Story set during "Odds"
Major Meggie warnings
No flames, otters or flaming otters please. Although comments are good and
keep me happy, ...........TimTams also appreciated.
PG or PG-13 ("Oh God" "Oh hell" and alcohol abuse)
Standard disclaimer - If they belonged to me they would have gotten
together long ago.

Can I help?



By Vickchick



Two men sat in a park, one making "whooooooooskegneddy" noises,
the other trying to hide his annoyance at his best friends antics,

"Fraser.....what are you doing?"

"I'm telling you a ghost story Ray, it is customary to exchange ghost
stories around a campfire in the middle of the wilderness."

"We aren't in the wilderness"

"Its an approximation of wilderness"

"No its not Fraser.....we're in a park in the middle of Chicago........I
had to step over a wino and kick 3 junkies to get here.....this is not the
Yukon Territories"

"Its the North West Territories or the Yukon....."
his friend corrected him
"...well the thing is, I was feeling a little suffocated at the Consulate
and I needed some room to breathe..."

While Ray reminded him that he was not Daniel Boone and that the air was
not fit to breathe, Fraser reflected on the suffocating tension at the
Consulate recently.....

* I wish I could just get inside her head and work out what the matter is.
Following the Bounty episode, She has been irritated, irritating and down
right snarky. I don't know if its me or if she has withdrawn for another
reason, why is she so tense? *

His conversation with Ray and Mr Tucci, and Mr Tucci's shooting forced the
issue to the back of his mind.........

Later.........

His head was overwhelmed with thoughts.......

* Why is Denny coming on to me, why do I find her so attractive when I'm in
love with someone else, why is She being so tense the last few weeks *
his thought were interrupted with a familiar voice calling his name,
although not in the manner he had hoped for at this time of night.

"Fraser....Fraser Fraser Fraser Fraser.....off duty and still at
work.....you've really got to learn how to relax......look at me, do I seem
tense?"

* Well no...... in fact more relaxed than I have ever seen you.....in fact
......I think, no..... yes...... you're drunk! *

He listened as she babbled about a Spanish ambassador, Latin horns and not
being in until late the next morning.....
and as she left he turned his thoughts to Denny Scarpa, ,her magical
massage, being taught how to play poker, Denny's kiss, and his growing
feelings of being deceived.

Following his conversation about oaths and loyalty with Frannie, he
realised that he could only ever be loyal to Her and grew concerned about
what her activities last night with the Spanish ambassador had entailed.
After Ray had Denny ensconced in her room in preparation for the game
tonight he bid goodbye and returned to the consulate around 9 am. The only
other person present was Turnbull, on duty as usual.
Around 10am she arrived at the Consulate and he could see from the upstairs
window that she was not in good shape or in a good mood after her night
out.
* Oh dear, she'll hit the roof when I tell her about the poker game and the
sting tonight, She hates FiBIes, damsels in distress, and extra curricular
duties.... and not necessarily in that order either. I hope I can smooth
the way somewhat.

15 minutes later he knocked tentatively at her door.

"Enter" she barked, winced at the loudness of her voice, her aching head,
and looked up to see him standing there with a tray in hand.
"Constable?"

"Sir.... for you.... orange juice to wash down 2 paracetamol, and coffee of
course"
he smiled down at her as she held her head in her hands, rubbing her
temples.

"Fraser, you always know how to make someone feel better about themselves"

setting the tray down on her desk, he had to know.....
" Your night...... was it enjoyable?"

"Well...... no not really......we went to a bar .......* That much was
obvious * ......had some drinks.....and then Juan got upset when I decided
to dance on the table."

* Oh dear *

"Upset his feeling of Latin machismo..... he called me a few names....
although I was drunk I could understand the Spanish labels..... I told him
to get knotted.....got into a taxi and went to another place.....and got
into a drinking round with someone who thought that "girlies" can't
drink......proved him wrong.....until a bouncer put me in a cab about 5am
this morning. I've had about 4 hours sleep.....no not a "good" night as
such"

He stood by as she downed the paracetamol, orange juice and started sipping
her coffee, groaning at a sudden pain.

"What is it Sir?"

" One should not dance on tables in stilettos Fraser, my feet keep cramping
up"

With one moment he approached her, spun the chair away from her desk.....
"Allow me"

With that he bent and lifted a stocking clad foot into his lap and gently
massaged her right foot. She looked up from her coffee and stared into his
eyes, before the feeling overtook her and she gently closed them.

"Thankyou kindly Fraser"

After a few minutes he dared to ask the question that he had raised with
himself when her saw her the night before.
"So why go out and get drunk? Is there an underlying problem that has been
troubling you?"

She raised her eyelids and found him staring at her with those earnest blue
eyes. She wanted to trust him, needed to trust him. Finding herself
drowning in the blue depths, she heard a voice that she then realised was
her own.
" I've been having some work problems lately"

he waited for her to elaborate, reveal her thoughts, as she had once
earlier requested.

"I've .......had feelings lately...."

As he swapped her right foot and started to gently rub her left
"Yes...."

* Oh hell *..... she felt wretched enough already....* It couldn't get any
worse................ Deep breath Meg, exhale *
"Fraser...Ben, I've fallen in love with you.....I know its wrong.... you're
my subordinate, completely inappropriate springs to mind actually..... I
can only try to be more professional in the future....."

His hands stopped stroking and he gently placed her foot on the floor.
Looking back up at her, struggling with words, trying to regain her
composure.
" Has the paracetamol helped?"

* Oh God *
"I don't know"

Smiling now, he reached up and gently stroked her cheek, hearing her sharp
intake of breath.
"Then I propose..... that you lie down for and hour or so...... then we
walk in the park..... cool air is therapeutic. Then lunch at a cafe I know
where they make a marvellous Soup de Jour, chicken soup is also helpful to
restore the electrolyte balance."

He raised himself up and gently brushed his lips onto hers. She kissed him
back with a feeling that surprised herself and certainly him. Helping her
out of her chair he placed his hand on her lower back and guided her to the
chaise lounge against the wall of her office. After kissing her again her
gently murmured into her hair.
" I'll see you in an hour, try to rest up my love"

He exited the room.

* He loves me, Oh God, he loves me *
Visions of Ottawa, being asked to explain herself, briefly entered her
head, pushed aside with a vision of a future she had hoped for but had
never dared to dwell on.

After a rest.

Later, she placed the key under Turnbulls hat.
" Constable Fraser and myself will be gone for and hour of two on business,
guard the Consulate with your life"

Further down the street, out of sight of the Consulate, he reached for her
hand, and he prepared to tell her about the poker game that night. They
walked comfortably down the road.

Together.

The End......


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