Crossover Fic due South X S&H Part 1 of 2
Finding Home
For equusentric for introducing me to the unlikely duo of the Mountie and the Chicago Cop
Ray pushed through the doors into the squad room of the 2-7 feeling more than a little down. It was the absence of that sense of excitement, which used to always permeate his being whenever he came to work, once upon a time, that made him even more aware of how alone he felt.
Stupid. He berated himself. Like you thought your adventure in Canada would last forever. That’s just d-u-m, dumb, Ray. Had to end sometime.
Ray sat down heavily in the chair at his old desk and reverently placed a framed photograph he had brought with him. It was of him and Fraser and Dief together in the Yukon. Buck Frobisher had taken the photo of them before they set out on their quest to find Franklin’s hand. That reaching-out hand.
Those had been good times. Great even. Greatness. They hadn’t found any sign of Franklin’s expedition, but it had been an adventure. Just like Ray had said he’d wanted.
When they returned to civilization (or what passed for it in Canada), the real world came crashing in on Ray.
Fraser had his old life back. He’d been promoted and assigned, by the RCMP, to a remote area in the Northwest Territories, just like he’d always wanted. He didn’t need a screwed up guy like Ray hanging around him anymore. Of course Fraser had said he knew that Ray would be happy to get back to his own life in Chicago.
So, maybe Fraser never really knew him as well as Ray thought he did.
Well, Ray just let him go on believing what he wanted. Fraser didn’t seem all that broken up about it, when Ray mentioned that he was running out of leave and Frannie had been asking when he was coming back to Chicago. So Ray took that as a sign that the Mountie was likely willing, or possibly eager to see him disappear.
Part of Ray was hoping that Fraser would suddenly just grab him and beg him to stay. But he knew that wasn’t the reserved Canadian’s style. And of course Ray didn’t say anything that indicated he might not want to leave, so he couldn’t blame Fraser entirely.
“Ray! Hey bro. Why didn’t you tell me you were back?” Francesca squealed and lifted him out of his chair with her hug. Taking a minute to assess him, she added “You look good, Ray. The Canadian air must have agreed with you. But I sure missed you. And Ben. I don’t suppose he came with you…” she added somewhat carefully.
“Nope Frannie. You just got me,” he said apologetically, shrugging.
“Well, that’s okay, Ray. ‘Just you’ is fine,” she assured him. “Have you told the Lieutenant that you’re back? To tell the truth it gets pretty boring when you’re not around here. Huey and Dewey aren’t half as fun as you and-“ She cut herself off.
She followed Ray’s mournful eyes to the framed photo on his desk.
“So…he’s not coming back, then.” She said, as more of a statement than a question.
Ray shook his head, afraid his voice would betray the hurt he felt if he spoke. He appreciated Francesca’s concern, though.
“Missed you too, Frannie,” he said, trying to put on a brave front, and punching her in the arm.
Ray decided it was time to act like a grown up. He’d gotten by on his own before. No reason he couldn’t do it again. Who cares about being happy, anyway? He’d go back to getting by. The way he had before he met Fraser. That would have to be good enough.
“I’m glad you’re back for another reason too, Ray. I haven’t had anybody else I could tell my secret to. It’s pretty big…or it will be…or I will be…” she stumbled on her words.
“Spit it out Frannie. What’s goin’ on with you?” Ray asked somewhat impatiently.
“I haven’t even been able to tell Ma yet,” Francesca said exhibiting uncharacteristic reticence.
“Jeeze. What is it? Ya act like yer pregnant or something…”
The look Frannie gave in response to that statement, spoke volumes.
Wide-eyed, Ray took just a moment to look at her. Had he been gone that long? Missed so much? When did this happen…
Recovering his composure, he congratulated her, “Hey. Dat’s great Frannie. I know you’ll be a great Mom. Ya took pretty good care of me, those times when I needed it last year,” he said sincerely.
Ray guided her gently to sit down in his chair, while he rested his rump on his desk. “So when am I gonna meet the lucky guy? Don’t tell me I missed the wedding.”
“That’s why I’ve been bugging you to come home. I realize now it was pretty selfish of me,” she added glancing at the photo on the desk. “There is no guy. That’s why I haven’t told Ma, or anybody else in the family. I was hoping having you here would help me break it to them. They’d all be so happy to see you, they’d just forget about this,” she said making a sweeping gesture toward her own, slightly swollen abdomen.
“Some guy knocked you up and left you? That sucks, Frannie. Who is he? I’ll kick ‘em in the head,” Ray said, clenching his fists and looking around the room, in case the man might be lurking in the vicinity.
“Ray, calm down. It wasn’t like that at all,” Frannie assured him while reaching out and giving him a squeeze on the arm.
“Don’t do that, Francesca. Do. Not. Do. That. Don’t make excuses for this guy. This mook has gotta man up. He’d be lucky to have a family with you.”
“Thanks, Ray. That’s sweet of you to say,” she ducked her head a little at his praise. “But the truth is, I got tired of trying to find some guy, hoping he’d measure up to my standards, and then always being disappointed. It was making me feel bad about myself.”
“That’s crazy. You never been shy about tryin’ to get a guy. You usually succeed, too. You know, when it’s…whadda they call it… ‘in the realm of possibility’.” This time, it was his turn to nod toward the photo on the desk.
Frannie laughed at that.
“Yeah, well I finally realized what true love looked like. I saw it that day, outside of Ray’s room at the hospital. I realized I wasn’t going to settle for less.”
Ray let his puzzlement show, and Frannie laughed again. Ray realized that she seemed a lot less edgy and more relaxed than he was used to seeing her in the time before he went to Canada.
I guess it’s true about women getting that glow when they’re pregnant, he surmised.
“No. Not when you told me he liked me, doofus,” Frannie punctuated her remark with a punch to Ray’s arm. “I mean, after that, when you asked Ben if you were still partners.”
“I didn’t know you were still around for that part,” Ray admitted.
“I know you didn’t. Either of you. You were too wrapped up in each other to notice anybody else.”
Ray smiled a little as he remembered that conversation. He had clung to it during those times when he wondered why the hell he had followed Fraser so blindly in his quest for justice in the Yukon. And been so willing to stay, afterward.
He’d done it because of four little words Fraser had spoken to him that day in the hallway at the hospital. Ray had asked him if, after all that had happened; they were still partners, and Fraser’s response was, “If you’ll have me.”
He meant it too. Fraser never lied.
Well, dammit. Ray would’ve followed him into hell itself, after Ben said that. But it hadn’t been hell at all. It had been wonderful. It had been greatness.
Which is why it hurt all the more to leave it -and Fraser- behind.
And now, here he was. Alone. Again.
“Well, if you made a big life-decision based on that, then I should probably warn ya, in real life you don’t always get a happy ending.”
Frannie seemed to purposely ignore the bitterness that had entered Ray’s voice, and continued her story.
“Well, I learned I wasn’t gonna get it by just sitting around and hoping for it,” she said. “So I decided to create my own happy ending. I went to a sperm bank and…well, I’ve told you the result. I’ll tell you something else. I’m happy, Ray. Really, really happy. Even the fact that I’m nervous about telling the family about this, doesn’t change that.”
Ray saw that she meant it. And he tamped down his own feelings of bitterness at feeling so alone to concentrate on being happy for her.
“That’s great, then. Greatness. I’m with you, Frannie. Whatever you need. You need me to run interference with the folks, I’m there,” he said decisively.
“Thanks Ray. It’ll make it easier, just knowing you’re in my corner. I still haven’t decided how to break it to them yet. I’m thinking that, well with the whole Catholic thing, I might try to explain it as a sort of…a really clean impregnation,” she attempted.
“A clean- You mean an immaculate conception!” Ray laughed. “Well, I guess stranger things have happened in the family. Hell, they accepted me as a surrogate son, practically no questions asked.”
“We’re lucky to have you in our family, Ray. Everybody feels that way,” Francesca said.
“Except maybe your brother…” Ray amended. He remembered how threatened he had once felt by the specter of Ray Vechio. But Fraser’s continued reassurance that their own partnership was solid had helped him get over that.
“Even Ray. I got him to admit that you had done a really good thing by agreeing to be him while he was undercover. He was just being stubborn and jealous, by not telling you. He owes you, big time,” she said, waving her finger in the air.
“Nah. He don’t. I liked being him while it lasted. Liked bein' part of your family. And I got to meet Frase. Never had a real partner before, ya know?”
“I know. I saw how great you guys were together. Look, I know you probably don’t want to talk about this now, but I just have to tell you; don’t give up on your dream of happiness, Ray. Okay? You deserve it.” She stood up, kissed him on the cheek, and gave him another hug, which Ray accepted, grateful for her friendship.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I’m tellin’ ya, Blintz; a big white wolf stole my donut!”
Ray had spent the morning trying to put his old files in order and hoping to find something to try to spark his interest. But his eyes kept going back to the framed photo on his desk, and he would get sidetracked.
The mention of a donut-stealing white wolf got his attention immediately.
“Starsky, that has to be the lamest excuse I have ever heard. If you want another donut just admit it, you don’t need to resort to wildly implausible stories.”
Ray looked to see the men who were the source of the conversation.
The one, who had been called Starsky, was fairly animated and gesturing to a lanky blond with his right hand while trying to brush off stray puffs of powdered sugar that clung to his jacket and jeans with the left.
Lieutenant Welsh was with them, chuckling a little. He was carrying a large box of donuts from a nearby bakery. Quite an extravagance for the squad, Ray noted.
“Kowalski! Welcome back,” Welsh said enthusiastically. “I wasn’t sure I’d be seeing you…Uh…was there something, in particular you wanted to speak to me about?”
“Nah. Just letting you know I’m back. So…You know…If anything comes up ya need me for…”
“Well, like I said,” Welsh continued, “I wasn’t expecting you, so there’s nothing pressing…But this is good timing!” His toned brightened. “Detective, I’d like you to meet Lieutenants Dave Starsky,” said as the brunet man offered his hand. “And Ken Hutchinson.” The tall blond mirrored the gesture.
“Pleased to meetcha, Sirs,” Ray said returning each handshake firmly. “I’m Ray Kowalski.”
“Hey, Ray. Drop the ‘Sir’ stuff, hunh? I’m Starsky. He’s Hutch,” Starsky offered, and both men exchanged a chuckle as if this were an old joke.
Ray liked them. But the bonhomie he felt between the two men made him miss Fraser even more. He steeled himself against the feeling, and smiled at Starsky.
“’Kay,” he said. “You guys ain’t from around here are ya?”
“See, Starsk,” Hutch said, affably. “Ray’s a detective. What gave us away?”
“Well, I know most of the Lieus from the other squads nearby. Never heard of you.” Ray told them.
“No. There’s more. What?” Starsky pressed his further assessment.
“Well, you’re carrying a couple of overnight bags, so I’m guessing you’ve traveled some to get here,” Ray continued.
“And…what else?” Hutch encouraged.
“Your tan,” Ray said, simply.
Starsky took a step back from his partner and eyed him up and down. Ray noticed that Hutch blushed a bit under the scrutiny.
“He’s right, Blondie. No native to these parts would be sportin’ a tan like that, this time of year. And that’s not just a ‘week in the Bahamas’ tan either. That’s the kind of golden glow that comes from being at the beach every day,” Starsky said with affection and a barely disguised pride, which Ray heard loud and clear.
He remembered using that tone so often when he had occasion to talk to or about Fraser.
Hutch’s blush had deepened and he cleared his throat and tried to shift the conversation away from his partner’s praise.
“Ray, I can see Lieutenant Welsh has a real asset in you. We’re on a little vacation, and just stopped by to drop off these donuts, compliments of our Captain, in Bay City,” Hutch said gesturing to the box Welsh was holding. “Captain Dobey says that your Lieutenant Welsh was one of the best Detectives he ever worked with. He often holds him up as an example of success to his officers.”
Ray noticed Welsh pulling at his collar and looking a little uncomfortable at the praise.
“Dobey was a great Captain to work under. Made me the cop I am today. You guys tell him that from me,” Welsh said as he firmly shook first Hutch’s hand then Starsky’s. “And thank him for the donuts.” Welsh set the box on an empty desk, snagging one for himself, and saluted the Bay City duo with it as he headed to his office.
“Yeah, well there’d been more of them if that wolf hadnta’ stole one…” Starsky muttered under his breath.
“Starsky. Let it go. Nobody believes some mysterious white wolf is running around the streets of Chicago stealing donuts,” Hutch scolded his partner.
Ray told himself the Detective probably was making up stories. But part of him wanted to believe…
“Hey! Hey…that’s him, in that picture,” Starsky said picking up the photo from Ray’s desk.
“Sure it is, Starsk,” Hutch said rolling his eyes.
“Where was this taken? Who’s this dog?” Starsky asked, returning the photograph to its original location.
“That’s Diefenbaker,” Ray said wistfully. “That picture was taken in Canada. The Yukon. A few months back. Dief lives there, now.”
Along with Fraser, he thought, though he didn’t say it. Everything and everyone that’s important to me.
“He’s a beautiful dog, Ray.” Hutch’s comment brought Ray from his lamentations. “Who does he belong to?”
Ray laughed a little. “The wolf doesn’t belong to anyone completely. But he is completely loyal to one Constable-sorry, Corporal-Benton Fraser of the RCMP.”
Ray noticed that Starsky and Hutch exchanged looks. He wasn’t quite sure how to read them though.
Starsky let out a low whistle as he lifted the photo again to examine it more closely.
“A real live Mountie, huh? Cool. They still always get their man?” Starsky asked.
“Fraser could,” Ray replied. “Always.”
“Any chance we could meet Corporal Fraser?” Hutch asked.
Ray couldn’t help the little sigh that escaped, then. Fuck it. He didn’t care if these guys knew he was miserable
“Fraser’s been assigned a new beat in the Northwest Territories. He got sick of pounding the streets here in the bit of civilization known as Chicago. I always knew that, in his heart, he wanted to go back home to Canada. We solved one last big case that took us from here to the Yukon. He got a promotion…” Ray stopped, realizing Starsky and Hutch were watching him intently.
“Anyway. He’s back there now. Him and Dief,” he said quickly.
“Looks like you were having some fun there, too,” Starsky said, pointing to Ray’s smiling face in the photo. “You get homesick for the good old USA or somethin’?”
“Somethin’ like that,” Ray bluffed.
Suddenly Welsh stuck his head outside the door of his office.
“Hey, Kowalski. Since we don’t really have much goin’ on here, why don’t you take the rest of the day and show these guys the sights,” Welsh said, sounding pleased with himself for thinking of it.
“Oh, we don’t want to trouble your people, Harding,” Hutch said.
“Hey. It’s no trouble. Nothin’ to do around here, anyway. It’ll be fun,” Ray said. Secretly, he was thinking he could use something to distract him, and if work wasn’t going be able to do that, then playing tour guide might.
“There ya go, fellas. Remember to give my thanks to your Captain. Tell him I’ll get out to Bay City to visit him when it gets really cold here this winter.” With that, Welsh disappeared, again, into his office.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Hey! Would ya lookit that?” Starsky said, pointing to the large flag flying outside of the Canadian Consulate, as they were walking by. “We were just talkin’ about Canada, and there it is. And hey, look,” he added in a surprised tone, as he tugged on Hutch’s sleeve. “A Mountie. Cool.”
Ray saw both men steal a look his way.
“Yeah, that’s Constable Turnbull,” Ray supplied. “I guess he got to take over most of Ben’s duties after he left.” He kept walking with purpose, hoping to get by the Consulate quickly, before his emotions gave him away.
Starsky would not be so easily led, however.
“You mean your pal used to have to stand there, still as a statue, for…how long did he have do it for, anyway?” Starsky asked.
“Starsk, maybe Ray doesn’t feel comfortable discussing the details of his friend’s private business…” Hutch said, looking apologetically toward Ray.
Again, trying to be mature, Ray responded by good-naturedly shrugging, “Heh. That’s a laugh. Fraser was as open a person as you’d ever meet. He was proud as hell of bein’ a Mountie. Took it real serious. He’d have no problem with me telling you that he used to stand there, on those very steps,” he said as he gestured with a nod of his head toward where Turnbull stood. “Like you said, ‘still-as-a-statue’ for hours at a time.”
“Wow. I didn’t know they really did that. I get itchy just watching that guy. Couldn’t imagine having to actually stand there like that. Canadians got some heavy secrets they’re guardin’ in that building, ya think?” Starsky wondered aloud. “I see he’s armed too.”
“Ah. Tell ya a secret about that,” Ray leaned in conspiratorially and revealed, “It ain’t loaded.”
“Why the hell not?” Starsky and Hutch asked in unison.
“Licensing issues…Mounties.” Ray replied shaking his head, a little smile coming to his lips. “Made it real interesting, when the guy was your only back-up.”
“I bet. Still, you seem to have survived your partnership on the streets,” Hutch commented. “And I get the feeling that you wouldn’t have traded the experience for a more well armed partner.”
“Nope. Not for anything. Fraser was the best partner I couldda ever asked for.” Ray answered truthfully.
“Thank you kindly, Ray,” came the familiar voice in Ray’s head. It must have been in his head.
Because he left Fraser at the airport, back in Canada. Oh great. He was becoming unhinged. Too many thoughts of his partner on his brain. Now he was actually hearing his voice.
“Ray.”
There it was again. He started shaking his head while looking back and forth between Starsky and Hutch, wondering if they could see his psychosis being played out in his expression. As best he could tell, they were looking at him with a strange mixture of empathy and anticipation.
Then their faces just sort of melted away. He felt himself blacking out.
“Ray. Ray. Ray. RAY!”
It was the final ‘Ray’ that did it. He turned on his heel, intending to put some distance between himself and this place and its ghosts.
And fell into the arms of…
His Mountie.
Part 2 Found Here: http://granderobino.livejournal.com/7294.html?#cutid1
For equusentric for introducing me to the unlikely duo of the Mountie and the Chicago Cop
Ray pushed through the doors into the squad room of the 2-7 feeling more than a little down. It was the absence of that sense of excitement, which used to always permeate his being whenever he came to work, once upon a time, that made him even more aware of how alone he felt.
Stupid. He berated himself. Like you thought your adventure in Canada would last forever. That’s just d-u-m, dumb, Ray. Had to end sometime.
Ray sat down heavily in the chair at his old desk and reverently placed a framed photograph he had brought with him. It was of him and Fraser and Dief together in the Yukon. Buck Frobisher had taken the photo of them before they set out on their quest to find Franklin’s hand. That reaching-out hand.
Those had been good times. Great even. Greatness. They hadn’t found any sign of Franklin’s expedition, but it had been an adventure. Just like Ray had said he’d wanted.
When they returned to civilization (or what passed for it in Canada), the real world came crashing in on Ray.
Fraser had his old life back. He’d been promoted and assigned, by the RCMP, to a remote area in the Northwest Territories, just like he’d always wanted. He didn’t need a screwed up guy like Ray hanging around him anymore. Of course Fraser had said he knew that Ray would be happy to get back to his own life in Chicago.
So, maybe Fraser never really knew him as well as Ray thought he did.
Well, Ray just let him go on believing what he wanted. Fraser didn’t seem all that broken up about it, when Ray mentioned that he was running out of leave and Frannie had been asking when he was coming back to Chicago. So Ray took that as a sign that the Mountie was likely willing, or possibly eager to see him disappear.
Part of Ray was hoping that Fraser would suddenly just grab him and beg him to stay. But he knew that wasn’t the reserved Canadian’s style. And of course Ray didn’t say anything that indicated he might not want to leave, so he couldn’t blame Fraser entirely.
“Ray! Hey bro. Why didn’t you tell me you were back?” Francesca squealed and lifted him out of his chair with her hug. Taking a minute to assess him, she added “You look good, Ray. The Canadian air must have agreed with you. But I sure missed you. And Ben. I don’t suppose he came with you…” she added somewhat carefully.
“Nope Frannie. You just got me,” he said apologetically, shrugging.
“Well, that’s okay, Ray. ‘Just you’ is fine,” she assured him. “Have you told the Lieutenant that you’re back? To tell the truth it gets pretty boring when you’re not around here. Huey and Dewey aren’t half as fun as you and-“ She cut herself off.
She followed Ray’s mournful eyes to the framed photo on his desk.
“So…he’s not coming back, then.” She said, as more of a statement than a question.
Ray shook his head, afraid his voice would betray the hurt he felt if he spoke. He appreciated Francesca’s concern, though.
“Missed you too, Frannie,” he said, trying to put on a brave front, and punching her in the arm.
Ray decided it was time to act like a grown up. He’d gotten by on his own before. No reason he couldn’t do it again. Who cares about being happy, anyway? He’d go back to getting by. The way he had before he met Fraser. That would have to be good enough.
“I’m glad you’re back for another reason too, Ray. I haven’t had anybody else I could tell my secret to. It’s pretty big…or it will be…or I will be…” she stumbled on her words.
“Spit it out Frannie. What’s goin’ on with you?” Ray asked somewhat impatiently.
“I haven’t even been able to tell Ma yet,” Francesca said exhibiting uncharacteristic reticence.
“Jeeze. What is it? Ya act like yer pregnant or something…”
The look Frannie gave in response to that statement, spoke volumes.
Wide-eyed, Ray took just a moment to look at her. Had he been gone that long? Missed so much? When did this happen…
Recovering his composure, he congratulated her, “Hey. Dat’s great Frannie. I know you’ll be a great Mom. Ya took pretty good care of me, those times when I needed it last year,” he said sincerely.
Ray guided her gently to sit down in his chair, while he rested his rump on his desk. “So when am I gonna meet the lucky guy? Don’t tell me I missed the wedding.”
“That’s why I’ve been bugging you to come home. I realize now it was pretty selfish of me,” she added glancing at the photo on the desk. “There is no guy. That’s why I haven’t told Ma, or anybody else in the family. I was hoping having you here would help me break it to them. They’d all be so happy to see you, they’d just forget about this,” she said making a sweeping gesture toward her own, slightly swollen abdomen.
“Some guy knocked you up and left you? That sucks, Frannie. Who is he? I’ll kick ‘em in the head,” Ray said, clenching his fists and looking around the room, in case the man might be lurking in the vicinity.
“Ray, calm down. It wasn’t like that at all,” Frannie assured him while reaching out and giving him a squeeze on the arm.
“Don’t do that, Francesca. Do. Not. Do. That. Don’t make excuses for this guy. This mook has gotta man up. He’d be lucky to have a family with you.”
“Thanks, Ray. That’s sweet of you to say,” she ducked her head a little at his praise. “But the truth is, I got tired of trying to find some guy, hoping he’d measure up to my standards, and then always being disappointed. It was making me feel bad about myself.”
“That’s crazy. You never been shy about tryin’ to get a guy. You usually succeed, too. You know, when it’s…whadda they call it… ‘in the realm of possibility’.” This time, it was his turn to nod toward the photo on the desk.
Frannie laughed at that.
“Yeah, well I finally realized what true love looked like. I saw it that day, outside of Ray’s room at the hospital. I realized I wasn’t going to settle for less.”
Ray let his puzzlement show, and Frannie laughed again. Ray realized that she seemed a lot less edgy and more relaxed than he was used to seeing her in the time before he went to Canada.
I guess it’s true about women getting that glow when they’re pregnant, he surmised.
“No. Not when you told me he liked me, doofus,” Frannie punctuated her remark with a punch to Ray’s arm. “I mean, after that, when you asked Ben if you were still partners.”
“I didn’t know you were still around for that part,” Ray admitted.
“I know you didn’t. Either of you. You were too wrapped up in each other to notice anybody else.”
Ray smiled a little as he remembered that conversation. He had clung to it during those times when he wondered why the hell he had followed Fraser so blindly in his quest for justice in the Yukon. And been so willing to stay, afterward.
He’d done it because of four little words Fraser had spoken to him that day in the hallway at the hospital. Ray had asked him if, after all that had happened; they were still partners, and Fraser’s response was, “If you’ll have me.”
He meant it too. Fraser never lied.
Well, dammit. Ray would’ve followed him into hell itself, after Ben said that. But it hadn’t been hell at all. It had been wonderful. It had been greatness.
Which is why it hurt all the more to leave it -and Fraser- behind.
And now, here he was. Alone. Again.
“Well, if you made a big life-decision based on that, then I should probably warn ya, in real life you don’t always get a happy ending.”
Frannie seemed to purposely ignore the bitterness that had entered Ray’s voice, and continued her story.
“Well, I learned I wasn’t gonna get it by just sitting around and hoping for it,” she said. “So I decided to create my own happy ending. I went to a sperm bank and…well, I’ve told you the result. I’ll tell you something else. I’m happy, Ray. Really, really happy. Even the fact that I’m nervous about telling the family about this, doesn’t change that.”
Ray saw that she meant it. And he tamped down his own feelings of bitterness at feeling so alone to concentrate on being happy for her.
“That’s great, then. Greatness. I’m with you, Frannie. Whatever you need. You need me to run interference with the folks, I’m there,” he said decisively.
“Thanks Ray. It’ll make it easier, just knowing you’re in my corner. I still haven’t decided how to break it to them yet. I’m thinking that, well with the whole Catholic thing, I might try to explain it as a sort of…a really clean impregnation,” she attempted.
“A clean- You mean an immaculate conception!” Ray laughed. “Well, I guess stranger things have happened in the family. Hell, they accepted me as a surrogate son, practically no questions asked.”
“We’re lucky to have you in our family, Ray. Everybody feels that way,” Francesca said.
“Except maybe your brother…” Ray amended. He remembered how threatened he had once felt by the specter of Ray Vechio. But Fraser’s continued reassurance that their own partnership was solid had helped him get over that.
“Even Ray. I got him to admit that you had done a really good thing by agreeing to be him while he was undercover. He was just being stubborn and jealous, by not telling you. He owes you, big time,” she said, waving her finger in the air.
“Nah. He don’t. I liked being him while it lasted. Liked bein' part of your family. And I got to meet Frase. Never had a real partner before, ya know?”
“I know. I saw how great you guys were together. Look, I know you probably don’t want to talk about this now, but I just have to tell you; don’t give up on your dream of happiness, Ray. Okay? You deserve it.” She stood up, kissed him on the cheek, and gave him another hug, which Ray accepted, grateful for her friendship.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I’m tellin’ ya, Blintz; a big white wolf stole my donut!”
Ray had spent the morning trying to put his old files in order and hoping to find something to try to spark his interest. But his eyes kept going back to the framed photo on his desk, and he would get sidetracked.
The mention of a donut-stealing white wolf got his attention immediately.
“Starsky, that has to be the lamest excuse I have ever heard. If you want another donut just admit it, you don’t need to resort to wildly implausible stories.”
Ray looked to see the men who were the source of the conversation.
The one, who had been called Starsky, was fairly animated and gesturing to a lanky blond with his right hand while trying to brush off stray puffs of powdered sugar that clung to his jacket and jeans with the left.
Lieutenant Welsh was with them, chuckling a little. He was carrying a large box of donuts from a nearby bakery. Quite an extravagance for the squad, Ray noted.
“Kowalski! Welcome back,” Welsh said enthusiastically. “I wasn’t sure I’d be seeing you…Uh…was there something, in particular you wanted to speak to me about?”
“Nah. Just letting you know I’m back. So…You know…If anything comes up ya need me for…”
“Well, like I said,” Welsh continued, “I wasn’t expecting you, so there’s nothing pressing…But this is good timing!” His toned brightened. “Detective, I’d like you to meet Lieutenants Dave Starsky,” said as the brunet man offered his hand. “And Ken Hutchinson.” The tall blond mirrored the gesture.
“Pleased to meetcha, Sirs,” Ray said returning each handshake firmly. “I’m Ray Kowalski.”
“Hey, Ray. Drop the ‘Sir’ stuff, hunh? I’m Starsky. He’s Hutch,” Starsky offered, and both men exchanged a chuckle as if this were an old joke.
Ray liked them. But the bonhomie he felt between the two men made him miss Fraser even more. He steeled himself against the feeling, and smiled at Starsky.
“’Kay,” he said. “You guys ain’t from around here are ya?”
“See, Starsk,” Hutch said, affably. “Ray’s a detective. What gave us away?”
“Well, I know most of the Lieus from the other squads nearby. Never heard of you.” Ray told them.
“No. There’s more. What?” Starsky pressed his further assessment.
“Well, you’re carrying a couple of overnight bags, so I’m guessing you’ve traveled some to get here,” Ray continued.
“And…what else?” Hutch encouraged.
“Your tan,” Ray said, simply.
Starsky took a step back from his partner and eyed him up and down. Ray noticed that Hutch blushed a bit under the scrutiny.
“He’s right, Blondie. No native to these parts would be sportin’ a tan like that, this time of year. And that’s not just a ‘week in the Bahamas’ tan either. That’s the kind of golden glow that comes from being at the beach every day,” Starsky said with affection and a barely disguised pride, which Ray heard loud and clear.
He remembered using that tone so often when he had occasion to talk to or about Fraser.
Hutch’s blush had deepened and he cleared his throat and tried to shift the conversation away from his partner’s praise.
“Ray, I can see Lieutenant Welsh has a real asset in you. We’re on a little vacation, and just stopped by to drop off these donuts, compliments of our Captain, in Bay City,” Hutch said gesturing to the box Welsh was holding. “Captain Dobey says that your Lieutenant Welsh was one of the best Detectives he ever worked with. He often holds him up as an example of success to his officers.”
Ray noticed Welsh pulling at his collar and looking a little uncomfortable at the praise.
“Dobey was a great Captain to work under. Made me the cop I am today. You guys tell him that from me,” Welsh said as he firmly shook first Hutch’s hand then Starsky’s. “And thank him for the donuts.” Welsh set the box on an empty desk, snagging one for himself, and saluted the Bay City duo with it as he headed to his office.
“Yeah, well there’d been more of them if that wolf hadnta’ stole one…” Starsky muttered under his breath.
“Starsky. Let it go. Nobody believes some mysterious white wolf is running around the streets of Chicago stealing donuts,” Hutch scolded his partner.
Ray told himself the Detective probably was making up stories. But part of him wanted to believe…
“Hey! Hey…that’s him, in that picture,” Starsky said picking up the photo from Ray’s desk.
“Sure it is, Starsk,” Hutch said rolling his eyes.
“Where was this taken? Who’s this dog?” Starsky asked, returning the photograph to its original location.
“That’s Diefenbaker,” Ray said wistfully. “That picture was taken in Canada. The Yukon. A few months back. Dief lives there, now.”
Along with Fraser, he thought, though he didn’t say it. Everything and everyone that’s important to me.
“He’s a beautiful dog, Ray.” Hutch’s comment brought Ray from his lamentations. “Who does he belong to?”
Ray laughed a little. “The wolf doesn’t belong to anyone completely. But he is completely loyal to one Constable-sorry, Corporal-Benton Fraser of the RCMP.”
Ray noticed that Starsky and Hutch exchanged looks. He wasn’t quite sure how to read them though.
Starsky let out a low whistle as he lifted the photo again to examine it more closely.
“A real live Mountie, huh? Cool. They still always get their man?” Starsky asked.
“Fraser could,” Ray replied. “Always.”
“Any chance we could meet Corporal Fraser?” Hutch asked.
Ray couldn’t help the little sigh that escaped, then. Fuck it. He didn’t care if these guys knew he was miserable
“Fraser’s been assigned a new beat in the Northwest Territories. He got sick of pounding the streets here in the bit of civilization known as Chicago. I always knew that, in his heart, he wanted to go back home to Canada. We solved one last big case that took us from here to the Yukon. He got a promotion…” Ray stopped, realizing Starsky and Hutch were watching him intently.
“Anyway. He’s back there now. Him and Dief,” he said quickly.
“Looks like you were having some fun there, too,” Starsky said, pointing to Ray’s smiling face in the photo. “You get homesick for the good old USA or somethin’?”
“Somethin’ like that,” Ray bluffed.
Suddenly Welsh stuck his head outside the door of his office.
“Hey, Kowalski. Since we don’t really have much goin’ on here, why don’t you take the rest of the day and show these guys the sights,” Welsh said, sounding pleased with himself for thinking of it.
“Oh, we don’t want to trouble your people, Harding,” Hutch said.
“Hey. It’s no trouble. Nothin’ to do around here, anyway. It’ll be fun,” Ray said. Secretly, he was thinking he could use something to distract him, and if work wasn’t going be able to do that, then playing tour guide might.
“There ya go, fellas. Remember to give my thanks to your Captain. Tell him I’ll get out to Bay City to visit him when it gets really cold here this winter.” With that, Welsh disappeared, again, into his office.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Hey! Would ya lookit that?” Starsky said, pointing to the large flag flying outside of the Canadian Consulate, as they were walking by. “We were just talkin’ about Canada, and there it is. And hey, look,” he added in a surprised tone, as he tugged on Hutch’s sleeve. “A Mountie. Cool.”
Ray saw both men steal a look his way.
“Yeah, that’s Constable Turnbull,” Ray supplied. “I guess he got to take over most of Ben’s duties after he left.” He kept walking with purpose, hoping to get by the Consulate quickly, before his emotions gave him away.
Starsky would not be so easily led, however.
“You mean your pal used to have to stand there, still as a statue, for…how long did he have do it for, anyway?” Starsky asked.
“Starsk, maybe Ray doesn’t feel comfortable discussing the details of his friend’s private business…” Hutch said, looking apologetically toward Ray.
Again, trying to be mature, Ray responded by good-naturedly shrugging, “Heh. That’s a laugh. Fraser was as open a person as you’d ever meet. He was proud as hell of bein’ a Mountie. Took it real serious. He’d have no problem with me telling you that he used to stand there, on those very steps,” he said as he gestured with a nod of his head toward where Turnbull stood. “Like you said, ‘still-as-a-statue’ for hours at a time.”
“Wow. I didn’t know they really did that. I get itchy just watching that guy. Couldn’t imagine having to actually stand there like that. Canadians got some heavy secrets they’re guardin’ in that building, ya think?” Starsky wondered aloud. “I see he’s armed too.”
“Ah. Tell ya a secret about that,” Ray leaned in conspiratorially and revealed, “It ain’t loaded.”
“Why the hell not?” Starsky and Hutch asked in unison.
“Licensing issues…Mounties.” Ray replied shaking his head, a little smile coming to his lips. “Made it real interesting, when the guy was your only back-up.”
“I bet. Still, you seem to have survived your partnership on the streets,” Hutch commented. “And I get the feeling that you wouldn’t have traded the experience for a more well armed partner.”
“Nope. Not for anything. Fraser was the best partner I couldda ever asked for.” Ray answered truthfully.
“Thank you kindly, Ray,” came the familiar voice in Ray’s head. It must have been in his head.
Because he left Fraser at the airport, back in Canada. Oh great. He was becoming unhinged. Too many thoughts of his partner on his brain. Now he was actually hearing his voice.
“Ray.”
There it was again. He started shaking his head while looking back and forth between Starsky and Hutch, wondering if they could see his psychosis being played out in his expression. As best he could tell, they were looking at him with a strange mixture of empathy and anticipation.
Then their faces just sort of melted away. He felt himself blacking out.
“Ray. Ray. Ray. RAY!”
It was the final ‘Ray’ that did it. He turned on his heel, intending to put some distance between himself and this place and its ghosts.
And fell into the arms of…
His Mountie.
Part 2 Found Here: http://granderobino.livejournal.com/7294.html?#cutid1