Date: Sat, 03 Jan 1998 15:05:24 -0500 From: E McCann To: FKarchiver@fkfanfic.com Subject: Submission: Contrasts As usual, all characters that were the property of TPTB still are... Contrast -Eric McCann Nick was sitting at his desk, staring at the paperwork which had accumulated there (as usual) and wondering where his partner was. Normally *he* was the late one, but with the longer summer days everybody expected that of him. He sighed as he signed off on another file, and tossed it in the outbox. Suddenly a chorus of whistles erupted behind him. He turned - and saw Tracy walk in, dressed to kill. "Well, Trace. I never knew paperwork was such an event for you. Guess I'll have to let you do it more often." Tracy continued turning red as she slapped at her partner. "For your information, I'm going out after work, and I didn't think there'd be time to change. So I'm a little dressed up tonight." Nick grinned, and handed her a few case folders. "Well, you've picked the right night for it. Cap's not going to let us go anywhere until we catch up on these, so I think your outfit's safe." Tracy looked at the pile of folders he handed her, and her shoulders sagged. "I suppose you're right. Still, I think this is going to be a long night..." ----- Nick looked at the now diminished pile of folders. A good chunk of them were done, but they needed some other paperwork from Natalie before they could "officially" close the others. He heard Tracy's stomach rumble. "Trace, I'm about to see if we can get Nat over here to sign some of these off. Want me to have her pick you up something for lunch?" "Yeah, sure." Tracy just wanted to get this night *over* with. Vachon said he had actually wanted to spend some time... "Better just be something light, though." "Chineese?" "That'll hit the spot." Nick picked up the phone ----- "Nat's ME and take out service... your order, miss..." she said as she handed Tracy a couple of take-out boxes, and sat down with her own bag lunch. Tracy was fidgeting nervously. "Thanks, Nat. I didn't know if I was going to last a few more hours without something to eat." Natalie looked at Tracy for a moment. "Big night later, huh." She laughed at Tracy colored slightly, and looked at Nick. "Why don't you take me anywhere anymore?" Nick's jaw dropped... "Well, uh..." and Natalie broke out laughing. "Let's get this pile down some, shall we?" Natalie nodded her head, and pulled up a chair, and hauled out her own pile of files - eliciting a groan from the two detectives. "The more you complain, the longer it'll hurt...." ----- They had worked their way down to just a few files, but were slowing down due to Tracy's fidgeting and checking her watch. Nick smiled at his partner's antsiness.. He'd sensed Vachon coming up - as much time as Javier had been spending around Tracy, he could tell his presence as easily as Nat's or Tracy's. He looked up at Natalie, who had been contentedly munching her lunch, and grinned. "What?" "I think our little party's about to lose a member for the night." Nat looked at Nick as he tilted his head towards the door, just as Vachon walked in. Tracy shook her head. "You've got to teach me how to do that." She smiled and got up, motioning Vachon over. "Hey Nick, doc. What's going on?" "Paperwork." "Ahhh, the exciting life of a detective. No wonder you need that huge trunk. Gotta carry it home in something, I guess." Tracy gave Vachon a swat on the arm. "Play nice. You're early, anyway. We have some paperwork to finish up. It should be a half hour or so...." Natalie cut in. "Actually, Trace, we just need you to sign down here, and you're done with this one." She grinned at Nick as he glanced up, questioningly. "Are you sure..." Nick got the klew, and handed Tracy his pen. "Sign here.... and here...and get out of here." Tracy was bouncing on her feet as she finished signing. "Thanks, Nat, Nick." She looked at Vachon. "Ready?" "Uh.. Yeah. I suppose. Let's go... Mexican, right?" Tracy swatted him again as she looped her arm in his. "You know better than that. There's this little Szeuchian place...." Vachon looked back and waved. Nick and Nat waved back. "They make a nice couple." Nick looked at Natalie. "Yes, they do. It makes you think..." "I don't know, Nick. Maybe we've thought too much. And done too little." She looked at the blonde-haired vampire she'd been helping - and loving - for the better part of a decade now, then handed him a pen. "Let's go. Szeuchian doesn't sound half bad...." -fini