Xanthe

Series: The Due South Alphabet Series
Title: W Is For Wolf
Author: Grey/Grey853
Fandom: Due South
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 39,932
Tags: male slash, alternate universe-canon divergent, explicit language, explicit suggested sexual content, angst, Christmas

Summary: Dief has a medical problem. Vecchio has a close call. There's a big winter storm. Will Ben and Ray have a great Christmas?

Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/66072517

Snippet:

″Have you noticed anything different about Dief lately?″

Ben turned from doing the supper dishes and stared at Ray in surprise. ″What?″

″I said have you noticed him being off a little lately.″

″Off?″ Ben dried his hands on the towel and walked over to his partner. ″In what way?″

″Slower, sleeping more, not really eating as much. He’s got a little come-and-go limp on his right front leg, too.″

Ben frowned and came around to sit next to Ray on the sofa. He kept his eyes on his sleeping friend. ″You’ve noticed these things?″

″I was asking you that.″

″To be honest, I’ve been so busy with work lately I’ve not paid that much attention.″

Ray hated to bring it up, but he’d been noticing changes for a while. At first he’d hoped he was just imagining it, but he was pretty sure he wasn’t, not anymore, not after the whole turning down the doughnut situation. Dief never met a treat he wouldn’t eat. ″It’s been going on for a few weeks. I wanted to brush it off, but today when Cheri had a powdered doughnut, he wasn’t even interested. Only ate about half his kibble, too. I’ve never known Furface to turn down food. You think something’s wrong?″

″He’s not said anything.″

″I know he’s not due for his shots, but maybe I should take him to the vet tomorrow.″

″I suppose it couldn’t hurt.″

Ray noted Ben’s worried expression and put his hand on his arm for comfort. ″I’m sure it’s nothing. Maybe he just needs a tonic or something. He’s getting older.″

″I hope that’s the case, but it could be something serious. I should’ve been paying closer attention.″

″Like you said, you’ve been busy. It’s getting closer to Christmas. Things get hectic for cops this time of year.″

″You’ve been busy, too, Ray.″

″I know. I’ll call the vet first thing tomorrow morning and take him in. I’m sure it’s nothing big. Maybe he ate a bad rabbit or vole or something just as disgusting.″

″Perhaps.″

″Don’t worry about it. I shouldn’t have said anything.″

″No, I’m glad you did.″ Ben got up and stooped beside Dief and petted his head several times. It was their regular signal to go out for their nightly walk. The animal opened its eyes, but instead of getting up, Dief only snuffled softly before closing his eyes again.

His expression darkened and Ben took the time to run his hand slowly over Dief’s back, along his sides, then under his belly and his over neck. His hand stopped right at where the right leg met his chest. ″There’s a lump here.″