You may notice chapters are getting a little longer, and will get gradually longer still, because we're writing faster than we're posting. So you can look forward to longer chapters. Ace.

The story has over 500 views! Of course the newest chapters don't have many, so I'm thinking my hook wasn't strong enough to pull people along very far, but still... 500 views over a month or two isn't bad.

Chapter Thirty-two: Really Happening

A note from February 16, 2018. I got to hold a baby yesterday. We were visiting a friend of Mairead's who was under the weather. She had a couple of other friends over, and one of them had a baby with her. I watched them holding him and listened to their girly discussion of breast-feeding and some gross stuff about childbirth that I'll spare you, and then I couldn't stand it anymore and asked to hold him.

He seemed to like being supported to stand up, even though he was just five months old, so I held him like that most of the time. He drooled a little, but didn't cry much at all. He seemed like a pretty happy baby. I petted his soft baby head and made a silly sound effect when I touched his nose and held his strong little hands and cuddled him against my chest. He didn't even throw up on me. It was a pretty great baby experience all around. I want one of my own. Or two.

It has nothing to do with the rest of this story, I know. I just had to share that.

I drove Fraser to the consulate where he had some desk work to do—fortunately he rarely got guard duty anymore, that falling to Turnbull or another constable—and then I picked up lunch and we ate in his office.

I was still a little rattled from the talk with my dad, but I felt kind of freed, too. Everything was on the table; no more wondering. I didn't feel awkward anymore about Constable Edwards seeing Fraser with his arms around me. Who cared what he thought? Fraser and I knew where we stood, so nothing else mattered. The one annoying thing was that we hadn't had the "I'm not gay for you" discussion a long time ago. Maybe we'd have been even closer.

"You don't mind eating here?" Fraser asked me.

"No, it's fine. Why would I mind?"

"You don't seem to have a great fondness for the consulate."

"That's true, but... it's okay. It's kinda silly to avoid a place just because I was kept there against my will, right?" I laughed a little.

"Well, when you put it like that..."

"It's fine," I said again. "I gotta get over these things. All these little things that bother me are the things that keep me stressed out and high-strung. Not that I'm gonna rely on logic all the time, but these are the facts of the thing: I'm with my best friend and his wolf and that's always meant I'm safe. I have no reason to freak out."

Half a smile. Five points. "I'd have liked to meet your friend Jamar. Are you still in touch?"

"Not really. Last I heard, he had a good job at a body shop and he's still boxing some. I always watch the paper to see if there's anything about him. He'll never be a pro, but he does okay. If he ever comes to town, I'll introduce you."

"Perhaps he could teach me the street lingo as well."

"Uh... it's not like he sat down and gave me lessons. He taught it to me by example mostly. It took me years to get good at it."

"I see. Well, perhaps if you used it around me more, I could pick it up as well."

"Heh... I can try."

"I've already learned a dozen or more terms."

"Oh, really?"

"Of course, I'm still not sure what they all mean. For instance, I've found that the code to dial for directory assistance is four-one-one, and have surmised that four-one-one in street lingo means 'information.'"

"That's right. The four-one-one is the facts. The low-down."

"Ah. And, is the 'low-down' the same as the 'down-low'?"

"...No. The low-down is the straight dope. The down-low is dishonest. Under the table. Off the books. Illegal. Secret. Like, 'I can move that for you, but it's all on the down-low.'"

"I see." He picked up a pencil.

"Don't take notes."

"Why not?"

"Because you can't study this. If you're just practicing, you won't feel it. If you don't feel it, it won't sound right. You practice wrong, you perform wrong."

"Oh." He put his pencil down.

I had to smile at how he was eating up my every word, really looking up to me for a change. Usually, he's the one who knows more on any given subject. "Fraser, you trust me?"

"Implicitly. Surely you know that."

"Well, yeah. Or I would if I could remember what implicitly means."

He almost-smiled again. "In this instance, 'without qualification or reserve.'"

"That's what I thought."

We got done eating and Fraser said, "We should go to the precinct when I'm done here. We need to inform Ray and Lieutenant Welsh of our plans."

"Did you tell Lam?"

"Yes, while you were picking up our food."

"How'd he take it?"

"Difficult to say."

"But he didn't try to talk you out of it?"

"No."

"That's good."

"I also worked out more details of our trip."

"Okay." I gathered up our trash. Fraser's wastebasket is pretty small, so I decided to take it to the bigger one in the kitchen.

On my way back to Fraser's office, Turnbull stopped me.

"Detective Kowalski, is it true that Constable Fraser is leaving us?" he asked urgently.

I narrowed my eyes. "No. Well, yes, but only for a week or two."

"Are you sure?"

"Sure, I'm sure. I'm going with him, and I've only got a two-week s— uh, a two-week leave."

"Well, that's good to know, but all the same... the last time Constable Fraser returned to the old country, he did not necessarily plan on remaining there for any length of time. However, he was gone for six weeks and two days!"

"The old country?" He counted the days? Why did I call Fraser a freak when I had this guy to compare him to? "Turnbull... we're coming back, okay? I'm due back in two weeks, and I'm not coming without him, so... just keep your tunic on."

"Yes. Thank you, Detective."

I was already walking away. "Uh-huh."

Welsh had serious misgivings when we explained our plan to him. It took quite a while to convince him that we were serious and that we would definitely be coming back by the time my suspension was up. But he didn't wig out like Ray did.

"We're in the middle of stuff here!" Ray exclaimed, gesturing toward the many files open on his desk.

"Our mobsters aren't up for trial for quite a while," I said. "If I'm on vacation, that's one person less that they can follow around looking for sloppy work."

"What about our current investigation?"

"Fraser has some insight about the MO and weapon. Other than that, there's nothing you really need from us at this point. If it's still going when we get back, we'll jump back in."

"Saying I can't solve a fresh murder/cold case murder in two weeks without help?"

I liked how quickly he could jump from complaining about not having our help to claiming he didn't need it. "I didn't say that."

"And what about Franny?"

"She's got you to look after her."

Ray looked over at his sister. "Did you know about this?"

"Only since last night," she said. "There's no reason to light a fuse. They're going, and we just have to make the best of it."

"Blow a fuse."

"Light it, blow it... weld it—just don't do it!"

"We will keep in touch," Fraser said. "We'll call from Inuvik and again from King William Island."

"Whoa, you're going away?" asked Huey, who had been walking by with Dewey.

"For about two weeks, yes."

Huey and Dewey looked at each other. "Could we have a word, Fraser?"

"Certainly."

I started to follow and Dewey said, "Not you, Vecchio. I mean Kowalski. Damn, that's still confusing."

I gave him a dirty look, but I stayed at Ray's desk. I told him what Fraser had told me about using a serrated knife, and about the method of throat-cutting, keeping my voice down so I didn't gross Franny out too much.

"If it is a pro job, I might know someone who knows him," Ray said. "That's an angle worth looking into."

When Fraser came back, we finished convincing Ray that it wouldn't be the end of the world—or even our team—if we left for a couple of weeks.

"When are you leaving?" Ray asked, finally not arguing anymore.

Fraser looked at me. "First thing in the morning, partner?"

I took a deep breath. It was sudden. It was really happening. I nodded.

"Geez. Okay," Ray said, coming out from behind his desk. "You need a ride to the airport?"

"I think my parents will want to do that," I said. "If not, I'll let you know."

"Well, you guys be careful." He pointed a finger at my face. "Especially you. Don't forget that's his turf, so you listen to him."

"Yes, mom," I muttered.

He punched my arm. "Benny..." He gave Fraser a hug. "Take care o' that knucklehead. And the wolf. I assume he's going, too."

"Yes," Fraser answered.

He moved back and poked Fraser in the chest. "Don't forget to come back."

"I won't."

Then he turned to me. "And you don't let him lick anything toxic or sharp. Or metal, if you're in subzero temperatures." He gave me a quick hug, more like a casual, passing choke-hold.

"Got it," I said. "And you take good care of our family."

"Will do."

I saw Franny waiting her turn, and I stepped closer to her. "Franny, can I talk to you a second?"

She sniffed. "Um... sure. Yeah."

I thought about talking to her in the lunch room, but there was too much risk of someone interrupting. I led the way to the utility closet where Fraser and I sometimes went for privacy. Yeah, I know how weird that sounds.

"What is it?" she asked. "Is there a light in here?" She brushed my face accidentally, looking for a string to pull.

"No, there's no light," I said. "Normally if you need light in here, you leave the door open, grab what you need, and you're done."

"Right..."

"Listen, I wanted to tell you before I left..." I suddenly didn't know how to word it. "Um... I know I can be a pain to work with sometimes... and I annoy you and stuff. Guess we kinda rub each other the wrong way a little. But I want you to know I do like you. I don't always remember it, but you are pretty smart when you're paying attention, and you're very... very attractive."

I heard her take a little breath, like she was going to say something, but I hurried on before she could.

"I think we've gotten to be okay friends, and I like that. But I keep wondering if maybe... maybe we could try to be more than that. I don't know if it would work. And if you think there's just no way in hell, tell me and I'll forget the whole thing." I waited, glad she couldn't see my face and how nervous I was.

"I, um..." Agonizing pause. "I don't know."

"Okay. Well, that's not a flattening rejection," I said with a little laugh.

"I've just had... a lot of emotions to sort through lately."

"Yeah... I get that."

"I don't want to tell you something now that might just be based on how I'm feeling at this moment, you know? I want to have the decency to think it over for a while."

"That's good. That's totally fine. And it's a good time, because I'm going away. So, you can think about it without having to see me."

"Yeah. I can do that."

"Okay." I was starting to feel relieved. Maybe she was just trying to let me down nicely, but that was better than my worst-case scenario. "Well... we better get back out there. You good?"

"Mhm."

We went back out to the bullpen to finish our goodbyes.

Franny hugged Fraser tight, but not as long as I expected before she moved on to me. I could already see tears in her eyes. "Please be safe," she whispered in my ear.

"I will."

"And don't let him do anything too crazy."

"I'll try."

She kissed my cheek. "Bye."

"Goodbye, Franny."

She went right back to her desk and didn't look at us as we went by. I didn't look at her either, but I stole a box of tissues off someone else's desk and dropped it on hers.

"What did the duck boys want?" I asked when we got outside.

"Ah, they were concerned about winning their bet with Francesca."

I frowned. "Where do you fit in?"

"They were hoping that, once they chose a song, I would sing it for her, thereby influencing her to like it more."

"Those dirty sons of ducks!" I exclaimed. "I hoped you told them off."

"I merely reminded them that Constable Turnbull is quite keen on persuading Francesca to like the genre and would therefore be more than happy to present their song for them. And in favor of a compromise, I gave them a song recommendation."

"Oh, yeah? What song?"

"Paul Overstreet's 'When You Say Nothing At All.'"

"Ha, that's a good one. Franny never stops talking."

"You've heard of it?"

"No, I meant it was a joke. I don't think I know it."

"Well, it goes like this..."

Of course, the Mountie broke into song. I tried to humor him for a while, but driving along with a singing Mountie and a deaf wolf, especially when it's a tender, lovey-dovey country song, is pretty irritating.

"Okay, I get the idea," I said before he could get into the second verse. "She'll like that."

"I think so."

"I'm gonna pack," I said when we got back to our hallway.

"All right. I'll confirm our flight if you let me use the phone again."

"Okay." I unlocked my door and let them in.

I hate packing. I knew better than to try to take what I would for a normal vacation. We'd have to be able to move all of our combined luggage on one dogsled. I got several pairs of warm boxers from the back of my drawer where I had shoved them when I was adjusting to the warmer weather. Also several pairs of my warmest socks. A couple of undershirts. Dug my flannel shirts out of the closet. Comfortable jeans.

Welsh had my Glock, but I still had my boot gun. I shouldn't need it, but you never know. It was too short notice to get a permit to take it to Canada. Maybe I'd just... "forget" to mention it and... smuggle it in my luggage. Yup. It would go in the bottom of my bag, wrapped in a T-shirt.

My cell phone rang.

"Kowalski."

"Hey, it's Ray. Is Fraser with you?"

"Uh... here, but in the other room," I said, lowering my voice.

"Good. Listen, I was wondering if I could use your apartment while you're gone. I know it's a lot to ask, but it would give me a chance to get away from the house and start looking for my own place."

"What about Francesca?"

"I'll still take her home if we leave work after dark. She's got a can of mace and a good set of lungs. She'll be okay."

"I don't wanna be worrying about her my whole trip."

"Fine. I'll pick her up and drop her off twice a day, every day. Happy?"

"Is my space gonna smell like smoke when I get back?"

"I won't smoke inside unless it's an emergency. And I'll open a window."

"Okay. I'll leave the key with the landlady."

"Thanks, man. I owe you one."

I snorted. "You owe me at least three at this point. I forgot to ask if there were any vacancies, but I guess you can do that when you get here."

"Oh, hey, I almost forgot. Call Ma before you leave. Or better yet, go see her. Like now."

I looked at my watch. It was mid-afternoon. "Yeah... I'll at least call her."

"Good. Safe trip, okay?"

"Thanks. Bye."

I went out to the kitchen area where Fraser was washing my coffee pot, of all things. "That was Ray," I said. "He said I should go see his mom before we leave, so I thought I might go now. You wanna come along?"

He nodded. "All right. We have a flight leaving at nine-forty tomorrow morning."

"So, we have to leave around nine."

"We should leave around seven," he corrected. "It's always a good idea to be at the airport at least two hours before takeoff to allow time for processing."

"I know that's what's recommended, but it never really takes that long, especially if you don't have much luggage."

"Lines can be long, though. Better safe than sorry." He started measuring coffee into a filter. "I'll program your machine; that should help motivate you in the morning."

I went around the bar and leaned over his shoulder. "You figured out how to program it?"

"Not yet... but a little trial and error... there."

"That's it? I've had that machine over a year and figured I'd never know how to do that."

"Did you try reading the instructions?"

"Threw 'em out with the box before I thought I'd need 'em."

"I see."

"Don't 'I see' me. You're logic, I'm instinct. We've been over this. I just didn't try enough, that's all. I couldda figured it out."

"I'm sure you could have."

"What time did you set it for?"

"Six."

I groaned. "Okay. I'm not setting an alarm, though. I'll let the smell wake me up."

"If I haven't heard from you by quarter past, I'll come wake you."

I had forgotten he had the spare key now. I thought about telling him to give it to my mom for while I was gone, but then I realized she might try to go over and clean or something and find Ray there, and that would be weird. She didn't need to be there while I was gone. Let it stay with Fraser.

Don't you hate trying to sleep the night before a trip? Hope waiting for the next chapter doesn't keep you up. ~Ray K.