Ben & Phil Ch    

Disclaimer: This story is written for the private entertainment of fans.
The author makes no claims on the characters or their portrayal by the
creation of this story. Fraser, Vecchio, et.al. belong to Alliance; the
McKenzies and friends belong to me. No infringement of any copyrights held
by CBS, Alliance, CTV, or any other copyright holders of DUE SOUTH is
intended. This story is not published for profit, and the author does not
give permission for this story to be reproduced for profit. 

"Real Conversations" 

By SL Haas 

(Copyright November 1996, Revised April 1999) 

   

Silences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying but
the never needing to say is what counts.  

				--Margaret Lee Runbeck	  

June 1984 

Benton Fraser stood in the clearing near Blue Cabin searching the sky,
Concern etching his features. Surely the chopper should be here by now.
The call from the RMR base had come less than ten minutes ago. Surely they
should be here by now. His shoulders sagged as he realized what he was
doing. Ten minutes would barely see the chopper lifting off. He had to
give them the time necessary to get here. He took another look at the sky.
The storm system had abated but had not fully departed. 

Darryl radioed Ben at the cabin and told him that he was making a quick
flight during the forecasted lull. "Have Phil ready, Fraser. We won't have
much time to fly in and out before the system settles back in...maybe only
an hour or two. That should be enough time to get her to the hospital." 

Ben returned to the cabin to check on Phil. She rested quietly, her
breathing rasping and labored. Ever since the early morning when he had
thought she had died, he had watched her, had not left her alone for more
than a few minutes. The raging fever that had claimed her during the night
was gone, replaced by this low, strength-consuming fire. Except for a
brief moment of lucidity in the early dawn hours, Phil had remained in a
delirium. 

Ben dug through Phil's clothing and found the pair of hiking shorts she
carried in her pack. He approached the bed and gently removed the light
blanket covering her body. He carefully fitted the shorts on her legs and
pulled them up over her hips. Running the zipper up and buttoning the
shorts were done with as gentle a touch as he could summon. Phil did not
stir. He carefully fitted the discarded T-shirt over her head. Again,
there was not a flicker of movement from Phil. It was as if she was
somewhere else. 

He gathered their packs and carried them to the clearing. There was still
no sign of the chopper. He scanned the sky before returning to the cabin. 


He approached the bed once more. Phil lay as he had left her. He touched
her face--warmth met his seeking fingers--fingers that trembled with
suppressed fear. He couldn't lose her now. He had fought to bring her
through hypothermia, through the raging fever; he would not let her go
now. He gathered her into his arms and held her next to his heart. He
whispered the words he had tried to tell her earlier. "I love you,
Philippe McKenzie. I don't know how or why or when--but I do."	

Phil snuggled closer and coughed--a deep, ragged cough. Another followed
it. Both their bodies were shaken by the intensity of the cough. Ben
rubbed circles on her back, trying to ease the coughing. 

"T, what are you doing here?" Phil gazed up into the glacier blue eyes
that were clouded with worry. She brought a hand to her mouth as another
coughing fit seized her. "Sorry, T...feel like...can't breathe..." More
coughing racked their bodies as she drifted off again. 

Fear closed his throat as he held her and felt the rattling of her
breathing. He knew her lungs were congested. He prayed that pneumonia
wouldn't set in, but he wasn't holding his breath. If only the chopper
would come. 

Ben wrapped a blanket around Phil then laid her back on the bed. He
stepped outside the cabin and searched the sky for a rescue helicopter.
The wind was beginning to pick up again. If the chopper didn't come soon,
it would have to cancel and try again at a later time. He stood in the
door and looked at Phil. Her bruised face was turned away from him. If the
chopper didn't come now, she might not last until it could come.  

A faint growl feathered across his ears then was whisked away by the
rising breeze. He strode out into the clearing and searched the sky again.
This time his search was rewarded. The chopper was coming in low from the
southeast. 

Ben ran back into the cabin and gathered Phil into his arms. He kicked the
door shut and hurried to meet the now landing helicopter. Jason took Phil
from him as he climbed aboard. The packs were already loaded. He settled
himself and secured his belt then reached for Phil. Jason gave him a long
and deliberate look. Phil had been his friend ever since he and Darryl had
pulled her off that ledge in Thunder Basin; Fraser had known her a little
over a month. He wasn't about to trust Phil with a stranger. But, the look
in Fraser's eyes...he reluctantly relinquished his hold on her.  

Ben settled Phil's limp body on his lap. "Get us out of here. She's in bad
shape and I'm afraid she's developing pneumonia on top of everything."	

Darryl nodded his understanding and they were soon airborne. The flight to
the hospital was bumpy as the wind continued to increase. But they were
going to make it. Phil would be in capable hands soon. Ben held her close
and whispered to her when she became restless. 

Jason stared at the two and shook his head. There was a hint of pity in
the smile that hovered on his lips. Who would have thought it? Poor
Fraser, he sure had it bad for Phil. Jason hoped Phil would be gentle with
him when she finally got around to brushing him off. Jason had dated Phil
years ago and experienced first-hand her reluctance to become involved
with anyone. He also knew the reasons behind her resistance. It didn't
matter anymore; he and Phil were good friends. But poor Fraser... he
didn't stand a ghost of a chance with the Ice Queen. He shook his head
again. * * * 

"Dr. McKenzie, there's a call for you on line 2." The receptionist smiled
at the handsome, young intern.	

Rob accepted the receiver and smiled back. "Thanks....Hello, this is Dr.
McKenzie." 

"Is this Rob McKenzie? Do you have a sister named Phil?" 

An icy shiver raced up his spine. "Yes, my sister's name is Phil. Who is
this? Has something happened to Phil?" Panic built in Rob's voice. 

"I'm Constable Benton Fraser, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I'm spending
this summer working with Rocky Mountain Rescue..." 

Rob cut him off, "What's happened to Phil? There's been an accident,
hasn't there?" 

"Yes..." 

Rob swayed and began to shake. "Flip's..." His voice trailed off as he
slid down the wall to sit on the floor. He buried his face in his hands.
"Flip's dead. Isn't she?" His voice shook. The roaring in his ears
obscured what Fraser said. Fraser? Benton Fraser? Wasn't he the man TJ had
told him about? The one who was interested in Flip? But, she was gone...he
shook uncontrollably. People began to gather around him and offer
assistance. 

Fraser's voice finally penetrated Rob's despair. "Rob...Rob! Listen to me.
Phil's okay. She's not dead. Rob, get a hold of yourself!" 

"She's not dead? But you said...an accident?" 

"She was injured in an accident. We don't know for sure what happened..." 

"What does her partner say..." 

"She was on her own, running a patrol over a ridge..." 

"She was alone? I'm going to kill her!" He climbed to his feet, waved off
the helping hands, and said into the phone, "Hold on Fraser, I'm going to
have this call transferred to some place where I can have some privacy."
He glared at those around him. The call was transferred to an office
shared by the interns. 

"Okay, Fraser. Tell me the whole story. Don't leave anything out."  

Ben related everything...almost. There were some things you wouldn't tell
a brother--the feel of her skin, his burning desire. He related everything
he knew from when he had learned of Phil's 'loner,' to finding her pack
and tracking her and finally finding her, to taking her to the cabin,
caring for her, fighting for her life, the rescue chopper and the flight
to the hospital. He held nothing (almost) back. "That was about an hour
ago. She has a couple of bruised ribs, a concussion, and the doctor says
she'll probably develop pneumonia. They need her next of kin here. I tried
to reach TJ with no luck. Can you come?" 

"I'm on the next plane. Can someone meet me at the airport?" 

"I'll pick you up myself." 

"Fine, give me a number where I can reach you and I'll get a flight number
and time to you." 

"Understood." * * * 

Ben waited impatiently for Rob's plane to arrive. He wanted to be at the
hospital. Phil wasn't out of danger and had drifted closer to pneumonia in
the time since he had called Rob. His worry over Phil's condition overrode
his concerns at meeting Phil's other brother. From the sound of his voice,
Ben knew that Rob loved Phil as much, if not more, than TJ--which was hard
to imagine. 

The plane landed and Ben watched for Rob's exit. There, that had to be
him! Coming toward the terminal was a handsome young man with sandy brown
hair. Phil's crooked grin was echoed in the smile on his face. 

Rob scanned the waiting people looking for Fraser. It was pretty obvious
which one he was. TJ's description had accurately portrayed the Mountie.
Rob approached Ben and extended his hand. "I'm Rob McKenzie. You have to
be Fraser. TJ described you perfectly." Friendship offered itself in his
voice. 

Ben returned the smile, accepting both the introduction and the friendship
offered. He reveled in Rob's reception. Why was it so important that
Phil's brothers accept him? For some unfathomable reason it was important.
 

"You've talked with TJ?" 

"Not yet. He's in Washington, DC, attending a training session. I've left
a message at his hotel, but I'll try again after I know more about Phil's
condition. How is she?" By this time, they were on the road to the
hospital. 

Ben was slow in answering, "She's not doing too well. They won't tell me
anything." The catch in his voice was all too apparent to Rob. "They've
been waiting for her family to get here." 

The rest of the drive was accomplished in silence. Rob could tell that
Fraser was worried. He smiled to himself, ‘TJ was right. He cares for
Flip. If he's half the man TJ 

says he is, then...’ He smiled to himself, ‘Now all we have to do is pull
her out of this mess she's in.’ 

As Phil's next of kin, the doctor handling her case immediately approached
Rob. He was pleased to discover that Rob was also a doctor and could
discuss the case knowledgeably. 

Phil had succumbed to pneumonia. Combined with the concussion and
exposure, her resistance and stamina had slowly ebbed. She was feverish
and slipped in and out of consciousness.  

Ben went to her room while Rob talked with the doctor. She looked so small
and defenseless...not the strong, resolute woman he knew her to be. A film
of perspiration glistened on her face. She moved restlessly in the bed. He
leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead. 

"T? Is that you?" 

"I'm here, Phil. I'll always be here for you." 

She clutched at his arm. "T, where are you?" The blankness in her eyes
told him she was far away in her delirium.  

His heart ached. He lowered the rails on the bed and he sat on the edge of
it. He gently pulled Phil to him until she rested with her head on his
chest. He held her and stroked her back.  

"Ben?" 

He brushed the hair from her face, careful not to disturb the oxygen
tubes. He kissed her brow and hugged her close. "I'm here, Phil. I'm
here." He continued to softly talk to her as he rocked her. He hummed
softly. Anything to let her know he was there. 

Rob stood in the doorway for a few minutes and watched Ben with Phil. He
approached the couple. Ben turned his head to watch Rob approach. He
continued to rock Phil and whisper to her. 

"TJ said you cared for Phil. He also said that you didn't know how much.
Has that changed?" 

"Dr. McKenzie..." 

"Please, my friends call me Rob and you're Ben."  

Ben smiled; he liked Phil's brothers. They were honest, open, and direct.
"Rob," he said as he continued to rock Phil. "I love her." 

"I'm glad to hear that, I would hate to think that this is the way you
hold your friends."  

Ben, realizing how closely he was holding Phil, blushed.  

Rob laughed, "It's great to finally meet a man who can turn as red as I
do." Ben started to lay Phil back on the bed but was stopped by Rob. "No,
go ahead and hold her. You seem to have a calming affect on her."  

Ben continued to rock Phil.  

Rob smiled wryly then said, "I guess I owe TJ a steak dinner." 

A puzzled look crossed Ben's finely chiseled features. "I don't
understand. A steak dinner?" 

Rob moved the rails down and sat on the other side of the bed. He reached
out and stroked Phil's bruised cheek. "Yeah, we had a bet and he won." 

The puzzlement was still in Ben's eyes but he nodded his head.
"Understood. What was the bet?" 

"TJ said you were already in love with Phil. I said it would take a lot
longer to get through her defenses. I didn't think it would be this quick
though!" 

"I haven't 'gotten through her defenses,' as you so aptly put it, yet!
But...I'm patient... patient and tenacious..." He saw the knowing smile
creep across Rob's face. Embarrassed, he said, "I'm sorry, Rob. You don't
even know me, and here I am talking about Phil as if she were a suspect I
was pursuing. For all you know, I could be some crazed pervert that preys
on women..." 

Rob quickly stopped that line of conversation, "No, I don't think so, Ben.
I know Flip and TJ got to know you pretty well. I trust his judgment. He
likes you and I can see why." He paused and then continued, "Dr. Braxton
says that the next 8 to 12 hours are most critical. She has pneumonia, but
the antibiotics and respiratory therapy should take care of that. It's the
combination of the pneumonia, the concussion, and shock that we have to
worry about now. He suggested that someone stay with her as much as
possible. We can trade off or both stay here...?" He raised questioning
eyes to Ben. 

"I'd like to stay as long as possible. I have the late shift tomorrow, but
we should know something by then." He carefully laid Phil back on the bed.


"Stay as long as you want. Right now though, I've got try and locate TJ."
He reached for the phone and dialed TJ's number.  

TJ responded before the phone had a chance to ring twice. "This is Tom
McKenzie. Rob is that you?" 

"Yeah, it's me. Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you all
afternoon." 

"I was out on a project tour. I got back about an hour ago. I've called
your hospital and the apartment. I've even called Flip's place--what's
happened? Where are you?" 

"I'm here with Flip. She's had an accident..." his calm facade cracked.
"TJ, she's pretty sick. The doctor here says...says if she makes
it...makes it through the next 8 to 12 hours..." The lump in his throat
made it impossible for him to speak. He blinked the tears away.  

Ben gently took the phone from him. "Hello, TJ." 

"Ben? Is that you? What's going on? How's Flip?" 

"She's got a concussion, bruised ribs, pneumonia. If you can come, I think
Rob could use your support. These next few hours are critical. We'll stay
with her but she's been calling for both of you." 

"I'm already packed. My flight out of Dulles leaves in an hour. I'll be
there in about 5 hours. Can someone meet me or should I grab a cab?" 

Ben chuckled. "Grab a cab? Here? In the middle of the night? Surely you
jest!" 

TJ laughed, too. "I keep forgetting what a backwater place that is." 

"Don't worry. I'll pick you up." 

"Thanks, Ben. So, how's it going with you and the Ice Queen?" 

"Rob says he owes you a steak dinner." 

"He does? That's good news! So, you actually got past her defenses? I
thought you would." 

"Well, that's not entirely correct." He ran a hand over his face. "Phil
doesn't know I love her. And she hasn't exactly been encouraging either.
Actually, I've had a severe case of frostbite ever since you left." 

"Well, don't tell Rob that or I'll never collect on our bet! Let me speak
to that brother of mine." 

Ben covered the receiver with his hand and turned to Rob. "TJ's afraid
you'll renege on your bet." He grinned then handed the phone back to Rob. 

The two men spent the next several hours talking quietly, getting to know
a little bit about each other. Members of the night staff occasionally
stepped into the room to monitor the equipment or to check on Phil.
Somehow the time got away from them.  

"What time did TJ say his plane would be in?" Rob asked. 

Ben jerked upright. "TJ! I'm sorry, Rob. I promised TJ I would pick him up
at the airport." He looked at his watch. "If I hurry, I can just get there
in time." He gave Phil a quick kiss and left at a run. 

The slight kiss brought Phil awake. "Ben?" Rob captured her outstretched
hand. She turned to see her brother smiling down at her. "Bobber?" 

Rob smiled, "You haven't called me that since you were ten, Flip." He
smoothed her hair back from her face. 

"What are you doing here?" 

"Ben called me when they got you here to the hospital. They needed your
next of kin. So here I am. You've given us quite a scare." He leaned over
and planted a kiss on her still warm forehead. "Let me tell you something,
Flip, if you ever do anything this foolish again I will personally..."	

Phil's fingers on his lips silenced the forthcoming threat. "I promise,
Rob, I won't do this again. It hurts too much." She smiled weakly at him. 

Rob smiled back. "Ben just left to get TJ." He held up his hand when she
began to protest. "Did you think that we would just stand by and let you
struggle through this alone?" He watched as her eyelids fluttered closed
then opened. 

"I wasn't alone, Rob." A slow smile spread across her features, "Ben was
with me." Her words were slowing as she slid closer to sleep. Her eyelids
fluttered again. "He followed me." This time her eyelids remained closed
as her body relaxed in sleep.  

He brushed the hair away from her face once more. "You stubborn, perverse,
obstinate, mule-headed..." Rob sighed, "What am I going to do with you?"
He checked her pulse and retrieved his stethoscope from his bag and
listened to her lungs. He was relieved that the congestion was not
increasing. At least she wasn't coughing those huge hacking coughs that
had racked her body earlier. * * * 

Ben made it to the airport with three minutes to spare. The plane was
taxiing to the gate when he entered the terminal. He met TJ at the gate.
TJ took Ben's outstretched hand and shook it then pulled him into a
bear-hug. "Damn, it's good to see you, Ben. How did you make out with Rob?
He's a bit of a stuffed shirt. Not at all like me--easy and outgoing." 

Ben had to laugh at this description of the brothers. As far as he could
tell the two were cut from the same mold. Make that three, Phil was just
like them. "Stuffed shirt? I'm not familiar with that idiom. Is it
anything like a stuffed mukluk?" 

"Don't know! What's a mud cluck? Sounds like a dirty chicken. I've seen
Rob plenty dirty, but never chicken." He laughed at his own joke. 

"No, mukluks are a type of footwear worn by the Inuit." 

"Hmmm." TJ thought it over then nodded his head. "Stuffed shirt--stuffed
shoes. Yeah, that pretty much describes Rob!" They both laughed. 

Arriving at the hospital, they quickly made their way to Phil's room. Ben
hung back as TJ and Rob embraced each other then moved to stand on either
side of Phil's bed. He watched as each brother tenderly smoothed the hair
from her face and placed a gentle kiss on a cheek. He felt like an
intruder. Some as yet undefined emotion gnawed at his soul. He turned and
left. He wasn't needed there. 

The slight movement at the door caught the attention of the two brothers.
They turned to see an empty doorway. Ben was gone. They looked at each
other and shook their heads. Hurrying to the hallway, they followed after
the departed Mountie. They found him slumped with his back against the
wall waiting for the elevator. His head was bowed. 

"Ben?" Two different hands were placed gently on his shoulders.  

He jerked his head up to see two different pairs of eyes looking at him
with concern in their depths. Unshed tears shimmered in the depths of his
blue eyes.  

"Why did you leave?" 

Ben straightened and was relieved when Rob and TJ dropped their hands from
his shoulders. "Phil doesn't need me anymore. She has the two of you. I
didn't want to be in the way." 

Rob looked at TJ. "I thought you said he was intelligent. Did you just
hear the crap that came out of his mouth?" 

TJ shot back, "I did say he was intelligent. I also said he was polite.
That garbage sounded like polite to me." He turned to Ben, "Which is it,
Ben? Crap or garbage?" 

Ben stared at the two men. Crap or garbage? What in the world were they
talking about? The elevator doors opened then closed when no one entered. 

"Maybe he's just too tired to know what's going on." 

"Yeah, he does have a dazed look in his eyes. What do you think, Dr.
McKenzie?" 

Rob grasped Ben's arm and swung him around. He squinted his eyes and
stared into Ben's face nodding gravely. "In my profession, medical
opinion--this man needs..." his voice gentled, "...a swift kick in the
butt." He shook his head. "You can't just walk away from us like that,
Ben." 

TJ seconded that. "Like it or not, Ben, once you admitted to loving that
pain-in-the-ass sister of ours you joined a very select group. Now the
only obstacle I foresee is getting her to love you." 

"Which brings us back to the present." Rob was ever practical. "Why did
you leave, Ben?" 

"I didn't want to intrude on you and Phil and..." 

"You aren't an intruder, Ben. You saved her life. How could you possibly
be an intruder?" TJ asked. 

"You told me that you loved her," Rob interjected. "Has that changed in
the last couple of hours?" 

"No, I just thought..." 

"Well, you thought wrong. Now, are you coming back to Flip's room with us,
or do we have to drag you back?" 

Put that way, what choice did he have? Ben was finding that the McKenzie
clan, once their mind was made up, forged ahead toward their goal no
matter what the cost. He ran his hand through his hair and gracefully
surrendered. He returned with Rob and TJ to Phil's room. 

Phil was stirring restlessly on the bed. Rob leaned over her, checking her
pulse. "Bobber? Where am I? It's so hot...why's it so hot?" Fever dazed
eyes gazed at him. 

"Bobber? Why doesn't Daddy like me?"  

Rob turned pain filled eyes to TJ. "Why does she always end up back there?
I wish she could let that son-of-a..." 

"I know Rob. But he was our father. I hate what he did to Flip as much as
you do, but cursing the dead will get us nowhere." 

"You're right as usual. I just...sometimes..." 

"I know, believe me I know." 

Phil's hands tugged at the covers and she moaned. Her movements were more
frantic. Ben sat on the side of the bed and caressed Phil's bruised cheek.
He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Shush, love. Don't worry about
your father. You don't need him. We're here for you. We love you."  

A slight movement of Phil's head brought her face to his. He stared into
her fever bright eyes. "Who..." Confusion gave way to
comprehension..."Ben?" She struggled to grasp his shirtfront but the cast
on her hand prevented her from getting a good purchase. "T,
please...you're slipping...grab hold of my arm...Ben...we'll both fall...I
won't let you go..." Comprehension slid back into confusion. She closed
her eyes and gave way to the darkness that called to her. 

Ben carefully held her hand, stroking each finger where it emerged from
the cast. He remembered the cliff and how his life had hung by the clasp
of her hands around his wrist. "She's supposed to have the cast off the
end of this week. She hated it. She complained constantly about it." Ben
looked at TJ. "You remember how she was?" 

TJ nodded his head. "Anything that restricted her was always a source of
irritation. She's always been like that!" 

The next several hours saw the three men sharing a vigil over the woman
they cared for. They talked quietly of many mundane things--taking the
opportunity to get to know each other better. As the night progressed to
the wee hours of the morning, TJ fell asleep in a chair pulled up next to
the bed. Rob was already stretched out on the other bed in the room.  

Ben looked at them and yawned. He was so tired. His eyes burned and felt
like sandpaper. He had had very little sleep since setting out for Phil
three days ago, but someone needed to keep watch. He pulled the other
chair over next to the bed and sat down. He crossed his arms on the bed
and rested his eyes on them. He was soon fast asleep. 

Phil woke feeling fuzzy around the edges. Where was she? The last thing
she clearly remembered was the waterfall and the horse. From that point
things were unclear and disjointed. She vaguely remembered the cold and
Ben and a beautiful woman with Ben's eyes--not much else.  

Her gaze slowly navigated the room. It was a hospital room. Her eyes moved
to the chair beside the bed. TJ? What was TJ doing here? She moved her
hand to reach for him and encountered something--someone else. Her eyes
caressed the head and shoulders her hand had encountered. She would know
them anywhere. Ben. Smiling, she ran her fingers through his hair
relishing the way it curled around her fingers. His head came up and she
gazed into his clear blue eyes. 

"Phil? How do you feel?" 

"...little thirsty. What happened? What's TJ doing here?" She noticed the
man on the other bed. "And Rob? What are they doing here?" Ben helped her
with a drink then quietly answered her questions. Ben's obvious concern
triggered a memory--someone saying that Ben needed her and she needed him.
But the image was vague and quickly slipped away. 

"I'm a little tired, T. I'll think I'll...I'll..." Her voice faded as she
slipped back into sleep. 

"Sleep all you need, Phil. I'll be here." 

"That's a good sign." Rob spoke to Ben's back. Startled, Ben jerked around
to face Phil's brother. 

"In what manner?" Ben queried. 

"She was lucid." He came over to the bed and gently felt her face and
neck. "Fever's down. I think she's weathered the worst of it." 

"She's too contrary to let exposure, pneumonia, or a concussion slow her
down." TJ joined them. "Knowing her, she'll be complaining about going
home before the day's over." He shook his head and a long-suffering smile
settled on his dark, handsome features. 

Rob chuckled. "Yes, but she does it so well!" This comment brought a short
laugh from TJ. 

Remembering his experiences with his own sister, Ben joined them. It felt
good to finally release the tension and fears he had kept bottled inside
for the past three days. 

Phil would recover and he would get his chance to tell her how much she
meant to him. He knew he had an uphill battle ahead of himself.  

He gently ran his fingers down the side of Phil's face. His fingers
lightly traced the contours of her lips. He smiled in anticipation. 

A not too subtle noise drew his attention. He glanced at the two brothers.
They were staring at him with varying degrees of pity etched on their
faces. In unison they shook their heads. 

"What?" 

"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into, Ben.
Phil's...she's..." TJ seemed at a loss for a description of his sister. 

Rob on the other hand wasn't. "Phil's warped. As daft as wagon with square
wheels; as perverse as a porcupine with an itch; as stubborn as mule; as
wild as a..." 

"Okay, Rob! I think Ben gets the general idea. We don't want him to think
we don't love her. Besides if we scare him off, we'll be stuck with her
again." His grin to Ben said more than words could. 

"...spring thunderstorm; as friendly as a Siamese with a tail caught in a
door; as warm as an erupting volcano..." Rob's voice trailed off. He took
in the look of pure 

mischief on TJ's face and the look of disbelief on Ben's. He coughed,
"She's a handful, Ben. Do you think you can handle her?" Rob finished then
looked expectantly at Ben. 

Ben stared at these two crazy men who were doing their best to convince
him that their sister was the crazy one. He felt the laugh begin deep in
his gut. It traveled up his chest and burst forth from his mouth. He
laughed so hard his sides ached. He shook the bed with the vigor of his
laughter. Only when Phil stirred restlessly did he leave the bed and try
to bring his mirth under control. 

"Whoa! I'm sorry." He gulped great ragged breaths into his lungs. Tears
streaked his face. A chuckle forced it's way out. "Sorry, can't help it."
More deep breaths. "It's just...the tension, worry..." More chuckles.
"Feels so good to let it all out..." He leaned over and grasped his knees
taking long, slow, deep breaths. Finally, he felt in control of himself.
He stood erect and stretched. The last knots of fear and despair uncurled.


"Well? I'm waiting?" Rob wanted an answer. 

"Can I handle her? I don't know. In fact, I don't even know if she likes
me. I know, I know..." He read TJ reaction easily. "You say she likes me,
but she sure doesn't show it. She hasn't said more than a few sentences to
me since..." He looked at TJ. 

"...since Noelle died?" TJ asked. Ben nodded in acknowledgment. "I was
afraid of that. She's crawled back into her shell. Well, Ben, you're going
to have to be a little more sneaky with her." 

"Yeah, keep her off balance. Don't let her get her feet under herself.
When she pushes you away..." Rob gave Ben a meaningful look, "you push
back. But...I guess the best advice I could give you...we could give you
is...be her friend." TJ nodded. "That's the most insidious and most sure
way to capture her heart." 

Ben stared at these two men, Phil's brothers, plotting ways to make her
fall in love with him. Why? They really didn't know him that well. Why
were they so willing to trust their sister to him?  

TJ and Rob noted the bewilderment in his eyes. TJ responded to the unasked
questions. "Why? Why are we encouraging..." 

"...pushing..."  

TJ glared at his brother. "Why are we encouraging you? I don't really know
why. It just feels right. Honestly, Ben, the guys Phil dated before just
weren't right. I hope Phil comes to her senses and..." TJ shook his head. 

"I guess what TJ is trying to say is that we like you. You are the first
man that's stood up to us. Usually they run after the first round. You've
held on through how many?" Rob turned to TJ. 

"I lost count." TJ stepped closer to Ben. "Not only did you stand up to
us, but you've given as good as we have. If you're going to be associated
with this family you need to be able to hold your own." 

Rob closed in on the other side of Ben. "If you're going to be associated
with this family you have to accept the fact that Phil has two brothers
that love her very much. 

Do you think you could accept TJ and me as friends? Maybe even brothers?" 

A look of panic darted across Ben's face. "Hold on, guys. No one said
anything about...about...she still doesn't like me, remember?"	

"Come on now, Ben. You are a Mountie, aren't you? Isn't your motto 'A
Mountie always gets his man'? Why not woman?" TJ took another step closer.


"Actually, the motto is 'Maintain the Right,' not the other." Ben was
feeling trapped between Phil's brothers. 

"Look, Ben, all we're asking of you is that you don't let Phil's stubborn
pride or fears or whatever crap she comes up with stand between you two."
Rob looked over at Phil as she slept. "She's going to fight you, kicking
and screaming all the way. That's just the way she is. Never could
graciously surrender, always had to go down with the ship. That's one of
the reasons I was never really fearful of losing her to this fever. Before
she dies, God will have to pry her fingers loose of this life, and then
she'll probably bend his ear trying to weasel her way back here." 

"Amen to that!" TJ agreed. 

Puzzled, Ben asked, "Bend his ear? Weasel her way back?" 

TJ laughed, "Phil will put up such an argument and use all kinds of
logical explanations as to why it's not her time." 

"Ah...understood." Ben had been witness to Phil's perseverance and
determination and knew what they were talking about. He grinned at Rob
then at TJ.  

As if that was a signal, TJ and Rob closed in on Ben and swept him into a
hug that told him just how much Phil's brothers liked him. 

The three men stepped apart and self-consciously looked at each other.
Three throats were cleared and grins shared among them. The friendship
between the three men, the shared love of Phil, the rightness of the
situation flowed between them. Words were not necessary. Conversation was
superfluous. Each knew what the other was feeling and thinking.  

Ben basked in his inclusion in the McKenzie clan. His own struggles with
loneliness were discarded. 

It was Rob who eventually said, "Now, about Phil. You need some ways to
get to her...to get under her skin. Let me see...hmmm...Phil likes
columbines and hummingbirds..." 

TJ continued, "...chocolate, caramel, toffee, nuts..." 

"...rocks, don't forget rocks..." 

"Who could forget those? She also likes Mexican food, Chinese food..." 

"...food of any type..." 

"...hiking, rafting, flying..." 

"...malachite, azurite, opal..." 

"...sci-fi, westerns..." 

"...dinosaurs, dogs, cats..." 

"...bad jokes, practical jokes, puns..." 

"...igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks, sedimentary rocks..." 

"...green, red, blue, violet..." 

"...jeans, flannels, T-shirts..." 

"...swimming, hang-gliding, kung fu..." 

"...Shakespeare, Andre Norton, Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver..." 

"...classical music, soft rock, golden oldies..." 

"...did I mention rocks?" 

To be continued (?) 

Copyright November 1996 by SL Haas 

Revised April 1999 

Comments are welcome at durango@ionet.net 

Fraser’s Secret (Book 1)  On a Collision Course Nocturnal Duet Jumping to
Conclusions "In the Kiss of One Girl" Real Conversations Icnites,
Montmorillonite, and Bentonite, Oh My! An Acquired Taste "…a Dish Best
Served Cold" Like Thunder When It Rains Steppingstones The First
Consciousness An Answered Dream Since We Parted The Fine Line That
Separates Moments of Regret Benton's Secret