Love Like Fireworks   

Love Like Fireworks 

By Postcard 

postcard@manutd.com  

Ratings: - R. Romance. Humour. AU. 

Pairings: - Fraser/Thatcher. Vecchio/Female. 

Teaser: - Love blossoms for Meg and Ben at a 'Charity Dance Marathon.'	

Spoilers: - The Vault,Witness and The Edge. 

Disclaimer: - The Due South characters in this story are not mine and
anything else Due South isn't mine either. I do not mean to infringe on
copyrights held by any copyright holders for Due South. The story, poems
"Love Like Fireworks" and "As I Wait," and all of the new characters
however are mine (copyright July/August 1999 by Postcard on all original
story content. The poem "Love Like Fireworks" is copyright 26 July 1999 by
Postcard. The poem "As I Wait" is copyright 17 August 1999 by Postcard.)
Please do not reproduce for anything other than personal reading without
the written consent of author. This story is not written for profit and
the author does not give permission for this story to be reproduced for
profit. 

Author’s note: - This is my first Due South fanfic and this story is set
during season 2 before 'All The Queen's Horses.' A thank you goes out to
Cynthia for all of her much wanted suggestions. I hope that you enjoy
reading this story and any constructive comments are welcome at
postcard@manutd.com   

It was a glorious Chicago summer morning and Constable Benton Fraser of
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was in rather a good mood. He wasn’t
sure if it was the weather or the fact that he had a date tonight with the
woman of his dreams. Well it wasn’t EXACTLY a date, more of a function,
but nevertheless he was going to be spending time with her. As he
approached his office door he was snapped out of his daydream. 

"The Inspector wants to see you in her office," stated the Inspector's
secretary Mr.Ovitz. 

"She does? Oh!" Ben replied puzzled, trying to think of anything he had
done recently that would warrant her wanting to see him. 

"What have you done this time?" Inquisitively asked Ovitz. 

"Nothing as far as I am aware," Ben responded. He was slightly irritated
that Ovitz assumed he was in trouble. 

"Well she doesn’t appear to be too mad," offered Ovitz. 

Ben knocked on Thatcher's door. 

"Come in," shouted Thatcher. 

Ben entered Thatcher's office closing the door behind him and stood to
attention in front of her desk. 

"Mr.Ovitz said that you wanted to see me Sir?" Stated Ben as he looked at
his superior officer. She looked up at him from her laptop computer as he
spoke and he couldn’t help thinking how beautiful she was. The dark soft
silky hair that showed just a hint of red when the light hit it and those
coffee-coloured eyes that he wanted to look into forever. 

"Ah, yes Constable. I just wanted to confirm the arrangements for
tonight," said the Inspector bringing Ben out of his daydream. "You’re to
pick me up at 6.30p.m. In the Consular car of course." 

"Yes ma ‘am." Said Ben with a nod. 

"And wear your red serge, because even though the ‘Charity Dance Marathon’
is technically off duty, we’ll be flying the Canadian flag while were
there; as I am determined to show everyone what were made of," continued
the Inspector. As she said this, her thoughts flew back to three days ago
when Detective Vecchio came into the Consulate to give Fraser a lift home.
He had been his typical obnoxious self in her opinion telling Fraser about
the ‘Charity Dance Marathon’ and saying to them both that he was
definitely going to be one of the last ones left dancing at the end. He
had been so big headed that she couldn’t resist saying "I doubt that
you’ll last to the end and IF you do I doubt you’ll be the only one,
because if you can do it then so can anyone."  

He had responded with "Is that a challenge?"  

"You’ve got to be joking!" was her response.  

"No, why? Do you think you’re not up to it?" He chided her.  

"Certainly not. I could out dance you any time," Meg responded
indignantly.  

"Oh yeh! It’s a challenge then?" Ray demanded.	

"It’s a challenge Detective," Meg confirmed. She had then turned to Fraser
and said, "Fraser I need a partner, would you do me the honour?" He had
looked dumbfounded that she had asked him, but she also thought she had
seen another flicker of emotion on his face. She had been over the moon
when he had said, "Yes he would be delighted to be her partner." She knew
it was wrong because she was his superior officer but she couldn’t help
the way she felt for him, she WAS a woman after all. She was trying so
hard to fight her feelings for him but to no avail, they were just getting
stronger by the day. It was so darn frustrating. * WHY did he have to be
so handsome and polite? * She had been toying with her conscious for the
past few days telling herself that she shouldn’t feel guilty, it wasn’t
strictly a date, it was for charity. But she couldn’t kid herself she knew
she was looking forward to dancing in his arms all night and she had been
debating if for one night she should just be ‘Meg’ and not ‘Inspector
Thatcher’. 

A knock on her door brought her back to the present. 

"Come in," she instructed. 

The door opened and a rather apprehensive Ovitz popped his head around the
door. 

"Sorry to disturb you Sir, but the dogs back again," said Ovitz. 

"Oh great," moaned Meg. 

"Is there a problem Sir? Asked Fraser. 

"Don’t you know about it?" Asked Ovitz surprised. 

"About what?" Fraser asked with a perplexed expression on his face. 

"Oh you’ve got to see this," responded Ovitz with a smirk. "It appears
Turnbull has acquired a new friend. For the past two days he’s been on
duty this dog has, well, see for yourself," said Ovitz indicating at the
window. 

Fraser, Ovitz and Thatcher approached the window and the three peered out.
On the street below they could see Constable Turnbull on sentry duty in
front of the Consulate. As they watched a black Labrador finished sniffing
Turnbulls’ boots and decided to relieve itself on Turnbulls’ left leg. 

"Oh dear," was all Fraser could say.  

Inspector Thatcher just shook her head in amazement at the sight she had
just witnessed. She wanted to burst out laughing but knew that as the
superior officer she had to refrain herself. So she just said "Fraser go
and relieve Turnbull while he cleans himself up." 

"Yes Sir," obeyed Fraser.      * * * * *      

At 6.30p.m. Ben pulled up in front of Inspector Thatcher's apartment, she
was waiting for him in the foyer. As she approached the car he got out and
undid the back door for her. 

"That won’t be necessary Fraser," she said looking directly at him. 

"I beg your pardon Sir," asked Ben puzzled. 

"I won’t be sitting in the back tonight Fraser, I’ll sit in the front with
you, as we’re technically off duty," Meg explained. 

"Er, right Sir," stammered Ben as he opened the passenger front door for
her. 

When they were both seated inside the car Meg looked over at Fraser. 

"And another thing Fraser," she said softly. "For tonight you can call me
Meg, as were going to the dance together as friends and I don’t want to be
reminded of work all night when I’m trying to relax." 

"Understood Meg," was all Ben could manage to get out. He couldn’t believe
it, she had just told him to call her by her first name and in a round
about way she had told him she considered them as friends. He was so
pleased. 

"Fraser, erm, would you mind if I called you Ben for tonight?" Asked Meg. 

"Er yes, of course, I mean yes I’d like for you to call me Ben," muddled
Ben. She looked at him and smiled. He wished she would smile more at him,
she looked more approachable when she smiled, he could almost forget she
was his superior officer. Although at the moment in that dress she didn’t
look at all like a superior officer. The dress definitely complemented
her; the red fabric clung to her contours, it was knee length and the cut
was off her shoulders, but wasn’t too revealing and had the effect as to
look classy.  

When they reached the dance Meg couldn’t help but gasp in awe, it was so
beautiful. The dance was outside in the park and the organisers had
outdone themselves by dotting little white lights through the trees, it
had the effect as to look fairytale styli. Meg linked Ben's arm and they
weaved their way through the trees towards the outside floor matting that
constituted as the dance floor. Ray was already there with his dance
partner, who was a rather good-looking blonde woman dressed in a blue
dress. Meg noticed the look of surprise on his face when he looked at her
and she couldn’t help but smile to herself, he didn’t expect her to come
looking so feminine and human. She knew that he called her ‘The Dragon
Lady’, at first it had annoyed and upset her slightly, but now she didn’t
care, at least it showed that her efforts of appearing tough had paid off.


"Hi Benny, Inspector," greeted Ray. 

"Hello Ray," said Ben warmly. 

"Detective," Meg said with a forced smile. 

"This is Kerry," Ray said introducing the woman stood beside him. "Kerry
this is my friend Benny I’ve been telling you about and this is his boss
Inspector Thatcher." 

"Pleased to meet you," Ben said and Kerry smiled at him. 

"Yes nice to meet you," offered Meg. 

"Likewise," said Kerry directing it at both of them but still smiling at
Ben. 

They all walked onto the dance floor, as it was 7.00p.m. and the ‘Charity
Dance Marathon’ was about to start. 

"I hope you’re a good loser Inspector," teased Ray. 

"I never lose Detective," replied Meg with one of her smiles. 

The music started and Meg glided across the dance-floor in Bens’ arms.
"You’re a very good dancer Ben," Meg complemented. 

"Thank you, but I always believe you’re only as good as your partner," Ben
said smiling at her. 

At first their was a slight gap between them as they danced but as the
night went on the gap lessened until Meg realised that she was pressed up
firmly against Ben. It was a very pleasant experience and carried away in
the moment she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. He was
so strong, she could feel his muscles against her. She wondered if she
would ever see those muscles up close without the barrier of clothes. He
was holding her in a gentle but firm grip and he effortlessly glided her
across the dance-floor. She wondered if it was just her imagination or had
he just run his hand gently in a circle along her back. No she wasn’t
imagining it, he was definitely caressing her back with his right hand. It
sent a pleasant tingle up her spine and she wished that she could stay
like this dancing in his safe, strong arms forever. Well at least for
tonight she could. 

Ben was in his element, he had dreamed about dancing with Meg in his arms
but he never thought it would actually happen. It felt so good to hold her
in his arms, she was so close that he could feel the softness of her hair
as it brushed his cheek and he could smell the delicate scent of her that
he loved so much. * Oh my gosh! I can’t believe it, she's resting her head
on my shoulder. * Instinctively Ben gently caressed her back in a circular
motion with his hand. * I know I shouldn’t be doing this, she’s my
superior officer, but I can’t help the way I feel about her. I love her. I
can’t hide my feelings any longer. Is it possible that she feels the same?
I’m not really doing anything wrong, because she hasn’t told me to stop
caressing her, so she must feel something for me.*  

Meg knew she shouldn’t be letting him caress her back but she wanted him
to and they WERE off duty. She had dreamt about him touching her and now
he was. His feelings for her must be as strong as hers were for him. She
had to know for sure though before she risked her career for him. She was
in love with him and she knew it, but she had to be sure he loved her
because her career was important to her and she wasn’t going to risk it
for just anyone. She wasn’t getting any younger though and she wanted a
husband and children like everybody else. In fact she wanted Ben, he
fulfilled all of her high expectations of what a husband should be like.
She could still feel him caressing her back and so she made up her mind to
go in for the kill. She lifted her head slightly and whispered in his ear
"That feels good Ben." 

Ben couldn’t believe his ears, she was actually telling him that she was
enjoying what he was doing. She really does have feelings for me after
all. He looked into her coffee-coloured eyes and said, "May I continue
then Meg?" 

"Yes, you may continue Ben," Meg said moving her left arm from his
shoulder around to his neck and at the same time taking her right hand
from his and slipping it around his back pulling him closer so that they
were dancing in an embrace. She could feel both of his hands caressing her
back and they danced on content in one another’s arms.	

The ‘Charity Dance Marathon’ lasted for five hours and as the clock struck
midnight fireworks went off to celebrate the end of the marathon. Ben
hoped that his Cinderella wouldn’t turn into his stern superior officer
and take flight because the marathon was over. But as they stopped dancing
and the fireworks continued to go off Meg was still in his arms. They
stared intently at one another, searching the depths of one another’s soul
through each other’s eyes. They both moved simultaneously and the next
minute they were kissing, it was soft and gentle at first but grew more
passionate with the intensity they felt for one another. Ben caressed her
tongue with his and at the same time he ran his left hand through her soft
silky hair as he held the back of her head. His right hand was once again
caressing her back in a circular motion. 

Meg was melting into him, there were fireworks going off inside of her
with far more energy than the ones the dance organisers had set off. With
her left hand Meg was caressing the back of Ben’s neck, while her right
hand ran along his back. She moved her left hand through his dark hair and
then to his face as she cupped his face with her hand. A poem went through
Meg's mind as she carried on kissing him: - 

Love Like Fireworks 

My love is like fireworks 

However the intensity you see 

Isn’t fuelled by gunpowder 

But by the love you have given me. 

There’s a spark between us 

And you’re like a match, 

Your gentle touch is all I need 

To ignite the emphatic love 

I know you want to receive.  

  

It erupts like a million rockets from my heart 

Blasting, soaring to the sky 

The fireworks explode into beautiful colours 

And they show the love between you and I. 

  

Red for passion, we feel it so	

And for courage to let our love show 

Blue for justice, we know our love is right 

Green for nature and for the calming sensation 

I feel at your sight  

White like a light the strength of our love  

Always shining brightly like fireworks	

That light up the sky above. 

(By Postcard) 

Eventually they had to come up for air and Meg quickly glanced around to
see if anyone had seen them kissing. It appeared however that everyone was
preoccupied with the fireworks display and so Meg turned herself around in
Ben's arms. As she did so she placed his hands around her waist and
covered them with her own. She leaned back into his strong arms and rested
her head against his shoulder. He responded by hugging her closer and
placing a tender kiss on her cheek. As they watched the fireworks together
Meg recited the poem "Love Like Fireworks" to Ben. 

When the fireworks ended she turned around to him, "I’ve had a lovely
night Ben, thank you, for agreeing to be my dancing partner." 

"You don’t need to thank me Meg, it was my pleasure. I had a wonderful
night," said Ben. Feeling brave he added, "I hope we can do it again
sometime, er, go out I mean?" 

"Yes," answered Meg quickly. "Why not! How about dinner this evening,
about 7.00p.m.?" 

"I’d like that very much," replied Ben with a smile on his face resembling
that of a child on Christmas morning. 

"Hey! Benny, Inspector," shouted Ray as he and Kerry approached them. Meg
and Ben turned around to face the beaming Detective. 

"I did it. I completed the ‘Charity Dance Marathon,’ Ray exclaimed with
joy. 

"Well done Detective, so did I," said Meg triumphantly. 

"Aw, I guess we’ll have to call it a draw then?" Said Ray. 

"Yes, I suppose we will," agreed Meg and then added, "A draw’s good, I
told you I never lose." 

Ben and Meg walked back to the consular car and as they drove back to
Meg's apartment Meg said, "Ben when you pick me up for dinner tonight wear
some civilian clothes." 

Ben smiled, "Yes I will."  

"Also do you think it’s best if I pick you up in my car, because how will
you get to mine otherwise?" Asked Meg. 

"Actually yes that’s a good idea," replied Ben. "If you don’t mind that
is?" He added. 

"No I don’t mind," answered Meg. "That’s settled then, I’ll pick you up at
your apartment at 7.00p.m. tonight." 

They pulled up in front of Meg's apartment building and Meg turned to Ben
and kissed him softly on the cheek, "Goodnight," she said. 

He smiled at her and got out of the car and opened her car door helping
her out. They stood facing one another and Ben was unsure as to whether or
not he should kiss her goodnight. "Erm, Meg, may I?" Asked Ben. 

"May you what?" Asked Meg softly. She could tell he wanted to kiss her but
was unsure if he should. 

"May I kiss you goodnight?" He asked shyly. 

"Yes, you may," replied Meg reaching out and pulling him towards her. 

They kissed passionately and when they pulled apart Ben gently pulled her
towards him and hugged her for a few seconds. When he ended the hug he
smiled at her and said, "Goodnight Meg." 

"Goodnight Ben," she said smiling warmly at him. She then turned towards
her apartment building. Only when she was safely inside did he finally,
with a smile the size of Canada on his face, head home.  * * * * * 

Meg floated back to her apartment in a trance, what a magical evening it
had been. She had felt like she was taking centre stage in a fairytale,
dancing in Ben's arms tonight. Oh, those strong arms that had held her
ever so gently but at the same time so tightly as if he were afraid she
would disappear if he let go of her. As if she would ever want to vanish
from him! And when they had kissed she had thought she would faint and she
probably would have if he hadn't been holding her. She would NEVER forget
that first beautiful, passionate kiss from him, pure heaven. And then when
he had asked if he could kiss her goodnight in such a gentlemanly manner
she had been taken to the heavenly heights again as they kissed. It had
taken all of her will power not to invite him to spend the night with her;
she was positive now that he was the one for her but they still had a lot
to sort out before they took their relationship to that stage. She wanted
it to be perfect and there was so much she wanted to know about him. Plus
she had to be one hundred per cent positive that he loved her, after those
kisses she thought that he must love her but she had to know for sure. 

When he came into her office that first day she had been instantaneously
attracted to him, he was so gorgeous. But his blatant refusal to change
his uniform had totally annoyed her 'did he think that just because he was
attractive she would let him get away with blue murder.' She was
determined to show him whose boss and not to let him walk all over her so
she had fired him (she had had to reinstate him of course.) From then on
she had gone out of her way to make his life hell, not because she
despised him but because she wanted him to respect her position of
authority. Just because he was good looking she didn't want him to think
he was going to get away with anything, but to her pleasant surprise he
took her reprimands calmly and never argued back. Occasionally this
infuriated her as she wondered if he was capable of showing feelings,
although she now knew after tonight that he most definitely could.  

After the first day in her office she had started to realise as the weeks
went on that she may have been hasty in assuming that because he was good
looking and she was a woman he thought he could get around her. And that
his insolence on the first day was probably a one off occurrence, because
he did appear to respect her as he obeyed her orders. She started to think
that maybe, just maybe a relationship other than a professional one could
bloom between them. She was definitely attracted to him. Now she knew a
relationship with Ben was possible, in fact she was positive they were
going to have a long and happy life together. As she closed her eyes and
drifted off to sleep she dreamt she was lying in Ben's arms and he was
hugging her just like he had tonight when he had said goodnight to her.   
  * * * * *	  

As Ben got ready for bed he was reciting the delightful nights events to
Dief. "That kiss," sighed Ben with a dreamy expression on his face. "I
can't even begin to describe how passionate that kiss was, we were both on
fire. I could tell from the way that she kissed me that she longs for me
as much as I do for her. She was so hungry. She feels so good and the way
she kisses and caresses me, I want to be able to have kisses like that
from her everyday. Oh how I love her Dief. She's beautiful, intelligent;
bold…" A long whine from Dief caught Ben's attention. "All right I know
I'm going on, but just wait until you are in the same boat and then we'll
see who's getting carried away. Oh Guess What Dief! Meg has agreed to go
on a date with me this evening. I've waited so long for a woman like her.
Victoria was the first woman I ever loved and after her I never thought
I'd find anyone else. But the love I feel for Meg is so much more stronger
than that I felt for Victoria, I didn't think that was possible but it is
and I'm not going to let her slip through my fingers."	

"Good on you son," announced Fraser Senior. 

"Oh, dad! How long have you been there?" Ben asked slightly embarrassed. 

"Long enough son, long enough," answered Fraser Senior. "So you're finally
in love with a decent woman, knew you would one day son. Although once or
twice you had me worried, but you came through in the end. Well-done son,
you've got yourself a good woman there, a little feisty maybe but a good
woman nonetheless. So when are you going to give me grandchildren?" 

"Dad, REALLY," blushed Ben. "I don't want to discuss this now, it's late
and I'm going to sleep." 

"Suit yourself son but you can't avoid the subject forever and I'm sure
she'll broach the subject soon and you'll not get away with an excuse like
you want to sleep then," lectured Fraser Senior before disappearing into
thin air. 

As Ben lay on his bed he thought to himself that there was nothing he'd
like more than to have children with Meg, but there was no way he was
going to tell his father that.	    * * * * *	    

Meg sipped her white wine and looked across the diner table at Ben; he
looked extremely sexy and his navy blue shirt brought out the colour of
his eyes. They had decided to try out the new Italian restaurant that had
been getting such good press recently. "This wine really is good, are you
sure you won't have some?" Meg asked. 

"I'm glad that you like it," Ben said smiling across at her. He thought
that she looked beautiful as always, tonight she was wearing a black knee
length dress with a white flower embroidered on the bottom of the dress
towards the left-hand side. "However I'm sure that I don't want any,"
answered Ben. "I don't drink alcohol, I believe it slows the senses. I
much prefer to drink this," he indicated to his glass of Mineral Water. 

"So tell me Ben, what do you do for fun?" Meg had decided before hand that
this question would be a good starting block to get him to open up to her.


"For fun!" Ben said looking a little bewildered.  

"Yes, what do you enjoy doing, do you have any hobbies? That sort of
thing," Meg said with an amused smile on her face. 

"Let me see, I like reading and I also enjoy playing the guitar. Another
of my hobbies is fishing. How about you, what are your hobbies?" Ben was
very interested to know as he barely knew anything about her. 

"I also like reading and enjoy listening to music however I am not at all
musical," laughed Meg. "I go to step aerobics twice a week and I go horse
riding frequently at a really good stables I discovered nearby. Oh and I
go out socialising with my friends a lot to bars."  

As Ben listened to Meg he couldn't help envisaging her in an aerobics
leotard and an even pleasanter thought occurred to him, he might actually
get to see her in one in the near future.  

"Do you ever get lonely Ben and miss Canada and your family?" Meg asked
seriously.  

"Yes, sometimes I get very lonely," Ben confessed. "But I have Dief to
keep me company. I don't have any close family that's alive and I miss
them terribly sometimes. I like Chicago, although I'd like to go back to
Canada one day and I do miss the clear open spaces." 

"I miss my family a lot," Meg admitted. "Because of my position in the
R.C.M.P. I've had to come across as hard to succeed and people don't think
that I have feelings. They assume that I'm some kind of power mad freak, a
cold-hearted ice maiden who could never love anybody. But they're wrong, I
love my family and they are the only ones who know who I really am. My
father's a big time lawyer in Ottawa and in his profession he appears
ruthless and I based my own professional manner on him. But with his
family and friends my father is one of the nicest men you could ever come
across. My mother is a bank manager and I've been brought up to know that
in your profession you have to appear hard and no nonsense to gain respect
and promotion, especially women. But with your family you should express
how you feel and not hide away from feelings behind a mask. I have an
older brother who taught me at an early age to stand up for myself. He
always protected me if I needed it but he also showed me how to look after
myself."  

Ben looked deep into Meg's eyes and saw her vulnerability that she never
let show to anyone at the consulate. She was not just a superior officer
she was a woman in his eyes, who needed to love and be loved just as much
as the next person. Ben reached across the table and took both of Meg's
hands in his, "I know that you have feelings Meg and I also think that
you’re a very good superior officer." 

"Do you know the full extent of my feelings for you Ben?" Meg asked him.
She knew that tonight they had to sort out their feelings and Meg was
determined that by the end of the night they would have expressed them to
one another.  

"Yes, I think I do," Ben replied with his gaze still fixed on her. "I
think that you feel for me the same way that I feel for you." 

"Ben I, we need to discuss a few things," Meg paused to collect her
thoughts then continued. "I want us to know not to just think we know how
one another feels, but here isn't the place to do that. The night is young
Ben, how about you come back to my apartment for coffee and we can discuss
things there?" 

"Yes, I think your right, there is a lot we need to discuss and your
apartment would be a good place to do that," Ben hesitated then asked,
"Meg would you mind awfully if I retrieved Dief first? He was feeling
sorry for himself about being left for a second evening and as we have a
lot to discuss it may be late when I get back and I dread to think what
he'll have done if I leave him too long," rambled on Ben.  

Meg smiled at Ben, she knew that it must have taken all of his courage to
ask her if Dief could come back with them as he probably wasn't sure if
she liked the wolf or not. "No I don't mind us picking up Dief first," Meg
answered. Besides she thought, * I'm going to have to get used to Dief if
I'm going to have a relationship with Ben. *	  * * * * *	  

Meg showed Ben and Dief into the living room of her apartment. "Make
yourselves comfortable I'll just go and make the coffee, I won't be long."
As an after thought before she left the room Meg asked, "What would Dief
like? I'm not really well up on wolves." 

"Some water will be fine for Dief," Ben said. Then jokingly he added, "I
suggest that you hide any junk food as Dief has an addiction to it." 

While Ben waited for Meg to return with the beverages he glanced around
the living room. It was decorated in subtle shades of peach with a hint of
rose pink. The sofa was positioned along one wall facing the window on the
opposite wall. There was an armchair on either side of the sofa and the
room had all the usual mod cons such as stereo and t.v. Ben elected to sit
on the sofa and Dief curled up in front of one of the armchairs. 

Meg came back into the living room carrying a large tray, which she placed
on the coffee table in front of the sofa. After removing the bowl of water
from the tray and placing it in front of Dief Meg sat down beside Ben on
the sofa.  

"You have a very nice apartment Meg," said Ben as he took the coffee Meg
handed to him. 

"Thank you." Meg was pleased that he liked it, then thinking of his own
place she thought that he probably considered that this was a palace. 

Ben indicated to a large framed photo on the oak bureau, "Is that your
family?" 

"Yes," Meg smiled at the photo. "It was taken only a few weeks ago when I
was last up in Canada. That's my parents on my right and my brother
Timothy and his wife Dawn on my left. Although he hates being called by
his full name, he insists we call him Tim. In front of me are my niece
Carrie and my nephew Andrew." 

"You seem to have a wonderful family!" 

"Yes I have, I'm very lucky."  

"You resemble your mother a lot," Ben commented. 

"Everyone always seems to say that and people say that Tim looks like our
father, because of his fair hair."  

"Meg that poem you recited to me last night, it was very beautiful. Did
you say it because of the fireworks display or was there another reason?"
Ben had been thinking about the poem and its possible ulterior meaning and
he couldn't wait any longer to ask her. 

"I'm glad you asked me that, I thought you would eventually," Meg said
placing her coffee cup on the table and looking directly at him. "Yes
there was another reason. I wanted you to know that I think it symbolises
us. I, erm, I have strong feelings for you and I know that it's wrong with
my being your superior officer but I can't help it. I don't want you to
feel under any pressure, what I mean is if you don't want a relationship
with me just say so and I promise you I won't take it out on you at work,
you don't need to worry about that. But I can't hide the way I feel for
you anymore, I think that you have feelings for me Ben but I need to know
how you really feel about me." 

Ben put his coffee cup on the table and then took both of her hands in
his. "Meg I'm in love with you and I don't care one bit that you're my
superior officer. I want to be more than just your subordinate Meg; I want
to be able to hold you in my arms and kiss you like I did last night. I've
never felt this strongly about anyone before and I think you're an
extremely beautiful, intelligent and if you don't mind me saying sexy
lady." 

Meg felt a warmth overcome her as he declared his love for her and when he
called her sexy she felt the warmth rise to a blush in her cheeks. "I love
you too Ben. I just needed to know that you loved me before I, we risked
our careers for each other. We'll have to keep our professional and
personal relationships separate and if we can manage that I don't think
that there will be too much of a problem when Ottawa find out. But quite
frankly Ben I love you and I'm willing to take the risk." With a
mischievous smile on her face that also sparkled in her eyes Meg said,
"And I don't mind you saying I'm sexy because I think you're an extremely
sexy man Ben." 

Ben blushed to such a bright shade of red that the traditional Mountie red
serge would have looked somewhat faded in comparison if he had been
wearing it tonight. Ben moved his hands up along her arms to her shoulder
blade and pulled her towards him and kissed her briefly but intensely on
the lips. When he finished the kiss he looked at her and she pulled his
head down so that their lips met again. This time they kissed for a long
time, exploring and savouring one another's mouth, while their hands were
doing their own exploring of each others bodies.  

When they eventually finished kissing they breathlessly looked at one
another and continued to hold each other.  

"Meg." 

"Yes Ben?" 

"Meg, I unequivocally want to make love to you, but you mean so much to me
that I don't want to ruin anything by rushing it, "Ben said with
sincerity.  

"I agree, I won't deny it Ben I really want to make love to you, I want
that so much. But I think you're right we should take it slowly." Even
though Meg was yearning for him to make love to her she knew that it would
be even more marvellous if they dated for awhile first. Besides there was
a lot they could do anyway without going 'all the way' and if they learned
beforehand what one another liked it would make it more amazing. 

Ben cupped Meg's face in his hands and kissed her again. Meg ran her hands
over his chest as they kissed and slipped her hands up under his shirt to
feel his strong muscles without the barrier of clothes. Ben ran his hands
along her thighs and revelled in the feel of the well-toned legs. They
involuntarily pulled away from one another, as they needed to catch their
breath, their arms however not leaving one another for a second. 

"Ben," Meg said breathlessly. 

"Yes Meg?" 

"Stay the night with me, I don't mean make love but hold me in your arms
and spend the night with me Ben." 

"I'll stay," Ben said hugging her closer. 

They stood facing one another in her bedroom, Meg had changed into her
favourite red silk night-dress and Ben was wearing only his white boxers.
"Red suits you Meg," Ben said to her as he genuinely thought she looked
even more dazzlingly sexy in red. 

"Thank you," then smiling she teasingly added, "no shirt suits you Ben."
She felt her heart rate quicken as she realised that she had finally got
to see those muscles up close without the barrier of clothes. And she was
not disappointed. He had an excellent physique. 

He blushed and she pulled him towards her and kissed him. As he held her
he could feel the contours of her body against his through the thin silk
and if the kiss hadn't taken his breath away that realisation would have.
After the kiss had ended they got into bed together and lay in one
another's arms. Meg rested her head on Ben's chest and Ben placed a tender
kiss into her hair and gently rested his chin on the top of her head. 

"Ben I know that it will make you blush but I have to say it, you have a
terrific body," Meg complemented. 

"Thank you and might I add so do you Meg." 

She smiled and instead of looking up to see if he had blushed she snuggled
closer to him and closing her eyes she said, "Goodnight Ben my sweet
match." 

"Goodnight Meg my precious," Ben said lovingly, aware of the referal to
the poem and the meaning she meant when she called him 'match'. 

As they drifted off to sleep in one another's arms they were unaware that
Dief had sneaked into the bedroom, he tilted his head to one side watching
the sleeping couple for a few moments and then curled up contentedly at
the foot of the bed.  * * * * * The powerful rays of the morning light
bleached through the window and Ben started to stir, as the suns light
awoke him. He could feel a pleasant warmth on his body and his first
thought was that it was the heat from the sun, but as he opened his eyes
he realised that the warmth was coming from the closeness of woman who lay
in his arms. Ben felt that he must be dreaming, their bodies were
entwined, one of Meg's legs was draped over Ben, the other pushed up
against his side, her head was rested on his chest and her arms were
wrapped around his waist. He suddenly realised where his own hands were
placed, on the top of her thigh slightly touching her buttock and on her
shoulder blade. Ben pinched himself. * No, I'm not dreaming, I really am
wide awake.* He couldn't believe it, he was actually in bed with Meg his
'superior officer.' And as he recalled she had asked him to spend the
night with her.  

He thought back to last night, he knew that they hadn't made love but he
remembered with delight that they had explored quite a lot of one
another's bodies before they had mutually agreed not to ruin anything
between them by rushing things. And most importantly she had said that she
loved him and that she really wanted to make love to him. He moved his
head slightly, careful not to wake her and looked down at her face. She
was sleeping so peacefully that she looked angelic. Ben felt the love he
had for her grow even stronger as he watched her sleeping. * Oh, how I
love her, it feels so right to be here with her, holding her in my arms.*
He could smell the intoxicating smell of her scent and feel the softness
of her silky hair that flowed over his bare chest. He thought how
beautifully unique she was, it wasn't just her looks and intelligence that
attracted him to her it was also her strong character. He admired how she
appeared to be 'in control'; she was pleasantly different from the other
women he knew.	

Meg woke up from a dream in which she kept falling and each time she fell
she was caught by strong arms that held her protectively and when she
looked up into the face of her rescuer she saw Ben's face. Meg became
aware that the strong, protective arms that held her in her dream were
holding her now in real life and it was a heart warming feeling. She liked
the feel of his hand on her thigh and she nuzzled his chest, at the same
time gently rubbing her leg along his. She heard his sharp intake of
breath and suddenly was extremely embarrassed. * What was I thinking of! I
backed him into a corner last night and practically begged him to stay the
night with me. How stupid and desperate is that!* 

Meg quickly pulled away from Ben so that she no longer lay virtually on
top of him but at the side of him. She lay their unsure of what to say.
She had enjoyed last night immensely and it was nice to wake up in Ben's
arms but she felt slightly embarrassed at the thought of pleading with him
to spend the night with her. He had said that he loved her and she
believed him but she still couldn't help feeling that she had made a fool
out of herself by allowing him to see how much she wanted him. 

"Good morning Meg," Ben spoke softly breaking the silence. 

"Good morning." Meg's tone was business like.  

Turning her head to look at him she saw that he was smiling at her and so
she weakly returned his smile. "We should really get dressed, otherwise
we'll be late for work and don't forget you have to go home first and
change into your uniform." Meg had turned into superior officer mode.  

Ben was confused. She was speaking to him in her superior officer voice,
not in the voice she had spoken to him in last night. Did she regret what
she had said last night, and what had happened between them? Last night he
had forgotten that she was his superior officer but now it was hitting him
like a ten-tone truck. He had told her that he didn't care that she was
his superior officer and he had meant it, he still did. But nonetheless it
was still a daunting thought because this woman had so much control over
him at work and now she possessed his heart aswell and soon hopefully his
body. He suddenly felt shy, did she realise the power she had over him!
And if she did and she regretted last night…* oh my! How embarrassing! * 

"Er yes, right, I'd better get dressed," stammered Ben. 

While Ben got dressed Meg went and showered; when she had finished she
cautiously undid the en-suite bathroom door and peered out. Ben was
dressed and was just finishing tying his shoelaces. He turned, looked up
and noticed her standing in the doorway. She felt a wave of shyness sweep
over her as she felt uneasy with only a towel around her while he was
fully dressed. She blushed as he looked at her with a look in his blue
eyes that told her more than any words could ever do; she could see his
desire and love for her in his eyes. * How could I be so cruel as to speak
to him so coldly this morning and not even offer him a genuine smile, just
because I thought I'd made a fool out of myself! He must think that I
regret last night and I don't.* 

"I'll go and make some coffee so that you can get changed in private, if
that's all right with you?" Ben said sensing her uneasiness. 

"Yes that's fine with me," Meg answered. She was touched by his
gentlemanly offer to let her get changed in private. "Ben," Meg called to
him before he left the room. 

"Yes Meg?" He said stopping at the door and spinning around to look at
her. 

"I want to apologise for the way I've acted this morning. I was slightly
embarrassed by the way I," Meg let out a deep breath. "By the way I backed
you into a corner by asking you to stay. And so I guess I put my defences
up by reverting back to your superior officer. I'm sorry Ben you didn't
deserve the way I've treated you, you've done nothing wrong, it's just me,
I promise I'll try not to do it again. I really did enjoy last night Ben
and I want you to know that I don't regret a thing."  

Ben's face lit up. "Apology accepted and I do not feel that I was backed
into a corner last night. I wanted to stay just as much as you wanted me
to stay. If I had not wanted to stay I would have told you so; I wouldn't
have played on your feelings by staying, because that wouldn't have been
fair. I enjoyed last night immensely and I'm glad that you don't regret
anything because neither do I. I meant what I said about loving you Meg
and it felt so good to wake up with you in my arms this morning." 

Meg smiled warmly at him. "I love you too." 

Ben walked towards her and kissed her softly on the check before leaving
the room with Dief to let her get changed. As he made the coffee and gave
Dief some water he breathed a sigh of relief. * Thank goodness she doesn't
regret last night. I was so worried that she had regretted everything. I
thought that I would not be able to work with her if she did, because it
would have been far too painful. But she doesn't regret anything and she
said again that she loves me. * 

Meg walked into the kitchen fully dressed in a dark green skirt suit with
a white blouse. Ben had his back to her and so she walked up to him and
kissed him on the neck, wrapping her arms around his waist in an embrace.
He smiled at her as he turned around in her embrace and putting his own
arms around her he pulled her closer and kissed her on the lips. She
responded to his kiss and they stayed locked in one another's embrace for
awhile. 

"I took the liberty of preparing us some breakfast," Ben said as they
broke away from the kiss. "I hope you like pancakes?" 

"I love pancakes, I'll get the maple syrup." 

As they ate their pancakes and drank their coffee Dief finished his own
pancakes and looked on with mournful eyes. 

"All right Dief you can have another pancake, but just one," Ben told the
wolf. 

During the meal they discussed the news in the daily paper Meg had
delivered and when the meal was finished Meg cleared the plates away.  

"I really should go to my apartment now and get changed for duty." 

"Yes we wouldn't want you being late or I will have to reprimand you," Meg
joked. 

They walked to her front door together and at the door they kissed
earnestly. When the kiss ended they hugged one another briefly. 

"Do you want me to drop you off at your apartment?" 

"That won't be necessary it's not that far and the brisk walk will do Dief
and I good." 

"All right. I'll see you at the consulate Ben." 

"Yes I'll look forward to it Meg. Come on Dief lets go."       * * * * *  
    

After showering and changing into his uniform Ben was ready just in time
for Ray's daily duty of picking him up and taking him to the consulate. In
the car on the way there Ray filled Ben in on his latest case. 

"Benny this guys definitely up to something, I did some checks on him and
I don't care if he's a retired army Colonel and very respected, something
just doesn't add up."  

"Ray I suggest that you tread very carefully. Colonel Crosby is not the
kind of person you can accuse without hard evidence."  

"I know Benny and I'm gonna get the evidence, don't you worry." 

"That's not entirely what I meant Ray." 

As Ray parked illegally as per usual in front of the consulate he
remembered something he wanted to ask Fraser but that had been pushed to
the back of his mind with the case. 

"Hey Benny before you go I was wondering where you were last night? I
called around but you weren't in. You weren't with a woman were you?" Ray
teased. 

"I was, erm, out, yes, I was out with Dief," was all Ben could think to
say. It wasn't lying he told himself because Dief was with him. 

As Ray drove away he wondered who the woman was who Fraser had been with
last night, because he knew that there was a woman. It had been obvious
the way Fraser had stammered, blushed and wouldn't look him in the eye
when he answered him.	    * * * * *	    

During the proceedings of the morning at the consulate Ben and Meg were
frequently in the vicinity of one another and the air around them was
charged with sexual tension. Meg couldn't count the number of times their
hands had accidentally touched and his hand had lingered on hers or vice
versa, or their eyes had locked just a little too long as to cause
attention from others. And so when Meg entered Ben's office knocking as
she did so on open door she had more than one reason for doing so. 

"Ah Sir," exclaimed Ben standing to attention by his desk.  

"At ease constable. I just wanted to know if you had finished the report
you were working on yesterday?" 

"Yes Sir I have just completed it," announced Ben as he handed it to her. 

Taking the report from him Meg glanced around to see if anyone was near.
"On a personal note Ben how about lunch? As this is ridiculous we're like
nervous wrecks around one another. We need to discuss last night and how
we are going to act around one another from now on because people,
especially Ovitz are already getting suspicious." 

"Yes I agree, Ovitz does seem to have an overly suspicious mind. How about
lunch at the French café near the park?" 

"Yes I'll meet you there." Meg smiled at him and then turned around and
marched out of his office. 

Just before lunch Ben received an urgent phone call from Ray. "Hey Benny
look I can't talk long so listen. I've been tailing that Colonel guy and I
think I've found the place where he's hiding the stolen goods. I'm gonna
go in but I need some back up and as I've not got any hard evidence yet I
can't tell Welsh and get police back up so I need for you to come and back
me up. I can count on ya right?" 

"Yes Ray you can count on me, tell me where you are and I'll be over as
soon as I can." As Ray told him his location Ben thought, * it's not like
I'm neglecting my post, because it is nearly lunchtime and I do have a
good reason, my best friend needs help. * 

Ben left his own office and headed towards Meg's, however on the way there
he was informed by Ovitz that, 'If he wanted her Ladyship, she was in a
meeting and wouldn't be out until lunch.' And in his opinion, it was,
'more than anyone's life was worth,' to interrupt the meeting.' And so Ben
decided to tell Turnbull to inform the Inspector that he had unexpectedly
had to go out to offer assistance in an emergency to Detective Vecchio. He
didn't dare add to Turnbull that he might be late for lunch with Meg. 

Once Fraser had gone Turnbull waited like a dutiful lapdog for the
Inspector to finish her meeting so that he could relay the message. When
she finally came out of her meeting it was obvious that she was in a rush
to leave the consulate. "Er Sir," Turnbull started to explain as he
followed her, trying to keep up with her hurried pace. 

"Is it important constable, you know life or death because I'm late for an
appointment?" Meg shouted at him. 

"No Sir I don't believe anybody's died or are about to." 

"Well then tell me later." And with that Meg left the building and hurried
off down the street before Turnbull could say another word.	 * * * * *
      

Meg had been waiting in the French café for an hour and Ben still hadn't
showed up. * Where the hell is he? I can't believe it. He's had the nerve
to stand me up. And after all we both said this morning. Has he had second
thoughts and that's why he hasn't come because he can't face me? The least
he could do was have the decency to turn up and tell me. Maybe what I took
for nervousness this morning at the consulate was indecisiveness and this
is his way of telling me he doesn't want a relationship. Some way of
telling me. How low is that! I thought he was more of a gentleman than
that. I clearly must have been wrong. * Meg paid the bill for her coffee
and croissant and miserably headed back to the consulate. 

Ray pulled up in front of the French café. "Hey listen Benny I'm sorry I
sent you on a wild goose chase with me, they must have moved the stuff
while I waited for you cause I saw a truck leaving and didn't tail it
cause I was waiting for you. So who were ya supposed to meet here?" 

"It's all right Ray you don't need to apologise," Ben said as he jumped
out of the Riv and ran into the café. * Oh no! She's already gone. I must
have missed her. * Getting back into the Riv Ben was asked the question
again that he was trying to avoid answering. "So! Are you gonna tell me
who the woman is you were supposed to meet?"  

"What makes you think it was a woman Ray?" 

"Oh come on Benny. You can't fool me. First this morning you went the
colour of your uniform when I joked if you had been with a woman last
night and then now you keep avoiding answering the question. I know
there's a woman so you might as well tell me who she is." 

"If you don't mind Ray I'd rather not say at the moment. It's kind
of…complicated." 

"Ah so there IS a woman, I knew it. Nah I don't mind you not saying but
I'm warning you I'm a detective I'm gonna find out sooner or later." Ray
turned to Fraser and flashed him a gleeful wicked smile.       * * * * *  
    

As soon as Ben stepped foot inside the consulate he heard her voice.
"Fraser I want to see you in my office NOW." 

* Oh dear! * He knew he was in serious trouble, there was no mistaking
that tone of voice he had heard it a million times before and each time he
had been severely reprimanded. Yes he was definitely in trouble. 

Once they were both inside her office with the door closed Meg walked
behind her desk and turned to face him; placing her hands on her hips. "
So! Why are you late Fraser? And you'd better have a good reason for your
tardiness." 

"I'm sorry Sir I didn't anticipate being so long."  

"OH WELL, that's a good excuse, you didn't anticipate being so long," Meg
retorted sarcastically. She knew that she was shouting indirectly at him
for not showing up at the café, as well as for being late for duty. But
she didn't care she was just so mad at him. * I can't believe it! He
hasn't even given me a reason why he's late or mentioned not turning up
for lunch. What's going on? * As she paced back and forth in front of him
she glanced out of the window and an idea suddenly struck her. 

"As you know constable Turnbull has been on sentry duty since the end of
lunch and recently on his afternoon sentry duty a dog has got rather…
acquainted with him. I want you to find out whom the dog belongs to and
make sure the dog doesn't bother Turnbull again while he's on duty. Do I
make myself clear constable?"  

"Yes Sir." 

"Good. Dismissed."	* * * * *	

Meg avoided Ben like the plague for the rest of the day. When she did see
him she shot him daggers from her eyes. She had just done precisely that
now before turning around, marching into her office and slamming the door.


"Wow! If looks could kill!" Mocked Ovitz to Fraser. "What have you done?
It must be a major league screw up because even for her this is extreme." 

Ben just ignored Ovitz because he was deep in thought. At first Ben had
thought that she was only treating him this way to avert suspicion, but
now he wasn't so sure. If she was trying to avert suspicion, which he
hoped she was, it was definitely working. He took a deep breath and
knocked on her office door. 

"Come in," she bellowed. 

Ben mustered up all of his courage and entered her office with Dief
following him inside. 

"What do you want, I'm busy." 

"Ma am I thought it prudent to inform you that I have tried to trace the
dogs owner." 

"And have you succeeded in doing so?" 

"Er no." 

"You haven't? Why the heavens not constable? It's not that difficult the
dog did have a collar on, even a recruit at the academy could have done
that bit of police work. It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes for Gods sake." 

At her outburst Dief hid himself behind Ben's legs, as he knew that this
was not the end of it and when Ben had finished telling her what had
happened her anger might just be directed at him. 

"If I may explain Sir. I went outside when I saw the dog approaching and I
tried to coax the dog towards me. However I didn't anticipate the strong
bond it appears to have formed with constable Turnbull and…well…the dog
just wouldn't come to me. Instead it jumped up onto Turnbull placing its
paws on his shoulders. I tried ma am, I really did, to get the dog off
him, but it wouldn't move. The outcome of the event was that it growled at
me and subsequently this made Dief annoyed and he…well ma am…Dief and the
black Labrador had a, what you might call, stand off in the middle of the
street. They were growling at one another and so I thought it wise to
split it up and I brought Dief inside the consulate. When I went back
outside the dog was already at the end of the street. I tried to catch up
with it but it…" * This is really embarrassing, but I'm going to have to
tell her. * "The dog outran me Sir."  

"WHAT! Are you trying to tell me that a black Labrador outran you? That
constable Benton Fraser of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police couldn't
catch a dog!" Meg started to laugh at him sadistically. She knew that he
was embarrassed and that her taunting was making him uncomfortable and if
possible even more embarrassed. But she didn't care. In fact if she was to
be honest she was actually enjoying it. Why shouldn't she after the way he
had treated her by leaving her waiting for him like some idiot in the
café? Nobody treats Meg Thatcher like that and gets away with it.  

Ben fidgeted with his Stetson and turned the colour of a nice rosy red
apple. He felt all of his pride seep out of him and wished that he could
join it seeping through the floor. He waited for her to stop laughing at
him. It was not a manly feeling to have the woman you love laughing her
head off at you for being so pathetic. However what concerned him the most
was that her laugh was not a friendly laugh it was cold and sent an icy
chill through him. Why was she acting so strange? 

Meg stopped laughing at him and fixed him with a cold stare. "That's not
good enough Fraser. You had better find the dog if you know what's good
for you. Dismissed."	  * * * * *	  

That evening Ben caught up with Meg as she left the consulate. "Meg wait!"
She turned around to look at him. "Would you like to come to mine
tonight?" 

She looked at him in pure amazement. * What is he playing at messing me
around like this? One minute he wants me and the next he doesn't. * "No I
don't. I'm not a puppet Fraser; you can't just pull my strings and expect
me to jump. I don't like to be messed around and made a fool of," Meg
shouted icily. And with that she spun around and stormed off. 

Ben watched her head towards her car, his mouth gaping open in shock. He
was just about to chase after her when Ray pulled up in the Riv and so he
didn't get the chance. * Didn't she remember saying that she wanted to
make love to him and him saying it to her? * He made a mental note to go
around to Meg's later that evening and find out what was going on. Only
Ben never got the opportunity to do that because Ray collared him to help
him with his case.	* * * * *	

The next morning at the consulate Ovitz informed Ben that the Inspector
wanted to see him in her office immediately. When he entered her office
she stood up behind her desk. * Oh dear! * She usually stood when she was
angry with him. 

"Constable I have received two phone calls regarding you; one from Lt
Welsh and the other from an extremely irate Colonel Crosby. It appears
that you and your detective friend have been tailing Colonel Crosby, do
you mind telling me why?" 

"Well ma am Detective Vecchio believes that Colonel Crosby is involved in
a stolen goods ring." 

"He does? I have two questions for you; number one is does Detective
Vecchio have anything that even resembles evidence and number two is what
has it got to do with you?"  

"Ah…well…in answer to your first question no Detective Vecchio does not
have any evidence, that is to say none that would stand up in a court of
law. In answer to your second question Sir, I was asked by Detective
Vecchio to assist him in the investigation." 

"Fraser what have I told you before about delving into cases that do not
concern you? Stay away from Colonel Crosby Fraser and that's an order
constable." 

"Yes Sir." 

"Dismissed." 

"Permission to speak freely Sir?" 

"Granted. What is it Fraser?" Meg was intrigued. 

"What was that all about last night outside the consulate? Why wouldn't
you come to my apartment?" 

"I'd have thought that was obvious. Why should I come to your apartment to
be told you don't want a personal relationship with me when it was already
blatantly obvious from the way you didn't show up for lunch? I thought
that you had more guts than that, but I was CLEARLY mistaken because you
may have the courage to run into a burning building for a sweater or save
a diplomats life; but you don't have the courage or decency to turn up for
lunch and tell me our relationship is over."  

"What? Didn't Turnbull tell you that I had to leave the consulate while
you were in a meeting to go and help Detective Vecchio? Furthermore when I
said yesterday that I didn't anticipate being so long I thought that you
would understand that that was why I had missed lunch. I did turn up at
the café but I was too late you had already left." 

"No Turnbull never told me. I had no idea. I thought that you had doubts
about us." 

Ben walked around her desk and hugged her. "I don't have any doubts and I
was inviting you around to mine last night not to tell you that our
relationship was over but to spend time with you and to make up for
missing lunch." 

"I'm sorry Ben I've treated you like a complete bitch. Maybe this will
make up for it?" She reached up and pulled his face towards hers and
kissed him on the lips. He ran his hands along her back and she teasingly
ran her right leg up along his. This sent a surge of pleasure through Ben
and he pulled their bodies even closer. 

Breaking apart Ben said, "I think that just about makes up for it,
although you could agree to have lunch with me today?" 

"I'd love to but unfortunately I already have a business lunch. How about
dinner?" 

"All right but come to mine and let me cook you a meal." 

"That sounds wonderful. I'll be there about 7.00p.m." * * * * * Ray
couldn't resist stopping by the Canadian Consulate just before lunchtime
to see if Fraser was going to be having lunch today with a special
someone. "So Benny have you got any lunch plans today?" 

"No I haven't got any lunch plans today Ray." Ben knew full well that Ray
was trying to find out if he was seeing a woman for lunch and he was
determined not to let Ray find out that he was dating the Inspector, well
not yet anyway. 

"Are you sure that you don't have a date with a certain somebody, you know
the one you were supposed to meet for lunch yesterday?" 

"I'm positive Ray." 

"Well then you can join me for lunch and help me go over this case." 

"Er I can join you for lunch Ray but I can't be involved in the case
because Inspector Thatcher has ordered me to stay away from it." 

"Ah 'The Dragon Lady' and Lt Welsh must have been talking, it figures. Did
you get as good a roasting as me?" 

"Well the Inspector was rather angry and I hope you don't mind me not
working on the case Ray but I don't want to antagonise her anymore?" 

"Nah, it's ok Benny I've pretty much got it figured out anyway. Come on
lets go grab something to eat and I can tell you what I think. I can do
that cause it's not like your participating your just listening right?" 

"Right Ray."	  * * * * *	  

While they sat in the Riv and ate their hotdogs Ray filled Ben in on the
case. "Everyone at the precinct is too soft to get involved. There all
dead scared that Colonel Crosby will get them fired if they so much as
look at this case. The guy must be hiding the stuff down near the docks
but there's just too many buildings there to know which one…" Ray trailed
off as a passing car caught his attention. "Here hold this Fraser," said
Ray stuffing the half-eaten hotdog into Ben's hands and flooring the
accelerator. 

"Who are we following Ray?" 

"It's best if you don't know then 'The Dragon Lady' can't fire you." 

"Oh no Ray we're not following Colonel Crosby are we?" Ben was really
worried. If Meg found out she would definitely make his life hell at the
consulate and she would have every reason in doing so because he was
disobeying a direct order. But it wasn't his fault he kept telling
himself, he hadn't intentionally disobeyed her order, he'd just got caught
up in some unfortunate circumstances. However he very much doubted that
she would see it that way. 

"No we're not following him. You're just a passenger and if anyone asks
there was nothing you could do about it, it's not like anybody would
expect you to jump out of a moving car. Oh wait I'm forgetting it's you
and that's you speciality. But never mind you're just a passenger
remember? Nothing more." 

Ray rounded a corner so fast that he half mounted the curb and Ben dropped
the half-eaten hotdogs on the floor, grabbing onto the seat for dear life.
Suddenly the car in front slammed on and Ray had to hit the break fast.
The occupant of the car in front got out, came towards the Riv and banged
on Ray's side window. "This is police harassment, I'll have your badge for
this Detective Vecchio and as for you constable I'll have you shipped back
to Canada faster than you can say 'Maple Syrup,'" seethed Colonel Crosby. 

Ray thought the Colonel's head was about to explode all over his freshly
cleaned Riv because the Colonel was mad as hell. He was turning a
purple/red colour and Ray began to wonder if tailing him had been such a
good idea after all. Before they could say anything the Colonel got back
in his car and sped off. 

"Well I could get him on a speeding fine I suppose," joked Ray trying to
make light of the bad situation.  

"Oh dear! We're definitely in trouble now," was all Ben could get out.	  
 * * * * *	 

Back at the consulate Turnbull was waiting for Fraser. "Urm constable
Fraser, er Inspector Thatcher is waiting to see you in her office and I
suspect that she is far from happy." 

"Right. Thank you Turnbull." * Oh no! She had heard already. I just hope
that this doesn't affect our personal relationship, because we've only
just sorted that out. * 

As Fraser walked past his desk Ovitz couldn't help himself. "I hope you're
wearing a bullet proof vest because from the mood she's in you're going to
need it?" He just loved making comments to Fraser and Turnbull, they were
just so easy to work up. 

Inside Meg's office the dreaded reprimand began. "How DARE you disobey my
direct order constable?" 

"Technically speaking ma am I didn't. I was in the car with Detective
Vecchio when he started following the Colonel. What could I do about it?"
Remembering what Ray had said he added, "I was a passenger and Ray was
kind enough to be giving me a ride." 

"WHAT COULD YOU DO ABOUT IT?" She screeched. It had obviously been a
mistake saying that rhetorical question. "You NORMALLY find ways out of
situations. Am I SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THAT PATHETIC example of an excuse?" 

Fraser remained silent. He had learned in the past that it was much better
when she was this annoyed to just be quiet and let her release steam. 

"Do you think that you can take advantage of me because of our personal
relationship and that I'll be lenient or turn a blind eye when you disobey
me? I am NOT going to treat you any differently from anyone else under my
command. And if you think that I am or that you can get around me because
of our relationship you're wrong." 

Meg was furious. *He doesn't respect me anymore because of that night. He
thinks that because I love him he can take advantage of me. What am I
going to do? Look at him, he's drop dead gorgeous. God, I don't know what
to do. I love him, but I can't date him if he doesn't respect me. And if I
sleep with him he'll probably take even further liberties at work. I was
right when I thought that I'd been stupid for telling and showing him how
much I wanted him. * 

"I am sorry if it appears that I have taken advantage of you, that was not
my intention. I would never dream of doing such a thing. Do you really
believe that I would and that I don't respect you?" 

"Yes. Wouldn't you in my position? And another thing constable, if you
think that I am going to sleep in the same bed as you again let alone make
love to you, you are mistaken. How could you possibly respect me as your
Superior Officer then if you don't now?" 

"I do respect you. Just because I love you does not mean that I cannot or
do not respect you as my Superior Officer. And I would hope that us
sleeping together and making love would make us respect each other even
more! I am hurt that you think that if we made love I wouldn't respect
you. The whole reason why I said I didn't want to ruin anything by rushing
things was because I respect you and wanted you to know that. I do want a
relationship with you Meg, but we obviously have a lot to sort out if you
don't believe me." 

"I'm sorry. Dismissed constable. Oh and if you want to keep your job stay
away from Colonel Crosby, that's my last warning."  

Meg just wanted him to leave her office. She was embarrassed as hell. She
had totally misread the situation again. She thought he was probably
right, they did have a lot to sort out. It wasn't that she disbelieved
him, it was just that she kept jumping to conclusions. WHY? She needed
time alone to figure that one out. She had been so cruel to him again and
she couldn't keep doing that and expect him to still want a relationship
with her. 

"Meg before I leave I want to tell you a poem… 

AS I WAIT 

As I wait for you my dear 

a sorrow fills my heart 

I wonder if you'll ever know 

the love that tears me apart. 

  

Why do you hurt me 

when I love you so? 

The pain that sears 

my heart and soul 

when you treat me 

as though I mean nothing to you, 

a stranger passing by. 

Why do you seem not to care? 

Have mercy on me my dear. 

Don't you remember 

the joy of love we shared? 

The heartfelt promises that we declared? 

  

My heart is not beyond repair 

it's waiting for you my dear 

to heal it with your love 

stitch it with your kisses 

wipe away the remnants of sorrow 

with your touch. 

Mend my heart. 

Mend my soul. 

Mend the hurt that's weighing me down, 

lift it off my shoulders 

and throw it to the clouds. 

Relieve me of this hurt 

take me my dear 

and make me yours…" 

(By Postcard) 

Ben turned around to leave her office and Dief followed suit. 

"Ben wait, please." 

Ben turned around to face her and saw that she had tears in her eyes. 

"Is that what I've done to you? I didn't set out or mean to hurt you and
I'm sorry if I have. The last thing I would ever want to do is to hurt
you. I do love you Ben. I know I've treated you terribly today and I
apologise. I was afraid you didn't respect me and there is no way we can
work together if you don't respect me. I know now that you do and I do
believe you. I have a few things to work out Ben. I obviously have more
concern than I thought about the effect us having a personal relationship
can do to our professional relationship. It has already proved to lead to
a misunderstanding. I need time to think Ben."	

"Understood Meg." And with that he turned and left her office with Dief.
Good, it had worked. He thought that telling her the poem would get her to
open up to him and not shut him out like she was attempting to do by
dismissing him. He thought that if she felt anything for him the
explanation and the poem would get her to reconsider not wanting a
relationship anymore with him. It had been like someone had seared him
with a hot poker when she had said that she would not sleep in the same
bed as him 'let alone make love' to him. If time is what she needed to
think then time he would give her, because he was not about to lose her by
rushing her.	   * * * * *	   

Ben sat in his apartment and wondered if Meg would show up at 7.00p.m.
tonight or not. He still had half an hour until she was supposed to come
and so he and Dief went outside for a breath of fresh air and to kill some
time, as it was driving him mad sitting waiting, wondering if she would
come.  

Outside a tall lean figure waited in the shadows of the nearby alley and
watched as Fraser and Dief got closer and closer. Soon it would be time to
strike. 

Meg drove towards Ben's apartment. She had had time to think things
through and he deserved to hear what decision she had come to. It hadn't
taken her that long to come to her decision and she just prayed that it
was the right one. As she neared his apartment she was apprehensive as she
always was in this neighbourhood. As Meg drove past another dark alley a
silver glimmer caught her eye. * Oh my God! Was that a knife? Somebody is
being attacked in the alley. * All of Meg's police skills kicked in and
she stopped the car, grabbed her own knife that was always in her bag and
headed towards the entrance to the alley. When she got there she couldn't
believe it. The person being attacked was Ben. 

The assailant was lunging at Ben with the knife and he was trying to keep
the attacker at bay. In doing so he didn't see the trash can lid on the
floor and tripped over it. He was sent sprawling to the floor. Dief was
jumping up at the attacker and had locked the mans arm inbetween his
teeth. Meg saw her chance and she dashed up to the man and knocked the
knife out of his hand. Then with one swift movement of her leg she quickly
brought her knee up and struck him in the groin. He dropped to the floor
in agony and Dief pinned him down. Meg rushed to Ben's side and helped him
up. 

"Are you alright Ben?" The concern showing in her voice. 

"Yes I'm fine. Thank you Meg you saved my life." He looked at her with
gratitude in his eyes. 

"There was no way I was going to let him hurt you. You mean too much to
me." She spoke the last few words softly. 

Helping Ben out of the alley Meg took him to her car and sat him down in
the passenger seat. "Stay there and rest for a moment while I call the
police on my mobile phone." 

Within the next few minutes a police car arrived and the assailant was
escorted into the back of the squad car. Meg looked over at Ben sat beside
her in her car. "Are you sure you're alright?" 

"Yes." Then looking into her eyes he added, "well actually I am aching a
little but nothings broken." 

"In that case Ben let me help you inside and take a look at you?" 

"Alright."	* * * * *      

Once inside Ben's apartment Meg sat Ben down on the bed and removed his
shirt. Looking at his back she said, "Do you have any ointment?" 

"Yes it's in the top kitchen cupboard." 

After retrieving it she very carefully applied it to the wound on his
back. "Tell me if it's too painful Ben." 

"It's not too painful." He was actually enjoying the careful way she was
treating his back and he longed to take her in his arms. 

When she had finished treating his wound she looked him in the eyes and
pushed him gently back onto the bed. "Lie down and rest, that's an order
constable." She then sat on the edge of his bed.  

"Ben I have come to a decision regarding us. I have thought things over
and I want you to know that my love for you wins hands down over any
concerns. And just now when I thought that man was going to stab you I
knew that I had come to the right decision. I…I don't know what I would
have done if he had succeeded in killing you. I love you so much Ben. It's
not going to be easy but if we work together I know we can get through
whatever happens. As long as we're together I really don't care. I care
too much for you to let you go and if that makes me a fool for telling you
then so be it. If you can forgive me I want to carry on having a personal
relationship with you?" 

"Oh Meg, my sweet love, of course I forgive you…I love you and you are not
a fool for telling me how you feel." Smiling at her he added jokingly,
"How could I not forgive you after you just saved my life?" 

Ben reached out and pulled Meg down on top of him, kissing her on the
lips. As he kissed her any pain he felt from the attack vanished, she had
definitely relieved him of his hurt. 

Meg didn't know how much longer she could keep control; she craved him
with such intensity that it turned the small fire inside of her into a
raging bonfire. Meg was hungry for him and was kissing him with such
ferocity. The realisation that he could have been killed before they had
come together as one fuelled her passion for him on. She wanted him.  

Ben knew that he was soaring out of control, all of his sensory organs
were on red alert. She was sending an inferno of sensations through his
body and he doubted all the fire extinguishers in the world could put the
blaze out. Her caress was like a match that lit all of his emotions that
he had repressed for her and so he stripped her top off so that he could
caress more of her luxurious body. 

As they continued exploring one another's bodies with pleasure Ben watched
Meg's face and gathered from the slightly parted lips, occasional quick
rise of her eyebrows and her quickened breathing that he was pleasing her
just as much as she was him. 

Meg kissed his neck, moving up to nibble on his ear, then whispering in
his ear she expressed in words to him what her body was expressing in
actions. "Ben. If we carry on like this any longer I'll not be able to
stop, I'll have to have you." 

He returned the whisper, "I agree. I want you too Meg. I suppose we should
stop?" However still caressing her his thoughts scorched through his mind.
* Is she saying she wants to continue? Or is it too soon yet? My own
primitive urges want to continue, but if she is on fire because she
thought she had nearly lost me, then she needs comfort not this. I want us
both to be clear headed, it wouldn't be right to make love now. I love her
too much and I want it to be unforgettable because of the romantic
setting, not unforgettable because I was attacked and she saved me. No,
now isn't the right time. * 

Kissing his neck Meg managed between kisses to say, "I…suppose…we should."
She didn't want to stop but she also didn't want to give in easily, it
wasn't in her nature to give into anything easily. And her logical
Inspector brain told her that after all of the confusion recently she
should take it slowly and establish their relationship.  

They both gradually pulled apart and Meg sat up putting her top back on.
"Meg now that we have sorted the confusion out we have all the time in the
world to make love. I don't want to rush you or play on your emotions
because you were relieved that I was all right. I want you to want to make
love to me because you really want to not because you were scared that you
nearly lost me and it is a way of showing your relief." 

The caring warmth of his words and his protective gentlemanly concern of
not wanting to take advantage or rush her touched her. "Thank you for
being a gentleman Ben." 

He smiled at her and kissed her tenderly on the lips. "It's my pleasure.
Now are you hungry because I did say that I'd cook you dinner?" 

"Yes. I'm famished." 

Helping Ben up Meg asked, "How's your wound, is it still sore?" 

"Actually no it's a lot better." Smiling at her he added, "You healed it
with your love." A small smile turned up the corners of her mouth as she
noted the referral to the poem 'As I Wait.' 

"Is there anything I can help you with," Meg asked, following him into the
kitchen area. 

"No, you sit down and put your feet up. This is going to be a 'thank you
for saving my life dinner' so I'll prepare it." 

"Ben please…I only did what anyone else would have done and besides I'm
responsible for you. What would I do if my 'number 1' officer was injured
or worse? Rely on Turnbull? I'd end up having two injured officers because
he'd drive me insane and I'd end up shooting him," joked Meg and they both
laughed. 

"Anyway Ben, thank you for coming into my life." Walking up to him she
hugged him tightly and as he hugged her back she thought of how much she
liked being in his strong, safe, caring arms. 

During dinner they talked about virtually everything under the sun; their
likes and dislikes, events during childhood, who they'd buy and sell in
the NHL if they owned the 'Ottawa Senators." And after dinner Meg looked
across the table into Ben's blue eyes and felt that finally she knew this
man as much as she knew herself. She was pleased that they had so much in
common but at the same time they had just as many different opinions which
would make for many interesting future discussions. 

"Ben. I feel like we know one another very well now. Well enough." She
shot him a meaningful look from her coffee-coloured eyes. If the stress on
the words didn't tell him what she meant then the look most definitely
did. 

"Yes I think that we both know one another well enough too. Meg…would you
like to go to my father's cabin, well it's actually my cabin now really,
in Canada for the weekend?" 

"Yes," Meg blurted out. "I'd love to. Do you mean this weekend?" She hoped
upon hope that he did. 

"Er yes. It's short notice I know with tomorrow being Friday but all we
need is plane reservations and I should be able to get us those." 

"Well I've nothing else planned for this weekend and so if you can get the
plane reservations, which shouldn't be too difficult I'll come with you." 

Meg was looking forward to the trip, she knew that it would be the place
where they would finally make love. It was kind of torture at the same
time though because she had to wait another day. * Although, I've waited
this long, I think that I can just about wait another 24 hours. I know it
will be worth the wait and it's sweet that Ben is going to all of this
trouble to make it perfect. * 

"Meg do you…would you mind if we take Dief with us? I think he would be
upset if I left him this weekend after what happened earlier tonight." 

"Of course I don't mind. If it hadn't have been for Dief grabbing that
man's arm I wouldn't have had the opportunity to do what I did and it
could have turned out a lot differently." Meg reached down stroking Dief's
head and scratched behind his ears. He licked her ankle in a gesture of
appreciation. 

"You've made a friend for life there," laughed Ben. 

Meg looked at her watch. "I'd better be going home now, it's late and I
have a lot of packing to do." 

"Right. Shall we meet for lunch so that we can confirm the travel
arrangements? I promise this time no matter what I'll definitely turn up."


"Yes…All right…How about the bistro that's opposite the park?" 

"OK. I'll meet you there at one o'clock." 

Ben walked Meg to the door and kissed her goodnight. "Meg will you please
call Mr.Mustafi when you get home so that I know you've arrived safely? I
know that you can look after yourself but all the same!" 

"Yes I'll call him."	  * * * * *	  

As Ben approached the Riv on Friday morning he was greeted by Ray's, "Hey
Benny how're ya feeling this morning? I hear 'The Dragon Lady' saved your
life last night, why'd she do that when I thought she wanted to get rid of
you? 

"Ray please don't call her 'The Dragon Lady' she really is a very nice
person. And in answer to your questions I feel a lot better this morning
and yes M…er…Inspector Thatcher did save my life last night, she was
wonderful Ray. I'm really grateful to her. She's a remarkable woman." 

Ray quickly glanced at Fraser. * He's really singing her praises. Did I
just detect in his voice a hint of more than gratitude for saving his
life? Nah, it couldn't be. * 

"Anyhow Benny I've got some GREAT news for you. That guy who attacked you
last night has done A LOT of talking and guess who he works for? Non other
than our Colonel Crosby, he was hired by him as a hit man and all of last
night he's been co operating with us by giving us info on Crosby. And real
early this morning we busted him. I was right Benny. He was involved in a
stolen goods ring. This has got me a 10 from Welsh."  

"Congratulations Ray." 

* Should I tell him what I've decided? What if she say's no, I'll look
like an idiot. And will he keep it quiet? But if I don't tell him he'll be
really upset. I already won't tell him whom it is I've been seeing. * 

"Er Ray I have something important to tell you." 

"Shoot Benny." 

"Ray I'm…I'm taking a woman up to my cabin in Canada this weekend and I'm
going to…propose to her." Ben stared straight ahead and waited for the
barrage of questions to come. 

"WHAT! Well knock me down with a feather. Who is she?" 

"I'd rather not say until I have her answer. I want to ask her first as I
feel that's the right thing to do before I tell anyone that it's her." 

"Ah a 'near death experience' made you realise what you're missing?" 

"I wouldn't call it a 'near death experience' Ray but it has made me
realise what I want and what I've been missing." 

"Is she Canadian?" 

"Yes Ray she is Canadian." 

Slam-dunk, suddenly it dawned on him who the woman was. * It couldn't be
could it? Not her! Although thinking about it they are well suited. But
she hates his guts. Or does she? She did save his life after all. But then
again even she wouldn't be so cold hearted as to let someone die. And WHAT
was she doing in Fraser's neighbourhood anyway? * 

"Benny it's not…it can't be…are you going to propose to 'The Dragon
Lady'?" He just had to ask. 

* Oh no he's figured it out. How am I going to get out of this one? * 

"I told you Ray that I'm not going to tell you yet who it is and please
don't call the Inspector that." 

"It IS 'The Dragon…" seeing the look Fraser gave him he corrected himself.
"I mean the Inspector. WOW Benny. Have you and she you know…done the
deed?" 

"Ray," blushed Ben, resembling a tomato about to be squashed under foot.
"I haven't even said that it's her." 

"You don't have to say it because it's written all over you beetroot
coloured face," teased Ray. 

"Ray if the woman I am going to propose to and I am not saying that it is
Inspector Thatcher, but if the woman say's yes will you be my best man at
the wedding?" 

"Course I will Benny, I'd really like to be your best man. I'm sure she'll
say yes though because all of the women seem to fall at your feet and pray
that you'll ask them one day. Just one thing though, I know you won't tell
me who it is and personally I think I know who it is but just put my mind
at rest and tell me that it isn't Franny."  

"I can honestly say it isn't Franny Ray." 

"But you can't honestly say that it isn't the Inspector!"  

* Why didn't I see that one coming? * Ray was good. No matter how Ben
tried Ray always seemed to get around him. Changing the subject Ben said,
"You don't need to pick me up tonight Ray." 

"Right, because you and the Inspector are going for a cosy weekend in the
middle of nowhere in Canada. Don't worry Fraser I won't forget."      * *
* * *	   

Ben met Meg for lunch at the bistro and over the meal they confirmed the
travel arrangements. 

"I've managed to get us the last two seats on the plane. It leaves at 6.45
tonight and will fly us thankfully to the nearest airport. From there I've
arranged for a friend to pick us up and take us to his cabin, which is the
nearest place to mine. He has horses and is going to let us borrow them to
get to my cabin. Is that alright with you?" 

"Yes that sounds fine to me. I've already packed and my things are in my
car. I noticed you didn't bring your luggage to the consulate, so why
don't we meet at my car after work tonight and we can drop by at yours on
the way to the airport?" 

"Yes I was hoping we could do that, I didn't want to arouse suspicion by
bringing my luggage to the consulate."	

On the way back to the consulate Meg spotted a photo booth and grabbed
hold of Ben's arm. "Let's have our pictures taken together, come on it
will be fun and besides it's about time we had some pictures of one
another." Meg didn't give him chance to protest as she dragged him inside
the booth. And Dief not wanting to be left out joined them in having their
pictures taken. 

Meg retrieved the photos and divided them so that they both had two of the
photos. In one she was kissing his cheek, in another he was kissing hers
and in the other two Dief had jumped up onto their knees to be in the
photos.      * * * * *	    

While Turnbull was on afternoon sentry duty Ben waited nearby for the
black Labrador to show up. This time he was determined to catch it. They
had both just been called into the Inspector's office and had been
informed, "We need to get this sorted out once and for all so that
something that resembles normality and dignity can return to the
consulate. I cannot have one of my officers being used as a lamppost, what
would the public think? Or worse still what would the officials who come
here think?" 

Turnbull had also been ordered to hold the dog while Ben looked at the
collar in the hope that by doing so they might actually find out whom the
dog belonged to. 

Eventually the black Labrador turned up and before it had chance to do any
damaged to Turnbull's trousers, they both got hold of it. Ben noted that
the dog's name was "Shadow" and there was no address but there was however
a phone number. Leaving a panic-stricken Turnbull on his own with the dog
Ben went inside the consulate and dialled the number. 

To Ben's surprise the owner turned out to be Kerry, Ray's dancing partner
at the 'Charity Dance Marathon.'  

"I'm terribly sorry, it won't happen again. The catch on my garden gate is
faulty and Shadow keeps escaping from the back garden. I have somebody
coming to fix it today, so it won't happen again. I'll come to the
consulate straight away and pick Shadow up. I really am sorry." 

Kerry arrived at the consulate to retrieve Shadow but Shadow had other
ideas. Shadow just wouldn't leave Turnbull. Ben and Kerry tried to pry
Shadow away from a petrified Turnbull and in the process Shadow managed to
get Fraser's hat. This resulted in a tug of war between Fraser and Shadow.
As Ben finally managed to prise his hat from Shadow's mouth the entire
contents of his stash in his hat fell out. All of his money and the
pictures went cascading onto the street. While Ben examined his beloved
hat, Turnbull quickly bent to retrieve the fallen objects before Shadow
could get to them too. Kerry in the mean time uttered her apologies and
led Shadow away at last. 

Turnbull finished picking up the money and bent once more to pick up the
pictures. He couldn't believe his eyes. Turnbull stood staring at the
photos in shock and then his legs were no longer able to hold his body up
and he hit the floor with an almighty 'thud'. Ben looked down in surprise
at the crumpled mass that was Turnbull. 

"Oh dear!" Exclaimed Ben as he realised that Turnbull had seen the photos
and that was why he had fainted. Ben guessed that the photo in particular
that had led to Turnbull's fainting spell was the one were Meg was kissing
him on the cheek. She had kept the one with him kissing her cheek and they
had both got one each with Dief on in which they were both hugging. 

Turnbull quickly regained his consciousness and Ben helped him up. Still
in shock Turnbull handed the photos back to Ben. "Er thank you Turnbull." 


* How in the world am I going to explain this? * Went echoing through
Ben's mind.  

"Turnbull about the pictures it, erm, isn't what it seems. Well actually
that's not necessarily true I suppose it is what it appears to be.
Inspector Thatcher and I happened to have lunch together and afterwards on
her request we…" * Oh my! That didn't sound right. How am I going to
explain this? * Fretted Ben.  

"What I mean is…er…you've probably guessed that Inspector Thatcher and I
are…well you know…involved. I'm afraid I'm not very good at explaining
this sort of thing." 

"No need to apologise Sir. I think I get the picture. You and the
Inspector are involved in the romantic nature, is that what you're trying
to explain to me?" 

"Yes Turnbull. That's it. Inspector Thatcher and I are romantically
involved." 

"You and she…with the Inspector…kissing…oh my gosh!" Turnbull stuttered
going back into shock again, while at the same time resuming his sentry
duty as it was his only way of coping with the situation.  

Seeing that Turnbull had resumed his post on sentry duty Ben gladly took
his leave and bolted up to Meg's office to give her the latest report on
'Shadow' and to tell her about the unfortunate news about the photos. * Oh
no! How is she going to take it? Will she blame me? *	   * * * * *	  

Once inside of her office she looked up at him and smiled. "Yes
constable?" 

"Sir I managed to trace the dogs owner, the dogs name I should inform you
is Shadow and the owner has subsequently collected Shadow. The owner
surprisingly Sir turned out to be Kerry, the woman we met at the 'Charity
Dance Marathon' who was Ray's dancing partner. She sends her apologies and
has informed me that it won't happen again." 

"Well done constable. Good work." Then noticing his nervous expression and
his torn hat she added, "Is there anything else Fraser and what has
happened to your hat?" 

"Ah yes my hat. As a matter of fact there is something I think you should
know and it involves what happened to my hat." Ben paused to collect his
thoughts. 

"Go on constable." 

"Ma am Shadow somehow managed to get hold of my hat while Kerry and I were
trying to separate Shadow from Turnbull. And…well…as you know I keep some
of my possessions in my hat. In the process of retrieving my hat these
possessions fell out onto the street and while I checked my hat Turnbull
picked them up. Meg…"  

She had started to switch off slightly at his explanation because she
thought that this was going to be another of his long stories, but by
using her first name he had got her complete and utter attention again. *
Why is he using my first name on duty? * 

"The photographs we had taken together were amongst the possessions
Turnbull picked up." Seeing her look of total mortification Ben added,
"I'm terribly sorry Meg." 

"You're not serious? Please Ben tell me that you're not serious and that
Turnbull didn't see the photos." Pleaded Meg in horror. 

"I'm afraid it's true." 

"How could you be so careless Ben?" 

"I really am sorry Meg. I didn't intend for him to see them." 

"How did he take it?" 

"Erm as far as I can gather, what with Turnbull being Turnbull, not too
good. He went into shock and fainted. He's now regained consciousness but
I believe he is still somewhat in a state of shock." 

"Oh great. Well I suppose people were going to find out eventually.
There's no point crying over spilt milk as they say, because there's
nothing we can do about it now. You'd better go and bring Turnbull into my
office so that we can discuss this with him."	   * * * * *	  

Turnbull stood rigidly in Inspector Thatcher's office; his look of shock
had now been replaced with a look of utter amazement. 

"Turnbull I believe that in order to keep a good ship I have a few things
that I need to explain to you." Meg halted for a moment, she wasn't quite
sure how to word what she needed to say. 

"Constable Fraser and I have recently been seeing one another outside of
office hours, I suppose that you would call it dating. I want you to know
that Fraser's and my personal relationship will not change anything at the
consulate. Everything will stay just the same. I will not treat him any
more favourably than the rest of my staff. Do you understand Turnbull?" 

"Yes Sir." 

"Good. Do you have any concerns about anything that I have or have not
mentioned?" 

"No. Well yes. Seeing as you and Constable Fraser are romantically
involved does that mean that you are going to get married and if so will
you be Inspector Fraser then?" 

"Ah…well…it's a little too early to say. We erm haven't discussed that
yet. And as for the last part of you're question I'll inform you if and
when the need arises." * Why did Turnbull have to ask that question? He's
caught me totally off guard. * 

"Turnbull we would appreciate it if you would keep this under your hat for
the time being." Realising her choice of words Meg corrected herself.
"Actually that's not a good idea seeing how all of this got out in the
first place. What I mean is please would you keep it to yourself." 

Turnbull was slightly taken aback by her saying 'please.' She never said
that word, well not to him anyway. 

"Of course Sir. I will be the soul of discretion." 

"Dismissed both of you."As they left the room Meg wondered, * can Turnbull
be the 'soul of discretion?' I only hope so, because if Ovitz finds out, I
dread to think what the consequences will be. *      * * * * *	     

At the airport in Canada Meg and Ben went to retrieve their luggage. Once
again Ben marvelled at the two large suitcases Meg had brought with her.
"Meg I think that maybe you over did it a bit with the luggage because
we're only going to be here for the weekend." 

"I wasn't sure what to bring," Meg responded shrugging her shoulders. 

Walking through the arrivals lounge Ben helped Meg carry her suitcases.
"Why is there never any blasted trolleys around when you need them?" Meg
moaned. 

"Ben nice to see you again." Greeted a Native Canadian man getting both of
their attention. 

"Yes it's been awhile," beamed Ben, shaking the mans outstretched hand.
"Let me introduce the both of you. Meg this is Steven, Steven meet Meg." 

"Nice to meet you," Meg said to him flashing him a friendly smile. 

"It's a pleasure to meet you, any friend of Ben's is a friend of mine,"
Steven told her whilst shaking her hand. 

On the way to Steven's home they were filled in on the local news. It was
a long journey and Meg slept most of the way. They finally arrived at
Steven's cabin in the early hours of the morning and after having a nice
home-cooked breakfast prepared by Nancy, Steven's wife, they got ready to
go on their way to Ben's cabin. Unfortunately Steven only had two horses
to spare and so the supplies were secured onto one horse and Meg and Ben
mounted the other. Ben guided the horses through the carpet of snow on the
ground and Dief ran along beside them. Meg had wrapped her arms around Ben
and was holding onto him tightly, pressing their bodies together for
warmth. 

Meg's first glance of the cabin was one that looked almost
picture-postcard. It looked so tranquil surrounded by snow, isolated from
everything except for wildlife. It was definitely a place where she and
Ben could forget rank and the rest of the world and just be themselves,
together. 

The cabin wasn't very large but it was large enough for the three of them.
It was made out of wood and a matching smaller building stood nearby which
turned out to be the stables. Once the horses were inside the stables Meg
and Ben walked up to the front door to join Dief who was all ready there
waiting for them. Ben held the front door open for her and Meg entered the
cabin.	

Looking around herself Meg absorbed what was to be her home for the
weekend. There was one main room in which she was standing. On the right
hand side of the room was a log fire with a white rug in front of it on
the wooden floor and behind her was one window beside the door. In front
of Meg at the far end of the room there was a sink, some cupboards and a
small round table with two wooden chairs. There was also a door by the
cupboards that Ben informed her led to the portable toilet. 

"It's not much I know," Ben apologised. 

"It has potential. I think that it's very cosy, I like it," Meg assured
him squeezing his hand.  

Ben bent down and put some more logs onto the fire, then he took out a box
of matches and lit the fire.  

"I would have thought that you'd rub two logs together," joked Meg with a
twinkle in her eye. 

"It's quicker this way," explained Ben and then looking at her he realised
that she was joking. "Very funny," he remarked pulling her to him and
kissing her on the lips. 

They unpacked the supplies and had lunch at the small round table. The
rest of the day was spent with Ben and Dief showing Meg around the
surrounding area and they even built some snow Mounties, something Meg
hadn't done since she was a child. 

When evening came they prepared dinner and sitting around the table, with
Dief at their feet they ate by candlelight because there was no
electricity in the cabin. Over dinner Ben couldn't help but think how
beautiful she was even dressed in a jumper and jeans. 

After dinner Ben decided that the time was right to ask her the question
he had been wanting to ask her for the past twenty-four hours. "Meg I have
something that I want to ask you." 

She was surprised by the tone of seriousness in his voice. "You do?" 

"Yes." Getting up from his chair he went around the table and knelt down
on one knee in front of her. Reaching into his pocket he took out a small
red velvet box and then took her left hand in his, looking into her eyes. 

* Oh my! He's going to propose to me. Benton Fraser is actually going to
propose to me. * 

"Margaret, Meg…I am deeply in love with you. Would you do me the honour of
agreeing to become my wife? Will you marry me Meg?"  

"Yes." She didn't need to think about it, the word came straight off her
tongue and when she heard herself saying it she knew that it was what she
wanted. 

"Yes Ben I'll marry you. I will be honoured to be your wife." 

He slipped the ring on her appropriate finger and she looked down at it
properly for the first time. It was breathtakingly beautiful. The gold
ring sparkled with diamonds and taking pride of place in the centre of the
diamonds was an Aquamarine gemstone. It was majestically mounted on the
gold ring prouder than any Mountie on a horse. 

"Oh Ben it's beautiful. It looks old where did you get it?" 

"Do you really like it?" 

"Yes of course I do, it's exquisite." 

"I hoped that you'd like it, I thought that you would. The ring belonged
to my mother; it was my mother's engagement ring from my father.
Aquamarine was superstitiously believed to afford protection on sea
journeys and was considered a lucky stone by lovers for whom it symbolised
happiness and hope." 

"I'll treasure it Ben and the ring is already working because it's made me
extremely happy. Although I don't plan on going on any sea journeys any
time soon so we'll have to wait and see if that bit works." They both
laughed and as Meg pulled Ben up from his kneeling position he wrapped her
in his arms and they kissed. 

As the kiss ended Ben looked at his fiance. "Would you care to dance Meg?"


"Yes…I would. I'd love to dance." 

"Erm, do you mind dancing without music because I haven't got any music
here except for my guitar?" 

"No I don't mind. That's all right, we don't need music." 

While they danced around the small cabin watched by an amused Dief, Meg
recalled the first time they had danced together at the 'Charity Dance
Marathon.' By 'going in for the kill' she had ended up here, dancing in
the arms of the man she loved and was now going to marry. She remembered
the phrase 'Carpe Diem,' Seize the Day and was so glad that she had. She
decided to do just that again, because there was one thing she wanted from
this man and she couldn't repress that desire any longer. She kissed him
intensely on the lips, letting her hands roam over his body, showing him
what she wanted. 

Ben responded by gliding her over to the fire and sensuously kissing her
neck. 

"Meg may I?" 

"May you what?" Meg asked breathlessly because she knew what he was going
to ask her, she could tell from the look in his eyes; the same look she
thought was more than likely mirrored in her own eyes and the thought of
finally being with this man took her breath away. 

"Meg may I make love to you tonight?" 

"Yes Ben…you may make love to me tonight." He had asked her what she
suspected he would. * Hallelujah! He's going to make love to me now. My
heart is thumping like a thousand drums in unison. *  

He needed no more encouragement than that and kissing her he gently
lowered her onto the white rug on the floor in front of the log fire. Dief
sensing that the couple needed some privacy snuck out of the way. 

His touch was heavenly; it sent electric charges through her body that
tingled every part of her. He was like the ocean engulfing her in the
waves of passion and pulling her further into the depths of sexual bliss. 

She was incredibly sensual; her luscious lips took him to the heights he
had never reached or even dreamed of reaching before. Her hands were like
dock leaves soothing away any hurt he had ever felt in his life. 

Passion, lust, ardent desire and love all came together as their bodies
became one in harmony. First a match igniting a fuse cord resulting in
small miniature bangs, setting off larger explosions until the intensity
of the heat inside of them sent fireworks more powerful than any skyrocket
blasting towards the sky.  

"Oh Meg…" 

"Ben…Oh yes…"  

Finally exploding into a rainbow of colours…red, orange, purple, blue,
green…white.  

Sexual appetites fulfilled; they lay encircled in one another's arms,
listening to the soothing crackle of the log fire as they drifted
peacefully off to sleep.