Not really written, just posted in Halloween 2001
Title: Scary story
Rating: G (now *that's scary*)
Warnings: Darkness, unpleasantness, angst, AU.
Summary: Benny has his worst nightmare.
DOUBLE WARNING: Fans of RK and third-season lovers, please don't read this. Not a pretty picture.

This story was inspired (actually, provoked) by a very nasty comment on another list. I got furious, hurt and frankly pissed off. A plot bunny gnawed my arm raw until I got it all in a ficlet. Unsurprisingly, it is not a pretty story. If you squick easily, consider yourself warned.

"NOOOOOO!"

Benny sat up in bed, his body covered in sweat, his chest heaving, his heart threatening to burst. The last vestiges of the nightmare still lingered before his eyes, and he panted a few seconds before he realized where he was: home, in his bed. The room was dark, the street lamp the only source of light.

Until Ray turned on the lamp on the nightstand.

"Benny," he called, softly, not to scare his lover even more. "Benny, it's over." He touched him gently, ready to avoid any violent reactions like last time.

Benny turned to him, pale and shaky. "R-ray?"

"Yes, Benny. " He took him in his arms. "It's me. I am here."

"Oh, Ray...!" Benny held Ray like a castaway to a floating boat. The Italian sighed, feeling Benny shuddering in his arms. "Ray, please."

"It's over now, Benny. Just a nightmare." He made gentle circles in Benny's back, trying to soothe him.

A low whine told Ray that Diefenbaker had heard or sensed his pack mates' distress and entered the bedroom, providing moral support. Ray smiled fondly at the wolf, and turned back to his Benny. "I'm right here, honey. Everything is fine now. It was just a nightmare, and now it's over."

"Don't ever leave me, Ray." Benny was whimpering. "Please, don't... I am so scared..."

"You know I'll never do that." Ray kissed Benny's head. "So, it was the same nightmare, then?" Benny just nodded, and Ray gently went on, "You dreamed that I had left you." Another nod, a gasp. Then sobs started to rake his body, as Ray expected. "It's OK, Benny. You can cry now."

Tears started to flow from Benny's eyes, and he curled against Ray, furiously holding him as if he wouldn't ever let him go. Ray sighed in relief. At least, when Benny cried, he was able to sleep better afterwards. But this time, his weeping was soft and quiet. Ray knew Benny was hurting deeply, still gripped by the frightening images.

It took some time until Benny could at least stop soaking Ray's T-shirt. The Italian caressed him in silence, knowing he'd better let it out first. But the tremors did not stop, and Ray frowned. That was not good. When he heard Benny sniffling, he asked gently, "Was it very bad?" Benny nodded, still clutching to Ray, unable to face him. "Same as before?"

"No," answered Benny, his voice small. "It was worse this time."

"How worse?"

"Not only you were gone and there was another man pretending to be you, or I became suddenly homeless, choosing to board inside the Consulate. This time... even Diefenbaker was different, and... and... so was I, Ray." He threatened to burst into tears again, and Ray rubbed his back.

"Shh. It's OK, Benny. Maybe you'll feel better if you talk about it. Tell me more. You said you were different, too? How?"

Benny wiped his tears, sniffling. "I accepted that man, I called him my friend. And I was... so uncaring, and insensitive... I resented your leaving me so badly. I... wouldn't speak your name, and I... believed when they said you had been a bad police officer... Some people said that after you'd gone, I became more human, letting my emotions show..." His face crumpled again. "Ray, I... took that man to Canada, and.... people saw us as a couple, and they liked it!" This time Benny did burst into tears and Ray gathered him in his arms again, letting him cry some more.

He whispered sweet nothings in his ear, just to calm him down. "It's all right, now. Nothing of that is true, Benny. It could never happen, don't you see?"

"It looked so real, Ray. And that man... He wouldn't die! A criminal shot him, right after he set your car on fire, but hedidn't die! He was shot and he didn't die!"

"Did this man look he like me?"

Benny shook his head. "Not at all. He was blonde with blue eyes."

"And people believed he was me? Benny, that should have tipped you right away that you were dreaming. It's so absurd!"

"I know, Ray, but somehow people would believe it."

"Humpf!", made Ray. "Anyway, I don't like that you keep on having nightmares every time you're about to take some time off in Canada. I want you to relax during your vacation."

Benny sniffled once more. "We call it holiday, Ray."

Ray had to smile. "I want you to have a nice holiday, Benny. Now don't worry. I'll be here when you return." He kissed Benny's forehead. "It's a promise."

The Canadian drew back a bit and for the first time smiled at his lover. "I'm sorry I lost control like this."

"It's OK, Benny. It's nothing to be ashamed."

Benny just melted. "I love you so much, Ray." And threw himself in those long arms, feeling safe and cared.

"I love you, too, Mountie, and don't you forget that." He kissed the top of Benny's head again. "Now try to get some sleep, willya? We both get the first shift tomorrow morning."

"All right, Ray." Then he looked up shyly at his lover. "May I... hold you until I fall asleep? I need you."

"Or course you may, honey. And I need you, too."

Benny settled himself in Ray's arms, his ear resting in Ray's chest, listening to Ray's heartbeat as a soothing mantra, dispelling all those horrible images from his mind and dissolving the great pain in his chest. He repeated to himself that Ray was there, holding him, protecting him. Gradually, he relaxed, the pressure in his chest dissipating bit by bit. Even if he did not get to sleep, he was glad to be with Ray, a sense of serenity and comfort seeping all over his body. He curled and sighed, nested in lover's warm arms.

Ray felt all tremors in Benny's body slowly subsiding until they were almost imperceptible. As Benny finally calmed down, Ray had the impulse to talk to him in the morning and suggest that maybe he could see someone about those nightmares. Benny wouldn't like it, of course, and Ray abandoned the idea as quickly as it had sprung in his mind. But he felt so impotent every time his lover was trapped in one of those nightmares.

At that moment, however, Benny seemed to be breathing deep and regularly, except for an occasional sob, most probably asleep. Still, he was clutching to Ray like he was his last lifeline. Ray sighed. They would get over it. Surely they would, he repeated firmly to himself, trying to abate the feeling of uneasiness that had suddenly surged in his soul. In minutes, he joined Benny in his sleep.

* * *

In the quiet night, far from the street lamps, a black GTO sat silently and unmoving, lurking in the shadows.

Biding its time.

The End

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