EVERYTHING IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE   (Part 1/14)

		by    StormyNite





Nick flew Natalie in his arms at a slow speed to ensure she was not 

frightened.  He remembered his first flight as a vampire.  He never was 

much for heights or snakes but being immortal sort of took away those 

fears quickly.  Natalie clung loosely to Nick's neck as they flew toward the 

loft.  Her hair blowing in her face and Nick's.  "Can you see where your 

going through me hair?" She laughed as she pulled a long strand from his 

face.



Nick smiled with her caress.  "You love this!  Don't you?"  She viewed the 

Toronto skyline smiling the whole time.



"You should have taken me flying a long time ago!  This is incredible!"



"Your not scared?"  He dropped twenty feet and Natalie squealed with 

delight.



"This is better than a roller coaster!  She cuddled closer to him and 

whispered in his ear.  "Besides you would never drop me! -----at least not 

very far before you caught me again!"  She kissed him passionately while 

they flew through the air.  There was complete trust in her eyes as she 

broke the contact.



Regretfully releasing her lips from his  "If you don't stop that I will crash 

us into a tree and I will be toast when the sun comes over that crest!"  He 

jiggles her playfully making her laugh even more.



"You will teach me how to do this  when I'm ready?"  She looked hopefully 

into his eyes.  She saw sadness cross those blue pools as she reached to 

caress his face.



"By then you will never be able to see the sunrise again Nat!"  Guilt was 

written on his face as he held her close.



"You don't know that Nick!  Neither one of us know what will happen in 

the future.  We aren't suppose to be like this right now!  I should have 

crossed and you should have died.  None of that happened."  She turned 

her head back to the view and then back to Nick.  "Besides I would give up 

an eternity of sunrises to spend every sunset with you!---Know that I have 

no regrets no matter what happens to us.---NADA-None. Do you hear 

me?"  She kisses him playfully on the cheek with a wicked gleam in her 

eyes.  "Now can we go faster?"  



"We aim to please!"  He increased their speed until the wind caused the 

tears to flow from her eyes.



---------------------------



Tracy had been mulling over her circumstances. Okay she would admit it 

brooding was a better term.  They released her from the hospital two days 

ago.  She was fine.  Well, almost fine!  Aside from the fact she couldn't 

really remember anything beyond going into the locker room before she 

was shot.  Once in awhile a bright flash.  Dr. Simms told her that was 

more than most people could remember after a gunshot wound, let alone 

the type that miraculously healed themselves on her.  She was troubled.  

She had froze, she knew that.  Nick admitted it.  The Captain confirmed it. 



 Her father wanted her to transfer to  accounting of all places.  A safe place 

to work if you could live through the boredom.  Her Mother wanted her to 

quit the force entirely.  Of course, she hated her being a cop from the 

beginning.  And Nick---God it was hard to get Nick to set still for longer 

than 10 minutes anyway, let alone get him to tell her what he really 

thought.  He was so distracted lately.  Oh, Hell!  Nick was distracted most 

of the time!  He was the best cop she ever worked with or even knew.  He 

had the most incredible control of anyone she had ever met, but he would 

space off on you in an instant.  Almost like he was somewhere else.  She 

always wondered why, he never did it in a pinch.  He had always been 

there for her.  Schanke too, she was told.  But she was not there for him 

when he needed it.  She froze!---Yes, froze!  She had to accept that and 

make a decision.  Maybe in her mind she already had.  Maybe she had 

made up her mind when she came too and Nick was there in one piece 

through no help from her. Or maybe it was when Nat walked in the door 

and put her arm around him not knowing she was awake that she realized 

that Nick was important not only to her, but Natalie loved the guy.  It 

would have destroyed Natalie if something happened to Nick.  She knew 

they were close by how she reacted when he got shot late last year.  She 

would not be the cause of that again.   Nick was always trying to protect 

her.  She knew it, and a part of  her relished the fact that someone cared 

enough to take a bullet for her. The other, louder voice in her head  told 

her she had to take care of herself.  Nick wouldn't always be there.  Vachon 

was a good example!  Nick and Vachon, so much alike yet so different.  It 

was like good vs. evil.  Nick always tried to do what was right and Vachon 

always wanted to know what was right.  You could feel the evil in Vachon 

at times and it scared her, but she truly missed him.  How she wished he 

would come back, but in her heart she knew he was gone.  A part of her 

knew he was dead.  Suddenly she found herself sitting in the car not even 

questioning  how she got there.  Giving in turn her state of mind , she 

broke down and  wept uncontrollably.  Her life had changed!  After a few 

minutes she dried her eyes, started the car, and drove to the station.



"Hey Trace,  good to see you back!"  Carlyle handed her a cup of coffee 

and patted her on the shoulder.



"Thanks Carlyle.  Where is Nick?"



"He didn't tell you when you were in the hospital?"  Carlyle looked 

puzzled.  "He took a leave of absence for awhile. He took you shooting 

pretty badly!  You know Nick.  He blamed himself for the whole thing.  He 

was just lucky to be  wearing a vest or we would have had another funeral 

to attend.  He broke the guys neck.  You heard that didn't you?  You know 

for a small guy he has incredible strength!"  Carlyle shook his head in 

disbelief. 



"The Captain would have made him take time off anyway.  Nick just made 

it easier when he walked in and told Cap he was quitting. Cap would not 

take his resignation of course,  and told him he was putting him on leave 

until further notice!  That was about a week ago.  I sure hope Doctor 

Lambert is with him, because no one has seen her for 2 days.  Cap's getting 

a little worried.---Glad your back Trace!"  He sauntered off to the booking 

room to go back to work.



Tracy walked into  Captain Reese office and shut the door.  "Cap!  I need 

to talk with you!"  she said calmly taking a seat in front of him.



Reese held up his hand stopping  her before she started to speak.  "Do not 

even let those words cross you lips Vetter.  You're not quitting!  You just 

need some time to sort this out.  I had this talk with your partner a week 

ago and would not take his resignation either.  So!  Get your butt out of my 

office and work it out with Nick.  Both of you need to come to terms with 

this."  Tracy stared in disbelief at her boss, when she read the "No-

arguments" expression on his face.  "Nick has not talked with anyone for 

two days and  Natalie is gone too.  I pray to God they are together, because 

I don't  want to pick up the pieces of either one of them or you again.  Now 

-Get out of her and go find them.!"  Reese pointed to the door.  Trace got 

up hesitantly and walked out of the office.  That was not how she intended 

for that to go down, but apparently Cap was worried about Nick and Nat.



Tracy walked over to her desk and pulled out her set up skeleton keys she 

used in case of an emergency.  She went to Nick's desk and unlocked his 

private drawer and pulled out the remote to his garage. She knew it was 

there because Nat had used it once to get in when Nick disappeared for a 

couple of days.  She had not used it since, so Nick must have given her a 

key.  He had a security system at the loft that was state of the art according 

to Nat because of some old family heirlooms.  There must be a security 

code somewhere in the drawer. She continued looking determined to find 

it.   If they were in trouble, the signs would be at Nick's place and if they 

weren't, then she would just wait for them.  They were together, she could 

feel it.  On the back side of  Nick's  spare 9mm was the code she sought.  

Quickly writing down the number she  locked the draw and left.



------------------------------



Tracy stopped in front of the loft, trying to decide if she should call first to 

see if they were there. She carefully appraised the neighborhood and pulled 

her car to the far side of the warehouse.  If something was wrong, she did 

not want to announce her arrival.  She tried the intercom to the loft but 

there was no answer.  Pointing the remote at the garage, the  door slid 

quietly open revealing Nick's Caddy.  Something was not right here.  Trace 

pulled her gun and entered the garage.  The whole lower level of the 

warehouse was used as a garage.  Several old cars and motorcycles sat 

covered in white tarps.  Trace pulled off one revealing a 66 corvette, cherry 

red with a soft convertible top.  Strange she had never seen Nick drive 

anything but the Caddie since she had met him.  The man never ceased to 

amaze her.  Seeing the lift on the far side of the garage with the keypad by 

the door, she punched in the access codes she obtained from his desk.  

Stepping on the lift, she punched the up button and waited till the lift 

stopped. Pulling open the door she stepped into the loft.



Not ever having been at Nick's before, it took a few minutes to locate the 

light switch.  If not for the light coming through the windows, she would 

have ran straight into the grand piano.  After switching on the lights she 

began to take in her surroundings.  She ran her hand over the grand piano 

realizing it was a Steinway and very very old, yet in perfect condition.  The 

keys were well worn, so Nick must play it regularly.  "I didn't even know 

he played."  Looking around the loft, she could see numerous pieces that 

were antiques and a video, audio set up that cost a fortune.  Something just 

didn't jive here.  How could he afford this stuff on a cop's salary?  Nothing 

was out of place and the kitchen spotless.  There were a few groceries in 

the frig plus some wine.  One cup and one wine glass sat in the 

dishwasher.  Nothing was amiss.  The hearth was laid for a fire only 

needing a match.  What an incredible place.  Nick was either incredibly 

rich or a crooked cop.  She would not believe the later, she settled down to 

wait. She need answer badly.



-------------------------------------



Nick landed softly outside the loft, placing Natalie on her feet in one swift 

motion.  She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled placing a soft 

kiss on his lips.  "If I had known you could go that fast, I would have given 

up driving years ago!"  He kissed her back and held her close for a few 

more seconds.  "We had better call the precinct and report in, before they 

put APB's out on both of us."  Nick punched in the access code and the 

garage quietly opened.  Stepping into the lift and pushing the up button 

Nick pulled Natalie into his arms one more time as he looked deeply into 

her eyes and started kissing her cheeks, then  lips, followed by feather 

kisses down her neck.  "Unless, of course I was distracted for a few more 

hours!"  He smiled wickedly as he returned to her lips which she 

surrendered mercilessly.  Melting her body into his, feeling his erection 

through their clothes, she deepened the kiss increasing both their needs as 

the lift stopped. Nick threw the door open with one hand as he  picked 

Natalie up, all the while never releasing her lips.  Preoccupied by each 

other , neither one noticed the dark clad figure on the coach until she 

cleared her throat. 



"If this is a bad time, I can come back later!"  Tracy chuckled as Nick put 

Natalie back on the floor.  With Natalie turning bright red and Nick taking 

a closer look at the floor, Tracy walked toward the lift door.



"Trace, No!  Don't go!.  I think we all need to talk!"  Nick pulled Natalie in 

front of him to hide his current problem.  Realizing what he was doing , 

she began to snicker.  She started to pull away from him and he held her 

firmly causing her to laugh even harder.  



"Yeah Trace, but I think we should give Nick a few minutes to get control 

of his libido here, before we talk or you might see Nick turn red!"  Nick 

glared at Nat as she smiled and leaned back into him covering up the 

problem.  He leaned over and whispered in her ear  "If you do not stop that, 

the problem is NOT going to go away anytime soon!"  



"You guys sure?  I can come back!"  A troublesome look crossed her face 

and a great sadness hit her eyes.



"What is it Tracy?"  Realizing her distress, they put all kidding aside and 

went to her side as the first tears began to fall.  All else forgotten, Tracy 

began to sob into Nick's shoulder.  He gently picked her up and took her to 

couch where they sat on each side of her.  They just let her cry.  Natalie 

knew how she felt.  Alone, no one to talk to except a few friends, even then 

you could not tell them everything.  Secrets, pain, no family to really be 

with.  She looked at Nick and knew he understood.  It was different now 

and it would be for Tracy in time.



"I am sorry!"  She dabbed her eyes with a Kleenex that Natalie handed her.  

"I thought I could handle this, without breaking down. Red eyes and a 

swollen nose is not really conducive to the "macho cop" image I'm suppose 

to have.  I guess I never will be super-cop like my Father wanted!"  she 

turned to Nick trying to smile.  "I could have gotten you killed Nick."  She 

stood up and walked over by the fireplace.  "I am turning in my badge 

today."  She looked at Nick and then Nat. "I will not be the cause of you 

losing him.  You guys are special to each other.  You deserve to be together 

for a long, long time."  She turned back to Nick  "You do not need a 

partner that freezes during a shot-out!  You need someone you can count 

on in a pinch and that, as much as I wish it were otherwise,  is not me!   

Forgive me Nick for almost getting you killed?"  Tracy could not look at 

him without feeling ashamed.  She lowered her gaze to the floor in 

recrimination.



Nick was in front of her in seconds forcing her to look at him.  "Trace, you 

did not freeze because of the gunfire.  You froze, because of me  not 

anything in you.!"  Confused Tracy touched Nick's cool skin.



"I don't understand Nick!"



Nick let her go and walked to the other side of the fireplace. Disgusted 

with himself for having let it go this far. "Tracy, you froze because of what 

I am!  He shot you through me and then you froze from the bullet.  You did 

not fire because you were hurt and startled when you saw my eyes change."  

With vampire speed he was at her side forcing her to look into his golden 

eyes.  "You were shot because of me not you and if I had told you earlier 

maybe-just maybe things would have been different."  He let his eyes return 

to normal right before her.  "You're a good cop Tracy Vetter!.  The best 

I've seen in CENTURIES!"  He let her go and stepped back as Nat came up 

behind him and put her hand on his arm for support.



As  realization hit her, she turned and belted him in the jaw.  "You could 

have trusted me!"  Anger in her eyes she faced Natalie.  "Both of you!  I'm 

your partner Nick, if you can't trust your partner we have nothing to 

discuss."  She whirled and started for the door.



Catching her in three strides Nick grabbed her and held her arms while she 

struggled.  "Listen to me Tracy, you were having enough problems 

accepting Vachon!  You were seeing vampires everywhere.  The last thing 

you needed was to find out your partner was an 800 year old vampire"



She looked at him incredulously  "Your 800 years old?"  Nick released her 

arms as she stepped back.



"802 actually if you count the year I was brought across!"  He stood back 

trying to decide if she was going to hit him again.



"You could have told me later-For God Sake-I've known you over a year 

and a half!" She turned to Nat.  "You guys must have really thought I was 

stupid.  Knowing  all along I knew about Vachon-and not recognizing the 

same traits in Nick!  How long have you known Natalie?"



"Since he came back to life on the morgue table!   I must admit, it was a 

life changing experience."  She smiled at Nick.



"I'll bet!"  Tracy's curiosity was getting the better of her as her anger began 

to cool.  "Why a cop Nick?  From the looks of this place, money is not a 

problem?"



Nick walked over to the fireplace a lit a fire before he answered.  "I have 

hated what I am for over 300 years.  I thought maybe it was time I gave 

something back to society instead of taking it out."  He looked at her for 

understanding.



This was hard for him.  She could see it in his eyes.  He was not like 

Vachon.  She could not feel any evil about Nick.  That was why she didn't 

make the connection.  Then she realized something.  Natalie and Nick-

friends, lovers, Doctor-Patient?  What were they to each other!  "You have 

been trying to make him mortal again-haven't you?"  Her gaze never left 

Natalie's face.  "You said your relationship was I quote 'complicated'.   I 

guess I can see why now."  



Natalie touched Tracy's arm gently.  "We never meant to hurt you Tracy!  

The less you knew about the community the safer you were!"



"You are safe!"  She looked to Natalie for affirmation.



"Only because Nick protects me.  If the Enforcers feel I'm a threat they 

would kill both Nick and myself.  Nick and Vachon put there necks on the 

line for you.  We just spent the last 2 days in Hell trying to appease the 

community over a little misunderstanding.  They wanted both of us dead 

without any proof.  Trust me when I say the less you know, the safer you 

are from them."



"So why are you telling me now?"  Vachon gone, so I'm no threat to them.



Nick stepped in between Nat and Tracy.  "You died because of what I am! 

And the fact that GOD has given us all a second chance to set things right 

gives you the right to know what your partner can and cannot do.  It may 

keep us both alive.  I try not to make the same mistake twice.------We are 

still partners?"  Hope in his blue eyes burned brightly.



Tracy walked over to the couch and sat down.  "The WHOLE story from 

the beginning including what I just saw in the lift when you came in.-----

AND don't spare the details!!"  She looked at her watch and the sunlight 

peeking through the open shades.  "I have all day---and"  She picked up 

the remote and hit the shades down key.  "apparently so do you!"



					PART  ( 2/14)



------------------------------



1 month later:



Tracy walked into the precinct throwing her coat on Nick's chair.  She 

missed them already.  They left on Friday.  They had gotten married.  

Incredible!  She remembered telling Nick he was such a cad about sleeping 

with Nat and not asking her to move in with him. Men just didn't know 

how to make a commitment anymore. Nick calmly walked over to her desk 

and placed a ring box in the middle.  She must have turned 30 shades of 

red.



************************************************************

***********************

flashback

************************************************************

**********************

2 weeks prior at the Precinct



"Well, open it up 'Miss I  Hate Uncommitted Men'!  Tell me whether you 

think Nat will like it!"  Nick walked back around to his desk and sat 

staring at Trace with her mouth open and her face bright red.



"Nick-Is-Is this what I think it is?"  She looked at him astonished.



"You forget I come from the 13 Century--Trace.  A man does not ask a 

women to move in with him if  he loves her.   He marries her!"  He smiled 

at her discomfort.  "So, tell me what you think?"



Tracy flipped the box open.  In it sat a wide wedding band  with 36 perfect 

princess cut diamonds.  There must have been over 4 carats of diamonds in 

the ring.  "It's incredible Nick.  There is so much fire in the ring, yet it is 

smooth on the top!  How did they do that?"



"I wanted it made so she would not have to take it off when she gloved up 

to work.  But I still wanted the fire.  Do you think she will like it?  And for 

your information I just got the ring tonight and I would not ask her until I 

had it!"  Nick looked at Tracy for an answer.  He really needed another 

woman's opinion before he gave it to Natalie.  "Well?"



"She will love it Nick!  No doubt in my mind in anyway shape or form.  

She would  have to be nuts if she didn't!"  Tracy placed the ring back in the 

box and handed it back to him.  "So you going to ask her tonight?  I would 

like to be a fly on the wall at this one!"  She smiled wickedly which earned 

her a raised eyebrow 'in your dreams look'."



"We had better get back to work before everyone in the precinct gets wind 

of this before Nat!  She would kill me slowly for that one!"  Tracy handed 

Nick the file open on her desk.



"Guess we can start with these."



************************************************************

************************* 



So, six weeks without Nick or Natalie!  In the last 4 weeks they had 

become the closest friend Tracy ever had.  She finally felt connected to 

someone or in this case multiple someones-yet she still felt alone at least in 

her heart when she saw them together.  They were so right together.  

Maybe there was still hope for her.  It took Nick 800 years to find the right 

woman.  He said patience is a virtue greatly overlooked in this century.  Oh 

well, back to work.  She pulled out the pile of folders laying on the corner 

of her desk and started at the top.



"Vetter!  In here right now!"  Reese yelled out his door.  Screamed actually 

would have been a better term.  He never seemed to do anything  low key 

when Nick was gone.  



Tracy walked into the Captain's office noticing a dark, well dressed young 

man across from him.



"Tracy!  Meet you new partner for the next six weeks.  Daniel Trent-Tracy 

Vetter!"  Reese smiled and stopped her before she could speak.  "Don't 

even say it.  You are without a partner for 6 weeks and Daniel has just 

been promoted to homicide.  In fact he asked for Metro in his request!"  

Reese was so pleased he was about to explode.  The rookies wanted Metro 

Night Shift now.  Amazing what a Mayor's award could do for the whole 

division.  "Take him out and get his feet wet.-But for God Sake do not 

scare him to death with your workload.



"But Captain!  You Know we have 5 cases working and with Nick gone 

there is no way I have time---"



"I'll lifted 3 of those and gave them to Snell and Grafton.  You break 

Daniel in and work on two.  That should be a breeze considering what you 

have been doing.----No arguments!  Go!"  He motioned them out the door.  



Daniel followed Tracy out the door over to her desk. Tracy motioned for 

him to take Nick's desk.  He sat down hesitantly.  "Is he always that way?"  

His dark brown eyes seemed to sparkle when he talked. 



"No!  Only when Nick is gone!"  Tracy stared at the young man across 

from her trying to size him up.



He smiled at her appraisal making him even more attractive than before.  

"Should I stand up, so you can see the whole package?"  The twinkle in his 

eyes seemed to light his whole face.



"I'm-I'm sorry!  I really didn't mean to stare, but you don't look much like a 

cop!"



"And your blonde, blue eyed 35 year old partner does?  Or how about you?  

I do not remember anything in the manual that said how I had to look to be 

a cop!"  He raised one eyebrow stretching the silence until she answered.



[Get a grip Trace. So he is good looking and  has a sense of humor.  Cut 

him some slack.  Not everyone is evil incarnate or a vampire.  Loosen up 

girl.  No wonder you have not had a date for two months!]

"Sorry!"  She said regretfully and lowered her eyes.  "I have been around 

Nick to long.  He has a tendency to make you look really close at 

everything and everyone and he is not usually very subtle about it either.  

Guess some of it's rubbing off on me!"  She smiled.  "Let's start over 

okay?"  She stuck her hand across the desk.  "Tracy Vetter!  Overworked, 

underpaid, and unappreciated hard-working homicide cop!"  Daniel took 

her hand and smiled.



"Nice to meet you Tracy Vetter!"  She handed him the top three files.



"You start going through these while I drop the other two off with Snell 

and Grafton.  We can do the background check on the  Parker Case first if  

the autopsy report gets done tonight."  She rose from her chair taking two 

of the files from the huge pile setting on the corner of her desk.



"But-the Captain said we were only working on two not three!"  Indecision 

written on his face.  



"He was just trying not to scare you off."  She pointed to the pile on her 

desk.  "Those are the actives as we speak!"  She smiled wickedly.  

"Welcome to Metro Homicide!"



----------------------------------------------



The wire arrived at 10:00 am Belgium time.  Theressa  sat at her desk 

delving deeper into the manuscript.  Her reading glasses sliding down her 

nose as usual.  Her dark hair feathered around her face created massive 

mounds of curls cascading onto the manuscript.  She brushed it back 

absentmindedly out of habit.  Eventually she would give up and tie it back.  

The courier stood quietly at the desk admiring her while he waited for her 

to notice him but she was completely absorbed in the project.  He cleared 

his throat hoping to bring her back to this world.



"Miss?--Ah-I have a wire from the-"  He turned the envelope over reading 

the senders information.  "The National Museum Headquarters in Paris?"



Theressa finally noticed him.  Removing her glasses she came to take the 

envelope from him.  Reaching into the drawer for a coin.  "I'm so sorry to 

have kept you waiting.  Accept my apologies!"  She placed the coin into his 

hand.



"No problem Miss."  He smiled and left the store.  Theressa ripped open 

the envelope from the NMH and read eagerly.  



"13 Century French!  What an incredible find!"  The excitement began to 

build as she read on.  Three books found locked in the museum safe.  

Unknown French dialect.  They wanted her to come.  Where?  Surely it 

was wrong.  Toronto?  Why of all places Toronto?  Could she do it now?  

Was it time?  She was to respond today and leave at the end of the month.  

She would have to make a decision today!  Maybe it was time for her to 

grow up after all.



-------------------------------------



2 weeks later



Daniel walked into the precinct looking for Tracy.  He found  her cruising 

through the door from the coroner's building carrying an autopsy report 

wearing a distinct frown as she read.  In disgust she plopped down heavily 

into her chair tossing the report on  Daniel's desk.  "Jerry is driving me 

crazy.  I have to push him for everything and all he does is whine about the 

workload down here.  I never really appreciated  Natalie's work until now!"  

She pulled her blonde hair out of her face.



"Your working to hard Trace. Geez-we have 5 actives 15 backburners and 

2 hots.  How do you keep them all strait.  They are beginning to get all 

jumbled in my head."  His boyish smiled warmed her heart.  Daniel was 

really a nice guy.  Naive when it came to detective work and definitely not 

organized when it came to paper work, but at least he did his share.  Nick 

avoided it like the plague-yet he could put the pieces together better than 

anyone she knew.  She was feeling frustrated.  She did not realize how 

much he kept in his head at all times.  He looked at everything and nothing 

was beneath his notice.  Of course being 800 years old gave you a broader 

perspective than most.  She was just now beginning to appreciate that. 



"Sorry Daniel.  Guess I was just missing Nat's efficiency and Nick's 'your 

not seeing the whole picture approach'.  Or maybe I'm just have to many 

pictures to look at!"



"You miss them don't you?"



"Yeah!  I bet there having a great time in France. Sleeping in,  Good Food 

[not that Nick would care], moonlight, dancing, great music, boat rides on 

the Seine.  Everything a woman could want!!"  She sighed with a wishful 

look on her face.



"You trying to say that I'm not equal to Lieutenant Detective Nick 

Knight?"  



"Nick is not a Lieutenant Daniel!  Not unless he was promoted sometime 

when I was out of it!"

"I think your wrong Trace.  I checked both you files before I came to 

Metro.  He transferred here from Montreal as a Lieutenant.  He has been 

offered at least 4 promotions and turned each of them down."



Staring dumb founded into Daniel's face.  "You checked our files?"



"Well,  Sure!  I wanted to work with the best.  After all you and Nick were 

named Partners of the Year and have the highest conviction rate of any 

police team in Toronto.  Nick and Schanke were good but Schanke made a 

lot of mistakes that Nick could not cover for.  You and Nick aside from 

your obvious differences make a great team.  I just wanted to learn from 

the best."  He sat quietly waiting for her to bash him.  Daniel had learned 

in the last month, that Tracy was not always 'Miss Perky' as everyone 

thought.  She had a temper that she kept in check most of the time.  She 

fascinated him. He asked her out twice-which she accepted for breakfast 

only.  



After absorbing what Daniel said, she became angry which progressed to 

totally pissed off and finally to throwing files on the floor.  "That asshole!  

He did it to me again!  Why is it, just when you think you know someone 

they constantly throw you a sinker to see if you can hold it all the way to 

the bottom of the lake?"  She shoved her chair across the room as she got 

up.  Daniel somewhat confused by her anger, realized is was not directed at 

him as he expected and ran after her.



Recognizing who the anger was directed at, Daniel tried to soothe the 

situation.  "Trace!  Nick didn't tell you that he was second in command 

here.  Actually, he was offered the Captain's position before Reese took 

over.  He is second only by choice."  Tracy seethed with the new 

information.  Daniel not making the situation better, but worse decided on 

retreat.



"I will personally put a stake through his rotten heart when he gets back!"  

She then turned her wrath to Daniel.  "And just how in the Hell did you get 

that kind of information.  That is not in a general personnel file!!!"  She 

stopped short causing him to run into the back of her.  He grabbed her 

hand trying to explain.  Tracy jerked her hand from his cool fingers, her 

anger banked behind her blue eyes to the point of smoldering.  "Don't 

answer that!  You would probably just lie or leave out to important detail!  

Men!  They are all the same!"  Tracy started for the parking lot with 

Daniel at her heels.  "I'm driving-So get on the other side of the car!"  She 

slammed the door as they both got in the car.  Taking deep breathes she 

tried to calm herself. 



"81 Kilo!  Report to 8th and Pear.  Body down.  Coroner in route!  Do you 

copy?"  Tracy picked up the microphone to respond.  "81 Kilo 

responding!"  She glared at Daniel and  started the engine.



---------------------------------



Theressa made the decision to accept the contract with NMH in Paris.  She 

would leave for Toronto on the 10th of  July.  Toronto in the summer.  She 

always loved Canada in the summer.  It brought back so many sweet 

memories.  The ones she had survived on for the past 4 years.  Yes, it had 

been four years since her separation from Paul and each time when she 

started to pick up the phone to call, she lost her nerve.  They had been so 

close, for so many years it was hard to believe a man came between them.



********************************************

Flashback

********************************************



The three of them sat playing in the back yard.  It was summer of  1972.  

The leaves rustled in the trees as Richard picked up the bucket of sand and  

poured it over Natalie's head.  Theressa giggled as Natalie fumed and 

started after Richie.  Being only four, all Theressa could remember of those 

days was the love they had for each other.  Natalie was 10 and all legs with 

a mop of auburn  curls.  Always the defender of her brother and sister but 

still not willing to take Nana's anger if she brought sand into the house.  

She remembered the bond between Natalie and Richie. Somehow she 

always felt left out because they were so close.  Each time she felt this way 

Nat would set her down and tell her how special she was to her and to 

Richie.  He was their knight in shining armor.  Then things changed after 

Dad was killed in the car accident.  Mom had to go to work full time at the 

research center, which left them with Nana and all her rules.  Natalie 

became the Mother and Richie the Father.  When in trouble, they took care 

of her.  They took Nana's wrath to protect her, tutored her into the wee 

hours of the morning to get her through the math and let her cry on their 

shoulders when it hurt. Mom worked all the hours she could to make ends 

meet and Natalie picked up the slack.  Their time together was always so 

measured, but the love unconditional.  Richie was off to college when the 

fire broke out in the attic.  Natalie, the late night student smelled smoke.  

Theressa remembered it like it was yesterday.  "Theressa get up!  Get up!  

There is a fire!"  Natalie screamed as she shook her sister's  shoulders.  

Slowly coming awake Natalie forced her out of bed and down the stairs.  

"Go!" she screamed at Theressa as she came by their Mother's room.  "I'll 

get Mom and Nana."  Terrified beyond reason seeing the fire spread 

through the ceiling, Theressa fled out the front door.  Natalie flew into her 

Mother's room in a panic.  "Fire!  Mother wake up!  It's a fire!"  Coming 

awake quickly Ruth Ann Lambert grabbed her robe and daughter's hand 

and flew down the stairs.   



"We must get Nana Natalie?  You get your sister!  I'll get Nana!"  She 

shoved Natalie ahead of her as the whole house seem to erupt into flames 

around them.  



"She is already out Mom.  I'll help you with Nana!"  Natalie screamed over 

the blaze and they headed for the downstairs bedroom where Nana slept.  

Pushing into the room they noticed the window open and the bed empty.  

The fire sirens could be heard for blocks.  "She's gone Mom!  We have to 

get out too!"  They started for the open window when the beam collapsed 

over their heads.  Theressa could her their screams even now as the 

neighbor and Nana held her close preventing her from running into the 

house.  The firemen came and broke through the window carry Natalie's 

limp body out the window first, followed by her Mother covered in sever 

burns.  In a sheer panic Theressa broke away to be with her sister and 

Mother.  



It was strange she could not remember much of the next few days as they 

waited for Natalie to regain consciousness and  see if her Mother would 

live.  On the 3rd day Natalie awoke screaming.  They had to sedate the 

young 17 year old to calm her down.  Theressa only left her side to check 

on her Mother while Nana sat with  Ruth Anne.  When Natalie saw her 

Mother for the first time and how bad the burns, she collapsed into the 

Doctors arms.  Throughout the following months of reconstructive surgery 

and the pain, Natalie stood by her Mother.  Encouraging her, pushing her, 

and holding them all together.  The year after the fire Natalie was accepted 

to Berkley as a pre-med. candidate with a full scholarship and Ruth Anne 

Lambert succumbed to repetitive infections caused from her burns ending 

in acute viral pneumonia.  Theressa was 12 at the time.  Remembering her 

sister's grief on that day was implanted in her memory forever as Natalie 

tried to shut the world out.  Refusing to leave her sister in her 

Grandmother's care Natalie took Theressa to California with her.  They left 

Montreal only 2 months after their Mother passed away.  



The years that followed brought them even closer together as Richie went 

on to law school and Natalie to Med School.  Never missing a Christmas or 

Holiday.  They were always together.  Theressa wanted for nothing.  

Natalie was on full scholarship plus worked a night job.  She thrived on the 

night and  the hours.  Never sharing her inner self with anyone, not even 

Theressa.  It was as if she was obsessed with finding an answer to a 

question that no one had asked.  Theressa suspected work was Natalie's 

balm to heal the scars left from the fire. Many a night she could remember 

Natalie's screams as she awoke from the nightmares ending with the 

uncontrolled sobbing.  Theressa  tried to console her but she was pushed 

away. 



******************************************





Theressa felt almost a sense of relief as she laid the confirmation letter 

down on her desk.  It was time for the sisters to put the past behind them. 

This time no one-- man or woman-- would come between them.  She would 

be in Toronto on the 10th and her new life would start from there.  



    					PART   ( 3/14)



Tracy and Daniel approached the scene from 8th Street with  lights 

flashing.  A petite brunette sat on the curb holding the head of a blonde 

man trying to stop the bleeding.  Tracy approached her carefully with her 

weapon drawn while Daniel checked the scene.  The woman sat quietly 

rocking back and forth while she cried.  She knew he was gone.   Tracy 

checked the body and motioned to Daniel that an ambulance was not 

necessary.  



"Miss...did you see who did this?"  Tracy tried to get her to stop rocking 

the dead man and look at her.  As if she were somewhere else finally 

coming back to Earth, the girl saw Tracy through her tears.  



Pointing her finger toward the alley.  "He,  He,  went down the alley.  I 

gave him my purse and he just shot Thomas anyway."  She began to weep 

again cradling his body in her arms.  Tracy started down the alley in the 

opposite direction that Daniel disappeared earlier.  They alley was dark 

and filled with dumpsters on both sides.  The alley was a dead end.  She 

approached cautiously using the dumpsters as cover.  A sharp flash behind 

the end dumpster caused her to pull back just in time.  The bullet 

ricocheted off the wall behind her head.



"Metro Police!!  Throw out you weapon and no one will hurt you!  You 

cannot get out of this alley without going past me, so give it up now."  She 

got two more bullets over her head for her efforts.  Tracy pulled and fired 

around the dumpster as she ran to the other side of the street, not feeling as 

confident as she sounded.  The gunshots brought back memories of the 

locker room.  She shook them off as she dove for cover on the opposite side 

of the alley.  Two more shots followed close behind her.  The distinct click 

of an empty chamber followed the last two shots.  Was it possible he was 

without another clip?  Could she take that chance?



"That is it!  Your mine now.  We can do this the hard way or the easy way.  

Which do you want?"  Tracy edged her shoulder out from behind the 

dumpster awaiting a bullet if he possessed another clip.  A gun was thrown 

into the alley in front of her. A blonde youth approximately 18 yrs. old 

stepped into the alley.



"I give up!"  He sounded scared as he stepped into the only light in the 

alley.  Tracy stepped forward gun in position to meet him face to face.  As 

she stepped forward he lunged sideways sweeping her legs which  

eliminated any shot for Tracy as she fell hard to the ground.  She rolled but 

to late.  His knife came toward her throat as he pulled her to a standing 

position.



"Pretty little blondie want to party?"  He smiled and placed pressure onto 

the blade.  "You look like a good time just waiting to happen."  He grabbed 

her breast from behind and pulled her hard into his body.  



Daniel came into the alley as the man pulled Tracy into his body and out of 

the light.  Sensing movement at the end of the alley the youth turned Tracy 

in front of him as a shield.  "I will cut her throat cop!  One more foot and 

she will join that bastard  on the street in la la land."  Daniel froze in place 

not wanting to push the young man to far.  "Do you understand me PIG!  

Come into the light where I can see you."  All the time forcing Tracy back 

further into the alley with him.



"I understand you quite well.  No one needs to get hurt here!"  Daniel 

walked into the light so the young man could see him clearly.  "I am 

putting my gun up!  See!"  He placed his revolver back in its holster under 

his jacket holding both hands up as he spoke.  Daniel concentrated on his 

voice and the assailants heartbeat as he spoke pushing his will outward to 

the youth.  "You don't want to do this.  You do not want to hurt the pretty 

lady.  PUT DOWN THE KNIFE!"  It was a command not a question as the 

youth began to repeat everything Daniel said.  Realizing the youth's 

confusion Tracy felt the release in pressure on her throat as the knife 

dropped an inch.  Daniel was hypnotizing the young man.  "PUT DOWN 

THE KNIFE ON THE GROUND!"  Daniel's commands were more 

compelling each time.  Immune to any form of hypnotic suggestion, Tracy 

grabbed the young man's arm and pulled the knife away from her throat 

stepping out of his grasp. In a rush of wind, the blonde boy lay flat on the 

street with Daniel astride his back adding handcuffs to the boys attire.



Turning toward Tracy, slightly winded, Daniel jerked the youth to his feet. 

"Are you okay Trace?"  Gold flecks edge his eyes as Tracy stood motionless 

in the alley.  Three uniform officers ran toward the trio standing at the rear 

of the alley.  



Daniel shoved the youth toward the officers as Tracy continued to stare, 

trying to rationalize what just happened.  "Book him!  We will be there 

shortly."  Daniel turned the blonde youth over to the officers while 

grabbing Tracy's other arm.  He forced her away from the officers toward 

the end of the alley for privacy.



"Let go of my arm Daniel!"  She pulled her arm quickly away from him 

stopping in the middle of the alley.  "You want to explain that little trick to 

me!  Or am I suppose to wait until you fly off into the air or your fangs 

drop?  Or how about how you eat real food and walk in the sunlight?  Or 

maybe you would like to explain to me why you have a heartbeat?"  She 

waited for an answer as her anger began to build.  "Jump right in anytime 

you feel like answering buster or I am going in search of a wooden stack 

and a cross.  Which one do you prefer?"  Something was not right here.  

Daniel could not be a vampire.  She had eaten breakfast with him at 8:00 

am at the Terrrace Restaurant outside.  She chose the place just to assure 

herself that everyone she met was not a vampire.  What was he? How was 

this possible?  What she saw in his eyes was vampire.  The control and 

hypnotic suggestions were vampire traits.  The speed was vampire.  Not as 

fast as Nick but still not human.



Daniel was stunned.  She knew about vampires!  That meant Nick must 

have trusted her with his secret.  It had to be true.  Nick was the vampire 

he sought.  After 50 years of searching, thousands of questions, hundreds 

of sleepless nights as he fled from both humans and vampires, the answers 

he sought were at hand.  He really liked this girl.  She was tough, bright, 

fearless and emtional all rolled up into one and obviously trustworthy.  

Surely  Knight would not trust a mere mortal because he worked with her.  

He married a mortal for Christ's sake.  He had to be the one he sought.  A 

true vampire could not work so closely with mortals and marry one if he 

did not possess both mortal and vampire traits.  



"It is not what you think Trace!"  Daniel touched her arms that were now 

wrapped around her chest in self defense.  She pulled away from his touch 

as if he were contaminated.



"I am a resistor Daniel, so your HYPNO trick will not work on me!   The 

TRUTH  Daniel!  I want the TRUTH!"  She seemed hurt as well as angry.



Frantic not to lose Tracy's trust he tried to explain. "My Father was a 

vampire and my Mother a mortal.  I am both.  The Enforcers killed my 

Father because they thought he was betraying the community  and they 

tried killing my Mother to prevent me from being born.  They left her for 

dead in an alley like this one almost 81 years ago.  I was born that night 

and we went into hiding for over 70 years."  Daniel looked at Tracy to see 

if he was getting through to her.  It was imperative he have her support if 

he was to get anywhere close to Nick.



"So you come to Toronto to seek out others like yourself?  Or did you have 

something more evil in mind?"

Tracy stepped closer to Daniel almost nose to nose with him showing no 

fear.  "Are you a hunter Daniel?"



"A hunter!  No way!  Trace I do not have the strength or the powers of a 

vampire.  I just want answers as to what I am.  My Mother only new my  

Father a year before he was killed.  She was mortal or mostly mortal when 

I was born.  I could not go to another vampire to answer my questions or a 

mortal either.  I'm not either one.  My blood is so different that when I go 

to the Doctor for anything I get more questions than answers, yet I am a 

threat to the vampire community just because I carry mortal impurities in 

my blood.  I have been searching for 50 years to find someone like me.  

Someone who might know how to deal with this living between both 

worlds.  How to control the animal in me!  How to stop this insatiable 

desire to kill!  How to stop drinking blood and how to have a normal 

relationship with a woman!"  He looked deep into her eyes for 

understanding.  "I'm tired Trace!  I just want to be normal like everyone 

else!"  Daniel found a box beside the dumpster and sat down heavily.  

Placing his head in his hands in exhaustion he slumped forward.



Kneeling down in front of Daniel, Tracy gently touched his knee to get his 

attention.  "You need blood don't you?"  It was more a statement than a 

question as Daniel raised his head and looked into her blue eyes.  "I will go 

to the Raven and get a couple of bottles.  Can you make it to the car?"



"You would do that for me?" he asked in disbelief.



"What are partners for!" She smiled as she helped him up.  They headed 

for the car as Daniel leaned heavily onto her shoulder.  To the other 

officers it appeared like they were just getting closer acquainted as already 

rumored throughout the precinct. Tracy crawled behind the wheel, starting 

the engine and headed toward the Raven.  "I finally understand why you 

chose Metro Homicide for your first assignment.  Why did you not just go 

to Nick and talk to him?"  Tracy turned questioning eyes to Daniel.



"He is in Europe!  Remember!"  



"Oh, yeah!  Small detail"  She smiled.



"I was not even sure you knew he was a  ........"



"Vampire!  It's okay.  That word has been in my vocabulary for sometime 

now.  I seem to be using it a great deal more here lately."



"It has taken me 3 years to track him here and getting information in the 

community is risky.  The old ones can feel me and the young ones think I 

am mortal, so they protect their own.  The Raven is a pretty rough place for 

a vampire let alone a mortal."



"How did you get Nick's name?"



"I was attacked one night coming out of the Raven by a young blonde 

female vampire.  She was pissed off at LaCroix, the owner of the Raven.  

Apparently Nick and LaCroix go a long way back.  She thought I was a 

hunter so she told me in hopes I would kill Nick in turn hurting LaCroix.  

Apparently he has quite a hold, as well as power, within the Toronto 

community.  The vast majority of them are afraid of LaCroix and indebted 

to Nick.  Do you know why?"



"I do not have a clue Daniel, but Nick is toast if I do not get the right 

answers when he gets  back.  Let's get you some bloodwine and some rest.  

We can sort the rest of it out later!"



---------------------------------------



3 weeks later in the precinct



Daniel walked into the precinct carrying his usual cup of coffee. It seemed 

the older he got the more caffeine he required for the normal everyday 

things.  His blood intake had decreased since his heart to heart talk with 

Tracy.  His need for blood was just not as much.  Maybe it was due to the 

release of all those years of bottled up stress   All he knew was that since 

that night in the alley, he and Trace had become quite close.  Never before 

had he trusted someone with all his secrets and misgivings.  Tracy was 

certain Nick could help him sort out his problems.  She was extremely 

closed mouthed about information about Nick .  Her only excuse- was 

information about Nick should come from Nick.  End of discussion.  Was it 

lack of trust in him or respect for Nick?  Daniel could not decide.  Nick 

and Natalie were due back at the end of the week according to their 

postcard to Trace.  Daniel knew she missed both of them just from the way 

she talked periodically.  He only hoped someday she would miss him when 

he was gone.  Tracy breezed through the door throwing her coat on the 

hook by her desk in one single motion.



"Hi Daniel!"  She took the coffee offered to her by Carlyle as he walked by 

her desk.  Carlyle

always took care of her when she entered the door.  If she had not known 

he was a happily married man  her suspicious side would have taken over 

long before now.  "I heard on the radio Castle Frank had a big explosion in 

the warehouse district.  Everyone in the department was called in.  Over 20 

bodies so far!"  Curiosity laced into her voice.



"You don't think we have enough work of our own to do Trace?"



"No---I did not say that.  I just figured we would not get the prelims on the 

DeSoto case anytime soon, because they would pull Jerry back to Castle 

Frank to cover the body count.  And we know speed is not his best feature."



Natalie walked into the main hall carrying an arm load of files as Jeannie 

and Carlyle greeted her with surprise.  "Obviously France agreed with you 

girl!  Or was it Nick?"  Jeannie hugged Natalie being careful not to cause 

her to drop the files.



"Both I think Jeannie!"  A radiant smiled crossed Natalie's face as she saw 

Tracy and a handsome young man sitting at Nick's desk. 



Tracy's back was to Natalie so she did not see her approach.  Daniel sat 

staring over Tracy shoulder at Natalie who was all smiles.  "You know 

Trace,  Dr. Lambert is much prettier than her picture!"  Daniel pointed to 

the picture on Nick's desk of the both of them at Christmas last year.



"And how would you know that? Or are you psychic or something?"  Tracy 

raised a skeptically eyebrow.



Daniel stood up to take the files from Natalie.  "Daniel Trent-Dr. 

Lambert!"  He relieved her of the folders and reached for her hand at the 

same time.  Tracy turned to face Natalie completely surprised.



"Nat-Your Back!"  Tracy jumped up to hug Natalie.  "I thought you were 

not coming back till Friday?  Let me look at you.  God you look fantastic!  

You have been in the sun!  Where is Nick?  How was France?"



"Stop!  Stop!" Natalie held up her hand for Tracy to slow down.  "Yes we 

are back. No we were not coming back to work till Friday but.....  Yes I 

was in the sun.  Nick is trying to get everything turned on at the loft and 

France was fantastic!"  Finally taking a deep breathe she smiled at Trace.  

"We missed you too!"  She turned to Daniel who stood awkwardly beside 

Nick's desk.  "You must be Tracy's partner while Nick was gone!  Daniel 

was it?"



"Yes, Daniel Dr. Lambert.  Or should I call you  Dr. Knight?"



"Natalie will do fine Daniel.  I see you have kept her in one piece for six 

weeks.  That is sometimes a trial!"  Natalie smiled at Tracy waiting for her 

response.



"That was uncalled for!  You know how laid back I am most of the time 

Nat.!"  They both burst out laughing.  "Jerry whined enough for Morgan to 

call you in and you of course could not resist his begging on the phone.... 

right?"



"Right!  Besides I did not really want to be in the loft with Nick and 

Sydney while they got reacquainted again.  I swear Nick really needs to get 

a dog or something.,  Cats are not his thing and Sydney is very protective 

of me!   It is kind of cute sometimes.  Nick does not see it that way though!  

They pulled Jerry back to Castle Frank for the body count.  I took one look 

at the files and decided to bring them up to you before Nick gets in.  The 

DeSoto file is on the top.  When I get a few minutes I go over the body 

again.  Something missing.  I cannot put my finger on it."



"Is Nick coming in tonight?"



"Probably after he gets everything turned back on at the loft.  We just got 

in late last night and crashed.  We tarped everything down and shut 

everything off before we left.  He will probably be in by Midnight knowing 

Nick, especially after he hears about the bombing.  Well,  I had better get 

back to work.  Why don't you stop by the loft for breakfast before going 

home.  We have some great pictures to show you."  Natalie's pager went off 

as they spoke and Captain Reese stuck his head out of the office.  



"Natalie.....Glad your back."  He pointed to her pager.  "That is Morgan 

telling you they are shipping bodies to you from Castle Frank.  They are up 

to 30 now.  Hope your well rested.  Please tell me Nick is here or coming 

in tonight as well!"



"Later tonight Captain!   He getting the loft opened back up first.  

Midnight would be my guess.  Guess I better get back to the morgue right 

away then.!"



"By the way....You look Great!  Nick must agree with you!  Welcome 

back!"



"Thanks CAP!   And yes he does!  See you guys later!  Your welcome to 

come to Daniel if you want to see the pictures!"   She waved and headed 

back to the morgue.



Daniel sat speechless as Natalie walked away.  Tracy snapped her fingers 

in front of his face.  "Earth to Daniel!"  Daniel finally closed his mouth 

and brought his attention back to Tracy.



"She is incredible!  Bright, beautiful and nice too!   I thought she might be 

a little more aloof!"



"You had better not let Nick see that look in your eye when you describe 

her or you will be wearing that stupid look somewhere else besides on your 

face.   He does not hide the little green monster very well."



"I didn't mean anything by it Trace!  I ...just didn't expect here to be so 

nice.  She doesn't even know me and she invited me to her house.  What do 

you think Nick will say?"



"If  I did not know better Daniel, I would say you are nervous about 

meeting Nick!" 



Daniel took immense interest in his shoes as Tracy walked around the desk 

and sat down on his desk.

"You are nervous about meeting Nick!!!"



"What if he won't help me!  He could turn me over to the Enforcers or tell 

me to take a hike or rip my throat out or....."

"Stop!  What are you doing to yourself.  This is Nick we are talking about!  

Nick Knight, defender of the public, always does the right thing, cares 

what people think, would give you the shirt off his back, blames himself 

when things go wrong, beat the crap out of anyone who would hurt a 

woman and give his life for yours without even knowing you.  

Daniel....Nick is a nice guy!  He will listen to you and help you if he can."  

She made Daniel look in her eyes.  "I know Nick!  He can be a pain at 

times and is horrible with paperwork but I trust him with my life and so 

should you!"



Daniel smiled.  "Old habits are hard to break.  I hope you are right!"  

Daniel grabbed Tracy's coat and his own.  "We had better get those 

interview done tonight before the Captain gives us anymore cases."



-----------------------------------



LaCroix walked downstairs into the Raven stopping frequently to listen 

and to feel.  Nicholas was back.  He could feel his wayward son.  Odd the 

connection seem to be getting weaker.  The good Doctor again as usual.  It 

would appear that Nicholas needed further lessons in the subservient 

demeanor of a good son.  He would have a talk with him this evening.  He 

would see if Nicholas would come to him on his own or if he would be 

forced to make him see the error of  his ways.



------------------------------------



Nick walked into the precinct  a few minutes after Midnight.  Nelson and 

Garvey sat at their desks. "Well, look who is back!  The Knightmare 

himself.  Married life must agree with you Nick!  Is that color I see on your 

face.  How is the old ball and chain?"



"I don't think Nat would see the humor in that remark Shawn, and her 

equalizers have sharp points on them!  I would be careful if I were you."  

Shawn grabbed Nick's hand.  "We are glad your back.  Your partner has 

been training the rookie, so the Captain has lightened your load for 6 

weeks.  We may never see the light at this rate till the year 2000."



"Knight!  In my office!"  Captain Reese seemed harried. Shutting the door 

behind Nick, Reese sat down heavily into his swivel chair.  "I hope you are 

well rested because it is a mad house here!"  Reese looked at Nick hard for 

the first time.  "My God Nick!  You have a suntan!!!"



Nick smiled at the Captain reaction.  "Scary Huh!"     



"Natalie's handiwork I suppose?"



"It would appear she is good at many things CAP.  I can vouch for more 

than one!"  Nick smiled until Reese stuck two files in his hand.



"Murder on Fourth & Elm. Callahan Case. Unidentified body on 3rd. Same 

MO.  I think we have a serial here!  Answers Nick.  I need answer now 

before more bodies show up.  You and Tracy are keeping Trent till the end 

of the month.  He needs the experience and you both need the manpower.  

Go easy on him Nick.  He is young, but bright.  I don't want him scared off 

with your workload or "gung-ho" attitude.  He needs a little 

seasoning....slowly.   I repeat slowly!  Do you read me?"



"Right CAP!"  Nick flipped through the files as he walked out the door.



"By the way Nick.  Welcome Back!"



Nick walked out of the Captain office as Tracy and Daniel entered the 

room.  "Nick!  My God you have a tan!"  Tracy threw her arms around 

Nick's neck.  "Let me look at you.  I thought Nat looked great but I see 

right now I have to make a trip to France next week!  Either that or find 

the right man!  I missed you guys."  Tracy let go as she felt Nick stiffen 

following his view to Daniel.

"Daniel Trent-Nick!  I have heard a great deal about you!"  Daniel stuck 

his hand toward Nick.  Nick accepted his hand letting himself feel Daniel 

for what he was.  A skeptical look crossed his face as he moved sideways to 

Daniel. Not really allowing Daniel to come any closer.  Nick could feel his 

presents, the vampire within as well as his heartbeat.  Enemy or hunter 

both images crossing his mind together.  Was Tracy aware?



"It's not what you think Nick!"



Looking over the squad room and possible complications, Nick picked up 

two files from Tracy's desk. "I think we should finish these interview 

tonight?  Don't you Trace!"  Not even looking at the files Nick headed for 

the door.  Tracy grabbed Daniel's hand pulling him with her out the door 

after Nick.



In the parking lot out of earshot of the general public Nick stopped dead in 

his tracks for Tracy and Daniel to catch up and then let his senses drift to 

Daniel.  "What do you want Daniel?"



"Nick!  His Father was a vampire and his Mother a mortal.  Like you and 

Nat!"  Nick glared at Tracy for that admission--not believing her 

willingness to impart their secrets to this stranger.  Daniel made no move 

to get any closer to Nick.  Almost as if her were frightened of Nick's 

answer.  "He needs your help!.  Yours and Natalie's!"



"You can feel me?"   Daniel said in awe.  "Only the old ones can feel me.   

How old are you?"  Having finally found his tongue he could not seem to 

get all the questions out.



Nick uncertain of what he felt from this young man and leery from past 

experiences with half-casts refused to take his eyes off him.  "Are you a 

hunter Daniel or just naive as Tracy would have me believe?"



"A hunter!  No..No.."  Daniel stepped toward Nick when he noticed the 

quick change in Nick's eyes to Gold and stopped.  "My Father was killed by 

the Enforcers because he was a threat to the community.  They tried to kill 

my Mother before I was born, but they did not succeed.  She kept me in 

hiding for almost 70 years!!! She died about 5 years ago.  She could not 

help me with what I am.  She had a few vampire traits but she did not 

know how to use them.  She only knew that I had them and the Enforcers 

would kill me if they found out where we were.  I need to know what I am 

and learn how to change it or at least live with it.  I need help from 

someone who can understand what it is I feel and make me mortal or at 

least try!"



After years of struggle with his own personal doubts, Nick readily 

recognized the traits in Daniel.  "I am 802 years old!  And yes, I can feel 

you."  Nick approached Daniel slowly offering him his hand.  "I don't 

know if I can help you Daniel, but I will try.  As you will note, I still 

struggle with numerous problems of my own but Nat and I are making 

progress."



With a sigh of relief  Daniel accepted Nick's hand.  "I will settle for 

anything I can get right know."



-----------------------------------------------

					PART ( 4/14)



At the loft:



Natalie sat with Tracy on the sofa going over every picture from Paris she 

had while Nick stoked up the fire again.  Daniel stood behind the women 

admiring the French girls in each picture.  The pictures from Belgium 

were Natalie's favorites.  Nick watched the crew from a distance while 

preparing breakfast.  Natalie had managed to teach him how to make 

omelets with mild success because eggs seemed to be the only food he ever 

really tasted.  True most foods did not make him ill anymore but he 

honestly could not say he liked the taste of anything but eggs.  Natalie 

spent hours going through French cookbooks finding recipes with eggs.  In 

six weeks, she had found at least 45 recipes that Nick actually would eat 

and ask for seconds.  They were making progress!  He smiled as he 

whipped the omelets.  Daniel becoming bored with the girl talk, pictures 

and trip memorabilia offered to help.



"You seem to be pretty handy in the kitchen!  Need some help?"  Daniel 

was still not quite certain how to take Nick.  What he felt between Nick 

and Natalie was almost palatable.  Their feelings for each other were 

beyond his comprehension.  He had never allowed himself to become close 

to a woman before.  Tracy was as close as he dared go at least in the 

emotion department. But Nick and Natalie's relationship was what he 

dreamed about..actually prayed for every night since he discovered his 

fangs.  A normal relationship.  Love, respect, honor and hope in a future 

together.  That was the word TOGETHER!  They were as if two parts 

making a whole.  When they were together it was right.  You could feel it. 

Everyone around them could feel it.



"Actually it's Nat's idea.  She was getting tired of doing all the cooking.  

And there are just so many ways you can fix eggs.  Believe me!  We have 

tried them all."  Nick smiled as his gazed went back to Tracy and Nat on 

the sofa.



"Eggs are the only thing that have any taste right?"  Daniel drew Nick's 

attention back to the job at hand.



"Yeah!  Everything else tastes like cardboard.  But at least I am not 

throwing it up any longer.  I couldn't say that 3 months ago."



"My Mother never could understand that.  She said my Father was the 

same way, but he never got past the throwing up stage.  So she always 

fixed eggs with every meal. At least she was sure I would eat something on 

the table.  The neighbors just thought we were vegetarians or something, 

because we ate so many."  The phone rang and Nick became extremely 

tense which Natalie sensed immediately and stopped in mid-sentence as 

Nick picked up the phone.



Switching to fluent French Nick answered the phone knowing who was on 

the other end.  Natalie waited patiently for Nick to finish knowing full well 

the outcome of the conversation.  Concern crossed Nick's face as she 

watched him closely.  He placed the receiver down as Natalie reached his 

side.



"Don't go Nick!  Make him come to you!"  He pulled her into his arms till 

her head rested on his shoulder.  "It's almost dawn.  He will try to make 

you stay the day!  You know that!"  She gazed into his blue eyes trying to 

make him understand her fears.



"I know!! But this is the last place I want him now."  Nick looked at Tracy 

and Daniel.  "And he is not really overjoyed with you either since your 

little encounter...." He placed a kiss on Natalie forehead and broke the 

embrace.  "It's better for all of us this way."  He turned as he picked up his 

coat heading for the lift.  "And I have and hour window he does not know 

about!"  Stepping into the lift, he completed his thought.  "Trace you and 

Daniel stay here until I find out what the word is about Daniel in the 

community!"  Natalie walked over to the lift stopping the door as Nick 

began to close it.  "I am a little old for a baby-sitter Nick!"



Nick pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently.  Never taking his eyes 

off hers.  "Humor me!   Please!"



Pulling his lips back to hers, she held him closely.  "Be back in 2 hours or I 

storm the Raven! Stake in hand with Joan's cross over there!"



"Promise!"  Nick reluctantly let her go and closed the door.



"What is it Nat?  Where is Nick going this close to dawn?"



"LaCroix!"  Worry etched into her brow, Natalie went back to the kitchen 

to finish the omelets Nick started.



-----------------------------



Dawn was but 30 minutes away as Nick landed softly outside the Raven.  

LaCroix had not shown up in France to cause trouble.  That in itself was a  

surprise to  Nick.  He did not delude himself into thinking LaCroix had 

given up trying to control him.  If he had not come, LaCroix would have 

come to the loft.  With Daniel, Tracy and Natalie there, it had disaster 

written all over it.  This was better for everyone involved.  He knew that, 

just as he knew LaCroix was outraged.  Nick opened the door and entered 

the main room, lit only by the lights  over the long  bar.  LaCroix sat at the 

end drinking a glass of blood.



"Good of you to come, Nicholas!"  He downed the entire contents before 

continuing.  "I see you have made progress with your little quest."  His 

words laced with controlled anger.



"What do you want LaCroix?"  Nick made no pretense at being pleased to 

be there.  In a flash , Nick found himself thrown hard against the wall 

shattering the mirror over the bar as well as several of his ribs.  LaCroix 

held him a foot off the floor placing the palm of his hand in Nick's  ribcage 

forcing several of his ribs to puncture his lung. 



"You have become weak Nicholas.  This obsession of yours is draining 

your powers and attracting the wrong type of people to the community."  

Tossing Nick across the room over several tables into the stage, LaCroix let 

his anger have free rein and attacked his son.  



Nick, recognizing the rage in LaCroix, tried to avoid him as much as 

possible, but with LaCroix's age and Nick's inability to breathe, his efforts 

soon proved futile.  Having fought for centuries, each having  almost killed 

the other on several occasions, they proceeded to destroy the Raven.  Nick 

was no match for LaCroix unless enraged, and he was in too much pain 

and confused to manage that state of mind.  Suffering from internal 

injuries and broken bones Nick collapsed under LaCroix, barely able to 

breathe.  "Finish it!  It is the only thing that will release YOU and ME!"  

Gaining some control, LaCroix realized he had a stake in his hand. Nick 

lay beneath him bleeding and broken.  "It is the only way you will ever 

control me!  That is what you want isn't it ?  Power over me!  To hurt me, 

make me dependent upon you so you won't be alone."  LaCroix dropped the 

stake and stood shakily over Nick.  "That's it isn't LaCroix, your afraid of 

being alone!  Afraid to let go and feel again!  Afraid to live or love because 

you will eventually be alone again.  Like Divinia to strong to die yet never 

really living."  Rapidly losing strength from the loss of blood and the 

internal bleeding, Nick managed to pull his battered body to the nearest  

wall.  Each breathe becoming more difficult than the last.



LaCroix completely in control now casually assessed the damage he 

managed to afflict on his son.  "Your good Doctor has managed to pollute 

your blood with hers I see.  I do hope in this exchange you imparted some 

of your shall we say 'good qualities' to her." LaCroix took knife from his 

pocket and sliced his wrist.  As the blood began to flow freely, he offered it 

to Nicholas while he sat on the floor.



"Take it Nicholas or you will not last the day!"



Looking at LaCroix in disgust, Nick pushed his arm away and managed to 

pull himself up using the bar as support.  "Why?  More control?  Do you 

honestly think after all these centuries I would ever let you possess me!  

Isn't that why you have tortured me all these years.  Because I was the one 

who would fight back.  You closed yourself off to everything else you felt 

except this desire to possess what you couldn't have!"  Nick started toward 

the door as the sun began to shine through the triangular pane in the 

window in the door.  "I feel sorry for you LaCroix.  When you had the 

chance, you choose poorly!"



Not believing his son would be foolish enough to walk uncovered into the 

sun, but uncertain of Nicholas ability to be rational at that moment, 

LaCroix used his vampire speed to stop Nick before he walked into the 

sunlight.  Nick looked at his father, first in disgust and then amazement as 

he saw the sunlight scorch LaCroix's hand as he held him up.  Nick pulled 

himself free from LaCroix gently and walked into the sunlight.  Turning 

around in the sunlight unharmed, a smile crossed his beaten face.  "Maybe 

there is hope for you yet MY FRIEND!" Nick pushed the door and stepped 

out into the dawn.



Natalie paced the floor relentlessly as the sun began to shine through the 

windows.  Judging the hour by the height of the sun, she became more 

agitated by the minute.  Tracy tried chatting about the office gossip, but to 

no avail.  She sent Daniel to the car to check the radio for any news of a 

disturbance at the Raven.  Daniel switched off the police ban after about 10 

minutes, when nothing had been reported.  He walked toward the lift when 

he heard a loud thud at the entrance.  Turning around he saw Nick collapse 

against his car and slide toward the floor.  Daniel caught him before he hit 

the floor of the garage.  His action elicited a loud groan from Nick, as he 

tried to steady him against the nearest wall.



"Gees, you look like Hell, Nick!"  Daniel tried to get him to sit down before 

he fell.  "I better get Natalie!"



"NO!  Daniel Please!  Not Yet!  She will go crazy if she sees me like this.  

Just wait a few minutes.  Then we can go!  Okay?"  Nick held Daniel's arm 

tightly trying to get him to understand.  He began coughing pink foam as 

he labored to breathe.



"He did that to you because of me?"  Daniel was terrified by the thought 

that his presence had caused Nick this much pain.



"Not hardly!  LaCroix and I have this little on going discussion frequently.  

As of late it takes a little longer to overcome the consequences!"



"But I thought he was your master?"



Anger flared in Nick's eyes as he grabbed Daniel's collar bringing him 

nose to nose with his golden eyes.  "NO ONE is my master!!"  Nick 

released Daniel and struggled to his feet.



"Nick... I didn't mean...."



Nick turned toward the confused young man.  "I'm sorry Daniel!  I over-

reacted."  Nick looked at his clothes and his broken arm that he held close 

to his ribs.  "It has not been a great day so far and I guess I am a little 

sensitive to that remark." Nick looked at the lift with longing and dread.  

He knew what Nat's reaction to seeing him like this would be, but he 

needed blood and he needed his several of his ribs out of his lung if he 

were to breathe normal again.  "I think maybe I could use your help in 

getting upstairs, if you don't mind a few blood stains on that new jacket!"  

He tried to smile as Daniel put an arm around his waist to help him into 

the lift.



Natalie heard the lift kick on.  Praying it was Nick, she started for the door.  

Daniel pulled open the lift door with one hand holding his arm around 

Nick's waist with the other.



Seeing Nick's condition would have been enough to make the true die-hard 

surgeons step back, but Natalie had seen him worse.  She gently touched 

his face and held him close for a few seconds, just relieved to have him 

alive.  Nick put his good arm around her waist and held her close to calm 

her fears.  He looked into her eyes.  "I need blood Nat!"  He coughed more 

pink foam as he labored to breathe.



"You need more than that!  You have  at least one punctured lung!"  The 

doctor in her taking over, she assessed his condition.  "You look like death 

warmed over, Nick!  I think your ribs are still in you lungs.  Can you feel 

them?  Sharp pains with each breathe!" He shook his head affirmative. " 

Daniel, help me get him upstairs will you?  Trace you grab the bloodwine 

out of the frig."  Daniel and Nat helped Nick to bed.  She pulled off the 

ripped blood soaked shirt and tossed it on the floor.  He was loosing 

consciousness quickly.  His wounds were healing, but slowly and he was 

bleeding internally.  His breathing was labored and his arm broken.  6 

months ago he would have been healed within a half hour, but with her 

mortal blood flowing in his veins his metabolism had slowed down 

considerably.  "Nick, I am going to have to set your ribs so you can 

breathe.  I will have Daniel hold you down so it doesn't hurt as much!"



"Just do it, Nat!"  Pain racked his body as he spoke.  



Daniel held Nick's shoulders as Nat set his ribs and arm.  "Stay with me 

Nick!  Come on.  Don't you pass out on me."  She reached for the 

bloodwine to get him to drink.  He managed to drink only a little but it 

seemed to have little reaction on his system.  He needed her blood.  He 

needed the vampire and the mortal blood as well as her warmth.  "Nick you 

need my blood!"  She took a scalpel out of  her bag and sliced her wrist 

placing it over his mouth as it began to bleed. 



Nick pushed her wrist away with his good arm, clamping off the blood 

flow.  "NO, Natalie!"



His eyes locked with hers.  "You don't want to feel this!  Please!"  He 

reached for her.  Gently pulling her into his arms.  "It was not very pretty 

and I got the worst end of the deal, but the Raven is trashed if that makes 

you feel better."  He took a deep breathe which caused him to start 

coughing again.  Each spasm caused him to double in pain till his body 

couldn't resist any longer and he fell into blissful unconsciousness.



Natalie bound up her arm and went to her little black bag.  Hurriedly she 

placed a shunt into her arm and connected it to an IV tube set.  She placed 

a long needle at the end of the tub and inserted it into Nick stomach.  He 

was trying to protect her from the images with LaCroix.  She opened the 

valve on the line letting her blood flow into Nick's stomach directly as the 

tears seemed to flow unchecked.



Tracy and Daniel stood quietly at the foot of the bed.  "Nat!  Can you judge 

how much you are giving him that way?  You won't do him much good if 

you pass out from lack of blood!"  Natalie seemed oblivious to anything 

Tracy said.  Tracy became concerned, reached across the bed and crimped 

the line causing Natalie to come back to the present.  "You have to stop 

now Natalie!"  Tracy spoke to her gently but firmly.



"He needs more!"  But her words were beginning to slur.



Tracy pulled the needle out of Nick's stomach and Natalie's arm as Natalie 

fell face forward onto the bed beside Nick.  "Great!  Now what do we do?"  

Tracy looked at Daniel for an answer. Daniel checked Natalie's pulse and 

Nick's breathing.  Both were returning to normal.



"I think they will be all right.  Nick is breathing better and Natalie's 

heartrate is  strong.  It was just the loss of blood so quickly that caused her 

to blackout.   You keep an eye on them, I am going to get something for 

her to eat when she wakes up."





Natalie sat up slowly trying to clear her head.  Tracy tried to steady her 

until she was sitting beside Nick  comfortably.  Daniel returned bearing a 

frothy orange concoction.  "Drink this all at once!"

He shoved the glass in Natalie's hand.



"Do I want to know what it is first?"



"It is what my Mother always drank after she gave me blood when I got 

hurt.  She said it took care of the vampire and the mortal cravings all in 

one step.    It's orange juice with raw egg."



Natalie grimaced at the idea but downed the contents anyway.  "I need a 

little IV glucose push.  I think I let the blood flow a little too fast!"  She 

smiled weakly at Trace and Daniel.  As she spoke she realized the drink 

Daniel had given her seemed to be having an effect as her dizziness 

disappeared.  She held up the glass.  "I think your little concoction is 

working.  You think maybe another hit would help?"  She handed the glass 

back to Daniel.



"Coming right up!" Daniel bounded out of the room to fix another.



When Natalie turned towards Trace, faint gold flecks were entering her 

eyes.  "Natalie what's happening?"  Uncertain as what to do next Trace 

came closer to Nat who turned to check Nick's breathing.



Recognizing the effect of giving blood to Nick either willingly or by force, 

Natalie quickly turned away from Tracy.  "His breathing is much better 

now."  She occupied herself with checking Nick from top to bottom in 

hopes that her condition would dissipate.



"Natalie!  Look at me!" Tracy turned Natalie by the shoulders.  Shocked to 

see Natalie's eyes golden and her fangs dropped, Tracy stepped back.  

"What is happening Natalie!"



"It's okay Trace!  Really!  It's my body's reaction to giving blood to Nick.  

Either willingly or unwillingly!  The reaction is the same."



"It makes you want to kill?"



Shocked by Tracy's assumption of the worse.  "NO!  It makes me crave his 

blood--to be part of him.  To make us one with each other.  I  can't explain 

it Trace.  It's not only mental it is physical.  I need him.  I need his blood to 

stop the burning in mine.  The sharing of blood is sexual to vampires and 

in case you had not noticed, Nick is a full fledged vampire and I am 

becoming one slowly."  Not ashamed by her admission of what was 

happening, she looked to Tracy for understanding.



"Will mine help you?"



Astonished at Tracy remark and understanding, she continued  "Only his 

blood will put out the fire in mine Trace.  But your offer is non-the-less 

appreciated." Natalie smiled and even with fangs and golden eyes, she was 

beautiful.  She placed her hand on Tracy's arm.  "Thanks for being our 

friend Trace... especially mine.  I never realized how much I needed to talk 

to someone about this before."



"What is it like Nat?"  Tracy looked at Nick and then back to Natalie.  "I 

mean to love someone like that?"



Natalie was not sure how to answer the question.  So she tried to put into 

words all that she felt. 



"It is scary, erotic, fulfilling, consuming, frightening, and wonderful 

beyond description!  All those things rolled into one.  When he lets me 

touch him, the real Nick, I feel whole. I feel complete beyond anything I 

have ever felt in my life.  If I had to give him up tomorrow I would die.  It 

is like knowing that you are a part of someone and they are a part of you.  

You can't exist without each other.  When I feel his love for me, the 

warmth envelopes me like a cocoon and  it's the only time I ever feel truly 

safe.  I won't say it is better than sex but it sure adds to the consummation 

process."  Natalie turned back to Nick, as he moaned trying to wake up.



"I envy you both!"  Tracy stated quietly as Nick opened his eyes slowly and 

Daniel entered the room carrying another OJ concoction for Nat.



Nick slowly awoke.  His breathing was back to normal and the aches and 

pains were beginning to fade away as he felt Natalie's blood coursing 

through his veins.  Sweet warmth and love flooded his soul as he became 

conscious with her name on his lips.  "Natalie..." He called her name over 

and over again.



"I'm here Nick!  Just rest."  He could here the stress in her voice.  He knew 

here like he knew himself.



Opening his eyes to Natalie sitting on the bed beside him, he instantly 

knew the problem.  Gently pulling her toward him, he offered her his neck 

and his blood to stop her pain.  Accepting the gift and his love, Natalie 

gently bit his neck taking him into her soul.  His warmth and love stopped 

the burning instantly.  She pushed with her senses for him to release 

himself to her and he did.  The images of  LaCroix and the ensuing battle 

came to her slowly as if he were trying to hold them back from her.  She 

raised her head for a moment, looking into his eyes.  "We said  

TOGETHER, Nick!" He brought her back to his neck to feed and this time 

he held nothing from her.  As she grasped the enormity of the fight and the 

argument as well as the pain she began to cry.  



"He will never let you go Nick!"



Nick pulled her tightly into his arms and let her cry.   They were tears that 

she needed to heal images that assaulted her mind and her heart.  His 

kissed her lips, her cheeks, and her eyes pulling her even closer to him as 

she cried.  Each kiss easing her tortured soul as well as his own.



						PART ( 5/14)



------------------------

Leaving Nick and Natalie to themselves, Daniel and Tracy cleaned up the 

kitchen from Daniel OJ concoctions.  



"Will they be okay Trace?"  Concern written on Daniel's face as he and 

Tracy grabbed their coats heading for the door.



Tracy smiled knowingly.  "They are together Daniel.  They can handle 

anything as long as they have each other.  She put her coat and pushed the 

lift down button.  "You remember you have to drive me back to the station 

to pick up my car?"



"I am part vampire remember!  I remember everything!"  He laughed as 

they headed for his car in front of the loft.



In the car:



Daniel sat quietly driving , deep in his thoughts as Tracy was left to her 

own.  "Care to share what is causing that frown on your face?"



"I was just thinking about Nick!  And Natalie of course, but mostly Nick!  I 

just cannot imagine spending my entire life fighting to be free.  Let alone 

800 years!  He has not told me very much, but if tonight was any inkling of 

what has gone on between him and LaCroix, I am afraid I would have lost 

it years ago.  And  Nick and Natalie together are incredible.  You can just 

feel what is between them when their in the same room together.  She 

knew exactly what he needed and did you see his eyes when he woke up?  

It was like he could feel her and her pain before he was awake.  .......  I 

cannot ever image being that close to anyone.  I want to but I ......"  Regret 

was etched into his face.



"But are you willing to try?"  She almost whispered.



Daniel stopped the car at the stoplight and turned to look Tracy directly in 

the eyes.  Reaching to touch her cheek a tear slipped out of her eye and 

Daniel brushed it away and pulled her into his arms.  



"I think maybe know I have a chance!"  Daniel gently kissed her lips and 

pulled her back into his arms as  Tracy wrapped her arms around his neck 

and buried her face in his shoulder.



---------------------------------

10 days later at the precinct:



Natalie walked into the precinct carrying a small package and several files.  

She stopped by Nick's desk to set the package in the middle.  "Hi Trace!"  

Unusually chipper and almost glowing Nat sat on Nick's desk to visit.  "I 

see you got the bookwork again!"



"My choice this time.  I hate court and Nick hates paperwork, so we traded.  

I think I got the better end of it this time!"  She smiled wickedly.  "The 

Stanton case will take all night unless I miss my guess.  Besides I hate 

having to wear a suit for 8 hours."  Tracy squirmed at the idea causing Nat 

to laugh.



"You should have seen his face when I reminded him he had to wear a tie 

tonight for court!  You know the man can remember things from 800 years 

ago, but when it comes to wearing a tie???  He is brain dead."



"I think it is called selective memory Nat!"  They both laughed causing 

Captain Reese to stick his head out the door.



"Natalie?  Are the prelims done on the March so called suicide?     What's 

in the box?"  Natalie turned and looked at the box on Nick's desk.



"I honestly do not know CAP.  It came from a friend of  Nick's in Europe... 

Special Delivery addressed to Nick.  The guy was told Nick was in court, 

so they brought it to me to sign for! I thought it might be important, so I 

brought it along.  The prelims indicate suicide.  I cannot see it any other 

way.  She had an entire prescription of Phenobarbital in her stomach.  No 

other marks on the body and no sexual contact either.  Report is in this 

file."  She handed it to the Captain.

"Always on time Lambert!  I like that!"  He turned mumbling to himself as 

he walked back into his office as Nat and Tracy chuckled.



"Listen Trace!  How is it going with you and Daniel?  Are you still seeing 

each other regularly?"



Tracy turned a little red as she glanced at Daniel on the other side of the 

room.  "Great!  We have moved our relationship to potentially greater than 

friends at this point!  One step at a time!"



"Nick and I are going to the Symphony on Friday!  You guys want to 

come?  Box seats!!"



"Does that mean black tie and formal attire?  Or just dressy?"



"Just dressy!  We go to "Salines" afterwards for dessert and dancing!"



"I'll see if Daniel is off!  Sounds like fun!"



Natalie's pager went off.  "Guess that means I am on my way to South!  

Jerry has called in sick again.  The man should never been a pathologists.  

Too weak of stomach!  Let Nick know about Friday.  I have to run!"  

Natalie waved as she put her coat on going out the door.



10 minutes later:



A tall lithe dark brunette walked into the precinct and approached Tracy as 

she worked on both hers and Nick's paperwork.  Glancing up at the woman 

Tracy smiled.  She reminded he of someone, but who.



"Excuse me, but I was told I could find Dr. Lambert here!"



"She just left 10 minutes ago to head for South!  Can I help you?"



With a look of disappointment on her face the woman answered.  "Do you 

know when she will be back or how I can reach her?"



"If it's an emergency I can call her mobile or page her."



The woman smiled and Tracy knew exactly who she was.  "You are 

Natalie's sister aren't you?"



Bewildered by Tracy's observation and accuracy Theressa stood speechless 

for a moment.  "How did you know that?  Yes...Yes! I'm Theressa!"  She 

stuck her hand out to greet Tracy.



"Tracy Vetter!  Glad to meet you.  The answer to your question is you look 

just like her when you smile!"



"You are close friends then?"



"Yes for a couple of years!  Let me call Nat!"



"No really, it's not an emergency.  I just was going to be in town for a few 

weeks and I thought maybe we could get together.  I went by her old place 

and they said she moved, so I came to the coroners building and they told 

me she was over her."  Theressa grabbed a piece of paper and wrote the 

number of the hotel she was staying at.  "Just tell her I will be staying there 

for a couple of weeks!"  She handed the paper to Tracy.



"Look I know you and Nat haven't spoken in awhile and she would shoot 

me personally if I didn't call her!  Can you just wait a few minutes and let 

me find her!"  Tracy took Theressa's coat and offered her a chair while she 

picked up the phone.  Theressa reluctantly accepted.

"Nat!"  Tracy got Natalie on the second ring.



"What's up Trace!  Is there a problem?"  



"Nat, I don't quite know how to put this but......"



"Is something wrong with Nick!"  Fear gripped her heart as the words 

came out in a rush.



"No Nat!  Your sister is here!"  Silence greeted Tracy on the other end of 

the phone.



"Theressa!  Your sure!  Of course your sure!  Forget I said that!  Put her on 

the phone Trace."



"Theressa?"



"Hi Tasha!  Long time-- I know!"



Natalie pulled in the lot at South when Theressa came on the line.  Hearing 

her sister's voice for the first time in 6 years, she stopped dead in the 

middle of the lot unable to move as memories started to overwhelm her.  

She willfully caused them to stop.  She had to.  It had been to long since 

the sister's had spoken.  It was her chance to finally get some answers to a 

painful past that should have never been.  "Theressa!  It is so good to hear 

your voice.  Tell me we can finally talk about this?"



"I think we need to talk Tasha!  I know I NEED to.  I want to put the past 

behind us and start over.  Do you think that's possible after all this time?"



"Theressa!  If there is one thing I have learned in life...... it is that all 

things are possible!"  A single tear escaped Natalie's eye as she spoke to 

her sister.  "You stay with us.  That way we can talk more!  Okay?"



"Us?"



"You never got any of my letters did you?"



"No!  or Yes!  But I couldn't open them."  The sadness of the loss of 6 

years with her sister finally hit her.

"Kind of stupid Huh?  You kept writing and I kept being the hard headed 

stupid self-center little kid sister that ......"



"Stop Theressa!  What is done is done!  We can work this out.  We are 

different people now!  The us is my husband.  His name is Nick!"



"You got married?"  Theressa sat back down in the chair with the news.



"Yeah about 3 months ago.  We looked for you in Europe while we were 

there but couldn't find you!  There is so much to tell you.---But I have to 

cover for the pathologist at South.  He went home with the flu and Nick is 

in court till God only knows when.  I'll see if Tracy can drop you by the loft 

or maybe a black and white.  You will stay won't you?"  Natalie held her 

breathe as she awaited the answer.



Theressa sensing her sister's fears, answered quickly.  "It WOULD give us 

more time to talk!  Wouldn't it?"  She smiled hearing Natalie sigh of relief.  

"I owe you an explanation.  A BIG explanation!  I would love to stay with 

you and Nick!"



"I will not get done here till about 4 am if I am lucky.  You go get settled at 

the loft.  Nick should be home by 2 or earlier.  I let him know you are there 

as soon as he gets out of court.  Put Tracy back on the line and get you a 

ride home."  Theressa handed the phone back to Tracy and smiled.  "Trace 

can you give Theressa a ride to the loft and let her in?"

"Sure Nat!  No problem.  I should be done here in about an hour.  I am 

sure I can find something to entertain her with for that long especially 

since half the men in the room can't take their eyes off her!"  Tracy 

laughed and smiled at Theressa.  "And yes I will take the box along with 

me!"



"You know me well Trace!  Thanks!  I owe you one of many!"  Natalie 

hung up and ran into South to fill in for Jerry.



"Well, I have about an hour's worth of paperwork to finish and then I will 

drop you off at Nick and Nat's loft.  Do you want some coffee or a soda?"



"I can take a cab Tracy!  It is no problem.  I rather use  to it anymore!  All 

I need is the address!  I really don't want to put you out."



"Really it's no problem!  Nick and Nat a good friends and besides you need 

me to get you past the security system anyway."  Harry came by with two 

cups of coffee and gave them to Tracy and Theressa, smiling and ogling 

the merchandise.  Both women laughed simultaneously and accepted the 

coffee.



"Who is your friend Trace!"  Harry believed in cutting to the chase when it 

came to beautiful women and this woman was definitely beautiful.



"Harry this is Theressa!  She is Natalie's sister!"  Tracy smiled at Harry's 

reaction, knowing how afraid of Nick he was.



Still undaunted Harry proceeded to expound on his attributes, until Tracy 

virtually pushed him back to his chair.  "Does that always happen around 

here?"  Theressa finally noticed the attention, she was getting from the 

men in the room.



"Well, as you can see, there are not a great deal of women homicide 

detectives on the night shift.  Most of the guys are pretty nice after they get 

to know you and where you are coming from, but any new face causes a 

great deal of muscle flexing, macho, hike up your belt and show off 

attitude to impress them syndrome.  Being a cop is dangerous, so they feel 

that their love life should be that way also.  That is why divorce is so high.  

Lots of available candidates, if you are interested!"  Tracy, let  her gaze go 

around the room.  "Are you married?"



Theressa looked around the room and smiled at all the head turned at her 

and waved a friendly  Hello!  "Friendly lot aren't they.    And -No!  I am 

not married any longer!  Woman to woman any in the room worth 

chasing!"  Theressa followed Tracy's eyes to Daniel.  "Cute....Yours?"  

Tracy turned red and finally smiled.  



"Woman to woman!  A couple are worthwhile and Yes!  Daniel is mine!"  

Tracy smiled at Daniel across the room.  "You are not at all like Nat are 

you?"



Having heard that remark on repeated occasions as she grew up, she 

smiled brightly.  "I have been told that on multiple occasions.  How about 

the blonde in the black suit talking with your Captain?  That is my type?  Is 

he married?"  Tracy followed Theressa's eyes to Reese's office seeing Nick 

in a heated discussion with the Captain.



"What is going on?" Tracy jumped out of the chair and headed for the 

Captain's office.  Theressa watched intently.



"Captain, if we don't use the full ballistic report and the toxicology 

information.  He will walk!  I know you are trying to protect the reputation 

of  several innocent people here, but if  Stanton takes a walk, no one is 

safe."  Nick held out his hand for the file that Reese held in his hand.  

Reese torn between justice and probable harm handed the file to Nick!

"Don't let that scumbag walk Nick!  Understand?"



"I'll do my best CAP!  I had better hurry,  They gave me 10 minutes!"  

Nick almost ran into Tracy as 

came out the door.  "Hi Trace!  Got our paperwork done?"  Nick was  

walking fast towards the door.  He smiled broadly adding to his boyish  

charm which he used as a defense mechanism a great deal of the time. 

"Got to go Trace. They gave me 10 minutes and 8 are already gone!  I will 

fill you in later!"



"Nick......I need to talk....." But he was already out the door and gone!



Tracy returned to her desk and Theressa.  "I guess you do know him! 



"Huh?  Apparently quite well it would appear!"  Tracy finally brought her 

attention back to Theressa.





"Oh!  Theressa I'm sorry." Tracy smiled brightly.  "Yes, I know him very  

well!  He is my partner!"



"That must be difficult to take at times!" Theressa was amazed at the men 

who obviously cared about Tracy.  Because the man she had just seen  

obviously cared about her.  Theressa could tell, by the way he touched her 

arm and smiled.  He was incredibly handsome!





"He is also your brother-in-law!  That was Nick!"  Tracy waited for 

Theressa reaction.



With an open mouth Theressa dropped to the chair and stared dumbly at 

Trace!  "Tell me you are joking?  That was Nick?  Tasha's Nick?  Oh  God!  

Please don't tell Tasha I said those things!"  She looked

beseechingly at Tracy.





"Nat won't care Theressa as long as you look and don't touch!"



"I think you are wrong Trace!  There are a great deal of things Natalie will 

take lightly, but that is not one of them!  Trust me!"





Not quite understanding this beautiful young woman dilemma with her  

sister, Tracy decided to let it drop.  "Well, I see I am not going to get 

anything done with all the attention you are about to get, so I am

going to run you over to the loft and come back.  You probably are tired  

anyway!  Grab you coat and we will head over to Nick's."  Tracy grabbed   

her coat and handed Theressa hers.



----------------------------



Using Nick's access code, Tracy and Theressa entered the garage and 

headed for the lift.  Theressa taking in her surrounding as they  walked.  

"Nick likes old cars?  Do they all run?"





Pressing the up button on the lift after entering, yet another code Tracy 

responds.  "Yeah!  Nick likes things better as they age.  He  drives an 52 or 

53 Caddie.  I can never remember.  Convertible of course! 

I think most of them run.  At least the little corvette over there.  He let me 

borrow it when mine was in the shop.  Nick likes to collect old  things!"  

Tracy smiled not only for the comment but because she knew

what Theressa reaction would be when she saw the inside of the loft. "Shall 

we go up?" She motioned for Theressa to get in the lift. Once upstairs, 

Tracy turned on the lights and checked the refrigerator for any offending 

bottles, that might cause problems.  Finding a couple  of bottles, she placed 

them on the bottom out of the way and pulled a  couple of good vintages, 

that Natalie drank to the top.  "Make yourself at home, the remotes on the 

table, the guest room and bath are straight  ahead.  They just finished them 

last week, so you will be the first to  enjoy them." Tracy turned to find 

Theressa running her hands over the Steinway Grand Piano.

"It is beautiful isn't it?"



"It's a 1856 Steinway!  It is in incredible condition!  Where ever did they 

get it?"



"You will have to ask Nick.  It's his for a long, long time.  While you at it, 

make him play for you.  He is really quite good."  Theressa had  moved to 

the mantle and was examining the artwork above it.

"That's a DeVinci!"  She turned with a thousand questions in her eyes 

expecting immediate answers.



Holding up her hands Tracy covered with the only thing that came to 

mind. "Old Money!"



"He obviously doesn't need the money, so why is he a cop?"  Disbelief  still 

registered on her face.



"He likes it!  AND....He is very good at it!"  Deciding, she did not want 

stuck with trying to answer anymore difficult questions, Tracy opted to  

make her exit quickly.  "Well, I had better get back to that paperwork. You 

are probably beat anyway.  There is plenty of food in the refrigerator.  The 

wine on the bottom is Nick special aging brew, so  avoid it at all costs.  

The good stuff is on top."  Tracy grabbed the

lift door and pulled.





"Tracy!"  Almost afraid to hear the answer!  "Are they happy?  I mean  

really happy?"  The need for an answer was written all over her face.





Tracy smiled.  This was an easy one.  "Very happy Theressa!  You can  

feel it when they are together!  It is what most people pray for!"  She  

closed the door and was gone.  As Theressa surveyed the room, the more 

confused she became. Memories began to surface and the tears began to 

flow as she picked up the picture  setting on the end table of  Natalie,  

Richie and herself sailing off the Sound 8 years ago!  Another picture of  

Natalie and Nick at Christmas sat next to it.





						PART  (6/14)



 ----------------



Nick walked back into the precinct at 2 am after having a brief

discussion with the DA.   Night Court was such a pain, but necessary.

Stanton would be doing life without parole and his associates got 50

years, parole in 30.  Nick was pleased.  He knew the Captain and Tracy

would take this case as a personal victory in the war against drugs to

minors.  Nick reached for his coat and car keys to head for home when,

he noticed the note on his desk:



Nick:



Natalie brought a box for you that came

Special Delivery.  Nat asked me to take it home,

but I forgot it so it is locked in your drawer. 

I took your unexpected house guest home.  You are to call

Nat before going home if you haven't talk to her this

evening. Daniel and I would be delighted to go to

the  Symphony on Friday with you and Nat (assuming she

told  you we were invited).  See you tomorrow! Hope the

case went well.

                                                 Tracy

Nick unlocked his drawer and pulled out the box.  While looking at the

return address, a smile crossed his face.  He opened the box and    

pulled out a small leather pouch with a note.



Nick:



It is about time!  My family has been holding this

for  over 800 years. Some men are just slower than

others! I have to meet her! Come visit Marla and I soon!

                                                Jack





Without looking inside, Nick placed the pouch in his pocket and dialed

Natalie at South.



"Joan!  Hi! It's Nick!  Does Nat have her hands free?  She left strict

orders I was not to go home until I spoke with her.  And we all know I

follow order!"  Joan laughed!



"Right! Sure Nick!  Heard that one before!  I will get her!

 

Natalie striped her gloves off and answered the phone.  "Nick!"



"What up Nat?"



"My sister is in town!  I had Tracy take her to the loft."



"Theressa?  Did she finally get your letters?"

 

"No!  She is in town working on some books at the museum and wants to

straighten things out!  I am speechless!  I had given up hope after we

couldn't find her while we were in France."  Natalie sounded tense and 

uneasy as she spoke which Nick immediately picked up on.



"Nat!  It will work out this time.  She came to you!  Remember that.

Maybe Theressa has finally decided to hear your side of the story.     

Just play it by ear.  You have a sister to gain and nothing to lose!   

What do you want me to tell her about us?"



Natalie sat down in the chair by the desk as she talked.  "The truth!

We said no more secrets! Right?"



"We cannot tell her about the community, Natalie!  You know that!  I   

am not even sure it is wise to tell her about our condition yet, but   

in time she will have to know and that makes her a target for the

Enforcers."  Knowing how badly Natalie wanted to work things out with

her sister,  he was not sure she was being realistic about the

situation.



"I know you're  right Nick!  I just don't want to cause anymore    

trouble between us."  Obviously frustrated, Natalie kept twisting a    

long curl around her finger as she spoke.  "We should just take one    

day at a time I suppose!  I have to get back to work.  I am sorry to   

stick you with introducing yourself without me, but..."



"I know! It's okay!  I will survive!  Just don't be to late!  See you

around 4?



"I will try to hurry!  Oh!  Nick!"



"Yeah!"



"I love you!"  She hung up the phone and walked back to the table to

finish the autopsy.

 

Nick stood holding the phone with a smile on his face.  It was the  

first time she told him in public that she loved him.  Somehow it made 

him warm all over.  That was it, warm.  For the first time in his  

entire life he felt connected to someone.  Someone who loved him for 

who he really was!  It felt good.  No it felt better than good, it felt

great!  Grabbing his coat and keys, Nick left for home.



 ---------------------------------------



Theressa heard the lift kick on and slowly rise.  She had not closed  

her eyes since she arrived.  This had to be Nick.  She immediately

straightened her hair and clothes and stood patiently by the fireplace

waiting.  What would he be like? How much had Tasha told him about that

night 7 years ago?  It looked like she was about to find out.  Nick

opened the lift door and walked into the room.



Feeling Theressa's heart beat while he was in the lift, he knew she was

nervous and very much awake. Their eyes met as he stepped out of the   

lift.  She stared intently at him for at least 30 seconds, before he   

smiled and dropped his coat over the chair at the table.



"I could get a little closer and take my jacket off if it would help!"

Nick smiled that boyish grin that put a twinkle in his blue eyes when  

he was teasing.



"I'm sorry!!  Really!  It's-well, it's just that you are better looking

close up than at a distance!"  Theressa blurted out.  She was tongue

tied.  Realizing what she had just said she blushed from head to toe.

"I cannot believe I said that!"  She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling

and looked profoundly mortified.



Nick laughed and extended his hand.  "I'm Nick---and--- I will take 

that as a compliment!"



"Theressa!  And it was!  A compliment I mean!"  She was acting like a

babbling teenager.  Here she was with a drop dead gorgeous guy, who  

also happened to be her brother-in-law, and she was making a fool of

herself.  "I am really sorry!  I am usually not this nervous.  But you

are kind of a surprise.  I never thought Tasha would ever marry!  She

has been obsessed with work all her life!  She would never give  

most men a chance for a date, let alone get married.  How long have

you  known each other?"



"A little over 7 years!"  Nick went to the refrigerator and pulled out 

a glass of  bloodwine and grabbed the eggs.  "Did you get some  

breakfast or dinner?"



"I had a glass of wine earlier!" 



"I'm  starved.  Want an omelet?  I would offer to cook something

else for you but my cooking experience is relatively limited."



"An omelet would be great!  I would offer to help, but frankly I don't

cook well either!"  They both laughed.  Theressa pulled up a chair at

the table and watched Nick make 2 omelets.  He drank his wine all the

time he cooked.  He refilled her wine glass and presented her with a

light fluffy egg omelet with cheese.  His, of course, was without

accessories but perfectly done.



"I am impressed.  Tasha has trained you well.  Do you do housework

too?"  She had a mischievous nature that Nick liked.  Theressa was not

only beautiful but delightful company as well.  They continued to

chatter for an hour or so until she managed to get Nick to play the

piano for her.



"You play wonderfully!  How long have you played?"



"Trust me, you would not believe me if I told you."  Theressa got off

the leather coach and picked up Nick's13th Century crusader sword.   

They were comfortable enough with each other now for her to start  

asking questions.  He could feel it in her heart beat as well as her  

body language.

 

"Tracy said you were a collector!  That you inherited a great deal of

 money.  I think she said 'old money' I quote.  Where did you get this

 piece?  It is a 13th Century Crusader's sword.  It belongs in a

museum.  It's priceless!  This is the crest of  de Brabant"  She stared

at him awaiting and answer.



Nick gently removed the sword from her hands and caressed the blade  

with both his eyes and his hands.  The action was not lost on Theressa. 

She recognized personal attachment when she saw it.



"It belonged to one of my ancestors 8 centuries ago.  It has been in  

the family since the crusades."  Nick looked at Theressa with regret in 

his eyes and continued.  "It is a personal favorite of mine along 

with....."



"Let me guess!  Joan of Arc's cross over there!"  Her eyes followed to

the shelf were Nick kept Joan's cross.



"How did you know?"



"Crusader--Cross!  It all fits your personality!  Defender of the poor

and defenseless.  You are a cop!  A good one I am told!"  Nick put his

sword back on the rack by the mantle and lit the fire.



"Are you a historian?"  Nick refilled his wine glass and sat down on

the couch.  Theressa curled up in the chair across from him.    



"Honestly Nick!  This took every ounce of courage and then some to come

to Toronto!  I was offered a temporary position at the museum to

translate some old manuscripts and books.  I took that as a sign that

maybe it was time for me to grow up and admit my stupidity.  I study 

nd translate old French.  The de Brabant crest is familiar because it 

is one of the few estates still in existence in France that is over  800

years old. I thought  just maybe it wasn't to late for me to get my 

best  friend back!  I missed Tasha so much and when I finally got over 

the problem and wanted to correct it, my situation had changed.  I then

compounded my stupidity with an over inflated pride and didn't even

respond to her letters."





 *****************************************



 7 years earlier:



Natalie opened  the door quietly to the flat so as not to wake

Theressa.  It was another all night session at the hospital.  It was 

her final rotation and she was finished.  She had made up her mind as  

to her specialty.  It really was the only logical choice.  The one 

place she could practice her trade and not deal with live people 24 

hours a day. She realized it was a conscious decision to avoid the pain 

Kyle had left in her. It was the only logical choice.  Forensic 

Pathology was not only the answer to her social situation but it gave 

her the means to escape the pain. Most important of all, she was  

extremely good at it.  In a way-- she liked it. It was like solving a 

gigantic crossword puzzle.  The answers were there to be found.



It was Natalie's week for the couch.  Theressa was in bed sound asleep. Her 

days were filled with classes and Paul.  She was in love! Natalie  

feared for her kid sister and they had argued dozens of

times over going to fast. She and Kyle were a perfect example in their 

relationship. Theressa constantly related Natalie's attitude about Paul 

back to her dismal failure with Kyle.  Nothing was ever fast enough for 

Theressa, and Paul could do no wrong.  Natalie had her doubts.  Though 

she realized her avoidance of men was related to Kyle, she honestly did 

not feel that she distrusted Paul because of Kyle.  There was just 

something not right about him.  Natalie could not put her finger on it, 

but it would surface sooner or later.  She would call it a day and talk 

with Theressa in the morning.



Theressa awoke early for class and breakfast with Paul.  Her beautiful

Paul.  Good looking, wealthy, romantic, great body and wonderful hair.



God, she loved his hair!  Natalie slept fitfully on the coach while

Theressa made breakfast.  She really did not want to wake her, but she

just had to impart the good news to her best friend today!



"Tasha wake up!  I have to show you!"  Theressa sat on the end of the

coach and bounced to wake Natalie.



"What is it Theressa?  I didn't get in till 5 this morning."  Natalie

sat up rubbing her eyes and looking at her watch as she flopped back

down on the coach.  "It is only 7:30 Theressa!  Can't this wait? "

 

Theressa stuck her hand under Natalie's bloodshot eyes.  A huge 4 carat

tiffany cut stone sat on her finger.  "We are engaged.!  Paul asked me

yesterday before he left for France!  Isn't it beautiful?"  Theressa 

was so excited she glowed.



"It's beautiful Theressa!" Natalie stared in awe at the ring.  "But are

you sure this isn't a little fast?"



Theressa expected Natalie's response as she jerked her hand away from

her sister.  "I knew you would say that!  Paul is not Kyle, Natalie!

Remember that!"  Theressa marched into the bathroom angrier than she

should have been.



(He is a womanizer and a gangster.  I know it.  I just can't prove it!

How can I get her to see it?  How?)  Natalie fatigued beyond words

finally collapsed back on the coach to sleep.  Maybe a good days rest

would give her some ideas.  With that thought ,she drifted off to 

sleep.



 2 weeks later:



Natalie was fixing diner for Theressa and herself on one of her few  

days off.  She had racked her brain, not counting the arguments with 

her sister, for days trying to find a way to slow this marriage down.  

The doorbell rang and Natalie was surprised to find Paul at her door.



"Good, Natalie you are home!"  Paul invited himself in tossing his coat

on the couch  as if he belonged there.  "We have to have a discussion. 

You and I!"  Paul grabbed Nat's wrist and pulled her to the bedroom

throwing her down on the bed.  "Now sweet delectable Natalie, I am 

going to show you what you have been missing and then we are going to  

discuss Theressa and my upcoming marriage!"  Paul slapped Natalie hard

across the face and ripped her blouse off as he finished.  Casually

pulling his hard, erect penis out of his pants, he caressed himself 

with one hand and held Natalie with the other, smiling the whole time.

Stunned by the first blow, Natalie was slow to recover until she felt

his hand grabbing her panties and tearing them.  Instinctively she 

brought her knee up to his groin with as much force as she could 

manage, shoving with her whole body as he screamed in pain.  Bounding 

off the bed in tattered clothes, she tried to get the door open only to 

be stopped by an enraged Paul.

 

"You Bitch!  You will pay for that!"  He belted Natalie with a closed

fist knocking her across the room where she landed in a heap upon the  

floor.  Theressa chose that moment to walk into the room.  Seeing Paul 

partially dressed and Natalie in remnants of clothes on the floor, she 

screamed and passed out.  Paul trying to make the best of a bad 

situation, calmly walked over and picked up Theressa and placed her on 

the bed.  Natalie managed to get to the phone and dial 911 for help 

before Paul could stop her.



After the police arrested Paul and the paramedics checked both Natalie

and Theressa, the two sisters sat stunned in their apartment.  Theressa

sat quietly listening to Natalie's story to the police and Paul

statement as well.  They were of course opposite renditions of the

incident.  Who did she trust!  Here sister or her lover?



Natalie pressed charges against Paul for assault and attempted rape.

The dividing lines were drawn.  Paul used Theressa's love and  

insecurities to convince her it was a mistake and that things were just 

blown out of proportion.  Paul, with plenty of financial backing and a 

great attorney,  was out on bail within 24 hours.  His perfect solution 

was to marry Theressa and use that against Natalie to prevent her from 

testifying.  In the end, Natalie dropped the charges to keep from 

hurting her sister  more.  Little did she know that it would only cause 

her more pain in the future.



 ************************************



 Theressa sat calmly sipping her wine as she continued with the story.

"I was an idiot Nick!  I was blinded by love and lust and I just could

not see Paul for what he was.  The day Natalie dropped the charges

against Paul, I called her a harlot and a whore!  I blamed her for

Paul's losing control and told her she deserved to be slapped around if

she couldn't control her lust for my husband any better than that!  I

needed a scapegoat and Tasha was it.  She was always the stable one,  

the smart one, the one everyone brought their  troubles too.  I was  

just pretty little Theressa!  I was really the whore, not Natalie, but 

I just couldn't face the truth so I hurt my best friend.  The more I 

hurt her, the better I felt, so I kept at it----kind of selfish right?" 



Theressa walked over to the fireplace and lifted the poker Nick used to 

stir the coals. She was lost in the past.  "6 months after we were 

married, Paul started beating me when I didn't please him either in   

public or in bed.  I found him in bed 2 days later with his assistant  

from the office at 2 in the afternoon."  Pain was etched into her eyes, 

yet she continued. "I found out that same week that most of  Paul's  

money came from drug deals in Europe and that his connections ran 

worldwide. 



I was terrified and wanted out.  I tried to run away in the next 

several years, at least 10 times. Each time, he found me and brought me 

back.  I was terrified to go to Natalie.  I thought they would harm her 

to get to me.  So eventually I just gave up."



"What happened?"



"He died!  Well, not just died.  He was murdered by one of his

contacts.  After that, his organization did not care what I did, so I

ended up in Paris doing translations for the Museum of History.  I had 

a flare for languages just as Tasha did for medicine and Richie for the

law."  Theressa sat down wearily on the chair by the fireplace. The

years of abuse and loss seemed to have taken their toll on her soul and

not her body.  As the light from the fireplace glowed in the  

background, Nick could not help noticing how beautiful she was even 

when sad.  She reminded him of Janette, yet somehow different.  There 

was an acceptance of the pain and the past that Janette and he had   

never acquired.  He envied her for that. 



"Why did you not open Nat's letters?  She wrote numerous time!  She

thought you were dead!"  A slight edge in his voice told Theressa not  

to lie.  She had hurt the woman he loved and he had to know why.



"At first it was because I was not certain that the mob would let me

be.  So I thought it better not to know what was happening and endanger

her. Then it was just  pride, I guess.  It had been 7 years since we 

spoke those last words.  Many times I wanted to take them back and  

couldn't. I figured I had gotten myself into this mess and I was the 

only one to get myself out.  Once I was out, I convinced myself she was 

better off  thinking I was dead.  Then she would never be in any 

danger-----"



"And you would never have to admit to all the pain you caused her!"

Nick understood all to well the feelings of guilt.



Theressa looked at Nick with a great appreciation of his understanding.



"Guilt must be in your vocabulary as well!"  She smiled trying to

relieve the tension she felt between this man and herself.  "I have to

know one thing Nick!!----------Do you love Natalie?"



Nick studied her face closely before answering.  "We have been through

the fires of Hell together to get where we are now, Theressa!  She is  

my heart, my soul and my reason for living on any given day.  To say  

that I love her would be an understatement! I am not whole without her. 

There is nothing within my power I would not do for her or give her.  I 

will not EVER do anything to hurt her!  She is my life!  Know that!"



Theressa walked over to him and hugged him gently!  "Well, welcome to

the family----brother!" And she kissed him on the cheek.



Natalie opened the lift door and stepped in!



PART (7/14)

 

Natalie stood speechless as she watched her sister unwrap her arms from

Nick's neck.  Nick turned to greet her with a smile and was stunned to

read her expression of anger.  Yes, it was anger he saw in her eyes.   

He watched her fight for control and then relax.  He realized it looked

bad from her point of view, but -------

 

"I see you two have become acquainted!" Natalie put on her trademark

"Dr. Lambert Professional Face", but the pain was still in her eyes.



Theressa turned 30 shades of red realizing what her sister must think.

Not that she didn't deserve for her to think that way after what had

transpired with Kyle.  Natalie had walked in on Kyle kissing her in the

living room over 8 years ago.  Natalie eventually forgave Theressa but

not Kyle.  Was life always to repeat itself?



Nick walked over to Natalie and pulled her gently into his arms holding

her closely until she relaxed.  Taking her face in his hands, he made her 

look directly into his eyes.  "We said  FOREVER!  No lies, no half

truths and faith in US--Together!  Have faith in me, Nat!"



His words were the balm that her soul needed. She let the knowledge of

their love soothe her heart until the smile on her lips finally reached

her eyes.  "I love you too, Nick!   I'm okay."

 

"Good!  I'll let you two get reacquainted.  I'm going to call it a

night!"  Nick gently kissed Nat's cheek and proceeded upstairs to bed.

Natalie followed him with her eyes until he reached the top of the

stairs, then she turned her attention to Theressa.



Theressa stood uncomfortably by the couch trying to find the right words

to say to her sister.  "It's not want you think, Tasha.  It was just a

little welcome to the ----" The tears began to stream down her lovely

face.  This was not how she wanted to start with Tasha again. Not like

this!  Not with mistrust and doubts. Not with anger.  That part of her

life was done.

 

Natalie closed the distance between herself and Theressa and calmly

wrapped her arms around her.  "I know Theressa---I know.  It was just a

knee jerk reaction on my part."  She lifted her sister's chin and wiped

the tears away.  "I trust Nick and I love him beyond words.  He would

never do anything to hurt me.  I know that and you should too!  Come

on. Let's sit down and talk.  We have a great deal of catching up to do."



Theressa smiled and wrapped her arms around her sister's waist and

settled in for a long overdue chat.

 

 -----------------------------

 

Theressa began analyzing the manuscripts with care.  That's what they

were---not really books but manuscripts.  Two of them were over 3000

years old according to the carbon dating and the last one was over a

1000.  She decided to start with the newest one first.  It was the

family history of the royal and noble families of France dating back to the 

late 900's.  The dialect was substantially different than current day French 

but the similarities were still there.  She had translated an older manuscript 

several years ago that used similar syntax in the writing. It was an 

exquisite work of art.  The entire manuscript was meticulously scripted 

with beautiful artist renderings of the royal and noble families and their 

jewelry.  The new museum curator said he found the manuscripts locked in 

the safe after his predecessor was found murdered some months ago.  She 

let her thoughts trail back to last night and the conversation with Natalie 

that lasted until 1 in the afternoon. They were well on their way to starting 

over again.  Natalie had changed and so had she. This time nothing would 

separate the sisters.  Nick was another subject.  He was handsome, gallant, 

caring and an all around nice guy. Best of all, he loved Natalie beyond 

anything Theressa had ever witnessed.  Tracy was right when she said you 

could feel what was between them.  It was like they were two parts only 

becoming one when they were together.  She loved to be in the same room 

with them.  They made you feel like true love actually existed.  Natalie 

assured her that their road had not been a smooth one and Nick was far 

from "Mr. Perfect".  Theressa only hoped that someday she too would find 

a relationship like they had. 



It was near midnight when Theressa found a good stopping place in the

manuscript to take a break. It really was kind of boring stuff until she

found references to the de Brabant family.  She had become intrigued as

she continued.  She had long been an admirer of the tenacious family able 

to  survive 1000 years and still possess lands in current day

France. Apparently after the crusades and the disappearance of the de

Brabant heir ,Nicholas, the lands were sold off in parcels to the

freeholders in order for the family to survive.  This left only a small

portion of the land in the de Brabant name.  Some time after the 15th

century someone began buying back these parcels and leasing them to 

current tenants.  It was rumored to be a descendant of the noble family

bent on returning the de Brabant estates to their original size.  The

main estate was destroyed after the crusades and a replica was built

sometime during the late 16th century.  It was currently occupied by the

reclusive descendant of the noble house of de Brabant. It was one of the 

few profitable estates in France.  The current tenants were happy and the 

grounds well kept, as well as the farms being profitable.

No picture of the current descendant was known to exist and only a

handful of people could ever remember meeting or seeing the current

landowner of the estate.  It was a puzzle and Theressa adored puzzles.

The manuscripts contained pictures of the original house of  de Brabant

and many of the pieces of  jewelry that were passed from generation to

generation.  As Theressa thumbed through the artist's renderings, she

continued to see the same man in each picture; yet the time span was

enormous.  He first appeared in 915 then 1228 and then again in 1460.

Though the clothes had changed the face was the same. According to the 

manuscript he was unrelated to the de Brabant family.   He was tall,

blonde, short hair with decidedly evil eyes.  Each time the artist drew

him, the eyes caught her attention.  It was the same man.  The answer

had to be there. Why was he there?

 

Glancing up from the book, she noticed a shadow move across the hall.

Not being one for stupidity, Theressa pulled out a revolver from her

drawer and removed the safety.  When she looked up, the man from the

manuscript stood before her.  She cocked the pistol and he smiled.

Dressed in a black turtle neck and slacks with a black double breasted

blazer, he came directly into the light before her.

 

"That really won't be necessary!  I have not come to harm you but save

you!"  He casually sat down in the chair opposite her and awaited a

response.

 

Theressa calmly laid the pistol on the desk and removed yet another

object from the desk and placed it around her neck.  A wooden cross hung

at the end of the leather thong.  She met him eye to eye before she

spoke.  "Just how old are you, Monsieur?"

 

"LaCroix!  Lucien LaCroix!  And the answer is a little over 2000."  He

waited for a reaction which never came.  "Do you really think that

little cross will do you any good, young one?



Theressa calmly left her chair and walked in front of the desk never

touching the cross on her neck.  She stopped directly in front of him as

he averted his eyes from the cross.  "I was always told crosses blessed

by martyred saints worked best on vampires.  Was I wrong?"  She held the

cross closer to LaCroix causing him to immediately pull out of the chair

and retreat 3 feet.

 

"I see the story is true, Monsieur LaCroix.  Or may I call you Lucien?" 

Theressa calmly walked back to the other side of the desk and placed the

revolver in the drawer.  "Actually, I find the study of the occult

fascinating.  I never really thought I would be privileged enough to

meet a real vampire!"  LaCroix returned to the seat opposite the desk

composing himself in vampire speed as he turned on the charm.

 

"Not very many people have ever called me Lucien over the centuries, but

if you wish!  And you?"

 

"Theressa will be sufficient!"

 

"I take it you have read the other books on vampires?" LaCroix casually

picked up one of the Archive manuscripts on the corner of the desk.  "Is 

that why you possess such a particular interest in the occult?"

 

Theressa removed the books from LaCroix hands gently, never taking her

eyes of LaCroix.  "I read similar ones in France last year.  Not as old

of course but still a chronological order of people who had been crossed

into your community for centuries.  This is the oldest one I have ever

seen?  Are you in it?"  She was intrigued.  This man that stood before

her must have been alive during Pompeii or before.  The history he

possessed was beyond her imagination.  She should fear him, but she did

not.  She questioned her own sanity with the thought.  You don't survive

2000 years by being 'Mr. Nice Guy', yet she was unafraid.

 

LaCroix was intrigued.  This was not what he expected when Divinia

informed him of his little chore.  Retrieve the missing manuscripts from 

the Archive or pay the price.  He had been systematically going through 

the museum looking for the manuscripts when he noticed this young 

woman's arrival.  For three nights, he had watched her read, research and 

obviously understand what she had before her.  It should not have been 

possible.  The type of French in the manuscripts was substantially

different than current French.  How could one so young understand what

she read in those books, yet she not only understood them but believed

them as well.  Closing the distance between them LaCroix stopped short

due to the cross hanging from her neck.  His eyes began to glow golden

from the pain radiating from the cross, yet he did not back away. 



"You do not fear me Theressa?"  Taking one step closer his eyes began to 

turn red and his fangs dropped of their own accord.  "Very unwise decision 

on your part!"

 

Theressa noticed the change in his demeanor and calmly removed the cross

from her neck lying it on the desk behind her.  She must be insane, but

she felt compelled to this man.  Maybe that was why she kept noticing

him in the manuscript.  There was no logical explanation.  Was he doing

this to her or was it destiny. Either way she had to find out.  Slowly she 

raised her hand to touch his cool skin.  It was like silk to her

fingers.  She ran her thumb down his face to his full lips tracing the length 

of his fangs lightly with her fingertips.  He stood  motionless almost as if 

he were cemented to the floor.  She stepped closer running both hands up 

his arms to his neck, never taking her eyes off his.  The attraction was 

overwhelming as he lowered his head to her lips.  When his cool lips met 

hers it felt as if electricity passed through her body.  His fangs now gone, 

he pulled her into his arms and deepened the kiss molding her body into 

his.

 

Stunned by her response to him, LaCroix broke the embrace and pushed 

her

away to arms length. What was happening?  What kind of power did this

woman possess?   The pain was gone and in its place a warmth he had

never known.  She seemed as stunned as he from the encounter?

 

 					PART (8/14)





Theressa stood mesmerized by LaCroix as he pushed her further away.  

What was happening here?

He was like a consuming flame and she was a moth drawn to it.  She felt 

lost, adrift, unsure of her bodies reaction to this man.  How was this 

possible?  The more her mind worked the more confused she became.



"Are you doing this to me?  I don't understand any of this!"  Slowly she 

seemed to be gaining control of her faculties.  Finally he legs began to 

work again and she fled to the other side of the desk grasping her cross 

again and placing it around her neck.



For the second time in his life LaCroix seemed speechless around a mortal.  

His reaction to her was different than anything he had ever experiences.  It 

confused him, intrigued him and beaconed to his soul for more, yet he 

fought the urge with 2000 years of practice and gained control again.  His 

eyes flared golden and his fangs dropped by his choice this time as he 

approached her slowly in an attempt to cause her distress.



"I have come for the books 'young one' and you will turn them over to me 

or pay the consequences.  He placed his hand on the Archive Books only to 

find her hand on top of his holding them in place.  It was like warm caress 

as he stared at her fingers on his till he brought his gaze back to hers.



"You can lose the fangs and the eyes Lucien, they aren't scaring me!"  She 

came close again and touched his arm gently before continuing.  "You 

should consider the consequences of these manuscripts disappearing after 

the death of the old curator.  It will draw attention to them and  your kind.  

Is that what you want?"  She walked back to the desk and sat down calmly 

before she continued.  "If you let me finish with them and write my report, 

they will be filed away and forgotten like so many other old pieces of 

literature found in vaults all over the world.   Wouldn't that be better than 

killing me and trying to cover up the disappearance of yet another set of 

books from this museum?  Or maybe you could just translate them for me 

and I could write the report and be gone by this weekend?  What do you 

think my 2000 year old friend?"  Theressa sat calmly behind the desk 

awaiting an answer.  Her mind was running wild.  The history this man 

must possess.  The things he had seen.  She should have been afraid, but 

somehow she was only intrigued.  Was she crazy to think about becoming 

closer acquainted to this man?



LaCroix returned to his normal stoic expression only this time he let the 

gold flecks stay in his eyes for effect, as he reached over and touched her 

face.  The cross caused him pain, yet the touch of her skin caused such 

intense pleasure he refused to back away.  "You do not know what you are 

dealing with 'young one', yet what you say makes a great deal of sense.  We 

do not want to cause anymore attention to our community than necessary."  

LaCroix smiled as he removed himself from the corner of her desk.  "I 

shall consider your recommendations."  And he was gone in breathe of 

wind leaving only the ruffled papers on the floor.

------------------------------



"If you don't hurry up Nat we are going to be late!  Tracy and Daniel are 

due her any minute!"  Nick was pacing the floor like a caged cat.  Natalie 

appeared at the top of the stairs in a long blue silk gown.  The neckline was 

daringly low with a slit that ran to mid-thigh to allow for walking.  She 

had pulled her hair back with a beaded comb filled with pearls and blue 

iris crystal.  The color in the dress made them pick up the light and dance 

with color.  The rest of her hair cascaded down her back revealing a low v-

back cut.  Nick stood speechless at the bottom of the stairs.



Natalie smiled when she saw his reaction to the dress.  She had purchased 

it just for him.  The sales clerk talked for 30 minutes on what it did for her 

figure and eyes not to mention her hair.  In the end, she just want to be 

beautiful for Nick, so she bought it.  "I guess from your reaction I picked 

the right color of shoes?"  She came to the end of the staircase and stood 

nose to nose with her dumbstruck husband.  "Do you like it?"



Nick gently touched her face running his eyes up and down her body and 

pulled her lips to meet his.  First tenderly then he let his tongue explore the 

silky inside of her mouth and molded her body to his.  He ran his hand 

down her bare back to her hips pulling her deeper into his know hardening 

body.  He ran feather kissed down her neck as her pulse leaped to match 

her emotions. He returned to her lips to adorn them with his not stopping 

till he elicited a moan from deep within her soul.  "I love the dress!  Do 

you think it's too late to cancel with Tracy and Daniel?"  Still holding her 

in his embrace Natalie wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled 

contentedly.



"I think we should make it a short evening don't you?"  She smiled 

wickedly.



Nick held her close running his hands over her body as she almost purred 

in his arms.  "If you don't stop that I will call them and cancel!"  She broke 

the embrace and straightened the dress watching Nick fight to get himself 

back in control. 



"Okay!  I need  cold shower now! But first I have something for you!"  

Nick pulled a small leather pouch from his suit jacket.  He poured the 

contents into his other hand while Natalie watched.  He open his hand with 

a beautiful filigreed gold necklace with a center stone that seem to catch 

the light from every corner of the room.  It flashed fire back into the 

darkness as he turned it toward the light.



"It beautiful Nick!"  He placed it gently in both her hands as she fingered 

the stone raptly.



"What kind of stone is it?"  She continued to admire the necklace as the 

stone turned dark radiant blue in her hands.  "Nick, it is changing colors!"  

She stood speechless as he came around behind her and took the necklace 

from her hands and fastened it on her neck.



"I have no idea what kind of stone it is Natalie.  All I know is that is was 

given to me by my Mother before she died.  It was hers given to her by my 

Father.  It is said to possess the heart and the fire of the family of de 

Brabant."  He turned her around to admire it on her neck.  "I was to give it 

to the one woman who possessed my heart completely and if she loved me 

in return it would connect our souls through all eternity.  You are to give it 

to our son upon your death for him to find his one true love."  Nick touched 

the stone reverently and it became even a darker blue still.  "It is said that 

if the necklace is given and received in love that the stone would be the 

window to your heart and I will always know how you feel by the color the 

stone shines into the darkness."  Nick leaned over and kissed her tenderly.  

"It blue, so you must be happy!"



Natalie touched the necklace and it began to change again to another shade 

of blue.  This time a blue green found only in the ocean at sunrise on a 

cloudless day.  She questioned him with her eyes.



"Shades of blue tell me you are happy.  Green is for love and shades of red 

and orange are anger and stress.  So I would say you are happy and you 

love me from the color in the know."  He pulled her into his arms to kiss 

her passionately which she willingly went.



"Nick!  I don't know what to say."  She looked into his beautiful blue eyes 

finding only love and understanding.  "I will treasure it always and keep it 

safe for our son when his time comes."  A shadow crossed her face as she 

bit her lip out of nervousness. "Nick?------"



"I have given it to no other woman Natalie!  None!  You are the only 

woman who has ever possessed my heart completely.  No that!  Now and 

for all eternity!"  He brushed her lips with another kiss and folded her into 

his arms.



"Will you two stop that!" Theressa popped through the side door having 

used the stairs instead of the lift.

She stopped dead in her tracks when she took in Natalie's dress.  "My God 

Tasha!  What an incredible dress!"  Natalie beamed with her sister's 

compliment.  "Oh, you look great to Nick!" Turning her attention back to 

her sister, Theressa continued to admire the dress.  "Tell me I can borrow 

it.  That is incredible."  The necklace caught her attention.  "This is 

beautiful Natalie and-----priceless!  Where---"



Natalie smiled as she touched the necklace.  "It was a gift from a very 

special gentleman!"  

The intercom buzzer announcing Tracy and Daniel .



"I will tell them we are on the way down!"  Nick left to answer the 

intercom!



Theressa stepped closer to the necklace to get a better look.  It looked 

familiar to her, but she just couldn't remember why.  As she touched the 

stone, it became clear and opaque losing all its fire.  Theressa and Natalie 

were both startled to see the change in the stone.  Natalie took the stone 

away from Theressa and the blue fire soon returned.  Theressa stood 

speechless as she watched the stone return to the blue green she first saw 

when she entered the room.  "Tasha it changes colors!  That's incredible!  

When you touched it the color went blue!  I don't understand!"



"It's a family heirloom Theressa.  It was given to me by the man I love and 

who loves me.  It is suppose to express my mood.  Sort of like a mood ring 

I guess."



Nick brought Natalie coat and helped her into it.  "Come Nat, we are 

already late!  We wouldn't want the symphony to start without us to cheer 

them on."  Nick turned his attention back to Theressa. "Sure you don't 

want to come Theressa or are you being entertained elsewhere tonight!"  A 

wicked grin crossed Nick's face as Theressa blushed.



"What are we talking about here?"  Natalie totally oblivious to her sister's 

feverish desire to visit the museum at all hours of the night.



Theressa wasn't aware that Nick had noticed her nocturnal activities as of 

late.  She shouldn't have been surprised.  After all he was a cop and a night 

person.  Not much got past him.  It didn't take much to figure out she was 

spending more hours at work than most people would, so there had to be a 

reason.

"My translations are coming along quite nicely Tasha!  I have just been 

spending a great deal of my time at the museum.  Maybe that's why your 

necklace looks so familiar."  Theressa turned her attention back to the 

necklace as Nick helped Natalie with her coat.  "I know I have seen in 

somewhere before!"



Nick passed a concerned glance to Nat as he changed subject quickly.  

"Well, we better be off  Nat!  Tracy and Daniel are downstairs waiting."  

He offered his arm to Nat, which she gratefully accepted.  "Don't wait up 

for us Theressa!"  Nick winked as he closed the lift door.



"We could have problems Nat!  She is translating the missing Archive 

Books and that necklace may be in one of them.  This is not good!"





						PART (9/14) 

ADULT--TOPIC

 

LaCroix sat quietly at the bar sipping his wine, when the air became

deathly still and a shadow appeared on the wall.  There was no wind, no 

rustle of napkins on the bar, only silence.



"To what do I owe the pleasure, Divinia?"  LaCroix turned slightly to

meet the head of the Tribunal as she stood motionless in front of him.

He let his eyes roam her body taking in her lithe form with an

appreciative glance.  "The years are treating you well, I see!"  He

reached for another glass and filled it, offering it to her in one smooth 

motion.



"I've always admired your calm, Lucien.  Only a few can even carry on

a civilized conversation with me let alone undress me with their

eyes.  You fear nothing!  It's so refreshing in this day and age."

She laughed letting her eyes return to a normal shade of green as she

sat down at the bar beside him.  "How is your little quest going,

Lucien?  Any luck in locating the missing manuscripts from the    

Archives....or are you protecting your wayward son again?"  A knowing 

look crossed her face as she sipped the bloodwine slowly savoring each  

drop.

 

Divinia's motives, as usual, were hers alone.  Why was she here instead of 

sending for him?  She never left the chambers unless she had her own

personal agenda.  What was in these manuscripts that she wanted so

badly?  What did she truly want from him when she assigned him instead

of the Death Squad to find the missing manuscripts?  Trust was never one 

of his best features, and Divinia certainly was never to be trusted.

Yet, he truly did love a challenge and possibly he could use his

knowledge of the whereabouts of the manuscripts to his advantage after

all.

 

 ----------------------------

3 weeks later

 

Theressa sat quietly at the desk at the museum cross-referencing the little 

bits of information she was obtaining from the manuscript.  After scanning 

the older two manuscripts with Lucien's help, she had put them aside.  

They were the chronological order of when people had been brought across 

and by whom, back to the year 400.  Interesting reading material, but there 

was something in the manuscript of the nobility that kept nagging at her 

mind. Each day she made a little progress.  Lucien flatly refused to help 

her with the book, claiming the boring noble hierarchy and their wretched 

display of wealth was beneath him. 



He was a fountain of information when he wanted to be.  Theressa was 

fascinated by the stories.  He made them come alive as he spoke and she 

was captivated.   At times Theressa actually felt she was there.  There was 

something in Lucien voice that called to her.  Then she found the picture of 

the necklace.  It was the same necklace Tasha wore 3 weeks prior to the 

symphony.  Copying the inscription quickly on a piece of paper Theressa, 

set about translating the writing.  Hours later she had the answer to many 

of the questions that had plagued her mind over the past several weeks.  Of 

course, it was the only logical explanation.  She had to speak with Tasha.

 

 ---------------------------------

 

"Goodnight Grace!  I'll see you tomorrow night"  Grace was pulling her

arms into her coat.

 

"You should call it a night, Natalie!  You look exhausted.  The   paperwork 

can wait till tomorrow you know.  The Collins woman is not   going 

anywhere.  Has Nick been keeping you up days?" Grace smiled a   knowing 

smile.  "Seriously, you are looking really tired and pale.  Go home and get 

some sleep.  See you tomorrow."  She closed the door leaving Natalie alone 

at her desk.

 

"Tired is an understatement!  And I am starved all the time.  Not to

mention I am talking to myself.  You have got to get a grip, Lambert."

Natalie turned her attention back to the paperwork.  A soft knock came

at the door.

 

"Come in."

 

"Tasha."

 

"Theressa!  What a pleasant surprise."  She noticed the worried look in

her sister's eyes.  "What's wrong?"



"I need to talk with you, Tasha, about Nick"

 

She has found the necklace in one of her books.  Natalie thought, frowning 

slightly.  Nick said she would eventually put all the pieces together.  By the 

look on Theressa's face and the nervousness in her voice, Natalie's fears 

had just become reality.



"What about Nick, Theressa?  Is something wrong?"

 

"I know you have known each other for a long time, Tasha, but how well  

do you really know the man?---I mean his background, where he comes 

from, his family?"

 

"Just exactly what did you want to know, Theressa?"

 

Theressa pulled out a copy of the necklace and the inscription

translation and handed it to her sister.  Natalie took the photocopy

from her sister's hand and returned her gaze steadily trying to decide

how to explain.  "Nick is the current de Brabant heir isn't he, Tasha?  I 

mean....the one that no one has seen and is so reclusive.  That's why he has 

the de Brabant sword and that necklace.  That necklace was

supposedly lost right after the crusades when the original Nicholas de

Brabant disappeared.  Yet, here it is again after 800 years in your

possession,  given to you by your husband who loves you totally.  A man 

who  has immense money to the point that he displays his antiques as if 

they are momentos from his own life.  It's okay, Natalie!  I will keep his 

secret!" She rushed on in an effort to convince her sister.

 

Her sincerity and trust in both Nick and herself warmed Nat's heart to

the point that tears began to form behind her eyes.  She was getting to

emotional as of late.  To have her little sister have such faith in her

was almost more than she could handle.  Should she tell her the whole 

truth or would that endanger her from the Enforcers?  The less she knew 

the better.



"Theressa,  I don't know what to say except that Nick has worked very

hard to keep his identity a secret.  His family wealth and status in

France could cause him problems here in Toronto, not to mention the

problems it would cause him on the force.  You have to keep this

information to yourself.  Do you understand?"

 

Theressa walked over to hug her sister conspiratorially.  Delighted in

finally discovering the reasons for all the unanswered questions about

Nick and Natalie brought a smile to her face.  "You could have

told me you know.  It is not as if I am in close contact with the noble

families of France or anything."  She laughed easily.  "Just how rich is 

Nick?"

 

"Let's just say he couldn't spend it all in his lifetime."  The

revelation seemed to not only lift Theressa spirits but Natalie's as

well. "Well, listen I had better get back to this paperwork or I won't

make it home before dawn.  You going back to the museum or the loft?"

 

"I think I will call it a night and head for the loft.  Are you and   Nick sure 

I am not putting you out?  This project could take a few more

months you know?"

 

Natalie walked calmly over to her sister and made her look directly in

her eyes before she spoke.  "You are always welcome at our house,

Theressa and you are no problem.  After all, how many houseguest don't

have to be entertained and work just as many hours as we do.  Let's

not forget the fact that you are also willing to feed Sydney when I not

home on time.  God knows Nick and Sydney don't see eye to eye most of

the time.  I will see you at home later, okay?"  She walked her sister  to the 

door.  "Tell Nick I'll be home shortly, all right?"

 

 ----------------------------

 

Theressa heard Nick come in somewhere around 4 a.m. and head directly   

for the refrigerator.  Should she speak with him or just let Tasha  handle 

it?  It was an awkward situation at best.  She would let Tasha   speak with 

him about her knowledge and then they would talk.  Maybe then Nick 

would loosen up and give her some details about all those  missing 

generations not recorded in the history books.  He would know.  After all, 

he was the heir in both title and riches.  She heard the lift kick on and 

slowly rise.  Tasha was home.  She would give them time together before 

she broached Nick about his past.



Nick had just finished lighting the fire when Nat walked in the door.   

Dumping her bag and coat on the table she came slowly to the couch and

collapsed.  Nick came quickly to her side concerned.  "Nat!  Are you

okay?"  He touched her face concerned and pulled her immediately into

his arms.  Concern was etched into his blue eyes as he brushed the hair

out of her face and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

 

"Nick!  I am so tired I could drop and....hungry."  Her eyes were golden

when she met his blue ones and her fangs had dropped.  Nick

opened his collar and offered her his neck which she gladly accepted.   As 

his blood coursed into her body, her strength began to return.  Nick

could feel the drain on her body and all that transpired with Theressa

and something strange...!   Natalie drank deeply feeling his love and desire 

for her until she realized she was causing him pain.  She drank to quickly.  

She pulled away as Nick caught his breath.

 

"Take mine Nick!  I need to feel you!"

 

He gently caressed her face with his fingertips, running them slowly to

her lips.  Slowly, ever so gently, his pressed his lips to hers, softly at first 

and then deeper as he pulled her into his arms.  She let him

explore her mouth and then trailed light kisses down her neck until he 

reached the first button of her blouse.  Playfully he bit the button and then 

teased her breast through the cloth causing her to gasp softly.  Running his 

hands down her sides, caressing each inch of her body as he traveled 

slowly to her thighs, while continuing his assault on her breasts with his 

lips.  Already emotionally charged from Nick's blood, Natalie was lost to 

the sensation of him.  Her hands found the buttons to his shirt and opened 

it to feel his soft, cool skin against her finger tips.  Nick unbuttoned her 

blouse and pushed up her skirt, never once stopping his lips from caressing 

her neck and breasts.



Through heavy breathes Natalie finally got a word out.  "We probably

should take this upstairs, you know!"



Nick trailed his lips slowly down her torso causing her to gasp for  breath 

as he gently kissed her flat stomach until he reached her lace  panties.  

Slowly he nibbled the lace until she grabbed his

blonde head and begged for more.  Ripping the panties in one smooth

motion, he let his tongue taste her sweet mound.  Electricity shot

through her with his touch.

 

"Then again, maybe not just yet!"

 

He pushed her back onto the couch and placed his tongue on her clit

until she forced his head harder into her core.  He replaced his tongue with 

his finger on her clit and moved his tongue inside her until she  thought 

she would explode with need.  Sucking gently she rocked with  his 

plunging tongue until in gasping breathes with his name on her lips, she 

found her release.  He  buried himself further in her until he could taste her 

release and feel her body come to him.

 

"Sure you want me to stop now?"  He smiled as he began a trail of

kisses back up to her lips.  He kissed her deeply burying his tongue in

her mouth.  She could taste herself as well as feel his need.

Slowly she undid his trousers and ran her hands to his now hard cock.

She let her fingers caress his hard penis with feathery touches as she  

nibbled along his neck with her lips.  The contact made him gasp and   

force himself harder into her hands.  Quickly she slid his pants down   

while she ran her fingers along the inside of his hard thighs until she heard 

his breathe catch.  Every place her hands touched, she followed with a light 

feathery kiss until she let her tongue slowly encircle his shaft, causing him 

to groan with pleasure.



"Oh, please, Nat!"  With that she took him slowly into her 

mouth and sucked hard until he was planted at the back of her throat.

Nick began to thrust deeper and deeper and Natalie held him firmly in

her grasp refusing to let him pull all the way out.  His muscles were on fire 

as she continued to suck harder pulling him closer to his  release. On the 

edge of control, Nick's eyes were now golden as he pulled her up off her 

knees.  In ragged breaths, he begged her to stop.  Her simple answer "No!" 

was the end of his struggle.  With her blouse completely open and her lace 

bra still in place, he quickly turned her around until her back came up 

against his hard chest.  She fit to him like a glove as he hard member 

entered her swiftly and he pulled her deep within his embrace.  He 

wrapped his arms around her until one hand caressed her nipple through 

the lace causing it to hardened with desire and his other hand sought her 

sensitive clit.  He rubbed gently until he could feel her start to shake with 

desire.  He thrust with his pelvis and pulled with his hands as she offered 

her throat to him from behind.  Through ragged breaths she begged him.



"Come with me Nick!  Feel my release as I need to feel yours!  I need to 

feel all of you completely!"  With each thrust they came closer and

closer to the release they both sought.  She moaned his name softly as her 

body gave into his.  Nick lost all rational thought as she came to

him, in one swift movement he buried his fangs into her neck and his hard 

cock into her body as he released his seed in full force.



Totally spent she collapsed into his arms. Nick afraid of having gone to far, 

picked her up quickly and carried her upstairs.

  

  -----------

She stood quietly, with the door slightly ajar letting herself become

part of what she witnessed even from her restricted view. Either by 

fascination or curiosity, she felt compelled to watch the two lovers.  As 

Nick took Natalie upstairs in his arms, she silently closed the door to the 

guest room.

 

PART (10/14)

 

 ----------------

  

Theressa sat quietly behind her large mahogany desk filled with numerous

papers scattered about, not translating the manuscripts but browsing the 

classifieds in the paper. Page after page she continued mumbling to

herself.  The picture she presented with her dark tumble of curls

fanning her face, as she circled numerous lines in the paper was

one of a troubled, agitated woman.  LaCroix stood quietly watching her 

for a few moments listening to her increased heartbeat as she flipped

the pages in the paper.

 

"What seems to be the problem, young one?"  He projected his soft melodic 

voice in an effort to create calm where there was chaos.

 

Theressa jumped at the sound of his voice and snapped angry eyes toward

the owner.  "Why do you insist on doing that?"  She held up her hand in

defeat and shook her head.  "I know!  Because you can."  She sat back in

her chair watching him closely as he proceeded to ensconce himself in one 

of the large overstuffed chairs in the corner of the room.

 

"You seem overly vexed, Theressa.  Did you find something you should not

have?"  A pleasant smile crossed his lips inviting her to take the bait.

 

It was as if  he could read her mind.  How could this 2000 year old man, 

vampire, or creature of the night, know what was bothering her? ---But 

somehow he did.  She pushed her chair back and walked over to the chair

opposite him determined to find out how he did that.  "Just how...?"

  

LaCroix using vampire speed appeared behind her in a flash, jerking her

to her feet.  "You're intoxicating tonight, young one.  This problem has

your body sending off all the wrong signals."  She stood, mesmerized by

his hypnotic voice, as he trailed his cool fingers across her cheek and

down her long slender neck, which he eyed hungrily.  Placing a light kiss 

on her throat, he felt her body arch and pull toward him.  She was his if he 

desired it.  A smile crossed his lips with the knowledge that he could have 

this woman, yet something about her caused him to stop.  Why would she 

allow this.  His previous attempts to hypnotize her had not worked even 

slightly.  Why would she trust him in this position?  He pushed her out of 

his embrace only to find her liquid brown eyes staring intently into his. 

Gaining control of his urges, LaCroix sensed the change in her 

immediately.  She desired him. She knew exactly what he was, yet she still 

wanted him.  What a troublesome thought.

 

"You should be more careful, young one.  Times being what they are and 

my not so gallant attitude could cost you more than you bargained for."

 

Theressa returned to the desk moving the papers around rapidly.  Angry

at herself for getting carried away with Lucien.  That was it.  She was

angry because after watching Nick and Natalie last night, even from her

restricted view, she had to move out.  She had to move out of the only

place in 6 years that she felt loved and safe. So she threw herself at

the first man she saw trying to compensate for it.  Not her brightest

move, since he could have killed her on the spot, but for some reason he

stopped at the last moment.  It was a good thing one of them had some

common sense.  She could just see her explaining to Tasha that she was a

vampire.  That would be a classic discussion, let alone trying to get

Nick to accept the possibility of the undead.  At the least, she owed

Lucien an explanation of her behavior.  After all, he seemed to be a

rational man.  Maybe he could see that her reaction was based on the need 

for compassion.

 

"I'm sorry, Lucien!  I was upset and needed consolation and at the

moment you were the only one present.  I didn't think it through.  It

was stupid on my part.  Thank you for not taking advantage of it."  She

smiled apologetically at him and then the question.  "WHY didn't you

take advantage of  it?"

 

Ignoring the question, LaCroix countered with his own.  "What troubles

you so, young one?"

 

"Stop calling me that!  I am not that young.  I'm not 2000 years old, but I 

didn't just fall off the turnip truck last week either." She was angry again 

and the fire was back in her eyes.  "The answer is I have to move out of my 

sister's place."

 

"You had a disagreement?"  LaCroix returned to the chair by the window

again casually watching her from a distant while he listened to her

heartbeat.

 

"No...No! Nothing like that." She started pacing behind the desk as she

continued. "It is just that she and my brother-in-law have not been

married very long and they need their space."  She fidgeted with the

pencil as she spoke hoping he would not ask for details.

 

"You saw them making love and felt yourself the intruder?"  He said it

with a certainty that unnerved her.

 

She dropped down into the desk chair and sat speechless.  Finding her

tongue she finally put her thoughts in order. "How did you know that?"

 

"You are extremely fond of your sister and this rebuilt relationship. We

have discussed it frequently over the past few weeks, and you are more

than mildly attracted to you brother-in-law.  It makes sense that you

would find it necessary to put some space between yourself and them when

you found out that his attentions were solely for your sister.  Rejection is so 

difficult for mortals to handle."   LaCroix turned his attention out the 

window feigning interests in the draperies while awaiting her reaction as 

his comments sank in.

 

Theressa was incensed as she approached his chair and stood directly in

front of him with her hands on her hips.  "Is that what you think?  That

I had the hots for Nick and couldn't stand it when I saw them together?"

The more she thought about it the madder she got. "You arrogant Son of a

Bitch!  I thought you of all people could understand what it's like to

feel alone and unloved!   Natalie and Nick's is the first place in 6

years that I felt loved and safe and not alone!  But they need time to

themselves.  It's not fair to them to have someone always around.  They

are lovers!  Incredible lovers I might add and that should be cherished

and nurtured to last a lifetime!"  She sat down wearily in the chair

across from him.

 

LaCroix was stunned.  It wasn't possible.  He stared at her intently

until her eyes met his.  "Your sister is Natalie Lambert and Detective

Nick Knight is your brother-in-law?"  He knew the answer before she

spoke.

 

 ------------------------

 

Natalie was finishing up the last of the Dawson autopsy when Daniel

breezed in the door all smiles.

 

"You look up to your elbows in this one, Doc!" He smiled at her position

of one knee on the table and her arm fishing deep inside the body

cavity.  "Looking for gold or are you just a girl who likes to see

things first hand?"  Daniel was chuckling at his own joke, because Nat's

night had not been kind.  First the 3 kids from the car accident, the

computer crashed and now no bullet for ballistics in a drive by

shooting.  What else could go wrong tonight?

 

"I'm glad you are in such a chipper mood, Detective Trent!  Some of us

less speedy mortals have to take life at a little slower pace.  Speaking

of which, you had better stop with that vamp speed before someone notices 

it.  I know you're excited with all that Nick been showing you, but he will 

be the first one to tell you that CAUTION should be your first method of 

operation."  Daniel's attention had drifted over to the computer screen.  

"Do you hear me Daniel?"

 

Still distracted as he read Natalie's write up on the 3 children

pronounced dead earlier that evening, Daniel just mumbled a positive

remark.  Nat finished with her search for the missing bullet, climbed

off the table and stripped her gloves.  She covered the body and removed

her lab coat before she sat on the edge of her desk by Daniel while he

read the report.

 

The sadness was written on his face even before he spoke.  "It's tragic

when one so young dies without ever having accomplished anything.  It

makes you question God and faith."

 

He was fading back to something in his past.  Nat knew the signs well.

Daniel and Nick were a great deal alike.  She touched his arm gently to

bring him back to the present.  "There is a God, Daniel, and he has a plan 

for all of us.  We may not know what that is, but that doesn't mean it's not 

there.  If you have faith you can overcome anything.  Nick and I are a good 

example of that."

 

Daniel looked into Natalie's eyes and gently touched her hand as he

spoke.  "That's what keeps me going, Nat."  A sudden gust of wind blew

the morgue door open as 3 men clad in solid black appeared before them.

Daniel and Nat were on their feet in seconds, but too late for any

chance of escape.

 

One Enforcer threw Daniel against the blood refrigerator across the

room like he was a rag doll.  Natalie lunged left to avoid the first

attack from the second Enforcer only to be pinned to the floor by the

third.  He slapped her hard against the floor before he spoke.  "Don't

struggle, Dr. Lambert, or you will cause me to hurt you.  You and your

young companion are coming with us.  Divinia has use for both of you."

Hauling Natalie and Daniel to their feet, the three Enforcers forced them 

out the door, dropping a black rose tipped in blood on the note left in the 

center of Nat's desk.

 

 ----------------------------

 

LaCroix had not stopped pacing the floor since Theressa's verbal

confirmation of her sister being none other than Natalie Lambert.  This

changed everything and most of it could become lethal when dealing with

Divinia.  If the head of the Tribunal even suspected Theressa was

related to Natalie and Nick, the suspicion of Nick's involvement with

the missing Archives would be enough for her in her unbalanced state to

issue death warrants for all of them.  He had chose not to share his

knowledge of the missing Archives hoping somehow to hold a little control 

over Divinia.  She wanted them back desperately, but why? There would be 

time later for analyzing her motives, but for know he had to return the 

Archive manuscripts, keeping Theressa out of it.  Her chance of survival 

through this mess would be minimal at best.  Odd, the thought of her dying 

without it being her choice bothered him.  He must be spending to much 

time analyzing Nicholas' actions as of late.

 

"What is it, Lucien?"  Theressa had watched his pacing in silence long 

enough.  She'd never seen him like this.  "Do you know my sister and 

Nick?"  That was what set him off.  He must know them, but how?

 

LaCroix felt them long before the arrived.  In reality it was only seconds, 

but enough time for him to warn Theressa.

 

"Do exactly as I say, Theressa, and you may live through the night."  He 

stepped in front of her before they entered the room.

 

There were 6 of them.  LaCroix recognized 3 of them and knew the other 3 

by name only.  "It took 6 of you?" LaCroix taunted.  "Divinia must think

my powers are stronger than they actually are!"  He purposefully relaxed

to throw them off guard as his famous all-knowing smile crossed his

stoic face. Jacob lunged first at LaCroix followed by Thomas.  LaCroix

tossed them off like toys as Erin came in low.  Theressa froze in place

as she watched LaCroix revel in his vampire state. She was frightened

yet fascinated at the same time.  Demetrie stood and watched as the

battle continued, keeping a close eye on Theressa as it progressed.  They 

intended to kill LaCroix and her afterwards, that much was obvious. She 

reached into the drawer of her desk to remove the old martyred saint's 

cross that she had put away for safe keeping while Lucien was with her. 

Demetrie attacked as LaCroix finished the second Enforcer with a wooden 

chair leg as a stake.

 

"Use the cross and run, Theressa!"

 

Demetrie stopped dead in his tracks 2 feet from the desk when Theressa

brandish the cross in front of her.  Quickly, she placed it on her neck,

never taking her eyes off Demetrie until LaCroix scream in pain as the

stake impaled him from the back.  Erin had managed to hold LaCroix off

while Jacob staked him from the rear.  Lashing out in pain by natural

instinct LaCroix slit Erin's throat with his fingernail, but the damage

was done.  Theressa screamed as she saw Jacob prepare the final blow to

the now prostrate LaCroix on the floor.  As the stake arced down to

finish its job, an unnoticed presence pushed the lethal object directly

into Jacob's heart.  Nick continued pushing the stake completely through

his opponent till he collapsed in a heap beside LaCroix.  Nicholas then

turned to face Demetrie.

 

Theressa went immediately to LaCroix, trying desperately to understand

what was happening and how to help him.

 

"Leave now, Demetrie and tell Divinia I will be there with the

manuscripts shortly!"  Nick's eyes remained golden and his fangs

extended as he spoke.  "Tell her, she won't get what she really wants if

she hurts Natalie or Daniel!  TELL HER!!" He growled.

 

Demetrie started to object, but deep in his soul he was terrified of

Nick, especially when he was enraged.  Demetrie had felt his anger first

hand and he did not care to take on Nicholas alone.  Judging his chances

of survival to be slim if he pursued the issue, he fled the museum as 

quickly as he came.

 

Theressa stood motionless as she watched the confrontation between her

brother-in-law and the Enforcer. Once Demetrie was gone, Nick got

control of the raging beast and came to LaCroix's side.  Theressa,

kneeling on the floor beside LaCroix, touched his still form as the

blood seeped through her fingers. She applied pressure to the wound in

his chest never taking her eyes off the protruding stake still implanted

there. In a soft pleading voice she asked. 

 

"Can you help him?"

 					PART (11/14)





Nick had stopped the downward arc of the stake into LaCroix's chest out

of pure instinct and part rage.  Upon entering the museum, he

immediately sensed the Enforcers and the battle within.  His anger only

intensified as he witnessed the danger to Theressa due to LaCroix innate

desire to control everyone around him.  Gold flecks still edged his eyes

as he knelt quietly beside LaCroix and Theressa on the cold floor.

 

Theressa gently touched his arm trying to analyze her brother-in-law and

read his thoughts as he stared angrily at LaCroix.  Why should he hate

him enough to let him die?  This wasn't the Nick  she knew.

 

"Do you hate him that much, Nick?"  Theressa's brown eyes met Nick's for

the first time since he entered the museum.  A single tear escaped her

eye and slid down her face.  She needed an answer before she would

accept that nothing could be done for Lucien.

 

Nick gently touched the tear as it rolled down her cheek,  the gold

flecks finally disappearing from his now blue eyes. With the pain of

centuries of torture etched into his face, he responded so softly

Theressa would not have heard if she had not listened closely.  "I've

had 800 years to learn to hate him, Theressa." A great sadness washed over 

him as he returned to the still form of LaCroix on the floor.  The stake was 

imbedded in his chest, touching only part of his heart, as the now 

unconscious LaCroix labored to breathe.



Talking more to himself than Theressa, Nick analyzed his condition.  "If I 

remove this stake, he will survive."  Nick turned his attention back

to Theressa.  Indecision and pain were written on his face as she gently

touched his face with her free hand.  "You don't know what you ask of

me, Theressa."

 

The pieces all finally fit into the puzzle as she stared intently at

him.  "You are the original Nicholas de Brabant." Stunned by the

realization of what was before her all along, she sat back on the floor

removing her hand from the seeping wound in LaCroix's chest.  "He

brought you across-didn't he?  Is that why you hate him so, Nick?"

Suddenly remembering what she saw the night before at the loft, fear

leapt into her voice. "And...Tasha?  How can you and she....?" Fear was

replaced by anger as she lunged toward Nick.  "You took her last night!

You are making her into a...."  Nick grabbed her arms and forced her

down on her knees in front of him.



"Theressa!  I love Natalie!  More than life! I would never hurt her.  We

tried everything to be together, to make me mortal again.  She was

willing to let me bring her across or die trying.  We tried and in the

end she had become part vampire and I became part mortal.  But we are

together!  We have faith in our love and take every minute of every day

just as it comes.  Everything, Theressa,  everything in life is subject

to change.  Tomorrow, or next year, may be the end of our time together,

but for now we have been given a second chance and we have to take it,

feel it, live for it--all that we can.  Can you understand that?"  His

love for Natalie was in his eyes.  He would not hide it, disguise it or run 

from it ever again.  He loved her body and soul and he wanted Theressa to 

understand it before he released her.

 

As Nick released her arms, the same feeling of warmth and love that she

felt at the loft when Nick and Natalie were together flooded her senses.

He told the truth.  It was in his eyes for the world to see and she

would not ever doubt it again.  Her gaze went to LaCroix, fading quickly

away on the floor.  "Then help him, Nick.  If you can learn to love and

be loved for what you are then so can he."  She looked beseechingly at

Nick as she took both his hands into hers.  "I need to know what it is I

feel for him?  Can you understand that?"



Nick pulled his hands from hers and moved to LaCroix's right side.

Placing one knee on his arm and two hands on the wooden stake, he pulled

the stake from LaCroix's chest, eliciting a scream from the older vampire 

as the stake came free.  Looking directly into Theressa's eyes, Nick let his 

fangs drop and his eyes turned golden as he ripped his wrist to let the blood 

flow freely.  He placed his wrist over LaCroix's lips, letting the blood flow 

slowly down his throat.  His eyes returned to normal as LaCroix began to 

suck gently, pulling Nick's blood into his soul.  "Go slow, LaCroix, or the 

cow's blood will upset your system.  On second thought, drink up and 

maybe it will make you sick!" His dislike for LaCroix evident in every 

word he spoke.

 

"You don't drink human blood anymore, Nick?"  Theressa questioned him

gently trying not to distract him because she did not fully

understanding what was happening between the two men.



"Only Natalie's, Theressa--Only Natalie's" he repeated as the drain from

LaCroix began to take its toll on him.  As LaCroix continued to drink

the images began to flow, until Nick pulled his arm free in a fit of

rage and jerked LaCroix up hard against the nearby wall.  Bleary eyed as

he recovered slowly, LaCroix responded.



"Really, Nicholas!  Such an emotional display and lack of control in

front of yet another resistor.  You know I don't respond well to

threats."  Nicholas pulled both of them to their feet and tossed his

master across the room into a heap on the floor.



"Nick!"  Theressa screamed as she ran to LaCroix on the floor.  "Are you

out of your mind?"



Enraged by what he felt in LaCroix's blood, Nick attacked his master at

vampire speed, throwing him up against the opposite wall and holding him

by the lapels of his coat.  "You Son of a Bitch!  It is one thing to

play games with your life, but not Nat's or mine!"  Nick released him

and watched him slowly drop to the floor, still in pain from his chest

wound and the sudden impact with the wall.  Nick's anger subsiding, he

turned to leave.



"Nicholas?"  LaCroix voice sounded weak even to Nick from the door.  "I

did not know Theressa was Natalie's sister until tonight."  The truth

was in his eyes as well as his blood.  All Nick had to do was let

himself feel it.



The emotional pain he felt from LaCroix's betrayal hurt him even more

than he cared to admit.  Barely controlled Nick returned to his side.

"Explain to me why you couldn't put a stake through my heart when I

begged you to finish what you started 769 years ago, yet for the sake of

boredom and a challenge, you are willing to sacrifice everything.  What 

will you do for entertainment when this is finished, LaCroix?  When all is 

said and done---who will win?  Pity, I won't be around to see it!"  Nick rose 

to leave as Theressa followed him to the door, leaving LaCroix

struggling to his feet alone.

 

"I don't understand Nick!  What has happened?  Has something happened 

to

Natalie?  What has Lucien done?"  Theressa became more confused as she

watched the two men across the room from each other.

 

Nick visually located the manuscripts on Theressa's desk and walked 

calmly over to retrieve them as she stood silently by the door.  Picking the 

books up gently, Nick scanned the oldest manuscripts.  On the last page, he 

found what he sought and closed the book gently.  "This is what it is all 

about isn't it LaCroix?  This book....and me?"  Returning to the door where 

he left Theressa, Nick made a decision.

 

"You owe me LaCroix and I am collecting now!"  LaCroix's eyes jerked to

meet Nicholas' as he spoke.

 

"After tonight you will protect Natalie.  She is under your protection

now and for all eternity.  What happens between you and Theressa is up

to you and her since you are both consenting adults, but when this is

done Natalie will need your help, both of your help. She carries our

child!"  He looked to Theressa for her acceptance and then back to

LaCroix.  "You must keep her safe from the community and the mortal

world since she is both mortal and vampire.  I charge you with her

safety and my SON's!  You must teach him how to survive in both worlds,

not just one."



Coming to Nicholas' side, LaCroix stopped him from leaving.  "It's not

the manuscripts she wants, Nicholas.  You know that.  She will destroy

you!  This was not...."  LaCroix started to touch his son but Nick

pulled away.



"You gambled and I lost!  Why does that not surprise me?"  Nick walked

into the darkened museum hallway to face the inevitable.



"Nicholas?"  Nicked turned to face his Father one last time.



Acceptance written on his stoic face LaCroix continued on.  "I WILL take

care of your SON and NATALIE!  You have my word."



PART (12/14)

 

Tracy sat at her desk filling out the special report that the Captain

has asked for before Nick left.  Naturally, of course, she was left with the 

paper work when he got the call from the coroners office.  Something was 

wrong, she could tell it from the expression on his face.  No explanations,-- 

no "I'll tell you later"-- just a phone call telling her

something personal had come up and she would have to cover for him.

Men! They can be so frustrating at times. But this was different and she

knew it.  How she knew it she wasn't sure, but the scar over her heart

had been burning slightly after Nick left, and now it was almost like an

unbearable poker burning the skin above her breast.  Something was wrong

and she was going to find out what.  With that thought, Tracy tossed the

incomplete paperwork into the inbox and grabbed her coat.

 

 ------------------

 

Nick stood alone in the parking lot of the museum trying to calm himself

before he left.  Should he drive or fly to his own demise.  His thoughts

were of Natalie and their son---his son.  It was what he felt in

Natalie's blood the last night.  He wasn't sure until he tasted her

blood that the second heartbeat was real.  He had dreamed of it so often

it was hard to distinguish anymore between the reality and the dream.



 **************

The night before:

 

Nick gently carried Natalie up the stairs in his arms.  As he reached

the top landing she gently placed her arms around his neck and smiled

into his blue eye and cuddled closer.  Placing her gently on the black

satin sheets he followed her gently  down onto the bed.  As he lay down

beside her, she let her fingertips roam his beautiful face tracing every

corner and crevice as if memorizing them for all time.  He let his right

hand roam under her loose blouse down to her slim waist and finally

pulled her completely into his arms and held her like a cherished doll.



"Nat?"  His eyes spoke volumes, yet he was still afraid to voice what he

felt in her blood.  "Are you okay?"

 

She smiled and leaned in to kiss him gently.  "I am better than okay!

I'm with you."  She saw the worried expression on his face and was

confused by it.  "What's wrong, Nick?  Why the frown and the worried

look.  I'm okay, really!"  She kissed him softly nibbling at his lower

lip when she finished the kiss.

 

Uncertain as to how to ask the question Nick decided on the direct

approach.  "Nat....I felt something in your blood!  Something, I'm not

certain.....?"  He left the sentence incomplete which worried her.  "What 

did you feel Nick?  What's in my blood that scares you?  Tell me,

please!  We said no secrets.  Remember?"  She held his face with both

hands until her eyes locked with his.  "Tell me!"

 

"I felt a second heartbeat!"  He let the information sink in before he

continued.

 

Natalie sat up quickly in the bed automatically placing her hand on her

lower stomach and smiled.  She turned back to Nick and launched herself

into his arms knocking him flat on his back in the center of the bed.

"We are going to have a baby, Nick!  Our baby!"  She wrapped her arms

around his neck as he smiled up into her face.  "Our baby.  What a nice

ring that has to it."  He pulled her lips to his and kissed her softly.

When he released her lips, a small worried frown crossed her face.

 

"What is it, Nat?"

 

She turned her brown eyes back to his.  "You're happy about this aren't

you?  She was almost afraid to her the answer.  They had never actually

spoken about children.  She had dreamt it, wished it, and prayed for it

everyday since the first night they had made love.  She wanted a

permanent piece of him.  A small piece that could never disappear no

matter what happened.  But she had never really asked him.

It was hard to tell where her desires and his ended when they exchanged

blood while making love.  Maybe it was only her desire to have children.

Maybe he didn't really want children.

 

He pulled both her hands into his and let his blue eyes meet her.  "I

prayed for it every time we made love.  Our child, Natalie, conceived in

love, not in blood-the way it should be.  You know that.  It is in my

blood, just as it has been in yours."

 

"I just can't tell, Nick, whether what I feel in your blood is my desires or 

yours.  We never really talked about it.  I guess I..."

 

He stopped her with a kiss that started gently and deepened quickly

until she found herself moaning softly into his mouth as he tongue

explored hers.  Breaking the kiss and forcing her eyes back to his, he

let his eyes express his heart.  "We are as one, Natalie.  My heart is

yours and what you feel in my blood is not only your desire but mine.

No secrets, ever!  We have a son created in love, and with the exception

of the day that I realized you loved me in spite of what I

am---nothing--I repeat--- nothing has ever made me happier." He pulled

her lips back to hers, and laid her gently back on the bed to make love

one more time.

 

 --------------------

 

The closer Tracy got to the museum, the more the scar over her heart

burned.  In the past several months, it seemed every time Nick was in

trouble, Tracy knew.  It was the scar.  Nick said it matched the one over his 

heart where LaCroix placed the stake.  He had no explanation as to why 

one appeared on her that night except, maybe the bullet passing

through his body before it struck her had inexplicably connected them

somehow--And they were connected.  He knew when she was in trouble 

and

she knew likewise.

 

Tonight she knew Nick was in big trouble.  As she parked the car, she

saw Nick come out of the museum and stand quietly in the moonlight.  He

was somewhere else, reliving something in the past.

She could see it in his eyes.   Good or bad she could not tell because his 

expression was blank.  She touched his arm gently trying to bring him back 

to the present.

 

"Nick?"  She spoke his name softly.  "You have to come back now."

 

Nick turned finally realizing Tracy was standing beside him.  "Trace, you 

shouldn't be here."

 

"Where should I be, Nick?  My partner, my best friend, and my boyfriend

are all in trouble.  They ARE in trouble aren't they, Nick?  Nat and

Daniel are both missing, you claim personal problems, a rose tipped in

blood in found on Natalie's desk and the scar over my heart hurts like

Hell!  Tell me again exactly where I should be."  The 'no argument' look

on her face reminded Nick just how strong Tracy was and why she was 

such

a good cop.

 

"The Enforcers and Divinia have Nat and Daniel.  They attacked LaCroix

and Theressa inside.  We killed several of them, but it will not stop

until Divinia gets what she wants.  They are our only insurance.  If I give 

her what she wants and cut a good enough deal, she might let them go."

 

"What does she want, Nick?  The missing Archive manuscripts that Daniel

talked about?"

 

"No----She wants ME!"

 

They way he said that one word scared her.  It was as if he knew all

along that his life was the only thing that would save his friends.

"I'm going with you!"

 

"No, Trace!  Not this time.  I don't know if my life is worth enough to

Divinia to release Nat and Daniel both, but if you come along it gives

her another weapon against me.  Theressa needs help with LaCroix inside.

Go and help her.  When this is all over he may be the only protection

you all have against the community."

 

She started to object and Nick pulled her into his arms and held her

close.  "Do this for me, Trace." He whispered into her ear and broke the

embrace to face her.  "Natalie is pregnant, Trace.  She carries my son.

I want him to have a chance at life--to live, love and enjoy the sun.

All those things I haven't been able to do for centuries.  You want to

help me and Daniel?---then help LaCroix."

 

Nick released her and physically turned her toward the door.  Tracy took

two steps toward the museum entrance before she stopped and called to

him.  As a single tear escaped her eye. She spoke what her heart felt.

"Nick!  You are my best friend and if this is where you want me to be,

then I will be here for you."  She walked back to him and placed her

hand gently on his arm before she finished.  "Natalie always said you

try to do what is right, but she was wrong.  You have always done what

IS right no matter what the cost to yourself.  I have always admired

that.  I just thought you ought to know."  She turned quietly and walked

into the museum while Nick took to the air and Divinia.

 

 -----------------

 

Divinia paced the floor in smooth graceful strides looking out the

window at the stars trying to judge the time.  How long before he would

arrive.  She had changed clothes for the third time yet this evening.

Of course, her entire wardrobe was black, but each dress was

progressively more suggestive than the one before.  You would have

thought she was preparing for a lover instead of an execution.  Daniel

and Natalie stood under guard at the corner of the room.  No one had

spoken to them since their arrival.  Periodically, Divinia would give

Natalie a scathing glance.  Strange, the young mortal woman did not

cringe when this happened.  Divinia had to admit, the young Doctor was

pretty and she obviously was not a coward.  Divinia had dismissed all

but 3 of the guards. The other 2 Tribunal members waited patiently

behind the Tribunal bench covering the entire north wall of the

underground cavern.  Demetrie had returned an hour ago reporting the

failure to kill LaCroix and Theressa by Nick's intervention.   Another

nail in de Brabant's coffin.  Divinia had all the excuses she needed to

execute him and his friends now.  Such a shame, she loved matching wits

with LaCroix, but he had gained to much power as of late and too many

followers and Nicholas was the key to her ultimate goal.

 

PART (13/14)



Seconds before Nick walked into the room, Natalie knew he was there.

She reached out with her mind and pushed hard to warn him of the danger.

Daniel watched her as she closed her eyes and took a deep breathe.

Concern for her made him touch her arm to keep her from falling with the

effort.  Divinia stopped pacing the floor when she felt Nicholas'

presence outside the door.  She turned to watch Natalie close her eyes

and physically felt her reach out to her husband.   She smiled when she

realized what Natalie was trying to do.  As if Natalie's paltry efforts

could stop her powers.  It amused her, yet she had to admit a degree of

admiration towards the woman for at least trying to fight her and not

giving in like so many others had.  Nick entered the room at vampire

speed, appearing before Divinia as she turned to greet him pleasantly.



"Good of you to join us, Detective."  She smiled and offered her hand for 

Nicholas to kiss.

 

Nick had felt Natalie's warning before entering the room.  He surveyed

his circumstances as well as Nat and Daniel's condition before he

responded to Divinia.  He casually lifted her hand to his cool lips and

placed the obligatory kiss to the back side of her hand before delivering the 

missing manuscripts to her now outstretched arms.  He stood quietly 

waiting for her to continue.  He could feel Nat's warmth even from where 

he stood with his back to her.  She was with him in heart and soul----afraid 

but with him.



"I see you managed to put your hands on the missing Archive manuscripts

quite easily, de Brabant.  That wouldn't be because you knew where they

were all along would it, Nicholas?"  Divinia was in Nicholas face in the

instant it takes to breathe.  Slowly she raked her long, blood red

fingernail down the side of his neck letting the blood trickle slowly

from the wound.  She brought her finger to her lips to taste his blood.

Nick stood completely still as his anger rose recognizing the game she

played.  That's what is was--a game.  He knew what she wanted, but the

rest of the council did not.  Was it possible they were not aware of

what was in the Archive manuscript?  Did they not know the power 

Divinia

would possess if she succeeded tonight or did they not care?  Did they

think this would improve the community somehow?

 

His haunted blue eyes locked with her gold ones causing her to stop

momentarily and pull back a few feet.  There was a part of her that was

frightened of him, if only for a moment.  He sensed it with the same

certainty that he sensed Natalie's love for him.  It might be the only knight 

he possessed in this game of chess that could cost them all their

lives.   "Let's skip the small talk, Divinia, you know as well as I that

the manuscripts are not what you want."  He purposeful turned around and

walked away from her to the center of the room watching Natalie's face

as he walked.  She had faith in him and he would not let her down this

time.  Recognizing the love in her eyes, he steeled himself for what was

to come in order to save his love and his son.  Turning back to Divinia

he stopped and awaited her answer.

 

Divinia casually tossed the manuscripts on the tribunal bench in front

of the other tribunal leaders for their inspection.  She momentarily

gave her attention to them. "As you can see, gentlemen, our Monsieur de

Brabant did possess the Archive manuscripts after all, and with the help

of his friends over there and LaCroix they have managed to keep them

hidden from the community for several months now.  They have given the

knowledge of our community to the mortal world.  They must pay for this

crime with their lives.  Slowly and painfully I might add--It is the

law!"  She smiled sweetly letting her eyes turn green for effect. She

turned her attention back to Nicholas once again.  "Unless our good

detective here can pass some of the knowledge he gleaned from the 

manuscripts back to us. Willingly, of course!  Then we might be a little 

more lenient in the way we dispose of them.  Mortals don't tend to do well 

with excruciating pain."   She turned fluidly and almost glided to the head 

of the tribunal table.  She seated herself on the edge draping one 

provocative leg over another exposing pale white skin up to her mid thigh.  

"Do we understand each other, Nicholas?"



"We understand each other perfectly, Divinia, but there will be no deal!" 

Nick using vampire speed placed himself nose to nose with her, unafraid of 

the consequences.  He had one chance to get Natalie and Daniel released.  

"My blood for their lives---willingly--or you can just put the stake through 

my heart now and not get what you really want." His eyes turned golden as 

he seethed with anger from her manipulation of the whole scheme.  She 

attacked him viciously and threw Nick across the

chamber up against the wall hard enough to make him collapse to the

floor.  



Getting control of the beast raging within, Nick calmly picked

himself up off the floor and came back to her at the head of the table.

Nick looked at the two additional tribunal leaders before he continued.

"They don't know do they, Divinia?  That what you really want is my blood 

in your veins.  The blood of a vampire turning mortal by the only way 

possible as written by the ancients---true love.  They don't understand the 

power you will possess not only in this community but in the mortal world 

as well.  You will no longer be confined by the darkness and you can 

experience all the mortal pleasures without the consequences.  You will 

live forever in the sunlight and the darkness with no one to stop you.  But 

only if I give it to you freely.  That's why your afraid of me Divinia, 

because if I live long enough to produce a child you will lose control of the 

community.  The only way you can maintain your control is to possess my 

ability to love which will make you part mortal and part vampire and then 

kill me.  That's what the manuscripts tells us. Isn't it Divinia?  Natalie and 

I found true love and that is the only way back to mortality.  In love there is 

strength in the mortal world, but to possess it in the vampire world gives 

you power and unimaginable strength because you are no longer bound by 

restrictions throughout eternity.  That's why the ancients guarded the secret 

of returning to mortality so closely.  An individual without restrictions 

would be invincible. You are incapable of loving yourself, so the only 

answer is to take it from me.  Only according to the ancients, love cannot 

be stolen, only given freely, so I must willingly give it to you or it won't 

work.----Well, I won't give it freely unless you release Natalie and Daniel 

and swear in front of the tribunal that no harm will come to them or 

LaCroix and Theressa for as long as they live."  Nick stepped back 

awaiting her answer.  She would not break her word sworn in front of the 

elders of the community.  It would be suicide even for her.  A vampire's 

word is sacred and can only be broken by death.  It was law.



Eran stood up from behind the tribunal bench ready to speak as Divinia 

gave him a scathing look.  He was terrified of her.  It was in his eyes as 

well as his stance but being an elder he felt obligated to question her.  "The 

knowledge and power must be shared with the community Divinia.  You 

know that!  If what de Brabant says is true then the entire tribunal should 

share in this power."  



Using vampire speed and strength Divinia threw Eran hard against the 

wall while Felix watched terrified of Divinia's wrath.  "I am the eldest of 

the community Eran and I decide who gets ANYTHING!"  Letting her 

eyes turn blood red and her fangs extend she smiled as the blood sweat 

began to surface on Eran's forehead.  "Do I make myself perfectly clear to 

you and Felix over there?"  She let her gaze travel to Felix as he sat quietly 

behind the bench.  They were both puppets to Divinia.



Calming herself, Divinia turned her attention back to Nicholas as if the 

other two council members were not in the room.



"You will not survive the exchange, de Brabant!  You cannot live with the 

images I will pass to you."  She stood quietly watching his eyes for

acceptance and resignation of his position.

 

"Then you will finish what you started."

 

"No!"  Natalie screamed from the far side of the room as she tried to

escape her guard.  Daniel caught her arm and pulled her away from the

guard before he struck her.  Tears streamed down her face as she

realized what he was doing.  "No, Nick! You can't do this.---Not now!"

 

Divinia watched the guard subdue Natalie and for the first time in

centuries, regret crossed her face.  "Agreed!"



Nick walked over to the corner where Natalie and Daniel where

quarantined.  Divinia nodded to the guard to release Natalie.

Natalie rushed into Nick's arms and buried her head in his chest.  Nick

pulled her close to him and ran his fingers through her hair breathing

in the scent for one last time.  The thought of leaving her and his

unborn child was almost more than he could bear.

 

"Don't do this, Nick."  Natalie whispered into his ear as he held her

close.  "We can't survive without you.  You have to find another way."

She removed her tear stained face from his shoulder to lock eyes with

his haunted blue ones.  Desperation and fear were etched into her face.

 

Nick gently kissed her lips, then her eyes and finally her forehead

before he gently rubbed the tear from her cheek.  "FOREVER, Natalie!  I

will be with you FOREVER!"  She started to speak when he place his

fingers to her lips to stop her.  He place Nat's hand in Daniel's as a

sign of trust in the young half-cast before he resigned himself to his

fate.  "Take care of her, Daniel and don't let her near me, no matter

what happens.  Promise me!"  Desperation was in his voice as he awaited

an answer.

 

"You have my word, Nick.  I will protect her with my life."  Daniel put

his arm around Natalie to keep her from following Nick back to Divinia.

 

Nick walked calmly back to Divinia as she smiled euphorically.  With her

fangs already extended and her eyes blood red, she wrapped her lithe

body around Nicholas and sank her fangs deep within his neck and drank

slowly.  Daniel forced Natalie to look away as Divinia slowly drained

her husband before the small group.

 

As Nick's blood coursed into her body, a warmth she had never known

overcame her.  His memories came slowly at first and then faster.  Each

time the memories included Natalie, the warmth returned until all the

memories were of Natalie and his love for her.  He was her's, body and

soul, from the love making to their sharing of blood. Their joys, fears

and sorrows all bombarded her making her more mortal than she had ever

been even in life and in return she gave him her bloodlust, anger and

desire for death.  Not just her death, but the death of everyone around

her.  She flooded him with 4000 years of pure hatred and evil until she

felt the child.  Nicholas' child.  Natalie was pregnant.  It was in his

blood.  The joy, the uncertainty, the fear of losing Natalie and the

child was what drove him to make such a trade with her.  His life for

theirs. He had traded all that was important to him in life for their

safety.  She released him quickly and let him collapse to the floor

unconscious.  Divinia stood breathless as Nick's blood coursed through

her veins.  His life, his hopes, his desires, his convictions and most

of all his love for Natalie caused her to seek the young mortal woman

across the room.

 

As their eyes met across the room, Nat's face burned with hatred while

Daniel restrained her from attacking Divinia.  Divinia brought her gaze

back to Nicholas unconscious on the floor realizing what her images

would do to his mind.  She crossed the room for the stake she left under

the bench watching the tribunal's reaction for any interference. There was 

only one leader in this community.  They were cowards. They knew it and 

she knew it.  No one could stop her now.  What Divinia wanted Divinia 

got. 



She returned to Nick's prostrate body on the floor, ready to finish what she 

had started.  She looked at the mortal woman one last time before she 

readied the final blow, seeing rage replaced by agony in the young

woman's eyes.

 

"Please, Divinia!" Natalie begged across the room.

 

Somehow it pleased Divinia to finally break this woman.  It brought a

great wave of pleasure to realize that in killing Nick, she would also

kill the child and the woman because they neither one could survive

without him.  "Ironic isn't it, Doctor, that in sacrificing himself to

save you, that he will destroy you as well.  Love is such a two edged

sword."  She laughed wickedly.

 

"That is something you will never know, Divinia."  Natalie stopped

struggling to free herself from Daniel as she spoke.  "Because you see,

you can feel the love in Nick's blood but you can't possess it.  It only

belongs to me and no matter what happens he will always love ME!  You

will never possess the power you seek because you can never truly love

anyone but yourself.  So all of this is for nothing.  Your deception to

the council, the manipulations of the death squad and your benevolent

facade to the community were all for nothing.  You will never have the

power and strength from love because evil is a pure abyss destined only

for darkness.  Your hatred has eaten away at the community for centuries

and brought it down to your level.  I don't believe God would ever let

Nick's love for me and mankind give your evil control over his world."

Natalie stood quietly challenging Divinia's faith in herself and evil.

 

"Is your faith that strong, Natalie, that God will save him for you?"

With her eyes gleaming gold, she raised the stake high above her head

plunging it downward toward Nick's heart.







PART (14/14)

 

The scream echoed through the chamber as the stake started it downward 

arch toward Nick's still form on the floor.  Not realizing it was her

own voice echoing through the chamber, Natalie lunged across the room to

stop Divinia from killing Nick, only to find Tracy plunging a wooden

stake through Divinia's back and into her heart.  The suddenness of the

stake appearing through her chest from the back caused Divinia to turn

on her aggressor.  Shock registered on Divinia's face as she recognized

the little blonde mortal who had delivered the blow.  She  grabbed Tracy's 

throat with one hand while using the other to push the wooden

stake back through her chest as Tracy struggled with Divinia's death grip 

around her throat.



"You didn't think this little paltry piece of wood could kill me....you

pathetic little mortal!"  Divinia tossed Tracy on the floor beside

Natalie's feet as she knelt on the floor beside Nick.

 

"No, Divinia, but this will take care of it nicely!" LaCroix appeared

beside Divinia with a large cutlass that slid silently through the air

severing her head from her body.  LaCroix had killed all 3 guards as

Tracy attacked Divinia and only the tribunal elders remained in the

room.  Daniel brought Nick's trusted cross from Joan of Arc that Tracy

tossed him on entering the room. He held the elders huddled in the

corner as LaCroix delivered the final blow.  Looking at his son lying

deathly still on the floor, LaCroix turned to pick up Divinia's body and

severed head carrying it to the corner of the chamber.  Finally he lit

her dress on fire.  The smell permeated the room as the tribunal elders

became enraged and tried forcing their way past Daniel.  LaCroix in full

vampire form stopped them as they reached the door.

 

Holding the deadly cutlass in front of him, he stopped them at the door.

"She is dead, gentlemen, and the community has divided loyalties.  The

ancients held a great deal of knowledge from us for centuries.  It is

time that we all make our own decisions.  Do you want to choose the old

way or the new?"

 

Eran spoke first as he came into full control of the raging beast

within.  "She would have destroyed us all for her own pleasure if she

had succeeded in obtaining his power."  He looked to his other companion

who nodded in agreement.  "It is time that the whole community make the

decisions as to how we proceed from her.  The time of Gods and Kings are

gone.  A new order is the key to our future.  Even we can see that now,

LaCroix."  LaCroix lower the cutlass and let them pass.

 

Nick began moaning softly on the floor as the images from Divinia's

blood kept amplifying as he awakened.  He could hear Natalie speaking

but the images where so strong. The blood, the death, the anger flooded

his soul.  He fought the urge to kill but the pleasure he felt as he saw

her take the blood from her victims was overwhelming.  He wanted it,

pushed into it, caressed it as if it was a long lost friend, yet it

caused him such pain.  Natalie's voice kept echoing in his mind.  She

loved him in spite of the bloodlust.  She would welcome him both body

and soul and he wanted her.  He wanted to drink her blood until they

became one.  No Nick and Natalie---only their blood together united in

bloodlust for all eternity. With that thought, he woke up.  With his

eyes red and his fangs extended, he reached for Natalie seated at his

side.  The image continued to bombard him with the anger and the

bloodlust causing him to wince in pain as he fought them seeking only

the solace of her blood.  The more he fought the images the more painful

they became until only Natalie's blood was the answer.  She was drawn to

him as only lovers are, as she offered her neck to him to ease his pain.

 

LaCroix, using vampire speed, crossed the room and jerked Natalie away 

from Nicholas.  He tossed her at Daniel who stood mesmerized by the 

scene unfolding in front of him.  "Hold her, you fool, and don't let her near 

him or he will kill her!"  LaCroix growled to Daniel as he held his now 

struggling son to the floor.  "Stop struggling, Nicholas.  You have to fight 

the images, the blood and the anger.  Fight it, Nicholas, or you will have 

lost yourself FOREVER."  LaCroix sliced his wrist with his

fangs and forced it into Nicholas' mouth.

 

LaCroix's blood was like a balm to his now burning mind.  The images

caused such physical pain he thought he would go insane.  Only the blood

would stop the pain.  His instinct for survival drove him on as he

drank. The drain was too much as LaCroix picked up only bits and pieces

of the images playing in Nick's mind.  The driving bloodlust was what

caused the pain and only blood would stop it, and maybe, even then, not

for long.  He had to get Nicholas to fight the images. It was his only

chance of survival with his sanity intact.

 

In ragged breaths, Nick freed himself from LaCroix's wrist and lunged

upward,  all of which amplified the pain within his head that now

cascaded through the rest of his body.  His efforts caused him to

collapse back to the floor. "LaCroix...I....NEED Natalie!  Please!  Help

me!  Natalie......!"

 

Natalie, using all her strength, fought to free herself from Daniel's

grasp.  "Daniel, let me go to him.  He needs my blood.  Can't you see

that?  Please!"  She was begging him now with tears running freely down

her cheeks.

 

LaCroix forced his struggling son to lie still as another wave of pain

coursed through his body, eliciting a scream torn from the bottom of his

soul.  "Kill me now, LaCroix!  I can't stand the pain, the pleasure, the

blood.  Please finish it!"  He begged his father with golden eyes and

pain etched into his face.  Indecision crossed LaCroix face as he

weighed his options.

 

"No!"  Natalie screamed lunging out of Daniel's  grasp to come to Nick's

side.

 

LaCroix released his hold on Nicholas in time to catch Natalie before

she threw herself into his arms.  Jerking her up and back toward the

wall he tried to keep them separated as he forced her to look into his

golden eyes while he strained to keep control of the vampire within.

"He WILL kill you, Natalie, and your child!  Is that what you want?"

 

Nick attacked LaCroix from the back pulling him off Natalie in one

smooth motion and planting his fangs into her waiting neck.  With the

first drop of her blood, he was lost as she pushed her love out toward

him with each breath until he felt his son.  His son, created in love,

not blood, touched him. Nick tore himself away from her, collapsing in his 

fathers arms.  "Don't let me kill my son!" His now blue eyes begged

LaCroix as the painful images tore at his soul again causing him to fall

on both knees to the floor screaming in pain.  He held his head between

his hands as the tears streaked down his face.

 

All that he was and all that he had been came down to this moment in

time and the strength of his faith.  "God--help me please!  Don't let me

kill my son.....I beg you.....Not my son!" He kept repeating the words over 

and over until he passed out on the floor at LaCroix's feet.

 

The light appeared out of nowhere in the darkened cavern.  It seemed to

encompass the entire room with a warmth that could not be explained

until the angel appeared in the center.  Natalie, kneeling beside Nick's

still form, recognized him from the encounter at Nick's loft over 6

months earlier on the night Nick took her blood for the first time.  The

night they discovered that with love and faith all things were possible.

She rose quietly and walked toward the angel as LaCroix, Daniel and

Tracy stood speechless beside Nick.  "Have you been sent to help us

angel or....?"  A tear slid from her eye as she knelt down at the

angel's feet.

 

"Get up, child,"  the angel said in such a warm, soothing voice that she

obeyed without question.  The angel took her hand and guided her back to

Nick's side.  He knelt down and touched Nick's forehead briefly until a

red haze came forth and vanished within the palm of his hand.  "All you

have to do is ask for God's help unselfishly and it will be given.  Nicholas' 

love for you and his son are greater than any evil known to mankind. Until 

now, he has been alone but tonight Nicholas has accepted a power greater 

than himself. His love for you  has brought him full circle to that which 

caused him to lose faith in God so many centuries ago.  Now he can move 

on with his life and so can you."  The angel turned to go back into the light 

taking the warmth with him.

 

"Angel, what will he remember?"  Natalie softly whispered.

 

His beautiful smile radiated the whole room once more as the light

twinkled in his eyes.  "Only what is important, child!  Only what is

important!" He faded away into the light.

 

  

 --------------------------------

 

LaCroix stood quietly by the fire in the loft drinking a glass of

bloodwine that he had sent over from the Raven.  Theressa watched him

closely from the kitchen trying to understand this complex man.  When he

carried Nicholas into the loft unconscious, and Natalie not much better

off in Daniel's arms, she was frightened.  That was 10 hours ago.

Natalie fell asleep beside Nick minutes after they arrived.  They each

took turns checking on them as they slept, except LaCroix.  He stood for

hours staring into the fires remembering.  Tracy briefly explained

Divinia's demise, Natalie's loss of blood to Nick, Nick's sacrifice to

save them all and the cryptic message from the angel.  Tracy and Daniel

were asleep in the guest room while Theressa finished cleaning up the

kitchen. Finally having had enough, she approached him as he stood

staring blankly into the fire.

 

"Avoiding him will not make the pain go away, Lucien."  She touched his

arm gently to bring him back to her.  He was in the past.  Probably

something he and Nicholas had done together before they became so

distant.  He looked into her soft brown eyes watching the emotions play

behind them.  "You don't know what he will remember?" She whispered.

 

"I know our bond is gone.  I can no longer feel the connection between

us.  It is like a cold void where warmth used to be."  He had voiced

what he felt without thinking.  All those centuries of trying to figure

out why he felt so strongly toward his wayward son had finally been

put into words.  It was the warmth from Nicholas' spirit that

attracted him.  A warmth in an otherwise cold, lifeless existence and it

was now gone.  The pain was unbearable.

 

"Everything in life is subject to change, Lucien?  Some good, some bad

but change is inevitable.  What you have lost with Nicholas may be

gained somewhere else."  She walked over to him and  wrapped her arms

around his waist placing her head on his shoulder while holding him

close.  "And in case you have any ideas..." She brought her eyes back

to his.  "I don't plan on letting you slip away no matter what you say

---for both our sakes."

 

 --------------------

 

Nick began to moan softly as he awoke slowly.  Natalie sleeping lightly

beside him pulled up to a sitting position and checked his vital signs.

His body temperature was still low and his heart was beating at 30 beats

per minute.  A definite improvement over 6 months ago, but still a far

cry from normal.  She gently caressed his face.  He needed a shave badly

but just touching his skin gave her a peace she never knew existed

until yesterday.  He was alive and no matter what he remembered they

would get through this together.

 

"Nick..." She whispered softly into his ear as she placed her face next

to his.  "Nick...please come back to me now."  She continued to stroke

his cheek until he opened his eyes.  They were that beautiful shade of

blue she loved so much.  "Nick...Talk to me."  She waited anxiously for

him to respond.  He looked around the room taking in his surroundings

finally resting his eyes on hers.   "How do you feel?"  She lightly

touched his forehead with her fingertips more like a caress than

medicinal.  When he didn't respond she became frightened.  "Nick!  Say

my name!"

 

He reached to touch her face lightly tracing his fingertips to her lips

before he spoke watching the unshed tears forming in her eyes.

"I...don't know your name,"  he said softly watching the pain those

simple words caused her as a single tear fell silently down her cheek.

He pulled her closer to him and took her face in both hands before he

continued.  "But I don't have to know your name to know I love you body

and soul and I will forever!"  He kissed her softly at first

tracing her lips with his tongue until she brought her arms around his

neck and he deepened the kiss. Releasing her lips slowly he let her catch 

her breath as he whispered softly in her ear.  "I shall love you forever, 

Natalie--YOU and OUR son!" He pulled her body on top of his, and his 

lips back to hers, while he caressed her with his hands until she moaned 

with a need they both knew only he could fulfill.

 

The End

Author's Note:

If you enjoyed the story, why not read some more?
Come join the fun and visit my Fiction page at:
>http:www.plantnet.com/~nitewind/Fiction2.html
 
Better yet go UNDERCOVER & enjoy the ride with my new novel!
Available NOW in paperback, pdf & CD versions: See my webpage above!
Or go direct to the sources at:
>http://www.virtualbookworm.com/undercover
>http://www.amazon.com   Type in B.W. Starmer or UNDERCOVER
>http://www.barnesandnoble.com  Type in B.W. Starmer  

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