Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 07:18:20 -0700 From: clark Reply-To: sclark@best.com To: FKarchiver@fkfanfic.com Subject: Season's Meetings (01/01) I couldn't let the holidays roll past without contributing something seasonal. Best wishes to all at this time of year. Feel free to pass any feedback back my way. And, as always, this is based on characters and situations that aren't mine. Thanks to TPTB for the use. They've been hermetically sealed and placed carefully back in the original wrapper. This story is being submitted to the FK fan fic web site and FTP site. No other permission is granted to repost/reprint/reuse. If you're interested, drop me a line. "Season's Meetings" (01/01) by S. Clark Joe Reese threw his napkin down on the table. "I'm sick of this." He paused to look at his wife, Denise. "You'll excuse me, dear?" She smiled and nodded. Reese cornered Tracy Vetter near the eggnog. "Tracy, I have a job for you." Tracy turned to face the Captain. She looked lovely, attired in a dark velvet dress. Still, Reese thought she looked a little sad, also. What was it with holidays and single people? "Vetter, between your partner over there..." He pointed out Nick Knight, stewing alone at one table. "And Natalie Lambert way over there..." He indicated Natalie, surrounded by a group from the night shift, but still looking lonely. "This party is beginning to feel like one long wake." "Believe me, Captain, I've given up trying to figure out what's between those two." "Whatever there is or isn't, the two of them are dragging down the entire party. The department only gets together like this once a year and we owe it to everyone to remedy the situation." Joe Reese drew closer to her. "I've got a plan, if you're game." Tracy nodded, and listened as Reese laid out the details. "Nick?" asked Tracy. He glared up at her, almost causing her courage to buckle. "I thought, you might, maybe..." "What, Tracy?" His voice was cold. "Well, this is a party. You know, a festive event." She held her ground. "Dance with me." Knight saw his mood reflected in Tracy's scared expression. He softened his gaze. "Of course." The music was uptempo, and Nick found that Tracy wasn't a bad dancer. "I'm surprised you're not here with an escort, Trace." Tracy nodded. "My first choice doesn't like crowds. I figured it was just easier to come alone." Nick knew she'd meant Javier Vachon. Surrounded by mortals. Surrounded by cops. It wouldn't have been a comfortable situation for the Spaniard. "Why did you come, Nick?" "Like you said, it's a party." "Then why did you come alone?" He looked to where Natalie had been sitting. She was no longer there, causing him to frown. "It just seemed inappropriate, I guess, to have asked someone." "Someone like Natalie?" Tracy probed. "Someone besides Natalie." Tracy sighed. "And you couldn't ask her because?" Nick shrugged. "I wasn't sure she'd want to come with me." "You two..." started Tracy. Knight scowled at her, and she thought better of finishing. Instead she enjoyed the dancing. Indeed, her partner was as smooth on the dance floor as she'd always imagined he'd be. And, he looked more than a little stunning in a tuxedo. The music ended. Tracy thanked Nick for the dance and walked away. It was then he heard it behind him. A single heartbeat. One he knew so well. He turned. She was there, right behind him. She'd been dancing with Joe Reese. "Hello Nick." Joe held out a hand. "Happy holidays." "You too, Captain," said Nick, returning the handshake. Reese realized he'd never noticed before that Knight had such cold hands. "If you'll excuse me, I think I need to dance with my wife." Nick nodded. Natalie kept her back towards him. "Nat?" He put a hand on her shoulder and felt her stiffen at his touch. She turned to face him and he saw a tear roll down her face. "Yes?" She was wearing a dark blue gown that accented her eyes. A single string of pearls adorned her neck. "You look lovely." "Thank you," she said. She stood there for a moment, but the silence between them was too uncomfortable. Nick watched as she moved towards the exit. "Knight, go ask that woman to dance or I'll have you doing traffic." It was Joe Reese, who'd returned to the dance floor with his wife. Nick caught up with her in the doorway. He tenderly took her hand. "Nat?" She was tempted to pull away, to just keep walking. But she was tired of the distance between them. She knew she needed him. "Yes, Nick?" He stood there for a second, then bent down and gave her a tender kiss on the lips. "Wha...?" she started to say, surprised, a blush creeping over her face. He grinned and pointed up. "Mistletoe." Above the music she heard the sound of a single person clapping. Suddenly, the room broke into applause. She pulled away from his gaze and looked back to the banquet hall. All eyes were upon them. "Why is everyone watching us?" she whispered. The blush deepened. He rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand, offering reassurance. He knew that given her choice, she'd flee from the room. "I don't know," he said, "but maybe it's best we give the people what they want." He leaned in for a second kiss. Deeper. Longer. She realized didn't care where they were or who was watching. Denise Reese gave her husband a peck on the cheek. "You old romantic." "Just doing my job," he said. "Just keeping my people happy."