NOTES: This is set some time towards the end of Season 3/4. It is my first attempt at a story with an actual crime plot. I would appreciate all feedback. Thank you kindly!
It started with a visit to the Dentist
CHAPTER 1
Detective Ray Kowalski, currently undercover as Detective Ray Vecchio, sat at his desk at the 27th Precinct, Chicago Police Department and tried to block the throbbing pain from his mind. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of red as his friend and unofficial partner, Constable Benton Fraser of the RCMP entered the room with his faithful companion, Diefenbaker, at his heels. Ray groaned and put his head on the desk with a thud.
"Good morning, Ray" beamed Fraser with a wave and walked briskly across to Ray's desk, nodding and smiling at everyone he passed. "It's a glorious morning out there" he announced, smiling. "Diefenbaker and I have ..." he stopped when he realised that Ray still had his head on the desk. "Is everything alright, Ray?" he enquired.
"Yeah Fraser," came the muffled response. Ray lifted his head slightly. "Everything's great. Greatness." He stood up suddenly and grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair, he headed for the door. "C'mon, let's go Fraser!"
Fraser stood there for a moment, looking puzzled "Where are we going Ray?" he asked.
"Out Fraser, we're going out" shouted Ray, who had already made it as far as the corridor. Fraser looked at Dief and shrugged before following his partner.
When Fraser finally caught up with Ray, he was sitting in the driver's seat of his car with the engine running. He had one hand on the steering wheel, but the other hand was cupped over his mouth. Fraser opened the other door and allowed Dief to jump into the back, before settling himself into the passenger seat. Ray quickly took his hand away from his mouth and manoeuvred the GTO out into the busy morning traffic.
"What are we doing?" Fraser asked, looking over at Ray. His friend was acting very strangely this morning.
"We're just, y'know, looking around" replied Ray, sounding unconvincing, "just in case there's any crimes going down that we should know about." The truth was that Ray needed to get away from his desk. He needed a distraction today and he was hoping that something might come along if he was just out with Fraser. It often did.
"Look over there!" exclaimed Fraser pointing out of the window. Ray slammed his foot on the brake pedal and brought the GTO to a sudden halt.
"Where? What?" he shouted leaping out of the car and drawing his gun. Passing pedestrians jumped out of the way in panic.
Fraser raced after his partner "Ray, lower your weapon!" he instructed, tugging at Ray's arms and looking around apologetically at the people cowering behind bushes and fire hydrants. He went over to help an elderly lady to her feet, apologising profusely. Ray was very jumpy today, thought Fraser.
"But you said...I thought..." Ray re-holstered his gun, looking confused.
"I'm sorry if I in any way insinuated that a crime was taking place Ray" said Fraser "I was merely pointing out a poster in that bus shelter over there. It is advertising a new production of The Mikado that I am keen to see. I was hoping the poster would indicate further details. Is it a production that you would be interested in seeing?"
Ray looked at Fraser and shook his head. Half the time he didn't have a clue what his friend was talking about.
"Not to worry" continued Fraser, "Perhaps Mort may like to accompany me. Gilbert and Sullivan is, admittedly, a little light for his usual tastes, but it never hurts to broaden one's horizons. Wouldn't you agree Ray?" Ray didn't answer. He turned and started back to the car, bringing one hand back up to cover his mouth. Fraser followed, glancing at the Mikado poster and mentally noting the details he required.
They got back in the car. "Ray" began Fraser "is there something wrong?"
"No" snapped Ray, quickly placing both hands on the steering wheel, but Fraser wasn't having any of it.
"Are you in pain, Ray?" he said, as he leaned forward a little to look more closely at his partner. Dammit, thought Ray, how does he do that? It really was not worth trying to lie to Fraser.
"I'm OK, buddy" came the reply which Ray tried and failed to accompany with a smile. It came out as more of a grimace. His partner's brow furrowed with concern. "Understood" said Fraser and sat back in his seat.
Ray sighed. "OK so I gotta little toothache" he finally admitted "but it's nothing, OK?"
"It doesn't look like nothing" replied Fraser "in fact I would suggest it is causing you some significant pain. Who is your dentist?"
"No-one" replied Ray, turning the key and firing up the GTO. "I mean I did have one a while back, but he moved away and..." but Fraser interrupted him.
"Ray, regular dental consultations are essential. No wonder you have toothache, especially considering the amount of sugar that you consume."
"Fraser, I don't need a lecture, I just need a couple of aspirins." Ray started driving along, he still had no idea where he was going.
"Ray, pain medication may temporarily relieve the discomfort you are currently experiencing, but aspirin is not going to get to the root of the problem, if you'll excuse the pun." Ray glance at his friend and sneered. Fraser continued "Ray, when I first came to Chicago on the trail of the killers of my father, Ray Vecchio kindly passed me the details of his dentist. He is highly qualified and his rates are very reasonable. Obviously, I have only ever attended for routine appointments, but I'm sure that he is just as capable when it comes to procedures of a more invasive nature."
Ray didn't like the sound of that. "What does that mean?" he asked. "Invasive?"
"He also has a particularly attractive assistant by the name of Angela" Fraser blushed a little and grinned at his friend. Ray looked up and managed a small laugh. Fraser tugged at his collar and refocused his thoughts on Ray. "Ray, do you have a fear of visiting the dentist?" asked Fraser, gently.
"No way!" replied Ray, indignantly.
"Ray, dental anxiety is very common. It's nothing to be embarrassed about" he tried to reassure his friend. "If you like, I will accompany you."
"I don't need ya holding' my hand Fraser" scowled Ray.
"I wasn't suggesting that I remain with you during the procedure, Ray, merely that I would wait for you outside, if you wanted me to" Fraser replied with half a smile.
"I wish ya wouldn't keep sayin' that word, buddy" Ray spoke a little quieter now.
"What word Ray?"
"Procedure" explained Ray "it sounds a bit, y'know..." he couldn't quite bring himself to finish what he was saying.
"Scary?" suggested his partner.
Ray pulled over into a side alley and turned to look at Fraser. "Yeah" he said, hanging his head.
"Pass me your cellular telephone Ray and I'll make you an emergency appointment" Fraser held out his hand. Ray sighed as he reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out his 'phone and passed it to Fraser. He knew his friend was not going to give up on this one. He wasn't scared, he tried to convince himself, its just that he hadn't really had to have any dental work done before, not for a while anyway and he really didn't want to have to deal with it today. Not today. This is ridiculous, he thought to himself, I'm not scared facing down guys with guns so what's so scary about...oh...he suddenly felt a little faint.
"...thank you kindly, Angela, we'll be with you shortly." Fraser handed the phone back to Ray.
Shortly they arrived at the dentist surgery. Fraser instructed Diefenbaker to stay in the car and he led a reluctant Ray in through the door and up the stairs to the reception desk.
"Hello Angela" said Fraser when he saw the young assistant. Fraser was right, thought Ray, she is pretty. "This is Detective Kowalski" Fraser continued "thank you kindly for fitting us in this morning."
"We had a couple of people call in and cancel today" explained Angela "I think you can go straight in" she indicated the door to Ray. Ray froze to the spot. "Our receptionist, Kellie, hasn't arrived yet so you would you mind keeping an eye on things, please Constable?"
Of course Angela" replied Fraser. Ray still didn't move. "Ray you can go in" prompted Fraser. He thought for a moment before leaning closer to his friend and lowering his voice slightly "Ray, would you like me to hold your hand?"
"Would you like me to kick ya in the head?" hissed Ray and marched into the dentist's room.
Fraser grinned at Angela who laughed "It's always the tough guys who are the worse" she said and followed Ray into the room while Fraser took a seat in the corner to wait. He selected a magazine from the pile on the table in front of him and began flicking through the pages.
A short while later, a young woman came running in, quickly taking her coat off, throwing it on the floor behind the reception desk, sitting down and clicking a few keys on the computer keyboard. Fraser looked up from his magazine. The woman was aged around twenty two, thought Fraser and she was of very slight build with long, slender fingers and shoulder length brown hair. "Kellie?" he enquired.
"What?" replied the young woman, looking up "Oh yes, I'm sorry," she appeared to be very flustered "can I help you?" She looked rather tired, with dark circles under her eyes visible through her hastily applied make up, observed Fraser and her hands shook very slightly as she sorted through a small pile of correspondence on her desk.
"Actually I'm just waiting for a friend." Fraser put down his magazine and held out his hand which Kellie very briefly shook before returning to her computer. "Constable Benton Fraser, Royal Canadian Mounted Police" began Fraser, "I first came to Chicago on the trail of..." but he was interrupted by Ray opening the door and striding back out into the waiting area. "Ah, Ray!" Fraser turned to his partner, "All finished?" Ray nodded and tried to smile, but his mouth was quite numb and he couldn't really manage it.
Angela followed behind. "He was very brave" she said, grinning at Fraser. Ray scowled, his mouth seemingly allowing him at least one expression. "Hi Kellie" said Angela, addressing the younger woman.
"Sorry I was late" replied Kellie, "I've got, er, a little problem." She took the paperwork from Angela and began printing Ray's invoice.
"Nothing serious, I hope?" replied Fraser.
"Oh no, it was nothing, it's nothing, really." She didn't sound at all like it was nothing, quite the opposite and her distressed manner didn't escape either Fraser or Ray.
Ray stepped forward, pulling his wallet from his jacket pocket. I wonder if being hot is a requirement for working here, he thought, flashing a rather lopsided smile at Kellie, maybe I should come here more often? "So tell me, what do I owe ya for having the pleasure of gettin' my head drilled?"
Fraser looked at him, slightly puzzled. "Ray, I am sure it was only your tooth that was drilled, not your head, although drilling into the skull was a common medical procedure until relatively recently."
"Urghh" Ray shook his head, he didn't like the sound of that. He looked at the invoice that Kellie had handed him and pulled a face. Sighing, he paid the bill and he and Fraser turned to leave, but before they'd got as far as the door, Ray walked back to the reception desk. He regarded Kellie for a moment, she looked so fragile sitting behind her desk, he thought. "If y'ever need, y'know, a crime solvin' or anythin' just call this number" he leaned over to grab a pen and paper and scribbled down his direct line at the 27th. "Just ask for Vecchio" he added.
Kellie looked puzzled "I thought you were, er" she glanced over at the paperwork "Kowalski?"
"Oh yeah" Ray had to use his real name when it came to medical records, but now he quickly needed a cover story. "That's my Detective name" Ray continued "coz there was already a Kowalski at the 27th" he looked at Fraser for back-up, but Fraser was terrible at lying so he just nodded furiously "y'know, like actors" Ray finished, as if that was a perfectly logical explanation.
Kellie was so preoccupied that she didn't seem to question it. She took the piece of paper and put it into her purse.
As they walked back to the car, Fraser glanced at Ray.
"What ya lookin' at me like that for?" asked Ray, a bit annoyed.
"I was simply watching the anaesthetic wear off" replied Fraser and he quickly returned his eyes to front.
"What?" exclaimed Ray "You can actually see that?
"Well yes," Fraser said in a matter of fact way "the involuntary muscle movement in your lower jaw ...oh never mind." He could see that Ray either didn't believe him or wasn't interested in his explanation.
"C'mon Fraser!" Ray snarled, "It's not like I gave her my private number."
Fraser was totally bemused. He turned to Ray. "If you are referring to Kellie from the dentist, she did appear to have experienced a problem, it was a very noble thought" he said, before adding, "in case she ever needs a crime solving." If Ray didn't know better he could have sworn he heard a hint of sarcasm in Fraser's reply.
"Fraser! You never turn down the chance to help someone, do ya?" Ray was really defensive now. "I don't see how her bein' y'know, attractive, has anythin' to do with it? I thought maybe she was in some kinda trouble."
"Ray," began Fraser, "I do not remember commenting on her attractiveness?" Fraser wondered what was bothering Ray. He assumed that the whole dentist experience that morning had left him rather moody.
"Fraser, I..." but Ray was interrupted by his 'phone ringing. "We'll talk about this later" he said jabbing a finger at his friend. Fraser just nodded. Sometimes his friend's train of thought was bewildering to him. It was Francesca on the 'phone. She told Ray that Lieutenant Welsh was screaming about some paperwork that he couldn't locate and suggested that Ray get back to the station quickly. Ray responded with a snarly comment, by which time they were back at the GTO where Diefenbaker was patiently waiting for them.