Frannie's Lament

by Tanya Reed

Disclaimer: Due South STILL doesn't belong to me.

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Frannie slowly made her way towards a little building built especially for the guards. There were several of these buildings scattered along the wall, all aimed at keeping interlopers out. She hoped this one wouldn't be as successful at keeping people in. Each building was in the open and usually guarded day and night.

The closer Frannie got, the more exposed she felt. She had lost her gun long before, while supporting Meg, and she knew that if the guard saw her, she would die.

The pounding of her heart filled her ears and it was hard to concentrate. Her legs felt shaky; the thought that she might have gone through everything just to have it end here was terrifying. She was so on edge that when she heard movement coming from the front of the building, she almost cried out. She managed to force it down, steeling her nerve to try to creep up on him unaware.

Using the building for cover, Frannie moved quietly around it and it took another gathering of nerve to actually peek towards the sounds.

The wiry blond guard was scuffing his shoe into the dirt. A gun dangled from well formed fingers, and there was a tenseness in his body that belied his lazy actions.

He was closer than Frannie had expected. Her mind and heart froze for an instant as she wondered what she should do. Remembering how well her fight with Weber had gone, even though she had Meg's help, Frannie decided to try the same tactic again. Letting out a barbaric yell, she rushed forward and launched herself at his back. Instead of beating his head uselessly as she had the last time, she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, preparing to squeeze.

Satisfaction touched her as she felt surprise go through him, but it had no chance to settle before he did something unexpected. Before Frannie had a firm hold on him, he leaned his lithe body forward, catching hold of her shirt in his fist. With a sharp tug, Frannie felt herself become airborne. The air whooshed from her lungs as she hit the ground hard, and she was sure that she was done for. A fist quickly coming towards her face made her close her eyes in anticipation.

"Frannie?" The familiar voice made her eyes fly open.

"Ray?"

There he was, hair and clothes damp, which she had been too scared to notice before, dirt smudged and scuffle worn, and he was still the best thing she had seen in a very long time.

She sat up quickly, startled as strong arms wrapped around her and drew her close.

"I'm so glad you're all right," he murmured, burying his face in her hair.

Frannie returned the hug, clinging to him a moment before pulling away. Ray's hand came up and touched her face, and a grin broke over his.

"I thought I would never see you again."

She covered his hand with hers, asking, "What are you doing here?"

"Brother Joe told us what was going on, and then Frase heard them talk about you bein' trapped out here."

"So, you came to save me?"

"Yep. And now I've found you, we can get da hell outta here."

He stood up and offered his hand. Frannie took it, saying, "Well, we've got to get Meg first."

Ray's brow furrowed. "Me...? Oh, yeah. Yer partner. It's all right."

Thinking Ray was going to suggest they leave Meg there, heat came to her cheeks. "Listen, Ray, I know you never liked her much, but she is my partner and I have to go back."

"Don't like her? I don't even know her."

His look of complete bafflement convinced Frannie that he thought he was telling the truth.

"Meg—you know, Inspector Thatcher."

"Inspector..." Then Ray's blue eyes widened. "Inspector Thatcher? You mean da Ice Queen is really da Ice Queen? Why didn't Fraser say anything?"

Frannie felt exasperation flood through her. All this small talk could cost Meg her life. She almost yelled, "How would Fraser know if you didn't?"

"He's the one who found her in that shed you left her in."

"He found her?"

"Yeah, about a half hour ago. They should be long gone by now. She was shot, ya know."

Frannie breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God she's safe. I've been so worried."

Ray raised his eyebrows. "Since when have you and da Ice Queen been friends?"

"Since she hauled me outta my life and showed me I was worth something. Can we go now?"

"Yup. Just gotta let Vecchio know we're getting out."

He then hugged her again quickly, surprising her, before taking out a walkie talkie from his belt. His finger hesitated before touching the button, and he took a deep breath. When he raised his eyes a moment later, she found something intriguing in their depths.

"Is something wrong, Ray?"

Several emotions played over his face, but he just said quietly," I've missed you, Frannie."

Seeing there was something more, she prodded, "What? My replacement can't find a file?"

"You were dead."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I was sad. I care about ya. Not just for getting files 'n stuff. Yer my friend."

Suddenly, understanding flooded over Frannie as a million little things that happened before she disappeared clicked into place. Smiling, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. Feeling his surprise, her smile widened and a warm feeling went through her, head to toe.

Taking his hand, she said softly, "I like you too, Ray."

He gave her hand a squeeze and winked, a boyish grin spreading over his face, before he finally pushed the button to call her brother. Frannie watched him happily, thoughts whirling inside her mind. Could it have been just minutes ago that she was sure everything would fall apart and both she and Meg would die? Now it all seemed so far away, pushed by an amazing truth. After all the time she spent chasing it, all it took was her disappearance to make somebody really love her.

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Three happy and relieved people finally found the place where some of the same three people had crossed the wall a couple of hours before. Vecchio kept sneaking glimpses at his sister, noticing how grown up and self-assured she looked. And how happy. There seemed to be a glow emanating from her, one that enhanced the vitality and love of life that had always characterized her. He also noted that she did not loose Kowalski's hand through their whole journey along the wall. He was surprised to find that it didn't bother him.

She was a mess. Vecchio had hardly recognized her as he approached the place where she and Kowalski were waiting for him. Dirt covered her form, and her already short garments were ripped and torn. There was blood from a cut on her cheek and wild excitement shining from her dark eyes. Her disheveled hair was longer than he remembered it being since she was a little girl, and the self-confidence in her bearing made him uncertain. But then she had seen him and smiled, and it was all Frannie. A happy hum settled in Vecchio's stomach as he remembered the way she had left Kowalski's side to grab her brother in a crushing hug. Tears had threatened him at that point. He just couldn't believe his sister was alive.

Vecchio's thoughts were broken from the recent memories by Kowalski's voice.

"We put it behind this bush."

"I don't see it, Ray," Frannie answered good-naturedly.

"That's because it was this bush," Vecchio broke in and went to retrieve the backpack.

Kowalski looked sheepish, but for once Vecchio didn't feel like rubbing it in. They used the rope and the three of them clambered over, experiencing less troubles than the Rays had the first time, then set out in search of the place where they'd left their car.

As they got closer, it began to occur to Vecchio that the car probably wasn't there anymore. How else would Fraser get the Ice Queen to the hospital? It was just as his adrenaline filled brain was cluing in to this that he thought he saw a hint of a sparkle coming through some foliage nearby. His heart almost stopped as his first thought was of a gun. The sparkle didn't move, however, and his sudden burst of fear turned to curiosity.

"Well, there you are," came a soft, feminine voice, and that same foliage began to rustle.

Vecchio quickly shoved Frannie behind him, and Kowalski reached for the gun he had stolen from the boy near the fountain. Frannie's vocal protest went unheard as Vecchio waited tensely. The face that emerged was one he hadn't been expecting. Pretty, with a strong nose and a knock-out smile.

"Andrea."

"Yes, Andrea," she agreed, wiping leaves and bark from her clothing. She didn't know there were still twigs in her hair. "It took you long enough to get here. I've been waiting forever."

Vecchio knew his mouth was hanging open. He hadn't even thought to close it before Kowalski asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I knew the three of you would pull something like this. You're all stubborn and think you know everything. I think it's a male trait. Hello, Godmother. Are you well?"

Frannie pushed past her brother and gave him a scathing look. "As well as can be expected with men shooting at me. Have you seen the Ice Queen?"

Andrea nodded, coming closer. Kowalski looked at Vecchio, who nodded, so he put down his gun.

"She and Fraser came out awhile ago. I am officially not supposed to be here, but for some reason, I've taken a liking to the three most annoying men in the world." Frannie smiled knowingly. "I wanted to look out for them, so when I heard they were in the office when Cat heard about Harvey, I thought bat ears might have overheard. I came out here without telling anyone in case they needed help. It turned out Fraser did need an extra pair of hands to get Ice Queen over the wall. Then, he left, and I told him I'd wait for you. Need a lift?"

"That'd be great," Frannie answered.

"Who are you?" Vecchio finally asked.

"As you know, I'm the Pretender. Now, come on, Sweetie, before I leave you behind."

Suddenly, Ray felt a smile take over his face as all the tension of the past year seemed to drain out of his body.

"What a woman," he announced, coming forward and startling Andrea with a hug. Then, he gently picked a leaf out of her hair. As he watched it tumble to the ground, he whispered, "I don't know if I can leave you behind."

Blushing as she had when just a simple maid, Andrea said gruffly, "Get in the car, Vecchio."

And he did.