The Twenty-seventh Precinct ….

After a well deserved chewing out from Lt. Welsh, Ray resumed his search for Fraser.

"Elaine, I'm going out looking for Fraser, let me know if anything turns up." Ray instructed as he and Diefenbaker headed for the door.

"Good luck," Elaine wished him with worry in her voice. Ray looked into her expressive eyes for a moment. He wished someone cared as much about him as she did the Mountie.

"I'll bring him back." Ray said quietly. Elaine nodded before he turned to leave.

Traffic bottlenecked two blocks east of Racine. Ray cursed a blue streak as he sat behind a truck load of port-a-potties. Toilet paper fluttered from the door of one of the blue, plastic conveniences.

"Ray," Elaine's voice cracked over the police radio.

"Go ahead, Elaine." he listened as she relayed a foot patrolman's report of a woman looking for the Mountie and the car accident on Friday.

"Thanks, Elaine," Ray smiled as he pulled out his emergency light. Diefenbaker barked his thanks too, before sticking his head out the passenger window.

Fifth Floor Landing ….

"I'll be back as soon as I can with help." Meg squeezed Ben's hand before she gently eased his head from her lap. He gave her a lopsided grin, his blue eyes never leaving her.

Meg turned to look back at him from the landing. It took all of her resolve not to let a tear fall. Tears wouldn't help the vulnerable Mountie – or Meg.

Following her own footprints in the dust, Meg made her way back to the street outside. A few, remaining streetlights buzzed overhead, preparing to shine for the night. Meg looked both ways and then straight ahead, trying to decide which way to go.

Straight ahead is as good a direction as any, she told herself. Taking a deep breath, she began walking.

"I must look a sight, covered in dust and grime." she thought as she searched the urban wasteland.

In the distance, Meg thought she saw a flashing, blue light. Her heart sped up as hope flooded through her.

"Please be the police." Meg prayed quickly. She began running toward the lights, her feet hitting the blacktop swiftly. Atalanta would have been jealous of Meg's speed.

"Where is he, Dief, where's Benny?" Ray talked to the wolf, hoping he might catch the Mountie's scent. Long shots had always been Ray's favorite. Why else would he hang around Fraser?
Diefenbaker barked loudly and began prancing in the seat. Slowing down, Ray saw why. Barreling toward them at full speed came the Inspector. Her arms and legs blurred as she ran, her hair flying in the wind.

"She ain't stopping." Ray shouted as he jammed his foot on the brakes. The Riv fishtailed before coming to a screeching halt sideways in the street. The Inspector slammed her hands on the hood as she hit the car.

"That way, NOW!" she demanded before even properly seated in the vehicle.

"What the hell?" Ray shouted, gesturing wildly.

"Fraser, you idiot." Meg shouted back venomously.

Ray turned the car back into the proper lane and floored it. He wanted to give the Dragon Lady a piece of his mind but the timing felt wrong. Fraser took first priority.

"That's the building, the fifth floor."

Ray shoved the Riv into part before grabbing the police radio's Mic. They needed back-up. Dief shot out of the car, barking anxiously and whining. He turned a circle before Meg could open the apartment building door. Ray caught up a few moments later.

Three steps up, Ray put his foot through a rotted board. It tore his slacks leg.

"Sheesh, chalk up another piece of my wardrobe to the Mountie." the Detective complained.

"I know what you mean." Inspector Thatcher said with a smirk.

Ray sneered at her before taking another step. He followed in the Inspector's footprints, hoping the wood held one more time.

"Hello, Inspector? Ray?" Fraser's voice called out.

"Yeah, Benny, we're here." Ray confirmed. A few minutes later Ray and the Inspector arrived at the last landing. Ray panted and thought he might vomit from overexertion. Thatcher on the other hand, seemed unruffled.

"Ray, Inspector, you're here." Fraser beamed through his sunburn.

"You look like crap." Ray blurted before he thought. He felt more than saw the Inspector glare.

"We'll get you outta here and better in no time." Ray amended.

Rather than let anyone drive his precious Riv, Ray followed the ambulance while Meg rode with Fraser. She had to order the Mountie into letting the EMT's cut off his red serge. Meg knew he wouldn't dare countermand her. Still, she felt a bit guilty when she saw his stoic expression as they ran the scissors up his left sleeve.

After the ER doctor admitted Ben to the hospital and Vecchio left for the Twenty-seventh, Meg remained. Ben slept soundly, sedated by the pain meds. His left arm hung in a sling and his broken leg lay in a cast above the knee. Nurses had soaked off the blood and stitched his forehead. The blood had saved that half of his face from sunburn.

"I almost lost him. Another few hours and dehydration or shock would have killed him." Meg thought silently as she sat at the side of his bed. She remembered how he had looked up at her as his head lay in her lap. For once the 'Mountie Mask' couldn't be seen. Meg hadn't put hers on either.

"I don't want to wear a mask." she thought, shaking her head. Lost in thought, she laid her hand over his good one. A few moments later Ben squeezed her fingers.

"Fraser," Meg whispered.

"Sir," he responded, his voice sluggish. Slowly, Ben's eyes opened and focused on Meg after a few blinks.

"I should go. I didn't intend to wake you." Meg started to rise but Ben held fast to her fingers.

"Stay?" He asked, eye lids drooping. Meg couldn't help but smile.

"Just because you asked, I will." She squeezed his fingers in return.

"And if you'll call me 'Meg'." she added.

"Very well, Meg." He gave her a bright but lopsided smile. A moment later he'd fallen asleep again, still holding Meg's fingers.

Tuesday ….

Ray paid Ben a visit that morning, Constable Turnbull that afternoon with Diefenbaker. The person Ben most wanted to see was Meg. Calling her by first name and holding her hand felt like a dream. He had to know if he'd dreamed it. His heart hoped he hadn't, but his brain braced for a let down.

Waiting for Meg, Ben fell asleep; partially from boredom and partially from pain meds.

"Ben," a familiar voice said softly, pulling him from the depths of sleep.

"Ben, it's dinner time." the voice came again. It drew him up farther toward the surface.

"Constable Fraser, your lanyard's crooked." The voice brought Ben's eyes flying open. Immediately, he locked gazes with Inspector Thatcher.

"Sir?" Ben sputtered. After a second he noticed amusement in her brown eyes and her lips quirking, wanting to smile.

"At ease, Fraser." she said softly. "I shouldn't have done that but your reaction was priceless." She did smile as she quickly touched his good shoulder.

Ben smiled back; he couldn't help it, he didn't want to either.

"They brought your lunch tray. I think the banana is edible." Meg lifted the cover from the plate, her nose scrunched in disgust. Ben had never seen her make that face before. She looked up and caught him staring.

"What?" she said, trying to hide her self-consciousness.

"It's good to see you, Meg." Ben answered, feeling bold. Her prank gave the bashful Mountie courage.

"It's good to be here, with you." Meg played with the unraveling hem of the hospital blanket. Ben saw her struggle to meet his eyes. He felt it too; the awkwardness, the confusion and hope. Softly, he laid his hand over hers.

"Would you like to talk about it?" he asked simply.

Meg nodded.

"Where do we go from here?" she began.

"I'm not certain, there are … obstacles … to overcome." Ben said, maintaining eye contact. He still wondered if he'd dreamed everything.

"Yes, obstacles." Meg agreed with a sigh.

Ben squeezed her hand drawing her gaze again, and a smile.

"If you ask me to stay, I will, because you asked." Ben said softly.

"Stay, please?" Meg whispered.

"It would be my pleasure." He pulled her hand to his lips. Finally, he'd found his fairytale ending; his fairytale ending.

The End