Date: Thu, 1 Jul 1999 16:07:44 -0700 From: Danii K Subject: The Truth About Dogs and Vampires (01,01) To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu This can be archived anywhere! Anybody can put it on their site (infact, I really hope you do!) and I hope you all enjoy it! The prequel to this "The Gift" is at Mel's site. You can read it if you like, but it is not truly required to understand the story. The cop and the coronor don't belong to me in the least. The dog's kinda mine, but anyone can use him. Just tell me about it so I can read it too! Feedback is beyond welcome. This hasn't been beta read, so it is probably full of typos. It's not all that good, but I really needed to do a sequel. I love the idea of NIck and a dog, especially Raleigh. The Truth About Dogs and Vampires by Danii (c) Nick paced around the apartment, trying to think about the case. He found this extremely hard. Not because the case was particularly difficult; he was sure he could figure it out if he had enough time and peace. It was finding the time and peace that was so hard. Raleigh, his 7 month old puppy was happily yipping around his knees as only a dog could, and his lovely coroner was cracking up on the couch. Nick tried for the umpteenth time to shoo Raleigh away, but the puppy wouldn't take a hint. And Nat was no help. The coroner was rolling, nearly in tears from the puppy's antics because, unknown to Nick, Raliegh had slobbered all over Nick's pants. This wouldn't have been nearly as funny if Nick wasn't already late for work, therefore m aking it very hard for him to change clothes. As Nat began to recover and help shoo the dog herself, she remembered when she had first given the dog to the blonde vampire. Raleigh had been a Christmas gift to Nick, one she had known would be perfect from the start. The dog and the vampire had connected immediately, each so close to the other that they often communicated with out words. Nick had merely to look in Raleigh's direction and the puppy would come to him. Sometimes, even glances weren't necessary. With this closeness, it hadn't taken long at all to train the pup to do various tricks (and not to chew on the priceless artifacts). Right now, the puppy was in further training to become a police dog. Nick, Schanke and Nat had quickly realized the dog's intellegence and decided he could help the detectives. Besides, Raleigh came with Nick everywhere. It would be better if that was official. LaCroix hadn't liked that turn of events at all. For a while, Nat had been worried about it, until Nick, Raleigh, and she had gone for a little chat with the master vampire. Nick had strode up the steps with his iron will shining from his face, his dog mirroring his steps with pride. He had knocked politely and the door had opened. The little group walked in to find the ancient sitting down in a black leather chair. The normally calm vampire nearly spat out his blood when he saw Raleigh. He collected himself, then began to speak. "Nicholas, didn't you try that before?" LaCroix asked with regained cool, " Let me get straight to the point. I will repeat my actions if I must, but I will give you a choice. Get rid of that- creature- or else!" Nick kept his cool and said in a dangerously quiet whisper, just loud enough that Natalie, who had been thankfully ignored, could hear: "Not this time LaCroix. If you, or anyone else in the Community touches my dog, touches anyone I know, I will show everyone at the Raven THE TAPE..." "What tape?" LaCroix said, suddenly nervous in a way which told the world that he knew the answer to his question. Nick leaned over and whispered into his master's ear. Nat couldn't hear much of it, but it had something to do with Dennnis Rodman, a tutu, tattertots, a rubber duckie, and a gerbil. Natalie decided at that point that she didn't really want to know what was on that tape. When Nick straightened, the ancient vampire looked throughly shaken and quite indignant. "Fine" LaCroix said at last in the least strained tone he could manage, "You may keep the beast, but do NOT bring it to my home again!" Nick broke into a smile and looked down at Raleigh, who was somehow smiling back. They both looked a Nat, who ran over and hugged them. "Please!" LaCroix demanded, his control once again iron, "Get out!" Dog, vampire, and coroner ran out as fast as they could. "Nick, not that I want to know, but um, why haven't you used that threat before?" Nat asked "Didn't have it before." "What was it?" Then she thought again, "Rather, how did you get that guy to do anything embarrassing?" Nick laughed. "You'd be amazed at how good I am at slipping things into drinks. I filled LaCroix's normal order at the Bulls game a while ago with enough Curare to kill an elephant! Things just went up from there. Damn good thing that camera-man wasn't a resister..." Nat looked at Nick, then the dog, then back. Then she started to laugh. Ah, Nat thought, THAT was funny. She was awakened by a soft kiss on the top of her head. "Come on, sweet. We gotta get to work." Nat beamed at the loving nickname. She looked him up and down, finding he had changed his pants while she was remembering. God, he was gorgeuos, she discovered all over again. The puppy yepped happily at her from beside Nick. "Okay, just let me get my bag!" Nat said as she got up. The dog was still following the detective around as he gathered his various belongings. And Natalie began laughing all over again. Nick turned to see what she was laughing it and smiled. Patting the dog on the head lovingly, Nick asked her, "Hey, Nat, before work tomorrow, would you like to go out to dinner?" Nat smiled, thought it over for a half second, then answered, "Sure". Nick smiled back sheepishly. "Okay, great. That's great." "Okay" For some reason, they both looked down at Raliegh at that moment. The dog had an expression which would be unreadable to those who it hadn't been addressed to. The look said: Jeez, just kiss already! Nick chuckled and looked at Nat, the pure love in his eyes drowing her. And, to his great joy, he was his love reflected in Nat. He was so happy. She loved him too. "Smart dog..." And with out caring about being late, they followed the dog's instructions. The end _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com