ds_slash | DS rec for Berty's "Finding the Words"

I just finished reading one of the best DS stories I've read in a long time. It's

bertybertle "Finding the Words" at

http://bertybertle.livejournal.com/3107.html?view=20771#t20771

There are so many good things to say about it, it's hard to know where to begin. Guess I'll start with the fact that it's the right pairing for me, Fraser/RayK. It's also over 30,000 words, which is something very good to see. Nothing against the shorter pieces, but I like stories that take time to develop, that work the characters through a plot of something more than fucking, and that aren't just drabbles, snippets, or a scene.

Another important point is that it's h/c that really has both sides of the equations. Too many times a reader gets the hurt, but very little comfort. This one seems very balanced to me, with the hurt thrown in there, but with liberal doses of comfort to make it well worth wincing at the suffering of the characters.

I can't recommend this story enough.

Ray gets a serious head injury leading to brain damage. At first I was afraid for Ray, worried that this was going to be like "Gentle on my Mind" from Pros or "Changes" in TS, where he's so damaged, he can't really function without help. That's a major squick for me, something I really have trouble reading. However, that's not the case. Ray does have some tough times, but the Ray we know and love is in there, fighting to get out, and Fraser's helping guide him back to his life before the injury.

The story uses a diary, two pov format for part of it. Because of the situation, it works. Because of his injury, Ray can't say what he wants to say, but he can write clearly enough, so he keeps a journal and so does Fraser. Thus we see the pain for both men as they both struggle to get their lives back in order.

There's also a big twist at the end, too, that I didn't see coming, and that's all good. It helps Ray and Fraser once again realize how much they love one another.

Bottomline, this is the best thing I've read in ages. Run as fast as your cyberlegs can carry you to read the story "Finding the Words" by Berty.