Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 15:14:34 -0600 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: Facing East (1/7) To: FKFIC-L@psuvm.psu.edu X-Status: OK, here it is -- the last in my 'directional' series. The compass is now complete. As before, this takes place in the 3rd season, and is a mixture of Dark Knightie and N&N fiction. Most of the characters are not mine, and are only borrowed for fun. Please let me know what you think. I love the feedback (it's addicting!!). * - * - * - * Facing East (1/7) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) "So you don't believe we were all seeing ghosts?" Tracy's voice held a hint of frustration. "I didn't say that," Nick corrected across the desks. "I just said that it was interesting that we all saw what we needed to see." "That doesn't mean they weren't real." "I agree," Nick responded. "Okay," Tracy ended, returning to her report. She hated it when their 'discussions' ended like this. She wasn't sure if she had won the argument or not, or if there had even been one. Wanting to know if her partner was watching her reaction, she stole a peak from her lowered head. Nick was intently staring at his computer monitor, ignoring her. Nick scanned the files of known perpetrators, hitting the 'page down' key regularly. He glanced at Tracy when he knew she wasn't looking and grinned to himself. It was interesting watching her try to sort out her reality, which had now expanded to include not only vampires, but also ghosts. What would the poor girl have to face next? Nick was enjoying his musing when he first heard the hum. It started softly, and slowly grew to overshadow the usual buzz of the office. It wasn't mechanical; it almost sounded human, but distant. "What's that noise?" Nick asked, startling his partner. Tracy looked up from her forms, and tilted her head to listen. "What noise?" she finally asked. "You don't hear it? It sounds like ... I don't know, like someone humming." "A song or something?" "No," Nick turned his head to determine the direction. "More like a single note." It seemed to be coming from everywhere, and nowhere. Nick glanced apprehensively at Tracy, suddenly realizing it was something she wouldn't hear. "I don't hear anything, Nick. Maybe your ears are ringing. It happens to me a lot, especially when I don't get enough sleep." Nick turned back at his terminal. "That's probably what it is," he said, deciding that it was best to drop the topic. But the humming grew louder until it was all he could hear. Nick found himself wincing at the intensity. He was no longer able to concentrate on the information before him, and found himself wanting to scream at the noise. "Getting worse?" Tracy's concerned voice barely broke through. "Yes." Nick rubbed both sides of his head with his palms. "You want an aspirin? I have a bottle or two." "No, Trace, but thanks." Nick tried to smile at his concerned partner. "I think I'll just go for a walk. Be back in a minute." "Sure," Tracy responded, watching her partner leave the room, still holding his head. "That's a drag," she said to her desk, shaking her head sympathetically. "I hate it when my ears ring." By the time Nick made it to the back door, he was all but running. Pressing his hands over his ears did nothing to lessen the hum. It wasn't that the level of noise was painful, it was just all- consuming. Nick felt his eyes starting to glow in response as he headed for the shadows beyond the parking lot. Gripping the nearest tree, Nick pushed his forehead against the trunk and gritted his teeth to suppress a yell. He had no desire to attract attention to himself at the moment. A piece of bark was giving way beneath his fingers when the hum suddenly stopped. Nick waited for a few seconds to be sure that it was really gone, then rolled around so that his back was against the tree. He felt almost breathless, and greatly relieved to be hearing the regular street noises again. What a strange thing to have happen! His ears were obviously not ringing; that was one of the many maladies vampires didn't have to worry about. Nick pushed off from the tree and started walking. He needed to relax before going back inside. Before he realized where he was headed, Nick was standing in front of the door to the morgue. He shrugged, deciding he'd drop in on Natalie, and went inside. Natalie was working on a large body, partially covered by a sheet, when Nick entered. She looked up and greeted him with a smile, and continued carefully cutting away at internal organs. "Hey. What brings you down here?" she asked without looking up again. Nick cringed as Natalie removed the stomach, stuffed it into a plastic bag, and placed it on the scale. He tried to look away, but found his eyes drawn to the nearly empty body cavity like they would be to a car accident. The smell of fresh blood pulled him toward the table. When the scale needle settled down, Natalie looked over her shoulder, wondering why Nick hadn't answered. She caught him moving his gaze from the body to her, looking a little sheepish. "Nick? What's up?" "Nothing," he answered, touching her back as he approached. "I was just out for a walk and thought I'd stop by." "Out for a walk?" she asked suspiciously. Nick continued past her and settled against the counter, leaning back on his hands and crossing his feet. "I needed to get out of the station for a while." He smiled at her, assuring her that there was nothing wrong. Natalie studied his face before relaxing. She returned his smile, her gloved hands held out in front of her. "I had the strangest thing happen a little while ago," Nick said, his face more serious, but still relaxed. "What?" "I was working at my desk, when this strange hum started in my head. Before it stopped, it got really loud. Tracy didn't hear ..." Suddenly, Nick doubled over and spun around, supporting himself on the counter on his elbows, his fingers trying to grip the smooth surface. His entire body shook. Natalie popped off her gloves, dropping them to the floor as she ran to Nick. She grabbed his arm and back. "Nick! What's wrong?!" He stopped shaking, but didn't move. "Nick!" Natalie squeezed his arm tighter. Nick slowly turned his head toward Natalie. She released the pressure on his arm when she was met by glowing eyes, ringed with gold. Nick frowned at her; his voice was low, nearly a growl. "I don't understand ..." he said slowly, the frown getting more intense. "Nick, what's wrong?!" Natalie's voice betrayed her panic as she saw the tips of his fangs appear. "I need ... to ... feed," Nick barely got out the words in a growling whisper. "Nick, I don't have..." Natalie started. "Now!!" Nick bellowed, sending Natalie backwards several steps. She watched him for a second. He looked like he was hanging on the edge of a cliff, about to fall. Natalie shook her head to start herself into motion, dashed to the cooler, and trotted back to Nick with a bag of O positive. Nick, now completely ruled by the vampire, turned and snatched the bag from her hand. As he slid down the front of the cabinets, he closed his eyes, bit into the bag, and drained its contents quickly. Sitting on the floor, he dropped the empty bag between his raised knees, held his stomach with folded arms, and rocked slowly back and forth, his eyes still closed. Natalie stood watching, her hand frozen outstretched. After a minute, Nick stopped rocking, unfolded his arms, and propped his elbows on his knees. He dropped his head into his hands. Natalie knelt carefully beside him, unsure of what to do. "Nick?" she whispered. Nick raised his head slowly, wiping his face with his hands in the motion. He leaned his head back on the cabinet, looking at Natalie. All signs of the vampire were gone. "Nat, I'm sorry ..." he started. Natalie interrupted him. "Nick, what the hell was *that*?" "I don't know," he responded, sounding both tired and frustrated. "How much did you have to drink tonight before work?" Natalie frowned with concern. "Enough. That shouldn't have happened." Feeling more comfortable, Natalie sat on the floor next to Nick, resting her hand on his arm. "What, exactly, happened?" Nick looked down at her hand, trying to recall the details of what had taken place. The Beast was gone, or, rather, under control for now. The warmth of Natalie's hand was incredibly soothing. "I felt like I was attacked. It was like someone was focusing all of their energy on me. I don't know how else to explain it." "LaCroix?" Nick shook his head. "No." "Who, then?" "I don't know," Nick said rather sadly. He covered Natalie's hand with his, stroking it gently, enjoying the feel of her skin. "Nick," Natalie warned, "I don't think you should go back to work." She looked into his eyes, which seemed to be transfixed on her hand. Nick nodded in agreement. She was right. If this happened at work, his entire existence here would be over. Nick sighed and looked up at Natalie to find her staring at him. He smiled reassuringly. "I'll call Tracy and get her to book me off." They both rose. It was a matter of opinion as to who was helping who up. When they were standing, Natalie nodded toward the table. "This is the last case I have at the moment. When I finish up here, I'll come over and check on you." Nick smiled in appreciation. He reached over and kissed Natalie's forehead, lingering for a moment before releasing her and walking to her desk. Natalie pulled on a new set of gloves and returned to the scale to remove the bagged stomach while Nick used her phone. "Trace. It's Nick." "Yeah, it's getting worse." "Yes, Mother," Nick said sarcastically. "Thanks, Trace. I'm going to head home." The one-sided phone call over, Nick stopped behind Natalie, gently holding her shoulders. "Thank you, Nat," he whispered into her ear, resting the side of his head against hers for a moment. "I'll see you later?" "I shouldn't be long," Natalie replied, pressing her head against Nick's. Nick turned and walked slowly out of the lab. Natalie watched him leave, holding the scalpel out in front of her. With him gone, she turned back to John Doe, taking a deep breath to refocus on her attention on her work. End part 1. Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 20:46:12 -0600 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: Facing East (2/7) To: FKFIC-L@psuvm.psu.edu X-Status: Please see part 1 for disclaimers. Facing East (2/7) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) " ... and remember, you always have a friend ... in the Nightcrawler." LaCroix expertly faded in the music and switched off the microphone, frowning to himself. His broadcast held no joy for him tonight; he was too disturbed by the vibrations he was getting from Nicholas. They were strange sensations, feelings of intense pain, but short-lived. He wondered if his son might be working on another 'cure', but with the way things were going lately, that was doubtful. If he felt another wave, he would have to break down and pay Nicholas a visit. Their relationship had been too good lately for LaCroix to ignore his son's pain. LaCroix rose slowly, feeling more of his years than he usually did, and strolled to the bar for refreshment. He was pouring a glass of the house special when he saw the couple enter. Randolf he recognized immediately; it had only been a month since the young vampire appeared in the Raven, waiting for Nicholas. But the woman on his arm LaCroix was sure he had never seen before. She seemed to innocently rule the room the moment they entered. What a pair they made: he with his long dark hair, black eyes, perfect pale skin, and somewhat Victorian mannerisms, and she with those shining emerald eyes and flowing blonde hair, oozing sensuality. LaCroix smiled at the attention the pair drew from the crowd as he raised his glass, awaiting their approach. Randolf picked LaCroix out of the crowd without effort and guided Anna to the bar. He nodded in greeting. LaCroix placed his glass on the bar and returned Randolf's greeting graciously. "Randolf," he said, his voice velvety. He then turned his attention to Anna, his smile hinting at hunger. "My dear, I do not believe we have met. Lucien LaCroix, at your service." Anna nodded without returning his smile. "LaCroix," Randolf started, pulling out a chair at the bar for his companion, "may I present my wife, Anna." "Ah," LaCroix replied, his eyebrows raised in recognition, "the young woman we were discussing when you were last here." He recalled the description Nicholas had given him of the strange venture he and Randolf had undertaken, bringing Anna across together. Anna was staring past LaCroix at the empty wall behind him as he studied her. Randolf looked worried. "So," LaCroix picked up his glass again and lifted it toward his lips, "what brings you two into my humble establishment?" He sipped, waiting for the reply. Randolf looked from Anna to LaCroix, and then down at his hands. His frown looked amazingly like the one Nicholas so often wore. "We have run into some ... difficulties," Randolf said hesitantly. "I did not find Nicholas at his home or his place of business, and thought I should look here." LaCroix swung his glass between two fingers, enjoying the reflection of the bar lights in the liquid. "I'm afraid he is not ..." Another wave hit. LaCroix slammed his glass onto the bar, shattering the stem. Jerking his head toward Anna, he narrowed his eyes. She was still staring into space, now appearing to be lost in thought. LaCroix threw the remainder of his broken glass to the floor behind him and grabbed Anna's arm. "Stop it!" Anna responded to LaCroix's order by slowly turning toward him, shocked. LaCroix leaned across the bar, hissing at her through locked teeth, "You're hurting him." Anna's shock turned to horror as she pulled out of LaCroix's grip and backed into Randolf's arms. The young man bristled as though ready to attack. "I ... I didn't mean to ... to hurt him," Anna gasped, blood tears forming around her eyelids. The offending vibrations gone, LaCroix straightened behind the bar as though nothing had happened. He gracefully wiped the glass fragments from the bar with a towel, and then pulled out a fresh glass. As he poured from the unmarked bottle, he looked up at his visitors who had settled back into their seats and were watching him. Returning the cork to the bottle and tucking it under the bar, LaCroix leaned on his elbows, his glass raised. "Yes, I see that you are having difficulties. What do you propose to do about it?" "I don't know," Randolf answered, frustration showing in spite of his eloquent mannerisms. "What should we do?" "I explained to you and Nicholas what the problem was. The ritual was never completed. These ... difficulties ... will persist until it is." LaCroix took a slow sip of his drink. "But if Anna tastes Nicholas' blood, she will suffer as he has." Pain etched Randolf's face. LaCroix studied the young woman who was staring at her hands, unsuccessfully fighting back tears. He looked back at Randolf. "I believe she is suffering now." Randolf dropped his head also, so that the couple looked like children being scolded by an angry parent. LaCroix felt a touch of pity for the pair, tempered by concern for his son. "LaCroix," Randolf asked softly, looking up into the ancient vampire's eyes, "do you know where he is?" "I believe he is at home," LaCroix answered, before taking another drink. Nick leaned back in the leather chair, his legs stretched out in front of him, a bottle resting on his thigh. With his eyes closed, he took several deep breaths, trying to relax. This last attack had been short, but intense. As soon as he was able, he would contact LaCroix to see if he knew what could possibly be causing this. As he was taking a long drink from the bottle, the door buzzer sounded. Nick got up from the chair slowly and made his way to the monitor, leaving the bottle on the table. Switching the set on, he was surprised to find Randolf's face staring back at him. "Nicholas?" It took Nick a second to reply. He didn't expect to see Randolf again for a long time. He was sure the problems had all been worked out before Randolf and Anna left for San Francisco, only a month ago. Maybe Randolf was simply stopping by for a visit. "Randolf! Come in." Nick punched the access button, and waited for the elevator to arrive. When it did, Nick pushed the door back, greeting Randolf with a warm smile. The smile faded when he saw the look on Randolf's face. Nick pulled his friend out of the elevator by the arm, retaining his hold after Randolf was inside. "Randolf," Nick whispered intently, "what's wrong?" They stared into each other's eyes for several seconds before Randolf turned toward the table, breaking Nick's grip. "Everything!" Randolf groaned, leaning with both hands on the table, his back to Nick. Nick was torn up by the response. Randolf was the only one of their kind he had ever found whom he truly considered a friend. The strange calming effect Randolf had on him Nick attributed, partially, to the fact that he had never tasted human blood. This couldn't be the only reason for the effect, but any others were beyond their collective comprehension. After Randolf had saved his life in New Orleans so many years ago, Nick had never been able to resist helping him when he could. That commitment had even taken him as far as assisting Randolf with bringing Anna across. "Randolf, where is Anna?" Nick stood just behind his friend. "She is outside, waiting." "Outside?!" Nick turned toward the door, but Randolf spun around and caught his arm. "No. Wait. We must talk first." Nick stared at the younger vampire, confused, and then relented. He turned back toward Randolf. "Talk about what?" Randolf released his grip, and walked into the living room with Nick just behind him. His fingers entangled in his dark hair, Randolf held his head as he paced the room. Nick stood in the center, watching and waiting. "Everything was perfect when we left here. We were in San Francisco for a week, dancing every night, enjoying each other and the city. Anna seemed content just to be with me. Sometime during the second week, I began to notice a change. Randolf dropped his hands to his sides in exasperation. "She grew ... distant. In the evenings, I woke to find her sitting on the floor with her eyes closed, just sitting there. I don't know that she was getting any sleep at all by the end of the second week." Randolf stopped pacing, and stood facing Nick. "She wouldn't tell me what was wrong. She said she didn't know. Finally, two nights ago, she said she needed to see you." Nick saw tears forming in Randolf's eyes. He stepped forward and gently grabbed the slender vampire's shoulders. The roles were reversed; Nick was trying to comfort the one who had comforted him so many times in the past. "Nicholas, I don't know what has happened." Randolf dropped his head, ashamed of the tear running down his face. "I am afraid you were right," he whispered, "but I love her so much." Nick felt such incredible pain for his friend. He had been so afraid of infecting Anna with his evil, condemning her to his hell, but, against his better judgement, he had given in, for Randolf's sake. How could he deny Randolf the chance for happiness that he himself had always dreamt of, even if the odds were against them? Nick's head pounded with the horror that his fear was well-founded. No, it wasn't just the horror causing his head to pound. Nick released his hold on Randolf, and pressed his hands to his ears. The humming was starting again. This time the source was much closer. Nick felt his eyes glowing in response. "Randolf," Nick hissed, backing away, "bring her to me. This must end." Randolf watched Nick changing before his eyes. For a moment, he was unable to move. When he did, it was only to turn and stop, unsure of what to do. "Nicholas, I don't know if I can stand ... " "Randolf!" Nick growled. "One way or the other, this *must* stop." His fangs were fully extended and his eyes glowed. "If we wait any longer, I will be unable to control it!" Randolf stared at Nick for a moment, his own eyes wide. His greatest fear was that Anna would become what Nick described himself to be, and would be unable to control the desire to kill. Randolf frowned. No, that wasn't his greatest fear. It would be even worse to lose Anna, no matter what she became. He knew that he could not exist without her. Randolf left the loft so quickly that even Nick was barely able to follow his motion. Nick walked to the mantle, gripping it with both hands, and growled in frustration. The humming in his head stopped, but was replaced with an overwhelming, painful desire. The vampire was completely in control; Nick felt his last shred of humanity trampled by the Beast. The sound of the door opening caused him to spin around. End part 2. Date: Tue, 27 May 1997 16:46:09 -0600 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: Facing East (3/7) To: FKFIC-L@psuvm.psu.edu X-Status: Please see part 1 for disclaimers. Facing East (3/7) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) Randolf led Anna in as if he was escorting a princess to the ball. Her hand rested gently on his arm as they crossed the kitchen. Anna's eyes began to glow immediately when they met Nick's. Randolf stopped just past the table; Anna continued toward Nick as if she was being reeled in. Nick moved toward her in the same manner. He had no control left, and saw nothing but Anna's golden eyes. As he walked, he pulled open the collar of his shirt. The two buttons hitting the floor was the only sound in the room. When they met in the middle of the living room, Anna's hands were instantly on Nick's shoulders and her teeth were in his throat. The combined groan and growl emanating from both vampires shot through Randolf like a bullet; his fists clenched so hard that he drew blood from his own palms. Rage was blurring the sight of his true love melting into the arms of the elder vampire when he spotted the stake balanced against the wall near the mantle. The relief that Nick felt when Anna tasted his blood was almost instantaneous. Painful desire was replaced with a sense of impending fulfillment. The circle was nearly complete. He needed only to stand here and let her drain him, take the last drop of blood he had to offer. Even as the thought formed in his head, the vampire's sense of self-preservation kicked in. Nick felt his body weakening and knew that Anna was taking too much. He could push her away, he still had the strength. A tiny spark of his human self told him to do it, but that spark was extinguished almost immediately. Nick opened his mouth and pressed his fangs into Anna's neck. His arms tightened around her as he felt her body responding to his bite. Randolf circled the couple, unable to stop staring at them. His own fangs were flashing as he reached back and lifted the stake. The end was pointed at Nick's heart, but his eyes were on Anna's face. He froze when her eyes opened suddenly, meeting his. Anna's eyes were filled with both pain and fulfillment. They spoke to him as clearly as her words would have. 'I love you, Randy, but this must be.' Had she really said that? Randolf lowered the stake slowly, then let it drop to the ground. He watched Anna's eyes as they slowly closed again. A scream of pain escaped as he shot through the skylight window. The roar of Anna's blood filled Nick's head. He recognized the sweet innocence he had tasted before, but now it was mixed with his own dark desires and emotions. The mix was intoxicating, fueling the vampire to drink more. He tasted and felt her desire for him, and knew her joy at finally tasting his blood. Then there was the deep love and lust for Randolf, assaulting his mind in waves. It was matched only by his own feelings for Natalie, which came back to him through Anna's blood. Nick felt his knees weakening as, for a moment, it was as if he were drinking from Natalie. He could smell her, feel her, taste her. When he opened his eyes, he even saw her. She was standing before him, her face glowing in his vampire vision. Nick felt as though he would explode with joy; he closed his eyes again. After a momentary eternity, the desire for blood waned for them both. Nick withdrew his fangs and felt Anna do the same. They stood in the middle of the room, holding each other, recovering from the emotional roller coaster, physically exhausted as well. As soon as he was sure that Anna could stand on her own, Nick released her and staggered to the chair before collapsing. Anna, using the back of the sofa for support, stumbled to the front and sat down. They both leaned back, eyes closed, and listened to the silence. The need and the pain were gone, but Nick enjoyed the images of Natalie swimming in his head. It had been so long since he had physical contact with another ... well, a year might be only a drop in his life's bucket, but his desire for Natalie made it seem much longer. He also enjoyed all the other emotions he had taken from Anna. Randolf's kind, smiling face made him smile back. Randolf. Where was Randolf? Nick jerked his head up and looked around. Except for Anna, the loft was empty. He pulled himself up in the chair and searched more intently. All he found was the stake in the middle of the floor. A wave of nausea hit him as he suddenly understood what Randolf must have felt. How could Nick expect Randolf to understand the vampire's need to share blood with a fledgling when he had never experienced it? Nick walked, rather shakily, across the room to Anna. He knelt on the floor beside her, lifting her hand. She responded by raising her head and opening her eyes, which had returned to their marvelous emerald green. "Anna," he asked quietly, "are you all right?" She nodded weakly. "I am now. I don't understand why ... why I needed ..." "It's okay," he reassured her, squeezing her hand gently. Nick frowned as he thought about the inevitable result of their blood exchange. "Anna, you now know my darkest desires. You will have to face the same needs I have." Anna tilted her head sideways. She saw Nick before her in every stage of his eight hundred years, not only as the vampire, but also as the man. She felt the desire to take human blood, but also the desire to save human life. "Nick, I also know your strength," she said, impressed. They looked into each other's eyes for several minutes. The bond they shared allowed Nick to understand her in a way that he understood very few others. He sincerely liked her. Anna's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "I still don't understand why I felt this need." "I'm afraid I made a mistake when I let Randolf talk me into bringing you across in this manner." Nick dropped his head apologetically. "We had to complete the ritual." When he looked back up at Anna, he found her eyes searching the room. "Where's Randolf?" Nick looked back at the stake without thinking about it. "He's gone," he answered softly. Anna gasped when she spotted the stake on the floor. "Oh no," she cried, blood tears creeping over her eyelids. Nick crawled onto the sofa and put his arms around Anna. "He loves you. He'll be back," he whispered, gently stroking the back of her head. "Are ... you sure?" she asked, fighting back the tears. "Yes." Nick pushed her gently away to arm's length. "Yes." Anna smiled at him and wiped away the one tear that had made it down her cheek. "Meanwhile," Nick said, trying to sound cheerful as he got up from the sofa, "what we need is a drink." Nick pulled a chilled green bottle from the refrigerator and lifted out the cork while walking to the cabinet. Just as he opened the cabinet, the scent hit him. Nick dropped the bottle to the floor. Anna jumped and turned to see what had happened. Nick was leaning back against the cabinet; broken glass covered the blood-stained floor at his feet. "Nick?" she called with concern. Nick held on to the cabinet and closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. The scent filled his nostrils. He saw Natalie's face as it had appeared to him in his vision. It was not fantasy. She had been here. "Damn," Nick muttered from between clenched teeth. Ignoring the mess on the floor, he nearly flew to the phone and picked up the receiver. He punched in her number and waited. On the third ring, Natalie picked up her phone. "Hello." "Nat?" Click. Nick pulled the phone away from his ear and punched in the number again. She had to listen to him! The phone rang twice. He didn't wait for her to speak. "Natalie, don't hang up ..." Click. Nick growled as he dialed the third time. The response from the other end was a busy signal. Nick looked quickly at the window. Light was starting to seep through. The sun would be up in minutes. Frustration turned into rage, and he threw the phone against the wall, where it shattered into a hundred plastic and metal pieces. Nick leaned forward, his hands on his thighs, trying to control himself and the Beast. If it was difficult for Randolf to understand what had happened, it was impossible for Natalie. The thought that he may have driven her away for good, after all that they had been through together, terrified him. The terror helped bring his rage under control. Nick straightened up and walked slowly to the sofa. He fell onto it, staring blankly at the ceiling. Anna watched, her heart breaking for him. She moved closer and touched his shoulder hesitantly. "Nick, is there anything I can do?" From hearing the phone conversation, or lack of it, she guessed what had happened. Better than anyone, she knew how deep Nick's love for Natalie was. Nick rolled his head toward the lovely, kind woman sitting next to him. "No," he whispered. "This is not your fault." Anna couldn't watch the pain on Nick's face any longer. She got up and removed a fresh bottle from the refrigerator. Glancing over at the back of the blonde head, she winced with pity and poured them each a drink. End part 3. Date: Tue, 27 May 1997 18:48:22 -0600 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: Facing East (4/7) To: FKFIC-L@psuvm.psu.edu X-Status: Please see part 1 for disclaimers. Facing East (4/7) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) LaCroix sat on the barstool, his legs crossed, spinning the stem of his glass between his forefinger and thumb. "I really don't see your problem." The Raven was now empty, save the special guest who sat on the stool next to him. Randolf held his head in one hand and a glass of Nick's special blend in the other. "She needs Nicholas," he said miserably. LaCroix grinned, amused. "No, dear boy, it isn't Nicholas she needs ... or rather, needed. It was the blood of her master. The ritual cannot be denied." Randolf slowly raised his head, staring at the elder vampire. "Then," he said slowly, "you don't think she's in love with Nicholas?" "Do *you*?" LaCroix asked. "You have tasted her blood. Did you find anything suggesting that she was in love with him?" Randolf dropped his hand to the bar and stared past LaCroix, recalling the emotions when last he and Anna had shared blood. A wave of relief washed the pain from his face. He looked back into LaCroix's eyes. "No, I didn't. There was something I didn't understand ... a need ... or something." "Yes. Well, that should now be gone." LaCroix sipped his drink, giving the young vampire time to absorb the information. He wondered if Randolf understood what that need had been replaced with. Ah, well, he'd find out in time. Randolf scrambled from the stool, looking uncharacteristically scattered. "I must return to her ..." LaCroix remained seated, stopping Randolf with the calmness of his words. "I'm afraid it's too late for that now. The sun had risen." Randolf glanced toward the door, disappointment firing his black eyes. "You may stay here for the day; there's an extra room in the back." LaCroix gracefully refilled Randolf's glass. "In the meantime, why don't we spend some time getting to know each other? I would be thrilled if you would tell me about New Orleans. I know Nicholas visited you there, some years ago." Randolf watched LaCroix as he returned to the bar stool. He knew the fear and contempt Nicholas had once held for his master, but he didn't sense those feelings anymore. It could be interesting, conversing with one so old. And it wasn't like he had much of a choice. His composed demeanor returning, Randolf raised his glass toward LaCroix. "I thank you for your hospitality," he purred. "Ah, think nothing of it. Any friend of Nicholas' is always welcome." LaCroix purred back. Nick awoke to a humming in his head. The sensation was totally different than it had been the day before; it was soothing and pleasant. He smiled for a moment before opening his eyes. The living room was dark except for one lone candle. Nick didn't require the tiny flame's light to see Anna, sitting cross- legged on the floor with her back to him. He rose slowly from the sofa. "Anna?" Nick asked quietly. He watched her straighten, taking a deep breath, and turn to face him with a smile. The humming in his head stopped. "What are you doing?" "Nick, I'm sorry if I woke you. I was meditating." Nick crawled off the sofa to sit beside Anna, one knee propped up as an armrest. "Why?" Anna's smile brightened, and then faded. "It helps." "How?" "When I was ... having such a bad time in San Francisco, I started meditating to help control my thoughts. I used to meditate every day, before ... well, before. It focuses my energy." Anna turned towards Nick, her head lowered a bit. "I feel desires I've never felt before, after last night. I don't want to become a killer, Nick." Nick took her hand in his, and rubbed it reassuringly. "I understand," he whispered. Anna's face brightened, and she looked into Nick's eyes. "Maybe it would help you," she suggested. "I can show you how." Nick smiled at her innocent enthusiasm. "Okay," he responded, "show away." Anna released his hand and turned back towards the candle. Nick moved across from her and mimicked her position. "No, you'll have to sit beside me. You have to face east." "Why?" Anna feigned exasperation. "I don't know, you just do. I think it stems from an ancient ritual of greeting the sunrise." Nick chuckled as he crawled across the floor and repositioned himself next to his instructor. "How appropriate ... vampires greeting the sunrise." Anna laughed. "I hadn't thought of it that way." "What next?" "Well, this part takes a little practice. You want to completely clear your mind, to stop the inner voice. Pick out a sound ... your sound ... and repeat it over and over in your head. The point is to stop thinking. And it helps to close your eyes." "Okay," Nick replied as he followed directions and closed his eyes. It certainly wasn't going to be easy to stop thinking. In his head, he fixed on the hum he had heard earlier and repeated the noise to himself. Nick smiled as he felt the weight of mail on his body and the cold steel of his sword in his hands. "Funny," he mused out loud, "this reminds me of preparing for battle, emptying the fear from my mind." Anna smiled at his statement. She had some vague understanding of the memory. "Shhh," she ordered softly. Nick focused on the hum. Centuries of memories wove themselves in and out of the sound, but slowly began to fade. He watched the shadowy figures, melting away, and felt the strangest calm taking their place. The sound of the buzzer startled both vampires. Nick got up and headed to the door; Anna beat him there and turned on the viewer. "Randy!" Anna was almost jumping up and down by the time Nick hit the button to let Randolf in. She beamed at Nick, tears threatening her eyes again. "He's come back!" Anna jumped into Nick's arms and hugged his neck so tightly that he expected to hear something snap. "I told you he would," he said over her shoulder, enjoying her excitement. She released her grip, and stood in front of Nick, holding his arms. "Thank you, Nick." Anna reached up and gently kissed his cheek. Nick smiled warmly at Anna as she turned to stare impatiently at the elevator door. Deciding to give the couple some privacy, he walked to the refrigerator, removed a bottle, and carried it with him upstairs. A nice warm shower was exactly what he needed right now. He had to decide what he was going to say to Natalie, if, that is, he could make her listen. "Morgue," Natalie stated into the receiver as she tucked it into her shoulder and continued to jot notes on the form in front of her. "Nat, it's Tracy." "What can I do for you?" On the other end, Tracy winced at the sound of Natalie's voice. She was upset about something. "Have you heard from Nick tonight?" "No. Anything else?" Something must have happened between the two of them. Something bad. "No, but if you see Nick would you let him know the captain's looking for him? I can't seem to locate him." "I'm sure he's around somewhere," Natalie fired back. "Okay, thanks," Tracy said, cringing as she spoke. "Sure." Click. Tracy looked at the phone receiver. Wow! She had seen Natalie mad once or twice, but nothing like this. There were daggers coming through the phone. "You're in trouble now, partner," she muttered as she hung up the phone, shaking her head. "Why?" Tracy jumped at Nick's voice from beside her. "There you are. Reese is looking for you." "And it looks like I've found you," Reese added as he walked up. Tracy shook her head. Did everyone in this place have super hearing, or had she just walked into the middle of the Twilight Zone? She looked from Reese standing on one side of her chair to Nick on the other. "Sorry I'm late, Cap," Nick apologized. "Actually, I wanted to ask for an hour or so off. I have some personal business I need to take care of." Tracy's eyebrows shot up. "It's going to take more than an hour," she mumbled behind her hand. Nick glanced down at his partner, wondering what her comment meant. Joe Reese frowned at his star detective. Nick certainly didn't ask for time off very often, although he had been sick a couple of times recently. It also wasn't like him to be late with a report. "Look, Nick, I want the Roberts report on my desk by the end of this shift. Will it be there?" Reese studied Nick's face as he answered. "I'll have it on your desk, Captain. It's almost done now." "Okay," Reese conceded, "then take whatever time you need." "Thanks," Nick called to Reese's back. He looked down at his partner. "I'll be back as soon as I can, Trace." "Sure," she said, a little too sympathetically, "there's not much going on here, anyway." Tracy watched her partner's coat billowing behind him as he left. "Good luck," she whispered. End part 4. Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 16:48:57 -0600 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: Facing East (5/7) To: FKFIC-L@psuvm.psu.edu Please see part 1 for disclaimers. Facing East (5/7) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) Natalie was alone in the lab, filing reports, when Nick entered. His footsteps echoed in the room as he walked toward her. She visibly stiffened, but continued to work without looking back. "Nat?" Nick asked softly, stopping several steps behind her. Natalie slammed one drawer and opened the one below it. "What?" she asked through clenched teeth. Nick winced at the force with which she had slammed the drawer. He continued calmly. "I think we need to talk." "I don't." Natalie pulled a file from the drawer and slapped it on top of the filing cabinet. Nick stepped forward and touched her shoulder. "Natalie ..." Natalie spun around, spilling the contents of a folder onto the floor. Her eyes were blazing, and her face was tight. "What do you want?" she yelled at him. Nick had to work at not backing away from her. He knew she'd be upset, but hadn't prepared himself for this. Her entire body was shaking with anger. "I want to explain what you saw," he said, still calm. "Explain?" Natalie glared. She remembered the look of ecstacy in Nick's eyes when he looked up at her, Anna wrapped in his arms. "I saw you making love to another woman! Isn't that what *you people* call it?!" Natalie's voice was loud and filled with venom. "Natalie, it wasn't ..." "Oh, let me guess," she said sarcastically, her tone lowered slightly. "She means nothing to you." Nick frowned at her. "Or, you were thinking of me the whole time!" Nick felt his own anger rising. She was making this sound like some cheap mortal affair she had interrupted. She had no idea what she was talking about. He grabbed both of her shoulders. "Natalie! Listen to me!" he yelled back. They froze and turned their heads at the sound of the door swinging open. The young lab technician stopped just inside, staring at them. "Doc? I heard yelling ..." Natalie took a deep breath, and Nick dropped his hands to his sides, staring at the floor between them. "It's okay, Charlie," Natalie said with amazing calmness. The young man looked back and forth from one to the other for a moment, and then left the room. Nick raised his eyes to Natalie's, and they stood silently. Her eyes were still flashing with anger. "Natalie ..." Nick started hesitantly. "No ... don't. I'm happy for you that you've found someone to replace Janette." Her voice was sarcastic, and still seething. Nick backed up a step. Gold flashed in his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to grab Natalie and shake her until she stopped talking and listened. His fists clenched as he fought his own anger. Natalie knew by the color of Nick's eyes that she had succeeded in making him mad. She felt no fear, only a spark of pleasure. If she had known of anything that would make him hurt like she was hurting, she would have used it. Nick left the room in a blur, smashing through the swinging doors and leaving one of them hanging by half a hinge. Natalie felt the tears of anger and hurt welling in her eyes as soon as he was gone. She bent down to pick up the papers that were strewn at her feet. Giving up the fight, Natalie plopped onto the floor and dropped her face into her hands, allowing the tears to flow. Tracy looked up as she heard Nick approaching. His face was smoldering as he marched to his desk. she commented to herself. Nick ripped his coat off and threw it over the back of his chair. He sat down at the computer terminal and began typing furiously. Tracy had never seen anyone type so fast, not even Nick. And he was hitting the keys much too hard. She leaned forward in her chair. "You're going to break the keys, Nick," she said softly. Nick turned his head toward her sharply. His look caused Tracy to sit back as if dodging a knife thrown her way. He was way beyond a little upset. Nick looked back at the screen, realizing that Tracy was right. He didn't trust himself to speak, but concentrated on lightening his touch on the keys as he typed. Within ten minutes, he had finished the report, and had calmed down a bit. After commanding the report to print, Nick turned to his partner. "I'm sorry, Trace." Tracy looked up from her work and smiled. "It's okay, Nick. I really understand." Nick frowned, chastising himself for allowing his anger to show. He turned the frown into as much of a smile as he was capable of at the moment. "I'm going to take off. The report is finished." "Sure," she said as she watched him put on his coat. "And, Nick," she continued. He turned around to look at her. "I'm sure it will work out." "Thanks. I hope so," he added rather sadly, then left. Nick picked up the report and dropped it on Reese's desk on the way out. Good thing Reese was not in his office; it made things easier. Nick found Anna and Randolf sitting on his sofa, holding hands and speaking in low voices. They stopped talking when he entered and rose to greet him. The pain Nick felt from his earlier encounter with Natalie was a huge knot in his stomach. He buried it as deeply as he could; he couldn't let Randolf know what all of this had cost him. He smiled at the couple as he removed his coat and walked into the living room. Randolf stepped in front of Nick, stopping his progress. "Nick, I sincerely apologize for my conduct. I ... I ..." Nick grabbed his arm. "I know," he said. "I'm sorry you had to see that. If I could have avoided it, I would have." Randolf nodded in understanding, looking into Nick's eyes. They both smiled. "I feel like I'm repeating myself," Randolf said with a slight chuckle, "but, thank you ... for everything. If there is ever anything I can do for you, you need only ask, Nicholas." "I know that," Nick answered, squeezing Randolf's arm. Anna approached, stepping into Randolf's embrace. She frowned at the pain she saw, partially hidden, in Nick's eyes. The rest of the situation had not been resolved, she realized. Anna rested her hand on Nick's arm. "Nick, I can talk to Natalie." Nick shook his head, smiling appreciatively. If there was anyone who truly understood his feelings for Natalie, it was Anna, but he knew it wouldn't help to have Anna talk to her. After five years of ups and downs, he and Natalie had to work this out on their own. "No," he said, "but thank you for offering." Anna nodded. She understood the man standing before her, and knew why he had to travel his path alone. An image danced through her head of a knight charging into battle, fearless. Too bad it couldn't be that simple for him now. Nick took a deep breath, trying to lighten the mood. "So where are you two off to now?" Randolf smiled at Anna and back at Nick. "We're going home." "Back to New Orleans?" "Yes. And you must promise to visit, Nicholas. We will throw the biggest party ever in your honor." Randolf beamed with pride. "I promise," Nick responded, reveling in his friend's joy. Randolf gripped Nick's arm as Anna reached up and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Good bye, Nick," she said softly. "Good bye," Nick replied with a warm smile. He watched the two walk to the elevator, arm in arm, envying their happiness. Just before the elevator door closed, Anna waved. Nick turned back to the empty loft and sighed as he dropped into the chair. He closed his eyes and let his pain surface again. How was he going to straighten this out with Natalie? He *had* to straighten it out. End part 5. Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 18:19:46 -0600 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: Facing East (6/7) To: FKFIC-L@psuvm.psu.edu Please see part 1 for disclaimers. Facing East (6/7) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) Natalie turned off the engine and looked up at the dark building. There was a single light coming from Nick's window, and the street around her was quiet. Natalie gripped the steering wheel with both hands. The picture of Nick's face, angry and wounded, flashed in her mind. Once her own anger had subsided, she realized that what she had seen last night was, most likely, not exactly what she thought. Nick had been in incredible pain earlier that evening; it was probably all related, somehow. Was it really worth throwing away five years of ... of ... of what? Natalie closed her eyes, recalling the night she brought Nick home from the hospital. His kisses had been so passionate, when he didn't know what he was. It had broken her heart to tell him about his past, knowing that they would never be as close as they were then. No, she knew that Nick shared the feelings she had for him. Whatever this relationship was, it was five years in the making. But why was she always the one to come back to him? Sure, he had sent the card and flowers when they had a 'falling out' a couple of months ago, but she had come back to the loft, and to him. They may not be teenagers, keeping score on who apologizes to whom, but she still had a bit of dignity left. It was time for Nick to come to her. Besides, she wasn't at all sure that things were back to normal, whatever that was. Making up her mind, Natalie looked back up at Nick's window as she turned the key in the ignition. Setting her jaw in determination, she flipped on the lights and stepped on the gas. "Yikes!" she yelped, tromping on the brake pedal with both feet. Illuminated in the headlights, Nick stood in front of her car, both hands on the hood. The cold wind blew his hair out in all directions, giving him a wild look that caught Natalie's breath in her throat. He was not smiling, and his eyes glowed in the lights. Natalie swallowed with relief when she realized his eyes were their mortal color. Nick walked around to the driver's door, hand over hand on the hood as if to insure that she didn't leave. His actions were unnecessary; Natalie turned the car off. When he reached the door, he opened it silently. "Look, Nick ..." Natalie started. Nick reached in, grabbed her arm, and pulled her out of the car. His grip was firm, but he was careful not to hurt her. Slamming the car door shut, he marched toward the front door, Natalie in tow. "Nick!" she complained, but didn't actually resist his grip. Nick punched in the access code, pulled Natalie in, and led her into the elevator. Once they were on the way up, he released his hold and stepped across the elevator, leaning against the wall opposite her. Natalie stared at him. Nick's face held no hint of kindness, and his dark red shirt seemed to accentuate something predatory in him. His eyes broke from hers to stare at the floor for a second, then he caught her eyes again from a lowered head. "Natalie, you are going to hear me out." His voice was determined, but much softer than his appearance. Recovering her composure, Natalie crossed her arms. "Okay, Nick, I'm listening." Nick was relieved that the venom was gone from her voice. He wanted to simply fall into her arms, but was determined to say what he had planned to say at her apartment, if she had not shown up here first. "I am *not* human. You know that." "Yes, I know that, Nick." The elevator stopped. Nick made no move to open the door. "There are things about me that you cannot possibly understand ... things about being a vampire." Nick pushed away from the wall and paced back and forth, looking amazingly like a caged lion. "I will never be able to explain these things to you, and I pray that you will never have cause to understand them." Nick stopped and turned back towards her. He opened his mouth as if to continue, then closed it again. He stared intently into her eyes. His look sent a shiver through Natalie, which she tried not to show. He looked like he expected her to disappear at any moment, and was trying to hold her in place with his eyes. If Nick were a normal man, looking at her this way, she would have thought him on the verge of insanity. Instead, he looked like he was on the verge of desperation. Natalie wanted to throw her arms around him and assure him that everything was all right. She dropped her arms to her sides. "Natalie," his voice was almost pleading, "I need you. I ..." He frowned, overcome with guilt at his own words. For her sake, he should have taken this opportunity to let her out of his life, her humanity intact. He could not ever tell her how much she meant to him without condemning her to either death or a life of darkness. How could he be so incredibly selfish? Yet, here he was, trying to make her understand. It was too late to deny his feelings, and he didn't have the will to release her. She stood there, watching him, her eyes moistening with tears. The thought of hurting her ripped his heart to shreds. Natalie stepped forward, and Nick closed the distance between them, taking her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his chest and buried her face in his shirt, fighting back the tears. "Forgive me," he whispered over her head. Natalie was sure that the request was not made of her. They stood together, holding each other, for a long time. When they released their hold, Natalie wiped uselessly at the small wet circle she'd left on Nick's shirt. "Nick?" Natalie asked quietly. "Yes, Nat?" "Can we go inside now? I'm getting claustrophobic." Nick chuckled with relief, and, slipping his arm around her waist, slid the door open. Natalie wiped her eyes as they walked into the loft. Releasing Natalie at the table, Nick pulled a chair out for her, smiling. "Please," he motioned with one hand. Natalie accepted the seat with a questioning look, shedding her coat as she did. Nick took her coat, hung it up, and then returned to the kitchen. "Tea, wine, or hot chocolate?" he asked. Natalie smiled at the offer. "Hot chocolate, please." She watched Nick moving gracefully around the kitchen, filling a pot with numerous ingredients, and stirring it patiently. His motions were so efficient and relaxed, such a stark contrast to the Nick of just a few minutes ago. It amazed her to think of all the power contained in the hand that now slowly stirred the warming liquid. "Nick, how did you know I was here?" Natalie asked, propping her head on her fist. "I didn't," he replied to the stove. "I was on my way to your place." Natalie's eyebrows shot up and she grinned. "What were you going to do if I didn't let you in?" Nick turned to look at her, grinning impishly. "Break down your door, throw you over my shoulder, and carry you back here, kicking and screaming if necessary." Natalie laughed. "Oh, that would have gone over really well!" Nick poured the steaming chocolate into a mug and carried it carefully to the table, where he placed it in front of Natalie. He took the chair adjacent to her and watched her blowing into the mug. The steam surrounded her face magically between breaths, making her look like a vision. Nick smiled. Natalie's eyes moved from the mug to Nick. "What?" Nick leaned over the table, resting his cheek on his palm. "Nothing," he replied. He watched her sip her drink and was pleased with her approving smile. "Much better than instant," she stated. "Thanks, Nick." His smile widened in response, and his eyes danced with delight as he watched her face, blushing with embarrassment at his scrutiny. The smile faded when he remembered seeing her face in his fantasy, glowing before him as he swam in the joy of his desire for her. Nick mentally shook himself to bury the memory. "Thank you, Nat," he said quietly, and honestly. End part 6. Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 18:24:30 -0600 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: Facing East (7/7) To: FKFIC-L@psuvm.psu.edu Please see part 1 for disclaimers. Facing East (7/7) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) The kiss held five years of desire, exploding in his head with an intensity that he couldn't believe. The soft moan escaping her throat sent a shiver through him and he held her tighter, wrapping his entire body around hers. When he grudgingly released her lips, he found her looking into his eyes, hers glassy with desire. The Beast growled in his chest, and took over the last of his mortal being. He gently moved her head to the side, focusing on the beat of her heart and staring at her smooth, warm neck. She was giving herself to him, willingly and completely. He released the growl as he dropped his fangs to her throat. Nick jumped up in bed, suddenly thrown into consciousness by the horror of killing Natalie. He shook his head, trying to chase away the demons that seemed to be haunting him more and more. The desire was getting harder to control. Nick hit the refrigerator as soon as he made it down the stairs. Removing the cork with his teeth and spitting it across the room, he downed half a bottle without stopping. Closing his eyes as he lowered the bottle, he willed the vampire into submission. It took longer than usual. Walking around the living room as he finished off the bottle, Nick's eyes fell on the candle that Anna had left on the coffee table. He picked it up, exchanging it for the empty bottle, and walked toward the mantle to the stash of matches. Watching the single flame flicker, Nick stepped to the middle of the floor and sat down, facing east. He positioned the candle in front of him, crossed his legs, and, taking a deep breath, closed his eyes, humming silently. Natalie's eyes, still visible before him, changed from eyes filled with desire, to eyes filled with warmth and kindness. As he continued to hum, her eyes faded, as did the voices and memories. Nick smiled at the feeling of peace. LaCroix placed the last of the glasses upside down on the rack, and froze, his arm suspended in front of him. He looked around the empty bar, frowning slightly. What a strange sound! It was a calm, gentle hum that seemed to come from everywhere, and nowhere. LaCroix smiled as he lowered his arm. He felt a tingling move up his spine, accompanied by a sensation of quiet peace. "Nicholas," he whispered. THE END