Disclaimer:  Armando Langostini, Benton Fraser are property of Alliance.
All other characters are mine.	No infringement of any copyrights is
intended. This story is written for the private enjoyment of Due South
fans and not for monetary profit.  Permission to use this story for profit
is not given. 

Rated: G

The Package

Benton Fraser stopped at the reception desk of the Canadian Consulate
office in Chicago.  There was a package with waiting for him.  The return
address was a post office box in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He knew whom it
had to be from but was surprised anyway.  

"I wonder what this is," he said to Diefenbaker, his wolf.  "Cassandra
usually sends me a card but this is completely unexpected. 

He found a knife in the desk drawer and sliced open the reinforced packing
tape that surrounded the box.  Inside he found a tissue wrapped package
and a large white envelope.  He pulled out the package and carefully
removed the tissue.  Inside were a stocking cap, a scarf and a pair of
mittens, all apparently made of the same soft, fluffy fiber.  He held
them to his nose and inhaled deeply.  They carried the scent of eucalyptus
and something else.  It was familiar but slightly masked by the other
scent.	He sniffed it again but still couldn't identify it. 

He wondered if he were coming down with a cold.  Usually his sense of
smell was much more acute.  He put the knitted articles down on the desk
and picked up the envelope.  It was addressed to Diefenbaker and it said
it was from "Benny, Ray & Almak." He opened the envelope and removed
a piece of cardboard which had a tatted snowflake ornament taped to it.
There was a piece of paper in the envelope and a photograph as well.
He unfolded it and saw a letter, generated on a computer, most likely,
and printed on paper with a border of green holly and red berries.  He
read: 

"Dear Benton,
I'll bet you were wondering what I was doing with all that fur you've
been sending me.  Here's your answer.  I spun it with Almak's fur and
some fiber from Daisey, my oldest llama.  The resultant yarn went into
this outfit for you.  The combination of wolf/dog/llama fiber should
keep you toasty warm all through the cold wet Chicago winter. 

The ornament is also dog fur, donated by Ray & Benny, my two Pembrooke
Welsh Corgis and Almak.  I thought Dief might like an ornament though
the thought of knitting him a tam-o-shanter did cross my mind.	:-) 

I hope you are doing well.  I feel like I'm finally adjusting to my new
life in Las Vegas.  Recently, I met a man who has been spending
considerable
time with me.  He's a good man; kind, gentle and fun loving.  He makes
me think that perhaps there is some happiness to be had in this world.
I think you two would like each other.	In some ways he reminds me of
you.  Of course, he doesn't have your polite, Canadian charm.  And he
his ears don't turn red when I flirt with him like yours always did.
But he does have his own style of charm. 

I wish you well.  May you be blessed with health and happiness.  

Blessed be,

Cass"

Benton refolded the letter and placed it carefully inside the envelope.
The picture showed a smiling woman with auburn hair sitting in an
Adirondack
chair on a wood deck.  A house provided the background.  There were two
short-legged dogs on her lap and a large sled-type dog lying at her feet.

He turned it over to read the caption:
Hanging out at home.  Labor day, 1997.
Cass
(l-r) Benny & Ray
Almak

He smiled as he placed the photo back in the envelope with the letter.
His thoughts of the former neighbor were interrupted by Diefenbaker.

Dief had both front paws on the desk.  He barked once and grabbed a mitten
in his teeth.  Before Benton could react he saw the wolf running down
the hallway.  Benton immediately gave chase. 

"Diefenbaker, bring that back here right now.  That's mine and it's not
a tam-o-shanter..." 

The End.