Chapter Six
Sitting Up With the Sick

Constable Benton Fraiser eyed the door to the men's room with some trepidation. The retching sounds coming from inside had been impressive. They had stopped now, but Detective Sandburg had still not reappeared, and he was beginning to get worried about the young man.

Benton knew that some people, despite how little sense it made, were embarrassed when they evacuated the contents of their stomach. It was silly, really. People didn't do it on purpose. He paused in thought. Perhaps except for that one drunk with a bad attitude. He had seemed to aim at Stanley.

Fraiser eased the door open and peeked inside. Sandburg was bent over one of the sinks, rinsing his mouth out. "Blair? Are you all right?"

Blair's voice was strained. "Not really, Benny. Up chucking your guts is not all right." He stared, and said in a choked tone. "Is that the pie?"

"Yes. Jim thought that you..."

Blair dashed for one of the stalls again. The retches this time were a little less frantic. In a moment, the toilet flushed, and he emerged, a little shakily.

"Oh, dear." Benton went to him. "Was it only Ray's distasteful joke, or is there a physical problem? Perhaps I should call a physician?"

"No, no. It was just... that story gave me a turn, and the thought of more food...." He shuddered. Benton hid the pie under his hat. Blair splashed his face. "Hand me a paper towel, wouldya, buddy?"

Fraiser pulled a couple of paper towels out of the dispenser and extended them toward Blair. As the Cascade detective reached for them, Benny suddenly noticed that there were droplets of water caught on his eyelashes, like crystal beads. Such thick eyelashes. They look very dark when he lowers them against his skin.

"Benny? You gonna let me have those?"

With a start, Fraiser realized that Blair had hold of the paper towels, had for several seconds. He released them quickly, and Blair blotted his face.

"Ya know, that stuff tasted a lot better the first time around. Benny, I wish you wouldn't stare at me like that."

"Oh." Benton flushed. Was I staring? I guess I was, if he noticed it.

"I mean, I know I'm no walk in the park, here, but have a little pity on a guy."

"What? You look fine, Blair."

Blair peered into the mirror. "Bullshit, but bless you for tryin', man. I'm green around the gills."

"Perhaps a touch pale. But then, you have a naturally fair complexion."

"Yeah. I gotta be careful, or I burn like nobody's business." He pulled out a comb and began to run it through his hair. "Guess it's from that little bit of red in the hair."

Fraiser watched with increasing fascination as he stroked the comb through the loose, red-brown curls that fell past his shoulders. He’d been struck by that hair the first time he saw Blair. There was something almost alive about it. Vital, like the anthropologist himself. And it looks very soft. I do believe that it would wind all the way around my hand, possibly even twice.

"Okay, damage repaired." Blair stuck the comb back in his pocket. "Have Jim and Stanley already left?"

"Yes, just after you, er, exited."

"Thought so. I knew Jim would be eager to get home. Let's go get settled in."

Back at Solly's room, they dismissed the security guard, and went inside. It was actually a semi private room, (all they'd had available at the time), but the other bed was empty, and would stay empty. If they needed it bad enough, it could be wheeled out.

A rather pretty nurse was just unfastening a blood pressure cuff from Solly's arm, the one that didn't have the IV in it. She looked at Blair, and pointed to where Solly's right arm was cuffed to the side rail. "The other guy did that. Are you going to leave him that way?"

"Certainly not." Blair went to the bed, pulling his own set of cuffs off his belt, and cuffed Solly's left arm in the same manner. He gave the nurse a charming smile. "Thank you for bringing it to my attention."

She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help smiling back. "You two going to be here all night?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. We'll be back in to check his vitals every hour. There are extra blankets and pillows in the cabinet, if you need them." She glanced between the two men. Wow. Little and cute and big and built. Forget the blankets, fellas. If either of you... hell, if both of you need a way to keep warm, just come and get me. "I'm just down the hall at the nurses's station if his condition changes, or you need anything." She put an extra sashay in her walking, wishing for once that they still wore those little white uniforms instead of these pea green scrubs.

Benton deposited his hat and the pie on the shelf by the cabinet. "Blair, I believe she was flirting with you."

"She was flirting with you, Benny."

The Mountie blushed. "Oh, surely not."

"Why not?"

"Well, Stanley calls me a moose. I am sure he means it in an affectionate way, but it is not very flattering."

"Is not. Benny, say it's."

Fraiser frowned. "Why should I do that?"

"I just want to hear you use a contraction. Say shouldn't."

"Blair, there is no reason for me..."

"There's."

"No."

Blair sighed. "I'll wear you down on this."

"I do not think so." Blair's eyes sparkled. My, they are very blue. Almost the same shade as... as Stanley's eyes.

"Don't be so sure. I love a challenge." And this is going to be a challenge. You, my dear Benton, seem totally oblivious, and the nurse will be back every hour. I guess that means no nooky till I can get us back to the apartment. I'll just have to try to soften you up for the next few hours. Damn, I hope Jim and Stanley don't break the bed.

There was only one straight backed chair in the room, and Blair was waiting for Benton to suggest that he take it. Maybe he should go look for another chair? Then Benton said, "Blair, perhaps you should lie down."

Oh yes!

"I am sure you are quite tired. There is no reason why you cannot sleep a bit."

Crap.

Fraiser watched the smaller man hopefully. He wanted to see what Blair would look like asleep, stretched out, with his hair spread on a pillow. Very fetching, I am sure. Benton gave himself a mental shake. Fetching? That was not a term to use for a man. But it seemed appropriate with Blair. He was very appealing. So energetic. Like Stanley.

"Maybe later." Blair perched on the edge of the mattress. "I'll just sit for awhile. So, Benny, do the Mounties have the usual cop problems?"

"What sort of problems?" Fraiser sat ramrod straight in the hard chair. Somehow he looked totally comfortable.

"Oh, girl problems? You know, your girl going to get aggravated at you for being away longer than you expected, even if it IS your job, and not your fault?"

"The job does involve a great deal of unscheduled time, but as I am not involved in a relationship, it is not a problem."

"What, Benny, you don't have a girl? A big, handsome guy like you?"

Fraiser flushed. He thinks I am handsome. Of course, he may just be being kind. "No, Blair. Actually, I never really have had anyone who could be called a girlfriend. When I was younger, we traveled a great deal around the territories. We were never in one place long enough for me to form attachments. Then I entered the force, and I have not had time."

"I would have thought that the women would be tearing the red serge right off you." I know I'd like to.

"Detective Vecchio's sister Francesca has shown a marked interest in me. She is a nice girl but..." He hesitated.

"She doesn't race your motor?"

"You and Ray both express yourselves in flamboyant terms, but no. She does not rev my engine."

"So, what do you do for a social life?"

Benton thought. "I often meet nice people when I am strolling with Diefenbaker. Constable Turnbull and I play cards a good deal. And there is Ray, of course."

"Good friends with Ray?"

"Yes, very good friends." Fraiser thought about what Ray...well, Stanley, meant to him. He had been hurt when the real Vecchio had disappeared into the undercover assignment with nary a word, and had resented the man who replaced him. But 'Ray the K' Stanley Kowalski had proved to be a true friend. He had accepted Fraiser without hesitation, and had been there for him countless times, both with the physical dangers of the job, and the more subtle dangers of his emotional turmoil. "Friendship really is not a strong enough word to express how I feel."

Blair nodded in understanding. "Like Jim and me. I don't know what I’d do without the big lug. Well, maybe not exactly like Jim and me."

"I see a number of striking similarities between Ray and I, and you and your partner."

"Yeah, Benny, but Jim and I are real close."

"So are Ray and I."

"We've been sharing an apartment for over four years."

"It is marvelous that you can get along so well."

"Benny, the apartment has two bedrooms, but for all but the first six months, only one of them has been used." Fraiser blinked at Blair. Blair could swear that he actually heard a switch click in Fraiser's mind as his eyes widened. "Oh dear?"

Fraiser swallowed. "Yes. Oh dear would seem to cover it. You and Jim are... uh..."

"Lovers."

"Ah."

"It's a committed relationship. We're going to stay together. But there's a little leeway allowed. Otherwise I wouldn't have let him take your partner home."

Another switch flipped. The eyes got wider. "Ray?" Fraiser swallowed. "But Ray is not... I mean... He never told me he was... Why do you believe he is..."

"Gay. He was feeling Jim up under the table with his foot. You didn't notice?"

"I thought he was just restless."

"He was restless, all right. But Jim can drain off some of that nervous energy for him."

"That does not bother you, Blair? You are not hurt?"

"Nah, I can understand. Stanley's cute as hell, even if he isn't exactly my type. Jim will have a good time with him, but when you two go back to Chicago, Jim will still be here with me. It would be kind of cruel of me to deny the world Jim, wouldn't it? And it works both ways. If I run into someone drooly, I can have a little fun without Jimmy getting jealous."

"That is a most enlightened attitude."

"Thank you. And may I say that you are enlightened for thinking that it is enlightened. You know, I'm not sleepy, but I am tired. Maybe I will lie down for just a little."

Blair kicked off his shoes and stretched out on the bed. Lying on his side facing Fraiser, he curved his upper leg slightly, resting the knee on the mattress, and let his hair drift half across his face. Jim loved this. Said it made him look like a classic Renaissance painting. Of course the effect is better when I'm nude.

Benton stared. Blair had folded his arms, tucking them up under his chin, and his shirt had pulled up a little. Benny could see a small slice of firm belly, with the shallow dip of the navel perfectly centered, and a thread of dark hair trickling down to disappear under the waistband of Blair's pants. Suddenly the room seemed very, very warm.

Oh dear.