Author: Mikla

Pairing: Vecchio/Kowalski

Disclaimer: Ain't mine. Maybe if I asked Santa for them for Christmas...Nah, I defiantly haven't been a good enough girl for that, but I would like to thank Alliance for creating them, cheers me dears,* kiss kiss *.

Rating: NC-17 for bad language and graphic m/m stuff.

Warning: I'd like to take this one last chance to warn you that this is slash, ya know men on men, literally. If ya do not wish ta read this kind of fanfic, leave while you still can, otherwise you will be stuck here forever! Mwah ha ha har. Not beta'd, my mistakes I tell you, mine! All mine! Oh and some spoilers for Ladies Man.

Notes: This takes place after COTW, Fraser and Ray W return from Canada after not finding the hand of Franklin. Ray and Stella split, so he returned to Chicago. Ray and Ray were partnered up officially, but unofficially they make a trio (like it could be any other way). I will also be calling Ray K, Stan, I know he hates it, but otherwise its waaaay too confusing.

Change in Duty

"I might need you to hold me tonight,

I might need you to say it's aright,

I might need you to make the first stand,

Because tonight I'm finding it hard to be your man."

Hold me- Savage Garden

"What the hell da'ya mean he wasn't present for his duties this mornin'?" Kowalski practically screamed down the phone at a bewildered Turnball.

"Constable Fraser never reported for guard duty this morning Detective, Inspector Thatcher was most annoyed with the disruption to her schedule." Turnball replied almost brightly. Kowalski ground his teeth and suppressed the urge to drive over to the consulate and beat some sense out of the idiot Mountie.

"I heard ya da first time, why didn't ya, I dunno, report him, missing?" sarcasm oozed from every word.

"Well officially Constable Fraser is not missing, one would have to be actually missing for 24 hours before officially being missing," What Kowalski hated was the fact that he was actually right for once, but he'd have thought the Ice Queen would have had the sense to contact either him or Vecchio, if only to yell at them for wasting her precious Mountie's time, distracting him from the important consular jobs, like collecting her dry cleaning.

"Why didn't you call me? ya know I don't give a shit about rules and regulations."

"Well, if you insist on being so coarse, I did not inform you, because Inspector Thatcher informed me that you and the other Ray were probably the cause of the Constables wayward behaviour."

"Well he ain't with us, he left to go back to the Consulate early last night," Ray trailed off appreciating the implications of the situation, a cold stab of fear made him abruptly drop form his annoyed stance into the chair at his desk. "He say anything ta you 'bout where he might be goin'?"

"No Detective, but Constable Fraser rarely discloses information to me regarding his whereabouts, you can speak to Inspector Thatcher if you wish to, she may be of more help than me"

"Speak to the Ice Queen? I don't think so Turnball, I'll find him myself, " He vowed as he slammed down the phone. He knew he was being irrational, but, hey, irrational was what he did best, but Fraser never missed work, hell he never even turned up late, it had to be something pretty devastating to keep the RCMP poster boy from his duty.

0o0o0

Ray rounded the corner and strolled into the crowded bull pit with his cup of coffee. He sat down at his desk, he'd finally gotten it back from that bastard Kowalski, although Kowalski's new desk had been placed right next to his, he still couldn't believe his bad luck about being with partnered with the guy, he was seriously bad for his image. When he came crawling back after things with Stella went pair shaped, he hadn't expected to be partnered with her ex-husband, her ex-husband that dressed like a gypsy. Yeah, if he was honest the guy was a good cop, hell he was a great cop, but that only made him hate him more.

"Hey, what's up Stanley?" he provoked, knowing how much he hated that name.

"Vecchio, you either shut up and follow me or you can go to hell, its your decision," He practically snarled back at him. Hey, the guy was usually rude to him, but that took menacing to a whole other level. Kowalski bounced out of his seat, grabbed his jacket and hightailed it out of the squad room, not even checking to see if Ray was following. Ray, more out of curiosity quickly followed in pursuit, his steaming cup of coffee sat forgotten on his desk. He prayed for the guy's sake that it was for something good; otherwise he would kill him. As he reached the street he saw Kowalski sat in the GTO gunning the engine impatiently waiting for him.

"Get in Vecchio, we ain't got all day," Stan paused knowing the imminent protest, "No we ain't gonna take the Riv, ya either get in or ya walkin'" Ray steeled himself against strangling him, hell he didn't know what was even going on, he could hardly walk, he had no idea where to walk to. So in resignation he got in while Kowalski abruptly floored it and they sped away, leaving behind the smell of burnt rubber. Ray thought ironically that Fraser must hate this guy's driving even more than his own, at least he obeyed some of the traffic laws, it would appear Kowalski barely knew traffic laws even existed.

0o0o0

Stan slammed on the brakes outside the Consulate, bounced up the steps and rushed in, knowing that Ray would be quick to follow. He stuck his hand in Turnball's face rudely as they walked in to stop the inane chatter that was likely to erupt.

"Why'd we need Fraser?" Ray questioned, Kowalski realised belatedly that he hadn't said why they were going to the consulate and Ray must have presumed that they needed him to help them on a case.

"Where's Frase?" He questioned as Inspector Thatcher appeared in the doorway to her office.

"If you are referring to Constable Fraser, I do not know, he never appeared for his duties, it is highly irregular and he will be severely reprimanded when he does return."

"Yeah, whatever lady, I think that should be more of an if he returns," He felt the indignant stare of the Ice Queen as he made his way to the office which was currently Fraser's home.

"What do you mean if Stan? Where's Fraser? And what the hell are you looking at a box of cocoa for?" Ray shot at him.

"He never came home last night," Stan was worried that his voice sounded more like a squeak, even though he felt like sitting on the floor and sobbing in front of the Ice Queen and Vecchio, he was too worried to care.

0o0o0

"He never came home last night," Ray heard Kowalski croak, he thought he must of heard wrong, Stan was speaking really quietly, of course Fraser went home last night, where else would he go?

"How do you know that? You reading the magic cocoa leaves?" Ray demanded disbelievingly.

"No Vecchio, Fraser always has cocoa before bed, I mean always it's like some kind of Mountie religious thing, this tub of cocoa wasn't touched last night."

"How do you know it wasn't touched?" Ray curiosity was piqued,

"Cuz I did this yesterday," Kowalski turned the tub over to him, in the smoothed surface of the cocoa was a perfectly inscribed message in Kowalski's scrawl, it read 'Thou shalt drinketh coffee every night.' "Hey, I was bored, he was taking ages to get ready, I needed something to do." Stan defended.

"So if he didn't come here last night, where did he go?"

"That's why we're called Detectives Ray, we gotta find him,"

"He might have just gone to a woman's house,"

"This is Fraser we're talkin' 'bout here," They both realised the absurdity of that idea and chuckled.

"He left my place last night at about nine, he said he was going home, I offered him a lift, he said 'no', I offered him a taxi, he said 'no', why have Mountie's got to be so health conscious?" Ray realised with a pang that Fraser and Kowalski had been hanging out together, Ray knew that he and Frase had grown apart during the last year and a half, he just hadn't realised that it was that bad that his partner and his ex-partner were hanging out together without him, he suddenly felt very alone and isolated.

With a snort of inspiration, Kowalski was once again out the door, heading for the GTO, leaving him to follow blindly, working with Kowalski was a little like working with Fraser, you were always a page behind, and their way they thinking definitely couldn't be described as conventional. Not that he was belittling his own abilities, never! He was a more than competent detective, but when it came to the strange workings of Fraser and Kowalski's minds, they had definitely been working together for too long, they had an even weirder understanding than even him and Benny, and even that had suffered in his absence, he was really beginning to regret going on the assignment, he'd lost what was practically his only friend in the world. It was kind of difficult to make friends when you were in this profession, either people got defensive or they thought you were too risky to care about; that is until they need the police, they don't care about it being risky then.

"We're heading to your place?" He questioned Kowalski.

"Yeh, he left my place, never made it to his place, figures he'd be somewhere between here and there." Sure, that made sense. Ray was struck with the sudden thought of discovering Benny cold in a dumpster somewhere between Kowalski's and the Consulate, there would be a lot of dumpsters to check he thought with a chill. Kowalski slammed the car into park outside his apartment got out and walked briskly down the road.

0o0o0

Dammit. They'd checked all the alleys, dumpsters and gutters on the way, but they had still got to the Consulate without a single thing of use. Kowalski was beginning to get worried, Fraser had been missing for nearly 24 hours.

"What if he didn't take that route?" Ray asked him.

"He should have taken that route, it was the shortest, why would he walk extra?" they both paused in thought.

"Dief!" Stan exclaimed.

"Dief?"

"Yeh, he's always complaining to Dief that he needs exercise, making him walk further home is a form of exercise, the route we took went past several bakeries, Fraser would never be able to drag Dief away form all of them, it would take him all night."

"So which way would he go?" Ray questioned. Stan thought for a minute, how the hell was he supposed to know? Their new theory didn't make their search any easier.

"Maybe down Michigan?" Stan pondered aloud, "There's hardly a lot of bakeries there, nice view of the lake, that would be a very Fraser thing to do." Before he knew it they were on their way back to the GTO, systematically searching their new route.

0o0o0

In their fifth alley, Ray was seriously beginning to doubt Stan's idea, and his sanity. Then they got their first lucky break. Ray picked up a small, round, shiny object, he picked it up and studied it, and RCMP was engraved on it.

"Shit, it's one of his buttons," Kowalski immediately stopped his search of the back of the alley and joined Ray.

"Dammit!" Ray could see the dismay in his eyes, the guy was really cut up about Fraser disappearing, maybe they were more than friends //whoa where did that come from?// Ray couldn't describe the irrational stab of jealousy he felt, he'd never thought about Fraser that way, OK so he wasn't strictly heterosexual, but Fraser was untouchable, you just couldn't seriously consider fucking someone who worries about getting his boxer shorts creased. He could imagine, vividly, with horror, Fraser being extra polite in bed as well 'Ray, would you mind terribly if I performed fallito on you?' argh, that's something nightmares are made of. Now Stan on the other hand was probably wild in bed, hell he was unpredictable and intense normally. Ray was scared ridged, where the hell had that particular thought come from? He definitely could not go thinking about Stan like that. Besides, he was probably already being fucked by Benny he thought bitterly.

"Check out that dumpster," Ray ordered Stan.

"Why the hell should I do it?"

"Because you're not wearing a thousand dollar suit, that's why." Kowalski grumbled something about always being the one doing the dirty work, and something about partnership being a two-way thing. Ray just chuckled. He watched as Stan gracefully hopped into he dumpster and landed with a squelch in the garbage.

"God, this is disgusting!" He whined. Ray got a perfect view of his ass as he bent down to examine the dirt more thoroughly and it was a nice ass. Ray wasn't sure why his cock was suddenly taking an interest in it; he must just be really lonely. //or desperate//

"Find anything?"

"Wait a sec," Kowalski ordered impatiently, "Oh god."

"What is it?"

"It's the sacred Stetson, he'd never leave that, in a dumpster of all places. Something really bad must have happened." The dread in Stan's voice shook Ray to the bone; Fraser couldn't be dead could he? Fraser was invincible, he was the untouchable, untainted, super Mountie, he couldn't be dead. Could he?

0o0o0

He and Ray spent the last of the daylight searching the alley for clues; they came up with a very limited supply of evidence. Stan had called Welsh to inform him about Fraser's disappearance and to file an official missing persons report. Stan was scared; they were fast running out of daylight and leads to follow.

"Let's go home Kowalski," Ray voice sounded unnaturally loud in the silence of the deserted alley.

"We can't" Stan declared defiantly, "We can't just leave him, wherever he is, we gotta find him." Stan was well aware of the pathetic pleading sound in his voice, but he really didn't care, Fraser was missing, he was covered in garbage and was exhausted.

"How are we going to help him if we're dead on his feet? We need to be clearheaded and not falling asleep on our feet if we want to find him." What Stan hated most about Vecchio was that he was almost always right, he didn't know how he managed to convince him about a lot of things or live after calling him Stanley, but he seemed to cool the whirlpool of rage that was growing inside him.

"Fine," he conceded, leaving the alley with Ray carrying Fraser's Stetson, his button and a scrap of newspaper that had the date April 15 on the top of it. Great clues, Frase was in real safe hands Stan thought sarcastically.

0o0o0

Stan was being unnaturally quiet, it was beginning to concern Ray, normally he was so full of energy you couldn't get him to sit still if you tried, now he was trudging along behind him as if every effort took a vast amount of energy. Ray was sure they had to be more than friends, Stan seemed upset, chronically so. Ray felt the unfamiliar bitterness well up inside him again; the thought of Fraser and Stan together made him want to hit something, someone, anything. Was he really so petty that he couldn't stand being left out? Or was it something else? Oh he was so not going to go there. As they neared Kowalski's apartment he felt Stan slow his pace further, he understood how he felt He didn't really feel like staying alone himself.

They stopped on the steps outside the apartment building, a there was a long awkward silence as neither of them wanted to leave.

"Ya wanna come in fer a beer? Cuz I got some, in da fridge, I ain't got no bark tea though, cuz Frase finished it off." Stan trailed off at the mention of Fraser's name, drifted off into some dreamland. That was one thing Ray did like about his partner, you could always tell what he was feeling, no matter how much he tried to hide it.

"Sure," Ray decided to put him out of his misery.

0o0o0

Stan's apartment was different to what he was expecting, it was unique, if a little odd. There was a bike on the wall and a tank with a turtle in at the far end of the room. It was also surprisingly clean, no doubt Fraser's influence he thought sulkily. Stan approached him with a bottle of beer.

"Dere ya go, make yerself at home, sorry but I gotta have a quick shower, eau de garbage ain't so nice."

"Sure, take your time," the thought of Kowalski naked and soapy brought his cock to life; Ray was seriously beginning to doubt his own sanity.

While Stan was in the shower Ray looked around his apartment, checking out his CD and video collections, and was surprised to find that they had similar taste. He heard the shower cut off and the soft padding of Stan's feet as he approached him.

"I'm gonna order a pizza, ya want some?"

"Sure," he replied and turned around to discover Stan stood half naked with a towel around his waist as he tossed him his cell phone,

"Just press number eight," he informed him.

"You've got pizza delivery on speed dial?" Ray exclaimed incredulously. Stan didn't reply just winked at him and grinned a grin that could only be described of as sinful. The cheerful expression quickly faded.

"You think he's OK?" Ray nearly missed it, it was whispered so quietly, Stan's eyes were pleading with him, bring him back, make it all right, don't let him be hurt. Ray thought Stan looked on the verge of tears so he enveloped him into a tight hug,

"We'll find him," he vowed. Stan's breath was hot on his neck, and blood was redirected from other parts of his body to his dick //oh god, not now// he thought. But all rational thought left him as he felt Stan's warm lips on his throat. They slowly become more explorative moving up to his jaw line. Ray redirected them effortlessly until he pushed Stan backwards onto the couch and crawled on top. Stan's lips finally found his, the kiss was tentative and unsure, until Ray deepened it causing an appreciative grunt to erupt from Kowalski. When he felt Stan's nimble fingers start to undo his tie he finally came to his senses.

"We can't do this, I can't do this, and it ain't fair to Fraser."

"You're seeing Fraser?" Stan yelped and practically flew out from underneath Ray and landed with a thud on his ass on the floor.

"I'm not seeing Fraser," Ray replied, "What the hell gave you that idea? You're the one seeing Fraser!"

"I ain't sleeping wit da Mountie, I don't know where ya got dat from, but it's so wrong it would be funny in other circumstances, Fraser's the straightest guy I know,"

"You and Benny aren't together?"

"No, you?"

"No,"

"So neither of us are sleeping wit the Mountie, so how are we being unfair to him?" Stan questioned

"I guess we're not."

"Ya want me ta stop Vecchio? Jus say da word an I'll never do anything like dat again, ya got me word." Rays only answer was to join Stan on the floor and rid him of the towel, which was promptly thrown onto the couch. Ray was almost shocked at how thin Stan was, it made him feel protective, he knew it was stupid though, thin he may be, but weak he was not, Ray had seen time and time again, Stan single-handedly bringing down the bad guys, big bad guys. Stan continued his quest of ridding Ray of his tie.

"Hey, no fair Vecchio, ya got too many clothes on." Stan whined. Ray removed his tie, jacket and shirt and placed them neatly on the couch so they wouldn't crease.

"Dats better," Stan stated warmly staring lustfully at Ray's chest as his hands began to work in earnest at his trousers and boxers, which were soon removed along with his socks and shoes.

"Bed?" Stan suggested. Ray yanked him up with him, as soon as they were vertical Stan's hands were everywhere, caressing along his back as he ground his erection into Ray's hip. Ray groaned happily as Stan's hands found their way to his cock and began rhythmically stroking the length. By the time they'd made it to Stan's bedroom they were both hard, painfully so. Ray pushed Stan backwards onto the bed, breaking the kiss. Kowalski lay sprawled wantonly on the bed, naked, staring at him with dark, lust filled eyes. Ray climbed on top his him and Stan was quick to resume his thorough exploration of Ray's body, touching, licking, and biting. He was exploring every part, apart from they part that was begging for attention.

"Enough," Ray managed to grind out as he flipped Kowalski onto his front. Stan helpfully spread his legs wide and hiked his ass up into the air.

"Stan?"

"Top drawer," Stan's voice wavered, Ray was pleased, he didn't have absolute control, far from it, Stan's whole body was actually quivering. Ray reached over and pulled out a small tub of Vaseline. Apparently this wasn't the first time for Stan either. Ray coated his fingers in the goo and gently inserted them into Stan's ass. He added a third and began moving them in and out, stretching him, he was amused when Stan groaned and moved against them impaling himself on his fingers. Ray removed his fingers and Stan whimpered at the loss. Ray coated his dick generously in Vaseline and gently probed Stan's opening. Ray was taken by surprise when Stan reared up onto him, impaling himself on his cock, whilst grunting loudly.

"Get on with it Vecchio," encouraged by Stan's assurance that he could take it and the sudden need to thrust into that tight little passage. Ray's thrusts became harsher and more urgent as he felt himself near the end, he thrusted mercilessly into the body beneath him. He felt Stan clench down on him as his own climax began; Ray was quick to follow spilling his seed inside him.

0o0o0

Stan led there sated and happy in the warmth of Ray's arms. He hadn't felt that contented for a long time. He knew he'd be sore tomorrow, Ray had been pretty brutal near the end, but it had been worth it. He burrowed himself further into the warmth at Ray's neck, let out a soft sigh and closed his eyes.

"We'll find him," he whispered softly against Ray's neck.

"Yeah, we will." This is what Stan missed most whilst being single, feeling safe, protected and loved. Yeah, he knew Ray didn't love him; he wasn't stupid, in fact he was pretty certain Ray hated him. But this was what they both needed at the moment. Together they'd find him. Together. Stan felt warm and fuzzy, he didn't know if he loved Ray, most of the time he could barely stand the Italian, but he knew that he definitely wanted to continue this new aspect of their relationship, he hadn't had sex that incredible for a long time.

0o0o0

Ray woke up the early the next morning; he was unusually warm and had the unfamiliar, yet not unpleasant weight of someone using his shoulder as a pillow. He looked down and saw the spiky blonde head, images of last night and again in the middle of the night came rushing back to him and he smiled. He gently eased himself out from underneath him; Stan barely stirred, just grumbled slightly in his sleep, his face screwing up in unaware protest. Ray smiled, even in his sleep Ray could tell exactly how his partner was feeling. He made his way to the bathroom, washed up best he could, then helped himself to a clean pair of Stan's boxers. He then decided to check out the kitchen, his stomach growled, reminding him that they'd forgotten all about the pizza last night.

Ray found some edible cereal, got himself a bowl and began munching. Stan appeared in the doorway halfway through his second bowl, Ray's breath caught as he saw him properly for the first time in daylight, he was still thin, but he could see the perfectly formed muscles and the fluid movements as Stan took a seat next to him in the kitchen. Stan shot him a tentative smile.

"Breakfast?" Ray asked.

"Nah, I'll hit the shower, then we'd better get going," Stan paused raked his eyes over Ray, he suddenly felt self-conscious under such careful observation, "Ya gonna wear my underwear all day?" he leered seductively. Ray chuckled warmly,

"Only if you want me to,"

0o0o0

Ray noticed that as soon as they got back out on the street Stan's good mood disappeared, the real reason they spent last night together came back to them. Ray definitely preferred their own private little world in Stan's apartment, where Fraser wasn't missing, they weren't constantly worrying about the welfare of their best friend. Ray stared at Stan as he squatted in the pouring rain in the middle of the alley that had become a crime scene. The yellow tapes blocking the entrance screamed normality of it, but there was nothing normal about this particular situation. Stan's hair was soaked, plastered down to his head; he stayed that way for several minutes, lost in thought. Ray wondered where his mind could possibly wander to in the terrible weather.

"We've missed something," Stan exclaimed as he stood up.

"Forensics have been all over the scene, they found nothing, what could we possibly of missed here?"

"No, not something here, but why Fraser was here, I think he knew whoever attacked him,"

"Most people do know their kidnappers Kowalski," Ray was beginning to get annoyed with his partner stating the obvious.

"No, Fraser trusted them, or he thought that they were in trouble, damn Mountie honour'll get him killed one day,"

"Uh, Stan" Ray started gently, "I know you don't want to hear this right now, but we've got to be prepared for the fact that Benny could already be dead," it killed Ray to say it, but if they got there too late for Fraser then he should at least be prepared for the worst.

"Fraser ain't dead!" Stan demanded vehemently, "He ain't," Ray was shocked to see in Stan's eyes that he believed that one hundred percent. Ray wondered bitterly if the pair of them were telepathic, he knew he shouldn't feel jealous of them anymore, hell he and Stan had shared more last night than either of them had ever done with the Mountie. He definitely shouldn't still be feeling left out, he was being petty and he knew it. Undercover work has that effect on you; you want everything to be the same when you get back. "Whoever nabbed the Mountie knew he'd pass by this way, from left to right across the mouth of the alley. Which means that the best place to attack would be from here," he said as he moved to crouch to the side of the dumpster.

"How does that help us?"

"Dunno, I was jus' sayin'," Stan's eyes were pleading with Ray //save him// Ray moved and crouched next to Stan, he scanned the opposite side of the road.

"Does that shop have a security camera? Cause if it does then there would probably be a perfect picture of the guy," before Ray had even finished his entrance Stan was already on his way.

0o0o0

"Broken," Stan growled,

"Not broken, sabotaged," Ray corrected holding up the severed wires for his partner to see.

"Great, he's still six steps ahead of us," Stan grumbled as he crawled around the floor in a desperate effort to find something of use. Ray took this opportunity to once again admire his ass. "Sam Franklin!" Stan jumped to his feet excitedly. Ray stood there confused,

"Who?"

"Franklin, ex-cop, me an' Frase busted him not long before you turned up." Stan paused, "thought you'd read all the files?"

"I have, " Ray lied "Just remind me again which one that was," Stan smiled; his mood was too good to be ruined by his partner not bothering with the backlog of paperwork they both had.

"Remember, he set up Beth Botrelle, she was going to the electric chair, but the you and Frase saved her? Ring any bells?" Ray vaguely recalled something about the case no specifics though.

"You said you and Benny caught him, shouldn't he be in jail?" Stan paused, yes, he should be in jail. Ray flipped open his cell phone //I hope you're right about this Kowalski//

"Frannie, I need the whereabouts of Sam Franklin and I need them yesterday, no Frannie we ain't found Fraser yet, just do your job will you." There was a long pause, "Shit, thanks Frannie," Ray turned to Stan, "Escaped last Wednesday, shit, so we've got a good idea of who abducted Benny, but we've got no idea about where they are though. How the hell did you think of Franklin anyway?"

"Sunflower seed shells, there's a whole pile of them on the floor, Sam was the only guy I knew that would eat them, everyone else thought they're for birds, also the newspaper clipping, god knows what Frase was doing with it, but April 15 was when Beth was going to be, uh, well ya know" Stan felt the familiar throb of guilt at the mention of Beth and the eight years of her life that he'd wasted.

"Don't you think.." Ray started, only to be cut off by Stan,

"Too easy, yeh, he's been so careful all along, it's like he left this because he wants to get caught," Stan paused again, "But that could work to our advantage, if he wants us ta find im then he should have left some more clues, but dey'd have bin subtle ones, so we'd think we were either damn lucky or damn good cops to find them," Ray thought about this, it did make sense, even if it was a little crazed and off the wall.

For the next hour they had forensics combing the scene, they came up with zip. Ray watched as Stan became more and more agitated with every passing minute, if the situation hadn't been so serious it would have almost been comical to see his partner climbing the walls with agitation. Ray himself was also feeling the strain of coming so close, but still having your face pressed against a brick wall.

0o0o0

Stan had had enough, he finally lost the patience to wait and do nothing, and decided to go with the only thing they had, a hunch.

A damn hunch.

Fraser the Logical would have a full blown Mountie fit if he realised that's the only hope they had of saving him.

"Lets go Vecchio!" Stan demanded as he pushed past a bemused Ray.

"Go where Stan? In case you haven't noticed we've got nothing, nada, zip to go on let alone anywhere to go to!" Ray sarcastically shot back but followed Stan to the car anyway; Stan presumed it was probably just so he had something to do, he knew this must be eating at his partner as well, so he let the sarcastic jibe slide just this once. Stan jumped into the GTO and slammed the door in frustration, then remembering his beloved car realised he'd have to make sure he managed to drive carefully so as not to harm his baby further.

"Where are we going?" Ray no longer sounded pissed, he sounded almost dejected and bored, Stan really didn't need this, and he needed Ray to be strong for them.

"The warehouse Ray, it's the only place I can think of, the warehouse where we arrested him, that's a damn right balllsey move, don'cha think? One hundred percent cop, eh? That's the kind of crap Franklin would pull, he knows how I operate, if he wanted us to find him, he'd go somewhere that I would think of going,"

"Grasping at straws aren't you Kowalski?" Ray sneered back at him.

"Hey, Vecchio, please if you have any other great ideas, don't hold them back, I'm an open book, I'll go with just about any sane suggestion right about now," Stan growled back.

"Fraser's dead,"

"He ain't dead, Franklin wants something, and he needs Fraser to get that, you know as well as I do, a dead hostage is a crap hostage,"

"What the hell does Franklin want Kowalski, it probably ain't even him, he's probably on some desert island right now, getting a tan,"

"He wants me Ray," Stan cast a worried glance to his partner, "more than anything, he wants to get even with me, for years me an him, we were tight, we drifted apart obviously after I took up undercover work, but dats gotta sting, bein' arrested by the very guy you trained to arrest the scum of Chicago." Ray looked like he was taking this quite well; the fact that he hadn't called the department shrink was a good sign.

Stan quietly pulled the car into a deserted alley down the road from the warehouse. Shot a glance to Ray, they were both cops again now, all the defeatist shit in the car was forgotten, they were prepared for the worst. They quietly slipped around the side of the warehouse and silently made their entrance through a small side door.

0o0o0

Ray was beginning to doubt his partner's sanity, and his own for following him here, he figured, when this was finally all over they could go to the shrink together, Ray was shocked to discover that he wouldn't mind that If he got to spend time with Kowalski, but then he remembered the night before and the great time they both had, and he wasn't so surprised, they'd had a damn good time, apparently his cock also remembered it as it began to find the most inappropriate time to decide it wants to re-enact that particular night.

The warehouse smelled of mould and at first glace appeared to be deserted, then Ray's cop instincts kicked in and he dragged Stan to crouch next to him behind a large wooden crate. Stan graced him with a smug look as he pointed out a half eaten sandwich and knife on the top of the crate, daring him to ever disregard his hunches again. They both scanned the warehouse, Ray went right and Stan signalled that he'd go left and they'd meet at the other end of the building. Ray stayed as low as he could, making his way around various boxes and crates as silently as he could.

Ray froze with fear when he felt the butt of a gun being pressed cruelly into his back,

"Stand up," came the menacing order whispered from behind him. Ray carefully placed his own weapon on the ground and stood up with his hands in the air. He allowed himself to be propelled towards the centre of the room. Fraser was also there, his arms tied high above his head to a metal bar, they hadn't seen him when they first came in because he was surrounded by crates, encasing them in their own kind of room. Ray's eyes pleaded with Fraser, he knew they were all doomed, Franklin had the upper hand; no one knew there were there. Ray had never felt so helpless as he felt Franklin use his own handcuffs to cuff him to a bar; similar to Fraser's on the opposite side to him. Ray, despite his impending terror was relieved that Fraser looked fine apart from a rather nasty looking black eye, but Kowalski's assumption was probably correct, Franklin was bent on getting even with Stan, Fraser looked like he'd been quite well cared for despite the obvious that he'd been held against his will.

"Well the party's nearly complete," Sam chuckled viciously, "One more than I expected," he addressed Ray, "don't you know it's impolite not to r.s.v.p detective? Never mind, the more the merrier, eh?"

"I'm gonna kill you, ya little motherfucker," Ray snarled back.

"Ray, I don't think that is particularly constructive to our present situation," Fraser tried to placate him.

"That's right, listen to the good little Mountie," Franklin chuckled, "and where is our guest of honour?" he asked brightly.

"You'll never find him, in fact he's probably gone for backup as we speak the whole building is being surrounded by cops," Ray lied.

"You seem to forget that I have worked with the little dickweed, he wouldn't know procedure if it bit him on the ass, we both know Stan would never go for backup," Franklin countered easily, Ray was caught in his lie, and for the thousandth time he wished his partner would have a bit of sense before running blindly into another dangerous situation. Ray mused that Stan and Fraser were so alike in that way, they both seemed to be magnets for trouble, and he'd get dragged into it with them, he thought maybe it was time he retired, but then he realised how dull his life would be without Fraser and Stan there to complicate it for him.

0o0o0

Stan wandered around the warehouse he could hear Fraser and Ray talking to Sam, he wanted to jump the bastard and kill him right there and then for what he'd put them all through, especially Fraser, but he realised that was the kind of crap not thinking that he normally did, the kind that got him into trouble, the kind Franklin was expecting from him. He had to think of another way to get to them, something he wouldn't normally do, Franklin knew him almost better than anyone, he had to do something he wasn't expecting, and he had to do it soon. He froze when Franklin's voice boomed and echoed around the warehouse.

"Kowalski you'd better join the party soon before one of your friends become lead lined!" this was followed by a bout of particularly maniacal laughter that chilled Stan to the bone, because he knew he'd have to go, before he killed one of them, he'd have to go and do exactly what he was expecting of him, he'd had his chance to surprise him and he'd missed it, they were all going to die because of him. Man, he sucked.

Or did he?

"It's me ya want ta kill Sam, ya know if ya so much as harm dem, then I'm outta here, gone, kaputzski, capice? Ya may think ya have something that I want, ya right, me partners, but I got something ya want too, I got me, and ya want ta kill me, how bout we do a trade? Me fa dem." Stan paused frozen to the spot; he wasn't a patient guy, three weeks premature, what does that tell you? Damn Franklin was taking his time thinking this one over, that probably wasn't a good thing Stan thought as he crouched lower behind the crate he was hiding behind. At least it was buying him a little time.

"How do you know that it's only you I want detective?"

"Ya hate me Sam, sure you could kill them too, but where's the fun in that, eh? Wouldn't it be more exciting to kill me? Dey mean nothing to you, ya may as well go out onta da street and kill some strangers."

"Right Kowalski, you've got yourself a deal, how about you come and join us," Franklin finally answered.

"No dice, how'd I know ya gonna let dem go,"

"You've got my word,"

"Your word isn't worth a stack of shit,"

"It's not like you have a lot of other options at the moment have you? You've got no choice but to take my word, even if it is only worth shit." Stan realised he was right to his dismay; he was crazy enough to off Fraser and Ray if he refused. He put his gun down on the crate, he wished there was another way out, but his tired brain came up empty. He lifted his hands over his head and slowly made his way over to the direction of their voices.

0o0o0

Ray was quietly praying, he hadn't been to church much in the last year and suddenly felt very guilty for it. He prayed that Stan had some great idea up his sleeve, but those hopes were blasted to smithereens as he saw Stan slowly approach them with his hands in the air giving them an apologetic look. Ray felt his head sag against his chest in defeat, this was it, the end, he'd always hoped he'd go out in a mob fight, dying a hero, his colleagues avenging him, or as an old man in his warm bed peacefully in his bed, but not like this, being slaughtered with his friends by some maniac.

"So you finally decided to join us, how thoughtful of you," Franklin's voice brought him out of his reverie and he looked up to see Stan with Franklins gun jammed cruelly up against his head.

"Ya got yer part of da deal, release dem," Stan demanded as he waved one hand frantically in their direction.

"What was the first thing I taught you when you became a detective Stan? Don't trust anyone, that includes me, you've messed up big time and now your going to pay for it." He met Stan's gaze and saw the horror there, they'd all given up, and not even super Mountie could save them. "Any last requests?"

"Yeh," Stan said as he twisted around to face Franklin, "I got one," Stan grinned up at the evil sneer of Sam's, "I'd like to give you somethin' before ya kill me,"

"Really, and what would that be?" Sam spat sarcastically.

0o0o0

"A knuckle sandwich," Stan replied as he span out of Franklin's grip and landed a solid punch into his face, the gun went off and Stan felt the slug graze him just above his ear, his hand immediately went to the wound, he was lucky it was only a flesh wound, he didn't have a lot of time to relish in his luck as Sam's fist slammed into his jaw and he was propelled backwards landing heavily with a thud on his ass, which was still sore from the night before. Sam was on top of him slamming his fists into his stomach, Stan doubled over in pain.

"Think Chicago, " Fraser supplied helpfully. Stan instantly banged his forehead into Sam's.

Pain.

Dizziness.

Oh man that was not good Stan decided, but it also appeared that Franklin was having the same difficulty, so Stan took advantage of his momentary dazed state and crawled over to where Fraser was tied, he too out his knife and began to cut away at the ropes around his hands. He was just about finished when he heard the ominous click of a gun behind him; he felt Fraser's bonds loosen suddenly as he felt the searing pain blasting through his side followed by his own agonised moans and he slumped to the ground.

Bedtime.

Nighty Night.

0o0o0

Ray sat with Fraser at Stan's bedside, waiting fro their friend to wake up from the anaesthetic. He couldn't believe how lucky they were to get out of that one alive. Stan had been shot, but it wasn't too serious, it had missed all, well almost all of his vital organs, he was just going to be in pain for a while, although he hadn't regained consciousness at all. Ray distinctly remembered the shocked look on Franklin's face as he was brought down by a flying Mountie, he hadn't stood a chance as the Mountie tied him securely with his lanyard, Ray figured the hideous uniform obviously had it's uses. Stan was rushed to hospital and Ray and Fraser followed in Stan's car after they handed over Franklin to the duck boys, and this is where they'd stayed for the past 24 hours waiting for their fallen comrade to wake up. Welsh and his sister had stopped by earlier bringing them some things and after their own brief check ups that Welsh had insisted on they had been positioned in the waiting room for what seemed like an eternity until they were finally allowed into the recovery room to sit with him. Stan looked deceptively peaceful in the hospital bed; they both knew if Stan had any idea where he was he'd already be planning his escape route. Ray knew that Fraser was probably wondering why he was still here, as far as Fraser was concerned Ray and Stan couldn't stand each other, he wasn't about to set him straight either, yeh, try explaining that to the innocent, oblivious Mountie. Of course Benny would probably be to polite to question their newfound friendship, he probably just presumed that they had bonded while they were searching for him, bonded, oh boy had they bonded. His attention was suddenly brought back to the spiky haired blonde one as his eyelids weakly fluttered open and let out a heart stopping grin at the sight of both of his partners still alive.

"That's another fine mess you've got me into Stanley," Ray joked and was pleased to see a small smile spread over his pale face as he took a deep contented breath.

"M'I dead?" Stan enquired weakly in a hoarse voice.

"No, you have sustained a gunshot wound to your lower abdomen, they operated on you and had to remove part of your spleen, you had a deep laceration on your head, they have put seventeen stitches in it.."

"Fraser, shut up," groaned Kowalski weakly as he slumped back into his pillows.

"I thought you were inquiring into your condition Stan,"

"Don' wanna know buddy,"

"Understood." Stan closed his eyes and sighed, then he opened one eye, in other circumstances Ray thought it would have looked comical.

"Get da bastard?"

"Yes," Fraser replied succinctly for both of them.

"Dats good," Stan sighed again, clearly fighting the drug induced sleep that was threatening to overtake him. "When do I get outta here?"

"Soon buddy," Ray promised.

"Ya guys OK?" Stan slurred.

"Were fine Stan, get some sleep," Fraser suggested.

"'Kay"

0o0o0

A week later Stan was finally released from the hospital after four days of driving the hospital staff crazy with his incessant whining that he'd been shot plenty of times before, claiming he could go home and get more rest there. Stan was however pleasantly surprised by the amount of times Ray had visited him, they got on surprisingly well once they'd stopped fighting watching hockey matches on the TV he had insisted that he needed in his room. Fraser also stopped by every day after work, informing him in great detail about his day at the consulate, this more than anything had contributed to the amount of sleep he got. Stan hoped that the physical part of his and Rays new found friendship would continue, it would certainly be interesting trying to explain it to Fraser.

Interesting would be one word for it.

Stan almost began giggling insanely at the thought, which earned him a strange look from Fraser and Ray in the front seat of the Riviera as they drove him back to his apartment.

"Hey buddy you feeling OK?" Ray asked him, and he was touched by the concern evident in his voice.

"Peachy buddy, just peachy," and grinned, what could only be described of as sinfully, at the Italian in his rear-view mirror, and was pleasantly surprised when Ray sent him an equally smouldering look back. Everything was going to be OK, interesting, but OK.

Interesting was an understatement he realised as he slowly caressed the growing bulge in his jeans obviously for Ray to see and Ray licked his lips back in anticipation.

Interesting was certainly one word for it as the oblivious Mountie drew his gaze away from the window and asked, "are you OK Stan? Is there anything we can get for you?"

"Yeh, I'm in the mood fa some Italian," and grinned back innocently as Ray nearly crashed his beloved car into the jeep in front of him.

Interesting indeed.

Da End!