She couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face as she walked along the hallway towards the squad room. It had been several months since she’d been to Chicago, yet in some ways it had felt like yesterday. She couldn’t believe that she’d actually missed the hustle and bustle of the big city, a least that’s what her head tried to tell her that it was. Her heart however had a different opinion. It was steering more in the direction of two very handsome men that she had come to know and love since her first visit to the Windy City of Chicago over six months before. She couldn’t believe how much her life had changed since Benton Fraser and Ray Vecchio (a.k.a. Kowalski) had come into her life. It had been a long time since she’d felt so loved and appreciated and both men made her feel just that, each in their own way. She couldn’t wait to see them again, especially to see the look on their faces when they saw her standing before them in the flesh. It had been almost three months since she’d seen them, not since she’d come back to Chicago for the Torelli trial. It had been three months too long.

"Excuse me." She addressed an uniformed officer that was headed in her direction.

"Can I help you, ma’am?" He asked politely.

"Yes, I’m looking for Constable Benton Fraser or Detective Ray Vecchio." She told him.

"Constable Fraser isn’t around at the moment." The uniform told her. Then looking towards the back of the squad room he added. "But I believe Vecchio is at his desk. Right over there." He pointed to a man who was leaning over the desk in the back corner.

"Yes, I see him." She smiled broadly. "Thank you kindly."

"My pleasure." The officer told her then excused himself.

The young woman walked excitedly up to the man at the desk. He still hadn’t seen her and she was greatly anticipating his reaction when he did. "Good afternoon, Ray." She finally said, her smile nearly reaching her ears. Her smile fell however when a stranger answered her greeting.

"Can I help you?" A balding man asked a trifle coolly.

Confused, the young woman frowned slightly and cleared her throat. "I, ah, I was looking for Detective Vecchio."

"You’ve found him." The man told her seriously. "How can I help you?"

Her frown grew as her confusion deepened. "I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude but you’re not Detective Vecchio."

"Look lady." Vecchio replied impatiently. "I assure you, I most certainly am Detective Vecchio."

The young woman became worried at his intense look. Had something happened to the other Ray? Ben and Ray had told her on her last visit about Ray’s undercover assignment and how he was impersonating another officer while that officer was deep undercover with the mob. Did the fact that there was another man claiming to be Ray Vecchio mean that Ray Kowalski had somehow gotten himself injured? She felt her worry turn into panic as she realized that she couldn’t voice her questions for fear of giving the whole setup away. Her panic quickly melted however as two familiar voices suddenly filled the air.

"Fraser, I tell you, he was lying!"

"I agree that he was lying, Ray. But that doesn’t mean that he was the shooter. He said he was out of town that night."

"I know that’s what he said." The blond detective acknowledged as he and his partner entered the squad room. "But did you listen to his story. I’m sure it came right out of a book – ‘How To Kill Your Ex-Girlfriend and Get Away With It’."

"I hardly think that any reputable publishing company would print a book on that subject, Ray." His partner told him dubiously.

"Fraser, that’s not the point." His friend stopped walking and looked at his partner, mild annoyance written all over his face. "The point is, he’s hiding something. He lied about his whereabouts on the night of the murder, I know it."

"But you have no proof." Fraser informed him.

"Not yet, but I have my gut." The blond told him. "And my gut tells me he’s as guilty as sin."

"Well, we’d better find some proof." The Mountie commented, once again believing wholeheartedly in his friend’s ‘gut’ feelings. Ray rewarded his trust with a broad smile.

"You boys need any help?" A voice suddenly interrupted their conversation. Two pairs of eyes quickly fixed themselves on her smiling face.

"Maggie!" They simultaneously exclaimed and stepped towards her, their arms outstretched.

Maggie Mackenzie laughed at them and remarked. "Who should I hug first?"

Fraser, in a surprisingly uncharacteristic move, reached out and grabbed her to him, hugging her tightly. "Better hug me first. As soon as Ray gets you I may never get another chance." Ray smiled slightly as he watched his best friend hug the young woman lovingly. Giving her a peck on the cheek he released her so that his partner could have his turn.

"It’s great to see you." Ray told her as he folded her into his arms and kissed the side of her head.

"It’s great to see you, too." She told him, leaning her head back to see into his eyes. They smiled at each other for a moment before Ray leaned forward and planted a kiss on her lips.

"Hey!" Fraser exclaimed teasingly after they had kissed for a few moments. When his partner looked at him he added. "I’m warning you, young man, you’d better watch yourself. I won’t tolerate any funny stuff, understand." Ray flashed the Mountie a mischievous smile as he suddenly dipped Maggie backwards and kissed her again.

When he brought her back to her feet she looked at her brother and with a wicked smile encouraged. "Warn him again." The trio laughed in amusement as Ray gave her one more hug before releasing her.

"So, what are you doing in Chicago?" Ray asked as he led the way to where his desk was butted up against Ray Vecchio’s.

"Oh, I don’t know." She replied coyly looking from one to the other. "Guess I just missed my two favorite guys." She put an arm around both their waists and gave them a squeeze.

"Well, we’ve missed you too." The blond assured her. "Haven’t we, Frase."

"Very much so." Fraser echoed warmly. As a matter-of-fact he had missed his newly found sister very much indeed. Ever since he’d discovered that he still had family that were alive and well he had felt even more lonely in Chicago. He desperately wanted to get to know the remarkable woman who was his half-sister. To make up for all the lost years that they could have had. Sometimes the thought of all that time made him angry, angry with his father, with himself, with life, with everything that had kept him from knowing that he had other family. But all that was ‘water on the bridge’ as they say. He couldn’t change the past all he could do was make sure they made a future together.

"Well, I must admit I was scared stiff when I came into the squad room and found him," She gestured to Ray Vecchio, who had been watching the three curiously from his desk since Ray and Fraser had returned. "Pretending to be Ray Vecchio." Lowering her voice she said to Ray. "I thought you were suppose to be pretending to be ‘Ray Vecchio’. I thought maybe something had happened to you and nobody had told me." Tears sprung into her eyes at the thought of loosing another man that she loved. She’d already buried one man; she didn’t want to have to go through burying another.

Ray smiled slightly, secretly pleased at her obvious concern, but also feeling bad for causing her distress. Pulling her to him he kissed the top of her head and said soothingly. "I’m not going anywhere, Mags, I promise. You’re not going to get rid of me that easily." Pulling away slightly he put a finger under her chin and lifted her face so he could look into her eyes. His own eyes danced teasingly as he added. "If working with your brother the last year and a half hasn’t killed me, than I can’t think of anything else that will. Nothing can be as scary as the wildly bizarre ways that he endangers my life." Maggie giggled slightly and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly on the lips. Then resting her chin on is shoulder she whispered in his ear.

"I don’t want to lose you like I lost Casey. I don’t think I could bare it."

Ray hugged her tighter and assured her. "Don’t worry. Frase and I look out for each other."

Maggie pulled away so that she could hug her brother. "That’s good. Because I don’t want to loose either one of you." Ray and Fraser locked delighted eyes over Maggie’s head.

"Excuse me." A mildly annoyed voice broke the touching moment. "I don’t mean to interrupt, but would someone mind telling me what the hell is going on here? It’s like a Soap Opera."

"A Soap Opera, Ray?" Fraser quizzed curiously as he looked at his old partner in surprise.

"Yeah, a Soap Opera." Ray Vecchio nodded as he stepped up to them. "You know those shows where the women usually have several boyfriends floating around. Though usually they try to keep them from finding out about each other."

"I don’t understand, Ray." The Mountie’s eyebrows furrowed deeper. "How would that apply to this situation?"

"Come on, Benny." The Italian exclaimed in exasperation. "First she’s all over you and then she’s all over Kowalski, then she’s all over you again. She keeps jumping back and forth." Looking from the Mountie to the Detective and back again he asks. "How can you guys be so blind? She’s playing you both for fools."

"Shut up, Vecchio." Ray took a menacing step towards the other man. "Don’t you dare talk about Maggie that way. You don’t know anything about her, so don’t you dare judge her like that."

Vecchio sneered slightly and looked to Fraser, sure he’ll back him up. What he saw surprised him. The Mountie’s normally passive expression was hot with anger. "Ray, I would be very appreciative if you would keep your derogatory comments to yourself. I have no intention of allowing you to speak about Constable Mackenzie in that manner."

Maggie chuckled slightly, deeply amused at how staunchly the two men defended her honor. Holding up a hand to stop them both she said. "Guys, don’t do anything stupid. I think this is nothing but a big misunderstanding."

"What do you mean by that?" Vecchio demanded hotly. He was fuming because of the way that Fraser had addressed him.

"What I mean is, maybe I should introduce myself properly." She said calmly as she addressed the irritated Italian. Holding out her hand she said. "My name is Constable Maggie Mackenzie. I’m Constable Fraser’s sister."

Ray Vecchio’s jaw dropped to his neatly polished shoes. "Sister? What do you mean you’re Benny’s sister? Fraser doesn’t have a sister. He’s an only child."

"Actually, not anymore, Ray." Fraser backed up his sister’s claim. "Maggie’s telling the truth. She’s my sister, well, half-sister actually. Same father, different mothers."

Ray starred at the Fraser siblings for several moments. Now that they mentioned it, there was a bit of a resemblance between them. Looking to his old friend he asked. "How long have you known?"

"About six months." Ben told his friend. "Maggie came to Chicago on the trail of her husband’s killers…"

"You’re kidding!" Ray gaped at the pair. When they both nodded he snickered and asked. "What is that, a family thing? Have to come to Chicago on the trail of the killer of some member of your family. Can’t come for the fun of it?" Looking to Maggie he asked. "I gather you didn’t remain."

Maggie smiled slightly and shook her head. "No, I returned to the North." Then glancing to Ray Kowalski for a moment she looked back to Vecchio and added. "Though Chicago is starting to have a certain appeal." Ray looked to a grinning Kowalski, a look of surprise on his face. "So, I’ve told you my story, what’s yours." When Vecchio shot her a puzzled look she asked. "Why are you pretending to be Ray Vecchio?"

The Italian detective’s puzzled look turned to one of surprise. "I’m not pretending. I am Ray Vecchio."

It was Maggie’s turn to be surprised. "I’m sorry, I didn’t realize. I didn’t know that you’d come back."

Understanding flooded over Ray. "That explains why you were so surprised to see me. You were looking for Kowalski when you asked for me." Maggie nodded in confirmation. "Why did you look so horrified when I told you that I was Ray Vecchio?"

Maggie blushed slightly and replied. "Because I thought that if someone else was pretending to be this Ray Vecchio character then that must mean that something had happened to Ray." She reached out and took the blond detective’s hand in hers and gave it a loving squeeze. "I thought he’d been hurt and Ben hadn’t been able to reach me to tell me." She looked up into Ray Kowalski’s face and smiled as he put his arm around her shoulders. Looking back to the other Ray she added. "I hadn’t thought that you could be the real Ray Vecchio."

"I’m sorry I was so abrupt when you first arrived." The detective apologized. "I didn’t know who you were. I guess I get a little suspicious whenever somebody asks for me by name."

"That’s understandable considering what you no doubt had to go through while undercover." She commented gently. "Why don’t we just start all over again, shall we?"

Ray gave her a bright smile. "I’d like that."

Extending her hand Maggie said warmly. "Hello, my name is Constable Maggie Mackenzie. I’m Benton Fraser’s sister."

Ray took the offered hand and returned. "I’m Detective Ray Vecchio. I’m an old friend of Benny’s."

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Detective." The young woman replied brightly.

"And you." The detective returned.

"Well, now that that’s done, why don’t the four of us all go out for supper." She encouraged eagerly. "My treat."

"Sounds good." Vecchio agreed with a smile.

Kowalski squeezed Maggie’s shoulder gently and said. "You don’t have to treat us, Mags."

Maggie smiled up at him and said. "I know, but I want to." Then looking back to the others she commented. "I don’t know about you gentlemen, but it’s been ages since I’ve had Chinese food."

"They actually have Chinese food up in the wilds of Canada?" Ray Vecchio asked in disbelief. "I thought the only fast food you’d get up there would be penguin on a stick."

Ben and Maggie exchanged amused smiles. "Actually ‘penguin on a stick’ is a delicacy, we don’t serve it everyday." She told him with a straight face. As the Italian gaped at her she looked to her brother and Ray and asked. "Shall we go?" They nodded and followed her as she headed towards the hallway at the other end of the squad room. Pausing at the doorway, she looked back to Vecchio who still hadn’t moved and asked. "Coming, Detective?"

Vecchio shook himself slightly and grabbed his jacket off its hook. "Yeah, right behind you."

"So why didn’t you tell me that you had a sister?" Ray Vecchio scolded Fraser as they ate.

"It never came up." Benton replied as he lifted a sweet and sour chicken ball off his plate with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth.

"So, how did you find out about her?" Vecchio pressed curiously.

"When Maggie first came to Chicago to find her husband’s killers she enlisted my help." Fraser began to relate. "During the course of the investigation it became known that she’d been suspended because of her obsession with the men she believed to be the killers. I decided to find out more about her. I knew that her mother and my father were good friends, but I soon discovered that they were more. Evidence soon led me to the conclusion that she was my sister, a fact that she hadn’t been aware of either."

"But how come your dad never knew that he had a daughter?" Vecchio asked, a puzzled look on his face.

"Because Ellen, Maggie’s mother, always claimed that her husband, Matt Stern was Maggie’s father." Fraser replied. "But in my investigation I discovered that Matt had been killed one year before Maggie was born."

"Which means he couldn’t have been her father." The detective concluded.

"Exactly." Benton nodded as he glanced over to the buffet line where Maggie was trying to get Ray to take some Sushi. The blond was protesting profusely, making all kinds of faces and gagging noises.

"So what’s the deal with them?" The Italian asked curiously after watching the pair for a few moments.

"They’re in love." The Mountie said simply, a small smile on his face.

"In love?" The other man repeated in surprise. Then looking to his friend he asked. "And you don’t mind your sister being in love with the Bag Lady?"

A frown appeared on the Canadian’s face at the unflattering nickname. "I happen to be very happy that Maggie and Ray are in love with each other. I couldn’t think of a better husband for Maggie or a wife for Ray. And I do hope that someday I will be lucky enough to see the two of them marry. Then Ray and I will really be brothers."

The Italian regarded his friend for a moment before commenting. "You really like him, don’t you?"

"Yes I do." Fraser confirmed firmly. "I think a lot of Ray. He has been a good friend and a good partner these last couple years."

"Better than I was?" Was Vecchio quiet query.

The Mountie sighed slightly. "You’ve always been a good friend and a good partner, Ray. I’ve always enjoyed the times we’ve spent together." ‘

"There’s a but coming though, isn’t there?" The detective remarked grimly.

Fraser paused for a moment as he tried to find the words to express his thoughts. "Ever since you came back from your undercover assignment you haven’t been the same. You’re not the same Ray Vecchio that I met when I came to Chicago four years ago. Now I’m not sure what the difference is, but I feel it."

"How can you possibly ‘feel it’?" Vecchio demanded, his anger rising slightly. "You haven’t spent enough time with me to ‘feel’ anything. This is probably the longest conversation that we’ve had since I got back. I don’t get it. First you’re happy to see me, so happy that you almost blow my cover by calling me ‘Ray Vecchio’ in front of Muldoon and his goons, but then not long after you’re blowing me off. I don’t get it. You run off on some ‘wild adventure’ with the Bag Lady up in the armpit of the North without so much as a ‘So long, Ray. Glad you’re doing okay’. I only found out about the trip when the Dragon Lady came back and I overhear her and Welsh talking about it. How fair is that? And how could you possibly choose the Bag Lady over me? I mean the guy has absolutely no fashion sense, even his hair is incredibly weird…"

"I happen to know for a fact that Maggie likes his hair like that." Fraser interrupted. "And she doesn’t think that there is anything wrong with Ray’s appearance. So he isn’t into Armanni and fancy clothes. Casual is his preference, so what. It doesn’t make him any less of a human being, any less of a cop. And if you want to know, the reason that we haven’t carried on many extensive conversations since you got back is because of topics like this one. I am getting sick and tired of listening to you run Ray into the ground. From the moment you met him all you could do was insult him. He’s had enough assaults on his self-esteem over the years that when I first met him he had very little confidence in himself. He found the very idea that I wanted to be friends with him unbelievable. Well, his friendship is very valuable to me and I have worked too hard trying to build his self-esteem to let you come back and take it away. And as much as I don’t want to do this, if keeping his self-esteem healthy means choosing one of you over the other, let me assure you that I will do it. But that choice depends entirely on you." He looked his old partner squarely in the eye and said. "If you stop treating him like dirt and start according him the respect that he deserves than I don’t see any reason why you and I can’t stay friends. But if you insist on continuing to undermine and insult him than I’m afraid I have no choice but to terminate our friendship."

"You serious?" Vecchio gaped in complete shock. He’d never expected to receive such a blatant threat from the Mountie.

"Completely." The Canadian assured him.

"I see." The Italian swallowed. "Well, I guess I know where I stand." He lowered his gaze and started pushing the food around on his plate.

"I’m sorry, Ray." The Mountie said softly. "I don’t mean to hurt your feelings. But this is something that I feel very strongly about."

"No, its okay." Vecchio dismissed with a wave of his hand. "I understand. I just ah…I guess I just didn’t expect it. I didn’t figure that you’d get so close to my replacement."

"Well, if it’s any consolation, I didn’t expect to either." Fraser commented. "Initially I was just trying to help maintain your cover, but the more I got to know Ray, the more I liked him. And before either of us knew it, we had become good friends. Best friends even."

"Well, that’s just great." Vecchio snarled. "Here I am working my butt off a whole year so that we can take down some real scum while my replacement horns in on my life. That’s just wonderful."

"Ray, Ray did a wonderful job of protecting your identity." The Mountie pointed out seriously. "Imagine what would have happened if they had found out that he wasn’t really you. He went to bat for you a couple of times, the first time just days after he’d started. IA was sure you were dirty, that you’d been taking drugs from arrests and skimming off the top. But did he let you fry? No, he maintained his cover, and yours and took the heat, getting you off the hook I might add in the process."

"He did?" Vecchio looked back to the couple, who were now approaching the table each carrying a heaping plate of food.

"He did." Fraser confirmed. Then looking to the pair he chuckled. "You think you have enough food there?"

"Don’t want to waste any energy making several trips." Ray teased as he set his plate down and snagged the chair beside Fraser. Maggie sat in the chair across from him beside Vecchio.

"How can you eat that?" Vecchio asked Maggie as she speared a piece of Sushi with her fork and popped it into her mouth.

"My sentiments exactly." Kowalski chuckled as he poked at a piece of chicken. "But then again she likes to ‘taste’ things too."

A confused frown appeared on Vecchio’s face. "What do you mean she likes to ‘taste’ things?"

The blond’s eyes twinkled in amusement as he clarified. "You know, like Frase does."

Realization donned and the Italian looked at Maggie. "You don’t do that ‘tasting’ stuff too, do you?"

Maggie shrugged slightly and grinned. "How else do you find information?"

The two Chicago detectives exchanged amused looks. "She’s definitely a Fraser." Vecchio remarked with a small chuckle.

"No doubt about it." Kowalski second.

"How about we do a movie tomorrow night?" Ray Kowalski suggested as he pulled his GTO in front of the Consulate. Looking to Fraser he added. "Maybe the Inspector would like to come too. We could make it a double date."

His partner grinned slightly and nodded. "Thank you kindly, Ray. I’ll be sure to ask her in the morning."

"Are you sure you can’t come in for a cup of coffee or something?" Maggie asked Ray hopefully. She wasn’t ready to let him go yet.

He gave her a sad smile and shook his head slightly. "I’d love to, but Frase and I have an early day tomorrow. We have to check out a couple leads on this case we’re working on."

"Understood." She sighed. "Then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow."

Ray smile broadened a bit as he reached over to touch her face gently. "Tell you what, I’ll come by a little earlier and we’ll have breakfast together. How does that sound?"

She brightened a little. "I’d like that."

"’Till tomorrow then." He said as he leaned forward and planted a kiss on her lips.

"Good night, Ray." She said as she slid out of the car and pulled the seat forward to let her brother out.

"’Night you two." Ray waved as they both stood on the sidewalk.

"Good night, Ray." Fraser replied and shut the car door.

Ray put the GTO in gear and drove away, honking as he turned the corner.

"He’s really a terrific guy, isn’t he." Maggie commented as she watched the black classic disappear behind a building.

"Yes he is." Fraser acknowledged.

Looking at him she asked curiously. "What would you say if I told you that I think I’m in love with him?"

"I would say that you couldn’t find a better man than Ray." He told her honestly. "And nothing would make me happier than seeing my best friend and my little sister together."

She smiled at him and then threw her arms around his neck. "I was hoping you’d say that."

Her brother flushed slightly at her impulsive hug, but didn’t pull away. Instead he relished the feeling of being loved. After a few moments they broke apart and smiled at each other. "How about a nice hot cup of bark tea?" He suggested.

"That sounds wonderful." She replied as she looped her arm through his and let him lead her inside.

Ray arrived at the Consulate bright and early the next morning to find Maggie already waiting for him on the steps. Opening his door he got out and smiled at her over the hood of the car. "Hey good lookin’. Wanna go for a ride?"

Squinting in the morning sun she looked at him and teased. "My mother always told me never to accept rides from strangers."

"You have a smart mother." The blond replied with a hint of a smile. Then without missing a beat he asked. "So how ‘bout it?"

Maggie pretended to think about it for a moment before jumping to her feet and saying. "Sure, why not. After all my mother never told me not to accept rides from cute strangers."

Ray chuckled slightly and urged. "Get in." Once they were settled into the car he asked. "So where’s your brother this morning? Don’t tell me the Ice Queen has him doing errands for her already this morning."

Maggie gave him a mildly amused look. She knew that even though Ray still addressed the Inspector by that unflattering nickname most of the animosity had gone out of their relationship. That occurrence was largely due to the fact that Fraser was in love with the beautiful Inspector. Once Ray knew that then he’d decided it was probably best for him not to antagonize her. The last thing he wanted to do was jeopardize his best friend’s chance at happiness. Particularly since he felt that Fraser was especially deserving of such happiness. After all, he did put up with him day in and day out everyday of the week.

"Ben’s waiting for Inspector Thatcher to arrive." She explained. "He wants to invite her to the movies before she makes any other plans." She chuckled slightly. "I walked in on him as he was practicing what he would say on Diefenbaker."

"Did Dief say ‘yes’?" Ray grinned slightly.

Maggie laughed harder. "I think so, though I’m still not as fluent in ‘wolf’ as you and Ben are. But I doubt Diefenbaker would hurt Ben’s feelings by saying no."

"Your brother is certainly one of a kind." The blond commented as he pulled the car into a parking space in front of a café and threw it into park.

"He certainly is." She agreed as she followed Ray’s lead and got out of the car. Looking at the blond over the roof she added. "But I can’t imagine him any other way."

Ray smiled and echoed. "Neither can I." After watching her smile at him for a few minutes he asked. "So, hungry?"

"Yes I am." She nodded and then smiled as he grabbed her hand and led her inside.

"Their French Toast is excellent here." He told her as they settled into a booth. "And their pancakes are light and fluffy."

"Sounds like you know this place pretty well." She remarked as she picked up a menu and started skimming it.

"Yeah, Frase and I come here often." Ray replied as he leaned back in his seat. "It’s a good place and being so close to the Consulate it’s handy."

"How are you folks this morning?" The waitress asked as she poured Ray a cup of coffee.

"We’re good, Sally." Ray replied, giving the middle-aged waitress a warm smile. "How you doing?"

"Oh, can’t complain." Sally replied brightly, then elbowing Ray in the shoulder she added. "Actually I could, but then who’d listen?" She laughed heartily at her joke before asking "So where’s that handsome partner of yours this morning?"

"He’s still at the Consulate." The detective replied, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Had to make a few arrangements for later today. I’ll be picking him up after, so if you could pack him up something…"

"I’m on it, honey." She cut in. "Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it. I know exactly what he likes."

"Thanks, Sally." He nodded.

"So, who’s this pretty thing?" She gave Maggie a warm smile.

Maggie smiled back and extended her hand. "I’m Constable Maggie Mackenzie."

Sally wiped her hand on her apron before taking Maggie’s. "It’s nice to meet you, Maggie. I’m Sally Schroder, waitress extrodinaire. Constable, huh? You a Mountie too?"

"As a matter of fact I am." Maggie nodded.

"She’s also Fraser’s sister." Ray added.

"And Constable Fraser actually lets her out alone with you?" Sally exclaimed, pretending to be shocked. "I’ll have to have a chat with him." She gave Maggie a mischievous wink.

"Can we order now, Sally?" The blond asked, pretending to be impatient.

"Oh, hold your horses Kowalski." The older woman gripped as she pulled out her notepad. Looking to Maggie she asked. "What’ll you have, love?"

"I think I’ll have the French Toast Special and a cup of tea." The younger woman replied.

"Regular or herbal tea?" Sally asked as she wrote her order down.

"Regular will be fine." Maggie replied as she handed Sally her menu. "Thank you kindly."

Sally chuckled. "You are definitely related to Constable Fraser." Then looking to Ray she asked. "What’ll it be, Detective?"

"The usual." He replied as he handed up his menu. "And an extra helping of sausages."

"I’ll be back shortly with your tea." Sally promised as she picked up the menus and her coffeepot and headed back to the kitchen.

"Girlfriend of yours?" Maggie teased as she leaned her elbows on the table and gave him a teasing smile.

Ray’s eyes glinted with mischief. "Oh, yeah, we’ve been going out for years now. I really have this thing for older women."

"I thought so." His companion remarked with a chuckle.

Ray felt his heart beat slightly at the brightness of her smile. Reaching over he put his hands over hers and gave them a tender squeeze. "The only girlfriend that I want is you." He blushed slightly when he realized what he’d just said, but his eyes never left her face.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she gave his hands a loving squeeze. "I would love to be your girlfriend, Ray."

A broad smile spread across his face. "Really?" She nodded her head and gave his hands another squeeze. "Greatness! Now all I have to do is figure out how to keep you in Chicago."

"Well, actually that may be already arranged." Maggie told him, a bright grin on her face.

"How’s that?" He asked eagerly.

"Well, Ben told me last night that Constable Turnbull has been offered a transfer to Winnipeg and he’s seriously considering taking it."

"Turnbull’s leaving the Consulate?" Ray exclaimed in surprise. Then with a slight shake of his head he added. "It’s hard to imagine the place without him. I mean, he’s been there ever since me and Frase started workin’ together."

"That may be, but if he does decide to leave then that means that there’ll be an opening at the Consulate." Maggie pointed out.

"I hope Turnbull remembers to write." Was Ray’s instant reply. "So do you think that Thatcher will give you the job?"

"I hope so." The Mountie replied. "Ben was going to talk to her this morning about it, but I won’t count my chickens before their hatched. I know Inspector Thatcher didn’t think too much of me the first time I was in Chicago. I’ll admit she was considerably more friendly the last time I was here, but still, I don’t know if she likes me enough to hire me."

"The first time you came she thought you were moving in on her turf." When Maggie frowned in confusion he replied simply. "She thought you were after Fraser."

"But he’s my brother." She defended seriously.

"Yeah, but you didn’t know that then." He pointed out. "And neither did anybody else." His eyes started to twinkle mischievously as he said. "You gotta admit, before Frase found out that you were his sister, he was definitely interested. He certainly wasn’t very subtle about it."

"Neither were you for that matter." She commented with a sly smile. "You were both pretty obvious." Ray flushed slightly as he remembered how the two of them had behaved, actually competing with each other for her attention. "I have to admit I was very flattered by the attention. To have two very good looking men fighting over me was certainly an ego boost."

"Well, I’m just glad that Fraser turned out to be your brother." The detective admitted as he placed a kiss on the hand he was holding. "Saved me the trouble of kicking him in the head." The two of them shared an amused look.

"Actually." Maggie began slowly, dropping her gaze to look at the hands she was holding. "Even if Benton hadn’t turned out to be my brother I would have picked you."

Ray’s eyes widened in surprise. "You would have? You’d a picked the Chicago flatfoot with the experimental hair over the gorgeous Mountie freak who speaks your language? Why do I find that hard to believe?"

"I don’t know, why do you?" She asked curiously.

"Because no girl goes for the flatfoot, they always swoon over the Mountie – freak or not." The blond replied a trifle bitterly.

"Not this girl." She assured him, giving him a tender smile.

Ray returned the smile. "I guess the old saying is true: Opposites do attract."

"I don’t think we’re opposites, Ray." She told him sincerely. "Maybe a little different, but not opposites."

"Think we’re enough alike to make this work?" He asked softly.

"Your friendship with Ben seems to work." She pointed out. "And as you said yourself, he and I are a lot alike."

"True." Ray agreed with a delighted nod. "I guess if our friendship is any indication of how things will go with us you’d better hand on, cause your in for a wild ride."

"What do you mean?" She asked curiously.

"Because Fraser and I have been through some pretty interesting times during the course of our friendship." Ray told her. "But so far, whatever had hit us we’ve always ended up closer friends when it’s all over."

"Well, that’s good." Maggie smiled. "I’m glad. So I guess that means there’s definitely hope for us."

"I hope so." He whispered as he gave her a soft smile. "Because I think I’m already in love with you."

"And I know I love you." She confessed, causing his eyebrows to shoot skyward. He leaned across the table, asking her with his eyes to meet him halfway. She did and soon they were sharing a sweet and tender kiss.

"I knew I was going to have to warn Constable Fraser about leaving his sister alone with you." Sally’s teasing voice interrupted the pair. Blushing they pulled apart, sitting back in their respective seats. Sally set Maggie’s tea down on the table. "I’ll be right back with you food. Should I bring you a privacy screen too?"

"Just the food, Sally." Ray choked with embarrassment on the coffee he was drinking.

"I’ll bring you some fresh coffee too." She commented. "I’m sure yours got a little cold while you were otherwise occupied. Though maybe the heat from that kiss kept it warm."

"Sally, the food!" The blond’s face was almost purple from embarrassment. Looking to Maggie, whose face was also red he apologized. "I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean to embarrass you."

"It’s okay, Ray." She assured him. "I’m not embarrassed." She put a hand to her cheek and felt the warmth radiating off it. "Okay, maybe I am a little. But it’s okay. I’m not ashamed about my feelings for you. I want everyone to know that I’m in love with you."

Ray reached over and took her hands again. "Have I ever told you how wonderful you are?"

"No." She smiled.

"Constable Maggie Mackenzie, you are wonderful."

"So are you, Detective Ray Kowalski."

"Ah, Detective Vecchio, Constable Mackenzie. Welcome to Canada." Turnbull greeted as the pair stepped through the door of the Consulate.

"Morning, Turnbull." Ray acknowledged. "Fraser ready yet?"

"Constable Fraser is still in a meeting with Inspector Thatcher." The Constable told them in a congenial, if not excited tone.

"Know how much longer they’ll be?" The blond asked as he impatiently paced the lobby.

"Shouldn’t be much longer." Turnbull assured him. "They’re discussing my replacement."

Ray grinned with pleasure. "So, you’ve decided to go to Winnipeg, have you?" Turnbull nodded eagerly. "Well, good for you. I’m glad to hear that you’re making a change."

"I must admit, I’m quite looking forward to it myself." The younger man admitted. "Though, I’m going to miss my friends here in Chicago, but it’ll be nice to be back in Canada again. I must admit that I miss home."

"Well, you make sure that you keep in touch." Ray told the young Constable sincerely. "We’re going to miss you around here."

"Thank you kindly, Detective." Turnbull blushed slightly at the kind words. Then before anymore could be said the door to the Inspector’s office opened and out walked Fraser and Thatcher.

Spotting his partner and his sister, Fraser smiled broadly and greeted. "Morning, Ray, Maggie. I trust you enjoyed your breakfast."

"Yeah, it was good." Ray nodded, then handed his partner a white covered dish. "Sally sent this along for you."

"Thank you kindly, Ray." The Mountie acknowledged as he accepted the plate. Then looking to Thatcher he said. "Inspector, I trust you remember my sister, Constable Maggie Mackenzie."

"Yes, of course." Meg Thatcher approached the younger woman and gave her a warm smile. "It’s lovely to see you again. I trust you’re enjoying your stay."

"Yes, ma’am." Maggie smiled nervously. "It’s been very enjoyable so far."

"That’s good." The older woman nodded in pleasure. Then glancing at Fraser for a moment she added. "Constable Fraser tells me that you are interested in transferring to Chicago."

Maggie swallowed slightly, looking to her brother for encouragement. He gave her a brief nod and she managed to reply. "Yes, I understand that there may be a position opening up soon."

"As a matter of fact the position is available as of next week." Thatcher informed her. "If you’re interested perhaps we could step into my office and discuss it."

"Thank you, Inspector." Maggie looked at Ray, who gave her a smile of encouragement and then to her brother who was also smiling slightly.

"We’ll see you later, Gentlemen." The Inspector dismissed as she ushered Maggie into her office and closed the door.

"Think she’ll give Maggie the job?" Ray asked his partner, his eyes still fixed on the closed door of Thatcher’s office.

"I can’t predict for sure, Ray." Fraser said evasively. When Ray shot him a stern look he chuckled and added. "But I can’t see why she wouldn’t. Maggie is qualified for the position."

"And she certainly isn’t competition." Ray remarked, giving his partner a teasing smile. Fraser blushed slightly at the remark, but said nothing. "Well, we should fly." Ray finally said after several minutes of silence. "We gotta check out Becker’s locker at the gym." As he was speaking his cell phone started to ring. Pulling it out he answered. "Kowalski…Yeah…Yeah…You sure?…Yeah…Thanks." Sighing Ray closed the connection. "That was Vecchio. Seems they found the gun that Becker’s ex was murdered with. It was buried in a sack about ten miles outside the city limits. A couple of kids were playing in the woods just behind their house and came across it. When they showed it to their folks, their parents called the cops."

"Any fingerprints on the gun?" Fraser asked curiously.

"No, but it was registered to Arthur Becker." Ray replied.

"Jim Becker’s father." The Mountie concluded. "They picking up Becker?"

"They’re looking for him right now." His partner said.

"Well, let’s go then, shall we?" Fraser remarked as he picked his hat up off the reception desk and followed Ray out the door.

"You bringing that with you?" Ray asked, gesturing to the dish that his friend still held in his hand.

"Well yes, Ray." The Mountie nodded. "I haven’t had breakfast yet."

"You get any crumbs in my car and you’ll be riding on the roof from now on, you got that." His friend threatened lightly.

"Understood."

"How many times do I have to tell you! I wasn’t even in Chicago the night that Sheila was killed!" Jim Becker exclaimed loudly, his tone rising in panic.

"Yes you’ve told us that." Ray acknowledged calmly. "But you have no proof that you weren’t. There’s nothing that places you out of Chicago on the night of the murder."

"I didn’t do it!" The suspect exclaimed forcefully. "I didn’t kill Sheila!"

"We found the murder weapon." The blond told the other man, his eyes boring into his prisoner’s. Picking up a file folder that was sitting on the table he read. "’A .32 caliber. Imprints matching the bullet taken from Sheila Carson’s body. Registered to Arthur Becker.’" Looking back to the man he stated coolly. "And seeing’s how Arthur Becker has been dead for two years, I highly doubt that he’s the one that pulled the trigger."

"It wasn’t me!" Jim exclaimed again, this time pounding his fist against the table to emphasize the point.

Ray looked over to his partner in exasperation as he tossed the folder down on the table. The Mountie took the opportunity to break into the conversation. "Mr. Becker, let’s just say for a moment that you’re telling the truth." The suspect looked at the Canadian hopefully. "Can you think of anybody who would go to so much trouble to frame you?"

Jim Becker put his face in his hands and shook his head. "I don’t have any enemies, at least I don’t think I do."

"Can you think of anybody who can vouch for your whereabouts on the night of the murder?" Fraser pressed, his tone calm and his expression emotionless. "A coffee shop cashier, a gas station attendant, a hotel clerk?"

The man sighed as he tried to think but shook his head. "I didn’t have any contact with anybody."

"Why did you leave Chicago?" Ray asked, his tone also calmer.

Jim hesitated before replying. "Because I heard that Sheila was getting married to a buddy of mine." He knew how guilty his confession made him sound. "I had always held out the hope that someday she and I would get back together. I mean I don’t even understand why we split up in the first place. I think it had to do with money. She wanted a guy that had more money."

"This guy that she was gonna marry, he rich?" The blond asked gently, understanding somewhat what the other man was feeling.

"Yeah." Jim sighed. "He comes from a rich family. Has a good paying job, an expensive car. Lives in a big house in the ritzy part of town. Has a pool, tennis court, stuff like that."

"How well do you know him?" Fraser asked curiously.

"Well enough." Becker replied, running his fingers through his hair in agitation. "We were roommates in college for three years. He’s an alright guy. Despite the fact that he grew up with money he was pretty down to earth."

"What’s his name?" Ray prompted.

"Richard Carpenter." The suspect replied with a sigh. "Lived on Acorn Avenue."

"That is a pretty ritzy area." The blond detective agreed. Then looking at his partner he suggested. "Maybe we should go and speak to this Richard Carpenter."

"Agreed." The Mountie nodded and picked up his hat from the edge of the table.

"Well talk later." Ray told Jim Becker firmly as he followed his partner out of the room. The pair walked down the hallway in thoughtful silence.

"You still think he’s lying?" Fraser asked his partner curiously.

Ray shrugged slightly and admitted. "I don’t know what to think. I mean, it looks pretty bad. Guy gets dumped by his girlfriend. Guy still loves girl. Girl hooks up with an old buddy of his and gets engaged. Guy finds out, girl turns up dead. Guy has no alibi for his whereabouts on the night of the murder and the murder weapon is a gun that belongs to his deceased father."

"All sounds pretty incriminating." Fraser agreed seriously as watched Ray’s thoughtful expression for a moment. "So what’s on your mind?"

"I’m not sure." The blond admitted. "Something’s not sitting right about this. I mean, he doesn’t seem the killer type."

"Yesterday you were sure that he was guilty." The Canadian reminded him. "You had a ‘gut feeling’ that he wasn’t telling the truth."

"I still have a gut feeling that there’s more to this all then he’s letting on." Ray acknowledged. "But logically something just doesn’t add up." Fraser couldn’t help but smile at his friend’s comment. The two of them had certainly come a long way in their partnership. It was hard to believe that a year ago they had almost dissolved their friendship because of a conflict between logic and instinct.

"Ben! Ray!" Maggie’s voice suddenly rang out across the bullpen. The two men looked up and smiled as the pretty blond Mountie came rushing towards them. Throwing an arm around each of them she hugged them and exclaimed. "I got it! I got the job!"

"That’s wonderful!" Both men replied eagerly, hugging her tightly.

Pulling back she added. "I start Monday morning, 8 o’clock sharp."

"Congratulations." Ray grinned then pulled her to him and hugged her tightly. "Tonight we celebrate." Releasing Maggie slightly he looked at Fraser and asked. "Is Inspector Thatcher coming with us tonight?"

His partner blushed slightly and nodded. "Yes, she said she’d love to join us this evening."

"Greatness!" The blond exclaimed eagerly. "Then we’ll go out to dinner and a movie – my treat."

"Ray, you really don’t have to…" Fraser started to object.

"I know I don’t ‘have’ to." His partner acknowledged. "I want to." Looking at Maggie he smiled and gave her a squeeze. "I feel like celebrating. I mean how often is it that something as wonderful as your sister comes into my life." Maggie gave him a loving smile and leaned up to kiss him. Fraser grinned with pleasure as he watched them.

Ray rang the doorbell of Richard Carpenter’s large home on Acorn Avenue. He waited several moments but there was no answer.

"Guess we’ll have to come back later." Fraser remarked as he glanced around them at the beautifully manicured yard. "He’s probably at work."

"Maybe we could take a peek around." Ray suggested as he got off the front step and moved around the side of the house.

"Ray, this is trespassing." His partner told him firmly. "We don’t have a warrant." The blond frowned at him before continuing towards the back of the house. The back yard was completely surrounded by a wrought iron fence. Most of the back yard was occupied by a swimming pool. Putting his foot in one of the circular designs on the fence Ray hauled himself up so he could peer over the fence and get a better look at the backyard. "See anything?"

"Naw." The blond detective started to say. "There’s nothing…"

"What is it, Ray?" The Mountie noticed his partner’s hesitation.

"Frase, there’s a body floating in the pool!" Ray climbed the rest of the way and jumped over the fence, landing on his feet on the other side. Fraser followed suit and soon was standing beside his partner at the edge of the pool. Several feet away in the middle of the pool floated a man, face down, fully clothed. As Fraser removed his hat, tunic and boots Ray pulled out his cell phone and called for backup. When the blond ended the call he looked at his partner who was examining the body without touching it. "Find anything?"

"A bullet wound to the head." Fraser reported.

"So he was shot." Ray commented as the Mountie waded back to the side of the pool.

"Essentially yes." The Canadian nodded as he pulled himself unto the side of the pool and sat down.

"Any idea how long he’s been here?" The blond asked, turning his back on the man in pool and focusing on his partner.

"I can’t tell for certain." Fraser admitted honestly. "But from the amount of decomposition I would have to say a least four days, possibly more."

"Possibly the same night that Sheila Carson was killed?" Ray stated.

"Quite possibly yes." His partner agreed. Then before anymore speculations could be made backup arrived and the scene was soon busy with various officers.

"That was a horrible picture!" Maggie exclaimed as she, Ray, Benton and Meg Thatcher left the movie theater. "I can’t believe you actually picked that one."

"What? What was wrong with it?" Ray asked innocently. He agreed with her one hundred percent that it was a bad film, but he wasn’t about to admit it.

"Everything!" She told him plainly. "There was no plot, no real story line, all there was was a lot of special effects and people getting blown up."

"And what’s wrong with that?" The blond asked her simply. Maggie laughed at the innocent look on his face and gave him a light punch on the arm. Ray acted as if she just assaulted him with a blunt instrument.

"She’s assaulting a police officer here!" He cried in mock indignation. "Police brutality! Help! Help!"

"You nut!" His girlfriend laughed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. She wrapped an arm around his waist and leaned against him as they continued down the street a head of Benton and Meg.

"They really make a cute couple don’t they?" Meg commented as she watched the pair ahead of them.

"Yes they do." Fraser nodded, a smile on his face. "I’m very happy for Ray and Maggie."

"Looks like you and Kowalski may actually get to be brothers after all." Thatcher remarked, surprising her Constable with her comment. Chuckling slightly she added. "You two have basically been inseparable since the day he arrived. Sometimes I wondered if you weren’t really related."

"I’ve wondered the same thing myself." Fraser surprised her by admitting. "I’ve never had a friend that I’ve related to as well as I have with Ray. That’s why it makes me so happy to see him so happy. I’m glad that he and Maggie have fallen in love with each other. It’s nice to have some family again."

Meg smiled at the comment. It was one of the few times that Fraser had ever voluntarily told her how he felt about something. He was usually very closed mouthed about his feelings. Having him open up to her, even this little bit made her feel hopeful. It had been a long time since she’d realized that she was in love with her quirky Constable. She’d always suspected it, knew that she was attracted it him, but it wasn’t until the first time that Maggie Mackenzie had visited Chicago that she knew for sure that she loved him. When she thought that Maggie was moving in on her territory she felt very threatened. It was those feelings that had prompted her to make the call to the North to check out Maggie’s credentials. In some way she was glad that she’d made the call, but in others she felt ashamed for her actions. Had the call been made as a professional inquiry it would have been one thing, but knowing that she only did it out of jealousy made it shameful.

She looked back to the handsome man walking beside her. Since he and Ray had returned from their adventure up north things had changed between the two of them. She noticed that Fraser tried to include her in certain things that he and Ray did, or he’d even ask her to accompany him just herself. She had a feeling that he was testing the waters, so to speak, trying to judge her reaction to things. She had a feeling that he felt the same way about her that she felt about him, but she wasn’t sure. He wasn’t the type to give broad hints about his feelings. His messages were far more subtle. In some ways Meg found his cautiousness endearing, in others she found it frustrating. She knew that if he ever got the courage up to come out and ask her if she’d be his girlfriend she’d say yes without hesitation. Even if he skipped that and went straight to asking her to marry him her answer would still be the same. But how to get him to realize that was something she was still puzzling over. She didn’t want to seem forward and presumptuous if all he did want to be was friends, yet on the other hand if he was interested in her romantically than they were wasting valuable time with their hesitation.

A thought suddenly occurred to her as she watched Ray and Maggie again for a moment. As casually as possible she asked Fraser. "So, you ever think about having a family of your own?"

If he was surprised by her question he didn’t show it. "Yes, I do." He admitted with a nod. "All the time actually."

"Really?" She was surprised that he’d admitted the fact so readily.

"Having basically grown up without one, and then being all alone until I found Maggie last year I find the idea of having a family of my own someday very appealing." He told her seriously.

"I guess I never really thought of you as being alone." She commented with mild embarrassment. "I keep forgetting that both your parents are dead and that you grew up an only child. No wonder you adopted Kowalski as a brother and were so happy when you found Maggie. It must have meant so much to you to realize you weren’t alone in the world."

"It meant very much." He acknowledged. "Especially when Maggie welcomed me so warmly as her brother. Things would have been so different if she’d been upset or bitter about the fact."

"She’s a Fraser." Meg chuckled slightly and teased. "They welcome everyone warmly."

Fraser grinned slightly and then replied. "I want to thank you, Inspector for hiring Maggie. It means very much to me – and to Ray and Maggie to have her here in Chicago."

"It was nothing." The Inspector waved off his thank you. "She was qualified, she was here and she was available. Besides," She paused for a moment before adding. "I like her."

Her Constable looked over at her and smiled warmly. "I’m glad." Meg smiled back at him, her eyes trying to relay what her heart was feeling.

Benton must have read something in her expression because a moment later he lifted his hand and asked. "May I?" Meg smiled and nodded, placing her hand in his. He intertwined his fingers with hers and gave her hand a squeeze. They continued along the sidewalk to Ray’s waiting GTO.

It wasn’t much. Meg thought, but it was a start.

"Excuse me." A young girl addressed the balding man seated at the desk. "Can you tell me where I can find my brother."

"Who’s your brother?" Ray Vecchio asked curtly.

"Jim Becker." The girl told him. "I understand that the police brought him in for questioning this afternoon."

"That’s right." Vecchio nodded.

"Can I see him?" The girl asked eagerly.

"What’s your name?" The Italian asked curiously.

"Pamela." She replied. "Pamela Becker."

"Got any ID, Pamela Becker?" Ray asked. The girl pulled out a card and handed it to the detective. Ray looked at the card and then back to the girl. Satisfied he handed it back to her. "Have a seat here, I’ll see what I can do." He stepped away from his desk and went into Welsh’s office. After speaking to the Lieutenant for a moment he returned to Pamela. "You got five minutes." He told her firmly. She nodded her head in agreement. "Come with me." He led her down the hall and into Interview One. "I’ll be right back." The girl nodded again and looked nervously around the room.

About ten minutes later the door opened again and in walked Jim. "Pam!" The man exclaimed in surprise when he saw his sister seated at the table.

"Jim!" She exclaimed in relief and rose to hug him. Unable to hug her back due to the cuffs he pressed his cheek against the top of her head.

"Pam, what are you doing here?" He asked anxiously. "They haven’t arrested you too, have they?"

"No, I came to see you." She told him as she pulled out a chair for him to sit down. Sitting across the table from him she leaned over the table and grabbed his hands. "Jimmy, I’m so scared."

"I know you are, Pam." He acknowledged. "I’m scared too. But we’ll get through this. Nobody is going to separate us from one another. I promise." Pamela squeezing his hands tightly started sobbing.

"The bullet matches the same gun that killed Sheila Carson." Ray told Fraser as he read the report that forensics had given him.

"So then it stands to reason that whoever killed Ms. Carson also killed Mr. Carpenter." The Mountie summarized.

"That would be my guess." The blond commented. "Unfortunately we still don’t know who killed either one of them." He sighed in frustration and rose to his feet. "Wanna get a coffee?"

"Sure." His partner also rose to his feet and followed the blond into the coffee room.

"So what’s Maggie doing today?" Ray asked as he poured two cups of coffee for them.

"She said something about going apartment hunting." Fraser replied as he put a couple coins into the vending machine and selected a packet of Smarties.

"I thought she was doing that tomorrow." Ray commented as he picked up the cups and headed to a table.

"She is." Fraser acknowledged as he retrieved the package of candy. Turning around he reached out and grabbed a chair as Ray set the coffee cups on the table. Handing the Smarties to his friend he added. "She said she doesn’t want to be underfoot at the Consulate. Figures she doesn’t want to give Inspector Thatcher a chance to get tired of her being around."

"Frase, when are you going to stop calling her ‘Inspector Thatcher’ all the time?" His blond partner asked with a slight smirk. "I mean you guys are practically dating and yet you still call her ‘Inspector Thatcher’."

"It would be inappropriate for me to call her anything else." The Mountie replied as he grimaced at the coffee’s strong taste. "She’s my superior officer and therefore deserves to be treated with respect."

"During the day she may be your superior officer, but after work hours she’s your girlfriend." Ray told him.

"No she’s not." Fraser blushed hotly at the idea. "She and I are friends and fellow officers, nothing more."

"And you don’t want to be anything more than that?" His friend pressed.

"That’s completely irrelevant." The Mountie evaded.

"No it’s not." The blond exclaimed firmly. "Fraser, if you want to have more than a ‘Constable/Inspector’ relationship with her than your going to have to tell her. I know you’re in love with her. It’s written all over your face every time you’re with her." He grinned as his friend blushed again. "Remember what you told me when we were up in the Yukon on that little adventure of ours. You said that when you got back to Chicago you were going to ask the Inspector out."

"And I did." His friend replied quickly.

"Yes you did." The blond agreed. "But it’s been almost six months and you haven’t made another move. Going out to the movies and holding her hand once in a while isn’t the way to build a relationship. You have to loosen up. Talk to her, laugh with her, kiss her, hug her, tell her how you feel about her. That’s how to build a relationship."

Fraser considered his friend’s words for several moments. Ray was right. He had been stuck in rut, hiding behind the blind of ‘proper conduct between a subordinate and his superior’. Maybe it was time that he took a chance. He shuddered slightly as he thought back to the last woman that he’d opened his heart to and how that had turned out. He jumped slightly when Ray’s hand touched his arm.

Ray had noticed the slight shudder that had gone through his friend’s frame and knew immediately the reason. "Thatcher is not Victoria."

Fraser smiled sadly and nodded. "I know." He had told Ray the story about what had happened with Victoria Metcalf. He’d even told him how he was about to run off with her when he was stopped by Ray Vecchio’s bullet to his back. He’d talked about his thoughts and feelings about the whole situation and how he was scared to get too close to a woman again for fear that he’d face the same thing. Most of what he’d told Ray he’d never voiced to another living soul, not even Ray Vecchio who had been involved in it. The whole situation had left Fraser feeling vulnerable and angry, two feelings that he hated and instead of dealing with them he had buried them deep inside. But some how, in the middle of a frozen wilderness with nobody but your best friend at your side bad experiences didn’t seem that awful to talk about. He and Ray had poured out their souls to each other, sharing secrets that they’d never told another living soul. It was after Ray had finally purged himself of all his Stella stories that Fraser finally found the courage to talk about Victoria. He was surprised at how sympathetic Ray was about it and how comforting. After he had finished his tale his partner had even given him a friendly hug as he purged his grief and anger with tears, finally releasing the last vestiges of Victoria from his system. It had proved to be very healing. But, it still didn’t make him any less apprehensive.

"What would your dad say to you if he were still around?" Ray asked curiously as he watched his friend carefully. Another thing that Fraser had told Ray was about how his dad use to appear from time to time to give advice or to just stick his nosey two cents in. It was something that had always annoyed him, but now it was something he missed. He’d explained that ever since he had captured Muldoon his father had disappeared seemingly for good this time. ‘It was like he died twice’. Fraser had admitted to his partner. ‘But this time it hurt more because I knew him better.’ Ray had accepted what his friend told him without scorn or ridicule. He knew his friend well enough to know that he would never lie about something like that and he certainly wouldn’t make it up. He could tell that his friend was hurting from the sudden loss of connection with his father on top of having found out the truth about his mother.

Ray’s question brought a smile to Fraser’s lips. "He’d tell me to go for it. Then he’d ramble on something about wanting grandchildren."

"Grandchildren?" Ray laughed. "Kinda hard to have grandchildren, or at least enjoy them if you’re dead. And I think he’d have ones with serious issues if they were to see him, knowing he was dead."

"Well, I guess they won’t have that to worry about now." Fraser said sadly.

"And you don’t have to worry about carrying on bizarre, seemingly ‘one sided’ conversations any longer." His friend commented lightly but then seeing the expression on his friend’s face he recanted. "I’m sorry, buddy. That was a dumb thing to say. I wasn’t thinking…"

"No, Ray." His partner quickly interrupted. "You’re right. It is a relief to know that he won’t be appearing at inconvenient times. It’s just…I can’t help feeling…alone."

"Well, you’re not alone." Ray quickly assured him, giving him a friendly pat on the arm. "You’ll always have me and Maggie. We’re not going anywhere."

The Mountie gave him a warm smile. "I appreciate that Ray."

Then with a twinkle in his eye the blond added. "And if you get off your butt you’ll have Thatcher too. So how can you possibly be alone with three people who love and care about you."

Fraser grinned again. "I guess you’re right."

"Of course I’m right." Ray said brightly. "I’m always right and its high time that you realized it." Fraser smiled at his partner, glad to see that the blond had finally realized his true value. It had taken a couple years and a trip to the North to make the detective finally realize that he was worth something after all. It overjoyed the Mountie to know that he had helped his friend regain his confidence. Now all he had to do was convince Ray Vecchio of Ray Kowalski’s value as an officer and a friend.

"Can I interrupt this charming little coffee clatch?" A voice asked sarcastically. Both men looked up to find Ray Vecchio standing beside their table, a full cup of coffee in his hand.

"Ah, sure." Ray Kowalski replied in a friendly tone, reaching over to pull out the chair beside him. Vecchio stubbornly moved to the other side of the table and pulled out the chair beside Fraser. Ray frowned slightly, but didn’t comment. He looked to his partner and found the Mountie sending him an apologetic look. The blond gave him a reassuring smile. It wasn’t his fault that Vecchio was being a jerk.

"So, Benny. When are you going to come over for dinner again?" The Italian detective asked, turning in his chair so he could look straight at his old friend. "Ma’s been pestering me for weeks to have you over."

"Well, that’s very kind of her." Fraser acknowledged, giving the other man a friendly smile. "Tell her I’ll be happy to come over as soon as Maggie gets settled in." Looking over to his partner he asked. "Are you still coming with us tomorrow?"

Ray nodded. "Where’s the place we’re looking at?"

"It’s on Bay Street." Fraser replied.

"The one about ten blocks from the Consulate?" The blond questioned.

"That’s right." The Mountie nodded.

"Sounds like a nice place." Ray remarked. "It’s not a bad area either." His eyes twinkled slightly. "And it’s on my way to the Consulate."

"Only if you take the scenic route." His partner replied in amusement.

"Hey, I love scenery." The blond bantered back.

"No, you just love my sister." Fraser commented with a teasing smirk.

"Well, that too." Kowalski grinned slightly. "Jealous?"

"Jealous?" Benton repeated in surprise. "Why should I be jealous?"

"Because if I remember correctly when you first met Maggie you were definitely attracted to her." Ray replied with a mischievous smile.

"She’s my sister, Ray." The Mountie protested.

"Yeah, but you didn’t know that when you first met her." His partner pointed out, then with twinkling eyes he added. "And you were after her like a mad rabid Canadian dog."

"I was not!" Fraser denied, his cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment, but Ray wasn’t finished teasing him yet.

"I seemed to remember a rather tall, well built, red clad person literally shoving me out of the way after I offered to let Maggie stay with me her first night in Chicago."

"Well, I ah…I…" Fraser stammered, his face turning redder with each utterance. Ray finally took pity on him and changed the subject.

"So do you think Maggie will like Chicago?"

"I don’t know." His friend admitted, his face starting to cool down. "I hope so. Though I think I may suggest she find better friends to hang around with then the riff raff that she’s been associating with lately."

"Riffraff!" Ray Kowalski exclaimed. "How dare you call me riffraff."

"Don’t take it personally." His partner told him honestly. "Anybody who dates my sister is riffraff."

The blond detective couldn’t help but laugh at the uncharacteristic remark. "Do you mind?" He asked seriously.

"Mind?" Fraser questioned in a puzzled tone.

"Yeah, you know, that I’m dating your sister." Ray clarified.

"Of course not, Ray." The Canadian quickly assured his friend. "You’re one of my best friends. I’m happy that you and Maggie are in love."

"Really?" The blond searched his friend’s face hopefully.

"Really." Fraser nodded. "I think it’s great."

"So you’ll be my best man if Maggie and I ever get married?" Ray asked seriously.

"I would be honored to be your best man, Ray." The Mountie replied honestly.

Ray grinned broadly in reply. Their dialogue was interrupted by an annoyed voice. "Hello, do you even remember that I’m here?"

Fraser flushed slightly in embarrassment. "Sorry, Ray. What were you saying?"

"Dinner." The Italian repeated in a controlled tone. "Why don’t the three of you come over for dinner tomorrow night?"

"That’s, uh, that’s a very kind offer, Ray." Ben acknowledged graciously, but also hesitantly. "However, I uh, I was wondering…"

"Could you make it ‘four’ of us?" Ray Kowalski finally finished for his struggling partner.

"I guess so." Vecchio replied in surprise. "Who’s the forth?"

"Thatcher." Ray told him.

The Italian’s jaw dropped. "As in Meg Thatcher? As in the ‘Dragon Lady’?" Looking at Fraser he asked. "Why would you want her?"

"Because she and Fraser here are dating." Kowalski replied seriously, slapping his friend’s arm lightly as the Mountie blushed slightly at the term.

"Since when?" The Italian detective demanded, his tone turning angry.

"For a couple of months now." The blond replied. "Basically since we returned from up North."

Looking at Fraser Vecchio demanded. "That true?"

"Well, uh…I don’t know if I’d call it dating…I mean we’re seeing each other, but I don’t know if I’d call it dating. It’s more like…" Catching Ray Kowalski’s eye he finally admitted. "Yes, I guess it’s true."

"Well, that’s just great!" Vecchio exclaimed hotly. "I guess I know exactly where I stand with you. I don’t believe this! You start dating the Dragon Lady and I have to find out about it from him. You can’t tell me yourself. I thought we were friends!"

"Oh, don’t get bent out of shape about it, Vecchio." Ray quickly commented. "It’s the first time I actually got him to admit that they are dating. Usually he denies it, or sidesteps it."

"I don’t blame him." The Italian replied. "I wouldn’t want to admit I was dating the Dragon Lady either."

"I’m sure you’d sing a different tune if you were in love with her."

"Maybe." The dark-haired detective shrugged most of his previous anger gone. Then with a deep sigh he said. "So, are we on for tomorrow night or what?"

"We’d be honored to come for dinner, Ray." Fraser quickly assured his old partner.

"Great!" Vecchio smiled. "I’ll tell Ma to set four extra plates."

"I’m sure you could just set them and she’d never know she had four more mouths to feed." Kowalski teased knowingly.

"That’s just Italians for you, Ray." Fraser commented, giving his old friend a warm smile. "They live by the motto ‘the more the merrier’."

"Amen to that." Ray Vecchio replied in agreement, then with a wicked glint in his eye he added. "Even Bag Ladies are welcome."

Kowalski opened his mouth to retort, but decided against it. He’d decided months ago that he was not going to allow Vecchio to bait him. As much as the Italian detective wished to antagonize him, Ray was simply not going to let him get to him. He was going to try to keep the peace with Fraser’s old partner, as much for his partner’s sake as for his own. The last thing he wanted to do was give Fraser a reason to disown him as his friend. And he figured for sure that if it came down to a choice between himself and Vecchio then he was sure he would come out the loser. Had he known of the Mountie’s previous threat to Vecchio concerning the Italian’s treatment of the blond then he wouldn’t have need to be so concerned.

With a soft sigh he rose to his feet. "Well, I guess I should get back to work. I’ll see you later, Frase."

"I’m coming too, Ray." The Canadian replied as he also rose to his feet. Sending Ray Vecchio a silent message of disapproval he politely said. "Thanks for the invitation to dinner, Ray. We’ll see you tomorrow evening." And with that they were gone, leaving Vecchio frowning after them.

"So, according to Carpenter’s next door neighbor, Becker had stopped by the house the night before Sheila Carson was murdered." Ray Kowalski commented as he stopped the car in front of the Consulate.

"That’s what she claims." Fraser replied in confirmation. "She also said that she could hear them fighting in the backyard of Mr. Carpenter’s house."

"But she never heard any gunshots." The blond echoed.

"Or the sound of someone being pushed into the pool." The Mountie concluded.

"But that doesn’t mean that he didn’t kill him or her." Ray commented, looking at his partner for his opinion.

"But it doesn’t mean that he did." Was the other man’s simple reply.

Ray sighed and rubbed his face wearily. "Let’s knock off for the night. My brain is fried."

"Very well, Ray." His friend nodded. "We can pick it up in the morning."

Ray nodded his head and then looking at his friend asked. "You and Maggie want to come over for supper?"

"Are you sure you aren’t too tired?" Fraser asked, noting the exhausted look on the blond’s face.

"Naw, I’m good." His friend assured him honestly. "I just don’t want to do any more brain work. Having you and Maggie over isn’t tiring. In fact I’d rather have you two there than be alone."

"If you’re sure." The detective nodded. "We’ll order a pizza or something."

"Then we’d love to come."

"Want me to wait for you?" Ray offered.

"Thank you, kindly but we’ll be along shortly." The Mountie assured him.

"Okay." Ray nodded. "I’ll leave the door unlocked so you and Maggie can just let yourselves in when you get there. I’ll order the pizza too so it’ll be there sooner."

"Sounds fine, Ray." Fraser agreed as he exited the car. "We’ll see you shortly."

About thirty minutes later Ray flopped down on his living room couch and grabbed the TV remote. The pizza was ordered and should be arriving soon, as should his partner and girlfriend.

Ray couldn’t help smiling as he thought of the Fraser siblings. He found it amazing that one family could affect his life so greatly. On numerous occasions he’d mentally thank the higher ups that had chosen him to be Vecchio’s cover. If it hadn’t been for their decision he probably would never have met the two Mounties who had so quickly become important to him.

A knock at the door interrupted his musings. "It’s open." The blond called without getting up. When he heard his visitors enter and close the door behind themselves he added. "I told you it’d be open, Frase. You didn’t have to knock."

"You may have told ‘Frase’ that he didn’t have to knock, but I’m not him." A familiar voice replied coolly.

Ray turned his head and saw Ray Vecchio standing behind him. "What are you doing here?" He asked curiously, his tone purposely light.

"We need to talk." Was the Italian’s simple reply.

"What about?" Ray Kowalski pressed gently.

"Fraser." Vecchio said.

"So sit down and we’ll talk." The Polish detective invited, gesturing to an armchair. He’d been waiting for this conversation for a while. He knew that one day the other detective would have to get all his anger and hostility out of his system and he knew that if that ever happened he would be the target of choice. Sitting up, Ray waited patiently for the other man to speak.

Vecchio didn’t keep him waiting long. "I’ll get right to the point. I don’t like you and I know that you don’t like me. Now normally that wouldn’t be a problem, but when we factor Fraser into the equation it does become a problem. So what are we going to do about it?"

"What do you think we should do about it?" The blond queried, giving the other man the lead in the conversation.

"Well, we could pretend to be civil to each other." The Italian detective suggested. "But Fraser would see through any forced civility and we’d be right back where we started.

"Can I just ask you one question?" Ray Kowalski ventured, interrupting the other man’s line of thought.

"What is it?" Vecchio asked suspiciously.

"Why don’t you like me?" The blond asked seriously. "What could I have possibly done to make you dislike me so much?" Vecchio had not been prepared for that question and neither was he sure of the answer. It was true that he felt very strong feelings of dislike towards the blond detective who had taken over his life for a while, but what was the real reason for his dislike? He refused to admit that it was pure old fashioned jealousy that made him feel the way he did about the other man, but the facts were certainly pointing in that direction. Before he could offer any form of reply, Kowalski spoke up. "Why don’t you and I put all the hostility crap aside and start over. Carrying on as we are is not going to accomplish anything, all its doing is causing everybody grief, especially Fraser. Now, I know that I don’t want to loose him as a friend, and I’m sure that you don’t either." When the other man nodded he continued. "So how about we start over. Forget who met Fraser first, forget who went exploring the great white North with him. Let’s just start off on an equal foot, acknowledging the fact that we both care about Fraser and that he cares about us and leave the jealousy and competitive bull behind. Agreed?"

Vecchio watched the other man thoughtfully for several minutes before finally nodding. "Agreed."

A broad smile spread across Kowalski’s face. "Greatness!" Then rising to his feet he asked. "Can I get you a drink? Beer? Soda? Coffee? Bark tea?"

"Bark tea?" The Italian repeated in surprise. "Don’t tell me that you actually drink that stuff?"

"Are you kidding?" Kowalski exclaimed seriously. "That stuff’s way to healthy for me. Like I told Fraser once, my idea of health is coffee without the sugar."

"I guess that’s one thing that we agree on anyway." Vecchio commented with a slight chuckle. "I’ll have a beer please."

"Coming right up." The blond said and moved to get a can out of the fridge.

As he did so his guest glanced around the apartment. "Cozy place you got here." He remarked after a few moments.

"It’s not much." The other man shrugged slightly as he handed Vecchio the can. "But it’s home."

"Quiet." The balding man observed.

Ray Kowalski couldn’t help but chuckle at that. "Compared to your house, definitely."

"Speaking of my house, I guess I owe you a ‘thank you’ for saving it from going up in smoke." The Italian commented seriously. "Not to mention helping Fraser save Frannie and Tony from being burned to a crisp."

"It was nothing." The other man dismissed with mild embarrassment. "I was just doing my job."

"Rushing into a fire to save my family isn't nothing." Vecchio replied seriously. "It's a big something."

Kowalski gave him a soft smile and said. "You're welcome."

"So, how long have you been a cop?" Vecchio asked curiously, leaning back in his chair.

"Almost ten years." Kowalski replied.

"Ten years?" The Italian repeated in surprise. "You've certainly accomplished a lot in ten years. Three citations, an important undercover assignment and a very impressive arrest record."

"How did you know about that?" The blond detective asked in surprise.

"Fraser told me." The other detective admitted seriously. "Shortly after you came back from your trip up North he was trying to make me see what a good cop you were, so he told me all about your citations and everything. Seems he'd read your file."

Ray Kowalski nodded. "Shortly after we started working together he pulled my file. He said that he thought it was 'prudent to know the metal of the man you work with'."

Ray Vecchio chuckled. "That sounds like Fraser." Then after a moment he asked. "What did you first think of him when you first met him?"

"Honest?" When the other man nodded he replied casually. "I thought he was a freak."

Vecchio chuckled slightly. "You and me both. The first time I met him he came barging into the holding cell where I was trying to trap a guy into buying some clothing or something. Fraser spoiled the set up but he ended up saving my butt because the guy I was trying to trap was actually trying to trap me into trying to trap him."

"So IA was trying to get you for Illegal Entrapment." The blond summarized.

"Exactly." Vecchio nodded. "Well, I figured I owed him one so I helped him locate his father's killers."

"That must have been a hard case for him. Kowalski commented knowingly. Fraser had told him about his thoughts regarding that case while they were up in the wilderness.

"It was." Vecchio nodded. "Not only because he had to deal with his father's murder, but also once he found his father's murderer he was shunned by the higher RCMP officials for turning in one of his own. It took him a while but he finally adapted to life here in Chicago. What was your first case together?"

"Catching the arsonist who torched your house and Fraser's apartment." The blond detective replied.

"Wait! Benny's apartment was torched too?" The Italian asked in surprise.

Ray nodded. "Completely gutted."

"So that's why he lives at the Consulate now." Vecchio commented. "I was wondering what happened. I thought maybe the Dragon Lady wanted him at her constant beck and call."

"No, actually it took a bit of convincing to get her to let him live there." Ray told him. "She didn't like the thought of him living in his office. She didn't think it was proper. But eventually she decided that it was good to have a built-in watchman. She figured between Fraser and Dief the place would be well protected."

"Cheap security." The Italian commented sarcastically.

Kowalski smirked slightly at the remark and then said. "Anyway, during that entire case he kept trying to prove that I wasn't you, like there was any doubt."

"What do you mean 'prove'?" Vecchio questioned curiously.

"As you know, the switch took place while Fraser was on vacation." The balding man nodded his head, waiting for the other man to continue. "When he returned he found me claiming to be you. Welsh was suppose to talk to him before I met him, but he got side tracked with something else. Anyway, Frase kept doing everything he could think of to prove that I wasn't you. He took my fingerprints, made a cast of my teeth and measured my nose."

"He measured your nose?" Vecchio repeated and Kowalski nodded.

"And his nose is a full seven millimeters shorter than yours." A voice said lightly. The two Rays looked up to find Benton and Maggie standing in the entry a couple pizza boxes in their hands.

"I said I was going to order the pizza, Fraser." Ray Kowalski commented as he rose to relieve the siblings of the boxes.

"This is your pizza, Ray." Fraser replied as he removed his leather jacket and his hat and draped them neatly over the counter. "We met Sandor out front and I figured we'd save him a trip up."

"What do I owe you?" The blond asked as he moved to the kitchen to get some plates.

"Nothing, Ray." Fraser told him as he sat down on the armchair opposite Ray Vecchio. "It's my treat."

"Thanks buddy." His partner acknowledged as he returned with the plates. "You guys want anything to drink?" He asked after he gave Maggie a welcoming kiss.

"Ray has bark tea." Fraser told his sister eagerly.

Maggie grinned broadly. "I'd love a cup of bark tea."

"Bark tea it is." The blond commented and returned to the kitchen as Fraser opened one of the pizza boxes and put a slice on a plate. He handed the first slice to Maggie and the next to Ray Vecchio.

"So, Ray, what brings you here?" The Mountie asked curiously as he settled back with his pizza slice.

"I, uh, I needed to speak with Kowalski about something." The detective replied, a trifle hesitantly.

"Vecchio and I have come to an agreement." Kowalski piped up from the kitchen. "And we've decided to chill."

"What do you mean?" Maggie asked curiously.

"We've decided to try and bury the hatchet." Vecchio clarified, noting the broad smile that spread across Fraser's face at his words.

Ray Kowalski noted it too and couldn't help teasing. "It doesn't mean that I won't ever threaten to 'kick him in the head'."

"You try and I'll haul you in for assaulting an officer." Vecchio threatened with mock-annoyance. Kowalski gave him an indulgent smile. But their good-natured bantering didn't diminish Fraser's joy at seeing the two detectives finally getting along.

"What do you think of this one, Frase?" Ray Kowalski asked as he help up a ring to show his partner. "Think Maggie would like this one?"

"It's very nice, Ray." Fraser remarked as he examined the ring the blond was holding. "But I'm sure Maggie will like any ring that you get for her."

"I hope so." The other man commented uncertainly.

"Why wouldn't she." The Mountie remarked seriously. "After all, its you she loves not any ring you may give her."

"I suppose." His partner said. "I just want to get her a nice one."

"Well, that one is very nice, Ray." Fraser commented, gesturing to the ring his friend was holding.

"It is." Ray acknowledged, then handed it back to the clerk, thanked her for her help and headed out of the store. "Let's check out the jewelry store on the other end of the mall."

As the partners made their way through the mall Fraser asked. "How are things going with the Carson/Carpenter case? Ray said that you had a break through."

"A break through that fell through." Ray sighed with frustration. "It's been six months since the murders and we're no closer to solving this case than we were six months ago. I hate it when a case hangs on for so long. It's so hard to find new evidence, though I have to admit Vecchio is sure doing his best to find new angles and clues. He's been surprisingly helpful these last few months. Not just with this case, but with most of the ones I get. He's turned out to be a pretty good guy."

"I told you that Ray was a good officer." His friend commented with a smile. "Just like I told Ray that you were a good one. Together you guys would make a great team. It's just too bad that he's basically restricted to desk duty."

"Vecchio's okay and everything. And he's great with the info and the insight." Ray admitted, thoughtfully. "But you're my partner. And I don't feel the need for another one. I think we make a pretty great team on our own."

Fraser smiled delightedly at his friend and admitted. "I feel the same way about you, Ray."

Ray grinned happily at the Mountie before reverting back to their previous topic. "Becker is still our primary suspect, but we still don't have anything solid to convict him."

"Why don't we run down what we know again." The Canadian suggested as he paused to let a group pass.

"Well, we know that the night that Sheila Carson and Richard Carpenter were murdered Becker was supposedly out of town." Ray began thoughtfully.

"But there's nobody to back up that claim." Fraser remarked seriously.

"No one other than his sixteen year old sister, Pamela." Ray replied as he side stepped a woman pushing a stroller. "She claims that Becker came home from work visibly distracted. When she confronted him about it he told her that he just got a wedding invitation from Carson inviting him to her wedding, which is not very tactful if you ask me."

"I think Emily Post would agree with you." His partner agreed.

Ray shot him an amused look as he continued. "After tossing the invitation on the table he walked out saying that he was going for a drive. He didn't return until the next morning."

"The morning that Sheila Carson was discovered dead." The Mountie remarked as the pair turned a corner and headed down another hallway of stores.

"We have motive, we have opportunity and we even have the murder weapon that belonged to Becker's deceased father but unfortunately we need more." Ray sighed in frustration. "Stella says we need proof that Becker's guilty before she'll back us up. So until we can prove that Becker wasn't out of town and that he was the one that pulled the trigger we're sunk. Here's the store." Leading the way he entered the jewelry store and headed for the display case that held the rings.

"Can I help you, gentlemen?" The sales girl asked as she approached Ray and Fraser.

"What do you have in the way of engagement rings?" Ray inquired as he scanned the case before him.

"We have a wide selection of Solitaires and Trinity rings." The girl informed him, gesturing to the trays in the display case.

Ray scanned the rings for several minutes into his eyes spotted one that caused him to grin broadly. "That's it. That's the one that I want."

"Very good choice." The salesgirl smiled in approval and pulled out the selected ring.

"What do you think, Frase?" The blond asked his partner expectantly. "Think Maggie will like it?"

The Mountie looked at the ring and couldn't help the smile that it brought to his face. It was a Trinity ring with a large diamond in the center and two heart shaped rubies beside it. "I think it's perfect, Ray."

The detective's smile broadened. "So do I." Then looking back to the salesgirl he announced. "I'll take it."

"Let me get you a box for that." She offered as she took the ring.

"Do you have any red boxes?" He asked curiously.

"Yes, I believe we do." She nodded. "Ill go get one for you."

"Thank you." He smiled, delighted. Turning to his partner he remarked teasingly. "Maybe we could get a special deal if we bought two of these rings. What do ya think, Benton-buddy? Think the Ice Queen would like one of these?" Noticing the thoughtful expression on his partner's face he quickly asked. "What is it, Frase?" His friend put his finger to his lips and then pointed to the ceiling. Puzzled, Ray looked up, but all he saw were the ceiling tiles and some built-in speakers. Suddenly his brain began to register the song that was coming through the speakers:

Looking at his confused partner, Fraser told him seriously. "I think I know who killed Ms. Carson and Mr. Carpenter."

"Do you want to run this by me again, Constable." Harding Welsh exclaimed as he looked at the Canadian in disbelief.

"James Becker didn't kill Sheila Carson and Richard Carpenter." Fraser told the Lieutenant seriously. "His sister did."

"And what evidence do you have that made you come to this conclusion?" The older man pressed seriously.

Fraser squirmed slightly and glanced nervously at his partner. Ray gave him an encouraging nod and prompted his friend to continue. "We don't have any evidence yet. At this point it's just a theory."

"Oh, a theory." Welsh repeated sarcastically. "Well, than where did you get that theory? Did you just pull it out of a hat? Did you wake up this morning and just suddenly decide to pin the murder of two people on a sixteen-year-old?

"No, sir." The Constable quickly exclaimed, sounding appalled at the idea.

"Then where did the theory come from, Constable?"

"From a song, sir." The Mountie admitted, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.

"A song?" Harding's eyes widened slightly in disbelief. "You got your theory from a song?"

"Yes, Leftenant." The Canadian nodded, then quickly added. "But the two cases are very similar, sir."

"How so?" Welsh asked curiously.

"Well, in both cases a woman and her boyfriend were murdered." Fraser explained. "In the case of the song it was the woman's husband that was accused and convicted of the crime and in our case it's Mr. Becker, Ms. Carson's ex-boyfriend, who's the suspect. Now, as it turned out in the song, the husband was actually innocent. It was his sister who had shot the women and her boyfriend. Now in our case Pamela Becker has been very insistent that her brother had nothing to do with the murders, and she may very well be telling the truth. But nobody's thought to ask her where she was that night after her brother left the house."

"Go on." Welsh prompted, finally understanding where the Canadian was coming from.

Fraser once again looked at his partner who opened the file folder he was holding in his hand and related its contents. "This is what we dug up on Pamela Becker. She was born June 16,1983 in Chicago. Her parents are Arthur Charles and Gloria Marie Becker, both deceased. Killed September 1996 in a car accident. Pamela was left in the care of her only living relative, her brother James Becker. From all reports she's a surprisingly well-adjusted kid. Straight A student, President of the drama club at South Glen South High School. We spoke to several of her teachers and her guidance counselor, they all spoke very highly of her. They all say that she's a very pleasant, polite, well-liked girl. Her English teacher, Sam Coulson, did comment that she seemed to have a particularly close attachment to her brother. She talked about him all the time, and most of her writing assignments seemed to revolve around him."

"So the question is, was she devoted enough to kill Ms. Carson and Mr. Carpenter to avenge her brother's unhappiness?" Welsh commented, looking from one man to the other. They both nodded in agreement. With a slight sigh he remarked. "Well, gentlemen. I suggest you go find out."

"Yes, sir." They both quickly agreed as they turned and left the office.

"So, it was the sister all along?" Maggie remarked in disbelief as Ray related the results of the investigation into Pamela Becker. "What a shame. She seemed like such a nice kid."

"A nice kid who let her fierce loyalty to her brother cloud her judgement." Ray commented sadly. Letting out a heart-wrenching sigh he added. "It's times like this that I really hate my job."

Maggie stopped walking and turned to look at him, a serious expression on her face. "It is a hard part of the job." She admitted knowingly. "It's always hard to bring in kids who've made stupid choices in life. But the job that you're doing is so important. Little by little you're helping to make this city a little safer. You help bring a little justice to a world that's full of injustice. Don't ever forget that."

Ray smirked slightly and said. "You sound like Fraser."

"Well, he is my brother." She smiled and started walking again.

They continued on in companionable silence for several minutes before Ray ventured to ask. "So, how are you liking Chicago? You finding it as hard to adjust to as you figured it would be?"

"I do feel claustrophobic at times." She admitted. "There are times when I long for a night spent under the stars, with the sound of wolves howling in the background." She glanced around a little sadly. "Kind of hard to sleep under the stars here without being arrested."

Ray stopped and looked at her. "I'll tell you what. Why don't you and me and Fraser grab a few sleeping bags, throw them in the GTO and go camping for the weekend? There's this beautiful little spot that Frase and I go to sometimes when we need to recoup after a difficult case. We could even bring Dief along and dangle some donuts from a tree in the background. That'll guarantee some good wolf howling."

Maggie couldn't help but laugh heartily at the idea. Giving Ray a light slap on the arm she scolded. "You're mean." Ray pouted slightly, causing Maggie to throw her arms around his neck and pull him to her. "I'm just kidding." She placed a kiss on his cheek before releasing him.

Ray grinned at her and put an arm around her shoulders as they started walking. "So, what do you say to camping?"

"I think I'd say yes." She smiled broadly. "But are you sure you don't mind? It is after all the middle of winter."

Ray gave her a mock insulted look. "Are you trying to say that you don't think I can hack camping in the winter? Need I remind you that I spent an entire month 'camping out' in that snow covered wilderness that you and that brother of yours so fondly call home."

"Well then you might be able to survive a weekend camping out with us." Maggie teased, giving him a mischievous look.

"You'd better believe it." He exclaimed seriously. After another few minutes he asked, trying to sound non-chelant. "So, do you think you'll make Chicago your home permanently?"

"I thought about it." She admitted. "And I've decided that even though it's loud and busy and crowded, Chicago is my home now." She looked at him lovingly as she added. "The two people that mean the most to me are here."

The smile that split Ray's face could probably have lit up the entire city had it been night time. "I'm so glad you feel that way." He told her, relief evident in his tone. "Because I have something I want to ask you."

"What is it?" She stopped walking and looked at him curiously.

Looking around them he spotted a bench a few feet away. "Come on, let's sit." They settled themselves on the bench and then turned to face each other. Taking her hands in his Ray drew in a deep breath before saying, his voice heavy with emotion. "I have something I want to tell you." He laughed nervously. "I didn't think it would be this hard." Taking another deep breath he continued. "I have never been happier than I have been during these last six months since you moved to town." He grinned slightly as he admitted. "Though your brother has managed to brighten my pitiful life somewhat with his quirks and stubbornness." Maggie smiled at that. She knew that even though Ray made frequent comments and complaints about her brother's unique ways, he loved and respected him all the same. The two men were quite evidently the best of friends. Ray released one of her hands to pull something out of his jacket pocket. Maggie's eyes widened slightly as he lifted the top of the red velvet box he held. "Maggie Mackenzie, I love you very much. Will you do me the great honor of being my wife?"

Maggie looked from Ray's face to the beautiful diamond and ruby ring he held out to her and then back again. With tears in her eyes she smiled at him and exclaimed eagerly. "Yes!"

Relief mingled with joy flooded over Ray as he slipped the ring on her finger and then pulled her to him and kissed her.

About fifteen minutes later they were making their way slowly back to the Consulate. Ray smiled as he noticed Maggie examining her engagement ring. "As soon as I saw that ring I thought it was perfect."

"It is." She agreed. "I love it. Did you pick it out on your own?"

"Fraser came with me." Ray admitted. "But I picked out the ring myself. He was there more for support than opinion."

"Well, I bet my big brother is going to be very happy when we tell him our news." Maggie commented with a knowing grin.

"Why's that?" Ray asked curiously.

Maggie gave him a look that seemed to say 'how dense can you be'? "Because he's been trying to get us together ever since I moved to Chicago. Don't tell me you haven't noticed his subtle hints and not so subtle questions during these last six months?"

Ray shook his head, trying to come up with an example of what she was saying but failing miserably. "I guess I didn't notice him trying to play matchmaker. I guess I should be flattered that I have your only living relative's whole hearted approval."

"You have Dad's whole hearted approval too." Maggie told him seriously. "He thinks very highly of you."

Ray looked at her in surprise. "You can still see him? I thought he was gone! Where has he been? Has he seen Fraser? Frase really misses him!"

Now it was Maggie's turn to be surprised. "How did you know that Ben and I could see Dad? And what do you mean you thought he was gone? Where did he go?"

Ray carefully explained what had happened during the case he and Fraser had investigated involving Muldoon. Maggie felt her heart constrict as she listened to him tell about how her half-brother had found out the truth about the death of his mother all those years ago and then their subsequent trip up North in pursuit of Muldoon. "After Fraser came back with Muldoon in custody there was something different about him. I tried to get him to talk about it, but he wouldn't. You know how hard he finds it to talk about his emotions." Maggie nodded, encouraging him to continue. "It wasn't until several days later, when we were out on our wilderness adventure, that he finally told me what happened. He explained how his father would appear to him now and then to give him advice or tell some really stupid story and then disappear. It really helped explain some of the strange conversations we had. But ever since that day, his father hasn't appeared anymore. He said it was like loosing him all over again."

"That's hard. He probably counted on Dad's presence more than he realized or wanted to admit." Maggie commiserated. Then squeezing his hand gratefully she said. "I'm glad he was finally able to open up to you about it. I'm sure that helped a lot, having his best friend to talk to."

"He's helped me a lot too. I was just returning the favor." Ray told her seriously. "I am so glad that the Vecchio assignment came up when it did. When I came to work at the 2-7 I was lower than I had ever been in my life. Fraser really helped bring me up. He boosted my confidence in myself, kept telling me I was great at what I did, that he enjoyed being around me. He really made me feel better about myself."

"You two are good for each other." Maggie told him sincerely. "And I know that Benton will be thrilled to finally have you as a brother. You're the closest thing he's ever had to one. Even Vecchio never rated that distinction, despite being a very good friend also."

"I feel the same way about him." Ray admitted seriously. "He's my partner, my best friend and soon my brother."

"Looks like you're gaining two family members instead of just one." Maggie teased as she nudged him with her shoulder.

"You better believe it, baby." Ray grinned as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "You and me and Fraser are going to be one big happy family!"