Disclaimer: I still don't own Due South.

Author's notes: I'm sorry I haven't updated this for so lon but season 3 started over here and I couldn't seem to get my Vecchio voice to work and I didn't know where to take this fic.

Thanks for all the reviews people! Much appreciated.


Honour Bound - Part 3

"Frannie!" Ray's voice bellowed down the mostly deserted corridor. He had just caught a glimpse of his sister moving quickly through the precinct - he was sure she had been avoiding him today. He sped up and eventually managed to catch up with her, grabbing her arm to stop her. "Frannie wait. I've gotta talk to you."

"What now Ray!" Frannie snapped, her eyes sparkling with a dare to Ray, daring him to say something to provoke her. "What do you feel the need to give me a lecture on now Ray?" Ray, however wasn't going to let his sister's sharp tone and dangerous expression put him off - he was on a mission. Grabbing her arm once more, he pulled her into an interrogation room that was nearby and empty.

"Listen Frannie, this is important okay." After studying her nails to ensure that the bright pink nail varnish she had put on earlier that day wasn't chipped, Frannie looked at Ray with a really bored expression on her face.

"Oh…" She drew the word out, sarcasm filling her voice. "It's going to one of those conversations." She rolled her eyes before continuing with the same sarcastic tone. "Well why didn't you just say so!"

Ray could feel and anger burning inside himself that made his fists clench and his shoulder, neck and facial muscles clench. He spun and punched the wall, replacing the anger with pain and fear; a fear that he was just like his father. Frannie had gone quiet now, her face a little paler. Ray turned to look at her, his eyes both pleading with her to listen to him and apologising for his anger. Frannie lifted her chin and looked at him silently, her lips and eyes set in a picture of defiance. Ray took her silence to mean she would listen to him. "Frannie, what happened between you and Fraser last night?" Ray asked quietly. Frannie crossed her arms and perched on the end of the table.

"He proposed!" She relied gleefully. After seeing Frannie's smile, Ray could understand why Benny found her frightening. Ray shook off the creepy feeling that had come over him and started pacing up and down across the door, effectively blocking Frannie's exit.

"Ye I already know that. Benny told me. He also told me that he doesn't remember proposing." Frannie's smile disappeared but her facial expression didn't look any less deadly. "Tell me Frannie, what makes someone do what you want and leaves them with no memory of it in the morning?"

Frannie stood up suddenly and approached Ray until she was toe to toe with her brother. "I don't know Ray. You're the cop. Why don't you tell me?" she snarled at him. Ray didn't blink.

"What was in the coffee Frannie?" On the outside Ray looked deadly calm but on the inside his heart was beating like a runaway and a thousand butterflies were flapping around inside his stomach. Frannie just looked genuinely confused.

"Coffee?" she muttered.

"The coffee you gave Fraser at the consulate yesterday, after his shift." Frannie dropped all pretences and stared at Ray with her mouth hanging open, eyes wide open with bafflement.

"I didn't take him coffee. I mean, why would I take him coffee? He doesn't like coffee." Ray was still sceptical. He wasn't going to be fooled by his sister, who was all to good at feigning innocence.

"Frannie, where were you at half four yesterday afternoon?" Frannie's eyes opened wide in angry surprise.

"What is this Ray! An interrogation? What are you accusing me of! Just you wait 'till I tell Ma! Then you'll be sorry." Ray folded his arms against his sister's verbal assault.

"Just answer the question Frannie." Frannie sat back down on the table and gave an exaggerated sigh. She smiled, that dangerous smile she has and looked at Ray through twinkling eyes.

"I was here… working. You can ask Welsh because he was with me working on that review that's coming up. I didn't see Fraser until he called me and asked me to meet him at that Chinese restaurant owned by man that the FBI agents upset."

"He called you?" Frannie got up and brushed passed Ray. As she opened the door to leave, she turned back to look at Ray.

"Yes Ray he called me." She left the room and closed the door quietly. There was no need to slam it; she had made her point. Ray slumped in the seat by the table and put his head in his hands. He'd royally screwed up this time. He had really pissed off his sister and he still had a Mountie to save from the torment of marrying into the Vecchio household. Who was the woman who had brought Fraser that coffee? What did she have to gain from Fraser marrying Frannie? Unless she was a sadist, that would explain a lot.


Sooo... what did you think?