From: Laurie A Rock To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 01:38:31 -0500 Subject: [DarkNN] The Shock From: Laurie A Rock In weaving this tale, I had to incorporate it in the only way I could figure out at the time. This apparently has confuse some, with good reason. Others, I don't know. Maybe a FK marathon can do the trick. Maybe it's just me, I don't know. It's well past my bedtime and here I am STILL writing. This is the fifth installment of what started as a whimsical piece that got out of hand. It follows The Decision. I'll say it now. There's more to come. Patience. I don't own them, they belong to TPTB. Permission to post granted to those listed above, and to Mel at the FK Fanfic site. All others please ask. The Shock Laurie Rock She's here. You see, all things will come together. Yes, and now is the time. He took a moment to look at her and started to smile. The action was halted by her words. "Nick? There's some thing I have to tell you." His eyebrows went up in question. "Nat?" He watched her slow approach. "There's some things I have to tell you. It's very important to me and it's going to be a bit difficult to get out so before I begin I don't want you to speak. Just hear me out first OK?" "Sure Nat, but what's this all about?" His stomach started to tighten. "I'll explain everything…just let me finish first." His eyes followed her as she made a wide circuit and passed him to sit on the chair to the side of the couch. Something's very wrong. You don't know that. Let her speak. For a second he made to sit close to her but thought against it. She had purposefully kept her distance. All right I'll give her room. He sat in the corner of the couch. Sinking comfortably into the soft leather. She was a mere eight feet away, but it seemed like a mile. It's bad news. Not necessarily. You can see it written on her face. She's giving up on me. Nick watched as she collected her thoughts; the actions she displayed worried him. Her head was bowed, her hands held tightly together. A long sigh. "I've been thinking a lot lately and I need to know where we stand. Don't answer yet. Let me finish. I… How do I put this…" Her voice trailed off Uh oh! I knew it! "We've known each other for what…six years. And in that time we've come to know each other pretty well, under the circumstances. In that time, many changes have occurred in both your life and mine. I mean…Hell you awoke on my table… I thought you were dead…I…" He took his hands from his lap. Placed one on the arm and the other on the back of the couch. "No you weren't." She looked up. He met her gaze but she returned her attention to the floor. "You tried to hypnotize me. Make me forget." Is she laughing? Wait. "From that time till now, I've always been there for you. I've covered for you and the community. I've tried to help you whenever I could. I'm not sure why." Here it comes. She's leaving. Wait! I can't listen to this. "At least I wasn't sure at the time. I mean…" She shook her head several times but refused to look at him. "I did that to help you. I did that because I…" Oh Nat, I'm so sorry. "I…" She hesitated. "I…I love you, and I didn't want you hurt. I didn't want you to leave…" She loves you. She loves me! "I didn't want…" He started to get up. To tell her how he felt. That she wasn't alone in her feelings Natalie, I love you too. I told you she loves you, you just needed Faith. "No! Please let me finish." He sat back down. Those three beautiful words, 'I love you' filled him with such warmth that he thought he had died and gone to heaven. No, It's better than that. Your 'Heaven' is sitting right before you. Yes. "I tried to stop myself. Tried to just remain friends." Oh, if I had known. Well I'm going to show you how I feel about you. Again he started to rise but was stopped by her raised palm. His right hand gripped the couch's arm, causing a groan of protest. He ran his left hand through his hair. "But somewhere along the way, it happened. I found myself thinking about you more often then I should've." And I you. "Every time I saw you with another woman, I'd feel jealous. I know I had no right to. We were JUST friends." He watched her shake her head. A sob escaped her. His heart ached at her admission. I didn't know. His expression became grim. How could I have missed that? Oh Natalie, I never meant… That's because you were afraid. While you were trying to protect her, you were actually hurting her. I didn't know. "Yes, I want more." He missed what she said. Too busy chastising himself. "I NEED more. I need to know if what I feel for you is strictly one-sided. If I'm only to be considered a friend and nothing more." You are so much more, my love, my life, my soul. "I can't go on like this…I just can't. I'm at a crossroads here and I have to know which path I'm going to take." I don't care what path you take as long as you let me walk it with you. I've been a fool. At his acknowledgement of his own stupidity, Nick got up, walked upstairs and went to the closet. He removed several boxes before he found the one he wanted. The lid had dust marks from the former occupants on the surface. He hadn't opened this in a long time. Inside, various articles were lifted up or pushed aside in his quest. There you are! He lifted a small leather pouch, gently untied the strap holding it closed, and emptied the single item inside into the palm of his hand. He enclosed it securely within his fingers. The feel of it and the meaning behind it brought forth a peace inside his soul. His eyes closed. Its quiet. Too quiet! A car door slammed shut. Nick left his bedroom. An engine started. "Natalie?" She's gone! Why?! Go after her! He raced down the stairs. The stairway door didn't want to open. I was ripped from its hinges. Wait! The car pulled away. Please! Don't leave! The outside door followed its inner companion. Don't leave me! The sun stopped him. The taillights turned the corner. "NATALIE!" Not the End By now I guess I really deserve the stakes and flames, but hey, you made me do it. Laurie Rock LaurieRock@Juno.com " I trust you"