Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, Alliance does.
by Kittie
The party was going full-swing. Ray Kowalski glanced at the clock as he refilled Lieutenant Welsh's glass. Two minutes to go. With a grin at Welsh, he headed over to turn off the stereo.
He normally wasn't much of a party person, but today called for special measures. He had set this all up in order to play one hell of a joke on Fraser, and they were all here to witness the moment when the joke came to fruition. Welsh, Huey, Dewey, Frannie, Turnbull, Mort, and several others were all packed into the apartment. They had all watched, barely holding in their laughs as Ray prepared for it, and then they'd eaten pizza, drunk beer, talked, laughed, and danced as they waited for seven o'clock to roll around. For Fraser was nothing if not punctual.
When the stereo went off, the noise stopped almost immediately and a roomful of eyes focused on Ray. "It's almost time," he grinned. "One minute."
The room burst into giggles and guffaws, everyone anticipating the payoff.
"Okay, okay, shut up!" Ray glanced at the clock and started the countdown. "Five, four three, two--"
Brrring!
Francesca clapped her hands over her mouth to stifle her giggles.
Brrring!
Ray felt the corners of his lips twitching as he withheld his laughter.
Brrring!
Welsh had to put down his glass of beer to keep from spilling it.
Brrring!
Finally, the answering machine picked up and Ray's voice filled the room.
"I can't come to the phone right now, I'm eating corn chips and masturbating. Leave a message."
Beeeep!
A shocked silence rang out through the phone, and then Fraser's scandalized voice. "RAY!"
The room erupted into hysterical laughter, drowning out Fraser's sure-to-be-entertaining lecture on etiquette, but Ray didn't mind. The whole thing was being recorded on the answering machine. He'd have to keep this tape and listen to it whenever he needed a pick-me-up.
As Ray struggled to get up off the floor, it occurred to him that Fraser might not appreciate the joke, especially considering how many other people had been in on it. But Fraser was so polite and Canadian. Payback wouldn't be too painful... Would it?