Keep This Secred 1/3 by Kristen Fife This is a NN songfic based on the song "Secret" by Heart. As usual, I don't own the FK characters, that honor goes exclusively to Sony Tristar. Can be archived at the FTP site and the fkfanfic sites. Anyone else, just email me. =============================== Nick arrived at the crime scene, Schanke in tow muttering under his breath. They were at the tail end of their shift, and got the call about the murder with only ninety minutes left on. But Cohen had insisted they go check out the circumstances as they were the only homicide team in the precinct. As Nick ignored the flashing lights and stepped over the crime tape, he caught the echo of Natalie’s heartbeat and smiled. His keen eyes caught site of her kneeling over the body of the victim, a middle-aged jogger. She glanced up just as he approached, and smiled when she saw him. She started to rise and lost her balance. Nick leaned over to help her up, his hand cupping her elbow. He drew her to her feet, and in the process she leaned in closer to him. He heard her heart speed up and smelled the sweet scents of her blood mingling with her perfume and the lavender shampoo she used. He closed his eyes to savor the scents for a short moment before Schanke cleared his throat. Natalie blushed and reluctantly pulled away from Nick. “Hi Guys. Um, Caucasian male, mid-to-late forties; looks like he was out for a jog. He was shot in the chest from close range. Looks like it might have been a mugging.” Schanke frowned. “Do we have an ID on the body?” Natalie shook her head. “No, his wallet, watch and possibly a ring were missing. That’s why it looks like it might have been a mugging. He was found by the homeless woman over there.” She pointed to an old black woman huddled in rags sitting on a park bench. She moaned to herself and rocked back and forth. A shopping cart filled with bags and odds and ends rested not far from her under a streetlight. Schanke sighed. “Okey dokey I’ll go talk to our *star* witness.” He ambled away over to the park bench and sat down next to her. Nick turned back to Natalie and smiled at her as she made some notes on her clipboard. She looked up. “Aren’t you cutting it rather close? Dawn is in an hour and you should be almost done with your shift.” “Yeah, Cohen sent us out. Everyone else was already out chasing bad guys. How about you? I thought maybe you’d like to come by the loft to watch a movie.” “I’d like that. I need to dash home to feed Syd and change, so I’ll just head on by. Do you already have a movie in mind?” “Yes, but it’s a surprise.” He winked at her. Natalie sighed and wrinkled her nose. “Fine, be that way. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.” She put her hand on his, squeezed it gently, then turned to walk away. Nick started walking over toward Schanke, anxious for the night to end; he could feel the vampire deep within him stirring in response to the fast-approaching dawn and the lingering scent of Natalie’s blood. Schanke handed his card to the black homeless woman then got up. “Knight, shouldn’t you be leaving?” “Yes. Can you get a ride back to the station?” “No problemo, I’ll catch a ride with Foster and Brent. I’ll even give Cohen the short version. Man-o-man, that witness can barely remember her own name, which is Millie in case you were wondering, and she is a loony bird. I’ll catch you tomorrow.” “Thanks Schanke. I’ll see you tomorrow night. Sleep well.” Nick headed back to the loft go get ready for Nat’s arrival, pulling into the garage just as the first rays of the sun peeked over the horizon. We lead two different lives Just like two lines that never cross And here we are together Standing closer than we are But we're still standing here untouched Too scared to make a move We want so much to touch And we can't wait forever We know it's dangerous For us to be together Keep This Secred 2/3 Natalie rode up the lift, wearing the leggings and old sweatshirt she had slipped on at her apartment. She heard the piano as she got up to the second floor, and when she stepped out of the lift, Nick was seated behind the instrument, candles glowing on every service. She smiled and realized that an invisible burden lifted off her shoulders as soon as she walked into the room. Nick looked up at her and smiled, but continued playing “Moonlight Sonata”. Natalie put her bag down and walked around the piano, sliding onto the bench beside Nick, who scooted over. She listened and closed her eyes. Nick continued playing, hearing her heart slow down as she relaxed. Finally bringing the song to a close with a slight flourish, Nick put his arm around Natalie’s shoulder and she leaned against him, her heat like a warm fire along the length of his side. “That was beautiful, Nick. I love listening to you play.” He didn’t say anything, just rested his head on hers, wanting to have this moment of closeness last as long as possible. He felt tenderness sweep over him, his love for this mortal woman still a thing of wonder to him. As always, a stab of pain swept through him at the memory of Valentine’s Day and the knowledge that the few brief hours they had shared might be the only acknowledgement ever between them. Closing his eyes, he fought to keep the tears threatening at bay. Finally, he turned and kissed her on the forehead. “So, are you ready to watch the movie? I chose the Sonata specifically to set the mood.” Nat looked up at him, curiosity alive in her blue eyes. “Really? So, Nick, what movie ARE we watching?” He smiled. “My Immortal Beloved. It’s tells the story of Beethoven’s love for an ‘unknown’ woman. After it’s over, I’ll tell you the real story.” Her eyes widened. “You KNEW Beethoven?!” He winked at her and reluctantly pulled away to go start the movie. Natalie sighed and got up to follow him. How do we ever keep this secret How do we keep it in the dark And if we dare to taste our weakness How could we tear ourselves apart Why do we keep this love together Didn't we know right from the start That we would have to keep this secret Or forever stay apart Keep This Secred 2/3 Several nights later, Natalie was doing paperwork in the morgue when the call came in that there had been a shooting at a convenience store at the corner of Yonge and Dundas. She packed up her bag and pulled on her raincoat. It had been drizzling earlier, and she heard thunder. She ran for her car, holding her medical bag over her head in a vain attempt to keep from getting drenched. Twenty minutes later, she stood up and walked out the door, sickened at the waste of life. An apparent gang war had killed four teenagers and two bystanders. She had one more body to investigate, this one lying face-down on the street in a puddle. Opening her umbrella, she stepped out into the rain. She stopped and turned as she heard her name called. “Natalie, wait up.” Striding across the parking lot toward her came Nick, oblivious to the rain pouring down around them. She watched him approach, his dark gold curls dripping into his face. There were drops of water on his eyelashes and a smile on his face as she saw him coming toward her. His black coat swirled around his ankles as he strode across the slick asphalt. The raindrops created an almost ephemeral curtain between them that he walked through. Her heart thumped in her chest as she watched him, unaware that her feelings for him were blazing in her eyes. Nick slowed down as he walked up to her, stopping just outside the shelter of her umbrella, seeing her love for him shining in her eyes. She took one step forward so that the umbrella covered them both, shrouding them in dark shadow. Neither said anything for a timeless moment, until Natalie reached one hand up to brush his hair out of his eyes. “Nick, you’re soaked.” He didn’t hear her, so intent was he upon the trail of fire her fingers left. As her fingers pulled away from him, he grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, turning it over and brushing his lips along her wrist, just over her racing pulse. She blushed and dropped her gaze. “Thanks for caring, Nat. You have no idea how much it means to me.” He pulled her hand to him and laid it flat against his chest over his heart. He silently tried to convey his feelings to her. I watch you coming to me Walking in the pouring rain I can't help looking at you Wishing I could stay away So many times I've tried in vain To close my eyes and pray it goes away But I can't stop myself from feeling To let you go would be too much For me to take How do we ever keep this secret How do we deep it in the dark And if we dare to taste our weakness How could we tear ourselves apart Why do we keep this love together Didn't we know right from the start That we would have to keep this secret Or forever stay apart Natalie was overwhelmed by her own feelings and the cues he was giving her. Looking deeply in his eyes, she took a deep breath. “Nick, I…I want to tell you something, but now isn’t the time or the place. Can I come over after I’m off?” He smiled - a tender, sad quirk of his lips. “Of course. I’ll be there whenever you can get away. I’m off tomorrow; didn’t you say it was your day off as well?” He stepped back and loosed her hand as she nodded. He could hear her heart racing, could sense the flush along her cheeks as she blushed. “I’ll see you later, then.” He turned to go and Natalie’s followed him until the rain and darkness swallowed him. She knew that she had to tell him how she felt, how much she needed him. She suspected his feelings for her ran deeper than he admitted, but she also knew that there was so much danger in what could be between them. Somehow, some way, she was determined to at least try to make this work. She whispered to herself under her breath, not knowing if his acute hearing could pick up her words. I can't help thinking When I look into your eyes How much I need you It's so hard to hide How do we ever keep this secret How do we keep it in the dark And if we dare to taste our weakness How could we tear ourselves apart Why do we keep this love together Didn't we know right from the start That we would have to keep this secret or forever stay apart. “Nick Knight, I love you and I think you love me too.” She sighed and turned to finish her work, waiting anxiously for the dawn and her appointment with the vampire that had captured her heart. ================== Kristen Fife, 2005, all rights reserved. Kristen Fife http://www.fkvoyage.com/fkfanfic/fife_kristen/ "I have a vampire by my side and I'm not afraid to use him!" -Tanya Huff