Rating: PG
Codes: Kowalski/Frannie
Teaser: Broken cappucino machine... caffeine-withdrawn civilian aides... smart-ass Chicago flatfoots with experimental hair and knowing smiles... 'nuff said.
Disclaimer: Alliance owns all. Like the title says, this is just a little bit of froth I came up with one lonely midnight, December 31st. (Every year I have to finish a fanfic just *after* midnight. Don't know why.)
Author's Note: When I'm tired and battling with my muse (in the unconventional sense that she gives me too *many* ideas), I cheat. :) I 'translate' stories that I wrote for other fandoms and see how well they work. Oddly, many seem to work a whole lot better with Due South characters. This is one of 'em.

Cappucino Froth
(c) Sasscat Bu-to-y 1999-2000
"Francesca, can you run this license plate for me? Francesca, can you call the Ministry of Agricultural Trade or whatever the hell it was for me?" Frannie rubbed her pounding temples as she printed off another pop sheet for another felon for some cop who you'd *think* could've figured out how to do it himself by now. "Francesca, could you get me a cup of coffee? No, because the cappucino machine is broken and we're back to that revolting sludge Lieutenant Welsh likes to drink."
"Talking to yourself, Frannie?"
She cringed at the infuriatingly chipper voice. Of course Kowalski was in a good mood. He didn't rely on the cappucino machine for decent coffee. He didn't even *taste* his coffee, because he filled half his cup with M&Ms. It was, she personally thought, one of his more disgusting habits.
"Go to hell, Ray," she said pleasantly, rummaging in her pile of papers for the particular piece he'd asked for. "There, Edward Cunningham. Go sit somewhere and read it - I know it's hard, but you're getting so *good* at the big words."
"Don't know about big words, but there's some four-letter ones I'd--"
"Vecchio!"
Kowalski made a face and pulled out the toothpick he was chewing the end of. "Coming!" he bellowed without turning around. "Frannie, hold that thought."
"I'd better, because *you* won't be able to," she snorted as he headed for Welsh's office. Then it was back to the grindstone, with fifty more menial tasks to complete without a decent cup of coffee to keep her going.
Forty-seven menial tasks later, a familiar scent hit her nose. Coffee! The smell was so thick she could almost touch it. She froze mid-phone call, and slowly looked up.
Kowalski grinned, wafted the cup he was holding, and sauntered across the squad room. Son of a bitch.
"Ah, could I call you back? Something just came up." Frannie barely heard the car dealer's response. "Yeah, thanks..." She hung up and hurried after Kowalski. Which way had the bastard gone?
Well, there was one way to find out. She closed her eyes and inhaled the rich aroma, moaning in frustration at the absence of a smooth, satin-rimmed cup in her hand. Yep. Coffee had been this way, and not too long ago. She opened her eyes again, all business, and followed the trail of coffee-scent down the hall, taking no notice of the direction it led her.
When she finally caught him ducking into the supply closet, Kowalski had the nerve to feign innocence. "Oh, hey, Frannie, fancy meeting you here. Need a light bulb?" He swapped the coffee cup from hand to hand, practically tossing it. Deep smells wafted through the air towards her; enveloping her, teasing her senses, dancing on the edge of taste.
"Give me the coffee, Ray," she growled, a little surprised at her own intensity.
Ray just smiled. He lifted the cup, a study in nonchalance, and took a deep sip. He barely grimaced at the lack of candy sweetener. His eyes never left hers. Frannie could almost feel the heat of the coffee skimming down his throat, the soft movements as he swallowed, the incredible taste... The taste... She wet her lips.
"Give me the coffee." It was almost a plea.
Ray stepped towards her, slow and tantalising. The coffee smell thickened as he moved across the closet. His eyes were dark, his lips moist. He lifted the cup, so close she could almost draw the coffee to her mouth by willpower alone. Almost. He took another sip, eyes inches from hers.
Frannie nearly moaned. Her lips parted of their own accord. Her breathing was unsteady, and they both knew it. "Give me the coffee," she whispered.
"Didn't say the magic word," Ray murmured, holding the cup between them.
He wanted her to ask, Frannie realised. Yeah, right, like *that* was gonna happen. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Her eyes were drawn to his lips, a tiny droplet of coffee hanging from the corner of his mouth. She could play games, too.
One quick movement and the droplet was on her tongue, melting, sliding down her throat in a rich caress she hadn't tasted for far too long. She moaned softly, licked his lips again, and when that failed she slipped her tongue inside to capture every last molecule of coffee. A hand ran up to tangle in his hair, another draped around his neck to hold him close.
He slid an arm around her waist, his other hand holding the warm cup awkwardly against her back. Their tongues battled for the coffee, pulses in syncopated war rhythms as first one, then the other gained the upper hand. The hardness of the cup pushing into her lower back matched a similar pressure a little lower on her front. Frannie gave a warm moan, and drew back in surrender.
Ray was flushed, pupils dilated and breath shallow. His hair was delightfully disheveled where her hand had wrapped itself, and he surveyed her with open appreciation for a moment before handing over the cup. "Uh, for you."
"How kind," Frannie said dryly, breathing not a little shallowly herself. She held the cup for several seconds, absorbing the heat and the scent of the coffee, then took a long gulping sip. The rich flavour washed over her, followed quickly by the giddy caffeine rush she hadn't felt in a long time. She licked her lips of stray coffee, reveling in its taste.
"Good?" Ray's soft voice broke into her pleasure. She opened her eyes, wondering when she'd closed them, and nodded.
"Yeah." She took another sip and amended, "Heavenly."
His eyes darkened further at the warm throb in her voice. "I'm glad," he said quietly, watching her.
Frannie hesitated on the verge of licking her lips again. She took a third sip and shot him a look full of coffee-laced invitation. "Share and share alike..."

END


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