DS Story: March
Title: March
Series: 29th in The Due South Alphabet Series
Author: Grey/Grey853
Fandom: Due South
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Rating: Explicit

Tags: Male Slash, Alternate Universe-Canon Divergent, explicit sex and language, emotional hurt/comfort, deaths of secondary characters

Word Count: 46,664

Summary: Ray worries about a possible danger out of Chicago. A major investigation is carried out against a racist Mountie. Ray suffers from a serious personal loss and doesn't handle it well despite Ben's best efforts.

Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/85465611

Snippet:

Ben finished his tea and stood up. ″I should shower and get ready for work. Would you like to shower first?″

″No, that’s fine. You do it. I’m going in a little later today. I’ve got some appointments first.″

″What appointments?″

″I need to pick up my new Canadian passport for one.″

″And the other?″

Ray touched the sidepiece on his glasses. ″I’m tired of changing these out for readers a hundred times a day. I called last week about getting some old folks’ glasses.″

″Old folks glasses? Do you by any chance mean bifocals?″

″Yeah, like I said, old folk glasses. He made me up a pair. I go pick them up this morning. I’m officially old old now.″

″Old old?″

″Old bones, old eyes, just plain old.″

Ben smiled and leaned down for a quick kiss. ″You’re younger than I am and I love you in glasses.″

″Or without.″

″That, too, yes.″

Ray grinned, suddenly imagining all the things Ben could do to make him stop worrying so much. ″How about we shower together?″

Ben didn’t answer with words, but with another kiss. He grabbed Ray’s hand and led him off to jump start the day. Who knew getting clean and dirty could happen at the same time?

Current Mood: determined

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DS Story: Emergency Contact 4
Title: Emergency Contact 4
Series: Emergency Contact
Author: Grey/Grey853
Fandom: Due South
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Rating: Explicit
Tags: Male Slash, Alternate Universe: Canon Divergent, explicit language, sexual content
Word Count: 23,694
Summary: Ray is recovering from his shoulder injury. He needs to decide on what to do with his life. Fraser and Ray buy a house.

Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/84912591

Snippet:

Ray moved in from behind, wrapping his two good arms around Fraser’s middle and kissing the side of his neck. ″Good morning, Good Looking.″

Fraser grinned. ″You’re up early.″ Then he put his tea cup down on the counter and leaned back into the embrace a few moments before he turned to face his partner.

Ray kissed him properly, his tongue taking a morning tour. As he pulled back, Ray smiled. ″Thought I’d go to the gym, work out a little.″

″This is the third day in a row.″

Releasing Fraser, Ray stepped around him and poured himself some coffee. Despite recovering mostly from his shoulder injury, Ray hadn’t decided quite what to do with himself yet. He had a long list of choices, but he needed to think a bit longer before he jumped into anything. If he could, he’d be a cop again, but that wasn’t possible while living in Canada. He had the money to start a new business thanks to his pension and inheritance from Stella, but he was still in the consideration stage. Meanwhile, he needed to keep busy, get his arm and shoulder back to normal, or as close to normal as it could get.

″I know, I know, it’s not like me to go anywhere this early, but I like the new trainer they hired. Besides, once you leave for work, there’s not much point of laying around here all alone.″

″You have Diefenbaker and Alice.″

Ray leaned back against the counter and took a quick sip of coffee. Amused, he had to tease just a little. ″You think a cat and dog can replace you?″

″Not at all. I just meant...″

Before Fraser could explain himself, Ray did it for him. ″I know you worry about me being here alone all day, Fraser, but I’m fine. I keep busy.″ Ray saw the flash of doubt in those deep blue eyes. ″I’m serious. I’m okay. Besides, now that my shoulder’s better, I like working out. Every day it feels a little stronger.″

″That’s wonderful news.″

″You bet.″ Considering how bad it’d been, it was a fucking miracle. Ray drained his coffee and put the cup in the sink. He’d wash it out later when he got back from the gym. ″And eventually, I’ll figure out the rest.″

″The rest?″

″What I want to do with the rest of my life.″

Current Mood: cheerful

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Happy Birthday, Paul Gross!
Paul Gross who played Constable Benton Fraser in Due South has a birthday today. He was born April 30, 1959. I love that show.

Just some pictures of the man through the ages.






Current Mood: grateful

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New DS Fic: February
Title: February
Part 28 of the Alphabet series
Author: Grey/Grey853
Fandom: Due South
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Rating: Explicit
Tags: Male slash, alternate universe-canon divergent, explicit sexual content, explicit language, case fic
Word Count: 24,456

Summary: Ray becomes a Canadian.

Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/81743581


Snippet:

His father’s ghost straighten slightly and then said, ″Now, about the Yank.″

″What about him?″

″I hear he’s supposed to be a Canadian after this weekend.″

Ben beamed with pride. ″Yes. He’s taking the oath on Saturday.″

″Congratulations. But I have one question.″

″What’s that?″

″What am I supposed to call him once he’s converted?″

″He’s not converting, Dad. Being Canadian isn’t a religion.″

″Speak for yourself. At any rate, I won’t be able to call him Yank anymore. So what should I call him?″

″Call him Ray, Dad.″

″Ray is is then. Give him my blessings.″ His father hesitated and then met Ben’s gaze. ″I have to go now. I won’t be back to see him sworn in, but I’ll be there in spirit.″

″Isn’t that the way you’re always around?″

His father actually chuckled. ″An attempt at humor, Son?″

″I try.″

″Keep trying.″

Then his father blinked away and Ben heard Ray shuffling in from the bedroom. ″What’s going on? Who are you talking to?″

″My father was here.″

″Yeah? Been a while. He have anything good to report?″

″Only that he won’t be calling you Yank anymore.″

Ray smirked. ″About time. It only took renouncing my country and joining you guys across the border to finally make that happen.″

″Indeed.″

Current Mood: accomplished

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Connor Storrie vs David
Looks like someone had the same idea I did, but they put it together with an actual image of the Statue of David. It's such a striking resemblance.



Current Mood: giddy

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Connor Storrie in VMan magazine
This is just one of the pictures of Connor Storrie from Heated Rivalry in VMan Magazine. OMG, he reminds me of David by Michelangelo from the 1500s. Am I wrong?



Current Mood: impressed

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Rental Family Movie Reaction
BEWARE
This post contains spoilers for the movie Rental Family.

Rental Family staring Brendan Fraser is about an American actor living in Japan. He works for a company where citizens hire actors to play parts in their lives. He could be paid to be a groom, a mourner, a biographer or even a father for a fatherless child. Of course any of those roles could become personal if he gets too attached to a client.

This movie is not at all what I expected. I'm not sure why I thought it would be heart-warming or a comedy. What I got was something sad, something that made me think about how grim it is that people have to hire others to be part of their lives. The fact that it's become a common practice made it even more depressing to me.

It was an interesting movie, but not something I really enjoyed. It did, however, make me think about the human condition in modern times.

Current Mood: sad

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January by Grey
Title: January
Author: Grey/Grey853
Fandom: Due South
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Rating: Explicit
Tags: Male Slash, explicit language, explicit sex, alternate universe-canon divergent, case fic
Word Count: 40,274
Summary: In this next step in the Alphabet series, Ray and Ben start the New Year together. Ray wants to become a Canadian. Frannie wants to get married. Ray helps Ben with his case of exotic animal trafficking.

Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/78962371

Snippet:

″So how much longer?″ Ray clapped his gloved hands together and stomped his feet. He could hardly feel them. ″It’s freezing.″

″It shouldn’t be much longer, Ray. Why don’t you head home? I’ll be there shortly.″

″Not going to happen. I’ll go home when you do.″

Ben smiled and leaned in for a quick kiss, but lingered instead. He rarely did that while on duty, but it was dark out and everyone else was kissing their way into the New Year. Ray gave as good as he got and that was plenty. Pulling back, Ben whispered, ″Happy New Year, Ray.″

″Right back at you. It’s a shame you have to work for a living.″

Ben chuckled. ″I rather enjoyed the fireworks to see in the new year.″

″Who needs fireworks when you’ve got the Northern Lights?″

″I have to agree that the Aurora Borealis is spectacular this time of year. Still, it was a rather excellent pyrotechnic display for the celebration.″

″Wasn’t bad. A little loud. I’m glad we left the dogs at home. Yuki would’ve had a fit.″

″He is rather sensitive to loud noises.″

″Which is ironic considering Dief is as deaf as a door nail.″

″Even so, Diefenbaker takes notice of Yuki’s reactions. Together they can be rather rambunctious. It’s best they’re at home.″

″I think I just said that.″

″So you did.″

Current Mood: cheerful

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Heated Rivalry
Is anyone else watching the HBO Max series Heated Rivalry? OMG, it's an a boy meets boy on the ice. Hockey love, people! It's very explicit, but it's more than that. As it goes along, there's an actual intimate relationship that develops, something more than just sex. I'm frankly impressed by how well it's written and acted. Love the two leads.



I have to say I was rather surprised that they've actually developed it beyond the sex scenes. It's a very slashy romance.

Current Mood: giddy

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Snow in Kentucky
I woke up to 23 degrees, five inches of snow and no internet. I'm just glad I had power and the internet outage was short-lived. I'm in Kentucky and we're not used to this kind of weather so early in the season. We don't usually get snow until late December or January. I'm personally not a fan of the white stuff unless it's in a movie.

I'm hoping at some point that some industrious kid from the neighborhood will drop by and want to make some cash by digging me out. So far, no luck.

Here's a shot of the sight outside my back door.



I'm so not looking forward to this winter.

Current Mood: cold

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DS Story: Niggle
Title: Niggle
Author: Grey/Grey853
Fandom: Due South
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Rating: Explicit
Tags: male slash, explicit language, explicit sexual content, casefic, alternate universe-canon divergent
Word Count: 14,773
Summary: Fraser has a tendency to niggle and live in his own world. Ray gets frustrated. Can they find a way to work together without driving one another crazy?

Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/75027586

Snippet:

″I think it’s time we talked about what happened earlier today.″

Ray sighed, wishing like hell they could just forget about it. ″Do we have to? We were having such a good time, eating and just talking about last night’s game. You haven’t niggled once since you got here.″

″Niggled?″

″You know, niggle, that thing you do where you question everything I say. It’s where you argue about the stupidest stuff.″

″I have no idea what you’re talking about. We discuss things and often disagree, but that’s not niggling. That’s just having a conversation. I rather enjoy our discussions.″

″I’m not saying I don’t like how we’re able to give and take, but sometimes you go too far. This thing with the littering is a perfect example.″

″How so?″

Ray took a long swallow of his beer and then poured the rest down the sink. He had a feeling if he finished it, he’d be too loose and he didn’t want that. He had to keep control of his temper and his words. He wanted to say what he needed without revealing too much.

″Let’s have a seat and I’ll try to explain.″

″Very well.″

Fraser walked over and sat down all stiff and prissy.

Well hell. Ray knew what that meant. ″I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.″

″You didn’t.″

″Did, too.″

″Well, how do you expect me to feel, Ray? You say that my conversational style is niggling, which by it’s very nature has a negative connotation. I’m at a loss. I had no idea you felt that way.″

″Look, I really don’t want to make you feel bad, but you’ve got to understand what I’m sayin’. You’ve got to rein in this zeal you’ve got to arrest any and everybody for the smallest infraction. That might work in a small town, but here it’ll just fill up the jails and get you blacklisted and me along with you.″

Fraser didn’t answer right away, but eventually said, ″It doesn’t work in small towns, either.″

″Say what?″

″My zeal, as you call it, has gotten me shunned more than once during my earlier assignments. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been reassigned so frequently.″

Current Mood: good

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SG1 Story "Bugs"
Title: Bugs
Author: Grey/Grey853
Fandom: SG1
Pairing: Daniel Jackson/Jack O'Neill
Rating: Teen and up
Summary: Jack has a lot of explaining to do to get back into Daniel's good graces.
Tags: male slash, explicit language, romance
Word Count: 1,567
Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/74960746

Snippet:

″Why are you here, Jack?″

″I thought you might be hungry, that’s all.″

″Don’t give me that. Why are you here?″

Jack had the decency to blush slightly and glance away. He cleared his throat before he finally met Daniel’s eyes. ″I miss you.″

″You see me every day.″

″I see you, but I don’t ‘see’ you.″

″And who’s fault is that?″

Jack held his gaze, but shook his head. ″I don’t want to argue.″

″Neither do I.″ And Daniel realized that was the truth. As angry and upset as he’d been when Jack first called it off, he’d worked through that phase. At the present, he was just sad that his friend and lover had so casually thrown away such a good thing between them.

Current Mood: cold

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Medical Update
When I last checked in, I told you about the heart cath and stent procedures I had toward the end of September after my heart attack. Well, that wasn't the end of it. I came home on Thursday and by that Sunday, I knew something was desperately wrong. I could hardly breathe and wanted to faint. I called an ambulance. The ER found that my hemoglobin was 8. It should be around 12. By the time they tested again an hour later, it'd dropped to 6. I had an internal bleed. Over the next four days, I received 4 units of blood and 2 iron infusions. I also had an endoscopy and found that I had 4 polyps in my stomach. That's where the bleed had been. The problem was with the blood thinners I'm on, they can't be removed at this time. So, I have to take special care about what I eat and take medicines to coat and protect my stomach.

I was sent home and then on the 22nd of October, I went in to get a Watchman device in my heart which will help prevent blood clots caused by my persistent AFIB/AFlutter. I'm now recovering from that procedure along with a TEE, which is a trans esophageal echocardiogram which made me feel like I'd swallowed a tree trunk. The point of doing this Watchman procedure was so that I could cut back on the blood thinners, down from three to one, which I have.

All in all, I've been saved twice this month by medical intervention and been in the hospital 12 days. Thank good I've got good insurance and praise the miracles of science.

I see the doctors again on the November 11 and December 16. The next step is to get an ablation which, fingers crossed, will stop the AFib/A flutter. But I can't do that until the heart heals from this last procedure, which is about 6 weeks.

All this is to say, I've not been writing. I'm spending my time recovering and trying to get as healthy as possible.

Current Mood: tired

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Due South Story: Z Is For Zoo
Title: Z Is For Zoo
Series: The Due South Alphabet Series
Author: Grey/Grey853
Fandom: Due South
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Rating: Explicit
Tags: male slash, Alternate Universe-Canon Divergent, explicit language, implied sexual content, Christmas fic, casefic
Word Count: 50,274
Summary: Ray has to help Fraser solve a case of exotic animal smuggling. It's Christmas in Whitehorse.
LinK
https://archiveofourown.org/works/69171186

Snippet:

"That’s what I need from you, Ray. If I’m not allowed to do this officially and Inspector Paris won’t let me assign any of my men, you’re my last hope.″

Ray formulated a quick plan. ″Okay, I’ll do the checks, get as much info as I can on Bailey and anyone who’s working with him, but to get what we really need, I should go inside the camp.″

″But that’s dangerous.″

″I’ve never met Bailey. You said he breeds and sells sled dogs, right?″

Ben got there before he said it. ″You want to go undercover as a buyer.″

″I could pretend to want a dog, maybe even a whole team, but I could feel him out for other possibilities. I might be able to sneak back in later and get pictures.″

″It’s too risky.″

″Breathing is risky some days.″

″I know, but you sneaking in as you call it isn’t legal.″

″Neither is killing or stealing valuable animals. I mean, I might not get what we can use to arrest him, but it could give us a chance to know exactly what he’s up to. It’s a starting point, not an end game.″

″I can’t let you go in without back up.″

Ray shook his head. He couldn’t have that. ″You can’t go in with me, Ben. You’d lose your job if you got caught.″

″What about you? You could get arrested for trespass or worse.″

″Well, then it’s a damn good thing that I’ve got a great lawyer on standby.″

″Do you think we should tell Gus the plan?″

″Nope. He’d advise against it.″

″Which is probably wise.″

″We’ll just have to play it by ear, Ben. I won’t do anything illegal unless I have to. But first things first. Tomorrow I’ll do a complete background check using all our resources. I’ll track down every known associate I can. He has to be getting the animals from other people in the ring. I’ll also want to talk to some of the people who’ve made complaints or reported him. They might know more than they’re saying. The more information I have, the better we are before I try to actually meet the guy or infiltrate. You’ve just become my number one client.″

Ben reached out and took Ray’s hand. ″Thank you.″

Ray grinned. ″You want to know the terms for my retainer?″

Ben closed the folder and stood up, drawing Ray to his feet. As he led him to the bedroom, he teased. ″I believe I can guess.″

″Smart Mountie.″

Current Mood: pleased

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DS Story: Y Is For Yuki
Series: Due South Alphabet Series
Title: Y Is For Yuki
Author: Grey/Grey853
Fandom: Due South
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski

Tags: male slash, explicit sexual content, explicit language, alternate universe-canon divergent

Summary: Ray and Ben get a new wolf-dog. Ray's life is in danger from a previous case. Vecchio makes a huge life decision.

Word Count: 28,153

Link:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/67319440

Snippet:

″What about Yuki?″

The tiny white fluffball suckled Ray’s little finger. The pup was still only a few weeks old, but growing fast. ″Yuki? Yuki for what?″

″For his name. It’s Japanese for snow.″

Leave it to Ben to know another name for the white stuff. The little guy snuffled and whined so Ray leaned over the wire barrier and returned him to his husky mama Hazel and two hungry siblings. ″Yuki, huh?″

″I know we’ve bandied several names around, but since he’s all white, I thought it might be appropriate.″

″Guess it’s classier than Snowball or Bubba.″

Ben chuckled. ″You really want to name our new dog Bubba?″

″Not really. Snowball would be even worse. Imagine calling out either of those names when we’re trying to get his fuzzy butt back into the cabin after a call of nature.″

″I am, which is why I’m suggesting Yuki.″

Ray thought about it and stared at the wriggling pup snuggled up close to his mother. Ben had been reluctant to get another dog, but had come around after the pups were born. Ray knew he said yes just to please him. If letting Ben choose the name helped him feel better about being a new pup dad, so be it. ″Yuki it is.″

Current Mood: thankful

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Happy Canada Day!
I hope all my Canadian friends have a wonderful Canada Day. Let it be known that I respect your sovereign nation. Stand strong against all tyranny.



Current Mood: worried

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Andor Season 2, oh my!
I watched season one of Andor when it first came out. I liked it well enough and felt it was the best of all the SW series they've created. However, two weekends ago I binged watched Andor Season 2 and OMG, it was one of the best series I've watched in forever. Nobody was talking about how good this was, so I'd put off getting Disney Plus. But I've now seen it and it was terrifyingly close to what's happening now with the rise of fascism.

I personally thought it was brilliant, great script, great acting, a perfect lead in to Rogue One. The only question I have is about the baby at the end. I mean WTF? Why leave us hanging?

Current Mood: busy

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DS Story: X Is For X-Ray
Series: The Due South Alphabet series
Title: X Is For X-Ray
Author: Grey/Grey853
Fandom: Due South
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Rating: Explicit
Tags: Male Slash, Alternate Universe-Canon Divergent, Explicit Language, Hurt/comfort
Word Count: 9,650
Summary: Ray has truck trouble which leads to even more trouble.

Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/66495253

Snippet:

″Ray? Are you all right?″

″I’m fine, the truck is not. It’s going to need more work than I thought. I’m still at the garage.″

″It’s late. You want me to come get you?″

″No. Jimmy’s trying to get me a loaner.″

″I’d offer to let you use the Jeep, but it actually belongs to the service. I’m not allowed to loan it out even to you.″

″I know. Look, I’ll call you before I leave here. Why don’t you go ahead and have supper. I’ll heat something up when I get home.″

″I’ll wait.″

″You don’t have to.″

″I want to. I don’t enjoy eating alone, Ray.″

That small confession warmed Ray’s heart. He felt the same way. When he ate alone, the food had no real taste anymore. He wasn’t sure when that happened, but he didn’t much care. He just knew that Ben was all the flavor he needed in his life. ″I’ll try to get home as soon as possible then.″

″I’ll be waiting.″

Current Mood: tired

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DS Story: W Is For Wolf
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.″

Current Mood: tired

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Tornadoes in the Night
I live in Kentucky and we had severe weather go through Friday night into Saturday. There were severe thunderstorms as well as tornadoes. In Louisville, 27,000 people lost power. I was one of the lucky ones who kept the lights on, but my friend lost hers. She had it back on by morning.

However, further east in the state in Somerset and London, people died. The towns look like bombs went off. At the last count, there were 17 deaths in KY and ten more in Missouri. It's the worse tornado outbreak and death count in the last five years. It's also the third disaster in Kentucky this year if you count all the flooding from earlier in the year. We have an excellent governor who does all he can, but we're going to need federal assistance. Fingers crossed, FEMA will still show up before anyone in DC has a chance to dismantle it.

Just wanted to let people know I'm okay.

Current Mood: anxious

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