Date: Sat, 1 Mar 1997 16:38:43 -0500 Reply-To: Virtual Fourth Season Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Virtual Fourth Season Subject: V4S: A Question of Faith (1/5) To: FKFIC-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU Episode Number: Forever Knight Virtual 4th Season - Episode #8 Episode Title: "A Question of Faith" "Air" Date: March 1, 1997 Author: Sarah Baker Alpha Readers: blitherer2@aol.com, Julia Kocich , John T. Folden , Patrick McLaughlin Beta Readers: Sandra Gray, Sara Orel, Beth Washington Amy Volpert, Jean Simon Historical Consultant: Sara Orel Name Consultant: Tigon Diana Hooker Continuity: Eileen Salmas, Amanda Sridasome Production Management: Amy Volpert, Dawn Steele Part 1 of 5 The Forever Knight Virtual 4th Season is a project whereby a group of Forever Knight fans are putting together a series of stories continuing from where Last Knight left off. Participation is open to all. For more information, write to V4S@fkfanfic.com. Comments should be sent to the author or to the FKV4S-L mailing list. This story will be available in its entirety from . This story is based on characters and situations created by James Parriott and Barney Cohen and owned by Sony/TriStar. No infringement is intended. Copyright 1997 Sarah Baker -------------------------- A QUESTION OF FAITH Darkness filled the hotel room. Softly clanging water pipes did not disrupt the even breathing of the sleeping boy. A mouse darted across the floor and hid under the bed. The boy's sleep was shattered by the crash of the doorknob against the wall as the door to his room flew open. He sat up quickly, nearly blinded by the light streaming in. A shadowy figure entered through the doorway, casting a long shadow on the floor. "No!" a voice yelled from the doorway. Every muscle in the boy's body jumped at the sudden crack of a gunshot. He watched the figure fall forward as if pushed violently. The echo of the gunshot faded to silence. The boy stared in terror as the second figure, holding a rifle, stepped into the room. "It's okay, Elijah." The man's voice was soothing as he walked to the boy's bed. "It's okay now. You're safe." The man pulled the covers on the bed down and gently urged the boy to stand. He then put his arm around Elijah's shoulders and led him towards the doorway. "Come on. Let's go in the other room." The boy stared at the back of the man on the floor as they walked past him. Blood slowly coated the floor around the man's head. #### The blue-green Cadillac pulled abruptly to the curb in front of a run-down building that was bustling with activity. The flashing lights of several police cars and an ambulance had attracted a crowd. Adam jumped from the Caddy and hurried through the front door; Nick followed him. The crowd of curious residents and uniformed officers slowed their progress as they worked their way up the narrow stairs and into the second floor suite where the level of activity peaked. Adam flashed his badge at one of the uniformed officers who led them through the crowded entryway and into the first bedroom. The victim, an average-sized man in a crumpled grey suit, lay face down in a pool of blood. Natalie rose from kneeling beside the victim when Nick and Adam entered, jotting notes on her clipboard as she straightened. Nick studied the body while Natalie finished. The quarter-size hole in the back of the man's head was not the source of the blood and was probably an entrance wound. There were no other apparent injuries to the back of the body. Nick looked around the room and saw a second door that was blocked by two uniformed officers and a man in a bathrobe. Natalie stopped writing. "Hey guys," Natalie raised an eyebrow toward the two detectives. Adam responded with a smile and then crouched at the edge of the blood to study the body. Nick walked around the victim to stand close to Natalie. "What do we have, Nat?" "According to the driver's license, the victim is Sydney Pfeiffer from Montgomery, Alabama," Natalie answered as she handed Nick a plastic bag containing a folded wallet. "He was shot in the back of the head very recently, as I'm sure you can tell." Nick nodded, more than well aware of the freshness of the blood. Natalie continued, "I won't have anything more until I get him back to the lab." As Natalie was turning to address the morgue crew, Officer Lentz carefully approached Nick, making sure not to step in the slowly drying puddle. "Detective Knight? We have the shooter and a witness in the next room." Nick glanced back to see Natalie leaving the scene and turned toward Lentz. "Lead the way," he replied. Adam followed Nick and the officer into the second bedroom. They stopped in front of the man in the bathrobe. "This is Mr. Coleman. He says he shot the victim with that rifle." Lentz pointed to the rifle propped against the bedpost. "Mr. Coleman, I'm Detective Knight and this is Detective Sakai. Can you tell us what happened?" Adam pulled a notebook from his pocket and flipped it open to take notes. Nick studied the man as he answered. Mr. Coleman was calm and collected. "I woke up when I heard someone coming through the front door. I picked up my rifle and went into Elijah's room." "Elijah?" Nick interrupted. "My nephew," Coleman replied with a nod. As Nick's eyes followed the nod, an officer moved from in front of a boy who was seated across the room. Nick's gaze froze at the sight of the boy. He was thin and pale, probably barely a decade old. Wisps of dusty blonde hair framed a sunken but somehow angelic face, with grey eyes that stared squarely into Nick's. Time stopped. The noise and light in the room faded; Nick felt as though he was being pulled from his body and across the room by those eyes. They were so familiar and consuming. Adam, his pen poised, looked up from his notebook to Nick, confused by the silence. He followed Nick's stare and saw the boy's expressionless face. He then looked back at Coleman, who was also watching Nick. Adam stepped in. "And then what happened, Mr. Coleman?" Coleman looked at Adam for a moment before answering. "When I saw the man in Elijah's room, I shot him." "Did you say anything to him before you fired?" "No. I figured he was here to hurt Elijah, so I just shot without really thinking about it." "That's a pretty drastic reaction," Adam commented as he wrote. "Why did you think he was here to hurt your nephew?" Adam glanced at Nick and found him still staring across the room. Not waiting for the answer to his question, Adam leaned closer to his partner. "Nick?" he said softly as he prodded Nick with his elbow. Nick started and shook his head. He looked at Adam and then at Coleman, the confusion changing quickly to professional detachment. Adam was amazed at the way Nick looked as if he were waiting for the answer, as though he had been in the middle of the conversation all along. "We've had several threats on Elijah's life recently." "Threats on his life?" Adam asked, not trying to hide his disbelief. "Yes. You see, Elijah is .... different. There are a lot of people who feel threatened by him. It comes with the territory." "I don't understand," Adam admitted. "What do you mean 'it comes with the territory'?" "Elijah is a faith healer, isn't he Mr. Coleman?" Nick asked. Adam's eyebrows shot up as he looked at Nick. "Yes," Coleman answered. "We quite often get threats on his life, but this is the first time someone has broken in to carry one out." Adam was so surprised by the turn of the conversation that he almost forgot to continue writing. Nick continued without hesitation. "Did you know Mr. Pfeiffer?" "No," Coleman answered. "Mr. Coleman, you understand that you're being arrested?" Coleman nodded. "Can I get dressed first?" "Yes. And we'll need a statement from your nephew, too." Nick motioned across the room for the officer standing closest to Elijah to take the boy with her. "We'll do that at the station." Nick then turned to Lentz. "Any weapons found on the body?" Lentz shook his head. "Make sure the rifle is bagged. And when you get to the station, call the Children's Aid Society and let them know we have a minor." "Yes, sir." Lentz turned to direct the other officers on the scene. With a nod to Adam, Nick returned to the first bedroom and walked slowly around it, careful not to step in the pool of blood that was now smeared where the body had been. The only furnishings in the room were the bed and a dresser. Nick inspected the dresser. The bottom two drawers held child-sized clothing that was clean but inexpensive and well-worn. The top drawer contained only a Bible. A grimace crossed Nick's face as he quickly closed the top drawer. He crossed the room and opened the closet to find a threadbare sweater, a pair of shoes and a pair of boots. The boots were nearly worn through on the bottom. Nick then opened the door next to the closet. A flick of the light switch revealed a bathroom that opened into both bedrooms. The only signs of use were a small shaving kit, a hairbrush, and two toothbrushes. Two towels hung neatly over the shower curtain rod which looked as though it had been added to the deteriorating bathroom as an afterthought. Adam stepped into the bathroom from the second door. "Remind me not to go into faith healing," Adam commented with a smirk. Nick shot Adam a quick glare that caught him off guard, although it quickly softened. "What did you find?" "Well, his taste in clothes isn't too bad ... three expensive-looking suits and a dozen silk shirts. Not what you'd expect in such a crummy hotel room." Adam glanced at his notebook. "Found $1000 in U.S. traveler's checks in Coleman's name, and $626 Canadian in small bills in the dresser." "He's certainly doing better than his nephew," Nick commented with a hint of disdain. Nick and Adam followed the last officer out of the apartment. A rookie was waiting outside the door to lock it and mark it with warning tape. "Wait around a while and make sure everyone leaves, okay?" Nick asked the rookie as he touched his shoulder. The young man nodded. Nick and Adam made their way through the dwindling crowd and headed back to the Caddy. As Adam pulled the car door closed, he turned to Nick. "I don't get it. How did you know that the kid was a faith healer?" Nick put the keys in the ignition and started the engine before answering. "I read about him in the paper." He pulled the Caddy away from the curb and headed for the station. Adam couldn't quite put his finger on it, but somehow Nick's answer sounded a little bit too nonchalant. He sighed as he looked out of the window. Nick stole a glance at his partner as they drove in silence. (to be continued ...) -------------------------------------------- For more information or to participate in the Forever Knight Virtual 4th Season, write to V4S@fkfanfic.com. Date: Sat, 1 Mar 1997 16:38:50 -0500 Reply-To: Virtual Fourth Season Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Virtual Fourth Season Subject: V4S: A Question of Faith (2/5) To: FKFIC-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU Episode Number: Forever Knight Virtual 4th Season - Episode #8 Episode Title: "A Question of Faith" "Air" Date: March 1, 1997 Author: Sarah Baker Part 2 of 5 This story is based on characters and situations created by James Parriott and Barney Cohen and owned by Sony/TriStar. No infringement is intended. Copyright 1997 Sarah Baker -------------------------- A QUESTION OF FAITH "Knight! Sakai! In my office." Reese's voice rose just above the din of the night shift. Nick and Adam veered toward the captain's office. "Captain?" Nick asked as they both entered. Adam joined Nick in front of Reese's desk as the captain sat down. "What do you have so far on the shooting?" "Well, it looks like the victim is a U.S. citizen," Nick replied. "Coleman says he shot an intruder to protect his nephew." "Do you believe him?" "I don't know. We're about to interrogate Coleman and the boy. What's up, Captain?" "Dr. Lambert called just before you guys got here. She said that the victim was shot only once, and that she didn't find a weapon hidden on him anywhere. But that's not the reason I called you in here. We got a call back from the Children's Aid Society." Reese leaned back in his chair. "They're having problems finding a place for the boy because everything is full. And they're concerned about him. Seems that he ended up in the hospital in Ottawa a year ago, badly beaten." "By whom?" Nick interrupted. "'Unknown assailant' is the official report. And I don't want anything else to happen to him while he's in Toronto. Understand?" "You mean you want us to be bodyguards?" Adam asked with a cringe. This certainly wasn't going to help lighten their growing caseload. "No. I just want you to find out if he's still in danger. I've got a uniform set up to keep an eye on him, but he may need your help. The boy is scheduled to appear tomorrow evening, and I don't want it to turn into a circus. Got it?" "Yes, Captain," the pair responded in unison. "Phillips, the child psychologist, is out with the flu, so I put in a call for Westwood." To himself, Reese mumbled, "Can't figure out where he ran off to." Nick frowned. "I want him to work with you two on this. Lentz says the boy is unresponsive. Not too surprising, I guess. Anyway, Westwood should be here any minute." "Great," Nick mumbled. "Anything else, Captain?" he asked in a louder but strained voice. "No. Just keep me updated." Reese watched the two detectives leave the office. Nick's attitude toward Westwood did not seem to be improving. "Damn," he grumbled. Nick and Adam headed for the interrogation rooms. "Let's start with Coleman." Adam nodded in agreement. They found Coleman nursing a cup of coffee. Adam pushed 'record' on the tape recorder as they sat across the table from him. Nick noted that Coleman seemed just as relaxed as he had at the crime scene. "Let's start with your full name and address." Nick leaned forward comfortably with his elbows on the table. "James Coleman. 9504 150th Street, Edmonton, Alberta." "So you're here on business?" "We're touring. Elijah is my business." "And Elijah is your nephew?" "Yes. He's my brother's son. I got custody of him when his parents died in a car accident. He was eight then." "And how old is he now, Mr. Coleman?" "Twelve." "Shouldn't he be in school or something?" Adam broke in. Coleman's eyes darted from the older to the younger detective and back. "I tutor him when we're on the road. Believe me, he knows more now than most kids ever will." Nick looked away for a second; his reaction to the comment did not escape Adam's notice. Adam asked himself. He decided to ask his partner at a more appropriate time. Nick continued the questioning. "Tell us exactly what happened tonight." "Well, I went to bed about 11:00. Elijah was already asleep. I woke up when I heard the front door close. I picked up my rifle and listened. I heard the floor creaking in Elijah's room. I opened the door and saw this man walking towards Elijah's bed, so I shot him. That's it. Then I called you guys." "Do you always carry a rifle with you?" "Yes. It's for protection. You see, there are always people who are disappointed or don't believe in Elijah's gift. You never know what kind of nutcases you're going to run into in this business. One of them even attacked him last year. Some people just don't really want to hear the truth." >>>> Manchester, England. 1887. "Ye has to pay first, Sir. It's a terrible thing, but there's some that don't really want t' hear the truth. Ye must have a powerful faith before ye can be healed. And that poor wee lass has to eat, too, don't ye know? She's got no kin to care for her since she lost her dear parents." Nick pulled three coins from his pocket and dropped them into the large woman's grubby hands. She examined the coins with an expert eye and slipped them into the front of her tattered dress. "This way, Sir." The woman opened a small wooden door into an inner room and moved aside as much as possible. Nick pulled his cloak around him and attempted to squeeze past the woman's oversized body without actually touching her. He had to duck nearly a head's height to get through the door frame. >>>> "Nick?" Nick looked up to find both Adam and Coleman looking at him questioningly. He shook his head slightly. "I'm sorry. You said that you opened the door to Elijah's room and saw the man approaching his bed?" "Yes." "Was the light on in Elijah's room?" Coleman hesitated. "Uh, no. The bathroom light was on. It was bright enough for me to see in his room." Nick nodded slowly. "And the threats you mentioned earlier? What form were these in?" "They were notes left at the front desk." "Do you still have them?" "No. I threw them out a couple of days ago. I didn't think there was anything to them." "What about the attack a year ago?" Coleman looked down at his coffee. "That was a close one. We had just finished an appearance in Ottawa. I left Elijah at the back door and went for the car. When I got back, I found him on the ground covered in blood. He said he didn't see the attacker, that it just happened too quickly." "And you have no idea who was responsible?" Nick stared at Coleman, his eyes narrowed. Coleman met Nick's stare evenly. "No." "How long were you planning to be in town?" "Three more days. We have two more appearances." "I think that's all for right now." Adam pushed the 'stop' button on the recorder as Nick motioned to the uniformed officer. Adam picked up the tape recorder as they walked out. Nick stopped after he closed the door. Frowning, Adam turned to his partner. "Something's not quite right about this. Wasn't the bathroom light off when we got there?" "Yes." Nick also frowned. "And the line of the body suggests that the intruder was coming out of Coleman's room, not through the main door to Elijah's room. Why don't you talk to Elijah while I start the check on Coleman. Find out if he saw any of this." "Shouldn't we wait for Westwood?" Nick looked around, obviously annoyed. "Why don't you try starting without him? He can join you when he decides to show up." "Why me?" Adam asked. "You're closer to his age. Maybe he'll feel more comfortable talking to you." Adam's rising anger was thwarted by the teasing gleam in Nick's eyes, and he responded in kind. "Oh, great! From my partner, too. How much older than me are you, anyway? Like ten years will make a lot of difference." He continued to mumble as he headed for the second interrogation room. Nick smiled and watched Adam walk off, then turned in the direction of his desk. "Maybe a little more than ten years." #### Nick met Adam coming out of the interrogation room. The junior detective was shaking his head. "Any luck?" Nick asked. "I think the kid's in shock or something. I can't get a reaction out of him, much less any answers. I gave him a cup of hot chocolate, but I'm not even sure he knows it's there. We do need some help with this one, Nick." As if on cue, Westwood appeared behind Nick. "It's about time," Adam smiled at him. "We can use your expertise." Westwood returned Adam's smile sheepishly. "I'm really sorry I'm late. Went out to get some dinner and got a flat. Then the lug nuts were stuck..." Nick was listening to Westwood's explanation, one eyebrow slightly raised. Westwood looked slightly nervous, but whether it was from trying to figure out what he was thinking, or the embarrassement of being late, Nick didn't know. Westwood looked back at Adam. "So I understand there's someone you want me to talk to." "Yes, his name is Elijah," Adam responded, nodding toward the interrogation room. "The question is, can you get him to talk to you? I couldn't get a word out of him." Nick was actually relieved that Westwood was there. He had no desire to face the boy again, and there was no way to reasonably explain the effect those eyes had on him. "He may have witnessed a shooting in his room a few hours ago." Westwood nodded solemnly. "I'll see what I can do." He opened the door to the room and slipped inside. Nick and Adam went into the smaller observation room and quietly closed the door. They watched as Westwood sat across from Elijah with his back to the glass. Elijah sat very straight in the chair, staring at the table without blinking. "That's how he was the whole time I was in there," Adam whispered. "Elijah," Westwood began, his voice soothingly soft, "my name is Thomas Westwood. I'm a psychologist, and I work for the police. I'd like to talk to you if I may." The boy didn't move a muscle. Nick was thankful for the one-way glass so that he could study the boy's face. It was amazing how much that face resembled hers. >>>> Nick straightened up inside the room. It took only a second for his eyes to adjust to the dim light. A young woman sat at the far side of the room in a straight chair. She was illuminated by the candles on each side of her. Her face, pale and thin, nearly glowed with an unearthly light. Her hair was straight and golden and surrounded her face like a gilded frame. But it was her eyes that froze him in place. Even in the dim light he could see their intensity. They ripped through him like a knife. He felt as though he were being drawn toward those steel-grey eyes. After a moment that seemed like an eternity, the woman motioned for Nick to sit in the chair in front of her. He took a deep breath, let it out quickly, and moved to the chair. He sat in front of the woman hesitantly. Her face softened to a smile, making her look even more angelic. "My name is Marie. Why have you come to me?" "I am Nicholas. I come to you to be healed." Marie's eyes moved slowly down from Nick's, examining him from head to toe, and then moved back to his gaze. "You look quite healthy, Nicholas. What is the nature of your ailment?" Nick hesitated with the explanation. "It is an ailment of the ... soul. I am controlled by an unspeakable evil. Can you truly cure all, as I have heard?" "That depends on many things. I am but a tool, Nicholas. I can only do that which God wishes. And my ability depends upon the strength of your faith. Do you believe I can help you?" "Yes," Nick responded in almost a whisper. The young woman reached out both hands toward his shoulders. Her hands were small and frail, so many bones covered by the palest skin. He leaned forward to meet her touch. Her hands on his shoulders, Marie's eyes fluttered closed and her head dropped forward. Nick saw her lips silently moving. The golden wisps of hair slid forward one at a time to hide her face. He watched as the falling hair exposed the side of her pale, thin neck, the vein visible even to the mortal eye. It rose and fell so gently with the pumping of her heart. The sound of her heartbeat grew until it reached a deafening level, so close to his ears. He felt the vampire rising, urging him to lean just a little closer to the warm source of sensuous pleasure and nourishment. Just a little closer... (to be continued ...) -------------------------------------------- For more information or to participate in the Forever Knight Virtual 4th Season, write to V4S@fkfanfic.com. Date: Sat, 1 Mar 1997 16:39:09 -0500 Reply-To: Virtual Fourth Season Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Virtual Fourth Season Subject: V4S: A Question of Faith (3/5) To: FKFIC-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU Episode Number: Forever Knight Virtual 4th Season - Episode #8 Episode Title: "A Question of Faith" "Air" Date: March 1, 1997 Author: Sarah Baker Part 3 of 5 This story is based on characters and situations created by James Parriott and Barney Cohen and owned by Sony/TriStar. No infringement is intended. Copyright 1997 Sarah Baker -------------------------- A QUESTION OF FAITH Westwood rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand. Child psychology wasn't his forte in the first place, and his best techniques were getting him nowhere. To make matters worse, the finger he had smashed between the pavement and the lug wrench was starting to throb. "Did you hear or see anything, Elijah?" Westwood repeated, his voice louder than it had been at the start of the session. Slowly the boy's head rose as if he was awakening from a deep sleep. His eyes met Westwood's, and he reached across the table for Westwood's arm. The electricity in the touch was almost audible. Elijah spoke so quietly that only Westwood and Nick could hear him. "You must forgive yourself. It wasn't your fault. Anne forgives you. She wants you to be happy." His voice was that of a child, but his demeanor far exceeded the age of his body. Westwood jerked his arm from Elijah's grip and slammed his chair back against the wall. "What are you talking about? Who told you?" Westwood's voice trembled as he spoke. Elijah drew his hand slowly back into his lap and dropped his stare to its original point on the table. He looked like a mechanical toy winding down. After a minute without moving, Westwood charged out of the room. Adam looked at Nick with total confusion on his face. "What the hell was that?" They found Westwood leaning on the door, his hand still on the knob. He was startled as Nick touched his elbow. Westwood's eyes narrowed as they met Nick's. "Who told him?" "Told him what?" Nick was genuinely concerned. "I'm sorry. I can't help you," Westwood mumbled, no longer able to look either of them in the eye. "I need to get out of here." He abruptly turned and all but ran from the building. "What did he say?" Adam called after him. Westwood didn't stop or respond. Once Westwood disappeared, Adam turned to Nick. Nick shrugged. "You think there's more to this, too, don't you?" Adam squinted his eyes, trying to read his partner's face. "Yes," Nick admitted. "I do. We'll keep digging." He slapped Adam's shoulder gently and headed for his desk. #### "You didn't find anything on Coleman at all?" Adam asked Nick, his voice reflecting his disappointment. "Nothing on his record. The only proof that he exists is his driver's license and a birth certificate. Not even a traffic ticket. What about the victim?" Nick watched the road as he spoke, the Caddy humming smoothly through the light traffic. "I sent a request to Alabama for information last night, but nothing has come back yet. How did you talk Reese into letting Coleman attend tonight's 'performance'?" he asked. "I told him that it might help flush out anybody else who's targeting Elijah." "Are we expecting something to happen tonight?" "Who knows?" Nick answered truthfully. "So, what do you think, Nick? Is there anything to this faith healing stuff?" Nick looked over at his partner. Maybe it wasn't, as Coleman had stated, that people didn't want to hear the truth. Maybe it was just that the truth was so hard to determine sometimes. "I don't know," he conceded, shaking his head to himself. Adam watched his partner for a few moments. This seemed to be the appropriate time. "You have a problem with Elijah, don't you?" Nick looked at Adam. "What do you mean?" "I've noticed your reaction," Adam replied, trying not to sound smug. "Does he remind you of someone?" Nick stared at the road again, his eyebrows furrowed. "Yes," he said. "What, did you have a run-in with him or something?" "'He' was a 'she'. And things didn't work out well." "Oh, an old girlfriend, eh?" The teasing tone of Adam's voice elicited no response from Nick. Adam thought. He decided not to push it any further. Nick was the first partner he had worked with who definitely didn't enjoy talking about his past. Nick pulled the Caddy into a parking space in front of the small auditorium. He and Adam got out of the car and walked quickly through the front door. It was getting late; they had only a minute or two to get inside and look around before the show started. They were stopped at the door by an older man in a purple usher's uniform. Adam pulled out his badge and held it up to the man. "Metro Police." "Sorry. We're sold out." The usher reached for Adam's elbow in an attempt to show the unwanted guests back out. "You don't understand ... we're here on official business." Adam tried to stop the maneuver, but wasn't having any luck and really didn't want to rough up an old man. Nick reached out and put his right hand on the man's shoulder. He listened for the heartbeat, and pulled the man around to face him. "You don't understand," Nick said slowly, "you *must* let us in. We're here to help Elijah." The man's eyes glazed over as he responded by releasing Adam and stepping back. Adam shot an astonished look at his partner as Nick walked past him. "You just have to know how to talk to some people," Nick explained over his shoulder. #### Nick and Adam stopped in the back of the auditorium and leaned against the wall near the door. The house lights went out. Nick surveyed the crowd of about a thousand people, looking for anyone particularly unusual. He was surprised to find Westwood sitting in the next-to-last row, on the opposite side of the auditorium. Nick leaned over to Adam. "I'm going over to the other side," he whispered. With that, he quietly made his way across the back of the room and positioned himself near the second door. The murmur of the crowd quieted at the appearance of a single spotlight, which followed James Coleman to the center of the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome." Coleman spoke just loud enough for his voice to reach the back of the crowd. "You will be witnesses to miracles tonight ... miracles of insight and healing. These miracles come to us through the grace of God, through the body of ... Elijah." With a dramatic wave, Coleman backed off of the stage as blue and red lights slowly came on to illuminate Elijah. The frail boy sat alone in the center of the stage in a straight-backed wooden chair. His hands were loosely draped over the arms of the chair, and a large gold cross hung just over his head. Elijah's eyes were directed at the back of the auditorium. Adam had been expecting something similar to the revivals he had seen on television, with writhing singers in robes, or at least music. This was so ... subdued. He shook himself. He was here to watch the crowd, not the show. Nick winced at the sudden appearance of the huge glittering cross. He tried to avoid looking at Elijah, but was unable to help himself. Those haunting eyes were wide open and motionless. Elijah sat incredibly still, a white robe covering his thin frame. Only his pale hands and face were exposed. And those eyes. A sound grew out of the silence like a tiny blossom opening and turned into Elijah's voice. "There is one among us who has an ailment in his lower extremities. He has had this ailment for six years. John ... come to me with faith in your heart." A man in the second row rose slowly, using crutches to propel himself toward the stage. Coleman helped the man climb the ramp and led him to stand in front of Elijah, who rose to meet him. With the two of them standing alone, Elijah reached up and put his hands on the man's shoulders, closed his eyes, and moved his lips silently for about 30 seconds. Then, in one swift move, he opened his eyes, withdrew his hands, and fell back into the chair. The man's crutches crashed to the stage as he slowly turned to face the crowd. His tears of joy were met with gasps and exclamations from the suddenly charged crowd. One at a time, three more people were called to the stage to meet Elijah. Each experienced a similar miraculous healing, to the delight of the audience. The fifth person called was a dark-haired woman in a wheelchair. "Is your heart filled with faith?" Elijah asked. The woman nodded. Elijah placed his hands on her shoulders and repeated the process he had followed with the others, but this time it ended differently. After several minutes, Elijah opened his eyes and looked down at the woman. His voice became hard and sharp. "Your faith is not yet enough to cure your ailment. You are not yet ready." >>>> Marie suddenly withdrew her hands from his shoulders. Her body slammed into the back of her chair. Nick closed his eyes to hide the vampire, and, after regaining control, opened them to find her staring at him. Her expression was serious, but not filled with horror as he had expected. Her hands had fallen into her lap. Those searing eyes were staring into his, simultaneously accusing and sympathetic. "Nicholas, your faith is not yet strong enough to conquer the evil. You must cleanse yourself and pray for help. Return in a fortnight and we will try again; there is nothing I can do now." Nick stared into her eyes, listening to the faint beat of her heart. Was he really foolish enough to expect help from this frail woman? This was absurd. He must leave immediately. He had to escape those eyes before they completely absorbed him. Nick jumped from his chair and nearly flew through the small doorway. As he was about to step into the street, he heard a young girl pleading with Marie's guardian. "Please allow me to speak to Marie. My faith *is* strong enough, and I have given you my last tuppence! She *must* heal my mother!" Nick cringed with disgust and pity. He pulled his cape around him and stepped out into the street. He had to get away from those eyes as quickly as possible. In his haste, he didn't see the dark figure that stepped out in front of him, and he crashed into it. "Nicholas," LaCroix purred, "Where are you going in such a hurry? Are you late for an appointment?" His voice dripped with sarcasm, letting Nick know that he knew exactly where he had been. Gathering his wits about him, Nick looked quickly up and down the street, and hissed back at LaCroix, "How did you find me?" "Oh, Nicholas," he scolded, "I told you ... I will *always* find you." He stepped closer to Nick, who refused to back away. "Why do you bother, Nicholas? This ... healer ... is a charlatan." "You don't know that." Nick's answer did not contain as much certainty as he would have liked. "Did she not tell you that your faith was not strong enough, or some such thing?" Nick glared at his master. "She may be right." "Did she touch you, Nicholas?" Nick's glare became suspicious. "Yes. Why?" "Do you truly think that she could be filled with ... holiness ... and touch you without bursting into flames ... or something equally spectacular?" LaCroix's eyes twinkled with superiority. He watched Nick's face change as the logic of this question hit him. Nick's eyebrows furrowed and he looked back at the doorway from which he had just come. The pleading young woman was being pushed out into the street, where she fell to her knees and wept. The door was closed on her with a vengeance. "Do you see, Nicholas? She is nothing more than a common thief. She steals not only their money, but also their hope. She kills their souls. This woman in no better than the 'doctor' you sought help from, my dear boy." LaCroix's voice dropped to a coaxing whisper. "She does not deserve to live, Nicholas." Nick turned his head slowly and studied LaCroix through narrowed eyes. He felt the vampire rising in him to meet the challenge. (to be continued ...) -------------------------------------------- For more information or to participate in the Forever Knight Virtual 4th Season, write to V4S@fkfanfic.com. Date: Sat, 1 Mar 1997 16:39:16 -0500 Reply-To: Virtual Fourth Season Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Virtual Fourth Season Subject: V4S: A Question of Faith (4/5) To: FKFIC-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU Episode Number: Forever Knight Virtual 4th Season - Episode #8 Episode Title: "A Question of Faith" "Air" Date: March 1, 1997 Author: Sarah Baker Part 4 of 5 This story is based on characters and situations created by James Parriott and Barney Cohen and owned by Sony/TriStar. No infringement is intended. Copyright 1997 Sarah Baker -------------------------- A QUESTION OF FAITH The woman's voice was choked with tears. "No! Please! I *do* have faith!" Elijah released the woman and slowly sat down. Coleman appeared almost instantly behind the wheelchair and pushed the sobbing woman off of the stage. The crowd fell silent. Elijah's head dropped and his eyes closed. The silence was palpable. Several minutes passed. Suddenly, Elijah's head popped up, his eyes opening wide, but instead of staring at the back of the room, he scanned the audience from one side to the other and back. His gaze stopped on Nick for what felt like an eternity. Nick felt the muscles in his chest and stomach tighten. "There is one among us," Elijah started in a low, even voice, "who is not what he seems." Elijah's gaze left Nick and continued across the crowd. "He has caused death, has caused suffering, yet appears a good man, a man who serves and helps others." The pitch of Elijah's voice rose and became almost a desperate pleading. Nick felt the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. "Do not be deceived by him ... he is evil." Elijah's arms rose, his fists clenched. Nick felt the urge to turn and run. Natalie's face appeared before him, her eyes filled with love and trust and tinged with the smallest amount of fear. She lifted her head and turned it just slightly ... Elijah's eyes rolled back in his head and he fell forward from his chair. He landed with a hollow thump face down on the stage, his arms stretched out in front of him. Coleman jumped onto the stage, motioning for the curtains to close and the lights to come up. By the time Adam and Nick reached the stage, Coleman had turned Elijah onto his back and was dabbing the blood from under his nose. Nick froze as he rounded the edge of the curtain; the faint scent of Elijah's blood nearly knocked him over. Just like Marie's blood. The smell was so sweet that his eyes changed, but only for a instant. Adam knelt next to Elijah. The boy stirred and looked up at Coleman, his face filled with something like fear. "Simon," he choked out, then closed his eyes. Coleman visibly whitened. "We need an ambulance," Adam said to Nick, who was already pulling the phone from his jacket. "His pulse is weak," he added after checking the unconscious boy's neck. "Please," Coleman asked, looking up at Nick, "I want to go to the hospital with him." Nick studied Coleman while he waited for an answer to the phone call. The color was returning to Coleman's face, at he looked truly concerned. Nick nodded to both Coleman and the uniformed officer kneeling beside him. #### Westwood paced the floor of the morgue as he spoke. "I don't know how to explain it, Natalie. Something he said just really hit home. He said that there was someone in the audience who appears to be a good man and to serve others, but is not. That's exactly how I feel. I go through the motions of helping others, but I don't feel for anyone anymore ... I just feel cold inside. It's the reason I left Vancouver." "I thought you were chasing vampires," Natalie responded. "Well, maybe it's the reason I'm chasing vampires." Natalie folded her arms and leaned back on the edge of her desk. "You know, Thomas, I think these things are sort of like a horoscope. It fits you if you want it to." "I don't know, Natalie. I suppose it's possible. But there's more. When I talked to Elijah yesterday, he knew something that I've never told anyone about. Not anyone." Westwood stopped pacing and leaned against the steel table. Natalie was surprised by the look on his face. He was really in pain. "Maybe it's something you *need* to talk about, if it bothers you this much." "I've told you that my wife died in a car accident." Westwood studied the toe of his shoe for a moment before looking back up at Natalie. "We were supposed to go to a party together, but I told her to go on without me, that I was working late. The truth is that I didn't want to go to the party. I was having doubts about my marriage, and I hadn't told Anne about them. She was alone in that car because I was ... sitting in a bar getting drunk." Westwood took a deep breath, fighting to maintain control of his emotions. "It was my fault that she died in that accident. If I had been driving, she would be alive today." "Maybe. Or maybe you would both have been in the accident," Natalie responded compassionately. "Every relationship has problems." It was Natalie's turn to study the floor as she thought about how true this last statement was. The problems she'd had in her 'relationship' with Nick were something she would be relieved to discuss with someone, but Thomas was definitely not that someone. "Thomas, you can't blame yourself for her death ... it was an accident." "That's sort of what Elijah said." "What?" "He said that she had already forgiven me, and that I needed to forgive myself." "I think that's pretty sound advice. And you also need to remember that you *do* help people. You can't afford to feel everyone else's pain ... you'd go crazy!" "I know ... I know you're right. You know, Natalie, I feel a little better." Westwood straightened up and closed the distance between himself and Natalie. He took her hand in his. "I guess I just needed someone to talk to. Something about Elijah spooked me." The door to the morgue flew open in front of Grace. "Natalie, I have the results ... " She stopped halfway across the room. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt ..." "No, no, Grace. It's okay," Natalie said as she released Westwood's hand and waved her assistant in. Westwood looked quickly from Natalie to Grace and back again, his face reddening. "Anyway, thank you, Natalie," he said, cringing through an embarrassed smile. "I guess I'd better get back to work. I have a professional reputation to salvage." Westwood nodded to Grace as he strode from the morgue. "So what exactly is going on here, Natalie?" Grace asked as she deposited the file on top of Natalie's desk and stood in front of her. "That man is spending a lot of time in here. Is he replacing a certain detective who has been conspicuously absent lately?" Natalie winced. "Grace..." she whined. "Don't give me a hard time about this." "Natalie," Grace insisted, "you've got to make up your mind. Take matters in hand, girl, and start working it out!" She sighed. "I know. It's just ... maybe sometime." Grace glared at her. "Maybe sometime soon, who knows!" #### Adam replaced the receiver and looked across the desks at his partner, who was staring at a report. He couldn't actually be reading; his eyes weren't moving. "They released Elijah from the emergency room. Couldn't find anything wrong with him." Nick nodded acknowledgment. Adam leaned forward on his desk. "So what did you think of all that? Was it staged?" Nick looked up. Adam was surprised at how distraught he looked. "I don't know, Adam. I'm sure there are things we don't understand." Nick dropped his eyes back to his desk and frowned. Then he looked back up at his partner. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Why don't you check on the status of the Pfeiffer info request?" Before Adam could respond, Nick had jumped up, grabbed his coat, and left. "Sure," Adam responded to the empty desk. "Whatever you say." Elijah's words were ringing in his ears as he walked. It wasn't the fear of discovery; Nick had faced that many times before. It was deeper. Maybe it was the memory the boy evoked. Maybe it was more. Nick looked up to find that he was standing at the entrance to the Coroner's Building. He needed to talk to Natalie so badly that he was willing to risk her rejection. His desperation made him realize how much he missed their old friendship. Taking a deep breath to gather his courage, Nick opened the door and entered the building. Halfway down the hall, Nick stopped. He slowly turned his head from side to side, sniffing the air. That smell was much too familiar. Westwood had been in this very spot, and very recently. Having no desire to repeat his mistake of barging in on Natalie and Westwood, Nick continued his course slowly. When he reached the morgue, he stopped, his hand on the door. He heard Natalie's voice. Then he heard a second voice ... not Westwood's, but Grace's. Nick listened intently. It would be bad enough to have Natalie throw him out, but he couldn't bear the thought of her doing it in front of Grace. "... not what you think," Natalie was responding. "Thomas was having a hard time dealing with Elijah. He thought that Elijah had specifically mentioned him tonight at the show. He said something about a person who appears to be good but who doesn't have compassion." Nick backed away from the door a step. How could Westwood think the boy was talking about him? Elijah was obviously looking into the heart of a vampire. This vampire. Nick stepped back up to the door. "I don't know," Grace said, "You two looked pretty friendly when I walked in." "He needed someone to talk to, Grace. It wasn't just Elijah that was bothering him. It was something out of his past that he needed to work out." Nick felt a real pang of jealousy. Natalie used to help him sort out the nightmares from his past. Now she was helping Westwood. He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the door. Nick wanted so badly just to be near her that it hurt. He clenched his hand into a fist against the door. >>>> Nick leaned over her sleeping form, listening to her steady breathing, and then to her beating heart. It pulled him close until he was a breath away from her neck. He wanted to take her blood now, but he needed to see those eyes again. He needed to see the life drain from those all-knowing eyes, to take the spirit from the spirit-killer. Suddenly her eyes opened and stared with all of their force into the eyes of the vampire. He watched for recognition in those eyes and then fear, but saw neither. There was only defiance, followed by resignation. "Yes," he whispered, "you are mine." He slid his hand behind her neck, and lifted her until she was sitting, leaning against him. Nick listened to the blood rushing under her luminescent skin and gently pulled her head to the side. With the small amount of tenderness that her strange beauty demanded, Nick sank his fangs into her neck and tasted the sweetest blood he had ever known. A small gasp escaped her lips as he drained the life from her body. Still holding Marie, Nick leaned back and closed his eyes as he listened to the last beat of her heart and waited for the flood of emotion. Suddenly, his head was exploding in both pleasure and pain. He released Marie and backed across the room. The light! The white light was blinding him as he dropped to his knees. The white light was burning every fiber of his being. The light slowly bled to red and screaming filled his head. He covered his ears and screamed back. "No!" He couldn't hear his own voice. Nick fell to the floor and curled into a ball, waiting for the noise to subside. The red light finally faded to black and silence returned. Nick slowly pulled himself up from the floor, his body burning with pain that he hadn't known existed. She had poisoned him! When the sharpness of his vision finally returned, Nick studied the body that lay across the room. Her arms were outstretched, palms up. Nick gasped at the site of the red blisters covering her hands ... the hands that had held his shoulders earlier that night. What was she? What had he just destroyed? Leaning against the wall, Nick fought back the tears of despair and fear. (to be continued ...) -------------------------------------------- For more information or to participate in the Forever Knight Virtual 4th Season, write to V4S@fkfanfic.com. Date: Sat, 1 Mar 1997 16:39:25 -0500 Reply-To: Virtual Fourth Season Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Virtual Fourth Season Subject: V4S: A Question of Faith (5/5) To: FKFIC-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU Episode Number: Forever Knight Virtual 4th Season - Episode #8 Episode Title: "A Question of Faith" "Air" Date: March 1, 1997 Author: Sarah Baker Part 5 of 5 This story is based on characters and situations created by James Parriott and Barney Cohen and owned by Sony/TriStar. No infringement is intended. Copyright 1997 Sarah Baker -------------------------- A QUESTION OF FAITH Nick didn't wait to see if the conversation continued. He left the hallway at a speed faster than mortal vision. Grace put her hand on Natalie's arm. "Look, Natalie, I'm not trying to be nosey. I'm just concerned about you. That's all. I'd hate to see you get wrapped up in another relationship before you work out all the other ... loose ends." Grace squeezed Natalie's arm and flashed her most concerned smile. "Now, I'd better get back to work." "Thanks, Grace. I promise, you don't need to worry." Still propped on the edge of her desk, Natalie watched Grace leave. She was surprised that there was no one on the other side of the door when Grace pushed it open. Someone had definitely been on the other side while they were talking. It wasn't that she heard anyone; she just felt that someone was there. Natalie got up and walked to her microscope. She really needed to finish reviewing the slides so that she could move on to the next case, but something was gnawing at her. The conversation with Thomas had felt so ... familiar ... and yet different. It was so like the many conversations she'd had with Nick in this very room, but she hadn't felt Thomas's pain in her heart as she used to with Nick. Suddenly, unbidden, tears rose to her eyes. It wasn't 'someone' standing on the other side of the door. It was Nick. She knew it was him. Natalie steadied herself on the counter and closed her eyes. A tear ran down each cheek. #### Adam thought as he watched Nick walk back in. "We've got results," Adam started before Nick finished sitting down. "Alabama State Troopers had information on Pfeiffer because his son was kidnaped four years ago. His wife was killed during the kidnaping. He has been searching for his son, Simon, since ..." "Simon?" Nick interrupted. "Yeah, Simon." Adam suddenly looked up at Nick with concern. "Isn't that what Elijah said? Simon?" "Yes, it is." Nick and Adam jumped up simultaneously and grabbed their coats. Their progress toward the door was stopped by the captain's bellow from his office doorway. "Knight! Coleman escaped from custody on the way back from the hospital." Nick and Adam walked toward Reese. "What happened?" Nick asked. "He caught Jenkins off guard, hit him over the head with his own nightstick, then took off on foot. No report on which way he headed. You're the one who convinced me to let him out for the night," Reese glared at Nick as he spoke. "Is Jenkins okay?" Nick asked. "Yeah. Just a bump on the head." Raising his voice, Reese continued, "I want you to find him, and I mean now! No one gets away with assaulting an officer on my watch." "We're on it, Captain," Nick answered as he and Adam rushed towards the front door. #### There was a light on in the motel window. Nick glanced up at it as he and Adam rushed up the stairs and through the main door. Adam's knock on the door to the suite was answered by the uniformed officer assigned to protect Elijah. "Hey, guys. What's up?" the officer asked as he moved aside to allow the detectives to enter. "Newman," Nick read the nameplate, "we need to talk to Elijah." "Sure, but he's sleeping." "We need to wake him up," Nick explained as he opened the door to Elijah's room. When Nick flipped on the light switch, he was surprised to see the boy sitting up in bed. His grey eyes were not those of a faith healer, but those of a terrified boy. Elijah's face was streaked with tears. "My name is Simon, isn't it?" Adam rushed past Nick to sit on the bed facing the boy who fell, sobbing, into his arms. "Shhh, it's okay," Adam said softly. "My ... mom," the boy choked, "I saw him ... kill ... her. He's evil ... he is not ... what he seems." Nick realized, with a start, that the boy's words from the night before had nothing to do with him. "You're okay now," Adam whispered as he rocked Simon soothingly. After a few minutes, the sobs stopped. Nick knelt beside the bed. "Simon," he said quietly, "do you know where he would go?" "No," Simon answered as he lifted his head from Adam's shoulder and wiped the tears from his face. Adam looked at Nick. "He doesn't have any money on him." "Yeah," Nick nodded in agreement. Looking at Simon, he added, "Or any way to make more." Nick stood up and grabbed Adam's shoulder. "You stay here. I'm going to look around." Once outside, Nick disappeared into the shadows with practised ease. He closed his eyes and listened. He heard a heart beating to his left. Following the sound, he found the feet of a wino protruding from between two trash cans. Tuning that heartbeat out, Nick listened again. Fortunately, the street was quiet at this time of night. The night breeze gently blew open his coat as he stood perfectly still. There it was. Another heartbeat from across the street. Nick chose the darkest spot to silently cross the street. He stood in front of a dumpster and listened. The heartbeat was strong and fast. A man, and one who was not sleeping. Nick dashed around to the back of the dumpster, pulled the man to his feet by the collar, and pushed a startled Coleman into the brick wall. "Don't move," Nick snarled. #### "It's a parent's worst nightmare." Reese shook his head at the thought. "How the hell can someone be so cold-hearted?" "What we have so far," Nick explained, "is that Coleman's fingerprints match up with John Canton, a con man who was released from prison in Mississippi just before Simon disappeared. Canton was suspected of murder, but was not charged due to lack of evidence. It seems that a 'psychic' he was promoting turned up dead from an overdose. The only thing they were able to pin on him was possession. He saw Simon as a money maker. He didn't care about Simon's abilities or welfare at all. The man has no conscience." Nick looked disgusted as he spoke the last line. "One of Canton's cell mates was a forger, and a pretty good one," Adam added. "Coleman's birth certificate was very convincing." "So how is it the boy didn't know his real name and identity?" Reese asked. Adam looked at Nick, who was staring at the floor. When he realized his partner wasn't going to answer, Adam continued. "Westwood believes that the boy was basically brainwashed. He said that the shock of seeing his mother killed by Canton, and the total control that Canton had over him, blocked his memory. And Pfeiffer made the mistake of approaching Canton without coming to us first." Adam shook his head. Natalie walked in and leaned against a desk next to Reese. Nick looked up. His face brightened in acknowledgment of her arrival, and she nodded almost imperceptibly at him. "And what about the beating a year ago? Was it Canton?" Reese asked. "It doesn't look that way," Nick replied. "Looks like he was simply mugged. Of course, it could have been someone who was unhappy about not being healed." "Well," Reese sighed, "Children's Aid is sending someone over for him. They found a temporary opening at one of the foster homes, and they'll initiate the search for his extended family, if he has any. At least he'll have a safe place to stay until he's sent back to the States." He looked at Nick and Adam and smiled. "You two did a good job on this one ... together." Nick raised his eyebrows and grinned at Adam. "Thanks, Captain," Adam beamed. The four of them turned to watch the approach of Simon and Westwood, who stopped as they joined the circle. Westwood was smiling down at Simon and had his arm around the boy's shoulder. Simon looked at each of them with eyes that were more childlike than Nick ever imagined they could be. He even smiled a little. "Thank you," he said with complete sincerity, then looked up at Westwood. Nick was surprised by the tears he saw welling in Westwood's eyes. Westwood looked at the group. "I'm going to try to help Simon start putting his life back in order while he's in Toronto." Westwood's gaze stopped on Natalie. "Maybe it will help me with my own." He smiled back down at Simon. "Come on. Let's go get some hot chocolate." Simon nodded and they turned to leave. Silence reigned as the group watched Simon and Westwood leave. Finally, Natalie cleared her throat. "Isn't the night shift about over?" She looked at Nick and nodded meaningfully toward the clock. Nick didn't look at the clock, but just smiled at Natalie. It felt so good to have her concerned about him. She returned his smile with a blush. Adam looked from Nick to Natalie and back again. Strange pair. "Well ... I'm outta here." Reese muttered, "Me too," as he headed back to his office. Natalie broke the gaze as she stood up. "See you tomorrow night." She gently touched Nick's shoulder. Trying not to jump at her touch, Nick closed his eyes and enjoyed the warmth. He quickly reached up and covered her hand with his, stopping her from leaving. "Nat ..." He opened his eyes and turned to face her. There was no fear in her eyes, no anger, just concern. Nick smiled at Natalie again. "See you tomorrow," he said, releasing her hand. She returned his smile before she left. Nick turned back to his desk and closed his eyes again. He listened to her footsteps fade completely, then got up and grabbed his coat. -------------------------------------------- For more information or to participate in the Forever Knight Virtual 4th Season, write to V4S@fkfanfic.com.