Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, except for Ellen. If I did, either the show would have never gone off the air, or else Paul and Callum would be right here in my living room every day.

Tribute to a Fallen Friend

By

Monkeechic

He swung open the doors and found his friend. "Got here as soon as I heard."

"How did you know…"

"The girl behind the desk there, Ellen? She's a friend of Frannie's. Recognized you and called her, then Frannie called me. She said she was on her way…"

"You didn't have to come."

"Hey, he was my friend, too."

"You're right; I'm sorry. Guess I'm not thinking straight."

"No one expects you to." He eyed his friend carefully. "What happened?"

He sighed. "We were out jogging. Got about two miles in, and he just dropped. I got him here as fast as I could, but I knew it was too late…"

"What was it?"

"Heart. Diet was horrible, he hated exercise, and he always put up a fit about his checkups."

"You did everything you could for him. He just dropped?"

He nodded. "They say he didn't suffer."

"That's the important part." He could see the pain on his friend's face. "You all right?"

"Of course I am," he answered sharply. "He was just…"

"He was your friend. He saved us so many times; you, me, even him. By the way, you want me to notify him?"

"No. I'll…I'll do it."

He could tell his friend needed some time to himself. "Is he still back there?"

"As far as I know."

"I think I'll go say goodbye."

"He can't hear you now."

"Hey, he never listened to me before anyway. I'll be back in a few." He slipped through the other set of swinging doors, to the side of their fallen companion. "I know you can hear me, just not in the same way." The man placed his hand on his friend's shoulder and crouched down. "Y'know, that wasn't nice, going like that. This is gonna hurt him for a good while." The man retrieved something from his friend's neck. "I'll take care of him now," he whispered. "He'll be all right. Goodbye pal." Wiping away his own tears, he stood and walked back to his friend. "You ready to go?"

"I think so. If I said anything…I'm sorry."

"Listen, don't be. I know this has gotta be hard." He headed towards the door, and then spoke to the woman. "If Frannie gets here, tell her we left, okay?"

"Sure," Ellen answered. "I'm…I'm sorry for your loss."

Both men nodded and pushed open the doors.

He sighed. "It just…I can't remember a time without him now."

"I'm sure." He paused for a moment. "C'mon, you're staying over tonight."

He started to decline, but realized his friend was worried. "Actually, that would be nice. Otherwise, my place would be too…empty."

They got into the vintage car and took off. "Do you know what you're gonna do?"

"I think he wanted to be cremated; maybe some kind of memorial plaque. He was always a little too vain; he wouldn't want anyone to forget he had been here."

"I don't think anyone who ever met him would, Frase. Maybe something donut-shaped, huh? Oh, I, uh, took this," he said, holding out an object to Benton.

The Mountie smiled and took the collar. "Yes, Stan, I think Dief would appreciate that."