A NATURAL PROGRESSION   *A NATURAL PROGRESSION*
 *By GILDA LILY*
 
 Rated PG-13, mainly for an 'F' word I don't like.
 I don't own 'em, Alliance does, more's the pity.
 (c) May 30, 1998 The *real* Memorial Day. Happy Birthday, Sis!
 * * * * * *
 
 "What a waste."
 
 Elaine looked up at the voice at her shoulder and saw the speaker:
 Callie Springer, a new civilian aide. Callie was petite and had perfect
 porcelain skin, golden hair and big, blue eyes. It was little wonder
 that nearly every man in the 27th Precinct always gave her more than a
 cursory glance.
 
 "What's a waste?"
 
 Callie waved her hand toward Fraser, who was in animated
 conversation with Ray about their latest case. "That gorgeous Mountie
 doin' it with that troll Vecchio. God, why don't they go somewhere else
 and do it? Like in that famous closet of theirs? Remind me never to go
 in *there* for supplies."
 
 Elaine's brown eyes widened as she slowly counted to ten. The girl
 was new, after all. Don't otterize her yet.
 
 "You have a problem with Fraser and Ray being together?"
 
 "Hell, sure, who wouldn't? Homosexuals are...are...unnatural,
 and..."
 
 "...perverted, and disgusting? Isn't that the usual litany?" Ray
 escorted Fraser to his customary chair in front of his desk, a hand
 resting lightly on one serge-clad shoulder.
 
 Callie scowled. "Don't tell me you *approve* of that kind of filth,
 Besbriss?"
 
 Elaine sighed. How many times...? "Listen, Springer, being gay
 isn't bad or sick or anything like that. Being gay is just being
 different in one's sexual orientation. That's all."
 
 "You mean to tell me that it doesn't make you wanna lose your lunch
 if you see two men kissing?"
 
 "Why should it? It's really rather beautiful." Ray had gotten
 himself and his Mountie a cup of coffee and now handed Fraser his mug,
 their fingers lightly brushing.
 
 "What!" Callie sounded sick. 
 
 "C'mon, Springer, two men open enough to show affection for each
 other, instead of relating to each other with all this macho garbage? 
 Really *talking* to one another instead of just yakking about sports and
 cars and women's body parts?"
 
 "I suppose they wouldn't be interested in the last," Callie
 sneered.
 
 "Oh, I don't know. Fraser and Ray are in a committed relationship,
 but they've loved women before." Elaine thought of Victoria and
 shuddered. Ray was worlds above that bitch as the better choice for
 Fraser. Victoria would have eaten away at Fraser's soul. Ray fed it.
 
 Callie was incredulous. "Come on, Besbriss, tell me the truth. 
 Don't you find your stomach squirming when you watch two fags hold hands
 or kiss or touch each other like a man and woman should?"
 
 Elaine smiled. "No. I told you, it's beautiful. Listen, Springer,
 you're new here, so I'll cut you some slack. Fraser and Ray have been
 the most important persons in each other's lives practically since the
 day they met. They spent almost all of their off-duty time together,
 and a lot of on-duty time, too. Ray would let Fraser talk him into
 these harebrained schemes and chauffeur him around, and Fraser would be
 patient with Ray's short temper and hardboiled act. But he knew. And
 both put up with the other, and ate lunches and dinners together, and
 Fraser was invited to the Vecchio home at least once a week for Rosa
 Vecchio's fine dinners, and he'd run like a scared rabbit when Ray's
 sister Francesca zeroed in on him. And he and Ray saved each other's
 lives, and Ray even sacrificed the Riv for him, and it was just a
 natural progression of their friendship to become lovers."
 
 "Natural!" Callie's tone indicated anything but. 
 
 "They committed to each other, and it was a lovely wedding
 ceremony."
 
 "God, that's *sick*! Faggots wanting to get *married*, for
 godsakes! That is the ultimate perversion, Besbriss, and we won't even
 *talk* about what they do in bed!"
 
 Fraser's eyes were glowing as he looked at Ray, sipping his coffee
 and laughing at something Ray said.
 
 "What's so terrible about them wanting to get married? Instead of
 sleeping around, they chose to commit themselves to one person. Isn't
 that what all the fundies and other religious types say heterosexuals
 should do?"
 
 "Yeah, but marriage between a man and a woman are for children. 
 That's the reason for marriage."
 
 "Then infertile het couples and those who choose to remain
 childless aren't legitimate?"
 
 Callie scowled again. "You're twisting things around to suit your
 opinions."
 
 "I'm just stating what I see. If you argue that gays and lesbians
 can't be allowed to marry because they can't procreate, then it follows
 that the het couples I mentioned are not legitimate, either."
 
 Callie slammed down her clipboard. "You're impossible!"
 
 Elaine reached out and put a hand on Callie's arm. "Listen, just
 get rid of your prejudices and open your heart. Or at the very least,
 leave Fraser and Ray alone. They've done nothing to you."
 
 Ray dipped his head shyly as he blushed at something that Fraser
 had just said. Elaine thought that was the sweetest thing she'd ever
 seen.
 
 "They *exist*."
 
 Callie stomped off, and Elaine sighed. Why did she even bother?
 
 Fraser stood up and he and Ray said their goodbyes, though it would
 only be until after work tonight. Then Ray would go to the Consulate
 and pick his Benny up, and they would go back to Fraser's apartment or
 go out and enjoy dinner, or maybe go over to the Vecchios'.
 
 Yes, life was good.
 
 "Goodbye, Elaine."
 
 "Goodbye, Fraser."
 
 Ray watched his Mountie go, Dief trailing along behind with tail
 wagging. He drifted over to Elaine's desk and said, "How's it goin',
 Elaine?"
 
 "Oh, fine, Ray. Just fine."
 
 "Good." Ray's green eyes glowed. He looked beautiful when he was
 in love. He returned to his desk and started reading a file.
 
 Callie came back into the squadroom and was ready to sail past
 Elaine's desk when the brunette said, "By the way, he's not a troll."
 
 "What?"
 
 "Ray. He's not a troll."
 
 Callie sneered. "Get some glasses, Besbriss."
 
 As Callie walked away, Elaine murmured, "Oh, I have some, Springer.
 They're red-and-white and the wearer sees a lean, elegant Italian with
 eyes of emerald, and the one wearing red-white-and-blue glasses sees a
 delicious piece of Canadian pastry with the face of an angel and eyes of
 sapphire."
 
 Satisfied, Elaine returned to work while humming a CARPENTERS
 tune.*
 
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