(Type a title for your page here) This story was originally published in the zine YOU PAY AND PAY AND PAY. Surprise by Angela Rivieccio         Ray Vecchio parked his beloved Buick Riviera in the No Parking Zone in front of the Canadian Consulate, leaving the engine running. Fraser's shift would be over in a few minutes. He had arrived a bit early, the hearing he had spent the entire afternoon at the courthouse waiting to testify in postponed yet again. No wonder lawyers charge so much money, he thought to himself, aggravated by the wasted day. By the time they finish one case they're old enough for retirement.         He sat with his head leaning back against the headrest, his eyes closed, air conditioner going full blast, letting the sounds of the city he loved so much calm his frayed nerves. It was late Spring, yet already Chicago was in the midst of a summer-like heat wave. When he opened his eyes a few minutes later, they fell on the dashboard clock, and widened. 5:05 p.m.? Fraser's late. He was mildly surprised, in an amused sort of way, that the always-punctual Mountie would keep anyone waiting. I didn't think anything short of a full-scale invasion of Canada would have done that.         He turned off the motor and got out of the car, not bothering to lock the door. Entering the Consulate, he climbed the stairs to the second floor. No one was at the desk in the small reception area.         He cast a glance at Inspector Thatcher's door. I'll bet The Dragon Lady's already left for the day, the sarcastic comment rose unbidden in his mind. In the past year, Margaret Thatcher had revealed herself to be a competent officer of the RCMP. She still ran roughshod over Fraser now and again, but Ray suspected that it was less from her frustrations with his police methodologies and more because of their growing attraction toward each other. I wonder if either of them are ever going to do something about that?         He knocked once, then opened the door to Fraser's office, not waiting for a reply.         At first glance, he thought Fraser had already left. The room was dark, but when he opened the door a bit wider, he could see the dim light of a slide projector casting the image of a snow covered landscape on the wall behind Fraser's desk. The Mountie sat on the opposite side of the desk staring at it, apparently lost in thought.         "Benny?" He turned on the light.         Fraser blinked rapidly several times, getting up as he turned to face him. "Oh, Ray. I'm sorry. I didn't hear you come in."         "You weren't outside, so I thought I'd come in to check on you."         Fraser looked at his watch, a guilty expression appearing on his face. "Oh, dear. I apologize for the delay, Ray. I lost track of the time."         Ray smiled, letting his friend off the hook. "No big deal, Fraser. What are you doing, anyway?"         Fraser shut down the projector, unplugged it, then retrieved his hat and led Ray out of the office and down the stairs. "Inspector Thatcher has given me the task of updating the Liaison Office's 'This Is Canada' presentation. I've been gathering data and going through slides most of the day."         Once in the car, Ray started the engine and merged the car into rush hour traffic. "So what's so hard about that? Choose a few pictures of barren, snow-covered landscape with a few polar bears, and you're done."         "Canada is a whole lot more than snow and polar bears, Ray," Fraser censured in a quiet tone.         Ray waited for the usual lecture about Canadian geography and cultural diversity, but it never came. He cast a puzzled frown over at his passenger, but Fraser merely sat staring out the windshield.         The rest of the short ride was completed in silence.         Ray pulled the car to the curb in front of the tenement, then turned to face his friend. "Hey, Fraser, why don't you go upstairs and change and we'll go out for some dinner?"         "No, thank you, Ray," Fraser replied. "I'm not really hungry."         "Are you okay? You seem rather distracted."         "I'm fine, Ray," he said, finally meeting his eyes, but the brief smile of reassurance seemed forced. "Thanks for the ride."         Ray remained silent for a moment, then shrugged. "No problem, Fraser. I'll see you tomorrow."         Fraser opened the car door and stepped out, leaning over to look in at the last moment. "Good night, Ray."         "'Night, Benny."         He closed the door, and Ray waited until he stepped back from the curb before driving away.         I wonder what's wrong? Ray thought, an unconscious frown of concern marring his features. It's not like Fraser to be so quiet, especially not after a crack on Canada like that. Fraser's normal reaction would have been a: "Ray, Ray, Ray..." followed by a ten minute lecture that may or may not have included an Inuit story. But Fraser's tone of voice had seemed almost...wistful. Ray's mind replayed the scene at the Consulate, focusing in on the Mountie just before he'd turned on the lights in his office. Fraser had been staring at that slide like an adult child would look at a picture of a deceased parent.         Fraser had seemed almost homesick.         Ray quickly changed lanes, navigating the Riviera deftly around a slower moving vehicle, his mind on more important matters. Now that he thought about it, Fraser had been acting kind of odd the past couple of days. His mind replayed a scene that had taken place his house a couple of nights ago. Ray had been in the kitchen helping his mother unclog the sink, and when he finished he'd walked into the living room to find his brother-in-law, Tony, fast asleep in the reclining chair, and Fraser sitting on the couch watching some National Geographic special on the Arctic. Fraser had stared hungrily at the screen, like a man who had been lost in the desert and was suddenly being offered a gallon of cool water to drink. Afterwards, Fraser had been more subdued for the rest of the evening, but Ray hadn't made much of it at the time.         He's been homesick before, Ray recalled with a pang of empathy, but it hasn't bothered him in quite a while. At least, I didn't think it had. He knew that the transition from the northern wilderness to the urban jungle had not been an easy one for the Mountie. At the beginning, Fraser had turned up at the station all the time, involving himself in Ray's cases when the cop hadn't even really wanted his help, until Ray realized it was an unconscious coping mechanism on Fraser's part -- a way to keep the intense frustration of going from a vital, active law enforcement officer to Consulate doorman at bay. So Ray had let him help, becoming so used to Fraser helping him over time that he had come to consider the Canadian his partner, albeit an 'unofficial' one.         Arriving home, he parked the car in the driveway beside the house and went inside. The smell of food cooking hit him immediately, and Ray followed his nose to the kitchen, expecting to see his mother preparing a feast for dinner.         He found Francesca, instead.         "Hey, Frannie," he said, coming up beside her as she stood before the counter chopping some fresh parsley with a knife. He turned to the stove and lifted a pot cover to deeply sniff at the stew cooking inside. "Mmmmmm, that smells great."         "If you stick your fingers in there, I'll cut your hand off," Francesca snapped in lieu of a greeting.         Ray put the cover back on the pot, then moved around to her other side and swiped a piece of mozzarella cheese from the plate on the counter instead. "What are you doing?"         She pretended not to see the transgression. "Testing out some new recipes. If they come out good, I'll add them to my catering menu."         He was proud of the way his sister's new business was taking off, although he'd never tell her that. A smile tugged at his lips as he remembered her being arrested for not having a permit from the City to sell sandwiches at the precinct, an idea he had thought stupid in the first place. She certainly had come a long way since then.         "After dinner I've got to go to the mall," she informed him, pulling him back to the present once more. "I've been wracking my brain trying to come up with the perfect gift for Fraser's birthday this Saturday, but haven't found anything special enough. You know, something that says 'I know we're friends, but it would be okay with me if we became something more.' Got any ideas?"         Francesca's seductive comment about the Mountie was ignored as Ray's mind focused on the words that had come before it.         Fraser's birthday.         That's got to be it! Ray realized as his friend's behavior the past few days fell neatly into place. Birthdays are times you spend with those close to you, with family. Maybe the fact that he's so far from home, and doesn't have any family left, has got him feeling down.         "Ray?"         He, too, still hadn't picked up a gift for his friend -- work had kept him too busy the past few days. What can I give him that will cheer him up, and let him know he's not alone anymore?         His eyes widened as the perfect present suddenly sprang to mind.         "Frannie, I need you to do me a favor."         His sister snorted. "Yeah, right. Like what have you done for me lately that I should be nice to you now?"         A sly smile appeared on his face, green eyes sparkling. He moved in behind her, wrapping his arm about her waist. "All right, I admit, I haven't been the world's most loving brother lately. I apologize."         Her eyes widened in disbelief, not buying the phoney sincerity act. She may be a pain in the neck, Ray thought to himself with typical sibling affection, but she sure isn't stupid.         "But this favor really isn't for me, Frannie. It's for Fraser." Her expression melted just a bit. Now I've got her. "It just might be the perfect gift for him, as well..."         She stared at him a moment longer, then pulled out of his embrace and moved to sit down at the kitchen table.         "Tell me more."         He couldn't keep a genuine smile off his face as he sat down and told her what he had in mind. -----         Fraser finished preparing Diefenbaker's dinner, squirting the liquid vitamins onto the dry food with an eye dropper, then placed the dish on the floor beside his water bowl. The wolf began eating immediately. He returned the small bottle to its shelf in the refrigerator, eyes falling on the small dish of leftovers that should have been tonight's dinner, then closed the door.         He hadn't been lying to Ray when he'd said he wasn't hungry. The strange melancholy that had clung to him like a blanket the past few days had left him listless and without an appetite. He crossed the apartment to the window next to the bed, leaning against the wall to stare out into the gathering dusk.         Why should now be any different than last week? he wondered, eyes not seeing the still-bustling city below. Or be any different from next week?         A sigh escaped him. He'd been living in exile in Chicago for more than two years now. Until recently, most of that time he'd simply been used as an ornament at work, standing in front of the Consulate building on guard duty. Through his association with Ray he had been able to remain active, participating in actual policework, even if only unofficially. And, somehow, he always managed to involve himself in the lives of those around him, from fixing a broken table leg for a neighbor to trying to make the neighborhood a safer place to live.         Helping others was something so ingrained in him, that he could not conceive of not attempting to do so. I try to be available to those in the community who need assistance, even though Ray would have me believe that I am beating my head against a brick wall. Most of them are grateful... eventually, he amended.         But where there was one person whom he managed to help, there were ten others who also need help, and were ignored by everyone else around them.         Was that the problem? Was he beginning to tire of the cold indifference of city life he met with day after day?          "It would be nice, to get out of this place and back to the Territories."         Fraser looked up to see his father standing opposite him, dressed in red serge.         "You should have left last fall, when that boss of yours offered you a transfer," he continued with a gentle admonishment.         "I didn't want to leave Chicago at the time, Dad," he replied, annoyance tinging his voice.         "What about now?"         A weariness settled itself on his shoulders, seeping down through his skin and imbedding itself in his bones.         "You're going to be thirty-six years old in two days, Benton," Fraser Sr. continued, reading the indecision. "You're at a dead-end here. If you want to advance in your career, you've got to get back to where you can do some good."         "You seem to forget I'm not wanted back home, Dad," Fraser reminded him quietly.         "Oh, they'll take you back if you applied, son. With your service record, they'd be fools not to. It may take a while, but if you do your job the way you've always done it, you'll eventually regain their respect."         The way I've always done my job... Most of the fellow officers he'd worked with through the years thought him to be an odd fellow, the methods he'd employ to accomplish his duty more than a little unusual. None had ever taken the time to get to try and get to know him better, and he'd never attempted to move beyond the acquaintance stage with any of his co-workers, either. On the job, it had always been himself against the elements, at least until the day he'd rescued Diefenbaker from that bear trap.         "Think about it, son."         In fact, he had been by himself most of his life.         After his mother died, he'd moved with his grandparents from village to village, and he had found it easier not to form any strong friendships with the children his own age. He would spend most of his time in the library reading, or helping some of the elderly Inuit villagers who, in exchange, taught him about their diverse culture.         It's always been just me, he thought to himself, as if only now realizing how lonely his life had been. I've never relied on anyone other than myself for anything, until coming to Chicago.         Until I met Ray.         A wet nose touched his hand, and brought Fraser back to the present.         His father was no longer there.         He gave his companion a gentle pat on the head, then moved back to the refrigerator and removed the dish of leftovers, emptying it into a small pan on the stove and turning on the gas. He still wasn't hungry, but he forced himself to eat the meager meal anyway. Diefenbaker sat watching him, with more than the desire for table food in his warm brown eyes.         His mind wandered once again, thinking of his time in Chicago. Ray has been a good friend to me. The only real friend I've ever had. Without him, my exile to Chicago would have been unbearable.         He got up and cleared the table, then washed the dishes, unable to let them sit in the sink until the following morning. When he was finished he returned to the window, settling himself against the wall. The streets were emptier now, adding to his feeling of isolation.         Ray's done so much for me these past two and a half years. But what have I done for him? Most of the time he complains about the dangerous cases I get him involved in, or the number of his suits I've ruined. I've been taking his friendship for granted, and he deserves better than that.         Diefenbaker whined.         "Perhaps it is merely the time of year when internal contemplation is a natural reaction," he told the wolf, who sat at his feet, seeming to know his friend was upset, but unsure as to how to make him feel better.         Maybe his father was right. Maybe he should return to Canada.         Who else besides Ray would miss him when he was gone?          -----         Ray returned the phone to it's cradle with a satisfied smile. He'd spent the day setting his plan into motion, which hadn't been easy -- Lieutenant Welsh had been keeping a covert, or so he thought, eye on him from inside his office. So he'd put in a token effort on some of his assigned cases, and stole a few minutes here and there to work on what was really important.         After all, he thought to himself, I know where my priorities are.         Luckily, he'd managed to convince Frannie last night to do a lot of the work. She had been more than eager to help, once he'd told her what he had in mind.         "Ray," Elaine called, approaching the desk with a file in her hand. "I've added the information your requested to the McGasky file. What do you want me to do with it?"         Ray focused on the pretty civilian aide. "Uh, just send it up to forensics. They'll handle it from there."         The dark woman nodded. "So, is everything all set for tomorrow?"         The smile was back, brighter than before. "Just about. At least on my end. I hope Frannie doesn't screw up her part in this."         "Relax," she replied, reaching out to give his arm a reassuring pat. "I'm sure everything will work out just fine. Besides, Fraser's not all that particular, anyway."         He watched her as she left the bullpen, shaking his head. He knew she'd fallen for the Mountie the moment she had laid eyes on him over two years ago, but had reconciled herself to the fact that Fraser considered her a friend, and nothing more. Now if Frannie would only get a clue...         Jack Huey walked into his field of vision. "So how are you planning to keep this from the Mountie?"         Ray shrugged his shoulder. "Crossed fingers and a lot of prayer."         "With your sister involved, you'd better have more up your sleeve than that."         "Yeah, don't I know it."         "Fraser has no idea what you're up to?"         Ray smiled. "Not a clue, and I intend to keep it that way."         The door to the squad room swung open, and the topic of their conversation walked in. Ray studied his friend as he approached. While his uniform was as neat and spotless as ever, the Canadian's face was shadowed, and he looked tired and drawn. You really are down, Benny, aren't you? He felt brief pang of guilt, then forced it aside. Well, it's only for one more night. Hopefully this present will cheer you up.         Fraser spotted Ray standing next to his desk, talking with Detective Huey, and moved to join them. "Good afternoon, gentlemen."         "Hey, Fraser," Huey greeted.         "Hi, Benny," Ray said, straightening slightly from his casual stance. "Tough day at the Consulate?"         "Not particularly," he replied. I only looked at more slides, reminding me of all that I've lost...         "Ray!" Francesca came barreling into the bullpen, heading straight for her brother's desk. "Everything's a go. I finished making all the arrangements, and..." Her words stumbled to a halt when she saw him. "Uh, hello Benton."         "Francesca," he replied, concerned, as the color seemed to drain from her face. "Are you all right?"         She began to fidget, not quite able to meet his eyes. "Uh, yeah. Sure. I'm fine."         "Frannie's just excited," Ray said quickly, green eyes locked with brown. "She's got her first big catering job on Sunday."         Her eyes widened slightly. "Yeah. Yeah, that's right."         "Oh, then may I offer you my congratulations, Francesca," he replied.         "Uh, yeah... Thanks. So I'm, uh, I'm here to, uh--"         Elaine, back from her errand in Forensics, was crossing towards the file cabinet near them.         "--I'm just here to get a recipe from Elaine!" Francesca lunged slightly to grab the other woman by the shoulders. "There you are, Elaine! I've been looking all over for you."         Elaine seemed puzzled. "You have?"         Francesca glared at the civilian aide. "Of course. You promised to give me that special recipe of yours, remember?"         "Are you people working on any particular case at right now?" Lieutenant Welsh interrupted as he stepped out of his office to glare at them.         "Uh, no, sir. Not at the moment," Ray replied.         "Then there is no need to overtax the city's budget by standing around and discussing personal matters on the city's time, is there?" He continued to glare at them for a few seconds longer, then went back inside his office.         "That's right!" Francesca chimed in, clutching at Elaine once more. "Come on, Elaine. You said you had that recipe in your locker. Let's go get it." She practically dragged Elaine out of the room with her.         Ray swallowed convulsively, then gave a shrug. "Sisters."         "Yeah," Huey agreed. After a moment, he glanced down at his watch. "Well, I'd better to go, too." He glanced at Vecchio before continuing. "Going out of town this weekend, and I've got to go home and pack. See you around, Fraser."         "Good night, Detective Huey," Fraser said.         "Yeah. Have a good time, Jack." He glanced at his friend. "Look, Benny. I'd love to drive you home, but I just don't have the time tonight. I've got a lot to do before tomorrow." He moved to his desk and removed his gun from the drawer, hooking it on his belt.         Fraser's mood brightened. Perhaps Ray has something special planned for my birthday. "You have plans tomorrow?"         "Yup," the Italian replied. "I met this fantastic lady at the coffee shop this morning, and we're spending the day together. She just moved to Chicago, so I'm gonna show her around town. See the sights, picnic lunch, and maybe an early movie and dinner afterwards."         It was by sheer will alone that Fraser kept his face from revealing the wave of disappointment that washed through him. "Oh. Well, have a nice time, Ray."         "You, too, Benny. See you on Monday."         Then he was gone.         Fraser's sense of abandonment was complete as he stood alone besides Ray's desk. Ray must have forgotten, the rational side of his mind struggled to regain control over his raging emotions. He's been very busy lately. It must have just slipped his mind.         But the pain in his heart threatened to overwhelm him.         He was beginning to attract stares from the other officers who remained in the room. He turned almost mechanically and walked towards the door.         Life in the Arctic had certainly been cold, but Fraser suddenly found life in the city to be glacial by comparison. -----                  Fraser sat at the desk in his small office at the Consulate. He picked up the top file from the tall stack that he was required to work on and opened it up, beginning to write in his neat handwriting. After a few minutes, he closed the file and set it off to the side, reaching for the next file. Then the next, then the next.         But no matter how fast he wrote, the stack refused to shrink.         A shrill shout from somewhere outside caused his head to snap up, and he quickly moved from the desk to his office window. He drew back the curtain and scanned the street. Everything looked normal. People walked along the sidewalk at a casual pace, traffic moved smoothly down the three lane street.         He sighed then returned to his desk to continue his work.         But the files were gone.         Frowning, he quickly searched the small room, but he could not find them anywhere. He shook his head, then exited his office and went downstairs, stopping before the double doors of the Consulate. Seized by an unexplainable impulse, he opened one of the doors and went outside. Most everyone seemed to be heading in the same direction, so Fraser joined them, moving into the stream of people walking down the street. Only a few people were heading in the opposite direction, and he altered his path to allow them room.         "Benton..."         He stopped abruptly, recognizing the voice he'd thought had long ago faded from his memory. Anxious eyes scanned the crowd, falling on the beautiful woman mid-way down the next block. He hadn't seen her since he was six years old. She hadn't changed a bit.         "Mother," he whispered, a lump forming suddenly in his throat.         He started walking again, a bit faster this time, as he made his way toward her. The flow of people moving in the opposite direction had increased somewhat, and Fraser dodged them as best he could.         "Be a good boy, Benton."         Fraser stopped at the corner, his grandmother's warning snapping his head around to the left. His grandparents stood waiting for him about half way down the block. He turned back to where he had last seen his mother.         But she was gone.         Confused, and with a sense of panic beginning to well up inside him, he started towards his grandparents. But more and more people were heading in the opposite direction now, and he was bumped into and jostled quite a bit, no matter how hard he tried to avoid it.         "It's too crowded here, son," his Father's voice came from behind him.         Fraser spun around to find Robert Fraser standing at the corner he'd just stood at only a few moments before.         "You should go back to the Territories, where you belong."         He turned back towards his grandparents, but they, too, had now disappeared.         His panic was now laced with fear. "Dad!" he shouted, starting back for the corner at a run, but he could make no headway as he tried to fight against the tide of bodies moving in the opposite direction, dragging him along in their wake.         His father merely shook his head and walked away, disappearing around the corner.         "Dad, wait!"         But it was hopeless.         "We could have been together forever, Ben..."         A cold sweat broke out across his body as the soft voice, that voice he had fallen in love with so many years ago, reached his ears.         She stood across the street, her dark curly hair blowing softly in the breeze. She looked as beautiful as the last time he'd seen her, her arms slipping from around his waist as he'd fallen from the train. He could still smell her perfume, see the look of triumph turning into fear in her eyes as she realized he was lost to her for a second time, stopped by Ray's bullet.         Without realizing what he was doing, he pushed his way across the sidewalk, bodily fighting the still-moving wave of bodies, his need to get to her overwhelming.         There was a screeching of brakes, then something hard slammed him down to the pavement.         He lay there, too stunned to even breathe. It took him several moments to realize there was no pain. He lifted himself off the ground with shaky arms, and stood on legs that threatened to buckle beneath him at any moment.         The area was deserted.         There was no sound at all, save that of his harsh, ragged breaths and the pounding of his racing heart. No people walked on the sidewalks now, no traffic clogged the busy city streets. Not even the wind could be heard, the air deathly still.         He was alone.         He completed his journey across the street to find himself at the entrance of the 27th Precinct, and went inside, racing up the stairs two at a time.         But the bullpen was empty as well.         He slowly walked over to Ray's desk and sat down in the chair opposite it, his usual seat when making his frequent visits to see the detective, wearily dropping his head in his hands. He felt hollow inside, as if all energy and spirit had been drained away, leaving nothing but the empty shell of his body behind.         "You never fit in here, Fraser."         Fraser looked up to see Ray leaning casually against Elaine's desk, arms crossed against his chest. His mouth opened to protest, but no sound came out.         "Face it, Benny, you've never fit in anywhere. You never will."         Ray turned and walked out of the squad room.         "Ray. Wait!"         Fraser somehow found the energy to jump to his feet and chased after him, but as the doors to the bullpen swung open Fraser found himself running through the hard-packed Yukon snow.         He stopped dead in his tracks, the cold air and wet snow like a slap in the face. His eyes scanned the barren landscape, but there was nothing. Nothing but white snow, gray sky, and himself.         The totality of his aloneness closed over him like the lid being closed on a coffin, cutting off all air and light and life. He sank to his knees, the cold wetness that soaked through his clothing, seeping through skin down to his very bones nothing compared to the icy coldness in his own heart.         Fraser gasped as his eyes flew open, the last images of his dream fading as reality solidified around him. The sun had already begun rising, sunlight streaming in through the back windows of his apartment. He drew in a deep breath and let it out in a shaky sigh, sitting up in his bed.         The day hadn't even begun yet, and already he was exhausted.         Diefenbaker raised his head from where he lay on the small area rug beside the bed, his large brown eyes regarding him silently.         "It was just a dream," Fraser informed him.         The wolf whined.         "Yes, I know I haven't been myself lately, however it is a perfectly normal reaction for people alone during holidays or special occasions to experience a form of depression. Whole studies have been conducted--"         A sharp bark.         "I have not been behaving irrationally," he protested, a defensive edge creeping into his voice. "Ray made other plans for the day. I couldn't very well have told him to cancel them so I wouldn't have to spend my birthday alone." As much as I wanted to.         ==Baby.==         Fraser straightened suddenly at the harsh voice in his mind.         ==You've been moping around for the past few days in a sulk. 'Awww, poor Benton's alone for his birthday, stuck in the big city and wants to go home...' Next thing you know you'll be sucking your thumb and crying for Mommy.==         The portrait the voice painted of him left him cold and shaken. Have I really been behaving like a child?         =='No one remembered my birthday... Pity me, pity me.'==         Fraser dropped his head, feeling vaguely ashamed.         ==You let a stray feeling or two snowball into a full-scale depression. Can't even look at a few snapshots of the Yukon without turning into a blubbering idiot. What good are you to anyone now, least of all yourself? Some Mountie you are.==         I may be a Mountie, he protested, his head coming up sharply as if to look his adversary straight in the eye, but I'm also human. Why can't I be allowed to feel? To express my doubts and fears, as well as my joys and happiness?         ==You've never allowed yourself to do that. You wouldn't know how to if you tried. 'Always keep your distance -- Maintain the Right,' that's your motto. You're your father's son, alright.==         "Enough!" he almost shouted, bolting from the bed, trying to silence the cruel voice. "This is ridiculous. It's my birthday. Just a day of the year like any other. My moping around here isn't going to make the day go by any faster. We've got lots of things to do today, Diefenbaker. Errands to run. So let's get cracking." -----                  Ray finished packing the car, making sure all items were secured in place before slamming the hatchback down. They couldn't use the Riviera for this, and Ray didn't want to chance his mother's station wagon being recognized, so Francesca had borrowed a car from one of her friends.         Ray glanced at his watch. "Come on, Frannie. Hurry up!" he shouted, with no annoyance in his voice. They'd spent the entire morning making final preparations and buying last minute supplies. Now it was nearly noon, and Ray was getting anxious. He hoped nothing happened to screw this up.         Francesca exited the front door of the house, locking it behind her. Ray had to admit, she looked fantastic with her hair drawn up in a French Twist and wearing an unusually, for Frannie, tasteful mini-dress. Affectionate exasperation filled him. She still refused to accept the fact that Fraser wasn't interested in more than her friendship, and took advantage of every opportunity to flirt with the Mountie, although she had toned it down somewhat from the early days of their friendship. In those days, most women's attempts to land the Canadian flew right over his head, and what didn't made him incredibly uncomfortable. Time had taught them all a few things.         As soon as she was beside him, he leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.         Her eyes widened in surprise. "What was that for?"         "What? Can't a guy kiss his sister?"         Francesca smiled warmly at him. "Yeah, well, don't make it a habit, alright?"         "You sure we've got everything we'll need?"         Frannie sighed with long-suffering patience. "Yes, Ray. Now let's go already. You're the one who was rushing me, remember?"         "Okay, okay."         Ray got behind the wheel of the car, and they drove the short distance to Fraser's neighborhood. He parked the car a few blocks away, then turned off the ignition.         "What now?" Francesca asked.         Ray glanced at his watch, then took his cell phone from his pocket and set it on the dash.         "Now we wait." -----         Fraser unplugged the iron from the wall and left it sitting upright on the counter to cool. He had accomplished a lot in the few hours since he'd awaken. He fixed breakfast for himself and Diefenbaker, although the wolf had enjoyed the food more than he had, then gave the small apartment a thorough cleaning, hand washed some of his laundry, and cleaned out the refrigerator. Mrs. Garcia had knocked on his door at that point, asking for some assistance in fixing a wooden picture frame that had broken, and he'd gladly gone to her apartment and glued it back together for her. She offered him some coffee, and he agreed to stay for a cup. Afterwards, he had walked over to the small grocery store down the block and picked up some groceries for the coming week, dropped off his uniforms at the dry cleaners, and picked up some laundry he had dropped off the day before, returning to his apartment to iron them.         It was noon now, and he couldn't think of any more mindless tasks that needed to be done.         Diefenbaker sat staring at him, those warm brown eyes speaking volumes.         "You're not getting any of the coffee cake Mrs. Garcia gave me this morning, Diefenbaker," Fraser replied, exasperated at the wolf's insatiable desire for sweets. "So you can forget that idea right now."         Dief whined morosely.         "You're getting soft, I hope you know that. You've been eating too much unhealthy food since we moved to Chicago, and you haven't been getting the same amount of exercise you were used to."         A series of low barks.         Fraser's eyes widened slightly as he glanced down at himself. He was dressed in jeans, an open flannel shirt covering the blue T-shirt he wore beneath it. "Well, perhaps I have not been getting the amount of exercise I was used to as well, but I do get a fair amount, what with helping Ray and all..."         The wolf snorted at him.         Fraser got to his feet. "Well, if that's you're opinion, perhaps we would do well to do something about it. Come on."         Diefenbaker leapt to his feet and followed his master out the door of the small apartment.         He shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he watched the apartment from the opposite corner, not wanting to be seen. He had almost turned down the job when he'd first been approached about it, but then changed his mind at the last moment, when he'd managed to wrangle some extra cash on the deal as well.         He'd been there for quite a while now, and he was bored. If something didn't happen soon...         Just then the subject of his surveillance exited the building, the animal beside him quickly trotting out a few paces ahead.         He pulled back into the doorway, not wanting to be seen, then risked another glance.         They were heading in the opposite direction.         He waited until they were a some distance away before walking over to the payphone. Picking up the receiver, he slipped the quarter in the slot and dialed the number from memory. It was answered after the first ring.         "It's me. The coast is clear." Then he hung up.         He waited for the light to change before crossing the street. He had just reached the apartment building he had been keeping watch on when a car pulled up to the curb behind him.         He turned to face the driver.         "So how'd I do?"         Ray Vecchio smiled at him as he climbed out of the vehicle. "Great, Willie. Just great."         Willie Lambert returned the cop's smile. The Mountie had helped him out of a tight spot a couple of years ago, and he'd been Diefenbaker's unofficial wolf-sitter ever since. He liked Fraser, even though he thought the man was a bit strange at times, and he'd come to like the hard-nosed detective the Canadian hung out with as well, although he'd rather forgo hustling forever than admit it.         "Now you know the plan," Ray continued, helping Francesca, who was loading up some of the supplies to take up to the third floor apartment, "You stay here and keep a look-out for them. If Fraser comes back too soon--"         "I know, I know," he interrupted. "Tell him I need help with something, and keep him distracted for a couple of hours. I got it already."         "Don't screw this up, kid. We're depending on you."         "Hey, trust me on this, okay? Fraser's my friend. I won't mess this up."         Ray shook his head, bemused. "I can see why Benny falls for your 'butter won't melt in my mouth' routine, kid."         "Yeah, well, I'm not just another pretty face," Willie replied, a smirk on his face.         Ray snorted. "You got that right. See you later."         Willie watched them as they went upstairs, then settled himself in for another long wait. -----         Fraser threw the stick as hard as he could down the beach, watching as Diefenbaker raced after it. The wolf normally did not play fetch, believing it to be demeaning, but today he had brought the piece of wood to his packmate and dropped it at his feet with a bark. Perhaps he is feeling sorry for me, too, and is trying to cheer me up.         Dief ran back to him, circling him a few times, waiting for him to attempt to take the stick away. But Fraser continued walking towards an empty stretch of beach, then sat down in the sand, facing the lake, crossing his legs in front of him.         Diefenbaker dropped the stick and lay down beside him, panting from the exertion.         He closed his eyes, feeling the warm sunlight on his face, and letting the soothing sound of water lapping the shoreline calm him. He thought about his actions during the past week, as well as the emotions he'd been experiencing, and tried to put things into perspective.         "You know, Dief," Fraser began, opening his eyes and running a hand through the thick fur, "I have always been solitary by nature. It never bothered me all that much, working alone in the Yukon. When you chose to stay with me after I rescued you from that bear trap, I began to realize how much I missed the human contact, the companionship that having someone who was close to you could provide."         Dief, who had been watching him, rested his head on Fraser's lap.         Fraser smiled. "When I was transferred here, you were the only friend I had. Then we met Ray. He was the first person I let get close to me in... in a very long time. I don't know why I've always isolated myself from others. I suppose it really doesn't matter. Ray has been a good friend to us."         He sighed, memories of all he and Ray had been through the past two years flashing through his mind. "A better friend than I deserve. I had no right to be upset because he forgot my birthday. Considering how much he does for us the rest of the year, it does seem rather petty, doesn't it?"         He stopped speaking as a man jogged past them.         "I know you miss the Territories. So do I. But Chicago is our home now, at least for the time being. Maybe we can't," a small smile tugged at his lips as he recalled Inspector Thatcher's expression, "'clean up America,' but we can try to help out when we can, and take satisfaction in that. The fact that they are Americans should not enter into it."         Dief's head rose, and he gave a small woof in reply.         Fraser laughed softly. "Yes, my 'mood,' as you call it, is definitely improving."         The wolf leapt to his feet and gave a happy bark, punctuated by a lick on the chin. Impulsively, Fraser reached out to grab him and give him a quick hug, followed by a brisk rub of his fur. "Thanks for the birthday wishes, Dief."         Fraser climbed to his feet, a smile on his face. "Come on, Diefenbaker. Let's go home." -----         "There, what do you think?" Ray asked as he stood on the middle rung of the step ladder.         Francesca looked up the preparations she was placing the finishing touches on at the table. "Perfect. What time is it?"         Ray climbed down, getting both his feet safely on the floor before glancing at his watch. "Almost 2:00 p.m."         Francesca smiled. "I can't believe this plan of yours is actually working."         "Hey," Ray replied with feigned insult, "I do have my moments of genius. Unlike some others..."         Francesca's mouth was open for a reply when there was a knock on the door. Ray hurriedly folded the ladder and slipped it into Fraser's closet while his sister moved to answer the door.         Margaret Thatcher stood on the other side. "I'm not early, am I?" she asked as she entered the apartment.         "No," Francesca replied, closing the door behind her. "You're right on time, Inspector."         "Must be because you're Canadian," Ray said by way of a greeting. "Us lowly Americans are always late."         She frowned at the thinly veiled insult, but let it pass. Glancing about the apartment, she asked, "Is there anything I can help you with?"         Ray smiled. "Nope. We're just about done. Just relax and enjoy yourself."         She didn't look to happy with that, but Ray was distracted as there was another knock at the door. Everything was going according to plan, and he smiled as he went to answer it.         Time to get this show on the road. -----         Fraser's pace had picked up considerably on the long walk back to his apartment, no longer weighted down by the depression he'd been carrying around with him for the past week. Diefenbaker loped ahead, taking in the strange sights and smells city life had to offer. Fraser couldn't help but grin. Dief would circle his packmate occasionally, barking happily at something he'd seen, then trotting off again, but never getting too far ahead of his human companion.         Diefenbaker rushed up to him again, barking once, then ran to the entrance of the bakery and sat down. Fraser shook his head. "Dief, the whole point of today's exercise was for physical fitness. Do you really want to ruin all that work for a jelly doughnut?"         Dief barked once again.         Fraser shook his head in resignation, deciding to give in to the animal's addiction. "All right, maybe just--"         Diefenbaker's head snapped around suddenly, and he sniffed at the air intently. The fur on the back of the wolf's neck rose.         Fraser stopped in his tracks, looking for the source of the wolf's distress, when Dief barked harshly and took off across the busy street.         Drivers slammed on their brakes in order to avoid the animal, and Fraser followed, throwing a wave of apology to them, his heart pounding in fright at how close his companion had come to getting killed just now.         He was half way down the block when he saw it. Black smoke billowed out from the top story of a three story apartment building. He increased his speed.         People were standing in clusters on the sidewalk in front of the building. Some were crying, their neighbors attempting to offer comfort, others stood forlornly as their possessions went up in flames, and still others, who were merely passing by, watched in morbid fascination.         Fraser approached the group closest to him. "Has the fire department been notified?"         An elderly woman nodded, brushing the tears from her cheeks. "I think so."         "Did everyone make it out?"         "I think so," replied a tall black man. "We managed to knock on all the doors on the first and second floors, and most of the ones on the third. Luckily, a lot of the residents are out, it being a Saturday and all."         "ELLIE!"         They turned to see a young woman running towards the building from across the street. "Ellie, where are you?!"         She ran straight for the door. Fraser lunged in front of her, blocking her path, and grabbed her by the arms. "Ma'am, do you believe your child is still inside?"         She struggled against him. "I don't see her anywhere. Ellie!"         "Which apartment?"         "Three-F. Second to last door on the right."         "I will find your child, ma'am," he promised as he gave her arms a gentle squeeze. "Sir," he called to the black man, who moved immediately to join them. "Take care of her." Releasing the young mother to his care, Fraser then turned to find Diefenbaker, who was watching his packmate intently, waiting for any command. "Dief, stay."         He ran into the burning structure.         Fraser was met by a thick haze of smoke as he rushed up the stairs leading to the second floor. He could feel the temperature rise dramatically up on the second floor landing. Debris fell occasionally from the ceiling as the fire slowly ate its way through the floorboards.         He slowed his pace as he climbed the stairs to the third floor. Intense heat ate the remaining oxygen rapidly, and seared his lungs as he attempted to breathe in more than just the thick black smoke. He coughed, harshly.         Flames had engulfed the hallway to his left, and he knew he had very little time left before it would block off his exit. Coughing, he made his way to the woman's apartment. He tried the door, but it was locked. Bracing himself, he kicked it in. "Ellie!"         The sounds of muffled crying reached his ears, but the smoke made it difficult to see. His eyes burned fiercely, tearing up in an attempt to rid themselves of the irritation, which hampered his vision even more. He dropped to his knees and crawled toward the sound of the crying child.         She was crouched down in the corner of the living room, and she shrank back in fear when she saw him. She couldn't have been more than six years old. "Ellie? It's alright," he soothed, trying to ease her fear, but continuing to approach her. They had very little time left. "Everything is going to be okay. Your mom sent me here to get you. She wants me to bring you to her, Ellie. Do you want to go to your mommy?"         She nodded hesitantly.         "Okay then," he said, stopping right in front of her. "I'll take you to your mommy. Put your arms around my shoulders, Ellie." She practically lunged into his arms, wrapping her arms about his neck so tightly that she threatened to cut off what little oxygen he was managing to take in. He climbed to his feet, getting a solid grip on her. "Okay, Ellie. Let's go to find your mommy."         The flames were approaching this end of the hallway rapidly, engulfing the walls and ceiling as well. He moved as quickly as he dared to the staircase. As he passed one of the apartments, however, the sound of a dog barking reached his ears. He forced himself to keep going. Unable to see clearly, he gripped the banister tightly as he descended the stairs.         The light hurt his eyes as they cleared the front entry and made it out into the street. Ellie's mother was there in an instant, practically tearing the child from his arms, and the black man followed along behind her. Fraser coughed harshly as his lungs demanded oxygen. He wiped at his eyes, attempting to clear his vision, but he only managed to smear more soot on his face.         "Is there anyone in 3-C?" Fraser croaked, his voice hoarse from the smoke.         "Mr. Horowitz," the man replied. "But he goes to the club on Saturdays."         "Patches!" Ellie said suddenly, coughing occasionally, but apparently not otherwise injured. "What about Patches?"         The woman and the man hesitated, not knowing how to tell the small child that the dog would probably not survive. Fraser glanced up to see the smoke and flames billowing out of the third floor windows, then back to the child. In an instant, he made his decision. "I'll be right back." He turned and re-entered the building.         The heavy smoke permeated the entire building now, debris falling more frequently from the ceiling. He could barely breathe, what little oxygen left so hot that if felt as if he was breathing in the flames themselves.         The third floor was now fully engulfed, and he dodged the flames as he found the right door and kicked it in. The small dog barked weakly at him once, and lacking the air to attempt to calm the animal down, he reached down and scooped it up into his arms.         The sound of approaching sirens were barely audible above the roar of the fire.         Flames licked at his clothing as he dashed for the stairs. He groped for the bannister, running on auto-pilot. His throat and chest had been seared, scorched, turned to ash. His eyes burned as tears flowed freely.         He couldn't breathe, he couldn't see, and the front door seemed an impossibly long distance away.         He was on the stairs between the second and first floors when the explosion hit. A wall of heat slammed into him, the concussion pitching him head-first down the stairs.         He never felt it when he reached the bottom. -----         The small apartment was crowded with people. Willie played with Jamie as his mother, Louise, watched the two-year-old giggle and coo at the boy. Elaine chatted amicably with Esther Pearson over a cold glass of punch. Thatcher and Ovitz discussed Canadian politics while Turnbull occasionally offered comments that neither agreed with nor objected to whatever he was responding to. Huey and Mr. Mustafi talked sports near the window. Others from the neighborhood found the food, drink and pleasant conversation to be the stuff good parties are made of. Music from Francesca's portable CD player droned on in the background. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.         Except for Ray.         He paced slowly near the door of the apartment, glancing every so often at his watch. It was after 4 p.m., and Fraser had yet to return from wherever it was he'd gone off to. I knew things were running too smoothly. Something just had to go wrong. The party's going great, so Fraser, of course, doesn't bother showing up...         "Vecchio," Lieutenant Welsh's voice interrupted his internal tirade. "Nice party, considering the fact that we seem to be missing the guest of honor."         "Uh," he hedged, "I'm sure he'll be here any minute, sir."         "Uh-huh," Welsh replied with a nod, then wandered off towards the buffet spread once more.         "Good thing we made all that extra food."         Francesca's voice came from behind him, and he turned to face her. "Yeah, who knew word of this party would spread and half the neighborhood would drop in unannounced."         "Where is Fraser, anyway?" she asked, the annoyance in her voice laced with mild concern.         Ray was about to answer when his cellular phone rang. He plucked it from his pocket and flipped it open. "Vecchio."         Through the din of the party he could barely hear the voice on the other end of the line. "Hold on a minute."         He opened the door and slipped out into the hall, cutting down the noise level as he shut it firmly behind him. "Sorry about that. What did you say?"         "Is this Ray Vecchio?" a female voice asked.         "Yes."         "Do you know a man by the name of Benton Fraser?"         Ray frowned, a sinking feeling in his gut. "Yeah. Why? Who is this?"         "I'm Nurse Becker, ER nurse at Chicago Memorial Hospital. A Benton Fraser was brought into the Emergency Room a short while ago, and you were listed on his identification card as the person to contact in case of an accident or illness."         Ray's grip tightened involuntarily on the small phone. "What happened? Is he alright?"         "I'm sorry, Mr. Vecchio," the nurse replied, "but I'm afraid I don't have any information on Mr. Fraser's condition, other than the fact that he was brought in by ambulance about twenty minutes ago. Are you able to come down to the hospital?"         "I'll be right there." He slapped the phone shut, closing his eyes in an attempt to calm down. But he couldn't. Fraser was rather stoic by nature, insisting nothing was wrong even when he had some sort of problem. He would not have allowed himself to be taken to the hospital for only a minor injury. The fact that it was the hospital, and not Fraser, that had called...         He opened his eyes and glanced back to the closed apartment door. Should I tell them? He hesitated for only a moment before reaching his decision. No. Why worry everyone when we don't even know how bad things really are? But he did have to tell someone he was leaving.         He took a deep breath and went back inside.         Luckily, his mother was the first person he came upon after closing the door.         "Ray, this is a good party. Who knew so many people..." she stopped when she got a good look at the expression on her son's face. "Ramondo, what's wrong?"         He couldn't lie to her, and he could actually use her help to run interference for him. He lowered his voice so they wouldn't be overheard. "Ma, I just got a call from Chicago Memorial. Fraser's had some kind of accident."         "Oh, dear Lord..." she murmured. "Is he okay?"         "The nurse I spoke to didn't have any of the details. I don't want to tell anyone until I find out something definite. Can you keep things running smoothly here until I find out?"         "Of course," she agreed immediately. "You go and take care of Benton."         He reached into his pocket and gave her his cell phone. "I'll call you when I know something."         "Don't worry, Ray. I'll take care of everything here."          He leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Ma."         He slipped out of the apartment before anyone else could stop him.         Ray pushed the limits of safe driving, but the trip from Fraser's apartment to the hospital was made in record time. He walked briskly through the Emergency Room entrance and went straight to the Nurses' Station. A single nurse was there, and she was on the phone. Ray tapped his hand on the counter impatiently.         She hung up, glancing up at him. "Can I help you?"         "I'm here about Benton Fraser. Nurse Becker called me. I'm Detective Ray Vecchio."         "Are you a family member, Detective Vecchio?"         "No," Ray replied, "But I'm the closest thing to family he has."         She studied him for a moment, the reached down for a clip board. "All right. Please fill out these forms as quickly as possible, and return them here to the desk. If you'll have a seat in the waiting room, you'll be called when we have some information for you."         He took the forms and went to sit down. There were other people in the waiting area, it being too early in the evening for things to have slowed down yet. A television set droned on in the corner, giving those in the room something to focus on while they waited.         Ray filled out the forms relatively quickly, having done this for Fraser more times than he cared to remember. The last time had been when Fraser had been shot in the leg trying to protect the man who had murdered his father.         An elderly man crossing to the TV and changing the channel to a local news broadcast caught his attention, and Ray allowed himself a moment's breather from the paperwork to watch.         "...fire swept through the three story building. The only injury reported was that of a good Samaritan passing the building at the time of the fire." There was footage of the fire department putting out the blaze as the reporter's voice continued. "Witnesses on the scene say the man went into the burning building to rescue six-year-old Ellie Richards, who was trapped in her apartment. He then went back into the building to save another resident's dog."         The camera focused the reporter's interview with one of the witnesses. "Something must've happened while he was inside. Patches came running out, barking, and then this guy's dog ran inside."         The reporter appeared on camera once more. "According to one of the firemen who rescued the victim, they found the man's dog dragging him by his shirt towards the entrance. The victim was taken to Chicago Memorial, where he is currently being treated for injuries sustained during his daring rescue attempt. His name is being withheld pending notification of his family. Julie Francis, Channel Two News."         Ray returned his attention to the forms in his lap, completing them a few minutes later. He brought them back to the desk only to find the nurse once again on the phone. He leaned against the counter to wait. Another nurse and an orderly walked in behind her, their voices loud enough for Ray to clearly hear what was being said.         "What are we gonna do with him?" the nurse asked.         "We can't keep him in here. Call the pound."         "I hate the thought of sending a cute little guy like that to the animal shelter. What if no one claims him?"         "He looks well fed. He must be somebody's pet."         "Tell me what happened."         "Jerry said he just came running in, nose to the ground like he was following a trail. Made a bee-line for the ER, but Ritchie cut him off."         Following a trail. Ray straightened in his seat as his mind followed a trail of its own. Fraser and Dief go out together. Fraser's hurt and is taken to the hospital. Dief's a wolf, so what would a wolf do? He'd follow after his master...         "Hey, wait a minute," he called out, interrupting them.         "Can I help you, sir?" the nurse asked.         Ray flashed his badge. "Detective Vecchio, CPD. Where do you have this dog?"         She turned back towards the orderly. "Tim?"         "We've got him in the locker room. Jerry's giving him a quick rinse. He's filthy."         "Take me to him," Ray ordered, handing the forms to the nurse still on the phone. Tim nodded and led him out of the waiting area.         They went down the hall into and another wing of the hospital. The acrid smell of smoke hit Ray as soon as the orderly opened the locker room door.         "Jerry?"         "Back here."         They walked around the row of lockers to see another orderly bent over and briskly rubbing the animal beneath a large towel. Jerry stood up, taking the towel with him.         It was Diefenbaker.         Dief rushed over and began barking at him. Both of the orderlies tensed, thinking Ray was about to be attacked. But Ray reached down and patted the still damp head. "Hey, Dief. You okay, boy?"         "You know this animal?" Jerry asked.         "Yeah, he belongs to one of your patients," Ray replied, then knelt down to the animal's eye level. "What happened to Fraser, Dief?"         Dief gave a series of whines, barks and growls. A fire? That was Benny they were talking about on the news? Oh, God...         Ray straightened abruptly. "Look, guys. I'll take him from here. Thanks for taking care of him."         He left the locker room with Dief trailing along beside him, and returned to the waiting area. He sat down wearily in an empty chair, and Diefenbaker curled up at his feet. He closed his eyes and tried to relax, but the news report he'd seen replayed itself over and over in his mind. Oh, Benny... What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into now?         "Detective Vecchio?"         Ray looked up to see a middle-aged doctor standing a few feet away. He stood, bracing himself for the worst. "Yes. How's Fraser?"         "I'm Doctor Parker. I'm handling your friend's case. Why don't you come with me, please."         Ray tried to keep a tight reign on his nervousness as he followed the doctor into a small consultation room just inside the ER.         "Your friend is one very lucky man," Parker began after they'd taken their seats. "From what I heard, that fire was a pretty nasty one. But I believe Constable Fraser will be just fine."         Ray exhaled the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding as relief flooded through him. Thank God.         Parker waited until he'd recovered somewhat before continuing. "He's suffering from some minor burns on his hands and face. No permanent damage, just enough to cause him some mild discomfort. He's also suffering from smoke inhalation. We've got him on oxygen, and will be keeping an eye on him for the next day or so to make sure his lungs remain clear. He did suffer a mild concussion, however, from a fall down some stairs. He was unconscious for approximately fifteen minutes, so we'll be keeping an eye out for any complications, although I don't expect there to be any. The worst of his injuries is a broken left tibia. He'll have a cast on the leg for about six weeks, but should have no trouble afterwards."         "Can I see him?"         "His leg is being set now, then we'll be moving him up to a room. I'll have the nurse inform you when you can go up."         The doctor climbed to his feet, and Ray followed. "Thanks, Doc."         "I gave him my best, detective," Parker said as he led him back out to the waiting area. "After what he did today, the world could use a few more like him."         Ray nodded, a warm feeling of pride in his friend bringing a smile to his face. "It certainly can, Doc. It certainly can." -----         Ray kept his eyes on the indicator lights above the elevator door, Diefenbaker standing quietly beside him. He'd had to wait half an hour longer before a nurse informed him Fraser had been taken to his room. The time had gone by fairly quickly. After speaking to Doctor Parker, he'd found a pay phone in a quiet corner and called his mother, letting her know that Fraser was going to be okay, and filling her in on the details of the Mountie's heroics. Most of the guests had left, but apparently Elaine had picked up on Mrs. Vecchio's distress, and a few of their closest friends had remained behind to wait for word. He promised to call back after Fraser's visit, then hung up, returning to the waiting room to wait.         Now Ray was going to see for himself that Fraser was indeed okay.         They exited the elevator on the fifth floor and followed the signs to the Canadian's room, which was at the end of the hallway. Ray slowed to a stop at the entrance, standing in the doorway to study his friend.         Fraser lay quietly in the bed closest to the window, the casted leg held in traction nearly two feet above the blankets. He appeared to be asleep.         Ray entered the room quietly, not wanting to disturb its single occupant, and moved to stand at the foot of the bed. The wolf sat down at his packmate's bedside, watching over him protectively, but making no move to disturb him. Ray examined the sleeping man more closely. The head of the bed had been raised slightly to make breathing easier, and a nasal cannula fed pure, cool oxygen to the Mountie's polluted lungs. Fraser's face was a bit red, as if he'd been out in the sun too long. White bandages covered his hands to prevent the burns from becoming infected, and an IV was attached to his left forearm, just above the wrist. Fraser looked exhausted, and Ray knew it was not only due to today's exertions.         As if sensing the presence of someone else in the room, Fraser stirred. Bloodshot blue eyes opened, blinked several times, then glanced down at Dief before coming to rest on him. "Ray...?"         The Canadian's voice sounded as if someone had taken sandpaper to his vocal chords. Ray winced in sympathy. He knew it had to hurt.         He looked up at the broken leg, then met Fraser's gaze once more. "Well at least... you injured the other leg this time."         Fraser seemed puzzled for a moment, then his face cleared as he remembered Ray's teasing him after the incident with Gerard. "Yes, it would seem I was fortunate this time." He coughed, then attempted to clear his throat.         Ray moved over to the night stand and spooned some ice chips from the pitcher into a plastic cup and handed them to Fraser, who savored the cold wetness gratefully. "You were very fortunate this time, Fraser. You could have been killed."         "I had to try, Ray..."         "Yeah, I know. The kid I can understand. But going back in a second time for the dog was nuts."         Fraser glanced down at Diefenbaker for a moment, reaching out to pet the wolf gently, and from the expression on his face, Ray could tell his friend was imagining what could have happened if it had been the wolf trapped in an apartment fire. "No, it wasn't."         Ray conceded the point. "Yeah..."         Fraser put the empty cup back on the night stand, then regarded him silently for a few moments, his gaze moving over Ray from head to foot before returning to meet his eyes.         "I'm sorry, Ray," he said quietly.         Ray frowned. "For what?"         "I didn't mean to interrupt your date," Fraser said, waving a hand to indicate Ray's well-dressed attire, a sad expression on his face. "I know you had special plans..."         Oh damn. Now he's feeling guilty for ruining something that never happened in the first place! "Don't worry about it, Benny," Ray tried to reassure him. "She understands."         "I know how much you were looking forward to today," Fraser continued, eyes sliding away to stare at the wall behind him. "I didn't know the hospital was going to call you. If I had I would have tried to stop them--"         "Benny," Ray interrupted, hating to see his friend feeling so badly. "I said it was no problem. Just forget it, okay?"         Fraser's eyes returned to him, and Ray tried to keep his expression open and reassuring. After a moment Fraser nodded, the guilt on his face easing somewhat.         Ray suppressed a sigh. Here it was, Fraser's own birthday, and the Canadian was laid up in the hospital missing a party he knew nothing about.         An idea suddenly formed in his mind, and Ray had to fight to keep his excitement from showing on his face. He glanced at his watch, then back at his friend. keeping his voice neutral, said, "Uh, look, Benny," he began, his voice neutral. "You're looking pretty wiped, and my date's waiting, so I'm gonna let you get some rest."         Ray saw a brief flash of disappointment on Fraser's face before it assumed a more bland expression. "Oh, well... thank you kindly for dropping by, Ray."         He felt the guilt keenly, knowing he was inflicting yet another hurt to his friend, but forced himself to assume a cheerful expression. "I'll see you tomorrow, Benny. Get some rest. Come on, Dief."         "Good night, Ray."         Ray turned and walked out of the room, the wolf following, and headed straight for the nurse's station down the hall. The young woman who sat at the desk doing paperwork glanced up at their approach.         "Can I help you, sir?"         "Yeah. Can you page Doctor Parker for me, please?"         "Sure," she said with a nod, moving to the phone.         Ray moved away from the desk, expending his nervous energy by pacing. What he had in mind was a little unorthodox, but if he could only convince the doctor that it was in the best interest of his patient... -----         Fraser opened his eyes, resisting the urge to reach up and rub at them. They had bathed his eyes with saline solution in the Emergency Room, yet they still felt as if they were full of rough, sandy grit. The oxygen helped cool the raw pain in his throat and chest, but his lungs felt heavy, weighed down by a ton of soot. And he had a headache.         He glanced across the room. The privacy curtain had been draw, and he could hear faint movement from the other side. They must have moved another patient into the room while he was asleep.         Ray walked in, a goofy smile on his face. "Oh, good. You're finally awake."         "Ray," Fraser croaked, "I thought you left. Isn't your date waiting?"         The smile only got wider. "I'm glad you asked me that, Benny. I told my... date what happened, and she insisted on coming here to see you."         Fraser opened his mouth to protest, but Ray had taken hold of the curtain and drew it back towards the wall.         "Happy Birthday, Fraser!" came a cheerful chorus.         Mrs. Vecchio, Francesca, Inspector Thatcher, Lt. Welsh, Huey, and Elaine stood standing on the other side of the bed holding a banner that read 'Happy Birthday Fraser!'         Stunned, Fraser's mouth fell open, but no sound came out.         Diefenbaker came around the bed and jumped up, his front paws on Fraser's bed. Leaning forward, he gave his packmate a quick lick on the chin. Fraser's hand came up to rub the wolf's fur, and he blinked rapidly. He though his tear ducts had been completely dried out during the fire. He'd been wrong.         "I, uh..." he tried to speak past the sudden lump in his throat, but couldn't draw enough air, and he coughed.         "Well," Welsh's bemused voice broke into the emotion-filled silence, "it looks as if, for once, our verbose Mountie has nothing to say."         Warm laughter from the others broke the ice, and they put the sign down, moving to more comfortable positions around the room.         Taking pity on his friend, Ray moved to the bedstand, poured a glass of ice water and offered it to him. Fraser's hand closed around it, but he was too stunned to bring it up to his lips to drink.         "First party I ever planned, and the guest of honor goes and breaks his leg," Ray complained with feigned annoyance. "Thanks a lot, pal."         "And since you couldn't come to the party," Francesca piped in happily, "we decided to bring the party to you."         "This," Elaine indicated with a wave of her hand, "is only who was left. Pretty much the entire neighborhood dropped by your place at one time or another. You're a very popular guy."         "Or an easy mark," Jack added jokingly.         "Thank you," Fraser finally managed, his voice roughened by more than the fire. Not alone, his heart sang over and over. Not alone. "You have all made me feel welcome in this city, and I appreciate that more than mere words could ever express."         Silence filled the room, warm and comfortable. Fraser felt the gentle currents of their friendship wash through him, carrying his aloneness away with the tide. His eyes sought Ray's, and the bright green orbs sparkled back at him, reflecting the true depths of their friendship.         "We brought you a piece of ice cream cake, Benton," Mrs. Vecchio said, easing them back into a reality somewhat more richer now. She reached down behind the second bed and removed it from an unseen cooler, then brought it to him. "It's a small piece, but the doctor said it will soothe your throat."         He accepted it gratefully. "Thank you, Mrs. Vecchio. I'm sure it will."         Thatcher approached him, and he unconsciously straightened to attention, lowering the dish of ice cream to his lap. She smiled. "At ease, Constable."         He forced his body to relax somewhat, but her nearness continued to cause his heart to beat at a faster rate.         "The press is going to have a field day with this, you know," she went on. "Vivian Richards will probably be sitting on my doorstep in the morning, wanting to play this up for all that it's worth, you realize that, don't you?"         "I'm sorry, ma'am," he replied, bowing his head.         She reached out to lay a hand on his arm, giving him a small squeeze. He raised questioning eyes up to meet her sparkling brown ones. "What you did today will be worth the hassle, Fraser." It would be so easy to lose himself in the depths of those dark eyes...         "So, how's my patient doing?" Doctor Parker's entrance broke the moment, and Thatcher removed her hand, taking a step back. "Not getting drunk on spiked punch, I hope."         Ray snorted. "Are you kidding, Doc? This is the world's biggest Boy Scout you're talking about here."         "Well, I hate to break this up, but this Boy Scout needs to get some rest."         "We understand, doctor," Mrs. Vecchio said, gathering up the banner. "Happy birthday, Benton. We'll see you soon."         "Bye, Fraser," Huey said as he helped Mrs. Vecchio carry some of the supplies down to the car.         "Thank you kindly, Mrs. Vecchio. Good night, Detective Huey."         "We'll see you soon, Benton," Francesca stepped over to the bed and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Happy birthday."         Fraser blushed slightly, glancing at Ray, but the expression on his friend's face was one of amusement. "Thank you kindly, Francesca."         "I'll be back tomorrow with the paperwork for your sick leave, Fraser," Thatcher said.         "It's not necessary for you to take time out of you busy schedule for such a..." he began earnestly, but trailed off at the expression on her face. "Yes, well, your schedule is your own perogative, I suppose."         "Yes, it is," she replied. "Good night, Fraser."         "Good night, ma'am."         His eyes followed her as she walked out of sight.         The doctor glanced at Ray. "Detective?"         "Just five more minutes, Doc."         "All right, but then it's time to go," Parker agreed, then left the two men alone.         Ray was watching him with a knowing expression on his face. "You thought I forgot, didn't you?"         Fraser lowered his eyes, ashamed at himself for not giving his friend more credit, and gave a brief nod. "I'm sorry, Ray."         Ray shook his head, exasperated. "Don't be sorry, Fraser. I would have thought the same thing in your place. Besides, I'm the one who owes you an apology. You were feeling bad enough without my making things worse."         Fraser's head snapped up, blue eyes wide in surprise.         "Yeah, I knew," Ray answered his unspoken question. "You're pretty much an open book as far as I'm concerned, Benny. All those reminders of the life you've left behind left you feeling pretty homesick, and then a special occasion that's normally celebrated with people close to you only made you feel worse. You looked around and realized there weren't all that many people to celebrate with. Or so you thought. So I figured a surprise party would be the best way to cheer you up."         Fraser smiled shyly, a warm feeling spreading outward from his heart to envelope his entire body. What did I ever do to deserve a friend like Ray... "I'm sorry I ruined your plans."         Ray smiled in return. "Well, I'll let it slide -- this time. You did have a pretty good excuse, after all."         Fraser was silent for a few moments, contented. "This was the nicest birthday present anyone has ever given me, Ray. Thank you."         "Yeah, well..." Ray shrugged, slightly embarrassed by the emotional moment. He fell back on his sense of humor. "Just you wait until next year, though. We'll come up with something that will blow today's party out of the water. But next time, I promise to let you in on the plans. We got a deal, Benny?"         "We've got a deal, Ray," he replied.         Ray smiled, giving him a confirmational nod. "Okay, good. Now let me get out of here before you fall asleep on me."         He was tired, Fraser had to admit. This evening's emotional revelations, on top of today's physical exertions, had left him drained and exhausted. But he also felt happier than he had been in a long time, and he had Ray to thank for that.         Smiling warmly, his gaze locked with Ray's, and Fraser let his eyes tell his friend how much he meant to him.         Ray's green eyes responded in kind.         "'Night, Benny," Ray said.         "Good night, Ray," Fraser replied.         Fraser watched as he walked out of sight, then settled back in the bed and closed his eyes.         But the smile remained as he drifted off to sleep. The End ------------------- Copyright July, 1996, by Angela Rivieccio. Not meant to infringe upon the copyright holders of DUE SOUTH, including Alliance, CTV, CBS, BBS, TNT or any other copyright holders. Please do not reproduce for anything other than personal reading without written consent of the author. Comments welcome at p003136b@pb.seflin.org. Return to Due South Fiction Archive