Aftermath Jarvinia 2012 This is set in the mid/late second season and is Adult for some borderline scenes and topics: Specifically, rape, although it's not detailed/written out, but thought should mention since it is a sensitive topic for some. No infringement or harm was intended through borrowing the FK characters. May not be archived without permission, although if you'd like to do ask. Feedback (particularly dark chocolate...) gladly accepted at: jarvinia@gmx.com Enjoy! ~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~ Aftermath - (01/20) Something was wrong. Natalie should have been at his place over an hour ago. It wasn't like her not to call if her schedule changed, forget that she had called not long before she left work saying she was on her way. He and Natalie had planned to watch a movie that morning; Natalie also mentioned that she'd be bringing another one of her concoctions. He had told her he would try it, and it definitely wasn't like her to back out after he had agreed to that. She had been so very thrilled when they had talked early that morning... A half hour after Natalie should have arrived at his place, Nick had tried calling her at her apartment, but all he got was her message. Same thing at her work number--just a message. He even tried paging her. After that he had tried calling the main number for the coroner's building, but all he gleaned from that was that it looked like she had left work on time. Now, another half an hour later, Nick had just finished up trying the first two numbers a second time. Still nothing. He paced slowly back and forth, the phone still in his hand. He didn't have too many other options short of maybe putting an APB out on her car and he dialled his partner's home number. At this point he didn't care that it was 10:30 in the morning and that Schanke was probably sleeping. He usually was by now, too, unless Natalie was coming over or he was preoccupied by a case. "Hello?" Nick froze for a moment, hearing a woman's voice. "Myra," he whispered, then snapped his thoughts back to why he was calling. "I need to talk to Don." "Nick?" "Yes. I need to talk to him now, Myra." "Is something--" "I don't know, just wake him if he's asleep. Please." "Just a moment; I'll get him up." Nick silently nodded then began to pace as he waited. Myra must have left the phone where it was as after a couple of seconds he couldn't hear much of anything. Then he came to a stop as another phone picked up. "Knight? Myra says--" "Schanke, I need you to do something for me." He paused, closed his eyes, then stated, "I don't know where Natalie is. She was supposed to come here after work but she's not here and not at home or work or answering her pager." "Natalie's missing?" Schanke said somewhat groggily. "Natalie--" Nick cut off. He couldn't say it. "Maybe. I don't know. Just...will you go by her work and her apartment, see if her car's there? I would, but..." "Sun's up," Schanke finished a bit more evenly. "Yeah, I'll check, but you'll have to tell me her address, Knight. Unless you want me to pick you up?" Nick had to consider that for a moment, but his place was out of the way. "No, just call me once you've checked." Then Nick gave Schanke Natalie's address and hung up as his partner tried to assure him Natalie would be fine. Nick threw the phone onto his black leather sofa, the hard plastic hitting the cushions with a loud thump. While he hoped Schanke would find not only Natalie's car but Natalie as well, Nick had a sinking feeling that something was wrong. It wasn't just that she uncharacteristically hadn't called to tell him she wouldn't make it. He intuitively knew something wasn't right. He had a bad feeling about this, a bad feeling about today. Nick paced, first in the small area by the sofa, then he began to pace from there to the refrigerator. Worrying about Natalie made him both want blood and want to abstain. He was physically hungry both from not having any blood that morning and from being agitated. The one thing that stopped him from pausing and opening the refrigerator rather than walking away once again was the thought that Natalie might yet come over. However hungry he felt it didn't surpass his want to avoid disappointing her, especially if something had gone wrong that morning that had delayed her. Maybe she had been called out? If she had been called out to a crime scene she still would have called him, probably, but it also wasn't out of the realm of possibilities that she might not have been able to. To find out he'd have to call dispatch. Nick wanted other possibilities ruled out before he essentially reported her missing. It'd come out in trying to explain. Nick came to an abrupt halt at that thought. Missing. She couldn't be missing. Her car had broken down somewhere, maybe. Or... Nick shook his head. He couldn't think of any other good explanations. She could have been in an accident or otherwise incapacitated. If she'd broken down she had a cell, she'd-- Nick started for the phone again and called that number, but it was just the same: No answer. It didn't mean anything. Maybe she didn't have it with her. Natalie forgot it sometimes... Starting to pace again, Nick held onto the phone for whenever Schanke would call, but even that seemed to be taking an excruciatingly long time. Then, as the time ticked past eleven, then eleven-thirty, Nick started to worry more. He had expected to hear from Schanke by now. Either Natalie was home or not, or she was at work or not. Schanke should have known by now. The buzzer eventually rang at nearly noon and Nick started toward the elevator and security monitor only for his mood to drop. "Hey, Knight, let me up." It was Schanke and he had come alone. "Did you--" "Just buzz me up, Knight. Then get ready to leave." Nick let the other in but didn't leave the elevator. Something *was* wrong...otherwise his normally very blunt partner wouldn't be holding back. As the freight came to a stop Nick pushed the door open to find a rather pale-looking Schanke. "What did you find?" "Ah, nothing," Schanke managed as he exited the elevator with Nick's gaze right on him. "Her car wasn't at the coroner's building or her apartment building. No answer at either." "Did she get called out to--" "No. I checked with dispatch." Schanke paused, swallowing. "And I, ah, put an APB out on her car." Nick just stared forward. Schanke had done what he had planned to do. "And, ah, they found her car." Nick started back into life at that, but his feeling that something was wrong hadn't left. Schanke was still leaving something out. "Where?" "About a kilometre from her work. Her purse and keys were still in it." "And Natalie?" "Not there." "But?" Nick asked, starting to slowly circle Schanke, but he only got part way. "A woman was found a few blocks away that matches her description." "What do you mean? What--" "No ID and she's unconscious. It might not be Natalie." Nick, however, looked away as his anger rose. While it might not be Natalie it made sense that it would be--no ID and Natalie's purse with her ID was still in her car...which wasn't too far away by the sound of it. "Get your things and I'll take you to the hospital." Nick just stood there for several seconds, then he rushed to his bedroom upstairs. He had to focus in order to walk to and then the stairs rather than fly up them, but then once out of sight he used some of his superhuman speed...only to find it didn't do him any good. He pulled on the coat right there then took the other items--leather gloves, a floppy wide-brimmed hat, and dark sunglasses--down with him. Schanke was waiting at the elevator, holding the door open. "What's her condition?" "Just what I said. Beyond unconscious--" "Why? What happened?" "I don't know. It sounded like she--whoever she is--was attacked. Mugged or..." "Or?" Nick prompted when Schanke cut off, but the other just looked away from him. "Let's just get to the hospital. If it's not Natalie--" "Then some other woman is missing and we still don't know what happened to Nat," Nick stated, walking past Schanke and into the elevator. He wanted to go regardless, and he donned his hat and started pulling on his gloves as Schanke let the door slide shut and started the elevator down. "If it's not Natalie I want to see where her car was found. I want to find out what happened regardless." "Just remember we can't investigate--" "I know," Nick whispered, his eyes darting around the elevator in worry. "I won't be allowed near the case," he said aloud, but inwardly he was planning. If something had happened to Natalie, if someone had hurt her he would make sure her case was solved. And if they couldn't pin it to anyone he'd... Nick's eyes changed, his fangs descending, and he closed his eyes to regain control. No, he couldn't take his revenge directly. He couldn't stoop to that level. And he wouldn't, at least as long as she was all right. If she died, however, he didn't think Schanke or anyone could stop him. He'd kill whoever did this with no remorse, maybe even torture them. Whatever had been done to Natalie he'd do to them if he could. "Nick?" Nick looked over and up at his partner, eyes narrowed in anger but the vampire gone. "Elevator's stopped." Schanke pulled the door open for the other. "You can't go zombie on me, Knight." Blankly nodding, Nick started toward the outer door. Instead of focusing on not zoning out on Schanke he thought of Natalie. Whether Natalie was the unconscious woman taken to the hospital or she was still missing he couldn't just stand there and do nothing, forcing Schanke to prod him forward every step of the way. He had to remain focused at least until they knew what had happened...until he knew where Natalie was. Nick put the sunglasses on and flipped up the collar of his coat, buttoning it so it might have a better chance of staying up. Then he stepped outside rather recklessly, not bothering to even think whether or not sunlight would be streaming down. Schanke had apparently backed his car in, which meant the passenger side door faced where he stood. Nick quickly crossed the bright, sunny span and got into the car, where he shifted until his skin was fully shielded from any direct light. His worry for Natalie now not only blotted out his hunger but his innate fear of sunlight--light that could kill him--and he sat there in silence. Schanke didn't even make some crack about him being bundled up in black or it being overkill as they pulled away. If it was any other day...but today Schanke was unusually quiet and almost solemn. Nick wondered what Schanke had heard over dispatch. Was the woman widely suspected to be Natalie? He'd find out at the hospital. As the medical examiner, the coroner, probably the or one of the foremost forensic scientist in the city, Natalie was more or less considered one of theirs and she would certainly be treated that way. He wouldn't be the only one thinking about revenge if Natalie had been intentionally hurt or worse. And while he and Schanke certainly wouldn't be allowed to work the case--it was widely known he and Natalie were at minimum good friends in addition to co-workers, so he'd likely be banned from working it at least--anyone assigned would know her, would have worked with her at some point if only indirectly. Nick couldn't see where they were, not without risking being burnt and Schanke noticing either the burn itself or whiffs of smoke. He could tell Schanke was driving rather fast, and he could feel the car weaving from lane to lane periodically. They weren't using the siren, and the radio was silent, turned off. Nick didn't like the quiet. Aftermath - (02/20) Once to the hospital Nick had a completely different problem: From the car into the hospital his path was one large swath of sunlight. From his home to the car had only been a few feet, but this was a couple hundred feet of a blurry obstacle course. "Knight?" Nick started at a whack on his arm. He had zoned out again. "Are you sure I don't need to let you off by the doors?" Nick had to think a moment. He couldn't remember Schanke having asked, but he didn't want to draw this out any more than necessary and so he shook his head and popped the door. There he hesitated until Schanke had opened his own door and gotten out, then as Schanke's door slammed shut Nick carefully got out. "Can you see anything?" "Not really," Nick automatically answered, turning toward Schanke's voice and squinting toward the other. "Go, Skank. I'll follow you." Nick waited, practically simmering where he stood, wanting the other to start inside so that he could get into the shade. He didn't want to go first, knowing his protection only helped so much...Schanke might see something. Nick didn't relax even though Schanke did head toward the hospital without much hesitation. Nor did he relax as they reached shade outside the building or headed into the hospital itself, escaping the sunlight. Nick pulled off his gloves, sunglasses, and then his hat as they started toward the desk, hoping no one had seen anything too concerning or too much out of the ordinary. "Have they identified the Jane Doe that was brought in half an hour ago?" Schanke asked as he reached the emergency room desk. "I'm sorry...who are you?" "Detectives Schanke and Knight," Schanke said showing his badge and nodding toward Nick. "There's a couple of other detectives--" "*Has she been IDed?*" Nick asked looking down at the receptionist, pushing so that they wouldn't have to argue. "No, she hasn't been identified." "*Where is she?*" Nick further pressed, leaning on the counter. "She's in surgery." Nick froze, his mind racing. "Surgery for what?" "I'm sorry, Detective, I don't know the details." "I want to see her," Nick thought aloud, pushing away from the counter. His eyes locked on the doors into the medical area and he started toward them. They were locked, sealed, and he walked back to the desk. "*Let me in to see her,*" he intoned, zoning in on the woman. She stared back at Nick for a moment, but then snapped out of the suggestion. "I'm sorry, Sir, I can't let you--" "*You will let me--*" "No, I will not," she said more confidently. Nick turned again and went to the doors, where he paced ever so slightly back and forth. Did he force them? He could. It wouldn't be difficult. He had forced doors in front of Schanke before... "If you'll wait in the waiting room I'll make sure--" Nick started back toward the doors only for Schanke to block his way. "Move." "She'll call security," Schanke whispered, nodding toward the receptionist. Nick looked: She had her phone in her hands but seemed to be waiting, watching them. "You'll get yourself thrown out, Knight. If it is Natalie you want to be here, right?" Nick tried to move away but Schanke backed him up to a wall. "Right, Nick? You don't want thrown out until we know if it's Natalie or not, and if it is--" "Fine," Nick muttered, but Schanke still kept blocking his way. "Now move, Schanke." Once his partner had done so, Nick glared toward the receptionist who apparently could only be pushed in certain ways--her knowledge of procedure was too strong to be swayed. Nick then started further into the hospital with one last glance toward the enticing doors. It would take him a matter of seconds to find whoever had been brought in and see whether it was or was not Natalie, but he didn't want thrown out...not in the middle of the day. "Just don't go ballistic on whoever found her if they're still here, Knight." Nick paused, glancing at his partner. He hadn't thought about that. Not only would they possibly be able to tell if they thought it was Natalie, they'd know more about what had happened to her. "I said *don't* go ballistic, Nick!" Nick, however, wasn't listening, and he started toward the waiting room with longer strides. There he found not two officers, but two detectives--homicide detectives from one of the other precincts, although he couldn't immediately place their names--and Nick came to an abrupt halt. He didn't like the look of this at all...like vultures circling a wounded animal. "Knight, what--" Schanke cut off as soon as he walked around Nick and saw the other detectives. "I'm sorry, Knight," the closer and thinner of the two said. Nick tensed, bracing himself, but the other didn't continue. "Is it--" "We think so. It's likely." "And you're here because?" Nick prodded, slowly starting forward. "Ah, we were actually told--" the second detective started, but cut off. Nick's anger rose and he started backing this detective back. "You were told what?" "That the woman had died, but--" Nick slowly shoved the other detective back against the wall, then nearly spun feeling a hand on his arm. Schanke jerked his hand back seeing a glint of bright anger in his partner's eyes, but didn't move away or back down. "Nick, let go of him. It's not his fault, and apparently she's...well, if she's in surgery she's not dead. So let go of him. And we still don't know for sure." Releasing the other detective with a shove, Nick turned and walked a few steps away, then fought the urge to begin pacing. He still wanted more answers. "What happened?" "I'm not sure here is the best place to discuss this, Knight." "Pollard, Knight's not in the waiting mood," Schanke said to the detective Nick had pushed against the wall. "If you or Lang know what happened...tell him before he pries it out of you." Nick continued to stare at Pollard. Detective Avery Pollard and his partner, Erik Lang, were from the 23rd precinct if his memory served. "I want to know what happened. We're the only ones here right now." Then Nick took a chance and again pushed, "*Tell us what happened.*" Detective Pollard, however, just froze at the mental shove, then shook his head. While the question had been directed at his partner, Detective Lang answered, "The woman that was found was attacked. She was beaten, stabbed, and raped. There was a lot of blood at the scene. There is a possibility it's not Dr. Lambert." Nick felt simultaneously enraged and ill, but at least that explained a few things. The surgery was likely for the stab wound or wounds, and blood loss--or possibly head trauma--had caused the unconsciousness. Neither of the last were good. He had to ignore the other bit of information, that she had been raped, but it was hard. Natalie was a strong woman but being violated like that... Maybe it wouldn't be Natalie, although it sounded as though it was just knowing the little bit he knew about her car and that this woman had been found not overly far away. "Did either of you see her?" Schanke asked. "No," Pollard said with a shake of his head. "She had already been taken by paramedics. The officers that found her were Alvarez and Perry from the 27th. They were pretty sure it's Lambert. And if it's not her, this woman may owe you two her life. If not for the APB on Lambert's car and searching the area she wouldn't have been found in time to bring her here." "Is she going to recover?" Nick said, his attention zoned back in on the other detective. Pollard looked to his partner, then backed away when he looked back to find Nick right in front of him again. "Is she?" "Alvarez and Perry...they said she looked bad. She was stabbed more than once and--" Nick, however, had started back toward the emergency room entrance. He didn't want to wait. He wanted to determine for himself whether or not she looked bad...even though it sounded bad. Frankly, Nick worried she would die before he could see her. Reaching the reception desk he leaned on it again. "I want...I need to go back there," he implored. "If I have to--just tell me what I have to do." "Knight!" Schanke hissed in a whisper as he caught up to his partner at the counter. "They'll throw you out if--" "I don't care. I can't stand--" Nick cut off as Schanke dragged him away from the counter by the arm. "I need to at least try to see her, confirm that it is or isn't Natalie. Why wait here when I can wait..." Closing his eyes, Nick tried to refocus his thoughts. "I don't see why they couldn't let me in. Or close. At least for a moment. I don't care if I have to wear surgical scrubs, whatever." "Just...stay there for a moment," Schanke said and walked back to the desk. Nick's gaze followed the other at first, but then his eyes drifted back to the doors. His ears, however, remained on Schanke's attempt to persuade the receptionist. "Look...as far as you know the woman in surgery is a Jane Doe, right?" Schanke started, but didn't get a verbal answer. "A friend of my partner here is missing and she matches that woman's description. He can ID her. The doctors will have a name to pull medical records." "Detective--" "Either you let him see if she's his friend with whatever necessary precautions or--" Schanke lowered his voice, then continued, "Or he's going to go back there on his own. He'll find a way and you might not even know it." The receptionist took a deep breath. "I'll see what I can do, but if he's not family--" "That I'm aware Nick's the closest thing to family she has. Please. He'll drive us both nuts until he finds out if it's his friend, which means--" "Which means you'll do the same, I gather?" "If that gets us anywhere, you betcha. Just...call whoever you need to get permission from. He'll do whatever he needs to do to see if it's his friend." Nick couldn't resist looking to see the receptionist's reaction. Thankfully she seemed to be considering it, her eyes on him again. Nick stared, silently pleading that she'd pick up her phone again. After a few moments she did and he relaxed a little for the first time in a couple of hours before turning away. He didn't feel like he was ready to see whatever physical wounds Natalie had received, but he didn't think anyone was ever truly prepared to do that in this kind of situation. Starting to slowly pace, Nick now focused on blocking out the phone conversation. He didn't want to know the answer until he was actually told. Schanke didn't stop him as he paced, but he could feel the others' eyes watching him. Did Schanke feel he was overreacting? Or were Schanke and the others misreading his reaction? He had half expected Schanke to suggest he and Natalie were engaged or were secretly married as far as he knew. It would have been more convincing than just saying he was probably the closest thing to family she had...even though that was the truth. "Detective?" Nick stopped at the receptionist's voice and an accompanying whack on his arm from Schanke, then slowly turned. "I said you can go in. Someone will take you back, although you'll have to wait until she's out of surgery to actually--" Nick had only really heard the first, and he started for the doors again. They didn't open at the first tug, but then he was buzzed in and tried again. Once on the other side of the doors Nick found himself panicking again. No one was there to escort him back immediately, and he had to wait a minute or two. Or few. He couldn't tell whether half a minute or half a dozen minutes had passed before a nurse came to get him. Then Nick simply followed. He could feel himself zoning out once again, as if his mind were going numb in preparation for the worst. The woman, whether Natalie or not, had still been in surgery. After a bit of forced prodding he had managed to get the nurse to take him to the observation area. And there, below, lay Natalie. He had no doubt of it despite that she was cut open, unconscious, a cut visibly marring one cheek even from where he stood. One of the nurses was tasked with keeping her breathing by the looks of it, the room a bit more of a mess than he had expected. Something must have gone wrong at some point. That didn't allay Nick's fears one bit. Even if she made it out of surgery, that didn't mean she'd recover. "Detective Knight?" Nick tore his eyes away from Natalie for a split second to look at the nurse, then he again watched the doctors and technicians work. "I'm sorry but you were allowed back primarily to see if you could ID her. If you can't--" "Dr. Natalie Lambert," Nick whispered. "She's a medical examiner with the coroner's office." "Do you know whether she has any medication allergies or medical conditions we should be aware of?" "She doesn't have any known medication allergies, and nothing that would cause--" "We need to know anything that--" "She has a bad knee, but she hasn't taken anything for it lately that I'm aware. If she has it was probably just over the counter ibuprofen. Her blood type is AB-, but you probably already know the last." "Is she taking any other medications?" "No." Looking back at his escort, Nick asked, "When can I see her?" "Not until she's out of surgery and she's stabilised." "Can I stay here?" The nurse didn't answer right away, then answered, "For a few minutes." Nick absently nodded as his attention locked onto the room below once more. The nurse had to relay the information she had gained, start the process of pulling Natalie's medical records...and then he'd have to leave. He tried to glean what information he could from the doctors below, but what little he managed to decipher wasn't good. She had stopped breathing twice, her heart had stopped once, and it sounded as though they didn't have much hope that she'd live. Nick hoped they were wrong or exaggerating... Nick didn't resist when he was told he had to leave, and he let himself be escorted back to the doors and Schanke. "It's Natalie, isn't it?" Schanke whispered. Absently nodding Nick started back toward the waiting area. He expected he'd have to tell Detectives Pollard and Lang, but they were gone. "Nick?" "Yeah, it's Natalie," Nick said, slowly turning. "What happened to Pollard and--" "They left. I'm sure they'll be back, though, once--" "Once they know it's Natalie or once she dies?" Nick asked in a whisper. "Once...what do you mean, once she dies? She's not going to die, is she?" Nick looked away. "I don't know." "Did anyone tell you what's going on?" Shaking his head, Nick answered, "No. She's still in surgery." "What kind of surgery?" "I'm assuming for the stab wounds," Nick said and he walked as far into the corner of the waiting area as he could before turning and starting to pace. "Nick--" "I don't know, Schanke!" Nick hissed with a short glare at his partner. "I was gonna say I'll, ah, I'll tell Cohen. She can tell Pollard and Lang that it's Natalie. And I suppose whatever happens you won't be going in to work tonight, so I'll tell her that, too." "I--no, I won't," Nick said, pausing in his pacing. No, he wouldn't be going in to work regardless what happened with Natalie. He'd either be here at the hospital or at home. "And I should tell Myra where we are...I told her I'd only be gone for a few, but I guess I'm not going home yet." "You should go home to your family, Schanke." "I'm staying right here. Myra will understand. She wouldn't want me to leave you here alone." Schanke nearly turned to leave, but hesitated. "You'll be all right here for a few, right? You're not going to try--" "I won't go anywhere. I can't," Nick said as he began to pace again. Once Schanke had left he stopped walking and closed his eyes. Seeing Natalie laying there he had begun to realise he might have to make a choice: Did he very possibly stand by and watch her die or did he save her? As long as she lived no matter how damaged her body he could save her by making her like him. But it's not what he wanted to do, not something he ever thought he'd have to consider choosing. Moreover, at present choosing wasn't really an option. He still didn't know what condition Natalie was actually in. Was there a chance she would recover completely beyond some scars? Could she wake up in a matter of minutes or hours? Would she wake but be somehow permanently injured? Or would she never wake up? Would she die? Only the last would be an immediate issue. If she died in the operating room there was nothing he could do. "Why don't you sit down, Knight?" Nick started hearing Schanke's concern. The other was back already? "I'm fine standing." "You sure? It's almost one and you've been up, what, probably twenty or so hours?" "I'll be fine," he said again, although Schanke had been right in his guess. He'd been up for about twenty hours so far; unlike Schanke he hadn't gotten any sleep after work that morning. But he would also be fine. One day every now and then of no sleep was nothing to a vampire. Even several days in a row without rest could be done. "Did you tell Myra?" "Yeah, I told her that Natalie's in the hospital and that we don't know what happened yet." "And Cohen?" "Yeah, she knows...she asked how you were doing." "And what did you tell her?" "I told her I didn't know, that...well, we're just waiting. We don't know enough to know how to feel. She knows you're not coming in tonight regardless what condition Natalie is in." Nick started slowly pacing again at that. Whatever condition Natalie was in. Dead or alive. Well or not well. Conscious or not. He wished some doctor would come talk to them. Or, he should say, to him. He didn't know if he wanted Schanke to hear everything that had been done to Natalie, or every detail of what was wrong. Aftermath - (03/20) After more than an hour of waiting, Nick finally stopped pacing as a doctor approached them--himself, Schanke, and now Cohen was there as well. "I need to speak with a...Nicholas B. Knight?" the man said, glancing between a clipboard and the two men. "Me," Nick said, stepping forward. "Is she out of surgery?" "Yes." "Can I see her?" "Not just yet. I need to speak with you," the doctor said, then looked behind Nick. Turning, Nick found Schanke and Cohen there; they undoubtedly wanted to know Natalie's condition as well. "I need to talk to Knight alone, as Dr. Lambert's doctor to her medical power of attorney." Nick slowly nodded and followed the man a little way down the hall, knowing something was wrong to have that status of his brought up. "What is her condition?" "I'm not sure there's a good way to put this, but it is very unlikely she will wake up." "So, what, she's in a coma or--" "To be honest we're not sure yet, but yes, she could be described as being in a coma. A very deep coma. So far we've been unable to elicit any kind of response." Nick liked neither the ambiguous reply nor the second bit of news. "What else could she be described as?" "She may have suffered brain damage from lack of oxygen. She lost a lot of blood before she was brought in. She stopped breathing on the way to the hospital, and then again during surgery. We had to restart, to stabilise her heart as well. I'm sorry, but we'll need to run more tests, do another EEG--" "What are you trying not to tell me?" "As I said it is unlikely she will wake up, and to be honest she's lucky to still be breathing more or less on her own." "*What else could she be described as?*" Nick asked again, saying the words slowly and evenly one at a time. The doctor hesitated. "Brain dead," he replied somewhat monotonously, then explained, "It's really too soon to tell for sure; she could also be in a coma and could wake up at any time or never. But either way her condition does mean you'll likely need to decide what to do. She does not have a DNR or other instructions regarding whether she wishes to be kept alive in this type of situation which, to be honest, I'm surprised about given who she is." "You know her?" "I recognised her name, know who she is...but I had never met her before. But being in the medical profession... You must be a very good friend of hers, Mr. Knight." "Otherwise how is she? What are her injuries?" "She was stabbed multiple times, mostly in the abdomen. We ended up removing one of her kidneys as a result as it was too damaged to--" "But nothing vital--" "The stab wounds themselves are less concerning than the side effects. She also has several more shallow cuts on her arms, several broken ribs, and possibly a minor fracture in her right ulna--it's one of the bones--" "In the forearm," Nick finished, his attention sliding to the wall. "It's minor and probably won't need a cast, but she has a brace and--" "Just finish. You don't have to--don't try to explain it, just state it." "The only other thing is that while she is breathing on her own right now, she was intubated during surgery and we are giving her oxygen. " Nick felt a bit number now than he had even before when he had seen her in the operating room. Natalie didn't sound well off at all, but it could be worse. This doctor also seemed to be leaving something out: Lang had said she had been not only beaten and stabbed, but raped. "What about her...other injuries?" "The trauma indicates she was raped...probably more than once. She'll heal from any physical wounds, but if she--" "Was she conscious?" "Yes, she was almost assuredly conscious. I'm sorry, but if she does wake up...she could have amnesia or she could have a very vivid memory of what happened to her. Either way it will be difficult." Nick wasn't sure which of those he thought was worse, but he also caught that it was an if, not when. "And what are the chances that she'll wake up?" "If she's in a coma...there's really no way to tell. It could be minutes or decades." "And if she's not?" "Then near zero. And it's likely that if she does wake up she'll be in some way disabled. Unless her EEG drastically improves... I'm sorry, but most patients in similar condition deteriorate, either over hours or days or weeks at most." Nick finally zoned out at this, turning away and fully toward the wall. He would very possibly have to choose her fate. She had left the choice fully to him, but... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Nick, I want to talk about this now. Not later, whether that be tomorrow or never, but now." "We just--" Nick glanced to the kitchen table. He had found an old, ceramic jar to put her brother's ashes in. In the last couple of hours he had killed Richard, made Natalie's sister-in-law forget seeing him after he had supposedly died in the hospital, and swept up what remained of Richard after he'd staked him. And that was after Natalie had goaded him into saving his life after he was shot. "We need to talk now." "About what happened," Nick muttered, turning away. He didn't want to talk, to be yelled at or lectured or even apologised to. "Yes and no. This was not your fault. Richie...I had no idea he'd--" "It happens sometimes, Nat. I wasn't the most in control when I was first brought across and I've seen others--" "But you had someone urging you onward. And...Nick, it's not your fault whatever the case, and what I really want to talk to you about is me." Nick stiffened and slowly turned. "What do you mean?" "Richard didn't know--we did this without his permission, without him knowing anything... Nick, if something like that happened to me, if I were lying dying from being shot or in some car accident, whatever...I want you to bring me across." "Natalie--" "Or at the very least I don't want you sitting there watching me wither away. If my options are to die or become a vampire I want to become a vampire. And if I'm not quite dead but in a coma or something...I'd rather be a vampire than have you worrying over me for however long it would take me to eventually die. And if you can't or won't bring me across, then I want you to finish it. Either let me die or take my blood and--" Nick turned and shook his head as he walked away. "No! I won't kill you. I won't--" "Nick, I'm just trying to tell you what I want in case... Me and Richard never really talked about it, not really, but I made it so he would make any medical decisions if something happened to me. Now that he's..." Natalie closed her eyes, pausing. "Nick, I'm going to put you down for that. I trust you." "Do you? Really?" Nick slowly spun to look at her. "You--" "I know what I did. I know I...I guilted you into bringing Richard over, made you feel like you needed to do something for me in return for me helping you even though...even though I won't take any other form of payment. I've never stopped trusting you, Nick, even if I might have to regain a bit of your trust back after this. I trust that if something happens to me you'll know what to do, and that's what really matters to me." Nick could barely believe her, but he did. He could hear her loud and steady heart betraying her truthfulness. "What if I don't know what to do?" "You'll know, Nick. I trust you'll do whatever should be done at that time." "Even though you know I won't want to either sped up your death or bring you into this hell of mine?" "And you know I don't believe you're cursed or damned or whatever. Vampires are not evil. They are not demons or devil incarnate. You are not evil, Nick, and making me like you wouldn't change either that or me." "Natalie, it might change you. Look what happened--" "I am not Richard, Nick. He was my little brother and I'm the one that always protected him from...whatever. In a way it makes a weird sense...as a vampire he now had the ability to protect others with more than just words in a courtroom." "He tried to hurt you, tried to hurt his wife, then tried to kill me when--" "And you did what had to be done." "You made me kill him twice, Natalie! Kill twice when I thought you were--" "I know and I'm sorry, Nick. You could have refused to--" "Could I have? Or would you have--" "Stop, just...please, let's stop arguing about what happened and focus on the actual topic." Nick looked askance again as he tried to control his anger, but she was right. They were arguing over the past, over something that couldn't be changed. She had apologised more than once now and he just kept dragging it along. It's not like he didn't understand. She had been desperate, her brother literally dying as she asked him to bring her across, which had only made him feel more forced. It wasn't her fault that there hadn't been time to really sit down and discuss what to do. And he had made such a choice, a plead himself, when the vampire that had created him had become mesmerised by his own younger sibling, his sister...and she by him. In his case the plead had been reversed--to leave her mortal--and his payment had been a promise that even now nearly 800 years later hadn't been collected. He wasn't sure if that was because LaCroix had since decided not to or because he hadn't ever become uncharacteristically attached to someone. His favour for Natalie had been done for her, however...not for himself and not for Richard, but Natalie. If it had been Natalie lying there, dying, he certainly wouldn't have been thinking clearly. Even without her permission he probably would have brought her across simply because he couldn't watch her die. If LaCroix were still alive...he'd certainly see such a weakness as time for his retribution. Then, instead of dying from some horrible injury or his hands, she'd die by LaCroix'. "Nick?" He started a little feeling a hand on his arm. He had zoned out on her. "What are you thinking about?" "How inappropriate it would be for me to decide your fate if you were incapacitated." "Nick, you're my best friend. Hell, you are my *only* real friend and with Richie gone you're the closest thing I have to family and the only person close enough to know what I'd want. You're the only appropriate choice." "But it should be someone who doesn't have such a large stake in what happens to you," he said. Then, worrying she might misconstrue his answer, added, "Because I'm depending on you finding a cure for what I am. I might not make the best decision. It might not be the best choice for you." "Are you saying you would bring me across if I were dying even though you're against the idea? Or even if I was against the idea?" "I'm...yes, maybe," he told her, hoping he wouldn't have to say why. He cared what happened to her and, he had to admit, was becoming attached to her presence. She was the first mortal friend he had had in some time. More so, she was probably the first female mortal friend he had ever had that didn't try to use him far more directly--she wasn't interested in immortality for the sake of vanity or for her own gain, but out of scientific curiosity and to help him. "If you have any...if you are at all hesitant--" "Nick, I have no problem with the idea of possibly being brought across if I were dying. And you know I want to find a cure for what you are--and then if nothing else I'd be able to ensure I did. I'd have all the time I'd need." "But you'd lose everything." "Not everything," she whispered and looked away. Nick looked away as well. He didn't have a good reply to that. Her comment made him wonder if she had feelings for him; not that knowing would help any. The most they could be was friends as long as he was a vampire and she was mortal. No, she wouldn't lose everything, but he wasn't exactly the easiest person to put up with. "Regardless of whether you think you're the best person or will make the best decision...I trust you with this, Nick. Completely. I trust that you'll do whatever I would want at that time." She tugged on his shirt sleeve with a faint smile. "Now let's sit down, okay? Let's just sit silently." Nick held back, staying in place even as Natalie went over to the sofa and sat. "Nick, please. I just wanted you to know what I was going to do and what I would want. Not that...I mean it's pretty unlikely anything will happen to me, right?" Still Nick didn't move. It was pretty unlikely anything would have happened to her brother, too. He had been more or less randomly shot--it could have been anyone. It could have been Natalie if she had come in with Richard and dropped by his desk for a moment...oh so easily it could have been her... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aftermath - (04/20) "Detective? Are you all right?" Nick started out of his memory. He had one hand up against the wall, supporting his weight. He didn't remember doing that. "As I said you may have to make some difficult choices--" "I want to see her." "It might be good if you--" "*I want to see her now,*" Nick intoned. He didn't want to wait any longer and outright commanded, "*You will take me to her.*" The doctor's gaze had become blank and he repeated, "I will..." "*Take me to Natalie Lambert,*" Nick further pressed, not caring if anyone saw. "Yes," the man replied and turned, then started to lead Nick away. Following, Nick ignored Schanke's call after him; he just blindly followed the zombie-like doctor until he had been taken to the room Natalie was in--a private room close to the hospital's intensive care unit by the looks of it. Nick froze just a couple of steps into the room. Here under the harsh florescent lights Natalie somehow looked worse than she had in surgery, even though now only a nurse hovered over her. Her right arm had a splint or brace around her forearm, and he started picking out her other injuries--at least those he could see. The cut on her cheek didn't look too bad. It wasn't even bandaged, unlike the ones on her arms. Overall she looked so helpless between the IV, monitors, and worst of all the tube that had been placed. This was precisely what Natalie didn't want. Nick more or less just sat next to Natalie's bed and stared for the next half hour or more. First he had received another talk from her doctor, although he barely listened. He had heard it the first time. Even after the explanation Nick hadn't so much as touched her hand--her left hand that wasn't in a brace, but instead jabbed with a needle and bandaged in a couple of spots--for fear that he would hurt her more. Her doctor had then told him again that she so far hadn't reacted at all, even to pain, but that there was a chance she might to someone familiar. Nick hadn't been able to say anything, but he had eventually taken hold of her hand ever so gently. After that he had just sat there completely still, watching as Natalie breathed. He could smell her freshly spilt blood beneath her bandages, but he had stopped feeling hungry sometime on the way to the hospital. The machines only partially revealed her condition. Her breathing was shallow and faster than it should be, but while the machines showed her heart beating along at a relatively normal and steady pace he could hear it struggling with his own ears. The human heart was what his senses were most attuned to, and he could hear her dying heart every forced beat. "Oh, God, Nick..." Nick looked up at Schanke's voice only to see his partner walking forward crossing himself with his hand which caused a wave of pain to course through him. He had almost let go of Natalie's hand at Schanke's action, but instead he managed to hold onto it tighter. "Dr. Zatsyev said she was breathing on her own, but--" "They're giving her oxygen," Nick replied, although he was distracted by hearing the doctor's name. Had he ever introduced himself? Or had he and he just hadn't noticed? Nick shook that off, focusing on Schanke, but he shook his head when he tried to continue. He couldn't tell Schanke how bad it was. Her brain activity was nearly flat, even the couple of times he had managed to say Natalie's name. Even now with Schanke there nothing had changed. "They're...they're slowly weaning her off the oxygen." "She's going to be okay, right?" Nick tore his eyes away from Schanke, but they landed right on Natalie's slack features. No, Natalie would not be all right. Her doctor had explained her condition clear enough for him to understand that and he understood only too clearly with his own senses. It was unlikely she would wake up on her own. "Knight?" Nick stiffened at the footsteps slowly approaching. "Is Natalie going to be okay? Dr. Zaytsev kept giving me the run-around." "I don't know, Schanke. Her wounds from the attack will heal, but--" "But what?" "She lost a lot of blood and essentially died. She might not recover from the side effects of that. It's why she's unconscious." "But she's--" Nick shook his head. Looking up at Schanke he found the other mirroring him. "Cohen told me you're Natalie's medical decision--" "Medical power of attorney," Nick stated. "I didn't know that." "Since her brother died." "Then you two talked about--" "About what to do if something like this happened. Or something similar," Nick said with a half-nod and a half-shake of his head. "And? If she doesn't wake up what are you going to do?" "I don't know," Nick whispered as he looked back at Natalie. It was a lie; he did know what he was going to do, or at least he knew what he planned to do. Gently he touched the side of Natalie's face, pulling her hair back behind her ear. "Or maybe I should ask what she wants you to do and if you'll do it?" Nick pulled his hand back as he looked sharply up, but only for a second. Then he looked at the wall above Natalie's bed trying to think of some response. While his plan did include doing what she wanted, he wasn't sure it would look that way to others. "You love her, don't you?" This time when Nick's eyes snapped to Schanke they didn't stray. How the hell had Schanke deduced that? He hadn't even answered the previous question. Schanke was right, but-- "You do... And she doesn't know, does she?" "Schanke...we work together, we can't--" "Who cares if you vaguely work together? It's not against regulations. I've checked, although it was a while ago. Granted, that doesn't mean it won't be added, but it's not like she's...well, it's not like she's your partner or something. Or the Captain." "We--" "You what? I know I've asked before and you gave some 'it's complicated' bull, but...it's not. If she wakes up--when she wakes up--you are going to tell her, right?" Nick couldn't manage a response this time, and he froze in place with his mouth half-open. "You know, sometimes you are thicker than a brick, Knight." Schanke turned only to spin back. "Just think about it while I go get some coffee and maybe head Cohen off." Nick stared at Schanke as he left. He didn't have to think about it. He and Natalie had tip-toed around their feelings for quite some time. The only thing that kept them apart was her being mortal and him being a vampire--he'd kill her. That and his agreement with LaCroix. The other had nearly collected on that agreement a mere three months previously. He didn't know what LaCroix would do if he brought Natalie across; surely LaCroix would know it was at least partially because he couldn't stand losing her, that it was because he loved her. After Richard had died he believed LaCroix dead...he believed it wouldn't matter. But now it seemed he might never be rid of his master and LaCroix had nearly forced him to bring Natalie across right then to prove he didn't care. Natalie didn't remember that meeting as far as he was aware. The couple of conversations they had had about their relationship hadn't evolved into more or even some kind of formal agreement that they wouldn't talk about it. LaCroix had drugged her in an attempt to get her to talk...and he had taken advantage of it to get her to forget about it all. While then LaCroix seemed satisfied that by bringing her across it would mean he didn't love her...this was different. She was now dying and the alternative was to lose her. LaCroix would find him before the day was out he knew. LaCroix would know his intentions. Even if he brought her across he could lose her. LaCroix might kill her to exact his revenge. It would be horrible to lose her twice within the last day, and Nick nearly lost control of his emotions. He couldn't, not here, not now when there were prying eyes to see any tears of blood or any manifestation of his anger at what had been done to Natalie. Slowly Nick stood, his thoughts still stuck on the possibility she might die. Then, before he really thought about what he was doing, he pulled off his coat and let it fall haphazardly half onto the chair and half to the floor. Next, he glanced at everything attached to Natalie, following every tube and lead back, then with excruciating care he moved her ever so slightly to one side, checking the machines for any variation that might signal he was hurting her and listening with his own ears to double check. Nothing. Absolutely nothing changed. Finally with equal care he lay down on his side along the edge of the bed, careful not to either catch on Natalie's IV or touch any of her wounds, particularly the bandaged stab wounds or her broken ribs. Even so he probably did jostle her--but still no reaction. Her heart continued on in a steady-but-not fashion, her breathing no different. "Nick, what are you doing?! They really will throw you--" "Shut up, Schanke," Nick whispered not raising his head from where he had just barely laid it near Natalie's. He could hear Schanke's feet shuffling on the hard floor, however, and he asked, "Cohen still here?" "Yeah, she's talking to Pollard and Lang. They asked me a few questions, too. They'll probably want to talk to you as well." Schanke walked further into the room, a cup of coffee in each hand. "I got coffee, one decaf and one regular as I don't remember which--" "I don't drink coffee, Schanke." "You don't?" "When have you ever seen me drink coffee?" "Well, when I stayed at your place that one time." "That wasn't coffee," Nick simply replied. "Oh, well, er, I can always get some creamer? You ever tried it with a couple things of that? No? What about some orange juice? Water?" Nick didn't reply, his attention back on Natalie and waiting for sunset. Unless she showed signs of getting better before nightfall he would bring her across. "Nick? You all right? You seem a bit... If you want to talk--" "Talk about what?" Nick asked, his eyes darting up toward Schanke. "What it's like to not know. To be worried out of your mind about someone you care about, that's what." Furrowing his forehead in confusion, Nick started, "You've--" "Myra. When she had Jenny something went wrong...they had to do an emergency c-section, then Myra ended up in surgery for hours. This is different, but I do have an idea how you feel, Knight, the waiting and feeling like the worst has already happened...and I really hope Natalie'll be okay. And I really hope they don't drag you off for this." "Detective?" Nick shut his eyes at Cohen's voice. He didn't really want to talk to anyone right now, and now Cohen had gotten at least a glimpse of Natalie. Nick relaxed when he realised Cohen wanted to talk to Schanke, not him, and the door to the room was pulled shut. Silence...almost. Now Nick heard the machines in the room more acutely, along with Natalie's struggling heart and lungs. Then, however, his ears caught on the conversation in the hall, and he tensed as he heard: "How is your partner doing with this?" came Cohen's voice, then silence. "Detective, I know full well they are very good friends, perhaps more, and--" "How would you be doing if you were him, Captain?" "Not well, I'd guess. I'm sorry, but Pollard and Lang want to ask him a few questions. If you think Knight will handle it better later--" "I don't think waiting will help any." "Then why don't you go get Pollard and Lang. Go, Detective." Nick kept his eyes closed and his body still as Cohen entered, half-hoping she'd leave and turn the other detectives away if he feigned sleep. "Nick? I'm sorry, but Pollard and Lang really need to talk to you, at least for a moment." She paused, then more firmly stated, "I know you're awake, Knight." "I don't want to talk to them," he whispered, opening his eyes but not looking at Cohen. "I'm sorry, but this is their case and as you are fully aware the sooner questions are asked the more likely they'll be able to find who did this. If you need an hour or two--" "No...no, waiting won't help." "I'll tell them to be quick with whatever they need. And Knight? Take all the time you need with this. You have plenty of unused vacation time and sick days, as does Natalie." Seeing Cohen turn to leave, Nick asked, "Who knows what happened? The whole city?" "Not the whole city, no, but--" "So the whole department, then," Nick guessed. Seeing Cohen nod, he further asked, "Do they know all of what happened?" Cohen pursed her lips. "Yes, Knight, they know. I have personally asked that she not have any visitors as of yet, although that does not mean you won't be disturbed. You are not the only one that is concerned about Natalie." Nick watched as Cohen then went to the door, where she let in Pollard and Lang. Schanke entered as well--he seemed to be watching the other two detectives, probably ready to throw them out if they pushed him too much. Cohen also remained, which made the room rather crowded and small-feeling, especially once the door was shut again. Nick just clutched slightly more firmly to Natalie, fearing he'd be asked to move or even leave the room to answer whatever questions, despite that they were shut in. "Ah," Pollard started as he glanced toward Schanke and Cohen, then back at Nick and Natalie. "Detective Knight, we need--" "Ask your questions." "When did you last see Dr. Lambert?" "Early this morning before I left for home. About four-thirty, five." "And was that the last time you talked to her?" "No, she called me about ten minutes before she should have left work for my place. When she didn't show I called. Supposedly she left on time." "And what time did she leave work?" "Nine a.m." Nick watched as Pollard made a note in his notebook, then flipped a few pages forward. "This next question is rather personal, but we need to know whether you've been intimate recently to--" "No," Nick answered and looked away from the two detectives. "No as in not within the past hours or day or--" "No as in never." Pollard remained silent for several moments before asking his next question: "Can you think of anyone that might want revenge or might want to hurt Dr. Lambert?" Nick thought a little bit, remembering what Natalie had told him not more than a day or two before, and answered, "Not specifically, but she could easily be targeted for anything relating--she's as much of a target as any cop when cases go to court. I think yesterday or the day before or just in this last week sentencing for, what was it, the Martin case was done. It was mostly forensic evidence and it was expected to be a guilty verdict with a harsh sentence. That's where I would start." "Do you know who the detectives on the case were?" This Nick blanked on for a moment. He didn't really talk to Natalie much about her other patients--other cases--but this was one she had. And, really, it made sense it might be linked. The victims in that case--three women--had been found much like Natalie had. Not quite, but they had been beaten and raped. All died. "McCall and...whoever his partner is. From the 34th, I think." "Do you know if Dr. Lambert knew what the sentence was?" "Not that I'm aware. But if it was just in the last day or two...we haven't had much time to talk." "And where were you this morning?" Nick didn't answer right away; the question made him feel a bit like a suspect, even though he knew it was a routine question. "He was at home, and then with me," Schanke answered. "And he made several phone calls, including to me." "Is that right, Knight?" Pollard asked. "Yeah," Nick muttered. "Anything or anyone else we should look into, whether it's related to her personal or professional life?" "Not that I can think of offhand." "Are you certain you can't--" "I already told you. I want whoever did this to be found so that they can pay for this; I haven't left anything out. Why would I?" He glanced up and found the two detectives a bit taken aback, at which Nick looked back at Natalie, effectively hiding his face. Had he changed, or was his anger coming through his words better than he thought? "Has she regained consciousness?" Lang asked, but this time Nick didn't answer. "Knight?" "I think that's enough for now," Cohen said rather sternly and pulled the door open. "Please join me in the hall, Detectives. Not you, Schanke." Nick tensed a little as Cohen continued the conversation in the hall, telling the two detectives any further questions for him would go through her or they'd have to wait. They asked her how he was doing, but she didn't say much beyond note that he was in a tough spot--which had required explanation. Nick suspected Cohen told them he was Natalie's medical liaison of sorts, but Schanke drowned out the last of the conversation. "You shouldn't have said that, or not in that way Knight. You might make people think you'll try something." "I didn't--" "You about snapped their heads off, and that's saying something given you're lying there barely functioning. I might not be subtle, but when you're pissed off anyone nearby knows exactly what's on your mind." "I'm not going to do anything," Nick whispered. "I can't." "And most people don't get how hard it is for you to be outside during the day, Nick. They'll think--" "I'm not leaving Natalie, not for anything." "Don't tell me you don't want to actually see them pay, Knight, as in--" "I know they'll pay. I'll make sure they find who did this, and I'll make sure they don't get away with it." "Just...let Pollard and Lang do their jobs. Don't--" "As long as they don't drop the ball I won't do anything." "And if they do?" Nick hesitated, but told the truth, "Then I'd try to point them in the right direction." "And then what?" "I think you know what." "Don't, Knight. I'll make sure they follow whatever you find. I don't want you throwing away your career when--" "I won't unless--" Nick cut off the moment he started, before he could say it. "But you said Natalie's...you said she might not make it. If she doesn't, Nick, don't--" "I'll do whatever I want." "It won't come to that. The whole department probably wants a piece of whoever did this to Natalie. I don't think you have to worry about doing anything more than helping Natalie get better, okay?" Nick zoned out again at that. Yes, his priority was getting Natalie better again, one way or another. Aftermath - (05/20) "Shh, I think he's sleeping." Nick, however, wasn't, and he heard Schanke's harsh whisper loud and clear. He had been laying there for two or three hours by his guess. The sun still wasn't down and Natalie was getting worse. At least to him. According to the nurse Natalie's condition was stable, but her breathing had become even shallower. They no longer gave her extra oxygen which he supposed was good--she could breathe on her own at least--but her heart had sped up, the beats progressively weaker. Eventually her heart would falter and stop again. He hadn't told Schanke, and her doctors and nurses hadn't yet noticed the slight change. He didn't blame them. Again it was his attune ears that noticed, not the monitors. None of the medical personnel had tried to throw him out as Schanke had feared. Some seemed to think him lying next to her was sweet--others didn't approve but were reluctant to tell him off. While they didn't seem to be able to yet see that Natalie's condition was declining, they knew. Nick could tell it in how they looked on him with pity. They all believed she would die, even if they didn't say it. "Has he eaten anything?" Nick startled a little at the question and the sound of something being set down--he had half-thought whoever had entered had left, but no. It was Myra Schanke, his partner's wife. Of course she had come. He had taken her husband away on some errand in the middle of the day and he hadn't returned. Schanke had told her what had happened at some point. He really hadn't been paying much attention to anything but the clock and Natalie, particularly since Pollard and Lang had left. "And have you?" "Nick hasn't. I tried getting him coffee, water, juice, offered to get him something from the cafeteria or something at some restaurant, even offered to go by his place or the store...but nothing. I had a plate of something stew-like...not sure what it was supposed to be, but it tasted better than it looked." "Well, I brought enough for both of you. It should at least be recognisable." "What is it?" Nick cringed back at the topic of conversation, even before Schanke answered. The last thing he wanted was someone to try and get him to eat something...worse, get him to eat mortal food. "Just some chicken and vegetables." "Oh, no, not one of your--" "There's plenty of potatoes, Don." Nick smiled a little at the exchange. He knew Myra sometimes tried to get her somewhat paunchy husband to eat healthier, but he hadn't ever seen her try in person. "And it looks like Nick is not sleeping." The slight smile vanished as Nick stiffened again, but he kept his eyes closed even as Myra approached. He held still as she touched his arm--the one he had snaked carefully around Natalie along her hips--and said his name. When she touched his face, brushing stray strands of hair back, Nick twitched and tried to pull away only for her to grab his arm and hold it in place. "No, I'm sorry, Nick." "It's fine," Nick murmured, relaxing slightly. Her apology made him think clearly just long enough to realise that if he pulled back too much he'd end up on the floor. "I brought dinner for you and Don. I hope you--" "Maybe later," Nick said cutting her off. He had no intention of going near it, but he didn't want to disappoint her by outright refusing. "Don said you haven't eaten anything...you really should." "I know; I will," Nick assured. "You're not gonna get him to eat, Myra. Not right now anyway. He'll eat later--I'll make sure of it." "Do you need anything from home? Or anything for Natalie?" "I asked that, too." "I don't need anything," Nick said, barely remembering that Schanke had indeed asked that earlier. "Well, if you do need something, one of us would be glad to help, right Don?" "Yeah, he knows," Schanke whispered. Then Nick closed his eyes again and listened as the two resumed speaking in whispers. Myra asked her husband when he thought he'd be home--Schanke hadn't really answered, but apparently he wasn't going into work that night, either. Probably no point. They didn't have an active, urgent case at the moment, and with him off...well, Schanke was out a partner for at least tonight, probably longer. Myra also asked questions about how Natalie was doing and if she would be all right. That made Nick tense up once again. Apparently Schanke could read his reaction; Schanke didn't think Natalie was doing very good, either, even though the doctors continued to say things could go either way. Nick startled a little as he felt something touch him again; Myra was covering him and Natalie with a light blanket...him more than Natalie. This time when she touched his arm he didn't pull back. "You should at least try to get some sleep if you won't eat anything. I somewhat understand the latter, but I believe you've been up for over twenty-four hours now." "What time is it?" "A little after six, almost six-thirty." Nick didn't know whether to feel relief or continued panic. Sunset didn't come for another hour, but one hour was much closer than the roughly seven hours it had been when he had arrived at the hospital. Had he really been there that long? He knew he had. It wasn't too far after the last time he had seen the time on a nurse's watch, and come to think of it then it had been five-something... All he needed to do was wait another hour...and figure out how he was going to bring Natalie across--which would make the monitors think she had finally died--and get her out of the hospital. He couldn't both take Natalie from the hospital and field attempts to stop him without someone possibly catching him. And he'd need a knife or scalpel. Then there was Schanke. Schanke would have to leave unless he revealed himself and what he was going to do to Natalie--take whatever remained of her blood until she almost but not quite died, then give her some of his to start the transformation and healing process. He was even beginning to doubt he could manage it, or that what he was would fully heal her. But Nick worried Schanke would not only once more think he was crazy, but this time might attempt to stop him. And he had made his partner forget so many little things he feared it might not work this time or perhaps that Schanke's concern for Natalie--who would surely look not so well dangling in his grasp--would create so strong a focus that it couldn't work. He would have to find out if it would be allowed to take Natalie home if he so chose. That would make things easier, but in case it wouldn't be allowed he had to wait to ask even that until close to sunset. He didn't want to tip the staff off that he might try taking her until the last moment. And he wanted to, if possible, make it so Natalie could return to work if she wished. Right now she had to keep fighting to stay functioning until sunset. If not...if not he'd bring her across anyway, but he had no thoughts about how to do that and get her out of the hospital without raising questions or getting caught. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. "Your mortals are so frail, aren't they?" Nick reacted to the voice--LaCroix' voice from behind him--by slowly turning. It was more than he had moved for hours, and so Nick checked his own watch as well. "It's not even sunset. And why are you here?" "I am here because you are." "But not for the same reasons." LaCroix stepped closer, his gaze on Natalie's face. "Oh, I don't know about that, Nicholas. She, after all, is why you are here." Nick watched as LaCroix now walked around the foot of the hospital bed to the other side, all the while looking at Natalie. Nick didn't like how LaCroix was looking at her so attentively. When LaCroix reached a hand toward Natalie's face Nick snatched his wrist. He saw a faint wince from LaCroix, but Nick didn't let go. "Why are you here, LaCroix?" "What happened to her?" Nick closed his eyes at the change of subject, but answered, "She was attacked." "That is somewhat obvious. That is all the news is saying as well." "This is on the news?" "Of course it is. How was she attacked?" Nick tried to calm his thoughts again, then answered, "She was beaten, stabbed, and...raped." "And now she is dying, Nicholas." "I know. She might be breathing on her own, but...this isn't a coma, LaCroix. She's not just in some deep sleep." "What will you do?" "I think you know what." LaCroix chuckled. "Why would I know?" "You always know." "I know your options: Bring her across or let her go." "I'll do what she wants." "She is unconscious, she--" "We've talked about it. Vaguely." LaCroix stiffened and asked, "After her brother's untimely demise?" Nick absently nodded. He didn't care how LaCroix had found out about that; either Janette had told him or LaCroix had found out on his own. Both were equally possible. "And what does she want?" "To be brought across." "That was, what, almost two years ago? How do you know she didn't change her mind?" "You know she hasn't. You talked to her just...didn't you ask her that?" "She was...evasive. Like you she is capable of lying to me." Nick looked slowly up at LaCroix. The other knew. While he wasn't sure Natalie had outright lied, LaCroix hadn't gotten the answers he had wanted. That night he had also lied to LaCroix...and he had thought he had gotten away with it...until now. "You love her." "Yes," Nick admitted. "If I bring her across will you kill either of us?" Nick waited, but he didn't get an immediate answer. "Please, if you plan to kill one of us, tell me and I'll let her die." "You would let her die?" "If it means sparing her from your wrath, from either another attack by you or her going through this, having to watch me die...then yes." Nick waited, watching as a strange emotion seemed to flit through the other. A realisation of some sort. "Please, LaCroix, tell me one way or another. Tell me now before anything is done." "I will...not take my revenge. In some ways it was taken centuries ago when you killed young Alyssa." Nick's gaze shifted to Natalie at that. Alyssa...why did LaCroix have to bring that up now? But he knew. Yes, LaCroix had known his plans with Alyssa...and had let him fumble with his first attempt to bring someone across...the only mortal he had ever married, and a large part of why he had never really let himself get close to Natalie. "I could have helped you then if--" "Then your threat--" "Was out of anger. And I would have followed through except for your...seeming willingness to bring Natalie over. But you merely cared for her so very much...to the point that you would rather make her one of us than be separated, is that it? Is that what is driving you now, Nicholas?" Nick didn't answer, instead slowly shifting first to where he was sitting up, then standing. "Then perhaps I never really loved your sister, or--" "You were infatuated with her purity, LaCroix. Maybe it was love, I don't know, but--" "But the past does not matter now. I believe we settled that." Nick slowly nodded as he stared down on Natalie. "Schanke will return soon, probably." "Yes, your bumbling--" "LaCroix, please, don't--" Nick felt a wave of anger course through him and he turned away for a moment. "Will bringing her across heal her?" "Of course." "She may have brain damage." "Our blood will heal any wound or disease inflicted that was not fully healed at the time of...well, death of sorts." "But have you ever--" "I'm sure it's been done. I assure you that you are not the only vampire to be presented with this situation--to kill or save someone they care about--and as I have heard nothing about what we are not healing severe wounds such as these...I assure you she will wake, Nicholas." "I'll need your help." "Name it." Nick then explained the issues, specifically that once he drained her whether he unhooked her leads or not medical personnel would come running. And that while he was who could and would make Natalie's medical decisions, he wasn't sure if he'd be stopped if he took her from the hospital. LaCroix had surprisingly offered to deal with all of that, then return to help him. Nick gave the reason for taking Natalie home as that if she were to die she didn't want to in a hospital--which from what he had gathered was the truth--and LaCroix had left. Nick was stuck waiting, listening to Natalie's slowly weakening heart. As minutes ticked by he expected Schanke to come back and ruin whatever plan. Not even ten minutes later Nick saw a doctor approach...and smiled. "It is easier to trick them if--" "If they think you're another doctor," Nick said glancing at the green scrubs the other had somehow gotten hold of--complete with a stethoscope which made the disguise rather authentic-looking at first glance. LaCroix' ring was the only thing that threw the look off. "Did it seem like it would be allowed?" "I convinced her doctors and other medical staff that she is just in a coma, a moderate coma, and will not be harmed by being removed." "So I won't be stopped." "If you are...well, it won't be for long." LaCroix held up a scalpel, which he played with for a second before he flipped it, holding it by the blade as he held it out. "You'll need this." "Thank you, LaCroix." "Now, how do we wish to do this?" "We?" "Yes, we." "If Schanke sees you, or I should say hears you--" "I've fooled even you with just my voice." Nick nearly replied again, but LaCroix was right. LaCroix could easily fool Schanke with an accent; any later noted resemblance could be brushed off as coincidence. "Do you bring her across first or do we extricate her from this...mess?" "The first," Nick quickly answered, but then he just stared down on Natalie. He feared he would kill her despite that he still didn't crave her blood; it should be teasing him through her bandages. Then when she woke she would remember what had happened, either immediately or with time. Would she blame him for making her confront the memory of her attack? It would linger with her just like his last night as a mortal had lingered with him all this time. "Nicholas, if you wish, I could--" "No. No, LaCroix," Nick said, and the thought that LaCroix would bring her across if he didn't shoved his body into action. Moving ever so slightly nearer Nick leaned down, touched her warm face one last time, then gently tilted her head as far to the side as he could so that he could feed from her. Her blood was strangely empty-tasting and Nick had to force himself to drink more than the first mouthful. This wasn't how he had wanted to taste her blood, if ever; he would have wanted it to be somehow special given the strong possibility that he could kill her. But the blank blood at least prevented him from taking too much, and when Nick pulled back he saw a rather pleased smile on LaCroix' features, even as the other began to undo some of the leads for the monitors that were now screaming for attention. Nick also tasked himself with that--the breathing tube needed removed immediately, and between them not even a minute passed before the scalpel sliced into his wrist and he let his blood trickle into Natalie's mouth. At the edges of his senses Nick could hear others approaching the room, and while Natalie hadn't yet swallowed he had run out of time. As LaCroix moved back Nick picked his coat up off the floor, sat Natalie up, and wrapped it around her back. Shifting her again he managed to wrap it fully around her and he hoisted her up into his arms and started toward the door...which was blocked. "Oh hell no, Knight. You can't be--" "Out of my way, Schanke." "No, no, no, this is a bad--" "It's what she wants." "What, to be...I'm not a doctor, but--" "No, you're not a doctor, but Natalie is and she wouldn't want to die in the hospital." "She's not going to--" "Then she can recover at home. If she wakes up, she wakes up somewhere familiar. If she doesn't...then at least she doesn't die here." "What if this kills her, Knight? You don't--" "She'd rather die than...have me like today for days or weeks, maybe even months or years. Please move, Schanke." "So you can, what, carry her home? Take a cab? Fly?" Nick pulled back a little at the last; fly was exactly what he had planned to do, but Schanke didn't know he could. "Hell no, Knight. I drove you here; I can drive you home or wherever." "Schanke--" "I might not like it, but I think you're right in that Natalie wouldn't want to die here. And I know you well enough to know you'll take care of her...you've probably been planning this all day, haven't you? And I'm not going to be able to stop you. So...just don't go anywhere just yet." Nick watched as Schanke approached, giving Natalie a glance as he went for his things--his coat and the containers Myra had brought dinner in, one of which was still left--and then Nick followed Schanke from the room. He caught a glance from LaCroix, who looked to be dealing with Dr. Zaytsev. His eyes met the other vampire's for just a moment, then Nick focused on leaving before anyone else had a fit...or Schanke changed his mind. He saw a few people he recognised--detectives, one of the forensics techs--and they saw him, but Nick nodded Schanke along and soon they were free from prying eyes. Aftermath - (06/20) "Where am I going, Knight? Your place or Natalie's?" Nick hadn't really thought about that. He didn't know where she'd prefer, but said, "My place," as his loft was more isolated and it'd be easier to keep any visitors--like Schanke or Cohen--from seeing Natalie. "She still all right?" Nick didn't look up from watching Natalie. They were on the back seat of Schanke's car and he had Natalie leaning up against him. She still hadn't moved that he had noticed, and he was a bit worried. He hated waiting. Nick hoped he had just missed some reaction back at the hospital as he had been attempting to leave. "Does Cohen know you took her home? I mean I suppose she will, but did you actually tell anyone before you took her?" "Her doctor knows." "So that's why you weren't carted off, then?" "I guess," Nick whispered, brushing his fingers along Natalie's unblemished cheek. She still had at least the cut on the other, and his bite also hadn't healed...not that that particular wound would heal until she woke and properly fed. Closing his eyes, Nick just held Natalie and listened, waiting for something. Unfortunately the first thing that broke Nick's focus wasn't Natalie but Schanke's door slamming shut, and then what seemed like a second or two later raps on the door Nick was leaning against. They were already to his place. Slowly Nick shifted, suddenly found that door open, and then he carefully got out, shifting Natalie until he once again held her. He didn't wait for Schanke, not that he seemed to need to as the other was right there. Schanke held the outside door, then put in the alarm code and held the elevator door open. Nick was grateful for this, as being a vampire didn't help much with juggling multiple tasks--he still only had two hands. Once out of the elevator, however, Nick wished Schanke would just leave. The other hovered rather close behind him as he carried Natalie first over to and then up the stairs, then finally into his bedroom. Laying Natalie down on top of the made bed, Nick shot a glare at Schanke, who had followed. "She's still--" "She's not dead, if that's what you're asking." "Can I--" "No. Go home, Schanke. It's time for you to go home." Schanke fidgeted near the door. "You'll let me know if anything changes?" "Yeah, I'll let you know." "If I leave what Myra made are you going to eat it or just toss it?" Nick tensed; he would have tossed it. "You can have it if you want. I'll eat later." "Later," Schanke repeated. "When I leave are you going to pull out that red wine of yours and get drunk?" "I won't get drunk," Nick assured, figuring Schanke would know he'd have some of his 'wine'. "You better not...not tonight, anyway." Schanke spun to leave, but slowly turned back. "And, ah, did you talk more to her doctors? Do you know how likely she might wake up soon?" "They don't know, Schanke. Could be any time." "If she--make sure she knows everyone wants her to get better, okay? And that you threw me out after--" "I'll let her know if she wakes up when you're not here--I'm pretty sure you'll be back." "Yeah, and just...do be careful and make sure you didn't rip open any of her stitches or the like. I mean, what you did...it's a bit risky, isn't it? There could be consequences?" Nick blankly nodded at that. He didn't have to be too careful when it came to her stitches, but there definitely would be consequences to what he did. Natalie might have been attacked, found, and now saved, but now he had to deal with the aftermath of his decision to bring her across...as would Natalie once she woke. Nick closed his eyes, listening as Schanke eventually left the room and headed downstairs. Nick waited and made sure the other didn't take a peek into his fridge or the like; when he heard the elevator door slide shut Nick relaxed. He had half-expected that LaCroix would be there waiting for him, but no one popped out of the shadows. After several minutes of waiting, Nick focused back in on Natalie. She was still wrapped in his coat and the only other thing she had on was the hospital gown. If possible he wanted to get her changed before LaCroix found them or she woke, even though she didn't seem close to waking. First Nick left the bedside and tried to find something for Natalie to wear. After riffling through t-shirts--a couple even Natalie's--he changed his mind and retrieved his satin robe. The smooth fabric would feel far more comfortable against Natalie's newly sensitive skin than either what she had on, any t-shirt, or even the sheets themselves. So she'd have a bit more to wear than the robe, Nick went back to the dresser and pulled out a pair of equally silky boxer shorts. Returning to Natalie's side, Nick pulled his coat away, then he carefully changed her clothes. First he slid the boxers on her, then sat next to her so that he could sit her up, letting her head lean on his shoulder. Then he wrapped the robe around Natalie much like he had his coat at the hospital, except this time he undid the hospital gown. He tried not to look at her bare but still bruised and wounded body or touch her more than necessary, but Nick still got a glance or two of areas he had never seen before. With her so close he felt one of her now very periodic heartbeats, which pushed any inappropriate thoughts away. At least now he knew she lived, that she had been brought across, and that she would indeed wake. That didn't completely calm his worry, but at least he knew something. Gently lifting Natalie, Nick lay her at the foot of the bed, pulled away his coat and the discarded gown, folded back the comforter and sheet, and then replaced Natalie, tucking her snugly in. Finally Nick walked around the bed, pulled off his shoes, and crawled over to where Natalie lay. Holding her much like he had in the hospital--but tighter now--Nick closed his eyes to wait for LaCroix. He wouldn't leave her at least until she woke. He couldn't and wouldn't. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. "She is not dead, Nicholas." Despite the assurance--and that he knew it was true--Nick clutched Natalie tighter. "It's been hours. The night is half over." "From what I gather she was rather severely injured. Yes?" "Yes." "And the worst?" "Probably broken ribs, possibly a broken arm, and the stab wounds." "Which required surgery and removal of one of her organs." Nick's attention shot up at that. LaCroix must have grilled her doctor at the hospital himself to know about that. "And no, I do not know what effect that will have. With how close to when she was brought across her body may or may not try to replace it...if so, it could be some time before she wakes." Nick barely listened; he just wanted Natalie to wake...and LaCroix to leave. "Have you checked her wounds, Nicholas? I do not smell her blood as strongly, but--" As a hand reached toward the robe tied loosely around Natalie, Nick changed, baring his fangs and hissing at LaCroix. He snatched his sire's hand and saw another wince...but in a moment LaCroix' hand had slipped free of his and any hint of the other's pain had vanished and had been replaced with anger. "Stop this, Nicholas! You are not some feral--" "Leave me alone." "No, not when things must be done. Her bandages and that brace should be removed before she fully heals. And you will need to feed. She will need blood when she wakes. She will be weak, and as you would doubtfully allow her to feed properly, kill as she should, she will need blood from us." "She will not--" "It is not my idea of fun, Nicholas. But if you wish her to fully recover as quickly as possible she will need our blood. Now, remove the bandages on her wounds and we shall see any progress." Initially Nick just lay there, but he knew LaCroix was right. She would need blood when she woke. Their blood would heal her the most and the fastest, even compared to fresh human blood. That meant he would need blood as well. Other than taking Natalie's blood in order to bring her across, he hadn't had any for more than a day now. He still didn't feel hungry, but if Natalie had healed substantially he would have no choice but to have something. "Will you remove her bandages, or shall I?" Nick snapped into motion at the gentle threat. He first sat up, and then he carefully pulled down the comforter. He shot a glare at LaCroix as the other sat on the edge of the bed next to Natalie, but then reached for the robe. He was now thankful he had dressed her in more than the robe as he revealed her bandaged abdomen. Not all could be seen easily, but when Nick looked over at LaCroix he could see anger. Even LaCroix reacted, which told him how severe the wounds seemed to others...and he hadn't even removed the bandages yet. When Nick did start peeling back the gauze, he wasn't quite prepared. While Natalie certainly seemed to be healing--the blemishes varying between a scab and a scar--the number of cuts and more severe wounds as well as bruises around her ribs told just how severe she had been wounded. That, and the blood from her bandages, which showed even more wounds. "Do they know who did this to her?" "Not that I am aware." "Do you?" "I know where I'd start." "Which is?" "A case that I think was just sentenced. The man was tied to several deaths that were vaguely similar and it was mostly Natalie's forensic evidence that would convict him...assuming he was." "If he is detained--" "He was the only one directly tied to the deaths, but it was suspected that at least two others had been involved." "Your case, or--" "Another's," Nick quickly answered. "I mentioned it to the detectives investigating what happened to Natalie." "Does she or did she have other wounds, bruises?" "Her arms were both cut--and the cut on her face, obviously," he said as he recovered her now undressed abdominal wounds. "And, yeah, she had other bruises. Didn't you see at the hospital?" "I was focused on getting her out of the hospital." "As was I," Nick stated, surprised LaCroix hadn't seen--LaCroix had been the one to undo most of the various lines, after all. "After having hours to watch her." Nick closed his eyes. They were arguing. Again. Like usual. "Regardless, she appears to be healing...if slowly. It may take some time for her to wake. Let me know the results of any tests she does." "You're leaving?" "For now. After seeing her condition more clearly I think it would be wise to acquire more fresh blood." "LaCroix--" "I will return before sunrise." Nick didn't have the chance to protest; just as quickly as LaCroix had arrived he had left. More blood...that's all he needed there to tempt him. He had been good lately--he hadn't had any human blood and he had kept to Natalie's suggested ration--but now... Reluctantly, Nick rolled away from Natalie and got up. He almost went downstairs but thought better of it. While LaCroix was assuredly gone he would remove the rest of Natalie's bandages. While the majority of the stab wounds were around her abdomen or lower torso, she had other stab wounds in less vital locations--one in her shoulder and at least one of her thighs had also been stabbed or cut. First he undid the brace and bandages on her right forearm. He found several cuts--the most healed of any of her injuries that he could see--but simply recovered her arm with the sleeve of the robe. Then he looked for any other bandages, starting at her shoulders. He managed to get to all the other wounds that had been tended to without compromising her privacy, which he was thankful for, but now Nick was beginning to understand LaCroix' reaction. Natalie's wounds were worse--and more numerous--than he had previously thought. Nick's anger rose and he had to close his eyes to regain some of his focus. He wanted to kill those that did this to Natalie. Right now. He wanted to find them and hurt them as much as they had hurt Natalie. But he couldn't stoop to that level. Natalie would also need him there when she woke. He didn't want her to wake alone...or worse, wake with LaCroix for her only company. While he still didn't really feel hungry, Nick certainly felt the side effects of his hunger. His worry and lack of sleep had drained his energy on top of not having had anything the previous morning or evening. Starting for the door, Nick almost immediately stopped and turned around. In attempting to leave, Nick paced back and forth between the door and his bed before he finally made it out of the room. Then he flew in a flash toward the fridge, but stopped again. His attention was caught on the kitchen table where two bottles sat. They looked little different than the bottles of cow's blood he had in the refrigerator, but Nick knew that meant the blood contained within them was extremely fresh...too fresh to ignore or refuse. Nick walked toward the table, his eyes drawn to where the corks had been placed somewhat haphazardly into the openings of the bottles. Fresh...very fresh. For Natalie, but LaCroix wouldn't be leaving to get more if they were intended just for her. He reached for one of them, nearly uncorking it but stopping. Hadn't he just been having trouble leaving Natalie? Now he was enraptured by this... Nick snapped out of auto-pilot, picked up the second bottle, and returned upstairs with both bottles. While he now not only needed but wanted the blood, so would Natalie. He needed to take it to the bedroom in case she woke before LaCroix returned, regardless whether he had any himself. This time he walked in an attempt to keep his focus. It worked. Once back to the bedroom, Nick again walked to the far side of the bed. He placed one bottle on the nightstand and held onto the other as he sat down. He quickly checked that Natalie was still unconscious, touching her cheek in case she was barely out. Nothing. Now Nick opened the bottle, pulling the cork out far easier than he should have been able to, then took a drink of it. Immediately Nick felt his hunger full-force and he took another, longer drink of the blood. It didn't calm him one bit, however; rather it just strengthened his worry. Aftermath - (07/20) Nick looked up from where he had been resting his head on Natalie's shoulder as LaCroix returned. "It's nearly sunrise." "And? I said I would return by sunrise. I did. Has she stirred?" "No," Nick whispered, glancing away. "And her wounds?" "Healing. Slowly." "I see you fed," LaCroix said with a slight nod to the bottle held next to the younger man. Nick shifted the half-full bottle. He had only drank half of that bottle, maybe; the second bottle still sat on the nightstand behind him. "Sleep, Nicholas. I will watch her." "I'm fine, I'm--" Nick cut off as LaCroix easily snatched the bottle out of his hands. "Don't worry...I'm sure you will wake when she does." Nick nearly protested but didn't have a response. Yes, he would wake when she did with how close he lay next to her. She would probably try to sit up, which she wouldn't be able to do wrapped up like she was. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. "Nicholas, wake up!" Nick started, waking to pain in his arm and the lingering thought of something being said to him. "What?" "Someone is coming in. I believe it may be your detective--" "Schanke," Nick breathed, starting to panic. Schanke had had to punch in the alarm code when he brought Natalie home. And he hadn't even thought to change it. "Damn it." "He tried calling twice earlier." "Why didn't you wake me then?" "I tried." "And Natalie?" "Still sleeping. Nearly healed." Nick felt his panic rise at that, and he sat up and looked at Natalie's face. Indeed, all that was left of the cut on her cheek was a thin, pink-ish line. Why did Schanke have to come now? And how hard would it be to get rid of him? "Just...stay out of sight, LaCroix." Not waiting for a response, Nick got up from the bed and left the room. He barely made it to the stairs before the elevator door below opened. Schanke appeared to be alone, at least. And no food parcels either from himself or his wife. "Why didn't you answer the buzzer? I tried it a couple of times before letting myself in." "Because I was sleeping." Nick noticed the other seemed to look him over--then nod. Nick looked at his shirt as well and fresh wrinkles were scattered here and there. "Got your sleep schedule screwed up, too, huh? At least you're free to skip out on work tonight. I'm not. What do you want me to tell anyone that asks about Natalie?" When Schanke finally stopped, Nick froze at the question. He had hoped Natalie would wake before he had to answer that question. "She is still okay, right? I mean no worse..." "No worse," Nick echoed. "Has she woken up or moved or anything?" "Not yet." "Not yet...so maybe--" "Schanke, I don't know. It's been not even--" "It's been a bit over half a day, Knight. Longer than she was at the hospital." "I still don't know. Until she wakes--if she wakes--there won't be anything new." "Unless she dies." Nick turned around and nearly walked for the fridge only to spot several more bottles on the kitchen table. Damn it. LaCroix didn't put them away or out of sight. "I'm sorry, Nick, but...she really didn't look that good. It is a possibility whether you want to face it or not." "I know it--I know it is," Nick said almost using the past tense. He *had* known it was not only a possibility but a high likelihood. That's why he had needed to take Natalie from the hospital in the first place. "You doing okay with this?" "Fine." "Yeah, right. What, that your whole supply?" Schanke said nodding to the table. "At least it's not refrigerated this time, but... Should I ask how much you've drunk?" "None, and--" "What's with the bottles, then?" Schanke said as he stepped forward and picked one up. When Schanke reached for the cork Nick hurried over and pulled both the now open bottle of human blood and the cork out of his partner's hand. "It's not for consumption." "It's not--" "I thought I might do some...painting," Nick devised, remembering the excuse he had given nearly a year before. "Bovine blood, not red wine." Schanke backed away fast looking a bit green. "I don't suppose you have any? Wine, that is." "No." "Can I check in on her?" Schanke said, starting slowly for the stairs. Nick blocked Schanke with a few quick steps. "Sorry, not right now." "Then tonight, maybe? Before work?" Hesitating, Nick hesitantly said, "Yeah, maybe." Natalie would be awake before then--she could decide what to do regarding telling anyone. She'd know more about how she should recover if she were mortal...or if she wanted to. "I could stay if you want? Myra's okay with it." "No, it's fine. Go home. I'll be fine," Nick assured, and after a few awkward goodbyes Schanke had left via the elevator. Closing his eyes, Nick waited until he was sure the other had gone, then he changed the alarm code. Schanke couldn't randomly come in like that again. And he certainly didn't want to get Schanke accustomed to just walking in without perhaps even using the buzzer. Nick then returned to his room to find LaCroix hovering just inside the door--probably listening. He looked livid. "What?" "You told him the bottles contained blood." "It was the easiest explanation. When I got arrested--because of you--they found blood here and I used the excuse that it was paint thinner. It seemed to work with Schanke at least. I figured he'd remember." Nick slid by LaCroix and headed over to Natalie. "Has anything changed?" "Beyond that her healing appears to be accelerating...no." "So she'll wake soon?" "Probably." Getting a glare, LaCroix acquiesced, "Almost assuredly. Even her abdominal wounds are nearly healed. Much better than before. I even removed her stitches." "You--" Nick shook off his annoyance. After all, he should have done that when he had removed the bandages. And he had been sleeping, whereas LaCroix had probably been awake watching over them. But this just confirmed that Natalie was indeed healing and would wake soon, whether that be minutes or hours. "What if she doesn't-- You've watched her, observed her. Will she cope with being a vampire?" "I think she'll do more than cope, Nicholas. She very well may thrive...in some ways at least." Nick didn't want her to thrive as a vampire, enjoy what she was on every level like LaCroix did. He also didn't want her to hate what she was on the level he did...and hate the one that had done this to her. He didn't want to turn into LaCroix any more than he wanted her to. Suddenly Nick realised LaCroix had left the room. He was alone, or he was for the moment. Nick walked up to the bed, then sat on the edge of the bed next to Natalie where LaCroix had. The comforter had been folded down and the robe lay slightly dishevelled. So, LaCroix had indeed checked those wounds again. Nick did the same and was amazed at how far the wounds had come. Natalie really was nearly healed. The slash on her face had completely vanished just within the last few minutes. Her most severe wound now looked to be his bite. Nick smoothed the robe down again, then brushed his fingers against the side of her face. Seeing her eyes flutter, he leaned forward and said her name, but that didn't elicit any further reaction. When she then almost flinched in pain, Nick worried. "Natalie? Wake up...come back to my voice," he urged her, again touching her face. "I'm right here, Nat. Please wake up." Nick then silently waited, watched as Natalie first slowly stirred then abruptly tried to sit up as she fully woke. Feeling his first real sense of relief, Nick pulled her into an embrace, wrapping his arms around Natalie and pulling her tight. After a moment of quiet, Natalie whispered, "Nick, what you're doing hurts." Nick immediately let go, pulling back and merely holding Natalie's shoulders at first. "What happened? What am I doing here, in your bedroom, in... Where are my clothes?" "At...at the hospital, probably." "Hospital," she stated. "I don't remember anything about being in the hospital. I was going home and--" Nick watched as Natalie's expression first went blank, then confusion set in. "Nat?" "I was walking to my car and then...I'm not entirely sure what happened. I just remember flashes of-- Nick, what happened to me?" "We're not sure, exactly." "What do you mean, we?" "You were...attacked." "I kind of guessed that much, Nick. I want to know what happened. Why was I in the hospital, why am I here, why does it hurt to breathe, and why am I so very hungry..." Nick shifted his hands from Natalie's shoulder's to her face. It only took a second before he saw realisation flicker in her expression, her eyes going to one of his hands, which she took in hers. "You're warm." "I'm sorry, Nat." "For what? If you brought me across then I assume I--" "You were dying, yes. But we only talked about it that once, and--" "My mind hasn't--it hadn't changed. Now, Nick..." Nick dropped his hands and his eyes, the latter of which locked onto the half-full bottle laying on the comforter next to Natalie. Remembering Natalie's mention of it hurting to breathe--probably her still healing ribs--he uncorked it. He didn't immediately hand it to her, however. "So I take it that's my first...meal of a sort." Nick slowly nodded. "Is it cow's blood?" "No." "Probably has to be human blood, doesn't it?" "It doesn't...have to be," Nick slowly answered. "It doesn't?" "Whatever blood you first feed from will be forever the type of blood you most crave. Vampires that first fed from animal blood are...they're a bit different," Nick said not quite managing to cover his distaste. These vampires quite often took on some behavioural characteristics of the animal they fed from. "We call them caurouche." "We as in--" "Normal vampires, I guess. Caurouche are fairly rare, I think. They don't typically associate with others." "You wouldn't want me to--I guess if I would, what, drink cow's blood right now I'd--" "You'd be treated differently," Nick admitted. "Other vampires would look down on you, even more so if you purposely chose it." He turned the bottle in his hands. He feared handing it to her; would her new power change her? But either he gave it to her or she would take it. The only other option was to essentially chain her up and watch her slowly starve...and die. Slowly he handed it out, looking up as it slid from his grip. "Nat--" "Please, Nick. I want to know everything you know about what happened to me." "First, drink. It will help you finish healing." He paused for a moment, then added, "Unless you want--I won't stop you from choosing the alternative." "It just sets a preference, right?" "Pretty much." Nick watched as Natalie first looked at the bottle, turning it like he had, then rather easily pulled the cork out. He had to remind himself it's not like she hadn't done the same with his own bottles on occasion. He didn't look at her directly as she took a drink from it. Her enjoyment clearly lit up her features, and he watched her drink from it again. "How do you feel?" "Do you always feel so much better so quickly?" "Yeah." "Okay, now tell me--" "Your car was found a...I think a kilometre or so from work, and you were found a few blocks away, unconscious." "So I had to get there somehow. That should help figuring out what's what. Maybe." "What do you remember?" "A man grabbing me. I think as I reached my car or just after, something... And then--" "What?" Nick asked as Natalie froze, a tinge of horror reflecting in her eyes. "There was more than one. Three men. I've seen them before, I think." "Do you remember where?" Nick carefully prodded, wanting to know if it was who he suspected. "No, not offhand. I mostly remember..." Natalie closed her eyes. "Screaming at them to stop, I think." Nick didn't have any doubt at that, and for a moment he waited for her to continue. "I don't really remember what happened very clearly." When Natalie shook her head a little and stopped talking, he told her, "When you never made it to my place and I couldn't get hold of you I called Schanke, had him go by--" "He found me?" "No. He...he put out an APB on your car, and they found first your car and then you--or at that time a woman with no ID that matched your description--nearby. Schanke picked me up and took me to the hospital. You were in surgery, nearly died." "Surgery for?" "Internal injuries." Then Nick closed his eyes, bracing himself before stating, "You were beaten, stabbed multiple times, and...and raped. They ended up removing a kidney during the surgery, and you had quite a few broken ribs and possibly a broken right forearm. And quite a few cuts and bruises. You weren't responding at all. You stopped breathing twice and your heart had to be restarted once." Again looking at Natalie, she looked calm but tense. He let her just digest what he had told her. "Then I take it Schanke saw me?" "Yeah. And Cohen. And the detectives assigned." "Who?" "Pollard and Lang." Natalie slowly nodded. "They'll do just fine, Nick." "They should pay for this, those that attacked you." "And they will. They'll be caught. I have a feeling you'll make sure of that." Now Nick nodded. Yes, he would. "So who knows what happened to me?" "The whole department. Something even made it on the news, although without the...details." Nick watched as Natalie drank more of the blood--a very long swig--and he continued, "Schanke didn't want to leave me here more or less alone with you. He came back just a few minutes before you woke up. I managed to get you out of the hospital without him finding out either what I am or what I had done; he drove us here. He's quite worried about both of us." "Was I that bad?" "I wouldn't have brought you across if you weren't." "What was my prognosis?" "Not good." Figuring she would find out at some point, he told her, "You were either in a very deep coma or had suffered brain damage from lack of oxygen. Your doctor's opinion was that it was very unlikely you'd wake up. You were completely unresponsive, and as the day went on I could sense that you were dying." "If Schanke's worried about me...I suppose that means I'm still alive so to speak?" "Yes. I thought you should choose what to do." "It would be easiest to let the persona of Dr. Lambert die," said LaCroix from the doorway. Nick tensed as Natalie startled. Frankly he was surprised it had taken LaCroix this long to make his presence known. "It's her choice what to do." "You know who I am, yes?" LaCroix said as he stepped slowly nearer. "Yes," Natalie immediately whispered in reply, her eyes on LaCroix. "A guess or a memory?" Nick looked away, his eyes settling on the sheets. "A gu--actually, I think a bit of both. I've seen you before..." "Indeed you have." "And now you've met again," Nick said. "You can go downstairs now, LaCroix." "I don't think so. We have things to discus." "It can wait." "And how long before that bumbling mortal detective comes back?" "I changed the alarm code. He won't be able to invite himself in." "Yes, but he did raise a valid point, a valid question. What are you--or he--going to tell the others? She is or will be recovered very soon. While most of her injuries can be easily covered up--" "It will be Natalie's choice," Nick stated, turning toward LaCroix with a glare. The other merely started walking slowly closer. "And a choice she will have to make very soon, Nicholas. I'm sure others will want to know her condition, and when it is found that she is awake she will be questioned about what happened." "I know that." When LaCroix' attention turned to Natalie and he moved even closer, Nick stood and blocked the other man's path. "She should rest. There will be time for you to pester her later." LaCroix smirked. "Yes, I suppose there will be, won't there? We'll see." Nick closed his eyes as LaCroix spun and left the room rather quicker than he had come in. "Nick?" "I'm sorry about that," Nick said, slowly turning. "He seems rather interested in your recovery himself." "Why? Is something different about--" "Not especially. I think he's curious to find out whether or not your kidney regenerates itself or regrows or...whatever. And he'll want to keep a close eye on you...and me. I'm sorry, Nat. When you chose this he wasn't part of the deal." "That first actually sounds interesting to know, and I told you I hadn't changed my mind." "I know, but--" "Sit down, Nick." Nick did so, but felt a bit odd being ordered around and seemingly put at ease by, well, someone that had been attacked, nearly killed, unconscious for the last day, and had now been awake as a vampire for mere minutes. She should be the one strung out by worry or whatever, not him. "I'm okay, I think. Although I do have a better recollection of previously meeting LaCroix and not remembering it after than I do of what happened, I guess, yesterday?" Nick tensed. He had half-hoped she had forgotten about that, at least for the moment. "You made me forget that to protect me, didn't you? Or I sure hope--" "Yes," he honestly answered as he started to hear anger in her tone. "And was the restaurant the only thing you made me forget?" Nick hesitated, nearly answering but stopping himself a couple of times before managing, "No. But you know that now, don't you?" Natalie nodded. "Yeah, I remember a couple of...moments I thought were just dreams or fantasy." "I'm sorry," Nick said again. She didn't have to spell it out to know what she meant--the couple of kisses they had shared and the vague recognition of their feelings. He had taken that away to protect her as well, but to protect her from him rather than LaCroix. He had feared what would happen if they actually tried to pursue more than a friendship. "I know. It's okay now, though, isn't it?" "Is it?" he cautiously asked. He really didn't know where things stood now and told her, "And you really should get some rest." "Nick, I feel fine. Perfectly fine. Normal, even. Everything is fine." "And you should probably drink more of that," he said with a nod to the bottle. "There's plenty more." Nick tried to stand, but once he did he had to stop. Natalie had his wrist in a rather tight grip. "I want you to stay, Nick." "Are you sure? You don't want to be alone?" he asked, but as he did so he felt her fingers tighten a tad more. She was frightened. "I very much do not want to be alone right now. I feel so...empty? I'm not sure that's the right word, but--" "You need more blood," Nick said as he nodded. "The empty, kind of needy feeling is...it's usually quite strong at first. It's kind of the first sign of the hunger. If you feed well enough and regularly it fades. It's not the most pleasant feeling." "So that's part of why--" "Why I fall off the waggon so easily," Nick admitted, nearly smiling. "I told you it was hard to explain the hunger...all of it, not just the actual feeling of hunger." "You should have explained it more." "You probably would have thought it was in my head, or thought I was exaggerating." "Nick--" "I don't think you've felt the full effect yet," Nick slowly told her, then said as much to himself as her, "Most new vampires change right at first when they wake. You haven't yet." Nick pried Natalie's hand away from his wrist and he moved back just out of her reach. "If you want to take a shower or change...I'll be downstairs for a few." "I want you to stay," Natalie said, shifting to get up, but she winced in pain. "And I think you're right on the needing more blood. You sure what you said was it? My one hip feels like it was dislocated or something, although I don't think that's what happened." "That's all I was told." "Ah, well, I suppose it's good that wasn't noted. A fracture there...well, might as well let my persona die as LaCroix put it. It'd be a pain to explain that away as suddenly healed." Nick followed the bottle in Natalie's hand as she took another long drink from it. Compared to before he could tell she was drinking it down not only more quickly, but more frantically. It was coming; eventually it would hit her, and hard. Natalie was just still healing. "So how much sleep have you gotten?" "A...couple of hours," Nick guessed. "I think. Maybe. I'm not even sure what time it is." Checking, Nick found it was barely even mid-morning. "Make that somewhere between one and two hours." "When?" "Just before Schanke dropped by and you woke up." "Then if I am supposed to rest, you really need to." Nick still couldn't help but feel Natalie should really be alone, and he asked, "Are you sure you want me to stay in here?" "Yeah. Might want to change, though... Isn't that what you had on two nights ago?" Nick smiled a little as he looked down at his shirt. "Yeah, it is." "Well, go on, then." Shifting a little, Nick then found himself frozen in place for a moment. Once he had unfrozen, Nick went to the dresser and pulled out a plain black t-shirt and black sweatpants. He nearly went into the bathroom to change, but it's not like he'd be completely undressing. He changed right there although faced away from Natalie as he did so, first pulling off his socks, then pulling off his pants. Once he had the sweatpants on, Nick quickly undid the buttons on his shirt and pulled on the t-shirt. Turning, Nick found Natalie's eyes softly glowing just for a second. Then they returned to normal. He didn't even think she had realised it. "Do I have to see how much standing up and walking over there to get you hurts, or are you going to come back here on your own?" Nick snapped out of his thoughts and started back, but he went to the other side of the bed. He grabbed the full bottle on the nightstand out of his own hunger and went to lie down on top of the comforter only for it not to be there. Natalie had pulled it back, and it caused him pause. True, they had slept probably closer next to each other on the sofa, but this was different. It wasn't just that it was the bedroom, the bed, but that the closer they were to one another the more likely Natalie's physical wants would overpower her reason. Even so, not wanting to disappoint her Nick lay down and pulled the comforter over him. Propped up on one shoulder he uncorked the new bottle and took a long swig of it, but then unlike Natalie he resealed it. "Finish that," he said with a nod toward the nearly empty bottle in Natalie's hands. "Then maybe try to get some sleep." Aftermath - (08/20) Nick woke with a start pinned down by Natalie as she fed from him. He didn't know what time it was or even care. He couldn't remember the last time he had been fed from not out of need or reciprocation of his needs, but pure want. The pure pleasure eradicated his feelings of vulnerability and uncomfortableness, and Nick closed his eyes and let Natalie take all she wanted as he gently held her. The only problem with that was that he passed out soon after. He didn't think he was out for long, but when he woke he started again. There Natalie hovered over him, touching his face, looking panicked. And there, behind her, stood LaCroix. Nick couldn't read the other man's expression and Nick sat up, grabbing Natalie's arms and holding her in place. "Nick, I'm sorry, I didn't--" "I'm fine, just--what are you doing in here, LaCroix?" Nick lost his grip on Natalie as she turned. Clearly she hadn't seen him, either. "Just bringing this," LaCroix answered, holding a bottle lightly aloft before setting it on the nightstand, "before I leave." "Leave?" "It is sunset and I have a few things I need to take care of. As do you two. I somehow doubt Detective Schanke will stay away this evening." Nick tensed, but at least LaCroix left the room. And, it seemed, the loft. "What things does he need to take care of?" Natalie asked. "I don't know. He rarely elaborates." Nick looked at the clock and groaned. As Schanke had to go in to work tonight, that meant if he wanted to drop by the loft he'd have to do so very soon. "And we need to decide what to tell Schanke." "That I am recovering." "He's not going to take that without seeing you." "Then let him." "It's not that simple. You had a cut on your face. If he doesn't--" "Where?" Nick reached a hand up and touched her right cheek, lightly running it along where he remembered having seen the cut. "Then I can lie on that side. Keep the room dark and he won't really be able to tell it's not there. And I guess I'll need to see whatever pictures were taken." "I don't know if--" "It's protocol, Nick. Someone would have photographed my injuries. I'll need those if I want to, I guess, fake any visible wounds..." Nick caught the underlying answer, and asked, "So you're going to stay, then?" "If I can?" Nick nodded; whatever Natalie chose he would go along with it. He had decided that even back in the hospital. "If we leave I suppose what we should really do is fake my death, or that would be easiest. But my injuries weren't...they were bad, but they'll all heal and I could probably work with them after a week or so. It sounds like the most uncertain thing was if I'd wake up or not. Schanke can see that I'm awake whenever he drops by, and that will be that." "It's not quite that simple." "It is, Nick. People make miraculous recoveries all of the time, or at least often enough it won't be questioned. And I might not be a makeup artist, but I know how bruises and cuts progress well enough that I could get close enough. Although I'll have to, I guess, send you to the store sometime. Or LaCroix. You think he'd volunteer?" Nick managed a smile. He could hear Natalie's old teasing tone pop in, which made him feel much calmer. Maybe she wouldn't change too much? After all, Natalie did know what she was getting into more than most. But something just seemed off about Natalie's mood...she was enthusiastic despite what had happened to her. Nick then twitched as he felt a hand on his neck, where Natalie had bitten him. "Sorry, just seeing what damage I did." "It's nothing...and I don't think he'd do it, regardless," Nick answered. He couldn't imagine LaCroix standing in an aisle of makeup, scouring for what he suspected could be a somewhat long list. Not quite. Maybe if it were a specific item or two, but he had a feeling it might be a vague list. Nick now took the time to look Natalie over. She didn't seem to be in pain any more. And there, on the nightstand, sat two empty bottles and the full one LaCroix had brought. So Natalie had finished that bottle off as well. She must have done that sometime in the middle of the day...last he remembered before waking she had fallen asleep curled up next to him. "I'll get whatever you need." "I'm sure you will, but...not right now." "Schanke," Nick whispered. "Yeah. How worried is he?" "He keeps asking if you're okay...alive," Nick admitted. "I think he thinks you won't make it. I think most of everyone thinks you won't make it." "Then we'll have to fix that." "Maybe," Nick said, then he started to scoot away to the edge of the bed. He needed to see what kind of a mess was downstairs...and move those bottles off the kitchen table if LaCroix hadn't. Standing, he headed out of the room after giving Natalie a short glance to assure himself she was fine. Hurrying, Nick flew downstairs. Indeed the bottles on the table hadn't been put away, and Nick stopped there, where he picked up three and headed to the fridge, where he stowed them. His cow's blood got pushed to the back when he added the next three. Closing the fridge and turning, Nick started a little seeing Natalie right there. "Where do you want these?" she asked, holding the two empty and one full bottle from his room. He took the two empty bottles without a word and went to the sink, where he quickly gave them a rinse. Then he put them out of sight with his other empties. Scanning the rest of the loft, nothing else looked out of place. The only problem area would be the bedroom. "Nick?" Natalie's voice brought him back to her, and he took the remaining bottle. Rather than put it in the fridge, he put it on the counter as he retrieved two glasses. Both he then filled full, recorked the bottle, and brought one back to Natalie. "I don't think I need any more--" "If you want Schanke to see you it's probably a good idea if you have more. You've only been around vampires so far, and Schanke's blood can smell rather repulsive at times." "Are you trying to say I might want to kill him?" she asked incredulously. "It might be one impulse...although you might feel like breaking his neck more than biting into it. Whenever he comes by just focus on what you really want to do and what your instincts are telling you to do. Keep them separate in your mind and you'll be fine." "Ah, a bit ago the latter became the first, Nick. I practically attacked you as you slept. I even made you pass out. You. A vampire. Not--" "Nat, I hadn't had much blood in the last nearly...two days. Besides, I wasn't out long, was I?" "Three or four minutes. Which is a long time for you. You would have woken up faster if I had shot you." "Probably," Nick admitted, then took a drink from his glass. "But I could have stopped you if I wanted." He took another draught, but Natalie still seemed worried. "Don't worry about it, Nat. Or me." "I'm worried about Schanke, my co-workers, your co-workers--" Nick put his glass down on the kitchen table, which was nearest, and walked back to Natalie. He held her gently by the shoulders, hoping to calm her, focus her thoughts. "And there's time. You're not going to walk into the morgue tonight and do an autopsy--" "And that's the part I'm worried about the most. I've seen how you--" "Natalie, just listen," he said, cutting her off. When she kept quiet, he continued, "You have time, we have time. Cohen told me I could take as much time as I want, and supposedly we have enough unused time off we can take--both of us--for you to be ready. I have no doubt you'll be able to manage whatever you put your mind to. You're not like me, Nat. You are logical and reason-driven. Far more so than even LaCroix is. I suspect that will help immensely." "But--" "Natalie, it's normal for a vampire to either want to kill something or actually do so. It's more than mere instinct. It's a need far deeper than simple hunger. And while you had fed, had already tasted blood, that need hadn't been met. That's why you went for me, fed from me." "Is that why Richie--" "No, if he was he would have stopped after the first time. He would have realised and regretted what he had done. I'm sorry, Nat, but Richard had an underlying motive, a drive we didn't know about. I don't think he would have stopped on his own." "So you're saying I won't do that again?" "You won't do that again on an uncontrolled impulse," Nick stated, fully expecting that she would, indeed, feed from him like that again. "But you have." "Because I have a habit of acting on impulse if someone isn't there to talk reason into me," Nick half-spit out in counter, knowing Natalie was one of the few people that had ever managed that. And LaCroix could talk him into doing something even when it seemed like the opposite to him. Then Nick downed a good half of his glass in one swallow. He wasn't a good teacher, a good example for Natalie. He went to drink more only to find Natalie holding his hand in place, partway raised. "Nat--" "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have--" "No, it's true. There's nothing for you to be sorry about. And...can we talk about something else?" he asked, then finished his glass in one more swallow. "Well, I guess one question is how can I get ready to return to work when I'm stuck here?" "We'll figure something out, I'm sure, and I'm sure you could do shorter days at first." Then, guessing it was true, Nick added, "And I can always come with you at first. I think as far as Cohen is concerned I can take the month off and she won't be too upset." "And should I ask--" Nick tensed as Natalie cut off. She had heard the same thing he had--someone downstairs. Immediately the buzzer rang. "Schanke," he said and pulled the still-full glass of blood from Natalie's hand. "Go upstairs, maybe neaten the room up a bit if you can, and remember, your right cheek--" "Needs to be hidden. Got it." As Natalie headed up the stairs, Nick drank down the glass he had poured for Natalie even as Schanke rang the buzzer again and started complaining over the intercom. Setting the glass out of the way in the sink, Nick then rushed to the elevator and monitor, where he let Schanke up. He didn't think Schanke would mind too much that he had to wait; Schanke probably thought he was upstairs sleeping or the like. As soon as Schanke had the door open he started, "You changed the alarm code. What'd you do that for? Isn't it easier if--" "Quiet, Schanke." "Why?" "Because...Natalie is or was sleeping," Nick fabricated. "She's been--wait, you mean sleeping sleeping? As in she's been awake?" "Yeah, Schanke, she's been awake." "Did she say anything? She all right?" "Not much, and I think so," Nick said then blocked Schanke's path into the loft. "Come on, Knight. You wouldn't let me see how she was this morning, and now that she's--well, you said it yourself, she *was* sleeping but probably isn't any more because of me, so--" "All right." "All right? You mean--" "You can check in on her. Yeah," Nick said and turned, starting for the stairs. He climbed the steps slowly, making sure Schanke was following. Then, once just short of the bedroom, he said, "Wait here," and slipped into the room, closing the door part way. Inside, he found Natalie lying on her side, the light on the other side of the bed on. No clothes littered the floor, and the arm brace that he faintly remembered being on the floor next to the nightstand was out of sight. Perfect. "Ready?" he whispered. Getting a nod, he reminded her, "Just remember, you're not pain free." "I know," Natalie whispered back. Nick turned and pulled the door open to let Schanke in. "Just don't be--" "An ass?" "--your regular self," Nick finished. "Although, yeah, that's in there." Nick moved out of the way so that Schanke had a clear path to the bedside, where Natalie was curled up slightly on her side. "Natalie? You awake?" Schanke whispered as he stepped closer, stooping down slightly. "Yeah, Schanke, I'm awake." "That's, ah...good, I guess," Schanke fumbled. "You, ah, need anything? Or has Knight put food in that empty fridge of his?" "Nick's doing fine," Natalie whispered, then nearly winced. "You okay?" "Schanke..." Nick said from behind his partner, which made him spin. "She's lying on her broken ribs and she's had surgery. How do you think she feels?" he asked even though he suspected the wince was Schanke's reference to his refrigerator. "Oh, er...still, you two need anything? Either right now or later. I can always go by the store, or Natalie's--your apartment after work. Save you a trip. Or stay while Nick goes, whatever." "We're fine, Schanke," Natalie said a little louder this time, her voice sounding almost normal. "You going to come back to work?" "Plan to when I can." "And, er..." Schanke shifted uncomfortably. "Ah, you know, they're gonna want to talk to you, ask you stuff about what happened..." "She knows." Taking Schanke by the arm, Nick pulled his mortal partner from the room and into the hall. "What are you going to tell Cohen?" "What do you want me to tell her?" "The truth, I hope." "Which is? That Natalie is awake and...what? I assume she can't leave here, probably can't get up, and you know they're going to want to talk to her as soon as possible." "That she is awake and doesn't remember everything, but--" "But?" Nick hesitated, but he knew it could help Pollard and Lang find those that had done this. It would be faster if he explained what he had so far found out, and so he said, "There were three men. And Natalie's seen them somewhere before but she's not sure where." "They're still gonna want to talk to her, Knight." "I know," Nick whispered, his eyes shifting back to the bedroom. "She knows, too. Just...if you can put it off, do, but only if--" "What you told me isn't enough," Schanke said as he nodded and turned toward the stairs only to turn back for a moment. "I'll call when I find out whatever on that, or have Cohen call you or...something." Then, as he started down the stairs, he asked, "It all right if I come back whenever?" Nick followed, thinking. He didn't particularly want Schanke to drop by what seemed like it might become twice a day, but for now he supposed it would be alright. "Just not in the middle of the day." "Not in the middle of the day, I swear. Just before or after work. And you'll let me know if I could do anything?" "Yeah." By now they had reached the main part of the loft, and Nick stopped walking. "Don't worry too much while you're trapped at the precinct. Cohen's probably going to have you doing paperwork." "You shouldn't have said that. Probably will--but you'll have to do that one arrest report. I could bring that by for you?" "Sure," Nick reluctantly replied, watching as Schanke reached the elevator and pulled it open. He tried to remain in a semi-good mood, but it only lasted until the door slid shut. Then Nick closed his eyes and exhaled. That was done with, at least. Schanke had seen Natalie awake and he'd be able to tell the others that Natalie would probably be fine. But he had the feeling that what he had told Schanke about what Natalie remembered wouldn't be enough: Natalie would have to be questioned, interviewed about every detail she could recall...probably even shown photographs to try and identify her attackers. "Nick?" Spinning, Nick found Natalie standing in the doorway for his room. "He's gone, or will be," he said as the elevator started down. "You still have that glass?" "I'll pour another," Nick said, turning and heading toward the fridge. Within a few moments he had another glass filled, and he took the glass to Natalie, who had gone over and sat on the sofa. She took it the moment she could and drank from it. "You all right?" "Yeah, just a bit...you're right, I should have had some before he got here, I think." "But you didn't feel like--" "Snapping his neck? No. Just...shutting him up somehow." "Just remember, I've meddled enough with Schanke's mind." "Oh, I didn't want to act on it, just...a thought." Nick smiled. Yes, her reason and logic would keep Natalie from acting on impulse. But instinct was different, longer lasting... Nick's eyes darted toward the table upon hearing a soft clank as Natalie set the now empty glass down. "Well, not that I don't like your robe, but I think I'm going to go take a shower and change." "I'll stay down here," Nick quickly said, not turning to look at Natalie as he leaned forward and picked up her glass as he stood. "Nick--" "Maybe think about what you want to do later." "Well, I want to learn how to fly, but we could always watch the movie we didn't get to. Or do both?" "Maybe," Nick said with another smile. Yes, she'd be eager to learn. Would she have new ideas about how to cure him once she had first-hand experience? Or would she now feel the same as he, that it might not be possible to turn him back? And now Natalie, too. She might cope well with being a vampire, but he somehow doubted she'd ever truly enjoy it. Aftermath - (09/20) Nearly three hours later Nick felt extraordinarily normal. After her shower Natalie had changed into one of his t-shirts and boxer shorts. At that he had promised he'd go by her place, or that they could both go by--her cat needed to be fed, too. Then they had indeed sat down to watch that movie. No popcorn, just a glass of blood they shared. Natalie had curled up rather closer to him than usual, and then once it was over she had rather quickly fallen asleep. He just held her, her head resting on his shoulder and his on her still damp hair. This was just...nice. They hadn't spent as much time together lately as they used to, not since LaCroix' little trick he had made Natalie forget about. He hadn't wanted any chance that they'd get closer like that again or that he'd trigger her memories. Now it didn't matter. Just as he was falling asleep as well, Nick woke from the buzzer. "It's not morning yet, is it?" Natalie mumbled. "No," Nick whispered, ignoring Schanke's pleads to let him in. He squinted toward the monitor--more than just Schanke stood below--then abruptly stood. "Nat--" "I know, go hide more or less." Nick picked up the glass and bottle and quickly put them out of sight. Then he flew from the kitchen to the monitor, where he hit the intercom, "Schanke, I thought you were going to call once you found out--" "I told him not to, Knight." "Captain--" "Pollard and Lang are here to talk to Dr. Lambert, if that's all right? And if not they need to talk to you." "About?" "Let us in, Knight, unless you have something to hide," Cohen continued. Nick tensed at the wording. Unless he had something to hide? What did he have to hide? Unless Schanke noticed Natalie seemed better than she should, but that seemed unlikely. Schanke seemed jittery. It must be something else. It couldn't be good if Cohen had come. Hearing Cohen call his name again, Nick buzzed everyone up and waited by the elevator, then pulled it open and stood off to the side once it stopped. "Sorry, Knight, Cohen didn't give me any warning." "What--" "Can Pollard and Lang talk to Lambert? Your partner said she was awake, and from what I gather lucid." Nick hesitated this time, but nodded. "Yeah, I can show them up." "No, Detective, I need to speak with you." Caught a little off guard that he couldn't at least show them up and return, Nick looked toward his partner. "Schanke?" "Yeah, I'll take them up." Nick's eyes followed Schanke and the two other detectives until they made it about half way up the stairs. Then his gaze shifted and landed on Cohen, who looked rather grim. "Captain?" "Where have you been tonight?" "Why?" "Just answer the question, Knight." "Here," Nick said. "Now why--" "And has Dr. Lambert been awake?" "Most of that time, yeah." "And she would corroborate that you've been here?" "Yes." "And I believe your partner came by before his shift?" "Yes," Nick again answered, this time not hiding his frustration. "Now why are you here, why are you asking where I've been?" "Because this evening all four men involved in the Martin case--and the other cases tied to it--were murdered, much in the way Natalie was attacked." "What?" Nick asked, disbelieving it, but after a second he knew. LaCroix had been interested in what had happened, had asked questions. LaCroix had seen Natalie's injuries up close. And LaCroix had left at sunset for errands. At the time he had passed it off, figuring the other had wanted to change his clothes or the like, not go murder people. "The three men--that may or may not have attacked Natalie--as well as one of those men's brothers--who was convicted and jailed--were killed. And, I'm sorry, Knight, but you probably have the most motive." Cohen paused, pursing her lips. "Are you and Natalie more than just very good friends?" Nick looked up toward the bedroom. He and Natalie hadn't talked at all about their relationship. "Detective?" "I don't know. Maybe." "I already know that she and your partner have put themselves on the line for you in the past; I might not know you as well as I'd like, Knight, but I think I know you well enough to say you'd return the favour." "I wouldn't kill someone to get revenge." "But you said you wanted them to pay." Nick closed his eyes. Damn it, Schanke was right he shouldn't have said that. "I just didn't want them to go free. I would have--if Pollard and Lang couldn't find anything I would have investigated myself to point them in the right direction, but so far taking care of Natalie is the only thing I've been thinking about." "Did you have anything to do with what happened to those men?" "No," Nick evenly stated. It was a lie, at least partly. It had been through him that LaCroix would have gotten his information; if it was, indeed, LaCroix that had done this as he suspected. "Was it them?" "We don't know yet. DNA is being run." Cohen let out a breath. "Knight, this will be investigated. You better hope it's not tied to you, if only for Natalie." "I had nothing to do with what happened, Captain." "While I believe you, again, you should know that--" "I have the most motive," Nick said. "But any cop who regularly works with Natalie also has a motive." Cohen nodded. "Yes, which unfortunately makes for a very long list." "Which I'm at the top of." "If it makes you feel any better, so is Schanke." It didn't, but Nick faintly nodded in reply. In his peripheral senses he could hear Natalie being questioned as well, although right now they were questioning her about the attack...asking her to relate what happened from when she left work until she woke and go through some photographs. It seemed so impersonal now that he was involved in this as something akin to family of the victim rather than an investigator. Maybe she had been asked about his whereabouts first? Or maybe they hadn't gotten to that? Natalie's voice seemed nervous...she probably already knew what had happened from his conversation with Cohen. "It's good to know that Natalie is doing better, Detective. Particularly after what I heard at the hospital." Nick blankly nodded again. "I hope you're taking care of yourself, too, Knight." She pulled out a card and handed it to Nick. "That's mainly for Natalie once she feels a bit better, but you might want to talk to someone, too." Department psychiatrist. That's who the card was for. A couple of other names were on the back. Nick noticed they were all women, probably because of what had happened to Natalie. "However close you are, Knight, she might not be able to or want to talk to you about some things. And she might pretend she's doing better than she really is. If she does, it's not your fault." Nick tensed. Cohen had hit right on why he was still rather worried. Natalie seemed to be trying to get things back to 'normal', or at least to a new normal, but he worried she was putting on a bit of a front. And he would think it was his fault; he'd think he had pushed her too hard or said something wrong if Natalie didn't react well to any prodding. Nick took a few steps back away from Cohen, and then he turned. It felt odd having her there in his home, particularly when he wasn't exactly dressed. And the other detectives...he didn't like having them there, either. They weren't quite as gentle with their questions for Natalie as Nick thought they should be--nor with him. From what he could hear it sounded as though Natalie's memories were fragmented; she didn't remember everything that happened and the two detectives were pushing her hard for more. She had been able to identify the men that had hurt her from several cards of photographs. It was good and bad that it sounded like she picked out those who had been killed. They were being a bit too blunt, even though Natalie's replies pretty much matched their tone. He wanted to pace. Worse, he wanted to drag Pollard and Lang out. He would if it had just been Schanke there. "Detective--" "What?" he nearly snapped, turning on Cohen. Spinning away again, he said, "Sorry." "I wasn't trying to worry you, just forewarn you." "I know, I'm just--" "You don't have to explain. Your actions at the hospital showed how much you care about her, but--and I know I already said it--please do try to take care of yourself, too." Nick absently nodded, trying to turn his focus to the bedroom. Pollard and Lang were still there, trying to get Natalie to remember more, but it seemed Natalie either couldn't remember anything more or wouldn't tell them. He closed his eyes, silently willing them to give up. Probably no more than a minute later they did just that, and he heard Schanke herding the two out of the bedroom and downstairs. Nick opened his eyes and watched the three walk down the stairs. Pollard and Lang gave him a cursory nod then headed to the elevator. Cohen followed. Schanke, however, didn't go with them, even as the elevator descended. "I drove Cohen over," Schanke explained, glancing to the elevator. "You didn't, you know, have anything to do with--" "You think I did?" "No, no, no, but Pollard thinks you're a loose cannon. He has since you two met at the hospital, but he remembers what you said and thinks you lied about you and Natalie. He thinks she's covering for you--and me, but I think he can tell your stories aren't rehearsed. "But?" "But nothing. Everything matches. I know you're not lying and that you had nothing to do with this, but--" "I have motive." "Yeah, but so does every cop in the department. Don't worry about it. They won't find anything." Nick looked away. He sure hoped they wouldn't find anything, but couldn't help but remember how LaCroix had framed him once for murder...only a year ago. He wouldn't put it past LaCroix to do it again to push him and Natalie out of this life, particularly given he didn't seem thrilled with the idea of them--or Natalie, more specifically--staying. "Knight, you all right?" "Fine." "Pollard almost crossed the line, but Natalie shut them up, I think." Nick spun back, glaring at Schanke. He hadn't heard that or noticed that. "Hey, Pollard, not me. And, er, is that cut on Natalie's face healing really badly or something?" "It'll heal fine. It's just...bruised," he made up, hoping Natalie wouldn't be too upset by his addition. "Oh, erm, I guess then I should go. If I take too long Cohen will definitely be on my case. I haven't gotten a thing done tonight, and she knows it. See ya, Knight." Nick watched as Schanke left, then just continued to stare at the elevator as it descended. He could literally feel Natalie approaching; he couldn't hear her, her steps so quiet they were non-existent. "He killed them, didn't he? LaCroix?" "Probably," Nick whispered, not turning even as Natalie touched his arm. "I'm sure he'll be back. He'll want to brag about it, revel in his recollection of killing them to someone." "Nick, it's not your fault." "I told him...I told LaCroix who I thought had done this. I thought it was odd he wanted to know more, but now...now I know why." "Pollard--" "Thinks I did it, I know." "LaCroix wouldn't--" "Wouldn't he? Remember what happened when he came back?" "Yeah, and I remember accidentally switching your blood sample with the actual killer's, which pretty much--" "That wasn't your fault." "And this isn't yours. I'm sorry, Nick, but I could care less what happened to those that attacked me." Nick turned, horrified at her almost angry tone. "Nat--" "I'm not saying it's what I'd prefer, but to be honest I just feel relief." "If it was them." "My memory is still a bit jumbled, but I'm pretty sure it was. I'm sorry, Nick, but if it's over, I'm glad. You are, too, aren't you?" Nick hesitated, but to be honest he felt similarly. It was more LaCroix' meddling that bothered him, but still... "He shouldn't have interfered. He didn't even ask, or threaten that he might..." "Maybe not, but Nick, what's done is done." Nick nearly pulled back as Natalie touched his face, but he just closed his eyes. "Schanke noticed--" "Yeah, I heard that. I guess I need to practice faking a cut. And bruises, although I think those will be easier." Natalie paused, her hand dropping away, then asked, "So what did you do to Pollard at the hospital? I take it that's part of why he doesn't like you?" "I...shoved him...pushed him back against the wall. Initially he thought you--the woman found--had died, and I... I knew they were homicide detectives, not..." "Hmm, well, maybe instead I should ask what you did at the hospital that has everyone thinking we're more than friends? Those detectives asked a few--" "Rather personal questions. Yeah, I got that at the hospital," Nick admitted. He almost smiled; Natalie's teasing tone had reappeared. But then he remembered Schanke's comment. "What did Pollard go too far on?" "Ah, that. Kept asking with different things--seemed determined to get me to say yes to something...to us. I eventually told him it was none of his business and to ask something else or get out. It worked." "Yeah, he kind of...pressed that with me, too. Schanke and Cohen were right there--Cohen put a stop to the questions, eventually, after I snapped at them." "So, what did you do at the hospital to make people think we're more than friends?" "I...Schanke thought I'd get thrown out, but I--" Nick bowed his head, his gaze hitting below Natalie's. He was a bit embarrassed, actually, and to be honest he didn't know if he had overstepped any lines. "Most of the day I had laid there on the edge of your bed." "Hmm, so I guess all of this is something else to decide?" "What?" Nick asked, not quite sure what she was asking, although he could guess. "Us. What is our relationship? I mean are we just friends, or... I'd say I don't even know how you feel or how I feel, but with some of my reawakened memories..." "And I'm sorry about that," Nick said and tried to pull away but failed. Natalie had grabbed his arms. "Nat--" "I accepted your apology the first time. I understand why you did that. Or I assume it was you that did it. Last I can remember about that is passing out and waking up with no memory at my apartment." "Yeah, it was me." He tried to slip free, but Natalie's fingers dug into his arms, keeping him in place. "Natalie--" "Please, we need to actually talk about this, even if it's just a yes or no on whether each of us wants to pursue anything more. For me that's a yes. For you--" "Yes," Nick said without hesitation. "But I don't want to push--" "Don't treat me like some ice sculpture that might melt or shatter if bumped. We've both held back what we feel for who knows how long, so long we're both so sure what we want." "I don't want to end up pushing you away." "Because of what happened to me? Because I was--" "No, because...because that's what I do." Nick pulled forcibly away, this time succeeding, and walked several paces away. "Nick?" "Janette," Nick said in answer to her unasked question. "I don't know if I ever told you, but we were married once. It wasn't a mutual...I suppose you could say divorce of sorts. She left me because I smothered her. I wanted to be with her all of the time. After that we never really... There's always tension between us." "So you think I'll leave for the same reason?" Nick wanted to admit he did fear that, but he just said, "I don't know, maybe. But I've not had much luck with long term relationships, and if we pursue this I'd like it to last." "Well, how much of what I've seen is you?" "What do you mean?" "When I've come over to spend time with you, or even now, do you try and fake your behaviour or--" "No," Nick answered, shaking his head. He could see where she was going with this, and he turned around, calmer. "Maybe right at first when we met, but other than that, no." "Well, you haven't managed to drive me off yet. And I suspect being a vampire will mean we might even have fewer arguments. I've always been on you about...and even now I think I understand a little better." "Nat..." But instead of getting another counter, Nick startled a little as she touched his face again and this time kissed him. He nearly pulled away at first, but his instincts and wants were too strong. When Natalie ended the kiss and pushed back, her hands still cupping his face, he found himself mesmerised by her faintly glowing eyes. Nick tried to kiss her back, but found himself held agonisingly in place. "Natalie..." "They're gone and Schanke shouldn't be dropping by for a bit. We should probably...go by my apartment. Feed my cat. Get some clothes for me. See what I have in the way of makeup that might be usable..." At first Nick nearly shook his head, told her it wasn't the right time, but if they didn't go together then he'd have to go, anyway. It wouldn't really matter that they were both gone. "And no car. You can teach me how to fly on the way over." Nick smiled and pulled Natalie's hands down. "I thought I was supposed to be getting used to not using what I am," he said teasingly. "Well, I don't think that includes teaching me, does it?" "I don't know, it's your--" Nick cut off as Natalie put her fingers to his lips. "It doesn't. Besides, you have more than just that to teach me--I'm pretty sure that hypno trick is pretty high on the priority list. I can't expect you to be there to fix all my messes." "You'll do fine," he assured once he pulled her fingers away. "Perfect." "I don't know about perfect, but--" Natalie sighed. "Are we going to argue back and forth or...?" "We should go if we're going to go," Nick admitted. "And you at least should change...and I need some pants." Nick smiled, nodding again. "And do you have my purse and keys?" The smile vanished. He hadn't even thought about that. "Then do you have your keys?" "Yeah." "Good. I don't think my landlord would be thrilled with a broken doorknob." "Or window." "Or window," Natalie repeated. Aftermath - (10/20) "Ready to go back?" Nick said as he returned to Natalie's apartment and entered the bedroom, where she was packing a duffel bag. She had already changed and now very much looked like her old self. "Yeah, maybe. Just want to check the bathroom again," she said as she left the room, Nick following. "Did you talk to Mrs. Pultz?" "Yeah, I told her you needed someone to take care of Sydney for at least a week. She saw the news," he answered, watching as she rifled through the cabinet and drawers. "Did she ask?" "Yes, but I didn't elaborate." "Good. Aha, knew I had missed something," she said, pulling out a small eyeshadow compact. "Okay, now I'm ready to go. For now, anyway. We'll need to come back to deal with the kitchen." "Are you also ready to--" "You can take the bag," Natalie said as she zipped it up then handed it out to him. "I'm not going to try carrying that. I'll hit a building or something." "Only because you're afraid to do just that. Just think about where you want to go, where you want to be next. The rest sort of--" "Just happens. Yeah, but if you're thinking about something else..." Nick smiled and they left Natalie's apartment by the balcony, locking the door behind them. Natalie had run into him a couple of times, which he thought rather amusing. Well, the first time he hadn't, as it had nearly taken them both out--he had had to stop her then abrupt descent--but the next time he wasn't entirely sure whether it had been an accident or on purpose. Nick flew up to the roof without a word, and once Natalie had joined him he left silently for the loft. The return trip took far less time, and Natalie didn't bump into him. Granted, he flew faster this time, so she was struggling to keep up rather than easily catching up to him, but she was certainly doing better. Reaching the loft he saw her hungry eyes again, and she went to the fridge for a bottle and the cabinets for a glass without a word to him. She didn't seem so hungry she was out of control--if she had been, she wouldn't have bothered with the glass--but more than she should be. Or, more precisely, more than he would be. Nick had to remind himself what it had been like for himself at first. It had been hard and every little temptation or use of his abilities tipped off his hunger. LaCroix had liked that and used it to get him to kill, which while it made him feel better in the immediate it didn't last. He wouldn't do that to Natalie. He wouldn't push her, tell her what she needed or wanted. After setting the duffel bag down by the kitchen table, Nick slowly approached the counter where Natalie leaned over a now half-empty glass and asked, "How do you feel?" "I didn't know that that--flying--made you want blood." "It doesn't any longer," he honestly told her. "And it will get better for you. As long as you're not...hunting anything you won't feel the hunger." He watched as Natalie tensed; he didn't think she had really thought about that. Other than when she had fed from him, she hadn't really shown her new nature. "What about the other things?" "Again, it depends." "But if I have to...hypnotise someone it's likely to be in a...I'll be afraid, I'll be feeling fear, right?" "Yes." "And fear would kick in my instincts, and the hunger is related to that." "Yes." Nick watched as Natalie swirled her glass. He fully expected her to pick it up and drink from it again, but she didn't. Instead she set it down and seemed to be thinking. "Natalie?" Turning, Natalie set an even and stern gaze on Nick. She walked a couple steps forward, which put her right in front of him. "Kiss me." Nick just about pulled back at the command, but Natalie caught his hands. "I want to know what it feels like. Kiss me, bring out my instincts, but don't let me have blood, not yours and not what's on the counter." Closing his eyes, Nick forced himself not to refuse. He understood her reasons, but it would bring out his own instincts. "I might not be able to stop you from feeding," he admitted. "And we might not be able to stop." Natalie pursed her lips. "I'm fine with that." Nick could hear it was the truth, but he wasn't sure he was ready for the latter. Natalie might have been waiting for this, but he had been trying to avoid anything that would lead to her becoming a vampire. Now that she was a vampire he had no plan. He opened his eyes only to see her step up to him, then he felt her fingers along his cheek, then his neck. Pulling her hand down, he started walking backward, away from the kitchen, his eyes locked with Natalie's. If she wanted him to prevent her from taking the blood on the counter, they needed to be further from it. "Nick?" "Shh," he soothed, then leaned forward and gently kissed her lips. Then he just brushed his lips along her skin, from her mouth to her neck. The faint teasing would be more than enough to arouse her, wake her wants and instincts. Then he kissed her neck, first lightly then more hungrily, his fangs descending. When he next kissed her on the mouth, she kissed back. Their tongues tried to fight past each other, Natalie's aiming for his fangs. Nick could tell Natalie's had descended as well, and he pulled his head back pushing her back by her shoulders. Then he again kissed her neck, but almost immediately felt Natalie's lips on his neck and he pushed her back again. At first Natalie just stood there, then she tried to move forward again to kiss Nick, touch any part of his skin she could. Nick held her in place, watching as she then tried to regain control...and failed. Her breathing deepened and quickened, and her golden eyes locked with his now blue eyes. Carefully, slowly, Nick let go of her arms, but he didn't move away. "Close your eyes and just focus on your breathing. It will help," he said, but she didn't do as he suggested. Nor did Natalie go for either him or the blood, but she wanted to. He could see it in her stance, her eyes, and her still-descended fangs. "I can't--" "Yes, you can. You're standing your ground, not going for blood." But as Nick said the last word, Natalie seemed to snap. She started toward him, and he spun her so that he now held her in front of him facing away. He had her arms pinned down and his chin hooked over her shoulder. "Shh, just focus," he again said in an attempt to calm her, and it seemed to work. After a couple of minutes Natalie stopped fighting against his hold, her muscles going lax, and she let him hold her in place. "You can control it, see?" "I'm not sure I would call this control, Nick. I feel...almost invigorated, but not quite." "But you're not attacking me or the glass," Nick said, chancing a smile. "I don't want the glass at all," Natalie said, spinning in Nick's loosening grip. "I want..." "Me." "Yes, or something... I can smell your blood. I didn't realise how strong it was." "It's...worse with mortals," Nick admitted, his smile vanishing with a wince. "Worse? It feels worse and you've managed to hold back all this time? I have a whole new understanding of...this, you, vampires, what you must go through every night. I won't criticise you again for--" "No, don't-- While I might initially be upset I've always been thankful when you've...talked sense into me." Examining Natalie, who now stood a couple feet in front of him, Nick could see how she now seemed almost normal--normal for most vampires, anyway. Her eyes had changed back and the attack stance had vanished. "I want you to keep doing that. It's something I seem to need." "And will you do that to me, for me as well?" "If you want." "If I want? You aren't going to do it anyway?" Nick shook his head. "I don't want to force my views onto you like LaCroix has done with me. I don't want you to feel like that. I want you to make your own choices." "Well, then, yes, I want you to give me a shove if I might regret doing something." Nick slowly stepped forward and asked, "So now what?" "Now...well, what I want and what I should do are different things... I should probably see what I can do with the makeup I brought." Nick looked away from Natalie at that; he had had something else in mind. Starting to move away, Natalie caught him by his arm. "Uh-uh. I'm going to need your help. What I really need is those photographs, but until then you'll have to tell me where any visible injuries were. Forget that I don't even know if I show up in mirrors...if I don't I'll need your help later, too." Nodding, Nick watched as Natalie grabbed the duffel by the table and headed to the bathroom. Then his eyes drifted to the forgotten glass. He envied her, that she didn't either go back for the glass or try to continue the little test. He worried more how she was dealing with the attack than with now being a vampire. Had that helped her eventually regain control and hold back? *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. Early morning, as Natalie was cleaning off her latest attempt to fake the cut on her face--so far the closest she had gotten was an early scar of sorts--Nick sensed LaCroix' arrival. He had been waiting for the other, and upon seeing LaCroix Nick walked toward him, grabbed the older man by the arm and dragged him out of the loft and into the elevator. Starting it down, Nick shoved LaCroix against the back of the freight and hissed, "Why did you kill them?!" "I'm sure you were thinking it, Nicholas. Besides, I did not kill all of them." "But you made it happen," Nick stated, not needing an answer to that. He still felt livid that LaCroix had interfered, and now, even as he dragged the other by the arm out of the elevator and the building as a whole, LaCroix just let him. That made him even angrier. Outside, Nick let go of but spun on the other, "Why? There hasn't been enough time for an investigation. We don't even know if it was those--" "It was. I made sure of it before I killed them." "And tortured them." "Yes," LaCroix said with a maniacal touch of glee. "And I enjoyed it." "Of course you enjoyed it. Torture is your only speciality." "I wouldn't say my only speciality..." "Why, LaCroix? Why bother? You don't like Natalie, you don't like what she represents to me, means to me, none of it. You want or wanted me to leave here--and her. I'm surprised you're not telling me that now." "It would be best, of course." "Of course," Nick repeated. "You didn't answer me. Why?" "I have already told you. At the hospital." "You didn't tell me anything." LaCroix chuckled. "So very dense... I went to the hospital because I could feel your distress. I was prepared then to do what you might not." "You would have brought her across to keep me." "Of course." "By killing them--" "I merely did what you were unwilling. What you forbade yourself to do. Why, I don't know. To be honest I always thought you took more pleasure in killing for revenge than blood." Nick didn't reply beyond looking away. He couldn't deny that. "And while it would be best if you left, it would be less stressful for Natalie if we wait...at least a little while. Besides, Janette might want to come. Closing down the Raven or selling it could take days or months." "I might not have a choice after what you did. I have the most motive for killing them." "Of course you do. But you'll have an alibi, yes?" "I don't know. My Captain pointed out that both Natalie and Schanke had covered for me before. Any alibi from either of them would be suspect." "Then me or Janette." "I don't know," Nick honestly said. It had crossed his mind, but as far as he knew Janette didn't even know what happened, either in general or the specifics. "Have you told Janette? Told her that I brought Natalie across?" "Not...yet." "But you were planning to." "Why wouldn't I? Janette is family, and like it or not Natalie is now as well." "Natalie is not--" "She is linked to you and you to me," LaCroix nearly hissed. "I will tell Janette unless you wish to do it? She has a sister of sorts once again, after all. While I do not believe the two are...friends, I know they have met many times and Janette will be furious with us both if one of us does not tell her." Nick started to pace. Janette would probably be furious if not told. And when it came down to it there hadn't been many others--certainly none close enough to be incorporated into the family of sorts--for Janette to even consider bonding with on any level. Nick didn't think they would, but Janette would want to know regardless. "Fine, tell Janette, but I'm not sure it's a good idea for her to visit just yet. Natalie was questioned tonight about what happened and... I don't want to push her, LaCroix." LaCroix stiffened, but ever so slightly nodded in reply. "How has it gone otherwise with her?" "She's learning." "Learning...what?" "We flew to her apartment. I tested her...control I suppose you could say." "And? Will she be a problem for us?" Nick heard the threat and stopped pacing. Just like he saw Janette, LaCroix viewed Natalie as being expendable if it came down to their--LaCroix' and his own--survival. If she either couldn't cope, keep up, or screwed up she would be as good as dead. Locking his gaze with LaCroix' Nick truthfully stated, "No." "We shall see." Fighting the urge to continue pacing, Nick asked, "Were you planning to stay?" "May I?" "No." LaCroix lightly chuckled again. "I didn't think so. No, I will leave you two alone...I'll spend the day at the Raven. I'm sure you can find me tomorrow night if need be." In a moment, LaCroix had left, and Nick's anger melted slowly away. Their conversation had been...different. He did worry what LaCroix would say to Janette, and then Janette's reaction. Janette had never quite seen Natalie as a threat, but now that Natalie was a vampire...he had no idea what Janette might do. Would they become almost like sisters or would they become enemies? Aftermath - (11/20) As the sun rose, Nick found himself pinned down on his bed, but not like when Natalie had fed from him nearly a day before. This time he was very much awake and smiling, his shirt half off, and rather than forcibly feeding from him he and Natalie shared quick but hungry kisses. Natalie smiled down at him as well, a smile he had seen many times before...although this time her method and motive of teasing him had drastically changed. His eyes burned gold as she pulled off her shirt, revealing skin and what he was sure wasn't one of her everyday bras the way it barely covered her breasts. Nick closed his eyes as she went for his neck again, more of her skin brushing against his than ever before, but he knew she didn't plan to bite him. Instead she just kissed him and let the tips of her fangs brush along his skin. The latter felt downright painful, and he knew there had to be red welts along the paths her fangs had travelled as he didn't smell blood any more than he had a moment before. When Natalie kissed him again on the mouth, Nick decided enough was enough and he rolled them. In a matter of seconds it was he that smiled down on Natalie. "And you're sure LaCroix isn't hiding somewhere?" "He's not here," Nick confirmed. "He's not hiding and he's not going to watch us, not today anyway." "Hmm, so he would if he could?" "Of course he would," Nick said back with a smile, pleased that Natalie's tone hadn't changed. "And he probably will at some point," he admitted, watching Natalie carefully for her reaction. She pursed her lips for a moment, but then just nodded and returned to smiling at him. She probably already knew, already suspected it would happen at some point. Leaning forward he whispered, "But not today," then let his lips first just barely brush her lips, and when she kissed him he kissed deeply back. Now it was Nick's turn to hold Natalie down, teasing her skin like she had done to him. But when he grazed her neck with his fangs she abruptly pushed him back, hard. "Stop, just..." She looked panicked, and he moved back toward her to take her arms, to calm her. "Natalie?" "Don't, don't touch me. Not right now." "What's wrong? What did I do?" Natalie shook her head. "You didn't...you didn't do anything, I just reacted." "But it was something I did? You reacted to something--" "I think..." Natalie closed her eyes. "I think it was the weight of you pushing me down and because you were holding me down." "Because they did that to you," Nick slowly stated. "Yes. I remember that so very clearly." Nick watched as Natalie zoned off. At first he was hesitant to pull her out of it, but suspected she didn't really want to relive it so touched her hand as he said her name. Natalie looked over at Nick for a second as she snapped out of whatever memory. "And don't even suggest I should see someone. I told you before--" "I know, you don't want to go, you won't go." "Neither would you." "And you said that, too." "And--" "And I didn't say anything about pushing you to see someone. But maybe...maybe we should wait, or start slower," Nick said, but again he watched her shake her head. "Nat--" "I don't want to wait, Nick. I haven't wanted to wait for...since well before this happened from what I can tell, even though--" "I'm sorry about that." "I know, and you've already apologised. You don't need to again and again." Nick turned away. Maybe he didn't have to apologise yet again, but it felt like he should. Then, rather abruptly, he found Natalie right in front of him, first leaning partly over him then straddling him and pushing him back onto his back once more. He didn't stop her, although he did watch for any reaction, any indication that she didn't really want to do this. He didn't want her to just please him, but want this for herself as well. This time Nick took care and didn't flip them, even as his fangs itched to bite into something, anything. He didn't have to wait long as instead of stripping off the rest of his clothes Natalie continued mostly kissing his mouth, neck, shoulders, and even his chest, his nipples a couple of times. When she finally fed from him, again Nick told himself not to roll them over. Instead he gripped Natalie tightly to him, twisted, causing her fangs to rip his skin, then let himself reach release in her blood. This time Natalie's blood tasted lively, oh so lively and hungry and loving that he didn't have any desire to stop. And he didn't, not until well after Natalie had stopped feeding from him. Then he just closed his eyes and stretched his head back in ecstasy. After a couple of minutes he moaned as Natalie then kissed his neck where she had bitten him. From her blood he knew that she did, indeed, want this...and that taking his blood was just the start. Her only hesitation was that she would inadvertently push him away like she had several minutes before. And her blood contained her memories of what had happened, although he only got a few fragments, and those fragments were almost buried by her present feelings. She wanted him and hoped he shared that desire--and he did. Nick hungrily returned her kisses, even as she helped him fully out of his shirt and her hands started working at his belt and pants. He half wished he hadn't gotten fully dressed to go over to her apartment earlier, but it was funner this way, he had to admit, and he smiled as he let Natalie have her way with him. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. That night Nick woke with Natalie cuddled up next to him, half atop him. She hadn't reacted on instinct again beyond taking his blood a few more times. He had let her take more than he should have, so upon waking Nick carefully slipped out of the bed, pulled on his boxers and then the t-shirt he had worn the day before, and headed downstairs to the refrigerator. He pulled out a bottle, then got a glass, filled it, and drank it all down. Refilling it he turned and froze. There stood Janette, or he should say there she was walking slowly toward him, looking him over with a wider than usual grin. Nick's eyes darted up to the bedroom, where Natalie probably still lay naked in his bed. "He told me what happened, what you did." "Did he also tell you what he did?" Janette's smile vanished. "He killed her attackers." "He shouldn't have--" "Why shouldn't he have? You wouldn't, not the way you have been lately. I would think you'd be pleased he killed them rather than Natalie take her own revenge, oui?" Nick nearly protested but closed his eyes. He wouldn't have wanted Natalie to kill, not so soon and not out of strong emotion. "Yes." Then he startled a little as he felt Janette brush her fingers through his hair. If not for the bottle and glass in his hands he would have moved away, but her action stopped as abruptly as it started. "How is she?" "As far as I know mostly fine." Then, quickly, Nick added, "Relatively. I don't know." "You cannot fix this for her, Nicolas." "I know that." "Yes, but you will try anyway." Not wanting to argue--at least not about his faults or want to fix things--Nick asked, "Did LaCroix tell you to come here? Is that why you came?" "He told me not to come." "But you did, anyway." "Of course. Men and your incessant need to protect things...LaCroix you, and you Natalie. She does not need protecting. Not anymore." Nick looked away, finally putting the glass and bottle down on the kitchen table. No, Natalie didn't need protecting, not in the same way. If someone ever came at her like that again...they'd be dead for sure. "And I am sorry, but you do not understand what it was like for her. You cannot truly, fully understand no matter how much you want to or try." "Why did you come? To tell me not to even try to--" "No, I am not here to tell you what to do, or tell her what to do." "If you're here to talk to her, to see her...I'm not sure that's--" "Your senses are dulled, scattered. You are too wrapped up in your feelings as usual. She is awake and dressing; she surely knows I am here." Nick's attention again shifted to the bedroom. Now that Janette had said something he saw that she was right. Natalie was awake and moving around, probably trying to find all of her clothes. He hadn't even noticed. "I hope this is temporary." Nick shot a glare at Janette. "Your preoccupation. If she will be staying with you he will not tolerate it if you don't teach her." "It's none of his business--" "Like it or not he will consider her part of our family. He will not care what you think." Then, in a whisper, she said, "He's meddled with her life before. It won't be the last time." "I know that," Nick said back. "And Natalie knows that." "Does she, really?" "She knows how he's followed me, Janette; how he's criticised me, tricked me. She's not naive." "I didn't say she was." "Then you're saying I am." "You can be too...optimistic. You give him too many chances." "I don't have a choice," Nick nearly hissed back. "Either I trust him or..." Nick shook his head. Either he trusted LaCroix or LaCroix would eventually get fed up with him and kill him. Or kill Natalie. "I know you don't," Janette soothed, approaching Nick only for him to shrug out of her sudden and gentle touch. "Just be careful, Nicolas. Don't let your guard down around him, especially now." Nick turned then froze; Natalie had left the bedroom and was walking toward the stairs. She had on her clothes from last night; nothing overly fancy, but it was something she would usually wear to work. "Why don't you go...out for a bit?" Janette suggested as she walked up behind Nick, touching his shoulders lightly. "Give Natalie and I some time alone." Nick didn't let his eyes drift from Natalie as she started down the stairs. He wasn't going to leave Natalie there with Janette unless she was okay with it. "Nat?" Natalie didn't look at Nick, but over his shoulder at Janette. "Do you want me to stay or leave for a little while?" Nick asked. "Do you want to talk to Janette or do you want her to go?" "Will you go if I don't want to talk to you?" Natalie asked still looking solely at Janette. "Of course." "And if Nick leaves and then I tell you to go?" "You'll leave, right?" Nick added to Natalie's question, turning on Janette. At this Janette hesitated, stiffening slightly, but all the same she answered, "Yes." Nick then turned back to Natalie, who looked understandably nervous. "Natalie?" "I suppose we'll talk sooner or later. Might as well be now." Nick tensed at Natalie's matter-of-fact tone, but he could hear hesitation as well. "Are you sure?" "Yeah. It's not like Janette is going to, I don't know, eat me. Or kill me. Right?" Stiffening further Nick looked back to Janette, who was now smiling. Janette was enjoying this more than he liked, and he somewhat worried what the two would talk about without him there. "No, she won't do anything like that," Nick answered, but kept his gaze on Janette. Then he slowly walked toward Natalie. Pausing next to her, he told her, "I'll get dressed and...do you want anything from your apartment or work or anywhere?" "Not that I can think of offhand." "Then I guess...call my cell when you want me to come back. Or if I need to come back for some reason, any reason. Schanke's due for another visit either tonight or this morning." "I'll be fine." Nick tried to just nod, but he only half nodded, going back and forth between that and a slight shake. Then he started toward the stairs. Looking back at Natalie, who had turned to face Janette, he took off, flying upstairs. He quickly changed into his clothes from the previous night, the ones he had worn when they went to Natalie's apartment, then after making sure he had his cell phone he slowly headed to the elevator under the two women's silent gazes. They weren't going to talk until he was gone. Starting the elevator down Nick shut his eyes as he leaned against the back wall of the freight. He hoped Janette wouldn't tell Natalie too much about him that she didn't already know--or about his and Janette's past relationship. In the past Janette hadn't gotten jealous about him being friendly with other women, but this was different. The only vampire he had more than a fling with was Janette, and he had never had a relationship that had been based so firmly on friendship first. To be honest, sometimes he felt closer to Natalie, who he had known only a few short years, than Janette, who he had known for nearly eight centuries....more than a hundred times as long. As the elevator stopped Nick hesitantly left, went to the Caddy, got in, and drove away. He tried not to imagine what the two would talk about. He suspected he would be at least part of the topic, as well as what had happened. Janette was right in that he couldn't understand, at least not as she understood. Janette didn't really talk about her mortal life, especially to him or LaCroix, but he knew she had been raped, been forced against her wishes to be with men...probably even more than one at once. Janette knew what it was like to be utterly helpless. While he felt he could understand it better than Janette believed he could, he hadn't experienced it first hand in quite the same way. After a few minutes Nick turned the Caddy around, then circled in the general area around his building not wanting to be too far away. His eyes were on the lookout for Schanke's car, which gave him something to do other than speculate. Aftermath - (12/20) Well over an hour later Nick got a call from Natalie. Finally. Janette had left and so far Schanke hadn't dropped by. He had started immediately back to the loft and arrived within a few minutes. Heading back inside Nick found Natalie curled up on the sofa, a nearly empty glass of blood in her hands. She looked even more nervous than when he had left. Nervous and almost sad. "Nat?" "That didn't take long." "I stayed nearby," he said as he approached. "Was Janette--" "It went fine." "What did she say about me?" he asked, wanting to start with something perhaps less threatening, something that might get a smile. It did. "Anything?" "Hmm, a bit." "A bit? That's all you're going to say?" "Well...yes." Nick smiled as she averted her eyes and tried to keep her features neutral. He wondered what Janette had said, but more so he wondered if Janette had somehow made Natalie uncomfortable. "She didn't press too much about what happened, did she?" "No. No, she...actually she said more than I did." Natalie still looked away, but tensed. "What happened to me....she had that happen to her before, when she was mortal. I always thought she was...I just thought she had a more normal, average life for some reason." "Janette had her share of bad luck as a mortal. She hasn't talked about it much, but I know she had been treated very badly and suspected she'd been..." Nick trailed off, but explained, "And it was...in that time women were quite often treated like property, particularly in her situation." "Yeah, she said she was...sold into prostitution by her husband?" "When she didn't produce an heir. Unfortunately it was a relatively common thing to do...pawn the useless wife off on someone else and get another. It was fair game to rape a prostitute. No one would stop it. Many believed they deserved to be raped, even if what they were doing wasn't by choice. Believe it or not things are probably better now than then, at least in some ways. Today the population at large understands how difficult it can be to get out of that life, that the women are manipulated and abused until they feel they can't survive any other way." "Janette...she also asked a few questions." Nick could hear the hesitancy in Natalie's voice and carefully asked, "What kind of questions?" "About us, me and you." Nick's hope sank that Janette wouldn't have an issue with him and Natalie. "She asked if we'd, ah, been together, had sex." "And?" "And while I told her it was rather personal...I told her the truth, I said that we had." "Was she...angry or--" "No, no. She seemed rather...I don't know, more happy than angry? That was just...strange. She asked me how I felt, how it went because of what happened only a couple, few days ago. She wanted to know if it was my idea or yours. She was...I guess how I'd expect a big sister to be, or a friend, not..." When Natalie stopped, Nick supplied, "Not like an ex-wife of your lover." "Yeah." "That ended a long time ago, Natalie." "I know. Centuries ago by the sounds of it." "Half a lifetime ago," Nick confirmed. "You know she does want you to be happy, Nick. She even asked me if I'd still be working on your cure. Said something about now I'd have all the time we'd need, which is true. I told her I didn't know, that I'd have to ask." Nick's mood dropped again after the relief that Janette and Natalie seemed to be getting along fine. Now his cure would be Natalie's...if she wanted it. If she didn't, either she might not try as hard or he'd lose her once he became mortal. He hadn't thought about that, not really. "Nick?" "It's still something I want. It's something I want very much, but--" "Then I'll keep working on it." "But is it what you want?" "I've been a vampire a whole two or so days, not even that including what I've been awake. To be honest I have no idea, but at least right now I have no problems with the idea of giving it all up to go back to the way things were. But I wasn't tempted for...I don't know, immortality, perfect health, eternal youth, super strength, or any of that. I did it more for you, to be with you, so you wouldn't possibly waste away by my bedside and then do who knows what. I knew that if something did happen that you'd be more likely to bring me across then than, well, than if I asked you. And I have to admit I'd rather live than die. I didn't really expect something would happen, that this would happen, but I am not at all upset about becoming a vampire. But, Nick, I'd also give it up in an instant. I'd be fine with that, too." "What about in a decade or century?" "Nick...I really don't know, but I'd like to think I'd still want to become mortal again. Drinking blood is, frankly, a bit disgusting. If I ever get used to that...I don't know, shoot me or something." "Being shot isn't the most comfortable thing in the world." "You said it doesn't hurt." "Much. It's not the pain that's the most uncomfortable." "Ah, yes, it's having a piece of sometimes rather mangled metal wedged up against a bone." Nick winced at the description. Yes, that was part of it or part of why being shot might hurt. "I'm not going to shoot you. Certainly not if you eventually find you enjoy drinking blood, human blood. It's what we need." Then, somewhat hesitantly he told her, "And you know how hard it is for me not to overdo it with the blood; I think drinking it is a bit disgusting as well, but it is physically enjoyable all the same. It's when you want and take more than just bottled blood that you need to worry." "And I will, won't I? At some point I'll want it, at least." "Yes. And once you kill you'll always remember how good that fresh blood tastes. You'll always want it more than anything else." Natalie swirled the glass in her hand, her eyes dropping to look at it. "And how fresh is this?" "Fairly. Fresher than most bottled blood, but not as fresh as it could be." "So somewhere in the middle?" Nick nodded. "Somewhere in the middle." "And blood when I'm doing an autopsy?" "Like the freshest of bottled blood." "So it'll be worse than this?" she asked, raising her glass a little. Nick's eyes caught on the blood in the glass, her actions making the blood's scent several times stronger. When she raised it higher and drank it, Nick again nodded. "Yes, and crime scenes can be even worse." "Because the body is even warmer." "Yes. And all the rapid heartbeats." "Well, I suppose you'll have one less to listen to." Nick smiled. "Not really. Yours only sped up when dealing with...live patients. Specifically whenever I screwed up, again, and you lectured me." After a somewhat awkward silence Natalie asked, "Why don't you sit down?" Nick watched as Natalie shifted, swinging her feet down off the cushions so he could sit closer to her. He didn't hesitate in doing what she suggested, but he moved forward and sat slowly, cautiously. "What else did Janette talk about? Or ask you?" "Way too many personal questions." "May I ask what about?" "My...sexual history, which included some weird questions." Nick nearly asked what those were but he saw Natalie smile oddly. He supposed weird questions summed that up, regardless what was asked. "What did Janette think of me? I mean she actually asked if you were my first--other than what happened--and--" Natalie shook her head, still smiling for a few seconds before she sobered. "And when I said no she very seriously then asked if I had ever cheated on anyone. She asked more questions than any therapist would have." "Changing your mind?" "Oh, no. I don't think I need to see anyone after our little chat. Janette is just as effective as any therapist, maybe more so." "She's good at reading people," Nick stated. "And she does try to help those that need it when she can, which is probably a lot like being a therapist. Just don't tell Janette that. I don't think she'd appreciate being compared to a shrink." "Oh, don't worry, I won't." Nick stared blankly forward, his eyes on the bottle--probably the same one he had pulled out of the refrigerator earlier--and another glass next to it. It was empty, probably Janette's, but he didn't care. He felt hungry and leaned forward and poured a glass. Before setting the bottle down he went to ask Natalie if she wanted more but she shook her head right as he turned to her to ask. So as he picked his glass up she put hers down. That made Nick feel odd and even inadequate, but he had to remind himself he had no idea how much Natalie had really drank while he had been gone, nor did he know how she felt. He knew emotions could mess with his hunger sometimes...and on occasion his emotions could bring up his hunger or worse. "So...what did Janette tell you about me? Really?" he tried asking again to lighten the mood. "Anything." "Well..." "Well...what?" he asked, but now Natalie was smiling and pulling the glass from his hands. "What?" In another few moments Natalie had set the glass on the coffee table then returned to kneel next to him, hovering slightly over him. "What are you going to do?" "You'll see. Just close your eyes." Nick didn't want to, not really, but he wanted to know what secrets Janette might have shared if any. Closing his eyes, Nick waited. After a few seconds he felt Natalie straddle him, then he had to fight the urge to open his eyes as she kissed him on the mouth. The kiss didn't last long, and in another moment she kissed his neck. Then a little higher, then she kissed the skin behind his ear and he held back a moan. His whole body tensed faintly at the light kiss, then pricks of pain as Natalie's fangs brushed against the area. Yes, Janette had told Natalie something, that was for sure. "So, how was that?" Nick's body was still reeling a bit from her action and all he managed at first was a weak smile. "Nick?" "Do I need to grill Janette about your conversation, see what you told her about your sensitive spots?" he teased, hungrily looking up into Natalie's almost worried features. "Oh, no, not going to work. She didn't ask me about that, for one, and I certainly didn't volunteer anything. You'll have to find them on your own." Nick wondered whether Natalie's use of 'them' was just to entice him or a hint of truth. He kissed her gently on the lips, but when he pulled back she did as well, shifting so that she was sitting next to him once again. He turned, but she leaned up against his arm and curled up once again. "Nick?" "Hmm?" "I really do want to go back to work as soon as is feasible. I want to know how bad it's going to be." "Nat--" "I can do short shifts. I can do an autopsy, maybe two depending on the night, or any urgent tests, then bring any paper work home and zap it in over the internet. If it doesn't work out, well, no one is going to be shocked. If it goes fine at least I can ease slowly back into things, get used to being around blood a bit slower." Nick did think it was a good idea--the last anyway--but to him it wasn't so simple. "You'll assuredly need a doctor's note." "Yeah. Should I ask how pliable my doctor was at the hospital? Or, hell, *who* my doctor was at the hospital?" "A Dr. Zaytsev or...something." "Zaytsev..." Natalie mumbled. "The name seems...I think I've heard it before, but never met him." "He said the same about you." "We probably see each other's names on reports occasionally. I get some of the patients like me that didn't make it." "Nat--" "It's fine, just...I do worry I'll react a bit. Go off into zombie-land like you do when things remind you of the past. Is that something you particularly have an issue with, or do vampires in general have, I don't know, over-active memories?" Nick smiled a little. Over-active memories. That was a pretty good description...so was going off into zombie-land, as he knew that's what it looked like. "I don't know if it's just me or vampires in general." "Ever seen Janette or LaCroix zone out at something?" "Not...really. Maybe Janette, but I don't think LaCroix zones out at anything. The few times I've seen him remembering something...he usually relates it, so he's fully aware of whatever is presently happening around him." "He actually tells you?" "I said the few times, as in, literally, a few times in the entire time I've known him. Maybe. And he doesn't...almost always it's something to do with me, so it's more--" "A lecture." "Unfortunately. Every now and then he lets something slip, though." "Like?" Nick hesitated. Usually what little LaCroix let slip was either...well, hinted at his murderous ways or it was huge. "Like things he very probably hasn't even told Janette. If you want to know how he's like when he zones out, listen to his show for something that sounds like a story or anecdote that isn't Shakespeare or otherwise quoted. It may or may not have happened." Another short silence interrupted, then Natalie asked, "So I take it Dr. Zaytsev was...pliable? I mean, you did get me out of the hospital." "With help. But, yeah, he was pliable. I'd have to ask LaCroix what he told Zaytsev, though." "LaCroix was your helper?" "Yeah, he showed up around sunset. Then helped me make a quick getaway after I had brought you across. Schanke nearly stopped me, but then he drove us here. LaCroix was talking to the doctor as I left." "Well, then I guess that's another thing we need: Photos and whatever the official cover is for me at the hospital." "Maybe I'll send LaCroix to do that, have him dress up as a doctor again." "He dressed up as a doctor? And you let me sleep through that?" Nick smiled as Natalie lightly shoved him. It was amusing to see LaCroix in scrubs, but Natalie's friendly push was even better. "He probably wouldn't, though. It's not like I'm indisposed anymore." "Then when Schanke comes by next you can ask him about the photographs. Or you could probably even go by the precinct if he doesn't come by before his shift tonight? If he asks who's with me you could always say Janette. Schanke probably wouldn't think twice about that." "He probably wouldn't," Nick whispered. After a moment Natalie leaned heavily against him again and he leaned his head over toward hers. He did like the suggestion of going in to the precinct if Schanke didn't come by that evening. Not only would he not have to wait for whenever Schanke dropped in on them, but he would be able to listen in on some of the other comments. Surely people would talk when they saw him enter the precinct. Aftermath - (13/20) As the night deepened, Nick and Natalie waited but Schanke didn't stop by the loft. Near midnight Nick left the loft to drop by work. He almost flew, but figured it might be better if he drove. He'd probably be watched more carefully and more acutely than usual...taking the Caddy would lessen questions. Natalie planned to do another practice round giving herself a scar of some sort while he was gone. Upon arriving at and then entering the precinct, Nick found he was right in that he'd be watched. Every single person that saw him froze or did a little bit of a double take. A couple people looked like they wanted to come up to him and say something or ask him something, but as he approached his and Schanke's desks they backed off. Schanke didn't seem to notice him, and Nick ended up saying the other's name as he stopped at the edge of his partner's desk. "What--what are you doing here, Knight? Shouldn't you be--" "Natalie will be fine for a few." "Yeah, but--" "Janette's with her," Nick said, hoping Schanke wouldn't actually check. As expected it immediately put an end to Schanke's questioning about why he had left Natalie. "So, what are you here for then? Cohen want to talk to you again about...you know." "No, not that I'm aware." Then, a little unsure how the other would react, Nick stated, "Natalie wants to see any photographs taken from the hospital." "She wants to see...what? Why?" "Because she does. I think she wants to...monitor how she's healing or something," Nick made up. "You do know I don't have them, right? It's Pollard and Lang's case." "I thought you'd have better luck getting them," Nick said, this time honestly. "And I don't want to be gone too long. This way you have a reason to drop by, too." "Natalie doing any better? She healing okay?" "Yeah, and yeah." "She going nuts not being able to do anything?" "She...wants to come back to work." "Can she even stand up and walk around with...well, between the wounds, stitches from surgery, and the broken ribs?" "A little," Nick lied. After all, Natalie had no pain, but if she hadn't been brought across, even if she had woken she likely wouldn't be able to get up and walk around. "She's not doing good with not moving." "Guess doctor's being bad patients extends to medical examiners?" Nick smiled at that. He knew Natalie would agree with that; at least that she wasn't fond of doctors. "She been back to the hospital or you had anyone come over?" "Not yet." "But you're making sure she's not lying about--" "Ripping out her stitches or the like?" Getting a nod, Nick answered, "Yeah." "Oh, no, you better skedaddle before--" "Knight? Can I talk to you for a moment?" Nick did his best not to react to Cohen's request, but he couldn't help but see Schanke wince. "Just remember what I asked," he whispered, then walked around the desks and followed Cohen into her office. "Captain?" "I didn't really expect to see you here." "I'm only here for a few minutes." "To talk to your partner, which you surely could have done over the phone." Nick tensed; Cohen was right in that he could have simply called. "I thought you'd like to know more about what I told you last night; you might want to close the door." Nick immediately did so, but didn't relax. Was he still a suspect of sorts? "The men found dead have been confirmed to be Dr. Lambert's attackers." Nick felt a wave of relief. At least LaCroix hadn't killed innocent men. It made it just a little better. "No useful forensic evidence was found on the bodies of her actual attackers, which also appear to have been killed with extreme force. The fourth, who was killed in prison, is different and may just be coincidence." "Coincidence? I thought they were all--" "They all had similar injuries. It appears another inmate killed the fourth and that investigation is being run separately. You are not off the hook yet for the other murders. Pollard made a comment about you being stronger than you look." "I didn't kill them." Cohen sighed. "I know you didn't, Knight. From what I gather neither you, Lambert, nor your partner had any idea what had happened, and I do not believe they lied to give you an alibi. But it also isn't the best alibi." "Why are you telling me this?" "So that you keep away from the investigation. You and your partner." Nick tensed. In a way he was going against that, or it could be seen that way. "If I ask your partner what you were in for, will I find otherwise?" "I...asked Schanke to get photographs from the hospital. Natalie wants to see them," Nick admitted, figuring that at least with Pollard and Lang it would constitute as interfering. "I'll make the request. I take it you were going to have your partner bring them to you?" Nick slowly nodded. "Then I'll give them to him so he can do that. Anything else?" "No, that was it." "And you or Dr. Lambert will let me know when or if she plans on returning to work?" "She plans to come back as soon as she can." "I hope that's as soon as she is allowed by her doctor and not as soon as she thinks she can?" "Yes," Nick stated, his gaze evenly matching Cohen's. Again, it was a lie, and while Natalie was physically fine even now whether or not she could handle doing an autopsy as a vampire would be unknown until she tried. "Go home, Knight. I'll tell your partner about the change in plans." Nick scurried at the dismissal, not wanting Cohen to ask him any further questions such as when he was returning to work. He glanced at Schanke, then headed for the entrance taking note of any comments he overheard. Once to the Caddy and out on the road, Nick relaxed a little. Cohen and Schanke both seemed concerned that he was there. So did the others, but they wondered if something had happened to Natalie or if Cohen had called him in. He heard a few flits about the murders, but any were countered. They didn't think he had done it, either. Oh, they thought he would have wanted to, but they didn't think he was that stupid. They didn't think he would risk being arrested and put in prison when Natalie depended on him. He heard a couple of musings whether what happened would change his and Natalie's relationship, even. All that just reminded him that once Natalie did return to work she'd be watched carefully as well. Watched, pestered, and probably given a few hints. It was apparent that his actions in the hospital had spread like fire through the precinct, probably the whole department. How he likely felt about Natalie was no longer any secret. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. "How is this one?" Nick looked at the fake scar--the dozenth or more iteration he had seen in the past several nights--examining it carefully before finally stating, "Better. Probably the best so far." "So now I guess I just need to be able to duplicate it." "And make sure you don't touch it." "Yes, yes, yes. It itches like mad, too." Nick held back a wince as Natalie washed her face off again. "Does Janette wear makeup?" "Yeah, I think so." "You think so?" "I'm pretty sure she does," he said more confidently, but to be honest he couldn't ever remember seeing her put any on in recent times...even when they had lived together she always locked him out every chance she got. "Maybe it's because I'm just not used to it at all. Feels like a waste of time to be honest." She dried off her face and picked up one of the pencils she had used to create the scar. "Granted, *this* feels like a waste of time, too, even though it isn't." "No, it isn't. And you're getting much faster." "Hmm, maybe," she said, squinting into the fuzzy reflection of herself in the mirror. "You know you might end up having to do this." "You're doing fine. Besides, I can't draw." Natalie pulled back from looking into the mirror and looked right at Nick. "I can't." "You can paint." "And how many of my paintings have tiny details? I'm not--" "And about all I'm doing is long streaks and dots. Don't have to be an artist to do this, and you're more of one than I am." "It looks fine, Natalie. I can't tell the difference between where any of the last several have been." "Yeah, but...is it just me, or am I getting fuzzier?" "It's just you." "Shaving's got to be a pain. I mean quite literally." Nick smiled at that. "Sometimes." He watched as Natalie finished prodding her cheek, then turned to smile at him. "So when do you want to go back to work?" "Hmm, well, did you get my note? You never said..." "Yes, I got your note. Or your first one, anyway." "My first one?" "Two hours." "Just two hours?" "I thought it's what you wanted--to start slow. And while he's pliable he's not that pliable...I couldn't get him to do much better. Unless you want to go back with me--" Natalie closed her eyes. "Two hours will be fine. And yes, it is what I wanted." "If it helps any it's worded as 'two hours at a time' so theoretically you could work two hours, go home for a bit, work another two hours..." "And does the note limit when I can start?" "No, no date limit." "Good, because if this can pass Schanke's scrutiny then I want to try tomorrow night." "Tomorrow? It hasn't even quite been a week since--" "I know. I know, Nick, but...I really need to find out how that's going to work. If I can't do my job then--" "You'll do fine." "I'll do however I do. But tomorrow or the night after. I want to go back soon." "So a test with Schanke and then I guess tell Cohen or whoever makes your schedule?" "Yeah, whatever the first day I can start back after that is." "And you need to work on bruises, too. Since I kind of--" "Gave me one." Nick nodded. He hadn't meant to make things harder for Natalie. "I did that while you were gone, actually. Bruises are much easier. I see more bruises in various states of healing than cuts, unfortunately. I figure I can make it look like I've covered it." "Well if you want me to get Schanke to come by this morning, I need to call him before he goes home." "Then go call him," Natalie said with a smile. "Before I mess up what I've done so far." Nick went to leave but Natalie stopped him with an unexpected kiss. He had a hard time pushing away, the kiss igniting his basal wants, and once he did he knew his eyes were gold. So were Natalie's, but she managed to turn away. He just stood there and watched as she went back to squinting into the mirror. He'd have to tell her to try not to squint like that...it didn't help make anything clearer. Finally tearing himself away, Nick left the small bathroom and went to the kitchen where he pulled a bottle out. He needed blood to calm his wants and Natalie would need it to help steady her instincts once Schanke got there. The bottle he then left on the table as he went to get the phone and called the precinct, hoping Schanke hadn't yet left. Aftermath - (14/20) "Are you sure you want to be down here?" Nick asked as he walked slowly toward the elevator, where Schanke was impatiently hitting the buzzer. "Yes, now let him in before, I don't know, he calls for the paramedics or something." Nick smiled at that. He wouldn't dare put the idea past Schanke in case he acted on it. After letting Schanke up, Nick looked back at the sofa where Natalie sat somewhat curled up under a blanket. She had his robe on, and had put the brace back on her one arm even though the robe more or less hid it as long as she stayed relatively still. While he had drank nearly two glasses of blood his body still reeled from the quick kiss just a little bit ago. It didn't help that by this time the last few days they were far from dressed and apart like they were now. As the elevator came to a stop, Nick pulled it open. "So, partner, what was so urgent that I had to come over now? You know I had to stay over--" "To finish up paperwork for Cohen. I know. You told me when I called." "So..." "Natalie wants your opinion," Nick simply said and started over to where Natalie sat. He hoped Schanke wouldn't realise it was essentially painted on, brushed on, but if anyone would say something about how it looked a bit odd it would be Schanke. His mortal partner didn't have an off switch as far as commentary went on what he saw--he spit out his first thought, sometimes with awkward consequences. But an overly honest, even brutal opinion is exactly what Natalie needed right now. Feeling a hand grab his arm, holding him back, Nick turned. "Shouldn't she be, I don't know, resting?" Schanke whispered. "She is." "Yeah, but--" "Nick helped me get down here, Schanke," Natalie said from the sofa. "In case you didn't notice there's not much to do in the bedroom. No TV, nothing." Nick turned back to see Natalie smiling a little too much, and he looked away. Hoping Schanke wouldn't notice, he dragged the other forcibly forward a little to get them moving again then sat down next to Natalie. "So opinion on what?" Schanke said once he stopped a few feet short of where Natalie sat. "Ah, how bad I look," Natalie stated, then explained, "I'm somewhat planning on coming back to work, at least for a couple of hours a night. I want to get an idea of what everyone is going to say after they see me." Schanke stood overly still and just stared, his eyes widening a little. "Please, just...say something. Silence makes me think it's bad." Nick carefully watched as Schanke inched closer and looked Natalie over, his eyes lingering on her face then came back to it after his eyes darted toward Natalie's hands which were barely visible. "Schanke, just--" "It...well, it doesn't look as bad as I expected. I can barely see the bruise Nick mentioned..." "Because I have it covered up with makeup." "Oh, er." "Natalie's more concerned about the other," Nick stated, drawing his partner's attention for a moment. "The cut." "Well...it doesn't look nearly as bad as I remember." "But it doesn't look good?" "It...it seems to be healing pretty good. Although looks like it might scar pretty bad. I mean, it's already more or less...but I mean it's not exactly a paper cut..." Natalie winced at that. No, it wasn't, but she hadn't managed to make it super thin and look right. And she had seen the photographs--it wouldn't have healed as a thin line, anyway. "Thanks, Schanke." "I mean it's--" "I wanted your honest opinion. Don't try to sugar-coat it now." "I, er..." "What are people going to think?" "They're going to ask if you're okay and if it hurts," Schanke blurted out. "That particular injury doesn't hurt any more, just...itches." Nick caught a long glance from Schanke; it seemed like the other wanted to say something but wouldn't with Natalie there. "There isn't anything...strange about it?" Nick prodded. "Not really..." Schanke said as he took another look. Natalie even turned her head so that he could see it from another angle. "I mean it seems to have healed really cleanly--it's not ragged on the edges or anything--which is good. Other than that it just looks like a fresh shiny scar. And like I said it looks painful, or maybe I'm just remembering what it looked like before." Schanke shifted, then changed the topic, "So when are you going back to work? Are you really ready for that?" "Nick will be coming with me, I'll go home if it turns out I'm not ready, and it'll only be a couple of hours a night at first. It should be fine. Beyond, I suspect, getting a lot of unnecessary visitors." Schanke stared forward again, as if trying to process what was said. "And when are you planning on going back?" "Ah, in the next couple of nights." "In the next--" "As long as I'm careful I'll be fine, Schanke." "Yeah, but...cracked ribs hurt quite a bit and--" "I know that. Obviously." "Obviously," Schanke repeated in a whisper, his eyes darting to Nick again. Nick caught the glance and stood and headed toward Schanke, who he steered back toward the elevator. As they walked, Nick asked, "Is that what you really think?" "About what?" "Your reaction, did you leave anything out?" Nick further prodded as Schanke reached the elevator. Nick held the door open and stood right on the threshold. "Schanke?" "Well...dark scars like that usually stay pretty noticeable, even once it turns colour, don't they? And it's in a rather visible spot." "And your point?" "I don't know... A lot of people have issues with scars like that...scars you can't really cover up twenty-four/seven. And some scars never turn, or take a long time." Nick started to understand where Schanke was going. By a lot of people the other was wondering if he had a problem with it. "And?" "And, just...for some people that can break a relationship," Schanke whispered in a low hiss. "I don't know if--" "I don't care about scars, Schanke. It doesn't make her damaged; nor does what happened to her." "You tell her yet?" Nick tensed at this. No, he hadn't explicitly told Natalie, not as Schanke meant. "Go home, Schanke," and with that Nick let the elevator door slide shut. He held it there, which turned out to be a good idea as he felt the other try to open it. "Well, take the hint, Knight," Schanke's muffled voice came through the door. Then Nick blissfully heard the freight start down without further argument or instructions said or yelled through. "Tell me what?" Nick continued to lean up against the elevator door. He could hear the teasing tone in Natalie's voice as she approached him, but he could also hear that she wouldn't back off this time without an answer. "And take what hint? Hmm?" Nick smiled as he felt hands on his back. She had probably already guessed. "Something from when we were at the hospital," Nick admitted. "What, exactly?" "Schanke had been asking questions," he vaguely started, then further explained, "And I wasn't doing a very good job of answering them...if at all. He made the connection." "Which was?" "He realised I was...that I cared for you as more than just as a friend, that I loved you," Nick managed and turned. "I couldn't really refute it. I used the excuse that we worked together, which...he called it a stupid excuse." "Well, that is a bit--" "Apparently it's not against regulations," he stated before Natalie could say it was a reasonable excuse. It wasn't. "He kind of asked, kind of told me to tell you when--if--you woke. Compared me to a brick." Natalie smiled. "Yeah, well, you can be a bit--" "It's not that I'm dense as LaCroix put it, not with this. I just...we couldn't-- Schanke doesn't think it is or was complicated." "I know, Nick, but now it isn't." As Natalie took his hands Nick pulled back until his back was against the elevator door. She was still smiling at him almost mischievously. "So you love me." "Yeah," Nick admitted even though he felt a bit trapped there against the door with Natalie holding him in place. "Hmm, for how long?" "I...to be honest I don't know." "But more than the last week or so?" "Probably more like a...year, maybe even two. I can't define when." He watched Natalie's reaction carefully, but she just kept smiling. She didn't seem surprised or upset. "Well, I think I have you beat. I'm not sure when it really changed, but I remember when you were brought in. I don't usually feel attracted to patients, but I secretly wished you weren't dead." "And then I wasn't." "And then you weren't. When I found out what you were that kind of dashed any thoughts, but--" "They were there." "Yeah." "So what are we going to do about it now?" "I think we've already been doing something about it," Natalie said and kissed Nick. Smiling, Nick gave her a kiss back once she had pulled away. Yes, they had been doing something about their feelings; they could barely keep their hands off one another, or he should say their fangs away from one another. Pausing, Nick felt himself pushed back, fingers to his lips. "No, no, not yet. I want to call in to get my schedule made up. Then we can do whatever you want." Nick closed his eyes as Natalie kissed him again, then in a moment she was gone. He then followed her as she went over to his phone and started dialling. He felt she was somehow compromising or trying to push herself. Nick knew she had been doing the latter as she had ended up abruptly pushing him away several more times when they'd been together. It didn't seem to really bother her, but it bothered him. Every time she pushed him away he felt like he was hurting her, especially because most of the time it only meant a pause in what they were doing rather than stopping what they were doing and just going to sleep. Waiting, Nick watched as Natalie argued for a moment with someone--not Cohen or anyone he knew--then he smiled as she hung up. Then she pulled off the arm brace and started for the bathroom. Again he followed, watching as she washed off her face. "So when are you going back in?" "Didn't you hear?" "No. I was too busy watching you," he admitted even as he continued to do just that. "Tomorrow. Nine to eleven. Figured early would be better." "Tomorrow?" Nick repeated, knowing it was already after sunrise. "Tonight?" "Tonight. In another fourteen hours or so." Nick was still standing there, a bit stunned that it had been so easy for her to start back. When Natalie left, pushing him back then started dragging him along by the hand, he nearly stumbled. Then he pulled away. "Nat--" "Oh come on, I've got to try going back to work sometime. And I've learned enough about you this last week to know very little will put you off from--" Nick quickly stopped Natalie's words with his fingers. He wasn't put off, just still thinking about how she was pushing herself. He had somewhat planned on talking to her about it before they were together again, but he supposed it could wait. He'd just have to try harder to not let her push him anywhere she wanted. Smiling he took her hand; immediately she resumed pulling on him toward the stairs. Aftermath - (15/20) Nick hovered around Natalie as she worked just as she requested. Tonight was her fourth night working the short two-hour shifts, and her third autopsy. Tonight's patient was also the first one that Natalie paused at. The woman was fairly young, in her twenties, and she had killed herself. She had bruises on her body--all easily-coverable areas--and Nick had known the reason before Natalie had confirmed it. By the looks of it she had been beaten by her husband; a domestic violence report from a few weeks before confirmed it. The woman's medical records told even more. Now Natalie was trying to determine if it had indeed been suicide or just made to look like it. Either could be possible. Nick watched and waited, but Natalie just stood there, her scalpel ready to cut into the woman's body but frozen in place. "Natalie?" "I can't do this." "Yes, you can." But Natalie pulled back her hand, turned, and walked to the counter where she leaned. "No, Nick, I just...can't." "You did fine last night and that first night. What's different about tonight?" he asked although they both knew the answer. He just wanted to help her understand and confront whatever was holding her back. "What's different? What's stopping you?" "Because someone has beaten the crap out of her for years. She has bruises and several healed fractures." "And?" "And...I don't know." "And it reminds you of what happened, doesn't it?" "Yes and...no, it's more... This is really stupid but I feel like doing this will just hurt her more." Nick relaxed a little. Yes, it did sound a bit unreasonable but at least this he could easily argue against, and he told her, "By doing this you will help her. Of all people that can in some way further impact her life or her memory you can help her the most. You can find out what happened." "Maybe I don't want to know what happened." "You think it's a suicide," Nick whispered. "I don't have a solid opinion yet. I didn't see the scene, but from the photographs...something seems off." "Then you're afraid that's what you'll find." "Yeah, I guess. It wouldn't be the first time I've seen it. Nor will it probably be the last." Nick almost smiled, but he held back. He could see Natalie relaxing, hear the tone of her voice changing. "Remember why you like your job; you like piecing together what happened and you like bringing closure to the living. I know that hasn't changed. If it had--" "I wouldn't have come back. I would have just quit." Natalie took in a deep breath and turned, her eyes not on Nick but the woman on the steel table. "Maybe stand back this time. But keep--" "Keep watch on you." Getting a nod Nick shifted back so that he leaned against the counter. He was almost directly behind Natalie, so she wouldn't be able to see him unless she turned. Nick felt pleased when after a few slow minutes Natalie went into her usual routine. She wasn't having a problem with the blood. From watching her the first night he had noticed she seemed able to almost shut that part of herself off. He could see it in her features when she focused. She looked a little more serious than in the past, but still like Natalie. He had known she could manage this, but he hadn't expected it to be that easy for her. Again he envied her ability. Then, nearly half an hour in, Nick stiffened as the doors opened. He tried not to look, but he couldn't help himself. Two other homicide detectives. Not Pollard and Lang at least, but he doubted the two were there about the woman presently being autopsied. They were too quiet and paying Natalie too much attention. They weren't the first unnecessary visitors, and he pushed away from the counter which caused both to turn their attention on him. "We just wanted to--" "Check in on Dr. Lambert," Nick finished almost coldly. He glanced away from the newcomers as Natalie turned. "Is that why you two are here, or is there something I can get you?" "Ah, actually--" "If you're not here about her," she said nodding back toward her patient, "or for test results or something I can help you with I really need to get back to work as I'm only supposed to be here a couple of hours." "We just wanted to see how you were doing," the first detective continued. "Well, you've seen, so..." "We're going," said the second man, and he pulled on the other man's sleeve. In moments they were gone. "I only have two hours. It takes about that on average for most autopsies and they damn well know it." Natalie turned back to her patient, continuing, "Soon I'm going to start dragging them out myself before they even say anything." "I don't doubt that. They won't know what hit them," Nick teased, moving up next to Natalie. "At all." "Hmm, and if you don't back off you won't know what hit you, either." "I already know what's hit me," Nick grinned, but then he resumed his spot by the counter. Nick next watched as Natalie took several minutes to really get back to work, get back into complete focus. Then the blasted doors opened again, this time nearly silently, and Nick stiffened even before he turned to see who the visitor was. Natalie had turned as well and didn't pause before stating, "What are you doing here?" Nick watched as LaCroix looked Natalie over--specifically her gloved but bloodied hands and the front of her autopsy clothes. She had to look like some sort of dream to LaCroix, a vampire covered in blood. Nick moved between them, blocking LaCroix' view of the blood. "What do you want?" "Why do I need to want anything?" "You always want something." "Then...to visit." "You could have visited at the loft. We're there most of the night." "Yes, but this is so much more interesting," LaCroix said and took a glance around Nick at Natalie. At that, Nick moved forward and backed LaCroix out of the room. It was easy, too easy, and Nick again demanded, "What do you want?" "Just wanted to see how she was doing...excellent, by the looks of it." "Yes, she is doing fine with her job." "I wasn't talking about her job, Nicholas. She looks so very..." "Leave. She's had more than enough interruptions." "From you or from--" Nick backed the other up into the wall. "Go." "Not just yet." LaCroix grinned. "How have her lessons gone? Or have you taught her anything of what I taught you?" "For the moment this is her lesson." "And what if she slips while working alone and--" "And she won't be working alone for at least another week and a half, if not another two or even three weeks. There's plenty of time." "It's already been a week and a half that she's been--" "I know, LaCroix. And she's my responsibility, not yours. What she learns, how she learns, or when she learns it is none of your business. Now leave." At first Nick thought he might have made a mistake, but then he got an odd grin from the other and LaCroix even chuckled as he slowly turned and walked down the hall away from him. He hated it when LaCroix seemed happy about something and he couldn't figure out why. After a moment Nick slowly returned to autopsy. He found Natalie waiting for him right on the other side of the doors, looking concerned. "He's gone." "I have a feeling he's going to be back." Nick tensed again, but agreed, "Probably." LaCroix almost seemed to view Natalie as some new project. "By the way have you figured out if--" "My kidney grew back?" "Yeah." "No, I haven't even tried to check that. He didn't ask about that, did he?" "No. I think...I think the blood distracted him a little, something," he said with a nod to her hands. Natalie looked at them, then her eyes went to the blood on her white clothes. "Ah, well...yeah, I guess." When Natalie didn't return to her work and just stared at the blood on her clothes, Nick asked, "Do you need to take a break?" "No, no, I'll be fine." Nick somewhat doubted that the way Natalie's voice went quieter, but after a few minutes she had gone back into her work mode. He'd have to start training her beyond watching her at work and periodically flying with her to her apartment--the second to clear out her kitchen and apartment in general of no-longer necessary items such as food. Both of those things she seemed to be doing great at, but there were other harder lessons she needed to learn. She had to, for one, learn how to at minimum make mortals forget about seeing things they shouldn't have. If she could learn how to suggest alternatives, even better, but at minimum she had to master causing them to forget. The other important lesson that he could think of was teaching her how to find him. That would be...difficult as he had had trouble with learning that himself at first. The catacombs LaCroix had used to teach him that had been perfect, but this modern city was far different. He wasn't quite sure how he'd teach Natalie that. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. Nearly a week later, Nick started Natalie on her fifth session of him trying to teach her to find him. He had started that on her days off, then she had started four hour shifts at work. Far more people started to drop by during her shift, but she still didn't have much time. Four hours was almost enough that with doing reports at home she did nearly as much work as she normally would have. Almost. The only problem with that was that usually she had a full shift or even more than a full shift to prepare and run tests and even get results back. The longer shifts made Natalie extra tried, and she needed to drink a partial glass of blood during that short shift. He had considered seeing if she could get some of her visitors to go away, but thought better of it. Work wasn't the place to teach her that. And it was easier to teach Natalie how to find him, how to recognise where he was now when she didn't work all night than once she did. Tonight he was waiting. He had flown a good five miles from where they started before he stopped and hid out of sight. Each time she successfully found him he then increased the distance. But not this time. This time he laid waiting, but didn't plan to stay there. Once she got close he'd leave and find another hiding spot. She'd have to both recognise that he had moved and then find him yet again. He hadn't told her of his plan. It had been much easier for him to recognise where Natalie was than he remembered when LaCroix had been teaching him. Perhaps the difference was the difference in his role. Natalie seemed to be having as much trouble as he had at first. That made him feel a bit less inferior as Natalie's teacher. Eyes closed, Nick felt and listened to his surroundings. He could feel her getting ever closer, but slowly. She was coming in the right direction but probably couldn't tell where he was ahead of her. After a few minutes Nick opened his eyes with a smile, then shifted from his hiding spot in a flash. Natalie would still be far enough away that she wouldn't see him, but close enough that she might not stop until she tried to find his actual hiding spot. Nick now flew nearly four miles in a rather zigzag, almost round-about path through the city. It would throw her off if she wasn't paying attention. Then he hid again. When Natalie again got close he nearly let her find him, but relocated again. He didn't fly quite as far, but he flew faster. Then he waited just inside an abandoned warehouse, out of sight but not hidden to the point where Natalie would have to move something--whether it be a door or whatever--to get to him. Several minutes passed before he sensed she was nearby. Several agonising minutes where he wondered if he should poke out into the street or stay where he was. Nick chose the latter and smiled as he abruptly heard footsteps on the pavement. They moved closer, then stopped. Then the steps moved ever closer right toward the entrance he stood near. He smiled as Natalie appeared in the doorway, then was a bit shocked as she hit him, hard, in the shoulder, pushing him back. "Don't you dare smile at me!" Nick suppressed a wince and kept smiling at Natalie's near anger; she was smiling too. It rewarded him with another hard whack right into his shoulder, this time more of a punch than a push. "I've spent the last half hour or however long that was on a wild goose chase with an invisible goose! And stop grinning." Nick smiled wider as Natalie hit him again, although more playfully. "You could have at least told me what you were going to do so I'd be prepared. I thought I had you and then you were off back the way I had come. You kept moving." "But you still found me," Nick pointed out. "And you didn't give up and go back to the loft." "Well, no, I didn't give up, but--" "Which is good. Other than maybe trying to find me on our lunch breaks or something I think we're done with the wild goose chases." Natalie smiled and shook her head as she moved forward and leaned up against Nick. "You are--" Nick abruptly tensed and pulled Natalie's hands down off his shoulders. With their little chase his senses were still heightened and he could sense someone nearby...specifically LaCroix. "What is it?" "LaCroix," Nick whispered and he turned and peered into the dark warehouse. As he did he saw the other man step out from behind and around a support beam up a level above, grinning. "Excellent, Nicholas," LaCroix said as he took a few steps along the beam. "You've been watching, following me as well." "Yes." LaCroix flew down to the ground then continued to walk forward, his eyes settling on Natalie until he reached Nick. "You know...I don't think I ever did anything so rigorous with you. Not so early, at least." "What do you want now?" "I just thought I would suggest another...test for Natalie." "What kind of test?" Nick asked. "To see if she can find...me, perhaps? To see if she can differentiate between us." "It won't work." "It might not work, but I know you and Janette can play this little game...it shouldn't be much different between that and Natalie's connection to me." "No." "Why not? If for some reason you are unavailable shouldn't she know how to find me? That is one reason for this, yes? So that if something goes wrong she can find you." Nick didn't counter this. Yes, that was another reason he had done this lesson first. If Natalie needed his help or found herself hunted or something this would give her somewhere to run to. "What do you think of the challenge? Find me, not Nicholas." "So, what, you go hide like Nick has been?" Natalie asked. "Oh, no...that would be far too easy, I suspect." Nick narrowed his eyes at LaCroix. "What are you thinking?" "We both leave together, then separate. Two targets, only one is right." Nick had to admit it would be an interesting test, but he wasn't sure about having Natalie find LaCroix...having her be alone with him, even if it was only for a few minutes. "I want to try it." "Nat--" "I'm curious how hard it will be. You know me, can't resist a challenge. And it could be useful, never know." Nick held back further protest. It would be a good idea to try it at least once. He wished LaCroix had come to him later, though. He felt ambushed. "All right. After we leave, wait--" "Five minutes and then find you--or, well, find LaCroix." Nick nodded, grabbed LaCroix by the arm and pulled him out onto the street. Once there Nick let go and took off. He flew nearly three miles by his guess before stopping on a rooftop and spinning. LaCroix had stayed nearly with him, so when he turned LaCroix appeared there moments later. "Once she has found you, then have her find me. Nothing more. Don't add in any of your own lessons." LaCroix silently grinned, then took off. Nick scowled after the other, but left as well in a slightly different direction--at roughly a forty-five degree angle. He didn't want to go the opposite way, but he didn't want to be too close. Then Nick moved out of sight and waited. This time it was agonising and for the first couple of minutes he paced under the small under-hang. Then he forced himself to remain still. While he was further away he didn't want Natalie to hear him. Depending on just what she focused in on--he really wasn't sure how it worked, only remembering what LaCroix had told him so many centuries before--she might know he was agitated, worried even without his pacing. He suspected she could zone in on him easier with his barely controlled emotions. He knew LaCroix was easier to pick out when he was angry--well, more than angry, almost insane with anger--usually at himself. It probably worked the same when it came to Natalie trying to find him. To help calm his thoughts, Nick closed his eyes like he had before and just listened, waited. He could feel her closing in on him, but not. She must have gone to LaCroix, found LaCroix. He was both pleased and upset. More pleased. If nothing else perhaps LaCroix wouldn't feel the need to do this again. A couple more minutes passed, then Nick again heard footsteps on the pavement. Two sets this time. He stayed in the shadows until Natalie's gaze met his and he knew she knew he was there, then he stepped forward, his expression even. "Could Natalie find you?" "Obviously. Quite easily, actually." Nick walked down from the deserted dock and moved closer to Natalie; she moved closer to him as well. "We're going home," Nick stated, taking Natalie's hand in his. "Unless you have some other idea?" "No, not at the moment." "Good," Nick said, then he started walking away, keeping Natalie's hand in his, forcing her along whether she wanted to come or not. She didn't fight him, though, easily keeping up with him. Nick didn't slow and turn until he was sure LaCroix had left. Then he stopped walking and turned to Natalie. "Did he--" "He didn't do anything beyond smile rather manically at me. Didn't even say what he thought until we got here." "Did he tell you where I was? Or say anything about me?" "No. And are we really going home?" "Yeah. I think that's it for tonight." Nick smiled and let go of Natalie's hand, then headed to the loft with her close behind. Aftermath - (16/20) "Are you sure you want me to leave you here alone?" Nick said the following week with Natalie's second night of six-hour shifts. She planned to work eight the next week, more or less back to normal beyond when it got busy. She was pushing herself, hard...too hard in his opinion. She still didn't remember every detail of what had happened to her, but he had woken several times now to find her having a nightmare. Unlike him, she didn't wake from them, but some evenings she seemed jittery. Tonight had been bad and Natalie had been insisting since she woke up that she planned to work alone that night. "Nat?" "Nick...I have to, sometime, unless you're going to quit...and I don't want to force you to give up your job." "I would. And I do still have a little more time I could take, as do you." "Tell Schanke you'd quit. I know he's thrilled about having his partner back. He didn't much like last week's random week off, I don't think. Not with how many times he bugged us." Nick grinned at that. Yes, Schanke had gone back to dropping by every morning and then every night while Natalie worked. Natalie hadn't needed some of the comments about her patients...nor about her noticeably to Schanke different demeanour. At least with him at work Schanke wouldn't be as easily tempted to drop in on Natalie. But it also might open up others to try. "And Nick, I will call you if I need your help for any reason. And hopefully not because I just killed Detective Pollard or the like." "And I can drop by on lunch?" "Of course, although just to let you know I won't be taking one." "But I can come by and watch you for a bit?" "Yeah, you can watch. You know, you used to hate it when an autopsy was in progress." Nick tensed a little. He knew why he wasn't having as much trouble as usual: For the past three, approaching four weeks he hadn't drank one drop of cow's blood. All he had had was human blood and Natalie's blood. "It's because I'm drinking human blood, I think," he admitted. "If or when I go back that will probably change." "And, what, if I switch it will make my job harder?" "Yeah, it'll probably make it harder." Then he admitted, "You might not even be able to do your job, or at least not autopsies, drinking cow's blood." "Well, that's probably something to wait to try." Nick absently nodded. Yes, that was something to wait on. As long as Natalie drank human blood he didn't know if he could switch back to cow's blood. It would be too tempting. "So are you going to work or you just going to stall until my shift is over? Schanke might put an APB out on you this time." "I'm going, I'm going." He quickly kissed Natalie's cheek, after which he whispered, "See you in a few hours." *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. That night Nick barely managed to do more than sit at his desk, tap a pencil on the empty surface, and check the time every two or three minutes. When Schanke went to lunch he zipped out of the precinct almost too fast, then flew to the morgue. Natalie had been perfectly fine, running tests. The rest of her shift had gone fine as well, but he hadn't seen her until he went home as Schanke got tired of hearing the incessant pencil tapping and so they had spent the remainder of their shift in the Caddy just driving. Nick hadn't overly minded leaving as too many eyes were on him at the precinct. And it was nice to just drive...he hadn't other than the night Janette had come to talk to Natalie. He hadn't needed to or really wanted to drive anywhere. That was a bit strange for himself, but just being around Natalie made him feel calmer and more focused. Natalie's quick recovery--seemingly nearly complete beyond a rapidly lightening scar on her cheek and the arm brace, which Natalie planned to remove at the start of the next week--sparked wonderings about himself of all things. Apparently the fact that she had been staying at his place since he had taken her from the hospital was well known and caused speculation. That speculation was, of course, now true. He and Natalie hadn't tried to hide any deepening of their relationship. Not that they kissed in front of others, but Nick knew he had acted rather protective of Natalie with her unnecessary visitors. And he knew that had spread through the ranks as well--that he had been hovering and turning her visitors away. The following night Schanke had immediately suggested they not stay in the precinct. Nick had a feeling it had as much to do with Cohen's looming form at the door to her office as it did not wanting to hear a pencil tapping across from him again. Schanke hadn't gotten much work done without him. Nick kept periodically driving by the coroner's building, and he had to consciously avoid any of the streets that would lead him there. That resulted in him driving in a small-ish circle somewhere between there and the 96th. Finally as the middle of their shift arrived Nick pulled over. "Go get something for lunch and head back. I'll meet you back at the precinct." "And where are you going?" Schanke asked as Nick opened his door. "For a walk." "Yeah, and I think I know where. Just...get back in and drive there, will you?" Nick nearly shut his door and left, but somewhat reluctantly got back in. "Good, 'cause it'd take you a good thirty or forty minutes to walk there." Nick didn't reply, just pulled his door closed and then made a U-turn. It would have taken less time to fly there than drive, but a few extra minutes wouldn't hurt. Nick pulled the Caddy to a stop across the street from the coroner's building and got out, closing the door quickly this time. "I'll see you in a bit," he said to Schanke, then he started across the street a bit slower than he really wanted. Once he heard the Caddy drive away, Nick turned to make sure Schanke had indeed left. Then he started toward the door with a smile. Once inside, Nick took the familiar path to autopsy, but something seemed a little off. He wasn't sure what it was. Pushing the doors open he found the body of a woman out on the table, mid-autopsy, but no Natalie in sight. Closing his eyes with the plan to figure out where she went, he realised she was there, somewhere. "Natalie?" he said as he stepped into the room, trying to zone in on where she was. He first walked around to the other side of the autopsy table, then he noticed Natalie's desk chair had been pushed out and he moved quickly forward. There, in the corner behind her desk, sat Natalie curled up on the floor, her knees up to her chest, blood on her bare hands and lips. It hadn't even dried. "Natalie?" Rather than verbally reply, Natalie just curled up, lowering her head. It didn't stop Nick from approaching and kneeling in front of her. "What happened?" "Isn't that obvious," she whispered without looking up. "Just tell me what happened. What triggered it?" Nick asked and tried to turn her face to look up at him, but she shirked back further. Knowing he couldn't just let her sit there, Nick stood and went to the counter. He grabbed a box of paper towels, then nearly went back to Natalie but went to the doors first and turned the lock. If someone else walked in... Then going back to the counter Nick pulled out a few of the paper towel sheets and dampened them. Finally he went back to Natalie, who it seemed hadn't moved. He knelt down next to her, pulled one of her hands easily away, and used one of the dampened paper towels to clean off the majority of the blood. He did the same with her second hand, at which she began to silently weep. "Shh, Natalie, it's all right." "It's not all right, Nick." "It's all right. You didn't kill anyone, you didn't do any real harm." Nick again tried to get Natalie to look at him, and this time managed it. As he wiped the blood off her face with a fresh damp towel, he asked, "What about the blood you've kept here? The bottled blood?" "Gone. There wasn't much left. It wasn't enough." Nick checked the floor, and indeed, there was the empty bottle, still uncorked, lying on its side under Natalie's desk. While Natalie was cleaner--and at least mostly presentable now beyond the semi-usual blood on her autopsy clothes--it was only the first step. Standing, Nick took Natalie's hands and pulled her to her feet. She was almost in shock and so he was able to easily get her up and then guide her over to the sink, where he washed her hands more thoroughly with soap. Then he spun her and again wiped her face off, her chin off again. As the makeup for her fading scar had been smudged at some point, he wiped that completely off. "Tell me exactly what happened, Nat." "It was him." "Him?" "LaCroix. He came in here while I was working on her and..." Natalie shook her head. Nick knew exactly what had happened and his mood darkened as he said, "He baited you." "He...at first he was polite, even. Curious." "He ask--" "About my kidney. Yeah." "And..." Nick prodded, wondering how he reacted. As it turned out it had regrown, which probably explained why Natalie had slept so long before waking that first time as a vampire. "And I told him. He seemed genuinely amazed at that almost...not shocked, but he certainly thought it was interesting." Natalie paused, taking in a deep breath. "Then his attention turned to her...her body, her skin, her blood." "Did he force you to--" "No, that's the horrible thing. He didn't even taste her blood, nor did he make me. He just...talked about it, more tempted me than baited me. Then when he left all I could think about was what he said. The blood didn't help. At all. I thought it would, but... Nick, even now all I can think about, all I can smell is her blood. And it's not like there's even a lot left in the body to--" Nick took her arms, holding her still. "Natalie, listen to me. You have to focus." "No, Nick, what I have to do is finish this. Then I want to go home and...and hide, or drown myself, or...something." "Shh, you've done nothing wrong--" "I desecrated her body. What I did was wrong, Nick." "But it could have been a lot worse. I've done worse, far worse. No one saw you and you didn't kill anyone; that is what is important at the moment." Nick now had to try and calm himself. "And giving LaCroix a piece of my mind. He shouldn't have tempted you. It's almost like--" Nick cut off before he finished. It was almost like LaCroix wanted her to be caught. LaCroix wanted her to screw up somehow. He hoped it was just because he hadn't taught Natalie how to make mortals forget about things they'd seen and not something LaCroix had done 'just because'. "Did he ask you any other questions?" "Ah, I'm not sure..." "Did he ask about what I've been teaching you?" "He asked if you had led me on any other hunts for you as he put it." "And?" "And I said you had." "Did he ask anything else?" "I don't know, I don't remember. Why?" "Just...I think we need to start on your other lesson, regardless, but it would be just like him to manipulate you into needing help to fix things. If nothing else he understands a vampire's needs and instincts." Nick noticed as Natalie seemed to calm at this--or at least stop panicking. "It's probably lucky I came when I did." "And lucky no one saw me." "Yeah." "If someone had..." Natalie closed her eyes. "Nick, I don't know what I would have done. I suspect either nothing or...or..." "Nothing happened, Natalie. Don't think about what you could have done." "Something I've tried telling you in the past. And no it does not help me feel any better." Nick almost smiled as Natalie tried not to. Whether what happened would be good or bad in the long run, it had happened and they needed to move on. Or Natalie did. She had to finish the autopsy, and his gaze drifted to the uncovered body on the autopsy table. Even he was tempted by the blood. "Do you want me to go to the loft, get another bottle? Or feed from me, or--" Natalie quickly shook her head. "No, I just want this over with. And I want--I'm going to need you here." "Then I'll be here. It'll be fine." "I don't know about fine," Natalie muttered as she grabbed a clean pair of gloves. This time when Natalie started back to work Nick noticed she seemed different. Instead of gaining complete focus after a couple or few minutes, she continued to struggle through the remainder of the autopsy. As a result, it took her far longer than it should have. Around when he should have gone back to the precinct Nick called in for the remainder of his shift, told Cohen that Natalie wasn't feeling well and he wouldn't be back in that night, that he would stay until Natalie was finished with what she was currently doing. Then, moments later, Schanke had called super concerned. And of course Schanke remembered that he had been 'driving' Natalie to and from work and reminded him that the Caddy was at the precinct. Nick had eventually more or less hung up after telling the other not to worry as he didn't want to leave Natalie, even though he was only a few feet away...a few feet behind her. Natalie was still far from finished, and Nick stood rather closer nearby than he had been. It was more like the first night she had been back, the first autopsy she had done as a vampire, but even worse. Whenever Natalie paused Nick prodded her gently to continue. That seemed to work, but he could see how very hungry, almost starving Natalie looked. She struggled with both doing the autopsy and keeping her body's instincts and needs in check. One hindered the other, but slowly she finished. Then, the moment she had the body sewn back up, her gloves and jacket off, she left to change back into her regular clothes and gave him the task of putting the body away. For a moment he just stared after Natalie, a bit worried as she left the room on her own, but then he forced himself to do what she had asked. He had been watching Natalie so closely and even helped her the first couple nights she had been back that he now knew far more about the inner workings of the morgue than he wanted to and he knew exactly what he needed to do. He finished before Natalie returned, and so he paced. He still wanted to talk to LaCroix, although he doubted it would do any good. Yelling at LaCroix would do nothing to fix what had happened, nor would it necessarily stop it from happening again. What it would do, however, was tell him why. Was it because he hadn't taught Natalie how to make mortals forget quite yet? Was it because he didn't like the idea of her staying in this life? Was it her job that he didn't like? Or was LaCroix doing this just to screw with him as usual? Nick first stiffened as the doors to autopsy opened again, then relaxed as he saw Natalie. He started to smile but froze as she flew at him and then abruptly sank her fangs into his neck. His instinct was to pry her away, but he let her feed knowing it was feed from him or feed from the first mortal she ran into. Or maybe she had run into someone and that's what finally tipped the balance? Once Natalie stopped feeding from him, Nick carefully pulled her away from him and tried to get her to look at him again. "Natalie?" "I'm sorry, I'm sorry--" "Shh, it's fine." He turned Natalie and started her in the direction of her desk. "Get what you need and we'll go home." "Go home? Nick, you need to go back to work." "I called in for the rest of my shift, remember?" he prodded, but Natalie shook her head. She hadn't realised he had called anyone, and he told her, "Before Schanke called." Still she shook her head at him. "It doesn't matter. Again, get what you need--" "I don't want you calling in to work because of me. You just barely came back and--" "Natalie, it's fine. It's probably expected." Nick walked around Natalie to the other side of her desk, where he leaned down and grabbed the bottle and the cork that lay a couple of feet away. Then he rolled her chair back into place and picked up her coat, covering the bottle with it. Natalie hadn't moved forward. "Nat?" "Right, right," she said and started forward, shuffling through the items on her desk. She made up a folder and grabbed her tape recorder. "Ready, I think." Nick now guided Natalie out, his senses on alert for anything or anyone that might detain them or see Natalie's unblemished face. Exiting the building, Nick took one of Natalie's hands and took off, hoping she'd come as well. She did and they headed to the loft. Aftermath - (17/20) "Nick, please don't--" "I'm going to talk to him regardless." "But you could have gone about it a different way, Nick." Nick shook his head. Natalie had insisted she would work again tonight, and he didn't want LaCroix dropping in again. He had asked Janette to think up some reason for LaCroix to visit her at the Raven and then he'd talk to him there. Only downside was that he'd be going to the Raven after his own shift started. AKA Schanke. Well, not the only downside. LaCroix wouldn't be pleased about Janette's role in tricking him to the Raven more or less, but Janette knew that might happen. Janette didn't like what LaCroix had done to Natalie the night before any more than he did. When he told her she had immediately realised how dangerous, how downright disastrous things could have turned. LaCroix had endangered them all with his little game. "Nick?" "It's already arranged and if nothing else I need to know why. And find out if he's going to do it again if I can, or when he might as he'll certainly do something again. He always does." Nick pushed off from the counter in Natalie's lab and tried to smile. "I'll see you either after that or when Schanke goes to lunch depending on how it goes." "Just don't...I don't know, get yourself killed." "He's not going to kill me." "He's tried before." Nick didn't need reminded of that, and his smile faltered for a moment before he assured, "I'll be fine. He likes torturing me more than killing me. Or more than dying as he hasn't had much luck with killing me." "And that's supposed to make me feel better?" "Yes," Nick said as he almost leaned forward to kiss her, but then he thought better of it and instead spun and left. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. "Just stay here," Nick said to Schanke nearly two hours later after he pulled the Caddy up by the Raven. "What are you--" "Just stay here," Nick repeated then hurried off, listening to Schanke's ramblings about him always telling him to stay out. Nick just heard another mumble of not really wanting to go in, anyway, as he passed through the front doors. Immediately he found his target: LaCroix and Janette were at the bar, quietly arguing. Or they were. Almost immediately LaCroix' attention landed on himself, and Nick started forward before LaCroix could scurry off. He didn't have to worry about that, as Janette had stopped LaCroix by grabbing his arm and LaCroix now glared rather sinisterly at Janette and pushed her back against the bar's counter. "LaCroix," Nick said as he pulled the other man's hands off Janette's arms. "Don't take your anger out on Janette." "I will do whatever I please." Nick had to resist the urge to refute that now, and so he just pushed LaCroix back, turned him, then continued forcibly shoving the other toward the back rooms of the club, a hand on the other man's arm so that he couldn't easily fly off once they were out of sight of others. Once in a curtained-off room, Nick let go of LaCroix. "You will not do as you please with Natalie." "Ah, this is about last night, then?" "Of course it is! Why did you tempt her?" "I only, how should I put this, described--" "You know damn well what you did, how she'd react." "And?" "And you're lucky I'm who found her, that's what. She could have killed someone or they would have left and told someone...we could have all been ruined by your little game. If they found out and found out you triggered it... She was doing fine without your interference." "She must learn--" "Learn what, LaCroix? I am teaching her, not you. She seems to be learning well, even according to you." "And you haven't finished her lessons." "I will finish them. She was doing fine," Nick repeated. "She needed to be challenged. She needed more than just encouragement, approval. Isn't that all you're giving her? She needed a taste of reality." Nick started to pace. He could hear LaCroix' frustration. He thought he was helping Natalie, even teaching her in a way. "She needed to know how easily we can be swayed. A lesson of sorts." There, LaCroix had said it, and Nick stopped pacing and glared at the other man. "She already knew how easily we can be swayed. And maybe she did need an example related to her work, but not the way you did it. You tempted her and then you *left* her. That was no lesson. It was nothing more than a trick and abandonment. If you ever do something like that again--" "What? You'll make sure I can't ever again?" "Yes," Nick sternly stated, and he watched as LaCroix' demeanour changed slightly. Not quite fear, but LaCroix could tell he was serious. Nick had to hold back a smile of pleasure at that. LaCroix knew what he meant without spelling it out: If he interfered again he would kill him or at least try to if that's what had to be done. "Don't interfere again. If you need to voice your opinion... Come to me directly and voice it civilly. Then I will chose what and when anything is to be done, assuming anything is done." "May I tempt her again and--" "No. No, LaCroix. You don't go near her while she is working. She doesn't have the luxury to just disappear for a couple of hours if need be, certainly not in the middle of an autopsy. You should have known that would have been impossible on her own!" Nick angrily inched closer, almost making LaCroix cower back. Almost. Nick then almost smirked as he added, "And if you ever tempt her like that again and leave her, or worse, because of you something happens and she is killed for it... I will kill you, LaCroix." Now smirking, particularly as LaCroix broke their stare, for once defeated, Nick's attention shifted as someone pulled back the curtain. Janette. "That mortal partner of yours is looking for you," she hissed, looking at Nick and trying to avoid LaCroix. Nick took in a deep breath. He had told Schanke, twice, to stay in the car. "He said something about needing to be somewhere." Nick turned his attention back on LaCroix, who seemed to be putting up a stronger front now that Janette was there. "What I said...I mean it, LaCroix. Don't interfere. No more lessons, no matter how needed, how urgent they may seem to you. No more examples." Nick startled feeling Janette's hand on his arm. He spun to her, glaring for a moment even though he could see her concern. She left at this--he could hear Schanke rather close by, probably just on the other side of the curtains--and Nick turned back to LaCroix. "And don't take this out on Janette. Nothing I said was her fault. You were insane for--" "You better leave before that wretched mortal comes in here. I do hope you have no plans of bringing him across." Nick held back a smile; no, he had no plans. Schanke would make a terrible vampire. "LaCroix...just please--" "I received your threat, Nicholas. You can leave." Nick stiffened a little at LaCroix' darkening tone, then left through the curtain and came to an abrupt halt. Schanke was right there. He had pushed by Janette somehow. "Finally. Come on, Knight, places to be... Am I interrupting something?" "No," Nick managed, then spun Schanke and pushed him back toward the main part of the club. Glancing back Nick saw LaCroix watching from behind Janette. "Where do we need to be?" "Crime scene." Nick figured that, and just pushed the other. "What is it?" "Shooting. Natalie going to be there? I don't think she's gone out anywhere yet, has she?" "No, she hasn't, and...I don't know if she'll be there." Nick pushed Schanke the remainder of the way out of the club onto the street, then finally just started toward the Caddy. He both hoped Natalie would be there and hoped she wouldn't. If she wasn't, however, he'd definitely go by the morgue to talk to her. After last night he didn't know if she would be ready. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. Reaching their destination and walking over to the scene--a man in his car, which had crashed into a light pole--Nick found Natalie leaning over the man's body. She looked focused, lost in concentration, and Nick hoped that meant she was doing all right. The victim had been shot more or less in the jugular by the looks of it, blood pouring down from the wound. "Nat?" Natalie spun, her eyes going right to Nick. "How long have you been there?" "We just got here." "Man..." Nick turned to Schanke, who was staring not at the man in the car, but Natalie. He knew why. Natalie had once more drawn a slightly lighter scar, and it was starting to really blend in. Even more so with the lighting from the streetlamps plus the full moon. She still had the brace on her right arm, but as it was mostly covered with her coat she looked practically healed to anyone that looked. "Wow, Natalie--" "Let's just do our jobs, Schanke," Nick said to his partner as Natalie looked away. "Nat?" "Ah, well, I think in general it's pretty obvious what happened." "He was shot while driving." "Yeah. I'm thinking low calibre, that or it was fired from a distance. The bullet didn't pass through him. It looked like it came from above and it wasn't point blank, but beyond that you'll probably have to wait for my report." Natalie handed Nick an evidence bag. "His name is Harold Pultz, forty-two, and yes the car is his. Looks like he has a family by the pictures in his wallet." Nick had already seen the pictures. They were right next to his driver's license. Reading the address Nick got his bearings at the intersection. The car would have been travelling away from where Mr. Pultz lived and he stated aloud, "He wasn't going home." "Why would a guy be going somewhere at one in the morning?" Schanke asked. "I don't know. That's you guys' job," Natalie said and turned back to the car and Mr. Pultz. Nick suggested Schanke find out if there were any witnesses, then he leaned in close by Natalie and whispered, "Are you doing all right?" "Fine. Mostly." "Mostly?" "In case you haven't noticed there's a veritable--" Natalie motioned at the man's bloodied shirt. "It's a bit strong, but I'm doing all right I think. Better than I thought I would. And damn it, Nick, is it that noticeable? The makeup." "The makeup is fine." "Then why--" "Because you look--" Nick cut off as Natalie rounded on him. "It's something with the light. It accentuates your features." "Uh uh, what were you going to say?" Nick smiled. "Because you look beautiful," he repeated and this time finished. "I think that's part of what caught him. Like I said, the light--" "But I look more healed than I should be." "He hasn't seen you for a few days. It's perfectly normal for--" "You didn't answer me. I--" "Maybe, but not out of the realm of possibility. You look fine." "Everyone is watching us," Natalie said and elbowed Nick gently. Glancing up, Nick noticed she was right. They were being watched like vultures circling prey. "Are you going to want or need me to stick around while you do the autopsy?" "Oh, no, no, I need to get used to doing this on my own." "After last night--" "Last night was last night. Besides, you talked to him, right?" "Yeah." "And he's not going to do it again?" Nick hesitated, then admitted, "I don't know. I don't think he will, but he can be hard to read. I don't think he liked being lectured with Janette so close by. And Schanke interrupted with this." "Ah, well... They didn't run into one another, did they?" "No, although LaCroix certainly heard and saw Schanke." Natalie winced, but then shook her head. "I'll be fine, I think." "If he drops by...just stop what you're doing and--" "Call you, yeah." "Or call the Raven if you can't get me. But most importantly stop what you're doing and...leave the room if you can and don't go back until he's gone and you feel fine." Seeing Natalie nod but seem tense, Nick quickly leaned in and gave Natalie a kiss almost on the mouth but not quite. It was also something more than a short peck, but nothing overly passionate. Nick could feel eyes on them again as he straightened, both himself and Natalie smiling. "Let us know when you have something, Nat," he said and slowly backed away before turning and heading toward Schanke, who was watching him just as closely as anyone else. Most of the others went back to work, however, but Schanke just continued looking at him as he approached. "So much for 'let's just do our jobs'," Schanke imitated his partner's irritated tone as Nick approached. "I don't think that was part of doing your job." "I thought that's what you wanted? Now you're going to--" "No, no, just...everyone was watching you two. Kinda figured you'd want to keep it quiet the way you're so private about things, and that's certainly not the way to go about *that*." Nick smiled and walked past Schanke. "So what did you--" "No, no, no, you're not changing the topic, Knight," Schanke said as he spun the other back. "So was that spontaneous or some plan?" Nick had to think. Was it either one? "Maybe a bit of both," he eventually answered. "A bit of both, so...that means you want people to know? Are you two actually going to give it a--" "Schanke..." "Ha! You are, aren't you? I know that whine. It's when you don't want to admit something but it's true. You two are--" "Maybe." Then, between Natalie's glances and Schanke's incredulous look he said, "Yes." "And she's still staying at your place?" "Yeah," Nick answered without thinking. "She move in or--" "I don't know. We haven't...we haven't talked about that," Nick lied slightly. He knew Natalie had no intention of moving back into her apartment. She had her cat up for adoption, even though he told her she didn't need to do that. He only started to agree with it last night. LaCroix would kill the poor creature without a second thought or make them destroy him. Sydney wouldn't be safe with them. "Right now she's still healing." "She looks pretty much healed from what I can see." "Exactly," Nick stated. "She had other wounds." "Oh...yeah, I kinda forgot--" "Were there any witnesses?" Nick asked, changing the topic. This time Schanke didn't steer them back onto other topics, and Nick relaxed as they returned to working. Aftermath - (18/20) That morning once Nick arrived home Natalie curled up next to him on the sofa...just like she had done the previous night after LaCroix' little visit. "Nat--" "Let's just sit quietly here for a bit." Nick wanted to protest, but didn't. However, after a good ten minutes just sitting there with Natalie leaning against him, Nick couldn't resist and asked, "How did tonight go? I didn't get to ask earlier." "Fine." "Fine as in?" "Much better than last night. I think the crime scene was worse than the autopsy." "And no visitors?" Nick double checked even though she hadn't called. "No visitors." Nick felt better knowing Natalie had done all right that night. "And what about what I said to Schanke? I know you were listening." "Oh, you mean about your little kiss." Nick felt a rather sharper jab to his ribs than he had earlier that night. "I was not expecting that, not then when I was hovering over a bloody--" "Did I make it worse?" Nick cut Natalie off, concerned he might have. He hadn't thought how that might make Natalie feel. "Maybe, but not that much. Besides, having Schanke's prodding of you to focus on helped me get through that, I think." "And? What about his prodding?" he asked and pulled back as Natalie shifted, turning to face him. "Oh, you mean you admitting we might be a couple?" "Partly..." "Nick, everything you said was fine. You were even a bit, well, you held back quite a bit." "I didn't want it to seem like we were...moving too fast or something," he admitted. "It's been close to a month since--" "Three and a half weeks," Nick specified. "--you fell apart in the hospital--" "I did not fall apart..." "And I don't think you realise just how many people thought we already *were* a couple even before this." Nick nearly countered, but found he couldn't and he just opened and closed his mouth a couple of times. Then, after a pause, he again asked, "But what I did...I mean, do you want other people to know, or..." "Nick...like I said pretty much everyone already knew. It's not a big change unless you probably getting some comments counts." "Comments?" "Well, whispered ones about you *finally*--" "Going back to me being dense again." "That is what they think, Nick. I don't think anything is going to change that." Natalie smiled, then became more serious. "How did it go with LaCroix, really?" "He...like I said, I don't think he liked being lectured. I told him any future...lessons or suggestions needed to go through me. And I suppose I threatened him," Nick admitted, then paused for a couple of seconds to gather his thoughts. "I...told him if he does something like this again that I'll make sure he can't ever again, that I'd kill him." "Oh, Nick..." "I'm sick of it, Natalie! Sick of his interference, his manipulation, his--" Nick stopped when Natalie put her fingers to his lips. He was losing control, or he would if he wasn't careful. Closing his eyes Nick pulled Natalie's hand down, but it took a few more seconds before he said more calmly, "I don't want him to have control over you, for him to manipulate me, manipulate both of us through you. It will get much worse than what he did last night. You know some of what he's done to me; I don't want you to go through that." "Just...is that really a good idea? Couldn't it backfire?" "It could, but... I think he knows if he continues his games with you he loses me. Even if I don't manage killing him I'll make sure he knows I won't give up." Nick paused, then added, "And my ultimatum of sorts only concerned you. He might have just been seeing if he could get away with it or not. He cowered back a bit, which I didn't expect. He got the message." "He cowered back?" Natalie asked, her incredulity clear. "A little. It's very uncharacteristic of him. I suppose it's because he feels his life is in jeopardy. His life trumps making me feel miserable." "Is that why you've been, well, on speaking terms since his return?" Nick was caught off guard. He hadn't really thought about it, but...maybe partly. He *had* as far as he knew killed LaCroix. He still didn't know how the other survived being staked and burnt to ashes. Granted, upon his return LaCroix had still tried to oust him from this life, but that had seemed to be the end of it. "Nick?" "I don't know, maybe. He has been fairly...civil this last year, especially recently." "And he knows you are capable of killing him, that you're strong enough." "And that was while drinking cow's blood... I'm sure he knows I'm drinking human blood now. Maybe," Nick mused, shaking his head. "I don't think it's quite that simple, though, but he does act differently when his life is threatened." Nick didn't elaborate. The one time that his visit at the Raven reminded him of was nearly a century and a half before. LaCroix had cowered a bit to the Enforcers they had met. LaCroix had been the one caught on camera and he had taken the brunt of their anger. He would have to tell Natalie more about them at some point as well. Just as LaCroix had been able to centre blame on himself, it would be his responsibility to take the blame for whatever Natalie did if he could. "About that... I'd like to try drinking cow's blood." "Nat, I don't know if--" "I'd like to try it. I can see how you don't like drinking human blood, not really. You cringe a bit more than usual." Nick shook his head, then nodded. "But you'll need--" "I'll probably need to drink human blood to do my job. *If* I do I can always keep a supply at work. It's not that hard to drink both, is it? I mean drink the one here, the other there?" "It's...it's harder than it sounds. There's a definite difference." "Well?" "Well what?" "I'd like to try it, Nick." "Now?" he hesitantly asked, but knew that's what she meant. "Yes, if you have any. I think there is some way in the back, but no idea if it's any good." Nick didn't know himself, but after staring blankly forward for what felt like a couple of minutes--but probably wasn't--Nick stood and started toward the refrigerator. It hadn't been touched for close to a month and those bottles had been close to the end of his supply. Pulling the doors open Nick shifted the several bottles of human blood--that LaCroix kept adding to without being asked--out of the way. He didn't even know if his cow's blood was still there. LaCroix could have easily taken it and replaced it. But as Nick reached the back he found two bottles, one partially empty and the other full. He pulled out the fuller bottle, figuring it would be fresher, and took it over to the counter. There he uncorked it and took a whiff. It smelled more or less fine. "Is it still okay?" "Yeah, it's still good. Maybe a touch stale, but to be honest most bottled blood is a bit stale." Nick pulled out a single glass; if Natalie couldn't drink what he poured out he would, but if she could then he probably wouldn't bother. He didn't have enough cow's blood for them to both switch right now, and that was only if Natalie tolerated it. Slowly filling the glass halfway, Nick inwardly cringed a bit. If he did go back to cow's blood, he suspected it would be harder this time than other times. Setting the bottle down Nick stepped off to the side, away from the glass, and watched as Natalie moved closer to it. "What does it taste like in comparison?" "A bit bland I guess. Almost bitter." Nick winced slightly as he watched Natalie pick up the glass, swirled it a little and took a whiff as if it were wine, and then took a sip. She cringed, but swallowed. Then, to his surprise, she took another larger sip and didn't cringe as much. "Nat?" "It's...different." Nick thought that was rather an understatement and smiled. "Yeah, but is it drinkable?" "Obviously it's drinkable." Natalie took another large swallow. "Question is does it get better? I mean when, say, you're drinking just this." "It's more tolerable. I'm not sure I'd say it tastes any better," Nick answered, trying to be honest. "You get used to it if it's all you have." "But if it's not enough, if I have to drink human blood to do my job..." "Then it will probably always taste about like it does right now, assuming you'd be able to drink both. I can't without slipping." Nick closed his eyes, half-expecting Natalie to point out that she wasn't him, that maybe it'd be different, but she didn't. Instead what she said was almost worse. Natalie finished off what little remained in the glass, then set it on the counter next to the still open bottle. "I want to see if I can do it." "Nat--" "Not both of us, just me. There's no point in you trying to switch until I know if I can handle drinking both, right?" Nick was a bit taken aback, but it made sense. "There isn't much cow's blood left. I think there's a few bottles in storage, but--" "And, what, I'll know pretty quick whether I can handle it, right? I mean if I feel awful or become a zombie-out-for-blood again and it doesn't get better the second or third or so night then it probably won't, right?" "It...it could take a few weeks. I don't know," Nick said as he shook his head. Natalie could feel worst the first night then slowly become more used to it, or she could feel fine at first then just snap a week or two in. Or she might even be perfectly fine as long as she could stand the taste discrepancies. She could also drink more--too much more--of the human blood at work and be on edge and easily irritable either when not at work or all the time. "I've never managed to drink both regularly. It's one or the other for me. I feel too...you've seen what happens when I fall off the waggon so to speak." "It hasn't happened this time." "Because...because switching wasn't...I didn't actually go on a binge this time. It wasn't from cutting back or having to meet some need, but--" "You switched because of me." Nick could see she was upset, that she knew her statement was true. "It's fine, Natalie." "But you don't like that by drinking human blood you have a role in killing people. Even if it's bottled--" "People die for it," Nick finished. No, he wasn't overly thrilled about that, but bottled human blood was, at least, better than fresh. If it came to it he supposed he could switch to donated blood only. It was quite a bit more expensive, the blood fresher but with different preservatives that made it taste a little strange, but no one would die for it. "Are you okay with that? I'm not personally fond of the idea, but I have a feeling people would die regardless to feed us, feed vampires. And probably a whole lot more." "I'm not fond of it," Nick echoed, agreeing with Natalie but looking away. If bottled blood wasn't available...well, with how much blood a single vampire needed he suspected rather than go from superstition to pure myth vampires would have become real to the world. Good or bad bottled blood probably helped keep their secret. While some mortals died from procuring it, far more would die if they all had to feed directly from humans. "Are there other sources?" "For bottled human blood?" Nick asked, glancing back to her. "Only if you want it fresher. I know donated blood can be bought, but it's expensive and fresher--usually one bottle is just one person's blood, and it's almost like--" Nick cut off, then added, "I'd have to ask LaCroix or Janette for a source." "What about--" "Donated blood, bagged blood." Nick shook his head. "Too noticeable, even with, say, you fudging the numbers. Especially for both of us." "But if I can't handle it I could get enough for you," Natalie said as she walked forward, right up in front of Nick, her hands on his arms. Nick had to resist the urge to pull away, and at first all he managed was a shake of his head. He didn't want her to do that. "No, Nat, I'll get used to whatever we end up with. Don't worry about me. I've done much worse than drink bottled human blood. Much, much worse. And it probably won't be forever." "No, it won't. If I can't manage cow's blood at home...I guess I'll have to think of some alternative careers...something I'll have to do eventually, anyway." Nick smiled at her mention of home. That was something they needed to talk about and Nick said, "Which brings us back to what I said to Schanke. About you moving in or...whatever." "You could have told him," Natalie said with a smile. "I don't know if I could have or not. I mean you don't really have many of your things here, and I don't know if you want to--" "Nick, if I didn't want to stay I wouldn't be here. And unless you want to move to my tiny apartment... Although I guess you're right in bringing that up. I guess I have to do something with my apartment. And I need to change the number work has, but I wasn't sure if you wanted me to change it to yours... Everyone will know once they call me and get your message." Nick hadn't really thought about this, but he absently nodded and said, "Change it." "Change..." "Change your home number to the loft's and I'll do up a new message on the machine," Nick clarified. "We might as well...make it more official?" Almost flinching at his half-statement, half-question, Nick hoped Natalie wouldn't take it for uncertainty. He was more uncertain about what she wanted even though she had more or less been living there. Natalie hadn't yet let her clothes start taking over his closet or his drawers, for example. She hadn't really settled in yet. "Unless--" "No, no, I don't mind if everyone knows. Can't wait to hear Schanke's reaction to a new message." Nick smiled as Natalie grinned at him. Yes, that would be interesting, although he had a feeling Schanke's reaction wouldn't be too different than other reactions of late when it came to him and Natalie. "And I should probably move out of my apartment. Not that I'm really living there anymore, but I haven't even brought all my clothes here. I could work on that while you're still at work and on my night off? I mean LaCroix won't--" "He knows where you live, or lived," Nick quickly corrected. "He's probably even been in your apartment." "That is...not comforting." "And right after we met if you knew I had been in your apartment, or practically stalked you..." "All right, I wouldn't have been comfortable with that, either, but you and he are so very, very different." Nick's mood hardened a little. "We're not that different, Natalie. Not really. I have a lot more in common with LaCroix than...Schanke, for example." "Nick, I'm not sure that's the best example..." "But you agree with it?" "How much of you two being alike has to do with you, well, both being born centuries ago?" "We're from different cultures, vastly different..." Nick shook his head. He didn't want to get into the difference between pre-Christian Rome and 12th-13th century northern Europe. "Views. The key word being different." "But we're still not...Natalie, he's influenced me a lot." "And you've put up a pretty good resistance. You know how he works." "And I still let him get to me," Nick countered, then closed his eyes. They were arguing. He didn't want to argue. This was what it had been like with Janette. They argued over things that just were. "I'm sorry." "No, I think that was my fault. I should have just...but you are different, just more in how you view what you are. Drinking human blood again doesn't change how you feel about doing that or what you are." Natalie was right about that and he agreed, "No, it doesn't." "And I'm not upset at you for saying he's been in my apartment before. And you--" "It was before I knew I could trust you. And I wanted to know if by helping me you'd endanger anyone else, if you had a family, a husband, children..." "And all you found was my cat." "And your--" "Ugly walls. And probably noticed that I never did anything but work and sleep pretty much." Nick tensed and turned away slightly. That had actually been part of why he had agreed to let her help him. "I took advantage of that." "Oh, no, no, no. Don't even blame yourself for that. I made the offer. No fault involved in taking it." Nick would have continued to look away, but Natalie turned his face to hers. She was probably right about this, too. She had already seen what he was, even seen him on a bad day right from the start. "Now, do you try to drink the same amount of cow's blood or do you drink more or less?" "I do try, but...I'm drinking less human blood now than what I was drinking of cow's blood before." "How much less?" "Probably a couple ounces a day. So slightly fuller glasses if it were cow's blood," Nick stated, then added, "Some days a bit more." "How much is a bit?" "Half a glass," Nick admitted, but let his eyes drop away from Natalie's. "Maybe even a full one." "Half a glass or even a full one." Nick could hear her annoyance as she repeated his answer. She now knew he had fudged the numbers a bit at times, probably. She probably already knew that, but it made him feel bad again. "Just sometimes." "And then there's the times you--" "Can't control it." "But you haven't had that happen in the last few weeks?" "No." Nick could almost see Natalie thinking. If nothing else she probably made the connection--he didn't drink as much extra cow's blood as he probably should. "Nat--" "I'm not going to say anything. At least not until you go off the deep end again. Or until I do. I'm just trying to think how I want to try this..." "You're going to try starting now?" Nick realised. "Might as well. I still have at least another two nights at six hours, assuming I don't get called in. It'd probably be better to try now than in a week or two." Natalie pushed away from Nick and went back to the glass and bottle on the counter. As she refilled the glass a little more than half-way, Natalie said, "You might as well get your breakfast." Nick absently nodded and walked pass Natalie to the refrigerator. It felt awkward having to get a different bottle, even if he knew it would only be temporary. Either Natalie wouldn't be able to both drink cow's blood and do her job and they'd keep drinking human blood, or she would do fine and he'd switch back. He worried what LaCroix' reaction would be to the latter. If LaCroix tempted Natalie again then, things could go horribly wrong. Aftermath - (19/20) That night on his lunch break Nick excused himself once again and headed to the coroner's building. Natalie had drank more cow's blood that evening and brought an extra bottle of human blood with her to work. The second was both because she was running low--she had been drinking a little when needed throughout her shift as it was--and because she knew she might drink more of it now than she had been. Slipping as quietly into Natalie's lab as he could, Nick smiled when she looked up from her work. Paperwork, by the looks of it. "I'd tell you I don't have anything new, but that's not what you're here for." Nick didn't reply to that, just continued forward to her desk, which he leaned against. "How is it going?" "It's going." "The night or the blood?" "Ah, both. I was right in thinking that I would need more. I haven't had anything interesting tonight, though." "So it hasn't been tested." "Nope. Or not around any patients. Yet." Nick watched as Natalie shuffled some of the papers on her desk, and he shifted and stopped her with a hand on hers. "Nat? Are you all right?" "I'm...yeah, I'm all right. It is a bit...I don't feel as calm, but I feel...fine, I think. I just have the urge to...do stuff." Nick smiled a little. "I think you might want to hold off on more. While you might think more will help--" "Oh, no, I am definitely not having anything more tonight. Not unless I have no choice. I suspect that will just make how I feel worse. Much, much worse. Not sure worse is the right word, though." "More scattered," Nick said, and got a nod. "Well, you have me to focus on for a bit." "And I'm not sure that's a good idea, either." Nick grinned when Natalie looked up at him, her eyes flashing a bright amber for a moment before she looked away. Desire. She had more side effects than just a bit of jitteriness. Then he had an idea and pulled up on her still-captured hand. "Come on." "I am fine." "Just come on," he said again and backed up a couple of feet toward the door. "Nick..." Natalie whined, but she had stood up and allowed Nick to pull her forward a couple of steps before forcing them both to a halt. "You don't have anything urgent right now, right? You can take a break and come with me for a bit." "Where?" "You'll see," Nick said, although he suspected she probably knew: The Raven. "Just...come on. I promise you'll feel better when we get back." Waiting, Nick watched as she slowly caved and nodded, then he started pulling her toward the door again. This time she came along far more willingly and in less than a minute they were outside and had taken to the sky. While he knew Natalie struggled to fly when he continued to hold onto her hand like this, he didn't want her to abruptly turn back on him. Within a couple of minutes their destination had to be clear, and in a couple more they had alighted in the entrance of a dark alleyway near the club. "Nick, I'm not sure this is going to make me feel better. I haven't even been in the club yet as a vampire." "It will be fine. Much easier than an autopsy." "Is that supposed to be a warning or comforting?" "Comforting. Now just stay with me." "And you think I wouldn't?" Nick turned to look at her. While the question was serious he knew Natalie had gone to the club alone--looking for him, mainly. She'd probably do just fine on her own, but he knew unfamiliar and new vampires drew attention. He, alone, drew attention as well. Put the two together, add in that Natalie had known about vampires long before she became one, and Natalie could end up quite the curiosity. He tried to smile and guided her toward the club, one arm wrapped around her back along her waist. "I take it Janette doesn't know we're coming?" Nick smiled a bit more at that. "No, she doesn't," Nick said and pulled Natalie by a few people waiting outside and into the club with a flash of his fangs to the bouncers at the door. It was busy tonight--not surprising being Friday night--and Nick hoped that would be good rather than bad for Natalie. Just a little ways inside the club Natalie came to a halt. "Nat?" "I thought this was supposed to be easier than an autopsy?" Nick didn't really understand. To him while, yes, he could smell blood in the club, it was a far fainter scent than in Natalie's relatively small and closed-in lab. "It isn't?" "It's...there's multiple scents. And the club just feels different." Nick noticed Natalie's gaze drifting through the club, settling every now and then on things she probably would have overlooked as a mortal such as hungry faces leading others off the dance floor. "Well, we can do something about the first," Nick said then took Natalie by the hand and pulled her forward toward the bar. "No, no, I do not want--" "I'll drink it, Nat. Having something nearby will...it will drown out other scents," Nick explained in a whisper just before he reached the bar and ordered a glass for himself. It ended up fuller than he wanted, but it was exceedingly fresh and would do as a nice distraction for Natalie. Then he took it in one hand and Natalie's hand with the other and headed around the edge of the club dance floor to a quieter corner on the other side of the room. Almost as good a vantage point as the bar area, or entrance, but not quite. He put the glass down and took Natalie's other hand, pulling her so that she was facing him. "So what are we doing here?" Nick just continued to smile. He could already see that Natalie was less jittery and more like her usual self, but asked, "Feel better? More focused?" "I think you know I'm more focused, Nick." Yes, Nick could see that--she was focused right on him--and he just smiled back at her. "And?" "And, yes, I suppose you could say I feel better." "Now..." Nick simultaneously pulled Natalie closer and spun her, so that she was now leaning against him and looking out on the club. "What do you see?" "Other than Janette watching us?" Nick's eyes darted to the bar and he found Janette looking right at him. She hadn't been there a moment ago when he and Natalie had entered the club or when he had gotten the drink. She smiled rather more mischievously at him than usual, and she held up her glass and drank from it. Nick tore his eyes away, Janette's mood and action making him think of the glass he had gotten. "Other than Janette, what do you see?" "A lot more than I did before," Natalie whispered. "Or has the club changed?" "It hasn't changed." "Hmm, well..." "Just...pick something, someone." "Why?" Natalie said and tried to twist in Nick's hold. Nick let her and assured, "Not for any nefarious purpose. Just look around and pick someone to focus on. A mortal." "Nick, I don't know about--" "Just try and see what happens," he urged, then pulled her tighter, forcing Natalie to look back out on the club. "What do you see?" "Ah..." "What stands out?" Nick further prodded, leaning over Natalie's shoulder and trying to scan with her. When Natalie seemed super focused, either on a young pair--one vampire, one mortal--dancing or a mortal man behind them up, he again asked, "What grabs your attention?" "The young man against the wall." Nick grinned at this, pleased she hadn't picked the closer pair. "And what is it about him that catches your attention?" "He's...looking at someone. He's not...he's acting different." Nick faintly nodded. Yes, the young man was acting a bit different. He was looking at a young woman--another mortal, which was probably a good thing--and he looked a bit green. "And?" "And what?" "How is he acting different?" "I think you know how," Natalie said, glancing back behind her. Nick smiled. "Go fix it, then." "You want me to go up to a complete stranger, a man a good decade younger than myself and, what, play matchmaker?" "Yes." "Yes?" "Although maybe...try persuading him." "Nick, I don't know how to--" "You still feel a little...I suppose on edge?" Getting a nod, Nick nodded in the young man's direction. "Then it will be easy." "Assuming I don't bite his head off. Literally." "Natalie, you won't. I'll be right behind you." "And what, exactly, do you want me to do? Beyond, I guess, try to influence him." "Just that," Nick said, but seeing Natalie about to protest he then explained, "Walk over to him and stand right in front of him, in his eye-line. While we can still influence someone without eye contact, it is easier and more likely to work with it." "And tell him what?" "Have him..." Nick thought a bit, his eyes darting to the young man, who thankfully hadn't moved. "Tell him to first get rid of his jacket, then go up to the woman he's watching and dance with her. Make sure he doesn't lose his wallet or the like." "And you think I can do that?" "As long as he isn't a resistor." "And if he is?" "Then I guess he'll be a bit confused and you'll just have to come back here," Nick smiled then nodded toward their prey of sorts. "Better go before he gets too nervous and just leaves." He then watched as Natalie hesitantly moved away, and Nick picked up the glass he had gotten from the bar and took a large drink from it. He inched a little closer, but held back. She didn't need him hovering, forget that the young man might sense something was up if two of them approached. His guard would be down with just Natalie. Nick's expression sobered as Natalie came within a couple of feet of her target. When she turned to look at him, again Nick nodded toward the man. He watched and listened as closely as he could, simultaneously smiling and tensing as right at first her target tried to slide away and Natalie had to physically stop him from leaving. After that Nick could hear Natalie's voice start off normal, then after a couple of repeats of trying to get him to stay put he heard the change and indeed the young man froze and went a bit blank. This would be easy now; Natalie had already managed the hard part in capturing and holding the mortal's attention. And, indeed, a mere minute later Natalie had not only managed to get the man to take off his jacket--a beige blazer--although rather than ask if he'd forgotten his wallet Natalie just riffled through it herself. Then, moments later, Natalie sent the mortal on his way across the club and right for the young woman. Nick drank more out of his glass as he watched to see whether arriving by the woman would snap the mortal out of his daze. If it did, it didn't make him run. "That was strange," Natalie whispered as she walked back up to Nick. "I can't believe I did that. I can't believe it actually worked." "Why wouldn't it work?" "Because...didn't you see him trying to get away?" "And for a first try that was fine. It is a lot easier to get someone to forget than get them to do something they're afraid of." "Oh, so this is a lesson and not just you having fun or trying to distract me." "Yes, this is a lesson," Nick admitted, smiling. Then he leaned over and kissed Natalie on the lips. It probably wasn't the best time or place, but Natalie didn't seem to mind. Not that she would mind--meddling with the young mortal's mind had almost assuredly made her want for blood or more. The kiss was nothing more than another tease, and that became apparent when she pushed him back and kissed him hungrily back. Nick had a hard time keeping hold of the glass, but he managed it and also managed to pull away. "Nat--" "No you are not--" Nick almost winced at Natalie's tight claw-like grip on his arms, but he had other concerns. Specifically, her almost gold-tinged eyes. "Close your eyes, Natalie." "What?" Nick nearly repeated his words, but her worry seemed to dispel the gold. "Nevermind, at least for the moment," he mumbled and finished the glass off. Natalie would need to get back to work soon, very soon, and Nick abandoned the glass and took Natalie by the hand. Instead of pulling her toward the main exit, Nick started for the back rooms of the club. "Nick, why are you--" "I thought we could use some privacy," Nick said, turning with a smile for a moment before he slid into a dark room, the club's music muffled. "Some privacy? You think this is private?" "We'll be left alone." Nick smiled, pulling Natalie further forward as he backed up against a wall. "Hmm, and how do you know Janette won't--" "She won't walk in on us, or hopefully she won't. Besides, what you want isn't exactly--" "How do you know what I want, hmm?" As Natalie's eyes turned golden again, Nick grinned and let his own eyes change, likely matching hers. He knew exactly what she wanted, what she needed. "Because I know," Nick teasingly said right before he leaned forward and kissed her first on the mouth, then down along her jaw and neck. She kissed him back, pushing him back against the wall as he had expected, and a moment later she bit into his neck and fed from him. Nick leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes, basking in the sensation of his blood being quickly taken. It didn't bother him; the glass he had drunk filled him, pre-emptively replacing what he knew Natalie would take. Natalie also didn't take as much of his blood as she usually did when she fed from him, perhaps because of where they were. After she pulled back, Nick tasted his own blood as she kissed him. Pleased she hadn't been put off by the idea that Janette might walk in on them--something certainly possible with where they were--Nick smiled as Natalie leaned back. Her eyes were still shining brightly in the darkness. "Why didn't you--" "Because you'll need to go back to work." "And so will you, Nick. And you have a lot more people that see you." Then, after a pause, Natalie added, "And not only that, but I have a habit of not undoing your shirt a bit first so the wound is visible...really, really visible." Nick smiled as Natalie touched his neck, probably about where she had bitten him. "I'll be fine. No one will notice." "Yeah, because you've gone back to wearing way too much black." Nick glanced down. Tonight he was wearing all black--black jeans, black button down shirt, and black blazer. He had done it enough times that Schanke hadn't even pointed it out tonight. At least it wasn't all pitch black, like LaCroix wore. And at least his clothes were still fairly average, too. "And you're right, I do need to get back. I didn't tell anyone I was leaving...you didn't give me the chance." Nick felt a little bad about that. Natalie not only hadn't told anyone, but that he was aware she didn't have her phone or pager. If she got called out she wouldn't be able to respond. After what had happened it might send the department on another hunt for her. He took her hand again and said, "Come on," pulling them out of the small, relatively quiet room. Instead of going back through the club, he led them through a door with a sign for 'staff only', and then through the service entrance into a back alley. "Hmm, should I ask if I've now seen the whole club or is there more?" "There's more. And I'm sure you'll see it sometime." "I will?" "I'm sure Janette will have another chat with you at some point. She didn't seem upset about you being with me tonight." "I'm not sure that grin of hers was due to me, but you," Natalie said and gave Nick a fairly hard shove. Nick let go of Natalie's hand at that, backed a few steps away, and with a smile took off and headed toward Natalie's work. The return trip took even less time, mainly because they had gone separately and Nick hadn't waited for Natalie to keep up. He had to wait for Natalie once he arrived, and then they walked inside together, but came to a halt right inside the doors. "We thought maybe you went home," one of two men said to Natalie with a glance to Nick. Nick recognised them--other detectives probably there for a report or some-such from Natalie. Yep, someone had missed her. "We went for a walk," he gave in explanation. "I figured Natalie could use a break for a few." "Yes, well, I guess I really *do* need to get back to work," Natalie said. Natalie tried to pull away from him, but Nick held onto her for a moment. Natalie seemed to take this as indication to kiss him--on his cheek--but Nick changed that and kissed her on the lips. Then he let go and left, but stopped once he was outside and out of sight of anyone inside and listened for a moment: Natalie was getting grilled on their little walk and kiss. As she and the two detectives walked further into the building to her lab, Nick couldn't hear them any longer and he left, returning to the precinct. Aftermath - (20/20) Arriving home not quite a week later Nick found Natalie in the same place he had the last few days: Curled up on the couch with half a glass of blood cupped in her hands. Yesterday morning he had noted the blood was human blood rather than cow's blood, and this morning it was once again human blood. "I can't do it, Nick," she said looking up at him as he crossed from the elevator. "Or not without drinking far more blood than I would otherwise. And not without tasting their blood." "Nat--" "Last night... I didn't tell you, but I couldn't stop myself. And I haven't had any cow's blood since then. I can't..." She took a deep drink from the half-full glass, draining a good chunk of what remained. "I'm sorry, Nick." Nick shook his head, going immediately over to Natalie and sitting next to her. He pulled her close to try and comfort her. "Shh, don't apologise. It's fine." "It's not fine," she said, pulling out of the light embrace. "It means I can't drink cow's blood at home. It means you have to keep drinking human blood." "I'm all right with that, I can--" "You shouldn't have to compromise." "Then...then whenever we move you can pick a job where you can," Nick said, slightly frustrated, but he again pulled Natalie up against him. This time she didn't resist as much. "You can teach medicine instead of practice it, or do research, or just about anything that--" "Doesn't involve surgery?" "Something like that. Point is you can do anything you want. Me drinking human blood isn't a permanent change. I know I can and at some point will switch back. We both will. It really is fine." Nick just held Natalie quiet for a moment, then pulled the not quite empty glass from her hands and put it on the coffee table. He next pulled her back against him as he leaned back, and Natalie cuddled up next to him. "Other than that, how is this week going?" "Better. I went to another crime scene tonight. A harder one. While a little... I did do better. Or I felt better, more confident, I guess. I'm getting used to my job again." Natalie paused and pushed away from Nick a little. "Oh, and tonight I ended up zapping Detective Chang." Nick's concern skyrocketed at this. "What happened?" "I just overreacted. By zapping him, that is. He was just asking questions and I kind of made him forget what he wanted to ask." "And what was he asking?" "Why I wasn't being quite as graphic with my descriptions. You know, the whole--" "Poking organs?" "Ah, yes. Apparently he thought it was rather amusing rather than, well, gross, and he wondered if everything was all right. Which it is, but it makes me a bit...well, half queasy and half hungry. And I figured it would be better if he didn't draw too much attention by spreading it around. Even if I'm sure others have noticed as well. He just asked, then asked again, and--" "You made it so he won't again." "Yeah. Good practice at least, I suppose." Nick silently nodded. Yes, it was good practice for Natalie. It was better she had a few tries on her own before she really had no choice. "Which reminds me... I'll need some other practice. I have to be in court day after tomorrow, then again the next day." Now it was Nick's turn to pull away. "Day after tomorrow?" "Yes, day after tomorrow." "Nat--" "I just found out this morning, pretty much right before I left. And no, I can't do what you do. So far work is tolerating my unavailability during the day for cases, but not for court. And I don't think it's a good idea to push it. Not right now. I've heard a couple whispered comments wondering if what you have is contagious." "Because of you not working during the day anymore," Nick whispered. He'd have to keep an ear out himself in case someone realised just what 'disease' he could have given Natalie that meant she couldn't go out during the day and how she could have so fully recovered. Natalie hadn't bothered with even making a white scar, nothing. And court... Nick stood at that thought and started around the sofa. Natalie would need to practice as she put it. She'd need to build up as much of a tolerance to religious objects as she could in the next forty-eight hours or thereabouts. "Nick?" He glanced at Natalie, but only for a moment before going to the box that held the cross Joan gave him. It would be a bigger, more obvious deterrent than a bible. Reaching for the box he froze as Natalie stopped him. "Not right now." "If you're going to be in court in two days--" "Then I have all day today, tonight, tomorrow, and tomorrow night to be ready," Natalie said as she pushed Nick's hand back. Nick didn't quite like the idea of holding off, but let Natalie pull him off to the side as she shifted on the sofa, then stood and pulled him further away toward the kitchen. "You need to have breakfast, and I guess I need to finish off the cow's blood since--" "I'll finish it," Nick said, cutting Natalie off. "There's only a couple of bottles and knowing I have to...I'll finish it. You don't have to drink any more of it." "Nick, no, I've been switching between it, I'll--" "I'm more used to it, Nat. You need to get used to working as a vampire without further distractions. I've...I've slipped enough times I know what this is like. I'll be all right for a few days." Nick slipped his hands out of Natalie's and turned, opening the fridge. Even with what he said he went on auto-pilot for the open bottle of human blood, then switched to the bottle of cow's blood at the last moment. It would be hard to switch after a month drinking human blood, but knowing it would only be a few days it would make it easier. Nick took the bottle of cow's blood to the counter, where he retrieved and then filled a glass. Natalie pulled the bottle from his hand before he had even set it back on the counter, and he turned and watched her put it away, flashing a smile at him. "Are you in a hurry?" "Maybe..." Nick started away from the glass and toward Natalie, her infectious smile reeling him in. "And why is that?" he teased, and she slipped out of sight around the corner. He followed and found she wasn't there. His own smile momentarily faltered, but then he turned and made a grab for the previously empty air only to almost catch Natalie's shirt. She had done this one other day; more or less a game of cat and mouse where he was the cat. It seemed to be working well, almost too well, as a way for Natalie to hone some of her skills. Smaller than him, she was almost faster over short distances. Today Nick didn't really want to play this game, not after some of what she had said earlier, and with a quick dart forward and another grab he had hold of Natalie. She had tried to fly free, but all that had done was send them both to the floor. Natalie was almost laughing, and she kissed him which took his mind off everything but her. Almost. Rather suddenly Nick realised they weren't alone and he stopped and twisted to find LaCroix hovering over them. "Don't stop on my account, Nicholas." Nick, however, did just that. He got to his feet and helped Natalie up as well. "What do you want?" "Just thought I'd come by..." "But why? You always have some reason," Nick asked, watching the other. LaCroix stiffened, turning away as he said, "Janette...asked if I would deliver a message." Nick smiled at that. Janette hadn't asked; LaCroix had seen an excuse to spy on him and Natalie and offered. "And what is her message?" "She would like to know when Natalie would be free for a night." "We will let her know," was all Nick said. He watched LaCroix closely, following as the other continued to slowly walk away. "What do you really want? What do you want to ask?" "How is Natalie adapting to her job?" "Fine," Natalie answered. "So you will be staying?" "Yes, at present we are staying, LaCroix." Nick stepped closer, noticing LaCroix stood roughly in front of the glass of cow's blood on the counter. What Nick couldn't see until he moved closer was that LaCroix had picked it up. He was too late to tell the other to stop, and Nick cringed about the same time LaCroix had from the taste of the blood. "Do I need to ask about this?" "It's temporary," Nick answered. "I'm just finishing up what was left." "There are...far better ways of ridding yourself of it, Nicholas, than by drinking it." Nick stiffened a little as LaCroix walked a few steps to the side, turned the kitchen faucet on, and slowly poured the blood out and rinsed the glass. He wasn't overly upset about LaCroix pouring the glass out--it would be one less glass he'd have to drink--but he didn't like LaCroix' meddling. After setting the glass in the sink, LaCroix turned and smiled. "Although by temporary...does that mean you will finally stop poisoning yourself with it?" "For the time being," Nick answered, not bothering to explain. LaCroix would find out that that, too, would be temporary. He probably even expected it or heard it in his answer. It could be very temporary depending upon whether Natalie continued to do all right with her job or when they would decide to leave. "Then perhaps when Janette treats Natalie we could have some time of our own?" Nick both did and did not like the sound of that, but he knew he would give the other at least one chance. "Maybe," he answered. "Maybe..." "It's better than no, isn't it?" LaCroix smiled. "Indeed it is. As long as you don't put it off until--" "We'll pick a day," Nick assured. "It won't be tomorrow and it might not be next week, but we'll pick a day." "Good," LaCroix said with a grin and he walked back toward Nick. "I will get the date and time from Janette. I do hope you will be civil." Nick hoped the latter as well, but he also knew that at best any conversation would be forced...but maybe, just maybe they could put aside some of what had happened of late, specifically the lingering tenseness from his threat and LaCroix' meddling. Nick closed his eyes as LaCroix left, vanishing from the loft. "Nick?" "I'm sorry." "Now what are you sorry for?" "For accepting that you'll spend a day or night or whatever with Janette. Assuming that's even-- When I give an answer I'll be asking to see if this was actually her idea or not." "And if not?" "Then I probably won't give her a date. But it probably was either her idea or at the very least she likes the sound of it." "So then we need to pick a night where, what, we both don't work?" "That would probably be better. I don't want him cornering you when you're with Janette." "But she'd--" "She would try to step in, but LaCroix knows how to get her to back off. I think he...I think he seriously hurt her at some point and she knows he will again if she disobeys him." "Or he'll kill her." Nick nodded. Janette was not LaCroix' favourite, even if she had been 'his' longer. She was also allowed much more freedom, but more because if LaCroix had to choose who to go after it was himself rather than Janette. And whatever Janette believed she would bend to LaCroix' will in order to keep that freedom. She knew how LaCroix followed him and knew LaCroix would probably just eliminate her if she became a problem. "Nick?" Nick startled a little finding Natalie right in front of him and muttered, "Just thinking." "Worrying more like." "Maybe," he admitted. "Well, I don't think you have to worry too, too much about me. If he hurt me or killed me I have a feeling you'd return the favour, and he knows that, right?" "Yeah," Nick agreed. Natalie would probably be fine, at least physically, but he worried more about the mental harm LaCroix could deal out. LaCroix had already done that once by weakening Natalie's focus at work. As far as he knew it was that trick of LaCroix' that had kept Natalie from being able to switch to cow's blood at home. And while physically healed, Nick knew Natalie still struggled at times with what happened. Nevertheless, he knew those wounds might not ever heal and LaCroix could use the experience against her for eternity. "And it might be a good thing. At least it sounds like LaCroix wants to try and talk rather than lecture? Or am I misreading--" "No, you didn't misread that." "Well, worst case things stay the same. Best case you have a new...friend of sorts." "A new friend of sorts?" Nick repeated, amused. True they had more or less been friends in the past, but Nick wasn't sure it would ever be possible again. Their ideas of what was right and wrong had drifted further and further apart as decades had passed, or he should say his beliefs of what was right and wrong had strengthened. He couldn't and wouldn't compromise those beliefs, but he had to admit LaCroix had backed off when warned. Maybe they could be friends again...of a sort. They had tried and come close of late, but LaCroix kept sabotaging things. Nick smiled as he thought of that and what had happened. Natalie--who he knew LaCroix saw as a threat, a force that could tear him even further away--by becoming a vampire might in some odd way have the opposite effect. As long as Natalie remained unharmed and unthreatened maybe this could be a good thing? "I guess it's time for another glass? I can barely believe he did that." "He's probably right," Nick admitted. "There really isn't much left. Probably better to just pour it down the drain." "Are you really going to do that?" Nick could see Natalie's incredulity, but when he really thought about it... "Yeah, I think I will. Not right now, but...there really isn't much point in drinking it. And I've poured out more blood than that before. I might do the same to the human blood whenever we might switch back." "You might?" "I probably will," Nick assured. "It'll depend on when and how much there is. Or...I could resell it rather than dump it out. Human blood is a lot easier to re-purpose than cow's blood." "I'll bet it is. Even some normal--or semi-normal--humans try to get their hands on it." Nick nodded, watching as Natalie went back to the refrigerator. He almost told her to put it back when he saw that she had grabbed a bottle of human blood, but as it didn't seem like Natalie was too upset that he might dump the bovine blood out rather than drink it he followed her back to the sofa and sat next to her as she refilled her glass. "So what's next?" "Sleep, I think. Or nightmares," Nick whispered. He still worried a bit how things would go if he spent a night with LaCroix and feared his dreams would be about that. LaCroix had barely bothered them the past month--less than he had in the month prior to that, probably, which was saying something. And he felt calmer, less panicked...probably because since Natalie was a vampire he didn't have to worry about leaving her, leaving Toronto. It was something he would have to do before too long...in no more than another year or maybe two, but he now knew Natalie would come with him. He tried not to think about it. "You know, Nick...you haven't had many nightmares lately, have you? Or I haven't noticed it, anyway..." Nick shook his head. No, he *hadn't* had many nightmares of late. Other than the first day or so after he had brought Natalie home from the hospital he had slept quite soundly. Any dreams were mostly proper dreams, very good dreams, and far from nightmares. Maybe he wouldn't have any with this, either? Or not until or unless something actually happened. Natalie, however, would probably continue to have nightmares. She had talked to him more, though, actually told him face to face what had happened; she had had fewer nightmares about what had happened since she had done that a few days ago. He knew she'd continue having them, however; LaCroix pushing Natalie's instincts to the point they broke that one night had made her afraid what could happen again. While she hadn't killed anyone, she had slipped and things could have easily gone very differently. "Everything is getting back to...well, normal. A new normal, I guess." Nick slowly nodded his head. Yes, the mess of the last several weeks, since Natalie's attack, was settling; soon they wouldn't have much to worry about beyond getting back to their current lives and maybe planning their future ones. The case against the murders of Natalie's attackers had been deemed cold: While unsolved, it was no longer being looked into and one less thing to worry about. Perhaps LaCroix' wish to spend time with him was really just what it seemed and even that would finally settle for a time? Maybe LaCroix would become, at least for now, a part of their lives. He hoped that would settle, too, but knew he wouldn't let his guard down too much around LaCroix...for Natalie's sake. Leaning back into the cushions, Nick pulled Natalie slowly back with him so as not to spill the glass in her hands. Letting her rest against him, Nick held tightly onto Natalie and closed his eyes. Sleep would come later...much later. Right now he just wanted to rest quietly and try not to think. ~finis~ Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the story! Dark Chocolate, White Chocolate, comments, etc. gratefully accepted at: jarvinia@gmx.com Jarvinia http://gryffonslair.com @>--,---`---