nitewind@www.plantnet.com EVERYTHING IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE (Part 1/14) by StormyNite Nick flew Natalie in his arms at a slow speed to ensure she was not frightened. He remembered his first flight as a vampire. He never was much for heights or snakes but being immortal sort of took away those fears quickly. Natalie clung loosely to Nick's neck as they flew toward the loft. Her hair blowing in her face and Nick's. "Can you see where your going through me hair?" She laughed as she pulled a long strand from his face. Nick smiled with her caress. "You love this! Don't you?" She viewed the Toronto skyline smiling the whole time. "You should have taken me flying a long time ago! This is incredible!" "Your not scared?" He dropped twenty feet and Natalie squealed with delight. "This is better than a roller coaster! She cuddled closer to him and whispered in his ear. "Besides you would never drop me! -----at least not very far before you caught me again!" She kissed him passionately while they flew through the air. There was complete trust in her eyes as she broke the contact. Regretfully releasing her lips from his "If you don't stop that I will crash us into a tree and I will be toast when the sun comes over that crest!" He jiggles her playfully making her laugh even more. "You will teach me how to do this when I'm ready?" She looked hopefully into his eyes. She saw sadness cross those blue pools as she reached to caress his face. "By then you will never be able to see the sunrise again Nat!" Guilt was written on his face as he held her close. "You don't know that Nick! Neither one of us know what will happen in the future. We aren't suppose to be like this right now! I should have crossed and you should have died. None of that happened." She turned her head back to the view and then back to Nick. "Besides I would give up an eternity of sunrises to spend every sunset with you!---Know that I have no regrets no matter what happens to us.---NADA-None. Do you hear me?" She kisses him playfully on the cheek with a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Now can we go faster?" "We aim to please!" He increased their speed until the wind caused the tears to flow from her eyes. --------------------------- Tracy had been mulling over her circumstances. Okay she would admit it brooding was a better term. They released her from the hospital two days ago. She was fine. Well, almost fine! Aside from the fact she couldn't really remember anything beyond going into the locker room before she was shot. Once in awhile a bright flash. Dr. Simms told her that was more than most people could remember after a gunshot wound, let alone the type that miraculously healed themselves on her. She was troubled. She had froze, she knew that. Nick admitted it. The Captain confirmed it. Her father wanted her to transfer to accounting of all places. A safe place to work if you could live through the boredom. Her Mother wanted her to quit the force entirely. Of course, she hated her being a cop from the beginning. And Nick---God it was hard to get Nick to set still for longer than 10 minutes anyway, let alone get him to tell her what he really thought. He was so distracted lately. Oh, Hell! Nick was distracted most of the time! He was the best cop she ever worked with or even knew. He had the most incredible control of anyone she had ever met, but he would space off on you in an instant. Almost like he was somewhere else. She always wondered why, he never did it in a pinch. He had always been there for her. Schanke too, she was told. But she was not there for him when he needed it. She froze!---Yes, froze! She had to accept that and make a decision. Maybe in her mind she already had. Maybe she had made up her mind when she came too and Nick was there in one piece through no help from her. Or maybe it was when Nat walked in the door and put her arm around him not knowing she was awake that she realized that Nick was important not only to her, but Natalie loved the guy. It would have destroyed Natalie if something happened to Nick. She knew they were close by how she reacted when he got shot late last year. She would not be the cause of that again. Nick was always trying to protect her. She knew it, and a part of her relished the fact that someone cared enough to take a bullet for her. The other, louder voice in her head told her she had to take care of herself. Nick wouldn't always be there. Vachon was a good example! Nick and Vachon, so much alike yet so different. It was like good vs. evil. Nick always tried to do what was right and Vachon always wanted to know what was right. You could feel the evil in Vachon at times and it scared her, but she truly missed him. How she wished he would come back, but in her heart she knew he was gone. A part of her knew he was dead. Suddenly she found herself sitting in the car not even questioning how she got there. Giving in turn her state of mind , she broke down and wept uncontrollably. Her life had changed! After a few minutes she dried her eyes, started the car, and drove to the station. "Hey Trace, good to see you back!" Carlyle handed her a cup of coffee and patted her on the shoulder. "Thanks Carlyle. Where is Nick?" "He didn't tell you when you were in the hospital?" Carlyle looked puzzled. "He took a leave of absence for awhile. He took you shooting pretty badly! You know Nick. He blamed himself for the whole thing. He was just lucky to be wearing a vest or we would have had another funeral to attend. He broke the guys neck. You heard that didn't you? You know for a small guy he has incredible strength!" Carlyle shook his head in disbelief. "The Captain would have made him take time off anyway. Nick just made it easier when he walked in and told Cap he was quitting. Cap would not take his resignation of course, and told him he was putting him on leave until further notice! That was about a week ago. I sure hope Doctor Lambert is with him, because no one has seen her for 2 days. Cap's getting a little worried.---Glad your back Trace!" He sauntered off to the booking room to go back to work. Tracy walked into Captain Reese office and shut the door. "Cap! I need to talk with you!" she said calmly taking a seat in front of him. Reese held up his hand stopping her before she started to speak. "Do not even let those words cross you lips Vetter. You're not quitting! You just need some time to sort this out. I had this talk with your partner a week ago and would not take his resignation either. So! Get your butt out of my office and work it out with Nick. Both of you need to come to terms with this." Tracy stared in disbelief at her boss, when she read the "No- arguments" expression on his face. "Nick has not talked with anyone for two days and Natalie is gone too. I pray to God they are together, because I don't want to pick up the pieces of either one of them or you again. Now -Get out of her and go find them.!" Reese pointed to the door. Trace got up hesitantly and walked out of the office. That was not how she intended for that to go down, but apparently Cap was worried about Nick and Nat. Tracy walked over to her desk and pulled out her set up skeleton keys she used in case of an emergency. She went to Nick's desk and unlocked his private drawer and pulled out the remote to his garage. She knew it was there because Nat had used it once to get in when Nick disappeared for a couple of days. She had not used it since, so Nick must have given her a key. He had a security system at the loft that was state of the art according to Nat because of some old family heirlooms. There must be a security code somewhere in the drawer. She continued looking determined to find it. If they were in trouble, the signs would be at Nick's place and if they weren't, then she would just wait for them. They were together, she could feel it. On the back side of Nick's spare 9mm was the code she sought. Quickly writing down the number she locked the draw and left. ------------------------------ Tracy stopped in front of the loft, trying to decide if she should call first to see if they were there. She carefully appraised the neighborhood and pulled her car to the far side of the warehouse. If something was wrong, she did not want to announce her arrival. She tried the intercom to the loft but there was no answer. Pointing the remote at the garage, the door slid quietly open revealing Nick's Caddy. Something was not right here. Trace pulled her gun and entered the garage. The whole lower level of the warehouse was used as a garage. Several old cars and motorcycles sat covered in white tarps. Trace pulled off one revealing a 66 corvette, cherry red with a soft convertible top. Strange she had never seen Nick drive anything but the Caddie since she had met him. The man never ceased to amaze her. Seeing the lift on the far side of the garage with the keypad by the door, she punched in the access codes she obtained from his desk. Stepping on the lift, she punched the up button and waited till the lift stopped. Pulling open the door she stepped into the loft. Not ever having been at Nick's before, it took a few minutes to locate the light switch. If not for the light coming through the windows, she would have ran straight into the grand piano. After switching on the lights she began to take in her surroundings. She ran her hand over the grand piano realizing it was a Steinway and very very old, yet in perfect condition. The keys were well worn, so Nick must play it regularly. "I didn't even know he played." Looking around the loft, she could see numerous pieces that were antiques and a video, audio set up that cost a fortune. Something just didn't jive here. How could he afford this stuff on a cop's salary? Nothing was out of place and the kitchen spotless. There were a few groceries in the frig plus some wine. One cup and one wine glass sat in the dishwasher. Nothing was amiss. The hearth was laid for a fire only needing a match. What an incredible place. Nick was either incredibly rich or a crooked cop. She would not believe the later, she settled down to wait. She need answer badly. ------------------------------------- Nick landed softly outside the loft, placing Natalie on her feet in one swift motion. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled placing a soft kiss on his lips. "If I had known you could go that fast, I would have given up driving years ago!" He kissed her back and held her close for a few more seconds. "We had better call the precinct and report in, before they put APB's out on both of us." Nick punched in the access code and the garage quietly opened. Stepping into the lift and pushing the up button Nick pulled Natalie into his arms one more time as he looked deeply into her eyes and started kissing her cheeks, then lips, followed by feather kisses down her neck. "Unless, of course I was distracted for a few more hours!" He smiled wickedly as he returned to her lips which she surrendered mercilessly. Melting her body into his, feeling his erection through their clothes, she deepened the kiss increasing both their needs as the lift stopped. Nick threw the door open with one hand as he picked Natalie up, all the while never releasing her lips. Preoccupied by each other , neither one noticed the dark clad figure on the coach until she cleared her throat. "If this is a bad time, I can come back later!" Tracy chuckled as Nick put Natalie back on the floor. With Natalie turning bright red and Nick taking a closer look at the floor, Tracy walked toward the lift door. "Trace, No! Don't go!. I think we all need to talk!" Nick pulled Natalie in front of him to hide his current problem. Realizing what he was doing , she began to snicker. She started to pull away from him and he held her firmly causing her to laugh even harder. "Yeah Trace, but I think we should give Nick a few minutes to get control of his libido here, before we talk or you might see Nick turn red!" Nick glared at Nat as she smiled and leaned back into him covering up the problem. He leaned over and whispered in her ear "If you do not stop that, the problem is NOT going to go away anytime soon!" "You guys sure? I can come back!" A troublesome look crossed her face and a great sadness hit her eyes. "What is it Tracy?" Realizing her distress, they put all kidding aside and went to her side as the first tears began to fall. All else forgotten, Tracy began to sob into Nick's shoulder. He gently picked her up and took her to couch where they sat on each side of her. They just let her cry. Natalie knew how she felt. Alone, no one to talk to except a few friends, even then you could not tell them everything. Secrets, pain, no family to really be with. She looked at Nick and knew he understood. It was different now and it would be for Tracy in time. "I am sorry!" She dabbed her eyes with a Kleenex that Natalie handed her. "I thought I could handle this, without breaking down. Red eyes and a swollen nose is not really conducive to the "macho cop" image I'm suppose to have. I guess I never will be super-cop like my Father wanted!" she turned to Nick trying to smile. "I could have gotten you killed Nick." She stood up and walked over by the fireplace. "I am turning in my badge today." She looked at Nick and then Nat. "I will not be the cause of you losing him. You guys are special to each other. You deserve to be together for a long, long time." She turned back to Nick "You do not need a partner that freezes during a shot-out! You need someone you can count on in a pinch and that, as much as I wish it were otherwise, is not me! Forgive me Nick for almost getting you killed?" Tracy could not look at him without feeling ashamed. She lowered her gaze to the floor in recrimination. Nick was in front of her in seconds forcing her to look at him. "Trace, you did not freeze because of the gunfire. You froze, because of me not anything in you.!" Confused Tracy touched Nick's cool skin. "I don't understand Nick!" Nick let her go and walked to the other side of the fireplace. Disgusted with himself for having let it go this far. "Tracy, you froze because of what I am! He shot you through me and then you froze from the bullet. You did not fire because you were hurt and startled when you saw my eyes change." With vampire speed he was at her side forcing her to look into his golden eyes. "You were shot because of me not you and if I had told you earlier maybe-just maybe things would have been different." He let his eyes return to normal right before her. "You're a good cop Tracy Vetter!. The best I've seen in CENTURIES!" He let her go and stepped back as Nat came up behind him and put her hand on his arm for support. As realization hit her, she turned and belted him in the jaw. "You could have trusted me!" Anger in her eyes she faced Natalie. "Both of you! I'm your partner Nick, if you can't trust your partner we have nothing to discuss." She whirled and started for the door. Catching her in three strides Nick grabbed her and held her arms while she struggled. "Listen to me Tracy, you were having enough problems accepting Vachon! You were seeing vampires everywhere. The last thing you needed was to find out your partner was an 800 year old vampire" She looked at him incredulously "Your 800 years old?" Nick released her arms as she stepped back. "802 actually if you count the year I was brought across!" He stood back trying to decide if she was going to hit him again. "You could have told me later-For God Sake-I've known you over a year and a half!" She turned to Nat. "You guys must have really thought I was stupid. Knowing all along I knew about Vachon-and not recognizing the same traits in Nick! How long have you known Natalie?" "Since he came back to life on the morgue table! I must admit, it was a life changing experience." She smiled at Nick. "I'll bet!" Tracy's curiosity was getting the better of her as her anger began to cool. "Why a cop Nick? From the looks of this place, money is not a problem?" Nick walked over to the fireplace a lit a fire before he answered. "I have hated what I am for over 300 years. I thought maybe it was time I gave something back to society instead of taking it out." He looked at her for understanding. This was hard for him. She could see it in his eyes. He was not like Vachon. She could not feel any evil about Nick. That was why she didn't make the connection. Then she realized something. Natalie and Nick- friends, lovers, Doctor-Patient? What were they to each other! "You have been trying to make him mortal again-haven't you?" Her gaze never left Natalie's face. "You said your relationship was I quote 'complicated'. I guess I can see why now." Natalie touched Tracy's arm gently. "We never meant to hurt you Tracy! The less you knew about the community the safer you were!" "You are safe!" She looked to Natalie for affirmation. "Only because Nick protects me. If the Enforcers feel I'm a threat they would kill both Nick and myself. Nick and Vachon put there necks on the line for you. We just spent the last 2 days in Hell trying to appease the community over a little misunderstanding. They wanted both of us dead without any proof. Trust me when I say the less you know, the safer you are from them." "So why are you telling me now?" Vachon gone, so I'm no threat to them. Nick stepped in between Nat and Tracy. "You died because of what I am! And the fact that GOD has given us all a second chance to set things right gives you the right to know what your partner can and cannot do. It may keep us both alive. I try not to make the same mistake twice.------We are still partners?" Hope in his blue eyes burned brightly. Tracy walked over to the couch and sat down. "The WHOLE story from the beginning including what I just saw in the lift when you came in.----- AND don't spare the details!!" She looked at her watch and the sunlight peeking through the open shades. "I have all day---and" She picked up the remote and hit the shades down key. "apparently so do you!" PART ( 2/14) ------------------------------ 1 month later: Tracy walked into the precinct throwing her coat on Nick's chair. She missed them already. They left on Friday. They had gotten married. Incredible! She remembered telling Nick he was such a cad about sleeping with Nat and not asking her to move in with him. Men just didn't know how to make a commitment anymore. Nick calmly walked over to her desk and placed a ring box in the middle. She must have turned 30 shades of red. ************************************************************ *********************** flashback ************************************************************ ********************** 2 weeks prior at the Precinct "Well, open it up 'Miss I Hate Uncommitted Men'! Tell me whether you think Nat will like it!" Nick walked back around to his desk and sat staring at Trace with her mouth open and her face bright red. "Nick-Is-Is this what I think it is?" She looked at him astonished. "You forget I come from the 13 Century--Trace. A man does not ask a women to move in with him if he loves her. He marries her!" He smiled at her discomfort. "So, tell me what you think?" Tracy flipped the box open. In it sat a wide wedding band with 36 perfect princess cut diamonds. There must have been over 4 carats of diamonds in the ring. "It's incredible Nick. There is so much fire in the ring, yet it is smooth on the top! How did they do that?" "I wanted it made so she would not have to take it off when she gloved up to work. But I still wanted the fire. Do you think she will like it? And for your information I just got the ring tonight and I would not ask her until I had it!" Nick looked at Tracy for an answer. He really needed another woman's opinion before he gave it to Natalie. "Well?" "She will love it Nick! No doubt in my mind in anyway shape or form. She would have to be nuts if she didn't!" Tracy placed the ring back in the box and handed it back to him. "So you going to ask her tonight? I would like to be a fly on the wall at this one!" She smiled wickedly which earned her a raised eyebrow 'in your dreams look'." "We had better get back to work before everyone in the precinct gets wind of this before Nat! She would kill me slowly for that one!" Tracy handed Nick the file open on her desk. "Guess we can start with these." ************************************************************ ************************* So, six weeks without Nick or Natalie! In the last 4 weeks they had become the closest friend Tracy ever had. She finally felt connected to someone or in this case multiple someones-yet she still felt alone at least in her heart when she saw them together. They were so right together. Maybe there was still hope for her. It took Nick 800 years to find the right woman. He said patience is a virtue greatly overlooked in this century. Oh well, back to work. She pulled out the pile of folders laying on the corner of her desk and started at the top. "Vetter! In here right now!" Reese yelled out his door. Screamed actually would have been a better term. He never seemed to do anything low key when Nick was gone. Tracy walked into the Captain's office noticing a dark, well dressed young man across from him. "Tracy! Meet you new partner for the next six weeks. Daniel Trent-Tracy Vetter!" Reese smiled and stopped her before she could speak. "Don't even say it. You are without a partner for 6 weeks and Daniel has just been promoted to homicide. In fact he asked for Metro in his request!" Reese was so pleased he was about to explode. The rookies wanted Metro Night Shift now. Amazing what a Mayor's award could do for the whole division. "Take him out and get his feet wet.-But for God Sake do not scare him to death with your workload. "But Captain! You Know we have 5 cases working and with Nick gone there is no way I have time---" "I'll lifted 3 of those and gave them to Snell and Grafton. You break Daniel in and work on two. That should be a breeze considering what you have been doing.----No arguments! Go!" He motioned them out the door. Daniel followed Tracy out the door over to her desk. Tracy motioned for him to take Nick's desk. He sat down hesitantly. "Is he always that way?" His dark brown eyes seemed to sparkle when he talked. "No! Only when Nick is gone!" Tracy stared at the young man across from her trying to size him up. He smiled at her appraisal making him even more attractive than before. "Should I stand up, so you can see the whole package?" The twinkle in his eyes seemed to light his whole face. "I'm-I'm sorry! I really didn't mean to stare, but you don't look much like a cop!" "And your blonde, blue eyed 35 year old partner does? Or how about you? I do not remember anything in the manual that said how I had to look to be a cop!" He raised one eyebrow stretching the silence until she answered. [Get a grip Trace. So he is good looking and has a sense of humor. Cut him some slack. Not everyone is evil incarnate or a vampire. Loosen up girl. No wonder you have not had a date for two months!] "Sorry!" She said regretfully and lowered her eyes. "I have been around Nick to long. He has a tendency to make you look really close at everything and everyone and he is not usually very subtle about it either. Guess some of it's rubbing off on me!" She smiled. "Let's start over okay?" She stuck her hand across the desk. "Tracy Vetter! Overworked, underpaid, and unappreciated hard-working homicide cop!" Daniel took her hand and smiled. "Nice to meet you Tracy Vetter!" She handed him the top three files. "You start going through these while I drop the other two off with Snell and Grafton. We can do the background check on the Parker Case first if the autopsy report gets done tonight." She rose from her chair taking two of the files from the huge pile setting on the corner of her desk. "But-the Captain said we were only working on two not three!" Indecision written on his face. "He was just trying not to scare you off." She pointed to the pile on her desk. "Those are the actives as we speak!" She smiled wickedly. "Welcome to Metro Homicide!" ---------------------------------------------- The wire arrived at 10:00 am Belgium time. Theressa sat at her desk delving deeper into the manuscript. Her reading glasses sliding down her nose as usual. Her dark hair feathered around her face created massive mounds of curls cascading onto the manuscript. She brushed it back absentmindedly out of habit. Eventually she would give up and tie it back. The courier stood quietly at the desk admiring her while he waited for her to notice him but she was completely absorbed in the project. He cleared his throat hoping to bring her back to this world. "Miss?--Ah-I have a wire from the-" He turned the envelope over reading the senders information. "The National Museum Headquarters in Paris?" Theressa finally noticed him. Removing her glasses she came to take the envelope from him. Reaching into the drawer for a coin. "I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting. Accept my apologies!" She placed the coin into his hand. "No problem Miss." He smiled and left the store. Theressa ripped open the envelope from the NMH and read eagerly. "13 Century French! What an incredible find!" The excitement began to build as she read on. Three books found locked in the museum safe. Unknown French dialect. They wanted her to come. Where? Surely it was wrong. Toronto? Why of all places Toronto? Could she do it now? Was it time? She was to respond today and leave at the end of the month. She would have to make a decision today! Maybe it was time for her to grow up after all. ------------------------------------- 2 weeks later Daniel walked into the precinct looking for Tracy. He found her cruising through the door from the coroner's building carrying an autopsy report wearing a distinct frown as she read. In disgust she plopped down heavily into her chair tossing the report on Daniel's desk. "Jerry is driving me crazy. I have to push him for everything and all he does is whine about the workload down here. I never really appreciated Natalie's work until now!" She pulled her blonde hair out of her face. "Your working to hard Trace. Geez-we have 5 actives 15 backburners and 2 hots. How do you keep them all strait. They are beginning to get all jumbled in my head." His boyish smiled warmed her heart. Daniel was really a nice guy. Naive when it came to detective work and definitely not organized when it came to paper work, but at least he did his share. Nick avoided it like the plague-yet he could put the pieces together better than anyone she knew. She was feeling frustrated. She did not realize how much he kept in his head at all times. He looked at everything and nothing was beneath his notice. Of course being 800 years old gave you a broader perspective than most. She was just now beginning to appreciate that. "Sorry Daniel. Guess I was just missing Nat's efficiency and Nick's 'your not seeing the whole picture approach'. Or maybe I'm just have to many pictures to look at!" "You miss them don't you?" "Yeah! I bet there having a great time in France. Sleeping in, Good Food [not that Nick would care], moonlight, dancing, great music, boat rides on the Seine. Everything a woman could want!!" She sighed with a wishful look on her face. "You trying to say that I'm not equal to Lieutenant Detective Nick Knight?" "Nick is not a Lieutenant Daniel! Not unless he was promoted sometime when I was out of it!" "I think your wrong Trace. I checked both you files before I came to Metro. He transferred here from Montreal as a Lieutenant. He has been offered at least 4 promotions and turned each of them down." Staring dumb founded into Daniel's face. "You checked our files?" "Well, Sure! I wanted to work with the best. After all you and Nick were named Partners of the Year and have the highest conviction rate of any police team in Toronto. Nick and Schanke were good but Schanke made a lot of mistakes that Nick could not cover for. You and Nick aside from your obvious differences make a great team. I just wanted to learn from the best." He sat quietly waiting for her to bash him. Daniel had learned in the last month, that Tracy was not always 'Miss Perky' as everyone thought. She had a temper that she kept in check most of the time. She fascinated him. He asked her out twice-which she accepted for breakfast only. After absorbing what Daniel said, she became angry which progressed to totally pissed off and finally to throwing files on the floor. "That asshole! He did it to me again! Why is it, just when you think you know someone they constantly throw you a sinker to see if you can hold it all the way to the bottom of the lake?" She shoved her chair across the room as she got up. Daniel somewhat confused by her anger, realized is was not directed at him as he expected and ran after her. Recognizing who the anger was directed at, Daniel tried to soothe the situation. "Trace! Nick didn't tell you that he was second in command here. Actually, he was offered the Captain's position before Reese took over. He is second only by choice." Tracy seethed with the new information. Daniel not making the situation better, but worse decided on retreat. "I will personally put a stake through his rotten heart when he gets back!" She then turned her wrath to Daniel. "And just how in the Hell did you get that kind of information. That is not in a general personnel file!!!" She stopped short causing him to run into the back of her. He grabbed her hand trying to explain. Tracy jerked her hand from his cool fingers, her anger banked behind her blue eyes to the point of smoldering. "Don't answer that! You would probably just lie or leave out to important detail! Men! They are all the same!" Tracy started for the parking lot with Daniel at her heels. "I'm driving-So get on the other side of the car!" She slammed the door as they both got in the car. Taking deep breathes she tried to calm herself. "81 Kilo! Report to 8th and Pear. Body down. Coroner in route! Do you copy?" Tracy picked up the microphone to respond. "81 Kilo responding!" She glared at Daniel and started the engine. --------------------------------- Theressa made the decision to accept the contract with NMH in Paris. She would leave for Toronto on the 10th of July. Toronto in the summer. She always loved Canada in the summer. It brought back so many sweet memories. The ones she had survived on for the past 4 years. Yes, it had been four years since her separation from Paul and each time when she started to pick up the phone to call, she lost her nerve. They had been so close, for so many years it was hard to believe a man came between them. ******************************************** Flashback ******************************************** The three of them sat playing in the back yard. It was summer of 1972. The leaves rustled in the trees as Richard picked up the bucket of sand and poured it over Natalie's head. Theressa giggled as Natalie fumed and started after Richie. Being only four, all Theressa could remember of those days was the love they had for each other. Natalie was 10 and all legs with a mop of auburn curls. Always the defender of her brother and sister but still not willing to take Nana's anger if she brought sand into the house. She remembered the bond between Natalie and Richie. Somehow she always felt left out because they were so close. Each time she felt this way Nat would set her down and tell her how special she was to her and to Richie. He was their knight in shining armor. Then things changed after Dad was killed in the car accident. Mom had to go to work full time at the research center, which left them with Nana and all her rules. Natalie became the Mother and Richie the Father. When in trouble, they took care of her. They took Nana's wrath to protect her, tutored her into the wee hours of the morning to get her through the math and let her cry on their shoulders when it hurt. Mom worked all the hours she could to make ends meet and Natalie picked up the slack. Their time together was always so measured, but the love unconditional. Richie was off to college when the fire broke out in the attic. Natalie, the late night student smelled smoke. Theressa remembered it like it was yesterday. "Theressa get up! Get up! There is a fire!" Natalie screamed as she shook her sister's shoulders. Slowly coming awake Natalie forced her out of bed and down the stairs. "Go!" she screamed at Theressa as she came by their Mother's room. "I'll get Mom and Nana." Terrified beyond reason seeing the fire spread through the ceiling, Theressa fled out the front door. Natalie flew into her Mother's room in a panic. "Fire! Mother wake up! It's a fire!" Coming awake quickly Ruth Ann Lambert grabbed her robe and daughter's hand and flew down the stairs. "We must get Nana Natalie? You get your sister! I'll get Nana!" She shoved Natalie ahead of her as the whole house seem to erupt into flames around them. "She is already out Mom. I'll help you with Nana!" Natalie screamed over the blaze and they headed for the downstairs bedroom where Nana slept. Pushing into the room they noticed the window open and the bed empty. The fire sirens could be heard for blocks. "She's gone Mom! We have to get out too!" They started for the open window when the beam collapsed over their heads. Theressa could her their screams even now as the neighbor and Nana held her close preventing her from running into the house. The firemen came and broke through the window carry Natalie's limp body out the window first, followed by her Mother covered in sever burns. In a sheer panic Theressa broke away to be with her sister and Mother. It was strange she could not remember much of the next few days as they waited for Natalie to regain consciousness and see if her Mother would live. On the 3rd day Natalie awoke screaming. They had to sedate the young 17 year old to calm her down. Theressa only left her side to check on her Mother while Nana sat with Ruth Anne. When Natalie saw her Mother for the first time and how bad the burns, she collapsed into the Doctors arms. Throughout the following months of reconstructive surgery and the pain, Natalie stood by her Mother. Encouraging her, pushing her, and holding them all together. The year after the fire Natalie was accepted to Berkley as a pre-med. candidate with a full scholarship and Ruth Anne Lambert succumbed to repetitive infections caused from her burns ending in acute viral pneumonia. Theressa was 12 at the time. Remembering her sister's grief on that day was implanted in her memory forever as Natalie tried to shut the world out. Refusing to leave her sister in her Grandmother's care Natalie took Theressa to California with her. They left Montreal only 2 months after their Mother passed away. The years that followed brought them even closer together as Richie went on to law school and Natalie to Med School. Never missing a Christmas or Holiday. They were always together. Theressa wanted for nothing. Natalie was on full scholarship plus worked a night job. She thrived on the night and the hours. Never sharing her inner self with anyone, not even Theressa. It was as if she was obsessed with finding an answer to a question that no one had asked. Theressa suspected work was Natalie's balm to heal the scars left from the fire. Many a night she could remember Natalie's screams as she awoke from the nightmares ending with the uncontrolled sobbing. Theressa tried to console her but she was pushed away. ****************************************** Theressa felt almost a sense of relief as she laid the confirmation letter down on her desk. It was time for the sisters to put the past behind them. This time no one-- man or woman-- would come between them. She would be in Toronto on the 10th and her new life would start from there. PART ( 3/14) Tracy and Daniel approached the scene from 8th Street with lights flashing. A petite brunette sat on the curb holding the head of a blonde man trying to stop the bleeding. Tracy approached her carefully with her weapon drawn while Daniel checked the scene. The woman sat quietly rocking back and forth while she cried. She knew he was gone. Tracy checked the body and motioned to Daniel that an ambulance was not necessary. "Miss...did you see who did this?" Tracy tried to get her to stop rocking the dead man and look at her. As if she were somewhere else finally coming back to Earth, the girl saw Tracy through her tears. Pointing her finger toward the alley. "He, He, went down the alley. I gave him my purse and he just shot Thomas anyway." She began to weep again cradling his body in her arms. Tracy started down the alley in the opposite direction that Daniel disappeared earlier. They alley was dark and filled with dumpsters on both sides. The alley was a dead end. She approached cautiously using the dumpsters as cover. A sharp flash behind the end dumpster caused her to pull back just in time. The bullet ricocheted off the wall behind her head. "Metro Police!! Throw out you weapon and no one will hurt you! You cannot get out of this alley without going past me, so give it up now." She got two more bullets over her head for her efforts. Tracy pulled and fired around the dumpster as she ran to the other side of the street, not feeling as confident as she sounded. The gunshots brought back memories of the locker room. She shook them off as she dove for cover on the opposite side of the alley. Two more shots followed close behind her. The distinct click of an empty chamber followed the last two shots. Was it possible he was without another clip? Could she take that chance? "That is it! Your mine now. We can do this the hard way or the easy way. Which do you want?" Tracy edged her shoulder out from behind the dumpster awaiting a bullet if he possessed another clip. A gun was thrown into the alley in front of her. A blonde youth approximately 18 yrs. old stepped into the alley. "I give up!" He sounded scared as he stepped into the only light in the alley. Tracy stepped forward gun in position to meet him face to face. As she stepped forward he lunged sideways sweeping her legs which eliminated any shot for Tracy as she fell hard to the ground. She rolled but to late. His knife came toward her throat as he pulled her to a standing position. "Pretty little blondie want to party?" He smiled and placed pressure onto the blade. "You look like a good time just waiting to happen." He grabbed her breast from behind and pulled her hard into his body. Daniel came into the alley as the man pulled Tracy into his body and out of the light. Sensing movement at the end of the alley the youth turned Tracy in front of him as a shield. "I will cut her throat cop! One more foot and she will join that bastard on the street in la la land." Daniel froze in place not wanting to push the young man to far. "Do you understand me PIG! Come into the light where I can see you." All the time forcing Tracy back further into the alley with him. "I understand you quite well. No one needs to get hurt here!" Daniel walked into the light so the young man could see him clearly. "I am putting my gun up! See!" He placed his revolver back in its holster under his jacket holding both hands up as he spoke. Daniel concentrated on his voice and the assailants heartbeat as he spoke pushing his will outward to the youth. "You don't want to do this. You do not want to hurt the pretty lady. PUT DOWN THE KNIFE!" It was a command not a question as the youth began to repeat everything Daniel said. Realizing the youth's confusion Tracy felt the release in pressure on her throat as the knife dropped an inch. Daniel was hypnotizing the young man. "PUT DOWN THE KNIFE ON THE GROUND!" Daniel's commands were more compelling each time. Immune to any form of hypnotic suggestion, Tracy grabbed the young man's arm and pulled the knife away from her throat stepping out of his grasp. In a rush of wind, the blonde boy lay flat on the street with Daniel astride his back adding handcuffs to the boys attire. Turning toward Tracy, slightly winded, Daniel jerked the youth to his feet. "Are you okay Trace?" Gold flecks edge his eyes as Tracy stood motionless in the alley. Three uniform officers ran toward the trio standing at the rear of the alley. Daniel shoved the youth toward the officers as Tracy continued to stare, trying to rationalize what just happened. "Book him! We will be there shortly." Daniel turned the blonde youth over to the officers while grabbing Tracy's other arm. He forced her away from the officers toward the end of the alley for privacy. "Let go of my arm Daniel!" She pulled her arm quickly away from him stopping in the middle of the alley. "You want to explain that little trick to me! Or am I suppose to wait until you fly off into the air or your fangs drop? Or how about how you eat real food and walk in the sunlight? Or maybe you would like to explain to me why you have a heartbeat?" She waited for an answer as her anger began to build. "Jump right in anytime you feel like answering buster or I am going in search of a wooden stack and a cross. Which one do you prefer?" Something was not right here. Daniel could not be a vampire. She had eaten breakfast with him at 8:00 am at the Terrrace Restaurant outside. She chose the place just to assure herself that everyone she met was not a vampire. What was he? How was this possible? What she saw in his eyes was vampire. The control and hypnotic suggestions were vampire traits. The speed was vampire. Not as fast as Nick but still not human. Daniel was stunned. She knew about vampires! That meant Nick must have trusted her with his secret. It had to be true. Nick was the vampire he sought. After 50 years of searching, thousands of questions, hundreds of sleepless nights as he fled from both humans and vampires, the answers he sought were at hand. He really liked this girl. She was tough, bright, fearless and emtional all rolled up into one and obviously trustworthy. Surely Knight would not trust a mere mortal because he worked with her. He married a mortal for Christ's sake. He had to be the one he sought. A true vampire could not work so closely with mortals and marry one if he did not possess both mortal and vampire traits. "It is not what you think Trace!" Daniel touched her arms that were now wrapped around her chest in self defense. She pulled away from his touch as if he were contaminated. "I am a resistor Daniel, so your HYPNO trick will not work on me! The TRUTH Daniel! I want the TRUTH!" She seemed hurt as well as angry. Frantic not to lose Tracy's trust he tried to explain. "My Father was a vampire and my Mother a mortal. I am both. The Enforcers killed my Father because they thought he was betraying the community and they tried killing my Mother to prevent me from being born. They left her for dead in an alley like this one almost 81 years ago. I was born that night and we went into hiding for over 70 years." Daniel looked at Tracy to see if he was getting through to her. It was imperative he have her support if he was to get anywhere close to Nick. "So you come to Toronto to seek out others like yourself? Or did you have something more evil in mind?" Tracy stepped closer to Daniel almost nose to nose with him showing no fear. "Are you a hunter Daniel?" "A hunter! No way! Trace I do not have the strength or the powers of a vampire. I just want answers as to what I am. My Mother only new my Father a year before he was killed. She was mortal or mostly mortal when I was born. I could not go to another vampire to answer my questions or a mortal either. I'm not either one. My blood is so different that when I go to the Doctor for anything I get more questions than answers, yet I am a threat to the vampire community just because I carry mortal impurities in my blood. I have been searching for 50 years to find someone like me. Someone who might know how to deal with this living between both worlds. How to control the animal in me! How to stop this insatiable desire to kill! How to stop drinking blood and how to have a normal relationship with a woman!" He looked deep into her eyes for understanding. "I'm tired Trace! I just want to be normal like everyone else!" Daniel found a box beside the dumpster and sat down heavily. Placing his head in his hands in exhaustion he slumped forward. Kneeling down in front of Daniel, Tracy gently touched his knee to get his attention. "You need blood don't you?" It was more a statement than a question as Daniel raised his head and looked into her blue eyes. "I will go to the Raven and get a couple of bottles. Can you make it to the car?" "You would do that for me?" he asked in disbelief. "What are partners for!" She smiled as she helped him up. They headed for the car as Daniel leaned heavily onto her shoulder. To the other officers it appeared like they were just getting closer acquainted as already rumored throughout the precinct. Tracy crawled behind the wheel, starting the engine and headed toward the Raven. "I finally understand why you chose Metro Homicide for your first assignment. Why did you not just go to Nick and talk to him?" Tracy turned questioning eyes to Daniel. "He is in Europe! Remember!" "Oh, yeah! Small detail" She smiled. "I was not even sure you knew he was a ........" "Vampire! It's okay. That word has been in my vocabulary for sometime now. I seem to be using it a great deal more here lately." "It has taken me 3 years to track him here and getting information in the community is risky. The old ones can feel me and the young ones think I am mortal, so they protect their own. The Raven is a pretty rough place for a vampire let alone a mortal." "How did you get Nick's name?" "I was attacked one night coming out of the Raven by a young blonde female vampire. She was pissed off at LaCroix, the owner of the Raven. Apparently Nick and LaCroix go a long way back. She thought I was a hunter so she told me in hopes I would kill Nick in turn hurting LaCroix. Apparently he has quite a hold, as well as power, within the Toronto community. The vast majority of them are afraid of LaCroix and indebted to Nick. Do you know why?" "I do not have a clue Daniel, but Nick is toast if I do not get the right answers when he gets back. Let's get you some bloodwine and some rest. We can sort the rest of it out later!" --------------------------------------- 3 weeks later in the precinct Daniel walked into the precinct carrying his usual cup of coffee. It seemed the older he got the more caffeine he required for the normal everyday things. His blood intake had decreased since his heart to heart talk with Tracy. His need for blood was just not as much. Maybe it was due to the release of all those years of bottled up stress All he knew was that since that night in the alley, he and Trace had become quite close. Never before had he trusted someone with all his secrets and misgivings. Tracy was certain Nick could help him sort out his problems. She was extremely closed mouthed about information about Nick . Her only excuse- was information about Nick should come from Nick. End of discussion. Was it lack of trust in him or respect for Nick? Daniel could not decide. Nick and Natalie were due back at the end of the week according to their postcard to Trace. Daniel knew she missed both of them just from the way she talked periodically. He only hoped someday she would miss him when he was gone. Tracy breezed through the door throwing her coat on the hook by her desk in one single motion. "Hi Daniel!" She took the coffee offered to her by Carlyle as he walked by her desk. Carlyle always took care of her when she entered the door. If she had not known he was a happily married man her suspicious side would have taken over long before now. "I heard on the radio Castle Frank had a big explosion in the warehouse district. Everyone in the department was called in. Over 20 bodies so far!" Curiosity laced into her voice. "You don't think we have enough work of our own to do Trace?" "No---I did not say that. I just figured we would not get the prelims on the DeSoto case anytime soon, because they would pull Jerry back to Castle Frank to cover the body count. And we know speed is not his best feature." Natalie walked into the main hall carrying an arm load of files as Jeannie and Carlyle greeted her with surprise. "Obviously France agreed with you girl! Or was it Nick?" Jeannie hugged Natalie being careful not to cause her to drop the files. "Both I think Jeannie!" A radiant smiled crossed Natalie's face as she saw Tracy and a handsome young man sitting at Nick's desk. Tracy's back was to Natalie so she did not see her approach. Daniel sat staring over Tracy shoulder at Natalie who was all smiles. "You know Trace, Dr. Lambert is much prettier than her picture!" Daniel pointed to the picture on Nick's desk of the both of them at Christmas last year. "And how would you know that? Or are you psychic or something?" Tracy raised a skeptically eyebrow. Daniel stood up to take the files from Natalie. "Daniel Trent-Dr. Lambert!" He relieved her of the folders and reached for her hand at the same time. Tracy turned to face Natalie completely surprised. "Nat-Your Back!" Tracy jumped up to hug Natalie. "I thought you were not coming back till Friday? Let me look at you. God you look fantastic! You have been in the sun! Where is Nick? How was France?" "Stop! Stop!" Natalie held up her hand for Tracy to slow down. "Yes we are back. No we were not coming back to work till Friday but..... Yes I was in the sun. Nick is trying to get everything turned on at the loft and France was fantastic!" Finally taking a deep breathe she smiled at Trace. "We missed you too!" She turned to Daniel who stood awkwardly beside Nick's desk. "You must be Tracy's partner while Nick was gone! Daniel was it?" "Yes, Daniel Dr. Lambert. Or should I call you Dr. Knight?" "Natalie will do fine Daniel. I see you have kept her in one piece for six weeks. That is sometimes a trial!" Natalie smiled at Tracy waiting for her response. "That was uncalled for! You know how laid back I am most of the time Nat.!" They both burst out laughing. "Jerry whined enough for Morgan to call you in and you of course could not resist his begging on the phone.... right?" "Right! Besides I did not really want to be in the loft with Nick and Sydney while they got reacquainted again. I swear Nick really needs to get a dog or something., Cats are not his thing and Sydney is very protective of me! It is kind of cute sometimes. Nick does not see it that way though! They pulled Jerry back to Castle Frank for the body count. I took one look at the files and decided to bring them up to you before Nick gets in. The DeSoto file is on the top. When I get a few minutes I go over the body again. Something missing. I cannot put my finger on it." "Is Nick coming in tonight?" "Probably after he gets everything turned back on at the loft. We just got in late last night and crashed. We tarped everything down and shut everything off before we left. He will probably be in by Midnight knowing Nick, especially after he hears about the bombing. Well, I had better get back to work. Why don't you stop by the loft for breakfast before going home. We have some great pictures to show you." Natalie's pager went off as they spoke and Captain Reese stuck his head out of the office. "Natalie.....Glad your back." He pointed to her pager. "That is Morgan telling you they are shipping bodies to you from Castle Frank. They are up to 30 now. Hope your well rested. Please tell me Nick is here or coming in tonight as well!" "Later tonight Captain! He getting the loft opened back up first. Midnight would be my guess. Guess I better get back to the morgue right away then.!" "By the way....You look Great! Nick must agree with you! Welcome back!" "Thanks CAP! And yes he does! See you guys later! Your welcome to come to Daniel if you want to see the pictures!" She waved and headed back to the morgue. Daniel sat speechless as Natalie walked away. Tracy snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Earth to Daniel!" Daniel finally closed his mouth and brought his attention back to Tracy. "She is incredible! Bright, beautiful and nice too! I thought she might be a little more aloof!" "You had better not let Nick see that look in your eye when you describe her or you will be wearing that stupid look somewhere else besides on your face. He does not hide the little green monster very well." "I didn't mean anything by it Trace! I ...just didn't expect here to be so nice. She doesn't even know me and she invited me to her house. What do you think Nick will say?" "If I did not know better Daniel, I would say you are nervous about meeting Nick!" Daniel took immense interest in his shoes as Tracy walked around the desk and sat down on his desk. "You are nervous about meeting Nick!!!" "What if he won't help me! He could turn me over to the Enforcers or tell me to take a hike or rip my throat out or....." "Stop! What are you doing to yourself. This is Nick we are talking about! Nick Knight, defender of the public, always does the right thing, cares what people think, would give you the shirt off his back, blames himself when things go wrong, beat the crap out of anyone who would hurt a woman and give his life for yours without even knowing you. Daniel....Nick is a nice guy! He will listen to you and help you if he can." She made Daniel look in her eyes. "I know Nick! He can be a pain at times and is horrible with paperwork but I trust him with my life and so should you!" Daniel smiled. "Old habits are hard to break. I hope you are right!" Daniel grabbed Tracy's coat and his own. "We had better get those interview done tonight before the Captain gives us anymore cases." ----------------------------------- LaCroix walked downstairs into the Raven stopping frequently to listen and to feel. Nicholas was back. He could feel his wayward son. Odd the connection seem to be getting weaker. The good Doctor again as usual. It would appear that Nicholas needed further lessons in the subservient demeanor of a good son. He would have a talk with him this evening. He would see if Nicholas would come to him on his own or if he would be forced to make him see the error of his ways. ------------------------------------ Nick walked into the precinct a few minutes after Midnight. Nelson and Garvey sat at their desks. "Well, look who is back! The Knightmare himself. Married life must agree with you Nick! Is that color I see on your face. How is the old ball and chain?" "I don't think Nat would see the humor in that remark Shawn, and her equalizers have sharp points on them! I would be careful if I were you." Shawn grabbed Nick's hand. "We are glad your back. Your partner has been training the rookie, so the Captain has lightened your load for 6 weeks. We may never see the light at this rate till the year 2000." "Knight! In my office!" Captain Reese seemed harried. Shutting the door behind Nick, Reese sat down heavily into his swivel chair. "I hope you are well rested because it is a mad house here!" Reese looked at Nick hard for the first time. "My God Nick! You have a suntan!!!" Nick smiled at the Captain reaction. "Scary Huh!" "Natalie's handiwork I suppose?" "It would appear she is good at many things CAP. I can vouch for more than one!" Nick smiled until Reese stuck two files in his hand. "Murder on Fourth & Elm. Callahan Case. Unidentified body on 3rd. Same MO. I think we have a serial here! Answers Nick. I need answer now before more bodies show up. You and Tracy are keeping Trent till the end of the month. He needs the experience and you both need the manpower. Go easy on him Nick. He is young, but bright. I don't want him scared off with your workload or "gung-ho" attitude. He needs a little seasoning....slowly. I repeat slowly! Do you read me?" "Right CAP!" Nick flipped through the files as he walked out the door. "By the way Nick. Welcome Back!" Nick walked out of the Captain office as Tracy and Daniel entered the room. "Nick! My God you have a tan!" Tracy threw her arms around Nick's neck. "Let me look at you. I thought Nat looked great but I see right now I have to make a trip to France next week! Either that or find the right man! I missed you guys." Tracy let go as she felt Nick stiffen following his view to Daniel. "Daniel Trent-Nick! I have heard a great deal about you!" Daniel stuck his hand toward Nick. Nick accepted his hand letting himself feel Daniel for what he was. A skeptical look crossed his face as he moved sideways to Daniel. Not really allowing Daniel to come any closer. Nick could feel his presents, the vampire within as well as his heartbeat. Enemy or hunter both images crossing his mind together. Was Tracy aware? "It's not what you think Nick!" Looking over the squad room and possible complications, Nick picked up two files from Tracy's desk. "I think we should finish these interview tonight? Don't you Trace!" Not even looking at the files Nick headed for the door. Tracy grabbed Daniel's hand pulling him with her out the door after Nick. In the parking lot out of earshot of the general public Nick stopped dead in his tracks for Tracy and Daniel to catch up and then let his senses drift to Daniel. "What do you want Daniel?" "Nick! His Father was a vampire and his Mother a mortal. Like you and Nat!" Nick glared at Tracy for that admission--not believing her willingness to impart their secrets to this stranger. Daniel made no move to get any closer to Nick. Almost as if her were frightened of Nick's answer. "He needs your help!. Yours and Natalie's!" "You can feel me?" Daniel said in awe. "Only the old ones can feel me. How old are you?" Having finally found his tongue he could not seem to get all the questions out. Nick uncertain of what he felt from this young man and leery from past experiences with half-casts refused to take his eyes off him. "Are you a hunter Daniel or just naive as Tracy would have me believe?" "A hunter! No..No.." Daniel stepped toward Nick when he noticed the quick change in Nick's eyes to Gold and stopped. "My Father was killed by the Enforcers because he was a threat to the community. They tried to kill my Mother before I was born, but they did not succeed. She kept me in hiding for almost 70 years!!! She died about 5 years ago. She could not help me with what I am. She had a few vampire traits but she did not know how to use them. She only knew that I had them and the Enforcers would kill me if they found out where we were. I need to know what I am and learn how to change it or at least live with it. I need help from someone who can understand what it is I feel and make me mortal or at least try!" After years of struggle with his own personal doubts, Nick readily recognized the traits in Daniel. "I am 802 years old! And yes, I can feel you." Nick approached Daniel slowly offering him his hand. "I don't know if I can help you Daniel, but I will try. As you will note, I still struggle with numerous problems of my own but Nat and I are making progress." With a sigh of relief Daniel accepted Nick's hand. "I will settle for anything I can get right know." ----------------------------------------------- PART ( 4/14) At the loft: Natalie sat with Tracy on the sofa going over every picture from Paris she had while Nick stoked up the fire again. Daniel stood behind the women admiring the French girls in each picture. The pictures from Belgium were Natalie's favorites. Nick watched the crew from a distance while preparing breakfast. Natalie had managed to teach him how to make omelets with mild success because eggs seemed to be the only food he ever really tasted. True most foods did not make him ill anymore but he honestly could not say he liked the taste of anything but eggs. Natalie spent hours going through French cookbooks finding recipes with eggs. In six weeks, she had found at least 45 recipes that Nick actually would eat and ask for seconds. They were making progress! He smiled as he whipped the omelets. Daniel becoming bored with the girl talk, pictures and trip memorabilia offered to help. "You seem to be pretty handy in the kitchen! Need some help?" Daniel was still not quite certain how to take Nick. What he felt between Nick and Natalie was almost palatable. Their feelings for each other were beyond his comprehension. He had never allowed himself to become close to a woman before. Tracy was as close as he dared go at least in the emotion department. But Nick and Natalie's relationship was what he dreamed about..actually prayed for every night since he discovered his fangs. A normal relationship. Love, respect, honor and hope in a future together. That was the word TOGETHER! They were as if two parts making a whole. When they were together it was right. You could feel it. Everyone around them could feel it. "Actually it's Nat's idea. She was getting tired of doing all the cooking. And there are just so many ways you can fix eggs. Believe me! We have tried them all." Nick smiled as his gazed went back to Tracy and Nat on the sofa. "Eggs are the only thing that have any taste right?" Daniel drew Nick's attention back to the job at hand. "Yeah! Everything else tastes like cardboard. But at least I am not throwing it up any longer. I couldn't say that 3 months ago." "My Mother never could understand that. She said my Father was the same way, but he never got past the throwing up stage. So she always fixed eggs with every meal. At least she was sure I would eat something on the table. The neighbors just thought we were vegetarians or something, because we ate so many." The phone rang and Nick became extremely tense which Natalie sensed immediately and stopped in mid-sentence as Nick picked up the phone. Switching to fluent French Nick answered the phone knowing who was on the other end. Natalie waited patiently for Nick to finish knowing full well the outcome of the conversation. Concern crossed Nick's face as she watched him closely. He placed the receiver down as Natalie reached his side. "Don't go Nick! Make him come to you!" He pulled her into his arms till her head rested on his shoulder. "It's almost dawn. He will try to make you stay the day! You know that!" She gazed into his blue eyes trying to make him understand her fears. "I know!! But this is the last place I want him now." Nick looked at Tracy and Daniel. "And he is not really overjoyed with you either since your little encounter...." He placed a kiss on Natalie forehead and broke the embrace. "It's better for all of us this way." He turned as he picked up his coat heading for the lift. "And I have and hour window he does not know about!" Stepping into the lift, he completed his thought. "Trace you and Daniel stay here until I find out what the word is about Daniel in the community!" Natalie walked over to the lift stopping the door as Nick began to close it. "I am a little old for a baby-sitter Nick!" Nick pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently. Never taking his eyes off hers. "Humor me! Please!" Pulling his lips back to hers, she held him closely. "Be back in 2 hours or I storm the Raven! Stake in hand with Joan's cross over there!" "Promise!" Nick reluctantly let her go and closed the door. "What is it Nat? Where is Nick going this close to dawn?" "LaCroix!" Worry etched into her brow, Natalie went back to the kitchen to finish the omelets Nick started. ----------------------------- Dawn was but 30 minutes away as Nick landed softly outside the Raven. LaCroix had not shown up in France to cause trouble. That in itself was a surprise to Nick. He did not delude himself into thinking LaCroix had given up trying to control him. If he had not come, LaCroix would have come to the loft. With Daniel, Tracy and Natalie there, it had disaster written all over it. This was better for everyone involved. He knew that, just as he knew LaCroix was outraged. Nick opened the door and entered the main room, lit only by the lights over the long bar. LaCroix sat at the end drinking a glass of blood. "Good of you to come, Nicholas!" He downed the entire contents before continuing. "I see you have made progress with your little quest." His words laced with controlled anger. "What do you want LaCroix?" Nick made no pretense at being pleased to be there. In a flash , Nick found himself thrown hard against the wall shattering the mirror over the bar as well as several of his ribs. LaCroix held him a foot off the floor placing the palm of his hand in Nick's ribcage forcing several of his ribs to puncture his lung. "You have become weak Nicholas. This obsession of yours is draining your powers and attracting the wrong type of people to the community." Tossing Nick across the room over several tables into the stage, LaCroix let his anger have free rein and attacked his son. Nick, recognizing the rage in LaCroix, tried to avoid him as much as possible, but with LaCroix's age and Nick's inability to breathe, his efforts soon proved futile. Having fought for centuries, each having almost killed the other on several occasions, they proceeded to destroy the Raven. Nick was no match for LaCroix unless enraged, and he was in too much pain and confused to manage that state of mind. Suffering from internal injuries and broken bones Nick collapsed under LaCroix, barely able to breathe. "Finish it! It is the only thing that will release YOU and ME!" Gaining some control, LaCroix realized he had a stake in his hand. Nick lay beneath him bleeding and broken. "It is the only way you will ever control me! That is what you want isn't it ? Power over me! To hurt me, make me dependent upon you so you won't be alone." LaCroix dropped the stake and stood shakily over Nick. "That's it isn't LaCroix, your afraid of being alone! Afraid to let go and feel again! Afraid to live or love because you will eventually be alone again. Like Divinia to strong to die yet never really living." Rapidly losing strength from the loss of blood and the internal bleeding, Nick managed to pull his battered body to the nearest wall. Each breathe becoming more difficult than the last. LaCroix completely in control now casually assessed the damage he managed to afflict on his son. "Your good Doctor has managed to pollute your blood with hers I see. I do hope in this exchange you imparted some of your shall we say 'good qualities' to her." LaCroix took knife from his pocket and sliced his wrist. As the blood began to flow freely, he offered it to Nicholas while he sat on the floor. "Take it Nicholas or you will not last the day!" Looking at LaCroix in disgust, Nick pushed his arm away and managed to pull himself up using the bar as support. "Why? More control? Do you honestly think after all these centuries I would ever let you possess me! Isn't that why you have tortured me all these years. Because I was the one who would fight back. You closed yourself off to everything else you felt except this desire to possess what you couldn't have!" Nick started toward the door as the sun began to shine through the triangular pane in the window in the door. "I feel sorry for you LaCroix. When you had the chance, you choose poorly!" Not believing his son would be foolish enough to walk uncovered into the sun, but uncertain of Nicholas ability to be rational at that moment, LaCroix used his vampire speed to stop Nick before he walked into the sunlight. Nick looked at his father, first in disgust and then amazement as he saw the sunlight scorch LaCroix's hand as he held him up. Nick pulled himself free from LaCroix gently and walked into the sunlight. Turning around in the sunlight unharmed, a smile crossed his beaten face. "Maybe there is hope for you yet MY FRIEND!" Nick pushed the door and stepped out into the dawn. Natalie paced the floor relentlessly as the sun began to shine through the windows. Judging the hour by the height of the sun, she became more agitated by the minute. Tracy tried chatting about the office gossip, but to no avail. She sent Daniel to the car to check the radio for any news of a disturbance at the Raven. Daniel switched off the police ban after about 10 minutes, when nothing had been reported. He walked toward the lift when he heard a loud thud at the entrance. Turning around he saw Nick collapse against his car and slide toward the floor. Daniel caught him before he hit the floor of the garage. His action elicited a loud groan from Nick, as he tried to steady him against the nearest wall. "Gees, you look like Hell, Nick!" Daniel tried to get him to sit down before he fell. "I better get Natalie!" "NO! Daniel Please! Not Yet! She will go crazy if she sees me like this. Just wait a few minutes. Then we can go! Okay?" Nick held Daniel's arm tightly trying to get him to understand. He began coughing pink foam as he labored to breathe. "He did that to you because of me?" Daniel was terrified by the thought that his presence had caused Nick this much pain. "Not hardly! LaCroix and I have this little on going discussion frequently. As of late it takes a little longer to overcome the consequences!" "But I thought he was your master?" Anger flared in Nick's eyes as he grabbed Daniel's collar bringing him nose to nose with his golden eyes. "NO ONE is my master!!" Nick released Daniel and struggled to his feet. "Nick... I didn't mean...." Nick turned toward the confused young man. "I'm sorry Daniel! I over- reacted." Nick looked at his clothes and his broken arm that he held close to his ribs. "It has not been a great day so far and I guess I am a little sensitive to that remark." Nick looked at the lift with longing and dread. He knew what Nat's reaction to seeing him like this would be, but he needed blood and he needed his several of his ribs out of his lung if he were to breathe normal again. "I think maybe I could use your help in getting upstairs, if you don't mind a few blood stains on that new jacket!" He tried to smile as Daniel put an arm around his waist to help him into the lift. Natalie heard the lift kick on. Praying it was Nick, she started for the door. Daniel pulled open the lift door with one hand holding his arm around Nick's waist with the other. Seeing Nick's condition would have been enough to make the true die-hard surgeons step back, but Natalie had seen him worse. She gently touched his face and held him close for a few seconds, just relieved to have him alive. Nick put his good arm around her waist and held her close to calm her fears. He looked into her eyes. "I need blood Nat!" He coughed more pink foam as he labored to breathe. "You need more than that! You have at least one punctured lung!" The doctor in her taking over, she assessed his condition. "You look like death warmed over, Nick! I think your ribs are still in you lungs. Can you feel them? Sharp pains with each breathe!" He shook his head affirmative. " Daniel, help me get him upstairs will you? Trace you grab the bloodwine out of the frig." Daniel and Nat helped Nick to bed. She pulled off the ripped blood soaked shirt and tossed it on the floor. He was loosing consciousness quickly. His wounds were healing, but slowly and he was bleeding internally. His breathing was labored and his arm broken. 6 months ago he would have been healed within a half hour, but with her mortal blood flowing in his veins his metabolism had slowed down considerably. "Nick, I am going to have to set your ribs so you can breathe. I will have Daniel hold you down so it doesn't hurt as much!" "Just do it, Nat!" Pain racked his body as he spoke. Daniel held Nick's shoulders as Nat set his ribs and arm. "Stay with me Nick! Come on. Don't you pass out on me." She reached for the bloodwine to get him to drink. He managed to drink only a little but it seemed to have little reaction on his system. He needed her blood. He needed the vampire and the mortal blood as well as her warmth. "Nick you need my blood!" She took a scalpel out of her bag and sliced her wrist placing it over his mouth as it began to bleed. Nick pushed her wrist away with his good arm, clamping off the blood flow. "NO, Natalie!" His eyes locked with hers. "You don't want to feel this! Please!" He reached for her. Gently pulling her into his arms. "It was not very pretty and I got the worst end of the deal, but the Raven is trashed if that makes you feel better." He took a deep breathe which caused him to start coughing again. Each spasm caused him to double in pain till his body couldn't resist any longer and he fell into blissful unconsciousness. Natalie bound up her arm and went to her little black bag. Hurriedly she placed a shunt into her arm and connected it to an IV tube set. She placed a long needle at the end of the tub and inserted it into Nick stomach. He was trying to protect her from the images with LaCroix. She opened the valve on the line letting her blood flow into Nick's stomach directly as the tears seemed to flow unchecked. Tracy and Daniel stood quietly at the foot of the bed. "Nat! Can you judge how much you are giving him that way? You won't do him much good if you pass out from lack of blood!" Natalie seemed oblivious to anything Tracy said. Tracy became concerned, reached across the bed and crimped the line causing Natalie to come back to the present. "You have to stop now Natalie!" Tracy spoke to her gently but firmly. "He needs more!" But her words were beginning to slur. Tracy pulled the needle out of Nick's stomach and Natalie's arm as Natalie fell face forward onto the bed beside Nick. "Great! Now what do we do?" Tracy looked at Daniel for an answer. Daniel checked Natalie's pulse and Nick's breathing. Both were returning to normal. "I think they will be all right. Nick is breathing better and Natalie's heartrate is strong. It was just the loss of blood so quickly that caused her to blackout. You keep an eye on them, I am going to get something for her to eat when she wakes up." Natalie sat up slowly trying to clear her head. Tracy tried to steady her until she was sitting beside Nick comfortably. Daniel returned bearing a frothy orange concoction. "Drink this all at once!" He shoved the glass in Natalie's hand. "Do I want to know what it is first?" "It is what my Mother always drank after she gave me blood when I got hurt. She said it took care of the vampire and the mortal cravings all in one step. It's orange juice with raw egg." Natalie grimaced at the idea but downed the contents anyway. "I need a little IV glucose push. I think I let the blood flow a little too fast!" She smiled weakly at Trace and Daniel. As she spoke she realized the drink Daniel had given her seemed to be having an effect as her dizziness disappeared. She held up the glass. "I think your little concoction is working. You think maybe another hit would help?" She handed the glass back to Daniel. "Coming right up!" Daniel bounded out of the room to fix another. When Natalie turned towards Trace, faint gold flecks were entering her eyes. "Natalie what's happening?" Uncertain as what to do next Trace came closer to Nat who turned to check Nick's breathing. Recognizing the effect of giving blood to Nick either willingly or by force, Natalie quickly turned away from Tracy. "His breathing is much better now." She occupied herself with checking Nick from top to bottom in hopes that her condition would dissipate. "Natalie! Look at me!" Tracy turned Natalie by the shoulders. Shocked to see Natalie's eyes golden and her fangs dropped, Tracy stepped back. "What is happening Natalie!" "It's okay Trace! Really! It's my body's reaction to giving blood to Nick. Either willingly or unwillingly! The reaction is the same." "It makes you want to kill?" Shocked by Tracy's assumption of the worse. "NO! It makes me crave his blood--to be part of him. To make us one with each other. I can't explain it Trace. It's not only mental it is physical. I need him. I need his blood to stop the burning in mine. The sharing of blood is sexual to vampires and in case you had not noticed, Nick is a full fledged vampire and I am becoming one slowly." Not ashamed by her admission of what was happening, she looked to Tracy for understanding. "Will mine help you?" Astonished at Tracy remark and understanding, she continued "Only his blood will put out the fire in mine Trace. But your offer is non-the-less appreciated." Natalie smiled and even with fangs and golden eyes, she was beautiful. She placed her hand on Tracy's arm. "Thanks for being our friend Trace... especially mine. I never realized how much I needed to talk to someone about this before." "What is it like Nat?" Tracy looked at Nick and then back to Natalie. "I mean to love someone like that?" Natalie was not sure how to answer the question. So she tried to put into words all that she felt. "It is scary, erotic, fulfilling, consuming, frightening, and wonderful beyond description! All those things rolled into one. When he lets me touch him, the real Nick, I feel whole. I feel complete beyond anything I have ever felt in my life. If I had to give him up tomorrow I would die. It is like knowing that you are a part of someone and they are a part of you. You can't exist without each other. When I feel his love for me, the warmth envelopes me like a cocoon and it's the only time I ever feel truly safe. I won't say it is better than sex but it sure adds to the consummation process." Natalie turned back to Nick, as he moaned trying to wake up. "I envy you both!" Tracy stated quietly as Nick opened his eyes slowly and Daniel entered the room carrying another OJ concoction for Nat. Nick slowly awoke. His breathing was back to normal and the aches and pains were beginning to fade away as he felt Natalie's blood coursing through his veins. Sweet warmth and love flooded his soul as he became conscious with her name on his lips. "Natalie..." He called her name over and over again. "I'm here Nick! Just rest." He could here the stress in her voice. He knew here like he knew himself. Opening his eyes to Natalie sitting on the bed beside him, he instantly knew the problem. Gently pulling her toward him, he offered her his neck and his blood to stop her pain. Accepting the gift and his love, Natalie gently bit his neck taking him into her soul. His warmth and love stopped the burning instantly. She pushed with her senses for him to release himself to her and he did. The images of LaCroix and the ensuing battle came to her slowly as if he were trying to hold them back from her. She raised her head for a moment, looking into his eyes. "We said TOGETHER, Nick!" He brought her back to his neck to feed and this time he held nothing from her. As she grasped the enormity of the fight and the argument as well as the pain she began to cry. "He will never let you go Nick!" Nick pulled her tightly into his arms and let her cry. They were tears that she needed to heal images that assaulted her mind and her heart. His kissed her lips, her cheeks, and her eyes pulling her even closer to him as she cried. Each kiss easing her tortured soul as well as his own. PART ( 5/14) ------------------------ Leaving Nick and Natalie to themselves, Daniel and Tracy cleaned up the kitchen from Daniel OJ concoctions. "Will they be okay Trace?" Concern written on Daniel's face as he and Tracy grabbed their coats heading for the door. Tracy smiled knowingly. "They are together Daniel. They can handle anything as long as they have each other. She put her coat and pushed the lift down button. "You remember you have to drive me back to the station to pick up my car?" "I am part vampire remember! I remember everything!" He laughed as they headed for his car in front of the loft. In the car: Daniel sat quietly driving , deep in his thoughts as Tracy was left to her own. "Care to share what is causing that frown on your face?" "I was just thinking about Nick! And Natalie of course, but mostly Nick! I just cannot imagine spending my entire life fighting to be free. Let alone 800 years! He has not told me very much, but if tonight was any inkling of what has gone on between him and LaCroix, I am afraid I would have lost it years ago. And Nick and Natalie together are incredible. You can just feel what is between them when their in the same room together. She knew exactly what he needed and did you see his eyes when he woke up? It was like he could feel her and her pain before he was awake. ....... I cannot ever image being that close to anyone. I want to but I ......" Regret was etched into his face. "But are you willing to try?" She almost whispered. Daniel stopped the car at the stoplight and turned to look Tracy directly in the eyes. Reaching to touch her cheek a tear slipped out of her eye and Daniel brushed it away and pulled her into his arms. "I think maybe know I have a chance!" Daniel gently kissed her lips and pulled her back into his arms as Tracy wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. --------------------------------- 10 days later at the precinct: Natalie walked into the precinct carrying a small package and several files. She stopped by Nick's desk to set the package in the middle. "Hi Trace!" Unusually chipper and almost glowing Nat sat on Nick's desk to visit. "I see you got the bookwork again!" "My choice this time. I hate court and Nick hates paperwork, so we traded. I think I got the better end of it this time!" She smiled wickedly. "The Stanton case will take all night unless I miss my guess. Besides I hate having to wear a suit for 8 hours." Tracy squirmed at the idea causing Nat to laugh. "You should have seen his face when I reminded him he had to wear a tie tonight for court! You know the man can remember things from 800 years ago, but when it comes to wearing a tie??? He is brain dead." "I think it is called selective memory Nat!" They both laughed causing Captain Reese to stick his head out the door. "Natalie? Are the prelims done on the March so called suicide? What's in the box?" Natalie turned and looked at the box on Nick's desk. "I honestly do not know CAP. It came from a friend of Nick's in Europe... Special Delivery addressed to Nick. The guy was told Nick was in court, so they brought it to me to sign for! I thought it might be important, so I brought it along. The prelims indicate suicide. I cannot see it any other way. She had an entire prescription of Phenobarbital in her stomach. No other marks on the body and no sexual contact either. Report is in this file." She handed it to the Captain. "Always on time Lambert! I like that!" He turned mumbling to himself as he walked back into his office as Nat and Tracy chuckled. "Listen Trace! How is it going with you and Daniel? Are you still seeing each other regularly?" Tracy turned a little red as she glanced at Daniel on the other side of the room. "Great! We have moved our relationship to potentially greater than friends at this point! One step at a time!" "Nick and I are going to the Symphony on Friday! You guys want to come? Box seats!!" "Does that mean black tie and formal attire? Or just dressy?" "Just dressy! We go to "Salines" afterwards for dessert and dancing!" "I'll see if Daniel is off! Sounds like fun!" Natalie's pager went off. "Guess that means I am on my way to South! Jerry has called in sick again. The man should never been a pathologists. Too weak of stomach! Let Nick know about Friday. I have to run!" Natalie waved as she put her coat on going out the door. 10 minutes later: A tall lithe dark brunette walked into the precinct and approached Tracy as she worked on both hers and Nick's paperwork. Glancing up at the woman Tracy smiled. She reminded he of someone, but who. "Excuse me, but I was told I could find Dr. Lambert here!" "She just left 10 minutes ago to head for South! Can I help you?" With a look of disappointment on her face the woman answered. "Do you know when she will be back or how I can reach her?" "If it's an emergency I can call her mobile or page her." The woman smiled and Tracy knew exactly who she was. "You are Natalie's sister aren't you?" Bewildered by Tracy's observation and accuracy Theressa stood speechless for a moment. "How did you know that? Yes...Yes! I'm Theressa!" She stuck her hand out to greet Tracy. "Tracy Vetter! Glad to meet you. The answer to your question is you look just like her when you smile!" "You are close friends then?" "Yes for a couple of years! Let me call Nat!" "No really, it's not an emergency. I just was going to be in town for a few weeks and I thought maybe we could get together. I went by her old place and they said she moved, so I came to the coroners building and they told me she was over her." Theressa grabbed a piece of paper and wrote the number of the hotel she was staying at. "Just tell her I will be staying there for a couple of weeks!" She handed the paper to Tracy. "Look I know you and Nat haven't spoken in awhile and she would shoot me personally if I didn't call her! Can you just wait a few minutes and let me find her!" Tracy took Theressa's coat and offered her a chair while she picked up the phone. Theressa reluctantly accepted. "Nat!" Tracy got Natalie on the second ring. "What's up Trace! Is there a problem?" "Nat, I don't quite know how to put this but......" "Is something wrong with Nick!" Fear gripped her heart as the words came out in a rush. "No Nat! Your sister is here!" Silence greeted Tracy on the other end of the phone. "Theressa! Your sure! Of course your sure! Forget I said that! Put her on the phone Trace." "Theressa?" "Hi Tasha! Long time-- I know!" Natalie pulled in the lot at South when Theressa came on the line. Hearing her sister's voice for the first time in 6 years, she stopped dead in the middle of the lot unable to move as memories started to overwhelm her. She willfully caused them to stop. She had to. It had been to long since the sister's had spoken. It was her chance to finally get some answers to a painful past that should have never been. "Theressa! It is so good to hear your voice. Tell me we can finally talk about this?" "I think we need to talk Tasha! I know I NEED to. I want to put the past behind us and start over. Do you think that's possible after all this time?" "Theressa! If there is one thing I have learned in life...... it is that all things are possible!" A single tear escaped Natalie's eye as she spoke to her sister. "You stay with us. That way we can talk more! Okay?" "Us?" "You never got any of my letters did you?" "No! or Yes! But I couldn't open them." The sadness of the loss of 6 years with her sister finally hit her. "Kind of stupid Huh? You kept writing and I kept being the hard headed stupid self-center little kid sister that ......" "Stop Theressa! What is done is done! We can work this out. We are different people now! The us is my husband. His name is Nick!" "You got married?" Theressa sat back down in the chair with the news. "Yeah about 3 months ago. We looked for you in Europe while we were there but couldn't find you! There is so much to tell you.---But I have to cover for the pathologist at South. He went home with the flu and Nick is in court till God only knows when. I'll see if Tracy can drop you by the loft or maybe a black and white. You will stay won't you?" Natalie held her breathe as she awaited the answer. Theressa sensing her sister's fears, answered quickly. "It WOULD give us more time to talk! Wouldn't it?" She smiled hearing Natalie sigh of relief. "I owe you an explanation. A BIG explanation! I would love to stay with you and Nick!" "I will not get done here till about 4 am if I am lucky. You go get settled at the loft. Nick should be home by 2 or earlier. I let him know you are there as soon as he gets out of court. Put Tracy back on the line and get you a ride home." Theressa handed the phone back to Tracy and smiled. "Trace can you give Theressa a ride to the loft and let her in?" "Sure Nat! No problem. I should be done here in about an hour. I am sure I can find something to entertain her with for that long especially since half the men in the room can't take their eyes off her!" Tracy laughed and smiled at Theressa. "And yes I will take the box along with me!" "You know me well Trace! Thanks! I owe you one of many!" Natalie hung up and ran into South to fill in for Jerry. "Well, I have about an hour's worth of paperwork to finish and then I will drop you off at Nick and Nat's loft. Do you want some coffee or a soda?" "I can take a cab Tracy! It is no problem. I rather use to it anymore! All I need is the address! I really don't want to put you out." "Really it's no problem! Nick and Nat a good friends and besides you need me to get you past the security system anyway." Harry came by with two cups of coffee and gave them to Tracy and Theressa, smiling and ogling the merchandise. Both women laughed simultaneously and accepted the coffee. "Who is your friend Trace!" Harry believed in cutting to the chase when it came to beautiful women and this woman was definitely beautiful. "Harry this is Theressa! She is Natalie's sister!" Tracy smiled at Harry's reaction, knowing how afraid of Nick he was. Still undaunted Harry proceeded to expound on his attributes, until Tracy virtually pushed him back to his chair. "Does that always happen around here?" Theressa finally noticed the attention, she was getting from the men in the room. "Well, as you can see, there are not a great deal of women homicide detectives on the night shift. Most of the guys are pretty nice after they get to know you and where you are coming from, but any new face causes a great deal of muscle flexing, macho, hike up your belt and show off attitude to impress them syndrome. Being a cop is dangerous, so they feel that their love life should be that way also. That is why divorce is so high. Lots of available candidates, if you are interested!" Tracy, let her gaze go around the room. "Are you married?" Theressa looked around the room and smiled at all the head turned at her and waved a friendly Hello! "Friendly lot aren't they. And -No! I am not married any longer! Woman to woman any in the room worth chasing!" Theressa followed Tracy's eyes to Daniel. "Cute....Yours?" Tracy turned red and finally smiled. "Woman to woman! A couple are worthwhile and Yes! Daniel is mine!" Tracy smiled at Daniel across the room. "You are not at all like Nat are you?" Having heard that remark on repeated occasions as she grew up, she smiled brightly. "I have been told that on multiple occasions. How about the blonde in the black suit talking with your Captain? That is my type? Is he married?" Tracy followed Theressa's eyes to Reese's office seeing Nick in a heated discussion with the Captain. "What is going on?" Tracy jumped out of the chair and headed for the Captain's office. Theressa watched intently. "Captain, if we don't use the full ballistic report and the toxicology information. He will walk! I know you are trying to protect the reputation of several innocent people here, but if Stanton takes a walk, no one is safe." Nick held out his hand for the file that Reese held in his hand. Reese torn between justice and probable harm handed the file to Nick! "Don't let that scumbag walk Nick! Understand?" "I'll do my best CAP! I had better hurry, They gave me 10 minutes!" Nick almost ran into Tracy as came out the door. "Hi Trace! Got our paperwork done?" Nick was walking fast towards the door. He smiled broadly adding to his boyish charm which he used as a defense mechanism a great deal of the time. "Got to go Trace. They gave me 10 minutes and 8 are already gone! I will fill you in later!" "Nick......I need to talk....." But he was already out the door and gone! Tracy returned to her desk and Theressa. "I guess you do know him! "Huh? Apparently quite well it would appear!" Tracy finally brought her attention back to Theressa. "Oh! Theressa I'm sorry." Tracy smiled brightly. "Yes, I know him very well! He is my partner!" "That must be difficult to take at times!" Theressa was amazed at the men who obviously cared about Tracy. Because the man she had just seen obviously cared about her. Theressa could tell, by the way he touched her arm and smiled. He was incredibly handsome! "He is also your brother-in-law! That was Nick!" Tracy waited for Theressa reaction. With an open mouth Theressa dropped to the chair and stared dumbly at Trace! "Tell me you are joking? That was Nick? Tasha's Nick? Oh God! Please don't tell Tasha I said those things!" She looked beseechingly at Tracy. "Nat won't care Theressa as long as you look and don't touch!" "I think you are wrong Trace! There are a great deal of things Natalie will take lightly, but that is not one of them! Trust me!" Not quite understanding this beautiful young woman dilemma with her sister, Tracy decided to let it drop. "Well, I see I am not going to get anything done with all the attention you are about to get, so I am going to run you over to the loft and come back. You probably are tired anyway! Grab you coat and we will head over to Nick's." Tracy grabbed her coat and handed Theressa hers. ---------------------------- Using Nick's access code, Tracy and Theressa entered the garage and headed for the lift. Theressa taking in her surrounding as they walked. "Nick likes old cars? Do they all run?" Pressing the up button on the lift after entering, yet another code Tracy responds. "Yeah! Nick likes things better as they age. He drives an 52 or 53 Caddie. I can never remember. Convertible of course! I think most of them run. At least the little corvette over there. He let me borrow it when mine was in the shop. Nick likes to collect old things!" Tracy smiled not only for the comment but because she knew what Theressa reaction would be when she saw the inside of the loft. "Shall we go up?" She motioned for Theressa to get in the lift. Once upstairs, Tracy turned on the lights and checked the refrigerator for any offending bottles, that might cause problems. Finding a couple of bottles, she placed them on the bottom out of the way and pulled a couple of good vintages, that Natalie drank to the top. "Make yourself at home, the remotes on the table, the guest room and bath are straight ahead. They just finished them last week, so you will be the first to enjoy them." Tracy turned to find Theressa running her hands over the Steinway Grand Piano. "It is beautiful isn't it?" "It's a 1856 Steinway! It is in incredible condition! Where ever did they get it?" "You will have to ask Nick. It's his for a long, long time. While you at it, make him play for you. He is really quite good." Theressa had moved to the mantle and was examining the artwork above it. "That's a DeVinci!" She turned with a thousand questions in her eyes expecting immediate answers. Holding up her hands Tracy covered with the only thing that came to mind. "Old Money!" "He obviously doesn't need the money, so why is he a cop?" Disbelief still registered on her face. "He likes it! AND....He is very good at it!" Deciding, she did not want stuck with trying to answer anymore difficult questions, Tracy opted to make her exit quickly. "Well, I had better get back to that paperwork. You are probably beat anyway. There is plenty of food in the refrigerator. The wine on the bottom is Nick special aging brew, so avoid it at all costs. The good stuff is on top." Tracy grabbed the lift door and pulled. "Tracy!" Almost afraid to hear the answer! "Are they happy? I mean really happy?" The need for an answer was written all over her face. Tracy smiled. This was an easy one. "Very happy Theressa! You can feel it when they are together! It is what most people pray for!" She closed the door and was gone. As Theressa surveyed the room, the more confused she became. Memories began to surface and the tears began to flow as she picked up the picture setting on the end table of Natalie, Richie and herself sailing off the Sound 8 years ago! Another picture of Natalie and Nick at Christmas sat next to it. PART (6/14) ---------------- Nick walked back into the precinct at 2 am after having a brief discussion with the DA. Night Court was such a pain, but necessary. Stanton would be doing life without parole and his associates got 50 years, parole in 30. Nick was pleased. He knew the Captain and Tracy would take this case as a personal victory in the war against drugs to minors. Nick reached for his coat and car keys to head for home when, he noticed the note on his desk: Nick: Natalie brought a box for you that came Special Delivery. Nat asked me to take it home, but I forgot it so it is locked in your drawer. I took your unexpected house guest home. You are to call Nat before going home if you haven't talk to her this evening. Daniel and I would be delighted to go to the Symphony on Friday with you and Nat (assuming she told you we were invited). See you tomorrow! Hope the case went well. Tracy Nick unlocked his drawer and pulled out the box. While looking at the return address, a smile crossed his face. He opened the box and pulled out a small leather pouch with a note. Nick: It is about time! My family has been holding this for over 800 years. Some men are just slower than others! I have to meet her! Come visit Marla and I soon! Jack Without looking inside, Nick placed the pouch in his pocket and dialed Natalie at South. "Joan! Hi! It's Nick! Does Nat have her hands free? She left strict orders I was not to go home until I spoke with her. And we all know I follow order!" Joan laughed! "Right! Sure Nick! Heard that one before! I will get her! Natalie striped her gloves off and answered the phone. "Nick!" "What up Nat?" "My sister is in town! I had Tracy take her to the loft." "Theressa? Did she finally get your letters?" "No! She is in town working on some books at the museum and wants to straighten things out! I am speechless! I had given up hope after we couldn't find her while we were in France." Natalie sounded tense and uneasy as she spoke which Nick immediately picked up on. "Nat! It will work out this time. She came to you! Remember that. Maybe Theressa has finally decided to hear your side of the story. Just play it by ear. You have a sister to gain and nothing to lose! What do you want me to tell her about us?" Natalie sat down in the chair by the desk as she talked. "The truth! We said no more secrets! Right?" "We cannot tell her about the community, Natalie! You know that! I am not even sure it is wise to tell her about our condition yet, but in time she will have to know and that makes her a target for the Enforcers." Knowing how badly Natalie wanted to work things out with her sister, he was not sure she was being realistic about the situation. "I know you're right Nick! I just don't want to cause anymore trouble between us." Obviously frustrated, Natalie kept twisting a long curl around her finger as she spoke. "We should just take one day at a time I suppose! I have to get back to work. I am sorry to stick you with introducing yourself without me, but..." "I know! It's okay! I will survive! Just don't be to late! See you around 4? "I will try to hurry! Oh! Nick!" "Yeah!" "I love you!" She hung up the phone and walked back to the table to finish the autopsy. Nick stood holding the phone with a smile on his face. It was the first time she told him in public that she loved him. Somehow it made him warm all over. That was it, warm. For the first time in his entire life he felt connected to someone. Someone who loved him for who he really was! It felt good. No it felt better than good, it felt great! Grabbing his coat and keys, Nick left for home. --------------------------------------- Theressa heard the lift kick on and slowly rise. She had not closed her eyes since she arrived. This had to be Nick. She immediately straightened her hair and clothes and stood patiently by the fireplace waiting. What would he be like? How much had Tasha told him about that night 7 years ago? It looked like she was about to find out. Nick opened the lift door and walked into the room. Feeling Theressa's heart beat while he was in the lift, he knew she was nervous and very much awake. Their eyes met as he stepped out of the lift. She stared intently at him for at least 30 seconds, before he smiled and dropped his coat over the chair at the table. "I could get a little closer and take my jacket off if it would help!" Nick smiled that boyish grin that put a twinkle in his blue eyes when he was teasing. "I'm sorry!! Really! It's-well, it's just that you are better looking close up than at a distance!" Theressa blurted out. She was tongue tied. Realizing what she had just said she blushed from head to toe. "I cannot believe I said that!" She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and looked profoundly mortified. Nick laughed and extended his hand. "I'm Nick---and--- I will take that as a compliment!" "Theressa! And it was! A compliment I mean!" She was acting like a babbling teenager. Here she was with a drop dead gorgeous guy, who also happened to be her brother-in-law, and she was making a fool of herself. "I am really sorry! I am usually not this nervous. But you are kind of a surprise. I never thought Tasha would ever marry! She has been obsessed with work all her life! She would never give most men a chance for a date, let alone get married. How long have you known each other?" "A little over 7 years!" Nick went to the refrigerator and pulled out a glass of bloodwine and grabbed the eggs. "Did you get some breakfast or dinner?" "I had a glass of wine earlier!" "I'm starved. Want an omelet? I would offer to cook something else for you but my cooking experience is relatively limited." "An omelet would be great! I would offer to help, but frankly I don't cook well either!" They both laughed. Theressa pulled up a chair at the table and watched Nick make 2 omelets. He drank his wine all the time he cooked. He refilled her wine glass and presented her with a light fluffy egg omelet with cheese. His, of course, was without accessories but perfectly done. "I am impressed. Tasha has trained you well. Do you do housework too?" She had a mischievous nature that Nick liked. Theressa was not only beautiful but delightful company as well. They continued to chatter for an hour or so until she managed to get Nick to play the piano for her. "You play wonderfully! How long have you played?" "Trust me, you would not believe me if I told you." Theressa got off the leather coach and picked up Nick's13th Century crusader sword. They were comfortable enough with each other now for her to start asking questions. He could feel it in her heart beat as well as her body language. "Tracy said you were a collector! That you inherited a great deal of money. I think she said 'old money' I quote. Where did you get this piece? It is a 13th Century Crusader's sword. It belongs in a museum. It's priceless! This is the crest of de Brabant" She stared at him awaiting and answer. Nick gently removed the sword from her hands and caressed the blade with both his eyes and his hands. The action was not lost on Theressa. She recognized personal attachment when she saw it. "It belonged to one of my ancestors 8 centuries ago. It has been in the family since the crusades." Nick looked at Theressa with regret in his eyes and continued. "It is a personal favorite of mine along with....." "Let me guess! Joan of Arc's cross over there!" Her eyes followed to the shelf were Nick kept Joan's cross. "How did you know?" "Crusader--Cross! It all fits your personality! Defender of the poor and defenseless. You are a cop! A good one I am told!" Nick put his sword back on the rack by the mantle and lit the fire. "Are you a historian?" Nick refilled his wine glass and sat down on the couch. Theressa curled up in the chair across from him. "Honestly Nick! This took every ounce of courage and then some to come to Toronto! I was offered a temporary position at the museum to translate some old manuscripts and books. I took that as a sign that maybe it was time for me to grow up and admit my stupidity. I study nd translate old French. The de Brabant crest is familiar because it is one of the few estates still in existence in France that is over 800 years old. I thought just maybe it wasn't to late for me to get my best friend back! I missed Tasha so much and when I finally got over the problem and wanted to correct it, my situation had changed. I then compounded my stupidity with an over inflated pride and didn't even respond to her letters." ***************************************** 7 years earlier: Natalie opened the door quietly to the flat so as not to wake Theressa. It was another all night session at the hospital. It was her final rotation and she was finished. She had made up her mind as to her specialty. It really was the only logical choice. The one place she could practice her trade and not deal with live people 24 hours a day. She realized it was a conscious decision to avoid the pain Kyle had left in her. It was the only logical choice. Forensic Pathology was not only the answer to her social situation but it gave her the means to escape the pain. Most important of all, she was extremely good at it. In a way-- she liked it. It was like solving a gigantic crossword puzzle. The answers were there to be found. It was Natalie's week for the couch. Theressa was in bed sound asleep. Her days were filled with classes and Paul. She was in love! Natalie feared for her kid sister and they had argued dozens of times over going to fast. She and Kyle were a perfect example in their relationship. Theressa constantly related Natalie's attitude about Paul back to her dismal failure with Kyle. Nothing was ever fast enough for Theressa, and Paul could do no wrong. Natalie had her doubts. Though she realized her avoidance of men was related to Kyle, she honestly did not feel that she distrusted Paul because of Kyle. There was just something not right about him. Natalie could not put her finger on it, but it would surface sooner or later. She would call it a day and talk with Theressa in the morning. Theressa awoke early for class and breakfast with Paul. Her beautiful Paul. Good looking, wealthy, romantic, great body and wonderful hair. God, she loved his hair! Natalie slept fitfully on the coach while Theressa made breakfast. She really did not want to wake her, but she just had to impart the good news to her best friend today! "Tasha wake up! I have to show you!" Theressa sat on the end of the coach and bounced to wake Natalie. "What is it Theressa? I didn't get in till 5 this morning." Natalie sat up rubbing her eyes and looking at her watch as she flopped back down on the coach. "It is only 7:30 Theressa! Can't this wait? " Theressa stuck her hand under Natalie's bloodshot eyes. A huge 4 carat tiffany cut stone sat on her finger. "We are engaged.! Paul asked me yesterday before he left for France! Isn't it beautiful?" Theressa was so excited she glowed. "It's beautiful Theressa!" Natalie stared in awe at the ring. "But are you sure this isn't a little fast?" Theressa expected Natalie's response as she jerked her hand away from her sister. "I knew you would say that! Paul is not Kyle, Natalie! Remember that!" Theressa marched into the bathroom angrier than she should have been. (He is a womanizer and a gangster. I know it. I just can't prove it! How can I get her to see it? How?) Natalie fatigued beyond words finally collapsed back on the coach to sleep. Maybe a good days rest would give her some ideas. With that thought ,she drifted off to sleep. 2 weeks later: Natalie was fixing diner for Theressa and herself on one of her few days off. She had racked her brain, not counting the arguments with her sister, for days trying to find a way to slow this marriage down. The doorbell rang and Natalie was surprised to find Paul at her door. "Good, Natalie you are home!" Paul invited himself in tossing his coat on the couch as if he belonged there. "We have to have a discussion. You and I!" Paul grabbed Nat's wrist and pulled her to the bedroom throwing her down on the bed. "Now sweet delectable Natalie, I am going to show you what you have been missing and then we are going to discuss Theressa and my upcoming marriage!" Paul slapped Natalie hard across the face and ripped her blouse off as he finished. Casually pulling his hard, erect penis out of his pants, he caressed himself with one hand and held Natalie with the other, smiling the whole time. Stunned by the first blow, Natalie was slow to recover until she felt his hand grabbing her panties and tearing them. Instinctively she brought her knee up to his groin with as much force as she could manage, shoving with her whole body as he screamed in pain. Bounding off the bed in tattered clothes, she tried to get the door open only to be stopped by an enraged Paul. "You Bitch! You will pay for that!" He belted Natalie with a closed fist knocking her across the room where she landed in a heap upon the floor. Theressa chose that moment to walk into the room. Seeing Paul partially dressed and Natalie in remnants of clothes on the floor, she screamed and passed out. Paul trying to make the best of a bad situation, calmly walked over and picked up Theressa and placed her on the bed. Natalie managed to get to the phone and dial 911 for help before Paul could stop her. After the police arrested Paul and the paramedics checked both Natalie and Theressa, the two sisters sat stunned in their apartment. Theressa sat quietly listening to Natalie's story to the police and Paul statement as well. They were of course opposite renditions of the incident. Who did she trust! Here sister or her lover? Natalie pressed charges against Paul for assault and attempted rape. The dividing lines were drawn. Paul used Theressa's love and insecurities to convince her it was a mistake and that things were just blown out of proportion. Paul, with plenty of financial backing and a great attorney, was out on bail within 24 hours. His perfect solution was to marry Theressa and use that against Natalie to prevent her from testifying. In the end, Natalie dropped the charges to keep from hurting her sister more. Little did she know that it would only cause her more pain in the future. ************************************ Theressa sat calmly sipping her wine as she continued with the story. "I was an idiot Nick! I was blinded by love and lust and I just could not see Paul for what he was. The day Natalie dropped the charges against Paul, I called her a harlot and a whore! I blamed her for Paul's losing control and told her she deserved to be slapped around if she couldn't control her lust for my husband any better than that! I needed a scapegoat and Tasha was it. She was always the stable one, the smart one, the one everyone brought their troubles too. I was just pretty little Theressa! I was really the whore, not Natalie, but I just couldn't face the truth so I hurt my best friend. The more I hurt her, the better I felt, so I kept at it----kind of selfish right?" Theressa walked over to the fireplace and lifted the poker Nick used to stir the coals. She was lost in the past. "6 months after we were married, Paul started beating me when I didn't please him either in public or in bed. I found him in bed 2 days later with his assistant from the office at 2 in the afternoon." Pain was etched into her eyes, yet she continued. "I found out that same week that most of Paul's money came from drug deals in Europe and that his connections ran worldwide. I was terrified and wanted out. I tried to run away in the next several years, at least 10 times. Each time, he found me and brought me back. I was terrified to go to Natalie. I thought they would harm her to get to me. So eventually I just gave up." "What happened?" "He died! Well, not just died. He was murdered by one of his contacts. After that, his organization did not care what I did, so I ended up in Paris doing translations for the Museum of History. I had a flare for languages just as Tasha did for medicine and Richie for the law." Theressa sat down wearily on the chair by the fireplace. The years of abuse and loss seemed to have taken their toll on her soul and not her body. As the light from the fireplace glowed in the background, Nick could not help noticing how beautiful she was even when sad. She reminded him of Janette, yet somehow different. There was an acceptance of the pain and the past that Janette and he had never acquired. He envied her for that. "Why did you not open Nat's letters? She wrote numerous time! She thought you were dead!" A slight edge in his voice told Theressa not to lie. She had hurt the woman he loved and he had to know why. "At first it was because I was not certain that the mob would let me be. So I thought it better not to know what was happening and endanger her. Then it was just pride, I guess. It had been 7 years since we spoke those last words. Many times I wanted to take them back and couldn't. I figured I had gotten myself into this mess and I was the only one to get myself out. Once I was out, I convinced myself she was better off thinking I was dead. Then she would never be in any danger-----" "And you would never have to admit to all the pain you caused her!" Nick understood all to well the feelings of guilt. Theressa looked at Nick with a great appreciation of his understanding. "Guilt must be in your vocabulary as well!" She smiled trying to relieve the tension she felt between this man and herself. "I have to know one thing Nick!!----------Do you love Natalie?" Nick studied her face closely before answering. "We have been through the fires of Hell together to get where we are now, Theressa! She is my heart, my soul and my reason for living on any given day. To say that I love her would be an understatement! I am not whole without her. There is nothing within my power I would not do for her or give her. I will not EVER do anything to hurt her! She is my life! Know that!" Theressa walked over to him and hugged him gently! "Well, welcome to the family----brother!" And she kissed him on the cheek. Natalie opened the lift door and stepped in! PART (7/14) Natalie stood speechless as she watched her sister unwrap her arms from Nick's neck. Nick turned to greet her with a smile and was stunned to read her expression of anger. Yes, it was anger he saw in her eyes. He watched her fight for control and then relax. He realized it looked bad from her point of view, but ------- "I see you two have become acquainted!" Natalie put on her trademark "Dr. Lambert Professional Face", but the pain was still in her eyes. Theressa turned 30 shades of red realizing what her sister must think. Not that she didn't deserve for her to think that way after what had transpired with Kyle. Natalie had walked in on Kyle kissing her in the living room over 8 years ago. Natalie eventually forgave Theressa but not Kyle. Was life always to repeat itself? Nick walked over to Natalie and pulled her gently into his arms holding her closely until she relaxed. Taking her face in his hands, he made her look directly into his eyes. "We said FOREVER! No lies, no half truths and faith in US--Together! Have faith in me, Nat!" His words were the balm that her soul needed. She let the knowledge of their love soothe her heart until the smile on her lips finally reached her eyes. "I love you too, Nick! I'm okay." "Good! I'll let you two get reacquainted. I'm going to call it a night!" Nick gently kissed Nat's cheek and proceeded upstairs to bed. Natalie followed him with her eyes until he reached the top of the stairs, then she turned her attention to Theressa. Theressa stood uncomfortably by the couch trying to find the right words to say to her sister. "It's not want you think, Tasha. It was just a little welcome to the ----" The tears began to stream down her lovely face. This was not how she wanted to start with Tasha again. Not like this! Not with mistrust and doubts. Not with anger. That part of her life was done. Natalie closed the distance between herself and Theressa and calmly wrapped her arms around her. "I know Theressa---I know. It was just a knee jerk reaction on my part." She lifted her sister's chin and wiped the tears away. "I trust Nick and I love him beyond words. He would never do anything to hurt me. I know that and you should too! Come on. Let's sit down and talk. We have a great deal of catching up to do." Theressa smiled and wrapped her arms around her sister's waist and settled in for a long overdue chat. ----------------------------- Theressa began analyzing the manuscripts with care. That's what they were---not really books but manuscripts. Two of them were over 3000 years old according to the carbon dating and the last one was over a 1000. She decided to start with the newest one first. It was the family history of the royal and noble families of France dating back to the late 900's. The dialect was substantially different than current day French but the similarities were still there. She had translated an older manuscript several years ago that used similar syntax in the writing. It was an exquisite work of art. The entire manuscript was meticulously scripted with beautiful artist renderings of the royal and noble families and their jewelry. The new museum curator said he found the manuscripts locked in the safe after his predecessor was found murdered some months ago. She let her thoughts trail back to last night and the conversation with Natalie that lasted until 1 in the afternoon. They were well on their way to starting over again. Natalie had changed and so had she. This time nothing would separate the sisters. Nick was another subject. He was handsome, gallant, caring and an all around nice guy. Best of all, he loved Natalie beyond anything Theressa had ever witnessed. Tracy was right when she said you could feel what was between them. It was like they were two parts only becoming one when they were together. She loved to be in the same room with them. They made you feel like true love actually existed. Natalie assured her that their road had not been a smooth one and Nick was far from "Mr. Perfect". Theressa only hoped that someday she too would find a relationship like they had. It was near midnight when Theressa found a good stopping place in the manuscript to take a break. It really was kind of boring stuff until she found references to the de Brabant family. She had become intrigued as she continued. She had long been an admirer of the tenacious family able to survive 1000 years and still possess lands in current day France. Apparently after the crusades and the disappearance of the de Brabant heir ,Nicholas, the lands were sold off in parcels to the freeholders in order for the family to survive. This left only a small portion of the land in the de Brabant name. Some time after the 15th century someone began buying back these parcels and leasing them to current tenants. It was rumored to be a descendant of the noble family bent on returning the de Brabant estates to their original size. The main estate was destroyed after the crusades and a replica was built sometime during the late 16th century. It was currently occupied by the reclusive descendant of the noble house of de Brabant. It was one of the few profitable estates in France. The current tenants were happy and the grounds well kept, as well as the farms being profitable. No picture of the current descendant was known to exist and only a handful of people could ever remember meeting or seeing the current landowner of the estate. It was a puzzle and Theressa adored puzzles. The manuscripts contained pictures of the original house of de Brabant and many of the pieces of jewelry that were passed from generation to generation. As Theressa thumbed through the artist's renderings, she continued to see the same man in each picture; yet the time span was enormous. He first appeared in 915 then 1228 and then again in 1460. Though the clothes had changed the face was the same. According to the manuscript he was unrelated to the de Brabant family. He was tall, blonde, short hair with decidedly evil eyes. Each time the artist drew him, the eyes caught her attention. It was the same man. The answer had to be there. Why was he there? Glancing up from the book, she noticed a shadow move across the hall. Not being one for stupidity, Theressa pulled out a revolver from her drawer and removed the safety. When she looked up, the man from the manuscript stood before her. She cocked the pistol and he smiled. Dressed in a black turtle neck and slacks with a black double breasted blazer, he came directly into the light before her. "That really won't be necessary! I have not come to harm you but save you!" He casually sat down in the chair opposite her and awaited a response. Theressa calmly laid the pistol on the desk and removed yet another object from the desk and placed it around her neck. A wooden cross hung at the end of the leather thong. She met him eye to eye before she spoke. "Just how old are you, Monsieur?" "LaCroix! Lucien LaCroix! And the answer is a little over 2000." He waited for a reaction which never came. "Do you really think that little cross will do you any good, young one? Theressa calmly left her chair and walked in front of the desk never touching the cross on her neck. She stopped directly in front of him as he averted his eyes from the cross. "I was always told crosses blessed by martyred saints worked best on vampires. Was I wrong?" She held the cross closer to LaCroix causing him to immediately pull out of the chair and retreat 3 feet. "I see the story is true, Monsieur LaCroix. Or may I call you Lucien?" Theressa calmly walked back to the other side of the desk and placed the revolver in the drawer. "Actually, I find the study of the occult fascinating. I never really thought I would be privileged enough to meet a real vampire!" LaCroix returned to the seat opposite the desk composing himself in vampire speed as he turned on the charm. "Not very many people have ever called me Lucien over the centuries, but if you wish! And you?" "Theressa will be sufficient!" "I take it you have read the other books on vampires?" LaCroix casually picked up one of the Archive manuscripts on the corner of the desk. "Is that why you possess such a particular interest in the occult?" Theressa removed the books from LaCroix hands gently, never taking her eyes of LaCroix. "I read similar ones in France last year. Not as old of course but still a chronological order of people who had been crossed into your community for centuries. This is the oldest one I have ever seen? Are you in it?" She was intrigued. This man that stood before her must have been alive during Pompeii or before. The history he possessed was beyond her imagination. She should fear him, but she did not. She questioned her own sanity with the thought. You don't survive 2000 years by being 'Mr. Nice Guy', yet she was unafraid. LaCroix was intrigued. This was not what he expected when Divinia informed him of his little chore. Retrieve the missing manuscripts from the Archive or pay the price. He had been systematically going through the museum looking for the manuscripts when he noticed this young woman's arrival. For three nights, he had watched her read, research and obviously understand what she had before her. It should not have been possible. The type of French in the manuscripts was substantially different than current French. How could one so young understand what she read in those books, yet she not only understood them but believed them as well. Closing the distance between them LaCroix stopped short due to the cross hanging from her neck. His eyes began to glow golden from the pain radiating from the cross, yet he did not back away. "You do not fear me Theressa?" Taking one step closer his eyes began to turn red and his fangs dropped of their own accord. "Very unwise decision on your part!" Theressa noticed the change in his demeanor and calmly removed the cross from her neck lying it on the desk behind her. She must be insane, but she felt compelled to this man. Maybe that was why she kept noticing him in the manuscript. There was no logical explanation. Was he doing this to her or was it destiny. Either way she had to find out. Slowly she raised her hand to touch his cool skin. It was like silk to her fingers. She ran her thumb down his face to his full lips tracing the length of his fangs lightly with her fingertips. He stood motionless almost as if he were cemented to the floor. She stepped closer running both hands up his arms to his neck, never taking her eyes off his. The attraction was overwhelming as he lowered his head to her lips. When his cool lips met hers it felt as if electricity passed through her body. His fangs now gone, he pulled her into his arms and deepened the kiss molding her body into his. Stunned by her response to him, LaCroix broke the embrace and pushed her away to arms length. What was happening? What kind of power did this woman possess? The pain was gone and in its place a warmth he had never known. She seemed as stunned as he from the encounter? PART (8/14) Theressa stood mesmerized by LaCroix as he pushed her further away. What was happening here? He was like a consuming flame and she was a moth drawn to it. She felt lost, adrift, unsure of her bodies reaction to this man. How was this possible? The more her mind worked the more confused she became. "Are you doing this to me? I don't understand any of this!" Slowly she seemed to be gaining control of her faculties. Finally he legs began to work again and she fled to the other side of the desk grasping her cross again and placing it around her neck. For the second time in his life LaCroix seemed speechless around a mortal. His reaction to her was different than anything he had ever experiences. It confused him, intrigued him and beaconed to his soul for more, yet he fought the urge with 2000 years of practice and gained control again. His eyes flared golden and his fangs dropped by his choice this time as he approached her slowly in an attempt to cause her distress. "I have come for the books 'young one' and you will turn them over to me or pay the consequences. He placed his hand on the Archive Books only to find her hand on top of his holding them in place. It was like warm caress as he stared at her fingers on his till he brought his gaze back to hers. "You can lose the fangs and the e