i may be a bird in a cage but at least it's your cage

Beautiful, beautiful work. I love Ray loving Chicago (and Stella--unrequitedly, it seems. Poor Ray!) I understand the feeling that the story's not complete; it does seem to stop abruptly. I'm not sure why I get that feeling, because it's certainly okay to end with Ray's taking the Vecchio job. Maybe just because it didn't feel finished to you. You could add to it or write a sequel, either way. But I hope you continue, because you are SO good with Ray's background and the Chicago love and the Ray love.

I think this scenario departs from canon just a bit, but you definitely get away with it. Chicago cops have to have 60 college credits, for example. So he has to have stuck it out a little longer. (I'm not sure you can convince me that Ray is a July baby! I think he gets Callum's birthday all the way. That restless energy is totally Virgo. He's certainly not a Leo. You could maybe make a case for Cancer, though I'd say he's more likely Cancer moon like CKR. But hey...who else but me will even care about this stuff. *is a dork*)

The detail on Chicago is fabulous. Every time I read something of yours now I get more determined to see Chicago. The part that's outside the terminal at O'Hare. :) I can definitely see Chicago-love as part of Ray K. Way more than of Ray Vecchio. I'm not sure why. But it just fits. The detail on Ray's life is fabulous too. Having to fix his glasses with tape because a bully beat him up. Not wanting to see the ugliness too clearly. Oh, Ray. It makes me just want to hug him. :)

Anyway. I'll say again. Beautiful, beautiful writing.