I statred this in the winter time during a blizzard. There was nothing else to do. This takes place in the middle of the second season. One of these days I’ll write about something other than Benton getting sick but I love it. Okay another h/c Rated G little plot, not much.
Enjoy! Email me at whit28@hotmail.com


WINTERS FURIES

By Rebecca W.

        “I’m fine Ray,” Benton said as Ray drove him to the Consulate, “just tired that’s all.”
        “All right I’ll stop asking.” Ray was irritated with the Mountie’s lackluster response.
        Benton was well, being Benton again. When it came to knowing how the Mounties was feeling, he never actually knew. He always gave his sterile reply of I’m fine, even when it was obvious that all was not well with him, like for instance this morning. Ray shook his head in disbelief as Benton disembarked from his car in front of the Consulate with Dief entow.
        Ray watched them both enter the Consulate. He’s sick I know, he knows, I wish he would just admit it, he thought to himself as he drove to the station. The snow was lightly coming down.
        Ray had noticed Benton’s outward appearance was not his usual ‘just had come from the cleaners’ look. and was cognizant of the somber mood his friend was in. His typically gleaming blue eyes took on a more grayish hue as his ghostly appearance made his lips look cherry red. These characteristics were hardy the cheerful demeanor Ray was use to. At least there was no Inuit story this morning.
        Back at the Consulate Fraser’s obligation was to stand guard which he did without hesitation. As he stood there, a queasy feeling came over him, making standing at attention difficult. The queasiness was growing worse. He eyed a bush next to him just in case. He soon found himself propped up against the cold concrete of the Consulate to stay vertical as snow now covered his Stetson. He was lethargic, as it threatened to close in on him but the cold crisp winter Chicago air helped him stay attentive.
        Thatcher happened to be glancing out the window to check the wintry conditions and didn’t like what she observed. She flung open the door to the Consulate.
        “Constable!!” Thatcher yelled as she stepped out. “This is not how one guards the Consulate.”
        Fraser startled, stood to attention but not for long. Losing his balance, he fell to the snow covered ground.
        As furious as she was, she couldn’t help smirk at the sight of the fallen Mountie. Fraser looked up with his big blue eyes, her grin became a stern disapproving face. “In my office now!” she bellowed and stormed back inside. “Turnbull guard the Consulate.”
        Turnbull looked at her curiously then looked at Fraser standing in the doorway brushing the snow off his trousers. “Yes sir.” He said and with that went outdoors.
        “Fraser, what the hell is going on with you? Why do you think its okay to lean on the Consulate?” she asked. “Mounties don’t do that it pure laziness.”she started to ramble on.
        Benton was trying to listen but the churning in his stomach took a turn for the worse till he couldn’t stand it anymore. “Excuse me sir.” he said and rushed off before she could ask where.
        He bolted to the bathroom attached to her office. She was starting to get really upset with him when she heard him retching. So, that was the reason for the Mountie unusual behavior. He was sick. She grinned. Now all she could do to him was send him home so, she called Ray at the station. “Yeah, Yeah, I know, he was sick but you know him.” he replied “I’ll be over in 15 minutes.”
        Benton came out of the bathroom the color of snow and shaking. “Sorry sir for my current actions. Must have been the cold air.” he said trying to cover up getting sick.
        “What does cold air have to do with throwing up?”
        He blushed at the realization that she heard him, he looked down at his boots.
        Noticing he was embarrassed she said “Your going home Constable. Dismissed.”
        “But..”
        “Dismissed. Ray will be here in 15 minutes to pick you up.”
        “You called Ray sir?”
        “Yes, Turnbull’s on sentry now. Dismissed.”
        He turned around leaving her office, then he quietly did paper work at the front desk. He mumbled to himself, I’m fine just not feeling very good. It doesn’t mean I’m not capable of doing things.”
        “Hello Son, talking to yourself?”
        “Evidently”
        “You know son sometimes it better if you just take the time you need and rest.”
        “What no story how you save three thousand inuits from a blizzard running a fever of 40 Celsius?” Fraser said sarcastically not to keen of this prospect of going home.
        “It was 300 but that’s not important. Look no ones in danger there’s no man to catch and the more rest you get the faster you’ll be over it. It took two weeks to get over that.”
        Ray entered the Consulate to see the displeasure on Fraser’s face. “Now there’s a happy Mountie.” he teased, “Where’s the Dragon lady?”
        Fraser pointed to her office. “I’m taking him.” he yelled as he opened the door.
        “Okay.” they heard her yell back.
        “She’s in a good mood today.” Ray said as they exited the Consulate with Dief tagging along behind.
        Fraser disagreed but felt it was more of him at the moment. He hated to be cooped up in the house all day . He really wasn’t feeling all THAT bad. A little stomach trouble is no big deal. The last thing he wanted to do was give in to this. “I guess.” he replied.
        “So..uhm.. You threw up? This mean you’re sick?”
        Fraser sat there just staring out the window. “Okay.. well then I’m stopping at Deli World to get a bite to eat.” noticing that Ben didn’t want to answer that question. “You want anything?”
        Fraser looked over and glared at him. “I’m sorry , touchy subject.”
        Ray stopped the car and got out as Benton stayed in the car. The winds were picking up and it was snowing harder. Still staring out the window he noticed someone rush out of the store adjacent to the deli and dropped something. Fraser proceeded to pick up the discarded object, he tried to pursue the individual to hand it back to him, but no luck the world was spinning and was nauseous. Making his way back to the car, he put the object in his coat pocket. Inside the car, he put his head between his legs. Stop spinning he thought to himself. I’m going to get sick again if it doesn’t . It finally did and he drifted off to sleep. Ray came out eating potato chips.
        “Well will you look at this? Fifteen minutes and already an inch of snow on the windshield. I really need to move to Florida.” as he set the food on his seat and wiped off the snow.
        Inside, Dief smelled the sandwich and helped himself as the Mountie fell back to sleep and didn’t notice.
        Ray opened the door and looked down at his seat. “Where’s my sandwich?”
        That statement awoke Fraser as he opened his eyes. He knew where the sandwich was.
        “Dief your going to get it.” Seeing the wrappered on the floor of the backseat.
        “Burger King is just down to block Ray.”
        “That’s not the point, he stole my sandwich.”
        “You didn’t ask him if he wanted one. You know how he gets.” closing his eyes and drifting back to sleep.
        Ray stopped at Burger King and got a sandwich for Dief too. He dropped Fraser off at home. Fraser got out of the car and wobbled to the entrance. Ray not liking the looks of that, helped him up to his apartment.
        “Fraser it ‘s almost as cold in here as it is outside?”alarmed.
        “I know, I don’t mind it.” he said shivering.
        “Is there heat in here?”
        “No.”
        “You aren’t staying here then.” he said looking at the shaking Mountie.
        With that they turned around and went back to the car. “My house you can stay there. Only Frannie is there. The others are away. They couldn’t stand the weather and went to Florida. Frannie didn’t want to go.”
        Again there was an inch of snow on the windshield. “This suck’s. I hate winter. Do you know how much snow we are going to get?”
        “No idea.”
        Fraser got into the car as Ray wiped off the windshield. The roads were getting bad and it was getting harder to see as they drove to Ray’s house. Ray’s cell phone rang, it was the Inspector.
        “Hello Vecchio. He’s sleeping. I’m still in the car. Fraser’s apartment is too cold I’m taking him to my house to rest. The weather is getting really crappy out. Its snowing like crazy out”
        They hung up and there was another call. This time Lt. Welsh. He informed him that there was a travel ban in the city and he better get back to the office soon. They go information from the hospital about a shooting and that if he got a chance to go check it out. Huey and Lousy were stuck at the station.
        They hung up as they pulled into his driveway. “Wake up Fraser, we are here.”
        Fraser awoke and opened the door to the Riv and stepped out. The wind gusts were so strong that it almost knocked him over. He staggered into the house with Ray holding him for support. The other hand was holding his hat that almost blew away.
        “Yo Frannie, Where are you?” he helped Fraser take off his coat and hung it up.
        “In the bathroom.” she hollered.
        “Fraser’s here, I gotta get going. He’s sick will you look after him.” Ray didn’t have time to stick around
        “Feel right at home buddy.” with that he closed the door behind him.
        Frannie came barreling down the stairs not hearing the last comment about Fraser being here was applaud that he was in the kitchen and he got to witness her in sweat pants with no make up. “Sorry Fraser I didn’t know you were here. She backed up and ran back up stairs. “I’m going to kill him. He could have told me you were here.”
        “It s okay Francesca, I don’t’ care what you look like.”
        “Sure you don’t.”
        “Frannie, oh dear.”he said , I’m going to need the bathroom.
        He looked around quickly and found one running to it quickly.
        Frannie came down in a skimpy outfit. “Fraser where are you.?” she chimed.
        Fraser appeared from the bathroom his face ashen white with water on his uniform obviously to have wiped off some stain. He was now racked by chills and looked very distressed.
        “Fraser are you okay? You don’t look so good.” noticing his pallor face.
        Fraser wiped the sweat from his brow as he shook . “No, not feeling too good either.”
        Ray came back into the house. ”I don’t believe this ten minutes I’m out there trying to shovel the car out of the driveway.” he looked at Fraser, “You just threw up again didn’t you?”
        Francesca looked at Fraser then Ray. “Yes Ray” Fraser answered.
        “How did you know that?”she asked astounded
        “I’m a detective remember. He looked like that earlier when I picked him up at the Consulate. I’m calling Welsh.”
        “Lt. I’m stuck in the driveway. The guys in a coma anyway. Well I’ll sit tight here for awhile. Bye.”he hung up. “Okay you go lie down.” pointing to Fraser , “and you go get on something more weather appropriate.” pointing to Frannie.
        Frannie went upstairs and Fraser just stood still shaking, both looking at his outfit of red serge.
        “You need something more comfortable, buddy. Take off that red coat I’ll get you a pair of sweats and make sure that Frannie isn’t peeking through the key hole and also a blanket.” He said walking to his bedroom to get the items. “Go sit on the couch I’ll be right back.”
        Fraser sat down, he was still nauseated, Dief came out holding something in his mouth. “Were did you get that?” Then he realized were he had seen that bag. “Oh dear. I forgot about that.”
        “Forgot about what?”Ray asked coming out of the bedroom.
        “That.” pointing at Dief.
        “Where did he get that?”
        “While you were in the deli there was a man that ran out of the store next to the deli and I tried to chase him to give it back and ....”
        “You couldn’t because admit it you are sick.”
        “Okay I’m..(long pause)”
        “Sick. Say it”
        “I’m sick.”
        “Really I thought you and Superman were the only ones that didn’t get sick.”
        “That’s just silly Ray.”
        “When’s the last time you were sick?” he handed the sweats to him.
        “Just a fever or throwing up?”
        “Either.”
        “A couple of month before I joined the RCMP.”
        “And how long ago was that?”
        “Fourteen and a half years.”he said from the bathroom while changing.
        “So when were you going to tell me about this.” he picked up the bag from the wolves mouth.
        “Honestly I forgot about that. I was too busy deciding whether or not I was going to..you know.”
        “Throw up in my car. Fraser you know I would have had to killed you.( he looked in the bag.) Oh my God there’s drugs in here you know the white stuff that doesn’t melt, some money and 2 tickets to a hockey game in here Fraser this was part of a drug exchange. This guys got to be dead meat for losing this package. The shooting victim, I bet this has to do with him. He probably notified the guy that the package was gone and he tried to kill him. ”
        Fraser tottered out of the bathroom holding on to the wall for more stability, his hair was tossled making him way over to the couch to lie down, wrapping up in a blanket that Ray had brought out. He was in no mood to consentrate.
        “Fraser what do you think?”looking over at Fraser.
        Fraser was dozing off. “Fraser answer me!” he patted him.
        “I don’t care Ray.” he said in a hoarse voice as the fever was worsening making him delerious.
        “I’m calling Welsh.” Ray said picking up the phone.
        “Lieutenant you’ll never guess what Fraser found.” he said and continued on about the finding. Both were pretty sure it had to do with the guy in the hospital. But for the mean time stay put.
        Ray tried to tell Fraser what Welsh said but Fraser was half out of it. He put his hand on Fraser’s forehead. “You are warm. Frannie get me a thermometer!” he yelled and that stirred Fraser a little more.”
        “Okay” she was curious to know too. “Here it is” handing one to him.

Ray stuck it in his mouth. “We have a victim and evidence but no suspects. Can’t do anything now.”

        The beeper went off , Ray grabbed and sat down. “Well what is it?” Fraser said eargerly.
        “103.4, your too warm.” with that he got a cold washcloth and some aspirin. “Benny take these.” knowing that he would fight taking medication.
        “I don’t like taking..”
        “Your fever is too high, you don’t have a choice here. Its either now or later at the hospital were it will cost 10 times more.”
        Benton sat up and took the aspirin. “This is about the only thing I’ve had today.”
        “That’s not good its already three.”
        “Excuse me.” Benton shot up from his seat and bolted to the bathroom.
        “So much for the aspirin. We are going to have to take him to the hospital soon you know.”
        “I know.” Frannie said kind of disappointed that the Mountie was sick.
        Thud! It came from the bathroom. Ray shook his head. “What was that? Benny you okay?”
        He knocked on the door, no answer, he entered to find Benton sitting on the floor just staring. He could see Fraser threw up. “Lost your balance?”
        Benton shook his head. “I’m just so dizzy. Dehydration but I can’t keep anything down.”
        “Here I’ll help you up.” Ray grabbed his arms and helped him up.
        “Oh my God, are you okay?” Frannie was aghast.
        “He’s just dizzy help me get him to the couch.”
        Ray got him some water and a straw as the Mountie laid back down. “Here’s some water when you feel like you can handle it.”
        “Shouldn’t we get him to the hospital?”
        “How are we going to get him there. The city is under a state of emergency. I can’t get out of the driveway for god sake. We will just sit tight till we need to.” as he turned the TV on.

There was a call on his cell phone. It was Inspector Thatcher wondering about the Mountie and why the detective was still at home. “He’s real sick.” Ray said as he turned down the volume to the show. “He’s still throwing up and not eating or drinking. I worried about dehydration. I’m stuck in the driveway. If he goes it will probably be by ambulance. I’ll let you know if and when we go.” being as pleasant as possible to her.

        “Fraser that was the dragon lady. She’s worried about you.” he turned up the volume again and relaxed.
        Suddenly he sat up. “Oh my god the hockey game! How the hell am I going to get there.”
He turned on the news. It was six already. Just in time to hear it was canceled. He called Welsh and told him that and that they were going to take Fraser to the hospital soon.
        Fraser was sleeping soundly on the couch. Ray changed the cloth on Fraser’s forehead. “I’m getting something to eat. “ with that he went to the kitchen and made himself some soup and sandwich, feeding half to Dief.
        Francesca was now playing in his hair. “Frannie leave him alone, he’s sick! That stuff doesn’t feel good when your sick.”
        “He’s not complaining.”
        “He’s sleeping let him sleep. God you can be so irritating. I need to wake him soon and get him to sip something or the hospital we are a going.”
        He knelt beside the sleeping Mountie and nudged him. “Benny wake up. Benny come on now wake up.”
        Benny stirred a little bit. “Take a sip there buddy.”
        “NO Ray, I don’t want to.” he hollered pulling the blankets over his face.
        “Mounties can be so babyish. Fraser you start sipping this or we are going to the hospital.”
        Benton pulled the blanket down and sipped the water. “Sorry Ray. I just don’t want to throw up again.”he was still lying down just on his side.
        “I know but you probably are very dehydrated. Sip it slowly.”
        Fraser sipped the water. He was having a hard time staying awake. “Benny when did this start? This morning?”
        “No I felt feverish last night. I didn’t sleep well but was at least able to stand and feel alright this morning.”
        “When’s the last time you ate some thing?”
        “Last night before I threw up.”
        “You threw up last night?”
        “Yes Ray.”
        “Its been 24 hours and your getting worse you need to see a doctor and get some fluid in to you.” Ray bundled up and dug his car out.
        The snow finally stopped falling and he heated the car up. Ray and Frannie help Fraser get his boots on and coat on over the sweatpants outfit. The boots really looked funny over the sweat pants they both laughed. Then they propped themselves under each arm and practically carried him to the car bringing a blanket and pillow. Dief followed too. All piled in and were on there way. It took three times as long to get there but they made it. Again they carried Fraser to the ER entrance were they were waiting with a gurney.
        Ray and Frannie were resting in the waiting room till they did test and got an IV started on him. Ray called his Inspector to say that he was in the hospital and would know more soon. Frannie flirted with the doctors since it wasn’t too busy there. Ray then checked on the John Doe shooting victim from this afternoon that was in a coma and gathered info. When a man came to visit and checked all his clothes. “Know the guy?” asked Ray.
        The man got mad and push Ray out of the way and started running. Ray ran after the man who ran down the stair and in to the street were he slipped looking like he sprained an ankle.
        “Looking for this?” Ray said holding the bag that Fraser had found.
        “Where did you get that.”
        “That’s for me to know and you to find out. Now what’s going on?”
        “Man I’m busted. You send a..... ”
        It turns out that Charlie was exchanging money for drugs with one of the Mobsters in the neighborhood at local sporting events. For some leniency he confessed and turned in many others, some big wigs in the city.
        Fraser was feeling better after he got some of those fluids back in his system
The End.