Well, here's a rather depressing one. Just in that sort of mood, I guess. As always, Nick and the others belong to Sony/TriStar, not me. The song isn't mine, either. I know it's sung by Mariah Carey, and someone else, but I don't know who. The song is indicated by <>. Hope you like it. E-mail me at kcsmith@hotmail.com Goodbyes Nick stood at the back of the room, dark glasses in place. He looked at the room full of people. All people who had loved and admired her. But none, as much as he. He endured the never ending lines of well-wishers, their words of solace and sorrow. How could he explain to them, without her, life was meaningless? If it weren't for her final words, he'd never be able to continue. Schanke and Captain Stonetree stood on either side of him, as they lowered her casket into the ground. As Nick threw the single, red rose into the ground, everyone wiped away silent tears. As the others headed into the banquet room, to comfort each other and remember her life, he stood alone, staring, as they buried her. The tears fell freely down his face, as he watched his one true life's love, being laid to rest. He sat, late into the night, his back resting on her tombstone. He remembered, aloud, all of the things they had shared. The laughter, the tears, the arguing. He remembered her smile, as she handed him the small, glass tube... "Nick, I want you to drink this." She said, grinning. "What is it?" He asked, sniffing at it, suspiciously. "Just drink it. Don't you trust me?" She raised her eyebrows. "I don't know... the last time, I was sick for a month." He said, holding the glass close to his lips. Nat smacked his arm. "Drink." Grinning, he downed the contents. He waited for the inevitable nausea, but it didn't come. "Not bad, Nat. What was it?" Nat frowned. "How do you feel?" Nick shook his head. "Fine. Why? Am I supposed to feel different, somehow?" Nat bit her bottom lip, staring into the bottom of the glass tube. "No... I guess not." She sighed. Nick touched her hair. "Nat? Is something wrong?" She turned to look at him. "No. Really. It was just an experiment." She smiled suddenly. "And, you passed." Nick shook his head, laughing. "Okay. Glad to hear it." He leaned a little closer, wanting to taste her lips, for just a moment. Nat turned her head, causing his lips to make contact with her cheek. "I have to get going. I have some errands to run. I want you to go home, get some sleep. I'll see you, tonight." Nick nodded. He headed home, wondering why she seemed so distracted. After he had showered, and gotten into his pajamas, he headed for the 'fridge. He poured himself a glass of bloodwine, and nearly gagged on the taste. Frowning, he set the glass down. Suddenly, he was hit by a wave of nausea and cramping. His entire body felt as if it were on fire. Convulsing and gagging, he finally lost consciousness. Several hours later, he awoke, still lying on the kitchen floor, to the sound of the phone. Pulling himself up off the floor, he stumbled over and picked it up. "Yeah, Knight here." He said, feeling groggy. "Nick, thank god! Get dressed, partner. We have to go to the hospital. Natalie's been in a car accident." Schanke's voice came through the receiver. Nick stared at the phone, speechless. "When?" "About an hour ago. I'll pick you up. Nick... it doesn't look good." Schanke said, quietly, before disconnecting. Nick felt as if his whole world had collapsed in on itself. Natalie. His Natalie. He moved to the stairs, but stopped and frowned. He couldn't fly, anymore. He concentrated a bit, then realized, his senses were normal. He was human. As he staggered with this realization, another one hit. Nat had cured him, and now she was dying. He stumbled up the stairs, trying desperately to see past his tears. Natalie's car had been broadsided by a semi, on the driver's side. The truck's brakes had failed. She'd never even seen it coming. Nick laid his head back on Nat's tombstone. "Oh, Nat, I love you. I'm sorry, I never told you. I miss you. Wait for me, my love. I'll be with you, soon." He wiped the tears from his cheeks, as he turned his head towards the east, to watch the sunrise. As he felt the first warming rays of the morning sun on his face, he closed his eyes. "I wish I could share this with you, Nat." He whispered. He never saw her sitting on the top of the headstone, dressed all in white, reaching to carress his blonde curls. "You are, Nick. You are." She smiled, as she saw him for the first time, in the sunlight. She knew that however long his life would be, she would wait for him. She leaned forward, kissing the top of his head, even though she knew he couldn't feel it. "I'll be watching, and waiting, Nick. I promise." > Finis