Something Curious
Available March 2004
Written June 2003
Jarvinia


This story takes place third season after everything except Last
Knight.  Last Knight didn't and won't happen as far as this
story/series is concerned.  For translations of the bits in French,
see the very bottom of this file.  This is also the first in a
series.

Disclaimer: Forever Knight isn't owned by me, I'm just borrowing the
characters for a short bit and then...well, they'll get borrowed for
the three stories that come after this one, so they won't be put back
just yet. :P

I'd like to thank AmethystShells for beta-reading this way back when
it was originally written.<g>  May not be archived without
permission, but if you'd like to, please do ask.

Feedback more than welcome at: jarvinia@gmx.net or other addresses.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Something Curious - (01/14)

Returning to the club after a walk, LaCroix stopped short of the
door.  He almost didn't believe his eyes, but his senses didn't lie. 
Sitting in front of the door was a child wrapped in several blankets.
Two small blue eyes stared up at him.  They locked on him, widening,
pleading with him.  The child seemed to see safety in him.  He'd seen
eyes like this before, and had no wish to get involved with this.

LaCroix turned, planning to go in the back entrance of the club,
leaving the child, but first he heard fabric shifting.  Looking back,
he found the child, now clearly a boy, standing.  The child appeared
to be roughly four years old, maybe five.  Silent and quite alert by
appearances.  He looked around, but no one was there.  Absolutely no
one, let alone the child's mother.

He again turned to leave, only to hear bare feet running along the
pavement.  Before he knew it, small arms wrapped around his thigh--a
rather uncomfortable position--tiny fingers trying to dig into his
muscles to get a better hold.  He shifted his weight off the confined
leg, hoping the boy would release him.  The action only made the grip
turn frantic.  Glancing down, he found frightened eyes staring up at
him.  He wasn't the cause of the fear.  It was something else.

When LaCroix reached down and tried to pry the boy's fingers away,
he had the same problem--the boy only held tighter, defying him.  He
wanted the child to let go, but had no wish to make more of a scene
here than he already was if possible.  There were only a few mortals
on the street, but a few were more than enough.  "Release me, Child."

The boy shook his head defiantly, strands of somewhat dirty, light
blond hair shifting with the movement.

"Release me!" LaCroix nearly hissed, hoping to scare the child
enough to let go of him.

"No!" the boy yelled, moving so that he was now more behind LaCroix
than on his side, his grip no looser.

Feeling his anger rise, LaCroix tried to remind himself this was a
child--a human child--and that it had been a long time since he had
been near one so young.  The reminder only worked to a point.  He
knew his eyes were verging on gold.  Frustrated, he started walking
toward the entrance, the boy holding on and, to his great annoyance,
catching a ride.

Entering the club and closing the door behind him, LaCroix stopped
and stated, "You are inside now.  Release me."

The boy shook his head again, burying his face into LaCroix' leg.

LaCroix released the breath he was holding.  After a moment, he
walked over to the phone by the bar, the child catching yet another
ride.  Giving another glance to the boy, he sighed and called his
son's cell phone number.  It rang several times before it was
answered somewhat curtly.  One of his son's cases must not be going
well.  He waited a second, and then spoke, "Nicholas?"

"LaCroix?  What do you want?"

"I...seem to have a little problem here.  You might want to come
down to the club."

"For what?"  When Nick didn't immediately receive an answer, he
asked again, "LaCroix, for what?"

"A...child.  A young boy--four years old, maybe five--was wrapped in
blankets and left outside the club's doors.  I found him when I
returned from a short walk."

"No mother?  No note?"

"I don't know.  There may be a note with the blankets.  He...won't
let go of me.  Just...please, Nicholas, come here and take him."

"No!" the boy screamed, the high-pitched sound causing LaCroix to
wince.

"Please, Nicholas, before I do something drastic."

"Okay.  Okay, try to talk to him.  Maybe ask him his name, how he
got there.  We'll be by as soon as we can."

Hanging up the phone, LaCroix looked down again.  The boy stared up
at him, more terrified than before.  "What is your name?" he asked,
his voice as smooth and even as he could keep it.  The boy didn't
answer, just buried his head back into his pant leg.  "Tell me,
Child, or I'll make you let go," he said a little more forcefully.

"No!" came another blood curdling scream.  When hands came to reach
for him, the boy moved out of immediate reach.  As they caught him,
he screamed again, continuing as he was pulled away and lifted into
the air, an arm holding him by the waist.

LaCroix lifted the boy, setting the flailing bundle on the bar
counter.  Letting go and stepping back, he watched as the boy lay
down on his side and curled up, quieting.  The boy stared at him. 
When he took a step back, the eyes widened and the child stiffened. 
Preparing to take another, the form started to shake.  He stopped,
watching the eyes follow him.

LaCroix realised the boy wanted him to stay close for some reason. 
But, why?  Although tempted to find out, he didn’t want to get too
close for fear that the boy would scream, or worse, cling to him yet
again.  As Nicholas was on his way, he decided to oblige the boy, and
stepped closer to the bar, sitting several feet away.  The action
calmed the child, and LaCroix waited, wanting to go on with his night
and get rid of the boy's unwelcome interruption.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

LaCroix watched as the boy fell asleep.  The child had definitely
taken his time doing so.  Moments later, Nicholas and a woman
entered.  He could feel another heartbeat just beyond the door--
probably Nicholas' partner.

The woman slowly approached the counter.  "Is this the boy?"

"Yes.  He's sleeping.  Now, *please* take him."

As the woman looked the child over, careful not to wake the boy,
Nick headed quietly over to his sire and asked, "Did you find out his
name?"

"No."

Tracy came in, carrying the blankets that were outside.  "There's
nothing here.  No note or anything.  Just a couple of blankets.  How
is he?"

The woman, Julie, replied, "He needs a bath and to be looked over by
a doctor.  He seems healthy, but I can't say for sure.  Was he
sleeping when you found him?"

"No.  He just fell asleep a few minutes before you arrived."

"Did he say anything to you?" Julie asked, turning her attention to
LaCroix.

"Nothing...useful.  He screams quite well, though."

Julie raised her eyebrows at that.

LaCroix returned the gesture, stating, "I did *nothing* to harm him."

As the woman was about to continue, Nick stepped in between them. 
"Julie, let's get the boy somewhere before he wakes up.  I heard the
boy scream on the phone--I'm positive LaCroix did nothing to cause it."

Julie stiffened, but nodded.  "I'll take him and get him cleaned
up."  Gently, she picked the boy up off the bar with a fair amount of
effort and, amazingly, he didn't wake.  "He must be exhausted.  Let
me know if you find anything out about his family, or who he is, for
that matter."  She left after receiving a nod from Nick.

Tracy's attention strayed somewhat, her gaze looking around the
club.  It was brighter now than it usually was during club hours, and
it was strange to be in there at this time of the night.  Especially
considering the last time was a matter of weeks ago.  Turning to him,
she could feel the evil within him.  It reminded her of when she was
around Vachon.  Even though Vachon had told her LaCroix wasn't a
vampire, she wasn't sure.  "Mr. LaCroix?  We'll need you to come down
to the station."

LaCroix turned his attention to the mortal.  "Why?"

Nick stopped LaCroix with his hand as his sire took a step toward
his partner.  "Just so that we have a record of what happened.  It
shouldn't take long.  We need as much information as we can get."

Meeting his son's gaze, LaCroix nodded.  After all, a short
questioning wouldn't hurt.  If it would rid him of the boy, he would
answer their questions.  "Very well."


Something Curious - (02/14)

LaCroix stared across the table in one of the precinct's conference
rooms the following night.  He had figured the questioning he'd had
the previous night would have been the last he would hear of the
child.  He was wrong.  And the last suggestion by the social worker
was something he truly never expected.  Incredulous, he asked, "You
want me to what?"

"Take the boy.  At least for a few days," Reese explained.

"He's quiet most of the time.  But, if anyone tries to touch or
approach him, he'll scream.  We haven't been able to get him to eat
anything.  He's even bitten one of the social workers," Julie
explained.  "I am aware the boy seemed comfortable in your presence. 
Right now it would be best for him to relax, and I think you might be
able to help with that.  We might even be able to get his name if you
can get him calm enough."

LaCroix quickly stood up.  Turning to Julie, he stated, "I want no
part of this."

She approached LaCroix, moving between him and the exit.  "Please,
Mr. LaCroix.  At least consider it.  This would only be as long as
necessary.  A few days, maybe a week.  We'll find a family for him to
stay with during that time, and then that'll be it."

He glared at her, but looked to his son after several seconds. 
Nicholas wanted him to do this.  He could see it in his son's
expression.  In some ways, he did want to, if only to know why the
boy was so comfortable with *him* rather than the mortals.  He hadn't
been around many children of this age, and certainly not after
becoming a vampire.  He knew children could sometimes sense what they
were, especially young children.  And this boy was certainly young,
and yet he felt no fear.  "I live at the Raven; it is a nightclub. 
Are you sure you still want me to take the boy?"

Julie shifted at that.  "Well, although the club is not the most
ideal location...yes."

"Mr. LaCroix?" Tracy asked.  Once she had his attention, she
continued, "This would be a big help.  To the boy, especially.  If we
can find out who he is, we might be able to locate his family."

Nick watched his sire turn away.  He could almost see LaCroix
considering this.  He honestly didn't think LaCroix would agree to
this, but perhaps he would be wrong.  "They can stay at my place, and
I could have Natalie come over.  She could try to examine him,
although it might take a few days for him to let her, if what you're
saying is true."

Everyone else in the room literally froze at the suggestion, most
not sure they had heard right.

"I'll even help out a little with the club, if it's needed," Nick
offered, the words calm and genuine.  Then, to LaCroix, he stated,
"If you agree to do this, you won't be able to spend much time at the
club."

Julie recovered first, having only met LaCroix when picking up the
boy and unaware of anything specific about him.  "That would be good.
If, of course, you'll agree to do this?"

Although LaCroix didn't entirely agree, he nodded.  "I will do this,
but only for a few days.  No more."

"Thank you, Mr. LaCroix," Julie said while holding her hand out to
him.

He looked at it, taking it after a moment.  He shook it, but said
nothing.

"Can you wait here for about twenty minutes?" she asked, pulling her
hand back.

He nodded.  "I can wait.  Although...I would like to speak
with...Detective Knight for a moment.  Alone."

Julie nodded, and the three mortals left.

LaCroix stared at the door until it was closed.  Then, he turned
toward his son.  "Nicholas...why am I doing this?"

"You're the one that agreed, LaCroix.  Why are you?"

He looked away.  He had no wish to explain that.  He wasn't even
entirely sure he knew himself.  But he would explain what he knew. 
"The child...the boy...there's more to him.  I'm sure he senses at
least some of what I am.  But the question is...why did he cling to
me?  I want to know why."

"Perhaps children just like you," Nick stated, amused.

"You know that's not the case.  Children are...little boxes of
disaster.  You can't even make a decent meal out of them."  When his
son's expression hardened, he smiled.  "Don't worry, I'm not going to
do anything to the boy.  I just want to know why he's fond of me; if
indeed he is and his earlier reaction wasn't a...fluke."

The door swung open, admitting Tracy.  She came in, only for them to
both follow her every move.  "Nick...I called Natalie and told her
what you're planning.  She's on her way over to your place." 
Finishing, she waited for Nick to answer, but he didn't.  She spared
a look to LaCroix, who carefully looked her over.  He
seemed...annoyed.  Turning back to Nick, she asked, "So...are we
going to go over when Julie gets the boy?"

"LaCroix and I are."

"So..." she started, turning her attention back to LaCroix.  "Do you
two know each other?  I mean, I know Nick listens to your broadcasts,
but have you met before?"

LaCroix raised an eyebrow.  The mortal's questions were close to
intruding.  "We know one another, although only...formally.  We
converse occasionally."

"Occasionally?"

"Occasionally," LaCroix emphasised.

With that, the three went silent.  Several minutes passed, and Nick
and LaCroix turned to the door as they heard the screams of a child. 
About twenty seconds later, the door opened, and Julie and another
woman entered, Julie doing her best to hold the struggling boy. 
Although he was somewhat cleaner than the previous night and he had
on new clothes, his hair was still dirty.  When the boy saw LaCroix,
he calmed somewhat, but still tried to pull away from Julie's touch.

As the boy pushed at her, trying to put distance between them and
nearly succeeding, Julie suggested, "How about you take him?  He
really doesn't like being held or touched."

Now LaCroix was becoming uncertain of his decision.  It was just
enough that he hesitated.  But it was, after all, only a human child.
He stepped forward, reaching out to the boy.  He didn't have to try
hard as the child practically jumped into his arms.  Holding the boy,
he found tiny arms wrapping around his neck--uncomfortable among
other things.

Seeing the boy calm substantially, Julie commented, "That's amazing.
And you'd never seen the boy before last night, right?"  Getting a
raised eyebrow, she confirmed, "Right.  Well, will you two be all
right with the boy?  I am aware neither of you have children."

"We'll be fine," Nick assured.  "We'll let you know how things are
going."

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

As LaCroix and Nick arrived at the loft, Natalie stared at the
little boy in LaCroix' arms.  It was a strange sight to see.  Nick
had mentioned what happened the night before, and she had half-
expected that LaCroix had put the child to sleep.  Now, seeing the
boy clutching to LaCroix, she realised she had been wrong.  The boy
had his arms wrapped tightly around the vampire's neck, his head
resting against LaCroix.  As the boy saw her, she watched him stiffen
and grip LaCroix tighter.  Seconds later, the boy yawned, pulled one
hand back from LaCroix, and rubbed his eyes.

LaCroix glanced to Natalie, then turned and headed for the stairs. 
The boy again rested his head on his shoulder, the little fingers no
longer digging into him.

Once LaCroix had disappeared into Nick's room, Natalie prodded,
"Nick...what's going on?"

"I don't know.  The boy doesn't seem too bothered by my presence,
but then I haven't tried to touch him or get near him.  Everyone I've
seen do so other than LaCroix has been a woman.  Maybe that's why
he's uncomfortable around you."

"He sure seems to like LaCroix."

"Yes, he does."

Natalie shook her head.  "I just....  Why does he?  Like LaCroix,
that is?"

"LaCroix wants to know as well.  I think that's why he agreed to do
this."  Nick looked up to the room for a moment.  "Nat, you might
want to just come back in the morning.  The boy is too tired right
now.  Even if he won't let you get too close when you come by, you
being here might help the boy get used to you."

She nodded.  "I'll come back when my shift's over."  Natalie looked
up toward Nick's room, then back to Nick, before she finally turned
and started for the elevator.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

Upon returning to the loft, Natalie found Nick sound asleep on the
couch.  Not wanting to wake him, she decided to go up to his room to
check on the boy.

Pushing the door open, she first saw LaCroix laying half on his side
and half on his stomach.  Next, she saw the boy kneeling behind
LaCroix, pushing on the vampire's back and saying, "Wake up Uncle
Lucien," repeatedly.  As the boy gave a strong push to LaCroix, she
watched LaCroix turn fully on his stomach...which only made the boy
crawl on top of LaCroix' back and resume his actions.

Natalie lightly knocked on the door, succeeding in getting the boy's
attention.  Light blue wide eyes turned to her.  Frightened eyes. 
The boy was scared of her.  "LaCroix?" she quietly prodded, hoping he
would wake up, but he didn't.  She stepped closer, but cautiously,
taking care to keep LaCroix between herself and the boy.  Approaching
the sleeping vampire, she reached out to wake him, only for the boy
to scream at her.

"No!  No.  *Mine*," the boy told her, the soft blue of his seeming
darker.

Waking from the noise, LaCroix saw Natalie backing away.  Turning,
he found the boy off to his side, glaring at the mortal woman. 
"Nicholas!" he called, the boy shrinking back and away.  LaCroix
stopped the boy's retreat, receiving a shriek at the touch.  "Be
silent, Child."

Entering the room a moment later and looking between the three, half-
awake, Nick asked, "LaCroix?  What happened?"

LaCroix struggled to calm the boy.  "Sit still!" he whispered into
the boy's ear, which seemed to do the trick.  "Ask your doctor
friend.  She was here at the time, and *I* was trying to sleep.  I
just fell asleep a few minutes ago."

When Nick turned to her, she explained, "I just arrived.  You were
asleep, so I came up here to check on the boy.  He was trying to wake
'Uncle Lucien' up, so I was going to do just that when the boy
screamed again."

Nick suppressed a laugh.  "'Uncle Lucien'?  LaCroix, are you really
letting him call you that?"

"Yes," he answered in a low hiss.  "And he started it, in any case. 
I figure I can endure it for a few days."

"He's getting quite attached to you, LaCroix, and you're letting
him," Natalie stated.

The boy turned to her, silent and tense at her words.

"So?  What does that matter?"

"Because you're not just 'Uncle Lucien' to him.  When I approached
you, he yelled 'no' and a very possessive 'mine'."

The boy shrunk back from Natalie, trying to pull out of LaCroix'
grip to get further away.  LaCroix easily held the boy into place,
"Nicholas...take your friend downstairs.  I will be down shortly."

Watching as the boy turned up to LaCroix for a moment, Natalie
started, "Wait, he--"

"Now, Nicholas!"

She was about to protest again when Nick took her by the arms and
guided her toward the door.

Leaning over, Nick whispered into her ear, "LaCroix won't hurt the
boy, don't worry.  They'll be down in just a few minutes."

She looked back to the boy, and then let Nick lead her from the
room.  They went down stairs, and then she began pacing.

"Nat, he won't hurt the boy."

"I know that, but I think I figured something out."

"What?"

She stopped pacing.  "You didn't notice?"

"Notice what?"

"The boy's reaction to--" she stopped as LaCroix carried the boy
down the stairs.  "LaCroix, tell Nick to do something."

LaCroix raised his eyebrows, but obliged her.  "Get something to
drink."

"No, use his name."

"Doctor, I fail to see the point of thi--"

"Please, just do it."

"Fine.  Nicholas, go get something to drink."

This time, Natalie watched the boy stiffen at the name.  She stepped
forward cautiously.  "Is that your name?  Nicholas?"

The boy turned away, burying his face into LaCroix' shirt.  "Answer
her.  Is that your name?"

The boy turned back to Natalie, and then looked up to LaCroix and
nodded.

"Would you like something to eat, Nicholas?"  She received a
vigorous nod in answer.  "What would you like?"  Getting no response,
she asked, "Would you like some eggs?  And perhaps a piece of toast?"
Nicholas nodded back to her, and she smiled.  "Nick, would you mind
helping?"

Nick fidgeted slightly.  He didn't particularly like cooking.  "I
don't know anything about--"

"Yes you do, Nicholas."

Nick shot a glare at his sire.

After Nick calmed, Nat told him, "Nick, you can at least get the
eggs out of the refrigerator.  Don't worry, I'm not going to make you
cook anything, just help out a little."

He was about to protest, when he saw Natalie gesture toward LaCroix
and the boy.  Little Nicholas was poking playfully at LaCroix, who
didn't seem sure of what to do but allowed the action.  But one thing
was clear--they got along well, even if LaCroix wasn't particularly
comfortable.  With a smile, Nick nodded and went to the refrigerator.


Something Curious - (03/14)

"Papa called me Nicolas," the boy abruptly commented as he took a
bite out of a piece of buttered toast.  "I'm Nicky, too."

Natalie was a little surprised at the statements.  Until then, the
boy had been silent.  "What do you like better?  Nicolas or Nicky?"

"He said mother liked to call me Nicky before I was born."

"Would you like us to call you Nicky, then?"

He nodded, taking another bite out of the toast.  After another
bite, he held the piece of toast out to Natalie.

She stared at it; a bit surprised he was giving it to her.  She had
expected Nicky to offer it to LaCroix if anyone, certainly not to
her.  She took the half-eaten piece of toast and put it on her own
plate.  Perhaps Nicky had given it to her because she was the only
one eating beside himself...but then, Nick and LaCroix had a glass of
blood for their breakfast.

Nicky watched as LaCroix took a sip from his glass, then followed
the glass as it was set on the table.  He reached out with his hands
for the wine glass, at which LaCroix brought the glass closer.  "One
sip, no more."

Panic ran through Natalie's mind.  "LaCroix."

He paused in his motions, turning to Natalie.  "What?  It's from
Nicholas' supply.  It won't hurt him."

Natalie turned to Nick, who just shrugged in answer.  "Nick, tell
him not to."

"Nat, LaCroix' right--it won't harm the boy."  Leaning closer to
Natalie, he whispered to her, "He'll at least know what it tastes
like and know not to ask again."

Setting her jaw, she nodded.  If it were cow's blood, a sip would do
no harm.  She watched as LaCroix continued his action, bringing the
glass closer to Nicky.  The boy then took a small sip from the glass
and swallowed.  Nicky cringed, pushing the glass away.  Then, he
reached for the toast on Natalie's plate.  She handed it to him,
watching as Nicky finished it off.

As LaCroix took another drink from his glass, Nicky asked, "How can
you drink that?"

"Good question.  Ask Nicholas...it's his."

Nicky turned to the other.  "You like that?"

"It's what I usually have for breakfast," Nick stated, avoiding the
question somewhat.  "LaCroix prefers something a little different."

Nicky's eyes went wide before he turned away and went silent again.

LaCroix watched the boy's mood change.  It wasn't much, but just
enough to be noticeable.  He looked the boy over, noticing the quite
oily mop of blond hair that desperately needed to be washed.  "I
think a bath is in order," he mentioned as he stood.

Nicky slid down in the chair, but found LaCroix picking him up. 
"Doctor, perhaps you could help?"

"No!" Nicky exclaimed.  "No.  Just you.  No Natalie and no Nicholas."

"I guess that's settled," Natalie commented.  Standing and taking
both her and Nicky's empty plates, Natalie took them to the kitchen. 
Turning, she told LaCroix, "I'll come up and get his clothes in a few
minutes and find something for him to wear until they're washed."

LaCroix, somewhat frustrated that Nicky insisted he did this on his
own, gave her a slight nod and then headed to the bathroom upstairs.

Once LaCroix was out of sight, Natalie walked over to Nick.  "What
do you think happened to his parents?  His father was obviously
alive, but he didn't seem to mention his mother, other than that one
comment."

"I don't know.  But we at least have a name now.  Granted, it's just
a first name, but it's something.  I'm going to call Reese, tell him
what we have."

As Nick went to the phone, Natalie went back to the kitchen to wash
the dishes.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

Natalie watched as LaCroix carried Nicky down the stairs and sat him
on the couch.  The boy had on a t-shirt of Nick's, which Nicky just
about drowned in.  When LaCroix turned to leave, Nicky grabbed the
vampire's sleeve.

"I need to get some sleep.  Nicholas and Natalie will watch you
until I wake."  As an afterthought, he grabbed the remote control. 
He turned the TV on, and then handed it to Nicky.  "Here."

Nicky looked the remote over, and then up at LaCroix.  "But Uncle
Lucien...."

LaCroix forced himself to keep his eyes normal.  This child was
pushing him to the edge.  It's not that he didn't like the boy; it's
just not what he wanted to deal with right now.  "I am going to
sleep.  Now."  He saw another protest coming, and added, "Nicolas,
you will behave.  They will not hurt you.  They only want to help. 
Do you understand?"

Nicky looked away.  As LaCroix took his chin and made him look over
and up, he struggled against the grip.

"Nicolas...."

"Yes.  I'll behave."

"Good.  I'll return in a few hours, okay?"

Nicky shook his head, then turned toward the TV, changing the
channel to try to find something to watch.

LaCroix walked over to his son, and told him, "Mon fils, Natalie
devrait l'examiner et voyez qu'il est en bonne santé."

Nicky stood and faced LaCroix, yelling, "No!  No.  Je suis bien.  Je
ne veux pas un médecin!  Je n'ai pas besoin d'un médecin!!"

All three turned to the boy, stunned.  Not one of them had suspected
Nicky spoke French, least of all LaCroix.

LaCroix walked up to the boy, telling him, "Nicolas, Natalie
examinera tu.  Dispute-moi pas!"

Nicky spun and flopped onto the couch, flipping the channels and not
really looking at what he was doing.

"Nicholas, do as I have said.  I'm sure you have no wish for him to
be ill, considering."

After LaCroix left, walking up the stairs, Nick went over to the
couch and sat next to Nicky.  The boy didn't move outside of flipping
the channels on the TV.  Finding a cartoon, he put the remote down. 
Nick watched the boy stare blankly at the screen, probably not even
watching it.  "You know, my name's actually Nicolas too."

"So?  My mother named me that.  But when she talked about me, she
called me Nicky.  My father told me about her."

"What happened to your mother?"

"She died when I was born.  Father told me.  He told me about how
she wanted to see me when I was born, wanted to know for sure if I
was a boy or a girl.  She didn't know, so she called me Nicky.  I
never met her."  Nicky turned toward Nick, asking, "Did you ever meet
your mother?"

"Yes, I did."  Nick cautiously reached out to run his fingers
through Nicky's damp hair, and surprisingly, the action was allowed. 
"What about your father?"

"He's gone.  Killed."  Nicky leaned over, resting against Nick's
side.  "I miss him."

"I bet you do."  Shifting and gently pulling Nicky onto his lap, he
asked, "Will you let Natalie examine you?"

The boy glanced over at Natalie, who went to get her doctor's bag. 
He didn't say anything as she approached.  Nicky then looked up at
Nick again before turning back to Natalie.  "Can Nicholas do it?"

She managed a smile as she sat on the couch next to Nicky.  "If you
want him to."

"I do."

"Then will you let Natalie hold you?"

Nicky looked over at her, then back at Nick and nodded.  He watched
as Nick pulled out a thermometer, which he held in his mouth when
Nick told him to.  A few minutes later, Nick pulled it out and put it
back in.  And a few minutes later, he watched Nick pull it out again
and shake his head at it.  "What is it?"

"Nothing, Nicky.  Let me do a few other things, okay?"

The boy nodded and let Nick do what he wanted.  A few minutes later,
he followed Nick as everything was put back into Natalie's bag. 
Nicky leaned back, letting Natalie hold him closer.

"How is he, Nick?"

"Temperature is 97 F, pulse about 50.  However, his breathing and
blood pressure are fine and he seems healthy."

"Is that all?" Nicky asked, not understanding what Nick was saying.

"Not quite," Nick answered.  "I'd like to do one more thing, okay?" 
He then reached into Natalie's bag, and pulled out a syringe and a
couple of other things.

"No!" Nicky yelled as soon as he saw the needle.  "No needles!  None."

"It won't take long, Nicky.  It will just take a moment," Natalie
assured him.

Nicky pulled out of Natalie's grasp and got off the couch.  He ran a
short distance away, and then turned around when the two adults
didn't follow him.  "No more tests."

"Okay, no more tests," Nick said as he put everything back in
Natalie's bag and closed it.  "See?  I'm not going to get anything in
there out, okay?"

Nicky nodded.  Then, as the elevator started up, he spun and backed
up toward Nick and Natalie.

"Nick, who could be coming up?"

"It's probably Tracy.  She...I gave her the alarm code.  She said
something about bringing some clothes for Nicky over."

"Nick...."

"I'll change it later," he told her, aware it probably wasn't the
best choice he'd made, but he'd been tired and in a hurry.

Once the elevator came to a stop, Tracy stepped out, a plastic bag
held in her hand.  Her gait slowed as she saw the boy over by Nick
and Natalie.  Putting the bag down, she stopped just short of the
couch.  "Hi Nick.  I just thought I'd come by to see how you're doing."

"Hi Trace."  Nick pulled the boy back up on the couch, at which
Nicky leaned against him again.  "Nicky, this is my partner, Tracy."

"Hi," Nicky spoke, pushing further into Nick.  He followed Tracy's
advance until she stopped just in front of him and Nick.  When she
reached toward him, he flinched back, burying his head into Nick's
side.

"Well, things seem to be going at least a little better," Tracy
commented, nodding to Nicky, who was now clinging to her partner. 
"Where's LaCroix?"

"Upstairs getting some sleep.  And Nicky here didn't want him to go,
did you?"

The boy shook his head, then turned slightly, so he could see Tracy
better.

"So, how's Nicky doing?" Tracy asked him.

"Don't call me that.  My name is Nicolas."

"But Nick called you Nicky."

"He can, but you can't."

"Okay...Nicolas, how are you?"

"Fine."

"Is it okay if I ask you a few questions?"  Tracy waited, but didn't
get an answer.  "We just want to see if we can find your family,
okay?"  She saw Nick wince, wondering what she said wrong.

"They're dead," Nicky stated.

Now it was Tracy's turn to wince.  "I'm sorry about that,
Nicky...Nicolas.  I didn't know."  She waited a moment, then
rephrased her earlier question, "We'd like to know how you got here. 
Who left you at LaCroix' club?"

Nicky turned to Tracy, telling her, "Je ne sais pas.  Je m'en fiche!
Je ne vais pas répondre vos questions!"

Tracy stepped back at the outburst.  Other than the first, she
didn't get any of it.  "Nick...I...what did he say?"

"He neither knows nor cares who left him, and he's not going to
answer your questions.  We recently discovered he speaks French as
well as English."

"How is that working?"

"It doesn't matter--LaCroix and I are both fluent, so he can't get
out of our questions by switching."

Tracy took that in, realising Nicky just didn't want to answer her. 
"Well, Nicolas, how about a few simple questions?"

"What kind of questions?"

Tracy sat on the edge of the couch, making sure she didn't get too
close to the boy.  "Well, for starters, where are you from?  Where
did you live?"

"In Paris with my father."

"Do you know how old you are?"

Nicky looked away.

"How about your last name?  Or your father's name?" she continued,
trying to find something to help them.

At that, Nicky flat out refused to answer and just stared at her.

"Okay, I get it, no more questions, right?"

Nicky silently leaned back into Nick without responding.

"Is it okay if I come back later and see how you're doing?"

Turning to her, Nicky shrugged his shoulders.  "I guess.  But no
questions."

"Okay, no questions.  We can do that," Tracy gave him a smile.  She
nearly reached out to ruffle his hair, but stopped, realising that
wouldn't go over well.  Turning to her partner, she told him, "I'll
be back tomorrow morning, okay Nick?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

Tracy stood, gave another smile to Nicky, and then headed for the
elevator.

Once she was gone, Nick told the boy, "You know, you could have
answered her.  You'll have to tell someone sometime."

"I know."

Natalie watched the boy reach out for the remote still sitting on
the couch.  Picking it up, he started changing the channels again,
looking for something to watch.  "Nicky?  Would you like some
chocolate milk?"

"Sure," he said, perking up at the idea.

She smiled somewhat at seeing his mood change.  "Nick, would you
mind coming with me to the kitchen?"

Seeing she wanted to talk, Nick nodded.  "I'll be right back, okay
Nicky?  You just keep doing what you're doing."

"Okay."

Nick and Natalie went to the kitchen, Nat picking up her bag on the
way.  Quietly, she retrieved something from inside it--a small packet
of white powder she'd brought but had hoped she wouldn't have to use.
"Nick, could you get me a glass and the milk?"

He hesitated, but did as she asked.  Coming up next to her, he
watched as she mixed some chocolate mix with about half of the powder
in the packet.  "Nat...."

Lowering her voice as far as she could manage, she told him, "His
pulse is slow considering how active he is.  As far as we know, he
could be hiding something from us, which I wouldn't rule out.  This
will put him to sleep and I'll be able to get a blood sample.  You
know he's not going to let us unless I do this."

"Nat...."

"It's no worse than what you let LaCroix do," she pointed out.

"Yes, it is."

"Not if there's something wrong.  I just want to make sure he's fine."

Nick put the glass on the counter and filled it three-fourths full
with milk.  He watched as Natalie mixed in the mixture of chocolate
mix and sleeping powder, and then started back over to the couch. 
Quickly putting the milk away, he joined her, sitting next to Nicky
and letting the boy once again lean against him.

"Here you go," Natalie said as she handed Nicky the glass.

He took it, holding onto it as he flipped the channel back a few to
another cartoon.  Then, he dropped the remote into Nick's lap and
took a small sip of the chocolate milk.  "Thanks," he muttered, and
then went back to watching the TV and working on his chocolate milk.

Soon, very little remained in Nicky's glass, and he leaned more
against Nick.  Natalie took the glass from his hands without protest,
and Nicky cuddled up closer to Nick, closed his eyes, and gradually
fell into a deep sleep.

Nick watched Natalie go to her bag and pull out the syringe, vial,
and band he'd grabbed earlier.  When she came back, he helped her
take a sample of Nicky's blood.  It was over in a short minute, at
which Natalie lightly pressed a cotton ball over the small wound
where she drew blood, holding it there till Nick's hand replaced hers.

Holding the small vial of deep red blood up, she stated, "I'm going
to get started on this.  I'll be back later.  You'll be okay for a
while, right?"

"Yeah, we'll be fine," Nick answered while gently rubbing the boy's
back with his free hand.  "I'm still uncomfortable about it.  He's
just a child."

"Would you rather we forced him?  Nick, I don't think he would have
been convinced to let you take his blood.  And I can't say for sure,
but he seems fairly strong-willed.  Would you have been able to
hypnotise him?  And would that be any different?"

"I...."  Nick considered it, and then shook his head in defeat.  "I
really don't know, Nat.  Maybe, but you're right, it very well
wouldn't have even worked."

"See what I mean?  Yes, he's just a child, but I want to get his
blood tested and make sure he's healthy."

Nick nodded.  "I just wish there had been an easier way, okay?  At
least he's getting some sleep, some rest."

Watching Nick's focus return to the boy, she managed a weak smile,
and then left for the morgue.


Something Curious - (04/14)

That night, Nick was startled awake by the buzzer.  Nicky was
nowhere in sight, but he could hear the child's heartbeat upstairs in
his room.  Standing, he walked somewhat groggily over to the security
camera.  Flipping it on, he asked, "Who is it?" before he even looked
at the screen.

"Reese, Tracy, and Julie Mason."

Glancing up, Nick apologised and then buzzed them in, surprised that
Tracy hadn't used the alarm code.  "Take the elevator up."  Waiting,
he leaned against the wall next to the elevator.  Reese, Tracy, and
Julie walked in a moment later, Reese and Julie looking around, as
they had never been there before.  "What's going on?"

"We want to move the boy."  Seeing Nick start to protest, Julie
reminded him, "This was only a temporary arrangement.  Now, knowing a
little more, we found a bilingual couple that are willing to take
Nicolas in.  This is a very hard placement--a very lucky placement. 
And before you say anything--they know how the boy is and are aware
he's not going to want to be there.  But we need to get him somewhere
more--"

"More permanent?" he stated a bit harshly, cutting Julie off.

"That's not the word I was going to use, but yes, possibly. 
However, since he was apparently living in France before arriving
here, he might eventually be taken back there."

A little surprised, Nick looked over to Reese.  "Captain?"

Reese saw the confusion and bit of panic in his detective's
features.  "Nick, we need you on the case.  If the boy's father was
murdered, you can contact the French police to see if you can figure
out what you can on the father and perhaps his family.  You, LaCroix,
and Natalie will be allowed to visit anytime you want.  Natalie is
assigned as Nicolas' doctor."

"Wait...is all of this already arranged?"

"Yes, it's been arranged," Reese stated.  "Julie wants to take
Nicolas to the couple's home tonight for a visit.  Then, in the
morning, they'll come by to get him."

"Where is he?" Julie asked.

"Upstairs--sleeping, probably."  When Julie started for the stairs,
Nick stepped in front of her.  "I wouldn't wake him."

"I told Mr. and Mrs. Grenier that we'd be by at eight.  It's about
seven fifteen right now, so we need to head over."

"I'll wake him."

As her partner turned to leave, Tracy asked, "Can I go up with you?"

Nick turned back.  "No, you shouldn't.  It's not just a matter of
waking the boy--there's LaCroix, too."  Resuming his path, Nick
headed upstairs and into his room.  LaCroix was laying flat on his
back, Nicky lying on top of him.  He smiled slightly, having never
seen anything like this before with LaCroix.  He sat on the edge of
the bed, and leaning over, whispered, "LaCroix, wake up.  The social
worker is here," into his sire's ear.

LaCroix shifted, only to find a mass lying on top of him preventing
his movement.  "What?"

"That social worker is here.  They want us to take Nicky over to a
couple's home--for a visit.  In the morning, Nicky is going to go
over there to stay."

"He will not allow it," LaCroix stated.  "It is too early for him."

Nick was faintly surprised by the last comment.  He had expected his
sire would be glad to be rid of the child.  "It's all arranged,
LaCroix.  They knew you didn't want to take the boy, even for a few
days.  The couple knows Nicky isn't going to cooperate.  LaCroix? 
Could you wake him and bring him down?"  Receiving a nod, Nick went
back downstairs.

"Are they coming?" Julie impatiently prodded.

"LaCroix is waking him up.  Give him a minute; if we're a few
minutes late, I'm sure that'll be fine."

"And Dr. Lambert has checked the boy over?  He's in good health?"

Nick hesitated a moment.  He hadn't heard the results of the blood
test yet.  "Yes, she's examined him.  Natalie's running a blood test
right now, but otherwise he seems in good health."

"Good."  Julie looked up to the balcony catching some movement.  The
boy stood just on the other side of the railing, staring straight at
her.  He looked up at LaCroix as if the other said something, glanced
back at her, and then walked over to the stairs.  She was amazed at
how calm the boy was compared to before.  Calm, alert, perhaps even
reasonable.  Maybe it would be best if they waited, but it was too
late for that.  And besides, the boy would have to get used to other
people eventually if they couldn't find any relatives that would take
him.  She watched LaCroix approach with Nicolas, and once they
stopped, the boy leaned back against LaCroix.  She approached,
watching as LaCroix stopped the boy from pulling away from her. 
"Hello, Nicolas, we're going to go on a little trip, okay?"

"I'm not going with you."

"No, but you can go with your friend and Nick.  How about that?"

"Where to?"

"A nice family.  They're going to take care of you for a while."

At that, Nicky pulled out of LaCroix' grasp, and darted away.  When
LaCroix picked him up, he struggled in the grasp.  "I don't want to
go!  Faites-leur de partir!  S'il vous plaît, oncle Lucien...."

"No, you will go."

"I don't want to."

"It's just a visit, Nicolas," Julie explained.  "You'll get to come
back here for the night, and then tomorrow you'll go to stay with
them.  Lucien and Nick will visit you, I'm sure, but they need to get
back to their work."

Nicky looked to LaCroix.  "You'll visit?"

Although the thought disgusted him, he agreed, nodding his head. 
What could it hurt?  Soon the boy would probably forget all about
him.  "Yes, I'll visit."

Nicky didn't answer immediately, appearing to carefully consider his
response.  "Okay.  I'll go, I guess."  After Julie managed a smile,
he added, "But I don't have to like them."

"No, you don't."

"I still don't want to go."

"Will you behave during the visit, Nicky?" Nick asked.  Getting a
nod, Nick smiled and turned back to Julie.  "Now, I think we should
go before he changes his mind."

"Nick?" Reese said, getting his detective's attention.  "Tracy and I
are going to head back to the precinct.  If you could come in for a
little tonight, we could use you."

"I'll come in after we get back."

Reese and Tracy got in the elevator first, then Julie, Nick, and
with a bit of prodding, Nicky got in as well.  Nicky, however, kept
close to LaCroix and Nick, wanting to distance himself from the others.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

As LaCroix held Nicolas and they, along with Nick and Julie waited
at the Grenier's door, Julie commented, "Doesn't he get heavy after a
while?"

"No," LaCroix answered truthfully, although he wasn't about to give
her a reason.

The door opened to reveal a brightly lit entryway, and Mrs. Grenier--
a slightly overweight woman of average height with deep brown hair--
smiled warmly at them all.  Her husband, who was roughly Nick's
height, but heavier and with nearly black hair, stood nearby.  "This
must be Nicky," the woman said and flashed another grin.

"Don't call me that!"

Mrs. Grenier tensed slightly, not expecting the sharp response.

"Call him Nicolas, he doesn't mind that much," Nick suggested.

"Thank you."  Turning back to the boy, she warmly told him, "Hi
there, Nicolas.  I'm Caroline and this is my husband, Marc."

"Hi."

"Who are your friends?"

"Uncle Lucien and Nicholas."

LaCroix set the boy on the ground, but took care to make sure he
didn't bolt.

Caroline stepped aside, motioning for everyone to enter.  "Please,
come in so we can get to know Nicolas a little better."

Julie stepped in, and after a few nudges, LaCroix got Nicky to go
in.  He and Nick followed, the door shutting out the night.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

Returning to the loft, all the way up in the elevator, Nicky
repeated, "I'm hungry."

By the time the elevator finally got to the second floor, LaCroix
walked out leaving the boy to catch up to him.  Nicky ran in front of
him, blocking his path.  "Nicholas will get you something to eat." 
The statement seemed to work, and as Nicky focused on the other man,
LaCroix went to the refrigerator to poor himself a glass of his son's
food of choice, noting to himself that he really needed to stock his
son's fridge with something better.

"What are you going to make?" Nicky prodded, following Nick around
until they finally made it to the kitchen.  "Can I have some more
chocolate milk?"

"Not until you've had something to eat."  Going to the refrigerator,
Nick looked through what Natalie had bought.  Most of the food
required cooking--something he didn't particularly want to do.  "How
about some fruit?  I'll cut up an apple for you, and then you can
have some chocolate milk.  How about that?"

"Sure."  Nicky then went over to the table to sit and wait.

Nick smiled and reached in and got an apple.  After washing the
apple off and getting a knife, he cut the apple under both LaCroix
and the boy's close scrutiny.  Putting the slices into a bowl, he put
it on the table in front of Nicky.  Then, he got himself a glass and
filled it full with blood, at which he sat at the table as well. 
Taking a sip of the glass, he found curious blue eyes following his
movements.

"Why do you drink that?"

"Because...I do," Nick answered, unsure of what else he could say.

"But LaCroix doesn't like it."

"No, he doesn't."

"Do you?"

Nick hesitated.  He didn't particularly like it, but what was he
supposed to say?  If he said he didn't, then he'd only be asked again
why he drinks it.  Glancing over to LaCroix, he could see that his
sire was amused by the question.  "It serves its purpose," he
eventually stated.  Seeing that answer wasn't going to work, he
added, "It's like you and vegetables--they aren't always the
favourite thing on the plate, but they're edible and good for you."

Nicky crinkled his nose and pointed to Nick's glass.  "*That* can't
be good for you."

LaCroix let loose a short, soft chuckle as he approached.  "See,
Nicholas?  Even he knows what's good for you and what isn't."

"I'm not changing my 'diet', LaCroix."

"Well, you could at least keep something decent on hand for visitors."

"Or you could bring your own."

Nicky looked up at the two, who were now glaring at one another. 
"Sorry."  He ate another slice of his apple as Nick turned to him.

"It's okay.  This is just a little disagreement LaCroix and I have."

Stuffing the last piece of apple in his mouth, Nicky quickly ate it,
asking, "Chocolate milk?"

"Yeah, you can have some chocolate milk now."  Nick was about to
make a glass, when he thought of a better idea.  "'Uncle Lucien' will
make it for you.  I need to go in to work for a few hours."

"Okay."

Nick smiled, grabbed his things, and headed for the elevator.  "I'll
drop by the club, as well, and make sure they know you won't be there
tonight."  He got in the elevator, letting the door slide shut on its
own.

"Nicholas..." LaCroix began, but it was too late.  His son had
already fled.  Focusing on the boy, he found his anger getting close
to the edge.  One child was more than enough for him.  He didn't need
two of them.

"Chocolate milk?"

LaCroix closed his eyes.  He had, after all, managed to get Nicholas
to get the boy something to eat.  Making chocolate milk couldn't be
*too* difficult.  Looking at the boy, he saw the two eyes plead with
him.  He managed a faint smile, and then went about the task.


Something Curious - (05/14)

"No! I won't go!  Je n'irai pas!" Nicky said as he took care to keep
LaCroix between him and the others.

LaCroix found the boy clinging to him once more, which made it
difficult for him to get the boy without risking hurting him. 
"Nicolas, you have to go; it is not my choice.  I will visit, but you
need to go with Mrs. Grenier.  She will take you to her home."

"I don't like them," Nicky whispered, soft enough that only Nick and
LaCroix could hear.

LaCroix leaned down and whispered into his ear.  "Neither do I, but
life isn't always fair.  The seem to be nice people."

"So?"  Watching LaCroix straighten, Nicky asked, "You'll come and
visit?"  Getting a nod from LaCroix, he continued, "And make me
chocolate milk?  I like yours better than Natalie's.  You put more
chocolate in it."

LaCroix winced.  He hadn't meant to put that much of the mix in, but
he hadn't felt like starting over, so he'd left it.  "Perhaps," he
replied, managing a slight smile.  "Now, go on with Mrs. Grenier."

Nicky looked up at LaCroix, and then over at Caroline and Julie, who
were standing next to each other.  After giving a glance to LaCroix,
he walked over to Caroline Grenier, but when she tried to put her
hand on his shoulder, he pulled away.  "Don't touch me," he snapped,
the thought of her doing just that too much as it was.

As the three got in the elevator, Nicky stared back into the loft
until the door shut.  The motor kicked in after a few seconds, and
soon the elevator was out of sight.

Once the elevator had stopped, Nick asked, "So...what was with the
chocolate milk?"

"I put too much in."

"How much is too much?"  The only reply Nick got was a glare.  "You
aren't going to tell me, are you?"  He got more silence, and then
LaCroix looked away.  "Just...tell me it wasn't more chocolate than
milk."

"Suffice it to say it had more chocolate in it than it should.  It
was probably no healthier for him than that swill you drink is for
you.  I do not think Natalie would be pleased."

"You're concerned."

"I am not."

Nick grinned at the denial.  "The boy is good for you, LaCroix."

At that, LaCroix raised an eyebrow.

"Really, LaCroix.  Besides, how else would you ever get to make
chocolate milk?" he said with a smile.

"Nicholas, the child is--"

"Somewhat addictive."

"And annoying, a nuisance, time-consuming--"

"And weren't we all?"  Nick paused, waiting for LaCroix to comment,
but none came.  "Tell me you weren't somewhat like the boy when you
were that age, and I'll drop it."

LaCroix, somewhat defeated, pursed his lips.  "Fine.  You've made
your point."  LaCroix walked away, starting for the stairs.

Nick watched the reaction, curious what LaCroix was running from. 
"You do like him, don't you?"

"He is a child.  A miniature mortal brat to put it mildly."

"Who has better tastes in food than I do.  I know you thought that
was amusing earlier--don't try to deny it."

"I won't.  The boy would be better for you than me.  Maybe he could
at least get you to eat right.  That cow's blood is horrible--he was
right about that.  And it *isn't* good for you."

"He's rubbed off on you."

"He has not."

The sound of a throat clearing made them both turn toward the
stairs, where Natalie stood holding the door open.

"How long have you been standing there?" Nick asked, stunned she had
come up without him hearing.

"Well, from 'you do like him, don't you' on, I think--and I think
I'm going to agree with Nick.  You know, you two are arguing like
little kids, or siblings, or...something."

LaCroix didn't comment on that, although he was close.  "Well, it's
well after sunrise and *I* am going to get some sleep."  He turned
and prepared to go upstairs.

"You might want to wait," Natalie commented.

LaCroix slowly spun.  "What for?"

"I took a sample of Nicky's blood.  It's...slightly unusual."

LaCroix' interest was piqued.  "In what way?"

"Well, for one, his immune system is amazing.  Granted, it's nothing
compared to yours, but I'll bet Nicky has never been sick, or if he
has, only mildly and not for long."

"Do you know why?" Nick asked, stepping closer.

"Not at the moment.  As far as I can tell, otherwise he's normal. 
All of the tests I've done up to this point have told me that.  But,
his blood *is* different.  There's something strange, but I can't
quite place it.  Basically, he just has an unusually efficient immune
system, and a relatively slow pulse...which could, possibly be
explained by his immune system; I mean, if it's as efficient as it
seems, his other systems might be just as efficient."

"What do you mean, 'Up to this point'?  Are you doing more?" Nick
asked.

Natalie nodded.  "Remember that electron microscope I got time on to
look at your cells?  Well, I have time on it two nights from now.  I
want to get a better look at Nicky's blood."  She looked around, and
noticed something was missing.  "Where is he, anyway?"

"Nat..." Nick started, not sure what to say, then told her, "Julie
is having him stay with a couple."

"He'll be back," LaCroix commented.

Natalie turned to the vampire, wondering about his tone.  LaCroix
seemed downright certain of his statement.  "How do you know that?"

"I don't.  However, he did not want to leave.  Judging his actions
up until now, I suspect he'll do what he can to get back here.  Now,
it's nearly noon and I am going to get some sleep."

Natalie was about to say something, but Nick silenced her with a
motion.  She then watched as LaCroix turned and flew up to the second
level, glanced down on her and Nick for a second, and then walked
into Nick's bedroom and closed the door.

"LaCroix seems a little...well...."

"Not like LaCroix?"

"A bit.  He's acting different than I would expect.  I would have
thought he'd be glad for Nicky to leave."

"So did I," Nick stated, staring silently forward for a moment. 
"It's somewhat interesting, though.  Not much affects LaCroix."

"How about you, Nick?"

"What about me what?"

"How is this affecting you?"

Nick turned away and walked over to the couch.  He sat down, only
for Natalie to come and sit next to him.

"Nick, I know you liked having him around."

"Yeah, it was nice having a child around--if only for a couple of
days."

"Have you ever considered being a foster parent or something? 
Seriously.  I mean, I know you'd like kids and that being a vampire
limits that, but--"

"I've thought about it, but it wouldn't work."

"Why not?"

He looked over at her for a moment, and then away again.  "It's been
tried, Nat.  Not recently, but it's something that I know won't work."

"And...?" she prodded, but he didn't answer.  "What happened?"

"It was my sister's son.  After her death, I took care of him.  It
wasn't for long, though.  He found out what I am."

"And that was it?"

"That was it.  I tried talking to him, reasoning...he was old enough
to think for himself, but not old enough to be on his own.  I made
sure he was cared for, but I never saw him face to face again."  He
let out a half-laugh.  "Children don't take what we are well.  Some
children, particularly young children, seem to know what we are, that
we are different.  If they can sense us, they usually don't like us."

"So, if it weren't for the problems, you'd consider adopting one?"

"Perhaps, but it won't happen, Nat."  He turned to her and gave her
a warm smile.  "Don't worry about me, okay?"

"I'm not, I--"

"Nat...."

"Okay, I am a little, but I know you like children, so...."

"I'm fine, Nat," he told her, pulling her close.  "Are you going to
stay the day, or go back home?"

"Could I stay?  I mean, with LaCroix, there's not as much room, but
I've been at the morgue for the last who knows how many hours, and...."

He quieted her, pulling her against him tighter.  "Of course you can
stay."

She drew back a little and looked up at him, "And where are you
going to sleep?"

"In my room, I guess.  LaCroix isn't using up the whole bed."

When Nick started to stand up, Natalie pulled on his arm, keeping
him in place.  "You could sleep here, Nick."

"And what about you?"

"Here, too."  He started to protest, but she put her fingers to his
lips.  "I know you and LaCroix are arguing, and I know it's on your
mind.  Just hold me and let your mind think about other things,
okay?"  She waited, and when he nodded her worry increased again; she
hadn't expected him to give in so easily.

They shifted until they were both lying on the couch, and Nick held
Natalie tightly against him, his arms wrapping around her waist and
resting on her stomach.  He buried his face in her hair, inhaling a
soft sweet scent of roses.  Her blood was so close, and he had to
wait a moment before opening his eyes to avoid being taken by it.

After several minutes, Nick abruptly asked, "What about you?"

"About what?"

"Children.  You should have some while you can."  He waited, but she
didn't answer.  "You do want them, don't you?"

"It would be nice, but...let's just say working in a morgue doesn't
give one many proposals."

"Who says you have to stay there all the time?  You're mortal; go
out and enjoy the sun some time.  I'm not going to be here forever,
not in Toronto.  Besides, I couldn't give you children even if I
wanted to."

"Do you?  Want to, that is?"

Nick thought that over.  He hadn't even realised what he'd said.

"Please, Nick, don't ignore the question."

"I...if I could and that's what you wanted."

"But would *you* want it?"

"It's not possible, Nat."

"Nick, you might not be mortal, but you're human.  You *can* dream,
you know.  You do.  You dream of becoming mortal.  Some mortals dream
of flying high in the clouds.  Even if a dream isn't attainable, it
helps us keep going.  Especially the ones that are close, like yours.
Ones that just might come true."

Nick managed a smile, even if she couldn't see it.  "Thanks for the
reminder.  Now, I think you mentioned something about being tired...."

"Yeah, well, I am," she replied, yawning a moment later.  "See?" 
She looked back at him and caught his smile.  "Goodnight, Nick."

"You too, Nat."  He pulled her closer and closed his eyes, doing his
best to put LaCroix--and Nicky--out of his mind.


Something Curious - (06/14)

[Three nights later]

Natalie strode purposely up to Nick's desk, and interrupting his
conversation with Tracy, she flatly told him, "I really need to talk
to you, Nick."

"About what?"

"Remember that electron microscope?  It has to do with that," she
answered, holding up a file folder.

Nicky's tests.  Had Natalie figured out why the boy's life signs had
been off?  "Uh, Trace?  I'll be back in a few."

As Nick stood and started off with Natalie toward the hallway, Tracy
asked, "What does Natalie have?"

He turned back to her for a moment.  "That's what I'm off to find
out.  I'll be right back."  Nick then followed Natalie into one of
the conference rooms.  Once the door was shut, he asked, "What is it?"

"Well, I just got a lot of answers."

"Like?"

"Like why his immune system is so advanced, why his temperature,
pulse, and respiration are all a bit low...and why he likes being
around you and LaCroix more than everyone else."

"And...?" he prodded, waiting.  "The reason is...?"

"Here," she said, pulling out several sheets of paper.  She laid
them on the table.  "Guess which one is Nicky's."

Nick looked through them, recognising one as the results from when
she'd run his cells through the microscope.  That narrowed it down to
two--which were nearly identical.  "One of those two."

"Right, but which one.  One of those is a regular, normal test of a
healthy human's blood, and the other is Nicky's.  Keep in mind what I
told you."

Focusing on the differences between the two, something hit him. 
Comparing all three, he noticed some parts of the middle test,
probably Nicky's test--the parts that didn't line up with the normal
test--closely matched his.  Not precisely, but it was closer to his
than the normal one.

"He's not mortal, Nick.  He trusts you and LaCroix because he's part
vampire."

Nick straightened, stunned by the statement.  It did, however, make
an odd sort of sense.  "Do you think he knows?"

"I can't say, Nick.  He might.  What I can tell you is that he
certainly seems to know the difference between mortals and vampires,
and he's far more comfortable around you guys than mortals.  What I
want to know is how this happened.  I thought Vampires were
infertile, in the human sense, that is."

"I don't know.  I didn't think it was possible."  Nick stared down
on the test results, scanning for the matches.  There were more than
one or two isolated areas that lined up.  "Are you busy right now?"

"No.  Why?"

"I think a visit is in order.  I want to show these to LaCroix. 
Then, you can ask him how it happened."

Natalie set her jaw and nodded.  Then, she gathered up the test
results and put them back into the folder, and they left.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

Nick and Natalie walked up to the bar in the Raven, right to where
LaCroix was sitting.  Momentarily leaning closer, Nick stated, "Your
office.  Now."

LaCroix glared at his son.  How dare the younger demand something of
him in this manner.  "Why?"

"Natalie has something you should see."

LaCroix didn't answer, simply taking another sip from his glass.

"I thought you wanted to know why the boy clings to you like he does."

At that, LaCroix set his glass down.  "This is about the boy?" he
said, his voice clearly interested.  "Come," he said, and the three
went into his office.  Closing the door, he asked, "What did you find?"

Natalie again laid out the test results.  "Look at these results. 
From left to right, one is a normal human's result, the second is
Nicky's, and the third is Nick's."

After looking at the near nonsense put before him, LaCroix
commented, "They're all different."

"Exactly.  Some of Nicky's results were normal, but others matched
up closely with Nick's.  He's somewhere between human and vampire."

LaCroix slowly faced away and took several steps before stopping. 
"Then the boy is a crossbreed," he stated with a hint of distaste. 
"That's why.  He knows what myself and Nicholas are.  He can sense
it.  That's why he's comfortable around us."

Nick walked up behind LaCroix, demanding, "How is it possible,
LaCroix?"

LaCroix sent a glare at his son, and then glanced at Natalie.  "It
is rare.  Few live long."

"Vampires are infertile, aren't they?" she asked.

"Most.  There are a few, however, that are not.  Those few can
occasionally fertilise a mortal female.  It is, however, impossible
for a female vampire to conceive."

Nick was stunned by the information.  "How come I've never heard of
this, LaCroix?"

"Because most of the resulting pregnancies never reach full term. 
Many times both the mother and child die before the child is born."

"And Nicky?" Nick asked.  "He mentioned his mother died when he was
born."

"The boy must be one of the lucky or, perhaps, more accurately, one
of the unlucky, few to survive this long."  He paused, and then
stated, "Crossbreeds usually become hunters.  When hunters find them,
they'll often raise them.  They grow up, unaware of what they are. 
Once they learn what they are, they come after us.  They are born
hunters--mortals with enough of our abilities to kill us without much
difficulty.  Most die at a young age."

"Are they immortal?" Natalie asked.

LaCroix didn't answer immediately, the answer not something he knew.
"Probably not.  I've never heard of one surviving more than about
twenty years."

Natalie had a feeling she knew how they died, and it didn't sit well
with her stomach.  "Your kind kill them, don't you?"

"Some are killed as children, to spare them the chase later in their
lives.  Those few that reach adulthood are usually killed when we
discover them."

Now, Natalie had a sinking feeling about telling LaCroix.  "What
will happen to Nicky?"

LaCroix turned to the mortal.  "He will die.  Perhaps not now, but
he will probably die before you, Doctor."  He stiffened, distancing
himself from this news.  "Now, if you'll excuse me I have a club to
run."

The door slammed shut a moment later, and Nick commented, "Well, I
guess that confirms LaCroix' attachment to him."

"Nick...."

He pulled out his keys, and held them out to Natalie.  "Here, take
my car back to the precinct, if you would.  I'm going to go talk to
LaCroix some more.  I'll be okay, don't worry."

Natalie just stood there as Nick put the keys in her hand and left
the office.  'Don't worry'.  How could she not worry?  Especially
when Nick tells her not to--it means he thinks there's reason to
worry.  She didn't think LaCroix was the type to share his
emotions...more of the type to work them out on something nearby or
let them build up.  She looked down at the keys and exhaled, hoping
Nick would figure out what was up.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

Nick followed LaCroix out of the club, and then into the sky. 
Several buildings away they both landed, Nick walking over to his
sire.  "What's going on?  I can't make sense of your actions.  First,
you agreed to taking care of the boy, and then--"

"I have my reasons."  Something about Nicolas *did* pull at him, but
he couldn't place it.  At least the boy being a crossbreed helped
explain some of the child's behaviour.  He let out a long, slow
breath.  "I thought this would be over by now.  I hadn't expected to
see the child after he left."

"Then why did you agree to take care of him when you didn't want to?"

"I wanted to know why he trusted me.  Children do not trust me,
Nicholas.  Even when I was mortal they held more fear of me than
anything else.  And now, although I have an answer as to why, I am
not satisfied.  That is what is bothering me."

Nick eyed his sire, wondering if that really was all there was, or
if there was more.  LaCroix didn't, after all, seem to be overly
affected by this--just indecisive.  "You did like having him around
though, didn't you?"

LaCroix considered his answer.  He honestly wasn't sure what to say.
The boy was affecting him somehow that even he didn't understand.  "A
little," he simply replied.  "He is...different from the children
I've been around in the past.  However, even if I were interested in
him, a child has no place among us.  I've told you that before and
you've seen proof of it."

"Even one who is our kind?"

"He is *not* like us."

"But he will be.  You said most of those like Nicolas become
hunters.  Considering his reaction to us, I'd say that wouldn't
happen.  And how does he know to trust us?  Off-hand, I'd say he was
taught that, and probably by his father, meaning he's already been
raised by one of us."

"Have you found anything out about the child's father?" LaCroix
asked, hoping to divert the subject some.

"No.  If he were one of us, the murder wouldn't be in any of the
mortals' records.  Perhaps you could contact someone in the Community
there?  See if anything is known about the boy."

"That would not be wise, and you know it.  The Enforcers would not
hesitate to kill Nicolas if they knew of his existence.  Even given
that the boy is no real threat to us.  He would be treated as a
threat."

"You can make sure they know not to harm him."  When his sire
started to protest, Nick stated, "I know you have influence in the
Community.  If you care what happens to Nicolas--do something.  You
don't have to tell me what, or how."  Turning, Nick walked to the
edge of the building's roof.  Remaining facing away, "Do what you
want to do, LaCroix.  I know you're somewhat attached to him for
whatever reason.  If you are...help him.  It would be something new
and I think Nicolas would be grateful for it, even if he might not
fully understand it now."

LaCroix closed his eyes as his son glanced back at him before
silently leaving on the wind.  Opening his eyes and glancing up at
the partially cloudy but bright night sky, the nearly full moon half-
obscured by the clouds.  He had no answers.


Something Curious - (07/14)

[Two nights later]

LaCroix returned to the Raven after a short visit to the Greniers to
see the boy.  He tried visiting most nights and mornings, but why,
precisely, he didn't know.  The boy found comfort in his presence. 
And himself?  He told himself that he was doing this for his son, but
he honestly wasn't sure if that was the truth.

The last several nights he had watched Nicolas become quiet and
somewhat pale--weak, even.  When he was told the boy wasn't eating,
it didn't surprise him.  The boy's pulse had dropped, probably from
weakening.  Tonight, he had managed to get Nicky to eat part of a
peanut butter and jelly sandwich...but only by threatening to eat it
himself.  Nicky had panicked when he'd said that, the boy's eyes
going wide.  The boy knew what he was--of that he was certain.  The
question was if the boy knew what he himself was.

About to go in his office, the bartender walked over to him, with a
package in hand.  "This came for you during the day, LaCroix."

He took the package and continued into his office.  Sitting at his
desk, he examined it more closely.  It was a brown padded envelope
addressed to him.  But, more importantly, was the return address. 
The name was simply 'DuCharme', the actual address unfamiliar to him
other than the country--France.

He ripped into the well-taped end, it taking nearly a minute to get
it open.  At least he knew it hadn't been tampered with.  Inside, he
found two more envelopes.  One was nearly the size of the package,
and the second was black and addressed to him in silver ink.  He
opened the envelope and pulled out a piece of grey paper.  Unfolding
it, he read through the familiar hand:

     This letter is late, I'm afraid.  I'm sending this while
     travelling so that it will not be traced back to me.  I apologise
     for this...I can imagine what trouble you have gone through the
     last week or more by the time you get this.  I did not wish for
     there to be a chance of Nicolas finding me.  I am not ready to
     speak to him after what happened.

     The boy...as you've undoubtedly learned by now, his name is also
     Nicolas.  Or at least that is the name he answers to.  He is
     Thomas Nicolas Marchand.  He is the son of one of us.  The boy is
     a crossbreed, but he is not a hunter, nor will he ever be one.
     A mortal hunter killed his father.  He was present.  Nicolas did
     not take his father's death well and has become severely wary of
     all mortals.

     The boy needs protection, and I cannot give it.  I was able to
     until the boy's father died, but I am unable to care for the
     child.  I had one of us take him to Toronto, to you.  Again, I'm
     sorry for the inconvenience.

     Nicolas is quite intelligent, but again, he does not trust the
     mortals.  He must be raised by one of us.  I would suggest our
     Nicolas, but...I don't want him to know it was me who suggested
     it.  And would Nicolas even accept?  I do not know.  If a safe
     place cannot be found for the boy, please make sure he does not
     suffer.  I do not wish for him to grow up only to die--his father
     would not want that to happen either.  If the last becomes
     necessary, please, make the child's death quick.

     Nicolas has no family.  The boy's birth certificate is enclosed
     in the package, along with other documents.  They are false, but
     they will satisfy the mortals' needs.

     As the boy is more like us than the mortals, he needs special
     care.  His father discovered he needs a sip of blood every
     couple of days.  Nicolas will become quite sick if he does not
     receive it.  He will refuse to eat, quickly become weak, and
     may get a fever.  Blood will heal him much as it does us.

     Please, look after him, LaCroix.

Seeing Janette's signature at the bottom of the page, LaCroix set
his jaw.  The letter was not like Janette...it was too rushed and
disorganised.  But it was undoubtedly from her.  She did not ask for
much from him, and although no longer properly his, he would do what
he could.  At least it explained the boy's deterioration.

He would look more closely through the papers--all fabricated under
the name 'Nicolas Durand'--and then the next night he would leave
them on his son's desk with a ver short explanation.  They were from
the Paris Community; that's all Nicholas needed to know.

And he would visit the boy.  If there were no signs of improvement,
he would set things in motion.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

"The boy is not eating, he's barely sleeping, and he's weakening. 
He's also having nightmares, which is new the last couple of days. 
According to the Greniers, even LaCroix can't get him to eat,"
Natalie told Reese and Julie.  "Nicolas doesn't trust the couple, and
where he needs to be right now is with someone he can trust.  I
recommend that he is removed from their home."

Julie, who was also looking through several papers, stated, "By
these papers Nick got from the French authorities...Nicolas can
either stay here or return to France.  He was born in Canada, and as
his parents were both French citizens, he has dual citizenship.  But,
as he has no living family, we're going to need to find a home for
him--which I can see is going to be difficult.  However, I agree that
right now we need to get him somewhere he feels safe, and somewhere
he'll eat.  And considering he was fine before...."

Nick looked between them, before he finally stated, "I'll take him. 
I can't speak for LaCroix, but I think that between the two of us and
Natalie we can help.  He trusts me nearly as much as LaCroix."

Julie nodded.  "I'll call Mrs. Grenier and tell her you'll be coming
by."  She shuffled the papers in her hands.  "And Nick...I know you
can't be expecting this, but if you've ever thought of adopting a
child, you might want to consider adopting Nicolas.  I know you're
single and childless, but if he trusts you and you're both willing to
go though with it, there won't be any problems on my end.  And
remember--it's just a thought.  You might want to run the idea by
LaCroix, too, and see if he would consider adopting Nicolas.  We
tried calling him, but we couldn't get hold of him."

Nick nodded.  Other than visiting Nicky, LaCroix wanted nothing to
do with any of this.  "I'll think about it," he said, honestly not
sure what to do about the idea.  Other than that he wouldn't be
mentioning it to LaCroix, aware the other would never adopt a child. 
"Come on, Nat, we should probably go over now."

Natalie nodded, and the two quietly left the room.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

Arriving at the Grenier's, Nick and Natalie were taken up to the
room Nicky was sleeping in.  There, another man neither had seen
before was there, examining Nicky.

"The boy should be taken to the hospital.  His pulse is weak and his
breathing shallow," the man stated.

"What's going on?" Nick asked, turning to Mrs. Grenier.

"Not long ago, he collapsed.  We've tried to wake him up, but he
won't respond to us at all.  I called our doctor to come take a look
at him."

"We'll take him.  Julie did call, right?" Nick said, approaching the
bed.

"Yes, she called," Mrs. Grenier answered.  "She explained that you
would be by.  We mentioned what happened and she told us that you had
already left."

The doctor stopped Nick's approach toward Nicky, getting in the
other man's way.  "He shouldn't be moved except to be taken to the
hospital."

Natalie stepped forward, stating, "I'm a doctor and will take care
of him.  I know what he needs right now, and I can give it to him."

"Do you?" the doctor asked sceptically.  "Do you know that the boy's
pulse is barely thirty and that his lungs can't possibly be getting
enough oxygen to sustain him?  He needs to go to the hospital."

"I'll make sure he's treated.  And the sooner we leave, the sooner I
can do just that.  Let Nick by."

The man glared at Nick for several seconds, but moved out of Nick's
way.

Nick went to the bed and lifted Nicky's limp form up and held him
against him.  He started for the door, but was stopped by Mrs. Grenier.

"Please see that he gets better.  It's been hard watching him the
last few days, especially between this and knowing that he didn't
really want to be here."

"We'll make sure," Natalie replied, and she and Nick walked down the
stairs and outside.  Once to the Caddy, she told him.  "Nick, I'd say
he needs a transfusion, and soon.  I got a unit of O negative from
the hospital after I came by earlier, so we just need to get him to
your place."

He nodded.  Shifting Nicky, he reached into his pocket for his keys.
Giving them to Natalie, he told her, "You drive.  He's unconscious,
but if he wakes it would probably be better if I was holding him."

Nodding, Natalie got in.  Soon, they were on their way back to
Nick's apartment.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

"There.  That's all I can do for him," Natalie said, removing a
needle from Nicky's arm.  If nothing else, Nicky at least looked
better.  "I think what he mainly needs now is rest.  I'm still not
sure exactly how this happened.  With the way his immune system--"

"He's one of us, Doctor," LaCroix stated, entering the room.  "He
has been given what he needs.  He will recover."

Natalie turned, surprised at the voice.  "Finally, you show up."

LaCroix raised his eyebrows at her tone, but said nothing.

Nick stood and walked over to his sire.  "You knew what was wrong,
didn't you, LaCroix?  Why didn't you say anything?  Or do something?"

"When I visited tonight, I tried to give him blood, but he was too
weak.  So I 'suggested' to Mrs. Grenier that Nicky should be returned
to us, that Dr. Lambert would know what to do about his illness. 
What was I supposed to tell her?  That the child wasn't normal?  The
boy has needs the mortals can't understand."  When Natalie cleared
her throat, he turned to her, adding, "Present company excluded, of
course."

"He was deteriorating, LaCroix!  And you knew why.  You knew and you
did nothing."

LaCroix turned to the boy at the accusation.  "I did what I could. 
And yes, he was deteriorating.  He is a crossbreed; however, from
what I can tell, he's far closer to being a vampire than he is to
being mortal.  As such, he needs blood just as we do.  Not as much,
but it is necessary for his survival."

"And how do you know this?"  Nick waited, but he didn't get an
answer.  "You didn't say anything about him needing blood before. 
LaCroix, those papers you gave me had to come from somewhere."

"I already told you--I contacted the Paris Community.  They provided
me with much of the information.  The rest I pieced together on my
own."

"How much blood does he need?" Natalie asked just as Nick was going
to start in at LaCroix again.

"A sip every couple days.  It explains why he wanted a drink of my
glass--he knew what it was and knew that he needed it.  The blood,
however, should be human.  Given his reaction, I suspect that's what
he's accustomed to and what he likely expected to be in the glass."

"What did they tell you, LaCroix?  The papers you gave me were false
reports for a man's death.  What happened to Nicolas' father?"

"Hunters.  They killed his father right in front of him, leaving him
alive--probably with the hope he'd one day turn against us.  I'm
surprised they didn't kill him or take him for their own."

The phone rang, and Nick went and got it, keeping a close eye on
LaCroix.  It was Reese, wanting him and Natalie back in to work if
possible.  He hung up and turned to his sire.  "LaCroix...."

"I will watch him.  He should sleep for the remainder of the night."

"I'm not done asking questions yet, LaCroix.  I know there's more." 
Turning, Nick guided Natalie toward the door.  "Come on, they'll be
fine for a while," he said to Natalie, not bothering to look back.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

Arriving back at the loft just before sunrise, Nick and Natalie went
upstairs to check on Nicky.  There, on the bed, was LaCroix holding
the boy protectively close, both asleep.  LaCroix lay on his side,
the boy held in front of him.  Nicky's head rested just below
LaCroix' chin, one of LaCroix' hands holding the boy's head.

Natalie was about to speak, but found Nick pulling her by the hand
toward the door.  Once they were on their way downstairs, she
commented, "Isn't that...uh, I don't know, a little odd for LaCroix?"

"More than a little.  But it's probably good for him."

"I just never thought of him as the 'fathering' sort."

"He's not.  I've seen LaCroix kill children of that age.  Not often,
but he'll do it without flinching."

"And yet you trust him with Nicky?" she asked incredulously.

Nick looked away.  He hadn't thought much about that.  "I...don't
know why, but yes, I do.  LaCroix just seems...different.  Even what
LaCroix told me can't account for all of it.  LaCroix doesn't even
understand his reaction, I don't think.  Perhaps somehow LaCroix
unconsciously sensed what Nicky was, perhaps that's adding to this, I
really don't know."

Natalie watched as Nick went over to the couch and sat down.  "Have
you given any thought to what Julie said?"

"About adopting Nicky?  I...I don't know, Nat.  I'm not exactly the
best choice."

"Oh?  Looking at it, I see a perfect match.  You want to be mortal,
and the only way to do that is to do things mortals do--and raising
children is one of them.  Nicky is a child, but he's not mortal. 
He's not going to be disgusted by what you are and what you have
done, I don't think.  Off-hand, I'm going to say he could die if
taken care of by a mortal family--and fairly quickly.  Name a
vampire, any vampire, who could and would take care of him."

Nick just stared, his jaw moving but no words coming out.  He didn't
know anyone that would be willing to take Nicky in.  That didn't say
much, as he really didn't know many in the Community.  Janette
might...but most of his kind wanted nothing to do with the mortals or
children in general, let alone take a risk like this.  "I...I don't
know what to say, Nat."  He shook his head.  Realising what would
happen to Nicky if no one could be found to take care of him, he
tensed.  The child *would* die in a mortal home.  He couldn't just
watch that happen.  Either himself or LaCroix would have to kill
Nicky if nowhere could be found for him--otherwise Nicky would slowly
starve to death.  And this wouldn't exactly be something to
advertise.  If the Enforcers found out, he suspected that they'd
probably want to kill Nicky.  Whatever happened, he would not allow
Nicky to suffer.  "I'll think about it, okay?" he told her, hoping to
change the subject.

"What do you think LaCroix would think?"

Nick softly laughed.  "He'd chide me for trying to be like the
mortals, but beyond that, I don't know.  He seems attached to the
boy, or at the very least interested in him, so he might not say as
much as he'd like.  If I adopt him, though, I'd probably switch back
to human blood--at least until Nicky was older."

"Nick...."

"It would be easiest.  And besides, Nicky will need the blood and
I'll probably need it to chase him down."  He paused, then, laughing
slightly, he added, "Considering that, I think LaCroix would be quite
pleased."  He thought for a moment, and then turned to Natalie.  "You
know, Nat, if I did, I could probably use your help.  Not all the
time, but...Nat, I really don't know where to begin with taking care
of a child...not in this time."

Natalie took what he said in, her thoughts catching on 'Not all the
time'.  She had hoped this would help open Nick up a little, but it
sounded like he was going to try and push her away, if he even
decided to do this.  "What does Nicky think of me?  Do you know?"

He smiled a little.  "You're the only mortal he's let touch him, and
you're asking what he thinks of you?  I assume he likes you--
otherwise, I think he'd be more hostile toward you."

"You know, I really think he'd be good for you."  Natalie watched as
his smile became infectious.  "And I wouldn't mind helping out. 
But...I'd like it to be more than just a little."

"What do you mean?"

She smiled.  Inching closer, she put one hand up to his face, which
was quickly covered by one of Nick's hands.  She watched as he closed
his eyes, his lips parting slightly as he took advantage of her warm
touch.  Then, without much warning, she closed the distance between
them, initiating a kiss.

He quickly and hungrily responded, but drew back quickly.  He didn't
like where this was going.  He pulled her hand away, but kept hold of
it, seeing her start to protest.

"Nick, I know you can't have children, that we can't have children,
but there is Nicky.  He needs someone like you to take care of him,
and I'd like to help, Nick."

"Natalie, please, don't--"

"What?"

"I...."  Nick shook his head.  "I'm not going to steal away your
life.  What?  I've already taken away about a sixth of it.  I don't
want to take anymore."

"You didn't take it," she insisted.  "I gave it to you, and I'm
willing to give more."

Nick pulled her hand closer, raising it to his lips.  He brushed his
lips against the back of her hand, and then pressed them to the same
spot.  Closing his eyes, he held her hand to his cheek, her warmth
flowing into him.  He so much wanted to take her, but with as tired
as he was, it had nothing to do with his wants.  The vampire craved
her warmth, and her blood flowing so close was even more tempting. 
He increasingly had to hold back more and more.  He leaned into her
hand and, with his voice filled with emotion, told her, "Natalie,
vampires take.  That's all we can do, that's all I can do.  I...I
won't...can't give you anything.  I would if I could."  Holding
Natalie's hand steady, he turned, kissing her palm lightly, his
control pushed to the edge.  Then, taking her hand, he put it over
his unbeating heart.  "I'm not alive--no matter what you might say. 
Tell me how I can survive with an almost inactive heart and no blood
pressure, give me an explanation purely based in science, and then
perhaps, I might be.  Vampires are parasites.  We feed off the
living.  We take their blood, their lives...I take everything, I even
take your warmth."

"I'll say it again, Nick--you're not taking."  She leaned back,
pulling him with her.  When he resisted, she told him, "I'm giving,
Nick.  Just lay here with me, okay?  Listen to my heart, and let it
show you that I'm telling you the truth."

Nick continued to resist, but after a couple of more tugs, couldn't
any longer.  If he pulled away, he'd need blood.  He didn't want her
to see him like that, so he let her draw him back toward her.  He let
her guide his head to her chest, his ear resting just over her heart.
Eyes closed, he let her pulse relax him, its rhythm comforting even
as it tempted him.  So close to her heart, her blood, his fangs
eagerly waiting to descend, but he couldn't allow that.

He heard no fear in the beat, but felt her warmth pass into him,
both from the sound and her body as a whole as it warmed slightly,
just enough to counter the depletion he caused.  He was tired, but
couldn't dare fall asleep, he knew.  Not if he could help it.


Something Curious - (08/14)

Waking, Nicky found strong arms wrapped tightly around him, holding
him in place.  He looked around as much as he could and realised he
was back at Nick's.  He relaxed at that.

He used his senses to tell him who was holding him, although he
already had a good idea.  He remembered his father telling him that
the scent of someone's blood was unique--whether mortal or vampire. 
He also knew mortal and vampire's blood smelled, in general,
different.  Closing his eyes, he felt himself wrapped in a deep batch
of sickly sweet, sticky honey.  He could also smell the faint scent
of wine, and even a touch of something else, some strong spice that
he didn't know the name of.  The scent told him who this was--Uncle
Lucien.

Gently, but insistently, Nicky poked LaCroix in the collarbone. 
Getting no reaction, he repeated the action until the other finally
swatted his hand away.  "Get up, Uncle Lucien.  I'm hungry."  Nicky
waited, but LaCroix still seemed to be asleep.  Resuming his
prodding, this time harder, Nicky's fingers left behind small
circular marks for a split second before they vanished, his nails
making slight indentations in the flesh that disappeared just as
quickly.

LaCroix again swatted the hand away.  "Go back to sleep.  You need
your rest," he muttered, but didn't fully wake.

Nicky pushed LaCroix on the chest, using as much force as his little
body would let him.  "Get up.  And I'm not tired.  I'm hungry," he
said, pushing LaCroix again.

At that, LaCroix shifted them both, pinning the boy to the bed with
as much of his weight as he dared.  He glanced to his son's alarm
clock--which read nine in the morning.  He'd only been asleep for
three hours.  "Go back to sleep, Nicholas!" he hissed.

Nicky stared up into LaCroix' golden eyes.  "I'm hungry," he
repeated, not fazed in the slightest by the vampire's anger.

LaCroix rolled away and onto his back at the statement.  He closed
his eyes and held his hand to his face for a moment.  Why did the boy
have to pick *him*?  The boy was lucky to be alive, yet showed no
fear.  He just wanted to rest, and was doubting his decision to
remain at his son's.  "Rest, Nicolas.  You need rest more than you
need food."

"But, I'm not--"

"Sleep!" LaCroix hissed again, not looking at the boy.  Resting his
hands on his stomach, he calmed his breathing, starting to drift off
again.

Nicky watched, sitting up on the bed next to LaCroix.  He wasn't the
slightest bit tired.  Reaching forward, he started taping LaCroix
along the jaw, then along the side of his neck.  His hand was swatted
away again, but he didn't let that deter him.  Intent on waking
LaCroix up, he half-crawled half-pounced on LaCroix' stomach, making
the other sit up.

Snarling at the boy, LaCroix' eyes turned crimson.  As he shifted,
Nicky lost his balance and fell over the edge of the bed and onto the
floor.  Looking down on the boy, LaCroix sent a glare at the child. 
Then, getting up, he silently left the room and headed downstairs.

Nicky recovered quickly, standing and following LaCroix down the
stairs, only slightly affected by the blood-red glare that had been
sent at him.  Once there, he saw Nick and Natalie lying on the couch.
He walked over toward them and looked at them.  Natalie held Nick's
head against her shoulder, his arms wrapped around her.  "Do they
like each other?" Nicky asked, his eyes not leaving the two.

LaCroix ignored the question, pouring himself a glass of human
blood.  Putting the bottle back, he took a sip and closed his eyes as
he tasted the welcoming flavour of the blood.  He really had to make
sure Nicholas' fridge stayed properly stocked.

Remaining in place, Nicky again asked, "Do they?" glancing back at
LaCroix.

Opening his eyes and turning to the boy, he stated, "Yes, I believe
so."

Nicky turned and looked at the two.  "Will they ever have children
like me?"  He reached out and lightly pulled at a section of Nick's
hair, just enough to straighten the strands.  "Will they?"

"No," LaCroix stated, joining Nicky in watching the two.  "They
cannot."

"They could have me.  Can't they?" he asked, turning to LaCroix.

"Yes, if they wanted."

"They don't want me?"

"Nicholas is considering the possibility of adopting you."

"If he did, would I get to see you?"

LaCroix smiled a little at that.  "Of course.  Nicholas is my son,
my family."

"I want to be a part of your family," Nicky stated, again reaching
toward Nick.  LaCroix caught his hand and led him away from the couch.

Reaching the kitchen, LaCroix let go of the boy's hand and asked,
"Now, what do you want to eat?"

"Some toast," Nicky stated.

LaCroix suppressed a sigh at that.  If the toast turned out like the
chocolate milk, Nicky would end up with two very burnt pieces of
bread.  At least it was something simple, although he would have much
rather just been able to give something to the boy--no preparation
needed.  Setting his glass on the counter, LaCroix set about making
the toast.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

After his son had left for work--still tired from not getting enough
sleep and being woken up by the toaster--LaCroix told Natalie, "I am
returning to the club for the night."

"But--" Nicky protested, quieting after receiving a golden glare;
LaCroix wasn't going to be persuaded to anything.

"Will you come back in the morning?" she asked.

"No.  I will come back tomorrow night, however.  I have much I need
to attend to."

Natalie was about to say something, but LaCroix left, flying out the
skylight.

"You don't work tonight?" Nicky asked, getting up on the couch and
sitting next to her.

Natalie smiled at Nicky, somewhat uneasy with being left alone with
the boy--who unlike her was unfazed at LaCroix' departure.  "No, I
don't."

"You're like my mother.  A mortal."  Nicky turned to her, his eyes
widening as he looked up into her face.  "Why do you like us? 
Vampires like Nick and LaCroix?"

The abrupt statement of the information caught her off guard.  But
at least it was now very clear that Nicky did know what they were. 
"Well," she started, "I can't say I particularly 'like' LaCroix."

"But you don't hate him, do you?"

"No, I don't hate him.  We just disagree over Nick...and Nick and
him don't always get along, either."

"So...why do you like us?" he repeated.

Hearing the 'us' for a second time bothered Natalie a little.  Even
though Nicky wasn't mortal, he wasn't a vampire either.  He was still
a child, and although he was somewhere in-between, he was most
definitely siding with vampires.  "I guess because vampires are
living creatures.  They were created by nature, and as such have a
right to exist.  And, from what I've seen from Nick, vampires aren't
that different from mortals."

"But...mortals kill vampires.  They hunt us and they kill us.  Even
those of us that don't hunt mortals.  Vampires hunt for necessity,
but mortals hunt to kill."

"Not all mortals kill vampires."

"Hunters do."  Nicky looked down, focusing on the floor.  "Hunters
killed my father.  They almost killed me, too, but...."

"But what, Nicky?"

He looked back at Natalie.  "But they wanted to kill more vampires. 
They're probably trying to find me.  Will they be able to?"

She wasn't sure what to tell him.  She couldn't just lie, and yet,
she really didn't have an answer.  "I don't know, Nicky, they might."

"If they find me, they'll kill Nick and LaCroix."  He paused a
moment, glancing away, and then back up at Natalie.  "They'll kill
you, too.  Hunters don't care if a mortal or two dies from time to
time.  If they have to kill a mortal to kill a vampire, they will. 
They're like that, and I don't like them."

Natalie turned somewhat, and reaching out, she ran her fingers
through Nicky's hair.  "They aren't going to kill me or Nick, and
certainly not LaCroix."

"They'll try.  I heard what they said.  They were going to kill
whatever vampires I ended up with.  They knew what I was and that I'd
have to be taken in by a vampire.  They left me alive so they could
kill more.  That's all they care about.  If Nick adopts me, they'll
go after him.  I don't want them to go after him.  I like Nick and
LaCroix."

"Well, I think it's Nick's decision whether or not to adopt you. 
It's not yours, and it's not mine."

"Do you think he will?"

"I think he might.  It's probably not an opportunity Nick will have
again.  I know he's thinking about it."  She paused, and then asked,
"Do you want Nick to try to adopt you?"

"I...I'd like him to, but I don't want to see him die.  Hunters
killed my father...I don't want that to happen to Nick, too.  My
father also told me how lucky I was, that I had lived as long as I
have.  He said I'm special."

She smiled.  "Yes, you certainly are special.  You're more special
than you know."

"Natalie?  Will you...will you take me somewhere tomorrow?  During
the day?  I don't get to go out during the day very often."

"I...I don't know," she stuttered.  The question caught her off
guard.  "Can you go outside during the day?"

Nicky vigorously nodded.  "The sun doesn't burn.  I would really
like to go somewhere.  If you'll take me."

"Any place in particular?"

"No, just outside."

"Okay.  When Nick gets back, I'll tell him that we're going to go on
a little trip in the morning, okay?"

Again, Nicky nodded, excited that she agreed.  "Thank you, Natalie."
He then stiffened.  "And...can you make sure Nick knows about the
Hunters?  Please?"

"Yeah, I'll make sure he knows about them.  I'll tell LaCroix, too,
okay?"

"Can...we go tell Nick now?"

"Why?"

"Because he should know.  And...because I want to see where he works
without Julie and everyone else."

"Are you sure you'll be okay in the precinct?  There are a lot of
mortals there."

"Will any of them hurt me?"

Natalie shook her head.  "No.  No, they won't hurt you.  Just
remember that not all mortals are hunters, okay?  Besides, as far as
they're concerned, you're just a cute little four-year-old boy."

"I'm almost five," Nicky countered.  "And I'm not little."

Natalie smiled at that.  "Okay.  But just one thing--be careful of
what you say, okay?  Nick's co-workers don't know what he is."

"I know.  Father told me to take care what I told mortals, that they
don't know about those like me."

She saddened somewhat at that, but didn't let her smile wan.  "Go
get your shoes and we'll get ready to go, okay?"  She watched as
Nicky hurried upstairs to do as told, wondering how Nicky managed all
this.  To hold everything he knew in.


Something Curious - (09/14)

Arriving at the precinct, Nicky broke away from Natalie.  He started
for Nick's desk quickly, but carefully, so as not to be heard. 
Stepping up next to Nick, he poked the vampire in the knee.

Startled, Nick dropped his pen and looked down.  "Nicky, what are
you doing here?"

"Natalie brought me," he answered, looking back toward the entrance,
where Natalie was approaching.  "She's going to take me somewhere in
the morning, after the sun comes up."

Once Natalie was closer, Nick asked, "Oh, where to?"

Stopping behind Nicky and putting her hands on the boy's shoulders,
which weren't pushed away, she answered, "I was thinking maybe a
park.  Maybe let him burn off some of that energy so he doesn't start
bothering LaCroix."

"I'm not bothering him.  He likes me.  I know he does."

Nick was a little surprised by the certainty of Nicky's
comments...he'd have to ask about it some time.

"You seem to be doing a lot better," Tracy noted, leaning forward
slightly.  "Natalie mentioned you were sick."

"She fixed that," Nicky stated.  "She knew what I needed."

Before Tracy could ask what that was, Natalie said, "Ah, Nick.... 
I'm actually here for another reason, too.  Nicky told me something
you should know about."

"And what's that?" Nick asked, turning to the boy.

Natalie felt Nicky's muscles tense under her hands.  "Do you want to
tell him, or would you like me to?"

"You can."

"Nat?"  He watched her nod toward the hall, and then he turned to
Nicky.  "We'll be right back, okay?  You'll be okay here with Tracy
for a moment?"

Nicky looked over at Nick's partner.  He didn't particularly like
Tracy, he didn't feel comfortable around her.  But he could sit here
for a few minutes.  He'd have to get used to mortals sometime,
anyway.  "Yeah."

Standing, Nick moved out and around his chair, and then picked the
boy up and put him in the chair.  "Sit right there and we'll be
back."  With his hand on Natalie's back, they walked into one of the
interview rooms.  Once he'd closed the door, he asked, "What did he
tell you?"

"Hunters killed his father.  And...."

"And what?"

"And they were going to kill him, too.  They didn't because they
knew Nicky was special, that he'd have to be taken care of by a
vampire.  He said they were going to find him and go after those
taking care of him--which means you, LaCroix, and me."

Nick turned away, walking toward the far wall, and then back to
Natalie.  "Are you sure?"

"Fairly.  We were talking a bit, and he mentioned it.  He doesn't
want anyone else to die for him.  He's worried that they'll come
after you and LaCroix.  Do you think he's lying?"

"No, it's just hunters usually don't think that far ahead. 
But...sometimes they do, especially if they're trying to get more of
us.  All they'd need to do is look for where Nicky turned up...and
those records are going to be easy for them to get at.  Nicky was in
the paper, and so were both my and LaCroix' names."

"How close do you think they could be to finding us by now?"

"Close, possibly getting ready to strike."  Nick pulled out his cell
phone and started dialling.

"Who are you calling?"

"LaCroix.  He should know about this."

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

Sitting at Nick's desk, Nicky was starting to get bored.  He pulled
open the main desk drawer, his eyes quickly going to a photograph of
LaCroix.  He smiled a little, running his finger along the edge of
the picture.

"What do you have there?" Tracy asked, leaning over a little in
curiosity.

"Nothing.  Just a photograph."  Nicky pushed the photo to the side,
finding another picture under it.  It was another large photo, this
time a dark picture of a man and a woman.  The man looked like Nick,
and the woman was familiar to him.  She was the one that had arranged
for him to come to Toronto.

Nick and Natalie came up behind Nicky, looking down at the picture
of Nick and Janette.  Suddenly, Nicky tensed and turned around,
closing the drawer at the same time.

"Hi," he said, wondering if the vampire would get mad at him.  "I'm
sorry, I was just looking at the photos."

Nick smiled.  "It's all right.  Do you like looking at them?" 
Getting a somewhat hesitant, but obvious nod, Nick asked, "Want me to
tell Natalie where I have some more?"  Receiving another nod, he told
Natalie, "At the back of the top shelf of my closet, there's a box. 
It...has a couple of albums and some loose pictures in it."

Stunned, Natalie managed a nod.  She had no idea Nick kept pictures
with him.  Silently, she wondered just what was in the albums, what
she would find when they were opened.

"Come on, Natalie," Nicky insisted, pulling her toward the door.

"Well, I take it we're leaving.  See you in the morning, Nick," she
answered, being led out of the precinct.

Once Natalie was gone, Tracy asked, "What's with the pictures?"

"Ah, nothing."

"Who are they of?"

"Family.  Nothing interesting."

"Nick..." Tracy said, starting to protest.

"They're just family, nothing more."

Watching Nick go back to work, Tracy wanted to ask again, but knew
Nick wouldn't answer.  She had never seen any of Nick's pictures or
met any of his family, and the fact that he kept some in his desk
made her curious.  But...why wouldn't he show them to her?  And why
was he showing them so easily to the boy?  She knew him and Natalie
had been friends for a while, but even she seemed a little stunned
about the box, like she didn't know.  "Nick...."  He looked up at
her, and she hesitated before finally asking, "So, are you going to
adopt Nicky?"

"I'm...considering it.  It's not an easy decision."

"Why?  I mean, there's the job, but...."

"It's not just that.  Who would take care of him while I'm at work? 
He'll start school soon, too, and he'll need to get there.  I'm...not
exactly able to do a lot of things kids his age want and need to do,
Tracy."

"You don't have to be perfect, you know.  My father certainly
wasn't.  I don't know about yours, but didn't you ever wish you had a
different family, or could claim they weren't yours?"

Nick laughed a little at that.  Between his mortal father and
LaCroix, he'd felt that way most of the time.  His mortal father had
at times been brutal, and still remembered a few blows for some of
the things he had done.  Not that he didn't deserve them.  And
LaCroix...well, he didn't want to think about that.  He sobered,
stiffening somewhat.  He really didn't want to think about family--
specifically fathers--right now.

"Nick...sorry if--"

"It's okay.  Just a few memories I haven't thought about for a long
time.  Maybe you're right, it's just I don't want to end up hurting
him more than helping."

"I think you'd do fine.  Besides, Nicky really seems to like you. 
You, LaCroix, and Natalie.  Other than you three, it's like everyone
is an enemy."

"In a way, they are," Nick whispered as he returned to what he was
doing, not aware he spoke aloud.

"What did you say?"

"Ah...nothing.  Let's get back to this," he said, gesturing to the
papers on his desk.

Tracy nodded, watching him get back to work before she did.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

"She's pretty," Nicky said seeing a copy of the photo that was in
Nick's desk with Nick and another woman in it.  "Janette's really
nice, too."

"W-wait a second...you know who she is?"

"She sent me here.  She told me I was going to someone she knew. 
How does she know Nick and LaCroix?"

"Ah...."  Natalie was a little surprised by the info, but told him,
"LaCroix brought Janette over, so she's Nick's sister, too.  They
were very close."

Nicky turned the page, where his eyes caught on an old photograph of
the three.  "They're all family."  He ran his fingers along the edge
of the photo, and then commented, "She took care of me a few times
before my father died, and then I stayed with her until I came here. 
She...she left Paris a couple of days before I left."

Natalie wasn't sure what to think.  Nick had told her Janette had
died.  Why did he lie to her?  What had really happened that night in
the fire?

"Have you met Janette?"

She looked down to Nicky, pushing her thoughts away.  "Yes, we've
met.  She used to live here in Toronto."

Flipping through the album, Nicky looked at all the different
pictures with Nick, LaCroix, and Janette in them, focusing on the
three.  "Do you know who anyone else is?"

"No, I'm sorry, I don't.  Nick's never shown me these before.  I
didn't even know he kept an album like this."

A few minutes later, Nicky switched to the second album, which had
more pictures like the last in it.  As he flipped through, the
pictures became more recent.  Then, abruptly, he came face to face of
one with Nick and Natalie outside during the day.  He stopped on the
picture, running his hand over it.  "How...?" he asked, looking up at
Natalie.

"We were trying to cure him, and found something that worked, but
only temporarily.  He was more or less mortal for a day."  She
smiled, remembering Nick asking several of the technicians at the
morgue if they had a camera until someone did.  He insisted they have
their picture taken.  She had a picture of it somewhere, but hadn't
known Nick had gotten one.  He'd never asked her about the picture,
nor mentioned it to her.

"He looks so happy," Nicky commented.  "But he's sad, isn't he?  I
mean...he seems that way.  He's not happy like this in the other
pictures."

Natalie was somewhat surprised by that.  But, thinking about it,
Nicky was right.  In most of the other photographs, Nick had at most
a slight smile, his eyes doing most of the speaking.  A haunted,
subdued gaze that allowed a glimpse into Nick for the onlooker.  She
had seen the look herself more often than not.

"He doesn't like being a vampire, does he?"

"Not really.  Although, there are times when I'm not sure. 
Nick's...complicated."

"Is me being here why he and LaCroix don't get along?"

She shook her head.  "No, I'm sure it isn't.  They don't agree on
everything, particularly on how they see what they are."

"When....  If he adopts me, do you think he'll be happier?"

She gave Nicky a small hug, and then let one hand stay on his
shoulder, rubbing it.  "Maybe.  I really can't say for sure, but I
think it might help," she answered with a faint smile.


Something Curious - (10/14)

Late morning, after Nick had come home and Natalie made a meal for
herself and Nicky, Natalie asked Nick, "With the hunters possibly
trying to find Nicky, should I still take him out today?"

Nick paused in raising his glass to his lips.  Setting it on the
table, he leaned back in thought.  "Yes," he said after a moment. 
"It's probably safer for both of you.  What they want is a vampire,
and that's me."

"Are you sure, Nick?"

"Yes.  Besides," he said, smiling to Nicky, "I think you could both
use a little sunshine.  They might not have even found us, yet.  Who
knows--they might not ever."

Natalie managed a smile, even though she thought Nick's optimism was
misplaced.  Not only that, but Nick looked tired.  She knew he hadn't
been getting much sleep lately.  She wished he could get some more
sleep.

"I can wait," Nicky said.  "We don't have to go today.  Right,
Natalie?"

"Right.  We can wait until the threat is gone, okay?"

Nick shook his head.  "Like I said, if they are here, you'll be
safer away from me.  I'd rather have them go after me while you and
Nicky aren't here.  In fact, I'd like you to take Nicky to your
apartment for the day."

"But..." Nicky started to protest, his eyes widening at the
suggestion.

"He can come back here at night, but I'd rather that both of you
were away from me during the day.  They'll most likely leave Nicky
alone, hoping he'll join them when he--"

"I'll never be one of them!" Nicky exclaimed, practically yelling. 
"Never!  Not after what they did to my father.  Never."  Getting out
of his chair, he started to run for the main area but was caught by
Natalie before he got a step.

"Nick knows that, but the hunters don't.  Nick just doesn't want us
in the way, okay?"  Natalie continued to hold Nicky in place, who
wouldn't meet her gaze.  "Okay?"

"I don't want Nicholas to do this!  It's not fair.  What if they
come for him?  What if he dies because of me?"

"I'm sure Nick will be fine.  He knows the possibility is there,
Nicky.  He knows they might be coming."

"But--"

"And he can take care of himself.  He's not exactly young."

"Oh, thanks," Nick said, but he wasn't mad at it, aware it was true.
"But she's right, Nicky.  I'm not young and will be fine, okay?"

Nicky looked over at the other.  Nick was tired.  He could see it,
and now he really didn't want to go anywhere.  "They're here, though.
I know they are.  And...I don't want you to get hurt because of me."

Natalie smiled a little.  "Sound like anyone you know, Nick?"

"Nat...now's not the time.  And Nicky?"  He waited until he had the
boy's entire attention, and then firmly told him, "They aren't going
to kill me, okay?  First off, hunters aren't organised.  And even if
they did get in, it would probably just be one and besides, LaCroix
would know.  I'll be perfectly fine.  Go on with Natalie.  Have a bit
of fun."

"I..." Nicky started, then decided against saying anything.  Nick
would just counter it somehow.  Nicky nodded.  Getting back into his
chair, he finished up what was left of his breakfast.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

"I want to go back to Nick's," Nicky said for the tenth time in not
even that many minutes.

Natalie came over and sat next to the boy on the couch.  They'd been
back for over an hour, but the last few minutes Nicky had been
nervous, fidgeting like he was afraid.  "Nicky, he wants us to stay
here for the day.  He'll be fine."

"But...he's in danger.  I know he is.  They're coming for him right
now.  Please, can we go back to Nick's?"

Natalie wasn't sure what to say as Nicky's pleading gaze was turned
toward her.  He seemed certain.  "Why do you want to go back now? 
Earlier, at the park, you seemed okay with coming over here."

Nicky looked away from her and to the ground.  "Something's wrong. 
I...I think they're going to go for him now," he told her, not
wanting to say more.

"Are you sure?"  Getting a nod, she prodded, "How are you sure?"

He looked straight into Natalie's now concerned eyes.  Even though
he trusted her, she *was* mortal.  But she was also Nick's friend. 
He looked away again, not meeting her gaze, and explained, "A hunter
followed us.  He found us at Nick's, then followed us to the park. 
And now...he's gone.  The hunter left and isn't watching.  I...I can
sense some of them, just like I can sense what Nick and LaCroix are. 
This hunter has a vampire's blood in him.  Not much, but he's been
bitten before and I can sense him.  If he's one of the ones from
before, he's not alone."

Natalie took that in, a little stunned.  "Do...do they know about
LaCroix?"

"I don't know...probably.  They'll go after him, too, if they do.  I
don't know if they'd go there first, or to Nick's."  He swallowed,
then looked up at Natalie.  "They might go for both at the same time.
When they killed my father, there were four of them."

"Okay," Natalie said, standing up.  "Come on, we'll go over to
Nick's.  You said the hunter had left?"  She got another nod as Nicky
got of the couch.  "Okay, hopefully they'll think we're still here,
then."

"Nick knew, didn't he?" Nicky asked.  "That's why he didn't want us
there.  He's tired and was afraid something might happen."

Natalie turned back to him.  "I really don't know.  Nick didn't tell
me why he didn't want us there.  He might have just wanted some quiet
to sleep."  She forced a smile.  "Come on.  We'll go check on him,
and maybe it'll be enough to scare them off if they are watching Nick
now, okay?"

He nodded, but knew one thing--hunters didn't like watching for
long.  Without a word, he let Natalie take him down to her car.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

Arriving at the loft, Natalie's concern skyrocketed when she saw a
car pull out.  She'd just put the phone down from trying to call Nick
and received no answer.  And now this.  "Nicky, get down," she said,
although the car seemed to not have seen them.  She drove by Nick's,
until the other car was out of sight, and then turned around. 
Pulling off the road and stopping, she told Nicky, "Stay in the car,
okay?  And stay out of sight."  With that, she got out of the car and
started for the elevator.  On the way, she noticed the security
system had been by-passed and turned off.  She swallowed, aware the
hunters had obviously gotten in...and if they had just left....

She went to the stairs instead of the elevator, and when the door
took longer to shut than it should have, she turned back.  Nicky
stood just a few steps behind her, waiting to be punished by the look
on his face.  "Nicky....  Just...stay there, okay?"  Receiving a nod,
she continued up the stairs and cautiously into the loft.  Nothing
seemed immediately out of place, but as she looked around, she found
Nicky starting quickly for the stairs.  She caught his arm, at which
he screamed and shrugged out of her grasp.  He ran upstairs, and she
had no other choice but to follow.

Reaching Nick's room, she stopped cold at the door.  Nicky had
already made it into the room and was on the bed, his head resting on
Nick's stomach, tears running down his face.  She ran up to the bed,
where she could see a piece of wood--a true stake, probably made
solely for killing vampires--in Nick's chest.  Blood also ran down
the side of Nick's head, and it hit her that they had caught Nick
while asleep.  Her heart nearly stopped, but she knew the wood had to
get out if Nick were to have any chance of survival.

"Nicky, I need you to move," she said, but when he didn't, she
didn't bother to try to move him.  It would only waste time. 
Instead, she grabbed hold of the stake and pulled.  The wood didn't
want to budge, though.  On the fourth yank it slipped free, a small
amount of blood pooling in the wound.  But it didn't freely bleed,
not like she had hoped.  She wasn't sure if that was because Nick was
starting to heal or not.  "Ah...Nicky, what you said earlier about
being able to sense vampires...can you sense Nick?"  She waited, but
Nicky didn't answer, or move at all.

"Okay," she muttered, trying to figure out what to do.  Nick needed
blood, and he needed it now.  Then, going downstairs, she grabbed a
knife out of a drawer and went back into Nick's room.  Taking her
jacket off, she pushed up her sleeve and prepared to make a cut in
her forearm.

Nicky's eyes widened upon seeing the knife, and further as he
realised what Natalie was going to do.  He reached out and grabbed
the hand with the knife in it.  "No!  Don't!"

"Nicky, he needs blood, and he needs it now."

"You'll get his blood if you do that.  Vampire blood can make a
mortal a hunter."

"I'm giving him my blood, Nicky."  With that, she again prepared to
cut her hand, but this time Nicky's hands both came for her--one for
her hand and the other for the knife.  She gasped as his hand made
contact with the blade, slicing into his hand.  She let go, and Nicky
took the knife from her.

"No, you can't.  Not that way!"

Natalie nearly cursed, but at least she had a second option--she
just didn't want to waste the time of getting what she needed. 
"Nicky, I want you to stay right here and not do anything, okay?" she
asked, unsure of leaving the boy there, considering he still held the
knife firmly in his hand.  "I'll get some things from my car and will
be right back, okay?"  She waited, and after several seconds she
finally got a nod in response.

With that nod, she bolted from the room, down the stairs, and down
the stairs again.  Quickly grabbing her bag from the car, she ran
back inside and back to Nick's room.

Now Nicky sat calmly at the head of the bed, the uninjured hand
playing with Nick's hair.  The other still held the knife, drops of
drying blood trickling down Nicky's arm.  She did her best to push
the sight away, focusing on what she needed to do.  Quickly getting
what she needed and inserting a needle into her arm, she let the
blood flow through the tube, and once a few drops came out the other
end, she inserted the other needle into Nick's arm.

She closed her eyes for a moment as she felt the blood almost being
pulled from her--something she knew was a good sign.  It meant Nick
would recover.  Opening her eyes and looking at Nicky, she reached
for the hand that held the knife.  Now, she was able to easily take
the knife from him, and she pulled his hand closer to look at it. 
Although certainly not healed, it was well on its way.  Taking a
guess, she'd say there would be no scar from the wound.  For that
matter, the wound would probably be gone in a day or two, if even
that.  She let go of the hand and watched Nicky's slow actions as he
would move a strand of hair one way, and then moved it and several
others back.

"Is he going to be okay?" Nicky softly asked, not looking away from
Nick.

"I think so.  Can you sense him now?"  When Nicky nodded, Natalie
relaxed somewhat.  "Then I think he'll be okay."

"What about LaCroix?"

She realised the hunters probably went after LaCroix too.  She
laughed slightly.  "I think he'll be fine.  The hunters, however...."
She stiffened, thinking about what had happened, or would happen to
them.  Natalie forced herself not to think about it.  All that
mattered was that Nick was going to be okay.  Even that, however, was
fading from her thoughts as she weakened from blood loss.  Nick's
body pulled her blood from her almost as if it were his own, as it
became his own.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

Arriving at his son's, LaCroix went into Nicholas' bedroom.  Natalie
was lying next to his son, her heart slow but steady, her blood
flowing into Nicholas.  The boy was awake, his blue eyes staring over
at him.

Nicky carefully examined LaCroix, his eyes catching on a nearly
healed cut on his face.  "Uncle Lucien?"

"Shh, Child, I am fine.  Nicholas, however...."

"He is weak."

LaCroix nodded as he walked around the bed sat on its edge.  "Yes,
very."  Staring down on the two for a moment, LaCroix then unbuttoned
the cuff of one sleeve and rolled it up.  Then, he reached over
toward Nicholas and took Natalie's arm that rested on Nicholas'
stomach, the needle still draining her.  Gently, he stopped the flow
of blood by pinching the tube, and then removed the needle from her
arm.  Closing his eyes momentarily, he inserted the needle into his
own arm.  He felt his blood flow from him, and much quicker than it
would on its own.  Looking to the boy, he gently pushed Nicky to the
side so that he could lie down.  Doing so, he closed his eyes.


Something Curious - (11/14)

Natalie was pushed into consciousness by the repetitive sound of the
phone ringing.  Opening her eyes, she found Nick, Nicky, and LaCroix
all lying near her, all fast asleep.

She quickly grabbed the phone with a "Yeah?" and then her free hand
snapped up to her forehead as everything spun and flashed black for a
second.

"Hello?"

Suddenly realising she had the phone in her hand and vaguely
remembering picking it up, she replied, "Uh, yes?"

"Natalie, is that you?" Reese asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I think so."

"I asked what was going on with Nick.  He's an hour late for his
shift and Tracy's already tried calling twice.  For that matter,
you're late too."

"Nick...?"  She turned, seeing the two very pale forms of both Nick
and LaCroix.  "Uh...just a second."  Shifting, she gently prodded
around Nick's wound and saw that it was just barely beginning to
heal.  Not only that, but he didn't react in the slightest to her
prodding.  "Uh, Captain?  He's not going to be able to come in
tonight."

"Can I talk to him?"

Natalie hesitated.  What was she supposed to say?  That Nick was
recovering from nearly dying and still had a gaping hole in his
chest?  "I don't think so, he's...sleeping at the moment."

"How about you?  You seem a bit out of it."

"I feel like I was hit by a semi," she commented, very close to just
hanging up.  And, if it wouldn't trigger Reese coming over here, she
would have.  "And Nick...well, let's just say he looks about how I
feel."

"Is everything all right there?"

That snapped her awake a little more.  Reese was getting a bit too
concerned.  "Ah...yeah, everything's okay.  Nick just got really
sick, so I came over.  He won't be in tonight, that I can say for
sure.  I don't think I'll be in, either."  She paused, and then
added, "And Captain?  Maybe not come over and make sure Tracy
doesn't, either.  I don't know what Nick has, or if it's contagious
or what yet."

"And you're sure you're fine?" Reese asked sceptically.  "That
you're both fine?  And the boy?"

Natalie nodded to herself, and then answered Reese aloud, "Yeah,
I'll be fine.  Nick will, too, I think.  He's doing better than he
was.  He mostly just needs rest.  And Nicky's doing fine."

"Well, let me know how he's doing, and Natalie?  If he's not up to
coming in tomorrow night, *please* call so Tracy and I know what's
going on, okay?"

"Yeah, okay, bye," she said, turning the phone off.  Closing her
eyes, she just laid there for a few minutes, the phone still in her
hand.  As she started to feel a little better, she slowly put the
phone back, and then turned on her side to look at Nick.

The image she'd seen earlier that day flashed in front of her--Nick
lying on the bed, the stake in his chest, fresh blood on him, on
Nicky's hands.  In truth, Nick didn't look much different now. 
Perhaps a little less blood, but it was dry now, too.

Seeing that LaCroix had taken the needle out of her arm and put it
in his own, she became concerned.  LaCroix was paler than usual,
paler than Nick was even now.  A long cut graced the vampire's left
cheek, the wound only partially healed.  She reached over, pressing
the back of her hand to LaCroix' face.  The coldness she felt sent a
shiver through her.  Repeating the action on Nick, she found that his
skin was a touch warmer than LaCroix', if an icy chill could be
called warm.

Carefully and cautiously she moved LaCroix' arm so she could take
the needle out.  Doing so, she then removed the needle on the other
end from Nick.  Then, slowly getting up, she retrieved a damp
washcloth and proceeded to clean Nick up a bit, along with herself
and LaCroix' arm.

Neither vampire woke at her actions, although a slight movement
turned her attention to Nicky, who was lying between Nick and
LaCroix.  His hand clutched to Nick's pyjama top, and he started to
wake further.  Natalie reached over to him, pushing the hair that had
fallen in front of the boy's face out of the way as he woke.  "Hi
Nicky."

"Hi," he answered, shifting so that he was sitting up.

Watching Nicky turn down, Natalie took the hand that had been cut
that day, wiping the dried blood on it away.  In Nicky's palm was
nothing more than a slight scab.  It wouldn't be long until it was
healed completely, she suspected.  She then took his other hand,
without protest, and wiped whatever blood she could find on him away.

"I'm hungry," Nicky stated, finally looking up at Natalie as she
finished what she was doing.  "I...this happened because of me.  I
don't want anything anymore," he said, turning his focus back to
Nick.  "They almost died because of me."

Natalie reached forward and getting up on her knees, lifted Nicky
from where he sat.  "Come on," she said, setting him next to her. 
"Let's get you something, okay?"

"I don't want to leave them here."

"Nicky?" she said, waiting for him to look at her.  Once he did, she
told him, "Nicky, they'll be okay, okay?  We can come back up in a
little bit, all right?"

Nicky nodded, and then looked back to Nick and LaCroix as Natalie
led him out of the room.

Once downstairs, Natalie watched Nicky as he slowly walked over to
the dining table and sat in one of the chairs.  Obvious was the boy's
weakness.  Healing the wound on his hand had done the same thing it
did in Nick--it took blood and energy.  Before doing anything else,
she went to the refrigerator and pulled out one of the bottles
LaCroix had finally brought over, knowing it would be better for
Nicky if the blood were human.  Pulling out a small glass, she poured
out a small amount of the blood.  Her stomach protested slightly; she
was going to give a child blood, and human blood at that.  True,
Nicky wasn't entirely mortal, but the thought still bothered her
somewhat.  Leaving the bottle on the counter, she took the glass over
to Nicky.  Setting it in front of him, she asked, "What would you
like to eat?"

"I'm not hungry anymore," he stated, staring at the dark red liquid
in the glass.  He pushed it away.  "I don't want this, either."

Sitting at the table, Natalie told him, "It's not your fault, Nicky.
They both knew what might be coming for them."

"But...but how did the hunters do that to Nick so easily?  He...."

"The security alarm was turned off.  Nick hasn't been getting as
much sleep as he probably should and he can sleep quite deeply
sometimes.  There's been times I've come over, tried to wake him, and
not been able to."

"Is that why he didn't want us here?  I know he was tired."

Natalie managed a partial smile.  "Possibly.  Nick doesn't want to
see us get hurt.  He might not have wanted us here because he was
afraid he wouldn't notice if someone came in."  She pushed the glass
back toward him, "I think you need this, don't you?"

"I don't want it."

"But you need it?"  She watched him hesitate a moment, and then nod.
"Well, drink it and I'll make you something else, okay?"

"Chocolate milk like LaCroix made it?"

Her smile broadened a little.  Nick had told her about the chocolate
milk 'incident'.  "Well, I'll put a little more in than what I did
that first time, okay?  But first, you need to drink that."

He nodded and pulled the glass closer.  Slowly, he drank what little
blood was in the glass.  Finishing it, he commented, "This is
different than the other.  I like this better."

"It's some of what LaCroix brought over."  Standing, she said, "Now,
I'll make you some chocolate milk, okay?"

"Okay."  He watched as she went back to the kitchen.  As she poured
two glasses of milk and mixed in the chocolate, he said, "Natalie? 
Thanks for helping Nick."

Natalie turned back as she finished making the two glasses.  "You're
welcome, although I'm still curious why you wouldn't let me use the
knife to give Nick blood.  I knew it could affect me, but I don't
think that's going to change my mind about vampires, if that's what
you were thinking."

Nicky accepted the glass as Natalie put one in front of him.  He
stared at the glass, not looking up.  "I...I didn't want you to
become one of them.  It's...there's more to it than just being
affected by the blood.  It *can* change the way one thinks, even if
you really don't want it to."  Now, he looked up at Natalie.  "I
didn't want that to happen to you.  I like you, and...Nick's sad
enough."

"It's okay, Nicky.  I'm glad you told me not to, I just wasn't
thinking about that at the time.  Now--"  Natalie stopped as Nicky
snapped his attention over to the stairs.  There, on the upper level
near the top of the stairs, LaCroix stood, leaning against the wall. 
As she watched, the vampire slid down the wall to the floor.  "Stay
right here, okay?"  Getting up without an answer, Natalie grabbed the
bottle that still sat on the counter and hurried up the stairs,
slowing as she reached the top.  LaCroix was leaning back, his eyes
closed and his breathing deep.  "LaCroix?"  At the name, his eyes
opened, their gold startling her for a moment.  Ignoring the feeling
of fear, she stepped closer and handed him the bottle.

Taking the offer, LaCroix drank deeply from the bottle.  He calmly
but quickly finished it off and handed the bottle back, again closing
his eyes.

"LaCroix, are you all right?"

"I'm *fine*," he hissed, the sound not much more than a whisper.  He
shakily stood, his eyes still closed and one arm supporting him
against the wall.

Natalie watched, unsure what she should do.  When LaCroix stepped
forward, he stumbled slightly, at which she steadied him.  He pulled
away from her touch, sending her a glare, and then he started down
the stairs, one hand firmly grasping the railing as he went.  Natalie
followed, keeping a close eye on both LaCroix as well as Nicky, who
was watching them.

LaCroix went to the refrigerator and pulled out another bottle. 
After taking a drink from it, he turned to Natalie.  "I am *fine*,
Doctor.  You do not need to follow me around."

"What happened at the Raven?"  He didn't answer, so she continued,
"I saw the cut on your face, LaCroix.  Something happened."

He sent another glare in her direction.  "Suffice it to say the
hunters are no longer a problem."

"What happened?" she asked as he drank more of the blood.

"I felt something across my link with Nicholas, which woke me up. 
As I was preparing to come here, the hunters arrived.  I had not
expected them and was initially taken off guard."

"How many were there?"

"Two.  They have been...taken care of," LaCroix stated, his lips
twisting into a slight smile at the last.

Natalie shivered at the thought.  LaCroix had killed the hunters--
that she was certain of.  How he had done so or where they now were,
she really didn't want to know.  "Uh...how's Nick?"

"Nicholas is healing.  He will recover.  As you may have noticed, it
is difficult to kill us.  Hunters will fail from time to time.  Even
stakes can fail if they are dealt with quickly."

"I'm sorry," Nicky muttered from where he sat.

The apology caused LaCroix to lower the bottle and turn to the boy. 
"What for?"

"For causing all this trouble...for what happened to Nicholas."

LaCroix looked away.  What had happened to Nicholas angered him, and
despite the boy's indirect involvement, he *was* angry with the
child.  However, he knew blaming the boy was not the best option. 
Indirectly, Nicolas had also allowed him to rid the world of two
obviously intelligent hunters, and although his son was injured, as
he had stated, he would also recover.  "Do not apologise.  Nicholas
will heal."  With that, he stood, took both the bottle in his hands
and a second from the refrigerator, and went upstairs.

Nicky took a sip of his chocolate milk, and when Natalie turned back
to him, he stated, "LaCroix' mad, isn't he?"

Natalie didn't say anything.  She really didn't know much about
LaCroix, and certainly not enough to answer the question.

Nicky looked away, keeping quiet.  Instead, he simply worked on
drinking his glass of chocolate milk, wanting to go back upstairs
again.


Something Curious - (12/14)

"Natalie..." Nicky insisted while tugging on her arm.  As she
started to wake, he stopped his action, telling her, "Tracy's
downstairs."

At that, Natalie sat up.  "Tracy's where?"

"Downstairs.  She came up when no one answered.  She wants to know
how Nick's doing."

Natalie held her hand to her forehead.  Nick must not have changed
the alarm code yet.  This was not something she wanted to deal with
right now.  "Okay, uh, tell her I'll be right down."

Nicky started for the door, but froze when he saw Tracy in the
doorway.

Natalie briefly glanced about the room, before settling on Tracy,
thankful at least that Nick had been cleaned up and the sheets changed.

Tracy froze as well, seeing the room.  A couple of wine bottles were
sitting out, empty.  Nick was still sleeping, she supposed, Natalie
lying on the bed next to him.  Stepping closer, her partner's face--
about the only thing not covered by the comforter--started to look
weak and pale, and she looked back to the bottles for a moment, and
then to Natalie.  "Nat...what...?"

"Uh, Tracy--"

Continuing further into the room, Tracy picked up one of the wine
bottles.  "Is this why Nick didn't come in?  Is this why he's 'sick'?"

"Ah..." Natalie started, but couldn't think of anything to say off
the tip of her tongue.  She stood and gently took the bottle from
Tracy, hoping that the label didn't have any telling information on
it, and hoping the room was too dark for Tracy to read it if it did.

"I didn't know Nick drank...I know things have been hard on him the
last few months, especially the last couple of weeks, but...."  Tracy
trailed off, her attention falling on Nick again.  "Is he going to be
okay?  Has this happened before?"

"He'll be fine, Trace.  He just needs some rest.  And it's not quite
what it looks like.  Nick got sick from something he...ate.  But, uh,
Tracy?  I think Nick would like it if you didn't say anything to
anyone about this.  He'll be fine."

Tracy looked back at Nick.  "Are you...are you sure he'll be okay?"

"Positive.  He just needs rest.  Nick doesn't even know quite what
happened, yet.  He was unconscious when I got here, and he's been
sleeping since."

Tracy eyed the bottle in Natalie's hand.  "He's not...uh, an
alcoholic or anything, is he?  I mean, I just...."

Natalie shook her head.  "No, he's not an alcoholic.  Yes, he has a
drink now and then, but, Tracy, he really didn't have that much."

"The bottles are mine, Detective," LaCroix said from the doorway.

Tracy spun, the voice surprising her.  "What are you doing here?"

"Nicholas is a friend.  In fact, it's partially my fault he's this
way.  The only reason he had anything to drink is because it was my
suggestion.  Do not let this affect your judgement of Nicholas--it is
as Natalie said.  Nicholas ate something that did not agree with him.
I suggested he have a glass of wine, and it compounded matters.  Now,
I think you should go.  He needs his rest."

Tracy was about to protest when she swore the other's eyes had hints
of gold in them--but it was barely a second, if even that.  It was,
however, enough for her to get the idea to leave.

Once Tracy had left, Natalie walked over to LaCroix.  "Was that
necessary?  I saw your eyes, and I'm sure Tracy did, too."

"So what if she knows what I am.  She suspects at any rate.  That
Spaniard friend of hers told me that.  Besides, it is Nicholas who
does not want her to know what he is, not I."  LaCroix turned to
leave the room, only for a hand to grab his arm.

"Why did you say something then?  You didn't have to."

LaCroix just glared at the hand holding him in place.  After a
moment, he was released, at which he left the room.

"What's his problem?" Natalie muttered to herself, fully aware
LaCroix would hear it.  She half expected him to come back in,
declaring there was no problem, but he didn't.

Nicky walked over to Natalie and sat on the bed.  "Tracy...does she
know about vampires?"

She looked over to the boy.  "Yes, she does.  But, she doesn't know
about Nick."

"Why?"

Natalie opened her mouth, but had to close it a moment later. 
Trying again, she managed, "Because...I guess because Nick doesn't
want her to know.  Knowing that vampires exist is probably not the
safest information to carry around."

"Does...does she know about me?"

She smiled faintly.  "No, I'm pretty sure she doesn't know about
you.  She probably doesn't even know those like you exist.  I don't
even know if she knows about hunters."

Nicky turned and got up on his knees.  Staring at Nick, he asked,
"Will Nicholas get better soon?"

"Yeah, he's already doing a lot better than he was."

"Can I...can I stay up here with him?"

Natalie stood and put her hand on Nicky's head.  The boy then turned
and looked back at her.  "Yes, you can stay up here.  I don't think
Nick would mind."

With that, Nicky pulled away and crawled over to where Nick was
sleeping.  He lay down, trying to get as close as he could to Nick's
side.

Natalie watched for a moment, and then went downstairs and slowly
but purposely strode over to where LaCroix sat in Nick's recliner. 
"Janette sent Nicky here."

LaCroix didn't move at the statement.  "Yes."

"She's alive then."

"Yes.  Nicholas...Nicholas made sure of that."

"How is she alive?"  This time, no answer came.  "LaCroix, tell me
or I'll ask Nick when he wakes up."

Now, that did make LaCroix turn to face her.  "Nicholas brought her
back across.  She is...somewhat upset with him over it and does not
wish to speak with him.  I received a letter from her a couple of
nights after you discovered the child wasn't mortal.  She doesn't
want him to know she sent the boy here."

"And...why here?  I'm sure she could have sent Nicky other places."

LaCroix raised an eyebrow.  "You presume too much, Doctor.  Few of
my kind would be willing to take in a child.  She hoped Nicholas
would adopt the boy.  She...did not wish to kill the boy herself.  By
sending the child here, she hoped to extend his life."

"And if Nick decides to adopt the boy?"

"And what?  If Nicholas adopts the child, that is his decision."

"Exactly.  You don't seem to be having a problem with it."

"And why would I?"

"Because for Nick this would be an opportunity to act more mortal. 
He could have a family.  You seem against decisions Nick makes on
that subject."  She paused, wondering how far she could push her
questions.  "You're attached to Nicky, aren't you?  Truly, not just
some passing interest."

"I am *not* 'attached' to the boy!  Let's just say I have no reason
to object if it will make my son act as he should.  If you wish to
call that 'attachment', then do so."

Natalie's stomach started to feel the way it did when she thought of
what happened to the hunters.  "Nicky's just a means to an end to
you, isn't he?"

"More or less.  If Nicholas adopts the boy, he will become part of
*my* family.  Then, he would be more than a 'means to an end', as you
put it."

She imagined LaCroix continuing, stating, 'He would be *mine*,' the
thought confusing her beyond end.  Yet, if LaCroix didn't really care
about Nicolas, why would he care if Nick adopted him or not, and why
the possessive tone?  LaCroix *was* attached to Nicky, and he didn't
have to say it.  Natalie kept a smile to herself--along with her
opinion.  Another statement would only be denied, she knew.  She also
knew the boy would do both Nick and LaCroix good--even if the latter
would never admit it.  Natalie turned and took a few steps away
before stopping and again facing LaCroix.  "It's nearly sunrise.  Are
you going to stay for the day?"

"Of course.  Nicholas will wake soon."

Natalie watched as LaCroix turned away from her and leaned back into
the chair.  He looked so...relaxed, considering everything.  She just
wanted to walk over and hit him, but knew she'd never get away with
it.  Although she didn't know what LaCroix meant by 'soon', since she
was awake she decided to go up to Nick's room and wait.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

As Nick started to stir, Natalie helped him sit up, propping some
pillows behind him.  "Nick...?"

"I..." Nick started, but his response turned into a moan as he
tensed, one hand pressing against his chest.  Leaning back after the
pain went away, he murmured, "Oh...I feel like I've been staked or
something."

"Vous avez été, mon fils," LaCroix said from the door, a bottle of
blood in hand.  He approached, Nicky moving out of his way, and
handed the bottle to Natalie.

She took it, somewhat hesitantly.  It was, of course, human blood--
and under the circumstances even she would have given Nick this. 
Uncorking the half-full bottle, she held it out toward Nick, but he
turned away.

"I don't want it.  Not right now," Nick said, his voice now stronger
and more even.

"You *will* drink it, Nicholas.  You need it."

Nick just turned away from the two, rolling onto his side.

Watching his son, LaCroix went around the bed and forced Nick back
up into the position he'd been in before.  Unbuttoning the two
remaining buttons, he pushed the material to the side, revealing the
partially healed wound.  "Look at the wound, Nicholas!  You need the
blood whether you want it or not.  If you wish to heal quicker, you
will drink it!"  He reached for the bottle in Natalie's hand, but she
pulled it away from him.  "Give it to me, Doctor!"

"Let Nick decide what he wants.  Don't force him!"

"It is what he needs!  It is not a matter of 'want'.  The boy will
need human blood, and Nicholas will need to strengthen himself for
when the boy grows."  LaCroix stopped and turned to his son.  "Who
knows, perhaps if you'd been feeding as you should you would have
heard the hunters enter and we would not be having this discussion!" 
Turning back to Natalie, he half-stated half-commanded, "Make sure he
feeds."

Nick turned away as LaCroix stormed from the room.  Taking a few
deep breaths, he looked back to Natalie.  "Here," he said, holding
out his hand for the bottle, "Give it to me.  He's right in that I
need it."

Slowly, Natalie did as told.  Nick took a drink from the bottle, and
she could see something between disgust and ecstasy on his face as he
closed his eyes.  After Nick had drank a little more than half of
what had been in the bottle, she watched his condition visibly
improve.  Even with his wound still healing, the colour of his skin
was healthier than usual.

Nick took another drink and then handed the bottle back to Natalie. 
"That's all for now.  I'll have a little more later."  Looking at the
clock, he noticed that it was nearly night.  "I'll finish the bottle
before I go in to work."

Natalie put the bottle on the nightstand and quickly turned back. 
"Ah, Nick..." she started, as he pushed the covers down, preparing to
get up.  When he shifted to do just that, she grabbed him by the
shoulder and held him back.  "No, no, no...you're not going anywhere
tonight," she said as he pulled against her touch.

He stopped struggling and stated, "I have work."

"Which you also had last night but didn't go to.  Nick, you've been
unconscious for a little more than twenty-four hours.  You should re--"

"I'll be fine, Nat.  I'll be okay," he assured her, placing a kiss
on her cheek and diverting her attention just long enough to slip out
of her grasp and get out of the bed.

"Nick...."  Natalie watched as he got dizzy for a moment, but
continued quickly toward the door and out of the room.  He was weak,
that she could both see and feel...weak but stubborn.

Nicky cautiously stepped forward out of the corner of the room,
where he'd been standing since he saw LaCroix come in.  "Nick needs
to sleep."

"Hmm, yes.  Well, he's rather like you, isn't he?" she teased,
considering that Nicky didn't always do as he should.  And that's
when it hit her.  The boy *was* a lot like Nick, and in far more than
just name...maybe that's why LaCroix was interested in him, why
LaCroix was somewhat possessive.

"What's wrong, Natalie?"

She smiled at Nicky.  "Nothing, I was just thinking.  Come on,
you're probably getting hungry.  We can try to persuade Nick to stay
home again after we eat, okay?"  She got a nod and she got off the
bed, giving Nicky a gentle push toward the door.


Something Curious - (13/14)

Tracy looked up from her desk to find Nick leaning on his desk and
slowly lowering himself into his chair.  "Nick...I didn't expect you
to come in today."  She looked him over as he faced her, his eyes
were tired and his skin was...not pale, just somewhat sickly looking.
"You know, you don't look too good."

"I'm fine, and I'll be fine," he said, his voice carrying a harsh
tone.

Figuring it was best not to argue, Tracy stated, "Julie asked if I
knew what you were thinking of doing about Nicky...."

Nick closed his eyes and, bringing his hands to his face, put his
elbows on the edge of his desk.

"I take it that's an 'I don't know'?"

He looked up at her.  "Tracy...it's not a simple decision.  If it
were, I would have already answered."

"I know that, it's just...you've been out of it since he popped up. 
Not that that's a bad thing.  I mean, you seem really happy around
him.  I think he would be good for you, but the last few days you've
been really stressed, and--"

"Tracy?"

"Yeah?"

"Just...I'm thinking about it, okay?  My stress level has nothing to
do with Nicky."  She was still waiting, wanting to know.  He sighed. 
"If you must know, I've somewhat decided.  I'm just not sure how
it'll work."  Nick turned back to the papers sitting in front of him,
hoping she would drop it.

"That's a yes, then?  You're actually going to adopt him?"

"I...."  He again looked over at his partner, who was now grinning
at him.  "The decision isn't final, Tracy, but yes, I probably will."

"I'll go tell Julie.  She's in talking with Reese."

"Tracy..." Nick started, but she was already on her way to Reese's
office.  He shook his head faintly.  It didn't really matter--if
anything it would just quicken making the decision final.  He smiled
somewhat, but only for a moment.  Adopting a child--mortal or nearly
vampire--would not be a simple change in his life.  It would also
possibly be hard on Nicky.  And soon, they would need to leave Toronto.

"Nick?" Julie asked, pulling his attention to her.  "Is what Tracy
said true, that you're going to adopt Nicolas?"

"It's not final.  I haven't said anything to Nicky about it.  I'll
decide for sure after I've talked to him."

"Well, if you'd like, I could start getting things going?" Julie
asked, and then added, "I have a pretty good idea what he's going to
think about the idea."

Nick nodded.  "Yeah, you can go ahead and get things started."

"Thanks," Julie said, and then left enthusiastically.

Tracy, who now moved closer, commented, "Now, that wasn't too hard,
was it?"  She got a half-smile from her partner.  "You know, from
what she tells me, they would have had a problem finding a home for
Nicky.  I mean...finding a family that spoke both English and French,
and then one that he'd respond well to."

"Yeah, I know," Nick said, knowing that far too well. 
"It...factored into my decision."

"You know, I should have my cousin come over to your place sometime.
She has a boy that's a little older than Nicky.  He just turned six a
few weeks ago."

"Ah...perhaps," Nick answered, really not expecting Tracy to suggest
anything like that.  "I'll think about it, okay?"  Receiving a nod,
he asked, "So...what did I miss last night?"

"Paperwork, mostly.  Still waiting to hear back on a couple of
things...."

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

"Really?" Nicky asked, his eyes going wide.  "You're really going to
adopt me?"

"If that's what you want," Nick answered, smiling at Nicky.  "Tracy
asked me about it again tonight, and she ended up getting Julie. 
It's not final, yet, because I wanted to make sure it's okay with you."

"Really?  I mean, you want to?"

Nick nodded.  "Yes, I do.  It'll mean moving every now and then, but
if you don't mind that...."

"Then you can," Nicky answered, returning the smile.  It faded
somewhat after a few seconds.  "Does...does LaCroix know?"

"Well...I haven't told him, but I think he does.  Don't worry, I
don't think he'll mind much."

"When will it be final?"

"I don't know.  In a few weeks, probably."

"When it's final, do I get to take your name?  My father's doesn't
mean much to me.  It's not his name.  Not his mortal name.  I don't
know what that was.  I'd rather take yours, if I can?"

Nick wasn't entirely sure what to say to that.  But he knew he
wanted Nicky to make as many decisions as he could at first.  "That's
up to you.  Although, do you really want to be another Nicholas
Knight?"

"I...could take your mortal name," Nicky suggested.  "I--I don't
want to remember what happened in Paris.  I want a new name.  And I
like Nicholas better than Nicolas, too.  Can I change that, too?"

"Hmm...I'll think about it, okay?" Nick said, the thought of Nicky
using his mortal name bothering him.  Tracy could possibly link him
to Janette...but then, Tracy already had.  It would at least settle
that.  "I'll see about getting it changed, okay?"

Nicky nodded.  "Okay."

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

[Three weeks later:]

"Hi Tracy, Julie," Nick said as the two stepped out of the elevator.
"What are you doing here, Trace?"

"Well, after you left, Julie mentioned coming over to finalise the
adoption, and I wanted to talk to you about something."

"I was hoping to catch you before you left....  I just need a few
signatures," Julie said, holding up a folder.  "After that, both the
adoption and the name change will be complete."

Nick cleared a space on the table in front of him as Julie
approached and Nicky moved away from her.  Julie told him where he
needed to sign, and he did so.  "Is that all you need?" he asked
after signing on several pages.

"Yeah.  There might be more things later, but this is the bulk of
everything."  Julie smiled over at Nicky.  "Don't give him too hard
of a time, now."  She was surprised to get a faint smile back, even
if the boy didn't relax much.  He was doing much better than the last
time she saw him.  "Well, Nick, I'll let you know if we need anything
else."  Getting a nod, she turned and headed over to the elevator.

Once the elevator was on its way down, Nick asked, "Now, Tracy, what
did you want to talk about?"

"Uh...the name change...why de Brabant as the last name?"  She
followed her partner's form as he stood up and walked away from her. 
"Is that your real last name?  Nick...that Janette woman, the picture
of her and that man, her brother, Nicholas de Brabant....  That is
you, isn't it?  And she's your sister."

"Tracy...."

"Nick, I know something's up.  I want to know."

"I'm not sure what to say in explanation...."

"You were protecting her because you knew her, Nick, because she was
family.  If she did anything...I could get in trouble for withholding
knowledge on the case.  So could you, for that matter."  Nick didn't
answer her, nor did he turn to look at her.  "Nick, she was a suspect
in a murder investigation.  As far as we know, she killed that man--"

"Janette's nice!  Don't say that about her!" Nicky said, stepping in
front of Tracy as she walked toward Nick.

At the outburst, Nick spun, his lips parted in surprise.  "How do
you know Janette?"

Nicky turned, his eyes going wide in fear.  She remembered Janette
telling her to not say anything about her, anything about who helped
him.  "I...she...she...."

"She what?" Nick prodded, stepping closer.

"She's the one that arranged for me to come here," Nicky blurted out.

"She's in Paris?" was all Nick could think of in reply.

Nicky took several steps back as Nick approached him.  "No.  She
left a couple of days before I came here."

Nick knelt down in front of Nicky, gently taking the boy's
shoulders.  "Where did she go?"

"I don't know.  She didn't say.  I didn't know she knew anyone here.
She didn't say anything."

Frustrated, Nick stood up.  Janette was still mad at him for what
happened.  Yet, if Janette had Nicky sent here...she probably
contacted LaCroix, which meant at least LaCroix knew how Nicky got
here.  Now he knew why LaCroix was reluctant to say more about what
he'd learned and how he'd learned it.

"Nick?" Tracy prodded, following Nick's movements as he paced.

He stopped and turned to his partner, keeping careful control of his
emotions, his nature too close to the surface with Tracy there.  This
was too much to deal with all at once.

"You didn't know where she was?" she continued.

"No.  No, I didn't know where she was.  I...talked to her before the
fire, but afterwards, she disappeared."  Turning away, he continued,
"She's not exactly pleased with me at the moment.  I didn't
particularly want to help her, because I knew I shouldn't with my
job, but her life was in danger.  I couldn't just do nothing.  If I
hadn't helped her, she would have been killed."

Tracy walked over to him, so that she was facing his left side. 
"How much of her side do you really know?"

"Enough to tell you that you won't hear from her again.  She's gone.
If it weren't for Janette, the arson might not have even been
discovered."  He turned to Tracy and asked, "Are you going to say
anything about this, Trace?  Or about her involvement in sending
Nicky to Toronto?  You can if you want--I won't stop you."

She shook her head.  "No, I won't say anything.  We've already
discussed this before, and with Nicky, it won't change much of
anything.  As long as you're absolutely positive this isn't something
that's going to create a problem in the future."

"It won't.  I'm sure of that."

"Then I won't say anything.  But, Nick, if this does come back
around...I will say something, okay?"  She got a nod from her
partner.  "So, is that your real name?  De Brabant?"

"I suppose you could say that.  Look...it's not that important," he
told her, walking away back over to where Nicky was silently standing.

Tracy turned around.  "On Nicky's..." she gave a glance to the boy,
and corrected, "Nicholas' files, it says de Brabant was his mother's
maiden name.  You just made that up, didn't you?  I'm not going to
ask how you did it, or if anything else has been falsified, but I
want to know."

"I..." he started, turning to face her.  "Yes.  He wanted to take my
name--my real name.  I knew that if I said it was my name, there
would be questions.  So, I had to have some explanation for it
somewhere."

"Are you keeping anything else from me, Nick?"  She watched her
partner tense.  "Nick, please, if there's anything else you don't
want me to find out about on my own, tell me."

"There's nothing," he said, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

Tracy stared at her partner, waiting for him to say anything else. 
But, he didn't.  He just left it at his last answer.  "Well, I guess
I'll see you at work tomorrow night, okay Nick?"  Still, he didn't
comment.  "Okay...."  Turning toward the boy with a smile, she told
him, "Well, bye Nicholas, I'll see you later, okay?"  She got a small
nod, and with one more glance to her partner, she left.

The elevator door slammed shut and the motor started up.  "You
didn't tell her about what you are," Nicky said, turning his gaze up
to Nick.  "Why not?"

"Because I hope to leave Toronto before she finds out.  She doesn't
need to know about any more vampires than she already does."

Nicky shadowed Nick as the vampire went to the refrigerator and
pulled out a bottle of cow's blood.  Watching Nick get a glass, he
asked, "How long will we stay here?"

"I really don't know, Nicky.  No more than a couple of years,
though.  I've already been here for six; I can't keep the fact that I
don't age hidden for much longer."  Nick filled his glass full, then
recorked the bottle and put it away.

"If we leave, will LaCroix and Natalie come with us?"

At that, Nick shook his head.  "Again, I don't know.  I think
LaCroix will, but then he likes keeping a close watch on me...but
Natalie?  She has a life here and I don't want to take that away from
her."

"Are you going to ask her?  To come with us when we go?"

Nick took a drink from his glass.  He took another, and then finally
answered, "I don't know."  He forced a smile to his lips.  "But we
have time to decide that, still, don't we?"

Nicky didn't comment, instead just watching as Nick drank what
remained in his glass in one single swallow.


Something Curious - (14/14)

Arriving at the Raven, Nick silently entered the club and, more out
of anger than anything else, flew up to just behind where his sire
sat at the otherwise empty bar.

"Nicholas, I'm surprised...."

"Just shut up, LaCroix.  You knew Janette sent the boy here."

LaCroix raised his eyebrows, but didn't smile.  "Yes.  I was not
aware of it at first, but yes, she did explain the situation to me."

"Where is she?"

LaCroix turned away, trying to avoid his son's gaze.  "I do not
know.  She does not want you to know where she is."

"Where, LaCroix?!" Nick demanded, spinning the other on the barstool
to look at him.

"I do not know!  She sent me a letter from France--but I am unaware
of her destination."

"I want to see the letter."

"You...can't.  I burned it because of its contents.  It would have
been no use to you anyway; you already know of everything in the
letter."

Nick closed his eyes in an attempt to calm down.  Reopening them, he
asked, "Why didn't you tell me about the letter, that it was Janette
that arranged for the boy to arrive here?"

"She did not wish it.  Leave it be, Nicholas.  Janette will come to
you when the time is right--and that time is not now.  She needs
time."  Seeing a protest begin to form, LaCroix restated, "She needs
time.  I'm sure you can understand that."

"But...why, LaCroix?  I thought she wanted to be a vampire...*liked*
being a vampire."

"Yes, rather quaint, isn't it?  You, who wish to become mortal, take
away the mortality Janette managed to gain...perhaps that is why she
doesn't wish to speak with you, or perhaps it is something else
unrelated to the incident.  Leave it alone.  It will mend itself with
time.  Besides, you now have other matters to concern yourself with. 
Be glad she decided to send the child here.  If she hadn't, he might
not even be alive."  LaCroix turned away and picked up his glass that
sat on the counter.

"Does Janette know about the adoption?"

LaCroix took a sip of his glass.  "I do not know.  She could very
well be following the boy's whereabouts.  If she is, she either knows
or will know.  Does it really matter?"  LaCroix smirked and took
another sip of the blood.  Then, holding the glass out, he offered,
"Try a taste."

Nick looked at the glass.  Although it was tempting, he pushed it
away.  "No, LaCroix."

"Just a sip.  It's something I think you'll like."

"LaCroix--"

"Just taste it.  It won't hurt any--I know you've been occasionally
'indulging' in human blood--even before now."

"I..." he said, beginning another protest, but LaCroix' knowing
expression stopped him.  "Fine.  A sip but no more."  Leaning over,
he gently tilted the glass toward him, LaCroix still holding onto it.
He took just a sip, straightened, and closed his eyes.

LaCroix smiled at the younger's expression, watching as his son's
breathing increased just slightly.  "So, how is it?"

Nick kept his eyes closed, letting the blood wash through him.  It
wasn't distinct enough to taste the individuals that made up the mix,
but as a whole it was quite satisfying--life as a whole.  Young and
old lives and experiences flitted by, none overtly distinguishable
from the others.

"Hmm?  I see you've regained at least some of your senses, Nicholas."

Opening his faintly golden eyes, Nick sent a glare at his sire.  As
LaCroix softly laughed, Nick turned and left, flying out of the main
part of the club and wanting to put as much distance between them as
possible.

*+.*+.*+.*+.*+.

Natalie turned toward the elevator as she heard the door opening. 
Seeing Nick, she became concerned, "Nick, where were you?  I got here
a few minutes ago and found Nicky here alone."

"He wasn't gone long.  Just visiting LaCroix," Nicky answered from
the dining table where he was drawing, not even looking up.

She looked back at Nicky, wondering why he wouldn't tell her when
she asked before, and then approached Nick even as he walked toward
the kitchen.  "What about?"

"Asking him a question," Nicky again responded.

"About...?" Natalie asked, not glancing to Nicky but focusing fully
on Nick as she continued toward him.

Nick walked past her as she stopped next to him, going right for the
refrigerator.  "Janette," he stated, opening the refrigerator door. 
"I wanted to know if he knew where she was."

"And?"

"He doesn't.  Either that, or he won't tell me."  Staring at the
bottles inside, Nick kept switching his attention between bovine and
human.  He wanted the human...but at the same time felt that if he
picked the human blood, he'd be somehow breaking to LaCroix.  After a
few more seconds, he decided he didn't care if it improved LaCroix'
mood and grabbed the nearly full bottle of human blood.  The human
was fresher, there was more of it in the refrigerator, and it was
what he wanted.

Natalie observed him as he first nearly took the glass in the sink,
and then went to the cupboard for a clean one.  He filled the glass
full and prepared to take a drink, at which she commented, "You're
really going to go back to human blood?"

Nick lowered his glass and turned.  "I should, Nat.  If I'm going to
take care of Nicky, I'm not going to be able to continue working on a
cure right now.  If I did, and I did became mortal, Nicky wouldn't be
able to learn what he needs to learn."

"LaCroix could teach me," Nicky suggested, listening in on their
conversation.

Nick glanced toward the boy.  "No.  No, I'd rather that LaCroix did
not do that.  I don't trust him that far."  Returning his full
attention to Natalie, he reminded her, "And Nat?  It doesn't mean you
can't keep trying.  I just can't actually do anything with a cure
until later."

She stepped closer, gesturing to the glass in his hand.  "And the
blood?"

He looked down at it, swirling the contents ever so slightly. 
Managing a weak smile, he commented, "Put it this way, you can test
me and see what difference my diet really makes.  That, and you'll be
able to see what a normal vampire's life-signs are; I'm sure mine are
a little off."  Walking over to the table where Nicky was still
drawing, Nick set his glass down near the boy.  "Take just a little,
okay?"

Nicky nodded and stopped what he was doing.  He picked the glass up
carefully with both hands and took a sip of the blood.  When Nick
picked up the paper he was drawing on, he turned, watching the
other's face.  He took another sip upon seeing Nick smile a little. 
After a third sip, he put the glass on the table.

"Do you like the picture, Nicholas?"

Nick stared at it.  Nicky stood in the centre of the page with
himself and LaCroix flanking him.  Nicky was smiling--and so was
LaCroix.  It was difficult not to chuckle at the image, but he forced
himself to settle with a smile as he handed the paper back.  "Yes, I
like the picture.  You can show it to LaCroix later, okay?"

Nicky nodded, and taking the drawing and pencils, went upstairs.

Picking his glass up, Nick guided Natalie over to the couch. 
Sitting, he asked, "So...what are you going to do now?  It's nearly
sunrise."

"Well, I know I don't need to stay, but I'd like to, if that's all
right?" she asked, not sure if she should ask or not.

"You should go home, Nat.  I think Nicky and I will be okay for the
day."

"Nick...."

"Please, Natalie.  There's not much to do here, especially once
Nicky goes to bed."

She nodded.  Nick was right about that, she just didn't want to be
pushed out of this if she could help it, even if she didn't really
belong in it.  "I'll see you at work and maybe drop by in a few days
with something for Nicky?"

Nick nodded.  "Yeah, I think he'd like that."  He watched her smile
back at him, gather her things, and leave by the stairs.  Then, after
standing back up less than a minute later, he felt a light breeze and
turned to find LaCroix landing a short distance away. 
"LaCroix...it's nearly dawn.  Why are you here?"

"Just dropping something off," LaCroix answered, approaching with a
bottle in his hands.  "I thought you might like the rest of what you
tasted at the Raven."  Hearing a rustle from above, LaCroix looked up
to see Nicky staring through the bars of the railing.

"Uncle Lucien!" Nicky exclaimed as he ran down the stairs, a piece
of paper in his hand.  "Did you hear?  Nicholas adopted me!" 
Continuing forward, he held the paper up to LaCroix, urging the
vampire to take it.

Tentatively, LaCroix pulled the sheet from Nicky's hand.  On it, he
found the three of them--Nicholas and himself with Nicky standing
between them.  He managed a slight smile, inwardly pleased at the
depiction.  He handed the picture back without a word.

"Do you like it Uncle Lucien?"

"Hmm...perhaps it would be more appropriate to call him 'Grandpa
Lucien'," Nick teased.

"No!" Nicky immediately protested.  "Uncle, not Grandpa."

"I'm not *that* old, Nicholas," he playfully shot back at his son, a
near smile on his lips.  "And thank you, Nicky--I much prefer 'Uncle
Lucien' over 'Grandpa Lucien'."

"You're welcome.  So...do you like the picture?"

LaCroix glanced down at the paper Nicky held out toward him once
again.  It was...disturbingly nice to be considered a part of
someone's family.  "Yes.  Why don't you take this and put it in the
refrigerator?" he said, handing the bottle of blood to Nicky.  "And
perhaps put your drawing on the refrigerator door," he added as an
afterthought.  He smiled at that.  Then, in a smooth, silky half-
whisper, he simply told his son, "You cannot get rid of me now,
Nicholas," and left.

~finis~

Thanks for reading!  I hope you have enjoyed the story!

Jarvinia
jarvinia@gmx.net
@>--,---`---



First off, I want to apologise for using Nicolas as the boy's
name...I picked it primarily on the basis that A) I like the name,
always have and B) it's a rather popular French first name.  I swore
I'd never name a major character Nicolas (mainly to avoid confusion),
but...oh well.  At least that's over with (or will be in a few more
stories).


Anyway....

Translation of French from throughout (if I missed one, let me know
so I can add it):

Part 3, second section:

LaCroix to Nick: "Mon fils, Natalie devrait l'examiner et voyez
qu'il est en bonne santé."
    "My son, Natalie should examine him and see that he is in good
     health/healthy/well."

Nicky: "No!  No.  Je suis bien.  Je ne veux pas un médecin!  Je n'ai
pas besoin d'un médecin!!"
    "I'm fine.  I don't want a doctor!  I don't need a doctor!!"

LaCroix: "Nicolas, Natalie examinera tu.  Dispute-moi pas!"
    "Nicolas, Natalie will examine you.  Do not argue with me!"


Same scene (Nick actually translates it, but...):

Nicky: "Je ne sais pas.  Je m'en fiche!  Je ne vais pas répondre vos
questions!"
    "I don't know!  I don't care!  I won't answer your questions!"


Part 4, first section:

Nicky: "Faites-leur de partir!  S'il vous plaît, oncle Lucien...."
    "Make them leave!  Please, uncle Lucien...."


Part 5, first paragraph:

Nicky: "Je n'iria pas!"
    "I won't go!"


Part 12, second section:

LaCroix: "Vous avez été, mon fils."
    "You were, my son."