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ds_flashfictionTitle: A Simple Request
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
nnwest
Characters: Fraser & Thatcher (If it's of concern, slash pairing is Fraser/Kowalski.)
Rating: PG
Word count: ~1800
Summary: "No, Fraser, you're doing this. We'll use the consulate.... How's Saturday the 26th for you?"
A/N: My first DS fic. Thanks tomiss_zedem for the beta and moral support and to travels_in_time for general cheer-leading. Concrit very welcome.
--
Inspector Thatcher looked up when he knocked lightly on her partially open office door.
"What is it, Constable?" There was annoyance in her voice, but Ray would be arriving in just under a half an hour to finalize the paperwork and to take him to lunch, so he could delay no longer. He had to press on despite his unease that this might not be a good time. In truth, he'd been avoiding this meeting for several days now, much to Ray's dissatisfaction. So much so that Fraser was beginning to believe his partner's threats that he was going to kick Fraser in the head if he didn't 'get the deal done today!'
"I'm sorry for the interruption, sir. But I was hoping I might be able to discuss a personal matter with you."
"Please, by all means, come in." The Inspector had tensed at the words "personal matter" but had waved him in with an impatient hand. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Shoving the papers on her desk aside hastily, she muttered, "Anything to rescue me from the budget." She gave him a brief, tight smile before she seemed to think better of it. "A personal matter, you say? There hasn't been a death, has there?"
"No, sir."
Relief softened her posture. "Oh good. Well, if it's time off you're asking for, I already told you I'll authorize any leave you wish to take - God knows you have enough accumulated. Except next Thursday! I told you I have that -"
"Yes, sir, I am aware. But my leave schedule is not the matter I wanted to discuss."
"Oh?"
"No, sir. I wished to ask a favor of you, not in any official capacity - well, I suppose it is somewhat in your official capacity..." The Inspector was giving him what, since coming to Chicago, he had come to think of as the 'get to the point already' look. "But understand that I ask more because I think of you, not only as an excellent and devoted officer, but as a... as a friend." Her momentary look of shock stopped him. "Perhaps I should explain. You see, Inspector, it's only that I've always had the highest regard for you as a commanding officer. And, in the past..." He caught himself absently rubbing his eyebrow and dropped his hand back to his side. "I think we can both admit that we have shared... ah, a mutual physical attraction, manifesting in more than one poorly timed... indiscretion, as it were. In the heat of battle, you might say..."
"Yes, all very true but..." she said with a curt nod of embarrassed agreement, squirming in much the same way he felt like doing in the face of such frank talk. She begged him to go on with a wave of her hand.
"But I imagine you feel much the same as I do in that a deep professional regard and physical attraction do not a lasting deep emotional relationship make."
"Exactly, Fraser!"
"Thus, we can mutually - safely - agree that our, you might call it, connection is best served as friendship, can we not?" He realized he'd been fidgeting and stroking his eyebrow again as he spoke and once again stopped himself.
"Yes, of course, Fraser - Benton," she corrected, quirking a small smile, and Fraser felt an answering smile spreading on his own face at the use of his given name and at getting past the first sticky point in this necessary conversation. "Now that is established," she said, "is it possible we can get on to the hopefully less embarrassing matter of the personal favor you wished to ask me about?"
"Ah, yes. I was hoping that, in your capacity as head of this consulate and as an authorized representative of the Canadian government - and as my friend - you would consider notarizing my and Ray's signatures on an official document. I have taken the liberty of drawing up the appropriate form already. It only requires the correct signatures." Fraser placed the certificate of marriage on the desk in front of her, watching and trying to suppress the measure of fear that had crept back into his heart as she picked up the document and scanned it. "You see, I have already enlisted Turnbull's assistance in the capacity of witness and so we will need only an authorized signatory -"
The Inspector shot up from her seat behind the desk, form clutched tightly in her hand all but forgotten as she stared at him. "Hold on, hold on! You're getting married?" Her voice was shrill with disbelief.
While it was true he had been hoping to get through this without any yelling, he really hadn't expected it. Fraser could feel himself straightening to stiff attention in his discomfort. "Yes, sir."
"To Detective Kowalski?"
"Again, yes, sir."
She took a breath while she processed the information, letting the now lightly crumpled form fall on to the desk. Another breath, and she had calmed noticeably, to Fraser's surprise. To her credit, she did seem to react to the unexpected rather better than she did when he first came under her command. "I'm sorry, Constable - Benton. This just caught me off guard for a moment. I didn't mean to raise my voice. I mean, I didn't even know you were... Though I suppose I should have guessed; handsome, always well groomed..."
She seemed to be talking mostly to herself - babbling, really - but Fraser found himself slightly confused by the conversation's turn. "Guessed what, sir?"
"Nothing!" The Inspector noticed his posture. "For goodness sake, at ease!" Fraser dropped into parade rest as she continued, "It's simply that I hadn't guessed that you and Detec - your partner, Ray, were... dating, for lack of a better word."
"Ah, I see. In fact Ray and I have been lov -"
She held up her hands to stop him. "I don't really need the details. Really." She paused, giving him a hard look as if she expected to have to stop him from continuing his story. Fraser only nodded his understanding and did not go on. "Good, good," she said, smiling then. "Benton, I would be honored to endorse your union to Ray."
Relief and elation surged through him. "Thank you, sir!"
"Now, when is the event? Are you thinking dress uniform or - Because there is this stunning dress I've had my eye on -"
Fraser interrupted her. "Oh dear, I believe you misunderstand me. Ray is due here in just a few minutes. We were going to sign then."
"You're not having a wedding?" she said, coming out from behind her desk, incredulity apparent in her voice.
"No, sir. You see, neither Ray nor myself is particularly religious. Nor -"
"No ceremony then?"
Fraser shook his head.
She took another step toward him. "A reception?"
"Ah, I'm afraid not."
The Inspector seemed strangely disappointed by the news that his and Ray's joining would be executed without any undue pomp and circumstance. Standing right in front of him, she appeared to steel herself as if coming to a decision. "I can't let you do it," she announced.
Fraser reeled a little. This change of heart was wholly unexpected at this juncture. "Excuse me? I don't -"
"I can't let you - as a friend - get married without getting married, Fraser."
"I'm afraid I don't follow."
"Fraser, from the time she is little, every girl dreams of the day when she will be joined with the one she is destined to be with." Fraser opened his mouth to protest, but she stopped him. "And yes, I realize that you are not, and never were, a little girl... woman -" she made a flustered gesture "- whatever! You can't seriously be considering making this commitment, this huge commitment, without some sort of acknowledgement of its importance!"
"Uh, I guess I never thought of it in precisely those terms. In our estimation, Ray and I have already given ourselves over to one another fully, made our own promises of till death do us part. We do not feel the need for any sort of public spectacle to validate our relationship. We are only filing the appropriate paperwork because, as you know, we cannot legally marry in the United States, and if Ray is legally registered as my spouse and next of kin in Canada, it will make future travel and living arrangements easier. Not to mention -"
She covered her eyes with her hand, grimacing. "I can't believe I had you pegged as a romantic."
"I'm sorry, sir?"
"Fraser, a wedding is not for you, you... you ninny!"
"Sir, I hardly think we need to resort to name-calling."
But she talked right over him. "It's for the people who care about you. For friends and family to come together and get to know each other and to know you, not only as Fraser and Kowalski, but as a couple!" She punctuated her point by gripping his shoulders and giving him a small shake.
"No, Fraser, you're doing this. We'll use the consulate." The Inspector stepped back around her desk and consulted the desk calendar. "Lets see, two weeks for the printer's, another week to ensure delivery... How's Saturday the 26th for you?" She glanced up for his answer. Unfortunately, he found he was too stunned by sudden events to formulate an appropriate response. Happenstance was that his answer would have fallen on deaf ears as she only shook her head sadly and went on to answer her own question. "What am I saying, you never have weekend plans."
Fraser finally found his wits and moved to protest, but still did not manage to get a single word in while Inspector Thatcher went on with her planning. "Turnbull can have the wording for the invitations by this afternoon. He's surprisingly adept as such things. I'll have him pull your details from your consular record. What's Ray's middle name?"
Fraser answered the tone automatically. "Ray is his middle name. Stanley Raymond Kowalski."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly making the inevitable literary connection.
"Yes, sir."
"All right, then," she said, shaking it off. "That's invitations. I'll expect your and Detective Kowalski's guest lists to Turnbull by the time the invitations are ready. Next, cake." She tuned to her Rolodex. "There is this amazing Italian bakery on..."
Surrendering himself to inevitability now that Meg Thatcher was involved, Fraser excused himself from her office. He was well aware that the Inspector had likely not heard him, though he also suspected that she would not even miss him for several minutes wrapped up as she was in her plans for his impending nuptials. Now he only had to figure out how he was going to explain to Ray that they were having a wedding.
Author:
nnwestCharacters: Fraser & Thatcher (If it's of concern, slash pairing is Fraser/Kowalski.)
Rating: PG
Word count: ~1800
Summary: "No, Fraser, you're doing this. We'll use the consulate.... How's Saturday the 26th for you?"
A/N: My first DS fic. Thanks to
miss_zedem for the beta and moral support and to travels_in_time for general cheer-leading. Concrit very welcome.--
Inspector Thatcher looked up when he knocked lightly on her partially open office door.
"What is it, Constable?" There was annoyance in her voice, but Ray would be arriving in just under a half an hour to finalize the paperwork and to take him to lunch, so he could delay no longer. He had to press on despite his unease that this might not be a good time. In truth, he'd been avoiding this meeting for several days now, much to Ray's dissatisfaction. So much so that Fraser was beginning to believe his partner's threats that he was going to kick Fraser in the head if he didn't 'get the deal done today!'
"I'm sorry for the interruption, sir. But I was hoping I might be able to discuss a personal matter with you."
"Please, by all means, come in." The Inspector had tensed at the words "personal matter" but had waved him in with an impatient hand. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Shoving the papers on her desk aside hastily, she muttered, "Anything to rescue me from the budget." She gave him a brief, tight smile before she seemed to think better of it. "A personal matter, you say? There hasn't been a death, has there?"
"No, sir."
Relief softened her posture. "Oh good. Well, if it's time off you're asking for, I already told you I'll authorize any leave you wish to take - God knows you have enough accumulated. Except next Thursday! I told you I have that -"
"Yes, sir, I am aware. But my leave schedule is not the matter I wanted to discuss."
"Oh?"
"No, sir. I wished to ask a favor of you, not in any official capacity - well, I suppose it is somewhat in your official capacity..." The Inspector was giving him what, since coming to Chicago, he had come to think of as the 'get to the point already' look. "But understand that I ask more because I think of you, not only as an excellent and devoted officer, but as a... as a friend." Her momentary look of shock stopped him. "Perhaps I should explain. You see, Inspector, it's only that I've always had the highest regard for you as a commanding officer. And, in the past..." He caught himself absently rubbing his eyebrow and dropped his hand back to his side. "I think we can both admit that we have shared... ah, a mutual physical attraction, manifesting in more than one poorly timed... indiscretion, as it were. In the heat of battle, you might say..."
"Yes, all very true but..." she said with a curt nod of embarrassed agreement, squirming in much the same way he felt like doing in the face of such frank talk. She begged him to go on with a wave of her hand.
"But I imagine you feel much the same as I do in that a deep professional regard and physical attraction do not a lasting deep emotional relationship make."
"Exactly, Fraser!"
"Thus, we can mutually - safely - agree that our, you might call it, connection is best served as friendship, can we not?" He realized he'd been fidgeting and stroking his eyebrow again as he spoke and once again stopped himself.
"Yes, of course, Fraser - Benton," she corrected, quirking a small smile, and Fraser felt an answering smile spreading on his own face at the use of his given name and at getting past the first sticky point in this necessary conversation. "Now that is established," she said, "is it possible we can get on to the hopefully less embarrassing matter of the personal favor you wished to ask me about?"
"Ah, yes. I was hoping that, in your capacity as head of this consulate and as an authorized representative of the Canadian government - and as my friend - you would consider notarizing my and Ray's signatures on an official document. I have taken the liberty of drawing up the appropriate form already. It only requires the correct signatures." Fraser placed the certificate of marriage on the desk in front of her, watching and trying to suppress the measure of fear that had crept back into his heart as she picked up the document and scanned it. "You see, I have already enlisted Turnbull's assistance in the capacity of witness and so we will need only an authorized signatory -"
The Inspector shot up from her seat behind the desk, form clutched tightly in her hand all but forgotten as she stared at him. "Hold on, hold on! You're getting married?" Her voice was shrill with disbelief.
While it was true he had been hoping to get through this without any yelling, he really hadn't expected it. Fraser could feel himself straightening to stiff attention in his discomfort. "Yes, sir."
"To Detective Kowalski?"
"Again, yes, sir."
She took a breath while she processed the information, letting the now lightly crumpled form fall on to the desk. Another breath, and she had calmed noticeably, to Fraser's surprise. To her credit, she did seem to react to the unexpected rather better than she did when he first came under her command. "I'm sorry, Constable - Benton. This just caught me off guard for a moment. I didn't mean to raise my voice. I mean, I didn't even know you were... Though I suppose I should have guessed; handsome, always well groomed..."
She seemed to be talking mostly to herself - babbling, really - but Fraser found himself slightly confused by the conversation's turn. "Guessed what, sir?"
"Nothing!" The Inspector noticed his posture. "For goodness sake, at ease!" Fraser dropped into parade rest as she continued, "It's simply that I hadn't guessed that you and Detec - your partner, Ray, were... dating, for lack of a better word."
"Ah, I see. In fact Ray and I have been lov -"
She held up her hands to stop him. "I don't really need the details. Really." She paused, giving him a hard look as if she expected to have to stop him from continuing his story. Fraser only nodded his understanding and did not go on. "Good, good," she said, smiling then. "Benton, I would be honored to endorse your union to Ray."
Relief and elation surged through him. "Thank you, sir!"
"Now, when is the event? Are you thinking dress uniform or - Because there is this stunning dress I've had my eye on -"
Fraser interrupted her. "Oh dear, I believe you misunderstand me. Ray is due here in just a few minutes. We were going to sign then."
"You're not having a wedding?" she said, coming out from behind her desk, incredulity apparent in her voice.
"No, sir. You see, neither Ray nor myself is particularly religious. Nor -"
"No ceremony then?"
Fraser shook his head.
She took another step toward him. "A reception?"
"Ah, I'm afraid not."
The Inspector seemed strangely disappointed by the news that his and Ray's joining would be executed without any undue pomp and circumstance. Standing right in front of him, she appeared to steel herself as if coming to a decision. "I can't let you do it," she announced.
Fraser reeled a little. This change of heart was wholly unexpected at this juncture. "Excuse me? I don't -"
"I can't let you - as a friend - get married without getting married, Fraser."
"I'm afraid I don't follow."
"Fraser, from the time she is little, every girl dreams of the day when she will be joined with the one she is destined to be with." Fraser opened his mouth to protest, but she stopped him. "And yes, I realize that you are not, and never were, a little girl... woman -" she made a flustered gesture "- whatever! You can't seriously be considering making this commitment, this huge commitment, without some sort of acknowledgement of its importance!"
"Uh, I guess I never thought of it in precisely those terms. In our estimation, Ray and I have already given ourselves over to one another fully, made our own promises of till death do us part. We do not feel the need for any sort of public spectacle to validate our relationship. We are only filing the appropriate paperwork because, as you know, we cannot legally marry in the United States, and if Ray is legally registered as my spouse and next of kin in Canada, it will make future travel and living arrangements easier. Not to mention -"
She covered her eyes with her hand, grimacing. "I can't believe I had you pegged as a romantic."
"I'm sorry, sir?"
"Fraser, a wedding is not for you, you... you ninny!"
"Sir, I hardly think we need to resort to name-calling."
But she talked right over him. "It's for the people who care about you. For friends and family to come together and get to know each other and to know you, not only as Fraser and Kowalski, but as a couple!" She punctuated her point by gripping his shoulders and giving him a small shake.
"No, Fraser, you're doing this. We'll use the consulate." The Inspector stepped back around her desk and consulted the desk calendar. "Lets see, two weeks for the printer's, another week to ensure delivery... How's Saturday the 26th for you?" She glanced up for his answer. Unfortunately, he found he was too stunned by sudden events to formulate an appropriate response. Happenstance was that his answer would have fallen on deaf ears as she only shook her head sadly and went on to answer her own question. "What am I saying, you never have weekend plans."
Fraser finally found his wits and moved to protest, but still did not manage to get a single word in while Inspector Thatcher went on with her planning. "Turnbull can have the wording for the invitations by this afternoon. He's surprisingly adept as such things. I'll have him pull your details from your consular record. What's Ray's middle name?"
Fraser answered the tone automatically. "Ray is his middle name. Stanley Raymond Kowalski."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly making the inevitable literary connection.
"Yes, sir."
"All right, then," she said, shaking it off. "That's invitations. I'll expect your and Detective Kowalski's guest lists to Turnbull by the time the invitations are ready. Next, cake." She tuned to her Rolodex. "There is this amazing Italian bakery on..."
Surrendering himself to inevitability now that Meg Thatcher was involved, Fraser excused himself from her office. He was well aware that the Inspector had likely not heard him, though he also suspected that she would not even miss him for several minutes wrapped up as she was in her plans for his impending nuptials. Now he only had to figure out how he was going to explain to Ray that they were having a wedding.
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no subject
Date: 2008-08-05 11:08 pm (UTC)This is cute. I like Inspector Thatcher here, being her usual steamroller super-organizer self, but with the best of intentions.
Nifty interpretation of the challenge prompt!
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Date: 2008-08-05 11:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 04:34 pm (UTC)Thanks for reading!
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Date: 2008-08-06 04:28 pm (UTC)Thank you for all the kind words!
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Date: 2008-08-05 11:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 04:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-05 11:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 04:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 01:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 04:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 02:46 am (UTC)And hurray for new writers!
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Date: 2008-08-06 04:42 pm (UTC)Ray should have anticipated this. If he didn't really want a wedding, he shouldn't have let Fraser face the Ice Queen alone. ;)
Well, my first foray into writing this fandom seems to be a success. You're all so welcoming! I really hope to be back! Thanks for reading and reviewing!
no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 05:23 am (UTC)Because you know, this just begs for the actual wedding , with Turnbull, and Bob, and Welsh and everyone. And the GTO with the cans tied to the bumper ( by the duck boys of course).
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Date: 2008-08-06 04:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 05:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 06:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 04:46 pm (UTC)I'm glad you liked it! Thank you for reading!
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Date: 2008-08-06 10:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 04:50 pm (UTC)Thank you for reading! Glad you liked it.
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Date: 2008-08-06 12:47 pm (UTC)Best Thatcher ever.
She covered her eyes with her hand, grimacing. "I can't believe I had you pegged as a romantic."
Hee!
And your Fraser is delightful. I don't envy him having to break the news to Ray.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 04:59 pm (UTC)*naughty grin* The author wouldn't mind a little of that treatment either. ;)
Um, yeah, fic
before I get slapped... Thank you for reading and letting me know you liked it!Poor Fraser surrounded by big, forceful personalities. I can't imagine his next conversation with Ray is going to go any better than this one with Thatcher. They may just have to elope to Canada to escape Meg.
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Date: 2008-08-06 01:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 05:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 04:10 pm (UTC)"Sir, I hardly think we need to resort to name-calling."
I like your Thatcher and I'm fully on her side in this. I hope you tell us about the wedding too.
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Date: 2008-08-06 05:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-06 07:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-07 02:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-07 12:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-07 02:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-07 05:12 am (UTC)Thanks for such an enjoyable read. I look forward to many more of your stories!
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Date: 2008-08-07 05:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-07 05:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-07 05:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-10 05:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-12 01:11 am (UTC)As am I! The wedding is always all kinds of stress when you can just go sign the form. Who needs that? And yes, I believe, now that Thatcher has her hands on it, the only thing required of Ray and Fraser at this juncture is to present themselves on the specified date. :D
Thanks!
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Date: 2008-08-11 01:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-12 01:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-13 12:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-14 01:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 03:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-25 12:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-26 01:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-24 02:57 pm (UTC)Well, I think this wouldn't be a huge, populationwise, event, just lush. Because, well, Canada should have to pay the piper as it were. ;) Though, someone will have to stop the however many member arch of uniformed Mounties.
Ray:As a guy of Chicago, I have to say, the straight men don't need the competition, and the gay ones can wait until it's not my wedding.
Dollar Dance!
But yes, Thatcher and Turnbull will take care of Everything. Welsh will have to make sure no one gets a black eye before the ceremony. Of course, that bakery has a instant connection to Ma Vecchio's network.