Chapter Two: The Directive

Ray and Fraser entered the office. Facing the Lieutenant, they stood side by side: the Mountie on the left, and the Detective on the right.

The office was big enough, with the desk right in the center near the back. Welsh was leaning back in his chair as was expected. Documents were loosely sorted in front of him.

A couple shelves lined the walls, holding different books and files. The room was in bland shades of beiges, browns, and grays, as was the rest of the station.

Fraser gave Ray a quick glance, but Ray was looking at the floor.

Ray lifted his head ever so slightly. "You wanted to see us, sir?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

"Yes," Welsh answered in his usual boisterous tone.

Fraser jerked at the contrast of their voices.

"Vecchio, just how long did you think you were going to get away with this?"

Ray's eyes suddenly widened as he made eye contact with Welsh. "Sir?"

"I can't have my subordinates displaying this kind of behaviour."

Fraser held his breath, and looked at one man to another. Oh dear.

Ray gulped. He was about to speak when Welsh cut him off.

"Did you really think I would let you off that easy?" He paused. "It's obvious you need a vacation."

Ray slightly shook his head. "I'm sorry, sir?"

"I can not have an exhausted colleague in this station. It's not only unprofessional, but also inconsiderate. Your work would start to be ineffective. You need a rest."

Fraser's eyebrows went up in surprise.

Barely moving, Ray slowly processed what was happening. "So you're saying…"

"I'm saying get out of here, Detective. I don't want to see you unless you are of full use to me."

Welsh continued, turning to Fraser.

"I would order you on vacation too if I had the authority. But I know that you could never just rest." Welsh looked at Ray. "Or you, Vecchio, for that matter, either," he said as a matter-of-fact. "So I'm sending the Mountie to accompany you to make sure you do get your strength back, and so he would have an assignment as well."

At that point, Fraser and Ray looked at each other. They had to admit, it was a good plan. Fraser would never just "go on vacation", and Ray knew he wouldn't either unless someone was there to make sure he was kept in line on taking a break.

Fraser turned to Welsh. "I do have outstanding vacation time…"

Welsh nodded. "It's settled then. Outta my office."

"Understood," Ray chimed in before Fraser could answer. He gave Fraser a slightly humourous smile as they walked out the door.

"So Benny, do ya need to call the Consulate? Or should I drop you off?" Ray asked as he gathered up his things at his desk.

Fraser hesitated. It was probably best to speak to Inspector Margaret Thatcher in person. "You should drop me off. It won't take that long." Suddenly, something occurred to him.

"Ray! What about Diefenbaker? I mean we wouldn't be able to take him along…"

"Don't worry about it. He can stay with Ma and Frannie. Ma would feed him until his jaw hurt, and Frannie would take special care because he's your wolf." There was a hint of amusement in his words.

Fraser almost flushed. "Uh, that would be fine. I mean, I have to ask him first-"

At that point, Dief walked up when he noticed Fraser and Ray about to leave.

"There you are. Now, I have to ask you something. Lt. Welsh gave me instructions to look after Ray while he goes on a sabbatical. That means that-"

Dief started to grumble. He saw where this was going, and did not want to stay with one of the neighbours.

Fraser cleared his throat. "You will have to stay with Ray's family. I hear they have plenty of food and company. You like Francesca, don't you?"

In a better mood, Dief gave a quick bark.

Giving Ray a nod, all three left the station to go to the Consulate.

On the way out, Gardino called out to Ray. "Hey, where ya going!"

Ray smirked. "To rescue a kitten."

"Permission to enter," Inspector Margaret Thatcher answered crisply to Fraser's knock.

Fraser came into view. "Permission to speak, sir."

"Granted." A curiosity was apparent in the Inspector's eyes, and she put down her writing utensil.

"I should let you know that I just came from the police station with a set of instructions. Detective Vecchio has been ordered on a sabbatical, and I've been assigned to accompany him." Fraser suddenly realized how that may have sounded, and quickly corrected himself. "In other words, I am suppose to keep an eye on him while he rests."

Fraser had no idea how the Inspector would react to someone out of his jurisdiction giving him assignments. He waited for her reply.

Inspector Thatcher studied the Mountie. Always standing straight and at attention. She considered if he would be that much needed the next couple of weeks.

The Mountie did have something like 71 sick days coming at him, and probably a fair amount of untaken vacation time.

Coming to a conclusion, the Inspector responded.

"That will be fine, Constable. Dismissed."

A little taken aback, Fraser finally nodded. "Thank you kindly."

Side note: FYI, I'm using Canadian spelling. I am, after all, Canadian.