The Princess Margaret Suite …

Midnight …

Meg lay on her side, sound asleep, her body in a fetal position beneath the thick comforter. She'd been exhausted and fallen asleep soon after Ben left at ten o'clock. She'd worn Ben's sweatpants and t-shirt again, like a security blanket. They still smelled faintly of his detergent and his footlocker.

Silently, Ben opened the door and stepped inside. A sliver of light cut across Meg's face.

"Hello, is someone there?" Meg asked, raising up and flipping on the bedside lamp.

"I was just checking on you, I couldn't sleep." Ben stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

"Oh, what's the matter?" Meg yawned, stretching her arms over her head. Ben watched her long, lithe figure for a moment.

"Nothing, I was just thinking." He answered noncommittally. Ben smiled when he realized she was wearing his clothes again.

"When should I expect my shirt and sweatpants back?" The Mountie asked, crossing the room.

"I don't know, they're the next best thing to sleeping with … " Meg paused mid-sentence, leaving the rest left unsaid. "your arms around me." Meg answered, crossing her arms over her chest.

"What are you doing?" She asked, listening to the sound of his boots hit the carpeted floor at the foot of the bed. He had set down in the desk chair to untie and unlace his high browns. He also unhooked his suspenders and laid them on the desk.

"Earlier this evening I was wondering what it would feel like to do this." Ben sat down beside Meg on the bed and pulled the covers back enough to get in beside her. A sliver of light from the security light outside glowed weakly, just enough to illuminate the foot of the bed. Meg shook her head, giggling as she laid back down, this time her back to Ben's chest.

"I wouldn't have thought in a million years you'd do this." His arms circled her comfortably, securely. Meg laced her fingers with his on her stomach.

"Your revelation in the taxi earlier was surprising as well." Ben kissed the back of her neck lightly, making the lady Mountie shiver in pleasure.

"I meant it." Meg turned toward him, her voice serious.

"I know." He answered.

"You haven't said it, but my woman's intuition tells me you feel the same." Even Meg didn't know if her words were a statement or a question.

"I do." He tightened his embrace for a moment.

"What if we aren't successful, Ben, or what if our superiors separate us?" She sounded worried.

"I care too much for you to let our differences tear us apart." Fraser answered. He'd spent a great deal of time thinking about the repercussions of his decision to pursue Meg.

"What about the RCMP?" Meg asked.

"I'm willing to see this through if you are, the RCMP will simply have to understand, I'm not leaving you." He squeezed her tightly for a moment, kissing her neck lightly again.

"I don't know if I can take this chance, I've never took a leap of faith before." Meg said quietly, admitting something she tried not to think about.

"I considered that and found that I would regret never having tried worse than I would hurt if I took a chance loving you." Ben leaned up on his elbow to see Meg's face.

"That's how I feel too. I'm tired of being alone, Ben. I would hate leaving the Force, but I couldn't bear to lose you." She brought his hand to her lips.

"I want to face challenges together, you and I."

"I'm not easy to live with you know." Meg said, her tone teasing.

"Ray has stated the same sentiment about me before." Ben teased back.

"I've said the same thing about you before." Meg laughed. There was no one either of them had rather try living with though.

"I may be forced to leave the RCMP, depending on this fitness assessment. I'll have to leave Chicago." Meg reminded him, more solemnly.

"I can transfer." Ben answered, his voice beginning to sound drowsy. Meg was wide awake.

"You've found your niche here in Chicago." She sounded surprised.

"I remain the same, regardless of my physical location." He answered, yawning.

"It really must be love." Meg sighed dreamily and settled back down into Ben's embrace. A few minutes later she heard his breathing change and knew that Ben was fast asleep.

Five Weeks After Surgery …..

Meg had been manning the phone, getting up each day and reporting promptly after breakfast. She smiled a lot more Turnbull noticed. He was glad that his superior officer was feeling better and attributed it to getting back to work. What he didn't know about was the early mornings when Fraser slipped out of the Princess Margaret Suite and back to his own home/office.

"Good morning, Canadian Consulate, Inspector Thatcher speaking." Meg answered at nine o'clock in the morning. Fraser tapped at the door.

"Come in, Constable Fraser." Meg put her hand over the receiver. He walked in, weekly report in hand. Meg put up a single index finger to tell him to wait.

"Yes, Sir, I understand, I'll send the release form as soon as Dr. Brown signs it." Meg smiled, turning to where Fraser usually stood when he was in her office.

"Thank you, Sir, have a good day as well." Meg hung the phone up.

"Constable Fraser, they reviewed my medical files, I won't have to leave Chicago." She stood up and felt her way around the desk.

"That's wonderful news." He took her hand as she approached.

"Shall we have a celebratory dinner later?" Ben asked quietly, so as not to be overheard.

"That sounds nice, but I don't think I want a repeat of the Larsen brunch." Meg frowned.

"How about an intimate dinner for two in a genuine, Canadian bistro, only steps away from your suite?" Ben offered, thinking of the necessary preparations for cooking dinner at the consulate.

"With a perfectly cooked gourmet dish and an extravagant dessert?" Meg played along. They both took a step backward when they heard Turnbull tap at the door before popping his head into the office.

"Inspector, I have a package for you." He stepped in, feeling like he'd missed something by the way Inspector Thatcher and Constable Fraser were suddenly so uncomfortable.

"Bring it in, Constable Turnbull." Meg prompted him after a long silence.

"Very well, Sir." Turnbull darted out again and brought in a large Quill brand box labeled 10598B forms.

"Ah, the forms you ordered, Sir." Fraser said, a brow lifted. If he saw another one of those forms it would be too soon. He'd rather hunt walrus poachers in his long johns that fill out reports, but they were part of the job.

"Thank you, Constable Turnbull, put them in Constable Fraser's office won't you." Meg directed him. She heard him heft the sixty pound box up and proceed out the office door.

"We'll have enough forms for the next four years." Meg shrugged.

"What time shall I be ready for this romantic interlude?" The lady Mountie switched gears quickly.

"Seven o'clock." Ben answered.

"I'll be there." Meg affirmed with a satisfied smile. "I'll see you then."

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