donutsweeper (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
donutsweeper) wrote2007-11-15 10:35 am
donutsweeper) wrote2007-11-15 10:35 am
Scents and Sensibilities
Title: Scents and Sensibilities
Pairing/Rating/Warning: none, rated G
Word Count: 1000
Summary: A meeting between old friends cheers everyone up.
Beta:_medley_
Author's Note: Written forrustydog, who wanted wanted a Due South/Torchwood crossover from Diefenbaker's point of view. See here for other Due South/Torchwood crossovers.
Pairing/Rating/Warning: none, rated G
Word Count: 1000
Summary: A meeting between old friends cheers everyone up.
Beta:
_medley_Author's Note: Written for
rustydog, who wanted wanted a Due South/Torchwood crossover from Diefenbaker's point of view. See here for other Due South/Torchwood crossovers.It was nearly quitting time before they told Benton about the envelopes that needed to be stuffed before the morning mail. Not that he complained about staying late. He would never complain. He’d merely called Ray and cancelled their plans and then began folding, stuffing, sealing and stamping. I helped. Well, as much as a wolf was able to.
It was dark before everything was finally done and we could leave the embassy. Benton paused on the steps, smelling the air. I sniffed it too; there was a crispness to it, it almost smelled like winter, but not quite. Benton looked down at me, “It’s hard to believe it’s December, isn’t it, Dief?” I saw him sigh. “It seems wrong that we can be practically approaching Christmas without the first snow of season having happened yet.” I leaned against him for a second, trying to tell him it’s okay; this was Chicago, not home, and that’s the way things were here, but I’m not sure he even tried to understand.
I picked up a familiar smell and took off down the sidewalk, holding my tail high. I knew Benton would follow me, walking quickly to try to catch up. I had to track down that smell! There was a sudden swirl in the shadows and then the path was blocked by a dark figure.
I looked up and saw Benton say, “Pardon me, sir,” as he stepped to the side to let the shadowy figure pass.
I barked happily, having found what I was looking for. “Now Constable, is that anyway to greet an old friend?” The shadow said, laughing. But it wasn’t a shadow, it was Jack! I found Jack!!!
Even Benton smiled when he recognized the other man. He let himself be engulfed in a hearty hug and pummeled his friend’s back in return while I pranced around the two men.
“It’s good to see you too, Dief.” Jack said, releasing Benton and bending down on one knee to bury his face in my fur. Then he took my face in his hands and looked me straight in the eye. “Have you been taking care of Ben for me like you promised?” I huffed, a bit annoyed he’d even think he had to ask. But then he scratched me in that spot behind the ear so I forgave him. I couldn’t miss the concerned expression on his face as he studied Benton, he probably thought my pack mate looked as tired and stressed as I did. “Ben?” Jack seemed a little worried, and pretty tired himself.
“I’m fine, Jack. It’s fine. However, it has been one of those days.” Benton managed a small smile for his friend as he bent down to scratch me behind the other ear. A wolf could get used to this. “Are you in town long?”
Jack sighed, one of those big sighs that starts in the toes and ends in sagging shoulders. “No. I’m not even supposed to be here, but then something came up and they decided I was the best one to handle it, and, well, you know how that goes.”
Benton nodded, and said, half to himself, “Responsibilities.” I leaned up against him as a sign of support. He may have his responsibilities, but he is mine after all.
Jack cocked an eyebrow; I wish I knew how he did that. “Yes. I guess we’re both overly familiar with those.” But then he smiled, a warm and open smile. “But it meant I got to see you two again.” And he gave me another ear scratch. “Twice in the last...” I saw a crease brush across Jack’s forehead and the smile turned sheepish as he drifted off. I wasn’t sure what he was embarrassed about, I didn’t know how long it had been either.
“Twice in a very short time,” Benton supplied quickly, “a short time for you, anyway.”
“Right.” Jack said, standing up. I stood up too. “Well, boys,” Jack asked, “Have time to grab some coffee?”
“For you, Jack? Always.” I barked in agreement as well.
We wound up at the diner Benton had been frequenting of late. The owner never tried to shoo me out by pointing to ‘no dogs allowed’ sign like other people in this town did. How people couldn’t see the difference between wolves and dogs was something I never quite understood. No one here ever cared if Benton nursed a cup of coffee for hours while reading one of his dad’s journals, and sometimes the waitresses brought me leftover bacon or sausages. To say I liked the place was putting it mildly.
I sat there next to them for a bit, watching them catch up. Jack kept the banter light, going on and on about the trials and tribulations of Torchwood’s pet pterodactyl, whatever that was, but he carefully deflected any specific questions about his recent activities or well-being. Benton, meanwhile, spoke at great depth about a recent case he’d helped Detectives Huey and Gardino solve and they’d both laughed at his description of how Lieutenant Welsh attempted, but hadn’t quite succeeded, to hide a smile when the damsel in distress had kissed each one of them in appreciation. I noticed that Benton did not mention how things at his actual job in the consulate were going, and Jack didn’t ask.
Eventually I lay down under the table directly between the two men, sprawling over their feet. I could feel the shift in vibrations when the pitch of their voices changed as they relaxed, the tension draining out of them was so obvious I could almost see it. My tail was wagging so fast I was probably going to wear the finish off the floor. It had been so long since Benton relaxed like this, since he let himself enjoy this new home. Jack always did wonders for him. They were so happy together.
Right before I feel asleep I wondered if I was going to be acting as a doorstop again tonight...
It was dark before everything was finally done and we could leave the embassy. Benton paused on the steps, smelling the air. I sniffed it too; there was a crispness to it, it almost smelled like winter, but not quite. Benton looked down at me, “It’s hard to believe it’s December, isn’t it, Dief?” I saw him sigh. “It seems wrong that we can be practically approaching Christmas without the first snow of season having happened yet.” I leaned against him for a second, trying to tell him it’s okay; this was Chicago, not home, and that’s the way things were here, but I’m not sure he even tried to understand.
I picked up a familiar smell and took off down the sidewalk, holding my tail high. I knew Benton would follow me, walking quickly to try to catch up. I had to track down that smell! There was a sudden swirl in the shadows and then the path was blocked by a dark figure.
I looked up and saw Benton say, “Pardon me, sir,” as he stepped to the side to let the shadowy figure pass.
I barked happily, having found what I was looking for. “Now Constable, is that anyway to greet an old friend?” The shadow said, laughing. But it wasn’t a shadow, it was Jack! I found Jack!!!
Even Benton smiled when he recognized the other man. He let himself be engulfed in a hearty hug and pummeled his friend’s back in return while I pranced around the two men.
“It’s good to see you too, Dief.” Jack said, releasing Benton and bending down on one knee to bury his face in my fur. Then he took my face in his hands and looked me straight in the eye. “Have you been taking care of Ben for me like you promised?” I huffed, a bit annoyed he’d even think he had to ask. But then he scratched me in that spot behind the ear so I forgave him. I couldn’t miss the concerned expression on his face as he studied Benton, he probably thought my pack mate looked as tired and stressed as I did. “Ben?” Jack seemed a little worried, and pretty tired himself.
“I’m fine, Jack. It’s fine. However, it has been one of those days.” Benton managed a small smile for his friend as he bent down to scratch me behind the other ear. A wolf could get used to this. “Are you in town long?”
Jack sighed, one of those big sighs that starts in the toes and ends in sagging shoulders. “No. I’m not even supposed to be here, but then something came up and they decided I was the best one to handle it, and, well, you know how that goes.”
Benton nodded, and said, half to himself, “Responsibilities.” I leaned up against him as a sign of support. He may have his responsibilities, but he is mine after all.
Jack cocked an eyebrow; I wish I knew how he did that. “Yes. I guess we’re both overly familiar with those.” But then he smiled, a warm and open smile. “But it meant I got to see you two again.” And he gave me another ear scratch. “Twice in the last...” I saw a crease brush across Jack’s forehead and the smile turned sheepish as he drifted off. I wasn’t sure what he was embarrassed about, I didn’t know how long it had been either.
“Twice in a very short time,” Benton supplied quickly, “a short time for you, anyway.”
“Right.” Jack said, standing up. I stood up too. “Well, boys,” Jack asked, “Have time to grab some coffee?”
“For you, Jack? Always.” I barked in agreement as well.
We wound up at the diner Benton had been frequenting of late. The owner never tried to shoo me out by pointing to ‘no dogs allowed’ sign like other people in this town did. How people couldn’t see the difference between wolves and dogs was something I never quite understood. No one here ever cared if Benton nursed a cup of coffee for hours while reading one of his dad’s journals, and sometimes the waitresses brought me leftover bacon or sausages. To say I liked the place was putting it mildly.
I sat there next to them for a bit, watching them catch up. Jack kept the banter light, going on and on about the trials and tribulations of Torchwood’s pet pterodactyl, whatever that was, but he carefully deflected any specific questions about his recent activities or well-being. Benton, meanwhile, spoke at great depth about a recent case he’d helped Detectives Huey and Gardino solve and they’d both laughed at his description of how Lieutenant Welsh attempted, but hadn’t quite succeeded, to hide a smile when the damsel in distress had kissed each one of them in appreciation. I noticed that Benton did not mention how things at his actual job in the consulate were going, and Jack didn’t ask.
Eventually I lay down under the table directly between the two men, sprawling over their feet. I could feel the shift in vibrations when the pitch of their voices changed as they relaxed, the tension draining out of them was so obvious I could almost see it. My tail was wagging so fast I was probably going to wear the finish off the floor. It had been so long since Benton relaxed like this, since he let himself enjoy this new home. Jack always did wonders for him. They were so happy together.
Right before I feel asleep I wondered if I was going to be acting as a doorstop again tonight...
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Also added you to my frineds list. So I don't miss any stories, and can find you when I have time (*HA!) when done moving. Then, I hope to read lots of stories.
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