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Ray took a sip of his ginger ale and leaned over his partner, Fraser, to look at the fluffy cloud formations outside their plane window.
“Would you like to trade seats?” Fraser asked.
“No, I don't want the window seat when we land,” Ray replied. I’m fine in the air, but I don't like to watch the landing. Take off and landing, I just gotta look straight ahead.”
“I understand, Ray,” Fraser replied. “You know, fear of flying is quite common. Aerophobia is one of the most common fears, as a matter of fact.” Fraser took a sip of his tea.
“I don't have a fear of flying so much as a fear of seeing the plane plummeting towards the ground and waiting for the impact.”
“Ah,” Fraser replied. “Well, the odds of being involved in a plane crash are less than 1 in eleven million, so I wouldn’t worry too much.”
“Eleven million, huh?” Ray asked.
“Yes. Although,” Fraser chuckled, “I myself have been in one.”
“Of course you have,” Ray replied.
“But that was a completely different situation in which the pilot was not actually the pilot, and jumped out of the plane forcing me to attempt an emergency crash landing.”
“Fraser, you can stop talking now,” said Ray.
“Understood.”
Ray leaned his head back and closed his eyes. They were flying back to Chicago after a quick trip to Toronto regarding a current case they were working on. Ray was glad to be almost home. Toronto had been a little too clean, and a little too polite. It was like Fraser in overdrive. He preferred Canadianness in small doses and was ready for the familiar noise and smell of garbage that came from Chicago’s city streets. Ray opened his eyes as a stewardess pushed a cart down the aisle, collecting trash from the passengers. She collected his and Fraser’s, then continued on down the aisle. He watched as a few rows ahead of them, on the opposite side of the plane, a very pregnant woman got up from her seat and walked to the bathroom at the front of the plane. A couple of minutes later, she returned to her seat, but doubled over in obvious pain and grabbed her belly before finally taking her seat again. He looked over at Fraser and noticed Fraser was also watching her, his eyes narrowed in focus and his head slightly cocked.
“I hope she’s okay,” Ray said.
“Mmm hmm,” Fraser gave a little nod. A moment later, a flight attendant approached the woman’s seat and then squatted down to her level as they spoke to each other. After a few minutes, the flight attendant gently led the woman towards the front of the plane. Her partner followed, his hand on the small of her back. A female voice came on over the speaker.
“Passengers, at this time we would like to ask if there is a doctor on board. If so, please come to the front of the plane. Any doctor on board, please come to the front. Thank you.” Ray looked around to see if anyone was getting out of their seat, but no one stood. He heard Fraser unbuckle his seat belt.
“Ray, would you mind?” he asked, motioning for Ray to let him out.
“Fraser, what are you doing?” She asked for a doctor, not a mountie. Last time I checked, you weren’t a doctor.”
“No, I know, Ray, but I have assisted in childbirth before and I thought perhaps I could be of assistance now.” Ray pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Of course you have,” he muttered. “All right.” He stood and moved aside to allow Fraser into the aisle, then followed him to the front of the plane. They discovered the pregnant woman lying down, covered by a blanket and surrounded by flight attendants.
“Are you a doctor?” one of them asked, looking at Fraser, and then at Ray.
“No ma'am,” Fraser replied. “Constable Benton Fraser, Royal Canadian Mounted Police.” The woman looked confused. “I thought perhaps I could be of some assistance.”
“Thank you, Constable, but this woman has gone into labor and we’re looking for a medical professional to attend to her.”
“I understand,” Fraser replied. “I have assisted in childbirth in the past, so I thought, in the absence of a medical doctor, that I might be able to lend a hand.”
“You have?” the flight attendant asked.
“Yes. As a matter of fact, it was during a blinding snowstorm and the Inuit woman whose son I delivered-”
“Fraser,” Ray interrupted, shaking his head, “Not now.”
Fraser held up his hand and nodded, indicating he understood Ray’s implication that now was not the time for that story. The pregnant woman groaned in pain and squeezed her partner’s hand.
“I’m sorry, who are you?” a male flight attendant asked Ray.
“Me? I’m detective Ray Vecchio, Chicago PD.” He showed his badge. “I’m with him,” he pointed at Fraser.
“Two cops on board? Should we be concerned?”
“Only if you’ve done something illegal,” Ray chuckled, and the flight attendant gave him an awkward smile. Fraser unbuttoned his tunic and pushed up the sleeves of his under shirt. He cleaned his hands, wrists and forearms with hand sanitizer before donning a pair of disposable rubber gloves that the flight attendants gave him. Then he kneeled down in front of the woman.
“I’m Fraser,” he said. “And you are?”
“Violet,” she answered through breaths.
“And I’m her husband, Thomas.” Fraser gave him a nod, and then addressed Violet again.
“Ma’am, do you mind if I…” he gestured toward the blanket covering the lower half of her body.
“No,” she replied, gritting her teeth through obvious pain. Fraser discreetly lifted the blanket and assessed Violet’s condition. “Am I going to make it to the hospital?” she asked.
“I’m afraid not,” Fraser replied. “It would appear your baby is eager to meet you.”
“Yeah, I can tell,” she groaned in pain, “I need to push.”
“You’re crowning,” said Fraser, as he shifted slightly to get in a better position. “On your next contraction, I want you to push, okay?” She nodded.
“You can do it, baby,” said Thomas. Violet cried out in pain.
“Okay, push,” said Fraser. “Push, Violet.” Violet gave it all she had, as involuntary tears rolled down her face from the pain and effort. Thomas wiped her sweaty hair off of her forehead.
“Okay, stop Violet,” said Fraser. “You’re doing great. Keep breathing.” Sweat beads had formed on Fraser’s brow and were beginning to drip down his forehead. He tried to wipe them on his sleeve, but was unsuccessful. “Ray, would you mind?” He indicated his need.
“You’ve got to be kidding?” Ray asked.
“Well, I’d do it myself,” Fraser replied, “but…”
“Yeah okay,” Ray moved to grab a towel from one of the flight attendants, but she moved toward Fraser.
“Allow me,” she said, mopping his brow and offering him a smile.
“Thank you kindly,” Fraser replied. Ray rolled his eyes. Even in a situation as bizarre as this, women found him irresistible. “I need you to push again,” he said to Violet. “Push, push, push.” She cried out again from the effort. “Your baby is almost here,” he said. One more round of pushing, and Fraser lifted the baby out from under the blanket. A flight attendant wrapped the baby in a clean blanket as it started to cry. Fraser handed the baby to Violet. “Congratulations,” he said. “You have a beautiful baby girl.” Violet was crying and Thomas was beaming as they looked at their new daughter. The flight attendants all clapped. Fraser removed his soiled rubber gloves and disposed of them. Thomas stood and shook his hand.
“Thank you so much,” he said.
“We can’t thank you enough,” Violet said to Fraser.
“Does she have a name?” Fraser asked.
“Not yet,” Violet replied. “We haven’t been able to agree on one. I want Hazel, but Thomas wants Harper.”
“Ah, well, I’m sure you’ll decide soon enough,” said Fraser.
“What’s your mother’s name,” Violet asked.
“Caroline,” Fraser replied. Violet drew in her breath.
“Caroline,” she repeated. “That’s beautiful.”
“I love it,” Thomas agreed.
“Welcome to the world, Caroline,” said Violet.
“Thank you so much for your help,” one of the flight attendants said to Fraser. “You’re a hero.” She touched his elbow and Fraser looked down at his feet.
“Well,” he said. “It’s no more than anyone else would have done.” He gave the flight attendant a shy smile.
“We’re going to be landing soon, so you should head back to your seats,” another one said.
“That was kind of disgusting,” Ray said, as they returned to their seats and fastened their seat belts, “but also kind of amazing.” Sometimes it was annoying having Superman for a partner, but he had to admit, Fraser never ceased to amaze him with his abilities. He wondered if Fraser possessed any other hidden skills that he would discover in the future. One thing he knew for certain, that it would take a lifetime to learn everything about this strange, complex man he called his best friend.