One Mountie Down

Ray held his breath for a moment as he jogged up to Fraser who was just starting to stand up. "You okay?" Ray asked him.

"He got away," Fraser responded. It was an admittance of failure. He didn't relish in the idea of telling the woman that the purse-snatcher got away. After he straightened his jacket and wiping some dirt off it, Fraser's face turned serious. "I've ripped my clothes," he showed Ray his jacket.

Ray shrugged. He wouldn't have seen it if Fraser hadn't pointed it out. Mere normal man would have probably ignored the tear but not the Mountie. Fraser was a perfectionist with everything especially his outward appearance. "We can take care of it later," Ray told him as they walked back towards where the woman was.

After much apologizing by Fraser, the woman had agreed to go to the station and fill out a report. Fraser did promise to keep his eye out for the perpetrator. That would have been hard to do since they were on another job. Even though it was the way of things sometimes… Prioritizing was a pain and seemed callous. But the woman was understanding and alleviated the guilt.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

The Precinct

This time, Fraser didn't argue about taking the medication. Ray didn't like that one bit. His friend must be feeling pretty rotten if he wasn't arguing over it. They entered Welsh's office and were ordered to shut the door. "How's the investigation into the jewelry robbery going?" Welsh demanded to know. The case had been going on for some time. "Tell me you're getting somewhere," he raised his voice slightly.

"Well we've actually narrowed down a few possibilities of what's not going on," Ray said as he proceeded to give a quick rundown.

"Wouldn't it be better if you actually say what it is?" Welsh asked.

"Actually… Eliminating the possibilities is a great path to finding out what happened," Fraser said. He received a look from both Welsh and Ray. Fraser cleared his throat, he knew his voice was fading and that's why he was conserving his voice and not saying much.

"You made a sick Mountie accompany you?" Welsh asked Ray. Of all the times he'd seen Fraser he hadn't seen him sick. The only time he'd seen him really off his game was when the young man had amnesia.

"Actually, I offered," Fraser interrupted. He pinched the bridge of his nose to try and stop the world from spinning.

Welsh saw the young man's face get paler. "Think you better have a seat," he said to Fraser. Lieutenant Harding Welsh was never known to have a soft side. But he did for the Mountie. Fraser always offered his assistance to the station without asking anything in return. The young man showed a level of dedication that was surely lacking in today's police.

"I'm right," Fraser tried his best to argue but obediently sat on the chair.

"What have you found out so far?" Welsh asked.

"We went to different pawn shops to see if someone tried to sell them," Ray explained. "That's what we been doing all day. But so far nothing has turned up. So tomorrow might take a look at some movement in the local gangs in the area," Ray offered another avenue of possibility.

The door swung open and Elaine walked in with sheets of paper. Immediately, Fraser rose to his feet. Immediately he regretted it. The world went askew and Fraser was sure he'd hit the ground if there weren't a strong hand holding him up. This time Fraser didn't need to be told to sit down.

"For God's sake Detective Vecchio… Take him home," Harding Welsh ordered. "Then come back here and go over the plan of attack tomorrow… And Constable Fraser…"

"Yes, Sir?" Fraser asked.

"I don't want to see you back here until you're well… That includes any reason… You got that?" Welsh said sternly.

"Yes, Sir," Fraser responded obediently. When he felt some of the dizziness pass he slowly stood up. He noticed that the others were close to make sure he didn't fall. But his equilibrium had returned to normal.

"Get well soon," Elaine said.

"Thank you kindly, Elaine," Fraser nodded before leaving. He gathered that all he needed was a day or two of rest. That was if he could get the time off from his Consulate job. "Guess it would be good to get back to my own apartment," he said to Ray on the way out.

"Oh I think I'm going to take you back to Ma's place. Think she'll be angry with me if I took you home and left you there in this state," Ray said to him. "You right to walk out or do I have to wheel you out?"

"That won't be necessary, Ray?" Fraser said. Some of his syllables were barely audible.

"You really should stop talking," Ray said lightheartedly. He was sure that Fraser would be voiceless by the end of the day or so. A Mountie with no voice actually sounded funny.

"Yes, Ray," Fraser responded as he stepped into the car.

Xxxxxxxx

Vecchios

Fraser coughed harshly when Ray woke him up. He eventually got him self under control. "Whoa there," Ray said. "Looks like I brought you back just in time," he observed.

Fraser nonchalantly waved his hand before getting out of the car. He was a little unsteady on his feet and swallowed hard. This didn't go unnoticed by the detective Ray Vecchio. He walked close to Fraser as they walked to the house.

"Now, you're not going to argue with anything are you?" Ray asked.

Fraser shook his head as he entered and almost got immediately mobbed by Mrs. Vecchio. "You will call if you require assistance," Fraser turned around.

Ray didn't answer that question. Sometimes he found the young Mountie funny to observe. For someone who was so willing to help anyone in need was so shy and reserved about having people do the same for him. "We should be right," Ray assured him.

"Have a shower, Benton," Mrs. Vecchio began her maternal orders. "Then come out and some soup will be ready for you?" She said.

"I'm not…" Fraser was about to say he wasn't hungry. Truthfully he didn't think he could stomach anything. He was almost bowled over by Dief who just came running in. Fraser totally had forgotten about his wolf.

"You're not going to begin arguing with me are you?" Mrs. Vecchio was stern. She used a tone that no younger person would dare argue with. Even the fearless Mountie was brought into submission with that tone.

Xxxxxx

A/N: This is the second last chapter… I'm happy that people are enjoying my first Due South fic.