Fandom: DS

Pairings: Ray K/O

Spoilers: None

Genre: Humor, Challenge, maybe romance

Rating ; pg

Summary: Ray does a favor and winds up in a sticky situation When I first read the Nov. Challenge word Dare, I immediately thought of the Dare program run by the police at local schools. There really is a Dare Bear costume.

Title; Dare to be different

Ray didn't know how he let Frannie talk him into this. She wasn't even his real sister, but

somehow it was just easier to say yes than put up with a p.o'd Frannie. So Ray found himself

at the local public school standing in a janitor's closet putting on a Bear costume. Frannie had wanted

to help, but the last thing Ray wanted was Frannie assisting him first out of his clothes and then into the

Dare Bear costume. Ray liked kids and he really wouldn't have minded talking to Miss Stewart's

1^st grade class about drugs.; he just didn't want to do it as a bear. Although, in the mood he was in the growl would be genuine. Frannie rapped on the door and told Ray to get moving. Ray came out and

asked Frannie to help zip him up. Frannie impatiently yanked on the zipper and pulled it up roughly.

She playfully patted Ray on his bear bottom and said: "Beth is my friend please don't embarrass me."

Ray growled:" I don't think you have to worry about being the one who is embarrassed. You owe me big time."

Frannie led Ray to Miss Stewart's room and knocked on the door. After entering the classroom, Ray became caught up in his role. He was after all , an undercover cop so this was just another undercover assignment. The kids were really cute. And speaking of cute, Miss Stewart was really cute. She gave Officer Dare Bear a big welcoming hug and Ray hugged her back. After Ray spoke, the children asked questions and told him stories, often long and totally irrelevant. The bell rang and the children got ready to go to the lunchroom. They begged Officer Dare Bear to lead them to the cafeteria and have lunch with them. .

Ray reluctantly agreed. Frannie could not stay . She had a previous engagement . He ended up sitting beside Miss Stewart with a group of the students. One of the students had a bag lunch. Billy Killmeyer, one of Miss Stewart's more precocious students, pulled out a plastic bottle shaped like a bear. "It's a good thing Mom lets me bring this so my peanut butter-honey sandwich doesn't get too soggy. You can have some lunch too."

Before anyone could react, a stream of honey was sent toward Ray's mouth. The sticky mess

ran down the bear snout and dripped onto the bear costume. It ran down Ray's neck and onto his chest. Ray shot out of his chair. .Miss Stewart was close behind. She led a grumbling Ray to the

Teacher's Lounge where she and Ray both frantically tried to get the sticky costume off of Ray. When Miss Stewart rather forcefully pulled the bear head off of Ray, she found herself staring at one of the handsomest faces she had ever seen. Ray's icy blue eyes locked into her own . "What are you waiting for get this danged thing off of me. " Ray growled.

Miss Stewart said: I'm trying but I think the zipper is stuck. "

Ray went ballistic. He whirled his arms in the air and began to gyrate around the room.

"If you don't stand still I'll never be able to work on the zipper. " Miss Stewart said angrily.

"Calm. Down and I'll get you out of there as fast as I can."

Ray replied: "That's easy for you to say, you're not the one stuck in a stupid bear costume. I look like a freak."

Miss Stewart cracked a smile. Actually you look rather adorable...".

"Adorable, the last thing I want to be is adorable. I'm gonna kill Frannie for this."

Miss Stewart said: "Don't be mad at Frannie.. This is all my fault. It was my idea. Frannie was

just helping me out. I guess you'll just have to kill me too."

Miss Stewart was behind Ray trying to work the stuck zipper down. It was well and truly stuck A bunch of brown shaggy material was thoroughly caught in the zipper. The fact that the fur was matted with honey didn't help matters. Ray finally calmed down enough so that Beth could once again

work on the zipper. After what seemed ages, but was only a couple of minutes, she managed to get the zipper to move. As soon as the zipper loosened, Ray began to shed the sticky costume. He stopped

almost immediately when he realized he didn't have a shirt on. He didn't have pants on either, just gym

shorts. He also realized his clothes were still in the janitor's closet. Turning as red as Fraser's tunic , Ray stammered: "Uhmm, could you please get my clothes while I try to get this honey off of me?"

Beth replied: "Of course", while trying not to stare . She left the room after she told him she would hurry. First she stopped at her friend's classroom and made sure she could get her class to the music room for their next lesson. Then she retrieved Ray's clothes. She inhaled his scent deeply as she carried his clothes back to the Teacher's Lounge. She told herself to stop acting like a fool over someone she had just met and someone who probably hated her guts. When she returned to the Lounge, Beth found the bathroom door shut. She could hear Ray muttering as he worked to remove

the honey from his body. Finally the door opened and a glowing pink Ray grabbed his clothes and retreated back into the bathroom. When he came back out, Ray said: "Uhmmm, don't think, it hasn't

been fun, it hasn't. But it certainly has been interesting. I hope the dry cleaners can get honey out of this darned thing."

Beth said: The least I can do is have it taken care of. I owe you that."

Ray looked at her and said: "Yeah, I guess you do." and smiled one of his megawatt smiles."You can just give it to Frannie the next time you see her. "Well, it's been real....See yah." Ray walked out the door.

Beth stood there and thought : "Buster, if you think I'm going to let you get away, you're sadly mistaken."

A week later, Beth Stewart walked into the 27th Precinct with a garment bag over her arm. She carried a picnic basket on her other arm. She asked for Ray's desk and was relieved to see him sitting at his desk. She walked up to him and said: Hello, Officer Dare Bear, I have something that belongs to you. ."

Ray looked up and looked puzzled until he recognized Beth. "You didn't have to bring that thing, you could have just left it with Frannie." He said, then he smiled,"But I' m glad you did. I wanted to apologize for my behavior. I..."

"You apologize, you have nothing to apologize for . I just wanted to be sure you weren't still upset with Frannie and me." What you did for the kids was wonderful. Did you get our thank you notes?"

Yes, Yes I did the drawings were great. In fact I've got some of them up on my bulletin board." Ray said as he got up and showed Beth the drawings."

"Oh, the children will be so pleased when I tell them. " Beth smiled. "I'm so glad you are not angry.

Well, I don't want to take up anymore of your valuable time. I just wanted to return the costume and give you this in appreciation for your visit to my classroom. " Beth thrust the picnic basket at Ray and turned to leave.

Ray looked down at the basket. He said: "Aw, you didn't have to do that."

Beth replied softly: " I wanted to thank you for being so nice. Well. I've kept you long enough. Goodbye." Beth hurried away before Ray could stop her.

Ray stood holding the basket for a couple of minutes. Finally he set it down on his desk and opened it . He grinned when he saw chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies and tied with a bow, a plastic bottle in the shape of a bear full of honey. A note was attached; it read:

To my sweet Officer Dare Bear,

I thought maybe we could find some better and more creative .uses for this.

Sincerely,

Beth Written boldly was Beth's telephone number.

Ray smiled broadly and thought to himself:: " Yeah, I bet we could."

Finis

Lucysmom

I don't know what it is with me and food products, but I certainly enjoy all the possible uses they inspire.