Hello, All! Here is my "Time Is A Three Lane Highway" story. The first is the On Ramp, then Lane One. Then there will be Lane Two, then Lane Three, and ending with Exit Sign. Comments and questions (and flames!) are always welcome. I hope this is an enjoyable diversion. :-) Margaret ========================================= Time Is A Three Lane Highway A Forever Knight Story by Margaret Newman On Ramp Early Evening Nick enters The Raven in his usual fashion. The bouncer knows him well enough not to even bother saying hello. Nick goes down the stairs three at a time, and heads across the floor for Janette. She is standing at the end of the bar sipping a drink and speaking softly to Miklos. She sees Nick coming, and straightens. Miklos turns to glower at who had disstressed her. "Miklos." Nick nods to the bartender. "Nicholas." Miklos returns the nod. "Can I get you something?" He holds up an empty glass. "No, thanks." Nick shakes his head, frowning. "Nicola..." Janette sighs. "You are not in a good mood tonight." "Where is he?" He half-growls. "Who? LaCroix?" Janette thinks to bait him a little, and then decides against it. "He is in the back, waiting for you." "Just like old times, eh Janette? You working a cover that he can hide behind- " "and you jumping before he says how high." She finished, arching a fine eyebrow at him. Nick walked away then, heading for the backrooms of Janette's bar. He did not knock as he entered the haven that Janette had provided for LaCroix. He stood for a moment after entering, taking in the room, and it's soul occupant. LaCroix sat in the large easy chair, a book in his lap and a goblet of Janette's best in his left hand. He did not look up at Nick until his protogee stood at his side. "You called." Nick said flatly. "Yes, I did." LaCroix replied, shutting the book softly. He had no need of bookmarks. They were a tool for the weaker, mortal minds. He looked at Nick then, smiling. If he were blind, he would still see the anger and irritation that Nick felt at being summoned. "How kind of you to take time out of your _mortal schedule_ for me." "What is it, LaCroix." Nick snapped. "I have a hundred other things I could be doing right now. None of them include you." "How rude you are." He stood, tossing the book down on the seat of the chair. He finished his drink, and slowly turned to face Nick. "Perhaps you need a reminder of just who you are speaking to." "I don't need any reminders." Nick grimaced. "I'll never forget who you are." "The man who gave you your heart's desire only to have it thrown back into his face." LaCroix smirked, and walked over to a table. He set the empty goblet down. "Is that why you called me here?" Nick sighed. Of all the things LaCroix could have called him here for, he had not thought the reiteration of this subject would be the reason. He turned to leave, his mind already thinking of what errands he could still do before checking in at the precinct. "Nicholas." LaCroix suddenly stood before him, half an arm's length away. "I called you here to warn you. Friend to friend." He reached over, patting Nick's cheek, and then settling his hand on Nick's shoulder. Nick's instinctive reaction was to pull away. He kept himself still. "What is it, LaCroix?" He asked, keeping his voice neutral and low. "Enforcers, Nicholas." LaCroix's expression turned serious. Nick did not say anything. Enforcers? That, of course, meant trouble. LaCroix would not be telling him if it didn't have something to do with someone he knew. His first thought was someone at the precinct, perhaps the file Merlin had done for him had not proven air tight? And then he cringed, realizing who the Enforcers were coming for. "Natalie." Nick said the single name with more anguish than LaCroix had ever heard from him. "Yes." He nodded, his voice hardly even a whisper. "No." Nick felt as if he would fall if LaCroix did not have a hold of him. "She has done nothing." "But help you." LaCroix raised his eyebrows, and tapped Nick's chest with an index finger. "You, Nicholas, have endangered her life by asking for help. You told her about us." "I tried to make her forget, but she wouldn't." He knew he would have to get to her before the Enforcers. He would not let them touch her. "She wanted to help me." "Not good enough, Nicholas." LaCroix tsked, tsked. "You know the choices the Enforcers give us. Our Law, Nicholas. Either she comes across, joins us, or she dies." "No!" Nick pushed away from LaCroix angrily. Eyes flashing a golden light, he headed for the door. LaCroix's hand kept the door from opening. "Help her choose, Nicholas." He hissed. "Go to her now. Give her a choice. Quickly. Before the Enforcers arrive..." * After Nick left, LaCroix stood against the wall near the door. He was smiling, thinking over the conversation, the expressions that had crossed Nick's face. He had thoroughly enjoyed himself. The best part had yet to come. LaCroix sighed, refilled his goblet, and went back to his book. He had just started the next chapter when the door to his room opened. This time is was Janette. He did not bother to look at her. He knew what she was here for, what she always came for after he argued with Nicholas. "LaCroix." She said his name, standing behind his chair. Her perfume was quite subtle yet demanding. Quite like her. "Yes, Janette." He turned a page. "What did you say to Nicola?" She asked, trying hard to remain subservient, but finding it hard these days. "That, my dear," LaCroix replied, "is none of your business." * "Nat?" Nick said into his cellular phone as he drove the Caddy away from The Raven. "Sorry, Nick. Nat's not in tonight. She's at home." Grace answered. "The load has been light this week, so she took a mental health day." "It's okay, Grace. Thanks." Nick disconnected from the Coroner's Office, and dialed Nat's home number. Her machine was on. "Nat, this is Nick. Pick up. It's an emergency." "It's always an emergency with you, detective." Natalie sighed heavily into the phone. "You're interrupting my Beauty and The Beast marathon." "You've seen that movie a hundred times." He dismissed her complaint. "No, this is the series. With Vincent." She sniffed. "I just love Vincent." "Nat, this really is an emergency." Nick gritted his teeth. "I'll be at your place in a few minutes. Don't let anyone else but me in, and don't answer the phone after this call." "Nick, what is it?" She asked sharply, realizing it really was an emergency. "I can't tell you over the phone. I'll be there as soon as I can." He vowed, not allowing himself to think that the Enforcers might already be in her neighborhood. How long had LaCroix known about this before calling him? "Nick, you're scaring me." She sounded scared, too. "Good. I'm on my way." Nick hung up the phone. The traffic was just too slow despite the fact that he was going over the speed limit. Giving up on the mortal route, he pulled the caddy over, and ran off down an alley. Within a few minutes, he was standing on the roof of her building. Using his vampiric sense of hearing, he listened for any hint of the Enforcers. Nothing. He headed for the stairs leading down into the apartment building. His hand on the doorknob, he hesitated. What would he tell her? What would he do? This could not turn out well in any supposed situation.... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Time Is A Three Lane Highway- Lane One A Forever Knight Story by Margaret Newman Lane One Natalie nearly hit the ceiling when there came a knock on the door, and Nick called out, "Nat? It's me, open up." She opened the door only to have him nearly run over her as he quickly shut the door, and locked it. She hadn't done much more than stop the video tape, check on Sydney, and get a drink of water before he knocked. He immediately went throughout the apartment checking all of the windows, and she was certain she heard him opening and closing closets. "Whenever you're ready, Nick." She sat on the arm of her couch, arms crossed over her chest, and considering the hole in her right sock. "What?" He frowned as he came out of the kitchen. "I said, whenever you're ready." She looked up at him, her eyes piercing, lips in a thin line. He stood for a moment, staring at her. Her whole had changed because of him, and it hadn't necessarily changed for the better. "Someone in the vampire community, I don't know who and I don't know how, found out about you. How you know about me, about us." He said it quickly, grimacing at the pain the words made him feel. "You're in danger, Nat. Because of me. The Enforcers are coming." "What?" Natalie burst. "How could anybody know? Except Janette. And she has never been terribly fond of me." "No, she wouldn't." Nick shook his head. "Why not? Get rid of the competition, get rid of the one who believes in you, who is trying to help you reach your goal." She practically growled, coming to stand within inches of him. "Tell me why not Janette?" "We don't have time for that now." He refused to think that she would have betrayed him in this. "Right now we have to decide what to do." "Do?" Nat frowned, hands on hips. "What do you mean, 'do'?" "The Enforcers have been called. They are coming for you. That means we have to be ready when they arrive." His voice getting lower. He wanted to turn away from her face, he wanted to hide. He would not and could not turn away from her reaction to what his friendship had caused her. It would part of his punishment. "We have to be ready when they arrive...." Natalie repeated his words. She watched his face, seeing the oh, so familiar guilt in his eyes. As always, Nick was ready to take the blame for everything. "What are our choices? Do we have time to hire a lawyer? I saw a commercial for a lawfirm, The Eagle..." "Nat, it's not a joke." Nick sighed, shaking his head. "No, Nick. It isn't. You know what else? It's not your fault." She smiled, and laid a hand on his chest. "We'll handle this. We've handled so many other things, situations, together. I trust you, Nick. I believe in you. You trust me, too, right?" "Yes." He agreed, near choking. "Now, what are our choices?" She asked the question again. "I can't make you forget, we've already tried that route." He put his left hand over the hand she had on his chest. "The only other choices we have are -either you die or you- ." He hesitated. The words stuck in his throat. "Or you bring me across?" She finished. "Yes." He clenched her hand tightly. "Let me think about this for a sec." She chewed her lower lip, "Death or eternal life as a vampire." "Nat." He sighed. "Eternal life as a vampire until I discover a way to bring us both back across. Gee, Nick." She looked up at him, eyes wide. "I don't know. Tough choice." He was silent, staring down at her. He realized that she had already made the decision. She waited while she knew he was figuring it out, working up the courage. "Are you certain?" He whispered. "Definitely. I work mostly at night, we have a new M.E. intern. The guy is married, three kids. I'm sure he'll be willing to work the days straight. Not much really would change. I'll be honest and say I don't look forward to the diet, but at least you'll have a revenge of sorts." Natalie pulled her hand free from Nick, and sat on the couch. "What do you mean?" Nick followed, sitting on the couch beside her. "All those teas and shakes I make you drink. Or try to make you drink them. Now I'll be using them on me." She patted his leg. "At least now I'll have test subject close at hand." Suddenly, Nick's eyes went out of focus, and his body tensed. A shiver went up Natalie's spine. In the distance, outside, a cat yowled. The Enforcers, they couldn't be far away. "Hurry up, Nick. We haven't got all night." Nat smiled shakily. "What do I do? How does this work?" "It goes like this." Nick said, his hand stroking her cheek, his fingers delving into her hair. He tilted her head, his eyes glowing and fangs extended, he leaned down to her neck.... her blood was incredibly sweet, memories and thoughts of her life flowing through him as her blood did. There came a bright, stunning memory of a day in her childhood spent down by the lake, the sun high above. Her family were near, other children, a dog. The day was warm and happy and illuminating. Her childish laughter was unlike any music he had ever heard before. He paused in the draining of her blood, wondering. Had they made the right choice? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Time Is A Three Lane Highway A Forever Knight Story by Margaret Newman Lane Two Within a few minutes, he was standing on the roof of her building. Using his vampiric sense of hearing, he listened for any hint of the Enforcers. Nothing. He headed for the stairs leading down into the apartment building. His hand on the doorknob, he hesitated. What would he tell her? What would he do? This could not turn out well in any supposed situation.... "Nat, open up. It's me." Nick calls out, knocking on her apartment door. "Me, who?" She asks, peering through the peephole at him. She hurriedly opened the door, seeing the expression on his face. "What is going on?" "Let's go for a ride. We need time to talk, and they'll be anytime now." He said, going to her hall closet and getting her coat. "Shoes, Nat. Hurry up. You need shoes." "I'm not going anywhere...." She frowned at him, her jaw jutting out. He scooped up her sneakers, tossing the coat over her head, her and the coat over his shoulder. "Nick!" She screeched. He didn't stop until he got to the car. Natalie untangled from her coat as Nick started up the caddy, and headed out into the traffic. Lucky for him or Nat would have bolted from the car. So, instead, she threw her sneakers at him, and one flew out the window. "Go back!" She demanded, totally furious. "No, we don't have time. I'll buy you a new pair." His eyes kept checking the mirrors as if they were being followed. This dawned on her, and she swallowed the retort she had been about to make. "Okay." She sighed, getting the seat belt on, and straightening her coat. "What's going on?" "LaCroix called me to The Raven tonight." He began, glancing at her. Her hair was a mess, but her eyes were shining brightly and her cheeks were flushed. "He had some information for me." "Great, LaCroix. Or should that be 'Great LaCroix!' What did he have to tell you that was so interesting?" "The Enforcers have been told about you. Someone has found out that you know about me, about the vampire community, and informed the Enforcers." Nick explained, changing lanes frequently, heading for downtown Toronto. "Oh." She blinked, realizing what that meant. He had used the threat of the Enforcers to scare her before. It hadn't worked then, but it did now. Now was real, it was happening, and he wasn't using it to brush her off. "So what do I do?" "Not 'you', Nat." He shook his head. "What do _we_ do? You're in this because of me, being my friend and trying to help me. Normally, there are only two choices. Death or coming across." "Normally?" She quirked an eyebrow at him. "We could elude them. It's about time for me to move on, anyway. With LaCroix in Toronto, he's going to make my life as difficult as possible. I keep Schanke finding out, he's a detective. He's been getting more suspicious of me as time goes by. I won't put him in danger, either." He sighed. "Putting you in danger is unforgivable." "Oh, don't pull that guilt stuff on me, Knight." Nat laughed. "You didn't make me do anything. More like I forced you. But elude them, Nick? How? For how long? Where would we go?" "Seattle or San Francisco." He waved a hand in the air. "Working together, we could manage to evade them for quite a while. Maybe separate eventually, so that I could lead them off and you would be safe." "No." She shook head vehemently. "Either we're in this together all the way or you turn around and take me back to my apartment." "All right." He met her gaze, and gave her a half grin. "Together, all the way. I just don't know where it will lead. It doesn't matter about my life, but yours, Nat." He turned down Yonge. "You have a great future here, family and friends." "Nick, no regrets." She lightly punched him in the arm. "I made my choice a few years ago. I wouldn't take any of it back." "Richard." Nick said it simply. "Okay, so life isn't perfect." She shrugged. "Nobody said it would be. Besides, with the Enforcers, what kind of a life is it if I'm dead? You wouldn't bring me across, so that's not even a choice." "Where were you in 1228 when I needed you?" He asked, glancing over at her with a hint of smile about his lips. "Doing laundry, I'm sure." She laughed. They drove for a while in silence. Nick giving Natalie time to think over the choice she had made, and he already considering different ways of slipping into the States. At a stop sign, they turned to look at each other at the same time. "Well?" She asked. "Are you absolutely-" He started. "Nick, we've got a lot of things to do before we disappear. Don't bother me with hemming and hawing." She waggled a finger at him. "Okay, Nat." He nodded, the light had turned green, and they headed back through downtown again. "Let's get this show on the road." Months later a young woman in a warm corduroy jacket, jeans, and boots stopped by a blue mailbox. She checked the front of the postcard, and then reread what she had written on the back. She smiled, her eyes slightly blurry, and deposited the postcard into the mailbox. A black Ford Bronco pulled up to the curb by her, the door swinging open. She jumped in, smiling at the handsome male driver, and they disappeared into the traffic. "Dear Grace," the postcard read, "hope all is going well and that Sydney has forgiven me. (a small frowning smiley face drawn here) Everything going okay. I am enjoying seeing all the sights. -I never would have gotten to do this without Nick. I think being on the road like this agrees with me. Take care! Love, Nat." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Okay, here's "Lane Three". It kind of wrote itself. I wanted it to be all drippy and sad and melancholy, but Nat wouldn't leave it like that. :-) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Time Is A Three Lane Highway A Forever Knight Story by Margaret Newman Lane Three "Help her choose, Nicholas." He hissed. "Go to her now. Give her a choice. Quickly. Before the Enforcers arrive..." Nick stumbled out of the club, not even looking at Janette as he left. He somehow got to the caddy, nearly falling into the driver's seat. What would he do? How could he go to Natalie and tell he what LaCroix had just told him? Because for once you are going to face the truth and not hide behind your shadows, a voice from within his mind told him. He nodded, knowing the voice was his conscience. Yes, he would face the truth, he would face Natalie. He started the caddy, and turned out into the traffic. He was at Natalie's apartment complex in good time. Entering through the lobby, he disdained the elevator, and took the stairs. Or, rather, flew the stairs. For several moments, he stood in front of her apartment door. How many times had he come here? How many times had he depended on her for balance, for friendship, for sanity? His life would have been empty these last years had he not known her. A wave of sadness overcame him, and he leaned his forehead against the door, a hand on against the wood. After tonight, after tonight... His mind could not get passed those words. There was nothing left for him after tonight. He drew a breath, pushed himself upright, and steeled himself. He knocked his usual knock. He heard her come to the door, not even pausing to check to see who it was. It was his knock, and she knew it. "Nick?" She frowned, tilting her head. Schanke had just called asking her if she had seen Nick. Which she hadn't. Until now. "What is it?" "I had to see you, Nat. I remembered you were taking tonight off, and so I stopped on my way into work. May I come in?" He asked, smiling. "Sure, of course." She returned his smile, and stepped aside. He walked by, his scent carrying in the brisk outdoors, smoke, perfume... "You've been to The Raven, haven't you?" "How do you know?" His head whipped around. "Nick!" She laughed. "You normally just smell of your aftershave and the brisk night air. Tonight there is a hint of 'au de la club'. Or however that goes." She saw that he was truly surprised by her question. "Calm down, Nick. I'm one of the good people, remember?" "Yeah," he grinned sheepishly, "I'm sorry. I'm kind of on edge lately." "You should take a few vacation days, and relax." She settled back down on her sofa where she had been watching tv. Luckily, she was taping the show, so she didn't have to worry about missing anything while Nick was here. She blinked, stunned, when Nick took off his coat, and tossed over a kitchen chair. He evidently was staying a while. "Maybe I will. Maybe I'll go to Paris for a while." He teased, eyes sparkling, as he sat down beside her. "Brat." She chuckled. "If you go, you're taking me with you." "Gladly. We'll tell Captain Cohen we're doing investigative work." He was so cute and boyish like this. Natalie's heart skipped a beat. "Whatever would Schanke say?" She queried, and kept herself from jumping when he laid his arm across the back of the sofa behind her. "Probably something like 'if Knight and Lambert can go off to Paris, why can't Myra and I go up to the cabin?'." Nick did a great impression of Don. The hand behind Natalie gently toyed with a lock of her hair. *You are so beautiful, Natalie* He sent the thought to her softly, seductively. "Did-did I tell you Schanke called? Not just more than- " she had to force her voice down a few notches. "Not more than just a moment before you arrived." "I call him from my car when I leave." He leaned forward, and took the remote with his left hand. He turned off the tv, tossing the remote onto the coffee table. *Trust me, Natalie. Turn to me, Natalie* "I kept thinking about you all day. What did you do today?" "Do?" She half turned, looking up at him. She felt so strange. What was he doing to her? "What did you do today?" He asked again, smiling so charmingly. *Want me, Natalie. Be mine* "Wrote the laundry. Ironed the bills." She sighed, feeling as if she were about to swoon. "Nick...." "May I kiss you?" He whispered, his left hand lifting her face up, lowering his lips to brush hers. *Want me, Natalie, like I want you* "Yes." She wrapped her arms around him. "Yes, Nick." Their kiss was deep and fiery. Natalie shivered, she felt that until tonight, she had never experienced passion. Real passion. Some alarm, some bell went off in the back of her mind. Why was he doing this? What was going on? She could hardly move, her limbs so heavy, and all she wanted was his touch. This part of her mind started doing the times tables. She was not about to- *Want me, Natalie. I want you so much.* His strong, more experienced vampiric mind reached back to that rebelling part of her mind. *Don't you trust me, Natalie? Don't you love me?* "Oh, Nick!" She cried, pulling back to stare up into his eyes. His glowing, golden eyes. "Yes, I love you! I trust you more than anyone else! Don't leave me, Nick. Please don't leave me." "Never, my love." He purred, stroking the hair out of her face, away from the beautiful white arch of her neck. "I will not leave you." He kissed her lips, kissed away her tears. Her hands clenched at him tightly as if she would fuse herself to him. His lips finally touched the skin on her neck below her left ear. Warm, the heart beating strongly in the blood there. *You will fell no pain, my love. Only pleasure." Natalie gasped as his fangs sunk into her neck. There was no pain. There was no fear. Why should she be afraid or feel pain? This was her Nick, her knight, and they were making love. *Come to me, Natalie. Give me all of your self.* Nick whispered to her soul as he drank deeply of her blood. *I love you, Natalie. I love you* He drank until he could drink no more. He drank until there was hardly a spark of life left within her. Only then did he pull his fangs free, and cradled her gently in his lap. She was so beautiful, an Irish rose with her reddish hair and creamy skin. He stroked her hair, covering over the marks his fangs had left. He wiped his mouth on his shirt sleeve. His eyes blurred, and his guilt twisted in his abdomen. "Damn you, LaCroix!" He cried out, his fist pounding the back of the couch futilely. He shook his head, wiping at the tears on his face, and smearing his face with blood. A vampire could only cry tears of blood, right? And now he cried Natalie's blood. "Damn me." He hissed. "Damn me!" An apartment door slammed in the distance, and it brought Nick back to the problem at hand. Quickly and efficiently, he broke Natalie's neck. Then carefully, gently, he laid her out on the sofa, covering her with the quilt her grandmother had made for her. He touched her cheek one last time before standing. "I do love you, Natalie. Because of me, you have given the greatest sacrifice. At least, at my hands, you did not suffer. The Enforcers would not be so caring." He laughed bitterly. Quietly, he gathered his jacket, glanced around the apartment one last time, and left. * "Nat!" Schanke banged on the door again. "Nat! Open up! It's Schanke!" "Okay, let me try the key." The security guard put the key into Nat's door, and unlocked it. "I don't see what could be wrong. Your partner was up here not too long ago." "I got a weird feeling about this." Don shrugged the shivery feeling away. He had been feeling a strange sense of doom all day. He hadn't been able to sleep. Myra had hid in her sewing room, staying away from him. He couldn't shake the sense that something bad was happening tonight. Schanke walked into Natalie's apartment. The first thing he saw was Nat asleep on the sofa. Sydney sitting like some kind of eerie sentinel on the table by Nat's head. The cat didn't meow or twitch as Schanke walked up to it. He just stared up at Schanke with dark, solemn eyes. "Nat?" He called to her. She looked terribly pale. "Dr. Lambert?" Ben, the security guard, said loudly. "Nat?" Don moved closer to Nat. Something was wrong. Something was really wrong. He sniffed the air, frowning. Cigarette smoke, bad perfume, and... blood? He looked at Natalie with hard eyes. She was so pale, and her neck looked strange. He touched her chin, and her head lolled on the pillow. His stomach clenched as he saw the dried blood and marks on her neck. "Oh, God." He choked. "Oh, God, no!" * With methodical movements, Nick moved about the loft. Everything had to be in order, and he had little time left. The letter to Janette, instructions on how to handle his money. A list of charities, a few scholarships. A personal note that, he knew, was not as personal as she deserved. Time. He glanced at his watch. Yes, there was nothing left for it. It was time to go. He pulled on his black leather jacket, one of his favorites, and his black driving gloves. The nightmare was over now. He had only to face his damnation now, and it wasn't as frightening a thought as it once had been. He could not continue on this earth after what he had done this night. The Enforcers had not won, LaCroix had not won. Natalie was safe where none of them could ever touch her. His one regret was not being able to see her again where she was now. Safe. Free from harm and pain. Time. He left his loft, a place he had truly felt at home in. He went down to the ground level to where the caddy was parked, waiting. The car started up beautifully as if it knew it was the last drive. He backed out of the warehouse, and out into the early morning. The sun had not quite yet rose. He had to drive quickly to get where he wanted to be. Where he would meet the sunrise. By the time he reached the knoll that overlooked the great lake, the sun was rising and his skin was already smoking. He did not mind. He tugged off the driving gloves and tucked them into his jacket pockets. He glanced over the lake, over the grassy area around him. He had not seen such colors, such beauty in centuries. The sun seared him, and he welcomed it. It freed him from the waking nightmare his life had been since that fateful meeting with the lusty mysterious lady. He smiled, feeling his body fall away from him. He felt warm, he felt clean, he felt _free_! "Nick." A familiar voice called his name. He opened his eyes to see Natalie hovering over the water not far from him. He smiled, seeing the love and forgiveness in her eyes. "Natalie. I was afraid I would never see you again." "I asked you to never leave me, and you promised." She held out her hands to him. "We're going to be together forever." "But, Natalie- " He hesitated, uncertain. What of his punishment, what of his penance? "Oh, Nicholas." She sighed, leaned forward, and took his hands. "God forgives you all your sins. You redeemed yourself many times over. There is no punishment. Well, except." "Except what?" He asked, puzzled. "Except you might consider eternity with me punishment." She said, drawing him up along the golden path that only they could see. She laughed, and he laughed, too. "No, Natalie. I am so lucky." He slipped his arm threw hers, and they walked upwards together. Happy and teasing. "You made all the difference in my life." "Good thing about eternity." She shook her head. "We're going to be able to finish a few arguments for a change." * It was a dark night, stormy and cold. A lone man stood in the cemetery by a particular grave. He stood staring down at the headstone. The rain began softly, drizzling down his neck. He didn't notice. The name on the headstone read, "Natalie Lambert". He had come here every night since her funeral. Even on his days off with Myra sitting in the car waiting for him. She thought in time he would come to grips with this, but he didn't think he would. Ever. No one had seen Nick again. No trace was found of him. Schanke had gone to The Raven to find that it had closed. When he inquired about Janette, no one knew who he was talking about. Even that weird radio station that Nick had sometimes listened to these last months had burned down. Natalie's murder went unsolved. The file taking up a permenant place on his desk. No one touched it, not even the captain. No one dared. Donut Don was now Dangerous Don. Myra was afraid of him, his own daughter hid to be away from him. Nothing would ever be the same. He sighed, closing his eyes. He would never make sense of it, either. Then, suddenly, his body tensed and his senses went on red alert. He heard voices, laughter. Who the heck would be laughing in a cemetary at night? "That's not fair!" A male voice laughed, and he sounded like Nick. Schanke peered through the rain, his gun in hand. "Nick?!" He called out. He couldn't see anyone. "Oh, give it up!" A female voice laughed merrily. She sounded like Nat! Nat? How could that be. "You know I'm right!" "I thought maybe I would get to win a few arguments." "Silly man." The voices faded, the laughter no more than a memory like when Nick and Nat would always joke with each other. "Hey!" Schanke called out. There was no one to reply. "Don?" Myra said from behind him. He turned, and seeing the look on her face when she saw the gun, he holstered it. "Captain Cohen thought I might find you here." "What are you doing out here in the rain?" He grumbled. "Looking for my love." She replied simply. "You and I are going away for a while, to the cabin. My family is going to watch after Jenny." "I've got work- " "Captain Cohen has put you on an indefinite leave of absence." Myra gazed at him as he walked up to her. "I think _we_ are more important than your job. You are more important to me than anything else in my life. You aren't alone, Donny. It's not your fault, what happened." "I know, it's just- " His voice trembled. "Come on, baby. It's a long drive. Someone from the department will come get your car." She took his hand, and led him from the cemetary. "We're taking your car?" He asked, grimacing. "Yes, we are." She smiled, glad that he wasn't going to fight her further. "And just to show you how much I love you, I brought along your collection of polka tapes." "Oh, Myra." He sighed, staring down at her with pure love. "What did I do to deserve you?" "I don't know, Donny." Myra sniffled. "But it must have been pretty bad." "Pretty damn good." Don growled, pulling his wife into his arms, and kissing her passionately. * "I didn't know he had it in him." Nick shook his head in disbelief. He was leaning on Nat's headstone, arms crossed over the top. "Silly man." Nat laughed, eyes sparkling. She then gave him a gentle shove. "Be more respectful of my grave." "So sorry." He stepped back, and for a moment a shadow crossed his face. Nat took his hand. "None of that, now." She tsked, tsked. They smiled at each other. Slowly drifting upwards towards bright, white light, they watched as Myra drove Don away in her lovely rose colored Ford Taurus. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Okay, here's the end of my Three Laner. Oh, and thanks to Sharon Himmanen, the Prologue has been renamed to "On Ramp". I hope everyone (who has read this) has enjoyed it. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Time Is A Three Lane Highway Forever Knight fanfic by Margaret Newman Exit Sign "Help her choose, Nicholas." He hissed. "Go to her now. Give her a choice. Quickly. Before the Enforcers arrive..." "Damn you, LaCroix!" Nick growled, shoving hard against LaCroix to free the door. "This is your fault. You are probably the one that informed The Enforcers!" LaCroix leaned against the wall where he had allowed Nick to shove him. He watched the younger man's face, thoroughly enjoying himself. When he had awoke this evening, he had thought the night would be quite boring. Being the nighttime disc jockey at an alternative music station had it's enjoyment, but sometimes it was dull. Such repetition! "Why would I do that, Nicholas? I am the one who warned you." He sighed, shaking his head. "I remember a time when you trusted me." "I remember a time when you taught me to kill." Nick snarled in reply. "Oh, Nicholas." LaCroix shook his head. "You already knew how to kill. You had killed before you had met me. I only taught you the joy of the hunt, the freedom of the kill." Nick had nothing to say to that. He jerked the door open, but did not step through it. Yes, he had killed before he had met LaCroix. In battle, many times he had killed to survive. It was what fighting was about, and fighting was apart of being a knight. His guilt came from after he had met LaCroix, when he began killing mortals for food. He continued to hesitate at leaving. He stared at LaCroix, and it suddenly seemed strange to him. This whole situation - why would LaCroix call him to warn him? It would be more to his advantage that Natalie would be 'taken out of the game', so to speak. Her help in bringing Nick back across would be gone, her support in his goal of regaining mortality would be lost. "What are you going to do, Nicholas?" LaCroix asked him, smiling, and leaving the wall to nonchalantly stride over to his empty goblet. He refilled it, glancing back over at Nick who still had not left. "Would you care to join me for a," his eyes twinkled, "snack?" "What kind of game is this, LaCroix?" Nick slammed the door shut. "Game?" He chuckled setting the wine bottle back down. "Don't think of it as a game. Think of it as a test." "A test." It took every bit of discipline Nick owned to keep himself from lunging for LaCroix's throat. Natalie was not in danger, at least, not this time. "Are you sure?" LaCroix settled back down into his chair. He stretched out his long legs, crossing his booted feet. "Perhaps I am only goading you to keep you from leaving. The Enforcers could be at her apartment this very moment." Nick pulled out his cellular phone, and dialed Nat's number at home. He got the answering machine. He hung up, and dialed the Coroner's Office. "Natalie's Bed & Breakfast." Nat said crisply into the phone. "Nat, this is Nick." He answered. "I thought you were taking a mental health day tonight." "You hear about that bus accident this afternoon? 17 people killed. Guess who is doing the autopsies?" She glanced at her watch. Knowing his schedule, he should be at work already. "Where are you? Everything okay?" "I had an errand to run before work. I'm fine." He felt an incredible rush of relief. "Nat, thanks for being my friend." He said the words while looking straight at LaCroix. "Nick, what is up?" She forgot about the row of bodies that were waiting for her, about the ones she had already seen. She heard a strange male voice laughing in the background. "I want an explanation, Knight." "Later, Nat. Get back to work." He hung up, slipping the thin phone back into his jacket pocket. "How sweet, Nicholas!" LaCroix laughed. "Dear Natalie is safe after all!" "It's not amusing." Nick felt a wave of anger quickly following the rush of relief. "Oh, indeed, it is!" LaCroix saluted Nick with his goblet of dark red liquid. "You have been very entertaining this evening. I am not the least bit disappointed." "You play with my life as if I were some toy that was put on this earth simply for your enjoyment." Nick walked over to stand in front of LaCroix. His eyes gazed up LaCroix from boot tips to his eyes. "I am not your toy." "No?" LaCroix smiled, taking a sip. "How delusional of you." "Neither is Natalie's life to be played with by you. Beware, LaCroix." Nick's eyes glowed slightly. "Lest the _student_ become the _teacher_." "Threats, Nicholas?" The teacher shook his head. "What of the Enforcers, LaCroix? Was their being contacted about Natalie all a hoax of yours?" "No." A touch of silence. "Peter, a lab assistant at the Coroner's Office came to me for advice about what to do, considering you belong to me." He liked stressing those last four words. "I advised Peter to keep his mouth shut." "What if he doesn't?" Nick was already thinking if he knew this Peter. "Oh, he has no choice." A slight chuckle, a sip of wine. "What do you mean." "Whatever happened to your wonderful sense of humor?" LaCroix smiled. Humor did not shine in his eyes. "Peter is dead. He never informed The Enforcers." Nick said nothing, he could think of no response to that. All of his fears, all of his worries tonight, everything was for naught. There had been no emergency. This time. "Basically, Nicholas, I lied to you." He drained the glass. "For now, The Enforcers know nothing. I wanted only to see the expression on your face. It told me a great deal. I look forward to meeting this incredible Dr. Lambert." "No." Nick took a step backwards, half turning away. "No." LaCroix laughed heartily as Nick left his room. Even in the caddy as he started the engine, Nick could hear the laughter. He sat for a few minutes, trying to calm down, realizing how close they had come to disaster and how close they were to danger for the next time. With LaCroix, there forever a next time. For the first time in centuries, Nick wanted -no, _needed_, a stiff drink. He wasn't referring to a cold corpse, either. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The End ....maybe! Comments and questions welcomed! Flames, as always, to my agent and editor, Jennise Hall. (jennise@dgi.com) :-) Margaret margaret@cs.arizona.edu