Title: Tourists In Vigata

Disclaimer: I don't own BBC Four's Inspector Montalbano, but I wish I owned Fazio ;)

Notes: I have never written for this fandom in my life before now, and I am doing it from two OCs points of view. One of them is myself, the other is FreekyDisaster18 :) It's a chapter thing. Hopefully.

Enjoy and review.

Chapter 1

Two men sat at the table across from me at the restaurant on the edge of Vigata.

Being a tourist and waiting for a friend, I took pictures of the view on my phone, relaxing very slightly at each photo.

The sun was blazing, lighting up the town, illuminating its elegance and history. Gosh, it's beautiful.

Sipping my white wine and casually checking my messages. My friend was late; apparently she was having trouble at her villa. Poor Helen. I replied, saying that I was fine in the sun at the restaurant and she could take as long as she wished.

Gazing around I looked at the two men who were in light conversation. Both were clearly natives from their speech, and how they were so at ease with their surroundings.

One was older, tougher in physique with strong arms under a white shirt. He had little to no hair, what was left was grey and dusted his head; however it suited him in the Yul Brenner way. He was handsome, charismatic in his movements. A man like that would go far in London.

His partner was smaller, though tall and lanky. Deeply tanned skin, like he'd been raised in the sunshine. Black hair cut short, but it was beginning to curl around his ears. Though slighter than the other man, he was clearly fit. Gorgeous, but that was my personal opinion.

'Ah Fazio… Mi piaci, ma si danno sui nervi' the white shirt man said, shaking his head resignedly, pouring himself some wine.

Fazio? That was the name of the dark haired man?

'Comissario-'

'Eh! Che cosa ti ho detto? Chiamami Salvo, prego'

Three years in university studying language, I could translate Italian without looking as if I were doing so. Comissioner... and Hey, what have I told you? Call me Salvo, please.

Commissioner? That meant Police Comissioner. The man looked too young to be a Commissioner. However then I remembered the police system in England is extremely different to Italy. The rankings varied, even the procedure less formal. Which is why I took a month away, settling in Vigata, Italy.

'Mi spiace, sono abituato' Sorry I'm used to it.

'Ahh. Usato per esso. Por favore, uscire l'abitudine. Al momento, non sei il mio collega, sei ...' Ahh.Used to it. Please get out of the habit. At the moment,you're not my colleague, you're ...

The man – Salvo – faltered, looking down at the crisp tablecloth, then out onto the veranda, squinting.

His friend, Fazio, shook his head slowly, looking at Salvo.

'Vedere. Non puoi chiamare altro che un collega. Stai bene con Mimi!' See. You can't call me anything but a colleague. You're fine with Mimi!

I frowned. Suddenly realising I was intruding in the conversation that I wasn't meant to hear.

'Mimi è Mimi! Lo conosco da molto tempo, che mi spinge pazzo ma mi importa di lui. Fazio, quando ti sei iscritto Sapevo che sarebbe andato lontano. Hai talento. Il che è raro sanguinosa. Sei diventato il mio amico soprattutto dopo sei tornato per me al porto turistico' Salvo said, finally returning his gaze to his Fazio who just looked back at him for a few moments. Mimi is Mimi! I've known him for a long time, he drives me insane but I care about him. Fazio, when you joined I knew you would go far. You've got talent. Which is bloody rare. You became my friend especially after you came back for me at the marina.

These two men were, from what I gathered they worked together, something had happened to the man Salvo at the marina, which had an affect on the relationship of theirs.

'Tu sei il mio capo, che eri nei guai. Potrei dire. Non avevo intenzione di lasciare lì' Fazio replied, taking a swig from his wine glass. Salvo ran a hand over his mouth, perhaps thinking of what to say. You're my boss, you were in trouble. I wasn't going to leave you there.

To me, it sounded as if Fazio had helped Salvo somehow. The pragmatics of the scene showed that Fazio was hiding, not being completely truthful in what he was saying.

'Fazio. Mi hai salvato la vita. Si premette il grilletto prima che potesse Gallo, lo disarmato. Lui mi avrebbe sparato, sarei all'obitorio!' Salvo scowled at Fazio, leaning back in his chair. Fazio. You saved my life. You pulled the trigger before Gallo could, you disarmed him. He would have shot me, I'd be in the morgue!

Oh. Well, bloody hell.

The waiter arrived with my appetiser, apple-goat cheese bruschetta. It looked glorious, fresh. 'Grazie' I said smiling. Glancing up briefly, I caught the eye of Fazio. Warm deep brown eyes met mine, trying to work something out. I grinned politely, picking up my wine glass and raising it to him. He nodded, a small smile, doing the same with his own glass.

I focused on my lunch, still listening to the conversation between the two men which carried on after a short pause.

'Salvo. Mi importa di te. So che ti ha detto Mimi –' Fazio began, an interjection from Salvo stopped him talking. Salvo, I care about you. I know that Mimi told you –

I swallowed, a forkful of bruschetta.

'Ha detto che hai guardato verso di me. Ti ho assunto, non è insolito. Ti ho scelto, tu sei parte della mia squadra. In realtà, voi siete la mia squadra la maggior parte del tempo!' Salvo said He said that you looked up to me. I hired you, it's not unusual. I picked you out, you're part of my team. Actually, you are my team most of the time! I almost wanted to smile at the exasperated tone of Salvo. I wondered whether he relied more on Fazio than he took notice for. 'Non mi piace quando le persone pensano di poter semplicemente 'prendere in prestito' i miei ufficiali' he finished, throwing a hand up and then smiling. I don't like it when people think they can just borrow my officers.

'Lui mi ha fatto correre ... così non è diverso' Fazio said, the two sharing an inside joke. He had me running about... so no different.

My guess was that another supervising police officer lacked in man power and nabbed Fazio from Salvo's team. That happened frequently in London, as numbers were ridiculously low within travelling teams in investigations.

'Oh haha molto divertente. Presumo che metterli al loro posto, eh?'Oh haha very funny. I assume you put them in their place? Salvo said, presumably referring to the team Fazio had been positioned to work with.

'Certo che l'ho fatto' Of course I did.

'Buona. In ogni caso, non sta succedendo di nuovo. La prossima volta, prometto di tenervi' Salvo clapped a hand onto the back of Fazio's shoulder, in a friendly way, pulling the man closer to him. The tiny movement spoke volumes to an outsider. Good. Anyway, it's not happening again. Next time I promise to keep you. Fazio nodded, smiling.

'Grazie' Fazio said softly.

The moment interupted as a call came from the other side of the plaza.

'Salvo! Ci si e' There you are! Naturally I turned to look, and saw another man walking toward the table. He was slim built, wavy hair, pointed features.

'Ah Mimi!' Salvo said, hand dropping from Fazio's shoulder, to stand up and briefly hug the new member of the party. Mimi then sitting down on the empty chair.

This was Mimi, another colleague? I finished my starter, tearing my eyes from the men to the view. Letting the heat settle on my eyes, closing them and sighing.

'Normalmente non venire qui, Salvo. Cosa sta succedendo?' the new man named Mimi's voice asked. You don't normally come here, Salvo. What's going on?

'E 'la scelta di Fazio. Ha cenato qui spesso. Si dovrebbe provare la pasta è meraviglioso' Salvo replied, emphasizing the end of the sentence which related to the food. It's Fazio's choice. He dines here often. You should try the pasta it's wonderful.

'Ah, sì, lo farò. Come sta Livia, Salvo?' replied Mimi. I opened my eyes again, blinking. Ah yes, I will. How is Livia, Salvo?'

Livia. A sister?

'Sta bene. Io non la vedo da un po'' She's fine. I haven't seen her in a while.

Mimi laughed, grinning like a schoolboy. 'Onestamente. E 'bellissima. Una ragazza così stupendo e non ti preoccupare' Honestly. She's beautiful. A girl as gorgeous as that and you don't worry?

'No, non nel modo in cui si sta implicando mia cara Mimi' Slavo said simply, as if no argument was needed. No. Not in the way you are implying my dear Mimi. Mimi himself, simply looked in awe for a minute, then turned his attention to Fazio who looked distant.

'Fazio. C'è qualcuno che si sta tenendo segreto?' Fazio. Is there anyone you're keeping secret?

'Se ci fosse, io non te lo direi Mimi' the banter light, but had elements of history and tension. If there was, I wouldn't tell you Mimi.

Another waiter walked to the table announcing 'Comissario Montalbano! E 'una grande notizia che tu cenare qui' It is great news to have you dine here. The man shook Salvo's hand with great affection and admiration. Commissioner Salvo Montalbano. I might be in the presense of a local celebrity and I was none the wiser.

'Il mio collega Fazio' Salvo introduced, but the waiter beamed.

'Lo so ispettore Fazio. E 'uno dei miei clienti preferiti' I know Inspector Fazio. He is one of my favourite customers.

I blinked. Inspector? The man looked incredibly young, perhaps that was lucky genetics.

'Aha si. E 'molto gentile da parte tua' Fazio held up his hand, their hands meeting. 'Questo è il vice commissario Augello' Ah yes. That's very kind of you. This is Deputy Commissioner Augello. Fazio motioned toward the new name who's name I'd thought was Mimi but using elementary skills of deduction it must be a first or nickname for the man. The waiter seemed extremely pleased that theses three men were sitting at his table in the restuarant where he worked. It was rather sweet. In London, the police are treated like the underclass rather than heroes, which is what these men were.

'Il mio ristorante è in funzione nella mia famiglia da generazioni. Per avere qualcuno come te Commissario, conquistando la mia tabella è un onore. Fazio è anche un amico di famiglia, non è vero?' My restaurant has been running in my family for generations. To have someone like you Commissioner, gracing my table is an honour. Fazio too is a family friend, aren't you?

Salvo and Mimi both looked at Fazio who suddenly went sort of rigid, then he ducked his head smiling.

The waiter was not just a waiter at all, he owned the place! Only in Vigata would the owner of a restaurant dress in a creamy white apron, pinned at his waist, and wait tables. Seeing that in London would be a fine thing. It was brilliant, and I was in awe. Thinking that Helen should hurry up so I could tell her all of this over lunch.

'So che suo fratello, sì' I know his brother, yes.

'Sta facendo il modesto, mia madre lo adora! E 'vero. Lei non va mai senza chiedere se si è stati in per un caffè o una birra' the man said happily, reaching to clasp Fazio's shoulder. Fazio laughed quietly. He's being modest, my mother adores him! It's true. She never goes without asking whether you've been in for a coffee or beer.

I smiled into my gulp of wine, thinking that that was a perfect way of embarassing a man in front of his senior colleagues. Fazio's friends were delighted at the news, Mimi laughing as soon as the man left to get them more drinks.

'Non hai mai parlato di questo Fazio. Mi vergogno di te. Ha una sorella?' Mimi chuckled, shaking his head at his younger colleague. You have never mentioned this Fazio. I'm ashamed of you. Does he have sister?

For the briefest of moments Fazio just blinked, then answered in the most gentlemanly of fashions 'No, non lo fa. Sua madre è più che sufficiente' and Salvo raised an eyebrow, as if he were confused whether to admonish his young friend or laugh at the joke. No he doesn't. His mother is quite enough.

'Fazio. Che cosa vuoi dire?' Mimi asked, smiling, pretending complete innocence to Fazio's humour.

'Tu sai cosa voglio dire' Fazio replied rather tersely.

'Voi due! Smettere. Dai, andiamo a riposare. Dovremmo essere felici non ci sono omicidi. Gli abitanti di Vigàta sono in una pace' Salvo reasoned, just as the owner returned to the table with a glass of wine for Mimi and Salvo and Fazio's main dishes. You two! Stop. Come on, let's relax. We should be happy there are no murders. The people of Vigata are at peace.

Mimi held out his hands in resignation, Fazio nodded in silent agreement, and Salvo lifted his glass to the people of Vigata. The sound of chinking glasses echoed against the low stone wall and flooring.

Not soon after the men tucked into their lunches did Mimi's phone ring. The man sighed into the reciever, nodding and answering when he needed to. 'Sarò a casa subito ... Sì lo farò ... Calmati Sono sicuro che sta bene ... Okay ... Ci vediamo tra qualche minuto ... Me ne vado ora. Arrivederci' Mimi shut his phone, replacing it in his pocket. 'Salvo è malato, o almeno Beatrice pensa così. Vado a casa a controllare su di lui e di lei. Ci vediamo domani. Godetevi il vostro pranzo' Mimi rephrased for the others. Salvo is ill, or at least Beatrice thinks so. I'm going home to check on him and her. I'll see you tomorrow. Enjoy your lunch. Since there was already one Salvo, and he was sat at the table, I came to the conclusion that this Salvo could possibly be a child, and Beatrice his mother. However, what do I know, I'm just a tourist.

'Go, Mimi. Prenditi cura del tuo bambino piccolo, ha bisogno di suo padre in giro. Dategli un abbraccio me e Fazio' Salvo said waving dismissively at Mimi as if he had been getting the man to move for years and it was only mow beginning to accept it. Go Mimi. Take care of your little baby boy, he needs his father around. Give him a hug from Fazio and me.

'Lo farò. Lo farò. Ci vediamo più tardi' Mimi tucked in his chair, fixing his blazer and waving to the two, passing the waiter and saying goodbye him.

Silence settled once again over this half of the restaurant. A couple six tables away were in avid discussion about something, sitting close and clearly in love. Fazio paid attention to his pasta.

Faintly, I could hear the sound of a new customer waiting to be seated, so I turned to look. I beamed in seeing who it was.

'Helen! Over here' I gestured and the waiting let her through with a welcoming smile. She sat down on the chair beside me, and I poured her a generous glass of wine from the bottle. 'Hello. Everything sorted at the villa then?' I asked and she groaned, flicking her ginger fringe aside.

'Yep. It's all sorted. God. It's not worse than with Emma in Paris, but it's not far off' she said and we accepted the menu from the waiter. I let her know I had already had a starter and she hummed in looking at the list. 'Try to be more subtle about eyeing up the locals' she said, smirking behind the pages. I rolled my eyes.

'What? Let it alone'

'Come off it Michelle, I know you'

'Ah santa maria' I said sarcastically.

'Shush'

We placed our order, and I said in a low voice that the two men opposite were police officers, detectives. Helen's eyes lit up, a grin growing on her lips. 'Oh really?'

'Yep. Vigata Police. The older one is famous around here apparently' I said.

'You've been eaves dropping, haven't you?' she deduced easily.

'No. I'm just good with the Italian language' I said lowly. I couldn't help that I over heard things, and my natural curiousity got the better of me.

'So it's got absolutely nothing to do with the fact that they're both hot?' Helen said over her wine glass.

'Nope' I lied, winking at her.

'You're incorrigable' Helen said, her eyes passing me to the fantastic view. The colour of the town reflected in her blue eyes.

'Yet you still come and stay with me, in a foreign country' I deadpanned.

As our food arrived, we got to indulge in proper Italian cuisine. The sun travelled across the sky, clouds shifting, the air cooling slightly. We relaxed in our chairs, chatting casually about anything and everything.

Salvo and Fazio got up from their table, wandering past the chairs and saying a good evening to the owner who enthuasitically told them to come again soon.

I noted that their cars were parked down on the slope in front of the restaurant. It was awkward, because saying goodbye as men was a lot harder to do than if you were a woman, that much was evident. Fazio accepted a hug from Salvo, the older man telling him something but it was too far away for my hearing to be anything except useless. Fazio waited till the other man was in his car and driving off, watching it go, before getting in his own.

Sitting with a close friend in central Vigata on a pleasant afternoon to evening, I think I just witnessed the beginning of something.