(no subject)

[ozsaur.livejournal.com]

Thanks to Ana, Ardent and Cliona, three very busy ladies who took the time to look this over and give great advice. I'm still not entirely happy but all three of them will kill me if I don't post.



Sandy Taupe

It was the dumbest thing that made him stop dead and stare like there
was something amazing happening in the Health and Beauty aisle. It was
just a metal spin rack, loaded with Stella's favorite brand of pantyhose
and there, right at eye level, was her favorite color.

Six years ago, he would have grabbed a couple of packages and stuffed
them into the plastic carrier that looked like Little Red Riding Hood's
basket. It would have been full of all kinds of goodies to please her.
The assortment of items back then were a far cry from what he hauled
around now. He doubted that Stella would appreciate the beef jerky, the
box of buttermilk donuts or the milk bone dog biscuits.

She'd always smile when he'd hand over the panythose. She liked to keep
an extra pair in her brief case.

"Ray?"

He startled a little at the sound of his voice, he hadn't even noticed
that Fraser had stopped right next to him with the shopping cart. Fraser
looked at the rack in that assessing way he had when he examined the
evidence or analyzed a crime scene.

"Sorry, Fraser," he mumbled.

Fraser turned that gaze on him and Ray watched his expression soften
into something that made his throat feel tight. A hand came up to rest
on Ray's shoulder, squeezing gently.

"It's just-- Sometimes--"

"Understood, Ray."

His hand pressed a little harder in a way that made Ray know that Fraser
would be hugging him right then, rubbing his back and whispering in his
ear, except for the fact that they were in the middle of a grocery store
with singles on the prowl in the produce section and grim-faced mothers
dragging their whiny kids past the snack foods. Then Fraser's hand
dropped away and Ray watched him push the cart to the end of the row and
turn the corner.

Of course Fraser understood. He understood that there was a small part
of Ray that would always miss Stella.

It was the same way that Ray understood that there was a small part of
Fraser that would always miss Vecchio.

(End)

Comments

[akite.livejournal.com]

Awww...that was so sweet! I'm really glad your betas threatened you into posting it. ;)

[ozsaur.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Sometimes it takes a threat to get things done.

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

That "Understood, Ray" says so very much. :-) Nice work!

[ozsaur.livejournal.com]

Thank you, glad you liked it.

[thermidor.livejournal.com]

That was great!
It was the same way that Ray understood that there was a small part of
Fraser that would always miss Vecchio.


so sweet!

[ozsaur.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly!

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

I don't know if "sweet" is the word I would choose. More bittersweet, maybe, where the happiness and understanding between them is tempered with just a hint of melancholy. Whatever the feeling, whether I can describe it or not, I did feel touched by this piece.

[ozsaur.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Bittersweet was exactly what I was shooting for. The melancholy was a bonus! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[ozsaur.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm happy you enjoyed it.

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, bittersweet - but that's my favourite type of chocolate too! Lovely.

[ozsaur.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly. Love your icon.

[daughtershade.livejournal.com]

Wonderful. It's funny the small things that bring back memories. Well done.

[ozsaur.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I figured it would be the little things that tripped Ray up.

[cdeacon.livejournal.com]

Great job! I'm glad they forced you to post. : )

[ozsaur.livejournal.com]

So am I. And thank you kindly!