"So, Ray...aren't you going to invite me in?"

Ray took a step back and allowed Jimmy entrance into his apartment. Jimmy's gaze up and down my torso did not go unnoticed by Ray or myself and I suddenly felt very subconsious of myself. I felt as if I needed another layer of clothing, protective clothing.

"So, I called your mom and she told me where I could find you. I hope you don't mind me dropping in on you. It's been a while, thought we could catch up some while I was the neighborhood. This is your partner, huh?"

"Sort of unofficial partner." Ray explained. "He first came to Chicago on the trail of the killers of his father and for reasons that we won't be exploring at this time, he has remained and now, we're kind of partners."

"Okay, so you're a cop as well?" Jimmy directed his question towards me.

"I'm a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Poloce, so I am a police officer but for Canada. I work for the Canadian Consulate here in Chicago and I serve as a liasan officer with the Chicago Police Department."

"That's what I said, Fraser."

"Well, not exactly, Ray," I reminded him.

"Anyway... I don't want to wake up Stella, is she sleeping?"

Ray shifted uneasily from one foot to the other before answering Jimmy. "Uhh...Stell and I aren't together anymore, haven't been for a few years now."

Jimmy clapped Ray on the shoulder and gave it a brief squeeze. "I'm sorry, your mom didn't mention that you were seperated."

"Divorced." Ray clarified. "There won't be any reconciling." Ray let out a chuckle. "Come on in and have a seat and let's get a drink."

"That's a cool dog, what kind is he?" Jimmy inquired of Diefenbaker and Dief let out a low growl at being called a dog.

"Diefenbaker is part wolf, and deaf. Although, some days I'm not so sure if he doesn't just pretend that he's deaf so he doesn't have to listen to me." I explained to Jimmy who was considering petting Dief but drew his hand back at another snarl from him. "He's usually quite friendly. Dief, don't be rude." I semi- scolded him. Dief wandered into the kitchen and away from Jimmy's hands. I wished I could have joined him in the retreat.

Jimmy moved further into the apartment but didn't take his gaze off of my body for too long. Ray was busy in the kitchen getting himself and Jimmy a beer. I caught a glimpse of my bag at the end of the couch and wondered to myself how long Jimmy would be staying. Maybe I should head back to the consulate, but something told me that I shouldn't leave him and Ray alone. I decided to break the silence.

"So, Jimmy, how long have you and Ray known each other?"

"Ray and I go way back… all the way to high school." Jimmy told me. "Back when he and Stella were all over each other." Jimmy winked at Ray and accepted the offered beer from him.

"Well, that ship has sailed so let's not go there, please." Ray explained.

"Sorry man, didn't realize it was a sore subject. Thanks for the beer by the way."

"It's not a sore subject, it's just one I chose not to talk about right now, and you're welcome." Ray told Jimmy, trying not to lose his patience with him. "So, what are you doing back in town?"

Not knowing Ray and Jimmy's history, I was curious of this myself. His reply shocked me and it made me want to get to a computer to check this man's background.

"I just got out of jail and needed to make a fresh start, so I thought I would come back to Chicago and see if some old friends were still around to help keep me straight." Jimmy's tone held a hint of remorse but nothing more. "I was hoping I could maybe stay with you for a few weeks until I can land myself a job and get some money saved up for my own place. You're a cop, how much straighter can cops keep you, huh?"

I sat silently in my chair waiting for Ray's reaction, which was everything I thought it would be.

"Jimmy, I'm not so sure that's the best idea. If you just got out of jail, aren't you required to check in with a probation officer or something? Besides, I'm always working, I'm never here…" Ray fumbled through his words trying to convince Jimmy it was not a good idea for him to stay at his apartment. "Besides, I'm kind of seeing someone and that would be, well, awkward if you were here."

"I can give you space when you need it, just let me know. Come on Ray, I could really use a place to stay for a few weeks." Jimmy practically begged Ray.

Ray looked at me with eyes pleading for help, but I wasn't exactly sure if he wanted Jimmy to know the exact nature of our relationship. I fully understood Ray's reluctance to have him stay, I did have a bag sitting at the end of the couch for a reason after all.

"Jimmy, don't you have family that you could perhaps stay with for a few weeks?" I asked hoping to find another solution.

"No, my family pretty much has moved away from Chicago. Ray and I were always tight, well, we used to be and I thought he could help me out." Jimmy explained to me. "Come on Ray, it won't be like last time."

"Last time?" I asked Ray. He rubbed his hand over his face and groaned. I could tell he was about to break and that unnerved me.

"God, Jimmy… it better not be like last time." Ray looked at me and frowned. "Two weeks and then you move on, and keep your hands off things that don't belong to you or you're going to lose some fingers."

Ray got up from the couch and moved back into the kitchen for another beer and brought one back for Jimmy.

"You don't drink, Benton?" Jimmy asked me. "Or is it Ben?" Jimmy winked at me and I prayed Ray didn't notice. He was already fuming for unknown reasons.

"Benton is fine and as a rule, no I don't normally drink. Ray, I believe it's about time I headed back to the consulate for the evening."

"But…" Ray began to interject but I stopped him. Our evening had gotten off to a rough start and was ending on a low note as well.

"We can talk tomorrow and sort out a few things." I locked eyes with him hoping that he would understand that we had a lot of things to talk about, and not just Jimmy.

"Sure, I will pick you up in the morning at 7."

"Actually, I have duties at the consulate in the morning, but I will be free by early afternoon. I can meet you at the station, if that is all right." I hoped I wasn't giving Ray any wrong ideas by not meeting him earlier in the day.

"Okay, just don't let the Ice Queen pull another one of her stunts like she did today. I'd like to actually lias with you for a few hours tomorrow." Ray gave my shoulder a tender squeeze as he walked me to the door. "Sorry about tonight, I'll figure something out with Jimmy." He whispered quietly once we were out of ear shot of Jimmy.

"Maybe tomorrow we can see to round two, heh?" I winked at him and then settled my hand on his that which was still resting on my shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "We'll figure it out, don't worry." I assured him again. "Diefenbaker, come. Jimmy it was nice to meet you. I will see you tomorrow Ray, good night."

"Night Ben, see you tomorrow. Night, fur-face." Dief rubbed his nose against Ray's knee and he knelt down to ruffle his coat. "Take care of him for me, you hear?" With a chuckle Ray stood up again and locked eyes with me. "Night," Ray whispered.

"Catch you later, Benton." Jimmy waved to me from the far end of the couch, his beer bottle close to his lips. I didn't like the way he said my name and I suddenly wished I had asked him to call me 'Fraser' like everyone else was accustomed to calling me. I glanced back at Ray.

"Are you going to be ok? I could…" Ray didn't let me finish my sentence.

"No, it's okay. I'm, uh… I'm not quite sure if I should tell him about us."

"Oh, alright… you will be careful, though?" I asked Ray concerned.

"Absolutely… see you tomorrow." Ray tried to reassure me.

With a final nod to Jimmy and another glance at Ray, Diefenbaker and I started our journey back to the Consulate. I wondered what they would talk about, how late they would stay up sharing stories and catching up and if Ray would tell him about us or leave it for another time. What really bothered me the most was what Ray had meant when he had told Jimmy that 'it had better not be like last time'. That sentence kept running through my head the remainder of the way home. Home, I really needed to find a different place to live. I added that to my list of tasks to complete in the morning. If Jimmy were going to be staying with Ray, then Ray could come to my place, and that wasn't going to be the Consulate anymore.


The following morning Dief and I got up and went for our usual run around the park and then I set to looking for a new apartment in between completing my other duties for Inspector Thatcher. By noon, I had located an affordable one that was located halfway between the Consulate and the Chicago Police Department. 'Perfect' I thought to myself. I would look at it before meeting Ray in the afternoon and hopefully be able to move by the weekend. Ray and I both had the weekend off together so he would be able to help me move my few belongings. Maybe this would settle Ray's nerves about having Jimmy around. Something about the way he kept looking at me had me unsettled.

Around two in the afternoon I left the consulate for the day and Dief and I set out to look at the available apartment for rent. I didn't need much, something simple would be sufficed. The landlady appeared friendly enough as did the other tenants I had met in passing in the hallway. The rent was reasonable and the apartment itself was shockingly clean and well cared for, unlike my last residence. I asked the landlady how soon I would be able to move and she told me as soon as I liked. We agreed, I would sign paperwork that Friday and with a quick handshake, I now had a home again. Dief and I set off to see Ray and I couldn't wait to share my news with him.

It had only been one morning apart, but I was missing his touch already. His long slender fingers, how they danced on my skin and made me shiver. His lips on mine felt like nothing I had felt before and the feelings that were growing inside of me for this man could have me easily unhinged. I quickened my pace to the precinct without intending too, I had a sudden urge to see Ray. When I finally arrived, Ray was at his desk, searching through some files. He glanced up and caught sight of me and smiled. I returned the smile and made my way to his desk.

"Good afternoon, Ray." I could hardly contain myself at seeing him again. I suddenly felt like I was in junior high suffering from a crush. But this wasn't a crush, this was Ray and Ray felt the same way towards me that I did towards him.

"Hey there, Fraser. What are you all grins about?" Ray asked me with a smile as big as my own.

"I have some news for you, big news. News that will in a round- about way settle the Jimmy problem, not entirely, of course, but to an agreeable degree I should hope."

"What? Speak English Fraser, not Canadian." Ray looked confused and his smile went halfway away.

"I'm sorry, Ray. This afternoon I have secured myself and Diefenbaker a new apartment." My grin was getting bigger by the second and Ray's was quickly returning to match it.

"Are you serious? That's greatness!" Ray exclaimed.

I locked eyes with him and lowered my voice. "Now, we can go for round two without worrying about Jimmy." I winked at Ray and he knew instantly what I had meant. His grin got wider.

"Do you need my help with anything today or can you leave for the day?" I asked him suddenly and uncharacteristically of me. "Because, I would really like your help in perhaps selecting a few new things for the apartment."

"I think I can get away. I have all my reports done for the day. What kinds of things are we talking here?" Ray's tone held a certain amount of tease to it and I began to blush.

"Well, I will need some new dishes, a sofa and perhaps a chair or two. A lamp would be nice and a…. ummm…. a new bed." I whispered the last part and Ray had to lean towards me to hear me clearly.

"Oh yeah, 'cause that cot of yours does not look comfortable at all." He winked at me and began to clear the files off his desk to put them away for the day.

We made our way towards Ray's car. Ray was walking closer than he normally did and I could smell his cologne. He bumped my hip with his and grinned at me. "I've missed you today." He revealed to me. "I was hoping I would see you outside of work."

"I must admit, you have been on my mind as well." We made our way to Ray's car without making any public displays of affection, but the moment I pulled my door closed, Ray had his hand around the back of my neck and was pulling me in for a kiss. There was no hesitation on my part and I matched his passion with a fierce kiss of my own.

Ray broke the kiss first. "God, I've wanted to do that to you all day."

I let out a small laugh. "As have I, Ray." We both settled back into our seats and made our way to the furniture store to select a few furnishings for my new home. It took Ray and me about two hours, but by the time we were through, I had purchased a new sofa, dishes, tableware, a table set, a few lamps and a new bed. I had selected to have everything delivered on Saturday morning. Ray agreed to help me move my few belongings from the consulate that morning as well before the delivery people were to arrive.


Exhausted from shopping, we decided to get some dinner at our favorite Chinese place. I suddenly remembered Jimmy's arrival and wondered if Ray didn't need to get back home. I had a feeling that Jimmy was an uncomfortable subject with Ray and their history wasn't always easy-going.

I broke the silence. "Ray, what is it about Jimmy that has you on edge?"

He locked eyes with me and let out a long held breath before replying. "Jimmy has a bad habit of taking things that don't belong to him. And he doesn't usually stop until he gets what he wants… and that scares me."