CHAPTER 2.

Fraser and Ray were both momentarily speechless.

"C'mon, guys," said Ryan. "It's no big deal."

"No, it's no big deal," replied Ray. "You're only trying to bribe a couple of cops into lying to the Superintendent. I don't see anything wrong with that. Do you, Fraser?"

"Well, I…" stammered Fraser.

Ray rolled his eyes. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked Ryan, raising his voice.

"Look, I'm trying to do you a favour," replied Ryan. "This is a waste of time. I know how to be a cop. I've been training for this my whole life. In four months I have to go through the Academy, but we all know that'll just be a formality. I've got this in the bag. Being a cop is in my blood. I don't need to follow you around for three days like a puppy dog."

"OK, kid, listen up," Ray's face was serious now. "Cop rule one-oh-one, lose the attitude. It's that kind of arrogance that'll get you killed out there. Right, Fraser?"

"Indeed," agreed Fraser. "Believe me, whatever you think you know about law enforcement is nothing compared to being out in the field."

"But my dad is the Super!" exclaimed Ryan. "My mom heads up the Training Department and look at my brother and sister. It's in my blood. I used to read the training manual for fun. I've been living this game since I was born."

"It's not a game," noted Fraser sternly. "Lives are at stake at every turn."

Ryan shrugged dismissively. "Whatever," he mumbled.

"My father was also a police officer," Fraser continued. "A highly respected officer in the RCMP. I learned a lot from him and I'm still learning from him now, but he would be the first to agree that you simply cannot learn everything from books, or anecdotes."

Ryan slumped back in the seat.

"Look, kid, we can't make you do this," admitted Ray. "We can't force you to come with us, so you're free to go, but you can keep your money - as much as I could do with it – and we're calling your dad right now."

Ray pulled his phone from the pocket of his jacket and flipped it open.

"No, wait!" exclaimed Ryan suddenly. "You can't call him. Please. He'll…he'll…"

Ray put his phone in his lap and glanced at Fraser.

"What will he do, Ryan?" asked Fraser. He didn't like the sudden change in tone of Ryan's voice any more than Ray did.

"He'll just be disappointed," replied Ryan. "He's already made it clear that he doesn't think I can cut it."

"He said that?" asked Ray.

"I guess not in so many words," replied Ryan. "But it's kinda obvious. That's why he's arranged this little field trip for me. Colin and Becky didn't have to go through this. He wants me to fail so he can say I told you so."

Fraser glanced at Ray with a puzzled look. They hadn't spoken to Superintendent Fitzgerald for very long, but his reputation preceded him and from what they'd seen and heard he seemed like a good man, a very fair man. Certainly not one who would treat his own son with so little respect. The things Ryan were saying about him just didn't add up.

"Perhaps you are misinterpreting him?" suggested Fraser. "My own father is not always able to put his feelings into words – I mean, was not always able to when he was alive – but I soon learnt that he was simply trying to be encouraging and supportive, despite his occasionally unfortunate vocabulary choices."

"OK, maybe I've got it all wrong, maybe I'm a moron?" suggested Ryan with a sneer.

"Listen up, no one's calling you a moron," said Ray. "Although some people might say you're acting like one now."

"Gee, thanks," shrugged Ryan, folding his arms defensively across his chest.

"Look, kid, you've got the perfect opportunity here to prove yourself," Ray continued. "Just hang out with us for a few days, show me what you can do and maybe your dad'll quit giving you a hard time?"

"You don't know my dad," Ryan pointed out.

"You didn't know mine," replied Ray giving the young man a hard stare. "Believe me, if you think you've got paternal issues, you're kidding yourself."

Ryan's eyes narrowed. He realised from Ray's words that there was a story to be told, but right now he didn't care. He sighed deeply. "OK," he said eventually. "Maybe you're right? Let's just get this over with."

"Good decision, son," said Fraser, nodding with approval.

"And will you guys stop calling me son, or kid!" exclaimed Ryan.

"Sorry," replied Fraser as Ray started the engine. "It's a bad habit I picked up from my own father. Fortunately that was the only one."

"Your dad had bad habits?" asked Ray, with a wicked twinkle in his eye. "Oh, don't tell me he sometimes forgot to apologise to fresh snow before he walked on it?" asked Ray.

"That's just silly, Ray."

"Or did he occasionally forget to polish his boots?" asked Ray with a grin.

"Good lord, no!" exclaimed Fraser. "That would constitute a total disregard for the uniform."

"Cop rule one-oh-two, Ryan," Ray noted. "Polish your boots."

Ryan rolled his eyes and tried to ignore the banter between Ray and Fraser for the rest of the journey.

xXxXxXx

The interview went well and Ray left with several pages of notes which he hoped would help him with a case he'd been working on for a few weeks. Ryan sat in on the interview and actually found it quite interesting to watch Ray and Fraser quizzing the witness. By the time they'd finished Fraser was glad to note that he seemed much happier than he had been before they'd started.

"Well I hoped you learnt a few things there. It's not all about running after bad guys, routine work is just as important," Ray pointed out as they walked back to the car.

"Yeah, I know," agreed Ryan. "I've had this lecture from my dad a hundred times. He thinks I don't understand, but I do. Boring stuff is important. Doesn't make it any less boring though."

"You're gonna get days like this, so you'd better get used to it," said Ray.

When they were back in the car, Ryan tapped Ray on the shoulder for the second time since they'd left the station.

"Now what?" snapped Ray. "You got another deal for me?"

"Look, I'm, er, I'm sorry about before," said Ryan, sheepishly. "I just...I'm just tired of my dad...He doesn't understand me..." he trailed off.

"Perhaps you should try talking to him about how you feel?" suggested Fraser.

"What happened to 'There's nothing more uncomfortable to a man than talking about feelings?'" asked Ray with a grin.

"Sshhh!" Fraser replied with a glare and Ray turned his full attention back to the road.

Fraser knew his own father struggled with such things, but that didn't mean all fathers were like him. He had quickly become aware that something was troubling Ryan and he hoped the young man would be able to turn to his father for guidance. Fraser had longed for paternal guidance so many times during his formative years, but had never had the opportunity. Only in death, it seemed, was Robert Fraser finally able to make up for lost time.

Ryan shrugged at Fraser's suggestion and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could the radio crackled into life.

"All units, robbery in progress at Carr's Jewellery store over on Hanover," came Elaine's disembodied voice. "Shots fired. Please respond."

Before Ray could offer anything resembling a good reason why they should definitely not respond Fraser had grabbed the radio unit.

"Dispatch, unit three four two responding" he said. "We're two blocks away."

Ray rolled his eyes and screeched the Riv around to head toward the scene.

Of course Benny's not gonna pass up the chance to endanger both our lives by diving into the middle of an armed robbery…!

"Acknowledged. Back-up's on the way," replied Elaine over the radio as Fraser reached out to stop his hat sliding off the dashboard. She paused before adding, "Fraser...be careful."

"Thank you kindly, Elaine," said Fraser and replaced the radio.

"And I'll be careful too, Elaine," Ray called out, well aware that Elaine couldn't hear him. "Try not to worry about me!"

"I'm sure Elaine's support was directed at you too, Ray," said Fraser.

Ray shook his head and suppressed a grin at his friend's naivety. As they turned the corner into Hanover they both heard a shot ring out. Fraser glanced at Ray with concern as he screeched the car to a halt. Ray nodded, acknowledging the danger they were about to face, then Fraser grabbed his hat and leapt out of the car.

Ray quickly checked his gun and opened his door. He saw Fraser was already half way across the street, unarmed as usual.

Jeez I wish he'd get himself a gun…

"Ryan, stay here," he said and Ryan, powerless to object, watched him run after Fraser.

By the time Ray ran into the jewellery store, Fraser was on his hands and knees next to the sobbing figure of a woman. In front of them the lifeless body of a man lay face down with a bullet wound in his back. Fraser glanced up at Ray and shook his head sadly.

Not that Ray needed confirmation. He mumbled an expletive under his breath. Sometimes he really hated this job. "Shooter?" he asked, looking around at the mess in the shop. There was broken glass everywhere, the thieves had emptied almost every cabinet of jewellery. Ray estimated the haul at millions of dollars.

Fraser glanced at the woman and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Unknown at this juncture," he replied. "There were two. She only saw one of them leave. The other may still be on the premises."

Ray felt a tightening in his chest and he spun round again. Just then Diefenbaker started barking and Fraser leapt up. Dief ran over to him and then back towards a door behind the counter.

"He's out back, Ray," announced Fraser and he hauled the woman to her feet.

Ray nodded and ran towards the door of the storeroom, his heart pounding. The woman clearly did not want to leave the body of her husband and she struggled against Fraser as he tried to get her to safety, but at soon as she was hidden from sight Ray thumped the door hard with his fist.

"Chicago PD!" he yelled. He held his breath and waited a second for a response, but there was only silence.

Suddenly the main door opened. Ray spun round with his gun raised, but as soon as he realised who was standing in the doorway he quickly lowered his weapon. "Geez, Ryan!" he exclaimed. "I told you to stay in the car!"

Ryan did not reply. He stood frozen in the doorway, unable to speak. He'd quickly become frustrated at being left out of the action and decided to come and see what was going on, but now he'd seen the body of the man lying on the floor and he couldn't take his eyes of him. For a brief second Ryan thought he was going to pass out, or vomit, or both. Then the physical feelings were overtaken by emotional ones. Ryan stared open mouthed as the pool of blood at the man's side slowly spread across the polished shop floor.

"Ryan, get down!" yelled Fraser and he beckoned the young man to join the victim's wife behind the counter. Ryan glanced up at the sound of Fraser's voice as if he was only at that moment aware of the presence of anyone else in the shop.

Fraser quickly jumped up, grabbed his arm and dragged him to the relative safety behind the counter with the woman.

Then they heard a noise coming from the storeroom and everyone's attention turned back towards the door.

"Police! Come out with your hands up!" yelled Ray.

Satisfied that Ryan was as safe as he could be for now, Fraser darted over to join Ray. He nodded silently and they were about to kick the down the door, when it flew open from the other side. The gunman burst out, knocking Fraser backwards against the wall and he landed on the ground with a thud.

The gunman ran straight out of the shop. Ray quickly fired two shots, but without any time to take a proper aim both missed by a long way. He glanced back at Fraser and was relieved to see the Mountie appeared to be OK. Realising there was no time to waste, Ray bolted out of the door with Diefenbaker at his heels.

Fraser tried to get to his feet, but he felt a sudden rush of wooziness and collapsed back against the wall.

"After him, son! He's getting away!"

Fraser spun his head round towards the voice of his father, immediately regretting the sudden movement. "I'm trying, Dad," he replied, rubbing the back of his head.

"The yank could be in trouble," continued the ghost of Robert Fraser. "You know he's a terrible shot."

"He's not," replied Fraser. "But I will see if his sights need adjusting again."

A gunshot rang out, quickly followed by another one and then two more in quick succession. Fraser glared at his father and then took a deep breath, determined to go and help his friend. He pushed himself to his feet, relieved that most of the dizziness had subsided.

Then a movement caught his eye. It was Ryan. The young man came out from behind the counter and with one final glance at the dead man he raced after Ray.

"No!" Fraser yelled, but it was too late, Ryan was already out of the door.

Fraser took another deep breath and chased after them, angry with himself for being blindsided in the first place and even angrier with his father for delaying him further. As he sprinted out into the dusk of the early evening he heard the sound of two more gunshots. The fading light created a frustrating, if momentary delay as Fraser's senses stabilised before he spotted the gunman.

He was hiding in the doorway to a convenience store, lit only by the random flashes of a faulty neon sign hanging on the wall. He fired randomly out into the street. Ray threw himself behind a dumpster for cover and returned fire.

Fraser glanced around as he raced to catch up with Ryan, thankful that the gunfire had sent any pedestrians who may have been in the vicinity running for cover. There was a moment of silence as both Ray and the gunman paused to reload. Ray was first to get off another shot and it was only then Fraser realised Ray had not yet seen Ryan racing along the pavement in the shadows.

Diefenbaker, however, had now spotted him and the wolf stopped in his tracks. He had to make a split decision. Could he take down the gunman before he shot the young human, or should he try to protect Ryan? As much as Dief wanted a piece of the lowlife, scumbag human, he knew what Fraser would do and it seemed some of the Mountie's attitudes were rubbing off on him. He'd have to leave the gunman to the humans and save the kid.

There'd better be a whole box of doughnuts waiting for me when this is all over...

Reluctantly Dief charged at Ryan, barking wildly in an attempt to herd him out of danger.

The barking alerted Ray and he looked up to see Ryan running straight into danger. A sudden, horrific image crossed his mind as he imagined having to explain to the Superintendent how his son had been killed in a gunfight. He fired off another shot in the direction of the doorway, but he knew the gunman had the advantage. Then a flash of red caught his eye as Fraser ran past.

"I don't have a clean shot, Benny!" he yelled.

Diefenbaker continued barking madly, but Ryan ignored him, sidestepping the animal in pursuit of the gunman.

"Ryan, get down!" yelled Fraser, suddenly realising that Ryan had run into Ray's direct line of sight.

The next few seconds felt like hours to Ray. He took aim again, but all he could see was Ryan with Fraser and Dief. Then suddenly he saw the gunman break his cover. Ray desperately tried to get a clear aim, but it was too dangerous to fire.

Worse than having to tell the Super his son was killed in a gunfight would be having to tell him the bullet had come from my gun…!

Ray suddenly realised his hand was shaking and he had to fight to keep control.

Ray saw the gunman take aim at Ryan so he ran out into the open in a final desperate attempt to get a shot. Then at last Fraser caught up with Ryan, leaping at him from behind and dragging him to the floor. The gunman adjusted his aim towards them, his finger hovering over the trigger. Ray's trigger finger flexed and a shot rang out.

Ray held his breath. He knew he'd fired, but so had the gunman.

Was I too late…?

Then he saw the gunman slump to the floor and he let out a huge sigh of relief.

Ray ran over to where the man had fallen and saw his face for the first time.

Jeez…he could be me from ten years ago…

Ray kicked the man's weapon across the ground to a safe distance, his own gun still trained on the man's head, but he soon realised it was safe to re-holster it. The man was dead.

Oh god…I killed him…

Ray suddenly felt as if he had ice flowing through his veins and the coldness froze his senses. For a moment there was nothing else in Ray's world, only Ray and the man he'd killed. He knew this feeling, he'd felt it before, but it never got any easier.

I had no choice…I had no choice…

Within minutes the scene had been cordoned off and there were police cars everywhere.

Fraser perched on the bonnet of Ray's car with Ryan. The young man hadn't said much since the shooting and he refused to make eye contact with Fraser. Fraser watched as two technicians from the Medical Examiner's office brought out the body of the jewellery store owner in a black body-bag and loaded him into a van. Fraser hated these moments, his senses were overwhelmed with the noise and the smells and the people. The air smelled of death and he longed for the smell of pine trees, or an open fire to take it away. Fraser was used to it, however and he invoked his own coping mechanisms.

For Ryan, though, this was his first such experience. Fraser knew Ryan was suffering, but no matter what he said he was just faced with a wall of silence.

Ray walked over to join them and Fraser glanced up at his friend. "You alright?" he asked.

Ray nodded. "Sure," he replied. "You know me, I just love killing people. It's right up there with winning the lottery."

Fraser frowned a little at Ray's flippant sarcasm. He knew exactly how his friend was feeling and it was the emptiest feeling in the world. He also knew that Ray would deal with it in his own way.

"Shooting team will clear you," Fraser tried to reassure him. "It was clean. You had no choice."

"Yeah, I know," agreed Ray. "Until then Welsh has my gun," he added, pulling his coat aside to reveal an empty holster. Then he turned his attentions to Ryan. "So, you got anything to say for yourself?" he asked.

"Ray," said Fraser, shaking his head slightly.

"Oh, what, you want me to go easy on him?" asked Ray, flinging his hands in the air. "He could have gotten himself killed! Hell, he could've gotten us all killed."

Ryan hung his head, but remained silent.

"You really wanna be a cop, you've got to start following orders, kid," said Ray, leaning forward to get close to Ryan's face. "I tell you to stay in the car, so you stay in the car. I tell you to stand on your head, you stand on your head. Capisce?"

Ryan shrugged, but still said nothing.

Ray realised he had to walk away. He was in no mood to discuss this now, especially not with a non-communicative, immature kid. With a final sad look to Fraser he went back to speak to the forensics team.

Fraser turned his attentions back to Ryan. "I imagine this is not easy for you," he said gently. "May I recommend talking to someone about it? It doesn't have to be me."

Ryan finally looked up, although it seemed to Fraser that he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. "I…I…I just saw that guy…the dead guy…" he began. "And…I don't know what came over me? He was lying there…and all that blood…"

"I'm sorry you had to see that," replied Fraser. "As a police officer, you will…"

"Don't lecture me," snapped Ryan before Fraser had chance to finish. "I know what it's like."

"As you have mentioned several times already," noted Fraser. "Although as we have said to you, theory is one thing, but putting it into practice is quite another. I remember the first time I saw a dead body. I will remember it forever."

"OK, so now I've seen my first too," replied Ryan. "That's that outta the way. On with the job, right?"

Fraser was concerned at Ryan sudden change in demeanour. He'd gone from being very distressed to calmly dismissing the whole thing in just a few seconds. "Ryan, as I said before, you really should talk to someone."

"Like a shrink?" asked Ryan, incredulously. "No way. I don't need to talk to anyone. This is what being a cop is going to be like. I can handle it. The first time is tough and this'll probably stay with me for the rest of my life, you just said that yourself, right? But it didn't stop you from being a cop."

"I didn't say anything about stopping you from becoming a cop?" queried Fraser.

Ryan glared at him. "I didn't mean…oh forget it," he snapped and got to his feet. "I'm going for a walk. I take it you guys are gonna be here a while?"

Fraser nodded as Ryan walked off. He glanced down at Diefenbaker. "There's a lot going on in his head," he noted. "I just wish he could be a little more honest with us…and with himself."

Dief barked in agreement.

"I suppose you'd like an unhealthy snack now?" asked Fraser and a delighted Dief yapped excitedly. "Alright, I suppose you deserve a treat," smiled Fraser.

Ray looked round as Fraser and Dief wandered off into the darkness. He knew they'd be back soon, but suddenly, despite being surrounded by people, he felt very alone.