Date:         Sat, 31 Jan 1998 10:17:58 EST 
From: Ann Raper <NunkMommy@AOL.COM> 
Subject:      I Loved Him, Once - Prologue 
To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU 


This story is based on the characters and situations from Forever Knight and
belong to Sony/Tristar.  No infringement of intellectual property is intended.
But I am having fun with them.  Tenny Richebourg belongs to me, and may be
used with my express permission only.

Wayne Riordan is not so loosely based on Rich Mullins, a Christian-Celtic-Folk
singer who died in a nasty car accident in September 1997.  The song, "Love's
as Strong as Death", is from his musical _Canticle of the Plains_ and was
written by Rich, Mitch McVicker and Beaker; it appears in Part 4 and the
Epilogue.

This story may be archived on www.fkfanfic.com only.

Thank you's, hurrahs, virtual flowers, and parades thrown in their honor go to
Rosemary Beard, Pat Laster, Bonnie Rutledge and  Jules Stafford, for being
beta readers beyond compare.

Without further ado, I give you ...



I Loved Him, Once -- Prologue
A Tenny Richebourg Story
by Annie Raper
copyright 1998


        The man sat at the piano, his fingers gently caressing the ivory, his dark
head bent over the keys as he quietly plinked out a tune. His almost black
hair and eyes, and a complexion that easily tanned, fooled most people who saw
him on stage into thinking he shared a heritage with the native people he had
gone to serve in the Southwest.  He didn't. His own heritage was Irish and
Scots - hence the Celtic music he played with such passion - with some French
and bloody English thrown in besides.
        At any rate, Wayne Riordan needed to think, and he did that best in the vast
expanse of the Arizona desert or at the piano.  He knew he really ought to be
helping the band and crew break down the stage, or head back to the hotel
ahead of them, but a thought nagged at the back of his brain, a thought that
was wrapped up in a dear old friend with ivory skin and auburn curls in
Toronto: a onetime, would-be love named Tenny, and whether or not he should
see her when the band played there.
        A stirring at the door and the sound of a throat clearing made him look up
from the ivory keys. "Hey, Scoob. How long ya been there?" he asked the tall
blond in the door.
        The man in the doorway, Don Cassaday, nicknamed Scooby for some unknown
reason, smiled at his friend.  "Long enough.  Thinkin' about Tenny?"
        Wayne looked a little startled, then grinned goofily at Scooby.  "Uh, yeah.
How could you tell?"
        Scooby crossed the room to the piano and leaned against the instrument,
waving his hand at the keys. "You were playing _Loch Lomond_."
        "Was I? I didn't notice."
        "Yep," Scooby confirmed.  "You were. Somehow, you always play that when
you're thinkin' on the girl. Sure, I don't blame you any.  She's a woman to
inspire a grand variety of thoughts -- don't tell Kathy I said that, though,"
he said with a laugh. "We need to be leavin' now, though, so up with ya, boyo.
You can dream of her at the hotel." He clapped Wayne on the shoulder and
motioned at the door.
        Wayne got up from the piano and looked around the room, searching for
something he wasn't finding.  "You know where my shoes are, Scoob?"
        "They're in the Jeep, Wayne," Scooby said with a smile.  "Along with your
luggage, your wallet, and your dulcimer.  Remember, it's my job to make sure
you get home with all you came in with." The two friends left the room and
made towards the parking lot.  Scooby stopped up short and pulled at Wayne's
elbow.  "I forgot to ask.  Have you seen Mikal? Aidan hasn't been able to find
him."
        "Nope, haven't seen him since the show," Wayne said.  He scratched behind his
ear. "I hope bringing him along has helped Dan with the kid. He's got so much
potential."
        Scooby shook his head and looked at his comrade doubtfully.  "The famous
Riordan good will. I have doubts about Mikal, myself. He might be too far gone
for any kind of redemption.  For Aidan's sake, I hope not."  He started
walking again, and Wayne joined him.
        "You think I ought to see Tenny in Toronto, Scoob?"
        Scooby sighed.  "Wayne, some things are best left alone.  Sorry, man," he
said at the sight of Riordan's woeful expression.  "I know you still love her,
but she made her choice. No need in eating your heart out over it, or causing
yourself anymore pain." Opening the Jeep's door, he said, "Now, let's get back
to the hotel."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        "Look, Vinnie," Mikal said, cringing in anticipation of another blow.  "I'm
gonna be in Toronto in a couple days.  You're Boss lives there, right?"
        The big Italian stopped short.  "Yeah. Your point, ya miserable little Mick?"
Then, for good measure, his fist made a sound contact with Mikal's face.
        Mikal picked himself up off the floor, holding his nose.  He stared
incredulously at the blood on his hand.  Tearing himself away from the sight
and forcing himself to think clearly, he said, "I can have the money then, I
swear.  My dad's got a gig with Wayne Riordan and talked him into giving me a
job." Mikal slowly made his way towards the door, but was stopped short as
Vinnie and his equally large companion, Lenny, stepped into the doorway,
blocking Mikal's exit.  "Um, I can get an advance from Wayne and pay the Boss
in Toronto. How's that sound?" Mikal asked brightly, trying desperately to
turn on the Irish charm.
        Vinnie rubbed his chin, and gave his partner a look.  "Whaddya think, Lenny?
Ya think we oughtta give the little jerk a chance?"
        "I don't know, Vinnie.  The Boss wants his money pretty bad, and this puke
owes him a lot of it.  He's not gonna be happy when we don't have it."
        Vinnie shrugged.  "But he's working for that Riordan guy.  He played at St.
Joe's, and he's all my niece can talk about.  Those musician guys make lots of
money."  He stepped over to Mikal, grabbed his bloody shirt with two beefy
hands, and said, "You have till Toronto, kid." He looked over at Lenny. "For
my niece," he said to his fellow thug. "Maybe you can get some of that money
your boss collects for those stinking Indians.  You better pray he's as great
a guy as my niece thinks he is." Vinnie slammed Mikal into the wall.
"Toronto. Have the money."
        Mikal nodded his head, still stunned. "Yeah. Sure," he said, as the two
minions of the Boss walked away.  "Oh, God! Wayne's never gonna loan me that
money!"  He straightened himself up and left the room. "I'm dead. They're
gonna kill me in Toronto."

End of proglogue

Disclamers and acknowledgements are found in the Prologue
Missing parts will be gladly supplied



I Loved Him, Once, Part 1
A Tenny Richebourg Story
by Annie Raper
copyright 1998


        Natalie Lambert sat at her desk, staring at, but not quite believing, the
number of file folders on her desk. //I just cleared out the backlog
yesterday. How can there be so much already?// she thought in dismay.
"There's gotta be some way to get rid of all this," she mumbled as she
arranged the folders in some semblance of order.
        A whistle came from the door.  "Taken to talking to yourself, have you?" Nick
asked with a devilish grin.
        Natalie looked up with a start, and then smiled brightly at the detective.
"Taken to hovering in doorways, have you?" she retorted. She looked at the
clock and then at him.  "Kinda early for you to be out and about, isn't it?
Bright and shiny sun is still out..."
        "It's overcast -- no harmful rays. And isn't it," he crossed the room and
leaned against the side chrome counter, "kind of early for you to be here? Or
are you not on the night shift tonight?"
        Natalie inclined her head towards the mass of manila on her desk.  "Night
shift never really ends. The paperwork goes on and on and on and ..." she
chuckled.  "I'm surprised these folders aren't Energizer Pink." She leaned
back in her chair and folded her hands across her belly. "What brings you
here, business or," she lingered over the word, "business?"
        Nick walked to the desk, picked up a stack of folders and placed them in her
`In' box. "Neither. How would you like to go to the movies?"
        "Nick, I can't.  I've got too much to do, and ..." she looked up at him. "You
mean real movies, in the theater, no video at home?"
        "Yep," Nick nodded to emphasize the affirmative.
        "What are you planning on seeing?" she asked, the battle between duty and
pleasure was obvious on her face.
         "_Titanic_.  Would you like to go?"
        Pleasure obviously won the battle.  Natalie beamed, "Absolutely, I want to
go!  But why would you? With the Black B-"
        Ignoring the comment, Nick offered her his hand. "Shall we?" Natalie took his
hand, rose and walked with him out of the lab. "Tenny will be glad for the
feminine company. And," he smiled and patted Natalie's hand, "you both can act
as a buffer between me and Lacroix."
        Natalie stopped short.  "What do you mean, Tenny and Lacroix? You expect me
to socialize with *them*?" She started back towards the folders on her desk.
        Nick grabbed her elbow and spun her around.  "Nat, please.  You want to see
the movie.  Tenny asked me to join her and Lacroix, and I gathered he doesn't
really want to go. But," his eyes pleaded with her, "if he can force himself
on this venture, I have to go.  I think you'd like being with Tenny, at any
rate.  You're alike in many ways."
        Nat crossed her arms.  "Yeah, like the trust funds and matching silver spoons
we were both born with, not to mention a completely unfathomable devotion to a
homicidal maniac. Yep, Tenny Richebourg, er, Lacroix, and I are almost twins.
Now, Nick," she continued on her way to her desk, "I've got work I have to do.
Thanks, but no thanks."
        It wasn't often that Nick used his vampiric powers around Natalie, as she saw
it as rebellion against their search for a cure, but this time he sped around
her, beating her to the desk. "Nat. Please. Don't make me go on an `outing'
with Lacroix. It's one thing to go to the Raven to visit him and Tenny, but
out? In public?  And to see _Titanic_? He'll impale me.  You can't let that
happen.  Please go." He smiled as brightly as he could, turning on the charm
and chucked her under the chin.
        Nat sighed loudly.  "All right.  I'll go, but you owe me -- big time.  But if
he's ... *him*, I'll impale you myself."
        Nick grinned.  "Naturally.  You have my permission." He again held out his
hand to her. "Now, Miss Lambert, shall we be on our way?"
        She smiled at him, and gave him her hand.  "We shall." They made their way
out of the lab for the second time.  "But you have to tell me where the movie
differs from what really happened."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        "Lucien? Where are you?" Tenny called out as she breezed into Lacroix's
office, wearing neat jeans and white oxford cloth shirt with a navy woolen
blazer, putting the back on her amethyst earring. "We're going to be late."
        Lacroix looked up from the papers on his desk. "I am right here.  *If* you
would use our bond to locate me instead of ... running about like a goose, you
would *always* know where I am."  His words were gruff, but he smiled genially
at her despite himself.
        Turning towards him, Tenny returned his smile, and moved to join him behind
the desk. "You mean, don't you, Darling, that I will always know where you are
when you *want* me to know. You turn that bond on and off at will, you know."
She sat down on arm of his chair and kissed him on the forehead.
        Lacroix frowned.  "Is that all, my dear? I was so hoping for more."
        Tenny gently laid a hand on his shoulder. "Lucien, you always want more." She
glanced at her watch.  "And usually, I am more than happy to accommodate you,
but we *do* have to meet Nick at the cinema, and, if we don't leave now, we'll
be quite late."  She slid off the chair and held her hand out to him.
        "Must we do this?  If you want to see this movie so badly, I could arrange
for a private screening, and you could invite whomever you wish..."
        "Stretch a little, Lucien," Tenny interrupted. "A little socialization won't
hurt you. After all, venturing forth *did* bring you to me." She gave him a
smile with a small pout that said, `Do this for me now, mon cher, and
later...' "If anything else, Lucien, think of it as eyeing the dessert tray.
But, we are going."
        Lacroix sighed with resignation.  "Very well, my dear, but I expect to be
repaid for this...excursion." He took her hand and rose from his seat.
        Tenny quickly grabbed him by either side of his head, pulled him down to her
and gave him a deep and probing kiss. She let him go just as quickly, leaving
him a little dazed. She made her way to the door. "Naturally.  Consider that a
deposit on my account. Come along, Lucien."
        Lacroix rubbed his chin and chuckled.  "As you wish, ma cheri," and followed
behind her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Scooby threw his luggage on the floor and plopped down on the burgundy and
cream colored bedspread "Nestea Plunge" <tm> style.  "Wow! I'm not movin' for
three days." He ran his hands over the plush spread. "Don't get treated like
this in the desert, do ya, Wayne?" he asked his friend who was standing at the
desk by the window.
        Wayne turned to Scooby, forehead puckered in a scowl, and motioned at the
telephone receiver in his hand.
        "Sorry, man," Scooby said.
        Wayne waved at him and returned to his phone conversation. Fumbling for the
pen in his pocket, he asked, "Uh, what was that number again?" He quickly
jotted down the number on a scrap of paper. "Thanks," he said and rung off.
        "Who ya callin'?" Scooby asked as he punched a pillow. He fluffed it up and
rearranged it under his head.
        Wayne shrugged his shoulders.  "Who's idea was it to put us up here?  Did you
see the rate card on the door?  I can't believe this place." He twirled the
piece of paper around in his fingers.
        Scooby sat up. "I think Davida did.  The Royal York is a little more than
what we're used to, I know, Wayne, but enjoy it instead of bein' wigged by it.
You deserve to be taken care of for once, instead of taking care of everyone
else.  What's a few extra bucks?"
        Wayne slammed his hand down on the desk.  "A few extra bucks?!  You gotta be
kiddin'. For what we'll spend on just this room, we could send three kids on
the rez to school for next year." He looked at his hand, gave it a rub,
glanced up at Scooby and grinned. "That hurt." He laughed.  "Maybe that
outburst was a little excessive.  My point is, I've got the board to be
accountable to on what we spend on these tours.  All this finery," he waved
his fingers at the opulence of the room, "is, well, fine, but couldn't the
money be better spent? Would you find Davida for me, to maybe change hotels
for us?"
        "Sure, man.  At least stay here tonight, okay?" Scooby replied and started
for the door.
        "Thanks," Wayne said.  He unrolled the paper with the phone number on it,
picked up the receiver, and dialed the number.  "Uh, hello. Tenny Richebourg,
please."
        Scooby stopped in his tracks.  "Aw, man.  I told you not to call her, Wayne.
Do you, like, *enjoy* getting your heart served to you on a silver platter? I
can't believe you, man," Scooby sputtered.
        Wayne put his hand out to stop Scooby's tirade. "I need to see her," he said.
Scooby scowled and Wayne grinned. "Okay," he conceded, "I *want* to see her.
And, oh, hold on, Scoob," Wayne held his hand up.  "Yes? She's not in? When do
you expect her?" Scooby watched as Wayne's eyes got big, and the knuckles of
the hand on the receiver turned white as Wayne listened. "She's on holiday?"
he asked.  "With her *husband*?"
        "Oh, man," Scooby said as Wayne sat down and slumped against the back of the
chair.
        "I can reach her where?  Okay, thanks."  He placed the receiver in its cradle
and sat, staring at nothing.
        Scooby stepped to his friend.  "Wayne? You okay?"
        Wayne blinked twice and looked at his roommate. "I'll be all right." He stood
up, and clapped Scooby on the shoulder.  "Let's go find Davida."


End of part 1


comments, chocolate Nunkies, and men in kilts can be sent to:

Annie
NunkMommy@aol.com
"You can't live forever, Knight" AMPH
"Love like you'll live forever" Rich Mullins

I Loved Him Once, part 2a
A Tenny Richebourg Story
by Annie Raper
copyright 1998


        Lacroix's black Jaguar pulled up at the theater.  Tenny jumped out before the
car came to a complete stop and hurried towards the box office.
        Wilson, the chauffeur, smiled in the rear-view mirror.  "Miss Tenny is
anxious to see this particular film, isn't she, Sir?"
        Lacroix glanced up and said, "Yes.  Yes, indeed.  I'll get out here, as well.
This film is amazingly long, Wilson, so you may have the evening off.  Miss
Tenny and I will find our own way home."  He opened the door and stepped out
of the car.
        As Tenny reached the teller, she sensed Nick and turned towards him.  He
grinned and waved the movie tickets he had purchased for the group at her.
Tenny returned his smile and got out of line.  She greeted him with a kiss on
the cheek and said, "Gee, Nick, I wish you would have waited.  Lucien and I
have media passes, and we could have gotten your ticket for free."  She took
two tickets from his hand, and as Lacroix joined them on the sidewalk, she
handed him one. "Dudley Do-Right got our tickets for us," she said with a grin
that belied the sarcasm of her words.
        "How ... polite, Nicholas, but I do believe Tenny had her heart set on
playing hostess on this venture.  I'm afraid you'll burst her bubble."  He
sighed, and put a hand on both Tenny and Nick's shoulders.  "Let us get this
ordeal over with," he said through clenched teeth as he prodded them to move.
        Tenny shot him a look that spoke volumes, primarily: 'Do shut up, dear, and
don't spoil this for me.'  Lacroix frowned, but nodded.
        Nick ignored the exchange.  "I hope Natalie was able to get good seats for
us," he said nonchalantly.  "From what I've heard, the best view is from the
center."
        Tenny stopped and stared at Nick, her mouth slightly open.  Lacroix smiled at
Tenny's hesitation.   "Ah, the good doctor," he said.   "Always a pleasure to
be in her company, don't  you agree, my love?"
        Tenny began to speak, but quickly closed her mouth.  //I'm *not* going to let
you ruin this evening, Lucien. You either, Nick,// she sent the thought to the
two men.  Then, smiling brightly, she said cheerfully, "Yes, Lucien, it is.
Let's not keep her waiting."
        "No, let's not, Tenny." Lacroix said.  "But you know, sweetest, that the ship
*does* sink...." he commented as they entered the theater lobby.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Mikal adjusted the volume on the clock-radio on the bedstand and leaned back
on the pillows, enjoying the comfort and sound.  And ignoring his father's
requests to turn the music down.
        "MIKAL!" Aidan Kearney yelled as he returned from the bathroom.  "I said,
'Turn that down!'  How you can listen to that ... noise and call it music?"
Aidan shook his head as he walked to the bedstand and turned down the radio.
"On a more practical note, son," he said as he sat down on his bed, "we listen
to enough loudness on stage without blowing our hearing off.  If you want to
keep doing the sound, you need to be able to hear."  Aidan looked at his son,
not believing that the belligerent teenager - young man, really -  was the
same kid that had been so sweet and cheerful as a wee child.  //Where did I go
wrong?// Aidan thought.  "Mikal, are you even paying attention to me?"
        "I usually don't pay attention to people who bore me." Mikal sat up and faced
his father, who looked like he was on the verge of spouting scripture or
developing an embolism.  "Don't even tell me about children being obedient or
honoring their parents.  I don't give a crap about any of that."  Mikal
reached over, turned the volume to eardrum piercing levels, and laid back
down.
        Aidan got up from the bed, unplugged the radio with a tug and threw it across
the room.  "I am so tired of your hatefulness --" The ringing phone broke off
the rest of his sentence.  "Hello," he said sharply.  He listened for a
moment, then handed the phone to Mikal.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        The three vampires joined Natalie, who had indeed scoped out excellent
seating for the movie.  The cinematography was praised, the computer generated
special effects were equally admired, and all seemed to be having a very good
time.  Tenny and Natalie, who sat between Nick and Lacroix, bonded over the
costuming, and any lingering wall of animosity between them fell away.

        [".... it's only good-bye for a little while. There'll be another boat for
the daddies.  This is the boat for the mummies and children..."]

        "No there won't be, you're going to die," Nick said, his voice thick with
emotion.  "No one can save you."
        Natalie slapped his arm.  "Hush up, Nick!" she hissed.
        Tenny leaned over Nat and whispered harshly, "Give it a rest, Dudley," and
punctuated it with a loud sniff.
        A man from the row in front of them leaned back and hoarsely whispered, "Why
don't you all give it a rest? I'm tryin' to watch the movie!"
        Tenny sniffed.  "Sorry," she whispered and wiped a tear from the corner of
her eye.
        Lacroix reached into his Armani suit coat, retrieved his black silk
handkerchief and handed it to Tenny.  She dabbed at her eyes and gave it back
to him.  "No, cheri.  Keep it." Then, in an uncharacteristic gesture, at least
as far as Natalie and Nick were concerned, he put his arm around her and
pulled her close to him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Mikal ran down the hallway, catching a glimpse of Wayne and Scooby as the
elevator doors closed.  "Damn!" he hissed and headed for the stairwell in
hopes of catching Wayne in the lobby.  His race against the elevator, thanks
to youth and health, was a success, and he hailed the two men as they exited
the elevator car.
        "Hey, Wayne!" he smiled.  "Ya got a minute?"
        "Hey, Mikal," Wayne returned.  "Sure, I've got some time to burn." He looked
around the lobby's appointments, eyes full of wonder.  "This place is amazing.
Let's go to the bar for a drink."  Seeing Mikal's enthusiasm, he added,
"*Non*-alcoholic, if you please."  Wayne tousled Mikal's hair and made towards
the lounge.
        "I hate it when you do that," Mikal said beneath his breath as he followed
Wayne and Scooby.
        Wayne looked over his shoulder. "What was that, Mik?"
        Shaking his head, Mikal said with a grin, "I was afraid you'd say that.
About the drink."
        The three found stools at the bar and ordered their drinks.  Once they'd been
served and made small talk about the hotel, the weather, the tour, Wayne gave
Mikal a knowing glance and asked, "Why'd ya wanna talk to me, Mikal?"
        Mikal did his best to be the charming Irish kid, full of sunshine and smiles.
He looked at his feet and then up at Wayne, scratching behind his ear.  "Well,
I was kinda hoping you could float me a loan against my next paycheck.  I
kinda overspent this afternoon at the mall."
        Wayne nodded his head as he listened.  "Uhm, Mikal?  You just got paid.  A
lot."  Wayne took a sip of his drink and looked at Scooby.  Scooby just stared
incredulously at Mikal.  "You didn't spend *all* of your pay at the *mall*,
did you?"
        "What do you mean, Wayne?" Mikal asked, hackles rising.  "You haven't bought
my dad's stories about me, have you?" He stuck out his jaw, daring Wayne to
verbally hit him.
        "What I mean is, you've been a problem to your parents.  I suggested your dad
bring you along, to get you away from the crowd you've been hangin' with."
Wayne stood up and tapped Scooby on the arm. "I hope I wasn't wrong in having
some faith in your ability to keep yourself out of trouble. "

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

end of Part 2a
Continued in Part 2b

comments,  hammered dulcimer playing Celts, and Nunkies can be sent to:

Annie
NunkMommy@aol.com

I Loved Him Once, Part 2b/8
A Tenny Richebourg Story
by Annie Raper
copyright 1998



        [".....That's it, then," the band leader says.  The rest of the quartet
leaves the leader in his spot, making way towards life boats that aren't
there.  The band leader looks at the chaos, then raises his violin and begins
to play, 'Nearer My God to Thee'.  One by one, the players return to their
previous spots and join him ....]

        "Oh," Natalie squeaked out, running a finger under her eyes to catch the
escaping tear.
        "Here," Tenny whispered, as she handed Natalie Lacroix's handkerchief.
        Natalie smiled at her.  "Thanks.  I should have brought my own."  She dabbed
at her eyes and then leaned towards Tenny. "They really played like that."
        "Actually," Nick interrupted, "they played _Songe de Autumne_.  It was quite
popular at the time."
        "Nick! Shh!" Natalie hissed again.
        The man in front of them leaned back again and said, "If you don't shut
up...."
        Lacroix leaned forward, placed his hands on the man's chair and forcefully
brought the seat back by several inches.  He leaned in close to the man's ear
and whispered, "You're going to do what, my friend?  I should think ... you
would do well to enjoy the movie.  You're going to do that, aren't you?" The
man nodded.  Lacroix smiled and said, "Good."  He quickly released the chair,
settled back in his seat, then said, "What?" to Tenny, who was staring at him
incredulously.
        Tenny raised an eyebrow at him, then turned back to Nick.  "What?" Tenny
asked.  "They didn't play that song? How do you know?" she queried.
        Lacroix whispered into her ear, "Nicholas was there, my dear.  *That's* how
he knows."
        Tenny flashed a look over at Nick and then back at Lacroix.  "Really?"
Lacroix nodded.  Tenny shrugged and said, "Figures."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

         Wayne leveled his gaze at Mikal, then suddenly looked down as he traced the
pattern in the carpet with the toe of his shoe, letting Mikal stew for a
moment.  "You didn't spend any money at the mall, did you?"  When Mikal just
sat there, Wayne continued.  "I won't front you any money, Mikal.  You just
got paid, and I wouldn't be responsible with *my* money if I bailed you out of
this."  He reached out and placed a warm hand on Mikal's shoulder.  "I'm
sorry."
        Mikal threw Wayne's hand off his shoulder.  "Sorry? You goddammed son of a
bitch!" He jumped off his stool and rose to his full height, trying for equal
footing with Wayne.  "I need that money! And you're *SORRY*?!"
        "Hey, Mik, calm down, why don't ya?" Scooby asked as the bar patrons broke
from their conversations to stare at the two men.  "You're causing a scene."
        "I don't give a rat's ass what I'm causing!" Mikal yelled.  He looked back at
Wayne, and gave him a shove.  "You talk so big about raising money for the
needy and giving a helping hand to those in trouble."  He thumped his chest.
"*I'm* the one in need here, and you won't do a thing to help! I guess you'd
be more interested if I were one of those friggin' Indians you love so much."
He picked up his glass and threw the contents in Wayne's face.  "You gonna do
anything about that? No, of course not. You don't believe in violence, do you,
you pacifist pansy?"
        The bartender slowly made his way to the end of the bar. He offered a towel
to Wayne, and then made a significant glance towards the door.
        "Thanks," Wayne said as he wiped his face off.  "We're leaving.  Here," he
said as he reached into his pocket.  "Take this. I'm sorry for the
disturbance."  He handed the man a couple of bills.  Facing Mikal again, he
said, "No, I don't believe in violence, and say all you want, Mikal, giving
you money isn't helping you out.  Scooby, why don't you take Mikal back to his
dad?"
        Scooby nodded, and reached out to Mikal to help him out the door.
        "Like hell, I'm going back there!" Mikal yelled and ran out of the bar.
        Wayne stared at the door and Scooby stared at Wayne.  "Well, hell's bells,
Wayne. What are you gonna do about that?"
        Wayne shrugged and started out the door.  "Dunno.  But I think Aidan needs to
know about this. I gotta go meet someone," he said as he walked towards the
hotel entrance.
        "You're gonna leave me to tell Dan about this? Uh-uh, man, I don't think so,"
Scooby said, shoving his hands in his pockets and shaking his head.
        "Nope, Scoob," Wayne grinned, "you're gonna find Davida and ask her to switch
hotels tomorrow."  He waved at his friend and pushed his way through the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        "That," Natalie said outside the theater, "was *wonderful*.  Thanks Nick --
and Tenny -- for inviting me.  It would have been a shame to miss it."
        Nick kissed her temple and said, "You're welcome, Nat."  He opened his mouth
to speak, but then stopped himself.
        "What is it?" Tenny asked as she buttoned up her blazer. "Brrr. It's cold out
here."
        Natalie looked at her inquisitively.  "I didn't know your kind got
cold....how interesting."
        Nick laughed.  "You better leave now, Tenny.  Nat's getting that look in her
eyes that can only mean an examination and study of some sort is about to
begin -- and you're the examinee."
        Lacroix moved behind Tenny in a subconsciously protective stance.  "Yes,
dear, we do need to leave now.  There is a money matter we need to attend to."
Tenny gave him a puzzled stare.  "There is a repayment, of sorts, we need to
discuss," he added, giving her his 'we must spend time' look.
        Tenny's eyes widened and she smiled.  "Oh, yes!  There is!"  Turning her
attention to Nick and Natalie, she said, "See, Nick, it wasn't that bad, was
it?" She kissed him on the cheek, and then offered her hand to Natalie.  "I'm
glad you could come Dr. Lambert.  I enjoyed your company."
        "Natalie," Nat said as she shook Tenny's hand.  "I enjoyed it, too.  Maybe
some other time....?"
        "Perhaps," Tenny replied.  She waved and smiled once more at Nick, then took
Lacroix's hand.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


End of part 2b
End of Part 2

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

comments -- sweet, not tart -- and Nunkies in a kilt can be sent to:

Annie
NunkMommy@aol.com

Diclaimers, acknowldgements in Prologue
Lost posts gladly provided


I Loved Him Once, part 3a
A Tenny Richebourg Story
by Annie Raper
copyright 1998


        Tenny entered the bedroom first and stopped in the doorway, slowly taking in
the sight of hundreds of blazing candles scattered around the room.  The black
silk duvet was pulled back from the bed with white rose petals sprinkled over
the bed, and a decanter with two fluted glasses were waiting on the bed-side
table.  "Good gracious," she muttered.  He came up behind her, wrapping his
hands around her waist.  She rested her head against his shoulder, turned her
head towards his face and kissed his cheek.
        //This means you're pleased?//  Tenny nodded and he found her mouth with his
own, kissing her deeply.  Not breaking the embrace, Tenny turned to face him,
gently running her fingers over his arms and up, resting her fingers in his
hair.  He released her temporarily, moved Tenny into the room, and turned a
knob on the wall. He smiled when the soft music came on and offered Tenny his
hand.  //Shall we?// he smiled.
        Tenny took his hand, and Lacroix led her to the petal covered bed, gentle
hands on her shoulders forced her to sit.  He knelt down in front of her,
divested her of her loafers and began to massage her right foot with a light,
feathery touch.  Tenny caught in her breath, and he looked up to see her grasp
the side of the bed in a white-knuckled grip and the gold that was beginning
to sparkle in her emerald eyes.  He smiled in satisfaction and increased the
pressure of the massage.  He bent over her foot, and gently began kissing her
toes.
        "Luc, er, Lucien?" Tenny croaked as shimmers of desire ran through her.  //I,
er, thought we were going to dance, mon cher.//  Even her thought was hoarse
with passion.
        "We shall," he said with a wicked smile as she caressed his face.  He kissed
her instep, then moved to the inside of her ankle, lingering long enough to
send another shimmer up her spine.  He reached up and quickly removed her
blazer, tossing it on the floor.  Joining her on the bed, he said, "Now then,
my love, I believe you have on too many garments for what I have in mind.  You
won't mind, will you, if I help myself?"  He gently eased her backwards as
Tenny shook her head.  "Good," he growled as he quickly unbuttoned the oxford
cloth shirt and eased her out of it.
        Tenny reclined, her heightened senses taking in the feel of the silk beneath
her, the dusky aroma of the roses, and the smoothness of Lacroix's lips
covering her increasingly more unclothed body with kisses.  A low rumble of
passion passed her lips, her gold eyes barely open.  Lacroix tugged on her
earrings, and she opened her eyes and smiled at him.
        "I shall have to replace your amethysts with tigers' eye, for that would
match your true beauty," he said, caressing her skin with a rose petal.
        "Rriarrr," Tenny growled at him, and then giggled.
        "Ma petite tigresse," he chuckled as he nuzzled her neck.
        Tenny moved away from him, and propped herself up on her elbows, enjoying the
effect of her displayed flesh on Lacroix.  "Wait a minute, mon amour," she
said.
        "Yes?" he hissed, kissing her shoulder.
        "There is a disparity between us at the moment, and I refuse to continue my,
er, repayment, until we are on equal footing." She met his unblinking stare.
        "What is that, my love?" he whispered, leaning back against the pillows, a
big hand on her belly.
        "You are fully dressed, Lucien," she touched his cuff.  "And I," she glanced
at her naked body, "am obviously quite the opposite."
        He smiled as she rolled towards him.  "I insist that you rectify this
situation, Tenny," he murmured.
        She reached for a button.  "I shall."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Nick walked into the precinct to find Tracy Vetter at the computer, fiddling
with something.  Whatever it was, it wasn't working to her satisfaction.
        He leaned over her and said quietly, "What are you doing?"
        Tracy yelped and rose several inches out of her chair, tossing the compact
disc jewel case in her hand as she did.  Nick caught it before it before it
hit the floor and pitched it onto her desk before moving to his own.
        "Do you *have* to do that, Nick?" she asked.  His only reply was a smart
grin.  "Never mind," she said as she settled herself back into her seat.
"You're here early, what's up?"
        "I went to the cinema with Nat and the Lacroixs," he said, picking up the
folder in his 'In' tray.  Looking at the title on the tab he frowned.  "What
is this doing back here? The O'Hanihern case is shelved."  He tossed the
folder down on his desk.
        "You, Nicholas B. Knight," Tracy began as she punched at the keyboard of her
computer, "did not finish the paperwork on that case.  Remember?  It still
needs Tenny Riche-, er, Lacroix's signature on her statement."  Music began to
emanate from the speakers attached to her monitor. "Hah! Success!" she said
with a satisfied smile.  "The way they make these things.... what?" she asked
her partner, whose forehead was wrinkled in puzzlement over her outburst.
        "Nothing," he said, motioning towards her computer.  "What is that? And can I
look forward to more such exclamations tonight?" he jested.
        Tracy picked up the jewel case and turned the cover towards him.  "Wayne
Riordan, _Songs of Earth_.  Plays Celtic music.  He's gotten a little too
religious these days for my tastes, but his instrumental stuff is kickin'.
He's moved out to Arizona or New Mexico to work with the Native Americans
there.  Teaching music or something like that."
        Nick raised an eyebrow.  "'Kickin'?  Have you been visiting rec.culture.pop
again, Trace?"
        Tracy rolled her eyes.  "No," she said in her best daddy's little girl moan.
"I have not.  And Wayne's going to be at the Hummingbird tomorrow night - I
need to get tickets.  I hope he lays off the religion stuff, but... Now," she
eyed the O'Hanihern file, "are you going to get that statement signed before
Captain Reese has you transferred to Outer Mongolia?  And did you *really* go
to the movies with Lacroix?"
        Nick nodded.
        "Cap isn't going to be happy about that."
        "No," Nick said with a sigh, "I don't suppose he is, but we don't have to
tell him that, do we?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Tenny stretched and sighed, then rolled on her side, propping herself up with
an elbow.  She reached over and placed a cool hand over Lacroix's heart,
playing with his chest hair.  He picked up her hand, brought it to his mouth
and kissed it gently.  //Je t'aime, Tenny.  Je t'aime.//  He put her hand back
on his chest and ran his hand up her arm, letting it rest in her mass of
auburn curls.  "That was, I must say, the most pleasurable payback I have ever
extracted."
        Tenny giggled and lowered herself against him, head on his shoulder.
"Indeed, Lucien."  She picked up a stray rose petal and ran it over his chest
in odd little designs.  "Who knew one could do *that* with rose petals?"  She
looked up at him, eyes wide in a mock-innocent look, and they both burst out
in giggles.
        After their giggles had subsided into sighs, Lacroix sat up and leaned
against the headboard.  Tenny rearranged herself so that her head rested on
his lap.  He picked up one of the glasses on the bedstand, and lowered it to
her line of vision as in invitation.  Tenny shook her head and snuggled his
thigh.  He poured a glass of wine, drank deeply and set it aside.  He ran a
hand through Tenny's hair, pushing her locks out of her face.  "You *are* good
for me, ma cherie."  He sighed.
        Tenny gave him a discerning glance and sat up beside him.  "Why the
melancholy, Lucien?"  She leaned against his shoulder.
        Lacroix shrugged.  "It is nothing, Tenny Elisabeth.  Only..." He let the
thought disappear.  He pulled her closer to him.
        "Only what?"
        Lacroix caressed her chin, turning her face towards him and gave her long,
emotionless look.  At length, he said, "If I were a man easily swayed by
emotions and feelings, I would sense difficult times ahead, my dear."  He
rubbed her shoulder and kissed her gently.  "Since I am not, I will leave such
... prognostication to others."  He released his grasp on Tenny, got up from
the bed, retrieved his black silk robe from the nearby settee, and put it on.
        Tenny stared at him, a puzzled look on her face.  "What do you mean?" she
asked LC as he retrieved his clothing from the floor.
        He sighed again.  "It is nothing, Tenny.  Do not think on it further.  Now,
if you'll permit me ... I do need to prepare for my monologue."
        She nodded.  "Certainly."  She picked up a stray rose petal and twirled it
around her finger.
        He quickly dressed and left the room.
        //What was *that* all about?// Tenny thought as she began to shred the petal.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

end of part 3a
continued in part 3b


comments, praise and hammered dulcimer playing Celtic guys can be sent to

Annie
NunkMommy@aol.com      OR     CabotR@aol.com
"You can't live forever, Knight" AMPH
"Love like you'll live forever" Rich Mullins

Diclaimers, acknowldgements in Prologue
Lost posts gladly provided


I Loved Him Once, part 3a
A Tenny Richebourg Story
by Annie Raper
copyright 1998


        Tenny entered the bedroom first and stopped in the doorway, slowly taking in
the sight of hundreds of blazing candles scattered around the room.  The black
silk duvet was pulled back from the bed with white rose petals sprinkled over
the bed, and a decanter with two fluted glasses were waiting on the bed-side
table.  "Good gracious," she muttered.  He came up behind her, wrapping his
hands around her waist.  She rested her head against his shoulder, turned her
head towards his face and kissed his cheek.
        //This means you're pleased?//  Tenny nodded and he found her mouth with his
own, kissing her deeply.  Not breaking the embrace, Tenny turned to face him,
gently running her fingers over his arms and up, resting her fingers in his
hair.  He released her temporarily, moved Tenny into the room, and turned a
knob on the wall. He smiled when the soft music came on and offered Tenny his
hand.  //Shall we?// he smiled.
        Tenny took his hand, and Lacroix led her to the petal covered bed, gentle
hands on her shoulders forced her to sit.  He knelt down in front of her,
divested her of her loafers and began to massage her right foot with a light,
feathery touch.  Tenny caught in her breath, and he looked up to see her grasp
the side of the bed in a white-knuckled grip and the gold that was beginning
to sparkle in her emerald eyes.  He smiled in satisfaction and increased the
pressure of the massage.  He bent over her foot, and gently began kissing her
toes.
        "Luc, er, Lucien?" Tenny croaked as shimmers of desire ran through her.  //I,
er, thought we were going to dance, mon cher.//  Even her thought was hoarse
with passion.
        "We shall," he said with a wicked smile as she caressed his face.  He kissed
her instep, then moved to the inside of her ankle, lingering long enough to
send another shimmer up her spine.  He reached up and quickly removed her
blazer, tossing it on the floor.  Joining her on the bed, he said, "Now then,
my love, I believe you have on too many garments for what I have in mind.  You
won't mind, will you, if I help myself?"  He gently eased her backwards as
Tenny shook her head.  "Good," he growled as he quickly unbuttoned the oxford
cloth shirt and eased her out of it.
        Tenny reclined, her heightened senses taking in the feel of the silk beneath
her, the dusky aroma of the roses, and the smoothness of Lacroix's lips
covering her increasingly more unclothed body with kisses.  A low rumble of
passion passed her lips, her gold eyes barely open.  Lacroix tugged on her
earrings, and she opened her eyes and smiled at him.
        "I shall have to replace your amethysts with tigers' eye, for that would
match your true beauty," he said, caressing her skin with a rose petal.
        "Rriarrr," Tenny growled at him, and then giggled.
        "Ma petite tigresse," he chuckled as he nuzzled her neck.
        Tenny moved away from him, and propped herself up on her elbows, enjoying the
effect of her displayed flesh on Lacroix.  "Wait a minute, mon amour," she
said.
        "Yes?" he hissed, kissing her shoulder.
        "There is a disparity between us at the moment, and I refuse to continue my,
er, repayment, until we are on equal footing." She met his unblinking stare.
        "What is that, my love?" he whispered, leaning back against the pillows, a
big hand on her belly.
        "You are fully dressed, Lucien," she touched his cuff.  "And I," she glanced
at her naked body, "am obviously quite the opposite."
        He smiled as she rolled towards him.  "I insist that you rectify this
situation, Tenny," he murmured.
        She reached for a button.  "I shall."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Nick walked into the precinct to find Tracy Vetter at the computer, fiddling
with something.  Whatever it was, it wasn't working to her satisfaction.
        He leaned over her and said quietly, "What are you doing?"
        Tracy yelped and rose several inches out of her chair, tossing the compact
disc jewel case in her hand as she did.  Nick caught it before it before it
hit the floor and pitched it onto her desk before moving to his own.
        "Do you *have* to do that, Nick?" she asked.  His only reply was a smart
grin.  "Never mind," she said as she settled herself back into her seat.
"You're here early, what's up?"
        "I went to the cinema with Nat and the Lacroixs," he said, picking up the
folder in his 'In' tray.  Looking at the title on the tab he frowned.  "What
is this doing back here? The O'Hanihern case is shelved."  He tossed the
folder down on his desk.
        "You, Nicholas B. Knight," Tracy began as she punched at the keyboard of her
computer, "did not finish the paperwork on that case.  Remember?  It still
needs Tenny Riche-, er, Lacroix's signature on her statement."  Music began to
emanate from the speakers attached to her monitor. "Hah! Success!" she said
with a satisfied smile.  "The way they make these things.... what?" she asked
her partner, whose forehead was wrinkled in puzzlement over her outburst.
        "Nothing," he said, motioning towards her computer.  "What is that? And can I
look forward to more such exclamations tonight?" he jested.
        Tracy picked up the jewel case and turned the cover towards him.  "Wayne
Riordan, _Songs of Earth_.  Plays Celtic music.  He's gotten a little too
religious these days for my tastes, but his instrumental stuff is kickin'.
He's moved out to Arizona or New Mexico to work with the Native Americans
there.  Teaching music or something like that."
        Nick raised an eyebrow.  "'Kickin'?  Have you been visiting rec.culture.pop
again, Trace?"
        Tracy rolled her eyes.  "No," she said in her best daddy's little girl moan.
"I have not.  And Wayne's going to be at the Hummingbird tomorrow night - I
need to get tickets.  I hope he lays off the religion stuff, but... Now," she
eyed the O'Hanihern file, "are you going to get that statement signed before
Captain Reese has you transferred to Outer Mongolia?  And did you *really* go
to the movies with Lacroix?"
        Nick nodded.
        "Cap isn't going to be happy about that."
        "No," Nick said with a sigh, "I don't suppose he is, but we don't have to
tell him that, do we?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Tenny stretched and sighed, then rolled on her side, propping herself up with
an elbow.  She reached over and placed a cool hand over Lacroix's heart,
playing with his chest hair.  He picked up her hand, brought it to his mouth
and kissed it gently.  //Je t'aime, Tenny.  Je t'aime.//  He put her hand back
on his chest and ran his hand up her arm, letting it rest in her mass of
auburn curls.  "That was, I must say, the most pleasurable payback I have ever
extracted."
        Tenny giggled and lowered herself against him, head on his shoulder.
"Indeed, Lucien."  She picked up a stray rose petal and ran it over his chest
in odd little designs.  "Who knew one could do *that* with rose petals?"  She
looked up at him, eyes wide in a mock-innocent look, and they both burst out
in giggles.
        After their giggles had subsided into sighs, Lacroix sat up and leaned
against the headboard.  Tenny rearranged herself so that her head rested on
his lap.  He picked up one of the glasses on the bedstand, and lowered it to
her line of vision as in invitation.  Tenny shook her head and snuggled his
thigh.  He poured a glass of wine, drank deeply and set it aside.  He ran a
hand through Tenny's hair, pushing her locks out of her face.  "You *are* good
for me, ma cherie."  He sighed.
        Tenny gave him a discerning glance and sat up beside him.  "Why the
melancholy, Lucien?"  She leaned against his shoulder.
        Lacroix shrugged.  "It is nothing, Tenny Elisabeth.  Only..." He let the
thought disappear.  He pulled her closer to him.
        "Only what?"
        Lacroix caressed her chin, turning her face towards him and gave her long,
emotionless look.  At length, he said, "If I were a man easily swayed by
emotions and feelings, I would sense difficult times ahead, my dear."  He
rubbed her shoulder and kissed her gently.  "Since I am not, I will leave such
... prognostication to others."  He released his grasp on Tenny, got up from
the bed, retrieved his black silk robe from the nearby settee, and put it on.
        Tenny stared at him, a puzzled look on her face.  "What do you mean?" she
asked LC as he retrieved his clothing from the floor.
        He sighed again.  "It is nothing, Tenny.  Do not think on it further.  Now,
if you'll permit me ... I do need to prepare for my monologue."
        She nodded.  "Certainly."  She picked up a stray rose petal and twirled it
around her finger.
        He quickly dressed and left the room.
        //What was *that* all about?// Tenny thought as she began to shred the petal.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

end of part 3a
continued in part 3b


comments, praise and hammered dulcimer playing Celtic guys can be sent to

Annie
NunkMommy@aol.com      OR     CabotR@aol.com
"You can't live forever, Knight" AMPH
"Love like you'll live forever" Rich Mullins

disclaimers and acknowledgements found in the prologue
lost or missing parts supplied gladly



I Loved Him Once, Part 3b
A Tenny Richebourg Story
by Annie Raper
copyright 1998


        Wayne Riordan approached the Raven and took a good long look at the clientele
entering the club.  //Hmmm.  Tenny into Goth?//  He shook his head at the
thought.  It was not like the woman he knew.  He hesitated as he reached for
the door: should he go in and see her, or heed Scooby's advice and leave?  As
a patron exiting the Raven muttered an obscenity at Wayne for just standing
there in the doorway, he almost left.  However, his desire to see Tenny and to
find out just what in the world had happened to her overcame his apprehension,
and in he walked.
        He looked around , sensing something was not quite right about some of the
people in the club.  There was nothing he could put his finger on, but
something that troubled him, nonetheless.  He made his way to the bar and
ordered a Pellegrino.  When the drink came, Wayne paid the waitress and said,
"I was told I could find Tenny Richebourg here. You know where?"  The waitress
stared at him and left without a word. //Weird place,// he thought.  //What on
earth is Tenny doing *here*?//
        His thoughts were interrupted by Miklos.  "I understand you wish to see Miss
Tenny?" he asked stiffly.  Something about this mortal bothered him, and he
couldn't figure out what.
        Wayne nodded and took a drink from his blue bottle.  "Would you direct me to
her?"
        Miklos weighed his options and decided that the admittance of this unsettling
mortal was Tenny's decision, not his.  He picked up the bar's phone, punched
out a number and stared at Wayne while he waited for an answer.
        //At least she's not out here,// Wayne thought.
        "Ah, hello, Tenny," Miklos said.  "There's a gentleman here to see
you....Pardon me."  He looked at Wayne, who was guzzling his water, and asked,
"Your name?"
        Wayne put the blue bottle down, and wiped his chin with his shirt cuff.
"Tell her 'The Shoeless Wonder' is here," he said.
        Miklos raised an eyebrow and complied.  There was a moment's silence,
accompanied by Miklos moving the receiver away from his ear, and a surprised
glance at Wayne.  "I'll tell him," he said and rang off.  "Apparently she is
quite ecstatic that you are here.  She'll be right out."
        "Thanks," Wayne said, cheerfully smiling, hoping that the butterflies in his
stomach wouldn't find an escape route.  Wayne turned his back to the bar and
waited for Tenny.
        He didn't have to wait long.
        "EEEEEE!!! WAYNE!!" Tenny hollered from the 'Private: No Entrance' door,
causing a slight pause in the partying around her.  She waved, a bright smile
on her face.  Wayne thought he'd never seen anything lovelier.  She reached
the bar quickly, and before Wayne could say anything, she enveloped him in a
giant hug.  "Oh! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes!  What are you doing here?"
she asked, pulling herself away from him.  "Let me look at you," she said and
stood back at arm's length from him.  She gave him a long look-over, taking in
the characteristically holey jeans, tweed jacket and black vest over gray
linen shirt and thermal t -shirt, his dark eyes and long dark hair, making him
blush as she took her time.  "Have you lost weight? Are you remembering to
eat? Is Scooby with you?  Where are you--"
        "Whoa, Tens, take a breath!" he said with a laugh.  "Some things don't
change, do they?"  He glanced appreciatively at her trim body in black
leggings and oversized denim shirt.  He swatted at the auburn curls she'd
pulled into a ponytail. "Don't you look all of 15 years old?  And doesn't
herself look as beautiful as ever?"
        It was Tenny's turn to blush.  "Go 'long with ya," she said in an appropriate
Irish response.  "Good genes, that's all.  And don't I always sound as if I'm
an extra in 'The Quiet Man,' when I'm around you?"  She played with the ring
on her third finger, left hand, and stared at the floor for a minute.  Wayne
waited patiently; his Quaker roots had made him comfortable with spans of
silence.  "Wayne?" she finally asked.  "I probably shouldn't ask you this --
it could be dangerous -- but I want to really talk with you, and we can't do
that here with all the noise.  Would you come with me to my apartment?  We can
catch up there."
        Wayne's face was featureless, and, if he was thinking anything, Tenny
couldn't tell what it was.  "It probably would be better if we talked out
here," he commented.  "Now I wish I'd brought Scoob with me -- it wouldn't
look too good for a married woman to take a strange man to her private
quarters when her husband isn't around, would it?"
        Tenny's eye's widened.  "You know?  Oh, Wayne, I meant --"
        He cut her off again.  "Yep, Tenny, I  know.  I called your office when I got
to the hotel."  He reached out and caressed her face with a tanned hand.
"Hell of a way to find out.  Your husband isn't in, I take it, or you wouldn't
mind asking me back to wherever you were."  He dropped his hand and looked at
his shoes for a while.  He looked up at her, his brown eyes moist and full of
sadness.  "You're right.  It could be dangerous, and full of temptation.
However," he said with a mirthless smile, "my singing voice is goofy enough
without me straining it by shouting to be heard.  Come on, let's go."  He
patted her on the shoulder.  "I can behave myself."
        Tenny looked at him, an impish smile breaking through her impassive facade.
"Who says I was worried about you?"  They both laughed, and she led him to her
and Lacroix's private quarters.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        "Wow!"  Wayne stood in the middle of the sitting room and slowly turned
around as he took in the sights of the somber, yet cozy, room.
        "Is that all you have to say?" Tenny asked from behind the wet bar.  "And,
may I get you a drink while I'm back here?"
        "Uh, yeah. Diet Coke <tm>."  He sat down on the black leather sofa, took his
shoes off and scrunched his toes into the plush oriental carpet.  A fire
blazed warmly in the fireplace.  Tenny crossed the room, handed him the soft
drink and curled up in the overstuffed print chair next to the sofa.  Wayne
eyed her glass of wine.  "You're passing up a Diet Coke<tm>?  Good Lord! The
world as we know it has come to an end!" He laughed.  "Who decorated this
room? A depressed hedonist?"
        Tenny narrowed her eyes, then smiled.  "I've missed your directness, Wayne."
She played with the rim of her glass.  "It is rather dark, and plush, but it's
comfortable, isn't it?"  She took a sip, and put the glass down.  "Mother was
so appreciative of your singing at Daddy's funeral, Wayne.  I don't think I
ever told you how much you helped me through that time."
        "It was my pleasure," Wayne said as finished off his drink.  "May I have
another?"  Tenny nodded and fetched another drink.  "How is your mom, Tens? Is
she doing all right?"
        Tenny handed him the drink and placed an extra can of soda on the coffee
table.  "In case you want more," she said with a grin.  Wayne laughed and
nodded his thanks.  Tenny sat back down and pulled her feet up in the chair.
"Mother will do well regardless of the circumstances she finds herself in.  I
was worried about her for a while, but she's pulling through nicely.  I think
she's enjoying her independence immensely."  Tenny picked up her glass and
drank deeply.
        Wayne nodded at the wine glass.  "You were never much of a wine drinker, if I
remember right.  You didn't even like the wine in communion."
        "You're implying what, Wayne?" Tenny asked through tightened lips.
        "Nothing, Tens," Wayne said with a sigh.  "How's your church?"
        Tenny put her glass down, harder than she intended.  They both looked
surprised at the clang it made when it hit the hard wood of the side-table.
"I don't know," she said flatly.  "I haven't been in a very long time."
        Wayne looked surprised.  "Why?  Your dad?  You know, it's not--"
        "If I give you an acceptable 'church' answer, will you let it drop, Wayne?
It's personal, and there's been too much water under too many bridges to even
discuss it with you."  Tenny's tone was tense.  She got up and poured another
drink.  "A lot of it does have to do with Dad's passing.  Some of it is
because of us, er, you.  And it's, er, difficult to get to church these days,
Wayne."  Seeing his expression, she added, "Look, it's not like I've turned my
back on God or I've lost my faith or anything like that, it's just that we're
not as good of friends as we used to be." She smiled at him.  He didn't smile
back.  "What?" she asked.
        "Nothing," he said with a sigh.  "And I'm lying.  You've changed.  There's
something, I dunno, cold about you.  A spark is gone, one I never really
noticed before -- but I miss it now that it's gone."  He rubbed the bridge of
his nose and his eyebrows.  "Doesn't make sense, I know."  He took a swig from
his soda.  "Scooby would call that a bunch of hooey."
        "Always a man with both feet firmly entrenched in terra firma, our Scooby,"
Tenny said.  "How is he?"
        Wayne brushed his hair back behind his ears.  "Scoob and Kathy are expecting
their first this summer.  Not that he would admit it," Wayne said with an
impish grin, "being the sensitive 90's kind of guy that he is, but Scoob's a
walking mass of masculine pride at the thought of being a father.  Kath just
kinda glows.  It's kewl to see."  Wayne's smile faded suddenly.  "Um, where's
Mr. er, um?"
        "Lacroix.  Lucien Lacroix, is his name," Tenny replied.  "He's at work at the
moment.  He hosts 'Nightwatch with the Nightcrawler,' on CERK."
        "Ah," Wayne said.  "You love him?" he asked the carpet.
        "Yes."
        "Um, like, er, you did, um, me?" Wayne still looked at the carpet.
        "No," Tenny said truthfully.
        Wayne looked at her with wounded eyes.  "I shouldn't have come here," he said
and he started to get up.
        Tenny quickly got out of the chair, and knelt in front of him, grabbing his
hands.  "Wayne, don't go!"  She looked at his callused hands, her thumbs
gently caressing them.  On an impulse, she kissed his left hand, and then his
right.  "I'll never love anyone the way I loved you," she told him.  It took
all of her will power to keep her tears at bay; she didn't want to let on how
much leaving him had hurt her, and it would have been difficult to explain
blood tears to him.  //What, Wayne? Why are my tears bloody? Because it broke
my heart to hurt you, that leaving you ripped it out and left an aching void
in it's place? Because I'm an evil, bloodsucking creature of the night? Oh,
please!  That would go over well!//  "You were so busy with your music and
your work, there was never any room for me."
        "And Lucien makes room for you like I didn't?  I asked you to come with me,
Tenny.  We would have been happy."  It was Wayne's turn to kiss hands.  "Do
you have the new album, Tens?"  She nodded.  "You know _Love's as Strong as
Death_?  You inspired that."
        Tenny looked away for a second. "I thought the Song of Songs was behind that
song.  Besides, I thought your songs were provoked, not inspired." Wayne
grimaced.  "It's not easy having your own material used against you, is it,
Riordan?"  she asked with a giggle.  "Be careful what you say is true about
yourself, Wayne.  It could come back to haunt you."
        Wayne laughed and let go of her hands.  "You always did keep me from being
too intense," he said.
        "Not an easy task, cher, not an easy task at all, at all."  Tenny got up and
sat next to him on the couch.  "Wayne, I really am happy with my life and my
decision about Lucien.  We're a match, in a way that you and I would never
have been."  She put a cool hand on his arm.  "I hope that you will find
someone who will be a match for you and who will love you as you deserve to be
loved."
        Wayne nodded and looked at his watch.  "Hey," he said, "I need to get back to
the hotel.  Scoob'll have the Mounties out looking for me if I don't get back
soon." He rose to leave.
        Tenny rose with him and started to lead him to the door.  "Where are you
staying? I meant to ask sooner."
        "The Royal York," he replied.  "For tonight, anyways."  Tenny looked at him
funny, so he continued, "We can't stay there, Tens, it's too expensive.  We
can find someplace else for the rest of the time we're here."  His face lit
up.  "Which reminds me....we're playing the Hummingbird tomorrow night.  Come
and sing backup with us.  Kathy's at home in Arizona -- her doctor won't let
her travel -- so we need an alto. Will you? Please?"
        Tenny stammered, "Er, um, I dunno, Wayne."  She jumped when the door opened
and Lacroix stepped through.
        "Don't know about what, ma cherie?" Lacroix asked, looking at Wayne
intensely.
        Tenny recovered quickly and said, "Darling, this is Wayne Riordan, a dear,
old friend of mine.  Wayne," she said, "this is my husband, Lucien Lacroix."
        Wayne stuck out his hand and smiled, "Good to meet you, Lucien."
        Lacroix shook Wayne's hand.  "It is always a pleasure to meet Tenny's
friends."

end of part 3b
continued in part 3c
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

praise, flowers, Nunkies and men in kilts can be sent to:

Annie
NunkMommy@aol.com    OR     CabotR@aol.com
"Love's as strong as death, my love ... unyielding as the grave"  Rich Mullins

Acknowledgements and disclaimers in the prologue
lost or missing parts gladly provided


I Loved Him Once, Part 3c
A Tenny Richebourg Story
by Annie Raper
c. 1998


        Wayne shuddered inwardly as Lacroix grasped his hand.  While some of the
Raven clientele had made him uncomfortable, this man scared the daylights out
of him.  Before, something seemed out of place, but here, in this room with
Tenny and Lacroix, all Wayne could think of was //Run! Flee from this man, and
take Tenny with you!//  The idea of his love with this man made his stomach
flop over cold.  Unconsciously, he reached for the St. Francis Cross that hung
around his neck.
        Lacroix let go of Wayne's hand as if it were fire.  He covered the effect
this mortal man had on him with the appropriate pleasantries, but, inwardly,
he was reeling.  What manner of man was this, to make him, Lucien Lacroix,
feel this way?  Whatever he was, he must be kept away from his precious Tenny,
lest he infect her with whatever it was that possessed him.
        Tenny was oblivious to the internal goings-on of either man.  "Oh, Wayne! You
still wear your St. Francis!" she exclaimed.
        "Wha?" Wayne muttered, and stared at the cross in his fingers and held it
out.  Lacroix paled and looked away.  Tenny, although affected by it,
continued to look at it.  "Uh, yeah, Tens, I do.  How could I put away
something my best girl ever gave me?" He smiled at her, and then put the cross
back inside his shirt.
Lacroix's features relaxed when he did.   "May we get you a refreshment, Mr.
Riordan?" he asked as a gracious host should.
        "Call me Wayne, er, ah, mmm," Wayne stammered.  "No, thank you. I was on my
way out when you came home.  I need to be leaving."  Out of reflex and habit
he started to stick his hand out for another shake, but caught himself in
time.  "It was good to meet you."  He turned to Tenny.  "And you," he said as
he hugged her, much to Lacroix's dismay, "Tenny, it was so good to see you
again."  He let her go, and she kissed him on the forehead.  "Don't forget
about the concert.  It's at eight."  He turned and walked towards the door.
        "Wayne!" Tenny hollered at him.
        He turned around in surprise.  "What?"
        "Won't you need these?" Tenny asked as she held his shoes up with two
fingers, barely able to contain her giggles.
        "Well, yeah," he said with a sheepish grin and he walked back to retrieve his
shoes.  "You used to say I'd lose my name if that were possible.  I think
you're right."  He quickly slipped his shoes on.  "Now, I really do have to
go."
        "Promises, promises," Lacroix said under his breath.
        "Lucien!" Tenny gasped. She turned to Wayne, intent on apologizing for
Lacroix.  "Let me walk you out, Wayne."
        Wayne looked at Lacroix and shrugged.  "Nah, Tens, that's not necessary.
I'll find my way out."  He waved and left the room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Mikal stood outside the designated phone booth, dreading the ring that was
going to happen any minute now.  He paced back and forth, cursing Wayne
Riordan, his father Aidan, and the day he was born.  //That holier-than-thou,
Indian-lovin' wuss.  What's a little money to him? He coulda given me the
money if he wanted to.  Yeah, if he wanted to, that's the key.  Why would he
want to help you? That damn sonofabitch only does what'll make him look oh-so-
good-and-pious and giving *me* money wouldn't do that, would it?
Noooooooo..... he has to take a stand, so dear old Aidan will think Wayne's
better than the second coming.  Goddammed Micks, the both of 'em.  How can I
get back at him?//
        His dreams of payback were interrupted by the jangle of the phone ringing.
"Oh, God," he said and stepped into the booth.  "Hello? ... Yeah, this is
Kearney....Do I have the money? Uh, no, not yet......Wayne's gotta get some
currency changed...uh, you don't care if it's American or Canadian? Oh, that's
better....uh, could you give till tomorrow?  Wayne's not around right
now.....uh, okay...tomorrow.  I'll have it."  He hung the phone up.
        "You know what, Mikal?" he asked himself.  "You're screwed."


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Tenny glared at Lacroix as she poured another glass of wine.  "Lucien, that
was totally uncalled for.  Wayne heard you!  I can't believe you were so
rude!"  She drained the glass dry in one swallow and poured another.
        "Easy dear, too much of that bloodwine too quickly will make you tipsy,"
Lacroix replied.  He sat down in the chair Tenny had occupied earlier.  "What
is a mere mortal, and does it matter if he did hear me?  Where did you find
him?"
        "He found me," Tenny said.  She brought her glass and the bottle with her to
the couch.  "And he's not a 'mere mortal,' as you say.  He is the kindest and
most loving man I've ever met, current company included."  She drained another
glass and reached for the bottle.
        Lacroix removed it and she grabbed air.  "You've had enough for now, Tenny.
It's making you cross."
        Tenny shrugged at him.  "Whatever.  Are you finished with the program for
tonight or are you taking a break?" she asked, making herself comfortable on
the sofa.
        Putting the bottle down on the floor, he leaned forward, hands upon his
knees.  "I'm taking a break.  I happened to see your joyous reunion with your
... friend from the soundbooth and your departure for *our* home.  I wanted to
meet your ... guest."
        Tenny looked at him and laughed.  "Don't tell me you're jealous, Lucien!
Whatever for?"  She rose, walked over to the chair and sat down in his lap.
        "Jealous?  Because of a mortal?" Lacroix mused.  "Now that *is* laughable, my
dear."  He cupped her chin with his palm, caressing her cheek with his thumb.
"It would help, however, if you, in your enthusiasm, did not leave things open
to a hint of impropriety.  Caesar's wife, Tenny."
        "Should be above reproach?  And inviting Wayne in here so we wouldn't have to
yell to be heard appeared to be less than wholesome?  Oh, really."
        "Really."  He kissed her fiercely, as if to reclaim her.  "I do have a
question for you, my dear."
        Tenny rested her head on his shoulder and sighed.  "What, Lucien?" she asked
dreamily.
        "Are you coherent, Tenny? You did have a rather large amount of bloodwine."
He shook her a little.
        "I'm fine," she replied and sat up and looked him in the eyes.  "My eyes are
clear, my thinking is sound.  Now, what do you need to know?"
        He smiled despite his annoyance with her and the situation with Wayne.
"Earlier this evening, I was reviewing the financial records the accountant
had delivered.  There was an extraordinary number of cheques written in
extraordinary sums to an organization called 'Too Many Chiefs.'  *I* did not
write those cheques.  I was hoping you could explain these expenditures to me.
Can you, my dear?"
        Tenny blinked.  And then she laughed.  "'Too Many' is the name of the company
Wayne and his friend Scoo, er, Don set up.  They write music together.
Anyhow, all the money they make from their albums and tours goes into the
company.  They draw salaries from it, and the rest goes to finance more
records and more tours.  Only now," she added, "it helps finance their
ministry on the Great Navajo Reservation in Arizona and New Mexico.  Wayne
moved out there last year, and when he's not on the road, he's teaching music
in rez and mission schools.  It also helps buy food and medicines and it helps
send little kids to school."  She wiped her hands on her knees.  //Why are my
palms sweating?//
        Lacroix frowned in thought.  "Admirable endeavors.  You wish to aid them
because?"
        "Because Wayne is my friend, this work on the Rez is his dream, and those
people need help.  To those whom much is given, much is required, Lucien.  I
can't go help myself, so why not help fund what work is already there?"
        "You've given this some thought.  And you know this Riordan from .... ?"
        Tenny sighed and slid off his lap.  She went to the fireplace and stood
before it, warming herself in its glow.  Not turning around she said, "I know
Wayne from college.  My roommate dragged me to a concert of his.  I was
waiting for her in the lobby, and this barefooted, scruffy looking man with a
ponytail came up to me and said, "Man, you don't look like you want to be
here."  I said that I really didn't, but I was meeting my roommate, who had
better show soon, or I was gonna leave.  He said that he understood, that he
wouldn't want to spend his evening doing something he didn't want to do,
either, but,  maybe once I got settled, I'd like it and have a good time.  He
excused himself, and after my roommate showed up and the concert started, out
walked the scruffy man who had talked to me -- Wayne.  That was before he met
Don, so it was just him.  He was witty, charming, and completely devoted to
his cause.  He spoke both to me and for me...his music and words touched me in
place I hadn't even known I possessed, and at the same time they voiced
exactly what I felt but didn't have the language to utter.  He captivated me,
and made me want to be better than I was.  Somehow -- you might not believe
that I was shy about it, " she turned to look at Lacroix and gave him a weak
smile, "I gathered up the courage to talk to him after the concert.  I had to
wait awhile, because there were so many other people wanting to talk to him,
too.  I almost lost my nerve and left, but he recognized me and called to me.
There was a group of us that sat in the lobby of the auditorium talking until
the cleaning crew kicked us out.  We went to a little coffee house just off
campus, and talked until there was just the two of us left and it was about 4
o'clock in the morning."
        Lacroix stared at her.  "And the rest, as they say, is history?  You were
involved with this man in more than a passing relationship."
        "I loved him once, Lucien.  More than life itself.  I traveled with him and
Don and sang backup for him on breaks and vacations.  I spent summers with
him.  My parents, although they liked him terribly, were afraid that I would
come back from one of those tours as Mrs. Wayne Riordan."  She turned around
to face Lacroix.  "I would have, if he'd asked.  I thought, at one point, that
I would do anything for him."  She moved back to Lacroix and eased herself
back into his lap.
        He hugged her to him.  "But...?" he asked.
        "But.  He asked me to leave Toronto, my job and my family -- my father had
just died -- everything I knew, and come work with him on the Rez and on the
road.  If he had offered marriage along with that, I probably would have gone.
But he didn't, and I couldn't leave my mother."  She outlined Lacroix's
profile with her index finger.  "And then I met you."
        "Hmmph," Lacroix grunted.  "Yes, indeed.  I who have asked the same of you as
your friend, and yet for me..."
        "And yet for me, you are a match, where Wayne never really was, or he would
have asked me to marry him."  She kissed his cheek.  "However, mon cher, you
*do* keep reminding me that I haven't truly left all that I know from my
mortal life.  Which is it?"  She grinned mischievously at him.
        "Well, yes.  What would you say, ma petite, if I told you I did not want you
to give any more money to this organization?"
        Tenny thought for a moment.  "I would tell you that we would unpool our
resources, and then how I spent my money wouldn't be any concern of yours.
Are you going to tell me that, Lucien?"
        "I have to, as a matter of form, my dear.  Breaking with your mortal past.
You must be done with him."  He stared at Tenny, who had been mouthing his
words as he spoke them.  "Cute, my dear, very cute.  Why do I end up telling
you my motivations?"
        "Because I entrance you," Tenny said, a wicked glint in her eyes.  "I've
always had that effect on people, with the exception of my father.  Perhaps I
should have been a detective like Nick."
        "The gods forbid!" Lacroix said in mock despair.  "You know I'm going to tell
you not to see Wayne again?"
        Tenny nodded.
        "You're going to anyway, aren't you?"
        "And if I do?" she asked.
        "You don't want to know, my dear.  But I can tell you, you won't like it."
He glanced at the clock on the mantle.  "I must return to my work.  We *will*
discuss this further."  He slid her off his lap and left.
        //Of course we will,// she thought.  She picked up the phone receiver and
dialed a number.  "Hello?  This is the Royal York? Good! Reservations and
Guest Billing, please."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
end of part 3c
end of part 3


praises, chocolate, Lacroix can be sent to:

Annie
NunkMommy@aol.com     OR      CabotR@aol.com
"Love's as strong as death, my love .... unyielding as the grave"  Rich
Mullins

I'm sorry this took so long.  I had it partly written, but the characters
didn't quite want to do what I'd planned for them.  Then, there was a death in
my family and I was out of pocket for most of last week.

General acknowledgments and disclaimers can be found in the prologue
Missing or lost story parts will be gladly delivered upon request.

Without further ado, I continue....


I Loved Him Once, Part 4a
A Tenny Richebourg Story
by Annie Raper
c. 1998


        Wayne Riordan stared malevolently with one half open eye at the bedside clock
as it shrieked its alarm.  He reached out from beneath the plush covers of his
bed and slapped the snooze button.  //Five minutes, I'm begging, God,// he
inwardly groaned.  He rolled over and threw the bedspread over his head.
        Peace was not to be his.  As soon as he had closed his eyes, in be-bopped
Scooby, loudly humming a tune the two had worked on before turning in the
night before.  "Good morning, Wayne!" he cheerfully hollered as he repeatedly
popped Wayne's form under the spread.
        Wayne shifted to avoid the blows, and, when Scooby proved unrelenting, he sat
up, muttering a mild oath under his breath.
        "What was that, Wayne-O?" Scooby asked with a smile as he sat down on his own
bed.
        Wayne rubbed his eyes and scowled at his roommate.  "It's morning.  Nothin'
good about it," he grunted.  "And why are you so blastedly cheerful -- it's
too early!"
        Scooby just smiled at him.  "Says you, boyo.  It's after nine."  Wayne gave
him a look that said, 'And....you're point is?'  Scooby laughed.  "I had a fax
waiting from Kath -- an ultrasound from her doctor's visit yesterday."  He
waved the paper at Wayne.  "You can't tell much -- How is that supposed to be
a baby? -- but Kathy said the doctor thinks its a boy!"  Scooby handed the fax
transmission to Wayne, who looked at it from every angle.
        "Uh" Wayne said, looking mightily confused, "you're supposed to tell that
from this?"
        Scooby beamed.  "Yep!"
        Wayne handed the paper back to Scooby with a smile.  "I'd hug ya, man, but,
er," he looked at himself sitting in his underwear under the covers, "not like
this."  He stuck out his hand, and the two men grasped each other s forearms
and clapped each other on the back with their other hands.  "Congrats, Scoob!
I think I'm gonna have to tie a lead balloon to your backside to keep you from
floating away.  How's Kath?"  Before Scooby could answer, the alarm went off
again.  This time Wayne gently turned it off.  He stretched, got out of bed
and looked for his jeans.  "That reminds me.  When's checkout time, and do you
know if Davida found us another hotel?"
        "Oh!" Scooby exclaimed, tearing himself away from the sonogram photo of his
yet-to-be first born, "We don't have to check out."
        Wayne stopped, jeans at mid-hip.  "Whaddya mean? We can't stay here."
        "Oh, yeah, we can, Wayne," Scoob insisted.  "I don't know what happened or
who Davida talked with, but somebody's paid our bill here - for the rooms, any
service we want, the restaurant and bar -- it's not costing us a thing.  We
don't have to leave."  Wayne stared at him, mouth open.  Scooby laughed.
"Whaddya think of that, Riordan?"
        Wayne blinked, then zipped his jeans.   The Lord s not the only one who moves
in mysterious ways?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Lacroix entered the bedroom he shared with Tenny and stopped to survey it
with a fresh eye.  He was surprised at the subtle changes her presence had
created in his life. Not, he thought, that the changes were altogether
unpleasant or unwanted.  He was simply taken aback that he had grown so
accustomed to her that he failed to notice.  As he watched her sleep, he
thought he wasn t all that sure -- a first for him -- what he would do if she
were ever gone. In an uncharacteristic gesture, he shivered at the thought.
        He moved to the bedside table, poured a glass of bloodwine, and, as he drank
deeply, he chastised himself for becoming a doddering old fool regarding the
girl.  She was a joy to him, yes.  He loved her, yes.  He was committed to
her, yes.  And if she left, for whatever reason, hadn t he been trained, as a
General in the Emperor s army, to accept loss and continue?  But what was
causing this presentiment of grief?  Was it that Riordan man?  Tenny must not
see him again.  It was that simple.
        He put the glass down on the bedstand and sat down on the bed.  It was then
he discovered the small package on his pillow, neatly tied with a gold ribbon.
He glanced at Tenny, who snuffled in her sleep, and eased the ribbon off the
box and lifted the lid.  Inside was a platinum cat s head, inlaid with tiger s
eye in the appropriate places.  He picked it up and shifted it in his palm,
enjoying how the firelight made it gleam.  He placed it back in the box.  The
note tucked inside the box scratched his finger and he removed it.  [ ... for
my heart, from your petite tigresse .... riaar]  He chuckled at the reference
to their lovemaking, placed the box and note on the bedstand, and willed his
foreboding into non-existence.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Vinnie walked silently through the darkened hallway with Lenny in tow.  They
reached the broad oaken door and stopped.  Neither really wanted to enter and
face the Boss, Vinnie especially, as it was his idea to give Mikal Kearney the
extra time to pay his debt.  He glanced at his compadre, who gave a slight
nod, then knocked on the door.  The overhead security camera moved with clicks
and whirs to focus directly on the two big men.  The bolt of the locked door
shifted and the door opened slowly.  Vinnie and Lenny had been granted access.
        They entered the room and took respectful stances in front of the Boss who
was seated behind a large mahogany desk.  The room gleamed as firelight
reflected off polished wood.  The man behind the desk, richly dressed in
subdued colors and possessed of a sharp nose and hawk-like eyes, smiled
benignly at his minions.
         Vincenzo! Leonardo!  You have my money.   It was statement, not a question.
        Vinnie looked at the floor.  No, sir, I regret to inform you we do not.
        The Boss tapped  his signet ring against the desk.   You have an
explanation.
         Other than the Mick didn t pay,  Vinnie replied,  no, sir.
         I see,  said the Boss.   He has been given ample opportunity to be an
honorable man and pay his debts.  Do what needs to be done.
        Lenny and Vinnie nodded.  They knew this would be the Boss  decree. They
turned to leave.  They stopped when they heard the Boss clear his throat.
         Vincenzo, you will not let me down in the matter, will you?  I would hate to
lose such a good soldier.   He smiled sweetly at the two big men.   That will
be all.
        Vinnie and Lenny left as silently as they had entered.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Tenny entered the Raven from her quarters.  She spotted Lacroix sitting at
the bar with Vachon and Nick, who carried a folder, and she made her way
towards them.  She was dressed in a simple and short black velvet dress,
flared slightly at the skirt,  with sheer, long sleeves.  A silver Celtic
cross hung around her neck on a fine silver chain and rested on her belly.  It
made several of the Raven patrons very uncomfortable.  The cross did not repel
her nor did it burn her as she had put it on, but it did give her the oddest,
tickling sensation through the fabric of her dress.  As she approached the
three men, Vachon raised his eyebrows and whistled appreciatively at her.  She
smiled warmly at them.  From behind, she hugged Lacroix and kissed his cheek.
         Hey, Ten!  Vachon said.  He winced a bit at the cross, but maintained eye
contact with her.   You trying out for  Riverdance,  or something?
        As Vachon spoke, Nick turned, folder in hand, and smiled at her until he saw
the cross.  As he abruptly grimaced and averted his gaze, Tenny said,  No,
Javier.  I m going to ... What s the matter, Nick?
        Lacroix, who had felt the cross start to burn through his sleeve, grabbed
Tenny by the arm and jerked her around to face him.   What are you doing with
*that*?!  he demanded, staring painfully at the cross around her neck.
        Tenny played with the cross with a fingertip, amazing the three that she
wasn t burned by it.   I m going to the Hummingbird to at least watch Wayne s
performance.  I may sing with him, I haven t decided yet.
        Ignoring her comments, Nick opened the folder and placed its contents on the
bar.  Still not looking at her, he said,  I need you to sign your statement
from the Dan O Hanihern murder, Tenny.  Sign at the flag.   Tenny held out her
hand for a pen, quickly found the flag and signed.  As she handed the folder
back to Nick, he asked,  How can you wear that?  It doesn t bother you. Why?
        Tenny looked at him dispassionately and said,  I don t know, Nick.  Maybe I
have less to feel guilty over than you.  It does tickle a bit, but other than
that....
        Lacroix smirked at the exchange.   Perhaps it is merely Tenny s lingering
mortality that permits her to wear the abomination without adverse effect.
He turned towards her, took her hand and said quietly,  I thought I told you
that your were not to see that Riordan again.
        Tenny kissed him on the cheek again, then laughed a charmingly tinkling
laugh.   Oh, Lucien!  she exclaimed with a sing-songy voice.   You didn t tell
me *that*!   She cocked her head, letting her rose-gold curls cascade over her
shoulder and letting the imps dance in her eyes.   You said you were *going*
to have to tell me that for form s sake.  You haven t actually told me not to
see him.  Now,  she said, raising her head as anger flashed behind his eyes,
 until you actually utter those words, I m going to see my friend.   She
looked at her watch.   And if I don t leave now, I ll be late...unless you
want to go, too?   Lacroix shook his head.  She kissed him quickly and left.
        Nick and Vachon stood in horrified amazement at her boldness and at the fact
that Lacroix was apparently letting her get away with it.  All three watched
her leave.  Finally, Vachon broke the silence with a toneless whistle.  He
looked at Lacroix, raised his glass to him, and said,  Wow! She must really be
something in be-, er, in private, for you to let her do that.
Congratulations!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
end of part 4a
continued in part 4b
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Comments, Nunkies, and kilted hammered dulcimer players may be sent to:

Annie
NunkMommy@aol.com    OR    CabotR@aol.com
"Who wants to live forever?" Queen, HL
"You can't live forever, Knight" Schanke, FK
"Love like you'll live forever" Rich Mullins, paraphrased


Disclaimers and acknowledgements in Prologue
Missing or lost posts gladly supplied upon request


I Loved Him Once, Part 4b
A Tenny Richebourg Story
by Annie Raper
copyright 1998



        Backstage at the Hummingbird, life was going on as usual for a Wayne Riordan
concert:  relative chaos.  Wayne couldn t find his dulcimer mallets, then
turned red when Scooby pointed out they were on stage wtih the dulcimer.
Davida was trying to find the house manager because the hot water had run out
in the dressing room bathrooms.  Aidan couldn t find Mikal to save his life.
        In the middle of the normalcy, a security guard, dragging Tenny behind him
arrived backstage.  He grabbed Davida, pulling the slight blonde around to
face him.   Hey, Lady!  This chick says she s with you, but she don t got no
pass.  Is she?   He shoved Tenny out in front of Davida.  Tenny grinned as
bewilderment turned to recognition and then turned to surprise.
      Uh, yes! She s with us! Thank you,  Davida said, shooing the guard on
his way.  She hugged Tenny and said,  I had no idea you d be here, Tens, or
I d have had a pass waiting for you.  You *are* going to sing with the band,
aren t you?
         I wouldn t miss it, Dav,  Tenny said, warming to her old friend. She gave a
look around at the hustle and bustle and smiled.   Things haven t changed
much, have they?  And is there anything I can help you with?
        Davida laughed a tinkling laugh.   Nope   to things not changing.  There s
always room for helping hands.  Why don t you help in the search for Mikal?
When Tenny looked perplexed, Davida followed with,  You remember? Mikal is
Aidan s son.  We can t find him, and he s doing the sound for the tour   oh,
just a second, Tens.   Davida turned to the house manager, stylishly dressed
in all black, who had just arrived backstage.
         I was told you needed me,  he said with a sniff, as if anything Davida had
to say was beneath his attention.
        Davida cut her eyes towards Tenny, who thought this stage manager was about
to become Davida s dinner   Davida was very good at getting her way in
negotiations of this nature   and winked.   Yes.  I had two problems, but
we ve solved the hot-water heater issue ourselves.  If you would be so kind as
to gather the staff to help us look for our sound man, I would considerate a
professional courtesy.  In the event that we can t find him
         Can t find him?  The manager parroted.   Missing sound man? This is nothing!
Back when the Royal Symphonic was here, three performers disappeared for two
days.  I myself played timpani and the trombone to fill in.  Missing sound
man? This is nothing!
         Glad to hear it,  Davida replied.   Though I m not sure his father thinks
this is nothing.  He s rather attached to his offspring.  Now, if we don t
find him in time for the show, you have someone on your staff who can take
care of that chore for us?
The house manager looked offended.   Madam, it shall be done!   He sniffed at
her and then walked off, calling his assistants to him.  She turned back to
Tenny, who made a face at the man, and started to speak, but waved at someone
behind Tenny instead.   Tenny,  she said as Scooby and Aidan joined the two
women,  I know you remember Aidan and Scooby.  Why don t you
      Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and all the saints combined! Woman, it s grand
to see you!  Aidan exclaimed when he realized that the woman with Davida was
Tenny.  He gave her a hug, then said,  What are you doing here?
      Didn t I hear you were in need of a singer?  And would I leave a friend
in a lurch?  Tenny replied.  Scooby scowled in Tenny s direction.
      That you wouldn t, that s for sure,  Aidan said smiling.  He looked at
Davida.  Any luck in finding my son?
      Davida shook her head.   I was about to suggest that Tenny join the
search when you showed.  I take it you haven t found him, either.
       No,  Scooby said.   Have you talked with Wayne about it yet?   Davida
shook her head again.   Look, don t, okay.  He won t want to go on with the
show until we find him.   He gave Tenny a long look, and then said,  Is
 Riverdance  in town?
      Tenny smiled and said,  It s good to see you again, too, Don.
      Scooby harrumphed and grabbed her arm.   You come with me to search for
Mikal. He has to be around here somewhere   And I want to talk with you.   He
looked at Davida and Aidan briefly.   We ll find him, Aidan. He couldn t have
gone far.  And we ll be back in time to make it on stage.   He urged Tenny
along with him, none too gently, and off they went in search of Mikal, leaving
Aidan and Davida staring after them, mouths agape.
     "I hope the lad remembers his manners,  Aidan said after a time.
      Who?  Davida asked.   Mikal or Scoob?
     Aidan sighed.   Does it really even matter?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        [ Okay, God.  I m trying to be as honest as I can be here I don t understand
why You didn t give me Tenny, and if You weren t going to, why d You let me
have this love for her?  And if I was going to have this love, why is she with
*that* man and not with me?  Why am I being denied this?  I walk the path
You ve set before me. Why isn t she part of that? Why?   Please let her come
tonight,  just this once for it to be like old times. Let me pretend it s last
year, and she s still mine   please, oh, please.]

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Scooby stopped Tenny in a dark corridor in the rabbit warren that was
backstage at the Hummingbird, turned to face her, and launched into a verbal
version of the Blitzkrieg.   Okay, Richebourg, why d you have to show up?
You re only going to break his heart again.  He had just gotten over you
leaving   You could have told someone in the group that you got married for
Pete s sake!  But, no!  Don t say anything, let him find out from a stranger
over the telephone!  Don t keep in contact, let us all think you ve fallen off
the face of the earth, and let us all tell Wayne it s all for the best
forget that he wasn t your only friend here and that there were others besides
him who d miss you or who d be brokenhearted when you left.  No! You had the
choice to be with all of us who love you, but that would have required some
sacrifice on your part and you had to stay and keep your trust fund company.
Little Miss Got-Rocks couldn t leave her money or get her hands dirty on the
rez, could she?   He finally sputtered out of steam and slumped against the
wall, staring at her bitterly over crossed arms.
        Tenny felt like she d been run over with a Sherman tank, but she let her face
remain gentle, if not impassive.   Is that what you think of me, Don?   she
asked quietly.  He nodded.  She sighed, torn between the desire to burst into
tears, slap Scooby silly, or explain her actions in minute detail.  She
glanced at her watch.   We don t have time to play  True Confessions , Scooby.
I know Wayne wasn t the only one I hurt when I left and I miss your and Kath s
friendship terribly.  I ve tried to keep in touch, but I haven t heard back
from you.  We do need to talk about this, but don t we need to find Mikal?
And is he really old enough to work the sound board?
        Scooby looked at his own watch.   I wish you weren t right, Tens.  I really,
and I mean *really*, want to make you tell your side of the story.   He stood
up straight, and said,  Come on, let s go find the little snot.   Tenny looked
at him sharply.   It s a long story.  He s been in trouble at home.  Aidan
didn t know what else to do with him, so Wayne told him to bring the kid along
for the tour.  He s done something bad, because he asked Wayne to loan him
some cash on a really lame excuse. Wayne refused and Mikal got really ugly
with him.  We haven t seen him since sound check earlier tonight -- Mikal, I
mean. Wayne s locked in his dressing room so he don t lose himself.  He
laughed and started walking back down the corridor.   He, Mikal, is old enough
to run the sound.  It s hard to believe such a sweet little kid is such a
rotten little punk now.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

         Okay, now,  Wayne said, hands on the keys of his keyboard,  I d like to
introduce you to the people behind me.  Back there behind the drums is Sean
Michael Garrity.   There was applause as Sean Michael pounded out a rhythm.
Wayne smiled and pointed over to Scooby.   This guy on the guitar, pipes and
lap dulcimer is my best friend, Scooby.  The audience laughed and applauded
wildly; Scooby was a favorite among Riordan fans, mainly for his absolute
silence on stage and his cartoon character moniker.
        Scooby grinned and waved.  Someone from the rafters yelled,  Go, Scooby!
        Wayne introduced Aidan on the standup bass, and Lila Garrity, Sean Michael s
wife who sang backup.  He grinned at Tenny, then said to the audience,  And to
show that not all of us are truly blessed by being Irish, singing backup with
Lila is Tenny Richebourg, who makes us celebrate Bastille Day with her.   The
audience applauded.  Somewhere in the orchestra level seating, Tracy Vetter
dropped her program.

                                        .......       .......       .......      .......      ......

         ...You know, Wayne means a wheel, or an ass.  When I was a kid, I always
felt like I was gettting away with something at Christmas when they d sing
that carol,  ...Ox and ass before Him bow...   He paused for a moment to let
the audience laugh.   I had a professor in college, who during devotion one
day said,  God talked to Balaam through his ass,   he paused for the giggles,
  so when you know that the person in front of you talking nonsene, really has
to have a shaggy coat and long ears...listen, okay?    He gave a nod to
Scooby, who quietly left the stage.  One by one the rest of the band quietly
followed.  Wayne quietly ran his hands over the keys.
         We love you, Wayne!  a trio of girls called out from the balcony.
        He looked up and grinned.   I m single, so that s okay.  Thank you!  he
replied as the audience laughed.  Someone from the floor hollered something at
him.  He leaned over to get a better listen, then stood up and said into the
microphone,  Why am I single?  There was someone once, but she s married now,
so ...   He paused as the audience sighed with an 'aww...'
        Over the 'awww' of the crowd, one of the trio hollered,  I ll marry you,
Wayne!
        Wayne laughed and started a song on the keyboard.  He stopped in mid-chord,
looked up at the balcony and said,  Sweetheart, you wouldn t want to do that!
In fact this girl provoked this song.   He began the song again, and while he
was playing, he said,  Don t you hate it when you pay big bucks to see some
guy sing, and all he does is talk?   The audience laughed, and he started
another song.  He thought he heard a noise from the overhead rafters and he
looked up.  When he didn t see anything, he paused for a moment and started
the song again. "When love has got you in its hold, even the summer sun just
freezes your soul..." he sang.  Something red splatted on the back of his
hand, and he stopped, backed away from the keyboard and looked up.
         Come on, Wayne, keep singin'!" someone yelled.
        Scooby came out on stage, walked up to Wayne and said,  Man, *what* are you
doing?
        Wayne pointed to the overhead lighting scaffolding.   Didn t I hear that
Mikal was missing...isn t that him?  he asked, as the form of Mikal Kearney
dangled from the edge.
        Scooby stared.   Oh ... my ... God,  he whispered, as the audience began
getting restless.
        Wayne stepped back to his keyboard as Davida, Tenny and Aidan came out from
the wings to see what was going on, and said,  Uh, I think that song is going
to have to wait.   He saw Aidan and tapped Scooby.  Get Aidan backstage,
Scoob.
        As Scooby walked over to the three, a great noise came from overhead and the
audience gasped as Mikal Kearney plummeted to the stage.
         Uh,  Wayne said,  could someone call 911?
        Tracy got up from her seat and came to the stage waving her badge.   I m a
homicide detective with Toronto PD,  she told Wayne. He nodded and handed her
a microphone.   Ladies and gentlemen,  she said,  please keep your seats.
We ll let you know what to do next. Please stay calm, and please stay where
you are.   She handed the mic back to Wayne, pulled her cell phone out of her
pocket and dialed a number.   Hello, Captain Reese? We have a problem here at
the Hummingbird.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
end of part 4b
end of part 4



comments -- sweet, not tart -- Nunkies and kilted Celtic guys are gladly
accepted

Annie
NunkMommy@aol.com
"Love's as strong as death, my love -- unyielding as the grave" Rich Mullins

All disclaimers and acknowledgements can be found in prologue
Missing story parts gladly forwarded.
And...my supreme apologies for taking so long to get back to this story.
Thanks for your patience. ~~ Annie

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I Loved Him Once, Part 5
A Tenny Richebourg Story
by Annie Raper
c. 1998


        Nick arrived at the Hummingbird and parked in the back at the 'Deliveries
Only' door, joining the mass of law enforcement officials already at the
scene.  He got out of the Caddy, waved an acknowledgement to the officers
outside and entered the backstage area. An odd sensation hit him, alerting him
to the presence of another vampire. He honed his hearing in on the people
inside the auditorium and heard the murmuring sounds of Tenny comforting
someone named Aidan.  Deciding hers was the presence he felt, he relaxed and
continued on towards the stage.  Another zing strummed deep within, one that
told him that Lacroix was near. Nick stopped, put his hands in his pockets and
allowed his sire to reveal himself to him.
        "Nicholas," Lacroix murmured from behind Nick.  "How good of you to stop by."
        "And what would bring *you* here?  It certainly wasn't the music," Nick
retorted.
        A smile as enigmatic as the Mona Lisa s crossed Lacroix's visage.  "What
brings me here is in there.  Protecting my possessions, so to speak."
        He parted the curtains to reveal Tenny sitting on the edge of the stage with
an arm around an older man with curly red hair who was obviously upset.  A
dark haired man in holey jeans was next to Tenny and was visibly shaken as he
lent some comfort to the older man.  Then, to Nick's astonishment, Tenny
looked at the dark haired man with an expression that was normally reserved
for Lacroix and gently placed her hand on the man s thigh.  The gesture didn't
go unnoticed by the people around them.
        "I *will* keep what's mine," Lacroix choked out, staring at Tenny.  "It is
dangerous, Nicholas, for one -- mortal or vampire -- to pretend reality is
something other than what it is."  He dropped the curtain, and with a whoosh,
he was gone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        "...And the victim was missing before the concert, er, Mr. Cassaday?" Tracy
asked a distracted Scooby.  She followed his gaze to see Tenny s loving smile
at Wayne. "Um, Mr. Cassaday?" she asked again.
        Scooby startled and turned his attention back to Tracy. "Uh, yeah," he said
as looked back at the two. His eyes widened and an angry flush crossed over
his face.
        "Mr. Cassaday?  The victim...?" Tracy attempted to get his attention back to
the matter at hand.
        "I can't believe her!" Scooby said through clenched teeth.  "After all this
time -- and she's married!  Making him think somethin's still there!  She's
only going to hurt him again!" Scooby started towards Tenny and Wayne, but
Tracy caught his sleeve. "What?!" he snapped at her.
        "Mr. Cassaday, if you don't mind..." she said sternly. He turned back around
to her.
        "Sorry," he said weakly.  "She's an old friend -- it's a long story.  Anyhow,
yes, Mikal was missing before the concert.  We all looked for him."
        Tracy made a note.  "Everyone?"
        Scooby nodded. "Yep.  Well, everyone but Wayne.  We usually keep him in his
dressing room."
        Tracy stared at him.  "Any particular reason why?"
        "He loses things...including himself.  If we don't keep tabs on him, usually
in the dressing room, he wanders off and forgets the time."
        "And this was why he didn't search for Mikal as well?" she queried.
        "Yeah," Scooby nodded.  "That and he didn't know the kid was missing."
        "Why not? "
        Scooby sighed.  "Wayne feels responsible for everyone that crosses his path.
If he'd known Mikal was missing, he would have postponed the concert until we
found him.  Anyway, he was probably prayin' before the show.  Most of us
would ve been with him if we weren't lookin' for that little snot."
        Tracy made some more notes and then looked at Scooby level. "That was harsh.
What s the story there?"
        "Mikal's a bad kid. He got into trouble at home, doin' God knows what ...
he's been too much for his parents to handle.  Wayne told Aidan to bring him
along in hopes that would straighten the kid out.  Apparently, it didn t."
        "Ummhmm," Tracy mumbled, contemplating her next question.  "Any problems with
Wayne and the vi-, er, Mikal?"
        Scooby shook his head 'no'.  "Wait a minute.  That's not right.  Mikal got
pretty ugly with Wayne last night 'cause Wayne wouldn't lend him any money."
        She jotted that down.  "Do you know how much?  Ugly? How?"  Through the
corner of her eye, she saw Nick walk onto the stage, stop and stare at Tenny,
then join Captain Reese as Natalie examined Mikal Kearney.  Reese motioned for
her to join him as well.
        "Mikal needed money and needed it pretty bad. I don't know how much, but the
kid called Wayne all kinds of names, pushed and shoved him ... threw a drink
at him," Scooby said, recounting the events in the bar.
        "Would Wayne retaliate?" Tracy asked.
        Scooby looked at her incredulously.  "Sweetheart, you were here tonight...you
must follow Wayne's career somewhat.  When was the last time you heard of a
Quaker retaliating?" Scooby laughed and shook his head.  "Wayne's a pacifist.
He wouldn't have retaliated in anyway."
        Tracy nodded her head and closed her notebook.  Handing him her card, she
said, "I'm done for now.  If you can think of anything that might be of help
later on, call me." Scooby took the card and nodded.  "I also think it would
be a good idea for all of you to stay put for the time being."
        "Uh, thanks," Scooby said, and walked over to Tenny and Wayne.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Natalie rose from her crouch over the lifeless form and removed her gloves.
She made a quick note, handed the clipboard to her assistant and motioned that
the body could be removed.  She looked up to find Tracy, Nick and Captain
Reese staring at her impatiently.
        "Well?" queried Reese.
        "Well, other than he's dead..." Natalie quipped.  "He was beaten fairly
severely before he was deposited onto the scaffolding."
        "And the $64,000 question is: Which killed him -- the beating or the fall?"
Tracy added.
        Nat nodded. "I won't know specifically until I get to the lab, but I would
bet on the fall."
        Reese shoved his hands into his pockets.  "Let me know when you know."
Natalie nodded.  The big man gave a compassionate look at Aidan Kearney and
sighed.  "I want this case closed quickly," he said to Tracy and Nick.  "I
imagine that man will want to get his boy home soon.  What did you get,
Vetter?"
        Tracy opened her notebook.  "Mikal Kearney was in trouble.  That's why he was
on the tour -- to help his parents regain control of him.  The trouble
followed him, and he asked for a loan from Wayne Riordan."  She nodded towards
him as he sat on stage, still next to Tenny.  "Riordan refused, and Kearney
got violent with him.  Tonight, Kearney went missing before the concert.
According to Scoo-, er, Don Cassaday, the entire crew, with the exception of
Riordan, searched for him.  They found him when he fell to the stage."
        "Why didn't Riordan search with them?" Nick asked.
        "He wasn't told Kearney was missing." She closed her notebook.
        Reese processed the information and stared at the group of musicians huddled
around the greiving father.  "Can either one of you tell me why Tenny Riche-
Lacroix is here?"
        Nick shrugged his shoulders.  Tracy bit her lip, then said, "According to
Cassaday, she's an old friend of Riordan's.  He, Cassaday, didn't seem too
pleased that she's here."
        Reese rocked back and forth on his heels.  "I'm tired of seeing her at crime
scenes."  When his two detectives stared at him, he followed with, "It usually
means her husband -- why she married that snake, I will never know -- is bound
to show up sometime.  And from the looks of things," he said as they watched
Tenny place her head on Wayne s shoulder, "he won't be too pleased she's here,
either."   He pulled his hand from his pocket and looked at his watch.  "I'm
going back to the station.  Finish this case quickly."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Tenny placed her head on Wayne's shoulder. Scooby scowled and elbowed Davida
to look at the scene.  Davida raised an eyebrow, and said, "Tired, Tens?"
        Tenny sat up straight.  "It's a shock, that's all.  Uh," she paused as Nick
and Tracy joined the group.   She smiled brightly at Nick, causing Scooby's
scowl to darken and Wayne's expression to soften all the more towards her.
"Nick!  These are some of my oldest and dearest friends.  And this is
Detective Knight and Tracy Vetter.  Nick is a friend of mine." She quickly
went around the circle and introduced everyone to Tracy and Nick.
        Nick looked at Wayne, slightly troubled by the man.  He shrugged his
discomfort off as a reaction to the St. Francis cross that hung around the
man's neck.  "Mr. Riordan," he began. "It seems you're the only one who hasn't
spoken with us yet.  We're about to leave for the station. Would you like to
join us for a chat?"
        Tenny looked hard at Nick. "You aren't suggesting that Wayne's a suspect, are
you, Nick?" she asked in hard voice.
        "No, not at all," he replied smoothly.  "It would be better, don't you think,
if we all went home, er, so to speak?" he queried, looking at Aidan.
        "Yeah, it would," Wayne replied.  "Scoob, take Aidan back to the hotel now,
why don t ya?  I ll be back shortly."  He hopped up.  "Ready when you are,
Detective."
        There was a scurry as band members got to their feet and made ready to leave.
        "What about Tenny?" Scooby asked.  "She hasn't talked with an officer yet."
        Nick looked at her for a moment, weighing his choices.  "I know where she
lives.  If we have questions, we can find her.  And for the rest of you, you
need to stay at the hotel.  This could be a single incident attack, or you all
could be in danger.  For your own sakes, when you get to the hotel, stay put."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Tenny walked out with Scooby and Aidan.  "Aidan, I'm going to call Moira now.
I'll make all the arrangements for her to come on the next flight out.  You'll
need her."
        Aidan protested.  "Lass, I can't let you do that.  It's too much --"
        "It's my pleasure, and it's done," Tenny interrupted.  "I'll go make the
arrangements."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        From the dark recesses of his office, the Boss watched the eleven o'clock
news with his minions with interest.  Particularly the live report from the
Hummingbird, where a crew member of Wayne Riordan s fell to his death from the
scaffolding during the concert.  The story went on to tell of all the work
that "Too Many Chiefs", Riordan s organization, was doing on the Great Navajo
Reservation in the United States, and how money from this concert was going to
benefit that work.
        "Hmmm..." the old man mused, stroking his beak-like nose.  He turned to his
companions, Lenny and Vinnie, and said, "I feel the need to vent the loss of
my money.  See to it that Mr. Riordan understands this need...."
        Vinnie and Lenny nodded.
        "That is all," the Boss replied.
        The two men rose, and exited the room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

end part five
continued in part six

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

comments, Nunkies, hammered dulcimers and men in kilts should be sent to:

Annie
NunkMommy@aol.com
"Who wants to live forever?" HL
"You can't live forever, Knight" Schanke, AMPH
"Love like you'll live forever" Rich Mullins

Acknowledgements and disclaimers are in the prologue
Missing parts supplied gladly upon request



I Loved Him Once, part 6
A Tenny Richebourg Story
by Annie Raper
c. 1998


        Nick sat at his desk, going over his notes from the interview with Wayne
Riordan.  After spending over an hour with the man the night before, Nick
found that Riordan disturbed him.  Why, he could not tell.  He was interrupted
from his thoughts by the sensation that someone was watching him.  He looked
up to find Tracy staring at him from over her coffee cup.
        "What?" he asked, chagrined.
        "What did you think of Wayne? Isn't he fantastic?  All that work on the rez
-- what a guy!  And Wayne Riordan and Tenny Richebourg, er, Lacroix! Who would
have known? Did you?"
        Nick scratched his head.  "No. I didn't.  He is an interesting man, that's
certain. But --" he stopped as Natalie approached the desk, waving a file
folder in her hand.  "Hi, Nat.  Do you have news for us?"
        Natalie nodded, placing the folder in the middle of the two desks.  "You
might want to get the Captain for this," she said.
        "I'll go," Tracy said as she rose from her seat.  She took a step and ran
into the Captain.  "Oh!" she exclaimed.  "There you are."
        "Yeah, here I am. Saw Dr. Lambert come in," Reese said, sounding like an
Eyeore impersonator.  "What do you have, Natalie?" he asked.
        Natalie opened the folder and removed two pictures, placing them side by
side.  "While examining Mikal Kearney, I kept finding a repeating pattern in
his bruises.  This is the pattern," she said, pointing to the picture on the
right.  "I've seen it before, so I checked the files.  I found this picture,
with the same pattern," she pointed to the picture on the left, "in the
Lavsont files."
        Captain Reese snatched up the photos.  "I'll be damned," he said tonelessly.
        "That means," Natalie continued, "that - "
        "That the Boss is involved," Nick finished, picking up his notes from the
Riordan interview.
        Tracy closed the folder.  "Which explains the trouble Kearney was in.  Did
the fall or the beating kill him, Nat?"
        Natalie took the pictures from Captain Reese, picked up the folder and
returned the photos.  "He was alive when he was put in the rafters.  The
evidence is inconclusive as to whether or not he died before he fell."
        Reese sighed.  "We better pick up Vinnie and Lenny; check their alibis," he
said.
        Nick rose from his seat and grabbed his coat, with Tracy following his lead.
"No, sir," he said, putting on the coat.  "We need to get Wayne Riordan from
the Royal York.  The Boss is going to want money from somewhere."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Tenny put on her jacket and pulled her hair out from under the collar.  She
sensed that Lacroix was not in their private quarters, but she moved quietly
nontheless, certain he would not be pleased with her activities.  She eased
past the office/study and was almost at the door leading to the Raven when she
felt his presence behind her.
        //Headed out, my dear?// she heard his thought and stiffened.  //Do be so
kind as to join me in the office.//  It was a demand, not a request, and she
backed down the hall to the office.  She squared her shoulders and entered the
room.
        "Hello, Lucien," she said with a bright smile.  "How are you this evening, my
love?"
        Lacroix was seated at his desk, leaning back in his oversized black leather
chair, elbow on armrests and hands folded across his abdomen.  Tenny moved
around the desk to kiss him.  She was stopped by cool hands grabbing her face,
none too gently.  "I am glad to see that you remember to whom your devotion is
owed, ma cherie." He gave her a rough kiss and abruptly let her go.
        Tenny, more than slightly taken aback, pulled herself together.  "I'm sure I
don't have the foggiest notion as to what you mean, Lucien," she sniffed and
moved to the chair across the desk from him.  She sat down and, in a gesture
of defiance, propped her feet on top of his desk.  "Why don t you illuminate
me?"
        Lacroix leaned forward, elbows on the desktop, and smiled.  "I have said this
more than once -- I do admire your spirit, my dear.  Now, as to what I was
referring to," he dropped his fist to the desk with a crash, "perhaps you
recall your behavior with Riordan last night?"  He laughed as she sucked in
her bottom lip.  "Yes, my love, I know all about last night.  I know you did
nothing beyond making eyes and sighing, but I told you long ago I will not
tolerate even the hint of infidelity." He rose from his chair, walked around
the desk to her chair.  He swiveled the chair to face him, and leaned over
her, his hands on her armrests.  "You see, my dear, I will do all that is
necessary to keep what is mine."  He moved in closer.  "You are not to see
that man -- or any of those ... musicians ... again.  Am I clear?" he hissed.
When she sat there, staring at him, he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook
her slightly.  "Am I clear, Tenny?" She nodded, and he loosened his grip on
her.  "Very good.  Now --"
        He was cut short by a sharp blow to his chest.  Tenny s eyes were flaming
gold.  "Don't you ever manhandle me again, Lucien!  I'm not some chattel you
can command at will --"
        "No!" he roared, back in her face.  "You are my wife! And you will act as
such! I will not have you making moon eyes over some mortal, shaming me in
front of vampires and mortals alike! Have you forgotten who you are? Or what
you are? Have you?"
        Tenny stared at him for a bit.  "I refuse to talk to you if your going to
lean over me like I'm a child."  She smiled as he straightened himself and sat
on the edge of the desk -- a concession was a concession, after all.  "Is all
this about your jealousy? Is that why you didn't come to bed this morning?"
        He searched her face for mockery or anger.  Seeing none, he took a deep
breath and said, "My dear, you would not have wanted my company this morning.
It would have been less than ... gentle where you are concerned."
        She arched a brow.  "Oh, really."  Her words were sassy, but the imps were in
her eyes and she smiled at him.
        A frown crossed his features.  "I would have harmed you, my dear.  You were
told if you saw Riordan again that you would not like the consequences.  I was
... this morning was not the time to administer those consequences."  He eased
off the desk and walked to the liquor cabinet.
        As he poured a glass of bloodwine, she laughed.  "Consequences? Are you going
to take the car away from me, mon cher?"
        He turned abruptly.  "I will not be mocked, Tenny.  You do not realize the
severity of your actions.  And," he took a sip, "your continued attachment to
the things from your mortal life will only make things worse..."
        "I know," she said rising from her chair and moving to join him, "I must
break from them." She took his glass from his hand and drained it.
        "If you do not, I will. It's that simple," he said quietly, taking the glass
from her.  Before she could protest, he continued, "Where are you going
tonight?"
        She swallowed hard.  "I'm going with Wayne to Pearson to pick up Moira
Kearney."  She stared at him, daring him to tell her otherwise.
        He placed the glass down on the cabinet, harder than he intended.  "You will
do no such thing.  You are going to break your ties to that man and to your
past, and you will start tonight."
        She glared at him.  "Or?" she challenged.  "What? You'll stake me? Leave me
in the sun? Or just merely break my neck so I'm incapacitated for a while?"
        He sighed.  "Don't be melodramatic, dear.  You must break with the past."
        She walked back to the desk and picked up her pocketbook.  She turned to face
him once more.  "So you say, over and over, ad nauseum.  I have one thing to
say to you about that, and then I don't ever want to have this conversation
with you again."
        He arched a brow.  "And what, pray tell, is that?"
         "Actually," she said, "I have several points.  First -- It's very easy for
*you* to say, 'break with your mortal past,' as if that's something I can just
do at the snap of the fingers.  Second -- You had no choice in separating from
your mortal past; Vesuvius took care of that for you, so you have no idea what
it's like to do what you're demanding.  Third, and last -- *You* are part of
my mortal past, and to break with it means to break with you.  I do not intend
to do that.   She looked at her feet for a moment.  "I owe Wayne and his
friends this little.  I hurt him -- all of them, if I m honest -- when I left.
Wayne still loves me.  Part of me still loves him, that much was obvious after
last night.  I *am* going to help them get through this tragedy as best I can.
There's not much you can do about it either, my love."  She shouldered her
pocketbook.  "Goodbye.  I'll see you after we get Moira settled at the hotel."
Tenny turned and left the room.
        Lacroix stood there, leaning against the liquor cabinet for a moment,
scowling.  He glanced up at the framed portrait over the fireplace and his
anger flared. On an impulse, he picked up the bottle of bloodwine and hurled
it, dead center, at the painting of Tenny.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
end of part 6
continued in part 7


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

comments -- sweet, not tart! -- Lacroix, and kilted Celtic guys to:

Annie
NunkMommy@aol.com
"Love's as strong as death, my love .... unyielding as the grave" Rich Mullins

Once again, the disclaimers and acknowledgements can be found in the prologue.
Missing or lost parts will be gladly supplied upon request.

I Loved Him Once, Part 7
A Tenny Richebourg Story
by Annie Raper
c. 1998


        Wayne Riordan was waiting rather impatiently beside his
bright red Jeep, alternately tapping his foot and checking his watch,
willing Tenny to exit the Raven.  Being made to wait was
something he was not used to -- usually, it was he who held up
everyone else in his life.  He made a mental note to keep better
track of the time in the future.  His impatience disappeared as
soon as a harried Tenny came through the doors.  She smiled wanly
in greeting and quickly made her way to the Jeep.
        "I hope you didn't have too long a wait, Wayne," she said as
she kissed his cheek.
        He opened the passenger side door.  "I take it Lucien wasn't
happy about your going?" He stopped her as she stepped inside the
Jeep.  "Maybe you shouldn't come with me, Tens.  I don't want to
cause you any trouble," he said, his brow wrinkled with worry.
        Tenny continued her ascent into the vehicle.  "No, he wasn't
very pleased.  He'll get over it, or he won't.   Wayne opened his
mouth to speak, but she placed a slender index finger over
his lips.   More than likely, he will.  Whatever state I find him in when
I get back, I'll be able to deal with it.  Now," she said as she
caressed his face, letting her hand linger on his cheek, "get
in the car so we can go.  Besides," she said, as he caught her
dropping hand, "if I don't go, one of two things will happen."
        Wayne kissed her hand, and said, "What's that?"  He looked
up at her with starry eyes and continued to hold her hand as she
spoke.
        She laughed, and said, "One: you'll get lost.  Or, two: you'll
get lost."  They burst into laughter at her comment.  He kissed her
hand one more time, let her go and shut the door. He got behind the
wheel and started the engine. Neither noticed the non-descript black
sedan that followed them into traffic.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Nick ran past the doorman and raced into the lobby of the
Royal York, Tracy fast behind him.  They reached the concierge
desk simultaneously, both flashing their badges.
        "Wayne Riordan -- his room number," Nick said, waiting
impatiently as the concierge looked up the room number.
        "1021," the man replied, "but he's not --"
        "Detective Vetter, Knight?" interrupted Scooby from behind
them. "Is everything okay?"
        Nick and Tracy turned around at the sound of their names.
        "Hello, Scooby," Tracy said, putting away her badge.
"We're looking for Wayne."
        "Do you know where he is?" asked Nick, also putting his
badge back inside is jacket pocket.  "And why aren't you in your
room as requested?"
        Scooby put his hands in his jeans pockets and looked at the
floor. "I know you guys said to stay put, but..." his voice trailed off.
        Nick tried to make eye contact with Scooby.  "But, what, Mr.
Cassaday?" he said slowly.
        Scooby looked up, irritation plain on his face.  "Do you
*know* what it's like being stuck in one room, not able to leave all
day long?  I thought room service and being waited on by attentive
staff would be cool, and it was for about an hour.  I had to get out of
that room or go nuts."  He suddenly felt guilty at his outburst.  "Sorry.
I know you have our welfare in mind.  And, um, Wayne went to pick
up Tenny at wherever it is she lives, and then they were gonna pick
up Moira -- Aidan's wife, Mikal's mom -- at the airport,"  Scooby said.
He looked at his watch, then up at Nick and Tracy.  "That was about
thirty minutes ago."
        Nick slammed his fist on the concierge's desk and said,
"Damn!" quietly and intensely. He took the car keys from his pocket.
"They should be heading towards Pearson, now.  C'mon, Tracy."  He
turned to Scooby and said, "Thank you for the information.  Go back
to your room." He walked away.
        "What?" asked Scooby, confusion and concern written
across his features.
        Tracy saw Nick stop in the doorway, waiting for her.  "We
need to find Wayne, Scooby," she said.  "He's possibly in danger."
She started towards the door.  "I can't say any more now," she said
over her shoulder,  "but please, go back to your room and stay here
... don't let anyone else with the band leave either."  She ran to the
door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Tenny looked at the Jeep's speedometer and quipped, "You
know, Wayne, if you wreck and kill us, we won't get there at all."
She smiled at him.  "Pearson will still be there, regardless
of how fast you drive."
        Wayne glanced at the reading.  "Sorry," he said as he
slowed down slightly.  "Old habits die hard," he grinned.  "Oh! I have
something I want you to listen to.  I taped it this afternoon while we
were under house arrest."  He held onto the wheel with his left hand,
while he fumbled with a tote bag on the backseat floorboard with his
right.
        "House arrest?!" Tenny exclaimed.  She slapped his arm,
"Keep your eyes on the road.  What does this tape look like? I'll get
it."
        He let go of the bag and turned his full attention on the
highway.  "The tape is that smoky gray clear stuff.  It's labeled, I
think.  Is this better?" he asked her as she leaned into the
backseat.
        "Yes, it is.  What's on the label? And what did you mean by
'house arrest'?  Good Lord, Wayne!" she exclaimed as she opened
the bag.  "This is a rat's nest! How do you ever find anything?"
        Wayne gave a short laugh.  "I don't have you to keep me
straight anymore.  Scooby refuses to touch that bag.  Anyhow," he
began pounding out a rhythm on the steering wheel, "I didn't mean
anything by house arrest, other than we were stuck in our rooms at
the hotel. Remember, we weren't supposed to leave.  What exit do I
need to take?"
        Tenny looked up for a moment.  "We still have a ways to
go," she said as they passed the Eglinton Avenue exit.  She leaned
back over into the back seat and continued her search for Wayne's
tape.  "Why don't you tell me about this song, since I don't think I'll
be able to find the tape."
        "Well," Wayne said, "It's about you."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Inside the black sedan, Lenny was loading his pistol and
placing a silencer on the muzzle.
        "Remember to only take out a tire, Lenny," Vinnie said,
keeping the red Jeep in sight. "Just get his attention. We don't
wanna hurt 'im -- not much, anyways."  He chuckled.
        Lenny grinned.  "Right," Lenny said.  "A good flip of that
Jeep oughtta do the trick.  Yo, whaddabout the girl? We wasn t
planning him havin' a chick with 'im.
        "That's too bad 'bout her.  Maybe we can have some fun
with her while the Boss talks the mick outta Kearney's money?"
Vinnie laughed and Lenny joined him.
        "Yeah, she's a hot little babe.  You 'n me, we can show her
some fun that pansy-assed li'l Quaker wouldn't be able to dream
about.  Bet we can make her scream. She prob'ly screams
real good, too, Vinnie.  Mmm," Lenny grunted and shifted in his seat.
"I wonder what she looks like outside of those clothes.  Bet she's got
--"
        Vinnie grabbed Lenny by the sleeve.  "Knock it off, Lenny!
Think about that later when we actually have her.  We got work to
do.  Just take out the tire..... now!"
        "Right," Lenny said.  He pushed a button on the armrest and
the door whirred as the window lowered.  He aimed the pistol at the
back right tire as if he had all the time in the world. He cocked the
hammer, and pulled the trigger, just as Vinnie hit a small pothole,
skewing Lenny's aim and sending the bullet through the back
window of the Jeep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

        Tenny rose up between the driver's and passenger seats.
" It's about what?" she asked.
        "It's about you, Angel," Wayne said, turning his head slightly
to get a good look at her expression.  There was whirring sound in
the car. Tenny's eyes went wide, and she  made an 'oomph' noise.
Suddenly, she slammed into the dashboard and bounced back into
the seat, leaving blood on the dashboard, blood slowly seeping
through her shirt.
        "Oh, God," Wayne whispered in supplication, reaching o