Fraser Does A Favour  This little story suddenly came to mind recently, I
couldn't resist writing it, and have resisted the temptation to turn it
into a full length story (so far). Hope you like it ! 

  Fraser does a favour. 

 by Fiona Scott 

 Disclaimer: Due South characters belongs to Alliance and I'm just
borrowing them for a fan fiction outing. These characters are not mine,
and no copyright infringement or harm is meant by their use. Rating: G 

 ==================================================== 

 Chicago police Detective Ray Vecchio was on the telephone at his desk in
the Police Precinct late one afternoon, when his friend Constable Benton
Fraser, RCMP, approached. He seated himself in the chair on the opposite
side of Ray's desk and waited. Fraser's wolf, Diefenbaker, seated himself
on the floor next to the mountie. 

 Ray finished his conversation, "Yeah later....", and hung up. 

 "Whassup, Benny ?" 

 Fraser, however, was staring off into space to the right of his friend, a
wistful expression on his face. The detective turned and looked behind
him. There was nothing remarkable to be seen. He turned back to his
friend. 

 "Benny ?" 

 No response. 

 "BENNY !!" Vecchio also thumped the desk in front of him. The mountie
snapped back to himself with a start. "Oh ! I'm terribly sorry Ray, I was
worlds away." 

 Vecchio peered at his friend. The mountie was not normally so distracted.


 "What's the matter, Benny ?" 

 The mountie cleared his throat before replying, "Well, there's nothing
really the matter Ray. It's just...." He faltered, seemingly at a loss for
words. 

 Ray waited patiently, concerned. Diefenbaker whined at Fraser, seemingly
concerned also. 

 The mountie stared at the surface of the desk, licked his lips, and
looked back up at his friend. "Ray, I need your help in a matter of some
importance to me." 

 Ray still couldn't place the peculiar expression on his friends face, but
he replied straight away. "Of course." 

 The mountie asked uncertainly, "Um, can you spare some time now ?"
"Sure." replied Vecchio, already on his feet. 

 He followed Fraser and wolf out the door. 

 "Benny ?" 

 "Yes, Ray ?" 

 "You in love or something ?" 

 There was no response. 

 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 As they drove, there was silence in the car, except for a few curt
directional instructions from Fraser. Ray was getting more and more
curious. Fraser seemed unusually emotional (for Fraser) but typically was
bottling it all up, staring moodily out the window. Finally Ray could
stand the suspense no more. 

 "Okay, Benny, `fess up. Who is she ?" 

 Fraser looked uncomfortable, "This is difficult for me Ray. I haven't
felt this way in quite some time." 

 "Ahhhh, then it *is* a woman ! No-one I know, I hope ?" He stressed the
word "hope". 

 Fraser looked even more uncomfortable, "No, no-one you know Ray. I only
met her last Saturday anyway." 

 "Last Saturday !! But today's only Tuesday !!" 

 Fraser now looked embarrassed. "I know, Ray", he replied softly. He
sighed. "But all will become clear when we get there. She...... she's
unique, Ray." He nervously played with his Stetson. 

 "And ...?" 

 "Wait `till you meet her Ray, then you'll understand." 

 Ray shook his head, it seemed to him Fraser was one of those guys who,
when they fell for someone, they fell immediately, hook, line and sinker,
or not at all. 

 They arrived at a stables complex a few minutes later. Ray parked the car
and they got out. Fraser paused, looking at his friend, as if uncertain
about whether to proceed. 

 Ray was impatient, "Okay, so now what ?" 

 "I'll show you Ray. This way." 

 Fraser led the way through the stables to the exercise yards. He gestured
to one of the yards, and there she was. Long black flowing hair, big brown
eyes, moving gracefully. 

 "A HORSE !!!!???" Ray's eyes bulged. 

 Fraser replied calmly, "Shhhhh, Ray. You'll scare her." "A Horse !!" Ray
exclaimed again, only a little less loudly, and turned questioningly to
his friend. 

 Fraser ignored him momentarily. The graceful black Arabian mare had
noticed the commotion, and approached the two men. She whinnied to Fraser
and extended her nose over the fence to be petted. He stroked the soft
nose while Ray stared in disbelief. 

 Fraser began to giggle. He looked at Ray, unable to speak, and began to
laugh out loud. 

 Ray looked at him, incredulous. 

 Fraser continued to guffaw, tears beginning to appear as he squinted his
eyes up in mirth. 

 The penny dropped. 

 "You tricked me !", Ray pointed an accusing finger at Fraser. 

 Fraser nodded mutely, still laughing too much to answer. 

 Ray kept pointing at Fraser, "You yanked my chain !" He pointed at
Diefenbaker, "And so did you !" 

 Ray recovered from his shock, put his head in his hands and began to
laugh too. Fraser was trying to get control of himself, wiping laugh-tears
away from his eyes. Diefenbaker wagged his tail, pleased his masters
little joke had worked so well. 

 Eventually, the two men stopped laughing. 

 The horse whinnied again. Fraser turned to her, "Oh ! I'm sorry !" He
produced a carrot from a pocket and offered it to her. She began to crunch
it with glee. 

 "So what's all this about Benny ?" 

 "Well, this horse belongs to Inspector Thatcher. She had to go to a
meeting this evening unexpectedly, but she had to move Lady Samirah here
to another stable tonight. It seems she got a better deal somewhere else,
and needed some assistance in moving her." 

 "So she asked you." 

 "Yes. And since I don't have a car...." He gestured towards Ray. "And the
Inspector said she'd reimburse you any fuel costs." 

 "OK, so where's the trailer ?" 

 The end 

 ============================================================ 

 Comments and chocolate covered mounties (I like them too!) to;
Fiona.Scott@smtpgwy.agric.nsw.gov.au aka fi-oz on the irc 

  Return to the Due South Fiction Archive