Wednesday, November 20, 2013

New Due South story, nameless

If anyone reads this story and have a name for it I'd be happy to reconsider it!

"Ooops" – Chapter 01

May 2000 in Ottawa

Pregnant?!” Meg Thatcher said to her doctor.

Yes Margret, you're about four weeks along. Have you told Peter about your suspicions?” the family physician asked.

Peter was Meg's husband, well after this afternoon ex-husband. They had been separated the last two months all since they got the house sold and for a long time before that they hadn't even shared a bedroom. He had never really accepted her career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, not even when she got a 'desk-job' as Inspector. Meg had climbed the promotion ladder fast, she was only 32 years old.

No, I haven't” she answered the doctor, surprised that he didn't know Peter and her was divorcing.

Meg had just two weeks earlier accepted a position in Chicago at the Canadian Consulate. this was going to be her baby and hers alone. She made a mental note to contact a doctor as soon as she came to Chicago.

The doctor handed her a pamphlet “Here is a list of a few things you should think about and please make an appointment with an obstetrician as soon as possible”

Thank you doctor” Meg said and got up from the seat. Without really thinking about it she put a hand on her stomach.

Peter will be thrilled” the doctor said but Meg didn't respond to it.

Meg went to her favorite lunch place for a quick salad before she had to be at the lawyer's office at one to sign the divorce papers. She didn't hate Peter and none of them had been cheating it just didn't work anymore. They had even argued less when they divided the things in the house than they had when they bought the same things.
Meg had the whole day off and wasn't too keen on going home which was to her parent's place, although she just had accepted the Chicago job it had been up for a while so she had never bothered finding a new apartment. 
 
"Do you have time for a coffee" Meg asked Peter as they stepped outside the office.

"Sure. I actually got the rest of the day off" he said.

They walked across the street and then down town before they stepped into a small cozy café that they had met up at many times when they worked long days. They sat down and was quickly handed menus.

Meg looked at Peter as they waited.

"You want to tell me something" he said and smiled at how well he knew her.

"Yes" Meg took a deep breath.

"Have you met someone?" Peter asked.

"Oh God no" Meg exclaimed "Not in that meaning and what use would that be since I'm off to Chicago in two weeks" she felt nervous and was rescued by their orders being served. She sipped her coffee.

"I wouldn't blame you if you had, you shouldn't have to be alone" Peter said.

"I'm not alone and to be honest, with this move it's nice not to be involved with someone. Meg admitted.

"But there were still something you wanted to tell me" Peter said and took a bite of his sandwich, he hadn't had time for lunch today.

"Yes and I'm telling it to you so you shouldn't hear it from someone else later on" Meg said and took another deep breath "I'm pregnant Peter" she waited for his reaction but he was stunned "You know it's not yours. I'm not proud of it but I had had a little too much at the jubilee and one thing lead to another"

Still shocked Peter looked at her "Didn't you think of protecting yourself?" he didn't know why he felt angry and jealous as they hadn't even discussed starting a family.

"Of course I did but it's not fool proof you know" Meg was a bit angry with him for thinking that of her.

"I'm sorry Meg. I didn't mean it. So do you know the father? Is he one of your classmates from the academy?" Peter asked.

Meg blushed and felt ashamed "We didn't talk much and you've been with me a few times. We all look the same in the red serges"

Peter laughed "Yeah you do. Do you remember that long haired guy who hadn't tied up his hair five years ago and I thought it was you?"

"Yes I do and my colleagues did too for a long time" Meg admitted with a smile.

Peter turned a bit more serious "Will you be OK on your own. I mean we both know it doesn't work with us together but I'm here for you if you need me" he offered.

"Thank you Peter I will remember that if I need anything" Meg said.

"Seriously Meg you don't know who he is. Have you tried looking at photos from the evening?" Peter asked.

"Yes I have" Meg answered "I do firmly believe that I would know him if I saw him in person, but I can't really ask for a line-up, can I?" Meg shook her head. There had been hundreds of Mounties all dressed in red serges at the 90's jubilee of the RCMP.

"I guess you can't" Peter agreed. He looked at his wrist watch "Wow, it's already five. I guess I should get home. I've got a few work things I need to do on the computer" he said.

"I should get going too. In still need a few things sorted before I can send my boxes down to Chicago" Meg took out her wallet.

"Let me pay" Peter said and looked at her. Meg put the wallet back, they had never argued about money and why would they start now.

Peter returned from the counter and helped Meg with her coat "Can you promise me you'll tell your parents about the baby tonight" he knew the relationship between them and Meg hadn't been the best always. Much due to Meg's mother not accepting that Meg wanted a career in the RCMP.

"Yes I will" Meg said.

"And please call me before you leave or when you have arrived in Chicago. I still care about you as a friend" Peter bent his head to kiss her cheek.

Meg couldn't help the tears threatening in her eyes. Quickly she dried the away with the back of her hand.


Chicago May 2000

Benton Fraser had served at the Canadian Consulate for the last six years. All since he ended up there on the trail of his father's murderer. It had turned out to be a highly ranked officer and friend of his father's and it wasn't taken lightly that Benton turned him in. As a punishment they had placed him on the Canadian Consulate in Chicago.

Benton had served well and at a large number of occasions helped the detectives at the 27th precinct solving cases. So well in fact that when he was at the jubilee last month he had finally gotten promoted to Sergeant.

He thought back to his trip home. He had two weeks off and after the big celebrations in Ottawa he had gone to his cabin in the Northwest territories. It was all he had left of his family. His mother had died when he was just six years old so he had grown up with his paternal grandparents. His father the legendary Robert Fraser had been more devoted to the RCMP than his family, something that annoyed Benton more these days as he tended to pop up out of nowhere with good advices.

When Benton came back to Chicago he had been met at the airport by Francesca Vecchio, younger sister of his detective friend Ray, civilian aid the 27th precinct and in her own mind the future Mrs Benton Fraser. Ben had tried his best not to lead her on. She had been particular clingy just before he went to Canada. He couldn't help he was brought up well and that made a big impression on the American ladies he had noticed.

He wasn't really interested in any relationship. The one he had had with Victoria Metcalf three years ago had left him shot in the back by his best friend when she ran away on the train. He hadn't heard from her at all since.
Due to Francesca being more clingy lately Ben had stayed away from the 27th precinct, but he started missing talking to the guys. The Inspector, Mr Adler, wasn't a man that socialist very much and the junior Mountie Turnbull, well he was a special kind of guy, always eager to serve and he always cooked or baked something in the kitchen of the Consulate. Ben had to get out. He put his hat on and told Diefenbaker his half wolf, half dog that they were going out. As so many times lately he had to tell him twice, Ben could swear he had gotten more deaf with age, or he just was becoming too comfortable inside.

Ben walked into the bull pen and was happy to see Francesca not being at her desk. He walked towards the double desk that Ray Vecchio and Stan Kowalski shared, but they weren't there so he knocked on Lt. Welshes door.

Enter” he heard from inside and when Ben came in he saw Ray and Stan standing in the middle of the room.

Hello everyone” Ben said.

Hi Benny” Ray said “Long time no see, how was Canada. The cabin still there?” Ray had helped him rebuild it after a fire that Ben suspected a guy that knew Victoria had set.

Yes it's still there and it was nice to get away” Ben said.

Sorry about Frannie, I couldn't stop her from going to the airport, but now she's in Florida with our mother and sister” Ray went on.

Detectives, can we go on with the case?” Lt Welsh asked.

Sure” Stan answered. He and Ray hadn't gotten off to the best of terms, but it wasn't surprising as Stan had had to play Ray for two years when Ray went undercover to bust the Mafia

"Do you want me to leave lieutenant?" Ben asked.

"No you can stay" Welsh said and nodded towards Ray and Stan "These two usually involves you anyway"

"That is true Lt Welsh" Ben said.

The lieutenant smile a crocked smile, he liked the official way he was addressed by the Canadian not like his own staff that often left out his ranking.

"So do you have time to come with us or shall we drop you off at the Consulate?" Ray asked as they stepped out of the Lieutenant's office.

Ben looked at his father's old standard RCMP wrist watch "I think I better get back. We'll get a new Inspector in a few days and Turnbull goes to pieces when I'm not there" he said.

"How about some pizza and hockey at my place tonight then?" Stan asked.

"Sounds like a plan. I'll bring the pizzas around seven?" Ben asked.

"Great" both Stan and Ray said.

As Ben and Diefenbaker entered the Consulate the phone was ringing but no Turnbull in 
sight.

"Canadian Consulate Sergeant Benton Fraser speaking how may I help you" Ben said with the same ease as everything else although it was a mouthful. Ben listened to the caller before he put him thru to the Inspector.

"Turnbull?" Ben called and walked down the hallway towards the kitchen where he usually found him cooking or baking.

"I'm here Sergeant Fraser" Turnbull called from upstairs.

"What are doing up there" Ben asked.

"Cleaning, have you forgotten about the new Inspector?" Turnbull asked slightly stressed.

"No, of course I haven't, but do you think he will be bothered about the upstairs first thing?" as everyone else Ben assumed it was a male Inspector coming.

"Oh you haven't heard yet, they new Inspector shall live at the Consulate until she finds an apartment" Turnbull said.

Not much shocked Ben but he wasn't prepared for this "Is it a woman Inspector?" Ben asked.

"Sergeant Fraser are you feeling alright. You haven't been yourself since you came back" Turnbull came down the stairs.

It was true Ben had been preoccupied, thinking about the woman he had slept with after the big gala-evening of the jubilee. They hadn't spoken very much and when he woke up the next morning he had been alone in his hotel-bed.

"I'm sorry Turnbull, I didn't mean to worry you. I'm alright and I will at once go read all my correspondences both letters and e-mails. Then I will help you get this place in top shape we can't let the new Inspector think we're sloppy" Ben said although sloppy wasn't the least the Canadian officers were but you could always polish things.

Satisfied with the answer Turnbull returned back upstairs. He made a mental note to order fresh flowers for the morning Inspector Thatcher was arriving.

Ben went thru his mails and letters quickly and efficiently. He read the information about Margaret Thatcher that had been attached as a file in the e-mail from Ottawa. Although the photo was loading slowly so he skipped waiting for it and turned the computer off to go help Turnbull.

After a few hours in the junior officer's company Ben was more than ready to get over to Stan's place for some pizza and hockey. He dressed in jeans and a red plaided shirt, as always he had this stetson on when he stepped out, he felt naked without it. Since both Inspector Adler and Turnbull had left for the day Ben put the alarm on and locked the door behind him and Diefenbaker.

Disclaimer/Copyright 2013 and forward: I don't own the characters from Due South, but I've written the story and therefore feel I own that. I also want to say I don't know about how the Academy for RCMP or something alike works so I've made it up a nice way to fit my story.

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