ext_3554: dream wolf (Default)
[identity profile] keerawa.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] ds_flashfiction
Author: [livejournal.com profile] keerawa
Title: The Feast of St. Jude
Characters: Fraser and Ma Vecchio
Rating: G
Words: 563
Notes: Thanks to my beta [livejournal.com profile] nos4a2no9. St. Jude is the patron saint of desperate cases, lost causes, and the Chicago PD. I kid you not.
First Line Author: [livejournal.com profile] bluebrocade


Fraser stood in Ray’s kitchen, absently stirring a pot of homemade marinara sauce while contemplating the evening’s highly anticipated postprandial activities. He had been pleased when Francesca invited him to the festivities, and honored when Mrs. Vecchio requested his assistance in the kitchen.

Ray, on the other hand, seemed rather perplexed. "It means Ma thinks you're family," he'd said loudly. The addendum, "and maybe a girl," had been almost too quiet for Fraser to catch. Indeed, he was the only male over the age of six-months in the swirling chaos of the Vecchio kitchen during preparations for an extended family gathering.

Mrs. Vecchio sat down at the kitchen table. At this apparently prearranged signal, Francesca, four women, two girls and three infants exited the kitchen in a synchronized movement reminiscent of the Musical Ride. Fraser stirred the sauce one more time, careful to reach all the way to the bottom of the pot, and turned to leave.

"Benton. Come, sit with me."

Fraser sank into a chair with the sensation of having walked blind into an ambush.

"So," Mrs. Vecchio said, "You know what tonight is about?"

"I understand that tonight is the Feast of Saint Jude the Apostle on the liturgical calendar, and that he is considered the patron saint of the Chicago Police Department." Fraser cleared his throat. "As Francesca explained it, since Ray's graduation from the Academy, each year you've held a family celebration in his honor on this day. The evening mass --"

"Prayer," Mrs. Vecchio interrupted.

"Pardon me?"

"Tonight is about praying to Saint Jude to keep my son safe for another year." Mrs. Vecchio leaned forward. Her usual amiable expression faded away, affording Fraser a glimpse of the steel that made her undisputed matriarch of the Vecchio family. "Since you came here, my Raimundo keeps getting hurt." Her unwavering stare made the statement an accusation.

"Ma'am, I…" Fraser folded his hands on the table. The truth of her words was undeniable. "Ray is a brave and dedicated officer. He has saved my life on a number of occasions. And I have done my best to protect him in the field. But … as peace officers, we risk ourselves to keep others safe."

Mrs. Vecchio closed her eyes and let out a slow breath. She reached for the cross around her neck and brought it to her lips with a whispered, "Casi disperati."

Fraser had often seen Ray's family give and receive comfort through physical contact. He wasn't naturally demonstrative. His father and grandparents hadn't raised him that way. But Fraser had a clear childhood memory of sobbing, tears searing trails down his chilled skin, while Mother gently combed her fingers through his hair, over and over. The reasons were long gone, but the memory of her touch remained.

Fraser hesitantly reached across the table. Ray's mother opened her eyes and captured his hand in one of hers, palm to palm, while the other patted him gently. "You're a good boy," she said quietly. "We'll just have to pray a little harder this year, make sure Saint Jude watches over you both."

With a final squeeze of his hand, Mrs. Vecchio stood up, straightened her back and smiled. "Now, you go call those lazy girls back in here. We've got work to do! If Raimundo doesn't get some of Nunzia's salame al Barolo, he'll spend the whole night sulking."

Date: 2007-05-12 05:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] spuffyduds.livejournal.com
Oh, I love this! (Specifically patron of the Chicago PD? Seriously?) I love it that Ma Vecchio basically BUSTS Fraser, but then lets him off the hook by just including him in the stepped-up prayers. Great take on her. And I so adore Fraser's memory of his mother making him reach out to touch someone else. ::snif::

Date: 2007-05-12 06:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] malnpudl.livejournal.com
That touched my heart. Lovely.

Date: 2007-05-12 07:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] troyswann.livejournal.com
Oh, something about Fraser turning to follow everyone else out and getting singled from the herd, that just gets me, and the way that Ma Vecchio is ready right there to take his offered hand. Very nice.

Date: 2007-05-12 07:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bluebrocade.livejournal.com
Oh! Lovely!

This bit killed me ded:

Her usual amiable expression faded away, affording Fraser a glimpse of the steel that made her undisputed matriarch of the Vecchio family. "Since you came here, my Raimundo keeps getting hurt." Her unwavering stare made the statement an accusation.

Bravo.

Date: 2007-05-12 08:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] j-s-cavalcante.livejournal.com
"Since you came here, my Raimundo keeps getting hurt." Her unwavering stare made the statement an accusation.

So True! This never occurred to me. She has every right to fear!!

Clever response to the challenge, and a cool way to include the St. Jude info. I had turned up that tidbit last year while researching on the Chicago PD's website and I've always intended to include it in fic. I will, at some point. I thnk they even hold a parade every year in honor of St. Jude. The best thing is, we're not making this up. A better patron for the Ray-and-Fraser show (either Ray) could not have been found. :)

Date: 2007-05-12 02:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] viciouscats.livejournal.com
Lovely! :)

Date: 2007-05-12 04:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kill-claudio.livejournal.com
Oh, lovely! Your Ma Vecchio is great, strong and not to be crossed, but still compassionate. And I like Fraser's attempt to comfort her even as he politely argues, because of course he wouldn't give in!

My Italian is a bit shaky, so 'Casi disperati' - hopeless case?

Date: 2007-05-12 05:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_scally/
Oh, thank you.

This is so nice!

Date: 2007-05-12 07:32 pm (UTC)

You had me scared

Date: 2007-05-12 09:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] themoo37.livejournal.com
I saw what looked like a pairing: Ma and Fraser. But looking again I saw it was only "characters". Oh well. Nicely done though. I'm one of the stupid people that had to have that part about Benny being dangerous to Ray put right into my face. Well done.

Date: 2007-05-13 09:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] caladria.livejournal.com
Oh, and isn't that Ma Vacchio to a tee. Telling him off and dragging him into the family at the same time. Nice!

Date: 2007-05-14 01:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pigtailedgirl.livejournal.com
What a lovely take. I love how everyone else leaves, and how yuo describe it as being like the musical ride. How they set Fraser up, showing it's a family effort.

Date: 2007-05-15 02:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mickeymvt.livejournal.com
Ma's affection for both of them really shine through here. I really liked this line:
"We'll just have to pray a little harder this year, make sure Saint Jude watches over you both." - cause she totally would do this.

Date: 2007-07-20 08:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tringasolitaria.livejournal.com
This is nice. Thanks! :)
(deleted comment)

Date: 2010-11-24 06:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] exbex.livejournal.com
Oh, this is wonderful. I love Ma Vecchio, and this interactions is absolutely perfect.

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