Date: Tue, 1 Nov 1994 16:05:49 -0700 From: Margaret Newman Subject: Webs of Life: FK/KFTLC Crossover Hello, Gang! This is my first attempt to write a "crossover" and to write KFTLC fanfic. I hope you enjoy it! Please send flames to my agent, Jennise Hall at: jennise@netcom.com Words of praise (if any) you can send directly to moi! Margaret margaret@cs.arizona.edu Webs of Life Forever Knight/Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Crossover Late evening, early winter Outskirts of Toronto The bang! of the tire bursting as it picked up a nail scared Natalie so bad that her heart skipped several beats, and she couldn't quit shaking for nearly 10 minutes. The deserted street was dark, not a light pole in sight. No buildings, no phone booths. She eased the car over to the side of the road. The enormity of the situation hitting her, Nat rested her head on the steering wheel. This was a rental car, her car was in the shop. She had lent her cellular phone to Grace for the evening as Grace was waiting for a call from her brother-in-law. Grace's sister was expected to give birth today, and she was afraid of being anywhere without phone contact. So, no phone, a desolate area on the outskirts of town. All alone. She could change a tire, but it had been years. "Okay, Lambert. Get a grip." She turned the car off, leaving the lights on while she searched the glove compartment for a flashlight. Nothing. She checked her medical bag, and came up with a small penlight. Well, it was better than nothing. The button for popping the trunk open wasn't easy to find, and then the button was sticky. She turned the car emergency lights on, checked around outside before opening the door. A blast of cold wind greeted her. She determinedly got out of the car. Going back to the end of the car, glancing around the great dark emptiness, Natalie shivered and not from the cold. Thinking of Nick usually warmed her heart, but at times like these - he didn't help. She hadn't even considered vampires a reality before him. What if, in this nice vast stretch of black nothing, werewolves turned out to be a reality as well? The opened trunk did not improve the situation. There was no spare tire, and no jack. Not that a jack would have helped. So Natalie stood there, her eyes closed, contemplating what to do when, in the distance, she heard a nose. Her eyes snapped open, and her head whipped around. Car lights coming from same direction she had. Her first reaction was relief. Oh, thank you, God! She said silently. The second reaction was one of panic. What if the occupants of that car were a criminal type? Some maniac who followed cars around in the outlaying areas of towns and cities, preying on the weak and the unsuspecting... As the car came up towards her, it slowed down. She stood on the far side of the car, trying to look as stern as possible. The car was a blue Dodge Stealth -she would love to have one those!- and the occupants seemed to be two men, the younger one driving, leaning down to look at her. The car passed by, and then turned off infront of her. * "Stay here, Pop." Peter said as he put the car into park. "I'll check it out." As he got out of the car, so did his father. He had a brief flash of irritation, but let it pass. The woman watched them suspiciously. She should be suspicious, she should be in the car with all the doors locked. What the hell was she doing out here at this time of night? "You are in need of assistance?" Caine asked the woman, approaching her ahead of Peter. "I'm Detective Peter Caine, this is my father." He held out his badge for her to see. "Oh, thank god." The woman sighed. She pulled out her i.d. "I'm Dr. Natalie Lambert, I'm an M.E. for the city." "Dr. Lambert." Peter was surprised to meet her like this. He'd heard a lot about her. "What are you doing out here?" "It's a rather long and stupid story. This is a rental car, flat tire, no spare and no jack. I let a friend borrow my cellular. I wanted to check some information on a case, and I thought this afternoon would be a good time." She laughed, which was a mixture of humor and self-depreciation. "I should have waited until tomorrow." "Cellular?" Caine frowned slightly, tilting his head. "Mobile phone." Nat said with a nod. "I usually keep it with me, but-" she waved a hand in the air. "I'll call a tow truck to come get this, but you can ride back with us. That work for you?" Peter suggested. "It works fine for me." Nat sighed. "I am very grateful." "We are glad to be of help." Caine gave a slight bow. "Shall we get your stuff out of the car?" Peter walked around to the back of the car, and shut the trunk. * * * "So, I hear you work alot with Knight." Peter said to Nat after they were out on the road. His father had insisted that she sit in the front passenger seat. "Yes, for the most part." Nat glanced at him. "You know Nick?" "Just by reputation. He's a good cop." Peter tried to not notice Pop sitting back there watching and listening. It made him very nervous. "Did you know Captain Stonetree? Man, he could tell stories!" "He sure could." She laughed, hearing more about Stonetree now than when she worked with him was interesting. "I miss him, but I hear he and his wife are doing wonderfully." They chatted as Peter drove them back to town, his father sitting quietly in the back seat watching and listening. It always fascinated him to watch his son interact with other people. He had found that Peter was generally shy with women, which -secretly- amused him. Peter was not a shy person when it came to his police work. * * * * "You know, _partner_," Schanke said as Nick walked up behind him, "it really bothers me when you do your disappearing act." Nick paused behind his partner, wondering how Schanke had known it was him. His walk was light, and usually, Schanke never heard him. "I went to check on a lead." Nick smiled as he walked past to his desk. There was a note taped to his phone. He tore it off, and frowned at Schanke. "What happened? Is Natalie alright?" "Wow! What concern!" Schanke chuckled, leaning back in his chair. He watched Nick's brows pull together, and that little muscle twitched in his jawline. He sighed. His partner was obviously not in the mood to be teased tonight. "Yes, she's fine. Caine's bringing her in, just happened by at the right moment." "Caine?" Nick stepped around his desk, and looked as if he were heading for the door. "Detective Peter Caine, works over in Blaisdell's territory." He opened his desk door, and pulled out a donut. He had bought a fresh supply on the way in tonight. "Nice kid, his detail is mostly in Chinatown." Nick's frown slipped, and Schanke turned to see what had changed his mood so quickly. Nat had just come in with Peter Caine at her side, and an older man following them. Schanke followed after Nick, he wasn't going to miss this. "Nat, I just got the message." Nick held up the pink slip. "Are you okay?" "Oh, I'm fine." Nat blushed slightly, taking the slip from him and crumpling it up. "Peter and his dad came along just at the right moment. Peter, this is Nick Knight. Nick, Peter Caine. And," Natalie turned to find Peter's father contemplating Nick with an interesting expression... "Mr. Knight." Caine bowed to Nick. Peter frowned at his dad, and then looked at Nick. Schanke looked at Nick, and then at the older man. "Kwai Chang." Nick bowed in return. "I didn't know you were in Toronto." "Nor I, you." Caine replied. "Uhm, -" Peter tried to think of something to say. "Well -" Natalie smiled hopefully, first at Nick, and then at Peter. "So... " Schanke said with a bright grin. This should be interesting! "Thanks for helping Natalie." Nick turned to Peter, and held out his hand. "No problem. I'm glad we came by when we did." Peter shook the proferred hand. Wow, the guy had some grip! "I'd becareful about getting stuck out in places like that." He said with a a grin to Nat. "You never know when a vampire might jump out at you." "A vampire?" Natalie's eyebrows went up. Schanke chuckled. Peter's father smiled ever so slightly, his eyes sparkling. "Perhaps we should be leaving now." Caine suggested to his son. "Yeah, probably." Peter nodded. After Peter and his father were gone, and Schanke had gone for a fresh cup of coffee, Natalie quirked an eyebrow questioningly at Nick. "I can't wait to hear this story." She said, perching on the edge of his desk. "Later." Nick grinned, shaking his head. "It's rather long and involved." "Oh, goodie!" Nat laughed. "I'll bring the popcorn." * "Pop..." Peter glanced over at his dad. He got the usual disconcerting look. "Dad, how do you know Knight?" Caine shrugged noncommittally. He did not know how to explain something like Nick to his son. Peter could be frustratingly closed minded. Besides, it had happened a long time ago. In San Francisco. "So, you aren't going to say?" Peter sighed. "Good, just what I need. Another mystery." "Life is full of mystery, Peter." Caine commented. His eyes watching the people on the sidewalk as they drove by. They were all a mystery, and mystery surrounded all of them. Sometimes the mysteries opened themselves up to you, and sometimes you had to open them up. Always there would be those that would remain closed, not to be disturbed. "Get used to it." The ride continued in silence. Peter was quite baffled by his father's last words. It had been one helluva day! The afternoon together, driving back, finding Natalie, and meeting Knight. Peter didn't know if he could get used to it, but he was trying. Not that, with a father like his, he had much of a choice. Peter smiled, glanced again at his father, and found he was being watched. Caine, content, returned Peter's smile. It had been a good day.