Dale Cooper (FBI) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
damnfinecup) wrote2006-07-05 01:01 pm
damnfinecup) wrote2006-07-05 01:01 pm
Entry tags:
a meeting and a conversation
Fraser excused himself from the IPD office on the pretense that he needed to take a box of files down to the new IBI offices. It wasn't entirely a lie, but the files could have waited another day, if need be.
He strode down the two flights of stairs to the third floor and across the small open area to where the IBI had been given an office and peered inside. The door was open, and inside the small room Fraser could see desks were arranged in what seemed like a haphazard fashion, and stacks of office supplies waited to be claimed by the new agents.
"Hello?" He looked around curiously.
Cooper looked up from where he'd been crouched behind a desk, fiddling with a bolt. The bolt didn't actually need any fiddling with, but Cooper wanted to be sure of everything that had been given over to his care in the new offices.
"Hello!" he said cheerfully, giving a wave with a miraculously non-dusty hand. The cleaning crew had done a damn good job down here, and he wasn't just saying that because he'd helped.
"Ah, Councilman Cooper," Fraser smiled. He liked Cooper the best out of all the FBI agents he had met on the island, and not simply because he'd known him the longest (although it did help). "I hope this room is to your liking?"
"More than we could've expected," Cooper assured him, dusting off his hands despite the lack of dust. "These new offices were a real surprise, but I certainly can't complain. So what brings you down here today, Constable? Are those for us?"
"They are indeed, sir," Fraser nodded and crossed the room to set the box down on the desk. "We once had a bargain, you and I, about sharing information. This is for my part--the place and time of departure for every person for whom we have a record." Which was, he knew, not everyone.
"I had no idea these even existed," said Cooper, marveling at the wealth of information that had just been dropped into his lap. "Excellent, Constable, thank you. Why don't you have a seat, since I finally seem to have some to offer? I expect we may find we have a number of things that bear discussing."
Fraser smiled gratefully and sat down. "I was pleased to hear you had been elected to the Council."
"Thank you very much," said Cooper with a genuine smile. "I only hope I can live up to the responsibility. I was surprised to see you didn't run, though. Or do you already have enough on your plate with your duties as head of the IPD?"
"I honestly had no interest in running," Fraser confessed. "I knew that there were many other men more suited to the task than myself, including my partner, Horatio."
"Ah, yes," said Cooper, nodding his head. "I don't know him well, but he seems to me to be a fine, honourable man, and it's a pleasure to serve with him so far. He strikes me as a man who likes to get things done."
Fraser smiled fondly. "He is not one for sitting idly by, that's for certain. All in all there are is a fair percentage of IPD officers on the council, or military men by trade. I do not believe my concerns will fall on deaf ears."
"They certainly will not, if I have any say in the matter," said Cooper, "and I do. But I should probably put my other hat on and chat with you as a representative of the IBI, since I expect we'll be working together quite closely in that capacity."
"Of course." Fraser shifted slightly in his chair, his posture becoming straighter (if such a thing were possible). "I must admit that it is something of a relief to not be held responsible for everything any longer, although technically speaking, as Head of Security, the IBI is under my jurisdiction."
"I'm sure we won't find ourselves butting heads over jurisdictional issues," said Cooper, though he was prepared to stand his ground if, by some extraordinary circumstance, they ever did. "This is a very different situation from anything we would have found back in our respective homes, and our duties in an investigational circumstance are unlikely to overlap. I'm afraid it's the dry issue of logistics that we ought to sort out, before we get this machine up and running."
"I'm in full agreement. I'm afraid that neither I, nor the officers have time to devote to investigative matters, such as the kidnappings." Fraser looked down at his hands, a tight smile on his face. "I have been unable to come up with a satisfactory theory or profile on the kidnappers."
"Nor have I," confessed Cooper, though admittedly he'd been working with less information. He gave Fraser a comradely smile. "There are things operating on this island beyond the scope of what we've yet discovered. I think perhaps an overarching examination of such things might be a place to start. Before we can solve the kidnappings, we need to solve a little more about the island."
"The IPD is at your disposal," Fraser replied, returning the smile. "As well as is our information and resources, naturally. I'm not sure if you're aware, but while the sublevels were being inventoried and catalogued, new information was found regarding the original scientific team in the form of files and memorandi."
"I'd heard word through the council that it was discovered, but I haven't yet learned what it contained," said Cooper. "Does the IPD have possession of it, or is it currently in the hands of our science and forensics team?
"The IPD took possession, but I would like to turn it over to you, so that you might decide what is most useful for your investigation, and how the forensics team might be of service. Are you at all familiar with a Miss Sciuto?" Fraser wouldn't consider himself familiar, but she was the only scientist with whom he had had a conversation.
"I am, actually," said Cooper with a fond smile. "We worked together, in an unofficial capacity, right after the kidnappings took place. I'd be happy to take this off your hands, Constable, and sift through it to see what might be of use to us. Would you like a formal report? I expect I'll be putting one together for our records anyhow."
"Miss Sciuto is the liasion for the IPD and the scientists, and I would assume then, the liasion for the IBI as well." Fraser glanced at the files and then around the office as he considered Cooper's offer. "I would be pleased to look over the file when you've finished, but you needn't waste precious resources by preparing an extra copy for myself."
Cooper nodded, and figured that was all that needed to be said on the subject. "So," he said, "on the subject of liaising -- which I'm told you're quite the expert on -- would you prefer it if you and I continued to meet on a regular basis, just to be sure things are going smoothly? Our numbers are pretty low right now, in the IBI side, but I'm going to make an effort to ensure that someone's always here in the office should anything come up."
Fraser was somewhat amused by the assertion that he was an expert liaision, and wondered where Cooper might have gotten that impression. "Perhaps a regularly scheduled meeting would be best, even if there is nothing to report. If a situation does arise, however, you should feel free to contact me at any time."
"I'll do that," said Cooper. "I've a fair idea where you might be found most of the time. But I expect that any urgent situation is going to hit the IPD first, before trickling down to the IBI. That's where the folks around here know to come when they need help, and I don't want to be changing that."
"I would rather they not need help at all," Fraser smiled. "But it is our duty to protect and serve, and I am sure that you and the other agents will have more luck, and considerably more time."
"A division of duties does seem ideal to cover more ground," said Cooper, and really, he was glad that he got along with Constable Fraser the way he did. It made all of this go so much smoother. "I just don't want to confuse anyone and risk something going unnoticed. A clear chain of command isn't always the answer, but it does seem to be important in a case such as our own."
"Indeed," Fraser replied. "Not heirarchical, naturally, but a division by skill level and experience. While I might consider myself a fair detective, I certainly don't have the same skill level or experience as a man like yourself."
"I've heard very impressive things about your skills as a detective, Constable," Cooper assured him, and indeed he had. Everything he heard about Constable Fraser was impressive, except, of course, for those things that were of a more scandalous nature. "I'm sure between us, and the teams we lead, we can cover most contingencies."
"Well, thank you kindly," Fraser demurred. "And I hope, both for the sake of the island and ourselves, that you are right." Which was why Fraser was sure that he was wrong, and there would be some kind of emergency that neither the IPD or the IBI were capable of handling. "So far we have done as well as we could manage, but there is always the possibility of improving."
"Well, there always is," said Cooper easily. "We'll just have to see how this all works out before we start tweaking it. Does that about cover things for now, do you think? As far as the business end goes, anyway. I get the feeling you wouldn't mind spending a little time down here today, Constable."
Fraser smiled a little at the observation. "I would not decline to, no," he admitted. "I can think of few methods of torture more unendurable as being shut into a room for eight to ten hours at a stretch." The "with Turnbull" went unsaid.
"And sometimes some rooms are just more appealing than others," said Cooper, sitting back and putting his feet up on the desk now that they were no longer conversing in any sort of official capacity. "For whatever reason. I suppose your partners are off on their own business right now."
"Patrolling," Fraser said enviously. "In the sunshine and fresh air." Diefenbaker had opted to go with them, as well. The traitor.
"And you're stuck holding down the fort," said Cooper sympathetically. "I can imagine why you might be a little edgy. You don't go out patrolling with them?"
"Not unless one of them has other duties to perfom. In the beginning it was because someone had to be in the office should trouble arise. And now...well, I suppose I feel I would be intruding." Although he and Diefenbaker still patrolled after duty hours some evenings, when the weather was nice.
"Have you asked them if it would be intruding?" Cooper asked him reasonably, reaching for something that wasn't there. A moment like this needed a beer, or some other sociable drink, and it was one of the few times he found himself wishing they had some on the island. "Perhaps they'd like the company."
"I try to keep my private and professional lives separate," Fraser smiled, his posture as stiff as ever. "After the press we've received it wouldn't be looked upon favorably to have the head of security wandering the beach."
Cooper understood the sentiment, but he sympathized. "You'd think they'd be easier on you. You're in the same situation as everyone else, finding yourself here, torn from another life, just trying to make your way." He sighed and leaned even further back in his chair. "Sometimes Sookie and I have trouble finding some time together, too."
"Ah." Fraser had never met Sookie. The only thing he knew about her was that she had harassed Horatio and Archie when they had been attempting to stop Mr. Jerusalem from defacing the Compound wall. He smiled tightly. "It does help to have a shelter of your own to retreat to, but the shelter that I had built has blossomed into a community rather larger than I expected, which makes privacy once more a highly desirable commodity." He hesitated before speaking again, uncertain if he should confess his sin. "But we have found ways around that, as well."
Cooper smiled at him. "I would imagine you have," he said. "And it's unfortunate you feel that your privacy has been encroached upon."
Fraser shook his head. "It is a sacrifice I am willing to make in order to have those I love nearby." And Horatio and Ray were willing to make as well.
"And man has always had the capacity to be very creative when it comes to getting what he wants," Cooper added, his smile getting a little wider.
Fraser maintained his innocent facade a moment longer before returning the smile. "Well, as they say. Desperate times call for desperate measures."
Cooper's smile became a grin almost instantly. "You're one of the finest officers of the law I've ever known, Constable Fraser," he said, "but you need to give yourself a break more often. Sometimes it doesn't matter what some people think."
"Ah." Fraser looked appropriately sheepish, his finger rubbing his eyebrow in distress. "May I ask how you found out?"
"Found out what?" said Cooper innocently, and it wasn't even an act. "I had assumed that your relationship was fairly common knowledge at this point, though certainly you're not demonstrative..."
Fraser blinked slightly and relaxed. So Cooper had not met Chris and Billy, or at least if he had, not noticed anything amiss. "I also do not make any attempts to hide it," he agreed. "I suppose I am simply surprised by the rumour mill."
"I've found," said Cooper, crossing his feet at the ankles, "that's it's best never to underestimate the rumour mill, particularly in a small community. That said, you're the subject of remarkably little gossip, Constable." And that said, he was more than a little curious now about what Fraser had thought he was talking about.
That was a relief. "I suppose being a Mountie is rumour enough, what with the uniform and all. And the wolf, of course." Fraser was used to those rumours.
"At least he's not the only wolf around, these days," said Cooper, "though I have to confess, I generally go out of my way to avoid the others. Yours strikes me as a little more domesticated."
Fraser smiled. "Well, he is only half-wolf. As much as Dief might complain about his canine heritage, it does make him more socialable."
Cooper watched him closely, but Fraser had a good poker face. And really, it was probably none of his business. "These new sub-basements are filling up fast," he said after a moment. "Faster than I might've expected. The IPD keeps some population numbers, doesn't it?"
"To the best of our ability, yes. But not everyone is forthcoming with their information, even those who have been granted a bed." Which annoyed Fraser, but there was little that he could do about it. "A census might be a good first step for the council," he suggested casually. "In order to better allocate all resources, not simiply beds."
"I'm definitely in agreement with you there, Constable," said Cooper fervently. "Remember when we were all still on the beach, and a full census would've taken about half an hour? Sometimes it seems like a lifetime ago."
Fraser smiled nostalgically. "Ah, yes. My early morning census attempt was not as successful as I had hoped, but it did allow me to meet a great number of people I would not have met otherwise."
Cooper laughed at the memory. "Sometimes it's really hard to believe how far we've come since then. I'm grateful for what we've discovered, but I have to tell you, I could do without the dinosaurs."
"For my part as well," Fraser agreed with a small laugh. "And the quicksand and giant squid."
"Yes, I was fortunate enough to miss the adventure with the squid," said Cooper, shaking his head. "And Dr. Brennan is making noises about wanting to go back. God save us from the scientists."
"My partner nearly drowned in quicksand, had it not been for the quick thinking of my friend Ray Vecchio." The memory was not a happy one. "Needless to say I believe fencing is in order."
"Which one?" Cooper asked, before considering that not only was it potentially inappropriate question, but Fraser might not want to think about it. "I'll put it on the agenda for the next council meeting," he went on to say. "It strikes me as something that ought to be a priority."
"Ray Kowalski," Fraser clarified. "And I agree that it should be a priority, but it is something that I have not personally had time to see to, and unfortunately there is not another person so designated as to see to aspects of security, under which island hazards fall."
"Well, the way I understand it, that's part of the reason we needed a council," said Cooper, nodding slowly. "Administration. And I never really imagined myself in an administrative position, but I'll do what i can to get that fence up."
"Thank you kindly," Fraser smiled. "And I believe I will take my leave of you now." The conversation, however short, had been tremendously enlightening, at least from Fraser's perspective.
"Take a walk out in the gardens," suggested Cooper, swinging his feet off the table so he could give the constable a proper goodbye, "if you start going a little stir crazy in the office again. Sometimes it doesn't take much. It's been a pleasure talking with you, Constable Fraser."
Fraser stood, taking Cooper's hand with a smile. "And you as well, Councilman. I look forward to working with you."
A walk in the garden sounded perfectly wonderful, and if he was perhaps very lucky, Horatio might join him and they could converse about chamomile and gardening (and then do a little gardening of their own).
He strode down the two flights of stairs to the third floor and across the small open area to where the IBI had been given an office and peered inside. The door was open, and inside the small room Fraser could see desks were arranged in what seemed like a haphazard fashion, and stacks of office supplies waited to be claimed by the new agents.
"Hello?" He looked around curiously.
Cooper looked up from where he'd been crouched behind a desk, fiddling with a bolt. The bolt didn't actually need any fiddling with, but Cooper wanted to be sure of everything that had been given over to his care in the new offices.
"Hello!" he said cheerfully, giving a wave with a miraculously non-dusty hand. The cleaning crew had done a damn good job down here, and he wasn't just saying that because he'd helped.
"Ah, Councilman Cooper," Fraser smiled. He liked Cooper the best out of all the FBI agents he had met on the island, and not simply because he'd known him the longest (although it did help). "I hope this room is to your liking?"
"More than we could've expected," Cooper assured him, dusting off his hands despite the lack of dust. "These new offices were a real surprise, but I certainly can't complain. So what brings you down here today, Constable? Are those for us?"
"They are indeed, sir," Fraser nodded and crossed the room to set the box down on the desk. "We once had a bargain, you and I, about sharing information. This is for my part--the place and time of departure for every person for whom we have a record." Which was, he knew, not everyone.
"I had no idea these even existed," said Cooper, marveling at the wealth of information that had just been dropped into his lap. "Excellent, Constable, thank you. Why don't you have a seat, since I finally seem to have some to offer? I expect we may find we have a number of things that bear discussing."
Fraser smiled gratefully and sat down. "I was pleased to hear you had been elected to the Council."
"Thank you very much," said Cooper with a genuine smile. "I only hope I can live up to the responsibility. I was surprised to see you didn't run, though. Or do you already have enough on your plate with your duties as head of the IPD?"
"I honestly had no interest in running," Fraser confessed. "I knew that there were many other men more suited to the task than myself, including my partner, Horatio."
"Ah, yes," said Cooper, nodding his head. "I don't know him well, but he seems to me to be a fine, honourable man, and it's a pleasure to serve with him so far. He strikes me as a man who likes to get things done."
Fraser smiled fondly. "He is not one for sitting idly by, that's for certain. All in all there are is a fair percentage of IPD officers on the council, or military men by trade. I do not believe my concerns will fall on deaf ears."
"They certainly will not, if I have any say in the matter," said Cooper, "and I do. But I should probably put my other hat on and chat with you as a representative of the IBI, since I expect we'll be working together quite closely in that capacity."
"Of course." Fraser shifted slightly in his chair, his posture becoming straighter (if such a thing were possible). "I must admit that it is something of a relief to not be held responsible for everything any longer, although technically speaking, as Head of Security, the IBI is under my jurisdiction."
"I'm sure we won't find ourselves butting heads over jurisdictional issues," said Cooper, though he was prepared to stand his ground if, by some extraordinary circumstance, they ever did. "This is a very different situation from anything we would have found back in our respective homes, and our duties in an investigational circumstance are unlikely to overlap. I'm afraid it's the dry issue of logistics that we ought to sort out, before we get this machine up and running."
"I'm in full agreement. I'm afraid that neither I, nor the officers have time to devote to investigative matters, such as the kidnappings." Fraser looked down at his hands, a tight smile on his face. "I have been unable to come up with a satisfactory theory or profile on the kidnappers."
"Nor have I," confessed Cooper, though admittedly he'd been working with less information. He gave Fraser a comradely smile. "There are things operating on this island beyond the scope of what we've yet discovered. I think perhaps an overarching examination of such things might be a place to start. Before we can solve the kidnappings, we need to solve a little more about the island."
"The IPD is at your disposal," Fraser replied, returning the smile. "As well as is our information and resources, naturally. I'm not sure if you're aware, but while the sublevels were being inventoried and catalogued, new information was found regarding the original scientific team in the form of files and memorandi."
"I'd heard word through the council that it was discovered, but I haven't yet learned what it contained," said Cooper. "Does the IPD have possession of it, or is it currently in the hands of our science and forensics team?
"The IPD took possession, but I would like to turn it over to you, so that you might decide what is most useful for your investigation, and how the forensics team might be of service. Are you at all familiar with a Miss Sciuto?" Fraser wouldn't consider himself familiar, but she was the only scientist with whom he had had a conversation.
"I am, actually," said Cooper with a fond smile. "We worked together, in an unofficial capacity, right after the kidnappings took place. I'd be happy to take this off your hands, Constable, and sift through it to see what might be of use to us. Would you like a formal report? I expect I'll be putting one together for our records anyhow."
"Miss Sciuto is the liasion for the IPD and the scientists, and I would assume then, the liasion for the IBI as well." Fraser glanced at the files and then around the office as he considered Cooper's offer. "I would be pleased to look over the file when you've finished, but you needn't waste precious resources by preparing an extra copy for myself."
Cooper nodded, and figured that was all that needed to be said on the subject. "So," he said, "on the subject of liaising -- which I'm told you're quite the expert on -- would you prefer it if you and I continued to meet on a regular basis, just to be sure things are going smoothly? Our numbers are pretty low right now, in the IBI side, but I'm going to make an effort to ensure that someone's always here in the office should anything come up."
Fraser was somewhat amused by the assertion that he was an expert liaision, and wondered where Cooper might have gotten that impression. "Perhaps a regularly scheduled meeting would be best, even if there is nothing to report. If a situation does arise, however, you should feel free to contact me at any time."
"I'll do that," said Cooper. "I've a fair idea where you might be found most of the time. But I expect that any urgent situation is going to hit the IPD first, before trickling down to the IBI. That's where the folks around here know to come when they need help, and I don't want to be changing that."
"I would rather they not need help at all," Fraser smiled. "But it is our duty to protect and serve, and I am sure that you and the other agents will have more luck, and considerably more time."
"A division of duties does seem ideal to cover more ground," said Cooper, and really, he was glad that he got along with Constable Fraser the way he did. It made all of this go so much smoother. "I just don't want to confuse anyone and risk something going unnoticed. A clear chain of command isn't always the answer, but it does seem to be important in a case such as our own."
"Indeed," Fraser replied. "Not heirarchical, naturally, but a division by skill level and experience. While I might consider myself a fair detective, I certainly don't have the same skill level or experience as a man like yourself."
"I've heard very impressive things about your skills as a detective, Constable," Cooper assured him, and indeed he had. Everything he heard about Constable Fraser was impressive, except, of course, for those things that were of a more scandalous nature. "I'm sure between us, and the teams we lead, we can cover most contingencies."
"Well, thank you kindly," Fraser demurred. "And I hope, both for the sake of the island and ourselves, that you are right." Which was why Fraser was sure that he was wrong, and there would be some kind of emergency that neither the IPD or the IBI were capable of handling. "So far we have done as well as we could manage, but there is always the possibility of improving."
"Well, there always is," said Cooper easily. "We'll just have to see how this all works out before we start tweaking it. Does that about cover things for now, do you think? As far as the business end goes, anyway. I get the feeling you wouldn't mind spending a little time down here today, Constable."
Fraser smiled a little at the observation. "I would not decline to, no," he admitted. "I can think of few methods of torture more unendurable as being shut into a room for eight to ten hours at a stretch." The "with Turnbull" went unsaid.
"And sometimes some rooms are just more appealing than others," said Cooper, sitting back and putting his feet up on the desk now that they were no longer conversing in any sort of official capacity. "For whatever reason. I suppose your partners are off on their own business right now."
"Patrolling," Fraser said enviously. "In the sunshine and fresh air." Diefenbaker had opted to go with them, as well. The traitor.
"And you're stuck holding down the fort," said Cooper sympathetically. "I can imagine why you might be a little edgy. You don't go out patrolling with them?"
"Not unless one of them has other duties to perfom. In the beginning it was because someone had to be in the office should trouble arise. And now...well, I suppose I feel I would be intruding." Although he and Diefenbaker still patrolled after duty hours some evenings, when the weather was nice.
"Have you asked them if it would be intruding?" Cooper asked him reasonably, reaching for something that wasn't there. A moment like this needed a beer, or some other sociable drink, and it was one of the few times he found himself wishing they had some on the island. "Perhaps they'd like the company."
"I try to keep my private and professional lives separate," Fraser smiled, his posture as stiff as ever. "After the press we've received it wouldn't be looked upon favorably to have the head of security wandering the beach."
Cooper understood the sentiment, but he sympathized. "You'd think they'd be easier on you. You're in the same situation as everyone else, finding yourself here, torn from another life, just trying to make your way." He sighed and leaned even further back in his chair. "Sometimes Sookie and I have trouble finding some time together, too."
"Ah." Fraser had never met Sookie. The only thing he knew about her was that she had harassed Horatio and Archie when they had been attempting to stop Mr. Jerusalem from defacing the Compound wall. He smiled tightly. "It does help to have a shelter of your own to retreat to, but the shelter that I had built has blossomed into a community rather larger than I expected, which makes privacy once more a highly desirable commodity." He hesitated before speaking again, uncertain if he should confess his sin. "But we have found ways around that, as well."
Cooper smiled at him. "I would imagine you have," he said. "And it's unfortunate you feel that your privacy has been encroached upon."
Fraser shook his head. "It is a sacrifice I am willing to make in order to have those I love nearby." And Horatio and Ray were willing to make as well.
"And man has always had the capacity to be very creative when it comes to getting what he wants," Cooper added, his smile getting a little wider.
Fraser maintained his innocent facade a moment longer before returning the smile. "Well, as they say. Desperate times call for desperate measures."
Cooper's smile became a grin almost instantly. "You're one of the finest officers of the law I've ever known, Constable Fraser," he said, "but you need to give yourself a break more often. Sometimes it doesn't matter what some people think."
"Ah." Fraser looked appropriately sheepish, his finger rubbing his eyebrow in distress. "May I ask how you found out?"
"Found out what?" said Cooper innocently, and it wasn't even an act. "I had assumed that your relationship was fairly common knowledge at this point, though certainly you're not demonstrative..."
Fraser blinked slightly and relaxed. So Cooper had not met Chris and Billy, or at least if he had, not noticed anything amiss. "I also do not make any attempts to hide it," he agreed. "I suppose I am simply surprised by the rumour mill."
"I've found," said Cooper, crossing his feet at the ankles, "that's it's best never to underestimate the rumour mill, particularly in a small community. That said, you're the subject of remarkably little gossip, Constable." And that said, he was more than a little curious now about what Fraser had thought he was talking about.
That was a relief. "I suppose being a Mountie is rumour enough, what with the uniform and all. And the wolf, of course." Fraser was used to those rumours.
"At least he's not the only wolf around, these days," said Cooper, "though I have to confess, I generally go out of my way to avoid the others. Yours strikes me as a little more domesticated."
Fraser smiled. "Well, he is only half-wolf. As much as Dief might complain about his canine heritage, it does make him more socialable."
Cooper watched him closely, but Fraser had a good poker face. And really, it was probably none of his business. "These new sub-basements are filling up fast," he said after a moment. "Faster than I might've expected. The IPD keeps some population numbers, doesn't it?"
"To the best of our ability, yes. But not everyone is forthcoming with their information, even those who have been granted a bed." Which annoyed Fraser, but there was little that he could do about it. "A census might be a good first step for the council," he suggested casually. "In order to better allocate all resources, not simiply beds."
"I'm definitely in agreement with you there, Constable," said Cooper fervently. "Remember when we were all still on the beach, and a full census would've taken about half an hour? Sometimes it seems like a lifetime ago."
Fraser smiled nostalgically. "Ah, yes. My early morning census attempt was not as successful as I had hoped, but it did allow me to meet a great number of people I would not have met otherwise."
Cooper laughed at the memory. "Sometimes it's really hard to believe how far we've come since then. I'm grateful for what we've discovered, but I have to tell you, I could do without the dinosaurs."
"For my part as well," Fraser agreed with a small laugh. "And the quicksand and giant squid."
"Yes, I was fortunate enough to miss the adventure with the squid," said Cooper, shaking his head. "And Dr. Brennan is making noises about wanting to go back. God save us from the scientists."
"My partner nearly drowned in quicksand, had it not been for the quick thinking of my friend Ray Vecchio." The memory was not a happy one. "Needless to say I believe fencing is in order."
"Which one?" Cooper asked, before considering that not only was it potentially inappropriate question, but Fraser might not want to think about it. "I'll put it on the agenda for the next council meeting," he went on to say. "It strikes me as something that ought to be a priority."
"Ray Kowalski," Fraser clarified. "And I agree that it should be a priority, but it is something that I have not personally had time to see to, and unfortunately there is not another person so designated as to see to aspects of security, under which island hazards fall."
"Well, the way I understand it, that's part of the reason we needed a council," said Cooper, nodding slowly. "Administration. And I never really imagined myself in an administrative position, but I'll do what i can to get that fence up."
"Thank you kindly," Fraser smiled. "And I believe I will take my leave of you now." The conversation, however short, had been tremendously enlightening, at least from Fraser's perspective.
"Take a walk out in the gardens," suggested Cooper, swinging his feet off the table so he could give the constable a proper goodbye, "if you start going a little stir crazy in the office again. Sometimes it doesn't take much. It's been a pleasure talking with you, Constable Fraser."
Fraser stood, taking Cooper's hand with a smile. "And you as well, Councilman. I look forward to working with you."
A walk in the garden sounded perfectly wonderful, and if he was perhaps very lucky, Horatio might join him and they could converse about chamomile and gardening (and then do a little gardening of their own).