What Real Love Is?
by StormyNite
circa February 1997
Natalie slid the loft door open slowly and walked in. The room
was a
mess. The smell of smoke still permeated the room. It looked like
a war zone.
Fear clutched her heart as she stepped further into the room.
"Nick? Nick?" A single tear ran down her cheek as she
stopped in front
of the fireplace. Her eyes were drawn to the pool of blood on the
floor and what
was left of Nick's burnt topcoat. It was his. She had seen him
wear it a hundred
times. She dropped hopelessly to the floor and clutched the coat
to her breast
letting the tears turn into sobs as she gave in to the reality.
Nick was dead.
Divia had come for him and he had lost. All she had left was her
broken heart
and a few momemtos of the time they spent together.
Nick heard her weeping as he entered the garage. Skipping the
lift he flew at
vampire speed into the loft. He stopped short of the couch not to
frightened her.
"Nat!" His voice was almost a whisper as he knelt down
beside her touching her
check softly. Her tear flooded eyes took in his blue ones as she
reached to touch
his blood smeared face in disbelief.
Needing to touch him, she laced her hands behind his head and
rested hers on
his shoulder while the tears continued to flow. Nick pulled her
close as they sat
on the floor and buried his face in her mass of auburn curls
breathing in the
sweet smell of his beloved Natalie.
"I thought I had lost you!" She kept repeating as she
cried. He kissed
her temples and each of her cheeks finally finishing with her
lips. He
tasted the salt and the love in each kiss until she returned his
kiss
completely, giving in to her desire. He wanted so much to feel
and relieve her
grief, he deepened the kiss until passion flared the vampire
within.
Natalie felt the vampire return as surely as she felt her own
heartbeat, yet she did not fear it. It was Nick. A part of him
that she had come to accept, and 'yes', love. She broke off the
kiss and held
him close letting him bury his head in her hair. It was
dangerous she knew, but only another step they had to make if
they were
to go forward. He needed to know she trusted him. All of him.
"It's
okay, Nick," she whispered as he fought to control the beast
within.
She ran her hands up the smooth muscles in his back ending in his
silky hair which at the present time was encrusted with dirt and
blood
from the evening's events. As his breathing slowed to normal she
kissed his neck and pulled back to look into his now blue eyes.
He
rested his exhausted forehead on hers as they sat quietly on the
floor.
Bringing him back to the present, she touched his face gently and
kissed
him softly before she spoke. "I saw the blood and your
coat.......I
thought she had killed you. That I had lost you forever."
Her eyes
pleaded with him for answers.
"She tried Nat." He said softly. "But I couldn't
feel any hate for
her. She was just an angry child. I was her revenge against
LaCroix.
It was the same feeling I've had for a long time. When she
attacked me, I didn't
let the vampire fight back. I just felt pity for her." He
looked into her eyes and returned her touch. "All I could
see was your
face. Your eyes and the sadness that was there when you left this
evening. I think it was you who kept the vampire from emerging
and it saved me." He gently kissed her lips and pulled them
both to
their feet in front of the fireplace.
"She left me for dead and went after LaCroix. When I woke
up, I went to the
Raven." He pulled her closer and held her tightly as they
stood basking in the
glow from the fire. In broken breathes he finished. "I.....I
killed her Nat before
she could kill LaCroix. I killed his daughter. I'm not sure that
was what he
wanted at the time but in the end it was the only solution. I
left him burning her
body. It's the first time I have ever seen him grieve."
He slowly broke their embrace and looked into Nat's blue eyes for
understanding. "He loved her. I'm not sure I should have
left him, but I needed
to be with you....Stay with me tonight Natalie. Let me hold you
and feel your
warmth this night and all through the day." His eyes pleaded
with hers as he
ran his fingers gently down her cheek. "I promise I'll keep
the vampire at bay. I
just....."
She touched her fingers to his lips to stop. "I'm yours,
Nicholas
Knight! There is nothing short of an earthquake that would keep
me from
staying with you. I need you this night just as much as you need
me.. but we're
not ready for that final step. So if you want me in your arms
then we spend the
night on the couch because I don't trust myself with you on satin
sheets." She
smiled as she lightly caressed his shoulder.
He smiled and pulled her back into his arms. "Anything
Milady wishes.
The couch it is! But I warn you if you snore, I WILL wake you
up." He
reached down and swept her into his arms and headed for the
couch.
-----------------------------------
2 days later:
Nat knelt quietly beside the still form of a former associate,
making
copious notes. Nick and Tracy were interviewing several witnesses
who
had found the body. Nick came to Nat's side as she slowly stood.
Tearing her
eyes away from the body, she met his gaze.
"What did you find, Nat?"
"It's Thomas Fillmore! He's a noted psychiatrist here in
Toronto. I
can't see any evidence that this was done here. His arms and legs
were
bound and I'm guessing he was poisoned with something. See the
blue
veins in his eyes and the purplish tint to his lips."
She returned her gaze back to the body. "Whatever it was, he
was in a great
deal of pain before he died and I don't think he went
quickly." Pausing to glance
back at Nick, Natalie continued. " I'll know more when I get
the toxicology
report back in a couple of days." She smiled weakly and
touched his shoulder.
"Stop by the lab after while and I'll let you know if there
is anything else."
She glanced sadly back to what was left of Thomas Fillmore.
"I can't
understand why anyone would want to torture him. He was such a
pleasant and
helpful man." She shook her head and walked back to the car
leaving Nick and
Tracy with yet another set of unanswered questions.
Fillmore was the second physician killed in 3 weeks. Did they
have a
serial killer here or was it just a coincidence? Nick didn't
believe in
coincidence when it came to murder. Especially when the first
doctor
had been overdosed with some unknown drug they had yet to
identify.
-------------------------
He stood calmly on the balcony watching the proceeding below. He
was a
tall muscular man with brown hair and green eyes. Handsome, most
women would say, but then again he wasn't interested in any
woman, just
one. He let his thoughts run wild as he stared. It was her. He
would recognize
her anywhere. She hadn't changed...well, if anything age had made
her even
more beautiful. He remembered those outrageous auburn curls and
those
beautiful blue eyes as if it were yesterday. She had been his
then, and only his,
but he had messed it up. Well, not this time. This time he would
make her
understand just how much she meant to him. This time they would
be together
forever and nothing would stand in his way. She was the reason he
took the
teaching assignment at the University. He needed time to win her
back and
make her his again.
The blonde cop beside her must be Knight. The detective he hired
informed
him that they were close. How close, he wasn't sure since
information about
Nick Knight was sketchy at best, aside from all the documented
police profile
information. Kyle Stephens stood staring at the picture of Nick
in his hand as
he continued to monitor the scene below his hotel room balcony.
Nick Knight: blonde, blue-eyed, 6'1 and 180lbs with a severe
allergy to the sun.
He was permanent night shift, named Partner of Month, Partners of
the Year,
Detective of the Year, Mayor's Recognition Award for Valor, the
highest
conviction rate in all Toronto PD, as well as Metro Homicide. The
guy was a
bonafide hero after the Toronto Bomber scare and mentioned in
numerous
reports to have apprehended a variety of felons at great personal
risk.
Rumors at the precinct placed Nick and Natalie much closer than
friends, but
nothing was ever concrete with rumors. Kyle knew that. If Nick
and Natalie
were lovers then he would just have to dispose of him in his own
way. After all,
he was a licensed psychiatrist. There were a thousand ways to
play mind games
with someone and he knew them all. Tonight was the night he would
begin
his plan. Tonight Natalie Lambert would begin her journey back
into his arms
where she belonged.
End Part (1/?)
What Real Love Is?
Part (2/?)
Kyle had followed Natalie home from a discreet distance. At least
that
was where he thought she was going. First, she stopped at the all
night
cleaners, then the bagel shop, the corner grocery, the video
store and
finally turned west on 9th street for the warehouse district. She
pulled up outside a large warehouse, killed the lights and jumped
out
of the car. Holding one bag of groceries in her arm she reached
over to
hit the access panel outside. The door lock released and she
disappeared within. Several minutes later, the lights burned
brightly
from the top floor and shadows could be seen through the windows.
Kyle sat confused. This was not the address the detective had
given him
for Dr. Natalie Lambert, MD.
It was nearly dawn when a '62 Caddie pulled around the corner and
the
garage door lifted quietly. Kyle stared in amazement as Nick,
still
wearing his sunglasses, pulled into the garage. The sun was just
about
to touch the horizon when Kyle noticed the shades on the second
floor
automatically close. She had gone to Nick's place after work. She
didn't return to her place but directly to his. Obviously, their
relationship was far more than platonic and Kyle was prepared to
know
just how much more.
Near 10am Natalie returned to her car. Kyle awoke slowly when he
heard
the engine turnover across the street. Kyle watched her closely
to
determine where she would go. Knight didn't follow her down to
the car,
so the report must be accurate about his allergy to the sun.
After all,
not many people wore sunglasses at 6am in the morning when the
sun had
not even crested the horizon. Kyle turned on his ignition and
followed
her at a discreet distance. She made one stop at the post office
and
the chance he had been looking for had finally arrived.
Nat parked and locked the car in front of the post office and
carried
two packages into the main lobby to be posted. She promised Nick
she
would get them out this morning. She casually looked over the
mailing
address of Nick's friend Jack, in Paris, as she stood in line.
After
waiting a few minutes and posting the packages she headed back to
the
car, only to have the front door of the post office opened for
her by a handsome
man in his mid thirties. She glanced at him to say thank you when
she stopped
dead in her tracks and stared into Kyle's green eyes.
"Kyle? Kyle Stephens? Is that really you?" Natalie
dropped her keys
from her fingers in astonishment. Trying to get control of the
emotions
that seemed to bombard her, she stood transfixed looking into his
green
eyes. She was speechless. Kyle casually leaned down to pick up
her
keys. When he stood, he gently took her hand and placed them in
it, never once
releasing her eyes from his.
"You haven't changed, Natalie. You're as beautiful as
ever." Kyle held
her hand gently for an extended time until Natalie noticed his
hand on
hers. Embarrassed and a little shaken, she pulled her hand with
the
keys from his.
Almost in a whisper she spoke. "What are you doing here,
Kyle? Are you
visiting?" The question was not only in her words but in her
whole face.
He should have known she would be skeptical of a chance meeting.
Once
again he had underestimated her. She had not changed in that
respect and he
would remember that from now on.
Kyle tried matching his emotions to what he thought hers were
before he
responded. He wanted her to feel in his words what she had
missed. He
had spent months rehearsing this scene. Now it was time to make
all
that practice pay off. He cast his eyes to the ground temporarily
and
then returned to hers. Just enough to make him appear a little
uncomfortable at their situation before he responded. "I'm
living here,
Natalie. At...At least for the next 3 months. I'm teaching over
at
the University." He brightened his face as if proud of his
accomplishments. "They asked me to teach a course on Drugs
with
Psychiatric Care." He smiled a dazzling smile that took Nat
back all
the way to their first years in Med School when she was
mesmerized by
him.
"That's...That's nice, Kyle." She almost stumbled
through the sentence.
"Look, Natalie, I know we didn't part on pleasant terms and
this is quite
uncomfortable for you, but that is all in the past. We are
different people
now...At least I am. Those days of deceit and lies are all behind
me. I have a
wonderful practice in California and when this
opportunity was offered to me, I knew that all my work was paying
off. I have
made up for all those mistakes so long ago." He started
staring at the concrete
floor below him trying to appear humble. Then he started
again before he returned her gaze.
"I knew I would see you again if I came here. I followed
your career.
You were the youngest ME ever appointed in Canada, let alone a
woman.
That's quite an accomplishment. It even made the California
papers
since you went to Med School there. I thought just maybe after
all this
time you had forgiven me." He looked into her eyes
expectantly. "If
I'm wrong, then I'll back off. I just thought that if we ever met
again
we could at least be friends." He sighed heavily as if he
just
finished a well rehearsed speech.
Natalie stood speechless through his little narration analyzing
his
facial expression and body movements. It was possible for anyone
to
change. She knew that. After all she was trying to help a vampire
become mortal again. If Nick could change, maybe Kyle could as
well,
but she would not make any rash decisions. As the memories
started to
flood to her mind's eye, she forcefully pushed them back. It was
another time,
another life. She did not want to go back, but could she see Kyle
without them
resurfacing and clouding her feelings toward him? She did not
know.
"I...I honestly don't know, Kyle. That was a lifetime ago. I
don't know if we
can start all over again."
"That's fair enough, Natalie. At least you're being honest
with me. All
I'm asking is to give it a chance. You're my one true regret in
life
and I want a chance to make it up to you. Please?" He slowly
lifted
her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it gently as he let
his
bright green eyes flirt with hers.
Natalie was embarrassed and removed her hand gently but not to
quickly.
"Well, we'll see Kyle. Everyone changes and I try to give
everyone a
second chance, but that's all. Understand?" She was in
control again.
Her eyes and body both said so. She would give him a chance out
of
respect for her old feelings for him, but if he screwed it up
again he
was history. She glanced at her watch.
"I've got to go, Kyle. I haven't been to bed yet and I'm do
back at
work at 7 tonight." She smiled and pulled her hand
completely free of
his. As she started to walk away he touched her elbow to stop
her.
"Can I call you? Dinner maybe or just a drink?" His
eyes pleaded with
hers.
"It's a place to start Kyle....a place to start." She
said quietly
before she turned back to her car.
----------------------
That evening:
Natalie finished her shower. She wished she could have said she
slept,
but that would have been lying. She went to bed and tossed for
several
hours until she finally gave up and padded to the kitchen. Sydney
was
confused to see his mistress up at this time of day. After all,
she was
a night creature just like himself. She finally gave into the
memories
and let them flow as she scooped up Sydney and headed for the
couch. It
had been so long. Near 4pm a dozen red roses were delivered to
her
door. The card simply read: To Friendship. He hadn't signed his
name
only those two simple words, but it was Kyle. The simplicity
touched
her and she let herself drift back to happier times.
-------------------
Nick sat quietly at his desk going over Natalie's latest
toxicology
report on the first physician that had died 3 weeks ago. He was
looking for a
connection. Something that would tie them together. Aside from
the similarity
of both physicians being psychiatrists they had nothing in
common. Different
schools, different patients, different methods of
treating their patients according to Nat. Deep in thought as he
continued to sift though the interviews, his phone rang
repeatedly.
Tracy walked into the room still carrying her coat and noticed
Nick's
concentration, so she picked up the phone.
"Metro Homicide-Nick Knight's desk!" She smiled as Nick
finally noticed
her standing in front of his desk with his phone to her ear.
"Yes, he's
here. Just a second!" She handed him the phone and returned
to her
desk to hang up her coat.
"Knight! No, Grace, I don't. She was with me untill about
10am. She
didn't call?" Tracy watched Nick's face intently. Something
was wrong.
"Nick, I tried her house, there is no answer and she's not
returning her
page. I'm scared." Grace was becoming frantic.
"I'm gone, Grace. I'll call you when I know something."
Nick put the
phone down and grabbed his coat in one motion.
"Nick, what's the problem?" Trace was by his side in
seconds.
"Nat didn't call or show up for work. There's no answer at
her house
and she's not returning her pages. I'm going to go to her place
and see
what's up." There was genuine fear in his eyes. Tracy had
never seen that
before. Nick was always in control. Spaced out at times, but
always in control.
Fear was something that never crossed her partner's face. All her
instincts were
right. Nick and Nat were more than just friends, no matter what
the office
gossip told her.
"I'm going with you!" She grabbed her coat.
"No, Trace! You run the hospital admits for today and see if
you find
anything." He turned to leave and then stopped.
"And...then the morgue
admits all over Toronto." The words physically hurt when he
spoke them.
"Nick, I'm sure we would have been called. All the coroners
know
Natalie. She came to his side and touched his shoulder.
"They would
have called!"
He smiled. "Thanks, Trace, I needed that. And you're right,
they would
have called. I'll let you know as soon as I find out
anything."
Once out of the building Nick took to the air. No time to drive.
He
said a silent pray as he launched himself skyward.
End Part (2/?)
What Real Love Is?
What Real Love Is?
Part (3/?)
Nick rang the doorbell repeatedly, and when Nat didn't answer he
used
his key. She would have been pissed if he broke the door or used
another means that might draw attention to his unusual abilities.
He
could hear her heartbeat. He knew it as well as he knew his
own name. He called her name softly as he came through the door
in
order not to startle her.
"Nat?" He could see her sitting calmly on the couch
petting Sydney. She was
there...but not there. Cautiously he walked over and knelt
down in front of her. She was somewhere else. She wasn't even
aware
that he was there. < Was this what I do when I space out? Is
this
what I look like when I do it?>
Nick gently touched her hand as she petted Sydney in her lap,
forcing her to stop
and Sydney to jump down. "Nat...you have to come back to me
now." He
continued to rub her hand between his fingers and placed his
other on
her cheek. "Nat....come on, you're scaring me here. Come
back to me.
Nat?" He continued to stroke her face until her eyes finally
locked
with his.
"Nick? What are you doing here?" She could see the fear
in his face and she
reached out to touch him. "Are you all right?" The
doctor just
kicked in.
He smiled and pulled her into his arms as they stood up. "I
should be
asking you that question." He pushed her to arms length to
stare into
her eyes and make sure she was still with him. The questions were
in
her eyes and he sighed with relief. "If you're going to tell
me that's
what I am like when I space out on you, then I think I should get
some
counseling really quick." He smiled and pulled her back into
his
embrace.
Glancing at her wristwatch she realized it was late. She finally
found her
tongue. "Why are you here, Nick?"
He stared into her blue eyes realizing she was unaware of what
had
happened. "Nat, it's 9:30pm. You didn't call in sick, Grace
was frantic
and I lost at least 100 years. We thought something had happened
to
you. What did happen? You were somewhere else when I came
in." His
blue eyes locked with hers.
She pulled away from him and sank back to the couch. Not quite
sure how
to explain what happened, she looked hesitantly toward the dozen
red
roses on the coffee table. Nick followed her gaze and pulled the
card.
It only left more questions. For both Nick and herself.
"They're
from Kyle! Kyle Stephens, my ex-fiancee" There, she had said
it.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Nick knelt down in
front of her and
took both her hands into his cool ones and awaited her answer.
"Book off work, Nick! I need a friend tonight!" Her
eyes spoke of need
and pain as she gently pulled her hands from his and touched his
face.
"I need to be with someone who can understand my fears and
my heart."
Nick opened his jacket and pulled out his cell phone. 5 seconds
later
Tracy came on line. "Trace! Nick."
"Is Natalie all right, Nick?" Tracy interjected when
she heard his voice.
"She's fine, Trace. Can you do me a favor and call Grace.
Tell her
Nat's fine and won't be coming in tonight. And then tell the
Captain I'm booking off the rest of the night."
"Is everything okay, Nick?" Tracy could feel the
tension in his voice.
"It's fine Trace. Nat's not feeling to well and she needs
some company,
so just tell the Captain I got ill and had to go home. He'll
scream
but....."
"I'll take care of it, Nick. Just tell Nat to feel
better." Tracy hung
up the phone and dialed Grace in the morgue.
Nick put his cell phone back in his pocket and smiled. "Now,
let me
make you some tea and then we can talk." He pulled her to
her feet and
guided her to the kitchen table, where he held out a chair for
her to sit. Moving
into the kitchen, he pulled out the tea kettle and started the
water boiling.
Nat studied Nick as he worked. She never noticed before, but he
wasn't
totally unaccustomed to working in the kitchen. His cooking skill
weren't the greatest, but he always came through in a pinch.
She wasn't sure how he took the news. He was always so guarded
when it came
to his feelings. After seeing Kyle again today, she knew it was
time to talk
about it. It was time to put the past behind her and evaluate
what she really
wanted in this mortal life. Nick sat the tea cup down on the
table and watched
her intently while she spaced off on him again.
"Come on Nat, let's go back into the living room and you can
tell me as
much or as little as you want." He offered her his hand and
picked up
the tea cup with the other. Together they sat down on the couch
both
feeling a little awkward and uncomfortable.
"Nick?" Nat's eyes spoke of painful memories and need.
Nick pulled Nat into his arms and just held her for what seemed
like an
eternity without speaking. Slowly Nat turned to face the window,
still
in Nick's arms. She needed to go back and face her fears and she
needed
his support. Only Nick could understand how she felt. So the best
place to start was at the beginning.
"I loved him. Really hopelessly loved him." She waited
for his
reaction. He simply pulled her closer into his arms and placed
his head
next to hers.
"Go on, Nat! It's time." He whispered softly in her ear
and planted a
gently kiss to her temple.
"I was in my second year of Med School in California. Kyle
was a 1st
year resident. He had already decided on Psychiatry. I was
working my
second rotation through the Pathology Department. We got all the
unusual specimens from throughout the State sent to the lab for
analysis. It was
a wonderful teaching institution. Kyle brought me samples several
days a week
from the Psychiatric Department from patients that had
volunteered for several
drug studies."
Nat snuggled closer into Nick's arms for support and then
continued. "We hit it
off immediately, but I was leery. After my Mother passed away, it
was just my
sister, Theressa, and myself in an apartment. Theressa was still
in high school
so she moved in with me because Richie was in law school. I just
didn't have
time for men, but Kyle was a charmer. He was handsome, witty,
concerned,
conscientious, hard working and most of all, a romantic. I tried
to stop myself
but it was too late. I fell madly in love with him. We dated for
6 months and by
that time, Theressa had given us the bedroom permanently. We were
unseperatable when we had time off. Those were the happiest days
of my life
then. I had discovered my calling in medicine, and Kyle. Nothing
could have
marred it."
Natalie had drifted into the past as she talked. She was reliving
it
again. She was happy. Nick could see it on her face as she
continued.
"And then on June 12, 1987 he asked me to marry him. I was
deliriously
happy. Nothing could have made me happier. It was a little fast,
but
then our time together always seemed so measured. We talked only
a
little about work and then only the unusual cases we worked on.
We were
perfect together. Everyone said so. We were the match made in
heaven
destined to last throughout eternity and then it
happened..." She
stiffened in Nick's arms and leaned into him for support. He
wrapped his arms
completely around her as she brought her hand up to caress his
forearms while he held hers.
"What happened, Nat?"
"I couldn't sleep one night. I was losing data on my
computer
periodically. It wasn't continually, just occasionally. It was
bothering me that maybe I was not doing something right.
Computers have
never been my strong point. Kyle was working the graveyard shift
and I was on
evenings. Theressa was visiting friends so I was home alone. Kyle
and I would
see each other only in the early morning. It was hard on our
relationship but he
said he was obligated to work so many mid shifts." She was
reliving the whole
scene in her mind as she spoke.
*****************flashback************
I opened the door to see Kyle sitting at my computer with his
back to
me. Assuming he was just making notes to himself about a few
cases in
order not to forget, I glanced over his shoulder and noticed that
he was
deleting files and notes on patients of mine. I was stunned. Then
it
hit me. All those graveyard shifts were requested by Kyle. Then,
as
if he knew I was there he turned to face me.
"Nat, did I wake you?" Kyle was so calm it was almost
scary. He turned
on his best 'considerate and please forgive me' look. "I
knew I
shouldn't have taken the time to make these notes. I was too
noisy
right?" He stood up and pulled Natalie into his embrace
while she
stared at the computer screen. "Let me put you back to bed
and then
I'll finish up here later." He slowly ran his thumb down her
face in a
very tender motion and kissed her gently on the lips. "I'm
sure we can
find better things to do since you're awake." He seductively
trailed his fingertips
down to her breasts and squeezed gently.
As if finally coming out of a stupor, she pulled back out of his
arms
and shoved him away. "Don't try that on me, Kyle! Who the
Hell do you
think you're kidding. Those are my files you are into." The
realization of what
he was doing finally hit her. "I haven't been losing files
on patients slide results.
You've been deleting them!" Natalie staggered slightly and
found the edge of
the couch to keep from falling down. She looked at the man she
loved in
disbelief. His expression never changed. Was he really that good
or was she just
blind?
"What have you done, Kyle?" She wanted to believe this
was all a
mistake. She wanted to believe in him.
Kyle went to her and tried to pull her into his arms but she
pushed him
away. "It was just this once, Natalie. The drugs weren't
supposed to hurt
anyone. They said if I eliminated all traces of the files they
would forget how
much I owed them." He actually looked like he was ready to
cry, but she
couldn't trust that now.
"Owe them, Kyle? Who? What are you talking about?" She
wanted to
believe him but she needed all the facts.
"These two drug companies paid for my schooling. It was
supposed to be a loan
but they said if I didn't...."
"You took money from drug companies to pay for school?
That's grounds
for expulsion. You know that!" She was almost screaming at
him.
"I had no choice, Natalie!" He needed her to see his
desperation; to
understand. "I couldn't live like a pauper and get
everything I needed
without help. I didn't have any scholarships. I was on my own. I
had
to live. It was the only way." He reached for her again. She
slapped
his hands away as the anger began to rise. "It was only this
one time!
I swear it!"
Natalie pushed away from him and walked to the door. "Get
out Kyle."
It was a command not a request. "I need time to think."
Kyle gently kissed her cheek as he silently left.
*******************************
End Part 3
What Real Love Is?
Part (4/?)
The tears rolled silently down her cheek. The pain from the
memories
were more than emotional. Nick could physically feel her anguish
and it
tore at his heart. "Finish it, Nat. You have to get it all
out to deal
with it." She shook her head in agreement.
"I know, Nick. I know. I thought I was over it, but I guess
you never
get over betrayal, do you?" She turned and looked hopefully
into his
eyes.
"Given enough time and love, Nat, you can accomplish
anything. You
taught me that. Maybe you should practice some of your own
medicine.
What happened after he left?"
"I sat down at the computer to see what files he had
discarded. They
were the drug tissue samples from the Psych Ward. The patient had
died
several days before and they just ordered standard tissue slides.
No one had
paid much attention to them. So I started looking for others. I
couldn't
find anything else missing, but I was skeptical so I called a
computer
friend of mine and ask him to come over. By 10am he had recovered
most
of the files that were missing over the past 8 months. Kyle had
been deleting them systematically. Each time the files would
disappear,
he had worked the graveyard shift. Ever since the day we had
moved in
together. He had used me!" The pain of betrayal was in her
voice as she
finished. "He came to me twice that day trying to assure me
it was only
once. When I confronted him with it, he called me a scheming
bitch and
left. I was devastated. He had used me for his pipeline into the
tissue lab. I had to know why."
"What happened to the patients?" Nick tried to keep her
on track and in
control of her emotions.
"I took 4 days off and went digging for answers. Finally I
found the
connection. Each one of the patient's samples had traces of an
unknown
drug in their tissue when they died. They came from various
department
throughout the hospital. They were not tied to just the Psych
Ward.
None of the patients were aware of any new drug therapy. They
were all
terminal, except the last one. When they died, a complete autopsy
was
not performed. I learned that the drug companies were using
certain
patients that fit their profile as guinea pigs for this new drug.
Whether they died from the drug or their original condition, no
one
knows. But the last patient was definitely poisoned by the drug
because
his condition was not terminal. I checked Kyle's rotation
schedule.
Each time a patient died, he had been on shift. There was no
proof
that he was on their floor, but I was horrified. The man I loved
and whom I
thought loved me not only had used me from the day we met, but he
was also a
murderer."
"What did you do?" Nick caressed her hair as he spoke
and she leaned
into his hands before she continued.
"He begged me to cover for him in the name of 'our love'.
That was a
joke! Our love was just one sided, and I couldn't bring myself to
go
against my oath to save lives. I turned all the information over
to the
hospital administrator. Kyle swore I planted the evidence on him.
In
the end they couldn't prove he had actually given the patients
the drug,
but his bank account was extremely large and all his tuition had
been paid
up to date by some unknown benefactor. All very vague, nothing
concrete. He was asked to leave the program. There was no proof
of my
involvement and the police exonerated me completely. The hospital
administrator and the police told me I was wasting my talents in
just
pathology that I should be in forensics pathology. My information
was
enough for them to arrest several members of the drug companies
but
not enough to nail Kyle. He walked away from the hospital, the
consequences, and me. I hadn't spoken to him since ....until
yesterday."
Natalie sagged into Nick's arms.
" He wants to make up for his past mistakes. He says I'm the
one true
regret in his life. He wants us to be friends if I can give him a
second chance."
Nick turned Natalie to face him and ran his fingertips down her
moist
cheeks as he softly spoke the question that scared him more than
he
cared to admit. "What do YOU want Nat?"
She looked into eyes and saw how much he wanted to protect her,
but
there was more. Was it her fear or his? Did she really have an
answer? Would he be there for her no matter what her answer might
be.
Never letting her eyes leave his she whispered, "I don't
know....I
honestly don't know."
The indecision in her voice tore at his heart more than a stake
ever
could. He pulled her close and buried his head in her mass of
curls, not
only comforting her but himself as well. "You have to do
what makes you
happy, Nat! That's all that matters now." He broke the
embrace and made
her look at him before he continued. "Some people change,
some don't.
If you didn't believe that, you and I wouldn't be here tonight.
You know
that." He smiled that boyish grin she loved. "Very few
of us have no
regrets in our life. Why should you be any different?"
"A part of me will always love him and the time we had
together,
but...."
Nick made her look him in the eyes before he spoke. "That
was the past,
this is now. You're not the same person you were then. You have
to
decide what THIS Natalie wants and go from here. Then and only
then can
you go on with your life. Isn't that what you been preaching to
me when
I go angsty on you? 'Recognize it, feel it and get over it,
Nick.' I
quote from the Natalie Lambert psychological manual for guilt
ridden
vampires." She finally smiled and then laughed.
"You're trying to say I should practice what I preach, Nick
Knight!"
"Yup! Now come on. You are going to bed and I am going home
because
it's almost dawn and you know how I feel about being french
fried." He
pulled her up to a standing position and swept her into her arms.
"Nick, what are you doing?" She chuckled and clung to
his neck never
letting her eyes leave his.
"Rescuing a young maiden from that treacherous walk to the
bedroom!" he
replied in his best knightly voice as he jostled her which caused
her to
laugh. He loved her laugh. His Natalie was back and she would get
past
this. They both would. Nick ensconced Nat in her bed and covered
her
to her chin planting a parting kiss on her forehead. She finally
relaxed as he turned out the lights. "See you tomorrow, Nat.
Call me if
you need anything!"
"Nick!"
With his extraordinary night vision he could see her smiling in
the dark
when he turned.
"Thanks for being here. It means a lot to me."
"What are friends for?" He blew her a kiss and shut the
door.
------------
Kyle watched from his car as Nick pulled away from Natalie's
apartment.
He slammed his hand on the dash in frustration. Knight had been
there
all night. This was going to be harder than he thought.
End Part 4
Part 5
What Real Love Is!
Nick pulled away from Nat's apartment at 5:45am, flipped open his
cell phone and dialed Tracy. The sun was up in 15 minutes and
that
meant he would have to hurry. Tracy answered on the second ring.
"Trace, it's Nick."
"Hi Nick! Is Nat doing better?" Tracy was concerned for
both Natalie
and her partner. She was becoming even more aware of how close
the two
of them had become.
"She's better now. I put her to bed and I am on my way home.
Anything
happen tonight aside from the Captain screaming his head off
about me?"
Nick smiled when he envisioned Reese's neck veins popping out
when
Trace told him he was going home sick.
"There was another one tonight, Nick. They found another
physician dead
in his home over in the LaFont Square area. Only this time he was
not a
psychiatrist. It came over the wire and the Captain pitched it on
my
desk. I called Jerry down at South to see if he had examined the
body
for poisoning. He said purple lips, blue veins and extreme
rigamortus
not approximate for the suggested time of death. We have a serial
here. I'm checking patients, and pleasure activities to see if we
can
find a link here aside from them being physicians. Oh, Natalie
was right about the toxicology too. It came back tonight and
Grace
brought it up. It was some chemical combination that no one had
heard
of, but it was a neuro enhancer. According to Jerry that means
what ever happens in the body is magnified at least 1000 percent.
These guys
died in agony. Any ideas where else to check?"
"Drop the toxicology report over to Jan and have her email
it to me so I
can look at it before I turn in. Then check the drug companies
here in Canada
and in the States that are doing research on experimental neuro
transmitters.
Get me a list. Maybe that's how all these Docs are connected.
Email me
when you get the lists and I'll check them out.... and
Trace....thanks for
covering for Nat and I tonight. I appreciate it."
"You owe me one now, partner, and I will collect. See you
tonight."
Nick smiled as the line went dead. They were turning out to be a
pretty
good team.
Why did he suspect the pharmaceutical companies? Was it because
of
Nat's story tonight about Kyle? Why was Kyle here now after all
these years and suddenly there are numerous dead bodies showing
up. Nick
decided to put his thoughts into action and flipped open his
laptop and
connected on-line with the police computer system. First he would
check out
one Kyle Stephens, MD. and then he would check for other similar
cases filed
in the US as well as Canada. If there was a connection, he would
find
it. So much for getting any rest today. The toxicology report and
Tracy's
pharmaceutical list dropped in his mailbox when he finished
checking the
rest of his mail. Finally he turned to a database search when his
buzzer
rang. Glancing at his watch he noted it was only 7:30am. Walking
over to the
security scanner, Nick flipped on the viewer to check out his
guest.
A tall dark man stood casually at the door not realizing he was
on a
monitor. Nick watched him intently for a few moments trying to
ascertain
him as friend or foe. He could not sense him as one of his kind
and his
heartbeat was erratic, probably due to his nervousness. "Can
I help
you?" Nick's voice came clearly through the top speaker
above the
monitor. When he spoke the man looked up and noticed the monitor.
"Uh, well, uh....my name is Kyle Stephens and I wanted to
talk with you
Detective Knight about Natalie." He stared directly into the
monitor no
longer nervous but almost challenging. "Can we talk?"
"Take the lift inside to the top floor." Nick released
the security
lock and Kyle stepped into the garage.
Kyle noticed Nick's collection of cars and motorcycles as he
entered the
warehouse. He was amazed at what he saw. Nick was a collector of
old things,
that much was obvious as Kyle found the lift and pressed up. He
wasn't
quite sure how to approach Knight, but doubt in oneself is always
so
easy to impart. This would be step one in his plan. The lift
stopped
and Kyle slide open the lift door to enter the loft.
Nick stood by the fireplace sipping a glass of bloodwine while he
waited
for his uninvited guest to arrive. This was not a good idea and
Nick
knew it, but if Stephens had anything to do with these cases, he
had to
know. Maybe talking here was better than down at headquarters
where Nat
would find out. She had enough doubts about Kyle's motives.
Adding another
would only make things harder for her.
Kyle entered the loft and stood motionless while his eyes
adjusted to
the dim lighting. After a few minutes, he began to take in his
surroundings. This was not what he expected. He thought the old
car
and motorcycle collection was impressive, but he was not prepared
for
what he saw up here. Nick was a collector and apparently an
artist as
well. Kyle walked over to the painting Nick had stopped working
on a
week ago, waiting for it to dry. Knight was obviously more than
just a police
detective. One did not own what was present in this place on a
detective's salary. Neither man spoke as Nick walked toward Kyle
as he
stood admiring the painting. Nick positioned himself between Kyle
and
his latest work causing Kyle to initiate eye contact. Kyle was
unprepared for the man that stood before him. Nick was almost
animal-
like when he moved. He gave you the distinct feeling you were a
rabbit being sized up for the kill. There was something about him
that
made you immediately uneasy. Was this intentional? Could he plant
seeds
of doubt in this man? Maybe his plan needed a little fine tuning
after
meeting his adversary face to face.
Nick could sense Kyle unease and it pleased him immensely. Was he
just
being childish or was he jealous of this man because of his past
relationship with Nat. He had deliberately used his subtle
vampire
skills to create indecision and uncertainty. Nick could play mind
games
with the best, after all, he had been trained by LaCroix. Still
not
speaking he locked eyes with Kyle and patiently waited.
"Uh...I feel a little awkward about this." Kyle
continued staring at
Nick, awaiting a response and then finally cast his eyes to the
floor in
an effort to appear submissive.
Nick recognize the tactic immediately having used it multiple
times with
LaCroix. It was a way to evaluate, regroup and regain control of
the
situation. It worked well with someone who had a great deal at
stake,
but why would this man try to use it on him. What did he have to
gain or
control. They were not rivals for Nat's affection or maybe....
"What is it you want, MR. STEPHENS?" Nick controlled
his voice as well
as emotions. He needed answers not only about the dead
physicians, but
why he was here.
"I want to talk about Natalie. She...She told you who I
am?" Kyle let
his eyes move back to Nick's as he worked diligently to hide the
smile
behind a sincere 'concerned for others look'. He spent hours at a
mirror
perfecting it for patients. Why not use it to his own personal
benefit as
well? Submissive demeanor creates compassion in almost all people
and
once you have them feeling sorry for you, control is yours. But
Knight
was not necessarily compassionate, just curious and that would do
in this
case.
"I'm going to be perfectly honest with you. I came by her
place this
morning and saw you drive off. I have a friend in the DMV and
they ran
your plates. Well, actually he didn't even do that once I told
him it
was a '62 Caddie with fins. He told me it belonged to you and
that you
were a detective out of Metro Homicide. When I came to Toronto a
month
ago, I looked Natalie up through friends. She told you I'm sure
of our
past relationship?" Kyle said the last remark more as a
question than a
statement.
Natalie had never been very open about her past with him. He was
sure that had
not changed. Mystery in a woman always added spice in Kyle's
opinion.
"Well, when I ran into her again today she seemed upset so I
thought I would
check on her. When I saw you leave I wasn't sure if she was okay.
Since you
were a cop, I figured if something was wrong you would know. Is
she all right?"
Kyle was the picture of concern.
Nick was baffled by the man before him. Did Kyle actually believe
he'd think
they had been seeing each other behind his back? That Nat had not
told him the
whole story. Just how far would this man go? Lies? Deceit?
Murder? What
was in it for him? Maybe it was time for Detective Knight to
enter this
conversation.
Purposely not answering Kyle's question, Nick turned and walked
back to
the fireplace before he spoke. "I think possibly,
Kyle...." Nick turned
away from the fireplace and locked eyes with him again,
"that you have
saved me a trip. What do you know about a drug company called
Faraday
Pharmaceuticals and neuro enhancers?" Nick raised one
eyebrow in a
quizzical look. Faraday was one of the pharmaceuticals houses on
the
list emailed to him from Trace before she left for the night.
It was first denial and then avoidance of the question. Kyle was
thrilled. Nick was playing right into his hands. All he needed
was
seeds of doubt in the young detective and nature would take it's
course.
Of course, in this case it was his course as well. But what did
this
pharmaceutical company have to do with unless......Kyle
experienced a
twinge of doubt. There was no way Natalie would have admitted how
bad
he used her in Med School. Her pride wouldn't let her. He knew
her.
So he would play his next move.
"Look Detective, I can see this was a mistake. I thought you
would want
what was best for her. That's why I came. I guess I was wrong.
She
will have to decide which one of us she wants. I'll admit it. I
hired
a detective to check you out and it scared me to read your file.
You
are a target waiting for a bullet. They said she almost lost it
when
you were shot last year. I just thought that if you had any
feelings
for her at all you would not want her to suffer through that
again. I
guess I was wrong." Kyle buttoned his coat as he turned to
leave.
When he reached the lift door he turned to Nick one last time.
"I
intend to marry her, Detective, and I will make her happy with no
worry
that I'll walk out that door and never return. I'll give her that
white
house with 2 kids she always wanted and make her happy until we
are both
old and gray. Goodnight, Detective... it's been an enlightening
but
short conversation." Kyle slide the lift door closed and hit
down.
The gold flecks edged Nick's eyes as he fought to control the
beast. He
wanted desperately to break this man's neck, yet there were too
many
truths in Kyle's final farewell that landed right at his feet. It
was
true he couldn't give Natalie what she truly deserved and wanted,
at
least not now. How many times had he thought about leaving
without
saying goodbye. True it was to protect her, but still he knew the
results. The pain it would cause her was what kept him there.
He had no regrets, but did she? If she could chose to do it all
over
again, would she even chose to be his friend let alone anything
else?
Was he fooling himself when he thought of them as an 'US'?
In his heart he knew Natalie had not been seeing Kyle, but could
he ever
let her go? Could he set her free if it made her happy with any
man. He
couldn't answer that. It hurt too much to think about the
alternative.
Maybe sleep was more the answer now or at least an escape.
---------------------
Kyle strolled to his car whistling a tune. His plan had been a
success.
Personal doubt was so easy to create and he was the master. Now
on to
phase two.
-End Part 5
Part (6/?)
What Real Love Is?
Natalie sighed heavily, stripped her gloves off and threw them in
the
biohazard disposal. It was a long autopsy on a young man that
shouldn't
have died. She had been meticulous in her examination, looking
for
potential signs of violence or cause of death besides a heart
attack.
None existed in this case. The young man apparently had been born
with
a bad heart that no one knew about and the stress from physical
exercise
on the racquetball court caused a massive MI. It seemed like such
a
waste. She sat down at her desk to write up the report when a
delivery
man knocked hesitantly at the door.
"Come in. I won't bite!" Nat chuckled at the young
man's attitude about the
morgue. Most people hesitated before barging in.
"Uh...I have a delivery here for a Dr. Natalie Lambert.
Would that be
you," he asked hopefully?
"That's me." Nat smiled as she saw him enter the room
with a large
bouquet of flowers. A dozen long stem red roses with sprigs of
baby's
breath clusters around them filled his arms. "Oh, my, those
are lovely." She
grabbed the card with one hand, then signed for them with her
other. She leaned
over into her desk and pulled out some money for a tip.
"Thanks!" He said quietly. The young man took a quick
look around the
room and left hurriedly.
The card read:
Another chance to be friends. I promise not
to mess it up this time.
Always,
Kyle
Nat smiled and leaned over to smell the roses. Kyle always had a
flare
for the romantic. He knew exactly what melted a woman's heart.
She had to remember that, but she had made a decision early
tonight that
she had to forgive him for his past mistakes and give him a
chance to be
who he actually was. Nick had been right; she was not the same
person she had
been 10 years ago and maybe Kyle wasn't either. She would give
him a chance
to prove to her that things had changed. It was the only way she
could ever put
the doubts about herself and her inability to deal with their
relationship's end. It
was time to grow up and leave behind the young Med. student who
was
manipulated and used. Maybe then
she could learn to trust a man completely again. The phone rang
sharply
in the quiet morgue as Natalie leaned over to answer it.
"Coroners office, Lambert speaking." It was probably
Tracy or Nick
looking for those toxicology reports on the last physician.
"Natalie, it's Kyle. Kyle Stephens." His voice sounded
hopeful and
light.
"Kyle. Thank you for the flowers. They're lovely."
Natalie touched
she rose petals as she spoke.
"Red ones were always your favorite, I recall." You
could actually feel
his smile over the phone. "I thought maybe I could talk you
into
breakfast this morning when you got off work." Kyle
patiently waited
for an affirmative answer.
"You planning on staying up till 4 am, Kyle?" Nat
questioned, assuming his
answer would be no.
"If that's what time you get off, I will be there with bells
on. See
you then." He hung up quickly before she could change her
mind.
"But Kyle I..." The phone was already dead. She stared
at the handpiece
in disbelief. She really wasn't prepared for this yet. She was
more than irritated
at Kyle's tactics but then, that was his style, as were the
roses. When she looked up, Nick stood before her with a puzzled
look on his
face.
"Nick..you have got to stop doing that!" she scolded as
she placed the phone
back on the receiver.
"What's up, Nat? You looked really strange when I came in,
like you were
lecturing yourself again." Nick sat down on the edge of her
desk and touched
the roses gently. "Beautiful. Kyle again?" He already
knew the answer. The
man had made his intentions clear this morning. The question was,
was Natalie
aware of them and if so, what would be her
reaction?
She touched one of the roses lovingly and became more distant as
she
spoke. "He just asked me out for breakfast to talk. I'm not
sure this
is the right thing to do but I'm going." She looked at Nick
for
understanding.
Nick placed his hands over hers as she touched the rose.
"Just remember, Nat,
that though a rose is beautiful, the thorns are sharp. Things are
not always what
they appear to be on the outside."
"And neither are people. I know, Nick, but I have to be able
to put aside the old
demons and my past feelings." She smiled and touched his
face gently. "I've
told you that enough times. I think I'm going to practice my own
philosophy.
You do understand?" He was her closest friend. She needed
his support most
of all.
He gently grasped her hand on his face and kissed the palm before
returning it to his lap. "I want you happy, Nat. No matter
what happens now or
in the future. Know that! Just be aware that if he hurts you
again, he will
answer to me." Nick released her hand and slowly walked to
the door.
"Nick?" Nat wasn't sure what to make of his comments.
Her blue eyes
turned to meet his. "Is there something I should know?"
She sensed
something in him that wasn't there last night.
Nick toyed with the idea of telling her about his conversation
with Kyle
this morning, but couldn't decide how to make it sound like he
wasn't
afraid of losing her or being jealous. In all honesty, he
couldn't say
that wasn't what caused his doubts about Kyle to begin with, but
he
trusted Nat to make the right decision for herself and him as
well. He
had to let her find the answers she needed even if he lost her in
the
process. They had too many obstacles to overcome if either of
them had
doubts and Nat had the most to lose. It had to be her decision.
"Just be careful. Okay? I'll be there if you need me."
He smiled that
boyish smile she loved so much and closed the door.
--------------------------
Kyle stopped at the morgue at 4 am on the dot. He would not be
late for
this date no matter what the time. He put on his 'you gotta love
me'
face and pushed open the morgue door.
"Hi, Natalie." He said cheerfully as he noticed her
finishing a report
behind her desk.
"Hi, Kyle." She smiled hesitantly. Doubt crossed her
mind for at least
the 12th time tonight about her decision, but the compassion side
of her
won out. She would give Kyle another chance to be a good person
and
possibly a friend. Only then would she be able to aside the
demons he
had created and learn to trust again. Whether he messed it up or
not,
she would be able to get on with her life knowing she had at
least tried
to understand instead of running away. Wasn't that what she had
told
Nick on repeated occasions? Running away was not the answer, only
a
temporary fix. You had to face it, deal with it, and live with
your
actions. She hadn't done that in Med. School. She simply put her
emotions and pain on hold and ran. If she had to be honest, that
was
probably why she could understand Nick so well. Running away from
your
emotions was much easier than dealing with them.
"Let me just log off the police computer and we can
go." She closed
out the file and shut the computer down. "Where are we going
for
breakfast?" She tried to sound eager but wasn't sure she
managed it.
"You pick. I haven't been in town long, especially to know
what is open
at this hour. Just make sure it's some place we can talk. I want
to
hear all about you and what has happened since we last met. I
want to
explain a few things." His green eyes searched hers for
understanding.
"Let's try Rosie's around the corner. It's not too busy this
time of the night. We
can talk there."
Kyle noticed her coat on the tree by the door . Casually picking
it up
he offered to help her on with it. "Let's go then. We have
about 10
years to catch up on."
------------------------
It was several hours before dawn, so Nick returned to his desk.
There had to be
more information on the pharmaceutical companies on his list. As
he scoured
the documents before him he thought he noticed a pattern. Playing
a hunch he
pulled up the similar death profiles and cross referenced them to
cities of
pharmaceutical companies. All his efforts were in vain. There was
no
connection.
Then he pulled up the record on Kyle he requested yesterday. Was
he checking because of Natalie or because there was a potential
connection. He knew the answer already. The though of Nat with
this
guy made his skin crawl. He cross referenced the physicians with
Kyle,
the pharmaceutical companies and finally the victims...nothing.
It was
inconceivable that the present case and Nat's story was a
coincidence. Many of
the symptoms she described and later verified in his drug search
matched...and
there it was. The victim list matched the cities Kyle had visited
on lecture tour
or lived in. He was the connection. He broadened the search to
find out if any
of the other victims had done testing for any of the listed drug
companies as
they had here in Toronto.
In each case, both in the States and in Canada, the victims had
been a
participant in a drug study with questionable results. In several
of
the cases, indictments had already been issued, while others had
been
dismissed for lack of evidence. In each case, however, when the
victim
died, Kyle was in the city.
Now what did he do. If he brought him in for questioning, Nat
would call it
personal, not professional. If he turned out to be the victim,
Nat would go
ballistic and take Kyle's side, calling him jealous. Which he
was...but this was
police business. If Kyle was the killer, it put Nat in danger and
the emotional
trauma would hurt her even more. He was in a Catch 22 . Hurt the
woman he
cared for more than life by suspecting her ex-fiancee as a
murderer, or hurt her
by proving he was. In either case, Nat lost. There had to be
another option. He
just wasn't seeing it. If he gave the information to Trace or the
Captain, he
knew what their response would be. Was he putting Nat in danger
by saying
nothing? What about others? It was all circumstantial. There was
nothing
concrete. The only reason he was here was because he didn't trust
the man with
Nat.
It was almost dawn. He would swing by Nat's to see if she got
home
after her breakfast....and if she didn't, what then? Nick grabbed
his coat and
keys and headed for the Caddie. Dawn was in a half hour so there
was plenty of
time. Swinging by Nat's parking place he noticed her car still in
the lot. Maybe
Kyle would bring her home, but he doubted it. Rosie's was the
closest place to
the precinct so he swung by on his way home.
As he pulled into the parking lot he could see them still deep in
conversation. Natalie was smiling and laughing at something Kyle
said
as he gently touched her hands as he spoke. She didn't remove her
hands
from his as he continued.
It was a physical pain that engulfed Nick as he watched. Nat's
words
echoed in his mind until he could see her face as she spoke night
before
last. "A part of me will always love him. I can't deny
that."
She had needs that only a mortal man could give her. As much as
he
wanted to give them to her, he couldn't. LaCroix had been right.
It
could only end one way. If he truly loved her he would have to
leave
and set her free....set them both free. She deserved more than
death or
this immortal Hell in which he lived. He couldn't condemn her to
something he despised himself, in the name of love. She would
only end
up hating him in the end. He couldn't bear that. Maybe this was
for
the best, at least for Natalie. He had to accept that fact
because he
truly loved her. He was finally willing to admit that now. He
wanted
her happy and that was all that mattered, whether it be Kyle or
another
mortal, it was inevitable. In his 800 years he had never felt
such pain
as tonight. He had to let her go. He knew that now. He started
the
engine and drove toward the loft.
End Part 6
What Real Love Is?
Part (7/?)
3 days later:
Nick sat at his desk going over the information in front of him
for at
least the tenth time. He hadn't spoken more than 5 words to her
since
she sat down at her desk across from him. Tracy was more than
worried.
Usually Nick would get irritable, cranky, and out of control when
he was
upset. She heard the other guys say his nickname was 'Knightmare'
when
he got ticked off about something, but this was different.
He was hiding something and it had to do with Nat. She was sure
of it.
She had seen Natalie with Dr. Stephens twice in two days. The
rumors
were starting to fly. She'd heard Carlyle telling Budman that
Knight
was losing ground with the Doc. She was sure Nick had heard them
talking, yet he continued to say nothing and he was avoiding the
morgue
like the plague.
Tracy tossed a pencil across the desk at Nick to get his
attention.
"Okay, Nick. I have had enough. What is going on with you? I
haven't
gotten more than 10 words out of you in 3 days and I feel like
I'm
working this serial killer case alone." Nick looked up at
her as if noticing her
for
the first time. He ran his hands through his hair and rose from
his chair. He
was
tired...very tired. He hadn't slept in 2 days and it showed in
his face. The
evidence kept getting stronger with every avenue he checked. He
needed
someone to talk to, but with Tracy having just lost Vachon he
wasn't sure she
could handle anymore. She was a good cop, he had to remember that
and maybe
her viewpoint would be different than his.
Rubbing his unshaved chin, his tired blue eyes met herswith
resignation.
Lives were at stake and she was his partner. He picked up the
large
file in one hand and grabbed her coat with the other. "Come
on, Trace.
I think we need to take a drive." He tossed her coat into
her lap and
grabbed his own, not waiting to see if she would follow.
Tracy caught him at the door. "Where are we going,
Nick?"
-------------
Kyle had been wonderful for the last 3 days. He was courteous,
attentive, considerate, romantic and not too pushy. They chatted
about
his practice , his patients, Nat's job, the stress of the
everyday job
and all the little things people do to get to know one another.
He took
her to breakfast, then dinner, the University to hear his lecture
and
dancing. He wined her and dined her until she finally cried
'uncle'.
"Kyle, you have got to stop. We can't push 10 years of our
lives into a
week and pretend that everything is as it was before."
Natalie had kept
him at arms length most of the week. She was trying to decide if
he
truly had changed, all the while enjoying the warmth and fun that
they
used to share. Kyle had changed. He had grown up finally, but he
was
still Kyle. Witty, fun to be with and a romantic at heart, yet
there was
still something that bothered her. She couldn't put her finger on
it.
She had learned 10 years ago he was a consummate actor and she
would
never forget that. But the woman in her adored the attention. In
fact
she felt sexy for the first time in a long time. God knows that
her sex
life had been extremely lacking as of late. He made her smile and
cry
just like he had 10 years ago, but she wasn't the same person she
had
been then. It was nice to reminisce but her life was different
know and
she liked who she was.
Kyle came around and opened her car door. "You don't really
have to
work 'till 5 do you, Natalie?" He used those green eyes with
his best
puppy dog look.
She laughed at his expression. It was so like the young Med
student she
had loved long ago. She touched his cheek gently and smiled and
then
she found his arms around her and his lips on hers. Shock and
then
pleasure attacked her senses as he deepened the kiss. He was so
warm
that she let herself go, exploring her feelings once again. She
wrapped
her arms around his neck and kissed him back until ..... She
finally realized it
wasn't Kyle she wanted kissing her so passionately but a blue
eyed, blonde
detective with an affinity for dressing in black. Kyle's warmth
was enticing but
there was no passion in his soul. All this time she had spent
with
Kyle trying to put her past behind her had only strengthened her
feelings for Nick. She had learned to trust again...not Kyle but
NICK.
She wasn't just looking for answers in her past but confirmation
of what
she felt now...for Nick. She had to know that what she felt for
him was
real. That it wasn't just her desire to help find a cure, but
something
more...something deeper and longer lasting than life...something
that
could survive anything or anyone. She had found her answer.
------------------
Nick held the door open and let Tracy precede him into the
parking lot.
Tracy stopped dead in front of him causing him to run hard into
her
back. Natalie stood kissing Kyle Stephens in the parking lot. It
was
not a chaste kiss but one where both participants where caught up
in the
moment. Tracy could feel Nick tense behind her as if he lowered a
brick
wall between them.
Nick stood motionless watching Nat wrap her arms around Kyle's
neck and
return his kiss with enthusiasm. She didn't push him away or run
from
the emotions he was evoking from her. Immense pain racked Nick's
heart
as he watched the woman he loved kiss another man with the
passion he
only dreamed they could share. Was it fate that he and Trace
should be
there at this particular moment or just bad luck? He didn't know
nor
did he care. The pain was so intense he had forgotten to breathe
until
Tracy brought him back to reality.
"Nick! I'm...I'm sure this isn't what it..." Tracy was
at a loss for
words. For once in her short career with Nick she could actually
read
his emotions.
The pain in his eyes turned to anger. Then his control returned
before
he spoke. "Trust me, Trace it, gets worse." He handed
her the file in his
hand and started for the Caddie. She piled into the car as he
started
the engine and pulled out of the lot.
-------------
They drove in silence while Tracy read the workup Nick had been
compiling on the physician killings. An occasional
"incredible;"
"unbelievable;" and "you've got to be
kidding" escaped her lips as Nick
drove toward the Faraday Pharmaceutical Building. Faraday was the
pharmaceutical house that had funded Kyle's medical tuition
during his final
years as a resident.
"Nick, Kyle Stephens is our killer. It's all here...motive
and
opportunity. He has a previous history of unlicensed drug usage.
He
has been in every city in which the murders have been committed
over an eight-
year period, and not only was his medical tuition paid for in
school but
he has numerous entries in his bank ledger for very large sums of
cash
from unknown sources. Why haven't you brought him in?" She
was
confused. Nick was always the first to drag a suspect in for
questioning. He was so good at wringing a confession out of them.
He stopped the car in the middle of the Faraday Pharmaceutical
parking lot and
stared at the building for a moment. He had driven here without
thinking. This
was where it all started.
"You haven't told Natalie any of this have you." Tracy
was kicking
herself for not having seen it earlier. "Of course! You
didn't want to
come across as the jealous boyfriend. The cop on a one man
mission to
destroy the competition any way he can." She touched his
shoulder
gently. "You have no choice in this, Nick. You know
that."
Nick laid his head on the steering wheel in exasperation. "I
just had
to make sure. I didn't want to hurt her again and it looks like
that's
exactly what is going to happen." Nick slammed his hand on
the dash in
anger. "Damn! Why couldn't he have changed or at least not
shown up again.
Did he have to hurt her all over again? If I hadn't taken an oath
to this badge, I
would kill him myself." Resigning himself to his fate with a
heavy sigh, Nick
took
control of his emotion and started the car again.
"The answer to that is simple, Nick." Nick brought his
eyes level with
Tracy before putting the car in gear.
"You're a good cop. The best I've ever seen. That's why you
found all this
evidence. You made sure that you were right, not for yourself but
for
Nat. You love her and that's why you waited, isn't it?"
Tracy locked
eyes with Nick trying to get him to admit what he felt.
Pain was visible in his eyes as well as the answer but he was not
ready to put it
into words...not yet. "We had better get back to the
precinct and talk with the
Captain."
End Part 7
What Real Love Is?
Part 8
--------------------
Natalie pulled back from Kyle abruptly ending the kiss. He held
on tightly
refusing to release her. She felt so warm, so exciting. She had
returned his kiss
with such passion it took his breathe away. If anything, age had
made her more
beautiful and more desirable with an intensity for life that he
could do nothing
but crave. She was his. He could feel it until she stiffened in
his arms and
retreated. He refused to release her and she began to struggle to
break the
embrace.
"Kyle, you have to let go of me." Natalie pushed away
forcefully not making
much headway.
"What is it Natalie? You loved it! You know you did!"
Kyle tried to pull her
lips back to his.
"No! Kyle, let me go!" Natalie pushed harder finally
breaking the hold he had
on her and stood back. "That was a mistake. I'm sorry. I
shouldn't have let
that go that far....it was my fault." She looked at him
apologetically.
Kyle grabbed her again and forced his lips to hers as she
struggled. When he
released her lips he stared into angry blue eyes. "You love
me Natalie. You
always have. Admit it! We were meant to be together just like we
were back in
school....the perfect couple. The last few days have been
perfect. We are going
to get married and I'm going to buy you that white house you
always talked
about.
We are going to have 2 maybe 3 kids. It will be just like you
always wanted it.
You can quite that morbid job and spend all your time with me and
the kids. We
can be together all the time. I have made enough money to retire
already. We
will spend every waking minute of our lives together and you will
never have to
worry about money, jobs, or co-workers again. It will be
perfect." Kyle's eyes
glowed with happiness as he laid out their lives.
Natalie stood speechless watching his face as he continued. He
held her firmly
in place while he talked. The Kyle she knew in Med school was
resurfacing
again; only this time all pretense of what she wanted was gone.
He had made all
his dreams into hers. He honestly believed that she wanted all
those things.
There were things that had been important to her 10 years ago,
but not now. He
hadn't listen to her all week. He wanted the old Natalie, not the
woman she was
now. As he rambled on, she realized he was talking about his
happiness not
hers. It was just as it had been 10 years ago only she hadn't
seen it.
She pushed his arms off hers forcefully. "Kyle, stop
it?" He released her and
she stood back. "You have no idea of what I really want.
Your living in the
past. I'm not that person anymore. I love my job and my friends.
I'm happy
with who I am NOW. I want more than just a husband and kids to
love. I have
a lot to give ." Kyle reached for her again but she pulled
quickly out of his reach
and glared at him.
"Don't deny your feeling Natalie. This is real love. You and
I together doing
what we want no worries, no commitment, no problems. That's the
only
thing that will make you happy. You know it!" He lunged for
her with
desperation in his eyes.
As he lunged she slapped him hard across the face as the anger
built within her.
"Damn you Kyle. You don't know what real love is. Real love
is worrying
about the other person more than yourself. It's wanting the other
person to be
happy no matter what the cost to yourself. Real love is feeling
pain when you
can't give the other person everything they need, but you never
stop trying."
Nat stood back and caught her breath.
"I don't love you Kyle. I did once, but not now. That woman
you loved 10
years ago is gone and I don't plan on going back. I'm sorry if
you got the wrong
impression this week, but I needed to put my anger and my
distrust of men
behind me. I needed to understand just exactly what I wanted and
how I feel
about .."
"Knight! You're in love with Knight?" It was a
statement not a question as
reality finally hit him. "He will hurt you Natalie and then
leave you. He will
walk out that door one night and never come back and then what?
He will never
be there for you like I can." Kyle turned and started pacing
back and forth in
front of her like a caged tiger.
"Where's he been all week? If he loves you he should have
been beating your
door down to keep me away, but he hasn't done that has he?"
Kyle
smirked as he returned her gaze. His words hit home. He could see
it in her
eyes. She had doubts about Knight's commitment to her. There was
hope yet.
"This discussion is over Kyle. I'm sorry if I hurt you in
anyway or gave you the
wrong impression, but you want something I'm not willing to give
you." She
touched his arm with sadness in her eyes.
"I've got to go to work." She turned and started to
walk toward the coroner's
building. Making a final decision ,she stopped and turned one
last time.
"Don't call me Kyle." It was a simple command, not a
request. She looked at
his eyes for understanding and finally turned to walk into the
building.
--------------------
Several hours later:
Tracy and Nick were in Reese's office while he went over the
file. Nick stood
staring out the window as he read. Tracy sat in the chair
opposite the Captain's
desk. Neither spoke while they waited for the explosion. When he
finished, he
closed it calmly before he spoke.
"I'm not even going to ask why you haven't had this guy in
here Nick, because I
think I already know the answer. So I'm going to make it easy for
you. This is
a direct command. Bring him in here and get me the answers to the
holes in
this case. What you have is circumstantial as you well know. If
he's guilty
we have to prove it." Reese looked at Nick as he stared out
the window
without responding. "Did you hear me Nick?" Reese
yelled to bring Nick back
from where ever he was.
Nick turned and calmly responded , "I heard you Cap."
and started for the door.
"Nick, if he is the killer, Natalie is in danger. You have
to know that?" Reese
calmed his voice down as he spoke. He knew Nick and Nat were
close but this
had to be tough. He couldn't imagine how Natalie would take
having her ex-
fiancee arrested by Nick. Even if Nick and Natalie where just
friends, it would
put a strain on the relationship, and Reese had the distinct
feeling they were a
great deal closer than friends.
Controlled rage sparked from Nick's eyes as he turned in anger to
the Captain.
"Don't you think I know that? But what if he isn't?" He
growled as he pulled
the door hard enough to let it slam against the glass before he
left.
Staring in astonishment at Nick's angry outburst, Reese turned to
Tracy
shouting, "Well, go after him! I'll try to head Natalie off
before she finds out.
Go on!"
End Part 8
Part 9
What Real Love Is?
-----------------
Natalie opened the observation room door and stepped in. Nick and
Tracy had
been interrogating Kyle for almost 30 minutes before she found
out. Nick was
using he usual caustic yet probing style to break Kyle down. He
was in control
of the situation. Kyle was becoming agitated with Tracy and
Nick's back and
forth cross examination. Reese turned to face her and held up
both hands before
she spoke.
"Now don't blame him Natalie! The evidence is there. If
anything he should
have had him in here 2 days ago." Reese waited for the
explosion, he was sure
to come but Nat simply turned to the window to listen.
---------------
"Let me get this straight Dr. Stephens, you claim to have no
knowledge of any of
these deaths over the past 10 years. You expect us to believe
that its a
coincidence that you are in every city where all these physicians
are murdered.
You expect us to believe that the drug companies are using human
subjects as
guinea pigs for untested drugs and each of these doctors were
participants just
as you were 10 years ago and ..........you know nothing about
it?"
"What would you know about 10 years ago detective?"
Anger was building
behind Kyle's eyes as he challenged Nick.
Nick placed his face right before Kyle before he spoke.
"Enough to know that
you played with the big boys for money and patients died. Enough
to know that
you used people to cover your involvement and you got away with
it." Nick
turned and walked back to the corner. The anger was building and
the vampire
was close at hand. He was dirty and a user, but was he a killer
as well? The
thought of his hands on Natalie almost brought the beast forward.
He pushed it
back before he spoke.
"Not this time Kyle. You won't get away with it. I will make
SURE of that!"
Kyle lunged out of the chair to attack Nick. Nick simply
sidestepped and let
him run into the wall. Hatred poured through Kyle's eyes as he
sat on the floor.
"This isn't about the murders, this is about Natalie. You
can't stand the fact
that she still loves me. This is personal...isn't it
Knight?" He picked himself
up off the floor and straightened his jacket till he was in
complete control again.
Calmly returning to his chair, Kyle sat down and smugly stated,
"I think I'll
call my lawyer now."
"Why don't you do that DR. STEPHENS?" Nick glanced at
the two way mirror
listening to Nat's familiar heartbeat. He was not looking forward
to this.
"Trace why don't you see that the good Doctor here gets his
phone call."
Tracy glared at Kyle with contempt in her eyes. "Sure, no
problem Nick."
------------------
Nick stepped into the observation both as Reese nodded and left.
Natalie turned
to face him with tears in her eyes. He wasn't sure what to say.
"Why didn't you tell me Nick?" She spoke so softly that
only his sensitive
hearing could have heard it. She searched his eyes for answers.
Trust had to be
a two way street. "You used the information I gave you about
Kyle! You used
me just like he did. You're no different than he is. All along I
thought you were
different. I've been a fool!" A single tear slipped down her
cheek as she met
his eyes.
"Nat! It's not like that." Nick reached for her as she
jerked her arm away and
her anger rose.
"Then tell me Nick! Tell me why my best friend used
something I told him to
throw suspicion on a perfectly reputable doctor. Tell me Nick,
why that best
friend didn't even bother to tell me that he thought something
was up with this
doctor. TELL ME NICK, why this best friend didn't bother to see
me in a week
while this so called serial murder suspect was spending so much
time with me.
If you though he was a murderer Nick why weren't you more
concerned about
what would happen to me. By all means TELL ME!" She was
enraged by the
time she had gotten it all out.
Nick expected the anger but not the pain. She actually believed
he hadn't
checked on her all week. He thought he was giving her time to put
the anger
and distrust behind her by dealing with it herself. He thought
she wanted to be
with Kyle instead of him. Her lack of trust in him hurt more than
her anger.
"Trust is a two way street Natalie!" There was pain in
his eyes as he spoke.
"You think I didn't tell you about this because I didn't
trust you ? " His pain
turned to anger just as hers had. "I didn't tell you because
you already had
enough doubts about Kyle and yourself. You wanted to put your
past behind you
and decide what YOU wanted. I thought it would only hurt you more
to have to
deal with this. What I had was circumstantial and still is!"
Nick paced the floor
as his anger built.
He stopped sharply and met her angry eyes with his own.
"Don't think I like
that slim ball touching you or that I haven't kept an eye on you,
but I have no
proof of anything that I can arrest him far.....or I would have!
I trust you with
everything that I am. I know I can't give you what you need but
that doesn't
mean it hurts any less to watch you with him or.... any other man
for that
matter. I want you happy Nat......." He slowly walked to the
door trying to
control the pain and anger. "If he is what you really want
then I happy for you,
but DON'T EVER tell me I don't trust you! Or that I don't care! I
thought you
knew that!" Gold flecks touched his eyes as he met her
confused ones.
Reigning in his anger and the hurt, he turned and walked out the
door.
Tracy hesitated outside the door as she heard them yelling. The
room was
well insulated and the voices muffled but the anger was almost
physical. The
entire precinct sat waiting until Nick walked out. Most had
witnessed Nick's
temper before and wanted to make sure they were sufficiently
removed when he
came out. Natalie was known to be the only one able to hold her
own with him
in a fit of temper, but no one had any intentions of coming
between them when
they were both riled. Nick glared at Trace as he slammed the
observation door
and then stormed down the hall. He was in no mood for
conversation and Trace
was not going to push him. As she watched his retreating form,
she decided to
check on Nat.
Natalie sat on the back table staring at Kyle through the glass
with tears running
freely down her face. Tracy opened the door quietly still
carrying the case file.
"Nat?" Tracy questioned softly as she walked over and
stood beside her.
"Are you okay?"
Natalie saw the file in Trace's hand and reached for it. Tracy
slipped it into her
hand as she spoke. "He should have brought him in 2 days ago
Nat!" She
looked into Nat's sad eyes. "He was trying to keep you from
being hurt in case
he was wrong and then when he saw you in the parking
lot........."
The look on Nat's face was one of regret and pain as she returned
her gaze back
to the file noting the dates, times and evidence. Finally she
glanced back
through the window at Kyle as he sat waiting for his lawyer. The
tears began to
fall unchecked down her cheeks while she spoke. "Nick was
trying to protect
me from myself and let me find my own way. I accused him of the
one thing
that I feared the most.....his lack of trust in me.....when all
along I forgot to trust
him to do what's right. He always tries to do what's right
whether it hurts him
or not."
Nat looked directly into Tracy's eyes as she spoke. "I'm
such a fool!
"I just wanted to know what I feel for him is real. No...
that's not quite right."
She sighed before she continued. "I HAD to know what I feel
for Nick is real
and that my old feeling for Kyle where in the past. I should've
known that Kyle
hadn't really changed and Nick would trust me enough to see it on
my own.
Kyle is a user and will always be one. I hurt Nick as well as
myself and worse
yet I hurt US. I don't know....."
Tracy squatted down in front of her and gently touched Natalie's
hands as she
spoke. "He loves you Nat...... It's in his eyes. It's in
everything he does for
you." She smiled and squeezed her hands in comfort. "
When two people are in
love, they sometimes hurt each other...that's part of it."
Tracy wiped the tears
from Natalie's cheek.
"When I kissed Kyle, I realized it wasn't him that I wanted
in my arms but Nick.
I love him Trace. I really love him." She sighed and looked
casually at the file
as she picked it up. "And this is what Kyle
is....half-truths and a lot of
unanswered questions."
Tracy pulled Natalie to her feet and took the file from her
hands. "I think you
should be telling this to Nick not me......Don't you?" She
smiled and put her
arm around her for support as they walked into the squad room.
End Part 9
What Real Love Is?
Part 10
She dried her tears before opening the observation door. Nat
walked bravely
into the squad room to look for Nick with Tracy close behind.
"Do you know where he went Trace?" Nat questioned
softly so the rest of the
room would not hear.
Kind hearted Carlyle quietly came up behind them as they spoke.
"Uh...Dr.
Lambert....?"
Nat turned to face him. "It's Natalie, Carlyle." She
tried to smile for his sake.
"If you're looking for Nick, he left about 10 minutes ago.
He called in from his
car and booked off for the night. Jones said he peeled rubber
with that Caddie
of his out the parking lot. He'd never seen him do that
before.....I don't think he
is coming back." Carlyle looked apologetic as he delivered
the message.
Nat gently touched his arm and made him look at her before she
spoke.
"Thanks, Carlyle. It's okay.... none of this is your fault.
This is no ones fault
but my own." The sadness in her eyes spoke more than her
words.
"Just thought you would want to know." Carlyle turned
to go back to work.
Nat picked up her coat and purse off Tracy's desk and headed for
the door.
"Nat?" Tracy spoke before she reached the door.
"We won't be able to hold
Kyle long. All we have is circumstantial. His lawyers will have
him out in an
hour or so."
"Thanks Trace. Hopefully I can find Nick and straighten this
mess out before
Kyle finds him and makes it worse." She stepped outside and
headed for her
car.
-------------------
Natalie called Nick's cell phone as she drove toward the loft.
She tried his pager
and the loft number; but to no avail. She checked with dispatch
and he wasn't
answering his police ban either. Did she try the loft or the
Raven. Would he go
to LaCroix? She turned the car north and headed for the loft.
Ten minutes later she turned the car off and pressed the security
combination to
the loft. As she road the elevator up, a sense of dread and
anxiety overwhelmed
her. When she opened the door, cold fingers encased her throat
and slammed
her against the wall. Cold blue eyes met hers in the darkness and
the familiar
voice of the Nightcrawler seeped into her soul.
"What have you done to him now Doctor?" Gold flecks
edged his blue eyes
visible even in the darkness at the distant he held. her.
Natalie ceased to struggle when she recognized the voice. Fear
would only
please him more. Anger defiance flashed in her eyes as she
refused to
answer until he released the hold on her throat.
Watching the emotions play across her face and listening to her
heartbeat,
LaCroix marveled at her woman's control. She had willfully
controlled the fear
and emotion and turned it into something he could easily
understand...anger. It
was no wonder Nicholas admired her so much. She was a worthy
adversary as
well as a threat to be dealt with. Something he would do just as
soon as he had
answers. He released the hold on her throat and stepped back
completely in
control again.
Natalie gently rubbed her throat and walked past him into the
room switching
on the light as she walked past. She would not face LaCroix in
the darkness.
Never take on the devil on his terms. She turned to meet him
defiantly now
putting on a braver front than she felt. "I don't know where
he is LaCroix. I
thought maybe he was with you but I see that is not the case.
Apparently you
have saved me a trip." She crossed her arms across her chest
as protection.
LaCroix calmly seated himself in Nick's black leather chair by
the fireplace
before he spoke. "I take it Doctor that you and Nicholas
have had a
disagreement of sorts and that is why you seek him?" He
lifted one eyebrow and
smiled slightly.
"What is between Nick and myself is just that LaCroix,
between us." She
walked to stand in front of him almost daring him to attack. Was
she out of her
mind to push him? Maybe somewhere in the back of her mind she had
a death
wish? She wasn't sure why she felt she could press him, but he
was connected to
Nick. She had witnessed it personally and he WAS here. He could
feel Nick's
emotions and maybe find him as well. "Do you know where he
is?"
LaCroix stood almost in one fluid motion and leered down into her
eyes and
smiled. "Your lack of logic astounds me Doctor or are we
just jousting for
positions here. I could easily break your neck and be done with
this
tedious little quest of yours. I believe we would all be much
better off."
Fear encompassed her whole body as he swiftly encased her in his
arms and let
his eyes turn golden until she fought back. "Go ahead."
She spoke softly into
his ear as his fangs descended toward her neck causing him to
stop. "Kill me
and he will kill you for it. Bring me across and he will kill you
for it or hate you
for all eternity but you will lose him either way...and I
win." He released her so
quickly she almost collapsed to the floor.
She picked herself up and met him blue eyes to gold. "You
owe him LaCroix
for saving you from Divia and you owe me for saving the community
from the
fever epidemic. I intend to collect and so shall Nick, but THIS
has nothing to do
with you. It's between Nick and myself. Find him and I shall call
my debt with
you even." She awaited his answer.
He smiled and let his eyes return to normal. "You settle to
quickly Doctor, but it
will be as you wish. I will find him for you and our debt will be
canceled." He
walked toward the center of the room under the skylight and
looked skyward
and then returned her gaze. "You haven't thought this
completely through
Doctor. Just because I find him does not mean he will want to see
you......." He
smiled a knowing smile. "Just a thought." Only a slight
breeze was felt as he
disappeared through the skylight.
-------------
It was nearing midnight when Natalie finally decided to return to
the precinct.
She would try pager and his cell phone again before she left. If
necessary she
would wait at the morgue until dawn. If he didn't show up by then
she would
return to the loft. There weren't many places he could go after
sunrise.
As she got out of her car at the precinct. Kyle approached from
the side of the
building. He had been waiting for over an hour. His lawyer
managed his
release without much effort due to lack of concrete evidence, but
he was told not
to leave town.
"Natalie!" Kyle called across the parking lot.
"Please! I need to talk with you."
A stronger Natalie stood to face him. She had no time for his
deceit and lies.
"What is it you want to talk about Kyle. The fact that you
helped kill someone
10 years ago or that you have been helping kill more ever since.
How about the
way you used me in Med school to help hide your involvement or
how you
planned to manipulate everything in my life into something that
was convenient
for you. What is it you want to use me for this time? Did you
think if you got
close to me again that you could hide the forensic evidence
linking those
untested drugs to Faraday Pharmaceutical again. How much are they
paying
you this time?" Her anger grew with each breath.
"Natalie, I haven't done any of those things. You have to
believe
me.......Well....not exactly those things. I did use you in Med
school to cover up
the drug usage but I never delivered those drugs. I owed Faraday
for my tuition.
It was wrong and I knew it. After I started my private practice,
they came to me
talking about a new drug they wanted me to try. I turned them
down flat. I
started doing all this work on drugs with Psychiatric care. I
found some of them
worked and some didn't, but I never used untested drugs in my
practice..... you
have to believe that. I came to Toronto to see you. I wanted you
in my life
again. I realized after everything blew over that you were right
to turn me in. I
should have been punished for my participation and I know that. I
have been
trying to make up for that for 10 years. I've been trying to make
up for that
woman dying because I didn't have the guts to stand up for what's
right."
Kyle stopped long enough to catch his breath when a man appeared
behind
Natalie and jerked her body hard into his solid mass. He covered
her mouth in
one swift motion and placed a gun along side her head as he
spoke.
"Don't believe him Doc. He's a liar in the first degree and
now he is going to
pay for what he's done. I finally have found the way to make him
suffer like my
brother did." The gunman twisted Nat almost off her feet so
Kyle could see the
placement of the gun.
"Don't even think about it DR. STEPHENS. I can pull this
trigger faster than
you can spit. Not that you have any backbone anyway." The
gunman looked
Natalie over as he held her tightly. "She's the answer I
have been looking for all
these years. She's special to you. Isn't she Doc? " He
laughed maniacally. She
is what is going to make you feel the pain that Jerry felt
because of what you did.
Get in the car and drive." He motioned for Kyle to get
behind the wheel of the
car next to Natalie's in the lot. He shoved Natalie in the back
seat and followed
close behind.
Tracy had stepped out of the side door and froze when she saw the
gun. She
didn't want to startle the man into hurting Nat, so she edged her
way around the
parked cars until she had a clear shot..... and then he moved.
Kyle climbed
behind the wheel while the gunman shoved Nat into the back seat
at gun point.
The brown sedan screamed out of the parking lot as she ran to
catch the plate
number.
End Part 10
What Real Love Is
Part 11
-------------------
As Tracy ran into the precinct, she almost knocked Reese down as
he came out
his office. Breathless she explained what she'd seen as she paced
the floor.
"Captain, I just put out an APB on a brown sedan with
license plate number
R 771L5. A tall man just forced Natalie and Dr. Stephens into his
car at
gunpoint. I tried to......."
"Slow down Vetter. What are you saying? Natalie has been
kidnapped?"
Catching her breath but still pacing the floor she tried to
explain what she saw.
When she finished her thoughts turned to Nick.
"We have to find Nick, Captain." Tracy stopped pacing
long enough to face the
Captain for an answer.
"Well, do it Trace! Put out an APB on him if
necessary."
"Already done Cap. The license plate is being run now."
Tracy calmed herself
to become more rational. "While dispatch keeps calling Nick,
I'll go over to his
place to see if he is just not answering." She grabbed her
coat and headed for
the door. "Call me as soon as you know anything about this
guy."
-----------------
Nick sat atop a very large boulder overlooking the south view of
Toronto. He let
his mind drift to various things as he sat. His anger faded away
hours ago and
he sat trying to analyze why Natalie's lack of trust hurt him so
badly. Many
times in the past 800 years he had become involved with mortals
and each time
there was pain when he was forced to move on. This was different.
It was easy
to let yourself love a person but to truly love their soul was
something different.
Some how, some way after all these centuries he had finally
learned to love body
and soul. He truly loved all that she was and it scared him
beyond his
imagination. Their trust in one another had always been the
anchor in their
relationship and with that gone self doubt and pain took control.
Natalie had always been the strong one. She had such fire and
conviction.
She'd made him truly believe anything was possible but she had
needs as well.
He recognized that now. Maybe it was time for him to be the
strong one. He
couldn't give her everything she needed and he had to accept
that, but she was
his best friend and best friends are there for each other no
matter what. If she
wanted Kyle then he must have some good in him. Nat was a good
judge of
character and he should trust that, because he DID trust her no
matter what she
thought.
The breeze only slightly moved the branches as Nick felt LaCroix
approach.
He wasn't in the mood for a verbal or physical battle. He had
waged enough
war within himself tonight but he should have known his father
would sense his
turmoil and come to gloat.
LaCroix landed gently beside his son as he sat staring at the
Toronto skyline.
"This is not your usual spot Nicholas." His spoke
calmly as if discussing the
weather. "Considering your present state of mind. I'm
surprised that you
haven't found something a little more distracting. That's your
usual way of
handling things." He let the sarcasm creep into his voice
intentionally.
Nick slowly rose from the rock to face his master. A determined
set of blue eyes
met LaCroix's cold ones before he spoke. "I'm tired of
running
LaCroix.....from myself and from life." Nick brushed past
his master en route
to the car.
"Nicholas......I have a message for you from your pet. Do
you wish to hear it
or shall I just return and tell her your not interested any
longer." Nick could feel
the concealed amusement in LaCroix's voice as he sat down and
closed the
Caddie's door.
"Why would you care to deliver a message from Natalie,
LaCroix unless....."
Using vampiric speed, Nick exited the car and threw LaCroix to
the ground
in one fluid motion. "If you've hurt her, I will kill
you!" His eyes were golden
and his teeth extended as he spoke.
LaCroix laughed at his son's lack of control as he lay flat on
his back with Nick
astride him. He had no doubts Nicholas would kill him if his
little pet was
harmed. Once angered Nicholas was a fighting machine with only
one goal in
mind. Why his son continued to fight this nature was beyond his
imagination
but it was always to be considered in an altercation with him.
"Such emotion Nicholas.....and lack of control. I would have
thought in 800
years you would have learned to control that temper of yours.
Although I must
admit I enjoy our little battles especially when they end in
bloodshed. It's so
challenging." LaCroix tried catching his son off guard to
reverse the position
but Nick was ready for him.
Nick had feed well earlier that evening so his strength was not
impaired. He
threw his master viciously to the ground as his eyes turned feral
red. "What is
the message LaCroix and why are you bringing it to me?" Nick
picked them
both off the ground still holding LaCroix's lapels as he spoke.
LaCroix let his eyes turn golden and forced his son's arms off
his coat before he
spoke. "I was sent to find you Nicholas and tell you that
the good Doctor wishes
to speak with you ALONE! That is all. As to why I would lower
myself to
being a messenger for your pet, let us just say I am repaying a
debt."
Nick let his eyes return to normal as he stood quietly before
LaCroix assuming
the worse. She HAD come to a decision.
"I take it you understand the message and I am relieved of
my obligation?" He
raised one eyebrow and smiled at his son's interpretation of the
message.
"Interesting.......very interesting." He laughed as he
disappeared into the sky.
Nick watched LaCroix disappear into the sky and let his thoughts
drift back to
Natalie and their argument. Flipping on the police dispatch for
the first time
since leaving the precinct, he heard the APB for him and a brown
sedan with
two hostages...one of which was Natalie. Quickly picking up the
microphone
he responded to the dispatcher.
"Dispatch this is 81 Kilo. I am en route to Metro. Fill me
in on the details and
then patch me through to Tracy." He pointed the Caddie
toward Metro as he
listened to the details.
--------------
Natalie sat bound tightly to a chair in the corner of the room as
the man piled
kindling and logs in a semicircle around her. Kyle was bound and
gagged in a
chair on the other side of the room where an explosive device sat
ticking away.
His eyes were like saucers as he watched the man in horror.
Trying to gain time and calm the man down, Natalie tried her best
professional
voice to get him into a conversation.
"What's your name?" She asked calmly as he continued to
add gasoline to the
wood pile.
He brought his eyes level with her. Insanity and war raged behind
the hazel
eyes that returned her gaze. "You don't understand what he
is do you? You
don't even know why your going to die?"
Trying to control the fear Natalie pushed forward. "Why
don't you tell me why?
If I'm going to die, don't I have the right to know ?"
"He killed my brother...my baby brother. He gave him those
drugs. Those
drugs that weren't tested. Drugs that caused him such pain that
he begged me
to kill him. So I did, and for what? Money! Yes, Money! It took
me years to
find out who was responsible, but I did. When I found out who was
involved I
killed them all. I made them suffer just like they made Jerry
suffer except for
him. He was the one who delivered the drugs and covered it up
just like all
those other." He let his eyes drift to Kyle in the corner
who struggled to speak
through the gag.
" I followed him from place to place till I could get them
all. All those so called
healers of the mind and everyone of them were like him. All they
cared about
was money. So I watched and waited till the time was right...till
I could find
something that would hurt him more than just physical pain,"
he turned back to
Natalie. "and that is you. He is going to watch you die
screaming and then I'm
going to kill him slowly with the same drug he gave my brother.
Did I mention
that the scientist at Faraday who created the drug explained all
the side effects of
the drug to me before he died. He told me how to make it
stronger. How to
cause so much pain that you would go insane before you died. That
you would
do anything to make it stop." Hatred flared in his eyes as
he spoke. "Yes, they
knew what it would do, but they used it anyway....modified form
and such tripe.
They knew it could kill and they used it anyway!" He laughed
as he turned his
attention back to Kyle and calmly stepped over to remove the gag.
"Not to worry Doc, I won't give her the drug......just YOU
as you watch her
burn. I want you to hear her screams while the drug runs through
your veins
and I'm going to watch it all." He sighed and looked toward
the stars through
the window. "Then Jerry can rest in peace." He started
for the lighter on the
table.
"Carl? Isn't that you name. You're making a mistake! Natalie
isn't involved
in this. She's the one who turned them in. She stood up for
Jerry. She was the
one that found the evidence on Faraday and help send them to
prison. Punish
me but not her. Do you want to be just like me? I was stupid and
young, but I
learned from my mistakes. I didn't know the drugs were
harmful.....I didn't
know. You have to believe me. I've spent ten years trying to
promote safe drug
usage because of what happened to your brother. I didn't know
those other
doctors. I didn't....." Carl's anger built with each word
Kyle spoke until he
replaced the gag over his mouth.
"Shut up Doc. Ignorance is no excuse. You didn't check. All
you wanted was
the money. It was just easier not to ask. You were a doctor! You
were suppose
to care about your patients, but all you cared about was the
money. Just like all
the others." He turned back to Natalie with the lighter in
his hand.
"I'm sorry if what he says about you is true. Really sorry,
but he has to pay for
what he did and this is the only way." He flicked the
lighter and watched the
flame burn as Natalie screamed.
End Part 11
What Real Love Is?
Part 12
Tracy's voice came over the radio as Nick drove toward Metro.
"Nick! Where the Hell have you been? Some weirdo has Nat and
Dr. Stephens.
I saw him force them into this car......."
Nick was stressed to the max. Gold flecks edged his eyes as he
drove.
"Trace....just tell me you have an address." His
patience was non-existent.
"The car is registered to a Carl Bowen at 1315 Sparrow
Court." Nick pulled the
Caddie over as he listened.
"Thanks Trace. Send me back-up and an ambulance."
"They were dispatched a few minutes ago. Nick, this guy is
the brother of the
of Kyle's first mess in California. Nick.....Nick? Did you hear
me?" There
was no answer only a dead line.
------------------
Nick took to the air as he finished the sentence. Fear gripped
his heart as he
flew. Nearing the subdivision he heard Nat's scream.
----------------
"NICK!!!! Nick!!!!!" Natalie screamed as Carl lit the
fire and watched the
flames dance.
Carl stood watching the flames come closer to her chair as she
struggled to free herself. A loud crash from the front window
brought his
attention around as Nick sailed through the plate glass window,
smashing him
into the far wall. Blackness enveloped him swiftly as he bounced
to the floor.
Nick saw Natalie through the flames. Without thinking, he plunged
through the
inferno to the center. The heat was intense and caught his coat
sleeve on fire.
Throwing it off into the flames he untied her hands and pulled
her into his arms.
Relief swept through him as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
She was afraid but not paralyzed by it. Nick marveled at her
courage.
"Vampires do burn you know Nick! Any ideas on a way out of
this one?" She
looked hopefully into his eyes.
Nick looked at the fire as it quickly trapped them into the
corner. Looking up
he tried to judge the consequences of taking there only way out.
He looked deep
into her eyes before he spoke. "Trust me Nat! Trust me
again....just this once !"
He needed her acceptance.
As the fire leapt to the cushion on the chair where she had sat,
she held him
close. "I never stopped trusting you Nick and I NEVER will.
Do it! It's our
only chance."
Forcing her face into his chest for protection, Nick shot upwards
trying to cover
her body with his as they tore through the rafters into the night
air. He brought
them down softly behind the house as the fire trucks roared into
the driveway
followed by police and ambulance crews.
Nick pulled Nat away from him to check her over. "Nat? Are
you okay? " He
brushed debris from her hair looking for wounds and broken bones.
"I'm okay Nick." She brushed debris from his shoulder
and met his blue eyes.
"But Kyle....Nick....Kyle is still in there!" Fear was
written on her face as she
spoke.
He pulled away from her and headed for the house again without
reservation.
She grabbed his sleeve as he pulled away.
"Nick there's a bomb....."
"It's okay Nat, I'll get him out." He touched her cheek
and then disappeared
into the house.
The flames had engulfed the whole room as the influx of air
through the roof
and window fed the flames. Nick spotted Kyle unconscious only
moments
before he saw the bomb. He had only seconds before it exploded.
Using vampire
speed he lunged for the chair and Kyle, driving them both through
the wall in
the next room as the bomb exploded. It seemed like the house was
collapsing
around them as Nick covered Kyle with his body. Pain ripped
through his
shoulder and his heart as he pulled himself off Kyle. Kyle awoke
to Nick's
scream as he watched him try to pull a wooden shaft from his
shoulder with no
success.
Panting from the exertion and the pain Nick finally resorted to
cursing as he
tried once more to remove the offending stake. "Damn...Damn
me to Hell! Of
course it had to be wood." Nick met Kyle's eyes as he
finished the last epitaph
and finally broke the stake off at the exit point close to his
heart.
"How....how did you do that?" Kyle managed weakly.
Using a simple hypnotic suggestion he responded.
"Adrenaline! Now let's get
you out of here." Nick reached to help him up.
Kyle screamed in pain as he tried to rise and his legs buckled
underneath. The
world went dark as Kyle felt strong arms throw him over a
shoulder and move
quickly outside.
Tracy grabbed Nat as the explosion went off and she lunged for
the house.
"No!! Tracy, let me go! Let me go!" She struggled to
free herself as she
saw them come around the side of the house.
Nick carried Kyle away from the flames and dropped him as his own
strength
began to fade from loss of blood and the stake. Kyle was
unconscious as the
paramedics started first aid. Tracy and Nat ran across the yard
to Nick as he
started back to the burning house.
"Nick!" Nat screamed as she watched him turn back
toward the flames. "You
can't....."
Nick turned to her voice. "No one deserves to die like that
Nat.... not even a
murder." He lunged back through the hole he came through
only moments
before.
Tears poured down her face as she checked on Kyle and watched the
house for
Nick. A second explosion rocked the building as the gas furnace
obviously
exploded. Natalie jerked forward again screaming Nick's name as
the
paramedic restrained her.
Trace came to her side as she collapsed to her knees in the
grass. She couldn't
tear her eyes from the burning building as the pain racked her
soul. Then she
saw a weary figure pull himself up off the ground on the far side
of the house.
She pushed Tracy away and ran to him.
Nick pulled himself up slowly with the help of the nearby tree as
his strength
began to wane. He couldn't reach Carl in time. The flames had
already
engulfed him before the second explosion. Nick had hurled himself
through the
bedroom window only seconds before the furnace exploded. Within
seconds
Natalie was in his arms.
The tears ran down her cheeks freely as she ran her fingers
across his smut
filled face and into his dirty encrusted hair. He held on tightly
breathing in her
smell and warmth to give him strength.
She pulled away slightly to let her eyes meet his. "Don't
EVER do that to me
again. Do YOU hear me Nick? I don't......."
He pulled her back into his embrace placing her head on his right
shoulder and
burying his face in the mass of auburn curls he adored so much.
"Dr. Lambert....?" The paramedic interrupted nervously.
"Ah.....Dr. Stephens
is awake and asking for you....."
Nat looked at the young man and then back to Nick. "Tell him
I'll be right
there." She never let her eyes leave Nick's as she spoke
looking for
understanding in his eyes.
"Go on Nat! He needs you. I'm fine."
She looked at him skeptically.
"Really.....Go!"
She turned to walk back to Kyle with the paramedic at her side.
Nick watched her kneel down at Kyle's side and gently brush his
forehead with
her fingertips. Finally the pain from the stake and his obvious
loss forced him
to leave.
End Part 12
What Real Love Is?
Part 13
Kyle watched them from a distance as the paramedic worked on his
leg. It was
Nick's name she screamed when the house exploded. It was Knight
that she
wept for in the middle of the lawn when she thought he was
dead....Not him but
Nick. He had lost the battle before it began. Knight hadn't
responded the way
he should. He had tried mental games, jealousy and finally force.
If he could
have only made Nick lose it, Natalie would see that only HE could
make her
happy. Why didn't Nick respond in anger? It was Knight's
'almighty good
guy' act that had her. Her was sure. Maybe a more compassionate,
concerned approach on his part would convince her. He closed his
eyes as she
approached.
Natalie knelt down beside Kyle's still form and brushed the dirt
gently from his
face. Slowly he opened his eyes wincing from the pain radiating
from his leg.
He watched her face closely as she began checking his leg. The
bleeding was
minimal and the break clean. Once again Kyle would escape
relatively
unharmed. He watched her auburn hair fly in the wind as she
continued her
examination. She was methodical and gentle, and when she return
to his face
genuine concern was obvious......but not love. Her heart was
elsewhere but he
was determined to win it back.
"Nat?" He asked softly.
"I'm right here Kyle. You are going to be all right. You
have broken you leg
and your collarbone, but they're clean breaks. You'll be
fine." She smiled as
she pulled the blanket over him to keep him for going into shock.
Kyle slowly shook his head no, before he spoke in broken
sentences. "No!....
Nat? Nick?.... He was hurt......Is Nick okay?" Forcing the
words out
breathlessly for effect.
Natalie tried to make sense of his broken sentences. Nick was all
right. She
had held him safe in her arms only moments ago. He was okay.
"Kyle, you're
not making sense. Nick's fine." She tried to calm him down.
Kyle tried again only slower this time. "When the bomb went
off Nick covered
my body with his. When I woke up, he was cursing about the stake
being made
of wood." Kyle grabbed her arm and forced her to look at
him. "Natalie, he
broke the stake off and carried me out of the house. He has to be
hurt!" He
touched the stain on her white blouse and brought back blood on
his fingertips.
"Unless you want to tell me that you're bleeding that
bad?"
Nat stared at the blood on Kyle's fingers and drew her hand to
the wet spot on
her blouse....Nick's blood. She let her mind drift back earlier
to Nick
holding her against his shoulder. She realized now that he had
deliberately
pulled her away from his left shoulder. A cold fear enveloped her
as she spoke.
"It was a wood stake? You're sure Kyle?" She looked at
his eyes as he nodded
an affirmative answer.
This wasn't the response he had expected. He was still hazy about
what
happened prior to the explosion, but he remembered the stake
protruding out of
Nick's shoulder. Maybe he would die and solve all the problems.
Adrenaline,
Nick said...as if that simple word could really explain what
happened. Knight
did save his life...he would give him that. Natalie's face had
turned ashen as
she jumped up.
"Nat! Wait...." She could no longer hear his call as
she sprinted past the
paramedics.
Simple fear was now replaced with terror as she ran towards the
nearest police
car. She jumped behind the wheel and threw the car in gear.
Looking at the
horizon as she sped out of the driveway, she realized it was
almost dawn. The
sun was cresting the horizon as she flipped on the siren and
lights and pushed
the car to 80.
----------------
Nick stood in the corner of his loft, facing the window with his
back to the wall.
He had stood there thousands of times watching the sun crest the
horizon and
slowly filter into the room until he was forced to close the
shade. He wanted to
watch it as long as possible today and remember.....
She saw the one shade still up as she jumped out of the squad
car. There was no
time for the lift so she took the stairs two at a time. When she
opened the door,
she could see him leaning against the wall. He was staring
quietly at the sun
light as if slowly inched across the floor toward him.
Desperately she looked for
the remote, then notices it on the couch out of his reach. He
looked okay, but
Nick didn't move as she walked into the sunlight and stood facing
him. Blue
eyes met hers as she finally spoke.
"Did you plan on just letting me find a pile of ashes when I
showed up or did
you have something cleaner in mind." She didn't mean for it
to come out so
harsh, but Damn him...suicide was not the answer for their
problems. They just
needed time.
He chuckled softly. "Not to worry Nat. The sun won't hit
this corner for at least
another half hour.....trust me.......I know.....and by then it
won't matter." He
slowly slid to the floor as the blood trailed down the wall
behind him.
"Nick!" Natalie screamed, trying to catch him before he
hit the floor and fell
into the sun. She leaned him carefully against the corner wall
and started to hit
the remote.
"No, Nat! I want to see you in the sun. You look so
beautiful in the sun! You
belong in the sun Nat.....always stay in the sun!" He
reached to touch her hair
letting the sun burn his finger for his efforts.
She leaned forward pulling his hand in her hair out of the sun.
Pain was etched
across his face as his normal pale color took on a gray cast.
"Nick, let me see
your shoulder......let me get it out!" She pulled his shirt
back, exposing the
wood shard protruding about a half inch from his chest. It angled
through his
shoulder and exited just above his heart. It was wood and it had
to be touching
his heart. The blood had soaked the front of his shirt and
continued to flow as
she searched her mind for a way to remove it quickly.
"Nick you have to help me....."
He stopped her probing fingers and brought them to his lips. He
kissed them
gently and then held them flat against his chest. "It's over
Nat. It will set us
both free." He never let his eye release hers. "I want
you happy and I can't
make you happy. I know that now." He whispered in labored
breathes pulling
her to him one last time. Her warmth radiated through him as he
buried his face
into her hair and breathed deeply the scent that would be with
him forever.
"Be happy Natalie and know that I have always loved
you."
"No!!!!!!!Nick!!! I won't let you go!" She screamed as
the tears streamed down
her face. She pulled away from slightly and reached for the
stake. Pushing hard
with her thumb, she forced the stake back through his body. Nick
screamed in
agony as the stake moved, then screamed again as she grabbed the
stake from
the back and pulled it out. As she tore it free from his body he
collapsed in her
arms.
The blood and tears flowed freely as she scrambled across the
room to her
medical bag. She grabbed two bottles of blood from the
refrigerator and a towel
as she passed the kitchen. Kneeling down beside him as the tears
continued to
flow, she applied pressure to the wound. She had to give his body
time to heal.
He needed blood. Releasing the pressure long enough to pour some
blood down
his throat, she waited as his color continued to turn completely
gray and his
breathing raspy.
"Damn you Nick! Fight this! Fight it! For Us! You're the
only thing that will
make me happy. Please, Nick." She pressed her warm wet cheek
to his cool
one. "I love you Nick. Only you can make me happy......know
that...only
you."
Reaching for the scalple in her bag she sliced her wrist in one
fluid motion
watching the blood start to flow freely. Her blood....human blood
was the only
answer. She started to place it on his lips when a cold blistered
had clamped the
blood flow off and jerked her to her feet.
End Part 13
What Real Love Is?
Part 14/14
The Finale
Natalie found herself staring into the cold blue eyes of LaCroix.
The sun had
blistered his face as well as his hands. Slowly he turned her
wrist over to stare
at the blood seeping between his fingers and unconsciously licked
his dried lips
before he spoke.
"Interesting idea DOCTOR! Not effective in this case...but
non-the less
enticing to say the least." He let his eyes meet hers again
as Natalie jerked her
wrist free and stepped back. She stared at the blood flowing down
her fingertips
and immediately knelt back down to Nick without responding.
LaCroix pulled her wrist away from Nick a second time, preventing
her from
giving him the blood he so desperately needed to
survive..."Let me go LaCroix!"
she growled between her efforts in trying to break his hold.
"He needs human
blood! He will die without it."
LaCroix maintained his hold on her bleeding wrist and pulled her
hard into his
body locking her into his arms as he spoke. "You blood will
not cure a wound to
the heart Doctor. Only vampire blood can save him now." He
let his soothing
voice radiate over her chaotic mind as he spoke the words calmly
into her ear.
Natalie stopped struggling in his embrace and willed herself back
into control.
Was is LaCroix's calm or self control? She didn't know or care at
this point.
She was losing Nick and if vampire blood would cure him then she
would deal
with the devil himself to get it. "Then help him before it
is to late!" She relaxed
in his arms and brought her eyes back to his. "Name your
price!"
He smiled as he released her slowly, letting his gaze take in his
dying son. "It
would appear Doctor that Nicholas has out done himself this
time...or should I
say he chose not to continue with the current situation as it
stands. Your doing
I presume?"
"Don't be smug! He was hurt in an explosion trying to save
several people." She
glared back at him.
"Of which you were one I presume!" A knowing smile
crossed his lips as he
knelt down by his son. ".....which makes it your
fault." Guilt was an incredible
weapon that he had perfected over the centuries. Natalie was not
immune and
he knew it. He finally let his eyes return to hers as his fangs
descended and his
steel blue eyes became golden. "The price will be named
later Doctor; just
remember that I always collect my debts."
LaCroix ripped the flesh on his now healed wrist. Placing his
wrist over Nicks
pale lips, he let the blood flow. As the blood ran into his
throat, Nick groaned
and pulled away.
LaCroix picked his son up from the floor and carried him to the
couch, where he
tried to feed Nick again. "Drink Nicholas!" He forced
his bleeding wrist into
Nick's mouth yet he refused to drink. "Damn you Nicholas!
Drink it or you will
die!"
Nick pulled them to the floor as he struggled weakly against
LaCroix's
insistence to feed. "Your price is too...High,
LaCroix!" he managed weakly. I
do not accept...." Nick coughed blood as he spoke through
the pain ravaging his
body. "Too high...." his body could not fight the
inevitable any longer as he
succumbed to the darkness.
LaCroix's eyes turned red with anger as he tried forcing his
blood into his son's
mouth against his will. Screaming in anger, LaCroix realized that
Nick was
beyond drinking as he slowly slid into unconsciousness.
Natalie watched as the man she had grown to love lay dying in his
Father's
arms, knowing somehow this battle had to do with her. She would
not lose
Nick...not now...not after all they had been through to get
here...not because of
some long lost battle between master and child. She knelt down by
LaCroix as
he held Nick to his breast, and watched his emotions rage between
grief for his
son and hatred for her.
"Give me your arm!" She commanded as she forced LaCroix
to focus on her
instead of Nicholas. When his eyes met hers, the rage he felt
exploded as he
laid Nicholas down and grabbed her viciously by the shoulders.
"I should kill you now as he dies!" he growled exposing
his fangs as he spoke.
"Is that what you want...to let him die? Is that why you
came here and risk being
burned alive by the sun? I don't think so! GIVE ME YOUR ARM! Only
together can we save him!" Anger and tears flooded her eyes
as she forced
LaCroix into a decision.
The cold blue steel of his eyes returned as he offered her his
arm. Rapidly she
placed a shunt into his arm and set up a stringer to a large
needle which she
implanted directly into Nick's stomach. She released the
tourniquet and let
LaCroix's blood flow directly into Nick. She brushed the blonde
hair from
Nick's face lovingly as she checked the wound over his heart.
LaCroix's blood
caused an immediate reaction to the wound. Nick was healing and
his
breathing became less shallow.
LaCroix sat watching her as she tended his son. The love his son
felt for this
woman was beyond anything LaCroix had experienced in his
lifetime. His son
was regaining his humanity through this woman. Their trust and
faith in each
other would not be shaken even by pain or doubt. They were
soulmates bound
only to each other through time, yet unaware of what they
possessed. Only time
would determine the outcome of their quest. Envy and sadness
overwhelmed
him at his loss. Nicholas would never again be his.
Natalie turned to watch LaCroix as his blood continued to flow
into Nick.
During this process she
had learned something. Vampires can truly love not matter what
LaCroix
would say. The pain and anger she witnessed from him moments ago
were
based on love...nothing else. LaCroix truly loved Nick...and that
was a weapon
she could understand as well as use.
She watched LaCroix start to fade away. She pulled the shunt from
his arm and
Nick's stomach in one quick motion. As he fell forward, Natalie
caught
LaCroix's head in her arms and lower it to her lap as she sat
beside Nick.
Overwhelmed with relief she baited him, "I think you need a
little pick me up
Monsieur LaCroix. Did you bring your own stock or are you going
to have to
imbibe some of Nicholas' 'swill' as I believe you call it."
She ran her warm
hand down his cheek slowly in a tender caress that caught him
unaware. He
was unprepared for such tenderness and it confused him . He
responded in the
usual way.
"You could offer me some of your special vintage Doctor or
is that solely for
Nicholas and medicinal purposes?" His eyes were clear again
as he lay in her
lap trying to mentally push her, but she only smiled.
"That vintage is for medicinal purpose only...for BOTH you
and Nick... but I
will bring you some of that delicious 'swill' that will put the
color back into
those cheeks...oh...I'm sorry you don't like color do you? Sorry,
forgot myself
again. Black and pale that's the vampire motto. One must always
look the
part." She helped him up smiling at his discomfort. He truly
could not deal
with her humor and that intrigued her even more. There was more
to Lucien
LaCroix than just pure evil, and she would find out what in time.
Natalie poured a glass of bloodwine from the frig and brought the
bottle with
her. She handed the glass to him and waited to refill the glass.
He gulped the
blood in one swift motion grimacing as he swallowed. Natalie
refilled the glass
and laughed.
"I'm glad you find this amusing Doctor, but frankly I find
Nicholas taste in
beverages appalling." He drank the second glass as swiftly
as the first with the
same facial expression.
"Here I thought the older you got the more taste buds you
lost." She smiled and
handed him the bottle which he grudgingly took. She went to
Nick's side and
checked his wound again. It was almost healed and his color was
returning; that
was if you could call pale a color. She then returned her
attention back to
LaCroix.
"Thank you!" It was simple statement that she said not
only with her words but
her eyes.
"You're an interesting creature Doctor! I believe I can
finally see Nicholas's
fascination with you...indeed...I think you require closer
attention than Nicholas
has given you in the past." He let the meaning of his word
sink in and smirked
at her startled reaction.
"I think I shall rest now. I will leave you and Nicholas the
floor since I don't
believe he is going anywhere soon, and he obviously does not
prefer the couch. I
shall try the bed upstairs." Seemingly unruffled by the
entire experience, he
gracefully stood and removed some unseen dirt from his jacket
before he met
her gaze.
"Goodnight Doctor...pleasant dreams." Then he was gone.
Nat rummaged through the closet in the bathroom and found a
blanket and
pillow. Settling down on the floor beside Nick, she covered them
both with the
blanket and slept.
------------------
Nick awoke to find Nat nestled in his arms on the floor. Relief
flooded his body
as he felt her heart beat regularly as she slept. It was some
time after dusk. His
vampire senses told him LaCroix was gone but his blood ran in his
veins.
Nick's entire body was stiff and his shoulder ached when he tried
moving. He
didn't understand any of this. What he felt from his master's
blood was mingled
with rage, anger, pain and confusion all directed at Natalie. Why
had he not
killed her? Wasn't that his promise on Valentine's Day? The price
of his life
was
Natalie's death...it was in his blood.
"Nat?" Nick pulled her closer as he whispered into her
hair. "Nat..."
Her sleepy eyes met his and joy flooded her entire face. Slowly
she ran her
fingers down his face as if to memorize it for all time and then
she kissed him;
first gently on each cheek and finally on the lips.
Nick let himself bask in the warmth of her smile and her love
with each kiss
until her lips found his and he was lost. The pain, distrust and
doubts were all
swept away as he let himself truly feel her love for him. When he
released her a
single tear slid down her cheek before she spoke.
"Say it Nick!" Her eyes begged him.
He brought one hand to her face and brushed her auburn locks out
of her face
and smiled. "I love you Nat...and I think I always
have."
She smiled as the tears began to flow. "Say it again! I need
to hear it again,"
she whispered.
He kissed her slowly and passionately until she had lost all
sense to breathe and
he finally responded. "We WILL be together...I promise. I
love you
Natalie....now....and forever."
The End