Man, when you say angst you mean angst. This is tough material to handle, especially given the POV style you chose to use because the first-person thing by it's very nature makes your reader sympathize with everyone. However, I think the story really benefited from the first-person narration. It was great to get all three men's reactions to the way their lives have suddenly gone ass-end up, and I found Vecchio's internal misery to be especially compelling. It was an interesting choice to claim that of the two possible outcomes RayK/Vecchio is the pairing that leaves everyone the best chance of survival; almost any other writer would probably have said that Fraser wouldn't really survive without RayK. I like that RayK's choice came down to a decision about what was kind rather than what was best for himself; his decision was motivated by loyalty to his new love, and it was a mature choice in a highly complex and difficult situation.

The last line was, of course, perfect. For me it summed up something intrinsic in Fraser's character and in the show: "He had many adventures" IS Fraser's life, because he's always caught up in the journey. Like Ulysses, getting home is never the point - it's the journey that matters. The long exile in Chicago and the search for Franklin's hand, the constant theme of homelessness and movement and all the other small indicators that Fraser, like his father, is destined to always remain at arms' length from belonging were beautifully evoked here. So I'm sad, but it's a satisfied sort of sadness. Thanks for postig this.