Fraser was shaking as the words left his mouth and Ray knew something was not right.
"What's wrong?" Ray asked and stopped shuffling through his stack of papers. He locked eyes with Fraser.
"Not here." Fraser remained tight lipped. "Can you leave?"
"Sure... just give me ten mintes to talk to Welsh and we can go back to my place." Ray was still confused as to Fraser's strange behavior. "You okay?"
"No, not your place." Fraser replied immediately.
"Okay, we can go to the Consulate."
"No, I'd rather not go there either. Can we just go for a walk?" Fraser asked.
"Sure, that's fine." Ray stared at Fraser for a moment before asking Fraser the same question as before. "You okay?"
"Not entirely, no. Did you happen to get Diefenbaker?" Fraser tried to change the subject and glanced around the bullpen for the wolf.
Ray knew a diversion when he heard it and let it go. Fraser would tell him what was bothering him when they left. "Yeah, he's probably swiping doughnuts from some poor sap. You go find him and meet me out front in ten, okay."
Fraser got up to go search for Diefenbaker and Ray watched his retreating form closely. Something had spooked the Mountie and he wondered if it was because he didn't return home last night when he said he would. Surely, Fraser wouldn't be that insecure. He filed his paperwork and went to tell Lieutenant Welsh that he was leaving and would return later in the afternoon after he had gotten some sleep.
Ray left the bullpen in search of Fraser and found him in front of the precinct ruffling Dief's fur. "You ready?" Ray asked Fraser as he bent down to pet Dief as well.
"Yes, I'm ready. Come along, Diefenbaker." The half- wolf let out a yawn, but followed Fraser and Ray towards the park.
Fraser was silent for the first ten minutes of their walk. Ray figured he wanted to get away from as many ears as he could before he would tell Ray what was bothering him. Ray couldn't take Fraser's silence anymore.
"You going to tell me what's bothering you or am I going to have to kick you in the head in order for you to spill it? I can't read your mind Fraser and something is obviously bothering you." Ray grabbed Fraser's hand and pulled him to a stop and turned him so they were now face to face. "What is it?"
Fraser was quiet for a few more moments as he organized his thoughts in his head. His voice was very quiet when he did speak and Ray had to strain just to hear him.
"It's Jimmy, Ray. I don't think you should let him stay with you." Fraser was looking everywhere but at Ray.
"What happened, Ben," Ray asked him as he placed reassuring caresses on top of Fraser's trembling hands.
"I woke up this morning and you weren't there. I thought perhaps that something had happened to you." Fraser began quietly.
"I'm sorry. I was on my way home and I stopped to get Dief. Then Welsh called me and wanted me to finish up the paperwork so they could get that guy processed and booked. I would have called, but I didn't figure you would answer my phone." Ray explained, hoping that was the only reason Fraser was upset. Seemed simple enough and easily forgiven… he hoped it was that easy.
"No, Ray, that's not it. When I pulled on my pants and went to look for you, I smelled coffee and waffles and assumed you were in the kitchen cooking breakfast. I was leaning against the wall watching you; at least I thought it was you. Imagine my surprise when he turned around and I found out it was Jimmy and not you." Fraser explained.
"Jimmy? We look nothing alike, Fraser." Ray replied confused.
"Believe me, from behind, you do. The point is, Ray, he caught me staring and thought I was interested in him. I apologized and tried to explain that I thought it was you I was staring at and not him. He told me he didn't mind me staring at him and when I went to put on the rest of my clothing, he told me there was no need for me to cover up that he didn't mind looking at me. Ray, he was making a pass at me."
"I'll kill him." Ray was suddenly angry. "How dare he? He promised me it wouldn't be like last time when he made a pass at Stella. I let that bastard into my home and this is how he thanks me, he hits on you? "
"I just thought you should know. I'm sure he will pass it off as nothing, just a misunderstanding. I don't like the way he looks at me, Ray. I know that he's your friend and all, but…" Fraser was cut short by Ray's reply.
"No, Fraser. No friend of mine puts the moves on someone I'm seeing, that's not buddies. He can find somewhere else to stay."
"I don't want you to think I can't deflect him myself, but he's staying with you and I thought it might be wise that you knew."
"Did he say anything else?" Ray asked, his anger still building.
"Such as…?" Fraser asked confused.
"Such as… I don't know I wasn't there Fraser, you tell me." Ray yelled in Fraser's direction as he ran his fingers through his spiky hair.
"Why are you yelling at me? I didn't do anything wrong, Ray." Fraser was taken aback at Ray's outburst. "I left the apartment immediately to look for you. I in no way led him on or anything."
"God, I'm stupid... I'm sorry, it just pisses me off. You know? He thinks he can come strolling back into my life and then tries to mess things up for me." Ray began to settle down and took hold of Fraser's hands. "I'll talk to him tonight and tell him he needs to find another place to stay."
"I'm sorry, Ray." Fraser told him as he squeezed Ray's hand. "I know you wanted things to be different this time."
"Yeah, well if you weren't so damn hot, then none of this would have ever happened." Ray teased Fraser but then grew serious again. "No, I don't need people like that in my life. He hasn't changed and probably never will. I guess I was right all those years ago, I grew up, and he didn't. I'm sorry, Ben. I would have never let him stay if I had seriously thought he would try to come between us."
"I know, Ray. It's okay. I would just rather not be around him if it's all the same to you. Listen, I need to get to my new apartment to sign the lease and get the keys. Do you want to come with me or do you need to get home to get some sleep?" Fraser asked Ray.
"I can come with you. Maybe, we can get some lunch afterwards. Dief stole my breakfast." Ray laughed and Dief barked at him. "Yeah mutt, I'm talking about you. Paws off my doughnut next time."
Fraser and Ray made their way to Fraser's new apartment and met with the landlady to sign the lease. Ray was impressed with how well cared for the apartment complex was. After signing his lease and getting his keys, Fraser asked Ray if he was ready for some lunch.
They made their way to a local deli near Fraser's new apartment. Ray was hungry and all he wanted to do was grab something to eat. As the two passed a hair salon, Fraser stopped and turned around.
"What's the matter?" Ray asked still thinking about what he wanted to eat.
"Ray, I think I heard something." Fraser replied as he made his way to the front of the salon.
That's when all hell broke loose…
"Fraser, why the fuck won't you just listen to me? How am I supposed to protect you and all of the fine citizens of Chicago, if you keep trying to get us killed? I care far too much about you, damnit...God, for once, just listen to me!"
"Ray, those women were in danger. If I hadn't taken action when I did, that gunman could have killed them. I'm sorry if you don't understand that, but as officers of the law...we have a duty to uphold."
"And I have a duty to not let you get yourself killed on my watch. We wait for back-up, we access the situation, before taking any action, and then we react… after back-up has arrived. How am I supposed to help you move tomorrow if you're dead, huh?" Ray gave Fraser the once over to make sure he was in-deed still all in- tact. "How's the head by the way?"
"A little tender," Fraser replied. He touched the back of his head and his hand came away covered in blood.
"That's it? 'A little tender'? Fraser, you got whacked in the head by a two by four. What do you think is going to give first, your head or the board?"
Not completely satisfied by the looks of Fraser's head wound caused by the lethal weapon, Ray sighed heavily. "In your defense, I didn't see the guy with the two by four either. Come on, let's go get that gash looked at by the paramedics. You might need a couple of stitches."
"Ray, that won't be necessary. I'm fine." Fraser stood and tried to hide the slight wobble.
"Yeah, you're fine, all right. God, you're so stubborn. Come on, to the paramedics or I'm strapping you to a board and having an ambulance take you to the hospital."
"That won't be necessary, Ray. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have it checked over." Fraser relented and allowed Ray to help him to the awaiting ambulance.
Nine stitches and strong dose of a pain killer later, Ray was dropping Fraser off at the consulate for the evening.
"You know, I wish you would just come home with me. You going to be okay here by yourself?" Ray was concerned for his friend. Ever since leaving the hospital, Fraser had been unusually quiet. He had taken hits before and come out relatively unscathed, but today's ambush seemed to take the wind out of Fraser's sails. "I mean, maybe I should make sure you wake up every few hours or something. I know the doctor said you didn't have a constitu…const….concussion or anything, but you were out cold for a few seconds."
"As you keep reminding me, Ray. No, thank you for the offer, but I will be fine with Diefenbaker here with me. You still need to talk to Jimmy and I would rather not be present for that conversation."
"Alright, but I still don't like the idea of leaving you here. If you like… need something, you'll call, right?"
"Of, course, Ray. Good night, I will see you tomorrow." Fraser kissed Ray then retreated to the quiet behind the closed doors of the Consulate. Ray remained parked for a few more moments waiting to see lights appear in the windows. 'God, Fraser could be so stubborn. Doesn't he care about his own well- being? And who cares if Jimmy is there or not, doesn't Fraser know he's more important than him?'
Ray replayed the scene over again in his head. What had even drawn their attention to the salon in the first place? Oh yeah...Fraser's freaky bat ears. He heard women screaming from within and within five running strides, he and Ray were in the middle of a showdown. Ray had his gun trained on the mad gunman who was threatening the five women in the salon. They were terrified, who could blame them? Nobody knew what the man with the gun wanted. He seemed to be singling out a certain young lady wearing bright green. The gunman and the young lady appeared to be roughly the same age. Maybe they were acquaintances, maybe they were lovers. Ray didn't care. Next thing he knew, there's Fraser talking calmly to this guy, trying to get him to give up whatever he was attempting. It seemed to be working too, 'How the hell does Fraser do that?' Then, all hell broke loose. Even crazier man with the two by four, came charging out from behind a partition used at the salon to hide the stash of towels or something. He took one quick swing and Fraser was down and out cold. He had been blindsided. With that distraction, it took Ray all of a half a second to subdue the gunman and land a solid fist to crazy guy's head, effectively knocking him out cold. 'That's for Fraser'.
There apparently was a love triangle going on. That's what Ray gathered after board man regained his bearings and started spilling his guts. His lady in pink had been messing around with the gun guy and he didn't feel like sharing anymore. Gun man goes to the salon to confront the girl, not knowing that crazy board guy worked there…what a fucking mess.
And now, Fraser wasn't talking. Maybe, it was the almost concussion, but Ray had a sneaking suspicion something else was bothering the Mountie. Perhaps, it was the episode with Jimmy earlier that morning that had Fraser out of sorts. Tonight, he was too tired to play twenty questions with Fraser. He would attempt to get to the bottom of it when he helped Fraser move into his new apartment in the morning. He turned the engine over and drove home with Fraser still on his mind.
When Ray got home there was a note lying on his counter from Jimmy. He read it several times before picking up the phone and calling the Consulate. Fraser answered almost immediately.
"Canadian Consulate, Constable Benton Fraser speaking."
Ray suppressed a chuckle and replied into the phone. "Fraser, it's after hours. Why do you answer the phone like that?"
"It is how the Consulate phone is to be answered Ray, regardless of the time of day." Fraser replied dryly.
"Okay, I'm sorry. No need to get your feathers all ruffled. Listen, I'm coming back to get you." Ray began but was cut off by Fraser.
"That's not necessary, Ray. I told you I'm fine and besides, I'm not entirely comfortable with Jimmy there."
"You got hit in the head with a board today, Fraser. I'm not leaving you alone, even if Diefenbaker is there with you. Jimmy isn't here anyway. He left me a note and said he would be gone for a few days. So, pack a bag, I'm coming to get you." Ray told him.
"Alright… and thank you, Ray. I will be ready when you get here." Fraser replied.
Fraser sounded defeated to Ray. It had been a long day and Ray still hadn't made it to bed yet. It would do them both some good to get some much needed sleep. Ray arrived at the Consulate and as promised, Fraser was out front waiting with Diefenbaker. He looked every bit as tired as Ray felt. Fraser got in the car and Ray made the drive back to his apartment. Ray caught Fraser nodding off several times on the drive back and knew the Mountie needed to get some rest.
Once inside the apartment, Ray took Fraser's bag and put it in his bedroom. He got Fraser settled on the couch and went to the kitchen to make himself some coffee and Fraser some tea. He returned a few moments later to find Fraser resting his head on the back of the couch with his eyes closed. Dief was curled up beside him with his head on Fraser's lap. Fraser had one hand resting on Dief's neck and the other draped over his eyes.
Ray cringed. He knew Fraser had to have a massive headache by now, even with the pain killers, if he even took them. He sat down beside him and set the coffee and tea on the table in front of the couch. He reached up and pulled Fraser's hand down from his face carefully. Quietly, he asked, "Ben, you okay?"
Fraser opened his eyes slowly and focused on Ray. "I don't know."
"I know you don't like to, but I want you to take some of those pain pills the doctor gave you. If anything, it will help you sleep. I will even get them for you. You did bring them, right?" Ray asked.
"Yes, Ray. They are in the side pocket of my bag. I do have a sizable headache, if I'm going to be honest about it." Fraser admitted.
"Yeah, well, getting hit in the head with a two by four will do that to you." Ray got up and went to retrieve Fraser's pain medication. He missed the glare Fraser was sending in his direction.
"No, need to be a smart-ass, Ray. I believe I learned the lesson for the day." Fraser remarked.
"Oh yeah, and what lesson would that be?" Ray asked as he shook out two pain pills for Fraser and handed them to him with his tea.
Fraser swallowed the pills and placed the tea cup back on the table and rested his head back on the couch.
"Trust you…" Fraser replied softly as he took Ray's hand into his own and locked their fingers together.
"Was that so hard to say?" Ray asked Fraser as he took his free hand and ran his fingers over Fraser's lips.
"No, not at all," Fraser admitted. He licked his lips and took in the salty flavor left by Rays long, slender fingers.
Ray leaned forward to kiss him softly. "Come on, let's go to bed."
Fraser and Ray got under the covers and wrapped themselves around each other. It had been a hell of a day. The pain medication had already kicked in because Fraser was asleep within ten minutes. It took Ray another twenty to settle his nerves enough to succumb to the haven of much needed sleep.
Ray woke up to the shrill ringing of his cell phone. He checked his watch and found that it was three thirty in the morning. He had not been asleep long enough and decided against answering. Whoever it was could call at a more appropriate time of day, like say noon. Or two minutes later… this time Ray answered.
"Yeah, what do you want?" he asked gruffly into the phone. He didn't care who it was, he just wanted to go back to sleep.
"Vecchio, I need you at the station." Lieutenant Welsh demanded. "You're crazy gun guy wants to cut a deal. You've got thirty minutes to get here. He'll only talk to you or Fraser and I'm pretty sure the Constable is in no condition to talk."
"No, he's not. He's finally sleeping. Give me a few and I will be in." Ray relented.
He carefully got out of bed so he wouldn't wake Fraser. He got dressed then left a note on the counter for Fraser in case he wasn't back when he woke up. At least he would know where he had gone. He popped a bagel into the toaster to eat on the way to the station. He was about to walk out the door when Dief padded into the living room and began whining.
"You have to go out?" Ray asked and Dief let out a short bark. "Okay, but I'm running behind. You will just have to come with me to the station." Diefenbaker barked again. "Yeah, there will be doughnuts. God, you're hopeless." Dief barked again and circled around Ray's legs. "No, I won't tell Fraser. Come on." Ray added to his note that Dief was with him and not to worry.
Warm hands worked their way up Fraser's stomach towards his chest. Fingers were tracing the outline of his lips and he moaned in his sleep. A hand was caressing his cheek. He turned into its warm touch. Sure fingers were drawing trails up his arms and down his chest. He felt the wetness of a kiss, a kiss laced with tobacco and smoke. The strong hands on his chest felt strange and unfamiliar. He knew the touch of Ray's slender, smooth fingers. These were rough and calloused. Fraser's head was pounding with pain and it took too much effort to open his eyes. He let the caresses, although unfamiliar, lull him back to sleep. Maybe it was a dream, he told himself as the hands and the touches and the kisses all disappeared into the night.
When Fraser woke the following morning, it was a repeat of the previous morning. Ray's side of the bed was cold and there was the aroma of coffee filling the apartment. He slowly disentangled himself from the covers, pulled on some sweats and made his way to the kitchen. Today, he found Ray in the place of Jimmy. A slow smile spread over his face as he came up behind Ray and wrapped his arms around him. Ray turned around in his arms and gave Fraser a smile of his own.
"Good morning, Ben. Sleep well?" Ray asked Fraser.
"For the most part, yes… thank-you. Ray, when did you take up smoking again?" Fraser asked him curiously.
"What are you talking about? I haven't smoked for years." Ray asked confused.
"Last night, when you kissed me, I could taste tobacco." Fraser answered.
"Fraser, I wasn't here last night…"
