Title: Red Miracle
Fandom: Due South
Rating: PG
Length: 1847
Content notes: Written for challenge 64: Red
Author notes: For my very good friend and beta ds_Tiff, the idea of what happened was all her idea.
Summary: Poor Turnbull has an accident trying to something nice...



Snuggling into the human hot water bottle that was Benton Fraser, Ray did not want to get up for work. Without opening his eyes, Ray placed a kiss on Ben’s shoulder, knowing that the man he loved was awake already.

Ben lay his head on top of the blonde’s head, smiling as he did, his voice quiet as he spoke, “Morning Ray.”

Snuggling deeper into the warm body, Ray mumbled something that sounded like, “Morning Ben.”

Ben laughed lightly at the sleepy man. Hugging the slender man close Ben spoke gently, “Ray, it’s time to get up for work.”

Hiding his face in the darkness of Ben’s shoulder, Ray once again mumbled, “Don’t wanna, five more minutes Ben.”

Shaking his head and laughing, Ben stroked Ray’s arm, “OK Ray, five more minutes then we have to get up. Remember I am leaving for that overnight conference with Inspector Thatcher today.”

Lying back on the bed, Ray groaned out, “Oh ya, the Ice Queen said jump, I forgot. Why do you have to go? I mean, you run the place jointly now, she can’t boss you around anymore, can she?”

Ben sighed as this was an old argument between them and Ray Vecchio too, he also hated how she still treated Ben. “Ray…Ray…Ray, you know the Inspector’s leg is broken and can’t manage on her own. It’s only for one night, I am sure you and Diefenbaker will cope without me.”

Pouting now, Ray said, “Ya, well I still don’t like it.”

Shaking his head once more Ben laughed at Ray’s childlike pout. He kissed the top of Ray’s head and replied, “You’ll be fine.”

It took three cups of coffee and nearly a whole bag of M&M’s to get Ray somewhat normal in order for him to drive Ben to pick up the Ice Queen.

Ray offered to drive all the way to the conference just so he could spend more time with Ben, but Inspector Thatcher informed him that she had hired a driver to take them.

Ray snapped when he heard this, “Lady, if you could hire a driver to take you, why couldn’t you have hired an assistant. Instead you drag Fraser away from his duty to fetch and carry for you. You just don’t like the fact that he has equal power to you now and you saw this as your chance to make him jump when you say…again. Is that right, Inspector?” Ray put as much venom into that final word as he could.

Inspector Thatcher’s eyebrow grew tight as she glared at the angry Detective, her voice was full force as she replied, “I have no idea what you are talking about and I would ask you to not take that tone with me and another thing, I would ask you to keep your public displays of affection indoors with Constable Fraser.”

Putting his hands in his pockets, because if didn’t he wouldn’t be responsible for his actions, Ray let out a laugh before answering, “My tone…my tone, lady, was curbed. If I had said what I wanted to say…we won’t go there. As for our public displays of affection, you can kiss my skinny white ass. All we do is brush fingers now and then and the very, I said VERY occasional peck on the cheek. Now you tell me what is wrong with that? I have seen Vecchio do that much with Ben and they are just friends. You want to tell him off too? Control all Ben’s friends?” he yelled, holding out his phone. “Go on, ring him! If I was a woman we wouldn’t be having this conversation, would we?”

Brushing down her coat and blushing slightly at the tirade of words that had come her way, her voice was still clipped as she responded, “That won’t be necessary Detective…”

Ben came out of the Consulate carrying the last of the bags. He noticed the tension between the pair. “Is everything alright?” he asked.

Placing a smile on his face Ray replied, “Ya Ben, everything is fine. I was just making sure the Inspector really needed you, isn’t that right Inspector?”

Clearing her throat slightly and doing her best to put a smile on her face, the Inspector replied, “Yes Fraser, everything is fine, we really must leave now before the traffic gets heavy.”

Unsure if they were telling the truth, but knowing how the pair felt about each other, Ben let it go, “Very well, Ray I will see you soon and behave with Dief, don’t give him to many treats.”

Laughing, Ray smiled, “I won’t Ben, you be safe now.” He placed a kiss on Ben’s cheek and didn’t fail to notice the scowl that passed over the Ice Queen’s face. With a last whisper in Ben’s ear of, “I love you, Ben, be safe,” he watched them leave, with Ben’s reply of, “I love you, Ray,” singing in his heart.

Sighing, Ray and Dief made their way to the station to get some work done.

Ray was only working a half day so he turned to Dief and asked, “Dief, what do you say we surprise Turnbull with some of those Victoria Square cake things he likes? Poor guy has been left on his own, we can invite him over for the game tonight, what do you say?”

Dief gave a woof in response, wagging is tail.

Getting out of his chair Ray scratched the half wolf behind the ears, “Ya, let’s go get ‘um.”

Ray made his way to Annie’s Bakery, the best around and picked up the Victoria Squares and some Queen Cakes. Those made Ray chuckle as Turnbull worked for the Queen. Ray made his way to the Consulate with them in hand.

Just as Ray stepped in the main door of the Canadian Consulate, he heard what could only be described as a very high pitched, girly scream.

Placing the box of cakes on the reception desk, Ray drew his gun, forgetting he was technically in Canada now. He made his way to the source of the scream with Dief following him.

Ray reached where the scream had come from, which turned out to be the laundry room. He saw that it was not a girl that had screamed, but it was Turnbull. Turnbull stood there holding what were once white sheets in one hand and white Henley’s in the other chanting, “Oh dear, oh deary me!”

Holstering his gun Ray stepping in and asked the worried man, “Turnbull, are you OK?”

Shaking his head, Turnbull picked up what had once been a red serge jacket, but which was now a strange pink/purple colour.

Turnbull stood there as pale as Ray had ever seen him. Trembling, his eyes were swimming with tears as they met Ray’s, his voice shook as he choked out what he wanted to say. “Detective, Constable Fraser is going to be very upset with me. Look! Just look at what I did to his clothes and his sheets and oh dear, oh dear, his jacket!”

The Mountie sat down now and the tears finally spilled over as he spoke again, “I don’t understand, this has never happened before. I just wanted to surprise him.”

Ray felt sorry for him, crouching in front of him Ray placed a hand on the poor guy’s shoulder, “Don’t panic, we will sort it, I am sure my Mum will know what to do. Can you leave the Consulate and work by phone?”

Wiping his tears away Turnbull nodded, his voice still shaky, “Yes...yes, do you really think your Mum can help?”

Smiling now, Ray started pulling out his phone. “Sure,” he said, “my Mum can do anything.”

Turnbull looked a bit brighter at that as he listened to Ray explain to his Mum what had happened. Hanging up, Ray told Turnbull, “OK, my Mum said to put all the sheets and tops into one bag and the Serge in another and bring them with us.”

It didn’t take long and they were pulling up to the trailer where Mrs Kowalski was waiting for them with a smile on her face, “Hi Stanley dear. Constable Turnbull, welcome.”

Turnbull held his hat in his hand, looking at the ground. “Thank you ma’am for helping me,” he said.

She looked at the contents of the bags, making faces as she did so before speaking, “The whites I can fix with a restorer. The Serge is going to be tricky, but I think I can do it. Stanley, I need you to run to Sarah’s Knit Store down the street and pick me up two boxes of Rednight Number 3, OK?”

Picking up his keys, Ray kissed his mum on the cheek, “Sure thing Mum, I’ll be right back.”

While they waited Mrs Kowalski made the upset Turnbull some tea to go with the cakes her son had bought for him.

Sitting at the table she asked, “Young man, are you OK?”

Showing a sad smile Turnbull replied, “I’m fine ma’am, I am just upset that I messed up again.”

Shaking her head she said, “You didn’t mess up, this can happen to anyone.” She laughed lightly. “It’s why I keep restore in my cabinet as it happens to me as well.”

They chatted for a bit longer and the young Constable felt a bit better by the time Ray came back with what his Mum had asked for.

Taking the boxes of Rednight Number 3, Mrs Kowalski went into the bathroom with the Serge in her other hand and was gone for a few minutes before coming back.

Clapping her hands she said, “OK boys, that will take about two hours, so I think dinner is in order, what do you say?”

They both agreed as long as they could help.

Time flew by and before they knew it the sheets and tops were dry and back to being white. Turnbull couldn’t believe it, they were perfect. He burst into tears and hugged the woman.

She kissed his cheek as she spoke, “See young man, no need to panic.”

Twenty minutes later another miracle, the Serge was now back to its perfect red colour. Even the badges and lining were perfect and intact. Turnbull could not believe it and wanted to pay the very kind lady for helping, but she would not have any of it, insisting only that he came back for dinner on Sunday.

Later that night when Ray dropped Turnbull home, Turnbull voice was full of emotion as he spoke, “Thank you Detective Kowalski, you and your mother really saved the day, it was a Red Miracle!” he added with chuckle.

Ray laughed, “Yes it was and please, and call me Ray. Ok, I’ll pick you up on Sunday for dinner at my Mum’s.”

Getting out of the car Turnbull spoke once more, “Yes thank you, Ray, I’ll look forward to it.”

Ray pulled away, excited that Ben would be home soon and pleased that his Mum saved the day. Yes all was good, yes very good.

The End