First Line Challenge: "The Feast of St. Jude" by keerawa

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

Author: keerawa
Title: The Feast of St. Jude
Characters: Fraser and Ma Vecchio
Rating: G
Words: 563
Notes: Thanks to my beta nos4a2no9. St. Jude is the patron saint of desperate cases, lost causes, and the Chicago PD. I kid you not.
First Line Author: 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."

Comments

[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::

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

(Specifically patron of the Chicago PD? Seriously?)
Yep! Irish-American and Italian-American cops all over carry St. Jude medals (think The Untouchables), but the CPD adopted him as their patron saint. It's almost to good to be true, for dS fic.

Ma Vecchio is a great character. The Vecchios are so very touchy, and Fraser is so not. nos4a2no9 suggested having Fraser think about his own mother in this story, and that let him find a way to reach out.

[malnpudl.livejournal.com]

That touched my heart. Lovely.

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

Thank you, malnpudl. I'm glad to hear it affected you.

[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.

[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.

[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. :)

[viciouscats.livejournal.com]

Lovely! :)

[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?

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

"Singled from the herd" is a nice way of putting it. Ma Vecchio expects people to reach out in times of trouble, and of course she would respond. Thank you for the feedback, Salieri!

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you pulled out that bit, bluebrocade. I was afraid it was too obvious, but both you and my beta seem to like it.

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

Fraser is a dangerous man to know, and that has to be obvious to Ma Vecchio.

The best thing is, we're not making this up. I know! You've got to love it when RL is so very accomodating to the needs of fanfiction.

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

Thanks, viciouscats!

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

he politely argues, because of course he wouldn't give in
Of course! Because by pointing out that he is putting Ray at risk, she is saying, "Now stop it." And Fraser can't.

'Casi disperati' means 'desperate cases.' Think I should add a footnote at the end?

Thanks for the feedback!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_scally/]

Oh, thank you.

This is so nice!

[alwaysaddled.livejournal.com]

Very nice!

You had me scared

[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.

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

*smiles* Thanks, scally!

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear that you enjoyed it!

Re: You had me scared

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

Fraser/Ma Vecchio? Now that WOULD be disturbing. Eep.
Thanks for the feedback!

[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!

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

Telling him off and dragging him into the family at the same time. Exactly! Thanks for the feedback, caladria!

[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.

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

With a family that size, getting the space and time for a private chat requires a concerted effort. Thanks for letting me know you liked it, pigtailedgirl!

[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.

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

Thanks, mickeymvt, I really think she would! And in another year, she'll have 3 cop sons to pray for.

[tringasolitaria.livejournal.com]

This is nice. Thanks! :)

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the feedback!

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

*smiles* I probably watched that scene, that moment, a dozen times while writing this. Thanks so much for commenting!

[exbex.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is wonderful. I love Ma Vecchio, and this interactions is absolutely perfect.

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

Than you, exbex! She's an interesting character, central to Ray's life but not much seen in the show, so we have plenty of room to flesh her out in fanfic.