Date Sun, 5 Jul 1998 163030 PDT Reply-To Emma Lighton Sender Forever Knight TV show stories From Emma Lighton Subject Mirror, Mirror (01/01) To FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Status Disclaimers The characters in this story aren't mine. They belong to the people who brought you Forever Knight in the first place. I am NOT responsible for any mental trauma induced by reading this story. Permission to archive this story at www.fkfanfic.com and the ftp site. All comments, questions, archive requests, and psychiatric referrals can be sent to (elighton@hotmail.com) This story was inspired by a Star Trek episode(this is *NOT* a crossover) but the only thing it really has in common with it anymore is the title. Enjoy. Title Mirror, Mirror (01/01) by Emma Lighton   Nick stepped out of the 96th precinct and headed toward the Caddy with a sense of relief. It had been a long night and he was glad to finally be heading home for the day.   As he began crossing the parking lot he heard the roar of an approaching engine. Nick turned towards the sound and found himself blinded by the oncoming headlights. Nick threw himself out of the path of the car with vampire speed, silently hoping that no one was watching.   His feet touched the ground and his ankle twisted sending him crashing towards the ground. Nick heard the car screeching to a halt as his head connected with the curb. Then all he saw was darkness. * * * * *   "...stand back and give him some room to breathe."   "Shouldn't some one check his pulse?"   "I can see his chest moving. If he's still breathing, he's still got a pulse."   "How would you know? You're a Homicide cop not a doctor."   Nick tried to identify the voices in the crowd around him, without much success. He was pretty sure one of them was Schanke, but the pounding in his head made it hard pin point his location. Slowly he opened his eyes. His vision swam and he shut them again quickly and groaned.   "See he's alive, I just heard him groan." Hands reached down to move him into a sitting position.   "I don't think moving him's a good idea. What if he injured his neck?"   "Stop worrying he just hit his head." The speaker crouched down next to him. Nick didn't want to try opening his eyes again just yet, but judging by the smell of garlic breath it was Schanke. "Nick, how do you feel?"   "I'm fine. If you'd all just back up a bit so I can breathe." Cautiously he opened his eyes. Schanke's face was about two inches from him. "Especially you Schank."   "Can you walk? I'll drive you over to the ER so some one can take a look at your head."   "I'll be fine, just give me a minute."   "What happened?"   "I was heading for my car. Next thing I know there's another car headed straight for me so, I dove out of the way and hit my head on the sidewalk. I've got to start looking where I'm going." Nick slowly rose to his feet and started towards the Caddy again.   "Nick, I really don't think you should be driving."   "I'm fine, really. I'll see you tomorrow."   "Now I'm sure you got your brains scrambled. We're off tomorrow." Schanke looked at him with concern. "At least let me drive you home."   "I'll be fine. Night Schank." Nick climbed into the Caddy and drove off, wondering how he'd forgotten a day off. * * * * *   Nick pulled into the garage and headed for the elevator. He spent most of the ride up attempting to remove some of the blood from his hair. He accidentally poked the injury a couple of times, causing himself to wince. He pulled open the elevator door and headed straight for the fridge. He knew Natalie would disapprove, but he needed blood to heal at a decent speed.   He pulled open the the refrigerator door and stared at the contents in surprise. When he'd left for work, there'd been six bottles in there. Now there were about thirty and about a dozen of those were almost empty. There were also several bottles of nail polish, a couple of packs of cigarettes and an unwashed sock. Nick took one of the full bottles and the sock out and shut the door.   Dropping the sock in disgust, Nick uncorked the bottle and gazed around the loft. Several pieces of clothing were draped over the furniture or lying in heaps on the floor. His nick-knacks were all missing and his art work had been replaced with paintings too ugly to even grace the walls of a cheap motel. Leaning against his couch was an electric guitar and next to that was an amp, almost lost in a sea of empty wine bottles.   Nick was still staring around, totally bewildered, when a loud snore drew his attention back to the couch. He approached slowly, wondering how he'd managed to miss the figure in the first place. All he could see of it at first was long, purple hair trailing over the arm of the couch. Nick came to sudden halt as he got his first good look at the man's face.   "Lacroix!" * * * * *   Lacroix sat up with a start at the sound of his name. He stared at Nick in surprise, then glanced guiltily at the empties near the couch.   "I must have lost track of time. I know I promised I'd have the place cleaned up by the time you got home, but I'll have it done by the time you get up."   "That's your sock then?" Nick said, shocked, pointing to the offending garment near the fridge.   "You found it! How wonderful, where was it?" Lacroix asked with glee.   "In the refrigerator. What's going on here?" Nick collapsed onto the end of the couch Lacroix had vacated.   "What do you mean?" Lacroix looked around carefully, just in case something had happened since he'd dozed off. His gaze finally fell on the bottle still clutched in Nick's hand. He started to reach for it.   "I think you've had enough." Nick told him pulling the bottle out of his reach. "What I mean is, the loft wasn't like this when I left for work. You certainly weren't like this."   "I didn't make *that* much of a mess since you left, but I'm glad you noticed the hair. What do you think?" Lacroix swung his head to show off his purple tresses. The color went well with the black t-shirt and ripped blue jeans he was wearing.   "I'd love to see Janette's reaction to this." Nick muttered.   "Oh, you will. She just went out to do some shopping, she'll be back soon."   "Well, at least some things haven't changed."   "What happened to your head?" One of Lacroix's fingers poked the still tender spot.   "An accident. It's not that bad." Nick took a swig from the bottle. "At least I didn't think it was that bad at the time. Maybe I should get Natalie to look at it."   "Natalie? Who's she? Is she pretty? Is she...well you know." Lacroix gave him a suggestive wink and nudge in the ribs. "Come on spill it. It's safe, Janette won't be home for ages." Lacroix reached for the bottle again and this time successfully wrenched it from Nick's grasp. Some of the contents spilled onto Nick's leg.   Ignoring the question and trying to convince himself he still unconscious, Nick tried to wipe the liquid off before it stained his...bellbottoms! He stared at the pants in horror, he hadn't even owned any of these in the seventies.   "Don't want to talk about it?" Lacroix sounded a bit hurt. He downed most of the rest of the bottle in one gulp, then threw a companionable arm around Nick's shoulders. "Did I ever tell you about my daughter, Divia?" Lacroix asked, his words beginning to slur slightly.   "Who?"   "Guess not. She was a sweet girl. Devoted to her father, not like some people." Lacroix gave him a pointed look. "This was back when I was mortal of course. I was the greatest actor in the Roman Empire. I toured the world and Divia always came with me. Of course since her mother died in that tragic accident, did I tell you that one?" Nick nodded hastily and tried to think of a way to shut him up. "Anyway, Divia got really sick one time, and this healer came and offered to help save her. Of course what he did was..."   "Turn her into a vampire." Nick finished for him.   "Right, you sure I haven't told you this before? Anyway," He continued before Nick could say anything, "We were preforming in Pompeii, in August 79 A.D., of course we didn't call it 79 A.D. back then. Anyway Vesuvius erupted and we had no way to escape, so my darling daughter was forced to bring me into this hellish existence to save my life. My poor, sweet, innocent daughter." Lacroix paused to melodramatically brush away some nonexistent tears.   "What happened to her?"   "Some years later, she was playing with a friend of hers, when she accidentally killed her. She was so upset by what happened, that she walked into the sunlight that very morning. Here's to you Divia!" Lacroix drained the rest of the bottle in tribute.   "Not again." Janette's scorn filled voice came from behind them. "Nichola, I'm so glad you're home, let me show you what I've bought." Nick turned his attention to Janette and almost swallowed his tongue. It looked like Janette, it sounded like Janette, and it definitely felt like Janette, but she was wearing a bright yellow suit with hot pink trim. She grabbed his arm with her free hand and dragged him up to the bedroom. She deposited him on the bed and disappeared into the bathroom.   Nick stared at the bedroom in surprise. Other than the fact the bed wasn't made and there was no sign of his pj's, it didn't look any different. "I suppose with Janette here I don't actually need them." he muttered as he absently started to make the bed.   Janette reemerged several minutes later to model the first outfit for him. The quick glimpse Nick had of it told him it was every bit as ugly as the suit, so he just concentrated on her face and smiled. This technique got him through several outfits before Janette actually noticed.   "Your not even looking at it! What is wrong with you Nichola? You've always enjoyed watching my fashion shows before." Nick guiltily glanced down at her outfit and immediately regretted it. It was another suit. This one was a bright orange and blue plaid. "You don't like it?"   "No, it's just..." Nick trailed off under her glare. Janette's eyes flared red in anger and she grabbed him. She threw him across the bed, causing his head to smack against the wall.   Darkness descended once more. * * * * *   "Nichola? Nichola? Are you all right?" Janette voice pierced the darkness. Cautiously Nick opened his eyes to find her gazing down at him. She hugged him in relief. "I was so worried, I thought I'd really hurt you." Nick pushed her back, sat up slowly and looked at her. He sighed in relief when he saw the dress she was wearing was black.   "Janette, what are you doing here?"   "Lacroix called me. He said he was here when you got home and that you were acting very strangely. We didn't think you should be left alone."   "Good, it was probably just caused by the head injury." Janette started to get up to leave. She paused when she reached the doorway and looked back at him.   "One last thing Nichola, if you *ever* suggest again, that I'd look better in a multi-colored pastel paisley , I'll rip your head off with my bare hands." She turned again and left. The End * * * * * Author's Note Both of the outfits Janette was wearing, I have actually seen being worn. If you're lucky, you never will. --- Emma (elighton@hotmail.com) "Yes, I am a vampire. But it would seem I'm not quite the monster you're thinking of."- Vampire Princess Miyu Vaquera * War 9 Vet.