InsaneJournal

Tweak says, " Scotty doesn't know!"

Constable Benton Fraser, RCMP (chicagomountie) wrote in utr_logs,
@ 2009-02-06 23:10:00

Entry tags:

constable benton fraser, inspector meg thatcher

The journey of a thousand miles
Who: Constable Benton Fraser and Inspector Meg Thatcher
When: Two days after this post
What: Fraser's leaving London for Toronto for a task nobody should have to undertake.
Where: Heathrow airport, 10:30AM
Warnings: None

Fraser has never cared much for airports, but the prospect of utilising this world's unorthodox method of instantaneous travel via Portkeys doesn't appeal to him in the slightest. The instant nature of arrival would give him precious little time to mentally prepare himself for what will follow, and he needs all the time he can get, even if his privacy is limited while he's contained in a pressurised metal tube with over a hundred other strangers.

He's taking his red serge with him, packed carefully and appropriately, as always. He hopes that its distinctive and decidedly non-civilian nature will help when he has to break the news, in some fashion; to delineate the difference between the man he has replaced and himself.

There is no task in this world he could dread less, he thinks. But while in principle, he does not have to do this, he feels he must. Duty demands it, and his ethics require it.

He stands now outside the terminal with Inspector Thatcher, and Diefenbaker, who is in a decidedly grouchy mood that he's being left behind.

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megthatcher
2009-02-06 10:32 pm UTC (link)

The past two days have been almost reassuring for Inspector Thatcher. The challenge of navigating the waters of the Canadian Consulate of London has been a satisfying sublimation of her desire to commit extreme violence against whatever forces have so disrupted her life.

However, now she is bidding a temporary--she hopes--farewell to the one man she can trust in this world. She cannot and would not talk him out of this journey. She would prefer to persuade him to let her accompany him, yet years of experience as his superior officer has taught her to choose her battles wisely.

And whatever their new status is inclines her to be even more cautious than usual.

"You'll call when you arrive in Toronto?" she asks.

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chicagomountie
2009-02-06 10:45 pm UTC (link)

Navigating the bureaucracy that repatriation and re-establishment requires has been nothing short of a migraine-inducing experience. Their visit to the Consulate was an endless parade of forms, indifferent and occasionally frustrating staff, and on more than one occasion, staff who seemed to think it was entirely appropriate to address his former superior officer as 'darling.'

Fraser isn't a jealous type-- well, not outwardly, anyway-- but something about people condescending to this woman whom he has served with offends him greatly, and he took some perverse pleasure in falling back into passive-aggressively calling said individuals' job efficiency into question in a manner that was entirely courteous and yet managed to be entirely demeaning all at once.

He adjusts the pack on his shoulder-- minus bedroll, for once-- and tries not to feel somewhat guilty for utilising funds that are not his to enable his trip. He'll pay the new trustee of his replacement's assets when he can, he reminds himself.

"I'm sure they'll have payphones at the terminal," he replies. He looks down at Diefenbaker, who has laid down at Thatcher's feet and is looking entirely sorry for himself. "I'm sorry about Diefenbaker's sulking. He's likely to milk this for all it's worth, if you'll let him."

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megthatcher
2009-02-06 10:48 pm UTC (link)

She glances down at the wolf. "I could always try treating him like a raw recruit." Despite her wry tone, she's tempted to let Diefenbaker sulk as much as he wants. It'll be good to have company in that mood.

"Well." She checks her watch, then looks back up at Fraser. "You'd better get going if you want to get through security before your flight leaves. Incredible measures they're taking these days."

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chicagomountie
2009-02-06 11:00 pm UTC (link)

The terminal is bustling and crowded with its usual gaggle of daily commuters, vacationers, cab drivers, hotel shuttles, and tourists. He adjusts his hold on the folder of papers he was given in order to catch up on world events in the last twelve years here; another reason he'd prefer the longer flight. He's made his way through a good portion of them since their Consular visit, but he's saved the latter half for the journey deliberately. Perhaps it'll be a distraction.

"He'll do anything for Milk Duds. Although I think they call them something else here," he says. He should get going.

"I should," he concurs. But he's not moving. Why isn't he moving?

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	megthatcher 2009-02-06 11:02 pm UTC (link)
	She can't order him to leave, and even if she could, she doesn't want to. But she can, and does, rise slightly on her toes and tilt her head to one side. "Bon voyage." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chicagomountie 2009-02-06 11:12 pm UTC (link)
	Oh. That's why. They're in a profoundly public and crowded space, which makes him extremely self-conscious and as a result, a little more reserved than she might have wished for in a farewell kiss. But the sentiment is the same, and he hopes that carries through, regardless. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	megthatcher 2009-02-06 11:17 pm UTC (link)
	It is, indeed, a public place and a public kiss. But it is better than giving him a brisk handshake before he flies thousands of miles away to perform a sad duty. "I'll be here when you return," she promises, hoping he understand that she means more than Heathrow. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

chicagomountie
2009-02-06 11:33 pm UTC (link)

He's dreading this assignment. The prospect of finding his father's murderers didn't instill this much dread. But then, the only person affected by his father's death was himself, and nobody else seemed to care. What he's about to do affects the lives of three others, not to mention whatever networks of friends and family beyond.

"Red suits you," he says then, holding her gaze.

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megthatcher
2009-02-06 11:39 pm UTC (link)

A compliment he's given her on a train in apparent casual observation, and shouted from a Chicago rooftop, though it was a shout only understood by those fluent in semaphore. Not a compliment that would make the colour rise in many women's cheeks, as it does in hers.

One of these days she'll come up with something perfect to tell him in return. Hopefully the look in her eyes will fill in the gaps of what she is trying to tell him.

"I'll miss you."

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	chicagomountie 2009-02-06 11:50 pm UTC (link)
	He has always communicated better through action, through deeds, through gestures, than words, at times like this. And it's an action he will use now to reciprocate, bowing his head in order to touch his forehead to hers. "Be careful," he replies softly, inaudible to any but her. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	megthatcher 2009-02-06 11:52 pm UTC (link)
	"You, too," she whispers back. Time. Time for him to go. "You should--" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chicagomountie 2009-02-06 11:58 pm UTC (link)
	"I should," he echoes, abruptly, though his reluctance to step back from her is plain. Diefenbaker looks up at him and makes a disgruntled noise. Fraser glances down at the wolf. "Don't be ridiculous, Diefenbaker. You'd keep her up all night with your snoring." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	megthatcher 2009-02-06 11:59 pm UTC (link)
	"What?" Thatcher looks at the wolf, then at Fraser. "What'd he say?" She just asked Fraser to translate for the wolf. It must be love. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chicagomountie 2009-02-07 12:03 am UTC (link)
	Fraser looks back at her, his Stetson held in his hands. "Ah. Well, uh ... " he pauses, wondering if he really should. "Well, he was offering to, um ... " So many people wandering around them right now. How can he put this delicately? "Uh ... to keep you company at night," he finishes. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	megthatcher 2009-02-07 12:04 am UTC (link)
	The wolf. Keeping her company. "As in ... guard duty?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chicagomountie 2009-02-07 12:07 am UTC (link)
	He stills, his gaze fixed on her, his expression one of distinct apprehension. " ... not exactly, no." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	megthatcher 2009-02-07 12:08 am UTC (link)
	He can't mean.... "On the bed?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chicagomountie 2009-02-07 12:09 am UTC (link)
	He holds her gaze for several moments longer, as if he's dreading her response. "Yes." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	megthatcher 2009-02-07 12:11 am UTC (link)
	The wolf. On the bed. Probably on her side of the bed, knowing the wolf. She sighs. "If it'll keep him from sulking." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chicagomountie 2009-02-07 12:14 am UTC (link)
	He blinks owlishly at her, as if he can't believe what he's hearing. Which he can't. "I really wouldn't recommend indulging him," and he just manages to not add a 'sir' to that, thank God. "He'll never let you forget it." "Rrrrf?" Diefenbaker may be deaf, but he seems to know when he's being talked about. Fraser glances to him. "Don't even think it." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	megthatcher 2009-02-07 12:18 am UTC (link)
	"I'm sure we'll be able to reach an understanding." She'll just think of the wolf as a slightly smarter version of Turnbull. With a sweet tooth. "Go on." She touches his arm gently. "I'll see you in a couple days." She hopes. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chicagomountie 2009-02-07 12:25 am UTC (link)
	This is it. No more stalling. He has to go. He sets his Stetson back on his head. "No later," he promises; and that he means. This is one trip he will be more than happy to cut short if at all possible. But he will only have to make it once. Once is more than enough for a lifetime. With a final, "Behave," directed to the wolf, Fraser steps back from her. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	megthatcher 2009-02-07 12:28 am UTC (link)
	She lifts a hand, not exactly in a wave, her gaze fixed on him until he disappears into the crowd surging towards the terminal. "Come on," she says to Diefenbaker, remembering to enunciate clearly. She moves around so that the wolf can see her more clearly. "Come. On. Allons-y." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chicagomountie 2009-02-07 12:32 am UTC (link)
	Diefenbaker lies down on the pavement, his head on his paws, and looks up at her with the most pathetic expression he can manage. "Rrrrf." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	megthatcher 2009-02-07 12:33 am UTC (link)
	She bends lower and says more quietly, "Chocolate." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chicagomountie 2009-02-07 12:39 am UTC (link)
	Diefenbaker's ears prick forward, though this is more a reflexive action than one that is actually useful. His lupine eyebrows quirk upward. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	megthatcher 2009-02-07 12:40 am UTC (link)
	"But only if we leave for the apartment right now." Years of dealing with Turnbull have left their mark. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chicagomountie 2009-02-07 12:44 am UTC (link)
	Diefenbaker turns his head towards the crowds inside the terminal, and then looks back at her, apparently weighing the options. "Rrrrrf," he concurs, and gets to his feet before bounding off through the surprised pedestrians towards the car park. (Reply to this) (Parent)