Partner in Crime   JB Normal JB 3 268 2000-07-26T22:36:00Z
2000-07-26T22:39:00Z 14 6170 35171 JB 293 70 43192 9.2720    6 pt 6 pt 0  
			     All Due South characters belong to Alliance.
I'd like to thank Rowan for her very thorough and patient Beta services,
and for being so gracious about the changes I didn't make. And thanks to
Katapult for her constant encouragement and invaluable suggestions. This
story is for my good friend, Linda Hughes.   Feedback is always nice
BiermannR@home.com     Synergy by Ruthie Biermann     "Don't look at me
that way, Fraser, I did what I had to do."   "You mean you did what you
wanted to do. You didn't have to apprehend Sanders by yourself. And you
certainly didn't have to lie to me about it." He leans forward in his
chair. I lean forward in mine.	 "I didn't lie, Fraser."   "Yes you did,
Ray."   "Didn't."   He takes a deep breath. "You told me you had to run an
errand, I believe you said it was to the bank," he says.   "Yeah, so,
bank, bar, they both start with b's. No big deal." I'm trying to shrug
this off like it was nothing, but Fraser is persisting, as usual.   "That
happens to be a lie, Ray."   "It's a white lie, okay? A white lie ain't a
lie." Now I'm getting annoyed.	  "Ray, a lie is a lie, white or
otherwise. Why did you respond to that call alone, and why did you lie to
me about it?"    I don't wanna talk about this. "Drop it, Fraser." I'm
squinting at him, giving him a warning look.   "No, Ray."    I shake my
head and lean back in my chair. He wants me to tell him why. I can't talk
about this...not here anyway. Don't need everybody at the precinct knowing
my business. I look up at Fraser and he's waiting for an answer. How can I
tell him that I was too scared to take him on that call to pick up
Sanders; that I was scared he'd get hurt...killed. Six years ago that
sleaze Sanders and his scumbag pal, Townsend, shot my partner when I
worked at the 1-6. They didn't have to shoot him...Tommy didn't even have
his gun out for chrissakes. And then he was dying; he was dying and I
promised him, I swore to him I'd get those assholes, and I did too. But
then they escaped last week and that promise still stood. So when my
snitch called today that he spotted Sanders, I couldn't risk Fraser's life
too. I couldn't. Fraser doesn't even carry a gun, but these creeps
wouldn't think twice about shooting him in cold blood...like they did
Tommy. I probably should've told Fraser the truth, but he still would've
insisted on going, and it's just too hard for me to talk about anyway. So,
he's sitting here, waiting for me to explain to him why I went out alone.
I can't...not now anyway.   "Fraser, Sanders is safely tucked away. It's
over. Let's move on."   "Ray..."   "No. What is it with you anyway, why
can't you leave things alone?" I don't give him a chance to answer. "Look,
Fraser, I got too much work to do now, so if you don't mind." I gesture to
the door. He stands up and I can see he's not happy with me.    "Fine,
Ray." He motions to Dief. "I'll see you tomorrow, then." And he turns and
walks out.    So, now Fraser's pissed at me. I been thinking about it all
afternoon. It's not like I go out on calls by myself all the time. And
Fraser's done it himself, so why the hell can't he let it go? At least he
didn't tell Welsh. Lieu would've had a fit if he knew I went out to pick
up Sanders without my partner or backup.   Okay, I guess I better go to
the Consulate and try to make nice with Fraser. I ain't apologizing...I'm
just gonna try to explain it to him so he won't be pissed anymore. But I
think I'd rather listen to him tell a week's worth of Inuit stories.  
***************    It's six o'clock and I'm on my way to the Consulate to
talk to Fraser. He doesn't know I'm coming. I wasn't sure I should call,
but I didn't want to take the chance that he'd tell me not to come. This
traffic sucks...move your ass, buddy...at this rate, I'll never get to the
Consulate.   Okay, so, I was wrong. It's 6:20 and I pull up in front of
the building. I see the Ice Queen walking in the opposite direction,
looking like she's in a hurry. Maybe she's late for one of her sensitivity
training classes.    It's now or never, Kowalski. I knock on the door and
wait. Nothing. Knock again. C'mon Frase, open up. The sooner you open the
door the sooner I can get this over with. Just about to knock again when
the door swings open. Fraser's standing there in his ironed jeans and
ironed shirt and ironed hair. He doesn't look happy to see me.   "Hey,
Frase. We need to talk."    "Yes, Ray, I suppose we do." He just stands
there. I see Dief standing behind him, and he looks sorta scared. Oh
great. So the Mountie's been terrorizing the wolf; he must still be mad.  
"So, can I come in?" I ask him, in a nice way.   "Yes, of course," he
says. He stands back and opens the door wider so I can come in. Dief walks
over to me and I pet him. He's looking up at me and I could swear he's
telling me to run.    Okay, Dief. You should know. So I turn back towards
the door and smash right into Fraser. My forehead bangs into his left eye.
Oh man, I think I hurt him...I must've 'cause my forehead feels like I hit
a brick wall. Damn it. I'm holding my forehead and he's holding his left
eye and he's looking at me with his right eye like I just attacked him.  
"Fraser, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were standing there."    He's still
holding his eye. "That's...that's quite all right, Ray." He moves his hand
away, and there's already a red mark there. Shit.    I move my hand away
and he's looking at my forehead. "Looks like you're going to have a bruise
there, he says." Now I don't feel so bad about his eye.   "Yeah, you too,
Fraser. Sorry." He just nods at me.   "I was about to feed Diefenbaker. We
can talk in the kitchen," he says and he walks past me to go to the
kitchen. He didn't even ask me if he could take my jacket. I think he's
even madder now than he was before. Probably had time to think about it
and found even more reasons to be pissed at me. Like why I drink so much
coffee. Maybe I should just shoot myself now.   I follow him to the
kitchen. Dief's walking behind us real slow, which I take as a bad sign. I
take off my jacket and sit down while he gets Dief his food. Nobody's
saying anything. I guess I should start 'cause I'm the one who came to
talk to him.   "Fraser...um...Fraser I...uh.... You wanna tell me why you
got this bug up your ass?" Oh shit. That just slipped out. Before I can
fix it, he's on me.   "Very nice, Ray. That's what you consider talking?
If you're going to take that attitude, then perhaps you should leave right
now." Oh yeah, he's royally pissed now. I take a deep breath.   "Okay,
sorry, Fraser, that just slipped out. It's just that...I don't understand
why you're so mad. I mean, it's not like you haven't gone out on calls
without me...did you ever see me getting pissed at you...uh, well, scratch
that...okay, so I been a little steamed sometimes, but you were a pain in
the ass in the squad room."   His eyes are real narrow now. I don't want
to look at him, but I don't want him to know that he's rattling my cage,
which he is. Big time. I gotta look cool. He puts the food down for Dief
and walks over to me. If I was standing, I'd be backing up.   "First of
all Ray, you lied to me...you told me you were going to the bank. Second,
you went out alone to pick up an escaped prisoner who is known to have
made several threats on your life."   I knew the white lie was really
bothering him. So I give him that one.   "Okay, Fraser, I'm sorry I lied
to you. I shouldn't 've done that."   He looks surprised that I
apologized. I'm a little surprised myself.   "What about the fact that you
went out on that call alone to pick up a sociopath who's threatened to
kill you?" he asks.   Yeah so?"   "He said he would cut your heart out,
Ray."   "They all say that, Fraser." No way he's gonna buy that.   "No,
Ray, they don't all say that...you know very well they don't all say that.
This man was convicted of committing seven murders, Ray, two of them
police officers." I knew he wouldn't buy it.   "Fraser, you're
overreacting." He is.   "If I behaved in such a foolhardy fashion, you
know you would never let it rest," he says.   He's got a point. But...I
got a better one. "You're out of your jurisdiction, Fraser. You're not
allowed to carry a gun...if you went out on a call like that alone, I'd
have a reason to go ballistic on you. You don't have a reason."   He's
opening his eyes real wide now. Can't help noticing that the left one is
already turning purple. Oh shit. What did I say?   "You could've been
walking into a trap, Ray. Into a trap set by a man who wants to see you
dead. Did that possibility ever enter your mind?"   "Fraser, Max gave me
the tip. He's one of my best snitches. I trust him." I do. Never would've
gone if I didn't.   "Did you ever stop to think, Ray, that maybe Max
could've been forced to call you against his will?" He's staring at me.
The Mountie is staring at me with a purple eye.   "No." Got nothing else
to add to that, even if it did occur to me what he just said.   Now he
looks even more pissed if that's possible. Jeez, I'm just making things
worse. I glance over to Dief and he ain't eating anymore. He's looking at
me and Fraser, and I swear he's staring at us like we both got two heads.
  "That was a reckless thing to do, Ray, not worthy of your abilities as a
good police officer."    Okay, so now he's insulting me and saying I'm a
good cop at the same time?    "Yeah, Fraser, I am a good cop, and I wasn't
being reckless." I'm glaring at him, just short of showing my teeth, but
he ain't backing down.   "Ray, listen to me. You receive a call from one
of your informants about an escaped convict who kills people for
recreation, and has threatened to kill you. Then you run out without even
stopping to consider that perhaps your informant was being compromised
into making that call. Does that not sound reckless or, at the very least,
careless to you?"    He's waiting for an answer. I hate to say it, but he
does have a point. But I know Max, and I know the call was legit. So
that's what I say.   "I know Max, and I knew the call was legit. So I went
out, I collared Sanders and I put him back in prison where he belongs. End
of story. Get over it, Fraser."   As usual, the wrong thing to say. "Get
over it?" He takes a deep breath. "No, Ray, I won't get over it. Look,
we're not getting anywhere with this discussion. It's obvious you're going
to continue to do whatever you want with no regard for your personal
safety, and I won't be a part of it."   He's scaring me. "So what'cha
saying, Fraser?"   He says real slow, I guess so I'll get it the first
time. "What I'm saying is, perhaps we should no longer be partners." He's
staring at me. And I'm staring back at him hoping he didn't say what I
thought he just said.   "No, Fraser."    "No? No, what, Ray?"   "Listen,
Fraser. You know I don't do this all the time. But I thought if we both
showed up at that bar, we would've been made the second we walked in....I
mean, you don't exactly look like the kinda guy who hangs out at a joint
like that."   Okay, so I just told him the absolute truth. So maybe now he
will get over it. I think about Tommy again. I know I should be telling
Fraser everything, but I'm not comfortable bringing up Tommy now. I don't
want to talk about my old partner dying while I'm pissed at Fraser. Hell,
I'm not even sure I can talk about it at all.    "I didn't have to go into
the bar with you, Ray. I could have remained outside and acted as your
cover. Why is it so hard for you to admit you were wrong?"   "I wasn't
wrong." I'm yelling now. "And how the hell could you cover me without a
gun?"   "I've done it before, Ray," he says real quiet.    "Yeah, and
you've almost gotten us killed before, too," I say, trying to pull back
the words as I'm saying them.   Oh jeez, he looks like I just punched him
in the other eye. Kowalski, you are a jerk.    "Fraser, I...uh, I didn't
mean...."   He interrupts me. "So it seems you do agree with me, Ray; to
continue this partnership may very well be a mistake. I wouldn't want to
be responsible for endangering your life any more than it is already."  
"Fraser...."   "Ray, I'm tired. You're tired. This conversation is moving
in a direction I didn't anticipate. Perhaps we should just say good
night." He backs up and walks towards the door, I guess waiting for me to
stand. So I do. I follow him out of the kitchen, and he stops to look at
me.    "Um, okay, Fraser. I'll let myself out." I look over at Dief. He's
standing in the kitchen doorway with his mouth open asking me what the
hell just happened.   If I knew, I'd tell you, Dief.    Fraser just nods.
"Good night, Ray." And he disappears down the hall.   This is bad. This is
really bad. No way I wanted this to happen. Kowalski, you're stubborn and
you're stupid. I'm gonna have to tell him what happened with Tommy and
Sanders. But it's just so hard. I close my eyes and I see Tommy lying in
my arms again, bleeding...dying. I shake my head hard to get the picture
outta my mind.	  Taking a deep breath I head to Fraser's office. I'm
thinking about what we both said. Fraser was right about one thing, he's
always covered me without a gun and he's saved my ass more than a few
times. But going out alone on this call today wasn't wrong. I still
believe that...I had to protect Fraser. Shit, even if I do tell him the
truth, he'll still say I was wrong. I hate this.   I'm at Fraser's office
door and I go to knock, but something holds me back. Don't know what it
is, maybe I just don't want to admit I'm wrong when I don't think I am.
Maybe I'm not ready to talk about it. Or maybe I'm thinking Fraser just
needs time to cool off a little. Yeah, and me too. I guess it's a
combination of all of 'em.   I decide to leave. I'll call Fraser
tomorrow...give us both time to think He couldn't've been serious about
that partner thing; I'll just have to convince him he wasn't. I stop at
the Consulate door and look back down the hall. Dief's standing there
watching me looking real sad. This ain't good-bye, Dief, I'll be back, I
hope. I open the front door and lock it behind me.    ********************
   It's ten o'clock the next morning. I didn't sleep all night courtesy of
one Mountie with a purple, uh, make that a black eye. Fraser's standing in
front of my desk. Seeing him with that eye makes me feel even worse. And I
feel pretty bad already with no sleep, plus I got a big bump in the middle
of my forehead. I look up at him and he's standing there staring at me
with his Stetson in his hands, almost looks like he's gonna apologize. Oh
yeah, that bump on my head is making me delusional. Dief is nudging my
hand now, so I give him a few scratches behind the ear, but my eyes are on
Fraser. He starts to speak.   "Ray, I'm not happy with how our
conversation went last night." I'm watching him while he's talking...looks
like he didn't get much sleep either.   "Yeah, I know, Frase. Maybe we
should go someplace private to work this out." He smiles at me, well
sorta.   I hear Welsh's door open. "Detective Vecchio, in my office
now...you too, Constable."   Oh jeez, Welsh's timing can really suck.
Fraser and I look at each other and we both walk into Welsh's office.
Fraser closes the door. The lieutenant looks up at me and he's not happy.
I do not need this today.   "Detective, what happened to your head?" He's
eyeing my forehead.   "Uh, well, sir, I uh...walked into a door."    He's
narrowing his eyes at me and he's shaking his head. "Yesterday, detective,
you went out on a call alone to pick up Sanders."   I can't believe this.
I can't believe Fraser told him.   "Uh, yes, sir, but I collared him, no
problem."   "The end does not justify the means, Detective. How many times
have I told you not to go out on a call of this nature without your
partner or without backup?"   "I just thought it would be better...."   "I
don't care what you thought, Vecchio. You disobeyed an order and in the
process, you could've gotten yourself killed. Now, you may not place much
value on your own life, but as your commanding officer, I'm responsible
for your skinny ass. I can't have you disobeying orders and placing your
life in unnecessary danger. And you know how I hate filling out those
forms."   I look over at Fraser. He's looking at Welsh. Now I'm really
pissed. That's no way to treat your partner.    "Detective."   "Uh, yeah,
sir, it won't happen again."   "You bet it won't, Vecchio. And if it does,
I'll suspend you for a week. You got that?"   "Yes sir."   "Any word on
Townsend?" he asks me. Doesn't sound as mad when he asks me that.   "No,
nothing yet, Lieu," I say.   "Okay, but make sure you keep me apprised.
Now get outta here." He's looking at Fraser. "What happened to your eye,
Constable?"   "Well, sir...."   "Don't tell me, you walked into the same
door Vecchio did."   "Uh, well...." My eyes are on the floor. He better
not tell him...he already told him enough. Damn that Mountie. If there was
a group for compulsive truth tellers, he'd be their number one member.
"Yes, sir," Fraser says.   Score one for the Mountie.   We leave Welsh's
office. I can't believe Fraser. How could he tell Welsh? Now I wanna
blacken his other eye. I can't hold it in. "How could you do that, Fraser?
How could you tell him?" I'm trying to keep my voice low.   He looks at me
and his eyes are as big as saucers, well, one of them is anyway. "Ray, you
think I told him?" He really looks surprised.   "You mean you didn't?"	 
"No, Ray. I wouldn't do that." He looks hurt. I feel like shit now.   
"Well, who did?" I look around the bullpen. Damn it. There's Dewey smiling
at me.	  "I have no ide...."   Before Fraser can get the words out, I'm
across the bullpen in Dewey's face. I grab his collar. "You got a big
mouth, Dewey." I want to punch him in the face, but before I get a chance,
Fraser's grabbing my arm and pulling me back.    "Ray...Ray...."   
Dewey's yelling at me to get the hell off him. Fraser's dragging me back
to my desk. I yell across the room at Dewey. "You stay outta my business,
Dewey." He's smiling at me again. I yank my arm away from Fraser, but he
keeps holding on. I finally turn my back on that back stabber and head to
my desk.   "Forget it, Fraser." I grab my jacket and head to the door.
"I'm getting some lunch," I say. Fraser and Dief are right next to me.  
"Ray, it's 10:15 in the morning."   "My stomach doesn't care what time it
is, Fraser. I'm hungry now."   "Well, perhaps I can accompany you so we
can discuss this further." This day just keeps getting better 'n better.  
"Yeah, okay, Fraser, whatever." We leave the squad room and head to the
parking lot.   ********************   We're in the car and nobody's saying
anything. I'm still thinking about Dewey, that loudmouth...he missed his
calling; he should've been a snitch. I glance over to Fraser and he's
looking out the passenger window. I feel bad for suspecting him of telling
Welsh; I really should know better.    "Um, Frase, sorry I accused you of
talking to Welsh."   He looks over to me. "Well, to be honest, Ray, that
just further illustrates the point I was making last night."   "What
point?" I ask. What the hell is he talking about now?   "Well, the fact
that this partnership may have run its course."   "Fraser, that's
bullshit." I raise my voice.   "Think about it," Mr. stay-calm-Mountie
says. Does he have to analyze everything?    "Yesterday, you responded to
a call without me because you felt my presence would undermine your
efforts. And then today, you immediately accuse me of going over your head
to your superior...does that sound like partners to you?" He looks wounded
when he says that. Makes me feel bad for my big mouth.   "I was pissed,
Fraser. I didn't really think you talked to Welsh."    "I think you did,
Ray. And I also think it's time you gave some thought to getting another
partner."   He turns his head to look out the passenger window, and leaves
me to digest what he just rammed down my throat. I don't want another
partner. I want Fraser. Okay, so here goes.   "Listen, um, you were right.
I shouldn't've gone out on that call yesterday without you. And I'm sorry
for lying to you and, shit, Fraser, I don't want another partner." I'm
pretty sure I just whined that last part. Fraser can be a real pain, but
he's the best partner I ever had. Hell, he's the best friend I ever had.  
I glance over and he's looking at me again. Can't tell what he's thinking.
"Are you sure, Ray?"   "Yeah, I'm positive." He's still looking at me.
"What about you?" I say, "you wanna call it quits?"   He shakes his head.
"No, but I don't think I can stand by and watch you endanger your life." 
"Yeah, yeah, Fraser, you already told me. Okay, so if I promise to be
good, we'll stay partners and we won't have this conversation again.
Right?"   "Very well, Ray." He's smiling at me. Actually looks happy. You
did good, Kowalski. I smile and turn the car around.   "I thought you
wanted to get some lunch," he says.   "Not hungry. Got too much work to
do."   "Understood."   I hear Dief whining in the backseat. He sorta
sounds like I did a couple of minutes ago when I thought I was losing my
Mountie. Only he's whining 'cause he's losing his French toast with maple
syrup and a side of sausage.   I look at the wolf in the rear view mirror.
"You can have a donut at the station," I tell him.   I glance at Fraser
and he's giving me one of his disapproving looks. Can't win today. The
rest of the drive to the precinct is made in silence. Which can be a good
thing.   ********************   We get back to the station and I make good
on that donut for Dief. Fraser's still grumbling about it, but given the
choice, I think I'd rather have Fraser pissed at me than Dief. Isn't there
some kind of folktale about wolves carrying grudges to their graves? Don't
know and don't want to find out.    Fraser and I been working on case
files all afternoon. That's one reason alone to keep him as a partner; if
it wasn't for him, I think my files would be backed up two years instead
of two months. My phone rings. Great, a reprieve.   "Vecchio...yeah." It's
my snitch, Max. He tells me he spotted Townsend, Sander's buddy who
escaped with him, at an abandoned warehouse at the docks. Looks like he's
meeting a fence. Shit. I gotta get this call now while Fraser's sitting
across from me?   I look at Fraser while I listen...his attention is on
one of the files. "Well...um, yeah, okay thanks." I hang up the phone. I
have to go get Townsend, but I can't bring Fraser with me, I can't. I know
I promised him I wouldn't go out on calls alone. But this is different.
And I'd rather him be mad at me than have him die 'cause of me. Fraser
looks up from the file.    I smile, trying to look casual. He frowns.  
"Is something wrong, Ray?"    "Uh, no, why would you ask that?" I know I
sound nervous.   "Well, for one thing you're stirring your coffee with
your pencil," he says, watching my face.   I try to act cool. "Yeah, well,
I like my coffee with some lead in it...gives it character," I say. Still,
I take the pencil out of the cup.   "Yes, but I'm sure it doesn't do much
for the taste. I suggest you don't drink it." He stands up.   "Where you
going?" I ask, getting out of my chair.   "I should get back to the
Consulate. I have some reports to complete by the end of today."   "Good
idea, Frase, you don't wanna upset Inspector Thatcher." Think I sound
obvious here?   "Inspector Thatcher?" he repeats her name and blinks.  
"Yeah, you know, your superior officer."   "Ray, are you sure nothing's
wrong?" He looks suspicious...or am I just paranoid?   "Nothing's wrong,
Frase. Why do you keep asking me that?"    "You just referred to Inspector
Thatcher as Inspector Thatcher...in addition to the fact that you told me
I shouldn't upset her."   "So?"   "So, usually, you enjoy upsetting her,
not to mention insulting her with your favorite nickname." He's not gonna
let this drop. So what else is new.   "Look, Fraser, you better get back
to the Consulate before the Ice Queen gets her panties in a bunch." That
should do it. Bingo. He's motioning to Dief and he's leaving. Thank god.
I'd hate to have to lie to him again, especially after yesterday.  
"Perhaps I'll see you later," he says and he's backing up to leave.  
"Yeah, perhaps, later," I say, pushing him out the door with my mind.  
After he's gone, I wait a few minutes, and then I'm out the door. I'm in
the GTO about to pull out when I see a flash of red in front of the car. I
slam on the brakes.   "Shit, Fraser."   He's standing there staring at me,
his face turned a little to the side, and his eyes are narrowed like
they're almost closed. I look down. Don't need this from him now. Next
thing I know he's at the passenger window, so I lean over and unlock the
door. He pulls the front seat forward for Dief and then he gets in. We're
both looking straight ahead now.   "Where are you going, Ray?" Can't tell
if he's mad or not. But one thing's for sure, he ain't happy. I don't say
anything for a few seconds. I could lie...again. Nah, better not. I decide
to tell him the truth.   "That was Max on the phone. He spotted Bob
Townsend at the docks...looks like he's meeting a fence."   I glance over
at him and he's still staring straight ahead, his hands in fists on his
lap. Jeez, I don't need this now. He turns slowly to look at me.   "You
were responding to a call without me," he says, real quiet. I look out the
windshield and don't say anything. "Ray, look at me." His voice is louder.
I take a deep breath and look at him. I can't read any emotion on his
face. "Why, Ray?"   I tell him the truth. Look, Fraser, this is personal.
That creep, Townsend, killed a cop from my old precinct. I swore I'd take
him in by myself. I made that promise to myself before I promised you that
I wouldn't respond to any calls alone."   He sighs. "Ray, at best, you'll
be suspended. Worst, you'll get yourself killed. I can't in good
conscience allow you to go off by yourself."   "Look, Fraser, we're
wasting valuable time here. I won't get suspended 'cause you're my partner
and that means you won't tell Welsh. And I have no intention of getting
myself killed. So, just get outta the car."   He shakes his head again.
Now I'm pissed. I pound the steering wheel.   "Get the fuck out, Fraser!" 
  "No Ray. I'm coming with you."    I'm staring out the windshield and my
teeth are clenched so tight my jaw's aching. I know Fraser. There's no way
I'm getting him out of this car. Okay, so I resort to desperate measures.
  "Okay, Fraser, you win." I put my hand in my jeans pocket like I'm
looking for something. "Shit." I go through the rest of my pockets.  
"What are you looking for, Ray?"    "The paper I wrote the address on.
Fuck. I left it upstairs. Look, Frase, I'll be right back."    Before he
says anything, I'm out of the car, sprinting inside the building and
running out the back to the lot where we keep the unmarked cars. I know
the keys will be in the green Crown Vic 'cause they always are. I jump
into the car, reach for the keys under the mat. Oh yeah. I start the car
and take off towards the other side of the building. Fraser's gonna be
pissed, but I'll worry about him later.    ********************    I
arrive at the docks and park the car in an alley around the corner from
the warehouse where Max saw Townsend. I get out and approach the building,
running to the side where I find an unlocked door. I look around...there's
no sign of anyone, not even a car. I slip inside and duck down, allowing
my eyes to adjust to the dark. I hear some activity towards the rear of
the room, so I stay low, hiding behind crates and boxes while I make my
way to the source of the noise. It doesn't take long to locate my target.
Townsend's talking quietly to two other guys...can't hear what he's
saying. I look around the room, don't see anyone else. I figure I'll wait
'til the party breaks up and then I'll make my move. At the moment I don't
give a shit about the other two creeps...it's Townsend I want.	  I don't
have to wait long; after a few minutes the two guys shake hands with
Townsend and walk towards the front of the warehouse. I lose sight of
them, but I can see light streaming into the room from the door as it
opens, and then it disappears again as they close it behind them. It's
time. Townsend's standing in the same spot, looking at a piece of paper. I
leap out from the crate I'm crouching behind and before that asshole
realizes what hit him, he's got a gun pointed at his head.    "Chicago PD,
put your hands in the air before I separate them from your arms," I keep
my voice low. Don't want to invite company. He does as he's told. But
while I'm patting him down, I feel something hard sticking between my
shoulder blades. Then a voice.	  "Drop the gun, cop." Shit.    I drop the
gun. Townsend turns around and punches me in the stomach. Fuck. Can't
breathe. I drop to my knees and then my head feels like a brick was
dropped on top of it. Falling to the floor, I hear laughing and then
nothing.   ********************   Shit, what the hell is that pain? I open
my eyes. I'm lying on my side on the floor, hands tied behind my back,
feet tied at the ankles. My boot gun's missing. My head feels like every
hangover I ever had in my entire life combined into one. Forcing myself to
sit up, I notice I'm still in the warehouse. Townsend's standing a few
yards away. He hears me struggling and looks at me. The asshole's smiling.
He walks over.	  "Well, Detective, how are you feeling?"   I don't answer
him. He grabs me by my hair and snaps my head back. Hurts like hell. I try
not to react, but I hear a quiet groan rise in my throat.    "I asked you
a goddamn question," he barks at me.   "I'm fucking great," I finally
force out, my voice hoarse.   "Well, we'll have to do something about
that," and he pushes me back to the floor and kicks me in the ribs. Can't
help but cry out. Shit, I'm in big trouble. I stay where I am, on my side,
breathing hard, trying to control the pain.   "If it were up to me, you'd
already be rat food," he says. "But Sanders wants me to give you the
deluxe package. Hey, I don't mind. But you're not gonna like it much."  
Another guy approaches from the front of the building. He looks over to me
and then starts talking quietly to Townsend. I strain to hear.	  "Yeah,
okay, I'll meet you there after I do the cop," I hear Townsend say.  
Shit. Shit. Shit. I struggle with the rope that's binding my wrists, but
all that does is cause more pain...the rope's already so tight, it's
cutting into my wrists.   The other guy looks at me again and this time he
smiles. Then he turns around and leaves. Townsend takes something out of
his pocket and turns to face me. He puts it over his hand...fuck...brass
knuckles. He walks over to me and kicks me in the ribs again. This time I
can't hold back a scream and I curl up into a ball. He grabs me by my hair
again, pulling me up and shoving me against a support beam. I'm scared to
death, but I don't let him know that. I glare at him and he punches me in
the face...the knuckles make it feel like I was hit with a bat. My face
feels warm from the blood. I close my eyes and wait for another blow. He
hits me again, this time on the other side of my face. I cry out again. I
can hear my breathing...short, ragged breaths...hurts like hell just to
breathe. I think about what Fraser said, and I'd be pissed at him for
being right again if I wasn't about to die. God, I wish he were here right
now. I can't stop my body from shaking; I have no control. I hear a weird
noise coming out of my mouth, sort of like one long whimper. I'm waiting
for the next assault, my eyes squeezed shut.   It doesn't come. Oh fuck,
am I dead already? Then why the hell do I still hurt so much?   I suddenly
realize someone is saying my name and I feel my hands fall away from each
other. My wrists still hurt, but they're not tied together anymore. I hear
my name again. A light touch on my face. I force my eyes open.	  Oh God.
It's Fraser. He's wiping my face with a cloth and he's talking to me.   
"Fraser..." I can barely whisper his name.   "It's okay, Ray. The
paramedics will be here soon. You'll be all right."   He keeps talking
quietly to me while he wipes my face. I manage to put my hand on his arm.
I want to tell him that I'm sorry. I want to thank him for saving my life.
I look into his eyes. He stops what he's doing and wraps his hand around
mine and smiles at me. Then everything goes dark.   ********************  
I'm spread out across the couch that Fraser made up like a bed for me.
Dief's lying across my feet doing a great impression of a blanket.
Fraser's in the kitchen making some tea. I wanted coffee but he said tea
would be better for me. Never understood that...caffeine is caffeine. Just
tastes better in coffee.   Anyway, I'm really glad to be in my own
apartment. The doctor wanted me to stay in the hospital but I bitched so
much he let me come home, well, only after Fraser promised to look after
me for a few days. Doctor said there's no permanent damage. Let's see, he
said I have a moderate concussion, two cracked ribs, my face is pretty
banged up, but no broken bones, and a lot of bruising that makes my body
look like a TV test pattern. I'm taking pain pills every four hours. Can't
remember the last time I took one...Fraser's been taking care of that. But
based on the way I'm feeling, I think it's time for another one. At least
I'm rid of that pain in the ass, Townsend. He's in jail where he belongs,
thanks to Fraser.   I look over the back of the couch and watch Fraser for
a few minutes. I know he's pissed at me...hasn't said anything about the
way I ditched him in the GTO. Shit. That was a fucking stupid thing to do.
If Fraser wasn't Fraser, I'd be dead now. And Welsh was spitting tacks he
was so mad. He told me that after my medical leave is over, I'm suspended
for a week. Told him I learned my lesson, but he's still suspending me.
Guess I deserve it. Now if I can only get Fraser to forgive me.   He's
coming into the living room with a glass of water and a bottle of pills.
Yeah, I knew it was time.   "How are you feeling?" he asks me, and he's
opening the bottle, not even looking at me.   I go to sit up...takes some
effort, not only because it hurts, but because the wolf blanket is holding
my legs down. Dief finally gets the message and climbs down from the couch
and disappears under the coffee table. I'm still struggling to sit up.
Fraser looks like he's about to help me, but I wave my hand to let him
know that I can do it myself.    "Um, like I can use these," is my answer.
"Thanks."   "Put out your hand," he says. I do and he drops one pill from
the bottle into my palm and hands me the glass of water. I swallow the
pill with the water and give the glass back to him. He's still not looking
at me. Shit. This is gonna be hard.    "I'll be right back with the tea,"
he says. And he turns around and goes back into the kitchen. My head is
pounding so I close my eyes and rest it on the back of the couch. A few
minutes later I hear two cups being placed on the coffee table and I feel
Fraser sitting down next to me. I open my eyes and roll my head against
the back of the couch to look at him...it hurts too much to lift. He's
staring straight ahead, drinking his tea. I take a deep breath.  
"Fraser."   "Yes, Ray." He's still looking straight ahead.   "Look,
Fraser, I know you're mad at me...you got every right to be. I did a
really stupid thing."    He looks at me now, and he's working his jaw the
way he does when he's pissed and his eyes are narrowed. I'm finding it
hard to look at him.   "Yes, Ray, you did a very stupid thing." He keeps
looking at me. I guess he's waiting for an answer.   "I'm sorry, I
just...it's just when Max told me he spotted Townsend, I had to go after
him myself...it was personal."	  "So you've told me," he says. "You know,
Ray, making that promise to yourself and having me accompany you to
apprehend Townsend were not mutually exclusive."   "Yeah, well, I thought
they were."   "Ray, you were almost killed." He says that real quiet, and
he shakes his head and looks away from me again.   "I know that, Fraser.
I'd be dead if you didn't show up. I owe my life to you more than once.
We're partners...."   He jerks his head in my direction and stops me with
a warning look. Obviously, I just said the wrong thing.   "Partners, Ray?
How can you still call us partners after the way you acted yesterday?
Partners trust each other. They cover each other's backs," he fires at me.
  "I trust you, Fraser. You know I get unhinged sometimes. I dunno, I got
that phone call from Max and I just snapped." He doesn't say anything.
"I'm sorry I gave you the slip," I say. I really am. "Look, I promise I
won't...."   Oh man, that was the wrong thing to say. He jumps off the
couch and starts walking towards the kitchen.   "I'm tired, Ray...I'd
prefer we didn't talk. Your bed is made up if you want to sleep. I'll help
you to the bedroom if you need my assistance."   I watch him sit down at
the kitchen table. He leans back in his chair, and he's looking down at
the table. Neither one of us says anything for a few minutes. I can't go
to bed with this hanging over my head...it's too important. I know I
fucked up big time. I have to make things right with Fraser.   I raise my
voice so he can hear me. "You think I don't trust you."   He looks up at
me. "Can you blame me, Ray?"   "Fraser, the way I went off like that had
nothing to do with you; it was me. I..."   "Don't, Ray. I'd rather you say
nothing than hand me your platitudes. You obviously have a problem with me
being your partner." He sighs. "The best thing you can do at this point is
request a new partner, someone who carries a gun, someone you can trust."
His eyes are still cast down at the table.   "I trust you, Fraser."   "I
don't believe you, Ray."   "What can I do to make you believe me?"   He
takes a deep breath. "I don't know."   "Shit. I'm gonna have to tell him.
Maybe I should've told him from the beginning, I don't know, but I'm
losing him and I have no choice. I struggle to get to my feet and walk
over to the kitchen and sit down next to him. I'm trying not to be
obvious, but I have to support my ribs with my hand; even with the
medication they're still killing me. Fraser won't meet my eyes.   "Frase."
  He doesn't respond.   "Fraser." I put my hand on his arm. He looks up at
me. He looks so sad, and it's all my fault.   "I'm asking you to give me
another chance," I say. "Despite what you think, I trust you...hell,
there's no one else I trust as much as you, well, maybe Welsh and....um,
Dief."   I glance over to see Dief peer out at me from under the coffee
table.   "I know I haven't been the best partner...or friend...these past
few days," I say. "I have to tell you something, Frase, and, maybe then
you'll understand why I been acting so unhinged." He looks up at me, his
head is tilted and he's squinting his eyes. I look down at the table and
go on. "I should've told you this before, but, um, it was just too hard. I
never talked about it before, never had to. But if we're gonna stay
partners, then you need to know this."   I run my hands through my hair
and take a deep breath. He's watching me, waiting to hear what I'm gonna
say. "Um, I had a partner at the 1-6, his name was Tommy...Tom Blanchard.
We were out on a call when...when he got shot. He died in my...he died.
The assholes who killed him were Sanders and his pal, Townsend. I promised
Tommy when he was dying that I'd bring them in myself, and I did. But then
they skipped out, and I had to honor that promise again."   I stop talking
and look up at Fraser. He still looks sad, but now I think it's for me. He
doesn't say anything, so I continue.    "Frase, I couldn't risk losing you
too, especially not to Sanders; I couldn't take that chance. And then when
Max called about Townsend, I know I made a promise to you, but I was
scared. Tommy didn't even have his gun out when they killed him; there's
no doubt in my mind those creeps wouldn't've hesitated to kill you too.
You're my best friend. All I could think about was Tommy dying and how I
couldn't stand it if that happened to you. I know I should've told you,
but I.... Look, Frase, you gotta know that I trust you with my life. I'm
so sorry I lied to you. If I could take back the last couple days I would.
Jeez, if it wasn't for you, I'd be dead now." I shudder when I hear myself
say that.   He's still looking at me but he doesn't look as sad...or
pissed anymore. We're quiet for a few minutes. Then he leans forward in
his chair.   "I'm sorry, Ray. I'm sorry for your partner and for
everything that happened. I wish you had told me sooner, but I understand
how difficult it was for you to talk about." He squeezes my arm. "I
appreciate your trying to protect me." He shakes his head and gives me a
half smile. "My anger was the result of not being able to protect you. I
do hope that, in the future, we'll be able to communicate better with each
other."    "I know, Frase. Like I told Welsh, I learned my lesson. I wink
at him. "But I still think you woulda been made the second we walked into
that bar. We need to have a talk about you ironing your jeans."   He
scowls at me. And then something occurs to me. "How did you know where I
was anyway?" I ask him.    "You had told me where you keep your
informants' phone numbers," he says. "I called Max."   "You know, Frase,
you're the only person who knows where they are." He smiles at me like he
understands what I'm trying to say. "So, um, do you believe that I trust
you?"   "Yes, I believe you do, Ray. But your behavior at times...."  
"Look, whenever I start acting like an asshole, you got my permission to
kick me in the head." I grin at him.   "Well...." He's looking down at the
table and I think he's holding back a smile.   "So, you'll give me another
chance?" I ask.   He looks at me and he's real serious again. "Don't do it
again."   I shake my head. Somehow, I can't get the words out. A few more
minutes pass. I finally speak.   "So, we're still...."	  "I think so," he
says.   "Good. Greatness."   The End