Usual disclaimers apply to this bit of fantasy of mine. The characters belong to Sony/TriStar; no copyright infringement is intended. Permission is given to post this on fkfic-l and to archive at Mel's fanfic site and the ftp site. Anyone else, just ask! This takes place the Christmas after BMV and assumes the timeline in FK from there on never happened... Captive Part One by KC Smith Detective Nick Knight answered the phone on his desk. "Yeah, Knight." He looked up at his partner, one Donald Schanke, and pointed at his watch. Schanke nodded and quickly sat down, looking nervously in the direction of the Captain's office. "Nick, it's Grace. Have you seen Natalie tonight?" The pleasant voice on the other end of the line asked him, sounding a bit worried. "No. She hasn't been here. Is something wrong?" He frowned slightly. "Well, she was due in for her shift about an hour and a half ago. I've tried her at home, her cell phone, and her pager, and still haven't heard from her. It's not like her to be late, without calling." Nick nodded in silent agreement. "You're right. Maybe I should trace the route from the morgue to her place, see if she's just had some car trouble." "Um, Nick? There's something else." Grace paused. When Nick encouraged her to continue, she swallowed and tried to keep the fear from her voice. "Some man called earlier. He asked to speak to Nat. I told him that she wasn't due in for a few more hours, yet, and asked if I could take a message for her." Nick's eyes narrowed. "What did he say?" "He said, 'no thank you. I'll just catch her at home.'" Grace told him. "I don't have any idea at all who it was." Nick's frown turned to a scowl. "Thanks, Grace. I'll see what I can find out and keep you posted." Grace sighed. "Thank you." She hung up the phone. Nick was on his feet, pulling on his jacket. "Hey, partner! Where are you going?" Schanke asked, also rising and grabbing his jacket. "Nat hasn't shown up at the morgue yet, and she hasn't called either. I'm going to look for her." Nick told him. "I'm coming with you!" Schanke insisted. Nick resisted the urge to just leave Schanke behind. He knew that, despite their bantering, Schanke really cared about Nat. "Okay, let's go." They headed out the door of the precinct. Nick and Schanke went to Natalie's apartment, noting that her car was still out front. They climbed the steps, two at a time, and knocked on her door. "Nat?" Nick called. "Nat? It's Nick and Schanke." He couldn't hear her familiar heartbeat anywhere in the apartment. He pulled out his key, ignoring Schanke's raised eyebrow, and unlocked the door. Schanke followed Nick into Nat's apartment, as Nick switched on a light. They heard a soft 'meow' from under the sofa. Nick bent down and looked at the cat. "Sydney?" He called. He reached under the sofa and pulled him out. "Easy boy. Where's your owner, huh?" He reassuringly caressed the feline's fur, then set him down. Sydney headed for the kitchen, turning expectantly, to make sure Nick was following him. Nick and Schanke followed Sydney into the kitchen, and Nick noted that both his food and water dishes were empty. He frowned. "Nat always feeds Sydney before she leaves." He said. "Maybe she ran to the store because she was out of cat food." Schanke suggested. "No. She would have at least given him water." He opened the cupboard, to find it full of cat food. "Well, that answers that." He quickly fed and watered Sydney, then headed down the hall towards Nat's room. Once inside, Nick noticed that the French Doors to her balcony were open. Schanke frowned. "Isn't it a little cold outside, to be sleeping with the window open like that?" Nick nodded his agreement, as his eyes scanned the room. "Look at the way her blankets are all tossed about. It looks like she was struggling with someone." He moved silently closer to the bed. Schanke grabbed Nick's arm, stopping his forward progress. He indicated the floor by the bed. "Look." Nick followed Schanke's gaze, and noticed the small white cloth lying on the floor. Kneeling, he pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket, and carefully picked the cloth up by the corner. He brought it closer to his nose, sniffing gingerly. "Chloroform." He stated flatly. Schanke looked at his distraught partner. "Whoever's got her, has a good head start." He said, softly. "I'll still find her." Nick said, standing and pulling out his cell phone. Captain Amanda Cohen resisted the urge to handcuff her top detective to a nearby chair. Nick had been pacing restlessly, the whole time forensics was doing a sweep of Nat's apartment. "Whoever took her, obviously wanted her alive." The Captain was telling Schanke. "Maybe they're going to try and collect a ransom." Schanke frowned. "From who? The City of Toronto?" Cohen shrugged. "I don't know, I'm just grasping at straws here." She looked over at Nick. "Do you have any ideas on the subject detective, or are you just trying to wear a hole in the floor?" Nick stopped and looked at Cohen. "Um, no. Not really." He couldn't tell her his own suspicions. That LaCroix had finally realized that Nick had lied to him that night at the Azure, on Valentine's Day, and had decided to take his retribution for Fleur. Cohen looked at Schanke, then back at Nick. "Nick, why don't you go home? We'll call you if something turns up." Nick looked up at Cohen and Schanke, then nodded. "Thanks, Cap." He picked up his jacket, then turned and left. Schanke looked at Cohen. "'Just Friends' huh?" Captain Cohen gave him the barest hint of a smile, then went to oversee the investigation. Nick stalked into the Raven, his senses on full alert. He walked towards the back of the club, seeking out his elder 'sister'. Janette glided up to him and smiled. "Nicola, what is troubling you, hmmm?" "Where's LaCroix?" He asked, shortly. Janette frowned. "You are not going to anger him again, are you? Nicola, it has been so peaceful around here. Please do not disrupt that." Nick looked at Janette. "Where is he?" He ground out, through clenched teeth. Janette sighed. "He was at the radio station an hour ago. If he has left there, I do not know where to find him." She ran a blood-red nail along his neck, drawing a small trickle of blood. She put her finger in her mouth, sucking gently, and grinning wickedly. "Nicola? Make sure you leave me out of it." She turned on her heel and left. Nick stood outside the sound booth, glaring at his maker, his 'master'. LaCroix was spewing some of his altruistic nonsense, mostly aimed at Nick. LaCroix finished his set and then motioned for Nick to enter. "Nicholas." Nick stood, fuming, in the doorway. "Where is she, LaCroix?" LaCroix raised an eyebrow. "Where is whom?" "Don't play games with me, LaCroix!! You know who!" Nick raged. "Nicholas, I assure you, I do not know what you are talking about." LaCroix stated, calmly. "Natalie!! That's who! Where is Natalie?!?!" Nick exploded. LaCroix raised both eyebrows. "Ah, the good doctor. I take it she is missing?" Nick stood and threw himself at his sire. "You know very well she is missing! Where is she?" LaCroix looked calmly into his son's eyes. "I have no idea." Nick, momentarily taken aback by his master's lack of retribution, released him and turned away. "For someone that has only a passing interest in this young mortal, Nicholas, you seem quite distressed over her disappearance. Could it be that your little speech at the Azure, was, shall we say, not entirely the truth?" Nick turned to face him, the anguish in his eyes apparent. "You've known all along that I was lying to you that night. That's why you've taken her, isn't it?" LaCroix sat in his chair, steepling his fingers together. "Nicholas, I assure you, I have no idea where your mortal pet is." Nick was just about to reply, when his cell phone rang. "Knight." He answered, gruffly. "Hey partner, I thought you were headed home." Schanke's voice came over the line. "What is it, Schank?" Nick asked. "There's been a letter delivered to the station, addressed specifically to you. It might be from the kidnappers." Schanke said, ignoring Nick's usual gruffness. "I'm on my way." Nick said, closing his cell phone. "This isn't finished." Nick told LaCroix. LaCroix merely smiled. "Oh, you are correct in that." Nick turned and left. Nick rushed into the police station and headed straight for Cohen's office. He ignored the glances and whisperings of his coworkers. Schanke and Cohen were going over the results of the forensic team's search of Nat's apartment. Cohen looked up when he entered. "I got here as soon as I could." Nick said, closing the door. "Where is it?" Cohen pulled out the envelope and handed it to Nick. "I thought I should let you open it." Nick nodded as he took it from her, then tore open the top. He pulled out the note and read it aloud. "Nicholas: I believe I have something of value to you. Meet me at the warehouse on Victoria Road, at sunset tomorrow. Come alone, and unarmed, or my beautiful captive may regret it." Nick scowled at the paper. It was typewritten and left no clues as to the identity of the sender. Even with his sensitive sense of smell, he could not find an identifiable scent. He handed the note to Cohen, then tossed the envelope on her desk. "It sounds like the kidnapper has something personal against you, Detective." The Captain said. But Nick didn't hear her. He was staring down at the necklace that had fallen from the envelope onto the Captain's desk. It was the golden cross he'd given Nat for Christmas. Nick paced around the loft, drinking from his third bottle of blood since he'd arrived home. The sun had just risen, and he had a long, torturous day ahead of him. He was sure LaCroix was the one that had taken her, despite his master's protests to the contrary. He should have followed his first instincts and left Toronto, after that disastrous night at the Azure. He stalked up the stairs to his bedroom, setting the bottle on the table by his bed. He picked up the picture of Natalie that resided there. She'd gone to one of those photography places that dress you up and take a set of 'glamour shots' of you, because she'd won the raffle at the precinct's Halloween party. She'd never intended for anyone- least of all Nick- to see the pictures, he just happened to be there when they arrived. He smiled as he recalled her embarrassed flush at how she looked in some of the photos. Nick had seen this particular photo, and had waited until she was in the shower to get the information on how to order a larger copy of it. He'd immediately called and placed an order for it on his credit card. Now, he lay on his bed, clutching the photograph to him. "Oh, Nat... Where are you?" He whispered. Nick slept fitfully for the rest of the day, waking up often and drinking more blood than he'd had in months. Finally, two hours before sunset, Nick got up and showered and changed. Cohen had ordered him to wait for her and Schanke before heading to the warehouse, but if it were truly LaCroix that had Nat, they'd be in danger, too. As soon as the sun was low enough in the sky, Nick was in the air. He landed outside the warehouse and began searching with his senses, as well as his eyes. There was no sign of Natalie, or LaCroix, though Nick hadn't expected him to keep Nat here when he'd given the location in the note. He'd just started for the back door, when he sensed another of his kind behind him. He turned, ready to face his master, but stared incredulously at the vampire before him. It was not LaCroix. "Hello, Nicholas." The other vampire said, just before he felt a searing pain and the world went dark. 1240 a.d. Nick glared at LaCroix, before rushing after his nephew, Andre. He had to explain, to make him understand. He ran to Andre's room, to find him hastily throwing his belongings into a sack. "Andre?" His nephew turned fearful eyes on him. "Go away! You're a monster!" Andre shouted. Nick flinched at the words. "Andre, listen to me." He said, moving forward. "Stay away from me! I won't stay here with you!" He moved to the other side of the room. Nick moved slowly towards him, backing him into a corner. "Andre, I won't hurt you. Just listen to me." He waited until he was close enough, then caught his nephew's gaze. "Andre, you did not see me like that. I am not a monster. It was just a horrible nightmare." "Just a nightmare..." Andre repeated. Nick smiled in relief. "That's it. Just a terrible dream. Now sleep and when you wake up, you will not remember any of this." He gently caught Andre and placed him on his bed. Covering him with a woolen blanket, he quickly set about replacing Andre's things. He looked sadly at his last living relative. "I'm sorry, Andre." He whispered. Then he turned and left the room. Natalie Lambert slowly opened her eyes. She felt as though her eyelids were made of lead and her throat was extremely dry. There was also an awful taste in her mouth. She looked up at the ceiling, trying to remember where she was. She could tell she wasn't in her own bedroom. A sound across the room made her turn her head, which, she surmised, was a big mistake. She groaned at the throbbing in her temples. "Ah, you're awake. Good." A tall man, approximately in his late fourties, moved towards her. He poured her a glass of water from a pitcher on the table next to her, then offered it to her. "I shall send someone with some food and something for your headache, shortly." Natalie gingerly sat up, pulling the blankets up as she realized that she was still wearing her silk nightgown. She gratefully accepted the water and sipped it slowly, eyeing the man before her. When she'd finished the water, she handed him the glass. "Thank you." "You're quite welcome, my dear. I must say, you are even more beautiful than I had heard." He smiled at her. "Um, thanks." Nat shifted uncomfortably under the intensity of his scrutiny. "Where am I and who are you?" The man laughed lightly. "Ah, straight to the point, eh?" His blue eyes looked deeply into her own. "You are in a safe place. As to who I am, however, I'm afraid I can not tell you that just yet." He gestured towards the room. "Make yourself comfortable, you may be here for quite awhile." Nat frowned at him. "What have I done to warrant being held prisoner?" He smiled slightly. "You have done nothing wrong, I assure you. I am simply seeking revenge and you are the instrument I shall use to that end. You see, you are nothing more than bait for my trap." Natalie stiffened slightly. "Who is it that you're trying to catch?" The man gave her an evil smile. "Why, Nicholas, of course." He turned and left the room, securing the door behind him. "Do not try to escape, for you will find that there is no way out." He said to her through the tiny window in the door. Nat shivered as she heard his footsteps leaving. She wondered if even Nick could help her, this time. Nick tossed and turned, trying to regain consciousness. He was trapped in a sea of dreams and flashbacks from his life, haunting him and pulling him into the swirling darkness. He was vaguely aware of a sharp pain in his chest and a dull ache in his head. He opened his eyes briefly, to see the shadowy figure of someone leaning over him. The pain in his chest became like fire and he fell back into unconsciousness, once again. Natalie had sat silently in the soft, king-size bed that she'd awakened in, as a young blonde woman came in and set a tray of food in front of her. She also handed her two aspirin. "Here. Take these, to help your headache. I'm Heather." She smiled at Natalie. "Hello. I'm Natalie." Nat said, examining the delicious looking food on the tray before her. "Thank you for the food." "My pleasure. It's not often that I actually get to cook. Please let me know if there's anything else I can get you." Heather said, then she turned and left the room. Natalie waited a few moments, then took the aspirin with a swallow of orange juice. Then she started in on breakfast. She figured she may as well eat, while she thought about what to do about her current situation. After she'd finished breakfast, Nat set the tray aside and climbed carefully out of bed. She stood and regarded the elegant room in which she found herself being held captive. Next to the large bed, there was a nighttable. On the wall to the left, a dresser. Across the room, there was a small sofa, a fireplace and a bookshelf stocked with books. There was also a t.v. and a stereo, along with a large variety of C.D.'s to choose from. She moved to the closet and opened it, to find it full of clothing. Opening the other door in the room, she found a bathroom with a large whirlpool tub/shower combination, a sink and a toilet. The cupboards in the bathroom were stocked with towels, washcloths and other necessities. The medicine cabinet yielded a toothbrush, toothpaste, makeup and a hairbrush. "Looks as if I'm going to be here for awhile." Nat muttered to herself. She went back out into the main room, and looked inside the dresser. She found one drawer full of underclothes, one full of t-shirts and sweats and one full of loungerie. She frowned at the contents of the last drawer. Closing the drawers, she turned and found a robe draped across a chair near the dresser. She pulled on the robe, gathered some items from the dresser, then headed for the shower. Nick opened his eyes to a blinding light. He tried desperately to shield his vision from the source of the light, but it was a useless gesture. "Ah, Nicholas, you're awake. Good." The voice of his captor said to him. Nick sat up slowly, trying to get his bearings. The pain in his head was gone, but the pain in his chest had yet to subside. He looked over at the vampire that was holding him prisoner. "Why are you doing this? Where's Natalie?" He asked, rubbing at his chest. "She is quite safe, I assure you. Whether or not she remains that way, is entirely up to you." He turned and began pacing across the room. Nick watched the tall, dark haired 'young' man before him. "Why am I here?" Nick asked. The vampire stopped pacing and regarded Nick with his brown eyes. "Because my master wants you to be. You are bait for his trap." He told him, turning towards the door. "Who is it that your master is trying to capture?" Nick asked him. "My master called him 'Lucius', but I believe you know him as 'LaCroix'." He said, then exited the room and secured the door. Nick continued to sit on the small bed that he'd awakened on, listening intently for any signs of life, vampire or human. Very faintly, but very definitely, Nick could hear Natalie's heartbeat. She was somewhere within the building. Natalie sat curled up in a corner of the sofa, in front of the fire, reading one of the many books that were provided for her. By the calendar and clock on the bedside table, she'd been here for over a week. So far, her captors had done nothing to indicate that they'd made any contact with Nick. Nor had they done anything to harm her. But she still hated being held prisoner. She was getting 'cabin fever', not being able to leave this room. She set the book down and stood up to stretch. Looking towards the bathroom, Nat decided that a nice hot bubble bath, in the whirlpool tub, was just what she needed. She went to the dresser, grabbed a few articles, then headed for the bathroom. Nick paced the room like a caged animal. He could hear the heartbeat from somewhere in the building. He'd been wounded, tortured and starved for the past week. His dreams had started out as painful remembrances of the past, but now they were remembrances of the feedings he'd so enjoyed in the past. He was quickly losing his control and his mind. LaCroix had searched for Nicholas and his mortal pet for several days now, with no luck. He'd felt the first few hours, after his son had been severely injured, but had lost his connection with him shortly after that. He walked through the Raven, seeking out Janette. He found her in her usual spot, speaking with Miklos. "Janette. Have you heard anything?" He asked her, accepting the glass from the efficient bartender. "None. I have had everyone out searching, but have gotten nothing." She told him, her face clearly showing her concern. LaCroix nodded. "I do hope--" He stopped as he felt, and then saw, the vampire in the doorway. His eyes flared to gold and he turned away quickly. The other vampire walked steadily towards them, his eyes never leaving LaCroix. When he'd reached them, he bowed and kissed Janette's hand. "My dear. It is good to see your beautiful face again." Janette smiled tightly. "Deckert." LaCroix turned to face his enemy, his control being held in check. "What are you doing here?" He asked. Deckert smiled at LaCroix. "Seeking my revenge, at last." Natalie stepped out of the tub and briskly rubbed herself dry. She pulled on the robe provided for her and stepped out into the main room. As always, her meal was waiting for her on the bedside table. It made her shudder slightly at the thought that she never heard any of the vampires enter. She'd discovered that her captors were vampires, after grilling Heather one evening. Natalie was enjoying having Heather around to talk to. She finally had a female vampire to talk to, to answer her questions. Sitting down on the bed, Natalie picked up her plate and began to eat. Nick lay on the bed, his eyes tightly closed. He could hear Natalie's heartbeat, calling him like a sirens song. He was grateful for the room that kept him from seeking her out, for he knew that if he were to find her, he would surely kill her. Deckert handed LaCroix a piece of paper and smiled at him. "If you want to see your son, you will come with me, now." LaCroix nodded once, then looked at Janette. "Stay here. It is best if I deal with this alone." "But LaCroix--" Janette started, but stopped as LaCroix lightly touched her lips. "Do as I say, Janette. You will be safe here." He looked at Deckert. "Shall we?" Deckert nodded slightly. "After you." Janette watched them silently as they left the club. Whatever Deckert was up to, she knew that only one of them would survive this confrontation. "Be safe, LaCroix." She whispered. LaCroix entered the large warehouse building, and immediately felt Nicholas' presence. He staggered a bit at the intensity of the suffering his son was enduring. "Why are you torturing Nicholas?" He asked. "Revenge, LaCroix." Was all he would say. They walked down a hall and Deckert motioned for LaCroix to enter a small room. "You will wait here for me." LaCroix's eyes narrowed, but he complied. "Do not keep me waiting long." Deckert laughed. "You are in no position to give me orders." Natalie started at the sound of the lock turning. She looked up from her book and smiled as Heather entered the room. "Hello. I was wondering if you'd come tonight." Natalie said pleasantly. Heather's face was solemn. "Natalie, I'm sorry, but I've been given orders to prepare you for a visitor." Nat looked puzzled. "Visitor?" "I'm truly sorry, Natalie. I must follow the orders of my master." Heather looked imploringly at Nat. Nat nodded. She'd heard enough about Nick and LaCroix's relationship to know that a vampire's master could inflict serious suffering on one of his 'children'. "I understand." "No, you don't. Be truly grateful for that." Heather said, as she picked up the dishes from Nat's meal and took them to the door. She handed them to someone outside and then closed the door. "I've been told that you must remove all of your clothing and lie down in the bed. You can cover up, but if you don't comply..." Heather trailed off and looked fearfully towards the door. Natalie tried not to show her alarm. Swallowing hard, she did as Heather told her and then climbed in under the warmth of the blankets. She was shivering, but not from being cold, she realized. "What now?" Nat asked, uncertainly. "Stay where you are. I'm truly sorry, Natalie. It's been so long since I've had a female friend. I wish things could be different." She turned and quickly left the room. Natalie watched the door uncertainly, wondering what her captors had in store for her. She was sure she didn't want to find out. Nick sat up as the vampire entered the room. His eyes were golden and his fangs descended. "What do you want?" He demanded. "My master is just about ready for you. I was instructed to make sure that you are ready for him." Nick snarled at the vampire in front of him. "What is that supposed to mean?" "You shall find out shortly." Was all he would say, as he turned and left the room. LaCroix could feel his link with Nicholas vibrate. His son was in immense pain. Whatever Deckert had planned, he intended to use Nicholas as the instrument of his revenge on LaCroix... 1150 A.D. France Lucien LaCroix, as he was now known, looked down from the battlements of the castle he was currently residing in. One of the neighboring landowners had decided that he would take possesion of all of the nearby castles, killing any who dared try and stop him. LaCroix's people had been defending their home for the last three days against the siege of the madman's army. Having been a General in Cesaer's army, LaCroix was quickly gaining the advantage over his adversary. The fact that a large part of his forces were vampires, simply made the inevitable happen more swiftly. Deckert could not understand why so many of his people had died so suddenly. None of them had been injured. They were just found dead. He wondered momentarily if perhaps a fever or a plague had entered his camp. Riding ahead, he called to his son. "Samuel! Take some men and head back home! I will stay with our army." "But father! We're doing so well. Surely we will gain possession of the castle, soon!" Samuel responded. "No, my son. It is only a matter of time, until I must call off our men and retreat. Too many have perished under mysterious circumstances. As my heir, it is your duty to return to protect our home." Deckert told him. "Very well, father." Samuel said, somewhat disheartened. He quickly gathered together a small group of men and headed out of the camp. LaCroix smiled at the sight of Deckert and the young man below. His son, hmm? He waited until Samuel and his group were out of the camp, then gathered a few others and took to the sky. He and the other vampires came out of the shadows, just as Samuel and his men were passing. Attacking quickly, the other vampires had Samuel's companions drained in a short amount of time. LaCroix had held Samuel, forcing him to watch his companion's demise. "See what awaits you, my boy?" He hissed in Samuel's ear. "Wh-what a-are you?" Samuel stammered in fear. "A demon, sent from hell to destroy you." LaCroix told him, chuckling. "Come now, we must be going." LaCroix held him tightly, as he took to the air. Deckert was giving the final orders for his men to retreat, when he heard his name being called from the battlements. Looking up, he saw Lucien LaCroix holding his son Samuel in a tight grip. Bewildered as to how he could have possibly gotten in and out of the castle without being seen, Deckert moved to the front. "What is it that you want?" Deckert called up. "Come to the gate, alone, or we shall see if your son can fly." LaCroix laughed. Deckert looked at his son in alarm. "All right. I'm coming!" He instructed his men to continue their retreat, then moved to the castle gates. He was met there by a menacing looking guard, who escorted him to the main room of the castle. LaCroix was sitting on a dais with Samuel sitting at his feet. Samuel looked as if he were dazed. "Ah, Deckert. So good of you to join me." LaCroix said to him. He looked at the assembled group of people in the room. "Leave us." He commanded. Immediately, everyone left the room, disappearing into the shadows. "Tell me, Deckert. What was it that possessed you to attack my castle?" LaCroix asked mildly. He raised a hand for Deckert to be silent. "No. No, don't tell me. It is not an uncommon trait amongst you humans. Greed, Deckert. Pure and simple." Deckert stood eyeing his adversary. What did he mean by 'humans'? "How did you get out of the castle, and back in again with my son, without being seen?" LaCroix simply laughed. Then his face turned serious, as his eyes became golden and his fangs descended. "I flew." He growled, as he pulled Samuel to his feet. Rearing his head back, he sank his fangs into Samuel's neck and drained the life from his veins. Deckert watched in horror, as his only son fell to the ground, dead. He looked at LaCroix, as he walked towards him and then began shaking in fear as LaCroix grabbed him by the collar and dragged him towards the dungeons. LaCroix frowned at the memory of that night. He would not allow Nicholas to be harmed by his enemy. Deckert entered Natalie's room a short time later, followed closely by two other vampires. He smiled grimly at her. "Hello again, my dear. I trust your accomadations have been adequate?" He asked. Natalie nodded cautiously. "Yes. Thank you." She eyed the other two warily. Deckert nodded to the two men. "I strongly suggest that you do not struggle, Doctor. I would hate to see you get hurt." The two vampires moved to stand by the bed, one on either side of her, and they grabbed her hands. One of them tied her left arm to a rope from off the side of the bed, as the other took out a needle and removed a vial full of her blood. He then tied her right hand to a rope off the other side of the bed. Then they quietly left the room. Deckert leaned forward and made sure Natalie was sufficiently covered, then stood up. "I shall return, shortly, with your guest." He told her. Smiling cruelly, he turned and strode from the room. Nick looked up as the vampire entered the room. He was too weak to move, having been once again subjected to another round of torture. The vampire raised an eyebrow at him. "What is this? Nothing to say?" Nick just frowned at him. Chuckling, the vampire came to him and opened the vial of blood. Nick's nostrils flared and his eyes turned red. "Where did you get that?" "Just drink it, Nicholas. It will help alleviate some of your distress." The vampire placed the vial to Nick's lips and poured the contents into his mouth. Then he laughed and left the room. Nick's senses exploded, as he tasted the blood. It was Natalie's. She was frightened and angry, but she was unharmed. The vampire lay basking in the taste of the woman he loved, experiencing every part of her heart, soul and mind. As the feelings and memories slowly became less intense, Nick began to sob. For now that he'd tasted how sweet her blood was, how very much she loved him, no one else's blood would be able to satisfy him. LaCroix rose and stared coolly at his enemy. "Where is my son?" He asked. Deckert smiled at him. "Do not fret, Lucien, you shall see him soon enough." He gestured to the door behind him. "After you." LaCroix exited the room through the door, and immediately found himself surrounded by a group of vampires. One was aiming a crossbow at him, loaded with a sharp wooden arrow. Another carried a long silver sword. Deckert moved in front of LaCroix. "Follow me." Natalie turned her head to the left, when she heard the door open. She saw Deckert enter, followed closely by a few other men. They were literally surrounding their prisoner, and Natalie gasped in surprise, as she recognized the face. "LaCroix." She whispered. Deckert smiled at her. "Yes, that's right. You two have met. Last Valentine's Day, at the Azure." LaCroix looked sharply at Deckert, but noticed Natalie did not seem at all surprised. "I understand you capturing the good doctor in order to trap Nicholas, but why have you kept her?" LaCroix asked Deckert. "Ahhh, you see, that is all part of my plan of revenge." Deckert walked over to Nat's bed and lightly wound a few of her chestnut curls around his fingers. "You see, LaCroix, you once took my son from me, now I shall take yours, from you." He released Natalie's hair and gently touched her cheek with the back of his hand. Natalie remained very still, resisting the impulse to pull away in revulsion. She looked at LaCroix with steel blue eyes. "You see, I have kept Nicholas here for over a week, now. When he was brought in, he was wounded. I have had him sufficiently starved and tortured over the past week, only allowing him to remain on the brink of sanity." He smiled at LaCroix's narrowed eyes. "Just a few minutes ago, I gave him a small taste of the ambrosia he has been so longing for since last year." He looked down at Nat. "I have given him a taste of your blood, my dear." LaCroix's growl of fury made everyone turn to face him, one of the vampire's holding the crossbow closer to his chest. "Do you know what you have done?!?" LaCroix growled at Deckert. Deckert merely smiled. "Why yes, LaCroix. I do. Nicholas will now have to kill her or bring her across. Either way, he can not go on and maintain his sanity, until he has drained the beautiful doctor. Whether it be through insanity, or Nicholas killing himself in agony over having killed his love, you will lose your son. Then, my revenge will be complete." LaCroix looked with red-eyed fury at his enemy. Natalie's eyes went wide with shock, then filled with tears. After the asteroid scare a few months ago, she knew that Nick would never bring her across. Nick opened his eyes and squinted against the bright light. He looked towards the door, when he heard it open, and saw two shadowy forms enter. When they came closer to him, he recognized one as the vampire he'd seen since his arrival. The other vampire, though, Nick had never seen before. "Come on, pretty boy." The first vampire said. "It's time for you to go and eat." "Andy, quit messing around. The boss wants him, now." The other one said. "Brien, I've been handling this one, since he got here. Shut up and let me do my job." Andy told him. They moved to either side of Nick, hauling him to his feet. Nick staggered a bit and had to lean on them for support. "I don't know, he might be too weak to feed." Brien said. "From what I've been told, that is extremely unlikely." Andy said. "Come on." They half-dragged Nick out of the tiny room, moving swiftly down a corridor. Nick was unsure of just where it was that they were taking him, but he could hear the heartbeat growing closer every second. His eyes turned to gold and his fangs descended, as he focused on the sound of that single, pounding heart. Natalie watched, as Deckert and the others left her room. She had to find a way to get out of this. She loved Nick, and she knew that he loved her. She was counting on that love to help see them through this. "Please, God, help us." She prayed, quietly. The door to her room burst open, and Nat saw the two vampires that had tied her down enter, dragging Nick with them. She gasped at the sight of him. Andy and Brien unceremoniously dumped Nick on the floor in front of the sofa. Then they looked over at Nat and began to laugh. "Nice knowing you." They left the room and Nat heard the door being secured shut. She looked over to where Nick was pulling himself off the floor, with the aid of the sofa, and she saw his golden eyes and descended fangs. "Nick?" She called softly. He looked sharply up at her, his eyes growing wide. "Natalie." He said, his voice strained. "Nick, untie me? Please?" She pulled again at the ropes that had her hands secured to the bed. "You're safer if I stay over here." He practically growled at her. Nat swallowed hard. "Nick, we have to work together, if we're going to get out of this. Please, come and untie me." Nick staggered a few feet in her direction, grabbing a hold of various pieces of furniture for support, along the way. He finally reached the bed and he fell onto it, laying to the right of Nat. Natalie took a deep, calming breath, before she looked at him. "Nick? Untie me, please?" Nick nodded weakly, working the knot from the rope on her right hand slowly. When he finally had it off, he rolled over, laying across her, to try the other one. Nat tried not to move. The idea that she was lying in this large bed with no clothes on, and a very hungry vampire now effectively had her pinned down, made her just a little nervous. Nick had finally worked the other rope from her left hand. He moved slightly, pulling the blanket off of Nat a little. Bare skin met bare skin and Nick noticed for the first time the position Nat was in. He looked into her eyes, wondering at the love he saw in her eyes. Nat looked into Nick's eyes, trying dsperately to let him see how much she loved him. She reached up with her right hand to caress his cheek. "Oh, Nick. What have they done to you?" She whispered. Nick turned his face into her caress, momentarily closing his eyes. He could hear her heart beating, he could smell the sweet fragrance of her blood. Wrapping both arms around her, so that she was slightly raised from the bed, Nick leaned forward and began to kiss her. Natalie welcomed Nick's embrace and returned his kiss with all of the pent up desire she'd had in her for so long. Her breathing quickened, as Nick kissed her cheeks, her eyelids, her nose. His lips trailed along the ridge of her ear, down the slender column of her neck, where he began to lightly suckle at the pulsing vein. Nat's eyes widened, as she heard his low growl. She tensed slightly, trying to push him away, but realized it was too late. She saw him pull back slightly, saw the gleam of his razor sharp canines, and then felt the prickling pain, as his fangs entered her neck. She ran her fingers through his hair, concentrating on her love for him; her belief in him. "I forgive you, Nick." She whispered, before she closed her eyes and surrendered to the darkness... The moment her blood filled his mouth, he was infused with her light. The love she had for him, the genuine concern she had for the Community's secrecy and safety. Every detail of her life was his, from the most joyful experiences, to the most heartwrenching. He was lost in the beauty of her soul, mesmerized by the intelligence and curiousity she posessed and surprised by her vulnerability. She was a beautiful, strong, intelligent woman... with the heart of a child. Something called to him, only slightly casting a shadow on the ecstasy he was in. Words. Whispered words. What were they? "I forgive you, Nick..." Nick pulled away from Natalie and moved quickly to the foot of the bed. All of his wounds had healed and with crystal clarity, Nick realized what he had just done. He moved to sit beside Nat's still form. Taking her hand in his, he could feel her body quickly cooling. Shaking his head in shocked disbelief, he began to gently shake her, calling her name. He could hear only the faintest of heartbeats coming from her. His voice became more frantic, his pleading more desperate. At last he pulled her to him and looking to the sky, he screamed her name. "NATALIE!!!!" Natalie suddenly found herself standing near a crystal blue lake. Behind her, there was a foreboding desert. To her right, impossibly high snow-capped mountains. To her left, the brightest light she'd ever seen. She took a few steps closer to the light, until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Jumping and letting out a startled cry, Nat spun around to face the person who'd interrupted her progress. "Richie! Don't *do* that!" She said, reaching up to tousle her brother's blonde curls. Suddenly, she looked around her and then back at Richard, the realization apparent in her expression. "I'm dead, aren't I?" Richie smiled. "No. Not yet. You're in the 'waiting room', so to speak. You're not supposed to die, just yet." He squinted his eyes slightly, then looked towards the mountains. "Then why am I here? How do I get back?" Nat asked, searching for any way out of this place, other than the light. "Patience, Nat. Isn't that what you always tried to teach me?" His eyes turned sad for a moment. "A lesson I didn't learn, until it was too late." He shook it off and looked into his sister's blue eyes. "We have to wait." "Wait for what?" Natalie asked. She still felt an overwhelming sense of guilt over what had happened to her brother, and she found it difficult to look at him. Unbidding, tears rolled down her cheeks. "Don't feel guilty Nat. I made the choice to go back. I made the choice to ignore Nick's instructions, and I chose not to listen to you or Nick. Nick did what he had to do, and so did you." Richard brushed the tears from his sister's cheeks, then kissed her forehead. He looked up at the darkening sky, at the ominous black clouds forming. Then he looked back at Nat. "We have to wait for Nick to decide." LaCroix felt Nick's agony, as sharply as if it were his own. He knew that that could mean only one thing. Natalie Lambert was dead. He gazed accusingly at his long time enemy. "Your revenge is complete. Let me go to my son." Deckert looked at LaCroix, an amused expression on his face. "Very well. Just don't try to escape. I'd hate to have to kill you." LaCroix stood, as Deckert's men came and surrounded him. He moved silently down the hall to the room that Natalie had been held captive in. When they reached the door, one of Deckert's men opened the door and another shoved him inside. The door was quickly closed and secured. LaCroix stood silently watching, as Nick held Natalie in his arms, rocking back and forth and sobbing. He felt an old, familiar feeling well up within him, and he fought to push it back. "Nicholas." Nick glanced up at his master, then buried his face in Nat's hair. "She's dead, LaCroix. You have your revenge." Nick's muffled voice said, bitterly. LaCroix moved closer to Nick, standing only a few feet from him. "I take no pleasure in that knowledge." He said quietly, realizing it was true. Nick looked up at him, surprised by the genuine look of concern and regret he saw on his master's face. "Just go away, LaCroix." Nick said, once again burying his face in Nat's hair. "I'm afraid that is impossible. I am as much a prisoner here, as you." Nick's head jerked up. "What are you talking about?" He asked. LaCroix looked at Nick, then turned away. "I am afraid that Marchon Deckert is to blame for this." He turned to regard Nick carefully. "This is his revenge on me. To see my son suffer." Nick looked incredously at LaCroix. "I thought Deckert was dead." LaCroix sighed. "I had hoped he was. It appears that I was mistaken." He looked at Natalie, then back at Nick. "There is still time, Nicholas." Nick looked down into Natalie's beautiful face. He could hear her heart, struggling faintly to maintain the life within. He could bring her across, but would she forgive him for doing that? Could he forgive himself, if he did? Could he live with himself if he didn't? Natalie shivered and wrapped her arms around herself, when she saw the lightening flash, and heard the distant rumbling of thunder. Richard put his arms around her shoulders, pulling her close to him. "It's okay, Nat. It can't hurt you." Natalie smiled fondly at her brother, remembering a time when she was the one comforting him. "I know." She looked in the direction of the light. "Richie? Have you seen Mama and Daddy?" "Yes. They love and miss you, very much. They are very proud of you." Richard told her. Nat smiled at him. Then her face turned sad. "How long until I have to go into the light?" Richard tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. "What makes you so sure you have to?" Natalie turned back to face the lake, once again wrapping her arms around herself. "Nick hates what he is. He's been searching for a way back for a very long time." She took a deep breath. "After what happened to you, Nick felt terribly guilty. He avoided me for quite awhile, and I thought he might leave." She turned to face her brother and shook her head slightly. "Nick will never choose to bring me across." Schanke settled wearily into the chair in front of Captain Cohen's desk. After more than a week of searching, there was no sign of Nick or Nat. As a cop, he knew the odds of finding them alive were slim to none. "I take it you still haven't found any leads?" Captain Cohen asked. "Nothing. It's like they just vanished into thin air." Schanke sighed in frustration. "Not even Janette knows where to find Nick. And I don't think the disappearance of the 'Nightcrawler' is a coincidence, either." Schanke frowned. "He and Nick are somehow connected, I just don't know what that connection is." "Detective, you've done your best. Go home and get some sleep. Someone will call you, if anything turns up." Cohen told him. Schanke stood and nodded. He turned towards the door, but stopped before exiting. "We're not going to find them, are we? I mean, at least not alive." He asked quietly. Cohen swallowed the lump forming in her throat. They all knew the statistics. "We'll keep trying, Schanke." Schanke nodded once, then left her office and headed home. Nick looked at LaCroix. He knew his master well enough to know that he probably had some alterior motive for wanting him to bring Nat across. "Nicholas, do not make the same mistake that I made, when I left your sister. If you let her die, you will never have any peace again. Even if you find your mortality. The pain of losing someone you love so is the most unbearable pain there is." LaCroix told him, softly. "What about your retribution for leaving Fleur?" Nick asked. "I release you from that bargain, Nicholas." He looked at Natalie. "Do not let her die, my son." Nick looked down at Natalie's peaceful features. He loved her more than anything. It was selfish, but he couldn't let her go. Not yet. Biting into his wrist, he gently opened her mouth and allowed the blood to flow into it. "Come back to me, Nat." He said, softly. "Come back to me." Natalie fought against the wind, struggling to stay on her feet. "What's going on?" She yelled over the noise, to her brother. "Listen, Nat. What do you hear?" Richie yelled back. Nat listened for a moment, frowning. "Wind and thunder. Why?" Richie shood his head, as a torrent of rain began to fall. "Listen, Nat! Listen with your heart!" Natalie looked at her brother in confusion. "My heart? But--" She stopped suddenly. What was that? She looked towards the desert, then towards the mountains and then the light. Closing her eyes, Nat listened intently, trying to ignore the sound of the wind, rain and thunder. "Come back to me, Nat..." "Nick!" Natalie yelled. She looked up at the sky, then at her brother. "How do I go back?" Richie smiled at her. "Follow your heart, Nat." Natalie shook her head, as she heard Nick calling again. "How?" She looked at the lake, then back at the desert. She turned to look at her brother, but he wasn't there. Turning quickly, she saw him standing at the entrance to the light. "Richie! How do I go back?" "I love you, sis! We'll be waiting for you and Nick!" Richard said, then stepped backwards into the light. Suddenly, it was incredibly dark. Nick held Nat closely, trying to push back the panic. He couldn't be too late. Natalie suddenly swallowed, once, then twice. She grabbed a hold of Nick's arm and began sucking at his wrist. Nick breathed a sigh of relief, as he felt Nat sucking the blood from his wrist. He began to feel faint, when LaCroix pulled him away from Natalie. LaCroix gently pushed Natalie back onto the bed. "Rest now." He told her. He went to Nick and held out his own wrist. When Nick shook his head and pushed it away, he moved it back in front of him. "Take it, Nicholas. You need to regain your strength." Reluctantly, Nick nodded and took LaCroix's wrist, biting into it. He quickly let go, then went to Nat's side. She was sleeping soundly. Nick laid down beside her, then wrapped his arms around her and fell asleep. LaCroix smiled as Nick held Nat in his arms. He went to the door and spoke to the guards outside. "Bring several bottles of blood. She will need them, when she awakens." The guards looked at one another. Then one nodded and the other quickly left. Marchon Deckert sat in his chair, reading. He'd relished the sense of agony from Nicholas and the pain it caused LaCroix. Suddenly, he looked up. No! What had they done? How could he have his revenge, if the woman lived? He rose from his chair and headed quickly down the hall. LaCroix placed the crate containing the bottles of blood beside the bed, then moved to lay on the sofa. He heard the clicking of the lock and turned to see Deckert enter the room. Deckert looked first at Nick and Natalie, sleeping peacefully on the bed, then over at LaCroix. "What have you done?" LaCroix raised an eyebrow. "I have done nothing. Nicholas is the one that brought her across." "No! That's impossible. Nicholas would never do that to someone he loves." Deckert looked accusingly at LaCroix. "I assure you, I did not do this." LaCroix said, calmly. Deckert looked back and forth from the bed, to LaCroix, several times. He placed his hands behind his back and began to pace, muttering to himself. LaCroix watched with interest, as his enemy paced around the room. Deckert stopped and looked up at LaCroix. "I will find some way of taking revenge on you. Until then, you will remain here." He turned and left the room, locking it securely behind him. LaCroix chuckled slightly to himself, before settling onto the sofa and closing his eyes for some much needed sleep. Natalie opened her eyes and smiled at the sight of Nick's peacefully sleeping form lying next to her. She felt odd. Her eyes began to tingle and the world suddenly became clearer, more pronounced. Sitting up slowly, she noticed that she was still naked. She pulled the sheet up under her arms, covering herself. She felt Nick, his presence soothing and exciting, all at once. Suddenly, her stomach was wrenched with such a sharp pain, that she gasped and leaned forward clutching her midsection. LaCroix sat up and saw Natalie sitting up, tightly holding her midsection and gasping in pain. He hurried over to her, opening a bottle and handing it to her. Natalie looked up with surprised golden eyes at LaCroix, but accepted the bottle from him. She smelled the contents and her eyes turned a feral red. Quickly, she downed the contents of one bottle, then another and another. She took the fourth bottle from LaCroix, but drank it slowly, savoring the flavor and emotions she was experiencing. As she handed the empty bottle to LaCroix, she shook her head at his offering of a fifth. She looked warily at LaCroix. "Thank you." LaCroix nodded. "You are quite welcome." He looked at Nick's still sleeping form. "I'm afraid that Nicholas is still recovering from the week's events. He will awaken soon, completely healed." Nat nodded slightly, glancing again at Nick. "Why are you here?" She asked him. "I'm afraid that I am a prisoner, as well. Deckert's plans for revenge were thwarted, so he is trying to devise some other way of collecting retribution." "Deckert?" Natalie asked. "An old enemy of mine, I'm afraid." He looked once more at the sofa. "I shall retire for a bit longer. It would be wise for you to do the same." He turned and went back to the sofa, lying down on it. Nat watched, as LaCroix laid down on the sofa, then she laid down and snuggled up to Nick. She was confused by LaCroix's lack of hostility. Closing her eyes, she tried to settle into sleep. Nick awoke and smiled tenderly at Natalie. A momentary flash of pain and sadness crossed his features, but he quickly let it pass, as he realized that he would have to take extra care to make sure that Natalie did not suffer the same fate as her brother. Lightly, Nick caressed Nat's satiny cheek. She looked almost angelic, when she was sleeping. He carefully ran his fingers through her hair, then moved his hand down to gently caress her bare shoulder and arm. He finally settled on wrapping his arm about her waist and snuggling as close to her as he could, with the blankets in between them. Natalie smiled and opened her eyes. "You didn't have to stop, you know." Nick looked at her and grinned. "How long have you been awake?" "I'm not sure. It's been awhile, now." Nick frowned. "You should be feeling the pain of first hunger by now." Nat nodded. "Yeah, I did. LaCroix made sure that I was taken care of." She looked quizzically at Nick. "Usually he wants to kill me, but tonight, he actually seemed concerned." Nick nodded. "You're a member of his family now. LaCroix may be an evil SOB, but he *does* take care of his family." "Why thank you, Nicholas." LaCroix said, as he made his way across the room to stand by the bed. He looked at Natalie. "How are you feeling?" Nat looked at Nick uncertainly, then back at LaCroix. "Um, fine, thank you." "You are not hungry?" He asked her. Nat bit her bottom lip. "Well, maybe just a little." LaCroix sat on the bed, next to Natalie and took her hand. "You musn't try to quell the hunger just yet, my dear. If you feel hungry, you must satiate that hunger." He indicated the crate on the floor near the bed. "There is plenty here." Nat looked warily at LaCroix, then back at Nick. "Shouldn't I be practicing controlling the hunger?" Nick gave her a light squeeze. "Not yet. Give yourself a couple of days to adjust, then we'll work on that." LaCroix looked at Nicholas. "If you need anything..." Nick nodded. "I'll let you know. I don't want to lose her." He kissed Nat lightly on the lips. Natalie smiled, then looked again at LaCroix. He released her hand and she seemed to relax. LaCroix took a bottle from the crate and handed it to Nick. "You must regain your strength." Nick regarded the bottle for a moment. "As much as I hate to admit it, you're right." He took the bottle from LaCroix and opened it. Natalie's eyes immediately turned golden and she fixed her gaze on the bottle in Nick's hand. The smell of the blood was making her even hungrier than she'd been before. LaCroix and Nick exchanged wry smiles, as Natalie's eyes remained fixed on the bottle in Nick's hand. Nick handed her the bottle, then accepted a second from his father. "I shall leave you two to your meal." LaCroix said, as he headed back to the sofa with his own bottle. Natalie had already drained the bottle in her hands. She set it on the floor, then looked at Nick. "I can't believe I'm acting this way." Nick smiled at her. "Don't worry about it. It's perfectly normal and it will gradually get better." Nat laid back on her pillow and sighed. "I certainly hope you're right." Nick just chuckled and kissed her on the forehead. "I'd better get you something to wear." He began rummaging through the drawers in the dresser. He finally came up and handed her a pair of underwear, flannel pajama bottoms and a large t-shirt. Nat smiled at him. "Thanks." She looked expectantly at him for a moment. "Nat? Aren't you going to put them on?" Nick asked her. "When you go over there." She told him, pointing towards the sofa. Nick smiled and nodded. "Gotcha." Nat hastily dressed, staying under the blankets as much as possible, then climbed out of the bed. She put her robe on, then went to sit in the chair near the sofa. "Any ideas on how we're going to get out of this?" Nat asked. Nick looked at LaCroix. "Unfortunately, I can not think of anything at the moment. I am giving the matter much thought, I assure you." He told them. A few hours later, as Nick was telling Nat about some of the things she'd need to know to survive as a vampire, the door to the room opened and Deckert and a group of his men stepped in. Nick automatically placed himself between Deckert and Natalie. "Oh, do sit down, Nicholas. I am not here for either you, or the doctor... Yet. I am here to collect your arrogant master." He looked coldly towards LaCroix. LaCroix took a deep breath. "You have me, Deckert. Release Nicholas and his fledgling." Deckert just laughed at him. "I haven't decided whether or not I'm finished with them. Especially now that the woman is one of us." He leered at Natalie, who was now standing by Nick's side. "I held back before, because she was mortal and I didn't want to hurt her. That was for Nicholas to do. But now... well, I may return for her later." Nick's eyes turned red and he took a step forward, but LaCroix's gaze held him back. "Touch her Deckert, and I will kill you." Deckert laughed slightly, then motioned for his men to escort LaCroix out. He stopped at the door to look once more at Natalie. "Such a beautiful creature." He said, smiling his cold, evil smile. Then he closed the door and secured it. Natalie moved into Nick's arms, trembling. "Nick, I don't want him to touch me." She said, burying her face into his bare chest. "Don't worry, Nat. I won't let him." He told her, wrapping his arms around her. "I promise." Nick awoke with a sudden jolt, his eyes scanning the room for signs of trouble. He noticed with alarm that Natalie was not lying beside him. "Natalie?" He called, climbing out of the bed. Nat stuck her head out of the bathroom. "Nick? What's wrong?" Nick looked at her in relief. "I just had this weird feeling, like something was wrong. When I saw you were gone..." Nat smiled tenderly. "I'm fine. But I'm glad to know you're so concerned." She stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. "I felt something odd, too. I don't understand this link thing, so I'm not sure what it was." Nick eyed her attire appreciatively. "Hmm. Maybe it was just you, feeling my sudden panic." Nat grinned at him. "Maybe." She stood on tiptoe and kissed his nose, then dodged his arms and went back into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Nick shook his head, laughing, as he opened a bottle and settled into the chair near the sofa. He turned on the radio that was in the room, listening for some news. "In other news today, police have reluctantly called off the search for missing officer Nick Knight, and local coroner Dr. Natalie Lambert. In the nearly three weeks since Dr. Lambert first turned up missing, police have maintained a citywide All Points Bulletin on anyone matching their descriptions, and they are still offering a substantial reward for information that would lead them to their whereabouts. Friends of both Dr. Lambert and Detective Knight, say that the two were very close friends and some speculated that their relationship may have been more than that. If you have any information that could be helpful, contact this station, or your local police station." Nick turned the volume down, then looked over at Nat, who stood staring at the radio. "Nat?" "They've given up on us." She said, her eyes filling with tears. Nick rushed to her, pulling her into her arms. "Officially, Nat. I know Schanke and Cohen, though. They won't give up, until they know for sure what happened to us." Nat nodded. "I know. But how are we going to get out of here? And where is LaCroix? It's been two weeks since they took him away." Nick gently rubbed her back, then led her to the sofa and pulled her into his lap. "LaCroix is still alive. I'd know if he were dead." He kissed her softly. "Janette won't stop looking for us, as long as she can still feel the link between us." Nat nodded. "I'm glad you're here with me. I don't know what I'd do, without you." Nick smiled. "Let's hope you never have to find out." LaCroix clenched his teeth, tightly reigning in his emotions, as he felt the sting of sunlight on his bare chest. He was quickly losing the battle, in shielding his children from feeling the effects of his recent torture. Deckert entered the room, standing well out of the sunlight. He watched with cold fascination, as LaCroix's skin began to first blister, then burn. When LaCroix finally screamed in pain, Deckert moved to a switch on the wall and pressed it. The overhead skylight was slowly covered with a thick metal barrier. He walked over to his enemy, gazing intently at him. "How are we feeling today?" LaCroix turned icy blue eyes on him. "Fine." He said, through clenched teeth. Deckert laughed, then turned and left the room. He walked down a few flights of stairs, to the room where Nick and Natalie were. He opened the door and stepped in. Nick had his arms wrapped around Natalie and was kissing her passionately, when the door opened. He quickly released her and turned his head to look at Deckert. "What do you want?" Deckert grinned at him. "I've come for Natalie." Nick stood and placed himself between Deckert and Nat. "No." Deckert's smile faded. "Do not fight me, Nicholas. I will not hesitate to kill you, or your master." Nick pulled Nat into his arms. "You are not going to touch her. I'll kill you, if you try." Deckert's nostrils flared and his eyes turned golden. He stood glaring at Nick, who's own eyes had turned to red. After a few moments, Deckert turned away and walked back to the door. He turned to look back at Nick and Natalie. "This isn't finished. I shall return for her." He closed the door and tightly secured it. Nick collapsed onto the sofa, with Natalie in his arms. He held her close for several minutes, before he finally looked into her eyes. "Are you all right?" Nat took a shaky breath. "Yes. Is it just me, or does he seem to be afraid of you?" Nick looked back at the closed door. "Deckert is a coward. He only acts strong when he's backed up by his cohorts." Nat laid her head on Nick's shoulder. "The trouble is, he's rarely without them." Nick pulled her close. "I know. We'll think of something." Janette grasped the edge of her vanity and held on tightly. LaCroix was in pain, had been for several days. She closed her eyes and tried to focus. "Where are you, mon pere?" She whispered. There was a light tap at her door. She stood and answered it. "Miklos? What is it?" "Detective Schanke is here. He refuses to leave, until he speaks with you." Miklos told her, apologetically. Janette nodded. "Very well. I'll be right down." Schanke was pacing around the quiet club, his hands behind his back, when Janette came into the room. He looked up at her, then moved to sit in a stool. "Any word?" He asked. Janette shook her head. "None. I told you, Detective, that I would contact you if I heard anything." Schanke nodded glumly. "I know. I'm just so frustrated. The brass has called off the official search. To be honest, Janette, the chances of finding them alive are astronomical." He accepted the glass of beer she handed him, downing it quickly. Janette primly sipped at her glass of red 'wine', while she eyed him. She knew that Nick and LaCroix were still alive, she just couldn't tell him that. "Detective. Go home. Get some rest. You are not doing yourself, or Nicola, any good pacing about and depriving yourself of sleep. I promise I'll call you, the minute I hear anything." Schanke set his empty glass on the counter, then nodded. "Yeah. You're right." He looked at her then nodded. "I'll see you later, Janette." He turned and left the club. Janette turned to Miklos. "Call the others. We have to find them. Before it is too late." Miklos nodded, then turned and headed towards the back of the club. Janette took a sip of her bloodwine, then frowned in concentration. She closed her eyes for several moments, then suddenly, her eyes snapped open. She raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What have you done, Nicola?" She asked, softly, as she focused on the feelings coming from the newest member of her family. Natalie opened her eyes and frowned. She could have sworn she'd heard someone calling her name. She looked up at Nick's sleeping face and then snuggled back down against him. It must have been a dream. Closing her eyes, Natalie tried to go back to sleep. But the feeling that someone was calling her just wouldn't go away. She tried to concentrate on the fleeting images she was seeing, when she realized that it was the Raven. Tilting her head in puzzlement, she allowed her mind to focus on the interior of the club. She could see someone sitting at the bar... Someone familiar... With a jolt, she sat up, realizing that it was Janette. "Nat?" Nick said, sitting up and touching her back. "What is it?" Nat looked at him. "I'm not sure." She told him. "I think Janette is trying to talk to me." Nick raised both eyebrows. "Are you sure?" Nat looked at him. "No, I'm not sure. That's the problem." Nick nodded, then gently pulled her back down onto the pillows. "Close your eyes and concentrate on what you saw and heard." He told her. Nat did as he told her, grasping his hand tightly in her own. "It's the Raven. Janette is sitting at the bar, with several others around her." Nick touched her face. "Go on." Natalie began to relax. "They're searching for us. Janette can feel that LaCroix is in pain." She shook her head. "She seems frightened, and terribly angry." Nick smiled crookedly. He remembered facing Janette's wrath a few times. "What else?" "She wants me to tell her where we are. But I'm not even sure." Nat opened her eyes and frowned up at Nick. "I don't know how to help." Nick thought quietly for several moments, before answering. "Tell her to focus on our combined links. If she flies through the city, she should be able to find us." "What if we're not in the city?" Nat asked. Nick shrugged. "Then we'll have to think of something else." Nat nodded, then closed her eyes. She concentrated on sending Janette the message. "The link isn't strong enough." Nat told him, finally. Nick frowned as he considered this. He turned his attention towards LaCroix, silently begging his master to let them feel his pain, so that it could strengthen their link with Janette. When he felt LaCroix finally consent, the sudden release was nearly suffocating. Nick gasped and fell back onto the bed next to Nat. Natalie felt the sudden burst of intense pain and anger, and had to fight to keep from losing consciousness. "Nick?" She called, gasping. As Nick adjusted to the sense of it, he felt it gradually easing in intensity. He looked at Nat, who was still struggling to get it under control. When, at last, she did, he took her hand again. "Ask Janette if that helps any." Nat closed her eyes, focusing on Janette. "Yes, but not enough." Nick let out an explosive breath. "I don't know what else to do." Nat didn't reply for several moments, then suddenly she grinned. "Janette suggests that we share blood, to strengthen our own link, and thereby strengthening the family link." Nick raised an eyebrow. He could just imagine what Janette had actually said, to make Nat grin like that. "It's worth a try. Are you up to it?" Nat opened her now golden eyes and grinned wickedly at him. "Ohhhh, yes." Janette smiled, as she realized that Nick and Natalie finally understood her. She stood and motioned for the others to join her. "We must hurry." She told them. As they took the back entrance out of the club, Janette concentrated on the feelings of her family, then took to the air. She quickly headed north, following the invisible link that joined them. After an hour and a half of searching, she finally located the warehouse they were being held in. Silently, she and the others landed on the roof and began moving in. Smiling mischieviously, she told Natalie that they were there, and that she and Nick could break their bloodlink. She wasn't sure they'd heard her. Natalie reluctantly withdrew her fangs from Nick's neck, licking away the last traces of blood. Nick did the same, and they both collapsed onto the bed. Nat laid there for several minutes, awestruck by how intensely erotic the experience had been. She looked over at Nick, who was smiling contentedly. She grinned herself. "Wow." Nick nodded, then turned onto his side, gently brushing the hair from her eyes. "Wow, indeed." He said, kissing her lightly on the lips. He wrapped his arms around her, allowing her to rest for a few moments. Nat closed her eyes, basking in the wonderful sensations still coursing through her body. She silently acknowledged Janette's presence, before opening her eyes and looking at Nick. "They're here. Janette is trying to find the best way in, without tipping off Deckert and his men." She told him. Nick nodded. "I hope I'm not around when she finds him." Nat tilted her head, preparing to ask a question, when the door to their room suddenly burst open. They both looked up to see Deckert quickly heading for the bed. "Get up!" He told them. Nick climbed out of bed, pulling Nat with him. He stood facing Deckert, just a few feet away. "What do you want?" "I've come for Natalie. Don't try to stop me, Nicholas. My men will be all over you, the minute you lay a hand on me." Nick shook his head. "No. I told you, you're not taking her." "How dare you argue with me? I am the one holding you prisoner, Nicholas, not the other way around. I will do what I please." He took a step forward. Natalie suddenly thought of something, then tugged gently on Nick's hand. "I'll go." Nick looked incredulously at her. "What?!?" Nat smiled at him, moving so that he stood completely between herself and Deckert. She mouthed a few words at him, then gave him a stern look. Nick looked confused for a moment, then grinned. Forcing a scowl, he turned to face Deckert. He flung Nat towards him, being careful not to hurt her. "Fine! If that's the way you want it to be!" Nat looked up at Nick, feigning surprise and hurt. "It's not how I want it. It's how it has to be! He'll kill us all, if I don't cooperate." Deckert grinned at Nick. "You see. She is as bright as I suspected." "Stay out of this!" Nick and Nat both shouted at him. They immediately began squabbling amongst themselves, slowly moving towards the door. Deckert was at once baffled and pleased, by the sudden disagreement between Nicholas and his fledgling. If he could only turn it to his own benefit... Suddenly Nick pounced on the evil vampire, sending him flying across the room. He grabbed Nat's hand and pulled her out the door, slamming it shut behind them. Nat looked at Nick. "Which way?" He concentrated for a moment, then finally gestured to the left. "This way." Nick took Nat's hand and led her up a flight of stairs. They rounded a corner, to find several vampires fighting one another. Nick jumped in and helped the vampire that was fighting two of Deckert's men. In just a few minutes, they had subdued the other vampires and sent wooden stakes crashing into their hearts. Natalie ran up to Nick, pulling him close to her. "Don't scare me like that!" Nick kissed her forehead. "Not to worry, love. Deckert's men are all much younger than me. They don't stand a chance." Nat eyed him, then followed him down a long corridor. She began to sense a familiar presence, as they hurried towards a door at the end of the hall. Nick broke the lock from the door, then pushed it open. He shrank back, as he saw LaCroix strapped to a table and the bright rays of the morning sun searing his flesh through the holes in the roof. Nat looked in and saw LaCroix writhing in agony in the sunlight. She took a step towards the door, but was stopped by Nick. "Nat, you're too young and weak to even attempt to go into the sunlight. Give me a minute to figure out what to do." Nat glared at him. "LaCroix doesn't have a minute! Let me go!" She jerked her arm away from him and rushed into the room. Nick watched helplessly, then in awe, as Natalie ran into the bright light and untied LaCroix. She didn't even smolder. Natalie turned and searched the room, then ran to a panel on the wall and flipped a switch. Immediately, the holes in the roof began to close and the sun disappeared. She looked at Nick, who was now at LaCroix's side, helping him up. "How did you do that?" He asked her. Nat smiled. "I told you, it's mind over matter. I simply don't believe that the sun will hurt me." Nick was about to reply, when Janette burst into the room. She ran over and carefully hugged LaCroix, then Nick. "Nicola! Thank goodness you're safe!" She said, helping him to support LaCroix. "Thanks, Janette. We've got to get him out of here." Nick told her. "What about Deckert?" Natalie asked. "My companions will take care of him." Janette told her. "We must find a safe place to shelter for the day and LaCroix needs blood to heal." Nat nodded, as Nick picked LaCroix up and carried him out of the room. They took the same corridor they had come down, back to the stairs and quickly descended the stairway. Nick followed Janette's lead, with Natalie by his side. They headed down a second flight of stairs and Janette checked behind the closed doors, until she found one to her liking. She ushered them in and closed the door. Nick carried LaCroix over to the large bed in the corner of the room and carefully laid him down. He stood and turned, to find Nat at his side, holding a bottle of blood. "Here, let me help him." She said, moving past Nick and gently cradling LaCroix's head in her lap. She tilted the bottle, helping him to drink, until the entire bottle was gone. Then she stood and lightly covered him with a blanket. "Help me get his clothes off." She told Nick. Nick raised an eyebrow at her. "Why?" "So I can try and treat some of his burns." She gave him a withering stare. "Just do it." Nick smiled sheepishly, then quickly complied. In a few moments, LaCroix was lying naked beneath the blanket. Natalie found a ceramic basin and filled it with cold water from the sink in the bathroom. She then took a pillowcase from one of the pillows and ripped it into pieces. She carefully began to wash the burns on LaCroix's face, neck, head and arms. Janette watched quietly, as Natalie treated LaCroix's injuries. She brought a bottle of blood for Nick and one for herself. She assumed by the decor of the room, that this must be Deckert's private chambers. Nick accepted the bottle from Janette and quickly downed the contents. He set the bottle on the nighttable, then moved over to stand near Natalie. "How is he?" Natalie looked up and shook her head. "I don't know. I'm not sure that this is even helping him." Nick nodded, then bit open his wrist and placed it to his father's lips. "Drink, LaCroix." He told the elder vampire. LaCroix began to suck slowly at first, then with increasing intensity. At last, he released Nick and went back to sleep. "He should be healed by nightfall." Nick told Nat. "Let's get some rest." Natalie stood and nodded, then accepted the bottle from Janette. "Thank you." "You are quite welcome." Janette said. "If it is all right, I'd like to sleep next to LaCroix." Natalie smiled. "Just be careful of his burns." Janette nodded in understanding, then carefully laid down next to her ancient master. Nick led Natalie to the sofa on the other side of the room and laid down. He pulled her down next to him, rubbing her back. "Thank you, Nat." Natalie looked up and smiled at him. "You're welcome. I know that you and he really do care for one another." Nick kissed her tenderly. "I love you." He whispered. Natalie smiled. "I know. I love you, too." Soon Natalie, Janette and LaCroix were sleeping soundly. Nick stayed awake as long as he could, listening for any signs of trouble, before he, too, fell asleep. Nick awoke to the sound of Janette softly speaking to LaCroix. He looked down at Natalie, still sleeping soundly in his arms, and smiled. Wrapping his arms tighter about her waist, he kissed her on the top of the head and lay quietly listening to the conversation on the other side of the room. "No, LaCroix, just rest. The others are handling the situation. Nicholas and I will go and find out what is going on, in just a bit. You must rest some more." Janette said. "I can not just lie here, while that lunatic runs loose. I must find him and make him pay for his treachery." LaCroix said vehemently. "Don't make me fight with you. You were severly injured, you need to rest." Janette told him, firmly. "Do not presume to tell me what to do, Janette. I am your creator, not the other way around." "Would you two pipe down? It's a little hard to sleep with all of that racket." Natalie said in an annoyed tone, from her place next to Nick. Nick suppressed a laugh. Only Natalie would dare tell the two ancient vampires to 'shut up'. He looked down into her blue eyes, smiling. Nat smiled back, then reached up and kissed him softly. "I beg your pardon?" LaCroix asked icily. Natalie stood and stretched, then walked over to the bed. "Here, let me see those wounds." She said, reaching for the blankets that covered him. LaCroix pulled away. "I think not!" Natalie stared hard at the ancient vampire. "One: I'm a doctor. You don't have anything that I haven't seen before. Two: You had some major burns, not to mention your internal injuries. Three: If you don't lie down and shut up and let me take a look at you, I will personally carry you back out into the sunlight." LaCroix glared at her for a moment, then looked over at Nick, who now stood next to Janette with a bottle and several glasses. "Is she always like this?" He asked sourly. Nick smiled. "I usually find it wiser to do what she wants." He winked at Nat. Natalie looked at LaCroix. "Now, let me see those injuries." LaCroix looked over at Janette and Nick. "Must we have an audience?" "I think that's our cue to go find out what's going on out there." Nick told Janette, jerking his head towards the door. "Oui. I would heartily agree." She kissed LaCroix on the cheek. "Be nice." She told him, as she turned to follow Nick out the door. Natalie looked at LaCroix. "Can we get started?" Janette looked down the hallway, searching with her senses. "I am happy that you finally brought Natalie across. It will be nice to have another woman to talk to." Nick smiled sadly. "I still have mixed feelings on the matter." He admitted. "I'm glad that I can finally show her just how much I love her. At the same time, I feel bad that I've condemned her to this existence." Janette stopped and looked into Nick's eyes. She lightly stroked his cheek with the palm of her hand. "Oh, Nicola. Will you ever be at peace?" She kissed him lightly on the lips and then turned to head down another long hallway. They rounded a corner to find Alma waiting. "All of Deckert's men have been taken care of. Deckert has disappeared." "Nat and I locked him in the room he held us in." Nick told her. "Show me." Alma said, moving aside for Nick. Nick looked at Janette. "Are you sure she's not part Enforcer?" He asked, flashing them both his impish smile. "Nicola!" Janette chided, though she, too, grinned. They made their way through the warehouse, until Nick located the door to the room where he and Nat had been held. "Here." He said. Janette and Alma stood with Nick, as the others joined them. Nick threw the door open and they all moved quickly into the room. Puzzled, Nick looked around him. There was no sign of Deckert. Janette gave orders to search the warehouse, as she and Nick quickly made their way back to the room where they'd left Natalie and LaCroix. Nick and Janette went back into the room and saw Natalie sitting on the sofa, sipping at a glass of blood. LaCroix appeared to be sleeping on the bed. "Nat?" Nick called softly, stepping over to the sofa. "How is he?" He whispered. Janette joined the pair, pouring herself a glass of blood. "He's going to be fine. I've never seen *anyone* heal that fast. Not even you." She told him. Nick smiled. "Yes, well, age has its advantages." "A proper diet wouldn't hurt, either." LaCroix said from behind, startling all three of them. "LaCroix!" Janette chided. She moved to stand next to him, handing him a glass of blood. "It is impolite to startle someone." "Hmm. And it is impolite to discuss someone, without their being present." He looked at Nick. "What of Deckert?" "He's vanished, for the moment. The others are searching the warehouse for him. It's still a bit before sunset, so he can not have gone far." Nick told him. They finished their drinks and LaCroix suggested they join the rest in their search for Deckert. Natalie held Nick's hand, as she followed the three elder vampires down the long corridors. They wove their way through the building, keeping their senses alert. Nat stopped suddenly. "Wait." She said. Nick, Janette and LaCroix turned towards her. "What is it?" Nick asked. "I'm not sure." She told them, frowning. "I felt something. Something powerful. Something evil." She concentrated a bit, vaguely aware of the others using their abilities to search for the source of her discomfort. She shook her head. "I don't know." "Perhaps we should move along." LaCroix suggested. He turned to continue down the corridor. "LaCroix!!" Nat said, moving in front of him, faster than any mortal eye could see. Nick watched in horror, as Natalie clutched at the wooden arrow that was protruding from her chest and looked up at him in pain and shock. He barely caught her, before she hit the ground. LaCroix turned blazing red eyes on Deckert. Just as Alma and three of the others grabbed him, LaCroix moved forward. "Where are your men now?" He snarled. "Who will save your miserable hide?" He grabbed Deckert by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Deckert cowered in terror, begging LaCroix to let him go. "I think not. You have plagued this earth with your presence, long enough." LaCroix told him. Removing the knife from Deckert's belt, he sliced open the terrified vampire's chest and removed his heart. Deckert screamed in pain and terror, as LaCroix cut him open and removed his heart. Disgusted, LaCroix threw Deckert's now still form across the room. "Take care of this." He said, dropping Deckert's heart into Alma's open palm. She nodded and motioned for the others to remove Deckert's body. LaCroix turned, to find Nick gently cradling Nat in his arms, sobbing. He moved quickly to his side. "Nicholas! We must remove the stake." He said, reaching for the wooden arrow. "No!" A female voice shouted. "If you pull it out, it'll splinter and then you'll never be able to save her." LaCroix turned and snarled at her. "Who are you?" The girl approached them and looked at Natalie. "My name is Heather. Natalie has been a friend to me. Please, let me help her." Nick looked up at the fair young vampire. Her eyes were full of sadness and concern. "Tell us what to do." Heather smiled. "Thank you." She motioned to LaCroix. "You and Nicholas hold her up." She looked at Janette. "Stand in front of her and gently push the arrow through." She moved to stand behind Natalie. "I'll pull it from this side." Nick and LaCroix held Natalie securely, while Janette pushed and Heather pulled. Nick flinched at the sickening sound the arrow made, as it left Natalie's body. He was suddenly thankful that Nat was unconscious. Heather inspected the arrow, then threw it aside. "It didn't splinter. Let's get her into bed." Heather raced a few doors down and flung a door open. She pulled the covers back and motioned for Nick to lay her on the bed. Heather quickly moved over and removed some supplies from a cupboard. Then she carried them back to the bed. Nick and his family stepped back out of the way and watched, as Heather fought to keep Nat from dying. First, she removed Nat's shirt and cleaned the wound out with water. "Nicholas, help me, please. I need you to hold her, so I can bandage the wound on her back." Nick stepped forward and carefully pulled Nat into an upright position, holding her close to him. Heather worked quickly, then motioned for Nick to lay her back down. "You're her sire. She'll need your blood." She told him. Nick nodded, then moved to sit near Nat's head. He bit into his wrist and gently opened Nat's mouth, so that his blood dripped into it. Heather took a long piece of tubing and a huge needle and attached them to a bag of blood. She inserted the needle into Natalie's stomach, then started the blood flowing. When the first bag was empty, she replaced it with a second. She did this, until Nat had been given four bags full of blood. Nick looked at Heather. "She's not responding." He'd forced Nat to swallow the blood in her mouth, but had been unable to get any response from her. Heather nodded. "Just keep giving her your blood. It may take a few tries." Nick continued to do as Heather told him. He'd just started to give up hope, when Nat's fangs descended and plunged into his wrist. He smiled in relief. "There." He breathed. Heather smiled and then told him to move his wrist. As he did so, she moved to check Nat's wound. "I think she's going to be all right." Nick smiled. "Thank you." He caressed Nat's face, as he brushed her hair away from her forehead. He kissed her lips softly, then sat close to her and held her hand. "She needs to rest." Heather told them. She looked at LaCroix's blood splattered clothes. "I have something you can change into." She told him, moving to a closet and pulling out a few articles. "You can clean up in the bathroom." She pointed towards a door on the far wall. LaCroix looked at the young vampire. "Thank you, child. I owe you for saving Natalie's life." Heather shook her head. "No. I did it, because she's the only person that ever treated me like I was worth anything." LaCroix seemed about to say something, then simply nodded and turned away. He entered the bathroom and closed the door. Janette moved out into the hallway, giving orders to Alma and the others to leave no traces of anyone's presence before they left. She helped them to clean up, then thanked them as they filed out into the night. A few nights later, Nick lay in bed next to Natalie, holding her close to him. She'd awakened the day before, to find that they'd moved her to a room in Janette's private quarters above the Raven. She was happy to hear that LaCroix had invited Heather to join them. She owed Heather her life. Natalie looked into Nick's sleeping face and smiled. She still felt a little sluggish, but other than that, she was all right. Nick had told her that it was because she was such a young vampire. He'd said that it could take her several days to fully recover. Turning slightly, she gently kissed Nick's chin and neck. She ran her palm along the smooth plane of his exposed chest, loving the feel of his silken skin. Pulling back slightly, she looked up to see Nick smiling down at her. "I think I like waking up like this." He told her, pulling her closer and kissing her deeply. "What do you say we make this a regular event? Foever." Nat grinned lopsidedly at him. "Nicholas Knight. Are you asking me to marry you?" "Only if you say 'yes'." Nick grinned back. Nat raised an eyebrow and gave him an evil grin. "Oh, yes." She whispered, as he pulled her to him, once again. "Ahemm." They broke their kiss and looked towards the door, to find LaCroix standing there. "I am glad to see you are feeling better." Natalie smiled. "Thank you." "I wonder, Nicholas. Do you plan on trying to reenter the mortal world, or have you finally put that behind you?" LaCroix asked him. "Well, I don't know." Nick said, looking down at Nat. "I don't see how we can go back to our old lives." He looked sadly at Nat. Nat frowned. "Why not?" Nick smiled sadly at her. "You're a young vampire, Nat. You'll need time to learn to control the bloodlust. Not to mention, how we are going to explain your sudden aversion to sunlight and food." Nat shook her head. "Nick... have you forgotten? I can still go out in the sun." She sat up. "I think I can still eat some food, too." Nick looked at LaCroix, who was frowning. "That's not possible." "She went into the sunlight at the warehouse, to save you. I have no idea how." Nick told him. LaCroix looked at Natalie. "Really? How did you accomplish that?" He asked her. Nat shrugged. "I just don't believe that the sun will hurt me." LaCroix cocked an eyebrow. He looked at Nick. "I suggest that we test the good Doctor's 'theory'." Nick rolled his eyes and ran his hand through his hair. Letting out an explosive breath, he stood. "All right. Let's go." Nick and Janette followed LaCroix and Natalie down the stairs into the kitchen in back of the Raven. LaCroix waited until they were all in the kitchen, then he looked expectantly at Natalie. "Well? You may choose anything you'd like." Nat opened the refridgerator and looked inside. She smiled as she pulled out a chocolate cake and went about finding herself a plate and fork. She went over and grabbed a knife, slicing herself a large piece, then replaced the rest into the refridgerator. Grinning happily at Nick, she sat down and took a large bite. LaCroix, Nick and Janette waited for the inevitable reaction, but were suprised when it never came. Natalie sat, dreamily eating her piece of cake. Janette made a face. "How can you eat that? It looks disgusting." Natalie looked at Janette, then said through a mouthful of cake, "I've never met a chocolate I didn't like." They watched in silent astonishment, as Natalie finished off the cake, then went and cleaned up her dishes. "LaCroix, how is this possible?" Nick asked. "I assure you, Nicholas, I have no idea." He said, looking at Natalie. "I keep telling you, it's a matter of thinking. I don't believe that sunlight will hurt me and I do believe that I can still eat food." Natalie said, lightly rubbing her stomach. "Though the food part I need to go a little easy on." Janette shook her head. "LaCroix, is it possible?" LaCroix looked at her. "Apparently so." He turned his gaze on Nat. "What about your control? Can you control yourself around mortals?" Natalie nodded. "Yes. I don't see other people as food." Nick shook his head. "Nat, it's not that easy. I don't see people as food, either, but the bloodlust is an almost uncontrollable urge. You're a coroner. You'd be around blood all the time. Can you honestly tell me that you could handle it?" He looked at her, love and concern reflecting in his eyes. "Yes." Nat told him. She didn't show a trace of doubt. "Nicholas, for whatever reason, Natalie appears to be unlike any other of our kind. If she can tolerate food and stand in the sunlight, I believe she can be amongst mortals." LaCroix said. He made a sour face. "Although I can not understand why either of you would wish to return to your mortal world, it appears that it is possible, should you choose to do so." Nat walked over and took Nick's hand. "You're not anymore ready to leave this life than I am. Please Nick?" Nick looked down into Natalie's beautiful face. "I think you and I should discuss a few things, first." Nat nodded and looked at LaCroix and Janette. "We're going upstairs. Do you need us to do anything?" Janette shook her head. "Not at the moment. However, I do suggest that you find a suitable way to return. You can not just simply reappear, without an explanation." LaCroix told them. Natalie smiled. "I know, and I think I have an idea..." Schanke sighed, as he set the box containing an old wooden cross back on the table. He'd been through Nick's place a half dozen times, hoping to turn up anything that might lead him to the whereabouts of his partner and favorite coroner. He'd gone to Natalie's earlier, to search through her place. Just as here, nothing of any use had turned up. He started, as the motor on the steel shutters kicked in, opening for the night. He missed his partner's eccentricities and good humor, even though it was often aimed at him. His cell phone rang. "Yeah, Schanke." "Detective, we just received an anonymous phone call saying that Nick and Natalie are being held in a warehouse on the northwestern edge of the city. I'm enroute, now." Captain Cohen said through the speaker. "Really? Do you think it's legit?" Schanke asked, not wanting to get his hopes up. They'd had dozens of false leads. "We'll never know, unless we check it out." She told him. "Yeah, okay. Give me directions." In just a few minutes, Schanke was in the Caddy, heading towards the old warehouse district. Natalie sat on the sofa, watching Nick pace the room. "You know, we're not supposed to know that they're coming. Come here and sit down." Nick looked up and smiled at her. "Sorry." He moved to sit next to her on the sofa. "Well, what do we do until they get here?" He asked her. Natalie grinned. "Oh, I think we can find *something* to occupy ourselves." She said, wrapping her arms around his neck and moving to straddle his lap. Nick laughed. "And what do you suppose Schanke and Cohen will say, if they happen to show up and catch us?" Nat kissed him on the nose. "It's about time?" Nick threw his head back and laughed. "You're probably right." He said, pulling her closer and nuzzling her neck. He used his tongue to trail an icy path along her neck to her collarbone, then back up to her ear. "Is this what you had in mind?" He whispered. Nat looked at him with golden eyes. "It's a start." She whispered back. Nick pulled her to him and kissed her hungrily. Although they'd shared blood, they hadn't consumated their relationship. He knew that it would be impossible for them to do so now, with Schanke and Cohen on their way. "Natalie..." Nick growled. "We can't..." He whispered hoarsely, as she unbuttoned his shirt and kissed her way down his neck. Natalie kissed his lips to silence him, then she kissed her way back down to the vein in his neck. They'd both fed well, before returning to the warehouse, so Nat knew that he had plenty of blood to spare. She ran her tongue along the vein, breathing deeply to savor the smell of him. At last, she slipped her fangs into his smooth skin. Nick growled deeply, as Natalie's fangs penetrated his flesh. He opened himself up to her completely, relishing the feel of this sharing. Natalie removed her fangs and licked away the last traces of blood. Then she unbuttoned the top two buttons of her blouse and looked into his blazing red eyes. "Your turn." Nick needed no further bidding. He pulled her to him, sinking his fangs into her throat. Natalie threw her head back, gasping in pleasure. This was the most intoxicating thing she'd ever experienced, and she didn't want it to end. She placed her hand on the back of Nick's neck, holding him to her. Schanke, Cohen and the other members of the team had searched the warehouse for any signs of Nick and Natalie. They stood at the top of a staircase, looking down. "Well, this is the last place left to search. If they're not down here..." Schanke said, looking at Cohen. She nodded. "I know." She gave orders for the others to stay close behind, then she and Schanke headed down the steps, guns drawn. Schanke peeked into the first room, then shook his head negatively. When they came upon the second doorway, they found that it was securely locked from the outside. "None of the other doors were locked." Schanke told Cohen. "If they're being held prisoner, this would be the place." Cohen nodded her agreement. She and Schanke unlocked the locks on the door. Nick heard the locks on the outside of the door and quickly removed his fangs from Natalie's neck. He looked into her eyes and smiled at the look of pleasure she gave him. "We'll finish this later." "Count on it." Nat told him. Just then, the door burst open and Schanke and Cohen peered around the doorframe, from either side. Nat looked up, feigning suprise, as Schanke and Cohen entered the room. "Schanke!" Nat said, jumping up from Nick's lap. Cohen and Schanke looked at one another, then back at Nick and Natalie, who were now standing in front of them. Natalie threw her arms around Schanke, hugging him tightly. "I'm so glad to see you. How did you find us?" Nick shook captain Cohen's hand, then clasped Schanke's hand, once Nat had released him. "We heard on the news that you'd called off the search." He told them. "Give up? No way! I knew you were still alive!" Schanke said. "That was just the *official* report." Nick smiled at his partner. Captain Cohen looked at Nick. "We didn't find any trace of your captor, Detective. Are you and Natalie up to coming back to the station?" Nick nodded. "Yes. We were well treated, just locked in." Nick told her. Schanke eyed the room closely, as the forensics team moved in. He noticed the sofa and the large bed. Then he looked at his partner and Natalie. He smiled broadly. If what they'd seen when they came in was any indication, things were finally going the way they should be between these two. Natalie and Nick followed Cohen and Schanke out of the warehouse, into the night air. Nick looked at Schanke, when he saw the Caddy. "You're driving my car?" Schanke's eyes grew wide. "Uh, yeah. I thought you'd want it, if we found you. I didn't hurt it." Nat smiled at Nick, gently elbowing him in the ribs. "Be nice." Nick smiled at Schanke. "It's okay. You're right. I'm glad to see her, again." Natalie just rolled her eyes in Schanke's direction. Schanke smiled at her, then held out the keys for Nick. Nick put his arms around Nat's shoulders and shook his head. "You can drive. I'd rather sit in the back with Nat." Schanke's jaw dropped. "Uh, sure, whatever you say." Schanke said, turning around and heading for the Caddy. He smiled to himself, as he opened the driver's side door. Four nights later, Nick entered the loft and checked his messages. He and Nat had told everyone that after being kidnapped, they'd been locked in the room and had only seen their kidnapper when it was mealtime. They said they'd been well-fed and supplied and had been generally undisturbed. True it was stretching the truth, but they couldn't very well tell them that they'd been held captive by another vampire. They'd given a description of Deckert, knowing that he'd never be found, and then had shrugged when asked why they'd been let go. After a few days, Nick and Natalie had returned to work. They'd spent some time together, but Nat had wanted to get back to Sydney and clean up her place. She promised she'd see him the next night they were off, with a 'surprise'. Nick smiled. Tonight was the night. He and Nat had asked for the night off, saying that they needed some time to talk. Their supervisors had readily agreed. Nick sat in the chair by the sofa, switching on the television. He was watching the evening news, when he suddenly felt Natalie's presence. Surprised, he looked up towards his bedroom door. Natalie stood at the top of the stairs, leaning slightly against the doorframe. She was wearing a low-cut, short, black silk negligee. She held a wine bottle in one hand and two crystal glasses in the other. She smiled seductively at him. "I've been waiting for you." Nick's eyes turned golden and he was standing in front of her in a heartbeat. He wrapped his arms around her waist, walking her backwards into the bedroom. "I see that. How did you manage to block me from sensing you?" He asked, kissing her on the neck. "That's for me to know and you-" She laughed as she felt him nip at her ear. "-You to find out." Nick leered at her. "Oh, I intend to. I intend to." He set the bottle and glasses down on the nighttable. "In fact, I intend to discover all of your secrets." Nat gave him a feigned look of innocence. "All of them?" Nick kissed her deeply and lowered her onto the bed, stretching out on top of her. "*All* of them." He whispered... > The End tigrlady2u@juno.com