Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 12:32:05 -0500 X-Sender: ecker@idirect.com (Unverified) To: fkarchiver@fkfanfic.com From: Michelle Ecker Copyright: The characters in the following story belong to James Parriott et al but I'll try to do them justice. Note: This story takes place a few months after the events in The Human Factor. Time Off Nick sat slumped in his leaher couch staring up at the ceiling. He had a week off and now all he could think about was the time that lay ahead of him. He had no idea how he was going to fill it. Nick had spend the day with Natalie. They spent hours talking about every conceivable topic. She made him laugh, something he hadn't felt like doing since Schanke died. Thinking about the time he had spent with Nat made him feel almost...happy. But that was then and this was now. He was bored. Nick sighed and turned on the television. He went to the fridge, took out a bottle of cow's blood and poured some into a glass. He looked down at it. Comfort and torment in the same glass. He began to drink but stopped when a news story caught his attention: "A fire broke out earlier tonight in the Toronto gothic club, The Raven. Arson is suspected in the fire which caused minor injuries.",the newscaster reported in an even tone which contrasted with Nick's growing anxiety. "I see you've heard the news.",came a voice from behind Nick. Nick had been so intent on finding Lacroix in the news footage, he had failed to sense his master's presence. "Lacroix! Are you all right?" Lacroix's clothes were singed and the burns on his face were already beginning to heal. "Why, Nicholas. I didn't know you cared." "The news said it might be arson. Who could have done this?",Nicholas wondered. "That is why I have come, Nicholas. Besides allowing me to stay with you, you are going to help me find the insidious creature who committed this act." "It's not my case, Lacroix." Nick wanted to resist the notion of having Lacroix as a houseguest but he knew better than to argue with him when Lacroix was in this state. "The police are ineffectual, Nicholas. I expect to you accompany me to The Raven." Lacroix sat down wearily. "After I feed. Nicholas, you need to work on your hospitality. Now get me a drink and it had better be a human vintage." The two vampires stood in the middle of what used to be The Raven. It was now a shell of its former self. The walls were blackened and the furniture was charred. Nick walked around while Lacroix surveyed the bar area. Something cracked under Lacroix's foot. He bent down and picked up a piece of hardened white clay. There were other similar pieces around it. Lacroix was saddened when he realized it was the bust of his head the ancient sculptor had fashioned. Nicholas had seen the ravages of the fire on TV but it was different seeing it with his own eyes. He remembered the time he had spent there. Nick found himself standing in front of the chains leading to what was once Janette's office. He was fingering the beads when he felt Lacroix's hand on his shoulder. "The place may be destroyed, Nicholas, but we remember. And, in the end, that's what matters, isn't it?" Lacroix's words reminded Nick of another time in his life. It was a time when he, Lacroix and Janette were travelling from the United States to London, where Lacroix had a home. They stopped at an abandoned shed to rest for the day. Janette sat against the wall across from the door, while Lacroix was at the far end of the room. Nick sat on the other side looking glum. He wanted to be alone with Janette but with Lacroix there, that was impossible. He closed his eyes. Suddenly, a mortal man burst into the shed and neared the sleeping Janette. Before he could touch her, Nick acted. He grabbed the man and snarled "Is this how you live? Preying on sleeping women?" Nick broke the man's neck and then, while protecting himself from the sun, threw him outside. "You are too rash, Nicholas.",said Lacroix. "What a waste. We could have had a feast." Ignoring him, Nick caressed her cheek and asked Janette if she was all right. She brushed his hand away angrily. "Nicola, when will you learn? I am a vampire, the same as you. I can take care of myself." "I'm afraid Nicholas still harbors the delusion that he is a knight, ready to slay any dragon and rescue any damsel in distress." "Stay out of this Lacroix. It's between Janette and myself. It does not concern you." "You are wrong Nicholas. Everything about you is my concern. Never forget that. And if you ever speak to me in that tone of voice again, you will suffer the consequences." Lacroix's voice shook Nick out of his reverie. "You sense it too, don't you?" "Janette." Nick whispered. (to be continued) Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 17:19:24 -0500 X-Sender: ecker@idirect.com (Unverified) To: fkarchiver@fkfanfic.com From: Michelle Ecker Time Off Part 2 Back at Nick's loft Lacroix was sitting in the black leather chair calmly sipping blood from a wine glass while Nick was pacing back and forth, growing more frantic every minute. He had already finished two bottles of blood and was about to start on a third when Lacroix spoke. "Nicholas, I think it's time you told me what happened after you brought her across." Nick stopped. "Please, Lacroix, must we speak of this?" "Nicholas..." "I can't. It hurts too much." Nick pulled the cork out of the bottle with his mouth. Before he knew what was happening, Lacroix had grabbed the bottle from him and thrown it against the door. Then he pushed Nicholas against the wall and bared his fangs. "In case you've forgotten Nicholas, my home burnt to the ground tonight. There are others who suffer, you know. You wallow so much in your own sorrow and guilt, you have lost sight of the pain of others. You are a damn fool." He let him go and walked away. "If I'm anything, it's what you made me!" Nick shouted. "I am responsible for what you are. You are responsible for what you have become." Nick laughed hollowly. "And just what is it I've become?" "A truly piteous creature." Lacroix said as he sat down. "One who can only think about himself and his own needs." Nick went to the fridge and took out another bottle. He walked over to the door and leaned against it and slid down until he was sitting on the floor. "That's what she thought too.",Nick sighed. "Janette, I mean. I sensed it in her blood. But what could I do? I couldn't leave her there to die. Even if I wanted to take her to Nat's lab, she couldn't have withstood the flight. Oh, Lacroix, if I could take any night in my life back...Anyway, after I brought her across I took her back here. I let her feed from me when she woke up. The way she looked at me...It was a look of resignation. She never said a word. She even comforted me when she saw how upset I was. Can you believe that? I haven't seen her since that night." Nick thought for a moment. "Lacroix, can I ask you something?" "Of course." "What would you have done?" "Honestly, Nicholas, I don't know." The phone rang. Nick let the machine pick it up. Tracy's voice rang out. "Hey Nick! Hope you're enjoying your vacation. Well, I guess you heard about the fire at The Raven. I was going to stop by there tonight, see if I can find anything. I have some...friends...who go there a lot. Do you want to go with me? Call me. Bye." "Your partner, I presume." "Yeah. She knows Vachon. She knows what he is." Lacroix sighed. "Really Nicholas. Is there anyone in your little circle of mortal friends who doesn't know about us?" Lacroix and Nick returned to The Raven that night. Nick had called Tracy and convinced her not to go. It took a lot of convincing, but she eventually relented. Something on the floor caught his eye. He motioned for Lacroix to come over. "It's just wood, Nicholas, leave it." Nick looked at the wooden pieces in his hand. He found a few more and then discovered something else. "Lacroix look at this. It looks like some kind of torch. Smell it." "Kerosene. So it was arson." Nick nodded. "But why would she..." He stopped and looked at the doorway. Janette stood there silhouetted in the moonlight, looking more beautiful than ever. Janette stood in the doorway of Nick's room in Lacroix's home. He was unpacking. "Nicola, I'm sorry about before. I didn't mean for Lacroix to start on you." "Oh Janette. I don't care about him. I only care about you." She hugged him. He kissed her neck and whispered "Say you forgive me." "I forgive you" "Say you love me." "I love you Nicola." He took her face in his hands and looked in her eyes. "I vow to you now, tonight that as long as I am alive, I will not allow anyone to harm you." How was he to know that centuries later, he would be the one who caused her the most pain? Lacroix stared at Janette in disbelief. He had heard of some vampires who had brought others across, ensuring they would be in the image they desired. And now Nicholas had done it. Janette noticed the way they were both looking at her. Before, she had thrived on the attention of males. Now she found her beauty was a curse. "Bonjour Lacroix, Nicola." Without a word, Nick took her in his arms and hugged her tightly. Lacroix watched the interaction between his son and erstwhile daughter with interest. Nick may me her master now but Janette still had more power. "Are you all right, Janette?" Nick asked. "Welcome back, my dear." Lacroix said cautiously. He noticed Nick staring intently at her. "Well, since Nicholas appears to have forgotten why we are here, I guess I will have to be the one who has to raise the unpleasant topic." "I know what you're thinking, Lacroix. I did not do this.",asserted Janette. "But you know who did." "Oui. It was Patrick." (to be continued) Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 22:03:41 -0500 X-Sender: ecker@idirect.com (Unverified) To: fkarchiver@fkfanfic.com From: Michelle Ecker Time Off Part 3 "Patrick!" Nick said, surprised. "But he's just a little boy. How could he..." He stopped as realization dawned on him. It was then that he began to understand the ramifications of his actions on that fateful night. Lacroix watched as Nick struggled with this information. He wanted to comfort him but he knew Nick had to handle this on his own. "Oui, Nicola. I brought him across.",Janette said sadly. Nick leaned against the wall unable to meet the eyes of the others. "After you brought me across, I returned to Montreal. Peggy took care of Patrick. I thought going back there would bring me close to Robert's memory again, but it was too painful being there without him. I stayed there as long as I could but it just wasn't the same. I knew I had to come back here. By the time I returned, Peggy had had her baby. Watching her with her daughter made me feel so lonely. I could tell Patrick felt the same way. He missed his father so much. I took him to live with me in an apartment I rented. And one night I brought him across." She exhaled sharply, remembering. "I couldn't have chosen a worse time. He was just about to start adolescence and he was emotionally immature. And now he had the strength of a vampire. He could not handle it. He hated being a vampire, maybe more than you Nicola." Lacroix laughed dryly. "If that's possible." Nick glared at him. Janette noted the animosity between the two and said absently "Plus ca change..." Nick and Lacroix exchanged glances. "Go on Janette.",said Nick quietly. She sighed. "Patrick did not know how to vent his rage. Never once did he direct it at me, though he certainly had reason. I showed him this place once." She gestured around her. "He couldn't leave fast enough. I think he sensed the presence of the others and it scared him. That night he begged me to kill him." Her voice caught in her throat and a tear formed in her eye but she was determined not to cry. "But how I could let something so precious to me die?" asked, as she wiped a crimson tear from Nick's cheek. He looked up at her and saw understanding and forgiveness in her eyes. "I couldn't kill him and he knew it. So, one day, he went outside...and vanished. I will always regret bringing him across." Janette remembered how she felt when she realized what had happened. She had wanted to join him but the memory of Robert stopped her. They were all silent for a few moments until Lacroix could stand it no longer. "Well, Nicholas, it seems as if she has inherited your propensity for ill-advised decisions." Nick glowered at him. "Damn you, Lacroix." "Gentlemen, please, not now.",Janette pleaded. "I must rest. Can we go?" They returned to Nick's loft. It was almost dawn. Lacroix remained downstairs and watched as Nick and Janette went into his bedroom together. Nick refused to meet his eyes. Lacroix smiled. When it came to Janette, Nick had very little willpower. (to be continued) Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 22:37:28 -0500 X-Sender: ecker@idirect.com (Unverified) To: fkarchiver@fkfanfic.com From: Michelle Ecker Time Off Part 4 Lacroix was gone by the next morning. Nick was grateful for this piece of luck since it gave him a chance to say goodbye to Janette that night. "Janette, why don't you stay here with me for a few days?" She hugged him. "Nicola, you know I can't" She kissed him. "I always forget how handsome you are." He smiled. "But you know what would happen if I stayed. I have to be by myself and decide what I want to do with the rest of my life. However long it may be." He kissed her but she pulled away. "I will say goodbye to Lacroix and I will let you know where I am when I decide what I want to do." "Au revoir, my beautiful Janette." "No, Nicholas, not goodbye. We will see each other again, I promise." She placed a locket in his hand and then, with one last kiss, she flew out of his life. An hour later, the phone rang. "Knight." "Hello Nicholas." "Lacroix. Where are you?" "I have some news, I think you'll be very happy to hear, Nicholas." "You've moved to a distant country and you're never coming back." "No, not that good. Aristotle has found a wonderful home for me. It has a broadcast booth in it. Wonderful acoustics, I might add, so be sure to listen to the show tonight. And Nicholas, I will be rebuilding the Raven. Perhaps you'd like to contribute?" "I'll think about it." "Very well then." Lacroix hesitated a moment. "Janette stopped by. It's for the best Nicholas. She must find her own path." Nick sighed. "I know." "The fans are calling. The Nightcrawler is on. Au revoir, Nicholas." Lacroix hung up. Nick looked at the phone and shook his head. He turned on the radio and sat down. "Good evening, listeners. I trust you are well. I certainly am As you can hear, the rumours of my demise have been greatly exagerrated. The Nightcrawler has risen from the ashes. I am indestructible. I am immortal." Nick looked at the locket Janette had given him. It had a picture of her inside. On the back was an inscription. It said "Je t'aime pour l'eternite." Nick sighed. Another day to get through. He stood in front of the window sipping a glass of blood. His other hand clutched the locket. "Hi Nick!" Natalie walked in. He surreptitiously put the locket away in the drawer and approached her. He gave her a too-platonic-for-her-taste kiss on the forehead. "Hi Nat. What's new?" "I heard about Raven. Are you all right?" "Yeah." "Do they know who did it?" He debated telling her what had happened but decided against it. He sat on the couch. "No. I guess it's just another unsolved mystery." She leaned over the back of the couch and said in his ear, "Like you, huh?" He laughed. "I guess so." She sat down beside him. "Well, I brought a movie and popcorn. And Nick -- I have my throwing arm ready." "I promise Nat. No fangs tonight." "Well fangs a lot." "Ugh puns. They're worse than garlic." "Don't they just drive you batty?" "Ugh." Nick laughed. Natalie loved Nick's laugh. He had such a beautiful smile. She wished he'd show it more often. "So what movie did you get?" She handed it to him. He sighed heavily when he read the title on the box: Love Story. THE END