Title: Rough Day
Fandom: Due South
Rating:
Length:
Content notes: written fir challenge 74 Rough
Author notes:
Summary:



Ray was sitting at his desk surrounded by a huge pile of paperwork, when his phone rang. Picking it up he answered with, “Detective Kowalski.”

A friendly, but strained voice greeted him. “Raymond, I think you need to come and pick up Alley.”

Frowning with worry, his stomach tightened and a million and one images flashed through his head as to what could be wrong. Finding his voice, Ray asked afraid to hear the answer. “What’s wrong, did something happen? Is she hurt? Why isn’t she at the hospital?”

Ma Vecchio calmed him with her soft tone as she tried to explain. “Raymond, Alley isn’t hurt and so there is no need for the hospital. She does however need to go home as she is very upset and we can’t seem to calm her down. She said that she needs her Police Daddies.”

Ray couldn’t help smile at being called that, but he was still worried as to why his daughter was upset. Tightening his grip on the phone Ray replied, “I am on my way. You can tell me what happened when I get there Ma, don’t worry.”

A sigh of relief came from the other end of the line came before Ma Vecchio answered him. “Thank you, Raymond. I am sorry I had to disturb you at work.”

Hanging up Ray went and told his boss what was going on and was told to take as much time as he needed. Welsh knew that Ray could always leave Alley and her baby brother Callum with either the Vecchios or his parents if they were in town, so there were no worries about his best Detective missing work unless he really needed to.

Ray made it to the Vecchio house in record time. He stood before Ma Vecchio, his face all red from rushing. “So why is my Alley upset?” he asked with concern.

“Please come in and have some coffee and I will explain,” replied Ma, gesturing for Ray to come into the house.

Ray followed her into the kitchen. He felt sorry for her as she looked truly upset for having to call him.

Ray sat down holding his cup of coffee. “So what happened to get Alley upset?” he asked again.

Ma nodded and folded her hands together before speaking. “Alley got upset when we were reading the Bible storybook.”

Raising an eyebrow Ray asked, “What could have upset her in a Bible storybook?”

Ma gave a shaky smile and explained, “We were reading about Jesus and she couldn’t believe that they crucified him just because he was different and afraid. She wants you and her other Daddy to arrest them for doing that to God’s son.”

Blowing out a breath Ray rubbed his hand through his hair. “You’re kidding me,” he replied. “How am I supposed to deal with this?”

Shaking her head Ma replied, “I’m not sure, this has never happened before and I’ve read Bible stories to lots of children. I am sure you will think of something. Wait here and I will get Alley; she is eating milk and cookies with Francesca.”

Ray watched her leave to get his daughter. He rubbed his face with his hands and wondered how he was going to fix this.

Alley rushed into the room and jumped straight onto his lap; she was sobbing her little heart out. “Daddy...Daddy, why did they do that? They killed God’s son!” Her voice grew stronger. “That is not nice! Will you and Dad arrest them?”

Brushing her blonde curls behind her ear Ray spoke using a soft tone. “We would love to, Alley, but that happened a really long time ago. I don’t know why they did that either.”

Frannie saw him struggle so she said, “You know, Jesus was very special and he helped lots of people. God sent him back and he lived for a long time so he could help lots and lots more people.”

Alley’s sobs quietened, but her voice was still shaky as she spoke. “Really? How did he come back after he was killed? I thought you go to heaven forever.”

Holding her close, Ray nodded for Frannie to carry on. “You do and it’s a beautiful place, I am sure. God needed his son to come back to tell people not to be afraid and to help those who needed help.”

Wiping her eyes Alley looked into her Daddy’s eyes and smiled. “Just like my Daddy and Dad do,” she said. “They help lots of people too and catch bad guys.”

Ray looked at his daughter with more love than ever. He had never been compared to Jesus before.

Frannie nodded, her voice choked with emotion. “Ya that is right, Alley sweetheart.”

Hugging her Daddy, Alley smiled, “OK, thank you Auntie Frannie.”

Ma and Frannie wiped the tears that fell at the sight of father and daughter together. Ma’s voice sounded just as emotional as Frannie’s had. “Why don’t you head home now, Alley and get some rest?”

Smiling a smile that matched the brightness of her Daddy’s, Alley replied, “Thank you kindly Nonna; that will be greatness.”

Ray laughed, turning slightly pink as he stood up. “She, ah, picked up some of our favourite sayings, I guess.”

Ma and Frannie smiled and laughed lightly. “It’s a wonderful thing to see,” Ma said. “She is lucky to have you both as her parents.”

Thanking her, Ray took his daughter’s hand as they walked to the car. All the way there he thought about what a struggle it had been to have her; finding the surrogate and the pregnancy and all that came with that, but the trust and love that came from Alley and now their newborn son Callum made it all worthwhile. Now he and Ben each had a biological child and it was worth every rough day that they ever had to be able to come home and be a family together.

The end