brother." Once again Ray was astonished how convincingly Frankie could make up the most outrageous lies.

Irritated, he repeated, "Misunderstanding? You set me up. You destroyed my life. As you did with Catriona's and Mark's. People are nothing to you. This has to stop." He tried to keep calm.

"Ray, Zuko is right. This is a misunderstanding. He just exonerated you." Ray jerked his head to face his superior officer. Welsh met his gaze levelly.

"What?" Ray couldn't believe what he had just heard. This must be a trick. To make him surrender.

"You are about to shoot the man who's giving you an alibi." Ray stared at the Lieutenant. He hadn't the impression that Welsh was lying to him. As far as he knew he had never lied to him.

"Ray, I just told the Lieutenant that you spent last night in this house. Would you please tell me what made you run away in the first place?" Frankie stared at him, folding his arms over his chest. His voice sounded like that of a father lecturing his disobedient son.

Ray retreated back, until he touched the wall behind him. He concentrated on holding the gun; his hands had started shaking. "No, Frankie, don't do this to me. Not again. Stop playing with me." He saw Frankie's face go white, his dark eyes large and fixed on Ray's trembling hands.

Welsh moved and Ray turned his head slightly to observe his actions. His superior officer walked past the desk and came over to him, his right hand outstretched. "Ray, you can trust him this time. We have his testimony. You are free to go." Ray had never heard the Lieutenant's voice so gentle before. It was unfamiliar, but he liked it.

Ray blinked as sweat from his forehead trickled into his eyes. He resisted the urge to wipe it away and stared hardly at the still approaching man. "Don't you move any further. I..."

The door of the study flew open. Ray jumped to the right, just in time before he would have hit by it. Charlie and the guard pulled out their guns and took aim. Simultaneously Welsh jumped at Ray and the detective's shot went wild. He gasped in shock as he felt as a searing heat shot through his right shoulder and arm and Ray let go of his gun. Both he and the Lieutenant went down hard. The fall knocked the breath out of Ray.

He closed his eyes, blinking away unwanted tears. His shoulder burnt like fire. Welsh lay still half on top of his left side. Ray struggled to get free. When the weight was lifted away, he forced his eyes open. Welsh stood before him, breathing heavily and shaking his head. "Call an ambulance." He didn't even turn his head to check if his orders were followed. Ray could just lay there and stare at his superior officer. He heard the calm voice of Charlie as he spoke into the phone.

"Ray, are you okay?" Frankie shoved the Lieutenant aside and settled down at Ray's left side. Ray was stunned to see concern in Frankie's eyes. This had to be another nightmare. "Madonna mia, you're hit." Frankie pulled out a brilliant white handkerchief and pressed it to the bleeding wound.

The detective winced, then let out hissing sigh. "Be careful with me, willya Frankie? That hurts," he nearly yelled.

Frankie just smiled at him. "You'll survive. I will take care of that personally." Ray stared at him incredulously. This would never stop. The worst part was that he didn't want it to stop.

End of Night Five