Meg looked at the two Mounties in front of her, both standing attention, both with emotionless faces, ready for whatever their commanding officer threw at them. She was shocked at first, it is so unlike Fraser to shout or lose his temper but then she remembered that Fraser is human just like every other man. Boy, did she know that… Unsure how to tackle this problem she fell back on her default setting.

She stared at them.

And stared.

"If I may, sir…" Fraser began.

"No," Meg said and continued staring.

Fraser had an increasing sense of his throat drying. His palms grew sweaty and his collar suddenly became too tight. The usual symptoms to being in the company of Meg Thatcher but now there was a definite edge of fear that made his heart beat just that little bit faster.

"The behaviour you two displayed both inside and outside the consulate is unacceptable," Thatcher stated coldly.

"I can't work with this man," Williams said matter-of-factly.

"That is not for you to decide-"

"I refuse to work with him,"

"I refuse to work with her," Fraser interrupted "She is confrontational, inconsiderate, disobedient-"

"I have not disobeyed one order you have given me, you have this unfair idea that everyone should be as perfect as you,"

"RCMP officers as well as representatives of Canada in a foreign country should behave-" Fraser's voice raised slightly through gritted teeth.

"Oh not that lark again…"

Meg Thatcher looked at both of them, they had seemed to forgotten that she was even there. They were still both staring forward expressionless. The only indication of their feelings was there raised voices as the argument continued.

"It is not lark, it is-"

"You don't actually believe what they drilled into you at training, did you?" Williams said in a mocking voice.

"Have you considered that not listening to what they said in training is what brought you to your current situation?"

"Are you implying that I didn't listen to basic training?" Williams said forgetting about propriety and looking at Fraser. The other Constable said nothing. "You self-righteous, egotistical b-"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Thatcher cut in. Both Constables snapped to attention again. "You both shall do as I say. You shall work together. Constable Williams will report to Constable Fraser. You be civil, both of you. If I catch a hint of an argument between you, both of you will be on sentry duty for the next month."

At that portentous threat both Constable eyes widened in pleading and Meg enjoyed it.

"Do I make myself clear?" she asked.

"Yes, sir," they chorused.

"Dismissed,"

It was a mad rush for the door. Both Constables terrified. Once outside it was a matter of Fraser getting his breathing under control. He annoyed Meg terribly, it wasn't fair. He had tried once to not cause trouble for her for a whole week, he had almost made it. On the seventh day he used the consulate to house a couple of puppies he found abandoned out on the street. Well, somehow they had gotten into her office…

This was his time to prove that he wasn't a blithering, untrustworthy subordinate. He wouldn't fight with Williams any more. He turned to look at Williams and she looked at him. She started laughing. It wasn't mocking as he thought it would be, it was cheerful as if she were sharing a joke with him.

"That was fun, eh?" She said and started off down the corridor.

"I'm afraid I don't follow," Fraser said feeling the anger bubble at the pit of his stomach again.

"She got so mad," Williams chuckled. "You should have seen your face when she yelled, it was priceless,"

"You're being childish," Fraser said. "My office is this way," he directed her with a wave of his hand.

"Oh, ok," she said "So when are we going to help your detective friend?"

"There is no 'we', I am going to help my detective friend once you leave for the day,"

"Oh you're kidding," she whined "You meant that?"

"Yes,"