For Fraser

[r_vecchio]

Ray pulled up outside the Consulate, slamming on the brakes. He’d spent most of the morning arguing with Al over the price of the work needed for the Riv and had ended up paying a hundred dollars on top just so he could get his hands on the keys today. It’d been worth it though, she ran like a dream. He didn’t know why, but being behind the wheel made Ray feel great. He was Vecchio again, he was in Chicago and had his Riv. Three things he’d been missing for too long. The fourth was sitting in the Consulate, probably arguing with the Dragon Lady over some weird Canadian thing, like whether the Queen would appreciate a mint on her pillow should she ever decide to visit Chicago. Which was kind of stupid, Ray thought, since he was pretty sure there was a British Embassy in the city somewhere so surely she would stay there.

He was stalling, he knew this. Finally, finally he would be seeing Fraser again. They were going for lunch, like they had done a million times before but this was different. So much had changed for both of them and the last time they were together, Ray was lying in a hospital bed drugged up to his eyeballs. He can’t expect to simply walk in and everything to be the same, to go back to how it used to be, no matter how much Ray wished.

Turning off the engine, he sat in the car for a few minutes and stared at the building. It would be okay, Fraser was his best friend. He could do this. Ray looked at his watch. He was a early and Fraser had said he has lunch at one. Okay, not too early. Grabbing the keys, he shoved open the door and pulled his jacket tighter around him. Only November and already feeling like winter. As he walked up the steps, he couldn’t help grinning at Turnbull, all dressed up in his pristine Mountie costume, standing to attention out in the cold. Nodding at him with a ‘What’s up?’ he reached the door and pushed it open. There’s nothing better than normality. He stuck his head through before his body followed and yelled, “Fraser?!”

Comments

[fraser-rcmp.livejournal.com]

"Ray!" Fraser exclaimed, forgetting for the second that he was currently on the phone but quickly curbing his enthusiasm to apologize to the man on the other line. "I’m sorry. How far?"

"Ah, Mr. Vecchio. Always a pleasure." Thatcher spoke through semi-clenched teeth and gave as much of a smile as she could muster after catching an earful of loud-Italian. She’d been by the door, situating herself and bundling up, just on her way out for a luncheon date. It had been a dinner date up until all of ten minutes ago, hence her even-less-pleasant-than-usual demeanor. She despised altering plans on such short notice. It was inconvenient and inconsiderate...but she was off to meet an American, after all, so it did seem apt. "Constable?"

"Of course. Thank you kindly for your time." Hanging up the phone, Fraser stood up from his seat behind the front desk. "You’re transportation should be rounding the corner now, Sir." Pushing the chair back under the desk, he walked around and joined the pair by the door. Part of him had hoped that Inspector Thatcher would have taken her leave of the consulate before Ray had arrived, but now that he found himself in this situation, he was glad she was there. She was a bit of an accidental icebreaker.

"Excellent, thank you Constable." Buttoning the last button on her coat then slipping her hands into her gloves, there was a honk outside the Consulate announcing the arrival of her driver for the afternoon. "That would be for me. I expect you to maintain a sense of order while I’m gone, Constable. And...see that Turnbull comes in to thaw every hour or so."

"I’ll certainly do my best, Sir." Fraser nodded, folding his hands behind his back and smiling lightly.

Thatcher nodded in return, "Gentlemen," she said before stepping past the two, making her way out the front door and down to the car waiting for her.

Fraser watched until the vehicle was out of sight, taking a moment to glance at Turnbull to make sure he wasn’t turning blue, a small knot forming in his stomach as he suddenly felt horribly self-conscious. His icebreaker was gone...

His smile broadened a bit as he turned his attention to Ray, bringing his hand up and smoothing an eyebrow over with his thumb. He was nervous. Why was he nervous? "It’s great to see you, Ray."