THE KEY TO HIS HEART	  
Author's disclaimer: Although the story is mine, it is a work of fiction
based on the character 
of Due South. All Characters portrayed here belong to Alliance. Please do
not 
print/copy/download or send any part of this story to anyone else, other
than for your 
personal enjoyment. Thank you. 

Author's notes:  This is a sequel to Second Chance. Please read on and I
hope you 
enjoy it. This has an R rating for sexual content and language. 

Please contact me at  perrymor@home.net 
I welcome any comments about my story. 
  
  
  

THE KEY TO HIS HEART 

 
 

By Amethyst 

        Stanley (Ray) Kowalski opened his eyes just a fraction of an inch
listening to the sound of his dead bolt being slid back on the front door
of his apartment. Even from the deep abyss of sleep that he had finally
reached, his cop instincts were fine-tuned to hear anything out of the
ordinary. He had just gotten back from Los Angeles where he'd had to drop
of a prisoner, the type of baby-sitting assignment he loathed, and had
come straight home from the airport. The trip itself had been uneventful,
but from the jet lag and too many hours awake had exhausted him, and so he
had peeled off his shirt, boot and socks and crumbled on his bed the
moment he's gotten through his door. He'd been looking forward to catching
some sleep in his own bed, only to be roused by someone breaking into his
apartment. 
        He heard the telltale creak of his front door being opened and
closed, then the soft footsteps headed down the narrow hall toward him.
His hand reached for his spare gun from his night stand drawer, hoping the
intruder didn't notice his duty holster where he'd left it lying on the
kitchen table. He slid silently from his bed and made his way to the
shadowed corner behind his half closed bedroom door. He took a calming
breath to steady his hands and listened to the approaching footsteps. His
door swung wider and a shadow stepped forward. 
        "Freeze!" he demanded kicking the door away from him and training
his weapon on the terrified face of Francesca Vecchio. She paled and
visibly started to shake as she stared down the barrel of his nine
millimeter. He lowered the gun and put a shaky hand to his heart, feeling
his blood pressure shoot through the roof. "Damnit Frannie!" he exclaimed
his own fear at what almost happened sounding in his voice. "What the hell
are ya doin' here?" Francesca was speechless, her lips tried to form words
but nothing came out and the detective silently compared her to a fish out
of water. He put his hand on her shoulder and tossed his gun on the bed as
he steered her back toward the living area. 
        "I'm sorry fer yellin'," he offered "But didn't yer brother ever
tell ya not to sneak up on a cop like that?" as he settled her on the
small sofa and retrieved a glass of water for her. Her hands were shaking
so badly he had to help hold the glass to her lips. "Yer shakin'." She
wrapped hands around one of his. 
        "S...s...so are you." She managed breathlessly and Kowalski did
notice his hands were not as steady as he would have liked. 
        " 'Course I am," he admitted. "Ya scared me half ta death. I
almost shot ya fer cryin' out loud, y'know what Fraser woulda done ta me
if that had happened?" She managed a small smile and seemed to be getting
some of her color back. "I almost had a heart attack." He continued. 
        "Then Fraser would've killed me." She retorted and he chuckled. 
        "Yah," agreed Kowalski. "He probably wouldn't wanna be in the
market fer yet another partner." He rubbed his hand along her arm
soothingly, the soft fabric of her blouse tickling his palm. "Are ya
okay?" She nodded. 
        "I..I think so." She admitted quietly. Her suddenly shy demeanor
confused Kowalski, he'd never seen her this..demure. "I..Fraser asked me
to come by and feed your turtle because he had some unscheduled reception
that the Inspector dragged him to. I thought you wouldn't be back until
tomorrow." Kowalski nodded, he hadn't been scheduled to arrive until
tomorrow but he'd happened to catch an earlier flight. He saw her bottom
lip start to tremble as she lowered her eyes and he knew she was still
very much in shock. A tear escaped down her pale cheek and Kowalski
silently swore. He couldn't stand it when a woman cried. He patted her
shoulder, somewhat awkwardly. 
        "There there," he urged. "Don't start that, yer okay." His words
only seemed to make her cry harder as she wrapped her arms around his neck
and leaned into his shoulder. "Aw jeeze, quit bawlin' please. Ya aren't
hurt, yer gonna be fine." Ray tried not to think of the scent of her
perfume or the feel of her cheek against his bare shoulder. He'd always
thought Francesca was attractive, but he hid his attraction toward her by
his smart-ass remarks and jokes. He was pretending to be the man who was
her brother, she was in love with the Mountie, he had no right to either
of them. 
        Finally Francesca pulled away and accepted the tissues he handed
her. She was mildly surprise that the brash detective even had a box of
tissues laying around, let alone one right on the coffee table. She wiped
her eyes and blew her nose appropriately. 
        "I..I'm sorry." She hiccuped. "I don't u...usually fall apart like
that." He grinned. 
        "Well, it ain't every day ya get a gun pointed in yer face
either." He convinced rising from the sofa. "Me, I'm used to it, hell with
Fraser I'm used to more then that." 
        "I...I should go." She stammered rising shakily to stand beside
him. 
        "Let me get ya a drink first." He suggested as she followed him to
the small kitchen and watched him examine the contents of his
refrigerator. She was startled to realize what a nice torso Kowalski had,
she'd never seen him without a shirt before. It wasn't as broad or as
muscled as Fraser's, but he was lean and smooth with strong angles that
fit his slim stature perfectly. His hair was rumpled from sleep, and she
had to admit he had a very nice backside, of course she had noticed that
before. Her quiet inspection of his body was interrupted as she heard him
speaking to her. 
        "I'm sorry?" she asked, having not heard the question. 
        "I've got beer, pop, and juice." He glanced back at her with a
grin. "And tea that I keep here fer Fraser if ya want that?" 
        "Ummm, soda is fine." She replied and was lightly touched when he
reached into the cupboard for a glass to pour the soda into. He tossed the
empty can in the trash and handed her the drink as he grabbed a bear for
himself. She noticed he winced as he straightened up from the refrigerator
and put a hand to his lower back. 
        "Does yer back hurt?" she asked as she followed him back to the
living area. 
        "Yah, some." He admitted as they resumed their positions on the
sofa. "From sittin' too long on them planes probably." She set her soda
down next to the smaller water glass and kneeled up on the sofa. 
        "Let me massage it for you." She requested turning his back toward
her. 
        "Ah..Frannie, no." he refused gently. "Ya don't have ta..." She
ignored him and repositioned him again. 
        "You just hush and let me at it." She decided firmly. Ray started
to protest again but then her hands were on him, needing the soreness from
his back and he sighed. 
        "Well, if you insist." He muttered, readjusting his position so he
was more comfortable and setting his beer on the table. "Pitter patter,
let's get at'er." She smiled and began at the base of his neck. After a
few minutes she rose and pulled him with her. 
        "It would be easier if you were laying down." She instructed
leading him back to the bedroom. Ray felt he might have one of Fraser's
deer-in-the-headlights look right about now, as she groped for the light
switch on the wall, and he hung back. 
        "I'm already feelin' better.." he started only to have her pull
him into the room. 
        "Don't be a baby." She scolded pushing him toward the bed and
picking up the purse she had dropped during their frightful meeting. "Get
on your stomach." Ray hesitated then crawled on the bed, he had a feeling
he was gonna regret this. He smoothed back the rumpled sheets, set his gun
back on the night stand and settled on his stomach, folding his arms to
support his head. He listened to her dig around in her purse for a minute,
then make a triumphant sound as she kicked off ehr shoes and straddled
him. Ray was glad she was wearing jeans instead of her usual mini skirt. 
        "Ya know," he began, needing to find a release for the tension
building inside of him. "If ya wanted ta get me into bed all ya had ta do
was ask." She slapped his shoulder in rebuttal. Good he thought, if she's
hittin me I won't think about..." He stiffened as something cold and slimy
squirted down his back. "What the hell is that?" he demanded arching his
back to avoid the trickling sensation. She pushed him flat and started to
work the lotion into his back. 
        "Shadup and let me do my thing will ya?" 
        Ray reached back and grasped the bottle beside him, bringing it
closer to his face so he could read the label. 
        "Lavender Lace Lotion." He announced grinning. "To lavish the
lover in your life. Aww, how sweet." He turned his head slightly so he
could catch her eye. "How many lovers ya tried this on Frannie?" She
shoved his head into the mattress. 
        "Are ya gonna behave or do I gotta get rough?" she threatened. Ray
said something into the mattress, but she couldn't make out his words. She
grabbed a handful of his hair and brought him up for air. "What was that?"
At first he shook his head, not willing to confess his reply aloud, but
the twinkling in his eyes proved it had been something wicked. She pulled
harder on his hair and he yelped in pain, though never lost his devilish
grin. 
        "I said, ohh hurt me baby." He admitted trying to get her to let
go of his precious hair. "It stands up on it's own ya don't half'ta pull
so hard." She smacked him then released his hair. He groaned and massaged
his sore scalp. "Some help you are." 
        "The lotion is for my hands ya moron." She informed indignantly as
she continued her massage. "You got a problem with that?" Ray shrugged. 
        "Nah, ' he decided. "I'll try anything once." 
        "Yah, Yah." She finished. "Twice if ya like it, I know." Ray
laughed as her hands moved to kneed the muscles in his lower back. He
hissed as she rubbed at a particularly painful knot. 
        "OW!" he cried as she found another one, he hadn't realized he was
such a mess. 
        "Quit whining." She demanded. "I'm tryin' ta concentrate here."
Ray sighed and tried to keep his mouth shut, which wasn't easy because he
talked to release the nervous energy inside him, when he was unable to
move; like now. He allowed his eyes to drift shut and a comfortable
silence descended over them. He was surprised that Francesca could stay
quiet so long, but she simply went about her massage, humming
occasionally. 
        He had to admit, her hands did feel wonderful on his tortured
back, unfortunately the more he relaxed under her touch the more tension
seemed to be building in other places. He felt a stirring in his groin as
she moved higher to apply more pressure, and he desperately tried to thing
of something else, anything else but her hands on his bare skin and the
fierce heat that emanated from the valley of her legs. He wondered if she
did have a lover - nah. She was so infatuated with Fraser he doubted she
even noticed another male, of course Fraser was a real babe magnet, there
was no doubting that, still Ray believed she was wasting her affection on
him. It was obvious the Canadian didn't feel the same way for her and,
even if he did he'd never get the courage to show it. Fraser seemed
oblivious to most women around him. 
        Francesca's fingers traced the contours of his lower back,
smoothing and etching the pains away, and Ray had to force himself not to
roll over and let her continue the massage along a more intimate area of
his body. 
        "Ah..that's good, Frannie." He declared suddenly, not really
wanting her to stop but unwilling to risk what the temptation might lead
him to if she didn't. 
        "Who's doin' this?" she demanded. "Me or you?" Her fingers seemed
to tease the flesh just above the waistband of his jeans. He didn't want
to argue with her but the more she touched him the more rigid he became,
she'd never be finished. 
        "Okay good." He decided rolling suddenly to stop the massage.
Francesca hadn't expected the quick movement and she was caught of
balance, as she landed on top of him, knocking the wind out of them both.
While they were both trying to get enough air back to speak Francesca's
thigh brushed against his arousal and she struggled to raise herself up on
shaky arms, her face flushed with embarrassment. He almost laughed aloud
of their predicament, especially of the unusual pink shade Francesca's
cheeks were developing, and he couldn't help put tease her. 
        "Pitter patter." He grinned. She made a swipe at him, but that
threw her back off balance and she landed soundly against him again. He
wrapped his arms around her firmly, trying to keep her from repeating the
performance a third time, he'd barely gotten his breath back from the
first. She squirmed against him. 
        "Let me go, Kowalski!" she growled accidentally bringing her knee
up against him in her struggle. He winced and tightened his grip. 
        "This is interestin' and all Frannie." He stated wryly. "But it
ain't helpin'." She struggled harder. "Stop it! Calm down." She lay still.

        "But you're...you're..." she sputtered. 
        "Com'on Frannie." He sighed. "Are ya tellin me ya never felt a..."
She slapped a hand over his mouth and blushed crimson. 
        "Of course I have!" she hissed. "I was married ya know. But you
shouldn't be havin'...." Ray pulled her hand away. 
        "I'm a guy!" he exclaimed. 'It happens for Christ's sake! It ain't
personal." Somehow he sensed he's said the wrong thing because Francesca
paled and quickly scrambled off him. He swore and rolled from the bed as
she snatched up her purse and shoes and stormed from the room. He caught
up with her in the living room and grabbed her arm. 
        "Frannie, wait." She shook his arm away and pushed past him, only
to have him slip between her and the front door, blocking her escape. 
        "Outta my way Kowalski!" she warned. 
        "I didn't mean that the way it sounded." He explained, planting
his feet determinedly. "Ya know I never know what's gonna come outta my
mouth. Stay and let's talk about this." 
        "I don't have anything to say to you." she defied. "You can go to
hell, and that is personal!" Ray's hands reached up to grab the hair at
his temples, a similar reaction to when Fraser was starting to babble on,
like he suddenly had this enormously painful headache. 
        "I didn't mean my reaction wasn't personal." He explained slowly,
as though constructing the sentence in his brain thoroughly before
repeating it vocally. "Of course it was personal, yer real beautiful and
sexy as hell, but I didn't want'cha ta think I was makin' a pass at ya. I
know yer in love with Fraser and..." 
        "Y..you think I'm beautiful?" she repeated astonished. Ray ran his
palm over the back of his neck, slightly unnerved by her sudden change in
attitude. 
        "Well..." he paused. "Yah. Sure. Okay" He tried to gauge her
reaction, but the expression in her eyes was unreadable. "But I know ya
got it bad fer Fraser so I..." He broke off as she suddenly threw her arms
around him." 
        "Thank you." She murmured against him, he previous anger
forgotten, and Ray felt alarmingly like he had stepped into an episode of
the Twilight Zone. 
        "Er..okay." he scratched his head confused. "So, we're okay now,
right?" She moved back just enough to smile at him. 
        "Yah." She replied. "We're okay now." They stood staring at each
other for a few moments, each trying to decipher the other's thoughts. 
        "I wanna kiss you." Ray discovered, unaware he'd voiced the simple
thought. Francesca smiled and reached up to touch her lips to his. Ray
froze, afraid any movement on his part would upset her again. She locked
her gaze to his and he saw the permission in her eyes, but he wouldn't
allow himself to act on it, until she outright asked him. 
        "Please." She implored softly and before he could stop himself Ray
had lowered his head to capture her mouth. 
        It had been so long, so very long since he'd been close to a
woman, not since Stella, and even though he had been with Stella just a
couple of months ago, he had tried to wipe the bitter memory from his
brain. Francesca tasted sweet, sugary, like candied apples and cotton
candy rolled into one, and she was returning his kiss with as much vigor
as he had assumed she would. He tentatively slipped his tongue across her
lips and she opened them to give him access. He released a soft moan and
pulled her loser, delving deeper and deeper into her mouth until he felt
her gasping breath match his. Francesca ran her fingers through his hair,
pulled him even closer, marveled at the feel of his body against hers,
trailed one hand across his shoulders, down his ribcage and around to his
back. Her palm squeezed his ass and pushed her hips against him. Ray gave
a startled, desired gasp and dropped his hand to her breast. He rubbed his
thumb against a covered nipple and felt her arch against him. His lips
moved to her cheeks, her throat, and to the exposed skin just above the
scooped neckline of her blouse. She sighed and strained upwards, pulling
her shirt tighter against her chest and exposing more of her skin to his
lips. Suddenly his lips found hers again and Francesca responded hungrily
to the onslaught. She reached down and squeezed the growing erection that
strained against the fabric of his jeans and pulled at the button that
held them together. 
        Ray suddenly pulled back and stepped away from her, running a
trembling hand through his already rumpled hair. 
        "I..I think you should probably go now, Frannie." He suggested,
after taking a shaky breath and opening the front door. 
        "I..I don't understand?" She stared at him confused and ray had to
look away from her soft, pink lips, swollen from their kiss. He couldn't
meet the hurt in her eyes. 
        "It's late." He explained. "I need to get some sleep." Francesca'
cheeks burned with embarrassment, but he still couldn't look at her. He
knew if he did he'd be lost and there would be no stopping his desire. 
        "You need something alright, Kowalski!" she cried retrieving her
purse from the floor in an angry flourish. "You need a heart!" He flinched
as she stormed past him and out into the hall. He closed the door and
leaned his head against it, rubbing his suddenly aching temples with his
knuckles. 
  
  

        Kowalski tried not to wince as Francesca slammed a file down on
his desk, gave him a look that would freeze fire and stormed off, her
spike heels clicking angrily against the floor beneath her. She wore her
traditional mini skirt today and Ray couldn't help but take a quick
assessing glance after her. Even pissed off she had a great pair of legs. 
        "Ray? Ray? Ray?" Kowalski turned back and glared at the Mountie
standing beside his desk. 
        "What?" he demanded. 
        "Has something transpired between you and Francesca?" inquired
Fraser frowning. 
        "Like what?" 
        "Did you perhaps have a disagreement?" Kowalski smirked. 
        "Fraser, Frannie's a walkin' disagreement." He insisted. 'We're
always sparin' y'know that." Fraser gazed at him intently. 
        "Yes," he agreed. "But she seems to be harboring more than her
general animosity toward you today." Kowalski shrugged and picked up the
file. 
        "She's hard to figure on any day." He deflected glancing over the
file. "Maybe she didn't get her beauty sleep or somethin'." 
        "Hmmm. 
        "I hate that, Fraser." 
        "Hate what, Ray?" 
        "That Hmm thing." defined Kowalski throwing the file back on his
desk. "I never know if it's good or bad." 
        "Ah." 
        "Stop it Fraser." demanded the detective retrieving his coat and
heading out of the squad room with his partner close behind. 
        "Stop what, Ray?" 
        "Never mind." He sighed, opening the door and allowing Fraser to
proceed him outside. 
  

        Ray dropped Fraser at the Consulate, late that evening. They had
had no luck in finding another lead on their current case, surprising for
both of them. Usually if Fraser didn't pick up on something Kowalski did,
but today had been a bad day and they had run into one dead end after
another. He was heading back to his apartment, when he remembered he had
left a file he needed to work on at the precinent He did a U-Turn and
headed back to the station. Other than the few stragglers that worked
second and third shift, his area of the station was bare; the majority of
the detectives working day shift unless they were called in specifically
for a crime. He walked over to the his desk and after a few minutes, found
the file he needed and headed back across the room. He paused at
Francesca's desk, noticing that she had left her purse on the chair. He
grabbed it up and headed out, her place was on the way so he would drop it
off on his way home. 
        He had just pulled up outside the Vecchio's new home, as the woman
he was coming to see stepped out into the evening air and headed for her
vehicle. She noticed him coming up the walk and stopped. 
        "Hey." He greeted with a small smile, trying not to think of how
good she looked in her tight skirt and sheer blouse, even with the light
jacket she wore. He held out her purse. "You left this at the station."
She accepted the bag and lowered her eye. 
        "Thanks." She replied curtly. "I thought you and Fraser had left
for the day?" 
        "I had to go back for something and I saw your bag so I thought
I'd bring it to you." 
        "Yah, well, thanks." She turned away from him and started back up
the walk. After a moments hesitation he hurried after her. 
        "Frannie?" he asked, waiting for her to turn back and face him,
but she held her ground. "A..are you still mad at me? I never meant....You
know we can't..." He sighed in frustration, here he goes being elequent
again. "I'm sorry, Francesca. Can't we be friends again?" 
        "We never were friends, Kowalski." She stated, remaining turned
away from him. "Yer just a guy pretendin' to be my brother, remember?"
That hurt, thought Ray, closing his eyes briefly. He knew it was true but
hearing her say it made his heart drop in his chest. He couldn't really
blame her for being angry with him, he was sure she looked upon what
happened as a rejection, even though Ray had thought he was doing what was
best. 
        "Yah." He agreed sullenly, taking a step back from her and
lowering his eyes. "I guess yer right. It was kinda stupid to
think....sorry I bothered you, Francesca. Have a nice evening." Francesca
heard the pain in his voice and immediately regretted her words. She
turned around to apologize but he was already in his car and driving away.
She bit her lip, he hadn't deserved that, no matter how much he hurt her
when he'd asked her to leave his apartment a few nights ago. She knew he
was sensitive about being her brother's replacement and whether she wanted
to admit it or not, a relationship with him while he was supposed to be
her brother was dangerous for both of them and Ray Vecchio. She turned and
went back inside, clutching her bag to her chest. 
  
  

        The next few days were like any other day at the precinct, busy
and colorful. Francesca had tried a few times to apologize to Ray about
her remarks, but he seemed to be avoiding her. Whenever he needed a file
he went and found it himself and when they needed information on a
suspect, he let Fraser request the information from her while he made an
excuse to go to the bathroom, make a call, or get a cup of coffee.
Although he was polite and always thanked her when she delivered a file to
him or handed him the information Fraser requested, he never met her eyes
and it saddened her. She had over heard Fraser ask Ray a few times if
there was anything wrong or if he was upset with Francesca, the Mountie
obviously sensing the tension between them, but Ray always found a way to
change the subject or refused to admit to any problem. 
        "Vecchio!" called Welsh from his office. "You and Big Red, in my
office, now." The pair hurried to the Lieutenant's office and closed the
door. A moment later, Welsh was calling out to Francesca to get him a
particular file. She quickly retrieved the requested information and
hurried into the office. 
        "Here it is, Sir." She offered, glancing over at Ray, who was
perched on the corner of the Lieutenant's desk looking over a sheet of
paper that he held in his hand, while Fraser sat it the chair facing him. 
        "Give it to Ray." Welsh demanded, from his chair behind the desk.
Francesca held it out to the blond detective, willing him to look up and
at least meet her eyes. After a moment he reached for the file and smiled
briefly at her. 
        "Thanks, Frannie." He offered, quickly returning his attention to
the sheet of paper, obviously preoccupied. 
        "C..can I get anything else for you?" she asked in general.
"Coffee?" 
        "Thank you Francesca, I'd appreciate that." Returned Welsh. 
        "No, thank you, Francesca." Refused Fraser politely. 
        "Ray?" Francesca prompted the detective. He glanced up at her. 
        "What?" 
        "Would you like some coffee?" 
        "Oh, yah, sure. Thanks." He replied then handed the paper to
Fraser and opened the file. "I can't make head nor tales out of this
Fraser. It's gotta be some kinda code, who talks like that?" Frannie
leaned over Fraser's shoulders and glanced at the few sentences on the
page. Something about the words looked vaguely familiar. 
        "Miss. Vecchio?" questioned Welsh sternly. She glanced up. 
        "What?" 
        "The coffee?" 
        "Oh, Yah!" she grinned. "Be right back." She hurried out as the
men continued to talk about the case. She darted to the lunch room and
poured two coffees, grabbed up some sugar and milk for Welsh's, then
paused and headed for the vending machines. She dropped some quarters
inside and selected the appropriate number, then grabbed up the bag of
M&M's as they dropped from the machine, and she scooted carefully back to
Welsh's office. She opened the door, without knocking of course and
stepped inside. She handed Welsh his cup and the packets of sugar and
cream, then offered the other cup and candies to Ray, who had wandered
over to settle on the small sofa. He glanced up at her and a small smile
curved his lips when he noticed the candies. He accepted the items from
her, setting them on the floor beside him. 
        "Thank you." He returned politely, then returned his attention to
the file again. Francesca frowned, that wasn't the reaction she had been
hoping for. She was growing very tired of his impeccable manners toward
her, she wanted the real Ray Kowalski back. The one who teased her and got
frustrated with her and laughed over her infatuation with Fraser and
always seemed to say the right thing at the right time when she was
feeling low. This Ray was becoming as distant as Fraser seemed at times,
at least toward her, she noticed Ray still clowned around with the others
in the squad, especially of course Fraser. "Was there something else,
Miss. Vecchio?" inquired Welsh with a hint of impatience. Francesca turned
from Ray and noticed Fraser watching her intently. 
        "No." she replied and hurried out of the room. 
  

        "Ray. Ray. Ray?" 
        "What, Fraser?" asked the detective, finally drawing his attention
away from the long legged blond that had just walked past their table. 
        "I asked you what is going on between you and Francesca." Repeated
the Mountie as their pizza arrived. Ray barely glanced at him, as he
reached for a slice smothered with bacon and pineapple. 
        "Nothin'." He replied. "How's Thatcher behavin' these days?" 
        "You are not going to change the subject this time, Ray."
Determined Fraser, setting a piece of pizza on his plate. "I can see that
you have been...distant toward her and that she has been over
accommodating you, now what is it?" The detective shrugged. 
        "I just have other things on my mind, lately." He evaded smoothly.
"I cant help it if Francesca Vecchio is suddenly craving attention."
Fraser watched him take a bite of his pizza, then a sip of his coke. 
        "That isn't it at all, Ray and you know it." Protested Fraser
mildly. "Something has happened between you two and I'd like to know
what." Ray sighed. 
        "Look, Fraser, don't take this the wrong way but it's none of your
business. Just leave it alone okay?" Fraser stared at him for a long
moment, until Ray was almost about to tell him to take his Big Mountie
Stare and shove it where the sun don't shine, when the Canadian finally
tore his gaze away. 
        "Very well, Ray." He replied quietly. "If you feel you cant
confide in me..." 
        "Aw jeeze!" exclaimed Ray. "Don't start with that! You know you're
my best buddy and I do tell you most things that I can't tell anyone else,
but this is,,well different. Can't ya just accept that? Maybe I will tell
ya later, I just can't right now." Fraser nodded, accepting this time. 
        "Alright, Ray." He agreed honestly. "I'll wait until you're
ready." 
        "Thanks, Frase." Returned Kowalski gratefully. 
  
  

        "Oh, Ray?" called Fraser a few days later, approaching his
partner's desk, with his stetson in his hand and dressed in his red serge.
Ray smiled up at him from under his mound of paperwork. 
        "Hey, Fraser." He greeted rising to meet him. "What are ya doin'
here? I was gonna pick you up in a couple of hours." 
        "I had an errand to run for Inspector Thatcher and thought I would
drop in and see you for a moment." 
        "Good deal, buddy." Agreed Ray cheerfully. "So, what's up?" 
        "Actually, Ray, I would like to speak to you in private." Stated
Fraser. 
        "Not the closet?" moaned Ray, being slightly claustrophobic it
wasn't his favorite place to talk, though they had to keep up appearances
and that is where the real Ray Vecchio and Fraser spoke most often. 
        "Ah, no, I believe one of the interviewing rooms would be fine."
Remarked Fraser with a small smile, knowing his friend's fear. Ray grinned
relieved. 
        "Lead the way then, Fraser, buddy." He offered, following the
Canadian into one of the empty rooms. 
        "Oh!" exclaimed Fraser, as Ray stepped inside. "I forgot
something. I'll be right back." Ray stared at him surprised, wondering
what the Mountie could have possibly forgotten, he was usually the one
reminding Ray of everything. A minute later he heard Fraser's voice
outside the door. 
        "It will just take a moment, if you don't mind." He was saying,
then the door opened and Francesca Vecchio was gently pushed inside. Ray
glared over her head at the Mountie. 
        "What is this, Fraser?" he demanded, moving past her toward the
door. "I thought you wanted to tell me something?" Fraser nodded, and
blocked his path through. 
        "Yes." He admitted. "I wanted to tell you that it's time you two
worked this thing out." With that he closed the door. Ray tried to open
the door again but it wouldn't budge and he suspected Fraser was holding
it closed on the other side. 
        "Damnit Fraser!" he yelled banging on the door. "I don't have time
for this!" Fraser either didn't hear him or was ignoring him, but the door
still would not open. He realized Fraser wasn't going to let them out
until they talked. He sighed and moved away from the door to drop into one
of the chairs, muttering the different ways to kill a Mountie. Francesca
still stood in her original palace in the center of the room a few feet
from him, her arms folded protectively around her. 
        "Ray." She began, not willing to pass up her chance. "I'm very
sorry for the things I said to you last week, I didn't mean it I was just
angry." 
        "Forget about it.' He told her gruffly, putting his arms in the
table and resting his head on them, his face turned away from her; he was
suddenly very tired. 
        "I can't forget about it." She insisted, moving to take the chair
opposite him. "You do mean a lot to me and I hate that you're avoiding me.
It's like you can't stand to be in the same room with me and even though I
probably deserve it I..." Her voice broke and Ray lifted his head to see
the tears shimmering in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Ray. I'm really sorry. I
don't know what else I can say to make you like me again." Ray felt the
groan rise in his throat as a single tear slid down her pale cheek, and
before he could stop himself he was out of his chair and pulling her into
his arms. 
        "I'm sorry too, Frannie." He whispered, soothingly. "I don't want
to make ya cry and I didn't mean to be acting the way I have been."
Francesca clung to him, trying to curb the tears that threatened to
overtake her. She raised her face to gaze up at him and he gently caressed
her cheek. "It'll be okay, Frannie. You'll see. I'm just a jerk sometimes.
Of course I still like ya, I'll always like ya, no matter what you say or
do." She offered him a small smile, then suddenly reached up at touched
her lips to his. She'd meant it to be a friendly kiss, a way to tell him
she believed things would be okay between them, but the sweet pressure of
his lips on hers encouraged her to want more. She moved against him,
opening her mouth to allow him access and his arms went tighter around
her. 
        "Ray." She sighed against him dreamily. Suddenly the detective
pulled back and pushed her away from him. 
        "Jeeze, Frannie!" he hissed, trying to regain his breath and
reclaim the sense that desire threatened to destroy. "This is how we
started this whole mess!" Frannie's lower lip trembled. 
        "I can't help it, Ray." She cried. "I want you. I know it's wrong
like you said, but I can't help what I feel. I mean we aren't really
related so what would be the harm?" Ray took her and shook her gently. 
        "It's not just wrong, Francesca-it's dangerous." He inforced.
"There's no way of knowing how it will affect your brother's cover if they
suspect I'm not him." 
        "Why does anyone have to know?" she insisted. "It could be our
secret." Ray sighed. 
        "Frannie, how well do you think we could keep that secret, huh?"
he demanded angrily. "You talk too much and I practically wear my heart on
my sleeve, someone's bound ta notice if we start sleeping together." 
        "Your heart, Ray?" she asked as though she hadn't heard the rest
of his sentence. "W..would your heart be involved then?" He stared at her
as though she had grown a second head, then released her and shifted away
uncomfortably. 
        "I..of course it would." He managed. "I don't sleep with people I
don't care about, Francesca." 
        "You care about me?" she asked hopefully. She was completely
missing the point, Ray thought aggravated. 
        "You're not listenin' to me, Frannie." He stressed. "It ain't
about that it's..." His words were cut off as she threw her arms around
him. 
        "I knew it!" she exclaimed delighted. "I knew you cared more for
me than as a stupid ol' brother." 
        "Frannie, that's not..." he started to say, prying her arms from
around him; he'd kill Fraser for this. "We can't do this and that's all
there is to it." Francesca smiled, allowing him to push her away again. 
        "I promise to behave myself in public, Ray." She vowed. "But in
private..." she winked at him suggestively. "That's another story." She
moved to the door and pulled it open, making Ray wonder how long Fraser
had left and if he could have gotten out sooner. 
        "Francesca," he warned chasing after her, he hadn't liked that
look in her eye, not one bit, and if there was one thing Francesca Vecchio
was, it was persistent. He ran to catch up with her. 
        Fraser stepped out of the other room, feeling slightly guilty for
having eavesdropped on their conversation through the two way glass, but
he had to make sure they would work things out. He hadn't even suspected
that their problems centered around a growing attraction for each other,
and at first it had been a shock. Now that he thought about it though,
they did seem right for each other, the chemistry was definitely there and
he wondered how he hadn't picked up on it earlier. He agreed with his
partner that the situation could be dangerous, but at the same time he
knew from experience how persistent Francesca Vecchio could be. He smiled,
thinking how amused Ray seemed to get when Francesca would flirt with the
Mountie, almost seemed to revel in his discomfort, well turnabout was fair
play. Yes thought Fraser, this would be quite interesting indeed. 
  

        Francesca Vecchio walked up to Ray Kowalski's desk and settled on
the corner, giving him a perfect view of her long shapely legs and short
blue mini skirt. 
        "Hiya Ray." She greeted, watching him drag his gaze from her legs
and raise it to meet her eyes. 
        "What can I do fer you, Frannie?" he asked warily. 
        "I've got two tickets to that new movie you've been talking about
and I thought you might like to go with me." Before he could protest, she
continued. "My brother and me used to go every now and then and I realized
that we never have." She leered at him meaningfully. "Since we do need to
keep up appearances, I think we need to go." 
        "Thanks Frannie, " he replied, glancing over one of the files on
his desk. "But I don't think...." 
        "Com'on, Ray." She leaned over and dropped a sisterly peck on his
cheek. "We have to keep up yer cover." He sighed, she was using his own
words against him and that just wasn't fair. He snatched one of the
tickets from her and read the title, it was one that he had been wanting
to see and Fraser rarely enjoyed going to the movies with him because, due
to his sensitive hearing,t he loud surround sound offered by the theaters
actually prevented the Canadian from even hearing the movie. 
        "Okay, Frannie." He agreed, finally, handing her back the ticket.
"I'll go, but right now I gotta get back to work." She nodded and hopped
back off his desk, pleased. 
        "You wanna just leave from work and we can grab a bite to eat
before hand?" she suggested. 
        "Ah, no." he refused, that sounded to much like and actual date.
"I've gotta pick up Fraser after work. How about I just meet you there?"
She pouted slightly. 
        "How about you pick me up at my place and we go together?" 
        "I'll meet you there." Decided Ray firmly. Francesca sighed and
moved away from the desk. 
        "Oh, alright ya coward." She teased moving back to her desk as
Welsh came out of his office, she knew the Lieutenant didn't like her
loitering when she should be working. Ray watched her scurry back to her
side of the room, as Welsh approached him. 
        "Detective, " he began gruffly. "Any leads on the Harper case?"
Ray shook his head and Welsh muttered something then walked off to harass
Dewey. 
        The Harper murder was a case he had been working on almost
non-stop for the past three days and even with Fraser's help he was no
closer to solving it; but Miss Harper was well known as a powerful woman
in the strict business and local community circles and the mayor and city
officials wanted results, but there were too many suspects. Virginia
Harper apparently had a lot of enemies, and none of them were beyond
killing her, but what Ray couldn't figure out was which one stood the most
to loose. 
    The twin sister Valerie was sleeping with Virginia's husband Alan, who
was trying to get a divorce from his wife so he could marry her sister.
Virginia was contesting the divorce spitefully, so Alan Harper was also a
suspect, though Ray and Fraser both concurred the mild mannered gentleman
couldn't be the cold blooded killer that had bludgeoned Virginia Harper to
death; he seemed almost afraid of his wife. 
        Virginia was also apparently putting a lot of people out of work
at a factory that had been recently bought by her company, any one of the
laid off workers could have killed her in an attempt to stop the
proceedings, though Ray and Fraser had actually narrowed it down to two
individuals; the foreman Rudy McGinnis and the one time owner of the
factory Robert Marrow. Both he and Fraser had hit a dead end in the
investigation, their only evidence to tie anyone to the crime was some
kind of coded letter, found at the scene near the body, and the actual
murder weapon which was a large crystal award Virginia had received for
some community service; though no prints were found, other than Virginia's
were found. 
        He removed the note from the folder and stared at it for the
hundredth time that day, there had to be something on the note that ties
the crime to the killer, but what? He couldn't even bake the words out and
the letters weren't even properly written. He was so deep in thought that
he didn't hear Francesca approach his desk, and so he was startled when
she set a cup of coffee beside him. 
        "Anything I can do to help?" she offered quietly, seeing the
intent expression on the detective's usually animated face. He dropped the
letter back into the file, closed it and reached for his coffee. 
        "Thanks Frannie." He replied, sipping the hot brew thoughtfully
and leaning back in his chair, in an attempt to relieve the sore muscles
in his neck and shoulders from sitting for too long. Francesca moved
behind him and gently started to massage the knots away. Since they were
in the station house, with a dozen or more people looking on, he saw no
harm in a repeat occurrence from the last time she'd touched him this way,
so he just dipped his head and let her work her magic. 
        "Better?" she asked him, softly. 
        "Mmm." He replied, his eyes closed. "Much." 
        "Miss Vecchio!" exclaimed Welsh, causing them both to jump back
startled. "Unless you're demonstrating a possible murder situation to
detective Vecchio, I suggest you get back to work." 
        "I...yes sir." She agreed scurrying away once more. Ray stood as
Welsh drew closer. 
        "That was my fault, Sir." He defended. "I asked her to do it
because my neck was sore." 
        "Keep it out of the station house Detective." Warned Welsh
quietly. 
        "Yes, sir." Returned Ray dutifully. Welsh nodded and stalked off
as Ray glanced over at Francesca who had settled by her desk. She smiled
at him for defending her and he looked away. Careful boy, yer playin' with
fire there. He picked up the file again and sipped his coffee. 
  
  

        Ray pulled up to the theater, parked the GTO in a vacant space and
got out. He had changed into a clean pair of blue jeans, but still wore
the same gray T-shirt and leather jacket, that covered his holster, as he
had on at the station earlier. Francesca waved at him from next to theater
entrance, wearing a simple, blue strapless mini dress and her high heels.
He closed his eyes and shook his head as he approached. No way did she go
out with Vecchio lookin' like that; he sensed a trap brewing but he'd
already agreed to see the movie with her. He silently wished he'd brought
Fraser along, uncaring if he could hear the movie of not, but after Ray
assisted him on some errands and they'd grabbed a bite to eat, Fraser
begged off saying he had work to finish at the consulate. 
        "Hi!" greeted Francesca cheerfully as he stepped up on the curb
next to her. "Looks like we got here early enough that there won't be to
much of a line at the refreshment stand." Ray nodded and opened the large
glass door to the theater, issuing her inside. They showed their tickets
and walked through the inside doors then stopped at the refreshment stand,
where a three our four teenagers were scurrying about getting things ready
and filling orders for the people ahead of them. 
        "What would you like?" he asked her, gazing over the options
available. 
        "I always get the same thing." She stated as they stepped up to
the counter for their turn. To the young girl she said. "Small popcorn and
a large coke." 
        "Make that a large popcorn." Corrected Ray as he retrieved his
wallet, pushing Francesca's hands back as she went to pull some bills from
her purse. "I got it." He told her as he added a drink for himself and a
package of Milk Duds to the order. "We can share."        Francesca
flashed him a winning smile and he almost regretted his words, but he
couldn't help it; he treated ladies the same on a date; which was what
this was despite his pretend sister's story; which meant he paid. "You
bought the tickets." He amended quickly as they were handed their treats.
"Least I can do I can do is buy the food." 
        "Thanks, Ray." she offered taking her drink while Ray carried the
rest that was placed in the small cardboard tray. He shrugged and followed
her into the theater the attendant directed them to. They selected to sit
toward the side, the screen was large enough that you could enjoy it from
almost any angle, and Ray automatically grabbed the aisle seat so he could
be ready if trouble arose; the cop in him always alert for possible
danger. He handed her the popcorn, which she placed in her lap, and
dropped his drink into the cup holder beside him. He flipped the lid on
his Milk Duds and offered her one. 
        "No thank you." She refused politely. "I'm trying to stay away
from chocolate. It makes me balloon up like a bloated fish." Ray shrugged,
saying the first thing that came to his mind, a bad habit of his he had
never seemed able to curb. 
        "You'd still look good as a fish." He remarked off hand and she
giggled. 
        "But I don't want to be as big as one, Ray." She chuckled. 
        "You're to tiny to be considered big in any sense, Frannie." He
commented to the petite woman beside him. "You probably don't weigh eighty
pounds soaking wet." 
        "You got somethin' against small women?" she challenged. 
        "Nah, " he returned easily, as the pre-show trailers began and the
lights dimmed. "I like women in all shapes, sizes and colors, don't matter
to me. If she's female she's acceptable." Frannie threw a piece of popcorn
at him and he chuckled. "What? Isn't that something a guy tells his
sister, the type of girl he's interested in?' Francesca frowned and he
knew his ploy worked; he would continue to remind her that he was here as
her brother and nothing more. 
        "Well, not me." She returned, surprising him by continuing the
conversation. "I know what kind of guys I like and not just any one will
do." 
        "Yah, I know." Sighed Ray indulgently. "Tall, blue eyes, blue
black hair, gorgeous, Canadians in red are yer type." Francesca blushed
slightly, but turned her own embarrassment to her advantage. 
        "I didn't know you thought Fraser was gorgeous, Ray." She teased,
expecting the detective to become flustered and start stammering like men
often did in this areas of conversation, but he didn't just slumped
comfortably in his seat. 
        "Francesca, the pope would think Fraser was gorgeous." He returned
calmly. "Besides, he thinks I'm attractive, so why shouldn't I think he's
gorgeous?" Francesca gapped at him and he smiled, knowing he'd shocked her
just as he'd planned. 
        "He....you.....but I...." She sputtered as the feature started and
someone from the back hushed her. She glared at them and turned her
attention back to the blond beside her, lowering her voice. "What are you
not tellin' me, Ray?" Ray shrugged and popped another chocolate into his
mouth. 
        "I'm not tellin' you anything." he confirmed. "Now watch the
movie." Francesca folded her arms and hunched back in her seat, fuming.
This wasn't going at all like it was supposed to. How could her plan work
if he was going to throw things like that at her. Kowalski and Fraser? He
had to be teasing her. The detective was so heterosexual it was scary and
the Mountie? No way would she believe he was into guys. Ray had to be
teasing her, playing with her; maybe trying to turn her off of him. She
cast him a sidelong glance and frowned. He was already into the movie, the
lights on the screen made his spiked hair sparkle like platinum in the
dark theater and his face was intent on the story unfolding. God he was so
god looking, she thought. Not pretty like Fraser, who had a kind of Greek
God, adonis look about him, but there was something in Kowalski's features
that just made him extremely attractive. 
        She didn't know why she hadn't notice it before now, perhaps
because he had always kept her at a distance, but now that she'd had a
taste of him she wanted more. She almost felt guiltily that she hadn't
thought much about Fraser in the last couple of weeks, maybe she was
finally over him, or maybe she did only want what she couldn't have, and
now her aim was Kowalski, the man pretending to be her brother. Her taste
in men did seem to fall to the extreme, still she sensed that Ray wanted
her, whether he would admit it or not, and she suspected that it was only
his high ethics as an undercover operative that kept him from opening up
to her. 
        There had to be a way around that, she mused, she had to find the
key that would unlock his heart, the same heart he claimed he wore on his
sleeve and the one she had watched Stella Kowalski trample over again and
again. She would never forgive that woman for hurting Ray like she did a
little over a month ago, when Francesca had found him in an alley, drunk
and beaten, trying to shut out the pain his ex wife had caused. He had
thought he was getting a second chance, she had even slept with Ray, from
what Francesca could figure from what he'd told her, and then just thrown
him away. Francesca had even found the ring in his pocket that he had
bought for the bitch. 
        Now they sat in a darkened theater and she wanted nothing more
than to wrap her arms around him and tell him how she felt, even though at
this point she was still unsure of what she felt. She cared very deeply
for him, she must to be forgetting Fraser, and she definitely wanted him,
but was it love? She had to get closer to him to find out and he was
intent on keeping her at a distance. 
        They spoke little during the movie, every now and then Ray would
become animated over an action scene or Francesca would gasp when startled
by the suspense. Afterwards, Ray thanked her for the movie and offered to
walk her back to her car. She smiled and looped her arm through his, only
to have him carefully unwind it. 
        "Brother and sister, remember?" he reminded quietly and Francesca
released a breath in aggravation. She noticed a darkened alley, between
the building and suddenly pulled him over to it. "Wha..?" Ray started
surprised as she pushed him up against the side of the building. 
        "Now we cant be seen." She stated coyly, pressing against him
invitingly. 
        "No, Frannie." He insisted, pushing her away from him, gently.
"It's wrong..." She ignored him, leaned closer and kissed him. Ray
couldn't take a step back because of the wall, and he didn't really want
to have to push at her again, so he tore his mouth away and tried to avoid
her eager lips, a feat made easier since he was taller than she. Since she
couldn't capture his lips again, she pressed against him again, feeling
his arousal even through his tight fitting jeans. 
        "It cant be that wrong." She purred, running her finger teasingly
over the bulge and causing Ray to gasp and push her back from him. "It
feels too right." 
        "Like I said," he remarked, quietly. "Anything female is
acceptable." He regretted his words instantly when he saw the hurt look in
her eyes, as she stumbled backwards. Her hand swung up and slapped him
hard across the face and his head reared back from the force of her blow. 
        "You bastard!" she cried turning on her heel in an attempt to
flee, but Kowalski grabbed her back. She struggled at him, cursing and
trying to kick at him since he held her wrists in a tight grip. 
        "Frannie, listen!" he demanded sidestepping her foot and ignoring
her rage. "I didn't mean that like it sounded." She glared at him
mutinously and continued to struggle. 
        "Let me go!" she exclaimed angrily as a man passed by them. He
paused and looked over the scene. 
        "You need help ma'am?" he asked in a thick texas twang. Ray
sighed, figured only an out of stater would bother to and ask, most of the
people in Chicago would have kept walking. He pulled his badge out from
around his neck, where it dangled on a dark strap and flashed it at the
do-gooder. 
        "I'm a cop." He informed firmly. "Beat it." The man glanced at
Francesca for insurance, saw her nod slightly then left them alone. Ray
dropped his badge back inside his jacket, as Francesca tried to move away
now that one of his hands were occupied, but he quickly reclaimed his grip
on her before she could move far. 
        "Leave me alone." She demanded quietly. "Ya made yer point." Ray
didn't release her. 
        "Now look, " he began. "You started this and it's up ta me ta
finish it. Now I know what I said hurt you and I honestly didn't mean it
to, but it was the first think I could think of to piss ya off." 
        "Well, it worked!" she stated, lowering her eyes, seething. 
        "All to well." He muttered. He took a deep breath and continued.
"I only said it so ya would stop...well tryin' ta seduce me." Her head
shot up and she gave him an indignant look. 
        "I wasn't..." she protested instantly. 
        "Yah, you were." He finished firmly and watched her cheeks flush
in acknowledgment. "And.." he paused, unsure if he should continue or
leave it as it was, with her angry at him again, but he didn't want her to
be angry at him. "I..I said it because...well, I had ta stop...I was too
close to..." his stammering caught her attention and she gazed at him
thoughtfully. 
        "What, Ray?" she asked softly, willing him to tell her. 
        "I was tryin' to stop from doing somethin' I shouldn't." he
admitted quietly. 
        "What?" 
        "This." He replied pulling her to him and covering her mouth with
his, unable to control his actions any longer. She tasted even sweeter
than the last time he had kissed her, with a hint of the salt from their
popcorn and he felt the urge to devour her. She clung to him, returning
the kiss with a fever that thrilled him. His tongue slid into her mouth
and she released a contented sigh of desire as her fingers found their way
into his hair. 
        "Ray." She sighed, when the need for air forced their lips apart
and he trailed delicate kisses along her throat and collar bone. She
thought he might continue the tantalizing exploration, but after a minute
his lips left her and he pulled away, turning his back to her as he leaned
one arm against the wall and bowed his head. Both of them were breathing
heavily, as Francesca tenderly reached out to touch his shoulder. 
        "We cant do this." He groaned, fighting to regain his control.
"Please accept that Francesca." She pressed against his back and wrapped
her arms around him, her cheek resting just between his shoulder blades. 
        "No one has to know." She whispered soothingly, unwilling to loose
him now. "We can keep it a secret and when my brother does come back,
we...maybe we can y'know be more public about a relationship." Kowalski
shook his head. 
        "What about Fraser?" he asked. "He notices everything, I'm sure
he'll know something was going on, he'd probably smell it off us or
something." 
        "I doubt Fraser would say anything.." she began. 
        "I thought you loved him, Frannie?" inquired Ray. "Aren't you
afraid you'll hurt him?" Francesca was quiet for a moment and Ray thought
he may have finally gotten through to her. 
        "I thought I loved him too.' She admitted quietly. "And I do love
him in some ways, he's a wonderfully special person, but I think I was
more in love with the idea of him than him personally, y'know? I've only
now realized what my brother was trying to tell me all along, what every
one had tried to tell me. Fraser's the ultimate Prince Charming and I fell
for the fairy tale." 
        "So what, you're gonna trade caviar for liverwurst?" demanded Ray,
his voice tinged with self loathing and doubt. 'You'd be a fool to do
that, Frannie." Francesca hugged him harder. 
        "I'd be a fool to think I could have someone who doesn't really
want me." She commented. "And you are not liverwurst, more like...Grey
Poupon, ya add spice and flavor to everything." Ray laughed and, against
his better judgment, turned into her embrace, he knew she had won. 
        "Okay, Frannie, okay." He agreed finally. "But let's go slow,
okay?" Since he had already decided to take the plunge, there was no sense
dropping without a parachute. 
        "Anything you say." Agreed Francesca happily. Ray gently unwound
her arms from his waist. 
        "And no touchin' in public." He reminded stepping sideways and
slightly out of her reach. 
        "None at all?" she asked disappointed. "But I used to hug Ray all
the time and..." 
        "I'm not Ray, Frannie." He sighed and shook his head. "I mean I am
Ray, that's my name too, but I'm not your Ray, I mean your brother, I'm
just pretendin' ta be." 
        "But..." 
        "Look, the people at the station, mostly know who I really am and
they'd think it was pretty strange for us to start hangin on each other,
ya know?" Francesca sighed and nodded reluctantly. 
        "I suppose yer right." She agreed. "But what about when we're
alone?" 
        "We..we'll deal with that when the time comes." He evaded. Then he
stared at her seriously. "Are ya sure ya want to waste yer time on a three
time looser like me, Frannie?" 
        "You're not a looser, Ray." She stated, a hint of anger in her
voice. Not directed at him, but at the woman who made him feel so
worthless, his ex wife. "Now, let's go back to your place and..discuss,"
she stressed coyly. "The possibilities." Kowalski grinned and shook his
head. 
        "We wouldn't be discussin' anything if we went back to my place
and you know it." he remarked dryly. "Let's get you to your car so you can
get home." 
        "But Ray.." she protested as he led her out of the alley and over
to her vehicle. She didn't want the night to end so soon, she wanted him
to kiss her some more and hold her and maybe even some heavy petting at
least. He pulled her keys from her purse and unlocked the door for her. 
        "Com'on, Frannie." He encouraged. "In ya go." She leaned toward
him suggestively. 
        "Ray, I don't..." He dropped a quick kiss on her cheek, squeezed
her hand and met her gaze with a look that told her he wanted to do so
much more. She nodded and climbed behind the wheel. 
        "Call me to let me know you got home okay." He requested softly
and she smiled at his concern. 
        "I will." She promised starting the engine. "Good night." He waved
as she drove off the jogged back to his own vehicle. 
        He lived closer to the theater than she did, so he was just
removing his clothes to take a shower, when his cell phone rang. He darted
back into the living room and grabbed the phone from his jacket. 
        "Yah." He greeted, with only one arm in his shirt. 
        "It's me." Informed Francesca softly. "I'm at home." He smiled and
placed the phone to his other ear so he could shrug the rest of the way
out of his shirt. 
        "Good." He replied, returning to the bedroom. "I'll say good night
then." 
        "Ray?" she suddenly called, not wanting to end the conversation so
quickly. 
        "Yah?" 
        "What are you doing right now?" 
        "Getting ready to take a shower then hit the sack, why?" 
        "I'm in my bedroom too." She remarked suggestively and he realized
what she was playing at. 
        "That's a pretty dangerous game, Frannie." He commented, unable to
stop the slow grin spreading across his face. 
        "I wouldn't know," she returned innocently. "This is my first time
playing." Part of Ray wanted to say, yah right because of her usual
forwardness, but another part suspected she may not be as all knowing as
she pretended to be. He realized she was still speaking."Have you played
it before, Ray?" 
        "Yah." He replied, when he was in high school, he and Stella used
to call each other all the time to see who could make the other more
horny. "But it's been a long time." 
        "What are the rules?" she asked him, and he could sense the smile
in her voice. 
        "I don't think there are any." He recalled, throwing his shirt
over the nearest chair and sitting down on his bed to remove his boots and
socks. "Just ask each other questions, I guess." 
        "Like what you're doin' and stuff?" she asked excitedly. Ray
smiled, his own excitement was building, but he was cautious to proceed. 
        "Yah." He found himself answering. "Like, what are you wearing,
things like that." He heard her pause and suspected she was dilberating
continuing with the game she started. 
        "So, what are ya wearin'?' she purred. 
        "Right now, " he estimated. "My jeans." 
        "Just your jeans?' 
        "Yep." 
        "Nothing else?" 
        "Nope." 
        "What about underwear?' she questioned curiously. 
        "Not wearin' any." He stated calmly, laying back on the bed, he
was starting to enjoy this. "Just my jeans." 
        "You mean you weren't ...." She began shocked. "..even when
we....at the movie...?" 
        "Nope." He replied to her stammering. "I don't always wear them
with my jeans." 
        "Why didn't you tell me?" she accused, and he sensed she was
remembering the bold way she had touched him in the alley. 
        "It never came up." He returned wickedly. "The topic of my
underwear that is." He heard her startled gasp. 
        "Ray!" she ecxlaimed and he just knew she was blushing. 
        "I told you this game was dangerous." He reminded her. "Do you
wanna stop?" Please say no, he added silently and he smiled when she did. 
        "I..no..I'd like to play a while longer." 
        "What are you wearin'?' he asked her seductively, and he heard her
giggle like a school girl. 
        "Can I lie about what I'm wearing?" she asked. 
        "Nope," he refused. "Gotta be the truth." 
        "I'm wearing a long nightshirt that says "Jesus Loves Me." She
admitted shyly and Ray laughed nervously. 
        "That's not the kinda thing you need ta be wearin' when yer
playin' this game Frannie!" he teased gently and he heard her giggle
again. 
        "I can change." She suggested hopefully. 
        "Naw," declined Ray. "You'd better get to sleep." He heard her
squeek of protest. 
        "But I want to play some more, Ray." She insisited. 
        "Another time, Frannie." He promised, stifiling a yawn. "I gotta
get to bed myself and we both gotta work in the morning." 
        "Okay." She sighed. "I'll see you in the morning then." 
        "Yah." He agreed. 
        "Good night, bro." She teased. 
        "'night minx." He returned, listening to her giggle once more
before he ended the call. He dropped the phone on the bed next to him and
ran his hands over his face tiredly, suddenly lacking the energy for his
shower. He rolled off the bed, pulled of his jeans and climbed between the
cool sheets. It had been quite an evening and he had a long day ahead of
him tomorrow; he had to solve that damned Harper case, but he couldn't
figure out what he was missing. He grabbed his phone off the bed and
dialed the consulat's number. After three rings, Fraser answered. 
        "Canadien Consulate Constubul Fraser speanking. How may I help
you?" 
        "Hey, Frase, it's me." 
        "Hello, Ray." Greeted the mountie, as always he seemed pleased to
hear from him, then his voice grew concerned. "Is there anything wrong? 
        "No, not really.' Countered Ray, staring at his ceiling, noticing
some water spots he hadn't before. "I'm sorry about callin' so late, but
this Harper case has me in a tizzy! I can't figure where we're goin'
wrong, buddy?" 
        "It does seem to be a difficult one indeed, Ray." Agreed Fraser.
"But we have questioned all the suspects, and though they all had motive,
I can't see any of them being the killer." Ray agreed, they didn't even
have cirmcustancial evidence against any of them, it was all just heresay,
but during the interviews, none of them struck Ray as being a killer. 
        "It has to be one of them, Frase." He sighed. "There's no one else
ta pin it on. I mean, we've been over everything a hundred times and the
same people come up, but none of them are likely to have commited the
crime. I just don't get it, an' Welsh is gonna have my hide if we don't
figure it out soon." 
        "He does seem to be under outside pressure for results in the
case, Ray." Agreed Fraser, having witnessed the stress the lieutenat was
under lately. "I have some time coming, would you like me to take the day
off here and help you go over it again tomorrow?" 
        "Aw, I don't wanna spoil yer day off Fraser." He refused. "Ya
don't get very many of them." 
        "It's perfectly alright, Ray." Insisted Fraser calmly. "I enjoy
helping you with your cases and I would also like to see this one resolved
as well." 
        "Been buggin' you too, huh?" Ray grinned. 
        "It has indeed." Remarked Fraser, a smile in his voice. 
        "Okay, Fraser, I'd appreciate it. I'll pick you up tomorrow." He
paused. "Are ya sure Thatcher will let ya out fer the whole day?" 
        "I'm sure I can convince her it would be in her best interests."
Returned Fraser, sounding surprisingly sure despite his rocky relationship
with the Ice Princess. 
        "Okay, I'll see ya tomorrow then." 
        "Certainly, Ray." Fraser acknowledged. "Sleep well." 
        "You too buddy." Returned Ray warmly. "Night." He hung up and
placed his phone on his night stand. 
  
  
  
  

        Fraser and Ray walked into the 27th Preicient just a few minutes
after eight the next morning. They had decided they would have to question
their suspects one more time during the day, to see what they might have
missed. Ray pulled the file from his locked drawer and handed it to Fraser
as the Mountie dropped his Stetson onto Kowalski's desk. They were both
dressed casully today, though Ray almost missed the Red serge, but since
Fraser wasn't on duty he had decided to forgo the formal uniform in favor
of jeans, te-shirt and leather jacket. 
        "I have a suspicion that this note holds the key to what we're
missin'." Remarked Ray, pulling the sheet from the file with the jumble of
words scrawled across the page. "But we can't figure the damn words out."
He held up the note to Fraser, as his eyes drifted toward Francesca's
desk, where she was discretely powdering her nose. She looked subdued
today, in her civilian aid slacks and pretty lavender blouse. Something
stired in Kowalski, an idea came to him and he walked past a startled
Fraser and over to her desk. 
        "Hi, Ray." She greeted warmly, then upon noticing the Mountie
coming up behind. "Hiya Frase." 
        "Good morning, Francesca." He returned politely as Ray continued
to stare at her. 
        "Let me see that a minute, Frannie." He requested indicating the
small silver compact in her hands. 
        "Why?' she teased, handing it to him. "Is your nose shiny?" Ray
ingnored her, his attention focused on the small item. He opened it and
wiped the residue of powder from the small round mirror with his finger,
then held it up to the letter he had been holding. He stared at the words
through the mirror, they were still slightly distorted, but he could now
read some of the words. 
        "I'll be damned." He whispered, unaware that Fraser and Francesca
were leaning over his shoulder to see the results. 
        "It was the sister." Stated Fraser quietly, as he pulled the
letter away from Ray's hands and set it in the desk with the mirror. He
quickly spelled out the words, reversing every other letter as he could
see it in the mirror. 
        "What?" asked Francesca confused, she didn't understand what they
had reador found. "What is it?" Ray snatched up the letter and compact. 
        "Can I burrow this, Frannie?" he asked her, then before she could
reply he dropped a quick kiss on her cheek "Thanks' yer a lifesaver." She
watched him dart toward Welsh's office, as Fraser paused beside her,
observing her flushed face and startled grin. 
        "We'll explain later, Francesca." He offered the confused woman.
"Thank you kindly for your assistance." Francesca nodded, unsure what she
had done, and watched him head after Ray. Ray kissed her, in the middle of
the squadroom. Granted it was probably just a brotherly peck to anyone
that saw but it meant so much more to her. Still smiling, she settled back
at her desk and grabbed up her phone as it started to ring. 

        Kowalski and Fraser, after briefing Welsh with their findings,
paid Valerie Harper a visit at her large home in Chicago's upperclass
section; or snob hill as Kowalski refere to it. A tall, blond haired woman
in a simply cut green day dress opened the door. Valerie Harper smiled
slightly, as she allowed them into her foyer. 
        "Detective, Vecchio. Constabul." She greeted. "What can I do for
you?" She led them into a small parlor as a maid came to offer them
refreshments. They declined and turned back to their host. 
        "We just wanted to ask you a few more questions, Miss. Harper."
Ssured Kowalski, smoothly, as the three sat down. Valerie settled in her
chair, accepted a cup of tea from her maid and sat back, crossing her legs
demurely. 
        "Of course." she agreed readily. 'I want my sister's killer found.
Anything I can do to help, though I can't think what else I can tell you
that I haven't already." 
        "Actually we were more interested in you, Valerie." Comented Ray.
"You told us before that you and your sister had gotten along well until
she became emersed in her business dealings." Valerie nodded, a bit of
confusion registering in her eyes. 
        "Yes." She replied finally. "Being twins we shared a special bond.
When Virginia first started working with that firm we were all so proud of
her, but somewhere, only a few years later, she seemed to become very
persistant in rising to the top. She would do almost anything for a quick
climb up the corprate ladder." They watched her lowere her eyes slightly.
"It isn't good to speak ill of the dead, but quite honestly detective, my
sister became so focused on her rise to power that she neglected anyone
and everything around her. She wasn't a very nice person at the end,
though I suspect that she was just misunderstood." Fraser had been
glancing around the room, as she spoke, noticing the various plaques and
things that had been placed on the walls since their last visit. She
noticed his apraisial. "Those are Virginia's. I..I wanted to put them up,
it makes me feel closer to her." 
        "What are they for?" inquired Fraser polietly. 
        "Oh, various awards from the community as well as special
promotions through her office." Replied Valerie with a hint of pride in
her voice. "She always tried to make time for the unfortunate around her,
especially children. I...I was thinking I might try and take up the torch
for her, I used to be good at community service and with Alan I may be
able to help some." 
        "It must have been difficult watching your sister going through
college and then become such a successful career woman." Remarked Ray. 
        "No, no not really." Insisted Valerie. "I was very proud of her,
at least one of us made it and who knows, maybe I'll go back to school and
try again." 
        "I was wondering if you could look at this paper for us." asked
Ray handing her the sheet and watching her glance over it. "Do you
recognize it?" she shook her head and handed it back. 
        "It looks like a child's scribbling." She offered calmly. "Why?"
Ray turned the sheet over and placed it on the table, then removed
Francesca's compact as Fraser retrieved his rewritten version. 
        "This note was found by the body." Innformed Ray, gaging her
reaction quietly. "At first we couldn't figure it out either, but by some
fluke we saw this." He held the mirror next to the page and watched
Valerie's eyes widden in horror. Fraser placed his sheet next to it,
turned so she could read it. 
        "This is the note with the letters formed correctly." He told her
and watched her eyes skim over the words that spelled out her sister's
killer's name. 
        "I...I...I don't understand." She muttered, tearing her eyes away
from the paper. 
        "Valerie Harper was severly deslexick," stated Fraser. "Alan
Monroe told us this when we interview him last, as a reason why his wife
chose to keep her maiden name, because of her sister's difficulty forming
new words." He pointed to the sheet in his bold clear hand writing.
"Valerie Harper shouldn't be able to read this leter, but she could
possibly understand the first one. 
        "Want to tell us why you kiled yer sister, Virginia?" inquired Ray
sternly, watching the woman pale and start to tremble. "And then pretend
she was you?" 
        "She...she...she was going to take Alan away from me." She cried.
"I...I couldn't let her do that. She was always so good to everyone, she
didn't understand that sacrafices had to be made. I..I made mistakes but
he didn't want to forgive me, he just wanted her, well I couldn't let her
take my marriage, my life, could I?' 
        "So you took hers." Finished Ray curtly feeling the bile rise in
his throat. How could she kill her own twin, and so violently? He stood
with a long sigh. "Yer under arrest for the murder of Valerie Harper."
Fraser watched quietly as his partner cuffed the woman's hands and quietly
informed her of her rights. His glance strayed to the two pieces of paper
on the table and he reached down to retrieve them and the compact. The
words caught his eye once again. 'Virginia killed me. Please forgive her
Alan.' He folded the paper and placed them in his pocket, as Ray escorted
the sobing woman from the house. 
  
  

        Ray popped the tab on his soda can, dropped onto his sofa and
reached for the remote. It had been a good say, and now with the Harper
case behind him, he could relax a little. He had just started watching a
rerun of the X-Files when there was a knock on his door. Figures just as
he got comfortable. It couldn't be Fraser, he was apparently escorting
Thatcher to some ceramony this evening, and it was too soon for the pizza
he had ordered just a few minutes before. He glanced through his peep hole
and saw Francesca Vecchio standing outside the door, with a grocey bag in
one hand. He pulled open the door. 
        "Hi!" she greeted stepping inside, before he could respond. He
hung his head in defeat and closed the door. 
        "Hey." He repiled less than enthusastically. It wasn't that he
wasn't glad to see her, he'd actually been thinking about her quite a bit
today, it was just that he was still getting used to the idea of a
relationship with her. He watched her slide into his kitchen from the
doorway and set the bag on the counter. 
        "I thought we might watch some movies." She remarked calmly,
pulling out a bottle of wine and setting it in the fridge, catching his
wary expression. "That's for later." She supplied, pulling out three video
tapes, some chips, and a few other items. "Have you eaten yet? I can make
us some pasta." 
        "I ordered a pizza." He explained, though homemade pasta did sound
much better. She shrugged and contined pulling things out of the bag. 
          "You can reheat that later." She dismissed. "I'll make us some
speghetti." She pulled out a long loaf of french bread. Ray shrugged, hell
that sounded good. 
        "Can I help?" he offered. 
        "You can get me two saucepans out." she returned with a smile,
holding up a large mason jar of delecious looking tomato sauce. "I already
have the meat sauce ready, just need to heat it." He nodded and retrieved
the cookware for her. She put water in one and the sauce in the other,
than covered it. Then she retrieved the speghetti and handed him the
bread. "Can you cut and butter this? Do you have Garlic salt or powder?"
Ray reached over her head and retrieved the spices, giving her a wonderful
wiff of his light cologne. 
        He set about preparing the bread as she cooked the noodles and
stired the sauce. They worked quietly in the small kitchen, a comfortable
silence etched around them, until someone knocked on his door again. Ray
finished wrapping the bread in foil and handed it to Francesca to place in
the oven, as he wiped his hands on a towel and went to answer the door. He
gave the kid the required amount plus tip for his pizza, then closed the
door and placed the pizza in the fridge for later. Francesca offered him a
taste of the sauce and he rolled his eyes and smacked his lips. There were
perks to dating an Italion, he thought grinning. 
        "Fantastic." He told her, dropping a kiss on her cheek and
receiving a winning smile from her. Ray moved over to set the table, and
even lit the candles that he'd placed there for effect. He lowered the
lights in the living area, and kitchen and helped her bring the food and
bread to the table. He retrieved the wine and two glasses, then held her
chair for her before he settled opposite her. 
        "Ma's always sayin' yer too skinny and need fattening up." She
laughed as he filled their glasses. "So she was all for it when I told her
I was gonna come here and cook you dinner." Ray's hand stilled. 
        "You told her you were coming here?" he demanded, setting the wine
back on the table. 
        "Sure." Shrugged Francesca. "I always tell her where I'm going,
Ray. She thought it was a great idea. Don't worry, she doesn't suspect
anything." Ray groaned. 
        "Frannie, ya gotta be careful." He insisted, reaching across to
grasp her hand. "If anyone finds out." 
        "Ray, yer paranoid." She smiled, squeezing his hand. "Com'on,
relax. It's just dinner." He swollowed and nodded. Maybe she was right,
after all, they were just going to eat and watch some flicks, there wasn't
anything bad about that. Maybe he was being too touchy. He offered her a
smile and dug into his food. 
        Afterwards, they settled on the sofa and watched the movies,
Francesca had managed to pick out the kind he liked on all three choices.
Halfway through the second movie though, her eyes began to droop and her
head had fallen against Ray's shoulder. He stopped the movie and gently
shook her awake. 
        "It's time you headed home, Frannie." He said. "Yer fallin'
asleep." She yawned, but he suspected she wasn't really awake. "Frannie?" 
        "Too tired." She murmered, snuggling against him sighing. Ray
shook his head, she'd never be awake enough to drive home, and he was
pretty tired himself. He, moved from her, despite her protests, and gently
let her lay back on the sofa, which actually fit her small stature better
than Ray's own longer build. He picked up the phone and diealed the
Vecchio household. 
        "Hi Ma." He greeted, waiting for the woman to finish gushing
happily at hearing from him. "Yah, Frannie's here but she's pretty tired.
I'm gonna let her sleep here tonight, if that's okay, I'm worried about
her trying to drive and she's already half asleep." He was surprised when
Mrs. Vecchio offered no argument. "Uh..yah, sure. I'll make sure she get's
home in the morning. Um..I have a sofa, so I'll sleep there and give her
the bed." He added for good measure, but Ma Vecchio had tutted
afectionately to do whatever he thought was best. She wished him good
night and hung up. He shook his head bewildered and replaced the reciever.
He returned to the living area and saw Francesca had curled up into a
fetal position on the sofa, sleeping soundly. He went to his bedroom,
straightened and pulled back the covers, then walked back out to gently
lift the tiny woman into his arms. He carried her to the bed, paused for a
moment wondering if her dress might cut off her circulation in her sleep,
then shook his head. He wasn't gonna go there. He lay her on the bed and
pulled the covers up around her, then bent to kiss her good night. He
quietly retrieved a light blanket and a pillow from his closet and left
the room, closing the door quietly behind him. 
        He picked up the shoes she had kicked off beside the sofa and
placed them under the coffe table, so he wouldn't accidently tip over them
in the night or the following morning, then dropped the bedding on one end
of the sofa and went to clear up the kitchen. 

        Francesca awoke early the next morning, she could see it was still
slightly dark out through the small bedroom window, as she rolled
luxiourously in the large bed. Her dress was twisted badly around her and
she slipped out from under the covers and pulled it off. She didn't
remember falling asleep, but she must have and Ray let her stay over. It
was sweet of him to let her have the bed, he must have carried her in from
the livingroom. She was learning more and more the sweet, gentle side of
him that he rarely showed, and she was liking him more and more for it.
She walked over to where his robe hung on a hook on the bedroom door and
pulled it around her. It fell well past her knees, and she giggled, but it
smelled like Ray and she tugged it closer against her. She pulled of her
hose and ran a hand through her hair, then padded quietly out to the
living area. Her prince was sprawled across the sofa, the slight sheet
half on and half off of him, exposing his smooth, bare chest. One of his
legs were half way toward the floor. His hair was half up and half down
and she thought he never looked so adorable. 
        He was still asleep as she crept over too kneel beside him. She
watched him for a long time, the way his lips parted slightly when he
exhaled, and his arm was thrown across his eyes. She remembered again that
time he'd slept in a cell in the precinent, even then she'd thought he was
cute when he slept. She leaned closer and touched her lips to his. His
eyes fluttered open, startled and she felt his body tense, but when his
gaze focused on her he relazed instantly. 
        "Morning." he greeted sleepily and she smiled. 
        "Actually it's still dark outside." She informed, resting her head
against his shest. 
        "Ah, SFMT." He muttered. 
        "What?" 
        "Standard Fraser Morning Time." He explained grinning, knowing the
Mountie was usually up at the crack of dawn if not before. Francesca
giggled. 
        "It's still early." She sighed. "Why don't you come to bed. You
can't be comfortable here, it's to small for you." 
        "I don't think so, Frannie." He protested quietly. 
        "I promise to behave." She grinned suddenly, pulling his blanket
away and pullling him into a sitting position. Ray was relieved he'd worn
shorts as an after thought when he got ready for bed last night. 
        "Okay." He sighed standing and grabbing his pillow. He was too
tired to argue, and he did have a rough night. He followed her inside to
the bedroom and pulled back the covers on the bed. 
        "Do you have something I can sleep in?" she asked him, twirling
the tie of his robe amused. He pulled out one of his T-Shirts and handed
it to her, then climbed into the bed and turned his back to her, offering
her privacy to change. A moment later he felt her climb in beside him and
she cuddled into his back. 
        "Night." He yawned, accepting the hand she snaked around his
waist, and entwining their fingers together. 
        "Good night, Ray." She sighed contented. This had to be the first
time she'd been in bed with a guy and actually only slept. "Can I keep
this shirt?" she teased, hopefully. 
        "No." he replied, his eyes still closed. She smiled, then let her
eyes drift closed. 
  
  

        The following day, Francesca received a small bouquet of flowers
at her desk. There was no card, but inside the flowers, there was a small
jar of Grey Poupon mustard. She laughed aloud and a few heads turned her
way, as Ray and Fraser walked past her desk. 
        "Someone sent you flowers, Francesca?' commented Fraser kindly.
"How nice for you." She smiled at him and inhaled the blooms, noticing how
Ray leaned against her desk with a wicked grin. 
        "Ya got someone on the sly there, Frannie?" he teased, his arms
folded in front of him. " Or are ya tryin' to make Fraser jealous." He
watched Fraser blush slightly and Francesca offered him a piercing glare. 
        "For your information," she informed the detective cooly. "It's
none of your business, who I'm dating, I can only tell you that he is
quite a catch if I do say so myself." Ray chuckled. 
        "Yah, if you don't talk him to death." Retorted Ray. 
        "Ray." Warned Fraser lightly, then to Francesca. "I'm very happy
for you, Francesca." 
        "Thanks Frase." She returned warmly, shooting a killer glance at
Kowalski. "At least someone here has someone manners." 
        "Yah, yah, yah." Dismissed Ray straightening. "Com'on, Fraser,
let's go catch some bad guys." Francesca smiled and watched them walk
away. 
Later in the day, she managed to catch Kowalski going into one of the
interview rooms and she follwed him inside. He turned, perhaps expecting
it to be Fraser or someone with their suspect, and smiled when he saw her.
Before he could say anything, she pushed him up against the wall and gave
him a heart stopping kiss that left the both breathless. 
        "Thanks fer the flowers." She whispered huskily. "And if I do
bring you to the brink of death it won't be with talk." She watched
delighted as he blushed and gasped at her at the same time. She stepped
back as they heard someone at the door, it was Fraser. 
        "Hi Fraser." She greeted. "Bye Fraser." The two men watched her
leave, then the mountie turned to observe his partner quietly, who seemed
bewildered to say the least. 
        "She..er...she's pissed about what I said about her new beau." He
lied nervously. 
        "Ah." Replied Fraser and Ray glared at him. 
        "Don't go there, Fraser.' He warned. The Mountie smiled. 
        "Understood, Ray." He acknowledged, handing his partner a
hankerchief. "But perhaps you should wipe the lipstick off your mouth
before our suspect arrives, it really isn't your color, Ray." Ray snatched
the cloth and wiped his lips. 
        "Ha Ha Fraser." He muttered, knowing the Mountie may suspect but
would never divulge suspicion to anyone, if there was one thing about
Fraser he could be trusted. He thought the Canadian might be angry, or
even jealous, despite his protests against Francesca's advances in the
past, but his partner simply smiled at him, the turned as the door opened
again. Time to get back to work. 
  
  

The End?