Families
Chapter 23
Ray whistled as he walked through the doors at the 27th precinct Monday morning, he felt better and happier than he had in a long time. He was quite settled in his role as Ray Vecchio, he had great friends, a gorgeous God daughter and most of all the promises of a great relationship with Line. It was too soon to put a label on it but from what he had learned and experienced the day before it could only be great. Most of all they wouldn't have the same problems his friends had and in some ways still had because they both were RCMP and Meg outranked Ben.
"Good morning Frannie" Ray flashed a smile at his 'sister' "Had a good Sunday?" he asked.
"Yes it was lovely, Ren took me to the museum of history" Frannie said with a smile.
"Ren!?" Ray was puzzled "Oh! Turnbull" the tall blond Mountie who's first name was Renfield, that sounded real stupid, Ray decided to stick with Turnbull.
"Sounds like something Turnbull would do" Ray said and picked up his messages. Two of them from Ben, the first saying he'd be late. The second explaining why, he and Meg were taking Molly to the doctors for a check up and a shot against something Ray didn't understand but recognized it as a child's disease.
Ray spent the morning working on reports and when Ben came in the afternoon they 'hit the streets'. Welsh had just before lunch given Ray a lead on a case and now it was up to him and Ben to capture the perpetrators.
Ray was unusually quiet and it took Ben three "Ray's" before he turned his head.
"What?" Ray asked but couldn't whip his grin of this face.
"I just tried to ask what you did yesterday" Ben.
"Oh, nothing much, caught up on some time in bed" Ray said.
"You slept all day?" Ben was horrified, he had not very often stayed in bed after seven am.
"That I didn't say" Ray grinned.
Ben turned to look out the window "That's too much information Ray"
"I guess you don't want to know who it was then" Ray was dying to tell.
"I believe you will tell me anyway, so who? I've not understood that you were dating anyone" Ben sighed.
"Just started... or I think we just started, anyway it was her that came over to my place at 10 in the morning on a Sunday" Ray said as he expertly parked his car by the curb. He turned to look at his friend "Ben, buddy, I think I'm in love for the second time in my life"
Ben had quickly learned that the assistant district's attorney Stella Kowalski was Ray's ex-wife, high school sweetheart and first of many things. "So, who is this lady that's captured your heart?" Ben asked.
"It's Line" Ray waited for the reaction and when Ben didn't say anything he did like he did so many times to Dief, he enunciated "L I N E"
"I heard you the first time Ray, I just didn't think she was your type" Ben said.
"What is my type then, she's smart, she's sexy, she's..." there were so many things Ray wanted to say about her.
"You actually sound sincere" Ben couldn't help himself saying. Ray often talked about women so casually.
"There is something special about her" Ray said and started the car again.
After a while in silence "So how are you and Meg doing?" Ray asked. "Any plans for your wedding-anniversary?" he said meaninglessly "I mean I can babysit for you if you want to spend all day in bed" Ray teased.
"Ray!" Ben said and blushed.
"Well lots of people do it" Ray said. "I bet you've done it a couple of times" Ray couldn't help but teasing Ben, he was so easy to do it to.
Ray stopped at a house in a rundown part of town "This is it, Canadians and wolves out and help me do the right thing" he said.
Meg and Ben's place
Meg had just fed Molly and put her down for a nap. She had been a bit fuzzy since she got the shot but the nurse had said it was to be expected. Meg made herself a cup of coffee and sat down to read the newspaper when the phone rang
"Meg" she answered thinking it was probably her mother or Ben's no one else rang at this time of the day.
"Hi Meg, this is Line" Line said.
"Oh hi" Meg said surprised.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you" Line said.
"Not at all I just put Molly down for a nap" Meg said and sipped her coffee.
"I just didn't know who to talk to. I mean with the time difference my friends back home is just coming back from work and so" Line explained.
"It's OK" Meg ensured her "What can I help you with?"
"Ray" Line answered.
"Our Ray?!" Meg said and wondered what had happened Saturday evening, sure Ray liked beautiful women but he didn't throw himself at them.
"Yes, that Ray. I don't know if I did something stupid" Line said.
"I might not be able to help you but I can always listen. Are you very busy this afternoon?" Meg knew all too well what Mondays at a consulate could be like.
"Not terribly, and nothing that can't wait until tomorrow" Line said.
"Why don't you come over and we can talk face to face" Meg suggested.
"I'd like that. Shall I bring something?" Line asked.
"It depends on whether you think we need something. I have coffee" Meg said cheerfully.
"I'll go by the bakery" Line promised before they hung up.
Meg felt somewhat refreshed, she had a friend who needed her help. She quickly tided a few things away. Checked on Molly who was sleeping and thankfully mot running a fever which could happen after the shot. About an hour later the doorbell rang and Meg let Line in. They shared a friendly hug.
"I will just check on Molly, she had a shot today and I just want to see so she's not running a fever" Meg said, knowing it wasn't long ago she had checked on her.
"Take your time" Line smiled. She was happy she had made a friend outside the consular work, at least kind of since she knew Meg had much the same job as her although Meg had a career in the military.
"She's OK" Meg said as she lead Line into the kitchen.
"My sister's kids were fuzzy sometimes when they had had their shots" Line said.
"Molly was a bit fuzzy before but at least there's no fever like she had last time" Meg said as she fixed with the coffee. "Do you have a big family in Denmark?" she asked.
"Mother, father, two brothers and a sister all older than me" Line said "They're spread all over Denmark, not that Denmark is that big but still" she smiled vaguely suddenly missing home.
"I take it this isn't your first round out?" Meg said, there hadn't been that much time to talk Saturday evening.
"No, it's the third but my first as Ambassador" Line said.
"It's a lonely work sometimes, isn't it" Meg said.
"But you have Ben at least" Line said.
"Not always helping I can say. I guess it's a bit different for us since we're RCMP and not civilians" Meg said truthfully.
"Oh I see" Line said and took the cup Meg handed to her.
"So what was it about Ray?" Meg had learned to go straight into the topics.
"I slept with him" Line blurted.
"What? When he drove you home?" Meg shook her head.
Line shook her head "No, yesterday" she confessed.
"Did Ray go out on his own free will a Sunday?" Meg said "Don't take this the wrong way, I love Ray as one of my brothers but Sundays usually mean he's staying in bed all day"
"He did... I mean we did. I... He gave me his business card Friday after he had been to the consulate, he had written his home address and phone number as well on it" Line couldn't stop herself "I knew I'd lose my nerve if I called first so I bought some bagels and just drove there"
Meg looked at her friend.
"Well we had breakfast and then I helped him put the things away and..." Line paused and sipped her coffee. "I'm not regretting it but I wonder what he thinks of me" Line went on telling Meg of what she had done on the Friday after the exercise had been over.
"Sounds like you went with your instincts" Meg said "Ray's a lovely guy and I don't think he's taken what happened with you casually. Just call him and talk about it" Meg said.
"Do you think that's wise? Men usual don't like to talk" Line asked.
"Ray does, it's not like we're best pals but I know that if anything happens that I can't talk to Ben about Ray's there" Meg said.
Molly decided to wake up "I will just get her, why don't we move into the living room?" Meg said.
"Actually I should get home and make dinner" Line said.
"Or you can stay, it's only leftovers of Saturday's stew" Meg called from the bedroom as she picked Molly up.
"Oh that was divine so yes I'll stay" Line called back.
27th precinct
"That went well" Ray grinned and patted Ben on the back.
"It sure did, I can't believe he didn't even think we'd start at his home to look for him" Ben agreed.
"You did exceptional well boys" Welsh complimented them "Why don't you go home? Have a nice evening" he added and gathered his own things.
"Shall I drive you home or you have more things to do at the consulate?" Ray asked Ben.
"I'm done so you could drop us off at home, Diefenbaker's done good today so he deserves the ride" Ben said.
"I just need to do a drive by" Ray said as they went to his car. They had already driven by the Danish consulate and Line's car was gone. He wanted to see that she had gotten home safely, maybe go back after dropping Ben off and knock on her door even to say hello.
"OK" Ben said.
"Do you want to come up for dinner?" Ben asked as Ray stopped outside the apartment building "It's just leftovers but there are plenty" Ben had noticed that Line's car had been parked a bit down the street.
"I don't know. I thought maybe I'd drop by the Vecchio's" Ray pulled a white lie.
"And explain to Ma and Francesca why you didn't join them at church yesterday?" Ben asked.
"You got a point buddy" Ray said and turned the car off to get out.
Ben checked the mailbox before he took the few steps up to the first floor two at a time.
Ray quickened his steps as well. Free food and a cuddle with his God daughter would be a good start to the evening, he could call Line on his way home.
Ben unlocked the door and stepped inside "It's just me. I brought Ray over" he said.
Meg came over to kiss him "Dinner for four then, Line's here too" she said looking at Ray. For the first time Ray actually blushed "How great it would be if it wasn't the truth" Meg teased him.
Ben untied his high browns and walked over to the sofa where Line sat with Molly "How's my little girl today. Have you been good to mommy?" Ben put the back of his hand on her forehead. "No fever?" he turned around to Meg.
"No, a bit fuzzy when we came home but no fever" Meg said.
"That's great" Ben said and went to change out of his uniform.
Ray walked over to the sofa as well. He placed a soft kiss on Line's cheek, they were among friends so he didn't have to hide anything. "Hi" he said just as soft as the kiss had been.
"Hi yourself" Line smiled at him "Have you had a good day?" she asked.
"Yes it was very productive, some thieves are right down stupid. The one we caught today didn't even try to hide, we found him in his apartment" Ray tickled Molly before he reached for her. "And your day?" he asked Line.
"It's been OK, Meg and I had a nice afternoon" Line answered.
Diefenbaker's first agenda at home was always his bowls with food and water and now when he was done he went to see the little person in the family. She had just started grab his fur and pull at it. One time he had had to show his teeth and growl but his first human had told him not to, then in a softer tone told the little person not to pull at Dief's fur. Usually the had fun together though.
"They seem to be good friends" Line said as she saw the interaction between Molly and the half-wolf.
"They are as long as Molly doesn't pull Dief's fur too hard" Ben said and laughed. He took Molly and placed her in her high chair.
Everyone sat down to eat. When Ray and Line had left Meg put Molly down for the night as Ben took Dief for the last walk of the day.
Disclaimer/Copyright 2014 and forward: I don't own the characters from Due South, but I've written the story and therefore feel I own that. I also want to say I don't know about how the Academy for RCMP or something alike works so I've made it up a nice way to fit my story. I'm also not familiar with names for different kind of people in a village such as the Inuits live in.