Ratings/warnings: PG.

Pairings: none

Spoilers: none

Disclaimers: The Due South Characters Belong to Alliance.

Archive: Please archive.

Song in the Key of Life, part 2: Snapshots

Author: Marian

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"Dance Ben Dance" Caroline watched her toddler son bounce up and down as the Isley brothers belted out the original "twist And Shout" over the radio. "Can you twist for mum?"

Caroline took Ben's hands in hers and helped him twist on his little feet.

A rather precarious dance for a small one just discovering balance, but he loved to do it and he shouted out in joy when the song said to shout. As he danced he let go of his mum's hand and landed hard on his rump. Ben looked like he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. At his expression, Caroline just had to grab the camera and get another memory

*CLICK *

Little Julie Frohbisher came running over to her friend Ben's home clutching the new 45 record that she just got. "Ben I got this new record by the Beatles let's play it.".

Then the Beatles sang "Twist and Shout."

"Uh Julie, that is not a new song."

"Yeah it is ' We just got it."

"I mean the Beatles didn't do this song first."

."Yes they did I heard it on the radio."

"The Isley brothers did it first."

"Did not. Who are they? I never heard of them. I think you're lying.

I'm gonna tell your mom."

"OK, C'mon lets ask my mom She knows I'm not lying." An angry Ben grasped Julie's hand and towed her along with him.

When she was asked the question Caroline explained:

"Kid's, it is ok for more than one person or group to sing a song.

Julie, the Isley brothers did make up the song. Ben, the Beatles liked the song so much they wanted to sing it and the Isley brothers said they could. You both sometimes like to sing the same song, don't you?"

They both sheepishly replied "yeah."

"Then it's settled. No more fuss about this."

Caroline's directive was to be ignored when she later heard Ben and Julie argue:

"The Beatles do it better."

"Do not."

"Do to."

"The Isley brothers do it best."

"Do not."

"Do to."

Caroline could only sigh. She decided to take a cue from the song and let the kids "work it on out".

After a silence, Caroline thought to check on the kids. Ben and Julie were so cute trying to twist to the song, their difference of opinion forgotten.

"Oh for a camera" Caroline thought and proceeded to find the Polaroid.

Sneaking up on the kids, she snapped the picture.

" Awwww MOM! Didja have to do that?"

*CLICK *

Ben was excited. Today was his sixth birthday. He was hopeful that his dad would make it home to celebrate the occasion.

Caroline watched her son fidget as he did his chores. He made his bed with considerable precision for a six year old.

"He wants to impress Robert," she thought to herself. She knew that it was unlikely that Robert would come home for Ben's birthday even though he did promise he would do his best to be there. He was on the trail of a poacher who was yet to be identified. So, Caroline did what she always did when she did not want Ben to be disappointed. She got Ben a gift and signed Roberts name to it. Fortunately for them, Robert had actually made it home on Ben's fifth Birthday but he did miss this last Christmas. At least Ben would have some memories of his father's presence at special occasions in his life. She doubted, or rather,

hoped, that Ben would remember that his father was absent at many previous holidays and birthdays as he was so young.

As the day wore on Caroline could see that Ben was becoming more quiet.

In an effort to cheer him up, she turned the radio on to their favorite station. The transmission was clear today.

"Ben, honey, would you like to open one of your presents before lunch?"

"OK but I bet it's just another book from grandma or something like dad gave me last year. I bet he won't get me the Lincoln logs I asked for."

Caroline started guiltily. She got Ben the Lincoln logs but she also gave Ben gifts that she thought would reflect Roberts taste. Such things as a magnifying glass, a compass, or a canteen. She had established a pattern and so made the gifts, though welcome, predictable. Ben was obviously catching on that not a lot thought went into his gifts from his father. She knew she had to find a way to make this birthday stand out for him. So he would not feel so isolated or worse, ignored.

" That was The Beatles and their song "Help" This is Zany Zeke and I will be taking dedications for all you folks for the rest of the day. If you want to make someone's day special or just let that one guy or gal know you love them give me a call at......"

Caroline scrambled to write down the number for the radio station that the deejay rattled off.

"Ben honey could you please check on the dogs for me. It's time for their lunch too."

Ben went out of the door, his shoulders slumped.

Caroline rushed to the short-wave radio, arranged for a landline relay to the radio station, and made her request, not only for a song but also for a specific time.

The sun was setting towards the west as Caroline and Ben ate their supper. Ben thought it odd that the radio was on as his Grandpa told him that it was not polite to have it on during family time. When he asked his mom told him that just for today it was all right.

"Ben I am going to clear the dishes. Since it is your birthday, you don't have to help this time. You think of a wish for when I bring out your cake. And no peeking at my present."

With nothing else to do Ben sat, his foot tapping in time to the music on the radio.

" This next song is dedicated to a very special boy who is celebrating his Birthday today. Little Benton Fraser is six years old. Here is the Isley brothers "Twist and Shout."

Ben sat, stunned, the man on the radio knew it was his birthday. There were radio's everywhere so now everyone in the world knew it was his birthday and what song he liked. This was great but...

"MOM, MOM. Come here. The man on the radio talked about me and he's playing our song"

As he said this he stormed towards the kitchen. Grabbing his mother's hand, he dragged her to the living room. The song was just ending as she, in turn, grabbed the Polaroid and snapped a picture of Ben's rapt gaze on the radio.

"Happy Birthday to my new friend Benny Fraser. This dedication was from your Mom and Dad. And now a word from Coca-Cola."

As Caroline turned to her son and asked "So would you like to open...."

She felt the impact of a six-year-old missile.

"Thank you, thank you thank you. That was the best thing ever. Do you think dad heard it where he is?"

"I'm sure he did" Caroline answered. Now how about cakes and presents.."

*CLICK *

"Robert your son needs you."

"Robert do you hear me?"

Buck sighed. He was worried for both his friend and his son. Ben was, by all appearances, perfectly behaved. His father noted how strong he was in the face of his mother's death. What Robert did not seem to see was that Ben seemed too quiet. This behavior was not natural in one so young. Ben had yet to cry and he seemed to try too hard to please the adults around him. Buck thought a little child's play might be just the ticket.

He went to Ben's room.

"Benton I thought we might build that cabin out of Lincoln logs that you got for your birthday"

At Ben's stricken gaze Buck chastised himself for forgetting that the Lincoln logs were the last birthday gift Ben had received from his mum.

"Er, how about some music. AH here is one both you and Julie like."

Buck put a 45 record on the portable player and the words to "Twist and Shout" filled the room.

Buck turned back to Ben and saw such a forlorn face that he was afraid he did something to hurt the boy. Then he heard a quiet voice say:

"She's not coming back is she?"

Gently replying Buck said "No son, she isn't."

"But why? I have been good, I've been quiet and done all my chores.

What do I do to make her come back?"

Buck realized then that no one had really explained that Ben's mother was dead.

Well meaning folks no doubt used terms like "no longer with us" or "gone away" or "Gone to a better place."

None of these things really explained things to a confused child. Ben was trying to make his home a "Better Place" so that his mom could come back.

Buck realized that Robert was in no shape to explain this fact of life to his son so he took it upon himself to do the job.

"Benton, do you remember when Molly had her puppies? "

"Yeah."

"They were all awake and moving and crying?"

"Uh-huh."

"Do you remember that one of the puppies went to sleep but you never could wake him up?"

"Yeah, Dad said he was dead and that meant he would never wake up again and we would never see him again. Then he said that his spir... spi..

er, ghost went to heaven.

"It was his spirit that went to heaven."

"So are you saying that my mum is this... this dead?" Ben's eyes filled

with tears.

"Yes son."

"Then why did everyone lie to me?" His tears turned to anger

"Ben."

"They just said she went away." Ben's little body started to shake

"Benton."

"And now you say she's not coming back...ever!!? I was so good and it was for nothing"

With that Ben got up, tore the record from the player, went over to a drawer opened it and took out some pictures.

"Ben, what are you doing?"

"If something is dead, you are supposed to bury it."

"Well...... yes."

"My mum is dead; she isn't coming back so I have to bury her stuff."

"Ben this makes no sense, those are your things too."

With a logic that made sense to his young mind Ben retorted,

" Why do I want them, I'm not dead. If she wants them I'm gonna to give them to her. Their spirit can go to her can't they?"

Shoving the pictures, the record, and a pair of too small mittens his mom had given him into a tin cookie box, Ben snapped the lid on and ran from the cabin.

Buck was torn he wanted to protect his friends son but he also knew Ben needed to vent his feelings after holding them in for so long. He opted to follow Ben at a discreet distance. What he saw tore at his heart but he remained outwardly stoic in the Mountie tradition.

Ben had ran through what few evergreens grew in the area, past several rock outcroppings and finally stopped at a peculiar looking formation.

From a certain angle, it looked like a Paleolithic carving of a woman.

Undefined but with a generous figure. Next to it stood a small stone.

Oblong and standing on one end, it rather resembled a child.

Buck saw Ben grab the rock and feverishly try to pull it over. In his anguish, Ben succeeded. He used a small rock to gouge at the hardened earth. Finally, there was enough room for him to place the tin in the hole. Ben covered the box.

But his strength seemed to have been spent. When he tried to push and pull the oblong rock back into place, he could not do it. It could only be rolled on its side over the burial spot. Frustrated, Ben sat down, leaned against a curve of the larger stone and wept. Buck considered the irony of a boy burying his memories of his mother only to seek solace in the presence of a mother image.

"He will regret this as he gets older but, for now, this is what the boy needs" Buck thought.

He then saw Ben had fallen asleep. As he picked the child up into his arms and headed back to the cabin, He committed to memory the location of Ben's buried Treasure. He would tell Ben where it was when he needed it.

*........*