I read this a couple of days ago, when I didn't have time to comment. I liked it from start to finish: so many great bits - dreams about penguins and killer mimes, the Rays bitching at each other, Welsh's deadpan - but the bit that's stuck in my head is this:

the way the warmth of the back of Kowalski's neck against the palm of Ray's hand as he held him still to put his lenses in was forever imprinted into his skin

That is just... *shiver* Mmm, such a great image. It makes me all squirmy. (In a good way ;)

Thanks for a great read.