Ever since hearing the song 'Bring Me to Life' by Evanescense, a songfic has been running through my mind. I thought it was the perfect Nick song. As the idea began to form, I began to think of it as a Natalie song as well. It fits for me at the time when they first met. There will be parts of the episode 'Only the Lonely' as part of this story. So if you haven't seen this episode, this is your SPOILER. Forever Knight belongs to Sony etc. and I am just borrowing them for awhile. 'Bring Me to Life' belongs to Evanescense and no copyright infringement is intended. Many thanks to Patty. She is always encouraging, and she also betas my work for me. (((((big hug)))) Permission to archive on FKfanfic 2, FKfanfic 1 and the ftp site. This will also be on my site. http://www.geocities.com/phylis_s_2000_2001/phylis_poetry_homepage.html A New 'Life' Chapter 01/01 Copyright 2003 Phylis Sullivan A New 'Life' He was so tired. Tired of the years of running, of fighting. Always searching. And when he thought he had attained his goal, it would be snatched away. Wandering the streets of Toronto, he was again searching. He liked this city. It had potential. He would stay for awhile, and maybe, just maybe things would be different. With a shrug and a glimmer of hope, he continued to walk along the street. Looking ahead, he noticed a group of people hanging around a convenience store. As he got closer, he noticed some of them had guns and they were heading inside. She just couldn't remember being this tired. Leaning her elbows on her desk, she allowed the computer screen to blur. Being the youngest coroner in the history of the city of Toronto seemed to have brought a lot of pressure on her. Not only did she have to prove to herself that she could do the job, but it seemed that every other person had to have proof. So... she put in long hours, took extra courses to keep up with the latest in forensic pathology and that seemed to be the extent of her life. Home to sleep and then to work. To top it off she worked the night shift. There was no time for a social life, no time for family and no time for her. Wasn't there more in life? With a sigh, she stood up and taking a chart with her, walked over to some tables to write down some results. Wake me up inside Wake me up inside Call my name and save me from the dark Looking up as the doors to the autopsy room swung open, she put her chart down. "What is it Eddie?" "Not good. You're gonna wish you'd celebrated your twenty-eighth birthday at the Pizza Palace or something." Sighing she looked at Eddie. "Okay, ready?" "Yeah, one, two..." As they lifted the body bag, blood streamed from the bottom. "Who is it and what happened?" "They couldn't find any I. D. People who saw him before the explosion said th--" "Explosion?!" "He was trying to stop a gang robbery. Someone tossed him a pipe bomb for his trouble." Eddie began to back away. "It... it's a real mess. At least there's not much of a face to look at.'' He said before he turned and quickly left the room. Grabbing some gloves she began to put them on. The phone rang and she sighed as she turned to answer it. "Saved by the bell." Reaching the phone, she picked it up. "Forensics. Dr Lambert." The blood that was pooled on the gurney, began to run back into the bag. "Yup. Yes he did... No, Eddie just brought him in.... No, no, I haven't had time yet. He's only been here about two minutes....Yeah, well, I'll take a look at the pieces and, ah...give you a report. Okay. Fine...Bye." Turning to the wall she hung up the phone. After putting her gloves on, she reached over and began to unzip the bag. Well, she certainly hadn't expected this. There were some lacerations to the face, but she could tell he was a handsome man. "This isn't so bad." She reached out and touched the face gently with the back of her hand. Raising her eyebrow as she gazed at the face below, she continued, "Not so bad at all." This can't be right. According to Eddie, there shouldn't be a face to see, let alone call handsome. Taking her gloves off, she reached for the phone. "There's hardly a mark on him. Are you sure you didn't make a mistake? Well I mean this guy looks like he *barely* cut himself shaving this morning." The last of the cuts healed on his face and as they do he is suddenly aware, hungry. A growl reverberates in his chest as his eyes blaze open and he sits up on the table, fangs bared. Startled, she gasped and dropped the phone. "What the hell? You were dead. A minute ago. Who are you?" With a low growl he answered her, "You don't need to know." Jumping off the table he glanced at her and turned to the cooler behind him. Opening the door, he grabbed a unit of blood and turned back to her. "What are you?" she whisperd, eyes wide. "Something very different from you." Tipping the unit back he drank the blood while still watching her. " I am a vampire." he said as he threw the empty bag to the floor and began to slowly walk over to her. "A vampire?" Slowly she reached out to him, not quite sure that what she sees is real. "Yes." He hissed as he grabbed her hand before she can touch his face. Oh, but he wants to touch that warmth, that life. Bringing the back of her hand to his face, he pressed her hand to his cheek. "You're so cold." "I'm dead." "No. No, you're not. You're not dead." She denied with a slight shake of her head. Both of them stare at each other, questions in their eyes. How can you see into my eyes Like open doors Leading you down into my core Where I've become so numb without a soul My spirit sleeping Somewhere cold The following evening, Dr. Lambert was walking. With a rare night off, she was too restless to stay at home. In her mind she kept replaying the night before. At times she thought it was just a dream, brought on by too much stress. The empty unit of blood, a missing body and that feeling of cold against the back of her hand, all told her otherwise. He was intrigued with the woman from last night. She wasn't afraid. It was amazing. In all his years there had been very few people that did not fear the vampire. He knew her heartbeat. She was approaching now. Wondering how much she remembered, he bumped into her and slowed, as her footsteps stopped. "You're testing me." Both of them turned and faced each other. "To see if I've forgotten." "I see you haven't." He began to move toward her, focusing his eyes on her. "Oh please, don't bother. It won't work. Maybe I'm just one of those people, who they say can't be hypnotized...Or maybe I don't want to be." He feels as if he should warn her. Protect her from the vampire, from him. "Don't get too close to me." "You want to hurt me. Kill me." "No. But I might anyway." He watched her for a minute. Unsure of what to do, he asked, "And you're not afraid?" "Fear is based on ignorance. I'd rather try to understand." She senses that he is looking for help, but not sure what kind. "What makes you think I can't help you?" "Help me? Are you serious? No one can help me. My immortality is a curse. A fall from grace." He stalked around behind her and leaned in. "Evil is a metaphysical condition." "You're not evil." Turning to face him, she continued. "You ended up on my examining table because you tried to help people. Also, your condition_is_a physical one." "I see. Your specialty. And how on earth do you think you can help this eight hundred year-old body...this incessant hunger for blood? This... physical condition of mine." "I don't know. Yet. But I_am_willing to try." "And what's the reward for you, Doctor. What can you_possibly_ expect for in return?" "Solving a puzzle is its own reward for me." "Are you sure?" "Oh, yes." My spirit sleeping Until you find it there and lead it back home Wake me up inside Wake me up inside Call my name and save me from the dark Bid my blood to run Before I come undone Save me from the nothing I've become The night life of Toronto swirled around them, unnoticed. Each lost in thought for a moment. Gazing at him, she said, "My name is Natalie Lambert. I would like to help, if I can." "I think I would like that. My name is Nick. Nick Knight." Now that I know what I'm without You can't just leave me Breathe into me and make me real Bring me to life End of A New 'Life' Just a quick note. I was not sure where to insert the scene where Nick warns her to not get too close. For the purposes of this story, it seemed to fit there. I hope you enjoyed this. Please let me know what you thought. Phylis (Knightfilli) N&NPacker, Knightie, Dark Knightie email: phylis_s_2000_2001@yahoo.com http://www.geocities.com/phylis_s_2000_2001/phylis_poetry_homepage.html